Hong Kong: Govt, Hospital Authority key partners

Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki

The Hospital Authority (HA) has been one of the most important partners of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in safeguarding public health - from planning and implementing healthcare policy initiatives, to providing quality, comprehensive and people-centred public healthcare services.

The professionalism and dedication of all the HA staff members, and of the healthcare sector at large in Hong Kong, deserve our heartfelt recognition and appreciation.

Like many other economies from around the world, Hong Kong is faced with challenges posed by an ageing population, chronic and communicable diseases, and healthcare manpower shortage. In particular, I believe no one will dispute the importance of sufficient healthcare manpower to the provision of quality medical services.

To this end, the HA is making wide-ranging efforts. It has been proactively attracting non-locally trained healthcare professionals to practise in Hong Kong. A recent example is the visit by the HA delegation to London in April, where they had constructive discussions with over 500 medical students and practitioners - participating in person and online - about their career prospects in our city.

At the same time, the HA is pressing ahead with various initiatives to nurture and retain talent. They include establishing the Hospital Authority Academy to strengthen professional training and development, improving career progression pathways for frontline doctors and nurses, enhancing staff welfare and extending employment beyond the retirement age.

The objective of all these measures, I am pleased to note, is to strengthen the HA's valuable human capital - in a supportive environment for healthcare professionals to pursue a fulfilling career in Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong SAR Government spares no effort to support the HA in driving the sustainable development of public healthcare services. A new funding arrangement of three-year cycles has been implemented since the 2018-19 financial year, enabling the HA to plan ahead with a longer timeframe. Timely adjustments are made to the recurrent funding provided for the HA, having regard to factors like population growth, demographic changes, and medical needs of the community.

In the current 2023-24 financial year, which falls within the second three-year cycle of the funding arrangement, the HA is allocated $90.9 billion in total for its continued provision of quality public healthcare services.

Speaking of quality services, a people-oriented approach is at centre stage. Under this approach, the HA has been improving patient experience through various initiatives. They include developing smart hospitals, strengthening hospital infrastructure through holistic 10-Year Hospital Development Plans and promoting the use of telehealth services among suitable patients.

Wider adoption of innovation and technology is integral to all these initiatives, as well as to the HA's plan to establish Integrated Neuroscience Centres and Cardiovascular Diseases Centres. With a tiered "hub-and-spoke" referral network, these centres will provide integrated services for patients who require multidisciplinary professional support.

Ladies and gentlemen, the HA Convention this year will provide an excellent platform for healthcare professionals and stakeholders with different backgrounds to share latest findings, explore new ideas, and promote research collaboration. The various symposiums, masterclasses and presentations alike will make the convention's two-day programme one of the most comprehensive ever.

I would also like to give a special mention to the annual award ceremony of the HA's outstanding staff and teams as well as young achievers. Each and every one of them deserves our commendation for their hard work and tremendous contribution.

As Hong Kong has resumed full normality after three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are more determined than ever to work towards the goal of healthcare sustainability. It is all the more important for us to have occasions like this convention to foster intellectual exchange of insights and experiences.

Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki gave these remarks at the Hospital Authority Convention 2023 opening ceremony on May 16.

This story has been published on: 2023-05-16. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Xi replies to letter from Central Asian students at China University of Petroleum

Xinhua) 08:20, May 16, 2023

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.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Photo: The Canadian Press A bullet hole is seen through the bedroom window of Jolene Robledo's home Tuesday, May 16, 2023, in Farmington, N.M. It was among the damage resulting from a deadly shooting along a residential street in the northwestern New Mexico community. (AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan)

The gunman who killed three people and wounded six others while roaming through his northwestern New Mexico neighborhood and apparently firing at random targets was a local 18-year-old high school student, authorities said Tuesday, noting they were still trying to determine a motive for the attack.

Beau Wilson lived in the Farmington neighborhood where he opened fire Monday, killing three women, authorities said at a news conference. The three were 97-year-old Gwendolyn Schofield, her 73-year-old daughter, Melody Ivie, and 79-year-old Shirley Voita, police said.

Witnesses and police say Wilson walked through the neighborhood a short drive from downtown Farmington spraying bullets until police arrived at the scene within minutes and shot and killed him.

Deputy Police Chief Baric Crum said Wilson was indiscriminately shooting at vehicles, but that some rounds also hit homes.

Authorities are still trying to determine a motive, but Deputy Police Chief Kyle Dowdy said there is nothing yet leading investigators to believe Wilson knew any of the people he shot.

Were pretty conf in that is was completely random, he said.

Wilson legally purchased at least one of the guns he used in November, Dowdy said.

The amount of violence and brutality that these people faced is unconscionable to me, Dowdy said. I dont care what age you are, I dont care what else is going on in your life, to kill three innocent elderly women that were just absolutely in no position to defend themselves is always going to be a tragedy.

Four officers fired a total of 16 rounds at Wilson, including one of the two officers who were wounded Monday, said San Juan County Sheriff Shane Ferrari.

Mayor Nate Duckett said Tuesday both wounded law enforcement officers  a local Farmington officer and a state police officer  were treated and released from a hospital.

Officers began receiving reports of gunshots at around 10:57 a.m. and the first one arrived at the scene at 11:02 a.m., Police Chief Steve Hebbe said Monday in a video statement. Three minutes later, the gunman had been killed.

Joseph Robledo, a 32-year-old tree trimmer, said he rushed home after learning that his wife, Jolene, and their 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.

Jolene Robledo said she and her daughter had just finished breakfast when she heard pop, pop, pop, pop," which she first thought was a car backfiring. She said they were going to run out the back door until she heard a male voice that sounded right outside the home say the f-word, so she quietly shut the door and hid with her daughter between the washing machine and dryer.

I mean it was crazy. I called my husband and he could hear the gunshots over the phone, she said. He was freaking out and I was like dont hang up, dont hang up!

Joseph Robledo said he 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."

Downtown Farmington, which is a short drive from the residential neighborhood where the attack happened, has undergone a transformation of sorts in recent years, with cafes and breweries cropping up alongside decades-old businesses that trade in Native American crafts from silver jewelry to wool weavings.

Nick Akins, a middle school teacher who lives in the area where the attack occurred, said it's a great place to live, with a mix of homes, short-term rental apartments and churches.

You never think its going to happen here, and all of a sudden, in a tiny little town, it comes here, Akins said.

On Tuesday, orange circles of spray paint still marked the ground where police had collected evidence in the shootings. Authorities were using metal detectors to search the grass in front of one of the churches along the street where gunfire erupted.

As night approached Monday, dozens of people gathered at Hills Church, a few miles (kilometers) from the attack scene, to pray at the base of a tall metal cross. Lead pastor Matt Mizell talked about living in a dark and broken world but told the crowd there was still hope and asked God to provide them strength.

Politicians also weighed in about the attack.

Mayor Nate Duckett said in a statement that the shooting has left us reeling in anguish and disbelief.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said in a statement that she was praying for the families of those killed and that it serves at yet another reminder of how gun violence destroys lives in our state and our country every single day.

Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, a Democrat who represents the area in Congress, said in a Facebook post that our beautiful Nuevo Mexico is not immune to the mass shootings that occur across the country  Every. Single. Day.

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, she said.
Kenya and Somalia announced Monday an agreement to reopen at three points by July 1 their land border, officially closed since 2011 due to the insurgency of radical Islamists Shebab.

The announcement came after a meeting in Nairobi between delegations of ministers from the two countries on issues of cooperation on security, trade and movement of people.

We are looking at the possibility of reopening the border and we have decided that the border between Somalia and Kenya will be reopened in a phased manner over the next 90 days via three border crossings, Kenyan Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki said at a joint press conference.

The Mandera-Bulahawa border post is to be opened within the next 30 days, he said, followed by the Liboi-Harhar border post within 60 days from today and the Kiunga-Ras Kamboni border post on July 1.

In addition to these three points in the Kenyan counties of Mandera, Wajir and Lamu, we are also looking at the possibility of adding a fourth border post in Wajir County, he added. Last July, the two countries announced their intention to reopen the border, but this never materialized.

The 700-kilometre-long border between Kenya and Somalia was officially closed by Nairobi in October 2011 in an attempt to stem attacks by radical Somali Islamists on Kenyan soil, including the kidnapping of foreign tourists and aid workers. The Kenyan army intervened shortly afterwards in Somalia to fight the Shebab. Its forces then joined the African Union force in Somalia (Amisom, now Atmis) in 2012, which drove the Shebab out of several of their strongholds.

Since 2011, Kenya has been the target of several deadly attacks claimed by the Shebab, including against the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi (September 2013, 67 dead), Garissa University (April 2015, 148 dead) and the Dusit hotel complex (January 2019, 21 dead).

Many other smaller attacks regularly target police and civilians near the border. The two countries, nominally allies in the fight against the Shebab, have a tumultuous relationship. Somalia has regularly accused Kenya of interference, while Kenya has accused Mogadishu of seeking a scapegoat for its internal problems. Somalia severed diplomatic relations with Kenya in December 2020, which were restored in August 2021.

The two countries have also argued over the delineation of their maritime border in the Indian Ocean. In October, the International Court of Justice, the UNs main judicial body, ruled in favour of Somalia, granting it a vast 100,000 square kilometers area rich in fish and potential hydrocarbons. Kenya has officially rejected this decision.
The United States on Monday imposed visa restrictions on several Nigerian officials accused of trying to undermine the February 25 presidential election.

These individuals have been involved in intimidating voters through threats and physical violence, manipulating election results and other activities that undermine the democratic process in Nigeria, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

At the time, the U.S. congratulated Nigerias ruling party candidate, Bola Tinubu, on his victory in the presidential election, which was contested and marked by serious technical failures and delays in the electronic transmission of results.

These measures are targeted at specific individuals and are not directed against the Nigerian people or the government of Nigeria as a whole, Blinken added. The State Department did not specify who the targeted officials are, who are now banned from entering the United States.
Elisee Jean Dao, Brigadier General is the new ambassador of Mali to Gabon, Mali Actu reports citing a Council of ministers statement.

The 50-year old man trained at Ecole dEtat-major de Libreville, Gabon, held the leadership of the National Guard.

The new diplomat has been in the army for 27 years and held several positions. General Dao graduated from Paris-based Ecole de Guerre; an institute which trains future military leaders.
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MOAs of bsAbs in the treatment of lung cancer. (A) One arm of a bsAb binds to TAA/TSA, and the other to a T-cell surface receptor, and this bridging mechanism redirects cytotoxicity. In addition, immune cells can be activated by targeting immune checkpoints. (B) bsAbs simultaneously target two TAAs, achieving antitumor effects by inhibiting two signaling pathways, inducing receptor degradation and internalization, and Fc-effector-mediated cytotoxicity. (C) bsAbs targeting dual immunomodulatory molecules may promote the cytotoxicity of T cells, enhance macrophage-mediated phagocytosis, and modify the immunosuppressive TME. ADCC: Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity; ADCP: Antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis; AKT: Protein kinase B; bsAbs: Bispecific antibodies; CDC: Complement-dependent cytotoxicity; JAK: Janus kinase; MDSC: Myeloid-derived suppressor cell; MHC: Major histocompatibility complex; MOAs: Mechanisms of action; PD-1: Programed cell death protein 1; PD-L1: Programed death-ligand 1; PI3K: Phosphoinositide 3-kinase; RAF: Raf protein kinase; RAS: Rat sarcoma virus; SIRP: Signal-regulatory protein alpha; sTAT: Signal transducer and activator of transcription; TAA: Tumor-associated antigen; TCR: T cell receptor; TME: Tumor microenvironment; Tregs: Regulatory T cells; TSA: Tumor-specific antigen. Credit: Chinese Medical Journal (2023). DOI: 10.1097/CM9.0000000000002460

Antibodies are proteins produced by our immune system, that protect us from foreign antigens that enter our body. These bind to antigens through epitopes, i.e., binding sites on antigens, to subsequently eliminate them. Generally, an antibody only binds to one antigen via an epitope.

However, recent technological advances enable antibodies to target two different antigens by binding to two sites. These antibodies, aptly termed bispecific antibodies (bsAbs), have recently emerged as an important therapeutic strategy for the treatment of cancer and immune diseases.

Notably, BsAbs are known to outperform monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs), since they have relatively broader applications and higher antitumor effects. A number of bsAbs have been evaluated in clinical trials, and oneamivantamabhas been approved for the treatment of lung cancer. With ongoing advances in antibody engineering and recombinant DNA technology, there is a steady increase in novel strategies for the generation of effective bsAbs.

A recent review article published by a team of researchers from Tongji University and Fudan University in China, describes the mechanisms of action of bsAbs and their potency in ongoing clinical trials for lung cancer treatment.

This review was led by Professor Shengxiang Ren from Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University, and was published in the Chinese Medical Journal. Discussing the motivation behind this article, Prof. Ren says, "The clinical utilization of bsAbs might widen the landscape of treatment and serve as an important arsenal for patients with lung cancer."

First, the article explores how bsAbs increase cytotoxicity against cancerous cells by hindering the process through which these cells avoid immune detection. Next, they connect T cells (a type of immune cell) and tumor cells by bridging them together, which leads to T cells recognizing and eliminating tumor cells.

This class of bsAbs is also referred to as bispecific T-cell engagers (BiTEs). In addition, bsAbs enhance immune response towards for tumor clearance by simultaneously blocking two cell signaling pathways or molecules that suppress the immune system.

Further, the research team summarized key findings on bsAbs that are being evaluated in phase IIII clinical trials for the treatment of lung cancer. These include amivantamab developed by Janssen Biotech, zenocutuzumab developed by Merus, SI-B001 developed by Sichuan Baili Pharmaceutical, KN026 developed by Alphamab Oncology, IBI315 developed by Innovent Biologics, AK104 developed by Akesobio, and SHR-1701 developed by Jiangsu HengRui Medicine.

In 2021, amivantamab was conditionally approved for lung cancer with EGFR exon 20 mutation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Meanwhile, the drug has demonstrated effectiveness in the treatment of patients with lung cancer, particularly those who were resistant to the drug osimertinib.

The clinical trial "CHRYSALIS-2" is currently evaluating the efficacy of a combination of amivantamab and lazertinib in the treatment of lung cancer, with the results being updated at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). The team also discussed new potential targets for bsAbs, BiTEs, and multispecific antibodies, which have demonstrated promising preclinical results and are currently in phase I/II trials.

Despite these advances, the therapeutic use of bsAbs in lung cancer faces several challenges. These include delivering bsAbs to solid tumors and across the blood-brain barrier, expanding the therapeutic window, minimizing adverse effects, and reducing off-target toxicity. A well-designed clinical trial is critical to draw accurate conclusions.

However, because bsAbs are complex and unique, it is advisable to carefully determine the initial drug dose as well as the rate of dose escalation of bsAbs. An ideal bsAb dosing strategy should consider both pharmacological and toxicological parameters. Additional research into target selection, structure optimization, biomarker identification, and combinatorial therapies is also warranted.

In conclusion, Prof. Ren states, "Compared with conventional antitumor drugs, the bsAbs provide precise targeting and enhanced target-binding abilities. Therefore, they might increase antitumor activity, reduce adverse effects, and lead to reduced treatment costs compared with monotherapy or combination strategies."

More information: Wanying Wang et al, Current status and future perspectives of bispecific antibodies in the treatment of lung cancer, Chinese Medical Journal (2023). DOI: 10.1097/CM9.0000000000002460

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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

After examining 298 patients who experienced cardiac arrest, researchers found that ECG markers can provide a clue as to how the treatment is workingas much as four to five minutes into the future.

This ability to see how the treatment is working can save many lives.

Every year, between 1,200 and 1,500 patients suffer a cardiac arrest in Norwegian hospitals. Rapid, correct treatment is absolutely essential in helping these patients survive.

Even if a patient suffers a cardiac arrest within the hospital's four walls, the prognosis is often poor. Only one in four survives.

CPR, the same for everyone

When a heart stops, doctors have to hurry, and the life-saving effort can last a long time.

But doctors rarely have a sense of what the outcome will be.

"Now, everyone gets the same treatment. Given the wide range in different types of cardiac arrest and patients, we think this isn't the most logical approach," said Anders Norvik, a senior consultant at St. Olavs Hospital and a Ph.D. candidate at NTNU.

Norvik, along with researchers from Trondheim, Stavanger, the U.S. and Spain, has tried to find a solution to this problem.

In a new study published in the journal Resuscitation, the team has analyzed ECG data from 298 patients who experienced cardiac arrest. The information was taken from defibrillators at St. Olavs Hospital in Trondheim and two American hospitals.

"We chose ECG for the method because all cardiac arrest patients will be connected to an ECG monitor with electrodes. Either the ECG monitor is built into the defibrillator that the ambulance or emergency team brings with it, or it is part of a separate monitoring system in the hospital," says Eirik Skogvoll, an NTNU professor and senior consultant in pediatric anesthesia at St. Olavs Hospital. "In other words, the ECG is always available and thus a universal source of information."

The researchers first analyzed the data by examining the progress of the individual patient, and finding out whether the person's pulse comes back spontaneously as a result of the treatment. Next, the researchers examined the ECG recorded immediately before the person's heart rate changed.

"It turns out that there is a higher heart rate just before the patient's pulse returns than if the patient's pulse does not return. That gives us the possibility of an ongoing prognostic assessmenta kind of weather forecast of good or bad weather," Skogvoll said.

The researchers also used other information from the ECG, the ECG signal width. When the signal width is narrow or tapering, that's a good sign. But if the width is broad or spreading, that's not so good.

Tailored treatment the goal

The hope is that the new method can allow for more tailored treatments in the future.

"It may mean that we continue the good treatment that is given, if the result on the ECG points in the right direction. It may also mean that we have to reassess part of the treatment strategy if the result points in the wrong direction," Skogvoll, who led the study, said.

"This could be a way to individualize cardiac arrest treatment," he said.

The international research group is the first in the world to quantify this connection.

Nevertheless, doctors at St. Olavs believe that more research must be done to get better answers. They want the findings to be verified with the help of other, independent studies.

"We hope this can help save more lives," Norvik said.

Even if a cardiac arrest occurs in a hospital, there's only a 25% chance of survival, the doctors said.

If you were to witness a cardiac arrest, Norvik and his colleagues have some good advice.

"Then there are two things that are very important. First you call for help, then you start CPR, with 30 cardiac compressions followed by two breaths. This is how you continue until help arrives, or someone fetches a defibrillator," Norvik said.

Because for someone to survive a cardiac arrest, someone has to see itand do something about it.

More information: A. Norvik et al, Heart rate and QRS duration as biomarkers predict the immediate outcome from pulseless electrical activity, Resuscitation (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2023.109739
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OSM induces Eda2r expression in muscle and the depletion of OSMR protects from muscle wasting. a, Mouse primary myotubes were treated with recombinant TNF, IL-6, LIF and OSM (250 ng/ml each). mRNA levels were determined by RT-qPCR (n = 3). b,c, Mouse primary myotubes were treated with recombinant OSM and EDA-A2 (250 ng/ml each) for 48 hr. Myotubes also treated with the GFP adenovirus were visualized under the fluorescence microscope. The scale bar is 50 m (b). Credit: Nature (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06047-y

Researchers from the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics at Koc University in Turkey and the Pole of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Nutrition, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research at Universite Catholique de Louvain in Belgium, have collaborated to interrogate the mechanisms behind a cancer-associated wasting syndromecachexia.

The paper "EDA2RNIK signalling promotes muscle atrophy linked to cancer cachexia," published in Nature, details the discovery of how an alternative splicing of ectodysplasin A (EDA) leads to a signaling pathway in cachexia pathology. A News & Views piece published in the same journal outlines the study's findings.

EDA, a type of cytokine, belongs to the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily of signaling proteins made by white blood cells to do the work of the immune system. Researchers discovered that an alternative splicing of EDA, EDA2R messenger RNA, was enriched in the skeletal muscle tissues of mice with the wasting syndrome cachexia.

Wasting syndrome

Cachexia most often appears in advanced pancreatic and lung cancer and frequently with colorectal, ovarian, and liver cancers.

Defined as losing 5% or more of body weight over the preceding six months, cachexia can also induce fatigue and reduced strength. The definition alone is a crude measure of a more complex physiological condition that can be missed in diagnosis as it overlaps similar effects that cancer treatments can have.

Physical atrophy with cachexia can accelerate as the patient may be unable to perform routine tasks like bathing, shopping or feeding themselves, either from a lack of physical energy or absence of appetite. Mental health issues can quickly follow. Additionally, the fallout from cachexia is considered to be directly causal to nearly a third of cancer deaths when heart or respiratory failure due to muscle loss occurs.

Without a known mechanism, even a diagnosis can have limited use in clinical settings without effective treatments and a clear course of action.

Intriguing correlation

Through gene expression searches in muscle biopsies, the researchers detected elevated EDA2R mRNA in patients with cachectic cancers (lung, gastrointestinal, pancreatic and colorectal cancers) when compared to cancer patients without cachexia and cancer-free controls.

Additionally, the team found that patients suffering from reduced muscle mass and function with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) also had significantly elevated EDA2R transcript.

With the EDA-A2EDA2R pathway correlation detected, researchers pursued the investigation further.

Discovering mechanisms

Starting with tissue cultures and advancing to a mouse model, the team repeatedly found that enhanced EDA-A2 protein levels had deleterious effects. They observed a cell size reduction in the tissue cultures, and in vivo mice experiments showed profound muscle degeneration.

The experiments also revealed downstream effects of EDA-A2 after interacting with its receptor. NFB-inducing kinase (NIK), a key regulator of transcription factors that control the expression of a significant number of genes, is set in motion to activate genes that transcribe enzymes that can break down muscle tissues.

Upstream of the receptor EDA2R expression, researchers identified tumor-induced oncostatin M (OSM) as a key up regulator. Depletion of OSM messenger RNA in muscles protected them against wasting and atrophy.

The study results suggest that OSMOSMR signaling acts in parallel with the EDA2RNIK pathway and reinforces muscle atrophy and EDA2R upregulation.

Deleting either EDA2R or NIK in mice was sufficient to confer resistance against tumor-induced muscle wasting. The authors suggest targeting the OSMOSMR pathway could also be a high-value therapeutic target.

As with the end of any good study, more research is needed. The next steps may be determining which targets hold the best risk-benefit ratios and advancing the understanding of causal relationships toward a clinical intervention.

More information: Sevval Nur Bilgic et al, EDA2RNIK signalling promotes muscle atrophy linked to cancer cachexia, Nature (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06047-y Laura Antonio-Herrera et al, Molecular basis for muscle loss that causes cachexia, Nature (2023). DOI: 10.1038/d41586-023-01527-7 Journal information: Nature

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Steps in the Delphi process of the development of iCHECK-DH: Guidelines and Checklist for the Reporting on Digital Health Implementations. Credit: Journal of Medical Internet Research (2023). DOI: 10.2196/46694

A group of global experts have developed a checklist to improve the reporting of digital health implementations, as introduced in a new study published on May 10, 2023, in the Journal of Medical Internet Research.

The new checklist called "iCHECK-DH" (pronounced "I checked") stands for "Guidelines and Checklist for the Reporting on Digital Health Implementations." This 20-item checklist aims to standardize the quality of reporting and improve implementation standards and best practices for digital health technologies.

Digital health technologies have grown exponentially in the recent past, but many remain limited to pilot studies due to the lack of evidence or barriers to implementation. To overcome these challenges, stakeholders must learn from previous implementations and systematically document their processes. The launch of iCHECK-DH is a step toward better understanding the real-world impact of digital health technology and identifying effective strategies for future implementation.

The development of iCHECK-DH, facilitated by the Geneva Digital Health Hub (gdhub), was intended to bridge the gap between implementation research and practice. The checklist was pilot-tested on several real-world digital health implementations, and changes were made based on the feedback received, to ensure its practicality and usefulness.

iCHECK-DH focuses on documenting the minimum essential information needed to adequately describe a digital health implementation (eg, context, intervention, and implementation processes), to allow others to identify key factors for success and failure and replicate it in different settings. The author group anticipates that widespread adoption of the iCHECK-DH checklist will aid researchers and practitioners to ensure that their reports are complete, accurate, and consistent.

Systematic documentation via implementation reports can lead to the development of more effective digital health interventions and better health outcomes. Considering the usefulness of these reports in the digital health context, JMIR Publications recently announced a new article type, as an avenue to publish "implementation reports" in its open-access journal JMIR Medical Informatics.

Caroline Perrin Franck and Christian Lovis, who serve on the journal's editorial board, discuss this in their recent editorial titled "To Err Is Evolution": We Need the Implementation Report to Learn. This new article type was introduced in an effort to promote the rapid documentation and dissemination of the perspectives and experiences of those involved in implementing and assessing the effectiveness of digital health interventions.

The iCHECK-DH checklist and implementation reports can help promote transparency, knowledge transfer, and accountability in digital health, allowing stakeholders to better understand the successes and challenges of different implementations.

More information: Caroline Perrin Franck et al, iCHECK-DH: Guidelines and Checklist for the Reporting on Digital Health Implementations, Journal of Medical Internet Research (2023). DOI: 10.2196/46694 Journal information: Journal of Medical Internet Research

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A Penn State-led team of researchers has created a pencil-on-paper wearable sensor that is accessible, affordable and waterproof. Credit: Huanyu Larry Cheng

A Penn State-led team of researchers has literally put pencil to paper to create an accessible, affordable, waterproof and wearable sensor to monitor multiple vital signals. The team published the details of the pencil-on-paper sensor in Chemical Engineering Journal.

The team had previously designed a pencil-on-paper sensor that could be used in "smart diapers" to detect wetness. That sensor, however, was not hydrophobic, so while it was useful in detecting moisture, it could not be used to accurately monitor other health variables where moisture might interfere with the sensing and the results.

"In this case, we are looking to measure gas molecules, temperature and electrical physiological signals," said co-corresponding author Huanyu "Larry" Cheng, James L. Henderson Jr. Memorial Associate Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics at Penn State. "If we get interference from the moisture or rapid humidity, the signal and mechanical robustness will be compromised. That's why we designed a superhydrophobic coating, making the sensor practically waterproof."

The researchers used a silica hydrophobic coating, which had been used for other sensors, but never for the pencil-on-paper sensors. These sensors were also designed to be stretchable, making it possible to wear on the skin.

"With this sensor, you don't need bulky equipment," said co-corresponding author Li Yang, formerly a visiting scholar in the Penn State Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics and now of the School of Health Sciences and Biomedical Engineering at Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, China. "We use low-cost manufacturing approaches to make them accessible. The sensor is made of graphite material exfoliated from a pencil. So, the pencil material is really the sensing material because it's a conducting material."

The sensors use a silica hydrophobic coating, which has not been used previously for the pencil-on-paper sensors. These sensors were also designed to be stretchable, making it possible to wear on the skin. Credit: Huanyu Larry Cheng

In addition to capturing temperature and gas molecules, the sensors could capture electrical physiological action to monitor muscular motion, cardiovascular activity and brain signals. The researchers said that the device has the potential not just for sensing but also for stimulationfor example, the sensor could administer thermal therapy by sending a current to the skin.

Cheng said that the sensor's affordability, accessibility and versatilityin terms of the scope of vital signs it could measuremay make it useful for public health applications, instead of solely individual health purposes.

"In general, we are interested in the population health," Cheng said. "So, with this low-cost manufacturing process and sensor accessibility, we are hoping we can provide this to a really large population, and then collect information about the variation between individuals to be able to establish a baseline, according to the patient population in different geographic locations or in different populations."

The other authors on the paper are Ankan Dutta, doctoral student in the Penn State Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics; and Ye Xue, Zihan Wang, Xue Chen, Peng Gao, Runze Li, Jiayi Yan, Guangyu Niu, Ya Wang, Shuajie Du and Li Yang, all of Hebei University of Technology in Yianjin, China.

More information: Ye Xue et al, Superhydrophobic, stretchable kirigami pencil-on-paper multifunctional device platform, Chemical Engineering Journal (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2023.142774
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The way sex is portrayed in pop culture films and music could easily give you the idea that it, at least physically, should happen easilyparticularly for men.

Sex may seem like a straightforward activity but it actually involves a high degree of coordination between the brain and body parts. Recent data suggests that erectile dysfunction affects around one in five UK men, with the figure rising to 50% for the 40-70 age group.

With this data in mind, we set out to explore how we could mathematically model the essence of sexual response in men and improve the experience. But in our study published in Chaos: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Nonlinear Science, we found that too much psychological arousal before or during sexual stimulation can make it difficult to climax.

Until recently, little was known scientifically about physiology and psychology of what happens when people are having sex, partly because of the taboo around it. A breakthrough came in the 1960s with the work of US researchers William Masters and Virginia Johnson. They invited over 380 women and over 300 men to a lab and observed them having sex, taking notes of the physiological changes that happened.

Having collected data from over 10,000 sex acts, Masters and Johnson published their results in 1966 in their Human Sexual Response paper. It proposed a paradigm of the human sexual response cycle as a sequence of excitement, plateau, orgasm, resolution. For each of these stages Masters and Johnson described in minute detail physiological changes in genital areas, as well as more general reactions, such as hyperventilation, increased pulse and blood pressure, and involuntary sweating immediately after orgasm.

While sexual responses in women are less understood, the Masters-Johnson sexual response cycle for men has stood the test of time and is still the best representation of the stages men go through when having sex. Data collected by later studies showed that female sexual responses are more diverse and don't follow the linear progression of excitement-plateau-orgasm-resolution of the Masters-Johnson model.

Practical insights

One of the criticisms of the Masters-Johnson framework was that it did not account for psychological component of sexual response. In our mathematical model, we wanted to capture interactions between physiological and psychological aspects of sexual response in men. Our model focused on how the levels of physiological and psychological arousal (turn-on) change during sexual stimulation.

We combined data about physiological responses from the Masters-Johnson study with insights from five functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies of people having sex from 2003 to 2011. fMRI measures the small changes in blood flow that occur with brain activity.

Our model made two assumptions. First, that psychological turn on increases when someone is physically excited, from watching porn or from observing a partner and interacting with them. We also assumed that after sex, psychological excitement eventually subsides.

Getting over excited

The results of our model show that if a man becomes psychologically overly excited, either due to their initial level of psychological turn-on before, or during sex, this can be detrimental to their chances of achieving orgasm. One explanation for this is that when someone is overly excited they are too focused on their sexual performance or achieving an orgasm.

This can cause anxiety, which is itself a state of psychological overstimulation. As a result, people can come to a frustrating state of being agonizingly close to the point of climax yet not being able to reach it. The solution to this is to mentally switch-off and relax to allow your psychological arousal to decrease.

Another finding of our model is that the level of physical arousal decreases with psychological stimulation. Although this may seem counter-intuitive, it fits with the data from fMRI studies from around 15 years ago, in which 21 men were put inside an fMRI scanner and asked to bring themselves to orgasm either through self-stimulation or with the help of their partners.

The results showed that right before orgasm, many areas of the brain become deactivated. These include the amygdala (responsible for processing emotions and threatening stimuli) frontal cortical regions (controls judgment and decision making) and orbitofrontal cortex (integrates sensory input and takes part in decision making for emotional and reward-related behavior).

So orgasm is associated with letting goit's a mental release as much as a physical one.

The same result follows from the Yerkes-Dodson law, which over 100 years ago established that for some tasks optimal physical performance is achieved with intermediate levels of psychological arousal. For example, difficult or intellectually demanding tasks may require a lower level of arousal (to facilitate concentration), whereas tasks demanding stamina or persistence need higher levels of arousal (to increase motivation).

Mathematical models have already helped us understand the dynamics of other physiological processes, such as blood circulation, heart disease, cancer, neural firing in the brain. Applying them to such complex phenomenon such as sexual response can provide insights that can help improve sexual performance and develop new approaches to treatment of sexual dysfunction.

What next?

Women have a greater variety of sexual responses that can include single or multiple orgasms.

Recent data suggests that while heterosexual men achieve orgasm about 95% of the time, the equivalent figure for heterosexual women is a measly 65%.

Our next step would be to explore how to develop a mathematical model to represent the dynamics of female sexual response using the latest Basson's circular model, which will hopefully help close the orgasm gap.

More information: K. B. Blyuss et al, Sex, ducks, and rock "n" roll: Mathematical model of sexual response, Chaos: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Nonlinear Science (2023). DOI: 10.1063/5.0143190

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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HD MAMs have a reduced phagocytic response and alter T cell activation in the presence of CD3 and CD28 stimulation. MAMs were cultured for 14 days and K562 cells were cultured for 5 days prior to use in phagocytosis assay. Cell types were mixed for phagocytosis assay. A Flow cytometry analysis of mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of HD (MAMHD) and LD MAMs (MAMLD). Data are presented as mean values +/ SD. p = 0.02. Two-tailed Mann-Whitney U test used. Representative contour plots of CTY+ macrophages cultured between HD and LD ECM. N = 4 LD MAM or HD MAM samples, with 3 technical repeats per sample. B MFI of CD209+ and CD206+ CTY+ cells. Data are presented as mean values +/ SD. Two-tailed unpaired T-test used. p = 0.77, p = 0.11, respectively. N = 4 LD MAM or HD MAM samples, with 3 technical repeats per sample. C Schematic of MAMs and T cell co-culture workflow. Flow gating strategy provided in Supplementary Fig. 24. D Normalized MFI of LAG3, PD1 and TIM3 expression on CD3+ T cells as assessed using flow cytometry after 5 days culture alone or co-culture with HD or LD MAMs. Data are presented as mean values +/ SD. One-way ANOVA followed by Dunnetts multiple comparisons test. LAG3 **p = 0.0026, *p = 0.0444, PD-1 **p = 0.0039, TIM3 *p = 0.0209, N = 4. E Percentage of proliferating CD3+ T cells as assessed by Cell Trace Violet dilution using flow cytometry after 5 days culture alone or co-culture with high or low disease MAMs. Data are presented as mean values +/ SD. One-way ANOVA followed by Dunnetts multiple comparisons test. *p = 0.013, N = 4. F Normalized MFI of LAG3, PD-1, and TIM3 expression on CD3+ T cells and percentage of proliferating CD3+ T cells as assessed using flow cytometry after 5 days culture alone or co-culture with high or low disease MAMs conditioned media. Data are presented as mean values +/ SD. One-way ANOVA followed by Dunnetts multiple comparisons test. N = 4. Credit: Nature Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38093-5

A structure surrounding ovarian cancer trains cells called macrophages to protect the tumor from immune attack, according to new research led by Queen Mary University of London.

The work uncovers tactics that the tumor uses to disarm the immune system and points toward potential therapeutic strategies to overcome the cancer's defenses and treat patients more effectively.

The extracellular matrix is a network of scaffolding that surrounds our cells and helps to maintain the 3D shape and structure of our tissues. Tumors manipulate and rearrange this structure as they develop to support their growth and spread. However, new research shows that the matrix is not merely an inert skeleton, but a dynamic and active accomplice in tumor development.

Dr. Oliver Pearce, lead co-author and Lecturer at Queen Mary's Barts Cancer Institute, says, "The matrix was previously seen as a bystander in this process, but recently, people have realized that it has a direct functional effect on how tumors develop and, most importantly, how tumors are likely to respond to treatment."

The matrix provides a line of defense around tumors that excludes and disarms immune cells, blocking them from attacking the cancer. This can cause potentially potent immunotherapies to fail, as their ability to boost the immune system's power to fight cancer is rendered useless if immune cells cannot infiltrate the tumor.

"We wanted to find out: what are the important components of the matrix that suppress the immune system?" explains Dr. Eleanor Tyler, postdoctoral researcher in Dr. Pearce's lab and lead co-author, "and can we target these to improve immune infiltration and the efficacy of therapies?"

In the new study, published in Nature Communications, Dr. Tyler analyzed data from tumor samples from 12 different types of cancer, including ovarian cancer. She found that patients' disease progressed more rapidly when the matrix around their tumor contained a set of five key molecular building blocks. Interestingly, matrix built this way often contained cells called M0 macrophages, a mysterious class of immune cells that remains poorly understood.

This raised questions: Are these cells helping to suppress an immune response and protect the tumor? And why are these macrophages so abundant in matrix containing these five molecules?

The researchers speculated that the tumor matrix could be operating like a school, training immature immune cells to become M0 macrophages. To test this theory, they took samples of ovarian tumors and stripped away all of the cells, leaving behind the architecture of the matrix, fully intact.

Next, the team introduced immature cells called monocytes into this structure. "To our surprise, the monocytes we put into this model matured into macrophages similar to the M0 cells we saw in human tumor tissues without any other stimulus. The matrix instigates this change by itself," Dr. Pearce comments.

In collaboration with colleagues at the University of Basel, Switzerland, the researchers also revealed that their M0 macrophages can suppress components of the immune responsesuch as T cells, which play an important role in tumor killing. T cells incubated with these macrophages did not proliferate as quickly and showed signs of being deactivated.

These results could pave the way for new drugs that target parts of the matrix and disrupt its ability to suppress immune responses to the tumor. Dr. Pearce and his team are already working with biotech companies to develop potential therapies that target aspects of the matrix and lower the tumor's defenses. These approaches could be used in combination with immunotherapies to boost their efficacy and improve patients' survival.

More information: E. H. Puttock et al, Extracellular matrix educates an immunoregulatory tumor macrophage phenotype found in ovarian cancer metastasis, Nature Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38093-5 Journal information: Nature Communications
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The Federal Trade Commission has filed a lawsuit to block biotechnology company Amgen from buying Horizon Therapeutics for $27.8 billion  the first time the FTC has tried to stop a pharmaceutical merger in years.

The FTC has filed a lawsuit in federal court to try to halt the deal between Amgen and Horizon, which has its U.S. headquarters in Deerfield, the FTC said. The agency alleges the deal would allow Amgen to strengthen Horizons monopoly when it comes to two of Horizons medications: Tepezza, used to treat thyroid eye disease, and Krystexxa, used to treat chronic refractory gout.

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Those two drugs dont have any competition now, allowing Horizon to charge about $350,000 for a six-month course of treatment of Tepezza and about $650,000 for an annual supply of Krystexxa, according to the FTC. If Amgen were allowed to buy Horizon, Amgen would be able to use rebates on its existing, popular drugs to pressure insurance companies and pharmacy benefit managers into favoring the two Horizon drugs, the FTC alleges. That would make it difficult for companies developing drugs similar to Tepezza and Krystexxa to compete, the FTC says.

The Horizon Therapeutics offices in Deerfield. Horizon had about 2,000 employees globally, including about 600 at its U.S. headquarters in Deerfield, as of late last year. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

Pharmacy benefit managers are companies that act as middlemen between insurers, pharmacies and drugmakers. Drugmakers often pay rebates to pharmacy benefit managers in exchange for pharmacy benefit managers agreeing to make it easier for consumers to buy a specific drug under an insurance plan.

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Rampant consolidation in the pharmaceutical industry has given powerful companies a pass to exorbitantly hike prescription drug prices, deny patients access to more affordable generics, and hamstring innovation in life-saving markets, FTC Bureau of Competition Director Holly Vedova said in a news release. Todays action  the FTCs first challenge to a pharmaceutical merger in recent memory  sends a clear signal to the market: The FTC wont hesitate to challenge mergers that enable pharmaceutical conglomerates to entrench their monopolies at the expense of consumers and fair competition.

Amgen said in a statement Tuesday that it remains committed to completing this acquisition. The FTCs allegation that Amgen might bundle its popular medicines with Tepezza and Krystexxa for discounts in the future is entirely speculative and does not reflect the real world competitive dynamics behind providing rare-disease medicines to patients, Amgen said.

Horizon said in a statement Tuesday that it also does not plan to bundle together any of its rare disease medications.

This acquisition has the potential to accelerate the availability of important rare disease medicines to more patients worldwide, Horizon said. The company said it hopes to close the deal by mid-December. The deal was originally expected to close in the first half of this year.

The FTCs lawsuit may have implications for other drug companies hoping to merge in the future, said Karen Andersen, a biotech strategist at Morningstar.

The acquisition doesnt have any of the typical hallmarks you would look for that would trigger this kind of reaction (from the FTC), like drugs in the same therapeutic areas, Andersen said. Rather, the FTC says it is concerned about the prospect that Amgen might condition rebates for its popular drugs on pharmacy benefit managers favoring Horizons drugs, which would entrench Tepezza and Krystexxas monopolies.

Its a theoretical concern that could derail many acquisitions, especially those in rare disease, when you have a drug thats in a monopoly position already, Andersen said. It seems this could extend the reach of their investigations much wider than weve seen in the past.

Horizon, which is based in Ireland, sells orphan drugs, which are medications for rare diseases, and drugs to treat rheumatic diseases. Amgen is a large drugmaker based in California. A new Amgen subsidiary is supposed to acquire Horizon.

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Horizon had about 2,000 employees globally, including about 600 at its U.S. headquarters in Deerfield, as of late last year.

Its not yet clear exactly what will become of Horizons Deerfield offices if the deal closes. Amgen and Horizon said in a formal document announcing the plan in December that the combined companies global headquarters would be in Thousand Oaks, California, and Amgen would evaluate whether to consolidate some or all of the companys other locations to California and other Amgen locations.
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For nearly 25 years, Dr. James Kirby has worked to advance the fight against infectious diseases by finding and developing new, potent antimicrobials, and by better understanding how disease-causing bacteria make us sick. In a recent paper published in PLOS Biology, Kirby and colleagues investigated a naturally occurring antimicrobial agent discovered more than 80 years ago.

"The end of modern medicine as we know it." That's how the then-director general of the World Health Organization characterized the creeping problem of antimicrobial resistance in 2012. Antimicrobial resistance is the tendency of bacteria, fungus and other disease-causing microbes to evolve strategies to evade the medications humans have discovered and developed to fight them. The evolution of these so-called "super bugs" is an inevitable natural phenomenon, accelerated by misuse of existing drugs and intensified by the lack of new ones in the development pipeline.

Without antibiotics to manage common bacterial infections, small injuries and minor infections become potentially fatal encounters. In 2019, more than 2.8 million antimicrobial-resistant infections occurred in the United States, and more than 35,000 people died as a result, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In the same year, about 1.25 million people died globally. A report from the United Nations issued earlier this year warned that number could rise to ten million global deaths annually if nothing is done to combat antimicrobial resistance.

Using leading-edge technology, Kirby's team demonstrated that chemical variants of the antibiotic, called streptothricins, showed potency against several contemporary drug-resistant strains of bacteria. The researchers also revealed the unique mechanism by which streptothricin fights off bacterial infections. What's more, they showed the antibiotic had a therapeutic effect in an animal model at non-toxic concentrations. Taken together, the findings suggest streptothricin deserves further pre-clinical exploration as a potential therapy for the treatment of multi-drug resistant bacteria.

We asked Dr. Kirby to tell us more about this long-ignored antibiotic and how it could help humans stave off the problems of antimicrobial resistance a little longer.

Q: Why is it important to look for new antimicrobials? Can't we preserve the drugs we have through more judicious use of antibiotics?

Stewardship is extremely important, but once you're infected with one of these drug-resistant organisms, you need the tools to address it.

Much of modern medicine is predicated on making patients temporarilyand sometimes for long periods of timeimmunosuppressed. When these patients get colonized with these multidrug-resistant organisms, it's very problematic. We need better antibiotics and more choices to address multidrug resistance.

We have to realize that this is a worldwide problem, and organisms know no borders. So, a management approach for using these therapies may work well in Boston but may not in other areas of the world where the resources aren't available to do appropriate stewardship.

Q: Your team investigated an antimicrobial discovered more than 80 years ago. Why was so little still known about it?

The first antibiotic, penicillin, was discovered in 1928 and mass produced for the market by the early 1940s. While a game-changing drug, it worked on only one of the two major classes of bacteria that infect people, what we call gram-positive bacteria. The gram-positive bacteria include staphylococcal infections and streptococcal infections which cause strep throat, skin infections and toxic shock. There still was not an antibiotic for the other half of bacteria that can cause human infections, known as gram-negative organisms.

In 1942, scientists discovered this antibiotic that they isolated from a soil bacterium called streptothricin, possibly addressing gram-negative organisms. A pharmaceutical company immediately licensed the rights to it, but the development program was dropped soon after when some patients developed renal or kidney toxicity. Part of the reason for not pursuing further research was that several additional antibiotics were identified soon thereafter which were also active against gram-negatives. So, streptothricin got shelved.

Q: What prompted you to look at streptothricin specifically now?

It was partly serendipity. My research laboratory is interested in finding new, or old and forgotten, solutions to treat highly drug-resistant gram-negative pathogens like E. coli or Klebsiella or Acinetobacter that we commonly see in hospitalized, immunocompromised patients. The problem is that they're increasingly resistant to many if not all of the antibiotics that we have available.

Part of our research is to understand how these superbugs cause disease. To do that, we need a way to manipulate the genomes of these organisms. Commonly, the way that's done is to create a change in the organism linked with the ability to resist a particular antibiotic that's known as a selection agent. But for these super resistant gram-negative pathogens, there was really nothing we could use. These bugs were already resistant to everything.

We started searching around for drugs that we could use, and it turns out these super resistant bugs were highly susceptible to streptothricin, so we were able to use it as a selection agent to do these experiments.

As I read the literature on streptothricin and its history, I had the realization that it was not sufficiently explored. Here was this antibiotic with outstanding activity against gram-negative bacteriaand we confirmed that by testing it against a lot of different pathogens that we see in hospitals. That raised the question of whether we could get really good antibiotic activity at concentrations that are not going to cause damage to the animal or person in treatment.

Q: But it did cause kidney toxicity in people in 1942. What would be different now?

What scientists were isolating in 1942 was not as pure as what we are working with today. In fact, what was then called streptothricin is actually a mixture of several streptothricin variants. The natural mixture of different types of streptothricins is now referred to as nourseothricin.

In animal models, we tested whether we could kill the harmful microorganism without harming the host using a highly purified single streptothricin variant. We used a very famous strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae called the Nevada strain which was the first pan-drug-resistant, gram-negative organism isolated in the United States, an organism for which there was no treatment. A single dose cleared this organism from an infected animal model while avoiding any toxicity. It was really remarkable. We're still in the very early stages of development, but I think we've validated that this is a compound that's worth investing in further studies to find even better variants that eventually will meet the properties of a human therapeutic.

Q. How does nourseothricin work to kill gram-negative bacteria?

That's another really important part of our study. The mechanism hadn't been figured out before and we showed that nourseothricin acts in a completely new way compared to any other type of antibiotic.

It works by inhibiting the ability of the organism to produce proteins in a very sneaky way. When a cell makes proteins, they make them off a blueprint or message that tells the cell what amino acids to link together to build the protein. Our studies help explain how this antibiotic confuses the machinery so that the message is read incorrectly, and it starts to put together gibberish. Essentially the cell gets poisoned because it's producing all this junk.

In the absence of new classes of antibiotics, we've been good at taking existing drugs like penicillin for example and modifying them; we've been making variations on the same theme. The problem with that is that the resistance mechanisms against penicillin and other drugs already exist. There's a huge environmental reservoir of resistance out there. Those existing mechanisms of resistance might not work perfectly well against your new variant of penicillin, but they will evolve very quickly to be able to conquer it.

So, there's recognition that what we really want is new classes of antibiotics that act in a novel way. That's why streptothricin's action uncovered by our studies is so exciting. It works in a very unique way not seen with any other antibiotic, and that is very powerful because it means there's not this huge environmental reservoir of potential resistance.

Q. You emphasize these are early steps in development. What are the next steps?

My lab is working very closely with colleagues at Northeastern University who figured out a way to synthesize streptothricin from scratch in a way that will allow us to cast many different variants. Then we can look for ones that have the ideal properties of high potency and reduced toxicity.

We are also continuing our collaboration with scientists at Case Western Reserve University Medical Center, diving more deeply to understand exactly how this antibiotic works. Then we can use that fundamental knowledge in our designs of future variants and be smarter about how we try to make the best antibiotic.

We have great collaborators that have allowed us to pursue a project that crosses multiple fields. This work is an example of collaborative science really at its best.

More information: Streptothricin F is a bactericidal antibiotic effective against highly drug-resistant gram-negative bacteria that interacts with the 30S subunit of the 70S ribosome, PLOS Biology (2023). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002091 Journal information: PLoS Biology
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Women who experience more severe hot flashes after menopause are more likely to develop metabolic syndrome and high blood pressure, according to research presented at the 25th European Congress of Endocrinology in Istanbul. The findings of this long-term study highlight the importance of using hormone replacement therapy for menopause in these women.

Metabolic syndrome is a group of three or more conditions that occur together, which increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. These conditions include high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels. After menopause, women are at a higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease.

In this study, researchers from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens examined 825 healthy women aged 40-65 years, who had recently gone through menopause, at Aretaieion University Hospital Athens in Greece.

They monitored these women over the course of 15 years, between 2006 and 2021, and found that those with moderate to severe hot flashes were more likely to develop hypertension and metabolic syndrome. Additionally, women who developed hypertension or metabolic syndrome were diagnosed earlier when experiencing more severe hot flashes compared to those who had no or milder cases of hot flashes.

Previous studies have also shown an association between hot flashes and cardiovascular health risk; women experiencing hot flashes have a higher risk of developing different types of conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels. However, this association has never been studied in women with varying degrees of symptoms on such a large scale.

"Our long-term study is carefully designed, in which we matched a carefully selected group of women according to the severity of hot flashes and their age, and followed them for up to 15 years," said lead researcher Dr. Elena Armeni.

Symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats can start around the time of menopause and can last up to 10 years. However, hormone replacement therapymedication that contains hormones which the body can no longer make after menopausecan be used to treat menopausal symptoms and protect long-term health, especially in women who have moderate to severe hot flashes.

"Our results re-emphasize the role of cardiovascular prevention strategies, such as the use of hormone replacement therapy, which should be implemented shortly after menopause," said Dr. Armeni. "This healthy group of women who are already candidates for hormone replacement therapy should be encouraged to opt for this treatment."

The researchers are now interested in whether these accumulated health risk factors cause heart conditions. "Our study shows that the most symptomatic women after menopause have more prevalent cardiovascular risk factors, but it is unclear if they are also more likely to develop heart disease, type 2 diabetes, or have a stroke," said Dr. Armeni. "If so, women with more disturbing symptoms will require appropriate health education to ensure they will remain fit and healthy in old age."

The study "The severity of hot flashes is associated with the risk for incident metabolic syndrome and new-onset hypertension after the menopause" will be presented on Sunday, May 14, 2023 at the European Congress of Endocrinology at the Halic Congress Center in Istanbul, Turkey.

Provided by European Society of Endocrinology
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Credit: Stem Cell Reports (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2023.04.007

The MGAT5 glycosylation enzyme plays a crucial role in brain development, according to a study by University of California, Irvine researchers, a discovery that may contribute to new therapeutic purposes for neural stem cells.

Neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes are the final mature cells of the brain and spinal cord formed by neural stem cells. Each has distinct and key functions. Neurons transmit signals, astrocytes help modify those signals, and oligodendrocytes keep the signals from degrading. When any cells make proteins or fats that end up on the cell surface, they often add small sugar molecules. The team tested whether this internal processcalled glycosylationaffects how neural stem cells form mature brain cells.

The study, published in the journal Stem Cell Reports, found that during glycosylation, the MGAT5 enzyme significantly regulates the formation of neurons and astrocytes from neural stem cells. Neural stem cells that don't have MGAT5 make more neurons and fewer astrocytes during the very early stages of brain development, altering its structure. These changes may contribute to later aberrant behavior patterns, including abnormal social interactions and repetitive actions.

"Now that we know MGAT5 and glycosylation have a substantial impact on neuron and astrocyte formation, we have a better idea of how our nervous system develops," said corresponding author Lisa Flanagan, professor of neurology in UCI's School of Medicine. "We hope these findings will contribute to the use of neural stem cells for therapeutic purposes by providing new information about the factors regulating these cells."

It was known that neural stem cells respond to the external signals they encounter during development. But it was not known whether neural stem cells could modify their responses to those signals. The team analyzed the role of glycosylation enzymes in brain maturation by comparing control mice to those whose neural stem cells did not have the MGAT5 enzyme. It found that neural stem cells use glycosylation to manage their reactions to external signals and regulate the development of mature brain cells.

"As we continue our work, we hope to determine which cell surface proteins and pathways controlled by glycosylation are critical for neuron and astrocyte formation," Flanagan said. "This will give us better insight into the external signals significantly modified by neural stem cell glycosylation, which will, in turn, help to decode the complex processes that occur during brain development and expand the therapeutic usefulness of neural stem cells."

The team included researchers from the School of Medicine's departments of anatomy & neurobiology, neurology, and pathology & laboratory medicine as well as The Henry Samueli School of Engineering's Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center.

More information: Andrew R. Yale et al, Regulation of neural stem cell differentiation and brain development by MGAT5-mediated N-glycosylation, Stem Cell Reports (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2023.04.007 Journal information: Stem Cell Reports
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A new study co-led by ISGlobal, the Manhica Health Research Centre (CISM) and the Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia (IBV), used cutting-edge sequencing technology and phylogenetic analysis to study the second and third waves of COVID-19 in Mozambique. The results, published in The Lancet Global Health, show that the beta variant of SARS-CoV-2 arrived mainly from South Africa, while delta arrived mainly from the UK and India, in addition to South Africa.

Since the start of the pandemic, global efforts to sequence SARS-CoV-2 have generated an unprecedented amount of data (more than 15 million sequences uploaded to the GISAID server to date).

This information has been critical to understanding the evolution of the virus and the potential implications for vaccines and other public health interventions. However, the origin of the uploaded sequences has been uneven: sampling has been insufficient in many regions of the world, hampering genomic surveillance at local and global levels.

"Most African countries, with the exception of South Africa, have reported a very low number of sequences. In Mozambique, for example, we had very little information on which viral variants were circulating during the different waves of COVID-19, or where they arrived from and when," says Alfredo Mayor, ISGlobal and CISM researcher.

In this study, a team led by Mayor, Inacio Mandomando (CISM), Inaki Comas (IBV) and Mariana Lopez (IBV), sequenced the viral genome from samples of symptomatic patients from southern Mozambique collected during the second and third waves of COVID-19. The aim of the study was to quantify how many times the different variants of the virus had been introduced into the country, to identify where they came from, and to assess how much they contributed to fueling the local pandemic.

The research team used a novel computational tool (UShER) to compare the sequences generated with more than seven million published sequences.

Regional travel for beta, international for delta

The results confirm that the vast majority of the nearly 1,000 sequences from Mozambique analyzed in this study corresponded to the delta variant (which dominated in the third wave, between June and September 2021), followed by beta (which dominated in the second wave, between January and March 2021), although other variants not previously reported in Mozambique (such as AY.37 and C..1.2) or even in Africa (such as AY.29) were also identified.

The analysis showed that the beta variant was introduced 190 independent times over a seven-month period, mostly from South Africa, the neighboring country where the variant is thought to have originated. The alpha variant, which was dominant in Europe at the time, was not detected. In contrast, delta was introduced more quickly (most of the 220 independent introductions occurred over four months) and from further away: UK and India, in addition to South Africa.

Delta quickly overtook beta, due to its higher transmissibility and greater community transmission. The results also show that most introductions, whether of beta or delta, did not generate descendants. Only a fraction of the introductions contributed to the local spread of the virus.

"We can conclude that COVID-19 was transmitted in Mozambique through regional (for beta) and international (for delta) migrations," explains Inacio Mandomando, coordinator of the bacterial, viral and other neglected tropical diseases area at the CISM.

"We have reached these conclusions because our study compares viral sequences from Mozambique with all available data worldwide; this approach allows us to minimize bias in inferring the origin of variants," says Inaki Comas, principal investigator of the Tuberculosis Genomics Unit (IBV).

These results raise questions about the cost-benefit ratio of such measures in a context of porous borders, such as in Mozambique. "Movement restrictions and border closures probably prevented or largely delayed the introduction of variants from non-African countries, but were insufficient to stop the entry of the virus from neighboring countries," concludes Mariana Lopez, a researcher at the Tuberculosis Genomics Unit at the IBV.

More information: Tracking SARS-CoV-2 introductions in Mozambique using pandemic-scale phylogenies: a retrospective observational study., The Lancet Global Health (2023). DOI: 10.1016/S2214-109X(23)00169-9 Journal information: The Lancet Global Health
Jay Raines got a notice in his mailbox one day last year that the entire Missoula mobile home court he lives in had been sold to a mysterious new owner, a Limited Liability Corporation based in California.

The LLC's registered agent is Jim Mosier, a managing partner at Grove Ventures Real Estate. The company's website says "Grove Ventures is a private real estate investment firm focused on multi-family and manufactured housing communities in high-growth regions of the Western United States."

At the bottom of the company's homepage, "cash flow generation" is listed, along with "appreciation," "tax benefits" and "capital preservation."

Raines subsequently got a notice his lot rent was being raised by $100 a month, which is an extra $1,200 a year. The only extra improvement the new property managers have added is more garbage service.

Raines relies on disability benefits from the Social Security Administration, meaning he's on a fixed income, and the lot rent increase was more than the cost-of-living-adjustment increase to his disability payments.

"That's a big increase," he remembers thinking.

As private equity firms snap up mobile home parks and apartment complexes in Montana, raising rents in the process, more and more people are being pushed toward and into homelessness or less stable housing.

Raines has lived in Sherwood Court in the Westside neighborhood near the corner of Broadway and Russell for the past eight years. The local owner, Bill Johnson, wrote in the letter to all the residents that they had decided "it was time for someone else to take the reins" after 30-plus years.

"A lot of these people live on disability," Raines said, referring to the dozens of residents in the trailer court. "My neighbor rents and she works at Walmart. I think she's been there for at least 10 years, and she is planning on moving to Billings."

Raines is upset that the previous owner didn't give the residents enough notice that it was being sold. If they had enough time, it's possible that they could have pooled their money and made a matching offer to buy the entire court through what's known as a Resident-Owned Community. Trailer court residents in other parks in Missoula and Montana have bought the land underneath their courts and then formed a cooperative.

"We could have gone around and gotten some kind of coalition going so we could have purchased it, if we had been notified," Raines said.

A bill proposed in the Montana Legislature this past session, HB 429, would have required that the residents of parks with more than 50 units be given a 60-day notice if the property was being sold. That would give them time to perhaps form a cooperative. It would also have required property owners to review counter-offers from a residents' association. The bill, sponsored by Rep. George Nikolakakos, R-Great Falls, died in the house.

'Under threat'

Cindy Newman is a resident of the Highwoods Trailer Park in Great Falls. In November of 2019, her trailer park was bought by Havenpark Capital Partners, a private equity firm that has been criticized for drastic lot rent increases as it snaps up mobile home parks across the country. The company also bought Golden Park trailer court in Billings and several other mobile home courts in Montana.

"Three years ago you could rent a lot in either Highwoods or Golden Meadows for $283 a month," Newman said. "Now Golden Meadows is $749 a month and it's $700 here. It just really exceeds what people have the ability to pay."

Newman felt her only option was to go to the Legislature this year and try to get some of the pro-tenant bills passed. She supported House Bill 889, which is a "Mobile Home Tenant Bill of Rights."

The bill was introduced by Rep. Jonathan Karlen, a Democrat representing the Frenchtown and Huson areas west of Missoula. Among other provisions, the bill would ban mobile home park owners from instituting month-to-month lease agreements and instead would require year-long leases unless a month-to-month lease agreement is mutually agreed upon. The bill passed the Legislature and is awaiting a signature from Gianforte to become law.

We are here today because our communities are under threat, Newman told a House committee when the bill was being considered. Real estate investors have seized on the vulnerability of homeowners who own homes but rent the land. They have built a highly profitable business model that relies on our limited mobility to squeeze large profits out of moderate-income residents."

Newman believes outside investors have worsened the affordability crisis for people in what used to be the most affordable homes in Montana.

"Under this model, we residents are suffering greatly and are reaching out in crisis," she said. "Lot rents for our homes are going up drastically. Under new corporate owners, utilities are being decoupled, maintenance is worsening. We now live with fear and uncertainty.

Both Raines and Newman say that residents of mobile home parks are at great risk of becoming homeless when lot rents are raised drastically. That's because many residents are on fixed incomes, and because there's nowhere for older mobile home owners to move their trailers. Often, mobile home parks are full, or the trailer is too old to move safely or meet the requirements of a new park.

Raines said most of the people in Sherwood Court have trailers that wouldn't stand up to being moved.

"I could not afford the thousands of dollars that it would take to move this and I actually bought my wheels and axels," he said. "Most of these people don't have wheels and axles and they would have to rent them as well as getting the truck to move it. Plus you have to jack it up and put it on said wheels."

According to the Manufactured Housing Institute, more than 22 million people in the U.S. live in these types of homes.

"In many parts of the U.S., homes like these are the least expensive kind of housing available without a government subsidy," the Institute's website states.

In 2022, an Oregon company purchased the El-Mar Trailer Village in Missoula and subsequently raised the lot rents by $100 per month. Dori Jenkens and her husband David had lived in the court for 34 years.

"We're more concerned about the elderly people living here that are on fixed incomes and people that will be forced to move out," Dori Jenkins told the Missoulian at the time. "This is a community here. A lot of people have been living here for decades and there's nowhere to move their trailers."

'At risk'

Outside investors have their eye on Montana, and Missoula is an especially hot market. It's not limited to trailer parks.

In 2022, a Colorado investment firm called Brinkman Real Estate bought the 171-unit Brooklyn West Apartments on Mullan Road.

"This is a highly attractive market," said Brett Silverstein, a Brinkman executive.

"We've seen tremendous success with our other assets in the state and Missoula has all the fundamentals that support real estate investment," said company CEO Kevin Brinkman.

Raines, the Sherwood Court resident, is now fearing that if rent keeps going up he may join the ranks of the untold numbers of homeless individuals in Montana. It could have been different if he and all the residents had a chance to come up with an offer.

"We had no opportunity," he said.

For Newman, the threat of out-of-state investors looking to make a profit off the backs of trailer park residents in Montana is a crisis.

"These private equity firms have a huge impact on the lives of homeowners due to rent gouging, retaliation and harassment," she said. "They train new managers to be bullies. Their main goal is to pretty much keep us quiet and get us to pay up and shut up."

She said that her time at the Legislature was frustrating, especially because of the short amount of time given to public commenters on every bill.

"We were given two minutes to save our homes," she said, "and our homes are really truly at risk."

Up next in this series: How a "wealth tax" in Portland, Oregon pays the wages of a street beautification team of homeless or formerly homeless individuals.
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."
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
Workers across our state are fighting for better contracts, fair pay, and safer working conditions every day. We need elected officials and those appointed by President Biden to protect our freedom to fight for what weve earned. Thats why were calling on Senator Daines and Senator Tester to vote to approve the nomination of Julie Su for secretary of labor.

As prices soar and the wealthiest corporations are trying to rig the economy in their favor through stock buybacks, union busting, and corporate monopolies, we need those weve elected to take action and protect Montana's working families and our local economies. That starts by making sure our leaders are crafting policy and legislation that puts working families first and protects our freedom to bargain for a fair deal.

And fighting for fair pay, safe working conditions, and a secure retirement is what Su has been doing for decades.

As a lawyer, she fought on behalf of sweatshop workers who were forced to work 18 hour days, resulting in legislation that held companies accountable for the working conditions and wages of subcontractors. As California Labor Commissioner Su fought against wage theft and launched a public education campaign which resulted in more accountability and a dramatic increase in the number of wage theft investigations, ensuring that millions of dollars in back wages were paid to the workers who earned them.

Montanans are proud of the state weve built together through hard work and fairness. A recent poll conducted by RABA Research found that 93% of the Montanans surveyed believe Montanas workers should be able to join a union if they choose to, and 86% said they would be less likely to support their legislator if they knew they voted to weaken workers rights. This is because Montanans know that collective bargaining is a fundamental Montana value and a critical tool Montana workers have to ensure that we have the leverage we need to protect our local economies, our wages, and our safety on the job. We need a secretary of labor who understands this and will fight alongside Montanas workers to protect our voice on the job.

During the 2023 legislative session in Montana, electrical workers, construction workers, teachers, truck drivers, plumbers and pipefitters, ironworkers, and many others lined the halls of our capitol in Helena to defeat attacks on our right to join a union, prevailing wage laws, and pensions. Throughout the legislative session workers made it clear that we want partners in government who will stand up for our families, our working conditions, and our local economies.

The Montana AFL-CIO and working people across our state urge Senator Tester and Senator Daines to work for Montanans, fight for a fair deal, and vote to approve Julie Su as secretary of labor.
Like most Montanans, I am a relentless advocate for the public lands in our state. Some of my favorite memories come from hunting and fly-fishing with my husband and two sons in southwest Montana in the valleys of the Big Hole and Beaverhead rivers and dozens of other spectacular landscapes managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Over the years, though, Ive grown alarmed as Ive seen more and more of my favorite hunting and fishing spots become degraded from too many people, along with impacts from drought, fires, and the changing climate. Degraded habitat is the leading cause of the wildlife crisis that we face, with nearly one-third of all species at an elevated risk of extinction.

Thats why I am supporting a proposed public lands rule put forth by the BLM. Although the mission of the agency has always been to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of public lands, too often the focus has been on productivity and not on health. The new proposal aims to rectify that by elevating conservation as one of the multiple uses it oversees on public lands  alongside energy development, livestock grazing, timber harvest, and recreation.

The goal of the proposed rule is to restore lands and waters, improve ecosystem resilience, and conserve landscapes that are necessary for wildlife to survive and thrive. In the face of impacts from our changing weather patterns, unfettered migration pathways are more important than ever so wildlife can move and adapt to changing conditions.

The new rule will direct BLM employees to identify and prioritize landscapes in need of restoration by working with Tribal partners, state and local agencies, and conservation groups. The agency will be required to regularly monitor and assess the projects to ensure the new management practices are improving the health of the landscapes and watershed.

The agency is also proposing a new tool to restore lands by issuing conservation leases. This would allow private organizations to enter into an agreement with the BLM to restore wildlife habitat. Conservation leasing could also be used as an important tool for mitigation of projects. If an energy company needed to compensate for development in one area, it could restore land in another area by obtaining a conservation lease.

In addition to being an avid hunter and angler, my husband and I ranched for 25 years. I know how important it is to maintain the health of the land so that livestock can thrive. For years, ranchers have had to follow certain terms and conditions to maintain grazing permits on public lands. As ranchers, weve always wanted terms and conditions applied to other users of public lands. This proposed BLM conservation rule will do just that.

From my perspective, all of us in Montana who enjoy the benefits of public lands should be called upon to help steward them: whether we are hunters, anglers, ranchers, recreationists, foresters, or energy producers. The proposed rule doesnt get rid of the multiple use mission of the BLM  it merely adds land conservation as another multiple use. If adopted, it will encourage more responsible management of our public lands and it will provide new opportunities for tribal and local communities to have more input into the way public lands are managed.

The benefits of rebalancing how lands are managed seem obvious. Wildlife habitat will be restored, risks of wildfire reduced, the spread of invasive species will be controlled, forage for livestock and wildlife will be improved and opportunities for hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreation will be expanded. In addition, healthier lands make rural communities more resilient to impacts from climate change.

The Bureau of Land Management is currently seeking feedback from the public about this proposed rule. I hope my fellow hunters, anglers, ranchers, and public lands advocates will all speak up in support of this innovative plan that will put a greater premium on landscape and watershed health so our cherished lands and waters prosper and thrive.
Thank you for supporting our journalism. This article is available exclusively for our subscribers, who help fund our work at the Chicago Tribune.

An Army Airborne jacket worn by comedian Bob Hope on display at the Museum of Broadcast Communications exhibit "A Century of Radio" on Oct. 14, 2021. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)

Concluding its run in a location where it always found itself on shaky financial footing, the Museum of Broadcast Communications earlier this month moved out of its home in a four-story River North building after a commercial development firm exercised its right to buy the remainder of the structure.

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Museum officials arent saying yet where the museum, which is home to the nations only Radio Hall of Fame, is headed. However, the museums exhibits have been removed, and its doors are closed in its longtime 62,000-square-foot building at Kinzie and State streets.

The development is the latest in a long series of twists and turns in the history of the museum, which was founded in 1982 and was located first in River City and then in the Chicago Cultural Center. Construction began on the building in 2005.

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Financial problems led to a halt in construction, and it finally resumed several years later, with the $27 million building being completed in 2012, in part due to a $6 million jobs grant from the state of Illinois.

The museum occupied just two of the four floors for exhibits, one of which was devoted to the National Radio Hall of Fame, and the other of which focused on TV. Among the museums holdings are an original camera used in the 1960 televised debate between presidential candidates John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon, along with ventriloquist Edgar Bergens wisecracking puppet sidekick, Charlie McCarthy. The museum used the top floor for an events space, and leased the ground level to a restaurant.

Mortimer Snerd, from left, Charlie McCarthy and Effie Klinker are on display at the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago on Oct. 14, 2021. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)

Almost immediately upon the museums opening, it ran into financial troubles. In 2019, the museum sold its third and fourth floors to real estate firm Fern Hill Co. for $2.09 million and $2.15 million, respectively, and the museum shrank its available exhibition and event space from 25,000 square feet to 12,500. The museum closed in March 2020, reopened briefly but closed again because of poor attendance, and finally reopened in late 2021.

Recently, Fern Hill exercised a provision in its 2019 purchase of the third and fourth floors to buy the rest of the building, said David Plier, the chairman of the museums board. The two sides signed a formal sale contract in mid-April, and as part of that purchase of the rest of the building, Fern Hill required the museum to vacate the premises, Plier said. The museum closed to the public April 30, and its officials spent the next week removing all items from its second-floor space.

Nick Anderson, Fern Hills founder and president, declined to comment on his companys plans for the building.

In the meantime, with the museum having vacated the building, where is it headed next?

That building has always been way more than we needed, Plier said. Were doing something in a new time thats very interactive. I love Bozo and I love Svengoolie, but we also have to look at a different generation and what they need to see.

Plier suggested that the museums next location could be on a college or university campus. He said he also plans to expand the museums board and is coming up with the concept of a junior board that will focus in part on job fairs involving recruitment in the broadcasting industry.

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Fern Hill has not yet closed on its purchase of the buildings first and second floors. Plier told the Tribune that the two sides are progressing toward the final sale of those floors.

Goldsborough is a freelance reporter.
Friends are raising money for the family of Jacob Kiprop Birech, 54, who was killed while working outside his Lenexa home.

Birech died after a vehicle he was working on crushed him in an accident earlier this month, family friend and school nurse Jennifer Wildung wrote in a GoFundMe for Birechs family.

Jacob Birech was a kind and loving husband and father, with a very gentle spirit, Wildung wrote. He was a peacemaker and a leader. He worked very hard while also furthering his education and was finishing his final thesis towards a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration.

On April 6, the father of three headed out to the driveway of his Lenexa home to work on his car.

He had removed the wheels of his car and went under it to repair some damage but accidentally hit the jack causing the car to collapse and crush him underneath, Wildung wrote.

Birech and his wife, Penina, are parents to Rosehill Elementary School kindergartner Joshua, and Shawnee Mission South high schoolers Phillip and Natalie, who are in their sophomore and senior years.

The online fundraiser collected more than $2,800 in donations as of Thursday afternoon.

The money raised will go toward Birechs funeral expenses. His family is hoping to take him back to Kenya, his native country, for his burial, Wildung said.
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Skywatchers located in Australia, East Timor, and the eastern Indonesian islands will observe quite the spectacle next week. According to timeanddate.com, a rare and hybrid solar eclipse will grace the sky in those parts of the world starting on April 19.

If youre in the regions that I mentioned above, then you can head outside between 01:34 UTC on April 20 (9.34 p.m. EDT) and 06:59 UTC (2:59 a.m. EDT) to catch this rare hybrid eclipse as it takes place. Additionally, sites like timeanddate.com will host a livestream of the event for those who arent in the area to watch it in person.

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total solar eclipse

The reason that this upcoming eclipse is being billed as a hybrid solar eclipse is because it will be a combination of an annular solar eclipse and a total solar eclipse. Total solar eclipses  like the upcoming 2024 eclipse  are when the Moon completely blocks out the Sun.

In an annular solar eclipse, though, the Moon is too far from Earth to completely block out our star. This leads to a bright halo of plasma appearing around the Moon, creating quite the spectacle. The halo created during an annular solar eclipse is also extremely damaging to the eyes, unless viewed through eclipse glasses.

annular solar eclipse

So, what can you expect from a hybrid solar eclipse? Well, it really just depends on where you are in the world. Most of the skywatchers checking out the upcoming eclipse will see an annular eclipse. Some small parts of the regions we noted above will see it change from annular to total and back again.

For Australians looking forward to this skywatching event, the only place you can view a complete total eclipse will be in a small town known as Exmouth. Unfortunately, the rest of us will have to settle for watching this rare hybrid eclipse take place on livestreams, from the comfort of our homes all around the world.

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See the original version of this article on BGR.com
White House national security spokesman John Kirby on Monday said the tense situation in Sudan is not conducive for large-scale military evacuation of U.S. citizens in the region.

Well, we have military forces still prepositioned nearby in the region  if theyre needed, but quite frankly, the situation is not conducive and not safe to try to conduct some kind of a larger military evacuation of American citizens.  Actually, the violence is increasing is more dangerous today than it was just yesterday, the day before, Kirby said in an appearance on CNN This Morning.

And so the best advice we can give to those Americans who did not abide by our warnings to leave Sudan and not to travel to Sudan is to stay sheltered in place, stay safe and secure and off the streets of Khartoum, Kirby said.

Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan of Sudans armed forces is battling for power with Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who leads the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces. The two generals are former allies who together orchestrated an October 2021 military coup that derailed Sudans transition to democracy.

More than 400 people have been killed and more than 3,500 wounded since fighting began earlier this month in the capital city of Khartoum.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken over the weekend announced the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum was temporarily suspended and that they had safely evacuated all U.S. personnel and their dependents. He also said the State Department will continue assisting Americans in Sudan in planning for their own safety.

The U.S. embassy in Khartoum has about 70 U.S. staff members, and there are an estimated 16,000 private American citizens registered with the embassy as living in Sudan, though there is reportedly no requirement for Americans to register and no obligation to let the embassy know if theyve left.

Kirby on Monday said he doesnt think there was a missed opportunity to get Americans out and stressed we are doing everything we can to help guide them to safe passage if they decide to leave.

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I want to push back on this idea that theres 16,000 Americans who want to get out. We dont have firm estimates of the exact number of American citizens who are in Sudan, Kirby said. We think the vast majority of these American citizens in Sudan  are dual nationals. These are people who grew up in Sudan, who have families there, work there, businesses there, who dont want to leave.

Either way, the fighting in Khartoum is not in a situation where we would want people moving about too freely or too aggressively right now, Kirby said, stressing that Americans still in Sudan should stay safe right now.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Editors note: Calendar items must be submitted at least five days before an event. Email all items to news@morganton.com.

THURSDAY, MAY 18

Art Crawl

The first Third Thursday Art Crawl of the year will be held from 5-8 p.m. on the streets of downtown Morganton. Visitors will have the opportunity to visit seven venues throughout downtown Morganton that will be open late and will offer 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.

Community day

Coldwell Banker Newton Real Estate Inc. will host its sixth annual community appreciation day at Catawba Meadows Park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with free food and bounce houses.

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.

THURSDAY, JUNE 1

Ladies' Bible study

Gateway Bible Church, 222 Believers Way, Morganton, is hosting a free ladies' Bible study from 9-11 a.m. It will be taught by Marlene Houk, a local speaker and author, and the group will be studying her book, "Hidden in a List: Secrets from Bible women." Books are available at Gateway or on Amazon. Email gatewaybiblemorganton@gmail.com with any questions.

MONDAY, JUNE 5

American Legion meeting

American Legion Post 21, Post 322 and Post 506 as well as the new members of the Sons of the American Legion will meet Monday, June 5 at 5:30 p.m. at the Mountainview Recreation Center located at 645 1st St., Morganton. We are looking for new members to join as well as young men for the Sons of the American Legion. Contact stosh@burkecountypost21.com for further information.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7

AARP meeting

AARP Chapter 3262 will host retired FBI Special Agent Andy Nazworth, who will be speaking on the topic, "Don't Be a Victim: 20 Ways to Protect Yourself." The group will meet in the lower level of the Collett Street Recreation Center with refreshments at 9:30 a.m. and the program starting at 10 a.m. New members are welcome. Annual dues are $5.

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.
Authorities said a man who took off from a traffic stop had $4,600 worth of stolen copper wire in his vehicle.

Marcus Allen Rudisill, 35, of Rhodhiss, was charged with felony breaking and entering and felony larceny, according to a press release from the Burke County Sheriffs Office.

Charges were issued after a deputy tried to stop a Honda Accord early May 4 in Hildebran, the release said.

The car took off in an attempt to get away from the deputy, but wrecked shortly after, according to the release. The deputy found the driver, who was identified as Rudisill, and arrested him without further incident, the release said.

In a search of the car, investigators seized 32 spools of copper wire from the vehicle, which was valued at $4,600, the release said.

On May 4, Rudisill was charged with felony flee to elude arrest and resisting a public officer, said Sheriff Banks Hinceman. He was jailed and later released.

Between May 4 and May 12, detectives identified the victim of the copper wire theft as a utility company in Burke County, Hinceman said.

On Friday, May 12, detectives found Rudisill at his home in Caldwell County and served him with the felony warrants, the release said.

Rudisill has previous felony convictions of breaking and entering, maintaining any place for a controlled substance and possession of a schedule II controlled substance, according to records from the North Carolina Department of Public Safety.

His bond was set at $10,000 secured for the charges served Friday, the release said. Hes due back in court June 2.

The Caldwell County Sheriffs Office assisted with the case.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  Legislation banning most abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy will become law in North Carolina after the states Republican-controlled General Assembly successfully overrode the Democratic governors veto late Tuesday.

The House completed the second and final part of the override vote after a similar three-fifths majority  the fraction necessary  voted for the override earlier Tuesday in the Senate. The party-line outcomes represent a major victory for Republican legislative leaders who needed every GOP member on board to enact the law over Gov. Roy Coopers opposition.

Cooper vetoed the measure over the weekend after spending last week traveling around the state to persuade at least one Republican to side with him on the override, which would be enough to uphold his veto. But in the end, the four Republicans targeted by Cooper  including one who recently switched from the Democratic Party  voted to override.

Republicans pitched the measure as a middle-ground change to state law, which currently bans nearly all abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, without exceptions for rape or incest.

The votes came as abortion rights in the U.S. faced another tectonic shift with lawmakers in South Carolina and Nebraska also considering new abortion limits. North Carolina and South Carolina have been two of the few remaining Southern states with relatively easy access.

Such restrictions are possible because the U.S. Supreme Court last year struck down the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling, which established a nationwide right to abortion.

Under the bill that had been up for a vote Tuesday in the South Carolina House, abortion access would be almost entirely banned after about six weeks of pregnancy  before women often know theyre pregnant. The South Carolina state Senate previously rejected a proposal to nearly outlaw abortions.

However, a final vote would have to wait until later Wednesday after the South Carolina House moved to reconvene at 10 a.m. while the computer system rebooted.

Nationally, bans on abortion throughout pregnancy are in effect in 14 states.

Abortion is banned or severely restricted in much of the South, including bans throughout pregnancy in Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia. In Georgia, its allowed only in the first six weeks.

The Carolinas, Florida and Virginia are now the main destinations in the region for those seeking legal abortions. Florida has a ban that kicks in 15 weeks into pregnancy. Under a recent law, that would tighten to six weeks pending a court ruling. Further west, women often travel to Illinois, Kansas, New Mexico or Colorado.

If both the North and South Carolina bans become law, combined with Floridas recent ban, it would be just devastating for abortion access in the South, Jamie Lockhart, executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia, said earlier Tuesday.

After the final vote Tuesday in the North Carolina House, abortion-rights advocates and Democrats in the chamber gallery loudly booed the outcome and shouted Shame!" Many observers in the gallery were escorted out by General Assembly police.

Similar displeasure poured out after the earlier North Carolina Senate debate, although many anti-abortion demonstrators also were in the audience, pleased with the outcome.

Today marks the beginning of North Carolinas first real step towards becoming a pro-life state, Tami Fitzgerald, executive director of the socially conservative North Carolina Values Coalition, said after the House vote.

Senate Republicans said Cooper ignored $160 million within the measure that would boost funding to increase contraceptive services, reduce infant and maternal mortality and provide paid maternity leave for state employees and teachers.

This bill provides resources for the pregnant woman. It provides broad resources and a significant knowledge base to enable her, to equip her in finding a path forward  a path forward for her, and a path forward for her unborn child," said Rep. Kristin Baker, a Cabarrus County Republican and psychiatrist.

The new abortion limits set to take effect July 1 also will include rape or incest exceptions through 20 weeks of pregnancy and exceptions for life-limiting fetal anomalies during the first 24 weeks. An existing exception for when the life of the pregnant woman is in danger will remain.

Democrats focused on details of the abortion rules, which they said would place barriers between women and their doctors, leaving those who are pregnant in danger, with less access to abortion services.

Women did not ask for your oversight. We didnt ask for your approval, Rep. Julie von Haefen, a Wake County Democrat, told GOP colleagues. Its our fundamental right to make decisions about our own bodies and our own health care.

Cooper said in a statement after the vote that he'll continue doing everything I can to protect abortion access in North Carolina because womens lives depend on it.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the law will make it even more difficult for women to get the reproductive health care they need."

North Carolina Republicans were able to complete the override due in large part to Mecklenburg County Rep. Tricia Cotham's party switch to the GOP last month. That gave Republicans veto-proof seat majorities in both chambers.

Cotham has supported abortion rights in the past. She said in a statement late Tuesday that the bill strikes a reasonable balance that anyone not holding extremist positions on abortion can support.

In South Carolina, the impasse dates back to a special session last fall when House lawmakers demanding a near-total ban did not meet to negotiate with their Senate counterparts pushing for a ban around six weeks.

The stalemate persisted even after the state Supreme Court in January struck down a previous law banning abortions once cardiac activity is detected.

That decision left abortion legal through 22 weeks of pregnancy. A sharp increase in abortions since then has rankled Republicans.

The House was weighing a Senate bill similar to the one they denied last year. The measure would ban abortion when an ultrasound detects cardiac activity, around six weeks.

A late night is expected even after Republicans invoked rules to limit debate. House Speaker Murrell Smith has said the chamber will not adjourn until the measure gets approval. Democrats slowed the process Tuesday by speaking for all three allotted minutes on each of their hundreds of amendments and forcing other procedural votes.

In Nebraska, conservatives in the Legislature got just enough votes Tuesday to fold a proposed 12-week abortion ban into a bill that would ban gender-affirming health for minors.

Throughout, hundreds of protesters filled the Capitol rotunda just outside the chamber doors, nearly drowning out debate at times with chants, shouts and foot stomping.

The plan won the 33 votes it needed in the state's one-chamber, officially nonpartisan legislature to end debate and set up other votes to advance it. It must now survive a final round, which could happen as soon as Thursday, to pass.

In Montana, Republican Gov. Greg Gianfortes office announced Tuesday that he had signed into law a bill that makes performing the abortion method most commonly used after 15 weeks of gestation a felony. Planned Parenthood of Montana asked a judge to temporarily block the ban on dilation and evacuation abortions.

A separate challenge to abortion access will be considered Wednesday, when a federal appeals court hears arguments on whether the Food and Drug Administrations approval of the widely used abortion drug mifepristone should be overturned. A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will review a ruling last month by a federal judge in Texas who ordered a hold on approval of mifepristone, a decision that overruled two decades of scientific approval of the drug. That ruling was stayed while the appeal is pending.

The three judges who will hear the case each have a history of supporting restrictions on abortion. A ruling is not expected immediately.
The aid the city of Muscatine could offer home buyers may increase in the future if funding is provided from the Iowa Finance Authority.

On Monday the Muscatine County Board of Supervisors approved drafting a letter of support for community grant writer Meghan Custus. She explained the grant would go to the city of Muscatine Municipal Housing Agency and would be used to provide down-payment assistance to homes in the county. She said the grant would provide more substantial assistance than the city currently provides to people who take the home buyer class.

It will help 10 to 15 low-income households enter homeownership, which we know is often not sustainable for low income people if they cant get over that hurdle of down-payment assistance, she said.

The letter explains that Muscatine County has a workforce housing shortage and that 48% of employees in the county live elsewhere. It also says that quality affordable housing is crucial to area success.

Muscatine County is a partner in many housing efforts, including a project to create 3D printed houses in Muscatine, a 176-home revitalization project, and several other housing projects. The letter says the application aligns with the county goals.

Also during the meeting, Emergency Management Director Chris Jasper told the supervisors that there will be town hall meetings on inclement weather at 6:30 p.m. on May 30 at the West Liberty Community Center and 6:30 p.m. on May 31 at the Musser Public Library. He said the meeting would go over what outdoor sirens mean and if someone gets a photo they want to report, such as a tornado, how to get it to Jaspers office.

Jasper invited board members and anyone in the community interested in attending.

There are more million-dollar homes in the U.S. than ever before. But can Americans afford them? There are more million-dollar homes in the U.S. than ever before. But can Americans afford them? A Growing Number of Million-Dollar Homes Where Are the Most Million-Dollar Homes? Who Can Afford a Million-Dollar Home? Discrepancies Between the Proportion of Million-Dollar Homes and High-Earning Households Expect the Share of Million-Dollar Homes to Continue Growing
The 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.
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.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP)  A girl who was allegedly abducted in suburban Chicago in 2017 by her noncustodial mother has been found safe in North Carolina after she was spotted at a business, authorities said.

The child was found safe Saturday in Asheville, North Carolina, by officers who were called to a business by someone who believed she had recognized a woman who kidnapped a child in 2017, Asheville police said Tuesday in a news release.

Officers found a woman and a minor child at the business and were able to confirm their identities, police said. They said the woman, Heather Unbehaun, was wanted on an extradition warrant out of Illinois for child abduction.

Unbehaun was taken into custody and booked into the Buncombe County Detention Facility on a $250,000 secured bond, police said.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children said the girl was 9 when Unehaun, her noncustodial mother, allegedly abducted her from South Elgin, Illinois, on July 5, 2017.

In its news release, the center included a statement from the girl's father, identified only as "Ryan," where he said he's overjoyed that his daughter is home safe." He thanked the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, South Elgin police and other law enforcement agencies for their efforts.

We ask for privacy as we get to know each other again and navigate this new beginning, he added.

The girl's 2017 abduction was featured on the Netflix Unsolved Mysteries reboot, WLOS-TV reported.
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The H.H. Holmes "murder castle" in March 1937. The building at 601-603 West 63rd Street was sold in 1938 and was razed to make way for an Englewood post office. The main entrance is at 603 E. 63rd Street and housed a sign company in 1937 where Holmes had his drug store. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)

In the citys history, the Worlds Columbian Exposition of 1893 is perhaps one of its grandest moments  Chicagos emergence on the world stage as a new metropolis rising from the ashes of a great fire just 22 years prior.

But in recent years, the citys finest hour has been inextricably intertwined with its first serial killer, the dapper and duplicitous H.H. Holmes, thanks largely to Erik Larsons wildly popular 2003 novel The Devil in the White City.

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On the 130th year since Daniel Burnhams sweeping transformation of Chicagos southern lakefront into the classical alabaster-columned White City, the tales of Holmes dealings here, including his so-called Murder Castle in the Englewood neighborhood, remain largely sensational tabloid fabrications. Differing accounts claim that Holmes may have had hundreds of victims who were tortured and killed within any of the buildings network of secret rooms.

#OTD in 1893: The World's Columbian Exposition opens in Chicago.



The Ferris wheel, Cracker Jack and zippers are new-fangled things introduced to the more than 20 million attendees before the fair closed five months later.



(Chicago Tribune, May 1, 1893)https://t.co/9Bxm6ZpC0Z pic.twitter.com/m9Lb7Qilck  Kori Rumore Finley (@rumormill) May 1, 2023

Local historians and researchers have cast doubt on many of the most outlandish actions attributed to Holmes and his 63rd Street three-flat, including the popular theory that he lured and discreetly killed dozens of victims and disposed of them in the basement of his property.

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Holmes former building at 610 W. 63rd St., which initially had a drugstore on the ground floor and rooms on the second floor before a third story was later constructed, did indeed have secret rooms and a walk-in vault that was mostly soundproof. But it likely was used to conceal stolen furniture rather than murder, experts say.

The real story is actually more complicated and its not simply not just true or false ... he did use (the building) to commit crimes, but probably not a lot of the crimes that people think, said Paul Durica, a historian with the Chicago History Museum.

Chicago's Herman Webster Mudgett, also known as Henry Holmes and H.H. Holmes, was America's first documented serial killer. (Chicago History Museum)

Born Herman Webster Mudgett in New Hampshire, Holmes was a charming, handlebar-mustachioed grifter and bigamist who arrived in Chicago in 1885 after studying in medical school, and styled himself a doctor and pharmacist in the years before the fair.

Books and documentaries have portrayed the womanizing Holmes as a ghoulish stalker and predator who lured single young women in town for the sprawling lakeside fair to his rooming house, where they mysteriously disappeared.

After his conviction for killing his business partner, Benjamin Pitezel, Holmes confessed to killing 27 people, most of them fabrications, experts say. Holmes denied killing Pitezels three young children, whom he shuttled around the country and Canada by railroad following the insurance scam that left their father dead. The bodies of Pitezels daughters, Annie and Nellie, were found in Toronto, while the remains of his son, Ben, were found in Indianapolis.

Holmes, who was only convicted in Pitezels murder, is suspected of killing several people during his time in Chicago but left the city in summer 1894 before he was linked to any murders. It was only after his subsequent arrest in Boston and confessions that his Chicago activities were scrutinized.

He did kill nine or 10 people, but it wasnt hundreds and hundreds. It wasnt in a hotel, and it wasnt Worlds Fair patrons, said author and Chicago tour guide Adam Selzer, whose 2017 book H.H. Holmes: The True History of the White City Devil, sought to demystify the killer behind the legend, using official records and documents.

[ Is 'Devil in White City' buried in tomb? Remains to be unearthed to find out ]

Holmes confessions are what likely fed his legend. Since then, media and pop culture has reimagined Holmes as an American equivalent to Jack the Ripper. Some have even speculated that Holmes was the London lady-killer.

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He was a swindler, first and foremost, who partly through his own confessions, became a new American tall tale, Selzer said.

Whatever he said about himself, whichever way he tried to portray himself after he had been incarcerated, is most likely fiction, Durica said. It seems to be, by and large, if he did murder individuals, it was for financial purposes, or to protect himself.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 22 Visitors to the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition took in the view of the Court of Honor from the roof of the Manufacturers Building. (C.D. Arnold photo courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago)

Even the Tribune peddled in rumors, reprinting a New York World tabloid story in an August 1895 Sunday edition that called Holmes Bluebeard after the legendary wife killer. The story, published as Holmes awaited trial in Philadelphia, included numerous falsehoods that would become the basis of Holmes legend, including a drawn diagram of his castle, complete with trap doors, hidden chambers and a crematory.

Durica said that immediately following Holmes death, most news reports focused on Holmes greed rather than a clear compulsion to kill. He theorized that Holmes was retroactively painted as a killer by peoples expanding knowledge of killers.

We think, in hindsight, of him as a psychopath, a serial killer. But he was probably ... if we were going to diagnose him today, wed say hes closer to a sociopath. A con artist. A grifter. A perennial liar, Durica said. Murder was a means to an end, but it had to serve a practical purpose. It wasnt something he just engaged in because he had some overwhelming passion to commit these horrible acts.

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This sentiment was shared by Selzer, who has done one of the deepest dives into Holmes past for his 2017 book. In his book, Selzer, who operates the Mysterious Chicago tours and who examined the basement of Holmes former home, which partially sits below the current Englewood post office, dispels a number of Holmes myths, including the notion that he silently murdered dozens of people in the bustling community of Englewood.

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The murder castle did have hidden rooms between floors accessible by dumbwaiter and a secret staircase. The sensational World article claimed the dumbwaiters were used to lower bodies to the basement, but Selzer and Durica said the elevators were used to hide furniture Holmes purchased on credit and hid from repossession agents. Holmes building had a nearly soundproof vault, but Selzer said there was no evidence that victims were gassed in airtight rooms or dismembered in a basement lab.

In addition to the 63rd Street property, Holmes was known to frequent a glass-bending business near what is now Seeley Avenue near Fullerton Avenue in what is now Bucktown, where some had theorized Holmes dumped some victims.

Holmes had probably disposed of a couple of bodies in the basement, then decided that destroying a body in a crowded building without arousing suspicion was impossible, Selzer wrote. You really just cant have bodies decomposing in your basement without people noticing the odor. He probably tried it a few times, then decided to dispose of any bodies he found on his hands elsewhere, perhaps first in the shack, then in the glass-bending factory on the North Side.

The myths surrounding Holmes persist today partially because of the true crime zeitgeist permeating pop culture, Durica said, comparing it with the enduring popularity of gangster Al Capone.

Whats interesting about both Holmes and Capone is the whole kind of like cottage industries have sprung up around them. The Devil in the White City sort of launched it with Holmes, but since that book came out youve got television documentaries, multiple ones. Youve got all sorts of bus and walking tours that are designed around the Holmes story. Thats what you find with Capone as well. Books, films, tours, merchandise, he said. In both cases, it makes it easier for the fiction to kind of overtake the fact.

wlee@chicagotribune.com
FARMINGTON, N.M. (AP)  The gunman who killed three people and wounded six others as he fired randomly while roaming his northwestern New Mexico neighborhood was a local high school student and his victims include a 97-year-old woman and her daughter, police said Tuesday.

Investigators were still trying to determine a motive for the attack by Beau Wilson, 18, in the Farmington neighborhood where he lived. They say he opened fire Monday, killing Gwendolyn Schofield, her 73-year-old daughter, Melody Ivie, and 79-year-old Shirley Voita.

Voita had worked as a nurse and was a devoted parishioner at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, said former state Rep. James Strickler, who was her friend.

She was just a dynamite lady. She was well-loved and Im still shocked over it, said Strickler, who heard gunfire ring out on Monday before learning the circumstances of Voita's death.

Witnesses and police say Wilson walked through the neighborhood a short drive from downtown Farmington spraying bullets until police arrived within minutes and fatally shot him. Two police officers were among the wounded.

Farmington Deputy Police Chief Baric Crum said at least 150 bullets were fired but that number was expected to go up as the investigation continued.

The amount of violence and brutality that these people faced is unconscionable to me, Deputy Police Chief Kyle Dowdy said.

Deputy Police Chief Baric Crum said Wilson was indiscriminately shooting at vehicles, but that some rounds also hit homes.

Dowdy said investigators do not believe Wilson knew anyone he shot.

Weve discovered nothing that leads us to believe that the suspect knew" the victims, he said. Were pretty confident in that this was completely random.

Bryan Brown and Brandi Dominguez were home Monday morning with their five children when the shooting began. Their doorbell camera captured yelling and the repeated pops of gunfire. Brown said it was loud and sounded as if it were coming from two different directions.

Brown was among those who ran into the street to help the victims. He said one woman had gunshot wounds to the leg and head. She asked for help and he said he tried to stop the bleeding.

I feel bad for her family, he said Tuesday. I dont even know, this kind of stuff is just uncalled for.

Before Brown came outside, he told Dominguez and the kids to stay inside and stay down. Bullets hit the familys home and vehicle.

Brown said his teenage son knew Wilson from school and had texted him, knowing that he lived down the street. It was only later they found out that authorities identified Wilson as the shooter.

It just goes to show you never really know somebody until something happens, Brown said. He seemed like an OK kid.

The tragedy was noted Tuesday night during otherwise exuberant graduation ceremony for 374 students on the Farmington High School football field. Speakers spoke of resilience and hope.

Principal Rocky Torres noted that there was an empty chair with a bouquet of white roses on it at the back of the student rows in recognition of our fellow graduates, family members and friends that cannot be here with us tonight. He led a moment of silence.

The main speaker, retired principal Ttimothy Kienitz, told students that there was no better message for them and the community than find a way to win.

This is a strong, tough and tenacious community and we will overcome, he said.

Wilson was a senior at the school but it wasnt immediately known whether he was due to graduate with his class.

In November, after he turned 18, Wilson legally purchased at least one gun used Monday, police said. He carried three firearms in the attack, including an assault-style weapon.

Four officers fired a total of 16 rounds at Wilson, including one of the wounded officers, said San Juan County Sheriff Shane Ferrari.

Mayor Nate Duckett said Tuesday that the Farmington officer and state police officer were treated for their wounds and released from a hospital.

Authorities began receiving reports of gunshots at 10:57 a.m. and the first officer arrived at 11:02 a.m., police Chief Steve Hebbe said Monday in a video statement. Three minutes later, the gunman had been killed.

Joseph Robledo, a 32-year-old tree trimmer, said he rushed home after learning that his wife, Jolene, and their year-old daughter had sought shelter in the laundry room when gunshots rang out. A bullet went through his daughters window, without hitting anyone.

Jolene Robledo said they had just finished breakfast when she heard pop, pop, pop, pop," which she first thought was a car backfiring. She said they were going to run out the back door until she heard a man curse right outside, so she quietly shut the door and hid with her daughter between the washing machine and dryer.

I mean it was crazy. I called my husband and he could hear the gunshots over the phone, she said. He was freaking out and I was like, dont hang up, dont hang up!

Joseph Robledo said he 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 a 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."

Downtown Farmington, a short drive from the neighborhood, has undergone a transformation of sorts in recent years, with cafes and breweries cropping up alongside decades-old businesses that trade in Native American crafts from silver jewelry to wool weavings.

On Tuesday, orange circles of spray paint still marked the ground where police had collected evidence. Authorities were using metal detectors to search the grass in front of one of the churches along the street where gunfire erupted.

As night approached Monday, dozens of people gathered at Hills Church, a few miles (kilometers) from the attack scene, to pray at the base of a tall metal cross. Lead pastor Matt Mizell talked about living in a dark and broken world but told the crowd there was still hope and asked God to provide them strength.

New Mexico enacted a red-flag law in 2020 that can be used to seize guns from people who pose a danger to others or themselves. Dowdy said relatives expressed concern about Wilsons mental health when interviewed by police but that he didnt have enough information at this time to further elaborate.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP)  Daniel Cameron won the Republican primary for Kentucky governor on Tuesday, becoming the first major-party Black nominee for governor in the states history and setting up a November showdown with Democratic incumbent Andy Beshear.

Cameron, the state's attorney general who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, claimed a convincing victory over a 12-candidate field that included Kelly Craft, who served as United Nations ambassador in the Trump administration, and state Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles. Beshear easily dispatched two under-the-radar Democratic challengers in his own primary.

Cameron, the states first Black attorney general, played up the historic nature of his nomination in his victory speech Tuesday, saying his campaign aims to "embody the promise of America, that if you work hard and if you stand on principle, anything is possible.

To anyone who looks like me, know that you can achieve anything, Cameron told his supporters. "Know that in this country and in Kentucky, all that matters are your values.

The race now shifts to the general election, which will be one of November's most closely watched contests and could provide clues heading into next year's presidential race. Beshear, a popular Democratic governor, will face a tough reelection bid in a Republican-dominated state after a first term marked by a series of tragedies  the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters and a mass shooting that killed one of his closest friends.

Beshear on Tuesday touted his stewardship of Kentucky's economy  pointing to record economic development successes  in setting the stage for his fall reelection campaign. And he blasted the tone of the GOP gubernatorial primary after taking hits for months from the Republican candidates.

Right now somewhere in America, there is a CEO deciding where to move their business and theyre considering Kentucky," Beshear told a gathering of supporters. "Let me ask you: Is seeing people talk down our state and our economy, insult our people and stoke divisions going to help that next company choose Kentucky? Of course not.

The fall matchup between Beshear and Cameron conjures parallels from the states last governors race but with a reversal of roles for the governor. In 2019, Beshear used the attorney generals office as a springboard to the governorship. During his single term as attorney general, Beshear challenged a series of executive actions by then-governor, Republican Matt Bevin. Beshear narrowly defeated Bevin in a race that revolved around Bevins combative personality.

Turnout was light in many locations as rain fell across much of the state during part of the day, the secretary of states office said. Storm warnings were issued in some areas but there were no reports of voting disruptions. Election officials hoped for an upswing in turnout after the storms passed.

Cameron succeeded Beshear in the attorney generals office, and the Republican turned the tables on Beshear, mounting numerous legal challenges against state and national Democratic policies that endeared him to conservatives. Cameron led the successful challenge that essentially halted the governors COVID-era restrictions, which Cameron said amounted to executive overreach. Beshear says that his actions saved lives and that he leaned heavily on guidance from Trumps coronavirus task force.

A former aide to Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell, Cameron has risen through the political ranks to become one of the most prominent Black Republicans in the country. His victory Tuesday will play into Trumps efforts to solidify his status as the leader of the Republican Party heading into the 2024 presidential primary.

If Beshear follows his campaign formula from 2019, he will avoid talking about Trump or dwelling on polarizing national issues that could risk further energizing his opponents conservative base.

He is also expected to draw on his familys strong political brand  his father, Steve Beshear, is a former two-term Kentucky governor who spoke at his son's primary victory celebration Tuesday  and lean into his role of leading through adversity after a multitude of crises during his first term.

Through it all, Beshear emerged as the front man, holding daily pandemic briefings for months and then leading relief efforts to help those left devastated by tornadoes and floods.

Last month, Beshear publicly and emotionally grieved the loss of a close friend who died when a Louisville bank employee opened fire with an assault-style rifle, killing five coworkers. He has frequently invoked his Christian faith as a cornerstone of his efforts to lead the state through tough times.

In addition to Craft and Quarles, Cameron also defeated state Auditor Mike Harmon and Somerset Mayor Alan Keck, among others.

But it was the combative rivalry between Cameron and Craft that dominated the primary campaign. Cameron endured an advertising blitz by Crafts campaign  backed by her familys fortune  and an outside group supporting her campaign. The pro-Craft group portrayed Cameron as an establishment teddy bear in claiming he wasnt tough enough as attorney general. A pro-Cameron group swung back with attacks against Craft, who nabbed a last-minute endorsement from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Camerons handling of an investigation into the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor by Louisville police in 2020 could come under renewed scrutiny as he campaigns as the GOP nominee. Taylors death and the police-related killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis sparked nationwide protests.

In announcing a grand jurys findings in Taylors death, Cameron said jurors agreed that homicide charges were not warranted against the officers, because they were fired upon. Three of the jurors disputed Camerons account, arguing that Camerons staff limited their scope and did not give them an opportunity to consider homicide charges against the police in Taylors death.

Camerons immediate attention will turn toward building party unity for the fall campaign slog, a task for which he has demonstrated skills in the past. He bridged the gulf between Trump and McConnell despite a growing rift between the two GOP heavyweights. Cameron worked as the senators legal counsel and made a high-profile pitch for Trumps unsuccessful reelection campaign at the 2020 Republican National Convention.

The gubernatorial campaign topped primary races for other constitutional offices in Kentucky.

Republican Secretary of State Michael Adams, who pushed successfully for expanded voter access, won his primary against two candidates, including one who cast doubt on the integrity of elections. He faces Democrat Charles Buddy Wheatley in November in his reelection bid.
Authorities say a high school student who killed three women in northwestern New Mexico with an indiscriminate spray of gunfire left a cryptic note presaging the end of the chapter and wore a bulletproof vest that he discarded before being shot to death by police. Police in Farmington announced new details of their investigation Wednesday as they search for motivations behind the shooting. Police say 18-year-old Beau Wilson sprayed gunfire as he walked through the neighborhood where he lived with his father before being confronted by police and fatally shot outside a church. Police Chief Steve Hebbe says he was wearing a vest with steel plates and the note was found in his pocket.
The High Court in Mombasa has ruled that bank accounts belonging to Pastor Ezekiel Odero remain frozen.

Judge Olga Sewe dismissed an application by the preacher to unfreeze over a dozen accounts linked to his Newlife Prayer Centre and Church saying her court had no jurisdiction to handle the case.

Sewe said the application is entirely misconceived and untenable. The Judge added that she will refrain from commenting on the correctness and legality of the freeze orders issued at Milimani magistrates court in Nairobi on May 8, 2023.

This means pastor Ezekiels personal and business accounts will remain frozen for 30 days pending investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations(DCI).

The Judge advised pastor Ezekiel to seek an appeal at the Milimani Court in Nairobi.

According to the DCI, the more than 15 bank accounts had been receiving huge transactions of money, suspected to be proceeds of illicit cash from victims who were allegedly radicalised to sell their properties.

The DCI suspects the accounts are linked to the Shakahola massacre.

Judge Sewe also dismissed an application by Pastor Ezekiel seeking to have TV licences back for his World Evangelism and Times TV stations.

The High Court said should be handled by the Communications Authority, which wrote a letter to have the stations shut down.

Justice Sewe the petitioners ought to have exhausted all the legal channels with Communication Authority before going to court.

The judge however ordered that church services should go on uninterrupted.
President William Ruto on Monday terminated the appointment of Josephine Mburu as the Principal Secretary, State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards.

This follows complaints of alleged corruption and impropriety at the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA).

Dr Ruto has also revoked the appointment of KEMSA chairperson and members of the Board of Directors.

In a statement signed by Felix Koskei, Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service, the president also suspended KEMSA CEO Terry Ramadhani alongside other Ministry of Health staff  Martin Wamwea, Lenson Kariuki, Dr Pauline Duya, Livingstone Njuguna, Dr Charles Kariuki, Justus Kinoti, Cosmas Rotich and Anthony Chege.

His excellency has been briefed on the complaints of alleged impropriety within the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) in its management and administration of various medical programmes being undertaken in conjunction with our development partners.

The complaints follow the regular verification of expenditure by the Global Fund with regard to the National Malaria Programme that targets millions of low income Kenyan households within our nations malaria endemic regions, wrote State House Chief of Staff Felix Kosgei.

Meanwhile, President Ruto has appointed Dr. Andrew Mutava Mulwa as KEMSAs Acting CEO.

Dr Ruto has also reconstituted the KEMSA board by appointing former gubernatorial candidate Irungu Nyakera as the new chairperson.

Nyakera previously served as the Principal Secretary in the State Department of Transport. He will serve for a period of three years effective May 15, 2023.

Other persons who have been appointed to the KEMSA board are; FCPA Hezbon Oyieko Omollo, Mr. Bernard Kipkirui Bett and Dr. Jane Masiga and Jane Nyagaturi.

The President reiterated that his administration will spare no effort in rebuilding the KEMSA supply chain management system so as to secure efficiency and accountability in the provision of medical supplies.
President William Ruto has nominated Former Treasury Principal Secretary Kamau Thugge to replace Patrick Njoroge as the governor of the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK).

The Head of Public Service Commission Felix Koskei announced the appointment in a statement Monday.

President William Ruto, has, on the recommendation of the Public Service Commission, nominated Dr Kamau Thugge for appointment as the Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya, the statement reads.

Koskei mentioned that Dr Thugges nomination followed a competitive recruitment process carried out by the Public Service Commission.

Dr Thugge is currently a senior advisor and Head of Fiscal and Budget Policy in the presidents office. He is also a member of Rutos Economic Council.

The former PS was in 2021 cleared of corruption charges after being charged alongside former Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich.

They were accused of inflating a commercial loan for the construction of the Kimwarer and Arror dams in Kerio Valley in Elgeyo Marakwet by Ksh.17 billion.

The Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji however dropped charges against Thugge; he was subsequently made a State witness against Rotich over the dams scandals.

Dr Thugge holds a Ph.D. in Economics from John Hopkins University in the USA.
An 18-year-old student at Faza Secondary School in Lamu County died after he was reportedly stabbed by a colleague following a fight during break time.

Citizen TV reports that the deceased Form Four student was involved in a confrontation with a 17-year-old Form Three student before the stabbing.

Village elder Mr. Abud Mohamed and the school Principal Mr. Shoka confirmed the incident saying the suspect stabbed the victim in the back.

It started with a small confrontation, and they kept exchanging harsh words between themselves. Unfortunately, things escalated and one of them lost his cool and stabbed his colleague, a witness was quoted as saying.

The injured student was rushed to Faza Level 4 Hospital in critical condition but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Meanwhile, a manhunt has since been launched for the Form Three student.

This is very unfortunate. We are urging the authorities to ensure that the suspect is arrested and justice is served, said Mr. Abud.

Further investigations are ongoing.
Although labor and delivery departments in a number of local hospitals and other birthing facilities have closed, The Midwives Childbirth Services has actually expanded and now offers care at two birth centers: the Napa Valley Birth Center and the Sonoma Valley Birth Center.

Women are looking for a natural birth experience to celebrate the magnificence of what they do, said Senior Licensed Midwife Paula Grady, who has delivered babies for 25 years.

Grady gave birth to five daughters. The first two were born in a hospital, but then she had a change of heart.

There had been no trauma at the hospital births, and I have no idea where this thought originated, but I wanted to have the next baby at my friends home, said Grady and laughed. I had to look up 'Midwives' in the Yellow Pages. The experience of home birth blew me away. It was transformative and stirred a passion in me.

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All California midwives must be licensed with the California Medical Board to practice. Grady got her education at the National Midwifery Institute and is a Licensed Midwife (LM) with a national certification as a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM).

Grady runs the facility alongside the centers executive director, husband Darren Grady. Also on the team is colleague Deborah (Fawn) Studebaker, LM, CPM. The center partners with midwife assistants and students, a lactation consultant, pregnancy and childbirth educators and consultant OB/GYN doctors.

The Napa center is located at 525 Lincoln Ave. and the Santa Rosa center (formerly Thrive Center for Birth and Family Wellness) is at 4859 Old Redwood Highway (themidwives.com). Should the need arise, they also work with nearby hospitals.

Natural childbirth is a vaginal birth involving no medical interventions such as forceps, vacuums, or epidurals. Medically trained professionals such as licensed midwives and doulas are available to assist with natural childbirth, whether the birth itself takes place in a hospital, stand-alone birthing center, or at home.

The American Association of Birth Centers describes birth centers as a safe, alternative, choice 'in-between' home and hospital; a facility designed to support natural labor and delivery, supported by highly trained midwives and skilled staff, offering a family-centered, relaxed, calm, non-institutional experience.

The Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley Birth Centers offer pre-natal care and childbirth attendance, along with emergency equipment and supplies if needed, and postpartum visits. The birth centers can also assist with home births, water births and doulas.

There is a difference between midwives and doulas, said Paula Grady. A doula provides emotional and physical care, and postpartum support for the mother. As licensed midwives, we can provide medical care, order lab work such as ultrasound, and make medical decisions. Doulas don't provide medical care.

Grady said that during natural birth, 99% of the mothers opt for using a birth tub, at least for part of the process. Id say that 75- 80% experience water births. The birth centers have tubs available.

According to the Peterson-Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) Health System Tracker, hospital childbirth costs an average of $18,865 nationwide, which includes pregnancy, delivery and postpartum care. The International Federation of Health Plans says our state is higher, California is particularly expensive with hospitals there charging an average of $26,380 for mothers to give birth to their child.

The cost for the Midwives Childbirth Services is $7,500, with discount options and payment plans. Most insurance PPO plans cover at least part of birth center childbirths, HMOs may not.

The midwives said that the best candidates for a natural birth are normal, healthy moms with normal, healthy babies.

Mothers feel safe and comfortable with us, said Paula Grady. They know the birth team will take good care of them. Its an emotional, mental event and a big transformation.

Studebaker added that natural childbirth is an excellent option for first-time mothers. Id say its better for first-time moms; in fact, its vital.

Prior to the opening of the Sonoma Valley Birth Center, Rhiannon Sanders of Guerneville had her first child in February. She chose Paula and the Napa Valley Birth Center for the delivery.

Early in my pregnancy, I didnt know what the experience would be like, said Sanders. I went to an OB/GYN thinking theyd give me an education; information about what I should be eating and so on. I got none of that. As soon as I met Paula, though, she gave me a large booklet on what I could expect week by week. By then, I was far along at 35 weeks.

Originally, I thought Id give birth at home, but when I saw the Napa Valley Birth Center, it looked as pleasant and comfortable as my own home. Since I live over an hour and a half away, I was concerned about the drive while in labor. Paula said I could come during early labor and just hang out. That reassured me. I think for first-time moms, the birth center is a happy medium between a hospital and home birth. Its great to have all the resources right there.

Darren Grady summed up what was important for people who want to have a natural birth. With the recent closing of several hospital Labor and Delivery departments, North Bay mamas do have alternatives to a hospital birth, he said in an email. A stand-alone birth center is becoming even more viable as a safe, supportive setting for pregnancy and childbirth. Paula and the midwives can provide midwifery care and a natural birth experience at the Napa Valley Birth Center in Napa or the Sonoma Valley Birth Center in Santa Rosa.

Photos: Take a look inside the Napa Valley Birth Center
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A water and wastewater analyst from the Philippines has been learning about St. Helenas utilities and lending his own expertise through an international training program for rising professionals.

Edward Limosnero is ending a four-week stint in St. Helena this week as part of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative Professional Fellows Program sponsored by the U.S. State Department.

The program helps emerging leaders like Limosnero broaden their professional experience and lend a new perspective to local programs and agencies.

A native of Manila who has also worked in Saudi Arabia, Limosnero has spent the last month analyzing St. Helenas water and wastewater facilities and recommending ways to improve efficiency given the citys staff resources. Hes been staying in an apartment near Main Street.

Limosnero also plans to apply the knowledge hes gained in St. Helena when he returns to the Philippines. He wants to make government public works grants in his country more effective by emphasizing the long-term maintenance and management of new facilities, not just the initial construction costs.

We need to be more strategic in terms of how we spend public funds, he said. We dont want to just shell out money to whoever needs it without making sure the community understands the extent of the operation.

City Manager Anil Comelo said Limosneros water-related expertise has been helpful to the city.

He asked questions and proposed systems of monitoring which has caused us to rethink our internal processes, Comelo said. Many of the analytical tools he developed and the concepts he brought will be useful as we ramp our (capital improvement projects) work and become more result-oriented as it relates to our water and wastewater systems.

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A reputed member of a violent Chicago street gang known as the Goonies pleaded guilty just hours before his racketeering trial was set to begin Tuesday, admitting that he supplied a stream of guns to his fellow gang members that were later used in slayings and other shootings.

Nathaniel McElroy, 26, pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy in a plea agreement with prosecutors that does not include any expectation of cooperation. Prosecutors said preliminary calculations call for a 20-year prison term for McElroy, while his attorneys will argue he should face no more than three years behind bars.

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McElroy is already serving a four-year term after pleading guilty in 2019 to a scheme where firearms were straw purchased from gun shops in Michigan and trafficked to Chicagos South Side, where they were quickly put to work on the streets by the Goonie gang, an offshoot of the Gangster Disciples.

The last-minute guilty plea Tuesday came shortly before jury selection began for three of McElroys alleged associates: Romeo O-Dog Blackman, 27, who was the alleged leader of the Goonies, and top henchmen Terrance T Smith, 27, and Jolicious Jo Jo Turman, 31.

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The trial before U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey is taking place under heavy security, with spectators required to lock up their cellphones. In addition, many of the pretrial filings detailing specific evidence and witnesses in the case have been kept under seal.

The trial is expected to last up to seven weeks and will include graphic evidence of a reign of terror in the Englewood community that prosecutors say targeted rivals and innocent victims alike, including 10 murders and five attempted murders in an 18-month span from 2014 to 2016.

Opening statements are expected later this week.

The Goonies trial is the latest in a string of major racketeering cases brought by the U.S. attorneys office aimed at the leaders of Chicagos splintered gang factions that prosecutors say are driving the citys rampant gun violence.

In November, a federal jury found the reputed leader of Chicagos Wicked Town gang faction and one of his top lieutenants guilty of racketeering conspiracy involving a string of murders, shootings, robberies and narcotics trafficking on the West Side stretching back two decades.

Later this year, five alleged members of the South Sides O Block gang faction are set to go to trial on a racketeering conspiracy indictment accusing them of a pattern of violence that includes the downtown slaying of Chicago rapper FBG Duck in 2020.

Unlike traditional racketeering cases that accuse gang members of using violence to protect drug turf or other illicit enterprises, the charges against the Goonies alleged they shot people simply to boost their social media brand.

It was killing for the sake of killing, Chicago police Sgt. Charles Daly, who helped put the case together, told the Tribune when the indictment was brought in 2018.

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Among the evidence is a disturbing video that was streamed live on Facebook following the January 2016 slaying of a Goonie rival. In the video, about a dozen members of the gang, some as young as 14, wave guns in front of the camera and dance as they taunt the victim, chanting, How the f--- did he get hit? and One in the head, no lie.

Other victims, including Gerald Sias Jr., were just at the wrong place at the wrong time. Sias was getting his hair cut in a popular neighborhood barbershop on a weekday afternoon in 2016 when a gunman suddenly appeared in the doorway and opened fire.

As patrons scrambled to hide behind chairs, Sias, 38, a father of five with no gang ties, was struck in the arm and died later at a nearby hospital. Another customer was wounded in the leg.

Sias father, Gerald Sr., told the Tribune in 2018 that his son was simply trying to get his hair cut for a party on the day he was killed. Asked about the allegations that the gunmen were committing violence simply for street status, the father called the situation crazy.

You wake up and put your clothes on to go kill somebody that dont never done nothing to you? Thats crazy, he said.

The final murder alleged in the indictment occurred July 1, 2016, when Kenneth Whitaker, 34, a security guard with no gang ties, was shot twice in the head in July 2016 while walking past an elementary school at 74th and Morgan streets.

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At the time, the Goonies were out for revenge after one of their own had been slain earlier that night, sources told the Tribune. The indictment alleged the gunman had just left a nearby hospital when Turman opened fire on Whitaker.

In a sign of the fractured and often fickle nature of gang cliques in Chicago, the case against the Goonies was built largely on social media and jail calls, not traditional wiretaps.

Jurors are expected to be shown numerous Facebook videos during the trial where the defendants and other gang associates allegedly boast about killing rivals and flamboyantly display their arsenal of guns, some with extended magazines, on publicly available platforms.

One of those videos was played by prosecutors at a detention hearing in McElroys separate gun case, showing McElroy and other Goonie members brandishing firearms and laughing about committing acts of violence. said at the time she found the glee and exuberance on the gang members faces appalling.

I have never seen anything like this in my life, Cox said. It is shocking to me that you could laugh about a gun like it is a toy.  Some of those kids look like they were 14 or 15 years old. And this is their life?

In his 18-page plea agreement entered Tuesday, McElroy admitted that he sold narcotics in Chicago and the suburbs to help bankroll the purchase of firearms for the gang, which he often gave out to juvenile members known as shorties for use on the street. Many of the guns were purchased by straw buyers at stores in Kalamazoo, Michigan, who were paid a $150 fee by McElroy for their troubles.

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Among the guns McElroy procured was the gun used to kill Sias and wound another patron in Powells Barbershop on West 63rd Street, according to the plea.

In a sentencing memo in McElroys separate gun case, prosecutors said McElroy was caught on wiretapped calls talking to an associate about how easy it was to get guns in Michigan.

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Its sweet cuz, McElroy said on one call in February 2017, according to the filing. I did the (expletive) a hundred times.

When the associate, who was secretly cooperating with authorities, worried about potential criminal exposure, McElroy assured him that nothing would come of it, according to prosecutors.

Guns are misdemeanors out there, McElroy said. You can get as many as you want. They a misdemeanor. You get bumped off, you straight. You be out the same night.

McElroys attorneys argued for leniency in that case, noting his young age at the time of his arrest and his troubled background, being forced to fend for himself in a rough neighborhood before a brief and unsuccessful stint living with relatives in Iowa to escape the violence of the streets.

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In asking for a stiff sentence for McElroy, however, Assistant U.S. Attorney Albert Berry wrote that the illegal trafficking of firearms that McElroy engaged in was a key contributor to that seemingly never-ending cycle.

Nathaniel McElroy is one in a long list of individuals that has contributed to the pain inflicted upon families due to the gun violence in Chicago, Berry wrote.

jmeisner@chicagotribune.com
Two years ago, Napa Countys cities imposed strict water-use curbs in response to the encroaching pressure of California's historic drought.

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The city of Napa, for instance, limited most outdoor residential irrigation to only two days a week, prevented residents from irrigating for much of the day and restricted the trucking of water from city hydrants, all in an effort to cut community water use in 2021 by 20% compared to the year before.

But in recent weeks, following a wintertime deluge of rain and snow across the state  which refilled dry reservoirs and packed mountain ranges with unprecedented levels of snow  California's drought emergency has lifted. Napas cities have pulled back their water restrictions as a result.

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Napa, Yountville and American Canyon ended their Phase II water emergency restrictions in April. Calistoga rescinded its curbs earlier this month. St. Helena was the first to walk back Phase II emergency water restrictions in late 2021 and is scheduled to withdraw its voluntary Phase 1 reductions at a council meeting in July, according to public works director Joseph Leach.

Joy Eldredge, the city of Napas deputy utilities director, noted that city residents are now free to irrigate as much as they like, though the city still recommends conservation and maintains education and programs to help with that.

We had been pretty prescriptive at just two days per week watering, Eldredge said. Weve pulled that back completely. And so people are free to use their irrigation as they see it. But we still encourage conservation. Theres really no need to water every day where we are.

Eldredge added the department is still reaching out and trying to educate people if they see obvious water waste.

But the restrictions the city had been under for almost two years are no longer required. Thats because the citys local reservoirs  Lake Hennessey and the Milliken Reservoir  are at capacity, storing about 32,390 acre-feet of water in total. (One acre-foot equals about 325,000 gallons.)

And because the rainfall early this year had a major impact statewide, the California Department of Water Resources is forecasting it will deliver 100% of requested water supplies from the State Water Project  which, according to Eldredge, hasnt happened since 2006.

The city has an annual entitlement of up to 21,900 acre-feet of water from the state.

Typical allocations have been much lower, but city water customers have been using roughly between 12,000 and 14,000 acre-feet of water in the past few years, with a low of about 12,200 acre-feet in 2022, according to Eldredge.

Eldredge expects a rise in water use this year compared to last year, but doesnt predict Napa returning to its pre-pandemic consumption of about 14,000 acre-feet.

As we sit right now with everything, we know were solid for two years, even if next year was a very dry year, Eldredge said.

Eldredge also noted that recent weather has included some late rains and has not warmed as early as in past years, which means residents, for the most part, hadnt started irrigating their plants and yards until recently.

Sometimes when its hot in March or in April, people start to irrigate early, Eldredge said. Now theyre just starting to think about it. Were really not starting our irrigation season until now for most people.

Eldredge added that as climate change takes hold, theres an agreed-upon prediction of more volatile weather. That means there will be more super-wet years and longer dry years, requiring Napa to assume in its long-term Urban Water Management Plan that surface water supplies will drop 10% by 2035.

Derek Rayner, Calistogas director of public works, noted that city currently has more than 3.6 years of water supply. Conservation measures last year led to about 90 acre-feet in water savings for the city, he said, and staff are expecting water use to rise from 665 acre-feet last year to about 755 acre-feet this year.

Calistoga Councilmember Kevin Eisenberg at the May 2 City Council meeting said that he was happy about the city's recent water-saving successes, but cautioned listeners to continue taking conservation seriously.

This is going to happen again; we will have another drought, Eisenberg said. I understand why we wouldnt want to continue the stage 2 emergency, (because) its not an emergency right now. But we are going to have whipsaw weather for the foreseeable future.
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A teachers strike that kept more than 34,000 children out of school for more than a week in the Oakland Unified School District ended Monday after the teachers union and district reached a contract deal, the union said.

Teachers returned to classrooms Monday, but instruction will not resume until Tuesday, the Oakland Education Association said in a statement. The district said in its own statement Monday morning that "OEA has called off its strike as of today, and full school operations will resume on Tuesday."

The tentative 2 1/2-year agreement includes a 15.5% pay raise for most teachers, with those at the bottom of the pay scale receiving more, according to the union, which represents 3,000 educators in the district's 80 schools. Teachers with dual-language skills will receive retroactive pay and bilingual stipends.

Under the deal, a beginning teacher would make $62,696 and a top-tier educator would earn $109,878 in salary, which doesn't include full health benefits and district contributions to pensions of the equivalent of 19% of teacher salaries.

The contract does not change teachers' schedules, which include 180 instructional days, six additional prep days, with a 6.45-hour day for elementary teachers and a seven-hour day for middle and high school teachers.

In addition, all members of the union would receive back pay equaling a 10% raise to Nov. 1, 2022 and a $5,000 one-time bonus.

Based on recent proposals, Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell said the compensation package would cost the district about $70 million. It was unclear Monday morning whether that amount had increased based on the tentative deal.

The tentative agreement will be put to the school board and the members of the teachers union for a ratification vote in the coming days.

And because Oakland Unified still owes money on the $100 million state loan after facing insolvency in 2003, the district remains under state fiscal supervision and any deal will require approval by the Alameda County Office of Education, which is acting as the state fiscal agent.

District officials announced the deal and the end to the strike early Monday morning, but declined to immediately provide details or answer additional questions until a press conference planned for later in the day.

The Oakland Education Association had announced Saturday that the negotiations had reached separate agreements on four "common good" items, marking the most significant movement since the start of the strike. Those items are not included in the teachers contract and will expire in 2025.

Those agreed-upon issues involved reparations for Black students, resources for unhoused students, school closures and shared governance.

The agreements on common-good items do not include many of the initial demands from the union for significantly more resources, but rather include a requirement to work together to address needs for unhoused students and those with transportation needs and ensure four union appointments on committees related to reparations for Black students and school closures.

The tentative agreement on the labor contract includes adding two nurses assigned to early education and requirements to ensure there are four high school librarians and provide five counselors to elementary and secondary schools to provide support for chronic absenteeism, crisis response and other needs.

In addition, the contract would create a handful of new task forces or working groups on facilities, art and music, and on transitional kindergarten and kindergarten issues.

"The strike wasn't just about teachers being able to earn enough to put a roof over their head in high-priced Oakland," said Oakland Education Association interim president Ismael Armendariz. "The strike was also about students and their families having a roof over their heads and a more holistic approach to meeting our students' needs. In a similar vein, this tentative agreement is about a teacher being able to put bread on their table and it is also about feeding young minds. It's about more than a paycheck, it's about the common good."

Union leaders called the strike based on what they alleged were unfair labor practices by the district, including bargaining in bad faith.

District officials denied the claim.

But based on the allegation, the union called a strike, which meant teachers walked out prior to completing the otherwise legally mandated bargaining process, including impasse, fact-finding and mediation.

The unfair labor practice claim allowed the union to strike prior to the summer break.

Negotiations had been underway since October, and teachers walked out of classrooms May 4.

The deal was reached Sunday, but the strike was not called off until early Monday as the union said it was awaiting "an accurate document" from the district.

Photos: Napa Valley Faces and Places, May 14, 2023
Indian Dilip Chhabria, one of the most successful car designers in the world, has difficulties, but he still continues to work. His latest project, a 4-seater cross-coupe, was made on the basis of the Swedish Volvo XC90 crossover, Kolesa.ru reported.

DC2 Dilip Chhabria is the former DC Design company, founded at the turn of the last century by Indian designer Dilip Chhabria. On the official website of DC2 Dilip Chhabria, it was noted that during the 26 years of work, the company owned by his family created more than 800 design projects and released more than 5,000 cars, the most famous of which is the DC Avanti. We present other projects of DC Design, with which the reader can get an idea of Dilip Chhabria's taste.

Chhabria studied auto design in the US and worked at General Motors. In 2020, the Indian authorities charged Chhabria with fraud, falsification of documents and money laundering, and according to reports, the investigation of this case is not over yet. During that time, Chhabria founded a new company and continues to operate, manufacturing one-off and small-quantity cars based on stock cars. Chhabria works 12 to 14 hours a day and creates about 50 sketches a day.

The Indian company unveiled the cross-coupe at the beginning of May, based on the Excellence top-version. Outwardly, it can be seen only from the rear mirrors, whereas everything else is completely new. The large, gullwing doors have vents instead of roll-down windows, and the second-row passengers have no side windows.

The interior is completely new, but the front panel and electronics of the Swedish crossover have been preserved. The salon is divided into two parts, the type of Bugatti Chiron.

How much the DC2 Dilip Chhabria costs is not known, but the atelier is ready to inform potential buyers about the price upon personal enquiry.
The border delimitation announcement following the previous day's meeting between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan means that there is still no official border, and that's bad. Russian historian and analyst Modest Kolerov stated this in an interview with Armenian News-NEWS.am.

He explained that before the formation of the official border between Armenia and Azerbaijanthat is, the delimitation; that is, marking the border on the spot, there should be long negotiations on delimitation; that is, there should be negotiations on the deciding of the border on the map.

According to Kolerov, this agreement shows that the border between the aforesaid two countries is not even on the map, and the very invitation to delimitation means that this border can be moved by the force of occupation, by the force of advancing troops, as much as necessary and in any direction.

"If there is no border delimitation, then everything is possible, and this is the worst result. The agreement on border delimitation itself recognizes that there is no border, and after this recognition, Yerevan will not be able to scold Azerbaijan for violating the borders," he added.

Kolerov believes that the West, in general, has only a theoretical relationship with this border delimitation.

"Russia, when discussing this issue with the parties, voluntarily helped in this discussion, voluntarily provided the maps it has. In this case, Brussels' mediation is purely rhetorical. Border delimitation has been used as a slogan for a long time, which means that there is no border yet [between Armenia and Azerbaijan], and there was no demand to maintain at least some border. So, do whatever you want, capture whatever you want," he said.

The Russian historian and analyst stated that Armenia has already renounced Nagorno-Karabakh, and the meeting in Brussels on the issue of ensuring the rights of the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh did not take a single step forward.

"And this is a disaster because if you are forced into unfavorable arrangements, if you cannot avoid them, then you can resort to the last resort: verbally declaring that you are doing it by force. And let the world see that you are concerned about the Karabakh issue.

"But the subject of Karabakh was not mentioned in the official comments of the Brussels meeting. I think that Yerevan removed the Karabakh issue from the agenda, it is closed for Yerevan. Yes, Russia is bad, the [Russian] peacekeepers [in Karabakh] are bad, but did they take ownership of Karabakh in Brussels? Did they protect your border from the creeping expansion? Why did you go to the West? The point will not be set, as there is no border even on paper. A peace treaty without borders is empty sound," Kolerov said.

According to him, it is not comforting that Armenia has stopped the fight for the solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem and focused on border delimitation.

"It is obvious that Azerbaijan has solved the Karabakh problem for itself, and the meaning of Russia's or the West's or anyone else's mediation is to constantly resume the talks about Karabakh, so that this issue is always on the discussion table. Yerevan should have constantly talked about the unresolved status of Nagorno-Karabakh every day, everywhere, even in public statements, in the presence of [European Council President Charles] Michel, anyone. Now, when the whole problem has been brought to border delimitation, the picture has changed. If Yerevan were to talk about the unresolved issue of the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, then at least the problem of blockade would arise. But now it is gone.

"If until recently, Karabakh was the main problem of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, now it is not Karabakh, but border delimitation. Replacing the Karabakh issue with the border delimitation issue is a disaster," concluded the Russian historian and analyst.
Over $650,000 allocated for holding events devoted to Aram Khachaturian birth anniversary

World Health Organization: We strongly condemn actions taking place in Lachin corridor, on Armenia border

Food poisoning in Armenia kindergarten, 14 children hospitalized

Karabakh ex-state minister: At this moment we cannot afford even ordinary political conflict or crisis

shamshyan.com: Shootings in Yerevan, district deputy head hospitalized

Azerbaijan uses grenade launcher in Karabakh

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

We regret all these tensions; they are not in favor of peace process: French ambassador is in Syunik

In the current situation, it is very important to support Syunik region. Andrea Wiktorin

EU doubles aid to Syunik to 116 million Euros

Samantha Power: Reopening of road connecting Karabakh to Armenia is absolute necessity

State Revenue Committee chief: Cocaine that entered Armenia did not come through Yerevan Zvartnots airport

Azerbaijan army uses mortar toward Armenia positions in Norabak village sector

CSTO confirms readiness to provide assistance to Armenia

Alen Simonyan: No tangible results yet in Armenia-Turkey relations normalization process

FlyOne Armenia starts flights between Yerevan, Dusseldorf

Sarsang Reservoir environmental crisis manifested by sharp microclimatic change, plant and animal species loss (PHOTOS)

Armenia FM to pay visit to Moscow on Friday

Armenia not received complaint about Operation Nemesis monument from Turkey via diplomatic channels

Armenia premier: Certain understanding reached in Brussels on ascertaining fate of captives, the missing

Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan leaders to meet on May 25 in Moscow

Artsakh Security and Development Front public movement declaration is publicized

Pashinyan: Certain positive understanding formed in Brussels regarding Armenia-Azerbaijan railway restoration

Armenia PM: Recognizing each other's territorial integrity is important step in finalizing peace treaty text

CSTO members hope Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty is signed soon

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

Kissinger calls US, China main threat to world, humanity existence

Karabakh ex-minister of state: Very important to say we are all ready to go until the end

Montana becomes first US state to completely ban TikTok

Kaps Reservoir construction kicks off in Armenias Shirak Province, to conclude in 3 years

Armenia paramedic wounded in Azerbaijan shooting is discharged from hospital

Constitution expert: Matter should be put to referendum in case of one-millimeter change in Armenia territory

World gold prices going down

Updated Range Rover is unveiled

Newspaper: Armenia National Security Service goes on big chains trail in 1 ton cocaine import case

US State Dept.: Turkey curtails rights of its religious minorities, including Armenians

Yerevan City Council elections will be held on September 17. Vahagn Hovakimyan

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

Digital transformation: Reasons why banks need to digitize themselves

Russia MFA spox.: Armenia, Azerbaijan FMs will hold bilateral talks in Moscow Friday

Zakharova on Sotk village events: We call on Armenian, Azerbaijani sides to refrain from provocative actions

Armenia soldier, paramedic are wounded after Azerbaijan shooting

Statement to leave Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan unlawful until signed with interstate agreement, Armenia ex-judge says

Paolo Gentiloni: Sanctioned goods reach Russia via Central Asia, Armenia

Pashinyan: Armenia recognizes territorial integrity of Azerbaijan with area of 86,600 square kilometers

President chairs Karabakh Security Council meeting

Hopes that something will change in Azerbaijan are not justified, Dunja Mijatovic says

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

Fix Price enters Armenia market

US ready to continue collaboration with Armenia internal affairs ministry

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

Prominent Armenian poet Yeghishe Charents works are translated into Italian

US ambassador discusses Armenia judicial system (PHOTOS)

Karabakh FM: Europe should not have forgotten Armenians besieged in Artsakh

Mirzoyan met with the head of Cypriot Foreign Ministry

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

Prosecutor Generals Office studying media reports on record amount of drugs to be sent to Armenia

Iran official: Silk Road will be revived

EBRD calculates Armenia economic growth indicator for 2023 first quarter

Ramaphosa: Russia, Ukraine leaders ready to discuss African plan for peaceful settlement

Germany ambassador: EU monitoring mission in Armenia has already had good start

Dollar, euro drop in Armenia

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

Armenia economic growth prospects clouded by high geopolitical risks, EBRD says

Borrell: EU continues engagement towards lasting peace, security in South Caucasus

Armenia deputy FM on Karabakh-Azerbaijan international mechanisms: There are several options

Iran MFA condemns US double standards over recent oil tanker seizures
By Aram Danielyan

After everything that happened in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone, both the first and the second, and in the period between these wars, to hope in ecstasy that Armenians and Azerbaijanis will come together in Nagorno-Karabakh, can hope only an idiot or one far from understanding is what is happening. Konstantin Zatulin, First Deputy Chairman of the Committee for CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots of the Russian State Duma, said this in an interview to Armenian News-NEWS.am

He noted that in order to achieve peace, this world should be at least based on some kind of justice.

"That is what prompted me to announce before the 44-day war [in 2020] that Karabakh should become independent, and the regions around Karabakh, except for one or two corridor regions around Karabakh, should be transferred to Azerbaijan.

"The mediators were also working on the subject of the delayed status of Nagorno-Karabakh, the holding of a referendum in Nagorno-Karabakh. All these questions are now forgotten, ignored.

"It seems that the Armenian side, appealing to the part of the Armenian population that is afraid of the resumption of the war, intimidating its own population with this prospect, pushes all those living in Armenia to complicity in abandoning their compatriots in Nagorno-Karabakh. This line also existed among the supporters of the western path in Armenia before. Back in [First President] Levon Ter-Petrosyan's time, they said that the population of Armenia will live well when it gets rid of the burden of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is why trade and economic relations in the region are not developing. Today, they tempt the population also with this.

"The black role of the current government of Armenia and [PM] Pashinyan himself is that they are trying to push the people to leave the Nagorno-Karabakh compatriots to the whims of fate," said the Russian MP.

Zatulin does not believe that peace can be achieved in such ways because such peace will be fraught with memories of the injustice done and carries the seeds of future conflicts.
Hraparak daily of Armenia writes: Former Secretary of Artsakh [(Nagorno-Karabakh)] Security Council Samvel Babayan recorded a complete fiasco yesterday. He had been preparing for a big rally for months, but yesterday he had managed to gather several hundred, at best, a thousand people at the [capital] Stepanakert [main] square.

Despite the criticism made against the authorities and the threats to take harsh measures, it is obvious that he was unable to apply pressure, achieve his goal; that is, to be appointed the state minister. But the authorities of Artsakh gave way and announced to start consultations with the entire political field. According to some information, the authorities of Artsakh were put under pressure from Armenia.

Our sources in Artsakh fear that after the ten-day consultations, Babayan will be appointed state minister, and the current state minister, Gurgen Nersisyan, who is related to Babayan, will return to the position of chief prosecutor. By the way, the position of the prosecutor is still vacant. It is said that with the appointment of Babayan, [Armenias PM] Nikol Pashinyan, who the previous day agreed to recognize Artsakh as part of Azerbaijan, will try to implement the last act of handing over Artsakh to Azerbaijan.

They are already discussing different scenarios that, first, "at the request of state minister Samvel Babayan," the Azerbaijanis will open the checkpoint, which will increase his reputation, but many people will leave Artsakh. Then he will demand the removal of the Russian peacekeepers, as they do not ensure their security. Then he will give permission to Azerbaijani companies for the operation of Artsakh mines, arguing that the money, in any case, will go to Artsakh's budget. And the Azerbaijanis will live in Artsakh with the right of landlords, and Artsakh will be de-Armenianized once and for all.

But a well-informed source said that the appointment of Samvel Babayan as the state minister is ruled out. At least as long as Arayik Harutyunyan is sitting in the chair of the [Artsakh] president.
High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs of Armenia Zareh Sinanyan paid a working visit to Germany, from May 7 to 15, the commissioner's office informs Armenian News-NEWS.am. In Munich, Zareh Sinanyan met with Chairman of the Armenian Patriotic Union of Bavaria Ani Telyan and a number of other representatives. The High Commissioner toured the building of the Union, also met with the teaching staff of the school named after Hovhannes Tumanyan operating under the Union. A meeting was held with Head of the center Anush Chakhalyan and its members at the "Anush" dance and culture center. Then the High Commissioner participated in the evening organized by the Association of Armenian Women of Munich. A separate meeting was held with the representatives of the organizations operating in the Armenian community of Munich. During the meetings, the topics of discussion were mainly related to the Armenia-Diaspora cooperation, strategy, repatriation process and existing problems.

During the meeting the teachers raised issues and problems related to the provision and delivery of textbooks for one-day schools of Diaspora, publication of a number of new and modern educational support materials for children of middle and high school and preschool age, offline and online formats for the organization of teacher retraining. The investment policy of Armenia and possibility of issuing Diaspora bonds were also touched upon. High Commissioner Zareh Sinanyan visited the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Germany in Cologne and met with Primate His Grace Bishop Serovbe Isakhanyan, parish priest of Cologne and surrounding area Ter Vahridsch Baghdasaryan and members of the Diocesan Council. Then the High Commissioner had a tour of the St. Sahak-St. Mesrop Cathedral of Cologne. During the meeting with the representatives of the Armenian communities of Cologne and nearby settlements the High Commissioner noted that the German-Armenian community is not only active in Germany and involved in various fields of cultural life in Germany, but also actively participates in all the programs and initiatives of the Office of the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs. During the meeting with Mayor of Cologne Henriette Recker, a reference was made to the Armenian community of Cologne. The High Commissioner particularly emphasized the issue of preserving the Armenian language and addressed the Mayor to discuss the possibility of including the Armenian language teaching class for the Armenian schoolchildren studying in the public schools of Cologne. In Berlin, the High Commissioner met with the representatives of the Armenian structures and a number of individuals active in the community. During the meeting, the possibilities of involving Armenian Diaspora in the development of Armenia in various fields and, in particular, the best use of the potential of young professionals were discussed. High Commissioner Zareh Sinanyan met with the representatives of the Armenian structures operating in Hamburg and a number of individuals of Armenian nationality in the hall of the "Armenian Community 1965 of Hamburg" organization.

The High Commissioner presented in detail the activities, programs, repatriation process, current situation in Armenia-Diaspora relations, initiatives aimed at attracting the potential of Diaspora implemented by the office since 2019. The High Commissioner called on the youth of the community to participate in the National Youth Forum and the 8th Pan-Armenian Games to be held in Armenia in August. The meeting continued in the format of questions and answers. The questions mainly related to the provision of textbooks to schools in Diaspora, teacher retraining and general methodology issues, repatriation, challenges of Armenia and Artsakh, military service, difficulties of maintaining Armenian identity in Diaspora. During the meeting with the representatives of the "Mantashyants" business club and Armenian Business Network, the investment policy and opportunities in Armenia were discussed. The High Commissioner also visited the school of the "Armenian Community 1965 of Hamburg" organization, where an Armenian dance group and a choir operate. Zareh Sinanyan toured the school, got acquainted with the activities and existing problems of the school and cultural groups.
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A second person has been charged a year after armed attackers violently robbed former culinary student Dakotah Earley in Lincoln Park.

The attackers severely injured Earley, who was shot twice in the back and once in the head, at the end of an alleged robbery spree in May 2022. Shortly after the robbery, police arrested Tyshon Brownlee, 20, the person they say shot Earley, but for months were unable to arrest an alleged accomplice.

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On Monday, police in Maywood arrested the 18-year-old who police say also attacked Earley, according to the Chicago Police Department.

The unnamed teen was charged with felonies for attempted murder in the first degree, armed robbery and possession of a stolen vehicle. He was 17 years old at the time of the attack, police said. He is scheduled to appear in juvenile court Tuesday.

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[ Man charged in spree of robberies in Lakeview and Lincoln Park neighborhoods, including one that left former culinary student shot and severely injured ]

When prosecutors charged Brownlee last May, they alleged he basically terrorized Lakeview and Lincoln Park during a five-hour robbery spree.

Between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m., he robbed five people of property such as headphones and wallets, prosecutors said. He pointed a handgun with an extended magazine at victims as he took their things, they alleged.

The alleged attacker hid around a corner and pointed a gun at Earley as he walked by on the sidewalk in the 1300 block of West Webster Avenue around 3 a.m., prosecutors said. A struggle ensued and Brownlee shot Earley three times, according to authorities.

The attack severely injured Earley, who worked at the Greater Chicago Food Depository. He spent four weeks in an intensive care unit and required a partial leg amputation and abdominal and jaw surgeries while hospitalized for months.

[ CPD nonpursuit policy blamed for ambush shooting attack of former culinary student in Lincoln Park, victims lawsuit says ]

In a lawsuit he filed against Chicago police and Mayor Lori Lightfoot in February, the 24-year-old victim alleged police could have captured the suspects who were engaged in a spree of violent robberies before attacking him.

Police should have been able to stop the alleged attackers after spotting a stolen BMW, but implemented the departments no-chase policy, the lawsuit said. The car was later used as a getaway vehicle in Earleys shooting, according to the suit.

As a direct and proximate cause of the Police Departments nonpursuit policy, Earley was shot in head and back and suffered grave damages that all could have been prevented but for the departments enactment of its unreasonable nonpursuit policy, the suit said.
The Guardia di Finanza (Finance Guard) of Italy has seized a record amount of cocaine, 2,734 kilograms, which was to be sent to Armenia from Ecuador, this law enforcement agency informed in a statement.

Prohibited cargo was seized in the Port of Gioia Tauro, in southern Calabria. The drugs were frozen in 12-meter packages, in 78 tons of bananas. These two containers were to be sent to Armenia from Guayaquil, Ecuador through the Georgian Port of Batumi.

"The cocaine was found... with the help of sophisticated scanners, along with Joel the dog. The seized drug, which was extremely clean and in perfect condition, would have provided the drug dealers with an income of more than 800 million euros," the aforesaid stated added.

More than 30 Guardia di Finanza employees were put to work for the transportation and subsequent eradication of these narcotics, the Guardia di Finanza of Italy noted.
The Armenian community of Turkey is disappointed with the results of the May 14 elections, according to outgoing Armenian member of the Turkish parliament, Garo Paylan, Armenpress reported.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, having formed an alliance with what Paylan described as nationalists and radicals succeeded in garnering enough votes to secure a parliamentary majority. According to Paylan, this means that Turkey will become even more nationalistic, while a more nationalistic Turkey will normalize relations with Armenia with greater difficulties.

We must not spare any effort in convincing Turkey to establish peace with Armenia, Paylan told Armenpress in Istanbul.

Armenians in Turkey are already in fear. Before 2015, we used to talk about our issues, but after that the Armenians became more silent. We were hoping that something would change as a result of these elections, but that didnt happen. Unfortunately, Armenians will become more voiceless in this period, Paylan said.

Presidential rivals Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Kemal Kilicdaroglu will have a runoff election after both failed to win 50% of the votes on Sunday.

However, Erdogans alliance garnered 49.46% of the votes in the parliamentary elections, which means that they will have 322 seats in the new Turkish parliament. His main rivals bloc won 35.02% of the votes and will have 213 seats.
I cannot say the specific period because it was apparently discussed in the Security Council. I think it was around the time of the September events last year; I would ask to clarify. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mnatsakan Safaryan stated this speaking with reporters Tuesday in the National Assembly, referring to the question of when the option of leaving the CSTO was discussed in Armenia, which was spoken about by Security Council secretary Armen Grigoryan.

When asked why Armenia did not take that step, the deputy FM responded: "It was decided not to take that step, to continue the work because there are issues that were later discussed during the CSTO summit, and this work is continuing, which we have announced. Soon there will also be discussions regarding the statement on the situation in the South Caucasus."

He assured that at the moment the matter of leaving the CSTO was not on Armenia's agenda, but it may be discussed depending on the development of the situation.

"A summit was expected in that period [in September 2022]. We went to that summit hoping that the discussions would bring some results. Our expectations were not met, but we decided to continue the work. The situation is complicated, and we, being a CSTO member country, having obligations as well, continue to hope that our steps, work will bring certain results; there is still that hope," he said.

Regarding the fact that Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has repeatedly stated that they are waiting for Armenia's response to send CSTO observers to the country, the Armenian deputy FM said: "We have stated many times that there should be a political assessment of the situation by the CSTO. These discussions may resume at some point. At the moment, the matter related to the [CSTO] observers has been brought to the agenda."

Safaryan, however, did not answer the question whether the CSTO assistance package to Armenia included weapons and troops. "I don't want to address that question at this moment," he said.

And regarding the search for new international security guarantees for Armenia which was stated by the secretary of the Security Council, the Armenian deputy FM said: "In general, we are trying to further develop the components related to Armenia's security in all directions. And for an answer to the specific question, contact the secretary of the Security Council."
The territorial integrity of Azerbaijan has always been recognized, and there is hardly anything new here in this regard. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mnatsakan Safaryan stated this while speaking with reporters Tuesday in the National Assembly of Armenia, referring to the tripartite meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, European Council President Charles Michel, and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev that was held on May 14 in Brussels.

"Negotiations are going on to secure the rights and international security mechanisms of Nagorno-Karabakh," he said.

To the question of what the supposed international mechanism was between Karabakh and Azerbaijan, and whether there was a country or organization that can give these guarantees, the Armenian deputy FM responded: "There are a number of options for this, it can be a country or the UN Security Council. There are options, and it is a matter of discussion."

He assured that on Friday in Moscow, the talks between the FMs of Armenia and Azerbaijan will proceed on all points.
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Irene Perez holds up a Healthcare For All sign during a news conference at Alivio Medical Center to urge the passing of the Healthy Illinois For All bill on May 16, 2023, in Chicago. If passed, the bill would provide funded health care services for Illinois immigrants. (Shanna Madison/Chicago Tribune)

Though Erica does not qualify for state-funded medical health care for people in the country without legal permission because she is not yet 42 years old, she dedicates her time as a community health worker to inform those who do qualify about how they can enroll.

Its a blessing to help others because I know how it feels to have no safety net, said Erica, a mother of two who did not want to share her last name for privacy reasons.

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On Tuesday morning, she and dozens of community health workers and immigrant advocates urged state legislators and Gov. J.B. Pritzker to pass the Healthy Illinois For All bill under the new state budget, set to begin July 1, which would expand Medicaid-like coverage to immigrants 19 to 42 years old who are in the country without legal permission.

If the bill passes, Erica would qualify for state-funded health insurance along with nearly 120,000 other Illinoisans.

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But the estimate for the existing program, which provides state-funded health insurance to immigrants 42 and over who are in the country without legal permission, has grown to $1.1 billion  a fivefold increase from the $220 million the state projected in February  and already threatens to blow a hole in Gov. J.B. Pritzkers $49.6 billion proposal for the budget year that begins July 1, the first of his second term.

[ Ballooning cost of insuring undocumented immigrants complicating state budget negotiations ]

Healthy Illinois  a coalition pro-immigrant and health care that advocated for the programs creation  has lobbied for the passage of the expansion of health care coverage for noncitizens for more than a decade. They argue that the state numbers are inaccurate and that actual spending on the program is half of what the state projects for 2024.

The coalition estimates it would cost $202 million to expand the program to cover adults age 19 to 42, while the state projects a $380 million cost in the first year.

John Bouman, director of Legal Action Chicago, who is leading the policy work for Healthy Illinois, said that the new programs are no different than the expansion to All Kids or The Affordable Care Act.Those two programs drastically expanded Medicaid eligibility and are now running fully implemented, he said.

The price projection is inflated and enrollment is larger than expected because people are doing a good job in enrolling people, Bouman said.

Department of Healthcare and Family Services Director Theresa Eagleson told a state Senate committee on Monday that the $1.1 billion estimate was produced by actuaries the department uses regularly for both the new program for immigrants and the traditional Medicaid program.

The department asked the actuaries to run new projections early this year after costs were coming in higher than expected, Eagelson told the Senate Executive Appointments Committee.

A department spokeswoman did not respond Tuesday to requests for a more detailed explanation of how it arrived at those projections, but officials previously said the program is also running over budget in the current year, with the total tab now expected to be about $690 million, more than three times what was budgeted.

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Tovia Siegel, campaign director for Healthy Illinois said the higher than expected enrollment is a testament to the desperate need of people in the U.S. without legal permission to obtain access to health care and that the price could be higher for the first several years since many of the enrollees may have avoided going to the doctor for most of their lives due to their immigration status and its implications in this country.

When we hear politicians say that they cant expand this year, its too expensive. Frankly what theyre really saying is theyre OK with immigrants getting sick and dying, Siegel said.

Tovia Siegel, director of the Healthy Illinois Campaign, speaks during a press conference at Alivio Medical Center on on May 16, 2023, in Chicago. (Shanna Madison/Chicago Tribune)

Advocates that back the program pointed out that most working adults pay taxes even if they live in the country without authorization. And that the state will save money in the long run by avoiding advanced and chronic diseases caused by the lack of access to preventive and primary care or sudden visits to the emergency room, thus costing the state more than the projected cost.

It is expected that when people had not had coverage, theyre going to deal with program that havent been treated. It may cost a little more the first couple of years, but then it backs up, added Bouman. It is the same pattern with enrollment, when there is an initial hike but then it stops.

Illinois was the first state to provide health care coverage for older adults in the county without legal permission in 2020. Several states have followed, including California, which now provides publicly funded coverage for adults 19 and older regardless of their immigration status.

Siegel also added that there has been little information on how the state may be leaving federal money on the table by not getting reimbursement for qualifying emergency health services provided to immigrants without documents. Eagleson told the Senate committee Monday that the department estimates it will be able to recover $67 million from the federal government for emergency services covered since the start of the program and projects $100 million or more in recoverable expenses next year in the states health care program for undocumented immigrants.

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Natalie Raghu, a doctor at Erie Family Health said that she has seen firsthand the impact that the program has had on the older community, giving her the ability to diagnose cancer, chronic diabetes and other diseases that could drastically affect a persons life and therefore their ability to contribute to society.

Passing a bill to provide basic care for all adults in the country without legal permission could have a domino effect to improve the lives of those immigrants, prolonging their working years and the lives of those around them, Raghu said.

Immigrants pay taxes too, said Erendira Rendon, instructing the rest of the community members and health care workers to join her in a chorus. We deserve health care. Health care is a human right!

Rendon is vice president for the Immigrant Advocacy and Defense Project at Chicagos Resurrection Project and will be spending her week in Springfield.

Erica joined the chant. She said she will continue to advocate for legislation that humanizes people like herself and her family who immigrated to Chicago with the sole purpose of working and creating a better world for their children; even if she cannot have access to the benefits she has fought for.

Chicago Tribunes Dan Petrella contributed

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Larodriguez@chicagotribune.com
The European side, taking into account the interests of Azerbaijan, is trying to ensure the exchange of Azerbaijanis who crossed the border of Armenia for Armenian prisoners of war (POWs). Siranush Sahakyan, president of the International and Comparative Law Center, said this in an interview with Armenian News-NEWS.am.

After the tripartite meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, European Council President Charles Michel, and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev that was held on May 14 in Brussels, Michel had announced that several more detainees will be released in the coming weeks. He had added that he had emphasized the need to maintain mutual understanding on the matter of the soldiers who had gotten lost and crossed over to the other side will be released under an expedited procedure as before.

But according to Sahakyan, there is a misrepresentation of the facts and, in fact, the Azerbaijani point of view was presented unilaterally.

"There are no facts behind it, and the Armenian position is not reflected. I don't know why the evidence and the final theory were not brought out in comparison with the Armenian position. Maybe they are not aware of the Armenian position or, being aware, it was desirable to rely on the Azerbaijani point of view. Anyway, classic [Azerbaijani] criminals are presented as astray soldiers when at least one of these soldiers has also published a video and the crimes committed by them are substantiated by many evidences. As a rule, if astray servicemen find themselves under the control of the armed forces of another country due to weather or other conditions, they do not commit acts combined with hostile violence. In this case, we see that certain actions were carried out intentionally and violated such important values as life," Sahakyan said.

She stressed that the aforesaid theory will support the "exchange of Armenian prisoners of war with the strays" operation.

"I believe since they are working with Azerbaijan with very soft tools and have not provided any movement in the repatriation of prisoners of war in the last six months. The European side, taking into account the interests of Azerbaijan in terms of prisoners of war, is trying to ensure their exchange for prisoners of war.

"We have a precedent. First, in the [trilateral] statement of November 9, [2020] such wording was given that the exchange was extended not only to prisoners of war, but also to those kept in custody on other grounds. The two Azerbaijanis sentenced to life imprisonment, who were serving their sentence in Shushi [city of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh)], actually became part of that exchange. And there are prerequisites to be able to resolvein exchange for the return of the two Azerbaijanisthe issue of the return of a limited number of Armenian prisoners of war through European mediation," Sahakyan noted.
The 216th meeting of the UNESCO Executive Board started Monday at the UNESCO headquarters. Ambassador Christian Ter-Stepanian, Permanent Delegate of Armenia to UNESCO, delivered an address during the first plenary session held on the same day, the foreign ministry of Armenia informs Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Referring to the activities being carried out by UNESCO in emergency and war situations, the permanent delegate of Armenia recalled the current situation as a result of the military aggression unleashed by the armed forces of Azerbaijan on the sovereign territory of Armenia on September 13, 2022.

Ter-Stepanian, expressed his conviction that UNESCO bears responsibility for all those people whose right to education is violated. In that context, he recalled the consequences of Azerbaijan's blocking of the Lachin corridor for the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh, including the violation of the right to education of 30,000 children. He reaffirmed the urgency of sending the UN inter-agency fact-finding mission due to the described situation.

Also in his remarks, the permanent delegate of Armenia to UNESCO expressed concern regarding the threats to the Armenian cultural heritage in the Karabakh territories now controlled by Azerbaijan, particularly in the regions of Shushi and Hadrut. In that context, Ambassador Ter-Stepanian reaffirmed the desire to urgently send a UNESCO mission to Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent territories.

In his address, the permanent delegate of Armenia to UNESCO reflected also a number of joint initiatives implemented by UNESCO and Armenia and which are in the current phase.
Human Rights Defender of Armenia Anahit Manasyan on Tuesday hosted German Ambassador Viktor Richter, and deputy mission chief Eric Tintrup.

The Defender presented the programs being implemented in prevention of domestic violence, protection of the rights of the child, as well as women empowerment.

Also, Manasyan presented in detail the issues that were raised during the fact-finding activities in Syunik and Gegharkunik Provinces, the human rights violations in Armenias border communities as a result of the Azerbaijani aggression, the humanitarian issues as a result of the blockade of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan, and the issues related to prisoners of war and missing persons. Moreover, the Defender presented the details of her visit to the Azerbaijani servicemen who are detained in Armenia, the status of the protection of their rights, and the conditions of their detention.

During the meeting, a number of issues related to the protection of the rights of national minorities were discussed, too.

In addition, the Defender presented to the German ambassador the details of her recent visit to Strasbourg.

Ambassador Richter, for his part, highly valued the priorities of the Defenders activities.

The effective cooperation formed between the Human Rights Defenders Office of Armenia and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung/Foundation was also highlighted.

The interlocutors agreed to strengthen and expand the cooperation in a number of domains of mutual priority.
The EU monitoring mission in Armenia has already had good start, and they are doing as much as they can within their limited capabilities. German ambassador to Armenia Victor Richter stated this in an interview with Armenian News-NEWS.am. Below is the text of this interview.

Mr. Ambassador, for several months now, the civilian monitoring mission of the European Union has been deployed in Armenia, the head of which is a German. How would you rate the activity of the mission?

I think that the humanitarian mission has already had a good start. So they're in the phase of filling up the personnel in the phase of recruitment. But they're already operational since it's a couple of months. So they are making their monitoring tours in the territory which is under their mandate and have established many contacts with the administrations, with the local populations. So they are building up a good communication and building up trust and confidence for the people which are living in that region. And I think this is one of the also main tasks of this mission to stabilize the situation and to build confidence.

What are they exactly doing?

As far as I know, they are constantly visiting villages which are close to the border. They are having discussions and contact with the local populations there, are taking up their needs and wishes and trying to create a certain level of trust that the situation is stable and that they are monitoring the situation as a whole.

Have they already made any reports?

They're reporting to Brussels.

How often do they submit reports?

I don't know. I cannot tell you details. So they're reporting to Brussels and then there's a further distribution, which is under the authority of Brussels of the EU authorities there. So we as embassies are not involved in operational issues. That's why I cannot tell you too much detail.

How many observers are there now in the mission?

So at the end there will be more than one hundred. So as far as I know, they have reached now more than a half of that, and it's steadily going up.

Mr. Ambassador, we do not really see the reflection of those reports in the statements by the officials of the European Union; even after the last border tension, as a result of which there was one casualty on the Armenian side.

Yeah, I think there is a communication between the European Union authorities and also Armenia, of course, also with the member states, with the states that are involved also here in the region. And they are doing as much as they can within their limited capabilities with only 50 now and will be 100. So that's a big border line. That's the whole line of the border under their mandate; with Azerbaijan also to Nakhchivan. That's why they cannot be everywhere every time. But they try, of course, to be as present as possible physically and also taking into account the security aspect.

They are called to make the region safer with their presence. But for example, the recent border escalations do not indicate a safer region.

They are trying to create, as much as possible stability and security for the situation at the end, as much as a civilian mission can do.

A five-way meeting is expected in Chisinau on June 1, in which [German] Chancellor Olaf Scholz will also participate. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan announced that they have not yet decided whether [President] Ilham Aliyev will participate in that meeting or not. Don't you think that such a statement has a negative impact on Germany's efforts to normalize relations?

I cannot tell you more than which has [been] published by the authorities of the office of [European Council President] Monsieur Charles Michel. So that has been announced, and this is our information that we have.

Olaf Scholz stated that it is necessary to reach a peaceful resolution, not only from the point of view of the territorial integrity of Armenia and Azerbaijan, but also from the point of view of the self-determination of the citizens of Nagorno-Karabakh. How do you see the solution of the Karabakh problem?

So, I cannot add additional aspects to what has been said by our Chancellor and also by the spokesman person of our government. So, Germany is doing its best to assist this peace process as a whole, which should of course take into account also the interests and the security and the rights of the Armenians living in the former autonomous region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Is Germany ready to act as a mediator in case of creation of international mechanisms for dialogue between Baku and Stepanakert, considering that Azerbaijan is against the creation of international mechanisms?

I cannot go into these details because, you know, these negotiations are very confidential; so, I don't know the details.

Thank you very much.
Clare McCarthy entered Emory College of Arts and Sciences feeling guilty about how little she had paid attention to climate change and other social justice concerns until high school.

Sure, she had become a vegetarian and refused to use disposable plastic. Not until joining Volunteer Emory and the Climate Reality Project her first semester, though, did she see how she might translate those personal changes into her long-held hope of leaving a positive impact on the world.

This month, the Deans Achievement Scholar graduates with a degree in environmental science as a campus leader who helped secure a $300,000 federal grant to boost one of Emorys signature sustainability efforts and successfully worked with the Office of Sustainability Initiatives (OSI) and other campus partners to commit the university to trackable steps in combatting greenhouse gas emissions.

In high school, I became somewhat militaristic about how to have an impact, to the point where I would dehydrate myself rather than use a plastic cup, McCarthy says. As I got involved with the volunteer community and climate community, I realized that kind of guilt is unproductive if you really want to drive change.

McCarthys commitment to that thoughtfulness and the creative application of her intellectual gifts led to her selection as the 2023 Lucius Lamar McMullan Award recipient.

Made possible by a generous gift from Emory alumnus William Matheson 47G, the McMullan Award provides $30,000, no strings attached, to one Emory College graduate who is expected to do extraordinary things on a community, national and global scale.

What is so special about Clare is that she is not afraid to fail, because she puts in everything she can, and she is not afraid to admit when she isnt sure what needs done, says Eri Saikawa, the Winship Distinguished Research Professor of environmental sciences and director of Emory Climate Talks.

Because of that, she makes space for other people to participate, to come together and think about solutions, Saikawa adds. Its refreshing to see somebody so willing to do so much for the common good.

Gaining a global perspective

Travel expanded McCarthys world beyond the backyards and woods she roamed growing up in Murrysville, Pennsylvania. Attending a University of Pittsburgh summer program on global issues for high schoolers left her wanting to study climate science and the tangible impact on far-flung places.

She decided on Emory after her dad, then a psychology professor at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, correctly suggested that the liberal arts tradition would help her satisfy both that intellectual curiosity and her drive to effect change.

I came in with all this energy and passion for doing something, but I didnt really know what that something was, McCarthy says.

She started to find that something when she attended a climate strike during the early weeks of her first year. Inspired by the energy of the event, McCarthy immediately dove into climate efforts happening on campus. Finding peers who were passionate about social justice, and connecting with now-best-friend Carly Colen on the Emory Gender Expansive and Womens Ultimate Frisbee team, further fueled her to find a purpose.

Enrolling in the Sustainability Leadership course solidified her path. The one-credit class focused on leadership and forming community partnerships and gave her tools to put her interests into action.

It all came together when McCarthy became an OSI intern. McCarthy was a rare first-year accepted into the program, having impressed former OSI interim director Taylor Spicer with her analytical skills and willingness to collaborate in the leadership course Spicer co-taught with Associate Teaching Professor Simona Muratore.

McCarthys first project was helping Emory win a $300,000 Environmental Protection Agency grant to study the feasibility of using anaerobic digestion to turn campus waste into compost and energy. Her final project is nearly complete, working with Saikawa to organize the Youth Sustainable Development Conference, coming to campus this summer.

I knew Clare was primed and ready to do something really amazing, Spicer says. She represents the best of us. We accomplished so much throughout the pandemic and largely because she stuck with our team.

McCarthy maneuvered through the pandemic by uniting her academic and community goals. She convinced leaders she met from the climate strike to form the Emory Climate Coalition during her sophomore year of remote study.

The coalition collaborated with Emory President Gregory L. Fenves to take additional climate action, and the university signed onto the Second Nature Climate Leadership Commitment and the United Nations Race to Zero pledges in late 2021.

Another core piece of McCarthys Emory experience has been working with Volunteer Emory. She attended Alternative Break service trips with the group her first year, then moved into program leadership. She capped her work with the group this year by developing an Education-Orientation-Training plan, designed to help trip leaders identify educational resources for each trips social justice focus and community history. The plan has become a central part of planning Alternative Breaks.

High-achieving students may overlook all of their victories that dont seem to have a huge immediate impact, but thats not Clare, says Cleo Lyles, who joined as program coordinator for student-led community engagement last year. She does this job because she loves this job and cares about making an impact.

McCarthy also explored community engagement by completing the Community Building and Social Change (CBSC) coursework in her sophomore year. After declaring it as a minor, she spent 10 weeks that summer as a CBSC Fellow conducting a community survey in the Edgewood neighborhood of Atlanta.

Resident pushback delayed the survey, which was finally conducted after McCarthy and her team took time to listen and answer community questions. CBSC director Kate Grace noted McCarthys ability to successfully navigate the situation when she recommended her as a program assistant with the Georgia Beloved Naturalist education program.

It takes bold thinking to accept you cant always control what happens in the field but still get the work done, Grace says. Clare is clearly very intelligent and managing a lot quite well, but most importantly, she is constantly growing.

Making a local impact

McCarthy continued with that work during her senior year when Saikawa selected her to attend the U.N. climate negotiations in Egypt last November. She turned her work there, hearing about loss and damage by meeting with people living in the Global South, into an Emory Climate Talks podcast episode that will be released in the upcoming season.

She also has spent the last year working as a research assistant  helping design a neighborhood guide to connect residents in South Fulton County with resources for food, housing and other services  in the lab of Christine Ekenga, an assistant professor at the Rollins School of Public Health.

Similar fieldwork, planning for potential impacts from extreme heat for the city of Groton, Conn., is on tap for McCarthys summer Sustainability Fellowship with the University of New Hampshire.

She will return to Ekengas lab next year when she completes her masters in public health from Rollins as part of Emorys 4+1 program. McCarthy plans to be involved with the Emory Climate Coalition and other campus groups but is happy to cede leadership roles to undergraduates while she explores new opportunities.

Her focus will be on how she can best find work to help communities understand and adapt to the threats of climate change. The McMullan funding will help with tuition next year and may give her the freedom to pursue an international role to start her career. She also is deciding how to have the most sustainable impact with a donation to climate adaptation and environmental justice work.

I feel beyond loved and grateful to the community that I have found and built at Emory, McCarthy says. Every time I felt like I didnt have much to contribute, so many people here supported my growth that it was exciting to explore. Im inspired by all the possibilities they have given to me.
Growing up, Ria Puri considered herself shy. Realizing her fear kept her from impactful conversations, experiences and potential memories, she crafted a new mantra for herself after deciding to attend Goziueta School of Business: Do what scares you.

If you go outside of your comfort zone, your comfort zone is going to grow to encapsulate this new experience, says Puri, who came to Emory from Johns Creek, Georgia, but spent several of her growing-up years in Shanghai and Bangalore. The business program showed me that life is going to be scary, business school is scary, but if you do what scares you, challenge yourself and push yourself, youll slowly realize that your comfort zone just wasn't big enough for your potential.

Puri started pushing herself early on at Goizueta when she decided to add another major in philosophy, politics and law. She says the decision to pursue two degrees helped her bring a unique perspective to the classroom.

In addition to her studies, Puri recognized the importance of community and became more involved around campus. During her senior year, Puri served as senior representative for the BBA Council, where she solved problems within the senior class and helped organize events. Additionally, she served as president of the Student Programming Council, which offers free events to all students across campus.

When youre programming day after day to benefit student life, thats something very impactful because youre here for the betterment of the student experience, Puri says. You understand that everybody on campus is working towards the same goals. One thing that was very profound to me was being able to advocate with deans, the provost and student leaders about how we can make the Emory student experience better.

While Puri looks forward to starting her full-time job at McKinsey & Company in New York, she is taking time to celebrate her final moments at Goizueta.

Something that the business school does so well is teaching students how to celebrate, she says. Through celebration, you build community. Goizueta does a great job of celebrating their students and keeping the morale up. Thats why I got involved  to help shape the culture. I wanted to help give back to the community by keeping the idea of celebration alive.

Read more stories about Goizueta Business School graduates.
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Examples of some semi-automatic rifles targeted in Illinois' high-powered weapons ban are on display at R Guns on April 29, 2023, in Carpentersville. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

SPRINGFIELD  The Illinois Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in the states appeal of a downstate judges ruling that temporarily struck down the states sweeping gun ban, which faces numerous legal challenges in both state and federal court.

Macon County Judge Rodney Forbes in late April found that the ban caused an irreparable harm by denying plaintiffs in the lawsuit led by state Rep. Dan Caulkins the ability to purchase their firearm of choice and exercise their right to self-defense in the manner they choose.

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Before the high court on Tuesday, though, Jerry Stocks, an attorney for Caulkins and the other plaintiffs, argued the ban violates the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Lawyers for Attorney General Kwame Raouls office contended that argument does not apply to this case because the lawsuit claims only that the gun ban violates the equal protection and special legislation clauses of the Illinois Constitution.

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Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis appeared to push back on Stocks use of the Second Amendment, suggesting that he couldve filed his lawsuit in federal court and consolidated it with other cases that have presented Second Amendment challenges to the weapons ban.

You chose to shape it in a different way upon special legislation and equal protection. Its a much different analysis, Theis told Stocks.

You cannot even begin to address the grounds that are in this complaint without addressing and finding what the Second Amendment says in this case, Stocks replied.

Caulkins lawsuit alleges the ban violates the Illinois Constitutions clause requiring that state laws should be applied equally to all citizens. Stocks argued the gun ban is not applied equally because it includes exemptions for groups including police officers, military personnel and prison wardens, as well as those who already owned the prohibited guns prior to the ban. Those gun owners can keep those firearms but are now required to register them with the Illinois State Police.

Stocks argued its improper to allow the grandfathered gun owners to own the prohibited firearms but to not allow anyone to purchase those guns after Pritzker signed the measure into law in January.

All citizens have the fundamental, individual right to keep and bear arms in their homes for self-defense, Stocks said. The Second Amendment elevates above all interests.

Aside from arguing that the Second Amendment issue raised by Stocks should be voided because its not in his lawsuit, Raouls office told the court that the plaintiffs have failed to prove the weapons ban violated the state constitution.

To prove the equal protection clause was violated by the ban, the lawsuit would have to show that Caulkins and the other plaintiffs are similarly situated, or alike, as are the specifically defined groups exempted from the weapons ban, the state argued.

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Members of the general public are not similarly situated to those (exempted under the law) because members of (the exempted groups) are sort of presumed to exercise greater responsibility in the safe handling and storage of firearms, Assistant Attorney General Leigh Jahnig said.

The reason that this court has identified the similarly situated requirement as a threshold element of an equal protection claim is because the legislature is permitted to treat unlike groups differently under the statute, Jahnig said.

It could be months before the state Supreme Court issues its ruling on the states appeal.

The equal protection argument referenced in the Macon County ruling in some ways mirrored earlier state circuit and appellate court rulings that temporarily lifted the ban for hundreds of plaintiffs in legal challenges brought by unsuccessful Republican attorney general candidate Thomas DeVore.

Federal challenges to the ban argue the gun ban revolves largely around the Second Amendment argument. In one of those cases, a federal judge in East St. Louis granted a preliminary injunction to temporarily block enforcement of the ban, only for that ruling to be overturned by the Chicago-based U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals six days later.

With that ruling from earlier this month, the ban appears to still be in effect for the time being.

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A pro-gun rights plaintiff in one of the other federal cases, though, has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that denied a request for an injunction on the ban. The U.S. Supreme Court has not yet said how it intends to respond to that request.

Passed by the Democratic-controlled state legislature in early January and quickly signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, the gun ban was a response to last years mass shooting at the Fourth of July parade in Highland Park. The law immediately prohibited the delivery, sale, import and purchase of more than 100 guns that are designated in the law as assault weapons.

It also banned magazines capable of holding more than 15 rounds of ammunition for handguns, and more than 10 for semi-automatic rifles. By next year, people who possess guns covered by the ban must have either registered them with the state police or face a misdemeanor for a first offense and a felony for subsequent offenses.

A 9 mm Glock magazine, right, and a 9 mm HK magazine, left, are shown in a Naperville gun store on May 11, 2023. The HK magazine with a capacity of 17 rounds is targeted for a ban by Illinois' new gun legislation. The Glocks magazine that holds 15 rounds is still allowed under the contested legislation. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

After Tuesdays hearing, Raoul was asked whether it was defensible for people who already owned the guns covered by the ban to keep them even while others cannot acquire such firearms.

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 >

Yeah, under a rational basis test, were trying to keep people safe, said Raoul. Weve had people use these types of weapons to commit mass shootings and theres a rational basis to say that we dont want a proliferation of assault weapons out there because were losing lives right here in the state of Illinois.

Stocks was asked why he didnt file the lawsuit in federal court, as Theis suggested.

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There are unique attributes to this case that only our Illinois Supreme Court can rule upon and there are the Second Amendment values or principles that federal and state courts have concurrent jurisdiction (over), he said.

Also on Tuesday morning, the national gun safety activist group Moms Demand Action held a rally outside the Illinois Capitol to fight for more gun control measures, including one proposal that would allow law enforcement to confiscate guns from suspected domestic abusers.

Supporters of the group wrote chalk messages on the sidewalk outside the Illinois Supreme Court building, across from the Capitol, that read, ITS The GUNS and CHILDREN OVER GUNS.

We see tragedy every day in the news and in our communities and we know that we have to mobilize, Lauren Harper, a volunteer with the groups Illinois chapter, told a couple of hundred supporters by the Abraham Lincoln statue in front of the Capitol. We cannot afford to wait for the gun industry to hold itself accountable for its recklessness.

jgorner@chicagotribune.com
'China, Central Asia have shared future'

The KTZE-Khorgos Gateway Dry Port is a logistics hub in Khorgos on the Kazakh side of the Kazakhstan-Chinese border. File photo: AFP

President Xi Jinping will host the leaders of five Central Asian countries in the city of Xi'an this week for a summit Beijing has described as of "milestone significance".



Xinhua news agency said the event on Thursday and Friday  to be attended by the presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan  is set to provide great impetus for relations and cooperation between China and the five Central Asian countries.



Central Asia has become key to the nations Belt and Road Initiative, and the summit is likely to see efforts to push ahead with vast transport links and pipelines.



These include a long-stalled US$6 billion China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway and an expansion of the Central Asia-to-China gas pipeline. (Xinhua/AFP)
UC Santa Cruzs graduate alumni are at the forefront of change on a local, national, and international stage. From groundbreaking film research, to spearheading technological advances, preserving nations history, combating climate change, and shifting economic landscapes, UCSC alumni are making a tremendous impact worldwide.

Five graduate alumni representing each academic divisionBenjamin Schultz Figueroa (Arts), Jennifer Bevan (Baskin Engineering), James E. Young (Humanities), Cora Randall (Physical and Biological Sciences), and Jake Kendall (Social Sciences)have been named UCSCs 2023 Distinguished Graduate Alumni.

This prestigious award honors the extraordinary accomplishments of division graduates in diverse fields. Graduate Studies Division Professional Development Coordinator and Event Organizer Sonya Newlyn is excited to announce this years cohort.

Now in its seventh year, the Distinguished Graduate Student Alumni Award shines a spotlight on exceptional graduate alumni, Newlyn says. The 2023 honorees have pursued a range of academic to alternative-academic careers and serve as prominent examples of the power of graduate education.

Cora Randall, Benjamin Schultz-Figueroa, and James E. Young took the academic path, but their spheres of influence extend far beyond their institutionsquite literally, in Randalls case, into Earths atmosphere and outer space! Schultz-Figueroa and Young, in their respective areas of research, help us remember the past, preserve its lessons, and remind us that the past rightly plays an important role in shaping how we construct our present and future world.

Jennifer Bevan and Jake Kendall took non-academic paths that have had a global impact and directly improved the human experience. UC Santa Cruz, the Graduate Division, the five academic divisions, and the programs that bestowed their graduate degreesfilm and digital media, computer science, literature, chemistry, and economicstake this moment to thank and honor Drs. Bevan, Kendall, Randall, Schultz-Figueroa, and Young for their contributions to education, research and discovery, preservation, and invention, and for their drive to make a better world for all.

Benjamin Schultz-Figueroa (Ph.D. 18, film and digital media)

Benjamin Schultz-Figueroa is at the cutting edge of groundbreaking research in film history, science studies, and animal studies. His interdisciplinary approach to animal representation in film gives Schultz-Figueroa a fresh perspective on a decades-old topic.

Schultz-Figueroa is a professor of film studies at Seattle University and has most recently taught courses in the history of film, animals and film, science and the cinema, science fiction film, and film theory. He is also currently co-editing multiple pieces, including a special issue of the Journal of Environmental Media, an in-focus issue of the Journal of Cinema and Media Studies, and an issue of feminist media histories on gender and non theatrical film. In addition, Schultz-Figueroa is working on his second book project, Beastly Futures.

Beastly Futures looks at the non-theatrical and theatrical representation of animals in the 21st century, Schultz-Figueroa said. It particularly looks at this new genre of animal representations called multi-species documentary and gives some political and historical context for understanding those films.

Schultz-Figueroa says Shelley Stamp, UCSC Professor of Film & Digital Media and Affiliated Faculty for Feminist Studies, Visual Studies, had a tremendous impact on him and his work while at UCSC, and he is grateful for his fellow Ph.D. cohort.

Shelley Stamp has been such a tireless advocate for me and my work, he said. My Ph.D. cohort of students also taught me so much. Im so thankful that I could be with all of them during my time at UCSC.

While at UCSC his dissertation was awarded the graduate student writing award from the Society for Cinema and Media Studies, the disciplines highest honor for graduate students. Schultz-Figueroas groundbreaking dissertation was published earlier this year as The Celluloid Specimen and is free to the public.

Jennifer Bevan (Ph.D. 06, computer science)

Jennifer Bevan was recruited to Google before finishing her Ph.D. at UCSC and has been with the company since 2006. She was instrumental in developing testing infrastructure and tools to improve products and the end-user experience.

Im very proud of those efforts because they were really reliable, Bevan said. Ive built foundations for technology that has grown and adapted but not fundamentally changed. Its been very stable.

Before attending UCSC, Bevan had worked in automating radio science analyses at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) where she became fascinated with how code evolves over time and the desire to improve it. Pursuing her Ph.D. at UCSC led her to gain an appreciation for software engineering, especially testing, so Bevan decided to take up Google's offer.

Bevan has spent 17 years at Google and played a part in developing several Google products, such as Google Photos and Google+, Googles social networking platform that ran from 2011 to 2019. In addition, she led multiple projects geared towards increasing accessibility on Google platformsparticularly Google Photos.

At the end of the day, Google Photos did not change its launch schedule, and it was accessible on all platforms at launch, Bevan said. That was one of the biggest things Im proud of.

Bevan says she is grateful for her time at UC Santa Cruz and for the mentorship of Jim Whitehead.

Santa Cruz in general, and Jim Whitehead in particular, gave me that balance of autonomy and structure to where I could take the ideas I had and run with them.

James E. Young (Stevenson 73, literature and psychology) (Ph.D. 83, literature)

James E. Young is at the forefront of memorializing historical tragedies internationally. From advising on memorials in Germany and Norway to helping design the 9/11 Memorial in New York City, Young has had a hand in preserving the memory of thousands of lives lost to global tragedies.

Young is a Distinguished University Professor Emeritus of English and Judaic & Near Eastern Studies at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he has taught since 1988, and Founding Director of the Institute for Holocaust, Genocide, and Memory Studies at UMass Amherst.

Young is the author of multiple publications including Writing and Rewriting the Holocaust, The Texture of Memorywhich was awarded the National Jewish Book Award in 1994At Memorys Edge: After-images of the Holocaust in Contemporary Art and Architecture, and The Stages of Memory: Reflections on Memorial Art, Loss, and the Spaces Betweenawarded the National Council for Public History Book Award for 2017.

In addition, Young has written widely for national and international publications including The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Chicago Tribune, and more. His writings have also appeared in over a dozen scholarly journals.

Now retired, Young has kept himself busy with meaningful projects worldwide. He has lent his expertise to architectural teams working on memorials for the Tree of Life Synagogue and the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, both tragic events that claimed the lives of many innocent people.

These jobs are not things that I look for, but they find you, Young says. And Im glad to help. My role in these projects is not to tell anybody what to do but to have a dialogue and get to the best and most effective commemoration possible. We hope commemoration that leads to action or arches toward justice in some way.

Young grew up in Santa Cruz and attended UCSC for his undergraduate and graduate education. He says multiple faculty members inspired and helped him along the way.

Cora Randall (MS 83, chemistry) (Ph.D. 85, chemistry)

Cora Randall has played a vital role in our understanding of the Earths atmosphere, particularly in polar regions, and has been instrumental in developing tools dedicated to better understanding the universe. She has worked with NASA for over three decades on the Hubble Space Telescope and later on satellite missions devoted to examining the Earths atmosphere. She primarily investigates processes related to stratospheric ozone depletion, polar mesospheric clouds, and atmospheric coupling through solar and magnetospheric energetic particle precipitation.

Currently, Randalls work includes a focus on the atmospheric impacts of rocket launches using data from the Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere (AIM) satellite.

Were considering proposing a new instrument as a follow-on to the AIM Satellite that would be launched in the next five years or so, and could continue making these kinds of measurements, Randall said. The fundamental goal here is to better quantify how natural and anthropogenicor man-madeforces impact the atmosphere because that will enable us to better predict both weather and climate change.

A science path was not always in the cards for Randall. Early in her college career, she contemplated going into music studies, but a run-in with UCSC alum Atom Yee at the State University of New York at Purchase led her to UCSC. At UCSC, Randall pursued a Ph.D. in chemistry under David Kligera friend of Atom Yee.

It was just fantastic, Randall said. It felt like home being in grad school at UCSC. And, of course, Davea world-renowned expert in his fieldimparted so much knowledge to me. He was patient, generous with his time, and unendingly encouraging.

Randall is a Professor Emerita in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences and a senior scientist at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

She has won several awards for her scientific contributions and service and is an elected fellow of the American Geophysical Union and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Jake Kendall (Ph.D. 08, economics)

Jake Kendall is at the forefront of investing in African digital commerce startups. He is a co-founder and partner at DFS Lab, a team of people who empower communities through mentorship and strategic advice to early-stage startups.

Our mission is that we see a big opportunity to invest in Africa, especially technology spaces around digitizing the economy, Kendall said. Its an economy thats very informal, very cash-based, and not much technology is applied. We invest in entrepreneurs across Africa solving this need and building solutions for the local context.

Kendall has been investing in African digital platforms since the launch of M-Pesa, a revolutionary digital money-sharing application that transformed the economy of many African countries. Previously, Kendall has worked for both the World Bank as an economist with the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) and the Gates Foundation.

Jake is a published researcher and author with a Ph.D. in economics from UCSC and a B.S. in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). After MIT, he spent two years in Zambia as a fisheries extension agent with the US Peace Corps. He says UCSCs international focus on economics drew him to the university.

The skill set I learned at UC Santa Cruzwhich is having a careful process around creating data, understanding data and analysis, and rigorous thinkingI apply some of that thinking to business models, to investment decisions, and to understanding some of the products that were helping launch, Kendall said. I use them all across the board.

The 2023 Distinguished Graduate Student Alumni Awardees will be honored on May 19.
New Delhi [India], May 16 (ANI/PRNewswire): The EY "Europe Attractiveness Survey" was published on May 11, 2023. This annual publication identifies projects for international establishments in Europe, and analyses the perception that economic decision makers have of each country. It measures real and perceived attractiveness, comparing major European economies. This year, for the fourth time in a row, France confirmed its first place on the European podium in terms of attractiveness, with 1,259 investment projects recorded in 2022. The United Kingdom placed second with 929 recorded projects, followed by Germany with 832 projects. Despite a difficult and complex international context, France demonstrated that its economy is not only resilient, but has also triumphed over it. In parallel, the Business France "2022 Annual Report: Foreign investment in France" published yesterday, confirmed these good results, attributing them to the favourable business environment. France is acting on fundamental issues for ensuring the successful establishment of businesses on its territory: ready-to-use industrial land, a pool of recognized talent, and the "France 2030" investment plan, which supports the transformation of the economy. Reindustrialization, innovation, and France 2030 Plan France tops Europe in manufacturing with 547 identified projects, reaping the benefits of "France 2030" investment plan. Re-industrialization continues, focusing on decarbonization, semi-conductors, healthcare, and electric vehicles. Innovation was ramped up with 144 R&D projects recorded in 2022, and is recognized globally with 64 per cent of foreign investors considering it more attractive than any other European country. Indian Investments in France In 2022, Business France identified 36 new foreign investment projects in France, which included 13 new Indian investments in France, creating and maintaining 257 jobs nationwide. This registers a 21 per cent increase from the previous year. Nearly 80 per cent of the jobs created or maintained are related to R&D and engineering activities. France ranks 3rd as host country for Indian investment projects in Europe, behind UK and Germany. Most investments are related to R&D and engineering activities followed by decision making centres and production activities. "Indian investors not only Choose France as a door to the European market but also to benefit from the trust on its open dynamic and innovative economy. France is a go-to destination, for its stable economic and regulatory environment, which is resolutely pro-business and promotes the confidence of Indian investors. Tech and industry giants from India have strengthened their presence in France, benefitting from the rapid deployment of the 'France 2030' plan. This illustrates France's ability to remain a major industrial, innovative, and daring nation that knows how to anticipate current and future transformations," said Eric Fajole, Director of Business France India. One such example of a successful Indian company that has invested in France is L&T Technology Services (LTTS). The engineering subsidiary of the L&T group has opened an engineering and R&D centre in Toulouse. It plans to recruit 50 people within a year and around 100 people within 3 years. This centre will serve the group's customers in the aerospace industry, not only in France but also in Europe. In addition to this L&T has also entered into an Electrolyser Manufacturing Binding Agreement with McPhy Energy a France-based leading electrolyser technology and manufacturing company, for a long-term partnership to explore the opportunities unfolding in the emerging Green Hydrogen market. LTIMindtree, L&T's IT Services subsidiary also has offices in Paris, Toulouse, and Marseille in France. "I am delighted that Indian companies increased their investments last year - like TCS with its Pace Port in Paris La Defense, and L&T with its new office in southern France. Companies from India will also mark their strong presence at the upcoming edition of the Choose France Summit on May 15th at the invitation of President Macron. This will include majors like HCL, Tata Sons, Bharti Airtel, Motherson, along with 180+ other CEOs from various global companies," said Emmanuel Lenain, Ambassador of France to India. France and India This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Indo-French strategic partnership. Both France and India are looking forward to setting ambitious goals for strategic, cultural, scientific, academic, and economic cooperation, including in a wide range of industries. Business France is the national agency supporting the international development of the French economy, responsible for fostering export growth by French businesses, as well as promoting and facilitating international investment in France. It promotes France's companies, business image and nationwide attractiveness as an investment location, and runs a young talent internship program (VIE). Business France has nearly 1,500 personnel, based in France as well as spread in 55 countries across the world, who work with a network of partners. For further information, please visit: www.businessfrance.fr This story is provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PRNewswire)
Pune (Maharashtra) [India], May 16 (ANI/BusinessWire India): As the common man visits the temple specially for having peace of mind along with almighty darshan, they are expecting better crowd management and darshan arrangements, especially during festival days. This was the major observation during the recent survey conducted by Pune-based organisation, Temple Connect (www.templeconnect.com) which is a leading platform and an initiative to connect the Global Hindu Temples and offer its digital format of information to one and all for the benefit of the devotees. The survey was recently conducted amongst common people on their feedback on what improvements they want in temple administrations & management for an efficient pilgrimage experience across the country. The survey conducted included frequency of visits to temples, experience, and awareness on social activities run by the respective temple administration, things to improve and expectations from the temple management. About 3927 people with seven age brackets across 32 Indian cities & 19 International Locations from eight different languages participated in the survey. The survey indicates that while people are satisfied with the overall experience, darshan arrangements and crowd management are the two basic aspects on which people want temple administrations to improve especially during festival days. Apart from this hygiene and cleanliness in temple premises were found to have equal importance. Most of the people participating want organised darshan and lesser queues and some more time for darshan of almighty. Most of the respondents were aware of the social activities by the temple. Giresh Kulkarni, Founder of Temple Connect said that organising and empowering temple ecosystems with new-age ideas is the need of the hour as people not only from the vicinity but also far off areas travel to visit the religious places. Ensuring an overall good and peaceful experience is important. The purpose of this feedback or survey is to engage in a better way with temple administrations through these insights which may help in improving the overall experience of common people and devotees. We will take this feedback at the upcoming International Temples Conventions and Expo, (ITCX) to be organised in holy town of Varanasi in July 2023, will be a conglomeration of Temples from across India and representation from globe to share their best practices, learnings, and invaluable insights on Temple Management. This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/BusinessWire India)
Beijing [China], May 16 (ANI/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 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 SiweiTel.:008610-68996996 E-mail:lisiwei5125@gmail.com YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/DEbb1WfzVBw This story has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PRNewswire)
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 16 (ANI/NewsVoir): Raheja QBE General Insurance Company Limited has announced the appointment of Rajeev Dogra as the new Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer following regulatory approval from Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India. With a career spanning over three decades, Dogra brings with him a wealth of rich experience in insurance operations, in-depth industry knowledge, great networking skills, and exemplary leadership qualities. Moreover, he has demonstrated outstanding efforts in operational resilience, led effective turnarounds, set up and grown new businesses. Taking over the helm, Dogra, Managing Director & CEO, of Raheja QBE General Insurance Company Limited said, "I am honoured and elated to take on this role at such an exciting time of my career journey. The needs and expectations from the insurance industry, people, regulators, and other stakeholders are changing rapidly for the good. The opportunity that lies ahead in the insurance industry is limitless. It will be my endeavour to ensure a brighter future for the company. As I embark on this journey, I hope to further strengthen the brand offerings by perfectly aligning our strategy towards sustainable and lasting growth.'' Since joining the company's Sales and Distribution division in October 2011, Dogra has played a significant role in carving a niche for the company. The company has grown its Liability book consistently along with other commercial and retail products. It now has a presence in major Geographies for Specialty, Motor, Health, Miscellaneous and Property Insurance products. Dogra is an MBA from the Faculty of Management Studies (FMS) Delhi, a Bachelor of Law (Delhi University), a Fellow member of The Insurance Institute of India (FIII), and a distinction holder of INSEAD's Leadership Program. Raheja QBE is a joint venture between Rajan Raheja Group and QBE Insurance, Australia based global insurer. While Rajan Raheja Group brings in its extensive knowledge across various business sectors in India, QBE insurance offers global expertise in insurance that together results in innovative insurance solutions for diverse consumers. This story has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir)
New Delhi [India], May 16 (ANI/India PR Distribution): During his visit to India, Dr Madamizov Madamin Muminovich, the esteemed rector of Andijan State Medical Institute, marked a significant milestone by signing Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with several prestigious universities and Ayurvedic colleges. Recognized as the leading medical institution in Uzbekistan, Dr Madamin Muminovich took advantage of his visit to explore partnerships with Indian medical colleges, fostering international collaborations in the field of healthcare and education. Additionally, he had the honor of attending an event organized by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) in Agra, where he met and exchanged insights with experienced Indian doctors. Capitalizing on the institute's reputation and dedication to providing the best medical education, Dr Madamin Muminovich took the opportunity to inaugurate offices in Delhi NCR and Kerala during his visit. These offices will serve as dedicated hubs for Indian students, facilitating the admission process to Andijan State Medical Institute. With the objective of making the admission procedure easy and hassle-free, these newly established offices will provide guidance, assistance, and support to aspiring Indian students who wish to pursue their medical education at the esteemed institute. The inauguration of these offices reflects the commitment of Andijan State Medical Institute to further strengthen its ties with Indian students and enhance their access to world-class medical education. By establishing physical presence in key locations in India, the institute aims to cater to the growing interest and demand from Indian students seeking exceptional medical training and opportunities abroad. The move not only paves the way for a smoother admission process but also opens doors for cross-cultural exchanges, fostering a deeper understanding and collaboration between medical professionals from Uzbekistan and India. The offices in Delhi NCR and Kerala will serve as vibrant hubs, connecting aspiring Indian students with the prestigious Andijan State Medical Institute and facilitating their journey towards becoming skilled healthcare practitioners. With these developments, the partnership between Andijan State Medical Institute and Indian medical institutions reaches new heights, promising a brighter future for medical education and global healthcare collaborations. Andijan State Medical Institute stands as the epitome of excellence in medical education and healthcare provision, being recognized as the most equipped and highly ranked medical institute in Uzbekistan. Working in close collaboration with the Andijan Government Hospitals, this esteemed institute serves a vast population of 1.5 million Uzbek locals hailing from Andijan, Namangan, and neighbouring villages and towns. The students at Andijan State Medical Institute are privileged to receive the best patient exposure, thanks to the institute's strong affiliation with the government hospitals. Moreover, the institute prides itself on its exceptional infrastructure, offering state-of-the-art facilities to its students. Notably, Andijan State Medical Institute stands apart by being the only university in the region to provide foreign students with the convenience of a self-cooking facility. With highly proficient English-speaking faculty members, the institute attracts students from diverse nationalities, fostering a rich multicultural environment where aspiring medical professionals from around the world gather to study medicine. This story has been provided by India PR Distribution. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/India PR Distribution)
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 16 (ANI/SRV): Veda Rehabilitation and Wellness, a leading new-age mental health service provider, is thrilled to announce the launch of its new vertical, 'Happi 24/7', a groundbreaking online therapy platform. This innovative platform is set to redefine mental health treatment by providing comprehensive therapy services to individuals from the comfort of their own homes, making high-quality therapy accessible and affordable for all. Veda Rehabilitation and Wellness is renowned for its luxury rehab centers located throughout India, offering top-quality mental health treatments in a luxurious and comfortable environment. Building upon its success, Veda is now expanding its reach with the introduction of 'Happi 24/7' which operates 24 hours a day, ensuring round-the-clock therapy services for individuals seeking mental health support. The 'Happi' Project is the result of Veda's substantial investment of over Rs 11.5 crores, aimed at creating the largest digital platform in India for mental health treatment. 'Happi 24/7' is designed to offer affordable and high-quality mental health care to those who are unable to access premium care due to financial constraints. In emergency situations, the platform provides immediate therapy sessions from trained psychologists, ensuring support is available round the clock without the need for prior appointments. With a pay-per-session model, individuals can avail themselves of one-hour therapy sessions for just INR 500. Additionally, the freemium model of Happi 24/7 provides various free features, including meditations, journaling, informational videos, expert tips, daily mood check-ins, and even psychological assessment tests. Veda Wellness sets itself apart with its cutting-edge therapies, flexible treatment options, and multi-city presence. The highly experienced clinical team at Veda is certified in the latest form of therapy called Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), in addition to other popular techniques such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy. Clients have access to state-of-the-art techniques that ensure optimal healing outcomes. Moreover, Veda offers the unique "work from home" option during therapy sessions, allowing individuals to continue with their daily activities while receiving treatment. With locations in Mumbai, Bangalore, and New Delhi, Veda's multi-city presence sets it apart as the largest chain of luxury rehabilitation centers in India. The company also has plans to open four more centers across the country, providing clients with the option to switch centers and experience a change of scenery during their treatment. Manun Thakur, Founder of Veda Wellness, said "The launch of Happi 24/7 reflects our commitment to making mental health care accessible to all. We believe that therapy should be affordable, convenient, and confidential. With Happi 24/7, individuals can receive therapy from the comfort of their own homes, knowing that qualified professionals are just a click away. This platform is a game-changer in the field of mental health treatment." Veda Wellness has bagged numerous awards and recognitions, including the prestigious Economic Times Award bestowed by the illustrious Economic Times Newspaper. Additionally, the company has received recognition as a promising startup from Startup India, a project of the Indian government. Veda Wellness has been featured in prominent publications across the nation, recognizing its contributions to the mental health industry. Additionally, The National Security Guard (NSG) has acknowledged the contribution of the organization. Veda is already considered the best rehab centre chain in India with an HNI clientele from all over the world. Veda Wellness is a renowned multi-specialty rehab and wellness center that provides treatment for several mental and psychological issues, such as depression, anxiety, and drug and alcohol addiction. By operating on a voluntary basis, the center empowers individuals to take control of their healing journey without coercion. Veda uses the most up-to-date methods and protocols for therapy with a staff of skilled clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, cognitive behavioral specialists, and other professionals to produce optimal healing outcomes. Founded in 2020 by Manun Thakur, Veda Wellness commenced its operations in March 2021. In just 26 months, the company has experienced remarkable growth, emerging as the preferred destination for clients seeking safe and confidential treatment in a luxurious setting. With over 50 employees currently, Veda is expanding its team to meet the growing demand for its services. The company has offices in Mumbai, New Delhi, and Bengaluru, catering to clients across India. Veda will soon open two new centres Hyderabad and Dubai to cater to the rising demand for mental health treatment. Veda Wellness is committed to revolutionizing mental health care in India through its innovative online therapy platform, 'Happi 24/7'. By providing affordable and accessible therapy options, Veda aims to empower individuals to prioritize their mental well-being and lead happier, healthier lives. For more information about Happi 24/7 & to download the app, please visit: https://www.letsgethappi.com This story has been provided by SRV. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/SRV)
Air India Express Limited (AIXL), the low-cost carrier subsidiary of Air India, successfully concluded a roadshow aimed at recruiting pilots (commanders and first officers) in Mumbai. The event, held on Monday witnessed a significant turnout of pilots, bolstering the airline's effort to meet the growing demands of its operations.The recruitment drive in Mumbai follows similar roadshows held in Delhi on May 10 and 11 and in Bengaluru on May 12 and 13. Approximately 300 pilots participated in the selection process conducted during these events.AIXL has been actively focusing on strengthening its workforce since October last year, targeting vacancies for pilots and cabin crew members. The airline has recruited over 280 pilots and 250 cabin crew members in a short span of time, said the company statement. In addition to the major metros of Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, and Chennai, AIXL has been conducting walk-in recruitment drives in other cities and towns such as Imphal, Guwahati, Surat, Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Kochi, Kozhikode and Mangaluru for cabin crew aspirants.The company statement said that the ongoing integration and merger of Air India Express and AirAsia India, the other low-cost carrier subsidiary of Air India, marks a significant milestone for the airline. Following Air India's privatisation and acquisition by the Tata Group, a comprehensive growth and transformation plan has been initiated.The merged entity, Air India Express Limited, is planning to capitalise on the combined resources of Air India and the Tata Group to serve the rapidly expanding Indian domestic market as well as the regional short-haul international market to and from India. (ANI)
New Delhi [India], May 16 (ANI/SRV): One of the top technical universities, TU Dresden, is pleased to announce the launch of its much-awaited Master's program in Air Transport & Logistics. The program is specially designed for students who want to pursue a rewarding career in the aviation industry or similar fields such as logistics, supply chain operations, and more. As the aviation industry experiences rapid expansion, the demand for skilled experts who can navigate the complex landscape of air transport and logistic is also on the rise. TU Dresden's Master's program in Air Transport and Logistics equips students with the knowledge, skills, and industry insights necessary to thrive in this dynamic field. By enrolling in this program, students will obtain a thorough understanding of the aviation sector, its difficulties, and its potential for innovation. In-depth discussions will be held on key topics such as airline operations, logistics management, supply chain optimization, aviation safety, and transportation analysis. Through a combination of theoretical coursework, hands-on training, and industry exposure, students will gain the competence required to drive the transformation of the logistics and air transport industry. Sumit Rai, Regional Representative of TU Dresden said, "We are thrilled to unveil our latest Master's programme in Air Transport & Logistics at TU Dresden. By equipping students with the necessary knowledge and skills they need to succeed in this dynamic sector, this programme serves as a springboard for new career options in the aviation industry and allied sectors." The faculty comprises illustrious experts who have played pivotal roles in shaping the industry. With their extensive expertise and in-depth knowledge, they offer students priceless insights into current business trends, best practices, and upcoming technology. Through a carefully crafted curriculum, students participate in interactive lessons, case studies, and practical projects that encourage a holistic educational experience. The Indian aviation industry is taking off like never before, with Air India, Indigo, and other Indian airlines placing massive plane orders. This means that there will be an abundance of career opportunities available in the industry in the near future. Whether you're interested in becoming a pilot, a cabin crew member, an engineer, or a ground staff member, now is the time to pursue your dreams. With cutting-edge technology and a rapidly growing market, the Indian aviation industry is set to soar to new heights, and you could be a part of it. Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to take your career to new heights! Completing a Master's program in Air Transport and Logistics opens a wide range of exciting career opportunities in both India and abroad. Graduates can pursue roles such as - - Airline Operations Manager - where they will be responsible for all activities related to flight operations, - Logistic Manager - where they need to ensure efficient transportation of goods, - Aviation Consultant - helping airlines and other aviation-related businesses improve their operations, - Airport Manager- supervising airport activities - Supply Chain Manager - optimizing supply chain processes, and other roles such as Freight Forwarder, Logistics Consultant, Transportation Analyst, Aviation Safety Manager. Additionally, depending on skills, interests, and experience, graduates will also be able to pursue roles in other related fields. TU Dresden, known for its excellence in technical education, offers a conducive learning environment for students. With state-of-the-art facilities, industry collaborations, and experienced faculty members, the university provides a platform for students to thrive academically and professionally. Additionally, TU Dresden has partnered with EUGateway, a Pune-based higher education abroad consulting firm. This collaboration aims to provide comprehensive guidance to students regarding the application and admission process and provides financial assistance to the students so that they can pursue their studies abroad, without breaking the bank. EUGateway plays a crucial role in promoting TU Dresden's well-designed programs throughout India, ensuring that aspiring students are aware of the exciting opportunities available at the university. TU Dresden is one of Germany's leading technical universities, known for its commitment to excellence in research, education, and innovation. With a wide range of academic programs, the university nurtures individuals and prepares them for success in their chosen fields. TU Dresden strives to make a positive impact on society through its contributions to knowledge, technology, and sustainable development. For more information, please visit: https://tu-dresden.eugateway.in/ Program Details: https://tu-dresden.de/studium/vor-dem-studium/studienangebot/sins/sins_studiengang?autoid=29417&set_language=en This story has been provided by SRV. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/SRV)
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Gina Ramirez, who fought against allowing a metal recycling yard on Chicagos Southeast Side, speaks to reporters outside the County Building on Clark Street in Chicago on Friday, Feb. 18, 2022, after it was announced that the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) denied the recycler's permit application to operate. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune) (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

Gina Ramirezs son was a toddler when she first began joining protests against a metal scrappers move to her largely Latino, working-class neighborhood on Chicagos Southeast Side.

Her son, who will be 9 years old in two weeks, has grown up sharing his mother with the community effort to stop something that shouldnt have happened in the first place, she said.

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Southeast Side activists like Ramirez, the Midwest outreach manager for the Natural Resources Defense Council, spoke in a news conference Tuesday about their hopes that Brandon Johnsons new mayoral administration will continue to build on one of former Mayor Lori Lightfoots last actions in office: an agreement to overhaul city practices that have led to industrial disparities in Black and brown neighborhoods already burdened by high levels of pollution.

This is a long time coming, Ramirez said at the news conference.

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Im glad that the city decided to settle with (the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) on this complaint that we put forward, said Cheryl Johnson, the executive director of the environmental justice organization People for Community Recovery and the daughter of the late Hazel Johnson, known as the mother of environmental justice. We get a victory  but the war is still on.

The city of Chicago reached the historic agreement with HUD Friday after Southeast Side activists initiated a yearslong federal civil rights investigation into local laws that allowed polluters to be concentrated in certain communities, many of which are on the Southeast Side.

In these areas, sewage treatment, refuse and garbage plants, landfills and chemical-processing facilities subjected residents to toxic materials in the air, land and water. Many of these residents are plagued by higher rates of coronary heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease than in any other part of the city, according to the nonpartisan Alliance for the Great Lakes.

There was human sacrifices to get to this point where we are today, Cheryl Johnson said.

The federal investigation began in 2020, after Reserve Management Group took over and closed metal shredder General Iron in the affluent, mostly white Lincoln Park neighborhood, with the plan to move operations to the East Side neighborhood, home largely to working-class communities of color.

[ Chronic polluter General Iron is moving from its wealthy, white North Side home to a low-income Latino neighborhood. The feds want to know why. ]

When the move was proposed, neighborhood activists petitioned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and HUD to investigate the matter. Some teachers and community members even went on a monthlong hunger strike to protest what they considered to be environmental racism.

The Reserve Management Group (RMG) facilities can be seen on Feb. 16, 2022, in Chicago. (Erin Hooley/Chicago Tribune)

In February 2022, former Mayor Lori Lightfoot rejected a permit for RMG, a decision the company appealed to a city administrative judge.

In the last week of her mayoral administration and just a few days ahead of the agreement, she issued an executive order that requires city agencies to make decisions based on community impact assessments and to implement environmental justice efforts in certain neighborhoods. These actions were built into the HUD agreement.

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The three-year binding agreement with the federal government will see reforms in City Hall planning, zoning and land-use practices. Community activists say the settlement will have repercussions on communities of color in Chicago and in major cities across the country.

Parent and activist Olga Bautista speaks during a news conference organized by the Southeast Side Coalition on June 9, 2016, in Chicago. (Anthony Souffle/Chicago Tribune)

Its also very inspirational for communities that are struggling with environmental racism across the country, said Olga Bautista, executive director of the Southeast Environmental Task Force. This really could be a model for how cities (can) work together with impacted communities.

[ Fiercely proud of their home, residents of the Southeast Side  long a toxic dumping ground  are rising up against polluters ]

Rob Weinstock, attorney for the task force and the Southeast Side Coalition to Ban Petcoke and director of the environmental advocacy center at Northwestern Universitys Pritzker School of Law, explained how this agreement can be a blueprint for other cities and communities in the United States.

One of the aspects of this agreement that is both exciting and can be a little frustrating is that it is very process-oriented, Weinstock said. Its about building off the processes that the city was already doing, adding to them, making sure theyre community-driven and then completing them to have real, lasting, sweeping reform.

That also means, though, that this agreement is transferable to other communities around the country, because they can look at their own history, their own land-use regulations and they can say, Oh, this is how theyre reforming them in Chicago, lets use those processes, but apply them to our own situation. So thats very exciting on a national level.

Bautista said Southeast Side environmental justice advocates have committed to working with the Johnson administration to not only implement the settlement but also further strengthen its provisions.

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New Delhi [India], May 16 (ANI/PNN): IIDE, India's reputed digital marketing institute, held a grand launch of its second campus in New Delhi. This expansion marks a significant milestone for them, solidifying their position as the premium destination for digital marketing education in the country. The exquisite campus in South Delhi is strategically located in the heart of the city at South Extension -II near Metro Exit no. 4, providing easy access for students and professionals from all corners of Delhi-NCR. With their flagship programme now in Delhi, IIDE aims to upskill students and professionals in the field of digital marketing, empowering them to stay ahead in an increasingly competitive industry. Their Post Graduate Program in Digital Marketing stands out as a comprehensive and industry-oriented course. The curriculum follows a modern approach to learning and guarantees placements for successful graduates. With skilled faculty who are experts in the field, students can expect a holistic learning experience. Speaking at the launch event, Karan Shah, the Founder and CEO of IIDE, said, "We are excited to bring IIDE's way of learning to the capital. Delhi has always been a hub for aspiring marketers and entrepreneurs, and our new campus will provide them with a transformative learning experience." Biswajit Das, the Regional Head for North India, emphasized the institute's dedication to providing industry-relevant education and fostering a supportive learning environment. He remarked, "IIDE's entry into Delhi opens up tremendous opportunities for aspiring digital marketers in the region. Our new campus aims to create a dynamic space that encourages collaboration, creativity, and industry exposure. We are excited to contribute to the growth of digital marketing professionals in Delhi and beyond." Established in 2016, IIDE has trained over 2,35,000 students and professionals, exhibiting itself as a pioneer in the field of digital marketing education. With a mission to bridge the gap between conventional education and industry demands, IIDE offers customized programs to suit the different needs of learners. The advanced course follows a hybrid learning model whereas the PG program is an exhaustive 11 month course with placement assurance. This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN)
Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya has interacted with representatives of Japanese medical devices companies in Tokyo and invited them to take advantage of opportunities in India. "The medical devices sector is an essential and integral constituent of India's healthcare sector. The sector's contribution became even more prominent as India supported the domestic and global battle against the COVID-19 pandemic through large-scale production of medical devices & diagnostic kits," Mandaviya told the Japanese representatives on Tuesday. Mandaviya noted that the medical devices sector has the potential to grow from its current size of USD 11 billion to four times by 2030. He further stated that "backed by growing healthcare needs and govt's commitment to facilitate growth, Indian medical devices industry has the power to emerge as the global leader in manufacturing and innovation in the next 25 years and we are committed to its growth and progress to become self-reliant and contribute towards the goal of universal health care in line with India's G20 Presidency mantra of 'One Earth, One Family, One Future'". India allows 100 per cent foreign direct investment under the automatic route for both Greenfield and Brownfield setups. To boost domestic manufacturing, the government had launched the Production Linked Incentive Schemes for medical devices with financial incentives worth USD 400 million. "To support our investor community, govt has also approved the establishment of 4 Medical Devices Parks in the states. These Parks will significantly reduce manufacturing cost, optimize resources, build on economies of scale, and provide easy access to standard testing and infrastructure facilities." The Union Health Minister concluded his address by emphasizing that "with rapid strides in innovation, India is now on a momentous journey to take on the global arena in the sphere of medical devices and technologies" and invited Japanese Medical Devices companies to take advantage of these opportunities to "Make in India", "Innovate in India", and "Discover in India". (ANI)
The business group is controlled by a person with an active political background, an official release by the Union Ministry of Finance said on Tuesday without naming anyone.

"Search was also conducted on his close business associate. The group is engaged in a variety of businesses ranging from production and sale of edible Rice Bran Oil, mustard oil, De-Oiled Rice Bran (DORB), different types of chemicals and real estate, etc," the release said.

A total of 23 premises spread over Uttar Dinajpur, Dakshin Dinajpur, Malda, Kolkata, Siliguri in West Bengal and Guwahati in Assam and surrounding areas were covered.

The searches revealed that the group was "suppressing its yield and making unaccounted cash sales" of edible Oils and de-oiled rice bran.

Several instances of cash transactions not recorded in regular books of account have been detected during the search operation. Handwritten notes, documents and digital evidences containing extracts of cash transactions have also been seized. Parallel cash books and bogus claims of expenses have also been found.

Preliminary investigation has revealed unaccounted income of more than Rs 40 crore, the release added.

"Further, in a search operation conducted on the close business associate of the main business group, who is a leading exporter of agro products in Malda district of North Bengal, incriminating documents against cash payments in land acquisition to the tune of Rs. 17 crore (approx.) have been found. Details pertaining to unaccounted cash receipts of about Rs. 100 crore were also found."

The search action has resulted in the seizure of unaccounted cash of Rs.1.73 crore. In addition, unaccounted jewellery worth Rs.1 crore has been seized. Further investigations are in progress. (ANI)
The comedy-drama series 'The Bear' will be sooner returning to impress the audience with the continuation of the humorous storyline as makers gear up for season 2. In the recent update, on Monday, the creators dropped the debut trailer for the upcoming season. The official Twitter handle of Hulu which is the streaming platform for the show, dropped the debut clip to reveal the plot line and star-cast for another fun ride. The sequel will narrate a follow-up story to the ending of the prior season where the protagonist (Carmy) tries to reinvent the 'Bear restaurant' after finding out a lot of money hidden by his late brother. https://twitter.com/hulu/status/1658155957917024259 According to Variety, a US-based media house, season one arrived as a surprise package for the production house as the audience instantly fell in love with the character of chef Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto, played by American actor Jeremy Allen White. The trailer reveals how Carmy with fellow workers Adamu and Richard will try to reinvent their beef eatery and get it transformed into a next level-spot. The transition will turn fun when the hospitality factor will start kicking in staff will push their abilities and relationship hurdles to work for the goodwill of the restaurant. The cast includes Abby Elliott, Lionel Boyce, Liza Colon-Zayas and Matty Matheson, with Edwin Lee Gibson, Oliver Platt and Molly Gordon in recurring roles. "Better Call Saul" star Bob Odenkirk is also joining as a guest star, as earlier reported by Variety. The sequel will start streaming on coming June 22. (ANI)
The moment of witnessing classic drama shows 'Nurse Jackie' and 'Weeds' again can be around the corner as the creator has reportedly started. According to Deadline, a US-based media house, the Showtime television network plans to bring the iconic shows back. The former showrunner Robert Greenblatt will work closely to seal the deal with the studio. The revival is in the infant stages of development with the original leads, Edie Falco and Mary-Louise Parker, attached to star and executive produce for 'Nurse Jackie'. Reports suggest that the projects are still coming together and deals are being negotiated. As per a report by Deadline, 'The Weeds' would be written and executive produced by Christian Torpe, creator of the famous Danish series 'Rita'. The show will be led by Nancy (Parker) in Copenhagen. The Nurse Jackie follow-up would be written/executive produced by Abe Sylvia and Liz Flahive who were writers-producers on the original series. The concept is still blurry with nothing concrete being finalised yet. The audience won't have to wait for too long to witness the shows on screen again as the makers plan an early 2024 launch, as per deets by the Deadline. The show 'Weeds' follows the story of a widowed mother of two boys, played by actors Hunter Parrish and Alexander Gould, who begins selling marijuana to support her family after her husband's death. The plot of 'Nurse Jackie' revolved around a duplicitous, pill-popping ER nurse and her mom. Jackie Peyton who is addicted to drugs runs the whole show as she tries to manage her personal life with a lot of drama under wraps for the audience. Both of the shows were showered with prestigious awards during their run. (ANI)
Sam Asghari wants to protect his wife Britney Spears from undue toxicity. In a rare video posted to his Instagram Story, the fitness trainer accused members of Britney's private circle of capitalizing off her conservatorship, which was in place for 13 years before ending in November 2021, reported E News. "The last thing I want to do is speak on my wife's behalf--I will never do that," Sam said May 14 in a clip that was captured and shared online. "I respect her privacy, that's why I don't talk as much. And I found it absolutely disgusting for the people that were in her life at the time when she didn't have a voice, they went and told her story like it was theirs. It was absolutely disgusting." Previously, Britney accused her father Jamie Spears, who was suspended as conservator of Britney's estate in September 2021, of having tight control--which Sam further stressed in his message. "How are you gonna take the most influential person of our generation, the princess of pop, America's sweetheart, and put her in prison," Sam continued, "where her father tells her what to do, what water to drink, who to see, and use her as a money-making machine." Jamie addressed the claims back in November 2021, with his legal team noting at the time that he acted in her best interest. But it's not just Britney's past conservatorship that Sam seems to be taking issue with. The actor's words arrived a day before TMZ airs its documentary, TMZ Investigates: Britney Spears: The Price of Freedom, on Fox, reported E News. "All of a sudden, after 15 years, when she's free after all [that] gaslighting and all those things that went down, now you're gonna put her under a microscope and tell her story?" added Sam, who wed Britney last June after five years of dating. "No. No. That's also disgusting, so don't do that." He also directed a message to fans, telling them to not "believe what you read online." "Ninety-nine per cent of the time, those are all clickbaits, for you to click and for them to make money," Sam said. "And that time is over. Not gonna allow that. And that should stop. It should stop absolutely. The gaslighting and all that s--t gotta stop." The words echo a post Britney shared in February, which she posted in commemoration of one-year anniversary of her conservatorship's termination. "As my hubby says it best," she wrote at the time, "don't believe everything you read." (ANI)
Actress Sara Ali Khan is super excited about her Cannes debut. The 'Kedarnath' star is currently in Cannes to attend the 76th edition of the prestigious film festival. On Tuesday evening, she shared a scenic picture from Cannes. In the image, she is seen holding up a cup of coffee against a backdrop of azure blue - the Mediterranean Sea. "Cannes, French Riviera, France," reads the text on the bottom of the image. Besides Sara, actresses Anushka Sharma and Manushi Chillar are also making their Cannes debut this year. Anushka recently met the France ambassador to India Emmanuel Lenin with her husband Virat Kohli at the French Embassy in New Delhi. The ambassador captioned his social media post with a hint of Sharma's trip to the festival which will take place in the fashion capital of the world. "A pleasure meeting @imVkohli and @AnushkaSharma! I wished Virat & #TeamIndia all the best for the upcoming tournaments, and discussed Anushka's trip to #CannesFilmFestival," Emmanuel tweeted. Content creator Dolly Singh will also be seen at the Cannes Film Festival this year."The Cannes Film Festival has been an important platform for Indian artists to showcase their talent on the international stage. Over the years Indian talent has not only brought Indian cinema to the world stage but has also helped to break down cultural barriers and promote cross-cultural exchange. Today I am honoured to be contributing in my own unique way to this exchange and making my debut this year at the festival. From making candles in a small town of Nainital to walking the red carpet at Cannes, I'm truly grateful and excited for this opportunity. This was a long-standing dream and I've finally ticked an important milestone off my bucket list," she shared. The 72nd edition of the Cannes Film Festival will take place on May 16 to May 27, 2023. (ANI)
Several images of Alia went viral which are garnering her fans' attention.

The 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' actor makes an appearance in front of a historic place. She wore mini black dress with polka dotted cutout. She completed her look with black platform heels and a Gucci Jackie 1961 transparent bag.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CsTe990JDBq/

Recently, Thai superstar Davikah Hoorne shared a couple of adorable pictures where Alia and Davikah can be posing in different styles from the Gucci event.

Last week, Alia was announced as the first Indian global ambassador of the luxury fashion brand, Gucci.

Taking to Instagram, the fashion brand 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 were captured with the Gucci Bamboo 1947 bag."

https://www.instagram.com/p/CsF_v44IXyc/

Meanwhile, on the work front, Alia will rekindle her on-screen romance with Ranveer Singh in Karan Johar's directorial 'Rocky Aur Rani ki Prem Kahani.' (ANI)
Eid Milad-un-Nabi is an annual celebration to commemorate the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad and is observed in the month of Rabi-ul-Awwal, the third month of the Islamic lunar calendar, which commences with the sighting of the moon. The occasion also marks the death anniversary of the Prophet. This year, as per the Gregorian calendar, the celebration will begin from the evening of October 18 and will last till the evening of October 19. Along with India, the festival is celebrated in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and other parts of the subcontinent. One of the most important parts of Eid Milad-un-Nabi is to celebrate the life of the Prophet, his teachings, sufferings, and his character, as he even forgave his enemies. Muslims celebrate the occasion by wearing new clothes, offering prayers, and exchanging gifts. The community assembles at a mosque or a dargah and begins their day with a morning prayer followed by a procession. On the occasion, ANI spoke to Haji Syed Salman Chishty, 26th generation Gaddi Nashin of Dargah Ajmer Sharif. He said, "Eid Milad-un-Nabi is a yearly celebration commemorated all around the world and especially observed in South Asia because of its relevance and respect for Prophet Muhammad. It''s the Prophet''s birth celebration, which falls on the 12th day of the Rabi al-Awwal month, of the Hijri calendar."Speaking further about the celebrations at the Ajmer Dargah, he continued, "Tonight after the evening prayer the next day will start, so the celebration will commence from the evening, especially in Ajmer Sharif as people from all over India come to commemorate and honour the legacy of Prophet Muhammad and the message of Khwaja Muin-ud-Din Chishti, which is love towards all and malice towards none. At the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, along with the mehfil and qawwali, the teachings of the Prophet are shared with youth, elders and devotees. The celebrations go on till late night." "Today at around 7 PM all celebrations will start. Salat-o-Salam will be recited and everybody from the community, the whole city and nearby villages will be coming, along with people from different states. Then, early morning at 4, which is the birth time of the Prophet, special commemorative prayers are offered. The elders come to the Dargah and people just sit silently listening to the Quranic verses and the sayings of the Prophet. This is how Eid Milad-un-Nabi is observed in most of the Sufi khanqahs, Sufi dargahs and centres around the world," added the Gaddi Nashin of Dargah Ajmer Sharif. The custom of celebrating the birth of the Holy Prophet on an enormous scale began in Egypt with the descendants of the Prophet, through his daughter Fatima. It was especially celebrated by theologians and religious institutions. They gathered to hear sermons, distributing sweets, gifts and honey in particular, the Prophet''s favourite. Hence, the feast is an important part of the celebrations.Adding to this Haji Syed Salman said, "Langar is a very important aspect of the celebrations and all the langar inside the Ajmer Dargah is purely vegetarian. We don''t even use onion and garlic, so that our brothers and sisters from the Jain community can also participate in eating and serving the langar, which generally consists of sweet rice, mithais, daliya, among other things."He also spoke about how the celebrations are happening amid the ongoing COVID pandemic, "Last year due to the pandemic not much was done, but since this year there have been some relaxations in Rajasthan. So with a limited number of people and with all the COVID guidelines and protocols in place, we are observing the occasion. Pre-Covid, people used to come in thousands, so obviously, right now it''s not the same, but taking all the precautions, the celebrations are happening all over India, as per the COVID guideline of various states."Since Eid Milad-un-Nabi is a very sacred and special time of the year, most people want to spend time at the Dargahs, as they are considered the centre for peace and tranquillity. The Prophet''s life and teachings, even today, continue to influence believers and instil them with the will to follow the path of righteousness. Happy Eid Milad-un-Nabi. (ANI)
Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Monday said that Congress will definitely fight the election in West Bengal. Chowdhury's reaction came as a cold shoulder response to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee's statement that her party will support Congress where it is strong but "it should not fight against her in Bengal". Responding to her statement Chowdhury said, "We will definitely fight elections; we will fight wherever it is needed." Chowdhury further accused Mamata Banerjee of making giving such statements as with Congress victory in Karnataka she feels that without aligning with Congress, she will not be able to survive. "With Congress victory, Mamata Banerjee now feels that she will not be able to work at any cost without doing compromise with Congress, ahead of Karnataka elections have you ever heard Mamata Banerjee saying, vote for Congress to defeat BJP. She is the same Mamata Banerjee who visited Bihar and Uttar Pradesh to support those who are fighting against BJP, but why did not she visit Karnataka to support Congress?" questioned Chowdhury. Chowdhury also slammed Bengal CM for ignoring Rahul Gandhi after the Karnataka victory and during Bharat Jodo Yatra and said she has not mentioned Rahul Gandhi's name even once after the party's victory in the Karnataka assembly elections. "We emerged as winner in Karnataka but she did not mention Rahul Gandhi's name even for once. Even during, the Bharat Jodo Yatra she didn't say anything. That time also, when all the opposition leaders praised him, Mamata did not utter a word from her mouth. When he got disqualified from the Parliament she didn't say anything," he alleged. Congress MP also claimed that it's because of former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee managed to get into power in WB in 2011 and later she tried everything to make Congress out of Bengal politics. On Monday Mamata Banerjee said that the parties which are strong in a particular region should fight together and if she is supporting Congress in states such as Karnataka, "it should not fight against me in Bengal". Talking to media persons at Nabannna, Banerjee, who is Trinamool Congress chief, said wherever a regional political party is strong there BJP cannot fight. She hit out at the BJP and said the verdict in Karnataka was "against the BJP government". "People are demoralised and frustrated... people are antagonised....the economy is ruined. Democratic rights are being bulldozed. Even the wrestlers are also not spared. So in this situation, I think whoever is strong in a particular region, should fight together. In Bengal, we (TMC) should fight...in Delhi, AAP should fight," Mamata Banerjee said. She said Congress was strong on about 200 Lok Sabha seats and the party was willing to extend support there. "In Bihar, Nitishji, Tejashwi, some part Congress is there, they will decide, I cannot decide on their formula. Wherever the regional party is very strong, so you see...Bihar, Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Chennai, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Punjab, the strong party must be given priority. Wherever Congress is strong in their respective 200 seats or something. Let them fight, we will give support, nothing is wrong (in that). But they (Congress) have to support the other political parties also. I am giving you the support in Karnataka. But, you are fighting against me every day - it should not be the policy," she added. (ANI)
The incident occurred at Limbodi locality under Tejaji Nagar police station limits in the district. The child was identified as Prateek Munde.

The accused man has been identified as Shashipal Munde (26) and the police are searching for him.

Prateek's uncle Rajesh Munde (elder father) said, "Mother of my nephew, Prateek Munde, passed away a few years ago. After which Prateek's father Shashipal Munde had married another woman. The woman used to have a dispute with Shashipal regarding Prateek."

"On Monday morning, the grandmother saw Prateek in an unconscious state, after which we took him to the hospital where the doctors declared Prateek brought dead. Prateek was killed by his father Shashipal," Rajesh Munde claimed.

On the other hand, NS Tanwar, a sub-inspector with Tejaji Nagar police, said, "In the preliminary investigation, it came to notice that Prateek died due to beating and strangulation. The relatives said in their statement that Prateek was murdered by his father, Shashipal."

Based on the statements of the relatives, the police registered a case into the matter and launched a search to nab the accused father, Tanwar added.

Notably, Tejaji Nagar police have appealed to locals of the area to inform on getting any information about the accused. (ANI)
The released fishermen were received by Gujarat Agriculture Minister Raghavji Patel, who welcomed them with garlands.

The returnees' faces were filled with glee after they returned to their native country.

"I was jailed in 2018. They [Pakistan officials] took me and put me inside prison. Today it feels like I got a new life," said Ahmed Khan, a fisherman and one of the returnees.

The fishermen crisscrossed to India from the Wagah Border and then were brought by train and all the arrangements for their return were made by State's Fisheries department.

Speaking to reporters, Nitin Sangwan, Director of the Fisheries Department said, "Pakistan has released the fishermen who were lodged in Pakistani jails for so many years. Out of those 198, a total of 182 fishermen were from Gujarat."

He said that all the released fishermen were brought back by the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Cabinet Minister Purushottam Rupala and External Affairs Minister Jaishankar. (ANI)
Prayagraj police have issued lookout notices against slain gangster Atiq Ahmed's wife Shaista Parveen, and his close aides, Guddu Muslim and Sabir, officials said. According to officials, Uttar Pradesh police have already declared a bounty of Rs 50,000 in the name of Shaista Parveen. Despite efforts, the police are not able to trace Parveen and the other two. In such a situation, officials are of the view that they may run out of the country. This, in turn, has prompted authorities to issue lookout notices against all three of them. Officials said that Prayagraj Police had earlier sent its report in this regard to the Uttar Pradesh government. And on the basis of this, a lookout notice has been issued against them to prevent them from leaving the country. The notice period will be for 1 year. The lookout notice has been sent to all immigration checkpoints, and if they are caught while trying to flee out of the country, Prayagraj police will receive an alert from the agencies concerned. On April 9, the UP police doubled the reward on Shaista Parveen, slain gangster Atiq Ahmed's wife. She carries a Rs 50,000 reward on her. UP police on April 19 conducted raids in Uttar Pradesh's Kaushambi in search of Shaista. According to the police, search operations are still underway in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj and nearby localities. With the killing of Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf and also the death of Atiq's son Azad Ahmed in an encounter with the STF on April 13, Shaista has been on the run ever since. Earlier on April 25, Atiq's brother-in-law, Akhlaq Ahmed, a health department doctor allegedly involved in unethical activities, was suspended by the Uttar Pradesh government. Dr Akhlaq Ahmed is currently lodged in Prayagraj's Naini Jail. He was posted at Bhavanpur Community Health Center in Meerut. Dr Akhlaq Ahmed is accused of providing explosives to absconding shooters and sheltering Guddu Muslim after the murder of Umesh Pal in Prayagraj. The Principal Secretary took action on the instructions of Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak. Akhlaq Ahmed is the husband of Ayesha Noori, the sister of gangster Atiq Ahmed. (ANI)
Dr Vandana (23) was murdered when the accused, S Sandeep (42), stabbed the house surgeon to death in the hospital on Tuesday.

"Congress Mahila Morcha is observing a 12-hour hunger protest from 6 am to 6 pm against the murder of Dr Vandana and demands to protect the life of health workers and doctors," Jeby Methar, President, Congress Mahila Morcha said.

Congress Mahila Morcha president, extended her support to doctors' demands and said, "We stand with health workers and doctors and with their demand to bring an ordinance and install cameras in the hospital."

"Congress Mahila Morcha is with doctors and health workers who are sitting on a protest in front of Kerala secretariat to ensure safety and security for doctors in their workplace and also to get justice for Dr Vandana. After the murder of Dr Vandana, doctors especially the young doctor are in a state of fear," he added.

Congress Mahila Morcha is staging a protest outside the secretariat.

Earlier on May 11, a representation of doctors under the leadership of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) met Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan raising certain demands over the protection of health workers after a doctor was murdered earlier this week.

IMA state president Dr Sulphi Noohu said that they have demanded a new ordinance to protect health workers in the state.

Moreover, the accused also attacked others and vandalised the hospital. A home guard and a sub-inspector also sustained stab injuries.

Dr Vandana was shifted to KIMS hospital in Thiruvananthapuram where she succumbed to her injuries, police added.

Kerala's Kottarakkara magistrate court on Wednesday remanded accused G Sandeep for 14 days in the house surgeon Dr Vandana Das murder case. (ANI)
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on Tuesday conducted searches at LYCA Productions in Chennai, according to sources. More details are awaited. Earlier ED said it had carried out search operations at 21 locations in Delhi and Gurugram in connection with Amira Pure Foods Private Limited, Karan A Chanana and others under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA). The searches were conducted by the ED on May 2 in which, cash amounting to Rs 1.01 crore and various incriminating pieces of evidence were seized which shows the modus operandi of the accused entity for diverting the loan funds through shell companies, accommodation entries, fudging and manipulation of stocks, mentions the official statement. According to the ED, the action against the accused entities came on the basis of an FIR registered by CBI against Karan A Chanana, his relatives, Amira Pure Foods Pvt. Ltd. and others under various sections of IPC, 1860 for committing fraud, criminal misappropriation, criminal breach of trust, cheating, etc. causing wrongful loss to the tune of approx--Rs. 1201.85 crore to the consortium of banks led by Canara Bank. Investigations conducted by ED revealed that the accused entities in connivance with each other and other related and unrelated entities allegedly illegally diverted loan funds sanctioned by the consortium of Banks by way of transferring loan funds into the accounts of various shell entities under the guise of genuine business transactions. "It was also known that Karan A Chanana had donated 250,000 GBP to a political party in the United Kingdom since 2019 through one of the subsidiary companies of the accused entity, Amira Pure Foods Pvt. Ltd., while the accused entity had itself defaulted on repayment of loans and was declared as NPA in the year 2016 - 17 by consortium member Banks," the ED's statement alleged. (ANI)
Soon after receiving the information, Delhi Police and other teams rushed to Pushp Vihar's Amrita School and conducted a thorough search operation.

"A thorough checking of the school has been done through Bomb Disposal Team (BDT) but nothing was found," said DCP South Chandan Chowdhary.

As per the Delhi Police, an investigation is underway.

Earlier on May 12, a bomb threat was received at Delhi Public School, Mathura Road, but turned out to be a hoax after the police found nothing "suspicious", an official said.

According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Rajesh Deo, information was received yesterday regarding a bomb threat e-mail received by DPS Mathura Road.

"Police and Bomb Disposal Squad reached the school. Later it was found that the e-mail was sent by a student. 2 Bomb Disposal teams along with dogs and local staff manually searched the school but nothing suspicious was found, it was a hoax call," he added.

According to the official, after reaching the school, "Police checked the computer system/mail of school, wherein it was found the said mail was received on Thursday around at 6:17 p.m. From the technical investigation, we came to know that the said email address belongs to a student, who denied sending the mail," said the official. (ANI)
"Heartfelt wishes to the people of Sikkim on their statehood day. Sikkim is a gem in northeastern India with its hardworking people contributing profusely to the nation's culture and economy. May the state continue to prosper in the years to come," Shah tweeted.

Earlier in the day, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also extended greetings to the people of Sikkim on their Statehood Day.

Taking to Twitter, he said, "On Sikkim Statehood Day, we extend our warmest greetings to the people of this beautiful state, blessed with natural beauty and rich cultural diversity."

"In 1975, Sikkim merged with India and became our 22nd state. We wish you unhindered peace, progress and prosperity," Kharge tweeted.

On May 16, 1975, Sikkim became the 22nd state of India. Each year, it marks the occasion with a holiday and a series of events.

On May 15, 1975, then President of India, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, signed a constitutional amendment, and, a day later, Sikkim became the 22nd state of India. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday laid down the steps taken by his government to boost employment in the country and said that every policy formulated in the last nine years has acted as a "door to generating employment" for the youth. The Prime Minister's remarks came while distributing appointment letters to 71,000 new recruits in the National Rozgar Mela on Tuesday. Addressing on the occasion virtually, PM Modi said, "During the last nine years, there has been a great focus towards boosting employment opportunities in the country. Be it building modern infra or rural development, every plan and policy of the government acts as a door to generating employment for the youth." The Prime Minister highlighted that during his governance, the government has also given priority to making the government recruitment process faster, more transparent and fair. "Today, the entire process from applying for recruitment to getting results has become online. Interviews for recruitment in Group C and D are also over. The advantage of these efforts is that the possibilities of corruption and nepotism have ended," PM Modi said. Lauding the schemes and policies of the government, he said that it is creating new employment opportunities for the youth. "Every scheme of the Government of India, every policy is creating new employment opportunities for the youth. In the last nine years, the Government of India has spent about Rs 34 lakh crore on capital expenditure," the Prime Minister said. PM Modi congratulated the candidates and their families for getting the appointment letter. He further said that the speed and scale at which India is working today is also unprecedented in the history of 75 years of independence. He further shed light on the "new revolution" the country has witnessed in the start-up culture. "The nature of jobs has also changed very fast in the last nine years. In these changing circumstances, new sectors have emerged for the youth. The central government is continuously supporting these new sectors as well. In these nine years, the country has witnessed a new revolution in start-up culture. Nine years ago, there were around 100 startups in the country whereas the number stands at around 1 lakh, today," he said. "Both the Foreign Direct Investments in the country as well as the record exports from the country are generating employment opportunities. This transforming picture has brought to the table, the new sectors of employment for the youth. The Central Govt is consistently supporting these new sectors," he added. Referring to the pre-2014 period, PM Modi highlighted the change of pace in the spread of rural road networks. "Prior to 2014, the country's rural road network spanned less than 4 lakh kilometres, but it has since expanded to over 7.25 lakh kilometres. In terms of air travel infrastructure, the country only had 74 airports before 2014. Today, this number has surged to about 150," he said. "A few days back, I met Walmart's CEO and he said that his company will do an export of Rs 80,000 Cr in the next 3-4 years. It's big news for youth who want to work in the logistics and supply chain sector. Cisco CEO also told me that they are also targeting to export Made-in-India products worth Rs 8,000 crores...Next week I will meet CEOs of big companies and they all are excited to invest in India," the Prime Minister added. (ANI)
Sub-Inspector of the Delhi Police Bomb Squad Suresh Yadav said, "The school premises have been thoroughly searched and no suspicious object has been found."

"A thorough checking of the school has been conducted by the Bomb Disposal Team (BDT) but nothing has been found," Deputy Commissioner of Police South Chandan Choudhary said.

Several teams of police and bomb squad were rushed to the Amrita School after police received information that the school had received a bomb threat via e-mail this morning. Students were evacuated from the school premises as searches were conducted.

As per the Delhi Police, an investigation is underway.

Earlier this month on May 12, the Delhi Public School, Mathura Road had received a bomb threat on email. Police declared the email threat to be a hoax after finding nothing suspicious following searches. Later it was found that the e-mail was sent from the email id of a student, police said.

A similar email sent last month to the Indian School in Sadiq Nagar of the national capital also turned out to be a hoax. (ANI)
The Centre has alerted doctors of hospitals run by the central government and CGHS wellness centres/polyclinics to prescribe generic medicines only and if they fail to do so then strict action will be taken against them. According to the office Order issued by Director General Health Services (DGHS), "It is to be noted that all the Doctors in the Central Government Hospitals/CGHS Wellness Centers / Polyclinics have been instructed time and again to prescribe generic medicines only. Despite this, it has been observed that Doctors (including Residents) in some instances continue to prescribe branded medicines. This has been viewed strictly by the competent authority." "This may be noted by all heads of institutions, and they may ensure strict compliance by the doctors working under them." It reads further In the office order, this has been mentioned clearly that if somebody if anyone continues to be non-compliant then further action will be taken, "If anyone continues to be non-compliant, he/she shall be liable for further action." Further, it may be ensured that visits of medical representatives to hospital premises are completely curtailed. Any information about a new launch may be communicated by way of email only. (ANI)
Chinese premier meets Eritrean president

Xinhua) 08:24, May 16, 2023

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.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday conducted searches at nine locations in Bihar's Patna and Arrah linked to Rashtriya Janata Dal leaders- MLA Kiran Devi and former MLA Arun Yadav in connection with the alleged land-for-jobs scam. The CBI also conducted searches at the premises of Rajya Sabha MP Prem Chand Gupta at Noida, Delhi and Gurugram in the same alleged land-for-jobs scam. In its chargesheet filed earlier in connection with the alleged land-for-job scam the CBI had stated that irregular appointments of candidates were made in Central Railways, violating the laid down norms and procedures of Indian Railways for recruitment. As a quid-pro-quo, the candidates directly or through their immediate relatives/family members, sold land to the family members of Lalu Prasad Yadav (then Union Railway Minister) at highly discounted rates up to one-fourth to one-fifth of the prevailing market rates, according to the CBI. The agency further stated that investigation has revealed that Lalu Prasad Yadav during the period 2007-08, when he was Minister of Railways, with the intent to acquire the land parcels situated in Vill- Mahuabagh, Patna and Vill-Kunjwa, Patna which were located adjacent to the land parcels already owned by his family members; entered into a criminal conspiracy with his wife Rabri Devi, daughter Misha Bharati, officers of Central Railways namely Sowmya Raghvan the then General Manager, Kamal Deep Mainrai, the then Chief Personnel Officer, and residents of Vill-Mahjabagh, Patna and Vill-Bindaul, Bihta, Patna and Patna City namely Raj Kumar Singh, Mithlesh Kumar, Ajay Kumar, Sanjay Kumar, Dharmendra Kumar, Vikas Kumar, Abhishek Kumar, Ravindra Ray, Kiran Devi, Akhileshwar Singh, Ramashish Singh. According to the CBI, all the candidates were subsequently regularised after their engagement as substitutes. In lieu of getting them appointed in the Railways, Lalu Prasad Yadav got lands transferred owned by candidates and their family members in the names of his wife Rabri Devi and Misha Bharti for sale consideration which was much lesser than the prevailing circle rates as well as the prevailing market rates. The CBI filed the chargesheet in October last year, against former Bihar chief ministers Lalu Prasad, Rabri Devi, their daughter Misa Bharti and 13 others in the land-for-jobs scam. The alleged scam occurred when Yadav was Railway Minister between 2004 and 2009. Apart from the RJD leader, the chargesheet also includes the name of the then Railway General Manager. (ANI)
"The land of abundant natural beauty and rich heritage, Sikkim represents the unity in diversity and the harmony India stands for. Best wishes to the people of the state on their statehood day, today," Rahul Gandhi tweeted.

Earlier in the day, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge wished the people of Sikkim on their Statehood Day.

Taking to Twitter, he said, "On Sikkim Statehood Day, we extend our warmest greetings to the people of this beautiful state, blessed with natural beauty and rich cultural diversity. In 1975, Sikkim merged with India and became our 22nd state. We wish you unhindered peace, progress and prosperity."

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also extended his greetings to the people of Sikkim and said, Sikkim is a gem in northeastern India with its hardworking people contributing profusely to the nation's culture and economy. May the state continue to prosper in the years to come."

On May 16, 1975, Sikkim became the 22nd state of India. Each year, it marks the occasion with a holiday and a series of events.

On May 15, 1975, then President of India, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, signed a constitutional amendment, and, a day later, Sikkim became the 22nd state of India. (ANI)
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi along with other leaders and some of the newly elected MLAs from Karnataka on Tuesday were seen arriving at the party president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence for a meeting, in which they are set to hold discussions regarding the next chief minister of Karnataka. Kharge is also expected to hold a meeting with Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar who are frontrunners for the chief minister's post. Shivakumar arrived in the national capital today from Bengaluru while Siddaramaiah who reached Delhi a day ago had met with party leaders yesterday. "Congress president will take a decision based on the observers' report. There is no delay, we are following the process," Congress leader BK Hariprasad said today. Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar before departing for Delhi said that "We have built this party (Congress), we have built this house. I am a part of it...A mother will give everything to her child." He made it clear that he would not resort to "backstabbing or blackmail" regardless of the party's decision. In an exclusive interview with ANI, DK Shivakumar said, "If the party wants they can give me the responsibility....... Ours is a united house, our number is 135. I don't want to divide anyone here. Whether they like me or not, I am a responsible man. I will not backstab and I will not blackmail." The Congress won 135 seats in the recently held election to the 224-member Karnataka assembly. Three central observers appointed by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in Karnataka, arrived in Delhi on Monday to present their report to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on the appointment of the Karnataka chief minister. The observers Sushil Kumar Shinde, Deepak Bawaria and Bhanwar Jitendra Singh were tasked with speaking to newly elected Congress MLAs on the election of the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader in Karnataka and subsequently to submit their report to the party's high command. The Congress legislative party had met late evening on Sunday in Bengaluru and passed a one-line resolution empowering Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge to pick the head of the legislative party. (ANI)
The Tamil Nadu government told the Supreme Court that the filmmakers of 'The Kerala Story' have made deliberately misleading statements that the government has imposed a shadow ban on the movie, however, theatres stopped screening the film due to poor audience response. An affidavit filed by Tamil Nadu said, "The exhibitors have themselves stopped the screening of the movie due to the poor audience response and the government cannot do anything to increase the audience patronage for the said film, except to provide security to the cinema theatres." The top court earlier asked the Tamil Nadu government to file a response to filmmakers' plea alleging that State has imposed a de facto ban on the movie in the State. Filing the affidavit, the State said that the theatre owners had voluntarily stopped screening the film on May 7 onwards due to poor performance of actors/ poor response to the movie or lack of well-known actors in the movie. "The multiplex owners took the decision to stop screening the film from May 5 in view of the criticism received by it / lack of well-known actors / poor performance / poor audience response. The State exercises no control over decisions. It is reiterated that this decision was made by the theatre owners on their own and the State had no role to play over the same," the affidavit added. Tamil Nadu refuted the allegations of filmmakers that the State had imposed a "shadow ban" or issued an "alert" anticipating protests in connection with the release of the film due to which theatres in the State withdrew the film. The movie was released across 19 multiplexes and the filmmakers have not produced any document to show that the State stopped the screening of the film, the state government said. The State in fact deployed more police forces in every multiplex so that cinema goers can watch the movie without any law and order issues, it added. The affidavit stated that over 965 police personnel including 25 DSPs were posted for the protection of the 21 movie theatres which had screened the film. The makers in the apex court also alleged that the movie is facing a 'shadow' ban in Tamil Nadu and sought protection for screening the film in the southern State. Earlier, the apex court questioned the West Bengal government over banning the film saying the movie is running in different parts of the country with similar demographic profiles. A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha said, "The movie is being released all over the country and why the West Bengal government should not allow it to run." It said that if the public does not think that the film is not worth seeing, they will not see it and questioned West Bengal about what should not allow a film to run. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has ordered an immediate ban on the screening of the film in the State to avoid "Any incident of hatred and violence and to maintain peace in the state". The makers contended that the State government has no power to ban a movie which has been certified for public viewing by the Central Board of Film Certification. State government cannot cite law and order issues to stop the screening of the movie, which will result in the violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed to them, the plea of filmmakers said. The film depicts how thousands of young women were allegedly brainwashed into joining the Islamic State (IS) and heading off to countries like Syria and Afghanistan. 'The Kerala Story', starring Adah Sharma, was released in cinemas on May 5. (ANI)
Underlining the tedious process of recruitment which existed earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that now the process has been simplified by making it online where a provision for self-attestation of documents has also been introduced. PM Modi addressed the National Rozgar Mela via video conferencing and distributed about 71,000 appointment letters to newly inducted recruits in various Government departments and organisations. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister conveyed his best wishes to all the inducted recruits and their families. He recalled recent Rozgar Melas in states such as Gujarat and the upcoming Mela in Assam. He said these Melas at the centre and BJP-ruled states, show the government's commitment towards the youth. "In the last nine years, the government has prioritized the recruitment process by making it faster, transparent and unbiased. Recalling the difficulties faced in the recruitment process, the Prime Minister pointed out that the Staff Selection Board took roughly 15-18 months to onboard the new recruits whereas today it takes only 6-8 months. The tedious process of recruitment which existed earlier starting from acquiring the application form to submitting it via post has now been simplified by making it online where a provision for self-attestation of documents has also been introduced," he said. The Prime Minister also added that interviews for Group C and Group D have also been abolished. The biggest benefit of this is the extermination of nepotism from the entire process. PM Modi underscored the importance of today's date as nine years ago on this date, May 16, Lok Sabha Elections results were announced. Recalling the enthusiasm of the day, the Prime Minister said that the journey which started with the spirit of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, is working for a Viksit Bharat. The Prime Minister also mentioned that today is also the establishment day of Sikkim. "During these 9 years, government policies were made keeping in mind the employment possibilities. Initiatives in the fields of modern infrastructure, rural push or expansion of the basic needs of life, every policy of the Government of India is creating new opportunities for the youth," he said. The Prime Minister informed that in the last 9 years, the government has spent about Rs 34 lakh crore on capital expenditure and on basic facilities. "In this year's Budget too, Rs 10 lakh crore were allocated for the capital expenditure. This amount is resulting in modern infrastructure like new highways, new airports, new rail routes, bridges etc. This is creating many new jobs in the country," he said. He added that India's speed and scale are unprecedented in the history of Independent India. He informed that in the last nine years, 40,000 km of rail lines got electrified compared to 20,000 km in the seven decades previous to that. "Referring to the metro rail network in the country, the Prime Minister informed that merely 600 meters of metro lines were laid before 2014 whereas today, approximately 6 km of metro rail lines are being laid," he said. Highlighting the technological developments that have made the lives of people easier than before, the Prime Minister gave examples of app-based taxi services that have become a lifeline for the cities, efficient online delivery systems that have increased employment, boost to the drone sector which has helped in spraying of pesticides to delivery of medicines, expanding city gas distribution system whose coverage has gone up from 60 to 600 cities. He emphasized that higher education institutes and skill development institutes are being developed at a fast pace in the country. "Between 2014 and 2022, a new IIT and a new IIM have come up every year. One university has been inaugurated every week and two colleges have become functional every day on average in the last 9 years," he said. The Prime Minister pointed out that there were around 720 universities in the country before 2014, whereas that number has increased to more than 1,100 today. Touching upon medical education in the country, the Prime Minister stated that only 7 AIIMS were built in the country in 7 decades whereas in the last 9 years, the government has developed 15 new AIIMS. He also added that the number of medical colleges in the country has increased from 400 to 700 where the number of MBBS and MD seats increased from around 80,000 to more than 1 lakh 70 thousand. Recalling his recent meeting with the Walmart CEO, the Prime Minister informed about the CEO's confidence in India in exporting up to Rs 80,000 crore worth of goods from the country. "This is big news for the youth employed in the sectors of logistics and supply chain," he said. He also recalled his meeting with the CEO of CISCO whose goal is to export Rs 8,000 crores worth of products from India and the CEO of Apple who expressed confidence about the mobile manufacturing industry in India, Top Executive of the semiconductor company NXP also showed positivity for India's capacity to create a semiconductor ecosystem. "Foxconn too has started investments worth thousands of crore," he said. The Prime Minister also informed about his scheduled meetings with CEOs of the world's leading companies in the next week and said that all of them are full of enthusiasm to invest in India. He underlined that such efforts highlight the new employment opportunities being created in different sectors in India. Concluding the address, the Prime Minister directed his address to the new recruits and underlined their role in this Mahayagya of development going on in the country where the resolutions of a developed India have to be realized in the next 25 years. The Prime Minister urged the recruits to make full use of this opportunity and highlighted the government's emphasis on the skill development of its employees through the iGoT Karmayogi module, an online learning platform. (ANI)
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday alleged that Congress "ignored" the Northeast for 60 years whereas, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the region has become the "focal point of development". "The Congress government ignored the Northeast for 60 years. Today Prime Minister Modi has embraced the Northeast with open arms and now it has become the focal point of attention and development," the Union Minister stated while addressing the National Rozgar Mela in which PM Modi distributed 71,000 appointment letters to the recruits. Sonowal, who was earlier the chief minister of the northeastern state of Assam before being elevated as a Union Minister in 2021, said that the northeast is rising again in the national arena due to the "special support" by PM Modi's government at the Centre. "In the past 9 years, Northeast has risen again, whether it is Sikkim or Tripura, Mizoram or Meghalaya, Nagaland or Manipur or whether it is Assam or Arunachal Pradesh, every state has become successful in finding its individuality. All this is because of the special support and recognition of Northeast by our Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he said. Speaking about the significance of youth empowerment for nation-building, Sonowal stated that it is a privilege for the young generation to dedicate themselves to nation-building. "The young generation is getting a golden opportunity and it is a privilege for them to realise their responsibility and commitment towards nation-building. As we enter the era of Amrit Kaal, we all will have to put in our best possible effort to make India a self-reliant nation, an Atmanirbhar Bharat," Sonowal stressed. The Minister said that the government intends to achieve the objective of a developed India through the "inclusive efforts" of every individual. "I believe with that objective, all the sections of the society in our county are being empowered through the policy, program and initiative by our Prime Minister. The target is very clear, we have already set out to achieve our destination by way of inclusive effort... Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas," he said. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday laid down the steps taken by his government to boost employment in the country and said that every policy formulated in the last nine years has acted as a "door to generating employment" for the youth. The Prime Minister's remarks came while distributing appointment letters to 71,000 new recruits in the National Rozgar Mela on Tuesday. Addressing on the occasion virtually, PM Modi said, "During the last nine years, there has been a great focus towards boosting employment opportunities in the country. Be it building modern infra or rural development, every plan and policy of the government acts as a door to generating employment for the youth." (ANI)
Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday ordered a special investigation team to probe the recent incident in which a group of people allegedly attempted to enter the Trimbakeshwar temple in Nashik and tried to offer a 'chaddar'. "Deputy CM of Maharashtra Devendra Fandanvis has ordered to constitute a special investigation team led by an ADG-level officer to probe the incident," according to a statement issued by the Deputy CM's office. "An FIR has been filed and an SIT under the additional director general of police will investigate the matter," Fadnavis said adding strict action will be taken against those found responsible. Inspector General of Police BG Shekhar told ANI today that on May 13 security guards at the temple, which is considered an important pilgrimage centre for Hindus, prevented an attempt of a group of six to seven people to enter. Giving further details the police IG said, "On May 13 at around 9:45 pm a group of six to seven people allegedly tried to enter the north gate of the Trimbakeshwar temple." "Security guards of the temple stopped the persons," added IG Shekhar. The temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva and according to the Temple Trust non-Hindus are not permitted entry inside its complex. According to police, an investigation into the matter has been initiated and actions under the relevant section of the Indian Penal Code will be taken if anything suspicious is found. "There is peace in Trimbakeshwar and there's no problem in the law and order situation. We will proceed with the investigation as per rules and regulations and will take further action on that basis," he told ANI. Meanwhile, according to a statement from the office of Devendra Fandanvis, the SIT will also probe a similar incident that happened last year. "The SIT will also probe a similar incident that happened last year," noted the office of Deputy CM. Further investigation into the matter is underway. (ANI)
After a group of people allegedly attempted to enter the Trimbakeshwar temple in Nashik and tried to offer a 'chaddar', Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday appealed for peace calling on people to "cooperate". "It's the responsibility of the administration to maintain law and order but people must also cooperate. People from every community must come forward and maintain peace," Shinde said while speaking to the media. However, Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis today ordered a special investigation team to probe the matter. The temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva and according to the Temple Trust non-Hindus are not permitted entry inside its complex. "Deputy CM of Maharashtra Devendra Fandanvis has ordered to constitute a special investigation team led by an ADG-level officer to probe the incident," according to a statement issued by the Deputy CM's office. "An FIR has been filed and an SIT under the additional director general of police will investigate the matter," Fadnavis said adding strict action will be taken against those found responsible. Inspector General of Police BG Shekhar told ANI today that on May 13 security guards at the temple, which is considered an important pilgrimage centre for Hindus, prevented an attempt of a group of six to seven people to enter. Giving further details the police IG said, "On May 13 at around 9:45 pm a group of six to seven people allegedly tried to enter the north gate of the Trimbakeshwar temple." "Security guards of the temple stopped the persons," added IG Shekhar. According to police, an investigation into the matter has been initiated and actions under the relevant section of the Indian Penal Code will be taken if anything suspicious is found. "There is peace in Trimbakeshwar and there's no problem in the law and order situation. We will proceed with the investigation as per rules and regulations and will take further action on that basis," he told ANI. Meanwhile, according to a statement from the office of Devendra Fandanvis, the SIT will also probe a similar incident that happened last year. "The SIT will also probe a similar incident that happened last year," noted the office of Deputy CM. Further investigation into the matter is underway. (ANI)
According to the vaccine trials status, Panacea has done phase l/ll and the trials have been completed on 100 adults between the ages of 18 and 60 years.

The primary objective of the study is safety evaluation, immunogenicity, and viremia assessment. Now the company plans to start phase 3 randomised trials, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials on 10,335 healthy adults aged 18 to 80 yrs at 20 sites of the ICMR. These trials were approved in January 2023.

Speaking to ANI, Dr Bahl said, "The company which was supposed to make the products three months ago could not do so. However, now the company would be ready in August. So those trials will be initiated in phase three."

"Till now we can't say anything even about efficacy as well," he said further.

According to the presentation by ICMR during press briefing another company Serum Institute of India (SII) has completed phase one trials on 60 adults with the aim of safety evaluation. (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday said that the state government took the issue of 'love jihad', 'religious conversion' and promotion of 'terrorist activities' seriously and will not allow such practices in the state. CM Chouhan made the remark while talking to the reporters about the recent action of Madhya Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) against members associated with the radical Islamic organisation Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT) in the state capital Bhopal on Tuesday. "We are getting into the depth of the facts that have come to the fore in connection with the HuT members. One thing is clear that we have taken the issue of love jihad, religious conversion and promotion of terrorist activities very seriously. I want to make it clear that neither love jihad will work, nor we will allow the vicious cycle of religious conversion in the state," CM Chouhan said. He further said, "Earlier also, we have destroyed SIMI's (Students' Islamic Movement of India) network and will not tolerate such activities at any cost. The investigation into the arrest of HuT members is underway. Madhya Pradesh ATS is working along with the Central Agency." The chief minister also reacted about name of Islamic preacher Zakir Naik came to light in connection with the religious conversion of one of the arrested HuT members and said the investigation was going on, whoever is guilty would not be spared. Notably, father of one of the accused, Mohammad Salim (earlier Saurabh Raj Vaidhy), alleged that his son underwent religious conversion and became Salim due to the influence of Zakir Naik. On May 9, Madhya Pradesh ATS had arrested ten members associated with HuT from Bhopal, one member from Chhindwara district and five members were arrested in Hyderabad on the input of MP police. The team had also recovered anti-national documents, technical equipment, radical literature and other materials from the accused. (ANI)
The minister's office informed Delhi Police about the same and the matter is under investigation by police.

However, the Delhi Police said that the information regarding the death threat call received at Nitin Gadkari's residence was given to the police by the minister's staff.

As per police sources, details are being verified and the probe is underway. (ANI)
Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar on Tuesday said that he will decide on the disqualification of 16 Shiv Sena MLAs of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's camp on the basis of law and no decision will be taken under pressure. "I welcome the decision of the Supreme Court, which has given special powers to the Assembly Speaker while giving its verdict in the case of disqualification of 16 MLAs of Maharashtra government," Narwekar said. He further said, "As far as decision-making is concerned, I will take this decision as soon as possible. But I will not be in a hurry to take this decision, if I take any decision in haste then it will not be correct." Narwekar said that he would not take a decision under anyone's pressure "I will take as much time as it takes to take a decision, I will not take a decision under anyone's pressure. I will take a decision according to the law. It took more than 10 months for the court to take a decision," he said. Rahul Narwekar informed that he has not received any application from the Uddhav Thackeray group. He said that there will be no discrimination while taking the decision on the disqualification of the 16 MLAs. Earlier on Tuesday, the Speaker held a meeting with the officials of Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan. Narwekar said that five petitions have been filed. "We will make 54 MLAs a party and get them heard. Which political party was there in July 2022...it has to be seen who was representing the authorized party," he said. Last week, the Supreme Court held that former Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari was "not justified" to call for a floor test based on the request of Eknath Shinde faction since he did not have enough objective material before him to conclude that the then Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had lost the confidence of the House. A five-judge Constitution bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices MR Shah, Justice Krishna Murari, Justice Hima Kohli and PS Narasimha said it could not disqualify the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government and reinstate Uddhav Thackeray as Chief Minster because the latter had chosen to resign instead of facing a test of strength in the Assembly. The court said the political imbroglio in Maharashtra arose as a result of party differences within the Shiv Sena. The judgement of the apex court came on a batch of petitions filed by rival groups of the Shiv Sena in relation to the Maharashtra political crisis. The Whip has to be appointed by a political party, the top court said. The apex court held that the Speaker's decision to appoint Bharat Gogawale (Eknath Shinde) as the whip of the Shiv Sena party was illegal. "The political party and not the legislature party appoints the Whip and the Leader of the party in the House. Further, the direction to vote in a particular manner or to abstain from voting is issued by the political party and not the legislature party. The decision of the Speaker as communicated by the Deputy Secretary to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly dated July 3, 2022, is contrary to law. The Speaker shall recognise the Whip and the Leader who are duly authorised by the Shiv Sena political party with reference to the provisions of the party constitution, after conducting an enquiry in this regard and in keeping with the principles discussed in this judgement," it held. The apex court further said that the Speaker must decide on disqualification petitions within a reasonable time. It also said that MLA has the right to participate in the proceedings of the House regardless of the pendency of any petitions for their disqualification. In August last year, the top court's three-judge bench had referred to a five-judge Constitution bench the issues involved in the petition filed by rival groups of Shiv Sena in relation to the Maharashtra political crisis. On June 29, 2022, the top court gave a go-ahead to the floor test in the Maharashtra Assembly on June 30. It had refused to stay the Maharashtra Governor's direction to the then Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to prove his majority support on the floor of the House on June 30. After the apex court's order, Uddhav Thackeray announced his resignation as the Chief Minister and Eknath Shinde was later sworn in as the Chief Minister. (ANI)
As parleys continue within the Congress party on the next Karnataka chief minister, with former chief minister Siddaramaiah and State President D K Shivakumar emerging as frontrunners, senior party leader G Parmeshwara on Tuesday sprung a surprise stating that he was ready to take up the responsibility if the party high command asked him to do so. "If the high command wants, I am ready to take up the responsibility," the former Deputy Chief Minister told reporters adding that a Dalit leader should become the chief minister. He further said that the high command was aware of his service to the party, and he doesn't feel the need to lobby for the post. "I trusted the party leaders. I can form a group of 50 MLAs. But I don't do that. I have some principles. Discipline is important to me. If the high command gives me the responsibility of CM. I will definitely do it. Also, I have served as the Deputy Chief Minister. The High Command knows everything about me and my work, so I don't want to lobby. That doesn't mean I'm incapable, I'm capable and if given an opportunity will do the job," Parmeshwara said. Despite wining a clear mandate in the assembly polls, suspense over the chief minister continued today. Frontrunners to the post Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar are in the national capital to discuss with the party's central leadership on the government formation in Karnataka and the next Chief Minister of the State. However, supporters of Parameshwara staged a protest in Bengaluru demanding that a Dalit should be the CM of the state. Parameshwara was Deputy Chief Minister during Congress-JD(S) coalition government in Karnataka led by HD Kumaraswamy. Three central observers of the Congress, who interacted with newly elected party MLAs on their choice for Chief Minister, submitted their reports to Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday. (ANI)
State Investigation Agency (SIA) of Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested two absconding terrorists of Hizbul Mujahideen involved in the killing of Mirwaiz Farooq in 1990, said Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh on Tuesday. According to police, five terrorists were involved in the killing of Farooq. "Among the accused, Abdullah Bangroo and Rehman Shigan were killed in encounters. Ayub Dar underwent a trial and was convicted for life. He is currently serving a life sentence in Srinagar central jail. Javaid Bhat and Zahoor Bhat were absconding and hence escaped trial. They are now apprehended," DGP Dilbagh Singh said. The arrested terrorists Javaid Ahmad Bhat and Zahoor Ahmad Bhat are residents of Srinagar. They were absconding after murdering Mirwaiz Farooq on May 21, 1990. "The two had gone underground and during all these years were hiding in Nepal and Pakistan among other places before surreptitiously returning back to Kashmir a few years ago. Maintaining a low profile, changing addresses and shifting residences, they avoided the gaze of law enforcement agencies," said the DGP. Accused in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case (pertaining to the killing of Mirwaiz Farooq) are now liable to immediately face trial in a designated Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Prevention Act (TADA) court in Delhi which has already completed the trial in respect of one of the five accused namely Ayub Dar who has been convicted and serving a life sentence. Two other absconding accused terrorists found guilty in the killing of Mirwaiz, Abdullah Bangroo and Abdul Rehman Shigan, got killed in encounters with security forces in the 1990s. To recapitulate, on May 21, 1990, Mirwaiz Farooq, the head priest of Kashmir was killed by terrorists of Hizbul Mujahideen accusing him of being a 'peacenik' and an 'Indian agent'. A case was registered in Nageen police station, Srinagar to investigate the crime. Thereafter the case was transferred to CBI on June 11, 1990. After a long and arduous legal process of investigation and prosecution, the designated TADA court, in 2009, convicted the only arrested accused Ayub Dar for life. Ayub Dar, the convicted terrorist and one of the killers appealed against his conviction, which however, was upheld by the Division Bench of the Supreme Court on July 21, 2010. Before killing Mirwaiz, all five HM terrorists had gone to Pakistan for terrorist training in 1990. Back in Srinagar, Abdullah Bangroo received instructions in April 1990 from his Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) handler in Pakistan to eliminate Mirwaiz. (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra on Tuesday took a dig at the Congress party for thanking Lord Hanuman for victory in Karnataka elections and said that they were politicising Lord Hanuman. Mishra told reporters, "The Congress is politicising Bajrangbali (Lord Hanuman). Son-in-law of Gandhi family, Robert Vadra was saying that both Bajrangbali and Hanuman were different. Now, he is going to thank people for Karnataka results. Is Vadra a Rahul Gandhi?" Reacting to veteran Congress leader and Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) Digvijaya Singh's remark on Hinduism, Mishra said, "You (Singh) are an advocate of Mughlia culture and your disciples sometimes raise questions on Sanatan Dharma, sometimes raise questions on saffron, call saffron terrorism and sometimes raise questions on Hindus. But why never raise any questions on JMB (Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh) and the terrorists caught." Notably, Digvijaya Singh on Monday said, "We belong to Sanatan Dharma and we do not consider Hindutva as a religion. There have been slogans raised in Sanatan Dharma that may religion be victorious, unrighteousness be destroyed, there should be goodwill among the living beings and welfare of the world. It is not said in Hindu religion that whoever does not listen to us should be beaten up with a stick, and break their house." The home minister further reacted to the internal conflict of Congress party and said that the results of Karnataka had been announced and drama for appointment of the Chief Minister started there. Similar situations were being seen everyday in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. Wherever the government was formed, such dramas started. They had no concern with the public, Congress got split into groups. Reacting to the distribution of identity cards to Congress workers in Madhya Pradesh, Mishra said, "Both (referring to Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh) are old leaders, they have crossed 75, they cannot recognize the party workers by name, that is why there is a need to issue identity cards." (ANI)
Sikkim celebrated its 48th Statehood Day on Tuesday. The central event was held in the state's capital Gangtok where Sikkim Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya and Chief Minister Prem Singh Golay were in attendance along with other ministers and dignitaries. Sikkim became the 22nd state of India on May 16, 1975, under the leadership of Lhendup Dorjee Khangsarpa, the first chief minister of Sikkim who ushered democracy in the erstwhile Chogyal Kingdom. Today's celebration began with the garlanding of LD Kazi's statue outside the Chintan Bhawan premises by the dignitaries. Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Golay in his address at the gathering highlighted the history of Sikkim as a democracy. "It (Sikkim) has been the contribution of every former Chief Minister of the State from the first CM LD Kazi to me being the sixth, every CM, legislator, minister, MPs has contributed to the development of Sikkim as a democracy. In the next two years, we will be celebrating 50 years anniversary of Statehood, a golden Jubilee in 2025. I thank the fighters for Sikkim's democracy in the past for bringing us to this momentous occasion in democracy". "All the promises given to Sikkimese people, we are fulfilling such promises steadily. Many feel no work or no parivartan has happened in Sikkim, many allege us as such through social media and media reports. But in these 4 years, State's revenue had increased by 57 per cent for the year 2022-23 as compared with 2018. About seven per cent increase in 2020-21 as compared to 2018." He said all corruption or leakages have been controlled by the government. "We have not kept schemes on hold keeping election in mind or as an agenda," he added. Sikkim Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya lauded the organic farming practice and its success along with various and social welfare initiatives to be some of Sikkim's biggest successes. "Sikkim has become part of India after 28 years of independence, however, the contribution of the State is immense. Sikkim is best known for its hospitality as was evident in the recent G20 meeting where many delegates got emotional upon their return. Sikkim had worked towards women's empowerment and climate change. Sikkim should continue with its brotherhood. We will continue the pace of progress in the State. We will continue to unite the people of the State with the country," the governor said. The Governor further added all the schemes of the government should reach the farthest corners of the State. "In my visit to many rural places in the State, I have seen such schemes reaching people there but more should reach the people in need." On statehood day, a few Sikkimese officers were awarded Sikkim Sewa Samman to appreciate their contributions to society. The officers included Ashwini Kumar Chand (IPS) for his contribution to establishing the RT PCR lab in STNM Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the evacuation of people and students during the COVID-19 pandemic and recently from violence-hit Manipur. Sikkim Sewa Samman was also awarded Dr Durga Prasad Rai, consultant cardiologist at STNM Hospital in Gangtok. Dr Rai is the first interventional cardiologist in Sikkim who ushered medical tourism in the State from neighbouring states. Similarly, State government secretaries Tsewang Gyatso Bhutia and Ganga D Pradhan were also awarded Sikkim Sewa Samman for the year 2023. (ANI)
Anurag Maloo, a mountaineer from Rajasthan, who went missing during an expedition to Mount Annapurna in Nepal and was later found alive but in a critical condition, thanked Adani Foundation for promptly arranging an air ambulance and transferring him to a medical facility for better treatment. Anurag Maloo is a mountaineer and a climate athlete. "Grateful beyond words for the timely airlifting! Heartfelt thanks to Gautam Adani and Adani Foundation for their invaluable support in repatriating Anurag Maloo safely," tweeted Aashish Maloo, who is a relative of mountaineer Anurag Maloo. Anurag is a resident of Kishangarh, Rajasthan. Recently, he went on an expedition to Mount Annapurna in Nepal, one of the highest peaks in the world. Unfortunately, Anurag met with an accident and had gone missing on April 17 after falling from an altitude of 5,800 meters while descending from Camp III on Mount Annapurna. After three days, he was found alive but in critical condition. His family needed extended medical support for his treatment as his recovery cost exceeded their means. His family requested the Adani Foundation's assistance to arrange and bear the cost of the airlift and ground transfer from Nepal to India. Upon receiving the request, Chairman Gautam Adani promptly acted and the Adani Foundation arranged an air ambulance and transfer. Anurag was rescued and airlifted to the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi for medical treatment and is currently undergoing treatment. "Priti and I are privileged to be of help. We are happy to learn that Anurag is safe and are praying for his speedy recovery. We are confident that he will soon be ready to conquer more of life's peaks," Gautam Adani wrote on Twitter, sharing Aashish Maloo's tweet. (ANI)
Union Minister of State Kaushal Kishore on Tuesday distributed 300 appointment letters at a Rozgar Mela which was held at a railway auditorium in Vijayawada and said that a 'Rozgar Mela' is an ideal program for job creation in the future. On the occasion, Union Minister Kaushal Kishore said that Rozgar Mela conveys our Prime Minister's commitment to give high priority to employment generation. "I have given appointment papers to 300 people here in this Rozgar Mela which is being organized in 45 regions across the country. It is a great thing to provide new opportunities to ten lakh people across the country. It conveys our Prime Minister's commitment to giving high priority to employment generation," he said. "This job fair is an ideal program for job creation in the future. This is a good opportunity for the youth to participate in the development of the country," he added. Earlier today Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the National Rozgar Mela via video conferencing and distributed about 71,000 appointment letters to newly inducted recruits in various Government departments and organisations. Underlining the tedious process of recruitment which existed earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that now the process has been simplified by making it online where a provision for self-attestation of documents has also been introduced. "In the last nine years, the government has prioritized the recruitment process by making it faster, transparent and unbiased. Recalling the difficulties faced in the recruitment process, the Prime Minister pointed out that the Staff Selection Board took roughly 15-18 months to onboard the new recruits whereas today it takes only 6-8 months. The tedious process of recruitment which existed earlier starting from acquiring the application form to submitting it via post has now been simplified by making it online where a provision for self-attestation of documents has also been introduced," he said. The Prime Minister urged the recruits to make full use of this opportunity and highlighted the government's emphasis on the skill development of its employees through the iGoT Karmayogi module, an online learning platform. (ANI)
A Delhi Court recently dismissed an appeal filed by a person convicted in a case of throwing acid on the face of a woman. At the time of the incident, the victim was sleeping in her home. The trial court convicted him and awarded five-year jail term and a fine in 2019. The matter pertains to the area of Mir Dard Road under the jurisdiction of the police station IP Estate. The convict had challenged both the conviction and sentence on the ground that the investigation officer of the case turned hostile. Secondly, the Police did not seize the charpai (Cot) on which the victim was sleeping at the time of the incident. Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Dharmender Rana of Tis Hazari Court dismissed the appeal moved by appellant Rashid and said, "Considering the totality of circumstances, I do not find any illegality or infirmity in the impugned judgment." "I have no hesitation in holding that the Trial Court has rightly convicted the appellant for the commission of an offence under Section 326 IPC," ASJ Rana said in the judgment of May 10, 2023. The court also rejected the contention raised by the defence regarding the non-seizure of the Charpai. "Further, merely because the charpai was not seized in the presence of the complainant or the remaining articles seized by the IO were not put to the complainant, the fact shall not go to the root of the matter and contention in this regard is bereft of any merits and is accordingly rejected," the court said. It also rejected the contention of the defence regarding the IO turning hostile. It said that further, with respect to the aspect regarding the IO/ASI Ram Niwas turning hostile is concerned, it is evident he has been cross-examined by Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) regarding the seizure memos. The Court observed, "Evidently, IO in the instant matter was examined on February 11, 2014, after seven long years of the incident. Therefore, merely because the IO forgot about the seizure memo, the inadvertent omission would not be the entire prosecution case." "In this country, it is rare to come across the testimony of a witness which does not have a fringe or an embroidery of untruth although his evidence may be true in the main," the Court noted in the judgement. "It is only where the testimony is tainted to the core, the falsehood and the truth being inextricably intertwined, that the court should discard the evidence," it added. "Therefore, the duty is cast over this court to dispassionately disengage the truth from the falsehood and accept the truth and reject the same. This court is not meant to reject the testimony of a witness on slightest deflection, however, has a bounden duty to search the truth," the court observed. "On the point of sentence, it would be apt to observe that the Trial Court has already taken a lenient view against the appellant and no further interference is required in the instant matter on the point of sentence," the court said. The Court referred to the judgment of the Supreme Court in the case of Satya Narayan Tiwari vs. the State of UP, in which it was observed that the court is going to take a serious view in the matters of crimes against women and give harsh punishment. The same is reiterated in Special Leave Petition titled Rajbir alias Raju & Anr. vs. the State of Haryana. The trial court passed the judgement while dismissing an appeal filed by the appellant Rashid challenging the judgment and order on sentence, of October 30, 2019, whereby he was sentenced to undergo RI for a period of five years along with a fine of Rs 10,000 for the commission of an offence under Section 326 IPC. The benefit of Section 428 CrPC was also awarded to the appellant. This case pertains to an incident on August 7, 2008, at about 3.50 AM at jhuggi appellant Rashid voluntarily caused grievous hurt to the victim by throwing acid upon her face. Consequently, case FIR No. 216/2008 came to be registered with Police Station I.P.Estate. After the investigation, the appellant was chargesheeted and charged with the commission of an offence under Section 326 IPC on September 1, 2009. It was argued by the Defence Counsel that the Trial Court grossly erred by relying upon the uncorroborated testimony of the complainant. It was submitted that from the testimony of the complainant, it is discernible that there were other family members present in the jhuggi and neighbours were also present at the spot at the time of the incident. It was also submitted that in these circumstances solitary statement of the complainant should not have been relied upon. It is further pointed out that in the testimony of the complainant, there is no mention of the date of the incident and it was only pursuant to re-examination by the APP she admitted about the date of the incident. It was submitted that as per the testimony of the complainant, it is evident that she claims that she was taken to the hospital by her brother, mother and nephew whereas IO/ASI Ram Niwas has claimed that when he reached the hospital, he did not find any eye witness. (ANI)
The passengers have been arrested.

According to officials, based on specific intelligence that a syndicate is involved in the smuggling of gold into India with the help of two Indian passengers, surveillance was mounted by a team of DRI officers at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai.

The said two passengers, who had arrived from Dubai to Mumbai on May 15, 2023, by Emirates Flight EK 500, were intercepted, informed officials.

During the examination and personal search of the said passengers, gold in paste form was recovered.

A total of 3535 grams of gold in paste form was found concealed inside four plastic pouches, wrapped with black tape, officials added.

Based on further investigation, it was revealed that both of them are part of the same syndicate operating out of Dubai.

The syndicate was involved in the smuggling of substantial quantities of gold on a daily basis.

The gold in paste form weighing 3535 g, valued at Rs 2.23 crore, recovered during the examination was seized, officials said.

Further investigation is under progress.

This is yet another gold smuggling syndicate busted by the DRI.

It also points towards the uphill task faced by the officers on a regular basis to check the smuggling of gold in various forms into the country. (ANI)
The Kerala High Court, for the first time in its history, has decided to conduct a 'mitigation investigation' of two convicts on death row. For this, the Court has directed the Director General of Prisons to file a report on the conduct of Nino Mathew and Muhammed Ameerul Islam, who are the two convicts and the nature of work done by them in prison. Nino Mathew is the death convict in the 2014 Attingal twin murder case and Ameerul Islam is the convict of the 2016 Perumbavoor Jisha murder case. As part of this, the High Court has decided to re-examine their death penalties by investigating their socio-economic background, psychological conditions, history of neglect or abuse that they may have faced growing up and illness. Nino is being held at Poojappura jail in Thiruvananthapuram district, while Muhammed is housed in Viyyur prison in Thrissur district. This is the first time in Kerala that the Kerala High Court is ordering a mitigation investigation. A division bench, comprising justices Alexander Thomas and C Jayachandran, issued the order. The court also appointed CP Sruthy, who is associated with Project 39A, to assess the details of Nino by visiting him in prison and conducting interviews. Nooriya Ansari will conduct the investigation into Ameer-ul Islam. The Court ordered the Jail authorities to ensure that both are enabled to conduct such assessments, including interviews, etc, on a confidential basis and proper facilities in that regard shall be made available by the jail authorities concerned. The duo have also been cleared to obtain documents and other materials pertaining to the convicts, including medical records, jail conduct, certificates of educational, vocational or employment opportunities undertaken, etc. The court directed them to file the report in a sealed cover. It further directed the State Government to ensure that both the convicts are subjected to assessment by two separate psychiatrists of the Government medical colleges concerned and also by a clinical psychologist in Government service. Earlier, a ruling from Supreme Court pointed out that mitigation investigation should consider the background of the accused, their personal circumstances, mental health and age, among other things. Jisha, a 29-year-old law student at the Ernakulam Government Law College, was found murdered on April 28, 2016, at her home in Perumbavoor. Later, police arrested an Assamese labourer, Ameer-ul-Islam, in connection with the case. The Ernakulam principal district and sessions court awarded the death penalty to him. 2014 Attingal twin murder case is a tragic incident involving two techies, Nino Mathew and Anu Shanthi, who were involved in the murder of Anu's three-year-old daughter and mother-in-law. Thiruvananthapuram Principal Sessions Court found Anu guilty and awarded her double life imprisonment, while Nino Mathew was given a death sentence. (ANI)
The West Bengal government has told the Supreme Court that the film 'The Kerala Story' is based on manipulated facts and contains hate speech that may hurt communal sentiments and cause disharmony between the communities which can lead to order issues in the State. Filing its affidavit before the top court, the Mamata Banerjee government said that film can cause communal disharmony and a law and order situation, as has been gauged from various Intelligence inputs. Defending its decision to ban the movie, the West Bengal government said the screening of the movie is likely to cause clashes among extremist groups. The affidavit stated, "The said movie is based on manipulated facts and contains hate speech in multiple scenes that may hurt communal sentiments and cause disharmony between the communities which will eventually lead to a law and order situation, as has been gauged from various Intelligence inputs." The West Bengal government said that there are intelligence inputs relating to the likelihood of causing a breach of peace due to the public exhibition of the film. "It shall further not be out of place to mention, that all the States in India are varied in their population and their beliefs, and the parameters cannot by any stretch of imagination be identical for two states, under identical situations. The onus to maintain law and order, and peace in the State, lies with the government, and the restrictions imposed, if any by the State government, are best considered and evaluated by the respective High Courts, who are well-versed with the pulse of the region, and understand the intent behind such executive actions," it added. The state has taken a decision to ban the movie to avoid any incident of hatred and violence, it added. The affidavit further stated that the prohibition of an exhibition of the movie is a policy decision of the government of West Bengal which has been passed to maintain law and order. The affidavit of the government came on a plea filed by the filmmakers of the movie challenging the ban on the film by the State. Seeking dismissal of the plea, the government said petitioners can't claim the financial loss as a matter of fundamental right. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has ordered an immediate ban on the screening of the film in the State to avoid "any incident of hatred and violence and to maintain peace in the State". Earlier, the apex court questioned the West Bengal government over banning the film saying the movie is running in different parts of the country with similar demographic profiles. "The movie is being released all over the country why the West Bengal government should not allow it to run?" a bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha said. It said that if the public does not think that the film is not worth seeing, they will not see it and questioned West Bengal about what should it not allow a film to run. The makers contended that the State government has no power to ban a movie which has been certified for public viewing by the Central Board of Film Certification. State government cannot cite law and order issues to stop the screening of the movie, which will result in the violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed to them, the plea of filmmakers said. The film depicts how thousands of young women were allegedly brainwashed into joining the Islamic State (IS) and heading off to countries like Syria and Afghanistan. 'The Kerala Story', starring Adah Sharma, was released in cinemas on May 5. (ANI)
Rashtrapati Bhavan will be open for public viewing six days a week from June 1, 2023, said an official statement on Tuesday. The tour of Rashtrapati Bhavan will be available from Tuesday to Sunday (except on Gazetted Holidays) in seven-time slots between 0930 hrs and 1630 hrs. Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum Complex is also open for visitors from Tuesday to Sunday (except on Gazetted Holidays), the statement added. According to the statement, people can witness the Change of Guard Ceremony at the Forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan every Saturday from 0800 hrs to 0900 hrs. The Ceremony will not take place on Saturday if it is a Gazetted Holiday or if Rashtrapati Bhavan so notifies it. US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti and envoys of Qatar and the Principality of Monaco last week 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. Apart from Eric Garcetti, Qatar's Ambassador to India Mohammed Hassan Jabir Al-Jabir and Monaco's Ambassador Didier Gamerdinger, Monaco presented their credentials to the President. 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. On Garcetti's arrival in India, Indian Embassy in the US tweeted, "Namaste, Ambassador-Designate Eric Garcetti! We're thrilled to welcome you to #IncredibleIndia and work with you to build even stronger ties between our two great nations." The US Embassy in India had been without an ambassador since January 2021, which is the longest stretch in the history of US-India relations that the post remained vacant. Kenneth Juster had stepped down after the change of government in the United States. (ANI)
The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption of Assam Police on Tuesday arrested a government employee for allegedly accepting a bribe in Sonitpur district. Assam Police chief public relations officer (CPRO) Rajib Saikia said that a complaint was received at the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, Assam, alleging that Bobby Khan Saikia, Copyist of the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Sonitpur, Tezpur, Assam, demanded Rs 1,000 as bribe from the complainant in the name of issuing a certified copy of land documents. "Unwilling to pay the bribe, the complainant approached the Directorate for taking necessary legal action against the public servant. Accordingly, on Tuesday, a trap was laid by a team of the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, Assam at the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Sonitpur, Tezpur, Assam. Bobby Khan Saikia was caught red-handed immediately after she accepted Rs 1,000 as a bribe from the complainant. The tainted bribe money has been recovered from the possession of the accused public servant and it has been seized accordingly in presence of independent witnesses," Assam Police CPRO said. The Assam Police CPRO further said that after finding sufficient evidence against the accused public servant, she has been arrested by the team of the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, Assam. A case was registered at ACB Police Station on Tuesday under the relevant section of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 against Bobby Khan Saikia. (ANI)
Special counsel John Durham, on Monday (local time), released his highly anticipated report surrounding the investigation into ex-US President Donald Trump's campaign and Russia during the 2016 election and criticized the FBI's handling of its investigation, reported CNN. Durham concluded that the FBI should never have launched a full investigation into connections between Donald Trump's campaign and Russia during the 2016 election, according to a report compiled over three years by the Trump administration appointee. Durham's 300-plus page report also states that the FBI used "raw, unanalyzed, and uncorroborated intelligence," to launch the "Crossfire Hurricane" investigation and used a different standard when weighing concerns about alleged election interference regarding Hillary Clinton's campaign. Durham did not, however, recommend any new charges against individuals, reported CNN. Though the new special counsel report levies criticism after criticism of how the FBI handled the Trump-Russia probe, John Durham is not recommending "any wholesale changes" to the agency's -- or Justice Department -- guidelines or policies. The report, Durham writes, is meant to capture the findings of the special counsel investigation and to "assist the Attorney General in determining how the Department and the FBI can do a better, more credible job," reported CNN. Using harsh language, special counsel John Durham claims in his report that the FBI deviated from his previous approach to foreign election interference matters in how it opened, with the Trump appointed-prosecutor touting how the FBI treated matters related to former Secretary of State and 2016 Democratic White House nominee Hillary Clinton. Former Attorney General William Barr tapped special counsel John Durham in 2019 to review the origins of the Russia probe, and the scope of Durham's work grew over the years. He scrutinized the FBI's handling of the Steele dossier, leaks of classified information about Trump-Russia contacts, and possible CIA misconduct regarding its analysis of Russian meddling, among other topics. Largely, his inquiry seemed to always zero in on former President Donald Trump's political opponents and perceived enemies. Special counsel John Durham scrutinized the FBI's handling of the dossier, leaks of classified information about Trump-Russia contacts and possible CIA misconduct regarding its analysis of Russian meddling, among other topics during the course of his investigation. But, he only pressed forward with two trials during his probe, both ending in acquittal, reported CNN. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump responded to special counsel John Durham's report that concluded that the FBI should never have launched a full-blown investigation into connections between his campaign and Russia during the 2016 election. "WOW! After extensive research, Special Counsel John Durham concludes the FBI never should have launched the Trump-Russia Probe!" Trump posted to Truth Social Monday. "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!" (ANI)
Pentagon on Monday (local time) said that it has "communicated with China" to stop it from sending weapons to Russia. "We have communicated with China about the negative consequences of providing lethal support to Russia. Not only it would extend the duration of Russia's illegal occupation of Ukraine and result in thousands of innocent killed in Ukraine and will surely put them in camps of countries that are looking to eliminate Ukraine as a nation," said Pentagon press secretary Pat Ryder. However, he said that Pentagon does not have any indications that China has provided lethal assistance to Russia. Regarding the change in US calculations of supplying longer-range fires to Ukraine, after Britain's promise of cruise missiles and -- and long-range UAVs effect, Ryder said, "No, it doesn't. You know, as we've said all along, we're going to continue to stay in active discussions with Ukraine, with our allies and our partners on what their most urgent security assistance needs are. As you know, we have provided a wide variety of capabilities, including things like artillery, air defence, armour, ammunition, and -- and we'll continue to do that going forward." He also said that the US is in close contact with Ukraine after it made a renewed push for Western warplanes again. "I don't have anything to announce today in regards to any type of fighter aircraft. Again, we're going to stay in very close contact with Ukraine and our allies and partners to look at their near-term and longer-term security needs," said Ryder. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy lauded promises of fresh military aid made by European allies he met over the past few days -- but he continued to press for modern fighter jets. Ukraine said Russian forces are no longer capable of large-scale offensive action. The claim comes as the Ukrainian military said it was able to capture more than 10 Russian positions near Bakhmut. 31 US Abrams tanks have arrived in Germany for the training of Ukrainian forces: Thirty-one M1 Abrams tanks have arrived in Germany ahead of a training program for Ukrainian forces on the US tanks, the Pentagon said Monday. "The Ukrainian crews are expected to begin training at Grafenwohr in Germany in the next couple of weeks. Because we're doing this concurrently, we will be able to provide those tanks to them in the fall timeframe to get them into Ukraine before the end of the year," Ryder said. The training program is expected to take several months, and the tanks are expected to be sent to Ukraine sometime in the fall. (ANI)
At least 16 people were killed in a bloody clash between two tribes on Monday in a delimitation dispute of a coal mine in Darra Adamkhel Kohat, reported ARY News. As per details, clashes broke out between Sunikhel and Akhorwal in a dispute regarding the delimitation of coal mines which resulted in the killing of 14 people on the spot. According to the Kohat Police spokesperson, the dispute between the two tribes, both of whom are part of the hill community of Bulandari, turned violent when they faced each other in the disputed mountain range. The injured people were rushed to a nearby hospital where two more people also succumbed to injuries, reported ARY News. An FIR has been registered in Dara Adamkhel police station, naming the persons of the warring parties. It should be noted that the dispute between the Sunikhel and Akhorwal nations over the demarcation of the Bulandari Hill had been going on for a long time and a Jirga was being held between the two tribes. However, due to the adamant nature of the local people on both sides, a tragic incident occurred, and both sides suffered heavy casualties. Police reached the spot and took the situation under their control. They said it is a long-standing dispute between the two tribes. and security forces reached the spot. The bodies and the injured were rushed to hospitals in Peshawar, reported ARY News. (ANI)
The Philippines has placed five navigational buoys inside its 200-mile (322 km) exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea to assert its sovereignty, according to the country's coast guard, reported The Epoch Times. The Philippine Coast Guard's spokesperson on South China Sea issues, Commodore Jay Tarriela, said that five buoys carrying the national flag were placed from May 10 to May 12 in five areas within the EEZ. An exclusive economic zone, or EEZ is an area of the ocean, generally extending 200 nautical miles beyond a nation's territorial sea, within which a coastal nation has jurisdiction over both living and nonliving resources. Patag Island, Balagtas Reef, Kota Island, Panata Island, and Juan Felipe Reef are the five areas where the buoys have been placed, the report further stated. Tarriela, while sharing photos of the buoys in a post, said on Twitter, "This move highlights the Philippines' unwavering resolve to protect its maritime borders and resources and contribute to safety of maritime trade." According to The Epoch Times, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has laid its claim to the majority of the South China Sea, citing the so-called "nine-dash line," a vaguely defined U-shaped delineation that separates the areas where it claims "historic rights" to resources within the sea. The CCP's claim of sovereignty over almost the whole of the South China Sea was annulled by a 2016 international arbitration ruling, reported The Epoch Times. As the Philippines looks to further fortify its connections with the United States, China has been acting more aggressively in the South China Sea recently. Most recently, on May 1, amidst the CCP's intimidating tactics against the self-ruled island, the Philippines and the United States underlined the need for peace across the Taiwan Strait. This confirmation came only a few days after more than 100 Chinese militia marine vessels were seen inside the Philippines' EEZ between April 18 and April 24, as per The Epoch Times. The South China Sea, which includes many islands in the region, is subject to multiple territorial claims by China that are not recognised by the United States. In the Spratlys, claims have been made by Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam. The CCP has spent years trying to drive other countries out of certain areas of the South China Sea, including by creating artificial islands in an effort to expand its claims and by increasing the deployment of its naval militia units to intimidate and harass smaller countries. Additionally, the Chinese government has stationed hundreds of fishing vessels and coast guard boats in the areas that are under dispute for years, The Epoch Times reported. (ANI)
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Alberta to support military personnel deployed there to fight still-burning wildfires that have prompted thousands of people to flee their homes, reported Al Jazeera. Trudeau travelled to the provincial capital of Edmonton, to get an update on the firefighting efforts. According to the Alberta government, Canadian soldiers were already dispatched last week and more Canadian troops are expected to join the operation to assist with firefighting and recovery activities in the coming days. "Last week, as wildfires burned across Alberta, we approved the province's request for federal assistance. @CanadianForces members have been deployed to provide firefighting support, help evacuate isolated communities, and make sure people are safe. Today, we stopped by to receive an update from those on the ground - and to thank them for the work they're doing," Trudeau tweeted after his visit. The extensive fires have marked an explosive start to the wildfire season in the oil-rich province, forcing more than 30,000 people at one point and stopping the production of at least 3,19,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, or 3.7 per cent of the national output, as per Al Jazeera. According to Environment and Climate Change Canada, the first 11 days of May have witnessed record-breaking temperatures for Edmonton and other areas of Alberta. A cold front that will start to move into the province on Tuesday evening is predicted to bring gusty gusts, a modest likelihood of a thunderstorm, but not much rain, according to Environment Canada meteorologist Sara Hoffman. Hoffman said, "We're very concerned about the possibility of dry lightning in an area that's already got a pretty high fire risk." The hot and dry weather is predicted to get worse again starting on Friday and is unlikely to get better until early next week. According to an Alberta Wildfire data tracker, 87 wildfires were still blazing throughout the province as of Monday afternoon, with 25 of them being deemed out of control. More than 19,000 individuals have also left their houses, Al Jazeera reported. Canada's minister of disaster preparedness, Bill Blair who spoke to reporters in Edmonton on Monday afternoon said that a major factor in the ongoing fire was especially the extremely high temperatures. Blair said, "The fire activity here in Alberta has begun earlier than normally expected. It's almost without precedent to have this level of fire activity in the province." "It appears that these hot, dry, windy conditions could prevail over several days, and so clearly, we are here for the long haul," he added. Several experts have cited climate change as a cause of the global worsening of extreme weather events like wildfires, heat waves, and tropical storms. In 2016, as many as 1,00,000 people were evicted from Fort McMurray as a result of forest fires in the Alberta oil sands region, which also severely impacted the Canadian economy, according to Al Jazeera. In the country's westernmost province, British Columbia, a devastating heatwave in 2021 resulted in hundreds of fatalities. Numerous wildfires were also started by the heat, forcing evacuations and destroying entire settlements. Alberta Wildfires administrator Josee St-Onge during a briefing on Sunday, said that the peak burning time for Alberta occurs "when the temperatures are at their highest and the fuels are at their driest, is still in front of us." "It's too soon to say when we're going to see the peak of this wildfire season," St-Onge said. "We are going to continue to be challenged," Al Jazeera reported. (ANI)
Concerned about the situation of Tibetan women in Tibet, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) has questioned China on the matter, reported Tibet Rights Collective. The Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, which is in charge of overseeing the Convention's implementation, has taken a keen interest in Tibetan women's rights and well-being. In a recent meeting, CEDAW members focused on China's treatment of Tibetan women and asked for clarity on a number of topics. The majority of the committee's inquiries focused on gender equality, healthcare and educational access, political engagement, and the protection of religious and cultural rights for Tibetan women living in Tibet, according to Tibet Rights Collective. During a UN public briefing on May 8, 2023, the Tibet Bureau and the Tibetan Women's Association jointly made a statement about the plight of Tibetan women in Tibet. The aim of the briefing was to review China's implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. The briefing was organised as part of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination's (CEDAW) 85th session. Representative Thinlay Chukki attended the meeting and gave the members of the UN committee an overview of the situation faced by Tibetan women living under Chinese rule in Tibet. She was joined at the meeting by UN Advocacy Officer Kalden Tsomo and the President of the Tibetan Women's Association (Central), Tenzing Dolma. Due to charges of discrimination against its Tibetan population and abuses of human rights, Tibet has drawn attention from throughout the world. The enquiries made by the CEDAW committee were primarily intended to shed light on the difficulties experienced by Tibetan women and evaluate the success of China's efforts in resolving these problems, as per Tibet Rights Collective. Concerns were raised by the committee over reports of gender-based violence, women's limited access to healthcare and education, their limited economic options, and their struggle with cultural integration. The Chinese delegation was questioned about the steps taken to address these issues, ensure equality, and defend the rights of Tibetan women. The questions were acknowledged by China and its representative, in response, assured the committee that it was committed to advancing gender equality and enhancing the situation of Tibetan women. The delegation said that a number of laws and initiatives had been put in place to strengthen women's rights and give them more authority in Tibetan society. They underlined their attempts to address the issues presented by highlighting programmes in the areas of education, healthcare, poverty alleviation, and employment possibilities, according to Tibet Rights Collective. China's comments will now be examined by the CEDAW committee, which will also evaluate the data presented during the session. The committee's evaluation will help shape its final conclusions and suggestions, which it will share with China to direct its future efforts to advance gender equality and protect the rights of Tibetan women. This development demonstrates how the world community cares for the rights and welfare of Tibetan women. The CEDAW committee's participation demonstrates its dedication to upholding nations' responsibilities under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and ensuring the protection and respect of women's rights in Tibet. The UN and other relevant parties may have more conversations and take additional actions as the situation develops to address the difficulties experienced by Tibetan women and work towards a more inclusive and equitable society in Tibet, reported Tibet Rights Collective. (ANI)
India's mission to United Nations slammed Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues over the comment on G20 meet in Srinagar and called it "baseless and unwanted." Taking to Twitter, the Indian mission to the UN in Geneva said, "We @IndiaUNGeneva strongly reject the statement issued by SR on minority issues @fernanddev & the baseless & unwarranted allegations in it. As G20 President, it's India's prerogative to host its meetings in any part of the country." India accused UN's Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues Fernand de Varennes of "acting irresponsibly" and politicising the Jammu and Kashmir issue. "We are aghast that @fernanddev has acted irresponsibly to politicize this issue, misused his position as SR to publicize on social media his presumptive and prejudiced conclusions in a gross violation of the Code of Conduct for SRs," he added. Earlier, Varennes tweeted that holding a G20 meeting in Jammu and Kashmir while massive human rights violations are ongoing is lending support to attempts by India to normalize the brutal & repressive denial of democratic & other rights of Kashmiri Muslims and minorities. "G20 should on the contrary uphold 'International human rights obligations & the #UN Declaration of Human Rights should be upheld... and the situation in Jammu and Kashmir should be decried and condemned, not pushed under the rug and ignored with the holding of this meeting'," he added. Srinagar will be hosting the G20 meeting of the working group on tourism from May 22 to May 24. Last time also, Pakistan tried to create unnecessary noise regarding the G20 working group meeting during the SCO Foreign Minister Meeting, which took place on May 4 and 5 in Goa. When Pakistan's Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari raised the issue, the external affairs minister S Jaishankar said, "I don't think there is a G20 issue to debate with anybody, certainly not with a country which is nothing to do with G20. Jammu and Kashmir was, is, and will always be a part of India. The G20 meetings are held in all the Indian states and Union Territories, so it is completely natural that it is held there." (ANI)
Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization Campaign for Uyghurs (CFU) has appreciated US Secretary of State Antony Blinken for acknowledging work done by CFU to expose China's war on Islam and genocide against Uyghurs. "CFU greatly appreciates @SecBlinken for acknowledging the work we have been doing to expose #China's war on Islam and genocide against #Uyghurs. We will continue to defend the human rights of Uyghurs," Campaign for Uyghurs tweeted on Tuesday. CFU advocates the democratic rights and freedoms of the Uyghur people, both in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and around the world. The US State Department on Monday (local time) released its annual report on religious freedom around the world and raised concern over violations in China and Iran. Blinken said that most oppressive nations around the world are growing even more dire. "Governments in many parts of the world continue to target religious minorities using a host of methods, including torture, beatings, unlawful surveillance, and so-called re-education camps," he said. Blinken underscored abuses against the predominately Muslim Uyghur minority group in the Xinjiang province of China, a country one senior State Department official described as "one of the worst abusers of human rights and religious freedom in the world." The report accused Beijing of jailing as many as 10,000 or more people in 2022 in a widening campaign of repression against religious belief meant to bring all theological activity under the Chinese Communist Party's control. The estimate of those imprisoned in the country ranging "from the low thousands to over 10,000" is one of many contained in the State Department's International Religious Freedom Report. "The People's Republic of China seized, imprisoned, and banished predominantly Muslim Uyghurs to re-education camps. They continue the repression of Tibetan Buddhists, Chinese Christians, and Falun Gong practitioners - many of whom are fleeing the PRC's abuses," said Blinken. The US has previously determined that Beijing's treatment of the Uyghurs amounts to genocide and crimes against humanity, and the report, which covers the year 2022, said that persecution has continued steadily. (ANI)
Abu Dhabi [UAE], May 16 (ANI/WAM): The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) imposed administrative sanctions on eight banks operating in the UAE, pursuant to Article 137 of the Decretal Federal Law No. (14) of 2018 Regarding the Central Bank & Organisation of Financial Institutions and Activities and the Central Bank notices regarding the beneficiaries of the National Defaulted Debts Settlement Fund (NDDSF) facilities. The administrative sanctions take into account the banks' failures to comply with the CBUAE's instructions not to grant any loans or credit facilities to the beneficiaries of loans granted by the NDDSF, including credit cards. The CBUAE, through its supervisory and regulatory mandates, works to ensure that all licensed financial institutions operating in the country, including banks, abide by the UAE laws, regulations and standards adopted by the CBUAE, to safeguard the transparency and integrity of the banks' business and enhancing the efficiency of the UAE financial system. (ANI/WAM)
Outright rejecting the claims from the Taliban that they have appointed the Charge d'Affaires to replace him as the head of the mission in India, Afghanistan's envoy Farid Mamumdzay said that he was appointed by a legitimately elected government and has the legitimacy to serve here. Stressing that he is Afghanistan's legitimate representative, Mamumdzay said that he has shared his concerns with the Indian government and is awaiting a response. 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. "We categorically rejected the claims from the Taliban that they have appointed the Charge d'Affaires at the mission. The embassy operates as normal as it did in the past. There has been an individual working at our mission who defected to the Taliban sadly and who pledged allegiance to the Taliban movement. I got to know about this on April 25. So, this episode has been weighing on since the last three weeks while I was travelling outside India and as soon as I get to know, I returned back to the mission", the Afghan envoy told ANI in an exclusive interview. 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. When asked what can be the motive behind the Taliban in doing so, the Envoy said that as it carries no legitimacy, it is their way of making wider contacts within the "international community". "Taliban carries no legitimacy, either in Afghanistan or anywhere else in the world. No government has recognized their regime so far. And India has consistently taken that principle position by not extending any recognition to the Taliban. The motive behind taking over our mission in such a manner is to increase their contacts with the wider international community", said the Envoy. "Taliban feel internationally alienated and isolated from the wider world, which is something that they have done at themselves. They need to form an inclusive government and begin to respect the rule of law, Extend the required services and liberty to the people of Afghanistan, particularly by treating women and girls as they deserve. I'm sure the people of Afghanistan wouldn't grant them legitimacy," he added. Speaking further about Qadir Shah who has been appointed by the Taliban as the envoy for the mission in India, the envoy said that he wasn't an accredited diplomat and that he collaborated and worked closely without his or his staff's knowledge with the Taliban and revolted against the mission breaking all those diplomatic norms and standards. "This particular individual has been working at the mission for the past two years and three months. He was not an accredited diplomat from Kabul. His accreditation was done here, sometime back, he worked as an administrative staff, appointed from Kabul in the rank of a local staff here. So, he was not in the Ministry of foreign affairs records, he has never been a diplomat. He was promoted to being a diplomat on April 25, 2023, just less than three weeks ago. Almost three weeks ago. After the collapse of our government, he was given the portfolio of the trade office. He worked together with the trade officers. He collaborated and worked closely without my or my staff's knowledge with the Taliban and revolted against the mission, Against all diplomats, breaking all those diplomatic norms and standards, and sadly tried to implement those instructions, those orders that were given to him from Kabul", said the Envoy. "While I was away from India at that time, spoke to him (Qadir Shah) a few times to convince him to avoid creating a situation where the mission would be in a difficult position. Sadly, he continued with the plans given to him, apparently by the Taliban. My colleagues then decided on April 29 to expel him from the mission, terminate his contract and by the time I returned here, he was no longer working for the mission", he added. 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 should not be used for any terrorist activities against any country. Until now, there has been no response on the matter from the Indian side. (ANI)
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Altaf Hussain, on Tuesday, said that a civilised nation could not afford military courts in a democracy. His statement came after the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Terming the prevailing situation in Pakistan an "Unannounced Coup d'etat," the MQM leader said that Pakistani mainstream media reported that the political leaders, office bearers, activists and supporters belonging to the Pakistan Tehreek-e Insaf (PTI) would be tried in military courts, according to the Hussain's tweet. He further stated that if this news is true then it is stunning news. "It is the Pakistani military that has ruled over the country for 50 years directly and the remaining 25 years of civilian rule was a dummy show as the military then ruled over the country from behind. Coup d'etat is the hobby of the corporate military of the country," Hussain said in a tweet. "This is absolutely an absurdity to try the political leaders and activists in military courts while the judicial system, though quite weaker, is working in the country. It is not strange that the incumbent puppet civil federal and provincial governments are silent over this military adventure," he added. He further said, "This so-called military puppet civil federal government" should not give cover to the ambitious and power-hungry military establishment and must resign if it can't denounce the trial of civilians in military courts. No civilised nation can afford military courts in a democracy." On May 9, Imran Khan was arrested by Rangers personnel from Islamabad High Court (IHC) -- acting on National Accountability Bureau's (NAB) warrant. The PTI chairman was arrested as part of NAB's investigation in the Al-Qadir Trust case ahead of his appearance before the IHC to seek bail in multiple FIRs registered against him. Over the arrest of Imran Khan, the MQM leader said that the way the paramilitary Rangers insulted the sanctity of the court, broke windows and doors and arrested the PTI Chief was "shocking". He also claimed that Imran Khan, who was sitting on a chair, was badly manhandled and was dragged away from the wheelchair. Rangers threw him into a car with no respite in a cruel manner. "The act was not only condemnable but completely unconstitutional and unlawful. I strongly condemn such inhuman action. Equally, I also feel that the way the Islamabad High Court held that arrest as justified was also shocking," Hussain said in a tweet. "It was an unconstitutional and unlawful arrest made in such a style of hooligan. It was so sad and heart-wrenching. The people would better endorse me. I would also spare no words to severely slam the military and the paramilitary Rangers because of the way they created chaos by unleashing their fury and wrath onto the peaceful civilians protesting against state measures and against the arrest of Imran Khan. It was a highly shameful and deplorable action," he added. The MQM leader advised the leaders and the elected representatives of PTI that now their test has begun. PTI is supposed to take care of their workers and must get to know what their feelings and sentiments are. "PTI must provide every possible support to the workers who are at a protest against the unlawful and unconstitutional arrest of Imran Khan. They must not leave the workers in the doldrums. It is a universally recognised fundamental right of the people to stage a peaceful protest against any draconian measures and black laws, authoritarian decisions or actions of the state, especially the military establishment," the MQM leader said in a tweet. (ANI)
Israel's Minister of Transportation Miri Regev instructed the management of her office to formulate an overall strategic preparation plan for adapting the transportation infrastructure in Israel to the expected climate changes in the coming years that include practical steps and recommendations for changes to regulations and legislation. The program will also include mapping of transportation risk centres for the near, medium and long term, calculating probabilities for extreme events and examining the necessary infrastructure adjustments to deal with these events. According to Minister Regev, Israel is standing at the threshold of transportation mega-projects, which will change the face of the State of Israel for the next decades and it is our responsibility to make sure that these projects will be adapted to the expected climate changes. The Ministry of Transportation and Road Safety recently held a kick-off conference to prepare infrastructure companies for climate change and its consequences. The conference was held within the framework of a government decision and the requirements contained in the climate law, which is currently on the government's table. The effects of climate change are already being felt in Israel and are causing disasters and victims, including floods and inundations, rising sea levels, unusual rain events, heat waves and fires, intense storms such as the one that knocked down a crane at the Ashkelon coal port and damaged the national coal supply, severe heat that caused rails to bend and electric cables to sink along The railroad tracks, and more. (ANI/TPS)
This meeting comes a few weeks after the two sides held the 18th round of Corps Commander talks in the Eastern Ladakh sector.

"A meeting of Indian Army and Chinese Army officials at the Major General level was held at the Daulat Beg Oldie sector along the LAC in Ladakh today. The two sides discussed ways of resolving the ongoing stand-off between two sides and was routine in nature," Defence sources told ANI here.

The DBO sector has seen tensions between the two sides for a long time and the issues between them here remain unresolved even after three years of stand-off and multiple rounds of talks.

The new ongoing stand-off started in 2020 with Chinese aggression and amassing of troops in large numbers at Indian positions on the LAC in eastern Ladakh.

The Indian side has also deployed a heavy number of troops and developed infrastructure at a very fast pace for them.

In the last talks, the two sides are likely to have discussed de-escalation and legacy issues of Depsang plains and Demchok in the talks held on Sunday. (ANI)
Taliban-appointed Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Kabir and the Minister of Information and Culture of Taliban, Khairullah Khairkhwa on Monday met Roza Otunbayeva at the Sapedar Palace and discussed Afghanistan's issues.

During the visit, the senior Taliban officials asked UNs' special representative Roza Otunbayeva to invite Afghanistan's caretaker authorities to international meetings in the future.

They referred to the Doha conference held in Qatar's capital and hosted by the UN on May 1 and 2, in which representatives from at least 25 countries and international organizations participated, however, Taliban officials were not invited.

The Taliban following the summit, described the meeting as "one-sided and ineffective" to which the group was not invited.

The UN representative in Afghanistan highlighted the Doha conference during the meeting according to Taliban officials.

Taliban officials on Twitter said that Minister Khairkhwa appreciated the result of the Doha conference about the emphasis on the continued delivery of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan during these difficult times.

"Taliban representatives should be invited to international conferences held on Afghanistan issues in the future so that pathways for meaningful interaction and engagement are sought," Minister Khairkhwa said, according to Khaama Press.

Toward the end of the Doha conference, the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced that another summit will be held in Afghanistan in the near future. (ANI)
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Tuesday (local time) pledged to build an "international coalition" to provide fighter jet support for Ukraine. "The Prime Minister and Prime Minister Rutte agreed they would work to build (an) international coalition to provide Ukraine with combat air capabilities, supporting with everything from training to procuring F16 jets," a spokesman for Sunak's Downing Street office said in a statement following a meeting at the Council of Europe Summit in Iceland. This comes after Sunak in February pledged to train Ukraine's pilot, strongly suggesting the training pledge was a prelude to providing Ukraine with advanced British fighter planes to help battle invading Russian forces. After visiting Sunak at his Chequers country estate outside London on Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was "very positive" about creating a "jets coalition" in his country's war with Russia. Sunak said on Monday that the UK was preparing to open a flight school to train its pilots. French President Emmanuel Macron at the same time offered to train Ukrainian fighter pilots but ruled out sending warplanes to Kyiv. "The Prime Minister reiterated his belief that Ukraine's rightful place is in NATO and the leaders agreed on the importance of allies providing long-term security assistance to Ukraine to guarantee they can deter future attacks," Sunak's spokesman added. Earlier, Zelenskyy embarked on a whirlwind tour of European allies to bolster his military as it readies a counteroffensive to recapture occupied territory. He was in London on Monday after a tour of European capitals that saw him meet with allied leaders and even Pope Francis at a decisive moment in the conflict. Zelenskyy secured new military aid from France and Germany as his troops appeared to deal the Kremlin new blows on the ground and in the air. Sunak's office said a new bevy of equipment for Ukraine would include hundreds of long-range attack drones with a range of more than 124 miles, after Britain sent long-range precision missiles last week that have already expanded Kyiv's ability to strike targets in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory. It comes after Zelenskyy's back-to-back visits to Berlin, Rome and Paris over the weekend that included a meeting with Francis. In Berlin, Zelenskyy thanked German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for the country's military support, a far cry from Berlin's hesitancy earlier in the war. The Ukrainian leader left with a promise of additional military aid worth more than USD 3 billion. After a three-hour meeting in Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron promised to help Ukraine "for as long as it takes," pledging additional military aid, including armoured vehicles and light tanks "in the coming weeks," as well as training for soldiers and supporting Ukraine's air defence capabilities. (ANI)
US President Joe Biden has cancelled his planned trip to Australia and Papua New Guinea. However, Biden will attend the Group of Seven (G7) Summit scheduled to take place in Hiroshima, Japan this week. "President Biden will return to the United States on Sunday, following the completion of the G7 summit, in order to be back for meetings with Congressional leaders to ensure that Congress takes action by the deadline to avert default. The President spoke to Prime Minister Albanese earlier today to inform him that he will be postponing his trip to Australia. He also invited the Prime Minister for an official state visit at a time to be agreed by the teams. The President's team engaged with the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea's team to inform them as well," a statement by White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, read. "We look forward to finding other ways to engage with Australia, the Quad, Papua New Guinea and the leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum in the coming year," the statement added. Earlier, the White House indicated the cancellation of Biden's trip which was reported in US media. John Kirby, the White House national security spokesperson, said that Biden would depart for Japan on Wednesday as scheduled, but a subsequent stop in Australia is being re-evaluated. "We're working through, thinking through, the rest of the trip right now," Kirby said, as he noted Biden would meet India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australia's Anthony Albanese at the G7 anyway in Hiroshima, Japan. "We're re-evaluating the rest of the trip right now. We will make proper notifications if there are changes made to the rest of the trip. Given where we are right now, it's also incredibly prudent and responsible for the President to take a look at the rest of the trip and evaluate whether it makes sense going forward," said Kirby. "We'll see where it goes...We are going to reevaluate the rest of the week after the G7, and we'll see where it goes. If the trip gets truncated or changed or modified in any way, it should be nothing more than a statement of the President putting his priorities where he believes they need to be," said Kirby. Kirby stressed that Biden would be meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the G-7 Summit in Hiroshima. He will also engage with the prime ministers of India -- Narendra Modi -- and Australia -- Anthony Albanese -- while he is at the economic gathering, Kirby said. "We're reevaluating the rest of the trip right now," Kirby added. Biden was to attend a three-day summit of G7 leaders starting on Friday. Afterwards, he was to make a brief, historic stop in Papua New Guinea, then travel to Australia for a meeting of Japan, Australia, India, and the US grouping known as the Quad countries. He was also scheduled to attend a summit in Sydney alongside the leaders of India, Japan and Australia, collectively known as the Quad. The development comes amid the United States government's debt ceiling crisis which has not been resolved yet. Republican and Democratic lawmakers have failed to reach an agreement to lift the USD 31.4 trillion debt ceiling, as negotiations continue. Treasury has cautioned the government could default as soon June 1, an outcome that could have dire consequences for the economy, if no deal is made. The negotiations on raising the nation's borrowing limit in order to avert a historic default is yet to be resolved. The effects of an American default would reverberate throughout an already unsteady global economy. The White House had made clear that defaulting on US obligations would have damaging effects that stretch well beyond economic concerns. "That would certainly, from a national security perspective, have a detrimental effect," said Kirby earlier on a potential US default. "Certainly in terms of our reputation and standing around the world, 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 added. (ANI)
The 110 central Iowans participating in the state's first basic income study have now received their first $500 check  a monthly payment they'll receive for the next two years to pay for rent, utilities, child care and other basic living needs.

They were randomly selected from a pool of 6,000 who applied in February for UpLift  The Central Iowa Basic Income Pilot, a program led by The Tom and Ruth Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement with support from more than 30 community partners and funding from 11 public and private entities.

Basic income programs often offer unrestricted, no-strings-attached monthly payments to help families in need meet the costs of their living expenses. Iowa is now among a number of states launching this kind of program, which local advocates say could help reduce poverty, drive conversations around poverty and further identify communities' needs.

More: Habitat for Humanity to build affordable housing neighborhood on Des Moines' northeast side

A new program for central Iowans will give participants $500 a month for the next two years. Materials promoting the new program, UpLift  the Central Iowa Basic Income Pilot, were on display in different languages at a launch event Feb. 15 at the Tom and Ruth Harkin Center.

Participants will get debit cards that are reloaded each month with $500.

They'll also be offered "benefits counseling" to understand how the additional money will push their income higher and may impact their existing benefits, like child care or food assistance, Ashley Ezzio, one of two project coordinators at the institute running the program, previously told the Des Moines Register.

More: Basic income to water: How Des Moines metro cities will spend $137 million in COVID relief

Who are the participants?

Of the 110 people, a majority of them  81%  are Polk County residents, according to a news release from the Harkin Institute. Ten percent live in Dallas County, and 9% are from Warren County. Program leaders sought to focus on those three counties to see how the monthly checks would impact people in need living in rural, micropolitan and metropolitan areas.

At least 70 participants  or 65%  live in a metropolitan area, while about 28 are in a micropolitan area. The rest live in rural areas.

The Harkin Institute also provided a breakdown of the participants' racial demographics: 55% of them are white. Twenty-six percent identified as Black or African American, while 10% said they are multi-racial or another race. Roughly 5% shared they are Asian, and another 5% said they are Latinx.

Participants also reported they are working and earning an average household income of just above $24,000 a year. Many participants said they are working full time and spend roughly 44% of their income on rent or other housing costs, about 14% above the national standard.

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The participants are anonymous to the public, though researchers will frequently check in on their progress throughout the pilot program.

F. Amanda Tugade covers social justice issues for the Des Moines Register. Email her at ftugade@dmreg.com or follow her on Twitter @writefelissa.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Des Moines' basic income pilot recipients get their first $500 checks
A 12-year-old boy and a 20-year-old man have been charged with murder after the boy fatally shot an employee at a Sonic Drive-In restaurant in Texas, police said.

The shooting unfolded Saturday evening at the Sonic in the 300 block of South Old Betsy Road in Keene, police said. Keene is about 30 miles south of Fort Worth.

Angel Gomez, 20, went to the Sonic in a car with other passengers and was acting disorderly in the parking lot when he was confronted by Sonic worker Matthew Davis, 32, authorities said.

Keene Police Chief James Kidd said Davis confronted Gomez for urinating in the parking lot, NBC Dallas-Fort Worth reported.

The Sonic in Keene, Texas, where an employee was gunned down May 13, 2023. (NBC Dallas-Fort Worth)

The two argued, and the confrontation turned physical, police said.

During the altercation, a juvenile from Fort Worth who was a passenger in the suspects vehicle retrieved a firearm and fired multiple shots, striking the victim, police said in a statement.

Kidd said it is believed the shooter is 12 years old.

He said that the weapon appeared to be an "AR-style" rifle and that it appeared that at least six shots were fired and struck the victim.

Police said the shooting appeared to be an isolated incident that was not racially motivated or gang-affiliated.

Officers were called to the scene shortly after 9:30 p.m., but Gomez and the boy had already fled.

Officers found Davis lying in the parking lot having suffered multiple gunshot wounds, police said. He was flown to Harris Methodist Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Sonic employee Matthew Davis. (via NBC Dallas-Fort Worth)

Gomez eventually returned to the scene and was arrested. Police said law enforcement agencies found the boy in Rio Vista, arrested him and recovered several firearms.

Davis leaves behind a 10-year-old son, according to a fundraiser to support his family and cover funeral costs. As of Tuesday, the fundraiser had raised over $10,000.

Sonic said in a statement: We were saddened to learn about the tragedy involving a franchised team member in Keene, TX. The franchisee is cooperating fully with local authorities as they conduct their investigation."

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
A 14-year-old is charged with murder in the killing of a 44-year-old teacher who was found stabbed to death in her Kansas City apartment in late April.

The Office of the Juvenile Officer, which acts as a prosecutor in criminal cases involving minors, charged the teenager with second-degree murder and armed criminal action, a spokeswoman for Jackson County courts told The Star.

The juvenile, whose identity was not disclosed, is accused of killing Jamie Craig, a teacher at Wyandotte High School in Kansas City, Kansas, in her first-floor apartment on April 29.

Many details of the case, including an alleged motive and circumstances surrounding Craigs death, remained unknown Monday.

Kansas City police have said officers were dispatched to the apartments in the 1700 block of East Missouri Avenue for a welfare check.

According to court documents filed in support of a search warrant for the apartment, the officers were met at the front door by a three-year-old who told them his mother had a boo boo. Craig was found dead of apparent stab wounds inside the apartment, according to police.

A neighbor told police someone had recently left the apartment and carried an item out to the trash. Officers then located a gray backpack in the apartments dumpster, along with a bloody white towel.

Because of the seriousness of the alleged crimes, the 14-year-old faces a mandatory hearing to determine whether the juvenile will be tried as an adult. Second-degree murder is a Class A felony under Missouri law that carries a maximum penalty of life in prison for adults.

Varlerie Hartman, public information officer for Jackson County Circuit Court, said in a statement that the petition for criminal charges was filed by the juvenile officer on Friday. A hearing date for the 14-year-olds next court appearance was not immediately available.
An 18-year-old man faces charges after he was accused of killing a man out walking his dog in San Jose, California police reported.

Officers arrested Matthew Antracoli of San Mateo on May 9 on a charge of murder, the San Jose Police Department said in a Monday, May 15, news release.

Jorge Torres Maestre, 41, died April 19 after being shot once in the chest while walking his dog, KTVU reported.

The victim was by all accounts just an average citizen, going about their business, walking their dog, Sgt. Jorge Garibay told KNTV. They were confronted by the suspect, which were still trying to figure out whether or not a robbery for the dog was occurring.

Maestre died at the scene despite efforts by police and medics to revive him, the release said.

An investigation identified Antracoli as the gunman and the police covert response unit arrested him in Morgan Hill, the release said.

Police ask that anyone with information contact detectives at 4117@sanjoseca.gov, 4245@sanjoseca.gov or 408-277-5283.

Severed hand found on sidewalk, California police say. Then man reports sword attack

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MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP/Boston 25)  Two men have been arrested and theres a search for a third person following a shooting at a graduation party in New Hampshire that wounded four people, police said.

Emmanuel Sayle, 21, of Manchester, was charged Monday with four counts of felony reckless conduct and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Griffin ONeil, 20, also of Manchester, was charged with criminal liability to reckless conduct and two counts of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Both also face parole violations.

It wasnt immediately known when they would face a judge or if they had lawyers.

Emmanuel Sayle, 21, (left) Griffin ONeil, 20 (right)

The Manchester Police Department said Monday night they were still working to identify a third person and asked for the publics help regarding the identity and any further information about the shootings.

The victims in Saturdays shooting in Manchester included two women and two men, all in their 20s, who are expected to survive, police said.

Initial reports said two males in hoods approached the gathering and at least one of them fired a weapon. The two males were seen fleeing the area. Police said the shooting did not appear to be random.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Manchester police at 603-624-4040.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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Two people were injured in a shooting Monday afternoon at an apartment complex near Virginia Street in Amarillo. The road was closed Monday evening while Amarillo detectives worked on the investigation.

Amarillo police officers were sent to apartments at 4:57 p.m. in the 1000 block of South Virginia on a reported shooting, according to a statement from Amarillo police. Officers had been called to the apartments on Virginia, and when they arrived, they were told the incident happened at apartments in the 3102 block of Julian, which can be seen from Virginia, according to the Amarillo Police Department.

Officers were told by witnesses that multiple people had been shot, but they found no victims at the scene. A short time later, officers were notified that two individuals had arrived at two area hospitals by private vehicle.

Both individuals had gunshot wounds, and officers were told it occurred on Virginia.

Amarillo CSI and Violent Crimes detectives arrived to the scene to work on the incident, and Virginia Street was closed between Plains and Julian. Residents in the area were asked to take a different route until the road reopened, around 8:25 p.m.

There are no suspects in custody at this time, but police do not believe there to be any danger to the public from this incident. No further information was available.

Anyone who has any information on this incident is asked to Amarillo Crime Stoppers at 806-374-4400, make a tip on their website, amapolice.org or download the p3 tips app.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo police investigate shooting at apartments that injured 2
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.

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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.
A collage of cut outs of different characters from popular shows on Hulu

Credit - Hulu (11); Patrick HarbronFX/Everett Collection (The Americans)

Once thought of as the ugly stepsister to Netflix, Hulu has risen within the streaming ranks to become a powerhouse of original content.

The platform has expanded its television offerings in recent years to include a bounty of buzzy limited series, ranging from literary adaptations like Normal People and Little Fires Everywhere to true-crime hits like The Dropout and Under the Banner of Heaven, popular scripted originals like The Handmaids Tale and Only Murders in the Building, and even unscripted additions like The Kardashians. A number of cult classics have found a home on Hulu as well, including comedy giant Schitts Creek.

Hulu is also the exclusive streaming partner of FX, meaning its where you can find ongoing fan-favorites like The Bear, What We Do in the Shadows, and Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia, in addition to the full run of older critical darlings like The Americans and Atlanta.

Here are the 20 best shows to stream on Hulu right now.

Normal People

Based on Sally Rooneys bestselling 2018 novel of the same name, Normal People traces the on-again-off-again relationship between two Irish teens at opposite ends of the social spectrum, Marianne (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and Connell (Paul Mescal), from their first dalliance in high school through their years attending Trinity College in Dublin. The 12-episode limited series powerfully captures the angst and intensity of young love as the pair each navigates their respective struggles with friendships, trauma, and mental health.

Dopesick

A deep dive into Americas opioid epidemic documenting the crimes of pharmaceutical company Purdue Pharma, Dopesick utilizes fictionalized characters to tell the true story of how the OxyContin addiction crisis has devastated communities across the U.S. The eight-episode limited series is based in part on journalist Beth Macys nonfiction book Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors and the Drug Company that Addicted America, and puts the uber-wealthy Sackler family, the owners of Purdue Pharma, under the microscope.

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The Handmaids Tale

Set in a dystopian future where a totalitarian patriarchal theocracy called the Republic of Gilead rules over most of the territory that belonged to the former continental U.S., The Handmaids Tale chronicles the plight of fertile women, the titular red-robed Handmaids, who are forced to bear children for high-ranking men and their wives after environmental crises have left much of the population sterile. Based on award-winning author Margaret Atwoods bestselling 1985 novel of the same name, the show has been renewed for a sixth and final season that will conclude the story of Handmaid-turned-enemy of the state June Osborne (Elisabeth Moss) while setting the scene for the forthcoming sequel series The Testaments.

The Dropout

The rise and fall of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes plays out over eight episodes in this nuanced and darkly comedic limited series. The Dropout begins with Holmes, masterfully portrayed by Amanda Seyfried, dropping out of Stanford in March 2004 to found a promising new blood-testing start-up, follows her come-up as a Silicon Valley prodigy, and ends in the wake of the Wall Street Journal publishing its first investigation into Theranos questionable claims and practices in October 2015. Holmes has since been sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison after she was found guilty of wire fraud and conspiring to commit wire fraud.

Little Fires Everywhere

Like Celeste Ngs bestselling 2017 novel on which its based, Little Fires Everywhere opens with a devastating house fire. From there, the eight-episode limited series, set in the late 1990s, takes viewers back in time to explore the chain of events that resulted in this scene of destruction, beginning with single mother Mia Warren (Kerry Washington) arriving in the Cleveland suburb of Shaker Heights, Ohio, with her teenage daughter Pearl (Lexi Underwood). The Warrens fates quickly become intertwined with Elena Richardson (Reese Witherspoon) and her seemingly picture-perfect family, as tensions within the all-too-polished community begin to escalate.

The Great

Loosely based on the rise of Catherine the Great (played by Elle Fanning), who goes from foreign outsider to the longest reigning female ruler in Russias history, The Great is a satirical black comedy that delivers an absurdist mashup of 18th century history. Initially hoping to find martial bliss with Emperor Peter III (Nicholas Hoult) upon her arrival in Russia, Catherine soon discovers that the great love of her life may actually be her new homeland. The series third season is set to premiere May 12.

Read More: A Comprehensive Guide to Every Streaming Service

Only Murders in the Building

A shared obsession with a true-crime podcast brings together an unlikely trio of New York City neighbors, Charles (Steve Martin), Oliver (Martin Short), and Mabel (Selena Gomez), to hunt for a killer close to home when a grisly death occurs in their exclusive Upper West Side apartment building. The quirky murder mystery premiered in 2021 as an instant hit and quickly became Hulus most-watched original comedy. Now, Only Murders forthcoming third season is set to add A-list guests Meryl Streep and Paul Rudd to its star-studded ensemble.

The Kardashians

Following the conclusion of Keeping Up With the Kardashians 20-season run on E!, Americas most famous reality TV family brought their talents to streaming for a new iteration of the series documenting the ups and downs of their lives in the spotlight. Now headed for its third season, The Kardashians follows the Kardashian-Jenner clan as they navigate family drama, business ventures, and often tumultuous romantic relationships. With Kim, Kourtney, Khloe, and Kris all serving as executive producers, how authentic you believe the shows version of events to be is up to you.

Under the Banner of Heaven

Adapted from Jon Krakauers 2003 true-crime bestseller of the same name, Under the Banner of Heaven explores the investigation by fictional detectives Jeb Pyre (Andrew Garfield) and Bill Taba (Gil Birmingham) into the brutal 1984 murder of a LDS woman, Brenda Wright Lafferty (Daisy Edgar-Jones), and her baby daughter in a suburb in the Salt Lake Valley. A devout Mormon himself, Pyre comes to question his faith as he delves into the origin of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and how its evolution, particularly with regards to fundamentalism, led to the violent crime that rocked a quiet Utah community. The limited series mystery plays out over the course of seven episodes.

DAVE

Dave Burd, a.k.a, rapper-turned-actor Lil Dicky, stars as a fictionalized version of himself in this crude yet heartfelt comedy that doesnt shy away from tackling sensitive topics like sexual insecurity and mental illness with satirical humor. DAVE became a pandemic-era hit when its first season, tracing Lil Dickys rise from neurotic rap hopeful to viral sensation, premiered in March 2020, earning the title of FX Networks most-watched comedy series ever. Its stellar third season, in which Lil Dicky headlines his first-ever tour, is currently airing.

Atlanta

Atlantas award-winning four-season run begins with college dropout Earnest Earn Marks (creator Donald Glover) taking over as music manager for his cousin Alfred Al Miles (Brian Tyree Henry), an up-and-coming ATL rapper who goes by the stage name Paper Boi. From there, the surrealist dramedy guides viewers on a hypnotic journey, taking increasingly experimental swings from one episode to the next. The show earned a reputation for its fever-dream-like quality and standout cast, including LaKeith Stanfield as Darius, Als eccentric righthand man, and Zazie Beetz as Vanessa Van Kiefer, Earns on-again-off-again girlfriend and the mother of his daughter.

Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia

The longest-running live-action sitcom ever, Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia recounts the hilariously depraved exploits of a deranged group of neer-do-wells who run a seedy Irish dive bar, Paddys Pub, in the shows titular city. The gang, as they refer to themselves, consists of Mac (Rob McElhenney), Charlie (Charlie Day), Dennis (Glenn Howerton), Dee (Kaitlin Olson), and Frank (Danny DeVito), a troop of narcissistic, sociopathic, raging alcoholic friends who wreak havoc on everyone with whom they come in contact. The boundary-pushing FX comedy has earned a loyal cult following over the course of 15 seasons, with fan-favorite episodes including such classics as The Gang Solves the Gas Crisis, The Nightman Cometh, and The D.E.N.N.I.S. System.

The Bear

As the surprise hit show of summer 2022, The Bear quickly established itself as an instantly compelling new entry in FXs packed lineupand turned, Yes, chef, into everyones favorite new catchphrase in the process. The first season of the dramedy follows fine-dining chef Carmen Carmy Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White) as he takes over his familys Chicago sandwich shop following the heartbreaking death of his brother. The series delivers a vivid depiction of the fast-paced chaos of working in a kitchen and the harsh realities of restaurant culture, with breakout performances by White and Ayo Edebiri as sous chef Sydney Adamu. The show is set to return for a second season starting June 22.

What We Do in the Shadows

Created by Flight of the Concords alum Jemaine Clement, What We Do in the Shadows is a brilliant addition to the annals of mockumentary sitcom history. Based on Clement and Taika Waititis 2014 film of the same name, the horror comedy, now headed for its fifth season, gives viewers a hilarious inside look into the nightly lives of four vampires who have lived together on Staten Island for hundreds of years. Theres the self-appointed leader of the group, Nandor the Relentless (Kayvan Novak), and his beleaguered familiar, Guillermo (Harvey Guillen), longtime couple Nadja (Natasia Demetriou) and Laszlo (Matt Berry), and, last but not least, Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch), a so-called energy vampire who feeds by draining humans mental fortitude rather than their blood.

Reservation Dogs

A critical darling, FXs Reservation Dogs has earned high praise for its lighthearted yet frank portrayal of life on a rural Oklahoma reservation for four Indigenous teenagers dreaming of making their way to the promised land: California. Created by Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi, the gritty, coming-of-age dramedy allows for an authentic portrayal of one version of the modern Indigenous experience by centering Native voices both behind and in front of the cameras. We cant leave it up to Hollywood to give people the opportunity, because they dont know these people, Harjo, who is is Seminole and Muscogee Creek, told TIME ahead of the shows second season. We are part of this community, and it makes everything better if I bring people along.

PEN15

PEN15 creators Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle hilariously play 13-year-old versions of themselves in this poignant coming-of-age comedy that hits all the right nostalgia notes for those who endured the trials of adolescence in the early 2000s. Despite running for only two seasons, the show earned a reputation as a cult hit with its pitch-perfect and candid portrayal of the types of uniquely awkward and mortifying experiences that tend to befall anyone who feels like a middle school reject. We dont really write jokes, Erskine told The New Yorker ahead of the second half of the series second season. Someone once called it a traumedy, and thats probably the closest way to describe it.

Fargo

In buzzy anthology series Fargo, inspired by the 1996 Oscar-winning film of the same name, each new season tracks a new murder investigation in a new Midwestern town with a new cast of characters caught up in the fray. Every installment of the black comedy-crime drama touts itself as a true storyan homage to the Coen brothers original movie. But while some of the depicted crimes are based on real-life events, the stories shaped around them are totally false. Following a lengthy hiatus, season 5 of the critically acclaimed limited series will arrive later this year, with Jon Hamm set to star.

The Americans

Real-life husband and wife Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell star opposite each other as Philip and Elizabeth Jennings, two undercover KGB agents posing as a typical American married couple in suburban Washington, D.C., in this Cold War spy thriller set shortly after Ronald Reagan is elected president. One of the most beloved dramas of the past decade, The Americans ran for six gripping seasons before reaching its unforgettable conclusion in 2018, offering plenty of bloodshed, betrayal, and intrigue along the way.

Better Things

Creator Pamela Adlons ode to her daughters explores the trials, tribulations, and joys of motherhood, with Adlon herself taking the lead as Sam Fox, a single mom and struggling actor raising three daughters and caring for her mom in Los Angeles. The sharp comedy originated as a collaboration between Adlon and her longtime creative partner, Louis C.K., who was fired from all of his ongoing FX projects after publicly admitting to allegations of sexual misconduct as Better Things second season came to a close in late 2017. Adlon, who released a statement calling C.K.s behavior abhorrent, proceeded to part ways with the manager shed shared with C.K. and put together her own writers room for season 3the point in the series at which its widely considered to have transformed from a good show into a triumph.

Schitts Creek

From cult-favorite to cultural phenomenon, Schitts Creek turned into a smash sleeper success over the course of its six hilarious seasonswith its final season becoming the first comedy or drama to ever sweep all seven major Emmy awards for its genre. The Canadian sitcom, co-created by comedian Eugene Levy and his son Dan Levy, centers on the laughably out-of-touch Roses, a once-wealthy family who, after losing nearly everything, are forced to move to a small town called Schitts Creek that they bought years earlier as a joke. All four members of the Rose family are standouts, with Eugene Levy and Catherine OHara starring as husband and wife Johnny and Moira, while Dan Levy and Annie Murphy play their adult children David and Alexis.
A Boeing 777 operated by Emirates. SOPA Images/Getty Images

A business class passenger is suing Emirates over the condition of a plane he flew on, per the Daily Mail.

He paid $2,166 for a seat he said was stained, had socks stuffed down the side, and didn't recline.

Emirates told Insider that it takes all customer complaints seriously, but couldn't comment further.

A 20-year-old energy trader is suing Emirates for misleading advertising because he says his business class seat was "absolutely disgusting," the Daily Mail reported.

Brodie Chapman said he paid $2,166 for the Oslo to Dubai journey in March, but it was rife with problems.

The seat was stained, didn't recline properly, and had socks stuffed down the side of it, he told the Mail.

Alongside the "grubby" upholstery, Chapman said one of the screens didn't work either.

"'I pay more money to fly with Emirates than other carriers because they are meant to offer more luxury and comfort," he told the newspaper. "But if the product they are advertising bears no relation to what you are actually receiving - I don't think it's really fair."

Emirates offered him 20,000 air miles in compensation, but Chapman  who splits his time between Perth, Australia and the UK  is instead seeking around $3,300 in a British small claims court.

He was also upset because the Boeing 777 was over 20 years old so it didn't offer all of the luxury features.

"They advertise this fancy product  the 777 or the A380  and this plane I got on was absolutely disgusting," he told the newspaper.

Emirates' website features three disclaimers on this because it operates a mixed fleet with older planes, which the airline also pointed out to Chapman, per the Mail.

When contacted by Insider, Emirates said that it is currently undertaking "a multi-billion dollar retrofit programme on our Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft."

It continued by saying it "takes all feedback seriously and has been diligently handling this case," adding that it has "been in touch with the customer." It did not provide any further comment, citing the fact that the case is subject to pending litigation.

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In March, Emirates was ordered to pay a New Zealand passenger nearly $8,500 in a similar case, according to Stuff.

The customer in that case also said that his seat didn't recline flat, and there was no mini-bar or internet connection. Emirates had argued its small print disclaimers meant it wasn't misleading customers, but the tribunal referee disagreed. "Emirates advertised a business class service that consumers were very unlikely to receive," she said, per Stuff.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Sylvua Holtzclaw was a teller at Blue Ridge Savings Bank in Greer.

Eb Barnes was a physics professor at the University of South Carolina Upstate. His wife Maggie Barnes worked for the National Beta Club in Spartanburg.

All three were shot to death with a 40-caliber Glock in the bank 20 years ago May 16.

The case has never been solved. There was a time or two law enforcement officers from local, state and federal agencies thought they were close.

But they werent. Theyve received hundreds of leads and calls, but have had no real suspects, except one man who killed himself in a traffic stop in Georgia. Investigators could never find any evidence he had been in Greer after he stole a rental car in Columbia.

On Tuesday, Greer Police renewed their pledge to see the case through. It is not closed and never has been. Many of the officers who were there that day are still on the force. Still digging.

Greer Police Chief Matt Hamby, one of those first detectives, said in a video released to the news media Monday afternoon that it would be a highlight of his career to find out who killed Sylvia, Eb and Maggie, who were beloved in their communities.

The SC victims

Sylvia had lived in Greer all her life. She married her high school sweetheart, divorced when their sons were young, and before the bank, worked at Winn-Dixie warehouse.

She was a regular at Greer First Baptist Church and in the stands when her boys played sports.

With some friends, she started a Christmas gift collection to provide for children who would not have presents otherwise.

Since her death, that event has grown into the Syl Syl Toy Drive, which last year provided gifts for 100 children.

Eb was nearing retirement. The Barnses were college sweethearts and were married in the Presbyterian church where Maggies father was pastor. Eb was known for being one of those approachable professors who liked a good joke.

They had been married 38 years when they died.

May 16, 2003

Sylvias son David had come home from his job at Florida State University to go with his mother and brother Kevin to tour the BMW plant, something their mother had always wanted to do.

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Sylvia was supposed to get off from work at lunchtime, but her co-worker called in sick.

David took her some lunch from Arbys. The next thing he heard about his mother was a phone call from a friend.

I dont know how to tell you this. Theres been a robbery and your mother is dead, the friend said.

The Barneses were at the bank to put money into their IRA account.

The call to police came in at 1:28 p.m. when an alert was tripped from the cash drawer.

Officers arrived minutes later and found the victims dead in a utility room.

They had little physical evidence. No sign of a struggle. None of the small amount of money the killer got away with was marked.

Investigators were able to get surveillance video from cameras at two gas stations.

A red car can be seen traveling the road in front of the bank. The Barneses truck followed.
stack of books. Illustrated | Gettyimages

The winners and finalists of the 2023 Pulitzer Prizes were announced on May 8, including 19 literary honorees. The Pulitzer judges awarded prizes in the categories of history, biography, memoir, poetry, general nonfiction, and fiction, where two books were declared the winner for the first time in the award's history. Here's a list of the books being recognized this year.

Fiction: 'Demon Copperhead' by Barbara Kingsolver and 'Trust' by Hernan Diaz

Kingsolver's "Demon Copperhead" is a "masterful recasting" of Charles Dickens's "David Copperfield," centered in Appalachia. The story is narrated by Demon, a young man battling poverty and addiction as he develops his artistic instincts. The Washington Post's book critic, Ron Charles, called "Demon Copperhead" his favorite novel of 2022. Charles described the book as "equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking," Kingsolver didn't "merely reclothed Dickens's characters in modern dress and resettled them in southern Appalachia," Charles wrote. She has "reconceived the story in the fabric of contemporary life." Order here.

If you're intrigued by fresh contemporary retellings of classics, 2019's "Pride: A Pride & Prejudice Remix" by Ibi Zoboi is another standout in the category. The book takes Jane Austen's classic, centers it around an Afro-Latino family in Brooklyn, and turns it into an examination of the fallout of gentrification.

"Trust," Diaz's second novel, tells the story of the fortune of a 20th-century financier and his wife "eccentric, brilliant wife," The New York Times says. Their story is told through four linked narratives written in different literary styles. Each of the book's sections "subverts everything readers think they know about the story, posing questions about the human costs of wealth," the Times adds. The Pulitzer Committee called "Trust" a "complex examination of love and power in a country where capitalism is king." Order here.

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Diaz's first novel, "In the Distance," was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize in 2018. His debut Western novel made a splash as the largely unknown author racked up nominations for the country's top literary awards and is worth revisiting now that he has clinched a win.

Finalist: "The Immortal King Rao" by Vauhini Vara

History: 'Freedom's Dominion: A Saga of White Resistance to Federal Power' by Jefferson Cowie

Vanderbilt University historian Cowie chronicles the generations-long fraught relationship between a community of white Alabama residents and the federal government, creating a portrait that captures the evolution of white supremacy by drawing connections between the desire to oppress others and the government standing in the way. Times critic Jeff Shesol said it's "essential reading for anyone who hopes to understand the unholy union, more than 200 years strong, between racism and the rabid loathing of government." Order here.

History enthusiasts will likely enjoy some of Cowie's previous award-winning work. His 2010 "Stayin' Alive: The 1970s and the Last Days of the Working Class" was lauded as a "swan song for the American working class" by Kirkus Reviews.

Finalists: "Watergate: A New History" by Garrett M. Graff; "Seeing Red: Indigenous Land, American Expansion and the Political Economy of Plunder in North America" by Michael John Witgen

Biography: 'G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century' by Beverly Gage

It's been nearly three decades since someone tried to tackle the story of the polarizing American figure and law enforcement legend J. Edgar Hoover. Gage relies on previously classified documents to flesh out Hoover's story in G-Man. The biography is "crisply written, prodigiously researched, and frequently astonishing," Margaret Talbot opines in The New Yorker. In a review for the Post, Kai Bird called the book "a monument to the power of biography." Order here.

Jonathan Eig's recently released biography of Martin Luther King Jr, "King: A Life," is another comprehensive book relying on information released in recent years, including FBI files and White House phone transcripts.

Finalists: "Mr. B: George Balanchine's 20th Century" by Jennifer Homans; "His Name Is George Floyd: One Man's Life and the Struggle for Racial Justice" by Robert Samuels and Toluse Olorunnipa

Memoir/Autobiography: 'Stay True' by Hua Hsu

This is the first time a book has been recognized in this new category. In "Stay True," Hsu chronicles an unlikely friendship from his college days, rocked by a random act of violence. The committee called the book an "elegant and poignant coming of age account," that explores friendship and how violence "can suddenly and permanently alter the presumed logic of our personal narratives." Order here.

Sometimes memoirs get dismissed, so it's nice to see the genre being recognized for a prestigious award. This year's "The Best Minds: A Story of Friendship, Madness, and the Tragedy of Good Intentions" by Jonathan Rowen is another memoir with rave reviews that chronicles a friendship tested by mental illness and violence.

Finalists: "Easy Beauty" by Chloe Cooper Jones; "The Man Who Could Move Clouds" by Ingrid Rojas Contreras

Poetry: 'Then the War: And Selected Poems, 2007-2020' by Carl Phillips

The collection features some of Phillips's previous work, a lyric prose memoir, and a chapbook. Phillip, a finalist for multiple National Book Awards for poetry, explores American culture as it grapples with rising political tension, life in the post-pandemic world, "and of our place in a changing global community," the committee noted. Phillips' "lyrically rich, insightful poems are full of palpable aching and a human urge to understand," Publisher's Weekly raved. Order here.

Check out Phillips' other collection "Double Shadow," a finalist for the 2011 National Book Awards, to see more of why he has come to be regarded as "a vital presence in American poetry," by critics.

Finalists: "Blood Snow" by dg nanouk okpik; "Still Life" by Jay Hopler

General Non-Fiction: 'His Name Is George Floyd: One Man's Life and the Struggle for Racial Justice' by Robert Samuels and Toluse Olorunnipa

This biography grew from a six-part special report for the Post by journalists Samuels and Olurunnipa. The pair conducted over 400 interviews to compile the life story and family history of Floyd, whose death led to widespread protests over police brutality in 2020. The authors "deserve every praise" for "His Name is George Floyd," Imbolo Mbue opined in The Atlantic. Their work resulted in an "expertly researched and excellent biography" and "a necessary and enlightening read for all." Order here.

The genre of journalistic non-fiction has boomed over the last couple of decades, taking readers on in-depth dives behind the stories making headlines in the news and giving context to how history is connected. The 10th-anniversary edition of Michelle Alexander's "The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness," released in 2020, is still a timely book that also unfolds the legacy of institutional oppression in America.

Finalists: "Kingdom of Characters: The Language Revolution That Made China Modern" by Jing Tsu; "Sounds Wild and Broken: Sonic Marvels, Evolution's Creativity, and the Crisis of Sensory Extinction" by David George Haskell; "Under the Skin: The Hidden Toll of Racism on American Lives and on the Health of Our Nation" by Linda Villarosa

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Police have arrested three women in connection with the assault and robbery of a woman outside a Bricktown bar in early May.

Three women were arrested in mid-May in connection with an assault outside of a downtown Oklahoma City nightclub.

Early Saturday, May 6, police were called to a local hospital where a 22-year-old woman told them shed been jumped by multiple subjects while walking through the parking lot of Senor Shots on 323 E Sheridan Ave., according to a report written by an investigating officer.

The woman said she knew her assailants and wanted to press charges. She told officers she was hit from the back and pushed to the ground, after which the assailants continued punching and kicking her, according to the report. Police noted injuries to her face, and a nurse said the woman likely had a concussion, an officer wrote.

Court affidavits filed May 8 stated the assailants had taken personal items from the victim, including hair extensions they had ripped off her head, according to police. The assailants also broke her gold chain necklace.

More: Shootings in Bricktown don't mark rising trend in violent crime, authorities say

Court filings also show the victim and a friend had been involved in a confrontation with the same group of assailants earlier inside the club. All of them were forced to leave the establishment, after which nearby police officers had to intervene in an attempt to keep the confrontation from escalating, a detective wrote in the affidavits.

After the larger group of women left the area, the 22-year-old woman and her friend parted ways and she began to walk out of the parking lot, when a vehicle pulled up and the same group of women assaulted her, according to court records.

The police report also said the victims mother later provided video of the assault. Police issued warrants for four suspects, and arrested three of them at multiple residences and at a 7-Eleven convenience store in northwest Oklahoma City.

Senor Shots in Bricktown: COVID-19 took the life of his stepmom. Business restrictions threatened his livelihood.

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Police booked two women, one 20 and the other 24, into the Oklahoma County jail early Friday on complaints of robbery by two or more people. Another 21-year-old woman was arrested and booked into the jail on the same complaint Saturday.

A fourth woman was identified as a suspect in court records but was not arrested as of Tuesday afternoon.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: 3 OKC women accused of assault, robbery of a woman's hair extensions
Scams are on the rise across the U.S.  and as the country faces this growing trend, older adults in Modesto have lost thousands of dollars.

Data from the Federal Trade Commission shows a more than 30% increase in money lost due to fraud between 2021 and 2022 nationwide, with a total loss of almost $8.8 billion.

Scammers target people who have a vulnerability, with factors including age, being recently widowed, going through medical problems or feeling lonely, said Byron Nelson, an attorney at Stanislaus Countys Senior Advocacy Network-Senior Law Project.

Citing FTC statistics, Nelson said there were 3,500 reports of fraud, identity theft and other fraudulent crimes in Modesto in 2022, adding that likely twice that number of scams go unreported.

He said the average amount of money scammed from victims under age 19 is $250. The average amount scammed from victims age 80 and over is $1,500.

Some of it is opportunity, Nelson said. Older adults are in their home and a lot of them are retired and they are the ones that will open the door, they are the ones that will answer the phone.

Senior Law Project has compiled a list of common scams that have targeted local senior citizens. Here are some of those scams, how to avoid them and what to do if you become a victim:

Common scams in Stanislaus County

Romance scams

With older adults being particularly vulnerable to social isolation during the pandemic, according to the Senior Law Project, scammers may take advantage of that susceptibility and pose as someone who wants to offer companionship and help. These romance scammers then will start asking for money or personal information.

A reason why a lot of these romance scams continue is because even though we have more people in the world today, weve got more lonely people in the world than weve ever had, said Joyce Gandelman, executive director of the Senior Law Project.

Banking scams

Another scam the law center has seen on the rise is scammers pretending to be with a banks IT department and saying a persons account has been compromised or hacked.

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The scammer tells the client to download an app so the account can be protected. Once the client downloads the app, the scammer can access the persons phone and take money from the account.

They were very trained; they sound like the IT department, Nelson said. The scammer is educating them on how to respond to the legitimate bank (when it calls to verify the transaction).

Solar scams

Solar scams are common in the area, Nelson said, due to unintended consequences of the California Property Assessed Clean Energy, or PACE, program created to help homeowners finance solar through their property taxes.

After the program was implemented, a lot of solar companies appeared overnight and there was no regulation or vetting process of them, Nelson said.

It was just a bunch of companies that popped up, made a lot of money and gave people stuff that didnt work, locked them into contracts that were tagged to their tax bill, Nelson said. People were being foreclosed on because they couldnt pay their tax bill.

The U.S. Consumer Finance Protection Commission urges homeowners to do diligent research in order to avoid the risk of a surprise bill, shoddy work  or even a scam, the website reads.

Other common scams

Other scams in Stanislaus County, according to the Senior Law Project, include:

Medicare scams

Investment scams

Sweepstakes and lottery scams

Grandparent scams

Tech support scams

Refund scams

Account verification scams

Financial scams

Health care scams

Identity theft

Home repair/improvement scams

Telephone and internet scams

Phishing scams

Online shopping scams

Charity scams

Government stimulus/grant scams

The Office of the Attorney General has detailed some of these scams on its website.

How to prevent being scammed

The Senior Law Project recommends these tips to avoid becoming a victim of a scam:

If you dont recognize the phone number, you dont have to answer the phone

If a company calls and requests money or information, hang up and call the number listed online

If your child or grandchild calls and asks for money, hang up and call them to see if they are really in trouble

Before signing an electric contract, request a paper copy in your native language and review it

You cant win something if you havent entered

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

What to do if you think youve been scammed

Some scams can go unreported because of feelings of embarrassment or because clients are not aware they have been scammed, Nelson said.

Its important not to be embarrassed because I think thats the biggest reason scams go unreported and people arent held accountable, Nelson said. Its not their fault. These scammers are trained; theyre professionals.

The first thing, Nelson said, is to understand that youre a victim of a scam. Contact a legal aid who can help look over the information and assess the situation.

Legal aids can help clients contact the agency/scammer, Adult Protective Services if necessary, banks to freeze accounts, or police to file a report.

Nelson said the Welfare and Institutions Code in California allows clients to sue anybody who allows financial abuse or scams to occur, even if they are not the ones who did the abuse. This includes financial institutions.

The law now allows you to sue the bank or any other agency if they knew or should have known that there was something fishy going on, Nelson said. That was done in response to California realizing that a lot of these victims werent being compensated because there was no legal ability to compensate them.

You can report a scam by contacting local law enforcement or directly alerting the FTC through its website.

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.
Taking immediate action.

3M fired an executive who had been at the company for 30 years weeks after promoting him to a top role.



The company, which produces tape, surgical masks, and other industrial products, fired Michael Vale due to inappropriate personal conduct and violation of company policy, it announced in a press release yesterday (May 15), without addressing the specifics of the wrongdoing. Vale was dismissed on May 12, after the company learned of and verified the alleged violation.

Read more

The Minnesota-based maker of Post-It Notes clarified Vales termination had nothing to do with the companys operations or financial performance. In fact, Vale had been promoted to 3Ms group president and chief business and country officer on April 25. He was put in charge of three of the companys three business groups (safety and industrial, transportation and electronics, and consumer), customer operations, country governance, and emerging markets, reporting directly to chairman and CEO Mike Roman.



Who will replace Michael Vale at 3M?

The company initiated a search for Vales replacement, it said in its press release. In the interim period, the leaders of each of the three individual units Vale oversaw will report to Roman directly.

One big number: Vales million-dollar paycheck

$1.62 million: Vales yearly cash compensation as of April 1, 2022, according to a May 9 company shareholder report. He was among the five highest-paid 3M execs last year.

Company of interest: The Toro Company

Three days after he was fired from 3M, on May 15, Vale resigned as a board member of landscaping equipment firm The Toro Company, effective immediately. Mr. Vales resignation was not the result of any disagreement with TTC on any matter relating to TTCs operations, policies or practices, the Minnesota-based company said. They did not specify why he resigned.

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One more thing: Job cuts at 3M

While announcing first-quarter results in April, 3M said it was cutting 6,000 positions worldwide, including senior roles, as part of restructuring efforts to bring annual costs down by $900 million. This was in addition to the 2,500 manufacturing jobs it said it would slash in January.

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At least four Democrats in Congress have sponsored millions of dollars in federal spending projects for organizations that employed their spouses over the last two years, according to a new report.

Sen. Tim Kaine and Reps. Pete Aguilar, Jason Crow, and Mike Thompson  all Democrats  helped steer the money through earmarks, a political term for provisions that members of Congress write into law directing federal funds to specific local projects in their states and districts, The Messenger reported.

The findings reportedly came from more than 1,000 pages of congressional appropriations records as part of an analysis comparing congressional records that identify sponsors of earmarks with the personal financial disclosure forms filed by lawmakers. The financial disclosure forms require lawmakers to identify sources of income for themselves and their spouses.

Kaine sponsored two earmarks totaling nearly $3.5 million for George Mason University, where his wife, former Virginia Secretary of Education Anne Holton, worked as interim president from 2019-20. Holton is currently a professor in the university's Schar School of Policy and Government and its College of Education and Human Development.

DEMS' MASSIVE SPENDING PACKAGE EARMARKS BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR 'ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE,' CLIMATE CRISIS

The earmarks included $1.48 million last year for a project titled "Coalition to Enhance the Capacity of Policing Mental Health Problems in Virginia" and $1.95 million this year "to recruit and train college students for tutoring of elementary and secondary school students." George Mason acknowledged in a press release that the former measure "resulted from the efforts" of Kaine and fellow Virginia Democratic Sen. Mark Warner.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The earmarks "are in no way influenced by Secretary Holton," a Kaine spokesperson told The Messenger, noting George Mason is the largest public research university in Virginia and adding that the senator will advocate for good ideas brought forth by any school offering solutions for issues facing Virginians.

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"Secretary Holton has no involvement in the CDS process, and no involvement in the George Mason CDS requests," the spokesperson added, using an acronym for Congressionally Directed Spending, the Senate's term for earmarks. "Senator Kaine and Secretary Holton have not discussed the requests."

Meanwhile, Aguilar was the sole sponsor of $750,000 awarded this fiscal year to the University of Redlands, his alma mater, for a "University Village Development Project." Aguilar's wife works as an operations support director in student financial services at the school, according to its website.

"The funding would be used to create a sustainable, multimodal, transit-oriented, and mixed-use infrastructure for the Redlands community," Aguilar wrote in a letter last year on the earmark. "I certify that neither I, nor my immediate family has any financial interest in this project."

House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., speaks at a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 25, 2023.

FOUR RETIRING SENATORS SCORE MORE THAN $1.7B IN EARMARKS IN GIANT SPENDING BILL

Aguilar's office also sent The Messenger an April 28, 2022, letter from the House Ethics Committee notifying the congressman that he "may certify no financial interest" for the project.

"You stated your spouse's employment and salary would not be impacted by the University Village project," the letter read. "Recent news articles appear to support that assertion, as revenue generated by the University Village project is intended to be an additional, non-tuition revenue stream for the University it appears that any benefit to the University of Redlands would benefit the university as a whole, and would not have a direct or foreseeable effect on your or your immediate familys pecuniary interests. Rather, your spouse's financial interest in the funding request for the University Village project is remote, or speculative, in nature."

As for Crow, the congressman sponsored multiple projects for the University of Colorados Anschutz Medical Campus. His former wife, Deserai Anderson Crow, is a professor in the University of Colorado system in the school of public affairs. They were married at the time of Crow's earmark requests.

"This funding was requested following all guidance to benefit one of the largest medical campuses in the Rocky Mountain region," said Crow spokesperson Grace Wright. "Colorado is fortunate to have several world-class, independent public universities. Congressman Crow will always fight for Colorado and work to provide resources that benefit the community."

In California last year, Thompson secured $1.8 million for water improvements at Adventist Health St. Helena, which was damaged by a wildfire in Napa Valley. The congressman also noted during an event last year handing over the money that he was born at the hospital.

Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., conducts a news conference in the Capitol Visitor Center on July 13, 2022.

HOUSE GOP VOTES TO KEEP CONGRESSIONAL EARMARKS FOR PET PROJECTS

Thompson signed a letter certifying that neither he nor his immediate family has a financial interest in the project as part of the process to obtain the funds.

Thompson spokesman Jack Stelzner told The Messenger that Thompson's wife is a nurse at the hospital, and that "neither her pay nor her position have been or will be impacted" by the funding.

"We sought guidance from House Ethics Committee regarding this earmark request," he explained. "The Ethics Committee informed us that the decision to support the project must be made on the project's merits, which is how we evaluated the project."

Stelzner said the water storage project can be used to fight fires and benefits hundreds of residents and businesses not associated with the hospital.

While congressional ethics rules prohibit U.S. lawmakers from sponsoring earmarks in which they or their spouse have a financial interest, the rules have been interpreted to make several earmarks requests permissible.

The earmark appropriations process requires members of Congress to state in writing that neither they nor their family members, have any financial interest in the projects they are sponsoring. According to the House Ethics Manual, an earmark would carry a financial interest "when it would be reasonable to conclude that the provision would have a direct and foreseeable effect on the pecuniary interests of the member or the member's spouse." That financial interest could "derive from a salary, indebtedness, job offer, or other similar interest."

Mike Thompson OMNIBUS BILL EARMARKS $750K FOR TRANS GROUP THAT WANTS TO INJECT LGBTQ 'DISCOURSE' IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

Sente rules are similar, stating that a senator may not "knowingly use his official position to introduce, request, or otherwise aid the progress or passage" of earmarks whose main purpose is to further the financial interests of the senator or their immediate family.

Proponents of earmarks argue it's advisable to allow elected officials to devote a small percentage of federal spending to the communities they know best. However, critics counter that the system could be easily abused and is often driven by lawmakers' desire to be re-elected.

Congress eliminated earmarks in 2011 amid several controversies involving alleged waste and corruption over various projects. But 10 years later, Democrats announced the return of congressional earmarks, promising this time it would be different.

"Our bipartisan reforms will produce a small number of projects with strong community support, a transparent process where no member's family can benefit and where projects are audited to ensure money was spent as planned," Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., then the House Appropriations Committee chair, said in 2021.

Members of Congress sponsoring earmarks that benefit their spouses' employers isn't a new issue. In 2012, for example, Citizens for Ethics and Responsibility in Washington (CREW), a watchdog group, found that 38 members of Congress  24 Democrats and 14 Republicans  had sent earmarks to a family business, employer or associated nonprofit.
An oceanfront Florida home that sleeps 35 people has been named one of Vrbos 2023 Vacation Homes of the Year.

30a My Way, located in Rosemary Beach in the Panhandle and about a four-and-a-half hour drive from Jacksonville, can be rented for around $4,379 a night.

Vrbo said this of the homes included on its list: These stunning, private vacation homes all boast stellar star ratings, rave guest reviews, are owned or managed by a Premier Host, and feature some of the most standout spaces and amenities for going on vacation together with family and friends.

Of 30a My Way, Vrbo said, With four floors of outdoor spaces, this home offers breathtaking views of the turquoise waters and white sand just steps away from the private boardwalk. Theres also a private pool and putting green when guests need a break from the beach.

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The amenities at 30a My Way, which boasts 10 bedrooms and 13 bathrooms include:

Indoor theatre room

Game room

Fully equipped kitchens and wet bars

Private beach boardwalk

Tesla charging ports in the garage

Outdoor pool

Additional carriage house

To see the full list of homes that made the list, click here.

Photos: Oceanfront Florida home is one of Vrbos 2023 Vacation Homes of the Year

An oceanfront Florida home that sleeps 35 people has been named one of Vrbos 2023 Vacation Homes of the Year. 30a My Way, which is located in Rosemary Beach in the Panhandle, can be rented for around $4,379 a night.

An oceanfront Florida home that sleeps 35 people has been named one of Vrbos 2023 Vacation Homes of the Year. 30a My Way, which is located in Rosemary Beach in the Panhandle, can be rented for around $4,379 a night.

An oceanfront Florida home that sleeps 35 people has been named one of Vrbos 2023 Vacation Homes of the Year. 30a My Way, which is located in Rosemary Beach in the Panhandle, can be rented for around $4,379 a night.

An oceanfront Florida home that sleeps 35 people has been named one of Vrbos 2023 Vacation Homes of the Year. 30a My Way, which is located in Rosemary Beach in the Panhandle, can be rented for around $4,379 a night.

An oceanfront Florida home that sleeps 35 people has been named one of Vrbos 2023 Vacation Homes of the Year. 30a My Way, which is located in Rosemary Beach in the Panhandle, can be rented for around $4,379 a night.

An oceanfront Florida home that sleeps 35 people has been named one of Vrbos 2023 Vacation Homes of the Year. 30a My Way, which is located in Rosemary Beach in the Panhandle, can be rented for around $4,379 a night.

An oceanfront Florida home that sleeps 35 people has been named one of Vrbos 2023 Vacation Homes of the Year. 30a My Way, which is located in Rosemary Beach in the Panhandle, can be rented for around $4,379 a night.

An oceanfront Florida home that sleeps 35 people has been named one of Vrbos 2023 Vacation Homes of the Year. 30a My Way, which is located in Rosemary Beach in the Panhandle, can be rented for around $4,379 a night.

An oceanfront Florida home that sleeps 35 people has been named one of Vrbos 2023 Vacation Homes of the Year. 30a My Way, which is located in Rosemary Beach in the Panhandle, can be rented for around $4,379 a night.

An oceanfront Florida home that sleeps 35 people has been named one of Vrbos 2023 Vacation Homes of the Year. 30a My Way, which is located in Rosemary Beach in the Panhandle, can be rented for around $4,379 a night.

An oceanfront Florida home that sleeps 35 people has been named one of Vrbos 2023 Vacation Homes of the Year. 30a My Way, which is located in Rosemary Beach in the Panhandle, can be rented for around $4,379 a night.

An oceanfront Florida home that sleeps 35 people has been named one of Vrbos 2023 Vacation Homes of the Year. 30a My Way, which is located in Rosemary Beach in the Panhandle, can be rented for around $4,379 a night.

An oceanfront Florida home that sleeps 35 people has been named one of Vrbos 2023 Vacation Homes of the Year. 30a My Way, which is located in Rosemary Beach in the Panhandle, can be rented for around $4,379 a night.

An oceanfront Florida home that sleeps 35 people has been named one of Vrbos 2023 Vacation Homes of the Year. 30a My Way, which is located in Rosemary Beach in the Panhandle, can be rented for around $4,379 a night.

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The four women who were hospitalized after being shot during an active shooter situation at a Midtown Atlanta medical facility have been released from the hospital.

Police said Deion Patterson, 24, opened fire in the waiting room of a Northside Hospital medical office, killing one woman and wounding four others. Three of those women were listed as critically injured after the shooting.

Lisa Glynn, Georgette Whitlow, Jazzmin Daniel and Alesha Hollinger, who range in age from 25 to 71, were all hospitalized.

Officials with Grady Memorial Hospital have confirmed to Channel 2 Action News that all four women have since been released from the hospital. The last of them was discharged on Monday.

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Daniel, a 25-year-old mother, had been working as a receptionist at the front desk of Northside Medical for just six months when Patterson opened fire. She says she was in the process of clocking out for lunch when she was shot in the chest and abdomen.

My whole life changed in a blink of an eye, she wrote in a GoFundMe campaign. I have a long recovery ahead of me.

RELATED STORIES:

Amy St. Pierre, a 38-year-old Centers for Disease Control and Prevention employee, was killed in the shooting.

CDC is deeply saddened by the unexpected loss of a colleague killed today in the Midtown Atlanta shooting. Our hearts are with her family, friends, and colleagues as they remember her and grieve this tragic loss, the CDC said in a statement.

Patterson was later arrested in Cobb County after an hours-long manhunt by multiple law enforcement agencies.

Additional video obtained by Channel 2 Action News showed the moment Patterson surrendered to officers in Cobb.

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Weve all been there. After a long day of work or school, the last thing we want to do is spend an hour (or even two) in the kitchen, chopping and dicing, mixing and measuring. But for many reasons  health, budget, taste  were also craving a homemade meal. Thats where these easy dinner recipes come in to solve our dinner dilemma.

All of them were developed with ease in mind. That could mean they rely on store-bought ingredients such as jarred pasta sauce or frozen veggies to cut down on prep and cook time. Or theyre meals that may take a while, but most of the work is hand off, such as a sheet-pan dinner or low-and-slow braise. Others come together quickly with minimal work for nights when you need dinner on the table ASAP, or theyre done in one pot or pan, for days when you cant handle a sink full of dishes.

Easy also doesnt mean you need to sacrifice flavor or variety. There are a diverse selection of dishes that are sure to satisfy any craving. For those looking for plant-based recipes, try mushroom tacos or an herby pasta, both of which are filling and delicious without any meat. Seafood lovers will be happy to find shrimp and salmon served in a number of ways. And if youre seeking something meaty, theres a whole host of chicken, beef and pork recipes featuring different cuts and flavor profiles.

Whether youre a busy parent trying to feed a family, a student living on a budget or simply a home cook looking for some inspiration in the kitchen, youll find an easy dinner recipe that you can whip up in a flash tonight.

Seafood recipes

Sheet-Pan Honey Jerk Salmon by Jocelyn Delk Adams

Salmon holds up to bold flavors of jerk spices in this simple recipe. The spicy marinade comes together in a food processor and the fish bakes quickly so you can easily have this sheet-pan meal on the table in less than 30 minutes.

4-Ingredient Air Fryer Salmon by Jocelyn Delk Adams

When she needs to get dinner on the table fast, Jocelyn Delk Adam turns to her trusty air fryer to cook this four-ingredient salmon. The garlicky honey-soy glaze adds sweet-umami flavors to the unctuous fish, which gets nicely caramelized as it cooks.

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One-Pan Shrimp Fra Diavolo by Riley Wofford

With a name that translates to among the devil, it should come as no surprise that this shrimp Fra Diavolo has a kick. Start with a small amount of the crushed red pepper flakes and adjust the heat level as the sauce simmers and the flavor intensifies. Serve with plenty of crusty bread to sop up that saucy goodness.

Sheet-Pan Fish with Tomatoes and Green Beans by Yasmin Fahr

The secret to the 15-minute prep for this sheet-pan dinner is smart time management. Get the fish and dressing ready as the tomatoes and green beans roast. Once the fish goes into the oven, therell be time to clean up, set the table and enjoy a glass of wine.

Sheet-Pan Greek Shrimp with Asparagus, Tomatoes and Olives by Casey Barber

Oregano and mint add a burst of Mediterranean flavor to this light, yet satisfying one-pan dinner. Briny olives and salty feta complement the juicy sweetness of the shrimp and cherry tomatoes.

Sheet Pan Miso Lemon Salmon with Zucchini and Rice by Ali Rosen

Miso and lemon deliver a combination of umami and citrus flavors that pair beautifully with salmon. Broiling is not only a quick cooking technique, but also gives the fish a browned exterior while maintaining its juicy interior.

Sheet-Pan Harissa Salmon with Vegetables by Joy Bauer

A one-pan meal brimming with salmon and roasted veggies gets even better with the addition of a harissa-orange-ginger sauce. Each bite is smoky, spicy and sweet and packed with wholesome ingredients thatll keep you satisfied.

One-Pan Teriyaki Salmon by Jessica Sepel

The oven does all the heavy lifting in this one-pan entree. The sesame-studded sweet potato and broccoli get a head start, followed by the teriyaki salmon. Packed with healthy fats and protein, its a nutritious, filling meal all on its own, but would also be delicious with a side of rice.

Yang Chow Fried Rice by Grace Young

Heres the secret to making restaurant-quality fried rice at home: Use cold, cooked rice thats been fluffed ahead of time. Thatll make the grains easy to separate so you dont end up with lumpy, mushy fried rice. If you have that ready, then this Yang Chow fried rice can be on the table in 15 minutes, thanks to the high heat of the wok and quick-cooking ingredients such as shrimp, ham and frozen peas.

Beef recipes

Easy Red Wine-Braised Brisket by Alejandra Ramos

Braising takes a while  thats the nature of the low-and-slow technique  but most of the work is hands-off, which is why its actually a great easy dinner option. To prep this brisket, all you need to do is mix up a spice rub, cut some onions and pour liquids into a pan. Place it in the oven for 5 to six hours and youll be rewarded with fall-off-the-bone brisket with minimal effort.

No-Sugar Ginger Beef and Broccoli by Kevin Curry

This takeout-inspired dish is ready in the time it takes to wait for delivery! Better yet, its much more affordable and you have full control over the ingredients. The sauce is made with low-sodium chicken broth and soy sauce, plus theres no added sugar. Make sure to let the wok or pan to fully heat up so you get a nice golden browning on the beef.

Baked Ziti Bolognese by Anthony Scotto

With a hearty meat sauce, creamy ricotta cheese, mozzarella and Parmesan, baked ziti Bolognese is the definition of Italian comfort food, says Anthony Scotto. Like all pasta casseroles, this recipe is a good one to add to your rotation of make-ahead meals. Prep one in advance and pop it into the oven on busy weekdays.

Easiest-Ever Beef Enchiladas by Laura Vitale

Not only does store-bought enchilada sauce save time, but the beef can also be made ahead so all you have to do is roll em and bake em. Serve with sour cream, freshly diced tomatoes and other toppings to make it a mix-and-match meal the whole family will love.

Hamburger Helper Pasta by Gaby Dalkin

Theres always going to be a time and place for boxed Hamburger Helper. But this elevated version by Gaby Dalkin is a rich and decadent option for nights when you want a from-scratch meal thatll please a crowd. The meaty, creamy cheeseburger-inspired casserole has everything kids love, but itll also strike a nostalgic note with the adults at the table.

Pizza-Stuffed Meatloaf by Jocelyn Delk Adams

Two comfort foods  pizza and meatloaf  come together to form one irresistibly easy dinner. The tomato sauce and melty mozzarella not only adds pizza flavor, but helps keep the meatloaf tender and juicy.

Chicken recipes

Caesar Chicken Thighs with Broccoli by Nina Elder

The next time you want to upgrade a chicken dinner, turn to a bottle of Caesar dressing. This recipe forgoes lettuce in favor of broccoli and juicy chicken thighs, using store-bought dressing as the base of a creamy sauce. A healthy grind of black pepper, lemon zest and crunchy Parmesan crisps further nod to its salad-inspired roots.

Rotisserie Chicken Fried Rice by Kevin Curry

Rotisserie chicken is a weeknight dinner lifesaver. One store-bought chicken can easily become taco filling, a grain bowl topper or this takeout-inspired fried rice. The endlessly customizable recipe comes together in only 20 minutes. You can follow it as is and use frozen peas and carrots as the veggie component, or whatever else you have in the fridge

Cashew Chicken by Grace Young

From tender pieces of chicken to buttery cashews to earthy shiitake mushrooms, theres lots to like about this wonderful stir-fry. Velveting, a traditional Chinese technique that calls for marinating meat in cornstarch, oil and seasonings, keeps the chicken juicy as its seared in a hot skillet with lots of ginger and garlic.

Lemony Chicken and Rice Casserole by Jocelyn Delk Adams

Baked chicken and rice is always a crowd pleaser. In this take on the comfort food classic, lemon zest and slices are added for a pop of citrusy brightness. Be sure to use chicken thighs, which will maintain their juicy texture during the long bake.

Sheet-Pan Chicken with Ramps, Lemon and Smashed Garlic by Yasmin Fahr

Theres no spring ingredient thats quite as fleeting  and coveted!  as ramps. But if you do get your hands on the wild allium, youll want to use them in this sheet-pan recipe, which infuses chicken thighs with its garlicky, onion flavor. The ramp flavor is dialed up even more with a tart vinaigrette that utilizes the raw bulbs.

Roast Chicken with Grapes and Burrata by Curtis Stone

Allow chef Curtis Stone to take you on a trip to wine country with this elegant, yet easy entree. Chicken thighs are roasted alongside grapes, shallots, rosemary and thyme until succulent, then served with a buttery white wine sauce. A ball of burrata adds even more richness to the final dish.

Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Tenders by Siri Daly

Make a double batch of Siri Dalys Parmesan-crusted chicken tenders and store some in the freezer to have them ready at any time. Panko breadcrumbs add a crunch that kids will love. They wont be able to resist Dalys special sauce, which is made with a trio of mayonnaise, mustard and ketchup.

Sheet-Pan Roasted Chicken Panzanella by Siri Daly

Panzanella is a salad thats traditionally made with stale bread, but this winning weeknight meal is so good, you wont want to wait for a loaf to dry out. Chicken thighs, tomatoes, zucchini and bread all roast together on one pan before theyre added to a bed of arugula with a zippy red wine vinegar dressing. Feel free to swap out the veggies for whatever looks best at the market!

Shawarma-Spiced Chicken Foil Packets by Will Coleman

For a simple, yet flavorful dinner, you can prep these foil packet dinners ahead of time and toss them on the grill once evening rolls around. Each package is brimming with shawarma-spiced chicken, olives, tomatoes and bell peppers. Will Colemans trick to making these a complete meal? Using the rice that comes in microwavable pouches, which reheats quickly on the grill and doesnt require any stovetop cooking.

Turkey recipes

Melba Wilson's Barbecue Turkey Meatloaf by Melba Wilson

Melba Wilson proves that turkey meatloaf can be just as succulent as the beef or pork variety in her recipe for the all-American staple. Use dark meat, a hefty helping of breadcrumbs and a barbecue sauce glaze to keep the loaf moist as it bakes.

Joy Bauer's One-Skillet Enchiladas by Joy Bauer

This one-pan wonder takes everything you love about enchiladas and layers them lasagna-style for a dinner thats low in effort, but big in flavor. In true Joy Bauer style, she sneaks in butternut squash and swaps in whole grain tortillas to make it extra filling and wholesome.

Weeknight Turkey Bolognese by Katie Stilo

Traditional Bolognese takes hours to simmer, which isnt always realistic on a weeknight. TODAY culinary producer Katie Stilo uses store-bought marinara as a time-saving shortcut, but amps it up with diced red onion, chopped garlic, Italian seasoning and Calabrian chili paste. Grated zucchini adds a nutritious boost, but you can also drop in a handful of spinach or grated carrots if you have other veggies on hand.

Slow-Cooker Mediterranean Stuffed Peppers with Tahini Drizzle by Joy Bauer

If you love a good set it-and-forget it meal, then bookmark this slow cooker recipe. Bell peppers are stuffed with whole grains, protein-packed ground turkey, feta, veggies and herbs, then placed in a slow cooker. A tahini drizzle at the end adds a nice creaminess to the dish.

Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs by Donatella Arpaia

Its convenient, its fast and it makes everything enticingly crisp  yes, were talking about the air fryer! Here, the popular appliance gives turkey meatballs loaded with garlic, parsley and Parm a nice golden crust, while still keeping the interior juicy. If you dont have one, dont fret. You can also pop the meatballs into the broiler to achieve the same effect.

Pork recipes

Butter-Basted Pork Chops by Gaby Dalkin

These hefty pork chops look impressive, but you can easily get them on the table in an hour  perfect for any last-minute gatherings. A trio of fresh rosemary, thyme and sage add a beautiful fall aroma during the basting process, which calls for spooning melted butter and drippings over the chops.

Sheet-Pan Italian Sausage with Kale, Cannellini Beans and Tomatoes by Casey Barber

This delightfully filling meal cooks in just 30 minutes. Buttery cannellini beans and kale pair nicely with Italian sausage. Theres little prep needed  all you need to do is toss with salt, pepper and, if you like a kick of heat, red pepper flakes.

Siri Daly's Egg Roll Bowl by Siri Daly

This deconstructed egg roll tastes just like the takeout appetizer without all the work and mess of rolling and deep-frying. Simply saute ground pork, coleslaw, egg and canned water chestnuts with aromatics, followed by a spicy Sriracha soy sauce. Serve on top of rice with crispy wonton strips for a bit of crunch.

Pork Adobo by Jordan Andino

Pork adobo, the national dish of the Philippines, is a dish that tastes even better the next day. Pork butt cooks slowly in a vinegary sauce thats meant for spooning over jasmine rice, but the shredded meat is just as good piled between sandwich buns or packed into tortillas for Filipino-inspired tacos.

One-Pot Pork Chops with Vinegar Peppers by Matt Abdoo

A vinegar cherry pepper topping adds heat and zip to seared bone-in pork chops. The chops are seared, then cooked in an aromatic sauce made with white wine, chicken stock, roasted peppers, onions and garlic. For even more flavorful meat, brine the chops overnight in water, salt and sugar.

Pizza Spaghetti Pie by Casey Barber

Pizza: check! Pasta: check! Pie: check! This family-friendly pizza spaghetti pie ticks off all the boxes, making it a guaranteed hit with diners of all ages. Even better? It takes 10 minutes of prep time to cook the noodles and mix everything together before it goes in the oven. The hardest part will be waiting for the pie to cool and set before digging in.

Vegetarian recipes

Red Wine Spaghetti by Ali Rosen

This ruby-red pasta will be the star of any dinner party. Its vibrant color and unique flavor will make it feel impressive, but its actually a dish thats quite simple to pull off. The pasta cooks in red wine with butter and garlic, then the noodles are tossed with pine nuts, feta cheese, lemon and basil. Its delicious as a vegetarian entree, but you can also add shrimp or grilled chicken for a heartier bite.

Easy Seitan by Ali Rosen

Making seitan, the popular meat alternative, is easier than you think. All you need are two ingredients  water and flour  plus a little elbow grease to knead them together. Making it from scratch means you can season it any way you like for the dish youre cooking.

Baked Broken Lasagna Pasta with Spinach by Yasmin Fahr

Think of this as the lasagna version of a dump cake. Simply combine crushed tomatoes, broken pieces of lasagna noodles and aromatics into a casserole pan and bake for 25 minutes before tossing in the rest of the ingredients. The no-fuss lasagna comes out bubbling with thick slices of noodles smothered in sauce and cheese.

Herby Rigatoni with Toasted Pine Nuts and Dates by Elena Besser

This herby green pasta is putting a new spin on the term eat your greens. Blend together a combination of fresh leafy herbs, such as basil, mint, or parsley, with spinach, garlic and lemon to form a bright green sauce for Parmesan and date-coated rigatoni noodles. Finish each plate with pine nuts for a nice textural contrast.

Pasta with Basil-Pistachio Pesto by Lauren Salkeld

Dont have pine nuts on hand, but still craving homemade pesto? This recipe swaps in a nut that you may be more likely to have available in a pinch. Pistachios not only taste great with basil and Parmesan, but also adds an additional dose of green to the pasta sauce.

Hibachi-Inspired Foil Packets by Will Coleman

These vegetarian foil packets are an homage to the hibachi restaurant. The marinade calls for Asian pantry staples such as soy sauce and rice wine vinegar, plus a few fresh ingredients such as lime juice and scallion. Customize what you want to cook  keep it vegetarian with tofu, mushrooms, asparagus and bok choy, or add a quick-cooking protein like shrimp to the mix.

Mexican Rice and Beans by Maggie Shi

You can probably find most, if not all, of the ingredients in this colorful vegetarian meal  rice, black beans, diced tomatoes, frozen corn  in your pantry or freezer. Even if you dont, the recipe is so versatile, you can easily sub in other veggies or beans and theyll taste just as great.

One-Pot Pasta Fagioli by Casey Barber

With just one pot and easy-to-find ingredients like cannellini beans and tomato puree, you can have a delicious and satisfying meal on the table with hardly any post-dinner cleanup. With pasta, beans, and veggies all in one dish, its a well-rounded meal thats sure to please the whole family.

Mushroom Taco 'Meat' by Samah Dada

Taco night doesnt need to be a heavy, meaty affair. These mushroom meat tacos get a satisfying, deep flavor from a bold mix of coriander, cumin, cayenne and garlic powder. To coax the most flavor from the spices, allow them to saute for a few minutes before adding the diced mushrooms.

Overnight Mac and Cheese by Ina Garten

Even Ina Garten thinks this overnight mac and cheese is one of her best. Its also possibly the easiest since theres no roux needed. The pasta mixture can also be prepped ahead and stored in the fridge overnight. Then, all you have to do the next day is pour it into a pan, top with cheese and breadcrumbs, and bake!

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
The band of thieves behind one of the jewelry worlds most brazen heists has finally been brought to justice.

In November 2019, the six men made headlines for breaking into Dresden, Germanys renowned Grunes Gewolbe museum, known in English as the Green Vault, and stealing what police at the time estimated to be 1 billion worth of baubles set with diamonds. At their trial, which started in January 2022, prosecutors accused the men of taking 21 artifacts adorned with more than 4,300 of the precious gemsa haul worth some $123 million. Now, five of the group have been sentenced to time behind bars.

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The defendants, all of whom are members of Berlins infamous Remmo crime organization, received relatively light sentences after confessing to parts of their involvement in the robbery, and for returning some of the items taken. One of the main perpetrators, Rabieh Remmo, is expected to serve six years and two months behind bars, according to the chief prosecutor. Wissam Remmo, an accomplice, received six years and three months, while Bashir Remmo will serve five years and ten months. Two other defendants will serve time as well, with the first sentenced to four years and four months in prison under the Juvenile Criminal Code. A fifth accomplice has been sentenced to five years in juvenile detention, claiming he only participated in obtaining tools for the heist. A sixth defendant was acquitted.

Defendant Abdul Majed R. (R, hidden) is led in handcuffs by judicial officers into the courtroom of the Higher Regional Court in Dresden, eastern Germany on March 20, 2023.

Last December, police also suggested that there may have been a seventh participant in the heist. Based on the evaluation of recordings from the video surveillance system in the Historisches Grunes Gewolbe, there is initial suspicion that the person pictured helped prepare the burglary by spying on the scene of the crime between 10:03 a.m. and 12:21 p.m. on the day before the crime and making the knowledge gained available to those directly involved in the crime.

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Footage of the crime, released by Saxony Police, shows two of the thieves moving through the museum with flashlights. One of the robbers can be seen using an ax to break a vitrines glass; after nine strikes, the two were able to grab Inside, bowls carved out of crystal could be found alongside jeweled figurines and goblets crafted from gilded ostrich eggs. Fortunately for the museum, its most famous piecea 41-carat green diamond known as the Dresden Greenwas on loan to New Yorks Metropolitan Museum of Art at the time.

Most of the stolen artifacts were made during the reign of Frederick Augustus III, the last Elector of Saxony. He was later known as Frederick Augustus I, the first King of Saxony. Two of the missing items include a 1780s hat clasp with 15 large diamonds and over 100 small diamonds, as well as a 38-inch long sword and sheath set with more than 800 diamonds in total. Only some of the artifacts have been recovered; Marion Ackermann, director of Dresdens State Art Collection, says their high value doesnt even begin to reflect their incalculable importance.

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Republicans are salivating over the governorship in Kentucky, for good reason: Its the reddest state with a Democratic chief executive  Gov. Andy Beshear  and the GOP has a chance to take him out this November.

Vying for that opportunity in Tuesdays primary are a dozen Republican candidates, including a pair with direct ties to former President Donald Trump: Daniel Cameron, the states Black attorney general who has Trumps endorsement; and Kelly Craft, who served as U.N. ambassador under the former president.

That's the marquee race on the ballot, but Tuesday's consequential elections aren't limited to Kentucky.

Pennsylvania is hosting primaries, too, including picking the likely next mayor of the nation's sixth-largest city, Philadelphia. National figures like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) have gotten involved in the race in hopes of securing another progressive mayoral win.

A special election for a Pennsylvania state House seat could shift the balance of the state's legislatures lower chamber. Democrats have been spending big to defend it, saying it would grant Republicans the ability to put an anti-abortion constitutional amendment on the ballot if they win. Republicans have said those characterizations are inaccurate.

And in Jacksonville, Fla.  that state's most-populous and most politically competitive city  Republicans are defending their largest mayoralty anywhere in the country, while Democrats are trying to prove that a battleground area in otherwise-red-trending Florida is swinging their way.

Here are five things to watch on Tuesday as the results roll in:

A messy Kentucky primary to take on a popular Democratic incumbent

A brutal Republican primary comes to a close on Tuesday. Republicans are battling for the right to take on Beshear.

Cameron was seen as the early favorite in a packed field, earning Trump's endorsement shortly after announcing. But Craft, a Republican megadonor who served as Trumps final United Nations ambassador, jumped in the race and was able to close in on him after a slugfest.

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Daniel was far-and-away ahead, said Scott Jennings, a prominent GOP consultant in the state who has remained neutral in the primary. Between December and April, she really did almost reel him in.

Craft has poured millions into her campaign, dumping in at least $9.3 million ahead of the primary. Craft and an allied super PAC  which received its biggest check from her husband, coal billionaire Joe Craft  pummeled Cameron relentlessly with TV ads calling him an establishment teddy bear and tying him to Beshear and President Joe Biden.



She leaned on an unconventional mix of allies  Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis made an eleventh-hour endorsement, and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy were on hand in the final stretch  while taking the occasional jab at Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, the most powerful Kentucky Republican and Camerons mentor. (McConnell, notably, did not endorse in the race between his protege and Craft, a deep-pocketed donor who has supported both McConnell and the GOP at large in the past.)

But Cameron, a rising star in the state, was the early frontrunner for a reason. He frequently raised the support of scores of local law enforcement officials across the state. Cameron and his allied super PAC  largely funded by a prominent dark money group called The Concord Fund  started swinging back at Craft on the airwaves last month, a moment that Jennings said led Cameron to stabilize in the race. Camerons ads tagged her as being ultra rich and misleading Kentuckians about her commitment to the state.

While Cameron enters the primary as the frontrunner and Craft a clear second choice, Republicans in the state mention state Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles as a potentially viable third candidate.



Turnout will likely be low: Secretary of State Michael Adams, a Republican who is facing a primary of his own, predicted to local media last week that as few as 10 percent of registered voters could participate in the primary  making the contest a bit of a wildcard.

Despite the red tilt of the state, the winner of this primary will be an underdog in November.

Beshear is a popular governor, especially for a Democrat in a state that Trump carried by nearly 26 points. He has navigated the state through a series of crises, like the pandemic, a high-profile mass shooting and several major natural disasters. He carried himself as a technocratic governor and transcended party labels. Hell enter the race with a fully-stocked campaign warchest and with the full-throated support of the Democratic Governors Association.

 Zach Montellaro



Philly's next mayor could notch another win for national progressives

Progressive Brandon Johnson triumphed over a tough-on-crime moderate in the Chicago mayors race in April. With the wind at their back, will liberals pull off a one-two punch in Philadelphia this week? National figures like Bernie Sanders and AOC certainly hope so.

Liberal leaders across the country have gone all in on Helen Gym, a former councilmember who is calling for a Green New Deal for local schools. She's one of nine people who are vying for the Democratic nomination  which in this Democratic-dominated city all but guarantees a win in November.



The race is truly up for grabs. Gym and three more traditional or moderate Democrats, former Councilmember Cherelle Parker, former City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart and real estate developer Allan Domb, are at the top of the most recent poll. Businessperson Jeff Brown isn't far behind them. Unlike in Chicago, Philadelphia Democrats will choose their nominee in a first-past-the-post primary  meaning the candidate with the most votes wins, even if that total is well short of 50 percent.



Crime has emerged as a major issue in the contest, with Parker and other candidates expressing openness to deploying the controversial police tactic known as stop-and-frisk. With three women leading the polls, Philly may also elect its first female mayor this year  the past 99 were men.

 Holly Otterbein

A special election for a Pennsylvania state House seat puts abortion on the ballot

Democrats lost control of the Pennsylvania state House in the 2010 Republican midterm wave, and it took them more than 12 years to get it back earlier this year.

But Democrats one-seat majority is again at risk with special elections Tuesday for two vacant seats, one formerly held by each party. If Republicans win both, they would retake the chamber after a less-than-six-month interregnum  and while they couldnt overcome Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiros veto on legislation, the state legislature could go around the governor to place an anti-abortion constitutional amendment on a future ballot.

On paper, the Philadelphia-area district Democrats are defending should be solidly blue: Before he resigned from office because of a sexual harassment scandal, Democratic state Rep. Mike Zabel was easily reelected last year, 65 percent to 33 percent.

Whether its just due diligence, the lingering stench of Zabels scandal or a sign of a challenging political environment, Democrats have mounted a full-court press to keep the seat, spending nearly $1 million. The blitz includes direct-to-camera ads from Shapiro touting Democrat Heather Boyd to keep abortion legal, and an election-eve endorsement from President Joe Biden.

Republicans are operating mostly below the radar, but PA Rising, wealthy former Senate candidate Dave McCormicks new PAC, helped raise $22,000 for GOP candidate Katie Ford and contributed $10,000 to Fords campaign.

A Boyd victory would keep the current dynamic: a Democratic governor and split control of the state legislature (Republicans still control the state Senate). But a Ford upset would give Republicans unified control of the state legislature as a counterweight to Shapiro.

 Steven Shepard

The battle over the GOP nomination for a swing-state Supreme Court seat

A judge who ruled against certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election is running for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. National Republicans are trying to make sure she doesnt make it past the primary.

In the weeks leading up to Tuesdays primary, an arm of the Republican State Leadership Committee has been running a $500,000-plus buy that hits Commonwealth Court Judge Patricia McCullough, who unsuccessfully ran for the state Supreme Court in 2021, just months after she ordered to halt the vote certification. The group is instead boosting her primary opponent, Montgomery Court of Common Pleas Judge Carolyn Carluccio, a top fundraiser who earned the support of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania.

Meanwhile, the bulk of McCulloughs fundraising came from the PAC of far-right Republican Doug Mastriano, who lost last years Pennsylvania gubernatorial race and is considering a bid for Senate in 2024.

Ive been threatened for my opinions from people around the country, she said at a Mastriano rally earlier this year, where she touted her ruling against a mail-in voting law and being the only judge in 2020 in the presidential election in the entire country to order the governor to stop certifying the election. (Carluccio didnt directly address a question from a local outlet asking if she thought the 2020 and 2022 elections were free and fair.)

Should McCullough win the GOP nomination, that creates more of an opportunity for a Democratic candidate to create a clear contrast between their objectives  and what we might expect from someone who has advanced election conspiracies that have been proven to be false, said Mark Nevins, a Democratic consultant in the state.

On the left, Superior Court Judges Deborah Kunselman and Daniel McCaffery, who has the endorsement of the state Democratic Party, as well as a fundraising advantage over Kunselman, are facing off.

Control of the court would still rest in a Democratic majority, even if a Republican wins in the fall. But a nomination for McCullough would be a sign of how deep the influence of Donald Trump's election denialism has taken hold of the party. Still, the balance of the court will be up for grabs in 2025, when three Democratic judges terms are up. But those are retention races  just a yes-or-no vote on if a judge should continue serving  which are close to sure things for the incumbent.

Republicans have to put forth their very best candidate for the fall election because control of the Supreme Court is absolutely dependent on this election, said Charlie Gerow, a GOP strategist in the state.

 Madison Fernandez

A reset in Florida?

The race for mayor in Jacksonville, a city in northeast Florida that is home to nearly 1 million people, has turned into the first significant test for Democrats since former state Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried took over the helm of the state party earlier this year.

Jacksonvilles current mayor, Lenny Curry, is a former state GOP chair who is leaving office due to term limits. But the city  which is part of a consolidated government with Duval County  has been a battleground between the two parties in recent years.

Democratic nominee for governor Andrew Gillum won Duval County in 2018  as did President Joe Biden two years later. But Gov. Ron DeSantis swung the county back into the GOP column overwhelmingly last November. If Democrats fare poorly here on Tuesday, it doesn't bode well for them next November as Florida becomes an increasingly Republican state.

Donna Deegan and Daniel Davis were the top two candidates who emerged from a March primary. Deegan, a Democrat, is seeking to become the first female mayor in Jacksonville history. Shes a former television anchor who runs a breast cancer nonprofit foundation. Davis is a former Republican state legislator who has led the JAX Chamber since 2013 and has been endorsed by DeSantis.

Both parties have thrown time and money into the contest which has focused on the citys crime rate and how the two candidates would handle issues such as policing, renovations to the Jacksonville Jaguars stadium and a decision to sell off the municipal utility.

An ad paid for by the Duval County Republican Party went after Deegan by pointing out that she attended Black Lives Matter protests in 2020. Another ad featured the Duval County sheriff contending Deegan would back radical policies for law enforcement. Deegan has responded by calling the attacks smears and has questioned whether Davis would support holding onto the citys electric utility.

Fried, the Democrats' state party chair, said that Deegan ran a terrific campaign talking about the issues. I feel very confident that the people of Jacksonville have voted for something new.

Christian Ziegler, the state Republican chair, contended that the GOP voters would turn out in force to elect Davis. Jacksonville is too great a city to be run by a liberal with no skills or experience running anything, let alone a city, he said.

A new poll released Monday by St. Pete Polls found the race tight heading into Election Day with Deegan leading Davis 48 percent to 46 percent, which is within the polls 4.8 percent margin of error.

 Gary Fineout
In the summer of 2017, Eric Valentine recalled that he was volunteering with an eastern Oregon Boy Scout troop when they encountered a group of rafters in need of assistance.

Six years later, the 80-year-old retired judge  and former Scoutmaster  was the one in desperate need of help.

And the Boy Scouts showed up.

Valentine, who works as a freelance photographer, was hiking along Hells Canyon in early May and taking photographs when he lost his balance and fell 60 feet down a slope while trying to get a milkweed plant off one of his boots, according to a Boy Scouts of America news release.

A Boise firefighters wife spotted Valentine crawling and was able to flag down a group of members from Eagles Boy Scout Troop 77, who were out canoeing on the Snake River.

I asked God to send angels, Valentine told nearly a dozen members of Troop 77 in his hospital bed Monday evening at Saint Alphonsus Regional Rehabilitation Hospital in Boise. He sent me the Boy Scouts.

Eric Valentine talks to one of Troop 77s Scoutmasters from his hospital bed Monday evening. Nearly two dozen members of the troop were out on a canoe trip in May 6 when they were flagged down and able to help Valentine after he fell off a hill.

Valentine is recovering from surgery but said he expects to head home to La Grande, Oregon, in a few days. He has a broken ankle, cracked tibia, fractured back and three broken vertebrate in his neck, but that didnt stop him from making the packed hospital room burst into laughter.

During the roughly 30-minute visit, Valentine joked that he was fully prepared for his hike  like a Boy Scout should be  except that he didnt bring a buddy.

Nearly two dozen members of the troop were on the canoe trip, including 16-year-old Henry Cavanagh, 15-year-old McCoy Bondelid, 17-year-old Nathaniel Jacob and 17-year-old Brendan Karabensh. The boys said Monday that they were able to spot Valentine easily because he was wearing a bright red jacket, which is something that he put on after hed fallen, knowing that it would make him more visible.

The troop, along with former Boise firefighter Steve Rasulo, tended to Valentine until he could be transported to a nearby Idaho Power boat. That assistance came after Troop 77 Assistant Scoutmaster Nate Bondelid used his satellite phone to make an emergency call for help.

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The troop members wrapped gauze around Valentines head, gave him water and used a towel to support his head in case he had a spinal injury. Idaho Power personnel transported Valentine to the Copper Trail Creek Area by boat, and it was flat enough there for a helicopter to land. He was then taken to Saint Als.

Valentine on Monday praised the Scouts, others who helped and the hospital staff at Saint Als.

What are the chances thered be a Boy Scout Troop from Eagle, Idaho? Valentine asked. Thats almost impossible, but not with God.
[Source]

A 78-year-old U.S. citizen has been found guilty of espionage and sentenced to life in prison in China.

On Monday, the Intermediate People's Court in Suzhou City announced that it convicted permanent Hong Kong resident John Shing-wan Leung on spy charges without providing specific details regarding the allegations.

Leung, who was arrested by a local counterintelligence unit in Suzhou in 2021, was found guilty of espionage, sentenced to life imprisonment, deprived of political rights for life, and confiscated personal property of RMB 500,000 (approximately $71,670), according to an official statement translated by ABC News.

Leung had reportedly been involved in different organizations that allowed him to frequently travel to China to meet with local officials.

More from NextShark: Gym Owner Dumped by Crossfit After Sending Racist Email to 'Filthy, Foreign' Woman

He served as the Texas branch head of the Association for the Promotion of the Peaceful Reunification of China, a group that advocates Beijing's claims over Taiwan. He also chaired his own foundation, the Leung Cultural Exchange Foundation, which facilitated exchanges between musicians from China and the U.S.

Leung was convicted via a closed-door trial, which is commonly utilized for sensitive cases involving espionage charges.

Although heavy sentences are rare for foreign citizens, the upcoming implementation of a new law in July is expected to broaden the scope of China's law against espionage. Once enacted, this law will prohibit the transfer of any data determined to be associated with national security.

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Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said in a statement that Leung's sentencing has revealed threats to national security.

"This incident showed us that national security risks could be hidden in society. Thats why we repeatedly stressed that, although Hong Kongs situation appears to be largely stabilized, we cant let down our guard over national security risks and have to stay vigilant," Lee said.

While it was not made clear where Leung was residing at the time of his arrest, U.S. officials have confirmed that they are aware of the reports.

More from NextShark: 'Drivers took white people and animals over us': Indian student recounts racism while fleeing Ukraine

"The Department of State has no greater priority than the safety and security of US citizens overseas," the spokesperson for the U.S. embassy in Beijing said in a statement to Reuters.

Last week, Litang Liang, a 63-year-old man from Boston, pleaded not guilty to accusations of spying on dissidents for the Chinese government. If convicted, Liang could face up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a maximum of $250,000 in fines.
Lieutenant General Serhii Naiev, Commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has reported that this night was the eighth air attack on Kyiv since the beginning of May.

Source: Command of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Quote from Naiev: "Last night marked the eighth air attack on Kyiv since the beginning of May. The enemy launched the attack from different directions, using all the resources available to them, from drones to cruise missiles.

The density of fire on the capital was maximum, but all targets were detected and destroyed thanks to the multi-level principle of air defence echeloning."

Details: Naiev has said that the defenders continue to build up their defensive positions along the state border every day.

The commander believes that the Russians task is to spread panic and create chaos.

Everything in the northern operational area is under full control.

Naive has added that the commanders of the troop groups and units are doing everything to prevent the invaders from crossing the border, both through the airspace and across the border itself.

Background:

Air-raid warnings were issued throughout Ukraine, including twice in Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast on the night of 1516 May.

A series of loud explosions occurred in the capital, and air defence systems were activated.

Fragments of a downed missile fell on the territory of the zoo in Kyivs Shevchenkivskyi district; more fragments also landed in the Darnytskyi, Obolonskyi and Solomianskyi districts in Kyiv. A non-residential building and several cars caught fire in the Solomianskyi district, and two more were damaged by missile fragments in the Darnytskyi district. According to preliminary information, there are three victims in the Solomianskyi district.

The Russian invaders attacked Ukraine with 18 missiles of various types and a number of Shahed drones on the night of 15-16 May, with all Russian targets shot down by the defenders.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Kayla Unbehaun, who was abducted when she was 9 years old by her non-custodial mother Heather from South Elgin, Illinois, in 2017, has been found in Asheville, ABC 7 in Chicago reported Monday.

ALSO READ: 2 children safe during investigation into custodial interference

Police arrested Heather Unhebhaun in Asheville over the weekend, according to the report.

A store owner apparently recognized Kayla from an episode of Netflixs Unsolved Mysteries series about parental abductions and called the police.

BREAKING NEWS 



NCMEC is excited to share that Kayla Unbehaun has been FOUND SAFE in North Carolina!



Kayla was only 9 years old when she was abducted by her non-custodial mother, Heather Unbehaun from South Elgin, Illinois on July 5, 2017. Kaylas dad, Ryan asked NCMEC to pic.twitter.com/5O7bpEjIhT  National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (@MissingKids) May 16, 2023

Heather Unbehaun is being held on $250,000 bond and is awaiting extradition. Kayla is now in protective custody.

South Elgin police said Kayla was last seen on July 4, 2017. Her father, Ryan, went to pick her up from her mothers house on July 5 but she wasnt there.

Im overjoyed that Kayla is home safe. I want to thank the South Elgin Police Department, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and all of the law enforcement agencies who assisted with her case. I also want to thank all of the followers on the Bring Kayla Home Facebook page, who helped keep her story alive and were instrumental in spreading awareness. We ask for privacy as we get to know each other again and navigate this new beginning, the father said in a statement.

Heather Unbehaun was charged with child abduction. Its not clear if there will be more charges.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

VIDEO: Sheriff: 13-year-old girl abducted from Texas found alive in NC shed
The number of abducted young Black girls in Oakland is on the rise. Numerous Oakland-based institutions have declared a state of emergency for the alarming number of black girls abducted, according to Madamenoire. Oakland City Councilwoman, Treva Reid told KRON News that out of the 1500 missing persons in Oakland, 400 are Black women . Oakland Violence Prevention Coalition Chairperson, Vanessa Russell also told KRON that families contacted her detailing their daughters abductions. Both leaders are pushing city officials to combat this crisis.

Details of the Crimes

In an interview with KRON, Russell said 10 attempted kidnappings occurred over the past month. She added, three men snatched a young woman from a vehicle. Madamenoire reports the missing teen was only 16-years-old. The abduction happened after she and her boyfriend left Wingstop in Oaklands Trestle Glen neighborhood. The couple was about to eat when three men pointed their guns at the two and robbed them. The suspects stole cash, ear pods, and a phone. The gunmen then ordered the young woman to get in their vehicle, according to the outlet, telling her she could retrieve the items if she did so. They then left the scene with the teen in their vehicle and proceeded to rob other citizens throughout the city. The suspects eventually dropped the young woman on an interstate, unharmed. Russell shared her frustrations and said we have to do something.

Solutions To Prevent Young Black Girls From Getting Abducted

Reid told KRON she wants to adopt a resolution similar to Senator Bradfords Ebony Alert bill. Senate Bill 673, alerts and retrieves missing young Black girls in California. Reid proposes a request to Oaklands city council president to fight this problem. Russell, who is also the founder of Love Never Fails Us works tirelessly to retrieve missing Black women. Russell advises young Black women to protect their online presence. She also suggests avoiding connecting with strangers.

The post Abduction Rate of Black Girls In Oakland on the Rise appeared first on 21Ninety.
PROVIDENCE  Facing its toughest vote so far this year, legislation to provide state-funded abortion coverage to state workers and Medicaid recipients won a Senate committee's approval by a slim one-vote margin on Tuesday.

The vote was 7-to-6 with Senate President Dominick Ruggerio casting what proved to be the deciding vote and later explaining: "I view this legislation as a simple insurance equity measure.

"The bottom line for me is that I want state employees and individuals on Medicaid to have access to the same health insurance benefits as all other Rhode Islanders," Ruggerio said. He said he was comfortable with his vote "not only as a Catholic, but I am also comfortable as a representative of the 4th Senatorial District. I think this is what people want."

The bill now goes to the full Senate for a vote on Thursday, and Ruggerio said: "If I was a betting man, I would probably think that would pass on Thursday, but we'll see. I've done no lobbying, no asking anyone to do anything."

The Senate Judiciary Committee was voting on the Senate's matching version of the "Equality in Abortion Coverage Act" that won House approval on a 49-to-24 vote last month after a heated debate.

Those voting for the bill, without any debate, were: Democratic Sens. Dawn Euer, the Senate Judiciary chairwoman; John Burke, Matthew LaMountain, Mark McKenney, Ana Quezada, Ryan Pearson, the Senate majority leader, and Ruggerio.

Those voting against were Democrats Frank Lombardi, Leonidas Raptakis and David Tikoian, and Republicans Anthony DeLuca, Gordon Rogers and Jessica de la Cruz, the Senate minority leader.

What does the bill do?

At its core, the legislation allows state funding for women on Medicaid to receive abortions. It would also repeal a current prohibition on the state funding of any health insurance plan that provides state workers with "coverage for induced abortions ... except where the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term, or where the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest."

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Sen. de la Cruz, the leader of the five-member GOP bloc within the 38-member Senate, issued a statement earlier anticipating defeat for the anti-abortion side, but suggesting the Rhode Island Constitution may provide a legal argument against whatever passes.

She cited wording in the Constitution that is not on its face a prohibition, but says: "Nothing in this section shall be construed to grant or secure any right relating to abortion or the funding thereof."

Although "news of the likely passage of taxpayer-funded abortion in Rhode Island may be disheartening, we should not consider this struggle as a lost cause. There is always hope, and we must remain committed to the fight," she wrote.

More: Fate of state-funded abortion coverage rests in RI Senate's hands. Here's what's at stake.

Senators David Tikoian and John Burke listen with other members of the Senate Judiciary Committee as the vote of 7-to-6 is read and the "Equality in Abortion Coverage Act" was sent out of Senate Judiciary Committee to a full Senate vote on Tuesday afternoon. Ruggerio's vote proved to be the deciding vote.

How did the votes shake out?

At mid-day Tuesday it was not yet clear how two of the potential swing voters on the committee  Sens. Tikoian and Burke  would vote.

Tikoian, D-Smithfield, said he was being deluged with calls and emails and still wading through the arguments in his mind. In the end, he voted against the bill.

As a candidate, Burke, D-West Warwick, said he "didn't come out either way" on abortion, but received the Rhode Island Right to Life Committee endorsement anyway, unsolicited. "They backed me only because I'm a Catholic and I went to [Bishop] Hendricken," he surmised.

Asked how he intended to vote Tuesday, in committee, Burke said he hadn't yet decided. But "it's already legal, so I mean it's not abortion, it's about equity."

In the end, he said, he voted for the bill so the full Senate would have a chance to vote on it.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: State funded abortion in RI goes to Senate committee for vote. How it went
AC-130 Gunship AESA

The U.S. Air Force plans to test an AC-130J Ghostrider gunship equipped with an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar. Adding an AESA would give these aircraft a valuable tool for spotting, tracking, and engaging targets, especially in bad weather and at extended ranges. The radar could perform more general intelligence-gathering and provide improved situational awareness, along with other functions, as well.

The forthcoming AC-130 AESA testing was highlighted during a briefing last week by members of U.S. Special Operations Command's (SOCOM) Program Executive Office for Fixed Wing aircraft (PEO-FW), which The War Zone, among others, attended. That event was held as part of an annual special operations-focused conference now called SOF Week.

An AC-130J Ghostrider. USAF

"We have a tech demo coming up, where we've got a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement [CRADA] to do an AESA radar on an AC-130 gunship," one of the representatives from PEO-FW said. The testing will help SOCOM "see what capabilities that can help us bring to the fight."

A CRADA is a process wherein the U.S. military partners with a private company or research institution on a particular project, but without a traditional contract award. CRADAs typically involve various degrees of sharing of resources and the results of any testing in lieu of a typical exchange of funds.

What specific AESA SOCOM plans to test on the AC-130J is not currently known. This is, of course, not the first time SOCOM, together with the Air Force, has looked into equipped AC-130s with a radar of this general type.

In 2015, SOCOM revealed that it had been testing the AN/ASQ-236 Dragon's Eye radar pod on its gunships as part of an earlier CRADA. The pod was flight tested on at least one AC-130 mounted on a pylon under the right wing.

An AN/ASQ-236 Dragon's Eye radar pod under the wing of an AC-130 gunship. USAF

The AN/ASQ-236 features an AESA radar that is capable of rotating left and right along the pod's center axis. It has a synthetic aperture functionality that is said to be sensitive enough to generate near photo-quality radar maps and to spot shallow-buried objects, such as improvised explosive devices and individuals in dugouts. It also has a GMTI capability that is reportedly able to track moving vehicles and ships. The complete pod has the ability to geo-locate targets that the radar spots and systems required to keep everything cool.

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SOCOM and the Air Force ultimately determined Dragon's Eye, at least in the form available at the time, to be unsuitable for use on the AC-130. The exact reasons for this remain unclear.

The AC-130J does not have a sensor system that enables adverse weather engagements by detecting and tracking targets obscured by weather, smoke and haze or obscurants, according to the Pentagon's Office of the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation's annual report for the 2016 Fiscal Year. Earlier efforts to integrate an AN/ASQ-236 radar pod were unsuccessful.

Dragon's Eye is currently primarily carried by Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles and F-16C/D Viper combat jets, though it has also been tested on other platforms, in addition to the AC-130, like the B-52 bomber.

A picture of an F-15E Strike Eagle with an arrow pointing to the Dragon's Eye radar pod on its centerline pylon. USAF

A new variant or derivative of Dragon's Eye, or another podded AESA radar, mounted under the wing or using an add-on pylon installed on the AC-130J's right-side rear paratrooper doors might still be an option. The left-side door on the Ghostrider is already taken up with the aircraft's 105mm howitzer.

An example of a modified C-130 rear paratrooper door with an add-on pylon with a pod attached. via ThinkDefence.co.uk

Other podded AESA radars with still significant synthetic aperture and/or GMTI functionality do exist, including ones small enough to be mounted on drones. Some of these, such as the AN/ZPY-5 Vehicle and Dismount Exploitation Radar (VADER) and IMSAR NSP-series, are in U.S. military service now or have otherwise been evaluated already by SOCOM.

A US Army MC-12S Enhanced Medium Altitude Reconnaissance and Surveillance System-VADER (EMARSS-V) aircraft. Its podded AN/ZPY-5 radar is seen under the central fuselage. Bill Word/FlickrCC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwjo_Nog2O4

A radar using some other kind of mounting arrangement could be another possibility. For example, earlier this year, Marshall Aerospace in the United Kingdom unveiled a roll-on/roll-off palletized AESA radar system for C-130-series aircraft that uses conformal antennas installed in modified rear paratrooper doors.

A portion of Marshall Aerospace's palletized radar system for use on C-130-series aircraft. Marshall Aerospace

A number of older AC-130 variants had a sensor called Black Crow, which included an antenna inside a dome, installed on the left side of the 'cheek' area. Black Crow was designed to pick up electrical impulses generated by the spark plugs in trucks and other vehicles with internal combustion engines. This could be an ideal location for a side-facing AESA radar on the AC-130J, but it would come at an aerodynamic penalty, which really is nothing new for the bristling AC-130.

A Vietnam War-era picture showing the Black Crow sensor on an AC-130A gunship. USAF

The same sensor installation arrangement stuck around long after the war ended. USAF

Regardless, compared to older mechanically-scanned types, AESA radars offer significant benefits. This includes being typically able to spot objects of interest, even those with low radar cross-sections, faster and do so with greater precision and fidelity. AESAs also generally have very fast scanning and return rates, and can perform multiple functions near-simultaneously.

In addition, AESAs have improved resistance to radiofrequency jamming. With no need for a mechanical assembly to steer the antenna, systems that can often be very complex in their own right, radars of this type are more reliable, too.

The improved capabilities AESAs would offer at their core have further benefits when combined with other kinds of functionality, including synthetic aperture mapping and imaging and ground-moving target indicator (GMTI) modes.

The feed from an AN/ZPY-5 VADER radar as an example of AESA GMTI functionality overlaid on top of a topographical map. DHS

Compared to the electro-optical and infrared full-motion video cameras already found on the Air Force's AC-130Js, an AESA radar is also capable of functioning in any weather and of 'seeing' through dense smoke, dust, and other obscurants. This includes modern chemical smokescreens specifically developed to defeat optical and infrared sensors.

The Ghostrider's existing cameras do have various low-light-level and thermal capabilities, though an AESA can also work at night just the same as day. AESAs have the additional benefit of being immune to optical dazzlers and infrared interference, which are an increasing issue on the battlefield, as well.

Altogether, a modern AESA with a good field of view could be particularly useful on an AC-130 gunship for targeting and more general intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). But depending on how deeply integrated such a system would become into the AC-130J's complex mission systems suite, it could prove even more valuable.

A SAR image sample from a brochure for the IMSAR NSP-5 radar. IMSAR

The AESA radar would also spot targets for further investigation using the AC-130J's other sensors, or vice versa. This, in turn, could improve the ability of the aircraft's crew to positively identify targets rapidly, including in very bad weather and in dense urban or otherwise complex environments. Paired with advanced software algorithms and advanced back-end processing, these systems can automatically spot targets or patterns of interest and alert operators as to their proposed classification and location.

Once targets are found and identified, an AESA radar can be very valuable for helping AC-130J crews actually engage them, especially at stand-off ranges. As it stands now, Ghostriders rely heavily on off-board platforms to make the most of their longer-range munitions, such as the GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) and its laser-guided variant that can hit moving targets, although the latter needs something nearby lasing the target directly to do so. The standard SDB, which can only be used against fixed threats, has a stated maximum range of more than 40 nautical miles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DDcIyfSwnA

The Ghostrider is already in line to receive the much-improved GBU-53/B StormBreaker, which has a new multi-mode seeker system that gives it the ability to engage moving targets over its entire range without laser designation occuring. You can read all about StormBreaker here. A true self-contained ability to engage moving targets at stand-off ranges in any weather, which the AC-130J does not have now, would be a major capability boost by itself. An AESA would make this possible by providing the initial targeting and datalink updates for StormBreaker.

The AC-130J's need for longer-range target acquisition capabilities is only set to increase as its arsenal gains ever more capable precision-guided munitions able to hit targets further and further away. During SOF Week 2023, SOCOM's PEO-FW also highlighted interest specifically in adding new stand-off strike capabilities through the acquisition of small and miniature "cruise missiles" for use on the Ghostrider and other aircraft.

An AC-130J in the anechoic chamber at Edwards AFB. (USAF)

"Miniature" in this instance would be something small enough to fit inside a standardized Common Launch Tube (CLT). "Small" refers to larger designs that would be launched via a more traditional pylon or something like the Air Force's Rapid Dragon palletized munitions system. Smaller and lower-cost air-to-surface munitions with stand-in, if not stand-off range have been of interest to SOCOM and the Air Force for some years now.

An AESA radar could be used to help direct the AC-130J's 30mm automatic cannon and 105mm howitzer during shorter-range engagements, too. This would give the gunships another way to engage threats with those weapons even through cloud cover, smoke, or heavy dust.

An AC-130J Ghostrider with its 30mm automatic cannon, at left, and its 105mm howizter, at right, visible. USAF

Advanced mission systems, potentially leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning technology, could be used to fuse data from multiple sensors on the Ghostrider in various ways to further improve its overall targeting and ISR capabilities. The aforementioned help in automating target recognition and categorization could be especially useful for gunship crews. SOCOM is already exploring the possibility of adding artificial intelligence-driven targeting and other capabilities onto the AC-130J, as well as other aircraft, in the future.

Depending on the type of AESA and its capabilities, how it is mounted, and especially how deeply it is integrated into the AC-130J's mission systems, it could potentially be used in a secondary role to provide additional threat warning, electronic attack, and general situational awareness. Such capabilities could be further integrated into the AC-130J's already extensive and still-expanding electronic warfare systems. Beyond helping to detect incoming threats along with other onboard systems, it could be used as a very powerful electronic warfare emitter, helping to protect the AC-130J but also working in an offensive EW capacity as a secondary capability set.

Improving the AC-130J's ability to spot and track targets at extended ranges, as well as its intelligence-gathering, situational awareness, and even self-protection capabilities, could be especially important in the coming years. For decades now, gunships like the Ghostrider have been primarily employed in counter-terrorism and other lower-end combat operations in largely permissive airspace.

An AC-130J Ghostrider takes off at Yokota Air Base, Japan, on Nov. 16, 2022, during exercise Keen Sword 23. USAF

With the U.S. military's ongoing shift in focus to preparing for higher-end fights, with a specific eye toward a potential conflict with China in the Pacific, there are growing questions about what the future might hold for gunships like the AC-130, in general. One possibility, which would be further enabled by the addition of an AESA radar, could be the more localized use of the AC-130J for force protection missions of austere outposts  such as on islands  on the outer edges of the enemy's anti-access capabilities.

Being able to detect anything of interest for many miles around an island and leveraging its high-end communications and self-protection suites in the process, an AC-130 could provide an inner layer of awareness for U.S. forces in remote locales. Its ability to kill any of those targets and at a distance gives it all that much more relevance.

Once again, it all depends on how this capability evolves. To start, if just a basic GMTI and SAR functionality can be had, that would be a big leap in itself. But more robust abilities could soon follow.

So, while the results of this new round of testing of an AESA on the AC-130J remain to be seen, adding this kind of radar to the Ghostrider would make great sense. Coupled with other potential upgrades and new weaponry, the radar could be an important addition to help ensure the relevance of these gunships in future higher-end scenarios.

Contact the author: joe@thedrive.com, tyler@thedrive.com
The ACLU of Texas sent a letter to the Mansfield school board Tuesday afternoon urging trustees to reject proposed guidelines on challenging library materials and limiting content involving gender fluidity and sexually explicit materials.

The board is scheduled to discuss the policy during its 6 p.m. meeting Tuesday.

In the letter, which was addressed to school trustees and to Superintendent Kim Cantu, the ACLU stated that the policy violates the First Amendment rights of Mansfield students and that it would stigmatize students and employees.

A district spokesperson declined to comment because he had not seen the letter.

The First Amendment protects the right to receive information and ideas, including for students in public school libraries, the letter stated.

The proposed policy is sharply at odds with the First Amendment as it seeks to restrict access or ban books that discuss or depict gender fluidity, the ACLUs letter stated.

The policy also restricts viewpoints as it bans or restricts books that mention transgender or non-binary people and characters., the ACLU said.

Besides violating the First Amendment, the ACLU stated that the policy also violates anti-discrimination laws. By stigmatizing transgender and non-binary students, the policy would contribute to increased bullying against them.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said Tuesday that the city is considering housing some migrants in school gyms as it struggles to accommodate those arriving in the city.

Adams told New York 1 that the city is considering about 20 school gyms, each of which are separate from actual school buildings. However, he emphasized that it would be one of the last places we want to look at.

We have an order, almost an order, of where we have to go as the crisis continues, he said. This is one of the last places we want to look at. None of us are comfortable with having to take these drastic steps. But I could not have been more clear for the last few months of what we are facing.

Adams warned last week that New York City would not be able to handle the expected influx of migrants following the end of Title 42. The pandemic-era policy, which allowed U.S. authorities to rapidly expel asylum seekers, expired Thursday.

In the days since the expiration, however, a border surge has not materialized, and in fact border encounters dropped, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Some Republican governors of Southern states have been putting migrants on buses and sending them north in recent months, though, contributing to the influx in New York City.

Adams said Tuesday that the city has received more than 65,000 migrants. Ahead of Title 42s expiration, the mayor eased the citys longtime guarantee to provide shelter to all residents and also began busing some migrants to counties in northern New York.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The only port-a-potty for hundreds of people was full and unusable. The days meal was a granola bar and a bottle of water. The lucky got mylar blankets for the rain and chill at night in the open-air corridor that serves as an entry point into California.

This is what migrants encountered when they stepped on United States soil and were held between two barriers on the California-Mexico border near San Ysidro, according to a May 13 complaint to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security filed by immigration advocates.

The complaint said agents failed to provide sufficient water, food, medical assistance or shelter for the migrants, who were kept in unsanitary conditions.

The hundreds of migrants who spent up to a week outside San Ysidro were moved over last weekend. But advocacy groups are pressing U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which is under the departments control, into creating better conditions in other encampments as more people seek to enter the U.S. with the end of Title 42.

If it wasnt for volunteers and community members and organizations who stepped up and started providing food and water and what they could to help these folks, we could have seen lives lost, Lilian Serrano, director of the Southern Border Communities Coalition, said in an interview Monday.

Title 42, a COVID-related migration rule that authorized CBP to swiftly expel migrants and asylum seekers on public health grounds, ended Thursday night as the Biden administration has wound down pandemic orders. State and federal officials prepared for an influx of people hoping to enter the U.S. as the policy expired.

Advocates from the Southern Border Communities Coalition, American Friends Service Committee and Universidad Popular, who have been helping migrants near San Ysidro, claimed that border agents did not treat migrants humanely.

Now, with the lifting of Title 42 exclusions, and the increase of migrants seeking asylum, it is imperative that CBP correct course to comply with custody standards and protect human rights, the advocacy groups wrote.

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Lacking medicine, food, water and shelter

Photos taken by the organizations show migrants preparing to eat leaves and suffering serious medical issues such as a blackened skin abscesses and whole-face allergic reaction.

Colored wristbands, like ones handed out at concerts, were used to determine when someone had arrived. Advocates wrote that migrants were not informed of when they might be able to have their asylum claims heard, and that some wristbands indicated they had been held for longer than border agents claimed.

At one point, only one port-a-potty was available for the about 400 individuals being held, advocates wrote. It filled up in two days at the end of April and had not been not cleaned as of the date of the complaint.

Once a day, border patrol agents would come with a granola bar and a bottle of water per migrant, they wrote. Without help from advocacy groups, the complaint writers said they feared migrants would starve. There werent sanitation materials, running water or showers; people often slept on the dirt or cardboard.

The migrants, many of them children, pregnant or elderly, arrived in poor health and were not offered proper medical attention.

Serrano wrote that she met the son of a 79-year-old woman who was injured turning herself into the border patrol and was ill after not having her medication for her conditions. Serrano called and texted the border patrol agent in charge of the area in the morning, she wrote. He responded that night, saying generally, she recalled, that when his agents took migrants to the hospital, they said were fine and did not need a doctor.

I reiterated that the woman we were discussing needed medical attention and told him that the people we were talking to had medical needs, Serrano wrote. He said that he felt that migrants were taking advantage of this situation and that they were using this to get into the United States.

Spokespeople for CBP did not respond to a request for comment.

New Biden asylum policy

With the end of Title 42, the Biden administration has introduced a new policy that will make it harder for migrants seeking political asylum. Those who arrive seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border without prior authorization must prove that they unsuccessfully sought asylum in one of the countries they traveled through.

The American Civil Liberties Union sued the Biden administration in a federal court in Northern California over its new policy last week. Joined by the UC Hastings Center for Gender and Refugee Studies and the National Immigrant Justice Center, the ACLU argued that the policy is similar to asylum bans imposed by the Trump administration.

The Trump White House also moved to deter asylum seekers who did not seek refuge in another country en route. A federal judge halted that rule, but the Supreme Court allowed the administration it to enforce it while legal proceedings continued. Another federal judge struck the policy down, but by then, Title 42 and other pandemic-related restrictions were in place.

Under the Biden administration policy, lawyers wrote in the filing, anyone from a Central or South American country other than Mexico are categorically barred unless they satisfy one of the enumerated and limited conditions or exceptions. Thats a simple ban with narrow exemptions, and it turns the asylum process on its head.

Biden administration officials defendthe rule. They say it works in tandem with expanded pathways to legal immigration and allows people to seek asylum while toughening penalties for those who try to do so illegally.

Migrants can schedule asylum appointments through the CBP One smartphone application. But technical issues, poor service, too few appointments and lack of language options have forced families to split up or wait months to get an appointment, Serrano of the Southern Border Communities Coalition said.

Thats if they know CBP One exists.

Most of them didnt know what it was, Serrano said, but because of the media presence and even us asking questions, they try to get themselves informed.

McClatchyDC White House reporter Michael Wilner contributed to this report.
A 49-year-old Marissa man told local, state and federal investigators he built a pipe bomb and brought it to South Marissa Trailer Park early Saturday, April 29, to blow up his wifes car but instead threw it at three people who confronted him with knives, according to a recently unsealed FBI affidavit.

The device did not detonate and no one was injured, according to authorities. Local law enforcement, Scott Air Force Bases Explosive Ordnance Disposal team, a state bomb squad and the FBI responded to the area to close roads, evacuate trailers and neutralize the device.

Jim F. Lanier was arrested this month and charged in both federal court and St. Clair County with the following offenses:

Unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device in U.S. Court for the Southern District of Illinois.

Three counts of possession of an explosive or incendiary device in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

An attorney is not yet listed for Lanier in federal or local court.

He is awaiting a grand jury hearing in St. Clair County. If indicted, he will be represented by the St. Clair County Public Defenders office.

Laniers first appearance in federal court is scheduled for May 22.

The federal courthouse for the Southern District of Illinois in East St. Louis is pictured in this 2021 file photo. A recently unsealed FBI affidavit in a federal case includes new details about the investigation of a pipe bomb found at South Marissa Trailer Park.

FBI affidavit details investigations findings

The federal case was initially sealed, but court documents are now publicly available, including an 11-page FBI affidavit that includes new details about the investigation.

The Marissa Police Department conducted a joint investigation with the FBI and Illinois Secretary of State Police Hazardous Device Unit.

When Marissa police arrested Lanier on May 1, he told investigators he built a bomb several months ago, Derek Parker, a special agent with the FBI, wrote in the affidavit.

Lanier stated on the morning of April 29, 2023, he was walking in the south end trailer court looking for his wife and her vehicle. Lanier stated if he located his wifes vehicle, he was going to blow it up with the bomb, the affidavit states. Lanier stated several people with knives confronted him while he was walking so he lit the bomb and threw it at the people. Lanier said that he ran away after he saw that the bomb did not go off.

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The people who confronted Lanier did not previously know him, Marissa Police Chief Brian Sheridan said in an earlier interview. One of them told investigators they went outside when they saw him near one of their cars in a driveway, according to Parkers affidavit.

Parker described the pipe bomb as being 2 feet long and 2 or 3 inches in diameter. It was made of cardboard and heavy duty white tape with red glitter glue on one end, he wrote.

Investigators found a similar device in a garage at one of Laniers family members homes where he stored things, according to the affidavit.

A man who said Lanier had lived with him for a few weeks told investigators he had a roll of heavy duty white siding tape in his garage and that red glitter glue from his wifes craft room appeared to be missing, the affidavit states.

Lanier is being held in the St. Clair County Jail on a $90,000 bond.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the peace mission during a state visit by the Singaporean PM

Six African leaders plan to travel to Russia and Ukraine "as soon as is possible" to help find a resolution to the war, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said Tuesday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have "agreed to receive the mission and the African heads of state" in Moscow and Kyiv, Ramaphosa said.

Ramaphosa said he had held "separate telephone calls" with Putin and Zelensky over the weekend, where he presented an initiative drawn up by Zambia, Senegal, the Republic of Congo, Uganda, Egypt and South Africa.

"I agreed with both President Putin and President Zelensky to commence with preparations for engagements with the African heads of state," Ramaphosa said.

"We're hoping we will have intensive discussions," he said, speaking at a press conference in Cape Town during a state visit by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the African Union (AU) have been briefed on the initiative, Ramaphosa added.

Ramaphosa did not give a specific timeline for the visit or other details, saying only that the conflict had been "devastating" and Africa "is also suffering a great deal" from it.

African countries have been badly hit by rising prices of grain and by the impact to world trade.

The announcement came a day after Ramaphosa said South Africa had been under "extraordinary pressure" to pick sides in the conflict, following accusations from the United States that Pretoria supplied weapons to Moscow -- a move that would break with its professed neutrality.

- 'Cautious support' -

The mission will be the latest in a flurry of so-far unsuccessful diplomatic efforts to still the war.

A Chinese special envoy was expected to arrive in Kyiv for a two-day visit on Tuesday to promote Beijing-led peace negotiations.

Last week Guterres told a Spanish newspaper that peace negotiations were "not possible at this moment" with both sides "convinced that they can win."

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But Ramaphosa said the African initiative had been met with "cautious support" in Washington and several European capitals had been visited by "facilitators" tasked with presenting the plan.

The effort could help Pretoria rehabilitate its image as a neutral player and mediator, following accusations that it has drifted towards Russia.

The commander of South Africa's ground forces was in Moscow to discuss military cooperation on Monday, in the latest of a series of incidents that critics cite as evidence of a tilt towards the Kremlin.

Last week, the US envoy to Pretoria said the United States believed weapons and ammunition had been laden onto a Russian freighter that docked at a Cape Town naval base in December.

In a statement Tuesday, the Russian embassy in Pretoria dismissed the US ambassador's claims as "totally fabricated" and a "pretext" to force South Africa to take sides in the Ukraine conflict, adding that locally produced South African arms and ammunition were not suitable for weapons used by the Russia army.

- Expletives and bubble-gum -

On Tuesday, South Africa's defence minister, Thandi Modise, denied the accusation in an interview with local newspaper the Mail & Guardian.

"Everybody now sees the spook called South Africa. I can tell you that categorically, we did not send fokol, not even a piece of Chappies to Russia," she said referring to a local popular bubble-gum brand and using an Afrikaans expletive meaning "nothing at all".

On Monday, Ramaphosa said South Africa would not be drawn "into a contest between global powers" despite having faced "extraordinary pressure" to do so.

South Africa has refused to condemn the conflict in Ukraine, which has largely isolated Moscow on the international stage, saying it wants to stay neutral.

In a veiled criticism of that stance on Tuesday, Singapore's Lee said condemning Russia's invasion was a matter of principle.

"One country cannot invade another with impunity...a clear disapproval has to be given," he told the press conference in Cape Town, flanked by Ramaphosa.

"We remain friends with Russia but we cannot approve of what has been done".

sn-ub/iwd
By James Oliphant

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said on Tuesday he was proud to have signed a six-week abortion ban, after seeming initially reluctant to embrace the recently passed law in Florida that outlaws almost all abortions in the state.

As DeSantis prepares to formally announce a 2024 White House run in the coming weeks, he is increasingly trumpeting the measure to help him draw more of a contrast with former President Donald Trump, the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination.

At a news conference on Tuesday, DeSantis said he was proud to have signed the legislation and fired back at Trump, who suggested in an interview this week that the six-week ban is overly restrictive.

He will not answer whether he would sign it or not, said DeSantis, who is a leading contender for the Republican nomination. The nominee will take on President Joe Biden, a Democrat, in next years general election.

In an interview with online news site the Messenger posted on Monday, 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 was too harsh.

DeSantis seized upon that at his news conference.

Protecting an unborn child when theres the detectable heartbeat is something that almost, probably, 99% of pro-lifers support, he said.

He cited a similar law in Iowa, which will hold the first Republican presidential nominating contest early next year and is a state with a large bloc of evangelical voters.

Bob Vander Plaats, a leading evangelical advocate in Iowa, criticized Trumps remarks on Twitter.

No, Mr. President, many in the #ProLife community do not believe saving babies is too harsh, Vander Plaats wrote.

He praised DeSantis for leading on life and in a later tweet, contended the Iowa nominating contest, known as the Iowa caucuses, is now wide open.

During the recent Florida legislative session, DeSantis did not expressly advocate for the six-week abortion ban, and he signed it last month without fanfare to replace what had been a 15-week ban. In speeches afterward, he largely avoided highlighting it.

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While DeSantis abortion stance could help garner him votes among hard-right conservatives, some Republican donors have expressed unease with his position.

In an interview with Reuters last week, Republican donor Andy Sabin said he could not support DeSantis after he signed the abortion law.

(Reporting by James Oliphant in Washington; Additional reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta; Editing by Ross Colvin and Matthew Lewis)
Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Getty/Wikimedia Commons

In any number of sites around the world home to ancient artifacts and the remains of once-thriving societies, there are clay tablets in the ground with messages that have been waiting to be read for more than 5,000 years. These messageswritten using a reed stylus pressed into the clay to form wedge-shaped marks to create a script known as cuneiformare typically thought as the earliest examples of written language in human history.

About 600,000 of these cryptic tablets have been unearthed over the past few centuries, and theyve been steadily piling up in university and museum collections all over the world. From these findings, researchers known as Assyriologists have been able to decode and translate extinct languages and breathe new life back into themsuch as Akkadian, once spoken by people living in the worlds first civilizations in Mesopotamia.

However, there are only so many Assyriologists who are capable of translating these ancient texts. As new clay tablets are discovered each year, the task to divine these ancient messages into modern languages becomes more and more daunting.

There are very few people who can really read it well, Shai Gordin, an Assyriologist at Ariel University, told The Daily Beast. Its also 3,000 years of written history, right? So if someone can read one period of cuneiform really well, that doesnt necessarily mean they can read the other periods really well.

So, to help them translate the growing number of ancient languages into modern-day ones, Gordin and his colleagues decided to turn to an advanced piece of emerging technology to help: artificial intelligence. More specifically, the team was able to develop a neural network that is capable of translating Akkadian and Sumerian cuneiform into English. The researchers published a paper of their findings May 2 in the journal PNAS Nexus.

Not only can a model like this help greatly speed up the process of translation for the researchers, it can also give historians and Assyriologists an opportunity to gain new and more in-depth insights into these ancient civilizations. The authors also see potential in democratizing assyriology by giving access to such tools to laypeople.

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We really wanted to have [Assyriology] be more integrated with technology, Gordin said. On the one hand, it makes the process more seamless and standardized. On the other, its actually helping us ask new and exciting questions because it allows us to see patterns we havent seen before.

For better or worse, AI can be seen as the next evolution of humanitys relationship with language. Not only can AI power tools like Google Translate to help people communicate and understand one another no matter what corner of the world they were born in, but large language models (LLM) like OpenAIs ChatGPT and Googles Bard are beginning to fundamentally change the way some people write and engage with the content they see online.

Its no real surprise then that AI would eventually come from some of the oldest languages known to humanity. Willis Monroe, an ancient Near East historian at the University of British Columbia who wasnt involved in the study, believes that its fitting in an almost poetic sense that Gordin and his colleagues developed an AI model to engage with one of the earliest written languages in human history.

Cuneiform is very, very old, Monroe told The Daily Beast. Its one of the earliest if not the earliest writing scripts in the world. So something thats so fun about this is the combination of modern, digital approaches like neural networks and machine learning with the first writing ever. Its kind of bookending human written historyso its really exciting work.

A Doctor Published Several Research Papers With Breakneck Speed. ChatGPT Wrote Them All.

The model itself is an extension of the Babylonian Engine, a platform for digital Assyriology that seeks to merge emerging tech with the study of these early written languages. Its goal is to integrate artificial intelligence and machine learning models into the actual work that we do as historians and scholars of the past, Gordin said.

This latest study is a big step towards that goalalbeit a formidable one considering the limitations of cuneiform. For one, the script is akin to three-dimensional handwriting, Monroe said. Its like trying to have a computer automatically generate a translation of someone writing in French on a beach with a stick. Its very complex.

He added that while there are teams working on models that can directly translate cuneiform, its still a long way off as the script is meant to be read in shifting light. Thats an inherent limitation for even the most powerful computer.

This Tiny Town Created by ChatGPT Is Better Than Reality TV

So to get around this, the team actually trained two versions of the neural network. The first converts Akkadian thats been transliterated in the Latin text to English (T2E), while the other translates unicodean international encoding standard that assigns numbers to scripts and lettersrepresentations of cuneiform into English (C2E). While not directly using the cuneiform, this method allowed researchers to create models that effectively translated the Akkadian.

To measure the success of the translations, the team used the Best Bilingual Evaluation Understudy (BLEU), a rubric that measures the accuracy of translation. The T2E resulted in the most accurate translations of the two modelsachieving an average score of 37.47while C2E resulted in an average score of 36.52. These are both relatively high scores on the BLEU and indicate that the model was capable of creating understandable translations.

While the neural network shows a lot of promise, there were some caveats. For one, the model is prone to hallucination, a perennial problem in LLMs and other generative AI where the system makes up inaccurate or entirely false answers. Gordin noted that this would often happen when the model attempted to translate text longer than 118 characters.

Googles AI Chatbot Bard Spews Misinformation and Hate, Researchers Find

For example, one translation that they put through the neural network was If the day of disappearance of the moon reaches its normal length: the days of the ruler will be long. However, the model translated it as If the day reaches its normal length: a reign of long days.

So it's very close, but not as accurate as a human translator, Gordin said.

Gordin said this example underscores the importance of always keeping a human in the loop when it comes to this tooland other AIs like it. With the proliferation of LLMs, these systems need to be viewed as tools to assist actual flesh-and-blood people in their work rather than replace them entirely. As useful as the Akkadian neural network is when it comes to the work that Gordin and his fellow Assyriologists are doing, it still cant outright replace a human scholars intuition and oversight.

Theres still a human element, Monroe said. In terms of translating the world of Akkadian, this is very effective. It removes one or two steps from the processbut there's still humans that have to actually hold the clay tablets and study them.

You might not realize it, but you owe a lot to the Mesopotamians. Everything from our numerical system, to our knowledge of astronomy, to our system of the rule of law can be traced back to this very ancient civilization and their writing system. Thats why Assyriologists like Gordin and Monroe work to translate these tabletsso we might be able to learn more about the origins that led to our current state of the world.

But theres still a lot to be done even with an AI model to help lighten the load. As weve seen with just the past few months since the release of ChatGPT, though, technology can move at eye-watering speedsand thats especially the case with artificial intelligence.

According to Gordin, the model can be upgraded and trained with different periods of cuneiform. This will allow it to translate an even greater corpus of Akkadian, and gain even more insight into these ancient cultures. Moreover, the team plans on putting the model on the Babylonian Engine so more people can access it.

We want to make it more accessible to people who are not necessarily historians or Assyriologists, Gordin said. We want to make it easier for them to pick up a text and get a translation through this model.

This democratization of the research could help unearth even more insights into these ancient civilizations and how their people lived. Meanwhile, training neural networks on these languages help refine and train them in ways that they wouldnt necessarily be able to by translating living languages. In that way, a very, very old and extinct language is still capable of teaching us new things about life today.

Theres amazing things that we find in cuneiform, Monroe said. There's all these things that really resonate with us now, and show the commonality that we have with ancient people that are so distant, not only language, but also time.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Experimental musician and artist Holly Herndon created a digital twin of herself named Holly+. The project challenges how we think about intellectual property. Holly Herndon, Tyler Le/Insider

This story was originally published on September 29, 2022.

As artificial intelligence has gotten better, fears about our AI-enabled future have grown. Even small steps toward more sophisticated AI have triggered concerns that robots will take away human jobs or that AI-generated deepfakes will warp our sense of reality.

In the world of art, misgivings about AI have been particularly acute. An AI-generated piece of art recently won first prize in a competition at the Colorado State Fair, leading to an outcry from artists and critics alike. Other experiments with replacing illustrators and writers have caused similar handwringing.

Despite this widespread apprehension, Holly Herndon  an experimental musician and artist  doesn't think AI is nefarious or will ruin art. These technologies are here to stay, she told me recently, and we might as well learn how to live with them.

"I think the best way forward is for artists to lean into developments with machine learning," she said, suggesting that they "think of ways to conditionally invite others to experiment with them."

Last year, Herndon launched a project called Holly+, a tool that enables other artists to make music using an AI-generated likeness of her voice. The works created using Holly+ are essentially vocal deepfakes sanctioned and encouraged by Herndon.

Herndon's usage of AI shows a way forward for not just artists but also the rest of us. Instead of rejecting new technology, everyone from workers to businesses to amateur creators can learn to use these tools to make their lives easier or open up new creative avenues. By embracing AI, would-be skeptics can help to ensure the burgeoning technology is used for good, rather than leaving it to be shaped by ill-intentioned parties. This doesn't ensure a wholly positive outcome, but with projects like Holly+, Herndon highlights the advantages of a technology like AI, while proving it isn't a mere substitute for human creativity.

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From an AI 'baby' to deepfakes and crypto

In Berlin, Herndon has made AI a recurring theme of her work over the past decade, experimenting with human-computer collaboration in her recordings and live performances. An early instance of this was her 2015 album, "Platform," which combined the organic qualities of the human voice with machine sounds and digital-processing techniques. For her 2019 album, "Proto," Herndon took this approach further by creating Spawn, an AI "baby" that merged her voice and the voice of her partner, Mat Dryhurst, into a synthetic female entity that provided additional vocals.

Holly Herndon's 2019 album "Proto" includes vocals from an AI "baby" she created with her partner. Boris Camaca

The Holly+ project synthesizes the insights that Herndon has gathered over a decade of engaging with AI, a process of inquiry that has included her earning a doctorate of musical arts at Stanford University's Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics. The core of Holly+ is straightforward: Anyone can upload an audio file, and the tool will create a new version with Herndon's processed voice, ready for download. In her blog post announcing Holly+, Herndon said she envisioned a future where digitally created voices "soon become standard practice for artists and other creatives."

A wide variety of music has been created using Holly+, from glitchy electronic tracks to ambient compositions to more conventional pop songs. Many of the tracks push the human voice to its limits, chopping Herndon's voice into nearly unrecognizable fragments or repurposing them as pieces of a sonic collage. Herndon has also used Holly+ in live performances, appearing at the Helsinki Festival with a local choir.

While the project has yielded an ever-growing array of fascinating art, Holly+ also raises questions about the future of that art. If AI can replicate a unique voice like Herndon's, or mine the vast archive of existing human-produced content, then will it eventually replace humans' role in making that art going forward? And who owns the art that an AI model produces?

Who owns what?

AI's prospective influence on the art world is not without precedent. The ease of copying, editing, and distributing digital files today means that content can always change, frequently without any acknowledgment that it has been altered. Analog media, in contrast, is more difficult to modify, and doing so typically leaves a mark. Now, the official versions of songs are endlessly remixed, films and television episodes are altered after their initial release, and text and images go viral as unattributed, ever-evolving memes. Sampling  reusing a portion of a song in another recorded song  has become a staple of pop music over the past few decades.

"In the same way that trying to shut down sampling of media was a dead end, we have entered into an AI era where it will become effortless to generate media using someone's voice, face, or style." Herndon told me. As with sampling, she argued, AI presents a great opportunity for artistic play and innovation "so long as we can mitigate the economic shock of these powerful new tools."

Holly+ highlights a few shocks that might come about, particularly around the ability for artists to control their intellectual property  the legal basis for copyright laws. It's hard enough to lay claim to the content you have created now, but emerging AI tools open up a new set of complications. Is an AI-generated image made in the style of a particular artist plagiarism, or is it an original product of the model that generated it? As AI models improve and become more deeply embedded in the digital world, artists will need to understand the nature of the IP they produce and devise strategies for retaining control of that IP.

"I started the Holly+ project because I think this is a generational opportunity to rewrite how we think about IP," Herndon told me. In the Holly+ announcement post, Herndon said, "There will be demand for official, high fidelity, vocal models of public figures."

This is where crypto comes in: the blockchain technology that undergirds crypto allows users to precisely track ownership of digital files like songs and images, while establishing an indelible record of their origins. This enables artists to sell digital works and ensure they will always receive credit for creating them (even if the work itself is copied freely), while giving the works' buyers confidence that they can prove they have the original version  an ability that, in turn, makes them willing to pay more.

Holly+ is controlled by a DAO, which is similar to a worker's coop. Andres Manon

Crypto has thus allowed Herndon to help financially reward artists who create songs with Holly+, while receiving compensation herself. To do this, Herndon established a decentralized autonomous organization, or DAO, which is similar to a worker cooperative. Anyone who owns a specific DAO's crypto tokens becomes a member with voting rights. When other artists create work using Holly+, they can submit it to the Holly+ DAO, whose members vote on which submissions are good enough to be turned into nonfungible tokens and sold via an auction process  think of an NFT as the definitive "original" pressing of a song. (Anyone can use the Holly+ voice tool itself without submitting the output to the DAO, however.) Like a company's shareholders, the members of the DAO benefit from the overall quality of the Holly+ brand via the value of their tokens. Herndon says on her website that DAO members "are incentivized to only certify or license new works that contribute to the value of the voice."

This arrangement benefits Herndon by minimizing the incentives to make bad art with Holly+ or use her voice in a negative way, while relieving her of sole responsibility for managing the tool. The proceeds from each NFT sale are split among the work's creator, the members of the Holly+ DAO, and Herndon  an arrangement that reflects each party's contribution to a given piece. As AI continues to evolve and becomes more central to various creative enterprises, the DAO structure offers a way to credit participants more fairly and help artists retain more control over their work.

AI isn't alien

As technology continues to evolve, artists and creators must keep adapting. Herndon's work, especially Holly+, shows how creative people can approach developments like AI with an open mind, while maintaining a pragmatic awareness of the technology's drawbacks. She said: "Most AI processes we are familiar with now are groundbreaking ways of aggregating the products of human intelligence." In other words, AI can be another tool that artists use, instead of just a threat to their livelihoods.

And working with AI can be fun. "I am in love with the submissions!" Herndon said of the works created with the Holly+ tool. "Artists have taken my voice in all kinds of directions. There are trains whistling at me, tender duets, and insane club tracks."

Now, Herndon is taking the lessons from Holly+ to her new organization, Spawning, which will equip other artists to reap the benefits of AI by using it to enhance their work, while protecting their IP from the threats it introduces. Herndon told me that the organization aimed "to help others take that leap and make their own decisions about how their voices and styles are used."

While artists are among the first to seriously grapple with the implications of AI's cutting edge, the technology is likely to affect everyone  whether in their work or in another area of their lives. Holly+ and the Spawning organization both offer models for embracing technological change and making the most of it, rather than trying to resist or avoid it.

"I see how many things could go wrong," Herndon told me, "but I'm committed to creating ways to steer things in a better direction."

Drew Austin is a technology critic, writer, and author of the newsletter Kneeling Bus.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Russian invaders attacked Ukraine with 18 missiles of various types and a number of Shahed drones on the night of 15-16 May, with all Russian targets shot down by the defenders.

Source: Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on Telegram; Mykola Oleshchuk, Commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on Telegram

Quote from Zaluzhnyi: "At around 03:30 on 16 May, the Russian invaders attacked Ukraine from the northern, southern and eastern fronts with various types of air-, sea- and land-based missiles - 18 in total.

Six Kh-47M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles were launched from six MiG-31K aircraft, 9 Kalibr cruise missiles were launched from ships in the Black Sea, and three land-based missiles (S-400, Iskander-M).

All 18 missiles were destroyed by Ukrainian Air Force air defence."

Details: In addition, the Russians attacked Ukraine with Shahed-136/131 attack drones on the night of 15-16 May, and also conducted aerial reconnaissance with three Orlan-10 and SuperCam operational-tactical drones.

These Russian targets were also all destroyed.

Oleschuk added that the Ukrainian Air Forces tactical aircraft are continuing to strike the positions of the occupiers. In particular, defenders carried out more than 20 group airstrikes during 15 May and early in the day on 16 May.

Background:

On the night of 16 May, an air-raid warning was issued throughout Ukraine, including twice in Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast.

There were a series of loud explosions in the capital, and air defence systems were activated.

In Kyiv, fragments of a downed missile fell on the territory of the zoo in the Shevchenkivskyi district, and missile fragments landed in the Darnytskyi, Obolonskyi, and Solomianskyi districts. In the Solomiansky district, a non-residential building was on fire; several cars caught fire; and in the Darnytskyi district, missile fragments damaged two cars. According to preliminary information, there are three victims in the Solomianskyi district.

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By Gleb Garanich and Sergiy Karazy

KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine said on Tuesday it had shot down six Russian Kinzhal missiles in a single night, thwarting a weapon Moscow has touted as a next-generation hypersonic missile that was all but unstoppable.

When asked about the Ukrainian claim, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu dismissed it, the RIA news agency reported. His ministry said a Kinzhal had destroyed a U.S.-built Patriot surface-to-air missile defence system.

A high-precision strike by the hypersonic Kinzhal missile hit a U.S.-made Patriot anti-aircraft missile system in the city of Kyiv, the defence ministry said in a statement.

Two U.S. officials said a Patriot system likely suffered some damage but had not been destroyed, and one said discussions on repairing it were underway and it did not appear the system would have to be removed from Ukraine.

The commander-in-chief of Ukraine's armed forces, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, had said earlier that his forces had intercepted the six Kinzhals launched from aircraft, as well as nine Kalibr cruise missiles from ships in the Black Sea and three Iskanders fired from land.

Russia's Shoigu was quoted as saying the number of claimed Ukrainian missile intercepts in general is "three times greater than the number we launch".

"And they get the type of missiles wrong all the time. That's why they don't hit them," he said, without elaborating.

It was the first time Ukraine had claimed to have struck an entire volley of multiple Kinzhal missiles, and if confirmed, would be a demonstration of the effectiveness of its newly deployed Western air defences.

The United States and the European Union have supplied Ukraine with weaponry to defend itself since Russia invaded in February 2022.

EU and NATO member Hungary has refused, however, to provide any military equipment to neighbour Ukraine, and on Tuesday, the government said it had blocked the next tranche of the EU's off-budget military support known as the European Peace Facility.

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Air raid sirens blared across nearly all of Ukraine early on Tuesday and were heard over the Ukrainian capital and the surrounding region for more than three hours.

"A year ago, we were not able to shoot down most of the terrorists' missiles, especially ballistic ones," President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in an address to the Council of Europe rights body in Iceland by video link.

"And I am asking one thing now. If we are able to do this, is there anything we can't do?"

The meeting of European leaders over two days was to focus on ways to hold Russia to account for its war, officials said.

Russia says its invasion was necessary to counter threats to its security posed by Ukraine's growing ties to the West.

Ukraine and its allies call it an unprovoked war of conquest and Ukraine says it won't stop fighting until all Russian forces leave its land.

FLASHES OF LIGHT AND DEBRIS

The six Kinzhals were among 27 missiles Russia fired at Ukraine over 24 hours, Ukraine's military said in its evening update on Tuesday, lighting up Kyiv with flashes and raining debris after they were blasted from the sky.

It was unclear which Western weapon Ukraine used to defend against the Kinzhals. The Pentagon had no immediate comment.

For its part, Russia's defence ministry said its forces delivered a concentrated strike with long-range air- and sea-based high-precision weapons at Ukrainian forces, "as well as at places of storage of ammunition, weapons and military equipment delivered from Western countries.

Kyiv authorities said three people were wounded by falling debris.

"It was exceptional in its density - the maximum number of attack missiles in the shortest period of time," Serhiy Popko, head of the city military administration, said on Telegram.

Ukraine's military said two S-300 missiles had also targeted infrastructure in Kostyantynivka, west of the embattled eastern city of Bakhmut.

HYPERSONIC SPEED?

This month, Ukraine said it had shot down a single Kinzhal missile over Kyiv for the first time using a newly deployed Patriot system.

The U.S. military confirmed that but did not say whether the Russian missile was flying at hypersonic speed at the time.

The U.S.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) says the Kinzhal rapidly accelerates to Mach 4 (4,900 km/h) after launch and may reach speeds of up to Mach 10 - or 10 times the speed of sound. Hypersonic weapons travel at least five times the speed of sound.

The Kinzhal missile, the name means dagger, can carry conventional or nuclear warheads up to 2,000 km. Russia used the weapon in war for the first time in Ukraine last year and has only acknowledged firing them on a few occasions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has frequently touted the Kinzhal as proof of world-beating Russian hardware, capable of taking on NATO.

With Ukraine set to go on the offensive against Russia's invasion for the first time in six months, Russian forces are launching longer-range air strikes at the highest frequency of the war.

Ukraine says it is shooting down most missiles and drones.

(Additional reporting by Aleksandar Vasovic, Dan Peleschuk, Maria Starkova, Lidia Kelly and Phil Stewart; writing by Peter Graff, Angus MacSwan, Mark Heinrich, Grant McCool and Simon Cameron-Moore; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel, Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Daniel Wallis)
New Air Force F-16 Aggressor Squadron Stands Up photo

The U.S. Air Force recently converted a reserve squadron into a new aggressor unit equipped with F-16C Viper fighter jets. The redesignated 706th Aggressor Squadron will focus on replicating threats posed by older fourth-generation fighters. However, its creation reflects a broader ongoing surge in demand for "red air" adversaries to support training and test and evaluation activities, especially those capable of replicating newer fifth-generation threats like China's J-20 stealth fighters.

The Air Force Reserve's 926th Wing at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada held a ceremony to mark the transition of the 706th from a fighter squadron to an aggressor squadron on May 5, with the change officially taking effect on May 14. Nellis is already home to the active-duty 64th and 65th Aggressor Squadrons. The Air Force has a fourth fighter jet-equipped aggressor squadron, the active-duty 18th Aggressor Squadron, at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska.

A pair of the 65th Aggressor Squadron's F-35A Joint Strike Fighters. USAF

"As Nellis third aggressor squadron, the 706ths mission focuses on continuing to know, teach, and replicate fourth-generation aggressor air adversaries," according to an Air Force release about the squadron's conversion earlier this year.

Prior to this, the 706th's primary mission had been to oversee Air Force Reserve pilots assigned to the United States Air Force Warfare Center (USAFWC) at Nellis. In this role, the unit notably had no aircraft of its own. As part of its conversion to the 706th Aggressor Squadron, it is now set to receive a fleet of F-16C Viper fighters by the end of this year.

"The shift in mission set [for the 706th] allows the 64th and 65th AGRS [Aggressor Squadrons] to pursue the next generation of air defense and Nellis endeavor towards becoming the 5th Generation Center of Excellence," according to the Air Force's recent release.

It's worth noting here that while the 65th flies stealthy fifth-generation F-35A Joint Strike Fighters, the 64th is equipped with F-16Cs. This might raise a question of whether the 64th may now be in line to transition to the F-35A and transfer its Vipers to the 706th in the process. However, this seems unlikely given the demand elsewhere for F-35As and the Air Force has stated the 706th is set to receive Block 30 F-16Cs, rather than the newer Block 42 Vipers the 64th has been receiving already.

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F-16C Vipers assigned to the 64th Aggressor Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. USAF

An F-16C assigned to the 64th Aggressor Squadron, but with "926 OG" written on the tail, was used as the backdrop for the 706th Aggressor Squadron redesignation ceremony. 926 OG stands for 926th Operations Group, to which the 706th is assigned. That being said, this aircraft, which has the serial number 86-0251, has been marked in this way since 2019. This was done as part of an effort to highlight the so-called "associate" relationships between Air Force Reserve units assigned to the 926th Wing and active-duty elements at Nellis.

F-16C serial number 86-0251 at the redesignation ceremony for the 706th Aggressor Squadron. USAF

The War Zone has reached out to the Air Force for more information about its aggressor plans at Nellis.

Regardless, the conversion of the 706th to an F-16-equipped aggressor unit comes amid a spike in demand for red air adversary support across the U.S. Air Force, as well as the rest of the U.S. military, in recent years. This, in turn, reflects a broader shift in focus across the U.S. armed forces to preparing for higher-end conflicts rather than counter-terrorism and similar lower-intensity operations. For American military aviators, supporting the latter kinds of missions over the past two and a half decades or so has involved flying in permissive or very near permissive airspace.

"I would say we are more valid now than ever before. With the Secretary of the Air Force and Secretary of Defense saying their focus is China, China, China, thats what we are here for, Air Force Lt. Col. Christopher Von Finkenstadt, head of the 64th Aggressor Squadron, told The War Zone in an exclusive interview just earlier this year. "We are here to embody and replicate our enemies to the best of our ability."

The need for aggressors has gone absolutely through the roof, so we are here to provide the absolutely top-notch replication for our blue forces to make them the best that they can be should we have to go to war, Finkenstadt added. We focus and we study what we are seeing out of our enemies, and that way we can replicate it to the best of our abilities. Our focus is to provide the most deadly case of action, not a likely case of action, and provide the most capable adversaries for our blue forces to face.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rFiwc6AK8M

Of course, the need for more red air aggressors has been growing steadily for years. The Air Force had been increasingly turning to private contractors to provide their support.

It has been clear for some time that the pre-fourth-generation aircraft those companies have long relied on have become increasingly less and less capable of replicating more advanced fourth-generation threats let alone stealthy fifth-generation ones. Similarly, the Air Force's requirements for those lower-end capabilities have changed. This was underscored last year when Air Force authorities at Nellis decided not to renew a long-standing contract to supply red air services using pre-fourth-generation aircraft with private red air firm Draken. That decision also pointed to a greater desire on the part of the service to reconstitute more advanced aggressor capabilities in-house after years of things trending in the opposite direction.

Regardless, even before the Air Force decided to stand up the 706th Aggressor Squadron, there had been a notable increase in interest in even older F-16s to more reasonably stand in for fourth-generation adversary jets within both the U.S. military and among private red air contractors.

Last year, another private red air company, Top Aces, became the first to fly Vipers. Top Aces' jets are heavily modified ex-Israeli F-16A/B variants, as you can read more about here. The company has since received Air Force contracts for aggressor work at multiple bases using these aircraft.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yK0DDM-Ip4s

Unsurprisingly, Draken has also since moved to acquire its own fleet of F-16s.

Within the U.S. military, the Navy has been acquiring ex-Air Force F-16C/Ds to replace a portion of its fleet of aging Cold War-era F-5N Tiger II aggressor aircraft for the same general reasons. Vipers have been supplanting the last Legacy F/A-18 Hornets at the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center (NAWDC), too.

Altogether, the supply of readily available second-hand F-16s worldwide is dwindling due to these kinds of training demands, as well as operational requirements and just as sources of spare parts. When it comes to new-production Vipers, Lockheed Martin has seen a resurgence of interest in advanced variants and has years' worth of orders booked.

The conversion of dozens of retired Vipers into full-scale QF-16 target drones for the U.S. Air Force has contributed to all of this, too. That program may now be winding down in part due to the shrinking availability of suitable airframes, as you can find more about here.

A QF-16 target drone, in this case with a pilot at the controls. USAF

Separately, the growing demand for aggressors to replicate fifth-generation threats also prompted the Air Force to stand up its own F-35-equipped 65th Aggressor Squadron just last year.

It is critical that we as an aggressor force are postured to provide the best and most realistic replication to the combat forces," Air Force Lt. Col. Brandon Napalm Nauta, the commander of the 65th Aggressor Squadron, told The War Zone in an interview last year. "As other countries grow in their capabilities, so too must we. The F-35 is the logical and natural next step in that evolution.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqSRCeQW6CA

Though Nauta stressed at the time that his unit would "look to replicate any advanced fighter regardless of country," it is no secret that the 65th has been focused on replicating the threats posed by increasingly advanced Chinese fighters, especially the stealthy J-20 and the newer J-35. The U.S. military, as a whole, currently treats the People's Liberation Army (PLA) as its so-called "pacing threat" ostensibly for planning purposes. There are growing concerns about the potential for a high-end conflict between the two countries before the end of the decade, possibly over the island of Taiwan.

J-20 stealth fighters of the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). PLAAF

Preparing for a major fight like that demands realistic large-force exercises, which in turn require a large volume of appropriate assets to play the roles of a range of different threats.

We are slated to only have 11 jets thus limiting our overall numbers for a given training mission. However, as we have seen in recent training exercises, even a couple of F-35s as red air makes a huge difference," Lt. Col. Nauta said last year.

This underscores the importance of freeing up the 64th and 65th Aggressor Squadrons to focus on replicating higher-end threats. and could further point to the possibility of the 64th converting to F-35As.

That being said, as The War Zone has long pointed out, crewed aggressor aircraft of any kind are unlikely to provide the full volume required to realistically recreate the full gamut of threats in major future large-scale training exercises. Fifth-generation fighters like the F-35A continue to be very expensive to operate and maintain, making it cost-prohibitive to use them exclusively to represent fifth-generation adversaries.

Air Force F-35As undergoing maintenance. USAF

The Air Force is well aware of this and is already looking toward a mix of other assets to provide the required mass of higher-end red air support going forward. This is set to include stealthy drones and advanced expendable aerial targets, as well as the integration of 'virtual assets' into real-life training through augmented reality and other means.

Crewed aggressors, including those intended to represent lower-end threats within the larger mix, will still be required to add greater fidelity in training exercises. There is still a need to replicate more modern fourth-generation combat jets, too. The 706th provides an important organic capability to the Air Force just in this regard, especially given the increasing obsolescence of pre-fourth-generation contractor-operated jets as aggressors.

All this being said, a mix of piloted aggressor aircraft of various types, along with other platforms, will remain in demand for various training and other purposes, including test and evaluation efforts, for years to come.

The new 706th Aggressor Squadron looks set to be an important additional part of the Air Force's still-evolving red air adversary landscape.

Contact the author: joe@thedrive.com
(Editors note: This story was updated at 7:20 p.m. Tuesday with new information from the Air National Guards 173rd Fighter Wing.)

An F-15D Eagle fighter jet suffered an in-flight emergency and veered off the runway upon landing at Kingsley Field Monday afternoon, the Oregon Air National Guard said in a release Tuesday.

The jet was returning to Kingsley Field, home to the Guards 173rd Fighter Wing in southern Oregon, at the end of a routine training mission when the emergency occurred, the wing said.

The aircraft left the paved surface and came to a stop in the Bureau of Reclamation irrigation canal at the south side of the runway, according to the wing.

Its pilot safely climbed out of the aircraft on the ground and was taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation. He was released with minor injuries, the wing said Tuesday evening.

We are so grateful that our pilot was able to walk away from this mishap, 173rd Fighter Wing Vice Commander Col. Micah Lambert said in a release Tuesday. Our Team Kingsley responders acted quickly and with professionalism thanks to the extensive training and safety mindset of our team.

A photo posted to Twitter by Jim Hendren, a former Arkansas state senator and F-15 pilot, shows the jet partially submerged in the canal. A wing spokesperson confirmed the picture is authentic and said the wing is still in the process of recovering the jet.

I've landed these before. Never like this. Glad pilots safe. pic.twitter.com/dcWtzN08SE  Jim Hendren (@JimHendren1) May 16, 2023

An investigation into the incident is underway. The Air Force did not say whether it suspects pilot error or mechanical failure caused the accident.

The wing is taking water samples to catch any traces of petroleum products that may have leaked into the irrigation canal.

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We dont believe the aircraft is leaking any petroleum products based on our initial assessment of the water in the canal, Lambert said. Minimizing the environmental impact is one of our main priorities; we have taken precautionary measures and placed absorbent booms around the aircraft to prevent the flow of fuel, or other substances, downstream in the event there is a leakage.

The Air Force owns 18 F-15Ds, most of which belong to the Air National Guard, and more than 400 F-15s overall. At nearly 40 years old, the Air Force is in the process of retiring its C- and D-model aerial dogfighting planes to make way for the new F-15EX.

Forty-five F-15s have suffered major mishaps in the past 10 years  nearly five incidents for every 100,000 flight hours  including five jets that were destroyed and two airmen killed, according to Air Force data. Those mishaps, called Class A and B events, cause at least $600,000 in damages or result in death, disability or a destroyed aircraft.

Most recently, 1st Lt. Kenneth Kage Allen, 27, died in an F-15C crash while trying to intercept a simulated enemy aircraft in training off the coast of England in June 2020. Investigators determined he was disoriented by poor weather.
Air-raid warnings were issued throughout Ukraine  and twice in Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast  on the night of 1516 May, and Ukraines air defence was activated.

Source: a map of air-raid warnings

Details: The first air-raid warning in Kyiv was issued at 02:24.

Warnings were also issued in all Ukrainian oblasts bar three: Sumy, Kharkiv and Donetsk.

Updated at 02:52: Explosions were heard in Kyiv.

Updated at 03:00: Andriii Yermak, the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, posted on Telegram, saying that air defence forces were targeting enemy aircraft and urging people to refrain from filming or posting videos.

Updated at 03:03: A series of explosions rocked Kyiv. The Kyiv City Military Administration reported that the capitals air defence was activated.

Updated at 03:08: An Ukrainska Pravda journalist reported a series of explosions in the town Vasylkiv, located to the southwest of Kyiv in Kyiv Oblast.

Updated at 03:11: The Kyiv Oblast Military Administration said there was a threat of a missile attack in Kyiv Oblast, and said air defence was activated.

Updated at 03:15: Air-raid warnings were issued throughout all of Ukraine.

Updated at 04:18: An all-clear was given throughout Ukraine, except for Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.

Updated at 04:23: A new warning was issued in Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast.

Updated at 05:42: An all-clear was given for all of Ukraine.

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An air-raid warning has been issued in most oblasts in Ukraine. Oleksandr Sienkevych, Mayor of Mykolaiv, reported on explosions in the city of Mykolaiv. Kim showed the "military target" that Russian forces hit.

Source: Oleksandr Sienkevych on Telegram; Vitalii Kim, Head of the Mykolaiv Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote from Sienkevych: "Fires have broken out following explosions. I urge Mykolaiv residents to refrain from sharing photos and videos from the sites of strikes or CCTV footage."

Details: Sienkevych said that emergency response services have been deployed, and that he will share more details about the attacks after the all-clear is given.

Vitalii Kim, Head of the Mykolaiv Oblast Military Administration, reported that a woman had sustained shrapnel injuries.

Later, Kim posted a photo of one of the "military targets" hit by the Russians. Judging by the photo, a supermarket was hit.

Update at 00.28: The all-clear was given in most Ukrainian oblasts.

The risk of an air attack remains in Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk oblasts.

Update at 00.55: An air-raid warning was issued in a number of southern oblasts again.

Update at 01.01. The air-raid warning is spreading through the central oblasts of Ukraine.

Update at 02:17. The all-clear was given in part of southern and central oblasts. The threat of an air attack is ongoing for five oblasts.

Update at 03:02. The air-raid warning remains in force in Dnipropetrovsk and Poltava oblasts.

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Over 100 people have been arrested in the western Indian state of Maharashtra after one person died and eight others were injured in communal clashes.

Reports say the violence, which took place in Akola city, was triggered by a social media post on a controversial film, The Kerala Story.

Authorities cut internet services and imposed a curfew to bring the situation under control.

A female constable was among those who were injured in the clashes.

Police said that violence first began on Saturday when members of a community gathered outside a police station in Akola to protest against a social media post about the film.

Reports say it was a screenshot of a conversation between two residents which was shared on Instagram by one of them. A police official told The Indian Express newspaper that some messages in the chat "hurt the religious sentiments" of the other person, but did not give any details.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's office appealed for peace and instructed the state police to take strict action against those who participated in the violence.

The Kerala Story, which released in theatres on last week, had sparked controversy months before its release. The film depicts a fictional story of three Indian women from the southern state who join the Islamic State group.

Opposition politicians have criticised the film, calling it propaganda. But the makers say the film is based on years of research and true events.

The film has also found support from leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), including at least two federal ministers, and was praised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an election rally this month.

The government of West Bengal state has banned the film, while two states - Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, both governed by the BJP - have made the film tax-free.

On Sunday, clashes over the film also broke out in a medical college in Jammu district in Indian-administered Kashmir. At least two students were injured in the violence, which was reportedly triggered by a post on the film shared on a student WhatsApp group.

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Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti blamed the federal government for the unrest and accused it of encouraging violence "through movies stoking communal fires".

BBC News India is now on YouTube. Click here to subscribe and watch our documentaries, explainers and features.

Read more India stories from the BBC:
Photo: Getty (Getty Images)

Abortion bans have proven so unpopular among the American people that theyre costing politicians their electionslike a critical Wisconsin judgeship. And now, Alabama could officially lose out on acquiring the job-creating headquarters of a military branch because of its draconian abortion ban.



The U.S. Space Commandwhich was founded in 1985 (and is not to be confused with its subsidiary Space Force)is currently headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where its been for the last 33 years. But in January 2021, the U.S. Air Force announced the headquarters would move to Huntsville, Alabama, by 2026. Those plans have now stalled and, according to a new report from NBC News, the White House is looking to keep the headquarters in Colorado, due in part to Alabama banning pretty much all abortions after Roe fell.

Read more

This normally would not be a political decision, an official told NBC News on Monday. This is all about abortion politics.

Looming over the potential relocation is the militarys new-ish abortion policy. In March, the Pentagon began offering three weeks of administrative leave for servicemembers and their dependents for abortion-related travel. The Defense Department is not paying for abortions, to be clearthey are literally just giving people time off to travel for their procedure. Military members and families largely do not get to pick where they are stationed and therefore do not get a say in what state laws will govern their bodily autonomy.

This upset Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), so he started holding up hundreds of military members promotions in March over the abortion issue. Not only does Tuberville represent the state where the new Space Command headquarters could be, but hes made his anti-abortion fight against the military incredibly public: Hes not helping, an administration official told NBC News of whether Tubervilles hissy-fit over the Pentagons new policy is fueling the decision. Another said the delay in announcing the command centers final location is because they dont want to aggravate Tuberville even more.

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The White House has disputed this characterization, saying Alabamas abortion ban was not a factor in its ongoing review of the decision to build Spacecoms permanent headquarters there, reporters Courtney Kube and Carol E. Lee wrote. A White House official said that access to reproductive health care does not weigh in to making the decision about location.

A quick summary of how we arrived at reproductive rights playing a role in all this in the first place: Trump announced that the headquarters would be moving from Colorado to Alabama days before he left office in 2021. Colorado politicians then accused him of awarding the HQ to Alabama, whose governor claimed the 2020 election was stolen, to reward the state for voting for him. Colorado officials, for their part, have been fighting the move ever since. (Tuberville has previously said theyre all suffering from sore loser syndrome.)

After Biden took office, the White House ordered two reviews into whether the decision to move Space Command HQ to Alabama was politically motivated, and whether Trump was single-handedly responsible, as he claimed at the time. Both reviews found that the selection of Alabamaover the currently temporary Colorado Springs homewas legitimate, but the government watchdog recommended establishing public criteria for future decisions.

In December, the White House ordered another review of the move, which of course, came months after Alabamas aforementioned abortion laws. And in March, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall said that the decision was given to him by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and thats where it stands today. Just weeks ago, on April 27, Kendall said hes still not ready to make an announcement: Were trying to take into consideration all possible factors that will affect the final decision. (Possible factors possibly meaning that Alabamas lack of reproductive rights could hurt recruiting and their employees wellbeing.)

According to NBC News, Bidens people told the Pentagons people that theyre worried the move would needlessly disrupt a large branch of the military during a heightened period of international unrest, which includes military competition in China and the war in Ukraine. We cannot take our eye off the ball right now, one U.S. military official told NBC News.



Which brings us back to Tuberville: In the past two months, hes gained allies like Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) as he continues to hold up important military promotions. (One flashy posting going unfilled is Bidens selection for chief of staff of the Army.) Tubervilles antics are expected to continue as the administration will make a number of prestigious nominations soon, including the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the head of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD, the people who track Santa in addition to a number of important duties).



The belief is they are delaying any move because of the abortion issue, another official told NBC News. So for now, Space Command remains in Colorado Springs, Tuberville remains in office, and abortion remains supported by the majority of Americans. I cant believe its only Tuesday.

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Alanka Babb refused to allow a disability to prevent her from experiencing the finer things in life. Now she has another feat to celebrate, receiving her Ph.D.

In an essay for Insider, Babb explained overcoming a vision impairment, persevering in her native country despite its setbacks and challenges, and celebrating her move to the United States to not only receive a masters degree but her Ph.D. shortly after.

Persevering Through It All

I grew up in disadvantaged circumstances in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Guyana. I was born with an eye disease called macular dystrophy, she explained in the essay. Its a genetic disorder that severely limits your central vision and causes progressive vision loss. Theres no cure for the condition, nor can it be fixed with glasses.

Education was not a priority in Babbs household due to the overriding need to provide the family with basic necessities. She was raised by her grandmother and recalled that although she was expected to attend school regularly, she was never encouraged to study or complete homework.

Whats more, the neighborhood school Babb attended could not afford teachers who were as qualified as those in areas that were more wealthy and better funded.

Her Love For Education

She also had no access to tools that would support her as a student with a disability. Yet, this did not stop Babb from excelling. Not only did she ultimately teach herself to read, thanks to borrowed books from the schools library, but she advanced grades before moving to America in 2015 at the age of 28.

I was skeptical about whether I could do it, though, because my eyesight had deteriorated further, Babb wrote. But I soon found out about the Americans with Disabilities Act, which stipulates that universities need to provide disability-support services to students.

Taking Her Talents To The States

Thanks to this, she was given extra time for testing and access to the presentations designed by her professors prior to her classes. With the accommodations, Babb quickly thrived, and it wasnt long before she received her masters degree in December 2019 before beginning her Ph.D. program in January 2020.

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Both programs were in the education field.

Having a disability, growing up in an economically challenging situation, and not having the foundational learning needed for academic success can be disheartening, Babb expressed. Yet theres space and opportunity in the world for us to thrive when we are willing to keep the faith, advocate for ourselves, and push to reach our academic dreams.

Now, shes one more degree hotter having received her Ph.D. in education.
An Alaskan fisherman turned mad scientist has found a new calling  making rum inside a distillery hidden on a horse farm in Gulfport.

Eli Underhill and his wife, Amy, left the wilderness and frigid temperatures for warm and sunny South Mississippi a few years ago, where he traded catching salmon and cod for experimenting to create a unique rum spirit. He is the brains and brawn behind Circle Hook Distilling, and she handles the marketing and branding while also tending to their animals just down the road.

Sometimes their beloved pony Chantilly  nicknamed Tilly  tries to sneak in the 1,200-square-foot distillery to snack on sugar cane.

She never misses a meal, Eli Underhill said.

Its easy to see why Tilly would want a sweet treat from Circle Hook. When you walk into the spotless distillery, you are immediately reminded of a pancake breakfast or a syrupy scented candle that burns when the weather gets cold.

The smell comes from the molasses Eli uses to make his award-winning dark and light rum. What makes Circle Hook unique is the blend of molasses and cane syrup that goes into the boiler  most rums use one or the other as a sweetener.

The original rum is sweetened with the grade B molasses and Steens Cane Syrup.

Eli tries to get the best of both worlds with that blend, Amy Underhill said.

Circle Hook Distillings Original Rum at Circle Hook Distilling in Gulfport on Monday, April 17, 2023.

Eli spent years researching fermentation and spirit trends before deciding to open a distillery jin Harrison County. He said there wasnt much education on research out there about rum distilling, and he learned much of what he knows from studying the wine fermentation process.

His wife jokingly calls him a mad scientist for figuring out how the process on his own.

I believe in my husband, but I was really surprised at how good it was, she said.

The process starts with well water from the farm which Eli Underhill says is a key ingredient for both sweeteners and yeast. The weekslong process ends with sweet rum. Circle Hooks original dark rum is aged in American oak barrels and is made for sipping over ice. The light rum is not aged and is perfect for a summer cocktail.

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The water is key because of the high PH level  and the well water used for Circle Hook rum is about 10,000 years old.

Deeper wells have sweeter water, Eli Underhill said. We couldnt do this if we were in the city.

The still at Circle Hook Distilling in Gulfport on Monday, April 17, 2023.

Making rum during the COVID pandemic

The Underhills began producing rum in February 2020.

While the world was in lockdown, we were making rum, Eli Underhill said, adding that at first each batch was an experiment.

Eli first experimented with the levels of cane syrup and molasses to find the right balance.

The entire process to ferment the rum can take up to two weeks, Eli said, but nothing is rushed in his distillery. From there, the light rum is bottled and the dark rum is placed in barrels for up to 12 months.

Seventy percent of the flavor comes from the barrels on the original rum, Eli said.

A rumrunner drink made with Circle Hook Distillings Original Rum at Circle Hook Distilling in Gulfport on Monday, April 17, 2023.

Where to find Circle Hook rum

The Underhills have received several awards for their rum, and it was recently featured at the Mad Vines & Spirits table at Taste, Rattle and Roll in Gulfport.

White Pillars restaurant in Biloxi has cocktails featuring the rum, and you can buy bottles at most liquor stores on the Mississippi Coast.

The rum is available only in Mississippi for now, and the Underhills are working on a premium batch using products exclusively made in South Mississippi, including sugar cane from Poplarville.

Eli Underhilll wanted to try to grow his own sugar cane, but Amy Underhill jokingly said she put her foot down.

You can be a fisherman, you can be a distiller, and you can be a sugar cane farmer, she told him. But if you want to be married to me, you have to pick two of the three.

You can find a liquor store close to you that sells Circle Hook rum by checking their website.

Eli and Amy Underhill, founders of Circle Hook Distilling in Gulfport on Monday, April 17, 2023.

Circle Hook Distillings three varieties of rum at Circle Hook Distilling in Gulfport on Monday, April 17, 2023. Circle Hook Distilling currently only sells the Original Rum but will be adding a clear rum and a higher-end rum.

A rumrunner drink made with Circle Hook Distillings Original Rum at Circle Hook Distilling in Gulfport on Monday, April 17, 2023.

A sign at Circle Hook Distilling in Gulfport on Monday, April 17, 2023.
Alec Baldwin posted a cheery photo on Monday (15 May) to mark the last day of filming on Rust, leading many to criticise the actor for being tone-deaf.

Production on the western movie recently resumed at Yellowstone Film Ranch in Montana. It had previously been halted when the star, 65, accidentally shot and killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on set in 2021.

After the incident, Baldwin was charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter, but the charges were later dropped.

The family of Hutchins are said to be pursuing a civil case against Baldwin.

Posting on Instagram to mark his last day of filming with actor Patrick Scott McDermott, Baldwin shared a photo of the pair, alongside the caption: Last day on the set of RUST with this guy.

A very talented actor and lovely young man with a bright future ahead. My love to you, @patrickscottmcdermott.

In a later post, he wrote: God, it felt good to shave off that beard

Many commenters criticised the first post. They still moved forward with the film, one person wrote. Sorry, but horribly poor taste. A human life was lost. Wth?

Tone. Deaf, another added.

The fact that someone died tragically on this set, a young mother at that, should mean that while you do go on and finish the movie, perhaps out of respect and common sensitivity you dont post happy photos with the remaining living from that particular movie set!!!!! posted a third.

A fourth wrote: Shameless.

The Independent has contacted a representative of Baldwin for comment.

The movie sees Baldwin play an infamous outlaw who comes out of hiding to stop his 13-year-old grandson from being hanged for murder.

Find out here what changes in the case brought about the decision to drop the charges.
ALIQUIPPA  Donna Gilbert, an Aliquippa native and graduate of Aliquippa High School, will compete in The Miss Missouri Pageant.

The pageant takes place June 14-17.

Gilbert is one of 21 Miss Missouri contestants, and the only Black contestant.

Her community initiative platform is sexual assault awareness.

Her pageant talent will be baton twirling.

Gilbert lettered in volleyball, softball and basketball at Aliquippa, where she graduated in the Top-10 of her class. She also was a cheerleader in 12th grade.

Donna Gilbert, an Aliquippa High graduate, will compete in the Miss Missouri Pageant. JC PRODUCTIONS

She continued her education at Coastal Carolina University, where she joined the Equestrian Club and was crowned Miss Black and Gold for the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. While in college, she served as president of Help Save The Next Girl and joined R.O T.C. She graduated Coastal Carolina in 2020 with an bachelor's degree in psychology and minor in sociology.

After graduation, she continued her military career, and is now a first lieutenant at Bravo Company 3-10 at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri.

While on active duty, she was crowned Miss Spirit of St Louis. She has earned 220 volunteer service hours while on active-duty, volunteering with organizations such as D.R.E.A.M.E.R.S, Blue Star Families, Ronald McDonald House, and St. Louis Crisis Nursery.

Aliquippa grad Donna Gilbert, a military officer, will compete in the Miss Missouri pageant.

The pageant takes place at Missouri Military Academy in Mexico, Mo., northwest of St. Louis.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: Aliquippa graduate/military officer competes in Miss Missouri pageant
Charges were filed against an Allegheny County veterinary hospital employee for allegedly stealing drugs, money and gift cards from the hospital and fellow employees.

Heidi Schumacher, 42, worked at River Valley Veterinary Hospital in Springdale when she allegedly took medications, often after hours, according to Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry.

Schumacher surrendered Wednesday at a district court and was arraigned on seven felony counts of prohibited acts related to illegally acquiring and delivering controlled substances; one felony count of forgery; one misdemeanor count of identity theft; and two misdemeanor counts of theft by unlawful taking.

Schumacher, who was seen on video taking medications, also admitted to taking about $1,100 in petty cash, gift cards and from other employees, according to Henry.

An investigation by Henrys office found that Schumacher allegedly printed forged prescription bottle labels and entered the locked pharmacy after hours when the clinic was closed to steal the drugs.

Schumacher also presented prescriptions for her dogs to be signed by a veterinarian. In at least one instance, Schumacher presented a prescription for an opoid after her dog had died, according to the report.

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The Mosquito fire in El Dorado County was the state's largest wildfire in 2022. (Noah Berger / Associated Press)

Almost 40% of forest area burned by wildfire in the western United States and southwestern Canada in the last 40 years can be attributed to carbon emissions associated with the worlds 88 largest fossil fuel producers and cement manufacturers, according to new research that seeks to hold oil and gas companies accountable for their role in climate change.

In findings published Tuesday in the journal Environmental Research Letters, the authors concluded that the emissions generated in the extraction of fossil fuels, as well as the burning of those fuels, have increased the amount of land burned by wildfire by raising global temperatures and amplifying dry conditions across the West. This growing dryness, or aridification, has caused the atmosphere to become "thirstier" for water, draining moisture from trees and brush and causing them to become more vulnerable to fire, the researchers say.

The study is the latest in a growing body of research known as extreme event attribution, or attribution science, which seeks to determine how much global warming has contributed to events such as heat waves, droughts and wildfires.

We hope that people who are in communities that have been affected by wildfires will see this work and think about whether they want to hold these companies accountable, said study author Kristina Dahl, principal climate scientist with the Union of Concerned Scientists.

To quantify the impact of the fossil fuel industry on wildfires, Dahl and her colleagues built on previous research that has shown that carbon emissions traced to the top 88 fossil fuel producers and cement manufacturers  including Exxon Mobil, BP, Chevron and Shell  have contributed significantly to the average temperature by which the Earth has warmed. (Cement production is responsible for 8% of human-generated carbon dioxide  significantly less than the burning of fossil fuels.)

The researchers found that changes in global mean temperature are positively linked with changes in the Western North American vapor pressure deficit, a measure of how effectively the air can dry out plants and vegetation that ultimately become fuel for wildfires, Dahl said.

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I actually laughed because Ive never had such a strong correlation in my data before, she said.

The researchers were then able to estimate that emissions from the major carbon producers contributed to 48% of the increase in the vapor pressure deficit observed over the last 120 years. Previous research has shown that this rise is strongly associated with an increase in burned forest lands in the western U.S. and southwestern Canada.

From there, the researchers found that the emissions were responsible for 37% of the 53 million acres of forest area  or 19.8 million acres  burned by wildfire since 1986.

The results dont account for the effects of non-climate factors, including fire suppression, the prohibition of Indigenous burning and increases in human-sparked fires associated with more people moving into wilderness areas, which have played a role in driving the size and severity of individual fires, but have not affected the relationship between climate and burned area, the study notes.

Asked to comment on the findings, a spokesman for the Western States Petroleum Assn. said that "demonization" of the fossil fuel industry would not bring solutions.

"We all want the same thing: affordable, reliable and ever-cleaner energy and fuels," Kevin Slagle wrote in an email. "A press release from a well-funded activist group with a long history of attacking energy industries is unhelpful to the serious and realistic climate and energy policy discussions needed to get us there."

Up until relatively recently, the public posture of the climate science community was that no individual extreme event could be attributed to global warming, said Noah Diffenbaugh, climate scientist at Stanford University's Doerr School of Sustainability, who was not involved in the study. That changed in the early 2000s, and extreme event attribution has since become a robust sub-field of climate science, he said.

Although the sub-field does not exist to provide data for legal actions, it in some ways arose from questions of law, he said. Some of its earliest examination in scholarly literature was in law review articles about the need to quantify the contribution of historical global warming to individual events for the purposes of assigning liability, he said.

Since then, attribution research has served as a foundation for liability lawsuits filed against fossil fuel companies.

Last month, in what was seen as a major victory for plaintiffs, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear appeals from oil and gas companies that were seeking to have lawsuits over climate change filed by state and local governments moved to federal courts. The decision cleared a path for dozens of similar lawsuits to be heard in state courts, where communities that are suing are believed to have better chances of winning sizable damages.

What this study shows is that using existing peer-reviewed methods, it is possible to rigorously trace the contributions from the source of emissions to the impacts, Diffenbaugh said.

Another scientist who was not involved with the study said the authors' methodology appeared sound.

Rong Fu, the director of the UCLA Joint Institute for Regional Earth System Science and Engineering, has also studied the link between global warming and increasingly destructive wildfires. If anything, study authors might have underestimated the impacts of the companies emissions because they included aerosol emissions in their calculations, Fu said.

Aerosols  small particles in the air that can come from the burning of fossil fuels  tend to cool surface temperatures, she said. But these emissions have shorter lifetimes, and they tend to decrease as technology improves, she said. As that happens, we are likely to see a stronger warming, she said.

This paper really takes to the next level that linking of these increases in wildfires to the main emitters in the world, Fu said.

When considering the connection between fossil fuels and extreme events, Dahl said it was important to recognize that the impacts of climate-driven disasters have not been borne equally.

As wildfires in the western U.S. have grown in size and intensity, and wrought unprecedented levels of damage on communities, the public has been left to cover much of the cost through higher taxes and utility bill surcharges, she said.

But at the same time, we know the fossil fuel industry has known for decades what the impact of their products would be on our climate, and that emissions associated with those companies have significantly altered our climate, she said. We really wanted to put a spotlight on the fossil fuel industrys role in driving the Wests worsening wildfires so they can be held accountable for their share of the costs.

I think a lot of us in California are used to thinking about corporate accountability for wildfires as just being limited to Pacific Gas & Electric Co. and the immediate utility failures that have sparked some of the states largest and deadliest wildfires, she added. But the reality is theres this much bigger set of corporate actors who have not been held accountable at all.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A California bill that would provide unemployment benefits to illegal immigrants is set for review this week as the Golden State braces for an influx of migrants following Title 42's expiration.

SB 227, or the Safety Net for All Workers Act, would provide laid-off illegal immigrants with $300 per week for up to 20 weeks with funds from state coffers. In March, the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted a resolution supporting the statewide bill.

"We cannot take peoples money, take peoples taxes, take peoples labor and then deny them the very benefits and rights that they deserve and that they have earned," Supervisor Shamann Walton said at a protest before the board met.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill last year giving unemployment benefits to undocumented workers, saying "the bill needs further work to address operation issues and fiscal concerns."

WATCH MORE FOX NEWS DIGITAL ORIGINALS HERE

Payroll taxes on illegal immigrants contribute $485 million a year to the state's Unemployment Insurance system, according to the Safety Net for All Coalition, a group of over 120 organizations across California seeking to expand welfare programs for undocumented workers. The weekly checks plus administrative expenses in the proposed legislation is estimated to cost $356 million in state funds.

"Every day, undocumented immigrants contribute to Californias economic prosperity in agriculture, construction, clothing and other industries," said the bill's sponsor, state Sen. Maria Elena Durazo. "Yet immigrants continue to be shut out from Californias economic success due to unjust exclusions from the safety net."

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Hundreds of migrants wait to cross the United States border before the Title 42 policy comes to an end in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, on May 10, 2023.

FLORIDA AG SUES BIDEN ADMIN TO STOP PLANNED MASS RELEASE OF MIGRANTS AS TITLE 42 ENDS

On Thursday the Senate Appropriations Committee will review proposed legislation that costs the state more than $50,000, which would include SB 227, and either forward a bill to the floor or bench it.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a similar bill that passed the legislature last year, saying "the bill needs further work to address operational issues and fiscal concerns."

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But California this year is experiencing significant financial strain. Newsom announced Friday that the state's budget deficit grew to nearly $32 billion, about $10 billion more than anticipated.

"This was not an easy budget, but I hope you see we will try to do our best to hold the line and take care of the most vulnerable and most needy but still maintain prudence," Newsom said.

Additionally, an influx of migrants entering the state following the expiration of Title 42, could lead to more illegal immigrants that eventually rely on unemployment insurance.

Title 42, a Trump administration era policy suspended rights to seek asylum, expired Thursday evening, bringing an influx of migrants to the border. A record 83,000 migrants crossed the border last week in anticipation of the policy's expiration, but U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said border agents saw a 50% drop in the number of border crossers over the weekend.

Just south of San Diego, roughly 15,000 migrants had gathered in Tijuana last week, filling hotels and shelters or sleeping outside in a makeshift camp while waiting for Title 42 to expire in the hopes of making it into the Golden State, The New York Times reported.
Anna Nicole Smith (left) had a secret relationship with Melissa Missy Byrum, according to a new Netflix documentary about the late models life (Netflix)

Melissa Missy Byrum, a friend of the late Anna Nicole Smith, has claimed that the pair were in a secret relationship and got married in the backyard by the pool in 1993.

Byrum, who appears in a new Netflix documentary titled Anna Nicole Smith: You Dont Know Me, said that the pair fell in love and that Smith proposed to her.

The former dancer met Smith in the early Nineties in a strip club in Houston, where they both worked. They became best friends and later, lovers, she said.

Smith, who died in 2007 of combined drug intoxication, was famously married to oil tycoon J Howard Marshall II in 1994, which was her second marriage and his third. It was highly publicised given Marshall was 89 and Smith was 26 when they married.

But Byrum told People that Marshall knew [Smith] was a young woman and needed certain things, adding: He allowed her to have her boy toys or whatever.

According to People, Byrum and Smith began their secret relationship in 1992 and Smith proposed to her the following year.

She gave me a set of rings and we got married in the backyard by the pool with champagne She wanted me to have a baby with her, Byrum said.

But I always knew it wasnt ever going to work out because she was never, ever going to settle down with one person.

An old photograph of Melissa Missy Byrum and Anna Nicole Smith (Netflix)

Ultimately, Byrum and Smiths relationship ended over her addiction to painkillers, the former dancer said.

She needed more love than any one human being could give her, she added.

Smith faced accusations that she had married Marshall in order to inherit his wealth after he died, which she consistently denied.

I know people think I married Howard for his money, she previously said. But its not true. I love him.

A production still image of Anna Nicole Smith from the Netflix documentary Anna Nicole Smith: You Dont Know Me (Netflix)

Byrum reinforced Smiths sentiments and said: She really loved him. The way he took care of her and looked out for her  she cared about him a lot. She didnt want people to think that she was after his money. [Her] Aunt Kay and I both said, If you love him, to heck with what people think!

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Marshall died in 1995, just over a year after they were married. Smith, whose first marriage was to cook Billy Wayne Smith when she was 17, did not marry again after Marshalls death.

She was romantically linked to fashion designer Christian Audigier, Prince Frederic von Anhalt, who is Zsa Zsa Gabors ninth husband, photographer Larry Birkhead and lawyer Howard K Stern.

Anna Nicole Smith: You Dont Know Me began streaming on Netflix today (Tuesday 16 May).
The long-awaited remodel of Georgia Brown Elementary School in Paso Robles will likely be delayed after surveys of the ground found an anomalous feature beneath the campus.

Its unclear exactly what the issue is, but its throwing a wrench in the districts plans and likely means students will return to the campus in the fall rather than move to a temporary location as part of a campus swap involving Glen Speck Elementary School.

The Paso Robles Joint Unified School District originally expected to completely remodel the 1950s-era Georgia Brown campus during the summer so students could learn next school year in an environment free of leaky ceilings, constant cockroach threats, cracked pavement and fenced-off playgrounds.

But a state-required investigation of the ground under the campus  called a geotechnical survey  found something that requires further investigation, according to Brad Pawlowski, the assistant superintendent of business services at the district. The district must get permission from the school board to do that.

The unexpected underground feature could be a fault line or remnants of the Salinas riverbed from long ago, Pawlowski said.

It does not pose any immediate threat to the staff or students at the school, he clarified.

In medical terms, the first geotechnical survey could be considered an ultrasound of the underground features beneath the elementary school campus. Now, the district must perform a biopsy of the ground to determine what the unusual feature is.

That will require the school district to hire a consultant to dig up the ground and analyze the soil so it can identify whether the feature is a fault line, old riverbed or something else, Pawlowski said.

Georgia Brown Elementary School in Paso Robles is one of two dual-language immersion schools in San Luis Obispo County. The other is Pacheco Elementary in San Luis Obispo.

Ground study will likely pause renovation plans

Because of the additional investigation required, the school district must likely hit pause on its plans to move the Spanish-English dual-immersion program at Georgia Brown to the recently remodeled Glen Speck Elementary School campus, while relocating Glen Speck students to Georgia Brown.

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The plan calls for remodeling Georgia Brown, located at 36th and Vine streets, into a smaller campus that would be suitable for about 317 students.

The campus is then expected to be renamed Glen Speck Elementary School once those students move there.

While the remodel of the 36th Street campus was underway, the district intended to move current Georgia Brown students and teachers into a temporary campus at nearby Flamson Middle School campus.

The current Glen Speck Elementary School, located at 17th and Vine streets and which has been remodeled to fit about 642 students, was expected to host the popular dual-immersion program this fall. That campus was then supposed to be renamed Georgia Brown Elementary School.

But the anomalous feature under the current Georgia Brown campus on 36th Street has upended that plan for the moment.

This obviously makes the scheduled move to the temporary site ill-advised until we know more, so I am recommending to the Board next Tuesday night that the move to the temp campus be postponed, Paso Robles school district Superintendent Curt Dubost wrote in a note to parents on Monday. This delay will give us time to determine if there are any further cost-effective options to move forward with the existing plan.

Should the school board agree with the superintendent during a vote expected to be held during its board meeting on May 23, the dual-immersion Georgia Brown Elementary School will start the next school year at the current site on 36th Street, Dubost wrote in his note.
A commander at Fort Cavazos, Texas, was fired from his post last month after a command investigation found issues with his ability to lead, an Army official said in a statement.

Lt. Col. Damasio Davila of the 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, was relieved on April 26 by Col. Chris Dempsey, commander of the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team.

Davila was removed due to a loss of trust in his ability to command, a 1st Cavalry Division spokesperson told Army Times. Lt. Col. Patrick Merriss, the new battalion commander, assumed command on May 4.

As a matter of policy, the Army does not comment on investigations, Lt. Col. Jennifer Bocanegra said. The Army takes all allegations of misconduct extremely seriously and conducts thorough investigations to ensure that appropriate action is taken.

Davilas firing, which was first reported by Stars and Stripes, comes in the wake of the October 2022 firing of Col. Jon Meredith. Meredith is facing a court-martial for alleged sexual abuse, officials from 1st Cavalry Division confirmed to Army Times last month.

The command at Fort Cavazos has come under scrutiny since April 2020, when Spc. Vanessa Guillen was murdered by a fellow soldier. Before her death, Guillen had complained of sexual harassment and abuse at the installation.

A subsequent report from an independent commission found sexual harassment prevention and response programs at the base to be ineffective.

In 2021, then-Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy released the findings of a report from the then-Fort Hood Independent Review Commission. (Fort Hood was officially redesignated as Fort Cavazos on May 9.)

Leaders are responsible for the success or failure of their units, the welfare of their soldiers and the culture of their organizations, McCarthy said in a video discussing problems at the base. Theres no greater responsibility than caring for our nations sons and daughters. We must have service members at every level leading with conviction and moral authority.

Issues at the Texas installation have persisted, however. On March 13, Pvt. Ana Basaldua Ruiz, 20, was found dead by apparent suicide in a maintenance bay. Army officials said that no foul play was evident when her body was found, but they have publicly acknowledged that Ruiz had complained about sexual harassment by peers and a superior officer prior to her death.

Army Times reporter Davis Winkie contributed to this story.
Healthcare providers caring for pregnant patients in the months after the US Supreme Courts decision to strike down Roe v Wade have been unable to provide standard medical care in states where abortion is effectively outlawed, leading to delays and worsening and dangerous health outcomes for patients, according to an expansive new report.

In the wake of the Supreme Courts ruling last year, individual reports from patients and providers have shed some light on the wide range of harm facing pregnant women in states where access to abortion care is restricted or outright banned.

But a first-of-its-kind report from the University of California San Francisco captures examples from across the country, documenting 50 cases in more than a dozen states that enacted abortion bans within the last 10 months, painting a stark picture of how the fall of Roe is impacting healthcare in states that restrict abortion, according to the reports author Dr Daniel Grossman.

Banning abortion and tying providers hands impacts every aspect of care and will do so for years to come, he said in a statement accompanying the report. Pregnant people deserve better than regressive policies that put their health and lives at risk.

The report collected anonymised narratives from providers who observed complications facing their patients.

The most common scenario involved preterm pre-labor rupture of membranes (PPRM), in which the amniotic membrane surrounding the fetus breaks. In several of the cases, patients developed a severe infection, including cases that put patients in hospital intensive care units. Patients in many cases were instead sent home and told to return to a hospital when labor started or when they experienced signs of an infection.

In one case, a patient returned to a hospitals intensive care unit two days after her water broke at roughly 16 to 18 weeks of pregnancy in a state where abortion is banned.

The anesthesiologist cries on the phone when discussing the case with me, the physician wrote, according to the report. If the patient needs to be intubated, no one thinks she will make it out of the [operating room].

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The report notes that miraculously the patient survived. Following the termination of the pregnancy, the patient asked the doctor whether any of them broke the law.

She asks me: could she or I go to jail for this? the doctor said, according to the report. Or did this count as life-threatening yet?

Providers also described other cases where patients showed evidence of inevitable pregnancy loss, but their care teams had their hands tied under state laws.

Health providers also submitted stories of patients experiencing ectopic pregnancies. Delays to treat one patient resulted in a ruptured ectopic pregnancy that required surgery to remove her fallopian tube. Another patient was denied an abortion for a Caesarean scar ectopic pregnancy, a life-threatening condition where a pregnancy implants in the scar of a prior Caesarean section.

Other physicians reported the inability to treat patients with fetal anomalies and patients who faced delays receiving treatment for miscarriages.

Unfortunately, this report confirms that our fears about abortion bans are valid, said Dr Chloe Zera, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist and associate professor at Harvard Medical School.

As someone who cares for patients who have high-risk pregnancies, I need to be able to provide care consistent with evidence-based guidelines, she said in a statement accompanying the report. This research underscores the completely preventable harm that is now happening to our patients because of barriers to abortion care.

The report also outlines the moral dilemmas facing physicians operating in states or treating patients from states that have outlawed the potentially life-saving care they previously provided.

Some physicians said they were considering quitting or relocating, or noted the immense coordination required between health providers in multiple states to treat patients, and outlined the ways in which restrictive state laws have complicated other care unrelated to abortion.

In one case, a physician refused to remove an intrauterine device for a patient who was between 10 and 12 weeks pregnant, despite the partially expelled IUD posing a risk for infection or miscarriage.

The doctor did not feel comfortable removing the IUD, one physician wrote, according to the report. The context provided was concern over the recent changes in law that create [the] possibility for felony charges for providers causing abortion in our state shortly after the Roe decision was overturned.

During a heated exchange among health providers, the doctor [said] the patient had... been examined by the nurse practitioner, who was unable to visualize the IUD, and that even if I could see it and it was easily removable, I wouldnt remove it because of the law, according to the physicians description in the report.

Abortion bans that block providers from offering standard medical care have the greatest impact in states like Texas that have some of the poorest indicators of maternal health, according to Dr Kari White, lead investigator of the Texas Policy Evaluation Project at The University of Texas at Austin.

Pregnant people should be able to rely on their healthcare provider to provide the best possible care, regardless of where they live, she said in a statement accompanying the report.

More than a dozen states, mostly in the South, have effectively outlawed or severely restricted access to abortion care after the Supreme Courts decision in Dobbs v Jackson Womens Health Organization last June.
Vsevolod Knyazev

SAP prosecutor Oleksandr Omelchenko said at a press briefing on May 16 that Knyazev was now in custody.

Read also: Head of Ukraines Supreme Court arrested after accepting $2.7 million bribe

Currently, the Head of the Supreme Court has been detained, and measures are being taken to verify the involvement of other individuals in the criminal offense, he said.

In addition to Knyazev, another person has been detained, with charges yet to be formally filed, but currently being prepared.

Read also: Ukrainian billionaire Zhevaho released from jail in France on bail of 1 million euros

NABU Director Semen Kryvonos revealed that his bureau has documented a series of contacts between the owner of Finances and Credit Group, Kostiantyn Zhevaho, and one of the owners of an attorney group used to conceal criminal activities. These contacts involved an agreement regarding unlawful benefits in favor of high-ranking court officials for rendering the necessary decision in favor of the entrepreneur.

Businessman Zhevaho denies his involvement in the multimillion-dollar bribe, as stated in a press release issued by his spokesperson to Forbes.

This is the most high-profile case during the tenure of NABU and SAP and the biggest exposure of a top-ranking official in the judicial branch of power, said Kryvonos.

He said the suspects in the case also attempted to influence the appointment of members of the Higher Qualification Commission of Judges (VKKS), the body responsible for career-related matters within the judicial branch of power.

Read also: SBU searches oligarch Kolomoisky's residence over misappropriation of $1 billion

On the evening of May 15, it was reported by the media that Vsevolod Knyazev, the Head of the Supreme Court, is suspected of receiving a $3 million bribe, which was documented by NABU and SAP.

Later, the anti-corruption agencies announced the exposure of massive corruption in the Supreme Court without disclosing the names of the individuals involved.

Story continues

On May 16, an extraordinary plenary session of the Supreme Court will be convened.

Read also: Exiled oligarch Zhevagos Ferrexpo comments on ruling to seize assets

Knyazev was elected as the Head of the Supreme Court in late October 2021. Prior to that, he served as a judge and secretary of the Supreme Chamber of the Supreme Court since 2017.

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 US announced charges against several Russian and Chinese nationals for violating sanctions by seeking to export sensitive technolgy

The United States announced charges on Tuesday against several Chinese and Russian nationals accused of stealing trade secrets and violating sanctions by seeking to export sensitive technology.

Among those indicted was a former software engineer at Apple who allegedly stole software from the California company related to the research and development of self-driving cars.

Also charged was a Chinese man accused of seeking to provide Iran with materials used to produce weapons of mass destruction.

Other criminal cases involved the dismantling of alleged procurement networks that helped Russia's intelligence services obtain sensitive US military technology and aircraft parts, US officials said.

The indictments were the work of the Justice Department's "Disruptive Technology Strike Force" and were announced by assistant attorney general Matthew Olsen.

"We stand vigilant in enforcing US laws to stop the flow of sensitive technologies to our foreign adversaries," said Olsen, who was flanked by US attorneys from around the country who brought the indictments.

Charged in California was Weibao Wang, 35, a Chinese software engineer at Apple from 2016 to 2018.

Wang, who fled the United States for China just hours after a search of his home in 2018, was accused of stealing self-driving car technology and other trade secrets from Apple.

Damian Williams, US attorney for the Southern District of New York, said Xiangjiang Qiao, 39, also known as Joe Hansen, was accused of seeking to send isostatic graphite to Iran in violation of US sanctions.

According to the US authorities, isostatic graphite is a high-tech material used in the nose tips of intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Qiao, who is at large in China, has been charged with sanctions evasion, money laundering and bank fraud, Williams said.

In another case related to China, Liming Li, 64, a southern California man was arrested on May 6 on charges of stealing smart manufacturing technology from two US firms he worked at and then providing it to businesses in China, US officials said.

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The advanced technology was used to make parts for nuclear submarines and military aircraft.

The US companies Li worked for were not identified in the indictment.

- 'Double dealing' -

Charges were also unveiled against a Greek national accused of smuggling military and dual use technology to Russia including sophisticated equipment used in nuclear weapons testing.

Nikolaos Bogonikolos, 59, who is charged with wire fraud conspiracy and smuggling, was arrested last week in France and the United States is seeking his extradition, said Breon Peace, US attorney for the Eastern District of New York.

Peace said Bogonikolos "while ostensibly operating as a defense contractor for NATO and other ally countries" was "double dealing, helping to fuel Russia's war effort and their development of next generation weapons."

Bogonikolos, who headed a company known as the Aratos Group, "conspired with a network of companies orchestrated by the Russian intelligence services to fraudulently acquire and then smuggle US-origin military and dual use technologies to aid the Russian defense and security sectors," he said.

In another case involving Russia, two Russian nationals, Oleg Patsulya and Vasilii Besedin, were arrested in Arizona for seeking to illegally export civilian aircraft parts from the United States to Russia, US officials said.

cl/bgs
Arnold Schwarzenegger's new character in "FUBAR" resembles the action star's real-life divorce and infidelity, but he clarifies that with ex-wife Maria Shriver, 'It was my failure.' (Brian Baer / Associated Press)

In Arnold Schwarzeneggers upcoming Netflix series FUBAR, his character, Luke, is trying to win back his wife after a strained marriage and infidelity tore them apart. Sound familiar?

Schwarzenegger thought so too. It feels like its a documentary, he joked in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter published Tuesday.

The action stars marriage to award-winning news anchor Maria Shriver officially dissolved in late 2021, nearly a decade after she filed for divorce. Shriver made the move after 25 years of marriage and just a few months after Schwarzenegger wrapped up his second term as governor of California.

While the cause for the split wasnt immediately revealed, it ultimately went public that the Governator had a fling in 1996 with Mildred Baena, the couple's longtime housekeeper. Whats more, the affair had been kept a secret for 13 years. Shriver finally confronted Baena after the housekeeper brought her son to work with her  and the boy had a striking resemblance to a certain Austrian-born bodybuilder.

Baena told the U.K.s Hello! (via People) in 2011 that Shriver was among numerous people who did a double take after looking at her son.

"Last summer, I brought Joseph over to the house. Until then, he hadn't been around very much," Baena said at the time. "After that, people in the house started whispering about how much they looked like each other."

Baena continued: "Maria would ask if I needed to talk to her, and I kept saying no. Finally, she asked point blank. Maria asked me directly if Joseph was Arnold's son, and I just broke down. I dropped to my knees and I was crying, saying that yes he was and I was so sorry."

In 2014, when it became public knowledge that he had fathered Baenas love child, Schwarzenegger told The Times, I understand and deserve the feelings of anger and disappointment among my friends and family. There are no excuses and I take full responsibility for the hurt I have caused. I have apologized to Maria, my children and my family. I am truly sorry.

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And Schwarzenegger made sure to make a few distinctions between himself and Luke when speaking with THR.

The difference is, in the show, he doesnt consider it cheating because [seducing CIA assets] was part of his profession, he said. His wife moved on because he never was home, and now he has this dilemma with the daughter because she has the same job and its going to screw up her relationship too.

Then the Terminator star clarified that when it came to his real-life marriage to Shriver, he was the party pooper.

It was my f up, he said. It was my failure.

Schwarzenegger has dedicated himself to public service in the last several decades and recently has been making headlines for his heartfelt video addresses regarding the war in Ukraine and the rise of antisemitism. But when he was campaigning to become Californias governor, disturbing allegations were made against him, specifically about his treatment of women during his time as an action star.

I think its very easy to understand," Schwarzenegger told THR when asked to address the differences in his behavior over the years. "We are not perfect. We try to be, but theres only one thats perfect  God.

"My mouth is great, but it gets me into trouble. My brain is great  it has the will to make a better world  but sometimes I f up. I make mistakes. I behaved badly. All of those things Ive addressed in the past. I feel bad about it. But I cannot roll the clock back. I have to be careful and be wiser. Im smarter. Im more sensitive about other peoples feelings.

Schwarzenegger makes his series debut in Netflix's FUBAR May 25. And on June 7, Arnold, a three-part documentary chronicling his life, drops on the streamer as well.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A Western movie, which was shot in Blackburn and believed to be the first, is to be celebrated with artwork.

Kidnapping By Indians was filmed in 1899 in Lancashire by pioneering movie makers Mitchell and Kenyon.

The artwork will feature 40 arrows embedded into the end of a terraced house where the film was made.

A short film clip was found in a shop basement in Northgate in 1994. Artist Jamie Holman helped uncover the links between the film clip and Blackburn.

He has now submitted the planning application with artist group Uncultured Creatives for the artwork which will be 19ft (5.7m) off the ground.

Mr Holman said: "We are proud to commemorate that the world's first Western was made here in Blackburn town centre."

He added: "It's an extraordinary story that I am proud to tell on behalf of Mitchell and Kenyon."

Kidnapping by Indians follows the plot of a young girl being kidnapped by native Americans before being rescued in a gunfight.

It was shot in fields close to Blackburn with local mill workers also used in the silent black and while film as well as local actors.

Blackburn with Darwen Council's leader Phil Riley told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "This was the starting point of what would become a key Hollywood genre."

He added the artwork will be "a lasting feature and a real talking point in the town".

Most film critics had cited Edwin S Porter's 1903 The Great Train Robbery, based on a real raid by outlaw Butch Cassidy, as the first Western before the Blackburn discovery.

Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk
Former Vice President Mike Pence will soon launch an official 2024 campaign for president, modeling himself after the late President Ronald Reagan, Pence associates told The New York Times in a story published Monday.

Pence will market himself as a Reagan conservative leading the Republican Party back to pre-Trump days, people close to Pence told the newspaper.

His teams improbable bet is that a Reagan coalition  composed of the Christian right, fiscal conservatives and national security hawks  can be reassembled within a party transformed by Mr. Trump, the newspaper wrote.

At the same time, the former veep is staking out his ground as a unique option in a GOP race currently dominated by the grievance-driven former President Donald Trump.

Mike Pence and Ronald Reagan

Mike Pence and Ronald Reagan

This campaign is going to reintroduce Mike Pence to the country as his own man, not as vice president, but as a true economic, social and national security conservative  a Reagan conservative, Scott Reed, co-chair of a new super PAC for Pence, told The Associated Press.

Politico on Monday confirmed the launching of the PAC to back Pence through early primary votes.

Pence, a long shot in the 2024 race, previously said he would decide no later than June, but the PAC indicates an announcement could be sooner.

Pences alignment with Reagan should come as no surprise. Last summer he tweeted: President Ronald Reagans ideals inspired me to leave the party of my youth and become a Republican like he did and it was an honor to sit down with the @ReaganInstitute Strategy Group in Utah last week!

Oddly, though, the former vice president once said of Trump: He reminds me of Ronald Reagan.

That was before his and Trumps ticket was elected to the White House and well before Pence defied Trump and certified the 2020 election of Joe Biden, which Trump baselessly claimed was rigged.

Related...
Senior Chinese diplomat meets with Hungarian FM

Xinhua) 08:25, May 16, 2023

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.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Megan Varner/Reuters

A controversial police training facility needs more than $30 million from Atlanta taxpayers. But during more than seven hours of public comment at a packed city council meeting on Monday, hundreds of locals expressed unanimous opposition to the project.

The Atlanta Public Safety Training Centercalled Cop City by challengersis a proposed $90 million, 85-acre police training ground slated for construction in Atlantas South River Forest. The project has seen opposition from environmental, racial justice, and indigenous rights activists, who argue that the project will cut down a forest on historically Native American land and fuel aggressive policing. After a series of protester arrests, and the killing of one activist by police, the project is now close to breaking ground. And opposition is louder than ever.

Georgia Activist Killed by Cops Had Gunshot Residue on Hands, Police Say

Ive been to City Hall for some years now, Micah Herskind, an Atlanta-based community organizer who attended the Monday meeting, told The Daily Beast. But until the Monday city council hearing, Ive never seen the line at the door, even, of where the public comment sign up is. It was out the door, around the whole second floor, winding down the stairs, and then eventually went out through the building, through the security line. Ive never seen anything like it. And not only did masses of people show up, they showed up literally 100 percent against Cop City. We did a complete tally of public comments. 100 percent of commenters were against Cop City.

The purpose of the meeting was to hear public comments on a bill that would give the police training project $33.5 million in city funds, approximately $16 million of which must be signed over to the construction project by the end of June. (The citys payout has edged up in recent months, from earlier estimates of $30 million, then $32 million.)

Not one of the nearly 300 speakers supported the spending.

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People were not only talking about not wanting Cop City. They were also saying, hey, you have $30 million? Put that in our schools, put that in affordable housing, put that in our streets, put that in childcare, in food for people, for people who are homeless, Herskind said.

Other speakers pointed to the citys history of aggressive policing. Atlanta father Jimmy Hill, whose son was shot and killed by police in 2019, used the public comment period to return a proclamation the city had awarded his family after the killing. The proclamation condemned gun violence, which Hill said was a mischaracterization of his sons death.

Call it what it is: police brutality is police brutality. Stop trying to sugarcoat it. Its police brutality, a police killing, Hill said.

Hill also used the comment period to condemn the police killing of Manuel Esteban "Tortuguita" Paez Teran, an activist who was camping in the South River Forest in opposition to the Cop City construction. On Jan. 18, police opened fire on Terans tent, shooting the activist at least 57 times. Police claimed Teran had fired a guna claim strongly disputed by Terans family and complicated by autopsy reports. An independent autopsy by Terans family suggested that their hands were up at the time of the shooting. An autopsy by DeKalb County could not make a definite determination about Terans posture, but found no evidence of gunshot residue on their hands. A report by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation found traces of gunshot primer residue on Terans hands, but noted that the residue can also land on gunshot victims. No body camera footage of the killing is available.

"I think about my son because he was unarmed and surrendering, Hill said of the two shootings.

Hill is not the only person to return awards to Atlanta in protest of the police training site. Terans death, and the mass arrests of people at an anti-Cop City music festival, have drawn national scrutiny to the project as it nears its planned August groundbreaking.

Civil rights leader Angela Davis, who received a proclamation from Atlanta in March, returned the award days later.

I regret that I did not consider the implications of my acceptance of this award at the time, given the fact that the City Council voted in favor of the construction of a massive militarized police training facility in the South River Forest, Davis said in an April statement.

Other civil rights leaders also spoke out against the project last month, in a growing trend of public opposition to the construction.

Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King Jr. and leader of Atlantas King Center for Nonviolent Social Change, penned an April op-ed opposing the training center at its proposed location.

I urge you to rapidly expand your efforts in police and justice reform and a new approach to holistic community safety and wellness that engenders trust and confidence in police and policymakers, King wrote to city officials. I also urge you to revisit the programming and design of the training center and to identify a more suitable location. Ignoring the calls of the community will only multiply the cries. 

Atlantas City Council is slated to vote on the $33.5 million funding on June 5. A failed funding vote is not necessarily a dealbreaker (the police foundation behind the project is trying to raise $60 million of its own), but it might be activists best legal avenue for blocking the project.

I think it would significantly hamstring the project, Herskind said. It wouldnt cancel the lease, but it would be the council effectively removing its blessing from the project. In my mind, the city would have no choice but to choose a new path.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Members of the Austin Police Department hold their hats during a graduation ceremony in 2017.

The Austin City Council on Tuesday will canvass the votes from the May 6 election, and backers of Proposition A say that means the citys civilian oversight office can get back to work investigating allegations of police misconduct.

Proposition A, which was circulated by the criminal justice nonprofit Equity Action, was designed to return powers to the civilian police oversight office and allow investigators to access all police records and interview witnesses while gathering evidence of police misconduct. The measure allows the Office of Police Oversight to make recommendations on discipline to the police chief.

Austin voters this month overwhelmingly supported Proposition A while rejecting Proposition B, which was designed to essentially keep the Office of Police Oversight from conducting initial reviews of complaints or being part of the evidence-gathering portion of an investigation. The measure was financially backed by the Austin Police Association, the citys police union.

But since the vote, all attention has been on state lawmakers' Senate Bill 2209, which could override what Austin voters just approved and prevent civilian agencies, such as Austins Office of Police Oversight, from participating in any investigations of police misconduct.

The bill is sitting in a House committee and still has time to be voted on before the regular session ends, but for now the power lies at the local level.

Here's what we know while SB 2209 continues through the Legislature:

How soon can the new provisions and rules be implemented?

Some aspects of the proposition could seemingly be implemented now, while others require further contract negotiations, said Kathy Mitchell, a senior adviser with Equity Action.

The citys Office of Police Oversight should now have unfettered access to information regarding incidents that are reported to them, Mitchell said.

The passage of Proposition A returned powers  stripped after a December 2021 arbitration hearing  to the civilian oversight office and allows investigators to access all police records and interview witnesses while gathering evidence of police misconduct.

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But Mitchell said some provisions cannot be introduced without negotiations, such as implementing a 365-day rule, an expansion of the 180-day window during which a police chief could discipline officers for misconduct.

Those provisions cannot be implemented until then, and that is fine, Mitchell said. Because we can immediately have a better oversight system now, and then we can improve it over time."

More: Austin settles with another injured protester bringing payout to $18.9 million

What does the Austin Police Association have to say about it?

The Austin Police Association has not spoken to the Statesman about the proposition since it passed, and multiple requests for comment from Thomas Villarreal, the union's president, have not been returned.

But in a threaded tweet last week, the assocation called the provisions laid out in Proposition A illegal, saying, The APA simply will not stand by while this city and anti-police activists operate with blatant disregard for state law and the rights and protections afforded to our hardworking men and women.

The group said that it continues to prioritize negotiating a long-term contract but will not be forced back to the table under a structure in which a new city ordinance attempts to unlawfully interfere with the statutory rights associated with the meet and confer process.

What does this mean for the Austin Police Department?

Police Chief Joe Chacon and other police experts say the tension could give off the impression of instability, making it difficult to recruit and retain officers. The Police Department has been struggling with staffing woes, reporting a shortage of more than 300 officers.

The lack of staffing has led to slow response times for 911 calls, a problem that triggered a partnership between the Austin Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety. The partnership is temporarily on hold while DPS troopers are deployed to the Texas-Mexico border after the end of Title 42 enforcement.

More: Texas DPS addresses Austin City Council following criticism over APD partnership

How does this affect residents?

In February, the Austin Police Assocation brought forth a four-year contract that the city did not enter, citing a desire to give voters a chance to weigh in on the police oversight ballot measures. A contract helps ensure stability for officers and their families.

Ken Casaday, former president of the association, told the American-Statesman that a well-trained and fully staffed police force means people are getting the help they need when they need it.

What about that Senate bill?

As of Monday, the Senate bill was still pending in the House Urban Affairs Committee.

The bill would eliminate civilian oversight systems statewide.

It is not clear whether the bill will make it to the floor, but Mitchell said if it does become law "it would be disastrous for police community relations across the state."

"After Uvalde, not a lot of voters in Texas believe that police should police themselves," Mitchell said. "A lawmaker must be able to do civilian oversight in jurisdictions like Uvalde, where there is none. It's clear in Uvalde the problem was not a lack of policing, or understaffing, or getting there fast enough. We needed civilian oversight to identify the actual problem and make sure they get solved."

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin voters pass Prop A. What does that mean and what happens next?
Axis Communications

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Headquartered in Lund, Sweden, with $1.2 billion in sales annually, Axis Communications, Inc. is the leader in security surveillance solutions. In the U.S. we employ more than 600 employees and operate 12 Axis Experience Centers across the country, so prospective customers and integrators can get hands-on demos of some of the industrys best surveillance solutions as well as hands-on training courses and use of office space for meetings.

But were not just about video.

About seven years ago, Axis entered the audio security market with a network horn speaker. Since then, weve added a mini-speaker, cabinet speakers, in-ceiling and pendant speakers, and more. With PoE connectivity, installation is simple because you dont need dedicated audio cables, and the system can utilize existing networks. Audio remains an important focus for security and communications solutions, and our audio business continues to grow dramatically.

With our AXIS Audio Manager Edge software, which is built into every audio device, weve taken the intelligence out of an analog rack and moved it to the speakers. AXIS Audio Manager Edge is a free perpetual license offered in all our speakers and offers audio programming and configuration for systems of up to 200 speakers and 20 zones. AXIS Audio Manager Pro is server or e-license based available for larger, more complex installations of up to 5,000 speakers and 100 zones.

Both deliver smart audio configuration software. You can schedule messages to play at specific times, remotely set up zones and priorities and even remotely check the health of devices by sending a tone to make sure each speaker is operational. Add to that built-in microphones for two-way communications, DSP to ensure the audio is crystal clear, built-in programmable LEDs, PIRs in specific models and I/Os to trigger other devices, and you can see and hear the difference Axis audio offers. Have an existing analog system youd like to integrate with an Axis network audio solution? No problem, we have migration devices for those applications too  and our open IP platform also allows integrations with other third-party devices and building systems.

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While video surveillance can be a deterrent for unauthorized activity, arguably its strongest use case is as a reactive forensic system in an unmonitored scenario. Basically, once someone has engaged in illegal behavior, video evidence can help identify the suspect and document their activities. In contrast, a surveillance system with a smart audio component has proven to be a very effective deterrent.

For example, call outs in a monitored scenario are particularly effective in deterring criminal activity. What happens if you are in a remote area and you hear someone say, You are not authorized to be in this area and you are under surveillance? Chances are you will look right at the camera, providing security personnel with a clear view for identification. Then, youll leavequicklybecause you know your potentially criminal behavior is being documented and authorities will likely be called.

Sometimes, proactive audio deterrence is less about preventing criminal behavior and more about modifying bad behavior. In one hospital, for example, nurses were using an emergency exit as a shortcut for leaving the building during a break. Every time that door was opened (or, worse yet, propped open), it provided an opportunity for unauthorized personnel to enter the building.

Plus, security was notified and were required to make sure the doors were secured every time. Considering the frequency with which nurses were using the emergency exit, it became a tremendous time burden on the security team.

Audio call outs solved the problem. When a person triggered the speakers integrated PIR, they were instructed to use an authorized exit via a live or recorded announcement. With the vocal warning, improper use of the emergency exit was reduced to practically nothing. That translated to real cost savings and improved safety, and let security focus its attention on other areas that required it.

Whether the message is prerecorded or live (accentuated with a description of clothing or other identifiable traits), audio call outs turn a reactive forensic security system into a proactive deterrent solution. From criminal behavior to parking violations, an audio component as part of an overall surveillance strategy can deter bad behavior before it happens. Plus, live monitoring of audio and video surveillance can deliver recurring monthly revenue (RMR) opportunities for integrators.

Axis network audio solutions are perfect for public address and intercom applications as well. Whether used for paging, scheduled announcements, alerts, mass communications, marketing messages, background music, or moreyou can count on reliable, clear, and secure sound. With Axis, you get communications by day and proactive security by night. Learn more by visiting our website or contacting your local Axis representative at 800-444-2947. If you are attending InfoComm, visit us at Booth #5450 by scheduling a booth tour, or stop by for a chance to win an Axis camera, speaker, and software license.
Photo of a Google office building



From the Google Cloud to the great big garbage bin in the sky, Google says use it or lose it. The tech giant now plans to delete old, inactive accounts.

Google is putting inactive users on notice. The tech giant says it will soon start deleting accounts that have gone two years or longer without a login or other demonstration of engagement. Stored content on Gmail, Workspace, YouTube, and Photos will all be on the chopping blockalong with the associated Google accounts themselvesunder the new policy, as outlined in a company blog posted Tuesday.



Though it can be easy to feel that the internet is forever, especially when something youd rather not have posted makes it online, its really not. The internet has proven time and time again to be a rather ephemeral archive. Websites go offline. Repositories of content self-immolate. Servers get wiped. And Google can put an expiration date on whatever it wants.



Read more

So, consider this your regular reminder to back up all of your stuff (not just on the cloud): Videos, important emails, critical text documentsall of it. If you dont want your digital life disappearing, you better be storing it away for safekeeping.

Google account deletions will start in December 2023 with a phased approach. The first to go will be accounts that were created and never used again. From there, the purge will expand to include any personal (not business or institutional) account thats gone unused for 2+ years. The company says it will send multiple notifications over the months leading up to deletion prior to taking action, and these notices should go to both the account itself and any associated recovery email. We are going to roll this out slowly and carefully, with plenty of notice, Google wrote.

To prevent an account from being deemed inactive, users have lots of options. You can sign into it on any device and read or send an email, use Google Drive, watch a YouTube video, download an app from the Play Store, use Google Search, or access a third-party service through your Google account. Existing subscriptions accessed through a Google account will also count as activity, according to the press statement. Beyond logging into all of your accounts and messing around, Google also recommends that users double-check their settings and ensure there are verified recovery emails in place.

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Separately, Google Photos has already had an auto-deletion policy in place since November 2020. To make sure that photos and videos stored there stick around, users should specifically log into their Photos account regularly. Activity in other areas of a Google account wont necessarily preserve pictures. Still though, scrapping whole accounts is a big change.

The new move to disappear dated user profiles follows Twitters recent announcement that it too, would begin getting rid of disused, old accounts to free up abandoned handles, according to a tweet from CEO Elon Musk. Its unclear if Google will allow deleted logins and email addresses to be recycled into new accounts. Gizmodo reached out to the company for more information, but did not immediately receive a response. However, counter to Twitter, Google says it is undertaking the account clean-out to beef up user security.

Because they often lack 2-factor authentication and use old passwords, unattended accounts are often vulnerable to attacks like hijacking, phishing, and other threats, the company noted in its announcement. Once an account is compromised, it can be used for anything from identity theft to a vector for unwanted to even malicious content, like spam. So, instead of leaving abandoned accounts open for zombification, Google is opting for the digital garbage disposal.

That said, as much as Googles security concerns are probably legit, the company is also likely set to benefit from all that freed up server space. Storing stuff isnt free. Holding onto hoards of inactive accounts and all that accompanying data undoubtedly takes up a significant chunk of Googles cloud capacity. Amid an industry wide tech downturn, Alphabet (Googles parent company) announced its largest-ever layoffs earlier this year, with plans to cut 12,000 employees. Though the companys cloud sector recently had its first profitable quarter in three years, Google is still likely looking for ways to cut costs to appease and impress investors.



Again, Gizmodo reached out to Google with questions on estimated cost and storage savings associated with the new policy, but did not immediately hear back. Weve also asked the tech giant whether classic YouTube videos from deceased or retired creators will remain on the platform.

More from Gizmodo

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Bad Bunny is at it again, teasing fans with more new music for 2023.

In an Instagram story posted early today (Thursday), the Puerto Rican star said his new song, Where She Goes, will be out at 5 p.m. Los Angeles time. And, notwithstanding the English-language title, the clip Bunny posted on his story is in Spanish.

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That post follows another, one-minute video posted on his TikTok account Monday night (May 15). There, the Puerto Rican artist is in a vibrant room, rocking an all-black leather outfit and his natural curls. Check this out, he says in Spanish before pressing play.

A dramatic melody then begins, backed by Bads signature deep vocals. Baby, tell me the truth if you forgot about me/ I know it was only one night, that were not going to repeat/ In you I wanted to find what I lost in someone else/ Your pride doesnt want to speak to me, so were going to compete, he passionately chants in the opening verse.

Then, the rhythm transitions to a Jersey Club-inspired beat (a hybrid of house and hip-hop), where he continues, I dont like to lose, tell me what youre doing to do.

In the caption, he asked his over 31 million followers, Tell me if you like it and Ill send it to you via WhatsApp :)

The upcoming single comes on the heels of his collaboration on Grupo Frontera hit un x100to, which marked his first time dipping his toes in the norteno-cumbia realm. The song earned Frontera its highest debut on Billboards Hot Latin Songs chart, entering at No. 3 on the April 29-dated ranking, and later hitting No. 1 on both the Latin Airplay chart and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart.

Last year, the artist born Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio told Billboard his plans of taking a break in 2023, but would still release music.

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Im taking a break. 2023 is for me, for my physical health, my emotional health to breathe, enjoy my achievements, he said. Were going to celebrate. Lets go here, lets go there, lets go on the boat. I have a couple of sporadic commitments, and Ill go to the studio, but theres no pressure. Remember yourself, cabron. Youve worked your a off.

Listen to the preview of his next single below:

@badbunny dime si te gusta y te la envio por whatsapp   original sound  Bad Bunny

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April 28 was quite the day in North Carolina judicial history. Our state Supreme Court issued three sweeping rulings dramatically limiting the voting and representational rights of Tar Heels.

That alone, no doubt, is an outrage. But the justices seemed bent on driving home an even bolder point. They were interested in making a splash. They produced a cascade of direction-altering rulings. Triplets.

Gene Nichol

Kicking off, they claimed, a new era. Not only was partisan gerrymandering warmly embraced, a racially skewed voter ID law enthusiastically resurrected, and 55,000 Tar Heels having served their prison sentences disenfranchised, the new 5-2 Republican majority openly and officially joined the General Assemblys long-standing crusade against democracy. They flashed a potent political message as they claimed to eschew politics.

The whole process began, of course, with a radical departure from norms of appellate practice. The gerrymandering and voter ID cases were based on re-hearing motions. Never before, in the courts 200-plus-year history, had it granted re-hearing based on a change in the tribunals membership. Much less based on change in the partisan makeup of the court. But our new panel of activists had heady work to do. So traditional legal notions like stare decisis and the law of the case had to yield. And yield they did.

But for North Carolinians who struggle to preserve their threatened democracy, there were words in these three opinions that could rile even beyond the procedural abuse and the suppression of crucial electoral interests. Chief Justice Paul Newby and his Republican colleagues claimed the decisions represented an essential course correction, a kind of house cleaning, a return to principle and assurance of an appropriate separation of powers. Despite having trashed long-binding procedural norms, made a mockery of appellant precedent, and denying foundational rights of equal political participation, the Republican majority claimed high ground. Justice Phillip Berger was explicit:

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This Court has traditionally stood against the waves of partisan rulings in favor of the fundamental principle of equality under law. We commit to that fundamental principle and begin the process of returning the judiciary to its rightful place as the least dangerous branch Our state courts follow the law, not the political winds of the day.

Really?

Michael Whatley, chair of the N.C. Republican Party, echoed Bergers boast: This is a great day for the rule of law, a big step toward restoring respect for the Constitution and taking politics out of the courtroom.

To celebrate the April 28 decisions as a tribute to the rule of law is rich. Its hard to see how one could show greater disdain for the rule of law than by undoing final judgments just because Republicans won the November election. The driving force was raw partisanship, not law.

To profess fealty, as Berger did, to the fundamental principle of equality under law as the justices rejected fair electoral participation and welcomed race discrimination as untroubling, mocked the central premise of American constitutionalism. And to declare that the driving goal of the new N.C. Supreme Court is to take politics out of the courtroom is, well, I cant even say. But no one in North Carolina believes these rulings arent political. Not even Justice Berger.

Contributing columnist Gene Nichol is a professor of law at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
Top left: Barack Obama and documentary participant Randi Williams shop for groceries together; bottom left: Elba Guzman, a housekeeper at the Pierre hotel, works as a housekeeper; right: Barack Obama is an executive producer on the documentary series, which he also narrates and stars in (Netflix)

On a normal day years after leaving his post as the leader of the free world, Barack Obama shops for groceries with Randi, a young mother who has struggled to find work that enables her to care for her young child.

Does Randi think it has become harder for people to achieve an existence where they own a home, pay their bills, and care for their children, Obama asks?

Yes, Randi says. When Obama asks her why, she points to the cereal aisle in which they have found themselves: Its $6.12 for a box of cereal, she tells him. I make $10 an hour. Thats one hour of my paycheck gone, [with] a couple of candies.

Shortly afterward, Randi tells him: Ive got a question for you. When Obama tells her to go ahead, she turns to him and asks: Are you at peace? Now? Obama, pushing the grocery cart, answers that question between the frozen aisle and the soda aisle, in a meaningful moment that somehow doesnt end up putting the focus on him, but harkens back to the situation of Randi and other workers like her.

This is one of the most revealing, captivating scenes in the new Netflix documentary Working: What We Do All Day, a four-part, frank, no-nonsense, human investigation into work, labour, jobs, and the ways in which they serve and fail us. Working comes from Higher Ground, the production company founded by Barack and Michelle Obama in 2018, and Concordia Studio, another production company. Obama not only served as an executive producer, but also stars in and narrates parts of each episode.

When Caroline Suh, the documentary filmmaker behind Salt Fat Acid Heat and Blackpink: Light Up the Sky, was approached to direct a new series about work, she initially wanted no part in it. My immediate reaction was like, No, she tells The Independent in a phone interview. Who wants to think about that?

But then, Suh heard that Barack Obama would be involved, and promptly reconsidered. When I heard the president was involved, I immediately changed my mind, she says.

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The former president, in fact, shaped the series from its inception. According to Suh, the team behind Working spent around nine months developing the show before production began, researching key concepts. And, yes, Obama was very involved this early on.

Work is so many things, and we wanted to get a handle on what the reality of work is now for people  what kind of jobs people have, what are good jobs, what are bad jobs, why good jobs are good jobs, and why bad jobs are bad jobs, Suh says. The president gave us a bunch of themes that he wanted to explore, like womens work, automation and unions. It took a long time to look at the history, and whats going on now, and whats going on in the future, to even decide how we would approach the series.

Barack Obama orders a green salad and French fries during a meeting with executive Natarajan Chandrasekaran (Netflix)

After that development period came filming, which took place between 2020 and 2022. Working is openly inspired by the 1974 nonfiction book Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do, by the broadcaster Studs Terkel, who explored the working lives of multiple participants. The documentary brings that project to the modern age.

Each episode looks at work through a different lens, reflected in their titles: Service Jobs, The Middle, Dream Jobs, and The Boss. We meet a rich cast of participants. There is Randi, who gets trained as a home care aide in Mississippi. There is Carmen, a delivery driver for Uber Eats in Pittsburgh. There is Luke, a data manager at Aurora Innovation, a self-driving technology company, also in Pittsburgh. There is Francois, the general manager of the five-star Pierre hotel in New York.

The Pierre, in fact, acts as a throughline in the documentary. Episode one features Elba, a housekeeper at the hotel. Episode two features Beverly, who works there as a switchboard operator. Episode three features Francois, and episode four features Natarajan Chandrasekaran, the chair of Tata Sons, the parent company of the Tata Group, which itself includes the Indian Hotels Company, which includes the Taj Hotels brand, which includes the Pierre.

Every episode begins with a vignette featuring Obama (he might be delivering their lunches to home care workers in Mississippi, or ordering green salad and French fries for a lunch with Chandrasekaran), then shifts to the participants, with some explanatory vignettes narrated by the former president. Each episode then ends with Obama interacting with the participants.

Those sequences are among the most revealing, not only because  yes  Obama is still ridiculously good at projecting warmth, empathy and humor, but also because the participants themselves seem profoundly at ease in his presence.

Did they need any guidance, I wonder, in order to feel at ease interacting with the former president? Suh tells me they didnt, mainly because by the time they filmed their scenes with Obama, they had grown used to having cameras filming them, and they had built a rapport with the documentary crew over time. Obamas personality did the rest.

The president truly is amazing at making people feel at ease, she says. Its like a gift, because when he enters a room, it totally destabilises everything. Grown men who work on the crew, whove been on so many shoots  they were like little kids meeting him. They were sharing, and they were so excited, comparing handshakes with each other, like, who got up this kind of handshake. People cry, people laugh. People lose their minds. I imagine its like when the Beatles come to town or something.

Barack Obama sits down with Luke Starcher, a data manager at Aurora Innovation in Pittsburgh (Ben Solomon/Netflix)

Beverly Aponte, a switchboard operator at the Pierre hotel (Netflix)

The logistics of filming with a former president were captivating, Suh says: Everyone on their team is so pro at moving in with all the Secret Service and making sure everythings safe. It is fascinating to see that organism move the world, and it makes you realize how really tough it is to be at the center of that. You cant really do anything by yourself. There are always all these people around.

Working isnt just about the specific jobs and occupations portrayed on screen, nor is it just about Obama having meaningful conversations with a wide array of American workers  although those two elements do plenty of work. The documentary is solidly grounded in its research, and does an efficient job at contextualizing each episode to make a broader point.

A one-minute sequence narrated by Obama in episode one, about current executive and former janitor Gail Evans, is an amazingly concise illustration of how work has become less effective at providing workers with opportunity and a path to progression. Multiple sequences highlight the importance of unions in protecting workers amid industry shifts. Comparisons between the present and the past are especially damning. In 1970, a CEO made about 30 times the typical worker, Obama says in episode four. Today, they make up 350 times more.

Those explanatory passages work, because they echo what we witness on the screen: everyone in Working works, and works hard, but not everyone can make ends meet, afford a middle-class lifestyle, or find work compatible with their caregiving obligations.

While working on the documentary, Suh and her team used to say that if the series made people better tippers, they would be happy. She also hopes it will prompt others to see the people around us a lot more.

I think it will make people more aware of each other, and more appreciative, she says.

Working: What We Do All Day streamings starting 17 May on Netflix US and UK
The Simpsons voice actor Nancy Cartwright has called her latest honour from the Church of Scientology the most beautiful acknowledgement.

During the organisations 2023 New Years celebration, Cartwright was reportedly awarded the status of Patron Excalibur With Honours for her cumulative donations of over $20m (15.9m).

Cartwright, 65, best known for voicing the young cartoon character Bart Simpson, was photographed on stage alongside Scientology leader David Miscavige at the Florida event.

In the newest edition of the churchs members-only magazine Impact, the actor called the honour the most beautiful acknowledgement I have ever received in my entire life, according to The Daily Mail.

The Independent has contacted Cartwrights representative for comment.

Cartwright converted to Scientology in 1991 and has previously defended the Church against criticisms.

In 2015, HBO released a documentary called Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, with interviews from former members as well as revelations of strange practices within the religion.

Bart Simpson and Nancy Cartwright (20th Television and Getty Images)

The film alleged that celebrities, including John Travolta, were blackmailed into staying members, otherwise, secrets about their personal lives would be released.

At the time, Cartwright defended the Church against the movie, calling it very irresponsible reporting and prejudiced.

It was reported in 2019 that she had donated around $17.5m (13.8m) to the church, earning her the Churchs Diamond Lauret With Honours status.

Besides Travolta, Tom Cruise is one of Scientologys best-known members, having been linked to it since the Eighties. In a recent interview, Cruises Mission Impossible co-star Simon Pegg admitted that he avoids talking to the actor about his faith.

Meanwhile, Going Clears director Alex Gibney has said hes surprised Cruise hasnt experienced a reckoning for his involvement with the Church.

Over the years, Scientology has been accused of bilking supporters for cash, separating members from their loved ones, and harassing and threatening journalists and critics.
Deja J Bowens stars as Vita Champion in her TV debut

A new BBC musical drama filmed in Birmingham is set to hit screens this summer.

Champion is the first TV project for Candice Carty-Williams, author of The Sunday Times bestselling novel Queenie, and tells the explosive story of what happens when fame collides with family.

Featuring original music, the series has been described as a love letter to black British music.

It will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK.

British musician Ray BLK also stars in the musical drama, which is set in south London but was filmed in Birmingham

For those watching outside of the UK, Ireland and across the world, it will be streamed on Netflix.

The drama follows rap sensation Bosco Champion as he returns home from prison to find his dutiful younger sister Vita's own talent is discovered by his rival.

She steps out of her brother's shadow to become a performer in her own right, setting the Champion siblings against one another and tearing apart the whole family in the process.

Deja J Bowens stars as Vita in her TV debut alongside Malcolm Kamulete as Bosco, with musician Ray BLK - also her TV debut - as Vita's best friend Honey.

Ray Fearon, of His Dark Materials and Beauty and the Beast, appears as Bosco and Vita's father, Beres Champion

Candice Carty-Williams said: "Three years after I dreamt up Bosco and Vita Champion, this brother and sister duo, their family, their friends and their enemies, are about to hit screens across the globe, with a backdrop of all original music.

"Seeing the cast bring these songs and characters to life and make them their own has been thrilling, emotional and satisfying. I can't wait for viewers to meet the Champions and fall in love with them like I have."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOnWeA-5Voo

It comes following the announcement that production of the hit BBC drama series Silent Witness is set to move to the West Midlands from next year.

MasterChef will move to new studios in Digbeth, alongside Steven Knight's This Town, Man Like Mobeen and Phoenix Rise.

The BBC said it had built on its commitment to production outside London and would increase overall investment in drama made in the West Midlands.

Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk
Beaufort County schools 2022-23 disciplinary report shows a decrease in suspensions, but an increase in expulsions and alternative placements.

Expulsions have increased 420% from a count of 10 in the school year ending in the spring of 2022 to 57 through April 20, 2023. Conversely, out-of-school suspensions have decreased by more than 3,000 in the same time period peaking at nearly 5,000 last year but fell to fewer than 2,000 so far this year. This represents a 61% decrease in the number of times students are not allowed back in school until the suspension has been served.

The data points towards a national trend of the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacting students behavioral development.

(For some current ninth graders) this is their first full year back in school since fifth grade, Executive Director of Secondary Education Chad Cox said. Theres going to be some transition that they struggle with a little bit when youve been virtual for X number of years.

Photo illustration of a principals office door.

Beaufort County schools went virtual towards the end of the 2019-20 school year, and returned to full in-person instruction January 2021. For the 2021-22 school year, students attendance was often interrupted with quarantine restrictions.

Nationally, 84% of public schools either agree or strongly agree that the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted students behavioral development, according to the Institute of Education Sciences. In the South its 82%.

Student Services Officer Juliet White said that the districts disciplinary process is meant to keep students in the classroom while still ensuring a safe school environment.

All numbers for the 2022-23 school year are as of April 20, and dont include disciplinary actions taken from then until the school year ends June 3.

Office referrals





If a student violates the code of conduct, their teacher will go into the schools system and make a referral to the administration, according to White. Its the first step in the disciplinary process.

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These referrals have gone down since before students left in-person instruction due to the pandemic.

Sometimes teachers write a minor infraction and they may be documenting that they called a parent, Cox said. Not every referral is going to result in what we we consider (out-of-school suspension) or (in-school suspension) as every student has the right to due process.

From there, the administration determines what their consequence is as outlined in the progressive discipline plan. There are different progressive discipline plans for elementary, middle and high school.

It doesnt mean they necessarily physically sent the kid out of their classroom down to the front office, White said.

For example, if a high school student litters for the first time, they wouldnt be sent to the administration, according to the discipline plan.

The number of officer referrals per year, according to the district are:

2018-19  25,181





2019-20  16,641





2021-22  17,013





2022-23*  17,565





*through April 20, 2023

Disciplinary hearings

A disciplinary hearing is sometimes the result of a referral. Its the step in the process that determines whether a student will be suspended, expelled or alternatively placed.

The number of disciplinary hearings have gone up since students returned back from online instruction.

Behavioral Misconduct is Level 1 Misconduct and includes infractions such as tardiness and cutting class. These wouldnt normally result in a disciplinary hearing, according to the regulations.

Beaufort County 2022-23 disciplinary hearings by infraction.

Disruptive Conduct is Level 2 Misconduct. and includes infractions such as fighting or stealing. These sometimes result in disciplinary hearings, but not always, according to the regulations.

Disciplinary hearings occur when students commit Level 3 Misconduct, according to White. The South Carolina School Discipline Laws and Regulations define Criminal Conduct as Level 3 Misconduct. This includes infractions such as fighting, drug or weapon possession, simple assault or a major disruption, which are the top reasons for disciplinary hearings so far this year.

Disciplinary hearings 2022-23 by gender and race.

The district has two disciplinary hearing officers, who havent had contact with the students before to ensure impartiality. These officers hear the students cases and decide what disciplinary actions will taken.

The family would be there and then the school administration would be there that dealt with the incident or (incidents) over time, Cox said. He said the officer reviews any documentation and hears both the administration and students side of what happened.

The number of disciplinary hearings per year, according to the district are:

2018-19  248





2019-20  193





2021-22 163





2022-23*  232

In-school Suspensions

During in-school suspensions, students continue to do their classroom assignments, only separately from the regular classroom.

The number of in-school suspensions have gone down consistently since the 2018-19 school year.

In-school suspensions by gender and race for 2022-23. The ethnicity labels are: Black, Hispanic, Mixed -- Two or More Races, Pacific Islander, White, Asian.

The number of in-school suspensions per year, according to the district are:

2018-19  12,541

2019-20  7,437





2021-22 8,000





2022-23*  6,033

Out-of-school suspensions

During out-of-school suspensions students arent allowed in school or on school property. They cant attend school related activities, even if they are off campus and are unable to continue their regular assignments. However, students can take materials home, and their teacher will give them missed assignments. When the student returns to school theyre expected to complete examinations and assignments within the same number of days as the suspension period.

Out-of-school suspensions by gender and race 2022-23. The ethnicity labels are: Black, Hispanic, Mixed -- Two or More Races, Pacific Islander, White, Asian.

The number of out-of-school suspensions have gone down by over 3,000 since last year.

2018-2019  4,630

2019-20  3,282





2021-22 4,903





2022-23*  1,884

Expulsions

When a student is expelled, theyre removed from the district for up to one year. They cant be expelled for more than one year, and after their prescribed expulsion they have a re-entry meeting to determine next steps, according to White.

The number of expulsions have gone up 500% since last year.

The number of expulsions each year, according to the district are:

2018-2019  17

2019-20  18





2021-22 10





2022-23*  52

Alternative placement: Right Choices

Instead of being expelled, students can be placed in Right Choices. It provides students with an alternative educational setting after being removed from their home campus, according to the Right Choices Handbook.

Its a separate building within the county which the district provides transportation to for students. There, they take online or in-person classes. The number of students referred to the program has more than doubled since last year.

The number of student referred to alternative placement each year, according to the district are:

2018-2019  162 2019-20  66



2021-22 86



2022-23*  180
TikTokers have been hotly discussing the Bed Bath & Beyond closing sales. Screenshot/TikTok - vxledw

Bed Bath & Beyond stores around the country have begun their closing sales.

However, TikTokers seem to be sharing their irritation over the sales more than sharing their finds.

One TikToker told Insider that he doesn't plan on sale-chasing any longer.

There are certain retail events in the US that become more like an Olympic sport: Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the mad rush before Christmas Day when everyone is frantically buying last-minute gifts.

Then there's the Bed Bath & Beyond closing sale.

Since the chain announced it was filing for bankruptcy in April and locations across the country have started marking down household goods, avid shoppers are closely monitoring how steep these sales will go. Over the last two weeks, an NYU student has been visiting the flagship store every day to track this to thousands of her Bed Bath & Beyond fans.

So far, it seems, at least from social media posts, that the closing sales are nothing to write home about (with many discounts still hovering at 10% off). TikTokers are venting their frustrations and warning each other not to get their hopes up. But at least they have each other (right?).

One of the most popular videos from a sale-chaser was by Ryan Flip, a 33-year-old from Austin who duetted a TikTok urging people to check out the sales...and telling them not to bother.

"Don't waste your time, I already went so you don't have to," Flip said, before ranting about the 10% sale on what he found to be already overpriced items. "Go fuck yourself, Bed Bath & Beyond, oh my god."

In the description, he nicknamed the store "Bed Bath and Bogus Pricing."

Flip, who went to the chain's location in Austin, told Insider that he doesn't plan on ever returning.

"I think by the time prices drop to an actual discounted price, it will either all be picked over or just junk that isn't worth it or nobody wants," he added.

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Another TikToker had similar gripes. The poster @vxledw showed a slew of items  like candles, mirrors, bedding  and said the 10 to 30% sales weren't enough of a reason to purchase them since she could find the items at other places.

"Honestly, just save the trip and go to Home Goods," she said at the end of the clip.

The comment sections of these videos are also swamped by disappointed Bed Bath & Beyond aficionados. Congregating like Pokemon card enthusiasts at a trading card convention, commenters are discussing amongst themselves what deal they'd be willing to open their wallets for.

"60% up or nothing! I'm waiting on a Nespresso," one person wrote on a video.

"10% off cmon that's not even sales tax in California," another person quipped. "Waiting for prices to drop more!"

Flip wasn't startled to see people bonding over their shared discontent with the sales in the comment section of his video.

"I wasn't surprised everyone had the same reaction with the weak discounts," he told Insider. "It's very emblematic of the larger problem of inflated prices and stores trying to scam customers and recoup their losses."

Another popular clip, by the TikTok comedian Eric D'Alessandro, also attacked Bed Bath & Beyond's lackluster sales.

"Stores going out of business should look like the apocalypse. There should be a haze of smoke," D'Alessandro joked, adding that when the Sears near him went out of business, someone even took the store sign.

"You should be looking for who you came there with. Tribes should have formed."

Even the NYU student who's been chronicling the flagship store sales told Insider that the prices haven't dropped low enough to get her to bite.

Amid the less-than-stellar Bed Bath & Beyond sales, at least their cult followers have each other (right...right?!).

Read the original article on Insider
A police volunteer swats at bees swarming around his head, then collapses to the pavement as he tries to outrun the stinging insects, a dramatic California video shows.

The volunteer and another man also attacked by the massive bee swarm at 5:15 p.m. on Monday, May 15, in Encino were taken to a hospital, the Los Angeles Fire Department said.

The volunteer, who had gone to assist the other man, suffered dozens of stings, the Los Angeles Police Department said. He was in stable condition.

Firefighters notified nearby residents to stay indoors with doors and windows closed, the fire department said. Some streets also were closed.

A professional bee collector called to the scene removed a hive from under the roof of a home, KABC reported. The swarm may have numbered in the thousands, the station said.

Theyre just attacking everybody and theyre actively stinging as I myself have been stung today, Brooks Putman with All Valley Honey & Bee told KTLA.

Encino is a Los Angeles neighborhood about 20 miles northwest of downtown.

Watch terrifying moment as fisherman kicks tiger shark attacking his kayak in Hawaii

Dog playing fetch falls off cliff chasing ball  but gets lucky, Washington rescuers say

Bear euthanized after entering home three times in a week, Colorado officials say
A Russian Mi-8 military helicopter seen in the Rostov region of Russia on January 19, 2022. REUTERS/Sergey Pivovarov

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko claimed that the four downed Russian aircraft were "shot down."

According to Reuters, Lukashenko addressed Belarusian troops on Monday at the border with Ukraine.

The Belarusian leader decisively claimed that the four aircraft were shot down  but did not say by whom.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko appears to have inadvertently confirmed that four Russian military aircraft were shot down late last week  before the Kremlin officially made the claim.

On Saturday, Russian news outlet Kommersant reported that one Su-34 fighter-bomber, a Su-35 fighter, and two Mi-8 helicopters were shot down in Russia, near the Ukraine-Belarus border, as the aircraft planned an assault on Ukraine's Chernihiv region.

No evidence regarding the nature of the crash was provided by the outlet, and neither the Kremlin nor Ukraine has taken responsibility for the apparent downing of the aircraft, but on Monday, Lukashenko seemed to confirm that the planes were shot down, according to Reuters.

The crews on all four aircraft were killed, per Reuters, and Kommersant reported that the "air group most likely fell into an air ambush." While speaking to troops at the Belarusian border on Monday, Lukashenko urged fighters to stay on high alert, making a more decisive claim about what happened.

"Three days after the events near us  I mean in the Bryansk region, when four aircraft were shot down, we are forced to respond," Lukashenko said, according to Reuters. "Since then, we, our troops, have been on high alert."

Special Kherson Cat  (@bayraktar_1love) May 13, 2023

With no official response from Ukraine or the Kremlin, it's still unclear exactly what happened, but Lukashenko's slip suggests a breakdown in communication between Russia and one of its closest allies.

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The crash signified the most Russian aircraft lost in a single day since March 2022, according to the pro-Russia Telegram channel Fighterbomber.

In the days surrounding the alleged downing of the aircraft, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has made the rounds to various EU allies and the UK, securing further munitions as Ukraine has mounted a building counteroffensive in Bakhmut.

Mykhailo Podolyak, one of Zelensky's advisors, called the crash "justice and instant karma," according to Reuters.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Chris Messina in March 2023. Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images

Chris Messina, one of the stars of the new Nike drama "Air," is beloved by his fellow actors.

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, who also star in the film, gushed to The New York Times about Messina.

And Mindy Kaling, who worked with Messina on "The Mindy Project," said he made her a better actor.

Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Mindy Kaling are all gushing about their fellow actor Chris Messina.

"I always look for work for Chris because he's always so good," Affleck told The New York Times for a profile of the 48-year-old actor.

Affleck's new flick "Air"  which chronicles Nike's rise to industry dominance with the help of Michael Jordan  is the third Affleck-directed film Messina has acted in.

"Every time he's had the opportunity, he's always done more than I envisioned or imagined," Affleck told The Times, adding: "I can't say enough good things about him."

Damon, who stars in and co-produced the film, also spoke highly of Messina, describing him as an actor's actor to The Times.

Messina is the kind of actor "all the other actors always talk about," Damon told The Times. "Did you see him in this? Or, he's in that, that'll be good."

Messina played Dr. Danny Castellano on "The Mindy Project" alongside Kaling's Dr. Mindy Lahiri. FOX/Hulu

Kaling, who hand-selected Messina to star in her hit show "The Mindy Project," told The Times that he's one of the funniest actors she's ever worked with because he's just "so rooted in the truth of his character that he can't help but be funny."

"It's almost exhausting, the level of honesty and truth he brings to every scene," Kaling told The Times. "He was really listening to my character and reacting if the character did something funny or absurd. He made me a better actor. I was listening better when I was with Chris, because he set the bar so high."

Read the original article on Insider
Residents in a neighborhood in Michigan got quite the show on Mothers Day when a black bear got stuck in a tree in someones front lawn, according to local reports.

Residents in the Traverse City neighborhood noticed police blocking off sections of the road around 7 a.m. on Sunday, May 14, WPBN/WGTU reported. Traverse City is about 210 miles northwest of Detroit.

Video taken by a resident shows the bear hanging out on a thick limb of the tree while neighbors watch from driveways and a photographer snaps photos of the bear, which had climbed about 30-feet up into the tree, the station reported.

Crowds gathered on Fifth Street near Maple Street to watch the sleepy bear  which had been shot with tranquilizers  in its perch, the Traverse City Record-Eagle reported.

Its like the best block party ever, Annette Anderson told the Associated Press.

Wildlife biologists and officers from the Department of Natural Resources partnered with a power company to safely lower the bear to the ground, Steve Griffith told McClatchy News. Griffith is a wildlife biologist with the states Department of Natural Resources. Technicians with the power company hoisted him up in a bucket truck so he could dart the bear from a close range, he said.

But with all the commotion, including regular sounds of the city as well as neighbors running a pump and one doing lawn work, they couldnt get the bear to calm down and let the tranquilizing drugs take effect, he said.

They get scared and a boost of adrenaline or other hormones counteracts the drug, Griffith said. It took several darts to get the 350-pound male to go under.

Once the bear was asleep, power technicians tried hooking him up to a rope rescue system, the same way they would rescue an injured colleague from a utility pole, he said.

But it didnt all go according to plan, and the sleeping bear dropped from the tree. Luckily someone had hauled out mattresses to cushion the fall, Griffith said.

You never want to see that, but that is the nature of it, Griffith said. They climb trees and have accidents in the wild, so they are pretty resilient.

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Officials checked over the bear on the ground and determined he was OK. He started waking from the drugs within half an hour, Griffith said.

After that, officials drove him at least 60 miles away and released him on state land, Griffith said.

It wasnt the first time its happened in Traverse City, he said. Between the Boardman River and multiple creeks that enter into Traverse Bay and around the urban area, theres plenty of corridors for wildlife to use and end up in places they usually would rather not be.

More often its a deer, but once in a while we do get a bear that is using that river and the bordering woods as a travel corridor and we find them in town, he said.

Its possible the bear found a food source in the area but got scared by something and scrambled into the tree for safety, he said.

It made for a long Sunday, but it was a good ending, he said.

Watch as disheveled bear wakes up at Ukraine sanctuary. If Monday was a bear

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Aggressive bears force camping ban in parts of the Appalachian Trail. One bit a hiker
President Biden canceled his speech honoring fallen police officers for National Police Week, instead allegedly traveling to his granddaughter's graduation.

Biden was slated to deliver a keynote address at the National Fraternal Order of Police's (FOP) National Peace Officers Memorial Service on Monday as the week honoring our nations law enforcement officers kicked off.

The president, however, pulled out of the event seemingly at the last minute  his name had already been printed on the event program  and Attorney General Merrick Garland was sent in Biden's stead.

BIDEN ISSUES MESSAGE HONORING NATIONAL POLICE WEEK; VOWS ANSWER IS NOT TO DEFUND, WHILE PUSHING GUN CONTROL

Biden was slated to deliver a keynote address at the National Fraternal Order of Polices National Peace Officers Memorial Service on Monday as the week honoring our nations law enforcement officers kicked off.

Blinken read a letter from the president in his absence at the event.

Instead, Biden on Monday attended his granddaughter Maisy Biden's graduation from the University of Pennsylvania, which houses the Biden Center, where classified documents were found last year.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

HUNTER BIDEN, CHINA, CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS: MYSTERY SWIRLS AROUND PENN BIDEN CENTER

The White House and FOP did not immediately respond to Fox News Digitals request for comment.

Biden issued a video statement Monday honoring National Police Week and Peace Officers Memorial Day, affirming that the "answer is not to defund" law enforcement.

A source told Fox News Digital that Biden allegedly pulled out of the event to attend his granddaughters graduation.

In doing so, the Democratic president turned against the 2020 rallying cry of some members of his own party. He then went on in the 2-minute-52-second message to tout what he deemed his administrations gun control successes.

"Lets be very clear. The answer is not to defund the police," Biden said. "It is to provide you with the resources and training to be the partners and protectors of the communities that are in need."

Biden applauded himself for signing the American Rescue Plan during the pandemic, providing $350 billion for states and cities that could be used to retain and hire more officers, pay overtime and bonuses, expand benefits for disabled first responders and "keep communities safe." The president said that so far, hundreds of communities have used more than $10 billion of those funds.

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Biden applauded himself for signing the American Rescue Plan during the pandemic, providing $350 billion for states and cities that could be used to retain and hire more officers, pay overtime and bonuses, expand benefits for disabled first responders and "keep communities safe." The president said that so far, hundreds of communities have used more than $10 billion of those funds. From there, Biden jumped to discussing gun control, putting it in the context of increasing safety for police officers.

From there, Biden jumped to discussing gun control, putting it in the context of increasing safety for police officers.

"I signed the most sweeping gun safety law in nearly 30 years to make sure officers are not outgunned on the streets," Biden said. "Were also strengthening background checks for gun purchases, cracking down on illegal gun sales, and reigning in so-called ghost guns that officers have told me are increasingly found at crime scenes.

Biden added that he now "seeks another $37 billion to hire 100,000 more police officers trained in community policing to provide law enforcement with mental health and wellness resources, and to ensure that they have more school counselors, psychologists, social workers responding to a crisis alongside them as they show up." He also supported investing "in programs that are proven to tackle the root causes of crime."

Fox News Digital's Danielle Wallace contributed reporting.
The Biden administration cleared a large West Virginia-to-Virginia natural gas pipeline project to be constructed through federal forest land, a key step in approving it to resume construction.

The Department of Agriculture's Forest Service issued a record of decision Monday afternoon, allowing the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) project to cut through a 3.5-mile stretch of the Jefferson National Forest (JNF) along the West Virginia-Virginia border. The determination clears the way for the project  which is 94% complete, but has been mired in a lengthy permitting process for years  to finish construction.

"Under the proposed action, the Forest Service would amend the JNF Forest Plan as necessary to allow for the MVP to cross the JNF and concur in a decision by the [Bureau of Land Management] to grant a [right of way permit] and a [temporary use permit] under the [Mineral Leasing Act]," Agriculture Under Secretary Homer Wilkes wrote in the decision.

While the decision allows MVP developer Equitrans Midstream, a Pennsylvania-based natural gas transmission company, to construct the pipeline in the 3.5-mile stretch through the JNF, the Forest Service is requiring it to obtain any outstanding federal and state permits before beginning on construction.

BIDEN ADMIN DELIVERS BLOW TO FOSSIL FUEL PROJECT IN VICTORY FOR ECO GROUPS

Sections of steel pipe for the Mountain Valley Pipeline are pictured on Aug. 31, 2022, in Bent Mountain, Virginia.

The project is awaiting a record of decision from the Bureau of Land Management and authorization from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. And the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's recent permitting decision in favor of the pipeline is being challenged in federal court while a permit issued by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection was struck down by a federal court in April.

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The Forest Service's determination Monday, meanwhile, comes after the agency's two previous approvals for the pipeline to cut through the JNF were rejected by a federal judge in 2018 and 2022, respectively. Environmentalists have adamantly opposed the project, arguing it would destroy sensitive land and ecosystems.

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SENATE REPUBLICANS TOUT BIPARTISAN ACTIONS STRIKING DOWN BIDEN CLIMATE REGULATIONS

"The Forest Services preferred alternative to allow MVP to rip through the Jefferson National Forest grossly underestimates the lasting environmental harms from the project, ignores the overwhelming public opposition to sacrificing this treasured land and shirks the agencys responsibility to steward forests," Jessica Sims, a field coordinator for environmental group Appalachian Voice, said Monday.

"We maintain that the Mountain Valley Pipeline cannot be built through the Jefferson National Forest without lasting damage to sensitive forests, habitats and waters," Sims added. "Amending a forest plan 11 times to accommodate a ruinous project on federal land is unacceptable."

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., has repeatedly pushed the Biden administration to approve the Mountain Valley Pipeline and has attempted to include carve-outs for it in large spending packages.

The approval also comes as Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., has repeatedly criticized the Biden administration over its energy and climate policies. Manchin has been a vocal proponent of the project, arguing it would create 2,500 construction jobs, $40 million in new tax revenue for his home state, $10 million in new tax revenue for Virginia and up to $250 million in royalties for West Virginia landowners.

Overall, the 303.5-mile pipeline would transport about two billion cubic feet per day of natural gas from West Virginia to consumers in the Mid- and South Atlantic. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm penned a letter last month to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission members, arguing that the project would help boost reliable energy for Americans.

Equitrans announced last year that it expected the pipeline to go into service during the second half of 2023. Federal regulators gave the company until 2026 to complete the project.

The Forest Service didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
Some defense and congressional officials believe the White House is laying the groundwork to halt plans to move U.S. Space Commands headquarters to Alabama in part because of concerns about the states restrictive abortion law, according to two U.S. officials and one U.S. defense official familiar with the discussions.

The belief is they are delaying any move because of the abortion issue, one U.S. official said, referring to the White House.

Another U.S. official said, This is all about abortion politics.

The White House directed the Air Force last December to conduct a review of the process that led to the Trump administrations decision to move Space Commands headquarters from Colorado to Huntsville, Alabama. The review was ordered up in the months after Alabamas law banning nearly all abortions, including in cases of rape and incest, went into effect last summer. The law is considered among the most restrictive in the U.S.

It followed two previous, extensive reviews that took place after President Joe Biden took office that found there was no improper political influence on the process that awarded the headquarters to Alabama. Just days before leaving office, Donald Trump had announced Alabama would be home to Spacecom's headquarters. He later said he was single-handedly responsible for the states selection over others that were under consideration, but the review did not support that claim.

Biden administration officials have signaled privately to Pentagon officials and lawmakers that theyre looking to reverse the Alabama decision over concerns about operational disruptions that moving Spacecoms headquarters, which is currently located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, could bring.

Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III, Canadian Minister of National Defense Anita Anand, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. Air Force Gen. Glen VanHerck at the Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station facility in Colorado Springs. (Sean Kilpatrick / The Canadian Press via AP file)

The White House said Alabamas abortion ban was not a factor in its ongoing review of the decision to build Spacecoms permanent headquarters there. A White House official said that access to reproductive health care does not weigh in to making the decision about location.

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Administration officials said the push not to headquarter Spacecom in Huntsville has nothing to do with Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville's blocking of at least 234 of Bidens military nominations in protest against the Pentagons abortion policy. Still, one official said, Hes not helping. Other officials said the White House does not plan to announce its halting of Spacecom's move to Alabama until after the standoff with Tuberville over nominees was resolved.

The White House is trying to delay as much as possible before announcing a final decision, a third U.S. official said, because they dont want to aggravate Tuberville even more.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., at the Capitol on May 2, 2023. (Bill Clark / CQ-Roll Call via AP file)

Factors that the military generally considers when deciding the location of a military command headquarters include access to health care, room for growth, access to housing, proximity to airports, cost and overall quality of life.

Gen. James Dickinson, the commander of Space Command, told Congress in March 2022 that Spacecom was on track to be fully operational within three years, wherever the headquarters is located.

Then last month, Dickinson gave an accelerated timeline, saying at a Space Symposium in Colorado that Spacecom would be fully operational later this year, while still headquartered in Colorado Springs.

Some U.S. military commanders also would prefer to keep Spacecom in Colorado, rather than uprooting it and interfering with space operations, according to U.S. officials. The officials cited the war in Ukraine and continuing military competition with China as needing constant attention. We cannot take our eye off the ball right now, one U.S. military official said.

Redstone Arsenal

The delay in the move is the latest twist in the yearslong process of finding a permanent Spacecom headquarters. The secretary of the Air Force announced more than two years ago that Spacecom would move from its temporary home in Colorado Springs to a permanent headquarters at a U.S. Army post  Redstone Arsenal  near Huntsville.

Colorado Springs was among the locations considered for a permanent Spacecom headquarters. But U.S. officials said Colorado did not come close to Alabama as a preferred location when the military conducted its search.

The headquarters is expected to draw an estimated 1,400 U.S. service members and their families, contractors and civilian employees, to the Huntsville area. About 64% of Spacecoms authorized personnel is already in place in Colorado, according to a Spacecom spokesperson.

Army Gen. James Dickinson, commander of the Space Command, during a Senate hearing on March 8, 2022. (Bill Clark / CQ-Roll Call via AP file)

Alabamas abortion law would severely restrict Spacecom personnels access to reproductive health care and could potentially hurt efforts to attract personnel.

Redstone Arsenal has Fox Army Health Center, a medical facility for prescriptions and basic services that caters mostly to retirees in the area. More than 98% of the more than 44,000 employees on the base are civilians who live off-post and use civilian medical care, according to a spokesperson. Service members and dependents assigned there would primarily use civilian medical care and would be subject to Alabamas abortion law. As such theyd be forced to seek abortion and some other reproductive services outside the state.

Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall said recently he was not aware of Biden being involved in a decision of where to base Spacecom. I have no indication that the presidents going to do anything with regard to that decision, Kendall said in late March. He said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin delegated it to him and thats where it stands today.

But other U.S. officials said the decision was out of the Air Forces hands.

This is all about abortion politics, a second U.S. official said. This normally would not be a political decision.

The White House vs. Tuberville

Halting the relocation of Spacecom to Alabama could fuel current tensions between the White House and Tuberville, whose holds on military nominations already include Bidens pick to serve as chief of staff of the Army. Other major nominations are expected in the coming weeks, including naming the head of Naval Operations and the commander of U.S. Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD.

Unless Tuberville lifts the holds, theyre also likely to include Bidens nominee to serve as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, whom the president is expected to name soon, according to two officials familiar with the matter. Biden is expected to nominate Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles CQ Brown to replace Gen. Mark Milley as the next chairman. The officials said the nomination is at the White House for the presidents final approval.

A spokesperson for Tuberville referred to a letter the senator wrote to The Washington Post in March in which he said, The militarys decision to place the Space Command at Redstone Arsenal is what is best for national security and for taxpayers. If Mr. Biden overrules the Air Force, it will be Washington at its worst  a president putting politics above plain facts. The Space Command belongs in the Rocket City.

In a statement to NBC News, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee warned the Pentagon needs to stop playing political games.

The delayed announcement on SPACECOM basing has been beyond frustrating, Rep Mike Rogers, R-Ala., wrote. Over two years ago, the Air Force made the correct decision to go with Huntsville. This was affirmed by the GAO and the DoD Inspector General. That decision was based on two studies  they took into account several factors including quality of life, available infrastructure, and workforce capabilities. Huntsville, Alabama, finished first in both, and the only state that continuously complains came in third and fifth. It is well past time for the Department of Defense along with the Administration to stop playing political games and affirm Huntsville as SPACECOMs new home.

After the overturning of Roe v. Wade last year, the Defense Department has taken steps to ensure military treatment facilities continue to provide abortion services under its existing guidelines, including in states where abortions are now essentially outlawed with extremely limited exceptions. The department also announced it would help cover travel costs for service members and their dependents who might have to cross state lines to receive abortion services.

Visitors walk outside the state-operated U.S. Space & Rocket Center which serves as the visitor center for the nearby federally funded NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, in Huntsville, Ala., on Jan. 8, 2019. (David Goldman / AP file)

The decision to move Spacecom to Alabama was announced more than a year before that landmark Supreme Court decision, in January 2021. Following allegations that the decision was politically motivated, the Office of Management and Budget ordered a review of the process for selecting Alabama.

Inspectors general for both the U.S. Government Accountability Office and the Defense Department completed the review in 2022 and found that the process to select Redstone Arsenal was legitimate. But the GAO report also identified significant shortfalls in the transparency and credibility of the process and recommended the Air Force develop guidance for future basing decisions.

Trump said in 2021 that he overruled the Pentagon to make it happen.

Austin tasked Kendall with making the final decision about where to base Spacecom. The White Houses request in December that Kendall conduct a review of the Alabama decision included looking at whether any factors had changed since the original announcement was made, according to two U.S. officials.

Kendall said he had not yet made a final decision. Were trying to take into consideration all possible factors that will affect the final decision, he said on April 27.

The U.S. Space Command is the militarys 11th unified combatant command, responsible for defending U.S. interests and strategic advantages in space. The U.S. Space Force is the militarys space service branch, made up of troops called Guardians. It falls under the Department of the Air Force and is headed up by the Chief of Space Operations. Space Force mans, trains and equips Guardians to support global space operations.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The Energy Department on Tuesday announced it will buy up to 3 million barrels of oil to begin replenishing the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) after drawing out stores amid energy crunches last year.

The administration is soliciting crude oil to refill one of the SPRs four major Gulf Coast sites: Big Hill in Texas.

DOE is committed to executing an SPR replenishment strategy that provides the best deal for taxpayers  aiming to repurchase crude at a lower price than the average of about $95 per barrel it was sold for in 2022, while strengthening energy security by providing certainty to the industry in a way that helps encourage near-term supply, the department said in a statement, adding that it plans to purchase more oil at an unspecified date later in the year.

Since President Biden took office in 2021, the SPR has been depleted by nearly 300 million barrels, much of that occurring after the Russian invasion of Ukraine sent gas prices skyrocketing to more than $100 a barrel.

In a bid to stabilize prices, the Biden administration announced last March it would release 1 million barrels a day over the following six months. Overall, the administration released a record high of 180 million barrels in 2022.

Later in the year, in October, the White House announced it would begin the process of buying oil to replenish the SPR once prices fell to a range of $67-$72 a barrel.

The Republican House, meanwhile, has also set its sights on the SPR releases since the beginning of the session. In January, the House passed a bill largely along party lines to restrict SPR releases, requiring the federal government to develop a comprehensive plan for new federal oil and gas leasing on federal lands to offset withdrawals.

New leases take an average of over four years to begin producing new oil.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
President Joe Biden will head to Japan this week to attend the G-7 summit but said he will cut short the remainder of his trip abroad so he can return to Washington to be back for the final negotiations with congressional leaders over the debt ceiling.

The president is scheduled to leave Wednesday for Hiroshima. He had planned to make visits afterward to Papua New Guinea and then to the Quad Summit in Australia. Biden will instead return to Washington on Sunday.

The stops in Australia and Papua New Guinea were meant to affirm the U.S. commitment to the Pacific as Chinas influence in the region rises. Biden said he had already spoken with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to explain why he was postponing his visit.

Earlier Tuesday, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters that the White House was reevaluating the second part of Bidens trip.

What I can speak to is G-7 and going to Hiroshima, Kirby said as he offered a preview of the trip to reporters at the White House briefing. The presidents looking forward to that. Were taking a look at the rest of the trip.

The schedule change to Biden's trip underscores how the White House has been consumed with the danger of defaulting on the nations debt. The president was meeting with the "Big Four" congressional leaders  including Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy  on Tuesday afternoon. The Treasury Department has warned that the nation may hit its limit in early June.

There was an overwhelming consensus, I think in todays meeting with congressional leaders, that defaulting on the debt is simply not an option. Our economy would fall into recession, Biden said.

The stops in Australia and Papua New Guinea were meant to affirm the U.S. commitment to the Pacific as Chinas influence in the region rises. Scrubbing those visits could be a blow to U.S. efforts in the Pacific, according to White House aides who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the situation.

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Bidens visit to Australia was meant to strengthen the Quad alliance  comprised of the U.S., Australia, Japan and India  but Kirby noted that Biden would still be able to spend time with those nations' leaders in Japan.

Republicans have said they will not vote to raise the debt ceiling unless Democrats agree to sharp spending cuts. Failure to lift the limit  a move necessary to cover the costs of spending and tax cuts previously approved by Congress  could trigger a default that would set off a sharp economic downturn.

Kelly Garrity contributed to this report.
The Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community has long been marginalized in the literary world, but one book fair offers an opportunity to make them feel heard, seen and understood, said Cathy De Leon, director of the Long Beach Public Library.



The library hosted Saturday the popular AAPI book fair, a literary event founded last year to spread diverse voices of the community. It serves as a platform for AAPI writers to showcase their work, connect with readers and gain greater visibility and recognition.

"I firmly believe that there is a book for every person. They just have to find it," noted Joanna Belfer, who owns Del Canto, a local bookstore.

Long Beach, a coastal city in southern California, is home to one of the largest Asian American communities in the United States.

This year's fair featured personal memoirs, fiction, illustrated children's books and graphic novels.

Chinese American author Jane Wong read a stirring excerpt from her coming biographical book, "Meet Me Tonight in Atlantic City." It depicted her life growing up surrounded by casinos with a Chinese immigrant father, who struggled with a gambling addiction.

"My stories are very personal to me, but are also part of a larger, systemic issue due to casinos deliberately targeting low-income immigrant populations like Asians to take advantage of our cultural emphasis on 'luck' and 'good fortune' to lure Asian immigrants into compulsive gambling."

Filipino American author Albert Samaha told Xinhua that Filipinos are still confused about their identity after centuries of colonization.

"A lot of Filipino Americans grow up struggling to sort out who they should identify as. There's no specific Filipino culture to turn to," he said, recalling every island in the Philippines once had its own specific culture, and there are over a hundred languages.

Alan Nakagawa, a Japanese American writer, stressed the importance of resurrecting the dying art of family albums to preserve the valuable AAPI culture.

"If we reestablish family photo albums, we would have a fighting chance to keep our own form of time travel. Each home would have its own portal to the past." said Nakagawa.

"I love this Book Fair," local Chinese American teenager, Alexa Yu, told Xinhua. "I hope I can write my own stories one day."
President Biden on Tuesday condemned antisemitism as a stain on the soul of America as he hosted lawmakers and community leaders for a reception to mark Jewish American Heritage Month.

Biden spoke about the persistent threat of antisemitism, describing how it was the 2017 white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va., where protesters carried torches and chanted phrases including Jews will not replace us, that convinced him to run for the White House in 2020.

Thats when I knew we had to stay engaged in the work of our time. Hate never goes away, Biden said.

The president lamented that antisemitic incidents are at record levels in the United States, pointing to attacks on synagogues and Jewish businesses, beatings of Jewish Americans wearing religious attire, the spread of antisemitic conspiracy theories and vandalism involving swastikas.

Its unconscionable. Its almost unbelievable. Its despicable, Biden said. These acts are a threat to other minority communities as well. But more importantly, its literally a stain on the soul of America. We have to be clear Silence is complicity.

Biden pointed to steps his administration has taken, including appointing Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt as the administrations special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism and forming a White House task force focused on formulating a strategy to fight antisemitism, led by second gentleman Doug Emhoff.

Emhoff also spoke at Tuesdays event, describing the work the administration has done to combat antisemitism and recalling how Vice President Harris encouraged me to lean into this fight.

Emhoff in January traveled to Poland to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day and speak with international leaders about efforts to stop the spread of antisemitism.

Right now we are experiencing a marked rise of antisemitism, not only in our country but throughout the world, he said Tuesday. And its unfortunately part of an overall epidemic of hate. But I know Im doing everything I can to fight back.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
President Joe Biden and Republican leaders have expressed cautious optimism that a deal to raise the US debt ceiling is within reach, following emergency talks at the White House.

But House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy told reporters the two sides are still far apart.

The standoff has forced Mr Biden to cut short a foreign trip.

Without a deal, the US could enter a calamitous default on its $31.4tr (25tr) debt as soon as 1 June.

A failure by the US government to meet its debt obligations could trigger global financial chaos.

The Democratic president said Tuesday's hour-long Oval Office meeting was "good, productive", sounding upbeat about the prospects of an agreement.

Mr McCarthy said afterwards he believed a deal was possible by the end of this week.

Asked about the risk of the US falling off a fiscal cliff, the California congressman told BBC News: "The great thing about that question is we've already taken default off the table."

He also told reporters a Biden-appointed representative would negotiate directly with his staff, which he said was a sign that "the structure of how we negotiate has improved".

A number of senior Democrats were at the talks, including Vice-President Kamala Harris, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

In exchange for support for raising the debt ceiling, Republican leaders are demanding budget cuts. They also want tougher work requirements on government aid recipients.

Citing sources familiar with the talks, the Associated Press news agency reports that this idea was "resoundingly" rejected by House Democrats at another meeting earlier on Tuesday.

Mr Biden has repeatedly said that a potential debt default and budgetary issues should be separate.

House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Vice-President Kamala Harris, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries at the White House meeting on 16 May 2023

The president is due to fly to the G7 summit in Japan on Wednesday. He was then expected to head to Papua New Guinea and Australia for further meetings.

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But he will now return after the 19-21 May summit ends in Hiroshima to "ensure that Congress takes action" to avert a default, the White House said in a statement.

The so-called Quad meeting in Sydney has now been cancelled, and the leaders will attempt to meet on the sidelines of the G7, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.

Reaching the debt ceiling would mean the US government is unable to borrow any more money.

This means the government would no longer be able to pay the salaries of federal and military employees. Social Security cheques - payments that millions of pensioners in the US rely on - would stop.

Every so often the US Congress votes to raise or suspend the ceiling so it can borrow more.

A default - which would be a first in US history - could shatter trust in America's political ability to pay its bills.

Experts have warned it could also see the US spiral into recession and trigger a rise in unemployment.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said at an event on Tuesday that "a US default would generate an economic and financial catastrophe".

Meanwhile, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said: "There's countries like Russia and China that would love nothing more than for us to default."

A deal to avoid this scenario has so far proven elusive. In April, Republicans proposed an agreement that would suspend the debt limit by $1.5tn or until 31 March, whichever comes first.

In exchange, they would maintain spending at key government agencies at 2022 levels for the next financial year and limit spending growth to 1% annually over the next 10 years.

They argued this would lead to $4.8tn in savings.

The proposal, however, would scupper several of Mr Biden's legislative priorities, including student loan forgiveness.

The last time the US was approaching a default, back in 2011, lawmakers struck a deal hours before the deadline.

That standoff led to a downgrade in the US credit rating, sent the stock market plummeting and increased the government's borrowing costs.

"Nobody should use default as a hostage," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said at the US Capitol on Tuesday. "The consequences would be devastating for America."

The US debt ceiling has been raised, extended or revised 78 times since 1960.
The U.S. Space Force service tapes on a uniform. Staff Sgt. Kayla White/U.S. Air Force via AP File

The White House may be walking back a decision to relocate the US Space Command headquarters to Alabama.

The reversal comes amid controversy over Alabama's highly restrictive abortion ban, NBC News reported.

Alabama lawmakers have bristled at the report, calling it a "slight against those serving in uniform."

The administration of President Joe Biden may be trying to punish Alabama for its restrictive abortion ban by changing course on the relocation of the headquarters of a major military branch, US officials told NBC News.

"This is all about abortion politics," one official told NBC.

The US Air Force announced in January 2021 that Space Command  now located at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado  would be relocated to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. Space Command is a department of the Air Force that protects the United States and its allies "in, from, and to space."

Officials within the Biden administration have quietly signaled to the US Department of Defense that they are backpedaling the decision to move the headquarters over concerns about operational disruptions tied to relocating, NBC reported, citing conversations with one US defense official and two other US officials.

Those concerns came months after Alabama's abortion law went into effect, raising speculation among those officials over the Biden administration's true motives.

"The belief is they are delaying any move because of the abortion issue," another US official told NBC, referring to the Biden administration.

A White House official told Insider that laws regarding reproductive health were not considered in the decision-making process, questioning the accuracy of NBC's reporting. A spokesperson for the Air Force said they could not confirm the information in NBC's report.

"A decision has not yet been made," the spokesperson told Insider.

The reporting drew strong responses from Alabama lawmakers. Republican Rep. Dale Strong said Alabama was chosen as the new headquarters location after the "Air Force looked at what was in the best interest of national security."

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"Any deviation from that is a slight against those serving in uniform. I've seen all the reviews and reports on the basing process  but don't remember access to late-term abortions being one of the 21 criteria used to evaluate the sites," Strong told WHNT-TV, a local CBS affiliate in Huntsville.

After his departure from office, former President Donald Trump claimed full credit for the decision to relocate the Space Command, prompting ire from some Colorado politicians and a review by the Government Accountability Office. That review found that the Air Force's decision and methodology for choosing Huntsville as a new location had "significant shortfalls in its transparency and credibility."

After the US Supreme Court effectively overturned Roe v. Wade, abortions became entirely illegal in Alabama at any stage of pregnancy, except in cases where the pregnant patient's safety is at risk (but notably not in cases of rape or incest).

Read the original article on Business Insider
President Joe Biden (right) and Vice President Kamala Harris host congressional leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), for a meeting about the debt limit Tuesday in Washington.

President Joe Biden (right) and Vice President Kamala Harris host congressional leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), for a meeting about the debt limit Tuesday in Washington.

WASHINGTON  A White House effort to counter Chinas increasing influence in the western Pacific on Tuesday became the first casualty of Republican attempts to make honoring the U.S. debt contingent on cutting medical and food benefits for welfare recipients.

President Joe Bidens aides for weeks had been touting his planned visit to Papua New Guinea as part of the administrations outreach to Southeast Asian and Pacific island nations that are also being wooed by China. Now the first-ever presidential visit there and a meeting with Prime Minister James Marape and other leaders of Pacific Islands Forum countries have been canceled to let Biden return to Washington immediately after the conclusion of the G-7 summit of the worlds largest democratic economies in Japan on Sunday.

The president often has to make tough decisions about how and where hes going to spend his time, said John Kirby, the National Security Councils coordinator for strategic communications, shortly before the decision to shorten the trip was announced.

He added that foreign leaders appreciate Bidens dilemma and would not hold it against him.

They understand and they want and they respect American leadership on the world stage. They know our ability to pay our debts is a key part of U.S. leadership, he said.

The acknowledgement that Biden would return this weekend came as he sat down again in the Oval Office with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and the three other top Democratic and Republican congressional leaders. McCarthy, a California Republican, has pushed the demand of many in his caucus to use the approaching debt limit deadline to extract broad spending cuts and more stringent work requirements for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Medicaid beneficiaries.

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Were having a wonderful time, Biden joked at the start of the meeting, the second such gathering in a week. Everything is going well.

After the hourlong meeting had ended, McCarthy again blamed Biden for stating for months that he would not negotiate over raising the debt limit to pay for spending that has already occurred.

Its unfortunate we are where we are, McCarthy said, adding that he has been pushing for talks since his first visit to the White House on the matter in February. For 97 days the president ignored us.

A little later, McCarthy told reporters at the Capitol that he thinks he and Biden have finally set up a structure to reach a deal and that Tuesdays meeting went better than last weeks.

I did think this one was a little bit more productive. Were a long way apart, he said. It doesnt mean well get to an agreement. All it means is I think the process is a better process. ... The only thing that I think is better is now we have a formula, a structure. This is something that I requested back in February.

The United States will run out of statutory borrowing authority to pay its obligations as early as June 1, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned early this month, meaning the nation could default on interest payments on outstanding bonds. Even the risk of this occurring is likely to result in the downgrade of U.S. creditworthiness, which would lead to higher borrowing costs in the future.

McCarthys position matches that of the de facto leader of his party, former President Donald Trump, who in a CNN town hall broadcast last week encouraged Republicans to let the country default if they dont get the spending cuts they want.

If they dont give you massive cuts, youre going to have to do a default, said Trump, who attempted a coup to remain in power years ago but nevertheless leads polls for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

During Trumps tenure, the debt limit was raised three times  twice in his first two years, when Republicans controlled both chambers of Congress  without congressional leaders attempting to win spending cuts. In fact, the debt limit increase in 2018 was paired with a massive appropriations bill that eliminated Barack Obama-era spending caps  which, combined with the 2017 tax cuts, ushered in trillion-dollar annual deficits. The annual deficit skyrocketed in 2020, Trumps final full year in office, with the massive new spending caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

HuffPost reporter Jonathan Nicholson contributed to this story.
The summer travel season is approaching fast and travelers may be wondering what the best airports to fly in and out from are. Well, the bigger the airport, the busier itll be this summer; leaving many weighing their options.

To accommodate more travelers, some airports are much bigger than others. These giant, international travel hubs are gearing up for massive amounts of travelers as summer approaches.

So which airports are the biggest in the world? Here are a few gigantic airports that stay busy all year round getting travelers where they need to be.

Photo Credit: Bloomberg

1. Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport  Guangzhou, China

China is home to a few of the worlds biggest airports but the largest in the country is Guangzhou Baiyun. The airport served over 43 million passengers in 2021, more than any other airport in the world according to the World Population Review. Guangzhou overtook Atlanta for the biggest airport in the world last year after Hartfield-Jackson held the number one spot for 20 consecutive years.

Guangzhou is the largest port of entry into Southern China so its no surprise this airport giant boasts the most travelers and the largest size. It was built in the 1930s and covers approximately 18 square kilometers.

2. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport  Atlanta

Located in one of the biggest travel and business hotspots in America, Hartfield-Jackson typically is considered one of the biggest airport in the world. Although its not number one, ATL still reigns as an airport among airports with it comes to its size.

According to World Population Review, Hartsfield-Jackson served over 42 million people last year. With its train transport, elaborate design, and vibrant terminals, Atlanta continues to be a favorite, and one of the biggest, travel hubs with flights getting passengers where they need to be.

3. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport  Dallas

Photo Credit: Patrick T. Fallon

Dallas Forth Worth is one of the faves and biggest airports in the world. The airport serviced 33 million passengers in 2021 making it the 4th biggest airport. Folks love the airports Skylink, whisking them to their terminals quickly and efficiently. The airport also has a yoga studio, on-site therapy dogs, and a gaming room for passengers waiting to board their flights. DFW covers over 17 thousand acres and is larger than the states of Connecticut, Delaware, and Rhode Island combined.

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4. Denver International Airport  Denver

The World Population Review ranked Denver International Airport as the 8th biggest airport in the world. The airport served over 33 million passengers in 2021. This year, the airport has aided 69 million travelers to reach their destination, according to the airport.

According to Simply Flying, Denver International Airport is the biggest airport by land mass in the United States covering 52.4 square miles. One of the more artistically decorated airports in the country with outdoor seating for travelers who need some fresh air, Denver International remains one of the biggest airports in the world.

5. Suvarnabhumi Airport  Bangkok

Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok is spread out over 8,000 acres and is one of the largest airports in Southeast Asia, according to Airport Suppliers. The airport opened in 2006 and 95 airlines fly in and out of the hub. Named after the Sanskrit word for land of gold, Suvarnabhumi is also the biggest and most important airport in Thailand. The airport can handle over 45 million visitors each year, according to IndiGo, has two runways, and a Sky Lane where passengers can enjoy cycling fun while waiting to take off. It handles 3 million tons of cargo a year and an underground rail system that gets passengers to their terminals.
Brandon Withrow

Going my way? I asked, hopping into a white school bus stopped along a road just outside of North Platte, Nebraska. The driver, who donned a chocolate brown coat and a chocolate brown cowboy hat, reached out with a firm handshake.

You must be Brandon. Grab a seat.

My flight had run late and the tourism office had tracked down the bus owned by Dusty Trailsa tour company owned by Dusty Barner. The buses take guests from field to field, spotting sandhill cranes that are eating waste grain.

Every year in March and April, a million sandhill cranes migrate from the U.S.-Mexico border northward to the Platte River in Nebraska. Theyve been doing it for millions of years and it is the biggest bird migration in North America. Roughly 80 percent of the sandhill cranes use this route. They are a massive tourism draw for the cities of North Platte, Kearney, and Grand Island. (I was there at their invitation.)

Its been a few years since the last economic impact study of the migration on Central Nebraska, but in 2017, it had a value of $14.3 million, supporting 182 year-round equivalent jobs. The pandemic slowed that down, but tourism offices told me visits were back in full-force.

Ive wanted to see the sandhill crane migration for years. In December, while I was solo-hiking on my birthday in Ohio, 75 of them flew overhead. That felt like a big deal, that is, until I arrived in Nebraska. Im told Jane Goodall, who comes to Nebraska every year for the cranes, has compared it to the great wildebeest migration through the Masai Mara in Kenya. That feels right.

Sandhill cranes have a presence that is hard to ignore.

Sandhill crane in flight in Kearney, Grand Island, Nebraska. Brandon Withrow

They are large birds, standing upwards of four feet, with wingspans of six to seven feet. You dont just hear those wings flap overhead, you feel it in your chest. They are also among the most ancient birds on the planet, with the oldest crane skeleton found in Nebraska being around 2.5 million years old. And then there is their call: a bugling sound that churns in the throat. It is how you might expect something like a flying dinosaur to sound, which makes sense since birds are the descendents of theropods.

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North Platte is a newer player in sandhill crane tourism. During the day, the cranes are out in the fields picking at waste grain to fatten up. They will eventually leave the river and travel further north in the U.S., Canada, Alaska, and Siberia. Dusty Trails bus tour gives guests a chance to see them when they arent on the river. They use private bird blinds for guests to see them return to the river in the evening and lift off in the morning. (A blind is a structure designed for quietly watching the birds without frightening them off.)

Dusty Trails bus tour in North Platte Nebraska. Brandon Withrow

That night in North Platte we stepped into a cozy blind with small floor heaters, and watched them return to the river in small batches, collecting over the water, tucking their heads into their wings, and drifting off to sleep. I then left North Platte for Kearney, an hour and a half to the East to also catch some sleep at a Best Western.

The next morning I got up before the sun and made my way to Audubons Rowe Sanctuary in Kearney. The Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary focuses on conservation along the Platte River. Guests can register in December to get one of the limited slots for viewing the cranes in their bird blinds. Most of the openings fill up on the first day of registration. Their blinds have warming rooms for cold mornings and windows that open up for cameras.

Bird blind at Rowe Sanctuary in Kearney, Nebraska. Brandon Withrow

We sat quietly in the dark, waiting for the sun to come up. Flashes and camera sounds are not allowed right away. The birds were close enough that they could hear or see them and get spooked.

But this is where it gets magical.

The river is necessary for the cranes. It is shallow and wide enough that they can roost on sandbars together, giving themselves a view from all angles to spot predators.

Sitting in the quiet, we watched the birds come to life. As the sun rises, the cranes shake off their slumber and pull their heads out from under their wings. They begin calling to one another. Its low at first, but the sun is almost like a volume dial, and as the light creeps in over the river, the birds grow louder, cacophonous, and deafening. From this point, cameras can be used. Suddenly, as if one of them said it was time to go, they all lift-off the river in one mass. Tens of thousands of birds fill the sky, flapping and calling. It stuns the senses.

Then theyre gone for the day.

Well, usually theyre gone. That morning, I had a rare chance to see them do it three times. More than once, a predator had triggered a flight earlier than expected. They lifted off, but returned en masse shortly after.

The Platte River isnt perfect, though.

The river, historically, probably would have 200 miles of wide, shallow open channel habitat for the birds, said Bill Taddicken, director for the Rowe Sanctuary. Now they have been condensed down into about an 80-mile stretch. And within that 80 miles, theres only maybe 20 or 30 good miles of river for them. Because what they want is a wide shallow channel that they can roost in all night long.

He adds that, due to dams, 70 percent of the water is gone before it gets to them. Theres always somebody wanting more water, adds Taddicken. The river itself is over-appropriated from here to upstream.

This is a theme I heard from the moment I landed in Nebraska. The question is, when will it impact the cranes? When the river dries up, the river bed gets filled with vegetation and the banks begin to enclose the areas the birds rely on for safely roosting.

The cranes have compromised about all they can, Taddicken noted. The numbers are good right now for sandhill cranes, but we dont know where the tipping point might be. And if the river dries up for any real length of time during a migration season, it can be a real issue.

The rest of my day was exploring Kearney before heading to the Fairfield Inn in Grand Island for a nights rest before another early morning.

Sandhill cranes at Crane Trust on the Platte River in Grand Island, Nebraska. Brandon Withrow

Grand Island is home to Crane Trust, which conserves habitat on the Platte River in South Central Nebraska. I got up before the sun and met Brad Mellema, the former director of the Crane Trust Nature Center and now director of Grand Island Tourism. We parked in a field and walked to a small blind, which serves as a photography blind. He set up a tripod and we waited.

The blind is a shack really, with windows made of netting and holes cut into it for cameras. Its quiet. Its bitter cold. Its also only 50 yards from the birds and it gave us a chance to watch them wake up from close.

The Crane Trust is a fascinating organization, focusing on conservation, research, and education. Their land helps the sandhill cranes, but also other species, like that of the endangered whooping crane. There are just over 540 migrating individuals left. In a rare moment in North Platte on my Dusty Trails bus tour, we spotted one in a field.

They also reintroduced bison to Nebraska on their land. Bison traditionally wallowed on the land, forcing vegetation to restore itself, which naturally maintained prairie. This restoration of prairie is helpful for any species, like cranes, which traditionally visited the land when bison were the dominant species.

Our mission is to protect and maintain land throughout the Platte River Valley, Brice Krohn, the president and CEO of Crane Trust told me. So its a lowland, tall grass prairie on the largest tracks thats left of this contiguous grassland.

We are worried about the headwaters of the Platte... its a sediment-deprived river system, just because of all the dams, adds Krohn. Water is key for everything.

Crane Trust was originally formed out of a lawsuit in 1978 over the construction of the Grayrocks Dam on the Platte in Wyoming. Payment from that lawsuit went into an endowment for the Trusts creation and funding, though donors make up the lions share of their budget now.

This is where tourism and birding work together. Tourism helps to draw public attention to these issues, raise money for it, and incentivizes conservation.

For many birders, migrations, like that of sandhill cranes, are a type of pilgrimagefor a brief, special point in time, they get to connect with these birds.

One pre-pandemic study showed that birding had an economic value of $41 billion. Birding is a big industry that not only occurs in backyards and local parks, but draws people from across the globe. In some areas of the country, birding festivals are significant players in local economies.

Sandhill Cranes roosting at sunrise at Rowe Sanctuary in Kearney, Nebraska. Brandon Withrow

Every Spring in Ohio, nearly 100,000 birders will flock to Magee Marsh, Howard Marsh, and other areas of the Toledo Metroparks system around Lake Erie for The Biggest Week in Birding, spending around 40 million in just a few weeks for the warbler migration. In November in Harlington, Texas, The Rio Grande Birding Festival also brings in millions. The sandhill crane migration is also one of those moments in the year where birders go to find those unique experiences and species they have yet to see.

Those tourism dollars benefit everyone.

During my time passing through North Platte, for example, I got great pulled pork at Good Life on the Bricks. In Kearney, I stopped into Alley Rose for lunch and visited the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument, a multi-story roadside attraction, which stretches over I-80 and tells the story of those who have traveled the Great Platte River Road since the Oregon Trail. At Grand Island, I enjoyed beers at Prairie Pride Brewing Co. and tried four different pizzas at the wonderfully quirky, surfer themed, Wave Pizza. I also visited the Wings over the Platte exhibit at the Stuhr Museum in Grand Island, which features different artists and their takes on the sandhill cranes.

Wings Over the Platte exhibit at the Stuhr Museum in Grand Island, Nebraska. Brandon Withrow

My final night, I sat in one of the Crane Trusts blinds intended for guestsfully heated and comfortably out of the cold. We watched the birds return to the Platte River to sleep. This is not just a pilgrimage for birders, its also a pilgrimage for the birds.

I can hear them chatting as they get closer, like they are asking, How was your day? Did you get to eat? Have you found a mate? And whats up with the white bus in North Platte?

Cranes coming together in this way feels like a party, and I think Ill make this pilgrimage again next year.

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The House Health Committee will discuss a bill Tuesday that would fund research on the impact of magic mushrooms.

State lawmakers want to look at how psilocybin, commonly called magic mushrooms, could help people with anxiety and depression.

The Breakthrough Therapies Research Grant Fund would provide $5 million in funding for research into magic mushrooms and MDMA, also known as ecstasy.

The MDMA research is focused on treatment for post-traumatic stress syndrome.

This wouldnt be the first time researchers looked into whether magic mushrooms help depression.

A recent study from the New England Journal of Medicine found a single dose improved symptoms in people with treatment-resistant depression.

Researchers also say improvements were more immediate compared to traditional anti-depressants.

Mushrooms: What you need to know
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has admitted for the first time that Russia could be recognised as a state sponsor of terrorism.

Source: Blinken at a US Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on China, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Blinken's statement was made during a discussion with Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who insisted that Russia should be designated a state sponsor of terrorism.

"We all want China to stop helping Russia, right? I have an idea. 100 US senators have proposed that we declare Russia a state sponsor of terrorism to deter countries like China from providing them with weapons," Graham pointed out.

"Months have passed and nothing has happened. Mr Secretary of State, I like you very much, but you will never declare Russia a state sponsor of terrorism, will you?" Graham asked.

Blinken responded briefly: "Never say never."

In his discussion with the senator, Blinken went on to say that in his opinion, the sanctions already in place and the powers the United States has have managed to deter Beijing from providing military assistance to Moscow.

Designating Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism would lead to Moscow's international isolation and force the US to impose additional restrictions on countries that interact with the Kremlin. It is the State Department that has the authority to determine this status.

Background: The Biden administration has previously rejected demands to designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism, saying that this would tie the USs hands in its engagement with Russia as a whole and block any diplomatic efforts to end Russia's war against Ukraine.

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[Source]

Aishwarya Thatikonda, one of the eight victims killed during a mass shooting at a mall in Allen, Texas, in early May, was laid to rest a day after her remains arrived in Hyderabad, India.

Ashok Kolla, the treasurer of the Telugu Association of North America (TANA), started a search effort for Thatikonda after receiving a call on the morning of May 7. The caller stated that the 26-year-old project engineer was unreachable by phone and nowhere to be found.

Hours later, TANA confirmed with the Collin County Medical Examiners Office that Thatikonda was one of the eight people  four of whom were of Asian descent  killed at Allen Premium Outlets on May 6.

TANA and its volunteers started the process of flying Thatikondas remains back home to her family in Hyderabad, the capital of India's Telangana state.

More from NextShark: Asian American Moms TikTok Video Explaining #StopAsianHate to Her Kids Goes Viral

While Thatikondas family originally planned to travel to the United States to bring her body home, the Telugu community in Texas took on the responsibility of bringing her remains to India instead with the help of several agencies, including the consulate of India in Houston.

The necessary formalities had been completed and the body was sent to India, Kolla told Times of India.

Thatikondas remains were sent to Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport aboard an Emirates flight and prepped for the woman's funeral ceremony on Thursday.

More from NextShark: AAPI Women Register Highest Long-Term Unemployment Rate During COVID-19

Over 100 mourners gathered outside the house of Thatikondas father, Rangareddy court judge T Narsi Reddy, at the HUDA Colony in Saroornagar, Hyderabad. Several of Thatikondas relatives accompanied her body to a crematorium soon after performing Hindu rituals.

Others who attended the ceremony and offered their condolences to the family include Minister of Energy of Telangana Guntakandla Jagadish Reddy and Members of the Legislative Assembly politicians Gadari Kishore and Shanampudi Saidireddy.

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Thatikonda moved to the U.S. to study construction management at Eastern Michigan University (EMU), where she earned her master's degree in construction management.

More from NextShark: Suely Saro to Be the First Cambodian American Elected to Office in Long Beach

Thatikonda, who worked at Perfect General Contractors LLC on Punjab Way in Frisco, Texas, prior to her death, was supposed to pick up her boss Srinivas Chaluvadi from the airport on the day she was killed.

EMU honored Thatikonda following the incident, with EMU President James Smith telling Fox 2 Detroit that despite being an EMU alumna, Thatikonda still had ties to the university.

Shes still on our STEM OTP roster which means shes off working, but she's still connected to the university, so we felt even more connected to her loss. Although its always a horrible loss when we lose any of our alums, through something this tragic, this senseless. I think it makes it even more painful.

More from NextShark: Boston Doctor Reveals Saddening Encounter With Racist Man

In addition to Thatikonda, seven other people were killed during the May 6 shooting, including a Korean American family celebrating their 6-year-old sons birthday.

The boy survived, but his parents and 3-year-old brother did not after 33-year-0ld suspect Mauricio Garcia opened fire in the mall. Garcia was later shot dead by the police.
Boil water advisory lifted.

BELLEVUE - Village residents no longer need to boil water or use bottled water for drinking or cooking purposes, the village announced Tuesday.

The state Department of Natural Resources lifted the boil water advisory Tuesday afternoon.

Officials issued a boil-water/bottled-water advisory on Monday for part of the village because a piece of equipment within the village's water system failed. That created the risk of contaminated water.

The village said it lifted the advisory as of 3 p.m. Tuesday because tests of samples collected Monday had shown no contamination, officials said in a statement.

The advisory had affected homes and businesses west of Interstate 43 and south of Main Street as well as Continental Drive.

The village began flushing the water mains and the storage facilities in the area that lost pressure to remove potentially contaminated water.

Our subscribers make this coverage possible. Click here to subscribe to a USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin site today and support local journalism.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Boil Water Advisory lifted for village of Bellevue in Brown County
Chinese writer Tianrui Shuofu won the top award for his novel "Once Upon a Time in Nanjing" at the 14th Chinese Nebula Awards on Saturday in Guanghan, Sichuan province, demonstrating the rise of young talent in Chinese sci-fi.

Tianrui Shuofu (C), winner of the gold award for best sci-fi novel at the 14th Chinese Nebula Awards, poses for a photo with Liu Cixin (L), prominent Chinese sci-fi writer, and Li Yong (R), deputy general manager of event sponsor Luzhou Laojiao, at a gala in Guanghan, Sichuan province, May 13, 2023. [Photo courtesy of EV/SFM]

Tianrui Shuofu, a 27-year-old online writer whose real name is He Jian, has created several popular sci-fi novels including "Die on Mars." His latest work, "Once Upon a Time in Nanjing" (also known as "We Live in Nanjing"), was serialized on the literary site qidian.com in 2021. The story follows a high school senior in the city of Nanjing in 2019 who communicates via radio with a girl from 2040 who lives in the same city and learns about the apocalyptic future world. Together, they embark on a mission to save the Earth.

Tianrui took home both the best novel and best new writer awards at the event. The jury praised his incredible and mature narrative structure while adopting the perspective of a young and inexperienced high school student. The story showcases the charm of Chinese science fiction and races toward its destination with the courage to defy destiny and save the entire human race.

Jury president Yao Haijun, current deputy editor-in-chief of Science Fiction World and founder of many of China's sci-fi events, commented that the novel bridges the gap between online sci-fi literature and traditional sci-fi, and expands the growth space of sci-fi. Meanwhile, co-founder of the Chinese Nebula Awards, Dong Renwei noted, the biggest gain of this year's awards is the emergence of a group of new sci-fi stars, including Tianrui and Dong Xin'ai.

Liu Cixin, China's most renowned sci-fi writer, also noted the rise of many excellent online sci-fi novels, and how online literature, due to the dissemination of internet technology, is now able to build stronger interactions with readers and a more modern feel. He believes that the creation of online novels could be an important direction for the development of sci-fi literature, and it may even become a major direction in the future.

Sci-fi writer Zhou Wen delivers her acceptance speech for the best novella prize with "The Girl with a Restrained and Released Life" at the 14th Chinese Nebula Awards gala in Guanghan, Sichuan province, May 13, 2023. [Photo courtesy of EV/SFM]

Other top winners included Zhou Wen for best novella with "The Girl with a Restrained and Released Life," Chi Hui for best short story with "The Stars Without Dream," and Chun Xi for best translated work with "If We Can't Go at the Speed of Light" by South Korean writer Kim Cho-Yeol. "History of Chinese Science Fiction in the 20th Century" by Wu Yan, Jia Liyuan, Ren Dongmei, Xiao Han, Jiang Zhenyu and Wang Yao won the best non-fiction work, and Yao Lifen's "Contemporary Science Fiction as Oxygen for Scientists' Brain: A Review of 'The Pillars of a Great Power'" won the best review award.

More than 300 sci-fi writers, experts and representatives from the publishing, education, cultural tourism, film and TV, as well as comics and cartoon industries, participated in the annual event held near the world famous Sanxingdui Ruins site, supported by the local Guanghan government and organized by Eternal Vision Science Fiction Media Co., Hainan (EV/SFM). Prominent figures in attendance included Han Song, He Xi, Jiang Bo, Cheng Jingbo, and many more.

Furthermore, as a tribute to EV/SFM president Gan Weikang for his sponsorship, masterminding and organization of the Chinese Nebula Awards over the past seven years, the organizing committee presented him with the "Big Dipper Medal" in recognition of his contribution to the development of Chinese science fiction.

Entrepreneur Gan Weikang (C) poses for a photo with sci-fi moguls and organizers Yao Haijun (L) and Dong Renwei (R) after receiving the "Big Dipper Medal" at the 14th Chinese Nebula Awards gala in Guanghan, Sichuan province, May 13, 2023. [Photo courtesy of EV/SFM]

According to Gan, in recent years, whether it's the development of the entire sci-fi industry or society's understanding of sci-fi, there has been a tremendous change, including the government's support for the sci-fi industry, which will have a profound impact on it. So, he believes that in the future, various industries will continuously inject new social and national forces into the upstream and downstream operations, leading to new opportunities for the development of the sci-fi industry.

During the awards ceremony, Gan wowed the audience by premiering the first trailer of the sci-fi movie "Underground Deep Palace" produced by EV/SFM, based on Xiao Xinghan's award-winning novella, which is in the final phase of post-production and will debut on various video platforms.

Award winners, organizers and guests of the 14th Chinese Nebula Awards pose for a group photo in Guanghan, Sichuan province, May 13, 2023. [Photo courtesy of EV/SFM]

The awards ceremony was preceded by a sci-fi summit forum, where keynote speeches were given by Jack Gao, CEO of Smart Cinema, on artificial intelligence, and by Zhu Qi, a researcher at the China National Academy of Painting, on dystopian sci-fi and philosophy. Later, a roundtable discussion on exploring diverse and integrated sci-fi using historical elements was held. The forum also included a discussion on the shaping of a new era of Chinese sci-fi, featuring young Chinese sci-fi writers such as Duan Ziqi, Tianrui Shuofu, Lu Ban, Dong Xin'ai, Lu Hang and Qi Ran.
The city of Boise has agreed to a settlement with a local police officer who filed a lawsuit over his access to records that were part of his own personnel file last year.

The city agreed to pay the officer $30,000 for his costs and attorney fees at the end of April, according to a copy of the settlement agreement. The officer has also appealed the discipline brought against him, and the settlement allows him to continue his appeal. As part of the agreement, the lawsuit was dismissed by mutual agreement of both parties.

The dismissal, finalized earlier this month in the 4th District Court in Ada County, came before a judge ruled on whether the records needed to be released.

Officer Sean T. Stace, a 15-year Boise police officer, sued the city in November shortly after he had been denied access to a copy of the internal affairs investigation into his conduct, which included records from his and other officers files.

Stace was investigated by the departments Office of Internal Affairs beginning in August, after a citizen complained about him. Its unclear what the complaint was, but by October, the investigators had found sufficient evidence to prove the allegations, according to an email from a police lieutenant included in the lawsuit.

After a report on the investigation was finished, a lawyer for Stace, Joseph Mallet, asked to see the full investigation. According to the lawsuit, the Police Department sent Mallet a copy of the investigations final report and a recording of Staces interview with the investigators but didnt send the supporting documents.

Mallet said the denial was in bad faith and sued within days. The city argued that it is standard practice to not make investigative documents available while an investigation is ongoing. Mallet had made the request to obtain the records before Boises Police Review Board held a hearing on his case.

In an email, Mallet said Stace was happy with the outcome but feels he should not have had to sue.

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As a result of this lawsuit, the city provided multiple files and over 200 pages of documents that he believes had been wrongfully withheld, agreed to restart his affected disciplinary appeal process, and paid for his attorney fees incurred in bringing the lawsuit, Mallet wrote. BPD has also promised to clarify their policy language to make sure access to these documents is not denied to any BPD employee in the future.

A city spokesperson declined to comment on the case.

The settlement notes that Boise does not admit or concede, in any way, that it withheld records in violation of the Idaho Public Records Act, or that the conduct at issue would subject Boise to an award of attorneys fees and costs or to the imposition of a civil penalty.

Denial of some police records prompts lawsuit

In a court filing, a deputy city attorney who had corresponded with Mallet, Bryan Norton, wrote that multiple law enforcement agencies throughout Idaho interpret the states public records law to exempt internal investigation records into police officers from disclosure until after the investigations are finished.

The same day the lawsuit was filed in November, the Police Review Board held a hearing, after which corrective action was issued, according to another city filing.

On Dec. 2, after the case was closed, Boise voluntarily disclosed most of the records Stace had asked for, according to a brief filed by city attorneys. The lawyers said they had denied sending him seven documents that were the personnel records of other individuals and redacted 11 other documents that contained similar personal information before sending them to Mallet.

Megan Larrondo, the deputy city attorney, wrote that Staces lawsuit was only made necessary by his hasty decision to file suit, and that he should have continued the dialogue with city lawyers instead.

Until an investigation ends, the individual is not entitled to review records related to themselves when those investigatory records would otherwise be exempt from disclosure under the (public records act), Larrondo added.

In a follow-up filing in January, Mallet argued that Norton, in an email to him, had indicated the citys position was final, meaning that no further dialogue would have been fruitful.

Attorney asks judge to rule on citys record handling

Mallet also argued that the citys refusal to disclose information about Staces colleagues was improper and asked for a judge to rule on the citys handling of its records.

It is hard to imagine that somehow the criminal process continues to function while giving an accused felon access to evidence, but somehow a disciplinary process cannot function when a police officer is accused of violating an employment policy and requests access to the evidence against him, Mallet wrote.

In an amended declaration, Norton wrote that the Police Departments policies on what to release did not specify exactly what documents should be released to an officer ahead of their Review Board hearing, and that policies have changed over the years under different department leadership.

Since this case was filed, BPD has decided upon a more consistent approach to records release in these types of situations as part of its ongoing review of its policies, Norton wrote. This list includes more records than what I understood was released as of November.

On April 28, both parties jointly filed a stipulation to dismiss the case, which in Idaho automatically happens when all parties agree to the outcome. Fourth District Judge Peter Barton dismissed the case on May 4.
Sarah Bonner

Making This Book Is Gay available to her eighth-grade students got an Illinois teacher reported to police  and the incident ultimately led her to leave her job.

Sarah Bonner, a 20-year teaching veteran, included the book in what she called a book tasting in her middle-school English classroom in the central Illinois town of Heyworth in March, Today.com reports.

I wanted to give them a smattering of fiction and nonfiction to choose from on a day that we call Reading Monday, Bonner told the site. We just read and celebrate books.

This Book Is Gay, by Juno Dawson, was not assigned reading, but it was one of the books that students could choose. It is written for teens and covers coming out, stereotypes, flirting, safer sex, and more.

As the title suggests, the book centralizes the perspective of LGBTQ+ people, discussing the cultural stigma surrounding the community and, most controversially, giving brief descriptions of some sex acts, local public radio station WGLT notes. Along with two cartoon diagrams of sexual anatomy, this gave rise to a wave of parental anger and online harassment.

After Reading Monday, backlash was swift. By Wednesday, I received notice that parents had gotten a hold of pictures from that book that their child had taken in class, Bonner told Today.com. By Friday, I was told that parents had filed a police report against me for child endangerment. Local police confirmed that the report was filed but would not comment further, according to the site.

The notion that I was putting children in danger because of books  I didnt feel safe, Bonner said. I knew I couldnt go back.

Bonner was placed on administrative leave and a substitute was hired, WGLT reports. She and the book received both praise and criticism at a school board meeting March 23. About 85 people attended, and 11 spoke, some supporting her and some not.

Bonner offered a much-needed welcoming space to queer students, high-schooler Allison Huebner said at the meeting. I am a queer student here, and I know many other peers that are afraid to go to their parents and tell them who they truly are and identify with, Huebner said, according to the station. I know that some parents may think that their kids are completely comfortable and happy, but Im telling you, some of them have very difficult lives, and its very difficult to tell other parents that.

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Some parents said the content of This Book Is Gay was inappropriate and disturbing, and they contended that any nonheterosexual sex should stay behind closed doors, the station reports. But others said those objections were rooted in homophobia.

Krista Reichart-Lunny, a social worker and parent of three students in the district, displayed books that were similarly explicit but covered only heterosexual relations, and they were aimed at a younger audience than This Book Is Gay.

I just wanted to demonstrate that the content [critics of the book] were talking about, that the explicit nature of it was not because of what it showed, the actual pictures  it was focusing on the fact that the book was referencing gay orientation, she told WGLT after the meeting.

After the public comment period, the board accepted Bonners resignation.

Bonner told Today.com that she strove to expose her students to a diversity of viewpoints. She had seen former students having difficulty adjusting to college because their experience had been limited, she said. They had a tough time acclimating to bigger, more diverse spaces, she noted. Offering a variety of books was one way to prepare them.

Ive been fortunate up until now to be supported by the communities that Ive taught with, she said. The signs [of a potential issue] started at the beginning of this school year ... and this heightened culture war thats continuing to build nationwide.

Parents who were upset about This Book Is Gay were sending a message to the LGBTQ+ community in my room and in my district that theyre less than, Bonner said.

She still is concerned for her students, she added. Our students need teachers now more than ever, she said. 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.
United States Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz on Monday disclosed approximate figures for apprehensions and "gotaways" at the southern border following last weeks expiration of Title 42.

Tweeting early Monday morning, Ortiz said that in the past 72 hours, three agents had been assaulted, 14,752 people had been apprehended, and approximately 4,316 "gotaways" had been reported.

Ortiz also disclosed that agents had seized 4 lbs. of marijuana, one pound of cocaine, nearly $60,000, in addition to encountering five sex offenders and one wanted felon.

Immigration restrictions linked to the coronavirus pandemic  referred to as Title 42  expired at midnight Thursday and new U.S. enforcement measures went into effect Friday.

BIDEN SAYS BORDER LOOKS MUCH BETTER THAN YOU ALL EXPECTED AFTER TITLE 42 ENDS, HAS NO PLANS TO VISIT

In the days since, the number of migrants encountered at the southern border has fallen 50% compared with the 10,000-plus encountered each day for the three days leading up to the end of Title 42.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Still U.S. officials are cautioning that its too early to draw firm conclusions.

"We are closely watching what's happening," Blas Nunez-Neto, assistant secretary for border and immigration policy at the Department of Homeland Security, said. "We are confident that the plan that we have developed across the U.S. government to address these flows will work over time."

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.

Nunez-Neto 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 said the number of migrants in U.S. custody also has fallen "significantly" since last week but is still high.

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 arriving at the border, encouraging them instead to use one of the pathways the U.S. has created to facilitate migration.

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MIGRANTS CROSSING BORDER RELEASED WITH COURT DATES THAT ARE YEARS AWAY

Many migrants, worried about these tough enforcement measures, came before Title 42 expired.

The U.S., meanwhile, 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.

FILE: Migrants who have been processed by U.S Border Patrol and have been released from their center, are given assistance from the Regional Center for Border Health to relocate to areas outside of Yuma, on Friday, May 12, 2023 in Somerton, AZ.

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 Friday, a Florida court temporarily put an end to the process. The administration is appealing that decision.

TEXAS SENDS MIGRANTS TO NAVAL OBSERVATORY NEAR VP HARRIS' HOME, ONCE AGAIN

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.

In court filings last week, U.S. authorities said they cannot confidently estimate how many people will cross the border. Matthew Hudak, deputy Border Patrol chief, said authorities predict arrests will spike to between 12,000 and 14,000 a day.

Fox News Bill Melugin on Monday challeneged White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre for denying that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) was "encouraging or allowing mass release of migrants."

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS

He noted that on Thursday alone, more than 6,000 migrants were released without a court date and the Biden administration was arguing in federal court that it needs these releases.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The fatal Border Patrol shooting of a U.S. citizen near Sasabe in March was ruled a homicide by the Pima County medical examiner's office.

Noe Mejia, 38, was shot and killed by a Border Patrol agent on March 14 in southwestern Arizona north of Sasabe. The cause of death was a gunshot wound to the neck, according to Mejias autopsy report obtained by The Arizona Republic.

Defibrillator pads were on Mejias front torso when the autopsy exam was conducted the day after the shooting. Mejias time of death was 7:26 p.m.

Mejia was suspected of smuggling five undocumented migrants in a BMW before fleeing from Border Patrol agents.

The Pima County Sheriff's Department is conducting an external criminal investigation into the shooting. The department will make a recommendation to the Pima County Attorney's Office whether criminal charges should be filed.

Tucson Sector has highest number of use-of-force incidents

The shooting took place in the Border Patrols Tucson Sector, which has the highest number of use-of-force incidents across the agency, with 142 incidents reported so far in fiscal year 2023, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data.

In 2022, 196 incidents were reported. The Tucson Sector is followed by El Paso, where 120 incidents have been reported so far this fiscal year, per CBP data.

Body camera footage: CBP releases body camera video for fatal Border Patrol shooting in Arizona

CBP released the body camera footage of the shooting April 14, nearly a month after it happened. The release was the first time that CBP released a body camera video of an agent-involved shooting.

The border wall in Sasabe, Arizona, near the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge in 2021.

Mejias family was horrified and re-traumatized by the release of the body camera footage showing the shooting, according to Joy Bertrand, one of the attorneys representing various members of Mejias next of kin.

They're devastated, said Jose Saldivar, an attorney co-counseling with Bertrand on the case.

At least one of Mejias siblings was allowed to review the footage before it was made public, Saldivar said. Saldivar said more footage is available that would paint a better picture relating to the delay in rendering aid to Mejia after he had been shot.

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Video shows fatal encounter

In the video, Mejia can be seen immediately slumping forward toward the steering wheel after being shot. Mejia had a sleeve of black tattoos on his left forearm and was wearing a San Francisco 49ers winter hat.

A new border wall stretches along the landscape near Sasabe, Ariz., on Wednesday, May 19, 2021.

The agent had positioned his pickup truck behind the BMW before getting out and smashing the rear and front drivers side windows with his baton. Mejia and the agent then began to struggle as the agent tried to hold onto Mejias left arm, which was coming out of the broken drivers side window.

Initial reporting: Border Patrol agent shoots, kills man after vehicle pursuit near Sasabe

The agent continued to try to hold onto Mejias arm as he began to reverse the car.

Then, as Mejia began to sharply turn the wheel to turn the car left, the agent pulled out his handgun and fired once at Mejia inside the car.

Two agents rendered aid to Mejia by trying to resuscitate him and by using a defibrillator. Mejia was pronounced dead at the scene by the Pima County Sheriffs Department.

I believe that this officer does need to be charged criminally, Saldivar said.

BMW first spotted near Sasabe port of entry

The episode began at 6:18 p.m. when a Border Patrol remote camera operator saw several suspected undocumented migrants load into a BMW about one mile north of the Sasabe port of entry.

Two Border Patrol agents started following the BMW and noticed that the driver was driving in an erratic manner. The agents turned on their emergency equipment to perform a traffic stop, but the driver kept going and a chase ensued.

A roadway and fencing near the border in Sasabe, Arizona, close to the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge. The photo was taken in March 2021.

The agents chased the BMW as the driver turned west near mile marker 20 on State Route 286 onto Brown Bear Canyon Road. The BMW driver tried to turn around at 6:41 p.m. by turning the car south 3.8 miles west of SR 286.

The video footage and other evidence were given to the FBI and the Pima County Sheriffs Department hours after the shooting, CBP said.

Have a news tip or story idea about the border and its communities? Contact the reporter at josecastaneda@arizonarepublic.com or connect with him on Twitter @joseicastaneda.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Fatal Border Patrol shooting in Arizona ruled a homicide by medical examiner
Competition

The Fix The Tix Coalition, a group backed by music industry associations pushing for online ticketing reforms, hired Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld to lobby on ticketing legislation. The coalitions recent formation comes as Congress scrutinizes Ticketmasters market dominance and explores bipartisan legislation to crack down on deceptive ticketing practices. Casey Higgins, trade counsel to former Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), will work on the account.

Appropriations

YMCA USA and the National Association for Family Child Care hired Actum to lobby on appropriations and childcare legislation. Leticia Mederos, former chief of staff to Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), the ranking member on the House Appropriations Committee, will work on the accounts.

The Council for Global Equality hired Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld to lobby on 2024 funding issues and LGBTQI policies. Former Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), the first House Republican to support same-sex marriage, will work on the account.

Democracy

The American Civil Liberties Union hired Williams and Jensen to lobby on civil rights and election law issues. Philip Kiko, former chief administrative officer of the House, will work on the account.

Defend the Vote Action Fund hired Mission Strategies to lobby for bills to expand voting rights and increased funding for the Election Assistance Commission. Scott Fay, former chief of staff to Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.), will work on the account.

Transportation

Texans Against High-Speed Rail, a coalition of property owners opposed to a high-speed rail line between Dallas and Houston, hired the Vogel Group to lobby on federal policy regarding the project. Former Republican operative Andrew Nehring will work on the account.

Technology

Salesforce hired Moran Global Strategies to lobby on IT and software utilization throughout the federal government. Former Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.), who co-founded the moderate New Democrat Coalition, will work on the account.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
PACARAIMA, Brazil (AP)  As the sun rose, Miguel Gonzalez, partner Maryelis Rodriguez and their four young children got off a passenger bus after an 18-hour ride south from the eastern Venezuelan community they desperately wanted to leave.

The parents, with minds still muzzy from sleep, retrieved two duffel bags and assessed needs before entering the station: Diaper change for the 1-year-old. Restrooms for the 2-, 4- and 6-year-old. Directions to Brazil.

Taxi? Taxi? hawkish cab drivers asked everyone walking through the Santa Elena de Uairen station, where thousands of people every month walk through Venezuelan territory one last time. Roughly a half hour later, the Gonzalez family, like dozens of others every day, became migrants for the first time when they exited a taxi in Pacaraima, Brazil.

More than 7.2 million people have left Venezuela since the countrys political, economic and social crisis began last decade. Most have gone to Spanish-speaking countries of South America  with 2.4 million in Colombia alone  and many to the U.S. and Spain.

Further down the list of destinations has been Venezuelas Portuguese-speaking, next-door neighbor: Brazil.

But Brazil has become a popular choice for many Venezuelans partly because of a five-year-old program that offers eligible applicants work permits and even free flights to faraway parts of the huge country. Approvals into the program have surged in the post-pandemic period.

I want to give well-being to my children, said Gonzalez, who began planning to migrate in October after witnessing violent clashes around the gold mine where he worked.

There is no life in Venezuela, he said, because if the family stays there the children are not going to study, they are not going to have a future.

The Gonzalez family is applying for Brazils interiorization program, launched in 2018 to ease pressure on the countrys far northern state of Roraima as it dealt with Venezuelans flowing across the border after food and medicine shortages at home became acute.

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The program moves the migrants to other cities with better economic opportunities, especially in the countrys rich southern states. It has taken in about 100,000 of the 426,000 Venezuelans who have migrated to Brazil during the crisis  with the highest monthly rate so far in March of this year with 3,377.

The Gonzalez family sold their fridge, fan, kitchen, bed and other furniture, stuffed clothes and diapers in duffel bags and backpacks, and began their migration journey from their community of San Felix with $500. They spent $90 to get to Santa Elena de Uairen and $20 to get to Pacaraima, where they applied for the program.

They decided to migrate even though Gonzalez had one of the most lucrative jobs in Venezuela, earning about $600 in two weeks, and occasionally, up to $1,200  far more than the countrys $5 monthly minimum wage. But mining communities are dangerous, thanks to armed groups who are believed to collude with authorities.

There is a lot of crime. Youre alive one moment and dead the next. You get me? Gonzalez said.

Those accepted into the interiorization program receive documentation, temporary shelter, vaccines and relocation flights. It also offers classes on Brazils labor market, laws and rights.

Brazils monthly minimum wage currently is $265. A survey of 800 households encompassing 3,529 Venezuelans living in Brazil in June and July of last year showed that 76% of them earned up to two minimum wages.

Applicants must submit paperwork, and undergo a physical and interviews.

On an early April morning, Maria Rodriguez, her father, husband, daughter, two sons, twin grandsons and four more relatives were among hundreds of people at the Pacaraima border crossing, navigating steps of the program. She laughed with an energetic grandson, but her eyes betrayed fatigue.

At the crack of dawn, migrants form lines where they wait to get or provide information. They cheer when they or their new migrant friends are told they can hop on waiting passenger buses headed roughly 125 miles (200 kilometers) south to Boa Vista, where they will catch flights to their new communities.

Rodriguezs group already had waited six weeks in Pacaraima. They had sheltered from the scorching sun under a makeshift tent and spent nights in a shelter.

The family closed its unprofitable cheese-making business in Venezuela earlier this year and decided to join other relatives in the southern Brazilian state of Parana, where the men plan to work in construction. Rodriguez said another of her sons already living there has done well in just a short time.

His children are studying in a good school, and meanwhile, I could see my other sons ... struggling, Rodriguez, 45, said while she waited for portable toilets to be cleaned for the day. As adults, we can last all day even with just an arepa, but with those kids, how do you tell a child theres no food?

Venezuela was once one of the most prosperous countries in Latin America thanks to billions in oil dollars, but mismanagement by its self-described socialist government and a decline in crude prices plunged it into crisis over the past decade. International economic sanctions meant to topple President Nicolas Maduro have worsened conditions.

Elsewhere in the hemisphere, Venezuelans are making their second or even third migrations as economic opportunities in initial host countries dry up. Most of those coming across the border into Brazil are migrating for the first time, said the Rev. Agnaldo Pereira de Oliveira, director of Jesuit Service for Migrants and Refugees in Brazil.

They are people who held on until now and no longer could, Pereira de Oliveira said. Now come the last ones who had resisted in Venezuela out of attachment to their business, to their home. They say I had a job, but the living conditions no longer exist.'

Brazils interiorization program took shape after a period of tensions in the mid- to late-2010s when arriving Venezuelans strained public services in Roraima, which includes both Pacaraima and Boa Vista. At one point, a man set fire to two residences where Venezuelans lived, injuring five people.

Brazil's southern states like Parana are not without challenges for Venezuelans. There they must brave much colder weather than theyre accustomed to, and lack of fluency in Portuguese can sometimes be a barrier to formal jobs, meaning some of them become street vendors and Uber drivers.

In Boa Vista, shelters have long been available, but many adults and children sleep on sidewalks or outside a bus station. Some find the shelters overcrowded and overheated. Others do not feel safe or dislike the mandatory early wake-up.

On the western bank of the Branco River next to Boa Vista, members of the Figuera family cook, wash clothes, splash in the water or rest under shade trees. Their hair is peppered with sand.

Eleven-year-old Kisberlin Figuera, her father, stepmother and baby sister are on their second attempt to legally relocate to Parana. They gave up on their first try so that the baby could be born near extended family in Carupano, Venezuela.

Kisberlin has learned some Portuguese and become friends with other migrant girls. They joke and play tag or cards near where they sleep outside the bus station. She said she misses family but the access to water in Boa Vista  in public restrooms near a beach  is better than what she had at home.

Sitting by the river, she imagined Parana full of parks, loads of food, lots of money and a lot of water to take showers and drink.

____

AP writers Carla Bridi in Brasilia and Eleonore Hughes in Rio de Janeiro contributed.
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP)  Brazils former President Jair Bolsonaro was questioned Tuesday by Federal Police in an investigation into allegations that COVID-19 vaccine cards were falsified to get around U.S. vaccine requirements.

Police havent publicly named the targets of their investigation, but local media reports have said authorities are looking into the vaccine cards of Bolsonaro, his advisors and members of his family and whether they were altered ahead of U.S. visits.

Bolsonaro, who arrived Tuesday afternoon at the police headquarters in Brasilia to give a sworn deposition, has denied wrongdoing, saying he never claimed to be vaccinated nor presented documentation saying that he was. Vehicles thought to transport Bolsonaro were seen arriving around 1:30 a.m. local time and left over four hours later.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the former president spent months sowing doubt about the efficacy of the vaccine. A police statement about the investigation alleges that alterations to the coronavirus documents were meant to sustain the discourse aimed at attacking the vaccine against COVID-19, but it does not elaborate.

Bolsonaros sworn deposition Tuesday is a step forward in just one of the several investigations targeting the far-right leader.

Earlier this month, police searched Bolsonaros home and seized his phone. They searched several other locations and carried out arrest warrants for a half dozen people  including key Bolsonaro allies. One was Mauro Cid, an army lieutenant colonel who had been Bolsonaros right-hand man.

Bolsonaro told reporters earlier this month that he had not falsified anything, saying it didnt happen. He said that his vaccination records were not required for any of his trips to the U.S. I didnt take the vaccine, period. I never denied that.

Bolsonaro has been to the U.S. at least three times after it began generally requiring in November 2021 that non-citizens be fully vaccinated to enter.

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Other legal headaches for Bolsonaro include an investigation into his role in the Jan. 8 uprising in the capital, Brasilia, one week after leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's inauguration. Thousands of Bolsonaros die-hard supporters raided the Supreme Court, Congress and presidential palace, seeking to bring about Lula's ouster. Hundreds of them will stand trial.

Brazil's Prosecutor-general Augusto Aras said in April that the former president had allegedly encouraged the perpetration of crimes against the rule of law, and Bolsonaro gave testimony at the Federal Police headquarters last month as part of an ongoing investigation. He also answered police questions about three sets of diamond jewelry brought to Brazil from Saudi Arabia, two of which made it into Bolsonaro's possession. A third set was seized at Sao Paulo's international airport.

Meanwhile, Brazils electoral court is investigating his actions during the presidential election campaign, particularly his unsubstantiated claims that the nations electronic voting system is susceptible to fraud. Those threaten to strip him of his political rights and render him unable to run for office in upcoming elections.
Brie Larson was left stunned after being singled out by a member of the press to share her thoughts on Johnny Depps film controversially opening the Cannes Film Festival.

During a Tuesday (16 May) press conference with the festivals jury, juror Larson was asked how she felt about Depps film opening the festival and if she planned on seeing it.

Taken aback, the Marvel actor responded: Youre asking me that? Im sorry, I dont understand the correlation or why me specifically.

Clarifying his intended connection, the journalist brought up Larsons vocal advocacy for the Times Up movement, a non-profit organisation formed to support victims of sexual harassment and amplify female voices in the film and TV industry.

Understood, Larson acknowledged. Well, youll see, I guess, if I see it, and I dont know how Ill feel about it if I do.

Several fans commended Larsons excellent response, with some suggesting that the journalists question was unprofessional and intended to set her up to twist her words.

It was a gotcha question. Brie Larson is not responsible for Johnny Depps sins, one tweeted.

Brie Larson was surprised to be asked about Johnny Depp's opening film: "Youre asking me that? Im sorry, I dont understand the correlation or why me specifically." https://t.co/5Ec2S23051 #Cannes pic.twitter.com/QPfO1Yb4qS  Variety (@Variety) May 16, 2023

Depps film, Jeanne du Barry, is directed by French filmmaker Maiwenn and tells the story of King Louis XVs mistress Jeanne Vaubernier.

It marks Depps first lead role since his highly publicised defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard last year.

Depp sued Heard for defamation, claiming that she had falsely implied he was abusive towards her in a 2018 Washington Post op-ed titled: I spoke up against sexual violence  and faced our cultures wrath. That has to change.

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The Pirates of the Caribbean star ultimately won the Virginia trial after a jury found that Heard had defamed him and awarded him $10m (8.2m) in compensatory damages.

Nevertheless, the festivals decision to open with Depps newest film has been met with backlash. The festival director Thierry Fremaux has defended the controversial choice several times.

I dont know about the image of Johnny Depp in the US. To tell you the truth, in my life, I only have one rule, its the freedom of thinking, and the freedom of speech and acting within a legal framework, Fremaux said most recently.

Cannes Film Festival runs from 16 May to 27 May.
Storm Shadow

Read also: Military expert on Storm Shadows capabilities

Addressing parliament in Westminster, UK Secretary of Defense Ben Wallace confirmed Britain was supplying Ukraine with Storm Shadow cruise missiles, which have a range of over 250km. Wallace said the missiles would allow Ukraine to push back Russian forces from Ukrainian sovereign territory and noted that the decision had been taken after Russia continued down a dark path of bombing Ukraines civilian infrastructure.

Storm Shadow missiles will give Ukraine a long-range precision capability and allow the countrys military to launch strikes deep inside occupied territory targeting Russian ammunition depots and command posts. Ukraine will also potentially be able to conduct airstrikes on the ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, which has played a key role in the bombing campaign against Ukraine. Based in the port of Sevastopol in Russian-occupied Crimea, the fleet was thought to be beyond the reach of most Ukrainian weapons. However, that is apparently no longer the case.

Read also: Ukraine has already used Storm Shadow missiles against Russian targets, report says

This is the latest example of the UK leading the international community in efforts to arm Ukraine. As tensions rose in the early weeks of 2022 amid a massive Russian military buildup along the border with Ukraine, Britain was the first country to send shoulder-launched anti-air and anti-tank weapons to Kyiv. One year later in January 2023, the British authorities set a new precedent by agreeing to provide Ukraine with Challenger 2 tanks. The decision put considerable pressure on other leading democracies to follow suit. Within weeks, Germany and the US had both given the green light to deliveries of modern battle tanks.

It is now hoped the UK decision to supply long-range missiles will have a similar impact and persuade other countries to do likewise.

The US and other key supporters of Ukraine have so far proved reluctant to deliver long-range missiles amid concerns that the weapons could be used against targets inside Russia and lead to a dangerous escalation in the conflict. British Defense Minister Wallace was careful to stress that the UK decision was calibrated and proportionate to Russias escalations.

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Thursdays confirmation follows an earlier commitment from British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Addressing the Munich Security Conference in February, Sunak stated that the United Kingdom will be the first country to provide Ukraine with longer range weapons. The UK is among the largest suppliers of military aid to Ukraine, providing approximately $2.9 billion in support during 2022.

News of Ukraines enhanced long-range missile capabilities comes at a time when the country is poised to begin a major counteroffensive that is being widely billed as a potentially decisive moment in the war. For the past six months, thousands of Ukrainian troops have been undergoing training in NATO countries. Meanwhile, new types of increasingly sophisticated weapons have been flowing into the country, including armored personnel carriers and Western-made tanks. With preparations now seemingly nearing completion, the counteroffensive is expected to start at any moment.

Ukrainian commanders will face huge challenges as they attempt to dislodge hundreds of thousands of Russian soldiers who continue to occupy just under twenty percent of the country. Russian forces have spent much of the past six months digging in and developing defensive positions along a front of more the one thousand kilometers.

Read also: US position on long-range missiles unchanged after UK transfers Storm Shadow to Ukraine

Questions remain over the quality and morale of Russian troops in Ukraine. Putins initial invasion force has suffered catastrophic casualties over the past fifteen months with numerous elite units decimated. This depleted force has since been bolstered by the bulk of an estimated 300,000 new Russian soldiers mobilized in September 2022.

Read also: Long way to go before victory, says Zaluzhnyi

Ukrainian officials have repeatedly ruled out any kind of land-for-peace compromise with the Kremlin in exchange for peace. Instead, they remain publicly committed to the complete de-occupation of the entire country, including regions held by Russia prior to the full-scale invasion of February 2022. In order to achieve this ambitious goal, it is crucial to maintain a sense of momentum and demonstrate to the international community that a decisive Ukrainian military victory is possible. The delivery of British Storm Shadow long-range missiles makes this task considerably more realistic.

This story was originally published by the Atlantic Council. NV is republishing it with permission.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
If youre looking for a distinctive experience when stopping to fuel up your tank, you might consider visiting one of Kentuckys gas stations offering extras.

The number of convenience stores in the U.S. is up 1.5% from last year after four years of decline, according to the National Association of Convenience Stores. There are now more than 150,000 convenience stores operated in the U.S., and Kentucky has several openings on the horizon.

Along with the usual gas and restroom amenities, some Kentucky stores offer catering, specialty foods and more.

Heres what to know about current and planned popular destination gas and convenience outlets Buc-ees, Wawa, Hucks and Kroger Gas in the Bluegrass State.

Buc-ees

Kentuckys first Buc-ees location opened in Richmond in April 2022, and the 53,000-square-foot store drew in big crowds (and traffic jams) for its grand opening.

In just a few weeks, beaver-loving Kentuckians can look forward to ground breaking for the commonwealths second location, in Smiths Grove. The Western Kentucky store is expected to open in summer 2024, according to a previous Herald-Leader report.

Why yes, we did drive to Kentucky just to go to Buc-ees. pic.twitter.com/MuZHVbPsxD  Alex Carroll (@aloysiuscc) November 5, 2022

Buc-ees is known for its clean restrooms and unique food offerings, including beef jerky, barbecue, beaver nuggets, fudge and more. Richmond City Manager Robert Minerich told the Herald-Leader in last April Buc-ees sold the best beef jerky hed ever had.

Along with its plethora of food options and large refueling area, Buc-ees sells a variety of beaver-themed merchandise, including T-shirts, magnets and camping supplies.

The gas giant was founded in 1982 and boasts locations in Kentucky, Texas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee.

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Wawa

In December, Wawa officials announced plans to open stores in Kentucky, according to a previous Herald-Leader report. No specific locations were named at the time, but the chain has at least 1,000 stores and also plans to expand to Ohio and Indiana.

Wawa offers catering, online ordering, a rewards program, gift cards and more. Its known for its sandwiches and coffee.

The first Wawa store opened in 1964 in Folsom, Pa., and pre-made sandwiches and hoagies were introduced in 1972, according to the chains website.

Hucks

Hucks, a gas station and convenience store with locations in several Kentucky cities, is expected open its first Lexington store, according to a previous Herald-Leader report. Its opening date has not yet been announced.

The store offers catering, as well as pizza, salads, fried chicken, coffee and more. You can save 10 cents on each gallon of fuel purchased there by joining Hucks Bucks Bigg Rewards Loyalty Program.

No brainer. Gotta have the loyalty app! pic.twitter.com/Ur8JvpFLsg  Huck's Food & Fuel (@GoToHucks) April 6, 2023

The Lexington location will be situated at 2450 Polo Club Blvd. Hucks was established in 1974 and operates 120 locations.

Kroger Gas

There are nearly 1,000 Kroger Gas Station locations across the U.S., including many Kentucky stores. You can join a fuel rewards program to earn one point for each dollar spent.

Kroger gas stations are found in 16 states, and Lexington alone has eight locations, according to Krogers website.

Do you have a question about business 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.
For more than two centuries, Peking Opera has mesmerized audiences with its captivating performances and stunning vocal artistry, earning it a place as one of China's most significant cultural treasures. To preserve and promote the iconic legacy, the Peking Opera Film Project, entering its 13th year, has released four cinematic remakes of classics.

The new movies  Silang Visits His Mother, The Gathering of Heroes: Borrowing the East Wind, The You Sisters of the Red Chamber, and Cai Wenji Returns to Her Homeland  were shown on April 25, a day after the China National Film Museum added them to its collection.

Ma Chongjie, a Beijing native and the nephew of the late Peking Opera master Ma Lianliang, was the director of the first two movies, which wrapped up shooting in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

Ma Chongjie, who learned opera as a child, shifted his interest to the film industry after graduating from the directing department of the Beijing Film Academy. He has worked as a director at the China Film Group Corp for more than 30 years, serving as helmsman for around 20 movies, most of which have been inspired by traditional operas or remakes of them.

"I was born into a family of Peking Opera performers, so I have had a special affection for this art form since childhood," says the veteran filmmaker, who has directed four of the 21 features so far produced by the Peking Opera Film Project.

With support from State authorities, the project has brought together masters and emerging talent from the country's top Peking Opera troupes, creatively blending modern cinematography with the centuries-old art form to appeal to younger audiences.

His third movie for the project  after The Orphan of Zhao and Xie Yaohuan  Silang Visits His Mother casts a group of established Peking Opera artists, such as actor Zhang Jianfeng and actress Dou Xiaoxuan, to retell a legend set during the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127).

The tale, which originated in the 16th century, tells the story of Yang Yanhui, nicknamed Silang, the fourth son of a renowned general. He is captured and forced to marry the daughter of Empress Dowager Xiao, his enemy and a powerful ruler from the Liao Dynasty (916-1125). Fifteen years later, the protagonist discovers that his long-separated mother has succeeded his late father as the new leader of a Northern Song army, so he decides to risk his life and escape the Liao palace to reunite with his family.

"The play is one of the earliest Peking Opera classics and has been staged many times over the past century, with most Peking Opera masters putting their own unique spin on it. When I was first tasked with directing this movie, I felt quite stressed," recalls Ma Chongjie.

On the project, which took an excess of eight months to complete, the director used advanced filming techniques, such as virtual cinematography, to combine traditional stage performance with special effects. In doing so, he brought to life this ancient tale, which also touches on themes of wartime romance.

"Usually, die-hard fans who often visit opera theaters primarily listen to their favorite plays, rather than watch them, as they are already familiar with the lyrics and lines," says Ma Chongjie. "By using visual effects to fill in the gaps in the imagination, these Peking Opera movies will draw more attention to the settings and close-ups, adding another layer of significance."

In some of his other films based on Peking Opera classics, such as The Gathering of Heroes: Borrowing the East Wind, visual effects have also played a significant role.

Adapted from the classic novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, written by Luo Guanzhong in the 14th century, the film weaves together the tales of how Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang, two military strategists from allied powers engaged in the wars following the collapse of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220), defeat their enemies during a decisive battle in Chibi, located in what is now Central China's Hubei province.

According to Ma Chongjie, the movie uses computer-generated imagery to bring to life various battlefield scenes, ranging from the surging waters of the Yangtze River to an onslaught with thousands of arrows.

Ma Chongjie regards the movie  with its sprinkling of prestigious artists aged between 60 and 84  as the most challenging undertaking of his directorial career.

"This play has been passed down for more than 200 years, encapsulating the artistic contributions of many different masters from various schools. In 1957, it was adapted into a movie, featuring seven masters of that era," explains Ma Chongjie, emphasizing the pressure of seeking breakthroughs while retaining traditional nuances.

Although most Peking Opera tales tell stories of royalty and high-ranking officials, The You Sisters of the Red Chamber, created by the late master Xun Huisheng in 1932, shifts the focus to two ordinary women and their everyday struggles.

With veteran Peking Opera artist Liu Changyu, 81, serving as the movie's art consultant, the film retells a well-known story from the classic novel Dream of the Red Chamber, written by Cao Xueqin of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), about two beautiful sisters surnamed You who struggle to pursue love but both face tragedy.

Liu, who started to learn Peking Opera at 9 in 1951, says that she has repeatedly studied the classic novel and the movie script in great detail, in order to explore the experiences of women during feudal times.

"Most Peking Opera stories draw upon traditional Chinese culture and reflect the unique values, aesthetics and moral pursuits of the Chinese nation," says Liu. "Through film, we can better pass on the art of Peking Opera and allow more people, including locals in far-flung rural areas and Chinese soldiers guarding the borders, to experience it."
Investigators are searching for men who started a fire Friday that damaged a building near downtown State College, borough police wrote in a statement Tuesday.

Police believe the men were searching a dumpster for scrap metal about 10:50 a.m. Friday along the 400 block of Locust Lane when they lit the fire. They left in a red Honda Ridgeline with aftermarket rims, police wrote.

Police did not describe the extent of the damage, a factor that can be key in determining the severity of a criminal mischief charge. The charge in Pennsylvania can range from a summary offense to a felony.

Those with information may call 814-234-7150, email police@statecollegepa.us or submit an anonymous tip online.
The Russian attack on Kyiv on the night of 16 May has burnt four buses and a garage and dealt destruction.

Source: State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SES) in Kyiv on Facebook

Quote from SES: "The enemy carried out another attack on Kyiv on the night of 16 May. Preliminary reports indicate that the fall of debris was reported in the Solomianskyi, Sviatoshynskyi, Shevchenkivskyi, Obolonskyi and Darnytskyi districts [of Kyiv].

A piece of debris fell in the Solomianskyi district, causing a fire. At the scene, emergency workers found that four buses and a garage with a total area of 200 square metres were on fire."

Details: A nearby building has also been severely damaged over an area of 200 square metres, with separate fire pockets totalling 20 square metres. The fires have been put out.

The SES stated that the damage was minor in other districts, as in most cases, debris fell on parked cars, the adjacent territory or a forest park area.

There is currently no information about the victims.

The fires were extinguished, involving 13 pieces of basic and special fire and rescue equipment and 70 personnel.

Background:

On the night of 1516 May, air-raid warnings were issued throughout Ukraine, including twice in Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast.

A series of loud explosions occurred in the capital, and air defence systems were activated.

Fragments of a downed missile fell on the territory of the zoo in Kyivs Shevchenkivskyi district; more fragments also landed in the Darnytskyi, Obolonskyi and Solomianskyi districts in Kyiv. A non-residential building and several cars caught fire in the Solomianskyi district, and two more have been damaged by missile fragments in the Darnytskyi district. Preliminary information indicated that there are three victims in the Solomianskyi district.

On the night of 15-16 May, the Russian invaders attacked Ukraine with 18 missiles of various types and a number of Shahed drones, with all Russian targets shot down by the defenders.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
A Burke County high school student was arrested Tuesday after assaulting a school resource officer.

Just after noon, school resource officers responded to Burke County High School for a disruptive student, according to a news release.

When officers made contact with the student, he became agitated and assaulted the officer, according to the release. The officer called for backup and the student got physical with the second officer.

Shooting update: Body from Augusta shootout dragged more than 50 feet by Augusta Fire vehicle

Another shooting: One man injured in shooting on Skinner Mill Road

The student was taken into custody without further incident, according to the sheriff's office. He is currently in the custody of the Burke County Sheriff's Office and will be transported to the youth detention center.

His parents were notified and the sheriff's office is working with school administration to find the best resolution to the incident, according to the release. No weapons were involved.

All involved parties are being checked by medical personnel for injuries sustained in the altercation, according to the sheriff's office.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Burke County school resource officer assaulted by student
By Karolina Tagaris

SALAMINA, Greece (Reuters) - In working-class neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Athens, Spiros Richard Hagabimana is going door-to-door in an election campaign that could see him become Greece's first Black lawmaker.

It is a remarkable journey for Hagabimana, who just eight years ago was jailed in his native Burundi for refusing to open fire on anti-government protesters as a high-ranking officer of the National Police.

It would also be a historic win in a country where migrants rarely hold official posts and where, less than a decade ago, the extreme-right Golden Dawn party was the third-most popular political force on a fiercely anti-immigrant agenda.

Dressed in a suit and tie, Hagabimana walks the streets of the constituency he is contesting in Greece's May 21 election, meeting voters in farmers' markets and cafes.

"I have an opinion about racism," Hagabimana, 54, now a senior migration ministry official and candidate with the conservative New Democracy party, told Reuters in an interview.

"Racism cannot be fought with words alone. Racism is fought with everyday actions. When the other person is afraid of the unknown, you must give them an opportunity to come into contact with what they are afraid of."

In a sign that Greek society is beginning to change, another Black candidate, Nikodimos-Maina Kinyua, the Kenyan-born founder of ASANTE, a non-governmental organization helping migrants, is also running with the leftist Syriza party in Athens, though he is seen as having less of a chance of winning a seat.

The district where Hagabimana is running, which includes the poverty-hit town of Perama and island of Salamina, just west of Athens, was a bastion of Golden Dawn at the height of Greece's economic crisis in 2015.

Golden Dawn later imploded and its leaders were jailed over hate crimes in 2020.

For Hagabimana, it meant Greece had turned a page.

"(Golden Dawn) executives were in parliament. Now they're in prison. I have faith in the Greek people," he said.

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'I WOULD HAVE BEEN FINISHED'

Hagabimana first arrived in Greece in 1991 on a scholarship to study at the Naval Academy.

When he graduated in 1996, Burundi was roiled by a military coup and he was forced to seek asylum in Greece. He studied law and joined New Democracy's youth wing.

In 2005, the year he received Greek citizenship, Burundi's 12-year civil war ended and Hagabimana decided to return to help peacekeeping efforts with the United Nations.

A decade later, the country was gripped by protests opposing a third presidential term. Hagabimana, then a National Police officer, refused orders to suppress demonstrators and was jailed and beaten, he said.

Recalling a night in prison, he said: "I knew if they hit me on the head I would have been finished."

While in jail, a lawyer friend in Athens launched an international campaign for his release. He returned to Athens in 2016, with the help of Greek authorities.

Hagabimana's agenda is business-focused, but he also hopes to inspire migrants that "they can be equal members of society... and that everything I achieved, they can do more".

The colour of his skin should not be the focus, he said.

"It is more important to me that I am a Greek citizen by choice."

(Reporting by Karolina Tagaris; Editing by Alex Richardson)
Reps. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) were the only two House lawmakers to vote against a resolution on Monday that recognized law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, arguing the measure was intended to advance Republicans false narrative.

The House approved the resolution in a 413-2 vote. The measure expresses support for recognizing National Police Week, which is taking place this week.

In a joint statement Tuesday, Bush and Tlaib said that while the health and safety of first responders is a top priority for them, the resolution was not a referendum on support for the safety of first responders.

It is a document intended to advance Republicans false narrative around supporting law enforcement and gaslight the public about where they stand, they added.

The progressive pair went on to criticize the GOP as the Party of insurrection, claiming Republican lawmakers enabled January 6th by peddling lies about the election.

Far from supporting law enforcement, Republicans are using their majority to actively target agencies that try to uphold the law and hold them and their cult leader Donald Trump accountable for their criminal behavior, they said.

If Republicans cared about public safety, including the safety of law enforcement officers, they wouldnt be enabling insurrection, passing hypocritical messaging bills, and holding our economy hostage so they can ram through their unpopular agenda that disinvests from our communities, they added.

Bush has frequently expressed support for defunding the police. In August 2022, she declared in an interview defunding the police has to happen, adding We need to defund the police and put that money into social safety nets because were trying to save lives.

She defended the use of the slogan in February 2022, telling a group of Black reporters, Defund the police is not the problem.

We dangled the carrot in front of peoples faces and said we can get it done and that Democrats deliver, when we havent totally delivered, she added.

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Tlaib has similarly made comments critical of law enforcement in the past. In April 2021, she said policing in the U.S. is intentionally racist and cant be reformed after Daunte Wright was fatally shot in a Minneapolis suburb. She said there should be, No more policing, incarceration, and militarization.

The resolution voted on Monday includes the names of 556 law enforcement officers who are being honored by Peace Officers Memorial Day. Of that group, 224 officers were killed in 2022, and the other 332 were killed in previous years and had their stories recovered last year.

The resolution acknowledges that police officers and other law enforcement personnel, especially those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, should be remembered and honored, and expresses condolences and solemn appreciation to the loved ones of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.

It also expresses unwavering support for law enforcement officers across the United States in the pursuit of preserving safe and secure communities, and recognized the law enforcement community for continual unseen acts of sacrifice and heroism.

Additionally, the resolution recognizes the need to make sure members of law enforcement are provided the equipment, training and resources they need to protect the health and safety of the officers while the officers protect the public.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Jan Jerzy Lagoda-Filippow has been arrested by Bangkok police for the murder of Alona Savchenko - ViralPress

A businessman hacked his girlfriend apart with a handsaw and allegedly used Google translate to ask a taxi driver to help him dismember her for $44 (35).

The pair - Alona Savchenko, a 24-year-old Ukrainian model, and her 25-year-old partner Jan Jerzy Lagoda-Filippow - had been staying in a luxury condominium complex in Bangkok. But after a fortnight in the Thai capital, Ms Savchenkos body was found carved up on the bed in the couples 32nd floor apartment.

Hotel staff became suspicious of Mr Lagoda-Filippow after the Polish tourist left the building on the morning of May 15 in a rush, dragging his luggage behind him. But it was not until the taxi driver he flagged down called the hotel to report his erratic and unnerving behaviour - Mr Lagoda-Filippow had allegedly used Google Translate to ask the driver for help cutting up a body - that staff checked the couples room.

They found a gruesome scene. Ms Savchenkos face was covered in blood, while her head had been partially severed. Her left hand had been cut off at her wrist, and she had a stab wound on her chest. Next to her body was a two-foot long saw.

Thai police said it was likely that the young woman was dead for a day before she was discovered, and they suspect Mr Lagoda-Filippow - who has an advertising business registered in London - was trying to flee the country.

Jan Jerzy Lagoda-Filippow, 25, has been arrested by police in Thailand - ViralPress

A Bangkok police handout of Alona Savchenko, 24 - ViralPress/ViralPress

We learned that he had hired a taxi to take him to Sa Kaeo province, said Police Lieutenant Colonel Pongpun Phonharn, from the Wat Phraya Krai district station. He was likely trying to cross the border to Cambodia.

Following the discovery, officers tracked down the taxi driver, Surachai Sabaibang, who raised the alarm.

I picked up the suspicious passenger, who told me through Google Translate that he wanted to play at a casino, Mr Sabaibang said. When he could not find a suitable place to play, he then asked me through the app to help dismember his girlfriend's body for 1,500 baht (just over 35).

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Mr Lagoda-Filippow has now been arrested, and investigations remain ongoing.

The suspect was very calm when he was arrested. It was about 4am when he was caught, Pol Lt Pongpun Phonharn said. He drank coffee as normal in his cell and started exercising, like it was his normal morning routine. He did not say anything.

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.
Californias State Assembly approved a first-in-the-nation bill Monday to rid food products of five toxic chemicals linked to cancer and developmental issues in children.

The legislation, AB 418, seeks to prohibit the manufacture, sale, delivery and distribution of food products that contain brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, red dye 3 or titanium dioxide.

Introduced by Democratic State Assemblymembers Jesse Gabriel and Buffy Wicks at the beginning of February, the legislation targets chemicals that are already banned in the European Union.

Todays strong vote is a major step forward in our effort to protect children and families in California from dangerous and toxic chemicals in our food supply, Gabriel, chair of the Assembly Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection, said in a statement.

Its unacceptable that the U.S. is so far behind the rest of the world when it comes to banning these dangerous additives, he added.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has yet to prohibit the compounds, but many major grocery chains and restaurants have already begun to do so, Gabriel noted in a March webinar.

Although many chemicals additives that help enhance flavor or preserve freshness are likely safe to eat, these five chemicals have been linked to a variety of health concerns, according to Consumer Reports and the Environmental Working Group, co-sponsors of the bill.

Meanwhile, the vast majority chemical additives used by industry do not receive independent review from the FDA  a situation that both these groups and the bills sponsors have described as a problematic loophole.

Earlier this spring, however, a joint letter from 11 organizations that represent manufacturers, distributors and retailers of food and beverages argued that AB 418 usurps the comprehensive food safety and approval system.

The letter stressed that all five additives have been thoroughly reviewed by the federal and state systems and urged the California legislature to allow the countrys food safety regulator to do its job.

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But proponents of the proposed ban applauded the Assemblys decision Monday to advance the bill, which they said could potentially set precedent for other states.

Californians deserve to know that the food they buy at the store doesnt increase their risk of toxic chemical exposure that can jeopardize their health, Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports, said in a statement.

This bill helps close a troubling loophole in the FDAs oversight of food chemicals that has allowed them to remain in food products, Ronholm continued. We applaud the Assembly for passing this first-in-the-nation legislation and urge the Senate to follow suit.

The Hill has reached out to the FDA for comment.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Megabus is back in California with low-cost tickets between major cities  but cheap fare comes at a cost.

Your time.

The North American bus service announced its return to the Golden State earlier this month. It had shutdown its services in Los Angeles in 2008, citing low ridership, and its Sacramento to Reno route in 2018 as the company rethought its routes.

The newest plan for California includes three trips a day between Anaheim, Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Fresno, San Francisco, Oakland and Sacramento, according to a news release from Megabus.

How long does it take to get from Sacramento to Los Angeles on Megabus?

The 385-mile drive from the capital to the City of Angels varies in time, depending on when you hit the road.

There are three times available to choose from, which determine the length of your trip. Below are the times available, according to Megabus.

Leaving Sacramento at 3:05 a.m. will get you to Los Angeles at 2:05 p.m. The trip takes a total of 11 hours.

Leaving Sacramento at 10:05 a.m. will get you to Los Angeles at 9:50 p.m. This trip is the longest at 11 hours and 45 minutes.

Leaving Sacramento at 7 p.m. will get you to Los Angeles at 5:50 a.m. This overnight trip is the shortest and takes 10 hours and 50 minutes.

If you drive yourself, taking Interstate 5 from downtown Sacramento, the trip typically takes about six hours, depending on traffic.

The transportation company advertises cheap tickets, but the final cost depends on several factors: when you book, where you go and when you leave.

If you are able to snag a $1 ticket (plus fees and booking in advance) you may save significantly on gas money. But bus tickets for May start at nearly $70 to Los Angeles, and the return trip varies depending on the date.

You can find the Megabus stop at the Pony Express Statue at 999 Second St. near the Old Sacramento Waterfront. The Los Angeles stop is at the El Monte Station  about a 30 minute drive from downtown.

The trip to Anaheim can take up to 12 hours and 30 minutes. The ride to San Francisco is about 2 hours.

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How cheap are Megabus tickets, really?

Trips can be as low as $1 one way depending on when you book. The further in advance you book, the more likely you are to get a cheaper seat.

For the month of May, tickets from Sacramento to Los Angeles are starting at $69.99 one way. Its important to note that trips are shown without taxes, according to Megabus.

A transactional fee of $3.99 is also added and youll have the option to reserve a seat for more money down.

Megabus Fair Finder helps costumers compare prices and plan trips based costs and you can book your ticket online through the website.

On Monday, the site was advertising roundtrip weekend trips to Oakland from Sacramento in June from $2, plus the nearly $4 fee. Tickets to Fresno for the weekend could start as high as $100.

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.
By Hyonhee Shin

SEOUL (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will arrive in South Korea on Tuesday for a summit with President Yoon Suk Yeol as the two countries seek to boost cooperation on security and critical minerals used in batteries.

Yoon and Trudeau are scheduled to hold a summit and joint press conference on Wednesday, followed by an official dinner, said Yoon's deputy national security advisor, Kim Tae-hyo.

Trudeau's visit, the first in nine years by a Canadian leader, marks the 60th anniversary of bilateral relations, and both sides will issue a joint statement mapping out their partnership for the next 60 years, Kim said.

The two U.S. allies have been exploring ways to deepen cooperation on critical minerals used in electric vehicle (EV) batteries and step up intelligence sharing.

"The two leaders will discuss intensively on ways to build a norms-based global order including on North Korea's human rights issues, launching a high-level economic and security dialogue, strengthening cooperation on key minerals," Kim told reporters.

Yoon and Trudeau will sign an agreement on key mineral supply chains, clean energy conversion and energy security cooperation, a South Korean government official told Reuters, requesting anonymity as the deal was not finalised.

Canada has been trying to scale up EV production, with ample mineral reserves, including lithium, cobalt and nickel, which are used to make batteries for those vehicles.

The two leaders agreed to deepen cooperation on minerals supply chains when they met last September, as part of efforts to cut emissions to fight climate change.

The two countries have also sought to step up security cooperation including intelligence sharing, while navigating an intensifying rivalry between the United States and China.

Diplomatic tensions between Canada and China have been running high since the detention of Huawei Technologies executive Meng Wanzhou in 2018 and Beijing's subsequent arrest of two Canadians on spying charges.

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Last week, China expelled a Canadian diplomat in Shanghai in a tit-for-tat move after Ottawa told a Toronto-based Chinese diplomat to leave.

Yoon has trodden cautiously with China, South Korea's largest trade partner, but he has been more vocal over tension in the Taiwan Strait. Last month Seoul and Beijing exchanged harsh words over Yoon's comments in an interview with Reuters.

(Reporting by Hyonhee Shin, Joyce Lee, Soo-hyang Choi and Josh Smith in Seoul, and Steve Scherer in Ottawa; Editing by Michael Perry)
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrived in South Korea on Tuesday for a meeting with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol at which they are expected to discuss expansion of trade and challenges posed by North Korea.

Trudeau, the first Canadian leader to visit South Korea in nine years, will meet with Yoon on Wednesday, hours after he delivers a speech at the National Assembly in Seoul.

Yoons office said they will discuss North Koreas dismal human rights record and cooperation over security and critical minerals. It was apparently referring to Canadian materials used by South Korean companies to manufacture electric car batteries or semiconductors, which are major products in South Koreas export-driven economy.

On Tuesday, South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin and Minister for Trade Ahn Duk-geun met with Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly and Minster of Innovation, Science and Industry Francois-Philippe Champagne to discuss economic security, Parks ministry said.

Yoon has been trying to increase international pressure on North Korea, which has been expanding its arsenal of nuclear-capable missiles, and strengthen Seouls voice in supply chain issues. He has also met this year with U.S. President Joe Biden and twice with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

Yoon and Trudeau will travel later this week to Japan to attend the summit of the Group of Seven industrialized nations, where North Korea's nuclear threat is expected to be a key agenda item along with Russias war with Ukraine and Chinas increasingly assertive foreign policy.
You are here: Business

This aerial photo taken on Feb. 23, 2023 shows the Qinzhou Port in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. [Photo/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.
The biggest names in international movie-making will descend on the French Riviera this week for the annual Cannes Film Festival.

Harrison Ford, Leonardo DiCaprio and Phoebe Waller-Bridge will be among the stars film fans will be hoping to spot on the red carpet.

Films by Martin Scorsese, Wes Anderson and Ken Loach are premiering at the festival, alongside dozens of others.

There may even be an appearance by Johnny Depp as he returns to the silver screen for the first time since his lengthy legal battles with ex-wife Amber Heard.

So which are the five films that everyone is talking about?

1. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQfMbSe7F2g

Harrison Ford's final turn as the intrepid whip-toting archaeologist Indiana Jones is among the most highly anticipated of the film festival.

In the world premiere of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, the 80-year-old action hero will be reunited with his trusty leather jacket and fedora for a fifth and final time.

His co-stars include Fleabag's Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who was born four years after the first in the franchise - Raiders of the Lost Ark - was released in 1981.

Fans will be keen to see the results of the "de-aging" special effects on Ford in the opening scenes, and the work of director James Mangold will also come under scrutiny.

Dial of Destiny is the first Indiana Jones film not to be directed by Steven Spielberg - though he does have an executive producer credit.

"It's a really, really good Indiana Jones film. I'm really proud of what Jim has done with it," he told Variety.

2. Jeanne du Barry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TM1zhNSTSyI

At the height of his high profile courtroom battles with his ex-wife Amber Heard, the future of Johnny Depp's movie career appeared to be in jeopardy.

But three years after he was dropped from the Fantastic Beasts franchise, his big screen return as Louis XV in Jeanne du Barry will open the Cannes festival.

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Depp speaks French in the movie which tells the story of the daughter of an impoverished seamstress who became the French King's last official mistress.

The title character is played by Maiwenn, the mononymous French actress who has also written and directed the French-language movie.

Maiwenn, herself, is not shy of controversy. She has been critical of the #metoo movement and on a chat show last week she admitted spitting in the face of a journalist.

3. Asteroid City

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gmmq7sVA0Jo

While social media has been awash with Wes Anderson parodies recently, the cult director has been putting the finishing touches to Asteroid City.

Scarlett Johansson leads the cast of Hollywood royalty, including Tom Hanks, Tilda Swinton, Jason Schwatzman, Jeff Goldblum, Margot Robbie and Steve Carell.

She plays a 1950s movie icon - think Bette Davis - in the story of a fictional American desert town where a junior stargazer convention is disrupted by world-changing events.

Is it a science fiction film? A romantic comedy? Hard and fast details of the plot are difficult to find but the trailer suggests it is very... Wes Anderson.

That makes its premiere at Cannes one of the hottest tickets in town.

4. The Old Oak

Ken Loach has an enviable history at Cannes, having twice won the coveted Palm d'Or - for The Wind That Shakes the Barley in 2006 and I, Daniel Blake in 2016.

Could he scoop a third best film honour at the age of 86?

His latest project is The Old Oak, about the last remaining pub in former mining community in County Durham where there is an influx of Syrian refugees.

Loach has said he wanted to make a film which had optimism as well as highlighting the difficulties of the situation.

Pub landlord TJ Ballantyne is played by retired local firefighter, Dave Turner, while genuine refugees were also recruited to take part.

"I genuinely don't have a clue what I'm doing," Turner told BBC Look North last year. "It is terrifying, there is no other word to describe it. But because it is Ken Loach and because the people around him make you believe you can do it - that is the reason why I am here."

5. Killers of the Flower Moon

A new Martin Scorsese movie always sparks a frisson of excitement among film buffs.

Reunite him with two of his favourite collaborators, Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro, and the hype machine goes into overdrive.

With reports that DiCaprio has already called Killers of the Flower Moon a "masterpiece" and even early Oscars chat on social media, excitement ahead of its premiere at Cannes is mounting.

Based on a book by David Grann, it depicts the serial murder of members of the oil-wealthy Osage Nation - a native American tribe - in 1920s Oklahoma.

Known as the Reign of Terror, it sparked a major FBI investigation involving J Edgar Hoover.

Despite its bum-numbing run time of three hours and 26 mins, Scorsese has said it is designed to be seen in theatres. "This is a big screen movie, and that is what we made, as you'll see," he said.
Members of the Cannes jury arrive at the festival

Ruben Ostlund, head of this year's Cannes festival jury, said Tuesday he supports the screenwriters strike in Hollywood ahead of the opening ceremony for the industry shindig on the French Riviera.

"I think it's great that people have a strong collegial feeling so you can go out and have a strike," said the two-time Palme d'Or winner.

Taking such action was "how you can change the conditions of your profession. I am definitely, yeah... go!"

The strike in Hollywood kicked off on May 3 after negotiations between the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and major US studios and streaming services failed.

US actor and director Paul Dano, one of the eight members on Ostlund's jury and married to actress and screenwriter Zoe Kazan, also voiced his support.

"My wife is currently picketing with our six-month-old strapped to her chest and I will go be there with her on the picket line when I get home from here" said Dano, seen recently in Steven Spielberg's "The Fabelmans".

The thousands of picketing writers in Hollywood say they are striking for better compensation in a field that has been disrupted by streaming.

As for the mood Ostlund hopes to foster among his jury as they deliberate the 21 films in competition, he stressed there would be no rules and no holding back.

"When it comes to running the jury, you try to create a certain type of atmosphere where people don't try to be smart all the time," he said.

"People shouldn't be scared of saying what their gut feeling is, if you have a jury atmosphere where every one is trying to be... intellectual, smarter than the other... you are missing out on something."

But as far as providing any talking points on the movies under consideration at Cannes, Ostlund pledged silence.

"We are going to keep our mouths completely shut this year", said the 49-year-old Swede, "publicists will have no rumours."

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Ostlund described the top award as "the greatest film prize in the world. If I can choose between an Oscar and a Palme, it's an easy choice."

The Cannes Film Festival opens Monday evening and runs until May 27.

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The Cannes jury arrives at the world's premiere film festival

Johnny Depp was feted by fans on Tuesday as he arrived on the red carpet for the screening of his comeback movie at the opening of the Cannes Film Festival, which has sparked anger over the choice to celebrate the divisive megastar.

Depp, 59, sporting a ponytail and shades, spent several minutes schmoozing with screaming fans, posing for selfies and signing autographs, before the screening of French period drama "Jeanne du Barry", in which he plays King Louis XV.

He joined stars such as Uma Thurman, Helen Mirren -- her hair a witchy stack of blue and velvet -- and Elle Fanning, for the first night of the industry shindig on the French Riviera.

Michael Douglas also received an honorary Palme d'Or, with the 78-year-old joking about the fact he is two years older than the festival.

"This means so much to me because there are hundreds of festivals around the world but there's only one Cannes," he said.

While 21 films from around the globe are competing for the Palme d'Or -- the festival's top prize -- there have repeated questions over its choice of opening film.

Depp remains a controversial figure since toxic court battles with ex-wife Amber Heard that revealed a turbulent private life involving alcohol, drugs and domestic abuse allegations.

But he is a long way from being "cancelled", securing a record $20 million deal to remain the face of Dior fragrance, according to Variety last week, and set to direct Al Pacino in a biopic of artist Amedeo Modigliani later this year.

- 'Violence in creative circles' -

Although his new film is playing out of competition, the jury for the Palme d'Or was asked about Depp's presence.

Jury member Brie Larson, star of "Captain Marvel" and an outspoken MeToo supporter, looked flustered.

"You are asking me that? I don't understand... Why me specifically?" she said.

"I don't know how I feel about it," she added, curtly.

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But there was plenty of anger online, with a friend of Heard, journalist Eve Barlow, starting a new hashtag -- #CannesYouNot -- criticising the decision to invite Depp.

"Cannes seem proud of their history supporting rapists and abusers," Barlow wrote on Instagram, with pictures of Depp alongside past Cannes regulars such as Harvey Weinstein, Roman Polanski and Gerard Depardieu -- all of whom have faced sexual assault allegations.

On Monday, festival director Thierry Fremaux said he was not interested in Depp's legal woes, saying: "I am interested in Depp the actor."

A group of 123 French film industry workers also denounced the festival for "rolling out the red carpet to men and women who commit assaults."

- 'Greatest film prize' -

Jury chief Ruben Ostlund, who won the top prize last year, described the Palme as "the greatest film prize in the world. If I can choose between an Oscar and a Palme, it is an easy choice."

Of the films in the running for the award, a record seven have been directed by women.

Several Palme laureates are back in competition, including Britain's two-time winner Ken Loach, Japan's Hirokazu Kore-eda and Germany's Wim Wenders.

The festival, which runs until May 27, includes a slew of hot-ticket premieres, including "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny", the fifth and final outing for Harrison Ford as the whip-cracking archaeologist, and Martin Scorsese's new epic, "Killers of the Flower Moon", starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro.

Around a thousand police and security guards are in place for the festival, amid fears of protests linked to President Emmanuel Macron's unpopular pension reforms, with the CGT union even threatening to cut power.

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U.S. Marshals Service

The suspect in the murder of a Toledo-area woman is a teenager who had been living in a foster home in the Canton area, authorities say.

Sylvania Township police continue to investigate the death of Nicole D. Jones, 53, the mother of 33-year-old Jonathan Jones, a fugitive found in Mexico with 17-year-old Kaitlyn L. Coones after a national manhunt earlier this month. Coones faces multiple charges in Lucas and Stark counties.

Jonathan Jones was awaiting sentencing in another criminal case when he disappeared, according to investigators. He reportedly was still in custody of Mexican authorities, police said Tuesday.

Here is what we know about the pair and crimes stretching across multiple law enforcement agencies.

How did hunt Jonathan Jones and Kaitlyn Coones start?

The U.S. Marshals Service and the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force on May 6 announced a nationwide manhunt for Jonathan Jones and Coones, last seen in his mother's car in Arizona near the Mexican border.

Coones has been reported missing April 18 to the Canton police.

Jonathan Jones had pleaded guilty in March to pandering obscene material and child endangerment, charges tied to a 2022 court case in the Toledo area. He was to be sentenced May 4 but he skipped his court appearance, according to investigators. A warrant was issued.

Two days later, federal agents said the search was over after he and Coones were found in Ahumada, Chihuahua, Mexico. It's still unclear how Jonathan Jones and Coones got together.

Nicole Jones goes missing

Sylvania Township police on May 11 confirmed a missing report had been filed on May 5 for Nicole Jones after a welfare check. She could not be located.

Sylvania Township is a suburb of Toledo, about 13 miles west of the city.

The checkup was requested by Canton police following information they received that Nicole Jones might've been hurt or killed. On May 12, police said Nicole Jones was dead.

At that time, Deputy Chief Jim Rettig of Sylvania Township confirmed the homicide and said an arrest warrant charging one individual in Lucas County Juvenile Court had been filed.

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"It is anticipated that additional charges will be filed against other suspect (or suspects) at a later date," he said. "The investigation remains ongoing."

Authorities have not said why or how Nicole Jones was killed. But they have said her body has not been found.

Charges against Kaitlyn Coones

The case took an unexpected turn on May 13 when Rettig said charges of aggravated murder and tampering with evidence in the death of Nicole Jones had been filed against a juvenile.

Later, the juvenile was identified as Coones by Patty Wardrop, assistant prosecutor in Lucas County. She told WTVG in Toledo that the girl was staying with Jonathan Jones at his mother's house in Sylvania Township.

Wardrop said Coones has confessed to her role in the crime.

Canton police accuse Kaitlyn Coones of misleading investigators

After returning from Mexico, Coones was booked on May 13 into the Multi-County Juvenile Attention Center in Canton Township, where she remains, on a juvenile count of felony obstruction. She was arraigned on the charge Monday.

A complaint filed in Stark County Family Court accuses Coones of "purposely and with forethought flee(ing) the city of Canton to Mexico with a known wanted felony," and trying to mislead investigators in subsequent social media posts.

The complaint also alleges Coones ran away from foster homes, including those in Cleveland and Akron, regularly.

"Kaitlyn's running away resulted in a massive law enforcement response involving the FBI, USMS, U.S. Border Patrol and multiple other local jurisdiction along with Mexican government resources to locate and bring her back to the United States," the complaint says.

Police in Sylvania Township have said they anticipate additional charges to be filed.

Reach Benjamin Duer at 330-580-8567 or ben.duer@cantonrep.com. On Twitter: @bduerREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: What to know about the search for Kaitlyn Coones & Jonathan Jones
NASA is with you when you fly was the line uttered by Washingtons Democratic U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell when she referred to the deep ties between NASA and Washingtons aerospace industry.

Shes hoping those ties continue with a new budget and influx of cash, since it would have a positive impact on Washingtons economy.

NASA is now in the throes of its budget process, and on Tuesday morning, Cantwell called on NASA administrator Bill Nelson to continue to support Washingtons aerospace industry, which has contributed so much to NASA missions.

Cantwells office says 42 Washington companies are providing services or components for the Artemis missions to get back to the Moon.

Workers in Redmond at Aerojet Rocketdyne created parts of the propulsion system for NASAs Dart mission, which crashed a craft into an asteroid to see if we could change its orbit. It was part of an effort to see if we can prevent an asteroid from colliding with Earth. NASAs FY2024 budget request is $27.2 billion.

Cantwell hopes some of that money flows to Washington companies creating and/or preserving jobs in aerospace in Washington.

It is my goal to complete another NASA bill this Congress, this time with a multiyear authorization that will help ensure that the nations leading space and aeronautics research agency has stable, predictable funding that it needs to succeed. It would be the first multiyear authorization in 13 years, said Cantwell.

NASAs administrator says its working with Boeing on the next generation of aircraft and wings. The agency is helping with a new wing design on the 737 that could make it 25% more fuel efficient  saving energy and ensuring Boeing keeps people working on the assembly lines.

If Cantwell can pass her multiyear budget for NASA, that could mean job creation and preservation in Washingtons aerospace industry.
Consequences of the Russian missile attack on Kramatorsk

In particular, two civilians were killed as a result of artillery shelling of the village of Dvorichna in the Kupyansk District of Kharkiv Oblast, near the front line, while another one received shrapnel wounds and was hospitalized, Kharkiv Governor Oleh Synegubov reported on Telegram.

Read also: Russia conducts mass missile, drone attack overnight: six explosions in Kharkiv

The Russian invaders also shelled the town of Vovchansk in the Chuhuiv District, causing damage to residential buildings and a local hospital.

In addition, four residential buildings caught fire after the Russians hit the village of Tyshchenkivka in Kupyansk District with multiple launch rocket systems.

Read also: Infrastructure, dormitory, apartment building hit in overnight Russian attack on Kharkiv

In Kherson Oblast, the enemy launched 407 projectiles from heavy artillery, tanks, UAVs, and aircraft. The city of Kherson was shelled 14 times. Six people, including a child, were injured as a result of enemy attacks.

The invaders also struck a Kherson Oblast settlement with guided aerial bombs, while the already destroyed bridge of the Dariyivka Territorial Community came under fire nine times.

Meanwhile, Donetsk Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said that Russia had launched another missile strike at the town of Kramatorsk overnight on May 16. Three high-rise buildings and a boiler house were damaged as a result of the attack. Fortunately, there were no casualties.

In addition, the invaders hit the town of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast with S-300 missiles, causing damage to three residential buildings, a school and a gas pipeline. The nearby town of Chasiv Yar also came under heavy enemy shelling, with one person being injured and 17 residential buildings being damaged.

Read also: Sixth attack on Kyiv in May targets Ukrainian air defense systems, says military expert

Russia launched another massive attack on Ukraine overnight on May 16. The Russians used various types of missiles, including six Kh-47M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles.

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All 18 missiles were destroyed by the air defense forces of the Ukrainian Air Force, but debris fell in at least five districts of Kyiv.

Solomyanskyi district was affected the most. Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported three people had been injured there, although reports are still being verified.

Read also: Fragments of missiles shot down over Kyiv fall on city zoo, says mayor

The Ukrainian authorities called the eighth Russian attack on Kyiv in a month exceptional in its density, with the maximum number of missiles launched in the shortest period of time.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The flare from the rocket explosion illuminates Kyiv. May 16, 2023

Its clear that various institutions need CCTV cameras to monitor law and order in the state, etc., he said.

Read also: Sixth attack on Kyiv in May targets Ukrainian air defense systems, says military expert

These are extremely necessary things. But perhaps its still necessary to make some adjustments during the operation of air defense systems since the cameras monitor (the situation) online and transmit this image to YouTube channels. Thus, the enemy can see (the results of his actions) in real time.

According to Ihnat, the military administrations will work with the Armed Forces of Ukraine to coordinate actions and solve the problem.

Its necessary to coordinate with local administrations to regulate this issue, the official said.

Read also: Fragments of missiles shot down over Kyiv fall on city zoo, says mayor

But in addition to cameras, there are many residents and citizens who film (the work of air defense systems) on mobile phones and post them on their social networks. Therefore, its unlikely that it will be possible to avoid a leak today, but its still necessary to limit the enemy in operational information.

On May 16, Russia attacked Kyiv with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and UAVs.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, reported that the Russians used:

Six Kh-47M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles, fired from six MiG-31K aircraft.

Nine Kalibr cruise missiles from ships in the Black Sea.

Three ground-based missiles (S-400, Iskander-M).

Read also: Casualties reported as Russia shells three Ukrainian regions in past day

All 18 missiles were destroyed by the air defense forces of the Ukrainian Air Force, but debris fell in at least four districts of Kyiv.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Federal health officials are warning that there could be a resurgence of mpox cases in the coming months following a steady nine-month nationwide decline.

Spring and summer season in 2023 could lead to a resurgence of mpox as people gather for festivals and other events, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in an alert Monday for health care professionals.

Cases of the virus, formerly called monkeypox, have stayed low in the U.S. since they peaked last August  when 646 cases were reported in one day. There has been however, a recent cluster reported in the Chicago area, the CDC said.

Mpox cases have been declining since they peaked in August last year, the CDC said.

Mpox cases have been declining since they peaked in August last year, the CDC said.

Over a recent 18-day period, the citys health department saw 12 confirmed cases and one probable case of the virus. All of the cases from April 17 to May 5 were among symptomatic men  69% of whom had received both doses of the two-dose Jynneos mpox vaccine.

The CDC said it does not know why such a high percentage of the people vaccinated became infected. It also doesnt know whether immunity after vaccination has decreased among those individuals, or if the virus has mutated. The agency said it is conducting studies to help determine how long immunity post-vaccination lasts.

Though no vaccine is 100% effective in preventing infection, it does reduce the chances of getting and spreading the virus and could make the symptoms less severe, the CDC said.

Mpox spreads through close, personal contact, including skin-to-skin contact and during sex.

Mpox spreads through close, personal contact, including skin-to-skin contact and during sex.

Dr. Jay Varma, director of the Center for Pandemic Prevention and Response at Weill Cornell Medicine, told CNN that though theres a very real risk of a surge over the next few months it likely wont be as large as last year.

This is because many people at risk were either infected or vaccinated, Varma said.

The vaccination rate is still rather low, however, with only 23% of the estimated population at risk for mpox being fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.

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A dose of the mpox vaccine is seen prepared at a mobile vaccination clinic in California in 2022. The Jynneos vaccine consists of two doses administered 28 days apart.

A dose of the mpox vaccine is seen prepared at a mobile vaccination clinic in California in 2022. The Jynneos vaccine consists of two doses administered 28 days apart.

Individuals recommended for the vaccine are those who face an increased risk of mpox exposure. This includes men who have sex with multiple male partners or with a male partner who has had multiple recent sexual partners.

Mpox is most commonly spread through close, sustained physical contact and, in the current global outbreak, it has almost exclusively been associated with sexual contact.

The symptoms include a rash on the hands, feet, chest, face or mouth, or near the genitals. This initially can look like pimples or blisters and may be painful or itchy. Those infected may also experience flu-like symptoms  including fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes and muscle aches.

Related...
Senators on both sides of the aisle questioned the CEO of the company behind the popular ChatGPT tool on Tuesday about the risks of artificial intelligence (AI) technology as OpenAI and rival companies race to release new AI powered services.

Tuesdays Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing, the first in a series of expected AI hearings, showcased a degree of bipartisan unity as lawmakers begin mulling regulation.

Republicans and Democrats asked largely similar questions about the risks of AI, ranging from intellectual property concerns to the impact on jobs.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman pledged to work alongside the government and the rest of the industry to move forward with a path that maximizes the benefits of the tech and minimizes the wide-ranging risks.

My worst fears are that we  the field, the technology, the industry  cause significant harm to the world. I think that can happen in a lot of different ways, Altman said.

I think if this technology goes wrong, it can go quite wrong, and we want to be vocal about that. We want to work with the government to prevent that from happening, he added.

Senators on the panel largely focused their questions at the AI oversight hearing on the risks from the technology across the board  especially to jobs  rather than grilling Altman specifically on what OpenAI is doing.

Altman said that like with most technological revolutions, he expects a significant impact on jobs, but the impact is hard to predict at the moment.

He said GPT4, the model powering ChatGPT, will entirely automate away some jobs but also create new ones.

GPT4 is a tool not a creature, he said. GPT4 and other systems like it are good at doing tasks, not jobs, so you see already people that are using GPT4 to do their job much more efficiently, he continued.

The rise of generative AI and ChatGPT

ChatGPT burst onto the scene in November and has had an explosive increase in users. In April, it attracted 1.76 billion visits worldwide, according to data from Similarweb. Microsoft, which invested heavily in the company, incorporated ChatGPT into its tools, including its Bing search engine.

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At the same time, rival companies, including tech giant Google, and startups, are also expanding on generative AI technology. Senators underscored the sense of urgency to regulate AI based on the surge of generative AI products hitting the market.

To showcase the potential uses and risks of generative AI, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) kicked off the hearing with a recorded opening statement that used an AI-powered audio cloning tool to deliver a statement  written by ChatGPT  in his likeness.

Blumenthal said there are potential benefits to AI innovation, such as helping with cures for cancer to modeling the climate. But he warned that lawmakers need to focus on maximizing the good while limiting the bad and not repeat the failures of regulating social media at its dawn.

Congress failed to meet the moment on social media, now [we] have the obligation to do it on AI before the threats and the risks become real, he said.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), ranking member of the subcommittee, said a year ago the panel wouldnt have even had this hearing, given that ChatGPT had yet to be released to the public, showing how rapidly the technology is changing and could transform the world right before our very eyes.

AIs impact on jobs, creator rights and elections

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle pressed Altman, as well as the other witnesses  NYU professor emeritus Gary Marcus, and IBMs vice president and chief privacy and trust officer Christina Montgomery  on a range of risks AI poses.

Several lawmakers brought up concerns about the impact AI could have on jobs.

Marcus said the technology will have a profound effect on labor, but the full impact may happen across multiple decades rather than in the shorter term.

Senators also raised concerns about intellectual property laws, based on the content AI models are built on and the types of results it produces. The issue was raised across sectors, with Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) raising it in terms of how it impacts compensation to artists, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) asking about the impact it could have on local newspapers.

Altman said OpenAI is working with visual artists and musicians to consider different options that could give creators better control over what happens to their creations.

He also said he hopes that ChatGPT could help news organizations, and local outlets.

Heading into the next major election cycles, senators also questioned how ChatGPT and other generative AI tools could be used to proliferate the spread of misinformation.

Concerns were raised both about AI powered chatbots delivering false information when users query basic information about polling locations, as well as how the technology could be used to learn about users and create persuasive misinformation campaigns.

Altman said one clear way to help combat concerns is if users know if theyre interacting with an AI generated content or not. He said some regulation would be wise, but that companies can also voluntarily adopt some changes.

He also said that the more recent versions of GPT have become increasingly accurate, as well as being trained to not respond to certain questions in an attempt to mitigate risks that have risen.

Senators mull regulation options

The roughly two-hour hearing was also less contentious than previous Senate hearings featuring CEOs of tech companies, such as Meta and Google.

Blumenthal called Altmans appearance night and day compared to other tech CEOs.

He was very, very constructive and informative and contributed immensely, Blumenthal said.

I was really very heartened and encouraged by the quality of the testimony here today, and the participation of my colleagues which  was very bipartisan, he added. And theres, I think, a strong degree of consensus about developing the basic principles and the means to implement them.

Although senators aimed to dig into the potential risks, and mitigation strategies, theres still uncertainty over what type of regulatory approach they would take to address those risks.

Blumenthal said lawmakers need to grapple with the hard questions that were raised successfully but not necessarily answered.

He said the hearing is the first in a series of hearings they expect to hold, which could include Google and other companies in the industry as well as experts in the field.

One option lawmakers weighed to mitigate risks is creating a new agency tasked with regulation and oversight. But that agency would have to be given the resources to make it effective, Blumenthal said.

Clearly the [Federal Trade Commission] doesnt have the capability right now. So if youre going to rely on the FTC you are going to have to, in effect, clone it within itself so to speak. I think theres a powerful argument for an entirely new angelic that is given the resources to really do the job, he said.

Hawley also raised the potential to create a type of federal right of action that would allow individuals to sue companies if they allege being harmed by AI.

Traditional social media companies are covered by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which keeps them from being held liable for content posted by third parties. It is not clear, however, if Section 230 protects generative AI content, but there is no law specifically indicating if users have the right to sue companies over harm from AI.

Blumenthal said a proposal to add guardrails for AI could happen this session. He noted Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumers (D-N.Y.) framework to add guardrails, as well as the White House release of an AI Bill of Rights framework as indications of movement to add regulation.

There [are] certainly a lot of legs for a bill, and a lot of momentum, and theres a clear need. People are excited, but also anxious, with good reason, he said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Activities of UOC-MP in Chernivtsi region banned by decision of regional council

According to the message, the decision aims to strengthen Ukraines national security by limiting the influence of Moscows church.

Read also: SBU nabs blogger sharing Ukrainian army movements on social media

"Now the matter lies with the religious communities and local authority; people should understand that a religious community, whose management center is located in the aggressor country (Russian), cannot hold services in our cities and villages", said Zaparanyuk.

Local news outlet MOLBUK.UA specified that 42 council members participated in the meeting, with 40 of them supporting the decision to ban ROC.

Read also: Ukrainian court sentences high-ranking member of Russian Orthodox Church

Since late 2022, Ukraines SBU security service has raided ROC facilities across the country, finding vast quantities of anti-Ukrainian propaganda materials being disseminated by the priests, many of whom held Russian citizenship.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
You are here: Business

People visit the pavilion of Indonesia's leading coffee company Kapal Api at the third China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou, capital city of south China's Hainan Province, on April 12, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]



China's retail sales of consumer goods, a major indicator of the country's consumption strength, surged 18.4 percent year on year in April, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed Tuesday.

In the January-April period, the country's retail sales of consumer goods increased 8.5 percent year on year, according to the NBS.

It totaled 14.98 trillion yuan (about 2.16 trillion U.S. dollars) in the first four months of 2023.
Flag of China

Kyodo said many embassies in Beijing have put up signboards depicting the Ukraine flag and with messages in Chinese and English, such as #StandWithUkraine, to demonstrate their solidarity with the Eastern European country battling a Russian invasion since February last year.

Read also: US emphasizes importance of Chinese envoys visit to Ukraine

At the same time, the notice from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, dated May 10, urged the embassies and international organizations not to use the outer walls of their buildings for propaganda and avoid causing conflicts between states.

According to U.S. news channel CNN, Chinas special representative of Eurasian affairs Li Hui will visit Ukraine this week to promote peace talks.

Read also: China distances itself from recognizing Russia as aggressor in UN resolution

Lis trip will begin on May 15, and he will travel to Ukraine, Poland, France, Germany, and Russia during the tour.

Li is the highest-ranking Chinese official to visit Ukraine since the beginning of Russias full-scale invasion.

The visit comes after Chinese leader Xi Jinping spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy by phone last month for the first time since Russias full-scale invasion and war began last year.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
BEIJING (Reuters) - Two Chinese warships have ventured into the Western Pacific for live-fire exercises, the military said on Tuesday, shortly after one of China's two aircraft carriers returned from a patrol, in its latest projection of force into more distant waters.

The destroyer Dalian and guided-missile frigate Huangshan sailed to an unidentified area of the West Pacific "not long ago" and conducted attack and defence drills, the Southern Theatre Command of the People's Liberation Army said in a statement.

"The joint training in unfamiliar and complex waters is of great significance in exploring the boundaries of new equipment effectiveness, testing the practical application of new warfare method," the command said, citing a training officer.

The exercises in more distant seas in the West Pacific came soon after a carrier group led by the Shandong, one of China's two operational aircraft carriers, returned to its home port this month after sailing around Taiwan and into the Western Pacific.

China is modernizing its military and its formidable missile forces and navy fleet, with new vessels such as cutting-edge cruisers, are posing a concern for the U.S. and its allies.

"China's aircraft carrier is not a homebody and cannot just stay at home," Song Zhongping, a military commentator with Hong Kong's Phoenix TV, told Reuters, referring to the Shandong.

"There will be more and more of these distant sea travels in future. Also China has quite a lot of warships."

In March, China's first domestically produced amphibious assault ship, the Hainan, along with a destroyer, a frigate, and a supply ship completed their first distant sea training after a 30-day trip into the South China Sea and the Western Pacific, the Southern Theatre Command said.

Despite China's military expansion, it could be more than a decade before it can mount a credible carrier threat far from its shores, defence analysts say.

(Reporting by Albee Zhang and Ryan Woo; Editing by Robert Birsel)
Chrissy Teigen has been praised by fans for including her team of four nannies in her Mothers Day social media tribute.

On Sunday 14 May, the mother of three took to Instagram to celebrate all the people who help take care of her three children with husband John Legend  daughters Luna, seven, and Esti, four months, and son Miles, four.

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, the 37-year-old cookbook author captioned the post, which included a slideshow of her four nannies posing with her children. We love you.

Teigens comments section was instantly flooded by fans applauding the model for recognising her caregivers, as many people noted that it takes a village to raise a family.

This is such an awesome post, wrote one fan. Thanks for recognising all the people who support your mothering!

I really respect this post. It takes a village, another person commented. Some do it alone and do it darn well. Some have support in whatever form that is. Whats important is the journey and the outcome.

Even fellow caregivers praised Teigen for celebrating her nannies on Mothers Day, like one person who wrote: As a career nanny, this is amazing to have seen. Kudos for shouting out the village.

Professional nanny here! Thank you so much for showing the behind the scenes and highlighting your wonderful caregivers, another shared. We really appreciate when our families recognise us!

In a separate Instagram post, Teigen also gave a shout out to her mother, Vilailuck Pepper Thai Teigen in honour of Mothers Day. Happy Mothers Day @pepperthai2!! We miss you and cant wait for you to come back from Thailand!! I love love love you, the model captioned the post, which featured several amusing photos of the grandmother with Teigens children.

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As for her husband, John Legend shared a heartwarming montage of videos and pictures of Teigen with their children on Instagram. A love letter to our Supermom, Wonder Woman, he wrote alongside the video, which was set to his new song, Wonder Woman.

Legend and Teigen have been married since 2013. They recently became a family of five when they welcomed daughter Esti Maxine Stephens in January. Shes here! Esti Maxine Stephens  the house is bustling and our family could not be happier, Teigen said on Instagram, announcing their daughters arrival. The post also showed their children Luna and Miles cradling their newborn sibling. Daddy sheds nightly tears of joy seeing Luna and Miles so full of love, and I am learning you still need diapers with a C-section!?

We are in bliss. Thank you for all the love and well wishes  we feel it all!

In 2020, the couple revealed that they had lost their son, Jack, at 20 weeks old due to a pregnancy complication. Last September, Teigen spoke about Jack at a summit, where she revealed that it took her over a year to realise she had a life-saving abortion and not a miscarriage, which is what she had labelled the tragic loss.

Since welcoming Esti into the world, the Lip Sync Battle host has embraced becoming a mother for the third time. In April, Teigen addressed some of the ways in which her body has changed since welcoming her baby by sharing a nude photo of herself in a bathtub holding her newborn daughter. A boob that somehow hangs all along my side and deep purple lifetime scars but you are too perfect to worry about any of it! she wrote.
The CIA has posted a video on social media offering Russians a secure way to communicate with it, promising to protect their safety if they share secrets about the Ukraine war and other information with Americas spies.

We want to reach those brave Russians who feel compelled by the Russian governments unjust war to engage CIA and ensure they do so as securely as possible, a CIA official said.

The Russian-language video was first posted on the social media site Telegram and has also appeared on YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.

People around you may not want to hear the truth," its narrator says. "But we do. You are not powerless. Connect with us in a safe way.

Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, said, "I am convinced that our special services are properly monitoring this space." A Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry spokeswoman called it "a very convenient resource for tracking applicants."

The highly produced two-minute video with dramatic music shows Russians staring out a window or from a park bench, apparently weighing a momentous decision. A man carrying a briefcase enters a government building and flashes his ID card. The fictitious characters gaze at family portraits, as if contemplating their childrens future. At the end of the video, the Russians contact the CIA on their phones.

The CIA released an ad targeted at Russian citizens on the popular messaging app Telegram. (CIA / via Telegram)

The video shows fictional Russian officials making the difficult but important decision to secretly contact CIA using our portal on the dark web, the CIA official said.

In todays Russia, it remains very difficult to speak out, and telling the truth often carries serious consequences. CIA wants to know the truth about Russia, and we are looking for trustworthy people who can tell it to us and with whom we can communicate securely, the official said.

The video, captioned Why I made contact with the CIA: My decision," tells the story of an apparent bureaucrat and his family as he contemplates his life and the path his country is following. The man asks, Is it the kind of life I dreamt of? The video appeals to Russian national identity, the desire for a better future  and heroism. To be a hero means to persevere, but to persevere  it doesnt mean to endure in vain.

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The video is the latest effort by the U.S. to recruit disaffected Russians as Moscow wages war on Ukraine. More than a year ago, the CIA posted instructions online in Russian about how to contact it securely.

I think its safe to say that we wouldnt be following up and continuing on with this effort if it hadnt yielded results, the official said, without offering more details.

The CIA ad features fictional Russian officials and calls on ordinary Russians to come forward and share intelligence. (CIA via Telegram)

Current and former intelligence officials say Russias troubled war effort has provided a crucial opportunity for Western intelligence agencies to recruit Russians disenchanted with the invasion of Ukraine and the state of the country under Putins rule.

The CIAs director of operations, David Marlowe, said at George Mason University in November that Putin had squandered his countrys power and leverage by sending Russians forces into Ukraine and that the spy agency was ready to work with Russians alienated by the Kremlin.

Were looking around the world for Russians who are as disgusted with that as we are, he said. Because were open for business.

CIA Director William Burns said in April at Rice University that disaffection with the war will continue to gnaw away at the Russian leadership.

The CIA official said that despite Washingtons disagreements with Putin, the United States and Russian people are not enemies, adding, We admire the courage and grit of so many Russians determined to maintain Russias values and ideals.

The agency is interested in a variety of information from Russia, not merely narrowly defined intelligence or counterintelligence reporting, the official said. We are interested in advanced science, military and cyber technology, financial information, sources of valuable data and foreign policy secrets, the official said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
A screenshot from a CIA recruitment video aimed at Russians posted online on May 15, 2023. CIA/Telegram

The CIA is attempting to recruit Russian spies with video posts on Telegram.

One video shows fictional Russians who appear to be struggling with concerns about their country.

As of Tuesday, the new CIA Telegram account had almost 5,000 followers.

The CIA has begun posting recruitment videos to a newly-created Telegram account in Russian to try to attract potential agents.

The spy agency posted a slick, cinematic video designed to appeal to disaffected Russians on Monday.

This was followed by a further video containing detailed instructions on contacting the agency securely, as well as a message asking: "Are you a military officer? Do you work in intelligence, diplomacy, science, high technology or deal with people who do?" per The Moscow Times' translation.

The videos are the latest move to try to benefit from dissatisfaction in Russia.

"Ukraine is top of mind but that's more or less a symptom of something larger. There are always individuals in Russia who identify with what we have to say here," an unnamed CIA official told CNN.

In the first video, a number of people who appear to hold high-level administrative and government roles seemingly grapple with a difficult decision.

In a dimly-lit office, in front of a pile of files, a man runs an exhausted hand over his face; parents visit a child in hospital; a man sits wearily on a bed.

A screenshot from a CIA recruitment video aimed at Russians posted online on May 15, 2023. CIA/Telegram

Accompanying text appeals to a sense that all is not well in Russia, and that life can be better.

Finally, a woman uses her phone to look up the CIA website, as the text reads: "We will live with dignity, thanks to my actions," according to CNN's translation.

"We wanted to convey to Russians in their own language we know what they're going through," the unnamed official told the network.

The video does not allude to the war in Ukraine, part of a decision to deal with even deeper uncertainties, they said.

A screenshot from a CIA recruitment video aimed at Russians posted online on May 15, 2023. CIA/Telegram

The cinematic video has also been circulated on platforms such as YouTube and Facebook, but is among the first posts made by the CIA on its Telegram account, launched in April.

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The messaging platform is popular in Russia. Unlike much of the country's conventional media, it is completely uncensored and hosts numerous accounts that function as popular news sources on topics like the invasion of Ukraine.

The US has appealed to Russians on other social media platforms before, such as a series of ads aimed at Russians in the US, run by the FBI on Facebook in 2019, and CIA Instagram posts in May last year.

In November, CIA Deputy Director of Operations David Marlowe said that the agency is "open for business" for Russians who are "disgusted" by the war in Ukraine, as The Wall Street Journal first reported.

Officials told CNN that the response to that appeal was encouraging enough to launch this latest effort.

James Olson, a former counterintelligence chief, told CNN that this is "probably the best period of recruiting Russians that we've had."

"There are a lot of disaffected Russians out there now," he added.

As of Tuesday, the CIA Telegram channel had almost 5,000 subscribers  something that Russia's foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said makes it "a very convenient resource for tracking applicants," according to The Moscow Times.

Unnamed officials speaking to CNN stressed that the move was not an attempt to stir unrest among the wider Russian population.

However, tensions are high following the reported arrest of Robert Shonov, a man identified by Russian state media as a former employee of the US Embassy who has been charged with conspiracy.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The video, targeting Russians, was posted on Telegram channel "Securely Contacting CIA" this Tuesday. Credit - CIA/Telegram

A man trudges through snow to a bleak office full of paperwork. A woman logs onto a government computer. The weary bureaucrats seem to be reaching a breaking point with life in Vladimir Putins Russia.Is this the life I dreamed of? a speaker asks. The camera pans over photos of their children on their desks.

The cinematic video, with the gray tones of a Cold War thriller, is part of a U.S. effort to provide more tools for disaffected Russians who might be willing to provide information. Created by the Central Intelligence Agency, the two-minute clip was posted Tuesday on a new Telegram channel that provides information on how to securely contact the U.S. agency using a Tor browser and encryption tools to send information via the dark web.

Are you a military officer? Do you work in intelligence, diplomacy, science, high technology or deal with people who do? reads a message in the video, which ends with both characters deciding to contact the CIA on their phones. Do you have information about the economy or the top leadership of the Russian Federation? Get in touch with us.

The recruitment effort comes as Russias winter push in Ukraine led to little progress and staggering losses, with more than 100,000 soldiers killed or wounded since December alone, according to a National Security Council spokesman. U.S. intelligence agencies have indicated that they expect the twin tolls of war and economic sanctions will make more Russians open to recruitment, including ordinary bureaucrats, fed-up military officers, and wealthy businesspeople who have taken a financial hit.

Were looking around the world for Russians who are as disgusted with [Putins actions] as we are, CIA Director of Operations David Marlowe said last November in rare remarks at an event at George Mason University. Because were open for business.

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Read More: How Telegram Became the Digital Battlefield in the Russia-Ukraine War.

The video suggests that making the difficult but important decision to quietly get in touch with the CIA is the dignified decision, and in the best interest of Russians families. Your information may be more valuable than you think, it says.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Tuesday called the channel, which had almost 6,000 subscribers by noon, a very convenient resource for tracking applicants.

The agency first posted Russian-language instructions for how to get in touch with the CIA on its social channels last year. But with access to most mainstream social-media sites restricted by the Kremlin, the Telegram messaging app has become the primary platform for Russians to communicate beyond the nations borders and seek uncensored information. While the app was popular in Russia before the war, its use exploded after the invasion of Ukraine. An analysis of 187 Russian-language news channels provided to TIME last year by Logically, a U.K.-based technology company, showed that subscribers to Russian-language Telegram channels grew by 8 million, or 48%, in the month after the invasion. The platform became the wars digital battlefield, a prime venue for both intelligence-gathering and recruitment.

U.S. officials clearly targeted the video on the platform to appeal to Russian patriotism and concern for their families, experts tell TIME. It includes quotes from Russian writers Leo Tolstoy and Fyodor Dostoevsky, and notably uses the word , the Russian term for stand up or resist, which has frequently been used by Putins own military recruitment campaigns.

Theyre picking up on the language of the regime and just gently twisting it into another kind of context, says Ian Garner, a historian and analyst of Russian propaganda.

Read More: Inside the Kremlins Year of Ukraine Propaganda.

Despite the work that went into the Telegram campaign, theres a glaring flaw, says Garner: Theyre not offering anything. Most people with access to information that would interest the CIA, such as mid-level government officials, are provided security by the state, and their children are much less likely to be forced to enlist.

The video goes from grainy sad life in Russia to whatgrainy, sad life on the CIA side? asks Garner. The messaging, which emphasizes Americas pursuit of the truth, is also likely to fall flat, he says. Most Russians are suspicious of America and the CIA in particular. So associating this with the CIA is only likely to reinforce the belief that theyre the ones doing the lying.
Washington  The CIA is trying to recruit Russian spies and entice them to reveal their secrets, targeting potential recruits with a dramatic video published across social media networks that promises to protect them if they come forward.

"The CIA wants to know the truth about Russia and we are looking for reliable people who know and can tell us this truth," the intelligence agency said in the caption of the video posted on YouTube. "Your information may be more valuable than you think."

The agency also posted the Russian-language video, entitled "Why I made contact with the CIA: My decision," on Facebook, Twitter and Telegram.

The two-minute video shows fictional Russian officers secretly contacting the CIA through its dark web portal. "I survived. My family will survive. We will live with dignity thanks to my actions," a narrator says in Russian toward the end of the clip.

"We want to reach those brave Russians who feel compelled by the Russian government's unjust war to engage CIA and ensure they do so as securely as possible," a CIA official told CBS News. "In today's Russia, it remains very difficult to speak out and telling the truth often carries serious consequences. CIA wants to know the truth about Russia and we are looking for trustworthy people who can tell it to us and with whom we can communicate securely."

The official, who provided details about the effort on condition of anonymity, said the video is meant to provide guidance on how potential recruits can securely contact the agency. The push follows a text-based campaign by the CIA last year to recruit Russians disaffected by the war in Ukraine via the dark web.

"We would not be pursuing this similar, stepped-up effort if those previous efforts had not yielded results," the official said, while declining to specify how many Russians had come forward as a result of the campaign.

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The official also declined to give additional details about how the video was produced, including where it was filmed. Asked whether similar efforts would be made to contact individuals in countries like China, Iran and North Korea, the official said, "We're not ruling anything out."

The CIA's video follows a similar campaign by the FBI to identify potential Russian assets. The FBI has for years run ads on Twitter, YouTube and other platforms seeking to turn Russians against their country, including well before Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

A Twitter ad posted by the FBI's Washington Field Office in February appeared to target Russian diplomats at the embassy in Washington, D.C. Set to piano music, the ad starts at the Russian Embassy in Northwest D.C. and shows the journey from the diplomatic compound to FBI headquarters nearly four miles away in downtown D.C.

"Do you want to change your future?" the ad asked. "Celebrating the first anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, we observe a world in which the two sides are devastated by war. I turn to you, to those who have the power to change the future. Contact the FBI office any time and say you want to change your future. Come visit us or talk to the Americans you trust. Tell them you want to talk to the FBI and they will contact us on your behalf."

The ad gave details on how to securely contact the FBI through Signal, an encrypted messaging app.

Other recent Russian-language ads from the FBI on Facebook say, "10 minutes of your time with us can be the beginning of your new future" and "Your future has no boundaries." They lead to the website of the FBI's Newark Counterintelligence Program.

The CIA official said the spy agency is hoping to recruit Russians with a wide variety of backgrounds in its latest push.

"People may also be unaware that what they know is of great value to us. Our interests are not just about counterintelligence and spy versus spy. We're interested in advanced science, military and cyber technology, financial information versus valuable data, and foreign policy secrets," the person said, adding that the campaign is "absolutely not about regime change or fostering instability in Russia."

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Earl Witron, a former server at the Terrace restaurant at the Thompson Hollywood, is one of several former employees who complained about fees at the hotel's hospitality group. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

When Earl Witron landed a job as a server in the summer of 2021 at the Thompson, a new World of Hyatt luxury hotel, he was excited," he said, "to be part of something huge in Hollywood.

Hed make only $17.50 an hour at the hotel's rooftop restaurant the Terrace, which offers its well-heeled patrons sweeping views of the Hollywood Hills. But, he said, managers promised that he and his co-workers would share in a 5% service fee tacked on to each check, "in support of health benefits to our staff," as the bill's explanation read.

Yet the 40-year-old said he never saw that money reflected in his compensation. When he questioned management about how the 5% service fee was allocated, he was given confusing answers or simply rebuffed.

I was just living paycheck to paycheck, said Witron, 40, who is now a runner at the Beverly Hilton. I fell behind financially. I still havent recovered.

This 5% service fee attached to customer restaurant bills is at the heart of an investigation launched by the Los Angeles city attorneys office, and it involves some of the citys most celebrated restaurants at the adjacent Thompson hotel, Tommie hotel and Citizen News building: Mother Wolf, Ka'teen, Mes Amis, Bar Lis and the Terrace.

The city attorney is examining whether Ten Five Hospitality  the group that operated the five restaurants at the time of the allegations  violated an ordinance for allegedly keeping the entirety of the 5% service fee they charged to customers instead of distributing it to workers, according to an April 6 letter from Deputy City Atty. Joshua L. Crowell.

City officials asked Ten Five Hospitality, the hotels and restaurants for a response and numerous documents, including any evidence that would demonstrate workers benefited from the fee. The city attorney's office is also investigating allegations that at least two workers at the Terrace were fired after speaking out about the service fee.

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No Ten Five Hospitality executives were made available for comment. A spokesperson provided a prepared statement, which read: The Wellness Fee, which is explained clearly on all customer bills, enables the company to provide an above-market employee package including a robust medical, dental & vision insurance program, 401(k) benefit offering and better working conditions for all employees.

The spokesperson declined to answer any other questions about the allegations in the city's letter.

The dining room at Mother Wolf, one of the buzziest restaurants in Los Angeles. Mother Wolf is in the Citizen News building next-door to the Thompson hotel. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)

Requesting an investigation

Tipping and service fees are becoming a flashpoint in the restaurant and hospitality industries. Healthcare-related service fees began gradually popping up on diners' bills in the last decade but became ubiquitous after the COVID-19 shutdowns. The tacked-on fees came amid a wave of empathy and gratitude for service workers at a moment when the future of restaurants seemed in doubt.

But for diners, the fees have become a source of confusion, leading some to tip less, under the impression that the tacked-on fee goes directly to their servers. Workers who prepare and serve food and drinks and bus tables typically rely on gratuities as part of their take-home wages.

Where these service charges actually wind up has remained murky.

In California, courts long held that mandatory charges cannot be considered gratuities under the labor code. That changed in 2019, when the law on service charges became clearer in the San Francisco case O'Grady vs. Merchant Exchange Productions Inc. In that case, a state appeals court ruled that service charges belonged to the employees under California law if customers could reasonably be led to believe the charges are tips. The ruling applies to all food and beverage establishments.

That ruling was tested as recently as April 19, when a San Francisco judge ruled in a nonjury trial that a Marriott hotel in downtown San Francisco must pay around $9 million in withheld service fees to staff who served food and drinks at banquets.

The case pivoted on whether such fees are reasonably considered by customers to be gratuities. In April 2017, the San Francisco hotel began expressly telling banquet diners that the tacked-on fees did not constitute gratuities, freeing itself from future liability.

Shannon Liss-Riordan, the plaintiff's lawyer in the Marriott case, said the verdict was the first on the issue in California. "I expect that is now going to lead to a lot of enforcement and employees now recognizing their rights," she said.

Liss-Riordan, also the plaintiff's attorney in the 2019 San Francisco case that set the precedent in California, has won similar cases in Hawaii and Massachusetts. She has lawsuits pending against other hotels in San Francisco and other places in California.

In L.A., city prosecutors appear to be focusing their inquiries on extra service charges on restaurants located inside hotels, where current laws are clearer on gratuities. The definition of "hotel" in the L.A. ordinance covers restaurants that are contracted or leased premises that are connected to or operated in hotels, such as the Terrace or Mother Wolf.

L.A.'s ordinance states that service fees cannot be retained by a hotel employer but must be paid in their entirety to the hotel worker performing services for the customers from whom the service charges are collected. The ordinance also mandates that no part of these amounts may be paid to supervisory or managerial employees, and that the service fee must be paid to the hotel workers equitably.

Steve Garrett, Jae Redlich and Jazelle Merritt, all former servers at the Terrace, said that when they brought up the discrepancies and asked questions about the 5% service fee in employee meetings, management gave them answers that didnt make sense. A human resources representative told them it offset the cost of the healthcare premium for full-time employees, the workers said. Dan Daley, principal at Ten Five Hospitality, told them the service fee was intended to shore up losses at the restaurants due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Daley did not respond to requests for comment.

Garrett, Redlich and Merritt would go on to file an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging that management either terminated or forced them to resign after they raised questions about the application of the service fees. A charge is a request for the government board to investigate and decide whether the evidence is sufficient for it to pursue a case against the employer.

At this point, no suit or charges have been filed; the allegations are still under investigation. Unite Here Local 11 is helping the Hollywood workers pursue their case.

It is unclear whether the star chefs most associated with the restaurants named in the city's letter  including Evan Funke at Mother Wolf, Wes Avila at Ka'teen and Lincoln Carson, formerly of Mes Amis  were aware of the workers' concerns or attempted to resolve their questions. Funke and Avila, two of the best-known and admired chefs in L.A., did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Even before the allegations, the restaurants were caught in a messy tug-of-war between Ten Five Hospitality and Relevant, the developer of the hotels and the Citizen News building next-door that houses Mother Wolf, known for its Roman-style pastas and one of the most sought-after reservations in the city. At one point, both entities claimed control over the properties, according to a report in Eater LA.

Chef Carson, who left Mes Amis in December, said he was aware of the service charge at the restaurant but believed the money was distributed properly.

Carson entered into a contract with Ten Five Hospitality to develop the highly lauded French restaurant and also worked at the Terrace for some time before Mes Amis opened. He said he served as a consultant and wasnt there for the day-to-day financial accounting of the restaurants.

Im disappointed for all the people who put in so much of their hard work to build what was supposed to be something very special, he told The Times. Its disappointing that this is whats coming out.

The city attorney's office declined to discuss Crowell's letter. The office also declined to disclose whether it has sent letters to any other restaurant groups in the city over service fees.

The Thompson Hollywood, seen left, sits next to the Citizen News building, where Mother Wolf is located. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

In interviews, several former and current Ten Five Hospitality employees said they found themselves in a distressing financial loop. Many workers didnt qualify for the companys medical program because they didnt work full-time. And, they said, if they had qualified, the program was financially out of reach for them.

Witron, Redlich, Merritt and Garrett said they are still dealing with the aftermath of working at the Terrace. They all described mental angst and financial loss  falling behind on bills and rent. Three of the four said they likely wont return to the restaurant industry.

Its horrible. Its so dehumanizing, Redlich said. Everything on the surface level was kept to a certain appearance. Its like when you take all the dirt in the house, all that mess, and you just put it under the rug. And, yeah, it looks clean, but just dont look under the rug. Thats what it was like working there.

Ten Five Hospitality faced a May 12 deadline to respond to the requests in the deputy city attorney's April letter. Both entities said Monday they were in communication but declined to elaborate.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Some might think the scenario for last weeks mock trial involving students from Gadsdens three middle schools was far-fetched.

Members of the actual court system who were present for the event in Gadsden City High Schools auditorium begged to differ. They said it absolutely couldve come from real-life case files.

They also said that given the age group involved, the experience should serve as a warning, not just an introduction to the legal system for those present.

Eason Gibbs of Gadsden Middle School testifies for the prosecution during a mock trial Friday in Gadsden City High School's auditorium, involving students from the city's three middle schools. "Prosecutor" Mei Qu, also from Gadsden Middle, asks the questions; Gadsden Municipal Judge Nikki Tinker, who presided over the trial, is at the podium. Kayton Duke of Emma Sansom Middle School is the court reporter.

The basics:

Tasha Blackwell, 14, lives with her mother and two siblings, but spends much time alone because of their work schedules, so she spends a lot of time on her phone. She creates an account on a social media app called STUDY to chat with friends.

She receives a friend request from someone who calls himself Junior, 16, and they begin conversing regularly and exchanging photos. Junior tells her that he lives with an abusive, alcoholic father, and ultimately, he asks Tasha to run away with him. She agrees, gives her address and sneaks out of the house that night and gets in a car that hes supposed to be in.

Tasha notices that the driver doesnt look like Juniors photos, but he reassures her that hes taking her to Junior. Two hours later, they arrive at motel, the man tells her that Junior was a myth and that he actually is Mike, 27. He ties Tasha up, puts tape over her mouth, destroys her phone and drugs her.

The next day, they drive to another site and Mike tells Tasha that shes going to help him snare other kids like her. She meets and befriends another girl, Lia, 16, who says shes been there for four years and tells Tasha that if she cooperates, shell get jewelry, money and AirPods.

Tasha uses STUDY to connect with another 14-year-old, Whitney, with Mike paying her $10 a day for doing so, to set up the same scenario she fell victim to. This time, however, the police are watching as Whitney drives off with Mike and Tasha. They follow them to a hotel, then to the headquarters where everyone is arrested, with Tasha facing charges of kidnapping, solicitation and solicitation of unlawful conduct with a child.

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At issue in the mock trial: Was Tasha a victim or a criminal? Prosecutors seeking to put her away were from Gadsden Middle School. The defense team trying to keep her out of prison were from Litchfield Middle School. The jury deciding her fate was from Emma Sansom Middle School, which also provided the court reporter, bailiffs and judges clerks.

Gadsden Municipal Judge Nikki Tinker presided over the courtroom, which was kept in order (pretty much) by bailiffs strolling up and down the auditoriums aisles.

As in a real trial, jurors were sworn in, each side delivered opening and closing statements and heard testimony from witnesses, and Tinker charged the jury before sending it off to deliberations.

The judge heard and ruled on objections from the attorneys, and explained concepts like Fifth Amendment protections, perjury, beyond a reasonable doubt and burden of proof to the students.

The result: Tasha was convicted on all three counts (students in the audience were vocal in their approval) and she hauled into custody by bailiffs.

"Defendant" Lesly Ramos of Litchfield Middle School testifies during a mock trial Friday in Gadsden City High School's auditorium. At the podium is Gadsden Municipal Judge Nikki Tinker, who presided over the event that involved the city's three middle schools.

And Gadsden Middle walked away with a trophy in the third such mock trial held for the citys middle school students, plus a $500 check (Tinker specified that half of it had to be spent for an ice cream party).

Before the event, however, the judge reflected on the serious issue that was involved.

These problems are happening every day in our state, and if we dont stop and tell the truth and educate them about the importance of matters such as this, theyll fall prey to predators that are out there, Tinker said.

"So, this is an opportunity to educate them about the court system and jobs and careers that exist within the court system," she said, but also to help them be aware of those devices theyre using every day, and that there are people out there that dont have good intentions. We just want them to focus on what could happen before it actually happens. We dont want any victims in our community, and talking to them on their level is the best way to ensure that doesnt happen.

That message was reinforced by representatives of the U.S. Attorneys office for the Northern District of Alabama who were on hand: Will McComb, a prosecutor in the violent crimes division; Tonja Benninger, a victim-witness specialist; and Jasmine Fells, a community outreach specialist.

Gadsden Middle School students, along with teacher Demetria Works and Principal Chance Goodwin, pose with their trophy Friday after winning a mock trial involving students from the city's three middle schools held in Gadsden City High School's auditorium. At left is Gadsden Municipal Judge Nikki Tinker, who presided over the event.

McComb told the students that while this particular incident was imaginary, identical ones have occurred way more than once" in real life.

There are individuals online who will try to get to know you and want to be your best friend, he said. All the while, theyll be trying to get you to become safe and confident with them, and at some point they will want to meet.

He advised students that everyone you meet online is not who they say it is and not to trust anyone they dont actually know, and to never send anyone personal information or photos that you would not want your parents to see online.

McComb referenced the stranger danger scenario of the past, where predators would drive around in vans trying to lure children with candy. He said social media apps are the new vans and that attention, which so many kids crave, is the new candy.

Before the mock trial, he noted that such events introduce students to the legal world, to advocacy and to taking stances. They also help them improve their debate and public speaking skills.

Still, he returned to the main message. Its very important for these kids to hear and learn this stuff, he said, because unfortunately, theyre the members of our victim pool for these online predators. The more wisdom and knowledge they can gain on the front end, it will help them avoid those situations.

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Students from Gadsden's middle schools take part in mock trial
 Read the full article on Motorious

He died doing what he loved best

Its always tragic to hear of a fellow enthusiast killed while behind the wheel of their beloved car, but thats exactly what happened to 55-year-old Shaun Rees back on April 30. The Volkswagen enthusiast was on his way home after attending a car show when he was fatally injured in a crash in Cornwall.

See how a classic Trans Am terrorized an Australian neighborhood here.

According to a report from Cornwall Live, the stretch of road where Rees was killed had been shut down by police as they conducted an investigation. Few details about the crash were provided to the media, even though the investigation had been completed. That means we still know precious little about what led up to Rees death.

What we do know is a man in his 70s who was driving a Ford was transported to the hospital with minor injuries after the crash. Sadly, some classic cars do very poorly in crashes with modern, heavy cars, particularly trucks and full-size SUVs. This is why we caution everyone to be particularly aware when driving to and from events in your hobby car. Still, vigilance alone might not always save you.

Rees family released a statement to the public, which was relayed by Cornwall Live: The wife and family of Shaun Rees would like to say thank you for all the kind messages and calls received after the sudden loss of a very special person. Shaun was a loveable, caring, funny person, who lived and loved his life for his family, friends and his VWs.

Shaun was an active member of The Historic Volkswagen Club Committee, tragically taken from us on his way home from Stanford Hall VW Show proudly with his Concours Class award. You will always be in our hearts, our memories and our thoughts Shaun."

Image via Facebook

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You are here: China

Overseas returnees visit a job fair during the 19th Conference on International Exchange of Professionals in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, April 24, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]

China's Ministry of Education will hold a special employment promotional campaign from May to August to ensure high-quality and full employment among college graduates this year.

The campaign around graduation season will focus on five tasks, including creating more jobs, improving employment guidance, and strengthening assistance for key groups, the ministry said on Monday.

Universities and colleges are required to continue inviting employers to recruitment activities on campuses, and to encourage graduates to find jobs at grassroots levels.

Before this, about 2.53 million new jobs had been created for fresh graduates via a separate employment promotional campaign launched by the ministry last November, with 2,415 universities and colleges participating.

China will see a record 11.58 million college graduates this year, earlier data shows.
The Las Vegas Trail area of Fort Worth is getting a health clinic, leaders announced Tuesday.

The neighborhood near Interstate 30 in west Fort Worth has lacked many of the most basic health services for years, leaving residents with few options to get preventive check-ups or regular care for chronic conditions. The area doesnt have any family doctors, pediatricians or health clinics, according to a neighborhood transformation plan.

Now, a neighborhood clinic will open in the area and be operated jointly by the JPS Health Network and Cook Childrens Medical Center, two of the largest health providers in Tarrant County. JPS CEO and President Dr. Karen Duncan announced news of the clinic at a Commissioners Court meeting.

The clinic will be built on 3.7 acres of land at the intersection of Calmont Avenue and Cherry Lane, Duncan said. The land was donated to Cook Childrens, she said.

A 2017 article in the Star-Telegram highlighted the areas more pressing challenges, including high rates of poverty and crime and limited access to fresh food, public transportation, high-quality housing, and health care. Since 2017, leaders have focused on one area of the neighborhood in particular, bordered by Interstate 30 and Camp Bowie Boulevard West to the north and south and Cherry Lane and Loop 820 to the east and west. The nonprofit LVT Rise opened a community center, and has spearheaded planning for the neighborhoods future with leaders like council member Michael Crain, who represents the neighborhood on City Council. The neighborhood is also known as Western Hills or Western Hills North.

Currently, the closest health provider is the North Texas Area Community Health Center, a federally-funded health clinic that treats many patients with public health insurance or without health insurance. For a resident of Las Vegas Trail who doesnt have a car, it would take them well over an hour to get to the health center: A 20-minute walk to a bus station, a 32-minute bus ride, and then another 20-minute walk to finally get to the clinic.

The neighborhood transformation plan, published last year, outlined providing health services in the heart of the neighborhood as one of its top priorities. The plan also calls for major investments in public and neighborhood health, including more parks and open spaces, roads and sidewalks that allow for safer walking, more access to fresh food, and better public transportation as essential to improving health for residents.

Details about when construction would begin, when the clinic would open, and which entity would operate it were not immediately available.
British pop band S Club 7 have undergone a rebrand as S Club for their upcoming tour, after losing two members.

Paul Cattermole, an original member from when the band formed in 1998, was found at his home in Dorset on 6 April  he was pronounced dead later that afternoon aged 46. Police confirmed there were no suspicious circumstance surrounding the death, the cause of which has not been disclosed.

This week, it was announced that Hannah Spearritt, 42, was pulling out of the groups 25th anniversary tour.

This leaves the band as a five-piece, consisting of Jo OMeara, 44, Jon Lee, 41, Rachel Stevens, 45, Tina Barrett, 46, and Bradley McIntosh, 41.

The number seven has been removed from the groups social media and website.

In an emotional video posted on the groups Instagram, Lee said: We have been in a bit of shock, and it has taken a while for us to find the right words to describe how we feel about losing our brother Paul.

Stevens added: Just taking the time to process and get our heads around it all, and also taking time to share time together so that we could remember Paul and all the memories we had together.

Barrett said: It is just really sad, it is really, really hard to process it right now.

McIntosh, meanwhile, told fans that the band members are all still in so much disbelief.

He said that Cattermole was a big brother to us, all of us and you guys out there, adding: He truly was a unique specimen of human being.

No one could replace our Paul, he lives on inside in each and every one of us.

OMeara said: Whenever Paul would walk into the room, you definitely knew that he was there because he would just light it up with humour and love  just a really special person.

Barrett broke down into tears as he explained that the tour has been renamed the Good Times tour in memory of Cattermole.

He said: That was his song and all the fans knew it was his song, so it just feels right.

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Of Spearritt  who was in a relationship with Cattermole in the 2000s and briefly in 2015  he said: 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.

We wish her all the best for the future.

The current five band members are still planning to reunite in October for a 25th anniversary tour of the UK and Ireland.

In 1999, S Club 7 reached No 1 with their debut single Bring It All Back. Other hits in later years included S Club Party and Dont Stop Movin.

When S Club 7 disbanded in 2003, the group had recorded four studio albums and sold more than 10 million records worldwide.
A U.S.-made Patriot air defense system was likely damaged in the Russian May 16 missile attack on Kyiv but not destroyed, as Russia previously claimed, an unnamed U.S. official told CNN.

Russian Defense Ministry said it allegedly struck a Patriot system with a Kinzhal ballistic missile overnight on May 16. However, Ukraine's Air Force reported destroying all Russian missiles targeting Ukraine during this attack, including six Kinzhals.

"We cannot comment on this. We'll stay out of commenting on Russian sources," the Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat told CNN about the Russian claim.

Air Force: Ukraine shoots down 18 Russian missiles overnight, including 6 Kinzhals Ukrainian air defense successfully shot down all of the 18 Russian missiles targeting Ukraine overnight, including six Kinzhal ballistic missiles, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, commander in chief of Ukraines Armed Forces, and the Air Force reported on May 16. Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk

According to the unnamed U.S. official, cited by CNN, the extent of the purported damage to the Patriot missile system is currently being assessed. The assessment is said to determine if the system can be repaired on-site or will have to be shipped back to the U.S.

The White House neither confirmed nor denied the information provided by CNN.

"I cannot confirm the reports about the Patriot system being damaged in Ukraine," National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said on May 16.



"But if there was damage done that needed to be repaired outside Ukraine, we would certainly assist with that," he added.

There is no visual evidence of the reported damage to the Patriot system at the moment.

Russia has targeted the American air defense system with hypersonic missiles before, including on May 4, U.S. officials told CNN. The attack was unsuccessful as the Ukrainian military managed to intercept the missile using the Patriot system itself, they said.

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Ukraine received two Patriot air defense systems at the end of April, which are viewed as one of the world's best air defense systems, enabling Ukraine to shoot down ballistic missiles.

The U.S. provided one of them, and Germany and the Netherlands jointly supplied the other. According to CNN, it is unclear which system was purportedly damaged by the Russian May 16 attack.

Ukraine's Air Force admitted on May 6 that it shot down a Kinzhal ballistic missile for the first time since the start of the war.

Kinzhals are Russian-made hypersonic air-launched ballistic missiles with a range of 2,000 kilometers. Previously, air defense couldn't shoot them down, according to Ukrainian authorities.
Ukraine has already used long-range Storm Shadow missiles, obtained from Great Britain, to strike Russian targets.

Source: According to European Pravda, CNN was informed about this by two US officials and one official of another Western country, who are familiar with the information.

Details: CNN's sources did not specify when exactly and for what purposes the Ukrainian side used Storm Shadow. A representative of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine declined to comment.

Storm Shadow is a long-range cruise missile jointly developed by Britain and France. Its firing range exceeds 250 kilometres.

Reminder:

Last week, Britain transferred Storm Shadow long-range missiles to Ukraine, and the day before, the British government announced its intention to transfer hundreds of new attack drones to Ukraine with a flight range of more than 200 km.

In addition, French President Emmanuel Macron hinted at the transfer of long-range missiles to Ukraine.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
One person was found dead by Colombian rescuers after a plane crashed in the Amazon, but six passengers are still missing in the dense forest area

An intense rescue effort was underway Tuesday to find six passengers, including four children, who have disappeared since the small plane they were traveling in crashed in the Amazon, Colombia's aviation authority said.

The airplane disappeared from radars on May 1 during a journey over the Amazon rainforest in the southern Caqueta department, the Civil Aviation authority said in a statement.

Rescuers found one dead body "inside the aircraft" on Monday but the "six other passengers, including four children, were not found in the airplane nor the surrounding area," the statement added.

Avianline Charter, the company that operated the commercial flight, confirmed the dead body was of the pilot.

The army published photos on Twitter of the plane wedged vertically into thick vegetation with its nose crushed into the ground.

The airplane had left from a jungle location on May 1 heading for San Jose del Guaviare, one of the main cities in Colombia's Amazon rainforest, when it disappeared from radars.

Authorities have yet to determine the reasons for the crash but rescuers have already spent hundreds of hours searching for the missing passengers.

Soldiers and Indigenous communities living close to the crash site have found personal belongings and even a partly eaten apple, leading to the belief that there must have been survivors walking somewhere in the remote jungle area.

das/lv/llu/bc/des
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP)  Colombian rebel leader Pablo Beltran said on Monday that peace talks between his National Liberation Army and the government have been put on pause due to remarks made last week by President Gustavo Petro.

Petro questioned whether members of the rebel group's delegation in Cuba could effectively control the actions of their own commanders on the battlefield. He also said the younger leaders of the group, known as the ELN, were motivated not by political goals, but by drug trafficking profits.

In an interview published on Youtube by the ELNs communication team, Beltran said that delegations from both sides would have to meet to examine the comments by Colombia's president before issues like a ceasefire and rural development schemes can continue to be discussed. The negotiations began in November and have failed to produce any major breakthroughs so far.

The ELN was recognized as an armed rebel group by Colombias government during the last round of talks which took place in Mexico, a designation that enables it to seek policy changes in peace talks instead of just negotiating reduced sentences for their crimes. Beltran argued that Petros recent comments are putting its status as a political organization in jeopardy.

If they are saying one thing in the negotiations, while the president says another we feel like we are stuck in the middle, Beltran said. So we are asking for an explanation.

During a speech to military officers on Friday, Petro described members of the ELNs peace delegation as elderly leaders who were interested in discussing political changes. But he questioned whether younger ELN commanders who lead troops on the ground have the same kind of goals.

They may use the same banners, Petro said. But what motivates them is (profiting from) illicit economies. Petro added that elderly leaders like Beltran were willing to sit down and talk. But are they really in charge?

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The ELN was founded in the 1960s by union leaders, students and priests inspired by the Cuban revolution. It is Colombias largest remaining rebel group and has been notoriously difficult for previous Colombian governments to negotiate with.

In 2016, Colombias government signed a peace deal with the larger FARC group that ended five decades of conflict in which an estimated 260,000 people were killed. But violence has continued to affect rural pockets of the country where the ELN has been fighting the Gulf Clan and FARC holdout groups for the control of drug trafficking routes and other resources.

Petro promised during his presidential campaign that he would seek peace deals with all of Colombias major armed groups by rolling out a strategy he described as total peace.

But a ceasefire between the Colombian government and the Gulf Clan broke down in March, while negotiations with FARC holdout groups are still in preliminary stages.
As the dynamics on the world stage get more complicated, our adversaries only get bolder in their attempts to bring the U.S. to its knees. And they arent relying on a traditional stratagem to do it. Thats why we must prepare for a new kind of warfare. The next global conflict wont occur on the battlefield but in the cyber field, and we arent ready.

The last several years have shown us concerning developments in our adversaries approach to cybercrime. While reported cyber incidents decreased last year, our adversaries have grown more sophisticated in their approach. As we evolve our defenses, our adversaries evolve their tactics.

This is a game of one-upmanship and were losing.

For example, multi-extortion tacticswhere an attacker exfiltrates data to extort a victim before their data is locked in a ransomware attackoccurred in about 70% of ransomware cases, compared to only 40% in mid-2021. Our adversaries ability to exploit the very technology Americans rely on day in and day out is extremely concerning.

Cyber criminals and malicious nation states do not distinguish between industries, business size, or geographical location. These attackers use domestic-based infrastructure to launch attacks on U.S. soil. Leveraging domestic cloud infrastructure, email providers, and other services, bad actors disguise themselves as legitimate network traffic to evade detection.

Preventing and disrupting these attacks will require enhanced public-private partnerships. In the 2018 National Cyber Strategy, the Trump administration called out this challenge and the need to address it. Meanwhile, the Biden administration continues to grapple with a response to this growing threat trend in its 2023 National Cybersecurity Strategy. This is a time for decisive leadership, not hesitation.

While cyber criminals take advantage of gaps in our visibility over domestic infrastructure, foreign nation states, such as Russia, give them safe harbor and shelter them from prosecution. In April 2021, the Biden administration levied sanctions on Russia in part for cultivating and shielding cyber criminals. These sanctions, while necessary, have clearly not been enough to deter Russian-based attacks.

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To mitigate the risk of the increasingly complex cyber threat landscape and to deter the harboring of cyber criminals by nations, the U.S. must take a strong, cross-sector, and whole-of-government approach.

Serving as Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee and on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I see the immense value of our government agencies working together to address the threat both from home and abroad. Unfortunately, cyber defense is often siloed within each government agency, leaving gaps in communication and interagency cooperation.

The creation of the State Departments new Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy gives us a tremendous opportunity to improve this interagency cooperation. To make the best of this opportunity, the State Department must prioritize efforts to engage the international community in addressing the growing threat from cybercrime as well as cyber aggression from nation states like China. This should be done in close coordination with the Office of the National Cyber Director, which Congress created to streamline efforts across the government, including with our international partners. Doing this will improve our collective cybersecurity.

As Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, I have oversight responsibility over the Department of Homeland Security, including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. CISA plays a vital role in protecting our domestic infrastructure, but over 80% of critical infrastructure is privately owned and operated. This means success is dependent on a voluntary relationship framework, not duplicative bureaucratic red-tape. CISA must build trust and establish close partnerships with the private sector and other government stakeholders, like the State Department and ONCD, to share timely, actionable, and contextualized information to stop cyber-attacks in their tracks.

The need for increased information sharing between the federal government and private industry is not new; it has been a foundational dilemma in cybersecurity for years. CISAs recent efforts, such as the Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative, are steps in the right direction. But its clear that this effort is a work in progress, and Congress must play a role in refining the process.

This is just a small facet of a complicated threat picture. However, an overarching strategy to guide individual agency and sector efforts across government and industry will help combat cyber threats. The Biden administrations National Cybersecurity Strategy has the potential to be that strategic guide, as long as a strong and clear implementation plan follows.

When it comes to our nations cyber defenses, time is of the essence. Every minute our networks are not properly defended and prepared to meet new threats gives our foreign adversaries the upper hand.

Cybercriminals and nation states do not consider the agencies involved or the boundaries between sectors when they plot and carry out attacks, so it is imperative that our government agencies and the private sector work together to defeat them before its too late.

Rep. Mark Green, a Republican, is a physician and combat veteran of Afghanistan and Iraq, where he served three tours. He is chair of the House Homeland Security Committee and serves on the House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs Committees.

Have an Opinion?

This article is an Op-Ed and the opinions expressed are those of the author. If you would like to respond, or have an editorial of your own you would like to submit, please email C4ISRNET and Federal Times Senior Managing Editor Cary OReilly.
According to the investigation, the Ukrainian military cooperated with the Russians during the battles for Mariupol last spring

The head of the logistical support unit of the 501st Separate Marine Infantry Battalion reportedly changed allegiance and defected to the enemy.

The department recalled that at the time, Russian propagandists spread falsehoods claiming that Ukrainian military personnel voluntarily surrendered in the besieged Mariupol.

Read also: Over 1,000 residential buildings in Mariupol destroyed by Russians, says city mayor

In reality, the marine infantry leader conspired with the Russians and effectively convinced the commander to surrender. The traitor urged the commander to cease defensive actions, surrender weapons, and personnel. The 277 battalion servicemen were given orders for relocation, but in fact, they were transferred to the so-called DPR (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

The military personnel were deceived, and thus, they were not aware and could not comprehend the unlawful nature of the order or directive to surrender in captivity, the bureau said.

The DBR has decided to close the proceedings against the 277 military personnel of the 501st Separate Marine Infantry Battalion suspected of desertion. This provides grounds for the authorized bodies to restore the violated rights of the captured marines concerning payments to their families, the DBR added.

The investigation also revealed that the suspect involved in high treason continued his treasonous activities even after the incident in Mariupol.

Read also: Russia distributes 40,000 passports in occupied Mariupol, official says

After relocating to his hometown of Berdyansk, which is occupied by the Russian forces, he resumed his efforts to agitate Ukrainian military personnel to switch sides in exchange for rewards, and provided the occupiers with information on the deployment of Ukrainian forces and defense capabilities. The investigation identified at least three relevant instances from April to June 2022.

The suspect faces a potential sentence of life imprisonment.

Read also: Head of Ukraines Supreme Court arrested after accepting $2.7 million bribe

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The DBR has not disclosed the name of the suspect. According to sources of NVs sister publication, Ukrainska Pravda, the case concerns Senior Lieutenant Kostiantyn Bezsmertnyi.

In April of last year, it became known that a marine infantry battalion surrendered in Mariupol under unclear circumstances. They had held positions in the area near the Ilyich Steel Mill.

Read also: Traitorous former pro-Russian MP Voloshyn faces 15 years in prison

Read also: Former MP Kuzmin ordered arrested in absentia, with no bail option  DBR

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: After a review, The Oklahoman has determined it did not make a robust enough effort to interview Oklahoma County Commissioner Brian Maughan for our May 14 story on the rise of deaths at the county jail. The commissioner says he was willing to be interviewed. We apologize for this lapse. In this story we asked him the questions we would have asked for that story.

Brian Maughan, District 2 commissioner for Oklahoma County, had a message Monday for those seeking answers to the mounting deaths at the Oklahoma County jail.

In short order, were going to be able to break ground on a new facility and things will be night and day different whenever were in the new facility, and I'm just asking for their patience between now and then as were all hanging tight, trying to get there, Maughan said from his office in downtown Oklahoma City.

An investigation by The Oklahoman, published Sunday, revealed that inmates die in the Oklahoma County jail, which currently holds an average of nearly 1,600 inmates a day, at a rate four and five times greater than inmates at some of the nations largest, and most troubled jail systems.

Broken Trust: How the Oklahoma County jail leadership failed those it sought to protect

The number of deaths remained relatively steady from 2018 through 2020, when it had a rate of 4.09 deaths per 1,000 inmates. That rate soared in 2021, its first full year under the leadership of the Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Authority, known as the jail trust, to 10.13, and remained at 9.12 in 2022.

The COVID-19 pandemic accounted for some of that surge, but no other jail in the more than dozen large jails The Oklahoman examined experienced as significant a rise.

A combined total of 43 inmate deaths  including homicides, suicides and fatal drug overdoses  since the trust took over facility management from the sheriffs office nearly three years ago.

District 1 Commissioner Carrie Blumert said Monday she hoped The Oklahoman's investigation would "do what is intended to do, which is to put pressure on elected officials, appointed trustees and (Jail Administrator) Brandi Garner" to take the critical steps needed to reduce deaths at the jail.

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From the day it opened in 1991, the jail has been fraught with problems, from crumbling infrastructure to overcrowding.

Living Hell: The untold realiuty of the Oklahoma County jail

New jail aims to reduce deaths, solve infrastructure problems at current facility

Maughan said Monday that much has been done to fix infrastructure, and there are fewer inmates daily booked into the jail, but a new facility is the key to alleviating many of the Oklahoma County jails problems.

Voters last June approved a $260 million bond package to fund a new jail facility, which supporters believe is the long-needed solution in Oklahoma County.

Maughan estimates the new jail  which wont have the high-rise design that causes logistical problems at the current location  to open in three to five years.

But he also wants enough land in the jails new location to create a criminal justice complex with a courtroom, offices and spaces for lawyers and bail bondsmen to lease out.

Such a complex would help get inmates through the local criminal justice system more quickly, he said.

It would ultimately be to keep everybody as expeditiously as possible processed through, not changing the outcome of the justice thats going to be rendered, he said.

'This never had to happen.' McFadden's delayed trial before Henryetta killings prompts calls for reform

Jail trust should not be dissolved, commissioner says

Maughan also spoke forcefully about not dissolving the jail trust and reverting control of the jail back to the sheriffs office.

We dont want to go backwards, he said. I dont care if it was my own mother that was in charge of the jail, thats too much responsibility, in my opinion, vested in one person.

The nine-member trust provides checks and balances, and more transparency, he said.

More: Oklahoma County jail trust hires new CEO despite recent inmate deaths

However, in March, a multicounty grand jury slammed the trust in a 15-page report and called for it to cease to exist.

The grand jury recommended that the jail be turned back over to the sheriff.

Maughan said he was subpoenaed for the grand jurys investigation, but never got to testify.

I also point out that the grand jury did not find anything indictable and they did an exhaustive search, Maughan said. It cost the jail trust around a million dollars to defend itself through that, and thats $1 million less well have for this fiscal budget only to find out that there was nothing that the grand jury found to issue an indictment over.

Maughan said he understands the temptation for the public to place blame on anyone who oversees the jail, whether it be a trust or a sheriff.

But he repeatedly asked for the publics patience in fixing what has been, for decades, a county embarrassment.

Things are better and were going to continue to make things better to the extent we can in that facility, and help is on the way, thanks to the voters approving a new jail, he said.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: New Oklahoma County jail building can alleviate systemic issues, leaders say
On duty police officers are accused of stealing two unopened, expensive champagne bottles from a group of concertgoers in a VIP area at an electronic music festival, officials said.

Soon after the festival attendees briefly left their table, one watched as NYPD detective Jonathan Gonzalez, 33, snatched the Ace of Spades bottles off their table on Sept. 3 at Electric Zoo Music Festival in New York City, according to court documents and statements.

Gonzalez is accused of bringing the bottles, worth $2,900 in total, to a table where fellow detectives Wojciech Czech, 44, and Warren Golden, 31, were standing and grabbed a backpack, the Manhattan District Attorneys Office said.

The concertgoer witnessed Czech give the bottles back to Gonzalez, who is said to have stuffed them in his backpack as Golden stood by, according to the district attorneys office.

Gonzalez, Czech and Golden, who were on narcotics enforcement duty at the festival, were indicted in connection with the incident, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr. announced in a May 15 news release.

Gonzalez and Czech are charged with one count of fourth-degree grand larceny and fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, according to Bragg. Golden and Gonzalez are charged with one count of official misconduct.

In addition to the alleged theft that occurred, none of these Officers stepped up and stopped this activity, Bragg said in a statement.

Attorney Oliver S. Storch, who represents Czech, told McClatchy News in a statement on May 16 that his client has pleaded not guilty and is shocked and saddened by the accusations.

Attorney Jacob Weinstein, who represents Golden, said he expects his client to be totally vindicated in the matter and the charge against his client is simply not supported by the facts in a statement provided to McClatchy News on May 16. He pleaded not guilty.

Czech and Golden still work for the NYPD, according to Storch and Weinstein.

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Peter Brill, who represents Gonzalez, told The New York Times that Gonzalez will be cleared of the charges. Gonzalez pleaded not guilty at an arraignment on Monday, according to the outlet.

McClatchy News attempted to contact Brill for comment on May 16 and didnt immediately receive a response.

The concertgoers confront the detectives, officials say

After officials say they stole the champagne, the detectives headed to a restricted area for employees and were stopped by a security officer, the release said.

Two concertgoers trailed behind them and confronted them, according to officials.

As a result, the champagne bottles were seized from Gonzalezs backpack and handed back to the concertgoers, officials said. Then, the NYPD was alerted to the incident, the release said.

Czech and Golden are due back in court on June 20, court records show.

Storch said Czech, whos a 10-year veteran law enforcement professional, is asking the public to withhold judgment until these charges can be fully addressed in the appropriate forum.

Weinstein said the district attorneys office should never have brought this allegation against Officer Golden.

Electric Zoo is held each year on Randalls Island. The 2022 show, which took place from Sept. 2 through 4, was headlined by Diplo, Porter Robinson, DJ Snake, Martin Garrix and more.

Sheriffs office worker steals $150,000 in cash from traffic fine payments, feds say

Cops wife accused of bilking real estate company out of $500,000, Georgia police say

Caregiver stole womans life savings and bought beach house and cars, AL officials say
A citizen walks by a fountain amid high temperature in Minhang District of east China's Shanghai, July 10, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua]

Most regions of China are forecast to experience their first heat wave of the year this week, with maximum temperatures soaring to 37 C in some areas, the China Meteorological Administration said on Monday.

An El Nino system is building along the equator in the eastern Pacific Ocean, which could send global average temperatures soaring to a record high this year or in 2024, the CMA said.

Several regions, including Beijing and Tianjin municipalities, Hebei and Henan provinces and the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, are expected to see temperatures rising above 35 C on Tuesday and Wednesday. Northern parts of Shandong province are forecast to experience temperatures around 37 C, according to weather forecasters.

Large parts of the country have seen a rapid increase in their maximum temperatures, with Jinan in Shandong province and Xingtai in Hebei province hitting 37 C and Beijing hitting 35 C on Monday.

The Shandong provincial meteorological service issued a yellow alert for high temperatures, the lowest in the three-tier warning system, at 6 am on Monday. In the cities of Jinan, Dongying and Zibo, temperatures are expected to touch 37 C on Tuesday, the meteorological service said.

In a news release on May 3, the World Meteorological Organization had said the likelihood of an El Nino occurring in the second half of the year is increasing, and the event would fuel high temperatures globally.

El Nino is a naturally occurring climate phenomenon that starts with unusually warm surface water in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, which then changes weather worldwide. It occurs on average every two to seven years, and one episode typically lasts nine to 12 months, the WMO said.

Zhou Bing, chief expert at the National Climate Center, said: "The appearance of an El Nino will inevitably cause abnormal weather and climate events in regions, or globally. ... The last super El Nino occurred from autumn 2014 to spring 2016, during which temperatures were the warmest since 1850."

A strong El Nino may increase precipitation in the Yangtze River Basin, which in turn will increase the chances of a warm winter, Zhou added.

Various analyses suggest that 2023 or 2024 will very likely set a record for the warmest year globally, the National Climate Center said.

Surface water in the eastern Pacific is rapidly warming up, and a persistent warm water situation can lead to longer periods of abnormal climate, it said. Some countries around the tropical Pacific, including those in North America, East Asia and South Asia, will be the first to be affected by an El Nino, it added.
discriminating algorithms Illustrated/Getty Images

The threat of bias in the latest wave of generative artificial intelligence may be in the spotlight lately, but social media algorithms already have discrimination problems. Some creators from marginalized communities have expressed frustration with how the algorithms appeared biased against them, robbing them of critical engagement.

How do social media algorithms discriminate against some creators?

While content that doesn't violate any explicit terms can't be outright banned, social media companies still have ways of suppressing the work of some creators. Shadow-bans are "a form of online censorship where you're still allowed to speak, but hardly anyone gets to hear you," The Washington Post explained. Their content might not be removed, but some creators notice that engagement with their posts plummets outside of their immediate friends. "Even more maddening, no one tells you it's happening," the Post added.

Content creators have long decried the lack of transparency with shadow-bans. Late last year, the practice made headlines when Twitter owner Elon Musk released the Twitter Files, internal company documents intended to show how "shadow-banning was being used to suppress conservative views," the Post said.

Shadow-banning is a form of algorithmic bias that disproportionately affects specific demographics because the "unconscious biases of the developers are embedded in the systems they create," Annie Brown wrote for Forbes. Additionally, "algorithms are trained by data gathered from human history, a history replete with violence, inequity, bias and cruelty," Brown posited. Shadow-bans are "just one symptom of the inherent bias, racism and marginalization algorithms have detected and AI has co-opted," Brown opined. "Seen this way, AI, under the guise of observation and platform moderation, has embedded our cultural biases and threatens to perpetuate discriminatory human behavior."

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Who has accused social media companies of algorithmic bias?

Black creators have been speaking out about their content being suppressed since TikTok was accused of suppressing the content of Black creators during the George Floyd protests in 2020. The company later released a statement apologizing for a "technical glitch" that made it temporarily appear that "posts uploaded using #BlackLivesMatter and #GeorgeFloyd would receive 0 views." Some creators alleged that their engagement still went down after posting content with those hashtags.

The following year, creators pointed out that terms like "Black Lives Matter'' and "Black people" were flagged as inappropriate by the automated moderation system. In contrast, words like "white supremacy" or "white success" did not trigger a warning. Black dancers and choreographers also alleged that TikTok's recommendation algorithm prioritized white creators who copied their dances without giving them credit. This eventually led them to have a content strike on the platform that year.

LGBTQ+ content creators have also raised concerns about their posts being taken down with little to no explanation, a practice labeled as "the digital closet" by researcher and author Alexander Monea in his book of the same name. For his book about the overpolicing of LGBTQ-centered online spaces, Monea spent two years looking through data and collecting anecdotes from LGBTQ+ social media users who reported "being censored, silenced or demonetized," ABC News explained.

"Once the internet is largely controlled by a very few companies that all use an advertising model to drive their revenue, what you get is an overpoliced sort of internet space," Monea told ABC's "Perspective" podcast.

When Tumblr adopted an adult content ban in 2018, reports that the ban disproportionately affected LGBTQ+ users led to an investigation by New York City's Commission on Human Rights. In an interview, Monea said the "automated content moderation algorithms that Tumblr implemented to help institute its new ban" was "comically inept but with tragic consequences." Many LGBTQ+ users lost all of their content "with no redress and no way to recover their lost content or user base," Monea added.

In 2022, Tumblr reached a settlement with New York City's Commission on Human Rights after an investigation was launched into the allegations of discrimination against LGBTQ+ users. The settlement required the platform to "revise its user appeals process and train its human moderators on diversity and inclusion issues, as well as review thousands of old cases and hire an expert to look for potential bias in its moderation algorithms," The Verge summarized.

How do creators cope with algorithmic bias?

To avoid the looming threat of shadow-banning, some content creators have taken to using workarounds "such as not using certain images, keywords or hashtags or by using a coded language known as algospeak," the Post explained.

"There's a line we have to toe; it's an unending battle of saying something and trying to get the message across without directly saying it," TikTok creator Sean Szolek-VanValkenburgh told the Post. "It disproportionately affects the LGBTQIA community and the BIPOC community because we're the people creating that verbiage and coming up with the colloquiums."

Some creators have attempted to fight against social media companies accused of discriminatory moderation with lawsuits. However, "bias allegations against social media platforms have rarely succeeded in court," The Verge noted. YouTube won two lawsuits from LGBTQ+ and Black video creators who alleged algorithmic discrimination.

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Austrian online privacy activist Max Schrems in the office of his privacy campaign group NOYB (None Of Your Business)

Five years after Europe enacted sweeping data protection legislation, prominent online privacy activist Max Schrems says he still has a lot of work to do as tech giants keep dodging the rules.

The 35-year-old Austrian lawyer and his Vienna-based privacy campaign group NOYB (None Of Your Business) is currently handling no fewer than 800 complaints in various jurisdictions on behalf of internet users.

"For an average citizen, it's almost impossible right now to enforce your rights", Schrems told AFP.

"For us as an organisation, it's already a lot of work to do that" given the system's complexity due to the regulators' varying requirements, he added.

The 2018 General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) imposes strict rules on how companies can use and store personal data, with the threat of huge fines for firms breaching them.

While hundreds of millions of euros in fines have been imposed following complaints filed by NOYB, Schrems said the GDPR is hardly ever enforced.

And that's a "big problem", he added.

He said the disregard for fundamental rights such as data privacy is almost comparable to "a dictatorship".

"The difference between reality and the law is just momentous," Schrems added.

- 'Annoying' cookies -

Instead of tackling the problems raised by the GDPR, companies resort to "window dressing" while framing the rules as an "annoying law" full of "crazy cookie banners", according to Schrems.

Under the regulation, companies have been obliged to seek user consent to install "cookies" enabling browsers to save information about a user's online habits to serve up highly targeted ads.

Industry data suggests only three percent of internet users actually approve of cookies, but more than 90 percent are pressured to consent due to a "deceptive design" which mostly features "accept" buttons.

Stymied by the absence of a simple "yes or no" option and overwhelmed by a deluge of pop-ups, users get so fed up that they simply give up, Schrems said.

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Contrary to the law's intent, the burden is being "shifted to the individual consumer, who should figure it out".

Even though society now realises the importance of the right to have private information be forgotten or removed from the internet, real control over personal data is still far-off, the activist said.

But NOYB has been helping those who want to take back control by launching privacy rights campaigns that led companies to adopt "reject" buttons.

- Shift of business model -

Regulators have imposed big penalties on companies that violated GDPR rules: Facebook owner Meta, whose European headquarters are in Dublin, was hit with fines totalling 390 million euros ($424 million) in January.

One reason why tech giants like Google or Meta as well as smaller companies choose against playing by the GDPR rules is because circumventing them pays off, Schrems said.

Thriving on the use of private data, tech behemoths make "10 to 20 times more money by violating the law, even if they get slapped with the maximum fine", he added.

Contacted by AFP, both companies said they were working hard to make sure their practices complied with the regulations.

Schrems also accuses national regulators of either being indifferent or lacking the resources to seriously investigate complaints.

"It's a race to the bottom," Schrems said. "Each country has its own way of not getting anything done".

Buoyed by his past legal victories, Schrems looks to what he calls the "bold" EU Court of Justice to bring about change as it "usually is a beacon of hope in all of this".

Meanwhile, the European Commission is considering a procedures regulation to underpin and clarify the GDPR.

In the long-run, however, the situation will only improve once large companies "fundamentally shift their business models".

But that would require companies to stop being "as crazy profitable as they are right now," Schrems said.

anb/bg/kym/lth/iwd
Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast

Steve Bannons nihilist fight with the Jan. 6 Committeein which the right-wing podcaster and one-time Donald Trump adviser ignored a congressional subpoena and ended up convicted of a crimecost him more than half a million dollars.

And thats not to mention the four-month jail sentence hell start if his appeal fails or the $6,500 fine that goes along with it.

Instead, Bannons $601,000 bill comes entirely in the form of legal billsmost of which remain unpaid to this day.

Documents filed in New York state court detail just how Bannon racked up such a tab engaging in a futileand ultimately failedlegal battle against the bipartisan Jan. 6 panel, which sought answers about Bannons role in the violent MAGA assault on the Capitol Building.

Steve Bannon Claims He Was Swatted At D.C. War Room Studio

Unlike dozens of witnesses who showed upsome of whom simply refused to answer questionsBannon just didnt appear. He proudly resisted all attempts to get him to sit down with congressional investigators, instead leaving it up to his New York lawyer to write defiant letters to the panel and federal prosecutors.

Those few letters and phone calls alone cost Bannon $127,137, according to a Daily Beast tally of figures in court filings. And they too served as a pointless exercise, as Bannons defense attorney Robert Costellos entreaties to Jan. 6 Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-MS) and prosecutors went unheeded when the panel held him in contempt of Congress and the Justice Department decided to criminally charge him.

Its extremely rare for the public to get an inside look at exactly how much it costs to fight Congress and the feds, but Bannons legal bills are now on full display. Thats because he refused to pay his own attorneysand thoroughly pissed them off too.

The Daily Beast first broke the news about Bannons intransigence in February, and one of those lawyers sued him a week later.

That lawsuit claimed that Bannon still owed his Long Island defense lawyer Costello some $480,487. But Costellos firm, Davidoff Hutcher & Citron, has since submitted its accounting records into the court file.

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Those documents purport to show how Costello was furiously at work trying to hold off Thompsons committee and the feds just a day after Bannon was issued a congressional subpoena on Sept. 23, 2021, in which lawmakers demanded Bannon testify about his role in fomenting the insurrection to keep Trump in power. But the level of detail shows just what it takes to fight and lose.

USA-ELECTION/CPAC REUTERS/Nathan Howard

For example, Bannon got charged $6,125 when Costello clocked a full day on Oct. 18, 2021 to read a new lawsuit filed by Trump asserting a baloney theory of executive privilege, write a letter to the committee asking for a delay, and review a letter from the White House notifying Bannons team that President Joe Biden wouldnt assert any executive privilegethus significantly undermining the right-wingers excuse.

Bannon got charged another $5,950 the next day, when Costello received a letter from Thompson rejecting the podcasters plea for time and watched the nighttime televised hearing in which the committee voted to hold Bannon in contempt.

But the 71 pages of legal bills also show how Bannondespite appearing to have steady financial support from a controversial Chinese billionaire and alleged fraudsterroutinely fell behind on his bills. And the documents show how Costello kept diligently working on Bannons case, despite his clients financial tardiness.

By the time Costello had put in nearly 300 hours of work over five months, and billed just over a quarter-million dollars, Bannon had only forked over $6,611. He paid another $120,000 during the next few months as the bills kept piling up, using his podcast companys bank account to wire the funds. Records show that Warroom LLCs account at TD Bank wired the money.

But he noticeably stopped paying before his federal trial started during the summer of 2022and never paid another cent to Costellos firm after the team lost in court.

By the end of the case, internal law firm records show that Bannon still had $480,487 outstanding.

In New York state court, Costellos firm has pointed to its retainer agreement where Bannon signed a promise to pay the bills, a document where he listed himself at the same address as his company, Bannon Strategic Advisors, which is located in a nondescript Los Angeles shopping plaza that includes a sushi joint, a light bulb store, and a vegan restaurant.

Bannons current lawyer, Harlan Protass, could not be reached for comment.

Bannon Associate Sentenced to 4+ Years for Border Wall Donor Fraud

The legal mess, which was entirely avoidable, promises to air a ton of dirty laundry for a right-wing extremist whose attempts to destabilize American democracy has placed him in the crosshairs of journalists, lawmakers, and law enforcement alike.

Just last month, Costello revealed more details when he signed an affidavit that swore he dutifully remained at work for Bannon despite his clients mind-boggling refusal to stay in touch.

Costello also ripped into Bannon for complicating even the simplest task because of his unwillingness or inability to respond in a timely manner which occurred throughout our relationship. Costello raised a preemptive defense against any accusation that he didnt do an effective job for his client, noting how Bannon on multiple occasionswas extremely grateful for the services that I provided on his behalf, and publicly expressed his appreciation and praised me as a great lawyer publicly on his number one ranked podcast.

Costello also touted how his efforts helped lead to a pardon from President Trump, which he said directly forced the DOJ to drop a criminal case accusing Bannon of duping nativist donors who wanted to support a privately built U.S.-Mexico wall.

Meanwhile, Bannons new lawyer has already previewed the defense theyll give in court, accusing Costello of ineffective assistance and outright malpractice.

Unmentioned in any of these court filings is that Bannon could have avoided the misdemeanor conviction, the expensive federal trial in Washington, and any legal bills associated with trolling the Jan. 6 Committee if he would have just shown up and pleaded the Fifththe same tactic adopted by Trump legal adviser John Eastman, the conspiracy theory show Infowars host Alex Jones, and the conservative Turning Point USAs executive director Charlie Kirk.

Had Bannon done that, he would have almost certainly avoided hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid legal bills, a contempt of Congress conviction that threatens to put him in federal prison for months, and the untold headaches of his failed crusadeand the Jan. 6 Committee wouldnt have learned anything anyway.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Heres the part no one is arguing about: The home at 4526 Warwick Blvd. is gorgeous.

Its stately, Classical Revival, red brick and fronted by four towering Corinthian columns, a portico and white balustrade. At 7,400 square feet, with five bedrooms, three and a half baths, the home  called a mansion in public documents  seemingly has everything that a man of status like George B. Richards, the wealthy owner of the Richards & Conover Hardware Co., might have wanted when he had the home built in 1913 for $26,000.

Theres a music room and carved fireplaces, a grand staircase, ornamental plaster ceilings, fluted moldings, a carriage house out back and, out front, a view of Southmoreland Park across a gently sloping lawn.

This house has been in my family for three generations, 60-plus years, wrote Matthew Vawter, who, now living in Boulder, Colorado, inherited the family home with his brother, Stephen. I have enjoyed countless Christmases, Thanksgivings and birthdays in it during this time. I truly love and cherish the 4526 Warwick house!

The grand center staircase of the home built in 1913 for George B. Richards of the Richards & Conover Hardware Co.

But theyre selling it, asking price $2.5 million, and the For Sale sign suggests the property could be used for future high rise development. That has neighbors, in league with lovers of Kansas Citys historic buildings, worried that a buyer could knock the house to the ground and replace it with, well, they have no idea what.

A public bout will be fought on May 26 in front of the Kansas City Historic Preservation Commission, when a representative of the Vawters  who want the right to sell the property for whatever price and reason they see fit  vies against those who fear the worst.

To help keep the house from being razed  it is important to note that, currently, no one has applied for a permit to destroy the home  neighbors, against the homeowners wishes, have applied to have it placed on the Kansas City Register of Historic Places. The process alone, from the time of the application, keeps a property from being demolished for at least six months.

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If the house is placed on the registry, the owners could still apply for a certificate of appropriateness, which would still allow a demolition. If that is denied, the building could stand for at least three more years

We are unified in this, Laura Burkhalter, president of the Southmoreland Neighborhood Association, said of their effort to preserve the home. Its stand-alone in its quality, craftsmanship and the historic character of it. Regardless of whether or not there is a plan for demolition, we do believe that this deserves a place on the historic registry.

Decorative molding in the home at 4526 Warwick Blvd. Owners are selling the property for possible high rise development. Neighbors want the 7,400-square-foot house designated historic and saved from feared demolition.

Historic Kansas City, a nonprofit preservationist group, has drawn more than 300 comments to its Facebook page since alerting followers that demolition seems imminent.

NO!! wrote one user.

Please save this beautiful home, wrote another.

WHY? wrote a third.

Complaining about the citys processes, the group posted, Kansas City ordinances do not currently allow pre-demolition review for most historic structures.  Is any historic building in this city safe when destruction so readily occurs? The historic and cultural assets of the city must be protected and warrant better.

This house needs help

The homes owners insist the situation is more complicated than it seems. The house, although beautiful, is 110 years old and so is its plumbing. It needs expensive repairs. It has an old hot water boiler, outdated electrical wiring and no central air conditioning. Only one bathroom works reliably. The roof should be replaced.

For three years, since the brothers mother died, they have looked to sell it.

It would pain my mother to see this wonderful house fall into disrepair, Matthew Vawter said in an email to The Star, but after trying to sell the house for three years, I have to face the fact that the house needs a significant investment and we have not found a buyer willing to pay market value.

As the co-owner of this property, I can tell you that historic landmark designation will not change these underlying economics. For this reason, my brother and I oppose this application for historic designation.

Ornamental plaster ceilings in the home at 4526 Warwick Blvd. across from Southmoreland Park.

The value of the property, however, is part of the contention.

Jackson County sets the homes market value at $1.2 million. Zillow put it at $1.5 million. The Vawters, according to their real estate representative, Kansas City developer Whitney Kerr Sr., believe the property, more than the house, is worth $2.5 million.

Kerr, the senior vice president of Cushman & Wakefield, has been a commercial real estate broker and developer in Kansas City for some 60 years, integral in developing projects such as Corporate Woods in Johnson County.

Last week, he delivered a letter to Kansas City 4th District Councilman Eric Bunch and to 4th District At-Large Councilwoman Katheryn Shields on behalf of the Vawters opposing the historic designation.

The letter makes several arguments, including, This area is no longer a neighborhood of single-family homes.

The Southmoreland neighborhood  running generally from Main Street to Gillham Road, 39th Street to Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard  is a decidedly mixed area of stately and modest homes, multiple apartment complexes, hotels, commercial businesses and attractions.

The Vawters home, in fact, is the only single-family home remaining on its block. The Kansas City Art Institute sits across the street. All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church and the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art lie to the north. The 12-story Oak Hall condominiums and multiple three-story apartment complexes are to the south and west.

Kerr, in his letter, says the Vawters sincere hope is that the property might be used as part of a cultural arts complex leading from the future streetcar stop on Main Street along a path to the Kemper, the Art Institute and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Possible uses might include extra gallery space, parking, perhaps housing for the Art Institute.

The property currently is zoned as R-5, which allows a maximum construction height of 35 feet. Numerous properties around the Vawters house, meantime, are zoned as R-0.5, allowing a maximum height of 120 feet, an approximate 10-story building.

A bed-and-breakfast?

The letter also questions the motivation of a single individual, Ryan Hiser, who filed the application for historic designation without the owners knowledge or consent, suggesting that Hiser did so because he couldnt purchase the property himself to turn it into a boutique hotel.

Mr. Hiser has persisted in a series of purchase offers which are far below the value of the Vawters (sic) property, the letter reads. All his offers have been rejected. He has now resorted to a different tactic, and we believe it is wrong!

Hiser, reached by telephone, said Kerr is far off base.

Built in 1913 for $26,000, the home at 4526 Warwick Blvd. is on the market for $2.5 million. Local owners of two boutique hotels said they offered $1.3 million for the property, willing to put in $1 million more to renovate. Their offer was not considered.

Hiser, with his partner, David Tran, own and run two bed-and-breakfast boutique hotels in renovated homes in the Southmoreland neighborhood. One, The Truitt Hotel, at 4320 Oak St., is highlighted in a November issue of Conde Nast Traveler in a piece titled 23 best places to go in the U.S. in 2023. The other, The Aida Hotel KC, is at 206 E. 44th St., in a renovated 1903 limestone home.

Yes, Hiser and Tran made an offer on the Vawters home, for $1.3 million, they said, knowing that they might have to put in as much $1 million more to renovate it. But, no, Hiser said, he did not file the application to register the home as historic as a tactic to obtain the house. He filed it on the behalf of and as a member of the Southmoreland Neighborhood Association.

It is not true, he said, that the Vawters could find no buyers for the house, as they had made an offer. We are preservationists at heart, Hiser said.

The For Sale sign outside the stately home at 4526 Warwick Blvd. suggests the property could be used for a future high rise. Neighbors want the home saved and put on Kansas Citys Register of Historic Places.

The deal is that the owners have marketed the house for sale at $2.5 million, which is more like a Mission Hills house equivalent, Hiser said. Theyve used the excuse that it hasnt sold in hopes to tear it down. What theyre hoping to do is up-zone the property so they can do a high-rise there in the middle of the neighborhood.

Tran said, We had a personal interest in the property. We certainly made an offer on the property.  We threw an offer out there the very first time they put up their sign. Because, on their sign, and its still out there, it specified the land could be used for a high-rise. Its on the sign and it kind of killed our heart. 

Losing a structure that is over 100 years old that is in your neighborhood, that is that grand and just beautiful, I mean it is really a travesty.

Responding to inquiries from The Star, neither the Kemper Museum nor the Kansas City Art Institute said they have any interest in purchasing the property.

While Kemper Museum seeks to collaborate to make our arts district more vibrant and accessible in conjunction with the streetcar extension, the museum said in a written statement, we have had no discussion about, nor any interest in, the property at 4526 Warwick. Plans regarding expansion of the museum are limited to our current property.

The Art Institutes response was similar.

We are currently undergoing a strategic planning process and space usage study, the statement said, and the college has no intention of expanding beyond our current campus infrastructure.

In 2012, the Art Institute had faced stiff community criticism when it razed a 111-year-old Queen Anne-style home known as the Donaldson House at 4347 Oak St. to make room for new and needed student housing.

For now the Vawters house sits empty.

Kerr in his letter wrote that the moves to get the home listed on the historic registry, whipping up negative sentiment against a future and, as of now, non-existent development plan, have caused these private property owners a lot of grief and damages.

He wrote that vandals recently broke into the home, broke windows, stripped copper pipes from the basement and tore a safe from the wall. He said an intruder attacked one of the Vawters employees, sending him to the hospital.

Plywood planks have been placed on the first-floor windows.

Hiser said the unpainted plywood is against city code, and he looks at it in a different light.

I think Whitney (Kerr), unfortunately, is probably trying to slap the neighborhood around, he said. If I cant have my way, Im just going to board it up, you know?
REYKJAVIK, Iceland (AP)  Leaders from across the continent are laser-focused on holding Russia to account for its invasion of Ukraine and were poised to approve a system during their Council of Europe summit that would precisely establish the damages Moscow would have to pay to rebuild the nation.

The 46-nation Council of Europe is opening its first summit in 18 years late Tuesday, fully backing its member state Ukraine and condemning Russia, which was expelled from the organization, for inflicting war on its neighbor.

While almost all European nations have provided military support or taken in refugees from Ukraine, the Council of Europe, the continent's preeminent human rights organization, is uniquely placed to coordinate legal and judicial support.

When we think in terms of reconstruction its an enormously important judicial element to have this register of damages to give justice to the victims, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

And after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stocked up on promises of military hardware throughout a long weekend of diplomatic hobnobbing with the continent's major leaders, dozens of Europe's major leaders arrived in far-flung Iceland bent to turn the legal screws on the Kremlin.

By Wednesday's conclusion, leaders at the summit want to have the outlines of a system in place so Moscow can be held liable for compensation to the victims later and allow for the battered nation to start the economic healing process. They are hoping that the United States, which has observer status at the summit, will also back that initiative.

The register is just one of a number of international initiatives set up to ensure accountability for the crimes inflicted in Ukraine, U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said.

The Council of Europe also wants to make sure that Russia can be held accountable for what it sees as a plethora of crimes committed during the invasion.

A big topic will be the accountability of Russia, the crime of aggression it is constantly committing by waging war in Ukraine, von der Leyen said. Plans for such a court in The Hague have yet to bear fruit.

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In Kyiv, the words of support were no match for Moscow's military might, as Russia launched an intense air attack on the capital using a combination of drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles.

In Iceland's capital, Reykjavik, diplomacy was seeking a counterweight, with keynote speeches by Sunak, von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Zelenskyy headed home Tuesday after a fruitful three-day tour through Europe where leaders promised him an arsenal of missiles, tanks and drones to replenish Ukraines weapons supplies before a long-anticipated spring offensive.

There will be no escaping the plight of Ukraine during the two-day summit of the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe. It has been a guardian, with fluctuating success, of human rights, democracy and the rule of law on the continent since its inception in 1949. Rarely has the need been higher than in todays world.

The summit will also want to focus on the plight of children that have been moved from Ukraine to Russia during the invasion. In March, the International Criminal Court 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 and it is not known where they are now.

___

Raf Casert reported from Brussels.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
A new species of mollusc has been discovered at the bottom of a river in Thailand after extreme drought.

The creature, a large mussel  only the third known species in its genus  is considered endangered, according to a study published on May 6 in the journal Tropical Natural History.

Researchers collected two specimens of the new species from the muddy bottom of the Chi River in northeast Thailand during the dry season.

The bivalves were then cut open and preserved in an ethanol solution for further examination, including molecular analysis, which confirmed the uncovering of a new species.

It was named Chamberlainia somsakpanhai after Somsak Panha, a pioneering researcher of freshwater molluscs, researchers, who are affiliated with Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, said.

The newfound mussel is distinguished by its very thick, very large shell, which is green-brown on the outside and blue-white on the inside.

The new species has only been discovered in Thailand, researchers said. Photo from the journal Tropical Natural History

Like other mussel species, it has what are known as pseudocardinal teeth, which are not for chewing food but for keeping the two shells connected. The creature also has muscle scars, which are areas where the mussel attaches to the shell, according to research from the University of Vermont.

The species, which is considered at risk of extinction, is only known to be found in northeastern Thailand and parts of the Mekong River, which flows through six countries in east Asia, including China and Vietnam.

Overharvesting for the pearl production process is one of the leading causes of the (genus) declining populations, researchers said.

As is the case for other freshwater mussels, anthropogenic activities, especially water pollution and habitat loss, seem to be the primary factors putting Chamberlainia at risk of extinction, researchers said, adding that water level changes caused by dams can also lead to population declines.

There are 890 known species of freshwater mussels in the world, and one-third of them live in North America, according to the Center for Biological Diversity, a non-profit working to protect endangered species.

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The creatures play a crucial role in the food web, filtering bacteria and pollutants out of water, according to the organization. They also have some of the longest life spans of all invertebrate species, living up to 100 years.

In the United States alone, 35 species are now considered extinct and many others are extremely endangered, according to the organization.

Watch rare sighting of impressive beast swimming near Scottish coastline

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Sticky new creature  known as assassin  coats itself before attacking, study says
Christopher Zietek (aka McCormack)

A former enforcer with the notorious Adams crime family sold fraudulent passports to dozens of wanted gangsters across Europe.

Christopher Zietek, also known as McCormack, has been jailed for acting as a broker for fugitives who needed false documents to stay one step ahead of the law.

He helped murderers, drug dealers and money launderers remain at large along with Anthony Beard, 61, who sourced real passports, known as fraudulently-obtained genuine passports (FOGs), that were taken out in the names of vulnerable people, often with drinks and drugs problems.

The FOG passports are harder to detect than counterfeits.

Zietek was a debt collector who acted as muscle for the powerful Clerkenwell crime syndicate, founded by the Irish Adams brothers and known as the Adams family.

In 1999 he was acquitted of grievous bodily harm after being accused of attacking a financier who owed the Adams brothers money.

The convicted armed robber was arrested in 2021 after a covert investigation into the passports scam by the National Crime Agency (NCA).

Anthony Beard

Beard would offer his targets as little as 100 to let him apply for a passport renewal in their name. Using a photograph of the criminal who needed a new identity, he would fill in all the forms and take collection of the fraudulent documents before selling them on for up to 15,000. Zietek would then provide the passports to the criminals who needed them.

Among the recipients of the fraudulent passports were Glasgow killers Jordan Owen and Christopher Hughes, Liverpool drug trafficker Michael Moogan and Scottish gangster Barrie Gillespie.

The gang also attempted to source a FOG passport for Jamie Acourt, one of the suspected killers of Stephen Lawrence, who was on the run in Spain at the time and wanted for drugs offences.

Fake passports

Zietek was sentenced to eight years for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, conspiracy to make a false instrument with intent and converting criminal property.

Beard was jailed for six years and eight months after admitting conspiracy to make a false instrument with intent and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

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A third man, Alan Thompson, 72, who was Zieteks right-hand man, was jailed for three years on the same charges.

Feared enforcer for Adams family

Zietek, who divided his time between south London, Ireland and Spain and was described by police as living a cash rich lifestyle, had connections with British gangsters across Europe.

The former bodybuilder, who changed his name from McCormack by taking his wife's maiden name, was one of the Adams familys most feared enforcers when the crime syndicate was at its height.

He hit the headlines in 1999 when he appeared at the Old Bailey charged with attacking the Mayfair financier David McKenzie, who owed the Adams crime clan 1.5 million. Despite DNA evidence linking Zietek to the savage attack, he was acquitted.

The NCAs investigation into the passport scam, codenamed Operation Strey, started in 2017.

It ran in partnership with the Dutch National Police and HM Passport Office and has been one of the most significant undertaken by the agency in recent times.

The NCA captured audio recordings in Zieteks house of incriminating conversations with Beard and others about the application processes and their customers.

Officers also observed meetings with identity donors or counter-signatories, analysed reams of mobile phone and cell site data, and deployed undercover officers to deliver some of the passports.

Scheme helped 'very wicked' criminals

Zietek and Beard were arrested during coordinated NCA raids in October 2021.

Beard changed his plea to guilty on Jan 3 2023, the first day of a nine-week trial at Reading Crown Court. Zietek was found guilty in March.

Deputy Circuit Judge Nicholas Ainley said of the scheme: "It was to enable very wicked, sophisticated, violent criminals to escape justice by providing them with documents that because they were genuine would deceive the authorities to enable them to escape."

Craig Turner, the NCA deputy director, said: This organised crime group supplied fraudulent passports that enabled some of the UKs most serious and dangerous criminals to operate internationally under false identities and pose a sustained threat to the public.

The investigation demonstrates the NCAs unique role in tackling the most serious and complex crime threats facing the UK. We have identified a chronic, under the radar conspiracy that enabled drug and firearm traffickers, murderers and fugitives to evade justice, and we have worked across borders to dismantle it and bring the masterminds to account.

The NCA continues to protect the UK from the serious and organised criminals who present a threat to our security, people and economy.

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.
Perched on homes and other buildings in India, a creature sat motionless in the night. Scientists approached the animal for a closer look  as it tried to bite them  and discovered a new species.

The joint team of Indian and German researchers set out to survey Mizoram, according to a study published May 15 in Salamandra German Journal of Herpetology. The researchers were surveying a previously known type of lizard believed to live in the area.

Their survey led them to Lawngtlai town, where they spotted several lizards perched on building walls, the study said. The animals remained motionless if not disturbed, but responded aggressively by attempting to bite when researchers collected the specimens.

Taking the specimens to a lab for a closer look, researchers discovered a new species: Gekko mizoramensis or the Mizoram parachute gecko.

Parachute geckos are a group of nocturnal and tree-dwelling lizards known for paragliding from one tree to another and camouflaging themselves with enlarged skin flaps, researchers said.

The Mizoram parachute gecko is about 8 inches long and has a gray-brown coloring, according to the study and photos. The gecko has a black banded pattern along its body. Its forearms, body and hind legs have distinct skin folds that allow it to glide.

An adult Mizoram parachute gecko, or Gekko mizoramensis.

Researchers found the Mizoram parachute gecko to be morphologically and genetically distinct from other species. The new species had anywhere from a 7% to 57% genetic divergence from other parachute geckos. Parachute geckos need at least 7% genetic divergence to be considered a distinct species, the study said.

Mizoram parachute geckos hunted or ambushed their prey of beetles, roaches, moths and other insects attracted by light sources during the night, researchers said.

Still, the creatures were not commonly encountered during regular surveys, the study said. This may be attributed to their cryptic coloration and behavior.

A juvenile Mizoram parachute gecko, or Gekko mizoramensis.

The new species was found in Lawngtlai town and other tropic forest areas of Mizoram. Lawngtlai town is about 1,600 miles southeast of New Delhi, and Mizoram is a northeastern border state. The state borders Bangladesh to the west, Myanmar to the east and the rest of India to the north.

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Our knowledge of many reptile species in northeastern India is limited, the researchers said. The discovery of the Mizoram parachute gecko highlights the poor state of biodiversity documentation and the need for dedicated efforts to document this region.

Spiky creature found lurking on temple wall in India turns out to be a new species

New creature - with large teeth, thick shell and scars - found in Thai riverbed

Woman searching tidal pools spots colorful blob  and finds a rare creature in UK
Natterjack toads are very rare in the UK and only found at a handful of sites

A proposed holiday park in Cumbria would create hundreds of jobs without affecting one of the few UK habitats of a rare toad, its developer says.

A planning application for around 450 lodges on the shore of the Duddon Estuary in Furness has been submitted.

However, more than 4,000 people have signed a petition opposing the scheme at Roanhead Farm near Askam.

Conservation groups have also expressed concerns about the impact on natterjack toads.

Cumbria Wildlife Trust fears it will have "unacceptable impacts" at Duddon Estuary and Sandcastle Haws where it says one-quarter of the UK's population of the rare toads breed.

If approved by Westmorland and Furness Council, the scheme would include a restaurant, gym, pool and children's petting farm.

'Considerable' economic boost

Andrew Coutts, chief executive of developer ILM Group, told BBC Radio Cumbria the 100m scheme would have a "considerable economic impact" and that environmental concerns were addressed by the plans.

"The investment is in excess of 100m. In terms of employment, the projected number of full-time employees is just over 270.

"The additional impact of resort guests in terms of numbers of people will be minimal. It isn't to say there won't be additional people, of course there will be.

"[And] we're very experienced in environmental impact assessments processes. Our ecologist worked with us for six months to understand the local habitats of different species."

Mr Coutts said the creation of new habitats on the site, including breeding ponds for the toads, was being explored with council planners set to spend three months examining the overall plans.

The authority has requested further information from ILM before details of the scheme are made available online and a consultation process can begin, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk.
An angry debate over LGBTQ+ rights has erupted in North Carolinas largest legal organization after the groups president canceled a drag queen event scheduled by a committee of lesbian and gay attorneys.

The decision by Clayton Morgan, the president, on May 5 has triggered an angry breach inside the N.C. Bar Association, with some attorneys claiming that the groups leadership has betrayed its pledge to support the broader LGBTQ+ community out of fear of retaliation from the Republican majority in the N.C. legislature.

The recriminations, which were first reported by the Daily Beast, consumed a May 8 remote meeting between Morgan, other bar association leaders, and members of the groups Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) Committee. The committee had planned and scheduled the June 8 drag queen trivia night in Durham as a professional networking event for gay and straight attorneys alike. The event was to have been the committees first involving drag performers.

Representatives of the committee, which was created in 2021 and is comprised of some 75 LGBTQ+ lawyers, judges and other legal professionals, told Morgan during the meeting that he had not only undercut months of their work but had also betrayed the bar associations commitment to work for full equality for the LGBTQ+ community.

Pay us the respect of speaking plainly, Charlotte attorney Michael Roessler, who is gay, told Morgan during the hour-long session, according to a recording acquired by The Charlotte Observer.

The political reality is that there is a homophobic, anti-queer super majority in the North Carolina General Assembly, and youre afraid of them. That is the bottom line. ... Cut the bull****.

Morgan, a Raleigh-based associate general counsel for Duke Energy, disagreed, then asked Roessler to refrain from using profanity.

Ill stop my profanity when you stop yours, Roessler responded.

Morgan could not be reached for comment Monday. Bar association Executive Director Jason Hensley did not respond to an Observer request for an interview.

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How the NCBA responded

In a statement, the bar association, which has more than 16,000 members statewide, stood by Morgans decision.

It said the drag trivia event had been canceled because it would most likely be interpreted as a political statement on behalf of the NCBA by many within the organization, the profession, and the state.

That would impair the effectiveness of the NCBA with regard to many of its initiatives, including the important discussions and work that need to happen with respect to LGBTQIA+ issues.

Together, the bar association and the SOGI committee, have the ability to make significant strides by bringing people together in a way that promotes and effectuates meaningful change with respect to issues of discrimination and inequality. We remain committed to continuing our support of, and participation in, this important work moving forward, the statement said.

Contacted by the Observer on Monday, several SOGI members criticized the response as well as the handling of the issue by Morgan and others. Several have already resigned from the committee and are considering leaving the bar association as well.

Roessler says he is one of them.

We all know the political context. An attack on drag queens is not just an attack on drag queens, he told the Observer. Its the tip of the spear in an attempt to roll back decades of progress for LGBTQ people. And the bar has sent a message that it will stand by while Republicans try to shove us back in the closet.

NC lawyers react to decision

Connie Vetter, a longtime LGTBQ attorney in Charlotte, said Morgan acted unilaterally to cancel the event after deciding it would be seen as the bar thumbing its nose at a recent Republican-backed bill filed April 18 that would make it a felony for drag queens and other exotic dancers to perform in public places before anyone 18 and under.

The drag queen trivia event had been scheduled months ahead of that, Vetter said.

The first time they were asked to show some backbone, the president of this organization folded, she said. If nothing changes, Im not staying.

Morgan told the committee members last week that holding a drag queen event, given the political times, threatened to thrust the bar association into a partisan debate, potentially jeopardize its legislative agenda, and could undermine the groups standing as a neutral arbiter in the administration of justice, its core responsibility.

He urged the committee to consider a different approach  such as presenting a panel discussion featuring all sides of an issue  not just advancing your agenda on the world.

Longtime Charlotte mediator Joey Barnes, who also resigned from SOGI due to the controversy, described the comments from Morgan and other bar association leaders as condescending, homophobic and a full retreat from what wed been promised.

We thought wed been given a seat at the table. Turns out, it was the childrens table, said Barnes, who is gay. If the bar is not going to support us on the issue of a drag queen trivia night, whats going to happen when larger issues come up?

Another group may be stepping in so the drag show can go on.

Candelario Saldana, a Charlotte attorney who also is president of the Pauli Murray LGBTQ Bar Association, said he hopes his organization can hold the trivia event at the same place and time.

Now more than ever, our LGBTQ+ community needs space where we can be our whole selves, he said. ... Our identities should not and will not be erased.
UNICEF Ambassador Chen Kun plays games with children in Lingshan county of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on May 15, 2023. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) recently conducted a promotion activity on child protection in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

During the activity, UNICEF Ambassador Chen Kun, a veteran Chinese actor, met children and caregivers taking part in a UNICEF-supported child protection program in Guangxi's Lingshan county.

The program integrates child protection services from local authorities and communities, including positive parenting projects and follow-up support, to prevent and address all forms of violence, abuse, and neglect of children. Launched in 2020, the program has been jointly implemented with the Child Welfare Department of the Ministry of Civil Affairs of China in 12 counties in Guangxi, Jiangxi, Ningxia, and Shandong.

During the trip, Chen visited children and their families and learned about how social workers identified children in need and provided targeted services to them.

"No child should ever experience physical or emotional abuse. Families and communities should be safe spaces for children to grow up in, but widespread acceptance of corporal punishment and harsh verbal insults in parenting is undermining children's development and could cause long-term harm. We need to change it now," said Chen. "It's encouraging to see UNICEF and its partners taking actions to build an effective child protection system that is both preventative and responsive to the needs of children and their families."

A UNICEF-supported meta-analysis of 68 studies in 2015 showed that the prevalence of physical abuse was over 26% among children aged 0 to 17 in China, with emotional abuse at nearly 20% and neglect at 26%.

Through the child protection program, UNICEF helps counties involved develop and improve children's protection systems. For example, it has established a multi-departmental coordination mechanism to respond to cases of violence, abuse, or neglect, and built a three-level (county-township-village) service platform to promote positive parenting. It trains child protection professionals to best support vulnerable children and families.

The program is also committed to developing communities where children can take part in activities conducive to their psychosocial development.

"UNICEF knows from its global experience and evidence generated over decades that the most effective way to improve the (child protection) system is holistic intervention, rather than trying to tackle problems issue-by-issue. We hope not only to make a difference for children in the 12 program counties, but also to scale up the model to other regions across the country," said Amakobe Sande, UNICEF Representative to China.

UNICEF looks forward to continuing its partnership with the Chinese government to invest in the delivery of quality services and a child protection workforce so as to strengthen a comprehensive safety net for children who are experiencing violence and neglect or who are at risk, Sande added.

"As a father myself, I know being a parent is never easy," Chen said. He believed that parenting is a learned behavior and that parents can build a relationship with children featuring respect, trust, empathy, and communication through learning, which is conducive to children's healthy development.

Research shows that positive parenting during the adolescent years is associated with favorable results regarding adjustment and mental health, and parental warmth in childhood may help promote well-being across multiple domains in mid-life .

By the end of 2022, nearly 16,000 caregivers from the program counties had participated in positive parenting sessions.
Cyclone Mocha toppled trees and pylons in Myanmar's Rakhine state

The powerful cyclone that hit Myanmar on Sunday has killed at least 40 people, locals have told the BBC, and the toll may rise further.

Cyclone Mocha was one of the strongest storms to make landfall in the region this century, packing winds of about 209km/h (130mph).

Most confirmed deaths are in Rakhine state, in central Myanmar, others in Sagaing and Magway regions.

The military have announced 21 deaths nationwide.

Unconfirmed reports put the death toll much higher, especially in camps where the internally displaced Rohingya minority live. It is thought those casualties are not being counted by the military junta which seized power in a 2021 coup.

Hundreds of homes and shelters have collapsed. Communication has been difficult in the country, and people are still missing, so death toll estimates vary.

In Sittwe, the capital city in Rakhine state, where many people live in low-lying coastal areas, roads have been blocked by uprooted trees and fallen power pylons.

Woman with umbrella walks past damaged buildings

In other, less peaceful, areas of the country there are also reports of military attacks on locals following the storm.

Thousands of people have fled their homes in the north-western Sagaing region as the army entered villages under cover of the cyclone.

"It has been raining since 12 May, we had run from the overflowing streams," a resident in the region's Kani township told the BBC. "The soldiers also punched. [Residents are] fearing the danger of the soldiers more than the danger of the storm."

Locals who the BBC spoke to estimate that some 15,000 residents from the Kani and Khin Oo townships have been affected by military attacks in the last two days. They said a four-year-old boy in Inpa village was receiving medical treatment after being hit by a bullet.

"Myanmar is facing a storm on many fronts, with reports that the Myanmar army attacked villages in other regions while Cyclone Mocha unfolded in Rakhine state. The needs of families continue to be great," NGO Partners Relief & Development, which works in the cyclone-hit Rakhine state, said in a Twitter post on Tuesday.

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Communities in Sagaing have put up some of the strongest opposition to the military. The division also houses a large number of anti-coup militias, known as the People's Defence Force.

A girl helps clear fallen branches in the Rohingya village Thet Kyal Pyin

There were no immediate reports of casualties in neighbouring Bangladesh, but the category five storm crushed thousands of shelters in the world's largest refugee camp at Cox's Bazar. It is home to one million Rohingya refugees from Myanmar.

About 750,000 people fled low-lying areas ahead of Mocha's landfall last Sunday. It came 15 years after one of Asia's deadliest cyclones, Nargis, smashed into Myanmar's Irrawaddy Delta and claimed 140,000 lives.

Cyclones are the equivalent of hurricanes in the Atlantic and typhoons in the Pacific. Scientists say these storms have become stronger and more frequent due to climate change.
Western Circuit District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez on Friday filed a motion confessing to the judgment of a writ of mandamus, a motion that basically orders her to comply with the statutory duties of the office. But on the same day, she appealed the case.

The writ was filed against Gonzalez by an Athens businessman, Jarrod Miller, who has alleged that the district attorney is not complying with state law in the supervision of her office.

Gonzalez had attempted to have Senior Superior Court Judge David Emerson dismiss the suit in a hearing on May 8, but Emerson denied the motion.

District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez is taking a civil case against her to the Supreme Court of Georgia.

In response to that decision, Gonzalezs lawyer, Derek Bauer of Atlanta, filed a motion asking for an immediate review of the decision. Again, Emerson denied the motion in a May 11 ruling.

Then the next day, Bauer filed the motion that Gonzalez would confess to the judgment of the writ of mandamus, but he then filed a motion to appeal the case to the Supreme Court of Georgia.

The filing to the Supreme Court has the effect of preventing Millers attorney, Kevin Epps, from doing what he said he has been trying to do for weeks.

They do not want me to take her deposition, Epps said Monday.

Motion denied: Judge denies motion to dismiss civil case against DA in Athens

Motion heard: Judge hears motion to dismiss lawsuit against District Attorney Gonzalez

I attempted to have discovery with her the afternoon they filed the confession of judgment, Epps said, but he discovered that her attorney had subsequently filed the notice of appeal to the Supreme Court.

The district attorney has said this is a case that should not have been brought, and yet they confessed to it, Epps said. The writ of mandamus was filed earlier this year in Clarke County Superior Court.

In the May 8 hearing, where Emerson denied Gonzalezs motion to dismiss the suit, the judge based the ruling on her statements she made about not prosecuting certain cases.

The court finds if the defendant has adopted such a policy, she has grossly abused her discretion, the judge wrote. He noted that the plaintiff had filed the suit seeking to have her perform her mandated duty to enforce the state criminal code and was not seeking to remove her from office.

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Gonzalez was critical of Emersons decision.

Emerson, who is from Douglas County, was appointed to hear the case after the judges in the Western Circuit were all recused from hearing the matter.

Gonzalez said the judges decision endorses a misuse of the mandamus as it deprives her of prosecutorial discretion.

Gonzalez, now two years into her role at the circuits top prosecutor, also said the case shows how the mandamus writ could be weaponized for political gain.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Lawsuit against DA Gonzalez appealed to Supreme Court
An Illinois man is accused of raping a 13-year-old girl at her home in Rockford while her father was under the same roof, officials say.

Junsuk Park, a 39-year-old Naperville man, is facing multiple criminal sex charges after targeting and sexually abusing the teen during the summer, according to a probable cause statement filed May 12.

Park met the victim on Snapchat, posing as a 16-year-old boy named James with the username nighttimesensei, the document said.

After a series of sexually explicit conversations, Park eventually sneaked into the girls bedroom through a window and raped her, according to the document. This happened at least twice, officials said.

The second time, the girls father caught him hiding in her bedroom closet at about 4 a.m. Aug. 1, investigators said.

Park ran from the home and drove away in a Toyota Prius before police arrived, but the father was able to provide a description of the man and his vehicle, according to investigators.

Police spoke with the girl and reviewed text conversations between her and Park. They also found items Park left at the home during his first visit, including napkins, rubber gloves, and a used condom, investigators said.

The girl identified Park during a photo lineup, the document said.

Park is charged with four counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, court records show.

He is scheduled to be arraigned June 29.

McClatchy News has reached out to Parks attorney for comment.

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

Mom injects baby with unknown substance, causing cardiac arrest, Ohio cops say
Good morning, and welcome to your Daily Briefing! This is business editor Nicole Young.

I hate ticks. I cannot say it enough. It all started when I was 5, and we moved from Mobile, Ala. to Dickson, Tenn. We hadn't been here long when I noticed this bump on my head. It itched. Then it got bigger.

It was on my head for about 2 days before I went to my mom (who grew up in Florida and Mobile, my hometown). For those who might not know, ticks are rare down by the beach, and my mom and I loved the beach. We rarely ventured into the deep woods. Why would we? The beach is so much better.

I say this because my mom had never seen a tick before. Neither had I. So when I parted my then-long hair, and she saw a very large bug attached to my scalp, she screamed and fainted. When my dad pulled it off, it took a chunk of dead meat with it. I have a permanent scar to this day.

But that's not the only reason I hate ticks. One year, my mom wandered into a thicket coated with seed ticks. It took me about an hour to remove all of them from her waistline with tweezers. I was home visiting from college, in my early 20s. The memory still haunts me.

Then, I had twins. My son was about 5 or 6 when he got a tick on his back. A round, circle-shaped rash appeared around the bite, and immediately, we called the pediatrician fearing the worst: Lyme. Luckily, it wasn't Lyme. It was STARI, or southern tick-associated rash illness, and less of a threat than Lyme. Still - my son got sick, and I became that mom. You know: the one who insists on bug spray, even in the yard.

So, yeah, hear me, Nashville: Wear that bug spray. And if you need any more persuasion, check out the story from health reporter Frank Gluck on tick borne illnesses. It might make you go ewwww and reconsider the bug spray.

Read his full story here: Tennessee's tick season is worsening every year. What we know.

More stories to start your day:

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Daily Briefing: Ticks are on the move in Tennessee. So are their related illnesses
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport is moving forward with construction of a long-awaited sixth passenger terminal as well as a significant overhaul of the aging Terminal C.

DFW and American Airlines on Tuesday announced the $4.8 billion in projects that will span over the next 10 years. The airport will gain a total of 24 additional gates over three terminals.

The $1.6 billion first phase will include building a new Terminal F with an initial 15-gate concourse. Construction will start in late 2024 and finish by 2026. The new terminal site, south of Terminal D, has room for more gates to be added in the future.

This will be the first new terminal built at DFW in nearly two decades, since the $1.2 billion Terminal D opened in 2005. At the time, it was the largest international terminal built since 9/11.

Upgrades for existing terminals

DFW will invest $2.7 billion to expand and modernize Terminals A and C.

Terminal C, which hasnt undergone an complete overhaul since the airport was built in 1973, will be reimagined with significant upgrades to roadways and terminal access. Construction on Terminal C will be over three or four phases, fully completed in 2028.

A rendering of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airports Terminal C, which will be overhauled and expanded as part of $4.8 billion in construction.

The Metroplexs astronomical growth is driving demand to expand DFW, which is already the second busiest airport in the world and geographically bigger than Manhattan.

Robert Isom, the CEO of Fort Worth-based American Airlines, said DFW is the central gateway to everything the airline does domestically and internationally.

American recently added two flights to Dublin and Rome, bringing its total daily service to European destinations to 12. In December, the carrier said it would resume nonstop service to Tokyo for the first time since the peak of the pandemic in 2020. And during the winter, American operated seasonal flights to New Zealand.

We want to be the busiest airport in the world, Isom said. As you can see, were building the foundation to do that, both in the facilities and also out in the airfield.

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The airport expects 78 million travelers this year. Within the next six or seven years, DFW expects to serve 100 million people a year, airport CEO Sean Donohue said.

The airport also plans to digitize the entire Terminal F facility as it is built. The technology will allow to airport to be more predictive than reactive and will provide an early alert to mechanical or plumbing issues, Donohue told the Star-Telegram.

The airport is still negotiating with airlines about which carriers will serve Terminal F. American will not necessarily be the only airline sharing the space.

Plans for Terminal F were announced in 2019 but shelved during the pandemic. At the time, DFW and American reached a tentative deal to build the terminal with 24 gates as part of a capital improvements package that was expected to reach $3.5 billion at the time.

Cars wait for travelers at a terminal at DFW airport on Dec. 23, 2020.

American Airlines, which is the dominant carrier at DFW, had pushed for a new terminal in response to dramatic increases in domestic and international travel demand.

But that was before COVID-19 led to the worldwide shutdown in travel and grounded nearly all of Americans international routes and at least 60% of its domestic flights.

Airport fuels economic growth

As the Metroplex closes in on surpassing the population of Chicago, Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker said the expansion ensures DFW Airport is ready for the future and to continue serving as Fort Worths gateway to the world.

We are very proud that Fort Worth-based American Airlines has signed this important agreement to cement DFWs status as Americans main hub and help us continue to meet the incredible demand we are experiencing in North Texas, Parker said. Our region will become the nations third largest metro region within the next ten years, and its no surprise that we have the second busiest airport in the world.

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson said American Airlines has played a pivotal role in propelling DFW to be the worlds second busiest.

DFW airport connects our community to the world and fuels economic growth throughout our region and state, Johnson said.

Expansion plan will bolster the region as a preferred place to live, work and visit, Johnson said. DFW supports about 228,000 jobs.
Two people, including a teen, were killed in unrelated shootings on Monday, Dallas police said. There is one suspect in custody.

Officers responded to the 9500 block of Forest Lane in northeast Dallas shortly before 1 p.m. regarding a shooting call. An unknown person had shot 26-year-old Ktrell Rodgers, police said. Rodgers died at a hospital from his injuries.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Detective Phillip Wheeler at 214-671-3686 or Phillip.wheeler@dallaspolice.gov.

Officers responded to another fatal shooting around 9 p.m. in the 7900 block of Great Trinity Forest Way, police said. They found 17-year-old Camyron Gaines lying on the ground. Gaines was taken to a hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

Police arrested 18-year-old Lorenzo Torres in connection with the shooting that killed Gaines and charged him with murder, officials said. The investigation is ongoing.
Dozens of childcare centers in Fresno County have dangerous levels of lead in their drinking water, according to a new report.

In compliance with Assembly Bill 2370, California requires licensed childcare centers to test tap water for lead levels. The report, compiled by the nonprofit Environmental Working Group, reveals that roughly one in four of the almost 7,000 tested centers exceeded the allowable amount of lead in their drinking water.

A searchable database of the results, created by The Sacramento Bee, shows that more than 70 childcare centers in Fresno County tested at or above 5 parts per billion, the legal limit allowed by state law.

In an interview with The Sacramento Bee, Susan Little, a senior advocate for the environmental group, said its really alarming that California infants and preschool-age children are being exposed to this risk in places where their parents think they are safe.

Young children are especially susceptible to the effects of lead because their bodies just absorb it ... as if it were calcium, Little said, and that lead does lasting damage to their development and to their brain function and to potentially their behavior, as well as other more serious things because lead is linked to cancer and other health harms.

No amount of lead is safe for young children in drinking water, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Lead is known for endangering the health of young children, in particular, contributing to anything from brain damage to behavioral problems with long-term effects.

For centers that have excess lead in their drinking water, the state requires that they immediately cease using any faucets or water outlets that exceed the allowable limit of lead until the fixture is replaced and retested, according to the California Department of Social Services.

See which day care centers reported unsafe levels

The report included 73 childcare centers in Fresno County. These centers ranged between 5 to 240 ppb on their lead test results. Only seven were at the legal limit of 5 ppb; the other 66 exceeded it.

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The five highest levels of lead were found at Kings Corner Childcare in Fresno, Fresno EOC Franklin Head Start in Fresno, Fresno Jewish Day School in Fresno, Kids Kare Central West in Fresno, and Bright Beginnings Learning Center in Clovis, respectively.

Each of the five had at least 26 times the legal limit or 130 ppb. Kings Corner Childcare recorded 48 times the legal limit at 240 ppb.

Jim Fisher, owner of Kids Kare Central West, told The Bees Education Lab that the center immediately posted a notice for parents when the lead test results for one of its drinking fountains came back higher than the legal limit last fall.

They quickly replaced the fixture and had it retested, awaiting the results before allowing children to drink from it. The replacement cleared its lead tests in February and is now back in working order.

It took just an insane amount of time, he said of the entire testing process, which his center started in August.

The other four centers in Fresno County with the highest lead test results didnt respond to the Ed Labs requests for comment.

None of these centers in Fresno County neared the highest level of contamination in the state, found at La Petite Academy in San Diego. Their water tested at 11,300 ppb, comparable to some of the highest levels reported during Flint, Mich.s water crisis.

If you suspect your child has been exposed to lead

The CDC recommends that families talk to healthcare providers about getting their child a blood lead test if they suspect their child may have been exposed.

Many private insurance policies cover the cost of this test, according to the CDC. For children enrolled in Medicaid, the cost is covered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

For more information, visit Californias Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch website or call (800) 597-LEAD.

The Sacramento Bees Cathie Anderson and Phillip Reese contributed to this report.
After the FBI raided a condo at the Trump Towers III in Sunny Isles Beach last week, the feds offered little explanation other than it was part of law enforcement activity.

The reason has finally been revealed. Around the same time as the raid, the units owner was being arrested practically on the other side of the country on charges of illegally selling airplane parts to Russian airline companies.

Oleg Sergeyevich Patsulya was arrested last Thursday by federal agents in Phoenix, Arizona, along with his business partner, Vasilii Sergeyevich Besedin, and charged with conspiring to violate the U.S. Export Control Reform Act and to commit international money laundering.

The Russians, both from the Sunny Isles Beach area, had traveled to Arizona in September of last year and attempted to purchase aircraft brake systems from a supply company there and sell them to Russian airline companies, among other allegations in a criminal complaint.

Justice Department officials Tuesday announced their arrests and others in five federal cases alleging the unlawful sale of aircraft parts and technology equipment to Russian companies and Russias intelligence services, as well as the theft of trade secrets and auto software codes for Chinese companies. Also, a Chinese national was charged with providing materials to help Iran build weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles.

A criminal complaint alleges that Patsulya and Besedin used their Florida company, MIC P&I, and worked with others to evade U.S. export laws and regulations to send aircraft parts to Russian airline companies over the past year. The complaint, written by a Commerce Department special agent and filed in Phoenix federal court, alleges that Patsulya and Besedin fielded requests for parts directly from Russian airlines at a time when many of them were facing increased sanctions stemming from Russias invasion of Urkaine.

The two men then used intermediary companies and foreign bank accounts in third-party countries to mask the true identity of the customers and the source of the payments, according to the complaint.

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Patsulya and Besedin then approached aircraft parts suppliers in the United States, lied about who their customers were, and lied about where the parts would be going, the Justice Department said in a news release.

If convicted the two Russians faced up to 20 years in prison for violating the export laws and up to 20 years in prison for conspiring to commit international money laundering.

Patsulyas lawyer at the Federal Public Defenders Office in Phoenix and Besedins court-appointed attorney there could not be reached for comment.

Last Thursday, a squad of FBI special agents, assisted by local police, descended on Trump Tower III at 15811 Collins Ave. to carry out a search of unit 4102. Its owned by a similarly named shell company, MIC-USA LLC, that is controlled by two Russian businessmen, Patsulya and Agunda Konstantinovna Makeeva, according to state corporation records. Makeeva was not arrested in connection with the Justice Departments crackdown.

On Friday, a spokesman for the FBIs Miami field office said it was conducting court-ordered law enforcement activity in the vicinity of that location, but provided no other information.

Donald Trump licensed his name to the Trump Towers condo project in Sunny Isles Beach.

Patsulya and Makeeva could not be reached for comment. Patsulyas wife, Roza Pereira, who state records show is also listed on the corporate paperwork for MIC-USA, said she was aware of the FBIs raid.

I cant talk about it, Pereira told the Miami Herald on Friday. The lawyer [for my husband] said not to talk to anyone. ... I have no idea what its about.

Sunny Isles Beach has been dubbed LIttle Moscow by locals because its home to many Russian expatriates. Some expressed concerns about a backlash against their affluent beachfront community after the Russian military invaded Ukraine last year and the U.S. government started pursuing sanctions against oligarchs who hide their wealth in real estate in South Florida and other parts of the country.

Before becoming president in 2016, Trump signed a deal with the developers of the 45-story condo buildings to name the property after him to help promote sales. Foreign buyers, especially from Latin America and Russia, flocked to Trump Towers, as they did with other Trump-branded properties in Sunny Isles Beach.

Among the buyers: MIC-USA, which acquired the three-bedroom, three-bath condo residence at Trump Tower III for $1.65 million a decade ago, according to Miami-Dade property records.

In 2020, BAC Florida Bank, which provided financing for the purchase, sued Patsulya and Makeeva, claiming they defaulted on their $975,000 mortgage. The dispute was resolved later that year, though its not clear how from the court records. MIC-USA, controlled by the two Russians, continued to own the 41st-floor unit at Trump Tower III.
We see a black funnel web spider with a red mark on its underside. It's on the brown dirt and its four front legs are raised, showing its fangs.

We see a black funnel web spider with a red mark on its underside. It's on the brown dirt and its four front legs are raised, showing its fangs.

Spiders are common critters. And, as almost all of Earth's 43,000 known spider species are venomous , it is likely that most people have encountered a venomous spider at one point or another.

So that's the bad news. The good news, however, is that of these, only 25 species are known to have killed or caused serious harm to humans. But which spider is the deadliest?

The deadliest spiders  or at least those most frequently cited as having caused death or serious injury to humans  are funnel-web spiders (Atrax), redback and black widow spiders (Latrodectus), banana and wandering spiders (Phoneutria) and recluse spiders (Loxosceles).

But even these deadly spiders, with potent venom and fangs primed for piercing skin, are not particularly dangerous to humans. The American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) tracked only one death caused by a spider bite in the U.S. in 2021. Australia, home to some of the most venomous spiders in the world, hasn't reported a single spider bite death since the 1980s .

"It is incredibly rare to have a deadly spider encounter," said Rick Vetter , a retired research associate with the Department of Entomology at University of California, Riverside, whose research focused on medically important spiders. "Considering all the bad things that could happen to you, if spiders are your biggest concern, then you are living the good life."

Related: Are daddy longlegs really the most venomous spiders in the world?

Funnel-web spiders top the list of deadliest spiders, if only for their storied venom. Native to Australia, these spiders boast venom that's so potent their bite can kill within minutes. "The deadliest is probably the funnel-web spider and its relatives. The Sydney funnel web spider (Atrax robustus) can kill a toddler in about 5 minutes and a 5-year-old in about 2 hours," Vetter told Live Science. Although no one has died from these spiders since the advent of antivenom in the 1980s, it is difficult to imagine a toddler receiving treatment soon enough to recover from a funnel-web bite.

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We see a close up of a brown spider with four forward-facing eyes (two on top, two on bottom).

Phoneutria spiders, the most common of which are often referred to as banana spiders or wandering spiders , are native to Brazil and have the most neurologically active venom of any spider. But they rank a bit lower on the list of the world's deadliest spiders because their venom works relatively slowly, leaving ample time for treatment. And Loxosceles spiders, the most familiar of which is the brown recluse (L. reclusa) found in the U.S., may be one the most common causes of spider-related injuries, with painful bites that can cause body aches and fever and take months to fully resolve. But they are very rarely deadly.

The only arachnid genus that gives the funnel-web a real run for its money as the deadliest spider is Latrodectus, which includes the Australian redback (Latrodectus hasselti) and the more familiar black widow spider in the U.S. These spiders have a slight edge because they bite humans more frequently than funnel-web spiders, with comparably potent venom. "The most venomous species (Sydney funnel-web spiders, Brazilian wandering spiders) don't kill or impact that many people," Linda Rayor , a behavioral ecologist at Cornell University who focuses on spiders, told Live Science in an email. "It is the more widely-distributed black widows that are going to be the stars of your story."

It's important to note that, while AAPCC's annual reports carve out a section for spider bite statistics, it isn't easy to get a real handle on spider bite mortality or morbidity.

"A number of human deaths each year are attributed to spiders," Rod Crawford , curator of arachnids at the Burke Museum at the University of Washington in Seattle, told Live Science in an email. "However, from a scientific viewpoint, almost none of these attributions are evidence-based."

It is exceedingly rare, Crawford explained, for a victim to see a spider on their skin, feel a bite, capture that same spider, and then bring the offending spider to a physician (let alone a spider specialist) for analysis. "Practically all of the 'spider bites' you hear about, including those reported to poison centers originate from the belief that if you didn't see what bit you, it was a spider," Crawford said.

Rayor echoed this sentiment. "I have spent a surprising amount of time trying to track down the human mortality rate from spiders and it is miniscule," she said. "This isn't reliably reported, but it is clear that not that many people get killed by spiders."

Related Mysteries

Is every spiderweb unique?

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Which animal kills the most people every year?

Keeping in mind the flawed nature of spider bite statistics, The Australian Museum claims that about 2,000 people are bitten by redback spiders each year, and that the antivenom to treat funnel-web spider bites has been given to about 100 patients since 1980. AAPCC's annual report tracked about 3,500 spider bites in the U.S. in 2021, with about 40 "major" clinical outcomes. Nine of those serious outcomes were attributed to black widows; 29 major outcomes and the only death that year were attributed to brown recluses. There were no spider bite deaths in AAPCC's 2020 report , which tracked seven "major" black widow bites and 23 "major" brown recluse bites.

This means that the deadliest spiders are, in fact, not very deadly. "True human spider bites of any kind  dangerous or harmless  are vanishingly rare," Crawford said. "Take me as an example: Over a long career I have handled tens of thousands of live spiders with my bare hands. Only 3 actual bites resulted; none of the 3 had any significant effect. So when people tell me spiders crawl into their beds at night and bite them while they are asleep, I just roll my eyes."

Vetter agreed. "In reality, spiders are way down the list of things to be concerned about."
2019 Honda Civic Touring Sedan

It seems like every year the sleaziness of car dealerships gets taken to a whole new level. Take the report from the Miami Herald of a dealership employee who made nearly $200,000 from people who bought cars from him and never received them, for example.

The scam started with Carlos Ravelo, a finance manager at a Honda dealership. Ravelo would advertise cars at prices that were too good to be true, like a 2019 Honda Civic for $8,900, or a 2019 Honda CR-V for $12,000. When buyers contacted him about these cars, hed make a deal. But when it came time to pay for the vehicle, buyers couldnt finance. Ravelo would say that they could only pay him in cash.



Read more

Thats what happened to one customer who says Ravelo scammed them in December 2022. They made a deal with him to buy the aforementioned 19 CR-V for $12,000. The woman says her husband went to the bank to get a check and gave it to Ravelo while he told them theyd have to come back the next day to get the car.

He let us ride in the car, he gave me the VIN, the receipt, making it seem like everything was legit, she said. When they went back the next day, he was gone.



Another buyer trusted Ravelo enough to purchase a car from him because of familiarity: he and her mother-in-law knew each other and had gone to school together. A police report details how Ravelo further earned her trust, telling her things like he was able to get her a good deal. The same lie persisted: Ravelo told her she could only pay in cash. So she did, giving him $32,000 in two installments. The same day she made the final payment, he made up an excuse as to why she couldnt get her car yet. Not long after, he stopped responding to her calls and texts demanding her money back.



Authorities say Ravelo did this to a total of 11 people, earning $179,000 from the illicit sales. Ravelo was arrested and his charges are numerous. From The Herald: ...eight counts of third degree grand theft; two counts of second degree grand theft from $20,000 to $100,000; four counts of worthless check given; one count of theft from an elderly person from $10,000 to $50,000; and one count of organized scheme to defraud charge.



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Hes being held on a $45,000 bond. Worse yet, many of the victims say they trusted him because they knew him personally, as he was a family friend. And while these people would likely want to see their money back, they probably wont. During his arraignment hearing, the judge mentioned how Ravelo admitted he has a gambling addiction and lost all the money. This is a good reminder to demand documentation for everything, and to never hand over cash to someone who isn't immediately giving you the keys to your vehicle.



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China to provide trainee jobs for college graduates, young people

Xinhua) 08:26, May 16, 2023

BEIJING, May 15 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MHRSS) and another nine government agencies on Monday jointly issued a circular on increasing trainee jobs for young people, including college graduates.

This year, the country plans to offer no fewer than 1 million trainee posts to college graduates not employed within two years of leaving education, as well as other young people aged 16 to 24, according to an MHRSS official.

Relevant government departments will encourage employers to provide trainee positions in various fields, such as scientific research, technical skills, management and social services, to meet the diverse needs of young people, the official said.

If a trainee is hired within or after their training period, employers should sign a labor contract with them and cover their social insurance contributions.

For those not hired after their training period, the country will provide demand-based support and recommend vocational training programs to help them find a job or start a business, according to the circular.

It also says that subsidies will be issued to employers that offer relevant trainee positions.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
A recent Tennessean article reported that the Supreme Court declined to hear the case of death row inmate Kevin Burns, who was convicted of the 1992 shooting deaths of Damond Dawson and Tracey Johnson in Memphis. Burns was sentenced to death in Dawsons murder.

I know Kevin Burns. Who am I? I am a graduate of The University of the South and the Vanderbilt University School of Law. I am, also, a retired Navy captain.

I have participated in a course at the Vanderbilt Divinity School that is entitled Life on Death Row.

Once a week, the Vanderbilt Divinity students enrolled in the course would go to Riverbend prison and have a three-hour session with death row inmates. When we were in group session, two death row inmates would sit on each side of me.

Ed Miller

The two inmates who sat next to me were Kevin Burns and Abu-Ali AbdurRahman. I got to know K.B., as Kevin Burns is known. Also, the Tennessean article states, While on death row at Riverbend Maximum Security Prison, Burns was ordained. He now preaches via telephone at Franklin Community Church.

I was present for his ordination service which was conducted on Death Row at Riverbend.

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Burns should be given a chance

Each week, during the sessions of the Vanderbilt Life on Death Row course, Kevin would have a Bible in his hand. Also, I noticed that the other inmates know him as Pastor Kevin. I learned that he is a very caring person. Based on the article in The Tennessean and my experience with Kevin Burns, I can state positively that he should not be on Death Row. He can be a productive citizen in Tennessee, and he should be provided with that opportunity.

The other person, Abu-Ali AbdurRahman, who sat next to me was released from Death Row in November 2021. I visit Abu on a weekly basis, and I am convinced by the physical evidence that should have been presented in his case that he did not commit the murder for which he was sentenced to Death. My view is that Kevin Burns and Abu-Ali AbdurRahman should both be granted clemency by Governor Lee.

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If granted clemency by Governor Lee, I am willing to provide housing and financial support for Kevin Burns and Abu-Ali AbdurRahman.

Ed Miller is a lawyer and retired Navy Captain.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Opinion: Why death row inmate Kevin Burns deserves a chance at freedom
With time running short to address the debt ceiling or risk default, President Joe Biden said Tuesday he will cut his upcoming foreign trip short to be back in time for "final negotiations."

Biden will depart Wednesday to meet with G-7 leaders in Japan, but will now travel back Sunday and no longer visit Papua New Guinea or Australia.

Biden would have become the first sitting U.S. president to visit Papua New Guinea and was scheduled to join the Quad summit in Australia. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other Republicans had criticized Biden's plans to go abroad as lawmakers face a possible June 1 default deadline.

"The President has made clear that members of Congress from both parties and chambers must come together to prevent default, as they have 78 times before. The President and his team will continue to work with Congressional leadership to deliver a budget agreement that can reach the President's desk," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.

MORE: Congressional Budget Office warns of US debt default 'in first two weeks of June'

Negotiations on the debt ceiling resumed Tuesday afternoon when Biden, McCarthy, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell met at the White House.

Biden, speaking later at a White House celebration of Jewish Heritage Month, called it "a good, productive meeting" on a path forward to avoid default.

"There's still work to do but I made it clear to the speaker and others that we'll speak regularly over the next couple of days, and the staff is going to continue meeting daily to make sure we do not default," the president said, adding he was shortening his trip "in order to be back for the final negotiations."

PHOTO: President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris host Congressional leaders for a meeting about raising the debt limit in the Oval Office at the White House on May 16, 2023. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

McCarthy emerged from the discussion stating the two sides were still far apart but also said it's "possible" a deal could soon be reached in a matter of a few days.

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"It is possible to get a deal by the end of the week," McCarthy told ABC News Senior Congressional Correspondent Rachel Scott outside the White House. "It's not that difficult to get to an agreement."

Asked if he thinks progress was made during Oval Office meeting with Pres. Biden on debt limit, Speaker McCarthy tells @rachelvscott: "It is possible to get a deal by the end of the week. Its not that difficult to get to an agreement. https://t.co/JnChsMozHK pic.twitter.com/4p9AnGw45D  ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) May 16, 2023

What changed in Tuesday's meeting, McCarthy said, was how the parties will negotiate moving forward. Biden agreed to appoint two top members of his staff to work directly with McCarthy and his staff, the speaker said, rather than negotiations between all four congressional leaders.

"The structure has changed so we're in a better process," McCarthy said.

PHOTO: House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell speak to members of the media following a meeting on the debt limit with US President Joe Biden at the White House in Washington, May 16, 2023. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

After the meeting, Schumer told reporters that the leaders agreed they needed to pass "a bipartisan bill with bipartisan support in both chambers."

"Default is just the worst, worst alternative and having a bipartisan bill in both chambers is the only way we're going to avoid default," the Democratic Senate leader said.

PHOTO: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries talk to reporters after meeting with President Joe Biden, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, May 16, 2023, in Washington. (Evan Vucci/AP)

MORE: US debt limit: How a default could affect you

Adding pressure ahead of Tuesday's debt ceiling summit, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the economic shock that would result from an unprecedented default "could lead to a recession."

"It's essential Congress act as soon as possible," she said as she delivered remarks in downtown Washington, stating they're already seeing "the impacts of brinkmanship" and "default would generate an economic catastrophe."

Yellen has repeatedly warned the U.S. could default in early June, possibly as soon as June 1, though the exact date remains uncertain.

Yellen wrote Monday in a letter to McCarthy the Treasury was already seeing adverse impacts on the economy as negotiations continue -- including increased borrowing costs -- and more harm could come if lawmakers wait until the final hour to strike a deal.

PHOTO: President Joe Biden holds a meeting on the debt limit with, from left, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Vice President Kamala Harris, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, in the Oval Office, May 16, 2023. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

MORE: All the debt ceiling options, explained, if Biden and McCarthy don't reach a deal

Biden and Democrats had insisted Republicans take default off the table, and separate the debt ceiling from the 2024 budget. Republicans, on the other hand, said they'd done their job by passing the Limit, Save, Grow Act last month to raise the debt ceiling and enact deep spending cuts.

Possible areas of agreement on budget talks to emerge since the last debt ceiling meeting between the so-called "Big Five" include clawing back billions of dollars in unspent COVID-19 relief and reforming the permitting process for energy projects -- a GOP priority -- sources familiar with the talks told ABC News.

"This shouldn't be this hard," McConnell said after Tuesday's meeting. "No. 1, we know we're not going to default. They know it, we know it. We're running out of time."

Biden cuts upcoming foreign trip short amid debt ceiling showdown originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
TOKYO  The Japanese and Chinese defense ministers inaugurated their long-awaited hotline on Tuesday as a step to build trust and improve communication at a time when Japan and other neighbors are concerned about Beijings increasingly assertive military activities.

Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada and his Chinese counterpart, Li Shangfu, talked for about 20 minutes through the hotline for the first time since it was established on March 31, the Japanese Defense Ministry said.

The two ministers welcomed the start of the operational use of the hotline and affirmed the importance of the maritime and aerial communication mechanism, which includes the hotline, in building trust between the two sides while avoiding contingencies.

Tokyo and Beijing are embroiled in a dispute over tiny Japanese-controlled islands in the East China Sea, known as the Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China. China routinely sends Coast Guard vessels and planes into waters and airspace surrounding the islands to harass Japanese vessels, with Japans military scrambling jets in response.

Chinas naval fleet also regularly circles around Japanese coasts, sometimes in joint military exercises with Russia, irking Tokyo. Japan is increasingly worried about the tensions around self-ruled Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory and has threatened to annex by force if necessary.

Hamada, noting the row over the islands and other disputes between Japan and China, said candid communication between them is necessary especially when their relations are not as good.

Hamada and Li also ensured the hotline was working properly and agreed to continue communication between their respective defense authorities.

The idea for the hotline was initially agreed in 2018 between then-prime ministers Shinzo Abe and Li Keqiang as a way to avoid accidental clashes between their militaries.
By Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen and Johannes Birkebaek

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - NATO member Denmark said on Tuesday that it aims to strengthen defence ties with other Nordic countries to protect critical infrastructure and counter the Russian threat both in the Arctic and the Baltic Sea region.

In a new foreign and security policy strategy, the country's government calls for more joint military exercises and coordination of defence plans with its Nordic neighbours.

"With Finland's accession to NATO and Sweden on the way, there is a historic opportunity for us to move closer together in a situation where all the Baltic Sea countries, except Russia, are members of the same defence alliance," Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said in a speech.

The strategy calls for tighter relations with the Baltic countries, as well as closer diplomatic ties in places like Moldova, West Balkans and Georgia to counter Russian influence. Denmark opened an embassy in Georgia on Monday.

Danes voted last year to join the European Union's defence policy, signalling a shift to deepen defence ties in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Denmark is already working with Sweden, Norway and Finland to create a unified Nordic air defence.

Still, NATO will continue to be the cornerstone of Denmark's defence and security, with the United States remaining its most important security ally, the minister said.

The country last published a foreign and security policy strategy just weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year.

The new strategy acknowledges that Denmark has not taken the security threat from Russia in the Baltic Sea region seriously enough and points to shortcomings in its ability to defend its own territory. Denmark aims to meet a NATO spending target of 2% of GDP by 2030.

It underlines that in light of the sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines in September last year, there is a need to protect critical infrastructure and make Danish society more robust to deal with cyber and terrorist threats, espionage and influence campaigns.

(Reporting by Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen; Editing by Christina Fincher and Sharon Singleton)
The Montgomery County Sheriffs Office is asking the public for help locating a suspect involved in a child abuse case.

Deputies are currently searching for 32-year-old Richard King, according to a spokesperson for the sheriffs office.

The child abuse was reported to deputies on April 4, 2023 and involved a four-year-old girl, the spokesperson said.

>> Police continue search for missing 63-year-old Dayton woman; Have you seen her?

During the course of the investigation, detectives discovered that King possessed an active warrant issued by Ohio Adult Parole for charges of Abduction and Felony Domestic Violence.

On Friday, May 12, the Montgomery County Grand Jury indicted King on multiple charges related to the incident.

>> Beavercreek police asking for help locating 2 wanted men

The spokesperson said the charges include one count of strangulation (substantial risk of serious harm, a Felony of the 3rd degree), one count of strangulation (physical harm, a Felony of the 5th degree), and one count of assault.

It is particularly noteworthy that this assault occurred on the very day Ohios law on strangulation went into effect, underscoring the urgency to bring Richard King to justice, the spokesperson said.

King is described to be about 511, weighs approximately 246 lbs, has black hair and brown eyes, and several tattoos.

Anyone with information on Kings whereabouts is asked to contact the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office at 937-225-4357 (HELP) or the Miami Valley Crime Stoppers at 937-222-7867 (STOP).
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, left, said Daniel Penny, right, shouldn't be prosecuted after he choked Jordan Neely to death. Amir Levy/Getty Images and Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images

DeSantis shared a fundraising page for Penny over the weekend, raising $2 million for his defense.

"Vets look out for other vets," DeSantis said when asked about it Tuesday.

DeSantis has been among the Republicans attacking Democrats over rising crime.

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida defended ex-Marine Daniel Penny as having done the "right thing" after he fatally choked Jordan Neely on a New York City Subway.

Penny, a 24-year-old white man, has been charged with second degree manslaughter after the death of Neely, a 30-year-old Michael Jackson impersonator and dancer who was Black. Penny faces up to 15 years in prison and DeSantis said Tuesday that he shouldn't be prosecuted.

"Vets look out for other vets," DeSantis said during a press conference in Lighthouse Point, Florida, referring to his own service in the US Navy. "What we can't have in our society is inmates running the asylum."

DeSantis shared a fundraising page for Penny in a tweet over the weekend, urging supporters to "stop the Left's pro-criminal agenda and take back the streets for law abiding citizens." The campaign, which will go toward Penny's defense, raised more than $2 million as of mid-day Tuesday.

Neely, who was homeless, faced mental health struggles after his mother was murdered in 2007, but didn't receive effective treatment and faced dozens of arrests.

Penny's lawyers said that Neely was "aggressively threatening" passengers. Witnesses reported that before Penny place in him a chokehold Neely screamed that he was hungry and tired and hadn't physically attacked anyone.

Protests ensued in New York City, and the story became national news as it touched on race, homelessness, crime, and mental health treatment.

Over the weekend and on Tuesday, DeSantis praised Penny as a "Good Samaritan" for "protecting people." The comparison, however, didn't match the famous story in the Bible, of a Samaritan man who helps a Jewish man who was robbed, beaten, and left for dead on the side of the road. Jesus used the parable to teach the disciples what it meant to love one's neighbor, commanding them to show mercy even to people they despise.

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Several Republicans in Congress have similarly cast Penny as a hero and used the case to argue that crime in major US cities is out of control. Crime in New York City is higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic, statistics show.

DeSantis and other Republicans also attacked Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg  the same attorney who indicted former President Donald Trump for falsification of business records in March  and highlighted his support from Democratic billionaire George Soros. The support was indirect, as Soros didn't donate to Bragg's campaign directly but to a progressive super PAC, Color of Change, that advocates for criminal justice reform and backed Bragg.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Special Counsel John Durham released a report on May 15 finding there was no basis for the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign's ties to Russia. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is presently expected to launch a White House bid, said he'd fire people at the FBI in response. Manuel Balce Ceneta, File and Alex Brandon, File/AP Photo

Special counsel John Durham slammed the FBI over its Trump-Russia investigation in a new report.

DeSantis said the report showed "I was right," because he'd defended Trump as a US congressman.

"What I would do is clean house top to bottom in these agencies," he said of the FBI and others.

US law enforcement agencies would see an overhaul under DeSantis administration, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday.

"What I would do is clean house top to bottom in these agencies," the Republican governor said Tuesday when asked how he would respond to the newly released special counsel report that concluded the FBI had no basis for investigating former President Donald Trump's links to Russia. "Why don't we have change at the FBI?"

The report was published Monday and overseen by Special Counsel John Durham  who was appointed by former President Trump's attorney general Bill Barr  and was the conclusion of a four-yearlong investigation into the 2016 election.

The report has inflamed concerns by Republicans, including DeSantis, that members of the FBI acted to undermine Trump time in the White House and to cast doubt on his 2016 win against Democrat Hillary Clinton.

As a US Congressman representing a district that included Florida's St. John's County, DeSantis frequently defended Trump on Fox News against what he called the "Russia collusion hoax." He even filed an amendment in 2017 to end the probe.

Trump, who ended up endorsing DeSantis for governor in 2018 and helped him win the GOP nomination, often cites DeSantis' defense of him as one of the reasons the two were allies.

Now, DeSantis is likely to be the lead rival against Trump for the 2024 nomination, as soon as he formally announces his candidacy.

"I was right," DeSantis said about the Russia investigation in Lighthouse Point, Florida, on Tuesday. He accused investigators of "trying to kneecap an administration" and of conducting a "massive abuse of power."

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DeSantis added that he'd had positive experiences with law enforcement agencies when he was in the US Navy and as a prosecutor.

"I thought they were professional," he said. "But to see the lack of accountability and the gross abuse of power, it changed how I view this whole apparatus going forward."

Trump, too, has said if reelected he intends to make it easier to purge civil servants at federal agencies, Axios reported. "The deep state must and will be brought to heel," he said at a South Carolina rally.

The FBI opened its investigation in July 2016 and Special Counsel Robert Mueller took over in 2017. Two years later, Mueller didn't find sufficient evidence to charge anyone from Trump's campaign with conspiracy to influence the election.

DeSantis said that not enough people had been held accountable over the matter. Durham charged three defendants over the course of the investigation. Two were acquitted and the third pleaded guilty in exchange for avoiding prison time.

The law "does not always make a person's bad judgment, even horribly bad judgment, standing alone, a crime," Durham wrote in his report, which spanned over 300 pages.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) on Tuesday said his state is sending help to Texas to defend the southern border amid controversy over immigration policy.

At my direction, state agencies including law enforcement and the Florida National Guard are being deployed to Texas, with assets including personnel, boats and planes. While Biden ignores the crisis he created, Florida stands ready to help Texas respond to this crisis, DeSantis said in a statement.

The update from the governors office on Tuesday delineated more than 1,100 troopers, officers, soldiers and personnel from the state ready for deployment to the U.S.-Mexico border  as well as more than a dozen drones, five fixed-wing aircraft and other assets.

The pandemic-era Title 42 immigration policy  which allowed border officials to quickly expel asylum-seeking migrants they encountered at the border  expired last week with the end of the national COVID-19 emergency declaration, reverting migrant processing back to Title 8.

Many said they expected a surge of migrants at the southern border as the policy switched over, but the anticipated influx hasnt arrived.

Biden administration officials last week said they didnt see a substantial increase overnight or an influx at midnight.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Sunday that Border Patrol has noted a drop in encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border since the end of Title 42.

Texas has been part of a long-running move from some GOP governors in border states to bus migrants north to Democrat-led cities in protest of the administrations immigration policies, and it has sent more migrants to the Naval Observatory  Vice President Harriss D.C. residence  in the wake of Title 42s expiration.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) on Tuesday announced the state sent 18,500 migrants to D.C., New York City, Chicago and Philadelphia. Abbott also thanked Florida for its support in a letter urging other fellow governors to aid the state in responding to the flood of illegal border activity invited by the Biden administration.

Floridas aid move was made under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, an interstate mutual aid agreement.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said on Tuesday he will send state law enforcement officers to the southern border in Texas, a tactical maneuver that will test how far the state will go to help enforce immigration law as the Republican governor prepares to launch a presidential campaign.

The governors office said hundreds of state troopers, police and Florida National Guard members, plus boats and planes, are ready to head to the border as early as Wednesday. The mission is expected to last 31 days and will consist of three separate endeavors, according to a copy of Texas request to Florida for help.

Texas is requesting assisting states absorb associated costs with this mission in support of the entire country, states the request, which was sent on Tuesday.

Florida has been asked to help Texas officers deter, detect and interdict criminal activity along its 1,250-mile southern border. The specific locations will be determined by the Texas Military Department, but records show they could include El Paso, Del Rio and the Rio Grande Valley sector.

During the mission, Texas will give Florida state law enforcement officers and guardsmen the same arrest and law enforcement powers, rights, and privileges while operating within the state limits of Texas as are ordinarily afforded law enforcement forces of the State of Texas, records show.

While Biden ignores the crisis he created, Florida stands ready to help Texas respond to this crisis, DeSantis said in a statement.

But what DeSantis portrayed as a robust state action was dismissed as routine by Department of Homeland Security officials.

A DHS official noted that enforcement of immigration laws is the responsibility of the federal government. Any interaction by state-level troops with migrants encountered at the border would be in conjunction and in service of the department, the official said.

DeSantis response comes at a time when political tensions over immigration are particularly inflamed, with the expiration of a pandemic-era rule known as Title 42 that the Trump and Biden administrations used to control the flow of migrants coming to the U.S. through Mexico. While a surge in migrants has not happened as of Tuesday, border patrol officials have feared that ending the policy could increase migrant encounters at the southern border in the near future.

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DeSantis made the announcement after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott sent a letter to the nations governors on Tuesday asking them to help support Texas unprecedented border security efforts. Abbott made the request under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, a mutual-aid partnership among all states.

In that letter, Abbott noted that Idaho Gov. Brad Little and DeSantis had already offered resources.

I thank these states for proactively addressing this crisis and request other states follow their lead in helping to secure Americas border, Abbott wrote.

The governors critics, however, are calling the response a political stunt.

What an irresponsible waste of critical state resources by DeSantis for his own performative national politics. Honestly not sure weve ever seen such intellectually dishonest leadership in Tallahassee, former Republican Congressman David Jolly posted on Twitter.

The issue of immigration, a powerful motivating issue for Republican base voters, has been a driving policy issue for DeSantis as he increasingly blames the Biden administration for the situation at the border.

Read more: Florida ramping up a relaunch of migrant relocation program with three new vendors

This is something that is the responsibility of Joe Biden. This is a responsibility that he has defaulted on really from day one of his presidency, DeSantis said last week. Obviously if we had a different administration it would be a lot easier to actually deal with the problem at its source.

This years mission will not be the first time that DeSantis has sent assets to help Texas officers respond to immigration issues. In the summer of 2021, he spent at least $1.6 million to send dozens of state law enforcement officers on a weeks-long border mission in Texas.

The seven-week trip, led by three state agencies, was cast by the Republican governor as a needed measure to beef up security at the border amid the failures of Bidens administration, while critics saw the effort as a state-funded political stunt.

While in Texas, state law enforcement officers made contact with 9,171 undocumented immigrants, the governors office said at the time. Just over 3% of those contacts resulted in a criminal arrest, according to data provided by the governors office.

A large portion of the 2021 mission was done out of Del Rio, Texas.

Earlier this year, DeSantis also declared an emergency and deployed state resources to help patrol the waters surrounding the Keys after there was an influx of migrants who made their way to the southern island chain.

Alecia Collins, spokeswoman for the Florida Division of Emergency Management, said the Texas deployment is not expected to impact the states migrant enforcement operations in the Keys.

While supporting the Texas efforts the Division will continue to maintain a robust presence in the Keys, Collins said in an email Tuesday afternoon. Only 4 individuals from the Keys mission have been directed to Texas.

Fort Worth Star-Telegram reporter Eleanor Dearman contributed to this report from Austin, Texas. McClatchy White House Correspondent Michael Wilner contributed to this report from Washington, D.C.
This combination of photos shows Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaking on April 21, 2023, in Oxon Hill, Maryland, left, and former President Donald Trump speaking on March 4, 2023, at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Md. DeSantis and Trump will share the spotlight in Iowa on Saturday, May 13, providing a chance to sway influential conservative activists and contrast their campaign styles in Republicans' leadoff voting state. Alex Brandon, File/AP Photo

Trump hasn't said what federal limit he supports on abortion.

He criticized DeSantis' six-week ban in Florida as 'too harsh.'

DeSantis said Trump needed to answer whether he would have signed a similar bill into law.

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida put pressure on former President Donald Trump Tuesday to answer whether he'd sign a six-week abortion ban into law.



"As a Florida resident, he didn't give an answer about 'Would you have signed the heartbeat bill that Florida did?'" DeSantis said, referring to the six-week point in a pregnancy at which an embryo's cardiac activity can be detected.

The governor, who was taking questions from reporters in Lighthouse Point, Florida, also noted that Florida's ban contained exceptions for rape, incest, and cases in which a pregnacy is life threatening  exceptions Trump has described to anti-abortion groups as crucial.

"I signed the bill, I was proud to do it," DeSantis said of the six-week ban. "He won't answer whether he would sign it or not."

Trump hasn't specified what he thinks a federal abortion cut-off should look like, telling CNN and The Messenger that he'd instead  like 2024 rival Nikki Haley  work to see where the consensus was.

Trump told The Messenger that some anti-abortion advocates viewed the six-week ban as "too harsh," though national organizations have pushed aggressively for such bans in states, even without rape and incest exeptions.

Most voters support limits on abortion late in a pregnancy but think it should be broadly available during the first trimester, or roughly 12 weeks into a pregnancy, polling shows. Voters also overwhelmingly support allowing abortions in cases of rape, incest, or when a pregnancy is life threatening.

Late-pregnancy abortions and abortions that occur following rape and incest tend to dominate political messaging on the issue, though each of these circumstances represent roughly 1% or less of abortions in the US every year.

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DeSantis signed a six-week ban into law in April that will take effect if Florida's Supreme Court first upholds a 15-week ban he signed into law last year, one that doesn't have exeptions for rape or incest and is in effect now.

Major donors were concerned that the legislation went too far, telling journalists that they were holding off on contributing to the governor, who still hasn't formalized a 2024 run. Whether a strict ban is a general election or even presidential primary killer remains an open question, though the issue proved to hurt congressional Republicans during the 2022 midterms.

DeSantis, in contrast, won his gubernatorial reelection by nearly 20 points after authorizing a 15-week ban and vaguely pledging to "expand pro-life protections."

During his remarks Tuesday, DeSantis pointed out that Iowa also enacted a six-week ban, in a thinly veiled reference to the first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses. DeSantis hasn't announced that he's running, though numerous signs  from relocating his political operation to racking up endorsements  indicate that an announcement is imminent.

The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to an Insider email requestion a response to DeSantis' latest abortion comments.

Anti-abortion organizations have criticized Trump for failing to take a stance on the issue, though they called him the "most pro-life president in history" when he was in the White House. Trump also made state-level abortion bans possible by appointing enough justices to overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which previously guaranteed a national right to abortion.

Read the original article on Business Insider
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.  Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday took a swipe at Donald Trump over abortion, chiding the GOP presidential frontrunner for failing to take a stance on what type of abortion restrictions he would be willing to support.

DeSantis  in some of his strongest comments to date on the topic  also defended his decision to sign a ban on abortions after six weeks of pregnancy even though it has been criticized by some Republicans as too strict. The comments set up a potential fault line for DeSantis when he officially jumps into the race for president, which could come as soon as next week.

Trump, in an interview he gave to digital news startup The Messenger published on Monday, said if you look at what DeSantis did, a lot of people don't 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.

The former presidents comments come after a CNN town hall meeting last week, where Trump took credit for appointing the conservative Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade. But when pressed, Trump would not say if he would support a federal abortion law and what type of restrictions he would be willing to sign into law.



DeSantis retorted at a bill signing press conference in Broward County that protecting an unborn child when theres a detectable heartbeat is something that almost probably 99 percent of pro-lifers support. Its something that others states like Iowa under Gov. Kim Reynolds have enacted.

The governor then added that I think that as a Florida resident, you know, he didnt give an answer about would you have signed the heartbeat bill that Florida did. It had all the exceptions that people talk about. The Legislature put it in. I signed the bill. I was proud to do it. He wont answer whether he would sign it or not.

DeSantis remarks come just days before he is scheduled to give the keynote address at the annual dinner of the Florida Family Policy Council, which bills itself as a leading pro-life, pro-family organization in the state.

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Floridas current law on abortion  which bans it after 15 weeks of pregnancy  was put in place shortly before the Supreme Court overturned Roe, the landmark decision that legalized abortion a half-century ago.

This spring, legislators rolled it back to six weeks, although the new measure does include exceptions for rape, incest and human trafficking if there is proof of the crime. The six-week ban, however, will not take effect until after the state Supreme Court rules on a legal challenge against the 15-week law.

DeSantis signed Floridas new ban into law back on April 13 and announced it social media around midnight that same night. He initially didnt tout it even when he spoke at an event the conservative Christian Liberty University, the preeminent conservative religious school in the country. But since then, DeSantis has included brief mentions of the ban in a list of legislative accomplishments he has been touting on recent appearances across the country.



Democrats have decried the new law, saying that it a tantamount to a complete ban since some people dont know they are pregnant at the six weeks mark. Some Republicans have also questioned the restriction and have worried that such a ban could cost them in next years elections. Abortion rights advocates, meanwhile, have launched an initiative to ask voters in Florida to allow abortions up to about 24 weeks.

In his interview with The Messenger, Trump said he believed in exceptions from a strict ban, such as in cases of rape and incest, but would not say if he would sign a similar six-week ban into law at the federal law. Instead he said he was looking at options.

The answers that Trump gave on abortion have roiled some members of the conservative Christian community.

Bob Vander Plaats, president and CEO of the Iowa-based Family Leader organization, tweeted out on Monday that the Iowa caucuses were wide open in the aftermath of Trumps comments that the six-week ban may be too harsh. Vander Plaats recently traveled to Florida to meet with DeSantis and his wife, Casey DeSantis.

John Stemberger, who is president of the Florida Family Policy Council and a long-time anti-abortion advocate in the state, added on Twitter that I can tell you that I personally know every major leader in the pro-life movement in the country and not a single one of them would agree with this statement.
ALBANY, N.Y.  New Yorks top energy officials say the state can keep its leadership position on climate while weakening the states landmark law mandating reductions in planet-warming emissions.

But the numbers  and previous work by state staff  show that New York would be required to take less aggressive action to slash greenhouse gasses if Gov. Kathy Hochul, despite dropping an immediate push for it Wednesday, ultimately cuts a deal with lawmakers to change the climate law, an effort first reported by POLITICO.

Overall, youre saying we dont need to reduce emissions as much, said Bob Howarth, a Cornell University professor and member of the Climate Action Council that was set up to chart a path to achieving the states climate goals. This is a big retrenchment from the climate goal, particularly on the use of natural gas.

Hochul has backed down from the controversial proposal to rewrite New Yorks climate law in the budget talks after backlash from environmental groups and some Democratic lawmakers. The priority, for now, is a rebate as part of cap and invest.

But Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said on Wednesday the issue of how New York counts emissions still needs to be considered .

The more difficult potential changes to the law that have been contemplated may take more time, he said in an interview Wednesday with POLITICO.

Nation leading standards

New Yorks law was the most ambitious statutory mandate requiring emissions reductions when it passed in 2019. It required emissions to be slashed 40 percent from 1990 levels by 2030 and 85 percent by 2050, with the remainder offset. It also requires zero-emissions electricity by 2040.

New York is the one of only two jurisdictions to use a 20-year time horizon to account for the damaging effects of planet-warming gasses instead of 100 years.

It makes methane, the main component of natural gas, more potent than under the longer accounting timeline. Backers say the shorter measure more accurately reflects the short-term warming impact of greenhouse gasses and the urgency around reducing emissions.

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The latest U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report warned global action is not happening quickly enough to avert some of the most damaging potential effects of a warming planet.

New York is unique in using three factors that increase the emissions that have to be reduced: the 20-year metric, out-of-state upstream emissions from imported fuels and biogenic emissions from burning fuels like wood and ethanol.

If New York were to use the accounting most other states do, its statutory targets would fall behind at least Washington and Massachusetts  and particularly Maryland , the only other state to use the 20-year timeline for emission reductions.

The Hochul administration said the numerical reductions of greenhouse gas emissions required between the two accounting methods by 2030 could not be compared.

But the percentage progress toward the goal under the two scenarios indicates New York would be able to keep burning more fossil fuels for longer. Under the states current accounting, for example, New York has achieved about 37 percent of the progress needed to meet the 2030 goal , according to an analysis of state data by POLITICO.

If the state were to switch over to the accounting method being pushed by Hochuls administration, the picture is much rosier: the state has already gotten three-quarters of the way to the 2030 goal.

The same is true for progress toward the 2050 limit, which is an 85 percent reduction from 1990 levels with the remainder offset: 17 percent toward the target under New Yorks law and 34 percent if it is changed.

Affordability concerns

But New Yorks unique accounting also makes the states mandated reductions more costly for consumers who would face increased costs at the pump and on their heating bill. Thats under a cap-and-trade system that Hochuls administration is developing to achieve the goals, raise revenues for investments and send rebates to consumers.

A lot of folks are watching us, obviously, as leaders and we intend to remain as leaders. We recognize the best way to get from here to there, though, is to advance programs that further affordability for New York and, by the way, put New York in a position where we are not disadvantaged by virtue of our accounting, Doreen Harris, the CEO of NYSERDA, said in an interview Tuesday.

Harris said it wasn't just about methane but also the upstream emissions impact. That factor added about 110 million megatons of carbon dioxide equivalents to the states 2019 greenhouse gas inventory while the timeframe shift added 65 million megatons, according to a 2021 Climate Action Council presentation.

An analysis by NYSERDA, which Harris said on Tuesday would be publicly posted soon but a spokesperson on Thursday said would be revisited after the budget is passed, showed that a gallon of gas would cost 63 cents more under New Yorks method versus 39 cents more under a more widely used international standard. Thats a 61 percent premium.

The calculation, according to figures pointed to out the governors office, is based on the allowance price set in the state of Washingtons recent auction.

The premium for natural gas utility bills would be greater because of the way the 20-year metric weighs methane as a more climate-damaging gas in the near term: nearly an 80 percent higher increase under New Yorks accounting, with an increase of about $600 annually for the average residential gas customer.

Gas utilities benefit

While some of the states utilities including National Grid have previously supported shifting to the 100-year timeframe, a greater focus has been on how fuels such as renewable natural gas  methane produced from animal manure, landfills or wastewater  are treated by the state.

Because the climate law sets a total emissions limit, not a net one, the state is counting biofuels, including RNG, differently than most other jurisdictions. In other places, theyre considered carbon neutral or even carbon negative . Under the states accounting, RNG is treated essentially the same as conventional natural gas, except that it avoids the upstream emissions associated with production and transport into the state.

The difference drives only a small portion of the increase of New Yorks emissions accounting: just 10 million megatons in 2019. But it limits the use of such fuels in the coming years, weakening the argument by gas utilities that their infrastructure should largely be kept online and used to deliver lower-carbon fuels to customers.

The states utilities have advocated for New York to change the way it counts RNG . National Fuel Gas has explicitly called for the law to be changed . Clean Fuels Alliance America, which represents producers of biofuels, has argued the state could interpret the law differently.

We think that was an oversight, or at least misplaced, said Phil DeCicco, deputy general counsel for National Grid in a July 2022 discussion . Obviously we think RNG has benefits in terms of captured methane.

DeCicco said Grid was not concerned about the 20-year time frame, which made their proposal more attractive.

One reason gas utilities actually might be happier with a 20-year accounting framework is that it increases the benefits of replacing leak-prone pipes with newer gas infrastructure. Those are relatively straightforward capital projects that utilities earn a return from ratepayers on.

Harris confirmed the Hochul administrations proposal does include addressing emissions from biofuels. Certainly the accounting framework for bioenergy is part of the differences we are considering, she said.

Sounding the alarm

When Hochul began pushing the accounting changes quietly in the state budget, Sen. Kevin Parker (D-Brooklyn) also introduced a measure to make major changes, including on biofuels.

Environmental advocates are concerned the bill could open the floodgates to imported renewable natural gas. Dale Bryk, a former Cuomo administration official involved in negotiation on the 2019 law and a senior fellow at the Regional Plan Association, called the move a nefarious effort by National Grid and National Fuel Gas.

National Grid has not taken a position on Parkers bill, according to a spokesperson. A spokesperson for National Fuel Gas did not respond to a request for comment.

Concerns about combusting RNG and other lower-carbon fuels causing pollution in low-income and disadvantaged communities were part of the discussion of the climate law, Bryk confirmed.

If you're still combusting fuels in buildings, then there's still an impact at the combustion place, she said. The benefit side of the equation is happening out of state, so we're just losing that, and then the impact is happening in state and we're allowing more of that.

Weakening the need for action

If the change was approved, critics warn, that there would be less of a need to aggressively reduce the combustion of natural gas through increasing energy efficiency and electrifying buildings. Policies to remove diesel and gas vehicles from the roads could also become less urgent.

Increases in methane would lead to increases in co-pollutants, said Eunice Ko, deputy director of New York City Environmental Justice Alliance. The purported focus of the Hochul administration on disadvantaged communities seem shallow if from the start were not accurately accounting for that and therefore obfuscating the harm and any benefits we want to claim, which will be distorted because of the accounting.

Harris disputed that there would be any material impact on co-pollutant emissions. She said the policies laid out in the climate plan, despite relying on different analyses, would largely remain the same.

Theres still, irrespective of the accounting, an extraordinary focus on electrification, Harris said. We would still be looking at significant levels of electrification and buildings and transportation, We'd still be talking about the significant expansion of our grid.

Whats changed

Advocates and members of the Climate Action Council, who devoted hundreds of hours to helping to shape the states plan to reduce emissions in line with the states law, questioned whats happened since December when the plan was finalized.

Large energy users, members of the council and external groups pushed for a cost analysis of the states emissions goals, asking for a quantitative analysis as part of the council's process. State leaders said the analysis would be done as policies under the plan were rolled out.

I felt virtually ignored on the request, said Gavin Donohue, president and CEO of the Independent Power Producers of New York, which represent power plants that include fossil fuel generators, a Climate Action Council member.

Hochul has also indicated a desire to link New Yorks carbon emissions market with other states, which would be difficult to do without changing the accounting differences. Hochul requested an affordability analysis of cap and invest comparing New Yorks climate accounting and more widely used international standards by state staff in her February budget proposal.

There would be a differential with any price on emissions because of New Yorks unique accounting for fuels, which was finalized in August last year. But the higher than expected price in the Washington auction inflated the differential.

Our leadership position remains firm, and certainly the governor's commitment to realizing our goals, but ultimately, it allows us to align with peer states and nations and that is extraordinarily valuable from an implementation perspective, Harris said.
Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

Sen. Feinstein insisted to reporters on Tuesday that she hasn't been absent from the Senate.

"No, I've been here. I've been voting," she told LA Times' Ben Oreskes at the Capitol on Tuesday.

The 89-year-old senator returned to Washington last week after a nearly 3-month-long absence.

Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California insisted that she had not been absent from the Senate when asked about it by reporters on Tuesday, according to Slate and the Los Angeles Times.

"No, I haven't been gone," she told the Times' Ben Oreskes on Tuesday when asked how her Senate colleagues have responded to her return. "You should follow the  I haven't been gone, I've been working."

Oreskes then asked her whether she had been working from home.

"No, I've been here. I've been voting," she said. "Please, you either know or don't know."

Feinstein then reportedly deflected a question about lawmakers calling for her to resign before an aide wheeled her away.

Feinstein's office did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

The 89-year-old senator returned to Washington last week after nearly three months, allowing Democrats to advance a series of President Joe Biden's nominees through the Senate Judiciary Committee after Feinstein's absence had caused a stall.

During that time, some House Democrats  including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Ro Khanna of California  had called for her to resign.

Rep. Dean Phillips  (@RepDeanPhillips) April 12, 2023

Feinstein has long faced questions surrounding her ability to serve, owing to both her health and a series of public lapses in her cognitive abilities.

Insider asked the senator in December why she had decided not to seek the position of Senate president pro-tempore , a role that typically goes to the longest-serving senator from the majority party.

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Feinstein appeared unaware that she had already issued a statement through her office on the matter, prompting an aide to intervene.

"Okay, well then, I guess it's out," said Feinstein at the time.

Feinstein announced in February that she will not seek re-election in 2024, and several prominent Democrats  including Reps. Adam Schiff, Katie Porter, and Barbara Lee  are running to replace her.

Feinstein has more than a year and a half left until her term expires in January 2025.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Getty/Reuters

It happened, as all the most important things tend to these days, at Taylor Swifts Eras Tour: while dancing with his wife to Swifts Style in Philadelphia on Sunday evening, country star Keith Urban pointed the camera towards himself and Nicole to film a TikTok, clearly having the time of his life.

Sweet, innocent Urban had no idea that he was accidentally making gossip history. Visible in the background of his TikTok are rumored couple Phoebe Bridgers (an indie-pop musician whos been opening for Taylor on tour) and Bo Burnham, the popular millennial comedian who allegedly split from his longtime girlfriend to be with Bridgers.

Bridgerss recent romantic past is bekieved to be similarly chaotic: since 2021, shed been linked to Normal People breakout star Paul Mescal, and the former couple even reportedly got engagedbut at the end of of last year, the gossip mill began to churn out a different tune. Mescal caught Bridgers cheating with Burnham, sources told the scandal hub DeaxMoi, and the engagement was called off.

Neither Burnham nor Bridgers have ever confirmed their relationship, adding to the significance of the Keith Urban TikTok.

They were photographed together at LAX in January while Bridgers was en route to her fathers wake, stoking outrage from fans who assumed shed betrayed Mescal.

I, at one of the lowest points of my life, saw people who claim to love me fucking dehumanize me and shame me and fucking bully me on the way to my dads wake, Bridgers told Them in March.

Bridgers and Burnham are dancing together in Urbans TikTok, and at one point they appear to kiss. The Daily Beast reached out to their reps for comment.

Theres just something in the air these days thats supercharging celebrity gossip with the kind of old school, hardcore chaos energy that hasnt been teeming through the airwaves since the mid-2000s.

From Tom Sandovals affair with Raquel Leviss blowing Vanderpump Rules to smithereens, to Taylor Swift ditching longtime boyfriend Joe Alwyn to romp around with Matty Healy, problematic frontman of The 1975, youd think the world was gonna end tomorrow.

Story continues

Maybe it is: in January, Healy posted a since-deleted photo on Instagram of himself kissing Bridgers, while Burnham stood over them.

Chaos reins.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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A Templeton High School student made a threat against the school on social media, the Templeton Unified School District told parents Monday.

According to a screenshot of an email the district sent to parents, the student posted something that was threatening in nature. That post was then reported to district staff, the email said.

School staff informed law enforcement immediately, the district wrote in its email, which is in line with district protocol.

Tony Cipolla, spokesperson for the San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs Office, confirmed that the agency received a report about the post from Templeton High School administration around 4 p.m. Monday.

The post made a generalized threat against the school and was based on third party information, Cipolla wrote via email.

According to Cipolla, deputies then made contact with the student.

No threats or social media posts were substantiated, Cipolla said.

In its email to parents, Templeton Unified said that both law enforcement and school administration are investigating the situation thoroughly.

The district said that students who are being investigated in relation to the threat will not be allowed to return to school until the investigation is complete and any appropriate discipline is taken.

To provide reassurance to safety and staff, the district said in its email, law enforcement will be present at school Tuesday.

Templeton Unified had not provided additional information about the incident as of Tuesday morning.
On Tuesday, Disney asked an Orange County judge to dismiss the lawsuit filed against it by the newly created Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.

The motion is the latest in the ongoing dispute between the company and Gov. Ron DeSantis, with Disney writing in its motion, just over a year ago, Disney expressed a political view that Governor DeSantis did not like. In response, the Governor unleashed a campaign of retaliation, weaponizing the power of government to punish Disney for its protected speech.

In its filing, Disney argues two things: that the newly passed SB 1604 renders the state lawsuit moot and that its federal lawsuit will settle similar legal questions. Additionally, because the state lawsuit was filed after the federal lawsuit, Disney maintains that Florida law recognizes a robust principle of priority, under which state proceedings should be stayed pending an earlier-filed federal court proceeding.

Disney first drew the ire of the Governor and state legislators when it expressed its concerns with the states Parental Rights in Education Bill, which some had dubbed Dont Say Gay due to the legislations prohibition on discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in grades K-3. The law has subsequently been expanded to K-12.

READ: Lawmakers file amendment to give Florida the power to inspect Disneys monorail system

Read the lawsuit below:

Motion to Dismiss by Adam Poulisse on Scribd

In response to Disneys criticism, the state held a special session to eliminate the half-century-old Reedy Creek Improvement District. However, the district held almost $1 billion in outstanding bonds which, if the district was eliminated, would fall on taxpayers to cover.

In a second special session, lawmakers crafted a new district to take the place of Reddy Creek, replacing the elected board with one appointed by the governor.

However, before the new board could hold its first meeting, the old board signed a long-term deal with Disney, essentially rendering the new hand-picked board powerless.

Story continues

READ: Reedy Creek firefighters to vote on new union contracts after meeting with Disney district board

Disney then filed a federal lawsuit accusing the state of a targeted campaign of government retaliation, accusing the state of violating its First Amendment rights as well as violating the law regarding contracts and its property rights.

Weeks later, the DeSantis board filed a lawsuit against Disney in state court to invalidate the contracts signed by Reedy Creek and Disney. Following that lawsuit, the Florida Legislature passed SB 1604 in an attempt to render the contracts between Disney and the former Reedy Creek Improvement District void.

READ: New Reedy Creek board looks to reverse control deal with Disney

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.
Tom Hiddleston as the titular anti-hero in Loki



Tom Hiddleston as the titular anti-hero in Loki.

Release dates of multiple in-production TV series are in flux due to the ongoing WGA strike, but Disney+ has just announced some major titles to mark in your calendar. Lokis much anticipated second season kicks off October 6, while Hawkeye spinoff Echo will drop its entire season November 29.

Marvel Studios@DisneyPlus



A new season of #Loki starts streaming October 6, 2023.

All episodes of #Echo drop November 29, 2023. pic.twitter.com/jQq2xdbuiV  Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) May 16, 2023

As fans of Disney+s Marvel series will note, dropping of an entire season at once, which is happening with Echo, is an unusual move for the streamer. In Hawkeye, fans were first introduced to Maya Lopez, a character played by Alaqua Cox, Marvel head Kevin Feige said at Disneys Upfronts presentation today, quoted in Deadline. She will return to get her revenge in Echo, a limited drama from an incredible team of indigenous writers, directors and cast members. And in a first for us all episodes will drop on November 29. (Sorry Loki fans, but you wont be able to binge that one; itll be getting a weekly release.)

Read more

A different kind of superheroHarrison Fords Indiana Joneswill also be marking out some real estate on Disney+, conveniently timed to get fans as hyped as possible ahead of the June 30 release of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Starting May 31, you can head to Disney+ to see your favorite fedora-wearing whip-wielder in Raiders of the Lost Ark, Temple of Doom, Last Crusade, and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (which you are under no obligation to watch or even acknowledge, if you feel the same way we do about that one), as well as TV series The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones, in which lil Indy is played by Sean Patrick Flannery.

Story continues

Update, May 16, 6:11pm: This post was updated to include Feiges quote about Echo.





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.

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Shoplifting is an alarmingly common crime. The National Retail Federation estimates that retail shrink, which includes theft but also problems leading to inventory being lost or recorded inaccurately, was roughly $95 billion in 2021.

Ernest Doc Werlin

Dean Rosenblum, a senior retail analyst at Bernstein Research said, Theft is growing faster than sales  theft is becoming a big enough problem that it is starting to affect margins, which is why retailers are talking about it more frequently.

The top categories of items that are being stolen are apparel, electronics, health and beauty, accessories and footwear. As a result, some retailers are locking these items up. This creates a barrier for customers who want to purchase these items.

Because of theft, loss of revenue must be accounted for in retailers budgets. When sales are low and shrink is increasing, it becomes unsustainable for businesses to keep their doors open. Retailers, on average, saw a 26.5% increase in organized retail crime incidents in 2021. Beyond theft of goods, eight in 10 retailers surveyed reported that violence and aggression associated with incidents increased in 2021.

A security guard stands outside the Nordstrom store at The Grove retail and entertainment complex in Los Angeles on Nov. 23, 2021. California Retailers Association president Rachel Michelin says shoplifting has been a growing problem. (AP Photo/Eugene Garcia, File)

Retailers are implementing many strategies to prevent stealing  hiring security guards, installing security cameras, locking up goods and investing in radio-frequency identification systems.

Some of the biggest cities in America are also the biggest hotbeds of shoplifting activity. The National Retail Federations list of cities with the most organized retail crime are among Americas most populated  Los Angeles, Oakland, New York, Houston, Miami, Chicago, Sacramento, Seattle, Atlanta, and Dallas/Fort Worth.

Public safety: In San Francisco, crime threatens city's future. Here's how we can help people feel safe.

Retail theft: Addressing The Rise Of 'Smash And Grab' Crime As Part Of Workplace Safety

Docs Prescription: US faces unprecedented default on its Treasury debt

New York Citys police have reported a dramatic increase in shoplifting. Researchers at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice reported that the theft of items less than $1,000 has increased 53% since 2019 at major commercial locations.

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The problem is particularly acute, as the city is home to some of the worlds largest and most prestigious retail stores, department stores, luxury boutiques and specialty items which offer a wide range of high-end products.

Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell said, A relative handful of shoplifters are responsible for an outsize percentage of retail crime. Nearly a third of all shoplifting arrests in NYC involved just 327 people. Collectively, they were arrested and rearrested more than 6,000 times. Law enforcement and trade groups have blamed a proliferation of organized shoplifting crews, repeat offenders and the new state bail law they argue has enabled such offenders to avoid jail time. Over the past five years, shoplifting complaints nearly doubled, peaking at nearly 64,000 last year. Only about 34 percent resulted in arrests last year, compared with 60 percent in 2017.

High operating costs have made it difficult for San Franciscos retail stores to make a profit. The cost of rent, utilities and labor are significantly higher than in many other cities.

Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore, center, speaks during a news conference as he is joined by Mayor Eric Garcetti, second from right, outside the Los Angeles Police Headquarters on Dec. 2, 2021, in Los Angeles. Some of the biggest cities in America are also the biggest hotbeds of shoplifting activity. The National Retail Federations list of cities with the most organized retail crime are among Americas most populated  Los Angeles, Oakland, New York, Houston, Miami, Chicago, Sacramento, Seattle, Atlanta, and Dallas/Fort Worth.

Nordstrom recently announced that it will be closing all three of its San Francisco stores, citing the changing dynamics of the area that has not recovered since the pandemic, and the fact that the city has been in the spotlight for crime.

Nineteen retailers have left San Franciscos Union Square area since 2020 over concerns about employee and customer safety relating to shoplifting and other crimes. The closure is a blow to the citys retail sector and indicative of the challenges facing the retail industry.

In addition to shoplifting, retail stores are facing a number of challenges. The rise of online shopping, changing consumer habits, limited physical space, the importance of adapting to changes in technology and the need to provide an engaging-in-store experience are all factors that brick-and-mortar stores must address in order to stay competitive. As more customers shift their buying habits online, traditional physical retailers are finding it increasingly difficult to remain profitable.

Sarasota resident Ernest Doc Werlin spent 35 years in fixed income as a trader and corporate bond salesman, including time as a partner at MorganStanley in charge of corporate bond trading. Send suggestions and comments to ernestwerlin@gmail.com or visit docwerlin.com.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Shoplifting is a serious problem that affects retailers across the United States
Kremlin

Does Putin understand that he has lost? Certainly. Even if he has hanged noodles in his ears about some tactical victories, the failure of the winter offensive, the failure of the autumn-winter missile campaign, economic problems, social sentiments, and the international situation are apparent.

Putin has no chance of winning because a victory means a postbellum peace that is better than the antebellum one. A piece of Ukrainian land in his teeth does not make peace for Russia better than how they had it in January 2022. The dry corridor in Crimea is not worth a destroyed army, crushed public finances, a ruined economy, and international isolation. Most importantly, it is not worth the loss in standing, which means having no chance of being one of the poles in a multipolar world.

Read also: Putins decision to invade Ukraine dates back to 2020, claims political analyst

What does Putin want, then? The answer is obvious - he wants Ukraine defeated.

There are wars where one side wins and the other side loses. We are used to measuring all wars by this yardstick. But there are also wars when all sides are defeated and no winners. Remember the eastern front of the First World War: the German, Austro-Hungarian, and Russian Empires were all defeated. There were no winners.

Putin has been defeated, but we have not won yet

Russian defeat has not to mean a Ukrainian victory yet. The war can end with our victory and Russian defeat or defeat for both sides. For Putin, this will not be a victory, but it will at least be an internal justification. He can declare victory at any moment regardless of the objective realities, and Russians (with a few exceptions) will breathe a sigh of relief: "It's over, we won, we live on both without risks and inconveniences, and without insults and humiliations, and this SMO was only an episode worth forgetting." Putin does not need to save face.

Read also: Putins embarrassing one-tank parade hints at catastrophic losses in Ukraine - opinion

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There is no way for Putin to ensure the victory. But there are at least four ways to ensure Ukrainian defeat.

The first path is a war of attrition. He believes the West may tire, and Ukrainian resources will run out faster than Russian ones.

The second way is to freeze the conflict. He believes that the West and the East together can force Ukraine to sit down at the negotiating table and sign a truce under one scenario or another.

Read also: Salute to Prigozhin or Putins provocation to more brutal actions. Who benefits from the death of the propagandist Tatarsky?

The third way is to split Ukrainian society. He believes that inflated expectations will lead to civil conflict between those who want to end the war and those who see continuing it as the only option. The lack of a shared vision of victory and strong informational noise is risky for Ukraine.

The fourth way is Ukraine's loss of a chance for post-war recovery. This path is well described in the article Win the War, Lose the Peace. A failed recovery is the same as Ukraine's defeat.

Putin has been defeated, but we have not won yet. His goal is to bring us to defeat. Our goal is to win. Victory is a better peace than the previous one: a restored Ukraine in the EU and NATO and a de-imperialized Russian Federation that can never threaten Ukraine again.

The text is published with the permission of the author.

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
Wichita teacher contract negotiations have deadlocked over student discipline amid an ongoing Department of Justice investigation involving Wichita schools.

The DOJ declined to comment or clarify the scope of its investigation.

A number of large districts across the country are being/have been investigated by the Department of Justice, Wichita Public Schools spokesperson Susan Arensman told The Eagle in an email.

She said USD 259, Kansas largest school district, is cooperating with the DOJ and has been collecting information for the agency for over a year.

One of the subjects of the DOJ investigation is whether classroom discipline in all instances, including classroom removals, is being administered fairly, Arensman said.

United Teachers of Wichita leadership says the district misled them about the probe to support its objective of removing contract language that gives teachers a say in when disruptive students should be allowed to return to the classroom.

The current contract states that A pupil shall not be readmitted into any class instructed by the teacher who removed the pupil during the half-day in which the pupil was removed unless there is mutual agreement between the teacher and the principal.

The district wants principals alone to have the ultimate say in when its appropriate for a student to be returned to class.

UTW President Katie Warren was interviewed by the DOJ and was informed by the interviewer that the removal of contract language was not a recommendation coming from the DOJ, the union said in a May 5 email update to members obtained by The Eagle.

It seems like theres kind of a war on teachers right now, and taking away our ability to maintain a productive classroom environment  I mean, its just hurtful and disrespectful to our educators, Warren said in a phone interview.

It undermines our teachers ability to maintain an environment conducive to learning, and it disregards the profound professional knowledge and experience that our teachers bring to our classrooms every day.

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Arensman said the district has asked numerous times in past years to change the contract language on student readmission but that the DOJ investigation underscores the need for that provision to be revised.

The modification the BOE is proposing preserves a teachers right to eject a disruptive student, but changes the duration of the removal: instead of a presumptive half-day allowed by the current contract, teachers and administration agree that removals should last no longer than necessary, Arensman said, characterizing the proposed change as one that emphasizes the importance of compliance with the law and safeguarding teacher and student safety.

Warren said removing current contract language would disempower teachers and could negatively affect retention rates during Kansas ongoing teacher shortage. Teachers start date for next school year is Aug. 1, but in past years, contracts have not always been finalized by that date.

None of the seven Wichita school board members responded to a request for comment.

Of the 115 anonymous written statements on student behavior provided to the school district by employees in 2022 and obtained by The Eagle through an open records request, just three reported no concerns with disruptive behavior and the districts approach to controlling it.

The district and union are seeking guidance from the Kansas Department of Labors Office of Labor Relations about how to address the impasse.

KDOL will determine whether the parties should attempt to negotiate further or, alternatively, order the parties to enter mediation with a federal negotiator, Arensman said.
 Flash

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. [Photo/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.

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. [Photo/Xinhua]

"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.

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. [Photo/Xinhua]

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.
Russian hacker identified by DOJ

A Russian national has been charged for his alleged role in the cyberattacks against law enforcement, government agencies, hospitals, and schools. The U.S. Department of Justice unsealed two indictments on Tuesday against Mikhail Pavlovich Matveev, who is known online as Wazawaka, claiming he demanded a total of $400 million from his victims and received roughly $200 million in ransom payments.

From his home base in Russia, Matveev allegedly used multiple ransomware variants to attack critical infrastructure around the world, including hospitals, government agencies, and victims in other sectors, Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Departments Criminal Division said in a DOJ press release. These international crimes demand a coordinated response. We will not relent in imposing consequences on the most egregious actors in the cybercrime ecosystem.

Read more

Matveev is not believed to have acted alone, according to the release, which stated he was a member of the Lockbit, Babuk, and Hive ransomware gangs, which are ranked among the most active and destructive cybercriminal threats in the world. The Babuk gang is said to have deployed ransomware against the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C. in 2021, infecting the systems with spyware and stealing data to extort the department. The MPD was threatened with disclosing sensitive information unless they paid the ransom. Matveev is also charged with conducting a series of ransomware crimes including multiple Lockbit attacks against a police department and a nonprofit behavioral healthcare organization in New Jersey.

The attacks first began in January 2020, when the Lockbit ransomware group surfaced and has since executed more than 1,400 attacks globally and received more than $75 million in ransom payments. Babuk came on the scene in December of that year, carrying out roughly 65 ransomware attacks globally and receiving at least $13 million in payments. Hive was the final group to issue ransomware attacks beginning in June 2021, affecting an estimated 1,400 victims globally and receiving at least $120 million in ransom payments, according to the DOJ release.

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The DOJ is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information that leads to Matveevs arrest and/or conviction. Matveev is charged with conspiring to transmit ransom demands, conspiring to damage protected computers, and intentionally damaging protected computers, and if convicted, Matveev faces more than 20 years in prison.

Thanks to the extraordinary investigative work of prosecutors from my office and our FBI partners, Matveev no longer hides in the shadows  We have publicly identified his criminal acts and charged him with multiple federal crimes, New Jersey District Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said in the release. Let todays charges be a reminder to cybercriminals everywhere  my office is devoted to combatting cybercrime and will spare no resources in bringing to justice those who use ransomware attacks to target victims.

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WASHINGTON  A Greek national allegedly buying technology for the Russian military and intelligence services. A Chinese citizen allegedly stealing thousands of documents from Apple related to autonomous vehicles. Another Chinese national allegedly scheming to provide Iran with materials used in weapons of mass destruction.

These were among the five criminal cases the Justice Department unveiled Tuesday. The cases were the first from a Disruptive Technology Strike Force announced in February to prevent foreign adversaries from obtaining U.S. technology.

These charges demonstrate the Justice Departments commitment to preventing sensitive technology from falling into the hands of foreign adversaries, including Russia, China, and Iran, said Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen, head of the National Security Division.

The technology at stake in the cases included the computer code for manufacturing self-driving cars or items used to develop quantum cryptography.

The theft of technology and trade secrets from U.S. companies is a threat to our economic and national security, said Assistant Director Suzanne Turner of the FBIs Counterintelligence Division.

Heres what we know about the cases:

Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen of the Justice Department's National Security Division speaks during a news conference at the Department of Justice in Washington on May 16, 2023.

Nikolaos Nikos Bogonikolos, 59, of Athens, Greece, was charged with wire fraud conspiracy and smuggling, according to charges unsealed Tuesday. He allegedly smuggled highly regulated U.S. electronics and testing equipment used by the military to Russia He was arrested in Paris on May 9 and remains in custody awaiting extradition.

As alleged, while ostensibly operating as a defense contractor for NATO and other ally countries, the defendant and his Aratos Group were double dealing, helping to fuel Russias war effort and their development of next generation weapons, said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York.

A Chinese national, Xiangjiang Qiao, also known as Joe Hansen, 39, was charged with evading sanctions, money laundering and bank fraud, according to federal court records in New York unsealed Tuesday. He allegedly participated in a scheme to use a sanctioned Chinese company to provide materials such as isostatic graphite, which is used in the nose tips of intercontinental ballistic missiles, to Iran in exchange for payments through the U.S. financial system, according to the department. Qiao is at large in China.

A California man, Weibao Wang, 35, formerly of Mountain View, was charged with theft of trade secrets from Apple, according to court records unsealed Tuesday. Wang was hired in March 2016 to develop hardware and software for autonomous vehicles such as cars.

Wang quit to join the U.S. subsidiary of a Chinese company and in the days leading up to his departure in April 2018, Apple representatives reviewed logs showing he accessed large amounts of sensitive proprietary and confidential information, according to the department. The same day authorities searched his home and found large quantities of data in June 2018, he bought a one-way ticket and flew from San Francisco to Guangzhou, China.

Two Russian nationals  Oleg Sergeyevich Patsulya and Vasilii Sergeyevich Besedin  were arrested May 11 in Arizona and charged with violating the Export Control Reform Act and conspiracy to commit international money laundering. The men allegedly evaded export laws to send aircraft parts to Russian airlines, which was prohibited under sanctions imposed because of the invasion of Ukraine.

A California man, Liming Li, 64, of Rancho Cucamonga, was arrested May 6 after arriving at Ontario International Airport on a flight from Taiwan. He was charged with stealing trade secrets about making 3D models from two former employers in order to allegedly build his own competing business in China. FBI agents searched his home and allegedly found numerous digital devices containing millions of files from his former employers.

Li stole thousands of files of sensitive technology that did not belong to him and used it to help foreign companies build competing technology  technology that could be used in the manufacture of nuclear submarines and military aircraft, said Martin Estrada, U.S. attorney for the Central District of California.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: DOJ outlines charges in Russian, Chinese plots to steal U.S. tech
Dover 400th presents Voices of Dover

DOVER  In celebration of Dovers 400th anniversary in 2023, the 400th Committee has been working with city media services director Mike Gillis and former Fosters Daily Democrat editor Wayne Chick to interview, film, and record for posterity some reminiscent stories from our present-day citizens. This new video series, Voices of Dover," seeks to preserve local residents recollections of Dover: its people, its schools, its businesses, its memorable moments. The Committee plans to release the first video in the series on May 15, and then will release one or two new videos weekly after that, throughout 2023. Each of these interviews will feature storytelling, humor, insight, family lore and nostalgia for Dover days gone by.

The videos may be viewed at dovernh.viebit.com/index.php?folder=Dover400 or at Dover400.org. Links will also be posted on the Dover400 Facebook page. Be sure to catch each one as theyre released. The official mission of the Dover400 Committee is to honor our past, celebrate our present, and to inspire our future through meaningful and creative community engagement." The Voices of Dover video project helps fulfill that mission.

Dover 400th holding Hilton descendants reunion

DOVER  On Saturday, June 24, there will be a gathering of Hilton descendants at Hilton Park in Dover at 11 a.m. The area is now a New Hampshire State Park and the site of the original settlement. The park is accessible via the Spaulding Turnpike. From Portsmouth/Newington, cross the bridge over the Piscataqua River then take Exit 6 toward Route 4 Durham. Turn left, cross the overpass over the turnpike, then at the rotary, take the third exit to Boston Harbor Road. Go approximately  mile to Hilton Park which has plenty of free parking, a boat ramp, picnic tables, swings, and an historic marker. Please come and meet your Hilton and Roberts cousins and bring a picnic lunch. Everyone is invited.

Field of Honor coming to Rochester

Heroism will be on display at the Rochester common, beginning May 27 and running through May 29, 2023.

ROCHESTER  Heroism will be on display at the Rochester common, beginning May 27 and running through May 29. The event is free to the public.

Like last year, 550 full-size American flags will be dedicated to a veteran of your choosing. If you want to participate and dont have a veteran in mind, you may allow Vouchers for Veterans to choose a Vietnam Veteran from New Hampshire or Maine who was killed in action. All flags have a yellow silk ribbon and laminated card with the veterans name, branch, rank, and insignia. Veterans killed while serving will be denoted by a black cross.

On Monday at 11 a.m. following the Memorial Day Parade, a small service will take place with a presentation of colors, the laying of the wreaths and a few words by Mayor Paul Callaghan and former Lt. Col. Joe Kenney of the Marine Corps. Taps will be played nightly on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday at 7 p.m.

Information: vouchersforveterans.org

Learn about Community Power in Rye

RYE  Rye residents can learn about Community Power, a new default power option that offers more local control, options and lower prices Thursday, May 18, 6:30 p.m. at the Rye Public Library. Rye Energy Committee Co-chair Howard Kalet, Co-chair Tom Pfau and Member Lisa Sweet will present and review the facts and possibilities.

Registration is not required. For more information, contact Kalet at 508-380-7898.

Household Hazardous Waste Day

ROCHESTER  The 2023 Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day for the communities of Barrington, Farmington, Milton, Middleton, New Durham, Northwood, Rochester, Somersworth, Strafford, and Wakefield will be held on Saturday May 20, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Turnkey Landfill at 18 Isinglass Drive (off of Rochester Neck Road) in Rochester. Residential drop off site for trash and yard waste is closed to accommodate this event. For information call 603-332-4096, or visit rochesternh.gov.

Lace up for our veterans

SOUTH BERWICK, Maine  On Friday, May 26, at 6:30 p.m., Ricks Run 5k walk/run will host runners locally at Spring Hill in South Berwick, Maine and virtually around the country. Over the past seven years, Ricks Run 5k has become a community favorite event, raising funds for Veterans Forward (formally Veterans Count) which provides funds for Maine veterans. Information: runsignup.com/Race/ME/SouthBerwick/RicksRun5K.

Lions Club welcomes Kennebunk Savings Bank as Corn Hole Tournament sponsor

DOVER  The Dover, Rollinsford, South Berwick Lions Club welcomes Kennebunk Savings Bank as a Bronze Sponsor for its second annual Charity Corn Hole Tournament.

The Corn Hole Tournament, which takes place at The Barn at Dunn Farm in Berwick, Maine on Aug. 12, will benefit pediatric cancer research at Children's Hospital at Dartmouth. Gold, Silver and Bronze Sponsorships are available through June 14.

Last year the group raised $3,400 for Childrens Hospital at Dartmouth Health thanks to the local business community that rallied to support the cause. This years goal is to raise $10,000 for Dartmouth Health Childrens, New Hampshire's only children's hospital. According to Sarah E. Earnest, Development Officer of the Dartmouth Cancer Center, Dartmouth is poised to have a direct and immediate impact on preventing cancer in children as a national leader in cancer research. Dartmouth researchers are working to refine approaches, protocols, and education for pediatric screening in a way that empowers doctors and parents  and saves childrens lives.

Turnout is expected to exceed 500 people, including players and spectators. Sponsors will be featured on T-shirts, banners, plus additional options.

Information: birdease.com/cornholeforacure

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Dover 400th's 'Voices' series, Community Power in Rye: Community news
Dozens Of Interceptors Fired As Kyiv Faced Most Complex Barrage Yet photo

In an air defense response that lit up the night sky over Kyiv, Ukrainian officials say they downed all 18 missiles fired, including six Kh-47 Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missiles, nine Kalibr sea-launched cruise missiles and three ground-launched missiles, as well as several drones. The Russian Defense Ministry (MoD) meanwhile claimed that a Kinzhal struck one of two U.S.-made MIM-104 Patriot missile systems in the latest attack against that air defense system.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation launched a combined attack with long-range precision-guided air- and sea-based weapons against the AFU units, as well as depots of ammunition, weapons, and military equipment supplied by Western countries, the Russian MoD claimed on its Telegram channel. "The goal of the attack has been reached. All the assigned targets have been neutralized. U.S.-manufactured Patriot surface-to-air missile system has been struck by Kinzhal hypersonic glide vehicle in Kyiv.

It's worth noting that Kinzhal is not a hypersonic glide vehicle at all, it's an air-launched variant of the Iskander-M short-range ballistic missile with hypersonic endgame performance. Hypersonic glide vehicles are an entirely different category of weapon. Whether this was simply wrong information or an anomaly of the translation is unclear.

https://twitter.com/ukraine_world/status/1658448774383955968?s=20

In an apparent response to the Russian claim that drips with snark, but offers no direct denial, the Ukrainian MoD Tweeted out that the Russian MoD's "press service is more powerful than most countries' armies. Russia doesn't even need an army to conquer the entire world; its state media and MoD spokesperson konashenkov [sic] are more than adequate."

https://twitter.com/DefenceU/status/1658467131800064000

Yuriy Sak, an adviser to Ukraines defense minister, said Russias claims were pure propaganda and pure lies, according to the Financial Times newspaper.

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The Russian claim comes after video emerged showing dozens of what appear to be Patriot air defense interceptors launched at objects over Kyiv.

https://twitter.com/csm231_/status/1658263563914362880?s=20

https://twitter.com/Euan_MacDonald/status/1658419816829427713

There were also unsubstantiated claims that a flash of light near where the SAMs originated as observed in the video was the result of a strike or possibly an interceptor malfunction, but we just don't know at this point exactly what happened.

https://twitter.com/lkeren1998/status/1658394277406228486

https://twitter.com/CalibreObscura/status/1658343357087731713

Images also emerged on social media claiming to show remnants of a Patriot PAC-3 CRI interceptor.

https://twitter.com/MeridionaliAura/status/1658475770363416577

And an image emerged claiming to show the wreckage of one of the Kinzhals.

https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1658291162354941956

The War Zone is unable to independently verify either image, although the Patriot PAC-3 CRI does look very much like the missile shown.

The Ukrainian Air Force did not immediately comment on Russia's claim about the Patriot being hit, but said that around 3:30 A.M. on May 16, 2023, the Russian invaders attacked Ukraine from the north, south, and east with 18 missiles of various types, air, sea, and land-based.

That attack included six Kh-47M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles launched from six MiG-31K Foxhound heavy interceptors, nine Kalibr cruise missiles launched from ships in the Black Sea, and three land-based missiles including the S-400 air defense missile and the Iskander-M short-range ballistic missile.

All missiles were destroyed by the forces and means of air defense of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Air Force reported on its Telegram channel Tuesday.

In addition, on the night of May 16, the enemy attacked with attack drones of the Shahed-136/131 type, and also conducted aerial reconnaissance with three operational-tactical drones - Orlan-10, SuperCam. All - destroyed!

https://twitter.com/KpsZSU/status/1658391686417092610

We reached out to the Ukrainian Air Force, its spokesman as well as the Pentagon for responses. We will update this story with any information provided.

Last nights barrage follows one last week in which Ukraine claims to have downed a Kinzhal with a Patriot interceptor. You can read more about that here.

https://twitter.com/KpsZSU/status/1654803125667090437?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1654803125667090437%7Ctwgr%5Eb1b92e9decc0fb1d13569ee44762602a9437c096%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedrive.com%2Fthe-war-zone%2Fukraine-situation-report-kyiv-claims-patriot-intercepted-kinzhal-air-launched-ballistic-missile

Last nights barrage was the eighth air attack on Kyiv since the beginning of May! Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, also known by its Ukrainian acronym, KMVA, wrote on the organizations Telegram channel Tuesday. This time, the enemy launched a complex attack from different directions simultaneously, using UAVs, cruise missiles and probably ballistic missiles. It was exceptional in its density - the maximum number of attacking missiles in the shortest period of time.

KMVA said that according to preliminary information, the vast majority of enemy targets in the airspace of Kyiv were detected and destroyed! Data on the number and type of missiles will soon be reported by the Air Force.

Previously, the fall of debris was recorded in Solomyansky, Shevchenkivskyi, Svyatoshynskyi, Obolonskyi and Darnytskyi districts of the capital. The biggest damage was in the Solomyansk district - there was a fire in a non-residential building and several units of automobile equipment.

The fire has been extinguished, KMVA reported.

In the rest of the districts, the damage is not significant - in most of them it was found that debris fell on parked cars, the adjacent territory or the forest park zone. At the moment, there is no information about the victims! Operational summary data is collected and refined. We thank our Air Defense Forces for saving the lives of Kyivans!"

https://twitter.com/ka_hmel/status/1658344378497130496

Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko gave a rolling update on his Telegram channel.

Explosions in Kyiv. A few - in the Solomyan district. And in Shevchenkivskyi, on the territory of the zoo, rocket debris fell. All services go to places. Details later. The air alert continues, stay in shelters!

Several cars caught fire in the Solomyansk district as a result of falling rocket debris. The damaged building with an area of 200 square meters. Rescuers are working on the spot. The victims have not been identified so far.

In the Darnytskyi district of the capital, two cars were damaged as a result of falling rocket fragments. There was no information about the victims. While the alarm continues, stay in shelters!

In the forest park zone in the Darnytskyi district of the capital, the wreckage of the UAV fell, without catching fire.

According to preliminary information, there were three victims in the Solomyan district. There were no casualties in Obolonskyi, where the debris fell.

Tonight, as a result of the shelling of Kyiv by Russian barbarians, fragments of a rocket fell on the territory of the capital's zoo," Klitschko wrote. "Fortunately, none of the animals or workers were injured. There was no fire.

The rocket fragment damaged the greenery, but all the broken branches have already been removed, he wrote. Anti-stress measures are now being conducted with the animals. And today, as usual, at 10 a.m. the zoo will open for visitors. So come to calm down and support the residents of KyivZoo!

https://twitter.com/KyivPost/status/1658412491003527173

As we predicted in December, the U.S.'s consideration of allowing Patriots to be sent to Ukraine would make those systems prime targets.

Russia, which promised to attack the Patriot batteries even before they arrived, has targeted them again. Whether the Russian MoD is making another specious claim - as in its repeated lies about destroying U.S.-donated M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS - remains to be seen.

The Ukrainian MoD already addressed the HIMARS issue in a video taunting Russian soldiers.

https://twitter.com/DefenceU/status/1653690691107577858?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1653690691107577858%7Ctwgr%5E4a9b96596f8296648dc7468d9fb0cc571ddab829%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedrive.com%2Fthe-war-zone%2Fukraine-situation-report-himars-shown-being-stashed-in-soviet-bunker

We are waiting to see if they do something similar here.

This is a developing story.

Stay with The War Zone for updates and we may be posting a deeper analysis piece on this mass attack, as well.

Update 1:25 P.M. EST

A Patriot system was likely damaged but not destroyed in the Russian missile barrage, CNN is reporting, citing a "U.S. official."

We are working to independently confirm that.

https://twitter.com/MarquardtA/status/1658508441134981120

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com
AFP

Sudan's brutal war has pitted the traditional urban elite that has long monopolised wealth and power in the capital Khartoum against forces from the marginalised rural periphery, analysts say.For the past month, two rival generals have fought for control of the northeast African country in a war that has spread chaos, claimed at least 1,000 lives and displaced nearly a million people.One of them is army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, a lacklustre career soldier, born north of Khartoum, who toppled the veteran Islamist autocrat Omar al-Bashir after mass protests and then assumed full powers in a 2021 coup.The other is his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, a one-time camel herder from the remote western Darfur region bordering Chad, who now commands the feared paramilitary Rapid Response Forces, or RSF. Also known as "Hemeti" or "little Mohamed", Daglo got his start in the notorious Janjaweed militia that Bashir unleashed in the early 2000s to brutally quash a rebellion by ethnic minority groups in Darfur.In the years since, Daglo has manoeuvred his way into the top echelons of power in the capital of five million people, even as he has been mocked among its elite for his provincial accent and lack of formal education.The Khartoum-centred old guard "view Hemeti as an illiterate upstart thug whom they first armed to do their dirty work" in Darfur, said Alan Boswell of think tank the International Crisis Group.However, since then, Daglo has become a feared opponent, commanding the heavily armed RSF which is battle-hardened by service in Yemen and Libya and financed with profits from gold mines he controls. - 'New phase of struggle' -Sudan, a vast country of 45 million people, has a long history of inequality and strife involving ethnic minority groups in remote regions.Since its days under British rule, "Sudanese political society has been centralised in the Nile Valley," said Marc Lavergne, a specialist on the Horn of Africa and the Middle East.Even after independence in 1956, "there has been this dichotomy between the Nile Valley, Khartoum, the parts that the British could make use of," and the rest of the country, he told AFP.The more remote areas experienced decades of struggle "that no Khartoum government cared to address", said Lavergne of France's University of Tours who has worked for UN and non-government missions in Sudan."But today these peripheral regions hold the richest potential," he said, referring particularly to large gold deposits in Darfur and elsewhere, from which Daglo has built a military and economic empire.A Rift Valley Institute report judged that, as a result, "the RSF is no longer a rag-tag militia but rather a well-trained and effective fighting force that can rival" the Sudanese Armed Forces."The current conflict represents a battle between the established military-political elite from the centre and an emerging militarised elite from Darfur to control the state, and is a new phase in the struggle between centre and periphery."- Intruder from Darfur -Daglo has been depicted by his rivals as "an intruder from Darfur in more cosmopolitan Khartoum", said Kholood Khair, founder of the think tank Confluence Advisory."Before the war, the RSF were getting some traction in trying to create a narrative that they were fighting for democracy, and that they were doing so on behalf of all the marginalised people of Sudan," she told AFP.As he built his force, Daglo became "one of the best employers in the country", recruiting fighters from areas "that had historically been marginalised by Khartoum," according to Khair.But she added that, "once the war broke out, that narrative became more difficult to keep up" as "his troops are far less disciplined" than those of the regular army."They do not always follow orders and have been creating a lot of havoc for the people of Khartoum," she said, as reports of assaults against civilians, looting and home invasions have risen sharply.The threat of deepening ethnic strife looms over Sudan, a diverse country at the intersection of historical migration and trade routes with a history of slavery.Its rulers have historically exploited economic inequalities to divide and conquer, between the core and the periphery, between north and south, and based on skin colour."To this day, Sudanese have a lexicon of skin colour" that discriminates against those with darker pigmentation, Sudan specialist Alex de Waal wrote recently in the London Review of Books."The darkest people of the south (are) still routinely called abid, meaning 'slaves'."Skin colour may not be a defining factor in the current war. But experts warn that a prolonged conflict will deepen fissures along the kinship lines and tribal affiliations on which Sudan's many existing militias were formed."Both sides will, as they lose troops, need to recruit more," said Khair. "And the easiest way to do that in Sudan has historically been through ethnic allegiances."sst/sbh/bha/fz/kir
The drone hit the FSB office in the Kursk Oblast

The incident took place at 23:00 p.m. on May 15, the channel reported.

The explosives targeted the administrative building of the Border Guard Department of the FSB in the village of Glushkovo, Kursk Oblast, resulting in injuries to five Russian border guards.

Read also: Russian military helicopters and planes crash almost simultaneously in Bryansk Oblast, crews killed

Meanwhile, Roman Starovoit, the governor of Kursk Oblast, stated on Telegram that in the oblasts Sudzhansky District an alleged Ukrainian drone dropped an explosive device on a working excavator.

The explosion caused minor injuries to the driver operating the construction machinery.

Read also: Drone attacks military equipment warehouse in Russia's Bryansk Oblast, Russian media report

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 Washington state lawmakers failed to adopt a permanent drug possession law during the regular 2023 session, legislators needed just one day of a special session to pass a bill that will replace the law that would have expired in July.

If the current law had expired without a new law to take its place, drug possession would have been decriminalized statewide.

Senate Bill 5536 first passed the Senate Tuesday with a 43-6 vote. The bill was then sent to the House where it was approved with an 83-13 vote.

Gov. Jay Inslee signed the bill into law late Tuesday afternoon.

Getting to this point has not been an easy path, said Sen. June Robinson, D-Everett, during floor debate on the bill. It has been the most challenging piece of policy that Ive worked on in my career as a legislator.

She said one reason the policy was so difficult to navigate was because many lawmakers have had their own experiences with someone who suffered from addiction.

Luckily we are moving as a society to understand that addiction is a disease. However, unfortunately, we do not have built-up infrastructure and committed and trained staff to suitably address this disease in every corner of our state today, she continued. Over and over again weve heard that a solution we propose needs to put treatment options in front. I believe this striking amendment does that.

Additionally, she said, the bill offers accountability for those who use drugs in public spaces.

Some Senate Republicans joined in voting yes on the new version of the bill.

Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, said he was disappointed that the legislation didnt pass during the regular session, but he is proud of both parties for sticking to the commitment to pass a bill now. He said he believes the policy is good, but not perfect.

We have a statewide solution in front of us, Braun said. One that is workable by our prosecutors and by our law enforcement, one that provides treatment, one that is absolutely focused on getting people into treatment and keeping people in treatment and hopefully returning them to normal lives.

Story continues

Sea-change legal decision

In 2021, in its ruling on the State v. Blake case, the Washington state Supreme Court removed criminal penalties for drug possession after ruling felony possession unconstitutional. Under that decision, convictions were vacated and dismissed across the state by an order from the court.

State lawmakers voted that same year to adopt a temporary fix that would penalize those convicted of drug possession with a misdemeanor, and mandated two pre-arrest referrals for substance abuse treatment by law enforcement officials before an individual could be charged. That is the law that is set to expire on July 1.

Lawmakers acknowledged at the outset of the 2023 legislative session that passing a new drug possession bill was a top priority, yet the version of the legislation that was proposed and passed by the Senate was unable to clear the hurdle in the House chamber. The bill failed with a 43-55 vote in the final hours of the session.

Some local governments were quick to announce that they would pass their own policies if the state could not come to an agreement, meaning that drug possession laws throughout the state could vary.

The version of the bill approved Tuesday was negotiated since the session adjourned on April 23.

Whats in it

The law will increase the knowing possession of counterfeit or controlled substances to a gross misdemeanor punishable by up to 180 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine, lower than the penalty gross misdemeanors typically carry. However, if the defendant has two prior convictions for possession, they could potentially be confined for up to 364 days.

The knowing use of controlled substances in a public place also was added to the new legislation and also would be punishable by a gross misdemeanor with lowered financial and jail penalties.

Additionally, in an effort to appease some Republican lawmakers, the new bill would prevent local municipalities from regulating drug paraphernalia, but some exceptions are made that would allow local governments to regulate certain harm reduction services.

The legislation also allows access to pre-trial diversion programs with the requirement that prosecutors must sign off for defendants to avoid charges and undergo substance abuse treatment. Defendants who successfully complete treatment would not be charged with a gross misdemeanor for possession.

Some lawmakers still argued that the bill doesnt go far enough, with some Republicans noting that they had hoped for drug possession to be punishable with a felony. Some Democrats, however, were concerned that the legislation goes too far, furthering the harm from the decades-long War on Drugs.

Still some holes to patch

Rep. Gerry Pollet, D-Seattle, told other lawmakers during the floor debate that he would vote against the bill, despite voting in favor of the previous version during the regular session, because the prior version ensured that every person who was arrested for possession had a right to pre-trial diversion and treatment.

But in todays legislation, prosecutors will not have to agree to diversion and who will they not agree to diversion for? The defendants will not look like me. They will be Black, the defendants will be brown, they will be Native American, they will be poor, Pollet said.

And the prosecutors will leverage that threat into defendants pleading guilty on other crimes, and they will leverage that threat into pushing people into incarceration instead of treatment where we know harm is increased and not reduced.

Republican Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, shared his concerns with the bill as well, saying that it was an improvement but not enough.

He said state lawmakers used the Washington state Supreme Courts opinion on the constitutionality of drug laws in Blake vs. Washington to open up drug laws to a broad, wide, deep consideration of many issues.

Thats why we have struggled to find the right Blake fix. We are adding more points and public policy than the state Supreme Court suggested that we deal with in remedying the issues it raised in State v. Blake, Walsh said. We need to return our focus to that matter of knowingly and I think the proper response would be to restore our drug laws as they were pre-Blake, with the addition of knowingly as appropriate.

Another issue that should be considered, he said, is front-line law enforcement. He said clear, strong language was needed in the legislation so that law enforcement officials could know how to do their jobs.

He also acknowledged that lawmakers should be compassionate to the plight of those suffering from addiction, but that lawmakers needed to give them a clearly delineated path to a better life.
After operating out of a takeout window for nearly a year, a Mexican eatery in East Liberty is leveling up to a full-service restaurant thanks to efforts made by Duolingo Inc., one of Pittsburghs most prominent tech companies.

Duos Taqueria, which opened in June 2022 on the ground floor of Duolingos headquarters on Penn Avenue via a now-replaced outdoor walk-up counter, has reopened as a roughly 2,600-square-foot space featuring a bar, dining and event areas that combined can seat up to 130 people who are looking to indulge on authentic cuisine inspired by food from Mexico City.

Read more at Pittsburgh Business Times.

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House Republicans say the long-awaited report from special counsel John Durham bolsters their arguments that federal intelligence and law enforcement agencies have been weaponized against political enemies  a theme that has been a major defining belief of their new majority.

The long-awaited Durham Report confirmed what the American people already know; that individuals at the highest levels of government attempted to overthrow democracy when they illegally weaponized the federal government against Donald J. Trump, House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) said in a statement.

The report found that federal authorities did not have sufficient information to open their Crossfire Hurricane investigation into the 2016 Trump campaigns ties to Russia. Durham did not recommend any charges to the FBI in his report but said that the agency was seriously deficient in how it handled some aspects of the investigation, including relying on raw, unanalyzed, and uncorroborated intelligence.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) quoted from the report in a press conference Tuesday, raising alarm about its assertion that the FBI failed to uphold their mission of strict fidelity to the law and that it identified an FBI agent who knowingly made misrepresentations to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.

Wheres the accountability for this? Whos going to be held accountable? These are the questions were going to continue to ask, Scalise said.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) invited Durham to speak to his panels select subcommittee on government weaponization  created at the request of the right flank ahead of the tumultuous election of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.)  at the end of the month.

Many House GOP members, including those serving on the Intelligence and Judiciary committees, said that they had not yet read the more than 300-page report released Monday, when many were focused on the debt ceiling negotiations.

Story continues

Yet several Republicans said that the report essentially confirmed their own biases.

We all already believed or knew what was in there, said Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.). Its like, Yeah, see? We told you so.

McCarthy told The Hill that Republicans already knew about the things that were so appalling.

They took the entire country through this, impeachment, everything else, when we knew the FBI never should have done this from the very beginning, McCarthy said.

Democrats, for their part, criticized the report for not offering enough new information.

House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) said in a statement that the report amounted to a political rehashing of what the Justice Department Inspector General already made public in 2019.

Mr. Durham has, one last time, over promised and under delivered, Nadler said before referencing special counsel Robert Mueller, who released a report in 2019 on his investigation of Russias meddling in the 2016 election.

Nothing in this report changes the outcome of the Mueller investigation, which resulted in multiple convictions, found more than one hundred contacts between the 2016 Trump campaign and the Russian government, and substantial reason to believe that Donald Trump had committed obstruction of justice, Nadler said.

The report from Durham is likely to affect how House Republicans legislate, and may also play a role in the GOP presidential primary.

The report confirms that FBI personnel repeatedly disregarded critical protections established to protect the American people from unlawful surveillance, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner (R-Ohio) said in a statement. Such actions should never have occurred, and it is essential that Congress codifies clear guardrails that prevent future FBI abuses and restores the publics trust in our law enforcement institutions.

The FBI is getting ahead of calls for change, releasing a five-page letter responding to Durham that details recent reforms.

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 a 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.

One area likely to be affected by the politics of the Durham report is Congresss reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which allows for warrantless surveillance of foreigners outside the United States, even as they communicate with U.S. citizens within the U.S.  thus allowing intelligence agencies to pick up citizen communications without a warrant.

I can assure you, 702  that is not going to get rubber-stamped, said Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), a member of the House Judiciary Committee. Weve got to have a serious reboot or elimination of what were seeing through FISA 702.

Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), a member of the House Intelligence Committee, also said that the Durham report will probably affect FISA reauthorization.

In a Twitter thread, Crenshaw said there must be consequences based on the findings of the report.

This report demonstrates how unelected, subversive actors within the highest levels of our government sought to destroy a duly-elected president they hated. They weaponized a lie  knowing the media would breathlessly regurgitate that lie  in order to take Donald Trump out of the White House, Crenshaw said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A reporter tries to get the attention of President Donald Trump as the president finishes speaking to the media about the Congressional testimony of former special counsel Robert Mueller, Wednesday, July 24, 2019, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington. | Jacquelyn Martin, Associated Press

The FBIs investigation into former President Donald Trumps 2016 presidential campaign was based on falsified information and not any actual evidence of collusion, according to a report released Monday by special counsel John Durham.

In an extraordinary move, the FBI opened an investigation into Trumps political campaign during the run-up to the 2016 election. The investigation was justified using false and partisan-sourced information, Durham said in his report.

Durham also said the FBI treated information about potentially illegal activities involving Trumps campaign differently than it did information about Democratic nominee Hilary Clintons campaign.

Related

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, the report says.

In recent years, public opinion on the FBI has increasingly split along partisan lines. According to a Gallup poll conducted in 2022, only 29% of Republicans think the FBI is doing a good job, compared to 79% of Democrats and 47% of independents.

Utah Sen. Mike Lee said Monday the loss of trust in the FBI is not a matter to be taken lightly and said Congress needs to reform the laws allowing the surveillance of Americans under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA.

The politicization of the FBI represents a clear and present danger to our democratic principles, and it is imperative that we address this issue with the urgency it demands, he said on Twitter.

 1. The politicization of the FBI represents a clear and present danger to our democratic principles, and it is imperative that we address this issue with the urgency it demands.  Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) May 15, 2023

The Durham report was transmitted to Congress by Attorney General Merrick Garland on Monday. Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, subsequently said he has invited Durham to testify to the committee on May 25 about the report.

Story continues

Durham was tasked by Trump-era Attorney General Bill Barr with looking into the FBIs investigation of the Trump campaign. Durham conducted a three-year investigation and produced a 300-plus-page report.

Durhams report says the FBI falsified information in order to justify its investigation, called Crossfire Hurricane, to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, and said that the FBI failed to uphold their important mission of strict fidelity to the law in regard to its investigation into the Trump campaign.

Based on Durhams investigation, former FBI attorney Kevin Clinesmith was convicted after pleading guilty to altering language in an email that was used to obtain permission from the FISA court to spy on the Trump campaign.

In other instances, FBI personnel working on that same FISA application displayed, at best, a cavalier attitude towards accuracy and completeness, the report says.

Related

The FBI opened its investigation on the Trump campaign based on thinly sourced and uncorroborated information contained primarily in the Steele reports, which were based on opposition research conducted by Christopher Steele, a former British intelligence officer, for the Clinton campaign, the report says.

Within days of their receipt, the unvetted and unverified Steele Reports were used to support probable cause in the FBIs FISA applications targeting (Carter) Page, a U.S. citizen who, for a period of time, had been an advisor to Trump, the report says.

Then-FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe directed Peter Strzok, an assistant director, to open the investigation despite the FBI not speaking to the people who provided the information or conducting a review of available intelligence, according to the report.

Strzok, at a minimum, had pronounced hostile feelings toward Trump, the report says.

Despite the FBI offering Steele $1 million or more for corroboration of his reports, FBI investigators could not substantiate any of the allegations.

The report says the FBI treated the Trump campaign differently than it did the campaign of his rival, Hilary Clinton, saying that when the FBI received information that the Clinton campaign received an improper and possibly illegal financial contribution on behalf of a foreign entity, the FBI decided not to investigate.

These examples are also markedly different from the FBIs actions with respect to other highly significant intelligence it 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, the report says.

Former special counsel Robert Mueller is sworn in before the House Intelligence Committee to testify on his report on Russian election interference on July 24, 2019, in Washington. | Alex Brandon, Associated Press

The Crossfire Hurricane investigation led to the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller, who investigated links between the Trump campaign and Russian officials. In 2019, Mueller issued a report that said the investigation did not establish that members of the Trump Campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities.

Durham did not recommend any wholesale changes to the FBIs guidelines and policies, but rather said he hoped the attorney general would use the report to help the agency do a better, more credible job during possible future politically charged investigations.

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 are not engrained in the hearts and minds of those sworn to meet the FBI s mission of Protect(ing) the American People and Uphold(ing) the Constitution of the United States, the report says.

In a statement released Monday, the FBI said, 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.

Trump responded to the Durham report on social media platform Truth Social.

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! he wrote.
 Flash

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. [Photo/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.

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. [Photo/Xinhua]

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.
(Bloomberg) -- Ecuadors opposition-dominated National Assembly opened an impeachment trial against President Guillermo Lasso in its second attempt to oust him in less than a year.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The process began Tuesday with testimony from two lawmakers accusing Lasso of embezzlement related to a contract of state oil shipping company. Lasso denies the charges, which he says are politically-motivated.

If more than two thirds of the 137 members in the single-chamber congress back the bid, Lasso would be replaced by Vice President Alfredo Borrero. Rather than let this happen, Lasso has threatened to dissolve congress, which would trigger snap elections while he would govern by decree in the interim.

Defending himself before the National Assembly, Lasso called the trial a useless political conflict which threatens Ecuadors democracy.

The nations dollar bonds due 2030 extended losses, falling to 51.3 cents on the dollar. Lasso, a wealthy former banker who is one of Latin Americas few market-friendly presidents, is popular with investors.

Accusations

Opposition lawmaker Viviana Veloz of the socialist Citizen Revolution party accused the president of operating a network of corruption inside state companies.

However, although Lasso initially faced several accusations, the Constitutional Court ruled in March that his accusers needed to provide minimum plausibility that embezzlement had taken place. This had the effect of whittling the case against him to allegations over a single contract.

Organization of American States Secretary General Luis Almagro said the trial must observe the rule of law and due process.

The principle must be to respect the constitutional mandates of presidents elected by popular vote, he said via Twitter.

Story continues

The impeachment debate is expected to extend to the end of the week, then the head of congress has five days to call the vote.

(Updates with Lassos comments to the National Assembly in fourth paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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Ecuador President Guillermo Lasso greeted supporters as he arrived at parliament for his impeachment hearing

Ecuador's President Guillermo Lasso declared his "total, evident and unquestionable innocence" as his impeachment trial over corruption allegations began in parliament on Tuesday.

The majority left-wing opposition has accused the right-wing president of knowing about alleged corruption in public companies in which his brother-in-law Danilo Carrera and a drug trafficking-accused businessman have been implicated.

"There is no evidence, nor relevant testimonies. Rather, all there is is information that proves my total, evident and unquestionable innocence," Lasso told the unicameral legislature.

His impeachment trial is taking place amid a spike in violence related to drug trafficking in the South American country and widespread anger over the rising cost of living.

The chamber would need a two-thirds majority -- 92 out of 137 members -- to impeach Lasso, who argues that the allegations date to before he became president in May 2021.

Last week, 88 legislators voted in favor of pursuing the impeachment trial, when a simple majority was needed to open proceedings.

"Ecuadorans demand that we solve their daily problems and end this irrational confrontation that exhausts the population's patience, increases unrest and weakens our democracy," Lasso wrote on Twitter before heading to parliament.

He addressed legislators following two hours of debate in parliament.

Hundreds of the president's supporters protested peacefully outside parliament, where there was a notable police presence.

Protesters waved Ecuadoran flags, held up banners demanding democracy and shouted angry chants against the legislators.

Lasso is accused of embezzling money through the state shipping company FLOPEC.

"The only thing that interests (the opposition) is the destabilization" of the country's institutions, Interior Minister Henry Cucalon told reporters.

The Organization of American States (OAS) in a statement urged parliament to "guarantee justice and respect the rules of due process" in the hearing.

If impeached, Lasso would become only the second Ecuadoran president to be thus removed from office, after Juan de Dios Martinez in 1933.

pld-sp/lv/ltl/bc/des
Guillermo Lasso was the first conservative elected as Ecuadors president in 14 years.

The president of Ecuador, Guillermo Lasso, dissolved the countrys National Assembly on Wednesday (May 17), after impeachment proceedings accused him of facilitating the embezzlement of state funds.

Lasso invoked a clause in Ecuadors constitution that allows the president to dissolve Congress if they agree to call new elections within six months. The clause, never used before, can only be invoked directly before an impeachment vote, and is commonly referred to as muerte cruzada or two-way death, as the president risks getting ousted in the public vote.



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The opposition-led parliament had charged Lasso with being aware of a scheme involving a deal between FLOPEC, the state-owned oil transport company, and a private tanker business, charges Lasso has repeatedly denied.



The prosecutors of this trial have acknowledged that they have nothing, Lasso said during initial testimony in the impeachment hearing, justifying his decision as the best course of action for Ecuador. This is not about saving a presidency, but about preserving a functioning democracy.



Addressing the public in a video after dissolving parliament, Lasso said he would issue laws by decree without obstacles until elections could be held. He also announced that he would unilaterally lower taxes for all Ecuadoreans as his first decree.



The path leading to Lassos impeachment trial

The push for impeachment had broad political backing and was considered to have a feasible path, had Lasso not decided to take such drastic measures.

Virgilio Saquicelathe opposition leader of the National Assembly who spearheaded the impeachment effortwas overwhelmingly re-elected last weekend, with support from both the conservative Social Christian party and the socialist party of former president Rafael Correa.



Lassos decision is poised to spark protests. Ecuadors largest confederation of indigenous groups, CONAIE, had vowed mass demonstrations if Lasso decided to dissolve the National Assembly, saying that with Guillermo Lasso Ecuador has no future, only fear and uncertainty.



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Its the second time the National Assembly tried to impeach Lasso since he was inaugurated in 2021. However, the previous vote iin June 2022 didnt win enough support to go to trial.



This dramatic series of events in Ecuador comes less than six months after Perus former leader Pedro Castillo attempted to dissolve the nations congress. However, that decision was deemed unconstitutional, and Castillo was removed from power and jailed by the military.



Lasso is now constitutionally required to call new elections within the next six months. The winner of that election can only serve a two-year term. It is unclear who might benefit from fresh elections, with the presidents approval rating at a paltry 13%, and the National Assembly even lower at 10%, according to recent polling.



Ecuador is a conservative holdout as the pink tide ebbs and flows

Lasso, a former banker, is a rare success for the right wing in Ecuador, becoming the first conservative to serve as president in more than 14 years when he was elected in 2021.

Now, with the possibility of his departure, the Latin American left is poised to score yet another victory in the region. Most countries in South America are run by left-wing governments, including the continents five largest economies, in an electoral trend dubbed the pink tide.

Lasso won the election by a slim margin at the height of the covid-19 pandemic, which helped push more than a third of the country into poverty. At the time, his victory was considered a reaction against 10 years of left-wing rule, mostly under former president Correa, marked by accusations of corruption and a crackdown on political opponents.

Lassos potential removal also points to a recent pattern in the region, where political power in Latin American democracies oscillates between far-left populists riding the commodities boom (like Correa, Argentinas Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, and Brazils Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva) and center-right former bankers (like Lasso, Perus Pedro Kuczynski, and Argentinas Mauricio Macri).

This article was updated to reflect Lassos decision to dissolve the national assembly on May 17.

Related stories

Paraguays presidential election was also a victory for Taiwan

Chile is nationalizing new lithium production, vowing no more mining for the few

Macron won the battle for the pension reform at great cost for him and for France

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Solar panels give dual purpose to a parking lot at Buchanan High School in Clovis, Calif., seen in 2019. (Tomas Ovalle)

California is racing to build enough solar panels, wind turbines and battery storage to meet its carbon-cutting mandates and prepare its electrical grid for worsening heat waves and growing energy demand.

But increasing renewable energy by covering far-off, undeveloped areas with solar and wind farms raises its own environmental concerns. Thats why California needs to think creatively and find ways to put more solar energy in already built-out places, including rooftops and parking lots, canals and agricultural fields, so we can slow the climate crisis without harming sensitive land, like the habitat of threatened Joshua tree s or Mojave Desert tortoises.

Legislation by state Sen. Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park) would do just that, by requiring state transportation officials to develop a plan to install solar panels along underutilized rights-of-way, the ribbons of state-owned land along highways across California. This is such a commonsense idea that it's surprising to learn California isnt already doing it.

Senate Bill 49 would start to unlock the potential along Californias 15,00 0 miles of state highways , by giving Caltrans about two years to develop a plan to lease state-owned rights-of-way to utility companies or private developers to install solar panels, battery storage and transmission lines. The bill would require Caltrans to set goals for renewable energy generation along highways by 2030 and 2045, and to track its progress each year.

This idea should be a no-brainer for lawmakers.

This is land we already own, and why dont we take advantage of that land? Becker said. Theres massive potential there.

The bill also proposes financial incentives to make it more affordable for businesses, apartment complexes, schools and other property owners to install solar canopies over their parking lots, making them sources of shade and renewable energy. The details are still being determined  language that would have used sales tax exemptions was stripped from the bill  but Becker said a different funding mechanism will be included in the final version.

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SB 49 was passed unanimously by the Senate Transportation Committee last month. But in order to advance, it needs to clear the Senate Appropriations Committee by the end of this week.

California wouldnt be the first to do this. Oregon built the nations first solar highway project back in 2008, an array of nearly 600 panels at an interchange south of Portland. Since then, similar systems have been installed along highways in a number of states including Georgia and Massachusetts. Lawmakers in Washington state last year passed a law to provide tax incentives to build solar canopies over big commercial parking lots, and France now requires them on any lot with more than 80 spaces.

In California, the need to be more inventive with the siting of renewable energy is more important than ever, especially after the state Public Utilities Commissions decision to slash incentives for rooftop solar has increased uncertainty over how fast homes and businesses will continue to go solar.

It just makes sense, economically and environmentally, to concentrate solar projects in areas that are already developed, especially if they are near cities, factories or other locations where theres already demand for electricity. The state could generate revenue by leasing the land to solar companies or save money by purchasing the electricity they generate at lower rates. Solar panels could be paired, wherever possible, with batteries to store the energy to use after the sun sets, especially on the hottest evenings when its needed most to guard against blackouts that we only narrowly avoided last year.

Taxpayers could benefit. A 2020 study by University of Texas at Austin researchers found that because of Californias high electricity rates, it could generate more revenue than any other state from placing solar along its highway interchanges, more than $300 million a year.

The Biden administration has encouraged state transportation agencies to use highway rights-of-way for pressing public needs relating to climate change, including renewable energy generation and electrical transmission and distribution projects and charging stations.

A Caltrans-commissioned report in 2020 laid some of the groundwork for building solar arrays in highway rights-of-way, but the agency needs a push to move beyond saying it is interested in these projects and actually join other states in making them happen. Even without legislation, is there anything preventing Gov. Gavin Newsoms administration, and his appointees at Caltrans, from moving forward on solar highway projects today?

California needs to roughly quadruple its wind and solar energy by 2045, and will face surging demand for electricity as people replace their polluting, fossil-fueled cars and appliances with zero-emission electric ones. The state is not on track to meet its legal obligations to cut greenhouse gas emissions 40% below 1990s levels by 2030.

Solar highways and canopies are a relatively low-stakes solution, and one of many tools California needs to start using as quickly as possible to get on course for a more livable future.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
An Elberton woman pleaded guilty Tuesday in Macon to threatening to blow all the Democrats up at the Athens-Clarke County Democratic Committee Campaign headquarters.

Jessica Diane Higginbotham, also known as Jessica Harriod or Jessica Jones, faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison when she is sentenced for the bomb threat on Sept. 7 in U.S. District Court, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District.

Higginbotham, 35, is a former employee for a company employed by the local Democratic Party office to provide security at the office on Sunset Drive.

More: Elberton woman moved to federal custody in bomb threat case at Athens Democrats office

More: Elbert woman indicted by feds for threatening Democratic Party office in Athens

The investigation began on Dec. 3, after federal prosecutors said an employee at the office in Athens received a disturbing text message.

Hello, I am writing this message to you to let you know that I am coming by either tonight or in the morning to set a bomb up. So I can blow all the Democrats up, the message read. I have other people going to other offices also. If I cant stop you by breaking in and destroying the property, then I will blow every one up. So be ready to be blown up. This is going to either happen tonight or in the morning. Hope you like being on the wrong team.

The threat was made just days before the U.S. Senate runoff election. U.S. Senators from Georgia were in Athens on Dec. 4, according to the document.

Athens-Clarke police, the FBI and the U.S. Capitol police began an investigation and the threat was traced to Higginbothams cell phone.

The U.S. Attorney reported that on Dec. 4, FBI agents found Higginbotham at a coffee shop in Athens with the phone in her hand and as an agent approached her, she vomited.

The suspect denied making the bomb threat, but a search of the phone linked the phone to the threatening message, prosecutors said.

While investigating the threat, the FBI also learned a burglary occurred at the campaign headquarters in Athens on Nov. 27 and a laptop was stolen.

Story continues

The FBI noted that the crime appeared to be staged as tables were turned over, but no forced entry was found. The laptop was later recovered in Higginbothams possession.

The bomb threat was leveled by an employee for a political organization days before a federal election in Georgia. This incident was a targeted effort to disturb the peace and disrupt the democratic process, U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary said in a statement released with the news release.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Elberton woman's threat to blow up Democrats may send her to prison
Benton County election workers are continuing to work this week on verifying the signatures gathered on recall petitions in an attempt to remove three Richland School Board members.

If there are enough valid voter signatures, then the issue will be put on the Aug. 1 ballot for voters to decide.

The three board members are Semi Bird, Audra Byrd and Kari Williams.

Verification involves going line by line, page by page to check each name, signature and date of birth to make sure it matches with voter registration records.

Workers started on Thursday, May 11, and it is expected to take about 10 days.

Benton County Auditor Brenda Chilton said her employees should have no trouble meeting the deadline.

The recall campaign needed to collect the signatures of 25% of the number of votes cast in the last election that each of the board members was involved in.

Nearly 18,700 total signatures were gathered in about 75 days after the Washington State Supreme Court said the recall could proceed.
Photo Illustration by Kelly Caminero / The Daily Beast / Getty

Theres something that the recent spate of coming-of-age films involving passionate young women have in common, and its Bleecker Street Studios. A couple of months ago, there was Emily, the excellent Emily Bronte biopic that found a creative interpretation of our literary heroine romping through the moors, high on drugs and gradually finding her voice.

Now comes The Starling Girl, the excellent, nuanced debut film from director Laurel Parmet, which charts the sexual awakening and startling downfall of a 17-year-old girl named Jem, who relishes expressing herself through dance in her fundamentalist Christian community in Kentucky.

Brought to life with thoughtful sensitivity by actress Eliza Scanlen, Jem wants to love passionately and express herself, even while agonizing internally over what those things mean.

Scanlen was wonderful and feral in the limited series Sharp Objects as a terrifying teenage serial murderer. Her Jem, in contrast, feels preternaturally in touch with both her sensuality and with an immense sense of guilt.

The character is bright, direct and devoted to God, but shes also constantly being scrutinized within the feminine panopticon of her devout surroundings.

The Starling Girl: New Coming-of-Age Story Sharply Rips Religious Repression

In one of the movies first scenes, Jem weeps bitterly in self-admonishment after a fellow churchgoer points out that her bra is visible through her shirt.

Parmet immersed herself in a fundamentalist community to research the film, and witnessed these dynamics play out firsthand.

It was eye-opening for me just how much we had in common in terms of what our cultures taught us to believe about womens desires, and how its a womans responsibility to not lead a man into temptation, Parmet told The Daily Beasts Obsessed.

Jem quickly becomes enamored with Owen, a youth pastor several years her senior played by Lewis Pullman, who sweeps back into town on the heels of a mission trip.

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Photo by Corey Nickols/Getty Images for IMDb

In turn, the audience is just as seduced as she is by his scruffy charm and conspiratorial in-jokes, and moments later, repelled by the clearly unacceptable power imbalance between the two.

Jem loses her virginity to Owen, and despite their spiritual conflict, they begin a secret affair.

It was important for this relationship to not be reduced to aggressor and victim, nor for it be reduced to an eroticized relationship, Scanlen told Obsessed. Theyre two stereotypes that we see all the time, and we wanted to avoid them.

It was an interesting process for both Lewis and I to navigate those sexual scenes, because Jem plays a very active part in her relationship, Scanlen said. She has agency, yet at the same time, she cant understand why its wrong, because shes too young to understand that its an abuse of power. Jem having agency yet being abused at the same time are both truths.

Bleecker Street Media

The film charts these nuanced dynamics with a rigorous dedication to Jems point of view, from which it never wavers. Her joy at self-discovery, and her feelings of being totally awash with love, are just as palpable as her despair later becomes, followed by the release valve of redemption.

I wanted to create something that was vivid and intoxicating and intimate and immediate, Parmet said. I strove for immediacy, but also for restraint, which will hopefully encourage viewers to form their own conclusions about whats going on on screen.

I didnt want to make a film that was condescending, or mocking people in these communities, Parmet said. The film is not to blaspheme God. Its really more to show the complex sides of faith and, and to suggest that there are many ways to connect with God. Its about how God can live in Jems desires, and in her actions.

As if reckoning with the wrath of her community and with Owen wasnt enough, Jem also has to combat the irritant of Ben, a local weirdo played by Austin Abrams, whos interested in courting her.

Abrams delivers an incredible monologue involving farm animal excrement that should earn him some kind of award, and in another scene, his character so completely fails to heed Jems pleas to get away from her that she violently retaliates.

I had a funny interaction with an audience member when I was at the Sundance Film Festival Q&A and one of the audience members asked, Why did Jem try to drown Ben? Scanlen said.

And I dont know where it came from, but I said to her, To all the women in the room: Do you all know what it feels like to be told what to do by a man when you dont wanna be told what to do?

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Former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes may have again stalled the date by which she must report to prison by filing another appeal of her fraud conviction.

Holmes was convicted by a federal jury of defrauding Theranos investors last year and was sentenced in November to just more than 11 years in prison.

Holmess attorneys asked that she be allowed to remain free on bail while she appeals her conviction, but a judge declined that request and ordered her to report to prison on April 27.

Former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes alongside her boyfriend Billy Evans, walks back to her hotel following a hearing at the Robert E Peckham US Courthouse on 17 March, 2023 in San Jose, California. (Getty Images)

Now, though, it seems the disgraced tech star might not have to begin her prison sentence until June at the earliest.

On Monday, her attorney filed a new motion of appeal of her conviction  after which Holmes was granted an immediate stay of her prison-report date, according to NBC Bay Area.

The state has 21 days to respond to the appeal, after which Holmess defence team will have a further three weeks to file a final motion. After the final motion is filed, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals will consider her legal fate.

The appeal filed this week is considered a longshot, but while that process is ongoing it is believed that Ms Holmes will remain free unless a judge orders her to report to prison.

Holmes was back in the news last week after The New York Times published a long-form profile of her that was panned by a number of readers for its tone and credulity.

Some critics, including the poet and essayist Hanif Abdurraqib, noted that Black people convicted of felonies are rarely given the same space to pitch their reformations to the media that the profile gave Holmes.

Much of the article focused in part on Holmes as a mother. The former CEO gave birth to her first child in 2021 and her second child sometime around the beginning of 2023.

Holmess former romantic partner and business partner Ramesh Sunny Balwani was sentenced to just under 13 years in prison on conspiracy and fraud counts for his role in the Theranos situation. He began serving his prison sentence last month.
Elon Musk said the decision to issue a subpoena was "idiotic." Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

Elon Musk has denied taking financial advice from Jeffrey Epstein.

Musk made the claim after being subpoenaed in a case involving Epstein's ties to JPMorgan.

The billionaire is the latest high-profile figure to be drawn into the case.

Elon Musk has denied taking financial advice from Jeffrey Epstein after he was subpoenaed in a lawsuit over JPMorgan's ties to the convicted sex offender.

The billionaire Tesla and Twitter chief tweeted on Monday that the decision from the US Virgin Islands to issue a subpoena was "idiotic on so many levels" and called Epstein a "cretin" who had never advised him on "anything whatsoever."

"The notion that I would need or listen to financial advice from a dumb crook is absurd," Musk tweeted. "JPM let Tesla down ten years ago, despite having Tesla's global commercial banking business, which we then withdrew. I have never forgiven them."

The subpoena, filed on Monday, offered few details about why it was pursuing Musk, noting little more than its position that the billionaire is "a high-net-worth individual who Epstein may have referred or attempted to refer to JPMorgan."

It makes Musk the latest high-profile person to be subpoenaed in a series of lawsuits revolving around JPMorgan's ties to Epstein. Google cofounder Sergey Brin has recently been subpoenaed, per The Wall Street Journal. Earlier this month, it was reported that the US Virgin Islands couldn't find fellow Google cofounder Larry Page to serve him a subpoena.

Epstein had been a client of JPMorgan for several years before his accounts were closed in 2013, but the Wall Street Journal reported last month that senior executives at the bank continued to meet with him.

Musk's ties to Epstein are unclear, though the billionaire had been photographed with the sex offender's close associate Ghislaine Maxwell at a Vanity Affair event in 2014.

Musk has previously said that he was "photo-bombed" by Maxwell, who he has denied knowing while suggesting that "the same people who push this photo say nothing about the prominent people" who went to Epstein's residence in the US Virgin Islands tied to trafficking.

Story continues

The Tesla and Twitter chief's relationship with JPMorgan has been tumultuous in recent years after the bank sued Tesla in 2021 for $162 million after alleging that the EV maker had breached a contract.

Epstein died at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York in 2019.

Musk did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. JPMorgan declined to comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Elon Musk has said it is "absurd" that he would take financial advice from Epstein

Elon Musk has been subpoenaed by the US Virgin Islands in a lawsuit accusing a Wall Street bank of enabling Jeffrey Epstein to sex traffic women.

It calls on the Tesla boss to hand over any documents showing communication between him, JP Morgan Chase bank and Epstein, who died in 2019.

Mr Musk is not accused of any wrongdoing in the case.

On Monday, he also reiterated denials of suggestions that Epstein had provided him with financial advice.

Jeffrey Epstein died in jail in New York in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

The Virgin Islands is suing JP Morgan Chase for allegedly helping enable Epstein's alleged crimes.

Its case alleges trafficked women were sexually abused by Epstein and others on Little St. James, his private island in the territory.

The Virgin Islands government has accused the bank of not acting on warning signs about the alleged crimes. The bank has denied the allegations.

As part of the case, a court filing on Monday revealed the territory's authorities had tried to serve Mr Musk, the multi-billionaire owner of Twitter, with the subpoena but had been unsuccessful.

"The Government [of the US Virgin Islands] 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 Virgin Islands also asked a Manhattan federal court judge to allow it to serve Mr Musk with the subpoena with Tesla's registered agent.

Mr Musk may have been referred to the Wall Street banking giant by Epstein, according to the court filing.

However, the Virgin Islands did not provide further explanation for its interest in obtaining documents from Mr Musk.

Epstein, a financier, had been a client of JP Morgan from 2000 to 2013. Mr Musk was also been a customer - with JP Morgan in charge of Tesla's commercial banking business for several years.

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Mr Musk tweeted on Monday that the suggestion that he taken advice from Epstein was "idiotic" and called the late financier a "dumb crook."

Epstein, who was convicted in 2008 for soliciting prostitution from a minor, moved in social circles that included Prince Andrew and former presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, as well as many key figures of the business world.

Prosecutors in 2019 accused him of running a "vast network" of underage girls for sex.

JP Morgan Chase has denied knowing about Epstein's crimes.
Elon Musk, Tesla CEO. Michael Gonzalez/Getty Images

Elon Musk has lost an appeal to get rid of his "Twitter sitter" for tweets about Tesla.

In 2018, Musk agreed that his Tesla-related tweets would be reviewed by other company executives.

Musk had been fighting back against the clause, saying it violated his freedom of speech.

Elon Musk has lost an appeal against an SEC agreement that landed him with a "Twitter sitter."

The "Twitter sitter" clause means that Musk's Tesla-related tweets must be reviewed by another company executive. This clause came as a result of a 2018 tweet where Musk said he had "funding secured" to take Tesla private at $420 a share.

Musk has been fighting back against the clause for some time, saying it violated his freedom of speech.

However, on Monday a panel of three judges dismissed those claims, saying that the court saw "no evidence to support Musk's contention that the SEC has used the consent decree to conduct bad-faith, harassing investigations of his protected speech."

Musk wrote his infamous "funding secured" tweet to the 22 million Twitter followers he had at the time. However, the deal failed to materialize and investors subsequently accused him of manipulating Tesla's share price.

As part of the SEC settlement, Musk and Tesla also each agreed to pay $20 million worth of fines and Musk agreed to step down as chair of Tesla's board.

In a September brief, Musk's team urged the courts to throw out the "Twitter sitter" agreement, calling it a "government-imposed muzzle" restricting the CEO's freedom of speech, Reuters reported.

In February, Musk's attorney Alex Spiro said the restriction was an unconstitutional infringement of the CEO's free-speech rights, per CNBC.

In the Monday ruling, the judges disagreed. "To the contrary, the record indicates that the SEC has opened just three inquiries into Musk's tweets since 2018," they said.

Representatives for Musk did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment, made outside normal working hours.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Subpoena Envy

Welp, it finally happened.

As court documents reveal, Elon Musk and Tesla have been subpoenaed by the US Virgin Islands in a lawsuit accusing JPMorgan Chase & Co of "knowingly" benefitting from  and perhaps even facilitating  Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking.

"JP Morgan knowingly facilitated, sustained, and concealed the human trafficking network operated by Jeffrey Epstein from his home and base in the Virgin Islands," reads the Virgin Islands' lawsuit, "and financially benefitted from this participation, directly or indirectly, by failing to comply with federal banking regulations."

As part of the suit, Musk and several other billionaires  including, per Bloomberg Law, Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin  are being subpoenaed for information about their relationships with the massive investment bank under suspicion that Epstein referred them.

Musk is also being ordered to turn over any information he may have "reflecting or regarding Epsteins involvement in human trafficking and/or his procurement of girls or women for commercial sex" or any money he may have given the now-dead billionaire sex criminal who targeted vulnerable, underage girls.

As Bloomberg Law notes, the USVI has apparently had some trouble serving Musk the subpoena and told the US District Court in New York that it had even hired private investigators to find an address for the multi-hyphenate billionaire. The territory reportedly tried to serve the CEO at Tesla's offices but was, for whatever reason, unable to do so.

Smells Fishy

While there's no current suggestion that Musk was actually involved in Epstein's sex trafficking ring, he was  like many, many other rich and powerful people  alleged to be within the pedophile's circle. He even appeared in a chummy-looking photo with Epstein's convicted collaborator Ghislaine Maxwell, though he said it was just a "photobomb."

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Right after Epstein allegedly committed suicide back in 2019, the New York Times published an explosive article by columnist James Stewart, who said he met with the billionaire and spoke at length with him about people he knew and had done business with. One of those people was Musk, with Epstein apparently claiming that he'd advised the Tesla and SpaceX CEO the year prior.

Musk, to his credit, has vehemently denied any association with Epstein, and in a Twitter response to the news of this most recent subpoena, he continued that streak.

"That cretin never advised me on anything whatsoever," Musk tweeted. "The notion that I would need or listen to financial advice from a dumb crook is absurd."

More on billionaires: AI Shows What Mark Zuckerberg Would Look Like Living in Poverty
In a wholesome exchange between Erica Banks and Ice Spice, Banks responded to Spices praise of her. Banks hit song turned viral TikTok challenge inspired the New York rapper to release her first track.

Ice Spice has dominated headlines and reined in fans with her unique flow and delivery. Her injection into the mainstream as one of the most ambitious young lyricists of our time has served to condemn any accusations of her being a one-hit-wonder.

In fact, the 23-year-old shows no sign of slowing down as her stardom continues to grow, demonstrated again by her recent accomplishment in gracing the cover of Billboards latest issue.

For her photo shoot with the outlet, Spice is wearing a version of her signature cinnamon hair color, sporting a variety of vibrant looks. Cheekily titled The Ice Age, the interview runs the gamut of her rapid ascent to fame to her plan for success in the future.

It was so funny  I was already working on my first song ever that I was recording. I had already wrote little raps and sh*t before that, [but] it took me a lot to get to recording. I was halfway done with it when I did the Buss It challenge, Spice told Heran Mamo.

When I saw it going so viral, I was like, Damn, imagine that was my song I was twerking to. The next month, I put out my first song and took it from there, Ice Spice said.

 Ice Spice SHOUTS OUT @realericabanks in her latest Billboard interview! pic.twitter.com/IhGvg2Ol01   (@ctrlmunch) May 11, 2023

Shes everything, Banks tweeted in reaction to the interview, adding several heart-eyed emojis.

The Bronx-bred artist has quickly made a name for herself since the breakout success of her hit, Munch (Feelin U), in August 2022. The virality of that single alone would only skyrocket with follow-up singles Bikini Bottom and In Ha Mood.

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Her first-ever project contains other star tracks such as Gangsta Boo featuring Lil Tjay and Princess Diana. She recently landed her debut collaboration in the form of Princess Diana (Remix) with rap legend Nicki Minaj. Along with the song, Minaj announced Spices partnership with her new label, Heavy On It.

Spice has gone from independent success to quickly sign with 10k Projects and Capitol Records. Shortly thereafter, the hitmaker dropped her debut EP Like..?, which will see the release of the deluxe version this summer.

The Peoples Princess confirmed to Billboard that when it comes to the rap and hip-hop scene, shes here to stay.

I just want more accolades. I just want to put out more music, Spice said.
By Huw Jones

(Reuters) - European Union states on Tuesday gave the final nod to the world's first comprehensive set of rules to regulate cryptoassets on Tuesday, piling pressure on countries such as Britain and the United States to play catch up.

An EU finance minister meeting in Brussels approved rules that were thrashed out with the European Parliament, which gave its approval in April.

The rules are expected to be rolled out from 2024.

Regulating crypto has become more urgent for regulators after the collapse of crypto exchange FTX.

"Recent events have confirmed the urgent need for imposing rules which will better protect Europeans who have invested in these assets, and prevent the misuse of crypto industry for the purposes of money laundering and financing of terrorism," saidElisabeth Svantesson, finance minister for Sweden, which holds the EU presidency.

The rules require firms that want to issue, trade and safeguard cryptoassets, tokenised assets and stablecoins in the 27 country bloc to obtain a licence.

Ministers took steps to combat tax evasion and the use of cryptoasset transfers for money laundering by making transactions easier to trace.

They agreed on a requirement that from January 2026 service providers obtain the name of senders and beneficiaries in cryptoassets, regardless of the amount being transferred.

There was also agreement on amending rules on how member countries cooperate with each other in taxation to cover transactions in crypto-assets, and on exchanging information on advance tax rulings for the wealthiest individuals.

Crypto firms say they want certainty in regulation, putting pressure on countries to copy the EU rules, and on regulators to come up with global norms for a cross-border activity.

Britain has outlined a phased approach, starting with stablecoins and broadening out to un-backed cryptoassets later on, but there is no firm timetable.

The United States has focused on using existing securities rules for enforcement action in the sector while it decides on whether to introduce bespoke new rules and who would apply them.

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Hester Peirce, one of the commissioners at the U.S. derivatives regulator CFTC, said last week that a number of federal and state authorities are trying to figure out what oversight role they could play in the crypto sector.

"We are wandering in the desert a bit," Peirce told a conference.

(Reporting by Huw Jones, Editing by Louise Heavens)
The economic benefits could be up to 250m over the next two years for Liverpool City Region

Liverpool businesses have described "footfall like Christmas" thanks to an estimated influx of 500,000 visitors during Eurovision events in the city.

Hotels, restaurants and shops enjoyed a huge boost as Liverpool hosted what city region mayor said was the "most successful Eurovision Song Contest".

Sweden's Loreen won the honours in the grand final on Saturday.

But Liverpool is also a winner with up to 250m in economic benefits over the next two years, Steve Rotheram said.

The city staged the event on behalf of war-torn Ukraine.

Up to 500,000 extra visitors flocked to the city during the EuroFestival between 1 and 13 May, according to early footfall data and figures from Merseyside Police, Liverpool City Council said.

The city council said Liverpool ONE saw a 32% growth in numbers compared to the same period last year - with some days seeing increases as high as 53% - and more than 500,000 people visiting the shopping centre last week, making it the busiest week of the year so far.

Vicky Gawith said Saturday was their "busiest day ever"

Vicky Gawith founder of Merseymade, a hub for local artists and makers, said they were "busier than they imagined" thanks to the contest.

She said they had never seen anything like it.

"We had staffing levels of Christmas, we had footfall of Christmas and Saturday was the busiest day ever."

She said the costumes, sequins and glitter were "great".

"We're just so pleased; so lucky... it was here in Liverpool and we were able to be part of it," Ms Gawith added.

The city's Hope Street Hotel said it had the delegations for the Netherlands, Poland and Spain stay with them as well as a host of stars including Rita Ora, who performed a medley of her hits during the semi-final of the contest, using its spa.

Fiona Creed, general manager, said business was up by 32% during the EuroFestival compared to the last two weeks of May last year.

"It's been beyond anyone's expectations. It has been really fabulous," she said.

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Maray restaurant manager Rob Swift said it had record sales thanks to the extra visitors for Eurovision

Maray restaurant on Albert Dock said it had "record sales" last week.

Rob Swift, the general manager of the Middle-Eastern inspired eatery, said business was up a third on a usual week.

"It was easily the busiest week we have ever had [with] over 1,500 covers which is fantastic," he said.

"Eurovision has been a saviour for plenty of businesses around the docks and around Liverpool as well."

Mr Rotheram said Liverpool had hosted the "most successful Eurovision Song Contest ever".

He said it "had been unbelievable... I've never felt a buzz like it" and it should capitalise on its success.

Visitors had "seen and heard and experienced what we know about this great place that we live in, that it is one of the most warm and friendliest places on the planet," he said.

The metro mayor said "the winners in the end are the people of Liverpool because we have been able to showcase just what a wonderful place this is".

He said the economic legacy over the next two years "could be as great as 250m" to the city region.

Liverpool City Region mayor Steve Rotheram said Eurovision "had been unbelievable"

He said the city would undoubtedly attract more visitors and "we need to build on that... to optimise on the opportunities that that brings to us".

He added it means "attracting more businesses and diversifying our economy".

"Nobody has embraced something like this to the magnitude that Liverpool has and that shows you other things could come here as well.

"We've demonstrated we can do large events and do them brilliantly.

"More large scale events are good for the economy and good for the local people."

Bill Addy of Liverpool BID Company estimated the Eurovision legacy to be worth 250m over the next three years

Bill Addy, chief executive of Liverpool Business Improvement District (BID) Company said the lasting memory of Eurovision in Liverpool will be one of joy.

"[Businesses are] telling us they have seen a real boost in people coming in and just wanting to enjoy the atmosphere," he said.

"We've spent a lot of time with our city centre businesses helping to prepare for this, from window dressing and artwork to karaoke displays and language classes, so it's great to see it paying off.

"We know the impact of Eurovision isn't purely in the two weeks of celebrations, but for the 160m people watching at home and the projected economic impact of 250m over the next three years."

Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk
EVANSVILLE  The man accused of selling 24-year-old Zeke Biggs fentanyl prior to his death last year was sentenced to serve 20 years in prison Friday.

Richard Barnes III, 21, pleaded guilty in April to one count of dealing in a controlled substance resulting in death, a Level 1 felony. At the time, Vanderburgh County Prosecutor Diana Moers said Barnes had agreed to accept the "recommended" 20-year prison sentence.

On Friday, Vanderburgh County Magistrate Judge Ryan C. Reed imposed that sentence and recommended Barnes "participate in programming while at the Indiana Department of Corrections."

Barnes will begin his sentence with 297 days credit for time served.

More: Evansville man accused of causing fatal overdose pleads guilty

According to court records, Evansville police arrested Barnes May 10, 2022, after detectives uncovered evidence Barnes sold Biggs fentanyl prior to Biggs' death.

The investigation began months earlier, on March 5, 2022, when Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office deputies found Biggs dead from an apparent drug overdose in the 1800 block of Evanston Drive.

Subsequent toxicology tests would show Biggs died from fentanyl intoxication, a probable cause affidavit states.

According to investigators, Biggs' cellphone proved to offer crucial evidence linking Barnes to Biggs' fatal overdose. The data included text and call logs and cell tower location data, and also included a contact card for one of Barnes' known aliases, "Sosa."

More: Evansville man charged with causing deadly fentanyl overdose

Text messages between the Sosa alias and Biggs show the two men discussing the sale of fentanyl prior to Biggs' overdose, police said.

Police subsequently placed Barnes under surveillance and allegedly confiscated counterfeit prescription opioid pills from vehicles seen leaving his residence.

A search of Barnes' home by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency in May 2022 turned up "three clear plastic baggies containing numerous counterfeit pharmaceutical pills," the affidavit states.

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The Whites, Part 7: Alabama fugitive saga put some Evansville residents in the spotlight

Biggs is one of at least 480 people to have died from a drug overdose in Vanderburgh County since 2016, according to coroner's office data obtained by the Courier & Press.

The data show that over the past seven years, fentanyl drove a steady increase in the number of fatal overdoses in the Evansville area.

At the outset of her tenure as Vanderburgh County prosecutor, Moers said she would prioritize prosecuting alleged fentanyl dealers who's drugs resulted in fatal overdoses.

After Barnes agreed to plead guilty in April, Moers doubled down on her stance: "I can assure you, dealing drugs in Vanderburgh County is not worth the price you will pay," she wrote in a news release.

Houston Harwood can be contacted at houston.harwood@courierpress.com.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Richard Barnes III sentenced for causing Evansville fentanyl overdose
REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz

OpenAI CEO Sam Altmanthe man behind ChatGPTissued a stark warning to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday: Artificial Intelligence can be dangerous.

If this technology goes wrong, it can go quite wrong, and we want to be vocal about that, Altman said, separately noting that his worst fear is we cause significant harm to the world.

It was an unusual moment for a major tech entrepreneur to so boldly agree with lawmakers, who spent much of Tuesdays hearing pointing out the potential perils of his product. Most congressional panels on major tech platforms like TikTok and Facebook devolve into hours-long attempts at gotcha questions and defensive remarks.

But Altmans broader message Tuesday was welcoming and actively encouraging regulation on Artificial Intelligence, including his own ChatGPT. Altman said he fears ChatGPTs potential to manipulate users views. He suggested forming a new government agency to govern AI models. And he agreed that AI would take away some jobsthough, he suggested new jobs would be created, too.

We Had ChatGPT Answer CNNs Questions for Donald Trump

ChatGPT4 will, I think, entirely automate away some jobs. And it will create new ones that we believe will be much better, Altman said.

There will be an impact on jobs, he added. We try to be very clear about that.

Altman did push back against some forms of regulation, like granting users transparency into program training data.

Tuesdays hearing had the potential to be an embarrassment for senators. Past hearings on Big Tech have delivered now-notorious gaffes from the elderly, largely tech-inept members of the Senate, like Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) asking Instagram to end finstas. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) once asked Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg how the platform makes money, to which Zuckerberg awkwardly responded, Senator, we run ads.

But lawmakers Tuesday, for the most part, seemed well-prepared on the subject at hand. Some expressed gratitude to Altman not just for his attendance, but for previous conversations the CEO had with lawmakers regarding concerns and regulation. According to Axios, Altman dined with about 60 lawmakers the night before the hearing.

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The Senate has shown interest in regulating AI this term. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), whos piercing together his own proposal, is one of them. Many senators at Tuesdays hearing expressed their dissatisfaction that Congress had been slow regulating other tech, like social media, leading to a long game of catchup.

With booming AI products like ChatGPT, lawmakers are hoping things will be different. Yet, as the hearing ended Tuesday, it wasnt immediately clear what action Congress would or could take.

When asked, ChatGPT, which claims to not have any information on current events that occurred after Sept. 2021, would not remark on Altmans performance before the panel Tuesday.

The Daily Beast also asked ChatGPT if it should be regulated by Congress, as Altman suggested. The AI said that is a complex and debated topic and listed a number of pros and cons to regulation while taking no official stance.

As an AI language model, I don't have personal opinions or beliefs, ChatGPT remarked. I can provide information and perspectives on different topics, but I do not hold any specific stance on whether Congress should regulate AI or agree with any particular individual, including Sam Altman, on this matter.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Image: Svetlana Satsiuk (Shutterstock)

A study out this week is the latest to suggest that using cannabis while pregnant isnt necessarily harmless. Scientists have found a link between a mothers occasional cannabis use during pregnancy and poorer outcomes for newborns, such as lower birth weight. These effects were more significant in mothers who used cannabis late into their pregnancy but could still be seen in those who used cannabis early on.

The work was conducted by researchers from Central Michigan Universitys College of Medicine. A growing number of studies have shown a link between cannabis use during pregnancy and poorer outcomes for newborns. But in this research, the scientists were also able to look at the timing and duration of cannabis exposure.

Read more

The team tracked the health of expectant mothers and their newborns who received care at a local hospital, focusing on those who said they had recently used cannabis or tested positive for it at some point of the pregnancy. They were then compared to mothers who never tested positive for cannabis during their pregnancy. All told, about 270 mother-child pairs were included in the study.

As with other studies, the team found that cannabis use during pregnancy in general was linked to smaller size in newbornsan effect that was apparent even when mothers stopped using cannabis by the end of the first trimester. But they also found that mothers who continued to use cannabis while pregnant into their second or third trimesters had smaller children on average, along with other added negative outcomes. The teams findings were published Tuesday in the journal Frontiers in Pediatrics.

We show that even when marijuana use occurred only in the first trimester of pregnancy, birth weight was significantly reduced, by more than 150 grams on average, study author Beth Bailey, professor and director of population health research at Central Michigan University, told Frontier Science News. If that use continued into the second trimester, newborn head circumference was significantly decreased as well.

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The authors note that newborn size plays an important role in a childs development. Low birth weight in particular has been linked to a higher risk of many other conditions throughout life, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and even a greater vulnerability to diseases like covid-19.

Like any study, this research has its limitations. The findings are based on a relatively small sample size of expectant mothers at a single site, for one. And while the researchers were able to objectively track the timing of peoples cannabis use, they didnt have data on how often people were actually taking it regularly. Scientists are also still trying to figure out the exact reasons why cannabis might be harmful during pregnancy and whether these effects could differ depending on how its taken.

All that said, it seems likely that cannabis does pose a real risk to a developing fetus. And given that recreational cannabis use is becoming more legalized in the U.S. and elsewhere, its a risk that expectant parents should be warned about. For years now, organizations like the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have recommended that doctors advise expectant parents not to use cannabis during pregnancy. And the authors say their research only reinforces the soundness of that advice.

It is important to encourage patients to stop using marijuana as soon as they become pregnant to reduce fetal growth risks and potential long term adverse health and developmental outcomes in offspring, they wrote. These findings may also be used to influence commercial practices at cannabis dispensaries where marijuana use during pregnancy has not always been discouraged.

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Beer trucks belonging to the Lightsey Carroll Company Distributors stand at the ready to deliver beer to thirsty Austinites on May 25, 1934. Cocktails, however, could not be served in restaurants, bars and lounges until 1971.

It's hard to imagine, but my mother, Elizabeth Anne Keating Barnes, 94, lived through the American Prohibition.

Moonshiners, bootleggers, gangsters, speakeasies, flappers, jazz babies, bathtub gin and all that.

Not that she heeded the national ban on alcohol while growing up in San Antonio, El Paso and Austin. After all, she was only 5 years old when the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was repealed in 1933.

As recounted in a recent Think, Texas column, I lived through the extended Texas Prohibition, which continued to outlaw public cocktail service in the state until 1971.

At the time, I noticed the policy change because, to a budding student of history and human behavior in his junior year of high school, it was clear that something significant had happened.

Adults, like former state Sen. Joe Christie (D-El Paso, 1967-73), who engineered the passage of liquor-by-the-drink, otherwise known as cocktails and shots, through the Texas Legislature, paid even even closer attention.

Fiery Baptist preachers, always a force in Texas, vigorously opposed his efforts. The Texas Restaurant Association and its members were Christie's most effective supporters and organizers.

"Keep in mind the big issue for evangelicals back then was not guns, abortion, transgender (rights) or immigration, it was the evil of liquor-by-the-drink," Christie told the American-Statesman earlier this year. "And I was the devils messenger."

Other adults were paying attention, too, during the late 1960s and early 1970s.

After my April 17 column was published, they shared their memories, as well as cultural tales from the times.

The politics of the Texas Prohibition

Before liquor-by-the-drink, in 1968, San Antonio, and, by extension, Texas, boldly asserted its place among global cities by staging a world's fair.

Or rather, a half-world's fair, called HemisFair '68, meant to unite the countries of the Western Hemisphere. The giant project obliterated parts of some older neighborhoods near the San Antonio River, but left behind such landmarks as the Tower of the Americas and the Institute of Texan Culture, formerly the Texas State Exhibits Pavilion.

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"I was an executive at HemisFair 68," says John Watson, a retired lawyer living in the Hill Country, who joined the project after the controversial demolitions, "and we worked mightily to get liquor-by-the drink passed before the scheduled opening in April 1968. Gov. John Connally, who was a big supporter of HemisFair, was fully behind the effort. Obviously we failed in that endeavor; there were several 'private' clubs on fairgrounds and many places to buy beer."

According to Watson, it was commonly believed that the Texas beer industry covertly opposed legally served cocktails.

"Whether true or not, I knew the lobbyist for the beer industry and he was an influential and powerful force at the legislature," Watson says. "At any rate, ending the ban on mixed drinks took a long and herculean effort."

More: Visiting shrines, missions, presidios, vaults and other hallowed places in South Texas

Lobbyist Jim Sewell got his first taste of politics and marketing in the fight for a state constitutional amendment to allow "open saloons," which voters had to approve before the liquor-by-the-drink bill could be passed. A photograph of him was even featured in a pro-cocktail promotional display, or rather, the back of his head was.

"I was a student at UT Austin when Paul Tracey  former editor of the Statesman  asked if anyone in his class needed a part time job," Sewell remembers. "I quickly raised my hand and was hired as a gofer at Christian, Miller and Honts (the pro-cocktails public relations firm)."

"One of the marketing items was a table tent display showing a very attractive lady seated across from a man sipping a cocktail. That was the back of my head, which became the piece which the restaurants used on their tables."

Sewell also went on a few trips with former Travis County Commissioner Bob Honts, who spoke to local leaders around the state about the amount of tax and tourism dollars their cities could expect.

"I ran the multimedia presentation while he spoke," he says. "The multimedia was three slide projectors. Little did I know at the time what that part-time job would do to change my life."

More: Alcohol-to-go becomes legal in Texas. How much booze can you buy from bars and restaurants?

Gaylord Armstrong, a partner at Partner at McGinnis Lochridge & Kilgore law firm, was three years out of law school and in his second session of lobbying in 1971. He witnessed first-hand the larger-than-life political characters who clashed during the four-year battle for liquor by the drink.

"I remember those legislative and political battles very clearly," Armstrong says. "I had been drafted to travel with then Lt. Gov. Ben Barnes in his campaign for governor and got to know the members of the Texas Senate and most of the members of the House. You describe the key players in those battles, the issues and the proponents and opponents very accurately."

Car dealership owner, Bryan Hardeman, who also serves on the board of the Austin History Center Association, recalls the wisdom of his father, state Sen. Dorsey B. Hardeman.

"My dad served in the senate from 1947 to 1969 with Christie Wilson and Oscar Mauzy," Hardeman says. "My dad was known as the 'Lion of the Senate' and his office is right behind the chamber, where the Lieutenant Governor's dining room is today."

"After passing liquor by the drink and lowering the drinking age to 18  and then raising it to 21  he famously said they had it backwards: Every 18-year-old knew all about drinking and nothing about voting. They should raise the voting age to about 25."

A man setting up a moonshine distillery in the forest. Illegal moonshiners and bootleggers, who continued to profit on a small scale from the Texas Prohibition, were among the opponents of liquor by the drink. "It was commonly believed that the Texas beer industry, quite robust at the time with both Lone Star and Pearl going strong, was also covertly in opposition," says architect John Waston, who worked on San Antonio's HemisFair '68..

Personal stories about the Texas Prohibition

In 1968, Lakeway resident Jim Challstrom celebrated his 21st birthday in a restaurant. He remembers the "private club" workaround during the Texas Prohibition.

"The waitress told me if I paid a dollar to join their private club for 24 hours I could get a cocktail," he recalls. "Funny how billions of extra tax dollars can oil up the most conservative politicians!"

Craig Roberts turned 18 in Houston in 1968, but too busy doing other things to worry about the details of Texas liquor laws. Nevertheless, was attuned to another political current of the times  LBGTQ rights  often organized at the city's gay bars in the Montrose neighborhood.

More: Demolition plans could displace about half of Austin's LGBTQ bars. Here's what to know.

"I appreciate learning about Heights vs Montrose," Roberts says, referring to report in my earlier column that the Heights was "dry" while Montrose was "wet." "I never was in a gay bar in Montrose but my photo was with Kathy Whitmires in the 1977 elections, as I ran for the Houston school board when she won the mayors office. We were both endorsed by Ray Hill and the Gay Political Caucus. . . . Oh, the GPC gave me $1,000."

Nonprofit leader Max Woodfin was working as a summer intern in Jim Lehrer's show, "Newsroom," on KERA public TV in Dallas in 1971 when cocktails were first legally served.

"Jim assigned Mike Ritchey, Greg Roberson and me to be among the first in Dallas to legally imbibe," Woodfin says. "We probably made more phone calls for that story than any other we worked on that summer, trying to find restaurants that had their licenses and would be serving.

"We were delighted to find that Campisi's Egyptian on Mockingbird Lane  still my favorite pizza in the world!  would be serving. We were there when they opened the doors. Jim advised us to stay sober enough to report about the experience when we went on the air at 6:30 that night. My choice was Scotch and water."

Texas owners of "bottle stores" or "package stores" generally opposed liquor by the drink because they sold the bottles of alcohol, packaged in brown paper, that were then taken by customers to restaurants, bars and clubs, which supplied the "mixers." This display advertises the "Smirnoff Brunch," a promotion accompanied by "The Smirnoff Brunch Book" in 1971.

Actual houses divided by liquor-by-the-drink vote

Ron Calhoun majored in journalism and minored in history at Texas Tech University before becoming a political writer for the now defunct Dallas Times Herald from 1968 to 1980. He recalls the days "when the Texas Legislature was a totally different animal, even fun sometimes."

He also recalls the fight against Texas Prohibition, and the three entertaining senatorial allies  Joe Christie, Oscar Mauzy and Charlie Wilson  who teamed up to end it. He shared some insights into the voting for "wet" or "dry" zones by Justice of the Peace precincts, one of the oddest remnants of the Texas Prohibition era.

"I think it was in 1973 that Dallas had a liquor-by-the-drink election within the confines of where liquor stores and beer service were long established, including downtown Dallas, old JP Precinct 1, which actually no longer existed," Calhoun says. "Old maps were used to determine where potential voters resided, including a portion of North Dallas, north of Northwest Highway, which was lightly settled when old JP Precinct 1 was around.

"Since then, many new homes were built there and, alas, the old line went through some of them," he continues. "That caused a voter eligibility problem finally resolved when a judge ruled that if the master bedroom was within the line, the residents of the home were eligible to vote."

Michael Barnes writes about the people, places, culture and history of Austin and Texas. He can be reached at mbarnes@gannett.com. Subscribe to the free weekly digital newsletter, Think, Texas, at statesman.com/newsletters, or the newsletter page of your local USA Today Network paper.

Correction: In an earlier version of this post, John Watson was identified as an architect living in Austin. He is a retired lawyer living in the Hill Country.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Tales and cocktails flowed after the end of the Texas Prohibition
Wayne Peiffer was a valuable asset to a pair of Queens prostitution rings delivering women to customers in Putnam County. After all, as a Brewster police officer, he could tip them off to law enforcement activity and shield them from arrest if ever pulled over.

Wayne Peiffer, a former Brewster police officer, leaves Brooklyn federal court Wednesday, May 17, 2023, after his sentencing on extortion and bribery charges was adjourned (Photo: Jonathan Bandler/lohud)

He never took money. He was rewarded instead with the women themselves for sexual encounters he didn't have to pay for, often in the village police station.

Now Peiffer is asking a judge to spare him incarceration for his guilty pleas last year to extortion and bribery charges. His sentencing Wednesday in Brooklyn federal court was adjourned after the judge learned Peiffer's wife had just gone into labor.

While not charged with sex trafficking like the other five defendants indicted with him in 2021, Peiffer acknowledges that his actions allowed them to operate for over a decade. He told U.S. District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall in a letter this month that the "ugly truth" was that he thought only of himself.

Sentencing letter: Ex-cop seeks leniency for trysts with prostitutes

Cop's trysts: Brewster cop Wayne Peiffer pleads guilty in federal sex-trafficking case

"I was unable to see past my own thoughts regarding this," he wrote. "Worse, I became a contributor to exploiting these women. My conduct went against everything I was raised to believe. My conduct, and my arrest, devastated my family."

Prosecutors in Brooklyn are seeking a prison term of just over three years, the high end of the 30 to 37 months called for in sentencing guidelines. The judge must consider the guideline but is not bound by it.

They said Peiffer had the opportunity to stop the sex traffickers a decade earlier but instead "chose his own short-term satisfaction over the welfare of the public."

"He coerced the criminals into making women service him for free," the prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memo. "In exchange, the defendant undermined the efforts of law enforcement to stop the criminal organizations, which were able to operate with impunity."

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Pfeiffer, 50, said he long dreamt of becoming an officer. He had worked for several years for a heating and air conditioning company when he learned Brewster was restarting a police department in 2006 and the new chief, a customer, asked him if he wanted to give it a try.

He generally worked 16 to 24 hours a week for the part-time department, continuing in his other job, which paid him more than $145,000 a year, prosecutors said.

Beginning in 2010, Peiffer connected with the first of the two New York City-based prostitution rings that would rely on him to operate in Putnam County, particularly on weekend nights when he worked.

The drivers would frequently bring the sex workers to Pfeiffer at police headquarters, a building attached to the public works garage at the quiet end of Main Street.

The Brewster police headquarters.

They would call ahead when bringing women to the area and Peiffer would ask what the women looked like.

"Bueno o nado Bueno?" he asked in some of the 463 texts exchanged with co-defendant Cristian Godinez between 2017 and 2020, "Good or no Good?"

Godinez's response would vary. Sometimes he told him "No tam bueno" (Not so good). On May 5, 2017, Godinez replied: Una mas umenos" (More or less) and Esta joven (she's young). Peiffer asked if she had "boobs."

No mucho esta flaquita hoy pero bonita, Godinez told him. (Not much, shes skinny but pretty).

Prosecutors said Peiffer would warn the traffickers when police in the area were conducting an enforcement detail. If any of the drivers ever got pulled over by his Brewster colleagues for speeding or other violations, Peiffer would vouch for them to keep them from being arrested or ticketed.

Peiffer claimed he never knew that some of the women had been forced into prostitution through intimidation. He said they never told him they were working under duress and even went on vacations with one of them. But even though he was a police officer, why should they have confided in him, he acknowledged. He was helping the bosses in their illegal activity.

Peiffer, who has two other daughters, recently remarried.

His lawyer, Susan Kellman, asked for a sentence of home confinement and community service. She cited his multiple health conditions and his need to care for his family, including the new baby.

Peiffer suggested he could work in a home for senior citizens or shovel snow for the elderly in his community - anything to avoid separation from his family.

"You can put me on probation for life and jail me if I jay walk," he wrote. "I ask that you give me a chance to keep my loved ones from experiencing any more pain because of me."

Kellman argued that sparing him a prison term would not mean he goes unpunished, as he has lost the career he loved, damaged his professional reputation and embarrassed his family.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Ex-Brewster police officer seeks no prison time after helping sex ring
Los Angeles City Hall is reflected on the glass facade of the LAPD headquarters as people walk by. (Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)

A former Los Angeles police officer has been charged with sexually assaulting four boys at his Covina home while employed by the LAPD, according to the district attorney's office.

Paul Razo, 46, was arrested by detectives with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's special victims unit Wednesday after he was charged with eight counts of lewd acts upon a child, the district attorney's office said Monday in a news release.

He is expected to be arraigned Tuesday. He remains in custody with bail set at $2.5 million, sheriff's records show.

The allegations of sexual abuse against vulnerable children in this case are deeply disturbing, and it's particularly troubling that the defendant was a law enforcement officer at the time, Dist. Atty. George Gascon said in a statement announcing the charges against Razo.

"Childhood sexual abuse causes immeasurable harm," he added. "Sexual abuse of any kind is a heinous crime and we will not tolerate it in our community."

Paul Razo (Los Angeles Police Department)

Razo, who had worked for more than 25 years at the Los Angeles Police Department, is accused of sexually assaulting two of his young male relatives; one was 11 or 12 years old and the other was about 13 when the abuse began, prosecutors said.

The other two victims were sons of a woman Razo had been dating, according to the news release. The boys reportedly spent the night regularly at Razo's home. One was 9 or 10 when Razo began molesting him, and the other boy was 12, prosecutors said.

The assaults occurred between 2006 and 2017, when Razo was employed by the LAPD, prosecutors said. Razo left the department in April, according to the news release.

Razo was awarded the department's Medal of Valor for his off-duty rescue of a man trapped in a burning car in Glendora in July 2016. Though the driver was killed on impact, Razo leaned inside the burning car and pulled a surviving male passenger out through the window.

The charges against Razo come on the heels of the arrest of a rookie officer on suspicion of sexually assaulting a child younger than 14 before he was hired by the LAPD. Diego Jose Miranda Lopez, 23, was a probationary officer; he resigned when confronted with the allegations. He has not been charged.

Anyone with information about Razo and other alleged victims is being asked by prosecutors to contact the Sheriff's Department's Special Victims Bureau at (877) 710-5273 or at specialvictimsbureau@lasd.org.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A former naval officer has been arrested in Pennsylvania and charged with the grisly killing of his writer wife, whose dismembered remains were found scattered in the Georgia woods.

Nicholas James Kassotis, 40, was arrested Friday on felony murder, assault and other charges in the death of Mindi Kassotis, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said in a news release.

He was arrested one day after she was officially identified using DNA technology, officials said. Her remains were found in December throughout a 3-mile radius in the woods of a hunting club in Riceboro, about 40 miles southwest of Savannah.

The GBI had help from the FBI, who conducted genealogy testing. Swabs were obtained from relatives of Mindi Kassotis to identify her, officials said.

Kassotis, who also goes by Nicholas Killian James Stark, was arrested in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he is awaiting extradition to Georgia.

He is further charged with malice murder, tampering with evidence and removal of body parts from the scene of death or dismemberment, the GBI said in a news release.

The GBI previously said testing determined that the remains were placed in the area on or around Nov. 27.

For months, Mindi Kassotis' identity was a mystery, and police released a composite sketch in hope of identifying her, which took about six months.

A woman who was found dismembered at a Liberty County hunting club has been identified.

Her husband has been charged and arrested for her murder. #FBI Atlanta assisted @gbi_ga with the case by uitilizing Investigative Genetic Genealogy. https://t.co/cAlCUOt0xh pic.twitter.com/bxOk7MlBwi  FBI Atlanta (@FBIAtlanta) May 16, 2023

Officials havent disclosed a possible motive. No documents have been filed yet in Georgia courts.

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Mindi Kassotis was 40 and living in Savannah with her husband at the time of her death, the GBI said. They were married in Virginia in 2016, according to the couples wedding announcement in The Keene Sentinel of New Hampshire.

The wedding announcement described her as a writer and business owner and him as a former judge advocate in the Navys Judge Advocate Generals Corps.

Kassotis was commissioned in June 2006 and separated from the Navy in August 2019. He most recently worked in the Navy Reserve at the Region Legal Service Office in the Naval District of Washington, D.C., from 2017 to 2019, the Navy said.

Kassotis is scheduled to appear in Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas for a waiver of extradition hearing Friday. Its not immediately clear whether he has a lawyer.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
EXCLUSIVE: Earlier this year, the White House disclosed that classified documents were discovered last fall in the Washington, D.C., office of President Biden's think tank, the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement.

The Biden Center subsequently found itself in a firestorm, and questions stirred regarding anonymous Chinese donations to the University of Pennsylvania, which harbors Biden's think tank. What was known is foreign donations from China totaled in the tens of millions since 2017, but the identities of many of those patrons remained obscured. Until now.

Fox News Digital can reveal the identities of many previously unreported Chinese contributors who gave six figures to the university from records obtained by Americans for Public Trust. The logs show money originating in China far exceeds what was previously known or reported. Furthermore, some of the Chinese donors have ties to previous Hunter Biden business deals, and others are linked to the Chinese Communist Party.

"On the heels of learning that the Biden family received millions of dollars from foreign entities, this latest revelation raises further questions about the scope of President Biden's ties to China," Caitlin Sutherland, executive director of Americans for Public Trust, told Fox News Digital.

HUNTER BIDEN, CHINA, CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS: MYSTERY SWIRLS AROUND PENN BIDEN CENTER

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - FEBRUARY 19: Former U.S Vice president Joe Biden speaks at the University of Pennsylvanias Irvine Auditorium February 19, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Biden joined Amy Gutmann, president of the University of Pennsylvania, in discussing global affairs and other topical subjects, and concluding with questions from the audience.

"We now know that the University of Pennsylvaniahome to Joe Biden's namesake think tankreceived a massive increase in contributions from China and Hong Kong as he was ramping up his presidential campaign, and has raked in millions from CCP-tied donors since he took office," Sutherland added. "The President owes the American people answers about the depth of his financial connections to foreign nationals who are undercutting our nation's security and prosperity."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Chinese donations to UPenn totaled at least $105 million from mid-2018 to mid-2022, or nearly double what was previously known, according to the records. UPenn also experienced skyrocketing Chinese cash as Biden ran for president, with almost $75 million coming from China and Hong Kong sources. The contributions, which Americans for Public Trust obtained in Pennsylvania, show foreign donations of $100,000 or more.

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Among its Chinese donors are a company and individual linked to past Hunter Biden business deals, including a lead investor and a board member of a company that landed an arrangement facilitated by a Hunter-tied investment company.

Cathay Fortune, a private equity company that had a controlling interest in China Molybdenum - now called CMOC Group Limited - gave $1 million in gift donations to UPenn in 2019. China Molybdenum purchased a cobalt mine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2016 with the help of Bohai Harvest RTS (Shanghai) Equity Investment Fund Management Company, or BHR.

Hunter Biden, two other Americans, and Chinese partners formed BHR in 2013, the New York Times previously reported. Hunter and the other Americans owned 30 percent of the company and sat on its board.

SEVERAL TOP WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS WORKED FOR BIDEN AT HIS THINK TANK WHERE CLASSIFIED DOCS DISCOVERED

As recently as 2020, Hunter possessed 10 percent of BHR, according to the Wall Street Journal, but his lawyer claimed in 2021 that he had dumped his shares. President Biden, meanwhile, previously wrote a college recommendation letter for the son of BHR chief executive officer Jonathan Little, Fox News Digital previously reported.

The records further show that CMOC board member Gerry Wang delivered $100,000 to the university in 2020. Wang is a Canadian citizen living in Hong Kong and a member of UPenn's Asia Campaign Leadership committee, according to CMOC's website.

Others who have previously met with President Biden at the White House have also pushed millions to the university. In 2011, a group of Chinese business executives called the China Entrepreneur Club reportedly met with then-Vice President Biden in a meeting facilitated by Devon Archer, a Hunter Biden business partner, Breitbart previously reported.

When the meeting occurred, the China Entrepreneur Club counted Ma Weihua, the chief executive officer of China Merchant Bank, as a member.

10 UNANSWERED QUESTIONS ABOUT BIDEN'S CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS

In 2018 and 2019, China Merchant Bank donated over $5.5 million to UPenn, the records show. According to the bank, UPenn's Wharton School of Business is a "strategic partner." The vice dean of Wharton's Global Initiative has also called the bank a "long-standing partner," according to China Daily.

China Entrepreneur Club membership lists later show that Feng Deng, the managing director of Northern Light Venture Capital, and Charles Chao, the chief executive officer of chairman of SINA Corporation, were involved with the group. Deng gave $630,000 to UPenn in 2019, while the E-House, which Chao co-chaired, funneled over $6.2 million to UPenn between 2012 and 2016.

"No foreign funds were contributed anonymously, and no foreign funds were directed to the Penn Biden Center," Stephen MacCarthy, UPenn's vice president for university communications, told Fox News Digital. "Penn reported all foreign contributions as required, and they have been publicly available on the Department of Education website for some time."

But the Department of Education stopped publishing the identities of foreign university donors in late 2020. Before that, the gifts included individuals who gave $250,000 or more, meaning the new records also show donors previously not in the database.

The donor list also shows several individuals with ties to the Chinese Communist Party.

BIDEN CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS STORY LIGHTS UP SOCIAL MEDIA: 'WATCH HOW FAST THIS DISAPPEARS'

Between 2019 and 2020, when then-candidate Joe Biden was campaigning for President, Hopson Education Charitable Funds Limited (HECFL) donated at least $14.5 million to the University of Pennsylvania. Chinese real estate tycoon Chu Mang Yee, who had 100% ownership of HECFL at the time, is a multibillionaire with ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

In the 2013 annual report for Hopson Development Holdings Limited annual report, Yee was listed as a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), which Fox News Digital previously reported as the "key mechanism for multi-party cooperation and political consultation" under the leadership of the CCP, according to the CPPCC website.

Yee also owns 13.06% of a subsidiary of China's state-owned healthcare company, China General Technology (Group) Holding Co., Ltd, which is "directly supervised by the central government," according to their website.

Another donor was Tao Zhang, the former co-chairman and co-CEO of Chinese tech giant Meituan-Dianping, who donated more than $3 million to UPenn between 2020 to 2022, according to donation records. Meituan-Dianping, which was formally renamed Meituan in late 2020, has deep ties to the Chinese Communist Party and has multiple controversial CCP-linked shareholders, including Tencent and Alibaba.

China Daily, a state-owned media outlet, revealed in 2017 that then-Meituan-Dianping adopted the CCP's party-building apparatus a year earlier and that the company developed a smartphone application that carries several party-building courses. Xu Weixin, who previously served as the vice-president of the Party School of the Central Committee of the CCP, told China Daily that party building was an important tool at private companies in China and that "Private companies which are active in Party building activities usually come up with better operational results."

Ma Jianrong, a Chinese billionaire and CEO of Shenzhou International, donated at least $500,000 to UPenn in 2022. According to a 2017 New York Times article, Jianrong is a "member of the Chinese Communist Party" and "an official in the Zhejiang Provincial People's Congress." A nonprofit group called KnowTheChain previously ranked Shenzhou International poorly for disclosing "significantly less information on its forced labor policies and practices than its peers."

During a 2020 interview with China's state-run Global Times, Jianrong said, "We respect cultural and social customs. Only by uniting local workers can foreign expansion be successful Our foreign employees have been well treated and no strike or other conflict has occurred since we began investing overseas 15 years ago."

"When we introduce to the foreign partners the economic development in China, we pay attention to details," he added.

Ge Li, a Chinese multibillionaire and founder of the Chinese pharma company WuXi AppTec, is another major donor, contributing at least $2 million to UPenn in 2020. WuXi AppTec, which also goes by Yaoming Kangde, reportedly staffs hundreds of CCP members due to the influence of the CCP on the company. Li has also personally voiced support for the party's influence at his company.

Wu Xueliang, who made five donations between November 2021 and May 2022 totaling over $100K, is also involved with CPPCC. Last year, he was appointed the director of the Social Legal System and Ethnic Religion Committee of the 13th Zhongshan Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Within weeks of leaving the vice presidency under former President Barack Obama in January 2017, Biden became the "Benjamin Franklin Presidential Practice Professor" at the University of Pennsylvania, an honorary position, and the "Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement" was launched in Washington, D.C., the following year.

However, discussions about the elder Biden's future involvement with Penn long predated the end of the Obama presidency, according to emails from Hunter Biden's infamous abandoned laptop, which Fox News Digital has verified.

On April 25, 2016, Creative Artists Agency (CAA) agent Craig Gering emailed Hunter with "confidential notes from our meeting," in which Gering listed apparent plans that were discussed for the vice president upon leaving office.

One of those plans included "wealth creation," with no further explanation, and another had an apparent reference to the Penn Biden Center in Washington, D.C., with a possible job opportunity for Hunter.

Joe Biden left the vice presidency on Jan. 20, 2017, and was hired as a professor at Penn less four weeks after that, where he was paid a total of $776,527 in 2017 and 2018, which was nearly double what full-time Penn professors made during the same time, Philadelphia magazine reported in 2019.

The Penn Biden Center was formed on "the principle that a democratic, open, secure, tolerant, and interconnected world benefits all Americans" and works to continue Biden's fight "to secure American global leadership by defending and advancing a liberal international order," according to its mission statement.

Fox News Digital previously reported that the Biden administration hired at least ten senior Biden administration officials to their current or former positions after stints at the Penn Biden Center, including current Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl and White House counselor Steven Richetti. Blinken and Richetti served as managing directors, while Kahl was a strategic consultant at the center.
In Russia, an explosion occurred on a gas pipeline in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug [a type of federal subject of the Russian Federation  ed.], people were injured.

Source: Russian state-owned news agency RIA Novosti

Details: Russian emergency services reported that the explosion occurred on the gas pipeline in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug. The accident occurred on the section of the main gas pipeline in the Beloyarsky district, approximately 30 kilometres from the village of Lihma.

Subsequently, the Russian authorities reported that one person died and five were injured in a gas pipeline explosion. The fire occurred during repair work.

A source in the emergency services of the Russian Federation stated that "an inactive gas pipeline ignited in the block valve area of the linear part of an unused line of the main gas pipeline of Gazprom Transgaz Yugorsk of the Bobrovsk linear production of the Yamal-Europe management".

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






Sextortionists who allegedly drove a South Carolina teenager to suicide sent a sickening message to his grieving father gloating about his death while threatening to release nude photos and demanding money.

South Carolina state representative Brandon Guffey told CNN he received the anonymous Instagram message on what would have been his son Gavins 18th birthday, which said: Did I tell you your son begged for his life, followed by a laughing face emoji.

Mr Guffey told the network Gavin had been blackmailed after scammers posing as a young girl tricked him into sending a nude picture.

The 17-year-old recent high school graduate sent $25 by Venmo to the blackmailers, everything he had in his account, while begging for more time to raise extra cash.

The lawmaker said in interviews he found his sons body in the bathroom of the familys home in Rock Hill on 27 July last year after hearing him fall to the floor.

Mr Guffey, who was running for state office at the time, said he was unaware his son was being extorted and initially blamed himself for leaving a gun out.

The blackmail plot was revealed when sextortionists began bombarding the family with Instagram messages demanding more money or they would release the intimate photos.

Gavin Guffey died by suicide after being blackmailed. His father, South Carolina state lawmaker Brandon Guffey, is working to pass a bill criminalising sextortion (Facebook / Brandon Guffey)

Mr Guffey said scammers had used disappearing messages to make his son believe that the pictures would be deleted.

What they dont realise is, someone has another device recording that device, he said.

If you can extort 10 teenage boys that arent gonna say anything for $100 each, and do all that with one image that you got from a girl, its fairly simple.

After considering dropping out of the election, Mr Guffey was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in November.

His first act was to draw up a bill criminalising sextortion, called Gavins Law, which would see scammers who extort a minor face up to five years in prison for a first offence.

It passed the state house unanimously, and last Thursday the state Senate voted to approve the bill. It will soon be sent to Governor Henry McMaster to be signed into law.

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South Carolina lawmaker Brandon Guffey, right, with his son Gavin beside him, introduced Gavins law after a sextortion plot allegedly drove the teen to suicide. (Family handout)

Mr Guffey told CNN he would never recover from the grief of losing his son to suicide, but whenever he needs strength, he puts on Gavins white Vans sneakers, which are scribbled with a doodle of his sons favorite character Spider-Man.

I feel like (Gavin) would want me trying to save additional kids from ever having to feel the way that he felt at that time, he said.

In December, the FBI issued a national public safety alert to warn parents after seeing a tenfold increase in online sexual blackmail cases.

According to the FBI, at least 3,000 children were victims of sextortion plots that were connected to more than a dozen suicides in 2022.

Most of the victims were teenage boys, with kids as young as 10 being targeted.

Victims may feel like there is no way out  it is up to all of us to reassure them that they are not in trouble, there is hope, and they are not alone, said FBI Director Christopher Wray in a statement at the time.

The FBI told CNN that no arrests have been made in connection with Gavins death.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress and isolation, or are struggling to cope, call National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The Helpline is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.

If you are based in the UK, the Samaritans offers support; you can speak to someone for free over the phone, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.
BEIJING (Reuters) - Drawing lessons from the Ukraine crisis, a top Chinese general urged greater integration of novel capabilities, including artificial intelligence, with conventional warfare tactics ahead of any confrontation with the West.

A new genre of hybrid warfare has emerged from the Ukraine conflict, with the intertwining of "political warfare, financial warfare, technological warfare, cyber warfare, and cognitive warfare," General Wang Haijiang, commander of the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) Western Theatre Command, wrote in a front-page article in an official newspaper on Monday.

In the name of national security and to fend off perceived threats from the West, Chinese efforts to prepare the country for security challenges have not relaxed despite a slowing economy and COVID-19. Defence spending is set to rise for the eighth straight year in 2023.

The scale and sweep of Chinese military preparations are closely watched not just by the West, but also by China's neighbours and democratically governed Taiwan, which China claims as its own.

"At present and in the future, local conflicts and turmoil are frequent, global problems are intensifying, and the world has entered a new period of turmoil and change," Wang wrote in Study Times.

"Various 'black swan' and 'grey rhinoceros' events may occur at any time, especially with the containing, encircling, decoupling, suppressing, and military threats of some Western nations," he continued.

Despite the hundreds of billions of dollars poured into defence spending, China's armed forces do not have much recent experience in a hot war, with its last - and brief - military conflict in 1979 with Vietnam.

The ability to win is needed to maintain national security, Wang wrote.

The PLA's combat-readiness in a hypothetical war has become a focus in recent months as China flexes its military muscle over Taiwan, putting itself in potential conflict with the United States.

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Washington has a policy of "strategic ambiguity" over whether it would intervene militarily to defend Taiwan, but is bound by law to provide the island with the means to defend itself.

China will seek new military advantages by building up capabilities in areas such as artificial intelligence, information networks, and aviation and space, Wang said.

In a separate rare critique in January reflecting on lessons learned from the Ukraine war, the PLA Daily noted Russia's military flaws, including the need to improve its "situation awareness" in the battlefield.

(Reporting by Ryan Woo. Editing by Gerry Doyle)
MEXICO-US-MIGRATION-BORDER-TITLE 42

A delivery man carries pizzas for migrants waiting to be processed at the U.S.-Mexico border on May 10, 2023. Credit - Guillermo AriasAFP/Getty Images

Hundreds of people have arrived at the southern U.S. border in the hopes of seeking asylum following the end of Title 42. Images of migrants using their limited funds to have food delivered through a fence have circulated online, as many stand in line for days in the hopes that their case will be heard.

Title 42, a pandemic-era health policy that allowed authorities to turn away asylum seekers at the border to prevent the contagion of COVID-19, ended on May 11. For these migrants, a new day marks another struggle to decide how to best use their limited funds and resources.

The asylum seekers, who have arrived from various countries including Guatemala, Colombia, and Honduras, are under border patrol custody and rely on U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents for basic needswhich nonprofit leaders serving the area say arent being met.

We were told [border] patrol was only giving them one granola bar and one water bottle per day, Fiona King, Director of Development at Interfaith Community Services, a local nonprofit based out of Escondido in San Diego County, tells TIME. She emphasized that our government let them down by not caring for them.

Read More: Migrants Struggle to Make Asylum Appointments Through U.S. Government App

In a report by Rest of World, at least 10 delivery drivers were seen handing off food along the border wall for services including UberEats. Those who do not have credit cards are relying on the cash they have. One migrant allegedly spent $100 on a whole chicken because their delivery driver had no change.

Were in need of everything, one migrant told Rest of World. Food, water, something to protect us from the heat and from the cold. Its all stuff we want to buy, but we cant afford for someone to be bringing us all that.

Un repartidor de UBER trae pollos a los inmigrantes que esperan en el MURO de lado de Estados Unidos pic.twitter.com/ht4oU2lBMw  Yolanda Morales (@moralesyo) May 10, 2023

Civil rights leaders such as Shane Harris, the President and Founder of The Peoples Association of Justice Advocates, call that the situation at the border a disaster and a humanitarian crisis.

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If migrants are in the United States border patrols custody, then there is a dignity and a care that needs to happen, Harris tells TIME. Instead, nonprofit organizations are stepping up to provide diapers, blankets, clothing, medicine, sleeping bags and more to those that are in the area.

Both leaders tell TIME that while migrants remain hopeful about their future, their current circumstances reflect a need for more care and attention from authorities. King, who recently visited the border, says that the migrants seemed exhausted as many of them had been traveling for days and were essentially living outside as they waited.

Interfaith Community Services, in partnership with other local organizations, has also stepped up by offering sandwiches to migrants through the six-inch crevices in the walls and setting up phone-charging stations for migrants.

Read More: Immigrants Are Key to Fighting Off Authoritarianism

New policies by the federal government require all asylum seekers to use CBP One, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection phone app, to apply for appointments for their case to be heard. The app has been riddled with problems, including limited language services, insufficient appointment slots, and a flawed facial recognition technology that struggles to identify Black migrants. It also creates an overwhelming reliance on Internet services, which can prove to be costly for migrants.

The only thing [migrants] have are the clothes on their back and their phones. And the phones are critical because its the only way they can be in touch with [family] and as weve been told, applying for an appointment for asylum through a phone application, King says.

Immigrants stuck in a makeshift camp between the U.S. and Mexico look through the border wall as volunteers offer assistance on the other side on May 13, 2023 in San Diego, California. Mario TamaGetty Images

Many of the migrants have families and sponsors in the U.S. and are waiting for appointment slots to open up so they can access the life waiting for them on the other side, according to King. Diego, a 34-year-old Venezuelan who has been living in Mexico for three months hoping to be granted asylum, told TIME he feels stuck because issues with the CBP One app are preventing him from moving forward.

I just feel terrible all the time, like Im being held hostage in Mexico, Diego says. Im even more frustrated because Im someone who likes to work, and I cant work here.

With reporting by Vera Bergengruen
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond takes notes at the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board clemency hearing for Richard Glossip Wednesday, April 26, 2023.

Finality is an important principle in our criminal justice system. Elevating finality above all else, though, can prove dangerous and undermine justice in rare cases  cases like Richard Glossips, where it is revealed years later that evidence was withheld by the state. Justice requires that all sides play fair. To continue to use finality to justify an execution where the states chief law enforcement officer has agreed the trial was fundamentally unfair would be a perversion of justice. Simply put, it cannot be the Oklahoma way.

More: Death row inmate Richard Glossip gets execution stay from US Supreme Court

In 2004, an Oklahoma County jury found Glossip guilty of murder and sentenced him to death for a murder-for-hire plot that the state alleged he orchestrated. He has been on death row ever since. Over two decades, multiple appeals and petitions have upheld that jury verdict. You would think the conviction ought to be considered final by now.

But in 2023 it was discovered that the prosecutors did not play fair. They did not disclose a number of critical facts. These facts challenge long-held beliefs about the case, revealing that Glossips trial was plagued with errors and misdeeds by the state.

When I look at the complete set of facts that are now known about Glossips case, I have serious concerns about the fairness of his trial. I am troubled as to the reliability of the verdict that was rendered by a jury that never had an opportunity to consider important withheld evidence about the states key witness.

I understand that some residents may be disinclined to reconsider their long-held opinions on this case. But as a former district attorney, I also know that facts, not emotion, must be our guide, regardless of when those facts come to light.

During my years as district attorney of Oklahoma County, I prosecuted many cases and supervised hundreds of others, including some seeking the death penalty. As a prosecutor, I represented the states interests in seeking justice, the families of the victims, and all residents of Oklahoma County. I was guided by the U.S. Supreme Courts directive that death cases require the highest standard of reliability.

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The case against Glossip depended almost entirely on the testimony of Justin Sneed, the admitted killer. Everything turned on Sneeds credibility. That is where the newly disclosed evidence comes in. Only recently, it was discovered that, before Glossips trial, prosecutors were told facts by Sneed in a pretrial interview that he saw a psychiatrist and was on lithium. The prosecutors did not disclose these facts to the defense or the jury.

These facts had been kept hidden in a box in the Oklahoma County district attorneys office and were not disclosed to Glossips attorneys until Jan. 27, 2023, when Attorney General Gentner Drummond released the box. The jurors who decided Glossips fate did not know these critical facts.

Prosecutors are supposed to be ministers of justice. That should be a prosecutors top priority  not to win cases, not their own reputation, not placing any one voice above others. Justice for victims and our community has to be attained fairly. Our nations Constitution requires that. And you do not have to go to law school to know that a trial is not fair if the state prevents the jury from learning all the relevant facts. Fortunately, this does not happen all the time. But when it does, what kind of state would we be if we allowed the result of an unfair trial to justify executing a man so we can claim finality and closure?

There has never been an execution in the history of this great nation where the state has agreed the defendants trial was unconstitutional. Oklahoma cannot be the first state to do this. As the attorney general stated to the U.S. Supreme Court, proceeding with an execution under these circumstances would be unthinkable.

More: 'Dr. Phil' speaks at Oklahoma City rally to release Richard Glossip from death row

Attorney General Drummond did not reach the decision that Glossips trial was fundamentally unfair on a whim. He commissioned a thorough independent investigation by a former Oklahoma district attorney. On the basis of that investigation and his own review of the evidence, Attorney General Drummond has not proposed that Glossip should be released from prison. But he has determined that a jury must hear all the evidence and the state must play fair before it executes a man. This is the kind of tough decision the people of Oklahoma elected him to make.

Facts must guide us to the just result here. Finality of error cannot be the Oklahoma way.

Andrew M. Coats

Andrew M. Coats is a military veteran. He has served as district attorney of Oklahoma County, a former mayor of Oklahoma City, president of Oklahoma Bar Association, and president of the American College of Trial Lawyers and is dean emeritus of the University of Oklahomas College of Law and a senior partner at Crowe & Dunlevy. He had no involvement with the independent investigation of State v. Richard Glossip.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Guest: The Glossip case shows why facts matter
Chance Yeh/Getty Images

A Black restaurant worker is suing his high-end former New York City employer, claiming he was fired for complaining that managers obliged diners who racially discriminated against wait staff.

In a lawsuit filed Monday in New York State Supreme Court, a former employee alleges The Dinex Groupa restaurant conglomerate owned by French chef Daniel Bouludviolated state labor laws by permitting blatant racism in the workplace. (According to Bouluds website, the restaurateur has been hailed as one of Americas leading culinary authorities after arriving to the U.S. in 1982. Twenty restaurants around the world are under the Boulud umbrella.)

During the course of [the workers] employment with [The Dinex Group], [he] was subject to multiple incidents of unprofessional, abusive, offensive, and discriminatory conduct, the lawsuit states, alleging the company systemically allowed those practices.

The employee worked as a host at one of Bouluds restaurants, Le Pavillon, described as being a seafood-focused spot on Manhattans east side with a refined elegance and a nature theme. The restaurants three-course dinner is $135 per person. On Aug. 19, a guest declined to have the employee take them to their table, according to the lawsuit. The employee told the lead host, but the lead replied that Le Pavillon had a common practice of pacifying patrons needs, including those who did not want to be served by Black wait staff, the suit says.

How Black Women Exposed Celebrity Chef Darius Cooks

On Aug. 25, the employee explained the situation to a restaurant manager.

[The manager] responded that the needs of [the] Patron outweighed the impact of the discriminatory policy, the lawsuit states.

The employee says he dealt with retaliatory acts after making his complaint to the manager. According to the court filing, his shifts were rescheduled to days he wasnt available to work, he wasnt allowed to take breaks during his shifts, and staff became hyper critical of his work.

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On Sept. 9, the lawsuit says, the employee was fired under the false guise of losing the restaurants keys; even though [he] was not responsible for the keys on the day that the keys went missing. Whats more, the worker who lost the keys was not let go, the suit says.

The employees suit says he has suffered financial loss and mental anguish, and wants payment for lost wages and benefits, legal fees, punitive damages, and for The Dinex Group to receive a civil penalty.

In a statement to The Daily Beast Tuesday, The Dinex Group CEO Sebastien Silvestri said the allegations in the lawsuit are false.

We look forward to defending our reputation, he said.

The employees attorney said his client did not have a comment to make.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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The long-anticipated report from Special Counsel John Durham revealed the FBI opened its doomed Trump-Russia investigation after former Trump campaign aide George Papadopoulos repeatedly denied any possible collusion and argued that such activity would be treasonous.

Durhams report Monday determined that the FBI opened its years-long "Crossfire Hurricane" investigation into alleged collusion between former President Trump and the Kremlin based on "raw, unanalyzed and uncorroborated intelligence," and that it "reflected a noticeable departure from how it approached prior matters involving possible attempted foreign election interference plans aimed at the Clinton campaign."

On page 252 of the report, Durham claims the FBI recorded meetings between Papadopoulos, confidential human sources (CHS) and undercover employees (UCE) and that Papadopoulos repeatedly denied any wrongdoing by the 2016 campaign.

"During the course of these meetings, Papadopoulos denied Russian assistance to the Trump campaign, notwithstanding repeated attempts by CHS-1 to link the WikiLeaks disclosures of DNC emails to the campaign  an assertion set forth in the Page FISA applications," the report stated.

Former Trump campaign aide George Papadopoulos leaves U.S. District Court after his sentencing hearing Sept. 7, 2018, in Washington, D.C.

DURHAM PROBE: FBI OFFERED CHRISTOPHER STEELE $1 MILLION TO CORROBORATE TRUMP ALLEGATIONS IN DOSSIER

The report was referring to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrants to surveil former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page, which heavily relied on the uncorroborated and since-debunked Steele dossier.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The dossier, which was commissioned by a research firm hired by Hillary Clinton campaign lawyer Marc Elias, alleged that Page, working with the Russians, coordinated the timing of the release of hacked Democratic National Committee (DNC) emails by WikiLeaks for the purpose of damaging Clintons campaign.

"In fact, when asked directly by CHS-I if the campaign had advance knowledge about the WikiLeaks disclosures, Papadopoulos replied no," the report said. "Papadopoulos stated that the campaign would [not] advocate for this type of activity because, at the end of the day, it's, ah, illegal ... and compromises the U.S. national security' Papadopoulos also stated that this type of activity is espionage ... treason."

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Special Counsel John Durham departs after trial recessed for the day at the United States District Court for the District of Columbia May 25, 2022, in Washington, D.C.

Papadopoulos similarly made repeated denials about the campaign's involvement with the WikiLeaks disclosures to a second source, but those denials were not included in the FISA applications, Durhams report said.

"These highly probative statements, some of which were made before the initial Page FISA application, were not included in that application or any subsequent renewals," it said. "Perhaps more importantly, these statements did not cause anyone in the FBI to question the initial predication for Crossfire Hurricane, namely Papadopoulos's alleged statements to the Australian diplomats regarding Russia's offer of assistance to the Trump campaign."

TRUMP SAYS THERE MUST BE A HEAVY PRICE TO PAY FOR COMEY, DEMOCRATS AFTER RELEASE OF DURHAM REPORT

According to the report, FBI investigators dismissed Papadopoulos' denials, without citing any evidence, as "weird" and "rehearsed."

"Indeed, when interviewed by the Office, one Crossfire Hurricane investigator repeated that assessment noting that Papadopoulos's statements were curious, rehearsed, and therefore not authentic," the report said. "Likewise, when interviewed by the Office, another investigator recalled briefing FBI executives about the Papadopoulos statements, including [former FBI Deputy Director Andrew] McCabe, and noted that the statements were deemed to be scripted to give a false impression."

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump

Durham argued in his report that while "the exclusion of the Papadopoulos statements in the Page FISA application may have been sufficient to meet a negligence standard," it was "insufficient to bring criminal charges against any FBI or Department personnel."

READ DURHAMS REPORT ON THE ORIGINS OF THE FBIS RUSSIAN COLLUSION PROBE

During an appearance on "Fox News Tonight," Papadopoulos hailed Durham's report as a "profound indictment" on the U.S. intelligence community, telling host Will Cain that "heads have to roll" for putting the country through years of unfounded Trump-Russia collusion allegations.

"I feel ecstatic," he said. "My wife and I have been celebrating all day today because this really didnt just tarnish my image. It also tarnished my wifes image who really stuck with me through this entire saga from beginning until end, So Im a very lucky guy.

In March 2016, as an aide to the Trump campaign focusing on foreign policy, Papadopoulos met with Maltese professor Joseph Mifsud in London, who told him that the Russians had dirt in the form of emails that could damage Hillary Clintons presidential campaign, The New York Times reported in 2017.

Papadopoulos then reportedly told Australian diplomat Alexander Downer of the new information, and Downer reported Papadopoulos comments to the FBI. Papadopoulos was later charged in former Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation with lying to investigators about the timing of his meeting with Mifsud and about his knowledge of Mifsuds connections to Russia.

Papadopoulos pleaded guilty and wound up serving 12 days behind bars, followed by 12 months of probation. He released a book the next year, "Deep State Target: How I Got Caught in the Crosshairs of the Plot to Bring Down President Trump," and he was later pardoned by Trump.

Fox News' Brooke Singman and Yael Halon contributed to this report.
Feeding Northeast Florida will host a food and period products distribution event, in partnership with Renewing Deginity, at the standing Chets Creek Church food distribution on Wed., May 17.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

The event precedes Period Poverty Awareness Week (May 22 to May 28), and will feature an appearance by The ROAR of the Jaguars.

More than 240,000 individuals suffer from some level of food insecurity across the food banks service area -- that equates to one in seven adults and one in five children. One in five women who report having a low household income also report a lack of access to other basic needs, including period supplies.

The distribution event will begin at 10 a.m. and end at 11:30 a.m. Chets Creek Church, Southside Campus is located at 6625 Terry Road in Jacksonville.

The distribution is free and open to the public.

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California Sen. Dianne Feinstein attends a Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing at the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington on May 11. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

With the help of a staff member, Sen. Dianne Feinstein rose from her wheelchair, gripped his arm and walked onto the floor and cast her second vote of the week. She voted against a plan to nullify some criminal justice reforms the District of Columbia had recently passed, and then walked off the floor.

Back in her wheelchair, she exited an elevator and was met by a reporter  who asked about her health.

"Aren't you an eager one," she said.

Feinstein, 89, returned last week after months away from the Senate as she recovered from the shingles virus, a serious health concern that followed years of questions about her cognitive abilities. Her absence from Washington didn't derail the confirmation of President Biden's judicial nominations or the work of federal government, but it did cause angst among Democrats who worried that the slim margins of their majority could make their work difficult or impossible.

In a brief exchange with reporters after voting, she mentioned a problem with her leg but on the balance of things said she was feeling better. Then another reporter asked about the well wishes she'd received from her Senate colleagues since her return last week.

"What have I heard about what?" she asked.

"About your return," the reporter replied.

"I haven't been gone," she said. "You should ... I haven't been gone. I've been working."

"You've been working from home is what you're saying?"

"No, I've been here. I've been voting. Please, either know or don't know."

She then breezed by in her wheelchair and didn't respond to other questions. The interview wasn't more than a minute and it was one of the few times she's spoken to reporters since returning to the Capitol. The senator has revealed little about her health or her workload  aside from statements saying she was being briefed about Senate business while she recuperated at home in San Francisco and that, when she returned to Washington, her doctors told her to work a light schedule.

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Her health and mental acuity have been questioned by the press and her colleagues in recent years. Feinstein has long been known as not only powerful but hands-on  demanding, for example, to edit media advisories before they were sent out. But several stories, including one last year in the San Francisco Chronicle, described the deterioration of her memory. Feinstein at the time dismissed the stories, saying she was still fit to serve.

Last Thursday at the Senate Judiciary hearing, she helped push through three nominations that had lacked bipartisan support and thus had been stuck in limbo because of her absence. With her return to the Senate, Democrats now have an 11-10 edge on the committee, enabling Bidens nominations to progress to the full Senate without any Republican votes.

The committee actually approved six judges on Thursday but three sailed through because they had bipartisan support and didn't require Feinstein's presence. Two more judicial nominees will be questioned by the committee Wednesday. One is U.S. District Court Judge Ana de Alba, who is the daughter of Central Valley farmworkers and nominated for the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco.

Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee told The Times they were glad to have Feinstein back because it meant they could keep nominating and confirming judges at a rapid clip. Knowing that there are certain nominees who will not get support from Republicans, Feinstein's physical presence will be essential.

Aware of that, Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.) told The Times that "we've talked about her availability with her staff.

We need her in the committee. We need her on the floor, but we're doing our best to be sensitive to her medical condition.

On Monday, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) spoke in support of Feinstein, saying she's been up to the task. Blumenthal was striding through the corridors of the capital with the assistance of a cane after falling at a parade celebrating the University of Connecticut winning the national championship in basketball.

"The important point is she had to do what was right for her health as I have discovered most recently," he said, pointing to his foot. Theres one job that no one else can do for us, which is to vote. And shes been doing that job in the last few days, and so far as I can tell, shes been doing well.

At a Tuesday meeting of the powerful Appropriations Committee, where Feinstein also serves, the California senator's chair sat empty as senators lobbed questions about China at Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.

Feinstein's inability to maintain the taxing schedule required of a U.S. senator, and her nearly three-month absence, led to some congressional Democrats calling for her to resign. One was Rep. Ro Khanna of Fremont, who said last week that he was glad to hear of Feinsteins return and was hopeful that she will be able to fulfill her duties.

When asked about her return, congressional Democrats normally chatty on all manner of subjects demurred.

I'm gonna leave that to the medic, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) said.

When asked about her health, Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) and Caucus Chair Rep. Pete Aguilar were quick to say at a news conference of the House Democratic caucus that they weren't doctors and were glad to have Feinstein back. They did say the Senate had to be in a position to support their House counterparts when it came to raising the countrys borrowing limit, which is the biggest controversy in Washington at the moment.

In an apparent reference to Republicans' recent rollbacks of abortion protections, Lieu said: "Democrats don't get in the way of conversations between patients and their doctors."

"Over in the Senate, they have folks from a wide spectrum of ages and we don't ask people their health status when they vote," Aguilar said. "We expect Senate Democrats to have our back on some of these votes and discussions. We expect them to be present and to vote on confirming judges, we expect them to be able to cast votes to avoid a Republican led-default. That's what we're focused on right now."







This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Fewer than 50 people attended the May 15 meeting of the Sarasota County Public Hospital Board, while for a second COVID-19 investigation, while dwindling, continue.

SARASOTA  Several speakers renewed a call Monday for the Sarasota County Public Hospital Board to empower an independent panel to investigate the public hospital systems response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but on a day when fewer than 50 people were in the audience, only 11 spoke during public comment.

Of those, six continued to question how Sarasota Memorial conducted an internal investigation of its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The speakers did not suggest how such a panel would be chosen or compensated.

It marked at least the fifth hospital board meeting at which the issue has been raised, though the intensity has waned at the last two.

Related: Sarasota Memorial Hospital board votes against second COVID-19 response inquiry

Venice East resident Barbara Vaughn and Osprey resident Ann Vandersteel, who is also co-chair of the Zelenko Freedom Foundation, took the hospital to task, again for following Centers for Disease Control protocols or for how it treated COVID-19 patients.

If you had truly started with the patient first and the patient always being put first, you would have immediately abandoned the protocol fed to you by the CDC," Vaughn said, adding: And you would have done instead what was best for each individual patient.

Earlier: COVID-19 response: Sarasota Memorial Hospital had better than anticipated survival rate

Dr. Stephen Guffanti, a former emergency room doctor who was treated for COVID-19 at Sarasota Memorial in 2021 and a frequent critic of the hospital, kept his comments brief and praiseed hospital board member Patricia Maraia who has been working with him to develop an independent evaluation of his case.

Its been almost two years and I have been grateful for the progress, he said.

With board member Bridgette Fiorucci on an excused absence to attend a class, none of the eight members present indicated interest in an outside investigation. The majority of the board and top medical officials have contended the hospital's pandemic performance was exemplary.

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Fiorucci had sought an outside inquiry at the April 17 meeting. That failed on a 6-2 vote with only Fiorucci and Second Vice Chairman Victor Rohe in favor of a separate investigation.

The "Health Freedom" movement, which helped propel Fiorucci, Rohe and Maraia to hospital board seats last November, led to a packed meeting late last year calling for an inquiry, which resulted in the February release of Sarasota Memorial's COVID-19 investigation. Premier Inc., a national quality improvement company, provided data for the study that compared COVID outcomes at SMH with other hospitals and determined that Sarasota Memorial's COVID patients' had better treatment outcomes that most other comparable facilities in Florida and nationally.

That release sparked a social media frenzy among conservative hospital critics that led to death threats against hospital staff. The critics held a rally in Venice that served as a warmup for that day's hospital board meeting.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Fewer people ask Sarasota Memorial Hospital for 2nd COVID-19 inquiry
EXCLUSIVE: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will travel to the key early voting primary state of New Hampshire later this week in what appears to be another sign that the popular two-term conservative governor is moving closer to launching a Republican presidential campaign.

Fox News has learned that DeSantis on Friday will meet with a large group of Republican lawmakers from the New Hampshire House of Representatives who are backing the governors expected White House run. The pro-DeSantis super PAC Never Back Down on Tuesday announced the endorsement list of 51 lawmakers who pledged to support the governor. DeSantis is expected to spotlight how his conservative "Florida blueprint" can be replicated as a model across the country.

DeSantis's trip to the state that holds the first primary and second overall contest in the GOP presidential nominating calendar is his second in a little more than a month. DeSantis headlined the New Hampshire GOPs annual fundraising gala on April 14, helping the state party set a record haul. After his address, DeSantis spent over an hour shaking hands, taking photos, and signing copies of his new memoir with the crowd of over 500 top Republican leaders, officials and activists in the Granite State.

DESANTIS TO HUDDLE WITH TOP DONORS NEXT WEEK, AS 2024 ANNOUNCEMENT LOOMS

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis headlines the New Hampshire GOP's annual fundraising gala, on April 14, 2023 in Manchester, NH

Fridays visit to New Hampshire comes less than a week after the governor crisscrossed Iowa  the state whose caucuses lead off the GOP schedule  helping Hawkeye State Republicans last Saturday raise money at events in the northwestern and eastern parts of the state.

WHO'S IN AND WHO'S ON THE SIDELINES  YOUR GUIDE TO THE 2024 GOP PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION RACE

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

After a scheduled rally in Des Moines by former President Donald Trump  whos currently the overwhelming front-runner in the early Republican nomination race polls as he makes his third straight White House run  was cancelled at the last minute due to severe weather warnings, DeSantis made an unscheduled stop in Iowas capital city on Saturday night and spoke with supporters at a barbeque joint just a couple of blocks from where Trump rally would have been.

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From left, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Congressman Randy Feenstra flip meat on the grill for a photo op during the annual Feenstra Family Picnic at the Dean Family Classic Car Museum in Sioux Center, Iowa, on Saturday, May 13, 2023. (Photo by Rebecca S. Gratz for The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Next week, DeSantis will huddle in Miami, Florida with top financial backers next week, another signal that hes close to jumping into an increasingly crowded GOP nomination race.

The meeting will take place May 24-25 and potentially extend another day, a source who received an invitation told Fox News on Monday. The source added that he was told by DeSantis officials to "block off" those dates "on your calendar." The DeSantis political confirmed to Fox News that the gathering in Miami is "a pre-briefing for our top supporters."

By law, DeSantis cannot receive or ask for contributions for a presidential campaign unless he has formally declared his candidacy. However, the governor can meet with prospective donors to brief them on his 2024 plans if he does not solicit contributions.

FIRST ON FOX: DESANTIS HELPS FELLOW REPUBLICANS HAUL IN $4.3 MILLION

Next weeks meeting with donors appears to be the latest in a series of moves in recent days that indicate the launch of DeSantis' 2024 presidential campaign is nearing. Among them was the move Monday by DeSantis political team from the Republican Party of Florida headquarters  where it has been housed following last Novembers gubernatorial election  to new offices.

Another sign was the news, first reported by Fox News on Monday, that Bryan Griffin would be stepping down from his role as press secretary in the governors office in order to join the DeSantis political operation.

Additionally, a further signal was the governor's move last Tuesday to sever ties with Friends of Ron DeSantis, his longtime political state committee, in order to comply with federal campaign finance regulations.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis greets GOP activists and leaders after headlining the New Hampshire GOP's annual fundraising dinner, on April 14, 2023 in Manchester, N.H.

While the popular two-term conservative governor remains on the 2024 sidelines, he said last week that he will decide "relatively soon" whether he will launch a 2024 GOP presidential campaign. When asked over the weekend during stops in Iowa, the state whose caucuses lead off the GOP presidential nominating calendar, whether a 2024 announcement was near, DeSantis said "no news yet."

However, the governors multiple stops in the early voting presidential primary and caucus states since March, along with the expansion of his political team in Tallahassee, appeared to be clear signs that DeSantis was moving toward a 2024 presidential campaign launch.

Republican primary polling indicates DeSantis is Trump's top rival. The governor is firmly in second place in the surveys behind Trump, well ahead of the rest of the pack of actual and likely GOP White House contenders.
About two weeks stand between Congress and a fast-approaching deadline from the Treasury Department forecasting the earliest the nation could risk a federal default.

Negotiations between the White House and Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) have picked up in recent days, but McCarthy told reporters this week that he thinks both parties are still far apart in reaching a compromise to keep the nation from defaulting on its debt.

I think weve got to have a deal done by this weekend to be able to have a timeline to be able to pass it, McCarthy said on Monday.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said the country could run out of money to pay its debt as early as June 1, an estimate she reaffirmed on Monday.

Here are five things to know about the ongoing battle.

McCarthy, Biden set to meet again this week

President Biden last week sat down with McCarthy, along with other congressional leaders, in the pairs first talks on the debt ceiling since February. The Speaker said afterward that the meeting produced little movement, but that discussions would continue between staff in the days ahead before principal leaders are set to meet again.

However, he also said of the White House on Monday that it seems like they want a default more than a deal, underscoring the challenges both sides face in this critical stretch.

Debt ceiling talks had long been at a standstill as Republicans drew red lines against raising the debt limit without significant fiscal reforms while the White House refused to come to the bargaining table, insisting instead on a clean bill to raise the debt limit while pushing for bipartisan spending talks to be carried out separately.

Biden is set to meet again with leaders on Tuesday.

Areas for potential compromise emerge

As discussions continue at the staff level, details have emerged about where compromise could be found.

In a pen-and-pad discussion with reporters last week, prominent House Republicans said they see new limits on federal spending, reclaiming unobligated coronavirus funding, permitting reform and changes to work requirements for public assistance programs among the top areas ripe for bipartisan agreement.

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The areas were included in a package House Republicans passed last month that paired an increase in the debt limit with a host of partisan proposals to cut spending. No Democrat voted for the bill.

Some moderate Democrats have also signaled openness to changes like clawing back some coronavirus funds or even potential changes to the student loan policies implemented under the Biden administration in recent weeks.

Biden said last week that rescinding some unspent COVID-19 funding is on the table.

And, asked over the weekend about work requirements, the president responded, 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.

But there is still plenty of resistance to other proposals Republicans have offered to cut spending.

Democrats talking backup plans

As both sides look to put pressure on the other over the threat of a default, Democrats have talked up the prospect of potential backup plans to bypass working with McCarthy on the debt limit.

Theres been a lot of chatter in recent days around using the 14th Amendment, which says the public debt shall not be questioned, to potentially allow the president to issue debt. However, the idea has sparked serious legal questions and concerns from lawmakers who think it too risky.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has also said the move could lead to a constitutional crisis, while warning against Washington reaching the point where we need to consider whether the president can go on issuing debt.

Democrats have additionally looked at using a procedure known as a discharge petition in a bid to allow the party to force a vote on a bill to raise the debt limit in the lower chamber, despite opposition from the Speaker. But that plan would also require support from at least five rebel Republicans for success, and House GOP leaders are adamant the conference is largely unified in tying any increase to the debt ceiling with cuts to spending.

Time is running short

Members on both sides are hopeful Congress can put a bow on the debt ceiling matter before June 1, the earliest the Treasury warns the nation risks defaulting on its debt, setting off a high-stakes race against the clock.

While theres another meeting on the calendar between Biden and congressional leaders this week, the president is soon scheduled to head for Asia later this week for the Group of Seven (G7) summit. He also has trips to Papua New Guinea and Australia on the calendar before the end of the month.

Lawmakers are also short on legislative time, prompting questions around the fate of Memorial Day recess in the upper chamber as tensions escalate around the debt limit.

McCarthy, meanwhile, told reporters he believed leaders need to agree on a framework by this weekend to avert default.

All the while, both sides have been steadfast in rejecting a short-term extension to the debt limit to buy Congress more time.

Some on both sides toughen their stances

Members on both sides arent expecting the final deal to look much like the proposals some have dug in their heels on in recent weeks.

Reports have surfaced that negotiators are considering a two-year deal that would involve proposals aimed at limiting spending while also raising the debt limit. But Republicans are pushing for a shorter extension, as the party presses for another debt fight ahead of next years presidential election.

Congressional Democrats have also come out strongly against spending caps as talks heat up, posing a potential hurdle to both sides as negotiators pursue a bipartisan deal. Many also still insist that budget conversations be handled in a two-track process, separating possible cuts from the debt ceiling.

Im not open to any policy concessions in the context of the debt limit. We just have to do the responsible thing and prevent everyones mortgages from going up, Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), who serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said last week.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Tunisian cartoonist known as Z is one of the most ferocious critics of President Kais Saied

Tunisia's top cartoonist doesn't hesitate to compare President Kais Saied with Hitler. It's a sign of the country's current political climate, but such vehemence is nothing new for the artist who has regularly savaged Tunisian leaders.

He goes by the pseudonym Z and hides his face when posing for photos.

For years, Z sharply satirised Tunisia's former autocrat Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and those who followed. Now, he is one of the most ferocious critics of Saied, who assumed wide-ranging powers in 2021 and rules by decree.

The tensions since have fuelled Z's art with "more adrenaline than the decade following the revolution" of 2011, when Tunisia became the birthplace of the Arab Spring protests, he said.

In Z's drawings, Saied is depicted in Hitler-like poses with an overturned suction cup on his head to symbolise his "bouts of madness as he seeks to purify Tunisia", said the artist, a professional architect who divides his time between Tunisia and France.

Under Tunisia's new "dictatorship", anonymity is prudent, he said in an interview with AFP.

Following Saied's sweeping power grab, "anonymity became vital because some people are being arrested just for expressing their opinion on Facebook", said Z.

"You can imagine then what it is like for a cartoonist who criticises the president day and night."

And yet, he said, he enjoys the thrill of publishing his subversive artwork: "The adrenaline of fear reminds me of the Ben Ali era when we played with fire."

- Circumventing censorship -

Z's initial focus, back in 2007, was environmental protection, when state-backed development projects under Ben Ali threatened a seasonal flamingo habitat.

Still a student, he raised awareness about the dangers facing the Lake Tunis lagoon on his website Debatunisie.com where the pink bird became his logo alongside critical articles.

Z said he became a cartoonist "by chance" when one of his blogs was censored.

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"I found that I could circumvent censorship by expressing myself through cartoons and reach a wider audience who was not interested in politics."

Under Ben Ali, who was ousted in the 2011 popular uprising, "being anonymous was necessary", said Z.

"After the revolution I could have made myself known to the public, but there was a rise of Islamic activity threatening anyone who was against God.

"And, truth be told, for a cartoonist religion is a formidable" source of inspiration, he added.

Saied won a 2019 election but then assumed wide-reaching powers in July 2021 and last year rammed through a constitution that gave his office sweeping powers and neutered parliament.

Since February, authorities have arrested more than 20 of his political opponents and personalities, including former ministers and businessmen.

- 'Veering into fascism' -

Although Z's cartoons are rarely published in print in Tunisia, they have a large following on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

The cartoonist said he does not claim to be changing mindsets through his drawings, but welcomes the reactions they trigger, even the insults and threats.

His more recent cartoons carry Arabic-language captions, instead of French, to reach a wider audience including young people, he said.

"When the news is racing like at the moment, sometimes I wake up at night with an idea that I absolutely have to get out," he said.

Today, Z believes Tunisia "is a dictatorship veering into fascism" where "hatred and discrimination" are omnipresent.

People "can be attacked on the streets ... just for expressing an opinion" and Saied supporters "can quickly brand you as an Islamist or a traitor", Z said.

But none of the leaders of modern Tunisia escapes Z's wrath -- not even Habib Bourguiba, the country's independence hero and first president.

"Everything began (with Bourguiba), the nepotism and the arrogance of the political class", he said.

"It is as if a ghost lives in the basement of the presidential palace... and makes all those who enter it lose their mind."

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The Wichita art community is in a bit of a tither over the Wichita Art Museums sale of a Henry Moore sculpture  what some consider one of its prized pieces  for $10.5 million.

A flapdoodle is how one person described the situation.

Working Model for Three Piece No. 3: Vertebrae sits on an outside terrace at WAM and has been part of its collection since 1977, when Pizza Hut franchisees and other investors donated it to honor Dan and Frank Carney when the brothers sold their Pizza Hut chain to PepsiCo.

There hasnt been a decision yet on how proceeds from the sculptures sale will be managed, whether through an endowment or another plan, but the end result will be new purchasing power for artwork to fill in gaps in WAMs core collection of American art.

We are just thrilled to be able to have this investment that for years to come is going to be able to bring new artworks to Wichita and to the art museum, and were really excited to be able to grow, said director Anne Kraybill, who joined the museum in August.

Lets be honest, these galleries have been kind of stagnant for years, right? she said. We currently have only about $65,000 a year to spend on artworks, so this is just going to be a complete game-changer.

Not everyone is quite as excited.

Longtime Wichita artist John Ernatt said its his understanding that most museums dont grow their collection by trading off good pieces in their collection. He said with any kind of collecting, you dont replace a stellar piece with several ones that arent as good.

Its an interesting first move . . . to sell something thats a pretty big feather in the cap of the museum, or I always thought it was, he said. The company line seems to be that its an American art museum . . . and Henry Moore is not an American artist, so it doesnt fit in the scope of the collection. . . . Im not particularly compelled by that argument.

A New York gallerist approached WAM three months ago on behalf of a private buyer who wanted the British Moores sculpture.

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Artists and others have qualms about museum pieces going to private collections.

Wichita artist and former gallery owner Ann Resnick called it kind of disgusting.

If people are using the museum as a shopping center, thats kind of weird, she said. I get it. I mean, all museums are hard up, and I know they wouldnt just sell it without any regard, but I think that still seems like a bad precedent. . . . It just doesnt feel right to me.

Kraybill said she can absolutely understand why thats a concern, but she said the Moore piece was an outlier in WAMs collection.

Former WAM board president Dan Rouser, who also served on the collection committees at WAM and at the Ulrich Museum of Art at Wichita State University, initially was dubious, too.

Im always skeptical of deaccessioning.

However, the process of removing works from an institutions holdings, often to raise money, is something hes actually done while on the Ulrichs collection committee.

Rouser is the one who noted theres been a flapdoodle around the Moore sale, but he said it could be much worse. He said it sounds like Kraybill got the necessary buy-in from key players, which he said is important because otherwise there is flapdoodle till the cows come home.

Something to consider?

When Kraybill heard from the New York gallerist, Dominique Levy, she first turned to WAM curator Tera Hedrick.

Normally, this is not something we would entertain, but I talked to Tera and said, you know, they have an interesting . . . potential offer, and is this something we even want to consider?

Hedrick said yes  despite her love for the Moore statue.

I hate to see the Moore go, too, Hedrick said. But, we have an American art museum, and we can get more American art that will also be beloved by this city.

Louise Caldwell Murdock, whose 1915 bequest led to the start of the museum, stipulated that the collection should be American art  paintings, sculpture, fiber, ceramics and glass. Hedrick said that 95% or more of it is.

And for that reason we felt like, well, this is something we could explore, Kraybill said. So we went to talk to Dan Carney about this because . . . if he had said, No, this is my legacy, this is my brother and our legacy in this artwork, we would have just put the brakes on this completely.

Louise Caldwell Murdocks 1915 bequest led to the start of the Wichita Art Museum, and she stipulated that the collection should be American art. File photo

Frank Carney died in 2020, but after learning more about the sale through Dan Carney, Frank Carneys widow, Janie, was on board, especially since the Carney names will go on all purchases made with proceeds of the statue sale.

The Henry Moore studio in England loaned WAM the sculpture in 1977 with the intent to let it remain for three years while the Carneys friends raised the $150,000 to buy it. If that hadnt happened, the studio would have taken the sculpture back, but the fundraising was successful.

It was a very exciting acquisition as it happened, said Novelene Ross, who was WAMs curator of education at the time and went on to become chief curator.

When Kraybill and a team asked for a meeting with Dan Carney, he said he was sure he knew why they were coming.

Uh oh, theyre probably coming for a donation.

Instead, he learned of the buyer for the statue.

I was in complete shock.

Carney said he asked if he had a say so, and he was told he did. Then he learned how the money could fund future American art purchases.

Once they got to the millions, I said, Its got to be a heck of a deal,  he said. Ill do whatever . . . helps the art museum.

Pizza Hut co-founder Dan Carney at the 2018 opening of the Pizza Hut Museum at Wichita State University. When Carney recently learned the Wichita Art Museum wanted to sell a Henry Moore sculpture honoring him and his late brother, Frank, he said he was in shock but came to think of it as a heck of a deal. File photo

Carney said he can see how others might disagree.

Theres no reason why somebody wouldnt object. This is a democracy. That many people, youre going to have a difference of opinion.

First reactions

Next, Kraybill visited with City Council members, the mayor and city manager. She said everyone was supportive.

The museums board and executive and collection committees were unanimous  minus one person  in their decision to sell.

A decision for any museum on any piece is a big deal, and this is an exceptional piece, said Richard Overby, the lone dissenter.

He noted, without more explanation, My concerns were related to process.

Board chairman Lou Heldman said his first reaction was, Its a Henry Moore. Hes very important, and do we really want to do this?

He became convinced, though, and he thinks other Wichitans will be, too.

This may actually be a great thing to shine a light on the museums historic mission . . . celebrating and conserving and displaying American art.

Being in the middle of the country, away from some of the old European influences of the Coasts, Heldman said it makes sense to focus on American art.

I totally respect if people feel a sense of loss because they felt attracted and in a long-term relationship with this particular piece of art. I have my favorites, and I would feel terrible if I couldnt visit them anymore, but this is going to do remarkable things for our ability to bring and have in our collection great pieces of American art.

Ross, the former curator, said the museum is supposed to be about works that speak to American culture or the development of our culture and the explanation of our history and our values.

Mary Cassatts Mother and Child is one of the Wichita Art Museums prominent pieces in its core collection of American art. Courtesy photo

Heldman said in part of the discussion trying to understand every facet of this, one board member commented that the Moore sculpture is a masterpiece, and the problem with buying new works is that no one is making more masterpieces.

Heldman countered that there are more masterpieces being created, We just dont know it yet.

Masterpieces often arent revealed as masterpieces until decades or even a century after theyre made or purchased, he said.

Now, we say, Well of course their position in the history of art is clear. If you dont have an unlimited budget, the time to acquire art is before their position is clear.

A weak argument?

As Kraybill watched a photographer snap pictures of the Moore sculpture this week  just a few weeks before it leaves for good  she acknowledged that a lot of Wichitans may not know it at all.

The terrace has been closed for years due to deteriorating steps, which are now under renovation. There are security and humidity issues with letting guests go in and out on the terrace while touring the museum, so its usually open only for private events.

Kraybill said WAMs Moore sculpture is not like the Moore sculpture at WSU, which is more figurative.

Moores Reclining Figure: Hand sits outside of the Ablah Library at WSU.

Henry Moores Reclining Figure: Hand as it was installed outside the Ablah Library at Wichita State University in 2005. File photo

Kraybill and other defenders of the WAM sale point to WSUs Moore sculpture as something thats available to Wichitans, making WAMs not quite as essential.

I think thats weak, said Ernatt, the artist.

With a piece that is as important to that collection . . . it seems like it would have been a nice thing for the community to have an opportunity to be heard.

Kraybill said, Thats why we have a board.

Still, with a piece this important, Ernatt said, I think it would have been a nice thing to take the temperature of the community on this.

The issue over the statue plays into something bigger at WAM, Ernatt said.

In his opinion, the museum has made some questionable recent acquisitions.

If the art museum had a better track record of late of what theyre adding to the collection then it might inspire more confidence . . . in the administration making moves like this. . . . Lets witness this piece that now hangs at the centerpiece of the entrance of the museum.

The WAM website describes Beth Lipmans Living History sculpture hanging in the foyer as a mixed-medium piece that is at once ethereal and substantial, captivating and calming.

The nice way to say it is I think that the piece is uninspiring, Ernatt said. Ive had a hard time finding anybody who appreciates that piece.

Beth Lipmans Living History sculpture as it was being installed at the Wichita Art Museum last year. Travis Heying/File photo

Kraybill said she knows there are mixed feelings about the piece, which was acquired before she joined the museum.

Its an interesting piece, and thats part of the role of art is to be able to have those discussions, she said.

Ernatt said a lot of artists who care deeply about art and the places where its kept make conscious decisions about not participating on boards and in other ways because of their own work and potential for conflicts of interest. However, he said with issues like the sculpture, it almost demands more people with artistic sensibilities be involved.

I care about these places.

Filling the gaps

Kraybill said she understands people who have a connection to the Moore sculpture, but she also is blunt about what she had to do.

I am really looking at the future of the Wichita Art Museum and the fact that we have major gaps in our collection.

One of those gaps is with people of color, she said, noting the museum has a strong collection from the 1930s but no Harlem Renaissance.

We do not represent everybody that lives in Wichita, right? . . . This gives us a huge opportunity to be able to change that narrative and be a museum thats truly inclusive to everyone.

During the pandemic, WAM let some of its endowment money roll over, which led to larger purchases, such as Robert Petersons Sunday Kind of Love and Vanessa Germans THE BEAST, or Self Portrait.

Weve seen just what those new acquisitions have done for the community excitement and the buzz and people actually (are) like, I can see myself here. 

Kraybill said one board member told her that for the first time she feels like her familys represented in the collection.

This is going to be an incredibly meaningful strategy to make a huge impact for the entire community.

Wichita Art Museum curator Tera Hedrick, left, and director Anne Kraybill said that selling a Henry Moore sculpture from the museums collection will allow new purchases that focus on its mission of showing American art. Kraybill said new works such as Robert Petersons Sunday Kind of Love, shown here, are creating a new, inclusive dynamic at WAM. Weve seen just what those new acquisitions have done for the community excitement and the buzz and people actually (are) like, I can see myself here.  Travis Heying/The Wichita Eagle

Hedrick, the curator, said it would be great to have a Hudson River landscape piece to anchor WAMs other 19th century works that are smaller or by lessor-known artists. She said the museum doesnt have any great early American or Colonial pieces, and she said it would be phenomenal to have some mid-century abstraction.

She said the museum will gather data and run reports about what it owns from which periods and then assess what it still needs.

We also want to update the collections plan so that that has like the road map so that people can really see where were going, Kraybill said.

We dont get to go shopping just yet.

Kraybill said she hadnt been looking to sell anything.

We were not talking about deaccessioning just because we didnt have the bandwidth to even begin the process, but its an exercise thats an important one for museums to go through.

Hedrick said the Association of Art Museum Directors has deaccessioning guidelines that encourage museums to edit and to refine and to make sure that youre kind of laser focused on the mission of your museum.

She said WAM must consider its gaps, assess what works need restoration and where it has deep redundancies.

Its never generally about the value, Kraybill said.

Hedrick is beginning the process of creating a list of dream works and artists.

It should be really fun.

She said shes hoping that people will come along with us on that ride.

You just never know

The last time a Moore statue comparable to WAMs sold a few years ago, it went for about $8.5 million.

Some Wichita artists doing their own quick online research discovered a similar one that sold for more like $30 million more than a decade ago.

Rouser wondered if maybe the piece could have fetched more at auction instead.

WAM uses Christies to value its works for insurance, and the auction house put a value of $8 million on the Moore sculpture.

Kraybill checked with Sothebys and said she was told it probably would not be able to fetch much more.

She said its true that there always is a chance for more, but it also could be less or there could be no bids at all, which could be especially damaging for future sale possibilities.

Kraybill said fluctuating prices are the nature of the art market.

You just never know. It could go up, it could go down, she said. We cant treat the collection as (an) asset . . . in terms of, like, speculating the market.

Hedrick said while the Moore statue could rise in value in future years, she said, We might be able to acquire things that five years from now might be outside of our price point, too. The market changes for the Moore, but the market changes for everything.

Deaccessioning the Moore statue wouldnt even be a conversation if Moore were American, Hedrick said.

Never.

Edward Hoppers Conference at Night is a central piece to the Wichita Art Museums core collection of American art. The museum is deaccessioning a Henry Moore sculpture to buy more American art, which some see as a controversial move. However, WAM director Anne Kraybill said its a practice thats done all the time. She noted that the Whitney Museum of American Art happens to be deaccessioning a Hopper piece to raise money for other pieces. Courtesy photo

Nor will WAM sell anything that is core to its collection, regardless of what may be offered for it, Hedrick and Kraybill said.

WAM board member and art collector Mike Michaelis said while its hard for those who love and appreciate the Moore sculpture to see it go, and it required a lot of thoughtful discussion, the possibilities of what it can create kind of tilts the decision.

What we acquire over the next several years will be appreciated by a much broader group of people.

Kraybill said there is much precedent for deaccessioning, and the main ethical concern is that money from the sale of art doesnt go to operating expenses.

For some in the art community, the sale caught them by surprise, and its been a matter of learning about it and adjusting to the idea.

For Hedrick, though, its been a matter of containing her emotions for three months.

Weve approached this process so cautiously.

At any point, the deal could have fallen apart, she said.

But it didnt. And Monday, her giddy excitement was palpable as she rushed to explain the possibilities that lie before the museum.

I think its just now setting in. . . . We can do some marvelous things here.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.  New College of Florida students, with help from alumni, this week are hosting a private graduation ceremony separate from the schools official commencement in the face of a campus takeover at the hands of Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The students, who have fundraised $100,000 for the event, want to hold a ceremony on our terms after school officials tapped Scott Atlas, a top adviser to former President Donald Trump during the Covid-19 pandemic, to speak at their commencement. On Tuesday, they announced that Maya Wiley, an attorney and former MSNBC commentator who is president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, will be the keynote speaker during the alternative graduation.

We're now guaranteed a graduation surrounded by the New College community members that truly want to celebrate who we are, rather than those attempting to change our culture, Madison Markham, a graduating senior and one of the students planning the event, said in a statement.

The official New College commencement featuring Atlas, who also advised DeSantis, is set to unfold on Friday and cap off a whirlwind semester at the Sarasota university that is currently being reshaped by a slate of trustees appointed by the Republican governor.

But on Thursday night, students will host their own ceremony featuring fun bonding activities, bands and speakers including Wiley. The group that orchestrated the ceremony, aided by alumni groups Save New College and the Novo Collegian Alliance, said it came together because the new administration that has spent the past four months attacking our students and community cannot, in good faith, celebrate our graduating students and their accomplishments.

New College students and many alumni have opposed the DeSantis appointed board at every turn but have been unable to slow down the significant changes taking shape on campus.

One of boards initial moves was ousting the schools president and replacing her with former Republican House Speaker Richard Corcoran, who is earning a $699,000 annual salary. Since then, the DeSantis trustees have dismantled diversity, equity and inclusion programs at New College, denied tenure to five faculty members, a move that spurred one trustee  the faculty representative  to quit the board on the spot and later resign as a professor, and fired the school librarian, who said the termination seemed like a deliberate and targeted attack on our students."

Story continues

The students at the New College of Florida have achieved amazing academic success in the face of abhorrent challenges, Wiley said in a statement. They endured COVID and the politicization of their education. They have advocated tirelessly for the freedom to learn free of politics, for the freedom to be who they are, and for the freedom to fight for a campus community that embraces all who work and learn in it.

Republican leaders in Florida, though, have swatted down concerns from New College students, including on Monday when they joked about protestors gathered on campus in opposition of DeSantis signing sweeping higher education reforms into law. GOP lawmakers have backed DeSantis goal to overhaul the school into a classical more conservative-leaning institution and dedicated $34 million to the cause in the budget, hoping the cash infusion will help turn around a state university that has historically struggled with enrollment and lagged behind other schools in meeting the states performance standards.

In choosing Atlas, a senior health policy fellow at the Hoover Institution of Stanford University, as its guest speaker, Corcoran noted that he is a first-generation college student who knows the value of hard work and what a path to higher education can lead to in ones future.

Trumps hand-picked coronavirus adviser Atlas resigned in November 2020 after promoting herd immunity as a response to the pandemic, and has appeared at roundtable events and news briefings alongside DeSantis. He notably backed the DeSantis administrations plan to reopen schools amid the pandemic  a saga that unfolded as Corcoran was the state education commissioner.

Dr. Atlas perspective and resume are impressive; he is a champion and fighter for free speech and a renowned national leader, Corcoran said in a statement. We are happy to welcome him here at New College, where we place a high value on personal freedom and individual autonomy, as Dr. Atlas does.
Photo: @becomingabetterbarbee/TikTok, Scott Olson/Getty Images

The Florida Education Department is investigating fifth grade teacher Jenna Barbee for showing her class Strange World, an animated Disney film released last year that includes a character who makes a passing reference to being attracted to another male character, NPR reported on Tuesday. A spokesperson for the Hernando County School District in Florida confirmed to the outlet that both the district and the state are investigating Barbee, though a spokesperson for the Ed Department said they could not confirm or deny whether Barbee is under investigation.



Barbees colleagues first shared photos of the letter she received from the Department of Education informing her of the investigation last week. The letter tells Barbee that shes being investigated to determine if disciplinary actions should be pursued.

Read more

Over the weekend, Barbee shared a TikTok in which she identifies herself as a first-year teacher and explains her decision to show her kids the movie after a morning of standardized testing for a brain break. Strange World, she says, related to what we were learning about in school, as it zeroes in on humans relationship with the environment, while Barbee was teaching her students about ecosystems. What a better way to showcase all of these standards along with huge lessons of overcoming differences, spreading kindness, communication, and chasing your dreams?

My friend showed Disneys Strange World in a Florida classroom and one student reported it to their parents. Now shes under investigation by the state.



Florida is not safe for teachers, DO NOT MOVE HERE. pic.twitter.com/rZJPdadz28  Carl Zee (@c350Zee) May 11, 2023

I was told by every teacher and mentor at the school that our method for approval for showing movies was to have a signed parent permission slip for PG movies. I had that from the beginning of the year, Barbee says. The permission slips specify no objections to specific content. The reason Barbee was turned in, she says, is that one of the fifth grade students from another class who was in her class that afternoon was the child of a school board member whos currently on a rampage to get rid of every form of representation out of our schools. That school board member then went on to report Barbee to the Education Department for indoctrination, Barbee claims.

Story continues

Is a character in the movie LGBTQ? Absolutely. Is that why I showed it? No, Barbee says in the TikTok. I have a lot of fifth grade students who have come to me this year long before showing this movie, talking about how theyre part of that community as well. And its not a big deal to me, so I just said thats awesome, do you, not pushing anything, just being accepting. She continued, Thats what I do. Does that have anything to do with why I showed it? Not in the slightest.

The Hernando County School District told NPR it shared a letter with parents of students who were shown the film. Part of the letter states, 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 district specified in the letter that Strange World violates Floridas Parental Bill of Rights, which blocks the discussion of LGBTQ identity in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards. Back in March, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) expanded the scope of the law to apply to grades 4 through 12.

The Hernando County School District and Barbee did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Jezebel.

The investigation into Barbee adds to a number of concerning reports about state surveillance and censorship of LGBTQ people and educators in Florida. Just last year, one middle school teacher in the state alleged she was fired for answering her students questions about LGBTQ sexuality, and earlier this year, reports surfaced that the state had sent undercover agents to a holiday drag show to try to collect evidence to shut the show down. These moves, like the investigation into Barbee, all reflect a clear effort to erase LGBTQ identity by baselessly equating it with perversion and child predation.

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla.  Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Tuesday that he plans to send more than 1,100 National Guard soldiers and law enforcement officers to Texas to assist with border security between the United States and Mexico.

The Republican governor said hes sending 800 soldiers, 200 Florida Department of Law Enforcement officers, 101 state troopers and 20 wildlife officers. Florida will also send five planes, 17 drones, two command vehicles and 10 boats, according to a news release. State and federal officials have been concerned about a possible surge in border crossings after pandemic-era asylum restrictions ended last week.

At my direction, state agencies including law enforcement and the Florida National Guard are being deployed to Texas, with assets including personnel, boats and planes, DeSantis said in statement.

DeSantis previously sent support to the U.S. southern border in Texas and Arizona in 2021 following requests for assistance from the governors of those states.

DeSantis, who is soon expected to announce his candidacy for the 2024 presidential race, has made immigration a major issue during his time as governor. Last week, DeSantis signed into law a sweeping immigration bill that bolsters his migrant relocation program and limits social services for immigrants lacking permanent legal status.
CNN

A fifth grade public school teacher in Florida who is under investigation by the state Department of Education for showing her class an animated Disney movie with a gay character said Monday that theres no problem with what she did, adding that she didnt know doing so was such a big deal.

Jenna Barbee, who teaches in Hernando Countys Winding Waters K-8 school, was interviewed on CNN about her possible violation of Floridas Dont Say Gay law, which Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed last year and which Disney spoke out against. The legislation prohibits classroom instruction on gender and sexuality in public schools, and Floridas state education board voted last month to expand the ban all the way through high school.

CNN Tonight anchor Alisyn Camerota asked Barbee if she knew she could be committing a violation by showing the 2022 PG-rated movie Strange World to her Earth Sciences class.

I honestly had no idea. I had no idea whatsoever that this was such a big deal. I didn't even know it was a big deal until it was brought to my attention, because its just these students all have one-to-one devices. They talk about these things all the time. I have shut down much worse in class, she said.

And so, to me, this was just a common theme that people talk about all the time. My students talk about it all the time.

Barbee said she chose the film because thats what we were learning about in science, actually, at the time. Its the Earth's ecosystems and how plants and animals and life all just connect and grow. She said at the time she thought it was the perfect movie and will show them everything that I have been telling them all year about breathing with the trees and picking up the trash and why we dont kill the bugs.

In a TikTok post last weekend, Barbee said all parents had signed permission slips for the movie. Yet it was one of those parents, who also happens to be on the Hernando County School District Board, who complained to the principal, CNN reported Monday, citing a spokesperson for the school district.

Story continues

Shannon Rodriguez echoed what DeSantis and other supporters of the law have argued: that movies like Strange World assist teachers in opening a door for conversations that have no place in our classrooms.

In response, Barbee essentially said Rodriguez was out of her element. I feel for her, because she obviously has never volunteered in the school, especially at this level, she said. This door that shes talking aboutits been opened.

When asked if she would continue her career as a teacher, Barbee said, not in the public education system and claimed she was going to work on a curriculum to create my own education system, because Florida needs a change. And I want to be that change. And I cant from inside these walls.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs the Parental Rights in Education bill at Classical Preparatory school in Shady Hills, Fla., on March 28, 2022.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs the Parental Rights in Education bill at Classical Preparatory school in Shady Hills, Fla., on March 28, 2022. Credit - Douglas R. CliffordTampa Bay Times/AP

Floridas state Department of Education has opened an investigation into a teacher who showed her students a Disney film featuring a gay character.

Jenna Barbee, a teacher in the Hernando County School District, said in a TikTok that she showed the film, Strange World, to her fifth grade class after a unit on ecosystems, plants and animals, since the movie focuses on humans relationship to the environment. (The Hernando County School District did not return TIMEs request for comment.)

My thought process was, what a better way to showcase all these standards along with huge lessons of overcoming differences, spreading kindness, communication and chasing your dreams, she continued.

The film is a PG-rated animation that follows three generations of a family as they explore uncharted land beneath their world. The movie was released in 2022 and stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Gabrielle Union, among others. The movie, which is Disneys first film with an openly gay character, has a subplot about a boy having a crush on another boy, but Barbee said that was not the reason she showed the film.

The LGBTQ aspect of the film is harmless, she said. Its just a talked-about crush.

The controversy comes after Floridas state education board voted to expand its controversial Dont Say Gay law to all grade levels last month, and as Disney faces a legal battle with Governor Ron DeSantis for what it said was retaliation for speaking up against the legislation.

Barbee added that her actions were not out of line with the schools procedure for showing films. I was told by every teacher and mentor at our school that our method for approval by administration was to have a signed parent permission slip for PG movies, she said. I had that from the beginning of the year. The whole fifth grade team had signed permission slips for PG movies, with no objections to specific content.

Story continues

However, the daughter of a school board member was in the classroom at the time, and the parent filed a complaint for indoctrination, Barbee said in her video. That school board member is currently on a rampage to get rid of every form of representation out of our schools.

Teachers who violate Dont Say Gay, known formally as the Parental Rights in Education Act, can be stripped of their educators license. The Florida Department of Education told CNN that the complaint against Barbee will be reviewed by an investigator, and an attorney will then provide a recommendation to the commissioner for next steps.

None of my students cared or batted an eye. They didnt even know this was a big deal until the board member and the state made it a big deal, Barbee said.
A Florida teacher says she is being investigated by her school and the states Education Department after showing her fifth grade students a Disney animated movie featuring an openly gay character.

In a viral TikTok video posted Saturday, Jenna Barbee, a teacher at Winding Waters K-8 in Brooksville, about an hour north of Tampa, alleged that a parent, who also serves on the local school board, reported her for screening the 2022 title Strange World on May 3. Barbee made a similar allegation at a school board meeting last week.

The PG-rated animated film, about a family of legendary explorers, features a gay character, Ethan Clade, who has a crush on another male character in the movie. His crush is mentioned once at the beginning of the movie and his sexuality is never brought up again, she said in her TikTok video.

Barbee, a first-year teacher, said she showed her students the science-fiction movie because it tied in to her classs science lessons, and she was also looking to give her students a break after a full day of standardized testing. She added that she received signed permission slips from parents to show her students PG-rated films at the beginning of the school year.

Is a character in the movie LGBTQ? Absolutely, she said. Is that why I showed it? No.

Barbee did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

In her TikTok video, she said the parent and Hernando County School Board member who reported her to the state accused her of indoctrinating students about LGBTQ identities and compromising students safety.

This is the public education system, where students from all backgrounds, cultures and religions are welcomed and should be celebrated and represented. I am not and never would indoctrinate anyone to follow my beliefs, Barbee said. I will, however, always be a safe person to come to that spreads the message of kindness, positivity and compassion for everyone.

Ethan finds the adventure hes wanted for a long time when he ends up in a strange world with strange creatures like a mischievous blue blob called Splat. (Disney)

At last weeks school board meeting, which was recorded and posted on the districts website, when Barbee first publicly acknowledged the alleged investigation, she identified the school board member as Shannon Rodriguez.

Story continues

Rodriguez responded during the board meeting, accusing Barbee of stripping the innocence of her 10-year-old child by screening the film.

It is not a teachers job to impose their beliefs upon a child: religious, sexual orientation, gender identity, any of the above, she said. Allowing movies such as this assist teachers in opening a door  for conversations that have no place in our classrooms.

She added, As a leader in this community, Im not going to stand by and allow this minority to infiltrate our schools.Neither Rodriguez nor the school board immediately responded to requests for comment.

Barbee, in her social media post, said school officials and an investigator from the Education Department will be interviewing her students one by one about the movie, with or without the consent of their parents. NBC News has not confirmed this allegation.

Do you know the trauma that that is going to cause to some of my students? They are fifth graders, Barbee said. Some of them can barely come up and have a conversation with me, and are just getting comfortable with me, and now an investigator is allowed to come in and interrogate them?

In response to a request for comments on Barbees allegations, a spokesperson for the Education Department outlined its process for investigating alleged teacher misconduct, but would not comment on the allegations against Barbee specifically.

I understand that the individual in question has discussed her case publicly, the spokesperson, Cassandra Palelis, wrote in an email. However, we will not allow politics and media pressure to dictate our process.

Karen Jordan, the public information officer for Winding Waters K-8, said in an email that the matter is currently under investigation. Jordan also shared an email that school officials sent to parents earlier this month saying that the film will not be shown to students in the future.

The complaint against Barbee comes amid a nationwide debate over whether LGBTQ issues should be taught in schools. And nowhere else in the nation has the debate raged on as fiercely as in Florida.

Florida lawmakers enacted a controversial education law last year that critics have dubbed the Dont Say Gay law. The law bars the instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in grades K-3, and the Education Department recently approved a rule to expand the ban through grade 12. On Monday, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law that would bar Floridas public colleges from using taxpayer funds to pay for diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

Disney, one of Floridas largest employers, has also been pulled into the fray. Since coming out against the so-called Dont Say Gay law, the company has been largely at odds with DeSantis. Last month, Disney sued DeSantis  who is on the verge of announcing a run for president  alleging a targeted campaign of government retaliation against the company for voicing opposition to the law.

This story first appeared on NBCNews.com.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
A Florida teacher says she is being investigated by her school and the states Education Department after showing her fifth grade students a Disney animated movie featuring an openly gay character.

In a viral TikTok video posted Saturday, Jenna Barbee, a teacher at Winding Waters K-8 in Brooksville, about an hour north of Tampa, alleged that a parent, who also serves on the local school board, reported her for screening the 2022 title Strange World on May 3. Barbee made a similar allegation at a school board meeting last week.

The PG-rated animated film, about a family of legendary explorers, features a gay character, Ethan Clade, who has a crush on another male character in the movie. His crush is mentioned once at the beginning of the movie and his sexuality is never brought up again, she said in her TikTok video.

Barbee, a first-year teacher, said she showed her students the science-fiction movie because it tied in to her classs science lessons, and she was also looking to give her students a break after a full day of standardized testing. She added that she received signed permission slips from parents to show her students PG-rated films at the beginning of the school year.

Is a character in the movie LGBTQ? Absolutely, she said. Is that why I showed it? No.

Barbee did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

In her TikTok video, she said the parent and Hernando County School Board member who reported her to the state accused her of indoctrinating students about LGBTQ identities and compromising students safety.

This is the public education system, where students from all backgrounds, cultures and religions are welcomed and should be celebrated and represented. I am not and never would indoctrinate anyone to follow my beliefs, Barbee said. I will, however, always be a safe person to come to that spreads the message of kindness, positivity and compassion for everyone.

Ethan finds the adventure hes wanted for a long time when he ends up in a strange world with strange creatures like a mischievous blue blob called Splat. (Disney)

At last weeks school board meeting, which was recorded and posted on the districts website, when Barbee first publicly acknowledged the alleged investigation, she identified the school board member as Shannon Rodriguez.

Story continues

Rodriguez responded during the board meeting, accusing Barbee of stripping the innocence of her 10-year-old child by screening the film.

It is not a teachers job to impose their beliefs upon a child: religious, sexual orientation, gender identity, any of the above, she said. Allowing movies such as this assist teachers in opening a door  for conversations that have no place in our classrooms.

She added, As a leader in this community, Im not going to stand by and allow this minority to infiltrate our schools.

Neither Rodriguez nor the school board immediately responded to requests for comment.

Barbee, in her social media post, said school officials and an investigator from the Education Department will be interviewing her students one by one about the movie, with or without the consent of their parents. NBC News has not confirmed this allegation.

Do you know the trauma that that is going to cause to some of my students? They are fifth graders, Barbee said. Some of them can barely come up and have a conversation with me, and are just getting comfortable with me, and now an investigator is allowed to come in and interrogate them?

In response to a request for comments on Barbees allegations, a spokesperson for the Education Department outlined its process for investigating alleged teacher misconduct, but would not comment on the allegations against Barbee specifically.

I understand that the individual in question has discussed her case publicly, the spokesperson, Cassandra Palelis, wrote in an email. However, we will not allow politics and media pressure to dictate our process.

Karen Jordan, the public information officer for Winding Waters K-8, said in an email that the matter is currently under investigation. Jordan also shared an email that school officials sent to parents earlier this month saying that the film will not be shown to students in the future.

The complaint against Barbee comes amid a nationwide debate over whether LGBTQ issues should be taught in schools. And nowhere else in the nation has the debate raged on as fiercely as in Florida.

Florida lawmakers enacted a controversial education law last year that critics have dubbed the Dont Say Gay law. The law bars the instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in grades K-3, and the Education Department recently approved a rule to expand the ban through grade 12. On Monday, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law that would bar Floridas public colleges from using taxpayer funds to pay for diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

Disney, one of Floridas largest employers, has also been pulled into the fray. Since coming out against the so-called Dont Say Gay law, the company has been largely at odds with DeSantis. Last month, Disney sued DeSantis  who is on the verge of announcing a run for president  alleging a targeted campaign of government retaliation against the company for voicing opposition to the law.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
State Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. on Tuesday gave Escambia County officials 48 hours to execute a contract with a charter-school company to operate a struggling middle school, threatening to withhold pay from the district superintendent and school board members.

The State Board of Education held a special meeting that focused on whats known as a turnaround plan for Warrington Middle School. The Escambia district has been in negotiations with the company Charter Schools USA.

Over the last 10 years, Warrington Middle School has not once earned a school grade above a D, Diaz said during the meeting, also pointing to lagging student performance on statewide assessments.

In a May 5 memo, Diaz wrote that the district in 2019 selected an option for a charter-school operator to assume control of the school, which had tried and failed for years under two other turnaround options aimed at improving the schools grade to a C or better. The state board approved a charter-school turnaround plan in 2022.

The Legislature in 2017 passed a measure that allows charter operators to take over operations when a schools performance has consistently floundered. Diaz in the memo wrote that he found probable cause that the Escambia district is violating state law and State Board of Education rules by failing to timely execute a contract with a charter-school company.

The district was given a May 1 deadline to execute such a contract. The district on May 1 submitted separate lease and charter agreements with Renaissance Charter School, Inc., which is affiliated with Charter Schools USA. The agreements were signed by Escambia Superintendent of Schools Tim Smith and Escambia School Board Chairman Paul Fetsko, but not by a representative of Renaissance Charter School.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

State Board of Education member Esther Byrd on Tuesday pressed Smith about whether he and the district understand fully that youre out of compliance with the law.

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But Smith defended what he described as the districts actions to secure a charter-school agreement.

The negotiations have been extensive, and there are some challenging points to it all. I think with an agreement like this, we certainly showed effort and urgency with our May 1 action, and this board moved forward with that to push towards finality, Smith said.

The Escambia School Board was scheduled to meet Tuesday night. Smith told the state board that he intended to recommend approval of a contract with Charter Schools USA during the meeting.

The state board approved a recommendation by Diaz that, if the contract is not approved in two days, the commissioner would report the districts failure to the Legislature and withhold funding to the district in an amount equal to the salaries of the school board members and superintendent.

Members of the state board rebuked Smith and district officials Tuesday, leading to a tense exchange.

I find your negotiations to be either incompetent or completely disingenuous. And Im just going to call it out as I see it, state board member Ryan Petty said.

It really disturbs me that youre implying we are incompetent and we dont care, Smith replied, in part. There is nothing further from the truth. We significantly care. And it is just offensive that our public is listening to this here, and youre telling us that we do not care about the children at Warrington Middle School. Sir, that is just wrong.

Diaz, however, contended that it is not incumbent upon Charter Schools USA or any charter to comply with state board rule and law, it is the districts responsibility to comply.

Meanwhile, Diaz has pursued sanctions against at least one other county school leader in recent weeks.

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Leon County Superintendent of Schools Rocky Hanna faces the possibility of state officials revoking Hannas educator certificate because of issues such as the school district in the past requiring masks to try to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Hanna last month pushed back against Diaz finding probable cause to pursue such sanctions. Hanna called the commissioners actions an attempt to silence me and anyone else who speaks up for teachers in a way that does not fit the political narrative of those in power.

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Road construction in Florida. Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

A bill in the Florida House of Representatives, HB 1191, could potentially allow the Sunshine State to pave its roads with a material, phosphogypsum, that is known to have a number of radioactive properties. Environmental groups are calling on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) to veto the bill.

What is the material?

Phosphogypsum is described by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as "a waste product from manufacturing fertilizer." Phosphate rocks are dissolved to create phosphoric acid, which is used in fertilizer and other similar products. The excess left behind is phosphogypsum.

Phosphate rocks contain "small amounts of naturally-occurring radionuclides, mostly uranium and radium," the EPA reported. As a result, phosphogypsum gives off traces of "the radioactive elements uranium, thorium, and radium," according to the agency. It can also emit the radioactive gas radon, which has been known to cause significant health problems. "About 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the U.S. are radon-related," the EPA said. "Exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking."

Why is phosphogypsum being considered as a paving material?

The bill says there is a public interest in finding ways to re-use materials that are clogging landfills. Phosphate mining is the fifth-largest mining industry in the U.S. by quantity of material mined, the EPA reported. In 2019 alone, an estimated 23 million metric tons of phosphate rock were removed from the ground. That process creates a lot of leftover phosphogypsum.

This waste must be stored in stacks "that resemble enormous ponds," explained The Associated Press. Called "gypstacks," these piles are often massive, spanning up to 800 acres and reaching 200 feet in height, per NPR. Florida alone has 24 of these stacks, which totals "about one billion tons of phosphogypsum, with 30 million new tons generated every year through the phosphate fertilizer mining industry," according to the AP.

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This significant deposit of phosphogypsum means it is widely available almost everywhere in the state. According to a report from Florida Polytechnic University, the material would be "cheaper and as effective, if not more, as current road base materials," and its use in paving could "speed the degradation of waste and extend the life of a landfill."

What would the bill permit?

HB 1191 would allow Florida's Transportation Department to conduct studies to "determine [phosphogypsum's] feasibility as a paving material," the bill says. If approved, phosphogypsum "may be used as a construction aggregate material in accordance with specified regulations if the department determines it suitable for such use."

The bill was approved by a wide margin in Florida's GOP-led legislature and has a deadline of April 1, 2024, at which point the Transportation Department would issue a recommendation.

Why are environmental groups upset?

Environmental groups are concerned that large-scale projects using phosphogypsum could lead to the "contamination of air, water, and soil," The Washington Post reported. Many of these groups have directly asked DeSantis to veto HB 1191. The plan to have roads paved with phosphogypsum is "an egregious handout to an industry that has a lengthy history of damaging the environment and putting public health at risk," Ragan Whitlock, an attorney with the nonprofit Center for Biological Diversity, said in a press release.

The groups have also raised concerns about existing problems with the way phosphogypsum is stored. "The industry has a demonstrated history of inadequate management when it comes to phosphogypsum waste," the groups said, adding that the gypstacks are "prone to spills and sinkholes  like the breach at Piney Point and sinkholes at New Wales  that threaten Tampa Bay and the Floridan Aquifer."

What's next?

DeSantis hasn't said whether or not he'll veto HB 1191, though the Post noted he did veto a measure last year that would have raised costs for Floridians with solar panels. This may give some small indication as to what he might do. If he takes no action on the bill, it would go into effect automatically.

Phosphogypsum-paved roads were approved by the EPA in 2020, but the decision was reversed after the Biden administration took office. The agency told NPR that any plans to use phosphogypsum would require an EPA review.

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A sexual assault kit tracking database is officially available to survivors throughout the state and ahead of the July 1 deadline, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

The database, FL Track-Kit, was launched in June 2022 as a pilot program based on Gail's Law, which passed in 2021.

For subscribers: Want to know the top crimes in your county? FDLE working on way to give you more detailed info than in past

What is FL Track-Kit?

When a sex crime is reported, the survivor may be examined by a registered nurse or doctor who will conduct an exam, which includes checking for injuries and collecting evidence.

A person undergoing an examination has the right to keep the exam confidential and have an advocate from a certified rape crisis center present, according to state law. The person may also say no to any part of the exam at any point.

The kit must be submitted to a crime lab within 30 days and tested within 120 days.

FDLE's database is a statewide online tracking system in which sexual-assault survivors are able to monitor where their kit is and the status of its processing.

Survivors may also decide whether or not they want to be notified if a DNA match for a possible suspect is found in connection to their kit, FDLE spokeswoman Gretl Plessinger said in a news release Thursday.

State had significant backlog of untested rape kits

At the beginning of 2016, FDLE released a study that revealed there were at least 13,000 untested kits statewide.

As a result, the state legislature in 2016 approved funding to go toward eliminating the backlog of untested cases. The Attorney General's Office also worked at that time with state lawmakers, assault survivors, prosecutors and law enforcement to secure $2.3 million to go toward more testing, higher wages for lab analysts and new and upgraded equipment.

Over the next three years, more than 8,000 kits in the backlog were processed, resulting in over 1,800 hits in the Combined DNA Index System, more commonly known as CODIS.

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With CODIS, law enforcement agencies are able to electronically compare DNA profiles, potentially linking crimes and known offenders, according to FDLE.

Crime scene tape

What is Gail's Law?

The bill, HB 673, dubbed Gail's Law, was signed into law in 2021 with unanimous support from the Legislature.

The law required that FDLE create a statewide tracking system for sexual-assault evidence kits, so that survivors could follow it from the point of collection through the justice system.

The bill built upon existing law requiring law enforcement agencies to submit kits from reporting survivors for testing in a crime lab within 30 days and complete the testing within 120 days.

The bill was named after Gail Gardner.

Gardner was sexually assaulted in 1988, and the kit connected to her case sat untested for more than 30 years.

Once her kit was tested, Gardner learned her attacker, George Girtman, was a serial rapist serving a life sentence.

Girtman was nicknamed the "Malibu Rapist" following a string of sexual batteries in the '80s and '90s in the Malibu Homes neighborhood in Orlando, crimes for which he was sentenced to life.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Sexual assault kits now tracked statewide in Florida. What to know
As the country continues to move past the pandemic era, AAA is forecasting this summer to be one of the busiest summers of travel in recent years.

More than 42 million Americans are expected to travel this coming Memorial Day, according to AAA, which is a 7% increase over 2022.

This is expected to be the third busiest Memorial Day weekend since 2000, when AAA started tracking holiday travel, Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel, stated in a news release. More Americans are planning trips and booking them earlier, despite inflation. This summer travel season could be one for the record books, especially at airports.

With so many people traveling, airport delays and cancellations will be a genuine concern for millions of Americans, including Boise Airport. A delayed or canceled flight can seem like one of the biggest hindrances when youre looking to enjoy a quick weekend away with friends and family, but its far from the only issue.

Overbooked flights, unexpected overnight stays and lost luggage are all potential weekend-ruiners, but you do have consumer protection rights. If you find yourself in a challenging situation at the airport, here are your rights as a customer and potential solutions to airport-related problems.

Your flight is delayed, canceled or youve been bumped

One of the most common problems at an airport is arriving just to find your flight has been delayed, canceled, or in some instances, that youve been bumped to a different flight.

Issues such as bad weather and air traffic delays are hard to predict for airlines; therefore, customers arent entitled to a refund or compensation for a delay, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. The department does encourage customers to ask airline staff if the airline would pay for meals or a hotel room if a lengthy delay is expected.

Airlines must also provide passengers with information on a change in flight status at least seven days before the flight. Once youre within the seven-day window, the only thing that will delay or cancel your flight is unforeseeable circumstances.

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A sign indicates the status of the intrastate flight to Pullman at the Boise Airport on Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022. The Boise Airport has a list of five destinations it is prioritizing for future routes, including Orlando, Honolulu, New York City-area airports, Boston and Anchorage, plus Idaho intrastate airports.

Alaska Airlines spokesperson Bobby Egan previously told the Idaho Statesman that the best thing a person can do before arriving at the airport is to check the status of their flight before they head to the airport, and then if they need to make a change, do that online on the (airline) website.

Boise Airport keeps a live tracker of flights on its website.

If your flight is canceled, most airlines will offer to re-book you on the next available flight, according to the Department of Transportation. If you choose not to re-book the flight, you will be entitled to compensation for the flight and any baggage fees you paid.

There is also the possibility that an airline will bump you to a different flight. Airlines often overbook flights presuming that there will be some no-shows. More often than not, the airline is correct, and no one is impacted, but sometimes the airline will have to bump passengers to a later flight.

Bumping is a legal practice, and passengers can voluntarily choose to be bumped for incentives such as a reduced rate ticket and even a free ticket. The airline can involuntarily bump passengers if no one volunteers and is required to offer compensation to the bumped passenger, according to the Department of Transportation.

Airlines must give a bumped passenger a written copy of their rights and explain why the carrier decided to bump someone. Passengers can also not be involuntarily bumped if they have already checked in for their flight or have already had their boarding pass accepted by a gate agent.

Your luggage is lost, delayed or damaged

Under U.S. Department of Transportation regulations, airlines must compensate passengers if their baggage is lost, delayed or damaged.

Airlines are responsible for negotiating a compensation fee for damaged baggage, while lost or delayed baggage also falls under the airlines responsibility to find. Any missing or delayed baggage should be filed under a baggage claim with the airline.

Airlines cannot set an arbitrary daily amount for however long your baggage is lost, such as $50 a day, according to the Department. If a bag is deemed lost  typically between five and fourteen days after the flight  the airline is responsible for compensating you up to the maximum liability limit of $3,800.

Travelers wait for their luggage at the carousels in the Boise Airport on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021.

Unplanned overnight stay

If your flight is canceled and you are stranded at the airport, you may need somewhere to stay.

Airlines are not required to provide any compensation for hotel rooms or additional costs after canceling your flight, according to the Department of Transportation. These incidental expenses, such as rental cars, hotel accommodations, or meals now needed due to a delayed or canceled flight, are not the responsibility of the airlines.

Some airlines may offer hotel or rental car vouchers and reschedule your flight, but legally they do not owe you any additional services, compensation, or assistance.

There are 16 hotels in close proximity to Boise Airport, including a Best Western, Comfort Inn & Suites and Rodeway Inn.

If you are stuck in an airport, the Travel Channel has a few tips for staying the night:

Consider staying at a nearby or onsite hotel or using a sleep pod.

Consider paying to visit an airline lounge.

Avoid luggage getting stolen by checking luggage into the airports luggage storage.

Sleep with bags close to you and the most valuable possessions on your person or nearest to you.

Sleep near other people, not in an isolated spot in the airport.

Overbooked airport rental cars

Car rental companies overbook their rentals like some airlines and hotels do in order to guarantee they will have most of their cars, rooms, or seats occupied.

According to Hertz, A reservation for a vehicle rental is a notation in Hertzs records that you have expressed the desire and intention to rent a vehicle, the car rental companys website states.

Rental car companies usually reserve the right to cancel your reservation, even if you have already paid to secure the car. According to Budget Rent a Cars terms and conditions, Budget reserves the right to rescind the Rental Agreement, even if we have already accepted your reservation and/or received your payment. Our liability in that event will be limited to the return of any money that you have paid with respect to the reservation.

If your car rental company is out of cars, ask them what they can do for you and get as much of a refund as possible. The company may offer to pay for a taxi and deliver a rental car to you once it becomes available. Other rental companies may have vehicles available as well.

If you are dissatisfied with the service of a rental car company, you can file a complaint to the Better Business Bureau. The BBB also recommends to keep receipts and watch your credit card bill for any unexpected charges.

Cars unload travelers at the arrivals drop-off at the Boise Airport on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021.

For those who plan to drive to Boise Airport and keep their car there over the weekend, the airport has partnered with The Car Park to offer a curbside valet service.

The valet drop-off point is at the east end of the upper-level departure curb.
A former employee of Rudy Giuliani is suing him for $10 million over allegations of sexual assault and harassment, wage theft and other misconduct, including several instances that were recorded, according to a complaint filed Monday.

Noelle Dunphy, the employee bringing the lawsuit, was hired by the former New York City mayor and Trump lawyer in January 2019.

From the start, Giuliani worked aggressively to hire her, offering her a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work for an annual salary of $1 million as his director of business development, Dunphy alleges.

It was an opportunity that was too good to pass up, according to the filing. But the offers were a sham, motivated by Giulianis desire to pursue a sexual relationship with Dunphy, and the abuse began almost immediately, she alleges.

The 70-page filing details multiple instances of sexual harassment and assault, including accusations that Giuliani forced Dunphy to perform oral sex on him in his Upper East Side apartment, and while he took phone calls. Giuliani aggressively pursued a sexual relationship with Dunphy, the filing says, and made clear that satisfying his sexual demands was a requirement of her job. He continually pressured her into sex, and was unconcerned about whether Dunphy had given consent, the complaint says.

Giuliani did not respond to requests for comment, but a spokesperson told The Associated Press that the former mayor "vehemently" denied the allegations.

Mayor Giulianis lifetime of public service speaks for itself, and he will pursue all available remedies and counterclaims, Giulianis communications adviser, Ted Goodman, told the AP.

In addition to his sexual demands, Giuliani went on alcohol-drenched rants that included sexist, racist, and antisemitic remarks, many of which were recorded, according to the filing.

Dunphy also alleges in the complaint that Giuliani put her in charge of his email, giving her access to highly sensitive information, including correspondence between Giuliani and then-President Donald Trump, as well as several Trump advisers.

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According to the lawsuit, Giuliani also told Dunphy he was able to break laws because he had immunity, and he claimed he was selling pardons for $2 million, money he and Trump would split.

Giuliani also repeatedly told Dunphy not to speak with the FBI, the lawsuit alleges. When she told Giuliani that FBI agents had visited her familys home in Florida looking to question her, he demanded she not speak to or cooperate with them, and claimed that one or two of the agents were going to get totally destroyed.

The complaint, filed in New York state court, names Giuliani, his companies and 10 unidentified individuals in New York.
Lueders spent 31 years at NASA before leaving the agency in April 2023.

Following her retirement from NASA, Kathy Lueders may be joining the dark side of the spaceflight industry. SpaceX reportedly hired the former head of NASAs human spaceflight office in a move that could grant the company more capability and credibilityahead of its attempt to land astronauts on the Moon.

Lueders stepped down from her position as associate administrator of the Human Exploration and Operations (HEO) Mission Directorate in April. This week, CNBC reported that the former NASA chief will join SpaceX as a general manager, according to anonymous sources.

Read more

At SpaceX, Lueders will reportedly oversee the companys development of its Starship rocket, preparing it to carry a crew to the Moons surface as early as 2025 for NASAs Artemis 3 mission. Based on the CNBC report, Lueders will work at SpaceXs Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, and report directly to SpaceX president and COO Gwynne Shotwell.

During her time at NASA, Lueders worked closely with SpaceX as part of the companys Cargo and Crew Dragon missions to the International Space Station (ISS). She oversaw the development of NASAs ongoing partnership with SpaceX, through which the company has launched six crews to the space station thus far. Lueders is credited for being among the NASA officials who pushed for public-private contracts, shifting the space agency towards using commercial spacecraft to launch its astronauts; the move helped the space agency cut costs when it came to building and owning its own launch vehicles and spacecraft.

As a NASA official, Lueders also selected Starship for a $2.89 billion contract to use the megarocket in landing humans on the Moon for the Artemis 3 mission, and then again for Artemis 4 in 2028, under a separate $1.15 billion contract signed last year.

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SpaceX has transported astronauts to the ISS and back, but carrying a crew of astronauts to land on the Moon is much more challenging. The company is relying on its Starship rocket, which has so far undergone one fully-integrated test flight that ended in an explosion. Following the rockets disintegration in the skies, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson dismissed concerns regarding the SpaceX rocket, reassuring that Starship would be capable of delivering astronauts to the surface of the Moon in two years time.

The Federal Aviation Administration has grounded Starship pending an ongoing investigation into its explosion and there is looming doubt surrounding SpaceXs ability to get its giant rocket off the ground again soon.

As it prepares its Starship rocket for the Moon, SpaceXs Lueders hire might be exactly what the company needs right now. Lueders had been with NASA for more than 30 years, accumulating a heap of experience in the spaceflight field. She will undoubtedly serve as the trusted source for spaceflight knowledge that SpaceX could use to help it gain more credibility with its government customers, including NASA. Her contributions could also boost the Starship program, but only time will tell.

SpaceX has scouted NASA officials before, namely Lueders successor William Gerstenmaier, who served as the agencys associate administrator for Human Exploration and Operations between 2005 and 2019 before joining SpaceX in 2020, according to CNBC. Gerstenmaier is now the companys vice president of its Build and Flight Reliability organization.

Lueders joining the SpaceX team is definitely an asset to the company. Whether or not SpaceX will have its Starship rocket ready for liftoff to the Moon in a just a few years time, that remains to be seen.

For more spaceflight in your life, follow us on Twitter and bookmark Gizmodos dedicated Spaceflight page.





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Donald Trump and John Bolton. Evan Vucci/Associated Press

Ex-National Security Advisor John Bolton said world leaders saw Trump as a "laughing fool" on CNN.

Bolton rejected Trump's claims that he could have stopped Russia's invasion of Ukraine had he won reelection.

"The idea that somehow his presence in office would have deterred Putin is flatly wrong," he said.

Former National Security Advisor John Bolton on Tuesday said that foreign leaders saw former President Donald Trump as a "laughing fool" and rejected his ex-boss's claims that he could have stopped Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine had he still been in office last year.

During an interview on "CNN This Morning," Bolton  an experienced diplomat and defense hawk who served under Trump from April 2018 to September 2019  pushed back against assertions that the former president made about Ukraine last week as he participated in the network's controversial town hall. While speaking with journalist Kaitlan Collins, Trump said that Russia would not have invaded Ukraine had he been in the Oval Office and also said that he could "settle" the conflict in 24 hours if voters send him back to office  both highly questionable claims for a war the US is not a direct participant in.

Bolton, while speaking with Collins and journalist Poppy Harlow, quickly rejected such talk.

"Trump has this impression that foreign leaders, especially adversaries, hold him in high regard  that he's got a good relationship with Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un," Bolton said of the leaders of China, Russia, and North Korea, respectively.

"In fact, the exact opposite is true," he continued. "I have been in those rooms with him when he met with those leaders. I believe they think he's a laughing fool and the idea that somehow his presence in office would have deterred Putin is flatly wrong."

Bolton then said that if Trump had won reelection in 2020, the former president's push to weaken NATO would have aided Russia in their quest to take over Ukraine.

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"If anything, if Trump had won a second term and done what I think he intended to do which is get out of NATO, Putin would have just waited and let him do it," he said. "Even the weakening of NATO would have it made a lot easier for the Russians to have prevailed."

Bolton, who served as US ambassador to the United Nations under former President George W. Bush, has been a huge critic of Trump since leaving the administration. The diplomat, while on CBS News just last month, said that it was a "big mistake, politically" for the GOP to continue aligning itself with Trump headed into 2024.

Read the original article on Business Insider
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A former Green Beret who traveled to Ukraine to help train troops there has been killed in Bakhmut, his family has confirmed.

Nick Maimer, an Idaho man and 20-year military veteran, had been teaching English in Europe last year when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Russias notorious Wagner Group on Monday boasted about killing Maimer in fierce fighting in Bakhmut, and his death was later confirmed by his family to The Idaho Statesman.

Maimers uncle, Paul, identified the body seen in a video shared by Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin as that of his nephew.

He persevered through a lot in his life. I had the utmost respect for him. A lot of people can learn from who he was and what he had accomplished in his short life. In 45 years, he lived a lot. He went over there as a humanitarian trying to do good for this world, Paul Maimer told the Statesman.

While watching the horror unfold during the first days of the war, Maimer told the Idaho Statesman hed felt a calling to help Ukrainians defend themselves against one of the most clear-cut unjust invasions in recent history.

He arrived in Ukraine in May 2022, and according to a video he posted on Facebook, he set out not to take part in combat, but to help train Ukrainian troops.

I was in Poland when the war started, and because I am a retired soldier with a lot of experience- I did over 20 years-I knew I could come help them. But I didnt necessarily want to fight, because I have a lot of specific training on training foreign militaries, he said in a video shared on Facebook.

In a later update on his work training Ukrainian troops, he said he was looking forward to lots of good things, lots of good work to be done, hopefully saving lives.

He cautioned against American indifference to the war, noting that the bloodshed and violence is not happening to someone else, its happening to our fellow humans.

Maimers aunt, Cheri, told The Daily Beast the family supported his traveling to Ukraine to help them fend off Russian forces.

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She said it had been difficult to keep in close touch with him given his location, but that the family had made a point to check his Facebook profile to make sure he was still active and alive.

Another aunt, Heidi Maimer, told The Daily Beast that he was a great guy who cared deeply about his community.

Im a teacher and the kids called him snake guy because he had a lot of reptiles, Heidi Maimer said. He would bring his six foot snake boa constrictor to the classroom and he touched the lives of a lot of kids. He volunteered his time and always gave back to the community. He was a passionate human being and a great guy.

Upon first arriving in Ukraine, Maimer had briefly linked up with the Mozart Group, a private military company made up of Western volunteers with military experience.

After that, Maimer began working with a nonprofit group offering help with evacuations and supplies for Ukraine, AFGFree. The founder of that group, Perry Blackburn, a retired lieutenant colonel, told the Statesman hed reached out to Maimer to invite him to help with training for Ukraines Territorial Defense Force.

The two put together a training program they hoped Ukrainian commanders would soon begin implementing for new recruits, with Blackburn describing Maimer as the leader of that program last June.

Blackburn told the Statesman that Maimer had been providing firsthand training to Ukrainian troops when he got caught behind enemy lines in Bakhmut.

Its just a crazy, crazy time right now. And then having Nick die over there, its just brutal, he said.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Russias Federal Security Service arrested and charged Robert Shonov, identified as a former employee of the U.S. Embassy in Russia, with conspiracy, Russian state-owned news agency TASS reported Monday.

The U.S. State Department on Tuesday said it "strongly condemns the reported arrest of Robert Shonov, a former employee of U.S. Mission Russia."

"The allegations against Mr. Shonov are wholly without merit," the State Department said. "Mr. Shonov is a Russian national who was employed by the U.S. Consulate General in Vladivostok for more than 25 years. Following the Russian governments April 2021 order forcing termination of all local staff employed at the U.S. Mission to Russia, Mr. Shonov was employed by a company contracted to provide services to U.S. Embassy in Moscow in strict compliance with Russias laws and regulations."

"Like any diplomatic mission in the world  including Russias Mission to the United States  the U.S. Embassy contracts for local services to operate its diplomatic mission. Mr. Shonovs only role at the time of his arrest was to compile media summaries of press items from publicly available Russian media sources," the statement added. "His being targeted under the confidential cooperation statute highlights the Russian Federations blatant use of increasingly repressive laws against its own citizens."

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State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel also addressed Shonov's arrest during a news briefing Tuesday.

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"He is a Russian citizen, and so we were not notified of his arrest and do not have the ability to visit or communicate with him," Patel said. "His targeting under the confidential cooperation statute highlights that the Russian Federation's blatant use of the increasingly repressive legislation against its own citizens. It's quite stark and deeply concerning, but I'm just not going to get ahead of this. Beyond that, as this continues to be an evolving situation."

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A pro-Kremlin protester outside the U.S. Embassy in Moscow on March 18, 2023. Russia state media reported a former embassy employee was arrested.

"I'm not going to get into the specifics of the channels that we are working to secure the release of wrongfully detained American citizens, Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan. We have no higher priority than securing their release, and we continue to work this from all angles," Patel added. "It's something that the president is engaged in. And Secretary Blinken, Ambassador Carstens and others in both of those cases, we continue to push for consistent and regular consular access that is in line with Russia's consular conventions."

TASS quoted an unnamed law enforcement source as having said Shonov had been detained in Vladivostok, a major Pacific port city in Russia near the borders with China and North Korea.

After questioning, Shonov was placed under arrest and charged with committing a crime "under Article 275.1 of the Criminal Code (collaboration on a confidential basis with a foreign state or international or foreign organization)," the source reportedly said. He was taken to Lefortovo Prison in Moscow for further questioning.

TASS reported that he could face up to eight years in prison and no court date has been scheduled.

At a previous press briefing Monday, Patel told members of the media that he had seen the report.

Robert Shonov, identified as a former employee of the U.S. Embassy in Russia, was reportedly brought to the Lefortovo prison in Moscow.

"I dont have anything additional to offer at this time," Patel said, according to the New York Times.

Lefortovo prison, where American journalist Evan Gershkovich has been jailed on espionage charges, dates from the czarist era and has been a terrifying symbol of repression since Soviet times. The inconspicuous, pale yellow complex in eastern Moscow was built as a military penitentiary in 1881 and was used for low-ranking convicts sentenced to relatively short terms. It gained its notoriety after the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution, when it became a top detention facility for the Soviet secret police.

Under Soviet leader Josef Stalins Great Terror of mass arrests in the 1930s, Lefortovo was one of the main pre-trial detention facilities for "enemies of the people," equipped with torture chambers to extract confessions. Stalins sadistic secret police chief, Lavrentiy Beria, personally took part in some prisoner interrogations and executions in its basement.

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Vasily Blyukher, one of the highest-ranking Red Army officers, was among those who died in 1938 after being tortured in Lefortovo.

Even though it was formally transferred to Justice Ministry jurisdiction in 2005, the Federal Security Service, the top KGB successor agency that is known under its acronym FSB, has maintained de facto control of the facility, according to The Associated Press.

A former employee of the U.S. Embassy in Russia is reportedly being held at the notorious Lefortovo prison in Moscow, according to Russian state media.

Paul Whelan, a Michigan corporate security executive and a former Marine, was held in Lefortovo after his arrest in 2018 on espionage charges that his family and the U.S. government have said are baseless. After his conviction in 2020, Whelan was transferred to another prison to serve his 16-year sentence.

Lefortovos trademark is holding its prisoners in "total information isolation," Yevgeny Smirnov, a prominent lawyer who has defended espionage and treason suspects, told the AP.

Nicholas Daniloff, a Moscow correspondent for U.S. News and World Report, was put in Lefortovo after his 1986 arrest on bogus espionage accusations. He was released without charge 20 days later in a swap for an employee of the Soviet Unions U.N. mission who was arrested by the FBI on spying charges.

Gershkovich, a 31-year-old reporter for The Wall Street Journal, is the first American reporter to be arrested on espionage charges in Russia since Daniloff. The Journal denied the allegations and demanded Gershkovichs release.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A former employee of the U.S. Embassy in Russia has been arrested and charged with conspiracy, according to the Russian state-run news agency TASS.

Robert Shonov was reportedly detained in Vladivostok and charged with collaboration on a confidential basis with a foreign state or international or foreign organization, TASS reported.

Shonov, who faces up to eight years in prison, was taken to Moscows Lefortovo detention center.

Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter who has been detained in Russia since March on espionage charges, is also currently being held at Lefortovo, according to The New York Times.

The State Department officially labeled Gershkovich as as wrongfully detained last month, as both the Biden administration and the Wall Street Journal have rejected the claims that the reporter was spying.

Former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan also spent time in Lefortovo ahead of his 2020 trial, where he was sentenced to 16 years in prison on espionage charges, the Times reported. Whelan, who is also considered wrongfully detained, has spent more than four years detained in Russia.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Perhaps more than any other expression of our changing climate, Californians are acquainted with wildfire. Thats whether they have lost a home, evacuated one, witnessed the apocalyptic day in 2020 when the sun never came out, or simply had to cancel plans.

Who is to blame? Worsening wildfires in the Western U.S. have been definitively linked to climate change for years, and now scientists are drawing a measurable connection between acres burned and carbon emissions released by the worlds largest fossil fuel companies.

A new study released Tuesday by the Union of Concerned Scientists, a national science advocacy organization, linked emissions from the worlds major fossil fuel producers to 37% of acres burned by wildfire in the North American west between 1986 and 2021.

Those emissions, researchers say, are also responsible for nearly half the atmospheric conditions drying out California forests. They hope these findings translate into corporate accountability for damages wrought by past and future disasters.

This is the first study that we know of in the world that attributes wildfire impacts from climate change to specific fossil fuel producers and cement manufacturers, said Kristina Dahl, Union of Concerned Scientists researcher and the studys leading author.

I hope that this helps to shift the narrative for the general public and for our policymakers in California toward one in which we broaden out our view of corporate responsibility for wildfires.

Between 2017 and 2021, Californians experienced more than 45,000 wildfires that burned a total of more than 9.5 million acres  including the states eight largest wildfires on record  and cost $25 billion in suppression response and economic damage.

The 2018 fire season alone destroyed more than 22,000 structures and caused damages exceeding $140 billion, not to mention worsened air quality and particulate matter that disproportionately harmed the health of low-income communities.

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While the state is making progress addressing wildfire risk, the studies authors said, more resilience is needed. And to date, the general public has been left footing the bill for these disasters.

Fuels behind fires

To conduct the study titled The Fossil Fuels behind Forest Fires, scientists used a measure of airs thirstiness for plant and soil moisture, called vapor pressure deficit, to connect fossil fuel emissions to increasing wildfire intensity.

Studies have shown that a rapid jump in vapor pressure deficit in the western U.S. contributed to increases in the frequency and severity of wildfires, as well as the type of prolonged megadrought California experienced over the last decade.

Researchers asked what role fossil fuel companies played in this trend by looking at regional and global temperatures with and, hypothetically, without emissions of the worlds 88 top fossil fuel producers  a list of coal, oil, natural gas and cement companies.

Those companies range from household names such as Chevron, Exxon and BP to state-owned and government-run firms. The study was published in the Environmental Research Letters journal this week.

Using observed data and statistical models, they found that the influence of these companies emissions accounted for 48% of the increase in vapor pressure deficit since 1901 and 37% of the cumulative burned area from California to New Mexico and up to southwestern Canada since 1986.

In a statement, Kevin Slagle, vice president of strategic communications at the Western States Petroleum Organization, downplayed the scientists findings and called for collaboration toward a common cause.

We all want the same thing: affordable, reliable and ever-cleaner energy and fuels, he said. A press release from a well-funded activist group with a long history of attacking energy industries is unhelpful to the serious and realistic climate and energy policy discussions needed to get us there.

Measuring uncertainty

At the root of the study, Dahl said, is the question of who should be held responsible for the impacts of our intensifying climate. She said individuals often wrongly bear the burden despite never having been offered alternatives to gasoline cars and gas stoves.

Oil giants such as Exxon predicted global warming with scientific accuracy internally since the 1970s, Dahl said, and then spent decades publicly smearing the same science. She said people might understand that were living in a reality influenced by fossil fuel companies, but havent connected it to our lived experience of wildfire.

Pacific Gas and Electric has borne the brunt of Californians pursuit of accountability, having been found guilty for sparking some of the states largest wildfires and neglecting to maintain their equipment over decades. But she said responsibility should extend beyond the utility.

There is this much bigger set of corporate actors that have shaped our climate, such that a spark from PG&ES equipment can turn into a nearly million-acre wildfire, Dahl said. So I hope that people in California start to see that we need to be demanding broader accountability.

Comprehensive or not, advocates hope this type of research leads public officials and individuals to demand accountability from fossil fuel companies as questions arise about who will pay for efforts to decarbonize the economy and respond to climate disasters.

But like any scientific research, the study has limitations. Its authors noted that the analysis does not account for the legacy of fire suppression, prohibition of indigenous burning and increased likelihood of humans starting remote fires.

Anthony LeRoy Westerling, a professor of applied climatology at UC Merced, said a more comprehensive model that included factors such as drastic changes in precipitation would find that fossil fuel emissions are connected to a vastly higher percentage of wildfire damage.

Id say 100%... They are ignoring parts that they dont have enough data to quantify properly, he said. Its difficult to create these models. But if I was a betting man, nobodys going to be saying oh yeah, 48% of that increase was from greenhouse gas emissions effecting vapor pressure deficit 50 years from now.
Tree in wildfire. chuchart duangdaw/Getty Images

Approximately 37% of the total area burned by wildfires in the western U.S. and Canada can be attributed to the emissions produced by the top 88 fossil fuel producers and cement companies, according to a report by the Union of Concerned Scientists published in the journal Environmental Research Letters.

The study also found these companies' emissions "contributed to nearly half of the increase in drought- and fire-danger conditions across the region since 1901." Cement companies alone produce close to 7% of global carbon dioxide emissions, per CNN. "We hope that people who are in communities that have been affected by wildfires will see this work and think about whether they want to hold these companies accountable," remarked study lead author Kristina Dahl.

Fossil fuels are the top cause of climate change globally and have singlehandedly raised the average global temperature by 0.5 degrees Celsius since the early 1900s, CNN continued. "We know that many of these companies have known for decades about the consequences of climate change," study co-author Carly Phillips told CNN. "But instead of sharing that information with the public, they engaged in this deliberate misinformation campaign to deceive the general public and cast doubt on climate science."

"The study takes what we know about the strong relationship between climate and burned area, and extends this understanding to the role of big fossil fuel emitters," explained Caroline Juang, a researcher with the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University, to CNN. Jatan Buch, a research scientist at the same observatory added, "The continued greenhouse gas emissions due to these companies' products in the late 20th century resulted in loading the dice for the western U.S. climate toward a hotter and drier future with a higher likelihood of catastrophic wildfires."

Editor's note: The original version of this article contained inaccurate statistics and has since been corrected. We regret the error.

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On a sandy lot below a Khartoum apartment building, helmetless Sudanese soldiers in a mishmash of uniforms raised their fists as machine gunners blasted away from atop two small trucks.It was another day in a war which has not stopped for more than a month, and continued Wednesday, as the UN reported that more than 50 percent of the country's people needs aid."Today, 25 million people -- more than half the population of Sudan -- needs humanitarian aid and protection," Ramesh Rajasingham, head of the UN humanitarian agency's Geneva bureau, told reporters there."That is the highest number we have ever seen in the country," where one in three already relied on assistance before the war and millions had been displaced by previous conflicts.Around 1,000 people have been killed, mainly in and around Khartoum as well as the long-troubled western region of Darfur.Nearly a million others have been displaced by the battles between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who leads the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).Analysts say neither side has been able to seize an advantage on the battlefield, which played out in one part of Khartoum on Tuesday.- Smoke mars a clear sky -In front of the five-storey apartment building, some soldiers stood casually with rocket-propelled grenade launchers and another danced about with a belt-fed machine gun on ground that appeared littered with dozens of spent large-calibre shell casings.Soldiers shouted as machine guns spewed fire from atop a pickup truck, a small armoured car, and a tank beside some trees near a billboard for a car showroom.The clear blue sky was marred only by faint dark smoke rising behind them.In other parts of the capital, long mounds of dirt are piled beside roads where military trenches have been dug.With bullets flying, Rajasingham said millions remained confined to their homes, unable to access basic services and health care.More than 5,000 people have been injured.In Africa's third-largest country, many areas remain untouched by the fighting but still suffer its effects, with soaring prices and shortages of fuel."Petrol is not available now and the price has increased on the black market. People can't transport their vegetables," said Abu Bakr Abdullah, 27, a farmer in River Nile state.Another farmer, Qamar al-Bashir, 52, complained that four years have passed since longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir was toppled but "they have not been able to form a government".A coup in 2021 by Burhan and Daglo derailed a fragile transition to civilian rule."Enough!" said the farmer. "You can't move the country forward, do you move it backwards? And at the end you take us to war for your own personal interests."They "are losers", all of them, he said.Last Thursday the warring sides signed in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, a commitment to respect humanitarian principles and allow in badly needed aid."However, reports of attacks continued and, on 12 May, violence in El Geneina reportedly escalated," a UN report said.Toby Harward, of the UN's refugee agency, reported an "extremely disturbing" situation in El Geneina, the West Darfur capital.- Looting, destruction -Hundreds of civilians have been killed in militia attacks on residential areas and street battles between "community-aligned forces". There has also been looting and destruction at markets, camps for displaced people, and other locations, he wrote on Twitter.In Khartoum North, a factory that produced food to treat malnourished children burned down, according to the UN children's fund.Still, Rajasingham voiced hope the Jeddah agreement was having some effect.He said fighters had pulled back from some of the health facilities previously occupied, and highlighted an uptick in aid deliveries."We do need much more," he said.Much more money is needed too.The UN said $2.56 billion is now expected to be required to provide assistance for 18 million people inside Sudan. That is up from the $1.75 billion estimated at the end of last year.An additional $470.4 million would be needed to assist those fleeing the country, the UN's refugee agency said, adding that it was now planning for up to 1.1 million people to cross out of Sudan this year alone.Just two weeks ago, the UNHCR had said it would need $445 million through October to address the needs of as many as 860,000 people who might flee the country."The crisis in Sudan is rapidly evolving into a regional crisis," Rajasingham said.Sudan's war is expected to be a major agenda item during the Arab League summit on Friday in Saudi Arabia.Heavyweights in the pan-Arab bloc are divided on Sudan, with Egypt supporting Burhan and the United Arab Emirates, according to experts, seen to be backing the RSF.bur/it/dv
Paris has condemned Russia's latest massive missile attack on Ukraine on the night of 15-16 May.

Source: statement of the French Foreign Ministry

Paris strongly condemns the intensive strike with the use of various types of missiles and drones, aimed mainly at Kyiv.

"These strikes were once again deliberately directed against civilian targets, which is a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, and indicates Russia's intentions to continue escalating its aggressive war against Ukraine... Such actions are war crimes and cannot go unpunished," the statement said.

Paris promises to continue supporting the Ukrainian authorities involved in relevant investigations, as well as the investigation of the International Criminal Court.

"As the President of the Republic reiterated yesterday, France will continue to help Ukraine resist this illegal aggression, both in the military and humanitarian dimensions," the French Foreign Ministry added.

Background:

On the night of 15-16 May, the Russian Federation attacked Ukraine with 18 missiles of various types, all of which were destroyed by the defence forces; the list of projectiles fired by the Russians included six Kinzhal missiles, the interception of which was considered almost impossible until recently.

The debris of downed missiles fell in several Kyivs districts, including the territory of the local zoo; several buses burned down.

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Riad Salameh has been running Lebanon's central bank since 1993

A French investigating magistrate on Tuesday issued an international arrest warrant for Lebanon's central bank chief Riad Salameh, a source close to the case said.

Salameh earlier failed to appear for questioning by French investigators who want to know how he amassed sizeable assets across Europe, his lawyer said.

The investigators suspect Salameh of building his network of real estate and banking assets with the help of a complex fraudulent financial system and extensive misuse of Lebanese public funds during his three decades as central bank boss.

Tuesday's hearing would have been an opportunity to press charges against him.

His lawyer, Pierre-Olivier Sur, told AFP that the summons had been sent too close to the day and was therefore "invalid".

A Lebanese legal source told AFP this week that the authorities there had failed to serve Salameh with the summons, despite four attempts by police to deliver it to the central bank.

After Salameh failed to show Tuesday, the magistrate in charge of the case had the option of issuing a fresh summons, but instead decided to issue an international warrant for his arrest.

Salameh, 72, who has been under investigation in France since July 2021, rejects the accusations.

Since the start of the year, magistrates from European countries have travelled to Lebanon on three occasions to interview the central banker and his entourage.

At least two people have been charged in connection with the case in France.

"One day or another he will be arrested," said William Bourdon, a French activist lawyer who represents two associations among the plaintiffs.

But, Bourdon added, Salameh was benefitting from "systematic obstruction by some Lebanese magistrates, in complete contradiction to their obligations towards France".

Salameh's lawyer rejected Tuesday's issuing of a warrant.

"I see this purely and simply as an abuse of power," Sur said.

The implications of the arrest warrant were not immediately clear.

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Lebanon does not extradite its nationals.

Salameh could meanwhile risk arrest when travelling to other countries.

In March 2022, France, Germany and Luxembourg froze assets worth 120 million euros ($130 million) believed to belong to Salameh.

The Paris appeals court is to examine later this month whether the French part of the seizures was carried out legally.

Salameh has run Lebanon's central bank since 1993.

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Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Emmanuel Macron

Macron said Frances strategy is to help Ukraine prepare for the counter-offensive to be able to bring everyone back to the negotiating table and build a lasting peace for (Ukraine) on terms of her own choosing.

He said that Paris had already transferred many weapons to Kyiv, including Caesar self-propelled guns, ammunition and armored vehicles.

The French president emphasized that his country would send other equipment, other ammunition, other missiles that have a range enabling Ukraine to resist Russian aggression and conduct a counterattack.

Read also: Macron says France ready to train Ukrainian pilots

However, he did not specify the characteristics of the new weapons.

We arent waging a war with Russia, were helping Ukraine resist Russian aggression, Macron said.

This means that we dont supply weapons that can reach Russian land or attack Russia. We arent undermining Frances ability to defend itself either.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Paris in the evening of May 14 to meet with his French counterpart 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.

France will also provide aid in air defense and training for Ukrainian military pilots and tank crews.

Read also: France and Ukraine urge Russia to withdraw from Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Freeway Phantom, a Jay Ellis-produced podcast investigating the 1970s serial murders of six Black girls in Washington, D.C., is set to premiere Wednesday.

In a show clip shared with Blavity exclusively, bestselling author and host Celeste Headlee sits down with Romaine Jenkins, a Washington native who worked the case, to uncover lost details about the incidents, hoping they will lead to the killer.

Between 1971 and 1972, six Black girls ranging in age from 10 to 18  Carol Spinks, Darlenia Johnson, Brenda Crockett, Nenomoshia Yates, Brenda Woodard and Diane Williams  went missing in the D.C. area, and the killer later discarded their bodies alongside local highways. The culprit didnt exactly hide in the shadows following the incidents. Instead, they teased and taunted police and the victims families with harrowing notes and phone calls claiming responsibility for the crimes.

Its been over 50 years since the young girls deaths, and authorities still havent brought their killer to justice.

Freeway Phantom aims to change that. The 10-part series will share the stories of each victim and explore newfound evidence that may play a key role in holding someone accountable for the deaths. Jenkins will play an integral role in the series. In the clip, Headlee explains the retired detective has the largest collection of documents on the Freeway Phantom case.

The amount of information we came across was astounding, Headlee declares. She had crime scene photos, original police reports, suspect lists  most of this we had never seen before.

Additionally, we can exclusively reveal that podcast producers iHeartMedia and Tenderfoot TV are doubling the existing reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the murders, matching the previous amount of up to $150,000 offered by the Metropolitan Police Department and bringing it up to $300,000.

The podcast will also explore the many factors that contributed to the Freeway Phantom case going cold: racial disparities within the criminal justice system, strategies for solving murders at the time in comparison to now, and a lack of trust between law enforcement and the Black community.

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Listen to the exclusive preview clip for the podcast below:

Tenderfoot TV  Freeway Phantom  Excusive Podcast Clip

The podcasts first two episodes will premiere Wednesday on the iHeartRadio app and across all podcast platforms. The remaining episodes will be released weekly on Wednesdays.

If you have information about the murders of Carol Spinks, Darlenia Johnson, Brenda Crockett, Nenomoshia Yates, Brenda Woodard, or Diane Williams, please get in touch with the Synchronized Operations Command Center at 202-727-9099 or email unsolved.murder@dc.gov. If youd like to contact Tenderfoot TV directly, email tips@tenderfoot.tv.
Lee Ann Eager, president and chief executive officer of the Fresno County Economic Development Corporation, has told its board of directors that she intends to retire after 14 years attracting investment to the area and working on business recruitment and retention and public policy initiatives.

She will leave the post Aug. 4, but continue to work with the EDC board to ensure a smooth leadership transition.

Im proud of what we have accomplished at the EDC and of the incredibly talented and committed people I work with every day, Eager said in a statement.

 I remain 100% committed to working closely with the board and my eventual successor for a smooth transition and to ensure the EDC continues to focus on supporting Fresno Countys growth and working with the business community to create opportunities for all.

The Fresno native has a daughter, four step-children and 12 grandchildren, according to a 2022 profile in the Capitol Weekly.

Eager, who serves on the board of the Fresno Chamber of Commerce, Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission, Fresno Regional Workforce Development Board, Access Plus Capital and California Central Valley Economic Development Corporation, was appointed to the state transportation commission in 2020 and elected as its chairperson last year.

The Fresno State graduate has been among the leading advocates in the San Joaquin valley for the development of high-speed rail, and has worked on relocation efforts for businesses displaced along the rail line to help retain jobs in the county. Eager also has been an advocate for The Central Valley Training Center on Fresno City Colleges West Campus, which is to offer classes in construction, manufacturing, information technology and welding in an underserved area in the county.

Lee Ann has been an outstanding leader of the EDC for close to 14 years, EDC chairman Nick Audino said. Under her leadership the EDC has tripled in size and done incredible work in the community focused on business expansion, attraction, and retention.
Fresno, long accustomed to coming in near the bottom of various national rankings despite its place as Californias fifth-largest city, has another unfortunate distinction thats unlikely to receive a place of honor at City Hall.

The Fresno metro area came in at 146th out of the 150 largest metro areas in the U.S. on U.S. News & World Reports latest version of its annual rankings of Best Places to Live. Fresno is joined by 11 other California cities  including those in the inland Central Valley region  among the 50 lowest-ranked areas in the magazines annual list.

The online magazine issued the rankings early Tuesday morning.

Only two California cities  both in the San Francisco Bay Area  ranked among the top 50 large metro areas nationwide. A total of 14 places in the state were included in the rankings.

Editors at U.S. News tapped San Jose as the 13th best place to live, while nearby San Francisco came in at No. 45 in the rankings. Both cities rankings slipped from the list released in 2022, with San Jose slipping eight spots from No. 5 and San Francisco dropped 35 places from its 10th-place spot in 2022.

The Fresno metropolitan area encompasses the entirety of Fresno County with a population of more than 1 million people, including the city of Fresno and its 500,000-plus residents.

Other California cities on the 2023 list are:

San Diego: 93rd, up 14 spots from 107th in 2022.

Santa Barbara: 124th, up two spots from 126th in 2022.

Santa Rosa: 125th, up seven spots from 132nd in 2022.

Sacramento: 127th, down five spots from 122nd in 2022.

Los Angeles: 139th, down 11 spots from 128th in 2022.

Vallejo/Fairfield: 142nd, unchanged from 2022.

Salinas: 143rd, up one spot from 144th in 2022.

Modesto: 145th, up one spot from 146th in 2022.

Fresno: 146th, down five spots from 141st in 2022.

Visalia: 147th, up one spot from 148th in 2022.

Stockton: 148th, up one spot from 149th in 2022.

Bakersfield: 149th, down two spots from 147th in 2022.

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Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer told The Fresno Bee that such rankings miss the mark when it comes to evaluating communities. I get tired of hearing people who live thousands of miles away putting a ranking on Fresnos livability, he said. They dont know what they dont know.

As Fresnos mayor, and knowing how great this city is, I dont give any credence to it, he added, and I dont think anyone else should, either.

Fresno City Council President Tyler Maxwell, whose district encompasses parts of central and east-central Fresno, concurred. Maxwell was born and raised in Fresno, and moved to the East Bay for about seven years before returning to Fresno.

I came back to Fresno because it had that a sense of communities that those cities just didnt have, Maxwell said. Where else can you find a city as big as Fresno that still has that small-town vibe to it?

What do the rankings measure?

This years rankings are a reflection of the current economic, social and natural factors that impact a places livability for its residents, said Devon Thorsby, real estate editor at U.S.News. People are considering more than housing when they look at an areas affordability  they want to know how much goods cost in that area.

The ever-present risk for severe weather and a communitys ability to recover  coupled with the areas opportunities for social activities  are also taken into account when evaluating a best place to live, Thorsby added.

Nationwide, the Wisconsin city of Green Bay topped the U.S. News rankings, followed by Huntsville, Alabama; Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina; Boulder, Colorado; and Sarasota, Florida, as the five highest-ranked places.

Rounding out the top 10 are Naples, Florida; Portland, Maine; Charlotte, North Carolina, Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Fayetteville, Arkansas.

The methodology of the rankings includes weighted evaluations of such factors as:

Quality of life: Includes crime rates, quality of education, happiness and well being, average commute times, quality and affordability of healthcare, air quality and risk of natural disasters.

Value: Includes housing affordability, household income, housing costs, and the cost of living compared to the national average.

Desirability: Includes results from a nationwide survey of about 3,500 people asking where the would most like to live; migration, weather, and restaurants/bars and events/activities as a rate per 10,000 people.

Job market: Includes unemployment rates and average salaries.

Despite low ranking, plenty of positives for Fresno

Such formulaic factors, Mayor Dyer said, miss the mark. There are things that cant be measured by some of the statistical data that they measure us by, he said.

Dyer noted that the city has experienced a 38% decline in its poverty rate over the past eight years, was cited as having the second-strongest economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and was ranked in the top 10 places for growth in worker productivity.

Wages in Fresno had the highest percentage growth in 2022 in the state, and Fresno Yosemite International Airport has seen a 122% increase in passengers compared to before the pandemic.

Dyer, who was Fresnos longtime police chief before he was elected mayor in 2020, added that the city has seen marked decreases in murders, violent crime and property crime from 2022 levels.

Dyer and Maxwell both noted Fresnos central location within California and its proximity  within a couple of hours drive  to the Pacific coast and to the forests and national parks in the Sierra Nevada range on the east side of the San Joaquin Valley.

Fresno is still one of the most affordable places to live, in one of the best states, Maxwell said. And you can get just about anywhere you need to within about 15 to 20 minutes; you cant do that in those bigger cities. I dont think those studies take that into consideration.

When you look at all of those factors, and the fact that the L.A. Times said we had the hottest real estate market in the state, Id say we are one of the best cities to live in, Dyer said. And shame on those people who would rank us otherwise.
The building of the FSB of the Russian Federation

The investigation focuses on the story of Baurzhan Kultanov, an ISIS terrorist who became disenchanted with the militants and sought refuge in Istanbul in 2014, where he applied for political asylum from the United Nations, without revealing his past.

Read also: One of Putins bodyguards defects abroad  exclusive NV interview

However, when information about his terrorist background came to light, Kultanov was arrested.

He was charged in Russia and subsequently brought back from Turkey to face the charges in 2015.

Upon arrival, Kultanov was personally met at the airport by FSB Captain Alexander Gushchin, who was leading the criminal case against him.

Read also: Ukrainian Intelligence rubbishes FSBs claims of detention of Ukrainian agents in occupied Crimea

On the first day, Kultanov signed a confession, and surprisingly, one of the FSB officers involved in the case, Alexander Pisaryov, treated the terrorist with leniency.

The case proceeded under special procedures, resulting in Kultanov receiving a sentence of just over four years in prison.

The day before the verdict, Captain Gushchin approached Kultanov for the first time to discuss the possibility of cooperation with the FSB.

We will give you the minimum sentence, and once you are released, we will recruit you as an agent, Kultanov said, relating the words of his future handler.

The investigation reveals that the cooperation between Kultanov and the FSB began while he was still in prison.

I provided Gushchin with protocols and false testimonies. Under the orders of the FSB, I even appeared on television, recalled Kultanov.

Often, the operatives showed Kultanov photographs of unfamiliar individuals whom he was expected to identify as militants.

Kultanov was released in 2019, and the FSB allowed him to disregard administrative supervision. Instead, Gushchin informed the agent about his first assignment  in Ukraine.

In 2019, preparations began to integrate Kultanov into Chechen groups and Tatar battalions who want to fight for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The FSB wanted to obtain full information about the logistics and personnel of these units.

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According to Kultanov, the FSB decided not to bother with cover stories.

Read also: Russias Defense Ministry enlists up to 10,000 convicts in April alone, says UK intelligence

No need to make up anything: your story and combat experience speak for themselves, Baurzhan recounted Gushchins explanation.

You are indeed a terrorist, a Muslim, who stayed with us. Just tell them that you dont like Russia and the FSB and that you want to help. They will take you with open arms.

Kultanov admitted to finding it challenging to comprehend the detailed instructions.

To be honest, I didnt even remember all those Ukrainian tricks. Ive never been there, so its hard to remember when you dont know the ins and outs, he said.

Meduza reported that they have also obtained information about another FSB attempt to recruit a former militant. Karim, a native of Dagestan who fought in ISIS and belonged to the same jamaat or Islamic council as Kultanov, also served time upon returning to his homeland.

According to Karim, the FSB continually shows interest in Russians who go to assist in the fight alongside Ukrainian forces.

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The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) is recruiting former militants of the terrorist Islamic State (ISIL) and trying to introduce them as its "agents" into Ukrainian battalions.

Source: Investigation by Meduza

Details: Journalists describe the story of ISIL terrorist Baurzhan Kultanov, who "became disillusioned" with the militants and fled to Turkiye in 2014, where he asked for political asylum at the UN. When they found out about his terrorist past, Kultanov was detained.

A case was opened against Kultanov in Russia and in 2015 he was returned from Istanbul to the Russian Federation.

Kultanov was taken from the airport to Astrakhan. Captain Alexander Gushchin of the FSB who was in charge of Kultanov's criminal case came to the airport to pick up the militant.

On the first day, Kultanov signed a confession, and one of the FSB investigators who worked on the case, Alexander Pisarev, had an unexpectedly lenient attitude towards the militant.

The case was heard under special proceedings, and Kultanov was sentenced to only four years and four months in prison.

On the eve of the verdict, Captain Gushchin spoke to Baurzhan for the first time about the possibility of cooperating with the FSB. "We will give you a minimum sentence, and as soon as you get free, we will make an agent out of you," Kultanov quotes the words of his future handler.

Kultanov said that cooperation began while he was in the penal colony: "I faked reports and committed perjury for Gushchin. [I] spoke on television on the orders of the FSB." More often than not, operatives showed Kultanov photos of strangers whom he was supposed to "recognise" as militants.

In 2018, shortly before Kultanov's release from the penal colony, Gushchin took him to the FSB building, sat him down at a table, and brought him an agreement to sign on cooperation with the secret service.

Kultanov was released in 2019. Gushchin informed the agent about his first assignment to Ukraine.

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Gushchin said that Russia was interested in having agents all over Ukraine.

In 2019, Kultanov began training to infiltrate "Chechen groups and Tatar battalions that want to fight for the Armed Forces of Ukraine".

The FSB wanted to know "complete information" about the formations supply and personnel.

The secret service "decided not to bother" with a cover story. The FSB advised him to tell the truth, that he was a terrorist, a Muslim and convicted by the Russian Federation: "Just tell them that you don't like Russia or the FSB, and want to help."

To prepare Kultanov for infiltration, Gushchin's colleague in the Astrakhan Department of the FSB, operative Vadym Stetsenko, began working with him. Before the annexation of Crimea, Stetsenko had lived in Sevastopol, served in the counterintelligence of the Security Service of Ukraine, and then defected to the FSB.

From conversations with his new handler, Kultanov learned that the secret service was interested in Isa Akayev, the commander of the Islamic volunteer battalion Crimea, which had been fighting with Russia since 2014 and was made up of Crimean Tatars, Chechens and Kabardians.

Gushchin and Stetsenko hinted to Kultanov that they had many similar "agents" to send to Ukraine.

In 2021, the FSB's plans for Kultanov changed, and he was sent to Turkiye "along with Russian emigrants".

On 25 March 2022, Kultanov flew to Turkiye, and since then has been in constant contact with Vladislav Voronin (Kultanov's new handler from the FSB), as well as with Igor Yatskevich from the Astrakhan Department of the FSB.

Kultanov was instructed to find out "who is preparing what against Russia" and collect any information related to Ukraine.

Among other tasks, he was asked to find a buyer for "counterfeit dollars, forged documents, passports, seals" and find out "about the transfer of cryptocurrency".

From his communications with the FSB officers, Kultanov realised they were engaged in contract assassinations in foreign countries. For example, operative Voronin twice instructed him to order the killing of people: "This was part of his business".

On 25 April 2023, Kultanov was detained and taken to an immigration detention centre in Nigde.

In 2022, Vera Mironova, a researcher of terrorist organisations, was contacted by a Caucasus Emirate militant named Walid: he called her by phone directly from a Russian penal colony.

Walid said he wanted to go to the front through the Wagner Group and surrender to Ukraine, but he was not drafted by the mercenaries. However, the FSB became interested in him.

He refused the FSB's offer, and then stopped communicating.

Journalists are aware of another attempt by the FSB to recruit a former militant. Karim, a Dagestani, said that he fought in ISIL, was in the same Jamaat [Islamic council - ed.] with Baurzhan Kultanov and also served time after returning to Russia.

In 2019, after Karim was released from prison, he was contacted by an FSB officer named Pyotr. The operative asked the former militant about people from the "Caucasus Emirate" or "sleeper cells" of ISIL, but, according to Karim, he did not share any information.

When demands for information replaced Pyotr's questions, Karim "realised that he needed to get lost  and left the country." Now he maintains contact with diasporas in different countries and notes that among the Muslims who left Russia for Ukraine, there is constant talk of recruitment by secret services: "Because of this, no one trusts anyone".

Mironova said that people with an extremist past could get to the Ukrainian front, and the Ukrainian special services are analysing this situation.

A source in the FSB also confirmed to journalists that they are constantly trying to send their agents to Ukraine, but not all of these attempts are successful.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






(Bloomberg) -- Group of Seven countries are working on concrete ways to cooperate against economic coercion from China, US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel said just days ahead of the groups summit.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Expect more than words and communiques on economic coercion  expect action, Emanuel said in a tweet posted Tuesday. G-7 members are developing the tools to deter and defend against Chinas economic intimidation and retaliation.

Read: China Begins National Anti-Spy Crackdown on Consulting Firms

China is set to be a key focus of discussions at the leaders summit, which starts in the western city of Hiroshima on Friday and includes the UK, Germany, Canada, France, Italy and the EU alongside the US and Japan. The groups trade ministers last month expressed serious concern about economic coercion and said theyd explore joint responses to it.

Emanuels comments came amid wrangling among the US  which has advocated for other G-7 nations to take stronger positions on Beijing  and European countries that would prefer to focus on coordination and general warnings against coercive behavior.

The debate reflects the dilemma facing the US, Europe and Chinas neighbors such as Japan on how to deal with Chinas growing economic clout when their supply chains remain so interlinked with the worlds second-biggest economy. G-7 nations are all dependent in some fashion on Chinese goods in key areas.

Read: China Targeted in New G-7 Push Against Economic Coercion

Beijing has been accused of using trade policy to target countries including Australia, Japan and South Korea over diplomatic disputes. Japan has invited the leaders of both countries and other nations to attend outreach sessions at the summit.

Story continues

China has repeatedly hit back at allegations of coercion, saying the US is guilty of using such methods itself. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin has also blasted the G-7 as a small clique that puts the US first.

The leaders summit is expected to produce a document on economic coercion separate from the main communique, Bloomberg reported earlier this month.

G-7 negotiators are moving toward a statement that would promise support for countries targeted by economic coercion, Japanese public broadcaster NHK said Tuesday, without specifying where it got the information.

(Updates with context from seventh paragraph.)

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The Central Valleys flood-damaged communities like Planada could soon receive state funding for flood preparedness, response and recovery as they grapple with the long-term impacts of Californias winter storms.

On Friday, Gov. Gavin Newsom released his revised budget, which included $290 million in new funding for flood protection and preparedness. This includes $150 million for disaster response and recovery in flood-impacted communities.

The Merced County unincorporated town of Planada was submerged under flood waters during Januarys atmospheric river. The storm, which forced 4,000 Planada residents to evacuate, ruined homes as well as elementary school facilities.

Four months after the storm, Central Valley legislators, researchers, community advocates and residents say the community still needs millions of dollars to support home remediation, infrastructure needs, vehicle damage, funding assistance for renters, and home inspections.

State Sen. Anna Caballero, a Democrat from Merced, said in a statement that the $150 million earmarked for recovery efforts in the revised budget is a huge first step forward.

Although this was a lean budget year, I commend the Governor for his leadership in prioritizing communities like Planada and Pajaro who were severely impacted by flooding, Caballero said.





Earlier this month, Caballero requested $20 million for Planada, after an analysis from the UC Merced Community and Labor Center found that federal aid did not cover total recovery needs. Researchers found that the average estimated home remediation cost was $34,518, yet the average amount of aid was only $11,628.

Furthermore, researchers found that 64% of households with flood-damaged property were ineligible for federal disaster assistance, since many Planada residents are undocumented and have unique barriers to aid, or because people living in irregular housing, such as in garages or recreational vehicles, did not qualify for certain forms of aid.

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Community advocacy group Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability also welcomed the news of the governors flood response funding.

Were very glad to see increased investment in flood recovery and response in the May revise, Madeline Harris, a regional policy manager, said in an interview with The Bee/Fresnoland on Friday.

Harris said Leadership Counsel wants to ensure, however, that theres sufficient funding to address the full scope of needs in communities like Planada and Allensworth that are dealing with flooding impacts.

Planada alone needs at least $20.3 million to recover, Harris said.

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Its not immediately clear how the governor plans to disperse the $150 million.

The governor pulled $125 million out of drought response funding to support flood preparedness, response and recovery. Although Planada isnt specifically named in the governors proposed budget, the summary says that funding includes supporting communities and vulnerable populations, such as farmworkers, from these impacts and to better withstand future flood events.

Another $25 million will be used for additional disaster relief and response costs in this fiscal year.

As for Caballero, she said shes committed to working on behalf of community members who need relief, while state Sen. Melissa Hurtado, a Democrat from Bakersfield, said in a statement Thursday that her highest priority this legislative session will be ensuring the much needed funding for Central Valleys flood impacted communities is included in this years state budget.

The state legislature must pass the budget bill for the 2023-24 fiscal year by June 15.
Palestinian Najah Nabhan in front of the rubble of her family home, flattened in an Israeli air strike in Beit Lahiya, in the northern Gaza Strip

After her house was levelled by an Israeli strike, Najah Nabhan wonders what will become of her and dozens of relatives left homeless by the latest fighting to hit Gaza.

"I'd barely reached the street, then the house was bombed," said Nabhan, standing next to the mangled heap of concrete slabs and breeze blocks that had been the family home.

Dozens of homes were destroyed during five days of fighting, which erupted when the Israeli military launched deadly strikes on top militants from the Islamic Jihad militant group.

Nabhan, 56, has been trying to care for her children and grandchildren, many of whom have disabilities, since they were left homeless on Saturday.

"I borrow clothes from the neighbours for them. I didn't take anything with me," she said, in the Bir al-Najeh neighbourhood of northern Gaza.

The family said they were warned in a phone call from the Israeli military that a strike was imminent, but the army did not detail why it targeted the house when asked by AFP.

In total, 103 homes were completely destroyed and 140 severely damaged in the fighting, the United Nations said Tuesday, citing officials in Gaza.

Belal Nabhan, 35, earns just 10 shekels ($2.70) a day selling parsley in the market, and said he remains in a state of shock.

"People were screaming and we ran away... now 45 people are staying here, where will they go? They need shelter," he said, indicating relatives resting beside the rubble.

Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza, which is ruled by Islamist group Hamas, have fought multiple wars in recent years.

The ruins of past conflicts -- such as a three-day escalation in August which killed 49 Gazans -- are dotted across the densely populated Palestinian territory.

With Gaza's poverty rate at 53 percent, according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, few people can afford to rebuild their homes.

- 'My dreams are gone' -

In Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, children clambered atop a huge mound of concrete and rebar flattened by Israeli bombardment.

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In the tightly-packed neighbourhood, Mohammed Zidan's home escaped a direct hit but the blast was so powerful it blew out the walls.

"Because you want to strike one person, you don't need to destroy a whole apartment complex," said the 29-year-old.

"I'm a young man, living in my house, with my children in my home. I'm focusing on my work. What's my fault, that you make me pay the price?"

As Zidan stepped over the remains of his bedroom on Monday, Palestinians elsewhere were commemorating the Nakba, or catastrophe.

It marks the expulsion of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their homes, in the war which erupted when Israel was created in 1948.

"We will stay living the life of the Nakba, continuously," said Zidan, who has taken to sleeping on the street behind his home.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to an enquiry from AFP on why it targeted the neighbourhood.

A fragile ceasefire has largely held since late Saturday, ending the repeated rounds of Israeli strikes and volleys of rocket fire launched by Palestinian militants.

The fighting killed 33 people in Gaza, including children as well as militants, and two civilians in Israel.

Sitting in a donated wheelchair in Bir al-Najeh, Haneen Nabhan said she fainted when she heard her home was destroyed.

"I used to take medicine, but the medicine's in the rubble," she said.

"All my dreams were in the house, and my dreams are gone."

bur-rsc/kir/fz
(Bloomberg) -- House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said he wants the Ethics Committee to launch an expedited review of scandal-plagued Representative George Santos as Democrats seek to expel the New York Republican from Congress.

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The GOP leader opposes the expulsion resolution introduced by Democrats Tuesday but his push for an ethics probe departs from his earlier arguments that the House should wait to take any action until after a verdict is rendered on a federal indictment against Santos.

McCarthy said he plans to speak with House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries about the ethics review, which could allow House Republicans to avoid taking a formal position on whether Santos should remain in Congress, at least for the time being.

Representative Robert Garcia, a California Democrat, forced the matter to a head earlier in the day by introducing the resolution to expel Santos, which under House rules will require action within two days.

A majority of the House can refer the matter to a committee at that time rather than vote on the matter, which aligns with McCarthys comments.

I would like the Ethics Committee to move rapidly on this, McCarthy added.

A federal grand jury indicted Santos last week on fraud and money-laundering charges stemming from what prosecutors said was an effort to deceive donors supporting his campaign.

Expulsion of a member requires a two-thirds majority of the chamber, so the effort would need at least 77 Republican votes. As of Monday the expulsion resolution had 48 co-sponsors, all Democrats.

Recent expulsion resolutions have come only after a member has been convicted of a crime. But Garcia said theres no need to wait.

Read more: Santos Joins the Select Club of the Indicted in Congress

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Hes already admitted to many of his lies, and now is an opportunity to hold him accountable, and the Republicans in the House are actually going to have to go on record, he said outside the Capitol Tuesday.

Santos didnt return a message seeking comment.

Most members of New Yorks Republican delegation have called on Santos to resign.

Santos, who lied during his campaign about having worked at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, has been a reliable McCarthy ally in his short tenure in the House. Santos cast the final and deciding vote to pass a Republican bill addressing the debt ceiling in April, after four Republicans voted against it.

An expulsion would set up a special election in his Long Island district, which includes northeastern Queens and northern Nassau County. The parties would nominate candidates who would run in an election within three months of the vacancy.

Only five members have ever been successfully expelled from the House  three for supporting the confederacy in the Civil War, and two after being convicted of corruption.

The most recent was a 420-1 vote to expel Ohio Democrat Jim Traficant, who was convicted of bribery, racketeering and tax evasion in 2002. He tried to mount a comeback from prison, but lost to his former congressional aide, Tim Ryan.

--With assistance from Billy House and Erik Wasson.

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Who is George Santos? Were all still trying to piece that together. The embattled congressman from New Yorks 3rd district has reportedly lied about everything from attending college and working on Wall Street to being a volleyball star and producing the failed Spider-Man Broadway musical .

A federal grand jury indicted Santos on 13 criminal charges this month, including wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds, and making false statements to the House of Representatives. On May 10, Santos pleaded not guilty to the charges and said he will not resign and still plans to seek reelection next year.

These are some of the wildest alleged falsehoods Santos has madeand deeds he has doneover the years.

He said his family fled the Holocaust

During his campaign, Santos claimed his maternal grandparents were Ukrainian Jewish refugees who survived the Holocaust by fleeing to Europe and Brazil. Several genealogists have said there is no proof of these claims , and Forward found evidence that Santos grandparents were born in Brazil before the Nazis came to power.

Santos also generated criticism when he later told the New York Post that he was Catholic but that because I learned my maternal family had a Jewish background, I said I was Jew-ish. The Republican Jewish Coalition condemned him after these remarks, saying he deceived us and misrepresented his heritage.

He said his mother died in the September 11 attacks

Santos claimed his mother, Fatima Devolder, was working in the South Tower of the World Trade Center during the September 11 attacks. Initially, he said on Twitter that the attacks claimed my mothers life, though the biography on his campaign website stated she survived the attacks and died of cancer a few years later.

But according to The New York Times, immigration records indicate Devolder, who died in 2016, was living in Brazil during the attacks. In a 2003 filing, she claimed she had not been in the United States since 1999. She also described herself as a housekeeper and home aide, contradicting Santos claim she was an executive at a major financial institution.

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He said he was an actor on Hannah Montana

In April 2011, a Wikipedia user named Anthonydevolderan alias Santos has repeatedly used himself  created a profile page with biographical details that include Santos actual birthday and some biological facts. It also described him as an actor who had appeared on Disney Channel shows Hannah Montana and The Suite Life of Zach & Cody.

The Wikipedia profile, which has since been removed , also claimed Devolder appeared in the science-fiction film The Invasion (2007), though it incorrectly called Uma Thurman the star of that movie, rather than Nicole Kidman . Santos has not commented on whether he wrote the profile.

He said he lost employees at the Pulse nightclub shooting

During a November 2022 interview with Brian Lehrer on WNYC, Santos claimed that four employees who worked for him were killed during the mass shooting at the Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando where 49 people were killed on June 12, 2016.

The New York Times, however, found that none of the 49 victims of that shooting appeared to work at any of the firms identified in Santos biography. Santos later claimed the four were in the process of being hired but had not been yet.

He said he ran a dog charity

Several of Santos alleged lies involve puppies. He claimed to have run a foundation called Friends of Pets United, which he said saved 2,500 dogs between 2013 and 2018. But no IRS records or registration information about the charity could be found . It was only known to hold one fundraiser in 2017, and the rescue group it was held for never received the funds .

Politico reported Santos was charged with theft in Pennsylvania in 2017 for allegedly writing more than $15,000 in bad checks to dog breeders for puppies, with which he later hosted an adoption event. Santos has also been accused of stealing money from a disabled veteran who asked him to help fund a life-saving surgery for his dog, who died less than a year later.

He stole a checkbook from a man in Brazil

In 2008, when Santos was 19 years old, he stole the checkbook of a man his mother was caring for in Brazil and used it to make fraudulent purchases, according to Brazilian court records . Santos reportedly confessed to the crime two years later but later denied any wrongdoing, saying I am not a criminal herenot here or in Brazil or any jurisdiction in the world.

Brazilian law enforcement authorities seem to disagree. Prosecutors said the case was previously suspended because they could not find Santos but that they plan to revive the fraud charges against him.

His yearly income changed very drastically

Well before criminal charges were filed against him this past week, Santos personal finances were being called into question, considering that he went from making $55,000 a year in 2020 to earning between $3.5 million and $11.5 million in 2021 and 2022, according to financial disclosure statements .

The North Shore Leader, a small weekly newspaper in Long Island (part of Santos district), had raised questions about Santos net worth increase in September 2022, three months before The New York Times published its expose on him. That story claimed that in 2020two years before allegedly making millionshis financial disclosures stated he had no assets over $5,000.



He had several suspicious names listed as donors

A Mother Jones report from January raised further questions about Santos campaign financing. For example, some of the people listed as his donors dont seem to exist at all. The publication reported that Victoria and Jonathan Regor reportedly contributed $2,800 each, but nobody by those names live at the address provided or indeed anywhere else in the country.

Federal campaign finance law prohibits the donation of money under a false name or the name of someone else, according to Saurav Ghosh , the director for federal campaign finance reform at the Campaign Legal Center.

He might have embezzled money to buy luxury clothes

The indictment against Santos this month included several serious allegations , including that he received $24,000 in unemployment during the pandemic despite having a job that provided him a $120,000 annual salary.

Among the more unusual charges, however, was that Santos embezzled campaign contributions to buy himself expensive designer clothing. That particular allegation was enough for New York magazine to declare Santos a fashion criminal.

His fundraiser posed as Kevin McCarthys staffer

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has said Santos has a long way to go to earn trust but has resisted calls to sanction him. This is despite the fact that Sam Miele, a fundraiser from Santos campaign, allegedly impersonated McCarthys Chief of Staff during phone calls and emails seeking money from wealthy Republican donors.

A complaint has been filed with the Federal Elections Commission over the alleged fraudulent activity. As for McCarthy, his counsel Elliot Berke told The New York Post , When this issue came to our attention last year, I raised it with the Santos campaign and felt it was resolved to our satisfaction.

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Beijing to host 2023 Zhongguancun Forum, highlighting achievements, tech cooperation

Xinhua) 08:28, May 16, 2023

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.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
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The U.S. Department of Justice has reached an agreement with the Liberty County Sheriff's Office in Georgia 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 DOJ release.

Delaware State University lodged the complaint after deputies stopped the bus carrying the women's lacrosse team. They had been motoring along Interstate 95 on April 20, 2022, a day after playing at Stetson University in Florida, when deputies pulled over the bus for traveling improperly in the left lane.

They subsequently searched luggage stored in the compartment under the bus after a K9 officer "alerted" on the bus, but found no contraband.

More: Liberty County sheriff disputes claims of racial profiling after deputies pulled over lacrosse team

Also: Body camera footage contradicts sheriff's account of how deputies acted on Delaware State lacrosse bus

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.

Liberty County, Georgia, deputies search the Delaware State women's lacrosse team's luggage in a photo taken by a player from the bus.

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 said in the 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."

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.

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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.

"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 USA TODAY NETWORK: Liberty County Sheriff, DOJ settle racism case in DSU players bus stop
Ella Reed has been to the beach countless times in her young life. In fact, she lives across the street from a beach in the beautiful coastal community of Fort Pierce, Florida.

However, what the 13-year-old didn't expect when she flocked to the ocean last week was to come face-to-face with a shark as she sat in shallow water with a friend near a jetty.

That happened on Thursday, May 11, when what she believes was a bull shark left her with bites on her stomach, arm, knee and finger - requiring 19 stitches.

"The shark itself was so powerful," Ella told local TV station WPLG in Miami.

She said she punched the shark, which she estimated to be about 5 or 6 feet long, but it fought back.

"I remember just breathing really heavily, and then when it latched on to my stomach, not being able to breathe at all because I was just like, 'What the heck is happening?'" Ella recounted on the "TODAY" show.

As the shark first attacked her stomach, Ella said she shoved her arm in its face to block it, and the shark bit her arm instead. "Then I hit it with my other hand, like hit its nose or its face," she said on TODAY.

A bull shark gets up close to inspect divers during an eco tourism shark dive off of Jupiter, Florida on May 5, 2022. (Photo by Joseph Prezioso/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Undeterred, the shark circled back to attack again.

Just as Ella yelled over to her friend who was swimming, telling her to run to safety, she jumped out of the water and called her family. Her mother ran outside as her daughter was coming up from the beach. She took her bloodied daughter to a local Fire Department, where paramedics then rushed her to the hospital, WPLG reported.

"It was insane because she was totally covered in blood pretty much head to toe so you couldn't really see what went on," her mother, Devin Reed, told WPLG. "She was shaking, but she was calm."

Ella said it was hard to sleep the first night because of the stitches, but she's doing better now.

Story continues

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She told TODAY that her shocking encounter with a shark hasn't discouraged her from pursuing her dream career of being a marine biologist.

Several shark incidents have recently been reported from around the world, including one in which an Australian teacher is presumed dead from an apparent shark attack after he went missing while surfing Saturday. And in a video captured Friday, Scott Haraguchi was on his kayak fishing over a mile offshore in Windward Oahu, Hawaii, when a tiger shark slammed into his boat.

Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.
A 9-year-old Illinois girl who was allegedly kidnapped by her mother nearly six years ago has been found safe, according to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Kayla Unbehaun, now 15, was found in North Carolina, the center said Monday night.

"I'm overjoyed that Kayla is home safe," Kayla's father, Ryan Iskerka, said in a statement.

Someone recognized Kayla over the weekend at a shopping center in Asheville, North Carolina, and called police, according to WLOS-TV. The missing children center and a Facebook page named Bring Kayla Home have been raising awareness about her and posting age-progressed photos of what she might look like. Her disappearance was also featured in an episode of the Netflix series "Unsolved Mysteries."

Kayla's mother, Heather Unbehaun, was being held on a $250,000 bond and awaiting extradition to Illinois, according to CBS affiliate WBTV. According to the missing children center, a warrant was issued for her after Kayla went missing.

Iskerka told CBS News Chicago he had expected to pick up Kayla in 2017 after she spent a few days with her mother for the Fourth of July. When the holiday was over, he said Heather Unbehaun's family told him she and Kayla never came back from a camping trip.

In his statement Monday night, Iskerka thanked law enforcement agencies that worked on the case and people who raised awareness about Kayla over the years.

"We ask for privacy as we get to know each other again and navigate this new beginning," he said.

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A woman who said she worked for Rudy Giuliani during the last two years of the Trump administration alleged in a wide-ranging lawsuit that Giuliani, the former presidents personal attorney, discussed selling presidential pardons and detailed plans to overturn the 2020 election results.

In a 70-page complaint filed in state court in New York on Monday, Noelle Dunphy said that after Giuliani hired her in January 2019 he sexually assaulted and harassed her, refused to pay her wages and often made "sexist, racist, and antisemitic remarks," adding that she had recordings of numerous interactions with him.

Dunphy, who is seeking $10 million in compensatory and punitive damages, said Giuliani had hired her for $1 million a year in addition to expenses and pro bono legal representation for a domestic abuse case against a former partner. But after she was hired, Dunphy alleged, Giuliani kept her employment secret and paid her only about $12,000 and reimbursed some of her business expenses, owing her $1,988,000 in unpaid wages. She said she was fired in January 2021.

Giuliani denied the allegations through a spokesperson.

Mayor Rudy Giuliani unequivically denies the allegations raised by Ms. Dunphy, Ted Goodman said in a written statement. Mayor Giulianis lifetime of public service speaks for itself and he will pursue all available remedies and counterclaims.

Rudy Giuliani at a press conference in the White House on Sept. 27, 2020. (Chris Kleponis / Polaris/Bloomberg via Getty Images file)

Dunphy alleged in her suit that Giuliani talked about presidential pardons. She said Giuliani claimed to have immunity and told her that he was selling pardons for $2 million, which he and President Trump would split. The lawsuit did not suggest any pardons were sold.

Justin Kelton, Dunphy's attorney, said on MSNBC that there is not a recording of the pardon conversation. "We do expect that it will be corroborated in other ways." He noted that the complaint alleges that another person was present for that conversation  who Kelton said was Lev Parnas, a Giuliani associate  and that Dunphy's attorneys would like to speak to Parnas about it.

Story continues

A spokesperson for former President Donald Trump's 2024 campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the lawsuit.

Hours before he left office in 2021, Trump pardoned 74 people and commuted the sentences of 70 others.

Giuliani, who has denied allegations that he sought a pardon himself, told Dunphy that she could refer pardon-seekers to him, so long as they did not go through the normal channels of the Office of the Pardon Attorney because they would be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, according to the lawsuit.

Dunphy also alleged that Giuliani provided a glimpse into plans to overturn the election if Trump lost, telling her that Trumps team would claim that there was voter fraud and that Trump had actually won the election, the lawsuit says.

Giulianis New York law license was suspended in June after a state appeals court ruled that he made demonstrably false and misleading statements about voter fraud in the 2020 election. He sought to defend himself against other election-related claims made by an attorney disciplinary committee in Washington, D.C., in December, which said he weaponized his law license in a failed election fraud lawsuit in 2020.

Last year, attorneys for Giuliani were informed that he was a target of a criminal probe in Georgia looking into efforts by Trump and his allies to overturn the 2020 election results in the state. The prosecutor in that case has said charging decisions would be revealed this summer.

CORRECTION (May 16, 2023, 12:01 a.m. ET): A previous version of this article misstated the nature of some conversations Dunphy said she had with Giuliani. She alleged that Giuliani said he was selling pardons and discussing plans to overturn the 2020 election but did not say those remarks were recorded.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
People protested outside Iran's UN mission in New York after the execution of two protesters in December

The number of executions recorded globally in 2022 was the highest in five years, as several Middle Eastern states ramped up their use of the death penalty, Amnesty International says.

A total of 883 people are known to have been put to death across 20 countries, marking a rise of 53% compared to 2021, according to the group's annual review.

Iran, Saudi Arabia and Egypt alone carried out 90% of those executions.

The figures exclude China, which is thought to execute thousands each year.

Data on the death penalty is classified in China, which Amnesty said impaired its ability to make an accurate assessment about the numbers put to death in the country.

The group was also able to confirm that executions were carried out in North Korea, Vietnam, Syria and Afghanistan, but there was insufficient information to provide credible minimum figures.

According to Amnesty's report, Iran and Saudi Arabia were mainly responsible for the sharp increase in known executions worldwide last year.

It says Iran put 576 people to death - up from 314 in 2021. Of last year's total, 279 people were convicted of murder, 255 of drug-related offences, 21 of rape, and 18 of the national security charge of "enmity against God".

The final category included two men who were detained in connection with the anti-government protests that erupted in the Islamic Republic in September. They faced what a UN expert called "arbitrary, summary and sham trials marred by torture allegations".

The countries with the highest number of executions in 2022

In Saudi Arabia, executions tripled from 65 in 2021 to 196 in 2022 - the highest number that Amnesty has recorded in the country in 30 years.

Eighty-five people were put to death after being convicted of terrorism offences and 57 for drug offences, according to the report. There drug-related executions marked the end of a moratorium reportedly in place since 2020.

On a single day in March 2022, authorities carried out the mass execution of 81 people. At least 41 were members of Shia Muslim minority, including two convicted of crimes related to their participation in anti-government protests.

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Amnesty has previously accused the Saudi justice system of meting out death sentences following trials that are grossly unfair, including basing verdicts on "confessions" extracted under torture or other ill-treatment.

In Egypt, 24 people were put to death last year. However, that represented a 71% decrease compared to 2021, when 83 were executed.

Amnesty also reported executions in Iraq (11), Kuwait (7), the Palestinian Territories (5), Yemen (4) and Syria (unknown).

Agnes Callamard, the group's secretary general, accused Middle Eastern states of violating international law and demonstrating "a callous disregard for human life".

"It's time for governments and the UN to up the pressure on those responsible for these blatant human rights violations and ensure international safeguards are put in place," she said.

Elsewhere in the world, 18 people were executed in the US, up from 11 in 2022, and 11 were put to death in Singapore, where executions for drug offences resumed after a two-year hiatus during the Covid pandemic.
GMC

General Motors has issued a recall for nearly 1 million SUVs built between 2014 and 2017 over driver's airbag inflators that could explode and send sharp metal fragments into the cabin, resulting in serious injury or death.

The recall affects 994,763 Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave SUVs, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Dealers will replace the airbag module free of charge, and owners will be notified via mail beginning on June 26.

This exploding airbag recall is not related to the Takata airbag scandal from 2014, as the airbags in these cars are assembled by Tennessee company ARC.

The NHTSA has requested ARC recall more than 67 million driver and passenger inflators as a result of an eight-year investigation that found its products killed two people and injured seven others in Chevrolet, Kia, Chrysler, Hyundai, and Volkswagen cars. ARC has so far refused to issue a recall, says the Associated Press.

If you think your car might fall under this recall, head on over to the NHTSA's site and enter your VIN.

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A new super PAC has formed to support a presidential run by former Vice President Mike Pence, according to sources familiar with its planning. The group's formation is another sign that Pence, who has not yet officially declared a 2024 bid, is gearing up to jump into the race.

The PAC supporting Pence, "Committed to America," is filled with former aides to Governors Brian Kemp of Georgia and Larry Hogan, the former governor of Maryland. Like Pence, who refused to reject President Joe Biden's electoral college victory on Jan. 6, 2021, both governors are Republicans who have clashed with former President Donald Trump in recent years.

Bobby Saparow, who led Kemp's 2022 reelection campaign, including his decisive primary victory over Trump-backed former Sen. David Perdue, will be the executive director of the PAC. Co-chairs of the PAC include Scott Reed, the campaign manager of Senator Bob Dole's 1996 presidential bid, and former Rep. Jeb Hensarling.

Mike Ricci, who served as Hogan's communications director in the governor's office as well as a spokesperson for House speakers Paul Ryan and John Boehner, is handling press for the group.

Whether Hogan or Kemp will back a potential Pence presidential bid is not yet clear. Hogan recently announced he would not run for president. The former Maryland governor, who worked with Pence throughout the pandemic response, met with Pence in Iowa in March. In the 2016 GOP primary, Hogan endorsed former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who is also considering a 2024 run.

Super PACs for presidential bids have historically been used to buy campaign ads to support their preferred candidate, fund get-out-the-vote drives and conduct research on policy and other candidates.

But "Committed to America," as well as the "Never Back Down" super PAC supporting a 2024 run for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, are both trying to expand the extent to which these groups, which can receive an unlimited amount of donations, can support a candidate on the ground.

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"We're going to organize Iowa, all 99 counties, like we're running him for county sheriff," Reed said.

Although Pence has been visiting a number of early-voting states, his potential road to the GOP nomination, and the White House, has not been evident in early national presidential primary polls. A CBS News national poll conducted in late April of the expected 2024 GOP presidential field showed Pence with just 5% support among likely GOP primary voters, and when asked if they'd consider voting for Pence, 57% said they were not considering it while 17% said they were considering it.

The staffers behind the PAC believe that Pence's experience as an Indiana governor and congressman, as well as his experience as vice president after the 2020 election, will establish him as the "committed constitutional conservative" in the field.

"People know Mike Pence, they just don't know him well," Reed said. "This campaign is going to reintroduce Mike Pence to the country as his own man, not as vice president, but as a true economic, social, and national security conservative  a Reagan conservative."

The PAC plans to mirror the grassroots operation used to help Kemp to a reelection landslide in Georgia over his Trump-backed opponent and deploy it on a national level.

"You will see that what we built out with Governor Kemp is going to be taken to the national stage, " Saparow said. "We have all the confidence in the world that the results that we are able to garner for Governor Kemp, we can duplicate for the vice president."

In late April, Pence told CBS News during a trip to Iowa that he'd announce his 2024 decision "well before late June" and that anyone "serious" about seeking the GOP nomination has to be in by June.

Pence will be in New Hampshire, the first state to hold a GOP 2024 presidential primary for two days of events this week.

Robert Costa contributed reporting.

Legal sports betting could face more regulation, lawmakers say

Where Ukraine's defense stands after missile attack on Kyiv

How Congress could regulate AI
GOP presidential candidates are slamming the FBI after a report from Special Counsel John Durham criticized the agency for its actions during the 2016 probe that scrutinized Donald Trump's 2016 campaign and its alleged ties to Russia.

Its a top law enforcement agency that didn't follow the laws, GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley said on Fox News Tuesday morning. To see what happened is unthinkable. Heads need to roll over this. Anybody that touched it or had a part in it needs to be fired and every one of their senior managers needs to be fired. The FBI has lost complete credibility when it comes to this and they have a lot of fixing to do to get the trust back of the American people.

Durhams 306-page report accuses the FBI of a double standard for aggressively probing ties between Russia and Trumps 2016 presidential campaign while soft-pedaling similar claims about foreigners seeking influence over Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.



THEY ARE SCUM, LIKE COCKROACHES ALL OVER WASHINGTON, D.C., the former president posted to Truth Social early Tuesday morning. Congratulations to John Durham on a Report that is being praised for its quality, importance, and professionalism, by friend and foe alike.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has yet to announce a presidential bid, said theres a need to clean house at these agencies.

The Durham Report confirmed what we already knew: weaponized federal agencies manufactured a false conspiracy theory about Trump-Russia collusion, DeSantis said on Twitter. It reminds us of the need to clean house at these agencies, as they've never been held accountable for this egregious abuse of power.

Vivek Ramaswamy, who announced his campaign in February, called to shut down the FBI Monday following the release of the report.

In 1964 the FBI tried to blackmail MLK into committing suicide. Almost 60 years later, the same administrative agency continues to target and destroy its political enemies, Ramaswamy said on Twitter. This needs to finally end. Shut down the FBI - and yes, this is much more practical than it sounds.

Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who launched his bid last month, called for reform rather than a total shutdown.

The Durham report today faulted the FBI for failing to uphold the integrity of the law. This makes my call to reform the FBI and limit the breadth of its jurisdiction even more important, Hutchinson wrote on Twitter. Great people. Just needs more focus and accountability.
Embattled Republican Rep. George Santos of New York is facing his latest challenge from a fellow lawmaker.

Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., on Tuesday sought to force a vote to expel Santos from the House.

The House has two days to act on Garcia's resolution, meaning a vote has to be scheduled by Thursday afternoon. Lawmakers could also try to table the move.

However, the resolution faces an uphill climb in the House, which has a Republican majority and requires a two-thirds majority vote to expel a member. The resolution has nearly 50 cosponsors, all Democrats.

Garcia on Twitter shared that Republicans will now have a chance to demonstrate to the American people that an admitted liar and criminal should not serve in Congress.

I'm starting the process of forcing a floor vote on our resolution to expel George Santos from the U.S. House of Representatives. Republicans will now have a chance to demonstrate to the American people that an admitted liar and criminal should not serve in Congress. pic.twitter.com/GLmskqnier  Congressman Robert Garcia (@RepRobertGarcia) May 16, 2023

Politics Rep. George Santos pleads not guilty to 13 counts including fraud, lying to Congress

USA TODAY has reached out to Santos office for comment.

Santos, who has announced a reelection bid for his seat, on Tuesday said he has not yet seen the resolution and has not had conversations with House leaders, ABC News reported. He told the outlet "Whatever happens innocent until proven guilty."

The Republican lawmaker earlier this month pleaded not guilty to 13 federal charges, including fraud and lying to Congress. He allegedly transferred money from political donors into personal bank accounts during his campaign, using the money for personal expenses. The Department of Justice also alleges that he committed unemployment insurance fraud by applying for benefits when he was employed, among other charges.

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In a news conference following his arrangement, Santos called the investigation a "witch hunt" and maintained his innocence.

Santos last year admitted that he lied about his job experience and college education during his campaign for his House seat.

My sins here are embellishing my resume. Im sorry," he said in an interview with the New York Post.

Contributing: Ella Lee, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NY GOP Rep. George Santos faces push to expel him from Congress
A 60-year-old man was indicted Tuesday for allegedly driving across state lines to meet a fictitious 14-year-old girl in Kansas City for illicit sex, according to federal prosecutors.

Prosecutors allege William H. Reichart, of Topeka, shared sexually explicit messages and photographs with an undercover FBI agent who posed as an underage girl online. He was arrested April 27 at an agreed-upon meeting place in Kansas City, prosecutors said.

According to a criminal complaint filed in the Western District of Missouri, Reichart allegedly participated in a chat group known to the FBI as one frequented by adults who attempt to lure children into sexual acts.

An undercover agent sent him a private message and arranged a meeting over the span of roughly 24 hours, according to an FBI agents affidavit. He was monitored through active surveillance driving his pickup truck away from his Topeka home and to the Kansas Turnpike.

At the time of his arrest, Reichart allegedly had in his possession items purchased from an adult toy store in Topeka. He also allegedly admitted during a police interview that he drove to Kansas City with the intent of having sex with a 14-year-old, according to court documents.

A federal grand jury charged Reichart with three felonies: attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor, attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and attempted travel with the intent of engaging in illicit sexual conduct.
Ageing population: a woman carries wood on the Greek island of Karpathos

They may live in a tourist paradise, but many villagers on Greek islands despair of a central government they say does little for them.

"We are second-class citizens," said retired sailor Manolis Melaisis, sitting outside a cafe in Diafani on the island of Karpathos.

"No doctor stays here for more than a year. There is no pharmacy and soon there will be no school either," he said.

Although it is the second-largest island in the Dodecanese group after Rhodes, Karpathos has only two ferries a week to Athens.

In the hillside village of Olymbos, the leaflets for Sunday's national election lie on the counter of Sofia Chatzipapa's cafe.

"MPs, the prime minister and the president have all passed through here admiring our beautiful village," scoffed the woman in her 70s, who wears the island's traditional embroidered black dress and headscarf.

"They take pictures. Then once they're back in Athens, they forget about us and our problems," she said.

As well as no pharmacy, Diafani -- which has about 200 permanent residents but draws thousands of tourists in summer -- also lacks a bank, post office or petrol station.

The only road to the island capital of Pigadia is winding and strewn with stones.

- 'Breath of life' -

At the Diafani cafe, a photograph shows the old sailor Melaisis with the rest of his school class.

In 1961, there were about 60 pupils. Now there are just two and the school may not reopen after the summer.

A bus drops off Diafani's last remaining schoolchildren -- Vassilis, 11, and Marinos, 8, who live in Olymbos.

Their teacher, Theodora Koukourikou, carries their backpacks so they can climb the steep path to the school, which is perched on a rise facing the sea.

"These schools on isolated islands are a breath of life for small communities," said the 27-year-old teacher, who was appointed to Diafani last September.

"Once closed, there will be nothing left of Diafani or Olymbos... It will just be a destination for tourists."

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At the start of the next school year, Vassilis will go to secondary school in Olymbos, joining his elder sister and seven other pupils.

Marinos may also have to go there despite being way too young.

Olymbos -- known for its windmills, pastel-coloured houses and chapels -- has so far managed to keep its local crafts, dialect and music alive.

But this heritage is now under threat, as is the future of the villages themselves.

"The abandonment of our villages is an open wound that no government has succeeded in resolving," said Yannis Hatzivassilis, a sculptor who has carried on the trade of his father.

- 'Asking for basic services' -

"In the 1960s people left to work abroad and few returned. Farmers now devote themselves to tourism and the younger generations aspire to a more comfortable life," Hatzivassilis said.

"We have a beautiful country but not the administrators that it deserves."

Both Diafani and Olymbos rely for basic supplies on the island capital, which is an hour and a half away by car on windy roads.

"The state must encourage families to come to these remote regions with grants or a reduction in taxation," said Ilias Papailias, a restaurant owner and head of the local Diafani-Olymbos council.

Yannis Prearis is the last cobbler who makes the leather boots traditionally worn by the women of Olymbos.

His son is not yet two years old but Prearis already knows that if the school closes, he will be forced to leave Olymbos.

"We are asking for a doctor, a school, safe roads, public transport -- basic services that any state should provide to all citizens," he said.

But he would like to stay in Olymbos.

"My grandfather and my father did this job and if I leave, it's a whole craft that will disappear."

mr/jph/gil/fg
Fox News host Greg Gutfeld said Monday that the threat of white supremacy is an outright lie and accused liberals of riling up Black people with falsehoods to keep them angry. (Watch the video below.)

Panelists on The Five were responding to President Joe Bidens weekend warning to Howard University grads that white supremacy is the most dangerous terrorist threat to our homeland.

Not surprisingly, many on the mostly conservative panel claimed Biden was stirring divisiveness. But Gutfeld went way beyond that.

I just think its time that white people stop lying to Black people, right? Why do we lie to them? Why do we tell them: Hey, when you get out into the real world, this is what youre going to face, Gutfeld said. Thats a lie. Its an outright lie. White supremacy is not a threat to them.

Gutfeld continued to dig a hole for himself, saying liberals need to keep Blacks angry.

The people who need to cleave Blacks from whites do so because they realize there is profit in discontent. Theyre rent-seeking, he added.

Gutfeld argued that racial rancor has generated an industry of consultants, corporations and acitivists.

Youve got to keep this lie going. And once Blacks walk away from this lie, oh, theyre going to be happy but theyre going to be pissed. And Im so gonna be there for that.

Tucker Carlson, the departed prime-time face of Fox News, called white supremacy a hoax. He amplified the so-called great replacement theory that a Democratic plot is afoot to maintain lax immigration so people of color will outnumber white voters.

Maybe its not surprising to hear another Fox personality spewing similar bile.

Gutfeld attempted to back up his point with statistics from an Anti-Defamation League study on extremism.

Recent events support Bidens warning of a persistent tide of hate-driven domestic terrorism.

The gunman who killed eight people at a mall outside of Dallas last month reportedly was reportedly motivated by racist ideology. That happened less than a year after a racist white teen killed 10 in a supermarket in a predominantly Black neighborhood of Buffalo, New York, prompting Biden to denounce racism then as well.

Story continues

In addition, white nationalist groups were prominent players in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol.

H/T: Media Matters

Related...
SEOUL  The Gucci gang landed in South Korea on Tuesday night at one of Seouls most iconic locations, the Gyeongbokgung Palace, the countrys largest royal compound built in the 15th century.

As the first luxury house to host a runway show at the royal palace with a storied past, the show almost didnt happen.

More from WWD

After its initial plan to host former creative director Alessandro Micheles Cosmogonie Collection in November was canceled due to the tragic crush in Itaewon, Gucci persisted and sought approval from the Cultural Heritage Administration. The Kering-owned Florentine house was granted the green light just ahead of its 25th anniversary in the market.

Gucci Cruise 2024 runway show at the Gyeongbokgung Palace.

Gucci follows Louis Vuitton and Dior as the third luxury brand to mount a fashion spectacle in South Korea in recent years, a market of rising affluence and cultural influence.

South Korea is one of the fastest-growing luxury markets, even surpassing the U.S. market from 2019 to 2022 in terms of growth rate, according to Citigroup. According to Euromonitor International, the South Korean luxury market was valued at $14.65 billion in 2021, ranking seventh in the world.

With the popularity of Korean pop culture, particularly K-pop and Korean dramas, South Korea has been exporting global fashion and beauty trends that have taken the world by storm. With this in mind, the Gucci Cruise 2024 collection made some obvious references to honor the countrys traditional culture. However, the true draw of the collection came from a studied take on the distinctive sartorial language of Seouls eclectic youth and subculture, often immortalized in street style images that come with a healthy disregard for what constitutes good taste.

The original soundtrack from hit K-dramas such as Squid Game, Parasite, and Oldboy matched the pulsating lightscape that dazzled the sacred grounds of the palace courtyard and hinted at the subdued subversive nature of modern South Korean style.

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The coed runway opened with Sora Choi in a billowing hanbok reimagined as a floor-length bomber, resembling a deconstructed hanbok. The goreum, a satin bow that created the high-waisted effect of a hanbok, was singled out as a key decorative element, adorning deconstructed outerwear and sheer muscle Ts alike.

To counterbalance the brands Bourgeois streetwear' archetype, finessed by the in-house team over the past two collections, the cruise show came with a cyber goth twist. For example, a hoodie gown shimmering with crystals paired with a pair of cyber goth stompers; the nylon duster coat cinched at the waist with a heavy chain, as seen on 1990s cult model Tasha Gilberg, and many iterations of oversized cargo pants laden with generous pockets perfectly summed up the baggy aesthetic of South Koreas Gen-Z generation.

To add to the brands local cultural cache, Gucci enlisted South Korean digital artist Ram Han, known for her fantasy paintings, to create sporty streetwear for the collection. One hoodie, adorned with a cats paw touching a butterfly, provided ample visual ASMR.

A neoprene wetsuit, styled as the undergarment for a ruffled mermaid number, was reminiscent of the haenyeo, South Korean female divers known for their independent spirit and pearl hunting skills on Jeju Island.

According to Gucci, the scuba-inspired looks were a literal reference to wetsuits worn by windsurfers and jet-skiers on the Han River, a niche community sport that exploded in popularity among stressed-out Seoulites post-COVID-19. Models also appeared on the runway carrying huge surfboards and life-sized skateboards that came with an attached pouch, updating the counterculture movement with a high-fashion spin.

Neoprene boots, which metamorphosed from 1990s scuba boots, expanded the Gucci retro sportswear lexicon while providing a fun anchor to the many dressy styles that brought to mind Micheles opulent creations during his seven-year tenure.

On the accessories front, the collection updated the Horsebit clutch bag, first introduced by Tom Ford in the 2000s, reimagined in iridescent color schemes and precious leathers, or dressed up with dazzling crystals. A slanted box version of the 1955 Horsebit could be in the running to become the It bag of 2024.

The collection was a mix of trendy ideas and covetable items, a balance brands need to achieve today. However, they also need a jolt of creative energy and cohesive storytelling to build sustained hype. That is now the task handed to incoming creative director Sabato de Sarno, who will take his bow for Gucci in September.

For now, whats Gucci? remains up in the air.

Launch Gallery: Gucci Cruise 2024

Best of WWD

Click here to read the full article.
The trial comes at a tumultuous time, with some protesters demanding the president be ousted

Ecuador's President Guillermo Lasso has asserted his innocence over corruption charges at an impeachment trial being held in the National Assembly.

Mr Lasso, 67, has been accused of turning a blind eye to embezzlement.

The conservative leader told the opposition-controlled parliament his accusers lacked evidence and suggested the trial was politically motivated.

It is the second time it has tried to remove the president from office since he was sworn in in May 2021.

Impeachment proceedings last year failed to garner enough votes to make it to the trial stage.

But last week, 88 out of 116 lawmakers present voted in favour of the trial going ahead, enough for it to take place.

The trial represents the final stage of the impeachment proceedings and will culminate in a vote by lawmakers on whether Mr Lasso should stay in office or be ousted.

Ninety-two members of the National Assembly - two-thirds of the current 137 lawmakers - would have to vote against Mr Lasso in order for him to be removed from office.

On Tuesday, the trial kicked off with the accusations against the president being laid out.

The president is accused of having been aware of an embezzlement scheme involving contracts between a state-owned oil transport company, Flopec, and a tanker company, and is said to have done nothing to stop it.

Mr Lasso has denied any wrongdoing and says that the alleged embezzlement occurred before he came into office

Speaking in the National Assembly, he referred to the charges as "unfounded" and accused his opponents of creating a "fictitious situation".

"Even those who proposed this trial recognise that they have nothing," he said, adding that his accusers were "trying to destroy the credibility, not of this presidency, but of democracy itself".

The trial could extend over a number of days, while the impeachment vote itself is not expected until the weekend.

However, there is a chance it may not come to a vote if President Lasso decides to invoke a constitutional clause referred to as "muerte cruzada" (mutual death).

Story continues

The clause gives the president the power to dissolve the National Assembly, but it also forces him to call fresh general elections within six months.

Were he to invoke this clause, Mr Lasso would govern by decree, that is without any input from lawmakers and only with the oversight of the constitutional court, until the new elections.

The "muerte cruzada" option was only introduced in 2008 and has never been used before, but Mr Lasso told the Financial Times newspaper that he would use it rather than risk being deposed.

It is seen as an extreme measure, and Conaie, Ecuador's largest confederation of indigenous groups, has warned that it would stage mass protests should Mr Lasso dissolve the National Assembly.

The clause can only be invoked before the final vote takes places, so Mr Lasso will be watching closely for shows of support or opposition among lawmakers as the trial unfolds.

The impeachment trial comes at a tumultuous time in Ecuador, with security at a low as a crime wave driven by gangs which have formed alliances with Mexican cartels sweeps through some of the main towns.
Welcome to NC Voices, where leaders, readers and experts from across North Carolina can speak on issues affecting our communities. Send submissions of 350 words or fewer to opinion@newsobserver.com.

I like my guns, but this must end

The writer is a retired state senator who served in the N.C. legislature from 1989-2011.

___

Stay outta churches, Walmarts and schools... is a message I received from a friend of mine in Nashville recently. While not mentioned, he was referring to the school shooting that had taken place there about the same time our legislature in Raleigh had made it a little easier to purchase a weapon in North Carolina.

Ive seen a lot of changes in my lifetime. While I havent agreed with all of them, many have been for the best. But of all the changes that have taken place, I never thought I would see the time when parents would send or take their kids to school and have to worry that someone might come in with an assault weapon and slaughter them indiscriminately.

How sad it is, and it doesnt have to be.

According to a pediatrician in Uvalde, Texas two of the school-shooting victims were so pulverized they could only be identified by their clothing. It seems there are some who think our Second Amendment is written in stone like the Ten Commandments. It is not.

I learned long ago that the law is what the people say it is at any time in history. For example, a little over a 100 years ago women couldnt vote. There have been 27 amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

I believe in the right to bear arms and I have them. And I like my guns. But I love my grandkids, great grandkids and all children. There is a difference between like and love.

We shouldnt have to live in fear that someone might come into schools, churches, malls or any public place with a weapon designed to kill scores of people. It doesnt have to be. Unless for law enforcement or military use these types of weapons should be taken off the streets.

Story continues

Heres a challenge to my lawmaking friends: Do something! Prove you care more for we the people than the gun lobby.

Charlie Albertson, Beulaville

NC must face this child care crisis

A large crowd of child care workers gathered before the General Assembly recently, tired from the ordeal of the past three years but grateful for the support theyve received. They were there because North Carolina faces a child care crisis.

Child care workers compensation could be cut if the state legislature does not act  and families will face fewer choices for affordable, high-quality child care.

COVID funds are set to expire at the end of this year. Known as Child Care Stabilization Grants for Compensation, this money enabled child care providers to remain adequately staffed without meaningfully raising the price families pay. When the funds expire, programs may be forced to increase costs, decrease services provided, or shut down, leaving N.C. families with fewer, more expensive child care options.

This possibility does not have to become a reality. The N.C. legislature can support the states child care workforce, parents, families, and employers by extending Child Care Stabilization Grants for Compensation.

Over the last three years, nearly 4,000 child care programs in the state benefited from these grants. Many used the funds to stay open by increasing salaries and providing or expanding benefits like health insurance, sick leave and access to mental health services. Still, most child care providers dont make more than $15 per hour.

When asked in a recent survey what was likely to happen to their programs once Child Care Stabilization Grants for Compensation end, child care providers cited staffing and affordability concerns that could threaten their ability to operate. More than eight in 10 programs indicated they would not be able to maintain current salary levels or were uncertain if they could do so. They reported that without the continuation of these grants, long wait lists could grow longer making child care options less accessible to many families.

State legislators can prevent this crisis. Extending these grants will help programs recover from the pandemic and stabilize  and that helps N.C. families and the states economic recovery.

Kristi Snuggs, president, Child Care Services Association

Janet Singerman, president, NC Child Care Resource and Referral Council
A New Hampshire couple was arrested after police say they hosted a large underage drinking party at their house that resulted in two minors being sent to the hospital over the weekend.

Christopher Getter, 50, and Lisa Getter, 49, both of Hollis, were summonsed to appear in Nashua District Court on charge of facilitating an underage alcohol house party, according to the Hollis Police Department.

Officers and EMS crews responding to a report of a juvenile suffering from a head laceration at a home on Eastman Lane in Hollis just after 11:45 p.m. on Saturday learned a party was taking place.

A total of two minors were transported from the scene for treatment. They were treated and later release. Police didnt say what led up to their injuries.

There was an overwhelming amount of evidence that minors were in possession of, and consuming alcohol, the police department said in a statement.

Police say additional charges could be filed against the couple.

An investigation remains ongoing.

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Kyrylo Budanov, Head of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, believes that 80% of what the leader of the Wagner Private Military Group (PMC) Yevgeny Prigozhin says is pure truth.

Source: Interview with Budanov on the Rizni Liudy (Different People) program

Quote: "The worst thing is that what Prigozhin says is mostly true. There are some things that cannot even be said to be false: they can be perceived in two ways, but 80 percent of what he says is generally pure truth. "

Details: In particular, Budanov notes, Prigozhin quite sincerely criticises Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov. These attacks are not so-called PSYPO [psychological operations].

According to the head of the Main Directorate of Intelligence, the Wagner PMC headed by Prigozhin showed "its maximum effectiveness" in contrast to the Russian army, whose command is trying to "physically eliminate" private units because of envy.

Budanov added that the Kadyrovites (Chechen fighters led by Ramzan Kadyrov, the President of the Chechen Republic) also lose in efficiency to the Wagnerites.

Earlier:

On May 9, Prigozhin said that the Russian army left some of their positions in Bakhmut and "exposed" part of the front, which had to be covered by the Wagnerites [fighters of Wagner Group  ed.]. He pressed an ultimatum to the Russian Defence Ministry and the General Staff, saying if his mercenaries were not given enough ammunition, they would leave their positions.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






A rattlesnake bit a 26-year-old woman on the foot as she hiked with her dog near Santa Barbara, California firefighters reported.

A Santa Barbara County Sheriffs Office helicopter airlifted the hiker to a hospital, the Montecito Fire Department reported on Instagram.

The woman had hiked about a mile and a half up the Romero Canyon Trail before encountering the venomous snake at 9:10 a.m. Saturday, May 13, firefighters wrote.

While rescuing the woman, the helicopter crew spotted a bear in the brush nearby.

Bear sightings have been increasingly frequent in our community over the past few weeks, the post read. As the weather warms up, wildlife is coming out. Please use caution while hiking, be hyper vigilant of your surroundings and maintain awareness of your location.

Montecito firefighters hiked out with the womans dog, which was turned over to animal control officers to be reunited with its owner, the post said.

Social media posts by the womans family indicate she was released from the hospital and is recovering at home.

Thank you so much fire/rescue you have saved our lil girl, read one comment on the Instagram post.

Montecito is a community of 8,600 people about five miles northeast of Santa Barbara.

Bees sting man dozens of times as he flees, then collapses, California video shows

Watch terrifying moment as fisherman kicks tiger shark attacking his kayak in Hawaii

Dog playing fetch falls off cliff chasing ball  but gets lucky, Washington rescuers say
U.S. Rep. Bob Latta

U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan

WASHINGTON, D.C.  Here's a look at how area members of Congress voted May 5 through May 11:

In addition to the week's roll call votes, the Senate also passed, by unanimous consent, a resolution (S. Res. 23), demanding that China's government immediately release U.S. citizen Mark Swidan from custody.

House

House Vote 1:OCEAN ACIDIFICATION: The House has passed the Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act (H.R. 676), sponsored by Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine. The bill would require the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to work with state and local governments to assess the acidification of oceans and other waterways and develop responses to acidification. The vote, on May 9, was 351 yeas to 58 nays.NAYS: Jim Jordan R-OH (4th)YEAS: Bob Latta R-OH (5th)

House Vote 2:WEATHER PREDICTION COMPUTING: The House has passed the Advanced Weather Model Computing Development Act (H.R. 1715), sponsored by Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio. The bill would direct the Energy Department and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to do research on using machine learning and computing to improve prediction of the weather and climate. The vote, on May 9, was 356 yeas to 50 nays.NAYS: Jordan R-OH (4th)YEAS: Latta R-OH (5th)

House Vote 3:BORDER SECURITY: The House has passed the Secure the Border Act (H.R. 2), sponsored by Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla. The bill would require the resumption of construction of a wall at the border with Mexico, limit asylum claims by persons seeking U.S. residency, increase penalties for overstaying a residency visa, and bar the Homeland Security Department from processing the entry of foreigners who arrive in the U.S. other than at a port of entry. Diaz-Balart said the bill "provides real solutions to restore order to the southern border, strengthen our national security, enhance our broken immigration system, and protect innocent minors while enforcing the rule of law." An opponent, Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Texas, said: "This bill will separate families, put human lives at risk, lead to more unlawful migration by blocking off lawful pathways to protection, and waste taxpayer dollars on an ineffective wall that can't even withstand wind much less criminal smuggling cartels." The vote, on May 11, was 219 yeas to 213 nays.YEAS: Jordan R-OH (4th), Latta R-OH (5th)

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House Vote 4:UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS: The House has passed the Protecting Taxpayers and Victims of Unemployment Fraud Act (H.R. 1163), sponsored by Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., to provide various financial incentives for states to recover excessive unemployment insurance benefits issued during COVID lockdowns and expand to 10 years the period for recovering erroneously paid benefits. The vote, on May 11, was 230 yeas to 200 nays.YEAS: Jordan R-OH (4th), Latta R-OH (5th)

House Vote 5:IDENTIFYING ILLICIT DRUGS: The House has passed the Testing, Rapid Analysis, and Narcotic Quality Research Act (H.R. 1734), sponsored by Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., to require the National Institute of Standards and Technology to fund research into the potential use of methods to identify xylazine, a veterinary tranquilizer drug also known as tranq, novel synthetic opioids and other illicit drugs that pose health concerns. The vote, on May 11, was unanimous with 425 yeas.YEAS: Jordan R-OH (4th), Latta R-OH (5th)

Senate

Senate Vote 1:INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of L. Felice Gorordo to be the U.S. alternate executive director of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development for a two-year term. Gorordo has been a CEO of multiple technology companies involved in immigration and entrepreneurship, as well as a government official during the George W. Bush and Obama administrations. The vote, on May 10, was 52 yeas to 45 nays.YEAS: Sherrod Brown D-OHNAYS: J.D. Vance R-OH

Senate Vote 2:SPECIAL EDUCATION: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Glenna Laureen Wright-Gallo to be the Education Department's assistant secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. Gallo has been a senior special education official for public schools in Washington and Utah. The vote, on May 10, was 52 yeas to 44 nays.YEAS: Brown D-OHNAYS: Vance R-OH

Senate Vote 3:NATIONAL ARCHIVIST: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Colleen Shogan to the archivist of the United States. The archivist manages the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), which stores federal government documents considered to be of permanent importance. Shogan is a senior official at the White House Historical Association; previously, she worked at the Library of Congress, Congressional Research Service, and the Senate. The vote, on May 10, was 52 yeas to 45 nays.YEAS: Brown D-OHNAYS: Vance R-OH

Senate Vote 4:WOMEN'S ISSUES DIPLOMAT: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Geeta Rao Gupta to be the U.S. ambassador at large for global women's issues. Gupta, currently a senior fellow at the U.N. Foundation, is also co-chair of a World Health Organization advisory committee on health emergencies. The vote, on May 10, was 51 yeas to 47 nays.YEAS: Brown D-OHNAYS: Vance R-OH

Senate Vote 5:ENDANGERED SPECIES REGULATION: The Senate has passed a resolution (S.J. Res. 23), sponsored by Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., to disapprove of and void a 2022 National Marine Fisheries Service rule regulating the listing of endangered and threatened species and critical habitat for those species. Lummis said the rule has created "an ad hoc system that creates decreased property values and predatory legal challenges for American families and businesses. In fact, it incentivizes landowners to make sure that their land could never be habitat for threatened or endangered species." The vote, on May 11, was 51 yeas to 49 nays.NAYS: Brown D-OHYEAS: Vance R-OH

Senate Vote 6:LONG-EARED BAT: The Senate has passed a resolution (S.J. Res. 24), sponsored by Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., to disapprove of and void a Fish and Wildlife Service rule listing the northern long-eared bat as an endangered species. An opponent, Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., cited the bat's beneficial role in controlling farm pest populations. The vote, on May 11, was 51 yeas to 49 nays.NAYS: Brown D-OHYEAS: Vance R-OH

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Votes cast by area members of Congress May 5-11
U.S.-WASHINGTON, D.C.-GEORGE SANTOS-CRIMINAL CHARGES

U.S. Rep. George Santos on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 25, 2023 Credit - Aaron SchwartzXinhua via Getty Images

Even before House Democrats introduced a resolution on Tuesday to expel him from Congress, U.S. Rep. George Santos political future seemed tenuous. Reporters began discovering in December that the New York Republican had lied about topics as varied as his purported Jewish identity, his work history, and his campaign finances. He quickly became the target of numerous investigations. Then, in May, he was charged by the Justice Department on several counts of wire fraud and money laundering. He was also charged on theft of public funds and making false statements to the House of Representatives. Santos has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

As his political career appears to be going up in flames, challengers are circling like moths. Already, five candidates have launched bids to replace him, whether that opportunity comes when hes due to be on the ballot again next November, or sooner. More candidates are likely to announce for the seat as the situation unfolds.

For now, Santos is staying put. Despite even some of his fellow Republicans calling on him to resign, Santos has yet to lose the support of House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who needs every vote he can get in the closely divided House. If Santos were to leave Congress in the coming months, New York Governor Kathy Hochul could call a special election and party leaders would have the power to choose their preferred candidates. Democrats handily won the district in 2020, and they are optimistic about their odds of doing so again, pointing to Bidens success there and the enthusiastic anti-Santos protests that have dogged the congressman during his first term.

Heres who has jumped into the race so far.

George Santos

Despite numerous scandals and criticism even from within his own party, Santos announced in April that he is indeed running for reelection.

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I was elected to fulfill the campaign promises of securing our border, lowering the high cost of living, solving the disastrous SALT issue in our tax code, and fighting the Hochul crime crisis of policies empowering criminals to terrorize the people of New York, Santos wrote in a statement he posted to Twitter. Ive been in office for 100 days, and through legislation and my votes, Ive already made significant efforts to honor those promises.

Efforts to reach Santos campaign were unsuccessful. In a statement to TIME, a spokesperson with his congressional office wrote, Congressional offices do not comment on campaign-related matters.

Read more: The Charges Against George Santos Were A Long Time Coming

Kellen Curry

The only other Republican officially in the race so far is Kellen Curry, an Afghanistan veteran who previously worked at J.P. Morgan. Curry tells TIME he started thinking about returning to public service during the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan, but it wasnt until he read about Santos lies that he decided to take the plunge.

Somebody could not go to this extent to defraud the American people, he recalls thinking when he first read some of the damning stories about Santos. But, you know, it is what it is. Now, when I go around the district, a lot of people dont even want to talk about it.

Curry says that he is emphasizing constituent services as he campaigns, as well as youth mental health, water infrastructure, remedies for noise pollution, and federal resources for the Merchant Marine Academy. We have the most ineffective member of Congress right now and he just cant get any traction on some of the issues that are important to residents of this district, Curry says.

He calls himself a kitchen-table-issues Republican, and says he has been a Republican for most of his adult life because he supports limited government, low taxes, strong national defense, and the free market. How does he think Santos will affect the Republican brand in the district? I think Santos is an aberration. I think hes one bad apple, Curry says. I think the national party is in a tough spot with needing as many votes as they can get in a very slim majority in the House. But I also think there is a sentiment of wanting to move beyond the distraction.  Were going to have that opportunity here in the Third District pretty soon.

He adds that he looks forward to a potential special election or getting the chance to defeat Santos in a GOP primary next year if it comes down to it. I think this whole Santos reelection thing is going to go absolutely nowhere, Curry says. My sense is that hes doing this to create leverage with with DOJ.

Zak Malamed

Zak Malamed, who co-founded the group Next 50 to raise millions for battleground Democratic candidates under 50 years old, is the latest candidate to enter the race in NY-03.

Im Zak Malamad and everything Im about to tell you is true, the 29-year-old Democrat said in his announcement video published on May 15.

In an interview with TIME, Malamad describes Santos scandals as too big to ignore. Santos is not just a local embarrassment, a statewide embarrassment, a national embarrassment; hes an international embarrassment, he says. When I was in Israel and the UAE over the past couple of months, I had people coming up to me asking me if I knew anything about George Santos, not knowing that he was my representative in Congress.

Malamad says his bid brings fresh energy to the race, which is needed to defeat MAGA Republican extremists, and stands apart from current and potential candidates, some of whom have track records of losing in the district. He also says hell be focused on winning by growing the districts Democratic base, especially in the part that reaches into Queens.

Malamed says he identifies with the New Democrats, a moderate congressional caucus focused on fiscal responsibility. Asked about what issues matter most to him, Malamed talks about expanding health care access and lowering the cost of living in the district, which he says can be prohibitive for younger Americans like himself. Having lost a friend to gun violence in 2020, Malamed says he also intends to prioritize gun safety, an issue hes been working on for more than a decade.

He says the first 24 hours of his campaign have been marked by enthusiasm from across the ideological spectrum, including a shoutout on Twitter from U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, a California progressive, who praised Malamed as part of the next generation of passionate and willing public servants.

Will Murphy

A real person focused on other real people, reads the tagline on Democrat Will Murphys campaign website. The attorney and professor, who is making his first bid for office, says hes the only candidate in the race who represents ordinary people.

When the Santos news broke, I looked to the people stepping up to restore an average person, an everyday person, a real persons faith in government, he says. And I just saw more of the same. They might not be as bad as Santos. But theyre a bunch of self-interested career politicians.

Murphy says his campaign is focused on restoring trust in government. He has committed to serving no more than six years in office. Other top issues include restoring the SALT deduction and implementing common sense gun safety reforms. We have a Second Amendment for a reason, he says. But voting to make the AR-15 our national weapon, it doesnt protect people, and it doesnt protect our Second Amendment rights.

As a father to a two-week old and a two-year old, he says he feels a personal stake in advancing gun safety in schools and working on education issues.

Not every family involves wedding rings and babies, he says. But at the end of the day, family matters in this district. And Im the only candidate that can say, Im raising my family in this district.

While Murphy is preparing for a crowded Democratic primary, he says he doesnt think a special election is likely. If Kevin McCarthy wasnt such a spineless coward, desperately clinging to power in the House, he would do the right thing, be a real leader, expel George Santos, and there would be a special election, he says. But I think its been made pretty clear Kevin McCarthy is a spineless coward.

Josh Lafazan

Six years ago, Josh Lafazan was elected to the Nassau County Legislature at the age of 23, its youngest member ever. Before that, he had become the states youngest elected official when he joined his local school board at 18. Now Lafazan has joined the race for Santos seat.

On his campaign website, Lafazan states that he is a professor and an adviser to healthcare provider Northwell Health, and calls fighting the heroin and opioid epidemic his top legislative priority. The site also emphasizes his support for veterans and people with disabilities, as well as fighting bullying in schools.

This is not Lafazans first run in NY-03, Last year, he was among the candidates across the country who received support from disgraced businessman Sam Bankman-Fried. He ended up placing third in the Democratic primary.

Anna Kaplan

Former Democratic State Senator Anna Kaplan, who lost her re-election bid last year, is also in the race. Her launch video features news coverage of Santos lies and scandals while accusing him of wanting to restrict reproductive rights and slamming him for backing a bill celebrating AR-15s.

Additionally, the video tells her story of growing up Jewish in Iran, moving to New York, and officiating some of the states first same-sex weddings. It also emphasizes her support for abortion rights and gun safety, and the fact that she flipped a Republican State Senate seat in 2018, delivering control of the chamber to Democrats.

She previously ran in NY-03 in 2016, losing in the Democratic primary. Earlier in her career, she was elected Councilwoman for the Town of North Hempstead.

Other Possible Candidates

Many potential candidates who could become heavy-hitters have yet to declare whether or not they will enter the race. Among them is former U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi, a Democrat who previously represented the district and lost the gubernatorial primary to Hochul last year. Suozzi is said to be among the partys favorites for retaking the seat.

Another Democrat who could launch a bid is Robert Zimmerman, a DNC member and businessman who was the Democratic nominee for the seat in 2022, losing to Santos by 8 points. Zimmerman has faced some criticism for not doing more to expose Santos falsehoods before the election. Asked by the Washington Post early this year whether hed run again, he deflected the question.

Across the aisle, another candidate has piqued Republicans interest: New York State Senator Jack Martins.

Ive been calling on George Santos to resign since he took office and yesterdays spectacle only highlights why he needs to step down. Martins tweeted on May 11 after the Congressman was indicted. We deserve better.
The U.S. Border Patrol recorded a 50% drop in migrant encounters in the three days after Title 42 was lifted as the Arizona-Mexico border remains calm in the wake of the restrictions end.

The Border Patrol reported an average of 4,917 migrant apprehensions per day since Friday, a sharp decrease in numbers compared to the roughly 10,000 seen before Title 42s lifting, Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz said.

Ortiz estimated that there were about 60,000 migrants waiting near the border in Mexico when Title 42 ended late Thursday.

Juan Carlos Aju Hernandez, an asylum seeker from Guatemala, sits in a courtyard at the Casa del Migrante la Divina Providencia, a migrant shelter in San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, Mexico, on May 12, 2023.

Border crossings in Arizona remain relatively quiet

The Arizona-Mexico border, however, was relatively quiet when the restriction was lifted. The number of migrants seen in Mexican border communities could still increase in the days and weeks ahead as people arrive to request asylum and as deportations begin under new regulations.

In Sasabe, Arizona, armed vigilantes reportedly harassed humanitarian volunteers providing water along the border wall Friday, The Intercept first reported. Later that day, the vigilantes intimidated arriving migrants near their truck in order to reportedly gather biographic information.

Yuma transports migrants via farmworker buses

In Yuma, Mayor Douglas Nicholls announced Thursday that the Border Patrol planned to release 141 migrants into Yuma County the day after Title 42 expired.

Wilmer Rafael Carson Castillo (right) who has been on an eight-month journey from his home country of Venezuela, stands outside of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Dennis DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales, Sonora, on May 12, 2023, where he has an asylum appointment set up through CBP One.

That day, Fernando Quiroz, director of the Yuma-based AZ-CA Humanitarian Coalition, independently chartered four farmworker buses to help transport the migrants to a church in Phoenix who agreed to help.

Quiroz coordinated the effort to help asylum seekers reach their final destination in the country as Yuma County nonprofits were already at capacity. Quirozs efforts help avoid street releases in the county Friday.

Fernando Quiroz, Yuma resident and director of the AZ-CA Humanitarian Coalition, drives toward the U.S.-Mexico border to hand water bottles and snacks to migrants and asylum seekers waiting to be processed after being detained by U.S. Border Patrol agents near San Luis, Ariz,, on July 28, 2022.

Quiroz and his organization provide aid to migrants near Yuma, Somerton and San Luis every day. The number of migrants who Quiroz has encountered daily after Title 42 expired has decreased since numbers peaked ahead of the lifting, he said.

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There were nearly 1,000 migrants who presented themselves along the border in Yuma County Wednesday, Quiroz estimated. On the day of Title 42s lifting and in the days following, the number of migrants has decreased to roughly 300 or less a day, Quiroz said.

Fernando Quiroz, Yuma resident and director of the AZ-CA Humanitarian Coalition, hands water to migrants and asylum seekers detained by U.S. Border Patrol agents after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border in Yuma County, near the Cocopah Indian Tribe's reservation, on July 28, 2022.

The Dennis DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales, Sonora, was empty when Title 42 expired after more than three years and over 2.8 million migrant expulsions. Asylum seekers in Nogales and San Luis Rio Colorado continued applying for CBP One appointments Friday as they waited in Mexican shelters.

'Psychological torture': These Venezuelan migrants were among the final expulsions under Title 42

Influx of migrants seeking asylum after Title 42 end date may still happen

While there was relative calm along the border over the weekend, one Nogales migrant shelter director continued to plan for a potential increase in asylum seekers.

Juan Fransisco Loureiro Esquer, director of the San Juan Bosco migrant shelter, said he expects the number of migrants to increase as they begin to make their way north and as theyre deported under the new restrictions in place.

Shelters in southern Mexico have become empty, potentially signaling that migrants have begun making their way to the U.S.-Mexico border, Loureiro Esquer said.

Migrants must seek asylum in country on way to U.S. border under Biden rule

The Biden administration implemented a rule that bars most migrants from seeking asylum in the U.S. if they did not first request and be denied asylum in a country on their way to the border.

The American Civil Liberties Union, alongside other migrant advocacy groups, sued the administration over the new rule, which they say mirrors the Trump-era transit ban.

A federal judge in Florida on Thursday blocked the Biden administration from releasing migrants into the U.S. on parole, which could lead to overcrowding in Border Patrol facilities.

Have a news tip or story idea about the border and its communities? Contact the reporter at josecastaneda@arizonarepublic.com or connect with him on Twitter @joseicastaneda.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Title 42 is gone. Here's what to expect at the border this week
Therapist Orna Guralnik stars in the Showtime series "Couples Therapy," where she counsels real-life couples. Steven Simione/Stringer/Getty Images

Therapist Orna Guralnik, who counsels couples on Showtime's series "Couples Therapy," says that talking politics in relationships is beneficial.

In an essay for the New York Times, Guralnik said her clients' uneasy political discussions made their bonds stronger.

Movements like Black Lives Matter and #MeToo can help people move away from guilt and into personal responsibility, Guralnik wrote.

Talking politics with your partner could do wonders for your relationship, according to revered couples therapist Orna Guralnik.

Guralnik is the star of Showtime's three-season show "Couples Therapy," which lets viewers watch as she counsels couples through their lack of intimacy and trust. She has also become a familiar face on TikTok, where clips of these tense sessions often go viral.

Guralnik has been a family psychologist for three decades. In a new essay for the New York Times, she writes that she has "witnessed a tremendous change" in relationships over that time, particularly in the last eight years.

She believes that shift was propelled by political movements such as #MeToo and Black Lives Matter, which suddenly forced everyone to do "deep psychological work" and get real about their views on ethics, morality, and responsibility.

Guralnik said she has seen how these conversations  while uncomfortable  have helped people to understand and become closer to partners who, deep down, hold different views.

"As a collective, we appear to be coming around to the idea that bigger social forces run through us, animating us and pitting us against one another, whatever our conscious intentions. To invert a truism, the political is personal," Guralnik wrote.

Working through trauma with a Black woman and her police officer husband in the wake of George Floyd's murder

Guralnik gave the example of a married couple who often had dead-end conversation about how race impacted their lives and COVID safety protocols, until George Floyd was murdered and protests began across the country.

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Michelle, an African American social worker, felt "hopeless" when she wanted to talk about the trauma Black people face with her husband James, who was a police officer at the time and from a conservative family.

James would often respond to Michelle that he "didn't see color," making her feel unseen and unimportant. But when they met with Guralnik, and discussed their worst fears in relation to George Floyd, James began to see his internal biases, came to terms with his fear over who he could actually trust, and started to have more vulnerable conversations with Michelle.

Their resolution shows how conversations on polarizing topics can be addressed without shattering a relationship, according to Guralnik.

How to have hard conversations that will make your relationship stronger

According to Guralnik, being brave enough to challenge your own beliefs in the name of love can take a relationship to the next level.

"Love is ultimately measured by people's capacity to see and care about the other person as they are; succeeding in this effort is how people in relationships grow," Guralnik wrote.

Guralnik said that, in her experience, a successful relationship involves partners who are interested in understanding their partner's "otherness." Those are the couples who can successfully evolve together, even through great hardship and difference.

She said that these conversations can initially cause defensive reactions. But stay with it: Work through the issue over a few weeks, together or with a therapist, and these frustrating talks can evolve into ones of more understanding and closeness.

Read the original article on Insider
ALBANY, N.Y.  Gov. Kathy Hochuls botched attempt to rewrite the states landmark climate law during secretive budget negotiations outraged her sometimes allies in the environmental movement  and handed the cudgel of higher gas prices to opponents of New Yorks efforts to slash emissions.

Hochul inserted a proposal in budget talks that would have weakened the actions needed to achieve the states emissions reduction limits enshrined in law. Her effort, first reported by POLITICO, received immediate blowback from environmental groups and Democratic lawmakers who have made tackling the climate crisis a top priority.

At first, the governor deployed her top energy and environmental officials to defend the urgency of the proposed change. It was needed to avoid having implementation of the climate law prove too costly for consumers, they said.

But that effort lasted less than three days before they met with the governor and then were sent to face reporters and announce that the change was no longer a top priority in budget negotiations.

New Yorkers experienced budgetary whiplash, said New York Public Interest Research Groups legislative director Blair Horner.

A rebate for consumers remains a priority for the Hochul administration in budget talks, and theyre not backing down from pushing the controversial change later this year.

Governor Hochul and her administration remain fully committed to addressing cost implications outside of the budget and combatting climate change, and the Governor continues to work with the legislature on a budget that includes the most impactful climate initiatives in recent history, Hochul spokesperson Katy Zielinski said in a statement.

The states Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act mandates reductions in greenhouse gas emissions of 40 percent from 1990 levels by 2030 and 85 percent by 2050, with the remainder offset.

New York is unique in using three factors that increase the emissions that have to be reduced: a 20-year metric for the impact of planet-warming gasses, out-of-state upstream emissions from imported fuels and biogenic emissions from burning fuels like wood and ethanol.

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If New York were to use the accounting most other states do, its statutory targets would fall behind at least Washington, Massachusetts and Maryland.

The progress toward the goal as of 2020 under the two scenarios indicates New York would be able to keep burning more fossil fuels for longer. Under the states current accounting, for example, New York has achieved about 37 percent of the progress needed to meet the 2030 goal, according to an analysis of state data by POLITICO.

If the state were to switch over to the accounting method being pushed by Hochuls administration, the picture is much rosier: the state has already gotten three-quarters of the way to the 2030 goal.

Its hardly unusual for a governor to privately insert a new ask into budget talks after theyve already staked out a public position in the official executive budget proposal. Hochul, for example, successfully secured millions for a new Buffalo Bills stadium as part of negotiations last year.

Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo regularly exercised the outsized power an executive has in the states budget process, including by strengthening his control over an obscure public financing body that lawmakers used to derail a deal to bring an Amazon headquarters to New York City.

But the Hochul administrations failure to execute and the public about-face on rewriting the climate law heralded as nation leading has taken some observers aback. Its another example, following the defeat of her first nominee to lead the states highest court, of growing pains for the governor who won by a relatively narrow margin last November.

The affordability issue is a legitimate issue for us to discuss, and we need to address it because it's a real thing. I dont know that it was a wise move to try to inject it without any pre-sale into the budget negotiations, said Sen. Pete Harckham (D-Westchester County), who chairs the Environmental Conservation Committee and opposed Hochuls proposal.

It was kind of ill-timed the way it was done.

The proposal garnered praise from business groups, Republican lawmakers and support from the biofuels industry and gas companies. Labor also supported the accounting change pushed by Hochul, although the New York State AFL-CIO hasnt taken a position on a separate but related legislative measure.

The saga led the Wall Street Journals editorial board  never the biggest fan of aggressive action to address climate change  to declare Hochul the weakest New York governor in decades.

Backers of much of Hochuls climate agenda, who have been pressing for faster action, were disheartened by the governors proposal  even though it appears temporarily shelved.

Its a real 180 degree change from where the administration was just a month ago, said Liz Moran, the New York policy advocate for Earthjustice. To now say, Oh, its too costly, is deeply concerning. Its echoing the talking points of the fossil fuel industry.

Environmental advocates and their legislative allies urged the governor to consider other policies to limit costs of the states climate plan for low-income New Yorkers, including by capping energy costs as a percent of income and eliminating support for expanding the gas system. Theyve also pushed a measure that would raise $75 billion from fossil fuel companies for historic global emissions.

All of it comes as lawmakers and Hochul try to negotiate a state budget that missed the April 1 start of the fiscal year.

Moran said picking between affordability and acting on climate was a false choice. The states own analysis shows a net benefit for New Yorks aggressive action on reducing emissions under the current law rather than Hochuls proposed change.

That includes health benefits and global benefits of reduced greenhouse gas emissions, which may ultimately do little to stem the effects of a warming planet, more intense storms and rising seas in New York.

It may be too soon to tell whether Hochuls actions will be viewed as a misstep or not, said Larry Levy, executive dean of the National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University on Long Island  where Hochul lost last November to Rep. Lee Zeldin, the Republican candidate.

Her supporters could say its a sign of flexibility in the face of a strong counterargument, he said. Her opponents might promote this as a sign of weakness,  which scenario depends on what else she gets back from the legislature in exchange for keeping her political powder dry on this particular issue.

The Hochul administration has indicated theyll continue pushing the proposed change later in the legislative session. The Department of Environmental Conservation expects to issue draft regulations to impose an economy-wide pricing mechanism on emissions through a cap-and-trade style system this summer.

Hochul wants legislative signoff to rebate roughly a third of the money raised to consumers to cushion the expected increase in fossil fuel costs. The figures cited by her administration in pushing to change New Yorks law indicate gas prices would rise about 60 cents a gallon under the current system versus 39 cents if the changes proposed were adopted.

In the immediate aftermath of the latest fight, opponents of the states climate policies now have a convenient talking point to hammer as Hochuls administration moves forward with regulations required by the end of the year to achieve the emissions reductions mandated in law.

The Hochul administration, and some top legislative Democrats, finally acknowledge that, left as is, the CLCPA will cost everyday New Yorkers and their families far too much, wrote Sen. Tom OMara (R-Chemung County) in a column. They finally recognize that the current plan holds massive consequences, on so many levels, and that its time to pump the brakes on an out-of-control climate strategy.
(Bloomberg) -- Hong Kong libraries have purged books about the deadly 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, marking the latest step in the citys campaign against free speech.

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A search of the Hong Kong Public Libraries catalog on Tuesday yielded no results when using key words and dates related to the military crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Beijing, including: Tiananmen, June 4th, June, 4, 1989 and revolution.

Notable books about the crackdown no longer found in the collection include a Chinese-language title, called People Wont Forget, written by 64 Hong Kong journalists and The Power of Tiananmen by Chinese sociologist Zhao Dingxin.

The removals come after government auditors last month instructed the citys public libraries to step up efforts to ensure their facilities didnt carry materials that threatened national security.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee defended the purge at a regular press briefing Tuesday, saying libraries should only stock books that serve the interests of Hong Kong.

These books are accessible by people on private books shelves, he added. If they want to buy them, then they can.

Less than two years ago, the citys libraries carried some 120 titles about the crackdown, according to a November 2021 Hong Kong Free Press report. Only 26 books were on display at that time, however, with the rest available on request, according to the publication.

Since China imposed a security law on Hong Kong in June 2020, it has mostly been used to target freedom of expression, with about 70% of some 240 arrests made by security police related to alleged speech crimes. Books by prominent pro-democracy activists Jimmy Lai and Joshua Wong, who face charges under the law, have already been pulled from libraries.

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After the security law went into effect, authorities also banned an annual candlelight vigil for Tiananmen victims, which for decades had been the only one allowed on Chinese soil. Estimates of the death toll ranged from hundreds to as many as 2,600 after Communist Party leaders sent troops into Tiananmen Square and surrounding streets to violently clear protesters.

Hong Kong ranked 140 out of 180 places in the most recent World Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders.

Last week, local news outlet Ming Pao said it would stop publishing cartoons by the artist Wong Kei-kwan, who used the pen name Zunzi, after he came under government criticism from his satirical comics.

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Rep. George Santos in the Capitol Visitor Center on February 7, 2023. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

The House could vote to expel Rep. George Santos this week.

Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia offered a privileged resolution seeking to expel the New Yorker.

The House GOP has only two working days to determine the next step for the privileged resolution.

Members of the House of Representatives could take a vote to expel GOP Rep. George Santos from Congress this week after Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia introduced a privileged resolution on the floor to oust the New Yorker.

"George Santos is a fraud and a liar, and he needs to be expelled by the House," Garcia wrote in a statement.

The resolution is privileged, meaning that House Republican leadership has just two legislative working days to schedule a vote on the matter, table it, or refer it to a committee, among other options.

If the resolution is brought to a vote, two-thirds of the House will need to vote to expel him for it to pass.

According to Axios, Garcia had House Democratic leadership's blessing to introduce the resolution, which Garcia's office said has close to 50 Democratic co-sponsors.

Earlier in May, federal prosecutors unsealed an indictment against Santos, charging him with 13 counts, including charges of theft of public funds, wire fraud, and money laundering.

Since the indictment, members of his own party have begun turning on the embattled congressman, calling him "a complete embarrassment."

"I think he needs to go right away, and I hope that he resigns," said Rep. Nick LaLota, a fellow New York Republican.

After pleading "not guilty" to the 13 counts, Santos recently told reporters he planned to fight the charges and refused to resign from Congress.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Democratic US Rep Robert Garcia introduced a resolution on 16 May to expel George Santos from the House of Representatives after the scandal-plagued congressman refused to resign from office following a range of criminal fraud charges against him.

The privileged motion from Mr Garcia gives the Republican-controlled House of Representatives until Thursday to consider it for a vote. It is not clear when that will take place.

That vote is likely to fail in the GOP-dominated House, as House Speaker Kevin McCarthy cannot afford to lose any Republican votes in a fractured Congress.

The 34-year-old Long Island Republican and prolific fabulist, who was elected to office in November, has refused to step down following a wave of reporting that documents his false and inflated claims about his income, career and life story.

When asked by CBS News to respond to the resolutions introduction on Tuesday, Mr Santos said Democrats are really good at trying to play judge and jury and trying to hold people guilty before theyve even been given a fair shot at a trial.

Im confident that justice is blind and that its not biased like Robert Garcia is, he added.

Last week, federal prosecutors charged Mr Santos with 13 counts of wire fraud, money laundering, stealing public funds and lying on federal disclosure forms. He has pleaded not guilty.

George Santos is a fraud and a liar, and he needs to be expelled by the House, Mr Garcia said in a statement announcing his resolution.

News that federal prosecutors are filing 13 criminal charges against George Santos should have been the final straw for Kevin McCarthy, but he refuses to act, he added. Republicans now have a chance to demonstrate to Americans that an admitted criminal should not serve in the House of Representatives.

Mr Garcias one-page resolution reads: Resolved, That, pursuant to Article I, Section 5, Clause 2 of the Constitution of the United States, Representative George Santos, be, and he hereby is, expelled 4 from the House of Representatives.

A vote to table Mr Garcias motion would require a majority vote, and removing Mr Santos would need at least a two-thirds majority vote to succeed.
Cannabis entrepreneurs Dwayne Hirsch, left, and Reginald Reese. (The Green Toad Hemp Farm via blackprpresswire)

Black farmers are looking to the budding cannabis industry in the U.S. to spur generational wealth in the Black community after decades of grappling with the hardships of being locked out of the agricultural industry and land ownership, while being on the receiving end of the detrimental effects of cannabis being classified as a drug.

This is a plant that has been tied to the very fabric of not only the nation, but to Black America as a whole, Jason Brooks, co-owner of Green Toad Hemp Farm, Georgias first Black-owned hemp farm, told Yahoo News. As a second-generation farmer, Im so proud to be a part of growing this plant that so many of our people have been incarcerated behind. Now we get to do it in a legal way.

U.S. legacy of Black farming

An African American man cultivating cotton in North Carolina, circa 1902. (Buyenlarge/Getty Images)

Brookss lineage in America, like many Black Americans in the U.S., dates back to the slavery era, during which people were brought from Africa to cultivate land for crops whose yield became the backbone of the U.S. economy.

Black people have always been a people that have been great at mastering and tilling soil, Brooks said. One of the few things that we did on the land for years was grow hemp and make hemp products.

In January 1865, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, Union Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman signed Field Order 15, in which the U.S. agreed to provide 400,000 acres of southeastern U.S. land previously owned by members of the Confederacy to Black families. But after the land was returned to Confederate owners later that year, many Black farmers turned to sharecropping  renting shares of land, largely from white landowners and plantations  giving them a hefty portion of the crop yield.

There was heavy discrimination against Black farmers, especially in the Bible Belt where a lot of people that were sharecropping lost millions of hectares of land, Brooks, whose grandfather was a sharecropper, explained. They got deals that were predatory and a good portion of the family that I have has lost all their farmland.

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State of Black farmers now

Co-founder and CEO of Green Toad Hemp Farm Reginald Reese, in Metter, Ga. (Courtesy of the Green Toad Hemp Farm)

The population of Black farm owners in operation in the U.S. has dwindled dramatically, from nearly a million farmers in 1920 to currently representing less than 50,000.

Black farmers have been subjected to a long history of discriminatory policies by entities like the Department of Agriculture; these include being disproportionately rejected for federal farm assistance and lending, which caused many Black farmers to forgo land ownership and farm foreclosure.

To this day, very few Black farmers get the resources and the knowledge that they need in order to go forward, Brooks explained.

The U.S. has started to pay off loans for Black borrowers under the American Rescue Plan Act, answering to lawsuits that cite years of racial discrimination against Black farmers.

As noted by Yahoo News partner the Grio, some states are also granting medical cannabis licenses to Black farmers who had been left out of previous application processes.

Generations were essentially cut off from the lifeblood of their family business, Brooks said. Now, we the children and grandchildren are trying to rebuild that legacy. The government does have a huge responsibility to bear on that to make sure that we can produce and provide products to this country because this is our home, and this is what you do inside of a nation like this.

Reclaiming legacy and reparations through cannabis farming

A growing field at the Green Toad Hemp Farm (Courtesy of the Green Toad Hemp Farm)

Black farmers say cannabis legalization has created inroads for America to right the wrongs inflicted by the residual effect of slavery, Jim Crow-era laws, the mass incarceration of Black people from the Reagan-era war on drugs and their lockout in the agricultural industry.

Marijuana is now legal in 22 states and Washington, D.C., and medical marijuana is legal in 38 states plus D.C. According to the Marijuana Business Factbook, by 2024, legal cannabis sales will increase 181% from $38 billion in 2019 to about $130 billion annually for the U.S. economy. But the Marijuana Business Daily reported in 2021 that 81% of cannabis business owners and founders were white, while Black people made up just 4.3%.

We need reparations in the spaces of cannabis, Brooks emphasized. To be able to grow and cultivate, we need priority contracts set aside just for us. We need tax-exempt status so that we are allowed to repair ourselves and be made whole.

When the Farm Bill was signed into law in 2018, hemp  defined as cannabis and derivatives of cannabis with no more than 0.3% THC on a dry weight basis"  was removed from the definition of marijuana in the Controlled Substances Act.

Many Black families took advantage of this new opportunity to grow hemp as a legal crop. Brookss father-in-law, Reginald Reese, founded the Green Toad Hemp Farm in Metter, Ga., in 2019. His venture began after trying to find opioid alternatives to deal with his chronic back pain.

He really understood that our body has an endocannabinoid system, and this endocannabinoid system needs to be fed, explained Brooks. Its in every persons human DNA. He started experimenting with CBD and found that he did get great relief and didnt have any nasty side effects. So he decided to dedicate his life to spreading awareness about the healing powers of the cannabinoid system, starting his own farm.

Dwayne Hirsch, president and chief of business development of the Green Toad Hemp Farm. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

The family now works about 30 acres of farmland to produce cannabis products. Brooks said that Green Toad Hemp Farm has also partnered with Georgia Southern University, which has a program for students to research the use of hemp for human use, while keeping the production of it eco-friendly.

Farming is literally 22nd-century stuff, Brooks said. They have drones out now that will survey the land. So the advancement into this space along with AI technology and robotics is going to make farming even more efficient.

Brooks described the farming industry as ripe for revolution and change as it invites academia and younger generations into the farming space.

We see YouTube, TikTok and Instagram pages of Black people still farming, Brooks said. This is something thats encoded into our very DNA and souls.

However, Black farmers in the cannabis industry still face significant barriers like access to land, markets, resources, capital for operation, health insurance, loans, legal and administrative obstacles, and obtaining crop insurance as a cannabis farm.

If you gave us the resources to take care of our communities by finally getting paid what we're supposed to be getting paid, I guarantee youll see a severe decrease in issues that plague the Black society.

But Brooks doesnt want consumers to fall into the pit of buying from Black-owned farms just because they are owned by Black farmers.

The hope is that when people see the effort that we put into our products to make sure that they compete or are even better than some of the products on the market today, well break down that wall where people will stop seeing us as just Black folks with farms and seeing us as Americans who have farms. ... And nothing breaks down a barrier quite like sharing a good blunt.
At a packed meeting Monday night that lasted until 2 a.m., the Montclair Board of Education voted to cut 31 teachers and 34 paraprofessionals from its budget for the upcoming school year.

More than 200 residents attended the meeting, and about a hundred spoke passionately against the cuts, including dozens of students. A petition titled, Rescue our Schools, which began circulating Monday, has nearly 1,000 signatures.

District spokesperson David Cantor said the cuts are necessary to balance a $5.5 million budget deficit, which is exacerbated by a post-pandemic enrollment decline of 9%.

Since nearly 80% of the school budget goes to salaries and benefits, staff reductions are unavoidable, he said.

No one ever wants to decrease staff, but it is not fiscally responsible to employ more staff in 2022 than in 2019 when we have 9% fewer students, said school board president Allison Silverstein.

The cutbacks have a familiar ring. Last year, 83 teachers and paraprofessionals were let go, though some were later rehired. Then, too, enrollment declines were blamed.

More: Montclair home built by World War II engineer on market for $2.9 million. Take a look

According to the petition, the current school funding system, in which more than 90% of the towns public school budget comes from property taxes; little comes from the state, and theres a 2% cap on how much taxes can increase, is unsustainable.

The petition also lays blame at the feet of the town council, who, it says, has encouraged the development of luxury apartment buildings with PILOT programs (payments in lieu of taxes) that contribute nothing to the schools.

PILOTs break the social contract, whereby everyone in the community supports public schools at a level proportional to their property value, the petition reads. The wealthiest property owners in our town are getting huge property tax discounts through sweetheart PILOT agreements.

In an email to constituents, councilor Peter Yacobellis said PILOT programs are a very good tool for towns to maximize revenue from development. But he believes the school district should receive some revenue from the residential part of the development, depending on square footage and the anticipated number of children going into the school system. He said he is raising this point as the town moves closer to possibly approving the huge Lackawanna Plaza development.

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The petition also painted a stark contrast between the fire department and school budgets. Firefighters earn more than teachers, it asserts, and while infrastructure in the schools is crumbling, some of the towns firehouses have Viking stoves. It calls on the town to not add any additional firefighters without due diligence, especially since the council recently renewed the contract to fight fires in Glen Ridge for a reduced annual fee.

The schools current enrollment decline began in 2016 but accelerated during the pandemic, as schools remained closed for a year. 459 students left the Montclair public schools during the 2020-2021 school year, with more than 117 transferring to private schools. This was despite a jump in the number of young families moving into town from New York City.

Declining enrollments not only reduce funding from the state, but they raise concern that the resulting cuts could trigger more defections, creating a vicious cycle.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Montclair NJ school board cutting teachers, paraprofessionals
The Hungarian government confirmed on Tuesday that it has not approved the disbursement of the next 500 million tranche from the European Peace Facility, which finances military equipment for Ukraine.

Source: Reuters, quoting the press service of the Hungarian government, reported by European Pravda

Details: The Hungarian government said that it does not agree with the use of the European Peace Facility "solely with regard to Ukraine as this does not allow sufficient funds to be channelled to promote the EU's interests in other areas".

Budapest believes that this EU instrument should also be used to support the Balkans and North Africa, and it is "very important for these issues to be clarified".

Background: As previously reported by the media, the 500 million tranche was due to be disbursed next Monday, 22 May.

The European Peace Facility is an off-budget funding mechanism with a total budget of almost 8 billion.

Through this fund, the EU has supported the Ukrainian Armed Forces in seven successive support packages, as well as many other countries, such as Mozambique, Georgia, Moldova, Mali, Somalia, Niger, Jordan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lebanon and Mauritania.

In early February, the Council of the European Union approved the latest seventh tranche of military assistance to Ukraine from the fund, as well as the allocation of funds for the EU training mission for the Ukrainian military.

In addition, in early May, the EU Council resolved to allocate 1 billion from the European Peace Facility as part of its initiative to provide Ukraine with artillery ammunition.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
FIRST ON FOX: Hunter Biden arranged a 2012 phone call between his father, then-Vice President Joe Biden, and the family of his business associate James J. Bulger, the late crime boss' nephew who later served with Hunter on the board of a Chinese government-backed company, emails show.

On the day before Thanksgiving in 2012, Hunter reached out to Bulger, who went by "Jimmy" among his friends, to let him know he had been briefed about a potential business deal with a Kazakh tycoon and Prospect Global Resources, a now-defunct potash mining company in Arizona.

"Jimmy - Wanted to wish you and all the Bulgers a Happy Thanksgiving from me and all the Bidens," Hunter wrote on Nov. 21, 2012, according to an email from his infamous abandoned laptop, which Fox News Digital has reviewed and verified.

"Devon has been keeping me up to date on PGRX too," he added, referring to his former business partner Devon Archer. "Look forward to seeing you soon. Best, Hunter."

BIDEN'S CLAIM TO HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF HUNTER'S BUSINESS DEALINGS IS BECOMING HARDER TO MAINTAIN

Bulger, the former chairman and president of Thornton Group LLC in Boston, responded by thanking Hunter for arranging a call between "the Bulgers" and Vice President Biden.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"Thanks for the note," Bulger wrote, "happy thanksgiving to all the Bidens!"

"Your dads [sic] call was a huge hit here for the Bulgers," he continued. "[T]hey are still talking about you are [sic] star for putting that together. Have a safe trip to Nantucket!"

"We will have a meeting on the 3rd down in DC and we will bang around the PGRx project and the XCMG deal as well as Bohia [sic] updates," Bulger added. "Have a god [sic] weekend and please let your dad know that he is a star with the whole Bulger clan!"

Hunter Biden arranged a 2012 phone call between then-Vice President Joe Biden and his business associate James J. Bulger, emails show.

It is unclear what the phone call was about. Bulger and the White House did not respond to Fox News Digitals requests for comment.

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Less than two months after the phone call, Archer forwarded an email to Hunter that Michael Lin, a close business partner to Bulger, sent to Archer and Bulger with the subject line "BH/RST," which refers to Bohai Harvest RST.

"FYIupdate on Bohai potentiala lot of code here so will fill you in on color," Archer said, forwarding Lin's email. It is unclear what the email attachment said.

Less than two months after then-Vice President Joe Biden's phone call with the Bulgers, Devon Archer forwarded an email to Hunter Biden that Michael Lin, a close business partner to Bulger, sent to Archer and Bulger with the subject line "BH/RST," which refers to Bohai Harvest RST.

Bulger is the nephew of the late James "Whitey" Bulger, the notorious Boston crime boss who was captured in 2011 after spending 16 years on the run. At the time of the younger Bulgers email exchange with Hunter, his uncle was awaiting trial for a slew of murder and racketeering charges. The elder Bulger was sentenced to two life sentences behind bars for 11 murders and other crimes before he died in prison in October 2018.

HUNTER BIDEN'S FORMER BUSINESS PARTNER, CLOSE FRIEND MAKES LAST-DITCH ATTEMPT TO AVOID PRISON SENTENCE

James "Whitey" Bulger mugshot in 2011.

Fox News Digital has previously reported that the younger Bulger played an integral role in Hunter's Chinese business ventures and was in communication with him regularly as early as 2010.

BHR Partners, a Beijing-backed private equity firm controlled by Bank of China Limited, was formed in late 2013 when Bulgers Thornton Group joined forces with Hunters now-defunct Rosemont Seneca Partners to launch its joint-venture with Chinese investment firm Bohai Capital.

Fox News Digital reported last year that Bulger tried to arrange a meeting with Hunter, Archer and "the Chinese ambassador in DC to talk about the fund" on Jan. 27, 2014, when Joe Biden was serving as vice president.

James Bulger tried to arrange a meeting with Hunter Biden, Devon Archer and "the Chinese ambassador in DC to talk about the fund" on Jan. 27, 2014, when Joe Biden was serving as vice president.

MOBSTER WHITEY BULGERS NEPHEW, A HUNTER BIDEN BUSINESS ASSOCIATE, SCORED WHITE HOUSE VISIT WHEN BIDEN WAS VP

Another email, dated July 22, 2014, showed Bulger asking Hunter to introduce his BHR partners to Tung Chee-hwa, a billionaire and first chief executive of Hong Kong who was serving as the vice-chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in 2014. The CPPCC is the "key mechanism for multi-party cooperation and political consultation" under the leadership of the CCP, according to the CPPCC website.

"It is my understanding that during the trip to Beijing that you made with your father, President Xi hosted a welcome dinner," Bulger wrote at the time. "[A]t that dinner, you were seated right next to Mr Tung, therefore J and Andy believe it would be very helpful if you could please send a brief email to Mr Tung laying out that you are a partner and Board Member of BHR and that You would be grateful to Mr Tung if he could meet your local partners to discuss the Fund."

Hunter responded that he was "happy" to fulfill the request but said he could not recall the names of the gentlemen who sat next to him at the dinner.

"Happy to do this," he wrote, "but I have no email address for Mr. Tung and he very well may have sat next to me but I don't recall the two gentlemen's names to my left and right. Regardless, I would suggest the team draft an email in Mandarin and English for my approval ASAP."

In July 2014, Hunter Biden said he would be "happy" to help introduce BHR CEO Jonathan Li and BHR committee person Andy Lu to "Mr. Tung," who refers to Tung Chee-hwa, the vice-chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference at the time.

Fox News Digital previously reached out to the White House multiple times requesting the seating chart for the Beijing dinner, specifically Hunter's table, but they did not respond.

It appears that the Beijing "welcome dinner" hosted by President Xi that Bulger was referencing in his initial email occurred during the evening of Dec. 4, 2013 after then-Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao met with Vice President Biden earlier in the day to discuss strengthening U.S.-China relations.

A press release by the Chinese Embassy at the time said Vice President Li held a welcome ceremony for Biden prior to their meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Tiananmen Square, where the CPPCCs Tung was also in attendance.

While it is not uncommon for family members to accompany dignitaries to state dinners and other official events, Hunter saying he would be "happy" to help introduce some of his business associates to Tung months after the dinner to help BHR, which he had a stake in at the time, could raise ethical questions.

President Biden, left, and his son Hunter Biden attend the annual Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House on April 10, 2023, in Washington, D.C.

HUNTER BIDEN ARRANGED NYC MEETING BETWEEN VP BIDEN AND ROSEMONT-CONNECTED BUSINESS ASSOCIATE

In addition to his own business deals, Hunter also involved Bulger in his familys business matters. Fox News Digital reported in 2021 that John Owens, who is married to Valerie Biden Owens, President Bidens younger sister, reached out to Hunter in May 2014 for assistance in securing a business license to expand his telemedicine company in China, saying it needed to be "secured very quickly."

Owens, who goes by Jack, emailed Hunter Biden on May 9, 2014, informing him that his companies, MediGuide America and MediGuide Insurance Services International, reached a "serious stage" in negotiations with a China-based insurance company, but said he wouldnt be able to "seal this deal" without a "Chinese Business License."

Within the hour, Hunter turned to Bulger by forwarding the email to him, writing, "See email below. It's from my Uncle Jack. Is there a way we can help him expedite this? Time is of the essence here."

It is unclear whether Bulger and Lin were able to successfully secure the business license for Owens.

Jimmy Bulger email.

RON KLAIN SOLICITED MONEY FROM HUNTER BIDEN FOR VP RESIDENCE IN 2012, EMAILS SHOW: 'KEEP THIS LOW LOW KEY'

Fox News Digital previously reported that Bulger and Hunters longtime business partner Eric Schwerin, who managed the Biden's family's finances and visited the White House at least 27 times during the Obama administration, did work for the State Legislative Leaders Foundation (SLLF) for a business initiative in China.

In April 2015, Bulger sent a long email to Hunter Biden to discuss his recent visit to Beijing as part of the SLLF advance team in preparation for a program there in late 2015. Bulger referenced a "Henry" spearheading the partnership, which appears to refer to Henry Zhao, the "Vice president of State Legislative Leaders Foundation (SLLF) in the US and the President of the Asia Branch of SLLF," according to his website's bio. The New York Post previously reported that Zhao is a Chinese Communist Party official and CEO of Harvest Fund Management.

"Henry is spearheading this initiative with SLLF in China so I spent the last week with him. Henry is a big supporter of SLLF and he sees this initiative as being of a major diplomatic significance to both the US and China," Bulger wrote. "Henry and Steve Lakis (President of SLLF) asked me if I could help Steve set up a meeting with you when Steve is in DC next. Steve wanted to ask your advice on how to proceed on one aspect of setting up an SLLF office in China."

"[Jimmy], Whatever you need on this just let me know and I'll make it work. Call me tmrw- mid morning works best," Hunter replied.

Fox News Digital also previously reported that Bulger was listed as visiting the White House for a West Wing tour on Aug. 25, 2016.

White House visitor logs showed Bulger meeting with Anne Marie Person, who previously served as a general assistant at Hunter's Rosemont Seneca Partners investment firm from 2009 until she joined then-Vice President Bidens staff in 2014.

Six months after Bulger visited the White House, Vice President Biden wrote a college recommendation letter for the son of BHR CEO Jonathan Li after Li reached out to Hunter, Bulger and Archer.

"Gentlmen [sic], please find the attached resume of my son, Chris Li. He is applying the following colleges for this year," Li wrote in an email dated Jan. 3, 2017, listing Brown University, Cornell University and New York University.

"Lets [sic] see how we can be helpful here to Chris," Bulger responded to Hunter and Archer.

Several weeks later, on Feb. 18, 2017, Schwerin, who served as president of Rosemont Seneca Partners, replied to Li, writing, "Jonathan, Hunter asked me to send you a copy of the recommendation letter that he asked his father to write on behalf of Christopher for Brown University," Schwerin wrote.

"The original is being FedExed to Dr. Paxson directly at Brown," he added, referring to the president of Brown University.

In addition to being Whitey's nephew, Bulger is the son of William "Billy" Bulger, who served as president of the Massachusetts State Senate for eight years. Billy Bulger was an ally of John Kerry when he served in the Senate.

Kerrys stepson, Christopher Heinz, co-founded Rosemont Seneca with Hunter and Archer, who is currently facing prison time for defrauding a Native American tribe.

While Hunter has not been considered a suspect in the case against Archer, he was listed as vice president of the company through which the fraudulent bonds were issued, Burnham Financial Group, and Hunter was paid $155,000 during the time the Department of Justice said the crimes occurred, the New York Post reported.

Fox News' Haley Chi-Sing contributed to this report.
On Sunday, Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy issued a disaster declaration after ice jams and snowmelt led to significant flooding in several communities along the Kuskokwim and Yukon rivers this past weekend.

A major ice jam on the Yukon River, which originates in the coastal mountains of Canada and flows nearly 2,000 miles northwest into the Bering Sea, has created catastrophic flooding in several riverfront communities.

"Ice jams are caused when ice breaks up on the river, begins to flow downstream but then gets 'stuck' and acts as a dam. This causes the water in the river to rise, usually quite rapidly, and gives very little notice to the flood threat," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tom Kines said.

This time of the year is known as the "spring breakup" in Alaska, and while that may sound like the name of a rom-com movie, FEMA officials say it's no laughing matter, especially if you live in The Last Frontier. In April and May, most of the river ice in Alaska thaws and breaks up into pieces. If it melts too quickly, it can result in ice jams and heavy flooding in riverfront communities.

An ice jam in Crooked Creek, Alaska, resulted in significant flooding. (National Weather Service Alaska Region via Storyful)

According to Kines, the spring breakup was slightly delayed this year due to cooler temperatures in April. However, recent rain and temperatures above freezing in eastern and north-central Alaska have jump-started the annual ice breakup.

The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Fairbanks warned in late April that this year's spring breakup would create significant flooding for riverfront communities. The agency said the outlook was based on observed snowpack, ice thickness reports and seasonal temperature forecasts.

NWS hydrologist Ed Plumb told the Alaska Public Media that 80 to 90 miles of bank-to-bank ice running down the Yukon River is what caused the water to rise significantly in the eastern Alaska town of Eagle this past weekend.

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"The road between Eagle and Eagle Village, which goes upriver, along the river, was completely covered with ice and water, and there were some structures too that were surrounded by ice and water," Plumb told Alaska Public Media.

Just as fast as the water came rushing into the town of Eagle, the water went rushing out Saturday. According to Plumb, roads are still impassable because giant ice chunks were left behind as the floodwater receded.

As the ice flowed downstream on the Yukon River, other riverfront towns were at risk for significant flooding. Nearly 109 miles northwest of Eagle, in the town of Circle and ahead of the ice jam, river levels rose nearly 10 feet in a matter of 30 minutes.

We are saddened to see the damages from the ice jam flooding in Circle over the weekend. Our thoughts go out to those that have lost their homes or property during this devastating flood. Here are photos take by our River Watch team on Sun after the water receded. #akwx pic.twitter.com/5omf6xERmM  NWS Fairbanks (@NWSFairbanks) May 15, 2023

Photos shared by the NWS showed several homes in the community of Circle inundated with water. The floodwaters were so high that only the tops of the trucks could be seen.

By Sunday afternoon, the water levels had receded in Circle, but the NWS warned that standing water and large ice chunks will remain a threat to the community throughout the week.

Alaska state troopers said all Circle residents were accounted for, and no one was injured.

In Southwest Alaska, a 15-mile ice jam on the Kuskokwim River led to significant flooding in Red Devil and Crooked Creek communities this past weekend.

In this aerial photo chunks of ice follow flooding from an ice jam in Crooked Creek, Alaska, May 15, 2023. Ice jams along two Alaska rivers unleashed major flooding over the weekend. (Jennifer Wallace, Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management via AP)

As the torrent of water inundated the small town, located roughly 275 miles northwest of Anchorage, residents were forced to seek shelter in the local school, which sits at a higher elevation than surrounding homes, KTUU in Anchorage reported.

A drone video shared by the Alaska Region NWS showed the floodwaters overtaking multiple riverfront homes as the broken ice flowed down the river. According to KTUU, some houses were torn off their foundations due to the force of the rushing water.

Alaska Public Media reported that everyone in Crooked Creek was accounted for, and the American Red Cross was on site providing shelter and helping the residents who were impacted by the floods.

Multiple flood warnings and watches remained in effect across Alaska as of Tuesday evening.

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This is a breaking news story. Check back to idahostatesman.com for updates.

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A retired U.S. military veteran from Idaho helping Ukraine combat Russias invasion is believed to have been killed on the front lines in eastern Ukraine.

Nick Maimer, 45, of Boise, had for the last year been training civilian volunteers in Ukraines ongoing effort to defend its borders. Maimer, a former Army Green Beret, died when a Russian artillery shell destroyed a building where he was positioned during intensified fighting in the city of Bakhmut, according to Perry Blackburn, who helped recruit Maimer to Kyiv last May.

From what I understand, he was providing them with firsthand training in that area so that they can continue to do the fight, and he got caught behind enemy lines, Blackburn, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, told the Idaho Statesman by phone. Its just a crazy, crazy time right now. And then having Nick die over there, its just brutal.

A video posted Tuesday by a pro-Russian military blogger on Telegram shows Yevgeny Prigozhin, chief of the Russian private military company Wagner, surveying a body in what appears to be Bakhmut, CNN reported. U.S. documents belonging to Maimer appear to be shown in the video.

Blackburn and Maimers uncle, Paul Maimer, each identified the body in the video as Maimers, they told the Statesman on Tuesday.

He never let anything in front of him stop his goals, Paul Maimer told the Statesman by phone. He persevered through a lot in his life. I had the utmost respect for him. A lot of people can learn from who he was and what he had accomplished in his short life. In 45 years, he lived a lot. He went over there as a humanitarian trying to do good for this world.

Russia stepped up shelling in the past days in Bakhmut, a city at the eastern front of the Russia-Ukraine war. The State Department could not confirm Maimers death, but acknowledged hearing word of an American killed in warfare in Ukraine.

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Retired U.S. Army veteran Nick Maimer, right, of Boise, and retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Perry Blackburn, left, pictured in Ukraine in May 2022 helping advise volunteers in the Ukrainian army.

We are aware of the reports of the death of a U.S. citizen in Bakhmut and are seeking additional information, a State Department official said. Our ability to verify reports of deaths of U.S. citizens in Ukraine is extremely limited. We offer our condolences to the families of all whose lives have been lost as a result of Russias unprovoked and unjustified war against Ukraine.

Maimers death would mark at least the ninth American killed in Ukraine since Russia invaded its neighboring country in February 2022, a U.S. official said, on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the matter.

Were just trying to get him home for proper burial, Paul Maimer said. I think hes deserving to be put to rest in a veterans cemetery. He might not have been fighting for our country, but he was fighting for the right reasons.

Retired U.S. Army Sgt. First Class Nick Maimer was a 20-year military veteran, including time spent serving in the Army Special Forces, and a 1995 graduate of Borah High School in Boise, he previously told the Statesman. After retiring from the Army in 2018, Maimer worked in the IT department for the Saint Alphonsus Health System, he said.

Just two months before Russia invaded Ukraine, Maimer moved to Spain to teach English, he said. After Russia invaded  what President Vladimir Putin has continued to call a special military operation in its neighbor state  Maimer told the Statesman he felt compelled to join the effort to uphold democracy. He had his family ship his combat gear to Poland, Maimer said.

Its really obvious to everybody that its an unjustified invasion, he said in a phone interview in June 2022. So I felt like my moral compass just pointed me toward it.

In May 2022, Maimer showed up in Kyiv to join Blackburn, founder of the nonprofit AFGFree, which worked to get supplies into Ukraine and helped with evacuations. Maimer was committed to remaining in Ukraine for the foreseeable future, he said.

Im out here indefinitely as long as Im still useful, I think, Maimer told the Statesman. Im used to an acceptable amount of risk. I say my stress inoculation is pretty high.

U.S. Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, right, and Nick Maimer, left, a retired U.S. Army Green Beret, pose for a picture during a meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine, in May 2022. Maimer, a Boise native, was helping train Ukrainian volunteers in the nations war with Russia.

Last year, Maimer met U.S. Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, in downtown Kyiv. Risch, the ranking member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, traveled to Ukraine to see the wars destruction and meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Risch told the Statesman on Tuesday that he was deeply saddened to learn of Maimers death.

I met with him last summer in Kyiv and remember he had a clear understanding that the Ukrainians are fighting today for what our founding fathers fought for in 1776, Risch said in a statement. In our conversation, it was clear Nick was exceptionally well trained for, and sober about, the realities of the war in Ukraine. He talked about helping evaluate foreign volunteers for Ukraine but he also knew his particular training could help, and he made the choice to do what he thought was right. May he rest in peace.

The State Department urged Americans to exit Ukraine.

We reiterate our message that U.S. citizens should not travel to Ukraine due to the active armed conflict and the singling out of U.S. citizens in Ukraine by Russias security officials, the State Department official said. U.S. citizens in Ukraine should depart immediately if it is safe to do so using any commercial or other privately available ground transportation options.

McClatchy senior national security and White House correspondent Michael Wilner reported from Washington, D.C.
In January, medication and surgery to treat children with gender dysphoria will be illegal in Idaho.

Transition-related surgeries on minors are rare, but the consequences of banning medications, like puberty blockers and hormonal therapy, could prompt Idaho families to move to another state. It also could mean transgender children without access to medication will be more likely to harm themselves, medical experts told the Idaho Statesman.

But the exact effects of the new restrictions are unclear, because bans on gender-affirming care are new. The first statewide prohibition on gender-affirming care was enacted just two years ago.

These bans came so swift and fast, said Dr. Meredithe McNamara, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Yale Universitys School of Medicine who specializes in adolescent health care. Were going to have to follow these young people closely after theyre forced to cease care.

Idaho joins national trend

The Idaho Legislature this year passed House Bill 71 with majority GOP support, and Republican Gov. Brad Little signed the bill into law.

Supporters of the bill argued that childhood is too early for medical intervention to treat gender dysphoria, the feeling of discomfort or distress associated with having a gender identity different from ones birth sex. Instead, transgender children should rely on mental health therapy, they argued.

Children are too young to be making the decision to sterilize themselves, Rep. Bruce Skaug, R-Nampa, who sponsored the bill, told the Statesman by email. Children who struggle with gender dysphoria need real help, not pharmaceutical and surgical interventions that cause irreversible harm.

Physicians told Idaho lawmakers this year that doctors here dont offer surgeries to minors. But other treatments are sometimes prescribed after parents consult with medical and psychiatric doctors.

Major medical associations in the United States and Idaho have endorsed medical  including puberty blockers and hormone treatment  and therapeutic gender-affirming care for minors. That includes the American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Psychiatric Association and the Idaho Medical Association.

Story continues

The standard of care for treating gender dysphoria includes puberty blockers and hormonal therapy, said Dr. Neil Ragan, a family doctor from Pocatello who provides gender-affirming services and opposed House Bill 71. Physicians will continue to consider data on gender-affirming care, and standards may evolve if scientific evidence calls for it, Ragan said by phone.

What we dont need is the Legislature, some of whom, honest to God, crawled out from under a rock last week, making medical decisions about things that they know absolutely nothing about, Ragan said. They dont know a vagina from a hole in the wall, and theyre legislating decisions about the most personal, intimate, and sometimes painful decisions that an individual and family can make. They are patently disqualified to do so.

Recent surveys have shown that gender-affirming care is unpopular among Americans. The majority of respondents to a recent Washington Post-KFF poll from this month said they oppose giving transgender youth access to gender-affirming medication, like puberty blockers and hormonal treatments.

Pew Research Center last year found that most Americans believe ones gender is determined by their birth sex. Policies related to transgender issues are sharply divided along partisan lines. Strong majorities of Republican-leaning Americans support policies restricting access to sports and medical care for transgender youth.

Arkansas in 2021 became the first state to ban gender-affirming care for minors. Today, 18 states have similar restrictions and 13 other states have considered them, according to the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ+ advocacy group. Last month, the group tracked more than 110 new bills that would limit access to gender-affirming care.

The new Idaho law, which is set to take effect Jan. 1, is among the strictest. Utah this year also banned gender-affirming care for minors, but the law provides an exception for some patients who had been previously diagnosed for treatment.

The Idaho law makes it a felony for a physician to treat a transgender minor with puberty blockers, hormone therapy or transition-related surgeries. A conviction carries up to 10 years in prison.

Neil Ragan, MD, is a family physician in Pocatello who has been providing gender-affirming medical care to transgender patients of all ages for the past 10 years. John Roark/Idaho State University

What puberty blockers, hormone treatments do

Puberty blockers suppress bodily changes that occur during puberty, such as body hair growth and voice-deepening in males and breast development and menstruation in females. Hormone therapy, on the other hand, activates bodily changes; for example, helping those seeking transition to grow breasts or deepen their voice.

Research has shown that puberty blockers can have negative effects on fertility and bone development. Ragan conceded that the medications arent without risk. But he added that treatment is about reducing overall harm that can come with gender dysphoria.

Were trying to help this kid survive through puberty and give them the room that they need to figure things out, Ragan said. Our position on that is informed by the fact that depression, anxiety, self-harm, suicide is such a problem in this community.

Studies have shown that stress associated with discrimination and lack of access to medical care contribute to higher rates of suicidal thoughts among transgender people. Several transgender adolescents and their parents testified against House Bill 71 for that reason, saying gender-affirming medical care has positive effects on mental health.

Ive been able to get myself off a cliff that I wasnt sure if I would ever find myself off of, Eve Devitt, a 17-year-old transgender girl from Boise, told a House committee in February. I feel so much better and more complete with myself.

A 2020 study found that 82% of transgender people have considered killing themselves and 40% have attempted suicide. The researchers from the University of Toronto and Barry University in Florida found that among transgender youth, 56% reported a previous suicide attempt and 86% reported suicidal thoughts or intent.

While the effects of puberty blockers are reversible, hormone therapy, to a certain extent, causes permanent changes. Thats part of the reason hormone medication is sought after, McNamara said. Early treatment can spare someone painful and difficult gender-affirming surgery later in life, she said.

That has huge implications for the individual, and it also cuts down on health care costs, McNamara said by phone.

What will be the impact of Idahos ban?

An estimated 1,000 transgender teens live in Idaho, less than 1% of the states adolescent population, according to the Williams Institute, a policy research group at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Ragan guessed the number of transgender youth in Idaho who are receiving gender-affirming services is in the dozens. The American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho has promised to sue the state over House Bill 71, which could delay the Jan. 1 effective date.

They feel as if the rug has been pulled out from under them, said Ragan, who has treated LGBTQ+ patients for decades, including during his U.S. Navy service. What the consequences will be, we dont know yet.

But one can infer various types of harm caused by a ban on gender-affirming care, McNamara said. Transgender youth who no longer have access to medication will experience changes in their appearance that dont align with their gender identity, which can lead to poor social functioning in friendships, relationships and school, she said.

Things that you want healthy young adults to experience are much harder for youth who want care and cant access it, McNamara said.

Additionally, a lack of access could lead to higher risk of suicide, the physicians said. Families with transgender children may choose to leave the state as a result, or they could turn to medications that can be purchased on the internet, which is very unsafe, Ragan said.

Skaug said he hopes parents dont move for the purpose of obtaining medications or surgeries that will be banned in Idaho. Skaug pointed to data showing that, in most cases, gender dysphoria diagnosed in prepubescent children isnt sustained in adolescence.

My prayer is that parents choose best for their kids by getting them the traditional mental health treatment they need, he said.

Physicians told the Statesman that mental health care alone isnt enough for transgender minors who want medical care.

These bans are creating a vacuum, McNamara said. We dont have anything evidence-based to replace it with.
As the General Assembly prepares to wrap up its spring legislative session this week, Democratic lawmakers are advancing a bill that would mandate job postings to include a salary range in a move they say would promote equity within the workplace.

Democrats in the Illinois Senate last week approved the measure which would require employers to list a pay scale and expected benefits for any position listed on a job posting. It would also create a regulatory structure for the Department of Labor to investigate violations of the proposed law.

We know that more and more employers have begun to include these pay ranges in their job postings as it becomes starkly clear that doing so is crucial to attracting talent, bill sponsor Sen. Cristina Pacione-Zayas, D-Chicago, said in debate last week.

Pacione-Zayas said the bill would prompt employers to interrogate potential unjustified disparities between employees pay based on things like race, ethnicity, gender or language.

House Bill 3129 passed with a 35-19 vote. Because it was amended in the Senate, it now goes back to the House for consideration.

The bill would require expected pay disclosures from employers with 15 or more employees in the state and would apply to things such as job board listings, newspaper ads and postings made by a third-party on behalf of an employer.

Sen. Win Stoller, R-East Peoria, called the proposal divorced from reality, noting the bill does not account for the unpredictable hiring process.

As a small business owner myself, weve had situations where we find the right person and well restructure a department, Stoller said. Well rearrange some roles to take into full account, to take full advantage of their skills and abilities.

Business groups opposed the bill when it was introduced, although that opposition has lessened. While amendments have brought powerful groups like the Illinois Manufacturers Association and Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce to neutral positions on the bill, the National Federation of Independent Businesses and the Technology Manufacturers Association opposed the bill in a House committee Tuesday morning.

If the bill becomes law, Illinois would join a growing number of states considering ways to make compensation more transparent in the job application process. New York passed a law last year that requires all job postings include a minimum and maximum salary or wage. Colorado passed a similar law that requires disclosing pay range and a general description of benefits in 2019. Some states, such as California, Nevada, Maryland and Rhode Island, require employers to disclose pay ranges to job applicants on request.

The salary transparency bill follows similar efforts in recent years aimed at making hiring practices more equitable, including a 2019 law that made it illegal for employers to ask about an applicants salary history as part of the interview process.
The Illinois Supreme Court is now deciding whether the states recently enacted assault weapons ban violates certain provisions of the Illinois Constitution.

In March, a circuit court judge in Macon County sided with a group of plaintiffs led by state Rep. Dan Caulkins, R-Decatur, and declared the law unconstitutional. The state appealed directly to the Supreme Court, which put a hold on the Macon County decision and put the case on an expedited schedule.

The court heard oral arguments Tuesday in the case. They argued that the law is unfair because it allows certain people, but not others, to continue buying and selling a category of firearms defined as assault weapons.

Plaintiffs attorney Jerry Stocks argued that because the law allows some people to continue owning the banned weapons  law enforcement officers, certain security guards, active-duty military personnel, and people who already owned those weapons before the law took effect, among others  it violates the state constitutions equal protection clause. He also argued it violates a ban on special legislation, or legislation written for the benefit of one person or group of people.

These are criminal statutes, Stocks told the court. And were immunizing folks that have absolutely no difference in the enjoyment of the Second Amendment or the enjoyment of Article 1, Section 22 (of the Illinois Constitution)  than anyone else.

The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Article 1, Section 22 of the Illinois Constitution both deal with the right to bear arms. But the state constitutions language is different because it says the right is subject to the police power of the state, meaning it can be regulated to protect public health and safety or law and order.

That distinction is important because in federal law, the right to bear arms is considered a fundamental right, and any limitations on it are subject to strict scrutiny. That means the government has to show there is a compelling state interest that makes limiting the right necessary and that the law is narrowly tailored to achieve that interest.

Story continues

In Illinois state constitutional law, however, the right to bear arms is not a fundamental right, and the government is authorized under the state constitution to put limits on it. That means the government only needs to show the limitations have a rational basis behind them.

The purpose of this legislation is to freeze the supply of assault weapons, reduce their further proliferation throughout the state to increase public safety, Assistant Attorney General Leigh Jahnig said, arguing for a rational basis review.

But Stocks argued that in more recent case dealing with the Second Amendment, the U.S. Supreme Court has moved beyond the rational basis vs. strict scrutiny question. In a decision last summer, the U.S. Supreme Court began using a new standard that requires the state to show that a regulation is consistent with the nations historical tradition of firearm regulation.

The state, however, argued that the federal standard for judging Second Amendment issues should not apply in the Illinois case because the plaintiffs did not make a Second Amendment claim in their initial suit. And Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis appeared to agree.

Thats not what you brought, she told Stocks about his Second Amendment claims. You frame this in a totally different way. You could have joined the three federal cases. You chose to shape it in a different way around special legislation and an equal protection. Its a much different analysis.

Lawsuits move in federal court

On April 28, a federal judge in East St. Louis issued a temporary order blocking enforcement of the weapons ban while three cases consolidated in the Southern District of Illinois was being heard. But federal judges in the Northern District that were hearing similar challenges have declined to issue injunctions.

A week after the Southern District judges order, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals put a hold on it. The appellate court has since said it will hear a consolidated appeal in five cases dealing with the Illinois law, and it will do so on an expedited schedule.

Oral arguments before the Seventh Circuit are scheduled for June 29.

In the meantime, plaintiffs in the Southern District cases have filed an application with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett for an emergency injunction to block enforcement of the law while the appeals are being heard. Barrett has not yet ruled on that application.
The claim: Image shows NASA film studio

A May 8 Facebook post (direct link, archive link) shows a photo of NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility.

"I wonder why does NASA, a space agency, have one of the world's largest film set studios among its facilities," reads text over the image. "Maybe cause, as their name indicates, Not A Space Agency, they are just a film studio, and all they do are movies?"

The post includes the hashtags "#Nasalies," "#Flatearth," and "#Globedeception."

It was shared over 200 times in a day.

Follow us on Facebook! Like our page to get updates throughout the day on our latest debunks

Our rating: False

The facility shown here is not a NASA film studio; it was created to assemble rockets and other space equipment. NASA rented part of the facility to a film production studio after the space shuttle program ended in 2011, but that agreement ended in 2016. The space is now used by other aerospace firms.

Michoud Assembly Facility is not a film studio

The image in the post shows NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans.

It's "America's rocket facility" and the "nations premier site for manufacturing and assembly of large-scale space structures and systems," according to NASA's website.

The government-owned facility, situated on more than 800 acres of land, is rented out to a variety of tenants, Shannon Segovia, a NASA communications specialist, said in an email to USA TODAY.

When the Space Shuttle Program was canceled in 2011, film studio Big Easy Productions began renting an underutilized warehouse at the facility. Several movies, including "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" and "Ender's Game," were filmed there, according to IMDb.

The contract ended in 2016. No production company has rented out space at the facility since, Segovia said.

Most of the current tenants are involved in rocket production, like Boeing, BK Aerospace and the Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company. A list of tenants can be found on the Michoud Assembly Facility website.

Story continues

Fact check: False claim humans aren't on International Space Station

NASA has been the subject of several false claims involving the film industry, including claims that the moon landing was faked and images from space were created with a green screen.

Evidence space travel is real includes photos and videos captured by astronauts, hundreds of pounds of lunar rocks, core samples, pebbles, sand and dust from the moon at the Lunar Sample Laboratory, and a large repository of data from NASA planetary missions.

USA TODAY reached out to the social media user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

Our fact-check sources:

Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here.

Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Image is NASA rocket manufacturing site, not film studio | Fact check
One evening, while on the air doing my talk radio broadcast, I brought up the topic of immigration. A pear farmer in Lakeport, California, named Nick Ivicevich called. He had to step outside for better reception on his cellphone.

As we spoke, you could hear periodic dull thuds in the background. No pattern to them. Thud. Thud-thud thud.

I finally asked him, Nick, what is that Im hearing in the background?

Those are pears rotting off the trees in my grove out here, he said.

You could hear the angst and frustration in his voice.

I waited my whole life for a crop like this, he said.

It was his best pear-crop in 45 years of tending the trees in his grove, but like other Lakeport growers, his fruit rotted by the ton because he couldnt find enough pickers to harvest them. Nick lost nearly two million pounds of pears.

Not long afterward, The New York Times ran a front-page story on the plight of pear growers in Lake County, a region about 90 miles north of San Francisco and a part of California ideally suited for the crop. The accompanying photo of one family farmer sobbing into her hand as she stood before thousands of rotted pears on the ground was heartbreaking.

That was in 2006. Nick died seven years later at age 77, but the situation for growers hadnt changed. It was even worse. Pamela, Nicks daughter, had taken over the 122-acre orchard that had been in the family since 1960.

Pears are labor-intensive crops, hand-harvested, Pamela said. We need a program that makes it easy for growers to hire people who know how to do this work without them worrying about how to get here to do it.

Every grower I have spoken to would agree, yet every grower I have ever spoken to, has blamed Washingtons inability to craft a sensible, reality-based immigration reform policy.

Therein lies the heart of the matter: Immigration is a problem no one wants to solve. And Im beginning to wonder if anyone in Washington even knows how to solve it, or worse, even wants to.

Story continues

Take Title 42, the public health border policy implemented during the pandemic. It allowed authorities to swiftly expel migrants at U.S. land borders. Since it was enacted in March 2020, authorities have expelled nearly 7 million border crossers.

And what about now, with its expiration?

Its going to be chaotic for a while, President Joe Biden told reporters last week.

I suspect many feared images similar to those Black Friday shoppers of yesteryear. Friday morning, 6 a.m., the store opens its doors, and the shoppers, camped outside for days, flood inside like a cattle call. Chaos.

Stores took measures to ease that shopping rush with sales at the beginning of Thanksgiving week and opening their doors on Thanksgiving night. Online shopping has eliminated much of that mayhem, but you get the point. Retailers took countermeasures to make the process more gradual.

I would have liked to see them phase out Title 42 far earlier, former director of border management on the National Security Council Andrea Flores told NPR. To not see them formally try and end it till long after we had testing, vaccines, and other mechanisms in place to deal with the public health concerns, they really lost some time to build out a more orderly process for the people who have been waiting for two, three years to come and work, reunite with family or seek asylum.

So far, though, we havent seen throngs of people storm into the country, suggesting that the problem might be more manageable than some had feared.

That might not matter, though. From a political standpoint, the issue wont be defined by whats happening on the ground. Itll be defined by those seeking ways to exploit it. Thousands of people may come through the system smoothly, but if even a single flashpoint occurs, any mishap, any glitch will be blown out of proportion by the agendized to make that single moment a poster child for the entire effort. And that will reflect badly on the Biden administration, fairly or not  and the task of crafting a broader, sensible, comprehensive immigration policy becomes that much harder.

There may be a reason why no one wants to solve the immigration problem: Politically, the problem is far more useful than a solution.

Washington has not passed a single major piece of immigration legislation into law since 1986, with the Immigration Reform and Control Act (often referred to as Simpson-Mazzoli, the two lawmakers behind the bill, and yes, they were from different parties. Bipartisanship. How quaint!).

Countless efforts have failed, and with an increasingly fragmented society where it is difficult to achieve agreement on the common good, and a dysfunctional political system where extremists and special interest groups can control legislation, the likelihood of reform seems remote at best.

A bill introduced in Congress in 2019, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, would have relieved the problems faced by both undocumented workers and growers in desperate need of their labor, but the bill died somewhere in the congressional ether earlier this year.

Yet lawmakers love to say how much they love the farmer while the nations agriculture sector seems most directly impacted by our failed immigration policy debate.

Californias 70,000 farms employ some 450,000 people at peak harvest. A $50 billion industry annually, it is the nations largest agricultural sector and the sole producer of many specialty crops, such as almonds, artichokes, figs, garlic, olives, raisins, rice and walnuts. It is also home to some of the worlds finest wines.

Figures vary, but its estimated that anywhere from 60-75% of Californias farmworkers are undocumented. Across the nation, nearly half of Americas farmworkers lack documentation.

A dog looks on as migrants board Border Patrol vans after waiting along the border wall to surrender to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents for immigration and asylum claim processing upon crossing the Rio Grande river into the United States.

A dog looks on as migrants board Border Patrol vans after waiting along the border wall to surrender to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents for immigration and asylum claim processing upon crossing the Rio Grande river into the United States.

According to the latest data from the Department of Labors National Agricultural Workers Survey, 7 in 10 farmworkers were born in Mexico or Central America. Half lack legal status but 85% are what the survey calls settled, meaning they dont migrate in to work on farms temporarily. Instead, they live in the country permanently.

Those numbers dont include workers in the livestock industry or the 275,000 guest workers who come to the U.S. every year through the H-2A program.

Those with extremist views who want to deport all immigrants here illegally should be careful about what they wish for. Without these immigrants, Americas agricultural economy would crash to a halt, or, as in the case of those pear farmers, end in a dull thud.

Yet despite those hundreds of thousands of laborers, farmers still struggle to find enough workers to plant, tend and pick their crops.

Another reason why this happens: Remaining here year-round, migrant farmworkers gravitate toward more stable occupations like construction and landscaping, and stay there.

Children of farmworkers who arrived decades ago have little interest in fieldwork, leaving much of the vital labor to aging elders.

Thats what happened here, Pamela Ivicevich said. Ramon (Camarena) has been with the farm for decades. His two boys, both mechanics  one in Phoenix, one in Long Beach  didnt follow in their fathers footsteps. He made sure that wouldnt happen.

Sounds like the typical immigrant story of Europeans who migrated here a century ago.

Its exactly the same, said Jennifer Euwer, a pear grower in Oregons Hood River Valley, which regularly has suffered worker shortages amidst near-record crops. Immigrants legalized during the Reagan Administration, their kids were born here and moved on to bigger and better, she said. Thats why weve relied on a steady influx of newcomers from Mexico. But theyre harder to come by, and Americans wont do that work.

Of course, if you believe the hyperbolists, these immigrants are taking jobs away from Americans. Really?

In 2010, with unemployment in California at 12.5% (and 9.3% nationwide), attempts to hire U.S. citizens for farmwork failed dismally, an Associated Press investigation found. Heres how. From January to June, California farmers advertised at unemployment offices in four states  California, Texas, Nevada and Arizona  for 1,160 harvesting jobs across California. No experience necessary! Well train you! The only catch: You must be a U.S. citizen.

Just 233 people applied. Just one grower hired people, 36 of them. No one else hired any. Across four states, thousands of farmers. No applicants.

The United Farm Workers of America followed, inviting unemployed Americans to apply online for farming jobs. They got 3 million web hits and 8,600 applications. Only seven pursued training and got hired. Seven out of 8,600, and they all quit.

And this was at a time of high unemployment.

How ironic for the Great Replacement Theory believers: They claim theyre being replaced yet refuse to replace the people who they say are replacing them.

Or maybe farming is hard work. And we all know how conservatives claim people arent willing to do hard work.

Some say farmers should pay higher wages, a curious argument given the apoplexy of those opposed to raising the minimum wage. The idea isnt as easy as it sounds. Farmers can only pay what the commodities market will bear. Pay more than the going rate for a product and youll go out of business.

Yet pear farmers typically pay a piecework rate that amounts to roughly $22 an hour if youre good at the job. Thats $176 for an eight-hour day. Many crops paid more  still do. And housing was, and is, often provided, eliminating a critical living expense for workers.

Any takers?

Farmers are adapting, exchanging hand-picked crops like, say, olives, for those that are machine-harvested and require fewer workers.

You cant do that with the more delicate fruits and veggies.

Ultimately, farmers are planting less, which means less money for them, but more expensive food for consumers.

Meanwhile, we keep telling everybody to eat fruits and vegetables.

Still, we continue to hear the argument that these immigrants are taking jobs away from Americans. It didnt hold any water when the unemployment rate was the highest it had been since the Great Depression, and it doesnt hold much water in todays labor environment. Job growth continues at an impressive monthly pace and the unemployment rate is the lowest it has been since 1969 (though that may change if Republican obstinance lets the nation default on its debt).

Everywhere you turn, businesses are brandishing signs that say, Were hiring! And everywhere you turn, employers say they cant get anyone to work, not even when, in desperation, fast food outlets like McDonalds hang giant banners outside their doors shouting, $16 an hour!

No takers, apparently. Certainly not enough of them.

Thats why weve relied on a steady influx of newcomers from Mexico, said Euwer. But theyre harder to come by, and Americans wont do that work.

Why arent we offering those jobs to the many immigrants now seeking asylum here in America?

It seems we have two problems, each of which is a solution to the other. But lawmakers  divisive, sclerotic, and entirely unable to do simple math  cant constructively address, let alone solve, the nations immigration woes even when an answer is staring them right in the face.

The problem with the immigration problem isnt immigration; its Congress.

Or maybe the problem is politically more useful than the solution, not that the ones whining about it will admit it. Its particularly so for Republicans. They use it to gin up fear and even prejudice to rally their constituents. And you can bet your last dollar that conservative media outlets will extract every negative image they can out of Title 42s aftermath to fuel that resentment.

We cannot allow the country to continue to drift without addressing the admittedly painful and difficult subject of immigration. Its not like we can pretend that immigration is going away.

We need a program that makes it easy for growers to hire people who know how to do this work without them worrying about how to get here to do it, Pamela Ivicevich said.

Immigration reform benefits everyone but the sad fact is, we seem to be completely incapable of effectively dealing with the problem because, apparently, we dont want to.

Related...
Christine Snell said her farm relies on about 300 seasonal workers from around the world

A call by the home secretary to limit dependence on migrant workers was "impossible", a farmer said.

Christine Snell runs a soft fruit farm in Herefordshire and said she was barely able to recruit 10% of the workers it needed during the pandemic.

"Had I relied on them to pick the crops, the crops would have just remained in the field," she said.

Suella Braverman said on Monday there was "no good reason" the UK could not train its own fruit pickers.

Addressing a conference in London, the home secretary argued there should be training for British fruit pickers, lorry drivers and butchers in a bid to bring down the reliance on migrant workers.

One of Mrs Snell's workers is 25-year-old Nazife Ayrush from Bulgaria who does the job to fund her studies

Mrs Snell said her farm, Wind Hill, hires about 300 seasonal workers from all over the world each year for six months.

One of her current workers is 25-year-old Nazife Ayrush from Bulgaria who does the job to fund her studies.

"We tried very hard in the pandemic to recruit locally. Out of the 300 we need, we were able to recruit about 35," Mrs Snell said.

Of those, many soon left when other opportunities arose, Mrs Snell said.

The horticulture industry has suffered labour shortages since the UK left the EU, made worse by the pandemic, and a campaign to recruit more UK-based workers for seasonal farm roles was scrapped in 2021.

A government report in 2022 found British workers were "not strongly attracted to roles in the food supply chain, particularly seasonal work".

It highlighted the need for more training and technology to address "longstanding negative perceptions" of working in the sector.

Suella Braverman said there was "no good reason" the UK could not train its own fruit pickers

Ms Braverman said the UK needed to be "less dependent on low-skilled foreign labour" but her speech divided politicians.

Among those who disagreed with her was the Conservative MP for Wyre Forest, Mark Garnier.

"I don't see why we should be trying to persuade [kids] to do low-productivity, less aspirational jobs like fruit picking when they want to do better things," he added.

Story continues

Mrs Snell grows strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and redcurrants for supermarkets

Mr Garnier said it was important to distinguish between migrant workers and other forms of immigration.

"They're not coming in because they're hanging around going on the dole line, they're coming in because we need migrant workers to do the jobs," he said.

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It was the perfect location to present the first student design prize in Germany to be sponsored by luxury luggage maker Rimowa: The Neue Nationalgalerie, an art museum in central Berlin, is an architectural icon designed by legendary German-American architect, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.

The museum, whose name translates to new national gallery, reflects what Mies van der Rohe was known for: Minimalism, clarity and simplicity, with function guiding form and following the adage the trend-setting architect was best known for  less is more.

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And thats what German design in general tends to be known for, Rimowas chief executive officer Hugues Bonnet-Masimbert told WWD at the event, which was attended by several hundred guests, a mixture of young design students in their best hipster black and local design industry luminaries.

The best design of any kind, from any country, typically has many of the same attributes, Bonnet-Masimbert continued. But the weight that is placed on each attribute is different, he said. In German design, the weight is placed on function and usefulness. Its extremely important. There is a lot of thought given as to why [a certain design is the way it is] and a real notion of no unnecessary additions. Although we had a broad range of projects in the competition, it was very clear to me that we had this [German] feeling across all of them, he added.

This is the first time the Cologne-based luggage brand has held a design contest for German students. But perhaps its not surprising. Rimowas parent company, LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, has run an annual fashion design competition, the LVMH prize, for a decade now, and since 2016, another stablemate, Loewe, has regularly organized a contest seeking out the most skilled, distinctive handcrafts.

Of course, Rimowa will benefit from the added market profile brought by this new design prize, Bonnet-Masimbert confirmed. And the company also appreciates the introduction to new talent and fresh ideas. But thats not really what this new design prize is about, he said. On the whole, this was really more of a giving back kind of event, Bonnet-Masimbert noted. The principle is that we act as a canvas for their creativity.

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Rimowas inaugural German design prize ran from October last year until its conclusion this week. At the start of the process, 16 universities from around the country were invited to take part, submitting entries to suit the competitions theme, mobility.

Mobility is a key element of Rimowas ethos, a statement from the company explained. The new annual contest is to be an initiative that converts potential into tangible projects, that have a lasting impact on global issues.

Dozens of entries were eventually whittled down to just seven by a jury of local design luminaries, accompanied by both Bonnet-Masimbert and Rimowas non-executive chairman, Alexandre Arnault. The latter  Rimowas former CEO but now an executive at Tiffany & Co., since January 2021 when Bonnet-Masimbert took over  was supposed to attend the ceremony in Berlin but was waylaid by work in New York and made a video statement, which was broadcast to guests.

Each of the seven finalists were mentored by a local, senior design talent and then, Monday afternoon in Berlin, their prototypes were displayed in the luminous main hall of the Neue Nationalgalerie.

In a brief awards ceremony, student designer Noa Grgic was announced the winner of Rimowas 20,000 euro ($21,697) prize. The six other finalists also receive cash prizes, ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 euros.

First prize winner, the Artificial Body Positivity project, by student designer Noa Grgic.

Inspired by the Japanese art of kintsugi  where broken objects, often ceramics, are joined back together with gold lacquer  Grgics project was called Artificial Body Positivity.

Although the theme was mobility, I didnt want to do anything typical, like an e-scooter, or something, he explained to WWD after his win was announced. I was thinking about it in a bigger sense.

For people who must use prosthetics because of a disability, regaining their mobility is a huge achievement. But at the same time, around a third say they continue to be depressed or otherwise badly impacted by the fact that they must use a prosthetic, Grgic said. His project allows amputees to design or customize their own prosthetics.

If you look at kintsugi, its so bold [about whats been broken], its a statement, he told WWD. The ultimate goal would be to get people with no prosthetics to be inspired by people with prosthetics.

To create an object of desire that would even be desired by people who are not disabled, jury member Gesa Hansen, a Danish-German furniture designer based in Paris, behind the brand The Hansen Family, confirmed. It was this shift in the thinking that saw Grgic awarded the top prize, she explained, because it was all about mobility in every sense and it was inclusive too.

Grgic, who attends the State Academy of Fine Arts in Stuttgart, has another three years at least in tertiary education to go, but he plans to invest the Rimowa prize money in working further on his prototypes.

Launch Gallery: Rimowa Design Award in Germany

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Police body camera footage shows Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Sgt. Eric Huxley walking up to Jermaine Vaughn and stomping on his head during a 2021 arrest.

Police body camera footage shows Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Sgt. Eric Huxley walking up to Jermaine Vaughn and stomping on his head during a 2021 arrest.

An Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Sergeant who was filmed stomping on a Black handcuffed mans head in 2021 has pleaded guilty to violating the mans civil rights.

Eric Huxley, 44, entered a guilty plea Monday in federal court to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law, which carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison when sentenced, the Justice Department said.

This police officer violently and callously assaulted a homeless man who posed no threat, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division said in a statement.

Huxley was on patrol on Sept. 24, 2021, when body camera footage captured him intentionally raising his right foot and stomping on the face of Jermaine Vaughn while Vaughn was restrained by two officers and unable to move, prosecutors said.

Vaughn was arrested and charged with two misdemeanors of disorderly conduct and resisting law enforcement, but both charges were later dismissed. He filed a lawsuit in February against the city of Indianapolis.

As of Tuesday, Huxley remains suspended from the police force without pay pending a recommendation for termination to the citizens police merit board, the Indianapolis police department said in an email to HuffPost. The citys police chief, Randal Taylor, recommended Huxleys termination shortly after the incident.

Huxleys attorney, John Kautzman, told reporters outside of the courthouse on Monday that his client has always been remorseful for his actions and he knows what he did was thoughtless, the Indianapolis Star reported.

Kautzman declined further comment to HuffPost Tuesday until after the federal sentencing hearing.

Huxley also faces state charges in relation to the incident. He was charged in Marion County with battery and official misconduct and has a hearing in that case scheduled for Tuesday, the Star reported.

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Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast

This reporting is featured in this weeks edition of Confider, the newsletter pulling back the curtain on the media. Subscribe here and send your questions, tips, and complaints here.

CNN boss Chris Lichts extreme sensitivity to any negative press coverage of his reign, and his resulting attempt to intimidate the networks top media reporter in the wake of the disastrous Trump town hall, has greatly alarmed staffers.

Less than a year after Brian Stelter was shown the door, Oliver Darcys reported dressing down is an inflection point that CNN talent, executives, and staffers who spoke with Confider over the last few days said has marked an especially dark chapter of Lichts now yearlong tenure.

As Puck first reported, Licht pulled aside Darcy and his Reliable Sources editor Jon Passantino to scold the pair for their newsletters highly critical coverage of the town halls spectacle of lies aired by CNNan internal version of the intensely negative reviews that incensed Licht.

CNNs Defense of Trump Town Hall Is It Made Newsbut Did It?

The meeting took place shortly after a Thursday morning editorial call in which Licht unsubtly took a swipe at Darcy. Pucks sources claimed the media reporter was visibly shaken after the meeting because Licht and other execs had put the fear of God into him and told him his coverage was too emotional.

According to multiple people familiar with the meeting, Darcy openly pushed back on the emotional characterization during the chata detail Semafor first reported this weekendand vigorously defended his reporting as accurate based on internal discord over the town hall. Another network source, meanwhile, characterized the meeting as essentially a healthy debate that didnt grow overtly hostile. Licht was the main antagonist in the meeting, according to three people familiar with the matter, while CNNs editorial VP Virginia Moseley and global news SVP Rachel Smolkin remained neutral and mostly quiet throughout the boss lecture.

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While CNN employees were already troubled by the CEOs actions after Pucks story on Friday, it was a Fox News Digital follow-up article, in which an anonymous Licht ally claimed CNN staffers were appalled by Darcy, that appears to have been a bridge too far for many.

People are really bothered, one CNN executive told Confider, noting that their phone had been ringing off the hook from network employees flipping out over the situation. I heard zero complaints about Darcys newsletterin fact, the opposite. People were glad someone was calling this out, a CNN on-air personality added. And its a terrible look that hes being muzzled or intimidated simply for saying what everyone is thinking. Hes not in PR. Hes a journalist.

Darcy had previously told colleagues that he has contemplated resigning from CNN over this incident, which a network spokesperson now tells Confider is not happening.

CNN Failed America With Its Train Wreck of a Trump Town Hall

Meanwhile, CNN insiders said Licht has been spending an inordinately large amount of time around The Atlantic reporter Tim Alberta, who is profiling the executive after his first year in office. Alberta was in the audience for the Trump town hall, which was described to Confider as our Chernobyl by one CNN staffer, as network spin doctors work overtime hoping to generate a glowing profile of the boss.

All the while, the network fell to fourth place in cable news primetime ratings on Friday night, just two days after the Trump town hall, falling behind MAGA channel Newsmax.

As for Darcy, he hasnt posted to social media since the day of the meeting, and didnt respond to requests for comment on Monday but is scheduled to publish his newsletter on Monday night.

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As summer approaches, many individuals and families are looking for their next adventure. Costco, the renowned membership warehouse club, offers a hidden gem in its array of offerings: Costco Travel. Beyond its reputation for bulk groceries and household goods, the brand provides numerous alternatives for those planning a trip.



But what lies behind the brand? According to the companys website, We use our buying authority to negotiate the best value in the marketplace and then pass the savings along to Costco members.

In other words, utilizing its buying authority to negotiate the best value in the marketplace, the travel company passes on the savings to its members.

In an interview with USA Today, Assistant Vice President and General Merchandise Manager Chris Hendrix explains that this includes thoughtfully curated vacation packages to various locations worldwide. Our buyers carefully inspect and select each resort and feature included in these packages to ensure the highest quality and best value, he said.

According to Hendrix, vacationers are not limited to booking hotel rooms when planning a trip to the United States; they can also book cruises, and rental cars, and create custom itineraries to any number of cities across the country. Whether customers book online or over the phone, a reservation agent is available to assist them before, during, and after their trips.

The Pros and Cons

While Costco Travel can serve as a good intermediary, it is not a substitute for consulting a professional travel agent. The travel company employs over a thousand specialists who focus on cruises, Hawaii, European vacations, and other areas. However, its worth noting that Costco has a limited selection of hotels and hotel brands, and it only offers car rentals through Avis, Alamo, Budget, and Enterprise. Additionally, customization options and vacation packages may not be available for every possible location.

When it comes to flights, the company allows customers to book flights as part of premade vacation packages or customize them to suit individual needs. However, at present, independent flight bookings are not available through Costco Travel.

To use Costco Travel, a current Costco membership is required. Costcos website states that annual membership fees range from $60 to $120 before sales tax is added. Many of our programs offer Costco Travel members an exclusive Costco Shop Card for their travel purchase, which they receive once their travel is completed and can be used in the warehouse or online at Costco.com, Hendrix added. Additionally, Costco Executive members are eligible for a 2% annual reward on travel purchases made through Costco Travel, up to $1,000.
A satellite image shows burning homes in Chernihiv, Ukraine, in March 2022. Satellite image (c) 2022 Maxar Technologies.

Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 was reminiscent of wars long past, where a country invades another with little provocation.

But there are many parts of this conflict that are uniquely modern  including how ordinary Ukrainians are capturing and sharing videos and photos documenting the mass murder of civilians, which is considered a war crime under international law.

The International Criminal Court  an international tribunal in the Hague, Netherlands, designed to investigate and prosecute war crimes  is trying to keep pace with this trend.

The ICC, a common acronym for the court, issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russias childrens rights commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova in March 2023. They are charged with allegedly abducting and deporting Ukrainian children to Russia.

It isnt clear what specific evidence ICC prosecutors have gathered to support these charges, but ICC prosecutor Karim Khan has spoken about the advanced technological tools the court is using in its ongoing investigation. This could include, for example, satellite imagery or cellphone video filmed by witnesses.

I am a scholar of international human rights who has studied the ICCs investigations into war crimes in Mali, West Africa, and how the courts use of such digital evidence has advanced over the last decade.

The ICCs current investigation in Ukraine could further cement this shift toward using digital evidence to investigate war crimes  and raises new challenges about verifying the authenticity of these photos and videos.

A memorial event in Brussels in February 2023 marked the abduction of Ukrainian children. Nicolas Masterlinck/AFP via Getty Images

A rise in digital forensics

War crimes investigations have traditionally relied almost exclusively on witness testimony and mud and bones forensics from crime scenes.

This began to change in 2013, when the ICC investigated Malian jihadist Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi, who ordered the destruction of shrines and mosques in Timbuktu during an occupation of this city in Mali.

Video evidence documented the destruction of these holy sites, which are UNESCO heritage sites. Al Mahdis group took some of these videos, and international media filmed others.

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Prosecutors ultimately had such a large trove of video evidence that they organized them into a digital visual platform.

For the first time, the ICC relied heavily on visual digital evidence in a prosecution.

The court sentenced Al Mahdi to nine years in prison in 2016 for destroying Timbuktus history.

Since then, other international tribunals have accepted digital videos and images as legitimate evidence. Satellite imagery, mobile phone videos and other sources of digital data can offer powerful supplements to eyewitness accounts of war crimes.

Is it real or fake?

With the rise of advanced video editing and artificial intelligence tools, it can be challenging to tell real videos or images from fake ones. If investigators are unable to guarantee that the evidence they download is real, they are unable to proceed with their work.

The University of California Berkeley School of Laws Human Rights Center raised this point in 2022, when it released a guide on digital evidence intended for international court investigators, lawyers, and judges.

This guide, known as the Berkeley Protocol, sets standards for legal relevance, security and the handling of digital evidence. This includes guidance for investigators, such as protecting the identity of witnesses who provide digital evidence and awareness of the psychological effects of viewing disturbing content.

There are several stages to a digital investigation, as the guide explains.

The first involves getting the evidence. Investigators sometimes find themselves in a race to download and preserve digital content before a content moderator  a person or an AI-enabled tool  deletes it and it disappears.

Once a video is safely in their possession, analysts have to authenticate it. This complicated process involves establishing where the evidence came from and where else it has been, from the time and place the video was shot to the point when investigators acquired it.

In their analysis, investigators look for things like distinctive buildings or trees that can be easy to spot in other images. Satellite imagery can also help determine exactly where a video was filmed and what direction the camera was pointed. Investigators may also use tools like facial recognition software.

Video images often contain other clues about the time and location of an incident. Things like street signs or sticker graffiti on lampposts can help narrow down where and when an image was filmed and what it shows.

The ICC is now using the Berkeley Protocol in its investigation of Ukraine. If and when the time comes for prosecutors to present digital evidence of Russian war crimes in court, there will be little need for lawyers to argue over its validity.

A Russian soldier patrols a Mariupol theater in Ukraine, bombed by Russian troops in March 2022. Alexander Nemenov/AFP via Getty Images

The digital evidence so far for Ukraine

It isnt likely that Putin or Lvova-Belova will be arrested  at least, not any time soon. For now, they are safe by staying within Russias borders, since Russia does not abide by the ICCs arrest warrants or prosecutions.

But the courts investigation of Russian war crimes is ongoing, and it will rely on the thick trail of digital evidence that journalists, regular citizens and even perpetrators themselves have documented over the course of the Ukraine war.

The Associated Press published images and video in March 2023 of Ukrainian children  who may or may not be orphans  being loaded onto buses in the Donetsk region of Ukraine, and others of Ukrainian children eating together in Russia.

Two research agencies that previously consulted for the ICC have also released their own visual investigations of war crimes in Ukraine, showing digital evidence that Russian artillery attacked a theater in Mariupol where civilians took shelter in March 2022, for example.

Perpetrators, too, are posting evidence of their alleged crimes. Russian state media has reportedly shown Russian soldiers taking Ukrainian children from a group home into Russian-held territory.

International tribunals are adapting to the new landscape of digital documentation. There are scenes in Ukraine that look eerily like the conflicts of the 20th century, but the current war crimes investigation is unlike anything we have seen before.

This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. If you found it interesting, you could subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

It was written by: Ronald Niezen, University of San Diego.

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Ronald Niezen received funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
Laurel Parmets directorial debut  The Starling Girl  puts the viewer in the modest shoes of a 17-year-old girl named Jem. Shes grown up in a Christian fundamentalist community in Kentucky and has internalized its teachings, feeling deep shame for drawing attention to herself and her body, which as an artistically-inclined member of the dance troupe is especially difficult to avoid.

But her world starts to change when Owen, a handsome 28-year-old youth leader played by Lewis Pullman, returns from a mission in Puerto Rico. Jem, played by Australian actor Eliza Scanlen, develops an intense infatuation with him that soon evolves into something more.

Its a film about many things  family, patriarchal societies, toxic relationships, power dynamics, first loves and, ultimately, growing up  but its neither outwardly judgmental nor blunt. The Starling Girl, currently playing in New York and Los Angeles and expanding to other cities this weekend, is done with a delicate touch.

(Jem) is a very complex character and I think quite different from other portrayals of young women in communities like this, Scanlen said. What makes this film stand out is its not making any kind of definitive statement about the church or fundamentalist communities. Its actually trying to humanize the people who live in them.

The story comes from Parmet, who while in Oklahoma for another project got to know some woman in a patriarchal Christian community. Though she grew up worlds apart, as a child of parents who work in movies and television (a cinematographer and a costumer), she realized that they had commonalities too  from feelings of sexual shame to the need for validation from men.

The film touches on these ideas and also draws from her own experience of having a relationship with an older man when she was a teenager. And, because its told from Jems point of view, the journey is a bit of a rollercoaster for the audience who may even find themselves emotionally wrapped up in Jem and Owens romance, despite knowing that it is fundamentally wrong.

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Something that I was trying to do with this film is have the audience be with the main character moment to moment, said Parmet. You are with her every step of the way. You feel her intoxication, you feel this vivid opening up that shes experiencing while at the same time conveying that this relationship is problematic.

Parmet drew visual and tonal inspiration from Pawel Pawlikowskis My Summer of Love, a film that she finds lush, green, immediate, intimate, stimulating and dangerous.

A key part of making that dynamic work was finding the right Owen  someone who you believe Jem would fall for and also someone that the audience falls for too, at least for a time. Pullman, Parmet said, had the gentle charisma to straddle the complex line. Jem cant see that hes a lost soul himself, and he likely doesnt even realize hes a groomer or in the wrong. In rehearsals, Scanlen, Pullman and Parmet would try to determine who has the power in a certain scene.

Plenty of people walk out hating Owen, which is, you know, valid and makes a lot of sense, Pullman said. But I think my weird goal in all this was, if there was anybody who was in a relationship similar to it, I wanted him to be approachable enough that they could see themselves in him, right? I didnt want to make him so such a such a monster that people wouldnt look at themselves in the mirror and question whether their actions at all might parallel his.

As Jem, Scanlen found in their dynamic a powerful truth about the possibility of both having agency in a relationship and also being a victim of abuse at the same time. The film also explores how patriarchal systems can be harmful for men too. Like Owen, Jems father (Jimmi Simpson) is struggling in the community as an addict whose recovery is not being supported in a helpful way.

I do think the film is about all of us, Simpson said. We all subscribe to some kind of rule system that helps us get through life a little easier.

Parmet also hopes that the film speaks to everyone.

I hope that people see themselves in the story and in the characters, no matter their background, Parmet said. Its a story thats really about trying to figure out who you are.

Making an independent film is never the most glamorous pursuit (Kentucky, though beautiful, was also quite buggy) but all were driven by a shared sense of purpose and a belief that their director is an auteur in the making who is just getting started.

The beauty of making indie films is that everybodys in it together and in it for the right reasons, Scanlen said. Youre just there to make something beautiful.

___

Follow AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ldbahr.
Defenders of Ukraine after the battle in the Bakhmut area

Malyar emphasized the importance of comprehensively understanding the progress of the battles without taking information out of context.

Read also: Russians attack Kramatorsk with missile and Chernihiv Oblast with rockets

In the course of several days, our forces have liberated approximately 20 square kilometers from the enemy in the northern and southern suburbs of Bakhmut, Maylar said.

However, the enemy is making some advances within Bakhmut itself, causing extensive destruction with artillery. Furthermore, the enemy is deploying units of professional paratroopers.

Malyar pointed to the unwavering determination and exceptional efforts of the Ukrainian defenders  Despite the defense of Bakhmut having persisted for months, the Defense Forces have achieved progress in specific areas, thanks to the soldiers extraordinary efforts and the high professionalism of the defense command, she said.

Read also: Russian bullet stopped by loaf of bread amid attack on Ukrainian military vehicles near Bakhmut  photo

Its important to remember that the enemy holds an advantage in terms of manpower and weaponry. However, due to the actions of our military, they have been unable to implement their plans in the Bakhmut axis since last summer, added Malyar.

Lieutenant General Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, previously visited the frontline troops and stated that the defenders of Ukraine are executing a counter-offensive in select areas near Bakhmut, employing the principle of active defense.

According to Syrskyi, the advance of the Ukrainian forces in the Bakhmut direction represents the first but partial success in offensive operations during the defense of Bakhmut.

On May 15, Serhiy Cherevatyi, a representative of the Eastern Operational Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, reported that the defenders of Ukraine had made significant advancements on the flanks in the Bakhmut area, ranging from 350 meters to 2 kilometers in certain zones over the past two days.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
A week after the Iowa Supreme Court overturned its 2017 decision allowing Iowans to seek monetary damages from state officials for alleged improper conduct, it has cited that ruling in affirming a ruling last week denying several claims in a Johnson County case. The plaintiff had sued an Iowa City police officer and Johnson County sheriff's deputy for what she said was an excessive show of force in the arrest of her husband on suspicion of drunken driving after a one-car accident.

The Supreme Court on Friday, May 12 turned down an appeal from Jason Carter and affirmed the district court's decision, citing its May 7 decision in Burnett v. Smith. The court also dismissed claims from Geri White of assault by an Iowa City police officer and a Johnson County Sheriffs deputy.

Both rulings involved the case of Cory Burnett, a Johnson County garbage truck driver who was arrested on an interference charge after he refused to assist in an inspection of his truck by an Iowa Department of Transportation officer who had pulled him over for having a cracked windshield.

After the charge was dismissed, Burnett sued the officer and the state, accusing the officer of unreasonable stop and seizure that violated his due process rights under the Iowa Constitution. A district judge dismissed Burnett's claims, and he appealed.

More: Inside Out Reentry Community purchases first Iowa City home for formerly incarcerated persons

As with the investigator in Carter's case, the lower court found that the IDOT officer had been acting in his official capacity and was immune from claims for monetary damages, even if he had acted wrongly. That was in keeping with a long-held principle that government officials could be held liable only in cases where the Legislature specifically permitted such claims.

But in 2017, the Iowa Supreme Court in a case widely known as Godfrey II had found that such claims could be made even without legislative authorization. That case involved a lawsuit in which Workers' Compensation Commissioner Christopher Godfrey alleged the administration of then-Gov. Terry Branstad had retaliated against him for being gay by trying to force him out of his job.

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Though the jury's award was later overturned, it found for Godfrey and decided the state should pay him $1.5 million.

More: Man seriously injured in a shooting in downtown Iowa City after an altercation late Saturday

Since then, all of the Supreme Court justices appointed by Democrats have been replaced, leaving the court with entirely Republican appointees. One of them, Justice Edward Mansfield, who dissented in the Godfrey II case, wrote for the majority in last week's Burnett decision that the case had been wrongly decided, resulting in an unworkable precedent, and returned the law to its pre-2017 status.

In its brief, unsigned opinion on the Carter case, the court cited Burnett as it affirmed the lower court's ruling.

"As explained in Burnett v. Smith  we overruled Godfrey as demonstrably erroneous and unworkablein practice," the court wrote. "Carters constitutional tort claims therefore cannot proceed."

Burnett ruling also cited in case alleging excessive display of force

The Supreme Court likewise cited Burnett in the Johnson County case of Geri White, who accused Iowa City police Officer Michael Harkrider and county sheriff's Deputy Chris Wisman of "intentional infliction of emotional distress, trespass, and assault."

White's husband, Daniel, was being sought in connection with a one-car accident in which the driver fled the scene, leaving behind a beer can and some unused rifle ammunition. White's suit alleged that when Harkrider and Wisman came to her house, they brought a contingent of other officers who surrounded it with drawn guns and that Harkrider used a loudspeaker to demand the occupants come out "with your hands in the air."

White came out, asking for what the court said was "an explanation for the army in front of her home." It said she eventually spoke to Wisman and was allowed to go back inside, but that her husband, who also was inside, was arrested and charged with operating while intoxicated, a count later dismissed in a plea agreement.

More: Police arrest four suspects following investigation of weekend stabbing in Iowa City

White, in her suit, cited Godfrey to back claims that Harkrider and Wisman had violated her state constitutional rights. The district court, however, found there was no reason for state constitutional claims in the case, which involved municipal employees, and that she could pursue her claims of emotional distress, trespass and assault as common law actions.

The Supreme Court cited its Burnett decision in affirming the dismissal of White's state claims. It also ruled in a cross-appeal from Harkrider and Wisman of the district judge's decision to allow the common law claims, dismissing the ones for intentional infliction of emotional distress and trespass, but remanding the assault claim to the lower court.

The opinion, written by Justice Christopher McDonald, said that while the officers' conduct "was not beyond the bounds of all decency in a civilized society, it could put a person in fear of physical pain or injury. Indeed, our courts have held that confronting another with a shotgun is substantial evidence in support of a jury's verdict finding civil assault by a private person."

It said it will be up to the district court in further proceedings to determine whether the claim should be dismissed, as Harkrider and Wisman contend, "because their actions as peace officers were justified as a matter of law."

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Iowa Supreme Court cites May 7 Johnson County decision in recent rulings
A couple with a loose dog was spotted getting too close to an endangered Hawaiian monk seal to take photos alongside it, Hawaii officials said.

The states Department of Land and Natural Resources posted photos to its Facebook page showing a man at Kaena Point State Park closely crouching down next to a resting monk seal while a woman can be seen snapping a photo on her cellphone.

Regrettably we did not have an officer in the area, but we wanted to release the tipsters photographs to illustrate this irresponsible behavior, Jason Redulla, DLNRs division of conservation and resources enforcement chief, said in the post about the photos, which were sent via an anonymous tip Wednesday, May 10.

In addition to getting too close to the seal, the couples dog was also wandering around the seal without a leash, according to the department.

Having violated the safe viewing guidelines and having their pet dog present is a recipe for trouble, especially around a wild monk seal, the department said.

Individuals should stay at least 50 feet away from seals and 150 feet away from monk seal moms with pups, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Dogs should also be kept on a leash.

In recent years, some have been charged and convicted on similar violations, according to the department.

A Louisiana couple faced a fine after a TikTok video showed a woman touching a monk seal at a Hawaii beach, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported in July 2021.

There are only about 1,500 Hawaiian monk seals alive today, making it the most endangered seal or sea lion species in the United States, according to The Marine Mammal Center.

But thanks to conservation efforts, this species is making a slow recovery, the nonprofit said.

Sea lions flee in panic after man backflips off pier to harass them, CA video shows

You can leave now. TikTok shows girl ordered off beach after tossing sand at sea lion

Beachgoers flee sea lions flustered by woman taking photos, TikTok video shows
Many taxpayers like the notion of a do-it-yourself plan for preparing and filing their tax returns digitally for free through an IRS-run system. Just how many would use it, though, who honestly knows? And don't bank on an expanded, quick rollout of a new "Direct File" option soon, based on findings in the Internal Revenue Service's report to Congress.

The IRS will launch an initial, limited pilot in 2024, according to IRS and Treasury officials who spoke during a briefing Tuesday. The size, scale and structure of the pilot isn't known yet. No details were given for how many taxpayers would be able to file online directly with the IRS next year. Or how the IRS might reach out to those who might be asked to participate or want to volunteer to file their 2023 tax returns next year through the pilot system. The IRS said such details are expected to be determined later.

The report noted that a successful pilot requires a clear scope, a target audience and measurable goals up front. The pilot would be used to determine whether or how a full-scale "Direct File" project could move forward.

The Inflation Reduction Act, signed by President Joe Biden in August 2022, mandated that the IRS conduct a feasibility study to determine how the federal government might develop and run a free, direct electronic filing tax system that's open to all consumers.

The act, which allocated $15 million for the study, required that a report be completed by mid-May.

Taxpayers want free options

Laurel Blatchford, chief implementation officer for the Inflation Reduction Act at the Treasury Department, said the research indicated there's an appetite among taxpayers for a free direct-file tool from the IRS. She noted that dozens of other countries have provided free filing options to their citizens.

"Taxpayers would prefer a free option provided by the IRS," Blatchford said.

A free-file option built by the IRS could cost less than $10 per return to provide, she said, and would be free to taxpayers. By comparison, she said, simple electronic filing options currently available to taxpayers are around $40.

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The report pointed out that it is unknown how many taxpayers would actually tap into the a new digital IRS system. Given the "substantial uncertainty," the IRS report outlined various cost estimates based on a range of 1 million to 25 million users.

"Even some of the largest technology companies in the private sector (such as Meta, Dropbox, Twitter, and Airbnb) have taken months, and sometimes years, after launching to the public to reach 1 millionusers," the report noted.

If the pilot moves forward, taxpayers can expect to see "Direct File" evolve over time.

"To be successful, the IRS would need to test, grow, and improve functionality over multiple tax years," according to the report released Tuesday.

IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel outlined a new pilot for a "Direct File" program, which would give taxpayers a way to prepare and file their taxes for free through an IRS-run platform.

The IRS stressed that a free digital option would remain as just one option for doing your taxes.

"Taxpayers will always have choices for how they file their taxes," IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said in the news media briefing Tuesday.

"They can use tax software. They can use a trusted tax professional. They can use a paper tax return. We'd rather they file it electronically, sure, but they have that tool. People should use the filing option that works best for them."

The 'Free File' system continues

Werfel said the current IRS "Free File" system, which was created in 2002, will remain in place, noting that agreements were extended through 2025. Free File is offered through a partnership with tax software providers that make their online products available in English and Spanish for free at IRS.gov. This year, seven partners provided IRS Free File online products to any taxpayer or family who earned $73,000 or less in 2022. To find providers, taxpayers need to go to IRS.gov/freefile.

Participating companies in "Free File" receive no payment for providing these services. The IRS initially agreed not to create its own free tax-filing software as part of this deal. In 2019, though, the limitation on the IRS was removed.

Some 2.5 million taxpayers  or less than 3% of those eligible  used "Free File" in 2019, according to an audit conducted by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Some maintain that consumers weren't aware of the program. But some companies also have been criticized with re-directing tax filers online to their own products over the years that had a fee.

How 'Direct File' might work

The "Direct File" discussions go further to offer an IRS-run system and provide free services to more taxpayers. The goal is to test different approaches in the pilot, including the complexity of the returns.

Werfel said the initial pilot next year is not expected to pre-fill parts of tax returns with limited data that the IRS might already have about a taxpayer from a third party, such as wages on a W-2 form.

While a million or more taxpayers would be a decent-sized group for a new IRS-run system, it's important to realize that individual taxpayers submitted nearly 160.6 million tax returns to the IRS during fiscal year 2022.

On average, the report noted, a taxpayer spends roughly 8 hours and $140 in out-of-pocket costs just to prepare and file their return, including all forms and schedules for nonbusiness income. The burden on taxpayers who own a business or work in a gig economy is even greater, according to Treasury officials.

Not having to spend extra cash to file could be very attractive to many people but again, not everyone.

"A potential Direct File option could directly benefit taxpayers by making tax filing a simpler and lessexpensive process," the report stated. The IRS also hopes that a new system might help discourage people from filing paper returns, which remain costly for the IRS to process.

The IRS receives 8% of returns on paper but, the report noted, that the cost to process those returns is nearly 70% of total processing costs.

The IRS and the U.S. Digital Service, a technology unit of the White House that provides consulting services to federal agencies, built a functioning, internal prototype system for limited research in controlled testing; no real tax information was used in these early tests. The prototype was not used to submit actual returns.

What are the risks?

Mark Everson, a former IRS commissioner and current vice chairman at the tax consulting firm alliantgroup, said the IRS will need to move cautiously in testing a Direct File program.

Whatever is done here it has to be done very carefully, said Everson, who was IRS commissioner from 2003 to 2007.

It should be rolled out only as the service feels that its a product thats ready to go.

When turning to an IRS online system to prepare a return, he said, a taxpayer would often provide more information beyond what ends up being provided on a return or form thats filed.

How do people feel about the government having that information?

Its more sensitive information that the IRS needs to protect from data breeches or potential misuse.

They absolutely have to be 100% confident that they can protect the data that theyve accumulated, he said.

Everson, who said hes not against such a system, called a Direct File approach a significant moment for tax administration. He said hed like to see explicit authorization for this type of direct system from Congress, which the IRS maintains is not necessary.

Its a change in how we do the taxes, he said.

Will people trust the IRS?

Free always sounds good. And I have no doubt that people are fed up with wasting time and paying hundreds of dollars to get their taxes done.

But when it comes to taxes, one wonders how reliable and accurate new government tax software could end up being for many taxpayers. Everyone isn't computer-savvy or comfortable with trying to understand complex changes in the tax rules. Could, for example, an expanded IRS-run system easily adapt to last-minute tax changes made by Congress?

Are people willing to take the time to give the IRS a shot? Especially given the oversize headaches that taxpayers ran into when dealing with the IRS during the pandemic. While the latest tax season ran much more smoothly for the IRS, I doubt any taxpayer could ever forget waiting six months or more for the IRS to issue their refund after they filed a 2020 paper return that ended up caught in a massive IRS backlog.

More: Michigan tax filers to get checks in the mail after TurboTax settlement

Taxes aren't a one-size-fits all, set-it-and-forget-it proposition.

Tax rules evolve. And our tax-related lives change. One year, you might need to claim income from gig work. Another year, you could be dealing with complex education credits for a son or daughter who has headed off to college.

It's very likely that any pilot would be limited to those with basic tax returns - which is a start.

Taxpayers definitely need more free and friendly options. We'll see how this one evolves over time.

Contact personal finance columnist Susan Tompor: stompor@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @tompor.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: IRS to launch limited pilot for its own free 'Direct File' option
WASHINGTON  A whistleblower at the Internal Revenue Service, which is investigating Hunter Biden for potential tax violations, told lawmakers Monday his entire team was removed from the probe, according to a letter from his lawyers obtained by USA TODAY.

The letter said the IRS criminal supervisory special agent "was informed that he and his entire investigative team are being removed from the ongoing and sensitive investigation of the high-profile, controversial subject about which our client sought to make whistleblower disclosures to Congress." The Justice Department informed the whistleblower about the change.

IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel had testified on April 27 at the House Ways and Means Committee that no one at the agency would be retaliated against.

I can say without hesitation there will be no retaliation for anyone making an allegation or a call to a whistleblower hotline, he said.

Lawyers for the undisclosed whistleblower disagreed.

However, this move is clearly retaliatory and may also constitute obstruction of a congressional inquiry, said the letter from Trian Leavitt, president of Empower Oversight, a group representing whistleblowers, and Mark Lytle, a partner at Nixon Peabody.

Our client has a right to make disclosures to Congress, the letter added. Any attempt by any government official to prevent a federal employee from furnishing information to Congress is also a direct violation of longstanding appropriations restriction.

President Joe Biden attends his granddaughter Maisy Biden's commencement ceremony with first lady Jill Biden and children Hunter Biden and Ashley Biden at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia on May 15.

President Joe Biden said he would leave decision-making in criminal cases to the Justice Department and he has, according to White House spokesman Ian Sams. The case is being investigated by Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump and who hasn't announced any charges yet.

Since he took office and consistent with his campaign promise that he would restore the independence of the Justice Department when it comes to decision-making in criminal investigations, President Biden has made clear that this matter would be handled independently by the Justice Department, under the leadership of a U.S. Attorney appointed by former President Trump, free from any political interference by the White House," Sams said. "He has upheld that commitment.

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The IRS issued a statement Monday that under federal law the agency can't comment on specific taxpayer matters, but that the agency is "deeply committed to protecting the role of whistleblowers."

"As IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel has stated, we will not tolerate retaliation against any IRS employee making a whistleblower allegation," the agency statement said. "When suggestions of wrongdoing are raised, we work with all appropriate parties, including the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, to ensure the integrity of the whistleblower process is safeguarded.

IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel prepares to testify before a House Ways and Means Committee oversight hearing on April 27, 2023, in Washington.

The letter, which was first reported by the New York Post, was sent to leaders of the House Ways and Means, and Judiciary, committees and the Senate Finance and Judiciary committees.

Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., asked Werfel for an explanation.

This most recent communication concerning allegations of retaliatory actions against a whistleblower appears to contradict the sworn testimony by Commissioner Werfel who pledged that whistleblower protections would be upheld, Smith said in a statement. Not only does retaliation like this discourage whistleblowers, it can also rise to the level of an illegal violation of statutory protections for whistleblowers.

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden watch a Christmas tree lighting ceremony with son Hunter Biden and his son Beau Jr. on his shoulders during their family's Thanksgiving holiday in Nantucket, Mass., on Nov. 25, 2022.

Hunter Biden announced in December 2020 he was under investigation for tax issues.

I take this matter very seriously but I am confident that a professional and objective review of these matters will demonstrate that I handled my affairs legally and appropriately, including with the benefit of professional tax advisors, he said in a statement.

House Republicans have been investigating Hunter Biden for alleged influence peddling from lucrative business deals in Ukraine, Romania and China. But Biden's lawyers and the White House have dismissed the accusations as baseless innuendo.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hunter Biden IRS probe: Whistleblower says his 'entire' team removed
Attorneys for an IRS whistleblower say the whistleblower's entire team has been removed from the Hunter Biden probe and have accused the government of illegal retaliation, according to a letter sent to the House and Senate judiciary committees.

The whistleblowers attorneys told Congress that the removal was on the order of the Department of Justice.

"Today the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Supervisory Special Agent we represent was informed that he and his entire investigative team are being removed from the ongoing and sensitive investigation of the high-profile, controversial subject about which our client sought to make whistleblower disclosures to Congress," the letter states.

"He was informed the change was at the request of the Department of Justice," attorneys Mark Lytle and Tristan Leavitt wrote.

Whistleblower protections are enshrined in federal statute. The protocol is for a whistleblower to first go to their immediate supervisor or the supervisor in charge with the issue at hand. If the whistleblower believes that reaching out to a supervisor could jeopardize their well-being, or that supervisor is implicated in any potential misconduct, the whistleblower can go directly to the inspector general of their agency. From there, the inspector general can communicate with Congress, when appropriate.

In this case, one of the disclosures the IRS whistleblower made was to the U.S. Treasury inspector general for tax administration, sources told Fox News.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The removal of a whistleblower from a situation or investigation could potentially be seen as retaliatory, depending on the circumstances, but it also may be necessary to preserve objectivity of the investigation and the alleged witness, sources said.

Fox News' Bradford Betz contributed to this report.
NINGBO, May 16 (Xinhua) -- The 3rd China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair kicked off Tuesday in the eastern Chinese city of Ningbo, providing more opportunities for goods and services from Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) to tap into the Chinese consumer market.

The five-day expo has attracted the participation of more than 3,000 exhibitors, including over 400 exhibitors from CEEC and other European countries, displaying over 5,000 kinds of products ranging from agricultural food, wines and cosmetics to intelligent manufacturing and services trade.

As the guest country of honor this year, Hungary has 35 companies participating in the expo, intending to leverage the expo as a platform to showcase unique Hungarian products to the Chinese market and strengthen economic and trade ties between the two countries, said Gabor Jenei, director with the Hungarian export promotion agency.

It is the third time for Wink, a wine brand from Hungary, to participate in the China-CEEC expo. The wine brand entered the Chinese market in 2012 and has branches in Beijing, Shanghai, Xiamen, and Ningbo, and also established online sales channels on China's e-commerce platforms.

"As the world's second-largest consumer market, China is witnessing vigorous consumption vitality. We ship around 500,000 bottles of noble rot wines from Hungary to China every year, with an annual sales value of up to 60 million yuan (around 8.6 million U.S. dollars)," said Sun Jinsong, general manager of the company's branch in Xiamen.

At this year's expo, the company's display commodities have expanded from wines to food, skin care products, and home textiles supplies, among others, to meet the different needs of Chinese consumers.

"The expo is a superb opportunity to showcase more products from Hungary to Chinese customers. We hope to bring closer the ties between the company and the Chinese market via the expo," said Sun.

As a first-time exhibitor at the China-CEEC expo, Grzegorz Sienkiewicz, chief executive officer of the Polish cosmetics company Four Starlings, was excited to see his exhibition booth dotted with visitors.

Founded in 2015, the Polish company mainly makes natural cosmetics products, and its products have entered more than 300 retail stores globally. It selected the company's bestsellers such as soap and face cream for this year's expo.

"With massive opportunities and supportive policies, the world's second-largest consumer market holds irresistible appeal to global businesses," he said. "The consumption concept of Chinese consumers has changed in recent years, and more people pursue natural products and quality life. I believe my company will have massive development in China."

Andrzej Juchniewicz, chief representative of the Polish investment and trade agency in China, said the agency organized about 11 Polish companies from the cosmetics, agricultural food, and services trade sectors for the expo.

"The expo is an important window for Polish brands to accelerate their entry into and expansion in the Chinese market. We hope to find Chinese agents through the exhibition to bring more quality products to China," he said.

"In the future, Polish companies hope to expand their market in more industries, such as gaming, science and technology, and medicine, in China," he added.

With an exhibition area of 220,000 square meters, the 3rd China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair is expected to receive about 10,000 professional buyers and 100,000 visitors, with estimated purchase orders for CEEC goods worth over 10 billion yuan.

As a trade catalyst between China and CEEC, the expo is playing a more prominent role in boosting consumer confidence, unleashing consumption potential, and connecting CEEC consumer goods with the Chinese market, said Zhang Yadong, director of the Ningbo CEEC expo and cooperation promotion center.

Data from China's commerce ministry showed that since 2012, China's trade with CEEC has grown at an average annual rate of 8.1 percent, and China's imports from CEEC have increased at an average rate of 9.2 percent annually. In the first quarter of this year, the two-way trade reached 33.3 billion U.S. dollars, up 1.6 percent yearly. 
By Nidal al-Mughrabi

GAZA (Reuters) - When an Israeli missile struck the residential block of the Nabhan family in Gaza four days ago, no one was killed, but a family with five disabled members were among 45 people made homeless.

For the five siblings, three of whom are on wheel chairs and all five of whom suffer from physical disability, muscular dystrophy and convulsions, the misery was multiplied, as their wheelchairs, medicine, special beds and bathroom were buried under the rubble.

The family now lives with relatives close to their old shelter. Every morning relatives carry them out as people continued to flock to the site, some showing sympathy at their harrowing experience, and others carrying gifts for the girls.

"The house blew up while we were being moved out. Our wheelchairs, medicine and clothes were inside. Nothing was left," said 16-year-old Hanin, who has a disability in both legs.

The others are aged 3, 18, 29 and 38. The emotional toll of losing the house seemed to have worsened the older brother's mental state, as he has become very nervous, always shouting and sometimes crying, his relatives said.

According to officials from Hamas, the Islamist group that controls the Gaza Strip, the latest round of Israeli air strikes, which began on May 9, have destroyed 15 residential blocks, containing more than 50 apartments. In addition, 940 buildings have been damaged, 49 beyond repair.

The Israeli military says it takes every effort to limit civilian casualties and damage and accuses the militant group of hiding command centres and other military sites in residential areas.

On May 13, Hanin's older brother Jalal received a call from a private number, but he went out to let his cousin respond as he stutters while talking. The caller was an Israeli officer who ordered them to evacuate the house five minutes before they bombed it.

The cousin, Hussam Nabhan, 45, tried to stall with the officer, telling him the house included disabled people, but it was all in vain, he said.

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"He told me you to have five minutes. We rushed to the house and found the girls lying on the ground. Thanks to the neighbours we have been able to take them out and we managed to leave the house by a miracle," he told Reuters.

The mother, Najah, 57, said they failed to take anything from the house even the identity cards.

"The house was the girls' shelter, they had got a disabled toilet, wheelchairs, a bed to sleep. Things that had been difficult to get, now there is nothing," Najah said.

"How am I going to carry her after the wheeler was gone, also the (healthy) mattresses were gone," she added.

The Gaza Strip is home to 2.3 million Palestinians in cities, towns, and refugee camps squeezed within an area of 365 square km (141 square miles). Its borders are sealed off by neighbouring Israel and Egypt, citing security concerns with Hamas, which runs the territory.

Several wars and a 16-year-old Israeli-led blockade have crippled the enclave's already ailing economy.

(Reporting by Nidal Almughrabi, Editing by William Maclean)
Giuliano Calza attends the Valentino Haute Couture Spring Summer 2023 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on January 25, 2023 (Getty Images)

Italian fashion designer Giuliano Calza has called on shoppers to boycott Chinese fast fashion retailer Shein or accept mediocrity.

The co-founder of streetwear label GCDS, which stands for God Cant Destroy Streetwear, posted a statement on Instagram accusing the retailer of stealing his shoe design.

Shein, which is known for selling cheap clothes, has been embroiled in numerous copyright infringement lawsuits by designers and artists over the years.

Calza said that the retailers actions were hurtful and abusive and accused it of stealing ideas, stealing sweat, stealing love and [months] of dedication and stealing the energy of making [sic] new ideas come to life.

He wrote: Imagine them coming into your house or your mind and making your things, your dreams THEIRS.

The designer also addressed shoppers who may complain his garments and accessories are too expensive and therefore they shop on Shein.

Because I respect humans, I respect hard work and workers, I use ethical way of productions and materials [sic], he said, after earlier accusing the retailer of killing the planet with dehumanising policies that make [these] prices possible.

He posted screenshots of a pair of silver wedge heels on Sheins website, which have the same stylised heel as the Morso heels, available on the GCDS website for US$875.

It is unclear how much Sheins version of the shoes are, and they appear to have been removed from the site. The Independent has contacted Shein for comment.

Calza continued in his post: I try to stay human, I try to make my country a place where this industry can live for young people like me, but in this time maybe Im wrong, maybe I am the fool.

The designer, whose brand has been worn by Beyonce, Bella Hadid, Dua Lipa, Pamela Anderson, and other celebrities, said that what hurts the most is people tagging me [on these] shoes and expecting me to congratulate them or repost.

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A screenshot of Giuliano Calzas GCDS website showing a pair of heels that he has accused Shein of copying (GCDS)

Its very sick. If you want creativity and young people to continue [surviving] and see them succeed, do not be a part of their game, he added.

In his caption, Calza wrote: Boycott Shein or accept abusive behaviour, accept stealing and accept the planet where you live, to burn in shame and fear [sic].

Accept mediocrity and be part of killing someone elses dreams.

In 2021, Shein was accused of deliberate and calculated trademark infringement by a number of major and independent brands, including AirWair International, owner of Dr Martens.

The complaint, filed in California, accused the retailer of having a clear intent to sell counterfeits. Shein denied the claims, and has denied other claims of alleged infringement.
ROME (AP)  With the help of a high-leaping dog with a fine nose for cocaine, Italian police seized more than 2,700 kilos (about 3 tons) of the drug hidden in 70 tons of boxed bananas shipped from Ecuador, authorities said Tuesday.

Police estimated that the cocaine, which they described as of the finest quality, could have brought traffickers more than 800 million euros ($900 million) in street sales if it had reached its ultimate destination in Armenia.

Customs police became suspicious about two containers on a cargo ship that recently arrived at the port of Gioia Tauro, in the toe of the Italian peninsula and a stronghold of a ndrangheta organized crime clan.

Police told Italian state radio that documents and a background check indicated the shippers of the bananas weren't in the business of moving that much fruit.

Officers used scanning machines and the dog, named Joel, to uncover packets of cocaine hidden in boxes stacked meters-high in container trucks.

Joel leaped high and eagerly when the officers opened the back doors of the truck, and pawed furiously at the unloaded boxes to try to move the bananas aside, police recounted.

Had the drug eluded detection, the containers with the cocaine would have continued through the Mediterranean to a Black Sea port in Georgia for eventual transport to Armenia, authorities said.

They didn't specify just when the container ship arrived in Gioia Tauro.

But customs police said that said just days before the seizure, customs police at the same port found some 600 kilos (1,320 pounds) of cocaine in six container trucks also laden with exotic fruit from Ecuador. Those shipments had been destined for Croatia, Greece and Georgia, the customs police said.

Anti-Mafia investigative police aided in the seizure of the the cocaine.

The Gioia Tauro port, one of Italy's busiest, has long been under the watch of anti-Mafia investigators because of its proximity to towns where the ndrangheta has bases. The crime clan is one of the worlds most powerful cocaine traffickers.

Since the start of 2021, and including the latest seizure, customs police at the port have intercepted and seized a total of 37 tons of cocaine, the police said.
Peru is one of the 20 countries I visited by myself. Nicole Jordan

I've traveled to more than 40 countries and have visited over 20 of them by myself.

Before my trips, I always research the destination along with its customs, languages, and laws.

Solo travel can feel lonely at moments, but the lifestyle can also be rewarding and addicting.

After visiting over 40 countries and experiencing more than half of them alone, I've learned a thing or two about solo travel.

By preparing correctly and having the right mindset on the ground, I'm almost always guaranteed to have an adventure  whether I'm hiking Machu Picchu in Peru or attending a festival in Bhutan.

Here's what I wish I knew about traveling alone before my first solo trip.

Traveling alone for the first time can feel intimidating and overwhelming, but that shouldn't stop you.

Many of my trips are focused on hiking, like this one to the Picos de Europa in northern Spain. Nicole Jordan

I took my first solo trip while studying abroad in college. Fueled by my passion for hiking, I wanted to visit the Alps, but none of my classmates wanted to join me. I knew I needed to get to the mountain range no matter what it took, even if it meant going alone.

Despite the fact that my trip was only one week, going to a different country where I didn't speak the local language was intimidating  especially when people told me stories about why they were too scared to travel alone.

Ultimately, I asked myself, "Why not?"

I knew how to navigate an airport, had enough money to get through the week, and had already booked my hostel.

As soon as I arrived, everything went smoothly. I met people at my hostel and in town and hiked among some of the most beautiful mountains and glaciers I've ever seen. It was amazing, and I got to visit a bucket-list destination.

To ensure smooth logistics on the ground, you have to do in-depth destination research ahead of departure.

I mapped out my trip to Bhutan in great detail before boarding my flight. Nicole Jordan

If I'm traveling to a different country alone, I always do extensive research ahead of time.

Each destination has different things to watch out for, customs to acknowledge and respect, ways to dress, and methods of getting around. It's helpful to be informed about the environment and culture you're walking into ahead of time.

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Some countries have customs and laws that are very different than the ones in my home country. I like knowing about them ahead of time so I don't unintentionally break a rule or offend someone.

Planning out the details of my trip and properly preparing reduces the chance of mix-ups and problems on the ground.

Even though you're starting the trip solo, you probably won't be alone the entire time.

I may start a trip alone, but I'm almost always exploring with new friends once I arrive. Nicole Jordan

Usually, someone asks if I'm traveling solo when I'm boarding buses or checking into my accommodations.

I technically am, as I left my home country and hopped on a plane by myself. But I often meet so many people along the way that don't feel like I'm traveling alone.

If I stay in hostels, homestays, or social Airbnbs, I tend to have a very easy time meeting other travelers. I've gone backpacking through a new country with friends I met on my trip, and before I knew it, we all started to feel like a little family.

The same goes for meeting locals, as many have shown me around a destination and even invited me to stay with their families to learn about their culture.

Exploring by yourself can be lonely, and the friendships you make along the way may not always last.

I meet amazing people on my trips but, at the end of the day, I'm on my own. Nicole Jordan

I've clicked with so many people I've met on my travels, and during the trip, it feels like we'll be friends forever. Sometimes, we even make plans to meet up in a few months.

But it takes time to develop strong, lasting bonds. A lot of the relationships I make on trips seem to expire after I get on my return flight.

We separate, and our lives go different ways. They usually end up being a memory (or another person I follow on social media). The friendships are incredible, but frequently moving on after meeting people you connect with gets lonely after a while.

It's also hard missing out on big activities and events with friends and family at home. Even when I'm exploring an amazing place, I still worry about missing out.

The freedom to do whatever you want whenever you want is a luxury.

I took a trip to the Falkland Islands, a South Atlantic archipelago. Nicole Jordan

One of the biggest advantages of solo travel is the freedom to do whatever I want, whenever I want.

I've fallen in love with a town and ended up staying twice as long as I initially planned. I've gone on long, grueling solo hikes. I've also skipped dinner out to have a lazy night in. And I never have to feel bad about how these actions impact a travel companion.

Exploring with other people is fun and offers many amazing opportunities, but I love traveling on my own schedule and not having to accommodate anyone else.

You need to learn to adapt and understand that there will be moments of discomfort on solo trips.

I keep my schedule open in case I learn about events or activities on the ground. Nicole Jordan

Flexibility and adaptability are essential while traveling, especially if you're doing it alone. You never know what opportunities may come up  maybe you'll end up changing your weekend plans to attend a fun event that a local told you about.

Also, not everything is comfortable when you're traveling on a budget. You may end up sleeping in some below-average accommodations and taking long, bumpy bus rides.

Even if you're not on a budget, you may eat foods you're not used to in order to fully experience a different culture.

Exploring a place where you don't speak the local language and immersing yourself in a different way of life can be hard, especially without a familiar person by your side.

Being in a new place is thrilling, but you should fight the urge to fill your schedule.

I attended the Thimphu Tshechu Festival in Bhutan. Nicole Jordan

I've made the mistake of jam-packing my schedule from sunrise to midnight a handful of times. It's exhausting, especially if I'm traveling between destinations that are far apart and require a lot of time in transit.

It's not fun to fill your vacation with car rides, bus rides, and frequent flights. So when I'm limited on time, I choose a few things to do that are close to each other and fully explore those places.

Then, I can really experience a place, meet the locals, and relax  the last of which is a priority when I'm staying in beautiful destinations.

Trust your gut and always be aware of your surroundings.

To be extra safe, I sometimes carry my backpack on the front of my body. Nicole Jordan

Unfortunate incidents can happen anywhere, so I do my best to stay vigilant of my surroundings. I keep an eye on my bag and only bring as much money as I need for the day, especially if I'm in a busy area.

Someone once stole my phone and some cash out of my little crossbody bag when I wasn't paying attention. It was inconvenient and frustrating, but it happens to even the most seasoned travelers.

I also always trust my gut when I'm traveling, and usually, things feel slightly off right before something bad happens. If I get that sense, I leave and go somewhere else. It's best to get out of the situation as soon as possible.

Traveling solo can be addicting, and you may even come to prefer it to taking trips with others.

On my trip to Peru, I summited Machu Picchu. Nicole Jordan

After nervously preparing for my first solo adventure to the Alps back in 2014, I never thought I'd travel alone as much as I do now.

In fact, I've spent more time traveling solo than I have traveling with other people. It's hard to find friends who are compatible travel partners and also have the same time off.

But that hasn't held me back. The lifestyle is addicting. The freedom, the people I meet, and the once-in-a-lifetime opportunities leave me craving more.

Read the original article on Insider
James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary leaves Downing Street after a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday

The Government has refused to renegotiate Rishi Sunaks Brexit deal with the EU in a blow to the DUP, which is campaigning to change the Windsor Framework in elections in Northern Ireland.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has urged voters to back the DUP in Thursdays council elections to force the Prime Minister back to the negotiating room.

But James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, said the Government had no intention of making any fundamental changes to Februarys deal on post-Brexit struck trading arrangements.

Its a very simple answer, Mr Cleverly told the Lords Committee on Northern Ireland on Tuesday, which is no.

Lord Empey asked Mr Cleverly if the Government planned domestic legislation that would guarantee Northern Irelands place in the UK, which is another DUP demand. I cant see we need to, Mr Cleverly told the former leader of the Ulster Unionist Party.

The Foreign Secretary said the Windsor Framework protected Northern Irelands place in the UK. He said the deal was the best possible that could be sold by the European Commission to EU capitals. Reopening talks with the EU would risk those capitals demanding some of the European concessions be taken back off the table, he added.

The reason why I said no to renegotiation is because we got movement from the Commission that for many, many years, the Commission told us was impossible, he said. The idea that somehow there was a significantly or even subtly better deal just over the horizon. I think that's wrong.

Voters head to the polls on Thursday for elections that have become a de facto referendum on the DUPs 15-month boycott of Stormont over the Irish Sea border. The unionists are not satisfied with the Windsor Framework, which they say does not go far enough to protect their place in the UK.

Sir Jeffrey has urged voters to give the DUP the strength at the ballot box to secure what we need to ensure Northern Irelands place within the UK is fully and properly restored.

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Biggest party in the province

Defeat in the elections will be a huge blow to the DUP, which lost its status as Northern Irelands biggest political party to Sinn Fein for the first time in the Stormont elections in May last year.

Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill, who is now targeting replacing the DUP as the largest party of local government, has told exasperated voters to send the DUP a signal to end its boycott, which has delayed action on the cost of living crisis and NHS.

In London, Mr Cleverly defended UK plans for British milk, dairy, fish and vegetables to carry a not for EU label, even though Britain does not share a land border with the EU.

He said it was logical to ask the rest of the UK to do the same as Northern Ireland, which does have a land border with EU member Ireland. He said that the Stormont Brake, a new mechanism to allow Northern Ireland Assembly members to pause EU laws applying in the region, was an insurance policy.

He added that he hoped it would never need to be used and that any issues could be sorted out between the EU and UK before the brake was needed.

Mr Cleverly also rejected suggestions that the UK and EU made differing claims over the Windsor Framework and what it does.

On the substantive elements of the agreement, we are absolutely as one, he told peers.

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.
Japanese Digital Minister Taro Kono takes a selfie with his avatar robot in Tokyo on Oct. 21, 2022. Credit - Kyodo News/AP

While the West romanticizes Japan as an arcane futurescape, a neon-swathed land of bullet trains and buzzing toilets, in truth the worlds No. 3 economy struggles with a deep resistance to change and a fetishism of archaic bureaucracy. But Taro Kono, the countrys 60-year-old Digital Minister, is on a mission to bring Japans reality bit by bit closer to its oft-perceived modernistic image.

Kono may have his own lifesize mechanical avatar designed by a professor at Osaka UniversityIm hoping to use it to let people know about the new national ID card were issuing, he saysthough today his homeland lags badly when it comes to digitalization. Hence, he is only too happy to strike a small blow against staid etiquette by jumping on a Zoom interview.

Japan was quite good with analogue technology, says Kono, who has previously served as Foreign Minister and Defense Minister. But when things moved to digital, we were too content with analogue things, so we didnt invest enough.

Taro Kono, Japan's then regulatory reform and vaccine minister, in Tokyo, on March 29, 2021. Akio KonBloomberg/Getty Images

According to Kono, Japans huge government deficitpublic debt to GDP stands at 256%, the highest in the world and double that of the U.S.has over recent years made its Finance Ministry too strict with the government purse strings; it simply wont fund departments to upgrade their systems. That means the private sector hasnt been able to upgrade either, he says, because they have to be compatible with the government.

Konos ministry has found 9,000 government regulations that still require handling via antiquated technology, including faxes, floppy disks and the hankoa carved stamp that is obligatory for many official documents. We just found one clause saying you have to submit a photograph on color film, he says with patent exasperation.

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Konos goal is to peel back these antiquated foibles and drag Japan into the 21st century. His agency has a sprawling remit to streamline processes that currently require pen and paper into sleek digital equivalents, whether for paying taxes or applying for planning permission. Still, its an uphill task. Kono highlights that Singapore has 3,500 people working in its digital agency to serve a population of 5.5 million; Kono has 800 staff for 125 million. Some of them are only part-time because we cannot afford to pay a full salary, he says. So were definitely desperately understaffed, but we need to do what we can.

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The scale of the problem was underscored by the pandemic, during which Kono served as minister for vaccine rollout. Our health ministry seriously tried to count paper to know how many vaccines we administered the day before, he says. So I had to develop a new system to keep track of vaccines in two months.

Meanwhile, a plan to provide 100,000 yen ($750) COVID grants to every citizen stumbled due to a lack of digital records. Instead, a form was sent to every household asking for the occupants bank details. It took about six months before anyone saw their money. For Kono, the pandemic exposed how bad government systems are.

Konos fluent English sets him apart from your typical Japanese official, while his penchant for suspenders and carrying a small steel-plated cream and purple briefcasewhose mysterious contents is a topic of some conjecture amongst policy wonksengenders an image as a lovable eccentric.

Its a breath of fresh air that charms voters and sees Kono consistently rank as Japans most popular politician. At the same time, it has alienated elders of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which chose the dour Fumio Kishida to replace Yoshihide Suga as Prime Minister in October 2021, despite Kono having twice the popular support. Ultimately, Konos political ambitions founder on a nigh pathological inability to toe the party line. Kono favors marriage equality and actively opposes nuclear powerboth strikingly at odds with LDP orthodoxy.

Hes a really smart, articulate, talented politician, which are not thick on the ground here, says Jeffery Kingston, director of Asian Studies at Tokyos Temple University Japan. So the people like him a lot. But the problem is that he is widely disliked within the party.

It was Konos time overseas that shaped his values and character. After dropping out of university in his homeland, Kono studied at Georgetown and later worked on Alan Cranstons unsuccessful campaign to be the Democratic nominee in the 1984 U.S presidential election. He then went to Poland when it was still a Soviet vassal, spending a night in prison after visiting the leader of the anti-authoritarian Solidarity workers movement. On his return, he spent a decade in business before getting elected as a LDP lawmaker for a constituency south of Tokyo in 1996. Kono says going abroad opened up my eyes so I could see Japan in an objective way.

Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, right, fist bumps with Kono at the Liberal Democratic Party party headquarters in Tokyo, Oct. 31, 2021. Behrouz MehriPool/AP

But despite his quirky demeanor, Kono is no political neophyte; his father, Yohei Kono, was an LDP president and a Deputy Prime Minister. When, in 2002, his father fell ill from a chronic hepatitis C infection, Kono provided a portion of his own liver for his treatment and subsequently lobbied for changes to laws governing organ donation.

And while he loves taking on the establishment, hes very much an iconoclast, whose use of humor in official settings is also a rarity in Japans beige officialdom. His favorite medium is Twitterhis Japanese account has 2.6 million followers and his English-language one over 70,000where he chastises civil servants for excessive hours and lampoons Japans sacrosanct work culture. There is no analogue thing left in our remarkably advanced society. Oops, my fax machine is jamming! he once tweeted. To TIME, he calls Twitter his killing time escape.

Konos portfolio tells a wider story of the effort to modernize Japan. While the nation boasts the worlds longest life expectancy, lowest murder rate, and unruffled political transitions, it also suffers torpid growth, and its shrinking, graying population is an unprecedented demographic time bomb. Every year, Japan loses half a million people, and today the country sells more adult diapers than infant ones. Other than boosting efficiencies through digitalization, reforms are underway to raise the productivity of women and seniors and attract more overseas talent.

There is an acute labor shortage in some industries, says Kono. One way is to attract foreign workers. Right now, for certain segments, I think Japan is probably the easiest [place] to get a work permit.

While today Kono rails against the lack of investment in digitalization, his previous bete noire was wasteful military spending. Soon after assuming the post of Defense Minister in 2019, he directed a broad probe of U.S. hardware purchases. In January 2020, Kono abruptly canceled the $4.2 billion U.S. Aegis Ashore missile defense system over perceived technical glitches, despite his government already sinking $2 billion into the project, prompting complaints from his fellow lawmakers about a lack of proper consultation.

A screen broadcasts news of Kono in Tokyo on Sept. 22, 2021. Soichiro KoriyamaBloomberg/Getty Images

Today, though, Japan is undergoing a thorough military overhauldoubling defense spending to 2% of GDP, which brings it into line with NATO guidelines and propels it to be the worlds third-biggest defense spender after the U.S. and China. In a move that critics say violates its pacifist constitution, Japan is also acquiring new weapons that can strike enemy targets 1,000km away with land or sea-launched missiles.

Kono backs the upgrades given the raised threat posed by Russias invasion of Ukraine, as well as the perennial menace of North Korea and Chinas new assertiveness under strongman Xi Jinping. He highlights how Beijings military spending has nearly tripled in the last decade, with Chinese ships violating our territorial water almost every day, he says.

When we invited China to join the WTO, although they have a different political system, [we thought] if they became a good player in the global economy, everyone would benefit, he says. Unfortunately, things havent turned out that way.

Of course, its not a challenge that Japan is undertaking alone. Over the last few months, the Kishida administration has enhanced its cooperation with the U.S. and regional allies like Australia, South Korea, and India, and its preparing to welcome the G7 grouping to Hiroshima. Its quite obvious, looking at Ukraine, that the alliance with the United States is never more important, Kono says. And Im hoping that maybe AUKUS could one day become JAUKUS, he adds with a wry smile, and the Five Eyes [intelligence network] could become the Six Eyesor five eyes and a wink.

Some of these issues may be beyond the scope of Konos current role, but hes keenly interested in the direction of the country as a whole. As for his ambitions for Japans top job? Well, you never know, right? Kono says with a grin. Well see.
(Bloomberg) -- Japans main ruling party approved a watered-down version of a bill on promoting understanding of the LGBTQ community, in apparent haste to show progress on the issue days before the country hosts the Group of Seven summit.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The Liberal Democratic Party approved the measure Tuesday, general affairs chair Toshiaki Endo told reporters. The revised bill weakens a previous reference to discrimination not being tolerated, instead saying only unfair discrimination shouldnt be allowed. The party is aiming to submit the legislation to parliament before the leaders meeting begins on Friday.

This is a great step forward, Endo told reporters. We have made efforts to move forward on a bill that its difficult for everyone to agree to 100%.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had come under pressure from other members of the G-7 to show unity on promoting equality for sexual minorities. His country is the only one of the seven not to recognize same-sex unions or offer legal protection against discrimination.

But Japans bill does not call for civil rights protections and falls far short of rights provided in many Western countries. Still, the LDP may be looking for a baby step forward that could help pave the way for a successful summit, potentially bolstering voter support for Kishida.

But criticism of the LDPs position has come from a variety of fields. Big business groups have complained the lack of legislation hampers efforts to recruit global talent. The head of Japans business lobby Keidanren said in March he was ashamed of how Japan had fallen behind its peers.

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Polls have shown the majority of the Japanese public is in favor of passing the LGBTQ bill, and even of allowing same-sex marriage, although this doesnt apply among people over 70.

Adding to the pressure on the Kishida government, US Ambassador to Tokyo Rahm Emanuel posted a video to Twitter on Friday, in which ambassadors and diplomats from 15 missions call for a ban on discrimination against sexual minorities.

Discussion of the law had been stalled for years. A scandal over discriminatory remarks made by an aide to Kishida in February prompted him to push his party to revive it in an effort to control the damage. The aide was fired.

Kishida has referred to a need to treat the idea of marriage equality with extreme caution. He told reporters last month he wanted to monitor the progress of a series of lawsuits challenging the lack of marriage rights for same-sex couples.

There are also pockets of resistance among conservatives in the long-ruling LDP. They have effectively blocked any outright ban on discrimination and hit back at pressure from other countries, while lawmakers who have sought progress on the issue have faced a barrage of criticism.

This LGBT problem, its the same as the problem of feminism, Shoji Nishida, an upper house LDP lawmaker, said in a video on his YouTube channel. It means crushing established values, established ways of thinking, and changing them.

Other conservatives have taken a more supportive line. Keiji Furuya, an LDP lawmaker and former minister for national resilience, said the bill on promoting understanding could be a stepping stone toward introducing a tougher law with penalties for discrimination further down the line.

Once people have understood, you can go on to make the law stronger, he said in an interview. At this point, they might be doing it without realizing. The public dont have a full understanding of the reality that a certain number of LGBT people exist, they are born that way.

Activists say the lack of progress is causing anguish for many. A study in Japan published by nonprofit organization Rebit in October found almost half of LGBTQ people in their teens had considered suicide in the previous year.

Its important to ban discrimination, said Hiroto Shimizu, who transitioned from female to male and recently published a childrens book on LGBTQ issues. He criticized the LDP for debating the issue without input from those directly involved. Even children understand that discrimination is bad.

(Updates throughout with comments, background.)

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Jacksonville's federal courthouse (right).

A federal prosecutor on Monday told a U.S. magistrate judge that during the course of a criminal investigation into the former head of Jacksonville's city-owned utility, JEA, he and FBI agents interviewed former Florida Power & Light CEO Eric Silagy and sent FPL's parent company, NextEra, a subpoena.

FPL has not been accused of wrongdoing in the case, but its shadow has loomed over JEA since it made an effort to acquire the city agency in 2019 with an $11 billion bid. In a grand jury indictment handed down last year against JEA's former CEO and CFO on conspiracy and wire fraud charges, federal prosecutors appeared to reference Silagy: there is mention of a previously unknown meeting in which JEA's chief executive disclosed to the head of an unnamed power company in West Palm Beach that the city agency was on the verge of soliciting offers to go private  information JEA leaders were working hard to keep out of public knowledge at the time.

FPL has never said whether it is the unnamed company. In an interview last year at the Times-Union's downtown offices, Silagy acknowledged the indictment might be referencing him, but he vehemently denied that his company had received a subpoena from federal prosecutors and criticized previous Times-Union reporting quoting a federal prosecutor mentioning such a document in a past court hearing. He called that reporting "false."

"We cooperated with the FBI, we volunteered. And we've told you that repeatedly," Silagy said. "And we've never been investigated by them. And we've told you that repeatedly. And we've never been subpoenaed. And we've told you that repeatedly. And yet you wrote an article that actually said that subpoenas were being sent to NextEra employees."

On Monday, the lead prosecutor in the JEA case, A. Tysen Duva, showed the court a copy of the April 21, 2020 subpoena sent to NextEra. The document was also displayed on a projection screen so everyone in attendance at court could see it.

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Duva also disclosed that he and at least one FBI agent, Robert Blythe, interviewed Silagy "at a later date," though he did not discuss the details of the interview or what the subpoena had demanded from the company. Duva said he would ask Blythe more about the subpoena later in the hearing, which is expected to last several days.

Monday was the first day of a proceeding called a Kastigar hearing, a legal process during which prosecutors must convince a magistrate judge that the evidence they marshaled to bring an indictment against former JEA CEO Aaron Zahn and CFO Ryan Wannemacher did not rely on statements the two men gave under oath during the course of a workplace investigation in late 2019 and early 2020  statements for which they received immunity. Zahn and Wannemacher are accused of being the architects of a scheme to enrich themselves by skimming profits off the top of a sale of JEA, a project that imploded amid scandal and consumed their tenures at the city agency.

The hearing requires the government to show it had an independent basis to pursue investigative leads outside the immunized testimony Zahn and Wannemacher provided city attorneys. To do that, Duva, the lead prosecutor, indicated he plans to dive deep into the way the government developed its case and gathered evidence.

As part of his presentation Tuesday, Duva had Blythe, the FBI agent, walk the court through the origins of the JEA investigation and its evolution into the case they eventually brought to a grand jury. During the course of that investigation, Blythe said, investigators encountered rumors and allegations that the "fix was in" for FPL parent company NextEra to be the winning bidder, though he did not say what his view of those allegations was. Blythe also said NextEra's bid  $11 billion  caught his attention because it was so much higher than any of its competitors. "JEA was more valuable to them than anyone else," he said.

Silagy unexpectedly left FPL last year in what the company framed as a retirement. NextEra executives told skittish analysts shortly after that announcement that Silagy's exit agreement contained a "claw back on compensation" if there is a finding of "any legal wrongdoing."

Throughout 2021 and 2022, FPL found itself in headlines over controversy across Florida, including its effort to purchase JEA: during the bidding process, a consulting firm working for FPL had also deployed more secretive tactics to pave the way for the company's bid, which included putting together an idea to offer a member of the Jacksonville City Council a six-figure job with a sham nonprofit and surveilling a journalist.

In the summer of last year, before his departure and during a Times-Union interview about those controversies, Silagy was insistent that the company had done nothing wrong and had never received a subpoena, as the newspaper had reported months earlier based on a comment Duva had made in a previous court hearing.

"I've never seen that transcript. Because the prosecutor's office said that they had no idea where that (reporting) came from, because we called. We called the FBI. And they said, 'We have no idea where that came from, because we never said that.' So that's on the record ...," Silagy told the reporters who were interviewing him.

"But I will tell you, it would have been nice to actually get that verified, because that's now in print. And it's false."

During Monday's hearing, Duva and Blythe said their investigation into JEA's privatization controversy began in earnest in late December 2019, as the bidding process was imploding. In the months that followed, they mined public records, recordings of past board of directors meetings, and interviewed witnesses. Some of the evidence they were interested in dated as far back as 2017 and 2018, the year Zahn was hired as interim director.

That hiring process, Blythe noted, was also marked by allegations it was rigged. The FBI agent said federal investigators wanted to know more about it and, in the process, interviewed Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry's chief administrative officer, Brian Hughes, about the hiring  the first time the government has disclosed such a high level City Hall official was interviewed during their investigation. Neither Hughes nor anyone else in City Hall has been accused of wrongdoing.

Zahn was widely viewed as having the backing of Curry's office, a key reason the board of directors, who are appointed by the mayor, elevated Zahn over other applicants with far more experience in the utility industry.

The hearing will continue throughout the week.

Nate Monroe is a metro columnist whose work regularly appears every Thursday and Sunday. Follow him on Twitter @NateMonroeTU.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: FBI agents interviewed former FPL CEO during JEA investigation
Small brands in the Americas now have greater access to Jeanologias technology and expertise in sustainable finishing. The Spanish company chose Miamis colorful Wynwood neighborhood for its first U.S. hub.

With Miami, we feel at home, said Roberto Munoz, Americas division director for Jeanologia, adding that many of the Valencia-based companys customers from Mexico, Colombia, Argentina and Brazil maintain offices in the Florida city. Miami is very close to our mentality in Spain.

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Though Jeanologia has hubs in Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Brazil and Mexico, securing a stateside footprint allows the company to become a bigger player in American fashions nearshoring efforts. Munoz said the company estimates that 10 percent of apparel production will return to the U.S. in the next five years while another 30 percent will be close to the market, for instance in Mexico, Central America, Colombia and Peru.

Jeanologias Miami hub

The Miami hub unites all of the technology, hardware and softwarelaser, e-Flow, G2 Ozone and morethat designers need to sustainably develop their next collection or refresh excess inventory on domestic turf.

Now designers can create their own product in a digital and sustainable way from lab to bulk, Munoz said. The product recipes they develop in Miami can be transferred to Jeanologia-powered global production centers through Orion software facilitating machine-to-machine communication and automatically converting a recipes parameters from one machine to another with consistent results.

The hubs are a win-win for brands, manufacturers and Jeanologia. About 90 percent of the companys business comes from selling technology to manufacturing companies, with more than 4,000 of its machines now in 70 countries and counting. The hubs help Jeanologia feed business into this network, Munoz said. Despite countries reopening their borders, covid curtailed overseas travel and, for various reasons, many brands have not returned to their pre-pandemic routines of developing products on site with their manufacturers.

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Jeanologias Miami hub

People dont want to travel anymore. We are trying to make a bridge between the brands and the manufacturers, he said.

The hubs also support Jeanologias ambition to democratize sustainable technologies. While companies like Levi Strauss & Co., Kontoor Brands and Fast Retailing have their own Jeanologia-powered innovation centers, smaller brands are at a disadvantage. Munoz said the company aims to serve as both a consultant (powered by Jeanologias brainbox team of experts) to develop products for businesses without their own engineering centers, and as a workshop to train designers on using the technologies.

Its our way to help the planetto give access to our technologies and to develop products in a sustainable way, he said.

This story appears in Rivets Spring 2023 issue. Click here to read the full issue.

Click here to read the full article.
The head of the House Democrats said this week that tougher work requirements for social benefits wont fly with members of his caucus, setting the stage for a drag-out fight with GOP leaders who are insisting on those provisions as a condition of raising the debt ceiling.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) on Monday night told members of the Democrats Steering and Policy Committee that work requirements are a nonstarter as bipartisan negotiators seek a deal to prevent a government default, according to a spokesperson.

That stipulation stands equal but opposite to the red line drawn by Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Tuesday morning, when he told reporters that Republicans will insist on tougher work requirements as part of any agreement.

Yes, it is, McCarthy said, when asked if thats a red line.

More coverage of the debt ceiling from The Hill:

House Republicans have already passed some work mandates as part of the debt limit package that moved through the lower chamber without Democratic support late last month. Their legislation would apply stricter work requirements to certain recipients of Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (previously known as food stamps) and other federal benefit programs.

When youre talking about work requirements, remember what were talking about: able-bodied people with no dependents, McCarthy told reporters. Its 20 hours.

Democrats have widely rejected those changes, noting that many social benefit programs already have work requirements in place and blasting Republicans for proposing to cut benefits that are used to help children disproportionately.

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The average SNAP benefit  is $6 per person per day, Rep. Pete Aguilar (Calif.), chairman of the Democratic Caucus, said Tuesday during a press briefing in the Capitol. Thats who Republicans are. They would rather cut that, or eliminate it, and take food out of the mouths of kids in order to make a political point.

President Biden had muddied the debate over work requirements over the weekend, when he appeared to be open to the concept, particularly under Medicaid.

Im waiting to hear what their exact proposal is, Biden told reporters during a trip to Delaware.

Yet Bidens liberal allies on and off of Capitol Hill have lambasted the tougher requirements, warning that they would only hurt low-income families that rely on certain benefit programs for basic necessities such as nutrition and health care.

The president Monday appeared to walk back his comments, tweeting a warning about the detrimental effect the House Republican proposal would have on older adults.

Rather than push Americans into poverty, we should reduce the deficit by making sure the wealthy and large corporations pay their fair share in taxes, Biden tweeted.

The president is scheduled to meet Tuesday afternoon at the White House with Jeffries, McCarthy and the top Senate leaders on a path forward.

Emily Brooks contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
ULAN BATOR, May 16 (Xinhua) -- The credit rating agency Fitch Ratings has affirmed Mongolia's long-term foreign-currency issuer default rating at "B" with a stable outlook, local media reported on Tuesday, citing the agency's report.

Mongolia's ratings are underpinned by favorable medium-term growth prospects and high per capita income relative to "B" rated peers, Fitch said in a statement.

Fitch forecasted that Mongolia's GDP growth would be 5 percent in 2023 on stronger mining activity and steady domestic demand.

The Asian country's GDP grew 4.8 percent in 2022, according to the country's National Statistics Office. 
Jenfi, a growth-capital-as-a-service platform, can provide online businesses with revenue-based financing in as little as a day. The Singapore-based startup announced today it has raised $6.6 million in pre-Series B funding, led by Headline Asia. Participation came from returning investor Monks Hill Ventures, which led Jenfis Series A two years ago, ICU Ventures, Granite Oak, Korea Investment Partners & Golden Equator Capital and Atlas Ventures.

Since Jenfis inception four years ago, it has deployed more than $25 million in non-dilutive capital to about 600 companies. Its customers include Gushcloud, Ralali, Hello Health, Lamer Fashion, Buy2sell and Mystifly. The new funding will be used to grow its customer base in Singapore, Vietnam and Indonesia, and expand into new markets in Southeast Asia, like Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand. It also will enable Jenfi to refine its credit underwriting and risk assessment capabilities, including its proprietary risk assessment engine.

The fintech was founded in 2019 by Jeffrey Liu and Justin Louie, who exited from their previous startup, fitness marketplace GuavaPass, when it was acquired by ClassPass. Jenfis growth capital as a service model was developed after the two realized that online business owners, like e-commerce sellers, SaaS and consumer tech providers, often had trouble getting capital to fund their growth expenses from traditional financial institutions.

Jenfi co-founders Jeffrey Liu and Justin Louie

Jenfi co-founders Jeffrey Liu and Justin Louie. Image Credits: Jenfi

Businesses that apply to Jenfi can get financing ranging from $10,000 to $1 million to spend on marketing, inventory and growth campaigns. Liu told TechCrunch that aggregate sales generated by companies in Jenfis portfolio is now more than $150 million.

Decisions about what businesses to lend to are made with Jenfis proprietary risk assessment engine, which integrates into data sources like accounting software, payment gateways, e-commerce platforms, online marketplaces and digital advertising. This lets Jenfi continuously monitor its borrowers business activity, including revenue growth and marketing return on investment.

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As Jenfi grows, it is adding more local market data sources, including selling management platform Haravan and POS management software KiotViet in Vietnam, and almost all banks in Singapore, Vietnam and Indonesia.

Jenfis proprietary risk engine is one of the main ways it differentiates from other companies offering revenue-based financing to digital-native businesses, said Liu, because it means more comprehensive assessments of creditworthiness and tailored financing solutions.

Since its Series A was announced, Jenfi has deployed its first machine learning-assisted underwriting system, which Liu said enables it to make faster underwriting decisions, with better accuracy and less human involvement.

In the future, Jenfi will work with synthetic data to get a better understanding of client behavior and possible future outcomes. The company also plans to develop a tech platform to allow third-parties to use its proprietary scoring models in their own native infrastructure.

Another way Jenfi differentiates from competitors is the flexibility of its repayment plans, said Liu. They range from three to 12 months and are designed to be flexible, taking the needs of each business in mind. Repayment amounts are based on a pre-determined percentage of revenue, but that varies widely depending on business type. For example, a high-margin software business may be granted a higher revenue share percentage than businesses in another sector.

The total amount of fees that a company pays depends on the credit score generated by its proprietary risk engine. Liu said rates are transparent and competitive, with no hidden fees or charges.

Jenfis plans for the near future include offering growth capital to more clients through the use of dynamic limits, which can be adjusted based on client needs and creditworthiness. It also will launch an on-demand financing product to cover recurring growth capital needs like variable monthly ad spend.

In a statement, Headline Asia partner Aki Okamoto and principal Jonathan M. Hayashi, said We have been continuously conducting research on revenue-based financing, and have talked to almost every single player in this field in Asia. Jenfi absolutely stood out to us. Their technology, product, operation and traction are significantly better than their peers.
Finding a job that pays enough to support for you and your family without a long list of requirements can be difficult.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology calculated the living wage by county by evaluating typical expenses to find how much an individual must make hourly to support themselves, or multiple children or dependents in a full-time job.

MIT records living wages for individuals, couples and families that vary based on the number of dependents, number of children and the number of adults who are working. The living wages have increased compared to Januarys calculations, according to previous reporting in The Bellingham Herald:

 Whatcom Countys living wage for an individual with no dependents is $17.47 per hour, working full time.

 For a household with two adults, no children, and only one individual working, a living wage in Whatcom County is $27.62 per hour.

 For a household with two adults, no children and both adults working, the living wage is $13.81 per hour.

 For a household with two adults, one child, and only one adult working, the living wage is $34.53 per hour. If this household had two children the living wage would be $39.51 an hour.

 For a household with two adults and two children and both adults working, the living wage is $25.98 per hour. If the family had three children, both individuals would need to make $32.10 per hour.

As Washington states minimum wage is $15.74 per hour, this amount is not considered a living wage in Whatcom County unless you have multiple adults working in a household with no dependents.

The Bellingham Herald has searched the job website Indeed and local Craiglist listings to find positions with minimal requirements that are available as of Monday, May 15, that advertise wages at or above living wages:

Customer Service-Account Associate at T-Mobile

 $20 per hour.

 Full-time.

 Requirements: high school diploma or equivalent.

Server Assistant at Red Robin

 $28.75 to $30.15 per hour.

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 Part-time or full-time.

 Requirements: must be at least 17 years old.

House cleaner at Merry Maids

 Full-time.

 $17-$21 per hour.

 Requirements: valid drivers license.

Wash Bay Attendant at Toyota of Bellingham

 Full-time.

 $18 per hour.

 Requirements: a car C class license and the ability to drive both automatic and manual cars.

Line cook at Boomers Drive-In

 Part-time or full-time.

 $27 per hour.

 No requirements are listed.
Ive got great news: President Joe Biden is for sure going to prison!

How do I know this? Because Republican lawmakers on the House Oversight Committee have said they have an airtight case against Biden, and theyll get down to the business of imprisoning him just as soon as they locate their key informant, whom they now say is missing.

Unfortunately, we cant track down the informant, GOP Rep. James Comer told Fox News on Sunday. Were hopeful that the informant is still there.

Don't let the GOP's lack of evidence fool you, Joe Biden is guilty of something!

Were all very hopeful! And we certainly have no reason to doubt Republican claims of vast criminal wrongdoing by Biden. Just last week, the oversight committee released a preliminary report on its four-month-long investigation that showed, definitively, what Fox News Steve Doocy described as no evidence that Joe Biden did anything illegally.

GOTCHA, SLEEPY JOE! We all know what criminal masterminds like Biden are best at: Not leaving evidence that shows they did anything illegally. Checkmate.

Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store.

While the committee members try to locate their informant, who is definitely a real human person who exists, and assemble what Im sure will be mountains of evidence detailing Bidens crime-doing, lets consider past Republican promises that have worked out great.

Trump town hall shows he hasn't changed: CNN town hall audience laughs at sexual assault as Trump reminds us how awful he is

Republicans have never over-promised and under-delivered on putting Democrats in prison

On Monday, special counsel John Durham released a report detailing his four-year investigation into the investigators who investigated former President Donald Trump and Russian interference in the 2016 election. Trump himself had promised Durhams work would reveal the crime of the century.

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In February of last year, Trump told Fox News: "Durham is also coming up with things far bigger than anybody thought possible. Nobody ever thought a thing like this would be even discussed, let alone an act like this committed.

John Durham is looking into the origins of the FBI's investigation into Russian election interference.

The things nobody ever thought would be discussed were apparently so much bigger than anyone thought possible that Durhams four-year investigation yielded a whopping two acquittals and one guilty plea resulting in a former FBI lawyer getting sentenced to one-year of probation. Undoubtedly the libs will think twice before again committing the crime of the century.

Durham's 'crime of the century' investigation results in ... nothing?

Durhams report also SLAMMED the FBI and the Justice Department, saying: This report does not recommend any wholesale changes in the guidelines and policies that the Department and FBI now have in place to ensure proper conduct and accountability in how counterintelligence activities are carried out. KA-BOOM!

By comparison, what did the two-year investigation led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller yield? A measly 34 people indicted, leading to seven guilty pleas and five prison sentences. And the people sentenced included total no-names like Trumps 2016 campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, longtime Trump attorney Michael Cohen and longtime Trump confidant Roger Stone. Michael Flynn, Trumps former national security adviser (is national security adviser even that big a deal???), pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI, but was pardoned by Trump prior to sentencing.

Basically, a total nothing-burger.

From horseback to Twitter: Washington did it on horseback, Obama on social media: How presidents connect with the public

Joe Biden will soon join Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in prison!

So Biden had better be shaking in his loafers right now, because hes about to join the likes of Hillary Clinton behind bars. (I realize the her in Lock her up! remains decidedly not locked up, but Im sure it will happen any day now. Those chants couldnt have all been for nothing.)

And lets not forget the impeachment, criminal prosecution and locking up of former President Barack Obama, whose many crimes were vaguely detailed over and over by Republicans on Fox News. Im confident the justice they claimed would surely come for Obama will be coming any minute now, unless its out there hiding alongside the House Oversight Committees Biden informant. (Has anyone checked to see if theyre in Hunter Bidens laptop? Definitely the first place Id look.)

Anyway, we know Republicans under Trump promised to do away with Obamacare, and that is a thing that for sure happened. Also, Trump built the border wall and Mexico paid for it  just ask him.

Proof of a rigged election, a completed border wall  I'm sure it's all coming soon

Indisputable evidence the 2020 election was rigged will be coming out any day now, presumably alongside the Obamacare-replacement health-care plan Trump promised to deliver in two weeks sometime in 2020 and many times thereafter.

Clearly, Republicans are on a winning streak, as evidenced by Trump winning the last presidential election and the GOP Red Wave sweeping America in the 2022 midterm elections. So President Biden has ample reason to be concerned about this VERY SERIOUS Republican investigation into nefarious things they want to believe he did.

Former US president Donald Trump speaks during a press conference following his court appearance over an alleged 'hush-money' payment, at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, on April 4, 2023.

While the committees expansive preliminary report shows that Biden family members made lots of money from a variety of foreign sources while Biden was vice president, it fails to make any allegation that Biden or any relative committed a crime.

In other words: Republicans have Biden right where they want him! You never specify the crimes a person is guilty of  you just allege they are guilty of those crimes and let peoples imagination do the rest.

Who needs evidence when the crimes are imagined?

Republican Sen. Ron Johnson explained as much on Fox News: You have to infer these things, youre not gonna get necessarily get hard proof.

Enjoy your final days in office, President Biden, for you will soon be presumed convicted of a multitude of criminal presumptions based on conceptualized evidence wished into existence.

All courtesy of todays Republican Party, which never lets facts get in the way of imagined victory.

More from Rex Huppke:

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis does the white thing by banning DEI funding at universities

The Republican Party has become the very cancel culture it pretends to rail against

US debt ceiling crisis can be explained in three words: Marjorie Taylor Greene

You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: GOP investigation into Biden missing informant  and evidence
Photo Illustration by Kelly Caminero/The Daily Beast/Getty

Special counsel John Durhams final report reveals that four years, a $6.5 million spend, and many dining dates with former Attorney General Barr yielded nothing. As a prosecutor who served as a supervisor on an independent counsel investigation, I find Durhams investigation to be a complete waste of taxpayer dollars.

Recall that Durham was handpicked by Barr to investigate the probe commenced by the FBI in 2016 into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia that formed the basis for the investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller. The Mueller probe yielded indictments of 34 individuals, two companies, and convictions of top Trump campaign officials.

By comparison, Durhams investigation sent no one to jail but did manage to lose two jury trials, including the final loss, in which Durham personally got into the well of the courtroom to make various arguments to the jury justifying his own investigation.

Contrary to the expectations set by former President Donald Trump, Durham failed to produce any evidence of what Trump promised to be the crime of the centurypresumably involving the deep-state conspiracy mantra of Trump supportersand sent no one to jail.

What Durham did do was aid and abet the killing of a lot of trees by producing a 300-plus page report that reads like a plagiarized version of the 2019 report by the Justice Departments Office of Inspector General, in which Inspector General Michael Horowitz concluded that the FBI properly opened the Russia probecode-named Crossfire Hurricaneand found no evidence of political bias by the FBI. The OIGs report contained a meticulous analysis of the Russia probe and offered criticisms of the FBIs then process for utilizing FISA, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, warrants that resulted in reforms undertaken by the FBI.

Plagiarists usually try to pass off others work as their own by paraphrasing and adding a few original ideas of their own. Durham adds nothing new to the OIG report but does sound like he pulled from Wikipedia concepts like confirmation bias to make it look like he was adding new conclusions to what the OIG had already concluded. Of course, confirmation bias is a real psychological term defined roughly as how people are biased toward confirming their existing beliefs. But it shouldnt take four years and $6.5 million to warn that confirmation bias isnt among the best practices for criminal investigations or, for that matter, any investigation.

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Following the release of the OIGs 2019 conclusion that the FBI had acted properly in opening the case, Durham immediately made a public announcement that he disagreed with some of its conclusions as to predication and how the FBI case was opened. Durham made this statement despite his own admission that his investigation was still ongoing. His statement was greeted with incredulity by former FBI Director James Comey, who said he could make no sense of it and warned Durham: Dont be a part of the sliming of the IG and the department as a whole. Do your work.

Durham at least seemed to have taken the do your work part of that admonition to the tune of four more years on the taxpayer dime.

But Durhams 2019 bravado ended with a whimper, as his report ended up supporting the conclusion in the 2019 OIG report that the FBI had properly opened the investigation, although Durham does quibble over whether it should have been opened as a preliminary investigation rather than a full investigation.

He offers almost nothing in the way of recommended policy change or reform for the FBI besides a half-hearted suggestion at the very end of the report that the FBI should have an official designated to challenge politically sensitive investigations. Arguably, that kind of red team function is already fulfilled by the layers of scrutiny that accompany any politically sensitive investigation.

Durham also lacks any moral authority to lecture the FBI or anyone else about concerns over political bias when his entire investigation originated with Barrs efforts to politically weaponize the DOJ. Durhams investigation was so compromised that his own top aide, a respected career prosecutor, resigned in protest over Barrs pressuring Durham to issue a report prior to the 2020 presidential election. Presumably, such pressure was intended by Barr to help Trump in the election by undermining the legitimacy of the Russia probe. Another lawyer resigned in protest over Durhams decision to indict a lawyer with ties to the Clinton campaign.

Why Merrick Garland Should Fire Special Counsel Durham Now

Further calling into question Durhams motivations is a notable absence from his report of the allegations made against Trump by Italian officials in the fall of 2019. These allegations involved a tip from an Italian official that linked Trump to financial crimes and were serious enough to merit investigation. But Barr and Durham decided to have Durham do the investigation even though it would not appear to fall within Durhams investigation mandate. Durham never brought criminal charges and there is no mention of the allegations or what investigation Durham undertook in his final report.

In response to Durhams report, FBI Director Chris Wray stated that the FBIs current processes, many based on reforms instituted after the 2019 OIG report, would have prevented many of the missteps identified in [Durhams report].

In my opinion, this was an unnecessarily defensive statement by Wray. The FBIs opening of the Russia probe has been validated, so it has nothing to apologize for. Its John Durham who owes an apology to Americans for having wasted their money.

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Johnny Depp was seen getting visibly emotional as his new film Jeanne du Barry received a seven-minute standing ovation at Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday (16 May).

The French-language film directed by Maiwenn was controversially chosen to open the festival this year.

Johnny Depp tears up as #Cannes2023 showers him with a seven-minute standing ovation at the premiere of Jeanne du Barry, Ramin Setoodeh, Co-Editor-in-Chief of Variety, tweeted from the French Riviera event alongside a video.

In the clip, Depp, 59, holds his hands to his face before hugging the director.

Cannes director Thierry Fremaux has received backlash for the decision to open the festival with Depps movie due to the allegations made against him by his ex-wife Amber Heard in their highly publicised defamation trial last year.

Depp ultimately won the trial after a jury found that Heard had defamed him by implying he had abused her in a 2018 Washington Post op-ed.

Johnny Depp tears up as #Cannes2023 showers him with a seven-minute standing ovation at the premiere of Jeanne du Barry. pic.twitter.com/RsZjtao8O7  Ramin Setoodeh (@RaminSetoodeh) May 16, 2023

We only know one thing, its the justice system and I think he won the legal case, Fremaux said in response to the criticism.

Jeanne Du Barry tells the story of King Louis XVs mistress Jeanne Vaubernier. The director Maiwenn  who also stars in the film  has also been embroiled in controversy after admitting to assaulting a journalist.

Mediapart magazine editor-in-chief Edwy Plenel filed a police complaint on 7 March, which accused Maiwenn of spitting in his face while he was dining at a restaurant.

I dont know Maiwenn, I never met her. I would have been unable to recognise her, Plenel told Variety on Tuesday, adding: This aggression caused more stupor than anything else.

Meanwhile, Cannes juror Brie Larson was taken aback when asked by a journalist about her thoughts on Jeanne du Barry opening the festival.

Depp has not been cast in a major US film since his 2018 lawsuit against The Sun, which he lost after a UK court ruled that the tabloids description of him as a wife beater was substantially true.
Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Getty/Reuters

In America today, there is no man more obsessed with manhood than Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO).

And while hes never been to war, he spends most of his waking hours cosplaying on the battlefields of a culture war. This includes accusing men like us, two Marine veterans, of wanting to redefine things like courage, and independence, and assertivenessas a danger to society.

Thankfully for those of us who have been poorly instructed, Joshs book, Manhood, can show us the light. For just $29.99 we can learn the path to achieving Hawley-level masculinity by recreating ourselves in his own image.

Josh Hawley Knows Nothing About What Makes a Real Man, or a Good One

While we havent read the book, we certainly hope theres a chapter on the manliness of skittering away from mobs youve incited outside the U.S. Capitol.

But however cringe-worthy Hawleys solutions might be, the problem is real. The data is clear: Working-class men in America are disconnected from the economy, and it hurts.

As two male Democrats, we have not just the opportunity but the responsibility to go on the offensive here and actually engage with the issues Hawley is misrepresenting. The senator is not here to work on the issues in good faith, hes here to advance a culture war that serves his own ambition.

He wants men to think that by subscribing to his politics, or quitting video games, or buying his book, their problems will suddenly go away. But a culture war isnt going to help these men who have fallen behind regain their footing in the economy, in education, in their local community. Instead, its just going to divide us further.

Real family values are about providing a healthy alternative to the toxic masculinity Hawley is offering. The disconnect between men and the economy or society isnt happening because men are failing to achieve some weird idea of what it means to be a man. The core of this crisis is the fact that men without a college degree have seen their relative earnings fall by 30 percent since 1980.

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Why? Because Josh Hawley and others like him have blocked advancements for working class Americans at every turn.

J.D. Vances Unbelievably Phony Populism

In his time as attorney general of Missouri, Hawley opposed workers receiving overtime paywere talking about laborers, manufacturers, and other working-class jobs, many of which are filled by men. Thanks to Hawleys efforts, over 230,000 working Missourians lost overtime protections. As if pay werent enough, he also went after benefits, using his position to try and strip away health care from working-class Missourians through his lawsuit against the Affordable Care Act.

When the opportunity to make a historic investment in American manufacturing and jobs camethe Bipartisan Infrastructure LawHawley said no. When the opportunity came, again, to make a historic investment in American manufacturing and jobs, this time oriented to out-competing China, Hawley again said no. This is despite his tough-on-China talk, which so far has manifested as a petulant lone no vote against admitting Finland and Sweden to NATO (he thinks the war in Ukraine is a distraction), because apparently Hawley cant comprehend that standing strong with Europe against Vladimir Putin is part and parcel of beating out Putins no-limits friend, Xi Jinping.

Americas Tragedy Is Its Culture of FearArmed With Millions of Guns

You cant be serious about the challenges confronting Americas men while kneecapping them every chance you get. Barking orders at men at the latest manhood summit isnt a serious solution. Real leaders dont tell people what to do, anyway.

Marine Corps leadershipas we were taughtis about empowering others through example, tools, and training. In this case, giving everyday Americans what they need to accomplish their mission.

Heres how: Increase union workforce and strengthen federal collective bargaining laws. Republicans like Hawley are focused on destroying unions and championing right-to-work schemes. But the reality is unions remain one of the most important tools for upward mobility for Americas working class families. Solidarity. Teamwork. Caring for one another. Standing up for the little guy. All hallmarks of union culture, and by extension, American culture.

Support alternatives to four-year colleges. Workforce training programs, technical training initiatives, apprenticeships, pathways to in-demand jobs (like health care), and a retooling of job postings to remove degree requirements where they are not necessary. After all, jobs require skills; its employers who require degrees.

Hold the painkiller complex accountable. Its not just opioids, its the entire industry that profits from numbing people to reality: online gaming; gambling; recreational drugs.

While giving young men the tools to succeed, we can also set the expectation that they engage with reality, and uphold their responsibilities to family and society.

Build things in America. Center the American worker as they focus on unleashing the dynamism of the U.S. economy, which too often is stymied by veto points and red tape embedded across our decision-making institutions.

These are all tangible things we can do that would boost working class men across this country.

Republicans Just Proved Right-Wing Populism Is a Con Job

Meanwhile, we shouldnt flinch from the attacks being lobbed by Sen. Hawley and his allies.

Theres nothing manly about going on Fox News and lying directly to the very people youre claiming to fight for. Theres nothing manly about opposing good jobs and health care for working families. And theres certainly nothing manly about running away from a mob you helped incite.

Opportunity. A living wage. Service and responsibility. Family. Empowerment. This is what we strive for. Ideals real leaders can and should be aggressive about. Real leaders live real values, they dont write fantasy books about them.

Rep. Jake Auchincloss is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran ,currently representing Massachusetts 4th Congressional District in the House.

Lucas Kunce is a 13-year U.S. Marine Corps veteran, national security expert, and antitrust advocate running for U.S. Senate in Missouri.

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The journalist whom French director/actor Maiwenn admitted to assaulting earlier this year has commented publicly on the incident for the first time.

Maiwenns latest film Jeanne du Barry, starring Johnny Depp, controversially opens Cannes Film Festival today (16 May).

It marks Depps first lead role since his highly publicised defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard last year.

Mediapart magazine editor-in-chief Edwy Plenel filed a police complaint on 7 March, which accused Maiwenn of spitting on him while he was dining at a restaurant.

Speaking to Variety, Plenel said he believes the filmmakers alleged actions were due to his publications reporting on the rape and sexual assault allegations against Luc Besson. Maiwenn married the Leon: The Professional director when she was 16 years old. The two divorced in 1997.

That was about five years [ago], Plenel said of their investigation, which included allegations against Besson from nine women. That would mean that for all this time, Maiwenn wanted to take her revenge. But if thats the case, why didnt she send an email? [We] never even got a phone call from her.

Johnny Depp and Maiwenn attend the Jeanne du Barry screening and opening ceremony red carpet at the 76th annual Cannes film festival (Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images)

He continued: I dont know Maiwenn, I never met her. I would have been unable to recognise her.

This aggression caused more stupor than anything else. She didnt aggress me individually, but the symbol that I represent, as the founder and director of a journal, which in France, has been at the forefront of all the #MeToo revelations.

Shes outspokenly anti-#MeToo and she made a gesture to please her world, and thats why she bragged about it on TV. We could see a sort of pride that echoed that world.

The Independent has reached out to Maiwenns attorney for comment.

Maiwenn admitted to the assault during an appearance on the French chat show Quotidien earlier this month.

I didnt receive a complaint. I learned about it in the press, the director said of Plenels police complaint.

Johnny Depp in Jeanne du Barry (Le Pacte)

And did you assault him? presenter Yann Barthes asked.

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Yes, she replied, laughing as she refrained from explaining why.

Nice try, but its not the moment for me to talk about it. Ill talk about it when its the right moment. I am very anxious about the launch of my film, she said.

Maiwenn also stars in Jeanne du Barry, which tells the story of King Louis XVs mistress Jeanne Vaubernier.

This week, Cannes juror Brie Larson was taken aback when asked by a journalist about her thoughts on the film opening the festival.

Depp has not been cast in a major US film since his 2018 lawsuit against The Sun, which he lost after a UK court ruled that the tabloids description of him as a wife beater was substantially true.
Kenny MacAskill is demanding an inquiry into why police had to wait two weeks for the search warrant - Simone Padovani/Awakening/Getty Images

A former Scottish justice secretary has demanded an inquiry into why police investigating the SNPs finances had to wait two weeks before they were given permission to raid Nicola Sturgeons home.

Kenny MacAskill said the Scottish Government should appoint a judge to examine whether political considerations were to blame for officers having to wait for a search warrant.

It has emerged that the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) was informed on March 20 that Police Scotland wanted to search the home Ms Sturgeon shares with her husband, Peter Murrell, the SNPs former chief executive.

At that point there was still a week to go in the SNPs fractious leadership contest to succeed Ms Sturgeon, which eventually saw continuity candidate Humza Yousaf narrowly beat Kate Forbes.

However, the application for a search warrant was only approved by a sheriff on April 3, a week after the contest ended, by which time Mr Yousaf had been sworn in as First Minister.

Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC refused to say whether the warrant had been deliberately delayed but the Tories argued the case raised fundamental questions about her dual role.

She heads the Crown Office while also sitting as a Scottish Government minister in Cabinet. The prosecution service has said that Ms Bain and her deputy, the Solicitor General, have recused themselves from the case.

Police raided Ms Sturgeons home early on the morning of April 5 and conducted a two-day search, during which several boxes were removed. Mr Murrell was arrested and later released without charge pending further inquiries.

Officers also searched the SNPs headquarters in Edinburgh and seized a luxury motorhome from outside the home of Mr Murrells elderly mother in Dunfermline, Fife.

Matters of the utmost gravity

Sources close to the inquiry have denied that there was an undue delay but police insiders told the Scottish Sun that political ramifications would be taken into account in high-profile operations.

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Mr MacAskill, who served as Scottish justice secretary between 2007 and 2014 in Alex Salmonds SNP government, said: These are matters of the utmost gravity and seriousness with huge implications for the functioning of our legal system and our democracy.

As justice secretary I was involved in changes to expedite the warrant process. Delays then were due to bureaucracy and IT systems. I never envisaged that police investigations might be delayed by what appears to be political considerations.

The Alba Party MP argued a judge-led inquiry was required to restore trust and confidence in the Crown Office and reassure the public that politics was not behind the two-week wait.

It is understood a draft search warrant was submitted by the police that included a long list of items the police wanted to seize.

The document was finalised following discussions with a procurator fiscal, then signed by a sheriff on the same day. However, senior justice system insiders questioned why this refinement process had taken so long.

Ms Bain did not reply when asked by Sky News if the Crown Office had deliberately delayed issuing the search warrants until after the SNP leadership contest.

Russell Findlay, a Scottish Tory MSP, said: There appears to be no evidence of any undue influence or interference in this process. However, the lack of answers to these questions only serves to fuel public concerns about the decision-making taking place behind closed doors.

He added: The whole murky saga brings into sharp focus the untenable dual role of the Lord Advocate, both as head of the prosecution service and the Scottish governments most senior lawyer with a place at the Cabinet table.

Very interesting revelation

Jackie Baillie, the Scottish Labour leader, said the two-week delay was a very interesting revelation that will lead to raised eyebrows across Scotland.

Since July 2021, Police Scotland has been examining the SNPs handling of more than 600,000 in donations raised in 2017 for a second independence referendum.

Supporters made complaints when accounts lodged with Companies House in 2020 appeared to show the SNP only had 97,000 in the bank despite the referendum never having been held.

Officers have also arrested Colin Beattie, who was previously the partys long-standing treasurer. Like Mr Murrell, he was released without charge pending further investigation.

A COPFS spokesman said: In all matters, Scotlands prosecutors act independently of political pressure or interference. It is standard that any case regarding politicians is dealt with by prosecutors without the involvement of the Lord Advocate or Solicitor General.

COPFS understand the interest in this case but to protect the fair administration of justice we urge restraint in public comment.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: As the investigation is ongoing we are unable to comment further.

The Scottish Government was approached for comment.

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The Honourable Mrs Justice Joanna Smith - Dafydd Owen/B21

A high court judge who ruled on tax cases invested in a tax avoidance scheme alongside two of her colleagues, according to reports.

Justice Joanna Smith invested in a controversial tax scheme that was challenged by HM Revenue & Customs before she was appointed to the High Court.

An investigation by the Financial Times newspaper also found that judges Justices Simon Bryan and Martin Griffiths invested in a tax avoidance scheme after they began their judicial careers.

The newspaper said that two other judges, Justices Julian Goose and Nicholas Mostyn, invested in tax schemes that have since closed, one of which was described by a government minister as highly abusive and completely contrived.

According to documents lodged with Companies House, Justices Smith, Bryan and Griffiths have retained their interests in the schemes.

There are no rules requiring judges to make public or private disclosures about their finances. However judges are required to make disclosures to parties in some cases if they believe there could be a conflict of interest or an appearance of one.

Not illegal

Tax avoidance can be pursued by the authorities but is not illegal like tax evasion when someone deliberately fails to pay tax. The investments made by the judges were made between 2003 and 2012.

Justice Smith invested in two property tax schemes involving tax credits for renovating unused business premises in 2012, nine years before she became a High Court judge.

One of the schemes was Curo Charlotte House LLP which was based around a hotel in Glasgow and received payment demands from HMRC in 2014 after it said it was taking action.

Justice Bryan, appointed to the High Court in 2017, and Justice Griffiths who was appointed in 2019 invested in the Cobalt Data Centre 2 LLP scheme in 2011.

The scheme involved enterprise zone tax credits but HMRC successfully challenged this at the Court of Appeal, which found that the schemes investors were not due any tax credits on their investment.

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HMRC took the case to the Court of Appeal after a lower court found the scheme had sought to obtain legitimate tax incentives.

Dan Neidle, the founder of the Tax Policy Associates think tank and a former tax solicitor, said that last year Justice Smith ruled on two separate tax appeals that involved similar issues to questions around the scheme she was invested in.

Reasonable excuse

The appeals related to questions over whether a taxpayer had a reasonable excuse and another questioning whether the main purpose of the scheme was avoiding tax.

Mr Neidle said he believed Justice Smith should have recused herself from the cases due to her investment in the Charlotte House even if it was not in dispute with HMRC at the time.

He told the Financial Times: If her dispute was over, then there was no direct conflict, but still potential for bias, given it would be hard for her to avoid [adjudicating] points that were relevant to her own scheme. So I feel she should have recused herself.

Richard Moorhead, professor of law and professional ethics at the University of Exeter, said there should be a formal register of interests for judges.

They shouldnt rely on individual judges recalling in individual cases whether they might have a conflict of interest or a perceived bias. Its very common in any kind of professional role to have some proper governance around these kinds of issues.

The Judicial Office, which supports the judiciary in England and Wales, said the judges did not want to comment. The judiciary does not comment on the financial affairs of individual judges, a spokesman said.

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A federal judge on Monday sentenced to prison a West Columbia husband and wife drug-smuggling team, who were instrumental in getting their Midlands family doctor to plead guilty to drug trafficking charges, according to evidence in the case.

The couple, David Mozingo and his wife of 16 years, Jennifer Mozingo, were sentenced at the federal courthouse in downtown Columbia in separate proceedings by Judge Joe Anderson.

Anderson gave David Mozingo, 50, who ran a motorcycle business in West Columbia, nine years and three months in prison after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and fentanyl and using a gun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

David Mozingo had for years smuggled drugs in from Mexico, according to court records. When he was arrested in November 2019, Drug Enforcement Administration agents found 22 firearms stashed in his house, eight of them loaded, a DEA agent testified at a hearing later that year.

Jennifer Mozingo, 45, received two years and nine months in prison on the same charges. Evidence in the case indicated she was significantly less culpable than her husband and that she had acted under his influence.

After their 2019 arrests, the Mozingos tipped federal authorities off to a drug-selling operation by them and a West Columbia doctor.

The physician, Dr. James Oscar Williams, a family medicine doctor, pleaded guilty to federal charges in March to using the Mozingos to illegally distribute tens of thousands of prescription pills, such as oxycodone, Adderall, Xanax and hydrocodone.

Williams was the Mozingos long-term family doctor, who was prescribing pain pills to the couple, according to evidence in the case.

Dr. Williams knew that the Defendant (David Mozingo) had the ability to sell a large quantity of oxycodone pills for a substantial profit and wanted to facilitate the conspiracy by writing increasingly larger and larger prescriptions for the Defendant and his wife for part of the profits from the sales, according to court records.

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Williams will be sentenced at a later date.

Longtime SC drug ring

Federal documents and evidence showed David Mozingo was a kingpin in a drug-importing ring in which for years he smuggled counterfeit oxycodone laced with varying amounts of fentanyl from Mexico into the United States, to Kentucky and also into South Carolina.

Although he could have received more than 20 years in prison, assistant U.S. Attorney Mike OMara moved for a reduced sentence due to his assistance in Williams case and others.

His attorney, Jim Craig, unsuccessfully moved for lesser time, telling Judge Anderson that David Mozingo had spent nearly three years in jail awaiting a final disposition of his and other cases and has numerous health issues, including thyroid cancer, arthritis and diabetes.

David Mozingo  standing in an orange jail jump suit and wearing manacles  apologized to the court, the prosecutors and the agent and others, including his wife, kids, and family for the pain I caused.

Before her sentence, Jennifer Mozingo told the judge that she had been brainwashed by a domineering husband and intimidated into joining him in a life of crime. Weeping at times, she spoke of their two children who were getting ready to go to college.

I would like to sincerely apologize for all my wrongdoing, she told Anderson. I am not only embarrassed but also ashamed and humiliated. I am so much better than the person you are reading about.

Jennifer Mozingo told the judge that her husband once warned her about discussing their drug deals.

David Mozingo said, I would be disappeared in the wood chipper or the Everglades, Jennifer Mozingo told the judge.

Her attorney, Ben Stitely, told the judge Monday that unlike her husband, who had a prior criminal record, she had no criminal record before meeting her spouse.

During their marriage, she was told in no uncertain terms that if you tell anyone, there are going to be bad people who will come and bad things are going to happen, Stitely said.

The case was investigated by the DEA, which used informants, geolocation data from cellphones and human surveillance to gather evidence.

In 2019, months before the Mozingos arrests, DEA agents tracked David Mozingo to Mexico, where he picked up a shipment of drugs and brought them back to Columbia, according to an affidavit in the case. David Mozingo also shipped the illegal drugs to buyers using FedEx, according to the affidavit.

Anderson summed up the Mozingo proceedings.

This is an unusual case, he said at the end.
XI'AN, May 16 (Xinhua) -- The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has been one of the most talked-about buzzwords in international cooperation over the past few years. While many people know that it was proposed by China, few may realize that the concept was first put forward in Central Asia.

In September 2013, during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Kazakhstan, he delivered a speech of far-reaching significance at Nazarbayev University.

In his address, Xi took his audience back to over 2,100 years ago when a Chinese envoy was sent to Central Asia with a mission of peace and friendship and opened a Silk Road that had since taken Chinese silk, tea and porcelain to other parts of the world and brought back spices, glassware, furs, fruits and precious stones.

"Today, as I stand here and look back at that episode of history, I could almost hear the camel bells echoing in the mountains and see the wisp of smoke rising from the desert," Xi said.

Xi's speech did not focus on nostalgia. Instead, he drew inspiration from the successful trade routes of the ancient Silk Road and proposed the idea of building an "economic belt along the Silk Road."

A month later, in Indonesia, Xi proposed the building of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, which, combined with the economic belt proposal, eventually became the Belt and Road Initiative.

The initiative promotes opening up and more inclusive growth. Xi believes that further opening up a country leads to greater strength and prosperity.

Over the past decade, 151 countries and 32 international organizations have signed documents under the BRI framework.

The initiative has brought nearly a trillion U.S. dollars of investment, created about 420,000 jobs in countries along its routes, and helped lift nearly 40 million people out of poverty.

Central Asia has great potential to reap benefits from this initiative. The traditional camel caravans have been replaced by modern freight trains that have facilitated trade between China and Central Asian countries.

In 2022, trade between China and five Central Asian countries reached 70 billion dollars. At the end of March 2023, China's direct investment stock in the five countries was over 15 billion dollars.

As part of the BRI, several transnational roads, railways, and oil and gas pipelines have been constructed. During meetings with his Central Asian counterparts, Xi frequently highlighted the progress and future plans for BRI projects.

During his visit to Uzbekistan in 2016, Xi and his Uzbek counterpart took part in inaugurating the 19.2-km Qamchiq Tunnel, the longest railway tunnel in Central Asia.

During Xi's visit to Central Asia in September 2022, an agreement was signed to cooperate on the Kyrgyz section of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, bringing this much-anticipated infrastructure project closer to reality.

The BRI not only enhances connectivity, but also benefits the region in various other ways. For instance, in Kazakhstan, a large wind farm constructed by China supplies electricity to a million households. In Tajikistan, the Luban Workshop provides vocational training to young students seeking skilled employment. In Kyrgyzstan, reservoirs and canals have been built to provide farmers with a stable water supply for their farmland.

"China stands ready to work with Central Asian countries to build on the good momentum and strive shoulder to shoulder to build an even closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future," Xi said at a virtual summit in 2022 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Central Asian countries.

In his speech at Nazarbayev University, Xi added a personal touch to the ancient Silk Road reference: "Shaanxi, my home province, is right at the starting point of the ancient Silk Road."

A decade later, Xi invited the leaders of five Central Asian countries to his home province for the China-Central Asia Summit, slated to open on Thursday.

Many experts anticipate that the summit will lay out plans to further revitalize the ancient Silk Road, which once brought significant wealth and prosperity to Central Asia and placed the Eurasian continent's heartland at the forefront of global trade and business. 
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)  A federal judge on Tuesday declined to let a former Tennessee state senator withdraw his guilty plea on federal campaign finance charges.

In the case related to his failed 2016 congressional campaign, former Republican Sen. Brian Kelsey's attorneys had argued he should be allowed to go back on his guilty plea because he entered it in November with an unsure heart and a confused mind due to events in his personal life  his father had terminal pancreatic cancer, then later died in February, and he and his wife were caring for their twin sons born in September.

U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw in Nashville said that those stressors are not sufficient to allow the reversal of his guilty plea. Kelsey's sentencing was set for late July.

A guilty plea is a grave and solemn act, Crenshaw said, according to The Daily Memphian.

Kelsey and his mother were among those who testified at the hearing Tuesday.

Kelsey pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the Federal Election Commission as well as aiding and abetting the acceptance of excessive contributions on behalf of a federal campaign. He faces up to five years in prison for each count.

Before that, Kelsey had previously pleaded not guilty  often describing his case as a political witch hunt  but changed his mind shortly after his co-defendant, Nashville social club owner Joshua Smith, pleaded guilty to one count under a deal that required him to cooperate fully and truthfully with federal authorities. Smith's sentencing is also scheduled for late July.

In October 2021, a federal grand jury in Nashville indicted Kelsey and Smith, who owns The Standard club, on several counts each. The indictment alleged that Kelsey, Smith and others violated campaign finance laws by illegally concealing the transfer of $91,000  $66,000 from Kelseys state Senate campaign committee and $25,000 from a nonprofit that advocated about legal justice issues  to a national political organization to fund advertisements urging support of Kelseys congressional campaign.

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Prosecutors allege that Kelsey and others caused the national political organization to make illegal and excessive campaign contributions to Kelsey by coordinating with the nonprofit on advertisements, and that they caused the organization to file false reports to the Federal Election Commission.

Kelsey's motion to withdraw his plea, which he filed in March, also argued he was unaware of the consequences of pleading guilty because he had no prior criminal record. Those consequences have included his bank cutting off his credit card and the suspension of his law license.

Kelsey, a 44-year-old attorney from Germantown, was first elected to the General Assembly in 2004 as a state representative. He was later elected to the state Senate in 2009. He didn't seek reelection in 2022.

Kelsey also served as the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which oversees changes to civil and criminal laws, judicial proceedings and more.
SCHOHARIE, N.Y. (AP)  A jury began deliberations Tuesday in the trial of a limousine company manager accused of deadly indifference to safety rules before a crash that killed 20 people.

Nauman Hussain is charged with criminally negligent homicide and second-degree manslaughter in connection with the 2018 wreck of a stretch SUV limousine in Schoharie, New York  one of the deadliest U.S. road wrecks of the past two decades.

Jurors deliberated for just under two hours Tuesday before heading home for the evening. Their discussions were due to continue Wednesday morning.

Earlier Tuesday, relatives of the dead wiped away tears during special prosecutor Frederick Renchs closing argument.

He said Hussain intentionally failed to follow maintenance regulations for the 2001 Ford Excursion. The stretch SUV was packed with birthday revelers when it hurtled down a hill, went off the road, and hit a parked car and trees before stopping in a streambed.

Prosecutors say defective brakes failed to stop the heavy limo. Rench said that if Hussain had done routine state vehicle inspections, as required, they wouldve revealed brake defects and prevented the wreck.

Hussains lawyer, Lee Kindlon, told jurors his client was not to blame. He faulted Mavis Discount Tires, a repair shop that Hussain routinely used.

Hussain had true belief that he had repaired the brake system, that the brakes were in fine and working order, Kindlon told jurors. The people could not prove that Nauman Hussain knew or even should have known that Mavis falsified the repair maintenance and safety inspections.

Lawyers for Mavis, which is not on trial in the criminal case but is being sued by victims families, deny the repair shop is at fault.

Seventeen passengers, the driver and two bystanders died in the crash outside a country store in a village west of Albany.

Witnesses called to testify during the trial included a former Mavis manager, people who witnessed the wreck, and a state Department of Transportation inspector who flagged the SUV-style limousine for violations long before the crash. The defense called no witnesses.

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The trial was held after a judge threw out a plea deal last fall that would have spared Hussain prison time.

___

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.
Rep. Jake Hoffman, R-Queen Creek, speaks during debate of HB 2898, a K-12 education bill, during the House Appropriations Committee hearing at the Arizona Capitol in Phoenix on May 25, 2021.

As the Arizona Legislature takes yet another vacation, let us pause to consider the many accomplishments of the Republicans who run the joint.

No, really.

Theres been a fair amount of focus on the 72 (and counting) times Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs has infuriated Republicans by vetoing their various bad bills  and a few good ones.

But consider what this, the most conservative Republican Legislature in my memory, has been able to accomplish with the barest of majorities and a Democrat on the Ninth Floor for the first time in 14 years.

Republicans have gotten their way a lot

Everybody (OK, well, me) expected the far-right Republicans who comprise the Arizona Freedom Caucus to be rolled over as the year wore on and sanity prevailed sometime in the wee hours of late June, right before a state government shutdown.

Everybody (OK, me again) expected the partys more pragmatic Republicans to team up with Hobbs and the Democrats to make a deal, as happened last year when Republican Gov. Doug Ducey was at the helm.

Instead, Republicans have stuck together all year, making Democratic legislators look largely irrelevant and on occasion, downright silly. (See: the tamale bill wherein 12 Democrats enthusiastically voted for the bill before they suddenly voted against it to spare Hobbs the embarrassment of a veto override.)

Consider the culture war bills. Not surprisingly, Republicans have spent endless hours doing battle with drag queens and transgender children and public school teachers who they apparently believe lay awake nights plotting to groom their children.

None of their bills will become law, thanks to Hobbs and her veto stamp. But thats almost better for Republican lawmakers as they prepare to hit the trail next year to try to preserve their slim majority.

The campaign pitch writes itself.

Consider teacher pay. Rep. Matt Gress, R-Phoenix, has been pushing a bill that would boost teacher pay by $10,000 over the next two years, catapulting Arizonas public schools out of the subbasement and onto the upper floors of teacher compensation in America.

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Democrats oppose the bill, saying its a poorly written proposal that contains no guarantee of funding beyond 2025 and could lead to layoffs. Besides, they say, it wouldnt apply to other educators and school staff.

Democrats have pointed to some legitimate problems with this bill, especially the need for flexibility in the event of a downturn in the economy. But theyve also declined thus far to work with Gress to address those problems.

This, as Arizona continues to face a critical shortage of qualified classroom teachers.

Consider the budget. Hobbs negotiated a $17.8 billion spending plan with Republican legislative leaders, leaving her Democratic allies on the outside looking in.

I know not everyone got what they wanted, including me, Hobbs said on Monday, during a press conference to highlight a $150 million deposit into the Housing Trust Fund, an amount more than double the previous largest contribution.

Universal school vouchers went untouched

Actually, it appears Republicans got exactly what they wanted.

Their No. 1 priority was to protect their universal voucher program from a governor who had vowed to repeal it, warning that it would likely bankrupt the state.

They didnt even have to accept so much as a minuscule cap to the program that was supposed to cost $33 million year and is now at 10 times that and growing.

Instead, Hobbs stunned her fellow Democrats and public school supporters by agreeing to continue the runaway program.

How money talks: Hobbs, Ducey got bipartisan budget deals differently

She also caved on her campaign vows to exempt diapers and feminine hygiene products from the state sales tax and to offer an annual $100-per-child tax credit to low-income Arizonans.

Hobbs did win a huge pot of mostly one-time money to boost public schools and a sizable budget to help with affordable housing and the homeless.

They also got the tax rebate they wanted

Meanwhile, Republicans not only protected their constituents who want public money to pay their kids private school tuition, they won a one-time $250-per-child tax rebate for Arizona families (maximum $750 per family), a plan spearheaded by the Freedom Caucus.

They even managed to attach language to the budget that prevents Hobbs from trying to take any credit for the tax rebate.

To wit: No letter relating to the Arizona families tax rebate issued under this section shall be sent from the governors office, be sent on the governors letterhead or reference the governors office.Freedom Caucusers were all smiles on Monday and for good reason.

While Hobbs tax credit for the poor wilted and died, their tax credit for the non-poor  funded solely with Republicans share of the budget surplus  is now law, with a promise of more to come next year from Freedom Caucus Chair Jake Hoffman, R-Queen Creek.

Arizona families are hurting while they attempt to pay for the most basic necessities each month  , he said on Monday, during a press conference to highlight the $260 million tax rebate. In the meantime, government is flush with cash and in the position to give back to our honest, hardworking taxpayers.

Reelection spiels made, without compromising

The money wont reach the neediest Arizonans, the ones who dont earn enough to pay taxes.

Or to taxpayers who wipe out their state tax liability by making charitable contributions that qualify for a tax credit.

But itll be an effective bullet on Republicans reelection brochures, as will the substantial slab of bacon they delivered to their districts in the form of road and bridge projects.

All this, they got without having to agree to allow Maricopa Countys transportation tax to be put to a public vote next year.

And without Hoffman and his fellow Republican senators having to agree to stop gumming up the works as Hobbs tries to fill out her Cabinet.

Certainly, both sides got something out of the budget.

But theres a reason Hoffman, one of the Legislatures most conservative members, signed on as a primary sponsor of this years budget bills.

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: Arizona Republicans have gotten most of what they wanted this year
Justin Long has subtly confirmed that he and Kate Bosworth are officially married, one month after they announced their engagement.

The 44-year-old actor spoke about his relationship status during an episode of his podcast Life is Short, which aired on 9 May. While speaking with guest Kyra Sedgwick, he referred to Bosworth as his spouse for the first time. He also recalled how he first fell for the actor when they were in Bulgaria to film their movie, Barbarian.

I was there while I was like really falling in love with my now-wife, Long explained. She came to visit, and I had never been comfortable with set visits, I was never crazy about [them]. I like to separate the relationship.

But still, he said that he enjoyed having Bosworth around on set.

Yeah, I loved having her there and we just had the most magical time, the Tusk star said. It helped me having her there. Shed help me with scenes. It was the best.

The married couple also took part in an Amazon Live segment on 15 May, in which Bosworth appeared to be wearing a silver wedding band on her ring finger, along with her engagement ring.

Longs comments about his new wife come one month after he announced that he was engaged. During an episode of his podcast, which aired on 4 April, the couple spoke about the organic way in which Long proposed to Bosworth.

I remember waking up, not so many mornings after that therapy session, and I looked at JustinI smiled at you, and I said, What do you need? The Locksmith star explained. And he, like, really looked at me and he said, To spend my life with you. And I smiled and I said, Well, yeah, you have that. Oh my gosh, you have that, and he said, No, I mean I really want to spend my life with you.

Long, who confirmed his relationship with Bosworth in May 2022, added: It felt connected to something very, very deeply, profoundly personal that we were going through, like, a real life change. As all of these moments with you havethe asking of it was easy.

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These comments also came weeks after they first sparked engagement rumours at Vanity Fairs Oscar Party, when the actress was spotted with a ring on her finger.

After confirming his engagement on his podcast, Long also took to Instagram to share the news. In his post, he shared pictures of himself and Bosworth, as she showed off her ring. He also explained why he chose to publicly open up about the engagement.

It felt like a leap to talk about something so personal so publicly but Ive found that the scary things become much easier when you commit to the truth and to a partner as loving and safe as Catherine Ann Bosworth, he wrote in the caption.

Long added: I feel eternally grateful that I found a partner who makes each day SO full, whose mere presence IS a reminder of the beauty and brevity of life, and who makes me laugh from the minute we wake up til the one I begrudgingly fall asleep. I cherish the days weve had and the ones to come.

The Independent has contacted representatives for Bosworth and Long for comment.
A Kansas man has died after his vehicle left the roadway and rolled into a ditch in Wabaunsee County on Tuesday morning.

Charles Thomas, 90, of Eskridge, was southbound on Keene Eskridge Road in a 2005 Buick LeSabre when the car veered off the road, over corrected and traveled across both lanes of traffic, Kansas Highway Patrol crash logs show. The incident was reported around 9:20 a.m. at 29500 Keene Eskridge Road at 21st Street.

The Buick entered a ditch and overturned, according to the crash log.

Thomas was taken to Stormont Vail Health in Topeka where he later died from his injuries, the report said.


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They say that imitation is the highest form of flattery but one cant help but wonder if thats really the case when this web of royals are all involved. In this case, if Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and Rose Hanburys shoes all look oddly familiar, its because they are actually all wearing an identical pair. For almost $1,000 a pair, these black heels better be comfortableotherwise, this imitation game seems like a little too much of a coincidence. Let me break down this modern-day Cinderella royal shoe situation for you.

Today's Top Deals

Meghan Markle, in this case, is the trendsetter. The Duchess of Sussex has been wearing heels by the Italian shoe brand, Auazzura, for years and pretty much introduced them to the rest of the royal family. Meghan Markle has heels by the brand in almost every style and color and even wore a custom pair of Aquazzura heels on her wedding day. Theres one pair of shoes by the brand in particular that Meghan Markle seems to love the most: the Aquazzura Bow Tie Pumps. The Duchess of Sussex has worn the same black pair numerous times over the past few years, packing them in her suitcase for appearances around the world and pairing them with formal outfits for official outings.

Getty Images.

Back in 2018, she paired them with a sleek black dress with velvet paneling for an exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts.

Getty Images.

She wore them again in 2019 during a visit to Ireland with another chic all-black look. These are just a few examples of the many times Meghan Markle has worn the Bow Tie Pumps, and it seems like other members of the royal circle were finally influenced.

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Courtesy of Aquazzura.

Aquazzura Bow Tie Pumps

The heels are made in Italy and retail for $850.

Aquazzura Bow Tie Pumps

Price: $850

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Getty Images.

While Meghan Markle did not attend the coronation weekend, her shoes still made an appearance. Kate Middleton wore the exact same black Aquazzura Bow Tie Pumps during a busy week of events for the Coronation of King Charles III. At a lunch for world leaders ahead of the coronation, the Princess of Wales paired the black suede heels with a simple black and white long-sleeve dress by Jenny Packham. She accessorized with a pair of pearl drop earrings that belonged to Queen Elizabeth II.

Kate Middleton wore a second pair of blue Aquazzura heels later in the week (which Meghan Markle also has in her closet) which leads me back to the theory that Aquazzura must make an incredibly comfortable pair of heels.

Getty Images.

However, three times a charm when Rose Hanbury, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley, attended the Coronation of King Charles III in the same black Aquazzura pumps that Kate Middleton had worn earlier in the week. If youre not familiar with Rose Hanbury, you can read a full overview of the former model here. Rose Hanbury is close with Kate Middleton, Prince William and the royal family despite false rumors, which have been disproven, that she was the other woman in Prince Williams life.

In this case, its possible that Rose Hanbury received the Aquazzura shoe recommendation from her friend Kate Middleton. Taking notes from Kate Middleton, Rose Hanbury paired her heels with a black and white outfit that featured a slight puff-sleeve and bow on the collar. She accessorized with diamond earrings and a black headpiece.

During the coronation, Meghan Markle swapped her heels out for hiking boots and spent the weekend in California. It will be interesting to see which member of the trio wears the famous heels next.

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At a recent community listening session, new Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves told a crowd she was disappointed in critiques of the department from city leaders. Graves beef? Some were too quick to lose trust in the agency.

Though Graves didnt name anyone in particular, City Council member Melissa Robinson took some of Graves comments personally.

Was Graves comment a public admonishment of Robinson for demanding a federal probe into the April 13 shooting of 16-year-old Ralph Yarl? The 3rd District councilwoman believes so.

Last Thursday, Graves spoke to about 95 people at United Believers Community Church near the Hickman Mills area of south Kansas City. To her credit, Graves was there to talk about the departments welcome and needed violent crime reduction plan, according to KCUR reporter Peggy Lowe.

Kansas Citys police chief serves in an appointed position governed by an unelected board of commissioners, Robinson  an elected official who represents the public  reminded us. In her role, Graves is a civil servant. As the face of local law enforcement, was she wrong for calling city leaders divisive at a community forum?

Yes, Robinson says. She is not happy. And its hard to fault her. Her demand for federal authorities to investigate Ralphs shooting as a hate crime is justified.

Chief Graves owes me a public apology, Robinson told us Monday.

A public spat between the citys top cop and a highly respected City Council member helps no one. We call on the two to broker peace  and preferably out in the open. The work to reduce violent crime starts with collaboration. Without trust between civic leaders and the police department, can Kansas Citys unacceptable violent crime rate be reduced? The answer is no.

On Monday, we asked Graves to respond to Robinsons demand for a public apology. In a statement, she wrote:

It is difficult for me to respond to a quote I didnt say. At the listening session I said, I was disappointed by a couple city leaders who were too quick to say they lost the trust in KCPD. Those words are divisive, counterproductive and ultimately hurt their constituents who experience violent crime and welcome police in their neighborhoods. I cant say this enough  we need to work together, in all times, specifically the difficult times.

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This statement was not in regard to asking for a federal investigation, nor would I ever dismiss the racial component and sensitivity of the Ralph Yarl shooting. As Chief of Police, I am trying to bring people together and work to make Kansas City safer.

We take the chief at her word. Still, we have to question whether a defensive response to criticism is a constructive way to improve community relations.

Urban Leagues Grant: Chief Graves out of line

From the start, Kansas City police investigators fumbled the investigation into Yarls shooting. On the night of April 13, Andrew D. Lester, 84, shot Yarl in the head near the top of his left eye and the top of his right arm, family members said. The teen had mistakenly rung the doorbell of Lesters Northland home, authorities say. Lester is white; Yarl is Black. Days later, Clay County prosecutors said a racial component was involved in the incident, but declined to pursue hate crime charges.

Hours after attacking Yarl, Lester was released from Kansas City police custody. Only after public pressure and protest did Clay County prosecutors charge Lester with one count each of first-degree assault and armed criminal action. He is presumed innocent and free on $100,000 bail.

Based on the questionable police work exhibited in this case, criticism of the Kansas City Police Department is warranted until it isnt. City taxpayers have a right to question authorities about the investigation.

Graves comments at the church drew condemnation from local civil rights organizers and community activists. In a statement, Gwen Grant, president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Kansas City, called on the police chief to atone for what Grant described as irresponsible remarks.

Graves was out of line and owes Robinson a public apology, Grant said.

Elected officials speak for the people. The public has a right to question the police departments long-standing issues with accountability and transparency. Graves is a first-time police chief, the first female leader in department history. Rebuilding community trust will prove challenging enough. She cant get it in her own way by picking unnecessary fights and reflexively defending the departments already-shaky reputation in the minority community.
Senior Superior Court Judge Kenneth Followill, who served on the bench since the 1970s and presided at the trial of Columbus infamous Stocking Strangler serial killer in 1986, died late Sunday night in hospice care. He was 87.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. June 2 at Trinity Episcopal Church, according to Striffler-Hamby Mortuary.

Followills career in law spanned half a century. He was elected the part-time solicitor or prosecutor in Columbus city court, now Muscogee State Court, before voters made him a full-time judge in that court in 1970. In 1978, he was appointed a Superior Court judge for the six-county Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit based in Columbus.

He took partial retirement in 2008, becoming a part-time senior Superior Court judge here the next year.

A Columbus native, he attended public schools here before he earned a bachelors degree from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, and then got his law degree from Emory University in Atlanta.

In 1973, he served on the first Judicial Council of Georgia, the group that establishes policies and guidance for the state judiciary and recommends relevant legislation to the Georgia General Assembly. Followill was elected its secretary that first year and later chaired the council, a position now reserved for the chief justice of the Georgia Supreme Court.

While serving as chief judge for the Chattahoochee Circuit, he helped manage the court system here and see to its needs. City leaders found him straightforward and proficient, they said.

He was on the bench when I started serving on council, said Mayor Pro-Tem Gary Allen, first elected in 1992. He was very amenable and agreeable to talk, just about anytime, and did a wonderful job as a Superior Court judge. He served the citizens well, both from the judicial side and the government side.

Citywide Councilor Judy Thomas said councilors learned to rely on Followills judgment: Not only was he around for a long time, but he did such a good job, we wanted him to stay around, she said.

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His court decisions did not always favor the city, when its interests were involved, she added: But thats the way the judicial system is. He was fair and impartial. You could trust him to do the right thing.

Superior Court Judge Gil McBride said Followills decades of experience made him a valuable resource, when the city began planning to replace the Government Center with a new judicial building.

He had helped plan the current Government Center more than fifty years ago, McBride said. He understood what decisions were made in that planning process, why they were made and what had worked and not worked. This is the sort of knowledge that you cant find in a book.... In his long career, there was very little that Judge Followill had not seen or addressed.

Steve Craft, assistant director of the public defenders office, complimented Followills calm and steady courtroom demeanor: He was the consummate chief judge: He understood the process and all the players. He was always respectful to everyone in his courtroom.

He also recalled Followills kindness, in 1999 when Crafts wife became ill: I was a young lawyer when my first wife got sick, before she passed away, he said. He made sure that I was free to take care of her, and made sure the other judges understood. I did not have to put her needs aside to come to court until she was taken care of.

The Strangler trial

The year Followill was appointed a Superior Court judge was the last year of the Stocking Stranglings, seven rapes and stranglings of older women that terrorized Columbus from September 1977 to April 1978.

Those cases remained unsolved until 1984, when police arrested Carlton Gary, charging him specifically with three of the cases that had the most evidence, but maintaining he was the perpetrator in all seven.

Garys defense team had two other local judges disqualified, before Followill was assigned the case, and tried to get him removed, too, said Bill Smith, now a senior judge who was the district attorney at the time.

He was under a lot of pressure, Smith said, recalling that Garys defense attorneys needled Followill to try to make him lose his composure, to cause a mistrial or establish grounds for appeal.

His demeanor was tested, Smith said, later adding, He handled it like a champ.

Smith, who still calls the stranglings trial the most important criminal case in the history of the circuit, noted in the decades of appeals that followed, before Gary was executed in March 2018, Followills rulings consistently were upheld, all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The significant thing he did was to never be reversed, said Smith.

Columbus will miss Followills calm guidance, and so will the friends he made here, Smith said: He was my friend as well as my colleague.... Its a real loss to me and to the community.
The Scene

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky.  Kentucky banned ESG investing this year, when Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear signed a Republican bill to do it. Gender medicine for minors was banned, too, after the GOP supermajority in Frankfort over-rode Beshears veto. Beshear couldnt do anything about last summers Dobbs decision, either  since then, Attorney Gen. Daniel Cameron told a happy crowd here, abortion clinics have been closed across the state.

We are no longer content with Democrat leadership in the governor's office, whose mere presence emboldens the far left, said Cameron, one of twelve Republicans running for the partys gubernatorial nomination, at a Friday town hall in his hometown. We want leadership that reflects the men, women and children of all 120 counties.

Cameron and the rest of the Republican field, battling to face a popular governor, have run to the right, casting Beshear as an aberration in a state that wants to go red. That tones been shaped not just by Cameron, but by Kelly Craft, a wealthy ex-ambassador whose multi-million dollar campaign has attacked transgenderism and wokeness through a consulting firm thats about to work on Ron DeSantiss presidential campaign.

In the races final hours, DeSantis himself cut a robocall for Craft, and Ted Cruz, Axioms most successful client, joined her on the trail. You will not see the Washington establishment in my office, Craft told a country club crowd outside of Lexington on Saturday. You will see God in my office.

David's view

Why does this race matter? Its the best study in what Republican voters care about that well get before the presidential primary. And when theres a nominee, it will tell us how a red state Democrat can respond to the GOPs warnings of a country becoming ungodly and unsafe.

The GOPs candidates for governor have drawn a few differences on policy, from Craft pledging to dismantle the state department of education to Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles promising to legalize medical marijuana. Theyve run more on their biographies and their records, and especially their records of battling the left, however weak progressives look in Kentucky.

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Donald Trump tried to end the primary before it started, endorsing Cameron, a protege of Mitch McConnell whose political journey began with a college McConnell Scholarship. Hed won his office the same day that Beshear won his, and was ready to sue him when he enforced COVID orders or didnt enforce an abortion law. And hed been protested at home after recommending no charges for police officers who killed a Black woman named Breonna Taylor in a no-knock raid on her apartment.

But Trump also insults McConnell and his wife on a constant basis, making him an unlikely ally in that regard. Cameron has fielded questions from voters who share Trumps antipathy towards McConnell  who also has ties to Craft and has not endorsed in the race  about whether hes too close to Washington.

Im looking around, and I dont see Mitch McConnell, said Cameron, after a voter in Elizabethtown asked about the party establishment. When folks were protesting on my front lawn, they weren't protesting Mitch McConnell. Our family was in danger, not Mitch McConnell or Rand Paul or any of those other people.

Other Republicans whod won statewide, like Quarles, didnt have that record. Craft, who with her husband had donated tens of millions of dollars to Republicans, tapped their connections and put $9.2 million more into her campaign.

For a while, she ran the airwaves, with ads that portrayed her as a warrior for traditional values and jobs, and Cameron as a teddy bear whose woke nature was revealed when the Department of Justice released a report critical of bias in Louisvilles police department. (What Cameron was supposed to do about this is unclear.)

Built by strategists who helped elect Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, the Craft message portrays both Beshear and Cameron as too weak to fix the state, because they need to be pushed to do what comes naturally to her.

If somebody comes into our state, and gives one of our Kentuckians an illegal drug that takes their life, I will sign their death warrant, Craft said at a Saturday rally in Richmond.

She tapped state Sen. Max Wise, the author of Kentuckys comprehensive anti-trans bill, as her running mate. In Louisville, revving the crowd up for Craft, state Rep. Jason Nemes called the governor a beta male for vetoing it in the first place. Craft celebrated the news that the states education commissioner might take a job in Baltimore; she and Cameron both ripped into him for testifying against Wises bill.

Other contenders, less well-known and less well-funded, are trying to turn out newer and rural Republican voters who might be alienated by the top two. They have more voters to go after  since 2015, and the last open GOP gubernatorial primary, the number of registered Democrats has fallen from 1.69 million to 1.54 million; the number of Kentucky Republicans has risen from 1.25 million to 1.59 million.

I'm a known entity across the state. I have my own brand, Quarles told Semafor after addressing supporters during a western Kentucky swing on his big red truck tour, named for his 2015 Chevy Silverado. I am not basing this campaign off the endorsement of a single person whos not from Kentucky.

Know More

David Weigel

Beshear won his first term over an alienating and unpopular governor who couldnt be saved by a Trump endorsement. He took office just a few months before the COVID pandemic, and his decisions in 2020  especially the shut-down of church services on Easter Sunday  still get boos from Republican crowds.

But hes broadly popular with independents, and on the trail, the GOPs critique of the governor relies heavily on the COVID year and the conservative bills that hes been unable or uninterested in stopping, and are now law. In the first race for governor since the Dobbs decision, each Republican is also committed to abortion restrictions that are far less popular than their party; six months ago, a ballot measure to allow an abortion ban in the state constitution failed by 6 points.

The tone in the GOP primary remains: Who does this guy think he is? Crafts ads and messaging, with their hints of what a DeSantis presidential campaign might do, give her credit for the states falling unemployment (she was part of NAFTA renegotiations) and warn that no one else will stop the overdose epidemic, because no one else is ready to execute drug dealers.

After his Elizabethtown stop, Cameron told Semafor that the anti-ESG issue was still on the table, because banning the investment practice didnt go far enough.

Gov. DeSantis, Gov. Huckabee Sanders, and other conservative governors are jointly pooling their money to put it into natural gas, and into the fossil fuel companies, which is counter to some of what the more progressive states are doing, said Cameron. Kentucky has not signed on to that joint partnership. I will sign on to that as the next governor of Kentucky.

The View From Democrats

Sam Newton, the communications director for the Democratic Governors Association, said that Beshears record and high approval rating would make him the favorite once the GOP got their nominee. No matter who wins the GOP primary, this election will be a clear choice between moving forward with Gov. Beshears steady, caring leadership or going off the rails in a divisive and extreme direction, he said.

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The News

NAIROBI  Kenya's drive for its citizens to find work in Gulf states risks forcing them into a modern slavery system in which physical abuse is common, warn rights groups.

East Africa's largest economy plans to sign 10 bilateral labor agreements in the next "couple of months" with countries interested in hiring Kenyan workers, President William Ruto said this month. He named Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, the United States, and Canada as countries with which deals could be struck to create job opportunities overseas and boost remittances.

But campaigners say this push risks the safety of those hired as domestic workers, such as housekeepers and cleaners, in Gulf nations where there have been numerous reports of Kenyans being injured or even killed by physically abusive employers. "So many people come back in coffins and the government doesnt seem to do anything about it," said John Mwariri, a lawyer at Nairobi's Kituo Cha Sheria legal advice center representing 11 Gulf returnees seeking compensation from Kenyas government for allegedly failing to protect them.

"In those Middle East countries, there is a system called kafala that is like modern day slavery," said Mwariri, referring to a system under which workers cannot change jobs without their employer's permission, leaving many unable to escape exploitation and abuse. "Kenyans have been exposed to this and that is why we are saying it is risky and Kenyans should not go there until the government comes up with measures that will stop the violations of domestic workers," he added.

More than 170,000 Kenyans are working in Gulf states, Labor Principal Secretary Geoffrey Kaituko told a parliamentary committee in March. More than 80,000 Kenyan domestic workers secured employment in Saudi Arabia in 2022, according to Labor ministry figures.

Ruto, announcing the labor export push, said diaspora remittances from Kenyans abroad hit a record $4.2 billion in 2022  more than the $1.2 billion generated from the countrys top export, tea. Kenyans working in Saudi Arabia sent home 37.78 billion Kenyan shillings in 2022 ($302.26 million), up from 23.12 billion Kenyan shillings ($185.01 million) in 2021.

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Know More

Kenya banned labor migration to Gulf countries in 2012 after abuse of Kenyan workers in the region was reported.The ban was lifted in 2013 after lobbying by Kenyan recruitment agencies.

In September 2021, Macharia Kamau  who, at the time, was a foreign ministry official  told parliament his department recommended a temporary ban on sending domestic workers to Saudi Arabia. He cited an increase in distress cases and deaths, although the suggestion was rejected. Kamau said 48 deaths were recorded in 2020, 29 of those deaths were of domestic workers. He said 41 Kenyans died there the following year, including 28 domestic workers. Meanwhile, he said, the number of distress cases rose from 88 in 2019 to 1,025 in 2021. Saudi Arabian authorities say most of the deaths were from cardiac arrest.

Vivianne's view

The push to increase remittances is part of the government's attempt to shore up its finances. As we recently reported, Kenya is in the throes of a stark budget crisis. The policy makes sense in theory but overlooks the human suffering that's a reality of work in Gulf states for many Black Africans.

On TikTok, it's common to find videos featuring Kenyan domestic workers in Saudi Arabia asking to be rescued or talking about their terrible lives.

Steve Oluoch alleges that his sister, who was a domestic worker in the Gulf state, was killed by her employer two years ago. He also claimed the autopsy results from Saudi were "doctored". He said an autopsy in Kenya found that "she died of neck compression, plus several injuries all over the body were observed."

Some government officials and members of parliament are said to own recruitment companies that hire workers and send them to work in Gulf states, according to reports in Kenyan media. Two government officials declined to answer Semafor Africas questions about the claims.

"That may well be the case and its because in this country we allow public servants to do business," Geoffrey Kaituko, a labor ministry civil servant, told Citizen TV Kenya this month in response to the allegations.

The lure of better-paid work overseas for unemployed Kenyans struggling with the rising cost of living at home should not be underestimated. Some 13.9% of working age Kenyans (over 16) were out of work or long term unemployed in the final quarter of 2022 while nearly a fifth of people aged 15 to 34 were not in education, employment or training. Those figures, combined with the governments need to balance the books, make this policy seem appealing.

If you're a young Kenyan keen to earn some money for a few years in a Gulf country under the current system you have to understand that your government has few means to really protect you  and that some people in government might be conflicted because they own stakes in the agencies they're meant to be policing.

Room for Disagreement

Eliab Muriithi, the Assistant Secretary General of the Association of Skilled Migrant Agencies of Kenya believes bad news has overtaken the good when it comes to the conditions of domestic workers in the Gulf. "Only the undisciplined people who don't want to work are portraying negative information to Kenyans," he said.

The View From Tanzania

"Although it might be difficult, domestic workers in Saudi Arabia should unionize as this will ensure they are protected and known. The government should also engage the embassy and the Saudi Arabian government to see how they are handling the situation," said Paul Kisabo, a human rights lawyer in Tanzania.

Notable
ACCRA, May 16 (Xinhua) -- At least seven people died after a mining pit in which they were working collapsed in the Eastern Region of Ghana, an official confirmed on Tuesday.

Alfred Agyemang, regional operations director of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), told Xinhua that the incident occurred late Monday at a community in the Birim North District of the region.

He said rescuers managed to save three people alive, and they were receiving medical treatment in a hospital nearby.

"One of the survivors told us that there were about 10 people working in the pit when it caved in," said Agyemang, who is leading a team of NADMO officials to the site of the disaster, adding that seven dead bodies were also recovered from the collapsed pit.

Investigation into the cause of the accident is still underway, he added.

Mining disasters involving small-scale miners occur from time to time in Ghana as people defy the risks of descending into unsafe pits, looking for gold for sale. 
A Bollywood film depicting Hindu and Christian women lured to join Isis has divided India along state lines, triggering deadly clashes.

The Kerala Story is a fictional drama, but was originally touted as being based on the true stories of more than 30,000 such women until a court ruled the creators claims had no basis in fact.

Critics from opposition parties across India have described the film as Hindu nationalist propaganda and accused it of perpetuating Islamophobia.

But it has been heavily promoted by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), including in tweets by prime minister Narendra Modi.

The low-budget film, from director Sudipto Sen, has been at the centre of controversy since the day its trailer was released in India. After its cinema release on 5 May, the state of West Bengal banned showings, while Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh  the countrys two most populous BJP-ruled states  cut the price of tickets by waiving government taxes.

The first death reported in the row occurred in Akola in Maharashtra, after clashes broke out between two groups with differing views on the film. The state government has increased the police presence in the city and cut off access to the internet in several areas, in an attempt to prevent protesters and rival groups from gathering.

The clashes reportedly began with an Instagram post on Saturday about The Kerala Story and ended with the death of 40-year-old electrician Vilas Gaikwad, as two rival groups pelted each other with stones and destroyed several private and government vehicles, according to officials quoted by Indian news agency ANI.

Maharashtra police said more than 135 people had been arrested; the states deputy chief minister, Devendra Fadnavis, said police stations had been warned to stay on high alert and watch out for any flare-ups.

In a separate incident in Jammu and Kashmir, several Muslim students at the Government Medical College in Jammu city were reportedly beaten by supporters of the film on Sunday night.

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Local media said the clashes were between two groups of students, and began when one started an argument over The Kerala Story in a WhatsApp group, to which a group of Muslim students objected.

More than 6000,000 people have seen this film so far in India.

A new chapter begins today. THE KERALA STORY is releasing more than 40-countries together...

More and more numbers are going to get added. More and more blessings, love and adulation will overwhelm us. We shall feel pic.twitter.com/LGFaDju2qA  Sudipto SEN (@sudiptoSENtlm) May 12, 2023

Mehbooba Mufti, president of the Peoples Democratic Party in Kashmir, tweeted: Shocking that GOI [the government of India] promotes & encourages violence through movies stoking communal fires. The blood of innocents is being spilt to quench the BJPs insatiable thirst for petty electoral dividends.

The chief minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, did not ban the film in the state but said that the movie had seemed to be made with the aim of communal polarisation and spreading hate propaganda.

On social media, a number of alternative hashtags about the film, such as #MyKeralaStory and #RealKeralaStory, started trending, with people sharing their own stories of religious harmony and camaraderie.

The real Kerala Story pic.twitter.com/xzrIIMn0G7  Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) May 12, 2023

Film website IMDb summarises the plot as telling the story of a converted Muslim woman [named] Fatima Ba who wanted to become a nurse but was abducted from her home and manipulated by religious vanguards, turned into an Isis terrorist and landed in an Afghanistan jail.

Mr Modi praised the film and said that it attempted to expose the consequences of terrorism in a society.

In Uttar Pradesh, firebrand BJP chief minister Yogi Adityanath said the film draws the attention of the entire nation to the conspiracy of lovejihad, a reference to an unfounded theory that there is a coordinated effort by Muslim men to convert Indian women of other faiths through marriage.

The entire society must be made aware of this distortion. A commendable and brave effort has been made in this regard by the films producer, director and entire team, he said.

#WATCH | 'The Kerala Story' film is based on a terror conspiracy. It shows the ugly truth of terrorism and exposes terrorists' design. Congress is opposing the film made on terrorism and standing with terror tendencies. Congress has shielded terrorism for the vote bank: PM pic.twitter.com/qlUQlc3qQf  ANI (@ANI) May 5, 2023

On Friday, the film was shown at more than 200 screens in the US and Canada. Mr Sen told reporters during a virtual press conference that the country [India] was in denial of the long-existing issue in the state of Kerala. The Kerala Story is a mission which is beyond the creative boundaries of cinema, a movement that should reach the masses all over the world and raise awareness.

The producer of the film, Vipul Shah, said the subject was hidden from the masses and deserved to be told. We made the film to initiate deliberation worldwide.
Comedian and actor Kevin Hart is set to visit South Carolina next month.

The celebrity is scheduled to bring his global 2023 Reality Check Tour to Columbia and Greenville in June.

The show will be held at 7 p.m. on June 6 at the Township Auditorium in Columbia and at 7 p.m. one June 7 at the Peace Center in Greenville.

Fans can buy tickets starting with pre-sales at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, followed by general sales at 10 a.m. on Thursday.

For Columbia tickets, click here.

For Greenville tickets, click here.
Kevin Hart is set on introducing his inaugural tequila brand Gran Coramino to the world. Hart, along with 11th generation Tequila Maestro Juan Domingo Beckmann, launched GC after bonding in the city of Tequila, Mexico over the distilled spirit and sharing ideas to innovate the alcohol.

Ive always had a love for tequila, and its been a fun journey to create Gran Coramino. I knew I wanted to create a tequila with a taste that exceeds expectations and exemplifies how hard work truly tastes different, Kevin Hart told VIBE. I have found great partners in teaming up with James Morrissey of Global Brand Equities and Juan Domingo Beckmann, who is truly a master of his craft. Together, were changing the tequila landscape and carving a lasting identity for Gran Coramino in the space.

The first drop of the tequila brand was the Cristalino in 2022, which matured in Eastern European oak barrels and California Cabernet wine casks. The Anejo expression matured in both American and French oak barrels for 12 months, per the spirits official website. The Cristalino version of the tequila is said to have subtle notes of caramel, honey, vanilla and berries, as the cognac-laced Anejo tastes of butterscotch, toasted cacao, and coffee beans.

Kevin Hart and Tequila Maestro Juan Domingo Beckmann

The Ride Along actor has been heavily advocating for his first spirit brand while on his international Reality Check Tour, at a plethora of engagements, and for the passing holidays including Cinco De Mayo and Mothers Day.

On May 14, the actor and comedian took time out remember his late mother and let all maternal figures know that they are needed, necessary, and important. He poured a glass of his Gran Coramino Anejo in a toast and appreciation of moms all over the world.

Thank you all for being who you all are  this ones to you, he said as he raised his glass.

The 43-year-old recently put out a PSA in search of nightlife bartenders that could compete in The Coramino Cup. In the Hart-hosted competition presented by Gran Coramino and Chilled Magazine, talented mixologists will be flown out to Las Vegas for a chance to win the title of Gran Coramino Bartender of The Year.

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The winner will also be featured in Chilled Magazine and bartend for Hart. To be considered, bartenders will have to be the best of the best, in the club scene and submit a video showing off their skills by May 31. The competition takes place in July, but it is unknown if the event will be recorded for public viewing.

Im trying to find different ways to show our appreciation for those that are helping elevate our product and of course, that product being Gran Coramino, he said in an Instagram video while at an event sponsored by the Tequila.

Check out Kevin Harts announcement of Gran Coraminos bartender battle and images of the distilled spirit bottles below.

Gran Coramino Reposado Cristalino and Anejo

More from VIBE.com

Click here to read the full article.
Kayla Unbehaun before her abuction, left, at the age of nine and right, in an age-progression picture by forensic artists depicting her at 14

A girl who was kidnapped six years ago has been found after a shop owner recognised her from a Netflix true crime documentary series and phoned the police.

Kayla Unbehaun, then aged nine, was abducted by her non-custodial mother, Heather Unbehaun from South Elgin, Illinois in 2017, and was finally recognised in a shopping centre in Asheville, North Carolina last weekend.

Kaylas father, Ryan Iskerka, went to Ms Unbehauns home on July 5, 2017 to pick Kayla up, but she had disappeared.

Kayla, now aged 15, was recognised by a shop owner who had seen an episode of the Netflix series Unsolved Mysteries about parental abductions, which featured her.

Heather Unbehaun, 40, was arrested in Asheville, North Carolina, and is being held on a $250,000 bond charged with child abduction

Ms Unbehaun only had visitation rights for her daughter at the time of the abduction. She has been charged with child abduction by the Kane County States Attorney in Illinois and is awaiting extradition from North Carolina, held on a bond of $250,000 (200,200).

The Abducted by a Parent episode of Unsolved Mysteries was released in November last year as part of the third series of the show, and Kayla appeared as part of a reel of missing children at the end of the programme. Photographs of the abducted children were placed alongside a photograph of the parent suspected of kidnapping them.

Mr Iskerka issued a statement after hearing of his daughters discovery via The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an organisation which had issued several alerts about Kayla since her disappearance and had released age-progression photographs of her over the years.

Kayla Unbehaun and her father Ryan Iskerka

'Overjoyed Kayla is home safe'

He said: I'm overjoyed that Kayla is home safe. I want to thank [the City of Elgin, Illinois Police and Fire Departments], the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and all of the law enforcement agencies who assisted with her case.

We ask for privacy as we get to know each other again and navigate this new beginning.

Mr Iskerka had reportedly written a tribute to Kayla on her 15th birthday in January, on a Facebook page called Bring Kayla Home, Fox News reported.

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Mr Iskerka wrote: I can't wait for the day that I get to see you again, hoping each day I wake up will be the day. It could never come soon enough. I think of you every day hoping and praying that you are safe, happy and that you will come back into my life soon.

Kayla is currently in protective custody.

Lieutenant Diana Loveland of Asheville Police Department told ABC: It is unusual but it's good that when someone does suspect that they recognise someone, no matter how old the story might be, that they are not afraid to give us a call so we can come and investigate.

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.
Kim Kardashian has been through her share of drama with her sisters over the years on her family's reality shows, but she says the new season of "The Kardashians" takes it to another level.

"Out of filming 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians' or 'The Kardashians,' this season was probably my most emotional and frustrating internally with family that I havent really seen or experienced before," Kardashian told Savannah Guthrie on TODAY on May 16.

The teaser for the third season of the Hulu reality series shows Kardashian's sister Khloe Kardashian saying this season, which premieres May 25, will be anything but "a mild, relaxing, serene" experience.

Kim Kardashian, Savannah Guthrie (Nathan Congleton / TODAY)

Kardashian confirmed that some of the tension seen on screen is between her and sister Kourtney Kardashian in relation to Kourtney's wedding to musician Travis Barker.

"Weve been there before, and well always be OK," Kardashian said on TODAY. "Were always family, thats how we were raised. But Im also proud that everyones really vulnerable because Im sure so many other families have gone through similar things.

"Maybe on different levels and experiences, but Im proud that were still so open and still driven to show and share so much."

Kardashian, 42, was at Rockefeller Center in New York City for the opening of her pop-up shop for her Skims clothing line. She described how the initial filming of emotional scenes for the show can sometimes be only the beginning of the friction between the sisters.

"Theres different cycles," she said. "You film it, and we think were good and we make up, and then you edit it, and then Im seeing all the things shes saying about me behind my back, and shes seeing all the things Im saying about her behind her back.

"The tension rises all over again, and then you have to wait more months for the audience to see it and get everyone elses opinions."

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Kardashian has tried to use those moments for growth.

"I think I like to look at it as therapy, kind of like get through it, but it gets really tricky and it gets really emotional," she said. "But at the end of the day we still love sharing our life, and I don't see that changing anytime soon."

The business mogul is currently studying to be a lawyer and hopes to take the bar exam in "the next year or so." Regardless, she looks to continue sharing her life on reality television like she has done since "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" began 16 years ago.

"When we signed up for this, we wanted to always be super open and honest, and there's obviously different seasons where some people feel like they just have some boundaries and want to protect some things, and then other people really want to open up and share way more," she said. "I'm so blessed that there's so many of us that we can always respect each other's space."

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
The flash from the explosion of the rocket lights up Kyiv. May 16, 2023

"We know that this aircraft (the MiG-31K) is a carrier of Kh-47 (Kinzhal) aeroballistic missiles. Thus, six such missiles were sent towards the capital, all of which were downed by our air defense system," he said.

Invading Russian forces also attacked Ukraine from south, from warships deployed in the Black Sea. Nine Kalibr cruise missiles flying in various directions were shot down.

Read also: Russian cruise missiles target Ternopil in overnight attacks

Three other missiles, likely S-400 or Iskander-M, were also downed. Their type is still being verified, but it is known they were flying on a ballistic trajectory, Ihnat said.

Air raid sirens sounded in most of Ukraine's region in the early hours of May 16. They sounded twice in the capital  from 2.24 a.m. until 4.01 a.m. and from 4.21 a.m. until 5.33 a.m.

Russia launched cruise missiles at first and then UAVs. Most of them were shot down over Kyiv, with debris falling in four districts across the city.

Read also: Russia attacks Mykolaiv with Kalibr missiles: one person killed, at least 23 wounded

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
Gov. Ron DeSantis came to South Florida on Tuesday to sign a series of human smuggling bills  and take a shot at the Biden administrations immigration and border policies.

The bills he signed will make adult entertainment businesses vulnerable to lawsuits from trafficked girls and women who have been exploited by those venues. It also will penalize hotels that turn a blind eye to, or who are neglectful of, state human smuggling and trafficking laws.

But before discussing the varying measures he was about to sign, DeSantis, who is widely expected to soon announce a 2024 White House bid, took a shot at the man in the White House now. The topic: Immigration.

More: DeSantis sending more than 1,100 Florida officers and national guard soldiers to border

Last word on Russia inestigations? Trump hails Durham report but findings fall short of a crushing blow to 'Deep State'

The governor lauded a state lawsuit that resulted in a judge blocking Biden immigration policy

DeSantis claimed the state was "kicking the Biden administration's rear end" following a judge's ruling last week.

On May 12, federal Judge T. Kent Wetherell II, appointed by former President Donald Trump, issued an order stopping a Department of Homeland Security emergency program that would allow people seeking to enter the United States at the southern border into the country for a limited period as they await their case to be processed. That followed Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody's filing a motion asking the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida.

"If you're not following it, under the attorney general's leadership Florida is kicking the rear end of the Biden administration in court," DeSantis said.

Last week, Palm Beach County Hispanic leaders representing opposite political views urged Gov. Ron DeSantis not to sign a controversial anti-immigration measure approved by lawmakers.

Latest on Trump-DeSantis: DeSantis gets captive Iowa audience. But poll shows Trump way ahead of DeSantis in Florida.

The pudding ad ... and more: Attack ads, social media posts, vitriolic speeches: Trump's feud with DeSantis is personal

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DeSantis also said conditions will get worse at the border despite post-Title 42 relative calm

The governor also said he has offered officials "a number of assets"  boats, planes and personnel  expecting border conditions to get worse.

"We stand by ready to help with that because I think what you are seeing is things are going to be really, really bad potentially very shortly," DeSantis said.

However, reports from the border say that calm has prevailed in the aftermath of the highly-watched expiration of Title 42, a COVID-era rule that restricted the flow of people seeking to immigrate to or seek safe harbor in, the United States.

Gov. Ron DeSantis, seen here Monday in Sarasota, said Tuesday that he expects conditions on the U.S.-Mexico border to get worse and has offered officials boats, planes and personnel. "We stand by ready to help with that because I think what you are seeing is things are going to be really, really bad potentially very shortly," DeSantis said.

Kennji Kizuka, director of asylum policy for the International Rescue Committee, told The Guardian that things in western Texas remained "remarkably quiet" in the wake of Title 42's expiration.

"Title 42 has ended with a whimper and it's not what I think many politicians ... [and] what a lot of the media expected," Kizuka was reported as saying.

So what are those "assets" DeSantis is offering counterparts in Texas?

On Tuesday afternoon, the governor's office issued a statement offering more details saying the state "has over 1,100 assets and resources available." Those include:

101 Florida Highway Patrol Troopers

200 Florida Department of Law Enforcement Officers, in teams of 40

20 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Officers

800 Florida National Guard Soldiers

20 Emergency Management Personnel  including radio technicians, logisticians, mechanics and planners

Five available fixed-wing aircraft with monitoring equipment and downlink capabilities with two aviation crew teams

Two Mobile Command Vehicles and two command teams

17 available unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) and support teams

10 vessels  including airboats, shallow draft vessels, and mid-range vessels

Immigration policy is a political fault line in Florida. And even in some GOP circles, too

Florida Republicans have long cited border security as a key issue. Respondents in a Florida Atlantic University and Mainstreet Research poll released last Friday ranked it second  at 18%  on their public policy priorities list.

On May 11, the governor signed into law another set of immigration restrictions approved by the GOP supermajority Legislature earlier this month. The new law strengthens employment requirements and allows Florida law enforcement officers to conduct random audits of businesses suspected of hiring undocumented workers.

Francisco Garduno, Mexico's top immigration official, visits the Zaragoza international bridge in Ciudad Juarez on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, as part of a tour with members of the media of the installations that will be accommodated to "shelter" migrants that are expelled from the U.S.

But in the days before DeSantis signed the legislation into law, a bipartisan group of Hispanic community leaders representing churches, businesses, local political leaders and nonprofit agencies sent a letter calling on the governor not to sign the measure into law.

Among those opposing the measure was the newest Palm Beach County commissioner, Republican Michael Barnett, who was appointed by DeSantis to represent the largely Hispanic commission district.

Do Trump and DeSantis have different rationales for border policy?

Speaking in Lighthouse Point on Tuesday, DeSantis noted that human trafficking is on the rise based on a 50% increase in human trafficking arrests last year. He added that 72% of all human trafficking victims were "illegal aliens," many of whom he said were transported across the southern border, though he did not cite sources for those statistics

"Just getting to the border there's a whole host of problems that happen with the cartels and these other people," DeSantis said. "There's a lot of abuse that takes place."

That seems to be a contrast in policy rationale with the explanation Trump gave during last week's CNN town hall.

The former president defended his 2018 zero tolerance policy that separated children from parents at the border. He acknowledged "I know it sounds harsh," but the goal he said was to deter people from coming to the United States by making them fear they would have their children taken away.

"When you have that policy, people don't come," Trump said. "If the family hears that they're going to be separated, they love their family, they don't come."

At the time the policy was instituted, however, administration officials, as well as congressional Republicans and others defending the action, said the taking of children from parents and relatives was done to protect the minors from human smugglers and traffickers.

Trump added the program was necessary because "we have to save our country" from immigrants and he intimated he would reinstate it if is elected again.

"When you say to a family that if you come, we're going to break you up, they don't come," he repeated.

Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor at the Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at afins@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: DeSantis rips Biden on immigration as he signs human trafficking laws
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.

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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.

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Kentucky voters will soon know the candidates who will be vying for their votes in the general election come November.

The marquee race this primary season: the contest between 12 Republican candidates for governor. Candidates have spent millions of dollars and crisscrossed the state in an effort to win over voters for what is expected to be a low-turnout election.

Polling has shown Attorney General Daniel Cameron with a strong lead among GOP voters, but former United Nations Ambassador Kelly Craft has spent millions on television ads for months. Meanwhile, Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles hopes that rising above the fighting between Craft and Cameron gives him a path to victory.

There are also a number of other races on the ticket, including Democratic Gov. Andy Beshears two primary challengers and Republican contests for treasurer, secretary of state and agriculture commissioner.

Overall, turnout in the primary was expected to be light, and rain and storms Tuesday werent helping.

Here are live updates from the primaries:

A Twitter List by heraldleader
Oakland resident Steve Hull during a 2019 public safety committee hearing at City Hall on a resolution that would decriminalize plant-based psychedelics, including mushrooms and herbs. (Santiago Mejia / San Francisco Chronicle)

The cannabis dispensary in a run-down shopping center in coastal Los Angeles County offers the standard fare: pre-rolled joints, vape pens, a wide range of edibles and a selection of smoking accessories.

But theres one extra class of items that distinguishes this storefront on the county's suburban fringe. A glass case displays magic mushrooms" and a variety of items containing psilocybin, the compound that provides said magic to those who consume it.

A compound that is still illegal statewide.

As the state Legislature considers a bill to decriminalize several psychedelics including psilocybin, some L.A.-area businesses are openly selling the potent hallucinogen. Although cannabis is legal statewide, no Southern California municipality or county has followed the lead of Oakland, San Francisco and Santa Cruz by decriminalizing magic mushrooms.

Yet theres a thriving market for the fungi and other psychedelics in L.A. Entrepreneurs have long taken advantage of the relative scarcity and high demand by selling them illegally, in gleaming storefronts and in parking lots.

The L.A. County Sheriffs Department served about 50 search warrants at dispensaries selling magic mushrooms in the last six months alone. Meanwhile, theres growing support for legalizing or decriminalizing psilocybin and other hallucinogens among psychologists, researchers, veterans advocates and others whove witnessed mental health turnarounds after psychedelic treatment.

As evidence of their therapeutic benefits grows and states including Oregon and Colorado legalize or decriminalize magic mushrooms, some Democrats in Sacramento are pushing to make a similar change in California.

A cannabis dispensary in Los Angeles County openly sells psychedelic mushrooms earlier this month. (Connor Sheets / Los Angeles Times)

Senate Bill 58, currently wending its way through the Legislature, aims to eliminate criminal penalties for possessing, growing and sharing small amounts of several psychedelic substances including psilocybin, ibogaine and DMT.

Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) introduced a previous version of the bill last year; it was approved by the state Senate, but he said it was gutted by the state Assemblys Public Safety Committee and never made it to the Assembly floor.

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So Wiener and other backers of the bill worked with law enforcement stakeholders and others to address concerns about it, including by removing some synthetic substances including LSD and MDMA from the list of drugs to be decriminalized.

Wiener introduced the updated version of the legislation in December. It would not legalize psychedelics; there would still be penalties for their sale. The bill is now headed to the Senate floor. If approved there, it will go to the Assembly, where Wiener said its not guaranteed to pass, but we have a path to pass the new version of the legislation.

The bill is very simple: it decriminalizes possession or use of certain psychedelics. It doesnt make any sense to arrest people for possessing psychedelics, Wiener said. These substances are not addictive and they really help a lot of people with mental health and addiction challenges.

*****

At another coastal Los Angeles County cannabis dispensary a few miles from the first, customers hand their driver's licenses over to a receptionist who asks them to turn their hats around and put their cellphones away before they take a seat in a small waiting room.

When it's their turn to shop, they're buzzed past a locked door into another high-ceilinged room to survey the psychoactive wares.

Most are there for the wide array of cannabis products and accessories, but in one corner of the shop, near the jars of pungent green marijuana buds, a larger glass jar is filled to the brim with stubby mushrooms, which have brown caps and psilocybins characteristic bluish tint. Clear plastic bottles of liquid described by their labels as "mushroom-infused" glow in the shelves neon strip lighting.

Gummies containing a psychedelic mushroom blend come in colorful toadstool-shaped pouches in flavors including Passion Tango Lemonade. Chocolate bars from two manufacturers  one of which is based in Oakland  contain a pre-measured dose of mushrooms in each square.

Over multiple visits to the two suburban dispensaries during the past month, The Times did not witness the sale of any mushrooms or psilobcybin-based products.

"I didn't realize they sell 'shrooms," one customer said in the parking lot after purchasing a packet of cannabis edibles earlier this month. "That's crazy. I might have to come back sometime."

Still, an employee said they sell quickly after we get them in. People really love them. Both declined to give their name.

A vendor bags psilocybin mushrooms at a cannabis marketplace in Los Angeles in 2019. (Richard Vogel / Associated Press)

Yet local dispensary owners and employees are frequently busted for selling mushrooms, psilocybin products and other illicit substances.

In April 2022, the L.A. County Sheriffs Department tweeted that during the previous half-year, it had made 277 arrests and seized approximately 4,000 pounds of marijuana, 3,300 pounds of marihuana edibles, 29 pounds of mushrooms and 1,000 pounds of fentanyl from illegal marijuana dispensaries in the countys unincorporated areas.

Its unclear whether the two dispensaries sell illegal drugs other than psilocybin mushrooms and their byproducts. None were on clear display at either location, and employees did not mention them during conversations about their offerings.

Still, Lt. Jay Moss of the Sheriffs Departments narcotics bureau said psychedelic mushrooms are commonly sold at dispensaries in L.A. Countys unincorporated areas, where even cannabis-only outlets are illegal.

They wont typically openly sell them, he said. Theyll usually have a small amount  two to 10 pounds, Id say  of mushrooms, and you have to ask for it because they dont have it on display. They might be somewhere out of view, like in the back.

Describing illegal dispensaries as a really big problem, Moss said that despite the Sheriffs Departments efforts, the illicit industry persists because its so lucrative.

We investigate and serve search warrants at these illegal dispensaries in attempts to shut them down, he said. The analogy is kind of like whack-a-mole: you shut them down and they reopen in another location.

*****

In February 2017, Jesse Gould found himself in a situation he never would have anticipated: deep in the remote wilds of Perus Amazon rain forest, drinking ayahuasca tea for the fourth time in a week.

He was there not to get high or to see the serpent that is said to appear in the hallucinations of many who consume the psychedelic plant, which some Indigenous people in South America revere as a powerful shamanic medicine.

He instead was participating in the ayahuasca retreat in hopes of finding relief from the anxiety, PTSD and depression he experienced after three tours in Afghanistan as an Army Ranger.

The experience in Peru was challenging but transformative, Gould said, and he came out the other end sort of reset in a lot of ways and with new understandings and perspectives on what I was struggling through.

A growing body of research has shown that therapy incorporating psychedelics can be a highly effective treatment option for an array of mental health diagnoses. Yet some worry that making them more easily available could expose users to rare but sometimes serious potential harms of psychedelics  including side effects such as confusion and anxiety and negative experiences such as "bad trips" and panic attacks.

Gould, who lives in New York City, emphasized that psychedelics are definitely not a panacea. But ever since his ayahuasca experience, he said, things that would trigger anxiety severely no longer have that same sort of impact.

Ayahuasca had such a positive influence on his life that later that year he founded the Heroic Hearts Project , a national nonprofit that helps connect veterans who suffer from PTSD with safe, psychedelic-based treatment and scholarships to help pay for retreats.

Today, Heroic Hearts is part of a coalition of groups and advocates pushing for the regulated legalization of various naturally occurring hallucinogens including ayahuasca, psilocybin and mescaline  as well as other psychoactive drugs with promising therapeutic potential such as ketamine and MDMA.

In California, the organization has worked to build coalitions of veterans who support expanding access to such treatments, and it has spoken with state legislators about SB 58. Goulds sense is that the entreaties have been well-received and that the bill has a good shot at clearing the Legislature this year.

We just tell them, Hey, this is my story. This is why I'm in favor of changing policy around psychedelics. And this is why we think it's important for the future,  he said. We can kind of illuminate the fact that, hey, people are actually healing from this.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance of Singapore Lawrence Wong in Beijing, capital of China, May 16, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

BEIJING, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday met with the visiting Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance of Singapore Lawrence Wong in Beijing.

Noting the countries' leaders have upgraded bilateral ties to an all-around high-quality future-oriented partnership, Li said China is ready to work with Singapore to implement the new orientation of bilateral relations to ensure renewed achievements.

Mentioning this year marks the 45th anniversary of China's reform and opening up, Li said Singapore has actively participated in China's reform and opening up, with its interests closely integrated with China. China is willing to share the opportunities for development with Singapore and welcomes Singapore to continue participating in China's reform and opening-up process, Li added.

It is hoped that the bilateral cooperation mechanism at the vice-premier level would get full play and high-quality cooperation in various fields promoted holistically, the premier said.

He also encouraged the two sides to make good use of local cooperation mechanisms, improve the level of regional interconnection, help stabilize the industrial and supply chains and strengthen cooperation in financial services, digital economy, new energy, urban green transformation and social governance, among others.

China is willing to discuss more measures to facilitate personnel exchanges with Singapore to promote the frequent visits between the two peoples, Li added.

Hailing the close cooperation with China that bears fruitful outcomes, Wong said Singapore is willing to work with China to promote mutually beneficial cooperation on all fronts with high quality and push forward Singapore-China relations. 
The reading was more of a house show in more of an uncovered garage. Nitrous-filled balloons and chaos-theory fashion dotted the buoyant crowd, who treated the writers as rock stars, and the literary event turned out more of a parenthesis than the main point, which was to party.

At Factory Made, an emergent reading series named after Andy Warhols star-making studio, theatrics and personae count as much as poetry and prose. Surprise: Im hot too, said Kennedy Wright during a midshow outfit change that she called JT LeRoy meets 8 Mile meets Frappuccino at a spring show.

Factory Mades creator, Jasmine Johnson, likes the vamping and banter. Its the lifeblood of the series she billed as a cross-genre pollination of Gen Z multihyphenates, injected with an underground tenor shes picked up at raves and art shows. Everyones low-key a writer, said the 24-year-old native Angeleno.

Her lineups have included a rappers screenplay, autofiction about a transgender womans improbable pregnancy and a meth-driven emergency room play-by-play. In another life, she said, shed be in public relations. Her first show in January was an improvised takeover of Pollo a la Brasa's parking lot in Koreatown after her studio apartments manager kicked out the 100-person horde.

Ill say Im doing a reading, and people will get confused and ask, 'Like a palm reading?' Johnson said.

L.A.s myths are more cinematic than bookish, but Johnson is part of a creative underclass revising the L.A. literary scene writ large. Forged in urban sprawl and COVID-19, guerrilla readings pop up in unexpected spots like vacant spaces, living rooms and rooftops, adding a DIY frisson to nightlife. These free events and their offshoots are happening nearly every night of the week  and sometimes they inspire attendees to start their own.

Botox at the book party

Its the new virus, said Anika Levy, whom, along with Madeline Cash, those in the know credit with starting the new literary trend in October 2020 at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. More people showed up than expected to their event, and Hollywood Forever banned them for being too rowdy. But their puckish, low-stakes experiment took off with more outdoor readings and a glossy print publication: Forever Magazine . Lockdown engendered the internet era's revival of zine and small-press self-publishing, but Cash saw a white space in the splintering literary movements; she imagined readings as localized fandom, not hostage situations.

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Levy, 28, and Cash, 26, both grew up in the San Fernando Valley but decamped to New York last year for more opportunities in publishing. Theyve tried to keep their dumb blond energy while abiding by the principle that readings aren't necessarily for writers, Levy said.

Safe from publishings institutional chokehold, the co-editors traded on this new genre of literary "It" girl and a reputation for huge turnouts at their events. Clubs that normally cost $15,000 to rent have given Forever Magazine space in exchange for a bar commission. Last year, they celebrated issue No. 3 on the rooftop of the Ace Hotel in downtown L.A., and for Angeleno author Allie Rowbottoms debut novel, Aesthetica," about plastic surgery and social media addiction, the Forever team supplied the book party with photographer Mark Hunter, a.k.a. the Cobrasnake, and free Botox.

"That a serious writer has to reject popular culture and be an agoraphobic alcoholic is of the past," said Cash, adding that an author modeling for fashion designers or borrowing an $800 dress for a reading is as much a part of the narrative-building as writing itself.

Manic Gen Z voices

Before the pandemic, Sammy Loren struggled to find a social component to his writing. I was always envious of the way in which the art world had this built-in social life, he said. Hed go to readings at legacy bookshops and his eyes would roll back in his head, and then everyone would disappear right after.

While living in Mexico City, he fell in with a thriving literary circuit divorced from cultural establishments, where poetry groups held court on street corners and in back alleys. Loren returned to L.A. in 2021 and hosted an ersatz dinner-party salon that spun off into Casual Encountersz , readings of rage and romance at his house, or anywhere really. I always try to introduce myself to everyone that comes, he said. The 38-year-old seized a rhythm between the manic Gen Z voices and his geriatric millennial peers, like the night he paired Jasmine Johnsons stream-of-consciousness drug confessions with Jeffrey Deitch gallery director Melahn Friersons college diary sexcapades.

To Halleta Alemu, 30, Casual Encountersz represented a second chance at the writing life she didnt know existed. Emboldened by this brave new world, she went up to Loren after a show to ask if she could read at his next one. He was like, Yeah, totally, Alemu said. Outside a Highland Park carniceria with folding chairs and beer coolers, Alemu read her pink-papered poems. It made me consider why I never felt connected with writers circles, she said. She had spent nearly a decade working as a model and actor but finally envisioned herself as a writer who lived off the page. Soon, though, she sensed a familiar system of power and privilege and thought, I can't do this again.

This time, she wouldnt wait to be discovered. I wasnt going to climb more ladders presented to me, she said. I don't need them now because I know its all a scam. She started a Substack, self-published a paperback booklet known as a chapbook and began her own reading series called Electric Blue, a hybrid of her party life and creative practice. I want to have a profound experience, but I also want to have fun, she said.

Top: Poet and artist Mary Bryce casts a shadow on a wall during Electric Blue: Hypersphere. Bottom: Poetry fans gather for drinks and conversation. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Electric Blue is a sleeker affair. The first was held in a downtown loft with disco balls and live DJs among influencers and poets and influencer-poets; she served Gia Coppola wine and Sanzo sparkling water. At her latest, after the writers and artists performed, Alemu and a fellow actor wore matching black bodysuits and recited, as one, a soliloquy of racing thoughts before bed against trippy video visuals and ambient noise. People take risks to see musicians, even visual artists, but they don't really take the risk to see writers, Alemu said. Why can't a writer have the allure and mystique and the world-building of a pop star?

L.A. knows how to put on a show

A parallel plot is playing out between small businesses and indie presses. Last month, the Dry River zine from Gen-Z-run Crybaby Press threw a release party and reading at the Chinatown wine bar Cafe Triste, while the Quarterless Review, a risograph-printed lit magazine from Tiding House, co-hosted a poetry-meets-comedy variety show in Night Gallerys courtyard with the Erogenous Zone.

Bookstores and cafes work best with this kind of cross-promotion, particularly ones that operate as both. Stories Books & Cafe in Echo Park has always baked events into its business model, especially to attract evening customers, said co-founder Claudia Colodro. Book sales perk up depending on the author and audience, she said, but the cafe enjoys the lions share with coffee, beer and wine sales.

Colodro said event nights on their patio have flourished post-pandemic, thanks to events coordinator Chris Molnar, whos also publisher of Archway Editions , the literary imprint of powerHouse Books (distributed by Simon & Schuster). Archways online editor, Caitlin Forst, based her reading residency NDA on the autofiction anthology she edited last year and has brought out marquee authors like Ottessa Moshfegh, Chris Kraus and Jonathan Ames. Molnar and Forst both moved here from New York in 2021, eager to mine the untapped reserve of young and unpublishable writers in L.A.

The writers who live in L.A. have a better grasp of performance, Molnar said. I think it's a generalization that can be made because it's something you're around more out here.

In March, Miranda July headlined NDAs standing-room-only reading on Stories patio. The soft-spoken writer-director told the admiring audience that she agreed to Forsts DM request partly because it was the same date as her book deadline. The motivation worked, and she read the first chapter of her forthcoming novel from a heavy-set manuscript.

Jasmine Johnson read that same night among author-celebrities like July, Robert Gluck and Michelle Tea. She ran into the crowd 30 minutes late and sat on the floor until it was her turn, rattling off flash fiction with the fluent vim and vigor of a pharmaceutical commercials legal disclaimer. It was funny, transgressive, absurd  and she knew it.

I wonder what its like to OD, she read. Oh wait, been there, done that, and I got a book deal out of it. Thanks, Archway !

Updates:

5:37 p.m. May 18, 2023: This post has been updated to note that the poetry-meets-comedy variety show at the Night Gallery was co-hosted by the Quarterless Review and the Erogenous Zone.



This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Florida legislators have passed several bills that will affect life in classrooms across the state, from later school start times to limiting which gender pronouns adults can use at school.

The legislative session, which ended May 5, resulted in six major pieces of legislation that Palm Beach County school leaders now have to examine and put into place.

Those bills include later start times for middle and high schoolers, a universal voucher system for students to use taxpayer money for private school tuition, cost-sharing for construction projects at charter schools, the potential for partisan school board elections and a sweeping bill that extends the prohibition of classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation to eighth grade. New changes to graduation requirements also helped about 700 Palm Beach County students who were told last month they wouldn't graduate.

Not all laws take immediate effect.

The change to start times won't go into effect until the 2026-27 school year, and the bill that calls for partisan school board elections has to go to Florida voters for the final say. The expansion of the so-called "Don't Say Gay" law is awaiting action from Gov. Ron DeSantis.

More: How did your Palm Beach County state lawmakers vote on broadening school vouchers?

Best of the best: Dwyer Awards 2023: Seven teachers honored have class pets, science labs and school gardens

More news: Last-minute change in Florida graduation requirements helps 700 Palm Beach County seniors

Here's a breakdown of six major pieces of 2023 Florida education legislation and how they will impact Palm Beach County students:

1. Later school start times for Palm Beach County middle, high schoolers

Summary: The law, HB 733, requires that middle school classes don't begin earlier than 8 a.m. and that high school classes begin no earlier than 8:30 a.m.

Status: Does not go into effect until July 1, 2026.

What it means for Palm Beach County students: Palm Beach County school leaders have huge concerns about the new law, which they say will challenge the school district's already strained bus system.

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Currently, most high schools in Palm Beach County start at 7:30 a.m., and most middle schools start between 9 and 9:30 a.m. Most elementary schools start about 8 a.m. The district's transportation department takes advantage of the phased-in start to the school day by using the same bus and driver to run routes to different kinds of schools throughout the morning. For example a driver might start the morning with a high school route, finish it and then do a middle school route.

Joseph Sanches, the district's chief operating officer, said in April that the district will need more bus drivers and more buses when middle and high schools start later because fewer routes could be stacked back-to-back, and instead would have to be run at the same time. The change will also mean a shorter work day for bus drivers.

"Our bus drivers can barely afford to live in Palm Beach County as it is. If we reduce their hours, reduce their pay, we'll probably have even more bus drivers leave us," Sanches said.

In April, the district had more than 100 open jobs for bus drivers.

Palm Beach County School bus drivers take off to pick up students on the first day of school in 2021. The district is consistently short more than 100 bus drivers each day.

2. Florida's expanded voucher program means a pause on school construction in Palm Beach County

Summary: The law, HB 1, establishes a universal voucher program so Florida families, regardless of their income, can use taxpayer dollars to pay for up to $8,000 yearly in tuition at private schools that accept vouchers.

Status: Effective July 1.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs a bill to expand school vouchers statewide on March 27, 2023, in Miami.

What it means for Palm Beach County students: Currently, the school district spends $80 million each year on existing vouchers to private schools, which were limited to poorer families. The new voucher program, depending on how the number of students who participate is capped, could cost the district between $40 million and $200 million more per year, according to Superintendent Mike Burke.

In anticipation of the program, Burke recommended the school board pause major construction projects at some schools. The projects include consideration of an elementary school in the Westlake area and a new high school for the city of Riviera Beach.

Also likely to be paused is the next phase of renovations at the historic Roosevelt and Carver high schools. "Phase two" of renovations at Roosevelt include a proposed African-American history museum, library and health-care clinic.

3. Public schools will share money for construction projects with charter schools

Summary: The law, HB 1259, requires the school district to share part of its capital construction money set aside for its 10-year capital construction plan with eligible charter schools. Charter schools are public schools that operate as schools of choice. They are exempt from significant state and local operating and management regulations, but they cannot charge tuition or be affiliated with religious institutions.

Status: Goes into effect July 1, but allows the district to take five years to implement fully.

What it means for Palm Beach County students: The law requires the school district to share between $189 million and $427 million over the next 10 years with charter schools for construction projects.

This legislation is separate from a 2021 dustup in Palm Beach County in which charter schools sued the school district over its refusal to share dollars from a property tax referendum, which voters just renewed in November. The district lost that court case.

The charter school cost-sharing is also a big factor in the district's decision to pause some school construction projects.

"The district has to borrow money to do these projects, and we shouldnt borrow money if were going to lose a chunk to charter schools," Burke said in April.

Discussions on a new Riviera Beach High School are on hold, but they included ideas of building a new high school on either the Inlet Grove campus, the North Tech campus or the Lincoln Elementary campus.

4. Will Palm Beach County school board candidates need to run as Republicans or Democrats?

Summary: House Joint Resolution 31 proposes amendments to Florida's Constitution to require members of school boards be elected in partisan elections. Candidates would need to run as Republicans, Democrats or Independents.

Status: Ordered April 19 by the legislature, but must be approved by Florida voters by ballot measure in 2024 because it would be a change to the state constitution. If passed by voters, the change would go into effect Nov. 3, 2026.

What it means for Palm Beach County students: Palm Beach County's school board, along with many other locally elected offices in the county, are currently nonpartisan. Candidates shy away from labeling themselves along party lines in elections, although official party organizations in Palm Beach County have donated to school board candidates in the past.

School board members who have spoken with The Post in the past worry that partisan elections could make choosing school board members more contentious and less focused on issues affecting students.

Candidate signage fills the entrance to the Palm Beach County Library System main library and administrative offices early voting hours in unincorporated Palm Beach County, Fla., on August 20, 2022.

5. Expansion of so-called 'Don't Say Gay' to 8th grade, pronouns that align with biological sex for adults and students

Summary: The bill, HB 1069, requires the state Department of Education to approve all materials used in health and reproductive education, extends the prohibition on classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity from kindergarten to third grade to prekindergarten to eighth grade and prohibits school boards from enforcing requirements that school staff, teachers or students be referred to using gender pronouns that do not align with their biological sex.

Status: Awaiting action by DeSantis.

What it means for Palm Beach County students: School Board Erica Whitfield said the bill would "out" transgender teachers and staff members who have been using their preferred pronouns at schools for several years. Last year, the board was required by the state to drastically cut its equity statement and update its LGBTQ+ critical support guide.

"My biggest concern is just not to alienate long-serving, wonderful teachers that we've had who have been working for us and not alienate other people from wanting to come work for us," she said. "It's not the direction we need to go in."

The school board will get another update on how to implement the bill if it is approved and goes into effect July 1.

6. Change to graduation requirements leaves 2,000 Palm Beach County seniors in limbo

Summary: The law, HB 1537, delays some stricter graduation requirements another year after last-minute interventions by districts across the state. The change once again allows this year's seniors, who were freshmen at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, to qualify for a diploma using last year's ACT and SAT scores if they don't achieve passing scores on earlier assessments.

But the change didn't help all Palm Beach County students. Legislators still raised the bar on Florida's Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT)  meaning seniors taking the exam in order to graduate will need to score 114 instead of the previously accepted score of 97.

Status: Took immediate effect May 9.

What it means for Palm Beach County students: More than 2,800 Palm Beach County students were notified in April that they would not be able to graduate in May due to the new requirements.

Since the amendment, about 700 students have qualified for graduation. Ceremonies began in Palm Beach County on May 11.

Now, Palm Beach County teachers are frantically testing those at-risk seniors every day until the end of the year in hopes the students pass the PERT exams and graduate, according to at least educator who spoke with The Palm Beach Post.

Are you or is someone you know at risk of not graduating?

The Palm Beach Post is looking to speak with students whose plans have changed due to the new graduation requirements.

Please fill out the form below and a reporter will contact you. Your name and information will not be published without your permission and the permission of your parent or guardian.

Katherine Kokal is a journalist covering education at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at kkokal@pbpost.com. Help support our work; Subscribe today!

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: School start times, partisan school boards, vouchers: New Florida laws
A bill that would keep recreational boaters farther away from endangered Puget Sound orcas was signed into law Monday.

The legislation increases the distance that recreational boaters must stay away from Southern Resident killer whales from 300 to 1,000 yards.

This bill is not just about protecting orcas, its about safeguarding our entire marine ecosystem and ensuring that future generations can enjoy the beauty and bounty of the Salish Sea, state Senator Liz Lovelett (D-40) said in a prepared statement. We are also creating new opportunities for sustainable tourism that respects the natural environment and supports local businesses.

But thats already the rule for professional whale-watching vessels, according to Erin Gless, executive director of the Pacific Whale Watch Association.

This bill just helps establish a universal standard that would apply both to our professional whale watch vessels, but now also to recreational boats, Gless told KIRO Newsradio.

Boaters are only required to stay 200 yards away from transient or Biggs killer whales.

The shape of their dorsal fins are different, Gless said when spotting the difference between the various orcas. Southern Residents tend to have a more rounded dorsal fin, while those Biggs killer whales have a more pointy dorsal fin.

Another way to spot the difference is Southern Residents tend to travel in large, spread-out groups, while transient whales travel in smaller family groups closer together. Gless stated if youre unsure which group of whales youve encountered, lean on the side of caution.

Just treat them like theyre Southern Resident killer whales and give them that extra space, she said.

Unlike Biggs Killer Whales, which eat seals, sea lions, and other marine mammals, Southern Residents only eat salmon. They rely on echolocation, but the noise from boats can interfere with their ability to find their prey.

Some who testified about the bill have expressed concerns that they might not be able to recognize and stay away from the endangered orca, but Gless claimed she doesnt expect the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to go after small boaters who accidentally encounter an endangered whale.

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Theyre not looking at this as a gotcha, " she said. In her view, the intent of this is to prevent boaters from intentionally harassing and disturbing Southern Resident killer whales, not necessarily preventing a boat from getting home to the dock- or something like that.

And she said even if you keep Southern Residents at a distance, there are plenty of other types of whales and other wildlife to enjoy.

Lekanoff, a member of the Tlingit and Aleut Tribes, described the passage of the bill as a significant triumph for both the Salish Sea ecosystem and Native American Tribes.

This is a momentous occasion for our state and the protection of our marine life, Lekanoff wrote in a press release. By creating a setback distance from Southern Resident orcas, we are sending a powerful message that we are committed to protecting our marine ecosystems and respecting the cultural heritage of Native American tribes.

Reports estimate that only 73 southern resident orcas remain in existence, with at least 12 designated as vulnerable.

Orcas are such an emblematic symbol of Washington states ecosystem, but climate change and converging issues like noise pollution, food contaminants, and lack of salmon have worsened the species plight for years, Lovelett said. Its crucial that we step in and provide as much support as possible to these iconic animals, and Im proud of our work this session.
A community member holds a candle during a prayer vigil at Hills Church, Monday, May 15, 2023, in Farmington, N.M. Authorities said an 18-year-old man roamed through the community firing randomly at cars and houses Monday, killing three people and injuring six others, including two police officers, before he was killed. | Susan Montoya Bryan, Associated Press

An 18-year-old stormed a residential street in Farmington, New Mexico, Monday morning, shooting and killing three people and injuring six others, authorities said. Police arrived on the scene and killed the suspect, but not before two police officers were injured.

Shortly before 11 a.m., authorities received multiple reports about shots being fired in the residential neighborhood near Dustin Avenue and Ute Street. Farmington Police Department Chief Steve Hebbe said in a video statement that it appears to be completely random. There was no targeting of specific victims that we can identify at this stage.

The city has around 46,000 people and serves as a commercial hub for nearby oil-producing areas, The New York Times reported.

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It has shaken the community to its core, Matt Mizell, lead pastor of Hills Church, which hosted a vigil for the victims, told the Times.

The gunman used at least three weapons and shot at least six houses and three cars, Hebbe said. When police arrived on the scene, the shooter was still firing at people, according to NBC News.

I am deeply upset by the tragic violence that unfolded today in Farmington. I am praying for the families of the victims, the wounded and the entire community of Farmington following this horrific tragedy.  Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (@GovMLG) May 15, 2023

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham tweeted her condolences, saying, I am deeply upset by the tragic violence that unfolded today in Farmington. I am praying for the families of the victims, the wounded and the entire community of Farmington following this horrific tragedy. Im also grateful for the quick response by law enforcement. My administration will not stop fighting the epidemic of gun violence from every angle possible.

Related

Farmington Mayor Nate Duckett told CNN, 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.
Many more are unaccounted for after a blaze broke out at a four-story hostel building in central Wellington.

Many more are unaccounted for after a blaze broke out at a four-story hostel building in central Wellington.

At least six people were dead and 11 others missing Tuesday after a fire tore through a hostel overnight in Wellington, New Zealand.

Dozens of firefighters rushed to the Loafers Lodge just after midnight. The building has 92 rooms and had been used as an emergency housing center for social welfare agencies. Residents included New Zealanders that had been deported from Australia and people who had recently become homeless.

Officials said they believe the hostel was fully booked when the fire broke out, and have cautioned the death toll could rise as the upper stories of the building are not yet safe to enter.

There were no sprinklers installed in the building and the fire alarm didnt go off automatically, a spokesman for the local fire department told Radio New Zealand. The Wellington City Council said the building passed an inspection in March, and there were no concerns raised at the time about the life safety systems inside.

New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins described the fire as an absolute tragedy while other local officials said it was a once in a decade event for Wellington.

A view of the scene after a fire at Loafers Lodge on May 16, 2023, in Wellington, New Zealand.

A view of the scene after a fire at Loafers Lodge on May 16, 2023, in Wellington, New Zealand.

Firefighters rinse off after a fire at Loafers Lodge in Wellington.

Firefighters rinse off after a fire at Loafers Lodge in Wellington.

It is a horrific situation, Hipkins said. My understanding is there is a number of shift workers in there, my understanding is there are a number of Ministry of Social Development clients in there, although its not currently being used as emergency accommodation.

Police are investigating the cause of the fire and it is being treated as suspicious, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. There is no evidence yet if it was intentionally lit.

Residents of the hostel, which included short- and long-term accommodation, told Radio New Zealand the fire alarms regularly went off during false alarms but didnt sound this time.

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I heard a voice coming down the passageway saying evacuate, evacuate, the place is on fire  and I didnt think much of of it because the fire alarms would go off two or three times a week and wed just ignore it, Chris Fincham told the news outlet.

Related...
Smoke pours from the upper storey of the Loafers Lodge hostel in Wellington

A fire ripped through a four-storey hostel in New Zealand's capital in the early hours of Tuesday, killing at least six people as others fled for their lives, with some plucked from the roof.

Towering flames and thick smoke could be seen pouring from the top-floor windows of the Loafers Lodge hostel in central Wellington during the night, as 80 firefighters and 20 trucks battled the blaze.

Firefighters found six bodies inside the charred building, but a roof collapse on the top floor prevented them from searching all of the 92-room hostel, emergency services said.

Police said the final toll could not be confirmed until they had entered the building for a "methodical" examination once it was made safe, probably on Wednesday.

Six people were taken to hospital, one in serious condition, the city's ambulance service said. An additional 15 people were treated at the scene.

More than 50 people were rescued.

Firefighters used a ladder truck to save people trapped on the roof, said Fire and Emergency deputy national commander Brendan Nally.

"They plucked quite a few people off the top of the roof from an area directly above the fire," Nally told local media.

"There was no other way. Those people were going to perish, except for the intervention of our team. Multiple people are walking around because of it."

There were no sprinklers in the hostel, Nally said.

The fire was being treated as "suspicious", Fire and Emergency New Zealand region manager Bruce Stubbs told reporters.

But police stressed it would remain "unexplained" until their investigators could examine the scene.

- 'I had to jump' -

One of the hostel residents, Tala Sili, said smoke had rushed in under his door before he decided to jump to a roof two floors below.

"I was on the top floor and I couldn't go through the hallway because there was just too much smoke, so I jumped out the window," he told Radio New Zealand.

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"It was just scary, it was really scary, but I knew I had to jump out the window or just burn inside the building."

Hemi Lewis, 56, still smelled of smoke as he recounted his escape from the third floor of the hostel, which had been his home for four months.

"I opened my door and there was just smoke everywhere. There were flames coming from the roof. I couldn't breathe. So I hit the floor and crawled the three flights down to the bottom," he told reporters at an evacuation centre.

"I have no idea what to do now, I've lost everything. It's all gone. I'm in the same clothes."

Some residents said the building's smoke alarm went off so often that they doubted it was an emergency when it rang during the night. Others said they heard nothing.

About 90 people were thought to have been in the building when the blaze began, fire services said.

- 'A dark day' -

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins described the fire as "an absolute tragedy".

Hipkins praised the "incredible effort" of firefighters to extinguish the blaze and evacuate people.

"I acknowledge the victims and their families -- an absolutely tragic set of circumstances," he said, promising a "thorough review" of the disaster.

"There will be an opportunity to test whether this building was fully compliant with all of the rules that it needed to be compliant with but obviously the focus at the moment is supporting our firefighters," Hipkins said.

The New Zealand leader said many shift workers were staying in the hostel, making it difficult to know how many people were in the building.

Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau said the hostel was home to a mix of long and short-term residents, including some on lower incomes or staying in the country on a "transitional" basis.

"For our Wellington community, it does feel like a dark day," she told a television interviewer.

The Loafers Lodge advertises itself as a "convenient and affordable" option offering laundry and kitchen facilities as well as security, with a lock on each floor.

ryj/djw/cwl
(Wellington City Council)

At least six people have died and 11 more remained missing on Tuesday after a fire broke out at a four-storey hostel housing vulnerable people in New Zealand.

Emergency services were called to the Loafers Lodge hostel in the capital city of Wellington just after midnight local time on Tuesday 16 May.

Though dozens escaped safely from the building, with some having to be rescued from the roof, officials said there were still 11 people unaccounted for as well as six confirmed dead.

I understand six confirmed previously, and it looks like there are likely to be more," prime minister Chris Hipkins said.

A local charity said that many of the hostel's residents had been vulnerable people under its care, describing the fire as "an absolute disaster".

The rescue was impeded by safety concerns about firefighters entering the flame-gutted and partially collapsed building, which reportedly had no sprinkler system.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins arrives at the scene after a fire at Loafers Lodge (Getty Images)

Officials said that the hostel was full nearly to capacity when the fire broke out, with only a small number of its 92 rooms not booked.

"It doesnt get worse than this," said Nick Pyatt, district manager for New Zealand's national fire and emergency agency FENZ.

"This is a once-in-a-decade fire for Wellington. Its the worst nightmare for us... my heartfelt condolences go to the loved ones of those who have lost their lives."

Burnt windows can be seen on the second floor of the lodge (Getty Images)

FENZ deputy national commander Brendan Nally said many residents had not had a clear exit path from the building.

"They had difficulty getting out, and unfortunately and tragically quite a few haven't got out," he said, according to Radio New Zealand.

As of Tuesday evening local time, 52 people had been taken out of the building and five had been rescued from the roof, while 11 others were unaccounted for.

The survivors were being treated at local hospitals and those left without a roof over their heads were being cared for by local agencies.

Fire engines gather outside the Loafers Lodge hostel in Wellington, New Zealand on Tuesday 16 May 2023 (NewsHub via AP)

One resident told New Zealand broadcaster 1Newz that some residents were 80 or 90 years old, and that he was concerned about whether they got out.

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"I grabbed my hat on the way and just started crawling," said the man, who asked to be named only as Chris.

"It was hard to crawl because there was only that much airspace on the ground. For me, it was hard, just that little distance  it was a struggle."

Tala Sili, a resident of the lodge, told news outlet RNZ that he saw smoke pouring through under his door and opened it to find the hallway pitch black.

I was on the top floor and I couldnt go through the hallway because there was just too much smoke, so I jumped out the window, Mr Sili said. It was just scary, it was really scary, but I knew I had to jump out the window or just burn inside the building.

He said he fell onto a roof two floors below.

It was just scary, it was really scary, but I knew I had to jump out the window or just burn inside the building.

Tala Sili, a resident of the lodge, told news outlet RNZ

Other residents told Radio New Zealand that the fire alarms would often sound without explanation, meaning many residents learned to ignore them. On Tuesday morning, they said, no alarm went off.

Mr Hipkins said the toll was especially heavy given Wellington's relatively small population of 212,000.

"This is a major event. Weve not seen something on this scale in recent times," he said.

"Wellington is a small community and... its a very tight-knit community. People will be feeling this today."

The prime minister told news reporters that a number of investigations will be carried out but the focus currently remains on dealing with the situation.

The Loafers Lodge hostel in Wellington, New Zealand on the morning of 16 May 2023 (Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

It is an absolute tragedy. It is a horrific situation, he told reporters.

In the fullness of time, of course, there will be a number of investigations about what has happened and why it happened. But for now, the focus clearly has to be on dealing with the situation.

Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese told reporters he had spoken with his New Zealand counterpart and offered Australian assistance.

This is a dreadful human tragedy, Mr Albanese said. I expressed my condolences on behalf of Australia to our friends in New Zealand at this very difficult time.
The classical musician says she has lost work and had to give up playing some instruments due to complaints

A professional musician says she had no choice but to leave her flat after a council handed her a noise abatement notice.

Fiona Fey received the notice two weeks ago after a string of complaints from one neighbour in Lewisham, south London

The notice prohibits her from playing all instruments at home at any time.

Lewisham Council said: "We do not make decisions like this lightly and tried to avoid enforcement."

It added: "When we tried to explore reasonable offers and solutions to find a balance, the tenant refused to engage and we received multiple further complaints."

Ms Fey, a member of classical choir Mediaeval Baebes, told the BBC she started to receive noise complaints from a neighbour downstairs after two months of living in her flat.

She agreed to compromise with the neighbour and said she "stopped playing almost all of my instruments other than a guitar and a low whistle that is the same volume as a vacuum cleaner".

"When my neighbours got nasty, I contacted the council to find out if I was breaking the law."

She said that the council told her "you sound guilty to me or you wouldn't be calling".

Ms Fey decided to move out of her flat after she was issued with a noise abatement notice that prohibits her from playing any instruments.

She said that the council warned that if the notice was broken it could force entry into her property, confiscate instruments and issue a fine of up to 5,000.

Fiona Fey is part of a chart-topping classical music choir

She added: "This has had a taken a huge emotional toll and placed an enormous financial strain on me.

"I was made to feel self conscious and anxious every time I played my music.

"I had almost finished recording an album but now I can't use my recording equipment as it is in a storage unit.

"I am currently living with friends and I don't know how I will find a new place to live as there's nowhere I can afford."

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Lewisham Council said: "We have been aware of noise issues at a residence since November 2022 involving loud music, playing of instruments and singing, resulting in numerous complaints.

"The tenant refused to agree to a good neighbour agreement or rehearsal times to prevent further concerns.

"Lewisham Homes instructed a professional witness who attended the complainant's home in February 2023.

"The report confirmed that the music from the residence was audible within the complainant's home and was at an unreasonable level."

Fiona Fey album

Another semi-professional musician living in Lewisham also told the BBC the council had issued him with a community protection notice that stops him from playing any instrument in the house at any time of the day.

He said: "It's heart-breaking, music is my livelihood and the fact I can't even play my instruments for five minutes in my house is draconian."

The musician, who has taken to practising in his shed, wants the council to have a clear policy on how musicians can practice.

"Lewisham was the borough of culture last year and we want them to recognise that not everyone is rich enough to live in a detached house or own their own recording studio," he said.

"There needs to be a policy that finds a realistic middle point so it's not just neighbours being pitted against each other."

Colin Stuart, the Independent Society of Musicians head of external affairs, said: "Musicians contribution so much to our cultural life and the economy.

"Fundamentally, musicians must have the right to practise for professional work or for leisure.

"The ISM supports members when faced with noise complaints regularly, and reasonable solutions between local authorities, neighbours and musicians can usually be found with dialogue.

"Noise Abatement Notices can be devastating and it's simply wrong to use them to effectively ban musicians from practising at home at all."

Follow BBC London on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hellobbclondon@bbc.co.uk
A lightning strike killed a man and hospitalized a 6-year-old child as rainstorms moved through Central Texas, authorities said.

First responders were called to the Laguna Park area at about 5 p.m. Monday, May 15, FOX44 reported.

Upon arrival, deputies found an unresponsive man and child, according to a news release from the Bosque County Sheriffs Office.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said, and the child was rushed to a hospital for emergency care. The child was breathing on their own.

Authorities do not have an updated condition on the child as of May 16.

Our prayers are with the family as they mourn the loss of a family member and pray for a full recovery of a young child, the sheriffs office said.

The names of the victims have not been released by authorities.

Lightning kills about 20 people each year in the United States and hundreds more are injured, according to the National Weather Service. Some survivors suffer lifelong neurological damage.

From 1989 to 2018, NWS Storm Data found that about 10% of people struck by lightning were killed.

Bosque County is about 50 miles northwest of Waco.

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Primary election results are in after a full day of voting.

We're months away from the general election. Those races are scheduled to take place on Nov. 7, with Democrat imcumbent Andy Beshear and GOP challenger Daniel Cameron facing off for the governor's office.

Additional GOP primary winners Tuesday included Michael Adams (secretary of state), Mark Metcalf (treasurer), Allison Ball (auditor) and Jonathan Shell (agriculture commissioner). Democrat Sierra Enlow won her party's nomination for agriculture commissioner as well.

NEW: Cameron's blowout and Craft's blown money: Takeaways from Kentucky's primary elections

Kentucky election results: Updating results from around the Bluegrass State

Here's what happened.

9:15 p.m.: Enlow, Shell win agriculture commissioner nominations

In the general election, Democrat Sierra Enlow will take on Republican Jonathan Shell in the race to be Kentucky's next agriculture commissioner.

The two candidates won their primary races Tuesday night, with Shell landing nearly 57% of the vote and Enlow scoring about 59% of the vote.

More: 2023 KY Primary: Enlow, Shell score wins in agriculture commissioner races

Current Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles was ineligible to run again due to term limits. He was on pace to finish second behind Daniel Cameron in the GOP gubernatorial primary.

8:15 p.m.: Cameron claims victory as opponents concede

Daniel Cameron says he's ready to take on Andy Beshear in Novmeber as the GOP's nominee for governor.

In a speech following his win in the primary, Cameron said it "sounds like Kentucky is ready for a new governor."

"The Trump culture of winning is alive and well in Kentucky," Cameron told the crowd. The former president had endorsed Cameron before the election.

Cameron is the state's first Black nominee for governor, noting his victory in the primary is proof that anyone who looks like he does "can achieve anything."

Story continues

More: Gerth: What did $16M get Kelly Craft? A mortifying third place in Kentucky governors race

In Lexington, meanwhile, Ryan Quarles, who is on track to finish second, thanked his supporters in a concession speech, quoting Daniel Boone as he said he was proud of his team's efforts.

And at a separate party in Lexington, Kelly Craft took the stage to concede and thank her supporters at 8 p.m. She was on pace at the time to finish third.

I know that our movement has had lasting impressions on Kentuckians across the commonwealth. And the Kentuckians that Ive met have made a lasting, forever impact on me, she said, calling on her supporters to rally around the GOP's nominee. I would rather be in this room tonight than in any other room with a different result.

Craft alluded to negative ads that had aired during the bitter primary campaign.

I knew we would be attacked by Democrats. But I never in a million years thought that the attack would come from my opponents to my family," she said. "I guess if youre a politician youre used to that. But Ive always tried to believe the best in others, even when they act with hate in their hearts.

7:40 p.m.: Metcalf wins GOP treasurer nomination

According to Decision Desk HQ, an election results reporting platform partnering with The Courier Journal, Mark Metcalf has won the Republican treasurer nomination.

Metcalf beat out Andrew Cooperrider and O.C. Oleka in the primary and will be on the ballot in the November general election.

Mecalf pulled in 51% of the vote as of TIME, while Cooperrider had landed 28% and Oleka had picked up 21%.

7:20 p.m.: Adams wins GOP secretary of state primary, Ball wins GOP primary for auditor

According to Decision Desk HQ, an election results reporting platform partnering with The Courier Journal, Republican Michael Adams has won the primary for secretary of state while GOP candidate Allison Ball has won the party's primary for auditor.

Adams had 63% of the vote as of 7:15 p.m., surpassing challengers Stephen Knipper (27%) and Allen Maricle (10%).

More on the race: Michael Adams wins GOP's secretary of state nod

Ball, meanwhile, secured 73% of the vote at that time and was on track to defeat Derek Petteys (27%).

7:10 p.m.: Daniel Cameron wins Republican gubernatorial nomination

According to Decision Desk HQ, an election results reporting platform partnering with The Courier Journal, Daniel Cameron has won the Republican gubernatorial nomination.

Cameron, Kentuckys current attorney general, beat out 11 competitors, including Ryan Quarles and Kelly Craft, in the primary and will be on the ballot in the November general election.

More on the race: Daniel Cameron wins GOP nod in governor's primary, will face Andy Beshear

Cameron had pulled in 45% of the vote as of 7:10 p.m.

Meanwhile, at his own party, Beshear said Kentucky voters had taken "the first steps to secure four more years" after he won the Democratic primary. He'll face Cameron in the general election later this year.

7 p.m.: Beshear wins Democratic gubernatorial primary

Gov. Andy Beshear will be back on the ballot in November, as Decision Desk HQ, an election results reporting platform partnering with The Courier Journal, has reported he's won the Democratic gubernatorial primary over Peppy Martin and Geoff Young.

The news isn't a shocker. Beshear was considered a heavy favorite and had claimed 95% of votes as of 7 p.m.

At his Election Night party, his father, former Gov. Steve Beshear, touted the current governor is one who's put people before politics and has propelled Kentucky's economy.

At GOP candidate Kelly Craft's party at Lexington's The Campbell House hotel, several dozen people cheered at about 6:20 p.m. when promising results from Leslie County were shown on the TV screen.

Kelly Craft arrives at her election night party in Lexington a few minutes before remaining Kentucky polls close. pic.twitter.com/AgvDa58ZBx  Josh Wood (@JWoodJourno) May 16, 2023

GOP candidate Ryan Quarles is also hosting an election parting in Lexington at the Embassy Suites UK/Coldstream, with a playlist reinforcing the current agriculture commissioner's persona, with tunes like Blake Sheltons Gods Country, Big Countrys In a Big Country, and Alabamas Born Country.

As of 7 p.m., Decision Desk HQ is reporting Attorney General Daniel Cameron has claimed 43% of the vote in that race, with Quarles currently claiming 25% and Craft claiming 17%.

6 p.m.: Polls close in Louisville, Eastern Kentucky

Polls in Louisville and other portions of Kentucky under Eastern Daylight Time have closed, with polls in Central Daylight Time set to close in an hour.

If you are in line at 6 p.m., you should be allowed to cast your ballot.

Election results are set to roll in throughout the evening. This story will be updated with results.

The doors to Gov. Andy Beshear's election night watch party, at the Kentucky Historical Society in Frankfort, opened promptly at 5:30 p.m. A few tables in the back have started to fill with people, some sporting JCTA shirts

"I'm excited to be here to support a candidate who supports our teachers," said Robyn Ballinger, a teacher at Chenoweth Elementary in Louisville.

Beshear is on the Democratic ballot, running against Peppy Martin and Geoff Young. His GOP challenger will be determined tonight as well.

5 p.m.: A closer look at one Louisville polling location's turnout

A reported 10% voter turnout in Jefferson County as of 4:15 p.m. was in line with what crews saw working at Bowen Elementary

Charlie Smith, a volunteer election official at the Lyndon-area school, said he'd seen about 10-15% turnout. Still, he and other officials on site in the final few hours of operation said a bigger crowd could come in the evening  at some points during the day, he said, the location had been totally empty.

Voters trickled in throughout the afternoon, though, including Lian McKernan and her parents, Holly McKernan and Fred McKernan, who came to support current Gov. Andy Beshear. Lian, 21, said it's important for young voters to head to the polls and make their voice heard.

John Willetts, a 57-year-old Republican, said he voted for Attorney General Daniel Cameron in the gubernatorial primary. He said he was not influenced by President Donald Trump's endorsement but supported Cameron because of all the candidates, "he's the one I trusted the most."

We all need to get out of here, especially in the primaries, because then, you know, if you don't put your voice now, what difference does it make in November?" he said, stressing the importance of a high turnout.

Polls are set to close at 6 p.m., though people in line at that time are allowed to cast a ballot.

Northern Kentucky: 2023 KY primary election coverage

4:20 p.m. Turnout in Jefferson County

With polling locations set to close in less than two hours, turnout in Jefferson County broke the double-digit mark.

Erran Huber, spokesperson for the Jefferson County Clerk's Office, said 66,125 people in Louisville had voted as of 4:15 p.m., accounting for a turnout of 10%. That total includes Tuesday's votes, as well as absentee ballots and early voting ballots.

Huber said officials hope to see a bigger crowd turn out after work hours end, but totals so far are in line with general expectations. Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams previously said he expected a statewide turnout of about 10%.

"Obviously you always want more (voters) than fewer  but were tracking with what we anticipated," Huber said.

Of those 66,125 votes, 55,717 were cast Tuesday, Huber added.

A relatively low turnout was reported around the state. In Fayette County, for instance, turnout sat at about 8% as of early Tuesday afternoon, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader.

2:52 p.m.: Some Kentucky voters having trouble finding their polling location

A sign placed outside Lyndon Elks lets Kentucky voters know that it is no longer a polling location during the Kentucky Primaries on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. It was however, a polling location for early voting.

Bill Roth, the bartender at Lyndon Elks, said approximately eight people have arrived there thinking its a voting location. Lyndon Elks was a polling place for early voting.

Roth decided to place a sign outside to let people know it is no longer a polling location.

Where is my polling place in Kentucky?

Not sure where your local polling place is in the Bluegrass State? Check out the State Board of Elections website.

What to know: The Kentucky governor primary election is here. 6 things to look for election night

2 p.m.: Tornado warning issued for parts of Kentucky

A tornado warning was issued Tuesday for several counties in Central Kentucky until 2:15 p.m. after a severe thunderstorm was located just north of Hodgenville, about an hour south of Louisville.

Louisville weather: Tornado warning for parts of Kentucky

1:36 p.m.: Republican voters seek to have their voices heard during Kentucky Primary

Dwight Geary of Pleasure Ridge Park said his biggest motivation to vote Tuesday was to replace Democratic incumbent Gov. Andy Beshear.The states not a Democratic state, he said. You gotta get a Republican governor.Geary, 67, voted for current Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron and feels the GOP front-runner would be more ready to step in as governor immediately with his experience in state government. The points of view of the Democratic Party are just not healthy for the conservative base or the people of Kentucky, he said.

12:58 p.m.: A steady stream of voters hit the polls in Northern Kentucky

Democrat Carol Sherman-Jones, 62, said voting is a civic duty she does to make sure her voice is heard and to preserve democracy.

At Connor Middle School in Boone County, one poll worker said there's been a steady stream of voters all morning.

There, Democrat Carol Sherman-Jones, 62, said voting is a civic duty she does to make sure her voice is heard and to preserve democracy.

She voted for Gov. Andy Beshear because she said he has Kentucky's best interest in mind.

"I like the way he handled COVID, that's one thing, and I also really like the way he treats teachers," Sherman-Jones said.

She also applauds him for helping to get the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project underway, which will create jobs and increase revenue in the state.

9:36 a.m.: Chance of severe storms as voting continues across Kentucky

Showers and thunderstorms are expected across Kentucky Tuesday with a risk for severe storms starting the in the afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

The storms could bring damaging winds and heavy rainfall, though hail and tornadoes cannot be ruled out, the weather service said.

Louisville weather: Severe storms possible Tuesday afternoon

9:20 a.m.: Daniel Cameron casts ballot in Kentucky Primary Election

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron casts his ballot at Wilder Elementary Tuesday morning. Afterwards he met with media and said he was cautiously optimistic about the election.

The voters will decide whos going to be the Republican nominee for governor, and we hope that it will be me, Cameron said. At the end of the day, the difference between a win and loss is who shows up and goes to the polls.

Despite the rainy weather in Louisville, Cameron encourages other voters to go out and cast their vote as well.

More: Final Kentucky governor poll shows Daniel Cameron stretching lead over GOP primary field

8:47 a.m.: Vote in the primary election for 'things to get better'

Stephen Karnes showed off his 'I Voted Today' wristband after casting his ballot at Valley High School in the Kentucky primary election on Tuesday, May 16, 2023

Joyce Woods is from Russell, and she said shes a true democrat. She said her most memorable election was in 2012 when former President Barack Obama, the nations first Black man in office, was voted in. She encourages people to vote for things to get better."

8:06 a.m.: Louisville sees heavy rain on Election Day

Hard rain falls for the second time Tuesday morning, drenching all but the covered entrance into Central High School  one of the many polling locations throughout Louisville where voters can cast their ballots.

One voter donned a flimsy, dark blue umbrella for the trek from the parking lot into the polls.

8:01 a.m.: Rules for if polling locations should keep doors open or unlocked

Confusion surrounded whether or not Centrals front door should be unlocked or standing wide open for voters. Officials showed up to check out the issue and chat with poll workers inside but declined to comment. The doors remain propped open for the morning. Erran Huber, communications director for the Jefferson County Clerks office said: A door needs only to be unlocked, but can be propped open. As part of ADA compliance review, if we find a door thats different in terms of weight or other factor that affects propping or opening, well put in a temporary call button for an election officer to come and open the door for someone needing assistance.

How to get to polls: TARC offers free rides on Tuesday for Election Day

7:45 a.m.: How some Kentucky voters pick their candidates in primary election

Delphna Forrest, from Russell, didnt say which party she is voting for, but a candidates values are most important to her. She goes with who lines up with her own value system. Forrest said Louisville is a good city but that residents hearts are hardened. Integrity and character are what drives Forrests choices, and she says voters would look up politicians if they were more honest. Ultimately, she said, change will take a sovereign will of God and that no one can do it alone

7:32 a.m.: Voter turnout low for Kentucky Primary

The Kentucky Primary 2023 polls opened at 6 a.m. Tuesday, May 16. At Central High School in Louisville no line was formed at around 7:15 a.m. and voters were able to walk directly in.

About an hour and a half after the polls opened, poll workers converse at the front of Central High about why there are so few voters. They dont expect a high turnout for Primary Election Day due to early voting and worries about COVID-19.

7:00 a.m.: Fulfilling a civic duty by voting

On the cloudy Tuesday morning, Democratic voter Sanita Woolfolk from Russell said she never misses an election and for her it "feels like what you need to do."

Its my duty to vote, Veronica Hines said, as she was led into the polls by red signs that read vote here in blue letters.Things need to change, Hines said.

Pulls have been open for over an hour now and will continue to stay open until 6 p.m. Tuesday.

6:20 a.m.: Light start to day

Birds chip while TARC buses and a few cars whiz by as traffic picks up on Chestnut Street for the morning commute by Central High School, where voters have not yet begun filling the polls.

6 a.m.: Polls are now open

Election Day has arrived, and polling centers around Louisville are welcoming voters for the next 12 hours.

Polls opened bright and early at 6 a.m. and will stay open until 6 p.m. Results from races around the commonwealth will be reported in the evening, setting the stage for November's general election.

Still, it'll be a while before we have any winners. In the meantime, here's a quick guide to today's action.

5:40 a.m. Early start at Central High School

The parking lot and front of Central High School remain mostly empty except for a few poll workers, one who walks to the doors with coffee in hand to start to the morning on primary Election Day.

Who's on the ballot in Kentucky?

Both Republicans and Democrats have gubernatorial primaries this year:

On the GOP side, there are 12 candidates, including frontrunners Daniel Cameron, Kelly Craft and Ryan Quarles.

Among Democrats, Gov. Andy Beshear is challenged by Peppy Martin and Geoff Young.

All of Kentucky's constitutional state offices are up for election this year, but some aren't contested in the primary. For instance, there are only one Republican and one Democrat running for attorney general, so Russell Coleman and Pamela Stevenson, respectively, will square off in the fall. Democrats only had one candidate for some other offices. Here's what we do have:

To check out how to see a sample ballot for your county, click here.

What do I need to bring to the polls to vote in Kentucky?

You'll need to bring a photo ID with you due to a law passed in 2020 that requires voters to show photo identification at the polls.

Your Kentucky driver's license is sufficient, along with military, college and Kentucky government IDs. You also can get a free, state-issued ID card if you're at least 18 years old. (Those are available at local circuit court clerk's and regional driver's license offices.)

If you don't have one, you can sign a special form at the polls and show poll workers one of these cards instead:

A Social Security card.

An ID card of any kind that includes your photo and your name.

A food stamp, electronic benefit transfer or supplemental nutrition assistance cards that list your name.

A credit or debit card that lists your name.

You also could get your identity confirmed if you personally know an election officer.

Where to find 2023 Kentucky Primary Election results

The Courier Journal will post results as they come in. Bookmark this link: courier-journal.com/elections/results/local/.

How do I report problems at the polls?

Kentuckians who witness election irregularities or possible election law violations are encouraged to call 800-328-VOTE (800-328-8683).

The hotline is open during regular business hours and from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Eastern time) on Election Day.

We want to know what you're seeing at the polls, too. If you see any election problems, let us know by emailing lounews@courierjournal.com.

If you have any questions about voting, please contact the Kentucky State Board of Elections at 502-573-7100.

Can I buy alcohol on Election Day in Kentucky?

Yes.

The Kentucky General Assembly gave final approval to the bill back in 2013. According to KRS 244.290, authorized sellers "shall be permitted to sell and deliver distilled spirits and wine during the hours the polls are open on any primary, or regular, local option, or special election day." The exception is when it's a dry county, The Courier Journal previously reported.

Reach The Courier Journal's breaking news and election team at lounews@courier-journal.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky Primary Election 2023: Live updates on results, winners
Major northern Chinese land port reports record import, export value

Xinhua) 08:38, May 16, 2023

HOHHOT, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Import and export trade value via Erenhot Port in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region hit a new record since 2003, with a total value of 12.98 billion yuan (about 1.86 billion U.S. dollars) from January to April, up 105.3 percent year on year.

The Erenhot Port is the largest land port between China and Mongolia.

In the first four months of this year, imports of the land port totaled 7.89 billion yuan, up 107.4 percent year on year, while exports reached 5.09 billion yuan, up 102.2 percent year on year, according to the local customs authorities.

Among the commodities, trade of copper ore, coal, paper pulp and iron ore showed an upward trend during this period.

The local customs authorities said it has been making efforts to streamline customs clearance procedures.

In another development, the number of China-Europe freight trains handled by the port also increased. A total of 1,009 inbound and outbound China-Europe freight trains, loading 115,900 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers with a total weight of 1.06 million tonnes of cargo and valuing 2.28 billion U.S. dollars, were handled from January to April, up 7.8 percent, 19.14 percent, 21.01 percent and 14.91 percent year on year, respectively.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Zambian Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Chipoka Mulenga speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Lusaka, Zambia, May 15, 2023. Zambia is keen to attract more Chinese investment when it participates in the upcoming third China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, said Chipoka Mulenga on Tuesday. (Photo by Martin Mbangweta/Xinhua)

LUSAKA, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Zambia is keen to attract more Chinese investment when it participates in the upcoming third China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, said a Zambian minister on Tuesday.

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.

Zambian Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Chipoka Mulenga said he will lead the business delegation for the expo, and a total of 21 firms have so far expressed interest to be part of the delegation.

"Yes, Zambia is looking forward to participating in the expo. Definitely, my country is eager to make sure that we expand our market share and investment wooing from different parts of the world. And this opportunity that China has presented to Africa and many other countries is something that we do not want to be left out," he said in an interview.

Mulenga said many small and medium enterprises expressed interest during an interaction with the Chinese Embassy in Zambia to be part of the delegation, and it is the government's view that small and medium enterprises are important for the country's development.

Zambia is keen to attract more investment and value addition to its raw materials, he said, adding that attending events like the expo would enable local firms to establish business linkages as well as strategic partnerships.

Mulenga also said Zambia is eager to learn how China has managed to achieve so much in promoting businesses, and Zambia's central location in the southern African region will be an added advantage for Chinese investment.

While commending the trade ties between China and Zambia, the minister said it is Zambia's desire to ensure that the cooperation blossoms to greater heights. 
Several hundred people held candles and said prayers at a vigil Monday night, nine days after a gunman opened fire on shoppers at an outlet mall in Allen.

Fifteen groups  including the Dallas Asian American Historical Society; Dallas Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation; SAAVETX Education Fund; Asian Texans for Justice; Remembering Black Dallas; Rise AAPI and Somos Tejas  coordinated the vigil in honor of the eight victims who died in the shooting: Cindy, Kyu and James Cho, Daniela and Sofia Mendoza, Aishwarya Thatikonda, Christian LaCour and Elio Cumana-Rivas.

More than a dozen people spoke at the vigil inside the Oak Lawn United Methodist Church in Dallas. A 15-year-old Allen student read a poem in which she begged for the adults to keep me and my friends safe. Ramiro Luna with Somos Tejas listed off the mass shootings that have involved an AR-15. The Turtle Creek Chorale, a Dallas mens choir, performed If I Can Dream by Elvis Presley.

Erika L. Moritsugu, deputy assistant to the president and Asian American and Pacific Islander senior liaison, spoke on behalf of the White House. She said President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris sent their condolences and are dedicated to end the scourge of gun violence. Moritsugu read a statement from Harris aloud in which Harris said she will fight alongside you to protect families and to keep dangerous weapons out of dangerous hands.

Several speakers addressed the shooters white supremacist ideals. Earlier Monday, several groups that coordinated the vigil held a press conference and demanded law enforcement thoroughly investigate the shooting as a hate crime.

At the vigil, some speakers demanded that the Texas Legislature take action on gun reform. Mohammed Farshori, vice chair of the Asian Chamber of Texas, said elected officials are no longer able to serve the public or serve our interests and called on people to vote in order to make those officials irrelevant. Luna with Somos Tejas said legislators have blood on their hands if they do not propose gun reform.

Nearly every speaker referenced the fact that they were echoing words that have been said at countless vigils held for countless other shootings across the country. The calls for change, several noted, have been made after nearly every mass shooting, and still the violence continues.

How did we get to this place? Beverly Davis, vice president of Remembering Black Dallas, asked the congregation. Where we call ourselves the greatest democracy thats ever existed, and yet we cannot protect the most innocent among us?
NEW YORK (AP)  At the end of The Searchers, one of John Waynes most renowned Westerns, a kidnapped girl has been rescued and a family reunited. As the closing music swells, Wayne's character looks around at his kin  people who have other people to lean on  and then walks off toward the dusty West Texas horizon, lonesome and alone.

It's a classic example of a fundamental American tall tale  that of a nation built on notions of individualism, a male-dominated story filled with loners and rugged individualists who suck it up, do what needs to be done, ride off into the sunset and like it that way.

In reality, loneliness in America can be deadly. This month, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy declared it an American epidemic, saying that it takes as deadly a toll as smoking upon the population of the United States. Millions of people in America are struggling in the shadows," he said, and thats not right.

He cited some potent forces: the gradual withering of longstanding institutions, decreased engagement with churches, the fraying bonds of extended families. When you add recent stressors  the rise of social media and virtual life, post-9/11 polarization and the way COVID-19 interrupted existence  the challenge becomes even more stark.

People are lonely the world over. But as far back as the early 19th century, when the word loneliness began to be used in its current context in American life, some were already asking the question: Do the contours of American society  that emphasis on individualism, that spreading out with impunity over a vast, sometimes outsized landscape  encourage isolation and alienation?

Or is that, like other chunks of the American story, a premise built on myths?

___

Alexis de Tocqueville, watching the country as an outsider while writing Democracy in America in the mid-1800s, wondered whether, as social conditions become more equal, Americans and people like them would be inclined to reject the trappings of deep community that had pervaded Old World aristocracies for centuries.

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They acquire the habit of always considering themselves as standing alone, and they are apt to imagine that their whole destiny is in their own hands, he wrote. Thus not only does democracy make every man forget his ancestors, but it ... throws him back forever upon himself alone, and threatens in the end to confine him entirely within the solitude of his own heart.

This has been a recurring thread in how Americans perceive themselves. In the age before democracy, for better and for worse, People werent lonely. They were tied up in a web of connections. And in many countries thats more true than it was in the United States, says Colin Woodard, director of the Nationhood Lab at the Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy.

Theres this idea that going out into those vast spaces and connecting with the wilderness and escaping the past was precisely what made us Americans," Woodard says.

Yet many frontier myths skip over how important community has been in the settling and growth of the nation. Some of the biggest stories of cooperation  the rise of municipal organizations and trade unions, the New Deal programs that helped drag many Americans out of the Depression in the 1930s, war efforts from the Civil War to World War II  sometimes get lost in the fervor for character-driven stories of individualism.

Those omissions continue. Fueled in part by pandemic distrust, a latter-day strain of individual-over-community sentiment often paired with invocations of liberty and freedom occupies a significant chunk of the national conversation these days  to the point where advocacy about community thinking is sometimes met with accusations of socialism.

Let's not consign Americans to be the heirs of a built-in loneliness gene, though. A new generation is insisting that mental health be part of the national conversation, and many voices  among them women and people of color  are increasingly offering new alternatives to the old myths.

What's more, the very place where the discussion about loneliness is being held today  in the office of the surgeon general, a presidential appointee  suggests that other paths are possible.

___

The ways Americans perceive themselves as solitary (whether or not it's true) can be seen in their art.

One of the nation's early art movements, the mid-19th-century Hudson River School, made people tiny parts of outsized landscapes, implying both that the land dwarfed humans and that they were being summoned to tame it. From that, you can draw a line straight to Hollywood and director John Ford's Westerns, which used vast landscapes to isolate and motivate humans for the purposes of telling big stories. Same with music, where both the blues and the "high lonesome sound" helped shape later genres.

In the suburbs, Betty Friedan's groundbreaking The Feminine Mystique helped give voice to a generation of lonely women. In the city, Edward Hopper's work  like the iconic "Nighthawks  channeled urban loneliness. At around the same time, the emergence of film noir  crime and decay in the American city its frequent subject  helped shape the figure of the lonely man alone in a crowd who might be a protagonist, might be an antagonist, might be both.

Today, loneliness plays out on streaming TV all the time in the forms of shows like Severance, Shrinking, Beef and, most prominently, the earnest Ted Lasso, a show about an American in Britain who  despite being known and celebrated by many  is consistently and obviously lonely.

In March, the show's creator and star, Jason Sudeikis, appeared with his cast at the White House to talk about the issue that the show is, in its final season, more about than ever: mental health. We all know someone who has, or have been that someone ourselves actually, thats struggled, thats felt isolated, thats felt anxious, that has felt alone, Sudeikis said.

Solitude and isolation do not automatically equal loneliness. But they all live in the same part of town. During the pandemic, Murthys report found, people tightened their groups of friends and cut time spent with them. According to the report, Americans spent 20 minutes a day with friends in 2020  down from an hour daily two decades ago. Granted, that was during peak COVID. The trend, though, is clear  particularly among young people ages 15 to 24.

Perhaps many Americans are alone in a crowd, awash in a sea of voices both physical and virtual yet by themselves much of the time, seeking community but suspicious of it. Some of the modernizing forces that stitched the United States together in the first place  commerce, communication, roads  are, in their current forms, part of what isolates people today. There's a lot of space between the general store and Amazon deliveries to your door, between mailing a letter and navigating virtual worlds, between roads that connect towns and freeways that overrun them.

And if Americans can figure out more about what connects and what alienates, some answers to the loneliness epidemic might reveal themselves.

We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately," Benjamin Franklin, not incidentally the country's first postmaster general, said under very different circumstances. Or perhaps it's put better by the American poet Amanda Gorman, one of the country's most insightful young voices. This is from her poem The Miracle of Morning, written in 2020 during the early part of the pandemic.

While we might feel small, separate, and all alone,

our people have never been more closely tethered.

Because the question isnt if we can weather this unknown,

but how we will weather this unknown together.

___

Ted Anthony, director of new storytelling and newsroom innovation at The Associated Press, has been writing about American culture since 1990. Follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/anthonyted
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
Lord Carswell in 1997 - UPPA/Photoshot/Avalon

Lord Carswell, who has died aged 88, was Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland from 1997 to 2004, and for 20 years presided over Diplock courts, trying terrorist cases without a jury.

The Diplock system, under which judges in Northern Ireland not only preside over cases but deliver verdicts, was introduced in the early 1970s in response to a report by Lord Diplock: juries were suffering intimidation by paramilitaries, and there was the perception that some jurors might be inclined to deliver perverse verdicts due to their political beliefs, however watertight the evidence.

The Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007 ended the automatic use of the courts for scheduled offences but they are still used on certification by the Director of Public Prosecutions on a case-by-case basis.

For judges in the Province, quite apart from the restrictions on the freedom resulting from the high level of security they had to put up with (Carswell was almost blown up the night before he started as a judge), the Diplock process was a very heavy responsibility, both morally and in terms of workload.

Its very testing. Its very tiring, and, at the end of the case, theres not the catharsis of the jury verdict, Carswell told the Telegraphs then legal editor Joshua Rozenberg in 2005. Everybody just goes home. And then the really hard work starts.

Unless its a very obvious case, the judge has to go through all the evidence, go through all the arguments, do any necessary reading or research and then write a judgment  with nobody else to lean on. Jurors have each other, [judges in] the Court of Appeal have a couple of other members to discuss the case with, but the non-jury trial judge is on his own.

Inevitably the system caused huge controversy. One of Carswells most contentious cases concerned three men, Patrick Kane, Michael Timmons and Sean Kelly, the so-called Casement Three, whom he sentenced to life imprisonment in 1990 for the murder in 1988 of corporals David Howes and Derek Wood, two off-duty British soldiers who at a time of high tension in the Province had taken a wrong turning and found themselves in the midst of an IRA funeral.

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Initially thought by the crowd to be Protestants intending to attack the mourners, the men were dragged from their car and beaten. They were then hauled into nearby Casement Park, stripped to their underwear and beaten again before being thrown over a wall, loaded into a taxi and taken to a vacant lot where they were shot dead. The whole incident was filmed in harrowing detail by a British Army helicopter hovering overhead.

The three defendants had not been present when the soldiers were shot; two other men, Alex Murphy and Harry Maguire, who had played a leading role in the killings, had been found guilty of the murder in 1989 in a separate trial. In finding the three guilty Carswell relied on the doctrine of common purpose, under which defendants not directly involved in a murder or other crime may be found guilty if they are judged to have given implied approval of the crime.

Carswell found that the defendants were in Casement Park and took part in the attack; two of them admitted they had kicked the soldiers. He reasoned that they must have contemplated murder as one possible outcome of their joint purpose, and since murder was the result, they were found guilty.

Defence lawyers and civil liberties campaigners argued that Carswell had stretched the law of common purpose beyond its intended meaning, pointing out that none of the accused was alleged to have conspired with the actual killers and none had been present when the killings occurred. There were calls for the Diplock system to be disbanded.

But in 1991 the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal confirmed the verdicts and the sentences, though the panel of judges had some difficulty with some of Carswells findings of facts in the case of Sean Kelly, and in 1997 his conviction was quashed after the Appeal Court ruled that his mental and psychological state undermined the admissibility and reliability of confessions made to police.

'He runs a tight ship in court and is admired, rather than liked, for that. Sometimes it can be a challenge to appear before him,' said one unnamed source - Pacemaker

Robert Douglas Carswell was born on June 28 1934 to Alan and Nance Carswell and was educated at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution and Pembroke College, Oxford, where he graduated with Firsts in Mods and jurisprudence in 1956. Two years later he graduated from the University of Chicago Law School.

Called to the Bar of Northern Ireland in 1957 and later, in 1972, to the English Bar by Grays Inn, he served as Counsel to the Attorney-General for Northern Ireland in 197071, taking silk in 1971.

From 1974 to 1984 he was Senior Crown Counsel in Northern Ireland, in which capacity he represented the Northern Ireland Office at the inquest into the deaths of 10 Provisional IRA and INLA hunger-strikers at the Maze prison.

In March 1984, a day before taking up his appointment as a High Court judge in Northern Ireland, he spotted a bomb attached to his car in the driveway of his home. It was subsequently defused.

Carswell presided over several high-profile terrorist cases, including the 1985 trial and convictions, on charges ranging from murder to kidnapping to firearms and explosive offences, of 27 men arrested on the evidence of a Republican supergrass, and the 1986 conviction of four INLA killers, two sisters and two men, for the murders of 17 people in a no-warning bomb attack on the Droppin Well disco bar in Ballykelly, Co Londonderry, in 1982.

In 1992 Carswell was appointed a Lord Justice of Appeal at the Supreme Court in Northern Ireland. When he succeeded Sir Brian Hutton as Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, an unnamed source quoted in Lawyer magazine described him as a lawyers lawyer, adding: He has a sharp brain and he tends to be one step ahead of counsel. He runs a tight ship in court and is admired, rather than liked, for that. Sometimes it can be a challenge to appear before him.

When Carswell was appointed a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary (Law Lord) in 2004, Marcel Berlins in The Guardian recalled that there had been suggestions that his role in a constitutional controversy of 2000 might have scuppered his promotion prospects.

This was a reference to a row over two nationalist barristers who had been appointed QCs but had refused to swear an oath of allegiance to the Queen. When Carswell refused to allow them to practise as QCs unless they made the declaration, the pair took the case to judicial review in the Northern Ireland high court and won. The judge who ruled against Carswell on that occasion, Sir Brian Kerr, succeeded him as Northern Ireland Lord Chief Justice.

Carswell was knighted in 1988, sworn of the Privy Council in 1993 and served on the cross-benches of the House of Lords until his retirement from the upper house in 2019.

In 2009-10 he chaired an inquiry into the roles of Jerseys Crown Officers which recommended that the Bailiffs dual role as leader of the States of Jersey (the islands parliament), and of the legal system, should end and that the Bailiff should stand down as the President of the States of Jersey and be replaced by an elected speaker.

Lord Carswell married Romayne Ferris in 1961. She survives him with two daughters.

Lord Carswell, born June 28 1934, died May 4 2023

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Lori Vallow was indicted by a grand jury in Maricopa County for conspiracy to commit the murder of Brandon Boudreaux more than a year ago, Justin Lum of Fox 10 Phoenix reports.

Vallow was charged on 24 February 2022 under the late Allister Adel, who was the county attorney at the time, he reports.

Per to the indictment, Vallow and her late brother Alex Cox agreed that at least one of them or another would engage in conduct constituting the offence of first-degree premeditated murder on 2 October 2019.

Police in Gilbert, Arizona, say Cox shot at Mr Boudreaux outside his home from the back of a jeep after he returned home from the gym that morning.

This is the third time that Cox is named as a co-conspirator in a grand jury indictment of Vallow.

First in the murder charges for which she was convicted in Idaho; second on the murder conspiracy charge in the death of Charles Vallow in Chandler, Arizona; and now third in the attempted murder of Mr Boudreaux.

On Friday, the Maricopa County Attorneys Office in Arizona announced that in addition to pursuing charges against Vallow over the murder of her fourth husband Charles Vallow, they also plan to prosecute her in the attempted murder of Mr Boudreaux. It was not known that she had been indicted by a grand jury at that point.

The Attorneys Office made the announcement after 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.

Per to the indictment, Vallow & her late brother Alex Cox agreed that at least one of them or another would engage in conduct constituting the offense of first degree premeditated murder on 10/2/19. Gilbert PD says Cox shot at Boudreaux outside his home from the back of a jeep. pic.twitter.com/2jXh6NpYAq  Justin Lum |  (@jlumfox10) May 16, 2023

In July 2019, two months before the murders of the children, Charles Vallow was shot dead by Cox at the family home. He claimed he shot his brother-in-law in self-defence.

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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 tyre 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.

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.

Mr Cox died suddenly in December 2019, after telling Ms Pastenes  whom he had married shortly before  that he feared he would be the fall guy for Mr Daybell and his sister.
Doomsday cult mom Lori Vallow has been pictured with a slight smirk on her face in a new mugshot after she was convicted of murdering her two children and conspiring to murder her new husband Chad Daybells first wife.

Vallow, 49, was found guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and grand theft over the deaths of daughter Tylee Ryan, 16, son Joshua JJ Vallow, 7, and conspiracy to murder Tammy Daybell, 49, in Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho.

Tylee and JJ were last seen in September 2019. In June 2020, their remains were found buried on the Daybell property. Tammy died one month after their disappearance in October 2019.

Over six weeks, prosecutors argued that Vallow conspired with Mr Daybell and her brother Alex Cox to kill the three victims, motivated by greed and their doomsday cult beliefs.

On Friday 12 May, jurors convicted her on all charges. She will be sentenced within 90 days time where she faces life in prison.

Judge Steven Boyce has now ordered a pre-sentence investigation to look into Vallows background including prior criminal record, social history, health, education and employment records.

Key points

Cult mom Lori Vallow appears to smirk in new mugshot

Brandon Boudreaux calls for forgiveness for doomsday cult mom

Lori Vallow to be extradited to Arizona after sentencing

Lori Vallow to be prosecuted for attempted murder of nieces husband

JJ Vallows family send powerful message to convicted cult mom

Lori Vallow is convicted of murders of children and Chad Daybells wife

Napping in court, three words and typing too loudly: Bizarre moments from Lori Vallows murder trial

04:30 , Rachel Sharp

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.

Prosecutors alleged that Vallow and Mr Daybell conspired with Vallows brother Alex Cox to murder Tammy, JJ and Tylee as part of their cult beliefs  but also for financial purposes so that they could collect Tammys life insurance money and the childrens social security and survivor benefits.

Story continues

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:

Bizarre moments from Lori Vallows murder trial

Read Lori Vallows familys statement in response to her murder conviction: We share this victory

03:30 , Rachel Sharp

Lori Vallows family and the family of her sister Summer Shiflet have issued a joint statement after she was convicted of murder.

Vallow was found guilty of the first-degree murder of her children Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow, and of a charge of conspiracy in the first-degree murder of her husband Chad Daybells late wife Tammy.

Vallow was born Lori Cox and is one of four siblings, the others being Summer, Adam Cox, and her alleged co-conspirator Alex Cox.

Their initial support of Vallow in the early days of the search for the children evaporated when the bodies of Tylee and JJ were discovered in shallow graves on Mr Daybells property outside of Rexburg, Idaho, in June 2020.

Read the statement from the Cox and Shiflet families after the verdict:

Lori Vallows familys statement in response to her murder conviction

ICYMI: JJ Vallows family send powerful message to convicted cult mom Lori

02:30 , Rachel Sharp

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.

Read the full story:

JJ Vallows family send powerful message to convicted cult mom Lori

WATCH: Family members pay tribute to JJ and Tylee

02:00 , Rachel Sharp

Family and friends remember JJ and Tylee #Dateline pic.twitter.com/QdeQyoDQPt  Dateline NBC (@DatelineNBC) May 13, 2023

Tammy Daybells family speak out after verdict

01:30 , Rachel Sharp

The parents and family of Tammy Daybell also released a statement after the conviction of Vallow for her role in the murder of their daughter, who was asphyxiated in her bed the month after the children were brutally killed.

What a beautiful day to receive the news of Loris convictions. Thank you to everyone that had a part in bringing the truth to light, the statement reads.

We are especially grateful to the detectives, the jury, Judge Boyce and the prosecution team. We thank you for your tireless efforts. We will move forward with renewed energy and faith that justice will be fully served. We anticipate next steps will be swift resolution of the case at hand.

We share this victory with the Vallow-Woodcock family and their precious JJ and Tylee. Thank you to the many prayers sent from people all around the world, we feel them and they lift us up.

WATCH: Tylee Ryans aunt speaks out about the verdict

01:00 , Rachel Sharp

Lori Vallow has been convicted of her childrens murders. What happens next?

Tuesday 16 May 2023 00:00 , Rachel Sharp

Doomsday cult mom Lori Vallow has been found guilty of the murders of her two children and conspiracy to murder her new husbands first wife in a case that has horrified the nation for the last three years.

Tylee Ryan, 16, and Joshua JJ Vallow, seven, vanished without a trace in September 2019, sparking a multi-state search while their mother jetted off to Hawaii to marry her fifth husband Chad Daybell.

The childrens bodies were finally discovered nine months later buried in a pet cemetery on Mr Daybells property in Idaho.

One month after the children disappeared, Mr Daybells wife Tammy was also murdered in her home.

After a six-week trial, Vallow was convicted on Friday (12 May) on all charges over the deaths of Tylee, JJ and Tammy.

The verdict may mark the culmination of a chilling case that spans bizarre cult beliefs, missing children, murder and mystery deaths, but the saga is still far from over.

Heres whats coming next in the shocking case:

Lori Vallow has been convicted of her childrens murders. What happens next?

VOICES: Lori Vallow never tried to convince us she was innocent

Monday 15 May 2023 23:30 , Rachel Sharp

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.

The Independents Megan Sheets writes:

Lori Vallow never tried to convince us she was innocent

Who is Chad Daybell?

Monday 15 May 2023 23:00 , Rachel Sharp

Chad Daybell, 54, is a self-published author who wrote doomsday books loosely based on the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

He was also a professional cemetery sexton and ran a podcast based on his doomsday teachings.

He married his first wife Tammy in 1990 and they founded Spring Creek Book Company together in Utah  the company which published his doomsday books.

The couple had five children together and moved to Salem, Idaho, in 2015.

Kids Killed Doomsday Plot Trial (Post Register)

Chad Daybell wrote doomsday books loosely based on the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Among his teachings, he claimed he could teleport, could see into the future and see dead people, and that he and Vallow were part of the chosen 144,000.

He is also charged over the triple murders and is due to stand trial separately at a later date. He has pleaded not guilty.

He has not been charged over Charles Vallows death  but prosecutors in Arizona said this was only because they didnt think the charges would stick.

Tylee Ryans aunt says she never doubted Lori Vallow would be convicted

Monday 15 May 2023 22:30 , Rachel Sharp

Tylee Ryans aunt has said she never doubted that Lori Vallow would be convicted at her murder trial.

Annie Cushing is the sister of Joseph Ryan  Vallows third husband and 16-year-old Tylees father.

Speaking after Vallows conviction on Friday, Ms Cushing told Fox10s Justin Lum that the evidence was so overwhelming.

She was never going to get past the reality that she never reported her kids missing.

She pointed to the fact that, while her children were dead and buried on Chad Daybells property, Vallow was dancing on a beach in Hawaii.

Then there was also the discovery of her hair on the duct tape used to wrap a plastic bag around JJs head and smother him.

Ms Cushing said: On the eve of Mothers Day, let Lori stew in her juices in that this is the reality of what she did as a mother.

She added: Justice doesnt bring then back or undo everything thats done in this case but at least it gives those of us who carry the victims ini our hearts a bit of latitude that allows us to heal.

Lori Vallow case summary

Monday 15 May 2023 22:00 , Rachel Sharp

Following cult mom Lori Vallows conviction on all charges in the deaths of her children and her spouses first wife, Rachel Sharp delves into the deeply disturbing tale of murders, unexplained deaths and apocalyptic cult beliefs about killing zombies which surround her and her doomsday author husband Chad Daybell:

What we know about the Lori Vallow Daybell doomsday cult murder trial

WATCH: Lori Vallow is found guilty in murders of children and Chad Daybells wife

Monday 15 May 2023 21:30 , Rachel Sharp

Lori Vallow faces extradition to Arizona

Monday 15 May 2023 21:00 , Rachel Sharp

Following Lori Vallows conviction in Idaho, the Maricopa County Attorneys Office announced that it has submitted a request to extradite her 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.

MACO also said it is looking to charge her over the attempted murder of Brandon Boudreaux as well.

Who is Lori Vallow? Mom-of-three, beauty queen  and now convicted killer

Monday 15 May 2023 20:30 , Rachel Sharp

Lori Vallow was once seen as a doting mother.

But after an explosive six-week trial, she is now known as a killer.

But who really is Lori Vallow and how did she end up here?

Who is Lori Vallow? Mom-of-three, beauty queen  and now convicted killer

Lori Vallow is facing new charges over Brandon Boudreaux shooting attempt

Monday 15 May 2023 20:00 , Rachel Sharp

Lori Vallow is facing new charges over the botched attempted shooting of Brandon Boudreaux.

Mr Boudreaux was married to Vallows niece Melani Pawlowski for ten years and they shared five children together.

He testified in Vallows high-profile murder trial that everything got more bizarre in 2018 when Ms Pawlowski became more involved in the doomsday cult with Vallow and Mr Daybell.

The couple divorced and he was living in a new home in Arizona when, on 2 October 2019, he was the victim of a failed shooting attempt.

Mr Boudreaux testified that he was returning home from the gym one morning having dropped his children off at school when he saw a gun with a silencer sticking out of the back window of a jeep  which matched the vehicle belonging to murdered teenager Tylee.

The shooter fired but missed before driving off.

The botched hit came days before Tammys murder and one month after JJ and Tylee were last seen alive.

Jurors heard at Vallows trial that the cult mom and her inner circle considered Mr Boudreaux an obstacle and a dark spirit  the same language used for all the murder victims.

Following Vallows conviction on Friday, the Maricopa County Attorneys Office in Arizona announced that prosecutors plan to hit her with new charges over Mr Boudreauxs attempted murder.

This comes in addition to the charge of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the death of Vallows fourth husband Charles Vallow  who was shot dead by her brother Alex Cox in July 2019.

Vallow will be extradited to Arizona to face the charges after her sentencing in Idaho.

Lori Vallow had two alleged accomplices in her childrens murders. One will never face justice

Monday 15 May 2023 19:30 , Rachel Sharp

More than three years after her children JJ Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 16, were brutally murdered and dumped in shallow graves on her new lovers property, Lori Vallow has finally been held to account.

The 49-year-old mother-of-three was found guilty on Friday (12 May) of the murders of her two children as well as conspiracy to murder them and Chad Daybells first wife Tammy Daybell.

Now that she is facing life in prison for her crimes, attention turns to Mr Daybell, who has been behind bars awaiting trial since June 2020.

But what about the one who got away?

The doomsday cult couple had a third  lesser-known  alleged accomplice who also conspired with them to kill as part of their bizarre cult beliefs and for monetary greed.

That third co-conspirator was Vallows brother Alex Cox  a man who can never be brought to justice as he mysteriously dropped dead as the net closed in.

The Independents Rachel Sharp reports:

Lori Vallow had two alleged murder accomplices. One will never face justice

WATCH: Lori Vallows family speaks out

Monday 15 May 2023 19:00 , Rachel Sharp

Tylee Ryans aunt says Lori Vallow is a psychopath

Monday 15 May 2023 18:30 , Rachel Sharp

Tylee Ryans aunt has described Lori Vallow as a psychopath who doesnt feel and think the same way most people do.

Annie Cushing is the sister of Joseph Ryan  Vallows third husband and 16-year-old Tylees father.

Speaking after Vallows conviction on Friday, Ms Cushing told Fox10s Justin Lum that she wasnt surprised by the lack of emotion shown by the doomsday cult mom when she was told that she had been convicted of all charges.

I think she stealed herself for a conviction, she said.

And shes a psychopath, so I think most emotion shes mimicking people who feel genuine empathy.

She added: I dont think she has any regret or sense of responsibility in her crimes.

Lori Vallows nephew-in-law says shes not inherently evil as she faces new charges for his attempted murder

Monday 15 May 2023 18:00 , Rachel Sharp

Lori Vallows nephew-in-law has spoken out following her murder conviction to say that he believes people are not inherently good or evil as she faces new charges for his own attempted murder.

Brandon Boudreaux released a lengthy statement in which he called for forgiveness for the doomsday cult mom who was found guilty of murdering her two children Tylee Ryan, 16, and Joshua JJ Vallow and conspiring to murder her new husband Chad Daybells first wife.

We recognize that people are not inherently good or evil. Its what makes these tragic events so much harder for those of us who were all affected by these crimes, he said.

While we do not glory in any conviction, we recognize the importance of holding accountable those who would commit such terrible atrocities.

Read the full story:

Lori Vallow nephew-in-law speaks as she faces new charges for his attempted murder

WATCH: Tammy Daybells sister remembers her

Monday 15 May 2023 17:30 , Rachel Sharp

Cult mom Lori Vallow appears to smirk in new mugshot after murder conviction

Monday 15 May 2023 17:00 , Rachel Sharp

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.

Read the full story:

Lori Vallow appears to smirk in new mugshot following murder conviction

PICTURED: Lori Vallow in new mugshot after murder conviction

Monday 15 May 2023 16:16 , Rachel Sharp

Lori Vallow in new mugshot (Madison County, Idaho)

Shocking case laid out Sins of Our Mother documentary

Monday 15 May 2023 16:00 , Rachel Sharp

The shocking case of Lori Vallow was laid out in a 2022 Netflix documentary Sins of Our Mother, which delved thoroughly into the bizarre string of murders around the couple and their extreme religious beliefs around the end of the world.

In the three-part series, people close to the case recountes how Ms Vallow met her doomsday preacher husband and how they allegedly planned to kill the children after they became convinced the minors were zombies whose dark spirits had to be released through death.

Even before the series, it was a case that captured the nations attention  ever since Tylee and JJ vanished without a trace in September 2019 and their mother refused to reveal where they were.

Lori Vallow case summary

Monday 15 May 2023 15:30 , Rachel Sharp

Following cult mom Lori Vallows conviction on all charges in the deaths of her children and her spouses first wife, Rachel Sharp delves into the deeply disturbing tale of murders, unexplained deaths and apocalyptic cult beliefs about killing zombies which surround her and her doomsday author husband Chad Daybell:

What we know about the Lori Vallow Daybell doomsday cult murder trial

Why did Lori Vallow kill her kids?

Monday 15 May 2023 15:00 , Rachel Sharp

During closing arguments, prosecutors argued that Lori Vallow had been driven by money, power and sex to kill the three victims.

Vallow and Chad 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, Vallow allegedly told friends that JJ and Tylee had become demons.

Prosecutors said that 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 Vallow to be in Hawaii at the time of Tammys murder.

Days before each child was killed, 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 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.

Vallow was the one common thread tying all the suspects and killings together, he said.

Vallow appeared unconcerned when served papers demanding childrens whereabouts

Monday 15 May 2023 14:30 , Rachel Sharp

A newly resurfaced video shows the moment doomsday cult mom Lori Vallow was served court orders to produce her children, who had been killed four months before, while vacationing at a pool resort in Hawaii.

Read more:

Bikini-clad Lori Vallows six-word response to police over missing kids

Where is Lori Vallow now?

Monday 15 May 2023 14:00 , Rachel Sharp

Following her conviction, Lori Vallow was transported back to Madison County Womens detention centre.

She will remain there until her sentencing in around 90 days time.

After she is sentenced, she will be extradited to Arizona to face charges over Charles Vallows death and the attempted murder of Brandon Boudreaux.

Who is the real Lori Vallow? Mom-of-three, beauty queen  and now convicted killer

Monday 15 May 2023 16:04 , Rachel Sharp

Lori Vallow was once seen as a doting mother.

But after an explosive six-week trial, she is now known as a killer.

But who really is Lori Vallow and how did she end up here?

Who is Lori Vallow? Mom-of-three, beauty queen  and now convicted killer

Key evidence: Lori Vallow confronted by best friend in secret recording

Monday 15 May 2023 13:30 , Oliver O'Connell

A phone call between cult mom Lori Vallow and her former best friend was played in court during her ongoing trial for the murders of two of her children.

In the early December 2019 call, which she recorded secretly, Ms Gibb delved into the couples bizarre cult beliefs and later confronted them for asking her to lie to the police about son JJs whereabouts.

Andrea Blanco reports.

Lori Vallow confronted by best friend about JJ lies in secret recording

What is Chad Daybells trial date?

Monday 15 May 2023 13:00 , Rachel Sharp

Lori Vallows lover, fellow cult leader and alleged accomplice Chad Daybell is yet to stand trial for the three murders of Tylee, JJ and Tammy.

He is facing the same charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy and grand theft in connection with the deaths of JJ and Tylee and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the death of Tammy.

Mr Daybell is also charged with an additional count of the first-degree murder of Tammy.

Mr Daybell is facing the death penalty on the charges.

The doomsday cult couple were due to stand trial together before the judge ruled in March  just weeks before the trial was due to begin  that the cases would be severed.

While Vallows trial began as planned in early April, this pushed Mr Daybells case back to a later date.

In a scheduling conference in early May, the court set a rough date of June 2024 for his trial.
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When I was a kid, my mom read me J.R.R. Tolkien's fantastical tales of adventure in Middle Earth every night before I fell asleep. For years, hobbits, wizards and elves populated my dreams as the stories I heard enriched and expanded my own imagination. As an adult, I still treasure that first foray into other realms, but my appetite for fantasy has diversified. Now, the best fantasy books aren't all dusty tomes that have been passed down for generations.

As the oldest genre of literature on record, what constitutes fantasy often depends on who you ask. Originating from the oral tradition of folklore and stories told around ancient campfires, some consider mythology and epics, like The Odyssey, to be the purest form of fantasy, while others point to the likes of J.R.R. Tolkien. C.S. Lewis and Lewis Carroll as the pinnacle of the form.

In general, we're considering stories that include an element of the unexplainable. If it features the extraterrestrial, we'd call that science fiction, or ghost stories, which we consider horror. Fantasy, for our purposes, is everything else that tickles our less-skeptical side. We've rounded up some of the best fantasy ever written, including both classics that a true fan shouldn't miss, newcomers that make a necessary addition to the canon and lots of diversity in the realms of origin stories and the authors who dreamed them into being. We hope every fan finds a new favorite on this list.

The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins

Father is missing, and might even be dead. Carolyn and her 11 siblings have spent years cloistered under Father's strict tutelage, studying the ancient texts in the library that has special powers. Now that he's gone, a battle is brewing, and no one's ready for what that entails, least of all the reader. You won't be able to look up from this wholly unique fantasy that reads like a thriller.

Story continues

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A Hero Born by Jin Yong

What LOTR is to the United States, the Condor Trilogy is to China, so fantasy fans owe it to themselves to check out the translation. In this first book, we meet Guo Jing, born and raised in Mongolia after his father is murdered. He learns kung fu as an apprentice of Genghis Khan, and we're off to the epic, exciting races.

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What Should Be Wild by Julia Fine

Born with the power to kill and revive living things with a single touch, Maisie Cothay has been sequestered away in her family's manor at the edge of a mysterious forest that she's been warned never to enter. But then her father goes missing, and she must break the rules to find him in this mesmerizing, sometimes funny novel.

Shop Now What Should Be Wild by Julia Fine $16.17 amazon.com Product Shot Image

The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty

The first installment in the Daevabad trilogy starts in 18th-century Cairo, where a thief and exorcist named Nahri accidentally summons a djinn warrior. Together, they travel to the magical metropolis known as the city of brass." Start with this one, then order the other two before you're done, so you don't miss anything.

Shop Now The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty $15.79 amazon.com Product Shot Image

Tigana: Anniversary Edition by Guy Gavriel Kay

From the renowned author of The Fionavar Tapestry and Children of Earth and Sky comes this epic that takes place on a planet with two moons, dark sorcery and a sumptuous and barbaric culture inspired by medieval Italy. Historical fiction fans who think they don't like fantasy, try this one.

RELATED: 25 Best Historical Fiction Books to Take You Back in Time

Shop Now Tigana: Anniversary Edition by Guy Gavriel Kay $22.00 amazon.com Product Shot Image

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

If the phrase "winter is coming" doesn't mean anything to you, welcome out from under that rock you've been living under. The novel that sparked a sensation is worth a read (or even a reread if it's been awhile), no matter how you felt about the HBO series' finale.

Shop Now A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin $23.99 amazon.com Product Shot Image

Queen of the Conquered by Kacen Callender

The colonizers have killed off Sigourney Rose's family, and she's hungry for revenge. When the king announces he'll be choosing a successor from the noble families, they start mysteriously dying and suspicion swivels toward Sigourney. She's got to figure out who's on which side, not to mention stay alive.

Shop Now Queen of the Conquered by Kacen Callender $6.89 amazon.com Product Shot Image

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

Addie LaRue has lived for 300 years, but it's a lonely existence. Thanks to a desperate bargain made in the 1700s, Addie is doomed to live forever and be remembered by no one, until a man she meets in a bookstore calls her by name.

Shop Now The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab $15.69 amazon.com Product Shot Image

Stardust by Neil Gaiman

If you're used to Gaiman's epic journeys through other worlds, this bite-sized novel may come as a relief. Weaving a tale of romance between a half-human, half-faerie man and a fallen star in a shape of a woman, it's a delightful historical-feeling romp.

Shop Now Stardust by Neil Gaiman $13.79 amazon.com Product Shot Image

The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro

After he won the Nobel Prize in Literature, you'd be right to have high expectations of Ishiguro and this foray into fantasy doesn't disappoint. It's set in the Dark Ages when a mysterious mist prevents citizens from forming long-term memories. So when an elderly couple thinks they've lost their son, they journey across the country to find him. Warning: Here be dragons, and lots of other medieval adventure.

Shop Now The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro $14.89 amazon.com Product Shot Image

His Dark Materials Boxed Set: The Golden Compass; The Subtle Knife; The Amber Spyglass

With armored polar bears, daemons, airships and two normal children who have to navigate it all, it's no wonder this series has captivated imaginations for decades. Read them all, then get ready to debate which one's the best of the trio.

Shop Now His Dark Materials Boxed Set: The Golden Compass; The Subtle Knife; The Amber Spyglass $14.89 amazon.com Product Shot Image

Tales of Falling and Flying by Ben Loory

Ben Loory is sort of the fantasy answer to Lydia Davis, with extremely short stories that are strange, absurd, thought-provoking and sometimes just totally bizarre. They're worth reading just to see what comes next, which is never what you expect.

Shop Now Tales of Falling and Flying by Ben Loory $16.65 amazon.com Product Shot Image

The Black Tides of Heaven by Neon Yang

The twin children of brutal empress The Protector, Mokoya and Akeha are sold to the Grand Monastery as babies, and they come into magical powers as they grow. But a conflict is brewing to overthrow their mother's cruel empire, and each has to decide which side they're on  and how to stay true to themselves without destroying their bond.

Shop Now The Black Tides of Heaven by Neon Yang $14.49 amazon.com Product Shot Image

Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James

Immersive and imaginative, this one draws from African mythology and history to create the story of Tracker, a hunter who joins a ragtag group of characters (including a shapeshifter called Leopard) to search for a missing boy. But there seem to be people invested in making sure he stays lost, which begins to call the question: Who's telling the truth, and who's hiding it?

Shop Now Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James $16.89 amazon.com Product Shot Image

Get in Trouble by Kelly Link

Fantasy doesn't have to be long to pack a punch. These luminous, left-of-center short stories are a great introduction to fantasy for those who find epic otherworldly tomes a bit intimidating.

Shop Now Get in Trouble by Kelly Link $15.39 amazon.com Product Shot Image

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

The first installment in the Legacy of Orisha series made a huge splash when it came out in 2018, and if you missed it then, grab your copy now. Inspired by pre-colonial Nigeria, it takes place in a society rife with colorism, classism and sexism where magic has been quashed by a despotic king.

Shop Now Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi $17.99 amazon.com Product Shot Image

The Changeling by Victor Lavalle

Straddling the thin line between fantasy and horror, this disturbing novel follows a rare book dealer named Apollo Kagwa, whose wife disappears after doing the unthinkable, setting Apollo on a journey through a New York that you'll almost recognize. Almost.

Shop Now The Changeling by Victor Lavalle $14.39 amazon.com Product Shot Image

The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin

One of the most beloved series in fantasy, Jemisin's Broken Earth trilogy is a force set in a unique apocalyptic world that feels more prescient now than ever. Come for the remarkable story, stay for the gasp-inducing twist.

Shop Now The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin $14.28 amazon.com Product Shot Image

The Way of Kings: Book One of the Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson

An ambitious, weighty foray into a 10-book series, this book introduces us to the storm-swept Roshar after the fall of the mythical Knights Radiant. It's a rich world that you can lose yourself in, and there's a lot more where this one came from if it absorbs your attention  which it will.

Shop Now The Way of Kings: Book One of the Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson $20.67 amazon.com Product Shot Image

Ring Shout by P. P. Djeli Clark

As if you couldn't tell from the cover, this dark fantasy centers around the KKK, in a world in which a film called The Birth of a Nation infected white America with a tidal wave of hate. But even the demonic Klan didn't plan on Maryse Boudreaux and her resistance fighters, who have the arsenal and the fury to take down the white hoods.

Shop Now Ring Shout by P. P. Djeli Clark $13.99 amazon.com Product Shot Image

The Chronicles of Narnia Box Set by C.S. Lewis

The Chronicles of Narnia are a fanciful journey through a world where a witch can enact endless winter, talking animals abound and centaurs fight battles with fauns. It's as much fun to read as an adult as it was when you were a kid, or to introduce your own young readers to a classic.

Shop Now The Chronicles of Narnia Box Set by C.S. Lewis $33.99 amazon.com Product Shot Image

The Bloody Chamber: And Other Stories: 75th-Anniversary Edition (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition)

From a writer cited as inspiration by the likes of Neil Gaiman, Margaret Atwood Audrey Niffenegger and Kelly Link comes this collection that takes a more feminist twist on familiar fairy tales like Little Red Riding Hood, "Puss in Boots and Beauty and the Beast." It'll stick with you long after the last page.

Shop Now The Bloody Chamber: And Other Stories: 75th-Anniversary Edition (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition) $10.99 amazon.com Product Shot Image

Kindred by Octavia Butler

This list would be incomplete without Butler, who many count among the great minds of fantasy even though her work is largely situated firmly within the science fiction realm. This one follows a Black woman living in 1976 California who gets thrust back in time to a pre-Civil War Maryland plantation where she meets her ancestors and endures all the horrors of that time and must play her own brutal role.

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A Wizard of Earthsea by Usula K. Le Guin

The Earthsea cycle is beloved for a reason: it brings us a richly immersive world with enough action and adventure to entice readers to stay. You'll fall in love with the young wizard named Ged, formerly Sparrowhawk, who released a terrible shadow creature on his world and now must deal with the aftermath.

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Lord of the Rings Boxed Set by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Lord of the Rings series needs no introduction, especially not for fantasy fans. If you've only seen the movies, set aside a weekend to read the books that started many a fantasy fan on their literary journey.

Shop Now Lord of the Rings Boxed Set by J.R.R. Tolkien $19.78 amazon.com Product Shot Image

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Irvin Walker feels lucky to be alive after a bullet pierced his chest close to his heart and left fragments behind.

Walker is one of seven people who were wounded in the May 6 mass shooting at an outlet mall in Allen that killed eight victims.

Walker and staff at the hospital system who treated him and other patients spoke publicly about the tragedy for the first time on Tuesday.

Walker suffered several wounds when the gunman  identified as 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia  stepped out of his car and opened fire in the parking lot with an AR-15 variant rifle. Walker was trying to find a spot to park after dropping his girlfriend off at the Allen Premium Outlets.

Walker was shot twice in the chest, with one of the bullets hitting him close to the heart, and one in the shoulder. Doctors operated on him to remove bullet fragments but had to leave some in his body.

If either of those fragments had gotten any deeper, he may have not possibly been here today, said Dr. Elizabeth Kim, the trauma medical director at Medical City McKinney, about the bullet fragments Walker had in the protective membrane closest to his heart.

Walker said he got out of his car after he was shot to seek help.

A security guard tried to assist him, according to Walkers attorney, Daryl Washington. Its believed that the security guard was 20-year-old Christian LaCour, one of the victims who was fatally shot. Allen Police Chief Brian Harvey said that LaCour evacuated one individual to safety and was shot while courageously remaining to help others.

In a GoFundMe created for Walker, his family announced he was in stable condition after his surgery to remove bullet fragments was successful.

Irvin Walker said the medical professionals at Medical City McKinney provided him with the highest level of love when he was treated after being shot at the Allen Premium Outlets on May 6, 2023. (Photographed from the left: Cassidi Summers, RN, Medical City McKinney chief nursing officer; Elizabeth Kim, MD, Medical City McKinney trauma director; Irvin Walker, 46; Walkers attorney, Daryl Washington)

Walker donned a big grin on his face Tuesday in a press conference at Medical City McKinney. Im just grateful to be here, he said.

In a matter of minutes, our community was shaken and lives were changed forever, said Cassidi Summers at the conference. A matter of minutes could have altered the course of my life.

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Summers, chief nursing officer at Medical City McKinney, was at the Allen Premium Outlets with her family less than 30 minutes before the shooting and was among the first of the hospital staff to respond.

We immediately stood up the command center, Summers said. This allowed us to coordinate staffing, decompress the emergency department, manage family and visitors, and deploy appropriate supplies and resources so that our staff could focus on the high quality of care that our patients needed at the time.

Kim was also with family and loved ones when she responded to the shooting and arrived at Medical City McKinney. She was at a wedding reception and immediately left after hearing about the tragedy to coordinate care for patients.

Once I arrived, I could really see that the training and the drills that we had done in our trauma center described good care for our patients and was very apparent, Kim said. We were able to effectively take care of seven sick patients almost simultaneously and provide excellent care to all of them.

Medical City McKinney, less than three miles from the Allen Premium Outlets, received eight patients from the May 6 shooting, according to Janet St. James, assistant vice president of the hospitals communication department.

As soon as I entered this hospital, medical professionals expressed the highest level of love for me, Walker said.

Walker was the hospitals first of the eight patients. Two of the patients the hospital received did not survive.

Its a horrible situation  it hurts to see people have to suffer and see their family and their kids pass away, Walker said about the other victims.

You had a smile there that I saw when I came in that room, Kim told Walker at the conference. And it really was one of the bright parts of that day.

Walker was surrounded by family members, his daughter, his fraternity brothers, and administration and hospital staff at the conference as he spoke about his recovery. He is in better condition and will begin rehabilitation to improve his mobility.

He still has a long way to go in his recovery, said Kim.

I continue thanking people in advance, using their expertise to repair my body, my spirit, my hope, said Walker about the hospital staff who treated him and the support he has received from loved ones. I think this event was evidence of evil not winning.

Walker said he has been receiving support from people on a global scale.

Its incredible what we can do if we unify, Walker said. He has been receiving prayers from people all over the U.S. and even from people in the United Kingdom.

Anytime Im in trouble, I call on the Lord, Walker said about his reaction when he was shot. I just began to praise Him and be thankful, fortify Him.

He said his faith is what has helped him throughout his recovery.

I believe you give love, you get love, said Walker.

Walker, 46, is originally from Lafayette, Louisiana, and currently lives in Lewisville. He worked in insurance and says helping others is the work of his life. He asks people to keep the community in their prayers.

There are people that are involved that are impacted by this, Walker said. We just want you guys to keep them lifted.

Kim believes extensive training helped the hospital staff in treating patients from the shooting.

We partner with local police and EMS and we go through mass casualty events and scenarios where we have patients mock up and we bring them all in and we practice through those things, said Kim. I mean, those are the tests that we hope that we never have to go through. But, you know, Im very proud we were prepared and its something that we do on an annual basis and well continue to enhance our program from this and learn lessons.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) said Tuesday that President Biden should cancel his upcoming trip to Asia to focus on debt ceiling negotiations, as the default deadline looms just weeks away.

I think its deeply problematic, given the trajectory that were on right now and how close we are to June 1 deadline, that the president is traveling out of country, Mace said in an interview with CNN This Morning.

He should be here on the Hill, working with Republicans and Democrats to strike some sort of a compromise, she continued. Because guess what? Both parties, Republicans and Democrats, got us into this mess, and both sides need to come together and show the American people how theyre going to get us out of it.

Biden is set to meet with Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and other congressional leaders Tuesday afternoon to discuss the debt ceiling, after Treasury Department Secretary Janet Yellen warned lawmakers again Monday that the country could default as soon as June 1.

More coverage of the debt ceiling from The Hill:

Time is running out. Every single day that Congress does not act, we are experiencing increased economic costs that could slow down the U.S. economy, Yellen said in remarks to the Independent Community Bankers of America.

However, Biden and McCarthy still appear far from reaching a deal, even as the president is set to leave Wednesday for a seven-day trip to Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia.

Leaving the country right now is not where he should be, Mace said. He should be here, and they should be working something out to balance the budget, rein in spending over the next 10-20 years, something reasonable that both sides can agree to.

House Republicans have pushed to tie a debt limit increase to spending cuts, while Biden has remained steadfast in his demand for a clean increase of the debt ceiling.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
At the Council of Europe summit in Reykjavik on Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the creation of an international register of damage caused to Ukraine since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.

Source: AFP news outlet, reported by European Pravda

Details: In a speech at the opening of the Council of Europe summit, the French president said that the organisation had created an "international register of damage caused by Russia's aggression against Ukraine" on Tuesday.

"The Council [of Europe  ed.] is once again at the head of the side of the victims of aggression," Macron said, calling on "all states to actively participate in the development" of the register.

He has also called on the Council of Europe to facilitate the creation of one hundred psychological centres to help victims of Russian aggression under the auspices of the Council of Europe Development Bank.

The register of damage from Russian aggression will operate in the Netherlands. It will include evidence of damage and claims for compensation for damage or injury.

The register will be open to individuals and legal entities, as well as the Ukrainian state, including regional and local authorities, and state-owned or state-controlled enterprises.

Background: The Ministry of Justice of Ukraine has previously explained that the register of damage will become an integral part of the mechanism for compensation for damage caused by the Russian aggression on the territory of Ukraine and its elements at the international and national levels in the states concerned.

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Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance of Singapore Lawrence Wong in Beijing, capital of China, May 16, 2023. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

BEIJING, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang held talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance of Singapore Lawrence Wong in Beijing on Tuesday.

Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China and Singapore are friendly neighbors and important cooperative partners to each other.

Standing at a new historical starting point, China is ready to work with Singapore to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, open a new chapter of high-quality cooperation and bring more benefits to the two countries and peoples, Ding added.

He also said that the two sides should continue to make good use of the important platform of China-Singapore bilateral cooperation mechanism, strengthen policy communication, coordinate resources of all parties and deepen practical cooperation in various fields.

The two sides should strengthen cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, upgrade key cooperation projects such as the Tianjin Eco-City, Suzhou Industrial Park, China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity and Guangzhou Knowledge City, Ding said, adding that the two countries should continue to carry out cooperation in economy, trade, investment and finance, expand cooperation in new areas such as the digital economy and utilization of ocean energy, and deepen exchanges and cooperation in the fields such as health, education, culture and tourism.

Ding emphasized that maintaining regional prosperity and stability is the common pursuit of the two countries, and China is willing to work with Singapore to resist politicization of economic issues, maintain the stability and smoothness of global industrial and supply chains, promote the high-level implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and actively promote the building of version 3.0 of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area.

Wong said that the two sides enjoy solid foundation of friendly cooperation and strong bilateral relations, adding that Singapore adheres to the one-China policy, firmly supports the Belt and Road Initiative, and stands ready to work with China to make good use of the bilateral cooperation mechanism.

He also said Singapore is willing to expand practical cooperation with China in various fields, strengthen strategic alignment, deepen people-to-people exchanges, implement the all-round high-quality future-oriented partnership and push bilateral relations to a new level. 

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance of Singapore Lawrence Wong in Beijing, capital of China, May 16, 2023. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)
French President Emmanuel Macron has announced the transfer of missiles to Ukraine with a range that "allows Ukraine to resist".

Source: Macron in an interview with French TF1, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Macron noted that France has supplied Ukraine with many weapons, including CAESAR self-propelled artillery systems, ammunition and armoured vehicles.

The French president added that "new ammunition" would be sent to Ukraine.

"We are not at war with Russia; we are helping Ukraine resist the Russian invader. This means that we are not supplying weapons that could end up on Russian soil or attack Russia," he said.

He did not give details about the weapons for Ukraine, saying only that France would send missiles with a range that would "allow Ukraine to resist".

Background: The joint declaration of Ukraine and France following the meeting between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Emmanuel Macron referred, among other things, to Paris' intention to equip several Ukrainian battalions with dozens of armoured vehicles and light tanks, including the AMX-10RC.

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Five men have been sentenced to jail over the jewel heist - Reuters

Five members of a notorious mafia family have been jailed for one of the most audacious robberies in recent German history - the theft of diamond-encrusted jewels collected by the Saxonian monarchy.

The men, all aged under 30, were sentenced to jail terms of between four and six years over their role in the heist from the Green Vault museum in Dresden by the city court on Tuesday.

During court proceedings, the men detailed how they came up with the idea of robbing the museum after a friend visited it on a school trip. The men are close relatives and share the surname Remmo.

German investigators say that the Remmo family is one of Berlin's most powerful mafia families. It is suspected of involvement in drug trafficking and a series of bank robberies.

The men were handed relatively light sentences after doing a deal with authorities late last year in which they handed back 18 of the 21 ornaments and made confessions.

The men were handed relatively light sentences after giving back most of the loot - Reuters

The thieves made away with a haul worth more than 113 million euros - AFP

The length of the jail terms has come in for criticism from some quarters, with Berlins prosecutors association claiming it would encourage the mafia to act more offensively in the future.

Dresdens police have said however that they would have never seen the historical jewels again if they had not done a deal with the thieves.

Investigators have described the heist as part Sunday league, part Champions League due to the fact that the perpetrators mixed meticulous preparation with amateurish mistakes.

Their careful preparations involved cutting through the bars of a window a week beforehand and gluing the bars back into place.

They also disguised their getaway vehicle as a taxi, cleverly recognising that police would be less likely to control a taxi than a private vehicle.

One of the pieces stolen from the Royal Palace that houses the historic Green Vault - AFP

But several of the thieves didn't wear gloves while they smashed through the museum's display cabinets, meaning that they left DNA traces that proved key to the subsequent investigation.

The trove of jewels included a breast star of the Polish Order of the White Eagle and an ornate diamond head-dress collected in the 18th century by Augustus the Strong, Elector of Saxony.

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The thieves appear to have been unable to sell most of their booty on the black market and handed most of it back albeit in a damaged state.

Ringleader Wissam Remmo has admitted to carrying out an equally high profile robbery of a 100-kilogram gold coin from a Berlin museum.

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A lawyer for WeWoreWhat said the brand did not "copy, use, or reproduce any artwork belonging to Coco Belle." instagram.com/weworewhat, instagram.com/cocobellelosolivos

Danielle Bernstein is denying claims that she copied another brand's jewelry design.

California retailer Coco Belle said on Instagram that it "looks like" Bernstein copied its necklace.

A WeWoreWhat rep adamantly denied the claims to Insider, noting the necklace was inspired by an estate sale purchase.

Danielle Bernstein, the Instagram influencer and entrepreneur behind fashion label WeWoreWhat, is again denying allegations that she copied the work of a smaller designer in launching her first jewelry collection.

Bernstein formally announced the jewelry venture last week, alongside a photo of a necklace, which looked like an equal-sided cross adorned with beads. But a post featuring a similar necklace, shared two days prior by the Southern California retailer Coco Belle, fueled speculation online that Bernstein copied its design.

Bernstein and her team adamantly deny these claims. A lawyer for WeWoreWhat told Insider that she was inspired by an estate sale purchase from 2021, and provided an image receipt of her wearing it then. However, fellow influencers and Reddit snarkers have been quick to cast blame because it's not the first time Bernstein has been at the center of similar controversies.

Speculation first started swirling when the brand Coco Belle responded to an Instagram comment about whether WeWoreWhat copied its jewelry design last Tuesday.

"Yes, looks like it. She asked me for a free one last year and I declined because we are a small business and want to make sure everyone has a one of a kind piece," the company wrote.

Since, several creators have taken Coco Belle's side. New York City-based lifestyle Instagrammer Hattie Kolp shared a story last week urging fans to buy the necklace from the smaller retailer instead. TikToker Hannah Stella then shared a viral video alluding to the Bernstein and Coco Belle scandal to explain why "dupe culture," or a bigger brand stealing the designs of a smaller brand, is problematic.

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When reached about the allegation, Coco Belle owner Pearl Brouillet told Insider over Instagram DM that she is "very concerned about involving myself in any dialogue surrounding Danielle."

"I'm aware of the recent dialogue surrounding one of my designs that has since appeared elsewhere," Brouillet said. "I prefer to maintain the integrity of our brand, and the legacy my father founded in the pearl industry, by focusing on creating timeless pieces for clients who value authenticity."

"We extend our support to the talented small businesses creating unique and genuine goods, and appreciate those in positions of influence who use their platform for the good of others," she added.

Bernstein's team, however, is denying any wrongdoing. A lawyer for WeWoreWhat, Robert Salame, told Insider that the label "did not copy, use, or reproduce any artwork belonging to Coco Belle."

Salame sent Insider a receipt from the Connecticut estate sale where Bernstein said she sourced the piece in question. The receipt shows Bernstein paid $5,400 for the item on May 21, 2021. Salame also shared photos of Bernstein wearing the necklace in May 2021.

"No one involved in the design process, in any way, copied or otherwise drew inspiration for the WeWoreWhat Design from the Coco Belle design," Salame said in an email statement.

Despite her team's pushback in this instance, the immense and immediate backlash against Bernstein online is largely due to the fact that she has been repeatedly accused of copying fellow designers that date back to 2018.

Over the last five years, Bernstein has been accused of copying designs for a WeWoreWhat dress and skirt, a COVID-era mask, and a pair of tan shorts.

Most recently, she was accused of copying a dress from the indie brand We Are Kin by that brand's founder, Ngoni Chikwenengere, who also claimed that Bernstein had reached out asking for a sample of the piece. Bernstein denied the allegations.

"I'm fed up with this false narrative being spread about me stealing designs when I have time after time proven each accusation false," she wrote on Instagram at the time.

Read the original article on Insider
Hippos, seen here along the Shire River, are territorial and tend to be fiercely protective of their young

A one-year-old boy has died and 23 people are missing after a hippo hit their boat, capsizing it in Malawi's biggest river, police say.

Rescue teams are searching for survivors, but hopes of finding anyone alive are fading as the accident occurred on Monday.

The boat was packed with villagers who were crossing the Shire River to work in their fields, as they normally do.

For reasons that are still unclear, a hippo attacked their boat this time.

A total of 14 people managed to swim to safety or were rescued by other villagers who dived into the river to help.

But they failed to rescue the only child in the boat.

His body was recovered by the police maritime unit when it arrived to carry out rescue and search operations.

The accident occurred in the remote Nsanje district in southern Malawi, near the border with Mozambique.

"Officers have been on the scene since yesterday [Monday] when the accident was reported, searching for missing persons," police spokeswoman for Nsanje district, Agnes Zalakoma, told the BBC.

Local MP Gladys Ganda has repeatedly called for a bridge to be built so that people do not have to risk their lives crossing the river in boats and canoes, but her appeal has so far fallen on deaf ears.

The Shire River is home to many hippos and crocodiles, and boats and canoes are often overcrowded or poorly maintained.

Vessels have capsized before, leading to villagers drowning. But it is rare to hear of a hippo charging at a boat in that part of Malawi.

Such attacks have taken place elsewhere in Malawi, including on fishermen.

Hippos tend to be territorial - and female hippos are known to be extremely aggressive, fiercely defending their young from any perceived threat.

They are the second largest land animal after elephants, and are estimated to kill about 500 people a year in Africa.

Male hippos weigh between 1,600kg (more than 250 stone) and 3,200kg, and females between 650kg and 2,350kg.
Mammography

Credit - Michael Hanschke/Picture AllianceGetty Images

For decades, women have received changing advice about who should mammogram screenings for breast cancer, and how often. The guidelines have been especially variable for women in their 40sleading them confused about what schedule is right for them.

The recommendations may be changing yet again. From 2016 until now, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), a government body of experts that regularly reviews data on important health issues, has advised women ages 40 to 50 to make personalized decisions about their screening schedule after discussing their health history and risks for breast cancer with their doctors. But in May, the task force concluded that most women in their 40s who are at average risk for breast cancer should get mammograms every other year. That means that the task force now believes all women ages 40 to 74 should be screened every other year, since the group already recommends that women 50 to 74 get screened every other year. The USPSTF is accepting public comment on the new proposed guidelines until June 5, 2023 before making a final recommendation.

The USPSTF isnt the only health group with mammogram guidelines; other professional organizations recommend even more frequent screeningsbut these can come with risks. Heres what women should know about the potential changes and how it affects them.

The data behind the new guidelines

The proposed updated guidelines reflect the latest data, says USPSTF member Dr. John Wong, a professor of medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine. Since the groups last recommendation, new data show that the risk of breast cancer for women in their 40s is higher than previously thought. More women than ever before are developing breast cancer in their 40s, he says. From 2015 to 2019, the latest years for which we reviewed data, every year an additional 2% of women were developing breast cancer in this age group.

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More sophisticated forms of imaging have also helped to support the readings from X-ray-based mammograms, and give doctors additional information to make more accurate interpretations and lowering the risk of detecting false positive growths.

The task force also looked at research that forecasted what would happen to breast cancer rates if current trends continued. They combined that with the impact of new, more targeted cancer treatments. Starting screening every other year at age 40 could increase the number of lives saved by as much as 20% compared to the 2016 recommendations, says Wong. The benefit is even greater for Black women, who are more likely to get aggressive cancers and are more likely to die of their breast cancers.

Data that the task force reviewed show that Black women are 40% more likely than white women to die of breast cancer, despite similar screening frequencies between the two groups. That may be due to the fact that it takes longer for Black women to receive follow-up care after getting a mammogram. We are calling on and urging health care providers to make sure all women have timely follow up and timely, effective, and equitable high-quality treatment for their breast cancer, says Wong. He says more research is needed to understand breast cancer trends among different racial and ethnic groups, including Hispanic and Asian women, and the impact that mammogram screening can have in lowering cancer incidence.

Is even more screening better?

How much screening is enough remains a highly debated question. Groups other than the USPSTF, for example, recommend that women in this age group get screened even more frequently. The American College of Radiology recommends that all women start getting mammograms beginning at age 40 every year to monitor for breast cancer. The American Cancer Society, on the other hand, advises most women to start screening at age 45 with annual mammograms, then move to getting them every other year at age 55.

But such schedules are too frequent, the USPSTF experts found. The benefits of screening and catching cancer early should be balanced by the risks of over-diagnosis and over-treatment, which increase with yearly mammograms from that young age and can detect small and often benign lesions that might not become malignant. Addressing them comes at considerable psychological, physical, and economic cost, the group concluded after analyzing available data.

Still, some breast cancer experts say the alternate year screening may not be enough, especially for detecting the aggressive cancers that women of color tend to develop. Dr. Daniel Kopans, professor of radiology at Massachusetts General Hospital who has argued that the data support yearly mammogram screening for women 40 to 74, says the present recommendation is a much-delayed win for women. We will never know how many lives have been lost by those who followed the previous USPSTF guidelines. Some studies suggest that if women in their 30s waited until age 50 to get mammograms every other year, as the current USPSTF guidelines currently recommend, that up to 100,000 would die of breast cancer because their cancers would not have been caught early. Why would we want to give cancer an extra year to grow, spread, and become incurable? says Kopans.

Experts considering the economic and psychological costs of repeat screens and over-diagnosis, however, say that yearly screening adds $1.2 billion of additional cost for the U.S. health care system each year, and that more regular mammogram guidelines only widen the gap between the insuredfor whom these services are coveredand the uninsured, who may not be able to afford them and therefore skip them.

Personalized screening recommendations are the future

Using one main criterionin this case, ageto make a blanket recommendation for all women within a certain risk group will never work perfectly. Thats why some breast-cancer experts are advocating a shift away from general, population-based advice toward more personalized screening guidelines that emphasize each womans individual health and family history. This, they say, will better determine the best time for any given woman to start receiving mammograms and how often to get them.

That may be on the horizon, as more women take advantage of genetic sequencing to identify their particular cancer risk, and researchers gain deeper knowledge about how various risk factorsfrom genetics to family history and environmental exposurescontribute to a condition like breast cancer.

But for now, the broader population based advice can serve as a starting point for helping women and their doctors determine when and how mammogram screenings can help them.
Phoenix police

A man whom police shot at and struck with a baton during a standoff on Sunday night was arrested under multiple charges including aggravated assault on an officer, according to Phoenix police.

Police identified the man as 38-year-old Eberto Juan Hernandez Jr.

Officers responded to a call of shots fired just before 8:30 p.m. near 39th Avenue and Cactus Road in north Phoenix. The caller said that shots had been fired minutes ago behind their house and a witness at the home reported that they saw the man firing a gun in the backyard.

When officers arrived, they contacted the caller at the front door of the home. During the conversation, a man came to the door and fired several shots toward the ground inside the home. Both officers took positions of cover and set up containment on the house, according to police.

The man approached the front door and raised a gun toward the officers, police said. An officer shot his handgun at the suspect but did not strike him. The suspect retreated into the home and commands were given to the suspect to exit the home.

The suspect stood in the doorway and did not obey police commands, police said. Again, the man reached toward his waistband, and an officer discharged a 40 mm foam baton, striking him. After being struck, the suspect again retreated into the home and commands were continuously given to the suspect to exit the house, police said.

The suspect eventually came out of the house unarmed and was taken into custody. Family members also came out of the house and were not injured.

There were no injuries to any officers or community members during this incident. The suspect was booked into Maricopa County jail, police said.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Man arrested after officers shot at him during standoff at a home
A mysterious man suddenly appeared in a middle school girls bathroom and offered a student hypodermic needles, Maine cops said.

Police officers were called to King Middle School in Portland over a suspicious man in the building around 8:50 a.m. on Monday, May 15, according to the Portland Police Department.

The 43-year-old Portland resident is accused of resisting arrest after officers found him at one of the schools entrances, police said in a May 16 news release.

He was arrested on charges of criminal trespass, violation of privacy and refusing to submit to arrest or detention and physical force, according to authorities.

Its unclear why the man entered the school and offered the girl needles.

Hypodermic needles are used alongside syringes to inject substances into the skin.

The man, who does not belong to the King community, walked into the school through an open door when students were arriving, Portland Public School spokeswoman Tess Nacelewicz told McClatchy News in a statement on May 16.

Initially, the man approached the building from the rear parking lot and unsuccessfully tried to gain access through locked doors, Nacelewicz said. However, contrary to school security protocols, a classroom door was propped open and the man was able to gain access there. He was seen by a student who was outside and who reported it to a teacher.

Afterward, he went into the bathroom and offered needles to the student, who immediately walked out of the bathroom, according to Nacelewicz.

Then, the man left the building along with a group of students and teachers exiting through a side door before police found him outside one of the schools entrances, Nacelewicz said. Several teachers noticed the man as he was leaving and reported his presence to administration.

During his arrest, authorities didnt find drugs, weapons or needles, according to Nacelewicz.

She said he was inside the school for a few minutes and parents were informed of the matter that day.

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As a result of the incident, we are reinforcing the need to ensure all exterior doors are locked and also reinforcing our process for monitoring entrances, Nacelewicz added.

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A man critically hurt in a shooting outside a Clifton hotel on Monday night died overnight, according to the Hamilton County Coroners Office.

His name was not immediately released Tuesday morning as Cincinnati police homicide detectives join the investigation.

Cincinnati police said the 34-year-old man was shot multiple times around 10:30 p.m. in the parking lot of a hotel in the 3300 block of Central Parkway.

The victim underwent surgery as soon as he was transported to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center with life-threatening injuries, police said early Tuesday.

Another victim showed up at The Christ Hospital around 11:20 p.m.

Enquirer media partner Fox 19 provided this report

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Man killed in shooting near Clifton hotel
The owners of Glaciers Italian Ice in Southwest Atlanta said someone smashed their doors and drew racist images on the outside.

Surveillance video inside the store shows the exact moment someone threw an object into the door of Glaciers Italian Ice ATL in Southwest Atlanta over the weekend. Ten seconds later, they did it again.

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They were closed for business on Monday as they tried to raise money for repairs.

The man, who Atlanta police arrested and identified as Abreu Williams, threw the object at the window two more times.

They broke the front window. There was no prior altercation. They just did it and walked off, said Jalani Traxler with Glaciers Italian Ice ATL.

Traxler said its disturbing because this situation is not only affecting the business but the kids, they help.

To give children specifically, black teenage boys jobs between the ages of 14-17, said Traxler.

Traxler said Glaciers Italian Ice supports a youth entrepreneurship program.

Black youth especially on the side of the street selling water or getting out of juvenile lockup, or just having a hard time at home need an outlet. They need a space, he said.

Traxler said the man not only broke into their space but also vandalized it.

The emblem being there, the Swastika being there does create a dark contrast, said Traxler.

TRENDING STORIES:

APD said Williams was charged with Disorderly Conduct.

They said Williams was having a mental crisis at the time.

We dont want anyone to go to jail or be faced with any prosecutions. We want them to be helped, but were thinking about the safety of our children, said Traxler.

As of right now, the business is closed while they try to repair the damages.

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The door will cost them about $9,000. If you want to help, they have set up a GoFundMe.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
By Sarah N. Lynch

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins will resign her post by Friday, her lawyer said on Tuesday, after the prosecutor became the subject of a wide-ranging ethics investigation by the Justice Department inspector general's office.

Rollins, the first Black woman to serve as the top federal prosecutor in Massachusetts, is a prominent figure in the "progressive prosecutor" movement that supports policies designed to eliminate racial disparities in the justice system.

"Rachael has been profoundly honored to serve as U.S. Attorney over the past 16 months and is incredibly proud of all her office has accomplished during that limited time, especially in the areas of gun violence and civil rights," her attorney Michael Bromwich said in a statement to Reuters.

"After the dust settles and she resigns, Rachael will make herself available to answer questions," Bromwich added.

Her resignation comes after a months-long investigation by Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz - launched at the urging of a Republican senator - after Rollins last July attended a Democratic National Committee fundraising event in Massachusetts with U.S. first lady Jill Biden.

The investigation later broadened to examine her travel and her use of her personal cellphone for official business, among other things, Reuters previously reported.

The results of the investigation have not yet been made public, though her attorney told Reuters last month that Rollins was in the process of reviewing and providing comments on a final draft of the investigative report.

Rollins is one of the 93 U.S. attorneys appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate to serve as the lead federal prosecutors in various regions around the country.

Bromwich announced her decision to resign her post not long after Rollins met with officials in Washington at the Justice Department on Tuesday. Bromwich said he was unable to discuss the report's findings due to a non-disclosure agreement.

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The inspector general's investigation began at the urging of Republican Senator Tom Cotton after the Boston Herald photographed Rollins arriving in a government vehicle at the house in Andover, Massachusetts where the Democratic fundraising event was held.

The U.S. Office of Special Counsel, an independent government internal watchdog entity, last August launched a parallel probe into whether Rollins violated a law called the Hatch Act that restricts political activity by federal government employees.

Cotton was one of the leading Senate Republicans to oppose her nomination by President Joe Biden. Rollins was narrowly confirmed by the Senate in December 2021 after Vice President Kamala Harris cast the tie-breaking vote.

"I warned Democratic senators that Rachael Rollins wasn't only a pro-criminal ideologue, but also had a history of poor judgment and ethical lapses," Cotton said in a statement on Tuesday.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland had vowed when he assumed his post as the nation's top law enforcement official to protect the Justice Department from partisan influence. The controversy surrounding Rollins has threatened to undermine that pledge.

The Massachusetts U.S. attorney's office in the past decade has taken on high-profile prosecutions including mobster James "Whitey" Bulger, the Boston Marathon bomber and a probe into wealthy parents' use of bribery to secure their children's admission into elite universities.

(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Editing by Will Dunham)
A tea ceremony is performed during a tea cultural event in Kathmandu, Nepal, May 16, 2023. The role of tea as an important bond connecting Nepal and China was highlighted here on Tuesday as a tea cultural event drew many Nepalis and Chinese together. (Photo by Hari Maharjan/Xinhua)

KATHMANDU, May 16 (Xinhua) -- The role of tea as an important bond connecting Nepal and China was highlighted here on Tuesday as a tea cultural event drew many Nepalis and Chinese together.

The event entitled "Tea for Harmony: Yaji Cultural Salon" included a photo exhibition on tea history and culture in China, a display of clay teapots, demonstrations of tea ceremony and refreshments making as well as a tea-themed lecture.

Yaji in Chinese means "gathering all that is elegant," and Chinese people in ancient times, in particular the elites, enjoyed tea with music, calligraphy and other cultural activities.

Tea is deeply rooted in the Chinese culture, and it is in Nepali culture, said Sudan Kirati, Nepal's minister for culture, tourism and civil aviation.

"In China, tea is taken as a symbol of bridge between nature and mankind, and serving tea to welcome guests is a long-held tradition in Nepal," the minister said at the opening ceremony of the event.

"Such programs, I believe, help strengthen the people-to-people relationship between the two nations," he added. "Nepal can benefit a lot from China which is marching on the path of prosperity."

Tea originated in China and became popular around the world. In December 2019, the United Nations declared May 21 the International Tea Day, and "Traditional tea processing techniques and associated social practices in China" was added to the UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage list in November 2022.

Referring to the developments, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song stressed that the UNESCO's move once again proves the "unique charm and global influence" of the Chinese culture and reflects the important contribution of Chinese civilization to human cultural diversity.

"Tea is not only a vehicle for the Chinese belief in harmony between human and nature, but also an important bond connecting China and the rest of the world," Chen said at the opening ceremony.

In recent years, Nepal's tea has increased its presence in the Chinese market, and China has offered zero-tariff treatment on 98 percent of taxable products of Nepal, with tea included, noted the ambassador.

"We welcome Nepal to export more good-quality tea to China, and look forward to conducting more tea-related exchanges to deepen our friendship," Chen added.

"Tea for Harmony: Yaji Cultural Salon" is an event held worldwide around May 21. 

A tea ceremony is performed during a tea cultural event in Kathmandu, Nepal, May 16, 2023. The role of tea as an important bond connecting Nepal and China was highlighted here on Tuesday as a tea cultural event drew many Nepalis and Chinese together. (Photo by Hari Maharjan/Xinhua)
Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Tuesday left a meeting on the debt ceiling with President Biden and other congressional leaders saying the structure of negotiations had improved and that he held out hope a deal would be possible in the coming days.

While the two sides are still working through key differences, McCarthy told reporters that Biden had changed the scope of who is involved in talks, appointing White House officials to work directly with members of the Speakers team as they try to reach an agreement.

So, the structure of how we negotiate has improved. So it now gives you a better opportunity, even though we only have a few days to get it done, McCarthy told reporters after a roughly hourlong meeting.

McCarthy has said officials only have a few days to reach a deal in order to avoid default before June 1, which is the date the Treasury Department has warned the U.S. may default on its debts.

It is possible to get a deal by the end of the week. Its not that difficult to get to an agreement, McCarthy said.

Prior coverage of the debt ceiling from The Hill:

Shalanda Young, a longtime Capitol Hill aide and head of the Office of Management and Budget, will lead talks for the White House along with top Biden adviser Steve Ricchetti.

The Speakers rhetoric appeared more optimistic than a week ago, when he left a meeting with Biden and other congressional leaders saying attendees had merely restated their existing positions. But in the week since, staff members have huddled for negotiations, which both sides have characterized as positive.

If this was where we were in February, Id be very optimistic, McCarthy said, referring to the Feb. 1 meeting he had with Biden to start budget talks.

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Democrats sound more optimistic

Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.)

Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) addresses reporters following the weekly policy luncheon on Tuesday, May 2, 2023.

Democratic leaders also left the meeting with a more optimistic tone compared to last week. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said that everyone in the room, including McCarthy, agreed that a bipartisan solution is needed to avoid default.

He added that he was glad to see that everyone understood what a disaster default was and said that the conversation was more cordial than last week, with honest and real discussions that were respectful.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) also described the conversation as open, honest and cordial.

Where do parties differ?

Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.)

Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) speaks to reporters at the Capitol following a meeting at the White House with Congressional leaders and Vice President Harris to discuss the debit ceiling on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Greg Nash)

There are still areas of disagreement on talks, with House Republicans pushing for significant spending cuts and repeatedly pointing to a bill that passed with no Democratic votes late last month. The White House has said it would veto that bill and warned that the GOP proposals would lead to steep, across-the-board cuts to government services.

The White House has maintained for months that it is Congresss responsibility to raise the debt ceiling without conditions. But in recent days, Biden has signaled there are spending areas he is willing to negotiate, including unspent COVID-19 relief funds and certain work requirement programs.

McCarthy on Tuesday called rescinding the COVID funding a no-brainer, adding that he thinks at the end of the day, it will be in the bill.

In terms of work requirement programs, the speaker argued they lift people out of poverty [and] put them into jobs, adding that they can also help supply chains by having able-bodied people with no dependents  build things in America.

Bidens recent comments have elicited criticism from some Democrats, who worry about the White House making too many concessions.

But press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre waved away those concerns, arguing Biden was drawing on years of experience to try to get a deal across the finish line and avoid default.

This is a president who has been around the block a few times. He knows how to make deals. He knows how this works, Jean-Pierre said. And theres no one more experienced in knowing how to get this done.

June 1 deadline looms

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has set a firm deadline of June 1 to avoid default. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama, Pool)

The second meeting in the past eight days comes up against the June 1 deadline the Treasury Department determined would be the date the U.S. could default on trillions of dollars of debt, which could cause havoc on the financial system.

Biden is set to leave for Japan for the Group of Seven (G-7) summit Wednesday and will return to Washington on Sunday, cutting short his original itinerary in order to resume debt talks. When asked if Biden should even be attending the G-7, McCarthy said the president can make his own decisions about his time.

Biden is expected to check in with congressional leaders by phone later this week, the White House said, with an in-person meeting planned for next week when the president returns from overseas.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said he hopes that a new effort to oust indicted Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) goes to the same place as the first one  a House committee.

The California Republican told reporters Tuesday he would like to see the latest expulsion resolution introduced by Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) referred to the Ethics Committee when it comes up for a vote, which could happen as soon as this week.

I would like the Ethics Committee to move rapidly on this. I think theres enough information out there now that they could start looking at this and I think they could come back to Congress probably faster than a court case, McCarthy told reporters after returning from a meeting at the White House about the debt ceiling.

I'm starting the process of forcing a floor vote on our resolution to expel George Santos from the U.S. House of Representatives. Republicans will now have a chance to demonstrate to the American people that an admitted liar and criminal should not serve in Congress. pic.twitter.com/GLmskqnier  Congressman Robert Garcia (@RepRobertGarcia) May 16, 2023

The only problem? Ethics already has an expulsion resolution on its plate. A previous proposal, also from Garcia, has languished in the committee since being referred there in February.

Though McCarthy said this time will be different, Garcia had already speculated that such a move could happen as a way to block an up-or-down vote on whether Santos, who was indicted last week, should remain in Congress.

Speaker McCarthy has obviously empowered George Santos on a variety of votes. Hes given his keys away to folks like George Santos and Marjorie Taylor Greene, Garcia said, referring to the far-right Republican congresswoman from Georgia.

Unlike in February, Garcia used a procedural move this time, making his new resolution a question of the privileges of the House to ensure it would get to the floor. But that wont necessarily mean Garcia will get an up-or-down expulsion vote.

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Referring it to committee, or simply setting it aside by tabling it, would take only a majority vote. Under the U.S. Constitution, expelling Santos would require a two-thirds majority, meaning many Republicans would have to go along with Garcia for him to succeed.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) speaks to reporters at a news conference Tuesday.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) speaks to reporters at a news conference Tuesday.

This is going to put, particularly, those folks in New York, freshman colleagues of mine, on the record to see if they believe that someone that has admitted to defrauding and to lying should continue to serve in the Congress, he said.

Historically, only five members have been expelled, according to the Congressional Research Service. Of those, three were expelled for disloyalty in the Civil War era. But two, Reps. Michael Myers (D-Pa.) in 1980 and James Traficant (D-Ohio) in 2002, were expelled in relation to crimes like bribery, racketeering, conspiracy and tax evasion.

McCarthy and other Republican leaders have urged patience on the Santos matter, saying he will go through the legal process and noting Santos has already stepped off of his committees, which is required under House GOP rules for indicted members. McCarthy has, however, said he doesnt support Santos reelection.

Garcia said Santos  who faces charges of money laundering and unemployment benefits fraud, among others  should have left or been kicked out of Congress in February.

He should be expelled. I believe he should have been expelled when we introduced the resolution a couple of months ago, Garcia said.

Its very clear that hes a liar, hes a fraud.
PROVIDENCE  Richard Charest, the governor's nominee to head the $3.6-billion super-agency known as the Executive Office of Health & Human Services, won the unanimous endorsement of a Senate committee on Tuesday night after garnering heaps of praise from union leaders with whom he has worked in his current state job.

His nomination is now headed to the full Senate for a confirmation vote next Tuesday after a hearing at which he acknowledged his frustration that the state-run hospital he currently runs still relies on paper records and does not yet have the electronic medical records system he cited as a top priority when he took the job two years ago.

He said the state awaits responses, at the end of this month, to a request for proposals for the planning of this critical leap into the digital age, despite the unspent $22.4 million that state lawmakers appropriated for the transition a year ago.

But he voiced hope that a study underway by the state's health insurance commissioner will help Rhode Island come up with a better way to determine adequate Medicaid reimbursements for financially struggling nursing homes, behavioral health care providers and others.

"We're actually frankly excited about the way that this is rolling out," he said. "There'll be incentives for quality. There'll be different rates for different levels of illness. So somebody that has a severe [and] persistent mental illness may have a higher rate of rate of reimbursement than something else."

"This will be, to my mind, a generational change in the way that providers are able to get compensated for the services that they provide. And we obviously are very, very excited about moving that forward."

Who is Richard Charest?

One of Gov. Dan McKee's first hires after his mid-term ascension to governor, Charest has been director since June 2021 of the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals, one of the state agencies under the umbrella of the Executive Office of Health & Human Services.

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Since his arrival at BHDDH, Richard Charest has made significant strides and improvements, including the opening of a new state psychiatric hospital and ensuring that Eleanor Slater Hospital is on a positive and stable path, McKee said last Friday when he announced Charest as his nominee for EOHHS secretary.

Before his entry into state government, Charest was CEO of Landmark Medical Center during a period when the hospital was failing and headed for receivership. He takes credit for shepherding the hospital to a financial turnaround before its sale to California-based Prime Healthcare.

In response to a query on a Senate questionnaire about potential conflicts of interest  and how he intended to resolve them  Charest wrote: "I am the treasurer/board member of Community Care Alliance; BHDDH licenses/provides funds to the organization ... I will be resigning." (On Thursday, his spokesman Randal Edgar said Charest actually resigned from the board before he became BHDDH director, but the Senate was initially provided with an "an old packet of information.")

In his most recent ethics-disclosure filing and in his responses to a Senate questionnaire he also disclosed that he has been the president and owner of 180 Degree Solutions LLC since 2020, "providing consulting services for health care management and operations, as well as business turnaround strategies."

But Edgar said Charest has not had any clients since working for BHDDH under a $125-an-hour, six-month contract before his appointment as the agency's director in June 2021.

Eleanor Slater Hospital's Regan Unit in Cranston.

Eleanor Slater Hospital's Regan Unit in Cranston.

Responding an inquiry at that time, Edgar said Charest had a six-month contract to "assist the hospital CEO, providing day-to-day operational support and leadership advice."

In that role, Edgar said, he helped BHDDH ready the "Certificate of Need" application the department ultimately submitted to the state Department of Health to convert one of the buildings on the hospital's Cranston campus into a standalone psychiatric hospital.

During his time as a consultant, he told lawmakers, he also worked on a memorandum of understanding to use the state medical examiner's morgue, in lieu of the decrepit facilities on the two state hospital campuses in Cranston and Burrillville, and assisted in the controversial review of patient medical records and "coding practices ... [that] determine what the reimbursement should be."

More: McKee taps new head of RI 'super agency' EOHHS. Here's what we know.

Richard Charest

While McKee credited Charest with bringing stability to BHDDH  and the "last resort" hospital under its wing  and lobbyists for Council 94, AFSCME and Local 580, SEIU sang his praises, at least one long-term critic is waiting in the wings: Sen. Sam Bell, D-Providence.

"After the Biden administration investigation, the deaths and the videos, not firing Charest for negligence is extremely questionable. Promoting him is indefensible," Bell tweeted. (Bell, who is not a member of the committee that conducted Tuesday's hearing, referred in part to past investigations by the federal Medicaid funding agency of lax COVID-19 prevention protocols and the "alarming video" of a contraband search of the state hospital.)

What does EOHHS do?

EOHHS runs the state Medicaid program. It also oversees the operations of the Department of Health, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Children, Youth & Families, the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities & Hospitals and the Offices of Healthy Aging and Veterans Affairs, which "provide direct safety-net services to over 350,000 Rhode Islanders."

The umbrella agency has been operating with an interim chief since the last EOHHS secretary, Raimondo-era Womazetta Jones, resigned last May.

EOHHS has also been the focus of a series of legal, political and administrative headaches over the years, including then-Gov. Gina Raimondo's multimillion "UHIP" computer debacle.

Subject to Senate approval, Charest will leave his current job, and his deputy, Louis Cerbo, will serve as Interim BHDDH director until a permanent selection is made.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Charest, McKee's pick to lead EOHHS, faces Senate confirmation hearing
Yevgeny Prigozhin (left) assists Vladimir Putin during a dinner with foreign scholars and journalists on an equestrian complex outside Moscow, November 11, 2011. REUTERS/Misha Japaridze/Pool/File Photo

Yevgeny Prigozhin is a Russian tycoon with ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Prigozhin said he founded Wagner, a mercenary group that has played an active role in Ukraine.

Wagner's involvement in Bakhmut has led Prigozhin to clash heads with some of Putin's top generals.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of a Russian mercenary group known as Wagner, has played an active role in the war in Ukraine.

Russian billionaire and businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin in Saint Petersburg, Russia, on June 17, 2016. Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images

Wagner was formed in 2014, but Prigozhin only claimed to be the founder of the group in September last year.

The group is not a legally-registered entity and mercenaries are illegal under Russian law, according to The Times. But it is still seen as a de-facto private military service for the Kremlin.

According to the BBC, Wagner troops were first deployed during Russia's annexation of Crimea. Wagner also sent soldiers throughout Africa and the Middle East, according to The Times. UN investigators accused the group of committing war crimes in 2021.

While Prigozhin has played an active role in the war, he has increasingly criticized Putin for not supplying his troops with enough ammo. He 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.

Prigozhin has previously been described as one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's closest allies.

Prigozhin is shown prior to a meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia. Sergei Ilnitsky/Pool Photo via AP

Prigozhin does not hold any official government position but became a confidant to the Russian leader for many years, even in matters of state affairs.

Before becoming Putin's friend and amassing his wealth, Prigozhin served several years in a Russian penal colony.

Yevgeny Prigozhin on August 9, 2016. Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP

Born on June 1, 1961, in Leningrad, now St. Petersburg, Russia, Prigozhin was convicted of assault, robbery, and fraud in 1981, according to court documents obtained by Meduza, an independent Russian publication.

He was sentenced to 13 years in a penal colony but was released in nine years around the fall of the Soviet Union.

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According to The New York Times, Prigozhin started his foray into the food business soon after his release by opening up a hot dog stand.

He then opened a convenience store before he started a chain of restaurants with a few partners in St. Petersburg.

His relationship with Putin began after Prigozhin set up a catering business, which frequently served the Russian leader, earning him the nickname "Putin's chef."

Prigozhin serves Putin dinner at the Cheval Blanc restaurant outside Moscow, Russia, on November 11, 2011. Misha Japaridze/Pool/Reuters

Prigozhin founded one of his major companies, Concord Catering, in 1996 as he started his restaurant business, Wired reported.

According to The Times, he soon earned the nickname of "Putin's chef."

It's unclear when he received the moniker, but over the next decade, Prigozhin's catering business received lucrative government contracts to feed Russia's schools and military, as well as an opportunity to host state banquets.

Concord Catering served at the inaugurations of Dmitri A. Medvedev and Putin, the New York Times reported. Putin would also celebrate his birthdays at Prigozhin's restaurants.

The state contracts in a span of five years were reported to be worth $3.1 billion, according to an investigation by the Anti-Corruption Foundation that was cited by The Times.

Prigozhin also heads up other companies and financed one that has been accused of meddling with the US election.

Prigozhin at a foreign investors meeting in St. Petersburg in 2016. Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images

As well as his catering business, Prigozhin is publicly known to have founded Concord Management and Consulting Company and started his own online news service, according to The Times.

A 2018 indictment from the Justice Department also alleged that Prigozhin financed a so-called troll factory known as the Internet Research Agency.

The indictment, which included 12 other Russians and Prigozhin's Concord catering and consulting businesses, alleged that the Internet Research Agency "engaged in operations to interfere with elections and political processes."

The company did so in part by creating "false US personas" and operating social media pages discussing politics and social issues.

Prigozhin previously denied his involvement, but on November 7, 2022, he admitted to interfering in Western elections in a post on the Russian social media site VKontakte.

"We have interfered, we are interfering and we will continue to interfere," Prigozhin said. "Carefully, accurately, surgically, and in our own way, as we know how to do."

"During our pinpoint operations, we will remove both kidneys and the liver at once," Prigozhin added, alluding to the surgical-like nature of the operation.

Over the decades, the oligarch has earned the ear of Putin. When Putin's invasion of Ukraine faltered, Prigozhin told him where he was going wrong.

Prigozhin shows Putin his school lunch factory outside Saint Petersburg on September 20, 2010. ALEXEY DRUZHININ/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images

With his control of the Wagner mercenary group, he's also been an influential player during Russia's war in Ukraine.

But as reports of Russia's losses in Ukraine circulated in September last year, Prigozhin expressed misgivings about the Kremlin's management of the war to Putin, the Washington Post reported at the time.

Prigozhin denied the report to The Post and said that he "did not criticize the management of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation during the conflict in Ukraine."

But Prigozhin has previously expressed criticism against the country's military leadership.

When the Chechen Republic's head, Ramazan Kadyrov, called out a Russian commander and senior officers after Russia was forced out of Lyman in Ukraine, Prigozhin echoed those critiques, according to BBC.

As Russia's invasion of Ukraine wore on, Prigozhin began recruiting convicts to serve in the Wagner Group, and by extension help the Kremlin in its fight.

Prigozhin addresses former convicts as he releases them from serving in his mercenary army, according to state-controlled media RIA Novosti

In September, footage emerged of a man strongly resembling Prigozhin addressing convicts in a Russian prison yard.

In it, the man offered a deal: fight for the Wagner Group in Ukraine for six months, and you get a pardon. Those who sign up and then run away will be executed, he said.

The video echoed reporting by The Wall Street Journal that Wagner was recruiting fighters from Russian prisons, something that was later confirmed by Russian state media.

In January this year, Russian state-controlled news agency RIA Novosti shared footage of what it described as Prigozhin releasing his first batch of convicts from service.

He told the newly-pardoned men that society should respect them  and casually warned them against committing new crimes, like rape.

"Don't drink, don't use drugs, don't rape broads, behave yourselves," he said.

Prigozhin's threat that he would punish any recruited prisoner who deserted was chillingly backed up in November 2022.

A helmet of a soldier is seen after Russian Forces withdrew from Balakliia, Ukraine, on September 15, 2022. Metin Aktas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Video emerged of the brutal killing of a man who identified himself as Yevgeny Nuzhin, and who said he had signed up to serve with Wagner as a prisoner but then surrendered to Ukraine. He said he was told he would face retribution.

It is unclear who committed the execution.

Prigozhin acknowledged the video by calling Nuzhin a "traitor" in a statement that celebrated the man's death.

But in February 2023, Prigozhin announced that he was stopping the recruitment of prisoners. Several reports emerged that many convicts refused to join because they were worried they would simply for used as "cannon fodder" in Ukraine.

Wagner Group head Yevgeny Prigozhin attends the funeral of his fighters at the Beloostrovskoye cemetery outside St. Petersburg, Russia, on December 24, 2022. AP Photo

Prigozhin said in a Telegram statement in February that the mercenary organization has now "completely" stopped recruiting prisoners. He offered no explanation for this.

A prisoner in Russia's Tula region told the independent Russian media outlet Meduza in a report that inmates no longer want "even to discuss the possibility" of joining the war in Ukraine.

"One of the prisoners who left [with Wagner Group] told me that after he asked [Wagner] representatives how much training there would be, [they told him], 'The battlefield will be your training.' It's quite possible that they're already directly participating [in combat]," the prisoner told Meduza.

In February, Prigozhin said the number of Wagner units "will decrease", saying that the group "will also not be able to carry out the scope of tasks that we would like to."

Source: Insider, The Guardian

The announcement also sparked rumors about a growing rift between Prigozhin and Putin after the Wagner Group grabbed headlines.

A mural depicting mercenaries of Russia's Wagner Group reads: "Wagner Group - Russian knights." AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic

Russian state media have been told by the Kremlin to stop promoting Prigozhin and his group, according to Reuters.

"The position of the (Kremlin) political bloc is not to let him into politics. They are a little afraid of him and find him an inconvenient person," Sergei Markov, a former Kremlin advisor, told Reuters.

But Prigozhin assured a Russian interviewer that he had "zero" political ambitions.

Source: Reuters

Prigozhin has also been taking credit for Wagner's efforts to secure some territorial gains, particularly in the battles in the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut.

Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin in what Russian state media described as the salt mines of Soledar, eastern Ukraine, on January 10 2022. RIA Novosti

Last month, Wagner claimed victory in the eastern Ukrainian town of Soledar, only for the Ministry of Defense to later say it was Russian soldiers who took the town.

"They are constantly trying to steal victory from the Wagner PMC [Private Military Company] and talk about the presence of the unknown, only to belittle their merits," Prigozhin said in a statement published by the press service of Concord on its Telegram channel.

Source: Politico

This has irked some military officials, including Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, who feels like he's being compared to Prigozhin, an intelligence report said.

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu at a military meeting at an undisclosed location, on January 17, 2023. Russian Defence Ministry/Vadim Savitsky/Handout via Reuters

Russia released a video of Shoigu meeting soldiers on a rare visit to Ukraine in early March.

An intelligence report by the British Ministry of Defence said the video was published possibly "in response to recent footage of [Prigozhin] visiting his fighters on the front line."

"Wagner is in a high-profile dispute with the Russian Ministry of Defence and Shoigu is likely sensitive to being compared to Prigozhin," the briefing said.

Last month, Prighozin also attacked Shoigu's son-in-law for apparently liking a series of anti-war posts on social media, calling him a "Z-lowlife," The Daily Beast reported.

Source: British Ministry of Defence

Prigozhin published photos of the corpses of dozens of Wagner troops in Bakhmut and directly blamed Shoigu and the Chief of the Russian General Staff Valery Gerasimov for their deaths.

Chief of the Russian General Staff Valery Gerasimov and Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu (left) attend a ceremony to award Gold Star medals to Heroes of Russia, in Moscow. Sputnik/Mikhail Metzel/Pool via Reuters

Prigozhin said that all of the mercenaries were killed on February 21, 2023, and that their deaths could have been avoided if Russia's Defense Ministry would have provided them with ammunition.

Russia denied his claims.

"All statements allegedly made by assault units on shell shortages are absolutely untrue," it said in a statement published by the BBC. They did not name either Prigozhin or the Wagner group.

Source: BBC, Meduza

But the public feud has led Putin to slowly distance himself from his former friend.

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the Eurasian Economic Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on November 9, 2022. Contributor/Getty Images

In a message on his Telegram channel, Prigozhin said that all of his direct lines to the Kremlin have stopped responding.

"To get me to stop asking for ammunition, all the hotlines to office, to departments, etc., have been cut off from me," Prigozhin said, per a translation from CNN.

"But the real humdinger is that they've also blocked agencies from making decisions," Prigozhin added, per CNN.

Source: Insider

In May, the feud came to a tipping point when Prigozhin went ballistic on the Kremlin in an expletive-laden video.

A furious Yevgeny Prigozhin screams at Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and General Valery Gerasimov. Screenshot/Press Service of Prigozhin/Telegram

In the video, released on Telegram, Wagner complained that the mercenary group was running short of ammunition.

"We have a 70% ammo shortage! Shoigu! Gerasimov! Where the [beep] is the ammo?" he said in the video.

He also said that Russian military leaders, like Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and General Valery Gerasimov, would "have their insides eaten in hell."

"You animals are hanging out in expensive clubs," Prigozhin continued. "Your children are enjoying their lives, making videos for YouTube. Do you think that you are the masters of this life and that you have the right to control their lives?"

Source: Insider

Leaked documents also suggested that Prigozhin offered Ukrainians the locations of invading troops in exchange for sparing his mercenaries in January.

A Ukrainian medic runs through a partially dug trench on the frontline outside Bakhmut on March 5, 2023. John Moore/Getty Images

The documents, first reported on by The Washington Post, said that the Wagner leader proposed sharing Russian intelligence with Kyiv in exchange for territory around Bakhmut on multiple occasions.

One Ukrainian official told the Post that Kyiv leaders, skeptical of his objectives, declined.

Prigozhin has since denied the reports, saying in an audio statement on Monday: "Who is behind this? I think that either some journalists decided to hype, or comrades from Rublyovka have now decided to make up a beautiful, planted story," CNN reported.

Editor's note: This list was first published in October 2022 and has been updated to reflect recent developments.

Read the original article on Business Insider
NEW YORK (AP)  Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, encouraged women to find inspiration to fight for equity as she accepted the Ms. Foundation Women of Vision Award Tuesday night, with Black Voters Matter co-founder LaTosha Brown.

Its never too late to start, Meghan said at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in Manhattan. You can be the visionary of your own life... There is still so much work to be done."

Her acceptance speech closed out the Ms. Foundation for Women's annual gala, part of the nations oldest womens foundation celebration of its 50th anniversary. The gala also kicked off the foundation's largest fundraising campaign ever  $100 million over the next 12 months  that will be used to further the organizations equity-centered initiatives and its mission of advancing womens collective power.

The foundation is already more than halfway to its goal. It announced that the late photographer and philanthropist Lucia Woods Lindley donated $50 million, the largest bequest in the foundations history. Proceeds from the gala itself raised another $1 million, and nearly $500,000 was donated by attendees during dinner.

With her mother, Doria Ragland, in the audience, Meghan recounted how Ms. Magazine was always in their house and how it affected her world view.

I am a woman who remains inspired and driven by this organization, she said, looking over at Ms. Foundation co-founder Gloria Steinem, who introduced her alongside current foundation CEO Teresa C. Younger. It allowed me to recognize that part of my greater value and purpose in life was to advocate for those who felt unheard, to stand up to injustice, and to not be afraid of saying what is true and what is just and what is right.

Though the event was her first public appearance since she skipped the coronation of her father-in-law King Charles III earlier this month in order to stay at home in California for her son Prince Archies fourth birthday, she made no mention of the ceremony. Her husband Prince Harry attended the coronation in London and then rushed back to California.

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Meghan and Prince Harry direct their philanthropy through their Archewell Foundation, which provided nearly 13 million COVID-19 vaccines with partner Global Citizen and helped resettle nearly 175,000 refugees from Ukraine and Afghanistan in the United States with partner Welcome.US, according to its 2022 annual report.

Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans said the Archewell Foundation leaders helped raise hundreds of millions of dollars for the COVID-19 vaccines through Global Citizen VAX Live, while also helping convince the worlds wealthiest nations to provide some of the doses to those living in other nations. Evans said he was impressed with Meghans work ethic as they teamed up at roundtables promoting the event in 2021.

I would say shes willing to roll up her sleeves and be practical, Evans told The Associated Press. When you see someone willing to spend their time, not doing the glamorous stuff, but willing to do the behind- the-scenes stuff, thats always a good sign.

Black Voters Matter co-founder LaTosha Brown received her Woman of Vision award from her longtime friend #MeToo movement founder Tarana Burke, who led the attendees in song to welcome Brown to the stage. Brown then delivered an uplifting song of her own, before delivering a poignant speech about working for change.

Even pain has a purpose, she said. Whats happening in this country right now, this isnt just a matter about what the Republicans or the Democrats are going to do. It really is a question about what is it that were going to do collectively to lean into this moment of discomfort and recognize it as an opportunity to get it right because we havent gotten it right.

Broadway star Audra McDonald took a break from her current tour to attend the gala to show her support for the Duchess of Sussex and Brown. I love her so much, McDonald said of Brown. It's an honor getting to know her a little bit and picking her brain and getting to see that passion and that drive and that wisdom. Shes a hero.

Brown's organization Black Voters Matter works with communities in 25 states and the District of Columbia to make their voting more effective, while her Black Voters Matter Capacity Building Institute funds voter education, registrations and other programs to expand access to voting.

I don't know how she does it all, McDonald said. She put the boots on the ground.

The Ms. foundation also honored Wanda Irving, co-founder of Dr. Shalons Maternal Action Project, and Kimberly Inez McGuire, executive director of URGE, as well as Texas abortion rights activist Olivia Julianna and LGBTQ+ advocate Rebekah Bruesehoff.

I no longer say I am fighting for equality, said Julianna, accepting her award as an emerging leader. In modern day America I am not fighting for equality. I am fighting for liberation from a white supremacist patriarchal system. As an openly queer Latin woman, make no mistake, I do not want to be equal to men in this country. I do not want the power to oppress with intention.

_____

Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of APs philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy.
Barely 10 days after King Charles III was crowned in London, his daughter-in-law is receiving an award in New York City.

Meghan Markle will be honored at Tuesdays 2023 Women of Vision Awards, which celebrates "feminist changemakers" and "powerhouse grassroots leaders." The Duchess of Sussex will receive her award from Gloria Steinem, who co-founded the Ms. Foundation, which runs the awards.

As the mother of two is being celebrated, several royal experts have taken issue with the awards timing. On April 12, Buckingham Palace confirmed that the former American actress wouldnt attend the kings coronation in London. Instead, the 41-year-old remained at her California home with her two young children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Her husband Prince Harry, who has publicly sparred with his family, arrived to the ceremony alone. The 38-year-old bolted back to California with his Dior suit still on.

Meghan Markle is an honoree at the 2023 Women of Vision Awards.

Christopher Andersen, author of "The King," told Fox News Digital the timing couldnt have been more wrong, considering that the duchess was noticeably absent from "the single most important moment in Charles life and a singular moment in world history."

"What a slap in the face to the man who walked her down the aisle when her own father didn't show up at her wedding, and to the country she adopted, for better or worse, as her own," said Andersen.

"You know, charity begins at home," he shared. "Much of the time Harry looks like a fish out of water, and you don't have to be an expert to see he's still hurting. If she is truly a sensitive and caring person, she would make it her top priority to help mend her husband's relationship with his brother Prince William and the king. Marrying into the royal family, accepting a title, and then bailing to take advantage of your new global superstar status seems, well, tacky."

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MEGHAN MARKLE'S FORMER FRIEND CLAIMS DUCHESS DROPPED HER WHILE DATING PRINCE HARRY

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Meghan Markle didn't attend King Charles' coronation in London. The Duchess of Sussex stayed behind in Montecito, California, with her two children: Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

In a profile announcing Markle as a winner in this years ceremony, the former "Suits" star was described as a "feminist, champion of human rights and gender equity and global role model."

"Her lifelong advocacy for women and girls remains a constant thread she weaves through both humanitarian and business ventures," the announcement revealed.

While former first lady Hilary Clinton was a past honoree, Andersen doesnt believe the award is any inkling Markle will pursue a career in politics. For years, rumors persisted that the duchess had her eyes set on Washington, where she could continue her advocacy work concerning women and young girls.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry speak onstage at the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Gala on Dec. 6, 2022, in New York City.

"As I've said before, Meghan is aiming to be the next Oprah  a multimedia titan with real political clout," said Andersen. "She won't run for office because I think she is far too thin-skinned. But she does want to have an impact on the next election. Meghan is very outspoken about issues and candidates, so expect to see her on the campaign trail."

But one thing Markles latest achievement is doing is sending a message to the British royal family, Andersen insisted.

"She's making it clear that she has a life of her own, doing the things she thinks are important," he noted. "She also seems to be saying that getting a trophy from Gloria Steinem is more important to her than seeing her husband's dad crowned king of England. It's an in-your-face gesture aimed at the royal family she just snubbed."

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Prince Harry looks at his bride, Meghan Markle, as she arrives accompanied by the former Prince Charles during their wedding in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018, in Windsor, England.

"Funny, though, isn't it  that she would essentially give up being a senior member of the royal family and all that goes with it, just to be another influencer," he alleged. "Like so much else in Meghan's life, this award is no accident. Not long after moving to Montecito, she made a point of befriending Steinem  as she has so many other movers and shakers."

Markle became the Duchess of Sussex when she married the British prince in 2018. At the time, the duke and duchess were celebrated as the new, youthful face of the monarchy. The actress also brought a touch of Hollywood glamour to the royal family. Many observers hoped Markle would help the Windsors connect with younger people in an increasingly multicultural nation.

However, those dreams quickly crumbled when the couple made their royal exit in 2020. At the time, they alleged that palace officials were insensitive to Markles mental health struggles as she attempted to navigate royal life.

Meghan Markle and Queen Elizabeth II during a royal engagement on June 14, 2018, in Widnes, England.

The couple also claimed that the duchess faced racist attitudes from the U.K. press, which contributed to their decision to leave the country.

Since moving to North America, the couple has repeatedly aired their grievances. They gave a televised interview to Oprah Winfrey in 2021 that was viewed by nearly 50 million people globally. After a six-part Netflix docuseries titled "Harry & Meghan" was launched in December 2022, which further detailed their struggles, Harrys explosive memoir "Spare" was published in January of this year.

The acrimony between Harry and his family once again spilled into public view in April. At the time, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex confirmed that they had been asked to vacate Frogmore Cottage, their home in the U.K.

WELSH COMPOSER WASNT MEGHAN MARKLE IN 'DISGUISE' AFTER VIRAL CORONATION JOKE: 'I LOOK THIS WAY ALL THE TIME'

Frogmore Cottage was the U.K. home of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Kinsey Schofield, the host of the "To Di For Daily" podcast, told Fox News Digital that she believes the award is "a strategic partnership" to help elevate the Sussex brand in California and, in turn, have more doors opened for Markle.

"I believe she is trying to brand herself independently  away from Prince Harry," Schofield claimed. "Meghan is allegedly working on Season 2 of her podcast [Archetypes] and could be planning a relaunch of her blog. I think because Harry and Meghan have been so outspoken about their grievances with Harry's family, people either love them or they hate them and that's a hard position to be in. She will get opportunities, but there will be intense criticism along the way."

"Brand Sussex is in dire need of a bolster given their popularity in polls both sides of the pond have plummeted," chimed British royals expert Hilary Fordwich. "Meghan Markle, marred by scandals related to erroneous claims, certainly needs to shore up her status post-public punches directed at the royal family."

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced they were stepping back as senior royals in 2020. They now reside in the wealthy coastal city of Montecito, California.

"Whether most things are positive or negative is often subjective, so the very description of this award is dubious at best," she shared. "Its given to those who have made a significant positive impact. One wonders exactly which positive impact they are referring to."

"If the award is supposed to showcase her philanthropic efforts, there are millions who do more than one hour of work a week on behalf of charity, as detailed in their recent tax returns," Fordwich continued. "As a business consultant who recently served as chair of Easter Seals Advocacy Awards, I can say that awards normally present a positive opportunity for brand improvement and projection of a positive image. However, such branding principles assume awardees arent hypocrites, one must live ones values, thereby not contradicting purported principles with contrasting actions."

Charles became king upon the death of his mother, the queen, in September 2022 at age 96. As the 74-year-old officially begins his reign, the Sussexes will also need to embark on a new chapter in their lives, royal experts argued. And they insisted the couple has their work cut out for them.

PRINCE HARRY SNUBBED BY ROYAL FAMILY AS MEGHAN MARKLE HIKES WITH FRIENDS

King Charles III waves from the Buckingham Palace balcony after the coronation service on May 6, 2023, in London.

"Is Meghan a changemaker, or more accurately, a disrupter? Certainly, as a woman of vision, she must have known what she was getting into when she married Prince Harry," said Andersen. "Once Megxit was underway, she must also have considered that their decision would have a devastating impact on Charles, William, and the late queen  attacks that struck at the very heart of the monarchy itself."

"Then there was the fusillade of attacks against Harry's relatives and the world in which they operated: charges of racism, infighting, and bullying so severe that Meghan was driven to thoughts of suicide  all served up to a gob-smacked Oprah, then in a cloying Netflix docuseries, and finally in the pages of Harry's memoir," Andersen shared. "It's highly doubtful that this visionary woman just realized how it would all backfire  that the vast majority of Britons would condemn Harry for seemingly turning his back on this birthright, and that they would be even angrier at Meghan for allegedly convincing him to do so. Nor, I'm sure, did she predict how quickly support for the Sussexes would begin to erode in the U.S. as Americans watched Harry and Meghan strike deal after big money deal with Netflix, Spotify, Penguin Random House, and other corporate giants."

All eyes will be on Meghan Markle and her next move as the couple continues to carve out their lives in California.

"To the public at large, the Sussexes have been just a bit much," he continued. "Would Meghan ever be getting the attention she has now if she hadn't married Harry? Their fairytale romance and wedding propelled her from being one of the stars of a fairly minor TV series to a global entity  a potential Princess Diana. It's a fine line she's walking here. Strangely, all the drama between Harry and the rest of his family benefits her."

"All those headlines  even the negative ones  at least keep both Sussexes in the public eye," he added.
Meghan Patrick is standing in the kitchen in her West Nashville home preparing bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers filled with brown sugar, garlic and soy sauce-marinated duck breast slices on a bed of melted cheddar and cream cheese.

Her candid conversation with The Tennessean lacks a bottle of whiskey, tall boy cans of beer and perhaps the setting of a tattoo parlor from feeling precisely perfect.

Aside from also being married to chart-topping country artist Mitchell Tenpenny and having her latest EP, "Greatest Show on Dirt," out on May 12 via Riser House Entertainment, the 36-year-old Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada native is a career and life crossroads where her best-made plans have been superseded by life as boldly lived as her jalapeno poppers are savory in their flavor.

Meghan Patrick cooks at her home in Nashville , Tenn., Wednesday, April 5, 2023.

Patrick's been a country music artist for over half of her life. In that time, she's worked with iconic Canadian creatives like Gord Bamford and Nickelback's Chad Kroeger, become a two-time Canadian Country Music Association Female Artist of the Year, plus an 18-time CMA Ontario award-winning performer.

This would be amazing if Patrick weren't a competitive gymnast and snowboard racer for the other half of her life.

Given her competitive spirit, she is keenly aware that there are as many radio stations in Canada overall as in Texas alone.

Meghan Patrick stands on the front porch at her home in Nashville , Tenn., Wednesday, April 5, 2023.

Patrick's also a hunter whose jalapeno poppers come from a duck hunt in Alabama ("We should normalize having beers and breakfast after early morning hunts"). Her love of hunting also showcases her love of community and empathy.

Meghan Patrick debuts at the Grand Ole Opry, April 11, 2023

"I love cooking food for my friends that's organically sourced and that I've had a hand in every step of how it's arrived from field to table," she says.

The entirety of her life -- though now at a place where she has taxidermied fowl hanging on her walls and she's building a life with her husband -- is still all about happiness being best found as the result of thrills being sought and found.

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"I have so much adrenaline going on when I'm playing these days," Patrick says.

Meghan Patrick cooks at her home in Nashville , Tenn., Wednesday, April 5, 2023.

However, the drive to achieve feeling her best self being actualized via her musical output supersedes any sense that she's trying to surge to the top of Billboard or Mediabase's charts.

"Competing against myself keeps the gratitude and joy I find from and in making music and touring alive," she says, mentioning that her break from Warner Music Canada arrived after the two parties' "mutual love and respect for each other couldn't be cultivated further and evolved in different ways."

Patrick's now at a place where she defines herself and her art via a refreshed vision of her branding.

Meghan Patrick at her home in Nashville , Tenn., Wednesday, April 5, 2023.

Her latest career era? Her management team at Make Wake Artists (also the home of Luke Combs and Hailey Whitters, among many others) characterizes it like this:

Meghan "F***ing" Patrick.

"I don't give as many f***s as I used to about my work. I'm over being frustrated and creatively depleted. Discovering freedom via songs reflecting me pushing myself and removing boundaries best reflects the experience and wisdom I've gained through my career," she says.

Part of that arrives from Patrick arriving at a place where she's nearing being five years removed from being named Canada's best female artist. The relief of shedding how making music she felt was "derivative of cookie-cutter ideas and trends that had already happened in Nashville" is apparent on her latest EP.

Meghan Patrick stands on the front porch at her home in Nashville , Tenn., Wednesday, April 5, 2023.

"I love where I came from and the people there, but being in Nashville allows me to grow artistically."

About her EP's latest single, "Ours," she states that the song accurately reflects many nights she's had at midtown Nashville haunts like the Red Door Saloon where she's seen ex-boyfriends "hit 'copy and paste' with [a new girlfriend] by taking them to the same bar, doing all the same things they did with you and to top it all off, they [dare] to dance with them to the song that used to be [your favorite]."

Regarding her latest release overall, its general vibe is reflective of her candid humorous takes about falling back in love with being a female artist who likes country music, rock and soul "who has forgiven -- but not forgotten -- years of toxic men," as she stated via social media.

Meghan Patrick arrives on the red carpet for BMIs 70th Annual Country Awards at the BMI Music Row Headquarters in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022.

EP track "Truck Breaks Down," being referred to as a "problematic love song," makes Patrick cackle.

"If you're coming to break my heart, I hope your truck breaks down. But, it could be worse -- I could've slashed all four of your tires, really messed it up and maybe even killed you. I mean when it comes to country lyrics, it can always be worse."

If needing a sense of where and how Patrick and her longtime Nashville friends like Ashland Craft, Nicolette "Pillbox Patti" Hayford, Faren Rachels, Kasey Tyndall and hitmaker of the moment Lainey Wilson are different from country's mainstream expectation of the past two decades, it's here.

Meghan Patrick at her home in Nashville , Tenn., Wednesday, April 5, 2023.

"We're country a** redneck tomboys who have the same interests, aren't afraid of earning our success and don't like feeling like we have to compete with each other. They're my sisters for life."

When asked to summarize finally arriving at a place where her career has smashed Canada's glass ceiling and achieved American stardom, she weeps but persists with an answer.

"There are so many times when I didn't imagine the country music industry would respect my art. But my fans are showing up for me enough to the point where maybe I can realize that not everyone and everything in country music may be against me anymore."

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Meghan Patrick's 'Greatest Show On Dirt' offers frank empowerment wrapped in pop-country sounds
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) appears to be on the verge of announcing a run for the GOP presidential nomination  but MSNBCs Mehdi Hasan says theres something standing in his way: his personality.

Hasan said DeSantis has had a disastrous introduction to the rest of the world. He pointed to a Politico report that said the governor underwhelmed business leaders in the United Kingdom and an odd moment in Japan where a question about Trump led to a bizarre head-bobbing response by DeSantis:

"I'm not a candidate, so we'll see if and when that changes," Gov. DeSantis, who is in Japan right now, says when asked about polls that show him falling behind Trump. pic.twitter.com/nDVeyBoVHN  Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) April 24, 2023

That went viral for all the wrong reasons, Hasan pointed out.

In another instance, he said, DeSantis was reminded to make eye contact and shake hands when visiting Iowa.

Thats what you tell children  not a presidential candidate, Hasan said, noting that during the trip to Iowa, DeSantis looked massively uncomfortable despite the advice.

Hes trying so hard to be a real boy, Hasan concluded. And yet DeSantis might just be on the verge of becoming the most meme-able presidential candidate weve seen yet.

He's trying so hard to be a real boy, says @mehdirhasan. And yet DeSantis might just be on the verge of becoming the most memeable presidential candidate we've seen yet." pic.twitter.com/HSfXxIhNG7  All In with Chris Hayes (@allinwithchris) May 16, 2023

DeSantis recently moved his political operation to a new office, and his press secretary in the governors office transferred to a job in DeSantis political office. Fox News said the individual will serve as press secretary in DeSantis political operation.

Both moves are considered signs DeSantis is on the verge of announcing.

WPTV, the NBC station in West Palm Beach, said the cost of the office relocation could be enough to force DeSantis to file his candidacy within 15 days.
The politics of immigration are being scrambled in a way that virtually no one expected.

The ending of Title 42 late last week was forecast to spark a major surge of migrants across the southern border. President Bidens administration and his fiercest opponents were at least united in predicting that outcome.

There were real fears that a human tsunami would overwhelm immigration authorities.

But none of it happened  at least so far.

According to the most recent figures released Monday, the number of encounters at the border fell by about 50 percent in the first three days after Title 42 was abandoned

Whereas the daily number of such encounters had been predicted to reach somewhere in the ballpark of 13,000, it instead came in around 5,000. There were few scenes of disorder or chaos.

The unexpectedly positive development makes the knotty politics of the issue even more complicated.

Immigration has long been one of President Bidens weakest issues, according to polls. Many independents, as well as Republicans, were dissatisfied as encounters between unauthorized migrants and border agents reached an all-time high of around 250,000 in December.

On the flip side, some on the left were unhappy with the White House for, as they saw it, not repudiating the kind of policies favored by former President Trump forcefully enough.

In a Reuters/Ipsos poll earlier this month, a mere 26 percent of Americans approved of Bidens performance on immigration. Sixty percent disapproved.

Now the president, who seemed to be facing real peril last Thursday in Title 42s final hours, is in a better position than expected. But, even so, those polling numbers are not about to suddenly reverse in his favor.

He can hardly claim a triumph when there are still thousands of crossings every day  and when some of the measures he took to contain the crisis angered parts of his base.

Those measures included the increased use of expedited removal and a rule summarized by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas as presuming that those who do not use lawful pathways to enter the United States are ineligible for asylum.

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The complexity of the picture renders many Democrats cautious.

I just dont think this issue lends itself to creating a lot of advantages, said Democratic strategist Joel Payne. Even if it is handled right, you are still going to piss off a lot of people.

There is no winning on this, where everyone has a different perspective on it.

Biden, for his part, has proceeded with caution in the days since Title 42 fell. The regulation, deployed during the Trump era, allowed immigration authorities to swiftly turn back migrants, including asylum-seekers.

The rationale for using that mechanism  that it was necessary to protect public health during the COVID-19 pandemic  had come to seem highly questionable for many months before it was ended.

Biden, asked by reporters Sunday how he thought things were going at the border, replied, Much better than you all expected.

Asked if he had plans to visit the border, Biden responded, Not in the near term, no.  It would just be disruptive, not anything else.

Republicans, for their part, believe immigration will continue to be a political vulnerability for the president, surge or not.

As long as you are having these kinds of numbers cross the border, it is going to continue to be a major problem for Democrats across the board, said GOP strategist Ron Bonjean.

The numbers crossing the border even before the ending of Title 42, Bonjean argued, left Americans with the perception that we have a broken dam and that the flows of illegal immigrants are just coming through without a lot of pushback, without an organized effort to stop them.

More hardline Republicans simply refuse to accept the characterizations of what has taken place in the past few days.

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) on Monday took exception to a CNN graphic that said there was still no surge.

How stupid do they think the American people are? Boebert asked.

But there are hard questions being asked of the media from the opposite ideological direction, too.

The projections of imminent catastrophe, and the fact they have so far proven unfounded, have led some experts to criticize right-leaning media, in particular, for hyperbole and scaremongering.

Some of the stories prior to the ending of Title 42 were absolutely wrong and irresponsible and disconnected from the reality that exists on the ground, said Jorge Loweree, the managing director of programs at the American Immigration Council.

There is absolutely need for change at the border. We need to reform our system and create something that is fair but also fast, Loweree added. But the media narrative about chaos and the supposed lack of preparation has not been productive. It hasnt helped.

Loweree also claimed the downsides of Title 42 had not been fully appreciated. Although the rule allowed authorities to quickly turn back migrants, it also did little to discourage repeated attempted crossings.

Title 42 was a failed public health measure but also a failed border management measure, he contended.

The debate over the rights and wrongs of Title 42 will continue for years.

But, right now, its ending  and what has followed  has left just about everyone scratching their heads.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Searching a field in Wales, a pair of metal detectorists stumbled on some small buried treasures  then uncovered a much larger find.

Colin Price and Rhys Cadwallader spent eight years exploring a plowed field in Caerwent with metal detectors, the National Museum Wales said in an April 28 news release shared with McClatchy News. And their efforts paid off.

The pair stumbled upon a collection of buried copper coins. Archaeologists identified the artifacts as ancient Roman coins from the late third century to late fourth century A.D., the release said.

Photos show the 1,600-year-old tarnished brown coins. Some are fragmented, but most are relatively complete. Various designs can be seen stamped onto the disks.

The coin collection was found in the same field as Waless first hoard of Roman siliquae, a very late Roman silver coin type, experts said.

Price uncovered the earlier collection of siliquae coins near the location of a known ancient Roman town in Caerwent, museum officials told the Abergavenny Chronicle in July. The unusual collection of coins had their edges clipped off, the outlet reported. The clipped pieces were probably melted down and reused to make more coins, experts said.

The collection of coins found in Caerwent.

The discovery of two coin-hoards in the same field and in the general vicinity of the Roman town at Caerwent, is exciting and significant, Alastair Willis, an expert on coins with the National Museum Wales, said in the release.

Archaeologists surveyed the field, Willis said, and found evidence of a forgotten Roman site, likely an unknown settlement or religious site where the coin hoards were buried.

This sheds light on life in the rural hinterland around the Roman town of Venta Silurum, Willis said in the release. The discoveries are also important for understanding events happening in south-east Wales around the time when the Romans left, at the beginning of the fifth century AD.

Venta Silurum, or Caerwent as its known today, was a Romanized market town established around 75 to 80 A.D. by the conquering Romans, according to an article about the site from the Welsh Government.

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The town had a typical well-ordered Roman grid layout with a public bath house, market and temple, officials said. Ruins of the towns 17-foot-tall walls, houses, market and temple are still standing.

The National Museum Wales is interested in acquiring the artifacts found by Price and Cadwallader after an independent committee has assessed their value, the release said.

Caerwent is about 130 miles west of London.

Unique buried treasures unearthed after 2,000 years by metal detectorist in Wales

3,000-year-old bakery  still covered in flour  unearthed in Armenia, photos show

Nesting birds unearth tooth and human remains from haunting 400-year-old shipwreck
KHARTOUM, May 16 (Xinhua) -- The death toll in the armed clashes between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has climbed to 822, the Sudanese Doctors Union said Tuesday.

"The number of civilian deaths since the beginning of the clashes has climbed to 822 with 3,215 injuries," the nongovernmental organization said in a statement.

The casualty statistics cover the national capital Khartoum, the capital of North Kordofan State El-Obeid and the capital of West Darfur State Geneina, the union noted.

Eyewitnesses said direct clashes broke out on Tuesday between units of the Sudanese Army and RSF fighters in Jabra area in the south of Khartoum, and the areas of Arkaweet, Al-Mamoura and El-Jeraif in the east of the capital.

RSF said in video clips published on Tuesday that it had seized Al-Kadro camp in Bahri town, a major camp of the Sudanese Army which has denied the statement.

"Our forces have repulsed an attempted attack by the RSF to take control of Al-Kadaro camp and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy," the army said on its Facebook page.

Sudan has been witnessing deadly armed clashes between the Sudanese Army and the RSF in Khartoum and other areas since April 15. 
A teacher at Gordon Bush Alternative Center in East St. Louis has been charged with unlawful use of a weapon and reckless conduct after he allegedly possessed a handgun while on school property, according to the St. Clair County States Attorneys Office.

Bernard Quinn, 39, of Eastham Drive in St. Louis, is accused of having a 9mm handgun when he was on the real property of a school on May 10, according to documents filed with the St. Clair County circuit court clerk.

Quinn was charged with reckless conduct because he left the handgun unattended on school grounds, endangering the lives of his students and other faculty members, according to charging documents.

The documents do not give any other details about the allegation.

Asked about the charges, East St. Louis School District 189 released this statement through Sydney Stigge-Kaufman, executive director of communications and strategic partnerships.

The District does not publicly discuss personnel matters.

School District 189 remains committed to the safety of students and staff. We continuously assess, respond, monitor and improve our safety and security protocols to keep our schools safe.

Quinn could not be reached for comment.
Several new restaurants and businesses in Macon have put their signs up, with most close to opening.

Think Mexican cuisine, soul food, healthy food options, freshly-made ice cream, steak and seafood, and more.

Heres a roundup of new 10 new spots, including a pizza and BBQ restaurant thats relocating.

A pizza and barbecue joint and a new Mexican restaurant are coming soon to the Shoppes at Riverside Center in Macon.

Pig on a Pie  This pizza and BBQ restaurant is moving from its Houston Road location at the close of the business day May 19 and is expected to open at 11 a.m. May 30 in its new location at 4921 Riverside Drive, Suite 1, in the former Georgia Bobs BBQ location. The restaurant offers a variety of pies from a classic cheese to various specialties such as a taco pizza to build your own. Also on the menu are fresh salads, breadsticks, pecan smoked wings, pizza sandwiches, pork by the pound and ribs.

Pig on a Pie coming soon to 4921 Riverside Drive in Macon.

Chevos Mexican Restaurant  Going in right beside Pig on a Pie in Suite 2 is a new Mexican restaurant. A banner stretched across the front of the restaurant says its coming soon. Its going into the former Barberitos spot in the Shoppes at Riverside Center across from The Shoppes at River Crossing.

Chevros Mexican Restaurant is coming soon to 4921 Suite 2 in Macon.

Natures Table Cafe This fast casual restaurant known for its healthy offerings is joining other restaurants in the retail ground floor space of the Lofts at Navicent at 761 Spring St. in Macon. The restaurant serves up wraps, sandwiches, toasted sandwiches, salads and protein bowls. Participating locations also offer breakfast options.. The new spot is independently owned and operated by Robertson Holdings LLC.

Natures Table Cafe is coming to a retail space below the Lofts at Navicent at 761 Spring St. in Macon.

3rd & Cherry  Eddy Lopez, whos made a career working restaurants, expects to open in early June his own steak and seafood restaurant with a little Caribbean fusionat 393 Third St. Entrees are expected to include speciality shrimp and chicken dishes, sesame crusted ahi tuna, grilled salmon with white wine sauce, lump crab cakes, cast iron filet, cast iron ribeye, lamb chops with mint jelly.

Sides include sauteed spinach, lyonnaise potatoes, sauteed mushrooms and grilled asparagus. The menu is also expected to feature a few authentic Caribbean food such as kan kan pork chop, mofongo and whole fried red snapper.

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One of two bars at 3rd & Cherry opening soon at 379 Third St. in Macon.

Kravin Gravy Tekisha Henderson is opening a soul food spot at 3760 Eisenhower Parkway, R-16, inside the Macon Flea Market. She plans to serve up dishes such as oxtails, baked chicken, turkey wings and shrimp, to name a few, as well as sides such as mac and cheese, potato salad and yams along with desserts like sweet potato pie.

Shes set a soft opening date of May 17. Henderson joins about 30 other mall vendors and a few food spots, including City Wings Steak & Lemonade that owner Mike Davis said hes working to reopen soon.

Kravin Gravy at 3670 Eisenhower Parkway, R-16, to open soon inside the Macon Flea Market in Macon.

Cold Stone Creamery  This franchise ice cream shop is known for creating custom orders from freshly made ice cream by mixing the ice cream with a variety of goodies on a frozen granite stone.

The new store is coming soon to 150 Tom Hill Sr. Blvd., Suite 254. In addition to ice cream, the store offers cakes, shakes and smoothies.

Cold Stone Creamery coming soon to 150 Tom Hill Sr. Blvd., Suite 254, in Macon.

SL Sausage Company  Josh and Katie Pitts are opening soon a Macon store of this popular butcher shop that started in Cordele in South Georgia. In addition to its meats, the Macon store at 5615 Zebulon Road is also expected to offer Georgia Grown products, wine and beer, produce and a selection of premier gift items, according to its Facebook page.

Local vendors expected to be featured include Oh Honey Baking Co. from Ingleside Village and Acres & Oak Kitchen, which has locations in Macon, Perry, Dublin and Tifton.

SL Sausage Company to open at 5615 Zebulon Road in Macon.

Also in the works

Apt.77  Darius Jones is expected to open a new lounge in the former location of A Brooke Haven Lounge at 401 Cherry St.

apt.77 lounge to open 401 Cherry St. in downtown Macon.

Sophias on Second  Restaurateur Ron Whidby and business partners are opening a new restaurant and cocktail bar at 428 Second St., the former spot of Lazy Susans Tapas Bar.

Sophias on Second, a new restaurant and cocktail bar to open at 428 Second St. in downtown Macon.

Those are in addition to The Rabbits Hole, Lucky Luciano and Big Daddy Sweet Treats all coming to downtown under the umbrella of The Phoenix Group.

The Cotton Ranch at 537 Cotton Ave. in downtown Macon is now open.

Now open

The Cotton Ranch  This high-end steakhouse at 537 Cotton Ave., which offers farm to table food, was expected to open Saturday. The food is locally sourced from Georgia pastures and farms. For example, the restaurants Wagyu beef comes from L. Jacobs Farm, for example. In addition to beef steak cuts, the restaurant also offers lamb and some poultry.



Sides include loaded baked potatoes, sweet potatoes and fresh vegetables. The restaurant is in the former La Bella Vita Italian Kitchen location.

The Cotton Ranch, a high-end steak restaurant at 537 Cotton Ave. in downtown Macon, is now open.







QuikTrip A new store of this popular gas station and convenience store chain is now open at 2710 Riverside Drive. In addition multiple gas pumps, the new QT offers hot food from its kitchen  including tacos, BBQ, grilled cheese, ham & cheese and other sandwiches, soft pretzels, breakfast scrambles, biscuits, toasted croissants and mac and cheese options.

Grab-and-go foods are also available like cold subs, hot dogs and fruit as well as a variety of drinks and snacks and other items expected in a convenience store.
An 18-year-old man who stalked a New Mexico neighborhood, fatally shooting three people on Monday, armed himself with at least three guns, one of which was the style of powerful rifle used during many mass shootings, officials said, renewing calls for legislation to combat gun violence.

The attack, which also left six people injured, came as the US is poised to see its worst year in recent history for mass killings.

Police named the three dead victims as 97-year-old Gwendolyn Schofield, her 73-year-old daughter, Melody Ivie, and 79-year-old Shirley Voita.

Related: New Mexico shooting leaves three people dead and nine injured

The deadly shooting erupted about 11am local time in Farmington, a city of about 50,000. The suspect roamed throughout the neighborhood, up to a quarter of a mile, Farmingtons police chief, Steve Hebbe, said.

Authorities also named the shooter as local 18-year-old high school student Beau Wilson, but added they were still trying to determine a motive for the attack. Wilson lived in the Farmington neighborhood where he opened fire.

Farmingtons deputy police chief, Kyle Dowdy, said there was nothing yet leading investigators to believe Wilson knew any of the people he shot. Were pretty confident in that is was completely random, he said.

Wilson legally purchased at least one of the guns he used in November.

Witnesses and police say Wilson walked through the neighborhood spraying bullets until police arrived within minutes and fatally shot him. Two police officers were among the wounded, and were treated and released from the hospital.

The amount of violence and brutality that these people faced is unconscionable to me, Dowdy said.

The gunman shot at least six houses and three cars during the attack. Authorities said the gunman did not target any particular location  such as a school or church  nor people during the shooting.

Among the dead was Voita, a 79-year-old woman who had worked as a nurse and was a devoted parishioner at Sacred Heart Catholic church, said former state lawmaker James Strickler, who was her friend.

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She was just a dynamite lady. She was well-loved, and Im still shocked over it, said Strickler, who heard gunfire on Monday before learning the circumstances of Voitas death.

Some of the shootings were captured on video that was uploaded to TikTok, which police confirmed was authentic.

The footage shows a man clad in black clothes pacing near a driveway outside the First Church of Christ, Scientist, with an apparent handgun. Later, the footage shows him being shot by police.

Neighborhood resident Joseph Robledo, 32, hurried home after hearing that his wife and one-year-old daughter hid in their laundry room during the gunfire. A bullet went through his babys room and its window, but did not strike anyone.

An older woman was in the street in front of his house. She had been shot while driving by and appeared to have fallen out of her vehicle, which kept going without her, Robledo 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 reportedly said. As he and others provided first aid, neighbors told a police officer where the shooter was.

The middle-school teacher Nick Atkins, who lives on a street locked down by police, said the neighborhood is largely calm. You never think its going to happen here, and all of a sudden, in a tiny little town, it comes here, Atkins reportedly said.

After the shooting, New Mexicos congressional delegation issued a statement that read: One thing is clear: Congress needs to act on gun violence NOW.

The statement alluded to how the federal government last year enacted bipartisan congressional legislation that expanded background checks for the youngest gun buyers while funding mental health and violence intervention programs. But, the statement added, Monday was a painful reminder that we must do more.

We are committed to fighting for sensible gun safety measures that will keep New Mexicans safe, the statement said.

Agencies contributed to this report
Four people, including a teenage suspect, were killed and two police officers were wounded Monday in a chaotic shooting in the Four Corners region of New Mexico, authorities said.

Three "civilian victims" were killed, Farmington police said, in addition to a suspect who was "confronted and killed on scene." Police said that the suspect was 18 years old and that he had multiple weapons, Deputy Police Chief Baric Crum said.

Its just a devastating day, Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe said in a video Monday night.

The 18-year-old shooter, who was shot at least once by police and died, appeared to fire at victims at random, Hebbe said.

At least six houses and three cars were shot, Hebbe said. The gunman used at least three weapons, including what Hebbe called an AR-style rifle.

Officers who responded to 911 calls about shots fired at 10:57 a.m. Monday came upon a "chaotic scene" as the shooter was still firing at people.

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. (Susan Montoya Bryan / AP)

"We have four officers from the Farmington Police Department that confronted the subject," Crum said. "They were able to stop his actions at that time."

Six people were injured, including two police officers  one was a Farmington officer and the other was a member of the state police, according to police. The state police officer was still hospitalized, and the Farmington officer was treated and released.

A motive was under investigation. Hebbe said that investigators will be talking to family members and analyzing evidence.

"It appears to be completely random. There was no targeting of specific victims that we can identify at this stage," Hebbe said. But he cautioned it was very early.

The suspect is believed to have traveled in the neighborhood up to approximately 1/4 of a mile and to have fired three weapons, the police chief said.

Initially, police were concerned there was another shooter and schools were placed in lockdown  but Hebbe said Monday night that police believe there was never a second shooter.

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Authorities urged anyone with information about the shooting to contact police.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham thanked police for a quick response.

I am deeply upset by the tragic violence that unfolded today in Farmington. I am praying for the families of the victims, the wounded and the entire community of Farmington following this horrific tragedy," she said in a statement. "Im also grateful for the quick response by law enforcement. My administration will not stop fighting the epidemic of gun violence from every angle possible."

Police had Farmington Municipal Schools lock down at 11:15 a.m., officials said. The order was lifted by 1:05 p.m.

Agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and San Juan County sheriffs deputies also responded.

Judith McIntosh, 77, said Monday afternoon she was driving home from the grocery store with a friend when she saw a woman lying on the street. She thought it was odd but continued driving. Moments later, as she was by a church near her home, three to five gunshots rang out.

McIntosh said she then saw at least one person lying on the grass on the church's property.

"We saw the first older lady in the street and thought she had been hit by a car," McIntosh said. "And then we went a little bit further, by the church, and heard the gunshots. ... And then we saw other people that were on the ground and thought: 'Oh, my God. What's going on? What's happening?' People are getting killed."

She added, "I'm still very upset."

McIntosh said that there was then a flurry of police activity in the area and that she was not able to get into her home for hours. When she did, she discovered that a gunshot had pierced her bedroom window.

"There was a bullet hole in my bedroom window, through the curtains, through the living room and over the top of my recliner."

McIntosh said the bullet struck her living room wall.

"If I happened to be home, I could have been shot," she said.

Investigators were concentrating 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 state capital.

The community  near the famed Four Corners, where the borders of New Mexico, Utah, Colorado and Arizona meet  is also close to three major Native American reservations: those of the Navajo, the Ute Mountain Indians and the Southern Utes.

New Mexico's five members of Congress  Sens. Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan and Reps. Teresa Leger Fernandez, Melanie Stansbury and Gabe Vasquez  thanked first responders in a joint statement and vowed to fight gun violence via federal legislation.

"We are devastated by todays mass shooting in Farmington, New Mexico," they said. "As we await further updates, we are grateful to our state and local law enforcement officers who responded to the scene, and to our health care providers who are caring for those injured. Our hearts are with the families of the deceased and those injured."

Farmington Mayor Nate Duckett called the violence a horrific tragedy, and said the two wounded officers suffered injuries that were not life-threatening. He said the response by police saved lives.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families during this incomprehensible time of pain and loss," Duckett said.

Monday's 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 them, 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 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 article was originally published on NBCNews.com
FARMINGTON, N.M. - The gunman in this week's shooting rampage in New Mexico that killed three elderly women fired seemingly at random at any person he saw in his neighborhood, police said Tuesday.

Farmington police said that they still don't know the motive for Monday's shooting, which also injured six, including two officers.

Police identified the gunman as Beau Wilson, 18, of Farmington. Police said he used at least three firearms, including an "assault-style rifle" to shoot randomly at cars and houses in the city of more than 45,000 people about 200 miles north of Albuquerque. All the victims were shot while inside a vehicle.

"Our investigation is showing he was indiscriminately shooting at vehicles," said Farmington Police Deputy Chief Baric Crum. "To kill three elderly women who were absolutely in no position to defend themselves is a tragedy."

Police have identified the victims as Shirley Voita, 79, Melody Ivie, 73 and Gwendolyn Schofield, 97. Schofield and Ivie are mother and daughter and were riding together, KOB-TV reported.

There was no indication Wilson knew or targeted his victims, Farmington Deputy Police Chief Kyle Dowdy told reporters.

Among the six injured include Farmington Police Sgt. Rachel Discenza and New Mexico State Police Officer Andreas Stamatiadas. Discenza was shot in the pelvis, Crum said. Both Discenza and Stamatiadas, who were wearing body armor, were treated for their injuries and released from a local hospital, Farmington Mayor Nate Duckett said Tuesday.

Shootout between police and suspect Beau Wilson

Police received "hundreds" of calls of shots fired in the neighborhood around 11 a.m. Monday, Crum said.

Responding officers began exchanging gunfire with Wilson, who was shot and killed at the scene. Investigators have so far found at least 150 discharged rounds of ammunition in a quarter of a mile range, Crum said.

Investigators are searching for a motive as the shooter and the victims don't have any apparent links to each other, Crum said.

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Wilson's family told investigators "he may have had some mental health issues," Crum said. Wilson had previous "minor infractions, but nothing that would rise to the level of (committing) a serious crime."

Crum said police are also looking into whether Wilson may have left a written note prior to the shootings.

Community comes together at a candlelight vigil

Dozens of community members gathered to pray Monday evening around a tall metal cross at Hill Church. As the sun set, some wrapped their arms around one another.

Matt Mizell, lead pastor at the church, talked about living in a "dark and broken world" but said there was still hope and asked God to provide the community strength.

'Fired at whatever entered his head...' New Mexico gunman who killed 3 randomly shot at cars and houses, police say

Community members sing during a prayer vigil at Hills Church on Monday in Farmington, N.M.

What happened in New Mexico shooting?

Police received reports of gunshots at 10:57 a.m. Monday.

Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe called the shooting "one of the most horrific and difficult days that Farmington has ever had as a community." He said the gunman shot at least six homes and three vehicles with three weapons, including an "AR-style rifle."

The gunman "fired at whatever entered his head to shoot at," Hebbe said, adding that the targets of the shooting appeared to be "purely random."

"During the course of the event, the suspect roamed throughout the neighborhood up to a quarter of a mile," he said.

The shooting led to "preventative lockdowns" of the Farmington Municipal Schools and San Juan Regional Medical Center, where victims were taken for medical care.

The Farmington Police Department, San Juan County Sheriffs Office, and the New Mexico State Police are investigating the shooting. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said agents from Phoenix were assisting.

FROM TEXAS TO CALIFORNIA US sees acceleration of mass shootings

Police ask the public for information in Farmington shooting

Authorities reiterated Tuesday that anyone with information about the shooting to come forward.

"We urge anyone with any additional information to come forward," Crum said.

'Gun violence destroys lives,' New Mexico Gov. Grisham says

Mondays incident in New Mexico was the 225th mass shooting in the U.S. so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which defines a mass shooting as an incident in which four or more people are shot or killed, not including the shooter.

In a statement, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said the shooting "serves as yet another reminder of how gun violence destroys lives in our state and our country every single day."

Contributing: The Associated Press; Jessica Onsurez and Mike Easterling, USA TODAY Network

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New Mexico shooting updates: Police seek motive of Farmington suspect
As Florida gets ready to implement a new sweeping immigration law this summer, Miami-Dade County police said they do not plan on pulling over drivers to require them or car passengers to show paperwork confirming anyone's immigration status.

The new law, set to go into effect in July, makes it a felony to "knowingly and willfully" transport an undocumented person in the state of Florida  even if it is a relative or someone one knows.

We don't have to ask for identification that proves the immigration status of a person in the county because we are here to act on Florida statutes that are criminal, not civil," Alvaro Zabaleta, a Miami-Dade County police detective, told Telemundo 51, NBC's sister local TV station in Miami, in Spanish. "Immigration violations are considered civil, not criminal."

Zabaleta added that police will also not ask victims of a crime for information about their immigration status.

"We are here to protect our community," Zabaleta said. "We are not here to get involved in a political issue or a sensitive issue such as immigration."

Miami-Dade Police Chief Alfredo Freddy Ramirez III, who is running for sheriff in 2024, "does not want to lose the trust of our community, Zabaleta added.

Outside the county with the largest share of Latinos in Florida, statewide law enforcement agencies are getting ready to enforce the new law.

Some additional restrictions in the new law include invalidating out-of-state driver licenses issued to immigrants who lack legal status and requiring private employers with 25 or more employees to use the E-Verify system to verify if new employees are eligible to work in the U.S.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, which also includes highway patrol troopers, is tasked with citing undocumented people driving with invalid out-of-state licenses and maintain a list on its website of the kinds of out-of-state licenses that are not valid in Florida.

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The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will coordinate and direct additional enforcement efforts, according to the law.

Florida highway patrol troopers will soon be receiving training on how to implement the law when stopping drivers for an infraction, Telemundo 51 reported.

Neither of the departments has yet responded to requests for comment on the kind of enforcement Floridians can expect from the respective agencies.

Leaders from the Miami Freedom Project, a progressive nonprofit advocating for immigrants rights, have said that the new law will make life harder for more than 770,000 undocumented immigrants living in Florida as well as the many Florida residents who employ, rely on and assist them.

This is not about detaining undocumented immigrants, it is about terrorizing families that are already here, Ana Sofia Pelaez, founder of the Miami Freedom Project, said in a press conference in Spanish last week.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Michael Cohen and former President Donald Trump. Spencer Platt/Getty Images; Mario Tama/Getty Images

Michael Cohen's lawsuit against the Trump Organization is headed to trial in two months.

Cohen says Donald Trump's company owes him $2.3 million for various investigations and court cases.

His entanglement in the Stormy Daniels saga, the Mueller investigation, and more all stemmed from his former Trump Organization role, he alleges.

A Manhattan judge scheduled a July jury trial for Michael Cohen's long-running lawsuit against the Trump Organization, where the former Donald Trump ally alleges he's owed legal fees for the Stormy Daniels saga as well as other investigations related to the former president's conduct.

Cohen first filed the lawsuit in 2019, alleging that the criminal case against him over hush-money payments to Daniels  as well as his role in Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, the New York Attorney General investigation into the Trump Organization's finances, multiple Congressional investigations into Trump, among other things  all stemmed from his role as a former vice president for the Trump Organization and as a personal lawyer for Trump.

The Trump Organization owes him $2.3 million in legal fees for all those cases and investigations, he says.

The lawsuit has wound its way through the New York state courts, surviving multiple appeals. In a January court proceeding, New York State Supreme Court Judge Joel Cohen indicated he would finally set a trial date, for July. The court docket was updated on Monday to reflect a July 24 trial date.

In the January proceeding, the judge ruled that  because the Trump Organization refused for years to produce Trump and other company officials for depositions  jurors only need to weigh in on narrow issues, like whether the Trump Organization is liable for paying Cohen in the first place.

Most of the five-day trial's evidence, he said, would focus on just how much money the company should pay him.

The case is barreling to trial at the same time as the Manhattan District Attorney's office's criminal case against Trump himself, over whether he broke criminal laws in his payments to Cohen to silence Stormy Daniels about her alleged affair with the then-presidential candidate ahead of the 2016 election.

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Cohen has been a witness for the district attorney's office in its criminal investigation. That case is scheduled for trial in early 2024.

The trial would also happen on the heels of a Manhattan trial, in federal court, over E. Jean Carroll's lawsuit against Trump. A jury found Trump personally liable for sexually abusing Carroll and defaming her when he denied it, and awarded her $5 million in damages. Trump is appealing the case.

Attorneys for the Trump Organization and Cohen didn't immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A 14-year-old Michigan boy defended his 8-year-old sister from a would-be kidnapper by firing off a slingshot, according to police.

Authorities said a 17-year-old suspect came through the woods of a rural Alpena, Mich., property and grabbed the girl like youd see in a movie, his hand over the mouth, arm around the waist, Alpena Post Lt. John Grimshaw said in footage shared by local outlet UpNorthLive.

The girls brother then fired two shots at the kidnapper, hitting the head and chest, and his sister was able to free herself from the kidnappers grasp. The injuries caused by the slingshot also helped authorities identify who the suspect was, police said.

I mean he really is the one that saved  that I believe saved his sisters either life, or from something seriously bad happening to her, Grimshaw said.

The suspect, whose name has not been released, has been arrested and 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.

It just goes to show that theres evil out there. And it can find anybody anywhere, Grimshaw said.

The Associated Press contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A 14-year-old Michigan boy saved his sister from a potential kidnapper with slingshot. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Just as the biblical figure David fought Goliath and won, a 14-year-old boy in Michigan reportedly saved his sister by shooting her potential kidnapper with a slingshot, according to police.

The Guardian reported that law enforcement described the brothers action as extraordinary and that the boy should be commended after defending his sister.

Related

What do we know about the kidnapping? The alleged attacker reportedly approached the familys property through the woods in Alpena Township on May 10.

State Police Lt. John Grimshaw told local news channel WGTU, The suspect had come through the woods on to the property and came from behind her, grabbed her like youd see in the movies  hand over the mouth, arm around the waist  and was attempting to pull her into the woods.

The 14-year-old who witnessed the crime hit his sisters alleged attacker in the head and chest using a slingshot, according to U.S. News and World Report.

For a 14-year-old to see that and pop into action that quickly is extraordinary and he should be commended for it, a spokesperson on the case told CBS News.

NBC Chicago reported that the potential kidnapper was a 17-year-old, whose name has not been given to the public, and is being 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.

Related

Quotes to note: You wouldnt 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, a spokesperson for the Michigan State Police said.

The spokesperson continued, 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.
A Michigan prison inmate who was transported to an Ohio court, but was mistakenly released, remained missing for nearly two months.

>> TRENDING: Motorcycle crash ejects man, woman in Darke Co.; 2 CareFlight units respond

Christopher Bibbs Jr., 21, was transported to a Warren County Jail from a Michigan Correctional Center on March 23, 2023, to face charges, the Michigan Corrections Department said.

While he was in Ohio, and after he attended court, an incorrect judgement was placed into his record stating, defendant may now be released, Major Brett Richardson, administrator of the Warren County Jail, informed.

The mistake was further exacerbated by a lack of language informing Warren County officials that he would need to be returned to Michigan to serve the minimum four-year sentence for a carjacking in May 2022, Richardson continued.

Once 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, Chris Gautz, a spokesperson for the Michigan Corrections Department, said.

Gautz acknowledged that Bibbs disappearance was not publicized when it happened in March because sometimes they just turn themselves in. However, after two months of his disappearance, authorities are finally requesting aid from the public.

Bibbs was thought to have traveled back to Detroit, according to the Michigan Corrections Department.
NAIROBI, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Kenya is not "in a hurry" to adopt cryptocurrency payments as risks across the globe rise, the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) said.

The apex bank said the rollout of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) and the licensing for the official use of other cryptos in the East African nation is not a priority for Kenya currently.

"The rollout of CBDC should not be a race to be first. Presently, Kenya's pain points in payments can potentially be solved by strengthening innovations around the existing ecosystem," the apex bank said in its Banking Sector Supervision Report 2022 released Monday evening.

The central bank said it would continue to monitor developments in the CBDC world and periodically assess the need for the payment method in Kenya.

According to the CBK, crypto assets are at a critical point globally due to the extreme volatility of the market and the recent collapse of stablecoins and crypto exchanges, which have slowed down uptake.

The central bank said the global crypto industry winter started in 2022 with developments that have led to the reduction in the value of crypto assets and market capitalization by more than half since 2021.

"This volatility has led to investor caution and reduced interest in crypto assets. More importantly, it has highlighted key liquidity issues faced by cryptocurrency firms, exacerbated by poor governance frameworks," said the CBK.

It noted that the growth of the crypto industry has been driven by the speed of transactions, low transaction costs, anonymity, promise of high returns, and lack of taxation mechanisms.

In Africa, Nigeria introduced a digital version of its currency, the Naira, in November 2021 in response to concerns that the rising popularity of crypto assets was threatening the banking system.

Kenya was expected to follow suit. 
A Springfield man admitted Tuesday to unlawfully possessing weapons, including an AR-style pistol that federal prosecutors say has been linked to three shootings in the Kansas City area.

Jardell Carlin Williams, 19, pleaded guilty to being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm. He faces up to 25 years in federal prison when he is sentenced.

A pistol Williams possessed has been tentatively identified as one used in three shooting incidents in the Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas City, Kansas, region, according to prosecutors. Williams plea agreement does not specify where those occurred.

The U.S. Attorneys Office in the Western District of Missouri said Williams was a regular marijuana user, which remains a controlled substance under federal law.

Williams, who was part of a rap group, was indicted earlier this year along with 19-year-old Ezekiel Josiah King. The case against King is pending. Their indictment came following a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigation into shootings in the Springfield area.

Many of the shooting suspects identified themselves as gang members and/or rappers, prosecutors said in a statement. A review of their social media accounts showed them in rap music videos and photographs possessing what appeared to be handguns, AR-style pistols, and rifles.
A generation ago, when Molly was all the rage in Miamis club scene, an Italian by the name of Nello Quagliani delivered much of the drug supply, U.S. authorities say.

Quagliani and his European-trafficking network shipped at least 200,000 MDMA pills from the Netherlands to Miami between 1996 and 2000, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

After 20 years on the lam, Quagliani was extradited from South Africa in September, held without a bond, and now has owned up to his crime in Miami federal court. On Friday, he pleaded guilty to three conspiracy charges accusing him of importing and distributing Ecstasy along with money laundering more than $400,000 through foreign currency exchanges.

Quagliani, 61, faces 10 years in prison under a joint recommendation by prosecutors with the U.S. Attorneys Office and lawyers with the Federal Public Defenders Office at his sentencing on July 26 before U.S. District Judge Patricia Seitz.

Quagliani is the last of about 30 defendants in his ring who have been prosecuted and convicted on the Ecstasy smuggling charges, according to court records and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Federal prosecutors had been asking for Quaglianis extradition from South Africa since 2003, when he was arrested by Interpol authorities, court and government records show. But Quagliani, with Italian and South African citizenship, obtained a bond and managed to avoid being extradited for the next 19 years  until he was flown on a plane in September to Miami.

An extradition request, filed by former federal prosecutor David Weinstein in Miami, put Quagliani at the top of an international ecstasy-smuggling network based in the Netherlands, where the drug was allegedly purchased in massive volumes.

Nello Quagliani provided the MDMA to the members of the organization in Europe as well as received money from the corresponding sale of the MDMA after it had been successfully smuggled into the United States, Weinstein wrote in the extradition request, which included a federal indictment and DEA criminal complaint and affidavit.

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Nello Quagliani also assisted in the collection of the proceeds from the sale of the MDMA, he noted, adding that the profits in U.S., Canadian, Dutch, Swiss and German currencies were smuggled out of the United States.

According to the DEA affidavit and other records, Quagliani collaborated with associates in his ring to buy hundreds of thousands of ecstasy pills from Holland between 1996 and 2000. He was accused of hiring couriers to transport the drug, a hallucinogenic stimulant that at the time was popular by the street name Molly in South Floridas clubs, on commercial flights to Miami International Airport, according to the affidavit filed by retired DEA agent Joseph Kilmer.

Kilmer developed a confidential source who had dealings with Quagliani and another partner, John Moya, the affidavit says. Through undercover recordings, the agent was able to link both men to a Jan. 22, 1998, shipment of 5,774 tablets of MDMA that were seized at MIA by U.S. Customs inspectors.

The [confidential source] stated that Quagliani and Moya are large-scale distributors who send MDMA from Holland to the United States and elsewhere, the affidavit says.

The source recorded calls with Moya who admitted his own involvement in the January shipment to Miami, the affidavit says. Moya later traveled to Miami and met with the DEA agent and source, admitting in recorded statements that he and Quagliani organized the January load of Ecstasy seized at the airport.

After his arrest, Moya said that Quagliani was his partner in MDMA trafficking.
The U.S. is attempting to block the proposed acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics for more than $26 billion by biotech drug developer Amgen on antitrust grounds.

The Federal Trade Commission said Tuesday that the deal, announced in December, would give Amgen unfair leverage to block competition for Horizon medications. The FTC said the deal would entrench Horizons monopoly position on treatments for thyroid eye disease and chronic refractory gout.

Amgen said it was disappointed in the agency's decision but remains committed to completing the deal by mid-December.

The California company said last December that the acquisition would allow it to expand into rare disease treatments.

Horizon Therapeutics PLC, based in Dublin, develops potential treatments for autoimmune and severe inflammatory diseases. Its bestseller, Tepezza, is only approved in the United States and treats eye bulging and double vision from thyroid eye disease.

Amgen plans to expand the use of that drug globally, and company leaders have said they also expect their companys long-standing history of working with rheumatologists will help grow sales of another Horizon drug, the gout treatment Krystexxa.

The FTC said Tuesday that the deal would allow Amgen to use rebates on its existing drugs to pressure bill payers like pharmacy benefit managers into favoring Tepezz and Krystexxa. The agency said neither treatment has competition, and the deal could give the combined company incentive to to entrench Tepezzas and Krystexxas monopolies.

Amgen said the FTC claim on how it might use the medicines is entirely speculative and does not reflect the real world competitive dynamics behind providing rare-disease medicines to patients.

We have been working cooperatively over the past several months to address the questions raised by the FTCs investigative staff and believe we have overwhelmingly demonstrated that this combination poses no legitimate competitive issues, the company said in a statement.

Jefferies analyst Akash Tewari also said in a separate note that he didn't think the FTC's claim would hold up. But the agency's move might hamper mergers and acquisitions more broadly.

Shares of Amgen Inc., based in Thousand Oaks, California, slipped 1% Tuesday afternoon to $231.14 while broader indexes were mixed. U.S.-traded shares of Horizon also fell.
A pair of swans glide through the marsh, seen amid hundreds of lotus flowers near the Sterling State Park boat launch during July 2021.

Recently, I communicated with our resident local historian and friend of the environment Dick Micka, whose selfless works to honor Monroes history and natural gifts have been profiled frequently on these pages. He told me that he had been invited to participate in the Sterling State Parks 2023 management planning efforts. Micka was kind enough to share with me some of his thoughts, which I will highlight and editorialize.

Photo shows William Clark Sterling Sr. and his son, William Cadwell Sterling (also known as W.C. Sterling Jr.), circa 1910s. W.C. Sterling Sr. (1849-1924) was a successful businessman and wildlife conservationist. Michigan's Sterling State Park is named after him.

The following is the introduction to a letter he wrote to Deborah Jensen, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources park management plan administrator: Thank you for inviting me to attend the the Public Meeting to help guide the Sterling State Park Management Plan on April 11, 2023 at the Frenchtown Township Hall. Since 1938, when the State of Michigan received the property that is now Sterling State Park as a gift, there have been monumental changes not only in topography but in use as well. The number of visitors is nothing short of astronomical, and the benefit to wildlife is equally commensurate. When the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers constructed a 'Confined Disposal Facility' (CDF) at the north end of the Park (construction began in 1982 and the facility was dedicated in 1985) and when K.L. Cool placed the campground for motor vehicles on the south end of the Park, everything changed for the better I might add. People and wildlife co-exist at Sterling State Park.

This is a photo of the Sterling State Park history display. In 1935, the state of Michigan acquired the original 134 acres to construct the Monroe State Park. Civilian Conservation Corps workers built the roads, restrooms and campground along the shoreline for its 1938 grand opening.

According to the April 2003 report Great Lakes Confined Disposal Facilities published by the U.S Army Corps of Engineers and the United States EPA, the Corps of Engineers (Corps) has designed, constructed and/or operated 45 confined disposal facilities (CDFs) around the Great Lakes for the disposal of contaminated dredged materials from federal navigation projects. The two agencies jointly regulate the discharge of dredged or fill materials. It is Section 123 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1970 that led the Corps to create the dike and filter structure at Sterling State Park.

The Sterling State Park CDFs series of dikes and filter cells has, as Micka mentions, created enriched natural habitats using the dredged materials. The Sterling State Park CDF is notable for its intense use as a migratory waterfowl nesting area. Both the Corps and the EPA work to remove contaminants and waste that might disturb the migratory waterfowl nesting area as it grows and develops.

Micka feels the Sterling State Park CDF should be a catalyst for future projects, including advertising and using the railing and a pedestrian walkway along the lake-ward side of the CDF. He also advocates taking property along Waterworks Road into a marsh, similar to what the Ohio DNR has done with Howard Marsh, located along Route 2 east of Toledo (an area where I have lived and worked and can attest to the positive impact the project has had on the region).

Micka also advocates for completion of the fish passage project on Sterling State Parks main access road, which would allow culvert improvements to permit fish to move from Sandy Creek to the River Raisin. In addition, Micka hopes Sterling State Park officials can negotiate with the Ford Motor Co. to acquire land on East Elm Avenue (near the River Raisin shoreline) opposite Monroe Harbor to erect an observatory so visitors can watch cargo vessels navigate Monroes Federal Maritime Channel. Since Sterling State Park borders the Mason Run Outlet at East Elm Avenue, the location of and investment in a Monroe Harbor Observatory makes sense.

Micka also thanks Sterling State Park leaders for promoting the American lotus return to key park wetland areas.

Tom Adamich is president of Visiting Librarian Service, a firm he has operated since 1993. He also is project archivist for the Greening Nursery Co. and Family Archives and the electric vehicle awareness coordinator at Monroe County Community College.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Monroe County History: Sterling State Park improvements ongoing
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) signed a bill into law on Tuesday that will effectively ban abortions in the state after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

Gianfortes office said in a release that the legislation will restrict dilation and evacuation abortions, a form of abortion primarily used during the second trimester of pregnancy, except for cases of medical emergency where the child would not survive outside of the womb.

Planned Parenthood of Montana on Tuesday asked a state judge to temporarily block the law.

HB 721 is a grave threat to Montanans health and safety and must be blocked. Given the laws immediate effective date, patients across the state can already be denied access to care that was legally available moments before the Governors signature today, Martha Fuller, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Montana, said in a statement.

Gianforte said at a bill signing earlier this month that having this type of procedure for nontherapeutic or elective reasons is a barbaric practice, dangerous for the mother, and demeaning to the medical profession.

House Bill 721 makes clear that it has no place in Montana, he said.

Gianfortes signature came after a judge ruled last month against a request from Planned Parenthood to preemptively block the bill before it took effect. Planned Parenthood had argued that the law should be struck down as unconstitutional because of a 1999 Montana Supreme Court ruling that the state constitutions right to privacy protects the right to abortion of the patients choice before the fetus is viable.

The judge ruled that they had nothing to block because the law had not taken effect yet.

Gianfortes action also comes after he signed several other bills earlier this month to restrict abortion rights, including one that states that the Montana Constitutions privacy provision does not protect the right to abortion, contradicting the state supreme court ruling. He also signed legislation to ban abortion after 24 weeks except to protect the life of the mother.

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The Tuesday release also states that Gianforte signed bills to require the state Department of Health and Human Services to ensure abortions covered by Medicaid are medically necessary and to ban the use of taxpayer dollars to cover abortions except to save the mothers life or in cases of rape or incest.

The law banning the dilation and evacuation abortions states that violators found guilty could be fined up to $50,000 and imprisoned for five to 10 years.

The state Democratic Party slammed Gianfortes actions as cruel and unconstitutional.

Gov. Gianforte signing this ban into law makes clear that Republicans will stop at nothing to take away Montanans rights and freedoms. Health care decisions should be between women, their families, and their doctors  not Republican politicians. Make no mistake, Montana Democrats will fight back against this unconstitutional ban with everything weve got, Sheila Hogan, the executive director of the Montana Democratic Party, said in a release.

The release notes that the state Supreme Court upheld its prior decision finding that some abortion rights are protected in the state constitution last week.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
South Carolina Republicans control both State House chambers, the governors and statewide offices.

In 2020, Republicans flipped back a Democrat-held seat, made more red in the last redistricting cycle, and secured their hold over U.S. Sen. Lindsey Grahams Senate seat, defeating Democrat Jaime Harrison, who now chairs the Democratic National Committee.

Still, two Republicans vying to replace Drew McKissick say the state Republican Party chairman has not done enough to push conservative values  a race symbolic of the national and statewide intraparty squabbles in the Trump era over the past several years.

This Saturday, a simple majority of the expected 943 state GOP delegates wholl descend on Lexingtons River Bluff High School will decide their next chairman and the face of the party before the 2024 presidential election.

McKissick is running for his fourth two-year term against Greenville Countys Jeff Davis, who was once thrown out of a state executive meeting, and Zoe Warren, who unsuccessfully ran for lieutenant governor in 2022 on a joint ticket with Harrison Musselwhite, also known as Trucker Bob.

McMaster, a Richland County delegate, told reporters earlier this month that hes backing McKissick, first elected chair in 2017.

Hes done I think a fine job over the years, said McMaster, who served as S.C. GOP chairman from 1993-2002. I can see that the party is moving well. Were winning elections and we have a good chairman. When your team is winning you dont change the coach.

Davis and Warren say its not the winning thats the problem with McKissick, but its whether the party has done enough to elect Republicans who will pass conservative legislation in the State House.

Both cite a ranking by The Center for Legislative Accountability, an initiative of the Conservative Political Action Coalition, that rates South Carolinas General Assembly as the 27th most conservative state legislature in the country in 2021. The organization bases its ratings on a review of more than 105,000 bills and whether lawmakers made a vote that follows conservative principles.

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The mission of the South Carolina Republican Party is to promote the platform and elect candidates who will support that platform, Warren said. I want to support anybody who is going to support our platform and help people in precincts that will have support of candidates who support our platform, Warren said.

Both Davis and Warren believed in unfounded allegations that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. Musselwhite, who ran on a ticket with Warren, also challenged the results of the 2022 governors race, despite that McMaster won with 83% of the vote.

The S.C. GOPs executive committee rejected the challenge.

Zoe Warren of Lexington County is running for the S.C. Republican Party chairmanship at the Saturday, May 20, 2023 state party convention.

Davis, meanwhile, also has run on a school choice platform, calling the states program the worst in the nation. A nonprofit private school scholarship program he and his wife, Olga Lisinska, ran has been unable to raise money and provide scholarships.

I dont necessarily want the (chairs) job. I want the people that are in the position to do the job, and Drew McKissick is not doing the job, Davis said.

A common theme over the year from the conservative faction of Republicans is that GOP leaders are not doing enough to push conservative legislation when the party controls the General Assembly.

Warren, for instance, wants Republicans to close primaries and criticized House GOP Caucus rules that, in part, prohibit members from campaigning against their caucus colleagues, coined as a loyalty oath by the now-18 member House Freedom Caucus. The 18-member freedom caucus, part of the national State Freedom Caucus Network, has pushed the lower chamber to pass what it deems more conservative bills. The caucus recently sued the House Ethic Committee to be able to raise money and campaign for candidates.

McKissick has disputed Davis and Warrens allegations that hes somehow not conservative enough.

For example, he says, hes endorsed and pushed state lawmakers to pass a six-week abortion ban previously thrown out by the state Supreme Court, advocated for lawmakers to loosen gun regulations, urged lawmakers to eliminate hospital build rules and used the bully pulpit to call on the Legislature to expand school choice options for parents.

This is not an issue of a lack of progress on any conservative policies. The bottom line is what is the organization about? We are a campaign committee, and thats what some people dont want to recognize. Our job is to win campaigns, McKissick said, pointing to other policy-oriented organizations that exist to to push legislation.

South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Drew McKissick speaks at the Lindsey Graham watch party on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020 at the University of South Carolina Alumni Center.

Davis run follows contentious relationship with GOP

Davis candidacy for state GOP chair in particular follows what has been a yearslong tumultuous relationship between him and many South Carolina Republicans.

In 2021, Davis asked Lin Wood, a Trump attorney who pushed conspiracy theories about the 2020 election, to challenge McKissick for chair. McKissick won with 68% of the vote.

Davis also has been at odds with Republicans over the states private school scholarship program for children with special needs.

The S.C. Department of Revenue investigated Palmetto Kids First, the nonprofit ran by Davis and his wife, Lisinska, after the agency received complaints that the nonprofit pressured parents into donating in exchange for scholarship and tax credits.

Lawmakers later made changes that kept the couple from running their nonprofit school choice scholarship program.

Since, Davis has filed several lawsuits against the Exceptional Ed scholarship program and its leaders, including Chad Connelly, a former S.C. GOP chair.

I would like to have someone in that (chair) position who can bring us all together, is not going to fall toward the establishment once we get elected, and I think thats why a lot of people have confidence in me that Im not going to capitulate to the establishment if I get elected, Davis said.

The same year that Davis urged Wood to challenge McKissick, Davis was elected chair of the Greenville County Republican Party. Davis is a leader of the My SCGOP movement, which advocated against COVID-19 precautions, such as wearing masks or vaccine requirements. In response, local GOP members launched the Fourth District Republican Club for mainstream Republicans in Greenville and Spartanburg counties.

Davis was later censured and barred in 2021 from future state GOP meetings, and he was kicked out of a state executive committee meeting after clashing with party members, the Greenville News reported.

Drew has been arrogant, hes been vindictive, used a heavy hand to quash down any kind of debate, said Davis, who was elected Greenville Countys GOP state committeeman earlier this year.

Jeff Davis

McKissick declined to discuss the partys specific issues with Davis.

Im not going to focus on rehashing any of his individual problems, making him the focus of anything and letting him be a martyr, McKissick said.

Instead, McKissick said he will continue to focus on campaign fundamentals.

You have to have a message that resonates with people. You have to have the organization and the manpower to get your vote out, and then you have to raise the money to make those two things possible, McKissick said. Everything revolves around that. If you dont have those three things, well, youre going to have problems.
[Source]

A growing number of Pennsylvania-based institutions are voicing their support for affirmative action in colleges and universities.

Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Albright College in Reading, Cabrini University in Philadelphia and Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh have recently signed an agreement that affirms their commitment to the policy.

Affirmative action allows colleges and universities to consider race in admissions among other factors. Pennsylvania is one of 41 states currently permitting such practices.

The institutions have now aligned themselves with the University of Pennsylvania, which is one of 15 universities nationwide to have submitted an amicus brief to the Supreme Court urging the preservation of the policy.

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Almost all of the Ivy League universities have expressed their desire to consider race in admissions in a bid to maintain diversity on campus.

The amicus brief highlights several benefits of affirmative action, including the promotion of a robust spirit of free inquiry and dialogue, challenging students' assumptions and preparing graduates to address the complex issues of the modern world.

Among those institutions in Pennsylvania that have opted to not support the policy include Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Duquesne University and Slippery Rock.

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Meanwhile, Penn State University has stated that it will only consider race when determining student placement on campus.

Last October, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments on two key cases challenging the use of race in college admissions filed by Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA), a non-profit organization founded by vocal affirmative action opponent Edward Blum.

The first case is against Harvard University, with SFFA alleging that the institution discriminates against Asian American applicants by using a subjective standard to gauge traits like likability, courage and kindness. SFFA also alleges that Harvard has a quota for Asian American applicants.

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More from NextShark: Top high school in US discriminated against Asian American applicants, judge rules

The second case is against the University of North Carolina, in which SFFA accuses the university of discriminating against white and Asian American applicants by giving preference to Black, Hispanic, and Native American applicants.

According to observers, the Supreme Court, which sits at a 6-3 conservative-liberal majority, could be ready to overrule some or all affirmative action precedents and deem the programs unlawful when it delivers its ruling in June.

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Jennifer Lopezs new film The Mother has already achieved an impressive feat on Netflix.

The Mother debuted on the streaming platform during Mothers Day weekend in the US on 12 May.

The film stars Lopez, 53, as an assassin who comes out of hiding to protect her daughter (played by Lucy Paez) who she left earlier in life.

Omari Hardwick and The Handmaids Tale star Joseph Fiennes also feature in the action-thriller.

As reported by Deadline, the film has been a hit for the streamer since its release.

Data obtained by Samba TV shows that The Mother was watched by 2.8 million households in the US over its debut weekend.

To put that into perspective, this means that Lopezs new movie has performed better (initially, at least) than two of Netflixs hugely popular sequels: Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery and Murder Mystery 2.

Deadline quotes Sambas data as showing that, in the same measurement window, Glass Onion captured 2.6 million households while Murder Mystery 2 was watched by 2.4 million.

(Doane Gregory/Netflix)

Both films were highly anticipated sequels. Released on Netflix in December 2022, Glass Onion was the follow-up to Rian Johnsons hit 2019 film Knives Out.

Meanwhile, Murder Mystery 2  released in March this year  saw the return of Adam Sandler and Jennifer Anistons amateur detectives from Netflixs 2019 comedy movie Murder Mystery.

As noted by Deadline, while The Mother initially beating out Glass Onion and Murder Mystery 2 is impressive, it does not necessarily tell the whole viewing story. Samba TV does not include mobile viewings.

Netflix is yet to release the viewing figures for The Mother. The film currently sits in the No 1 spot on the streamers top 10 in the UK.

During the other two films debut weekends, Netflix reported a total of 82.1 million viewing hours for Glass Onion and 64 million for Murder Mystery 2.

(AP)

It is worth noting, though, that the streaming figures for Glass Onion will likely be impacted by the fact that the film had a one-week limited theatrical release on 23 November before it began streaming on 23 December.

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Reviews for The Mother are middling, with the film currently holding a 46 per cent rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.

Variety called the B-movie a watchable product in which Lopez proves she can rousingly carry a picture like this one.

The Mother is streaming on Netflix now.
A 58-year-old man was driving a motorcycle when he swerved off the road and hit a utility pole, authorities in Pennsylvania said.

The motorcyclist reported he had made an evasive maneuver to avoid striking a squirrel, according to the Northern York County Regional Police Department news release on Facebook.

Officers responded to the crash in Dover Township at about 11:15 a.m. May 6. The man, identified as Jeff Letcavage, was rushed to a hospital with extensive injuries.

Letcavage died of his injuries at 5:30 p.m. Monday, May 15, authorities said.

The Northern York County Regional Police Department is continuing to investigate the fatal crash.

If you have any additional information, authorities ask you to call 717-467-8355 or email tips@nycrpd.org.

Dover Township is about 110 miles west of Philadelphia.

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A patient is inoculated with the mpox vaccine during an August 2022 vaccination clinic at the OASIS Wellness Center in New York. (Mary Altaffer / Associated Press)

Late last summer, the mpox outbreak in California peaked, with the state reporting an average of nearly 100 new cases per day in August.

Amid a robust vaccination campaign, new infections dropped sharply and quickly.

By September, California was reporting an average of about 50 new cases per day, with that rate dropping below 10 by the end of the next month.

As case rates fell, so did vaccination rates. Health officials across the state are now renewing their push to vaccinate vulnerable people, including members of the LGBTQ+ community, ahead of June Pride Month and summer events.

Mpox is rarely fatal but can cause painful rashes and lesions, as well as flu-like symptoms. It typically spreads through close skin-to-skin contact, which can include sex.

As of Friday, nearly 250 people in California have been hospitalized with mpox. Nationwide, roughly 30,400 cases have been reported, along with 42 deaths.

"As we head into the summer months, and as we're heading into these celebrations, there may be more of these events that are happening that could potentially facilitate mpox transmission," said Andrea Kim, director of the vaccine preventable disease control program at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

Kim said that the outbreak began around the time of last year's Pride celebrations. As that part of the calendar rolls around again, health officials are emphasizing the need to get more people vaccinated.

Though anyone can catch the virus, many of the cases confirmed during last year's outbreak were among men who have sex with men.

"If we've learned anything from COVID, it's that if we all did the right thing in the first place, it makes it a lot harder for these things to reemerge," said Craig Bowers, chief marketing and external affairs officer for APLA Health, a Los Angeles nonprofit that provides healthcare to the LGBTQ+ community.

Mpox cases have continued to decline since last summer. Most recently, L.A. County has been reporting about two new infections per week.

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The World Health Organization on Thursday said that mpox should no longer be deemed a public health crisis.

But the disease can still spread. A recent, small cluster of cases has broken out in Chicago. The city reported 20 cases over the past four weeks after reporting none in the four weeks prior.

As the infection curve flattened, so did demand for shots, health officials said. Statewide as of Friday, nearly 300,000 people have received at least one dose of the recommended two-shot regimen, according to the California Department of Public Health. People who have received two shots are considered fully vaccinated and need no further shots.

"Right now, in the last few months, we really have only been vaccinating about 100 to 150 people a week," Kim said. "At our peak, we were at about 8,000 first doses in a week."

The low case rates and perceived lack of risk may be one reason that vaccination rates dropped so sharply, said Bowers of APLA Health, which has vaccinated around 4,000 people.

"Those are the people this time around that we'd like to reach  the people that never got it in the first place. They're the most vulnerable," Bowers said.

APLA will be at around 60 events between now and the fall to get more people vaccinated, Bowers said. Kim said the L.A. County health department will ramp up its messaging and presence at events.

The Los Angeles LGBT Center said it would also be hosting pop-up vaccine clinics.

"We're also trying to promote the message that the vaccine is, first of all, safe and effective," Kim said. "There's more and more data out there that the vaccine effectiveness is really high."

Public health officials in San Francisco and L.A. County are also renewing their mpox vaccination pushes.

"We want to make sure that everyone can enjoy a happy and healthy Pride, San Francisco health officer Dr. Susan Philip said in a recent statement. If you received your first dose of the mpox vaccine, even if it was in the fall, it is not too late  now is a great time to get your second dose.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 (Xinhua) -- BMI, a unit of Fitch Solutions, said on Tuesday that it sees Malaysian economic growth to ease over the coming quarters.

The research house said in a note that it has raised its forecast for Malaysia's real gross domestic product (GDP) growth to 4.2 percent in 2023 from 4 percent previously, after the report of the better-than-expected 5.6 percent year-on-year expansion in the first quarter.

That said, its forecasts still imply that growth will slow over the coming quarters, which it thinks will be driven by a slowdown in global demand and tighter credit conditions.

BMI expects Malaysia's private consumption to grow by 5 percent in 2023, easing significantly from 11.3 percent in 2022 due to a decline in household savings and tighter monetary conditions.

The impact of high borrowing costs will also be felt by businesses, which underpins its forecast for investment growth to slow to 2.3 percent of GDP in 2023, from 7.5 percent in 2022.

BMI also expects Malaysia's export growth to slow to 1 percent in 2023 from 12.8 percent in 2022 amid a slowdown in the global economy.

BMI also forecasts that Malaysian government consumption growth will come in at 1 percent for 2023, down from 4.9 percent in 2022.

It said a stronger-than-expected economic rebound in China would bode well for Malaysia's export-oriented economy since China is Malaysia's second largest export destination, accounting for nearly 13 percent of its total outbound shipments.

It also believes China's reopening would help boost Malaysia's tourism sector.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese visitors accounted for approximately 11.8 percent of international arrivals and the revival of outbound Chinese travelers will benefit Malaysia's services export. 
Sayfullo Saipov, the Uzbekistan native who planned and carried out a 2017 ISIS-inspired terror attack on the west side of Manhattan, deserves multiple life sentences "to provide just punishment" for killing eight people, federal prosecutors said Monday in a sentencing memorandum to the judge.

Judge Vernon Broderick is scheduled to impose a sentence on Wednesday after more than two dozen relatives of victims deliver statements to the court. Most of them will be traveling from Argentina or Belgium, the native countries of the tourist victims.

Saipov was convicted in January of all 28 counts he faced in connection to carrying out the deadly attack along a Hudson River bike path with a truck he had rented, but escaped the death penalty after jurors deadlocked on sentencing for the nine charges Saipov faced that were eligible for capital punishment.

"The defendant's conduct before, during and after his attack warrants a sentence that reflects the extraordinary depravity of his crimes. The government respectfully requests that the court impose the maximum statutory penalty on each count of conviction," prosecutors said in the sentencing memorandum.

MORE: NYC bike path terror attack: Suspect found guilty

Saipov was a "proud terrorist" who "chose to come to this country and then fight for an enemy," prosecutor Amanda Houle said during the trial. Once the judge imposes the sentence, Saipov will spend at least 22 hours a day alone in his cell at ADX in Florence, Colorado.

The jury agreed Saipov intentionally killed his victims after "substantial planning and premeditation" and did it for ISIS. However, the jury did not unanimously find Saipov represented a future danger or would likely commit acts of violence while in prison.

The defense conceded that the grief of the victims' families "was entirely caused by Sayfullo Saipov," but defense attorney David Patton argued it was not necessary to kill him, "not for our safety or anyone else's and not to do justice."

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PHOTO: FILE - Investigators work around the wreckage of a Home Depot pickup truck a day after it was used in a terror attack in New York, Nov. 1, 2017. (Jewel Samad/AFP via Getty Images, FILE)

On the morning of Oct. 31, 2017, Saipov rented a Home Depot truck weighing more than 5,000 pounds that he drove from New Jersey into Manhattan, according to trial testimony. He turned onto the Hudson River bike path near the entrance of Pier 40, traveling approximately 31 miles per hour, prosecutors said.

MORE: Feds interviewed accused NYC truck attacker in 2015 about possible terror ties

Within moments, Saipov struck his first victim, Ann-Laure Decadt, a mother of two visiting from Belgium, whose mother and two sisters watched her die.

A woman hugs her dog after placing flowers she brought to a makeshift memorial that honors victims of an attack who were struck and killed by a rental truck driven by Sayfullo Saipov at Chambers and West Streets in New York, Nov. 4, 2017. (Craig Ruttle/AP, FILE)

Saipov also killed five friends from Argentina who were in New York celebrating the 30th anniversary of their high school graduation: Hernan Mendoza, Alejandro Pagnucco, Hernan Ferruchi, Diego Angelini and Ariel Erlij.

MORE: NYC truck terror attacker spared death penalty as jury can't come to unanimous decision

Saipov sped up to 57 mph when he struck and killed a 32-year-old New Jersey native, Darren Drake, who was enjoying a bike ride on a break from work. Nicholas Cleves, a 23-year-old New Yorker, was killed riding back to his family business after running errands.

Saipov sped up to 66 mph and crashed the truck into a school bus carrying two adults and two special needs children. He emerged from the truck carrying two fake guns and was shot by police.

PHOTO: In this courtroom sketch, in federal court in New York, March 8, 2023, Sayfullo Saipov sits at the defense table waiting for the commencement of jury instructions in the penalty phase of his trial. (Elizabeth Williams/AP, FILE)

The sentencing memorandum included statements Saipov made after the attack.

"Saipov admitted that his goal was to kill as many people as possible, and that he was happy with what he had done. Saipov smiled and asked to hang an ISIS flag in his hospital room. Saipov admitted that he had decided to commit an attack a full year before he executed it, and that he had spent two months planning his truck attack," prosecutors said.

Multiple life sentences sought for NYC truck terror attacker originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The accused killer of 20-month-old Rashad Halford Jr. is headed for a trial in June, a Fresno County Superior Court judge ruled Monday.

The defendant, Devin Ratliff, 35, is facing one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder for the June 21, 2016 shooting in the 3000 block of East Platt Avenue.

Also wounded was Rashads father Rashad Halford Sr., 35, and Willis Mucelroy, 49.

Police said Ratliff accused Rashad Halford Sr., also known as Ray Ray, of hitting his daughter during an argument. Detective David Fenstermaker testified that on the night of the shooting Ratliff snuck into the Halfords apartment complex at about 10:30 p.m. and confronted Halford and Mucelroy as they sat outside.

He said, Whats up? and began firing, Fenstermaker said during Mondays preliminary hearing before Judge Gregory T. Fain.

Multiple rounds were fired by Ratliff and Halford. The autopsy of the toddler showed he was struck three times. The fatal wound was to an artery on the childs left side.

The detective acknowledged under questioning by defense attorney Ralph Torres that Halford did not tell the whole story when he was first questioned by police, including having a weapon and firing at Ratliff.

During subsequent interviews, Fenstermaker figured out Halfords gun was stashed in Mucelroys apartment before police arrived. Halford is a convicted felon and is not allowed to have a gun in his possession.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Deborah Miller said Halford was not the only one who identified Ratliff. Rashad Jr.s mother Keyona Chadman also recognized Ratliff as the shooter. She picked him out from a photo lineup.

If convicted on all charges, Ratliff faces a maximum of 114 years to life in prison. His trial is scheduled for June 8 and settlement conference is June 1.
Atlanta music fans rejoice: Music Midtown is coming back to Piedmont Park from Sept. 15 to 17.

In 2022, the festival was canceled due to circumstances beyond the festivals control, according to a Facebook post. Fans and event planners blamed Georgia gun laws for the cancellation of the festival.

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The headliners for the 2023 include Guns N Roses, Pitbull, Lil Baby, P!ink, Flume, Billie Eilish, The 1975, and more.

Along with the music, the festival says there will be local food with gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options all available, along with interactive experiences and a Ferris Wheel.

TRENDING STORIES:

The presale for 3-Day and limited 1-Day General Admission, GA+, VIP, and Super VIP tickets will begin Thursday at 10 a.m. at www.musicmidtown.com. The remaining tickets will go on sale to the general public at a later date.

General admission tickets start at $350 before fees. Here is the full lineup.

aaaand WE'RE BACK 

#MusicMidtown returns to Piedmont Park for a FULL 3-Day weekend on September 1517, 2023 



Presale begins Thursday, MAY 18 at 10am ET. Sign up for a presale code TODAY! https://t.co/pyEqBBbnbl pic.twitter.com/dmixz0ZkQv  Music Midtown (@MusicMidtown) May 16, 2023

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BANGKOK (AP)  Recovery efforts were underway Tuesday in Myanmar and Bangladesh after a powerful cyclone smashed into their coastlines, causing widespread destruction and at least 21 deaths, with hundreds of others believed missing.

Myanmar took the brunt of Cyclone Mocha on Sunday, while Bangladesh was spared a feared catastrophe.

Residents of Myanmars Rakhine state worked to repair the damage and mourn the dead. Areas further inland also suffered damage, including the central city of Bagan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was Myanmar's capital 10 centuries ago.

Mocha made landfall near Sittwe township in Rakhine state with winds of up to 209 kilometers (130 miles) per hour on Sunday afternoon, weakening to a tropical depression by midday Monday. The storm, the nations most destructive in a decade, brought widespread flash floods and power outages, while high winds tore roofs off buildings and crumpled cellphone towers.

Myanmar state-run television MRTV said Tuesday that 21 people were killed and 11,532 houses, 73 religious buildings, 47 monasteries, 163 schools, 29 hospitals and clinics and 112 government buildings were damaged.

Independent media said hundreds more people were believed missing. Many of those reported dead or unaccounted for had been living in ramshackle displacement camps that were reportedly heavily damaged by the storm surge.

The camps house members of the Muslim Rohingya minority who lost their homes in a brutal 2017 counterinsurgency campaign led by Myanmar security forces. Aid agency presence is spotty and help from the country's military government negligible.

It is difficult to confirm the extent of casualties and damage because telecommunication facilities in the area were damaged by the storms high winds. Information is hard to obtain even in normal times because the military restricts the media.

Sahat Khasin, a Rohingya who does relief work at one of the camps, said by phone he helped bury 11 bodies at a Muslim cemetery near Sittwe, Rakhines state capital on the Bay of Bengal.

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He said the authorities warned people in the camps to evacuate to safer places in advance of the cyclones arrival, but some waited until seawater began pouring in.

Video from Sittwe on Tuesday showed extensive damage to buildings as well as uprooted trees and fallen power lines.

Heavy rain in Bagan, the ancient city that is one of Myanmar's major tourist attractions, caused flooding that weakened the foundations of at least four temples. MRTV reported that the head of Myanmar's military government, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, visited Tuesday to inspect the damage.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Tuesday that investment in humanitarian aid was needed. Health, relief items, shelter, water and sanitation were the top priorities, and he noted that humanitarian agencies would need authorization to travel to deliver those supplies and would need access to people impacted by the cyclone.

Myanmar's government issued disaster declarations for 17 townships in Rakhine and four in Chin state, north of Rahkine, where hundreds of buildings were reported damaged.

Rohingya are not recognized as an official minority in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, where they face widespread discrimination and are denied citizenship and other basic rights. People living in the camps cannot move freely, according to human rights groups.

More than 700,000 other Rohingya fled the 2017 violence to live in refugee camps in neighboring Bangladesh, which also suffered damage from the cyclone but reported no deaths.

At the worlds largest refugee camp in Bangladeshs Coxs Bazar district, thousands of Rohingya from Myanmar were moved to safer areas until Cyclone Mocha passed. The low-lying area is especially vulnerable to flooding, with relatively few secure shelters available.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said more than 700,000 people were moved to cyclone shelters or makeshift facilities including schools and mosques.

While the storm didnt directly hit refugee settlements, as feared, it caused major damage, Alexia Riviere, emergency coordinator in Bangladesh for Catholic Relief Services, a major aid agency, said in a statement. The needs will likely be great as we assess the destruction. Our concerns in the wake of the storm include landslides and flash flooding."

Riviere described Cyclone Mocha as one of the largest storms to strike Bangladesh in decades, noting that Cyclone Sidr in 2007 killed more than 3,000 people and caused billions of dollars in damage.

As an aid community, we have to face the fact that marginalized communities are becoming more vulnerable each year, Riviere said. The more we can do to prepare for the inevitable, the better.
In the shadows: Same-sex relations are outlawed or repressed in many parts of Africa

Namibia's Supreme Court on Tuesday recognised same-sex marriages contracted abroad between citizens and foreign spouses, a landmark ruling in a country where homosexuality is illegal.

The decision overturns a ruling reached last year by the High Court, which refused to accept same-sex marriages concluded outside Namibia.

Two Namibian nationals had sought recourse from the courts after the ministry of home affairs and immigration refused to grant permits to same-sex foreign spouses whom they had married outside the country.

"This Court accordingly found that the approach of the Ministry to exclude spouses, including the appellants, in a validly concluded same-sex marriage... infringes both the interrelated rights to dignity and equality of the appellants," the ruling said.

Annette Seiler, who is married to German national Anita Seiler-Lilles, brought the case along with Namibian citizen Johann Potgieter and his South African husband, Matsobane Daniel Digashu.

Their marriages were respectively concluded in Germany and South Africa

Namibia has seen a flurry of court cases on the rights of same-sex couples to marry, become parents and immigrate.

Homosexuality is illegal in Namibia under a rarely-enforced 1927 sodomy law dating to its period under South African rule.

South Africa, under its liberal post-apartheid constitution, is the sole African nation which allows gay marriage, legalised in 2006.

In March this year, the same paramount court overturned a decision by a lower court to grant citizenship to a gay couple's four-year-old son who was born in neighbouring South Africa through surrogacy.

str-sn/ri
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) on Tuesday called on President Joe Biden to cancel his upcoming trip to Asia to continue negotiating with Republicans about the debt ceiling ahead of a possible default on June 1.

Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are scheduled to meet with congressional leaders, including House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), at the White House at 3 p.m. Tuesday to continue talks they started last week.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) are also set to be in attendance.

But Mace suggested a weeklong trip Biden has planned is poorly timed.

I think its deeply problematic given the trajectory that were on right now and how close we are to [the] June 1 deadline that the president is traveling out of country, she told CNN This Morning. He should be here, on the Hill, working with Republicans and Democrats to strike some sort of a compromise.

"Default in my opinion is not on the table, should not be the table. The consequences globally will be very, very negative, in the U.S. and abroad." @RepNancyMace says President Biden should cancel his Asia trip to hammer out debt ceiling negotiations: pic.twitter.com/cCk16EZjnM  CNN This Morning (@CNNThisMorning) May 16, 2023

Biden is scheduled to fly to Hiroshima, Japan, on Wednesday for the Group of Seven Leaders Summit. He is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Thursday, and will also visit Australia and Papua New Guinea as part of the trip, the White House has confirmed.

Meanwhile, Biden and Republicans continue to remain at odds over the debt limit. McCarthy has long called for cuts to spending in exchange for raising the debt ceiling, while Biden has said it should happen with no strings attached.

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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 they arent talking anything serious, McCarthy told CNN.

Over the weekend, Biden struck a more hopeful tone, saying he remained optimistic about a compromise.

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, he told reporters Sunday.

This comes as Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen reiterated in a letter to congressional leaders Monday that the U.S. government is set to run out of money as soon as June 1 if the debt limit isnt raised.

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 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.

She added that, as negotiations drag out, negative consequences follow, including a possible fall in the credit rating of the country.

In a tweet on Tuesday morning, Biden clearly spelled out whats at stake if a deal isnt reached on the debt limit.

If House Republicans push us into default, 8 million jobs could be lost  destroying our economic progress, he wrote.
Naples Soap Co. is looking to grow as a new public company.

Naples Soap Co. lost money in the first quarter.

The local company reported a quarterly loss of $217,000. That compared to losses of $141,000 in the same months a year ago.

In a statement, Deanna Wallin, the company's CEO and founder, said efforts are underway to improve the retailer's financial performance.

Were continuing to implement strategies to increase our profit margins and control or reduce expenses for the remainder of 2023," she said.

She described the results in the first quarter as "mixed." Why?

"E-commerce and wholesale sales were both up. However, our store sales were down just slightly. We attribute this drop in store sales to the lingering effects of Hurricane Ian.," Wallin explained.

Many of the company's stores are in Southwest Florida, which took a beating from Ian in September.

Ian not only curbed local spending, but visitor spending in the region.

"Many of our Southwest Florida customers were negatively impacted by the storm, and we saw less foot traffic from tourists compared to the prior year," Wallin shared.

On top of that, she acknowledged: "Consumer confidence and macroeconomic trends have had an impact on the spending patterns of retail buyers."

To address changes in consumer behavior and sentiment, the company has taken a "deep dive" into its product mix to be sure it has a "wide variety of price points" and added "fresh offers" to generate more interest, Wallin said.

Previously: Amid economic uncertainty, Naples Soap struggles to make a profit even as sales grow

More: Homegrown Naples Soap Co. goes public with reverse merger

A closer look at the financials

Here are a few of the highlights from the quarter, as compared to a year ago:

Total sales remained flat at $2.9 million

Store sales decreased by 5%

E-Commerce sales, including Amazon, increased by 10%

Sales to wholesalers increased by 7%

Gross profit declined by 6% to $2 million

Operating expenses decreased by 3%

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"We remain laser-focused on controlling and reducing our expenses. Weve reduced our administrative expenses and marketing expenses," Wallin said.

Naples Soap Co. is looking to grow as a new public company.

The company continues to work with its suppliers and to improve its inventory management to deal with the higher prices it's paying for the goods that go into its products.

New stores continue to open

Company expenses are up, in part, too because of the continued investment in stores.

Three new stores will open in Florida this quarter. Two of them are already operating in Santa Rosa Beach and Plantation, with a third one coming soon in Venice.

"We set our sights on these locations in early 2022 because they were a perfect match with our growth strategy to be in high-traffic, coastal locations that attract tourists, seasonal residents and year-round shoppers, Wallin said. We faced multiple construction and hurricane-related delays, but weve overcome these challenges to create beautiful retail spaces where customers can see, feel, smell, try and buy our products.

Deanna Wallin, owner of Naples Soap Company.

Naples Soap, founded in 2009, sells hundreds of skin and hair care products made with natural and organic ingredients.

Started in Naples, the company is now based in Fort Myers.

While the company only has stores in Florida, its products are sold through various online channels and by more than 300 other retailers throughout the country, including boutiques and spas.

Besides its natural soaps, the retailer is best known for its sensitive skin care line, body butters, sea salt scrubs and bath bombs.

Naples Soap went public through a reverse merger in 2021 as a way to fund its growth.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Naples Soap Co. reports first quarter loss, blamed in part on Ian
The restaurant scene in Douglass, Kansas,  a town of around 1,500 that sits 30 miles southeast of Wichita  has been a tad depressing over the past decade.

Around 2014, the towns favorite burger joint  Craigs Drive-Inn, at 833 E. First St.  closed after more than 30 years in business.

Then, in November of 2021, the Triangle Restaurant  a cafe that also served Mexican fare  also closed, leaving the town with nearly no dining options at all.

A couple of months ago, the towns Pizza Hut closed, and that was a real blow. In a small town, Pizza Hut is usually the last to go.

The owners of Bettys in Douglass completely gutted the inside of the old Craigs Drive-Inn, redid it and filled it with antiques.

Douglass diners fortunes, though, finally changed for the better in September, when three natives of the town got together and opened Bettys, a shiny new restaurant featuring a menu of burgers, sandwiches, hand-cut fries and homemade ice cream. Since opening day, Bettys has had a steady flow of business, sometimes nearly more than it can handle, and its become a destination for people from Arkansas City, Winfield, Derby, Andover, Augusta, Haysville, Hutchinson, Clearwater and Towanda. Even Wichita residents have driven to Douglass just to check out Bettys.

We get everybody: Oh my gosh, they all come to Douglass just to come here, said Kathy Gibson, one of Bettys owners. Weve been here eight months, and the word is really starting to spread.

Bettys, named for Gibsons mother, is a labor-of-love project taken on by Gibson, her husband, Kirby, and her longtime friend and business partner, Terry Gulick.

Gibson and Gulick had been working together for a while flipping houses: He owned a construction company for 20 years, and she worked at the post office. They were in the process of buying another house to flip when they noticed that the old Craigs Drive-Inn was coming up for sale, and they decided to buy it.

The owners of Bettys Cafe bought the old Craigs Drive-Inn building in 2019. It was a longtime favorite that had closed several years earlier.

Craigs, a onetime town favorite, was in a nondescript, square brick building that sat empty for years before it went up for sale. Gibson, a talented designer, had a vision, and she knew that Gulick, who she describes as he best construction guy in town, had the ability to bring her vision to life.

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The two envisioned Bettys as a destination stop for people from around the area, and during its first eight months, thats what its become. Groups of retirees from different towns use Bettys as a place to meet up and have long lunches. Classic car and motorcycle clubs stop in for a bite after a long day of cruising. Some days, the crowds are wall-to-wall.

The reason we put it here is because we wanted the town to be able to come and gather again and enjoy it, Gibson said. We wanted it to kind of become a destination spot for people.

Whens it going to open?

The Gibsons and Gulick bought the old Craigs in 2019. But they all had day jobs and could commit only after-work hours to the diner.

Once the town realized something was going on in the building, though, residents grew impatient. The owners would get nonstop questions. But they couldnt hurry the project, even if they wanted to.

Theyd come by and say, Whens this going to be done? Whens this going to be done? Everybody just couldnt wait, Gibson said. But they had to wait because we were doing it and paying for it as we went so that when we opened up, we didnt have to sell 100 burgers a day or the banks coming. We just did it ourselves. We did everything ourselves.

Among the impatient observers was well-known Wichita businessman Tom Devlin, who would drive past the restaurant on the way to his Butler County home. He also noticed the activity and stopped in frequently. He befriended the owners, and they gave him a preview of their food before they even opened.

Devlin described the burgers as terrific, the onion strings as the best Ive had in Wichita and the homemade ice cream as hard to resist.

They brought me a big bowl, and I was only supposed to eat a couple of bites, he said. But it was so good, I ate it all.

They completely gutted the old Craigs building then added on to it. When they were done, they spent lots of time tracking down antiques to fill the space. In antique stores, on eBay, even in Wichitas Old Town Architectural Salvage they found old diner seats, antique signs, even an 1800s box car that Gulick turned into the restaurants front counter.

One of the antique signs the owners of Bettys purchased to decorate their new restaurant in Douglass

Both Gibson and Gulick quit their day jobs to devote themselves to Bettys. She would be on the grill, and he would be on the fryer. They hired three of their fellow retiree friends to work the counter.

Finally, after nearly three years of work and planning, they were ready to open Bettys. It was Sept. 5, 2022, and Gibson remembers she was overcome with nerves.

We didnt advertise it. We just opened, she said. The first person that saw the open sign on, and it was barely a flicker, and bam, it hit Facebook. Everybody was down here.

Bettys restaurant has seating for 32 inside and another 28 on the patio.

Burgers, fries and more

The first customers were greeted with a dramatic transformation from the old Craigs.

Not only did the owners add a bright new facade to the front of the building, but they also added an indoor/outdoor space to the west side of the building that is connected to a covered outdoor patio by a modern glass garage door.

The squeaky-clean inside of the restaurant had all new stonework on the walls, antique signage everywhere, copper countertops and a chalkboard menu behind the counter. So far, Gibson and Gulick say, the biggest seller on the menu has been the classic Betty Burger and the hand-cut fries. Another big hit has been the signature Black Knight Burger, which features a quarter-pound patty topped with barbecue sauce and homemade onion strings. Its the only burger that gets branded with a B on the top of the bun.

The Black Knight, topped with homemade onion strings and barbecue sauce, is Bettys signature burger.

Bettys has also become known for its homemade ice cream, and its level of popularity surprised even the owners. The ice cream is sold only by the pint in rotating flavors like vanilla bean, pistachio, strawberry, salted caramel, lemon poppy seed, peach and more. Its got an airy, creamy texture, and people buy it as fast as the owners can make it.

We were looking for a little niche that somebody didnt have, Gibson said. We had no idea it was going to become its own business.

Bettys also sells shakes and Jumblers, (the owners version of a Blizzard), but it uses soft-serve ice cream to make those. From a glass cabinet by the counter, it also sells fresh baked goods like homemade pies, cookies and occasionally cinnamon rolls.

Gibson also carefully designed the packaging for the food. Burgers are all wrapped in brown paper held together with a B sticker, and all the food comes out in a white paper bag. People can stay and eat or take their food to go.

The homemade ice cream at Bettys, which is sold by the pint, has almost become its own business, the owners say. People buy it as fast as they can make it.

Not always peachy

The owners are happy about business at Bettys so far, but the first months havent been without difficulty.

Customers have been vocally displeased about the owners decision not to accept call-in orders. People can come in and get food to go, but Bettys doesnt take orders in advance over the phone.

Sometimes, its to wall-to-wall people in here, Gibson said. Id have to hire a person just to answer the phone. And then I dont know where wed put the orders on the grill because sometimes, were back-to-back, and the orders are going out every eight minutes.

Also: Bettys was the only restaurant in town after the Pizza Hut closed, but only for a very brief time. Owners of a food truck called Sweet Thangz opened a bricks -and-mortar restaurant in Douglass in late April, setting up in part of the old nursing home on the edge of town. On their menu: burgers, fries and ice cream. And Sweet Thangz does take call-in orders.

Its been a bit tough to swallow, Gibson and Gulick say, and the restaurant is even more work than they imagined it would be.

But theyre happy they made the decision to open Bettys.

My mom always used to say, You need to stop and take time to smell the roses, Gibson said. We think people should be able to come in, sit down and take some time to say hello instead of all this rush.

Bettys Restaurant

Where: 833 E. First St., Douglass

Seats: 32 inside, 28 on the patio

Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays

Online at: www.facebook.com/bettysrestaurants

Bettys Restaurant menu

Bettys Restaurant menu, page 1
Patricia Timmons-Goodson, the former North Carolina Supreme Court justice who was the first Black woman to serve on the states highest court, will be the new dean of the N.C. Central University School of Law in Durham, the university announced Monday.

She will begin the role July 1, succeeding the late Browne Lewis, who died last year while attending a conference in Colorado.

In a news release Monday, NCCU provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs David Jackson Jr. said he was very elated that Timmons-Goodson would be leading the law school, adding that he looks forward to working with her and her team as we advance the mission of the law school by preparing a significant cadre of the nations future jurists.

As dean, she will be tasked with elevating the School of Laws visibility, attractiveness and sustainability as an institution that prepares practice ready law graduates who excel at the bar examination, the news release stated.

She will develop the schools leadership team, serve as chief academic officer and oversee all aspects of academic life within the college.

Decades-long law career in NC

Timmons-Goodson served at all levels of the North Carolina judicial system, working as an assistant district attorney in Fayetteville and as a staff attorney for Lumbee River Legal Services before ascending to the judges bench.

She became a district court judge in Cumberland County in 1984 and was reelected to the position three times. Former Gov. Jim Hunt appointed her to the state Court of Appeals in 1997, and after being elected by voters in 1998, she held her seat on that bench until 2005.

Former Gov. Mike Easley appointed Timmons-Goodson to the state Supreme Court in 2006, making her the fourth woman to serve on that court. She was elected by voters to remain on the court later that year, and held the seat until her retirement in 2012.

Former President Barack Obama in 2014 appointed Timmons-Goodson to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. He later nominated her in 2016 as a U.S. District Court judge for the Eastern District of North Carolina, but her nomination expired without confirmation by the Senate as Obama left office in 2017.

She ran to represent North Carolinas 8th Congressional District in the U.S. House in 2020, securing the Democratic nomination for the seat, but ultimately lost to Rep. Richard Hudson, the Republican incumbent.

Timmons-Goodson holds her bachelors and law degrees from UNC-Chapel Hill. She also holds a masters degree in judicial studies from Duke University.
If Republicans successfully override Gov. Roy Coopers veto, the 12-week abortion ban and its additional restrictions around medication abortion will go into effect on July 1.

If Republicans successfully override Gov. Roy Coopers veto, the 12-week abortion ban and its additional restrictions around medication abortion will go into effect on July 1.

North Carolina Democrats are prepared to fight a 12-week abortion ban on Tuesday  even if Republicans have made it nearly impossible.

The Tar Heel State has made national headlines this month for a dramatic turn of events over the states abortion laws. Despite several states enacting extreme bans since Roe v. Wade fell, most abortion-rights advocates were confident that North Carolina would maintain its 20-week abortion restriction because of pro-choice Gov. Roy Cooper (D) and his veto powers.

But after one lawmakers stunning party switch, Republicans now have a veto-proof supermajority  rendering Coopers veto useless to the 12-week abortion ban that state GOP leaders pushed through the legislature earlier this month.

The legislature set a vote on Tuesday at 4 p.m. EST to override Coopers recent veto of a 12-week abortion ban that will have devastating consequences for the entire Southeast if enacted. North Carolina is not only a critical access point for those who live there, but also for thousands who have been forced to cross state lines to get care since their home state banned abortion.

And Democrats are bracing for the worst.

The last week or so has shown how many people in North Carolina are really opposed to this, state Rep. Julie von Haefen (D) told HuffPost. She said she hopes her Republican colleagues are listening to the widespread dissent of the abortion ban, but shes not optimistic.

Honestly, weve seen the Republicans here in our state voting in lockstep on almost every issue like this, von Haefen added. Whether its guns or private school vouchers or abortion  we dont really see the Republican caucuses breaking from their ranks and thats disappointing.

Republicans crafted the abortion ban behind closed doors, unveiling it earlier this month to the surprise of many voters in the state. Instead of introducing a new piece of legislation, Republican lawmakers quietly tucked the 46-page abortion restriction into an unrelated bill. The move allowed Republicans to circumvent the committee process  where most public testimony is heard and amendments can be added  and go straight to a vote less than 48 hours after introducing the legislation.

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This was always their plan, to run this through without any insight, in the dark of night, so that the rest of the general public wont know that little girls today will have less rights than their mothers, state Sen. Sydney Batch (D) said of her Republican colleagues.

They want this done as quickly as possible, she added. They want to hold this override, and they want to be done talking about abortion. But we will not allow them to be done.

If Republicans successfully override Coopers veto, the 12-week ban and its additional restrictions around medication abortion will go into effect on July 1.

Less than 24 hours after Republicans introduced the bill, the state House was voting on it. It gave lawmakers extremely limited time to read over the 46-page bill and ask pertinent questions. Even sponsors of the bill had trouble answering questions from Democrats during limited debate time, said von Haefen. She hopes Republican leadership will allow for debate before the override vote, but given that debate was barred during the most recent override vote on a gun law  its not likely.

Cooper vetoed the 12-week abortion ban at a rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, this past weekend surrounded by physicians, abortion-rights advocates and fellow Democrats. In a bid to gain support to sustain his veto, Cooper traveled to several swing districts in the weeks since Republicans pushed the abortion ban through the legislature.

If just one Republican follows his or her conscience, if just one Republican finds the courage, if just one Republican listens to doctors, if just one Republican is unafraid to stand up to the political bosses, if just one Republican keeps that promise made to the people, then we can stop this ban, Cooper said before vetoing the bill.

Although Republicans hold a veto-proof supermajority, there are four lawmakers who Cooper and other Democrats have eyed as possible swing votes who previously made promises to protect abortion care. Three Republicans in the state House, Reps. John Bradford, Ted Davis Jr. and Tricia Cotham, and one in the Senate, Sen. Michael V Lee. However, Lee told The New York Times that a 12-week ban is in line with his views on abortion.

Davis declined to comment on the bill, but House Speaker Tim Moore (R) said Davis is a yes vote for the override. While running for reelection last year, Davis promised to support the states existing 20-week restriction.

Batch said she knows several Republicans who personally do not support the 12-week abortion ban, but will vote along party lines anyway.

That only leaves Bradford and Cotham. Bradford, who has yet to comment on the ban, said last year that he had no intention of restricting abortion past the current 20-week limit.

Cotham is the controversial and central character to the creation of the 12-week abortion ban. She switched parties earlier this year, handing Republicans their critical veto-proof supermajority. The former Democrat was once an outspoken advocate for abortion rights, even sharing her own abortion story on the House floor in a passionate plea against an abortion restriction in 2015. Earlier this year, she co-sponsored a bill to codify abortion protections as a response to the Supreme Courts decision to repeal Roe v. Wade last summer.

That you could go 180 and just disregard your own history and your own values in the way that she has  I cant explain it, and I dont know how anybody could do that, von Haefen said.

Cotham said she switched parties because the Democratic party had changed since she first joined over five years ago and her Democratic colleagues were controlling. However, Batchs understanding of Cothams choice is that there were Republican lobbyists who were helping her raise a significant amount of money back in her 2022 primary race.

It is a betrayal of every single person in her district. That she would not only change parties but also absolutely violate and break every promise that she made to her constituents, Batch said. It was a bait-and-switch, and it was always going to be a bait-and-switch.

Democrats will do their best to persuade their Republican colleagues to sustain Coopers veto, but, whatever happens, they wont go down without a fight.

The people of North Carolina deserve to know that there are representatives that are fighting for them. We might get steamrolled, but we will be very loud about it in the process  if were gonna lose, were gonna lose loudly, Batch said. That is the least that we can do to show everyone in North Carolina whats actually happening down in Raleigh.

Related...
ATHENS, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Greece's political parties are trying to woo young voters ahead of the scheduled May 21 general elections. According to analysts, the political preferences of this segment of the population are highly difficult to capture.

The country's new electoral law gives the right to vote to Greeks whose 17th birthday falls within the calendar year of an election, a year earlier than previously. Out of the 9.8 million registered voters, approximately 438,000 young people aged 17-21 are eligible to vote for the first time, according to official figures released by the Interior Ministry.

Their voices will be heard for the first time and they account for more than 5 percent of the electorate.

The latest opinion polls tend to give the ruling conservative New Democracy (ND) party a lead of up to 7 percentage points over the main opposition party, the SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance. However, younger voters seem to lean more towards the left-wing parties, analysts say.

According to exit polls taken on the eve of the 2019 general elections, 38 percent of voters younger than 24 years had voted for SYRIZA and 30 percent for the ND, Panos Koliastasis, adjunct assistant professor of politics at the University of Peloponnese, wrote in a recent article in the Greek daily Kathimerini.

According to the same exit polls, 5.7 percent of this age group had voted for the leftist MERA25 party and 4.9 percent for the Socialists.

Ahead of this year's elections, 63 percent of voters younger than 25 years say they want change, according to a recent opinion poll conducted by Metron Analysis.

A key question is whether these young voters will show up at the polling stations at all. In 2019, one in two chose not to vote, Koliastasis noted. In recent opinion polls, the percentage of young people who state that they will vote this time ranges between 50 percent and 80 percent.

"Most (of us) know who we want to vote for. There will also be abstention, of course... But there are many who know what they will vote for, and we are informed," Valantis, a 23-year-old mathematics student, told Xinhua on Syntagma Square in front of the Greek Parliament building.

He reached his decision after studying the parties' programs on education, the labor market and other topics that concern his generation.

During the pre-election campaign, political leaders tried to win support with pledges for the creation of new jobs, higher wages, measures supporting affordable housing and other policies that respond in particular to the younger generations' concerns.

The unemployment rate in Greece in March this year was a 13-year record low of 10.9 percent, after climbing up to 27.6 percent during the debt crisis (2009-2018). However, it was still more than double that figure at 24.2 percent for young people up to 24 years this March, according to data released by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT).

Currently, the minimum monthly wage is 780 euros (848 U.S. dollars), while living costs have skyrocketed during the latest energy crisis.

Seven in ten young respondents to a survey carried out by Eteron think tank this spring said high living costs topped their list of concerns.

Konstantina, 19, is a first-time voter. She is a university student, who works during the summer holidays to add to the allowance she receives from her parents to pay her rent and other expenses, she told Xinhua. Many of her fellow students and their families are struggling to make ends meet, she said.

"I'm going to vote, of course. I think all young people should vote, let's take the future into our own hands," she said.

In order to convey their messages, political leaders have increased their presence on social media like TikTok, which are more popular among younger voters, who do not watch traditional debates on television or read newspapers.

Political analysts agree that due to the way the Greek electoral system works, it will be difficult for any single political party to secure a parliamentary majority in the first round.

If a second election round is required, it will take place at the beginning of July at the latest, the government has said. The second round would be held under new electoral rules, which provide for extra seats for the winning party. (1 euro= 1.09 U.S. dollars) 
You cant pigeonhole Tina Kelly, even though the UNC Charlotte alumna has been part of Charlottes theater scene for almost a decade.

She began as a performer, then spent several years in stage management. Now, the 31-year old works primarily as a director.

But shes also an advocate for and producer of original works by local playwrights, through the Queen City New Play Initiative. And shes the founder of Queens on Quads  a skating group started for Black women  which got rolling during the pandemic.

I have all these different plates that Im spinning in all these different arenas, Kelly told The Charlotte Observer. She spoke in a recent video call from her Charlotte apartment, framed in the background by strings of purple holiday lights and the harp shes played since the fourth grade.

Kelly strives to make things beautiful and create space for others to do so too, as she uses art to forge community and connection in innovative ways.

Director Tina Kelly, center, smiles as Michelle Washington, right, finishes getting ready for the dress rehearsal of The Glorious World of Crowns, Kinks and Curls. Kelly

Connecting through shared experiences

Take her current production, for instance. Shes the director of The Glorious World of Crowns, Kinks and Curls for Three Bone Theatre. The show delves into a topic to which many Black women can relate: the public and private policing of hairstyles.

The play, written by journalist and screenwriter Keli Goff, is making its regional premiere in Charlotte and runs through May 20.

Kelly was drawn to the show for a few reasons.

She was happy to return to Three Bone, where she made her acting debut in 2014 performing the hair monologue from The Vagina Monologues (by playwright V, formerly Eve Ensler). Goffs play, similarly designed as a series of monologues and ensemble pieces  on the topic of hair  seemed pretty kismet, Kelly said.

When I read the script, I was like, Oh yeah, I need to be a part of this,  said Kelly, who moved into directing about four years ago.

Tina Kelly, center, directs Ashleigh Gilliam, back to camera, during a rehearsal for The Glorious World of Crowns, Kinks and Curls at The Arts Factory on May 4.

Kelly specializes in telling stories written by Black playwrights about Black cultural experience. She was eager to bring an innovative approach to Glorious World by integrating multimedia aspects like short films, projections and shadow theater.

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But the contemporary stories being told have centuries old roots, Kelly said, noting the 18th century Tignon laws which forced free Black women in Louisiana to cover their hair in the manner required of enslaved women.

Black womens hair was considered too alluring and we were always actually made to wrap our hair up and thats where scarves and things like that came from in the Western World, Kelly said. The way that our looks have been policed for so long, I think that its important that we have works like this.

Goff shows the ups and downs in the beautiful struggle that is Black hair, she said, creating a complete story arc through the monologues.

And Three Bone is partnering with the non-profit PrettyPonytails for this production. The organization helps boost young girls self-confidence through hair care kits and educational programs.

Three Bone Theatres production of The Glorious World of Crowns, Kinks and Curls at The Arts Factory in Charlotte centers on Black womens hair, and how its policed and perceived.

A haircut triggers challenging comments

Because of social media, Kelly said, more people are now familiar with some of the challenges that Black women go through in the workplace, being told whats deemed professionally appropriate.

But hair also can be policed in personal ways.

Thats something Kellys experienced recently after cutting her hair short for the first time.

I always had an amazing, like, gorgeous Diana Ross-type of fro, said Kelly, who decided she was ready for a hairstyle change as she hit her 30s.

Its affected the way some people perceive her, she said. They ask about her sexual preferences or make assumptions about who she is, including her friendliness and approachability.

I wear Sailor Moon t-shirts, you know what I mean? said Kelly, pointing to the anime character on her outfit. Im in touch with my ethnicity but Im a very, like, bright and bubbly person. Somebody told me I look like a dominatrix  that steps on people  when I cut my hair.

Theater director Tina Kelly specializes in telling stories written by Black playwrights about the Black cultural experience.

Encouraging playwrights and the community

Kelly also works to tackle a different type of stereotype  that theater can be an elitist art form. She does that through her work as artistic administrator and program coordinator for Queen City New Play Initiative.

The organization, led by playwright, film and TV writer Stacey Rose, was created to support writers of the Southern experience through educational opportunities and commissioned projects.

I think a lot of people look at theater and are really gifted writers, and have all the talent to become a playwright but they dont see themselves as having a place in theater. Thats why I do staged readings outside of my producing stuff.

At a rehearsal, Michelle Washington prepares for a scene of The Glorious World of Crowns, Kinks and Curls.

Her recent staged reading at BOOM Charlotte of Roses one-act play, Bones, Bonez, Bone$, for example, used one sound cue, two hand puppets made from found materials and five actors armed with scripts.

BOOM Charlotte festival leans on diversity, local artists in return to pre-COVID size

I want people to be able to come to things like that and see themselves, and realize that theater is very much just storytelling, she said. I want to bring people into the conversation and into the world of creating theater.

The New Play group advocates for emerging playwrights and provides them opportunities. Directing Roses work, Kelly said, was one of the most meaningful projects that shes taken on because they are both colleagues and friends.

But it also represents the essence of what the New Play group is about: developing productions of works by local playwrights.

Roses plays are presented across the country. Shes won fellowships, and written for the TV series 9-1-1, yet she has never had one of her own plays produced locally, Kelly said. We have a very big hole in our art system, where we need to support writers that are actually from here and produce great work from writers that are here.

The initiative regularly hosts and streams artist conversations between local playwrights and others across the country, and solicits new plays.

NC playwright aims to share complex, diverse stories about the Southern experience

Ensuring productions represent and engage the local community is essential, Kelly said. That includes programming, hiring decisions for directors and designers, marketing efforts and partnering with relevant, local organizations.

Queens on Quads

Engaging and creating community is also what Kellys done through Queens on Quads.

She grew up with inline skates but got intrigued with roller skating during the pandemic.

I was like, Oh my God, Im gonna get roller skates, Im gonna be one of these really cute girls on Instagram, and I got them in the mail, went outside and completely fell and did not touch them again for two weeks.

When she did, she realized she wanted company. She tried out a few groups but didnt really connect with their music or the vibe.

So she created Queens on Quads in March 2021, with skate meet ups a few times a week for someone like her: a Black woman who liked listening to Megan Thee Stallion and wanted genuine girl time, queen space.

For Kelly and others, she said the group has been about building community while doing something healthy. The groups motto is Skate. Connect. Give, and includes a service/fundraising component.

Its also about sharing a love for the artistry of skating and discovering rink culture, a subculture within the Black experience.

Just like dancing where you find the foxtrot and tango, there are different skating styles, including JB (short for James Brown), snapping or waltz skating. And all of those different styles of skating are born out of the great migration of Black people to different areas around the U.S., according to Kelly.

All ages participate in the group. And while Queens on Quads was originally created as a space for Black women, it welcomes everyone of all genders and races as part of the royal family.

Its been beautiful to see that even with the model that we start with, as a definitively Black space, people can still feel included, Kelly said. And I think that part of our success is that we create this experience very indicative of my culture, but it allows people to come see and grow within it in a very respectful way.

Whether its with actors on the stage or roller skaters in the street, Kelly plans to continue with her focus on building up and supporting Black culture.

Cailin Harrison, left, Kashara Hall, center and Michelle Washington, in Three Bone Theatres production of The Glorious World of Crowns, Kinks and Curls. Playwright Keli Goff shows the ups and downs in the beautiful struggle that is Black hair, director Tina Kelly said, creating a complete story arc through the monologues.

Want to go?

Remaining performances of Three Bone Theatres The Glorious World of Crowns, Kinks and Curls run Thursday through Saturday at 8pm at the Arts Factory at West End Studios 1545 West Trade St., Charlotte. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. More info: threebonetheatre.com

More arts coverage

Want to see more stories like this? Sign up here for our free Inside Charlotte Arts newsletter: charlotteobserver.com/newsletters. And you can join our Facebook group, Inside Charlotte Arts, by going here: facebook.com/groups/insidecharlottearts.
Whoopsie

The influential, 150-year-old newspaper The Irish Times just apologized for accidentally publishing an AI-generated hoax article  bylined by an entirely fake AI-generated "journalist," no less  in its Opinion section.

In a statement published Sunday, editor Ruadhan Mac Cormaic apologized for the incident, which he described the incident as a "deliberate and coordinated deception."

"It was a breach of the trust between the Irish Times and its readers, and we are genuinely sorry," read the statement. "The incident has highlighted a gap in our pre-publication procedures. We need to make them more robust, and we will."

"It has also underlined one of the challenges raised by generative AI for news organizations," Mac Cormaic added. "We, like others, will learn and adapt."

Welp. So long, reality.

Stir the S***

The anonymous person behind the AI-generated article in question, "Irish women's obsession with fake tan is problematic," sounds insufferable. They told the Guardian that they were actively attempting to both "give [their] friends a laugh" and "stir the shit" in the ongoing public discourse about identity politics. Exactly what the internet's information infrastructure needs right now, right?

According to the Guardian, the plan unfortunately worked, at least to a degree. The piece  which discussed cultural appropriation and the ethics of fake tanning through the purported lens of a fictional Latinx immigrant who grew up in Guayaquil, Ecuador  was reportedly the paper's second-most read article ever published, and sparked discussion online and on the radio.

Warning Flag

Worse, the Irish Times only realized that it'd published an AI hoax when the author themselves took to Twitter and, from an account attributed to the fake name that they'd published the story under, admitted to the plot.

"Some people have called me an alt-right troll," the unidentified hoaxer, who described themselves as a nonbinary university student  and who also claims to be from Ireland, not Ecuador, although who knows if any of that is true either  told the Guardian, "but I don't think that I am."

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The unnamed student added that they'd used OpenAI's ChatGPT to generate roughly 80 percent of the article, while they used OpenAI's DALL-E 2 text-to-image to create an image of what they believed to be an accurate representation of a "woke" journalist: "female, overweight, blue hair, business casual clothing, smug expression."

Gross thing to say! Moving on.

The Irish Times certainly has some egg on its face, and we'd probably advise everyone in media to learn from their mistake. AI tools are pretty much everywhere now  and as a result, sorting through what's real and what isn't is likely to get increasingly difficult.

More on AI: Reality Is Melting as Lawyers Claim Real Videos Are Deepfakes
It wasn't exactly a happy Mother's Day for Nick Cannon.

Cannon said he attempted to do something special this year for the six mothers of his 12 children.

"I tried my best, I really did," Cannon said on the May 15 episode of his radio show, "The Daily Cannon," before explaining where things went wrong.

Cannon, 42, said that he could "buy whatever" for the mothers of his children, but instead chose a more heartfelt route.

"I thought it would be really really good," he explained. "To show people how you really feel, write it down. I was doing handwritten messages from the heart."

But things went awry.

"I got the cards mixed up," he said. "So when one baby mama reads the card about how I feel about another baby mama ... If I would have just got some generic s--- that everybody else got, that wouldnt have happened."

Cannon is dad to 12-year-old twins Moroccan and Monroe with ex-wife Mariah Carey. He is also a father to three children with Brittany Bell: Golden Sagon, 6, Powerful Queen, 2, and 7-month-old Rise Messiah; 1-year-old twins Zion Mixolydian and Zillion Heir and Beautiful Zeppelin, 6 months, with Abby De La Rosa; 10-month-old Legendary Love with Bre Tiesi; 8-month-old Onyx with LaNisha Cole; and 5-month-old Halo Marie with Alyssa Scott.

Cannon and Scott are also parents to a son, Zen, who died in 2021 from a malignant brain tumor at 5 months old.

This is not the first time Cannon has rocked the boat with the mothers of his children.

In 2021, the former Americas Got Talent host issued a public apology to the women with whom he shares children after he announced he was expecting his eighth child two months after losing his son, Zen.

I misspoke and probably went too much into detail on Monday expressing my feelings and it felt like I was making some comparatives when talking about the passing of my son Zen and then also talking about the new child that Im expecting, Cannon said. I didnt need to do that, because those are two completely separate moments of my life. They both deserve respect.

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The proud papa has previously discussed fathering children with multiple women. He made it clear that his growing family is intentional.

Im like a seahorse, he joked to Power 106 Los Angeles in 2021, while talking to rap duo JT and Yung Miami. Im having these kids on purpose. I dont have no accident!

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
President-elect Bola Tinubu is facing legal challenges ahead of his inauguration on 29 May

A BBC investigation has found evidence suggesting some results from Nigeria's presidential election may have been manipulated.

The winner Bola Tinubu is due to be inaugurated on 29 May but the opposition is challenging this.

The BBC has uncovered significant anomalies in Rivers state, a key battleground, although not sufficient to change the overall national outcome of the election, which took place in February.

There are also questions over the identity of an election official who read out some of the unexplained results.

How votes are counted in Nigeria

On 25 February, Nigerians cast their votes at thousands of polling stations across the country.

At each polling station, the votes for the party of each candidate were publicly announced and the results sheets taken for collation first at the ward level, then at local government (LGA) centres.

An election official from each LGA then travelled to the state capital, where these results were officially declared.

Example of a tally sheet from a single polling station, one of almost 177,000 across Nigeria

For the first time in a Nigerian election, photographs of the polling station results sheets were published online by the electoral commission.

This made it possible to add up all the polling station sheets and to compare them with the results declared at the state level.

What we found in Rivers state

We added up the voting tally sheets from over 6,000 polling stations in Rivers state, where many of the opposition complaints had been made.

While the official result in this state gave a clear majority to Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), our tally suggested that Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) had actually received most votes in the state by a wide margin.

Chart of results from Rivers state

We found an increase of just over 106,000 in Mr Tinubu's vote in the official declaration when compared with our polling station tally - almost doubling his total in the state.

In contrast, Mr Obi's vote had fallen by over 50,000.

It's important to make clear that although we searched through the election website for every single one of the 6,866 polling stations in Rivers state, we were not able to obtain results from all of them.

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Some were incorrectly uploaded, others were missing, even after a month from the date of polling.

For about 5% of polling stations, the photos of tally sheets were too blurred for us to read. It's reasonable to assume that the official count would have included these as they would have had the original documents.

In another 17%, there were no results at all. Many of these would have been places where no voting took place due to security issues or the non-arrival of voting materials. Others had technical problems preventing officials uploading the documents.

So there clearly would have been more polling stations included in the final official results that weren't included in the BBC investigation.

However, these additional tally sheets would have increased the totals for each party, not decreased them. And what we found was that the votes for Peter Obi's Labour Party had decreased sharply in Rivers state.

So how can the sharp fall in votes for Peter Obi - in the official result - be explained?

Peter Obi has contested the outcome of the vote in Rivers state

Where were the biggest discrepancies?

Two areas stood out.

The first was the Oyigbo local government area, where we found:

The vote for Bola Tinubu was six times larger in the officially announced results compared with the BBC's polling station count

Peter Obi's votes had been cut in half

Chart of results from Oyigbo LGA

The second local government area where we found major discrepancies was in nearby Obio/Akpor:

The official result for Mr Tinubu was 80,239 votes, but we counted just 17,293 votes from polling station tallies

The count for Mr Obi was announced officially as just 3,829 votes, but the BBC counted 74,033 votes for him on the tally sheets

Chart of result from Obio/Akpor LGA

So how did these differences occur?

As explained earlier, all the polling station sheets are collated at local government (LGA) headquarters.

We found an official election document with these collated votes for the Oyigbo area, signed by an election official and some of the party agents.

The results for Oyigbo (with the two largest parties highlighted)

Several different photographs had been taken of it and uploaded on social media accounts.

The numbers in this document closely matched our own tallies for the two leading candidates (Obi and Tinubu).

This would have been one of the 23 collation sheets from LGAs in Rivers state taken to the state capital, Port Harcourt, for the official declaration.

Broadcast live on television on 27 February, in front of a bank of microphones, Oyigbo election official, Dr Dickson Ariaga, announced his name and that he worked for the Federal College of Education in Omoku.

On the recording, the word "Omoku" is indistinct, but there is only one Federal College of Education in Rivers state.

Dr Ariaga then read out the results for each party in alphabetical order, including for all the smaller parties.

Dr Dickson Ariaga (seated far left) announced the Oyigbo results

They all matched those on the collation sheet the BBC had obtained. But when he reached Mr Tinubu's APC, instead of saying 2,731 as written on our photograph of the sheet, he read out "16,630".

Then for Mr Obi's party (LP) the figure changed again - instead of the 22,289 seen on the sheet, he announced "10,784", more than halving his vote.

The mystery surrounding Dickson Ariaga

We asked the electoral commission if we could speak to Dr Ariaga, but they would not give us his details or reach out to him for us.

We spoke to the election official seated next to Dr Ariaga, but she told us she wasn't authorised to talk to the press.

So we sent a reporter to the Federal College of Education in Omoku, about two hours drive north of Port Harcourt, where he'd said he worked when introducing himself.

The Deputy Provost Moses Ekpa told the BBC: "From our records, both from our payroll and from our human resources, there is no such a name in our system and we don't know such a person."

Moses Ekpa says the Federal College of Education in Omoku has never heard of Dr Ariaga

We tried tracking him down on social media and eventually came across another Facebook account for someone in Port Harcourt, whose profile details had the name Dickson Ariaga.

When we compared an image from this account to the television pictures of Dr Ariaga using Amazon Rekognition software, we achieved a match of 97.2%, indicating a very high probability they're the same man.

Dr Ariaga did not respond to messages sent by us to this account.

By reaching out to his Facebook friends we did finally manage to speak to a man who said he was a relative, who was at first willing to help us but then didn't return our calls.

What have the authorities said?

We put these findings to Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec).

Johnson Sinikiem, Inec's regional spokesman in Port Harcourt, told us that due to a "gross shortage of time and personnel" they had needed to take on some people without verifying their identity documents.

Referring to Dr Ariaga, he said: "If he had presented himself as a lecturer from [the college in Omoku] and it's otherwise, then he is dishonest."

We also approached Inec's headquarters in Abuja for a response to our findings of discrepancies in the results in Rivers state. We were told that they were unable to comment due to ongoing legal challenges.

This is just one case in one state in southern Nigeria where the evidence points to the results having been manipulated.

On their own, these altered results would not have decisively swayed the outcome of the presidential election. Bola Tinubu won the national presidential vote by 1.8m votes over his nearest rival, Atiku Abubakar of the PDP.

We're still looking for Dr Ariaga to respond to the findings in this report.

Additional reporting by Liana Bravo, Jemimah Herd, Jake Horton and Kumar Malhotra

Edited by Dan Isaacs
Oleksii Danilov, Secretary of Ukraines National Security and Defence Council (NSDC), has said that no elections  presidential or parliamentary  can be held in Ukraine while martial law is in effect.

Source: Interfax-Ukraine, citing Danilov during the national 24/7 newscast

Quote from Danilov: "I want to stress that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has to realise that we have our own Constitution and our own laws, which we must observe. PACE would be better off doing other things, [for example] not allowing the Russian Federation to meddle in their affairs. We will handle this [i.e., the question of elections - ed.] ourselves, in accordance with our laws and our Constitution. When the [martial law] is in effect, as it currently is, no elections can take place. Full stop."

Details: The NSDC secretary also said he hoped PACE representatives would stop telling Ukraine what to do.

Previously: PACE President Tiny Kox told European Pravda that Ukraine must hold parliamentary and presidential elections even while martial law is in effect. He stressed that the Ukrainian government must come up with ways to address this challenge.

Kox admitted that the Ukrainian constitution does not allow to hold elections while martial law is in effect, but said that Ukraine has to "find a solution".

"That is not up to us to say how to do it, but of course Ukraine has to organise free and fair elections," Kox said. He also stressed that Ukraine "has to hold free and fair elections, because that is one obligation under the statute and under our conventions. And you will do so."

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is investigating an officer-involved shooting in Aiken County involving a North Augusta man.

Richard Mccarty, 30, of North Augusta, is charged with attempted murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, according to SLED arrest warrants.

Just before 2 a.m. Tuesday, an Aiken Department of Public Safety officer was in a patrol vehicle at a gas station at the intersection of Whiskey and Pine Log roads, when a man approached the officer, according to a news release from SLED.

The man, later identified as Mccarty, had a short conversation with the officer, got into his vehicle, and rammed the officers patrol car, according to the release. The collision disabled both vehicles.

Man dragged: Body from Augusta shootout dragged more than 50 feet by Augusta Fire vehicle

High schooler arrested: Burke County school resource officer assaulted by high school student

Mccarty got out of the passengers side window of his vehicle and chased the officer with a large knife "in an overhand grip," according to the release and arrest warrants. Two officers responded to assist their fellow officer being chased by the armed man.

Mccarty presented the knife and the responding Aiken officers shot him, according to SLED. Mccarty was taken to the hospital for treatment for several not life-threatening injuries. No officers were injured.

SLED conducts law enforcement officer-involved shooting investigations at the request of theagency involved in the incident or the agency with jurisdiction. The incident in Aiken County was the 12th officer-involved shooting in South Carolina in 2023, according to SLED. Tuesday's shooting was the first officer-involved shooting for the Aiken Department of Public Safety this year.

In 2022, there were 32 officer-involved shootings in South Carolina, according to SLED. The Aiken Department of Public Safety had no officer-involved shootings last year.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: North Augusta man involved in officer-involved shooting
Dallas activist groups demanded at a press conference Monday that authorities thoroughly investigate the possibility that the May 6 mass shooting in Allen was a racially motivated hate crime.

Despite killers racist content targeting Indian women among other groups, local law enforcement downplays role of targeted racism and hate in the devastating mass shooting, a press release signed by multiple advocacy groups said.

Authorities have not officially determined the gunmans motive for the May 6 shooting that killed eight people and injured seven at the Allen Premium Outlets mall. On May 9, Texas Department of Public Safety North Texas Regional Director Hank Sibley said at a news conference the agency cant yet confirm whether the attack was an act of domestic terrorism motivated by racist or Nazi obsession. DPS did confirm 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia had neo-Nazi ideation and acknowledged that a Russian social media profile with white supremacist, misogynistic, anti-LGBTQ and antisemitic posts is believed to be the shooters, but said his motive remains under investigation.

Out of the eight people who Garcia killed, four were of Asian descent. Among the seven people injured in the shooting are a 6-year-old Korean-American boy whose parents and brother were killed, and a man from India whose friend was killed. At least one injured victim is Black. At least four victims were Hispanic, as was the shooter.

At Mondays press conference, Lily Trieu, interim executive director of Asian Texans for Justice, said the statements Sibley made about the shooting were outrageous because it seemed the agency dismissed the shooting as a possible hate crime before a thorough investigation has been completed.

Our community is scared to be together amongst one another, she said. So designating it a hate crime, doing a thorough investigation, is the lowest bar of what can be done.

The press conference was held at the Dallas Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation building and included the Dallas Asian American Historical Society, SAAVETX Education Fund, Asian Texans for Justice and Somos Tejas.

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Calls to label shooting as hate crime

Allen is a destination for many Asian families, Chandra Parbhoo with SAAVETX Education Fund said at the press briefing, and the outlet mall is frequented by people of diverse backgrounds and ethnicity. The shooting was an intentional attack that intensified our sense of vulnerability and a lack of safety, she said, and left the community frightened knowing that someone with so much hate had targeted us.

Parbhoo urged elected officials to acknowledge that most of the victims were immigrants or people of color and classify the mass shooting as a hate crime.

Weapons of mass destruction and hate groups are a dangerous mix for Texas, she said. We must support a full and thorough investigation by authorities.

Trieu, and several other speakers, drew connections between how the Allen shooting has been handled to authorities initial response to the Dallas Koreatown shooting last year. In May 2022, a gunman shot three women inside a Koreatown salon. Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia initially said he could confidently say there was no indication the shooting was motivated by hate. A day later, the gunman was linked to two other shootings targeting Asian-American businesses, and Garcia reversed his statement to say the authorities did see the shooting as a hate crime. Trieu noted Garcia met with business owners and offered them resources after the shooting.

This is a string of repeated actions  this has now become a pattern of the Department of Public Safety not taking the seriousness of AAPI safety as a real concern, she said.

Hate crimes send a violent message to members of the targeted community, said Stephanie Drenka, co-founder and executive director of the Dallas Asian American Historical Society. The message from the Allen shooting was one of racism and hate, and the response from law enforcement and officials has to be a strong denouncement of that hate, she said. The lack of a strong response from law enforcement and officials makes communities of color feel more vulnerable, she said, and leaves the door open for people who would commit crimes like this to think they have the leeway to do so.

Caroline Kim, an Asian-American resident of Dallas, spoke at the press conference about her personal experience with racism in North Texas. Kim said it is important to quickly label a hate crime as such because doing so mobilizes communities, law enforcement and resources faster; media responds faster and differently.

Jerry Hawkins, executive director with Dallas Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation, called on local municipalities and DPS to detail their plans for combating the domestic threat of white nationalism. Hawkins said he was on a call with the White House just before President Joe Biden gave a speech Saturday in which the president said white supremacy is the single most dangerous terrorist threat in our homeland.

Hawkins said elected officials should be having similar conversations about the threat of white supremacy in Texas, where the FBI and other agencies have identified a potential hotbed of white nationalist extremism.

Several speakers also called on elected officials to pass gun safety legislation to tackle the prevalence of mass shootings. Ramiro Luna, co-founder and executive director of Somos Tejas, listed various other shootings where the shooter used an AR-15, and said Texas leaders should at least do something to limit the use of the gun.
The reading performance of primary school children in Northern Ireland has been ranked fifth in the world in a major international assessment.

Only pupils in Singapore, Ireland, Hong Kong and Russia achieved higher scores than children here.

The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) involved 400,000 children in almost 60 countries.

PIRLS investigates children's reading skills close to the end of primary school, every five years.

First run in 2001, it uses data from a sample of nine and 10-year-old pupils, their parents, their teachers and head teachers.

The reading skills of Northern Irish pupils have been ranked very highly in previous PIRLS studies.

But they improved again in the latest study in 2021, the results of which have just been published.

More than 4,000 pupils in 143 primary schools in Northern Ireland took part in PIRLS 2021.

Due to school closures caused by the Covid pandemic, some Northern Ireland children were tested for their literacy skills in Primary Six and some in Primary Seven.

Girls perform better

Their reading and comprehension score in 2021 was 566, which was significantly above the international mean and higher than 52 other countries.

Additionally, almost a quarter of pupils in Northern Ireland achieved the highest standards in the PIRLS assessment - the third highest across all countries.

However, girls in Northern Ireland performed better in reading than boys, a "gender gap" repeated across most countries.

The PIRLS study also looked at other factors that influenced children's reading.

Most parents in Northern Ireland, for example, said their child's learning had been "adversely affected" by the pandemic.

The vast majority of pupils in Northern Ireland were out of school for extended periods in 2020 and early 2021 due to lockdown restrictions.

The majority of school principals also told the report's researchers that the teaching of reading had been affected by a shortage of resources in their schools.

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Although pupils in Northern Ireland were good at reading, only just more than a quarter said they liked it "very much" - which was much lower than many other countries.

Fewer than half said they liked what they read in school or that they were given interesting things to read.

The report's authors also found that children who achieved the best reading and comprehension scores had parents who liked to read to them and had access to books at home.

The majority of parents in Northern Ireland reported that they were reading with their children before they had started school.

According to Rachel Classick, from the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER), that is crucial.

"A very high proportion of pupils in Northern Ireland, their parents are doing stuff with them often when they're young," she told BBC News NI.

"They're doing these things like reading books and singing songs before they start primary school."

Dirk Hastedt, from the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA), also said that countries who performed well in the study had high numbers of parents who read to their children at home.

"Early home literacy activities also impact mathematics and science abilities," he said.

"So there's a very strong pattern from what students are getting in their early years in support.

"What parents do and can do has a huge impact."

The Department of Education (DE) in Northern Ireland recently cut funding to a scheme providing books for babies to save money.

Funding for education was cut in the recent Stormont budget from Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris.

The PIRLS study was carried out in Northern Ireland by the NFER for the Department of Education in 2021.

It is also organised by the IEA and the International Study Centre at Boston College in the USA.
Novak Djokovic reacts after reaching the Italian Open quarter-finals (REUTERS)

Novak Djokovic accused Cameron Norrie of unsporting behaviour during their fiery Italian Open clash on Tuesday, with the Serbian taking issue with more than just the contentious smash from the British No 1 that struck him on the ankle.

Djokovic progressed to the quarter-finals of the Italian Open with a 6-3 6-4 victory but the most notable incident of the match came as Norrie broke serve in the second set with a body shot that was drilled into Djokovics legs.

Djokovic had turned his back on the ball in midcourt, giving up on the point, as Norrie was presented with an easy smash at the net - only for Norrie, seemingly unintentionally, to power the ball at his opponent.

Djokovic turned and flashed a chilling look in Norries direction, as the 27-year-old held up his hands in apology, and there was a frosty exchange at the net after the match when the players shook hands.

While Djokovic did not accuse Norrie of deliberately targeting him afterwards, the six-time Italian Open champion said he had been bothered by his opponents shouts after winning points as well his decision to take a medical timeout after Djokovic broke to serve for the match.

The 11am scheduled start time in Rome was delayed by around 15 minutes after Djokovic visited the treatment room before the match, which may have been why Norrie was so visibly disgruntled during the contest.

When asked about his reaction to the smash and whether he thought Norrie had intentionally hit him, Djokovic said: I did watch the replay when he hit me. Maybe you could say he didnt hit me deliberately. I dont know if he saw me. I mean, you can always see where the player is positioned on the court. The ball was super slow and super close to the net. I just turned around because the point was over for me.

It was not so much maybe about that, but it was maybe a combination of things. From the very beginning, I dont know, he was doing all the things that were allowed. Hes allowed to take a medical timeout. Hes allowed to hit a player. Hes allowed to say Cmon in the face more or less every single point from basically the first game.

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Those are the things that we players know in the locker room. Its not fair play, its not how we treat each other. But again, its allowed.

I got along with Cameron really well all these years that hes been on the tour. Weve practised with each other. Hes very nice guy off the court, so I dont understand this kind of attitude on the court, to be honest. But it is what it is. He brought the fire, and I responded to that.

Norrie took a timeout at 6-3 5-4 down (REUTERS)

Im not going to allow someone behaving like this just bending my head. Im going to respond to that. Thats all it is. What happens on the court, we leave it on the court, and we move on.

Djokovic wrapped up victory after the incident with Norrie lacking the offensive weapons and making too many errors in the baseline rallies to trouble the six-time Italian Open champion.

Norrie, who had lost both his previous meetings with Djokovic, dropped serve at the start of the contest and was kept at arms length through the rest of the opening set, with Djokovic putting on a tactical masterclass.

Norrie withstood pressure after the smash incident to hold his serve until 4-4, when Djokovic made the decisive move to reach the last eight.

It was an early start today, strange conditions, Djokovic said on Amazon Prime Video.

I finished my warm-up 10 minutes before I went on court so I was rushing a bit with everything. Im just glad to overcome todays challenge in straight sets and move on.

The 35-year-old was serving noticeably slower than usual but he was coy on the reason for an early morning visit to the treatment room.

Every day is something, he said. Thankfully I was able to play and finish the match so hopefully tomorrow I will feel even better.

Includes reporting from PA
The number of armed occupiers at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhia nuclear power plant has increased significantly: now there are more than 2,500 Russian military personnel.

Source: Energoatom, Ukraine's national nuclear energy company, on Telegram

Details: Reportedly, there are already more occupiers than plant staff.

Quote: "The occupiers completely turned the largest nuclear plant in Europe into their fortified military base."

More details: The company also says that the occupiers return to the city again after the so-called vacations, during which not only representatives of the occupation authorities but also documentation and equipment were taken from Enerhodar to the direction of the Sea of Azov.

The key services of the invading "regime" resumed their "work". Russian bank branches and local "administration" are operating again. Only gas stations that simply do not have any fuel are closed. But even when there is some fuel, it is almost impossible to leave the city.

The number of military patrols also increased in Enerhodar.

Background:

At the beginning of May, it was reported that Russian invaders were taking the residents of Enerhodar, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, to the cities of Berdiansk and Prymorsk.

The occupiers at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant make the rules of work and stay at the plant for the staff stricter every day. At the moment, the employees are not even allowed to talk to each other.

Reportedly, nearly 2,500 members of staff currently remain at the ZNPP.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 15)  Defense officer-in-charge Carlito Galvez Jr. told senators that around 70% of enlisted personnel will seek retirement as they discuss the possible reform to the pension system of military and uniformed personnel (MUP).

"We anticipate it that around 70-80% of our enlisted personnel, eligible or optional retirement, will retire," Galvez told a Senate hearing on Monday.

"Kasi ang gusto nila i-avail na nila 'yong pension ng current system kasi 'yong apprehension ng possible new MUP [pension] law magkakaroon ng implication sa kanilang tinatawag na optional retirement," he added.

[Translation: Because they want to avail the pension in the current system due to the apprehension over the new MUP pension law that could have implications in their optional retirement.]

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, who chairs the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation, and Sen. Bong Revilla Jr. have filed bills seeking to reform the current pension system for military and uniformed personnel (MUP) retirees. The current pension system has been deemed "unsustainable."

National Treasurer Rosalia de Leon presented to the committee that pension spending is projected to increase in the next years, and is seen to go up to 1.5 trillion in 2040, if no reforms are implemented.

She added that interest expense for the pension system will balloon to 171 billion in 2040.

RELATED: Diokno pushing for military, uniformed personnel pension reform

But while they recognize the looming fiscal problem, stakeholders including the Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection, and Bureau of Correction only want the proposed reform to apply to new entrants.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) also said that the possible reform will also be a factor of increasing number of officers opting for optional retirement.

The PNP told the committee that a total of 18,000 police officers retired from 2018 to 2022. Of the number, around 65% or 12,000 availed of optional retirement.

"We are hemorrhaging with our senior PNCOs (police non-commissioned officers) because natatakot sila, Sir, at gusto nilang lumabas [they are afraid and are now opting to retire] to avail of the pension law. That is what's happening," PBGen. Ronaldo Olay said.

"It's very revealing that this impending passage of this new law that we are proposing right now is resulting to brain drain as far as the MUP is concerned," Sen. Bato dela Rosa also said, noting that the training and experience of senior officials will not be matched by new entrants.

Estrada then asked Galvez for retirement statistics of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). The Defense OIC said he will submit a full report but mentioned that for the first quarter of 2023, the AFP already has at least 900 retirees.

Galvez also mentioned that numbers of those who sought optional retirement are slightly decreasing, noting this could be because of current improved benefits in military service.

That's why he raised to the Senate panels that the pensionable age and indexation are "very sensitive" issues for active military officials, retirees, and pensioners, based on their previous talks.

"We recognize 'yong [the] current [financial] problem. In solving those problems, we can also engage our soldiers into discussion na i-minimize 'yong [to minimize] optional retirement," Galvez said.

"And maybe we can also consider 'yong optional retirement itaas natin [to raise the optional retirement to] 25 years or maybe 30 years so that we can offset some of the accrued liabilities on having optional retirement," he added.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was "very much concerned" on the impact of the proposed law to the morale and welfare of army personnel and police officers, Galvez said.

Marcos' economic managers assure they will engage with stakeholders to formulate a "fiscally sound and acceptable" version of the MUP pension reform.

"I believe that's also the position of our president that we need to consult our soldiers, our PNP, and also our MUP, so that we can get the sentiment and some sort of common ground," Galvez also said.
Dabin and Skybreak perform during the 2022 Electric Zoo Festival at Randall's Island on September 02, 2022 in New York City. Taylor Hill/Getty Images

Three NYPD officers have been charged in connection to the theft of booze at a music festival.

Two were accused of swiping almost $3,000 worth of champagne at the Electric Zoo Festival.

Prosecutors say the other officer who was charged did nothing to stop them.

Three New York Police Department detectives have been indicted in connection to the theft of almost $3,000 worth of luxury champagne from VIP guests at an electronic music festival while the officers were supposed to be working, prosecutors said.

Officers Jonathan Gonzalez, 33, Wojciech Czech, 44, and Warren Golden, 31, were on narcotics enforcement duty at the Electric Zoo Festival on New York City's Randall's Island on September 3, 2022, when prosecutors allege the alcohol theft occurred in a VIP area, according to court documents reviewed by Insider.

Prosecutors have accused Gonzalez and Czech of swiping two unopened bottles of the pricey Ace of Spades champagne from rapper Jay-Z's line, and have alleged that Golden, who they say witnessed the act, did nothing to stop the heist.

"Public confidence in the criminal justice system depends on members of law enforcement acting with the utmost integrity while on duty and following the same rules that apply to everyone else," Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement announcing the charges on Monday.

Czech and Golden were arrested on Monday and suspended from duty, according to the NYPD.

Czech was charged with two felonies fourth-degree grand larceny and fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property  while Golden was charged with official misconduct, which is a misdemeanor.

They both pleaded not guilty to the charges at their arraignments.

Gonzalez, who prosecutors allege put the bottles of bubbly worth $2,900 into his backpack, is being charged with grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, and official misconduct. He is expected to be arraigned later this week.

Golden's attorney, Jacob Weinstein, told Insider that he believes his client "will be totally vindicated in this matter."

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"The charge is simply not supported by the facts and the DA's office should never have brought this allegation against Officer Golden," Weinstein said.

A lawyer for Czech told Insider that the 10-year police veteran is "shocked and saddened by these allegations."

"Det. Czech has pleaded not guilty and asks the public to withhold judgment until these charges can be fully addressed in the appropriate forum," attorney Oliver Storch said.

An attorney for Gonzalez did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Meanwhile, an NYPD spokesperson told Insider that the police department "will continue to pursue the facts in this investigation and initiate further discipline where appropriate."

Read the original article on Insider
Former President Obama said in a new interview that what most worries him is that Americans are occupying different realities.

The thing that Im most worried about is the degree to which we now have a divided conversation, in part because we have a divided media, a splintered media, Obama told CBS Mornings host Nate Burleson.

Today what Im most concerned about is the fact that, because of the splintering of the media we almost occupy different realities, right? If something happens that, you know, in the past everybody could say, All right, we may disagree on how to solve it, but at least we all agree that, yeah, thats an issue,' he said.

Now people will say, Well, that didnt happen, or, I dont believe that, or, I dont care about the science, or, Im not concerned about these experts, you know, cause theyre just all liberals or, you know, Thats just conservative propaganda,' he continued.

The former president noted that one of his goals of the Obama Foundation is to get people to agree on a common set of facts. He recounted that when he was growing up, there were only three TV channels where viewers can get a similar sense of what is true and what isnt, what was real and what was not.

Obama also commented on gun control laws in the wake of recent mass shootings, saying that the United States was unique among advanced developed nations in tolerating, on a routine basis, gun violence.

In Australia, you had one mass shooting, 50 years ago, and they said, Oh, were not doing that anymore,' he said. That is normally how you would expect a society to respond when your children are at risk.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Former President Obama says exiting the White House helped give his marriage to Michelle Obama a boost.

The former first lady has previously revealed she couldnt stand her husband for roughly 10 years of their union. CBS Mornings cohost Nate Burleson asked the 44th president about those comments in an interview Tuesday.

How do you get back in good graces? Burleson asked Obama, eliciting laughs from the former commander in chief.

Let me just say this: It sure helps to be out of the White House and to have a little more time with her, Obama replied.

In an interview last month with CBS Mornings Gayle King, Michelle Obama opened up about her relationship.

Weve been married for 30 years, she told King. If I fell out with him for 10 [years], and we had a great 20 years, Id take those odds anytime.

The Obamas tied the knot in 1992.

The 61-year-old former president said Tuesday that the couples children (Malia, 24, and Sasha, 21) having grown up also helped his marriage.

Michelle, when our girls were growing up, that was priority number one, two, three and four, Obama, who left office in 2017, said.

So I did not fully appreciate  I think as engaged of a father as I was  the degree of stress and tension for her, knowing not just that me and Michelle were under scrutiny and in this strange environment, but that we were raising our daughters in a kind of situation that just wasnt normal, he said.

Now that theyre doing good, she is a little more forgiving of all my flaws, Obama added with a grin.

What shes told me is, Looking back, you did OK as a dad. And if I passed that test, shell forgive me, most of my other foibles.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Russians are using school buildings to accommodate personnel, store equipment and provide shelter in the town of Yasynuvata, Donetsk Oblast.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook

Quote: "The enemy continues to cynically use educational institutions in the temporarily occupied settlements for its own purposes.

The buildings of one of the local schools in Yasynuvata, Donetsk Oblast, are used by the Russian occupiers to accommodate their personnel. Military equipment is hidden in the school playground, and the basement is used as a shelter."

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
The occupiers at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) make the rules of work and stay at the plant for the staff stricter every day. At the moment the employees are not even allowed to talk to each other.

Source: Ukrainian State Enterprise National Nuclear Energy Generating Company Energoatom on Telegram

Quote: "After a recently introduced ban on using even feature phones on the territory of the ZNPP, the Russian terrorists enter another level of absurdity and introduce even more nonsensical restrictions for the staff."

Details: Reportedly, nearly 2,500 members of staff currently remain at the ZNPP.

However, it is armed guards who decide how the plant is going to work  they thoroughly check the employees before their shifts, only let them get to their workplaces by an overpass, ban them from moving around the territory of the ZNPP and even from going outside.

Also, as Energoatom reports, the occupiers demand that the employees only look in front of them while working and not communicate with each other.

The reason for such restrictions, which make the communication between the employees extremely difficult, may be an attempt of the occupiers to disguise their firing positions and a big quantity of military equipment in the territory of the power plant.

Background:

It was reported that the Russians plan to evacuate about 3,000 workers servicing the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant from the satellite city of Enerhodar.

On 7 May, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced that the Russians were taking the residents of Enerhodar, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, in the direction of Berdyansk and Primorsk, Russia.

Petro Kotin, Head of Energoatom, Ukrainian National Nuclear Energy Generating Company, stated that the Ukrainian military understands that during the counteroffensive, they will have to bypass the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant to avoid damage to this facility.

Kotin added that the Russian occupiers who remain at the ZNPP in Enerhodar are preparing for possible evacuation and have even held training to quickly flee the ZNPP in case of the Ukrainian counteroffensive.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






A Mississippi man accused of killing a teen and injuring six others in a mass shooting at Scratch Kitchen restaurant in Ocean Springs is back on the Coast and faces multiple felony charges.

FaDarius Davon Williams was extradited from Mobile, Alabama, to the Jackson County jail Monday afternoon and is held without bond, according to records. He faces charges of felony murder and five felony counts of aggravated assault in the shooting at a Cinco de Mayo party.

Williams is accused of firing into a crowd of about 200 people on May 5. Chayse Harmon, a 19-year-old man from Moss Point, was shot in the chest and died at the restaurant.

After the shooting, Ocean Springs police Capt. Ryan LeMaire told the Sun Herald, Williams went to a local hospital for treatment after sustaining a hand injury. He was later transferred to a hospital in Mobile.

Ocean Springs police believe Williams was affiliated with either the Wicked street gang or Guap Gang Empire.

The two gangs are known to be involved in alleged gun and drug sales and operate across the Mississippi Coast.

Williams has a criminal history dating back to 2018 when Jackson County Sheriffs deputies arrersted him on two counts of aggravated assault that led to injuries at a St. Martin apartment complex.

A Jackson County grand jury later indicted Williams on felony charges of possession of marijuana and possession of a stolen firearm, identified in court records as a rifle.

Williams later pleaded guilty to both the firearms and drug charge and received probation for the offenses.

Once he completed the terms of his probation in January, Judge Kathy King Jackson dismissed the drug and gun charges against him as part of the plea agreement in that case.

The mass shooting at the Scratch Kitchen, one of the few Black owned businesses in downtown Ocean Springs, has polarized the community.

The city successfully argued to temporarily close the restaurant and is arguing to shutter it permanently, citing code violations, underage drinking and other issues.

The investigation is ongoing.
A man is in the hospital after being shot multiple times following an early morning attack on a law enforcement officer, the Aiken Department of Public Safety said Tuesday.

The incident happened at about 1:45 a.m. at a gas station at the intersection of Whiskey Road and East Pine Log Road, the department of public safety said in a news release. Thats an area of Aiken densely packed with restaurants, retail businesses and multiple schools.

At the gas station, a department of public safety officer was approached by a man, and the situation turned into an altercation, according to the release. There was no word why the man approached the officer or what led to the altercation.

The man rammed the officers vehicle with his vehicle several times and then attempted to attack the officer with a knife, the department of public safety said.

As the officer tried to separate himself from the armed man, who continued to pursue him, two other officers arrived on scene and shot the man, an incident report said.

The man was shot multiple times, according to the release.

The man was taken to a local hospital, and at about 8:30 a.m., the department of public safety said information about the extent of his injuries was unknown.

No other injuries were reported by the department of public safety.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is leading an investigation into the shooting, according to the release.

Should the man recover from his injuries and be released from the hospital, SLED will charge him with attempted murder, the department of public safety said.
Europes JUICE mission is on an eight-year journey to the solar systems largest planet, traveling deep into the solar system to study Jupiter and its icy, potentially habitable moons. A ground-based telescope recently caught a sneaky glimpse of the probe as it barreled through space.



On Monday, Airbus Space released rare footage of the JUICE spacecraft, captured by the Airbus Robotic Telescope (ART) based in Spain. The telescope managed to spot the spacecraft during the early part of its journey, when it was around 1 million miles (1.5 million kilometers) from Earth. Its destination, the Jupiter system, is more than 500 million miles away from our planet, so JUICE has a long road ahead.

Read more

Spotted! 

Our ground-based telescope captured #ESAJuice  more than 1.5 million km from Earth , on its way to Jupiter and its icy moons! @esa @ESA_JUICE @esascience pic.twitter.com/I6LE4jI3rB  Airbus Space (@AirbusSpace) May 15, 2023

The telescopes view shows the Jupiter probe as just a speck. But this wont be the last time we see JUICE. The spacecraft will use the gravity of the Earth-Moon system to propel it on its trajectory through the inner solar system, targeting September 2026 for an Earth flyby, followed by another one in November 2029. JUICE is estimated to reach Jupiter in 2031.

JUpiter ICy moons Explorer, or JUICE for short, launched on April 14 for a 12-year mission to study three of Jupiters icy moons: Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. Shortly after launch, JUICE captured its first images of Earth, as well as the deployment of its solar panels.

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The team behind the mission is currently commissioning JUICEs 10 science instruments. Nearly two weeks after its launch, the spacecraft deployed its magnetometer boom and recorded a blip of its surrounding magnetic field. The probe ran into some trouble early on when it was unable to deploy its Radar for Icy Moons Exploration (RIME) antenna. However, the stubborn instrument recently fully unfurled after engineers fixed the glitch.

The missions goal is to investigate these large moons for signs that they could host life. All three moons are suspected of having subsurface water oceans.

For more spaceflight in your life, follow us on Twitter and bookmark Gizmodos dedicated Spaceflight page.

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Seven years after Oklahoma voters passed sweeping criminal justice reforms in State Question 780, the state Legislature has walked back some of those reforms for people with multiple drug convictions.

House Bill 2153 now heads to the governor's desk for final approval.

The state referendum made every conviction for simple drug possession a misdemeanor. This legislation, if signed into law, would create a stair-step system of punishment that includes mandatory jail time and optional diversion programs for multiple convictions.

"My main reason for running this bill is to give these individuals with a drug problem the opportunity to get in a drug program to get clean," said the bill's House author, state Rep. Ross Ford, R-Broken Arrow.

What does the Oklahoma bill on drug convictions do?

According to the bill:

The punishment for first-time drug convictions remains the same  a misdemeanor punishable by no more than one year in jail or a $1,000 fine.

A second violation within 10 years would be a misdemeanor, but allows courts to order defendants into a substance abuse assessment and evaluation, with a year-long diversion program in lieu of other punishment.

A third violation within 10 years would trigger at least 30 days in jail, along with the possibility of a three-year diversion program.

The fourth violation within a decade would result in a felony charge and at least one year in jail. If the defendant pleads guilty or no contest and completes a diversion program, the charge would be reduced to a misdemeanor.

Possession of marijuana would not trigger the additional penalties.

New legislation, if signed into law, would create a stair-step system of punishment that would include mandatory jail time and optional diversion programs for multiple convictions. The Oklahoma County jail is shown in the background.

'They let a monster out': Questions remain about why convicted rapist remained free

Mixed reactions from Republicans, Democrats in Oklahoma Senate

Although the bill passed, it was only by a vote of 57-35, with all Democrats and several Republicans voting against it. State Rep. Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, said he voted against the bill because in his opinion, it went too far against the will of the voters who approved State Question 780.

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"If that bill was fentanyl-only, I would have voted yes. Fentanyl is an absolute scourge and it is completely and totally out of control," said Echols. "I have been committed since I've been elected to implement the will of the people, and it was too large of a 780 rollback for me to be comfortable with."

Echols added that the bill's House author has good intentions, but he said both jails and drug treatment programs aren't adequately funded. Beyond that, Echols said he'd rather see people receive drug addiction and mental health treatment outside of the criminal justice system.

"The better way is to get people the help they need outside of the criminal justice system," Echols said. "And then when they get into the criminal justice system, you will have more funds for services for those inside the criminal justice system because you help people before they get there."

Broken Trust: How the Oklahoma County jail leadership failed those it sought to protect

Democrats also pointed to the results of the 2016 state question for guidance.

"To quote Ronald Reagan, 'There you go again,'" said state Rep. John Waldron, D-Tulsa. "They're falling back into their old habits of demonizing people and punishing them. And that's a big government solution to a problem that affects Oklahoma families. It's a bad direction to go in."

Waldron compared his stance on the issue with the conservative idea of small government.

"I think in some ways, we're the real conservatives in the room. We want to reduce that big-state solution of mass incarceration  punish, punish, punish  (using) the state against Oklahoma families," he said. "It's time to reverse that cycle."

When the bill crossed the Senate floor, the bill's author in that chamber pointed to cases where individuals accumulate misdemeanor charges and fines without seeking help for their addictions. Doing so could lead to an escalation of crime beyond just drug possession.

"There's a chance someone might go to prison for habitually being arrested for drug possession and refusing to get treatment, but this bill says if you've got that kind of problem, we're going to give you an opportunity over and over again to get treatment," said state Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Bill on felony drug possession, mandatory jail heads to Gov. Stitt's desk
Todd Meyer was officially approved as the new superintendent of Olentangy Local School District on Monday by the district's school board.

The Olentangy Local School District Board of Education has officially hired the next leader of Ohios largest suburban school district.

Todd Meyer, 55, was officially approved as the districts new superintendent by a unanimous vote of the school board at a special public meeting Monday night.

Meyer was awarded a 38-month contract that will pay him a base salary of $215,000 annually beginning June 1 and ending on July 31 of 2026.

Board members were still reviewing other details of Meyers full contract on Monday night, a district official said, and it was expected to be made public on Tuesday.

Meyer had been the districts chief operations officer, overseeing the human resources and transportation departments and the business and facilities group that includes custodial, maintenance, food service and building management.

I recognized Olentangy was a special place early on and this was my dream job after arriving here 16 years ago, Meyer told The Dispatch. Im extremely excited to lead the district, which has excellent students and staff. My first priority is to build on the relationships I already have and further establish trust. And trust is built by working together day by day.

Meyer was joined at the meeting by his wife Gina, and their daughters Alexia, 25, and Isabela, 18. Their children, including son Gabe, 23, attended Olentangy Liberty High School.

A 32-year veteran of education, Meyer came to Olentangy in 2007 from Westerville City Schools to serve as principal of the new Olentangy Orange High School.

It was crystal clear Mr. Meyer cares about every kid in this school distrtict and it wasnt a hard choice, said board member Kevin Daberkow.

Meyer will succeed Mark Raiff, who announced in January he would retire at the end of the 2022-23 school year.

Raiff served in the superintendent role for eight years. He first came to the district in 2003 as an assistant principal at Olentangy High School and also has been the principal at Liberty High School and chief academics officer for the district.

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The other finalist to replace Raiff was Joseph Clark, superintendent of Nordonia Hills City Schools in Macedonia, in Summit County, and a professor at the American College of Education.

The Olentangy district has more than 3,000 staff members and serves more than 23,000 students, putting it behind only the urban public school districts in Columbus, Cincinnati and Cleveland among the state's largest school districts.

wagner@dispatch.com

@MikeWagner48

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Olentangy Local School District hires Todd Meyer as new leader
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.
Pavlo Fuks

The SBU said that oligarch had illegally seized over UAH 100 billion ($2.7 billion) worth assets of Ukrainian companies since 2018.

Fuks' holding targeted energy, machinery, and metallurgical companies, which had loans from bankrupt banks.

The businessman bought out the "credit obligations" of these companies from banks "for a song", which allowed him to interfere in their business, the SBU said.

Read also: Ukrainian business expects growth for the first time in over a year, NBU says

He froze assets of Ukrainian plants and infrastructure facilities, blocked their operations, or forced them into bankruptcy.

Fuks and his accomplices are alleged to have carefully concealed the sources of financing for the transactions and the real customers through a complex financial fraud scheme.

The suspects received excessive profits and evaded taxes, the security service said. Just one of these transactions caused almost UAH 100 million ($2.7 million) losses to the state.

"Based on the evidence collected, Fuks and two top managers of his holding were charged with tax evasion under Part 3 of Article 27, Part 3 of Article 212 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, the SBU said.

Read also: Zelenskyy meets with Trump-era top diplomat Mike Pompeo and U.S. business leaders

The corporate rights and accounts of 101 companies involved in their illegal activities were seized, as well as the rights to claim more than 1,600 repurchased loans, over 240 real estate objects and vehicles of the scheme participants.

Some of the seized assets have already been transferred to the management of the ARMA (National Agency of Ukraine for finding, tracing and management of assets derived from corruption and other crimes)," the security service said in a statement.

The day earlier, the SBU charged another Ukrainian oligarch Dmytro Firtash with misappropriation of state gas worth billions of hryvnias. Firtash refuted all the charges and will defend himself in court.

Story continues

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy imposed in June 2021 sanctions on a number of individuals and legal entities, including oligarchs Dmytro Firtash and Pavlo Fuks.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
(Getty)

Since former president Donald Trump entered the American political arena as a candidate for president in 2015, at least 25 women have accused him of all manner of sexual misconduct, ranging from inappropriate passes and groping to outright rape.

The allegations leveled against the New York developer and television personality turned president go back decades, long before he ever considered running for the White House, with many of them dating to his heyday as a real estate tycoon and business icon in the 1980s and 1990s.

One oft-reported incident stemmed from a divorce deposition given in 1990 by his late first wife, Ivana Trump. During their divorce proceedings, his soon-to-be ex-wife accused Mr Trump of raping her during a violent attack after a visit to a plastic surgeon shed recommended left him in pain from a scalp reduction procedure.

That allegation was revealed in 1993 book Lost Tycoon by author Harry Hurt III, who viewed a transcript of the deposition. In his book, Hurt described the incident recounted in the deposition as a violent assault with a sexual component.

In a statement provided to the author, Ivana Trump admitted that shed described the attack as rape during her sworn deposition but stressed that she [did] not want [her] words to be interpreted in a literal or criminal sense.

Mr Trump, who has denied the incident with his late ex-wife ever happened, was also accused of rape by writer E Jean Carroll, who recently won a multi-million dollar jury verdict against the ex-president for sexual abuse and defamation, based on Ms Carrolls allegation that Mr Trump assaulted her in a dressing room at the Bergdorf Goodman department store in Manhattan decades ago.

Although Ms Carroll, a former Elle advice columnist, sued Mr Trump for rape, the jury found that her attorneys did not prove that he was liable.

They did find that it was more likely than not that he sexually assaulted Ms Carroll, who testified that the future president had penetrated her with a body part but said under oath that she could not see what the body part in question had been.

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The ex-president has denied ever behaving improperly with his ex-wife and has repeatedly denied even knowing Ms Carroll, who has said that she might again sue him for defamation after he denounced her during a CNN town hall on 10 May.

E Jean Carroll arrives at court during her trial against Trump (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

A 2016 story in The New York Times included accounts from more than 50 women who had become acquainted with the future president over the years, either socially or professionally, or as models or beauty pageant contestants.

The Times said the womens stories showed a history of unwelcome romantic advances, unending commentary on the female form, a shrewd reliance on ambitious women, and unsettling workplace conduct in settings ranging from construction sites of his projects, at his various homes, beauty pageant dressing rooms, and his eponymous Manhattan skyscraper.

These written accounts of alleged bad behaviour  all of which Mr Trump and his spokespersons have strenuously denied  surfaced again and again throughout Mr Trumps 2016 campaign, and were further validated by what became known as the Access Hollywood tape in October 2016.

On 7 October that year  one month before voters went to the polls on Election Day  The Washington Post published a video taken of Mr Trump and then-NBC host Billy Bush.

The footage was taken in a bus while the two men were traveling to a taping of Access Hollywood eleven years prior to the 2016 campaign. The films audio track included a lewd exchange in which Mr Trump described his efforts to seduce a woman who he knew to be married, starting with an unwanted kiss.

"I don't even wait. And when you're a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. ... Grab 'em by the pussy. You can do anything, he said.

While some top Republicans strongly condemned the then-GOP presidential nominee  with a few even calling on him to drop off the Republican ticket  Mr Trump remained defiant and shrugged off the criticism.

A month later, he was elected president of the United States.

After myriad accusations having been leveled against him during the election and the near-disaster of the Access Hollywood tape, one might have predicted that Mr Trump would have been hyper vigilant about how he conducted himself around women once he was sworn in as president and fully moved into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

But, according to multiple women who served in top roles during his four-year term, such a prediction would have been dead wrong.

In the days since the Manhattan jury in Ms Carrolls lawsuit rendered a verdict against the twice-impeached ex-president, three former high-ranking female Trump administration officials have come forward to describe inappropriate behaviour on Mr Trumps part towards other female public servants in his employ.

The trio includes two of Mr Trumps top lieutenants, Alyssa Farah Griffin  his ex-White House communications director who now co-hosts ABCs The View  and Stephanie Grisham, who served as press secretary both Mr Trump and former First Lady Melania Trump in addition to serving as Ms Trumps chief of staff.

Former White House communications director Alyssa Farah (Getty Images)

Ms Grisham, who has become a vocal critic of the ex-president since the end of his administration, said in an interview on CNN that Mr Trump targeted a specific female aide for a significant amount of inappropriate attention.

She said that although the then-president habitually opined on womens physical appearance, his behaviour towards this one staffer was was really bad to the point that I was extremely uncomfortable.

Specifically, she said Mr Trump would ask aides to ensure the staffer in question was in the traveling party when he made trips abroad, even when such duties were supposed to be the responsibility of other White House aides. Ms Grisham also accused Mr Trump of asking one of her deputy press secretaries to bring the staffer to see him so he could look at her a**.

Stephanie Grisham served as White House Press Secretary for 12 months (AFP via Getty Images)

"I did everything I could to keep her off of trips, actually, and to stay with her if she was with him alone, because I was really nervous about what could happen and this was before I knew kind of any of the the E Jean Carroll allegations. I stupidly did know about the Access Hollywood video but maybe that was what made me you know, keep with her all the time, she said.

Ms Griffin, who served as a top spokesperson for then-vice president Mike Pence and the Pentagon before returning to the White House as communications director in mid-2020, told The Daily Beast that she witnessed a number of problematic behaviour[s] and comments from the then-president towards young, female White House staffers during her time in the West Wing.

I saw behavior and engagement with very young junior female staffers from the former president that made me uncomfortable, she said. Its a pattern. It was visible. It didnt take a genius to see it. It was reported, I dont know if it was handled, but this is a man who does not respect women  its a man who objectified women, she said.

Another former White House aide, Olivia Troye, told Newsweek that shed witnessed [Mr Trumps] behaviour first hand and said it happened openly in front of other White House staff, including during meetings in the West Wing.

Olivia Troye, former aide to Mike Pence, to vote for Joe Biden because of Donald Trump's

Ms Griffin, a longtime conservative communications professional who served as the top spokesperson for the House Freedom Caucus before joining the Trump administration, said nothing was ever done about Mr Trumps alleged misconduct despite it being an open secret and a subject of open discussion among his West Wing aides.

Ms Grisham, the former press secretary for Mr Trump and Ms Trump, also revealed that the ex-presidents deplorable behaviour was well known among his senior aides. But she, too, said not a single one of them was able to do anything about it.

"I think at the end of the day, what could they do other than go in there and say, 'This isn't good, sir?'" she said. "And you know, Donald Trump will do what Donald Trump wants to do.

Ultimately, the three ex-staffers  all of whom have become vocal critics of the ex-president since he left office  are just a few of the women whove discussed alleged misconduct by Mr Trump.

But Lisa Bloom, an attorney who has represented many of his past accusers, wasnt shocked to discover that he continued his bad bahaviour after assuming the highest office in the US.

In a statement to The Independent, she called the claims disgusting but not surprising.

Trumps blatant sexual harassment and sexual assault of women never ends. Even more disgusting are the voters who support him knowing he treats women so badly, she said.
(Bloomberg) -- OpenAI Inc. Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman plans to tell Congress that artificial intelligence technology is becoming so powerful that the US and other governments should consider imposing regulation on products above a crucial threshold of capabilities.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Altman, who will testify for the first time since OpenAIs ChatGPT exploded in popularity, plans to say that artificial intelligence companies should be subjected to a combination of licensing or registration requirements for the release of advanced models, according to his prepared remarks, which dont specify what that threshold would look like.

Its vital that AI companies  especially those working on the most powerful modelsadhere to an appropriate set of safety requirements, he plans to say. A copy of his prepared remarks to a Senate panel was obtained by Bloomberg News.

Congress is debating the potential and pitfalls of artificial intelligence as products like ChatGPT raise questions about the future of creative industries and the ability to tell fact from fiction.

Even as Tuesdays hearing will discuss safeguards to prevent this technology from being abused, Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat and chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law, said hed also ask what US companies need to ensure supremacy in the field.

We need to be the world leader in AI, Blumenthal said in a telephone interview Monday. We cant allow China to surpass us.

Altman will tell the senators that hes engaged with policymakers worldwide to help them understand artificial intelligence and what guardrails should be in place. He will also urge the imposition of rules that would apply no matter where the products are deployed.

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We are not alone in developing this technology, Altman plans to say. It will be important for policymakers to consider how to implement licensing regulations on a global scale and ensure international cooperation on AI safety.

San Francisco-based startup OpenAI has captured the worlds attention with products built on its large language models  AI systems that ingest enormous volumes of digital text from the internet, and use that material to train software that predicts and generates content on its own when given a prompt or query.

Millions of people have experimented with ChatGPT, and other companies and have released similarly capable chatbots. Microsoft, a major OpenAI investor, rolled out its Bing chat powered by OpenAIs technology, while Alphabet Inc.s Google created one called Bard.

Christina Montgomery, chief privacy and trust officer for IBM Corp., also plans to testify Tuesday. According to her prepared remarks, she plans say that regulation should focus on how the technology is used, leaving room for innovation in constructive applications like modernizing electricity grids and preventing fraud.

Regulators should stick to this approach, despite the explosion of generative AI systems in recent months, she plans to say.

ChatGPT Faces More Scrutiny From EU Lawmakers in AI Proposal

The European Union parliament is wrestling with the same question as it finalizes its AI Act. Policymakers in Brussels are now considering whether to expand the scope of that regulation to include generative AI products like ChatGPT.

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Sam Altman is set to make an appearance before Congress to address the risks posed by AI. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Sam Altman is ready to tell Congress that his AI invention ChatGPT needs to follow some rules.

The OpenAI CEO is due to appear before Congress on Tuesday as concerns grow over AI risks.

Lawmakers are preparing to introduce rules that govern the technology before serious harm is done.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is set to make his debut appearance before Congress to address growing concerns about the societal threats posed by a ChatGPT-led era of AI.

The OpenAI chief will offer testimony to a Senate Judiciary Committee subpanel on Tuesday. Per prepared remarks seen by the Financial Times, he will say he is "eager to help policymakers" create regulation "that balances incentivizing safety while ensuring that people are able to access the technology's benefits."

He will call for "essential" regulation to be introduced as US lawmakers rush to introduce rules that govern how AI is used and commercialized.

The testimony comes at a crucial moment as the release of OpenAI's ChatGPT in November introduced the world to consumer-led AI. This sparked a new AI arms race as tech giants such as Microsoft and Google compete to get the upper hand in AI development.

The spread of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT has caused concern among lawmakers about the potential harm they could cause. This included accelerating the spread of misinformation and fueling the efforts of fraudsters while leaving millions jobless.

US tech companies are already showing signs they are willing to replace workers with AI as they pursue cost-cutting measures to make operations leaner. A Goldman Sachs report in March suggested around 300 million jobs could be impacted by AI.

Ahead of the hearing, US senator Richard Blumenthal said AI "urgently needs rules and safeguards to address its immense promise and pitfalls," with clear standards needed to "help us navigate this uncharted territory."

US senator Josh Hawley shared a similar sentiment, saying AI "will be transformative in ways we can't even imagine, with implications for Americans' elections, jobs, and security."

OpenAI did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
On May 16, Sam Altman testified before the US Senate Judiciary Committee about artificial intelligence. It was Altmans debut performance on Capitol Hill, the first time hes testified about his work as the CEO of OpenAI, the company responsible for the large language model GPT-4 and its most famous consumer application, ChatGPT.

Congressional tech hearings are typically antagonistic, especially those involving social media, ever a thorn in the side of federal lawmakers. Congress failed to meet the moment on social media, said senator Richard Blumenthal, the subcommittee chair hosting Altman. Now we have the obligation to do it on AI before the threats and the risks become real.

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While lawmakers expressed deep concern about the development of AI, they largely treated Altman like a responsible steward of an inevitable technology rather than an adversarial industry leader. Washington Post reporter Cristiano Lima called the hearing much less combative than the Congressional debuts of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, or Twitter co-founder and former CEO Jack Dorsey.

The treatment Altmans getting is night and day from what social media execs have gotten, tech journalist Issie Lapowsky wrote on Twitter, noting it was one of Atlmans fellow panelists, the New York University professor Gary Marcus, who pressed Altman to answer one of Blumenthals questions about a worst-case scenario for AI.

My worst fear is we cause significant harm to the world, Altman said. If this technology goes wrong, it can go quite wrong.

Sam Altman to Congress: Please regulate us

During the course of the hearing, Altman did something that many other tech executives have done, calling for regulation of his industry. Its a smart maneuver: If youre going to be regulated, you might as well seem welcoming to change and help mold it.

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For his part, Altman proposed a regulatory regime involving a brand new agency to regulate AI and license the development of large-scale models, as well as independent auditing and testing requirements. (Its not clear how licensing requirements would jibe with the First Amendment, which protects computer code as speech.)

There wasnt a clear path forward to regulation by the end of the hearing, though Blumenthal noted it would be the first in a series on AI. But it was clear that Altman had won the day, emerging from a trip to Washington largely unscathedif not empowered.

On May 15, the day before the hearing, Altman reportedly spoke to a group of 60 lawmakers at a private dinner. CNBC reported that Altman wowed the crowd in a two-hour spiel, winning rave reviews from seasoned legislators. Its not clear if the night-before dinner helped Altmans rapport with the Senate, but it surely didnt seem to hurt.

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A man in a prayer shawl stands by a structure in Ashkelon, Israel, that was destroyed by a rocket fired by Palestinian militants on Wednesday. (Ariel Schalit / Associated Press)

Now that theres an Israeli-Palestinian cease-fire in place this week, brokered with the help of Egypt, its critical that the two sides not stop with this short-term agreement.

For this cease-fire  in fact, any cease-fire  to become permanent, we need a political process to begin immediately. The alternative is to keep seeing Israelis and Palestinians traumatized and killed as militants and politicians practice one-upmanship against each other.

It would be easy to place blame on this or that side. Its possible to list the number of Palestinian rockets that were launched at Israel and the number of targets that Israel attacked. But what good would that do?

The Palestinian-Israeli cycle of violence has become so normalized that it no longer elicits serious interest from the world community. Whether one side uses precision rockets that kill children and women or the other uses indiscriminate rockets that cause injury, death and destruction, the resulting carnage is the same.

Those on each side scream that there is no partner on the other side, when what they mean is that there is no partner that fits their own perception of a good counterpart. But peace is made with enemies.

Resorting to violence, whether it is extrajudicial assassination or indiscriminate shelling, is not the answer. Both are war crimes and perpetrators must be held accountable. But the conflict is not symmetrical, and so solutions might require more from one side than the other. Anyone who really wants to end this conflict must invest time and effort into forcing everyone back to the negotiating table.

In all cases, some fundamental principles need to be established. Self-determination is a right for all people, and the application of this right cannot be limited to one side of the conflict. It is impossible to talk about Israels political rights without equally respecting Palestinian political rights.

A solution to the conflict requires an end to occupation, allowing Palestinians to live in freedom whether this is in their own sovereign and contiguous state or in a single state where all citizens have equal rights. The current discriminatory situation with one side occupying the lands of the other side must stop.

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All sides have to commit to refraining from actions that can affect the outcome of negotiations. This includes stopping Israeli settlement expansion, and both sides must ensure that civilians are protected from violence  from the Israeli army and settlers as well as from Palestinian paramilitary organizations.

There has to be a commitment to discussing in good faith the future of Jerusalem, settlements, refugees and borders. And there needs to be a Palestinian commitment to security coordination, conditional on Israel respecting Palestinian sovereignty in major cities. Something as basic a right as a free passage between Gaza and the West Bank must be respected.

No one is naive enough to think that these commitments will happen overnight. Any political process  even to begin a process  will need the support of the people of the region and the international community. Staying away from a conflict in which one side is powerful and the other side weak (but not willing to surrender) will not produce any kind of solution.

We cannot afford to accept the idea that were doomed to a never-ending conflict. This would be a cop-out. But we need to go beyond politically correct statements and positions if were to find a way out.

Despite all the problems and the decades of war, there is still a genuine yearning for peace. While in the middle of a cycle of violence, all sides are polarized, and everyone returns to their known positions and embraces the policies of their tribe, right or wrong. This cannot go on.

Palestinians and Israelis have been unable to find a comprehensive solution. Right now, everyone is taking sides while living in the middle of the bloodshed. What is needed is help from outside to get us out of the mess we are in.

For the sake of our children, the international community has to resume a role in helping to break this cycle of violence. Yes, it will take sustained effort. But Israelis and Palestinians cannot do it alone.

Daoud Kuttab is a Palestinian journalist and a former professor of journalism at Princeton University. @daoudkuttab

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Left - Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny is pictured taking part in a march in memory of Boris Nemtsov in Moscow, Russia. (Photo: Pavel Golovkin, AP Images) Right- Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio photo by Jack Gruber, USA TODAY

Phil Heimlich is a former assistant prosecutor in Cincinnati who has served as a Republican on Cincinnati City Council and the Hamilton County Commission. During the 2020 campaign, he helped lead Operation Grant, the Ohio affiliate of Republican Voters Against Trump. In 2022, he ran unsuccessfully in the Republican primary for Congress in Ohios 8th District.

This is the story of two leaders. One is a highly decorated member of the United States Congress; the other resides in a maximum-security prison in Melekhovo, Russia.

The first, Congressman Jim Jordan, represents Ohios 4th District. He has received the Defender of Christian Values Award by The Christian Coalition of Ohio; the True Blue Award by the Family Research Council; the Ohio Right to Life Defender of Life Award; and the Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded by President Donald Trump.

Letters: Jim Jordan is Ohio's embarrassment. Frank LaRose's Householder excuse is hilarious

The second, Alexei Navalny, is an enemy of the state. In 2013 he was found guilty of embezzlement, for which he was sentenced to five years in prison. In 2014 he was convicted of fraud, and in 2022 he was found guilty of new fraud charges and sentenced to nine years in a penal colony, where he now spends most of his time in solitary confinement.

In 2010 Navalny launched a website to expose cases where state contracts were awarded corruptly, and coined the term party of crooks and thieves to describe Vladimir Putins political party.

He attempted to run against Putin for President in 2018, but election officials refused to allow him on the ballot. In 2020, when Navalny was campaigning in local elections, he was poisoned by Russian security officials while on a flight to Moscow.

Who is Alexei Navalny? Putin's biggest political rival has been poisoned and jailed

He could have safely remained in Germany, where he was recovering, but chose to return to Russia to continue his fight for democracy.

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Former Hamilton County commissioner Phil Heimlich poses at the home of his campaign manager in the Clifton neighborhood of Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 6, 2022. Heimlich is challenging Rep. Warren Davidson in the Republican primary for the 8th District.

When he arrived, he was placed under arrest and not allowed to speak in court, but he used Twitter to convey his message to bring the truth to the people of Russia.

From his prison cell, he urged his followers to demonstrate against Putins invasion of Ukraine. He is being held in inhumane conditions, has lost significant weight and is suffering from a mysterious stomach ailment, which leads many observers to believe that Russian authorities are slowly poisoning him.

On October 20, 2020, two weeks before the presidential election, Rep. Jordan stated, without evidence, Democrats are trying to steal the election, before the election.

Democrats are trying to steal the election, after the election.



Chief Justice Roberts is letting them do it. https://t.co/SQPh0SYtgl  Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) October 20, 2020

More: A year after Russian invasion Ukraine still want what Americans have

Two days after the election, Jordan was one of the prominent speakers at a Stop the Steal rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Police officers detain opposition activist Pavel Krysevich, on the ground, after his action in support of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and against the mass arrests at Saturday's uncoordinated rally in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021. Krisevich locked himself in a sphere covered with barbed wire in Moscow's centre protesting the arrest of Russian opposition leader and mass detentions during Saturday's protests. Krisevich and several of other activists were detained shortly after the start of the action. (AP Photo/George Markov)

On November 18, 2020 Jordan demanded that Congress investigate the election because of troubling reports of irregularities and improprieties, but did not present any credible proof to support the accusation. On December 7, when asked if Trump should concede the election, he said No way, and described all kinds of crazy things happening in Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin  (and) Nevada, without offering any facts to back it up.

He said, I dont know how you can ever convince me that President Trump didnt actually win this thing based on all the things you see, but he never said what those things were.

White House official Dan Scavino, right, and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, left, walk toward Marine One with President Donald Trump on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020.

On December 21, Jordan strategized at the White House with Trump and Republican House members to overturn the election results. Jordan subsequently sent a text message to White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, outlining a theory that Vice President Pence could stop the certification of the election.

On January 2, 2021, he joined a call with Meadows, Trump and 50 House members and senators to address the goal of overturning certain states Electoral College results on January 6. On January 3, Jordan stated on Fox News that Republican members of Congress were the ultimate arbiter here, the ultimate check and balance on the unconstitutional certification of the election results  again, without presenting any credible evidence of fraud.

More: Trump won Ohio. What happens next with the Electoral College?

On January 6, as Trump supporters gathered near the White House for the Stop the Steal rally, Jordan rose in the House and demanded that certain presidential electors certified by their states be disqualified.

He based his objection on various conspiracy theories.

More: Trump said it was 'common sense' for Capitol rioters to chant 'Hang Mike Pence'

During the debate on his objection, the mob invaded the Capitol, chanted Hang Mike Pence, and forced their way into the House chamber. Later, after order was restored, with four dead and 114 police officers injured, Jordan still voted  with no proof to support it  to overturn the election results.

Opposition leader Alexei Navalny stands in a cage in the Babuskinsky District Court in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021. Two trials against Navalny are being held Moscow City Court one considering an appeal against his imprisonment in the embezzlement case and another announcing a verdict in the defamation case.

Jordan has admitted he had several conversations with Trump on January 6, but will not disclose what they discussed. When asked to discuss the calls in a hearing by the Select Committee investigating the insurrection, he refused to testify.

Jordan and Navalny both worked to overturn their respective governments: One attempted to restore democracy; the other tried to subvert it. So, whos the real patriot?

Phil Heimlich is a former assistant prosecutor in Cincinnati who has served as a Republican on Cincinnati City Council and the Hamilton County Commission. During the 2020 campaign, he helped lead Operation Grant, the Ohio affiliate of Republican Voters Against Trump. In 2022, he ran unsuccessfully in the Republican primary for Congress in Ohios 8th District. Follow him on Twitter: @philheimlich

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Who is the patriot, Jim Jordan or Alexi Navalny?| Opinion
Between the pandemics global health crisis, heightened culture wars and sharp political polarization, its been a particularly difficult few years for U.S. public schools. School board meetings host arguments over how  and whether  to narrow schools curricula. Its hard to find consensus about what makes a great 21st-century school.

And yet, in most American cities  and a wide range of red, blue and purple communities across the country  a quiet consensus has formed around dual language immersion programs. These bilingual schools appear to appeal to everyone  for the past two decades, their numbers have rapidly increased. Theyre popular because they offer 1) all students the chance to become bilingual in diverse learning settings, and 2) English learners the best chance to retain their emerging bilingual skills and succeed academically. But in a joint Century Foundation and the Childrens Equity Project report published this week, we show that these bonuses arent a certainty.

First: What are they? The most effective are two-way dual language immersion programs. These offer bilingual instruction and a bilingual social world  by enrolling roughly equal shares of children who are native speakers of English and children who are native speakers of the programs other, partner, language. This is a major improvement on traditional U.S. language courses, where one Spanish-speaking (or French-speaking, or Arabic-speaking, etc.) teacher tries to cajole a classful of native English-speakers into conjugating verbs. It is also an improvement on traditional U.S. bilingual education programs, which usually only offer bilingual instruction long enough to transition English-learning children to English-only instruction.

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But, as one of us noted in a 2017 article  and the New York Timess hit podcast Nice White Parents flagged in 2020  the relative scarcity of dual language schools means that these goals are in tension. One in 10 American students is an English learner and these students gain unique benefits from dual language programs, particularly when theyre integrated. And yet, in some cases, high demand for dual language from privileged, English-dominant, and often white families displaces less-privileged ELs, who are disproportionately likely to be children of color, have immigrant parents and come from low-income families.

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Its an elemental question of fairness: research suggests that policymakers should prioritize equitable dual language access for English-learning children, but also that diverse, linguistically integrated programs work best for ELs and English-dominant children alike. And, of course, the programs popularity with the privileged can make it difficult to find a balance.

Related Williams: Dual Language Immersion Doesnt Work If English-Speaking Students Are Given Preference

To get a clearer view of the situation, our new report analyzes more than 1,600 dual language schools enrolling more than 1 million students across 13 states and the District of Columbia. It explores the different ways that cities and school districts are navigating that tension in their dual language programs.

Given the tension between prioritizing English learners access and maintaining diverse dual-language campuses, it can be difficult to define and measure what counts as fair access. For instance, we found that a majority of dual-language schools in Dallas, New York City, Los Angeles, Albuquerque, Oakland, San Francisco, Houston, and Portland enrolled a lower share of white students compared to their share of the district population in 2020.

But we also found that access to these schools is changing over time. ELs share of dual-language enrollment shrank between 2015 and 2020 in a majority of these schools in New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose. Meanwhile, white enrollment shares grew in a majority of dual-language schools in New York City, Dallas, Los Angeles, Albuquerque, Portland, and Washington, D.C.

These patterns are particularly striking in the context of shifting American public school demographics, where the share of white students has been shrinking  and the share of English learners has been growing.

Up to a point, enrolling more English-dominant students (of any race or ethnicity) can make dual-language schools work better for all students  including ELs. Indeed, while 92 of Dallass 154 dual-language programs got whiter since 2015, just 33 were whiter than the district in 2020. This is mostly because Dallas enrolls relatively few white, English-dominant students. A majority of the districts students are current or former English learners and most come from Spanish-dominant homes. As a result, most of Dallass programs are one-way dual-language models, serving classrooms of only Spanish-dominant children. The upshot: the district might benefit from finding ways to increase English-dominant enrollment in these schools. Notably, San Antonio is pursuing this strategy in some of its dual-language programs.

Related In Texas, School Integration That Celebrates Family Heritage

The challenge, however, is to ensure that privileged, English-dominant families dont fully colonize these schools and push ELs out. Fortunately, there are relatively straightforward ways for policymakers to protect English learners access. For instance, in rapidly gentrifying Washington, D.C., 13 out of 17 dual-language schools had student populations whiter than the district in 2020. But in San Francisco, another gentrification epicenter, just 3 out of 21 dual language schools were whiter than the district.

Demand for dual language is high in both places. Thousands of children wind up on D.C. dual language schools waitlists each year. In San Francisco, in one program, there were two applicants for each seat reserved for native Japanese-speakers and 15 applicants for each seat available to non-native Japanese speakers  and similar patterns in other dual language programs.

Notably, district leaders in San Francisco are much more aggressive about reserving seats for native speakers of the non-English partner language (e.g. Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, etc.). The data suggest the reserved seats are perhaps the key difference  without them, demand from San Franciscos English-dominant families would rapidly shift programs away from English learners who are native speakers of the programs non-English languages. Our research suggests that more schools should consider similar policies to ensure that ELs have fair access to the dual-language classrooms that serve them best.

Related Williams: As Washington, D.C., Considers Ramping Up Dual Language Programs, How the Nations Capital Can Use Multilingual Instruction as a Tool to Advance Equity

Finally, as we note in the report, nothing exacerbates educational unfairness like scarcity. The tension between prioritizing English learners access and enrolling diverse dual language classrooms would dissolve if there were enough programs to meet family demand. Local, state and federal policymakers should increase public investments in growing these programs. Above all, this means committing resources to train and license more of the bilingual teachers necessary to expand dual language instruction.

Without reforms like these, the countrys growing number of dual language programs could fall well short of their potential for ELs and English-dominant students alike. Dual language schools full of privileged, English-dominant children will be less effective at producing bilingual graduates. Dual language schools that segregate Spanish-dominant (or Arabic-dominant, Vietnamese-dominant, etc.) English learners away from their English-dominant peers risk reinforcing social separation between families of different backgrounds. Given the popularity and effectiveness of dual language programs with children from linguistically, racially, socioeconomically, ethnically and politically diverse communities, that would be a failure indeed.

Century Foundation senior fellow and 74 contributor Dr. Conor P. Williams; Childrens Equity Project executive director Dr. Shantel Meek; Century Foundation fellow Dr. Maggie Marcus and Century Foundation senior policy associate Jonathan Zabala are the co-authors of Ensuring Equitable Access to Dual-Language Immersion Programs.
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Read also: Canada provides demining equipment to Ukraine

According to the government data, over 190,000 Ukrainian citizens entered Canada by air, with another 29,000 arriving overland.

However, these numbers include those who had already received permission to reside in Canada prior to Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

On March 17, 2022, Canada announced new temporary migration programs for Ukrainians, allowing them to live and work in the country for up to three years. Since then, over one million Ukrainians have applied for such visas, and more than 707,000 have already been issued.

Read also: Canada shows delivery of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine  photo

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In the scramble to find Ozempic, patients are seeking out telehealth platforms, medical spas and compounding pharmacies for what some deceptively tout as generic versions of the drug. (Pablo Delcan/The New York Times)

When Carrie Davis found out that her health insurance wouldnt cover Ozempic, she sought an alternate route to getting the diabetes drug, which is increasingly being used off-label for weight loss. Davis, 55, did not have diabetes, but she had gained 50 pounds during menopause and developed hypothyroidism, she said, and was eager to lose weight.

After seeing someone claiming to be a doctor on TikTok saying he could help patients obtain a generic version of the medication, she reached out. After a few days and a brief video consultation with someone who introduced herself as a nurse practitioner, Davis had a prescription in hand. It was really fast, Davis said.

It took a week for the medication to arrive  a vial filled with a mauve liquid that was semaglutide, the doctor said, the same active ingredient as in Ozempic. She was told to inject it weekly, just as people who take Ozempic do. But her medication had been shipped to her home in Galveston, Texas, from a compounding pharmacy in Kentucky.

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In the scramble to find Ozempic, patients are seeking out telehealth platforms, medical spas and compounding pharmacies for what some tout as generic versions of the drug. But Novo Nordisk, the company that makes Ozempic, does not sell semaglutide for compounding purposes, and a generic form of the drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration doesnt exist, a Novo Nordisk representative wrote in a statement.

There are roughly 7,500 compounding pharmacies in the United States, according to the American Pharmacists Association. Compounding involves mixing and altering drugs, customizing them for patients with specific needs  for example, someone who is allergic to an ingredient in a medication might require a reformulated version.

Because the FDAs drug shortage website lists as Ozempic as currently in shortage, compounding pharmacies are allowed to buy semaglutide from pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturers and compound it into an injectable medication they dispense. They also often mix it with B vitamins or a metabolic compound called L-carnitine, which limited research has shown may contribute to weight loss. Some compounding pharmacies are distributing a different active ingredient altogether: semaglutide sodium, the salt form of semaglutide.

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In recent weeks, regulators have raised concerns about semaglutide sodium, which is sometimes sold as a research chemical. Semaglutide sodium does not appear to meet standards for compounding in federal law, in part because the substance is not part of any FDA-approved medication  and officials have expressed alarm at how widespread it is.

The FDA does not vet compounded medications, and has not reviewed, approved or tested  for safety or effectiveness  the semaglutide drugs compounding pharmacies offer. Compounded semaglutide poses a higher risk to patients, as any compounded drug would, a representative from the agency said.

There are a lot of great compounding pharmacies out there that take great patient care every single day, said Betty Jones, compliance senior manager of accreditation and inspection programs at the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. But there are some of those bad actors.

Regulators respond

At the end of April, the FDA sent a letter to the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, saying the agency was aware that compounders might be using salt forms of semaglutide. We are not aware of any basis for compounding a drug using these semaglutide salts that would meet federal law requirements, the letter read.

Functionally, when semaglutide sodium is dissolved in water, the sodium ion separates from the semaglutide molecule, leaving semaglutide and an extremely small amount of sodium, said Scott Brunner, the chief executive of the Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding. But there isnt data demonstrating whether semaglutide sodium is safe for consumers, or even whether its effective, said Mary-Haston Vest, system director of pharmacy with UNC Health.

In response to mounting questions about compounded semaglutide, the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy issued a statement forbidding compounding pharmacies to use salt forms of semaglutide. The West Virginia Board of Pharmacy issued its own warning on the topic. The Mississippi Board of Pharmacy also released a similar warning, writing that drug manufacturers have become aware of the practice of using semaglutide salts for compounding and may choose to initiate legal proceedings to combat this practice.

A representative from Novo Nordisk said the company is taking action, including but not limited to issuing cease-and-desist letters, against entities that are engaging in the unlawful sale of compounded semaglutide, disseminating false advertising, and infringing its trademarks.

Its a scary area, said Dr. Andrew Kraftson, a clinical associate professor in the division of metabolism, endocrinology and diabetes at Michigan Medicine at the University of Michigan. And I think its only going to get more thorny.

Meeting a need

Compounding pharmacies are attempting to fill a crucial hole in the market, said Tenille Davis, a compounding pharmacist in Arizona. Theyre not trying to make a million bucks doing this. Theyre trying to meet an intense, overwhelming patient and provider demand for this product.

There are some guardrails in place. Under federal law, compounding pharmacies can compound drug products only with active ingredients that come from facilities registered with the FDA, Brunner said. And state boards of pharmacy license and inspect compounding pharmacies; the FDA also inspects compounding pharmacies that it believes pose a safety risk. The fact that its not FDA-approved doesnt automatically mean that its not safe, Brunner said.

But its not clear how the vitamins or other additives pharmacies mix with semaglutide might interact, and compounding pharmacies are largely making educated guesses about how safe these combinations are, said Robin Bogner, a professor at the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy and an expert on compounding. While there are not known interactions, Vest said, this does not necessarily mean no interactions exist.

Too good to be true

Davis did not appear to have a negative reaction to the drugs she received, but she did switch to a different source for getting compounded semaglutide: a weight loss clinic that gets its medications from a local compounding pharmacy. The clinic required blood work, in-person appointments and stricter oversight than the doctor she found on TikTok had provided, she said, measures that made her feel more comfortable as a patient; the clinic also costs less. Both compounded drugs seemed to work, she said.

Some websites sell what they claim is semaglutide directly to consumers  no prescription, no oversight, just vials of the chemical, with wording on the label that the semaglutide is only meant for research use. Theres a critical difference between those sites and compounding pharmacies, Brunner said. The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy maintains a list of websites that sell fraudulent and unsafe medications, and patients should consider cross-checking to make sure they are not getting semaglutide through one of those channels, said Bill Cover, the associate executive director of state pharmacy affairs at the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. And be wary of telehealth services that offer compounded semaglutide without a prescription or any input from a licensed doctor, Cover added. If its too good to be true, it could potentially be a big red flag, he said.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 16)  President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. approved a national plan for 2023 to 2028 that seeks to position the Philippines as a tourism powerhouse, according to Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco.

During a Palace briefing on Tuesday, Frasco said the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) would serve as the blueprint and development framework for the tourism industry for the duration of the Marcos administration.

The objectives of the plan, she stressed, would give the Philippines a fighting chance at becoming a tourism powerhouse.

She added that the NTDP would serve as a guide for the regional development of the tourism industry.

Frasco said the program will not only focus on promoting the Philippines but would also address issues in the sector, including infrastructure, connectivity, digitalization, and strengthening tourism governance.

For his part, Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan Uy said his department would back the program by boosting connectivity across the country.

He said Frasco provided an initial list of 94 priority tourism areas that would be covered by free internet access, which includes Baguio, Palawan, Boracay, and Cebu.

Uy said the free internet connectivity service will cover the priority places by the end of 2023.

The DICT chief also said that it is working with other government agencies for the rollout of an e-visa system.

DICT is also addressing some administrative blocks that can occur with respect to pushing our tourism agenda, one of which is visa issuance, he said.

"We will be working with those entities, private sector partners who have proven capacity in handling that and integrate that in our e-travel," Uy added.
Gerardo Serranos new kolache and coffee shop might be just down the road from chain restaurant Kolache Factory. But he says his fresh-baked delicacies rise above anything else on the market.

Serranos restaurant aims to bring the taste of his Czech grandmothers kitchen to Overland Park.

We are trying to bring the original flavor of kolaches to the people, he said. You will know the difference.

Kolaches and Coffee, 7214 W 119th St., in Rosana Square, opened May 7. It sells tea, espresso drinks and the stuffed pastries it was named after  as well as empanadas.

Serrano said everything is made in-house from scratch. His kolache fillings range from savory sausage to blueberry, made with all-natural ingredients.

We want people to enjoy a good cup of coffee with a fresh pastry, he said. Good quality and not expensive.

He and his wife, Gema Roman, have finally made their 15-year-old dream of opening a premier coffee space come true. Originally a civil engineer, Serrano said his job allowed him to travel around the world.

While on trips, sampled the finest coffee from each country and dreamed of creating his own business one day.

Years of caffeine consumption later, Serrano said hes chosen the perfect source, imported directly from farmers in Colombia, with no additional flavors added.

It doesnt have any aftertaste  not acidic, he said. You cant get this anywhere else.

Serrano said he already has returning customers.

As soon as people see and know us, I think they are coming back just because we are better, he said.

Kolaches and Coffee is open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays to Saturdays, and Sundays 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The store can be reached by phone 913- 343-4410 or by visiting kolachesandcoffee.com.
A handout picture taken underwater and released by the Mission Blue NGO shows a scooba diver observing a kelp forest in the southern Chilean coastal area of Chiloe

Chile's Patagonia is known for its mountains and hiking paradise but it is also home to the largest continuous kelp forest in the world.

Kelp forests are crucial for battling climate change by capturing carbon, regulating the sea's PH level, maintaining the structure of coasts and are home to multiple species.

But more than half of the world's kelp forests have been decimated by human activity and climate change.

"We want to show that this is what can be lost if we don't protect them," said Max Bello, a Chilean expert on ocean policy who was part of a nine-day scientific expedition run by American NGO Mission Blue to study the kelp forest in the southern area of Chiloe, around 1,400 kilometers south of Santiago.

"When you say Patagonia, we imagine mountains, huge rocks, wind, but few people know what there is underwater," added Bello.

"We know that Patagonia has the largest and best preserved continuous kelp forest in the world."

Bello said this potentially gave the kelp forest "greater carbon sequestration power even than the Amazon rainforest."

But it needs protecting -- a kelp forest off the coast of California has lost 97 percent of its size.

One threat the southern Patagonian kelp forest faces is exploitation of alginate, a principal component in cosmetics which is extracted from algae, usually illegally along the northern coasts of Chile.

"If we don't protect ourselves from this threat, if we don't stop what is happening in the north, we will lose one of the few answers we have to be able to stop climate change," said Bello.

A dozen scientists, videographers and photographers took part in the mission to Patagonia.

They dived down up to 30 meters to collect information on this little explored ecosystem that expands across hundreds of islets, fjords and canals.

"They are truly playgrounds of many species" such as mackerel, sardines, otters, molluscs, sea urchins and octopi, said Bello.

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PATERSON  State law enforcement officials have transferred the citys deposed police chief, Engelbert Ribeiro, to a new assignment in Trenton, despite the mayors request to keep him in Paterson.

Ribeiro on Monday began a new job at the New Jersey attorney generals Police Training Commission, with the city still paying his $225,000 annual salary, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation.

Ribeiro took the oath of office as chief on March 3 before being relieved of command 24 days later in the state takeover of the troubled Paterson Police Department.

Deputy Chief Englebert Ribeiro takes the oath of office for his new rank as deputy chief during a promotional ceremony for the Paterson Police Department at City Hall on August 2, 2021. Mayor Andre Sayegh, not pictured, delivers the oath of office.

For operational effectiveness, the parties involved have determined that an assignment outside of the PPD is the most appropriate for former chief Ribeiro at this time, said a statement issued by the New Jersey Attorney Generals Office.

Subscriber exclusive: NJ attorney general first considered Paterson police takeover in 2022

Tension at City Hall

Mayor Andre Sayegh plans to put Ribeiro back in the chiefs position after the state intervention has ended, according to city government correspondence obtained by Paterson Press. But no one has disclosed exactly how long the state takeover will last.

Sayegh had wanted Ribeiro reassigned to Paterson City Hall, where he would have worked on various Paterson law enforcement projects, city officials said in correspondence.

Isa M. Abbassi, at a press conference, as he assumes the position of Officer in Charge of the Paterson Police Department in Paterson, NJ on Tuesday May 9, 2023.

By remaining in Paterson, city officials said, Ribeiro would have an opportunity to interact with the man the state has put in charge of the municipal police, Isa Abbassi, who recently retired from the New York City Police Department as a chief. Abbassi has said he would be putting together a two-year plan for the Paterson department.

We find it unfortunate that at present Chief Ribeiro is not involved in the transitioning of this department, said Mason Maher, president of the union that represents Patersons ranking police officers. We believe he is an asset and is an extremely knowledgeable resource, which is why he was selected as chief only three weeks before these events.

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We want to be clear that this is of no fault of his nor a reflection of his capabilities, Maher continued, saying he hoped the state would reconsider Ribeiros Trenton assignment.

Questions raised

Activist Ernest Rucker said he opposed transferring Ribeiro to the Trenton commission.

This is completely unacceptable, said Rucker, who earlier this year praised Ribeiros efforts to build trust by reaching out to Paterson community leaders. Why not keep him here and train him? What happens when the takeover is over, and he becomes chief again? If you dont train him now, then you might have the same issues.

The leader of Patersons Black Lives Matter group, Zellie Thomas, declined to comment on Ribeiros reassignment. Thomas in recent months has called for the termination of various Paterson Police Department members, but Ribeiro has not been on his list.

I dont know too much about him, Thomas said of Ribeiro. He wasnt chief when a lot of the problems were happening.

The state takeover of the Paterson police followed several years of controversies in the department, including the controversial March 3 shooting of activist Najee Seabrooks.

Neither Sayegh nor Ribeiro could be reached for comment about the chiefs new assignment in Trenton. The state is paying Abbassis $200,000 salary as officer in charge in Paterson, officials said.

'I can effect change': Abbassi pledges to listen to Paterson voices in police takeover

'There can only be one person in charge'

New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin during a meeting with community members at St. Luke Baptist Church in Paterson on Thursday, May 4, 2023.

Reporters asked Attorney General Matthew Platkin about Ribeiros status during a press conference in Paterson last week.

"That's a city decision," Platkin said in response.

Another reporter asked about the chief being assigned to a training commission in Trenton.

"I can't speak about personnel decisions," Platkin said. "But that's a city decision."

But local officials said Ribeiros transfer to the commission in Trenton was a state decision.

In an interview with Paterson Press on May 3, Abbassi made it clear he did not want Ribeiro looking over his shoulder.

There can only be one person in charge, Abbassi said in that interview. Its me.

Meanwhile, Platkin spoke about the Paterson police takeover when he addressed the state Assembly Budget Committee on Monday morning.

And I want to restate what I have said previously: Doing this right will require financial support, Platkin told the legislators. It would be unrealistic to expect otherwise.

I look forward to briefing the Legislature with an estimate of those costs as quickly as possible, the attorney general added.

Joe Malinconico is editor of Paterson Press.

Email: editor@patersonpress.com

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Paterson NJ Police Chief Englebert Ribeiro transferred. Here's why
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S.-made Patriot missile defense system being used by Ukraine likely suffered some damage from a Russian strike, two U.S. officials said on Tuesday, adding that it did not appear to have been destroyed.

The Patriot system is one of an array of sophisticated air defense units supplied by the West to help Ukraine repel a Russian campaign of air strikes that has targeted critical infrastructure, power facilities and other sites.

One U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity and citing initial information, said Washington and Kyiv were already talking about the best way to repair the system and at this point it did not appear the system would have to be removed from Ukraine.

The official added that the United States would have a better understanding in the coming days and information could change over time.

The Patriot is considered to be one of the most advanced U.S. air defense systems, including against aircraft, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles. It typically includes launchers along with radar and other support vehicles.

Russia's defense ministry said on Tuesday that it had destroyed a U.S.-built Patriot surface-to-air missile defense system with a "hypersonic" Kinzhal missile in an overnight strike on Ukraine.

Ukraine said earlier that it had shot down 18 Russian missiles overnight, including an entire volley of six Kinzhals. When asked about the Ukrainian claim, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu dismissed it, the RIA news agency reported.

It was not clear which Western weapon Ukraine used. The Pentagon had no immediate comment.

(Reporting by Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart and Mike Stone; editing by Grant McCool)
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP)  Kansas' Democratic governor vetoed state funding on Monday for a project long advocated by a Democratic lawmaker who broke ranks to override the governor's vetoes and give Republicans crucial support for laws restricting abortion and rolling back transgender rights.

Apparently, Rep. Marvin Robinson's decision had consequences.

Gov. Laura Kelly axed $250,000 in the next state budget for drafting a state plan to develop the Quindaro Ruins in Kansas City, Kansas, which Robinson represents. Quindaro was a short-lived town and a station on the Underground Railroad that helped enslaved people escape to Canada. A proposal to build a landfill there in the 1980s led to an investigation of the site and the discovery of multiple buildings' foundations.

Robinson, who is Black, advocated for the site's restoration and development as a national historic landmark for several decades before he won an open House seat last year. Democratic leaders called on him to resign after he voted to override Kelly's veto of a measure banning transgender female athletes from girls' and women's sports, giving Republicans the supermajoirty they needed.

Robinson's votes were also crucial to Republicans enacting two other new laws over Kelly vetoes amid a national push on culture war issues by GOP state lawmakers. One is a sweeping bathroom law that could also prevent transgender people from changing the gender markers on their driver's licenses. The other will require abortion providers to tell patients that medication abortions can be stopped using a regimen that major medical groups see as ineffective and potentially dangerous.

Kelly told lawmakers in her veto message Monday that the Quindaro site is a fundamental piece of Kansas history, but noted that Republicans added the money to the budget during their final days in session this year. Kelly said the idea had not been vetted, and her veto will stand because lawmakers have adjourned for the year.

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Advocates should work through the proper channels to seek funding for this measure and ensure that it receives the recognition it deserves, Kelly wrote in her message.

The $250,000 Kelly vetoed compares to roughly $24 billion in spending lawmakers approved in the next state budget.

Michael Austin, chair of the Kansas Black Republican Council, said Kelly had callously denied funs to an important project while offering hollow rhetoric to Black residents.

House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita, Republican, said in a statement that preserving the Quindaro site should be a bipartisan priority "excluded from the wrath of political punishments.

State Rep. Patrick Penn, of Wichita, the Legislature's only Black Republican member, told the House before it passed the budget measure that Robinson did not know that GOP lawmakers including funds for Quindaro. State Sen. J.R. Claeys, a Republican from central Kansas, told The Kansas City Star that he pursued the funding to give Robinson "a win in his first year after fellow Democrats treated him poorly.

Robinson did not respond to emails seeking comment on Kelly's veto, and the telephone number listed for him did not allow people to leave messages.

He voted 18 times this year to override Kelly vetoes of bills or budget items, starting with the measure on transgender athletes. The measure was a priority for GOP leaders, as was the abortion medication measure.

Robinson's vote to block Kelly's veto of the bathroom measure vexed fellow Democrats because the new law is broader than those in other states. It applies outside public schools, extending to prisons, jails, rape crisis centers and domestic violence shelters. Supporters argued they were protecting cisgender womens and girls privacy, health and safety.

The new law recognizes only two sexes, male or female, and defines them based on reproductive anatomy at birth. Because of that, Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, a Republican, said earlier this month that he believes it prevents transgender people from changing the gender markers on their driver's licenses. A spokesperson for the state agency that issues the licenses says it is still reviewing the issue.

Critics see the law as attempting the erasure of transgender people.

It just sounds like something to do to be nasty, Luc Bensimon, a Black transgender Topeka resident and activist, said during a recent interview.

Later, he added, You know, its scary.

___

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Abbott Elementary, Atlanta and Andor were among the winners set to receive their awards at the upcoming ceremony.

The Peabody Awards are standing with the Writers Guild of America.

The Board of Jurors announced in a press release it would cancel the in-person ceremony, citing its support for their many nominees currently striking for better wages.

Jacob (played by Chris Perfetti), Janine (played by Quinta Brunson) and Gregory (played by Tyler James Williams) in the season 2 episode Educator of the Year. (ABC/Gilles Mingasson)

The official statement references ongoing uncertainty and meaningful challenges that exist industrywide before announcing that they will not move forward with their planned June 11 ceremony.

It reads, As an organization dedicated to honoring the most compelling and empowering stories in broadcasting, streaming, and digital media, we recognize and respect the position that many of this years Peabody Award winners find themselves in.

The statement calls the cancellation disappointing, saying that this years honorees are immensely talented and have brought forth powerful stories that deserve to be celebrated.

As theGrio previously reported, some of the biggest stories in media were set to be celebrated at this years ceremony, including hit shows like Abbott Elementary and Atlanta. The Disney+ Star Wars series Andor also was a winner this year, as well as HBOs Were Here, which as theGrio reported earlier this week, just took home a GLAAD Award over the weekend.

The current WGA strike is the first in 15 years, as writers across mediums in Hollywood have come together amid ever-changing working conditions due to the streaming era. As TheGrio previously reported, the strike kicked off on Tuesday, May 2 when the union and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) failed to come to an agreement.

Since then, several shows have halted production completely, including Abbott Elementary, Saturday Night Live and The Talk.

The Peabody Awards are not the first industry ceremony forced to pivot in the final hours due to the strike. As theGrio previously reported, the MTV Movie & TV Awards went from a live broadcast to a pre-taped presentation earlier this month, and the Tony Awards just announced the esteemed ceremony for Broadway will move forward with an unscripted televised broadcast, per The Hollywood Reporter.

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For more on the Peabody Awards, including the full list of winners, 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 Peabody Awards canceled due to WGA strike appeared first on TheGrio.
A University of Mississippi Medical Center doctor accused of groping teen patients has been charged and temporarily stripped of his medical license, multiple outlets report.

Dr. Mehul Dixit, 59, a pediatric nephrologist, was arrested Thursday, May 11, and charged with two counts of sexual battery, WAPT reported.

In a summons, Mississippis State Board of Medical Licensure cited evidence it said showed allowing Dixit to continue his practice ... would constitute an immediate danger to public health and safety, according to the Associated Press.

A hearing is scheduled for May 18 to determine if his license will remain suspended, the news service reported.

McClatchy News reached out to the University of Mississippi Medical Center for comment May 16 and was awaiting a response.

Documents from the board accused Dixit of inappropriately touching the teens on at least three occasions during physical exams, according to WLBT. The first patient filed a complaint in July 2016, saying the doctor fondled her during an exam for kidney stones in Florida, the documents showed.

Two similar incidents involving Dixit were reported at UMMC in 2013 and February 2023, WAPT reported, citing board investigators.

A second patient, who was 13 years old at the time, accused him of groping her breasts and touching her vaginal area with an ungloved hand, the board said, as reported by the station. The girl said her mom and a nurse were in the exam room at the time but couldnt see what Dixit was doing from their vantage point.

The third alleged incident involved a 17-year-old who also said Dixit touched her vagina, WLBT reported.

An attorney for the kidney specialist said hes been fired from UMMC and will stop practicing medicine, according to the Associated Press.

If you have experienced sexual assault and need someone to talk to, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline for support at 1-800-656-4673 or visit the hotline's online chatroom.

Convicted sex offender takes niece on road trip to sexually assault her, feds say

Nurse sent himself nude photos of a patient after taking her phone, Florida sheriff says

Lyft driver grabs, sexually assaults teen when she asks for phone charger, CA cops say
(Bloomberg) -- Allies of former Vice President Mike Pence have formed a political action committee to support him as he moves closer to challenging his former boss Donald Trump for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

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Pence, who has has said hell announce whether hell run before late June, sanctioned the creation of the Committed to America super-PAC, according to people familiar with the effort.

The new organization is being led by Scott Reed, campaign manager of Bob Doles 1996 presidential campaign and former U.S. Chamber of Commerce chief political strategist, and former eight-term US Representative Jeb Hensarling, the people said. Bobby Saparow, who ran Georgia Governor Brian Kemps successful reelection campaign last year, is executive director.

As a super-PAC, Committed to America can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money as long as its spending is not coordinated with the candidate it benefits.

The countrys at real crossroads, and the Republican party needs a strong conservative candidate who can win, Reed said.

Despite laying the groundwork for a presidential run for more than a year visiting early-voting states, giving policy speeches and promoting an autobiography, Pence hasnt been able to break out of the lower tier of candidates in early polling.

He had only 6% support in the RealClearPolitics average of recent 2024 GOP primary polls, well behind Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, whos expected to enter the race soon.

Pence has said he thinks the US wants to return to the policies of what he often calls the Trump-Pence administration but with a more civil style of leadership than his former boss.

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Pence was loyal to Trump to a point critics called obsequious, but he broke with the former president during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection when he refused Trumps demand to reject Electoral College votes for Biden. Pence said he didnt have the authority, prompting the mob that stormed the US Capitol to chant Hang Mike Pence.

The former vice president was greeted with loud boos by Trump supporters who havent forgiven him when he delivered a speech in his home state of Indiana at the National Rifle Associations annual meeting on April 14.

But Pence supporters say history will remember the former vice president for refusing to violate his oath to the US Constitution on Jan. 6, while Trump was the first US president to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power.

Pence has also broken from Trump on continually looking backward to the 2020 election they lost, on blaming disappointing midterm election results on GOP candidates not allowing exceptions to abortion, and Trumps praise for Russian President Vladimir Putin in the invasion of Ukraine.

The former vice president has also criticized DeSantis for punishing Walt Disney Co. for opposing to the so-called dont say gay law last year, saying its beyond the scope of what I as a conservative, limited-government Republican would be prepared to do.

The super-PACs initial focus will be on Iowa with its first-in-the-nation GOP caucuses and evangelical voters likely to be aligned Pence, a devout Christian and fellow Midwesterner. Reed said were going to organize Iowa, all 99 counties, like were running him for county sheriff.

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As the popularity of injectable weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy continues to rise, some users of the drugs are speaking out about the reality of the medications' reported side effects.

Lee Thomas, who lives in Washington state, said that he has lost 12 pounds after nearly seven weeks of using Ozempic, one of a class of drugs called GLP-1 RAs that help people produce insulin and lower the amount of sugar in the blood. The drugs work by slowing down movement of food through the stomach and curbing appetite, thereby causing weight loss.

Thomas told ABC News that he initially experienced nausea and gastrointestinal issues while on the medication, but found that consuming lots of water and protein helped ease those symptoms.

"It's been pretty minor with the things I've been doing," Thomas said of the side effects he's experienced. "And if I can feel it starting to come on, I can take care of it pretty quickly."

PHOTO: Lee Thomas, of Washington state, speaks with ABC News about his experience using Ozempic. (ABC News)

Both Ozempic and Mounjaro are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat Type 2 diabetes, but some doctors prescribe them "off-label" for weight loss. Wegovy is specifically approved for weight loss for people with obesity or who are overweight.

Ozempic and Wegovy are made from a compound called semaglutide, and Mounjaro contains a compound called tirzepatide.

While people can take semaglutide under the brand name Ozempic or Wegovy, some people, due to shortages and cost, have also accessed an off-brand version of the drug through pharmacies that create their own semaglutide compound, using the raw ingredients. There are risks associated with getting semaglutide through that route because the compounds are not regulated by the FDA.

Ashley Harkins of Ohio told ABC News that she has been taking a generic semaglutide compound for nearly two weeks. She said she has not felt any side effects so far, but has lost her appetite.

"I was like fully expecting to be sick," Harkins said. "But, no, I feel great."

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PHOTO: Ashley Harkins, of Ohio, speaks with ABC News about her experience taking a generic semaglutide compound. (ABC News)

Heather Winterstein, who uses Mounjaro, said she experienced nausea when she started taking the medication.

She said her doctor prescribed Zofran, an anti-nausea drug, to ease the symptoms, and she has continued taking Mounjaro for nearly nine months. In total, she said she has lost 73 pounds and is no longer on medications to treat high blood pressure.

"My medical history alone from prior to this medication to six months in was astronomical," Winterstein, who lives in Mississippi, told ABC News. "I used to have really high blood pressure. I was actually on two medications for high blood pressure."

PHOTO: Heather Winterstein, of Mississippi, speaks with ABC News about her experience taking Mounjaro. (ABC News)

Eli Lilly, the maker of Mounjaro, and Novo Nordisk, the maker of both Ozempic and Wegovy, told ABC News that people who experience side effects using the medications should contact their health care providers.

To date, there are no reported irreversible side effects associated with Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro use.

MORE: Woman shares what happened after she stopped taking semaglutide

Dr. Sethu Reddy, president of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology, said the primary side effect of the medications is nausea. The drugs can also cause constipation.

"The side effects are minimal. They are very well tolerated," Reddy told ABC News. "Side effects include primarily nausea, stomach upset, sometimes vomiting."

The medications cannot be given to patients with certain medical conditions, including medullary thyroid cancer, pancreatitis, or gallstones.

Their safety has not yet been established in minors.

MORE: What to know about 'Ozempic face' as some users claim popular diabetes drugs used for weight loss leave them looking gaunt

Both Winterstein, who uses Mounjaro, and Thomas, who uses Ozempic, said that, more so than any physical side effects, the main impact of the medications that they've noticed is the quieting of what they describe as the "food noise" in their heads.

"I've never been able to overcome it because I'm trying to figure out how to have a better relationship with food while food is shouting at me in my mind all the time, and it's never worked," Thomas said. "And so, now that is quiet."

People describe real-life side effects of popular injectable weight loss drugs originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com
People stand on an upper floor of the Conference Center after the Saturday morning session of the 193rd Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 1, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News

In a broadcast that aired Sunday, the CBS television program 60 Minutes recycled four-year-old complaints about how The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints handles its finances.

Most of the questions raised already have rather banal answers, which we discuss below.

But plain responses tend not to capture attention and drive TV ratings, especially during sweeps periods (like this month).

But the medias unusual and enduring fascination with Latter-day Saint finances has extended over the better part of a century, begging the question: Is the goal of these similar media treatments to elucidate a misunderstood faith tradition or instead to further stoke public misgivings?

Related

Riveting the journalistic eye

As a teenager, George Albert Smith worked to help support his family. While on a surveying job with Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad, some harmful combination of desert dust and a scorching glare of summer sun damaged his vision, causing permanent impairment in his left eye.

Years later, Smith served as president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during the faiths centennial celebration of the early Mormon pioneers arriving in Utah on July 21, 1947.

In conjunction with the anniversary, Time Magazine ran a cover story depicting then-President Smith with his injured eye fixated on a pile of dollar sign-leafed sugar beets in front of the temple with rows of gold plates in the background to drive home the point: What you need to know about Latter-days Saints isnt the core tenets of their faith, but instead their sideways eye for amassing wealth.

Content.time.com

And yet, it was just a few decades earlier the church had been on the verge of financial collapse  threatened with bankruptcy and the confiscation of holdings by the federal government. And a few decades into its second hundred years, the church still wouldnt have the funds to complete its main office building on Temple Square.

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Yet by the time the churchs sesquicentennial rolled around in 1997, 50 years after Times first cover story, the magazine reverted to the same tropes, printing Mormons, Inc. in bold font across the magazines iconic cover. The true great trek of early Latter-day Saint leaders, the piece argued, was to build a wealthy empire.

Its a plot twist seemingly too good to resist: a church which claims to care for the poor and follow Jesus  the same Jesus who taught its harder for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God than a camel to fit through the eye of a needle  is secretly more interested in accumulating wealth and power. Any other explanations for the hard-fought financial stability of the faith is met with remarkably little journalistic curiosity.

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In 2012, Bloomberg Businessweek slapped cartoon bubbles over a piece of religious art to depict deity instructing Latter-day founder Joseph Smith, And thou shalt build a shopping mall, buy stock in Burger King  that shall be largely exempt from the frustration of tax. That same year, Harpers magazine claimed, with a rhetorical bravado of inverse proportion to the evidence presented, that Latter-day Saints have an ethos of accumulation that makes so-called prosperity Gospel seem listless by comparison.

And then theres Sundays 60 minutes segment. The same themes play out. The church has money. It prefers not to disclose every dollar publicly. Ergo, something nefarious must be taking place.

Along the way, little effort goes into helping viewers appreciate how the faith tradition actually uses its financial resources.

A story in search of evidence

This same story plays out every few decades, despite the churchs commendable self-reliance and efficiency of its humanitarian efforts. Living stipends for full-time church leaders are estimated to be significantly less than the salary of a member of U.S Congress, and hundreds of thousands of dollars less than leaders of large public and private universities or comparable nonprofit organizations.

Lost in this all, once again, are the actual purposes and uses of funds as members and leaders of the church understand them.

Imagine if this became an object of interest among news media. Investigative programs might dig deep into what humanitarian projects the church funds and examine the lives impacted. Or perhaps theyd explore the extensive educational and welfare efforts measurably helping to lift people from poverty across the globe.

But like the many treatments of church finances before it, CBS rehashed the so-called whistleblowers inference that the churchs funds were never used for charitable purposes.

Thats quite a claim.

Little effort goes into helping viewers appreciate how the faith tradition actually uses its financial resources.

Yet in a program taking up such a serious allegation, it was striking that the wide range of ways these funds are perpetually used by the church to fulfill its mission was never really explored at much length  nor were the legal merits of the whistleblowers claims examined with much scrutiny.

Instead, insinuations were made that the IRS was somehow failing to act by not investigating the church out of fear of political repercussions. The prospect that maybe, just maybe, the church could actually be fully compliant with IRS requirements for tax-exemption was less interesting.

Again, its sweeps season, and CBS needs eyeballs.

But what about the truth?

Even by the whistleblowers admission, the church spends billions each year on its charitable causes. And since Ensign Peak, the churchs investment arm, is part of the totality of the churchs organization  functioning legally as an incorporated auxiliary of the church  the insinuation the church doesnt disburse its funds is simply disingenuous. This idea depends on the claim that the churchs investment fund is entirely separate from the church  its not, legally or otherwise.

As the whistleblower himself says during the CBS program, church reserve investments are more like a 401(k) (long-term savings), and the other funds are more like a checking account for ongoing operational expenses. But as any financial planner would tell you, perhaps aside from the whistleblower, you dont draw on your 401(k) except in the event of an emergency.

Funds with a higher purpose

In the meanwhile, Americans might benefit from learning that the church carries its extensive worldwide programs for family history and temple work across 177 temples being maintained (and more than 50 others in construction). It provides funds for disaster relief and for servicing and building chapels and funding the activities of more than 30,000 congregations and tens of thousands of church missionaries. The church educates 850,000 seminary and institutes students and subsidizes four brick-and-mortar higher education campuses, and a global education program called BYU-Pathways, at a total cost of an estimated $1.5 billion per year.

To put that into context, Michael Bloomberg made news by giving away $1.8 billion to Johns Hopkins University, one of the largest single donations to an American university. Church educational institutions spend nearly that amount every year  in perpetuity.

An earlier clarification by the church still applies today. Despite its many investments and strong financial position today, the bulk of the churchs assets are money-consuming assets, rather than money-producing. Tens of thousands of houses of worship, temples, missions, genealogical centers and universities all take money to operate.

On top of that, the church is now giving $1 billion in humanitarian efforts each year. Economic justice activists who dream of wealth redistribution programs from the rich to the impoverished might be surprised to learn this is all done voluntarily.

Seems pretty newsworthy.

And at a time when the U.S. government pays as much in debt servicing as it does for funding the military, it may also be worth celebrating once in a while a large service-oriented organization able to balance a budget and achieve fiscal responsibility over decades.

Its certainly fair to consider where best an organization should dedicate resources. And its fair to debate how large of a cash reserve any organization should maintain. But theres good reason to believe the ratio of reserves is in line with best practices for large, global charitable organizations.

Related

Sensible people might disagree over these questions in good faith. But thats not the public conversation being fostered by these sorts of stories.

Perhaps we shouldnt be surprised to see secular observers drawing on materialist explanations to make sense of what they witness in communities of faith. But when an entire organization is repeatedly cast in a suspicious light, it starts to feel more like a proxy battle over religion and its free ability to fulfill its mission within a secularizing and skeptical world.

As historians well know, this and other nations have a sad and troubling history of drawing on false stereotypes of wealth accumulation regarding minority faiths.

It shouldnt be too much to expect conversations about faith and finances to be respectful enough of religious faith and practice to seriously consider the plainly stated spiritual explanations for why they do what they do.

While by no means a recipe for boosting ratings, it may guide Americas own wandering eyes a bit closer to the truth.
Interview: Bahamas-China relations fruitful, says PM

Xinhua) 09:34, May 16, 2023

NASSAU, May 15 (Xinhua) -- The Commonwealth of the Bahamas and the People's Republic of China have built a fruitful relationship over the past decades, Philip E. Davis, prime minister of the Bahamas, told Xinhua in a recent exclusive interview.

"We have a very fruitful relationship. We have been able to engage each other in bilateral assistance," he said, adding that the Bahamians have benefited from China's support.

He said there are increasing opportunities for Chinese investors in the Bahamas, noting that China has helped with the country's infrastructure development.

China has made several significant investments in the Bahamas, and the Bahamian government looks forward to continuing to strengthen economic collaboration with China, he said. "I invite Chinese investors to come and see what they can invest in."

Highlighting bilateral cooperation, Davis said the recent acrobatic gala "Authentic China, Splendid Hunan" by the Hunan Acrobatics Art Theatre celebrating the 50th anniversary of the independence of the Bahamas at Nassau's Atlantis Theatre, has been an example of how the two countries have engaged each other.

The Bahamas, which gained independence on July 10, 1973, established diplomatic relations with China in 1997.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
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.
An antiques collector in Lancaster, Pa. recently received shocking news about a purchase he made from a dilapidated church in West Philadelphia.

Paul Brown told The New York Times that he usually collects 19th-century artifacts that reflect throwback Americana. However, he decided to buy two windows covered in grime located in stone walls of the Gothic Revival church built in 1901. Its new owner, the Emmanuel Christian Center, wanted to remove the windows as part of a larger remodel.

More from Robb Report

Brown first heard about the windows through Facebook Marketplace and he eventually he ran into a salvager at the church who told him: Do you want to get these windows out before we sledgehammer them out?

An image of a Tiffany rose window that will be sold by Freemans Auction House in Philadelphia.

Brown bought the windows along with wooden pews, wood trim, flooring, tables, chairs, and light fixtures, all for $6,000. After the windows were pried out of the stone and duct-taped into packing blankets, Brown contacted Philadelphia-based auction house Freemans, the Philadelphia Enquirer reported.

They told him some surprising news: They were rare Tiffany pieces.

If no one said they were Tiffany, you sure couldnt tell it by the dirty glass, Brown told The Enquirer. After having been in the salvaging business for 30 years, he told the paper that usually by the time I get there, nobody cares anymore, theres nothing to care about.

Details are seen in a Tiffany rose window.

The auction house discovered that the windowswhich span about eight feet in diameterwere made circa 1905 by Tiffany Studios. Founded in 1878, the workshop was known for ornate glass lamps, but it also created stained glass for many churches across America. The Enquirer notes that its founder, Louis Comfort Tiffany, was also the first design director at his fathers jewelry company, Tiffany & Co.

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To find another Tiffany rose, let alone twoits almost unheard of, head of design at Freemans Tim Andreadis told The Enquirer. He added that its unlikely such a find will happen again anytime soon.

At the end of April, the auction house listed the two windows, which each have an estimated sale price between $150,000 and $250,000.

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Click here to read the full article.
Philadelphia Democrats on Tuesday selected Cherelle Parker to be their party's mayoral nominee, the Associated Press has declared.

Parker will be favored to win the general election in November when she takes on Republican David Oh.

The winner will go on to be the city's 100th mayor. Philadelphia is heavily Democratic and has not elected a Republican mayor since the 1950s.

With about 66% of precincts reporting, Cherelle Parker was leading with 32.89% of the vote, with Rebecca Rhynhart in a distant second place with 22.33%.

"I'm so incredibly honored to have earned the Democratic nomination tonight," Parker said in a statement on social media. "It's been a long road, and to see the tireless work of my campaign team, supporters, and family pay off is humbling."

FILE - Philadelphia mayoral candidate Cherelle Parker takes part in a Democratic primary debate on April 25, 2023. / Credit: Matt Rourke / AP

The Democrats also Tuesday narrowly maintained their majority in the Pennsylvania state House, according to the AP, thanks to a Democratic win in a closely watched special election.

Philadelphia mayoral polls leading up to primary day

Recent polls had shown that five Democrats  Parker, Rhynhart, Helen Gym, Allan Domb and Jeff Brown  had a shot at winning, including the three women who could become the city's first female mayor. In April, the nonpartisan nonprofit Committee of Seventy's survey found all five in a statistical tie.

According to CBS Philadelphia, polling suggested as many as 1 in 5 Democratic voters were still undecided. All five leading candidates had been campaigning hard leading up to primary day.

Philadelphia and national Democrats

Philadelphia, the nation's sixth-largest city by population, is a crucial city for Democrats nationally in the swing state of Pennsylvania. President Biden won Pennsylvania by about 80,000 votes, with most coming from Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and the surrounding suburbs.

File: Mayoral candidates, from left to right, Jeff Brown, Helen Gym, Rebecca Rhynhart, Cherelle Parker, state Rep. Amen Brown and Allan Domb take part in a Democratic primary debate at the WPVI-TV studio in Philadelphia, Tuesday, April 25, 2023. / Credit: Matt Rourke / AP

"It's one of the few states that was sort of very close in the 2020 election, and I think for the Democrats in Pennsylvania, the big issue for the mayor is not only to sort of govern the city but encourage turnout, get them out to the polls in the presidential race," said William Rosenberg, a professor of political science at Drexel University.

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National Democrats have been keeping an eye on the state  Mr. Biden endorsed Heather Boyd, a candidate in a special General Assembly race that also took place Tuesday. According to the AP, Boyd won her race, defeating Republican Katie Ford and helping the Democrats maintain their narrow majority in the state House.

Democrats had taken control of the Assembly in November for the first time since 2010, but state Rep. Mike Zabe resigned in March after he was accused of sexual harassment. While Zabe's former district is located in the increasingly blue Philadelphia suburbs, Democrats weren't taking any chances in Boyd's race, having raised more than $1 million since April.

The Republicans hold the majority in the state Senate.

Most expensive Philadelphia mayoral race in history

The mayor's race in Philadelphia was the most expensive in the city's history, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer, with two candidates  Derek Green and Maria Quinones Sanchez  dropping out because the price of the race was too high.

Over $14 million of the $24 million being spent has come from two wealthy candidates who were funding their races, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Domb, a real estate developer, has poured $10.2 million into his race, and Brown, a Philadelphia grocery store chain owner, has contributed $3 million to his campaign.

Two other frontrunners  Gym and Rhynhart  had each raised about $2 million. Parker had raised $1.7 million.

Issues in the mayoral race

The issue dominating the race has been crime, although all the candidates generally agree on how to combat it. Poverty and quality of life have also been major issues.

"You've got this real dissatisfaction, more so than I think normal," said Richardson Dilworth, the head of the political science department at Drexel and the author of "Reforming Philadelphia 1682-2022." He said of Mayor Jim Kenney, "Fairly or unfairly, the current mayor has just gotten absolutely heaped on for sort of not doing much  hiding away and stuff like that."

Dilworth said there's a need among voters to feel like "somebody's home, in some respects."

The mayoral candidates

Parker, a former Philadelphia City Council member, had been endorsed by many of the ward leaders and other local political leaders. And Mayor Kenney also said he voted for Parker. She was the only Black candidate left in the race, and 44% of the city's population is Black. Parker had racked up support from many of the Black community leaders.

Gym, a former teacher, community organizer and City Council member, was the progressive in the race. And she got a boost from two of the best-known progressives in the country last week when Sen. Bernie Sanders and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez both campaigned for her.

Rhynhart, meanwhile, had been endorsed by major Democratic figures, including former Mayors Ed Rendell and Michael Nutter, as well as the Philadelphia Inquirer. Rhynhart is the former Philadelphia controller and has sought to set herself apart on policy.

While all three women had collected union endorsements, Brown won the coveted endorsement of the city's largest municipal union.

Because the May primary falls in an off-election year, turnout was expected to be low. Candidates had been trying to boost their support at the polls. Sanders, in his speech on Sunday, told voters "there is no doubt in my mind that Helen is the next mayor of Philadelphia," if everyone in the crowd votes and brings a few friends or family to the polls.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper calls abortion ban legislation "sneaky"

H.R. McMaster: Russian attack on Kyiv a "desperate attempt" to make news

Intruder break-in at Biden national security adviser's home under investigation
Facebook posts claim that a photo of an odd-looking creature shows a fish with human characteristics caught in the United States. But the claim is false: the photo is a hyperrealistic artwork created by a Thai artist in 2018 as part of his final-year project.

A fish with human-like hands and body has just been found in American waters, marking a breakthrough in the field of marine research, reads the post published on May 2, 2023.

A screenshot of the false post, taken on May 9, 2023

Shared more than 700 times, it features a screengrab showing a fish-like creature with human hands and male genitalia.

The same post was shared elsewhere on Facebook, including here.

The picture also circulated in China in 2020 with the claim that the creature was caught in the South China Sea. AFP Fact Check debunked a French post making the same claim in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Mermaids and mermen have been part of European and African folklore (archived here) for centuries and feature in popular culture, including Hollywood films (archived here).

However, the claim that the photo shows a fish with human features is false.

Artwork from Thailand

Using a reverse image search, AFP Fact Check found that the photo appeared online in May 2018.

The image was posted on Facebook along with several others on May 23, 2018, by a page called PI-R2 (archived here). According to the caption, the images were from an art thesis exhibition by students from the Department of Fine Arts and Architecture at King Mongkuts Institute of Technology Ladkrabang in Bangkok, Thailand.

The post further explained that the fish-like creature was an artwork made by Parada Pattarakunpreeda from silicon, resin, and artificial fur.

It said that Pattarakunpreedas art intended to show the different ways human society uses animals for its interest without consideration for their feelings.

Pattarakunpreeda posted the same photo on Instagram where he gave his name as Parada Wiratsawee on June 23, 2018 (archived here).

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Parada Wiratsawee (@pattarakunpreeda)

A keyword search for Parada Wiratsawee led to this account of the same name (archived here).

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The page bio showed that Wiratsawee, who attended King Mongkuts Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, posted the same photo and others on October 3, 2018 (archived here).

A screenshot shows the photo posted by Wiratsawee in 2018, taken on May 9, 2023

He said the artwork was exhibited at the 64th National Exhibition of Art held between October 10-28, 2018 at Thailands National Gallery, Chao Fa.
Three UK proposed to build a 5G mast on the road which divides the grassy area from the castle rock

Plans for a 5G mast which conservationists said would "damage" an iconic view of Edinburgh Castle have been scrapped following a backlash.

More than 320 objections were lodged against the proposed 17m (56ft) structure on Johnston Terrace, which passes below the castle.

Mobile network Three UK originally said the mast would not spoil the view.

However it has withdrawn its application following a review and said it was trying to find a suitable site.

A spokesperson for Three said: "We want to offer a great network experience in the area and our planners determined that a new site was required to deliver it.

"Following a review, we have withdrawn our application and are working with the city planning team to try to find a suitable location for the mast."

The firm added that 5G rollout is vital for residents, visitors and businesses in the centre of Edinburgh.

Iconic view

The mast was proposed by CK Hutchison Networks to help provide coverage for Three UK's network.

It proposed to build the structure on Johnstone Terrace at the top of Granny's Green Steps - which is just below the castle rock.

Historic Environment Scotland, which manages Edinburgh Castle, said it had not been consulted about the plans.

Many city tours stop in the Grassmarket area so visitors can capture the view looking up at the landmark.

Lucia Ibarra Rodriguez

Terry Levinthal, director of Scotland's oldest conservation charity the Cockburn Association, welcomed news of the plans being withdrawn.

He previously told the BBC it was "unacceptable" to erect a mast in such a significant location.

On Tuesday, he said: "It has to be appropriate for the place. Some places have 5G masts that are not necessarily pretty, but are not having an impact - but in some places, it is.

"There is is a duty in any planning application to make sure any proposal preserves the character and appearance of the area.

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"What we hope for in future is for operators, the city council and other interested parties to sit down and begin thinking of the best way of doing this and what are the sensitive areas."

Mr Levinthal added he was happy to have discussions with companies who wanted to develop in conservation areas.

In Edinburgh alone 50 areas have been granted the status, which recognises parts of special architectural or historic interest.
Ms Sturgeon pictured leaving her house on April 26 - Getty Images

Police in Scotland requested a warrant to search Nicola Sturgeons home during the SNP leadership race, but waited two weeks for it to be approved - after the contest was over, it has been alleged.

The Crown Office received the request on March 20, but it was not approved until April 3, the Scottish Sun reported.

Police arrested Ms Sturgeons husband, Peter Murrell, and searched the couples home in Glasgow, on April 5.

The Crown does not accept that there was any kind of delay, the paper reported, while Police Scotland declined to comment.

At the time, Police Scotland said a 58-year-old man was held in custody in connection with an investigation into the funding and finances of the party.

Mr Murrell was questioned by detectives for 11 hours before being released without charge. Investigators also searched the SNP's headquarters in Edinburgh.

Police Scotland search for evidence at the house - Wattie Cheung

Police continue to investigate allegations that the party misused 600,000 of donations.

Ms Sturgeon has admitted her time since leaving office, following her shock resignation, has not unfolded as she hoped.

In a comment piece for The Guardian, she expressed her frustration at being unable to "broker the common ground necessary to advance difficult or controversial policy changes".

"It is now almost two months since I left office and while that period hasnt unfolded exactly as I anticipated  for reasons I wont go into here  it has given me a different perspective," she wrote.

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ASHEVILLE - A child abducted in Illinois in 2017 has now been found safe 700 miles away in Western North Carolina, police say.

Kayla Unbehaun was 9 years old when police said her mother, Heather, abducted her in July 2017 from South Elgin, Illinois, about 45 miles northwest of Chicago. The Citizen Times does not normally name victims, but Kayla Unbehaun's name has been widely published since her kidnapping.

Kayla Unbehaun case: When did she go missing and how does 'Unsolved Mysteries' tie in?

Asheville Police Department officers responded to Plato's Closet at Westgate Regional Shopping Center around 7:26 p.m. on May 13 to investigate a reported kidnapping, according to an APD release.

Kayla Unbehaun as she would've looked at 11 years old (left) and 14 years old (right). She was abducted in July 2017 at just 9 years old. She was found safe in North Carolina in May 2023.

"A witness believed she had recognized a woman who kidnapped a child in 2017. When officers arrived, they were able to locate and make contact with the woman and the child," the release said.

After an investigation that included contact with the South Elgin (Illinois) Police Department, officers were able to confirm the identification of Heather Unbehaun, the mother and accused kidnapper, and "a minor child in her custody," the release said.

Child sex crimes: Man charged by Asheville police with child sex crime, trafficking

Nantahala National Forest: Arrests made in connection to Union County woman found dead

Unbehaun, who was wanted on an extradition warrant out of Illinois for child abduction, was taken into custody and booked into the Buncombe County Detention Facility on a $250,000 secured bond. She was not listed as a detainee in the jail as of May 16.

Officials confirmed that Unbehaun was out on bond. Her next court date is listed as July 11 in Buncombe County District Court for a hearing regarding her extradition, according to the state online court registry.

The child's abduction was one of several kidnappings of minors featured in a November 2022 episode of Netflix's "Unsolved Mysteries" series.

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This story will be updated.

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: 'Unsolved Mysteries' episode helps find Kayla Unbehaun in Asheville
A police officer blocks traffic on a road following a deadly shooting Monday, May 15, 2023, in Farmington, New Mexico. 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. AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan

The New Mexico gunman who killed three people "randomly fired" while roaming a neighborhood.

He injured six others, including two police officers, on Monday, police said.

Officials are in contact with the suspect's family to try to figure out if there was any motive.

Police said the gunman who killed three people and injured six others in New Mexico on Monday "randomly fired" while roaming a neighborhood.

Six others were injured, including two police officers who responded to the scene, Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe said in a Monday night press conference.

"At this point it appears to be completely random, that there were no schools, no churches, no individuals targeted," Hebbe said. He added that during the shooting, the gunman "roamed throughout the neighborhood up to a quarter of a mile."

"The suspect randomly fired at whatever entered his head to shoot at," hitting six houses and three cars with gunfire, Hebbe said.

Hebbe said Farmington police were dispatched to the neighborhood at 10:57 a.m. local time for reports of shots fired in the area. The first officer arrived on scene at 11:02 a.m.

By 11:05 a.m., Hebbe said, police had engaged the gunman, who police identified as an 18-year-old man carrying at least three weapons at the time, including one "AR-style rifle."

Police shot the suspect at least once, Hebbe said. The gunman died at the scene.

Almost simultaneously, Hebbe said, there was news that an officer had been shot in the confrontation. That officer, Hebbe said, was transported to San Juan Regional Medical Center "minutes later" to be treated. He has since been released.

The second injured officer is a member of the state police force. He drove himself to the hospital to be treated, Hebbe said, and he is "doing well."

Hebbe said the event "is difficult to understand how something like this happens" and that officials are in contact with the gunman's family to try and figure out if there was a motive for the shooting.

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Hebbe called Monday the "most horrific and difficult days that Farmington has ever had as a community," and offered his "deepest condolences" to the affected families.

The other victims of the shooting haven't been identified.

Farmington, a city of about 46,000, is in the northwestern corner of New Mexico.

Read the original article on Insider
FORT PIERCE  Police Tuesday identified a 51-year-old man who died a day earlier in a homicide incident as Emmanuel Preston Knight, though few other details were released.

Police were called at 11:49 a.m. Monday to the incident in the 600 block of South 12th Street, police spokesperson Larry Croom has said. The case apparently began as a call for police to respond to a disturbance in progress, but Croom stated the incident is a homicide.

Officers found a 51-year-old man identified as Knight with a gunshot wound. He was taken to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce, and died mid-afternoon Monday, Croom said.

Fort Pierce Police were called May 15, 2023, to an address in the 600 block of South 12th Street for a disturbance in progress call. A man was found with a gunshot wound. He died the same day. Images from the area taken May 16, 2023.

Croom Tuesday said the man had been in a wheelchair. Police did not say whether an arrest has been made.

What appeared to be yellow police tape hung from two blue plastic bins in front of a single-story, blue-and-white home on the east side of the 600 block of South 12th Street. No one came to the door there Tuesday.

Yellow tape divided the home from one to the south, and also was present in the back yard.

Vietnam vet's homicide a year later: Son of Fort Pierce homicide victim wants legacy of his dad to move forward

At one home to the north, Tilvin Harris Sr., 41, pedaled up on a bicycle. He sat on a chair in the back, eating from a container of mangoes.

I just heard a gunshot, like bow, Harris said.

He said he was in his room in bed at the back of the house. Harris identified Knight before police released the name publicly about 2:45 p.m. Tuesday.

Harris, who said hes lived there about 18 months, said a person came from the front of the home to tell him someone got shot.

'A brilliant young woman': Friends, family remember Kaitlyn Kohler, dead after being struck by sheriff's vehicle

He said he heard arguing but said he was taught to mind his business.

Neighbor Charles Johnson, 58, said he was at work at the time.

Johnson described the neighborhood as peaceful and quiet.

It shocked me that it happened, Johnson said. I came from work and I seen the yellow tape.

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Other neighbors either declined comment or didnt come to their doors.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Kevin Mohamed at 772-467-6905 or 772-979-1451 or kmohamed@fppd.org

Information also can be supplied via Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at 800-273-TIPS.

Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on Twitter @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Man dead in homicide in Fort Pierce ID'd by police
A Salt Lake City Police Crime Scene vehicle is pictured in Salt Lake City on May 16, 2021. Salt Lake City Police Department is currently investigating the death of two people who were found Saturday morning. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Two people were found dead in an office building in Salt Lake City on Saturday, police said.

Late Saturday morning, emergency responders received a call from a community member who reported finding a body inside the office complex near 3000 S. Highland Dr., Salt Lake City police said in a news release.

"Salt Lake City Fire and Gold Cross arrived on scene and found two people dead," Salt Lake police said.

Officers arrived on scene to secure the building and check for any other possible victims. They also conducted a welfare check at a residence near Sunnyside Park as part of the investigation.

Members of the Salt Lake City Police Department's Homicide Squad and workers from the department's crime lab also responded to the scene to collect evidence, conduct interviews and examine the area for any additional information.

"We are conducting a death investigation; there is no threat to the community and there is no outstanding persons," Salt Lake police said.

Police did not provide additional details, including the genders or ages of the people who were found dead, nor how they died.

"The cause and manner of the deaths will be determined by the medical examiner's office," according to the police statement.
Police are investigating three Saturday shootings in Alexandria, one fatal, and a body that was found in the Dallas Street area.

Police are investigating three Saturday shootings in Alexandria, one fatal, and a body that was found in the Dallas Street area.

All of the investigations are continuing, and the Alexandria Police Department asks those with information about any of the cases to contact them at 318-441-6416 or 318-441-6559.

The department's busy day began not long after midnight, when it was contacted by Acadian Ambulance for help with the body of a man that had been found at the Dallas Avenue and Cypress Street intersection.

The body hasn't been identified yet, but police said it was a 30-year-old white male with "no apparent signs of foul play," according to a news release. An autopsy is planned.

Then, less than two hours later, officers were sent to the Bayview Yacht Club off Jackson Street for a call about gunshots being fired.

Edwin Davidson Jr. case: Last of 5 defendants in 2020 fatal shooting of Pineville teen set for trial this week

'Vulgar and racist': Mexican ambassador slams GOP senator over comments in hearing.

They found a 17-year-old who had been wounded by gunfire. The victim was taken to a hospital for treatment, but the wounds were not life threatening.

Two Alexandria men, ages 21 and 23, were arrested by police on weapon and drug charges in connection to this shooting. The release states more charges and arrests are pending. Five guns have been seized so far, it reads.

Nothing else major was reported until Saturday night.

Around 10:39 p.m., police went to the Levin and Chester streets area for a report about someone being shot. A victim was found and was taken to a hospital. The release stated the victim was in critical condition.

Minutes later, around 11:13 p.m., police reported to the 500 block of Avoyelles Drive for a shots fired call. They found a 19-year-old man who was dead "from apparent gunshot wounds," the release reads.

The victim was identified as Dontravius Williams of Alexandria.

This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: Police investigating 3 Saturday shootings, 1 body found in Alexandria
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 16)  Suspended Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo Teves might be returning to the Philippines on Wednesday, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said, citing a reliable source.

It was stated to me by a reliable source, [or] who I consider as a reliable source. He may have access to flight data into the country and usually a reliable source for those who come in and out of the country, Remulla said in a briefing on Tuesday.

Remulla said the filing of complaints against Teves will push through on Wednesday. The embattled congressman has been tagged as the mastermind behind the murder of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.

We want him to be able to face the charges properly. And the timing is perfect because the charges will be filed tomorrow. I hope he comes home, he added.

The justice secretary said he expects Teves to come from Timor-Leste, which reportedly denied the lawmaker's bid for political asylum.

According to Remulla, Teves may be returning home as it is difficult for him to travel the world while on Interpol notice. He said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations was also informed that Teves is a subject of designation as a terrorist.

Teves was slapped with a 60-day suspension in March for failing to return to the country from his medical treatment in the United States after his travel authority expired. His suspension ends on May 22.

This story will be updated.
Kentuckians went to the polls Tuesday to decide who will be on the November ballot for statewide and local races.

By 3 p.m. Tuesday there were 24 election day complaints to the Attorney Generals Election Fraud Hotline, including two complaints of electioneering in Fayette County, two in Scott County and one in Knox County. The rest were procedural questions.

No other information was available about the electioneering reports; electioneering can include displaying signs or campaign literature or soliciting votes in or near a polling place.

Despite high-profile Republican campaign appearances and an endorsement by former President Donald Trump in the governors race, turnout was expected to be low.

Statewide, turnout was just over 14 percent, the Kentucky Secretary of States office said late Tuesday night, when all but one county, Adair, had reported results.

The Fayette County Clerks office said overall voter turnout in Fayette County was 13%.

The clerks office said at 6:01 p.m. Tuesday that 30,438 people had voted, not including early or absentee voting.

Another 2,578 voted early.

A voter enters Clays Mill Elementary school on May 16, 2023, to cast their ballot as Kentucky went to the polls on primary election day across the state. Workers at this precinct said they had 40 people vote in the first two hours the polls were open.

At Bryan Station High School, precinct worker Michael Hale said voting had been really slow. Then the rain started about 9 a.m.

This will keep people away, Hale said.

Secretary of State Michael Adams warned that overall turnout could hit a record low.

Adams warned that turnout could be as low as 10%, according to estimates based on early voting and on requests for absentee ballots.

In early voting before Tuesday, Adams reported 88,838 votes cast, including absentee ballots, down about 24% from the 116,341 votes cast at the same point in the 2022 primary, which had 19% turnout.

While voter turnout remained low, many voters still made their way to the polls.

At 1:30 p.m., the Beaumont Middle School polling location had received 282 voters, according to poll worker Doraine Bailey.

Its been a nice, steady stream, Bailey said. Everybody has been very kind and very smooth.

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Katie Shreve, a voter in the Beaumont precinct, believes voting is one of her responsibilities as a citizen.

I am a big proponent of voting, so we come every time, Shreve said. I think its what our country has been founded on.

At Arlington Elementary School, around 197 votes had been cast at 2 p.m., according to Amantha Cook, who has been a poll worker for three election cycles. She said turnout was lower than she expected.

Today has been slow compared to the last primary election I worked, Cook said. I have a feeling that has to do with the rain, as well as the fact that the Democratic ballot only has two options on it.

Deborah Mastrangelo, who voted at Tates Creek Christian Church, said she voted to fulfill her duty as a citizen.

Its why were here in the United States, so we can have a free vote, she said.

Failed Arizona candidate tweets about Kentucky election

Kari Lake, a former Arizona Republican gubernatorial candidate who is challenging the results of last years election in court, weighed in on Kentuckys election Tuesday, saying in a tweet that she was hearing reports of trouble out of Kentucky during todays elections.

Lake tweeted about Reported Low turnoutBallot printers jamming in multiple placese-poll books not working in other counties.

The Secretary of States office confirmed two reports of printers jamming at polling places in Jefferson County, but because each polling place has multiple printers and scanners, no one was prevented from voting. There have been no widespread issues with e-poll books reported, according to the Secretary of States office.

Whats on the ballot

The key races include the fight to see which Republican candidate will take on Gov. Andy Beshear in the fall if he survives two primary challengers.

A late poll showed Attorney General Daniel Cameron with a substantial lead over former ambassador Kelly Craft, Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles, Auditor Mike Harmon and disbarred lawyer Eric Deters, among others.

Adams faces multiple Republican challengers; meanwhile, there are multiple Republican candidates seeking the nomination for Kentucky state treasurer.

There also are primary candidates in both parties for agriculture commissioner.

In some counties, there also are special elections and non-primary votes including a wet-dry vote in Madison County.

A vehicle drives past a sign outside Clays Mill Elementary school on May 16, 2023, as Kentucky went the polls on primary election day. Workers at this precinct said they had 40 people vote in the first two hours the polls were open.

How to report election problems

To report suspected election law violations and voting irregularities, call the Attorney Generals Election Fraud Hotline at 800-328-VOTE (8683.)

The Attorney Generals office reported 14 pre-election day complaints.

Eight complaints, including four from Clark County, involved electioneering.

This story will be updated throughout the day.

Voters cast their ballots at Clays Mill Elementary school on May 16, 2023, as Kentucky went the polls on primary election day across the state. Workers at this precinct said they had 40 people vote in the first two hours the polls were open.

Herald-Leader staff writer Karla Ward contributed to this report.
Yosemite Falls, which is fed almost completely by snowmelt, is reflected in a partially flooded meadow as warm temperatures have increased snowpack runoff on April 29, 2023 in Yosemite National Park, California.

Several popular campsites in Californias Yosemite National Park are closed for the second day, as park officials prepare for potential flooding throughout the area this week.

Yosemite Valley is under a flood warning as the Merced River is forecast to reach flood stage every day for the next several days. Lower and North Pines Campgrounds and Housekeeping Camp are closed at least until Wednesdayprobably longer, officials tweeted last night.

Read more

The campsites were shut down yesterday morning after park officials worried that recent warm weather in the San Joaquin Valley may accelerate snowmelt in the region this week. Officials also said last night that multiple roads are closed today due to potential flooding and that additional closures were possible.

According to National Weather Service Hanford station, the Merced River went from being under a flood watch to a flood warning as of Sunday. The station also said that flood risk is likely to persist for several days. The California-Nevada River Forecast Center anticipates that Merced River at Pohono Bridge will reach its flood stage of 10 feet by early tomorrow morning and could peak at 13 feet by Friday morning, the Hanford station tweeted on Sunday.

Current conditions in Yosemite are the stark opposite of what park officials were battling in May 2022. This time last year, almost all of California was under extreme and severe drought conditions. But this winter, a series of atmospheric rivers slammed into the West Coast, dumping many feet of snow across Californias mountains. At the beginning of this spring, California Department of Water Resources officials found some of the deepest snowpack on record in the Sierra Mountains. The snowmelt that has come from that snowpack has refilled reservoirs that were seeing dangerously low levels last May.

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Want more climate and environment stories? Check out Earthers guides to decarbonizing your home, divesting from fossil fuels, packing a disaster go bag, and overcoming climate dread. And dont miss our coverage of the latest IPCC climate report, the future of carbon dioxide removal, and the un-greenwashed facts on bioplastics and plastic recycling.

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At least 4.5 million people have died as a consequence of wars that have raged across North Africa and the Middle East since the 9/11 attacks on U.S. soil in 2001, according to new research from the Costs of War project at Brown Universitys Watson Institute.

The Cost of War project conservatively estimated up to 3.6 million indirect deaths from the post-9/11 wars, caused by economic collapse, food insecurity, destruction of public health facilities, environmental contamination, and recurring violence.

That number adds to the 906,000 to 937,000 killed as a direct consequence of the wars across Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Syria, Yemen, Libya and Somalia, according to the Cost of War project.

The project does not ascribe blame to a country because the wars in the Middle East and Africa have involved multiple warring parties, rival nations and complicated geopolitics.

Stephanie Savell, the Costs of War co-director and author of the report, said in countries like Afghanistan, which U.S. troops occupied for roughly 20 years, the pressing question is whether any death can today be considered unrelated to war.

Wars often kill far more people indirectly than in direct combat, particularly young children, Savell said in a statement. Warring parties who damage infrastructure with an impact on population health have a moral responsibility to provide quick and effective assistance and repairs.

The United States government, while not solely responsible for the damage, has a significant obligation to invest in humanitarian assistance and reconstruction in post-9/11 war zones, Savell continued. The U.S. government could do far more than it currently is to act on this responsibility.

The U.S. launched its fight against global terrorism after Al-Qaeda extremists crashed a plane into the Twin Towers and killed nearly 3,000 Americans.

Washington has ended U.S. engagement in major wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, though it continues to fight against terrorist groups such as ISIS across the Middle East and Al-Shabab in Somalia.

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U.S. lawmakers this year have vigorously debated the global military presence, with Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) forcing the House to vote on resolutions to withdraw troops from Somalia and Syria, both of which failed.

The Senate passed a resolution in March to formally rescind two war authorizations against Iraq, which have been used to justify global terrorism operations.

Meanwhile, many countries in the Middle East and North Africa are still embroiled in deadly civil wars and extremist fighting.

At least 7.6 million children younger than 5 are suffering from acute malnutrition in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Somalia, according to the new report from the Cost of War project.

Brown University launched the Cost of War project in 2011 to document the toll of the U.S. war on terrorism across the world.

The team included 35 scholars, legal experts, human rights practitioners, and physicians.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(Bloomberg) -- Pro-royalist members of Thailands upper house are facing mounting pressure to back Pita Limjaroenrat as the countrys next premier, after the Move Forward leader staked a claim to form a coalition government of pro-democracy parties that swept Sundays election.

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Hurdles have emerged in Pitas path to power after some of the 250 unelected members of the Senate, stacked with allies of the pro-military establishment of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha, expressed their opposition to his bid for the top job, saying they wont be guided by the election results alone. Under Thailands constitution, the 250-member Senate gets to vote alongside the 500-member lower house in picking the next prime minister.

In a country with a long history of coups, much of the opposition to Pita stems from his partys pledges to amend the lese majeste law, which punishes criticism against King Maha Vajiralongkorn and other members of the royal family by up to 15 years in prison, end military conscription and rewrite the junta-era constitution.

Pita has a defective political attitude, said Senator Chadej Insawang, one of the lawmakers objecting to the 42-year-old party leader. I cant accept that. Ive vowed to be loyal to the monarchy.

With Pitas proposed coalition of six parties  including his Move Forward and Pheu Thai  well short of the 376 votes needed for a prime minister to get elected, supporters and allies of the Harvard-educated party chief are putting pressure on the Senate to back the popular mandate.

On Thai-language Twitter, hashtags that translate as switch off the Senate and what good is the Senate are trending with more than one million messages so far Tuesday.

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Pita faces an uphill battle as he needs to somehow convince nearly 70 Senators to actively vote for him, but Move Forwards policy proposals are considered radical by Thai standards, said Peter Mumford, Southeast Asia practice head at risk consultancy Eurasia Group.

But there is another option. Calls are also growing for parties in the outgoing coalition, such as Democrat and Bhumjaithai  which together have won 96 seats and have previously opposed the Senates role in choosing the prime minister  to recognize the will of the people and back Pita.

Now is the time for you to stand your ground and vote for Pita to truly conform with democratic principles, without giving the 250 Senators a say, Srettha Thavisin, one of Pheu Thais prime minister candidates, wrote on Twitter. Ignoring this duty will come with a heavy price to pay in the future.

Both the Bhumjaithai and Democrat parties said on Tuesday they agreed that the party with the most seats should get the first chance to form a coalition government, but theyve remained quiet so far on how they would vote regarding Pitas leadership specifically.

Its also unclear how united the Senate bloc is when it comes to picking a prime minister. Some members have said they were still undecided, while others said they would abstain. Few, though, vowed to back the popular mandate.

The May 14 election has reflected the will of the people, Senator Amphon Jindawatana said in a Facebook post. No one should intervene in the democratic process, no matter the excuse.

But Move Forwards Pita said he believed no one would eventually dare go against the popular mandate.

Everyone should accept the popular mandate, Pita told reporters on Monday after announcing his plan to lead the coalition. Defying that will not do anyone any good, even the Senators.

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According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), the efforts of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner Group private military company (PMC), to cooperate with Ukrainian intelligence, as reported by the Washington Post, were more likely an element of his enmity with the Russian Defence Ministry than an attack on President Vladimir Putin.

Source: ISW

Details: ISW recalled that according to its assessment made on 12 March, Prigozhin is competing with the Russian Defence Ministry for Putin's favour, although he could inadvertently concern the Russian president with his military and political ambitions.

The ISW believes that Prigozhin's potential contacts with Ukraine's Defence Intelligence are unlikely to prompt the Kremlin to remove him in the near future.

Quote: "Prigozhins reported outreach to Ukrainian intelligence would likely have been part of an effort to win Putins favour, in fact, by facilitating a rapid Wagner victory in Bakhmut while harming Russian conventional forces behind the scenes.

Prigozhin recently retracted his 9 May comments that indirectly mocked Putin, further indicating that Prigozhin is aware of his dependance on Putin and does not mean to antagonise him.

The allegations [regarding contacts with Ukrainian intelligence  ed.] are unlikely to cause the Kremlin to remove Prigozhin in the near term but can contribute to efforts to discredit Prigozhin. The Kremlin likely suspects or is aware of Prigozhins reported communications with Ukrainian intelligence and likely was not blindsided by The Washington Post report or the leaked US intelligence documents."

More details: The ISW recalled that Russian officials had threatened Prigozhin with treason if he did not stop blackmailing the Defence Ministry with demands to give Wagner more ammunition, threatening to withdraw troops from Bakhmut.

The ISW also stressed that unnamed sources in the Kremlin reported that the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation is preparing an information operation to publicly discredit Prigozhin, but noted that the Kremlin is unlikely to threaten Prigozhin while the Wagner forces are on the contact lines.

"Prigozhin commands the Wagner forces in Donbas, and his removal would disrupt the Russian lines in Bakhmut  a risk that Putin is unlikely to take. The Kremlin is also unable easily to publicly remove and replace Prigozhin as the de facto head of Wagner because Wagner is an independent company and Prigozhin holds no official position in the Russian government. Removing Prigozhin from his control of Wagner would ironically require asserting direct Kremlin control of the mercenary group from which Putin has been at pains to maintain formal distance," the ISW concluded.

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Shannon O'Conner founded WNC Healing Collaborative and specialized in wound care before moving to the downtown Marshall office, where she began offering primary care services to clients in January.

MARSHALL - Madison County residents now have a low-cost option for primary care health services in downtown Marshall.

WNC Healing Collaborative's Shannon O'Conner, a family nurse practitioner, began operating at the North Main Street location, in the building behind Pisgah Legal Services, in January.

Prior to forming WNC Healing Collaborative, O'Conner has worked locally at Mission Health, Blue Ridge Health after graduating from East Tennessee State University, as well as in the Bay Area and Guatemala.

O'Conner said she feels her wide-ranging experience should afford her the opportunity reach a vast demographic of Madison County, Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee residents.

"I've had a lot of public health experience," O'Conner said. "I lived in Oakland and worked at the free clinic, as a volunteer of course, but went through their HIV training prevention program. So, in my nursing career, I did a lot of sexual reproductive health stuff, harm reduction, and then I did labor and delivery for a few years, which was a lot of fun.

"I kind of am like a family practice provider in that I provide everything. I do see quite a bit of wounds here, but I do anything that falls within the realm of primary care. I've started to do a lot of STI testing. I do a lot of trans care, and gender-affirming hormone therapy, also."

WNC Healing Collaborative is located at 32 N. Main St. in Marshall.

O'Conner moved into the building in November 2022. Before beginning to see patients at the Marshall office, she was seeing patients via mobile visits.

"I was already planning on doing a community-based wound care program, so I started some of the foundation of the business because of that," O'Conner said. "I do primary care throughout the lifespan, but I did end up specializing in wound care for a while. My wound philosophy is that you're not a leg disconnected from your body. The reasons why we have wounds that don't heal are often times chronic conditions, lifestyle, things that really need to be addressed as part of holistic wound care.

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"When I was at Mission, I wasn't really able to do lifestyle counseling and then start managing people's diabetes and high blood pressure, and stuff like that. In this practice, I'll be able to have a more integrative approach where I'm not just kind of going into the room to look just at the wound. I can really do a lot more."

The family nurse practitioner said her youngest client is less than 2 years old, while her oldest is 94.

According to O'Conner, she came up with the name WNC Healing Collaborative because it most closely resonated with her health care philosophy, and what she hopes the practice will become.

"I am seeing folks in multiple counties. I see people in Haywood, Buncombe, and I see a lot of Madison folks," she said. "As a wound provider, but really in general, I kind of see the region sort of as a practice area, even though I'm really also focused in Madison County. The idea that the healing collaborative is coming from wounds ... I was thinking about what are we doing when we work intensively with wounds, the goal is healing. Then, the idea of collaboration with patients, because I think that's probably the biggest thing that might set me apart from other allopathic providers.

"Collaboration with other providers as a part of the care team, and then collaboration with other providers as my partners in the future, with the idea being having this be the hub for bringing on other nurse practitioners, but also physicians. I want it to be each person has their own autonomous practice and specialty  whatever that is, whatever we all bring to the table."

Shannon O'Conner, a board-certified family nurse practitioner, now operates out of a North Main Street office in downtown Marshall.

Philosophy of inclusion

O'Conner said providing health care services to underinsured and uninsured residents is a key point of emphasis in her practice.

"I want it to be accessible to as many people as possible," O'Conner said. "My business model right now would be to give away 10% of my billable hours to people that are uninsured, and then have that really accessible sliding scale and then focus on taking as much insurance as I possibly can.

"I'm a one-woman show, but also I can do a lot. I have my own labs. I can draw blood ... and do pretty much any lab testing you'd have done at any primary care office  including testing for things like H. pylori, or I can do pap smears. So, all of the preventative screenings that you would get at any primary care office, I can do that. I have a machine that does flu, COVID, RSV, strep, and then I can send cultures out too."

O'Conner said she hopes to provide patient-centered, attentive care, acknowledging that this level of care may be challenging, as some of her patients may have had an inherent distrust in the medical establishment generally.

"I feel like the best and the only way that people can get the care that they really need, especially for folks who have been dealing with chronic conditions or things that they just have never been heard on is to really have the time to really listen and really create a plan and to to do the work," she said.

"I think it can be a gateway to just receive care, especially if folks don't usually experience that. It does feel really good to offer someone something different, which usually is just like respectful care, seeing folks as human, and being willing to give my time and work with people and ultimately get them better and to prevent those types of complications to keep people out of the hospital."

O'Conner and her wife have five kids together and live in the Grapevine community.

For more information on WNC Healing Collaborative, visit its website: https://www.wnchealing.com/.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: New Marshall primary care provider welcoming low-income residents
Prince Harry is taking extreme measures to protect his family when they visit the United Kingdom.

After his initial request to fund his own police security in the U.K. was denied, Prince Harrys lawyer argued against the action in a London court Tuesday.

Harrys lawyer asked a London judge to allow the Duke of Sussex to challenge the governments denial of his request.

PRINCE HARRY REQUESTS TO FUND OWN POLICE SECURITY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

U.K. attorney Shaheed Fatima said the government has "exceeded its authority and its denial was inconsistent with legislation that allows a police chief to provide special police services for payment," according to The Associated Press.

"Parliament has clearly decided that in principle, payment for policing is not inconsistent with the public interest," Fatima pointed out.

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Robert Palmer, the government's lawyer, said reimbursing police for security at special events such as a marathon, soccer matches and celebrity weddings was not the same as using "police officers as private bodyguards for the wealthy."

Palmer said the denial was within the authority of the committee and set a policy position.

The Duke of Sussex is fighting for police protection for his family after his initial request to fund his own security in the U.K. was denied.

INSIDE PRINCE HARRY'S DECISION TO TURN DOWN CORONATION CONCERT: EXPERT

In September 2021, Prince Harry originally applied for a judicial review of a Home Office decision that kept him from personally paying for police protection while he and his family were in the United Kingdom.

His request was before his grandmother Queen Elizabeth IIs death on Sept. 8, 2022.

Harry would like to pay for the security himself, but cannot unless the U.K. Home Office approves his offer.

Prince Harry claimed he doesnt feel safe bringing his young children, Archie, 4, and Lilibet, nearly 2, to visit his home country without proper security.

Prince Harry claimed he doesnt feel safe bringing his young children, Archie, 4, and Lilibet, nearly 2, from the U.S. to visit his home country without proper police security.

A spokesperson for the prince has said his U.S. security team doesnt have jurisdiction abroad or access to intelligence in the U.K.

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The judge is expected to rule at a later time.

MEGHAN MARKLE'S POST-CORONATION AWARD IS SLAP IN THE FACE TO KING CHARLES: EXPERT

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took "a step back" as senior members of the royal family in 2020.

In January, Prince Harry's legal team claimed the duke's security in the United States is not capable of providing the necessary protection needed in the United Kingdom, where the threat is higher.

"The Duke and Duchess of Sussex personally fund a private security team for their family, yet that security cannot replicate the necessary police protection needed whilst in the UK. In the absence of such protection, Prince Harry and his family are unable to return to his home," a legal spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

"The Duke first offered to pay personally for UK police protection for himself and his family in January of 2020 at Sandringham," the statement continued.

"That offer was dismissed. He remains willing to cover the cost of security, as not to impose on the British taxpayer. As is widely known, others who have left public office and have an inherent threat risk receive police protection at no cost to them. The goal for Prince Harry has been simple  to ensure the safety of himself and his family while in the UK so his children can know his home country. During his last visit to the UK in July 2021  to unveil a statue in honor of his late mother  his security was compromised due to the absence of police protection, whilst leaving a charity event."

Prince Harry attended the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla alone, while Meghan Markle stayed in California with their two children.

In 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced they were taking "a step back" as senior members of the royal family and instead would work independently, splitting their time between the United Kingdom and North America.

Harry and Markle said at the time that their decision came "after many months of reflection and internal discussions."

This latest court appearance comes after millions gathered worldwide to witness His Majesty King Charles III be officially crowned king of England.

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Prince Harry attended the coronation ceremony briefly, while Markle stayed behind with their children in California.

The Duke of Sussex bolted right after the ceremony to get home to celebrate his sons fourth birthday, which was the same day as King Charles Westminster Abbey ceremony.

King Charles and Queen Camilla's coronation took place on May 6.

Fox News Digital's Lauryn Overhultz and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A public memorial for a Lexington representative who died Sunday will be Thursday at Greyline Station in Lexington.

Rep. Lamin Swann, D-Lexington, was hospitalized earlier this month and died Sunday. The cause of death has not been released. He was hospitalized on May 10 for a significant medical emergency

Friends, family and those who knew the first-term state representative are invited to attend the 5 p.m. service at Greyline, 101 W. Loudon Ave.

Attendees will have the opportunity to share their personal stories, reflections, and insights about his significant contributions to our community, according to organizers of the event.

Swann, 45, was elected to serve in the state House last year.

There are no words to fully describe the grief and impossible loss that others and I feel right now after saying good-bye earlier today to my beloved son, Lamin, Swanns mother, Pam Dixon, said in a statement released Sunday. Beyond our faith, what comforts us is knowing the positive and lasting impact he had on so many.

A freshman legislator, Swann won a contested general election in the newly-formed 93rd state House district in 2022. He beat Republican challenger Kyle Whalen by roughly eight percentage points in the district that is centered around the Tates Creek schools in southern Fayette County.

In his lone legislative session, one of Swanns biggest pushes was for the state to consider expanding housing discrimination laws to include sources of income  meaning that landlords couldnt discriminate against potential tenants for using housing vouchers, among other nontraditional sources of payment. That bill, House Bill 437, did not get assigned to a committee in the GOP-led House.

Another bill of Swanns, which also did not move this session, would have required Kentucky schools to adopt middle and high school curriculum teaching the history of racism in America.

Swann, who had cerebral palsy, spoke of the challenges that came with his disability on the House floor in Frankfort.

Swann was also well-known in Democratic, activist and civically engaged communities in the area. In 2004, he ran for the 88th House District in Lexington. In 2010, he ran for an at-large seat on the Lexington-Fayettte Urban County Council.
A boy takes part in a Monday, May 15 candlelight vigil at The Hills Church held to honor the victims of Monday's shooting in a Farmington residential neighborhood.

FARMINGTON  Public officials and others throughout San Juan County and New Mexico expressed concern for the victims of Mondays shooting in a Farmington residential neighborhood that left three people dead and several others wounded.

Approximately 150 people gathered outside The Hills Church in Farmington Monday night for a candlelight vigil to honor the victims. A variety of community leaders spoke, and a handful of musicians performed during the event, which was attended by San Juan County Sheriff Shane Ferrari, Farmington Mayor Nate Duckett, members of the Farmington City Council, and others.

Pastor Randy Joslin of The Oasis Church marveled at how many people the event attracted on short notice.

The community really responded, as our community does, he said, describing the event as a great show of support.

Joslin described the event as somber, adding that there were expressions of appreciation for law enforcement officials and sympathy for those who lost family members in the shooting.

He was especially concerned about how Mondays incident affected students' mental health at two nearby elementary schools, Apace Elementary, and McKinley Elementary, which were forced into lockdown, he said.

My wife and I were talking (about that), he said. We dont need that to become the norm, kids going on lockdown.

More: New Mexico shooting: 4 die in Farmington, including shooter. 2 officers wounded. What we know

Approximately 150 people gathered at The Hills Church in Farmington Monday, May 15 for a candlelight vigil held to honor the victim's of Monday's shooting.

In a video message released by the Farmington Police Department Monday night, Chief Steve Hebbe characterized the incident as devastating, describing the shooters actions as a rampage.

I dont even know what to say in an event like this, how to address it, he said.

Hebbe noted the professionalism and courage of his officers who responded to the scene.

Im incredibly proud of our responding officers with the threat they faced with the chaos of the scene and all that calls that came in, he said, adding that at least nine residents called emergency dispatch to report the shooting.

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Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe

Ferrari issued a statement on his campaign Facebook page Monday night, explaining that he was still processing what he described as the emotional overload of the experience.

I want to give the friends and families of the three lives lost my deepest condolences, he wrote. I know their beautiful families, and that makes my heart hurt more. I pray the wounded have a speedy recovery and for the Lord to ease your pain. We are thankful you are alive.

More: Farmington Police: 18-year-old shooter killed 3, injured 6 in New Mexico shooting

Farmington Mayor Nate Duckett described the incident as a horrific tragedy in a statement released Monday evening.

It is with profound sorrow that I acknowledge a shooting that occurred in our midst, an act of violence that has left us reeling in anguish and disbelief, he said in a lengthy statement issued Monday night. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families during this incomprehensible time of pain and loss.

Nate Duckett

Duckett noted that two police officers  an officer for the Farmington Police Department and the New Mexico State Police  were wounded by the 18-year-old gunman who was shot and killed by officers.

Our prayers are with the officers and their families as they recover, he said.

Duckett praised the work of all the law enforcement agencies that responded to the incident  the Farmington Police Department, the San Juan County Sheriffs Office, the State Police, and the Bloomfield Police Department.

Countless lives were saved because of their timely response, he said.

Duckett received calls of community support from the New Mexico congressional delegation in Washington, the White House, the Navajo Nation, and mayors across the state, he said.

We are a resilient community, a community that cares for each other, he said. 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.

San Juan County Commission Chairman Steve Lanier stated via email on Tuesday, May 16, that he said the shooting would forever be ingrained in the fabric of San Juan County.

Steve Lanier

I am deeply saddened to hear about the tragic loss of life, he said. To families who are grieving, please know that you are not alone in your grief, and you have my sincerest condolences during this difficult time. May the memories of those who have passed bring you comfort, and may they rest in peace.

Lanier was praying for the recovery of those injured in the shooting and expressed his gratitude for the quick response by law enforcement officials to end the threat posed by the shooter, he said. He also singled out the roles played by firefighters, emergency medical personnel, the San Juan Regional Medical Center staff, and public safety dispatchers in addressing the incident.

I am most grateful for the people of this community who come together in times of crisis, he said. We rally around those who are in need and lift each other up in times of trouble.

I am deeply upset by the tragic violence that unfolded today in Farmington. I am praying for the families of the victims, the wounded and the entire community of Farmington following this horrific tragedy.  Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (@GovMLG) May 15, 2023

In a message on her Facebook page, U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, a Democrat whose 3rd Congressional District includes Farmington, said the shooting paralyzed Farmington in fear.

I praise the heroes who drove to danger to stop the violence, she stated. I pray for the quick recovery the wounded and for the families of those we lost.

Leger Fernandez acknowledged that New Mexico is not immune to the mass shootings that occur across the country regularly, disrupting otherwise peaceful lives.

Every day that peace is shattered, she stated. Every day, we are reminded we dont live in that world. Today is no exception.

Today, gun violence took the lives of our elders, wounded two police officers, and paralyzed Farmingtons small community in fear.



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.  Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez (@RepTeresaLF) May 15, 2023

A Facebook message posted on U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Lujans Facebook page on behalf of the states entire congressional delegation  U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury, U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez, and Leger Fernandez, as well as Lujan  said the group was devastated by the shooting. The lawmakers expressed gratitude to the law enforcement officers who responded to the scene and the healthcare workers who treated the victims.

Our hearts are with the families of the deceased and those injured, they wrote. We will continue working to ensure federal resources are made available as todays shooting is investigated.

The members of the states delegation, all Democrats, wrote that, although Congress took action to combat gun violence last year by adopting the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, today is a painful reminder that we must do more. We are committed to fighting for sensible gun safety measures that will keep New Mexicans safe.

Mike Easterling can be reached at 505-564-4610 or measterling@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: After Farmington, New Mexico shooting, an outpour of support at vigil
The Sacramento Bee Editorial Board is a century-old institution, and, in that time, it has been awarded two Pulitzer Prizes. Jack Ohman won a Pulitzer for editorial cartooning in 2017. The other Pulitzer Prize, the most prestigious award given in American journalism, was won by Tom Philp in 2005.

We are delighted to announce that Philp will rejoin The Bee Editorial Board as a columnist and editorial writer on May 22.

Opinion

Aside from his stellar qualifications, Philps knowledge of Sacramento, his professional relationships with newsmakers throughout the region and the state  and his reputation as a wonderful colleague  will make us better at what we do.

Im thrilled to welcome Tom back to the Sacramento Opinion team, said Peter St. Onge, national opinion editor for McClatchy. He knows and loves Sacramento, and Bee readers will appreciate his deep reporting and strong, thoughtful voice.

At The Bee, Philp will work alongside opinion writers Robin Epley and Hannah Holzer. He will also work closely with our California Opinion team colleagues within McClatchy: Garth Stapley of The Modesto Bee, Tad Weber of The Fresno Bee and Stephanie Finucane of the San Luis Obispo Tribune.

A California native and a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, Philp was a decorated journalist for more than 20 years at the San Jose Mercury News and The Bee before he joined the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California as a strategist in 2007.

I feel like Im coming home, Philp said. Ive learned a lot about how the California government works for the last 16 years. I hope this makes me a better journalist in the years ahead and I cant wait to reconnect with this community and The Bee readers who make it all possible.

Philps Pulitzer win in 2005 was celebrated by a Bee newsroom full of his colleagues, whose enthusiasm and affection spoke to the respect that Philp had earned as an exceptional journalist and friend to many.

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Tom Philp, an associate editor of The Sacramento Bees Editorial Board, won the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing on Monday for a series urging the restoration of Yosemites Hetch Hetchy Valley, Sam Stanton wrote in a front-page story published in The Bee on April 5, 2005. The award, which includes a $10,000 prize, came for Hetch Hetchy Reclaimed, a package the Pulitzer Board called deeply researched editorials on reclaiming Californias flooded Hetch Hetchy Valley that stirred action.

At The Bee, Philp also won the Scripps Howard Foundations Walker Stone award, the Sigma Delta Chi Award and the National Headliner Award for his editorials on the questionable spending of California water districts.

In 2001, Philp won the Bay Institute of San Franciscos Harold Gilliam Award for Excellence in Environmental Reporting.

I am thrilled to welcome Tom back to The Sacramento Bee, said Colleen McCain Nelson, executive editor of The Bee. He is an acclaimed journalist who will bring a deep knowledge of Sacramento and California, as well as a passion for public policy, to our editorial board. Tom is committed to delivering deeply reported local opinion journalism, and I look forward to sharing his insights and thoughtful commentary with our readers.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 16)  A senator said on Tuesday he raised possible risks in the Chinese governments partial ownership of the countrys power grid operator during a meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

"Sa madaling salita, magagawa ng Chinese shareholders ang lahat ng kanilang gusto pagdating sa pamamalakad ng NGCP," Sen. Raffy Tulfo noted. "Ito ang dahilan kung bakit ngayon ay nagkakagewang-gewang ang ating energy situation."

[Translation: Simply put, the Chinese shareholders can do whatever they want when it comes to running the NGCP. This explains the unstable power situation.]

The State Grid Corporation of China has a 40% stake in the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), while 60% is held by investment group Synergy Grid and Development Philippines of Henry Sy Jr. and Roberto Coyiuto Jr.

Tulfo said the power grid may be put at risk because of the ownership structure.

"Chinese ownership of NGCP poses serious national security threat considering the current conflict between China and the Philippines over the West Philippine Sea," said a statement from Tulfo's office.

Tulfo said he proposed to return the systems operation of the grid to the National Transmission Corporation, which owns the physical structures, and leave the maintenance to NGCP.

The senator said Marcos agreed to his suggestion as long as it would benefit Filipinos. Malacanang has yet to issue a statement about the meeting.

Also citing national security issues, Senator Risa Hontiveros earlier expressed concern over the partial Chinese ownership of the NGCP. She said she backs the proposal to reclaim full control of the grid, adding that transmission lines should not have been privatized in the first place.

Sought for his reaction, Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla on Tuesday said he will reserve his judgment until after he gets the full audit report on the security aspects of the transmission system.

"But again, we fully appreciate the concern of Senator Hontiveros," Lotilla said in a virtual media briefing. "It is a concern that has been brought up in previous administrations as well, and we will continue to be alertWe will definitely engage the Senate after we have fully evaluated the audit report."

Meanwhile, in a separate statement on Monday, Sen. Chiz Escudero said in a separate statement on Monday the move to revert government ownership of companies might turn foreign investors off.

"The renationalization of formerly owned sold state assets is a policy that the national government should be very careful about or should be more circumspect about as it might send a wrong signal to existing potential investors," Escudero said in a statement posted on the Senate website.

Escudero said he will not support government acquisition of China's 40% stake in NGCP until he has "read the fine print and subject it to a thorough study."

"How much would this buyback cost?" he asked. "Do we even have the money given our huge debt? Are the current owners selling or will this be a forced sale? These are some of the questions that need answers."

He also questioned government capability to operate NGCP in the wake of power outages in parts of the country.

RELATED: Probe into successive power supply disturbances sought in Congress

"Kung power generation ang problema, are we not applying the wrong solution? Escudero pointed out. "Baka naman instead of finding solutions, we're looking for convenient scapegoats."

[Translation: If power generation is the problem, are we not applying the wrong solution? We might be looking at convenient scapegoats instead of finding solutions.]

The NGCP has yet to comment on issues raised by Tulfo and Escudero.
Armoured vehicles drive past the Kremlin after a military parade on Victory Day on May 9, 2023. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

Kremlin officials have been banned from resigning, a Russian independent media outlet says.

According to iStories, there is concern that resignations could hobble the government.

Those who do try to leave are threatened with prosecution, according to the report.

High-ranking Russian officials have been banned from resigning over fears that their departure could tip the government into chaos, according to a report.

The ban was imposed after a number of top government officials expressed a desire to resign after the start of the Ukraine war, four sources speaking to Russian independent investigative outlet iStories said.

Those who do try to leave are threatened with prosecution, according to the report.

"There are many who want [to leave] after the start of the war. If everyone leaves, control will be lost," said one source, who was described as an acquaintance of an official in the Kremlin's Presidential Administrations.

According to the source, the Kremlin sees the desire to quit as a sign of betrayal and officials have been tasked with demonstrating unity by preventing an exodus of civil servants.

"I know of at least two cases where governors tried to leave their posts, but they were not just prohibited by the Internal Policy Department (of the presidential administration), it was also hinted at that they could face criminal prosecution," a former official with Russian domestic intelligence agency the FSB told the outlet.

The report said that under the mobilisation decree signed by President Vladimir Putin in September 2022, FSB officials are banned from resigning even after their contract expires.

Because the ban on resignations is both illegal and informal, there are exceptions for cases where an official is seriously ill, or is suspected of corruption, said the report.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied the report, describing it as an unfounded rumor, Russian state media outlet RIA Novisti reported.

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According to the Moscow Times, the Kremlin has also placed restrictions on which government officials can travel abroad amid fears of defections."Despite the ongoing conflict, sometimes Putin himself has to review all these lists and figure out who is going abroad and for what purpose," a Kremlin official told the Times.

Russia's military continues to experience steep casualty rates. In March, the country was losing an estimated 776 soldiers a day, which dropped to 568 in April, according to UK intelligence.

According to The Washington Post, up to a million Russians may have fled the country after the government launched its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

This has raised concerns in Russia of a "brain drain," as many who fled were highly-educated and working in skilled professions.

The Kremlin has clamped down on expressing opposition to the Ukraine war, introducing draconian laws outlawing dissent, and jailing scores of critics.

In the wake of its invasion of Ukraine, Anatoly Chubais, a Kremlin diplomat, quit his post and left Russia in protest at the war and later fell ill with a mystery illness.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have separately agreed to host an African leaders peace mission to try to reach a deal to end the war, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said Tuesday.

Ramaphosa said he spoke to Putin and Zelensky by phone over the weekend, and they agreed to participate in meetings with leaders from six African countries in Moscow and Kyiv, respectively. He said he would join the leaders of Egypt, Zambia, Senegal, Uganda and the Republic of Congo as part of the delegation to Russia and Ukraine.

Principal to our discussions are efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the devastating conflict in the Ukraine, Ramaphosa said.

He did not state what timeframe or parameters the talks would entail but said the two leaders authorized him to start preparations for them.

He said U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres has been briefed on the plan and welcomed the proposal.

White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said the United States would welcome any credible peace proposal, even if proposed by a third party. He said the proposal must have support from Zelensky and the Ukrainian people.

We would support any third-party peace proposal, as long as it can be seen as credible, enforceable and sustainable, he said at a press briefing.

South Africa, Senegal, Uganda and the Republic of Congo abstained from a vote in the U.N. last year to condemn Russias invasion of Ukraine, while Egypt and Zambia voted for it.

South Africa has also been grappling with how to deal with an international arrest warrant issued earlier this year for Putin, who was supposed to attend a BRICS summit in Johannesburg in August.

The news of the African peace mission comes as Ukraines air defense shot down 18 missiles, including six hypersonic missiles, that were aimed at Kyiv on Tuesday.

Ukraine is also expected to launch a counteroffensive soon to take back territory that Russia has captured during the war. Zelensky said earlier this month the offensive would be delayed in order to give the Ukrainian military more time to prepare and gain additional equipment.

The Associated Press contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Disney+s Onyx Collective is venturing across the pond to London with the series order for Queenie, which is set for Hulu in the U.S.

Onyx Collective announced Tuesday that it has partnered with Channel 4 to give Queenie a straight-to-series pickup. The series comes from Further South Productions in association with Lionsgate TV and will stream in the U.S. on Hulu, Star+ in Latin America and Disney+ in all other territories. It will air on Channel 4 in the U.K. and Ireland.

The series is comprised of eight episodes and follows Queenie Jenkins, a 25-year-old Jamaican British woman living in south London, straddling two cultures and slotting neatly into neither, according to the description.

After a messy breakup with her long-term boyfriend, Queenie seeks comfort in all the wrong places and begins to realize she has to face the past head-on before she can rebuild, the description continues.

Dionne Brown stars as Queenie, a curvy, pretty south Londoner who speaks her mind, especially when she shouldnt. She is trying to achieve her dreams in a predominately white workplace and feels she is always having to play catch-up with herself due to her unconscious habit of self-sabotage.

As soon as she stops to reflect, everything shes been running from hits her, and it is the worst emotional pileup imaginable, the description states. Our protagonist is thus hellbent on outrunning her demons and disassociatinga strategy destined to implode.

The series also stars Bellah as Kyazike, Queens long-time best friend, and Samuel Adewunmi as Frank, Kyazikes older cousin. Kyazike and Frank are both of Ugandan background, and Kyazike is fashionable and searching for a man with the right bank account.

Kyazike works in a bank where she can cross-reference eligible men with their bank balances, according to her description. She always has the longest hair, the best nails, the highest designer heels, and the funniest stories. Kyazike is firmly on her quest for Mr. Right, who must have financial clout. While Queenie doesnt find her friends quest aspirational, she definitely finds it inspirational.

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Frank, on the other hand, is described as having grand plans in life.

Frank is described as being from Ends, is invested in his community and has known Queenie since her high school days. He has seen her on occasion with Kyazike over the years, although not since she hooked up with Tom [a character yet to be described by Onyx Collective]. Frank is emotionally intelligent, well-read, and articulate  an intellectual match for Queenie. He thinks and speaks from the heart and challenges Queenie. Hes her Truth Teller, straightforward and unapologetic but with a good heart.

The series is created by Candice Carty-Williams, who wrote the novel the series is based. Carty-Williams serves as executive producer and showrunner. Steve November and Sarah Conroy of Further South will also executive produce with Lisa Walters co-executive producing and serving as series producer.
ROME (AP)  Rivers swollen by days of downpours flooded some towns in northern Italy on Tuesday, while in Venice, authorities were preparing to activate a mobile barrier in the lagoon in hopes of sparing the city from high-tide flooding, which would be rare in May.

In the tourist town of Ravenna in northeast Italy, authorities urged residents to move to upper stories of buildings to ride out the storm. In Riccione, a beach town on the Adriatic Sea, the mayor warned people to stay home as some took to rubber dinghies to navigate streets.

In Venice, the barrier system, known by its acronym MOSES, and recalling the Biblical account of the Red Sea parting, will be lifted Tuesday night for the first time ever in May. It is nearly 20 years to the day when construction on the project, which is still not officially completed, began.

Firefighters in Riccione, in the northern region of Emilia-Romagna, were deployed to rescue people from flooded homes and businesses. By Tuesday afternoon, firefighters had carried out around 40 rescues in the province of Rimini, parts of which are on the Adriatic coast. Reinforcements for the rescuers were moved in from the cities of Forli'-Cesena, Ferrara and Bologna.

In the area between Ancona, a major Adriatic port, and Pesaro-Urbino, two towns popular with tourists, firefighters carried out 80 interventions for local flooding, fallen trees and mudslides and rescued motorists in difficulty, the corps said in a tweet.

Pesaro, an Adriatic beach town in the region of Marche, reported flooding, while in Cesena, a city in the neighboring region of Emilia-Romagna, the Savio River overflowed its banks and inundated streets.

In Modena, a small city famed for gastronomical products, authorities said they would close local bridges to traffic on Friday evening as a precaution against rising river levels.

Elsewhere, in the town of Senigallia, the Misa River's waters were receding, local officials said.

Meteorologists say Italy can expect several days of heavy rain, pummeling the north which had been suffering a shortfall of precipitation for weeks this spring.

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Schools in areas bracing fearing flooding were closed.

Train travel was halted on the Bologna-Ancona land the Ravenna-Faenza routes, Italian media said.

Earlier this month, a day and a half of nonstop rain caused flooding in Italys populous Emilia-Romagna region, leaving at least two people dead as riverbeds left dry by drought overflowed their banks.

The intense rainfalls came as Italy had been bracing for a second year of drought, which has depleted its largest river, the Po. The river supports agriculture in the vast Po River Valley before emptying into the Adriatic Sea east of Bologna.
Ranked voting

In a recent opinion piece, Chris Cargill criticized Reclaim Idahos initiative for open primaries and ranked voting, asserting that it would create confusion and uneven voter influence. However, he did not attempt to counter the numerous benefits this system offers, including those that apply to Idahos Republican constituents.

Open primaries create an opportunity for moderate Republican candidates to attract support from independents and Democrats who lean toward centrists rather than far-right contenders. This broad coalition can lead to primary outcomes that better represent the interests of all Idahoans, fostering a more inclusive political landscape.

Ranked voting, on the other hand, empowers moderate Republicans to vote according to their convictions without inadvertently benefiting the Democratic contender. For example, in 2016, some Republicans reluctantly voted for Trump to avoid a Clinton victory. Ranked voting allows voters to list their preferences, ensuring that their vote will still count even if their top choice doesnt win. By embracing Reclaim Idahos initiative for open primaries and ranked voting, Idaho can foster a political environment that values diverse perspectives and unites citizens under a common goal: selecting leaders who best represent the whole state. Ultimately, this approach embodies the true spirit of democracy.

Matt Youngberg, Fruitland

Vallow trial

I wish to publicly express my deepest thanks to the 12 Ada County jurors who rendered six guilty verdicts in the Lori Vallow trial. Eighteen fellow citizens had the monumental task over six long weeks of listening to 60 witnesses testimony and viewing hundreds of pieces of often gruesome evidence, revealing the most horrific crime details imaginable, so that they could ultimately offer the families of JJ Vallow, Tylee Ryan and Tammy Daybell the justice prayed for, yet delayed, for 3.5 years. Also, I applaud all of the highly professional police officers, investigators, detectives, medical examiners, relentless sleuthing reporters, FBI special agents, prosecutors, bailiffs, Judge Steven Boyce and his courtroom staff. They spent thousands of hours pursuing justice for JJ and Tylee and deserve our collective gratitude. The verdict should keep this child murderer, conspirator and thief off our streets for the rest of her life.

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Melanie Johnson, Eagle

Maternal mortality

To my horror, I have learned this Mothers Day that the state lawmakers that you and I put in office will cancel the Idaho Maternal Mortality Review Committee. This committee has recently told us that maternal deaths in Idaho have doubled in two years and the trend line is going up. All of the deaths without exception could have been prevented by better care, but Idahos unclear and severe laws regarding maternal care are forcing OB-GYNs to move to other states: more than 50% say they are planning to leave, and those in other states say they will not come to Idaho.

Rural Idaho especially cannot spare these doctors. More than a third of Idahos maternal deaths, according to the committees findings, are from Canyon County and surrounding areas.

If Idaho state lawmakers are declaring war on Idaho mothers, especially in our smaller towns, their message is loud and clear. We need to vote them out of office. If they are telling the truth about caring for our families, Idaho will immediately reinstate the Maternal Mortality Review Committee and increase funding and support for the coming wave of unintended pregnancies, often among our most vulnerable citizens. Make no mistake.

Pei-Lin Yu, Boise

Mayor security

Police officers swear to protect and serve.

Mike Masterson (a former police chief) and challenger in the upcoming mayors race, claims Lauren McLeans security detail is selfish. Should Masterson win the mayors race and choose to have a security detail, it is unimaginable that McLean would call him selfish for doing so. She is smarter than that.

Any public officer, woman or man, who has been threatened and whose family has been threatened should not be criticized for having a security detail.

Mary Feeny, Boise
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP)  An unexpected visitor spotted sunbathing on a beach in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv is turning heads and causing a media buzz.

But it's not American film director and Tel Aviv mainstay, Quentin Tarantino, or another Hollywood celebrity  it's Yulia, an endangered Mediterranean monk seal.

The seal cow first appeared south of Tel Aviv's main beachfront last Friday. On Tuesday, Yulia  so named by Israel's Nature and Parks Authority  drew clusters of curious onlookers to the rocky beach south of Jaffas historic center.

These seals are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, with as few as 350 mature specimens estimated to exist in the wild. Its populations have dwindled due to historic seal hunting, fishing, and habitat destruction.

Rarely spotted on Israels shores, the dwindling Mediterranean monk seal populations are believed to survive only in a handful of places in the Mediterranean Sea.

Israels Parks Authority has fenced off the section of beach where Yulia has come ashore to rest, and dispatched volunteers to monitor her from a distance.

Still, her appearance is a sensation.

This is a very rare event that a monk seal stays for such a long time on the shore, said Aviad Scheinin, a marine biologist from University of Haifa.

Yulia is molting, a multi-day process of shedding her winter coat, he explained, during which time she has been resting on the shore and taken occasional excursions out to sea.

Scheinin said fellow researchers from around the eastern Mediterranean have previously spotted Yulia in Turkey and Lebanon in recent years. She is estimated to be around 20 years old.

Im researching marine mammals for 20 years; this is the first time that I'm actually seeing such a thing, and I can hardly sleep at night because of that, he said.
Rasheem Carter. (Courtesy of the family)

Rasheem Carter, a 25-year-old Black father who went missing late last year, was found with his head severed from his body and separated from his spinal cord, which was found in a different location near Taylorsville, Miss.

The Smith County Sheriffs Office originally ruled that there was no foul play in the death of Carter, whose remains were first found in November, but now say they are still investigating along with the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation.

According to Carters family, Carter felt he was in danger as he tried to find a way back home to Laurel, Miss. from work in Taylorsville, a majority-white city. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, the familys attorney, described Carters death as a modern-day lynching.

This was not a natural killing. This was not a natural death. This represents a young man who was killed, Crump said during a press conference in March. Now Crump is calling on the Department of Justice to open a federal investigation into Carters death.

What happened to Carter?

Rasheem Carter skydiving. (Courtesy of the Carter family)

The chain of events began on Oct. 1, when Tiffany Carter, Rasheem Carters mother, received a call from her son that he felt unsafe. My son told me it was three truckloads of white guys trying to kill him, she said during a press conference.

She advised her son to go to the local police station and ask for help in Taylorsville, but she says they did not help him.

Authorities confirmed that Carter came to the police station asking for help. Taylorsville Police Chief Gabe Horn, who has not responded to requests from Yahoo News, told local news outlet WDAM that the officers couldnt help Carter or give him a ride home due to staffing issues and liability concerns.

He told the officer that night that he and his roommates had a verbal disagreement and he felt threatened and that was it, Horn told WDAM. [Rasheem] did tell the officer that night that was up here that he had a ride coming and the officer advised him, Youre more than welcome to stay [at the police department].

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But according to Carters aunt, the police did not allow him to stay there.

He asked if he could sit around until his ride came. They didnt know that my sister was on the phone and could hear them: This not no hotel, you cant stay here, Felicia Kaho, Carters aunt, told Yahoo News.

Carters mother says the police failed her son, I told him to go to the police station because I felt in my heart they would serve and protect like they are obligated to do, she said.

The final photo

On the day Carter was reported missing, camera footage showed him shirtless in a wooded area in Taylorsville, holding a large branch.

Seeing the image of him on someones hunting camera is disturbing, because he did not have a shirt on at the time, which indicates that he had been running or [was] overheated, Mississippi state Rep. Christopher Bell told Yahoo News.

Carters mother says she believes the photo proves that her son was in trouble and running for his life.

But Smith County Sheriff Joel Houston, told Insider that Carter is the only one seen in the footage that they have reviewed from that day. It doesnt show anybody else present, he said.

Carters remains

Photo courtesy of the Carter family.

On Nov. 2, a month after Carter went missing, some of his remains were found in the woods near Taylorsville, where he was last seen.

According to Crump, authorities emailed the family to notify them of the discovery.

At first, when the first of Rasheems remains were discovered with his head decapitated from his body, officials told the family that it was animals that killed Rasheem. Officials later said that they believed he was murdered, Crump said in April.

The first set of Carters remains were found just a few days before his funeral, according to the family. They only had like 15 bones, they had a skull and like a rib bone and a clavicle and a mandible, Kaho said.

In February, another set of Carters remains were found in Smith County, and last month additional remains were found, according to Crump.

They have recently found remains that they believe are also Rasheem Carter at another part of where he went missing, and what that tells us is, this was a nefarious act. This was an evil act. Somebody murdered Rasheem Carter. And we cannot let them get away with this, Crump said.

Last week, Crump and his legal team were notified of a fourth set of remains from a bystander who captured on video police discovering what seems to be human remains.

There is no excuse for bystanders coming showing video to the family, and officials not having the dignity and respect to notify the family immediately, and say We found more human remains in the vicinity where your sons head and spinal cord and other bodily remains were found, Crump said.

Still, Carters family doesnt have all of his remains. Where are the rest of his remains? We have [206] bones in our body. And we only got 15 or 20. Thats like a whole body somewhere still out there, Kaho said.

Family demands federal probe

Protesters demanding justice for Rasheem Carter. (Photo courtesy of the Carter family)

As the case continues to develop, Carters family is calling for a federal investigation. In March, Sheriff Houston told CNN that local authorities are still investigating. To this date, we do not have evidence of foul play but everything is on the table. Until we turn over every stone, its still an open investigation, he said.

As the family awaits additional answers, You Are the Power, a national nonprofit, announced a $50,000 award for tips that lead to a conviction for Carters death.

Mississippi, all of America is watching to see if youre going to do right by Rasheem Carter, Crump said. His brokenhearted mother has nightmares at night about what her son must have been doing as a result of this lynching in 2022.

Kaho says she believes that eventually the truth will come to light. They can stop telling us [no foul play]. We will never settle for that. Never.

While sometimes small local law enforcement agencies lack resources, Bell says that is not an excuse in the investigation of Carters death.

We also have the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, who also comes in and investigates cases like this, as well as the FBI. So these are agencies that are very capable of doing the investigation and finding out what happened in this case, he said.
As the environmental consequences of human dependence on single-use plastics become increasingly clear, the United Nations is considering an all-out ban on plastic pollution.

In March 2022, UN member states heeded a call for action from environmental groups and took the first of several steps towards a formal agreement when they committed to the ambitious target of delivering by 2024 a treaty targeting the end of plastic pollution by 2030. The goal is to eliminate environmental pollution from plastic, which is on track to double by 2060, as well as to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions related to the plastic lifecycle, which are set to more than double by 2060, according to OECD estimates.

Read more

A week-long first negotiating session (INC-1) to lay the foundations for the treaty was held in Punta del Este, Uruguay, in December 2022. But soon, delegates will meet in Paris for a second discussion (INC-2) on the treatys content from May 29 to June 2. Three more sessions are scheduled in the next two years. Once an agreement is forged, every UN member country will be invited to ratify the text. Getting to that point is a slow, complex, and laborious process with no guarantees of success. The good news for environmental advocates is that its been done before.

One of the most successful examples of a UN-led effort to limit the release of harmful substances delivered results: The 1987 Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer banned the production and consumption of nearly 100 chemicals that were contributing to the hole in the ozone layer, which is now on track to repair itself in the next four decades.

Quotable: Why the UN treaty on plastic pollution matters

It is an insurance policy for this generation and future ones, so they may live with plastic and not be doomed by it Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP.

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Plastic pollution, by UN digits

400 million ton per year: Estimated plastic pollution globally, a figure set to double by 2040

11 million tons: Estimated plastic pollution in the oceans in 2016, a figure set to triple by 2040

$522.6 billion: Size of the plastic production industry globally

4.5%: Share of global greenhouse gas emissions derived from plastic production in 2015

What should the UN treaty on plastic pollution include?

The negotiating sessions aim to achieve a science-based treaty that is legally binding, measurable, and enforceable. Points of discussion, building on the outcome of the first session in Uruguay, include:

 Obligations countries should commit to

 Voluntary approaches to go further

 Financial resources to back the transition

 Local communities involvement

 Provisions for dispute settlement

 Holistic view of plastics lifecycle from production to consumption to waste management

 Consideration of marine, land, and water plastic pollution

 Integration with the UN Sustainable Development Goals

The looming battle over the circular economy

Any serious effort to end plastic pollution needs to go hand in hand with the implementation of a circular economy. This means that the production and consumption of an item should take into account its whole lifecycle, particularly the end point of that cycleensuring it can feed into the production cycle of another product, removing waste.

Its no surprise that one of the six legal briefs developed to support the negotiating session in Paris is dedicated to discussing the circular economy in relation to the plastic lifecycle and the need for negotiators to agree on a shared definition of the term.

Thats easier said than done, as discussions around nomenclature are often the most hotly debated in treaties of this scale, where every comma counts. Negotiators must decide whether to adopt an explicit definition, perhaps using existing understandings in US and European Union law as a starting point, or keep the definition implicit, by setting out commonly agreed design principles that would lead to circular product development. A third option would be striking a balance between the two, setting out an explicit definition that still allows for flexibility around the development of future needs and legal, scientific, and technical progress.

The legal brief also cautions against falling for the rebound effect, by which increased efficiency and a reduction of environmental harms lead to an increase in energy consumption. Ultimately, the goal is tackling greenhouse gas emissions and preventing further global warming.





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Siobhan Roy takes a call during

Siobhan Roy takes a call during "Succession's" hotly contested election episode.

This article contains spoilers for Episode 8 of the fourth and final season of HBOs Succession, America Decides.

After his dynastic right-wing television network declares victory for a fascistic presidential candidate, despite the likely-arson-related destruction of 100,000 Democratic-leaning ballots in Milwaukee, Succession character Roman Roy plays it cool.

Weve just made a night of good TV, he says. Thats what weve done. Nothing happens.

Things do happen, Rome, his sister Siobhan scolds him in return.

Well, Milwaukee Countys top elections administrator agrees with Shiv. The election-related violence that took place in Sundays episode  and the violence that the Roy children may have unleashed by naming fictional candidate Jeryd Mencken the winner amidst severe uncertainty  hit home for some officials watching the series.

I received death threats during the [2020] presidential recount, Milwaukee County Clerk George Christenson told CBS 58 on Monday, adding that he was getting calls during the show. You know, this is serious business, so I think its great for TV but not so great for us.

And Christensons not alone in his concern: Successions writers went to great lengths to create a terrifyingly realistic electioncrisis. In short: The presidential election between Mencken and the generic-seeming Democratic candidate, Daniel Jimenez, comes down to Wisconsins electoral votes, but the fire in Milwaukee has destroyed a potentially decisive number of ballots.

It was the most uncomfortable hour of scripted television I have ever watched, election law scholar Rick Hasen wrote in Slate.

Various characters at ATN, the fictional network run by the Roys that rushes to dub Mencken the legitimate winner, debate what happens next: How can the country pick a president amidst this chaos? In the Succession universe, the answer may come next week, but here in the real world, theres no clear answer on what would actually happen after the shows imagined ballot firebombing.

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Sucession very cleverly selected Milwaukee for the fire. Absentee ballots in the city are centrally counted at a facility called Central Count. Whats more, under Wisconsin law  and unlike many other states  absentee ballots cant be processed or counted before Election Day.

As a result, a large fire at the Central facility could indeed be devastating.

However, there is one silver lining, and its a detail the show got wrong: An ATN journalist claimed that theres no way to know who cast an absentee ballot, but thats not true in Wisconsin. Election officials do track absentee ballots, including scanning ballot envelopes as they are received at counting centers. Its the reason Wisconsin voters can track their mail-in ballots as they churn through the system.

As a result, election officials would have a pretty clear picture of the voters whod been affected by the attack. But a big problem still remains: They wouldnt necessarily know which of those votes had been tallied, rather than simply being received and processed.

Now youre getting into the nobody knows territory, Ann Jacobs, a Democratic appointee to the Wisconsin Elections Commission, the states election authority, told HuffPost in a phone call Tuesday.

And Wisconsin, like many other states, does not have laws on the books detailing what to do in such scenarios.

There are no statutes that govern burned up absentee ballots so the courts would have to figure out a remedy, Jacobs tweeted Monday.

If the episode took place in the future, its possible a new law could create clarity. In the wake of Donald Trumps campaign to steal the 2020 presidential election, Congress worked to clear up a major weak link in U.S. election law known as the Electoral Count Act. President Joe Biden signed the Electoral Count Reform Act into law on Dec. 29.

The law updates the United States failed election procedures, or what states are instructed to do when states fail to properly choose presidential electors  for example, due to a natural disaster, as the Bipartisan Policy Centers Michael Thorning pointed out.

The new language says, In the case of a State that appoints electors by popular vote, if the State modifies the period of voting, as necessitated by force majeure events that are extraordinary and catastrophic, as provided under laws of the State enacted prior to such day, election day shall include the modified period of voting.

In other words, if state lawmakers want to avoid becoming a real-life Succession plotline, they would be wise to figure out a contingency plan in case some real life toughs attempt to subvert the will of the people. But thats not yet the case, and in the fictional Succession universe, we can probably assume this law doesnt exist.

In that scenario, the situation would certainly end up in court. And the potential responses to an arson attack are numerous, including a potential revote for people with affected ballots. Even then, questions abound, CBS 58 reported: How long would voters have to revote? What about voters who say they were wrongfully excluded from the pool of people eligible to revote? What about candidates who try to shrink that pool further?

The arson portrayed on the show happened during a general presidential election, meaning that both local and national races were on the ballot, and, ultimately, that the fight would likely reach the U.S. Supreme Court.

It would be a litigation circus and nightmare in multiple courts with multiple theories, Hasen wrote.

Voter anxiety over such a fraught question reaching the Supreme Court is understandable, Jacobs said on the phone Tuesday. She pointed to recentreporting on justices failure to disclose key financial information to the public. If the high court cant be trusted to do that, she wondered, can we be sure they would look beyond partisan politics to protect the democratic process?

The discomfort probably goes to the U.S. Supreme Court, Jacobs said. Is there trust that the Court would act in a nonpartisan way to effectuate peoples rights to vote? Or would it be as mercenary as the characters [in Succession] see it?

I am concerned about the legitimacy of our court, Jacobs said, sounding entirely unconvinced that Americas top judges would be out of place in a Waystar Royco conference room.

Related...
Microsoft logo is seen on a smartphone placed on displayed Activision Blizzard logo

After Brexit, Remainers predicted that the UK would become a regulatory free-for-all, mischaracterised as Singapore-on-Thames. Proponents were looking forward to removing the dead hand of Brussels strangling the UKs pent-up entrepreneurial zeal.

Yet it hasnt quite worked out that way. Business leaders have criticised the Governments lack of ambition and the rise in corporation tax. Sir James Dyson, the billionaire inventor, recently denounced the scandalous neglect of the science and technology sectors. The promise to make Britain a leader in the field has turned out to be nothing more than a political slogan, he said. Regulators have been accused by tech bosses of excessive rule-making, driving businesses abroad.

What, then, is to be made of the decision by regulators in Brussels to nod through a merger between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard, the UK-based video games studio behind the Call of Duty franchise?

The 55 billion deal has been blocked in Britain by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) on the grounds that it could make Microsoft an even more dominant player in cloud gaming, stifling competitiveness.

On the face of it, the decision by EU regulators is anti-competitive, which would be all of a piece with a regime that favours the growth of monopolies. But that is not how it is seen by those in the industry. When the CMA ruling was announced, Activision reacted furiously, arguing that it showed how the UK was closed to growth businesses and putting investment at risk.

Ministers, who have been trumpeting the case for tech investment in the UK, have been strangely silent, probably because Activision is planning an appeal.

It has come to something when the sectors bosses prefer the regulatory approach of Brussels to that of post-Brexit Britain.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 17)  Senator Raffy Tulfo on Tuesday urged the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to investigate alleged corruption in the National Irrigation Administration (NIA).

In a privilege speech, Tulfo said the government has been wasting billions of pesos with the NIA, a government-owned and controlled corporation responsible for irrigation development and management. It has been given a total budget of 121 billion for the past six years.

Tulfo named four contractors allegedly being favored by NIA by continuously awarding them with projects despite their underperformance. He called it an "undeniable red flag of institutional corruption."

"Iilan lamang ito sa mga contractor na inyong makikita ngayon na nakatanggap ng ibat-ibang proyekto mula sa NIA sa kabila ng kanilang paulit-ulit na hindi pagtapos ng kanilang kontrata," he said.

"Kahit ang ilan pa dito ay na lagay na sa 'blacklist' ng NIA. Merong dokumento ang aking opisina na nagpapakita na nag-palit lamang sila ng pangalan at muling sumasabak sa bidding," he added.

[Translation: These are only a few of the contractors that received various projects from NIA despite not completing other existing contracts. Some of them are under NIA's 'blacklist.' I have a document showing that they only changed names before rejoining the bidding.]

Tulfo said there are also "ghost projects" worth 890 million, which have been funded by the government but never broke ground, mostly in Mindanao. The NIA also found 28 projects with substandard construction and other anomalies, the lawmaker added.

Senate President Migz Zubiri said the NIA should be held to account before they are allotted more budget for next year. Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel wants to name the people behind the companies in question.

CNN Philippines has reached out to NIA and the private contractors for comments.
The price of rent in Bellingham continues to increase at a rate faster than we are seeing statewide and across the nation.

As of May 16, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Bellingham was $1,450. Thats up 22% since the start of the pandemic in 2020, when the average rent cost was $1,125, according to data from Zumper.

Comparing the numbers

The average rental price of a one-bedroom apartment has risen almost 20% nationwide since the pandemic began. In 2020 it was $958 a month. Its now up to $1,152, according to an analysis by QuoteWizard.

Washington has seen a 12% rental cost increase since 2020, with the average rental price of a one-bedroom apartment reaching $1,288.

The average rental price of a one-bedroom apartment in Seattle is $1,545. Although the price is higher than renters face in Bellingham, that number is actually down 3% since 2020.

Percentage of income spent on housing

Incomes arent rising fast enough for renters in Whatcom County to keep up with the increase in rental prices, with the median household income in Bellingham at $58,597, according to previous reporting by The Bellingham Herald.

Whatcom County renters are spending a larger percentage of their income on housing than renters in most other counties in the state. About 33% of renters income in Whatcom is spent on housing, according to the U.S. Census Bureaus American Community Survey five-year estimates released in December.

Whatcom comes in just below Wahkiakum and Whitman counties, where renters spend about 35% and 41% of their income on housing, respectively. Renters in surrounding counties pay slightly smaller percentages of their income on housing  about 30% in Skagit County and about 25% in Okanogan County.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) considers those who spend more than 30% of their income on housing to be cost-burdened.

The challenge of buying

Some 54% of the available housing units in Bellingham are occupied by renters. If renters are making the median income, its almost impossible to save enough money to leave the rental market and buy a house.

Story continues

One analysis by HireAHelper earlier this year found that residents of Whatcom County need to work 108 hours a week to afford to purchase a home.

Out of 204 small metropolitan areas analyzed in the U.S., Whatcom County requires the 14th-most weekly work hours to afford a home. The analysis assumes the worker is earning a median wage, makes a 20% down payment on the mortgage and allocates less than 30% of their monthly wages to mortgage payments.

At the time of the study, Whatcom Countys median home price was $632,170 and the median annual wage was $46,570.
Truck traffic is light on the Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro in April 2020. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

The 60-year-old Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro is showing its age and needs major repair work, but a restoration project that is sure to create traffic headaches for locals could last nine months to three years, depending on the construction schedule.

The 6,000-foot span bridge connects San Pedro to the west end of Terminal Island, which is home to the Port of Long Beach and Port of Los Angeles. The bridge carries roughly 58,000 vehicles daily, with more than 5,100 heavy trucks, according 2021 data from the California Department of Transportation.

But the years of acting as one of the main arteries to the ports have caused the bridge's concrete to deteriorate, Caltrans said in its project overview plan to replace the bridge's deck or upper layer of concrete. The project is meant to preserve the bridge's structural integrity and overall safety, with a total cost of approximately $706 million for construction, design and other aspects of the project.

The agency carried out a patchwork of repairs to the bridge in 2009 and 2011, but the severity of the deterioration has been increasing.

Caltrans proposes replacing the bridge's concrete because an inspection conducted in 2022 showed the concrete quality has deteriorated from a rating of fair to poor. Parts of the concrete deck are cracking and breaking away, according to Caltrans.

The project is expected to start in 2025, and the construction timeline will vary, depending on the work schedule adopted by the state, according to Caltrans.

The agency could implement several options for the construction phase. Caltrans could order a full bridge closure  with 24/7 work  that would take nine to 12 months. The agency could also try for a partial bridge closure with a limited number of lanes shut down and night work schedules that could span two to three years.

Either way, the project would pose a major inconvenience for residents, employees and truck drivers who use the bridge. Port workers operate on three shifts throughout the day. Motorists who take State Route 47 on the bridge to travel between San Pedro and Long Beach will also be delayed.

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"This project will be a major headache for so many people," Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn said during a May 4 virtual scoping meeting hosted by Caltrans. She requested that Caltrans consider funding a ferry to take workers to Terminal Island and avoid the gridlock on the bridge.

Among the many issues that Hahn said could dog the project are the noise and air pollution created by the traffic that could impact more heavily on residents in the Wilmington neighborhood once the bridge work begins.

"I think we all agree that we need a safe Vincent Thomas bridge, but we have to make sure that this project does not mean more trucks cutting through the community of Wilmington, which they tend to do when there is not a specific route for them," Hahn said.

Ashley Hernandez, a Wilmington resident and organizer with Communities for a Better Environment, said during the scoping session that she worries that the increase in truck traffic could pose a serious risk to pedestrians and local residents. She said that the corridors that already see heavy traffic will become even more dangerous with an influx of heavy trucks snaking their way around residential neighborhoods to freeways and the ports.

"I'm not hyperbolizing when I say people will die," Hernandez said.

San Pedro resident Luis Dominguez said that whenever there is construction on the bridge, the backup in traffic is severe. He advocated for a full bridge closure with the shortest construction timeline.

"Nobody is going to like any of it closed," he said. "My belief is rip the bandage off at once."

Other residents in the Harbor communities expressed frustration about the lack of notice for the project's public comment period. An in-person meeting held in April was attended by only three local residents and others vented their frustration during a May 4 meeting about how Caltrans notified the public.

The agency has extended the window for public comment through May 26. As required by state law, the project will undergo technical studies, and by the end of the year Caltrans will circulate a draft environmental impact report before holding another public meeting to gather more feedback. Studies will continue into 2024, with more public comments included in the report and a final version expected to be released by next Spring, according to Caltrans.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Lynette Mackey visits her childhood home in Fillmore district of San Francisco, which the city seized from her grandfather decades ago, on March 30, 2023. (Mike Kai Chen/The New York Times)

SAN FRANCISCO  Standing at the stoop of her childhood home  a slim but stately Victorian shaded by an evergreen pear tree  Lynette Mackey pulled up a photo of a family gathering from nearly 50 years ago. The men were all in suits, the women in skirts. Mackey, a teenager in red bell bottoms, stretched her arms wide and had a beaming smile.

Soon after that time, in the 1960s and 1970s, Mackey watched the slow erasure of Black culture from the Fillmore District, once celebrated as the Harlem of the West. The jazz clubs that drew the likes of Billie Holiday and Duke Ellington disappeared, and so, too, did the soul food restaurants.

By the mid-1970s, many of her friends were gone as well, pushed out by city officials who seized homes in the name of what they called urban renewal. Then, finally, her family lost the house they had purchased in the 1940s after migrating from Texas. In many cases, the old Victorian homes were torn down and replaced with housing projects, but the city kept Mackeys home standing, and it has since been renovated into government-subsidized apartments.

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Her grandfather suffered a heart attack while fighting to save their home. He died saying, Im not going to sell this house, she said.

Today, against this backdrop of loss and displacement, San Francisco is weighing reparations that would compensate Black residents for policies that drove them away and hindered their economic opportunities. Cities across the country are studying similar restitution, but none have been as ambitious as San Francisco, whose 15-member task force has issued 111 recommendations in a preliminary report to city leaders.

To close the racial wealth gap, long a central argument for reparations, the task force has declared a moonshot: a one-time, $5 million payment to anyone eligible. By comparison, Californias state reparations task force has recommended a sliding scale that tops out at around $1.2 million for older Black residents.

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The cash figure has grabbed headlines, but it is widely seen as unrealistic in a city that has growing budget problems and a lack of political consensus on the issue. The $5 million payments could top $100 billion  many times the $14 billion annual budget in San Francisco  and London Breed, the citys mayor, has not committed to cash reparations.

Mackey, 63, who stayed in the city, is working toward a more likely path of securing incentives for other long-ago Black residents and their descendants to return to San Francisco. One idea is for the city to provide them with housing subsidies, access to affordable housing and stipends for moving expenses.

San Franciscos Black population has shrunk from 13% in 1970 to about 5% today, driven first by cycles of redevelopment and then by the gentrifying forces of tech employers. Black residents have been pushed into outlying Bay Area suburbs with cheaper housing and long commutes, if not other cities and states.

When thousands of Black migrants arrived in the 1940s to work in the shipyards, housing practices confined them to either the Fillmore District or Bayview-Hunters Point, a blustery southeast corner of San Francisco. The center of Black cultural life in the Fillmore no longer exists, and today, the biggest share of San Franciscos Black population lives in Bayview-Hunters Point. But even that neighborhood is about 30% Black now compared with more than 75% in 1980.

Theres not too many people who were born here that are still here, said Oscar James, 77, who has lived in Bayview-Hunters Point his whole life and bought a house in 1978. A lot of people have either passed away or moved away.

When the city seized homes in the Fillmore, it issued certificates to families that would allow them to receive public housing. Since then, the documents have not been tracked and have rarely been honored, the reparations task force wrote. The story of Black displacement was the subject of the 2019 movie, The Last Black Man in San Francisco, in which the main character laments the loss of his familys Victorian.

Mackey, who now rents a subsidized apartment in the Fillmore, recently has been working for a city program that uses a private investigator to track down people who lost their homes to redevelopment in the 1960s and 1970s and inform them of their rights to receive public housing benefits.

Everyone knows the impact of slavery, said Majeid Crawford, whose nonprofit, New Community Leadership Foundation, is working with the city to locate former residents. But we also had our own apartheid that took place in San Francisco through urban renewal.

As a child, Aliciea Walker had to move out of San Francisco when her familys three-story Victorian in the Fillmore was lost to redevelopment. She finished her schooling in nearby Half Moon Bay, and eventually settled in Sacramento.

Now 63, Walker said she hasnt paid close attention to the reparations debate but hopes San Francisco will make it easier for former Black residents to return.

My bags are ready to go back to San Francisco, because thats my childrens childhood and thats my childhood, said Walker, who for part of her adulthood lived in a rental in San Francisco, where she raised young children.

The reparations task force cited several factors, beyond the redevelopment sweep, that have left Black residents behind, from a statewide ban on affirmative action to discriminatory barriers that have resulted in less access to health care. So how does a city compensate them for what was lost?

Task force members believed the $5 million figure would settle the decades of harms, said Eric McDonnell, a management consultant and lifelong San Francisco resident who chairs the panel.

Our mission was not a feasibility study, he said. It was, assess the harm, assign the value.

Whats feasible is the big question, however. Every member of the board of supervisors, which will consider legislation later this year after receiving the task forces final report, has expressed support for some form of reparations, although not all believe that has to be in cash payments.

Breed, who would qualify for reparations as a Black resident who grew up in the city, has been noncommittal, saying she would evaluate the task forces final report. Jeff Cretan, her spokesperson, said the mayor is focused on her Dream Keeper Initiative, a grant program established in 2020 that he said is putting money in the African American community right now. Last month, Breed said she wasnt planning to support a proposal to spend $50 million on a city reparations office.

Rev. Amos Brown, who has led Third Baptist Church in the Fillmore since 1976, has seen similar discussions play out over the decades. Sitting in a conference room at his church, Brown pointed to the rich history of his neighborhood  Maya Angelou working in a record shop, the Black Panthers giving out books and food  and to the many commissions on the decline of Black San Francisco he has been part of over the years.

Despite past promises going unfulfilled, he said, hes very, very cautiously optimistic that the city will enact some form of reparations, even if he fears the $5 million idea could give false hope to Black residents.

Of all these billionaires in San Francisco, you could establish a reparations fund, he said.

Reparations for Black Americans have been debated since the end of the Civil War. In recent years, the idea gained traction as influential voices argued for reparations, and momentum grew during the racial justice protests in 2020 following the police murder of George Floyd.

The movement has extended to a number of local governments. Modest programs offering restitution to Black residents have been established in Evanston, Illinois; Providence, Rhode Island; and Asheville, North Carolina.

In San Francisco, the task force focused in particular on the redevelopment in the 1960s and 1970s when the authorities declared entire blocks to be blighted and used eminent domain to purchase businesses and homes. The panel called it the most significant example of how the City and County of San Francisco as an institution played a role in undermining Black wealth and actively displacing the citys Black population.

Mackey now talks to people who have left San Francisco, some decades ago, tracking down housing certificate holders in Hawaii, Alaska and elsewhere. Often, she said, they are still angry over the displacement. Many of the original certificate holders have died, and their descendants often know nothing of their familys story of loss in San Francisco.

She dreams of a Black renewal in her city. Reparations in the form of housing aid may persuade some to return, but she knows how challenging that dream is today.

Almost everyone says the same thing, she said. That they cannot afford to live in San Francisco.

c.2023 The New York Times Company
A replica of an airplane more than 100 years old made an emergency landing at a Kentucky National Guard training site in Western Kentucky Monday.

Sarah Taylor Sulick, a spokeswoman for the National Transportation Safety Board, said preliminary information indicated the plane was an experimental replica of a Curtiss Jenny.

The Curtiss JN-4D was nicknamed the Jenny. It appeared in 1917 and was used as a trainer in World War I, according to the National Air and Space Museum.

The Federal Aviation Administration identified the plane as a home-built Curtiss JN-4D manufactured in 2013.

The plane that made a controlled crash Monday had been displayed at an air show in Indiana and was headed to Bowling Green after refueling at an airport in Hopkins County when the crash occurred, according to a release.

The plane lost power at an altitude of 1,500 feet and the pilot conducted the crash into a field at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Muhlenberg County, according to the National Guard.

A Curtiss JN-4D airplane. A plane believed to be a replica of the original Curtis JN-4D crashed in Kentucky this week.

There were two pilots on board. They both walked away, but one later went to a hospital to be checked out.

The plane sustained heavy damage, the release said.

The crash happened about 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time Monday.

Sulick said investigators from the FAA were at the scene of the crash Tuesday, and that the NTSB will work with them.
As Ohio governor Mike DeWine moves to require schools to use only the science of reading, a new analysis has found the states teacher training programs are uneven in preparing prospective educators to use the phonics-based approach.

In an evaluation of 26 public and private Ohio teacher training programs by the National Council on Teacher Quality released today, seven received A grades for instructing new educators in how to use the science of reading with young students, while six received Fs.

The report offers some encouraging news for DeWine who wants to ban other literacy approaches that have lost credibility: Colleges are teaching phonics  a key part of the science of reading  to teacher trainees.

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But just nine of the 26 programs fully covered all five parts of the science of reading  phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, and reading comprehension, along with phonics. In addition, most did not give new teachers enough practice with students.

The review yields mixed results, with some programs providing strong coverage of reading science and others barely scratching the surface (or worse, actually teaching candidates bad stuff), the report concluded.

Related The Evidence is Clear: Ohio Gov Pushes For Science of Reading As Only Approach

Colleges are also training prospective teachers in strategies that many consider outdated or damaging, the study found.

When teachers use these methods, it takes valuable time away from scientifically-based reading instruction, the best methods for children to efficiently and effectively learn to read, said Shannon Holston, author of the report.

How well Ohios colleges are teaching science of reading is a big factor in whether, and how fast, DeWine can succeed in his plan to ban other reading approaches by the fall of 2024; or if the state will have to spend years retraining teachers.

Though the state will likely start tracking what colleges teach soon, it does not now, so the NCTQ analysis offers an advanced insight.

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It doesnt make sense to shift elementary schools to science of reading, but not address teacher preparation, said Aaron Churchill, the Ohio research director of the Fordham Institute, which partnered with NCTQ on the study. Future teachers will struggle and need expensive retraining when they are expected to teach reading consistent with the science.

Related The Evidence is Clear: Ohio Gov Pushes For Science of Reading As Only Approach

The Ohio analysis is part of a larger report coming from NCTQ in June on teacher training in reading across the country. Ohio results were released early at the request of the Fordham Institute, which is active in Ohio education advocacy and helped create NCTQ in 2000. Reports from NCTQ have often been controversial and critical of teacher training programs overall.

One surprise finding: Three-cueing, a strategy that DeWine and legislators in other states have singled out to ban from elementary schools, is not commonly taught to new teachers. That strategy, which has students guess at words from pictures or context clues, is part of the popular whole language and balanced literacy lessons used in many elementary schools.

Only three of the 26 rated programs  the University of Akron and Ashland Universitys undergraduate and graduate programs  teach new teachers to use cueing with students, Holston said.

The report graded each teacher training program in the science of reading instruction by reviewing course descriptions and syllabi to see what classes cover. They did not observe classes.

The review gave seven Ohio programs overall As: Marietta College, Mount St. Joseph University, Ohio University, University of Dayton, University of Findlay, University of Rio Grande, and Youngstown State University.

Six programs were given F grades: Ashland University (undergraduate and graduate programs), Defiance College, Kent State University, Miami University, and the University of Toledo.

Ohio State University, the states largest university, scored well, earning a B grade overall.

The 74 is sharing the findings immediately as the Ohio Senate weighs DeWines proposal. Universities have not yet had a chance to respond to the report, but The 74 plans to provide additional coverage soon.

The Ohio analysis is part of a larger report coming from NCTQ in June on teacher training in reading across the country. Ohio results were released early at the request of the Fordham Institute, which is active in Ohio education advocacy and helped create NCTQ in 2000. Reports from NCTQ have often been controversial and critical of teacher training programs overall, not just on this specific issue.

Don Pope-Davis, dean of Ohio State Universitys College of Education and Human Ecology, has previously said his school, the largest in Ohio, prepares students well in the core skills of teaching reading, including phonics. In a letter to the legislature in March, he said that 96 percent of his graduates in the last three years have passed the states teacher licensing test in reading knowledge.

Our teachers perform at that level year after year because they are well-prepared to teach reading, Pope-Davis wrote.

What we teach at Ohio State is in no way at odds with the administrations proposal.

At the same time, Pope-Davis joined the Ohio Education Association and Ohio Federation of Teachers, the states two large teachers unions, in warning against banning any strategies that could help different students.

No single commercial program is appropriate for all students, just as no single tool is the only implement for a given task, he wrote. We would urge caution with any legislation that prescriptively adopts one approach without any consideration for the individual student.

Related Indiana Joins States Mandating the Science of Reading in Classrooms

Though DeWine, like other Republican officials in other states, is seeking to ban three-cueing, the NCTQ report did not find that it was a major part of teacher training in the state. Out of nine practices that NCTQ considers contrary to the science of reading, the most common ones taught to prospective teachers in Ohio, according to Holtson, are guided reading, running records and miscue analysis.

Though three-cueing is not prevalent in teacher training programs, Aaron Churchill, Fordhams Ohio research director, said he still wants that strategy banned. School boards are still buying lessons that use it, he said, and veteran teachers who graduated years ago are using it in whole language and balanced literacy instruction.

If Ohio reforms teacher-prep but does nothing in K-12, well end up with well-prepared teachers in science of reading who end up conforming instruction to what their school is doing, Churchill said.
Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert!

CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY CONDEMNS TENNESSEE HOUSE

Emotions got a little heated on the Assembly floor Monday, as lawmakers debated a resolution to condemn the GOP-controlled Tennessee State House of Representatives for expelling two Black members last month.

The resolution itself, AJR 5, itself passed 60-0.

But prior to the vote Assemblyman Mike Gipson, D-Gardena, who authored the resolution, said that the expulsion of Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson for their role in a gun safety protest was a threat to democracy not just in Tennessee but the entire nation. (Both were quickly reinstated by local officials)

On April 6. 2023, democracy was violated, Gipson said, adding that Jones and Pearson were raped by the expulsion.

Assemblyman Corey Jackson, D-Moreno Valley, recounted past offenses committed by Tennessee state lawmakers that did not rise to the level of expulsion, including child molestation, urinating on office chairs and illegally prescribing drugs to family members and mistresses.

Tennessee Rep. Justin Jones speaks during a press conference surrounded by California state legislators at the state Capitol on Monday. Jones was expelled in April along with fellow Democrat Rep. Justin Pearson from the GOP-dominated Tennessee General Assembly after a pro-gun control demonstration on the House floor. Assemblyman Mike A. Gipson, whose resolution condemning the expulsions passed 60-0 in the Assembly on Monday, stands at left. Paul Kitagaki Jr./pkitagaki@sacbee.com

When Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher, R-Yuba City, rose to speak, he began by denouncing his party members for expelling Jones and Pearson. But then he added that the lecturing he was hearing from other assemblymembers about democracy falls a little flat.

Much as Jones and Pearson are in the minority party in Tennessee, Republicans comprise a super-minority in the California Legislature. Gallagher accused his Democratic colleagues of using their political power to suppress their speech, denying hearings on GOP legislation on subjects ranging from wildfire prevention to bills to fentanyl trafficking.

Dont get up here and preach to me about democracy and talk about other states. The message about Rep. Jones is not just about Tennessee. Its for you! Gallagher said forcefully.

The Assembly Republican leader said that he was about ready to get a megaphone and come onto the floor for his bills, a reference to the actions that led to Pearson and Jones being expelled, but conceded thats not really my style.

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The bottom line is, if we want to ensure democracy, we better do it right here at home, Gallagher said. Do a little soul-searching first before you make this into a day of the panderer.

FORMER REP. ROUDA CALLS ON MIN TO DROP OUT OF RACE

One prominent Orange County Democrat has broken the silence around State Sen. Dave Mins DUI arrest a couple weeks back.

No, not Rep. Katie Porter, D-Irvine, whose CA-47 seat Min is running to fill in 2024; Porter has yet to withdraw her endorsement of Min.

It was former Orange County Democratic Congressman Harley Rouda, who on Monday called on Min, D-Irvine, to drop out of the race.

While we thank Dave Min for his service to the party, with his recent DUI he should immediately withdraw from the race. If it was a Republican candidate who got a DUI, Democrats would demand exactly that. Lets not be hypocrites... Rouda said in a statement shared on Twitter.

Rouda himself withdrew from the race for CA-47 this year, citing health issues.

Instead of Min, Rouda is supporting Democratic activist Joanna Weiss, whom Rouda credited with helping break the Republican lock on the regions congressional seats, also called theOrange Curtain.

The stakes are too high to get this choice wrong and I call on Democrats to rally behind Joanna. Rep. Katie Porter barely won this House district despite outspending her Republican opponent by an unprecedented $23 million. ...This time, we cant rely on a war chest that big, Rouda said.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

If San Francisco got click bait royalties from this wave of coverage, the City wouldnt have a budget deficit. San Francisco has real problems  absolutely the case  but this wave of media obsessive negativity is now officially over the top.

- Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, via Twitter.

Best of The Bee:
Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., . Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert confirmed that she filed for divorce from her husband Jayson.

Boebert said there were "irreconcilable differences" in their relationship.

The Colorado Republican has frequently been in the news since she won election to Congress in 2020.

Rep. Lauren Boebert, a two-term Colorado Republican, who has garnered a national reputation as a far-right representative, has filed for divorce from her husband of two decades.

The Colorado Sun first reported that Boebert filed for the separation from her husband, Jayson, late last month. In a written statement to the publication, the congresswoman confirmed the news and cited "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for the dissolution of her marriage.

"It is with a heavy weight on my heart that I have filed for divorce from my husband. I am grateful for our years of marriage together and for our beautiful children, all of whom deserve privacy and love as we work through this process," Boebert said in a statement first obtained by the Sun. "I've always been faithful in my marriage, and I believe strongly in marriage, which makes this announcement that much more difficult."

According to an affidavit, when Jayson Boebert was served with the petition he became "extremely angry." The process server said Boebert identified himself before his demeanor noticeably changed when informed of the news.

"He started yelling and using profanities," the server wrote of what transpired.

Lauren Boebert issued a public defense of her husband on Wednesday, casting doubt on stories about the process server's account despite this report and others being based on the legal filing in question.

"The stories reported about the process server, and even Jayson running over a mailbox are a complete lie," Boebert wrote on Twitter. "Jayson doesn't sit around cleaning guns and he certainly doesn't drink beer out of a glass, just as much as he doesn't drink Bud Light."

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The congresswoman is suing for parental-decision making power and child support for the couple's four sons, according to the filing. In her statement, Boebert said that she will not "discuss this matter any further in public" in deference to their kids.

The Republican previously announced that her oldest son, Tyler, is about to have a son, making her a 36-year-old grandmother.

"Now my son, when I approached him and told him, 'Tyler, I'm going to be a 36-year-old grandmother,' he said, 'Well, didn't you make Granny a 36-year-old granny?'" Boebert said, alluding to the fact that she and Jayson had Tyler when she was a teenager.

Boebert wrote extensively about her relationship with her husband in her book, "My American Life." The congresswoman claimed that her husband never exposed his penis in a bowling alley bar in 2004, despite serving jail time for public indecency and lewd exposure.

Once closely aligned with fellow Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Boebert has repeatedly been in the news during her short time in Congress. Boebert heckled President Joe Biden during a State of the Union address, joined with other conservatives in forcing a dayslong standoff in House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's election to the top role, and narrowly survived an unexpectedly close re-election fight last November.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Daily Beast/YouTube

The Texas man who fatally gunned down eight people and wounded seven at a Dallas-area mall 10 days ago not only glorified neo-Nazi ideology, he also harbored a deep xenophobia toward Asians, his online journal entries show.

Photos of more than 300 handwritten notes uploaded by mass shooter Mauricio Garcia to Russian social media site OK.ru, where his profile picture was a smiley face with a Hitler mustache, displayed a special sort of vitriol for both East and South Asians, according to a new analysis by the Global Network on Extremism and Technology (GNET), an academic research initiative affiliated with Kings College London.

Four of those killed by Garcia on May 6 at the Allen Premium Outlets were of Asian descent: Kyu Song Cho, 37; Cindy Cho, 35; their 3-year-old son James; and Aishwarya Thatikonda, 26.

Garcia, 33, worked as a security guard. He tried to join the Army in 2008 but was discharged three months later for unspecified physical or mental conditions, an Army spokeswoman said in an email.

Handwritten notes displayed self-loathing as well as hatred for Asian men and women. via OK.ru

In addition to the multitude of bigoted views he expresses, anti-East/South Asian racism constitutes a consistent thread, the GNET analysis says of Garcia, who was shot dead by police at the scene. When talking about East Asians, his hatred coalesces around men in particular. He parrots narratives about East Asian men being undesirable, timid, and rejected by everyone, including East Asian women.

In some entries, Garcia made East Asians out to be foreign invaders, and blamed the Chinese people at large for COVID-19, the GNET study goes on. In others, he went on tirades against South Asians (specifically Indians), it says, noting those instances in which Garcia simply combined the two into racist rants about both East and South Asians in the same paragraph.

It all goes hand-in-hand with Garcias vicious misogynistic streak, according to GNET, as well as a strong resentment of his Hispanic identity. He described himself as deeply angry with women, blaming them for his loneliness, while also writing that there was a time when I wished I was white. Garcia railed against women as being inherently manipulative individuals out to use men for sex and drain their finances, GNETs analysis states.

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Other sections of his journal are devoted to diatribes concerning preconceived notions about rigid gender dynamics between men and women; some of which also include rants about East Asian men being undesirable partners for women overall, it continues.

Aishwarya Thatikonda, left. The Cho family, right. GoFundMe/WFAA/YouTube

Irvin Walker, 46, was one of the first people shot during Garcias terrifying rampage.

He appeared at a Tuesday afternoon news conference from Medical City McKinney, where he has undergone numerous surgeries to repair the damage to his broken body. Garcia, out of nowhere, opened fire into Walkers car as he looked for a parking spot at the mall shortly after dropping off his girlfriend.

I said, Hey, go ahead and enter the building, and Ill park, Walker recalled, noting that it was the weekend before Mothers Day and the shopping center was packed. I could not park close in proximity to the store, so I proceeded around. And thats where the tragedy started.

Walker, who works in the insurance industry, was shot three times, in the chest and shoulder. One of the bullets missed his subclavian artery by a fraction of an inch, one of Walkers doctors said on Tuesday, remarking that things could very easily have turned out quite differently for him.

I knew I couldnt drive to the emergency room, I wasnt too familiar with the area, Walker went on. So my mindset was, let me get out and seek help. I knew I was bleeding profusely. So I got out of my vehicle and I saw what looked like a security officer approaching on his Segway, and I ran towards that way.

That security guard, 20-year-old Christian LaCour, helped Walker to a chair so he could sit down. A short time later, Walker said, LaCour was shot dead by Garcia.

Irvin Walker at Tuesdays press conference. YouTube via WFAA

Walkers doctors said on Tuesday that his injuries were extensive, and that hes still in the early process of healing.

He still has wounds that have nowhere close to being fully healed, said Dr. Elizabeth Kim. We worry about contractures, range of motion in his shoulder, the muscle and the skin and the soft tissue damage that he sustained Hes doing great But, were still in the beginning process of healing from this injury.

As of Tuesday afternoon, a GoFundMe page set up to raise money for Walkers personal and medical expenses had brought in about $97,000 of its $100,000 goal.

Garcias diary entries were filled with hatred. via OK.ru

While Walker continues to recuperate, the GNET researchers say is crucial to consider the internalized racism embedded in Garcias writings, particularly the way he projected his own feelings onto East Asians in claiming that they are losers who want to be white. This self-loathing, it notes, may help to explain why Garcia, a Latino with multiple neo-Nazi tattoos, was attracted to white supremacism. (At the same time, it emphasizes that further examination is necessary to understand the complexities of internalized racism, its relevancy to people of color who join white supremacist groups/advocate for white supremacism, and the relation to power dynamics shaped by systemic racism as a whole.)

There has been a shift to the right among Hispanics and Latinos in recent years, with the co-founder of the nonprofit Global Project Against Hate and Extremism describing as a misnomer the idea that only whites can hold white supremacist beliefs. And although Garcias worldview appears to have been rooted in bigotry, police say they have not yet determined a motive for the attack.

In a phone call on Tuesday, Jose Sai Ortuno, Garcias stepfather, told The Daily Beast that he is still trying to digest the horrific violence Garcia unleashed.

I dont have answers to what youre looking for, Ortuno said. Im really sorry, but I just cant talk about it right now.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Consultant surgeon Nick Battersby is raising money for the innovative technology

A surgeon is leading a campaign to bring cutting-edge assisted robotic surgery to Cornwall.

Nick Battersby, a consultant at the Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust (RCHT), is helping organise a 5km (3.1-mile) swim across Falmouth Bay on 8 July to raise money for the technology.

Robotically-assisted surgery involves the use of robotic arms to provide additional precision.

Mr Battersby said RCHT's cancer unit needed a surgical robot to modernise.

He said patients "deserved" modern surgical care without the need to travel out of the county.

Across the UK, the technology has been credited with saving lives and helping cut hospital stays.

Mr Battersby told BBC Radio Cornwall: "Cornwall was one of the pioneers for minimally invasive surgery 20 years ago - but obviously technology has moved on.

"Of the top 20 highest-volume cancer units in the country, we're now the only unit that doesn't have this."

'It's exciting'

After using a simulator, Mr Battersby said small robotic arms were "much more like hands" instead of the fixed instruments he normally uses.

"That's what really gives us the additional precision and the ability to give what's called traction and counter-traction, which is really what we need to operate with minimal tissue trauma," he said.

The robot is expected to cost 2.5m over a five-year budget and Mr Battersby aims to raise 50,000 through community efforts.

Karen Murrish, fundraising manager for Royal Cornwall Hospitals charity, said the initiative was the beginning of the project.

"Obviously to bring a robot of this nature into Cornwall is a huge investment, so there will be lots of other needs in terms of funding," she said.

"At the moment it's exciting - it's a start and something born from a passion from one of our surgeons."

The 5km (3.1m) Swim across the Bay challenge will involve a pod of up to 50 open-water swimmers including Mr Battersby, leaving from Rosemullion Head and finishing at Pendennis Point in Falmouth.

Follow BBC News South West on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.
Dennis Hulbert used to set hundreds of fires in his backyard in Grass Valley.

He wasnt trying to burn his his house down. Hubert, 70, is a retired fire-fighting leader of the U.S. Forest Service in California and was obsessed with finding the right chemicals to extinguish his controlled fires. He now finds his obsession may pay off.

He discovered magnesium chloride, a natural salt product, effectively extinguished the blazes. A plus, the chemical was readily available domestically from the Great Salt Lake in Utah or San Francisco Bay.

He and former aerial fire leaders in the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management believed they had found the essence of a new business, supplying the next generation fire retardant to drop from airplanes to douse wildfires.

The former fires leaders formed their company, Fortress Fire Retardant Systems, in Rocklin in 2017. A chemist was hired to refine the firefighting formula. The plan was to break up the nearly two-decade monopoly held by Perimeter Solutions of St. Louis on the sale of aerial fire retardant.

Fortress officials continued to tinker with their formula, submitting it to the Forest Service, the worlds largest user of aerial fire retardant, for testing in 2018. It took six years, and countless product refinements, but now they have a contract with the federal agency, turning Hulberts original backyard work into a potential huge payday.

Michael White, director of research and development at Fortress Fire Retardant Systems, holds a jar of fire retardant made with magnesium chloride earlier this month. The Rocklin company has won a contract to supply the U.S. Forest Service with their retardant.

On May 3, Fortress received a contract to supply the Forest Service with its aerial wildfire retardant beginning this fire season.

We knew there was room for a second company to sell aerial fire retardant, said Hulbert. We wanted to end the monopoly.

The company was awarded more than a contract, it was awarded a future.

What the sale means

Just two days after receiving its contract, Fortress was acquired by Compass Minerals in Overland Park, Kansas, for $28 million and potential bonuses to Fortress officials. Compass had already purchased 44% of Fortress in late 2021 for $45 million.

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The company happens to manufacture magnesium chloride, extracting it by solar evaporation from the Great Salt Lake. It is the same magnesium chloride that Fortress officials decided would be the key chemical in Fortress aerial fire retardant products.

The new deal includes bonuses for Fortress officials of 30 cents for each gallon of fire retardant sold over the next 10 years. The Fortress contract with the Forest Service calls for the sale of up to 3 million gallons of retardant this fire season, meaning a $900 000 bonus for Fortress officials.

Robert Baird of Fortress Fire Retardant Systems demonstrates on May 3 some of the equipment the Rocklin company has developed to supply its fire retardant to customers. The company will start supplying Forest Service with aerial fire retardant.

Perimeter Solutions sold more than 50 million gallons of fire retardant in 2020 and 2021 each to the U.S. Forest Service, so Fortress officials could see millions of bonuses if they can wrest market share away from their competitor in future years.

Just one gallon of fire retardant starts at $2 and can sell for as much as $7.

Perimeter Solutions in 2022 sold $226 million worth of fire retardant, 54% of it from the Forest Service and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, also known as Cal Fire, according to the companys May 5 annual report.

Perimeter Solutions success has enriched the company. So much so, that in a $2 billion deal in late 2021, it became a subsidiary of EverArc Holdings Ltd., based in Luxembourg.

The fire retardant waiting game

Fortress officials knew Perimeter Solutions was a big success. They saw a lucrative market for their aerial fire retardant but also knew they were entering a waiting game.

Fortress Chief Executive Officer Robert Burnham said the Forest Service approval process moved slower than expected. He questioned whether the fire retardants would ever get to market.

Fortress was a true startup, said Burnham.

Now in his 70s, Burnham rose from firefighter to chief deputy director of fire and aviation management for the Bureau of Land Management in California before retiring more than 20 years ago.

Burnham said the small group of founders used their money to get the company off the ground.

We were writing checks out of our retirement accounts explaining to our wives what a good deal this would be, he recalled. Dont worry honey, it will be alright.

Burnham said the group raised around $25 million. He said the acquisition by Compass Minerals will give the company the capital it needs to scale its business to compete aggressively with Perimeter Solutions.

Not only has Perimeter Solutions been an exclusive supplier to the Forest Service, it also operates firefighter air bases for the federal agency. The company also supplies Cal Fire.

Burnham has a big vision for Fortress. Fortress has 27 employees at its Rocklin office, which includes a testing lab, a distribution facility and a small manufacturing operation. The company has received $2.4 million in state tax credits with the stipulation it will grow to 60 employees by 2025.

Michael White, director of research and development, tests a sample of retardant made with magnesium chloride earlier this month.

Manufacturing of fire retardants are done mainly in Ogden, Utah. The company also has a small corporate office in Stephensville, Mont., at Burnhams ranch.

If you ask me what our ambition is, its to have 50% of the fire retardant market, he said.

The companys plans include not only supplying retardant, but competing with Perimeter Solutions to operate some of the more than 70 bases the Forest Service uses to fight wildfires.

Burnham also wants to supply Cal Fire, but he will have to wait. Perimeter Solutions contract with Cal Fireruns to mid-2024.

Fires and profits

Even though Fortress is only starting to sell the Forest Service fire retardant, Compass Minerals said the company is expected to generate between $20 and $25 million of revenue this year and profits in the low double-digit millions.

Fortress will have to be patient in its plan to go head-to-head with Perimeter Solutions.

In a March 6 letter stating the Forest Service intends to award a contract to Fortress, agency chief Randy Moore said Fortress will have one dedicated aircraft to fill up to 3 million gallons of its retardant this fire season.

The Forest Service is deploying 24 aircraft to dump fire retardant this year, Burnham said. The other 23 aircraft would carry Perimeter Solutions fire retardants.

Burnham said Forest Service officials told him Fortress will be given the opportunity to compete with Perimeter Solutions to deploy aerial fire retardant in 3 years.

The Forest Service said in a statement that adding Fortress products complies with President Joe Bidens executive order in July 2021 promoting competition in the American economy.

Having two fire retardant sources not only increases completion in the sector, but also increases the stability of supplies to ensure the nation can respond to wildfires appropriately, it said.

Perimeter Solutions fights back

Perimeter Solutions doesnt plan to give up its lucrative business without a fight.

The company said its products are highly effective in fighting wildfires. The retardants use ammonium phosphate, an ingredient that can also be found in agricultural fertilizer.

Experience matters, weve been doing this for 60 years, said Eddie Goldberg, Perimeter Solutions vice-chairman.

The company has also developed an attack website, slamming the effectiveness of the Fortress fire retardant while touting its formula as the most effective.

It cites studies from the 1940s to the 1970s questioning the effectiveness of magnesium chloride in fighting fires.

Burnham said the studies on the effectiveness of magnesium chloride are outdated, the most recent one dating back 50 years.

He said Forest Service tests showed that Fortress performed 20% to 30% better than ammonium phosphate products used by Perimeter Solutions.

Both Fortress and Perimeter Solutions have also clashed on which line of fire retardants is more environmentally friendly.

Fortress contends that its products emit less in greenhouse gasses and wont kill fish if they land accidentally in waterways, as opposed to the fatal consequences for marine life from the Perimeter Solution fire retardants.

Perimeter Solutions officials counter that Fortress fire retardants can be harmful to fish. They maintain their products are both safe and dont harm the environment. Moore said Fortress will be evaluated after the 2023 season.

Lawsuit an issue

The Fortress contract comes as a lawsuit in federal court in Montana could curb the governments use of aerial fire retardant. Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics, an advocacy group made up of current and former forest service employees, is suing the Forest Service, arguing that waterways are being polluted by fire retardants.

The group seeks injunction blocking the Forest Service from using aerial fire retardants until the agency gets a permit from the federal environmental officials.

An air tanker drops fire retardant on the Mosquito Fire as smoke fills the sky above Foresthill in 2022.

The Forest Service has applied for the permit, but it could take several years to be granted.

In court filings, Forest Service officials have acknowledged that retardants have been dropped into waterways, mostly inadvertently, about 200 times in the past decade. They said the occurrence is usually by mistake, but occurs in less than 1% of the thousands of annual fire retardant drops.

The only way to prevent accidental discharges of retardant to waters is to prohibit its use entirely, government attorneys wrote. Such a prohibition would be tantamount to a complete ban of aerial discharges of retardants.

That would be fine for Andy Stahl, executive director of the advocacy group.

He believes that aerial fire retardant wont work when the wind is blowing.

Wind is the driver of every catastrophic fire in California history, he said. Retardant is completely ineffective when the wind is blowing. Wind blows embers up to a mile.

Neither Fortress nor Perimeter Solutions is named in the suit.

The Forest Service has argued the deployment of aerial fire retardant saves lives and property.

Burnham isnt worried that the lawsuit will stop the aerial spraying of fire retardant before his company gets its chance. He said that he doubts a judge based in conservative Montana would impose such a ban, given the destructive nature of wildfires.

Hulbert said the favorable outcome for Fortress was a group effort.

We didnt have any illusions of grandeur, he said. It took a long time to get Forest Service approval for our fire retardants and there was always another step we had to take. I was shocked that we finally succeeded.




(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"
Noelle Dunphy with Rudy Giuliani

Rudy Giuliani has been accused of making an employee perform oral sex on him while he was on the phone to Donald Trump.

Noelle Dunphy, 43, who is suing for $10 million in damages and unpaid wages, claimed the former New York mayor subjected her to "wide-ranging sexual assault and harassment".

She also claimed he went on "alcohol-drenched rants" that included "sexist, racist, and anti-Semitic remarks" and made her work environment "unbearable".

Ms Dunphy claimed that she had recordings of numerous interactions with Mr Giuliani.

The 70-page complaint said: "He often demanded oral sex while he took phone calls on speaker phone from high-profile friends and clients, including then-President Trump.

"Giuliani told Ms Dunphy that he enjoyed engaging in this conduct while on the telephone because it made him 'feel like Bill Clinton'."

In a statement a representative for Mr Giuliani, 78, said he "vehemently and completely denies the allegations in the complaint and plans to thoroughly defend against these allegations. This is pure harassment and an attempt at extortion."

Noelle Dunphy pictured at the Mommy's Heart Fall Soiree in New York City - Patrick McMullan

The representative added: "Mayor Giulianis lifetime of public service speaks for itself, and he will pursue all available remedies and counterclaims. [He] categorically denies all of the allegations of this frivolous complaint."

A lawyer for Mr Giuliani has denied that Ms Dunphy ever worked for him.

According to the complaint, which was filed in a New York state court, Ms Dunphy began working for Mr Giuliani in January 2019, and did so until 2021.

She was hired as his director of business development and public relations consultant for $1 million a year, the complaint said.

Ms Dunphy alleged that Mr Giuliani began abusing her as soon as she started working for him, kissing her in the back of an SUV on her first day.

The complaint said: "He made clear that satisfying his sexual demands - which came virtually anytime, anywhere - was an absolute requirement of her employment."

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It was claimed Mr Giuliani "often demanded that she work naked, in a bikini, or in short shorts with an American flag on them that he bought for her."

The complaint added: "He drank morning, noon, and night, and was frequently intoxicated, and therefore his behaviour was always unpredictable."

Mr Giuliani is being sued for alleged sexual assault - AP

Ms Dunphy claimed that Mr Giulani "took Viagra constantly and that she "worked under the constant threat that Giuliani might demand sex from her at any moment.

"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."

Ms Dunphy alleged Mr Giuliani claimed to have immunity and told her that he was selling pardons for $2 million, which he and President Trump would split".

The complaint alleges that Lev Parnas, a Giuliani associate previously convicted for fraud, was present for that conversation.

However, the lawsuit does not suggest any pardons were in fact sold.

Ms Dunphy claimed she was told by Mr Giuliani that her salary would have to be deferred until the end of a divorce he was going through.

Mr Giuliani had only paid her $12,000 and she was still owed $1,988,000, she claimed.

She also alleged that Mr Giuliani reneged on a promise to give her free legal representation in a separate domestic violence legal case.

She accused him of "unlawful abuses of power, wide-ranging sexual assault and harassment, wage theft and other misconduct."

Ms Dunphy also alleged that the former New York mayor previewed plans to attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election if Mr Trump lost.

Mr Giuliani told her that Trumps team would claim that there was voter fraud and that Mr Trump had actually won the election, she claimed in the lawsuit.

Mr Giulianis New York law licence was suspended in 2021 after a court ruled that he made demonstrably false and misleading statements about voter fraud.

His DC law licence was temporarily suspended after the New York decision.

The 78-year-old has claimed the moves were politically motivated.

Mr Giuliani is also under investigation in a criminal probe in Georgia over Mr Trump and his allies' efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in the state.

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Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani reacts during a talk radio show at the WABC studios in New York on Sept. 10, 2021. Robert Bumsted/AP

A civil lawsuit filed Monday accuses Rudy Giuliani of sexual assault against a former employee.

The lawsuit claims Giuliani discussed fantasizing about a young staffer in a recorded conversation.

A representative for Giuliani said he unequivocally denies the allegations in the lawsuit.

A former employee of Rudy Giuliani said in a new lawsuit filed Monday that he told her he was attracted to another woman who worked for him who was 20-years-old, and that he had kissed her on the lips.

Noelle Dunphy, who says she worked for Giuliani for two years, filed a civil lawsuit against him in Manhattan on Monday, accusing him of rape and of forcing her to engage in sexual acts as part of her job. Dunphy claimed Giuliani demanded she perform oral sex while he made calls on speaker phone, including to then-President Donald Trump.

The lawsuit said that during the two years Dunphy worked for Giuliani, starting in January 2019, while he was Trump's lawyer, Giuliani often made crude comments about women as well as racist and homophobic remarks.

Giuliani was not representing Trump in legal matters in mid-February 2021. A spokesperson for Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In one conversation in November 2019, Giuliani told Dunphy he was in love with three or four women and that he had "a certain sexual attraction to" his 20-year-old staffer Christianne Allen, the lawsuit claimed.

In a statement to Insider, Allen said the "act being purported is completely false and abhorrent."

"It is reprehensible and frankly disheartening that a woman whom I have never met  who reached out to me under an alias seeking out defamatory information to which I told her I had none  would attempt to include me in a lawsuit, for which I have zero involvement, for their own personal gain," she said.

Giuliani told Dunphy he had fantasized about Allen and kissed her on the lips but that he did not "consummate" the relationship, according to the lawsuit.

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The lawsuit also claims this conversation was recorded.

Giuliani, through his spokesman Ted Goodman, "unequivocally" denied the allegations on Monday: "Mayor Giuliani's lifetime of public service speaks for itself and he will pursue all available remedies and counterclaims."

Allen was still in college in 2019 when she began working as Giuliani's director of communications. Allen frequently appeared with Giuliani and responded to reporters trying to reach him, Politico reported at the time.

Now, Allen's Twitter says she is an ambassador for Liberty University's Freedom Center and Turning Point USA, a conservative youth organization.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani speaks in support of then-GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, on July 18, 2016. AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

A new lawsuit from a former staffer alleges Rudy Giuliani made frequent racist and sexist remarks.

The former staffer alleged Giuliani said Jewish people need to "get over the Passover."

"The red sea parted, big deal," Giuliani said, the lawsuit alleges.

Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City-turned disgraced Trump attorney, frequently made sexist, racist, homophobic, and otherwise offensive comments, a former employee alleged in a bombshell civil lawsuit filed Monday, which also accuses Giuliani of rape and sexual harassment.

Noelle Dunphy, a former staffer for Giuliani alleged in a 70-page lawsuit filed in Manhattan this week that the former Trump attorney fostered a hostile work environment during her two years of employment, forcing her to engage in sex acts and listen to "revolting" comments about women, Jewish people, and other marginalized groups.

Giuliani, through his spokesman Ted Goodman, "unequivocally" denied the allegations on Monday: "Mayor Giuliani's lifetime of public service speaks for itself and he will pursue all available remedies and counterclaims."

But Dunphy alleges that Giuliani often made "outrageous comments," including racist, antisemitic, homophobic, and sexist remarks, many of which were recorded, according to the lawsuit. Giuliani spoke in a derogatory way about Jewish men, implying that their genitalia was inferior due to "natural selection," the lawsuit alleges.

"Jews want to go through their freaking Passover all the time, man oh man," Giuliani once said, according to the lawsuit. "Get over the Passover. It was like 3,000 years ago."

"The red sea parted, big deal. It's not the first time that happened," he continued, the lawsuit alleges.

Giuliani's comments about the major Jewish holiday came amid a period of increasing antisemitic incidents in recent years.

The lawsuit alleges Giuliani also made frequent comments referencing "freakin Arabs" and "Jews."

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In the lawsuit, Dunphy recounts several offensive alleged comments Giuliani made during her tenure, including: saying that Black and Hispanic men are more likely to "hit women"; sexualizing several prominent female politicians, including Rep. Nancy Pelosi and the late UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher; and making numerous homophobic remarks, including calling actor Matt Damon a "fag."

Dunphy was hired as director of business development for the Giuliani Companies in January 2019, a position she held for two years until she was terminated after she expressed fear that Giuliani would "try to hurt" her, the lawsuit alleges.

Dunphy said she continued working for Giuliani despite her discomfort with the environment because she wanted to ensure she received the $1 million salary she said he promised her. But by January 2021, Dunphy had only been paid approximately $12,000 over the course of her two years of employment, according to the lawsuit.

"She was continually subjected by Giuliani to a hostile work environment, misogynistic, racist, and antisemitic communications, constant sexual attacks, threats when she brought up the salary she was owed, and threats when she finally found the courage to confront him with her fears and the possibility of legal action," the lawsuit alleges.

Dunphy also alleged that Giuliani forced her to engage in sex acts while he was making business calls, saying it made him feel like Bill Clinton. She also accused her former boss of having sex with her while she was too drunk to consent and trying to sell presidential pardons.

Read the original article on Insider
Georgia Election Investigation (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

A former aide to former Trump attorney Rudolph Giuliani says he told her the ex-New York City mayor and then-president Donald Trump were offering to sell presidential pardons for $2 million apiece, according to court documents.

The bombshell allegation was levied in a complaint filed against Mr Giuliani by Noelle Dunphy, a New York-based public relations professional who is suing him for unlawful abuses of power, wide-ranging sexual assault and harassment, wage theft, and other misconduct committed while she worked for him in 2019 and 2020.

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 $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, she added.

During Mr Trumps presidency, he frequently granted pardons to wealthy or well-connected individuals without the involvement of the Pardon Attorney, the Department of Justice official who is charged with reviewing petitions for executive clemency and making recommendations as to whether a given petition should be granted.

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No evidence has ever emerged that Mr Trump or Mr Giuliani were ever compensated for any presidential pardon granted during Mr Trumps time in office, but Ms Dunphys allegation matches that made by another person who once sought a pardon from the then-president.

In August, The New York Times reported that former CIA officer John Kiriakou broached the topic with Mr Giuliani during a meeting at the Washington, DC hotel Mr Trumps company ran between 2016 and 2022.

Mr Kiriakou, who in 2012 was sentenced to nearly three years in prison for disclosing classified information, told the Times that one of Mr Giulianis associates at the meeting said the ex-New York City mayor could assist him  for a price.

Its going to cost $2 million  hes going to want two million bucks, he recalled the Giuliani associate as saying.

He also told the Times that he did not pursue a pardon through Mr Giuliani because he could not afford to pay him $2 million.

I laughed. Two million bucks  are you out of your mind? Kiriakou told the outlet. Even if I had two million bucks, I wouldnt spend it to recover a $700,000 pension, he said.

Mr Giuliani did not immediately respond to a text message from The Independent seeking comment on the allegations against him.
Donald Trump's former personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani speaks during a press conference at the Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington, DC, on November 19, 2020

A former associate of Rudy Giuliani sued the ex-New York mayor for $10 million on Monday, alleging he subjected her to "wide-ranging sexual assault and harassment."

Noelle Dunphy also accuses Giuliani of wage theft and "alcohol-drenched rants that included sexist, racist, and anti-Semitic remarks" that made her work environment "unbearable."

The lawsuit says that the former personal lawyer for Donald Trump "often demanded oral sex while he took phone calls on speaker phone from high-profile friends and clients, including then-President Trump."

The suit, filed in a New York state court, says that Dunphy began working for Giuliani in January 2019 as his director of business development on a salary of $1 million a year.

She alleges that Giuliani began abusing her almost immediately after she started working for him.

"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 said.

It says that Giuliani, 78, coerced Dunphy into giving him oral sex "against her will" at his apartment.

The lawsuit also alleges that Giuliani "often demanded that she (Dunphy) work naked, in a bikini, or in short shorts with an American flag on them that he bought for her."

The suit says that Giuliani would often video-call the plaintiff "from his bed, where he was visibly touching himself under a white sheet."

Dunphy also claims that Giuliani said her pay "would have to be deferred and her employment kept 'secret'" until his divorce proceedings finished.

The lawsuit seeks $10 million in damages.

A spokesperson for Giuliani said in a statement sent to US media that Giuliani "vehemently and completely denies the allegations in the complaint and plans to thoroughly defend against these allegations."

"This is pure harassment and an attempt at extortion," the spokesperson said.

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Giuliani was mayor of New York for eight years, earning national acclaim for leading the US financial capital in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the US by Al-Qaeda.

But his reputation has plummeted in recent years, in large part due to his promotion of the conspiracy theory that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump.

pdh/dw
Rudy Giuliani. J Pat Carter/AP

Rudy Giuliani had been at the forefront of the Trump administration's response to controversies.

Giuliani was once praised for leading the country through national tragedy.

Now the former federal prosecutor  like Trump  has been accused of sexual assault.

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has had a high-profile ride from lawyer to New York politician to presidential candidate to President Donald Trump's personal attorney and cable-news defender.

He's also been a larger-than-life public presence who's dabbled in drag, led the country through the tragedy of September 11, 2001, and was a central figure in Trump's impeachment inquiry.

When Giuliani was booed at a Yankees game in 2018, it became clear he had taken on a new reputation that was far from being "America's Mayor" who showed courageous leadership after the 9/11 attacks.

By 2020, his reputation was further complicated as he peddled disinformation and led the Trump campaign's meritless legal efforts to overturn the results of the presidential election.

Now  like the former president he once served  Giuliani has also been accused of sexual assault.

Here's a look at his journey, in photos.

Rudolph Giuliani was born on May 28, 1944 in Brooklyn, New York. Raised on Long Island, Giuliani went on to attend the Bronx's Manhattan College before graduating magna cum laude from New York University School of Law in 1968.

Facebook/NYU

Source: NYC.gov

Giuliani is the grandson of Italian immigrants, born to a working-class family comprised of firemen and policemen, which he said gave him an appreciation for public servants. "I grew up with uniforms all around me and their stories of heroism," Giuliani has said.

Members of the New York City Fire Department march in the St. Patrick's Day Parade March 17, 2008 in New York City. Stephen Chernin/AP

Source: The Quotable Giuliani: The Mayor of America in his Own Words

Giuliani's first marriage lasted 14 years before it was annulled after he discovered he was second cousins with his wife, Regina Peruggi.

Regina Peruggi, President of Kingsborough College, delivers address at the college's June 2008 commencement ceremony. Hansepoo via Wikimedia Commons

Source: New York Daily News

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In April 1984, Giuliani married Donna Hanover on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The couple later had two children: Andrew and Carolin.

Rudolph Giuliani holds up his three-year-old son Andrew at a news conference where he announced his candidacy for New York City mayor, Wednesday, May 17, 1989. Mario Suriani/AP

Source: New York Daily News

Giuliani was a popular politician and first elected New York City mayor in 1993.

New York City Mayor-elect Rudy Giuliani and former Mayor John Lindsay Ed Bailey/AP

He was the first Republican elected to the office since 1965.

Mark Lennihan/AP

Source: CNN

His administration had a strong effect on New York's unprecedented crime rates ...

Giuliani gestures as he announces that New York City appears to be leading the nation's fight against crime. Todd Plitt/AP

... and had a strong public image because of his participation in events like New York's annual roast of the mayor, at which he appeared as his alter ego, Rudy Rudia.

Joe DeMaria/AP

Source: New York Daily News

He was recognized as a brave leader for New Yorkers and the country after the 9/11 attacks, earning the nickname "America's Mayor".

Robert D. Ward/Department of Defense

He even was widely favored to be the 2008 Republican presidential nominee.

Republican presidential hopeful, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani speaking at the 2007 Conservative Political Action Conference. Susan Walsh/AP

Source: CNN

But his campaign proved disastrous after a series of missteps including ignoring primaries before Florida, relatively liberal policies, and a complicated family image, causing him to fall from the top of the polls.

Republican presidential hopeful, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, speaks during a press availability, September 20, 2007 in Reston, Virginia. Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP

Source: The Guardian

But since his exit from his widely popular time as a political candidate, his public image has grown somewhat bizarre.

Rudy Giuliani in 2009. Kathy Willens/AP

Ahead of the 2016 election, he made repeated aggressive public comments against former President Barack Obama "doesn't love America" and pushed propaganda to make "people hate the police".

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks to officers at the First Precinct New York City police station in lower Manhattan as former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) looks on in New York, May 5, 2011. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Source: Business Insider, The Hill

He cut a kooky figure when he was pictured wearing Apple AirPods sideways in May 2018.

Rudy Giuliani and Rick Wilson. Rick Wilson/Twitter

Source: Business Insider

Giuliani joined, then quickly misstepped, as part of President Donald Trump's legal team.

Rudy Giuliani and Donald Trump. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Source: CNN

Over the course of the second year of the special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, Giuliani was often at the forefront of changing narratives from Trump's camp on key points of the probe.

Andrew Harnik/AP

Source: Business Insider

Giuliani grew to be a controversial figure after growing closer to the Trump administration and its scandals. Notably, he was booed at a Yankees game after a stadium-wide announcement wished him a happy birthday.

Elsa/Getty Images

Source: Business Insider

In one of his many lively television appearances, Giuliani perplexed "Meet the Press" host Chuck Todd in August 2018 with a claim that Mueller could trap Trump in an interview because "truth isn't truth."

Rudy Giuliani appears on NBC's "Meet the Press" with host Chuck Todd on August 19, 2018. NBC

Source: Business Insider

Later in August 2018, Giuliani was the first among Trump's associates to admit that the the controversial 2016 meeting at Trump Tower between campaign officials and a Kremlin-linked attorney was to get "dirt" on his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton.

Rudy Giuliani. Screenshot via NBC

Source: Business Insider

Giuliani later waved off investigators' focus on Trump's contact with Russians as a whole, saying that even if there was collusion, "collusion isn't a crime."

Rudy Giuliani. AP Photo/Charles Krupa

Source: Business Insider

By December 2018, Giuliani had also dismissed payments meant to silence women who said they had affairs with Trump, one of whom was porn star Stormy Daniels, as "not a crime," days after Trump's former personal attorney Michael Cohen was sentenced in part for facilitating the payments.

Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels. Mary Altaffer/AP, both

Source: Business Insider

Giuliani was at the center of the Ukraine scandal that prompted the House to launch an impeachment inquiry into Trump. A memo of Trump's phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky showed Trump said Giuliani would give him a call to talk about Joe Biden's alleged corruption, which hasn't been substantiated.

Susan Walsh/AP

Sources: Business Insider, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

A whistleblower complaint said Giuliani was a "central figure" in Trump "pressuring a foreign president to investigate one of the President's main domestic political rivals."

Rudy Giuliani. AP Photo/Charles Krupa

Sources: Business Insider, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

Giuliani said he'd be the "hero" in the scandal and called the whistleblower complaint "crap". House Democrats wanted to bring him in for questioning in the impeachment inquiry, but he never testified.

Rudy Giuliani on Fox News with host Laura Ingraham on Tuesday night, where he said he dealt with Ukraine at the State Department's request. Fox News

Sources: Business Insider, The Atlantic, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

Giuliani also consulted on Trump's 2020 presidential campaign. He got spoofed by "Borat's daughter", played by Bulgarian actress Maria Bakalova, in Sasha Baron Cohen's movie sequel.

Rudy Giuliani's appearance in the movie is one of the most talked about moments in the movie. Amazon Studios

Source: Insider

Some of Giuliani's most controversial work for Trump came at the end of the 2020 election, where he pushed the factually dubious Hunter Biden laptop story and led the Trump campaign's baseless legal efforts to overturn President-elect Joe Biden's victory.

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, personal attorney to U.S. President Donald Trump, wipes away sweat as he speaks about the 2020 U.S. presidential election results during a news conference in Washington, U.S., November 19, 2020. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

Ex-staffer Noelle Dunphy sues Giuliani, accusing him of sexually abusing her. She also alleged he asked her for help "selling pardons."

Rudy Giuliani and guests attended the Friars Club gala honoring Tracy Morgan in May 2022. Photo by Rob Kim/Getty Images

Dunphy accused Giuliani of forcing her to submit to sex acts as a condition of her employment, including making her perform oral sex on him which he took calls from then-President Donald Trump on speaker phone.

Dunphy, who was hired as director of business development for the Giuliani Companies in 2019, alleged that Giuliani told her he liked receiving oral sex while on the phone because it made him "feel like Bill Clinton."

The lawsuit, which seeks $10 million in damages, also alleges that Giuliani asked Dunphy for help "selling pardons" for $2 million a pop. Giuliani told her that he and Trump "would split" the fee, the lawsuit alleges.

Giuliani, through his spokesman Ted Goodman, "unequivocally" denied the allegations to Insider: "Mayor Giuliani's lifetime of public service speaks for itself and he will pursue all available remedies and counterclaims."

Source: Insider

Read the original article on Business Insider
Signs demanding to 'Move Oregon's Border' appear alongside 'Trump 2024' placards in this small corner of America

From the sun-dappled, tree-lined village of Joseph, Debbie Price can see the distant snowy peaks of the Seven Devils, a series of mountains in the Rockies that mark Oregon's border with Idaho.

But for many eastern Oregonians like Price, that frontier no longer feels relevant.

The 64-year-old retiree is part of a local movement that wants to redraw the region's map so that they can secede to join the neighboring, more conservative state of Idaho.

"There's a lot more freedom in Idaho than there is here," said the former legal assistant, who traveled across the state border to remarry during the pandemic, at a time when weddings were banned in Oregon.

Among her list of grievances with Oregon are impending restrictions on carrying firearms, its decriminalization of the use of drugs, its pro-choice stance on abortion, and its support for LGBTQ rights.

Price blames all these on the "woke agenda" radiating out from Portland, the progressive metropolis near the northwestern state's coast.

"Maybe I'm old fashioned. I want things to stay like they are," said the devout Christian, touting Idaho's ban on abortion.

"I'm not anxious to move forward and try to be what the world is going toward these days."

While Oregon has not elected a Republican governor in 40 years, it is very geographically divided. At the midterm elections last November, only six out of 36 counties voted Democrat.

But those six are among the most populous, and they consistently control the state's top offices.

- 'Greater Idaho' -

Out in the rural east, many voters are tired of what they describe as feeling dispossessed by the urban elite who live along the Pacific coast.

A radical solution has been brewing: to move the Idaho-Oregon border to the west and create a "Greater Idaho" encompassing half of present-day Oregon.

Of 15 counties in eastern Oregon, 11 have already voted to require local officials to discuss the plan.

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On Tuesday, Wallowa County -- where Price lives -- is scheduled to vote on a similar measure.

Signs demanding to "Move Oregon's Border" sit alongside "Trump 2024" placards in the vast, rolling plains of this small corner of America, which has less than one person per square mile.

Locals decry "one-size-fits-all" laws that ignore their rural way of life.

Some complain that they can't kill wolves threatening their livestock as easily as neighboring ranchers in Idaho.

Others blame the decline of the vital local timber industry on the state's strict logging limits, which have forced many mills to close.

Many are afraid that Oregon could follow California in phasing out diesel and even gasoline-powered cars in favor of electric vehicles.

"The diesel ban is a horrible idea, and I think it would destroy our economy," said Garrett Mahon, a 41-year-old logger.

On a remote piece of land that has belonged to his family for a century, Mahon stacks giant tree trunks with an industrial machine that "you would never be able to run... on a battery," he said.

Inland Oregon's freezing winters sap the power of electrical farming and logging machinery, he explained.

- 'Culture wars' -

"I don't think we'll actually be able to not be Oregon: there's so much still involved in trying to get it done," admitted Mahon, a hunter who keeps a semi-automatic rifle in his pickup truck.

But he hopes that if his fellow rural Oregonians keep consistently voting for the project, politicians will have to "listen."

Still, the dream of a "Greater Idaho" remains highly improbable.

Changing state borders would require the approval of both Oregon and Idaho's legislatures, and then Congress in Washington, DC.

That is an extremely unlikely scenario, even in a nation with a long history of separatism -- the Civil War gave birth to West Virginia in 1863, and California has endured more than 200 attempts to divide the state from within.

In eastern Oregon, local Democrats openly mock the notion. At a recent picnic, they handed out cardboard moving boxes for those who wish to leave.

But behind the laughter, there lies some unease.

"America's democracy is in trouble... There are so many culture wars," said Devon Maxwell, a 27-year-old paralegal and member of the Democratic Party.

"What the greater Idaho movement is ultimately doing is inflaming the situation and the divides that are already in the community."

There are signs that the idea could be taking root more widely.

In February, Idaho's House of Representatives passed a non-binding resolution to discuss the project.

This has galvanized supporters of the "divorce" such as Curt Howell, a 67-year-old farmer who believes the movement could spread far beyond Oregon.

"You could redraw the lines all over the West... living amongst like-minded people is always easier," he said.

He would personally favor a peaceful solution, but he fears that "if in Oregon, something doesn't get better in the next five to 10 years, it could become ugly."

rfo/amz/dw
Consequences of the enemy attack on Kyiv this night

Kyiv in particular was heavily targeted, according to the head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, Serhiy Popko.

"This attack was exceptional in its density, with the maximum number of attacking missiles in the shortest time possible, Popko said.

But Ukraine's air defenses  bolstered by systems donated by its military allies, including the Patriot anti-ballistic missile system  downed all 18 of the Russian ballistic and cruise missiles, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi reported on Telegram on the morning of May 16.

Read also: Air Force reveals that Patriot system that took down Russian Kinzhal was operating autonomously

In the Ukrainian capital, residents were woken at 2.24 a.m. by the wail of air raid sirens, and there were warnings on social media of the threat of missile attacks countrywide.

Shortly after 3.00 a.m. people all over Kyiv heard the thunderous sound of Ukrainian air defenses engaging incoming missiles, as interceptor missiles launched and exploded over several areas of the capital.

The air alert ended after 1 hour 38 minutes, only to sound again under 20 minutes later at 4.21 a.m. as reports came in of incoming Shahed flying bombs. These too were shot down, and the final all-clear in Kyiv sounded at 5.33 a.m.

It was the eighth Russian air attack on Kyiv in the first 16 days of this month alone.

The Ukrainian Air Force reported that all aerial targets over the capital had been detected and intercepted. Fragments of the downed missiles and drones fell in five of the capital's districts: Solomyanskyi, Shevchenkivskyi, Sviatoshynskyi, Obolonskyi, and Darnytskyi.

Solomyanskyi district was affected the most. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported three people had been injured, although reports are still being verified. A utility building and buses caught fire in this district. The fire was quickly extinguished.

The damage in other districts was minor: debris fell on parked cars, streets and in parks.

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Read also: Russia launched only half of 36 deployed Kalibr missiles on Jan. 14

Russia launched its latest mass missile attack on Ukraine simultaneously from the north, south and east, firing:

six Kh-47M2 Kinzhal hypersonic ballistic missiles from six MiG-31K supersonic interceptor aircraft;

nine Kalibr cruise missiles from warships in the Black Sea;

three ground-based missiles, including S-400 and Iskander-M.

All six Kinzhal missiles that were fired at Kyiv were shot down by the capital's air defenses, the Ukrainian Air Force later reported.

In the follow-up attack Russia launched Iranian-made Shahed-136/131 suicide drones, as well as three reconnaissance UAVs. They were intercepted and shot down by Ukrainian air defenses as well.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Ukrainian air defenses, bolstered by sophisticated Western-supplied systems, thwarted an intense Russian air attack on Kyiv early Tuesday, shooting down all missiles aimed at the capital, officials said.

The bombardment, which targeted locations across Ukraine, included six Russian Kinzhal aero-ballistic hypersonic missiles, the most fired in a single attack in the war so far, according to Ukrainian air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly touted the Kinzhals as providing a key strategic competitive advantage and among the most advanced weapons in his country's arsenal. The missiles are difficult to detect and intercept because of their hypersonic speed and maneuverability.

If Ukraine's claim of having shot down six fired Tuesday is confirmed, it would mark another blow to Putin's war efforts and show the increasing effectiveness of the country's air defenses.

Air force spokesman Ihnat, who said in March that Ukraine lacked the equipment to intercept the Kinzhals, didn't explain Tuesday what systems were used to knock them down. Since March, Western countries have supplied Ukraine with various air defense systems.

Russia fired the Kinzhals from MiG-31K warplanes, along with nine cruise missiles from ships in the Black Sea and three S-400 cruise missiles launched from the ground, Ihnat said. In all, Ukraine's military said later, Russia had targeted Ukraine with 27 missiles in a day and launched 37 airstrikes.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu late Tuesday contested the Ukrainian claims, telling the state-run RIA-Novosti news agency: We have not launched as many Kinzhals as they allegedly shoot down every time with their statements.

Loud explosions boomed over Kyiv in the major nighttime attack apparently aimed at overwhelming Ukraines air defenses. Kyiv's mayor reported three people were wounded.

The barrage came as European leaders sought new ways to punish Russia for the war and a Chinese envoy sought traction for Beijings peace proposal, which appears to have made little impression on the warring sides. It also came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy returned home from a whirlwind European tour to seek more military aid.

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The overnight attack on Kyiv was exceptional in its density  the maximum number of attacking missiles in the shortest period of time, said Serhii Popko, the head of the Kyiv military administration.

Kyiv resident Valentyna Myronets, 64, said she felt pain, fear, nervousness, restlessness amid the assaults. God, we are waiting for victory and when all this is over, she said.

U.K. Ambassador Melinda Simmons tweeted that the barrage was pretty intense.

Bangs and shaking walls are not an easy night, she wrote.

It was the eighth time this month that Russian air raids had targeted the capital, a clear escalation after weeks of lull and ahead of a much-anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive using newly supplied advanced Western weapons.

After the first onslaught, Russia also launched Iranian-made Shahed attack drones and conducted aerial reconnaissance, Ihnat said.

Debris fell across several districts in the capital, starting fires, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.

Sophisticated Western air defense systems, including American-made Patriot missiles, have helped spare Kyiv from the kind of destruction witnessed along the main front line in the country's east and south. While most of the ground fighting is stalemated along that front line, both sides are targeting other territory with long-range weapons.

Associated Press reporters saw a metal fragment that landed inside the Kyiv zoo labeled Lockheed Martin and Boeing, two of the companies involved in manufacturing the Patriot missile system.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said a Kinzhal destroyed a Patriot missile battery in Kyiv but he didn't provide evidence, and the statement couldn't be independently verified. Ihnat, the Ukrainian air force spokesman, refused to comment on the claim.

Russia began using the Kinzhal to strike targets in Ukraine early in the invasion but has used the expensive weapon sparingly and against priority targets, apparently reflecting limited availability.

The Russian military says the missile's range is up to 2,000 kilometers (about 1,250 miles) and it can fly at 10 times the speed of sound. Its speed and heavy warhead allow the Kinzhal to destroy heavily fortified targets, such as underground bunkers or mountain tunnels.

Ukraine's bolstered air defenses have deterred Russia's aircraft from going deep into the neighbor country and helped shape the course of the war, military experts say.

In Iceland, European leaders are taking part in a rare summit of the 46-nation Council of Europe, the continents main human rights body, to discuss how to manage claims for compensation from Russia's damage to Ukraine.

Meanwhile, a Chinese envoy is preparing to visit Ukraine and Russia as Beijing advocates a peace plan it released in February. Li Hui, a former ambassador to Moscow, also will visit Poland, France and Germany, according to the Chinese foreign ministry.

Ukraine has cautiously welcomed China's proposal while saying it would wait to see what specific actions China takes. Chinese leader Xi Jinpings government says it is neutral and wants to mediate in the war, but has given Moscow political support, and a breakthrough appears unlikely.

In Russian-occupied southern Ukraine, about 500 kilometers (300 miles) from Kyiv, Russian officials began training to evacuate 3,100 staff members of the shut-down Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and their families, a representative of Energoatom, Ukraines state nuclear company, said Tuesday.

The plant, Europes largest nuclear power station, employed around 11,000 people before the war, some 6,000 of whom remain at the site and in the surrounding town of Enerhodar.

More Russian military units have arrived at the plant and are mining it, the representative told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. Russian troops have barred remaining workers from communicating with each other or leaving, Energoatom said on Telegram.

In other developments:

Ukrainian forces recaptured around 20 kilometers (7.7 square miles) of territory north and south of Bakhmut since last week, but Russian troops continue their grinding advance within the city, Ukraines deputy defense minister said Tuesday. Heavy battles continue with differing results, Hanna Malyar said on Telegram. The Russian-installed head of the partially occupied Donetsk region, Denis Pushilin, told Russian state TV that Russian forces near Bakhmut have reinforced their flanks in the face of Ukrainian successes.

Ukraine's intelligence chief made a rare acknowledgement Tuesday of his country's involvement in assassinations of Russian officials. In an interview posted on YouTube with a Ukrainian journalist, Kyrylo Budanov responded to a question about the deaths of Russian propagandists by saying: We have already got a lot of people." He declined to provide any details.

 In Ukraine's latest corruption scandal, which saw the head of the Supreme Court detained for alleged bribery on Monday, the chief of Ukraines National Anti-Corruption Bureau, Semen Kryvonos, identified the main suspect in the case as mining magnate Kostiantyn Zhevago. Zhevago was arrested in the French Alps in January on suspicion of embezzling tens of millions of dollars.

 South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts have agreed to separate meetings with a delegation of African leaders to discuss a possible plan to end the war. Ramaphosas office said he spoke with Putin and Zelenskyy by phone over the weekend and they agreed to host an African leaders peace mission in Moscow and Kyiv, respectively.

___

Vasilisa Stepanenko in Kyiv, and Yuras Karmanau in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed to this report.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
(CNN)  A 78-year-old American citizen has been sentenced to life in prison by a Chinese court on spying charges.

John Shing-Wan Leung, who is also a Hong Kong permanent resident, was convicted of espionage and given a life sentence Monday by the Intermediate People's Court in the eastern city of Suzhou, according to a statement on the court's social media account.

Leung was detained on April 15, 2021 by state security authorities in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, according to the brief statement, which did not provide details on his charges.

The court also confiscated personal property worth 500,000 yuan ($71,797), the statement added.

Chinese authorities and state media have not previously disclosed any information on Leung's detention or the court process that led to his conviction. Cases involving state security are usually strictly handled behind closed doors, where the judicial system has a conviction rate of around 99%, according to legal observers.

The US Embassy in Beijing said Monday it was aware of reports of Leung's sentencing.

"The Department of State has no greater priority than the safety and security of US citizens overseas. Due to privacy considerations, we have no further comment," a spokesperson for the US Embassy said in a statement to CNN.

CNN has also reached out to the US State Department for comment.

Hong Kong was notified by Chinese authorities of the arrest of Leung in 2021, the city's Secretary of Security, Chris Tang, said in a press conference on Monday.

The US State Department said Monday that it was "aware of the sentencing of a US citizen in the PRC on charges of espionage."

State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel did not get into further specifics, citing "privacy concerns" but stressed that the US seeks to provide "all appropriate assistance," including consular access, whenever a US citizen is detained abroad.

Asked if Leung has been designated as wrongfully detained, Patel said that "broadly on wrongfully detained designations that work is a deliberative process that is ongoing."

The sentencing of Leung comes at a time when relations between Beijing and Washington are at their lowest point in half a century amid intensifying rivalry over trade, technology, geopolitics and military supremacy.

It also comes as American and Chinese officials are resuming high-level engagements since a dispute over a suspected Chinese spy balloon shattered efforts to mend ties earlier this year.

There are at least three other Americans publicly known to be imprisoned in China -- Kai Li, Mark Swidan, and David Lin -- all of whom have been designated as wrongfully detained by the US State Department.

Leung is among a growing number of foreign nationals to have been ensnared in China's widening crackdown on espionage under leader Xi Jinping.

In March, Chinese authorities detained a Japanese employee of Astellas Pharma in Beijing on suspected espionage -- the 17th Japanese national to have been detained in China since the counter-espionage law was introduced in 2014.

In another high-profile case, two Canadians -- former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor -- were detained by China for nearly three years.

Their arrest on espionage charges in late 2018 came shortly after Canada arrested Chinese businesswoman and Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou on a US warrant related to the company's business dealings in Iran.

Beijing repeatedly denied that their cases were a political retaliation, but the two men were nonetheless released on the same day Meng was allowed by Canada to return to China.

Last month, China passed a wide-ranging amendment to its already sweeping counter-espionage law, which will take effect from 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 interests," and to include cyberattacks against state organs or critical information infrastructure.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "China sentences elderly US citizen to life in prison on spying charges"
Kyrylo Budanov

"Their offensive potential is completely exhausted, they now have a serious potential for defense," said Budanov.

Read also: Ukraine nears agreement on all-for-all prisoner exchange with Russia  Budanov

According to the Military Intelligence, Russian forces in Ukraine have built a layered and effective defense.

Read also: Ukrainian military prepares several options for upcoming counter-offensive, says Danilov

"But this is no longer the Russian army that could conduct serious offensive operations," he adds.

Read also: Upcoming Ukrainian counter-offensive maybe not last one, says FM Kuleba

Earlier, Director of U.S. National Intelligence Avril Haines stated that Russia is unlikely to conduct a "significant offensive operation this year," due to a lack of ammunition and personnel  regardless of whether the Ukrainian counteroffensive is successful or not.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Aleksandr Bogomaz, Governor of Bryansk Oblast, in the Russian Federation, has said that Russian air defence shot down a drone in the town of Klintsy.

Source: Bogomaz on Telegram; Radio Liberty on Telegram

Quote: "Today an anti-aircraft defence system of the Russian Armed Forces shot down a Ukrainian aircraft-type UAV in Klintsy."

Details: The governor said that a balcony in a residential building was damaged as a result of the drone attack, but there were no casualties.

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The capital city of Ukraine was hit by a barrage of Russian missiles overnight that officials described Tuesday as "exceptional in its density."

The Kyiv City Military Administration said the attack involved the "maximum number of attacking missiles in the shortest period of time," and that Russian forces likely used ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones to bombard the capital from multiple directions. Ukraine's air force later said 18 missiles were launched at around 3:30 a.m. local time.

The authorities did not provide information on casualties. The air force said all 18 missiles were shot down.

An image provided by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine shows firefighters dousing a blaze at a car parking facility caused by the remains of a downed Russian missile in Kyiv, May 16, 2023. / Credit: PRESS SERVICE OF THE STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE OF UKRAINE/HANDOUT

Residents were warned to stay away from windows and doors and Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitchko said debris from some of the rockets had fallen in the center of the city, including on the zoo.

"It's such a relief to know Kyiv is under such a strong defense right now," Kyiv resident Kseniia told CBS News partner network BBC News, expressing gratitude to her country' international partners, including the U.S., for providing advanced air defense systems.

She said she was awoken by a "series of very loud explosions" early Tuesday morning.

Meanwhile, there were unconfirmed reports Tuesday that another American military veteran had been killed in Ukraine.

Graphic video shared online purportedly showed the leader of Russia's Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, displaying identity documents of a deceased American and the man's body.

The State Department said it was "aware of the reports of the death of a U.S. citizen in Bakhmut" and was "seeking additional information." It added that the department's "ability to verify reports of deaths of U.S. citizens in Ukraine is extremely limited."

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Russian mercenary company Wagner Group claimed Tuesday that its soldiers killed a U.S. citizen  a former Green Beret  in the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, the site of the fiercest ongoing battle in the war-torn country.

Wagner Group fighters say they killed an American from Boise, Idaho, in a post on the private military companys Telegram channel.

The group shared a photo of his Pentagon identification card showing he is a former U.S. Army Special Forces soldier.

The Hill has not independently verified the claims and is keeping his name private.

We are aware of the reports of the death of a U.S. citizen in Bakhmut and are seeking additional information, a State Department spokesperson told The Hill on Tuesday.

Our ability to verify reports of deaths of U.S. citizens in Ukraine is extremely limited. We offer our condolences to the families of all whose lives have been lost as a result of Russias unprovoked and unjustified war against Ukraine, they added.

Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin also appears in a video inspecting and commenting on what they claim is the dead American soldier.

Prigozhin said he will hand over the body of the American citizen to U.S. authorities.

At least 12 Americans have died fighting in Ukraine since the war broke out last year, despite the U.S. warning citizens not to travel to the country.

Earlier this month, a former Marine was killed in Bakhmut after he was hit with a mortar round on a route used to resupply Ukrainian troops and evacuate civilians.

Fighting around Bakhmut has dragged on since the fall but has become especially intense as Ukraine prepares to launch its long-awaited counteroffensive.

Last week, Ukrainian forces made small yet tactical gains around Bakhmut after defending the eastern Ukrainian city against a Russian onslaught for months.

Prigozhin, who frequently publishes videos and statements about the war, has recently ramped up his criticism of Russias military command. He claimed Russian troops were fleeing amid the recent Ukrainian advance in Bakhmut.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Russian RS-24 Yars

Russia is about to start production of a new version of its RS-24 Yars intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM, with a final stage that incorporates much more mobile independent warheads, according to reports. The changes are expected to make the weapon far harder for an opponent to track and intercept, as well as improve its accuracy and overall capabilities. While warheads of this kind have been tested by Russia in the past, the latest evidence suggests that the country is poised to begin the series manufacture of these missiles, which will initially be fielded on road-mobile launchers.

News of this Russian ICBM development was posted on the countrys official state procurement website, according to MilitaryRussia.ru, via its channel on the Telegram social media network. Work is now reportedly underway at a number of different defense factories to prepare them to build the new missile.

A Yars intercontinental ballistic missile system drives through Red Square in Moscow, during a rehearsal for the Victory Day military parade in 2015. KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images

The government website states that the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology (MIT) corporation is preparing to start production of the mobile variant of the new Yars-M ICBM, MilitaryRussia.ru reported. Specifically, MIT will produce the solid-fuel 15Zh80 missile, which differs from earlier Yars and other Russian ICBMs in its use of independent post-boost vehicles, or IPBVs, known in Russian as blok individualnogo razvedeniya (BIR).

https://twitter.com/krakek1/status/1658048926065336320?s=20

Russia (and the Soviet Union before it) have a long history of interest in counter-measures for ICBMs and other ballistic missiles, something you can read more about here and here. For the ICBM force, the IPBV appears to be the latest.

In terms of warhead development, as The War Zone has explained in the past, most multi-warhead ICBMs carry multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles, or MIRVs, each able to strike a separate target.

A time-lapse shot showing MIRVs re-entering the atmosphere during a test of the LGM-118A Peacekeeper missile. U.S. Army

Normally, the final stage of the missile holds all of the MIRVs, and this detaches from the rest of the ICBM. The final stage can then independently maneuver once it has left the Earths atmosphere, releasing each warhead (as well as decoys) for each individual target. Since the MIRVs are all attached to the same main unit, which flies on a fairly linear course, the warheads can only be distributed over targets that are relatively close to that path. At the same time, the MIRV configuration also increases the time during which the entire missile can be intercepted, all of which make it theoretically more straightforward to track and potentially intercept.

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Only last year, Russian state media outlets provided unprecedented looks at the payload bus for the R-36M2 silo-based ICBM, known in the West as the SS-18 Mod 5 Satan. This weapon includes a MIRV configuration and one of the heaviest payloads of any ICBM ever developed and fielded, and you can read more about it here.

A view inside the R-36M2 payload bus where the warheads sit. Russian state media via Dmitry Kornev

In contrast, a missile with an IPBV configuration has multiple reentry vehicles each of which breaks off after launch and then hurtles toward its final destination, essentially behaving like smaller rockets that each host their own propulsion system and their own warhead. This means a single ICBM is better able to strike independent targets.

After all, using IPBVs, each warhead can follow a course that is much more independent of the main missiles trajectory, allowing a single ICBM to rain down warheads across a far wider geographical area. This kind of targeting can also be more precise, with the vehicles not restricted by a single flight path.

https://twitter.com/russianforces/status/1658072019236257793?s=20

At the same time, and perhaps most importantly, IPBVs are better able to defeat missile defenses that might be in their way. In a typical MIRV arrangement, the warheads remain clustered together as a single object for a longer period of time and could potentially be destroyed as one. With IPBVs, the warheads are moving independently of one another, likely on differing trajectories, complicating tracking them and intercepting them using ballistic missile defense systems. At least in principle, the warheads will also be distributed much sooner, further complicating interception. Even if the warheads do end up all flying along the same general path, each will still need to be intercepted independently.

Whether MIRVs or IPBVs are involved, the fact remains that intercepting an ICBM of any kind is a very difficult process, to begin with, a reality that The War Zone has addressed in the past.

As to how an IPBV-configured missile might look, a report from the Moscow-based Centre for Analysis of Strategy and Technologies (CAST) today includes a drawing published in MITs house journal in 2020. This provides a basic depiction of an IPBV-type ICBM.

https://twitter.com/krakek1/status/1658041043277828098?s=20

Shown is a three-stage missile, with the first stage of the 15Zh80 expected to be the same as the original Yars. The second stage of the new missile could differ from the basic Yars, according to CAST, with a different engine installation being considered likely. Most significantly, the third stage of the missile carries the IPBVs.

Its unclear exactly how many IPBVs might be carried atop the Yars-M missile, and what kind of explosive yield they might host. The MIT diagram appears to show four modules as payload, but this may well not reflect the reality of the new 15Zh80 missile. Its also worth noting that the missile in the drawing seems to be fairly generic and it also has a constant diameter, unlike in the Yars, which is slimmer toward the nose. While the profile of the Yars-M could change, too, the depiction is broadly similar to the kinds of IPBV concepts we have seen come out of Russia in the past, as seen in the tweet below.

https://twitter.com/russianforces/status/915509077920354304?s=20

Regardless of the similarity between the drawing and the 15Zh80 missile, CAST notes that the modular layout of the missile should provide for a variety of different payload options, which might include different numbers of warheads, warheads with different yields, and also various penetration aids, or PENAIDS. As seen in the U.S. Air Force video below, the latter are decoys designed to ensure that nuclear warheads have a better chance of reaching their targets in the face of ballistic missile defense systems.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARnyIrDg6xk

CAST also points out one potential shortcoming of the IPBV version of the ICBM, compared to the original Yars, in that the reduced overall mass of the third stage means the missile loses energy faster, with a probable effect on its maximum range. The reported range of the Yars is over 6,500 miles.

Its been suggested, too, that the reduced mass will also translate into smaller and lighter warheads, which could in turn reduce their yield. In the basic Yars, each MIRV reportedly has a yield of between 150 and 250 kilotons, although the exact number carried is unclear  while Russian media has reported that each Yars missile carries as many as 10 individual nuclear weapons, many experts believe the actual number is far lower.

Based on the documents on the procurement website, CAST also considers it likely that the new Yars-M missile will retain enough commonality with the original missile such that it can use the same road-mobile launch vehicle, the MZKT-79221. This 16x16 transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) was designed and developed in Belarus and is also used by the road-mobile version of the older Topol-M ICBM. At one stage, Russia was hoping to introduce a comparable TEL of its own, the KamAZ-7850, although work on this appears to have stalled or perhaps been abandoned altogether.

https://twitter.com/DnKornev/status/1293755032513458176?s=20

https://twitter.com/Ninja998998/status/1055675444714967041?s=20

Reports that Russia was testing an experimental warhead version of the Yars missile emerged in 2019, as The War Zone reported at the time.

The test in question, at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in the northwestern Arkhangelsk Oblast, apparently involved an adaptation of the ICBM with a three-warhead configuration, understood to involve IPBVs. Its unclear if this was the first such test of a Yars with this type of warhead, the original version of the missile having entered service with Russias Strategic Rocket Forces in December 2010.

A column of Yars ICBM launchers follows an armored personnel carrier at a Strategic Rocket Forces base near the town of Teykovo, northeast of Moscow, in 2011. ANDREY SMIRNOV/AFP via Getty Images

Also noteworthy is the fact that the Yars has always been associated with multiple warheads, albeit initially of the MIRVed type. It is generally understood that the initial version of the Yars was simply a modification of the earlier single-warhead Topol-M, but with MIRVs. The United States argued that the new Yars designation was an attempt to circumvent provisions in the since-expired Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), which put limitations on the total number of warheads U.S. and Russian forces can have available on ICBMs, as well as on modifications to existing missiles. START was followed by New START, although Russia was accused of non-compliance with this before announcing its withdrawal from the treaty altogether, earlier this year.

https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/1627987898980073472?s=20

For the United States, the Yars-M, supposing it does actually enter serial production, appears to offer particular new challenges to its ballistic missile defense system.

In terms of detection, it would be harder for the U.S. network of satellites, radars, other sensors, and communications nodes that are tasked with identifying and then tracking missile launches and subsequent warhead releases. An ICBM that releases IPBVs heading on different trajectories could even threaten to overwhelm this network.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rMr-Mki7VY

Presuming that the various IPBVs are identified and can be tracked, the problem then becomes one of successfully intercepting them during the mid-course portion of the flight. Again, multiple warheads headed in various trajectories would only increase their chances of evading the U.S. militarys Ground-based Mid-course Defense (GMD) and SM-3 Block IIA interceptors and its unclear if the forthcoming Next Generation Interceptor, or NGI, would fare much better, especially as only 21 of these are to be fielded. The limited nature of the defensive umbrella offered by NGI is something we have explored in depth in the past.

A test of the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense system from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, in June 2014, during which it successfully intercepted a target:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypFKCXRLmcI

Together with corresponding developments in hypersonic weapons, including those that are delivered by other ICBMs, Russia certainly appears to be making concerted efforts to bolster its nuclear deterrence posture.

This is before taking into account the sobering reality that the current U.S. ballistic missile defense shield by itself is not enough to protect against an all-out Russian nuclear strike. Even the current Russian arsenal is more than capable of overwhelming the ballistic missile defenses of any other nation.

Since Moscows full-scale invasion of Ukraine, such bluster has only been magnified, however, and Russias relations with the West continue to deteriorate. At the same time, nuclear threats from the Kremlin leadership, whether veiled or otherwise, have seen an uptick.

https://twitter.com/Gerashchenko_en/status/1575104159652511745?s=20

At this point, the pressures of the Ukraine war are clearly being felt by the Russian Ministry of Defense. In terms of budgets, these are increasingly having to address the demands of that conflict and, besides that, there have been long-standing questions about Russias ability to pay for higher-end weapon systems since long before the invasion. Added to that, sanctions are now making it harder to produce high-technology weapons, in general. In that context, the Yars-M, as a more modest upgrade of an existing ICBM, would appear to be a more attractive option than designing a new strategic missile from scratch.

At the same time, there are recent reports that Russia has embarked on the early developmental work for a new submarine-launched intercontinental ballistic missile, or SLBM, to eventually replace the current Bulava missile. Its not clear, at this point, if an all-new weapon is envisaged, or an upgrade or further development of the existing missile. A former submarine commander, Rear Admiral Vsevolod Khmyrov, told Russias Izvestia news agency that the new SLBM would have to be guaranteed to overcome any missile defense system and provide high accuracy with an increased flight range.

https://twitter.com/Saturnax1/status/1657977925872877568?s=20

It should also be noted, of course, that Russia has frequently talked up the capabilities of its weapons systems, strategic ones especially, and that its possible that the IPBV concept might still prove a dead-end. Depending on exactly how new any of these missiles are, the process of getting them into operational service could also prove complicated. This was the case with the Bulava SLBM, which experienced significant delays in its development, and the Sarmat heavy ICBM is facing similar issues now, too.

On the other hand, should Russia indeed be about to bring an IPBV-equipped ICBM into production, the result could well be a relatively cost-effective way of challenging U.S. missile defenses and further boosting the overall flexibility of its strategic missile forces.

Contact the author: thomas@thedrive.com
Federal law enforcement officials on Tuesday said they are offering up to $10 million for information that could lead to the arrest of a Russian national linked to hundreds of ransomware attacks, including one on Prospect Park's Police Department.

Officials with the Department of State said Mikhail Pavlovich Matveev is wanted in connection with hundreds of internet-based scams designed to extort money from U.S.-based victims. He has been charged by federal officials with conspiring to transmit ransom demands, conspiring to damage protected computers and intentionally damaging protected computers, court records show. If convicted, he faces over 20 years in prison.

Matveev's alleged victims included hospitals, nonprofits and government agencies, said Kenneth A. Polite Jr., the assistant U.S. attorney general.

Prospect Park Mayor Mohamed Khairullah said the hacker penetrated the boroughs computers by sending a phishing email.

Thats our understanding, he said, based on what law enforcement and our federal agencies have informed us.

Khairullah said the hack compromised an unspecified number of computer files, which contained personal information about current and retired police officers. As a result, he said, the borough provided them with credit-monitoring service for four years to ensure that they are not targets of identity theft.

Our immediate response was to make sure that we protect them, he said.

Since the hack, Khairullah said, municipal employees have been educated on how to properly authenticate emails. He said the borough also moved its computer data to cloud-based storage, which is generally more secure than an on-premise server.

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The Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C., was targeted, officials said, as was the small Prospect Park Police Department in eastern Passaic County. The latter was targeted on June 25, 2020, when Matveev and co-conspirators allegedly deployed LockBit ransomware to hijack the department's computer systems and extort money from the local government.

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Matveev is also accused of working from Russia with co-conspirators using ransomware variants Hive and Babuk. In total, Matveev is accused of amassing roughly $200 million in ransom from about 2,800 victims.

Hacking: NJ acknowledges cyber 'intrusion,' making documents unavailable across state agencies

The FBI is steadfast in our commitment to disrupting cybercriminals like Matveev, said Bryan Vorndran, assistant director of the FBIs Cyber Division. The FBI will continue to impose costs on cyber adversaries through our joint collaboration with our private sector and international partners, and we will not tolerate these criminal acts against American citizens.

The case against Matveev is being investigated by the FBI Newark Field Offices Cyber Crimes Task Force. Assistance has been provided by the Jersey City Police Department, New Jersey State Police, the Newark IRS criminal investigation unit and others, records show.

Officials said victims of LockBit, Babuk or Hive ransomware should contact their local FBI field office for further information. Additional information on ransomware can be found at StopRansomware.gov. Information on Matveev can be sent to tips.fbi.gov or RewardsForJustice.net.

Staff Writer Philip DeVencentis contributed to this article.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Russian hacker wanted for Prospect Park NJ police attack
At least seven people have been killed and five others injured as a result of a Russian attack on Donetsk and Kharkiv oblasts.

Source: Pavlo Kyrylenko, Head of Donetsk Oblast Military Administration; Oleh Syniehubov, Head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote from Kyrylenko: "On 15 May, the Russians killed four residents of Donetsk Oblast in Avdiivka. In addition, the body of a man killed during the occupation was exhumed in Bohorodychne. Another four people have been injured in the oblast."

Details: Later, Kyrylenko added on Facebook that the number of people killed by the Russians in Donetsk Oblast had increased to five.

Oleh Syniehubov, Head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, has also reported two deaths: a civilian man and woman have been killed as a result of Russian artillery shelling of Dvorichna, Kupiansk district. Another man received shrapnel wounds and has been taken to the hospital.

On the evening of 15 May, the occupiers massively attacked Vovchansk, Chuhuiv district, damaging at least three residential buildings, outbuildings, the local hospital building, and several shells hit the open area.

In the village of Tyshchenkivka, Kupiansk district, at least four residential buildings and outbuildings have been damaged by an attack from multiple-launch rocket systems, and fires broke out.

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REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

The head of a U.S.-based nonprofit that fights against Russian repression, the Free Russia Foundation, says she was possibly poisoned by some nerve agent while on a recent trip to Europe, in a possible sign that Russia's poison team is targeting critics again.

There is a suspicion that during my recent trip to Europe I was poisoned, possibly by some nerve agent, investigated by one Western intelligence agency, I still have neuropathy symptoms, but overall I feel much better, Natalia Arno, who has lived in the U.S. for a decade, said in a social media post.

Arnos symptoms set in while she was on a trip to the Czech Republic early this month, according to independent Russian news outlet Agentsvo, which described the founder as a U.S. citizen. Arno did not respond to a comment request from The Daily Beast by the time of publication.

She doesn't appear to be alone. At least two other Kremlin critics have reportedly been targeted in suspected poisoning attacks since 2020, including former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst, according to Agentsvo.

Herbst fell ill in April 2021 and came down with symptoms that could be consistent with poisoning, but testing was inconclusive, according to a statement from the Atlantic Council, where Herbst works now.

In April 2021 he grew ill and experienced symptoms that could have been consistent with poisoning, including elevated levels of toxins in his blood. Medical professionals treated Ambassador Herbst effectively at the time but could not definitively conclude there was poisoning involved, the statement says. The Atlantic Council worked with federal law enforcement on this matter, who later also took a blood sample from Ambassador Herbst, and the lab results failed to detect toxic compounds.

Herbst declined to share more details with The Daily Beast about how he came down with symptoms.

Litvinenko: The Harrowing Story of the Russian Defector Who Says He Was Poisoned by Putin

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In Arno's case, she said that she returned to an open hotel room door on the day of the suspected attack. She checked the room for bugs or listening devices and did not find any. But she did notice her room was filled with a strange smell similar to the aroma of cheap perfumes, she said.

In the second city, after a busy day of discussions and meetings, I returned to my hotel in the evening and found the door to my room slightly open. First thoughtis Comrade Major really waiting inside? Arno said, adding that she later woke up at 5am in acute pain with strange symptoms.

Then she flew to the United States to contact the authorities and to seek medical attention while suffering from what she described as vivid numbness. Emergency room tests showed no traces of anythingnot even alcoholshe said, which seemed bizarre given that she had just come from what she described as one of the beer capitals of the world.

A Russian journalist reportedly informed the Agentsvo that she developed likely poisoning symptoms as well.

Other suspicious intimidation tactics have reportedly cropped up in recent months. Christo Grozev, an executive of Bellingcat, which has previously investigated Russian poisoning schemes, was the target of a hotel room break-in, according to Agentsvo.

Four of his acquaintances told the outlet that his hotel room in Montenegro was broken into just two months after the war in Ukraine began. Grozev did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Daily Beast.

Russia has long conducted poisoning operations targeting its critics. The USSR created Lab X, a department aimed at poisoning enemies of the Soviet Union, in 1921, but experts say it still exists in some form today.

In 2018, Russian operatives in the U.K. targeted Sergei Skripal, a former Russian intelligence agent, with the nerve agent Novichok. Skripal and his daughter, Yulia Skripal, nearly died after the exposure, which killed a bystander. World leaders from the United States, France, Germany, and the U.K. said Russia was behind the attack.

In 2020, the FSB likely used Novichok to poison Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, according to the State Department. Alexander Litvinenko, a former KGB and FSB officer, was killed in 2006 after drinking a radioactive cup of tea in London. Viktor Yushchenko, an anti-Russian Ukrainian presidential candidate, was poisoned with dioxin chemicals in 2004.

Russian critics need to be on alert that they might be targeted for intimidation and repression operations, including via threats and poisonings, Arno warned.

Moral: Russians who had to leave Putin's Russia, but who abroad continue to fight firmly and decisively against the war, against Putin's regime and for a free and democratic Russia, need to understand that the enemy has long legs, there is the possibility to expose us to danger outside Russia, so we must always be vigilant, Arno said.

It's terrible to think that you can be poisoned at any moment, but everything that Putin's regime does is horrible, abnormal and criminal: from bombs dropping on peaceful cities of neighboring countries to such cases of transnational repression, Arno said. The enemy is dangerous, aggressive and criminal, we know it very well.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Aeroflot Russian Airlines Airbus A320 civil jet aircrafts at Moscow-Sheremetyevo International Airport. Leonid Faerberg/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images

Aeroflot asked its employees to stop reporting malfunctions on planes, Proekt reported.

This means that many flights are departing with significant equipment issues, the outlet added.

Flying in Russia has become increasingly dangerous as Western sanctions continue to bite the aviation industry.

Russia's biggest commercial airline Aeroflot has asked its employees to refrain from reporting malfunctions as it continues to suffer under Western sanctions, according to the investigative Russian outlet Proekt.

Senior flight attendants at the company were sent an email in March last year in which they were told they should only log faults after obtaining approval from the pilot in command, Proekt reported on Monday. The investigation cited internal company documents and interviews with current and former employees.

This means that many flights are departing with significant breakdowns that staff are fully aware of, several employees said.

A senior Aeroflot flight attendant told the publication that employees were instructed "not to record any breakdowns encountered during flights in the Cabin Log Book (CLB), but rather to verbally communicate the details of the issues and their location," according to a translation by independent Russian media outlet The Insider.

"Consequently, in cases where spare parts were unavailable and in order to avoid grounding the plane, the aircraft was allowed to take off with a malfunction, even if it was quite significant," the flight attendant added.

A former Aeroflot employee told Proekt that the main reason behind the directive is "to prevent aircraft from being grounded due to a malfunction that, on paper, should prevent the aircraft from being operated until it is fixed."

A series of Western sanctions implemented after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine prohibited its aviation industry from being able to service its aircrafts or get spare parts delivered.

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As a result, the Kremlin announced earlier this year that it would legalize "cannibalization," which means Russian engineers can remove serviceable parts from one plane to keep others flying.

The lack of aircraft maintenance has already led to several close calls.

One Aeroflot flight in January had to make an emergency landing due to a faulty toilet system, while another was forced to land one month later due to an air conditioning malfunction, according to a report by the independent Russian news outlet Arbat.

A former pilot told Proekt that on a flight in January, he found a fuel leakage while starting the engines of a Boeing 737. When he called technicians to investigate the leak, they said it had been there for a while.

"It had happened several times before, but there were no records of it in the technical log book  the airline's management asked us not to write anything," the pilot told Proekt.

Denis Brailsford, the head of asset management at the UK's leading aviation consultancy group IBA, previously told Insider that flying in Russia could become increasingly dangerous.

"Access to spare parts, which are sanctioned, is very limited," Brailsford said. "And the ability for Russian Airlines to perform repairs on those parts ... is very limited."

Aeroflot did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Garoua-Boulai, Cameroon  Much of the bloodiest fighting since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine has been around the eastern city of Bakhmut, where thousands of ill-equipped Russian forces have died on the front lines since the end of last year. Many of those fighters have not been enlisted Russian soldiers, but mercenaries recruited and paid by the Wagner Group, a private army run by President Vladimir Putin's long-time associate Yevgeny Prigozhin.

Prigozhin's seemingly endless supply of hired guns in Ukraine requires deep pockets, and a CBS News investigation has found that he's funding his operations in large part by putting his private army to work in Africa.

Wagner in Africa

The Russian businessman has used his forces to prop up some very unsavory regimes in exchange for free reign to plunder the valuable resources of mineral rich countries including Mali, Sudan and Libya. But it's in the small nation of the Central African Republic (CAR) that his business model has been honed to perfection.

The story Wagner tells in a Prigozhin bank-rolled movie aired in the country  innocuously titled "Tourist"  is that his mercenaries are the saviors of CAR. The movie glorifies the mission of these soldiers of fortune as heroes repelling rebel attacks and thwarting a plan to storm the capital and overthrow the president. There was even a Hollywood-style premier in the capital, Bangui, and promotional t-shirts bearing the slogan "Je Suis Wagner."

A statue in Bangui, Central African Republic, stands in honor of the Russian mercenaries of the Wagner Group, which portrays itself as a protector of the country while plundering its resources for profit. / Credit: CBS News

But it's all Russian propaganda, at its most lavish and its most distorted.

The paramilitary group does indeed provide the country's President Faustin-Archange Touadera with mercenary muscle to prevent a coup from toppling his shaky grip on CAR. There's even a statue in Bangui honoring the Russians for bravely protecting women and children.

What Wagner doesn't tell you, however, is that it is effectively helping to run CAR through violence, disinformation and a galaxy of shell companies that obscure the exploitation of the country's mineral riches.

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Masked Wagner Group mercenaries, along with domestic security agents, stand guard during an event as Central African Republic (CAR) President Faustin-Archange Touadera speaks on stage, in September 2022. / Credit: CBS News

In a rare moment caught on camera, included in the CBS News report at the top of this article, masked Russian mercenaries can actually be seen guarding the president. The United Nations has accused Wagner of gross human rights atrocities and CBS News has confirmed multiple stories of civilian massacres, executions and rape in CAR.

Wagner's bloody entry to CAR

Convincing people from CAR to talk to CBS News wasn't easy. Everyone was understandably terrified, convinced that Wagner has eyes everywhere. One man finally agreed to be interviewed on the condition that we change his name, conceal his identity and go to the extraordinary lengths of meeting him in neighboring Cameroon. Usman, as we're calling him, spent a day traveling through military checkpoints in taxis and on the back of motorbikes to cross the border.

"Wagner is not here to defend the country," Usman scoffed as soon as he met us. "Whoever told you that, it's a lie!"

His family used to be in the gold dealing business, which is a big one in CAR.

"It was very prosperous," he said. "It paid for the education of all the children in our family and gave us a good life. We lacked nothing."

Wagner mercenaries seized in Ukraine on the lies and threats they faced

Then in 2021, Wagner came to his family's small-scale, artisanal mining town. Usman told us that his younger brother was killed, his sisters were raped and their gold business was seized by the Russians.

Usman said he was carted off to a makeshift prison cell at the Wagner forces' base, where he was tortured for days and tied up in a bag with a rope. He claims he eventually escaped and that he's been in hiding ever since.

"What they did to my country, seeing my parents As a man it makes you feel useless," Usman said, breaking down weeping as he spoke with us. "They stole our possessions, burnt down our home I even see Wagner soldiers riding on my motorbike with my name still on it."

He paints a painful, poignant image, which encapsulates the extent to which the Russian mercenaries have taken everything from one of the poorest countries in the world.

What's in it for Wagner?

Wagner has a pact forged in blood. The pay off? Unfettered access to CAR's gold mines and forests, which fund the group's criminal and paramilitary activities far beyond Africa.

"Like the war in Ukraine," explained Usman, connecting the conflict 6,000 miles away directly with his own country's suffering. "How else do you explain that Russia is under sanctions, but their economy remains unaffected. It's like witchcraft!"

David Otto, of the Geneva Centre for African Security and Strategic Studies, explained succinctly that Wagner is compensated for its services to the autocratic regime in CAR with lucrative mining rights and forestry concessions.

"It's all about following the money," Otto told CBS News. "You've got to understand that these private militaries, they need money to function, they need resources to function We're talking about billions of dollars here, perhaps even more."

But following the money isn't clearcut, Otto added, explaining that Wagner's operations in CAR are always covert  Wagner would never have its actual name on the registration of a company involved.

All that glitters is gold

Satellite images provided to CBS News by independent intelligence company Grey Dynamics clearly show the Ndassima gold mine in CAR being developed. Wagner has a 25-year mining concession for the mine, but it operates the facility under the cover of Midas Resources, a Prigozhin-linked front company.

A satellite image provided to CBS News by independent intelligence company Grey Dynamics shows the Ndassima gold mine in the Central African Republic's Ouaka prefecture. / Credit: Grey Dynamics

Exporting gold through the country's international airport, however, surely would be difficult for a group designated by the U.S. as a transnational criminal organization. Not for Wagner.

"They have control of the airport and the staff," explained Usman. "There's a cargo plane flying between Moscow and Bangui."

It's as simple as that. Wagner, it appears, is flying CAR's gold right out of the country, straight to the Russian capital.

CBS News secretly recorded a Wagner cargo plane moments after it landed at Bangui's M'Poko Airport. It taxied toward the mercenary group's base, situated near the runway. We were told the planes usually arrive in the capital on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and nobody is allowed near the aircraft. Security is extremely tight.

A cargo plane operated by Russia's Wagner Group is seen after landing at M'Poko Airport, in Bangui, Central African Republic, in early May 2023. / Credit: CBS News

Working with Grey Dynamics we tracked that plane, which went dark over Africa, dropping off air traffic monitors. If a plane wants to conceal its identity the pilot can deliberately turn off the transponder. The same plane eventually reappeared, in the United Arab Emirates. Within half an hour of its landing, another plane also touched down on the tarmac, from Moscow. The two aircraft overlapped for eight hours  plenty of time to potentially transfer cargo in a country with lax customs regulations.

Wagner finds a new revenue stream in timber

CBS News' investigation found that Prigozhin has also expanded his operations to include the plunder of CAR's virgin redwood forests. But conflict timber  trees taken by an armed group to perpetuate or take advantage of a conflict  is even harder to hide than gold.

Documents shared with CBS News by All Eyes on Wagner, a research group that investigates Wagner's alleged criminal activities and human rights abuses in multiple countries, show a company called Bois Rouge received a forestry concession in 2021 from the CAR government to fell trees in the country's Lobaye region.

On paper, Bois Rouge is headed by a woman who is a CAR national. But the company also appeared at a Shanghai trade exhibition as a Russian firm, with Artem Tolmachev listed as its sales manager. His tax records, seen by CBS News, reveal that he's paid by two companies linked to Prigozhin: Service K and Ferrum Mining.

A suspected Russian Wagner mercenary is secretly filmed as he mans a roadway checkpoint near the Central African Republic's border with Cameroon, May 2023. / Credit: CBS News

CBS News secretly filmed Wagner trucks leaving the group's military base near the capital loaded with wood. The convoy was protected by Russian mercenaries all the way to the border with Cameroon, where they were waved through before continuing to the town of Garoua-Mboulai.

At the border, the drivers presented a safe passage document stamped by the CAR government. The document functions like a diplomatic badge  it means vehicles cannot be searched.

"We know Wagner often marks their wood with white or green dots," Usman told us, "and it's cut in a very specific way."

A truck loaded with wood, including timber harvested by the Wagner Group, is driven toward the Central African Republic's border with Cameroon, in early May 2023. / Credit: CBS News

CBS News filmed several trucks that were part of the Wagner convoy with those tell-tale signs.

"Serious organized crime"

The drivers transport the wood to Cameroon's port of Douala, or the deep-sea port of Kribi about a three-hour drive further south. With hidden cameras and posing as potential buyers, CBS News visited a customs office run by officials from the neighboring Central African Republic at the busy Douala port.

There was wood everywhere  as if an entire forest had been chopped down. Much of it was legally exported by registered timber companies. But among the logs there was also timber bearing the tell-tale signs of having been hacked down by Wagner  evidence of a sanctioned organization running what is effectively a multinational criminal syndicate.

A CAR official at the port told CBS News it was very easy to get timber from the Central African Republic through customs in Cameroon, calling it "a smooth process, with no delays."

But we could not find any wood labeled as being exported by Bois Rouge, the front company that's been running the Wagner logging business in CAR. Instead, nearly 100 export documents obtained by CBS News from a Wagner convoy show a company called Wood International Group tasked with exporting the timber from Cameroon.

A covert photo shows an International Safe Passage document, stamped by authorities in the Central African Republic, carried by a truck operated by Russia's Wagner Group to transport timber out of the country to neighboring Cameroon. The company name Wood International Group appears in the top left box of the form. / Credit: CBS News

After poring over the documents looking for anomalies, we finally spotted it: Wood International Group has exactly the same address and contact details as Bois Rouge. A deeper dive found that Wood International and Bois Rouge share the same company registration number. It's another Prigozhin subterfuge  changing the name of a front company to avoid detection.

"This is, you know, one of the key elements of serious organized crime," said Otto, the analyst at the Geneva Centre. "In order to disguise one company, they use a proxy company."

The U.S. government has sanctioned the Wagner Group and associated entities, and a State Department official told CBS News that, with international partners, the U.S. was "working to limit the Prigozhin criminal enterprise's ability to profit from its operations in Africa."

"The Department of State is engaging all countries who may be facilitating Wagner profiteering, knowingly or unknowingly," the official said, adding that the U.S. was "fully committed" to working with its partners in Africa and other nations to address the "destabilizing" activities of the Wagner Group.

The official accused Prigozhin and Putin together of "actively undercutting the independence of our African partners."

How much could Wagner rake in from CAR?

Experts estimate Wagner's projected revenue for the timber alone to be close to $1 billion, while the potential revenue from the Ndassima mine  now run entirely by Wagner  is estimated conservatively at around $2.7 billion.

CBS News has been told that Wagner is also mining diamonds in CAR.

Workers mine in an open pit at the Ndassima gold mine in the Central African Republic. / Credit: CBS News

Wagner has always been a plausible deniability for Russia. Mercenary outfits are banned in the country, but increasingly during Putin's war in Ukraine, Prigozhin has stepped out of the shadows to claim glory for isolated victories  and to publicly lash senior government ministers  without any apparent repercussions.

He appears to answer only to Putin, and our investigation suggests his hundreds of front companies are central to the Kremlin's strategy to win allies across the African continent, while grabbing their resources and finding new ways to evade crippling Western sanctions.

It's worth noting that, despite the unprecedented sanctions imposed on Russia by the US and many other nations since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Moscow's gold reserves have increased over the last year, reaching an all-time high in the first quarter of 2023 according to their own figures.

Wagner's business model is one it likely hopes to replicate across Africa, where there's no shortage of dodgy dictators eager to halt democratic resistance or fight off insurgencies. All the while, Prigozhin continues to evade sanctions and rake in the billions that fund both his rapidly expanding criminal empire, and his private army helping fight Russia's war in Ukraine.

CBS News sought comment from the Wagner Group for this story, but had not received a reply by the time of publication.

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(CNN)  One of the strongest cyclones to ever hit Myanmar has cut communications to coastal areas as aid groups warn that early reports suggest the damage is "extensive."

Cyclone Mocha slammed into northwestern Myanmar coast, off the Bay of Bengal, with wind gusts of over 200 kilometers per hour (195 mph) on Sunday, crashing through homes and bringing down power lines.

Video from the conflict-racked Rakhine state showed powerful gusts of wind blowing trees to the ground.

People can be seen huddling in temporary shelters, though the full impact of the storm is not yet known due to difficulties contacting people in the region.

"The ongoing wild weather in Rakhine and telecommunications interruptions mean it has not yet been possible to assess the full magnitude of the disaster," said the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

"But early reports suggest the damage is extensive and needs among already vulnerable communities, particularly displaced people, will be high.

Before the storm, aid agencies in Myanmar, as well as neighboring Bangladesh, launched a massive emergency plan in a bid to minimize the risk of injury and destruction.

They had feared that Mocha would hit Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh, where about 1 million members of the stateless Rohingya community live.

But the tropical cyclone made landfall further south, just north of Sittwe, Myanmar, around 1:30 p.m. Sunday local time (3:00 a.m. ET), according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center.

Hasina Rahman, Country Director for Bangladesh, International Rescue Committee, told CNN Monday it had been a "close call" for those living in the refugee camps in Cox's Bazar, adding there are no reports of casualties.

However, torrential rain battered Rakhine state in western Myanmar, bringing threats of flooding and landslides.

The last storm to make landfall with a similar strength was Tropical Cyclone Giri back in October 2010. It made landfall as a high-end Category 4 equivalent storm with maximum winds of 250 kph (155 mph).

Giri caused over 150 fatalities and roughly 70% of the city of Kyaukphyu was destroyed. According to the United Nations, roughly 15,000 homes were destroyed in Rakhine state during the storm.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Early reports of 'extensive damage' as Cyclone Mocha hits Myanmar's coast"
Sacramento County sheriffs investigators on Monday arrested a man accused of sexually abusing a 14-year-old minor.

The 32-year-old Sacramento County man was arrested on suspicion of committing four counts of lewd acts with a minor 14 or 15 years old, according to the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office.

The suspect was booked at the Sacramento County Jail, where he was being held Monday afternoon in lieu of $1 million bail. He is scheduled to make his first appearance Wednesday in Sacramento Superior Court.

Sheriffs officials said the suspect knew the victim in this case. The Sheriffs Office did not release any other details about the case.
Saddleback Church, the Southern California megachurch founded by best-selling author Rick Warren, is appealing its ouster from the Southern Baptist Convention for having women pastors on staff, according to the denomination.

Saddleback is asking the annual meeting of the SBC, which convenes next month in New Orleans, to overturn a February decision by the denomination's Executive Committee to expel it.

The committee said Saddleback has a faith and practice that does not closely identify with the Conventions adopted statement of faith, as demonstrated by the church having a female teaching pastor functioning in the office of pastor. That was an allusion to Stacie Wood, wife of Lead Pastor Andy Wood, who holds the role of teaching pastor.

The appeal extends the standoff between the nation's largest Protestant denomination and one of its largest, most successful churches.

Saddleback was one of five congregations that the committee ousted over the issue of women as pastors. One of those congregations, Fern Creek Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, is also appealing its dismissal.

Under SBC bylaws, churches can appeal a dismissal by the Executive Committee to the full SBC annual meeting. Monday was the deadline for filing appeals.

The SBCs statement of faith says that men should be in authority in families and churches. While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture, the statement says. The SBC is not a hierarchy and cant tell a member congregation what to do, but it can deem a church to be not in friendly cooperation with the Convention, the verbal formulation for ouster.

Saddleback, with multiple campuses across Southern California, had 54,000 members as of 2021, according to its annual membership report to the SBC. It averaged attendance of 28,000.

The standoff began in 2021 when Saddleback announced it was ordaining three women as pastors. After founding pastor Warren retired in 2022, he was succeeded as lead pastor by Andy Wood, whose wife, Stacie Wood, then assumed a role as teaching pastor.

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And earlier in May, Saddleback announced that Katie Edwards, one of the three women ordained in 2021, would assume the role of pastor of its flagship Lake Forest campus.

Saddleback did not issue a statement on the appeal this week.

But in a video statement released in March after the Executive Committee vote, Andy Wood said that the church's leaders do interpret the Bible to say that men should be in authority over a church  but that they can authorize women to be pastors. All of the elders at Saddleback are men, he said.

A man who is an elder can empower women and mobilize women to use their spiritual gifts in the local church, he said, saying there are examples of this occurring in the Bible.

Fern Creek Baptist Church also sent formal notice to the SBC that it is appealing the decision to oust it. The Rev. Linda Barnes Popham has served as Fern Creeks pastor since 1993.

We obviously interpret scripture referring to women in ministry differently than some others in Baptist life, the church said in an earlier response to the SBC's Credentials Committee, which reviews churches' qualifications and can recommend their dismissal to the Executive Committee. We are happy to meet with you to further discuss how we feel Jesus has led us to this interpretation.

Fern Creek said the question of women in ministry should be a second or third tier issue on which Baptists can disagree.

Other churches that were ousted in February, and which are not appealing, said they would continue to operate with women as pastors. They include Calvary Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi; New Faith Mission Ministry in Griffin, Georgia; and St. Timothys Christian Baptist Church in Baltimore.

Also appealing its dismissal on a separate issue is Freedom Church in Vero Beach, Florida. It is disputing the Executive Committee's decision to dismiss it based on a lack of intent to cooperate in resolving concerns regarding a sexual abuse allegation. The denomination has been roiled by allegations in recent years of sexual abusers remaining in ministry, prompting the convention to vote for stricter policies.

Freedom Church, in an earlier letter to national, state and local Southern Baptist entities, disputed any allegation of abuse and asked for additional information about the decision.

Warren, author of the widely successful The Purpose Driven Life, started Saddleback Church with his wife, Kay Warren, more than four decades ago. With Warren's charisma and easy, informal preaching style, Saddleback eventually attracted tens of thousands and fostered an ambitious plan to expand the churchs reach across Southern California as well as globally  a vision his successor has promised to continue.

David Sons, chairman of the Executive Committee, said this will be the first time any churches have ever appealed their dismissals to the Southern Baptists annual meeting. He urged representatives attending the meeting to be prepared and informed about the process.

Ed Stetzer, a church-growth expert and professor at Wheaton College in Illinois, said Saddleback succeeded in connecting with the contemporary, casual culture of its surroundings while holding firm to its core beliefs.

Itll be the choice of the convention whether Saddleback still holds essential Southern Baptist beliefs, as it claims to, said Stetzer, a former director of the SBC-affiliated Lifeway.

But if the convention upholds the church's ouster, it will lose something that Saddleback has brought to the SBC for decades  a vibrancy, a new way of thinking.

The SBC has been in membership decline for nearly two decades. In statistics released earlier this month by Lifeway Research, the denomination fell to 13.2 million members in 2022. That is the lowest level since the late 1970s, which marked the start of years of doctrinal battles that led to a strong rightward shift in the convention.

Southern Baptists' rate of baptisms  seen by many as a better sign of spiritual vitality than membership  are also in long-term decline despite a small post-pandemic bounce in 2022.

___

Reporter Deepa Bharath contributed to this report

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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.
OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman appeared before Congress on Tuesday morning to testify about the dangers posed by emerging artificial intelligence technologies, including his companys ChatGPT AI chatbot.

The hearing before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law offered congressional members the chance to question Mr Altman and other tech leaders about the urgent need to create regulations around AI.

Senators questioned Mr Altman, and the other witnesses, Gary Marcus, a Professor Emeritus at New York University and Christina Montgomery the chief privacy and trust officer at IBM, about the need to AI regulations.

Mr Altman spoke to the dangers of artificial intelligence harming the integrity of future elections, manipulating individuals opinions, limiting access to certain information and copyright infringement among other things.

The OpenAI CEO offered possible solutions like creating an international regulator committee or agency, led by the US.

My worst fears are that [the AI industry] cause significant harm to the world, Mr Altman said.

Ahead of the hearing, Committee Chairman Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), said, Artificial intelligence urgently needs rules and safeguards to address its immense promise and pitfalls.

Key points

AI is facing the perfect storm'

Sam Altman says he is concerned about election misinformation

Artificial intelligence is bull in a china shop'

Lawmakers compare the need for legislation to the mistakes of social media

Delaying artificial intelligence advancements by six months is unlikely

Sam Altman Congress hearing live: Watch the stream

15:02 , Anthony Cuthbertson

Heres the live stream if you want to watch along:

Hello and welcome...

11:08 , Anthony Cuthbertson

to The Independents live coverage of OpenAI boss Sam Altmans first ever appearance before Congress.

The tech executive will be appearing alongside Gary Marcus, Professor Emeritus at New York University, and Christina Montgomery, chief privacy officer at IBM, to face questions from the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology & the Law.

Story continues

The hearing will begin at 10am local time (3pm BST), and well be bringing you all the build-up for what could be a critical day for establishing AI rules and limits in the US.

Sam Altman Congress hearing live: How to watch

13:57 , Anthony Cuthbertson

Theres just over an hour to go until OpenAI CEO Sam Altman appears before Congress, alongside New York University Professor Gary Marcus and IBM executive Christina Montgomery.

Well have a live stream of the hearing for you to watch right here, pinned to the top of this page, as soon as its available.

Its not clear yet how long it will last, but these things tend to go on for a few hours with most or all of the Senators wanting to use their maximum time to air their concerns and pose their questions.

Sam Altman Congress hearing live: What to expect from the Senate Committee

14:04 , Anthony Cuthbertson

Todays hearing will see Sam Altman testify before Congress for the first time ever, following in the footsteps of many of his high-profile peers in the tech industry.

The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology & the Law are expected to ask him about AI risks and how best to establish safeguards to protect against them.

Heres what US Senators Richard Blumenthal and Josh Hawley, Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, had to say ahead of todays hearing:

Artificial intelligence urgently needs rules and safeguards to address its immense promise and pitfalls. This hearing begins our Subcommittees work in overseeing and illuminating AIs advanced algorithms and powerful technology. I look forward to working with my colleagues as we explore sensible standards and principles to help us navigate this uncharted territory.

Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)

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.

Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO)

Sam Altman Congress hearing live: Opening remarks from committee chair

15:11 , Anthony Cuthbertson

The hearing is underway, with US Senator Richard Blumenthal, Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee, saying in his opening remarks that the hearing aims to demystify and hold accountable the technology.

He begins by using an AI voice cloning software to read a text in his voice. The text is written by OpenAIs ChatGPT.

Its pretty convincing. The AI begins: Too often we have seen what happens when technology outpaces regulation.

Senator Blumenthal says it may seem amusing but he fears what would happen if the same technology was used to mislead people into thinking he had made an endorsement of Vladimir Putin.

His biggest immediate fear, however, is the looming new industrial revolution that will leave millions unemployed when AI displaces their jobs.

Sam Altman Congress hearing live: Senator warns AI could be as devastating as the atom bomb

15:16 , Anthony Cuthbertson

Senator Blumenthal ends his opening remarks saying the ideas that we develop from this discussion will provide a solid path forward for establishing regulation for the AI industry.

He adds that it will be the first of many hearings on artificial intelligence.

Senator Josh Hawley, ranking member of the committee, adds some remarks.

We could be looking at one of the significant technological innovations in human history, he says.

He speculates it could be as great as the advent of the printing press, or as devastating as the atom bomb.

Sam Altman Congress hearing live: ChatGPT boss says AI could be printing press moment

15:26 , Anthony Cuthbertson

Sam Altman and the other witnesses swear in, before the OpenAI boss gets underway with his opening remarks.

Its really an honour to be here, he says.

OpenAI was founded on the belief that AI has the potential to improve nearly every aspect of our lives... We think it can be a printing press moment.

AI Congress hearing live: Artificial intelligence is bull in a china shop'

15:34 , Anthony Cuthbertson

Christina Montgomery, chief privacy officer at IBM, is up next to give her opening remarks.

She says the era of AI should not be part of the move fast and break things culture that has driven Silicon Valley since its early days.

Gary Marcus, Professor Emeritus at New York University, follows up by saying he is worried about the rapid development of artificial intelligence.

We have built machines that are like bulls in a china shop: Powerful, wreckless and difficult to control, he says.

AI Congress hearing live: We are facing the perfect storm'

15:37 , Anthony Cuthbertson

The professor continues: We are facing a perfect storm of corporate irresponsibility, widespread deployment, lack of adequate regulation, and inherent unreliability... The choices we make now will have lasting effects, for decades, maybe even centuries.

Seven minute rounds of questioning will now follow.

AI Congress hearing live: AI is bomb in a china shop'

15:41 , Anthony Cuthbertson

Senator Blumenthal agrees with Professor Marcuss perfect strom assessment, but says it is less like a bull in a china shop and more like a bomb in a china shop.

AI Congress hearing live: Testing labs suggested

15:48 , Anthony Cuthbertson

Sam Altman will face the first questions, with Senator Blumenthal suggesting to him that independent testing labs for AI tools could be one idea to help regulate the technology.

He also asks what his thoughts are about mass job displacement. Altman agrees that there will be significant disruption, but adds that he is very optimistic about how great the jobs of the future will be.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman appears before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law on 16 May, 2023 (YouTube/ Screengrab)

AI Congress hearing live: ChatGPT boss says technology can go quite wrong'

15:53 , Anthony Cuthbertson

The OpenAI boss is asked about the potential risks of AI.

My worst fears are that we cause significant harms to the world, he responds. If this technology goes wrong, it can go quite wrong.

Its worth noting that Altman has admitted in the past to being a doomsday prepper - specifically prepping for an AI apocalypse.

You can read all about that here:

Why tech bosses are doomsday prepping

AI expert says we need a cabinet-level position or more to regulate

16:07 , Ariana Baio

Gary Marcus, a leading voice in AI, author and professor, advised the Senate Judiciary Committee that the US, or the world, may need a completely new agency to regulate it.

My view is that we probably need a cabinet-level organisation within the US to address this, Mr Marcus told the committee on Tuesday.

Mr Marcus explained how AI will likely be a massive part of the future but given how fast-moving and complicated it is the government cannot rely on current legislation and agencies to understand it and thoughtfully regulate it.

Sam Altman says his worst fear is causing significant harm to the world'

16:30 , Ariana Baio

My worst fear is that we cause significant harm to the world, Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI told the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law.

OpenAI is one of the leading companies in creating new artificial intelligence. The company has created Dall-E and Chat GPT.

Sam Altman says he is concern about election misinformation

16:31 , Ariana Baio

Multiple members of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee raised concerns about the future of election misinformation regarding artificial intelligence, citing foreign intervention with social media in the 2016 election.

Sam Altman said he is quite concerned about the impact [AI] can have on elections due to the technologies limitations.

Several reports have shown how Chat GPT can generate false information and cite misinformation in articles when asked by users - something called hallucinations.

Mr Altman said Chat GPT has been developed to refuse to generate answers to harmful things and is monitored to ensure false information is not consistently given under the guise of truth.

AI expert says the key to regulating AI is transparency

16:45 , Ariana Baio

Gary Marcus, an AI expert, said the key to understanding AI systems and regulating them is to ask companies to be more transparent about how they train the models.

What [AI] is trained on has biases for the system, Mr Marcus said during the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing on Tuesday.

Mr Marcus encouraged companies with AI tools to provide transparent information that would explain what their system is trained on to help people determine whether the information it is providing is biased.

OpenAI CEO says they are working on copyright model

16:46 , Ariana Baio

Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI said that the company was working on how to handle copyright with their systems.

Creators deserve control over how their creations are used, Mr Altman said on Tuesday.

AI tools like Chat GPT have been accused of stealing artists work and then re-purposing it as original content.

Mr Altman said the company was working to create a new copyright model to give artists credit, compensation and consent.

AI leaders and experts agree Section 230 does not apply to them

16:50 , Ariana Baio

Sam Altman, Christina Montgomery and Gary Marcus all agreed that Section 230 does not apply to their platforms and indicated new regulatory legislation is needed.

Section 230 provides immunity for online computer services when harmful content is uploaded to their platforms.

Sam Altman speaks to AI-generated images

17:05 , Ariana Baio

The CEO of Open AI spoke to AI-generated images, like the one of Donald Trump being arrested when he was indicted.

Sam Altman said an easy way to fix misinformation spread online from images like this is to label them as generated.

Trump shares deepfake photo of himself praying as AI images of arrest spread online

OpenAI wants less people to use it

17:12 , ariana.baio

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said multiple times throughout Tuesdays hearing that ChatGPT needs less people to use it because it does not have enough GPT for everyone to use it.

Mr Altman made it very clear to the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee that they are not an advertising-based platform therefore having more users does not benefit OpenAI.

Mr Altmans comments were related to lawmakers raising concerns about AI using personal data to grasp peoples attention and hold it for as long as they can.

Though he recognised that AI is being used in marketing, he clarified that was not OpenAIs goal.

VOICES: AI isnt falling into the wrong hands  its being built by them

17:15 , Ariana Baio

VOICES: The loudest voices in the AI discourse tend to exhibit a startling level of misplaced certainty about what AI is capable of and how the technology can be controlled.

These are essential, urgent questions that will require input from a wide diversity of voices, especially of those who are most likely to be imperilled by the use of AI.

So far, the earliest victims of malign forms of AI, such as inaccurate facial recognition tools or deepfake porn generators, have been members of historically marginalised groups, including women and people of colour. But these groups are woefully underrepresented among the loudest voices in the AI debate.

Arthur Holland Michel reports:

AI isnt falling into the wrong hands  its being built by them

Witnesses encourage lawmakers to think of the future

17:23 , Ariana Baio

Sam Altman, Christina Montgomery and Gary Marcus all agreed that artificial intelligence is nowhere near being as advanced as it can be, therefore lawmakers need to make legislation that can be used as it develops.

Mr Altman and Mr Marcus agree that the best way to start this is creating a regulatory agency or independent commission to look into the complicated world of AI to create a set of regulations for companies that create the technologies.

Ms Montgomery suggested creating rules that begin with the risk of AI rather than regulating the technology itself is a better way to go about it.

But all three witnesses believe Congress should think of guidelines that can be applied to the future of automatic generated content and more.

AI could harm local news

17:40 , Ariana Baio

Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) brought to attention how generative AI could harm local news by encouraging users to use ChatGPT rather than read news from a newspaper.

Ms Klobuchar asked Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, about how the platform will compensate the smaller new organisations that ChatGPT pulls information from to generate answers.

Do you understand that this could be exponentially worse in terms of local news content if theyre not compensated? Ms Klobuchar asked.

Because what they need is to be compensated for their content and not have it stolen, she added.

Mr Altman said ChatGPT would be willing to do things to help local news.

He said, We would certainly like to.

ACLU encourages Congress to implement AI safeguards

17:45 , Ariana Baio

Flawed automated decision-making systems are increasingly being used by the government to make important decisions in key areas of our lives.



Catch up on today's hearing to see @acluidaho's Ritchie Eppink discuss the dangers of AI and why Congress must implement safeguards now. https://t.co/rkk34HQJ5g  ACLU (@ACLU) May 16, 2023

AI expert says medical advise through AI could be harmful

17:50 , Ariana Baio

Professor Gary Marcus, an expert in artificial intelligence, said lawmakers should be concerned about medical advice given through AI systems like ChatGPT.

Mr Marcus said there needs to be tight regulations around what AI may generate, or not, on medical advice as it could make users think they have a medical condition or use it to seek medical advice.

(Getty Images)

Senator Kennedy asks witnesses for guidance on rules

17:55 , Ariana Baio

Senator Ted Kennedy (R-LA) asked the witnesses what rules they would implore if they were kings and queens for the day under the hypothesis that Congress doesnt understand AI and could harm it by creating regulations.

Sen. Kennedy (R-LA) asks panel what reforms they'd make as queen or king for a day if 3 hypotheticals are true:



1. Congress doesn't understand AI

2. Congress could hurt AI w/regulations

3. There's likely a berserk wing of AI community that could use AI to kill all of us pic.twitter.com/V7B2kus4Qk  The Recount (@therecount) May 16, 2023

AI can change jobs of the future

18:12 , Ariana Baio

Over and over again, lawmakers and witnesses debated the negative impact AI will have on the jobs of the future during Tuesdays hearing.

Asked if he thought AI could harm most jobs, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said he felt optimistic about how AI will change jobs.

I believe there are far greater jobs on the other side of this, Mr Altman told members of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee.

Christina Montgomery, chief privacy and trust officer at IBM agreed with Mr Altman.

The most important thing that we can be doing and should be doing now is prepare the workforce of today and the workforce of tomorrow of partnering with the AI technologies, Ms Montgomery said.

Gary Marcus, a professor at New York University and an expert in AI, slightly disagreed, saying far down the line AI could replace most jobs.

AI could take over much of heavy lifting involved in teaching, says Keegan

Sam Altman says AI can go quite wrong without regulations

18:25 , Ariana Baio

While testifying before Congress, Sam Altman said, If this technology goes wrong, it can go quite wrong when speaking about the harms that artificial intelligence can have.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on AI: "If this technology goes wrong, it can go quite wrong."



In other words, now that OpenAI is in the lead, Congress needs to regulate their competitors pic.twitter.com/LZ8XH9tVtF  Genevieve Roch-Decter, CFA (@GRDecter) May 16, 2023

Sam Altman says OpenAI could use advertisers in the future

18:45 , Ariana Baio

When asked if OpenAI would use advertisers in the future, CEO Sam Altman said it wasnt out of the question completely.

Mr Altman previously said during Tuesdays hearing that OpenAI was not interested in collecting personal data and using it in OpenAIs technology models because it was not advertising-focused.

However, when asked if advertising could ever be an option Mr Altman said, I wouldnt say never.

Mr Altman said he prefers a subscription-based model to profit from.

Lawmakers compare the need for legislation to the mistakes of social media

19:01 , Ariana Baio

From the beginning of the hearing, a similar sentiment has been said among many lawmakers: now is the time to act.

Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) started the hearing by explaining how lawmakers cannot make the same mistake that they made by failing to regulate social media before it became harmful to children and young people.

(Getty Images)

Delaying artificial intelligence advancements by six months is unlikely

19:25 , Ariana Baio

During Tuesdays hearing, lawmakers brought up a letter that circulated around the tech community earlier this year calling for companies like OpenAI to pause the development of technology for the next six months to allow lawmakers to play catch-up.

The letter, signed by industry leaders including Elon Musk, called AI systems a, profound risk to society and humanity.

However, all three witnesses did not believe pausing technology advancements for six months would help the situation.
Celebrity tech CEO Sam Altman of OpenAI made his debut appearance before Congress Tuesday, alongside two other artificial intelligence experts, for three hours of questioning on how Washington should regulate the rapidly developing technology.

CEO hearings can be pure political theater, but this morning the Senate quickly delved into the nitty-gritty of policymaking  and Altman himself pitched ideas for regulating the industry.

Fuelling the Senate Judiciary subcommittees inquisition on AI oversight was the desire not to repeat the mistakes of the past, where Congress has been criticized for being too hands-off, such as with social media.

As with most hearings, the session offered more questions than answers  the biggest, of course, being whether Congress has any stomach for regulating a new industry at all.

Here are three big unknowns that now hang over Washingtons efforts to control a profound and disruptive new technology.

Do we need a new federal agency?

Surprisingly, this one may have bipartisan support. Senate Judiciary Chair Sen. Dick Durbin suggested the need for a new agency dedicated to overseeing the development of artificial intelligence  possibly an international one. Were dealing with innovation that doesnt necessarily have a boundary. We may create a great U.S. agency  and I hope that we do  that may have jurisdiction over U.S. corporations and U.S. activity that doesnt have a thing to do with whats gonna bombard us from outside, he said.

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, the ranking member on the Judiciary Committee, chimed in by backing the idea of an agency that would issue licenses for powerful new AI tools.

For his part, Altman was on board with both the agency and the licensing idea during the hearing  and says hes looking globally, not just nationally, for regulations.

Its difficult. It sounds sort of like a naive thing, he said to a group of reporters after the hearing. But weve done it for other industries. IAEA did it. And I think this is a technology we should treat with that level of seriousness.

Story continues

Not everyone agrees, though: Fellow panelist Christina Montgomery, IBMs chief privacy and trust officer, said existing oversight is enough to govern AI. Echoing a more familiar industry talking point, she said more would stifle innovation.

Who owns the data that AI trains on?

The biggest and most powerful AI platforms  the large language models made by OpenAI and others  are built on massive amounts of existing data, much of which is made by people who had no idea their work would be used to train a piece of software.

Front and center for Sen. Marsha Blackburn was the issue of who should own all the AI-generated material produced by large language models trained on copyrighted works. The Tennessee senator introduced antitrust legislation to break up TicketMaster in the last Congress.

While Altman did not have much to offer in terms of solutions to the growing community of creators angry about their work being used to train large language models, he did say during the hearing that people should be able to opt out of having their data be used to train those models.

Tomorrow, this issue will be front-and-center at a House Judiciary Subcommittee about the intersection of generative AI and copyright law.

How much will AI influence the 2024 election?

Chatbots are very good at simulating human speech and writing, and Sen. Josh Hawley brought up AIs ability to sway peoples opinions in the 2024 election cycle, saying it could be used to target undecided voters in an election cycle.

Later, Sen. Amy Klobuchar offered her own concerns that ChatGPT could provide inaccurate information to voters about the election itself.

Altman didnt get defensive. In fact, he agreed.

"Its one of my areas of greatest concerns  the more general capability of these models to manipulate, to persuade, to provide sort of one-on-one disinformation, said Altman.

Both Altman and Gary Marcus, an AI expert who also sat on the panel, sought to distinguish generative AI in the tech policy conversation from the discussion around the algorithms that social media platforms use to recommend content.

In an apparent effort to distinguish OpenAI from the social media platforms under congressional fire for their content moderation and recommendation policies, Altman emphasized that OpenAIs AI models did not maximize for audience engagement.
Lucifer ought to take the temperature of the underworld, because it seems like hell has just frozen over. According to Reuters , Samsung has inked a deal with LG to buy high-end white OLED (WOLED) TV panels from its long-standing rival. LG may start supplying the panels as soon as this quarter.

The plan, according to the report, is for LG Display to supply 2 million panels next year, then 3 million and 5 million respectively in 2025 and 2026. At least at the outset, the company will reportedly be making 77-inch and 83-inch WOLED panels for Samsung.

It's an unexpected partnership that may actually make a lot of sense for both sides. Samsung could use the panels to help it make up ground in the OLED TV market. The company has taken the approach that OLED displays are a better fit for smartphones and tablets than TVs. One reason for that perspective is that OLED panels are expensive  they tend to cost nearly five times more than LCD panels. On the TV front, Samsung has focused on making QLED models, which are cheaper than OLEDs.

Samsung has 6.1 percent of the OLED TV market, according to market research firm Omdia. LG Display's sibling LG Electronics is said to be out in front with a 54.6 percent market share while Sony has 26.1 percent. An LG Display deal could help Samsung overtake Sony in that realm or at least to better compete with Chinese manufacturers that are selling lower-cost LCD televisions.

The reported deal could help LG Display to turn its business around after four straight quarters of losses. LG Display also makes smartphone screens for Apple, as well as OLED panels for Sony and LG Electronics. However, its OLED manufacturing facility hasn't been running at full capacity. That, according to Reuters, is due to a drop in demand for new TVs and a "limited customer base." Analysts suggest that the Samsung pact could help LG Display max out its manufacturing capacity and account for between 20 and 30 percent of production in the first year. The agreement could add north of $1.5 billion to LG's bottom line next year.

Vincent Teoh of HDTVTest suggested to Engadget that Samsung might have taken this path to resolve volume and screen size availability issues. QD-OLED panel production from Samsung Display is still limited in quantity at the moment, and the motherglass has to be cut to cater for both monitors (e.g. 34-inch 240Hz QD-OLED gaming monitors which are greater in demand) and TVs (e.g. 55-inch QD-OLED TV).

"QD-OLED is also only available in 55-, 65- and 77-inch screen sizes at the moment, while the WOLED panels supplied by LG Display can go up to 83 and even 97 inches, or as small as 42 and 48 inches," Teoh said.
Michael Anthony, a security guard working for Walgreens, reportedly killed 24-year-old Banko Brown while trying to stop Brown from stealing.

Michael Anthony, asecurity guard working for Walgreens, reportedly killed 24-year-old Banko Brown while trying to stop Brown from stealing.

The Walgreens security guard who fatally shot a suspected shoplifter in April will not face charges, the San Franciscos district attorneys office announced Monday.

Michael Anthony, asecurity guard working for Walgreens, reportedly killed 24-year-old Banko Brown while trying to stop Brown from stealing. Though Browns lawyers told HuffPost that Anthony was the aggressor, the district attorney said in a report released Monday that the security guard acted in self-defense.

According to the report, Anthony pinned Brown down after Brown became combative and repeatedly threatened to stab Anthony. Brown reportedly lunged at Anthony, who shot and killed Brown. When the police recovered Browns bag, they found items from Walgreens but no knife.

According to the report, Anthony told police that after he let Brown go, he thought, Please dont do nothing stupid. When Brown lunged toward Anthony, Anthony felt it was me or [him] because Brown had threatened to stab him.

After careful review of all of the evidence gathered by the San Francisco Police Department and my office in this case, we will not be pursuing murder charges in connection to the shooting of Banko Brown, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said in a statement. After the cases initial discharge on May 1, 2023, we sought additional evidence to refute the suspects claims of reasonable self-defense and to date have not found any evidence that did so. Without evidence to refute the suspects reasonable self-defense claim in court, we can not ethically meet our burden to prove beyond a reasonable doubt to a jury that a crime was committed.

John Burris, the attorney representing Browns family, told HuffPost that Browns family is disappointed in the lack of charges and Burris plans to file a civil lawsuit against Anthony and Walgreens very soon.

Story continues

This security officer was the aggressor, Harris said. He attacked Banko at the very beginning, stopping him, manhandling him, punching on him, throwing him, beating him up, choking him.

Essentially, an unarmed man was shot and killed at a consequence of a petty theft. There was nothing about the facts that would support this kind of use of deadly force.

Last week, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors asked Jenkins to release surveillance video of the shooting. Since the release of the video and Jenkins decision not to charge Anthony, protesters gathered outside the Walgreens where Brown was killed, seeking justice and holding signs that included messages like We saw the tape ... Banko was murdered, according to CBS News.

Anthony was a security guard for Walgreens for more than a year, according to the report, and at the time of the shooting, he was the only guard in the store.
Im not sure Id call this the golden age of humanoid robots, but they sure have been coming out of the woodwork since Tesla announced its intentions to build one back in the summer of 2021. Its difficult to compare the progress of various systems at the moment (theyre all fairly early stage), but Sanctuary Cognitive Systems Corporate (or the far punchier Sanctuary AI) just hit an important milestone.

The Vancouver, British Columbia, firm just unveiled Phoenix, its own stab at the form factor. The bipedal robot stands 57" and weighs 155 pounds  not dissimilar from the humans it plans to augment (or replace, depending on who you ask). The system is capable of lifting payloads up to 55 pounds and traveling up three miles an hour.

The system sports its own complex hands, with 20 degrees of freedom that rival human hand dexterity and fine manipulation with proprietary haptic technology that mimics the sense of touch.

Image Credits: Sanctuary AI

Back in March, the firm announced that it had deployed Phoenixs predecessor at a Marks retail store outside of its native Vancouver. It was a limited pilot last a week, in which the fifth-generation system completed 110 retail-related [tasks], including front and back-of-store activities such as picking and packing merchandise, cleaning, tagging, labelling, folding and more.

The other key aspect of these sorts of humanoid robots is the general purpose bit. In some ways creating a system can hypothetically do anything its human colleagues can in a workplace is a harder challenge than building the hardware itself.

We designed Phoenix to be the most sensor-rich and physically capable humanoid ever built and to enable Carbons rapidly growing intelligence to perform the broadest set of work tasks possible, says co-founder and CEO Geordie Rose. We see a future where general-purpose robots are as ubiquitous as cars, helping people to do work that needs doing, in cases where there simply arent enough people to do that work.

Story continues

Image Credits: Sanctuary AI

Sanctuarys Carbon platform is at the heart of the general-purpose bit.

To be general-purpose, a robot needs to be able to do nearly any work task, the way youd expect a person to, in the environment where the work is, Rose adds. While it is easy to get fixated on the physical aspects of a robot, our view is that the robot is just a tool for the real star of the show, which in our case is our proprietary AI control system, the robots Carbon-based mind.

Last March, Sanctuary announced a Series A just shy of $60 million. Eight months later, it revealed that the Canadian government had invested $30 million, putting its total funding north of $100 million.

Looking past all of the renders, Sanctuary provides a good look at where the race to build the ideal humanoid robot stands. Phoenix is far from the kinds of sleek systems weve seen in renders (the company very intentionally labeled all of the images in its press kit "not a render"), but that doesnt make the companys accomplishments any less valid. Keep in mind, were still in the very early stages of something potentially much large.
A Yemeni mother with her malnourished child at a treatment centre in the Khokha district of the western province of Hodeida on March 11, 2023

The hospital in southern Yemen was decked out with roses and red carpet runners last week for a ribbon-cutting ceremony in its cardiac wing, newly refurbished with Saudi funds.

Many patients, however, had been cleared from the air-conditioned lobby and forced to wait for hours outside in stifling heat, shouting "I'm tired! I'm sick!" at passing dignitaries, among them the Saudi ambassador.

Eight years after mobilising troops to topple Huthi rebels and restore Yemen's internationally backed government, Saudi Arabia is touting reconstruction and development projects worth hundreds of millions of dollars as it pushes for peace.

"Our goal is clear: a secure, stable and developed Yemen," the Saudi envoy, Mohammed al-Jaber, told AFP after a tour of Aden General Hospital, nearby apartment buildings and Aden's international airport -- all revamped under the kingdom's official Yemen development programme.

Yet as the scene at the hospital made clear, meeting the needs of a population reeling from punishing aerial bombardments and drawn-out desert battles will be a tall order.

The war has killed hundreds of thousands of people either through combat or knock-on effects like hunger and disease. Millions remain displaced, their homes and communities destroyed.

The needs are so great in Aden that, instead of relaxing during the

hospital ceremony, some doctors fretted about the dozens of appointments that would need to be rescheduled in order to accommodate it.

Many were for destitute patients who had travelled long distances to reach one of the few facilities offering free medical care, said doctor Abdulwahab Al Matry.

"Is this enough?" he asked, referring to the new hospital beds and equipment. "Of course it is not."

- Peace in sight? -

Saudi officials say they had no choice when, in 2015, they formed a military coalition and sent in fighter jets to topple the Iran-backed Huthi rebels, who had seized the Yemeni capital Sanaa.

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They cite threats to Saudi territory underscored by several high-profile attacks on oil facilities, including one in 2019 -- claimed by the Huthis but widely attributed to Iran -- that temporarily halved output for the world's largest crude exporter.

The consequences for Yemen's population were stark.

By September 2021, more than 23,000 air strikes carried out by the coalition had left 18,000 civilians killed or injured, according to a UN expert panel.

Fighting diminished considerably thanks to a truce deal that took effect in April 2022 and has largely held despite officially expiring last October.

Now the Saudis, having failed to dislodge the Huthis, are trying to broker a more durable ceasefire.

Last month, Jaber travelled to Sanaa for talks with officials including one Huthi leader, Ali Nasir Qarshah, who Riyadh once included on a wanted list for "terrorism", offering $5 million for information leading to his arrest or whereabouts.

Those meetings ended without a new agreement, though Jaber told AFP he believes all parties are "serious" about wanting peace.

- 'Repair the harm' -

Meanwhile, Riyadh is trying to spread the word about its reconstruction drive, which Jaber noted includes $1 billion deposited earlier this year in Yemen's central bank, a $600 million oil derivatives fund and $400 million worth of projects like the hospital and airport.

Officials even flew Saudi influencers like the screen actor Fayez al-Malki -- best known for his film character Menahi, a hapless villager in the big city -- down to Aden to interview beneficiaries of Saudi-funded home renovations.

"This is the first time someone has helped us, and you are a country of goodness and blessing," Samah al-Hussaini told Malki, who dutifully posted the recording for his millions of Twitter and Snapchat followers.

For many observers, such gestures are woefully inadequate when judged against Saudi Arabia's conduct in Yemen for the better part of a decade.

"There hasn't been any discussion of accountability for what they've done to the country, what they've done to the people and infrastructure, the way they've devastated and destroyed the country," Niku Jafarnia, Yemen researcher for Human Rights Watch, told AFP.

"It's not just a question of should they do something, what would the benefits be. It's a legal requirement that they repair the harm that they've done, which is massive," she added.

Aid groups also underline what they describe as Saudi Arabia's enormous -- and long-term -- obligations to Yemen's recovery.

"Saudi Arabia, as well as other nations that played a direct or indirect role in this catastrophe, must step up to support the millions of Yemeni civilians that have borne the brunt of this brutal conflict," Erin Hutchinson, Yemen country director for the Norwegian Refugee Council, told AFP.

"They must help rebuild what they destroyed."

rcb/th/kir/fz
The Security Service of Ukraine established the whereabouts of the blogger and stopped his illegal activities

It has been determined that the suspect personally captured photos and videos of the Ukrainian military convoys transportation, including ammunition, and posted the obtained media files on their own page on the social media platform TikTok, along with geolocation tags.

Within minutes, the circulated video was picked up by Russian propaganda outlets, including pro-Kremlin Telegram channels with an audience exceeding 100,000 subscribers. Over half a million users viewed the aforementioned content on the TikTokers personal page.

Read also: Blogger convicted for online reaction to Lukashenko cartoon dies in Belarusian colony

According to the Prosecutor Generals Office, the video material published by the individual also started to be shared by users of the social media platform Instagram.

The perpetrator, identified as a resident of the Oleksandriia district in Kirovohrad Oblast, was found to have arrived in Cherkasy Oblast in January 2023, where they recorded the movement of the military convoy on their mobile phone.

The SBU successfully located the whereabouts of the blogger and put a stop to their illegal activities. The individual justified their actions by expressing a desire to increase their audience.

Read also: Pro-Russian blogger Gonzalo Lira detained in Kharkiv

SBU

During the search at the suspects place of residence, law enforcement officers discovered a mobile phone that the individual used to capture the movements of Ukrainian troops and subsequently publish the recorded videos.

The blogger has been charged under Article 114-2, Part 2 (dissemination of information about the movements, transportation, or location of the Armed Forces of Ukraine or other military formations) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The indictment has been sent to court.

The perpetrator could potentially face up to eight years of imprisonment.

Read also: Editor-in-chief of Shariy's propaganda website rebels against his boss, video address

Story continues

Read also: Ukrainian officials OKd to use TikTok, despite global developments  deputy PM

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
Myrtle Beach is the second most searched summer destination in the country, according to a May 2023 analysis by travel website Tripadvisor.

The announcement came in Tripadvisors summer 2023 Seasonal Travel Index, which tallied the number of searches for travel between May 29 and August 31, 2023.

In the article, Tripadvisor touted Myrtle Beachs many ocean-front resorts, namely Marriott Myrtle Beach Resort & Spa at Grande Dunes, which in 2022 was named one of the 10 best resorts in South Carolina by Travel + Leisure.

Tripadvisor also suggested travelers check out activities such as surf lessons and boat tours on the Waccamaw River.

Sea Captains House, another attraction featured in the article, was named the restaurant with the best views in South Carolina, according to an analysis of Tripadvisor reviews.

The president of the Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitor Bureau, Karen Riordan, said in a written statement, Were very pleased but not surprised. As TripAdvisor users know, theres no better summer beach vacation than one held along the Grand Strands 60 miles of coastline from Little River to Pawleys Island. This is why ... we work so diligently to promote the destination year-round.

Myrtle Beach has been making waves in the tourism industry. The city was one of Tripadvisors top trending winter destinations in 2022.

This April, the Myrtle Beach International Airport welcomed a record number of passengers, more than 294,000 passengers  a 4% increase from last year  with six new gates planned to open in 2025.

Here are the 10 most searched summer destinations in 2023 for U.S. travelers, according to Tripadvisor.
(CNN)  A school teacher is presumed dead after he was attacked by a shark while surfing on Saturday, according to authorities, who've found fragments of a wetsuit and the suspected remains of his surfboard.

Emergency services were called to reports of a shark attack at Walkers Rock Beach, on the west coast of South Australia, on Saturday, South Australia police said in a statement.

Authorities have not identified the man, but local CNN affiliates have named him as Simon Baccanello, a 46-year-old teacher at nearby Elliston Area School.

Police said in a statement Monday that they had recovered "two items of interests in relation to the search for a missing surfer, presumed dead after a shark attack."

One of them appears to be a piece of wetsuit material, while the other item is believed to be some small pieces of white polystyrene possibly from the surfboard, said police, who are sending the items to be forensically analyzed.

Trevlyn Smith, a unit manager from SES, previously told CNN affiliate 9 News that the remains of the surfboard they retrieved showed "one bite mark."

After consulting with Baccanello's family, emergency services said they would continue to search the area and surrounding beaches in the coming days after high tide.

His family issued a statement saying his death was a "tragic loss," according to 9 News.

Baccanello started his stint at the Elliston Area School in January, according to his LinkedIn profile.

"He had a real keenness with his students to make them feel good to build those relationships with the students," the school's principal Chad Fleming told 9 News.

Pulteney Grammar School -- where Baccanello taught in Adelaide between 2007 and 2009, and then 2022 -- also issued a statement on Facebook.

"He is well remembered by the School community as a fine teacher, a generous friend and a genuine, authentic human being," the statement said.

Shark attacks are relatively rare off South Australia -- according to the Australian Shark Incident Database, there were 20 shark encounters in 2022, resulting in 14 injuries and one death.

South Australia only contributed one case that did not involve any injury.

In February earlier this year, a 16-year-old girl was killed by a shark while swimming in a river in Perth, Western Australia.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Teacher feared dead after shark attack off South Australia"
The Little Car Company

Its been over two years since The Little Car Car Company showed off its first production concept of a life-sized RC car. While not actually meant to be operated with a remote, the brand has officially pulled the cover off the Tamiya Wild One Max, a road-legal, junior EV based on the 1980s RC icon.

The RC toy version of the Tamiya Wild One first arrived back in 1985, quickly becoming a star in the world of scaled down cars. Due to its popularity back in period, the Tamiya truck made for the perfect basis for a project of this kind. That said, things have changed quite a bit since the early prototypes from The Little Car Company were first displayed. Based on customer input, The Little Car Company stretched the Wild One Max in almost every direction. The team added 3.9-inches to both the length and width of the EV in an effort to make it more accommodating for drivers and passengers alike. The crew also adjusted the front suspension towers to improve visibility, while also improving pedestrian crash safety.

Speaking of suspension, the Tamiya Wild One Max comes equipped to handle the sort of abuse a genuine RC car might face. The front suspension has been revised into a double wishbone layout, bolstered by Bilstein dampers and Eibach springs at all four corners. Combined with the 14-inch off-road tires, the Wild One Max provides drivers with approach and departure angles of 34.1 and 50.8 degrees, respectively. It also features a breakover angle of 28.4 degrees. Behind the wheel and tire package sit a set of Brembo brakes, which will be useful in slowing the EV down.

The Little Car Company

There isnt a ton of equipment inside the Tamiya Wild One Max, which is to be expected with an RC car. A pair of Cobra bucket seats with four-point harnesses are about the extent of the pleasantries, aside from a single 5-inch display with marine-grade switchgear. The Little Car Company did use that added width to increase cabin space compared to the concept, however.

It's powered by eight removable battery packs, which combine to provide 14.4 kWh of power. The company says those batteries should provide the Wild One Max with enough juice to do some serious driving up to speeds as high as 60 mph. Of course it doesnt hurt to have a small battery when the vehicle only tips the scales at around 1000 pounds. All Launch Edition models will also come with a UK and EU road use pack, which help the Wild One Max meet all L7e quadricycle regulations for use on public roadways.

The Little Car Company only plans to build 100 examples of the Tamiya Wild One Max Launch Edition. Pricing and delivery information is expected to arrive later this year as production draws nearer. Other variants of the blown-up RC are sure to follow, but dont expect them to come at a budget price. The Little Car Company is known for its incredible scaled versions of the Ferrari Testa Rossa J, the Aston Martin DB5 Junior, and old Grand Prix Bugattis because of just how pricey they can be. Regardless of that little detail, who hasnt wanted to get behind the wheel of an RC car for an afternoon?

The Little Car Company

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Tariq Ramadan Islamic studies scholar University of Oxford rape trial Switzerland - Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images

A Swiss woman who accused a prominent Islamic studies scholar of raping her told a court she had been scared of dying during what she called a brutal sex attack in a hotel room.

Brigitte, not her real name, said that Tariq Ramadan, who is on leave from the University of Oxford since being charged in France and Switzerland, had beaten her repeatedly on the head while accusing her of being a French domestic intelligence agent during a 2008 ordeal that she described as terrifying.

He almost suffocated her during oral sex and later offered to buy her silence, she told the court.

When she refused, she said he told her: Nobody will believe you, my poor old dear.

Mr Ramadan denied any wrongdoing. On Monday, he said that he was the victim of a trap to bring about his moral downfall by an admirer he had spurned.

My face was on fire

The plaintiff, a Muslim woman in her 40s, said she had been under Mr Ramadans sway and took years to admit to herself that she had been the victim of rape, adding that she had snapped out of denial when women in France filed for similar charges against the academic.

As he hit my head, he straddled me and penetrated me with blows to the head and insults. I was afraid of dying, she said.

My face was on fire. It is not so much the strength of the blows, but the number of blows received. Subsequently, in the night, I was afraid of dying of suffocation which came from fellatio.

The defence and presiding judge asked why after the alleged attack, she stayed the night in his room, made no attempt to go to the police or a doctor and subsequently kept in regular contact with Mr Ramadan, even sending him text messages shortly afterwards saying: I love you.

She said: I wanted to maintain contact with him to understand his act. If he had found the words to apologise, there could have been a reconciliation.

Nobody will believe you, my poor old dear

Afterwards, on the phone, she claimed that he said: How much do you want?

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She continued: I understood it was to keep me quiet. I told him Youre completely unhinged. Then he asked me How old are you? I replied that I was 42. He said Nobody will believe you, my poor old dear.

When asked why she had not filed for rape earlier, the plaintiff replied: I had trouble speaking about sex. I was, above all, scared of dying.

I decided to file for charges to find peace and, in fact, since then Ive been through the worst years of my life.

The trial continues and a verdict is due on May 24.

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(Bloomberg) -- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hinted that the days of President Vladimir Putins imperialism are numbered in a show of support for Ukraine ahead of a much-anticipated push to repel Russian invaders.

Most Read from Bloomberg

At some point Russias war against Ukraine will end, Scholz said in a speech at a rare summit of the Council of Europe in Reykjavik. The German leader was speaking days after his government announced a record package of military aid for the government in Kyiv worth nearly $3 billion.

And one thing is certain: it will not end with a victory for Putins imperialism, Scholz told delegates during the gatherings opening ceremony. Because we will continue to support Ukraine until a just peace is achieved.

Scholzs comments fell short of an outright call for regime change, a controversial term especially after US President Joe Biden made a diplomatic misstep one month into the war by saying publicly about Putin: For Gods sake, this man cannot remain in power.

Biden had to walk those comments back and the reality on the ground in Ukraine has since pointed to a protracted conflict with the risk of international attention drifting elsewhere.

What makes Scholzs comments significant is their timing. They coincide with a potential Ukrainian counteroffensive and come a month after French President Emmanuel Macron got into hot water during a visit to China by openly encouraging Xi Jinping to reason with Russia. That bit of diplomatic freelancing, which took place without consultation with allies, also backfired.

Scholz, who is known for his cautious approach, leads a country with a complicated relationship with Russia, in part due to the legacy of the former communist East Germany  essentially a vassal state of the Soviet Union.

Story continues

That caution has at times attracted sharp criticism from both western allies and Ukraine, who complained that key decisions on supplying weapons sometimes took too long.

Former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, like Scholz a Social Democrat, deepened ties to Moscow around the turn of the century  launching the controversial Nord Stream gas pipeline linking Russia directly with Germany and bypassing transit countries in eastern Europe including Ukraine.

While Schroeder called Putin his personal friend and a flawless democrat, his successor, Angela Merkel, cultivated a more distant, pragmatic relationship with the Kremlin chief.

Yet despite Russias seizure of Ukraines Crimea peninsula in 2014, Merkel pushed ahead with a second Nord Stream pipeline, increasing Germanys reliance on Russian gas even further and tainting her legacy.

The Council of Europe  a group of 46 nations founded in 1949 to promote democracy and human rights  is attempting a reset following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Kremlin forces last year. It expelled Russia and suspended all relations with Belarus, which wasnt a member, due to its active support for the war.

Headquartered in Strasbourg, France, its structure incorporates the European Court of Human Rights and its members include all 27 European Union nations plus countries like Turkey, the UK and Ukraine.

The summit in the Icelandic capital is the first meeting of the Council of Europes leaders in nearly 20 years as it seeks a re-orientation following Russias ejection, 26 years after it joined in 1996.

In his speech in Reykjavik, Scholz said the Council will demand accountability for the enormous damage that Russia is inflicting on Ukraine day by day.

Why Belarus Is in Lockstep With Russia Over Ukraine: QuickTake

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy address the summit via video link after Russia launched a major attack earlier Tuesday: This brings closer the creation of a full-fledged compensation mechanism and will show the world that aggression is not worth even thinking about.

(Recasts after end of summit opening ceremony)

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Arnold Schwarzenegger says its a no-brainer for California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) to eventually make a White House bid.

Every governor from a big state wants to take that shot, the Terminator actor and Californias former Republican governor, said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter published Tuesday.

I think [Newsom running for president] is a no-brainer, Schwarzenegger said when asked to rate the job Newsoms done as governor.

What do I think about his performance? When you become part of the club, you dont criticize governors  because you know how tough the job is, Schwarzenegger, who was in office from 2003 to 2011, replied.

Its impossible to please everybody. Before I ran for governor, I had an 80 percent approval rating. As soon as I announced, I had a 43 percent approval rating, said the bodybuilder-turned action movie star turned Governator.

Immediately, half of the people said, F him! Im not going to see his movies anymore.

I would run things differently [than Newsom], but Im a Republican, so of course I would. I dont criticize him for not doing it my way, Schwarzenegger, 75, added.

Newsom has repeatedly denied that hes eyeing an eventual White House run, but he has built a national profile amid public battles with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), whos expected to announce his own 2024 presidential campaign in the coming weeks.

Asked about his take on DeSantis, Schwarzenegger told the publication, I was against some of the stuff he did with COVID. But who am I to judge? Thats for the people of Florida.

My style is different; his is too conservative for me, Schwarzenegger said of DeSantis. That doesnt mean I think hes terrible. Hes just not my style.

Schwarzenegger, who stars in the Netflix series FUBAR, said in 2018 that he stepped over the line several times with his conduct toward women, apologizing in an interview at the time with Mens Health magazine.

Story continues

Responding to a question from The Hollywood Reporter about what made him change his behavior, Schwarzenegger said: I just think as time goes on, you just become wiser. You start thinking more about other people and not just about yourself. Not just whats fun for you, not just what makes you look ballsy.

Also  and this is hard to explain to someone who has never had this experience  but once youve been in the governors office for seven years, you see all the problems out there and all the hardships. It turns you from a me person to a we person, he continued.

You become much more aware of whats going on around you. And then all of a sudden when you walk away, you say, Ive got to continue with the policy stuff. Weve got to fight for the environment. Weve got to fight for redistricting reform. And to speak out about the war, Schwarzenegger said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A search is ongoing in Russias Bryansk Oblast for the body of the co-pilot of a downed Su plane. Local residents have been asked to help out with "boats" and "waders".

Source: Astra Telegram channel

Details: The Su-34 fighter jet was shot down near the city of Starodub in Bryansk Oblast on 13 May. Two M-8 helicopters and a Su-35 fighter jet were also downed in the oblast on the same day.

The Russian Defence Ministry has made no official comment on this, and the governor of Bryansk Oblast has only confirmed the loss of one helicopter.

On 15 May, the local authority in the Starodub district posted the following message on Vkontakte [a Russian social media platform - ed.]: "Calling all residents of the district, in order to organise a search for the co-pilot of the crashed plane in the marshy area, we are asking you to help with boats and waders."

The local authorities thereby confirmed that at least one of the two aircraft crashed: the Su-34, since the Su-35 is a single-seater.

Earlier: On 13 May, Russian media reported the loss of two helicopters and two aircraft in one day, and Yurii Ihnat, spokesman for Ukraines Air Force, later stated that the Russian Federation had lost five combat units of aviation that Saturday: two aircraft and three helicopters.

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Venezuela Attorney General Tarek William Saab said the detainee had been suffering from a 'terminal illness'

A second detainee arrested in a huge anti-corruption investigation in Venezuela has died, the country's attorney general Tarek William Saab said.

Juan Almeida had long been suffering from a "terminal illness diagnosed as hepatic cirrhosis," a type of liver disease, Saab wrote on Twitter late Monday.

Almeida was one of 61 people arrested as part of a probe into the state oil company PDVSA and its US-based subsidiary Citgo, launched in March.

PDVSA directors, top officials and managers responsible for Venezuela's Petro cryptocurrency were amongst those arrested.

After the scandal broke, then-oil minister Tareck El Aissami resigned.

Almeida had been a technological operator working for El Aissami.

"At the moment of his death he was in his home after being granted the humanitarian measure of house arrest," said Saab.

Several experts accuse President Nicolas Maduro of using the investigation as an excuse for a "political purge" with elections just a year away.

In April, another detainee committed suicide, according to authorities, but rights groups have demanded an independent investigation into that death.

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Blake Lively has broken up with her blond hair.

For her role in "It Ends With Us," Lively swapped out her signature color for a subtle red. In a photograph taken from the movie set on May 15, Lively's wavy locks drape over her shoulders, complimenting a pink top and jacket, plus a brown bottom and a patterned hand bag.

Actress Blake Lively films a scenes from, 'It Ends With Us' on May 15, 2023. (T. Jackson / Backgrid)

"It Ends With Us" is an adaptation of a book of the same name by bestselling author Colleen Hoover. In the book, Lively's character Lily Bloom tries to break the cycle of abuse that began with her father and continued with her husband, a controlling neurosurgeon. Lily's husband Ryle Kincaid is played by Justin Baldoni ("Jane the Virgin"), who is also directing the film.

In the book, Lily is a recent college graduate who moves to Boston from Maine to open a flower shop. The 35-year-old actor's casting as a 23-year-old was met with mixed responses.

Are you kidding me? Blake Lively??? This is insane. I cannot wait! one fan commented on Hoover's TikTok.

"Love Blake Lively but casting her as Lily for it ends with us is quite possible the worst casting thats ever been cast," someone tweeted.

Could they not have got someone age appropriate? one person tweeted.

I think they picked Blake Lively because of her reputation and not keeping the character lily in mind," another tweeted.

Hoover announced Lively's casting on Jan. 26 in a TikTok video.

"Shes my dream Lily, Hoover said in the video.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Senate has voted to overturn a District of Columbia law enacted last year to improve police accountability, the second time this year that Democrats have joined with Republicans to try and block the districts crime regulations.

President Joe Biden is expected to veto the resolution, which the House passed last month. The White House said in a statement of policy that the president doesnt support every provision of the D.C. law, which was passed in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd in 2020. But Biden supports commonsense police reforms that are part of it, such as banning chokeholds, limiting use of deadly force, improving access to body cameras and requiring increased de-escalation training.

Congress should respect the District of Columbias right to pass measures that improve public safety and public trust, the White House said.

Still, eight Senate Democrats supported the GOP-led effort to overturn the law, as members of both parties have expressed concern about rising violent crime rates in cities nationwide. In D.C., homicides in the city had risen for four years straight before they dropped around 10% in 2022. The 2021 murder count of 227 was the highest since 2003.

Congress must exert our constitutional authority to keep our nations capital safe, said freshman Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, who sponsored the Senate effort.

In March, the Senate approved a separate GOP-led House bill to overturn changes in D.C.s criminal code. Biden signed that resolution, ultimately blocking the D.C. law that would have redefined some crimes, changed criminal justice policies and reworked how sentences should be handed down after convictions. The scrapped criminal code also would have done away with mandatory minimum sentences for many crimes and would have reduced the maximum penalties for burglary, carjacking and robbery.

Bidens signature two months ago marked the first time in more than three decades that Congress has nullified the capital citys laws through the disapproval process  and reflected a shift in the long-held Democratic position that the federal government should let D.C. govern itself.

Story continues

On Tuesday, six Democrats voted for the Republican resolution to overturn the police accountability laws: West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, Montana Sen. Jon Tester, New Hampshire Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan and Nevada Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen. Independent Sens. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Angus King of Maine also supported the resolution.

District lawmakers said that even if Biden were to sign the resolution  which he has said he wont  it wouldnt be valid. D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb issued an opinion that the time period for Congress to act had expired, meaning that the law has been enacted and cannot be overturned. Vance disagreed, arguing that there was Senate precedent for enactment after the deadline.

District of Columbia Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton said after the vote that she was disappointed but pleased it would not ultimately overturn D.C. law.

Washingtons criminal code hasnt been updated substantially since it was first drafted in 1901, and criminal justice experts say that Black people have been disproportionately affected by the criminal laws, similar to many other cities.

Ahead of the House vote in April, Norton called the resolution  profoundly undemocratic and paternalistic.

I can only conclude that the Republican leadership believes that D.C. residents, a majority of whom are Black and Brown, are unworthy of governing themselves, Norton said.
An Austell man was sentenced to life in prison and several others pleaded guilty to crimes linked to a drug-trafficking organization in connection with the April 2021 slaying of a Barrow County woman.

The sentences were imposed two years after the victim, Rossano Delgado, 37, of Bethlehem was slain and dismembered at a location in the Cherry Log community of Gilmer County.

The GBI said Rossanna Delgado was kidnapped, tortured and killed by members of an organization dealing drugs.

Delgado was reported missing on April 16, 2021, by her husband and her body was found four days later, according to law enforcement reports.

Delgado was lured to a shopping mall in DeKalb County, where she was bound and taken to locations in Clayton and Gilmer counties, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The GBI said Delgado was tortured before she was murdered. The body was subsequently dismembered and burned.

On March 9, Oscar Manuel Garcia, 28, pleaded guilty to malice murder, kidnapping, concealing the death of another, removing body parts from the crime scene, and violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). Garcia was sentenced to life in prison.

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Conviction: Brunswick man convicted in mishap that killed Athens woman

Juan Antonio Vega, 27, of Cobb County pleaded to kidnapping, concealing the death of another, aggravated battery and violating the RICO act. He was sentenced to 70 years with the first 30 years in prison.

Garcia and Vega both fled to Mexico after the slaying, but were captured there and returned to Georgia, according to the GBI.

Other suspects who pleaded guilty to RICO were Megan Alyssa Colone, 32, of Stone Mountain; Eva Galicia Martinez, 28, address unavailable; Terri Amanda Garner, 39, Calvin Harvard, and Shawn Callaway, 40, all three from Texas. They all received sentences from 18 years and less.

The GBI said three murder suspects have not been captured, but warrants are issued for their arrests.

The GBI has not commented on why or what kind of torture Delgado was subjected prior to her death at the rented mountain cabin in Gilmer County.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Sentences imposed in murder, torture death of Bethlehem woman
The rape of an Allegheny College student in her dorm room in 2019 led to an arrest and a lawsuit.

The arrest ended with a state prison sentence of up to 40 years in 2022 for the Meadville resident who pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the woman at gunpoint.

The woman sued Allegheny for negligence and other claims, and the lawsuit has ended with a settlement.

Sentence: Meadville man sentenced to 13 to 40 years in prison in rape of Allegheny College student

The deal ends nearly three years of litigation in U.S. District Court in Erie. The plaintiff sued in July 2020, claiming inadequate security measures allowed her attacker to get into her room at Ravine-Narvik Hall on Allegheny's campus in Meadville during the early morning of Dec. 10, 2019. Allegheny denied the claims.

A settlement has ended a federal lawsuit over a rape in an Allegheny College dorm room in December 2019.

On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter signaled the case had settled by signing an order that dismissed the lawsuit at the request of the lawyers for Allegheny and the plaintiff, identified only as Jane Doe in the civil case. She is living in Maryland and is no longer a student at the 1,400-student Allegheny, a private liberal arts college, according to court records.

After years of litigation, "we reached a confidential settlement with Allegheny College, which provides compensation and closure to our client," the plaintiff's lead lawyer, Tom Kline, of Kline & Specter in Philadelphia, said in a statement to the Erie Times-News.

A lawyer representing Allegheny did not respond to an email seeking comment. The Philadelphia firm of Tucker Law Group represented the college.

The suit was filed in federal court because the parties are from different states  Allegheny in Pennsylvania and the plaintiff in Maryland.

Case over rape on campus had been set for trial in September

The settlement came just as the lawyers were running up against deadlines to file what are known as motions for summary judgment, in which the plaintiff and the defendant typically ask a judge to rule in their favor without a trial. The lawyers often present detailed summaries of their respective cases in the motions for summary judgment.

Story continues

If the case had survived summary judgment, it was scheduled to go to trial at the federal courthouse in Erie in September, according to an order Baxter signed March 1.

Lawsuit filed: Ex-Allegheny student sues over rape on campus

The settlement also came after the lawyers spent years gathering evidence in a process known as discovery. The plaintiff was among those deposed in the case, according to court records. Baxter also gave permission to Allegheny's lawyers to depose the plaintiff's attacker, Montelle Brown, via videoconference from state prison.

Brown, 30, is at the State Correctional Institution at Chester, near Philadelphia. He was sentenced in the Crawford County Court of Common Pleas to 13 to 40 years in state prison in February 2022 after pleading guilty to two first-degree felony counts of rape in November 2021. Brown was also designated a sexually violent predator, according to court records.

He lost on appeal before the state Superior Court in October. He wanted his sentenced overturned.

Before the civil case over a 2019 rape at Allegheny College settled, it had been scheduled to go to trial in September at the federal courthouse in Erie.

Meadville police used DNA evidence to link Brown to the assault. The police and the Crawford County District Attorney's Office charged him in February 2021.

The victim reported the assault immediately, authorities said, but Brown's DNA was initially not in the database for law enforcement. His DNA was later collected when he was charged in another crime, and police made the match.

Break in case: Crawford DA: DNA match links Meadville man to rape of student at Allegheny College in 2019

Brown pleaded guilty to entering the Ravine-Narvik residence hall, entering the victim's room, threatening her with a handgun and assaulting her before he fled. Brown said at his plea hearing that he was able to get into the dorm because one of its outside doors had been propped open by a rock, according to the Meadville Tribune.

Lawsuit claimed Allegheny College was 'negligent and reckless'

The lawsuit over the rape focused on what the plaintiff's lawyers claimed were flawed security measures in the dorm and elsewhere. The suit claimed premises liability in addition to negligence.

The claims were based on "Allegheny College's negligent and reckless undertaking to provide on-campus housing and security services to its students," according to the suit.

Preliminary hearing: Man held for court in Allegheny College rape case, with DNA as key evidence

According to the suit, the night of the attack, the plaintiff had gone to bed, alone, in her third-floor dorm room when she heard a knock on her door and went to it. The door had no "peephole, peek hole, spyhole, door hole, door viewer or other mechanism to allow the room occupant to observe who was on the other side of the door," the suit said.

The suit also claimed the exterior entrances to Ravine-Narvik Hall were accessible through proximity access cards or student identification cards, but that the card-entry systems regularly failed to operate or function, causing students to prop or hold open the exterior doors for access.

"As a result of unsecured entrances to Ravine-Narvik Hall and Jane Does inability to identify the individual on the other side of the door," the assailant, later identified as Brown, entered her room and attacked her, according to the suit.

It claimed that Ravine-Narvik Hall at the time had no exterior video cameras on its facade; had no one assigned to verify the identities of residents or visitors; had no internal video cameras, and had no security personnel posted in the building.

The suit claimed that, in addition to failing to fix malfunctioning entry systems and to address other security measures at its residence halls, Allegheny College failed to change security procedures to protect students living on campus despite awareness of on-campus forcible sex offenses, and suspicious persons and trespassers on campus" prior to the attack on Dec. 10, 2019.

According to the suit, the school's daily crime and fire log reported multiple suspicious persons, including trespassers, on campus and multiple forcible sex offenses at Ravine-Narvik Hall from 2016 to 2019.

After the assault, Allegheny College pledged to considerably increase the public safety presence around campus and take additional measures, such as bringing more security personnel to campus.

Allegheny College failed to get lawsuit over rape dismissed

In denying all of the claims in the suit, Allegheny raised several defenses. One defense was that, at the times relevant to the incident, "Allegheny College was without notice, whether actual or constructive, of similar acts of violence or criminal activity occurring on its campus," according to the response Allegheny's lawyers filed in court.

Sexual assault on campus: Biden administration will release new Title IX rules in May. What to expect.

Another defense was that the lawsuit "is barred by the superseding intervening criminal conduct of a third party." Allegheny also said it "is not vicariously liable" in the case.

Allegheny's lawyers tried to get the suit dismissed based on the argument that the plaintiff "has failed to establish either that Allegheny had a duty to protect Plaintiff from the spontaneous criminal act of a third party or that its alleged breach of any such duty caused Plaintiff's assault to occur," according to a written opinion Judge Baxter issued in September 2021, about two months before Brown pleaded guilty in Crawford County Common Pleas Court.

U.S. District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter presided over the civil case about a rape at Allegheny College in Meadville in 2019.

Baxter in the opinion rejected Allegheny's argument. She said she recognized that the plaintiff's lawyers, at that point, had made a "tenuous casual connection" between the attack and Allegheny's "alleged negligence."

But she also said in the opinion: "The Court is unable to conclude, as a matter of law, that Alleghenys alleged negligence in upholding and maintaining its security services is so remote that Allegheny cannot be held legally responsible for Plaintiffs harm, particularly in view of its knowledge of the foreseeable risk of such harm evidenced by Alleghenys recent history of sexual assaults on its premises and within its residence halls.

"Plaintiff should be given the opportunity, through discovery, to determine the facts surrounding how the assailant entered her resident hall and the role, if any, that Alleghenys alleged negligence played in facilitating the sexual assault at issue."

Baxter ordered the case to proceed.

Contact Ed Palattella at epalattella@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNpalattella.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Settlement ends federal lawsuit over rape in Allegheny College dorm
(CNN)  The elderly American citizen sentenced to life in prison by a Chinese court Monday on spying charges is a veteran leader of several pro-Beijing groups in the United States, who has rubbed shoulders for years with senior Chinese government officials, CNN reporting and research has found.

The court in eastern China that sentenced John Shing-Wan Leung, 78, did not provide additional details on the espionage charges or Leungs personal background, apart from his US passport and Hong Kong ID numbers and date of birth.

Searching in previous Chinese state media reports, CNN found a man with the same Chinese name and date of birth as Leung, who has headed several pro-China organizations in the US, including a group promoting Beijings claims over Taiwan, the Texas Council for the Promotion of Chinas Peaceful Reunification.

In the Texas business registry, John Leung is listed as one of the three directors of that same group.

Another director listed on the registry, David Tang, confirmed to CNN that the now-imprisoned Leung is an associate at the organization and his long-time friend.

Hes a very famous person, known by many overseas Chinese in the southern US, Tang said.

Despite Leungs comparative fame and influence, no public information had emerged about his detention in China until Mondays verdict and sentencing announcement. Leung was seized by state security authorities in Suzhou, Jiangsu province on April 15, 2021, according to the court statement.

Cases involving espionage  a broad and vaguely defined charge  are usually handled behind closed doors in China, where the judicial system has a conviction rate of around 99%.

The US State Department said Monday that it was aware of the sentencing of a US citizen in the Peoples Republic of China on charges of espionage.

State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel did not get into further specifics, citing privacy concerns but stressed that the US seeks to provide all appropriate assistance, including consular access, whenever a US citizen is detained abroad.

Asked if Leung has been designated as wrongfully detained, Patel said that broadly on wrongfully detained designations that work, is a deliberative process that is ongoing.

CNN was unable to contact Leungs family members despite repeated efforts.

Communist Party links

Leungs Texas organization is affiliated with a pro-China, Taiwan-focused lobby group based in Washington DC, the National Association for Chinas Peaceful Unification (NACPU), where Leung sits on the board of directors as an executive member, according to cached versions of the NACPUs website.

The NACPU was designated as a foreign mission in 2020 by the Trump administration, which accused it of being controlled by the Chinese Communist Partys United Front Work Department  a far-reaching arm of the ruling party tasked with spreading Beijings influence and propaganda overseas.

In response to the designation, Chinas Foreign Ministry said it was completely unjustified for the US side to impose discriminatory restrictions on NACPU.

The NACPU and its branches in the US are part of a global network of similar organizations seen as a Beijing-backed influence operation, and have come under growing scrutiny in the US in recent years.

Reports published by Chinese-language media in Texas and Chinas state media show Leungs long-running access to senior Chinese officials.

Leung was photographed with multiple Chinese ambassadors to the US dating back two decades, including Zhang Yesui and Yang Jiechi, who would later become Chinas top diplomat under leader Xi Jinping.

Leung also organized or attended events with officials at the Chinese consulate in Houston, which was forced to close in 2020 after US officials alleged it was part of a larger Chinese espionage effort using diplomatic facilities around the US.

During trips to China, Leung has also met with multiple local officials, including in Jiangsu, where he was detained and sentenced.

Boasting the second-highest GDP of all Chinese provinces, Jiangsu is an economic powerhouse and home to Chinas semiconductor industry.

Outstanding representative

In previous reporting, Chinese state media has extolled Leung as an outstanding representative of patriotic overseas Chinese for his decades-long efforts in promoting social, cultural and business exchanges between the US and China.

According to a 2004 report in the Peoples Daily, the official mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party, Leung was born in Hong Kong and studied in the United Kingdom at the age of 16.

He later moved to the United States, where he worked for the United Nations at its headquarters in New York before becoming a businessman, the report said.

In 1985, Leung founded a friendship association between Oklahoma City and the southern Chinese metropolis of Guangzhou, followed by the Leung Cultural Exchange foundation in 1997, according to the Peoples Daily.

As a descendant of China, I am extremely honored and proud of what the new China has achieved in the past 55 years, Leung was quoted as saying in the report.

He has led American officials and business delegations to China to foster business deals and social exchanges, and hosted Chinese delegations visiting the US, according to the report.

It said Leungs efforts were fully affirmed by the Chinese government and leaders, and he had been received by Chinese leaders during their visits to the US as an outstanding representative of overseas Chinese.

Xi, Chinas most powerful leader in decades, has called on overseas Chinese to join the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation  a nationalistic agenda seeking to reclaim the countrys rightful place in the world. On May 9, Xi met hundreds of representatives hailing from major overseas Chinese associations around the world in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Crackdown on espionage

In more recent state media reports, Leung was named the deputy director of the Jiangsu Overseas Exchange Association, a state-affiliated organization.

In 2014, he met with the director of Jiangsu Provincial Overseas Chinese Affairs Office during a visit to Nanjing, the provincial capital.

The official, Wang Hua, praised Leung for his positive contributions to China and Jiangsu, expressing the hope that Leung could visit Jiangsu more often and bring more American economic and high-tech talents to invest in the province, according to a statement from the office.

In addition to promoting US-China exchanges, Leung and his organizations have also served to amplify Beijings political messages in the US.

In 2020, Leungs Texas Council for the Promotion of Chinas Peaceful Reunification issued a statement to voice support for Beijings imposition of a sweeping national security law on Hong Kong which has silenced the citys pro-democracy opposition.

The sentencing of Leung comes at a time when relations between Beijing and Washington are at their lowest point in half a century amid intensifying rivalry over trade, technology, geopolitics and military supremacy.

It also comes as American and Chinese officials are resuming high-level engagements since a dispute over a suspected Chinese spy balloon shattered efforts to mend ties earlier this year.

There are at least three other Americans publicly known to be imprisoned in China  Kai Li, Mark Swidan, and David Lin  all of whom have been designated as wrongfully detained by the US State Department.

In April, China passed a wide-ranging amendment to its already sweeping counter-espionage law, which will take effect from 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 interests, and to include cyberattacks against state organs or critical information infrastructure.

This story was first published on CNN.com, American jailed for spying by China is a veteran pro-Beijing advocate who rubbed shoulders with senior Chinese officials, CNN reporting shows"
A Florida middle school student stepped directly into the path of an oncoming passenger train just minutes after school, and detectives are trying to unravel the confounding scenario that caused his death.

It happened Monday, May 15, a block and a half west of Avon Park Middle School in Avon, the Highlands County Sheriffs Office said in a news release. Avon is about 75 miles southeast of Tampa.

Malik K. Pearson, 13, a seventh-grader at Avon Park Middle School, was pronounced deceased at the scene, the sheriffs office said.

Dispatch was alerted to the incident at 3:21 p.m., which is 11 minutes after the bell rang to end the school day. The Amtrak passenger train was headed north at the time. Detectives are trying to determine exactly how the accident happened.

The teen died at a railroad crossing near the intersection of West Bell Street and South Feagin Avenue, officials said.

Classes at Avon Park Middle School were dismissed at 3:10 p.m. The school has 632 students in grades 6 through 8, according to Greatschools.org.

Investigators did not say if other students witnessed the incident, but the school district arranged for counselors to be on scene shortly after the incident to provide support, the sheriffs office said.

There are no words that can capture how devastating this is to our community and schools, Highlands County Sheriff Paul Blackman and Superintendent Brenda Longshore said in a joint statement.

Our prayers are with Maliks family and friends and we will make counselors, victim advocates, therapy dogs and any other help available to anyone who has been directly impacted by this tragedy.

Teacher pulled hair of special needs student to gain compliance, Florida cops say

Argument between teachers at Florida high school ends with one in jail, deputies say

Video shows chaos as overdosing driver rolls through rush-hour traffic, Florida cops say
The Senate and House on Tuesday formally sent bills to Gov. Ron DeSantis that would prevent doctors from offering treatments such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy to transgender minors and expand a law that restricts instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in schools.

The bills were among the most controversial issues of the 2023 legislative session, which ended May 5.

The Senate website listed them among numerous bills formally sent Tuesday to DeSantis.

At the DeSantis administrations urging, the state Board of Medicine and the state Board of Osteopathic Medicine approved rules that prevent doctors from providing puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and specific surgical procedures to transgender minors. One of the bills (SB 254) would go further by putting a prohibition on the treatments into state law.

Gender dysphoria, which the federal government defines clinically as significant distress that a person may feel when sex or gender assigned at birth is not the same as their identity.

Gender-affirming health care for transgender individuals is supported by most major accredited medical organizations.

Under the rules, minors currently being treated with puberty blockers or hormone therapies would be allowed to continue the treatment for now. But parents of trans kids who are transitioning socially and havent begun such treatments or who are currently using medical treatment expressed concern about their childrens futures.

READ: Florida lawmakers seek to ban gender-affirming care for transgender kids, punish doctors involved

DeSantis, who is widely seen as a top contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, has elevated the issue of treatment for transgender youths. As an example, he has referred to surgeries on transgender minors as genital mutilation, though experts have said the surgeries are exceptionally rare.

Board of Medicine member Hector Vila said the boards, which regulate physicians, thoroughly explored the issue before concluding the therapies are not supported by their own independent evidence.

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Im sorry its uncomfortable. Were in an uncomfortable situation. I feel like theres a lot of the public thinks I dislike them. Not at all, he began, interrupted by many jeers from the audience. We cant even make a sincere comment, and its hurtful to us  This isnt about politics. This is about the information we reviewed, the testimony weve listened to, and the narrow set of circumstances in which were trying to protect the children.

The LGBTQ+ advocacy group Equality Florida issued a news release about the bill in March that said it would strip families of their medical freedom, put the government in control of insurance coverage decisions, and codify a ban on transgender people being legally recognized as themselves.

Transgender people are neighbors, friends, family members, Nikole Parker, Equality Floridas director of transgender equality, said in a prepared statement. We exist and we matter. This bill to rip away lifesaving health care, shred insurance coverage and bar birth certificate access will cost lives.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

The Republican-controlled Legislature also passed a bill (HB 1069) that would expand a 2022 law that barred instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through eighth grade. Democrats argued the measure is an effort to legislate away the gay in the state.

Supporters titled the 2022 law Parental Rights in Education, but opponents dubbed it the Dont Say Gay bill.

Teachers and other school employees under the new law would be prohibited from telling students their preferred pronouns and barred from asking them about their preferred pronouns.

LGBTQ+ advocates and Democrats like Jacksonville State Representative Angie Nixon were dealt a blow when an amendment that would have allowed parents to request their children to use alternative pronouns in school failed.

The bill also would build on another controversial 2022 law that increased scrutiny of school-library books and instructional materials. The bill, in part, would take steps to make the process of objecting to books and instructional materials easier.

For example, the bill would require that forms used for objecting to books be easy to read and understand and be readily accessible on school districts websites.

In instances where an objection is made based on possible pornographic content or material that describes sexual conduct, the bill would require the materials to be removed from schools within five days of the objection and remain unavailable to students of that school until the objection is resolved.

READ: LGBTQ groups decry new Florida bill they describe as Dont Say Gay 2.0

Every family is different, and children mature at different rates. The place for instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity is in the home, guided by the parents if they deem it appropriate, said Senate Sponsor Clay Yarborough (R-Jacksonville) in a statement about the bill on March 1.

To supporters of the policy like Anthony Verdugo with the Florida Christian Family Coalition, the bills represent an expansion of parents rights.

All laws signed will go into effect July 1.

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F-16

Commenting on the results of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visits to Italy, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, Kuleba noted that several countries have expressed their readiness to train Ukrainian pilots.

Read also: Zelenskyys Europe trip secures more military aid, makes progress on fighter jets

He then added that there are countries ready to provide aircraft to defend Ukraine, acting as part of a broader coalition.

The aviation coalition will definitely be formed this year; I have no doubts about that now, said Kuleba.

Read also: Upcoming Ukrainian counter-offensive maybe not last one, says FM Kuleba

When Western planes with our pilots would actually patrol Ukrainian airspace  that is still an open question. But when the coalition is formed, everything will happen very quickly, Kuleba added.

Read also: Putin invited foreign leaders to Moscow parade to deter drone attacks

During his May 16 evening address, Zelenskyy confirmed that the United Kingdom and the Netherlands have agreed to work on a fighter jet coalition for Ukraine.

Read also: Ukraines counteroffensive to determine US decision on F-16s, FM Kuleba says

According to The Guardian, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Dutch counterpart, Mark Rutte, agreed to create an "international coalition" to help transfer F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
A military man watches a bison in Kyiv Zoo in the capital of Ukraine on February 19. 2023. Dominika Zarzycka/NurPhoto via Getty Images

A Russian rocket struck Kyiv Zoo in a massive overnight airstrike, The Guardian reported.

No animals were killed, but have been getting increasingly stressed, the zoo's director said.

The director said some animals have been given anti-depressants to help them get through the war.

Shell-shocked animals at the Kyiv Zoo are being given anti-depressants as Russia ramps up its missile attacks in Ukraine, The Guardian reported.

The zoo, which has remained open to visitors, was struck by a Russian rocket as part of Moscow's overnight airstrikes across the capital on Tuesday.

The rocket landed next to enclosures containing vultures and a family of raccoons, but no animals or humans were injured, the zoo's director, Kirill Trantin, told The Guardian.

Trantin said the animals did not appear distressed but would be given medication if they showed signs of depression. The zoo has been giving animals sedatives and anti-depressants to cope with the ongoing strikes.

"The Russians are not humans. They want to punish and scare us," Trantin said. "They don't give a shit about international law or norms. But we've held on for more than a year already and won't give in. Ten of my zoo colleagues are fighting with the Ukrainian army, including three in Bakhmut."

The zoo, which houses nearly 4,000 animals and 200 species, has remained a popular Kyiv attraction even in wartime.

Veterinarians have been on hand to monitor the animals' emotional state and provide reassurance when needed, Trentin wrote in a blog post last year.

Several staffers have also been living on the premises since last year to pay closer attention to the animals amid ongoing fighting, Trentin said.

As a result, some of them have had to be brought to indoor enclosures or underground galleries.

Russia has stepped up its air campaign in recent weeks ahead of an expected Ukrainian offensive.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal believes that the planned creation of a register of damage caused by the ongoing Russian aggression will be a real step toward compensation to Ukraine.

Source: European Pravda; Shmyhal's statement before the meeting of the fourth Council of Europe summit in Reykjavik.

"I think we will take a real step towards finding a mechanism for compensation for the atrocities that Russia has committed in Ukraine," the Prime Minister said.

"This is only the first step. The creation of a compensation mechanism is ahead. And eventually, there should be a tribunal for the crime of Russian aggression," Shmyhal added.

Background: The foreign ministers of Ukraine and Iceland supported the creation of a register of War losses under the auspices of the Council of Europe.

Tini Kox, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, in an interview with European Pravda noted that at the summit in Reykjavik, dozens of countries should join the agreement on creating a register of losses caused to Ukraine, on the basis of which the compensation mechanism will work.

In addition, Kox noted that the summit's decision would contain elements of the Peace Formula proposed by Ukraine and would mention the need for a tribunal for the crime of Russian aggression.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
 Prigozhin offered to reveal Russian positions if Ukrainian defenders withdraw from Bakhmut  WP

A leaked Pentagon memo says that the leader of the Wagner mercenary company, Yevgeny Prigozhin, offered in late January to disclose to Ukraine Russian troop positions in exchange for the withdrawal of Ukrainian soldiers from Bakhmut, U.S. media report.





 UK to send hundreds of long-range attack drones to Ukraine

The United Kingdom will send hundreds of new long-range attack drones with a range of over 200 kilometers to Ukraine, the UK government said in a statement on May 15.





 Russian missile attack demolishes humanitarian aid warehouse in Ternopil

The Russian missile attack on Ternopil on May 13 completely demolished a warehouse of the "Light of the Reformation" charitable organization, its head Ivan Hontar wrote on Facebook.





 Zelenskyys Europe trip secures more military aid, makes progress on fighter jets

In his evening address on May 15, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy summarized the results of his visits to Italy, Germany, France, and the UK.





 Abrams tanks for training Ukrainian crews delivered to Germany

The United States has delivered 31 Abrams main battle tanks to Germany, which will be used for training Ukrainian military personnel, U.S. Defense Department spokesman Patrick Ryder said at a press briefing on May 15.





 Belarusian dictator Lukashenko very ill, confirms Russian official

Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko is very ill, Deputy Chairman of the Russian State Duma Committee for the CIS, Konstantin Zatulin, told the Russian online publication Podyom on May 14.





 The Hague to set up register of damage caused to Ukraine by Russian aggression

A special register of damage will be established in The Hague, the Netherlands, to record the damage caused by Russian troops to Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in Brussels on May 15.





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 Ukraines security services charge exiled Ukrainian oligarch Firtash with crime

Ukraines SBU security service and the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine (ESBU) have charged exiled Ukrainian oligarch Dmytro Firtash with committing a crime, NV sources in law enforcement agencies said on May 15.





 Macron says France ready to train Ukrainian pilots

France could start training Ukrainian fighter pilots, French President Emmanuel Macron said in an interview with TF1 television channel on May 15, according to Le Monde.





 After losing its best pilots in Ukraine, Russia training new ones, but not nearly as good, air force says

Russia has lost many of its best pilots in the full-scale war waged against Ukraine, but continues to train new ones, the spokesperson for the Air Force of Ukraine, Yuriy Ihnat, said on national television on May 15.

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
Three months since Fort Worth City Council adopted new registration rules for short-term rentals, cracking down on Airbnbs and Vrbos in neighborhoods remains easier said than done.

Since 2018, the city has required short-term rentals to be properly zoned  now the rentals also have to be registered and pay a tax.

Fort Worth residents have urged city officials to be proactive in cracking down on Airbnbs and Vrbos in neighborhoods, however the Code Compliance Departments limited staff does not have the resources to seek and shut down every illegal short-term rental.

What is a short-term rental?

Short-term rentals are residential dwellings  houses, apartments or condominiums  available for rent for guest lodging for a period ranging from 1 to 29 days.

This includes homes or other dwellings listed on vacation rental websites Airbnb or Vrbo.

Can short-term rentals exist in residential neighborhoods?

Since 2018, the City of Fort Worth has required short-term rentals to be in specific zoning areas which prohibits short-term rentals in residential districts.

Short-term rentals are allowed in all mixed-use and most form-based, commercial, and industrial zoning districts, according to the City of Fort Worth.

Under the registration rules adopted this year, all short-term rentals must be registered with the city and are subject to the Hotel Occupancy Tax.

The rules adopted this year make it a violation to advertise without first registering with the city and enable code compliance to enforce regulations by comparing the registration rolls with online property listings.

Do short-term rentals in Fort Worth collect hotel tax?

All legal short-term rentals in Fort Worth must be registered and pay the Hotel Occupancy Tax.

The Hotel Occupancy Tax applies to every person or business that owns, operates, manages or controls any short-term rental in the city. Rental owners must collect seven percent of room receipts from their guests, report the collections and pay the tax to the City of Fort Worth.

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Fort Worths Hotel Occupancy Tax goes toward the citys Cultural and Tourism Fund.

Why do some Fort Worth residents oppose short-term rentals?

When Como resident Laura Tucker petitioned the city to rezone her four-bedroom, single family home in April, she was met with backlash from neighborhood residents.

Neighbors argued there would be no way to control what kind of groups come and go from the property, the Star-Telegram previously reported. Residents also worried how the change would impact their historic community.

Why do some residents want short-term rentals?

Tucker wrote in her application that she wanted to make her home a short-term rental until shes able to permanently move back to the residence following a relocation. Tucker bought the house in March 2022.

She said she wanted to rezone the property as a short-term rental as opposed to listing it on the market because homes built in the community had been listed for several months.

How can you register your Fort Worth short-term rental?

Before registering, check that a short-term rental registration is allowed based on your propertys current zoning. This can be found using the CFW Permit Assist tool found on the City of Fort Worths website.

The permit assist tool will have a Your project is allowed at this location determination if a short-term rental is allowed at your property. Download the zoning confirmation and complete the Hotel Occupancy Tax and Short Term Rental Registration Form.

Zoning confirmation from the permit assist tool and the registration form can be emailed to treasuryRevenue@fortworthtexas.gov.

New applications are $150 and renewal applications are $100. The registration fee can be paid three ways:
Simon Pegg has opened up about his longtime friendship with Tom Cruise.

The British actor, 53, joined the Mission Impossible franchise in its third instalment released in 2006.

Hes since starred in three more Mission Impossible movies opposite Cruise, 60, with the next  Mission: Impossible  Dead Reckoning Part One  out 12 July.

In the latest edition of BBC Radio 4s Desert Island Discs, Pegg told host Lauren Laverne that he avoids talking to Cruise about his controversial faith in the Church of Scientology.

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 explained.

Cruise is Scientologys most famous follower. The religion and its leader David Miscavige have been accused of bilking supporters for cash, separating members from their loved ones, and harassing and threatening journalists and critics.

Tom Cruise (left) and Simon Pegg (Han Myung-Gu/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures)

Pegg added that his relationship with Cruise is just very simple and amiable. Were 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.

Pegg also said he makes fun of Cruise for his fame and the things that he can access. He recalled: We were filming in South Africa recently on this mountain and then he decided he wanted to swim with sharks.

He flew us in a helicopter to this seaside part and we dived with sharks. At the end of the day, we said, That was a real Tom Cruise kind of day. He kind of appreciates the ridiculousness of it sometimes.

Elsewhere in the interview, Pegg reflected on hiding his alcohol addiction while on the set of Mission: Impossible III.

Mission: Impossible  Dead Reckoning Part One is out in cinemas 12 July.
Karen McGirt was barely making it as a young, single mom in Charlotte decades ago with three children.

Her part-time job was hardly earning enough to pay monthly expenses. More often than not, McGirt had to decide whether to pay the electric bill or provide food for her children. She also was a trade school student.

I had to find a second wind with each new challenge to finish what I set out to accomplish, she said.

More than 30 years after graduating from Harding University High School  much of it working as a bus driver or in a salon  the 48-year-old mom will cross the stage at Bojangles Coliseum Sunday and accept her bachelors degree in social work from Johnson C. Smith University.

I was barely making it. Now, I have the credentials I need to give back to the community and assist others, McGirt said. I wanted better for my children and myself.

With a degree in hand, McGirt has her eye on work with a social organization. She particularly wants to help people who were in the same spot she was: a young, single mom trying to work and go to school.

My mom is unstoppable, said son Imari Cunningham, 18. I am extremely proud of her graduating. She has worked really hard. (Shes so) determined.

Driving a bus to pay for school

Karen McGirt, center, has six kids in her blended family, three of which are (from left) Khadejah Cloud, Imari Cunningham and Vanessa Cloud. Shes married now but remembers the challenge of trying to get an education as a single mom. There was no sitter for me to attend school at night, she says. My income was low and I was barely making it. I wanted better for my children and myself.

McGirt told The Charlotte Observer she never considered traditional college after graduating high school in 1992. She was more interested in hair and makeup, so she took a job as a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools bus driver to pay her way through cosmetology schools.

She had two young girls at the time, and drove a bus in the mornings from 5:45 to 8:30. From 8:45 a.m., to 1 p.m., she attended cosmetology school. Then she was back on the bus by 1:15 p.m. She drove until 5:30 p.m., then picked up her girls from daycare.

McGirt graduated from cosmetology school and worked in several salons. It wasnt enough. She enrolled in Central Piedmont Community College during the evening, but couldnt stand being away from her children at night. So, she enrolled in an online program at with Liberty University and earned an associates degree in psychology in Christian counseling in 2018.

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She got married in March 2018, and now has six children in her blended family. The children range in age from 14 to 30.

McGirt, who lives in Mint Hill, began a new chapter in fall 2019 when she enrolled in Johnson C. Smith. While her girls were in their 20s when she started at JCSU, her son was 13 and she and her husband were co-parenting whom she calls her bonus children, who were 9, 11 and 15.

READ MORE: NC HBCU breaks its silence on tax exemption changes

An ANSWER to confidence

Biddle Hall clock and bell tower at Johnson C. Smith University located at 100 Beatties Ford Road in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022. Several historically black universities around Charlotte received bomb threats this week.

McGirt worked during the day and took classes at night. She was a full-time student in JCSUs Metropolitan College of Professional Studies program, which offers evening and online classes and provides flexible and convenient scheduling.

I did the best I could, she said. It helped that my daughters were older. My mother assisted with children when needed with picking my son up and starting him on his homework.

To make a four-year degree possible, McGirt also turned to ANSWER Scholarship, a Charlotte nonprofit that provides college scholarships, mentoring and professional development training for moms.

Susan Andersen started ANSWER Scholarship because when she graduated from high school, her parents had divorced and there was no money to send her to college.

There are so many more challenges a non-traditional student faces compared to traditional college students, Andersen said. Our scholars must be enrolled in school full-time. Each mom is raising at least one and often more children from Pre-K to 12th grade. Weve found that so much of the time, moms dont have the confidence to go back to school.

McGirt says working, taking classes and having a family took a toll, so she also relied on Andersens organization to provide support in other areas.

They provided sisterhood with other like-minded women in pursuit of bettering themselves and being better for their families, she said.

Addressing needs

McGirt has started her own nonprofits, too. One is a religious organization that supports individuals and families in their spiritual growth. A second is Shifted Atmosphere Ministries Resiliency Partners, which serves men and women who battle substance use disorders.

McGirt hopes to break barriers of unsuccessful recovery and provide a food pantry, clothing closet and offer resources for job skills training and counseling.

The organization also provides resources and links displaced teen moms to services such as daycare, job search, medical assistance and educational opportunities. There also will be a hotline available for teens.

They are social issues that need to be addressed, McGirt said. I care about displaced teen moms because I was a young mom who was not knowledgeable about resources to assist me along the way. The hotline is important because this generation needs an outlet where they can feel heard and supported.

SEE THE GRADES: The state's 2022 letter grades and test scores for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

McGirt wants to work full-time in her nonprofit agency, as a counselor and advocate. Shes working on finishing up testing as a certified substance abuse and alcohol and drug counselor this month.

McGirts advice for moms who want to earn their degree: Never give up on your dream, there is support out there. You will be pleasantly surprised at what you can accomplish, not to mention your children will be inspired by you.
A version of The Bachelor focused on senior citizens is ready to prove love is worth the wait.

ABC announced the long-anticipated arrival of The Golden Bachelor on Tuesday while revealing its fall television slate.

In the shows synopsis, the network promised Bachelor Nation a whole new kind of love story  one for the golden years.

The Golden Bachelor will center around a yet-to-be-named hopeless romantic who is given a second chance at love in the search for a partner with whom to share the sunset years of life.

"The Golden Bachelor" is set to air on ABC in the fall.

Meanwhile, the ladies have a lifetime of experience, living through love, loss and laughter, hoping for a spark that ignites a future full of endless possibilities.

In the end, will our Golden man turn the page to start a new chapter with the woman of his dreams? the teaser asks.

The concept for The Golden Bachelor has been maturing for some time. ABC first posted a casting call for single people 65 and older in early 2020, before COVID lockdown.

ABC and other networks appear to be leaning into unscripted content as the Writers Guild of America strike is set to continue into the indefinite future. (HuffPosts unionized staff are members of WGA East.) ABCs fall lineup also includes Dancing with the Stars, Celebrity Jeopardy, Shark Tank and Bachelor in Paradise, which traditionally airs in the summer.

The Golden Bachelor is set to air Mondays this fall. A premiere date has yet to be announced.

Related...
Three people have been arrested after six children briefly went missing in Massachusetts, according to police and local media reports.

Police responded to a home in Haverhill on May 10 following a report that seven siblings were being abused by their parents, according to NBC Boston. The report came from one of the older children who was not among the missing.

Three days later, six of the siblings  all between 7 months and 9 years old  were reported missing, according to the news outlet, which added that the parents refused to cooperate with officials during the subsequent search.

The missing children were located several hours later with the assistance of state police, the Essex County District Attorneys Office and other agencies, according to a news release from the Haverhill Police Department.

The children were in good health and (were placed) in the custody of The Dept. (of) Children and Families, police said in the release, which was posted on Facebook.

The childrens mother, stepfather and grandmother were later arrested, according to Boston 25 News, citing the Essex County District Attorneys Office.

The mother and stepfather, both 37, were charged with battery and assault, while the grandmother was charged with kidnapping, according to the news outlet.

She was also charged with intimidating a police officer, according to WHDH.

Its not clear if the three charged individuals had retained attorneys.

Haverhill is approximately 35 miles north of Boston.

Man barges into middle school girls bathroom, offers child hypodermic needles, cops say

Teen joking around with gun fatally shoots his 16-year-old friend, Ohio cops say

Mom and son shot bear cubs on private land, Oregon officials say. Now they must pay
At least six public elementary schools in New York City will use their gymnasiums to temporarily house migrants who flooded into the city from the southern border, according to a report.

The six schools set to host migrants are all in Brooklyn, the New York Post reported Monday. Adult migrants began to arrive on Sunday at the PS 188 gym in Coney Island, the report said, and at least five more are preparing to do the same: PS 17, PS 18, PS 132, PS 172 and PS 189.

NYC FACES IRE OF RESIDENTS OVER PLAN TO HOUSE MIGRANTS IN BROOKLYN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GYM

At least six public elementary schools in New York City will use their gymnasiums to temporarily house migrants who flooded into the city from the southern border, according to a report.

MS 577, a middle prep school, will also host migrants in the gym it shares with PS 17. The two schools placed cots in the gym Monday in preparation to host busloads of migrants as early as Tuesday, according to the report. Parents claimed the school will be locked down with no recess or physical education because the gym is adjacent to the outdoor playground.

"These kids just came through COVID, and now theyre being locked inside the classroom," Virginia Vu, a PTA member and parent at MS 577, told The Post. "To bus people to our school and expect the community to absorb them is just insane."

HOUSE PASSES GOP PACKAGE TO BOLSTER BORDER SECURITY, OVERHAUL ASYLUM PROCESS

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The wave of migrants hosted by schools in the city comes less than one week after the expiration of Title 42, a federal COVID-19 emergency policy that allowed border agents to turn away migrants at the border.

The wave of migrants hosted by schools in the city comes less than one week after the expiration of the Title 42 policy that allowed border agents to turn away migrants at the border in order to prevent the spread of COVID.

Damaris Fernandez, a parent of students at MS 577 and PS 17, said the housing for migrants is a security issue.

"Parents have to sign in and provide ID when they go into school  now theres migrants in the playground," Fernandez told The Post. "My phone has been going crazy with angry parents. Nobody agrees with whats happened."

'HOW DARE YOU': ROCKLAND COUNTY EXECUTIVE TORCHES NYC MAYOR AS MIGRANT BUSING PLAN REPORTEDLY A 'DONE DEAL'

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The six schools set to host migrants all reside in Brooklyn.

Gabriela Vizhnay, a parent of a student at PS 172, said she "almost cried" when she heard the gym would host migrants.

"These elementary kids are being sacrificed over something that can be done somewhere else," Vizhnay told The Post. "Youre sacrificing kids. The future of this county."

The New York City Education Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Buddhist monk Prasert Sriwauria, 60, pictured at Wat Ban Nong Phue Noi temple - Jack Taylor

Looking back, Prasert Sriwaurai isnt sure what stopped the crew from killing their skipper. But he cant forget the anguish that drove them to discuss, in whispered voices, whether a body thrown into the depths of the ocean would ever be discovered.

For years, the fishermen had been trapped at sea in brutal conditions  forced to work or face being beaten with barbed stingray tails, scalded by boiling water and woken up with hammer blows. For many desperate to escape the boat, murder felt like the only option.

I just feel pity, thinking about it, said Sriwaurai, now a 60-year-old monk in a remote village in northeastern Thailand. I feel pitiful for myself and others. We just wanted to go home, but were stopped and pushed to the point where we discussed killing. Its pitiful.

Sriwaurais six years held captive are a far cry from the life he expected when he joined the boat in 2009, lured by the promise of a monthly salary of 10,000 baht (230) and decent conditions.

Buddhist monk Prasert Sriwauria, 60, pictured outside Wat Ban Nong Phue Noi temple - Jack Taylor

It would be seven years before Sriwaurai saw his family again, or stepped foot back in Thailand. While his daughter and mother feared the worst, he was trapped on a boat in conditions not even fit for a slave.

The ship spent most of its time in southern Indonesia  more than 2,500 miles from Sriwaurais Thai home.

There was no time to eat, no time to sleep  really, it was torture, Sriwaurai told the Telegraph, pointing to the burn marks on his leathery skin. They would scald us with boiling water and, if we didnt wake up in time, they would hit us with the pipe or a hammer The [skipper] didnt think of us as humans. I dont know what he thought of us as, but we werent human.

Unfinished agenda

Across the globe, close to 130,000 people remain trapped in forced labour on fishing vessels, according to the latest estimates from the International Labour Organization (ILO). Often deep at sea, it is a workplace characterised by extreme isolation, hazardousness, and gaps in regulatory oversight.

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The issue has been particularly acute in Thailand, where the fishing industry is worth more than 6 billion. Roughly a decade ago, a series of reports revealed the shocking scale of modern slavery and exploitation within the Thai trawler fleet  physical abuse, wage theft and human trafficking were rampant. Sriwaurais story seems extreme, in fact it was all too common.

Then, in 2015, the European Union issued Thailand with a yellow card, which signalled that the government was not sufficiently tackling illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and could have led to a complete ban on imports of Thai seafood and fish into the bloc. They also warned that labour protections were weak. It was a wake-up call for the government, and led to enough change that the EU lifted the warning in 2019.

Rights groups have welcomed many of the measures  especially provisions which require boats to dock every 30 days, an effort to prevent ships staying in the deep sea for months or years. Thailand also became the first country in Asia to ratify the international Work in Fishing Convention.

An unmarked grave of a Thai fisherman in Indonesia - Labour Protection Network

But they warn that major loopholes persist, and momentum to tackle them is waning. According to an index produced by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime, Thailand remained among the worst performers in terms of prevalence of IUU fishing in its fleet in 2021, alongside countries including Taiwan and China.

As part of the promises to the European Union, Thailand had to amend its trafficking in persons law, to also make forced labour a crime under Thai law, Phil Robertson, deputy director of Human Rights Watch, told a recent panel. But so far, theres been almost no action by the Thai authorities on issues of forced labour.

He added that the government has done very little to educate law enforcement agencies about what forced labour is, contributing to a lack of practical implementation of the law. None of the fleet owners or captains who have committed abuses have gone to prison, for instance.

The Thai government has been busy declaring victory, [saying] that they basically succeeded in ending this human trafficking dont believe it, theyre playing games, Robertson said. This situation is an unfinished agenda, and forced labour is still present on fishing boats that are going from Thai ports.

Endless sea and sky

Patima Tungpuchayakul, a Nobel Peace Prize nominee and co-founder of the Labour Protection Organization, agreed. The group has helped close to 5,000 fishermen escape modern slavery, including nearly 2,000 captive and stranded fishermen stuck in Indonesia. It was there, in a hamlet called Benjina on the remote Aru islands, that she met Sriwaurai.

The fishermen had spent six years trapped in cramped, brutal conditions aboard a Thai trawler ship. During that time, he had just four separate weeks of rest on land, as the boat would generally transfer its haul and pick up supplies from a mother ship.

Sometimes wed see other ships, but wed never see land. It was just endless sea and sky, Sriwaurai said, adding that daily life was just as repetitive. To work in the fishing ship, it was 24/7  everyday, rain or shine It was just a constant cycle of dropping the net, sorting the fish, pulling up a full net, sorting the fish.

The pattern was punctured only by violence and mistreatment. Even when we were really sick, the skipper made us work some men died as a result. Really, it was torture.

In Sriwaurais case, the lack of medical care cost him his left eyesight. As the crew were separating the species in their haul, chucking fish into various piles across the deck, an awry throw slapped his eye. Denied access to a doctor, Sriwaurai eventually went blind.

Prasert Sriwaurai shortly after he was rescued by LPN - Labour Protection Network

Horrific cases like this have become less common since the extent of exploitation was exposed and boats made to dock more regularly. But financial and legal abuse remains a huge unresolved issue.

For example, the government now says that people have to be paid via a bank transaction, so there is a paper trail that officers can check, Tungpuchayakul told the Telegraph. But often the employers make bank accounts for the fishermen, and then withdraw the cash and keep a big segment of it.

That policy shift had been deeply unpopular across the industry, Robertson added, triggering an ongoing effort to try to undermine that system by a sector that has not changed its spots.

As well as wage theft, many employers also say they will only pay at the end of 12 month or two year long contracts, which can leave them stuck in poor conditions.

There have been very substantial legislative changes made in Thailand in recent years [but] from what weve seen, its still more the norm than the exception that migrants are not being paid the full wages they are due, said Ben Harkins, technical officer for the ILOs ship to shore rights programme in southeast Asia. The withholding of identification documents and ATM cards as well is very, very widespread.

Stuck in a cell

This also relates to visa issues. Many of the Thai ships still travel to foreign waters and dock in international ports as they search for fish, and undocumented migrants form a significant chunk of the workforce  this group are especially vulnerable to financial exploitation.

Last month, Tungpuchayakul helped six Thai fishermen who had languished in jail in Malaysia for seven months, charged with working on tourist visas. Their employers had taken their passports, ostensibly to complete the relevant paperwork, but never did.

When the men  all from the same village in Thailands Deep South  were arrested, the company left them to fend for themselves.

Patima Tungpuchyakul, co-founder of the Labour Protection Network, on a fishing boat - Labour Protection Network

Fishermen at work on a vessel - Labour Protection Network

The cell was about 2m by 3m, for six people, Suchet Yeesan, 34, told the Telegraph during a video call a week after returning home. I was angry, as we were just trying to earn enough money to support our family, and instead they were stressed and we were in prison.

They werent stuck on a boat, but they were stuck in a cell, added Tungpuchayakul, who went to Penang to ensure their release. The cases show how exploitation has changed. The problem is that authorities dont have a proactive approach to ensure people working in this profession are protected. And they focus on tiny errors in documentation, rather than workers conditions, pay or visas.

Theres been improvements but theres still a lot of work needed to improve the quality of life for fishermen, she added. I think standardised law enforcement, so theres a clear plan of what officers have to do in a certain situation, and proactive searches would be an important starting point.

Ordained until my dying breath

Like the fisherman in Malaysia, it was the Labour Protection Network that helped Sriwaurai come home.

After two failed attempts  which landed him briefly in jail, then right back where he started  the fisherman finally escaped the boat while it was docked in late 2014, fleeing into the forest and taking refuge with a local Indonesian family. He had no savings, no phone and little hope of returning to Thailand.

I thought I was going to die in Indonesia, Sriwaurai said. Instead, he met Tungpuchayakul, who was on a mission to ensure fishermen like him could return home. Once back in Thailand, the Labour Protection Network offered Sriwaurai a place to stay as he found his feet, and helped him claim limited compensation of 80,000 baht (1,900) through the Thai courts (the equivalent of around 315 a year for his work and injury).

It was also Tungpuchayakul who first suggested Sriwaurai should be ordained a monk.

Buddhist monk Prasert Sriwauria, 60, walks past Wat Ban Nong Phue Noi temple - Jack Taylor

At this point I loved alcohol too much I was addicted. So Patima said, I think you should get ordained and break the cycle, he said, adding that it is forbidden for monks to drink. To start with I was unconvinced, but the more I read and learned about the Buddist teaching and the role I could play, the more inspired I became.

Its a very different life from before, Sriwaurai added, gesturing at the tall, gold-plated temple in Nong Mue Noi, a small village in the northeastern province of Yasothon.

The Buddhist teachings teach you to be kind, think of others, to care and be mindful. And its actually helped to learn not to hold onto the past  that you are living for today and all you can do is keep on doing good in life. If I have my way, I want to stay here, ordained, until my dying breath.

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Sixth attack on Kyiv in May targets Ukrainian air defense systems

I would like to remind you that this is the sixth  attack on the capital since the beginning of May. It is evident that through such intensive use of kamikaze drones and missiles of various types, the enemy was seeking to test our air defense system and inflict significant damage  specifically on air defense objects, Seleznyov said.

He also emphasized the Russians primary interest was to neutralize the combat effectiveness of the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system.

Read also: Military expert says why Russia may have attacked Ukrainian cities far from front line

The Russians understand the power and effectiveness of the Patriot system. In order to continue shelling the peaceful city, specifically Kyiv, with impunity, it is crucial for them to neutralize the combat capabilities of the Patriot complex as much as possible.

Additionally, Seleznyov speculated that the attackers may have also aimed at other air defense systems protecting the capital.

The Russians have a sufficient number of missiles to carry out such intense and concentrated missile strikes on our capital, Seleznyov added.

On May 16, Russia attacked Kyiv with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and UAVs.

Read also: Russians attack Kramatorsk with missile and Chernihiv Oblast with rockets

The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, reported that the Russians used:

 Six Kh-47M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles, fired from six MiG-31K aircraft.

 Nine Kalibr cruise missiles from ships in the Black Sea.

 Three ground-based missiles (S-400, Iskander-M).

All 18 missiles were destroyed by the air defense forces of the Ukrainian Air Force, but debris fell in at least four districts of 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
Founders of the young fashion brand Yuriy Zhayvoronok and Denys Levchenko

Read also: Business community applauds NBU decision to issue licenses to non-banking financial institutions

On May 9, 2022 Yuri Zhaivoronok and Denis Levchenko, founders of a young fashion brand CREATIVE DEPO, became famous throughout Ukraine almost overnight. The day before, President Volodymyr Zelenskyi's team posted a video message for Victory in Europe Day filmed against the background of ruined buildings in Borodyanka. Zelenskyy was wearing a t-shirt with the print I'M UKRAINIAN by CREATIVE DEPO. Since then, the t-shirt has become a bestseller, and its creators are still toiling to keep up with demand.

Zhayvoronok and Levchenko, friends since childhood and winners of the RE:start small and medium-sized business support project from the Kyiv School of Economics, spoke to NV about their business.

NV: How did your business start, and how was it like before the full-scale invasion?

Yuri Zhaivoronok (YZ): We created CREATIVE DEPO during the pandemic lockdown  we had bought printing equipment for old projects. But business began to fade, and we came up with new ideas. We had two options: to make a clothing brand or to produce wholesale. At that stage, we chose wholesale, because there were opportunities for cooperation with Yevhen Chernyak's Big Money project, and we made merch for him. This would become our entry point into the B2B market. We also benefitted from word of mouth, and many large companies came to us on referrals, including Reface, Monobank, Kyivstar, and the STB TV channel. For some, we did turnkey merch, and for others, only accessories or clothing. We continued to work, kept developing our B2B vector, and did not think that we would ever sell in retail.

Read also: Five fashions appear in Ukraine amid Russian invasion

NV: How did the war change CREATIVE DEPOs concept?

Denis Levchenko (DL) : When the war started, we realized that many big companies were going to cut their marketing budgets. This meant we needed to radically change direction in order to continue operating. That's why we launched a collection with Ukrainian prints within two weeks.

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YZ: We realized that during wartime, people would most likely not be doing as much clothes shopping in Ukraine. That's why we made a collection aimed at Ukrainians in Europe or at Europeans who would like to support Ukraine in some way.

Neither my partner nor I are illustrators, so we found interesting designs on the Internet, wrote to their creators, and came to agreements with them. These included Ukrainian-themed illustrations, like Ukrainian flag hearts, Taras Shevchenko, and Molotov cocktails. We decided that we would send 50% of our profits to the Armed Forces (through in-kind donations, cash, and sewing clothes or body armor), and 10% as royalties to the illustrators. There were only five designs in our production line, and only one of them was developed by us - the I'M UKRAINIAN, which later became the most popular. We wanted to make a design that people who had left Ukraine could wear and make clear to everyone that they were Ukrainians, without speaking a word. That is, something that they would be proud of.

Read also: Ukrainian business expects growth for the first time in over a year, NBU says

NV: How did the president end up wearing your line of clothing?

YZ: At first, we saw a photo of him in our t-shirt somewhere in the building of the Office of the President, but it was hidden under a sweater and it was almost impossible to tell it was really our I'M UKRAINIAN shirt. We would only be sure of this only on May 8, when the president recorded a video address in it. Then I woke up and saw dozens of messages in my DMs, where people were already uploading photos and asking if it was our t-shirt. I didn't even know how to respond, as we hadnt sent one to the president. Later, we began figuring out how it got to him. Then, a wholesale client appeared on Instagram who had ordered more than 10 shirts. Usually, people order one or two things, and this was 10 or 20 items. At that time, we had only a few customers like that, with one ordering from abroad, and the other ordering from Ukraine. When we googled his name and surname, we discovered that this person was connected to the Office of the President.

Read also: Ukrainian pop group Antytila announces concert in Crimea, tickets already on sale

NV: How did that affect sales?

YZ: We immediately realized that this was both good and bad news. On the one hand, there would be a lot of demand for this design, as people would start looking for this t-shirt and want to buy it. But there would also be a lot of competition, because it would be copied. Therefore, the first thing we did in order to show as many people as possible that we are the brand that made the original was to launch ads on Facebook and Instagram. After that, there was a huge influx of new customers, as people just googled "presidential t-shirt," and demand spiked almost tenfold. We barely had time to respond on Instagram to everyone who wanted to buy. People still write to us, asking can I have a t-shirt like Zelenskyy's?"

NV: How did your work with the Office of the President develop, and are you in direct contact with them now?

YZ: After the president wore the shirt, his Chief-of-Staff Andriy Yermak and various advisers also appeared in it. Some MPs and simply other celebrities often wrote to us directly to buy it. When we released the second collection, we set ourselves a goal that the president would also wear items from it. It had only two designs: with the prints From Kyiv With Love and Ukraine. Then we wrote on Instagram directly to people from OP, and now the president also periodically wears the Ukraine t-shirt. Right now, he is something of an ambassador for Ukrainian brands, and this is really awesome.

Read also: Ukrainian Presidents Office reacts to Georgias decision to allow another airline to operate direct flights to Russia

NV: Is there demand for your merchandise among foreign audiences?

DL: The greatest demand was last spring and summer, where somewhere around 20-30% of all orders went abroad. Ukrainians who had left ordered either the I'M UKRAINIAN shirt, or designs with Ukrainian symbols to give as gifts. There is also Braveshop, a marketplace for foreigners where they can buy things made by Ukrainian manufacturers. We also immediately started showing our clothes there, and we now have many orders from abroad coming from the platform.

NV: Describe how you managed manufacturing your products in wartime

YZ: When it all started, we were already selling things, but we still didn't know where and how we would produce them: many warehouses with fabric were either cut off, under fire, or burned down. Many workshops stopped operating for the same reason. For example, the workshop with which we cooperated was located in Dnipro, and many people there went into the Territorial Defense Force, so there was no one physically left to sew things.

Workshops in the west of Ukraine were overloaded, because all brands began using them, and there was great demand from the military. We waited weeks and months for our order to be made. So, of course, it was all quite difficult, and the delays were long. Now we have several workshops that make things for us.

Read also: Commander linked to capture of 277 Ukrainian military personnel in Mariupol charged with high treason

DL: We rented an office and started to develop production. Now we have nine people employed: three in the office on printing, and all the rest on marketing, sales, etc.

NV: How has CREATIVE DEPO grown during the year of full-scale war?

YZ: We currently have 10 designs in total. We deliberately don't make a lot of things  we have hoodies, t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, and phone cases. Now weve released a new collection in khaki, as well as passport covers and cardholders. In some cases, we made limited collections, like our design with Kyiv during blackouts or the one in honor of (Ukrainian philosopher Hryhorii) Skovoroda's birthday.

Read also: Crimean representative criticizes attempts to dissuade Ukraine from regaining the peninsula

DL: Another interesting story: the first limited edition t-shirt was with the Crimean Bridge. When it was hit, there was one photo that went viral. We edited it, made it more illustrated, and put out a t-shirt design with it on the same day. Within an hour or two, all 50 shirts were sold out. A month later, people were still writing to us, saying, "Please, we won't tell anyone, just sell us this t-shirt."

NV: Which design is your bestseller, and what is happening with demand now?

DL: Our bestseller is still I'M Ukrainian. It is interesting that our customers purchasing intentions have changed somewhat. During the first six months of the war they bought items for themselves to show their support for a Ukrainian producer, while now most are buying them as gifts for their relatives, friends, etc.

YZ: Taking into account the fact that we have not released a new collection for more than six months, which greatly affects sales, on average we have about 300-400 orders per month. But it must be understood that we now have a ratio of retail to wholesale somewhere between 60-70% and 30-40%.

NV: What are your ambitions for the future?

Read also: Zelensky lays out Ukraines ambition for NATO membership as a security guarantee

YZ: It just so happened that the president wore our t-shirt. We got very lucky with that, and our goal is not to lose this interest, not to lose this popularity, and to keep making these quality items so that we continue to develop and become a great Ukrainian 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
Dry and windy conditions have been fueling brush fires in two communities on the North Shore of Massachusetts.

Smoke was seen for miles Tuesday morning as a large brush fire burned in the woods at Breakheart Reservation in Saugus.

Aerial video showed thick white smoke billowing from the trees in the forestland in the area of Lynn Fells Parkway near Target. Flames could also be seen burning on the ground below.

Motorists traveling along Route 1 in Saugus, as well as Main and Water streets, could see the smoky conditions.

The brush fire comes amid a red flag warning and fire weather watch that is in effect for much of the state on Tuesday.

The red flag warning and fire weather watch impact Central Middlesex, Eastern Essex, Eastern Franklin, Eastern Hampden, Eastern Hampshire, Eastern Norfolk, Eastern Plymouth, Northern Bristol, Northern Worcester, Northwest Middlesex, Southeast Middlesex, Southern Bristol, Southern Plymouth, Southern Worcester, Suffolk, Western Essex, Western Franklin, Western Hampden, Western Hampshire, Western Norfolk, and Western Plymouth counties through 8 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.

Most of Massachusetts is under a #RedFlag warning today. Dry conditions and gusty winds will result in potentially... Posted by Massachusetts Department of Fire Services on Tuesday, May 16, 2023

With the lack of recent rainfall, low humidity, and warm and gusty weather, brush fires can start and spread rapidly, Boston 25 Meteorologist Shiri Spear said.

A RED FLAG WARNING will be in effect from 8am-8pm today. With the lack of recent rainfall, low humidity, warm & gusty weather, brush fires can start & spread rapidly. @boston25 #mawx #newengland pic.twitter.com/DewtpiYob1  Shiri Spear (@ShiriSpear) May 16, 2023

Firefighters in the nearby city of Lynn have also been battling a stubborn brush fire in the Lynn Woods in recent days.

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On Monday, Massachusetts State Police used its airwing to draw water from Walden Pond and make 24 drops along the Lynn-Saugus line.

Yesterday our Air Wing, Marine Unit & Dive Team supported firefighting operations at the ongoing Lynn Woods wildfire. The air crew made 24 water drops using a Bambi bucket, drawing water from Walden Pond on the Lynn-Saugus line.

#policeaviation #aerialfirefighting #mspairwing pic.twitter.com/axRjNI0a39  Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) May 16, 2023

The Lynn Fire Department reminded residents that all trails in the northern part of Lynn Woods are closed till further notice.

Lynn Fire is currently working with DCR and State Police utilizing helocopter water drops for the Lynn Woods fire. A reminder all trails in the northern part of Lynn Woods are closed till further notice. Posted by City of Lynn Fire Department on Monday, 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.

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Snorkelers checking out the undersea world off the Florida Keys encountered another item commonly found floating in the waters off South Florida  a brick of cocaine.

The group was swimming around 11 a.m. Monday on the ocean side of Key Largo when the people noticed the contraband, according to the Monroe County Sheriffs Office.

They reported it to authorities, and deputies met with them when they returned to shore in a Keys neighborhood, the sheriffs office said.

The drugs were turned over to the U.S. Border Patrol. The total weight of the package was not immediately known, the sheriffs office said. Border Patrol officials didnt respond to questions about the drugs.

South Florida, particularly the Keys, is part of the smuggling route for drugs coming through South America and the Caribbean.

Earlier this month, a boater found 16 bricks of cocaine floating off the Village of Islamorada in the Upper Keys. The Border Patrol said the load had an estimated street value of $640,000 and weighed about 40 pounds.
A woman who federal prosecutors say rose to fame as a social media influencer with 4.2 million Instagram followers around the globe has been extradited to the U.S. to face charges she bilked lonely Americans out of more than $2 million in an elaborate international romance scheme.

Phony romance plots have been identified by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission as one of the most serious forms of online fraud, costing more than $1.3 billion in some years, more than any other FTC fraud category. Famous opening solicitations in such cases often show photos of beautiful women and men, with captions such as, "We've never met, but let's talk about marriage."

"Romance scams  especially those that target older individuals  are of major concern," FBI Assistant Director in Charge Michael J. Driscoll said Monday. We alleged today that Mona Faiz Montrage participated in multiple romance scams  often targeting elderly victims  resulting in more than $2 million in fraudulent funds under her control."

Montrage, 30, is a Ghanaian social media influencer whose Hajia4Reall" profile is among the top-10 most followed in her native Ghana, according to a federal indictment made public this week. She was arrested on the U.S. charges and was extradited from the United Kingdom. Posts on the Instagram account identified by federal prosecutors as being hers show a young woman wearing attractive clothes and posing in front of high-priced automobiles.

She is charged in the U.S. indictment with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of wire fraud, one count of money laundering conspiracy, and one count of money laundering, each of which carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Montrage, who hails from the capital city of Accra in Ghana, is also charged with one count of receipt of stolen money, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and one count of conspiracy to receive stolen money, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

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"From at least in or about 2013 through in or about 2019, Montrage was a member of a criminal enterprise (the Enterprise) based in West Africa that committed a series of frauds against individuals and businesses in the United States, including romance scams," prosecutors said in a statement Monday.

IS SOCIAL MEDIA CENSORSHIP A PROBLEM? Heated House hearing clash divides Democrats, GOP

Victims were older, vulnerable, looking for love

"Many of the Enterprises romance scam victims were vulnerable, older men and women who lived alone. The Enterprise frequently conducted the romance scams by sending the victims emails, text messages, and social media messages that deceived the victims into believing that they were in romantic relationships" with a fake identity, court papers 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 controlled by members of the Enterprise, prosecutors said.

Romance schemes weren't the only ruses used by the scheme, prosecutors said.

Among the false pretenses used to induce victims to send money to Montrage were payments to transport gold to the United States from overseas; payments to resolve a fake FBI unemployment investigation; and payments to assist a fake United States army officer in receiving funds from Afghanistan, according to the federal indictment.

As alleged, Mona Faiz Montrage was a member of a criminal conspiracy that specifically targeted older Americans through romance scams, Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement. These scams can be both financially and emotionally devastating for vulnerable victims.

NUANCES IN SOCIAL MEDIA USE: Teenagers require training before joining social media, APA recommends

One victim received a marriage certificate

Prosecutors say Montrage went to great lengths to convince one of the victims that the two were married.

Montrage sent the victim a tribal marriage certificate purporting to show that she and the victim had been married in Ghana, according to the indictment. "The victim sent Montrage approximately 82 wire transfers totaling approximately $89,000 to purportedly help with costs associated with Montrage's fathers farm in Ghana," prosecutors said in a statement.

Montrage pleaded not guilty during a court appearance Monday and was set to be released on home detention to her aunts New Jersey residence in the coming days on $500,000 bond, with GPS tracking via an ankle monitor, her lawyer and the prosecutors office told the New York 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, her attorney, Adam Cortez, told The Post.

Social media influencers present unique problems in cases

Maysan Alobaid, a former research assistant at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, said money laundering has become a greater threat in the age of influencer culture. According to Alobaid, there is looser inspection of influencers, which allows for easy transactions and investigations trickier for authorities.

Montrage, who currently has 4.2 million followers on her Instagram profile, has remained active on her social media accounts since her arrest in the United Kingdom on Nov. 10, 2022.

On her TikTok and Instagram, she has posted several times a month, participating in social media trends and sharing her lavish lifestyle.

In one video earlier this month, Montrage is seen at a Dior trunk show trying on merchandise from the luxury store with friends. Other posts also show Montrage promoting products and her collaborating with other influencers.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Social media mogul charged in plot that bilked $2M from lonely Americans
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa  The U.S. and South Africa appear to remain locked in a diplomatic battle over whether the African country has gone pro-Russian amid continuing concerns about greater military and economic ties between the countries including arms shipments.

On Tuesday, South African Minister of International Relations Naledi Pandor poured more fuel on the fire. While discussing claims by the U.S. Ambassador to South Africa Reuben Brigety that arms were loaded onto a sanctioned Russian freighter, the Lady R, at the Simonstown naval base near Cape Town, Pandor told 702 Talk Radio "the allegations that he has made stand."

Brigety last week told reporters that he was so confident that arms had been loaded onto the ship, that he would bet his life on it.

While the allegations are not new, there remains no concrete answers from the South African government. Shortly after the Lady R sailed out of Cape Towns waters, South Africas Defense Minister Thandi Modise told reporters, "I do not want to comment on the content of this vessel until I get all the paperwork." That was five months ago, and Modise has yet to provide further information.

Foreign military officials look on during an Armed Forces Day parade ahead of scheduled naval exercises with Russian and Chinese navies in Richards Bay, South Africa, Feb. 21, 2023.

QUESTIONS OVER WHETHER SOUTH AFRICA SUPPLIED ARMS TO RUSSIA FUEL HUGE DIPLOMATIC DISPUTE WITH US

In February, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen asked South African officials to give details about the Lady Rs cargo. That demand was repeated to a South African trade delegation in Washington two weeks ago, and by the State Department in a media briefing last Wednesday. Analysts say the U.S. ambassador may not have been making a solo outburst when he made the claims public Thursday, but rather venting Washingtons frustration at a lack of answers from Pretoria. It has been pointed out that the State Department has not recalled the ambassador to Washington for talks and has not made any comment about the merits of the claim.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"I share Ambassador Brigetys concerns" Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told Fox News Digital Monday. "This is not the behavior of a purported friendly, neutral, or peace-loving government  which gladly accepts U.S. trade preferences and development assistance, while it allows seemingly corrupt exchanges of arms with an aggressor state responsible for slaughtering the Ukrainian people."

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U.S. relations with South Africa are now perceived to be so low that the country is being compared to North Korea and Iran. Emma Louise Powell, shadow minister for International Relations for the official opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), wrote in a statement that the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, knows, "exactly what transpired in December and (is) now desperately treading water."

"Make no mistake," Powell continued, "this weeks revelations by American Ambassador Reuben Brigety, were designed to send a definitive message to Ramaphosas cabinet that aiding and abetting Russian aggression will have dire consequences for the South African economy. This growing impasse also risks South Africa being relegated to the dustbin of history alongside the likes of North Korea and Iran  both of whom are under U.S. sanction for their supply of arms to the Russian Federation."

Perhaps not helping Pretorias image, Russian news organizations Monday enthused about a visit to Moscow this week by the commander of South Africas ground forces, Lieutenant-General Lawrence Mbatha and a whole team, working, the Moscow Times reported, on issues of military co-operation and "combat readiness."

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, greets South African President Cyril Ramaphosa during the welcoming ceremony at the Russia-Africa Summit in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia, Oct. 23, 2019. Leaders of African countries have gathered in Sochi for a two-day summit.

PUTIN POSES ARREST DILEMMA AS SOUTH AFRICAN OPPOSITION SAYS IF RUSSIAN-FRIENDLY GOVERNMENT WON'T ACT, IT WILL

Although the Ministry of Defense would not answer questions from Fox News Digital, DA Shadow Defense Minister Kobus Marais protested in a statement writing, "This once again demonstrates the governments callousness and insensitivity to our diplomatic and trade dilemma. This unsolicited visit is also just the latest incident in a string where the South African government clearly and unashamedly demonstrates its support for Russia."

"Even after the call from the United States to honor relationships they still went ahead and conducted this visit. It is shameful," he said.

On April 24, a massive Russian Antonov freighter aircraft was allowed to land, unload and load at a South African military airbase, Waterkloof. Questions have not been fully answered as to why it was allowed to touch down at this national keypoint, and what it brought in, and what it carried out. This particular aircraft has been sanctioned by the U.S., just like the ship the Lady R, for carrying arms for Russia. Authorities have said this heavy-lifter plane, capable of carrying heavy trucks, was simply delivering diplomatic mail for the nearby Russian embassy.

The U.S. publicly says despite all the controversy, all is "on track" with South Africa. Fox News Digital reached out to both the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria and the State Department for comment. The Embassy did not respond, but the State Department referred to comments made in a briefing Monday by Vedant Patel, the Departments principal deputy spokesperson, "as it relates to our relationship with South Africa, Ill note that our relationship with South Africa remains strong, and we are  continue to be committed - to the affirmative agenda of our bilateral relationship."

Referring to the ship the Lady R, Clayson Monyela, head of public diplomacy at South Africas Ministry of International Relations, tweeted on Friday, "The National Conventional Arms Control Committee has no record of an approved arms sale by the state to Russia related to the period/incident in question."

Cameron Hudson, a former CIA officer, believes statements such as this are fundamentally correct  because there is so much corruption, he says, within South Africas government that its possible that, at senior government level, the ministers dont know what their employees are corruptly doing.

South Africa's Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor (R) and Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) attend a strategic dialogue opening session meeting at the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation in Pretoria, South Africa, on August 8, 2022. - Blinken is on a ten day trip to Cambodia, Philippines, South Africa, Congo, and Rwanda.

SOUTH AFRICA DRILLS WITH RUSSIA, CHINA COULD SIGNIFY FAILED WASHINGTON EFFORTS TO SOLIDIFY AFRICAN ALLIES

Hudson was director of African affairs at the National Security Council during President George W. Bush's administration. He is now a senior associate with the Center for Strategic and International Studies Africa Program.

Hudson told Fox News Digital, "There has long been rumors that the Defense Ministry was captured by Russian interests and may have even been operating without the full consent or knowledge of other parts of the government. South Africa has been moving into a Russian orbit since the Presidency of Jacob Zuma (the countrys last President), and since that time has experienced a rise in senior level corruption and a hollowing out of South Africas democratic institutions."

"The bilateral relationship," Hudson added, "is not likely to be repaired quickly or easily after this latest betrayal, but at the same time, Washington will not want to risk pushing South Africa even further into alignment with Russia and China by enacting punitive measures against it. Congressional voices could well pressure the administration to take a harder line, perhaps pursuing targeted sanctions against lower level officials or business involved in the Lady R deal."

Sen. Jim Risch, R-ID, looks on during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2023 Budget at the U.S. Capitol on April 26, 2022 in Washington, D.C.

"Ultimately, Russia would love nothing more than for this incident to drive a wedge between the U.S. and South Africa."

Thousands of South African jobs are at stake from beneficial U.S. trade deals such as the African Growth and Opportunity Act. Senator Risch told Fox News Digital Monday, "The Biden Administration should use existing authorities to reevaluate the scope and scale of our current engagement with South Africas government."
OPINION: To commemorate the anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, theGrios four-part series explores how South Carolina became the home of the fight against education equity and critical race theory.

Editors note: The following article is an op-ed, and the views expressed are the authors own. Read more opinions on theGrio.

There is an African-American adage that was as true during the brief two-and-a-half century era of race-based enslavement as it was the day four million pieces of human chattel were magically transformed into second-class citizens. As an axiom, it embodies the American sentiment euphemized as racial resentment, economic anxiety or plain-old white backlash.

When white America catches a cold, Black America catches pneumonia.

But if such a thing as Black America exists, then where is its capital? Washington, D.C., is the capital of all of America; Brooklyn has been recently gentrified and, according to the research of noted geographer Omeretta the Great, the headquarters of African America is not Atlanta. So, where is the place that holds the history of Africans in America and center of operations?

South Carolina is the capital of Black America.

Even before 13 colonies united as America, the Palmetto State served as a breeding ground for Black resistance and an innovation hub for white supremacy. Scholars estimate that 40% of the countrys enslaved Africans disembarked on the shores of the slave capital of North America. The cradle of the confederacy hosted the opening games of the nations first official white supremacist insurrection and had a majority-Black population for most of its existence. The history of Black resistance, racial resentment and white supremacy in general begins with the history of South Carolina.

Sixty-nine years ago this week, the U.S. Supreme Court declared that segregation of children in public schools solely on the basis of race deprives Black children of equal educational opportunities. Although the Board of Education part of Brown v. Board of Education references a Topeka, Kansas, school district, the landmark ruling actually combined five different civil rights cases. Briggs v. Elliott, the first of the cases that declared unequal education violated the constitutional rights of Black Americans, was filed in South Carolina.

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When you talk about educating Black students, you have to start with the resistance to Black education, Dr. Gloria Swindler Boutte told theGrio. You cant understand one without understanding the other.

If someone designed an imaginary enemy to rally their troops for the war on critical race theory, wokeness and history-induced tummy aches, Dr. Gloria Swindler Boutte would be the perfect archetype. As the founder and executive director of the University of South Carolinas Center for the Education and Equity of African American Students (CEEAAS), she could serve as the poster child for wokeness. She is also U.S.C.s associate dean of diversity, equity and inclusion and is a fierce proponent of culturally relevant teaching. For more than three decades, Boutte has traveled the world, espousing the need to integrate culturally sensitive teaching methods into classroom strategies  especially for those who teach African-American students. Of course, her approach embodies everything that ultra-conservative culture warriors hate. And, because she lives in South Carolina, she was one of the first targets of this new culture war.

Over the course of this four-part series, theGrio will delve into the origins of the newest attack on equal education  critical race theory. You will meet the Black educators affected by this anti-Black conflict, the villains who fired the opening salvo and the heroes fighting the not-so-cold war on CRT.

It is critical.

It is about race.

It is not a theory.

Absolute Power and Authority: A race war origin story

In August 1669, 50 years after 20 and odd negroes became beta-testers for government-sanctioned, race-based, intergenerational chattel slavery, three ships set sail for Charles Town at Albermarle Point in the Americas. Along with 150 or so passengers, the three vessels also carried the Fundamental Constitutions, which included the clause that would forever codify white supremacy as a governing principle. Known as Article 110, the provision stated: Every freeman of Carolina shall have absolute power and authority over his negro slaves, of what opinion or religion soever.

White supremacy was embedded in South Carolinas foundation, and since the beginning, Black people wanted to be free. These fundamentally opposing principles would fuel a back-and-forth fight for freedom that would shape institutional anti-Blackness across America.

And yes, it was a war.

In 1739, a literate African led the largest slave revolt in colonial history. After the Stono Rebellion, the states General Assembly passed the Negro Act of 1740 to control disobedient and evil-minded Negroes and other slaves. Nearly every colonial slave code was based on that South Carolina law that fined all and every person and persons whatsoever, who shall hereinafter teach or cause any slave or slaves to be taught, to write. And, because Black people were chattel, the Negro Act was considered property law; it withstood judicial scrutiny for 120 years.

In the 1820s, white Charlestonians burned Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church to the ground after Denmark Vesey, a literate free Black citizen, was accused of planning a revolt and teaching the Black congregants to read. Meanwhile, lawmakers built a municipal guard to fortify Charleston against future slave rebellions, creating an academy for slave patrollers that became a heralded military college, the Citadel. After Emancipation, the majority-Black delegation at the 1868 South Carolina constitutional convention created the one thing they thought could ensure their future prosperity for all:

The first, free, compulsory, statewide public school system in America, according to Michael Boulware Moore, president of South Carolinas International African American Museum.

When whites regained control of the state legislature in 1876, they rewrote the states constitution and passed laws mandating racial segregation. Today, the state ranks 42nd in overall education, and the K-12 system ranks 45th in racial equality. The Department of Educations Office of Civil Rights found that Black students in South Carolina are three times as likely to face out-of-school suspension and four times more likely to be expelled than their white counterparts. Despite being the fifth Blackest state in America, Black taxpayers in the Palmetto State help fund one of the five whitest state university systems in America.

And because of history, demographics and the principles embedded in South Carolinas DNA, it seemed like the disparities would continue forever unless something happened.

Something happened

In June 2021, Dr. Boutte held a virtual training session for teachers in Kershaw County School District (KCSD). The school board had just added courses in African-American history and African-American literature to its curriculum, and in Boutte, KCSD had chosen one of the worlds leading experts to educate its teachers.

They started filing complaints saying that I was teaching critical race theory, Boutte told theGrio. I dont teach critical race theory; I was teaching them how to teach African-American history. But [a parent] called a meeting and just profiled me. She said that I was teaching critical race theory, that the district is acquiring for teachers to adopt my books, which is really not true, and basically that I was pretty much like the antichrist.

While Boutte was familiar with critical race theory, she had no idea why anyone would accuse her of teaching graduate-level methods of examining social structures through the lens of race. Days later, Bouttes name popped up on a right-wing websites list of educators willing to violate the law to keep pushing CRT.

That same summer, Berkeley County Schools hired Deon Jackson as its first Black superintendent. Not only was a Black man now in charge of the fourth-largest school district in the state, but Jackson earned his bachelors and masters degrees at the Citadel, the institution built from white fear.

When Jackson began his tenure, Dr. Baron Davis was already entering his fourth year as superintendent of Richland County School District Two, the states fifth-largest district. By then, Davis was already making national headlines by challenging the states conservative policy banning mask mandates.

Jackson and Davis, both of whom Ive known for more than two decades, were not just the first Black superintendents in two of the oldest counties in the state; they were dedicated to improving outcomes for Black students. From behind the front lines, they began hiring Black teachers, implementing their plans for equity and spreading their vision for a system of equal education. They signed contracts with CEEAAS to prepare their teachers. And, in the wake of the racial reckoning during the 2020 George Floyd protests, school districts across the state followed Jacksons and Davis lead, pledging to create a more inclusive curriculum. It appeared as if the equal education that Black South Carolinians had struggled to create was finally happening.

This new crop of skilled Black educators was taking charge of public school boards and instituting policies aimed at erasing the educational disparities that plagued South Carolina for three centuries. Three of the five largest school districts in South Carolina had Black superintendents on the first day of the 2021 school year. And, According to state data, when students returned to classrooms in the fall of 2020 after an extended COVID-19 shutdown, for the first time in history, white children were minorities in South Carolinas public school system.

Then it all fell apart.

Contrary to popular belief, this movement had nothing to do with concerned parents, critical race theory or woke educators. It was not about a leftist agenda or conservative values. It was about something else entirely.

Something else

I am quite intentionally redefining what critical race theory means in the public mind, expanding it as a new catchall for the new racial orthodoxy. People wont read Derrick Bell, but when their kid is labeled an oppressor in the first grade, thats now CRT.  Christopher F. Rufo

In August 2021, legal analyst James Copland published a paper for the Manhattan Institute, a far-right think tank where Christopher Rufo serves as a senior fellow. Titled How to Regulate Critical Race Theory in Schools, the paper offered a template for lawmakers who wanted to ban the nonexistent practice, redefining critical race theory according to four core concepts or beliefs.

That the United States or the state is fundamentally and irredeemably racist or sexist; That individuals are inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive by virtue of race or other intrinsic characteristics whether consciously or unconsciously That individuals are personally responsible for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or other intrinsic characteristics; and That individuals moral character is necessarily determined by race or other intrinsic characteristics

None of these tenets are actually fundamental to critical race theory or even mentioned in CRTs graduate-level pedagogy. When theGrio reviewed more than 60 anti-CRT bills in 40 states, we could not find a single piece of proposed legislation that did not include all or most of the precepts from the Manhattan Institutes model legislation. What we found hidden in the end notes of the Manhattan Institutes ant-CRT legislative template was the name of patient zero. While Kimberle Crenshaw, Richard Delgado and other experts on critical race theory were mentioned, the Manhattan Institutes anti-Black education template cited the anti-Black ideology of one man more than any other: Christopher F. Rufo.

The Manhattan Institutes How to Regulate Critical Race Theory in Schools: A Primer and Model Legislation, August 2021

Christopher Rufo is not an authority on anything.

Despite having no formal education, training or experience in academics, history or teaching students, the far-right activist somehow parlayed a make-believe masters degree from Harvard University into a position as the senior fellow and director of the initiative on critical race theory at the Manhattan Institute. In an effort to smother state-sponsored diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recently appointed Rufo to the board of trustees at the New College of Florida.

Rufo  who did not respond to theGrios requests for an interview  gained these accolades partly by pushing a soft version of white nationalism to an already antagonized white populace worried that affirmative action, immigration reform and diversity efforts would destroy the superior Western civilization created and maintained by Americas majority. Along with conservative co-conspirators such as Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly and politicians who appeal to the growing population of people who believe that anti-white discrimination is increasing, Rufo found a catchphrase that would symbolize the plague of white oppression.

Weve needed new language for these issues, Rufo told the New Yorker. Political correctness is a dated term and, more importantly, doesnt apply anymore  The other frames are wrong, too: cancel culture is a vacuous term and doesnt translate into a political program; woke is a good epithet, but its too broad, too terminal, too easily brushed aside. Critical race theory is the perfect villain.

It might sound evil, but the effort to redefine critical race theory worked. Again, every single law and executive order banning critical race theory examined by theGrio contained excerpts that were directly copied and pasted from the Manhattan Institutes sample legislation.

The magic trick

We have successfully frozen their brand  critical race theory  into the public conversations and are steadily driving up negative perceptions, Rufo tweeted in March 2021. We will eventually turn it toxic, as we put all of the various cultural insanities under that brand category. The goal is to have the public read something crazy in the newspaper and immediately think critical race theory.

But Rufo wasnt just a founding father of the campaign against critical race theory; he redefined it. He claimed that a Treasury Department diversity training session taught employees that all white people uphold the system of racism and white superiority. Pointing his scare tactic at Fox News viewers, Rufo said lessons on intersectionality reduces people to a network of racial, gender and sexual orientation identities with white straight men at the top of this pyramid of evil.

In May 2021, three months before the Manhattan Institute published its sample legislation, exactly 45 days after Rufo bragged about redefining what it means in the public mind, the S.C. House Committee on Education and Public Works introduced two bills. The first was House Bill 4325, to provide public school districts, public schools and public institutions of higher learning with a template for redefining critical race theory. The next day, state Rep. Bill Taylor of Aiken, S.C., introduced House Bill 4343. Known as the Academic Integrity Act of 2021, the bill was the first of five anti-CRT bills in the state assembly that proposed to withhold funds from any school or organization that teaches Rufos core concepts or beliefs. While the bills failed on technicalities, this power and authority would continue.

On Feb. 8, the South Carolina House passed a revised version of HB 4325. Although the South Carolina Transparency and Integrity in Education Act did not mention the words critical race theory, it included every single one of Rufos principles:

The following prohibited concepts may not be included or promoted in a course of instruction, curriculum, assignment, instructional program, instructional material (including primary or supplemental materials, whether in print, digital, or online), surveys or questionnaires, or professional educator development or training, nor may a student, employee, or volunteer be compelled to affirm, accept, adopt, or adhere to such prohibited concepts: (a) are racist, sexist, belong to the principles of one religion; or (b) were created by members of a particular race, sex, or religion to oppress members of another race, sex, ethnicity, color, national origin or religion; and

South Carolina lawmakers had simply cut and pasted Rufos definition of critical race theory.

Rufo had magically redefined what critical race theory means  expanding it as a new catchall for the new racial orthodoxy. Using nothing but the racism hidden under his hat and the blindfold of whiteness, he had hoodwinked conservatives into believing that the states K-12 teachers  78% of whom were white  were teaching kids to hate white people. He had managed to abracadabra a complex legal perspective into a living, breathing demon.

Twitter/Christopher Rufo

They engineered this whole crisis, said Boutte. I think that the engineers know exactly what theyre doing. I think they know that theyre misrepresenting what culturally relevant teaching is. Theyre not fighting critical race theory. Yes, theyve just created this wrong definition but theres no use in explaining the definition. The goal really is to keep whiteness centered; to move us back in time.

Of course, if the race warriors fighting against equal education were going to be successful, convincing politicians wouldnt be enough. They would need to solicit rank-and-file white parents in South Carolina to their centuries-old cause, and to do that, they needed a modern-day Emanuel and villain who was responsible for teaching disobedient and evil-minded negroes.

So, of course, they came for Dr. Boutte first.

In part two of our series, youll see exactly who came for Dr. Boutte, how they did it and what it looks like when someone exercises absolute power and authority.

Michael Harriot is a writer, cultural critic and championship-level Spades player. His book, Black AF History: The Unwhitewashed Story of America, will be released in September.

TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. Please download theGrio mobile apps today!

The post South Carolinas Critical Race War on Education, Part 1: Origin story appeared first on TheGrio.
China's central bank to issue heart-shaped coins on May 20

People's Daily Online) 09:50, May 16, 2023

The People's Bank of China, the country's central bank, will issue a set of gold and silver commemorative coins on May 20, the bank announced on its website.

May 20 is a date widely dubbed romantic for its phonetic resemblance to "I love you" in the Chinese language.

The set consists of eight coins, including four gold coins and four silver coins. The coins are in three shapes, including round, Ruyi, an auspicious ornamental object in the Chinese culture, and a heart. All coins are legal tender.

The Chinese characters "Jixiang," meaning auspiciousness, are displayed on the front side of the coins, which are decorated with traditional patterns symbolizing auspiciousness, along with the country name and the year of issuance.

Photo shows the front side of the 5-gram round gold coin.

Photo shows the front side of the 100-gram round silver coin.

Photo shows the front side of the 5-gram Ruyi-shaped gold coin.

Photo shows the front side of the 30-gram Ruyi-shaped silver coin.

Photo shows the front side of the 3-gram heart-shaped gold coin.

Photo shows the front side of the 30-gram heart-shaped silver coin.

Photo shows the front side of the 3-gram round gold coin.

Photo shows the front side of the 15-gram round silver coin.

The reverse side of the 5-gram round gold coin features patterns of a deer, a piece of Lingzhi mushroom and water, displaying the Chinese characters "Ren Shou Nian Feng," meaning good health for the people and a bumper year, as well as the face value of the coin.

Photo shows the reverse side of the 5-gram round gold coin.

The reverse side of the 100-gram round silver coin features patterns of a crane and rice, also displaying the Chinese characters "Ren Shou Nian Feng, as well as the face value of the coin.

Photo shows the reverse side of the 100-gram round silver coin.

Photo shows the reverse side of the 5-gram Ruyi-shaped gold coin.

Photo shows the reverse side of the 30-gram Ruyi-shaped silver coin.

The reverse side of the 3-gram heart-shaped gold coin features patterns of a pair of flying cranes, and displays "Bi Yi Shuang Fei," meaning a pair of birds close together, as well as the face value of the coin.

Photo shows the reverse side of the 3-gram heart-shaped gold coin.

The reverse side of the 30-gram heart-shaped silver coin features patterns of a pair of birds, a rose, and lilies, and displays "Bi Yi Shuang Fei," as well as the face value of the coin.

Photo shows the reverse side of the 30-gram heart-shaped silver coin.

Photo shows the reverse side of the 3-gram round gold coin.

Photo shows the reverse side of the 15-gram round silver coin.

The 5-gram round gold coin, with a diameter of 20 millimeters, is 80 yuan in denomination and 5,000 pieces at most will be issued.

The 100-gram round silver coin, with a diameter of 60 millimeters, is 30 yuan in denomination and a maximum issuance number of 10,000.

The 3-gram heart-shaped gold coin is 50 yuan in denomination, and 20,000 at most will be issued.

The 30-gram heart-shaped silver coin is 10 yuan in denomination, with 50,000 to be issued.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming)
SEOUL, South Korea  South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol vowed to expand the countrys nonlethal aid to Ukraine when he met the European countrys first lady Tuesday in Seoul.

Olena Zelenska visited South Korea as a special envoy of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. During her meeting with Yoon, Zelenska requested South Korea expand its support of nonlethal military supplies, including equipment for detecting and removing mines and ambulance vehicles, according to Yoons office.

Yoon replied that his government would closely coordinate with NATO and other international partners to actively support the Ukrainian people, his spokesperson Lee Do Woon said during a briefing.

Yoon also condemned Russias invasion of Ukraine, saying the horrific losses of innocent lives, especially women and children, are unacceptable under any circumstances, according to remarks shared by his office.

Lee said Zelenska made no request for South Korean weapons supplies during her conversation with Yoon.

South Korea, a growing arms exporter with a well-equipped military backed by the United States, has provided humanitarian aid and other support to Ukraine while joining U.S.-led economic sanctions against Moscow. But it has not directly provided arms to Ukraine, citing a long-standing policy of not supplying weapons to countries actively engaged in conflict.

During a visit to South Korea in January, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called for South Korea to provide direct military support to Ukraine, saying Kyiv is in urgent need of weapons to fight off the prolonged Russian invasion.

Since Russias invasion of Ukraine, South Korea has reached billions of dollars worth of deals to provide tanks, howitzers, fighter jets and other weapons systems to Poland, a NATO member. An American official said in November that the United States has agreed to buy 100,000 artillery rounds from South Korean manufacturers to provide to Ukraine, although South Korean officials have maintained that the munitions were meant to refill depleted U.S. stocks.
Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand jointly nominated the kebaya for UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage

In a Malaysian boutique, a small group of seamstresses sit at clattering sewing machines, stitching bright flowers and leaves into kebayas, traditional blouses worn by women around Southeast Asia.

What makes kebayas special is that they are worn by women of all ethnic backgrounds in a diverse region, according to Lim Yu Lin, who co-runs the family business her grandmother founded in 1955.

"It's not only meant for one culture," she told AFP.

In a moment of unity, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei and Thailand have jointly nominated the kebaya for the UN's prestigious intangible cultural heritage list, with a decision expected in 2024.

Suited to hot tropical weather, the intricately embroidered blouse is usually long-sleeved, and ranges from loose-fitting to semi-transparent, figure-hugging cuts.

A kebaya can cost as little as $7 for a simple, machine-made design,to around $1,200 for a more intricate handmade piece.

- National symbol -

Indonesia picked the centuries-old kebaya as its national dress for women after it declared independence from the Netherlands in 1945.

Author and independence activist Soerastri Karma Trimurti celebrated the new country's cultural roots by wearing a kebaya to the proclamation ceremony. She later became the country's first minister of labour.

The blouse was later popularised by Malaysian film actors.

Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia's national airlines also used it as the inspiration for their uniforms.

Kebayas were traditionally worn to weddings and formal events, but they are seeing a steady comeback among enthusiasts who wear them in daily life.

In Singapore, Charmaine Neo, 36, said she wears the garment to attend family events, and that it is suited to women of all ages.

"It's not just limited to the older folks. You see lots of young people also wearing the kebaya," she said.

"It's very flattering to the figure."

In Indonesia, 49-year-old Telly Nathalia said it was during a holiday with friends to Central Java province that she decided to start wearing a kebaya every day.

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In her eyes, it was a way to connect with her country's history.

"Our ancestors lived here wearing kebaya," she said.

"People would ask, 'are you going to a party or something? A wedding?' Because in Indonesia when you wear a kebaya, they would think that you are going to something special."

- 'Our culture, our identity' -

The kebaya is believed to have originated in the Middle East and was once worn by both men and women.

Over a dozen styles have been developed across Southeast Asia, mostly in Indonesia and Malaysia.

"It's a form of traditional women's garment that has evolved over time," said Yeo Kirk Siang, a senior director at Singapore's National Heritage Board (NHB), which organised a kebaya exhibition in April following the UNESCO nomination.

"There was a kind of fusion of cultures, influences and different communities that brought about their own kebayas."

Oniatta Effendi, a fashion designer in Singapore who creates modern takes on the traditional blouse, said it is a symbol of cultural heritage.

"Many of us grow up seeing a kebaya worn by our mothers and grandmothers. It represents our culture, our identity," she said, according to an NHB statement.

"The kebaya may present itself differently in different countries. Its significance to each person may also be different, but one thing is certain: the kebaya brings us together through an identity that is shared."

pl/skc/dhw/ser/cwl
WASHINGTON  Justice Department special counsel John Durham sharply criticized the department and FBI for the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election in his final report but said no policy changes were needed after the agencies overhauled their counterintelligence surveillance programs.

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," said the report, released late Monday.

But Durham found no need for wholesale changes at the Justice Department and FBI, which have already overhauled their policies. Durham characterized the report as accurately describing what happened and assisting the department in responding to politically charged allegations in the future.

This report does not recommend any wholesale changes in the guidelines and policies that the Department and FBI now have in place to ensure proper conduct and accountability in how counterintelligence activities are carried out, the report said.

Durham submitted his report to Attorney General Merrick Garland on Friday. After reading it over the weekend, Garland sent it to Congress at 2 p.m. EDT Monday "without any additions, redactions, or other modifications."

The report culminates a 48-month inquiry since May 2019, which ran longer than special counsel Robert Muellers original 22-month investigation. Durham charged three people, one of whom pleaded guilty, and two won acquittals at trial.

Durham spent nearly $6.6 million as special counsel from October 2019 through September 2022, the most recent figures available.

Here is what we know about the report:

John Durham is looking into the origins of the FBI's investigation into Russian election interference.

FBI overhauled its surveillance program after criticism of how it handled politically charged cases

The Justice Department's inspector general, Michael Horowitz, issued a scathing report in December 2019 that found the federal surveillance process was not used appropriately." He identified 17 inaccuracies in requests to wiretap then-Republican nominee Donald Trump's foreign policy adviser Carter Page in 2016 and 2017.

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In the wake of that report, the new FBI director, Christopher Wray, outlined in January 2020 an overhaul of its training program for agents and lawyers to ensure future surveillance applications are complete and properly vetted.

Durham criticized the FBI applications for surveillance for displaying a serious lack of analytic rigor and a cavalier attitude towards accuracy and completeness" in the initial investigation, which was called Crossfire Hurricane.

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 report said.

The FBI released a statement Monday saying conduct from 2016 and 2017 was the reason current leadership of the agency already had adopted changes and 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 said. 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.

Russian analyst Igor Danchenko arrives at the Albert V. Bryan U.S. Courthouse for his trial on Oct. 11, 2022, in Alexandria, Va. Danchenko faced five counts of lying to the FBI over his sources in claims made in the so-called Steele Dossier in the FBI probe of alleged collusion between Russia and the 2016 Trump presidential campaign.

Durham: Steele report 'unvetted and unverified'

Durham also blasted how the so-called Steele Dossier figured into the investigation.

Perkins Coie, a law firm acting as counsel to the Clinton campaign, retained investigative firm Fusion GPS to conduct opposition research on Trump. Fusion met with a former British intelligence officer, Christopher Steele, who produced a report later passed along to the FBI.

Durham called the Steele Dossier unvetted and unverified. In particular, he singled out a provision that described a well-developed conspiracy of co-operation that Durham said became the basis for four surveillance applications targeting Page.

Igor Danchenko, one of Steele's sources who was later charged by Durham and acquitted, characterized the information he provided as rumor and speculation.

Durham contrasts treatment of Trump and Clinton

Durham contrasted the Russian investigation with how the FBI moved with considerable caution in dealing with other proposed investigations of election interference before the 2016 election. Durham said the FBI opened Crossfire Hurricane based on "unevaluated evidence" at the direction of former deputy director Andrew McCabe and former deputy assistant director for counterintelligence Peter Strzok, who "at a minimum, has pronounced hostile feelings toward Trump."

Indeed, based on the evidence gathered in 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," the report said.

Durham contrasted the treatment of possible investigations involving the campaigns of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and Trump. In one matter, the FBI provided defensive briefing to Clinton and other candidates who appeared to be targets of foreign interference. But Trumps campaign wasnt briefed on the investigation.

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.

FBI Deputy Assistant Director Peter Strzok testifies before the House Committee on the Judiciary and House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform joint hearing on July 12, 2018, in Washington.

Trump wanted Durham to unearth source of Russia investigation

Trump claimed vindication in a Truth Social post.

"WOW! After extensive research, Special Counsel John Durham concludes the FBI never should have launched the Trump-Russia Probe!" Trump said. "In other words, the American Public was scammed..."

But a national security lawyer, Brad Moss, noted there were no additional charges and no changes to agency rules.

"What a massive and utter flop for Trumps fantasies," Moss said. "It was a 'be more careful next time' report."

Trump, when he was president, long argued the Russia investigation was a hoax whose origins he wanted investigated. Trump harangued Durham along the way, asking about the lack of criminal charges.

Wheres Durham? Trump asked in a statement March 6, 2021. Is he a living, breathing human being? Will there ever be a Durham report?

More: Trump promised the Durham investigation would prove a vendetta. It has largely fallen short.

Attorney General Bill Barr asked Durham in May 2019 to review the FBI investigation Crossfire Hurricane, which grew into Muellers investigation, for any wrongdoing and named him special counsel in October 2019. But Durham never charged any high-level officials.

Former President Donald Trump and Former Attorney General Bill Barr step off Air Force One upon arrival at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on September 1, 2020.

What happened wtih Durham's cases?

Durham charged three people during his investigation:

Kevin Clinesmith, a former FBI lawyer, pleaded guilty to falsifying an email used to justify the surveillance of Carter Page, a Trump campaign adviser. Clinesmith was given probation. Michael Horowitz, the inspector general, issued a scathing report in December 2019 that criticized how the FBI won court orders to wiretap Page. But Horowitz rejected Trumps accusations that FBI leaders were trying to sabotage his campaign.

Michael Sussmann was acquitted in May 2022 of lying to the FBI. He was charged with misleading James Baker, then FBI general counsel, during a meeting Sept. 19, 2016. Sussmann gave Baker research that allegedly showed a possible back channel between Russia-based Alfa Bank and the Trump Organization. Baker accused Sussmann, a lawyer who represented Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, of lying about whether he was providing information for a client. But Sussmann denied he lied.

Igor Danchenko was acquitted in October 2022 of five counts of lying to investigators. U.S. District Judge Anthony Trenga acquitted him of one count and the jury cleared him of four others. Danchenko was a source of information in former British intelligence officer Christopher Steeles dossier of potentially compromising information about Trump. Investigators said he misled them about the sources of his information.

Contributing: David Jackson

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Durham report: FBI Russia probe flawed but already overhauled policies
CAIRO (AP)  One of Libyas two administrations voted Tuesday to suspend and investigate its prime minister, accusing him of failing to achieve his governments objectives, the parliaments spokesperson said.

Fathi Bashagha was prime minister of Libya's eastern-based parliament, known as the House of Representatives, which operates in Tobruk. Mohamed Mansour, a spokesperson for Bashagha, said the former prime minister would soon publish an official statement regarding Tuesdays decision.

In a recorded statement sent to The Associated Press, Abdullah Belhaiq, the parliament spokesperson, criticized Bashagha for failing to deliver on the governments pledge to enter the capital, Tripoli, the seat of the western rival administration.

Bashagha, who was elected as prime minister in February 2022, tried to seat his government in the capital last May, arriving in Tripoli with a number of his Cabinet ministers. Clashes soon broke out between rival militias, forcing the former air force piolet to retreat to the city of Sirte.

Torn by civil conflict since 2011, Libya is divided between two rival governments, each backed by international patrons and numerous armed militias on the ground. Libyas Tripoli-based government is headed by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah.

A number of members of the House of Representatives asked in more than one session that the Prime Minister be investigated, Belhaiq said. However, few details on Bashaghas other alleged failings were provided. The House of Representatives finance minister, Osama Hamada, took over Bashaghas duties, he said.

Earlier on Tuesday, however, Bashagha issued a statement to the parliament announcing that he was passing his duties to Deputy Prime Minister Ali Qatrani. No further details were given. The conflict between the two statements could not immediately be reconciled.

Despite Belhaiq's explanation, Jalel Harchaoui, a Libya specialist and associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, believes the suspended premier may have out-served his usefulness to Khalifa Hifter, commander of the self-styled Libyan National Army. The group is the dominant armed force in the countrys east and south.

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Hifter and his family are seeking more influence in Tripoli and have been engaging in regular talks with Dbeibahs nephew along with militia leaders from the west, Harchaoui said.

The U.N.s special representative to Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily, unveiled a new initiative in late February aiming to usher the divided country to the ballot box before the end of 2023. Both parliaments have agreed on a joint committee to draft electoral law for the vote, however, progress has since slowed.

A previous U.N.-brokered process installed an interim government  with Dbeibah at its head  in early 2021 with the aim of guiding the country to elections later that year. The elections were never held following disagreements over several key issues, including the eligibility for presidential candidacy.
A three-foot tall marijuana plant sits on Cecil Cornish's porch in Joplin. Cornish planted his first marijuana plants in February 2022 and harvested about four ounces in October 2022.

Springfield City Council hopes to put a 3% marijuana sales tax on the ballot this August. Revenue from sales of the drug would be earmarked for city public safety, housing, and substance abuse/mental health prevention and treatment.

The voter-approved constitutional amendment that legalized recreational marijuana last year sets a statewide sales tax of 6% on retail sales. The amendment allows municipalities and counties to impose an additional 3% percent tax within their borders, subject to voters' approval. Such taxes would be in addition to current state and local general sales taxes.

Many cities and counties across Missouri approved a recreational marijuana sales tax this April but Springfield held off to see how these other ballot initiatives faired. These initiatives were also successful specifically in southwestern Missouri. Voters in Christian, Webster, Polk, and Jasper counties as well as cities like Joplin and Ozark all said yes to local taxes on recreational marijuana.

Springfield was the largest municipality in the state that did not put a sales tax up for a vote. After seeing success elsewhere, council will vote on the proposed ballot measure next week and voters will have their say in August  where the tax will likely be the only item on the ballot. If approved, the tax hike would likely be put in place in January of April next year.

At a special City Council meeting Monday, City Manager Jason Gage said $1.3 million of revenue could be raised by the tax in a "really really rough" and low estimate. He noted revenue could "easily be three or four times that amount."

City Councilmembers unanimously supported such a tax at the meeting.

"We saw strong voter support for these initiatives in other communities and it's something that I think would produce some important revenue. The sooner we can get that before the voters, the better," said councilman Matt Simpson.

More: What's going on with downtown Springfield construction? Work continues through June at least

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Most at the meeting argued public safety should be a major focus for the revenue.

"We know what our chronic problems are  It's homelessness. It's alcohol, it's drug abuse. It's law enforcement problems. Most communities that have passed a marijuana tax have dedicated at least some of those resources to law enforcement. I think law enforcement will tell you there's going to be consequences  whether they're good or bad  but there's gonna be consequences to law enforcement," Councilman Craig Hosmer said, specifically referencing the need of drug recognition specialists.

City Council General Seat Councilman Craig Hosmer discusses public use of marijuana during the Springfield City Council meeting on Monday, April 17, 2023.

Councilmember Brandon Jenson said services to Springfieldians experiencing homelessness should be prioritized in the funding.

"Currently within our proposed budget, we're allocating $34.6 million of general revenue to public safety and as far as I'm aware, $0 of general revenue to housing and homeless issues directly. And so I'd like to make sure that we use this to make a substantial effort to address homelessness within our community," Jenson said.

Jenson argued council should adopt ballot language specifying 50% of revenue from the tax goes to housing or services to unhoused individuals. A majority of council members disagreed, opting against specific percentages in the ballot language.

More: Neighbors, Planning and Zoning have mixed response to proposed townhomes in Midtown

"Percentages make sense. On the other hand, are we locking ourselves into specific categories? When if we do keep it a bit more broad, then it can be adapted to the needs as the needs of our community change..." Councilwoman Heather Hardinger noted. "There's just so many unknowns. I think that locking ourselves into a percentage for any specific allocation for this type of funding doesn't make sense."

Greene County has also not yet imposed a recreational marijuana sales tax. Based on the language of Missouri's constitutional amendment, it is unclear if a city and a county's marijuana sales tax can stack over one another. The Missouri Department of Revenue has told news organizations it can't provide guidance and the matter is likely to be resolved in court.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: City considers recreational marijuana sales tax on August ballot
State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (D-Philadelphia)  the first openly gay person of color elected to the Pennsylvania House  is set to speak at the annual State College Pride next month as its grand marshal, according to a Tuesday news release from one of the events primary organizers.

The third annual Pride event, which includes a festival and parade celebrating the LGBTQA community, is set to take place June 10 in downtown State College. Kenyatta will join the festivities alongside State College Mayor Ezra Nanes and State Rep. Paul Takac, D-College Township.

Having a grand marshal who is actively working to make the changes needed that lead to the protection of LGBT+ rights means a great deal to an event like State College Pride, said Cat Cook, executive director of Centre LGBTQA Support Network. Pride is not only a time to celebrate the community we love, but also a time to show support, enact advocacy and extend resources to those we serve, their families and the community.

State College Pride kicks off with a Pride Fun Fair  with games, face painting, music, and more  from 4-8 p.m. June 9 at Sidney Friedman Park. On June 10, the day starts with a Pride Ride caravan and march at 3 p.m., followed by a 4:30 p.m. festival at the park that will include music from Anchor & Arrow. Food trucks will also be on-hand.

Kenyatta, 32 years old, has served as a state representative since 2019. He gave a joint keynote address at the 2020 Democratic National Convention, joining two others to become the first openly-gay speakers to deliver a keynote at the DNC. A week ago, he was also among the 50 Democrats across the country named to the National Advisory Committee for President Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

He was in Centre County last fall to help campaign for Takac. And he also sought to fundraise for the Biden Barn in central Pennsylvania when it burned down in 2021.

State College Pride is hosted by Centre LGBTQA Support Network, Downtown Improvement District and the Borough of State College. According to organizers, about 4,000 supporters attended last years festivities.

For more information, go to statecollegepride.com.
The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) has served Kostiantyn Bezsmertnyi, the head of the material service of the 501st Separate Marine Brigade, with a notice of suspicion. He deceived marines into surrendering in Mariupol in April last year and cancelled the suspicions of 277 fighters who were accused of desertion.

Source: Press service of the State Bureau of Investigation; sources of UP in law enforcement agencies

Details: Since the end of February 2022, servicemen of this battalion were defending Mariupol. In April of the same year, the Russian propaganda media reported that marines of the 501st Battalion had allegedly surrendered voluntarily. Pro-Russian Telegram channels posted a video of unarmed men walking with raised hands.

 501         .    

A year ago, law enforcement agencies began investigating under Art. 430 of the Criminal Code (voluntary surrender).

Quote: "The investigation established that the head of the rear logistics of the 501st Separate Marine Brigade betrayed his oath and sided with the enemy. He conspired with the Russians and persuaded the commander to surrender. Taking advantage of the difficult situation faced by the defence forces in Mariupol, the traitor persuaded the commander to cease defensive actions and surrender weapons and personnel.

277 servicemen of the battalion were ordered to redeploy, but they were transferred to the DPR [Donetsk Peoples Republic - ed.]. The soldiers were misled; therefore, they did not realise and could not realise the illegal nature of the order or command to surrender."

Details: According to the UP, the traitor is Senior Lieutenant Kostiantyn Bezsmertnyi.

The SBI also decided to close proceedings against 277 servicemen of the 501st Separate Marine Brigade on suspicion of desertion. Thus, relatives of marines can receive payments from authorised bodies.

It has also been established that after the sabotage in Mariupol, the commander moved to his native Berdiansk and again began agitating the Ukrainian military to side with the Russians and to provide information on the deployment of Ukraines Defence Forces and assets for remuneration. The investigation established at least three relevant facts during April-June 2022.

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Bezsmertnyi was served with a notice of suspicion of treason (Art. 111.2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). He faces life imprisonment. The investigation is ongoing. Other persons who may be involved in the crime are being identified.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
The Florida Department of Education could visit a K-8 school in Hernando County as early as Wednesday as part of an ongoing investigation into a fifth-grade teachers decision to show a Disney movie featuring a gay character in her classroom.

A letter sent home to parents Friday and obtained by the Miami Herald indicated a representative from the Office of Professional Practices of the states education department will be on campus on or about Wednesday, May 17, 2023. If the parent has no objection, the representative may interview your daughter/son in connection with an investigation of a Florida certified educator, the letter read.

Karen Jordan, public information officer for the Hernando School District, confirmed the letter was sent home to parents and said the school administration was made aware of the visit last week. Jordan did not confirm if the visit would occur Wednesday or at a later date.

READ MORE: Teacher shows movie with gay character, says shes accused of indoctrinating Florida kids

Winding Waters K-8 has made national headlines in recent days over teacher Jenna Barbees decision to play the 2022 movie Strange World  which features Disneys first character who is out and gay, and is rated PG  and the Department of Educations decision to investigate her after a school board member allegedly reported the incident.

The story was first reported Sunday by the Tallahassee Democrat.

The expected visit would be the first time a department official is to visit the school since the investigations onset. On Monday, the department confirmed no one from the state had visited the school, nor has contacted any students about the movie. Barbee, however, said some students last week were questioned about the event by school administration.

Earlier this month during a school board meeting, Barbee accused Hernando County School Board member Shannon Rodriguez for reporting her to the department. Rodriguezs daughter is in Barbees class, as reported by the Democrat.

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Since then, Barbee has spoken publicly about the incident and defended her decision, arguing the movie was related to her students science lessons and did not have sexually inappropriate content  now a polarizing political issue in the state.

The Parental Rights in Education Act, passed last year and known by critics as Dont Say Gay, prohibits educators from teaching about gender and sexual identity in kindergarten through third grade, and in older grades in cases when the lessons are deemed to be not age appropriate.

Educators, however, have routinely expressed concern about the laws vague wording and the subjectivity of deciding what is considered age appropriate.

Nobody in my class, including myself, thought anything of the little bit of LGBTQ [topics] going on with that one main character and the supporting character, Barbee told the Herald Monday. Because of this, my students are [questioning] why this is such a big deal.

READ MORE: Florida Senate passes bill targeting pronoun preferences in school, restricting teachers

Long before the investigation, Barbee said some of her students have told her they are part of the LGBTQ community. Now, she said, they are seeing their teacher is under all this fire for choosing the movie.

Even parents have expressed confusion over the fallout, she said.

After the incident, parents were notified in a separate letter last week about the movie selection. In response, some parents asked why it mattered, while others expressed sympathy for the incident becoming such a big deal, Barbee said.

The reason I didnt think anything of it is because I have a progressive classroom and not from anything I did, she said. Thats just the environment that has been created over the year. To me, it was nothing. To them it was nothing. Now its something big.

Barbee has no plans to return to the classroom next year. She had already submitted her resignation before the incident occurred, she told the Herald.

The investigation comes as Gov. Ron DeSantis and GOP lawmakers continue to overhaul public education in the state, including expanding the Parental Rights in Education law. It now prohibits instruction on gender and sexual identity through eighth grade and restricts the way teachers and students can use their preferred pronouns in school.

On Monday, DeSantis also signed three bills that will bring major changes to Floridas colleges and universities.

Among them is a law that restricts certain topics from being taught in general education courses, the lower-level classes that all students must take for their degrees, expands the hiring and firing powers of political appointees on 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.

He also signed a bill that prohibits schools from requiring students and staff to fill out diversity statements, which the governors office described as woke litmus tests.

Miami Herald reporter Ana Ceballos contributed to this report.
A drone shows the impoundment behind Cornwall Creek Dam in Cheboygan County.

CHEBOYGAN COUNTY  The effort to stop Cornwall Flooding Dam from being drawn down has received support at the state level from Representatives Cam Cavitt and Ken Borton.

In April, Cavitt introduced House Bill 4380, which would free up funds to go toward repairing the dam. The bill was referred to the Committee on Appropriations, which Cavitt and Borton both serve on, but was voted down.

We were told that it wasn't a priority for the governor and that was unfortunate, Cavitt said.

On May 8, Cavitt sent a letter to Lott asking that more environmental testing be done to fully understand the impacts of the drawdown.

The proposed removal of the Cornwall Dam in Cheboygan County is a case in point. Absent a permit, Michigans Inland Lakes and Streams Act, MCL 324.30101 et seq., prohibits the diminishment of an inland lake which, by definition, includes an impoundment such as the Cornwall Flooding, Cavitt stated in the letter.

But such a permit cannot be granted absent prior consideration of the possible effects of a draw down on the impoundments uses for recreation, fish and wildlife, aesthetics, local government, agriculture, commerce, and industry purposes. Indeed, there is a flat prohibition against authorizing the unlawful impairment or destruction of any of the waters or other natural resources of our state.

More: Cornwall Flooding lake to be drawn down to meet dam safety measures

More: 'It's a special place': Cheboygan locals seek funding to save Cornwall Flooding

According to Randy Claramunt, chief of the Fisheries Division at the DNR, they do have the required permits for the drawdown. Additionally, drawing down the water levels would be necessary for repairs anyway.

There's a whole set of criteria on those drawdowns in terms of the rate, the amount, etc. So, that would be the intent anyway, Claramunt said. If we move forward with a repair, (well) probably have to draw it down, in which case, all of those environmental terms do have to be addressed, it doesn't matter if we're removing or repairing a dam.

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Claramunt said the DNR has been looking into options for Cornwall for several years, however, dams have become less popular due to environmental concerns so funding for dam repair is difficult to obtain. Additionally, Cornwall is designated as a high-hazard dam, making it even more difficult to get funding for repair over funding for removal.

Especially after the Midland Dam failure in 2020, much of the funding has been put towards dam removal, rather than repair.

Cavitt is seeking $1.5 million to repair the dam, which he said would be enough to fully replace it. Claramunt, however, said $1.5 million would be enough for the initial repairs but not enough to maintain the dam.

An overlook of the Cornwall Creek Flooding in Cheboygan County.

We have to approach this first from a public safety concern and then whatever long-term strategy we have is dependent upon assessments both of the environment and other things that are impacted no matter which direction we go, Claramunt said. So I understand the representatives concerns, we evaluate habitat restoration projects, we're looking at all environmental variables, but public safety always supersedes those.

Cheboygan resident Curtis Goldsborough has been involved in a grassroots campaign to save Cornwall Flooding. He said having support from the state representatives means a lot to the people involved.

They're going to continue to fight for (Cornwall) down there through some additional avenues and ultimately, to have their support is fantastic. They're representing the voice of so many people up here and that's what they're in their positions to do, Goldsborough said.

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The Cornwall Creek Dam is an earthen dam built in 1966 for recreational purposes. Inspectors have rated the dam as in poor condition and suggested that immediate action be taken.

According to Claramunt, the DNR is pursuing a geotechnical inspection to get a more accurate idea of the state of the structure. In the meantime, they are submitting an application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for funding to repair the dam. The DNR applied to the funding in 2021 but did not receive it.

The result of this inspection will determine if the drawdown will happen in the fall or not.

There's really good scientific information on the impacts of dams and rivers and watersheds and the vast majority of studies show their negative effects. However, there are exceptions to every rule and from a natural resources and fishery standpoint in particular, Cornwall is really the exception. It would be a net fisheries loss if we lost the dam and the impoundment, Claramunt said.

The problem is, it's not only money to repair it, but it's also money for continued inspection and maintenance that, as a division of the department, we just don't have the resources to do. So that puts us all between a rock and a hard place.

 Contact reporter Tess Ware at tware@petoskeynews.com. Follow her on Twitter, @Tess_Petoskey.

This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: State reps, DNR seek funding for Cornwall Flooding
A stay-at-home mother who employs a full-time nanny has shared insight into her typical day, and how having help caring for her daughter means she has the energy and patience to be the best mom.

Jen Miller, who goes by the username @jenmillerco on TikTok, uploaded a day in my life video in January, in which she showed what a typical day in [her] life looks like.

According to Miller, she starts her day at 5am each morning, with the video beginning with a look at her morning routine, which included skincare application and exercise.

In the video, Miller explained that she has run her own business for the past seven years, but recently decided to take time off from clients to focus on a few other projects. The TikToker then informed viewers that her husband runs his own startup, which means he works long hours and puts in work seven days a week.

Miller also noted that she and her husband, who live in Austin, Texas, dont have any family nearby, which means that their full-time nanny offers the support [Miller] needs.

As she showed what her days usually look like, Miller explained that she wanted to share the insight with her followers because they may be wondering why we need full-time help if Im home everyday.

Heres the rationale why, Miller said, before telling viewers: When we had our daughter, my husband and I decided that, at least for now, his responsibility would be taking care of our finances and mine would be taking care of everything else for our family.

After completing her workout, Miller filmed herself waking her toddler at 6.30am, at which point she and her daughter prepared food together and then read and played. At 8am, when their nanny arrives, Miller takes the familys dog for a walk, before applying makeup and getting dressed at 8.30am.

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The TikToker then filmed herself doing laundry, making the bed and running her household from her home office, which she said includes planning travel, managing their Airbnb property, working on their shared side hustles, and carving out hours for admin, errands, and creative work. I run our house like I ran my business, she explained.

According to Miller, who also filmed herself cleaning the house, restocking shelves, and eating lunch, when the familys nanny leaves at 4pm, she is back on mom duty, which includes making dinner, giving her daughter a bath, and putting the child to sleep.

Evenings are for winding down and resetting, she explained, adding: Our nanny spends 40 hours a week with our daughter, but so do I. Its a full-time job and having help lets me show up as the best mom I can be, with more patience, energy, and excitement for the time we spend together.

After sharing her nightly routine with her daughter, the video concluded with footage of Miller preparing herself a piece of pizza before going to sit on her couch to watch TV.

In the caption of the video, Miller acknowledged that every family is different but that this is how her family makes it work.

Miller also noted that she loves getting to wake her daughter up and put her to bed, and having lots of playtime in between, before reiterating that a full-time nanny gives her the energy and patience to be the best mom [she] can be while still taking care of all of [her] familys needs.

The video, which has since been viewed more than two million times, has been met with an outpouring of supportive comments from viewers, with many applauding Miller for sharing the candid insight into her daily schedule.

Literally, I would have one if I could financially. No hate here, one person commented.

Another said: Since the beginning of time women have never raised their children alone. The shaming behind a nanny is absurd, especially with no family around. Wise choice!

Others said having a nanny makes total sense for Miller because she is a work-from-home mother.

Nanny/house manager input here: you are a WORK from home mom, which (as a nanny) I love! Your baby can see you and see your hard work while also getting the proper care/attention she needs. Youre doing AMAZING!! one comment reads, while another person wrote: Girl, you work. You obviously WORK. So having this makes total sense!

Id argue managing an Airbnb is working as a business owner even if youre doing it from home, someone else said.

According to another person, even if Miller didnt have a business, theyd understand the need for a nanny as a stay-at-home parent, as they noted that mothers need support too.

Even if you didnt have a business, Id understand needing a nanny as a SAHM. Mama needs a break/support too, they wrote.

Chrissy Teigen recently shared her own praise for nannies on Mothers Day, when she shared a tribute to her team of four nannies. 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, the 37-year-old cookbook author captioned the Instagram post, which included a slideshow of her four nannies posing with her children. We love you.

The Independent has contacted Miller for comment.
The issues of street video surveillance cameras can be resolved by oblast military administrations on the ground so that the invaders cannot see the work of the Ukrainian air defence systems online.

Source: Colonel Yurii Ihnat, Speaker of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, during a briefing at the Ukraine-Ukrinform media centre

Quote: "Such cameras work all over the world, with online broadcasts on Youtube channels.

In our situation, when there is martial law in the country, I think that certain adjustments will be made with oblast military administrations.

When the air defence is at work, when there is a threat that there will be a leak of information, I think that the bodies of oblast military administrations will adjust in order to synchronise somehow and not give the enemy the opportunity to observe the combat operation of our air defence systems online."

Details: At the same time, the Air Force spokesman added that the cameras that broadcast online are available not only in state institutions, but also at various non-state institutions: gas stations, commercial structures, etc. Here certain adjustments will also be needed.

As for the Ukrainian citizens (who film the work of air defence with their phones), Ihnat noted that this matter is a responsibility of everyone. The Air Force has repeatedly explained and appealed to Ukrainians with an urgent request: not to record and not to post videos and photos of Ukrainian air defence in action.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Monday signed a bill into law that called for ending the current search for the states next major airport as he expressed a desire for a deeper review of expanding existing facilities before contemplating a brand-new one.

Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1791 sought to immediately supplant the Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission, which was tasked by state lawmakers in 2019 with recommending a preferred location for a potential new airport to fill a looming void in Washingtons commercial flight capacity.

The CACC, created by the Legislature as a body of 15-voting members largely from the transportation industry, caused a firestorm in communities in and around Graham, Roy and East Olympia when in September it narrowed options for an airport location to three greenfield sites in those areas.

ESHB 1791 offers protection for Pierce and Thurston county residents who have fiercely resisted the prospects of a new airport landing near them and acts as a restart of the states investigation into its aviation future.

The pressure valve was getting ready to explode and this took the pressure off, Rep. Jake Fey, D-Tacoma, a primary bill sponsor, told The News Tribune.

But the governors vetoes of four sections Monday also changed elements of the legislation.

For one, the bill will not go into effect immediately as proposed, but instead in 90 days from the April 23 end of the legislative session. While thats a typical timeline, it also means that the CACC will still be active when the group hits its June 15 deadline to make an airport site recommendation to the state and the group will expire on its own two weeks later.

In his veto message, Inslee wrote that an emergency clause was not needed because the CACCs final report should reflect the findings of the Commission that they do not have a single site recommendation at this time.

Inslee also nixed a section of the bill that spelled out the functions of the new work group that will replace the CACC.

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In his veto message, the governor made it clear that he did so because that section directed the work group to simultaneously consider existing airport expansion and sites for a new airport.

However, it is important for the state to first fully consider increasing capacity at existing airports throughout the state, excluding SeaTac, before it considers a new airport, he wrote.

The new work group, whose role will be limited to information-gathering, was left with a broad directive: a comprehensive investigation of airport capacity in the state and the best way to address aviation needs in the context of overall state transportation needs in the next 20 years using independent verifiable data.

Mike Faulk, a spokesperson for the governor, told The News Tribune that there could be executive action later to give formal guidance to the work group but that remained to be seen.

Fey, who appeared at the signing along with anti-airport activists, said that any complications that may arise from the governors vetoes could be fixed. For instance, new work group members could be given specific assignments during the next budget process.

I would still say, mission accomplished, he said.

Bill was response to outcry

The possibility of a two-runway airport drew concerns from residents, area lawmakers, tribal groups and others about the potential effect on quality of life, wildlife and the environment in the region. It also raised questions over logistics. Opponents waged a several-month campaign with hopes of preventing the CACC from circling any of the greenfield site finalists for recommendation.

In February, Fey, along with Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake and other lawmakers, introduced HB 1791 to replace the CACC with a new work group, arguing that the pandemic hadnt allowed for the CACC to thoroughly review sites or conduct proper community engagement.

The bill, which garnered bipartisan support and passed the House in March and the Senate last month, also mandated that any sites that interfered with nearby military operations be excluded from the new work groups considerations. Each of the three greenfield sites homed in on by the CACC fit that description, according to Joint Base Lewis-McChord officials.

As part of the bill -- kept intact by Inslee despite shifting the focus to existing airport expansion -- the new work group must submit a report by next summer that explicitly lists the locations that are precluded from further review due to military conflict.

People need some certainty, Fey said.

Projected problems persist

Inslees signature represents the culmination of the months-long battle over the potential siting of Washingtons next major airport, but it does not signal an end to the search for a thus far elusive answer to a projected shortfall in the states commercial passenger service capacity.

(Seattle-Tacoma International Airport) will reach capacity very soon and our economy depends on air travel and air freight in order to operate, state Sen. Marko Liias, D-Everett, said during the April 12 hearing when ESHB 1791 passed the Senate. So we need to figure out a path forward that ensures weve got adequate capacity to move people and goods into and out of our region and also respect local communities who have legitimate concerns that need to be addressed.

The bill acknowledges that commercial and general aviation, as well as air cargo operations, are growing and that there is a projected near-future gap between the demand for such services and the capacity to meet that demand.

The Puget Sound Regional Council estimated in May 2021 that the region was expected to see 27 million more annual passengers by 2050 than it could accommodate and double the current demand for cargo. Projections also showed Sea-Tac reaching capacity by 2032.

The expected shortfall is not lost on state Sen. Karen Keiser, D-Des Moines, who sponsored the bill that gave the CACC its instructions four years ago. Keiser, whose district includes Sea-Tac, expressed doubt last month that revisiting the problem in a different way would lead to any meaningful changes.

It is going to kick the can down the road and the effort, I believe, is doomed, she said during the Senate hearing April 12.

The regions leaders had identified a need for more aviation facilities as far back as 1982, she said, and the number of prospective sites have decreased since then due to other development. Keiser predicted that the new work group would face the same issues that the CACC had been wrestling with.

At this point, were at an impasse, she said.

Asked whether the shift in approach, as directed by ESHB 1791, merely meant delaying the inevitable discomfort of trying to site an airport, Fey underscored that the new work group would have more money and more time to get it right.

Its better to get a good answer in a good process in a few years from now, than get a bad answer as a result of a bad process now, Fey said.

Meanwhile, the CACC, which did not appear close to homing in on a single site recommendation during its last meeting in late March, also could not consider adopting any choice at that time due to lack of a quorum. It canceled its most recent planned session May 4 after the Senate passed ESHB 1791.

In recognition of the legislatures expressed intent and recent action, it would not be appropriate for the CACC to make such a final recommendation until the governors action on this bill is known, it wrote on its website.

A message seeking comment from a CACC spokesperson Monday was not immediately returned.
Jason Wysong is expected to become the School District of Manatee Countys new superintendent this summer.

The School Board of Manatee County chose Wysong after a months-long search during a special meeting Tuesday morning. Board members said they were impressed with the educators experience, financial acumen and his detailed plan for the first 100 days on the job.

(Wysong) is deeply intelligent. He is a careful decision-maker. He has held a deputy superintendent position  and I do believe that he understands the scope of the job, which is really important, said School Board Member Gina Messenger.

Wysong has served as the deputy superintendent of Seminole County Public Schools since 2021. He also has a doctorate in education and previous experience working as an executive director of instruction excellence and strategic partnerships.

I feel bad for Seminole because were taking one of their stars, School Board member Cindy Spray said.

Last year, Superintendent Cynthia Saunders announced plans to retire when her contract expires June 30. Over the past few months, the district engaged in a hiring process that involved community surveys, public interviews and a community meet and greet.

Former School Board Member Charlie Kennedy speaks during public comment Tuesday, May 16, as the School District of Manatee County discusses hiring a new superintendent. The board voted to hire Jason Wysong from Seminole County Schools.

Following a 4-1 vote by the board, Choate called Wysong on Tuesday afternoon to extend the job offer. Choate, who cast the only vote against hiring choosing Wysong as superintendent, will begin contract negotiations with the candidate soon.

Hes excited to get going, Choate said of his conversation with Wysong. Hes really excited to get to Manatee County and get to work.

Jason Wysong chosen as superintendent

In a discussion that lasted more than three hours, school board members agreed that Saunders replacement should be a powerful leader who is capable of providing the districts 50,000 students with a quality education while supporting teachers and support staff.

Our decision today will have a direct impact on the continued success of Manatee County Public Schools, Choate said.

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Twenty-seven people applied for the job, which had been narrowed down to three finalists: Wysong, Scott J. Schneider, chief of schools in Duval County, and Doug Wagner, deputy superintendent of operations for the School District of Manatee County.

I think Mr. Wysong is the best total package we can pick today, said School Board Member Richard Tatem.

Board members also touted Wysongs perspective as an outsider coming from a different school district.

We need change, said Spray. A great deal of change? Not so much maybe, but we do need fresh eyes in here. A different perspective.

According to his resume, Wysong spent seven years as a social studies teacher before transitioning into school administration roles. He has over 23 years of experience in Florida schools.

Wysongs application also came with glowing endorsements from leaders of the Seminole County School District.

As sad as it will be to lose Dr. Wysong in SCPS, I know that he is a driven achiever, and this will be a tremendous opportunity for personal and professional growth, Seminole School Board Chair Kristine Kraus wrote in a letter of recommendation, which also gave Wysong credit for encouraging STEM education, creating a hybrid model in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and expanding student career programs.

His passion for ensuring that every student has a high-quality education is paired with a work ethic that drives his team to deliver on that mission, wrote Seminole Superintendent Serita Beamon.

Manatee weighs other superintendent finalists

As they debated the pros and cons of the finalists, Wysong stood out from Wagner and Schneider.

School board members said Schneider had the right level of experience, but they could not ignore the cloud of scandal at Duval County Public Schools. The district is in turmoil as former Manatee Superintendent Diana Greene is set to step down from her job after state education officials say she failed to report teacher misconduct.

The concern with Mr. Schneider is whats going on in Duval County. Theres no ifs, and or buts about it, Choate said. The cloud is, of course, Duval.

In a recent Duval School Board meeting, the board voted to approve a separation agreement allowing Greene to step down from her position in early June. Greene served most recently as Manatees superintendent from 2015 to 2018.

Let whatevers playing out in Duval play out. Is it over? I have indication that it might not be, said Spray, suggesting that there could be more fallout to come from the Duval scandal.

Messenger and Choate both said Wagner, who has served over 22 years with the Manatee School District, would be their top choice.

If youre looking for the promise of solid, continuous improvement, I think thats Mr. Wagner, said Messenger, who said she preferred the internal candidate who already knows the district.

Other board members said they appreciated Wagners institutional knowledge, but they favored Wysong who had more responsibilities in his deputy superintendent role in Seminole.

I would trust Mr. Wagner with my life. He is absolutely a wonderful man, said School Board Member Mary Foreman. I just dont want to see him as superintendent.

Wysong is expected to begin July 1 after shadowing Saunders throughout June. His employment contract is subject to the school boards approval at a future public meeting. A date for that vote has not been determined.

Jason Wysong, a deputy superintendent with the Seminole County Public Schools, was chosen to become Manatee Countys new superintendent later this year.
Fresno County Sheriffs deputies Tuesday announced the arrest in the April fatal shooting of a 16-year-old Sunnyside High School student.

The suspect was identified as Tyvanh Sysaknoi, 20, of Fresno, who was booked into the Fresno County Jail on a charge of voluntary manslaughter with a bail of $95,000.

Nolyn Chann was killed April 15 during a disturbance at the intersection of Valentine and Princeton avenues. When deputies arrived at the scene, they found Chann on the ground, suffering from gunshot wounds. Deputies administered CPR, but he died at Community Regional Medical Center. Chann lived in Clovis.

Sheriffs spokesman Tony Botti said detectives learned the shooting involved Asian gang members and took place close to the Fresno Cambodian Buddhist Temple, where a large celebration was taking place.

The people involved in the shooting were in this area of town to attend the event at the temple, Botti said Tuesday.

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to contact detective Aurelio Flores at 559-600-8208 or Crime Stoppers at 559-498-7867 to remain anonymous.
Police lights

Two teenagers have been taken into custody after seven teenagers were shot, including two who died, at a house party on Saturday night in Yuma.

On Tuesday, Yuma police announced that detectives served a search warrant at a residence in reference to the shooting. Police said additional evidence led to the arrest of 18-year-old Jose Lopez for first degree murder and disorderly conduct with a weapon. Aden Arviso, 19, was also taken into custody for false reporting and disorderly conduct with a weapon.

Yuma police officers responded to reports of shots fired just before 11 p.m. on Saturday in a residential area near West Southern Avenue and South Priest Drive. When they arrived, they found several people with gunshot wounds, police said.

Two men, later identified as Andre Blackthunder, 20, and Danny Garcia, 19, were transported to Yuma Regional Medical Center before police arrival, according to police. They were later pronounced dead.

One 16-year-old boy suffered life-threatening injuries and was transported to YRMC. Four other teenagers were hospitalized with injuries that were not life-threatening. Their ages are 15, 16, 18 and 19.

Two victims were flown to a Phoenix-area hospital and are listed in stable condition. Three victims were treated at YRMC and released. Victims were transported to the hospital by both ambulance and private vehicles, according to Yuma authorities.

According to Yuma police, the homeowners of the residence were not home at the time of the party but have cooperated with authorities.

The Yuma Police Department said a total of 30 rounds were fired at the party and that the perpetrators and victims knew one another. Several off-duty officers assisted in responding to the shooting, including an California Highway patrol officer, a Yuma police detective, two Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents as well as the wife of one of those agents, who is a nurse.

The weapons at the scene were found and will undergo forensics testing. Police are still investigatingwhat led up to the shooting.

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This does not appear to be a random act, a Yuma Police Department news release stated.

The release stated that detectives have investigative leads but did not specify further.

The investigation remains ongoing, police said.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suspects arrested in Yuma shooting that left 2 dead
Taiwan is at the vanguard Asia's LGBTQ rights movement, becoming the first place in the region to legalise marriage equality in 2019

Taiwan's parliament passed an amendment on Tuesday allowing gay couples to jointly adopt children, a move hailed by activists as "another big step forward" for marriage equality.

Taiwan is at the vanguard of Asia's burgeoning LGBTQ rights movement, becoming the first place in the region to legalise marriage equality in 2019.

But same-sex couples still faced restrictions, such as being unable to jointly adopt children. While individuals in Taiwan were allowed to adopt regardless of sexual orientation, those in same-sex marriages could not both be legal parents unless the child was one partner's biological offspring.

On Tuesday -- the eve of the fourth anniversary of Taiwan's marriage equality law -- parliament passed the amendment removing those restrictions, with lawmaker Fan Yun hailing the cross-party support for the bill.

The amendment "not only ensures the protection of children's rights but also meets their best interest", said Fan, who was draped in a rainbow flag.

"In the future, spouses and parents, regardless of gender and sexual orientation, can have full legal protection."

The amendment comes after a family court in southern Kaohsiung City last year ruled in favour of a married gay man seeking to share parenthood of his husband's adoptive child -- the first verdict of its kind.

"After four years of hard work, today the parliament finally passed the (bill for) adoption without blood relationship by same-sex couples," the advocacy group Taiwan Alliance to Promote Civil Partnership Rights said in a statement.

The group also hailed Taiwan's recent recognition of transnational same-sex marriage -- a move made in January by then-premier Su Tseng-chang to lift restrictions for international couples.

Previously foreigners were not allowed to wed their Taiwanese partners if they came from territories banning same-sex marriage -- which is much of Asia.

But one of Su's last acts in office was to recognise such unions -- including for couples from Hong Kong and Macau, though not mainland China, which is governed under a different set of regulations in Taiwan.

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"Following the full recognition of transnational same-sex marriage in January, Taiwan has taken another big step towards marriage equality," the alliance said of the adoption amendment.

Taiwan is home to a thriving LGBTQ community -- a record 200,000 people attended a pride march in Taipei in 2019 to celebrate the legalisation of same-sex marriage.

That law came about after Taiwan's top court ruled that denying same-sex couples the right to marry was discriminatory and unconstitutional.

Over the next two years, at least 7,000 same-sex couples tied the knot according to 2021 data from the Interior Ministry.

The alliance said Tuesday it would continue to push for more rights for same-sex couples, including recognition of Taiwanese-Chinese marriages.

aw/dhc/smw
TAIPEI (Reuters) -Former British prime minister Liz Truss said in Taiwan on Wednesday the West must avoid appeasing China and show unwavering support for the democratically governed island, in a speech that risks further damaging Britain's ties with Beijing.

Truss is the most well-known British politician to visit Taiwan since former prime minister Margaret Thatcher in the 1990s, and her trip comes at a time when relations between Britain and China are the worst in decades.

She represents a hawkish wing of the governing Conservative Party that opposes the British government's approach to China, which involves seeking to engage in areas such as trade and climate change while trying to limit national security threats.

In contrast to French President Emmanuel Macron's attempts to distance Europe from any involvement in a conflict over Taiwan, Truss said it would be "completely irresponsible" for European nations to argue that the island is too far away or not important.

Beijing claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own and has not renounced the use of force to ensure eventual unification despite strong objections by Taipei, which says China has never ruled the island and thus its claims are void.

Beijing has previously condemned visits by British lawmakers to Taiwan for what it calls interference in China's internal affairs.

"We have to do all we can to support free democracies like Taiwan in the face of aggression from a Chinese regime whose record we already know," Truss said in a speech at Taipei-based think tank, the Prospect Foundation.

Truss said China was trying to use its global economic clout to "gain dominance" and undertake "the biggest military build-up in peacetime history." However, she said, many in the West chose to appease China because they don't want another Cold War.

"The only choice we have is: do we appease and accommodate that strategy or do we take action now to prevent conflict."

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Truss also met Taiwan's prime minister Chen Chien-jen on Wednesday in a meeting broadcast live online, during which Chen described her visit as "historically significant".

After being forced out of office in a record 49 days last October over unfunded tax cuts that buffeted the financial markets, Truss has made speeches aimed at rebuilding her political reputation and adding pressure on her successor, Rishi Sunak, to take a stronger stance on a number of issues.

A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in London criticised her visit, calling it a "dangerous political show which will do nothing but harm to the United Kingdom".

In the clearest attempt to explain Britain's approach to China under Sunak, the foreign minister James Cleverly said last month it would be a mistake to isolate Beijing and that engagement is needed in areas such as climate change.

"There are still too many in the West who are trying to cling on to the idea that we can somehow cooperate with China on issues like climate change," Truss said in the speech. "But without freedom and democracy, there is nothing else."

(Writing by Andrew MacAskill; additional reporting by Yimou Lee; editing by Lisa Shumaker, Mark Heinrich and Raju Gopalakrishnan)
(Bloomberg) -- Taiwans main opposition party is set to nominate New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih as its candidate for next years presidential election, a person familiar with the situation said, as it seeks to wrest back power in a vote crucial to US-China relations.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The Kuomintang on Wednesday is set to formally announce Hou as its choice to represent the party in Januarys election, said the person, who asked not to be identified because they arent authorized to speak publicly. Hou would be taking on Vice President Lai Ching-te of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party.

The choice of Hou over Foxconn Technology Group founder Terry Gou, who also sought the nomination, is due to his strength in opinion polls and broader support among lawmakers and local government leaders, the person said.

In remarks to reporters on Tuesday, Hou didnt directly address the question of whether he would be the nominee, saying that no matter what the process is, I respect the partys rhythm and rules.

KMT spokesman Tony Lin declined to comment. Gous office said it wont comment until there is an official announcement. A spokesperson for the New Taipei City government declined to comment.

Why Taiwans Vote Matters From Beijing to Washington: QuickTake

The winner of Januarys election will be thrust into the center of a worsening relationship between the worlds two largest economies. A victory for the DPP would see the US keep a willing partner in its efforts to push back against China, while a win for the KMT  Beijings preferred negotiating partner in Taiwan  would likely ensure closer ties between Taipei and the Communist Party-led government in Beijing.

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The DPP is probably still the favorite to maintain the presidency, but after eight years of Tsai Ing-wens leadership they are facing serious headwinds, said Kharis Templeman, a research fellow specializing in Taiwan at the Hoover Institution in California. In addition to the hostile cross-strait relationship, there is also a slowing economy, stagnant wages, high housing costs, repeated delays in the transition to renewable energy, water shortages, air pollution, and so forth.

More Competitive

Hou, 65, had been seen as more likely to win the nod from the KMT due to his broad popularity and grassroots appeal within the party. Some 33% of Taiwanese voters favor DPPs Lai compared with 29.7% for Hou, according to a poll last month by the Taiwanese Public Opinion Foundation.

In a theoretical match-up against the 72-year-old Gou, Lai received an approval rating of 35.1% compared with 26% for the founder of Foxconn, also known as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. Theres also the likely candidacy of former Taipei city mayor Ko Wen-je, expected to run with the Taiwan Peoples Party.

A Hou nomination by the KMT will make the 2024 presidential election an even more competitive three-way race between the DPP, KMT, and TPP, and therefore less predictable, said Russell Hsiao, executive director of the Washington-based Global Taiwan Institute.

Hou had a distinguished, decades-long career in the police force, during which time he rose to become Taiwans top cop before switching to politics. He has served as mayor of Taiwans biggest municipality, New Taipei City, for the past five years, winning reelection for another four-year term by a wide margin last year.

Singapore Meeting

Still, Hou faces a a dilemma: declaring his ambition to run for president just months after winning the mayoral election could raise questions about his commitment to his constituency.

Another concern facing Hou is his lack of experience at the national level, particularly in the areas of foreign affairs and national defense.

In an effort to bolster his diplomatic credentials, Hou visited Singapore last month and met with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who has been tapped to take the top job in the city-state.

On the issue of Taiwans political status, a crucial matter of contention in every presidential election, Hou has said he opposes Beijings one country, two systems formulation for bringing the democratic island under its control. He has also said he opposes Taiwanese independence, stating there is no legal basis for it. Referring to the island by its official name, Hou said recently that the Republic of China is our country, while Taiwan is our home.

Polls show a majority of Taiwanese people are happy to maintain the deliberately ambiguous status quo rather than seek unification or independence.

--With assistance from Jenni Marsh.

(Adds remarks from analysts starting in seventh paragraph.)

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Former UK prime minister Liz Truss on Wednesday urged her successor Rishi Sunak to get tough with China on issues such as Taiwan

Britain's former prime minister Liz Truss on Wednesday urged her successor Rishi Sunak to get tough with China on Taiwan, describing the democratic island as "an enduring rebuke to totalitarianism".

China considers self-ruled Taiwan to be its territory, to be taken one day by force if necessary, and strongly opposes any formal engagement with the island, including by high-profile foreign political figures.

Truss, who is on a five-day visit to Taiwan, accused Sunak and other Western governments of "trying to cling on to the idea that we can cooperate with China on issues like climate change, as if there is nothing wrong".

"But without freedom and democracy, there is nothing else. We know what happens to the environment or world health under totalitarian regimes that don't tell the truth," she said.

"You can't believe a word they (China) say."

Truss also called on Sunak to make good on his pledge during the Conservative leadership campaign last year to designate China a strategic "threat", and went on to say the West could not avoid another "Cold War" with Beijing.

It is "absolutely clear" that Chinese President Xi Jinping "has ambitions to take Taiwan", she added at a press conference later.

"We don't know exactly when that could take place and we don't know how... All we can do is make sure Taiwan is as protected as possible."

Sunak has pushed back on the tough rhetoric against China that Truss deployed before and during her 49-day tenure at 10 Downing Street last year.

She was ousted after her radical economic policies crashed financial markets.

Since then, Truss -- who is still a sitting MP -- has been trying to rebuild her profile with a series of speeches overseas, including in Tokyo, Washington and Copenhagen.

- 'Instagram diplomacy' -

The Chinese government has slammed Truss's Taiwan visit as a "dangerous political show which will do nothing but harm to the UK".

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A spokesman for the Chinese embassy in London accused her of "colluding with 'Taiwan independence' secessionist forces to provoke confrontation", in a statement issued before her speech in Taipei.

It added that Truss's visit would "further expose herself as a failed politician".

The former leader has also faced accusations back home that she is indulging in irresponsible sabre-rattling in a bid to maintain her political relevance.

"The (Taiwan) trip is performative, not substantive," House of Commons foreign relations committee chair Alicia Kearns told The Guardian newspaper last week.

"It is the worst kind of example of Instagram diplomacy," the Conservative said, recalling previous criticism of Truss's tireless self-promotion on social media.

Kearns added the trip was likely to deepen problems for Taiwan.

Truss defended herself Wednesday by saying she was invited by Taipei, which was "best placed to understand what will help Taiwan's course".

She added: "I think that's a very dangerous idea that we should allow a totalitarian regime to dictate who goes where in the world."

Beijing has in recent years stepped up air and sea incursions around Taiwan, whose President Tsai Ing-wen has refused to accept that the island is a part of China.

After a visit to Taiwan by then-speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, China launched massive military drills around the island.

There were more drills this year following a meeting in the United States between Tsai and Pelosi's successor.

jit-aw-dhc/smw
A tank commander fires his machine gun during an advance towards the enemy during the Aurora 23 military exercise at the Rinkaby firing range outside Kristianstad, Sweden on May 06, 2023 - Johna Nilsson/AFP

The broad Russian offensive of February 2022 was a failure: but that failure was due to the weaknesses of Vladimir Putins Russia. It should be viewed in that light rather than a lesson in modern manoeuvre warfare.

Russian military failure in the field was down to four factors.

Firstly there was overconfidence. Based on the successful takeover of the Crimean peninsula in 2014, the Russian expectation was for a swift collapse of Ukrainian resistance and a level of cooperation and collaboration by the Ukrainian population that would make the special military operation  as the Russians call it  more of a liberation. That overconfidence was also based on a population estimate of the number of Russian speakers and an assumption that if they speak Russian, they must support us.

For that reason, the Russian advance was meant to be a combined all arms operation to swiftly overwhelm the Ukrainians and seize their centre of gravity, the city of Kiev, decapitating the leadership and creating a benign and permissive environment for the Russians to absorb the territory. But things did not play out that way.

The second failure factor was deep levels of theft and corruption at every level. The Russian military on paper was a modern and potentially effective machine with some logistic vulnerabilities, but overall fit for purpose. In the real world, money spent on providing rations for Russian troops was in fact stolen, and out of date dog food was substituted for high calorific combat rations. Some of the money to buy tyres for wheeled combat vehicles was spent on Chinese knock-offs that perished in the sub-zero temperatures, and the rest of the budget pocketed. The explosive in the reactive armour on many of the Russian tanks was stolen and replaced with sand and in the field, vital supplies and spares were sold off. As recently as last month a Russian colonel was caught selling off seven T-90 tank engines.

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The third factor was the sheer incompetence of the Russian military leadership. Russian operational security was compromised, and where the paratroopers and special forces of the VDV airborne landed they were ambushed and slaughtered with losses as high as 90 per cent.

By feeding in their armoured brigades piecemeal, the Russians provided an ideal target for the hit and run tactics of the Ukrainians, well supplied from early on with handheld NLAW antitank weapons from the UK. This protracted slaughter saw much of Russia's new class of kontraktniki professional soldiers killed, wounded or captured. From then on, poorly trained cannon-fodder replaced them in the fight against an increasingly experienced enemy. Mass attacks by armour into well sited antitank screens and human wave attacks into a storm of artillery and small arms fire  like something from the worst parts of WWI  further depleted the already thin manpower resource.

The fourth factor was logistic failure at every level. Poor lines of communication meant logistics were woeful. Tanks ran out of fuel and were abandoned. Units ran out of food and simply surrendered. Ammunition was fired off so quickly that stocks ran out. Newly manufactured ammunition  which the UK assesses is being used now  has a failure rate of up to 50 per cent, doubtless due to corner-cutting so that money can be stolen.

The imminent Ukrainian counter-offensive will be a different story. To begin with, the quality of the men and machines and training is excellent. There is never enough of anything but what there is, is very good. Ukrainian command, control and tactics have been sharpened by the experience gained over a year of war.

But we must remember that Ukraine is a vast country and it may be unwise to hope for massive armoured breakthroughs penetrating deeply into Russian rear areas and rolling their forces up. There are unlikely to be large sweeping advances. The ability of Ukrainian logistics to rapidly extend supply lines to keep up with speeding Leopards and Challengers while also keeping the supporting mobile artillery supplied is finite, costly and subject to battlefield conditions.

It would be prudent to manage expectations of the coming offensive. We are more likely to see significant, efficient attrition and erosion of the Russian will and ability to fight, rather than any knockout blow.

Nonetheless when we compare the probable Ukrainian offensive this year with the ill-conceived Russian invasion of February 2022 there is a massive qualitative gulf in the potential for performance and success.

Victory will come, but it will take time  and regrettably it will come at some cost in blood and treasure.

Colonel Tim Collins is a former British Army officer who served with the SAS and as commander of the Royal Irish during the invasion of Iraq in 2003, when his before-battle speech to his soldiers made headlines around the world

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CNN

Special Counsel John Durhams report on the FBIs investigation into Donald Trumps 2016 presidential campaign criticized the agency for acting on raw, unanalyzed, and uncorroborated intelligence.

Yet while much of the content had already come to light in a December 2019 report by the Justice Departments inspector general that spurred changes within the FBI, CNN anchor Jake Tapper claimed Monday that the report by Durham is devastating to the organization and even exonerates Trump to a degree.

Yet not all were so convinced. On The Lead, Tapper discussed the report with CNN Senior Justice Correspondent Evan Perez, who reiterated what Tapper had noted earlier: that it recommended no criminal charges beyond those that were already brought. (The only conviction from Durhams investigation was of a former FBI lawyer for altering an email to help obtain surveillance of a Trump adviser.)

The stunning thing about this report is that we frankly knew a lot of this, Perez said, noting how the 2019 report told us a lot of these findings that Durham is now confirming, frankly.

One of the reasons why Durham was brought on board was supposedly to go beyond what the inspector general of the Justice Department found in their investigation, continued Perez. Durham was appointed by Bill Barr, then-President Trumps attorney general, about a month after Special Counsel Robert Mueller released his report on Trumps role in Russian interference in the 2016 election.

One of the things they were supposed to do was to tell us a lot about what the intelligence community was doing, Perez said. It turns out they didnt find very much there in the intelligence community, and certainly not to support the suspicions that they had that there was a cabal of people from the FBI and the intelligence community who were out to get Donald Trump. That appears to have fallen flat as part of this investigation.

Tapper did not go into detail surrounding why he considered the Durham report to be devastating, however, at one point, he paraphrased part of it, saying that Durham is basically saying these are not criminal allegations, but hes saying these were unprofessional and failed to meet the standards of the Justice Department and the FBI.

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Tapper added later: It is possible that the FBI had legitimate cause for concern and it is also possible that some individuals in the FBI got ahead over their skis and were not as professional as they should have been.

After speaking with Perez, , Tapper then turned to CNN senior legal analyst Elie Honig, who had a similar reaction to how Durhams report said that the FBI shouldnt have launched the Trump-Russia probe.

Theres no surprise in that conclusion. It was really sort of a foregone conclusion from the start, Honig said, pointing to the circumstances of Durhams appointment, including Trumps demands to investigate the investigators, as well as the late 2019 inspector general report.

That report, Honig said, found that the FBI made several misstepsand Durham seizes on some of these as wellhowever, there was ample ground to open an investigation. And right away, John Durham came out with a public statement and said, I disagree with that.

The FBI on Monday issued a statement on Durhams report, reiterating that it has already implemented dozens of corrective actions.

Had those reforms been in place in 2016, it added, the missteps identified in the report could have been prevented.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Taylor Lautner joked that he is praying for John Mayer ahead of the rerelease of Taylor Swifts third album, Speak Now.

I think its a great album. Yeah, I feel safe, he told Today.com Tuesday. Praying for John.

Since 2021, Swift has been rereleasing her first six albums as Taylors Versions after she said she wasnt given the opportunity to buy the master recordings of the originals. So far, shes rereleased 2008s Fearless and 2012s Red, and last week during a concert in Nashville, she announced that Speak Now (Taylors Version) will come out July 7.

Fans are excited to listen to the album that Swift will officially own, but men like Lautner and Mayer, who both dated Swift in the 2000s, might be nervous considering they are rumored to be the subjects of some of the songs on Speak Now.

Lautner and Swift reportedly dated and broke up in 2009, and Swifts apologetic breakup song Back To December is believed to be about the Twilight actor.

Taylor Swift and Taylor Lautner are seen driving together on Oct. 28, 2009, in Los Angeles.

Taylor Swift and Taylor Lautner are seen driving together on Oct. 28, 2009, in Los Angeles.

That song paints Lautner as a good guy whom Swift broke up with  but on the song Dear John, which many believe to be about Mayer, Swift sings about an ex-boyfriend who messed with a 19-year-old Swift and played dark twisted games.

Swifts fans have been known to not hold back when it comes to her ex-boyfriends. When Swift released Red (Taylors Version) in November 2021, fans went to social media to attack actor Jake Gyllenhaal, who is believed to be the subject of most of the album, but most notably the song All Too Well (10-Minute Version).

Gyllenhaal turned off his Instagram comments after fans flooded it with scarf emojis in 2021  a reference to a lyric in the song  but he told Esquire in 2022 that the song didnt bother him.

At some point, I think its important when supporters get unruly that we feel a responsibility to have them be civil and not allow for cyberbullying in ones name, he said. That begs for a deeper philosophical question.

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John Mayer and Taylor Swift perform onstage during Z100's Jingle Ball 2009 presented on Dec. 11, 2009, in New York City.

John Mayer and Taylor Swift perform onstage during Z100's Jingle Ball 2009 presented on Dec. 11, 2009, in New York City.

Mayer probably wont experience anything new when Speak Now (Taylors Version) comes out. In late 2022, his name trended on Twitter after Swift released the pointed song Wouldve Couldve Shouldve that many believed was about him.

While Swift has never publicly declared who her songs are about, Mayer told Rolling Stone in 2012 that Dear John was cheap songwriting.

It made me feel terrible, Mayer said. Because I didnt deserve it. Im pretty good at taking accountability now, and I never did anything to deserve that.

It was a really lousy thing for her to do, he added.

Related...
The downtown Raleigh convenience store owner who was arrested last month for allegedly stabbing a man to death at his store has been indicted on a charge of second-degree murder by a Wake County grand jury.

The indictment of Taiseer Taz Zarka, 60, comes after his April 19 arrest in the stabbing death of Mark Garrity Jr., 27, at Tazs Supermarket One, at the intersection of South Wilmington and West Hargett streets.

Zarka, currently jailed without bail, filed a motion last week in court through his lawyer for a bail bond hearing.

Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman confirmed the indictment to The News & Observer and said Zarkas case was presented to a grand jury last week.

Two weeks from stabbing to arrest

For nearly two weeks after Garritys death, the Raleigh Police Department made no arrests in the case, angering his family.

Police have not said why there was a delay in an arrest, but previously stated that they were reviewing footage from the store as part of their investigation.

Zarka has no prior convictions; however, a third-party website that lists Wake County arrests and mugshots shows that Zarka was arrested on an assault charge on Aug. 7, 2022, about eight months before he was charged with murder.

The N&O has not been able to confirm the arrest or charge with police and court records.

WRAL reported earlier this month that the assault charge was expunged, and that Zarka had been previously known to the District Attorneys office.

History of problems at Tazs store

Tazs Supermarket One often has people loitering outside of it and has had a problematic history with police for years.

It sits near a busy downtown intersection and is a block away from Moore Square and a GoRaleigh bus terminal.

An N&O request for 911 calls to the store reveals that police have responded to 839 different incidents going back five years from April 13, 2023.

Security checks represent a majority of police incidents at the store, 32% in all. .

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Since 2019, police have responded to 32 assaults, 36 suspicious people, 30 alcohol-related incidents and 19 larcenies at the stores address.

There have been two stabbings reported at the store  including the April 6 incident that resulted in Zarkas murder charge.

Other incidents involving fights and drug law violence have been reported, the incident history shows.

Stabbing at Tazs store

Tazs store employees and witnesses said an argument broke out at around 3:41 p.m. April 6 after Zarka accused Garrity of stealing.

Police have not provided details about the weapon used, who it belonged to or what led to the altercation.

Garrity was found by police with serious stab wounds and was taken to a hospital.

Garrity grew up in Wake Forest and went to Heritage High School, according to his family and friends.
TCC and local officials hold scholarship donation checks during a press conference at the college's Fine and Performing Arts Center to announce three new bachelor's degree programs that will be offered to students in fall 2023.

Tallahassee Community College is bringing its academic offerings to a new level by adding three bachelors degree programs  a bachelor of applied science in business administration, a bachelor of science in elementary education and a bachelor of science in exceptional student education.

A press conference was held on TCCs campus to announce the new programs, which will all launch in the fall.

I cant tell you how excited I am, TCC President Jim Murdaugh told the Tallahassee Democrat. This is an expansion of what we love, which is being a resource for the community and providing our students with degrees and credentials to get a job in areas that are in demand in our community. This moves us into a new territory.

Tallahassee Community College President Jim Murdaugh

The new offerings come as a result of Flagler College-Tallahassees decision last year to close the three bachelors degree programs that it has had on TCCs campus, which opened a door for TCC to continue offering them instead.

Murdaugh says that TCC received support from Flagler College President John Delaney as well as Florida State and Florida A&M universities to have the two-year programs on its campus before getting approval from the State Board of Education in March.

Prior to the three programs, the only bachelors program that TCC offered was for a degree in nursing, which 10 students graduated from in the spring.

TCC students now have more options to consider if they wish to stay at the college instead of taking the traditional path of transferring to FSU or FAMU after two years.

But at the same time, TCC Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Calandra Stringer explained how the college's expanded opportunities will not be in opposition to the similar programs that exist at FSU and FAMU in the community.

A lot of our students dont have an opportunity to get into (FSU and FAMUs) programs because of their limited access, so this opens the door for us to meet the local demand  not compete against them," Stringer said. "Were just stepping in to make sure that students have an additional choice and an opportunity to pursue their bachelors degree.

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TCC Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Calandra Stringer

Other TCC news: TCC, Florida universities receive false active shooter reports linked to swatting

More: 'Absolutely amazing' TCC student's hard work pays off as she gets ready to graduate

Students who earn a bachelors degree in business administration from TCCs program will be able to apply for job positions that include being a human resource manager, management analysts and sales manager, which will support the local community's growing need for skilled workers in the roles.

There are nearly 900 annual job openings in TCCs service area related to the business and administration field, according to labor market projections from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.

While a bachelors degree in elementary education will prepare students for certification in teaching subjects in grades K-6, an exceptional student education degree will prepare them for the Florida Elementary Teacher Certification (K-12).

With each of the education programs currently having nearly 90 annual job openings in demand within the colleges service district, TCCs new offerings will help fill the critical teacher shortages that exist in the fields.

The new offerings also mean that new faculty will be added to the three programs, and the number of additional members will depend on the number of students who will be pursuing the bachelors degrees in the fall, according to Stringer.

In addition, the programs come along with $150,000 worth of scholarships that will be offered to students pursuing each of the bachelors degrees.

While TCCs President Circle gifted the exceptional student education program with $50,000 and Donna Calloway  a former TCC trustee who is also a retired educator and principal  donated $50,000 to go toward the elementary education program, Amazon contributed $50,000 in scholarship money for the business administration program.

More on Amazon: Amazon hiring begins slowly for mega Tallahassee warehouse; property tax payday on horizon

More: Amazon selects Tallahassee Community College as education partner to train its employees

Its a really big deal to have such a large corporation make such an investment in what we do here at TCC, Vice President for Institutional Advancement Heather Mitchell said, referring to Amazons contribution. Amazon has come to the table more times than we can count whenever weve asked, so this investment is a very big deal.

Mitchell, who is also the TCC Foundations executive director, says the three scholarship donations will be distributed in the fall, and each of the amounts will help fund 17 students with half of what their tuition cost is for their entire bachelors degree program.

Heather Mitchell, vice president for institutional advancement at Tallahassee Community College and executive director, TCC Foundation.

Students who apply for a scholarship on the colleges Scholarships website for their respective program will be notified by mid-June to know if they will receive funding.

Applications for the new bachelors programs are also currently available online with a deadline of Aug. 1.

Following the three new offerings, individuals in the community can look forward to more bachelors degree programs being added to TCCs campus in the future as Stringer says the college is looking to start the development process this year for another new program that could possibly be announced next year.

Were looking at whats still needed in the community and will start doing more research to determine what our next bachelors degree will be, which is coming soon, Stringer told the Democrat.

Contact Tarah Jean at tjean@tallahassee.com or follow her on twitter @tarahjean_.

Never miss a story: Subscribe to the Tallahassee Democrat using the link at the top of the page.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: TCC announces new bachelor's degree programs to start in fall 2023
A fifth-grade teacher in Florida says she is under investigation after showing her class a Disney movie that features a gay character.

Jenna Barbee, who is listed as a fifth-grade teacher at Winding Waters in Brooksville, posted a video on TikTok describing the incident.

Barbee said her students were taking standardized tests the day she showed the movie. She did not specify a date. In her classroom were students that she normally has as well as other students not usually in her class who were finished with their testing, she said in the video.

She decided to show the movie Strange World to give students a brain break and because she said it relates to her classroom curriculum of earth science and ecosystems.

The movie features Disneys first character who is openly gay. The character, Ethan Clade, who is voiced by comedian Jaboukie Young-White, is a biracial, queer teen who discusses having a crush on another male character, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.





The movie is rated PG.

Barbee said that after showing the movie, she found out she was under investigation by the state Department of Education for indoctrination.

A spokesperson for the Department of Education said the agency could neither confirm nor deny a pending investigation.

I understand that the individual in question has discussed her case publicly, the statement says. However, we will not allow politics and media pressure to dictate our process.

A spokesperson for the Hernando School District did not immediately respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News.

Barbee said in her TikTok video that she did not choose to show the movie because it featured a gay character.

Barbee said she was worried that the investigation process would traumatize her students.

Their teacher showed a movie to help them connect to their curriculum and learn some valuable life lessons, but the minor representations that have nothing to do with the movie are such a big deal that now admin is in their room pulling their teacher out, calling the students one by one down to the office to interrogate them in the middle of my lessons, she said.

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Material that references the LGBTQ community has been censored in Florida after the passage of the a bill notoriously referred to as the Dont Say Gay law, which is meant to prohibit discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in certain grade levels.





This is the public education system where students from all backgrounds cultures and religions are welcomed and should be celebrated and represented, Barbee said. I am not and never would indoctrinate anyone to follow my beliefs. I will however always be a safe person to come to that spreads the message of kindness, positivity and compassion for everyone.

If you are struggling or thinking of harming yourself, you can reach out to a counselor with the Trevor Project, the worlds largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning) young people. Text START to 678-678 or call 1-866-488-7386.

LGBTQ+ students win Ohio prom king and queen in iconic moment. Then came the vitriol

Trans woman put in solitary jail cell after she was sexually assaulted, lawsuit says

No space for me. Some nonbinary actors withdraw from awards over gendered categories
In professional sports, player-coaches can be extraordinarily effective: Celtics center Bill Russell won two NBA championships between 1966 and 1969.

A recent study suggests that this principle also applies to venture capital. Recent data from AngelList, pulled for Flex Capital, shows that the founder-led funds raised through its platform outperformed the other funds raised on AngelList, reports Rebecca Szkutak.

The reality is, we all have some other thing going on in our lives that we are passionate about, said Jeff Lu, general partner at Flex Capital. Dual-threat CEOs, their hobby is to invest. At the same time, the experience makes them better CEOs and investors.

Full TechCrunch+ articles are only available to members

Use discount code TCPLUSROUNDUP to save 20% off a one- or two-year subscription

However, its important to note that women founders are largely left out of this trend, writes Rebecca.

While having these side gigs is largely seen as a positive by VCs for male founders, multiple women founders have told TechCrunch+ that they arent given the same luxury. In fact, they are advised against it.

Thanks very much for reading,

Walter Thompson

Editorial Manager, TechCrunch+

@yourprotagonist

How to avoid AI commoditization: 3 tactics for running successful pilot programs

Black billiard table, Billiard balls in a pool table, focused on 3 ball

Image Credits: Unknown (opens in a new window) / Getty Images

Companies in search of AI-powered business solutions have a lot more options to choose from than they did a few months ago. But where does that leave startups that are trying to differentiate their offerings?

The real moat is a combination of AI models trained on proprietary data, as well as a deep understanding of how an expert goes about their daily tasks to solve nuanced workflow problems, says Chaitanya Vaidya, co-founder of Deeprisk.ai.

In this TC+ article, he shares three methods AI startups can use to manage iterative pilot programs that create customer delight by studying user behavior.

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Leveraging deep relationships with customers in your domain is a simple, yet effective tactic, writes Vaidya.

Europe could be on the cusp of a golden era in robotics. Heres why.

3D rendered two robotic arm manufacturing euro sign as a abstract concept in yellow background

Image Credits: photoman (opens in a new window) / Getty Images

Even though the pandemic accelerated our shift to automation, funding to robotics startups decreased globally.

Last year, investors dropped almost $8.5 billion on the sector  a 42% decline from 2021 levels, with the deepest cuts coming from China and the U.S., where USD investment volume was slashed by over 50%," according to a report from Picus Capital.

Across Europe, however, funding only fell by "5% in the same period." In a study shared with TC+, the firm analyzed "a few key trends driving the continents recent power play in the robotics market," including increased demand and a strong education pipeline.

"Although its still early, were convinced its just the beginning of how Europe is finally beginning to find its place within the modern robotics ecosystem."

Onboarding and automation: What fintechs can learn from big banks

a perspective shot looking down the corridor of a jetway at an airport

Image Credits: Sellwell (opens in a new window) / Getty Images

Onboarding a new fintech user comes with a unique set of challenges: you'll need to capture and verify their personal information while you teach them how to use your service and induce them to stay engaged.

Getting new customers up to speed is essential, "but in an economic downturn, it becomes doubly so," says Appian CTO Michael Beckley.

"Investors rapidly lose patience for startups that cant deliver growth and margin at the same time as regulators crack down on risk across the financial sector."

Funding for women in climate tech is pitiful. What can be done about it?

Illustration of women amid foliage.

Image Credits: Atlas Studio / venimo [composite] / Getty Images

Its well understood that the scales are heavily tipped to favor men when it comes to startup funding, and climate tech is no exception.

According to Crunchbase, the amount of venture capital directed to women founders declined from 8.9% in 2022 to 6.9% in Q1 2023.

We shouldnt have to separate women versus men when trying to provide a platform for a massive issue like climate innovation, said founder Kruppa Raghuraman.

11 investors predict a colorful, if difficult, future for psychedelic startups

Psychedelics

Psychedelics

SaaS startups generally benefit from a loose regulatory environment, but for companies working to bring psychedelics into the mainstream, the struggle is real.

Although consumer attitudes are shifting, they must still navigate a complicated path under the watchful eye of health agencies and law enforcement.

Decriminalization is opening doors for startups working with cannabis, psilocybin, ketamine and other substances, but how are investors approaching this space?

Anna Heim surveyed several of them to learn more about what theyre looking for, their long-term approach to the sector and how they prefer to be pitched:
A 17-year-old who was shot earlier this month in Kansas City has died, police said.

The shooting was reported at about 6:15 p.m. on May 7 near East 12th Street and Denver Avenue, according to the Kansas City Police Department. Police soon found a victim near East 12th Street and Van Brunt Boulevard suffering from gunshot wounds.

The victim, Kavon Carter, was taken to the hospital with critical injuries, Kansas City police said. The teen died Sunday in the hospital.

Homicide detectives are now working to learn who shot Carter.

KCPD is asking anyone with information on the shooting to call homicide detectives at 816-234-5043 or to call the anonymous TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS. The hotline offers a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to an arrest.

Detectives are also working with with Partners for Peace to help monitor risks for retaliation and provide social services to affected residents, police said. The anti-violence program was established last year as a collaboration between the city, the Jackson County Prosecutors Office and the Kansas City Police Department. It brings together local agencies and nonprofits to administer resources and assistance to families after a loved one is wounded or killed in a shooting.

Carters killing marks the 61st homicide this year in Kansas City. At the same time in 2020, the deadliest year on record, Kansas City had suffered 67 homicides, according to data tracked by The Star, which includes police killings.

No other information was immediately available Tuesday.
Two teenagers were killed when a 14-year-old driver lost control during a police chase, North Carolina officials said.

The 15-year-old passengers reportedly were thrown from the SUV as it slammed into a vehicle and flipped multiple times. Both teens died at the scene of the crash, which left the 14-year-old driver uninjured, according to the Laurinburg Police Department and the N.C. State Highway Patrol.

The deadly wreck was reported at about 9 p.m. on Saturday, May 13. Laurinburg police in a news release said it happened after officers had tried to stop an SUV that had avoided a checkpoint by abruptly exiting the roadway and turning around.

As the SUV fled police north on U.S. Highway 401 business, troopers said a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction pulled over and out of the way for officers, who had their sirens and lights on. But the SUV made a U-turn and hit the stopped vehicle, causing the 14-year-old driver to lose control before the vehicle landed in a ditch, according to officials.

The two teens killed in the crash were identified as students who attended nearby Scotland High School, WMBF reported. Though Scotland County Schools didnt immediately share additional information with McClatchy News on May 16, the district shared a statement with news outlets.

It is with great sadness that Scotland County Schools mourns the loss of two students over the weekend, the district told WPDE. To help our students and staff process this tragic situation, counselors and mental health providers will be available at Scotland High School.

No other injuries were reported, Master Trooper Robert Rogers of the N.C. State Highway Patrol told McClatchy News in a phone interview.

The 14-year-old was taken to a juvenile holding center after the crash, which was reported just outside the city limits of Laurinburg and roughly 95 miles southwest of Raleigh.

22-year-old first responder dies weeks after his wedding. Cannot imagine the pain

Three dead after truck slams into home after shooting and chase in NC, officials say
Teresa Giudice wore big, beautiful curls on her wedding day. But were they too big?

"The Real Housewives of New Jersey" star is sharing behind-the-scenes looks of the day she married Luis Louie Ruelas last August in the forthcoming Bravo special "Teresa Gets Married."

Naturally, the 'do is a plot point in the trailer. In a trailer released May 16, the 50-year-old TV personality calls her hair "so big."

"It's like so big," she says when she first sees her hair, which involves curls piled up high on her head, and some cascading down her back.

The hair style required 1,500 bobby pins and cost nearly $10,000 for extensions and styling fees, Giudices stylist, Lucia Casazza, revealed on Andy Cohen Live on SiriusXM after the wedding.

Jennifer Aydin and Dolores Catania served as bridesmaids in the ceremony on August 6, 2022. When they initially see Giudice in the trailer, they stare back with stale faces.

"Hair is supposed to be an accent piece, not the main event," Jennifer Aydin says to the camera.

The trailer then shows some inside footage from the affair, held at New Jersey's Park Chateau. With various dancers and performers, the wedding had a Vegas vibe  and that was the point.

"I want our wedding to be sexy, hot, something that people wouldnt forget, with (as least) clothes as possible," Giudice said in the trailer.

The trailer teed up drama, too, of course. Margaret Josephs, Danielle Cabral, Jackie Goldschneider and Jen Fessler attended as guests. Giudice's estranged brother Joe Gorga and sister-in-law Melissa Gorga were noticeably absent.

In the trailer, Giudice is crying at one point, Ruelas is yelling about keeping the drama away from her and their big day and people are talking on the side about Melissa Gorga not attending.

"Teresa Gets Married" airs on Bravo May 23.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
A 12-year-old boy in Texas has been charged with murder after police say he fatally shot a fast food employee with an AR-15 rifle.

The shooting happened Saturday night in north central Texas after Matthew Davis, a 32-year-old employee at a Sonic drive-in, confronted 20-year-old Angel Gomez of Fort Worth for allegedly urinating in the back parking lot, KDFW reported.

The argument soon became physical, the Keene Police Department said in a statement. During the altercation, a juvenile also of Ft. Worth and a passenger in the suspects vehicle, retrieved a firearm and fired multiple shots, striking the victim.

The 12-year-old boy, who police did not name because he is a minor, shot Davis six times, police said. Gomez and the child then fled.

Davis was found by police in the Sonic parking lot around 9:40 p.m. and was flown to a hospital, where he later died.

Gomez eventually returned to the Sonic, where he was arrested and charged with murder. The 12-year-old was found several miles away and also charged with murder. Police said they took several firearms from the pair.

Davis leaves behind a 10-year-old son. A GoFundMe has been set up for his mother to cover funeral expenses.

Leigh Anne is a strong woman of faith, dedicated and hardworking, the GoFundMe appeal says. It is imperative that we come together to support her during this unimaginable time of loss.
By Chayut Setboonsarng

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's influential former premier Thaksin Shinawatra on Tuesday hailed the election-winning Move Forward Party as disruptors who mastered social media, and said aging army generals central to years of turmoil should retire with dignity.

The self-exiled tycoon, a towering figure in Thai politics whose family is the driving force behind the dominant Pheu Thai party, said Move Forward proved social media and user-generated content (UGC) can triumph over big-spending campaigns and vote-buying.

Before Sunday's vote, Thaksin's populist political juggernaut had won every election since 2001, despite being ousted from office three times. It lost to the progressive Move Forward by 10 seats.

"They used UGC on TikTok because the youngsters use TikTok. It's getting votes and canvassers organically and you don't use a lot of resources," Thaksin said during a two-hour political discussion streamed online.

Move Forward had strong appeal and organisation in university towns, Thaksin said, adding many young people convinced their parents to vote for Move Forward.

"Pheu Thai got hammered because we did not disrupt ourselves enough. Move Forward's trend overcame Pheu Thai and the other parties that had money," he said.

Move Forward rode a wave of excitement among the youth generated by its liberal agenda and promises of bold change, including tackling monopolies and amending a law that prescribes long jail sentences for insulting the monarchy, a taboo issue.

Pheu Thai has agreed to form a six-party alliance with Move Forward, hoping more will join to keep the defeated pro-military parties out of government in the coup-prone country.

'WHATEVER WILL BE'

Thaksin wields significant influence despite being in exile for 17 years to avoid a jail sentence for abuse of power, which he denies. He reiterated his plan to return to Thailand in July and asked about prison said: "whatever will be, will be."

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Thaksin also pledged loyalty to the palace and stressed Pheu Thai would not back any actions by Move Forward that would impact the monarchy.

Move Forward and Pheu Thai trounced parties backed by the royalist military, two of those led by former army chiefs involved in coups against Thaksin and the government of sister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Thaksin dismissed speculation of a secret deal with one of those generals to form a government, calling it an attempt to discredit Pheu Thai using online trolls.

He said Move Forward even won support in districts with large concentrations of rank-and-file soldiers, highlighting a generational differences over the military's political role.

"For the two uncles, it should be enough is enough," he said, referring to the generals. "Hanging up your gloves has dignity," he added.

"It's a wake up call for the army. Using excessive power is something Thai society rejects. So it added to Move Forward's currency."

(Reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng; Writing by Martin Petty; editing by Grant McCool)
BBC Micro:bit

Nearly 700,000 BBC micro:bit computers, worth millions of dollars, will be given away for free to every primary school across the United Kingdom in a bid to support the countrys ambitions to become a global tech superpower.

A new partnership called BBC micro:bit - the next gen comprising the BBC Education, Micro:bit Educational Foundation and the company in charge of the .UK domain name registry, Nominet. This builds on the original scheme which saw one million micro:bit given away to every year 7 student in the UK from October 2015 onwards.

From September 2023 to March 2024, teachers can register their schools on the BBC micro:bit website to get classroom sets of 30 BBC micro:bit computers and accompanying teaching resources. From next year, children from the age of eight will be able to learn coding on this platform in a bid to prepare the next generation better for challenges ahead (hello AI).

Market research done in 2022 found that teachers feel overwhelmingly unprepared and lack confidence when teaching digital skills with the majority of UK primary teachers responsible for teaching computing having no proper background on the subject.

According to the brains behind this STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering Mathematics) campaign, its goals are to increase teacher knowledge and confidence and empower educators with a toolkit of quality, proven devices, lesson plans and inspiration ideas.

What is a Micro:bit anyway?

The micro:bit (currently in v2) is about half the size of a business card and is powered by an ARM Cortex-M4. While it may be considered as a Raspberry Pi rival, they focus on different audiences. It has accelerometer, temperature and magnetometer sensors plus a microphone, a buzzer, three push buttons, a 25-LED display, Bluetooth and USB connectivity.

You dont have to be a student or a teacher to get your mitts on one of them though. Amazon already sells a BBC micro:bit kit for just under $35 which comes with the SBC, a USB cable and a battery holder with two AAA batteries; the UK version comes in at 22 from the same supplier . Bigger packs are available as well as more complete ones.
By Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Americans are worried about the prospect of the U.S. government defaulting if Congress fails to raise the debt ceiling, but are divided over the action to be taken, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on Monday.

The polls show neither Democratic President Joe Biden nor congressional Republicans hold a clear advantage in public opinion as they head into discussions on Tuesday to resolve a months-long standoff over the nation's $31.4 trillion debt limit.

The Treasury says it could run out of money to pay the country's bills as soon as June 1 unless Congress increases the borrowing cap. Economists say the resulting default would roil global financial markets and plunge the U.S. into recession.

The poll found that 76% of Americans said the two sides must reach a deal because a default would put added financial stress on families like theirs. That included 84% of self-described Democrats and 77% of self-described Republicans.

Only 29% said they thought the issue was being overblown.

The survey found that Americans are split over the best way to resolve a showdown.

Some 49% said Congress needs to quickly raise the debt ceiling without conditions to avert default, echoing Biden's position.

Some 68% of Democrats and 39% of Republicans took that view.

But 51% of Americans said the debt ceiling should not be raised without substantial spending cuts - the position held by Republicans who hold a majority in the House of Representatives.

That view was held by 69% of Republicans and 42% of Democrats, the poll found.

The online poll of 4,415 U.S. adults was conducted between May 9 and May 15. It has a credibility interval, a measure of accuracy, of plus or minus 2 percentage points.

(Reporting by Andy Sullivan; Editing by Howard Goller)
From left: Socialist leader Nikos Androulakis, former left-wing premier Alexis Tsipras, and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis

Greece will hold a legislative election on May 21 that promises to be the closest in more than a decade, with three main parties competing for seats in the 300-member parliament.

Outgoing prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis of conservative New Democracy, former premier Alexis Tsipras of leftist Syriza and ex-European lawmaker Nikos Androulakis of the Socialists are aiming to lead their parties to victory.

During the last election in 2019, the conservative New Democracy unseated the leftist Syriza.

But polls suggest that no party will emerge from this ballot with a majority of seats in parliament, meaning at least two of the parties will need to cooperate to form a government to avoid a fresh election by July.

Here is a look at the leaders of the main three parties.

- The scion -

Mitsotakis, 55, is seeking a second four-year term as prime minister on the strength of his record of economic growth, fiscal management and a robust foreign policy that includes a pair of key alliance deals with the US and France.

"We have much more experience now... to boldly move forward in order to carry out the changes that will make Greece a modern European country," he said in a televised interview earlier in May.

A Harvard graduate and former McKinsey consultant, Mitsotakis has warned that the country needs a "strong hand at the helm" amid the war in Ukraine and other challenges, and that failure to re-elect his conservative New Democracy party will undermine Greece's economic rebound after a near-decade debt crisis.

A scion of a Greek political dynasty dating to the late 19th century, Mitsotakis has long struggled to shake off his elitist image.

His father Constantine Mitsotakis was also prime minister three decades ago. His sister is former minister Dora Bakoyannis, the first woman mayor of Athens. The current Athens Mayor, Costas Bakoyannis, is her son and Mitsotakis' nephew.

Leader of the conservative New Democracy party since 2016, Mitsotakis is married to entrepreneur Mareva Grabowski, co-founder of the Zeus+Dione luxury clothing brand. They have three children.

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- The ex-radical -

Tsipras, who was prime minister from 2015 to 2019 during some of Greece's rockiest crisis years, is asking voters for a second chance to show what his labour-friendly leftist Syriza party can truly do without the austerity shackles of EU-IMF supervision.

"Enough is enough," the 48-year-old leftist told a rally in Larissa, central Greece last week.

"Enough with profiteering, inequality, nepotism, indifference, arrogance, injustice," he said, accusing Mitsotakis of showering billions of euros on political and family allies.

A sovereign debt crisis that began in 2009 plunged Greece into financial turmoil, with the country requiring three bailouts from the EU and the International Monetary Fund, in return for severe austerity measures that upended the economy and impoverished many.

The first avowed atheist prime minister in deeply religious Greece and the youngest in over a century, Tsipras is broadly remembered as the anti-austerity radical who took on the country's creditors and nearly crashed Greece out of the euro, before reversing course and accepting a third bailout.

Greece ultimately exited its austerity constraints on Tsipras's watch in 2018, and he has since pulled his party towards the centre to broaden its appeal.

The former Communist is also credited with untangling a 28-year diplomatic dispute with Greece's northern neighbour, which was renamed North Macedonia in a landmark deal opposed by nationalists in both countries, including Mitsotakis.

Tsipras first appeared on the Greek political scene in the early 1990s at the tender age of 16 as an organiser of school sit-ins, sporting an Elvis-style ducktail.

Ironically, the prime minister whose education policies he was challenging was Mitsotakis's father.

Tsipras rapidly rose through the ranks of his party, then called Synaspismos, after being handpicked as a fresh face to run for Athens mayor in 2006. Two years later, he was elected party leader.

He has two children with his high-school sweetheart Betty Baziana, an electronics engineer.

- The novice -

The head of Greek Socialist party Pasok-Kinal, 44-year-old Nikos Androulakis, had been seen by analysts as a potential coalition partner for Mitsotakis after his election as party chairman in 2021.

But chances of cooperation took a nosedive after Androulakis last year discovered that he had been under state surveillance shortly before becoming party leader.

A trained civil engineer and former party youth organiser, Androulakis was previously a two-term European Parliament lawmaker. He sat on the committee investigating the Volkswagen emissions scandal.

He was elected chairman in December 2021 after the sudden death of previous party leader Fofi Gennimata.

The novice leader raised eyebrows in March after declaring that he would only lend support to a coalition government if neither Mitsotakis nor Tsipras became prime minister.

Because he was not an elected member of Greece's parliament, Androulakis was the first party leader who could not participate in debates in the chamber.

The Socialist party was instead represented by another senior cadre.

In past weeks, Androulakis has accused Tsipras of copying the slogans of the Socialist party's founder Andreas Papandreou.

Three-time premier Papandreou famously stormed to power in 1981 under the campaign motto of "Change". Androulakis's slogan for May 21 is "make change possible".

Like Mitsotakis, Androulakis hails from the island of Crete and is a single father.

jph/yad/gw
As lawyers prepare for a hearing next week on releasing records related to The Covenant School shooting, the school is seeking to intervene in the case and a growing number of Tennessee House Republicans are calling for police to release the records.

The Covenant School and Covenant Presbyterian Church filed motions to intervene in lawsuits calling for the Metro Nashville Police Department to release several records relating to the mass shooting.

The school wrote that the requested records may include confidential information that could endanger its school's students and faculty if released.

Covenant School families lock arms and hold hands to demonstrate for gun safety and common sense gun laws as part of a three-mile human chain from the Monroe Carell Jr. Childrens Hospital at Vanderbilt to the Tennessee State Capitol Tuesday, April 18, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn.

"The records sought ... may include and/or relate to sensitive information owned by The Covenant School, including, but not limited to the schematics of school facilities, and confidential information pertaining to The Covenant School employees and students," the school wrote in its expedited motion to intervene, filed Monday. "The release of such information could cause security and safety issues."

The requested documents include the shooter's writings as well as nearly all police communications about the writings, including "emails, texts and other communications."

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director David Rausch earlier characterized the shooter's writings more as "ramblings" rather than pointing to any clear motive.

Covenant is hoping to argue its motion to intervene at a status conference set for Monday afternoon in one of the lawsuits.

The plaintiff in that case, Clata Brewer, acting on behalf of the National Police Association, didn't object to Covenant's request. Brewer wrote in a response on Monday that she does not oppose the motion to intervene "for the limited purpose of allowing Covenant Church to claim the specific interest it alleges."

Covenant filed a nearly identical motion in another lawsuit seeking the shooter's writings filed last week by the owner of the conservative radio station The Tennessee Star.

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Meanwhile, calls for the release of records related to the shooting are growing in the statehouse. On Monday, the House GOP delivered a letter signed by 66 of the House's 74 Republican members to Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake asking that the shooter's writings and "all relevant medical records and toxicology reports" be released. The letter doesn't specify what medical records the legislators consider relevant.

If we hope to pass meaningful legislation that effectively deters this kind of targeted attack, we must have all the facts to make informed decisions. - @JeremyFaison4TN pic.twitter.com/PrrITcm4G0  TN House Republicans (@tnhousegop) May 15, 2023

Republicans argued that the writings are needed to understand the shooter's motives ahead of a special legislative session on gun reform called by Gov. Bill Lee.

"We are united in our shared common goal and duty to protect the safety and wellbeing of Tennesseans. The release of these records is critical to the General Assembly's ability to construct effective solutions that can prevent future acts of violence," they wrote.

House Democratic Caucus Chairman John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville, responded in a statement that Republicans have refused to reach across the aisle on gun safety legislation because they've been "bizarrely focused on a diary."

Gun violence is an epidemic plaguing our communities and threatening the safety of every family on a daily basis. The people of Tennessee deserve courageous and sensible leadership on this issue. These GOP delay tactics only serve to leave our families exposed and vulnerable. Meanwhile, Democrats are researching and drafting potential legislation that an overwhelming majority of Tennesseans support," Clemmons said. "I hope to see as many GOP signatures on our bipartisan gun safety legislation as they got on that letter.

The legislature will reconvene for the special session on Aug. 21.

Evan Mealins is the justice reporter for The Tennessean. Contact him at emealins@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanMealins.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee House GOP requests Covenant School shooting records
After months of depositions and investigation, the Florida Bar is moving ahead with formal disciplinary charges against Assistant State Attorney Bryon Aven for fraud, deceit, misrepresentation and conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice.

Aven faces suspension or possible disbarment among other court remedies for committing prosecutorial misconduct in April 2022 that resulted in a mistrial.

But here's what's most stunning: the State Attorney's Office continues to employ and defend Aven, who lied and cheated during a battery trial.

Bryon Aven, shown here working as an assistant state attorney in Ocala during a 2019 trial, was reprimanded by the Florida Bar in 2021 and now faces new charges for presenting false testimony.

If the State Attorney's Office is OK with this behavior, it makes one wonder what they would do to secure a murder conviction. After all, while the same people were not involved, this is the same office that back in the 1980s sent Juan Ramos and William Dillon to prison for years on murder charges and Wilton Dedge for rape. All three charges later turned out to be false and the three men were eventually freed.

"I've been here since '85 and I can't think of one prosecutor being sanctioned while still working as a prosecutor," said Melbourne attorney Doug Beam, who has defended attorneys facing charges from the Florida Bar and who regularly handles ethics cases. "This is a very serious matter."

And while everyone should be allowed due process, Aven's continued employment is somewhat of a head-scratcher when you take into account the fact that the Florida Bar reprimanded him in 2021 a few months before he was let go from the State Attorney's office in the 5th Judicial Circuit for his handling of cases and absenteeism. Florida's Fifth Judicial Circuit serves Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion and Sumter Counties.

Beam, who just returned to Brevard from Nashville, where he gave a speech about ethics and the law, said the judge handling the disciplinary charge against Aven (known as a referee in this scenario) will certainly consider Aven's history.

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"This is not good for him," Beam said. "If I were a betting man, and I'm not, this is going to be tough for him. I'd be surprised if he didn't get suspended."

Aven did not respond to requests for comment sent to his personal email, work email and through a spokesman for the State Attorney's Office.

Brevard Circuit Judge Steve Henderson

Immediately after Judge Steven Henderson dismissed the battery case in April 2022, when it was discovered Aven lied about evidence and elicited false testimony from witnesses, State Attorney Phil Archer's office removed Aven from a courtroom role. But Aven continues to make essential charging decisions for the State Attorney's office working in the intake division. He decides what cases go forward for prosecution that occur in the Titusville area with the Titusville Police Department and the Brevard County Sheriff's Office.

Last month, Aven responded to the Florida Bar and admitted to bringing up false testimony, bolstering that testimony and intentionally eliciting false testimony during the trial last year that ended with the defendant going free. Yet, somehow in the same response to the complaint brought against him, he denies breaking the rules that regulate the Florida Bar having to do with truth and honor, not making false statements or correcting false statements among numerous other tenets.

That the Florida Bar is actively bringing charges against a prosecutor is extraordinary in itself. The fact that Archer is keeping him employed and chose Aven over another prosecutor Chris Cusmano, who had called out his colleague's misconduct, brings the ridiculousness of the situation to new levels.

Cusmano was assisting Aven in the battery case, serving as second-chair, when it was revealed that Aven knowingly presented false information that contradicted a surveillance video he admitted into evidence but refused to "publish," meaning show it to the jury. The judge ordered the video to be played without the jury present then held a hearing for a motion to mistrial.

More from Torres: Torres: DeSantis misses mark on new death penalty laws | Opinion

Torres: Should someone barred from working for school district be on school board?

That battery case involved defendant Robert Cason, a cab driver, who got into an altercation with several passengers he drove from Grill's restaurant to the Cheaters strip club. After arriving at the club, Cason said he noticed a piece of plastic on the back of his van had been broken off and beer was spilled on the seat. When he tried to charge the group a $100 cleaning fee, a fight started. According to police and witness testimony, one of the passengers was cut by a broken beer bottle and another bottle was smashed over someone's head.

Carson was charged with two counts of felony aggravated battery with a deadly weapon (broken beer bottle) and two counts of misdemeanor battery.

The state presented several witnesses, who were transported in Cason's cab. They testified that no one brought alcohol or drinks into the cab and accused Cason of trying to strongarm the group. The witnesses parroted one another, saying Grills did not allow anyone to leave with alcohol.

Former prosecutor Chris Cusmano

The problem is that Aven, the prosecutor, had surveillance video of the group leaving Grills and entering the cab. And the video showed something different. Two bottles and one cup were clearly seen on the video being carried by passengers as they entered Cason's van.

During the mistrial hearing, Aven took the stand and denied any wrongdoing and refused to concede there was false testimony. It was only after Cusmano told the State Attorney Office's Division Chief Bill Respess and Aven that his own testimony was going to be different that Aven went back on the stand and admitted wrongdoing.

"I got into this profession wanting to wear the white hat, wanting to not only represent the victim, but also wanting to make sure that justice is done" Aven said during his deposition with the Florida Bar. "Never would I want to mislead a jury."

But that's what seemed to happen.

Cusmano later resigned from his position as a prosecutor after Archer allowed Aven to continue working in the office. Cusmano, who called Aven's actions "intentional" and a "travesty," is a major and judge advocate (JAG) in the Florida National Guard. Before that he was an active duty JAG for six and a half years, then was in the Army Reserve for about five years before recently joining the National Guard.

In a deposition taken by the Florida Bar for its case against Aven, Cusmano expressed disgust with Aven for insinuating Cusmano was aware of the deception at the trial.

"That is professionally, the most offensive thing anyone's suggested about me ever, that I would be okay with what happened here," he said. "I believe it was a travesty what occurred. I do think it was intentional."

It's important to note that when Aven was previously reprimanded by the Florida Bar, the order contained two dissenting opinions. Justices Charles Canady and Jorge Labarga both wrote that Aven deserved more than just a reprimand.

Aven continued working as a prosecutor after the complaint against him was made but other issues related to his handling of cases and absenteeism became an issue, leading to him resigning his seat in the 5th Circuit in lieu of termination, according to Assistant State Attorney Walter Forgie of the 5th Circuit, who said the parting of ways was for "a pattern of behavior that fell short of the expectations.

Two days before Aven resigned from his job in the 5th Circuit, a case he was prosecuting ended in a mistrial after he played a 911 call to a jury that included statements the judge previously said would not be allowed.

Archer, through a spokesman, declined to comment for this story.

Archer's office issued a statement shortly after the mistrial which read in part: "Prosecutors have a responsibility to professionally perform their duties with honesty, integrity, and within the rules of criminal procedure. By taking the oath of office, assistant state attorneys are expected to faithfully represent the values of this office before the Court."

Now Aven does offer a defense of his actions in the battery trial. During the mistrial hearing, Aven initially claimed that he planned to show or 'publish" the video to the jury during his second closing argument, meaning the defense would not be able to say anything about it. I don't buy it. Cusmano said the video destroys the state's case and when Judge Henderson showed the jury the video  after the mistrial had been declared  they were shocked, according to documents pertaining to the Florida Bar action against Aven.

"The allegiance of the prosecutor's office is not solely to the victim," Beam said. "They don't represent one person (during a trial), they represent society. When I was a prosecutor, I always felt that we should be held to the highest standard."

I'm sure we all certainly hope that is the case.

Contact Torres at jtorres@floridatoday.com. You can follow him on Twitter @johnalbertorres or on Facebook at facebook.com/FTjohntorres.

Support local journalism and become a subscriber. Visit floridatoday.com/subscribe

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Florida Bar moving ahead with formal charges against Brevard prosecutor
Alabama Barker is the 17-year-old daughter of Travis Barker and Shanna Moakler. TikTok/alabamabarker; Getty/Jeff Kravitz

Travis Barker's daughter, Alabama, has been teasing a move into rap music on TikTok.

Some fans have compared the 17-year-old to Latto and Ice Spice.

Others, however, think she sounds like Justin Bieber.

Travis Barker's teenage daughter, Alabama, is teasing a move into rap music, and social media is torn as to whether she's good or not.

Alabama, the 17-year-old daughter of Barker and Shanna Moakler, shared a clip of a recording of her song "Dime in the Rough," to TikTok last month.

@alabamabarker Make it as in music dont start with that bs again, anyways heres this.  original sound - Alabama barker

On Sunday, she uploaded another TikTok in which she mouthed along to the lyrics of another of her songs.

"We ain't together, when I'm wit' him he know I'm the realest / I ain't no opposition, all this bitches in their feelings / Listen, who the fuck y'all talking to," she mouthed in the most recent upload.

@alabamabarker Im posting the top 10 i like on my story  original sound - Alabama barker

TikTok users have split opinions on Alabama's rapping ability.

Some have compared her to superstar rappers Latto and Ice Spice.

"I hear Latto," commented one fan under her clip of "Dime in the Rough." Another fan wrote: "It's alabama barker with a little ice spice flair lowkey."

Others, however, think she sounds less like Latto and Ice Spice and more like Justin Bieber.

"Why she sound like 2010 Justin," commented one user. Another said: "The lyrics good it's just the voice."

Alabama recently fired back at social media trolls who shamed her for wearing heavy makeup and revealing outfits.

Taking to TikTok, the teen appeared in full glam accompanied by a viral audio clip that says: "I'd tell you what you look like but you won't like it."

Alabama captioned her video: "When Kathryn with 3 kids only waterline liner, 4 different colored blonde & Tom shows, talk about my makeup or my age."

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In the comments section of the video, one fan responded: "I think people are just concerned about the over sexualization of youth in Hollywood/LA culture."

Alabama disagreed, however.

"Well I'm doing great thank u," she replied.

Read the original article on Insider
A controversial effort to recall members of the Richland School Board has spurred candidates on both sides of the issue to run for office.

And conservatives are taking aim at moderates from the Kennewick School Board.

Filing week began Monday for candidates planning to run for office this year, and local school board races are quickly taking shape.

Deadline for filing is 4 p.m. Friday, May 19.

Tri-City school boards could see large turnover this cycle. Each of the big three districts  Kennewick, Richland and Pasco  have a majority of their seats up for reelection this year.

School board seats have traditionally not attracted such attention and appetite from prospective candidates. Meetings are often long and the positions are usually unpaid.

But in recent years, despite being nonpartisan positions, school boards have become a lightning rod for culture war issues and ideological battles. The COVID pandemic heightened this, with parents and community members coming out to debate mask and vaccine mandates.

The primary responsibilities of a school board include hiring and evaluating the superintendent, setting the vision and goals of the district, reviewing and adopting school policies, passing annual or biannual budgets, and serving as a community representative, according to the Washington State School Directors Association.

If a seat attracts three or more candidates, it will appear on the Aug. 1 primary election. The top two vote-getters from that election then face off on Nov. 7.

Information on running for office and a full list of candidates from the Mid-Columbia who have filed can be found on the Secretary of States website.

Richland

Just four candidates had filed by Tuesday morning for seats on the Richland School Board, but several others were showing an intent to run based on filings with the Public Disclosure Commission.

Kari Williams, Eugene Nemeth, Nino Kapitula and Katrina Waters have been the only four so far to officially file for office.

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Williams  a longtime volunteer and former teacher  is seeking a second term on the school board. Shell be challenged by Waters, a lab fellow and chief scientist in biological sciences research at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

Williams is one of the three school board members facing a potential recall from office. Signatures are being counted this week to determine if the question will be put to voters Aug. 1.

Nemeth, a senior nuclear facility manager for Amentum at the Waste Treatment Completion Company, a Bechtel subcontractor at the vitrification plant, filed to run for Jill Oldsons seat on the school board.

And Kapitula, a frequent public commenter and supporter of the three board members facing the recall effort, has filed to run for Semi Birds seat.

And another possible contender for Birds seat is Chelsea Lee Beck. She is a PNNL scientist and published researcher, and has expressed interest in running by registering with the PDC.

Bird and Audra Byrd are also facing possible recall.

But neither Oldson nor Semi Bird had filed in the first couple days to retain their seats. Byrd is not up for reelection.

Bird says he will run for governor in 2024 as a Republican. In recent months, the constitutional conservative has criss-crossed the state, going from fundraising events to speaking events, in an effort to build name recognition and line his campaign coffers. Hes raised more than $60,000 in contributions so far, per PDC reports.

A recall effort to remove Williams, Bird and Byrd centers on the trios decision and the subsequent fallout over a vote on a surprise mask optional ordinance in February 2022.

A recall would not prevent them from being reelected for another term.

Kennewick

Kennewick School Board members Diane Sundvik, Michael Connors and Ron Mabry had each gained a single challenger as of Tuesday morning.

But none of the incumbents had yet filed to retain their seats.

Dustin Petersen filed for Mabrys seat.

Petersen is a former Quincy councilman who currently works as senior territory manager at Ecolab. Hes also a Benton County Republican Party precinct committee officer, and had previously interned for former U.S. Congressman Ron Paul, according to previous Wenatchee World reports.

Mabry, a radiological engineer and facility manager at PNNL who served in the U.S. Navy, has served three full terms and is the most senior member on the Kennewick board.

Josh Miller, an orthopedic doctor and surgeon with Kadlec, has filed to run for a seat held by Sundvik, a retired Kennewick teacher who ran for and was elected to her first term in 2019.

Lisa Peppard has also filed to run for Sundviks seat. Shes a Tri-City-based artist who runs Artful Virgo.

Brittany Gledhill, co-owner of Gledhill Properties whose family also owns Gledhill Dental, filed for Connors seat.

Pasco

The Pasco School Boards three newest members  Vincent Guerrero, John Kennedy and Rosa Torres  are all up for reelection this year.

So far, only Kennedy has filed to retain his seat, which makes up large parts of Southeast Pasco.

Steve Norberg, an agriculture regional specialist at WSU Franklin County Extension, filed campaign finance records to run for the boards at-large seat, held by Torres.

Update: As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 16, the following candidates previously mentioned had filed to run: Jill Oldson, Richland School Board.
I went to three bars located near the Skyliner at Disney World. Megan duBois

Disney World is full of fun bars, especially in the resorts along the Skyliner route.

Disney fans 21 and up can hop on the gondolas and try out different bars on the various lines.

I stopped at three spots: Disney's BoardWalk, Disney's Yacht Club, and Disney's Riviera resorts.

There's nothing better than sitting down to a nice cocktail after a long day at Disney World.

If you're looking for some fun new drinks to try, fans have created an unofficial Disney Skyliner bar crawl where you can take Disney's free gondola service from one bar to the next.

There are multiple spots you can stop at along the way, including Pop Century Resort, Caribbean Beach Resort, Riviera Resort, Swan and Dolphin Resorts, Disney's BoardWalk, and Yacht and Beach Club Resorts. The Skyliner also goes to Epcot and Hollywood Studios if you have theme-park tickets.

At each hotel, there are multiple unique bars and lounges where seating is first come, first served. You don't need reservations.

I tried out the Skyliner bar crawl on a recent trip to Disney World. Here's where I stopped and what I ordered.

I started my journey at Disney's Pop Century Resort.

I was staying at Disney's Pop Century Resort. Megan duBois

Getting access to the Skyliner can be challenging, so you need to plan ahead. I was already staying at Disney's Pop Century, which is on one of the routes, so I hopped on the transportation system from there.

If you aren't staying at a resort with Skyliner access, you'll need to park at Epcot or Hollywood Studios or take another form of Disney-provided transportation (like buses) to a starting point. Lounge guests can't typically park in resort lots unless they're staying there.

My first stop was AbracadaBar Lounge at Disney's BoardWalk.

Disney's BoardWalk has many shops, bars, and restaurants. Megan duBois

AbracadaBar Lounge is a great spot within walking distance of Epcot's International Gateway entry point. It's also a good spot if you're waiting for your name to be called at the neighboring Trattoria al Forno restaurant.

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I got here right when it opened at 4 p.m. and was one of just a few guests in the bar.

This is usually a very busy spot, with just a few tables and bar stools, so I was lucky to get a seat immediately after walking in.

The bar has a unique magician theme.

AbracadaBar Lounge has fun decor. Megan duBois

The bar has a magician theme, which is done really well with dark woods, moody lighting, and a fun 1920s vibe.

I spent $15.50 on a martini at the lounge.

Pepper's Ghost cocktail from AbracadaBar. Megan duBois

After looking over the menu, I settled on the Pepper's Ghost ($15.50) cocktail, which is made with Ciroc pineapple vodka, habanero, and lime.

I originally only ordered this because I liked the name of the cocktail, which is a nod to the Pepper's Ghost illusions used on attractions like Haunted Mansion. But the sweet and spicy drink was a great way to kick off the bar crawl.

I went to Crew's Cup Lounge next.

Crew's Cup Lounge is inside Yacht Club Resort. Megan duBois

My next destination was Crew's Cup Lounge, which is next to the popular Yachtsman Steakhouse restaurant inside Disney's Yacht Club Resort.

The lounge is walking distance from the BoardWalk, but it was an exceptionally hot day, so I cheated on the Skyliner-only travel by taking one of the free friendship boats Disney provides.

The boat ride took about seven minutes from dock to dock, and it was a great way to relax for a few minutes.

Crew's Cup Lounge is truly a hidden gem at Disney World.

Crew's Cup is the lounge for Yachtsman Steakhouse. Megan duBois

When I walked up to Crew's Cup, I was delighted to find that it was only about half full. I walked right up to the bar and sat down.

The employee who greeted me had been working at Disney World for 40 years  I knew this was going to be the highlight of my bar crawl since he was already sharing great stories about his time with Disney.

I tried one cocktail here for $14.50, and it was my favorite of the evening.

Key-lime-pie martini from Crew's Cup. Megan duBois

After asking for the bartender's opinion about two different drinks, I ordered the Key-lime-pie martini ($14.50).

It tasted just like a slice of Key-lime pie.

The lime flavor really came through since there was a garnish of fresh lime zest. The glass was also rimmed with crushed-up graham crackers, which really made it feel like the classic pie.

My last stop was Topolino's Terrace at Disney's Riviera Resort.

Topolino's Terrace is a full restaurant. Megan duBois

After hopping on the Skyliner at the International Gateway entrance of Epcot, I rode over to Disney's Riviera Resort and went to their rooftop restaurant, Topolino's Terrace.

The upscale eatery is known for its homemade pasta and classic cocktails. The laid-back vibe and incredible views made it a must-stop for my bar crawl.

There are a few options if you don't have a reservation for the restaurant.

Topolino's Terrace has an outdoor lounge. Megan duBois

It's usually really hard to get in without a reservation for a regular table, but as a party of one, I found a seat at the bar.

You can also order a drink and take it outside to the observation deck, which has comfy chairs and tables that are first come, first served.

My cocktail was a fun take on an old-fashioned for $17.50.

Modern-fashioned cocktail from Topolino's Terrace. Megan duBois

I'm usually not a bourbon drinker, but I love the modern-fashioned ($17.50) at Topolino's Terrace. The addition of vanilla-bean syrup upgrades it from a standard old-fashioned.

The ice in the drink was perfectly clear and had the Riviera logo embossed on top. This small touch was appreciated and definitely made me feel like I was at a Michelin-starred restaurant or an upscale bar in a big city.

There are so many possible stops along the Disney Skyliner bar crawl.

I could've ventured to other resorts or theme parks on the Skyliner. Megan duBois

I only went to three bars for my Skyliner bar crawl, but there are so many more to try.

At Disney's Yacht and Beach Club, Ale & Compass Lounge is a nice spot just off the lobby for a drink or snacks. Beaches and Cream ice-cream shop also serves hard floats and shakes.

Over at Disney's Rivera Resort, check out Bar Riva for great views and tasty drinks or Le Petit Cafe for coffee-infused cocktails.

Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort has a fun bar, Banana Cabana, where tropical drinks are always on the menu.

At Disney's Swan and Dolphin, there are almost two dozen restaurants to choose from. A few of my favorites are Kimonos karaoke lounge, Todd English's Bluezoo Lounge, and the newly opened Rosa Mexicana, which has over 100 varieties of tequila and agave-based spirits.

The bar crawl would likely be cheaper and more fun but also trickier to coordinate with a group.

I'm used to solo-travel, but I'd love to bring friends and family along next time. Megan duBois

I travel alone to Disney World pretty often, so I don't mind going to a bar by myself. But any bar crawl is better with friends.

You could also save some money and hit up more places by splitting drinks along the way.

Just be aware that it can be harder to find a table or spot at the bar with larger groups.

Before planning, you'll also want to look up the Skyliner's hours of operation.

The Skyliner only runs at certain times. Megan duBois

A big part of planning ahead for this bar crawl is knowing what time the Skyliner runs.

There's a sign at the entrance to each station with all the hours.

No matter how many drinks you've had, don't drink and drive. If you miss the Skyliner window, try another one of Disney's free transportation services or call a rideshare.

It's also important to take breaks from drinking during the bar crawl to eat food and relax.

Read the original article on Insider
Former President Trumps support among New York Republicans rose by 8 points in the latest hypothetical GOP primary poll compared to one taken two months prior.

The poll from the Siena College Research Institute found 60 percent of New York Republicans said they want Trump to become the GOP nominee, 32 percent said they want the nominee to be someone else and 8 percent were unsure. That is an improvement from the 52 percent who said in March that they preferred Trump, while 45 percent said at the time that they wanted someone else.

Among the third who preferred an alternative to Trump, 28 percent said they preferred Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), 14 percent backed former Vice President Mike Pence, 8 percent support former Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley and 6 percent support former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.).

Nearly a year from New Yorks presidential primary, Republicans  who view Trump favorably 67-27%  are solidly behind the former President, nearly two-to-one. Only among self-described moderate Republicans does other beat Trump, Siena College pollster Steve Greenberg said in a release.

The poll continues a trend that has seen Trump maintain large leads over his potential and current rivals for the Republican nomination on both the state and federal level.

A poll released this week also showed Trump with a 56-point lead among Kentucky Republicans, while a poll from last week showed him leading his next closest potential rival, DeSantis, by 41 points nationally.

DeSantis has not formally announced whether he is running for president in 2024 but is reportedly close to officially getting in the race.

Although Trump has overwhelmingly been viewed favorably by Republicans, he was only seen favorably by 30 percent of respondents overall, largely due to the 83 percent of Democrats and 62 percent of independents who view him unfavorably.

The Siena poll was conducted among 810 New York registered voters from May 7-11. The overall margin of error was 4.1 points.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
By Ali Kucukgocmen and Ece Toksabay

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's AK Party came out on top in Sunday's elections in 10 of the 11 provinces hit by February's earthquakes, with analysts saying his vow to rebuild devastated cities had reassured voters in what are mostly AKP strongholds.

The ruling party's strong showing, defying initial expectations in February that the quakes would hurt its support, was also driven by doubts about the opposition's ability to meet voters' expectations.

Nationwide, the Islamist-rooted AKP won a new parliamentary majority with its alliance partners, while Erdogan, 69, led comfortably in the presidential vote ahead of a runoff with his main rival on May 28.

The powerful earthquakes on Feb. 6 killed more than 50,000 people and left millions homeless in Turkey, causing destruction across 11 provinces from Adana near the Mediterranean coast to Diyarbakir in the mainly Kurdish southeast.

Despite the huge toll of deaths and injuries and mass migration afterwards, voter turnout was still very high in the region, at between 85-89% in most of the 11 provinces and above 80% in the others. The nationwide average was 88.9%.

Many Turks who fled the region returned to vote.

Kurdish voters in the region came out strongly in support of Erdogan's main rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, in the presidential race, but the president was still ahead in voting in eight of the affected provinces.

Kilicdaroglu, 74, was clearly ahead in two provinces and in the worst-hit province of Hatay, they each got 48% support, with the opposition leader marginally ahead.

ANGER

Critics and earthquake survivors had expressed anger over a slow initial quake response by Erdogan's government and lax enforcement of building rules - failures they said cost lives.

But dozens of people Reuters spoke to soon after the quake were thankful for the aid of the government and security forces, while also complaining that they had arrived late. Interviews since then provided little evidence that the issue would change how people voted.

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Ibrahim Kadir Demir, who lost his daughter and grandchildren in the earthquake, said he was happy with government services, adding: "I wish our president had won outright (in the first round)."

A supporter of the opposition, Aslihan Cengiz, said she had expected a bigger backlash against the AKP in her native province of Hatay - the worst affected by the quakes - but added that its more pious electoral base probably helped it.

"(AKP voters) say the earthquake was an act of God," said Cengiz, who also said AKP-voting districts of Hatay had seen less destruction than areas that tended to back the opposition.

Erdogan's AKP has prioritised construction during its 20 years in power and this has helped to drive economic growth.

Pollster Mehmet Ali Kulat said the opposition alliance had failed to win over enough voters and they had ultimately put their faith in the government to improve their plight.

"Earthquake survivors had seriously criticised the government response in polls and they said they would not vote for them. But these people were also looking for an answer to the question of who 'will rebuild my house, who will rebuild my workplace?'" Kulat said.

"They see that it is Erdogan who can do this. This is one of the most important factors," he added.

(Additional reporting by Daren Butler; Editing by Gareth Jones)
Hulu

It may seem like a distant memory now, but the early 2000s really were the Wild West online. Even the most cockamamie decisions currently being made on Elon Musks Twitter hellscape are laughable compared to the scandals, gossip, and celebrity created in the confines of the world wide web in the early days of blogging. Sites like the first iteration of Gawker, Guest of a Guest, and Oh No They Didnt had the power to makeand keepanyone famous, at the discretion of faceless nobodies with an internet connection. If you had a voice with some bite, you basically held the keys to the golden gates of high society.

With the amount of drama percolating both behind the keyboards and in front of flashbulbsand the lasting effect that the amateur blogosphere had on not just journalism, but celebrity and culturethis era is ripe for a revisit. Queenmaker: The Making of an It Girl, which premieres on Hulu on May 17, purports to be that much-needed, juicy examination.

The documentary has a fabulous collection of knowledgeable talking headsincluding notorious figures like Kelly Cutrone and Patrick McMullenwho provide genuine insight into a once-gilded age, now melted down for scrap. But this is really just a frustrating misdirection for the documentarys real subject, one of those aforementioned faceless bloggers, whose compelling, if deflated, story fills the docs back half. Queenmaker fumbles its momentum and loses its novelty because of this bifurcation. Though certainly disappointing, the film is still a uniquely mystifying look at a bygone era that will satisfy those who were steeped in its libelous thrills.

Queenmaker opens with one of the most jarring and outrageously perfect introductions to any documentary that Ive ever seen. A low, half-slurred, mysterious voice narrates a sequence of vaguely religious B-roll footage, monologuing about how Christianity made God, once a distance figure, into a man. Eventually, they find their way to the point: It is no surprise that 2000 years later  we now worship the celebrity, the American God. Upon our storyteller speaking the word celebrity, theres a genius, hysterical cut to what is likely some old Getty Images archival footage from nearly two decades ago, of socialite Tinsley Mortimer posing for paparazzi.

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If you know Tinsley Mortimer, or even have a vague idea of what she represented to the blogosphere back in the day, then this will elicit both a cackle and a cheer. Mortimer was once the most consistently visible in a handful of perennially climbing socialites, sort of the Paris Hilton of New Yorks society pages. Mortimer was famous for being famous, but unlike the other debutantes she came up with, she wasnt the traditional package that one might expect to find in someone dominating the scene. Mortimer mightve been pretty, white, and blonde, but she married into her standard oil heirs name, and actually worked (well, she lifted a finger) to attain the notoriety she was after. Others, like Casey Johnson, Fabiola Beracasa, and Amanda Hearst, were handed privilege on a platter.

The film takes a fascinating detour through Mortimers New York, using her insider status as a way to expound the coveted lifestyles she represented, no longer walled off by velvet ropes. Interview subjects like Cutrone, the hilariously outspoken publicist; McMullen, a famed event photographer; and Mortimer herself uncover all of the dirty details. There are club nights at the infamous Bungalow 8, and the wild lengths that socialites were going to in order to maintain their rank, running to as many as seven parties a night in different dresses, changing outfits so the New York Post would run multiple photos of them.

Queenmaker dissects these inscrutable moments with a savvy style, effortlessly bopping along from point to point with engaging post-production effects acting as a narrative visual aid. (Though, at times, it can look a little too Angela Anaconda freakyand if youre old enough to be reading this because you too were immersed in the blog scene back then, you definitely know what I mean.)

Trace Lysette Ensured Monica Was No Ordinary Trans Film

Mortimers astuteness allows the documentary to faithfully look at the impact of the culture blogs at the time, with former Gawker editor Emily Gould, whose work dashed the dreams of a million socialites, adding her perspective. Its almost entrancing to look back at this time, at an unregulated internet where you could become just as famous for slandering someone as you could for being slandered.

One site that opted to move away from active defamation was Park Avenue Peerage, a document of bona fide, upcoming socialites that seemed to speak about its subjects with the grace of someone with firsthand knowledge. Rumors swirled about the author of the site. Back then, anonymity was a difficult thing to protect, especially when recording the moves of the rich and powerful. Eventually, a New York Magazine profile revealed the sites scribe to be James Kurisunkal, an 18-year-old college student who had never even been to the Big Apple. Kurisunkal quickly became an object of fascination, just like the glitterati Park Avenue Peerage chronicled, and scooped up an internship at New York not long after, which led to crossing paths with God herself: Tinsley Mortimer.

Then, Queenmaker becomes something much more focusedto its detriment. The film zooms in on the life of Kurisunkal, who is now Morgan Olivia Rose. After her brief time rubbing shoulders with the socialites she once covered, Morgan left New York and eventually transitioned, and now specifically defines herself as a transsexual woman. Our mysterious narrator from the beginning of the film is revealed to be Rose, who plucked her own prose from Park Avenue Peerage to narrate a film that would dive into her archives. The twist is a completely unexpected one, and Queenmaker spends the duration of its runtime finding out how Rose made herself in the image of her creators, so to speak.

To spoil any more than that would be to go too far into the set of truly shocking circumstances that have led to Roses current life. But watching as she looks back, through some mangled lens of reality that clearly seems distorted to her own preference, is undeniably enthralling. And it would be an even more welcome twist if Queenmaker didnt snag its swift pace on Roses thorniness. Watching as she tries to make sense of her own youthful naivete is spellbinding, sure. But what about the blogs? What about all of the other socialites? What about the larger set of ramifications that Queenmaker was setting itself up to expose before it suddenly narrowed its narrative?

Hulu

Thats what the film seeks to do by spending so much time with Rose, but it circles the point, refusing to land. The Aughts-era gossip blogs deserve a proper doc. Hell, maybe even a three-part limited docuseries. No doubt that I, and the millions of others who spent countless hours of their youth trolling Oh No They Didnt for gossip, would devour it. The film is not so much a study of blogs or socialites as it is of the pattern of human behavior that pushed society to need both of those things, for different reasons.

The hazy blur of the socialite heyday must have dozens of stories like Rosesof other civilians blinded by their brushes with stardomthat need to be told to truly understand the depth of that periods impact. Yet, even with all of the docs charming weirdness, that wider significance is missing because of its disjointed framing, leaving Queenmaker: The Making of an It Girl as muddled as the memory of a celebutante waking up after a night at Tao.

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Illustration: Jody Serrano / Gizmodo

Elon Musks Twitter, which in a few short months has become infamous for not paying its bills, has made its first acquisition.

The social media company acquired the relatively unknown job search startup Laskie, Axios and Bloomberg reported on Tuesday. According to its website, the company bills itself as a sort of dating app for job seekers and employers and touts its precision matches. One of Laskies founders, CEO Chris Bakke, previously sold the startup Interviewed to Indeed in 2017. Both outlets cited unknown sources familiar with the deal. Axios reports Twitter paid tens of millions for the company in cash and stock, though, no sale price has been disclosed so far.

Read more

As of Tuesday morning, Laskies website was no longer online. Attempts to access the website produced the following message: The Laskie platform is no longer available. However, Gizmodo was able to view a saved version of the website through the Internet Archive.

We believe that finding an incredible remote job shouldnt be so challenging. Weve helped everyone from engineers to designers to marketers find their dream role, Laskies now-deleted About page reads. Our job is to match you with opportunities you want at companies that are interested in you. Musk previously barred Twitter employees from working remotely, leading some to quit.

In a blog post, Laskie CTO and cofounder Daniel OShea stated that job seekers using Laskie moved forward with more than 80% of the matches recommended to them by the company. While Laskie was always free for job seekers, the company charged employers a percentage of the hired employees first years salary as payment for its services. Laskie was founded in 2021 and last disclosed that it had raised $6 million in a seed round led by Bloomberg Beta and Peak State Ventures.

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Gizmodo reached out to Twitters press office for comment on Tuesday morning but received the companys standard poop emoji in response.

Twitters acquisition comes just days after Musk appointed former NBCUniversal executive Linda Yaccarino to be the social media companys new CEO, saying she would start in about six weeks. Yaccarino resigned from her job overseeing advertising at NBCU last week.

As of now, Musk is still in control of Twitter. Under his watch, the company has made headlines numerous times for not paying its landlords or suppliers. Musks refusal to pay bills lead to the temporary eviction of Twitters employees in Singapore. Others, meanwhile, were forced to bring in their own toilet paper after he fired the offices janitors. Musk has also changed Twitters name to X and said he wants to make it into an everything app that includes payments.

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Click here to read the full article.
classroom

Social media users are outraged after a video of a white male teacher using a racial slur in a Missouri classroom recently surfaced online. What makes the incident even more appalling is that the student who recorded the interaction was suspended.

Mary Walton, a sophomore at Glendale High School in Springfield, Missouri, told the Springfield News-Leader she wasnt sure how the conversation began, but his repetitive use of the derogatory term prompted her to record it on her phone. In the article published over the weekend, Walton claimed the unidentified instructor said the N-word six times in total. She managed to film it twice before he noticed she was recording and demanded she stop.

A Missouri teacher has been placed on administrative leave after saying the N-word multiple times in front of students. The student who recorded the video received a 3 day suspension for violating the school district's electronic device policy. https://t.co/ByCSl0ww4t pic.twitter.com/VixoozVErR  philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) May 16, 2023

I know two of my classmates were talking, and he just kind of got in their conversation. He said something like, Why are you allowed to say it and I am not? the Missouri sophomore recalled. Walton added, I wanted proof that he said it, so I could give it to the office and hold him accountable for what he said. I dont think what he did was right. Instead, she was placed on a three-day out-of-school suspension for inappropriate use of electronic devices that began on Friday (May 12). She is allowed to return tomorrow (May 17). The teacher was placed on paid administrative leave.

Because as we know, exposing racism is worse than racism, one person tweeted. Another wrote, Mary Walton did the right thing and is suspended. The teacher who used the slur hasnt been identified. So the school is protecting the racist teacher and is punishing the student. Missouri is such a backwoods state. More users praised her actions with one noting, The student, Mary Walton, is a hero for exposing the teacher. Lets remember her name. Her [three-day] suspension will pass, and she will know she did the right thing.

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See what others are saying below.

The student, Mary Walton, is a hero for exposing the teacher. Let's remember her name. Her 3 day suspension will pass and she will know she did the right thing. https://t.co/M2sI0PhAmW  Pennell Somsen: Performatively masked & vaxxed (@PinaS1945) May 15, 2023

I find it so disgusting that they felt the need to suspend this student so much that their reasoning is breaking the electronic devices rule the school has. This is blatant retaliation on the schools part and it is beyond unacceptable. Whoever suspended her needs to go.  Scarygodma  (@Skullandcrossb3) May 16, 2023

Wait a minute, the student gets a 3 day suspension for recording, a 3 day suspension is what they give kids for fighting. So the same outcome can come from recording a video as it can for fighting? SMH  Dean (@thedeans_list) May 16, 2023

There should be an exception to the electronics rule for this type of circumstance. The kid shouldn't be on suspension for providing proof of the hostile environment the kids in that class were being forced to endure.  TxGrrrl  (@TxGrrrl) May 16, 2023

Mary Walton did the right thing and is suspended. The teacher who used the slur hasnt been identified. So the school is protecting the racist teacher and is punishing the student. #Missouri is such a backwoods state.  https://t.co/4irxGuSSpC  Linda is sick of guns  (@LindaM32109623) May 16, 2023

Is sue that school. How you suspend a child for recording so they can report a hostile environment in YOUR facility? Yea my child wouldnt be there another day   Popular Introvert  (@MizzCreme) May 16, 2023

In what scenario does that language come up in geometry class? I support Mary Walton. The HS should apologize to her an all students.  KokiCat (@RAH19671) May 16, 2023

What in the world?! Why would this teacher use that word? AND The students were suspended!   Marcela Pena (@MarcelaMarjean) May 16, 2023

We all have an obligation to speak out when injustice occurs, particularly when people in power abuse our trust. I applaud Mary Walton for sharing that video. Her school should apologize. https://t.co/LW0oSYIUP1  BethanyMannForCongress (@Mann4Congress) May 16, 2023

Well done to Mary Walton. Unfortunate that Glendale high school in Springfield, MO suspended the student. How much more of a paradox can this be in the face of equity and girl empowerment? More power to Mary and courageous children like her.#respect  Param Subramanian (@Param_Feels) May 16, 2023

Trending Stories
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department said on Tuesday it "strongly condemns" the reported arrest of Robert Shonov, a former employee of the United States' mission in Russia, calling allegations he illegally collaborated with foreigners "wholly without merit."

Russian state news agency TASS reported on Monday that Shonov had been detained in the far eastern city of Vladivostok but was being held in Moscow's Lefortovo prison, usually reserved for serious crimes including espionage.

Shonov, a Russian national, was employed by the U.S. Consulate General in Vladivostok for more than 25 years until Russia in 2021 ordered the termination of the U.S. mission's local staff, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement on Tuesday.

At the time of his arrest Shonov was employed by a company contracted to provide services to the U.S. embassy in Moscow and his role was to compile summaries of Russian media reports, Miller said, adding that this arrangement complied with Russia's laws and regulations.

"His being targeted under the 'confidential cooperation' statute highlights the Russian Federations blatant use of increasingly repressive laws against its own citizens," Miller said.

Russia's embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

TASS on Monday cited a law enforcement agency source as saying that "after interrogation, Shonov was charged with committing a crime under Article 275.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ('Cooperation on a confidential basis with a foreign state, international or foreign organization')", punishable by up to eight years' jail.

The U.S. consulate in Vladivostok has been closed since December 2020, amid fraught relations between Washington and Moscow, which worsened further after Moscow's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

In late March, the FSB detained Evan Gershkovich, a U.S. journalist for the Wall Street Journal, on charges of spying, a move that the White House called ridiculous and illegal.

(Reporting by Simon Lewis, Katharine Jackson and Jasper Ward; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
Indian Muslims Celebrate Eid Al -Fitr

Muslims offer last Friday prayers at Laat Sariya Mosque on the eve of Eid-al-fitr on April 21, 2023 in Varanasi, India. Credit - Ritesh ShuklaGetty Images

In India, police dressed in plainclothes in the Western state of Gujarat flogged four Muslim men accused of injuring Hindu worshippers during a festival last October. In the state of Madhya Pradesh, the government bulldozed Muslim-owned homes and shops last April. And throughout 2022, police arrested Christians accused of forcefully converting others and even aided crowds as they disrupted worship services.

These are just a few of the many damning instances highlighted in the U.S. Departments newly released Religious Freedom Report for 2022. The report annually surveys religious freedoms around the world and aims to provide a fact-based, comprehensive view of the state of religious freedom in nearly 200 countries and territories.

Read More: A Crucial State Election Loss Underscores Modis Waning Grasp in South India

At an event in Washington on Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken told reporters that the report includes the rise of very troubling trends. Among its key findings, the report calls out several countries including India, China, Russia, and Iran for violations of explicitly targeting members from certain faith communities. Although Blinken did not specifically mention India in his speech, a detailed section of the reportas well as a background briefing that followed highlighted the continual targeted attacks against religious minorities in India. An anonymous spokesperson at the briefing also noted how India currently ranks eighth among 162 countries for the highest risk of mass killing, according to a project by the U.S. Holocaust museum.

The reports release comes a month before the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi travels to Washington for his first official state visit, which will include a state dinner at the White House. He has previously visited the U.S. on five other occasions classified as working visits.

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What did the report find in India?

India, the worlds most populous country with 1.4 billion people, is known to be both diverse and devout, comprising many different faiths including Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism. The Indian Constitution declares the country as secular and the last Census conducted in 2011 revealed that 80% of the Indian population is Hindu, while 14% is Muslim and 2% is Christian.

The report expresses a number of concerns over Indias religious freedom. It highlights how religious conversion is legally prohibited in multiple states, how religious minorities are attacked on a regular basis, and how Muslims have alleged systemic discriminationincluding cow vigilantism, which often results in attacks for alleged cow slaughter or beef trade.

At Mondays press briefing, a senior State Department official told reporters how the report outlines continued, targeted attacks against religious communities that promote dehumanizing rhetoric and hate-fueled violence. The official mentioned the international communitys response to the situation in India, including from the U.S. Holocaust museum and several human rights organizations.

When asked how the U.S. would address these concerns with the Indian government ahead of Modis visit next month, the official told reporters, Were continuing to encourage the government to condemn violence and hold accountable and protect all groups who engage in rhetoric thats dehumanizing towards religious minorities and all groups who engage in violence against religious communities and other communities in India.

Has the Indian government responded?

The Indian government responded to the report by issuing an official statement from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, which stated that such reports continue to be based on misinformation and flawed understanding.

It said that motivated and biased commentary by some U.S. officials continued to undermine further the credibility of such reports, adding that it would continue to have frank conversations on issues of concern with the U.S. government.

Muslim activists along with a member from Hindu organization Ramakrishna Mission, left, take part in a unity rally to promote communal harmony in Kolkata on June 14, 2022. Dibyangshu SarkarAFP/Getty Images

Last year the country was singled out by the Secretary of State, who referred to rising attacks on people and places of worship in India. The remarks led to a furious response from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, which accused Washington of practicing vote bank politics in international relations.

New Delhi has also pushed back against criticism in other instances, especially from the bipartisan U.S. Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) which, since 2020, has advised the State Department to put India on a blacklist over its record. USCIRF once again made the recommendation earlier this month when it released its annual report on May 1st, which the State Department has so far rejected.

Despite the reports, the State Department does not currently officially designate the country as a Country of Particular Concern.

Read More: Deepika Padukone Is Bringing the World to Bollywood

Why does the U.S. State Department compile this report?

By law, the State Department is required to submit a report on international religious freedoms annually to Congress. The law was signed into effect by former U.S. President Bill Clinton in 1998 to promote religious freedom around the world. The report is prepared by the office of International Religious Freedom in Washington and based on information collected from government officials, religious groups, NGOs, human rights monitors, media reports, and others both domestically and abroad. The report states that the departments guiding principle is ensuring that all information is presented as objectively, thoroughly, and fairly as possible.

What were the reports key takeaways in other countries?

The report unveils how governments use anti-conversion, blasphemy and apostasy laws around the world to justify harassment against those who dont follow their particular interpretation of a theology, Blinken told reporters. Religious violations include the targeting of faith-based groups in Russia against those who speak out against the war in Ukraine; the imprisonment and exile of Muslim Uyghurs in China, as well as the repression of Tibetan Buddhists, Christians and Falun Gong practitioners; and attacks against those who do not toe the Talibans narrow theological line in Afghanistan.

Blinken also spoke of Islamic theocracy in Iran, including draconian laws and punishments for religious offenses, as well as the ongoing wave of protests led by women against compulsory hijab, inspired by the death of Mahsa Amini last September. The report mentions how Iranian forces have killed 512 protestors, including 69 children, arrested 19,204 individuals and executed at least one person linked to the demonstrations on the charge of enmity against God in the aftermath of Aminis death.

Along with these instances, Blinken also said that the report captured examples of progress, citing how Belgium formally recognized its Buddhist minority and how Brazilian lawmakers codified religious freedom guarantees for Afro-Brazilian indigenous communities. More broadly, civil society and other concerned governments around the world have successfully secured the release of many who have been detained, even in prison for exercising their freedom of religion or belief, he said.
Storm Shadow

At the same time, Ukrainian Defense Ministry has refused to comment on this.

Read also: Military expert on Storm Shadows capabilities

Storm Shadow is a long-range cruise missile developed jointly by the UK and France, typically air-launched.

Read also: Ukrainian Air Force withholds confirmation of arrival of British Storm Shadow missiles

On May 11, CNN reported that the UK had already supplied Kyiv with several Storm Shadow missiles capable of striking targets at a distance of over 250km. Later, UK Defense Minister Ben Wallace confirmed that London was transferring the missiles to Ukraine, emphasizing that they would be used on the country's sovereign territory.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Graphic showing the trajectory and detection of hypersonic weapons

Ukraine said on Tuesday it had downed an entire barrage of Russian drones and missiles overnight -- including six hypersonic Kinzhal missiles -- hours ahead of a visit from China's special envoy.

The wave of strikes came just over a week after Kyiv announced it had shot down a Kinzhal nuclear-capable hypersonic missile for the first time, using US-supplied Patriot systems.

Ukraine's mounting success in taking out dozens of Russian drones and missiles illustrates its bolstered air defences, after a winter of Moscow's strikes on key infrastructure.

"Another unbelievable success for the Ukrainian air forces!" Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said in a Twitter post.

The defence ministry said Ukrainian air defence systems had knocked out a total of 18 missiles, including types the Kremlin had touted as "ideal", as well as nine drones.

Three people were injured in Kyiv and some rocket fragments fell on the capital's zoo, but neither staff nor animals were hurt, Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said.

Russia said all the targets assigned by its military had been hit.

- China envoy -

China's special envoy, Li Hui, was expected to arrive in Kyiv for a two-day visit as part of a European tour to promote Beijing-led peace negotiations on the war in Ukraine.

A senior Ukrainian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Ukrainian authorities planned to further discuss Kyiv's stance on the conflict and China's peace mission.

"The president already said at the Vatican that we don't need mediation for the sake of mediation," the official said, referring to Zelensky's recent talks with Pope Francis.

He said the same message would be relayed to Beijing's envoy.

"Ending the war with a compromise at the expense of Ukraine will not work."

Li will become the highest-ranking Chinese diplomat to visit the war-torn country since Moscow's invasion last year. His trip comes three weeks after Zelensky spoke by telephone to Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

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Beijing has said the aim of the tour is to "communicate with all parties on the political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis".

Xi, who has aimed to position China as a neutral mediator and visited Moscow in March, has been criticised for refusing to condemn the Kremlin's attack on its neighbour.

Li's visit follows hot on the heels of Zelensky's whirlwind tour of major European capitals to urge Ukraine's allies to increase military support.

- 'Like rats in a mousetrap' -

His tour to shore up military assistance to help make his troops more battle-ready began in Italy, with weekend visits to France and Germany, followed by a stop in the UK.

But Zelensky has yet to succeed in his goal of enlisting Western fighter jets to seize command of the skies, although UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced on Monday preparations to open a flight school to train Ukrainian pilots.

France, too, has offered to train Ukrainian fighter pilots, although President Emmanuel Macron ruled out sending warplanes to Kyiv.

Nevertheless, Zelensky said late on Monday he was "returning home with new defence packages".

On the front line, fighting has picked up in the eastern Donetsk region, in particular for the battle-scarred city of Bakhmut.

In recent days, Ukraine has been posting its first gains around the city in weeks and the head of Russia's Wagner paramilitary group has blasted the performance of Moscow's regular troops around the key city.

The commander of Ukraine's ground forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, said on Tuesday he had visited Bakhmut to hand out awards to troops fighting in the longest battle of the invasion.

"Wagner's men went into Bakhmut like rats into a mousetrap," he said.

"Using the principle of active defence, we are using counter-offensive actions in some areas near Bakhmut," he added.

The British defence ministry said that "over the last four days, Ukrainian forces have made tactical progress, stabilising the flanks of Bakhmut to their advantage".

The head of the Donetsk region, where Bakhmut is located, announced on Tuesday that five civilians had been killed and four more injured in fighting in the previous 24 hours.

The conflict triggered fears of a global food crisis last year when major Ukrainian ports were blocked by Moscow's warships.

On Tuesday, Russia said it was still undecided as to whether it would renew its participation in a landmark grain export deal with Ukraine, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey and due to expire on Thursday.

bur/gil
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

Ukraine gained an advantage over Russia by doggedly defending Bakhmut, a military expert told Insider.

"The Russians have had a Bakhmut fixation," said Mick Ryan, a retired Maj. Gen. in the Australian army.

The country reclaimed territory near the city last week after a series of surprise attacks.

Ukraine is gaining momentum and reclaiming territory in Bakhmut after months of brutal and bloody fighting in the country's east that left thousands of Russian and Ukrainian soldiers dead.

Ukraine looked to shake up the essentially stalemated frontline near the one-time mining town this month, which has been left a decimated shell of a city after months of attrition warfare so ruthless it has become known as "the meat grinder."

Last week, Ukraine launched multiple surprise counterattacks, reclaiming several miles of territory around Bakhmut in the country's largest land gain since its autumn offensive in Kherson.

Russia fought back and has managed to maintain uneasy control over most of the destroyed city despite Ukraine's advances. Still, Ukrainian officials are touting the gains as proof of purchase of their monthslong approach to Russia's attacks in Bakhmut  defend the city as long as necessary to exhaust and deplete Russian troops ahead of Ukraine's much-anticipated counter-offensive.

Ukraine's dogged defense of the strategically unimportant city prompted calls from Western allies and military strategists earlier this year to abandon the town, voicing concerns that the endless fighting could leave Ukraine's troops wounded and unprepared for future attacks.

Russia, meanwhile, has dedicated the majority of its time, efforts, and resources this year to the fight in Bakhmut, though analysts are still uncertain why the former mining town became such a symbol for both sides, as the city's location would not necessarily offer Russia a wide-open pathway to claiming the rest of the region.

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"The Russians have had a Bakhmut fixation," Mick Ryan, a retired Major General in the Australian army and a military strategist, told Insider earlier this month. "To their credit, the Ukrainians identified this and exploited it."

"Exploiting it has led to Ukrainian casualties, but at the end of the day, war isn't about absolutes," he added. "It's about relative advantages."

The White House said last month that Russia suffered 100,000 casualties just this year, including 20,000 deaths.

"There's no question that the fighting around Bakhmut has chewed up both sides," Mark Cancian, a retired US Marine Corps colonel and a senior advisor with the Center for Strategic and International Studies' security program, told Insider earlier this month."

The Ukrainian military does not release casualty numbers, but military experts believe the country has suffered significant losses in Bakhmut, though notably fewer than Russia. The country has not had to expend any of its troops currently being trained for its coming offensive, Col. Serhiy Cherevatiy, a spokesman for Ukrainian forces in eastern Ukraine, confirmed to The Wall Street Journal this week.

"The Ukrainians saw that they could generate a relative advantage over the Russians by killing more Russians than they lost themselves in Bakhmut," Ryan said.

Russia's offensive in Bakhmut has been plagued by small, slow advances, as well as increasingly public infighting between Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Russian paramilitary Wagner Group, which has shouldered the brunt of the fighting in Bakhmut, and Russia's military brass.

Ukraine's recent gains, while relatively small, appear to be already having a psychological effect on Russia. Ukraine shared a video last week of Russian soldiers running away from the city while being chased by armored vehicles.

On Sunday, the Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed that two Russian commanders were killed in fighting near the city while repelling Ukrainian efforts to break through the frontline.

"We lured the enemy into a Bakhmut trap," Cherevatiy, the Ukrainian spokesperson, told The Journal. "The enemy has lost an incredible amount of manpower. We're continuing to bleed the enemy."

Read the original article on Business Insider
A missile explodes in the sky during a Russian missile strike in Kyiv early Tuesday. (Gleb Garanich/Reuters)

KYIV  Moscow went 0 for 18.

Russia launched one of the largest bombardments of the Ukrainian capital early Tuesday morning  one of the most sustained volleys of attacks on Kyiv since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022. Remarkably, all of the incoming was successfully intercepted by Ukraines air defense systems, according to Ukraines air force. Those systems, which now include the advanced U.S.-provided Patriot batteries, have been dramatically upgraded by Western partners in the past few months. Six Kinzhal air-launched hypersonic missiles, which Russian President Vladimir Putin once described as invincible, were shot down, as were nine Kalibr cruise missiles, three other unknown missiles and six Iranian-made Shahed suicide drones.

Air-raid sirens began sounding at 2:30 a.m. Kyiv time, and soon after, the skies over the city were lit up by the lights of outgoing air defense missiles, and residents began to hear a series of extremely loud explosions. Even for a city that has been repeatedly targeted by Russian missile and drone strikes, the severity and intensity of the explosions last night was above average. One Western ambassador in Kyiv told Yahoo News, It started with an air alert app siren, which woke me up for a moment. But the real wake-up call came a quarter of an hour later with a series of really loud bangs.

The Kremlin has frequently touted the uninterceptable nature of the Kinzhal, a source of pride for the Russian military. The Kinzhal had indeed been used to significant effect in the first year of Russias full-scale war, hitting targets across the country. However, with the insertion of the Patriot air defense system, thats now changed. On May 4, the first Russian Kinzhal was taken out by a Patriot missile, according to both the Ukrainian government and Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder.

A firefighter tries to put out a fire caused by fragments of a Russian rocket after it was shot down in Kyiv early Tuesday. (Ukrainian Emergency Situations Ministry via AP)

A senior European diplomat currently based in Kyiv told Yahoo News that after the previous interception of a Kinzhal missile two weeks ago, Russia just had to try once more. They always do. This time with more missiles and in a more sophisticated manner. The result was the same.

Story continues

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that debris from incoming Russian missiles had fallen in many districts in the center of the city, including in the city zoo, starting several fires. The State Emergency Service of Ukraine published images of the damage caused by falling debris, such as a number of civilian buses in flames. When dawn broke, photos of fragments of Russian missiles that had fallen on the streets of Kyiv began circulating on Ukrainian social media.

The Russian government confirmed that it had targeted the Ukrainian capital, and claimed that all the munitions had successfully hit their targets, allegedly destroying an entire Patriot missile battery. The Kremlins bold declarations are often dubious: It previously claimed to have destroyed more U.S.-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) than Ukraine has in its arsenal.

There is some ambiguity, however, as to whether or not a Patriot system may have been struck and damaged, possibly by debris from a successful interception.

A citizen inspects fragments of Russian missiles that fell on zoo property in Kyiv on Tuesday. (Oleksii Chumachenko/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

CNN reported that a system was likely damaged, but not destroyed in the spate of attacks, citing an unnamed U.S. official. But Patriots consist of many different key structures: launchers, radars, generators, control stations and other components, deliberately spaced apart from one another. If debris fell on a system, the damage to it would depend on exactly what element was affected and whether or not it could be easily repaired or replaced. In Washington, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said: I cannot confirm the reports about the Patriot system being damaged in Ukraine. But if there was damage done that needed to be repaired outside Ukraine, we would certainly assist with that.

The Russian attacks on Kyiv came just as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was embarking on a tour of Europe to meet with the heads of Ukraines key European allies and drum up additional military and diplomatic support for his country.

Zelensky had visited Rome, Berlin, Paris and London, receiving significant new pledges of material support on his tour. Of particular significance was the French pledge, announced earlier Tuesday, to send the SCALP, their own version of the U.K.s long-range Storm Shadow cruise missile, to Ukraine. The Ukrainians have already been using their British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles to hit valuable Russian targets in the occupied city of Luhansk, previously outside the range of their longest munitions. Although not officially confirmed by Kyiv, wreckage recovered at the scene of the missile strikes, and then posted by Russian media, clearly shows components from the British missiles. The U.S. also claims that Ukraine has already fired the cruise missiles at Russian targets.
(Bloomberg) -- Ukraine said its forces advanced in the suburbs around the eastern city of Bakhmut in heavy fighting, even as Russian troops aided by artillery and reinforcements pressed ahead in the city itself.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Ukraine earlier shot down 18 missiles, including six hypersonic weapons, in an intense barrage launched on Kyiv, which injured at least three people in the capital.

Prosecutors detained the head of Ukraines Supreme Court, and he was ousted from his post after investigators said had uncovered large-scale corruption at the nations highest judicial body.

Key Developments

Ukraine Detains Supreme Court Chief in Graft Probe

Ukraine Says It Defeated Exceptional Russian Missile Blitz

Putin Embrace Is a Big Gamble for South Africa: Balance of Power

UKs Sunak Backs Coalition to Send Fighter Aircraft to Ukraine

(All times CET)

Scholz Hails Ukraine Damage Register (8 p.m.)

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said a damage register for Ukraine that the Council of Europe is launching at a conference in Reykjavik will be of vital importance for the countrys future.

Arriving at the meeting in the Icelandic capital, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal welcomed the establishment of the mechanism, which he said would help hold Russia to account. The Council of Europe is a group of 46 nations founded in 1949 to promote democracy and human rights. It expelled Russia after its invasion of Ukraine and is holding its first summit in almost 20 years as it attempts a reset.

Russia Burns Through Military Budget (5:35 p.m.)

Russia produced as many tanks and armored vehicles in the first quarter as in the whole of 2022, and overall weapons production surged more than seven-fold, Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov said, according to the state-run Tass news service.

Story continues

That helps explain why Russia spent almost half of its 2023 military budget in the first two months of the year, reaching $25 billion, according to the Finance Ministry. Military spending may exceed the full-year budget of $62 billion by as much as 20%, according to Alexander Isakov, Russia economist at Bloomberg Economics.

Russians Push Into Bakhmut as Ukraine Captures Suburbs (4:07 p.m.)

Ukrainian troops have captured almost 12 square miles of territory north and south of Bakhmut over the past several days, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said on Telegram.

While Ukrainian forces made progress outside Bakhmut, Russian troops moved forward inside the city, obliterating it with artillery. Russians received reinforcements from elite paratrooper units, she said.

Hard fighting with various results continues, she said. The shift in control of the city comes before an expected counteroffensive in which Ukraine has said it plans to retake territory occupied by Russian forces.

Ramaphosa Says African Nations Plan Peace Mission (1:14 p.m.)

A delegation of African heads of state plans to travel to Moscow and Kyiv to present a peace initiative to help bring an end to the war, President Cyril Ramaphosa said.

Ramaphosa held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 12 and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy the following day. The South African leader has faced criticism from the US and other Western allies for its refusal to back their criticism of the conflict.

Ukraine Detain Top Judge in Graft Probe (11:23 a.m.)

Supreme Court Chairman Vsevolod Knyazev was detained on suspicion of taking a $2.7 million bribe, the head of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau said.

Authorities discovered evidence that Knyazev had taken a $2.7 million bribe. Top Supreme court officials were caught red-handed, on May 15, NABU chief Semen Kryvonos said.

At an emergency meeting of the court, his dismissal was backed by 140 judges.

Germany Calls for Measures to Stop Countries Dodging Sanctions (11:23 a.m.)

German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said the EU needs to consider further measures to prevent Russian sanctions from being circumvented.

We are aware that there are countries that still deliver to Russia and this cannot be accepted, he told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting of EU finance ministers in Brussels. We want to have pressure on Russia. We have serious sanctions and they mustnt be circumvented by countries that benefit. Were working on it.

Sweden Says More Sanctions Needed, Must Close Loopholes (9:12 a.m.)

The European Union will need further sanctions packages against Russia but it must make sure the existing ones work and that loopholes are closed, Swedish Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson said.

We can have many more sanctions packages, we will need to have that, but we also need to see that everyone is really implementing it, using it as it should, she said on the sidelines of a meeting of finance ministers in Brussels. We need more sanctions but we have to see that sanctions we have do work.

France Is Ready to Train Ukraine Fighter Pilots, Macron Says (9:12 a.m.)

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.

China Envoy Begins Tour as Xi Aims to Play Peacemaker (8:59 p.m.)

A top Chinese envoy will begin his tour of Ukraine and four other nations in Kyiv on Tuesday, in a trip designed to bolster President Xi Jinpings credentials as a global peacemaker.

Ambassador Li Hui, special representative of the Chinese government for Eurasian Affairs, will visit the capital on Tuesday and Wednesday, a Ukrainian official told AFP and Reuters on Monday. Its not clear whether Li will meet with Zelenskiy.

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Ukrainian flag raised near NATO cyber defense center

In its message, the ministry thanked CCDCOE members for inviting Ukraine and expressed gratitude to the Estonian government for its support of Kyivs path to joining the organization.

Read also: UK first country to start training Ukrainian pilots to NATO standards, says envoy

Today the National Flag of Ukraine is officially raised at the Headquarters of the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Tallinn, marking official accession of Ukraine to CCDCOE, the ministry said.

Read also: Estonia insists on clear path for Ukraines NATO membership

Ukraine submitted a request to join CCDCOE in August 2021, prior to Russias full-scale invasion of the country.

Read also: Zaluzhnyi skips NATO meeting due to difficult operational situation on front line

In March 2022, Ukraine became a contributing participant at CCDCOE.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
KYIV (Reuters) - Ukrainian troops have made gains around Bakhmut in recent days but Russian forces have advanced slightly in the eastern city itself, Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said on Tuesday.

She said the Ukrainian military had reclaimed about 20 square kilometers (7.5 square miles) or territory from the Russian forces in the past few days around Bakhmut, a small city where fighting has been fierce for months.

Maliar, who has indicated previously that the Ukrainian advances around Bakhmut are not part of a broader counteroffensive planned by Kyiv, said developments there "should not be taken out of context".

"For example, within a few days, our troops liberated about 20 square kilometers from the enemy in the north and south of the suburbs of Bakhmut," she wrote on the Telegram messaging app. "At the same time, the enemy is advancing somewhat in Bakhmut itself, completely destroying the city with artillery."

She reiterated that Russia was sending in new paratroopers and added: "Heavy battles continue with different results."

Reuters was unable to verify the battlefield situation.

The Ukrainian military said last week it had started to push Russian forces back around Bakhmut after months of heavy fighting, and Moscow acknowledged that its forces had fallen back north of the city.

Moscow sees Bakhmut, a city of about 70,000 before Russia's full-scale invasion nearly 15 months ago, as a stepping stone towards capturing the rest of the eastern Donbas region.

(Reporting by Dan Peleschuk, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
THE HAGUE (Reuters) - Ukraine and Russia will face off before the United Nations' top court on June 6, when judges will hear Ukraine's claim that Moscow violated a U.N. treaty by supporting pro-Russian separatists who were identified by a Dutch court as being responsible for the 2014 downing of flight MH17.

In November last year a Dutch court convicted two Russian men and a Ukrainian national in absentia of murder for their role in the shooting down of Flight MH17 with the loss of 298 passengers and crew, and handed them life sentences.

Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 departed from Amsterdam and was bound for Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down over eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014, as fighting raged between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces, the precursor of this year's conflict.

The Dutch ruling also found that Russia had "overall control" over the forces of the Donetsk People's Republic in Eastern Ukraine from mid-May 2014.

The International Court of Justice, as the World Court is formally known, has set four days of hearings on June 6, 8, 12 and 14 to hear both sides in the case.

This case, filed in 2017, is one of two Ukraine brought against Russia at the court. The other case, filed just after the 2022 Russian invasion, centers on Moscow's claim they invaded Ukraine to prevent genocide. It generally takes several years for a case at the ICJ to reach the stage of hearings on the merits of the case.

(Reporting by Stephanie van den Berg; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
Prigozhin - Prigozhin Press Service/AP

The head of the Wagner mercenary group has claimed that Russian soldiers killed a US volunteer fighter in Bakhmut in a video posted on social media.

The footage shows Yevgeny Prigozhin inspecting a body and what he claims are Pentagon identification cards showing that the man was a former US Army special forces soldier from Boise, Idaho.

The Telegraph has not verified the authenticity of the documents or confirmed the mans nationality, so is not using the name given by the Russian mercenaries.

Fighting has intensified over the past few months in Bakhmut, a small city in eastern Ukraine where Kyiv's forces have recently made advances.

In a video posted on the Wagner groups Telegram channel, the pro-Kremlin military blogger Alexander Simonov reportedly says: We are advancing to the advanced positions of the PMC Wagner in the western regions of Artyomovsk (the Russian name for Bakhmut).

Prigozhin is shown inspecting the body and documents, before claiming that they will return the body to the US.

He says: We'll put him in a coffin, cover him with the American flag with respect because he did not die in his bed as a grandpa but he died at war and most likely a worthy [death], right?

According to CNN, Prigozhin says the deceased was shooting back when he was killed.

He adds: He died in the battle, so we will hand over his documents tomorrow morning and pack everything.

At least 12 Americans have died fighting in Ukraine since Russia invaded the country more than a year ago.

The US State Department said they were aware of the reports and seeking additional information.

Our ability to verify reports of deaths of US citizens in Ukraine is extremely limited, a spokesman said.

The Department offered its condolences to the families of all whose lives have been lost as a result of Russias unprovoked and unjustified war against Ukraine, and reiterated that Americans should not travel to the country.

The US State Department has separately condemned the arrest of a former employee of its consulate in Russia.

Story continues

Robert Shonov was detained in the Russian city of Vladivostok on suspicion of cooperation on a confidential basis with a foreign state, international or foreign organisation, according to Russia's Tass news agency.

Matthew Miller, spokesman for the State Department, said Mr Shonov is a Russian national who worked at the now-closed US consulate in Vladivostok for more than 25 years.

Mr. Shonovs only role at the time of his arrest was to compile media summaries of press items from publicly available Russian media sources, Mr Miller said.

His being targeted under the confidential cooperation statute highlights the Russian Federations blatant use of increasingly repressive laws against its own citizens.

03:01 PM

Today's liveblog is now closed

Thanks for following today's liveblog.

Please follow along tomorrow for all the latest updates on Ukraine.

02:58 PM

Ukraine in pictures:

Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko shows a Kh-47 Kinzhal Russian hypersonic missile warhead - VALENTYN OGIRENKO/REUTERS

A Kh-47 Kinzhal Russian hypersonic missile warhead, shot down by a Ukrainian Air Defence unit - VALENTYN OGIRENKO/REUTERS

Parts of a Kh-47 Kinzhal Russian hypersonic missile, shot down by a Ukrainian Air Defence unit amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, are seen at a compound of the Scientific Research Institute in Kyiv - VALENTYN OGIRENKO/REUTERS

02:53 PM

Ukraine claims forces make gains around Bakhmut

Ukrainian forces have taken back about 20 square km (7.5 square miles) of territory from Russian forces around the eastern city of Bakhmut in recent days, Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar has claimed.

She said that Russian forces had advanced "somewhat" in the city of Bakhmut itself, and that heavy fighting continued.

02:48 PM

Georgian Airways to resume direct flights to Russia from May 20

Georgia's flag carrier, Georgian Airways, will resume direct flights to Russia from May 20, the Georgian Civil Aviation Agency said on Tuesday, after Russia lifted a flight ban last week.

The European Union criticised the resumption, which comes amid a sharp warming in relations between Russia and Georgia, countries that have had no formal diplomatic ties since Russia routed Tbilisi's forces in a brief war in 2008.

Tbilisi has in recent months tried to balance rapprochement with its giant neighbour and its aspirations to join the European Union.

Georgia was rocked by protests in March after lawmakers moved to adopt a Russian-style bill requiring non-government organisations receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as "agents of foreign influence".

Brussels said the plan was incompatible with EU membership and the bill was later withdrawn.

02:37 PM

Russia destroys key US-supplied air defence system in largest bombardment of Kyiv

Russias defence ministry claimed it had destroyed a key US-supplied Patriot air defence system in what would be a costly blow to Ukraine, reports Joe Barnes.

The Kremlin said it struck the missile battery with a hypersonic Kinzhal missile during one of the most intense rocket barrages on the capital since the war broke out.

However, Ukraine claimed it had downed all six unstoppable Kinzhal missiles fired overnight, which would raise major doubts about Russias long-range missile threat.

02:36 PM

Top Russian official in coma after grenade attack on Ukrainian barber shop

A senior separatist official is in a coma in Russia-controlled eastern Ukraine after being targeted with a grenade while in a barber shop.

Igor Kornet, the acting interior minister of Russia-controlled parts of Ukraines Luhansk region, was severely injured along with seven other people as he stopped in Luhansk for a haircut.

A former adviser of Mr Kornet told the Tass news agency that the separatist official is in a grave but stable condition.

Read more from Nataliya Vasilyeva here

01:39 PM

Pictured: Olena Zelenska with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (R) shaking hands with Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska - HANDOUT/AFP

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol talking with Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska - HANDOUT/AFP

01:37 PM

Macron follows Britain by sending French 'Storm Shadow' missiles to Ukraine

France will follow Britains lead by supplying Ukraine with longer-range missiles days after the UKs Storm Shadow munitions were used to devastating effect against Russian forces behind the front line.

France has so far delivered Caesar self-propelled howitzers, Milan anti-tank missiles and Mistral anti-aircraft missiles, as well as light armoured vehicles known as AMX-10 RCs.

But it had stopped short of longer-range missiles that would allow Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory.

Read more from Henry Samuel here

12:36 PM

Ukraine lifts barriers to exports of some farm goods

Ukraine has removed barriers to the export of some agricultural commodities, imposed last year to prevent food shortages, in a bid to boost foreign currency income, its government said on Tuesday.

The country introduced export licences in 2022 to protect food supplies after agricultural production was hit by Russia's invasion. While licensing did not ban exports, it made them much more difficult.

The government said it would lift the requirement for export licences for live cattle, frozen cattle meat, chicken meat, eggs, rye, oats, millet and some other commodities.

It said via the Telegram messaging app that the resolution was developed in response to numerous requests from associations, and would "help to optimise agricultural exports and increase foreign exchange earnings for Ukraine".

12:07 PM

South African president claims Putin and Zelensky will receive mission from African leaders on potential peace plan

Cyril Ramaphosa, the South African President, said that Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky had agreed to receive a mission from African leaders on a potential peace plan for the conflict.

"My discussions with the two leaders demonstrated that they are both ready to receive the African leaders and to have discussion on how this conflict can be brought to an end," Mr Ramaphosa told a press briefing with the Singapore Prime Minister.

"Whether that will succeed or not is going to depend on the discussions that will be held," he said

11:53 AM

Head of Ukraine's Supreme Court detained

The head of Ukraine's Supreme Court has been detained over an alleged bribery scheme, a prosecutor from the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) has said.

The prosecutor did not name the official detained, but told a briefing that he was the head of the Supreme Court and had not yet been served with a formal "notice of suspicion".

The Supreme Court is headed by Chief Justice Vsevolod Kniaziev, who could not be reached for comment.

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and SAPO announced on Monday that they had "exposed large-scale corruption" at the court, and shared a photograph of piles of dollars neatly lined up on a sofa.

"You see that we are showing through real cases, real deeds, what our priority is: it's top corruption, it's criminal organisation at the highest levels of power," NABU director Semen Kryvonos told Tuesday's briefing.

11:32 AM

France to supply longer-range missiles and open to training fighter jet pilots

France will follow Britains lead by supplying Ukraine with longer-range missiles days after the UKs Storm Shadow munitions were used to devastating effect against Russian forces behind the front line, reports Henry Samuel.

France has so far delivered Caesar self-propelled howitzers, MILAN anti-tank missiles and Mistral anti-aircraft missiles, as well as light armoured vehicles known as AMX-10 RCs.

But it has stopped short of longer-range missiles apparently not to provide Ukraine with weapons that could be used to strike deep into Russian territory.

However, in an interview on TF1 news on Monday night, Mr Macron confirmed: We have decided to send over and above that, new munitions, new missiles that have a range that allows Ukraine to resist and to lead this (upcoming) counteroffensive.

11:11 AM

Pictured: Police investigate fragments of a Russian rocket that landed in a city zoo

Police officers investigate fragments of a Russian rocket that fell down in a city zoo - Alex Babenko/AP

10:59 AM

Ukraine's first lady asks South Korea for non-lethal military aid

Ukraine's first lady, Olena Zelenska, met South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and asked for non-lethal military assistance for her country, South Korea's presidential office said.

Zelenska, the wife of President Volodymyr Zelensky, is visiting South Korea to participate in a media conference.

Zelenska, meeting Yoon in the role of a special presidential envoy, told him that she hoped to get support for Ukraine in the form of non-lethal military equipment such as mine detectors, Yoon's spokesperson, Lee Do-woon, told a briefing.

Yoon said South Korea would actively help the Ukrainian people, Lee said.

In an interview with South Korea's Yonhap news agency published on Tuesday, Zelenska raised the possibility of Yoon visiting Ukraine, saying a visit would be "very supportive".

She also called for "more radical" support for Ukraine to fight against Russian aggression.

South Korea, a major producer of artillery shells, has said it was not providing lethal weapons to Ukraine, citing its relations with Russia.

But Yoon said in an interview last month his government might not "insist only on humanitarian or financial support" if civilians in Ukraine come under a large-scale attack or due to a "situation the international community cannot condone".

10:23 AM

'Beautiful Kyiv at dawn'

The Telegraph's Heathcliff O'Malley has tweeted from Kyiv after a second air raid alarm went off.

Beautiful Kyiv at dawn after a second Air Raid Alarm .

Why would anyone attempt to pulverise this city and its 3 million civilians with regular missiles strikes ? pic.twitter.com/0fL8lqV8CT  Heathcliff O'Malley (@heathcliffom) May 16, 2023

10:17 AM

China's Ukraine envoy to visit Warsaw on Friday

China's special Ukraine envoy Li Hui will visit Warsaw on Friday following his two-day trip to Kyiv, Poland's ministry of foreign affairs said on Tuesday.

"That will be the case," spokesman for the ministry Lukasz Jasina told AFP, confirming earlier reports in Polish media and adding that the envoy will meet a Polish deputy foreign minister in Warsaw.

10:04 AM

Russia's attack on Kyiv by the numbers

09:53 AM

Watch: Ukrainian Air Defence attempt to intercept Russian missiles over Kyiv

Footage of Ukrainian Air Defenses attempting to Intercept Russian Missiles over the Capital City of Kyiv. pic.twitter.com/D77pIYhXfq  OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) May 16, 2023

09:43 AM

Pictured: Aftermath of Kyiv attack

Firefighters work at a site of a vehicle parking area damaged by remains of Russian missiles - STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE OF UKRAINE/via REUTERS

Firefighters put out fire caused by fragments of a Russian rocket - Ukrainian Emergency Situations Ministry

09:16 AM

More than 150,000 Russian troops deployed in preparation for Kyiv's counter-offensive, claims Ukraine

Russia has more than 150,000 troops deployed in defensive positions in southern Ukraine in preparation for Kyivs long-awaited counter-offensive, Ukrainian military intelligence has claimed, reports Joe Barnes.

Approximately 152,000 enemy troops are currently concentrated in the occupied territories of these two regions, and all their actions indicate that they are preparing for defence, according to its latest intelligence report.

While details of Ukraines counter-offensive have been kept secret, it is believed Kyivs forces will push south in a bid to split Russian units based in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, as well as sever the land bridge between the Russian mainland and the occupied peninsula of Crimea.

08:52 AM

Ukraine's first lady meets with South Korea's Yoon

Ukraine's first lady, Olena Zelenska, met with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol as a special presidential envoy, South Korea's presidential office said on Tuesday.

Zelenska, the wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, is visiting South Korea to participate in a media conference.

In an interview with South Korea's Yonhap news agency published on Tuesday, Zelenska expressed willingness to invite Yoon to her country, saying such a visit would be "very supportive" to Ukrainians.

She also warned against the risk of war fatigue and called for "more radical" support for Ukraine to fight against Russia's aggression.

08:27 AM

'Unbelievable success' for Ukrainian air forces, claims Ukraine

Oleksiy Reznikov, Ukraine's Defence Minister, has claimed that Ukraine's Air Forces shot down six hypersonic missiles last night.

Another unbelievable success for the Ukrainian Air Forces! Last night, our sky defenders shot down SIX russian hypersonic Kinzhal missiles and 12 other missiles.



80-1-6=



russian terrorists have no chance of prevailing over Ukraine. Their weapons can and should be countered by  Oleksii Reznikov (@oleksiireznikov) May 16, 2023

08:00 AM

Pictured: Explosion of missile seen in sky

Traces of the explosions are seen in the sky over the city during a Russian missile strike - GLEB GARANICH/REUTERS

Explosion of a missile is seen in the sky over the city during a Russian missile strike - GLEB GARANICH/REUTERS

Explosion of a missile is seen in the sky over the city during a Russian missile strike - GLEB GARANICH/REUTERS

Explosion of a missile is seen in the sky over the city during a Russian missile strike - GLEB GARANICH/REUTERS

07:48 AM

A 'super loud night' in Kyiv

Inna Sovsun, a Ukrainian MP, has tweeted about the overnight air attack launched on Kyiv.

So that was a SUPER loud night in #Kyiv!



Around 03:30 Russians attacked Ukraine from the north, south, and east directions with 18 () missiles of various types: air-launched, sea-launched, and ground-launched.



All 18 missiles were destroyed by  air defense forces!  Inna Sovsun (@InnaSovsun) May 16, 2023

07:38 AM

Britain to send Ukraine suicide drones with twice the range of Himars

The UK will send Ukraine hundreds of suicide drones it has had custom-built to support Kyiv on the battlefield.

The announcement came as Volodymyr Zelensky met with Rishi Sunak at Chequers to discuss what further support the UK could provide.

The kamikaze drones have a range of more than 125 miles  more than twice as far as the highly successfully Himars  and complement the long-range Storm Shadow missiles the UK donated to Ukraine last week.

Read more from The Telegraph's Defence Editor Danielle Sheridan here

07:36 AM

Ukraine in pictures:

Ukrainian servicemen attend an exercise in Chernihiv - GLEB GARANICH/Reuters

A Ukrainian serviceman of the 128th Mountain assault Brigade puts a dog in a helmet after a military training - BERNADETT SZABO/Reuters

Ukrainian servicemen attend an exercise - GLEB GARANICH/Reuters

07:22 AM

Ukraine says it shot down all 18 missiles that Russia launched overnight

Ukraine forces shot down all 18 missiles of various types that Russia launched in a concentrated overnight attack on Ukraine, Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces Valeriy Zaluzhnyi said on Tuesday.

Russia launched six Kinzhal ballistic missiles from aircraft, nine Kalibr cruise missiles from ships in the Black Sea and three Iskander land-based missiles, Zaluzhnyi said on the Telegram messaging app.

Ukraine's Air Force said that six Iranian-made Shahed drones were also shot down and three reconnaissance drones.

07:19 AM

Good Morning

Good morning and welcome to today's Ukraine liveblog.

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Explosion of a missile in the sky over the city during a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine May 16, 2023 Gleb Garanich/Reuters

Ukraine says it shot down six of Russia's "unstoppable" Kinzhal missiles over Kyiv early Tuesday.

In total, a barrage of 18 missiles were intercepted from land, sea and air, officials claimed.

The Kremlin has long made swaggering claims about the Kinzhal, which experts doubt.

Ukraine says it has shot down an unprecedented six Russian Kinzhal missiles over Kyiv early Tuesday, amid a fierce bombardment from land, sea and air.

Officials said on Tuesday that air defenses had repelled an intense array of missiles and drones overnight in a startling defense against the Kinzhal, a weapon that Putin has touted as unstoppable.

The Kinzhal is capable of carrying a nuclear payload, but in the conflict so far has delivered powerful conventional strikes on Ukrainian targets instead.

The claimed feat comes days after Ukraine said it took down a single Kinzhal for the first time, using the Patriot missile-defense system it was recently given by the US.

According to the commander-in-chief of Ukraine's army, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, six Russian MiG-31K jets launched the Kinzhal missiles overnight.

He said a further nine Kalibr cruise missiles were shot down after being launched from the Black Sea, as well as three land-based S-400, Iskander-M missiles, in a post that was echoed by Ukraine's Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk.

An unspecified number of Iranian-made exploding drones were also repelled, the commanders said.

"It was exceptional in its density  the maximum number of attack missiles in the shortest period of time," said Serhiy Popko, the head of Kyiv's military administration, of the barrage, per The Telegraph's translation. He said the vast majority of airborne targets had been taken down.

Explosion of a missile in the sky over the city during a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine May 16, 2023 Gleb Garanich/Reuters

Insider was unable to verify the tally. Russian state-media outlet TASS made little mention of the attack as of Tuesday morning, other than a brief account of eyewitness reports of explosions over Kyiv and the city's air defenses being deployed.

Story continues

Debris from the attack struck some cars and a forest area, and a fire broke out in a non-residential building, Popko said.

Firefighters work at a site of a vehicle parking area damaged by remains of Russian missiles, amid Russias attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine May 16, 2023. Pavlo Petrov/Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Kyiv/Handout via Reuters

Russia has long called the Kinzhal an unstoppable hypersonic weapon, but analysts have said that those claims are overblown, as Insider's Ryan Pickrell reported.

In December, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Valery Gerasimov said that the missile is "invulnerable to air defense capabilities deployed in Ukraine," as TASS reported. But this was before the US-provided Patriot missiles arrived in Ukraine.

While it's still a distinct threat, experts have questioned the weapon's "hypersonic" tag, because it can't maintain such speeds throughout its entire trajectory.

Read the original article on Business Insider
U.S. Abrams training tanks are now in Germany to train Ukrainian troops.

The Pentagon on Monday said that 31 Abrams training tanks have arrived at the Grafenwoehr Training Center in Germany that will be used to teach Ukrainians how to operate the American tanks.

"I can confirm that the 31 M1 Abrams training tanks have arrived at Grafenwoehr, Germany in preparation for subsequent training of Ukrainian tank crews," Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon's top spokesman, said during a press briefing Monday afternoon. "Those crews are expected to arrive and begin training within the next couple of weeks. As we've discussed previously, this extensive training program for Ukrainian crews and maintainers is intended to prepare them for their critical roles ahead in effectively operating the M1 tank and defending Ukrainian people."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCZqmM3urPg

When asked why the U.S. doesn't just leave the tanks there for Ukraine to use in combat instead of refurbishing an additional 31, Ryder said that "these tanks are intended specifically for training and don't necessarily have the capabilities that they would need to go into combat."

The tanks that will provide to Ukraine "are going through the refurbishment process right now," Ryder said. "They will be updated, upgraded and prepared for exportability to Ukraine. Because we're doing this concurrently, we will be able to provide those tanks to them in the fall timeframe to get them into Ukraine before the end of the year."

The Pentagon declined to provide us with more detail when we asked for specifics about the difference between the training tanks and the ones that will be given to Ukraine for combat.

https://twitter.com/Kiborgzzz/status/1657011232526807040

U.S. Abrams tanks have highly sensitive armor, which includes depleted uranium. As such, they have never been exported before. The conversion process takes an extensive period of time to make them exportable. This, along with other factors, has limited just how fast the U.S. can actually provide combat-capable Abrams tanks to Ukraine. You can read more about this in our past reporting here. You can also read more about what the Abrams is expected to bring to the fight for Ukraine once it finally arrives in our deep dive here.

Story continues

Before we head into the latest from Ukraine, The War Zone readers can catch up on our previous rolling coverage here.

The Latest

Another day, another revelation about the ongoing feud between Wagner mercenary group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin and the Kremlin. This time via claims surrounding the ongoing discovery of leaked documents.

The Washington Post on Monday reported that 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 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 U.S. intelligence documents leaked on the group-chat platform Discord."

https://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/1658094922606563331

Once again, this is what is being claimed at this time in the Washington Post's report. There is an epic information war going on from all sides. While this would have been harder to believe months ago, the Wagner boss's ongoing outlandish lambasting of those in power in Moscow over wartime decisions has made such an allegation more plausible.

More evidence is emerging that Luhansk City was indeed struck by newly donated Storm Shadow cruise missiles as we reported last week. Pictures have emerged on social media that purportedly show pieces of the long-range, air-launched cruise missiles recovered in Luhansk City.

https://twitter.com/TheBaseLeg/status/1658051623963484162?s=20

During a recent visit to Italy, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky offered thanks for the SAMP/T air defense system provided by a combined Italian-French donation.

"It took several weeks to ready the SAMP/T unit and all its components, which Italy produces jointly with France," the Italian Decode 39 news outlet reported. "And the delivery was conducted in secret, in line with Romes overall approach to supply equipment to Kyiv. Meanwhile, the Italian Armed forces trained 20 Ukrainian specialists in Sabaudia, near Rome, to operate the system."

https://twitter.com/en_decode39/status/1658121351301931009

As a result, the Oryx OSINT tracking group has moved the system to its list of those that have been delivered instead of just promised.

https://twitter.com/oryxspioenkop/status/1658176019897937922?s=46&t=cbCZ6V64euYCCy5V9r9oiQ

More details have emerged of the kind of fighter pilot training being provided to Ukraine by the United Kingdom, which we now know is specifically geared toward helping those aviators convert onto the F-16. You can read more about that in our coverage here.

https://twitter.com/thewarzonewire/status/1658165560801366016

It's one thing to train, but it is another thing to fly in combat. Especially 300 combat sorties, like Ukrainian Air Force Lt. Col. Rostyslav Lazarenko, an Su-25 Frogfoot pilot.

"If someone thinks that this is something to be proud of, then you are wrong," he said, according to Ukraine's ArmyInform publication. "Emotions are completely different... Every time you feel fear, every time before take-off you think whether you will turn around this time, or maybe this is the last flight."

https://twitter.com/magictouch190/status/1658084247591067649

The video below shows some of the kinds of flying Ukrainian jets, like this Su-27 Flanker, have to engage in to survive.

https://twitter.com/Ukraine_AF/status/1658102530583191553?s=20

Aside from pilot training, the U.K. government today also confirmed it was going to provide Ukraine with hundreds of air defense missiles (of an undisclosed type, but possibly AIM-120 AMRAAMs from its own stocks, for use in the NASAMS). Also being provided are hundreds of new long-range attack drones with a range of over 200km [124 miles]. This might refer to new types of drones being developed in the United Kingdom specifically for Ukraine, as we have discussed before.

But it does not appear that the U.K. is also providing Ukraine with hundreds of long-range missiles as the BBC initially reported today in a story since updated.

https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1658129483314987008

According to the Kyiv Post, the BBC corrected the information, writing instead that Ukraine will receive air defense missiles from the U.K. Of course, that's still welcome, as you can read about in our piece here.

https://twitter.com/kyivpost/status/1658142026808819713

The U.K.'s provision of long-range strike drones, Storm Shadow cruise missiles and potentially pilot training won't change U.S. thinking on longer-range fires and F-16s, Ryder told reporters Monday.

"No, it doesn't," Ryder said when asked if London's recent moves change Washington's calculus on providing Ukraine with weapons like the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) short-range ballistic missile. "You know, as we've said all along, we're going to continue to stay in active discussions with Ukraine, with our allies and our partners on what their most urgent security assistance needs are."

On fighter jets, Ryder said, "again, I don't have anything to announce today in regards to any type of fighter aircraft. Again, we're going to stay in very close contact with Ukraine and with our allies and partners to look at both their near-term and longer-term security needs."

In addition to his unannounced visit to the U.K., Zelensky also visited Germany. And in the video below, you can see his A350 aircraft being escorted by fighters from the Luftwaffe.

https://twitter.com/thenewarea51/status/1658008777294004225?s=20

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko made his first public appearance in about a week, and, perhaps to highlight that it was not canned footage, he was seen talking about the Russian aircraft shot down over the weekend.

Lukashenko did not appear on Sunday at a ceremony in the capital, Minsk, triggering speculation that the veteran leader is seriously ill, according to NBC.

"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 states flag," NBC reported. "The agency gave no reason for 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."

The incident Lukashenko referenced involved Russia losing two Mi-8 Hip helicopters, a Su-34 Fullback strike fighter, and a Su-35 Flanker-E, with no survivors. What makes all this especially troubling for the Russian Air Force, is that all these losses happened in its own country, in areas not too far from the border with Ukraine.

All four aircraft came down in Bryansk Oblast, well within Russian territory opposite northeast Ukraines Chernihiv Oblast. Video shows one of the Mi-8s breaking up after what looks as if a missile hit it near the town of Klintsy, about 50 kilometers north of the Ukrainian border.

You can read more about that in our coverage here.

https://twitter.com/maxseddon/status/1658149354799022080?s=20

While Lukashenko is alive, hopes for a peaceful future for Russia may not be.

"Ian Garner, a cultural historian and Russia analyst from Queen's University in Kingston, Ont., is touring the United Kingdom discussing his new book, Z Generation: Into the Heart of Russia's Fascist Youth, and his conclusions about the prospects for a lasting peace with Russia are pessimistic, to say the least," Canada's CBC network reported.

"His gloomy message is that with or without Vladimir Putin as president, support for his regime's toxic outlook is deeply pervasive, including among young people, who have typically been seen as the most 'Western-friendly' Russians."

https://twitter.com/CBCNews/status/1658094244920270848

Putin sped up the process by which foreign nationals can become Russian citizens by fighting for the military. Instead of three years of service, Putin signed a bill into law that reduces that to just one year of service.

https://twitter.com/ralee85/status/1658172846311366678?s=12&t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A

Sometimes trench warfare is frenetic and frenzied, sometimes not so much, as you can see in this video below of Ukrainians calmly firing from their trench.,

https://twitter.com/666_mancer/status/1658192147495919619

Artillery has played a big role in Ukraine ever since the Russians first invaded in 2014. An artillery strike by the Ukrainian 406th Artillery Brigade apparently destroyed one of Russia's giant 2S4 "Tulip" 240mm self-propelled mortar.

https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1658070324338909187?s=20

And Ukrainian counter-battery fire destroyed two Russian 2S5 Giatsint-S 152mm self-propelled guns in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, according to the Ukraine Weapons Tracker OSINT group.

https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1658045411968385026?s=20

If you are into things blowing up, check out this video below apparently showing Ukrainian troops firing at a Russian Ural-4320 truck until it explodes in a ball of fire.

https://twitter.com/AlexRaptor94/status/1657844369188089856?s=20

A Russian Bukhanka van did not fare well against a Ukrainian quadcopter from the 110th Mechanized Brigade. It dropped a couple of 40mm grenades on the van, turning it into a burning, smoking hulk.

https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1657934700516724738?s=20

Unmanned aerial and surface vehicles have gotten most of the attention in this conflict when it comes to drones, but both sides are also using uncrewed ground vehicles (UVGs) as well. You can see the Russians in the video below towing a Platforma-M UGV.

https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1657825591796613120?s=20

While we are unsure if this photo actually does depict AGM-88 HARM anti-radar missiles under the wing of a Ukrainian MiG-29 Fulcrum, this is still a pretty awesome photo.

https://twitter.com/front_ukrainian/status/1658111236192583680

And finally, we recently showed you a Russian soldier surrendering to Ukrainian forces via a drone. Here is the story behind that story.

https://twitter.com/gerashchenko_en/status/1658128786880184320

That's it for now. We'll update this story when there's more news to report about Ukraine.

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com
Vsevolod Knyazev

Read also: NABU's new director faces questions of independence amid ties to government

According to Suspilne, Knyazev will retain his position as a judge, with the High Council of Justice being the only body able to terminate his employment.

Transparency International Ukraine reported that out of 142 judges, 140 expressed no confidence in Knyazev during a secret vote, with 137 judges supporting his removal. Dmytro Luspynik, a judge with the longest tenure, will succeed Knyazev as the acting head of the Supreme Court.

On May 15, Ukrainian media reported that Ukraines National Anti-corruption Bureau (NABU) and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) have arrested Knyazev after obtaining evidence of the judge accepting a $2.7 million bribe. Knyazev is the most senior Ukrainian official to have ever been apprehended by NABU, according to the bureaus head, Semyon Kryvonis.

Read also: Anti-corruption authorities confirm arrest of Supreme Court Head Knyazev, preparing charges

According to Kryvonis, the prosecution has evidence of Kostyantyn Zhevago, the owner of the Finance and Credit banking group, arranging illicit payments to Supreme Court officials in exchange for favorable rulings.

Law enforcement officers are also investigating other instances of members of the Supreme Court getting bribed.

Read also: NABU candidate Komarova shares details of hiring scandal at anti-corruption body

Knyazev was elected as the Head of the Supreme Court in October 2021, having previously served as a judge and secretary of the court since 2017.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Key developments on May 16:

Defense Ministry: Ukraine liberates about 20 square kilometers on Bakhmut outskirts

At the same time, Ukraine admits Russia has somewhat advanced in Bakhmut

Ukraines military reports downing 25 Russian missiles, including unprecedented 6 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles in night attack on Kyiv

CNN: One of the two Patriot systems likely damaged by overnight Russian airstrike



Ukrainian forces liberated roughly 20 square kilometers (12 square miles) of land on the northern and southern outskirts of Bakhmut, but Russia has somewhat advanced in the city itself, Ukraines Defense Ministry reported on May 16.

Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar also said in a Telegram post that Russia is moving units of professional paratroopers into Bakhmut as Ukrainian forces test their limit to hold the defense.

When dying stops being scary: Worn out Ukrainian soldiers in Donbas hold off Russian assaults Editors Note: This story is based on interviews with Ukrainian soldiers, conducted in Donetsk Oblast, near the eastern front line, in late March. Some of the soldiers declined to give their last names for security reasons, and are identified by first names and callsigns instead. DONETSK OBLAST  U Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima

Without commenting on Ukraines report, Moscow said Russian forces continue to conduct offensive on the western flanks of Bakhmut, the last Ukrainian holdouts in the largely-destroyed city in Donetsk Oblast.

Ukraines report of a gain in the Bakhmut sector comes as Ukraine appears to be continuing to launch counterattacks against Russian positions in the area. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry reported on May 14 that it recaptured more than 10 positions north and south of Bakhmut.

But amid Ukraines wave of first successful counterattacks in the Battle of Bakhmut, Russian forces continued to launch offensives in and around the city, according to a May 15 report by the Institute for the Study of War, a D.C.-based think-tank analyzing the war in Ukraine.

Story continues

Nearly a year and a half into Russias all-out war, Bakhmut remains the epicenter of the war, with both Ukraine and Russia reportedly suffering heavy casualties.

Rescue workers put out fires caused by falling missile debris overnight in Kyiv on May 16, 2023. (Photo: State Emergency Service / Facebook)

Russias massive overnight airstrikes on Kyiv

In the early hours of May 16, Russian forces launched an airstrike on Kyiv that the Kyiv City Military Administration called exceptional in its density.

The Air Force initially said that it shot down all of the 18 Russian missiles targeting Ukraine overnight, including six Kinzhal ballistic missiles, in addition to six Iranian-made Shahed-136/131 kamikaze drones. The attacks were carried out from the north, east, and south, it added. Later in the day, the military updated the count to 25 missiles.

Russian forces launched the Kinzhal missiles from six MiG-31K jets, and the attack happened around 3:30 a.m., according to the Air Forces report.

The State Emergency Service reported that the debris of the shot-down missiles caused fires and damages in five of Kyivs ten districts, but the city did not suffer significant damages.

The Kinzhal, an air-launched ballistic missile named after a dagger with a range of up to 2,000 kilometers, was previously difficult to shoot down before Ukraine received Patriot air defense systems in late April. It was hard for radar systems to detect it.

More than a week after the arrival of the U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems, the Air Force reported shooting a Kinzhal ballistic missile for the first time on May 4.

Russias latest attack came as President Volodymyr Zelensky was touring European capitals to raise support for his country and to campaign for a fighter jets coalition.

Russias Defense Ministry claimed in its daily briefing that the overnight airstrike that struck cities far from the battlefield was aimed at points of deployment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and storage sites for Western-provided weapons and equipment. It claimed that all targets were hit.

However, there hasnt been evidence of any hits in Kyiv.

The Ukrainian military has not reported any hits either. Buses and a garage were among the sites where the fire broke out in Kyiv, due to missile debris falling, according to the emergency service.

Later in the evening, CNN reported, citing an unnamed U.S. official, that one of the two Patriot systems provided to Ukraine was likely damaged, but not destroyed, due to the May 16 airstrike. It added that the degree of the damage is currently being assessed, and then a decision will be made on whether the system needs to be sent abroad for repair or it can be fixed in Ukraine.

Moscow claimed to have hit and destroyed a Patriot system with a Kinzhal missile overnight.

Kyiv has not reacted to the CNN report or Russias claims yet.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin testifies before the Senate Appropriations Committee on May 16, 2023 in Washington, DC

Ukraine's war against invading Russian forces is providing lessons for Taiwan, showing how a smaller military can successfully defend against a larger one, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Tuesday.

"We've learned a number of important lessons from Ukraine's... war with Russia," Austin told a Senate hearing when asked about strategies to defend Taiwan against potential military action by China.

"One of those lessons is that with asymmetric capabilities and asymmetric tactics and techniques, a smaller force can do a really good job in defending themselves against a larger force," he said.

With international backing in the form of weapons, supplies and training, Ukrainian forces have not only kept Russian troops from overrunning the country, but have also regained ground seized by Moscow.

Austin also told lawmakers that the congressionally authorized authority to draw weapons from US stocks and provide them to Taiwan -- as has been done with Ukraine -- is "critical in our efforts to provide Taiwan what it needs" to defend itself.

"We are working on that initiative and we hope to have an action forthcoming here in the near term," he said, without providing a specific date.

China views democratic, self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory to be retaken one day, by force if necessary. The island lives under the constant fear of a Chinese invasion, and Beijing has stepped up its rhetoric and military activity around it in recent years.

Tensions between Taipei and Beijing soared last year after China staged massive military exercises around the island in response to then-US House speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.

Last month, Beijing conducted war games simulating a blockade of the island in protest against a meeting between Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen and Pelosi's successor Kevin McCarthy in California.

wd/caw
Oleksandr Syrskyi, the Commander of the Ground Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, visited the troops near Bakhmut and thanked them for their counteroffensive actions during the last three days, completely disorienting the Russians.

Source: Syrskyi on Telegram

Quote from the commander of the ground forces: "Dear brothers, dear heroes, today you are creating the latest history. This is another chapter in our war, and it began just three days ago, when you launched an offensive. By your actions, you have stalled the entire Russian army because the Russians do not know where the offensive is, where our general offensive is, or what is happening near Bakhmut, which they already considered theirs and said that it was already actually surrounded. Moreover, now the situation is completely different."

Details: He added that the Wagnerites in Bakhmut are feeling like rats in a mousetrap because the Defence Forces from the north and the south continue offensive actions and gain victories.

According to Syrskyi, the defenders of Bakhmut use the "active defence" principle, thus destroying the Russian plans, who still have "more resources".

He added that he discussed and made the necessary decisions with the commanders of units and subdivisions to continue the defence operation. He said that together they had calculated all possible scenarios.

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Russia has lost almost 200,000 troops, 3,762 tanks, 3,150 artillery systems and 7,348 armoured combat vehicles in its war against Ukraine.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook

Details: Total combat losses of the Russian forces between 24 February 2022 and 16 May 2023 are estimated to be as follows [figures in parentheses represent the latest losses  ed.]:

approximately 199,980 (+520) military personnel,

3,762 (+3) tanks,

7,348 (+12) armoured combat vehicles,

3,150 (+13) artillery systems,

562 (+0) multiple-launch rocket systems,

316 (+0) air defence systems,

308 (+0) aircraft,

294 (+0) helicopters,

2,732 (+12) operational-tactical UAVs,

973 (+0) cruise missiles,

18 (+0) ships/boats,

6,048 (+14) vehicles and tankers,

410 (+3) special vehicles and other equipment.

The data is being confirmed.

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SEOUL (Reuters) -Ukraine's first lady, Olena Zelenska, met South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday and asked for non-lethal military assistance for her country, South Korea's presidential office said.

Zelenska, the wife of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, is visiting South Korea to participate in a media conference.

Zelenska, meeting Yoon in the role of a special presidential envoy, told him that she hoped to get support for Ukraine in the form of non-lethal military equipment such as mine detectors, Yoon's spokesperson, Lee Do-woon, told a briefing.

Yoon said South Korea would actively help the Ukrainian people, Lee said.

In an interview with South Korea's Yonhap news agency published on Tuesday, Zelenska raised the possibility of Yoon visiting Ukraine, saying a visit would be "very supportive".

She also called for "more radical" support for Ukraine to fight against Russian aggression.

South Korea, a major producer of artillery shells, has said it was not providing lethal weapons to Ukraine, citing its relations with Russia.

But Yoon said in an interview with Reuters last month his government might not "insist only on humanitarian or financial support" if civilians in Ukraine come under a large-scale attack or due to a "situation the international community cannot condone".

(Reporting by Soo-hyang Choi, Ju-min ParkEditing by Ed Davies)
During her visit to the Republic of Korea, Olena Zelenska, First Lady of Ukraine, met with the countrys president, Yoon Suk Yeol.

Source: Olena Zelenska on social media, Yonhap News Agency

Details: On 16 May, President Yoon Suk Yeol met with the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, who is in Seoul "as a special envoy of her husband, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy," Yonhap news agency reported.

The First Lady of Ukraine also said that she arrived in the Republic of Korea to participate in the Asian Leadership Conference, but began her visit with a meeting.

Olena Zelenska thanked Yoon Suk Yeol for supporting the peace formula proposed by her husband, the points of which became the basis of the Principles of the Charter of the United Nations underlying a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine, adopted recently by the UN General Assembly with the active participation of the Republic of Korea.

Ukraine appreciates that Korea is ready to defend international law with Ukraine, the First Lady said.

Quote Zelenska: "Now we also need help with the technologies that the country is famous for.

Together with Yuliia Svyrydenko, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine, as well as Rostyslav Shurma, Deputy Head of the President's Office, we discussed with the President [of Korea  ed.] the need for air defence means to stop missile terrorism of the aggressor country.

We also need means to clear the traps [mines  ed.] that Russia has left on our territory, and medical equipment to save those whom the attackers managed to injure."

Details: The First Lady of Ukraine told the First Lady of the Republic of Korea, Kim Keon-hee, about Ukraines cultural losses from the Russian attack.

Before the visit, Zelenska gave a written interview to Yonhap. In it, she warned against "war fatigue" and called for "more radical" support for Ukraine's struggle against Russian aggression.

Story continues

The First Lady of Ukraine also expressed her intention to invite President Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee to Ukraine.

"Friends of Ukraine are always welcome. Such a visit would be a great support for Ukrainians, because it is a way to share our struggle with us, at least for one day of our lives," she said in response to a question whether Kyiv plans to invite President Yoon and the First Lady of Korea.

Zelenska expressed gratitude for South Korea's continued support for Ukraine and said that "for Ukrainians, South Korea and its history are an example of resilience and progress."

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The Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces shot down all Russian missiles flying at Kyiv, including six Kinzhals

Lets leave it without comment, Ihnat said during a briefing, reacting to Russian Defense Ministry claims that a U.S.-made Patriot air defense system was destroyed during the massive missile attack on Ukraine.

Read also: Sixth attack on Kyiv in May targets Ukrainian air defense systems, says military expert

We wont comment on Russian sources, he said.

In a Telegram messenger post, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed that the Patriot air defense system had been destroyed in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv by a high-precision strike by the Kinzhal hypersonic missile system.

The Russian officials also said that they had allegedly struck storage sites of ammunition, weapons and military equipment delivered from Western countries, with all launches hitting the target.

Read also: CCTV cameras in Ukrainian cities help Russians during missile attacks, air force says

The ministry offered no evidence for its claims, and the Ukrainian military told a completely different story.

The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia had launched various types of missiles, including six Kh-47M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles  all of which were shot down over Kyiv.

All 18 missiles launched at Ukraine by Russia were destroyed by the air defense forces of the Ukrainian Air Force, but debris fell in at least five districts of Kyiv, the air force said.

The Ukrainian capitals Solomyanskyi District was affected the most. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported three people had been injured there, although reports are still being verified.

In addition, fragments of Russian missiles shot down over Kyiv fell on the territory of the city zoo.

Read also: All Kinzhal hypersonic missiles targeted Kyiv, Air Forces reveals details of Russian overnight attack

The Ukrainian authorities called the eighth Russian attack on Kyiv in a month exceptional in its density, with the maximum number of missiles being launched in the shortest period of time.

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The Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, Oleksandr Tkachenko, said that he applied to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) about President Volodymyr Zelenskyy giving an online speech at Eurovision 2023, but he was refused.

Source: Tkachenko on the national joint 24/7 newscast

Quote: "I, and not the Presidents Office, have appealed to the EBU a week before the contest with this proposal [about President Volodymyr Zelenskyy giving a speech at Eurovision 2023  ed.].

For some reason, they sent me an official letter that it was impossible for political reasons, and on the eve of Eurovision, articles appeared in the press. Despite the fact that our colleagues in Great Britain supported us, they [EBU  ed.] decided that this was political."

Details: According to Tkachenko, there would be no politics in such an address, since for the first time in history the contest was not held by the winning country, and a congratulatory address by the president during the war would be completely appropriate.

The minister also talked about the meeting with EBU representatives on the eve of the competition.

Tkachenko said that the EBU apologised and said that it was a "human error": "No one knows what that means, but it is obvious that they would learn from this situation for the future."

The Eurovision 2023 final took place on 13 May. The contestant from Sweden, Loreen, won, while the Ukrainian group Tvorchi took sixth place.

Background:

The Times reported that the organisers of Eurovision 2023 refused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys offer to deliver a speech at the final of the contest, which was held on 13 May.

At the same time, the Office of the President of Ukraine did not approach the organisers of the Eurovision Song Contest with a proposal for an online address by Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was disappointed that the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy was not allowed to give a speech during the final of the Eurovision Song Contest.

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Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska meets South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul

Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska met South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul on Tuesday as a special representative of her husband, President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Zelenska said she was seeking "more radical" backing for Ukraine in its fight against Russia, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency.

South Korea, the world's ninth-largest arms exporter, has sent humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and has also sold tanks and howitzers to Poland.

However, it has a longstanding policy of not providing weapons to active conflict zones.

In her interview with Yonhap, Zelenska also responded favourably when asked if Ukraine planned to invite Yoon to Kyiv. She said Ukraine was "always waiting for its friends".

"Such a visit would be very supportive to Ukrainians because it is a way to share our confrontation with us, at least for a day of our lives," Yonhap reported Zelenska as saying.

Yoon expressed the South Korean people's "support and solidarity to Ukraine, and our deepest condolences to the families of the victims", his office said.

"Under no circumstance will the use of force and inhumane acts resulting in horrific harm to innocent lives, especially women and children, be tolerated," Yoon said.

The president's office said last month Seoul's decision on whether to send military aid to Kyiv depended on Russia's actions.

A large attack against civilians could tip the balance, it said.

Russian drones and ballistic missiles hit Kyiv on Tuesday in what the Ukrainian defence forces called an exceptionally complex strike.

The latest attack on the Ukrainian capital follows Zelensky's collection of a slew of fresh arms delivery pledges from Berlin, Paris and London.

"When there is a criminal in the house, the owners clearly need not only humanitarian aid, food and medicine, but something more radical to drive the criminal out," Zelenska told Yonhap.

"We say to everyone -- give us a resource and we will drive the criminal out of our home."

cdl/pbt
Over the course of the past 24 hours, Ukrainian defence forces on the Tavriia front destroyed 18 units of Russian weapons and military equipment.

Source: Brigadier General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, Commander of the Tavriia Grouping of Forces, on Telegram

Details: According to him, six Russian infantry fighting vehicles, one tank, two Lancet-3 unmanned aerial vehicles, Silock-01 anti-aircraft missile defence system, Aistyonok radar system, Artikul-M electronic signals intelligence system and a 152-mm howitzer 2A65 Msta-B were destroyed.

At the same time, Russian losses in killed and wounded amounted to more than a company.

Tarnavskyi said the Russians are concentrating great efforts on offensive actions on the Avdiivka and Marinka fronts. During the past day, occupiers attacked Ukrainian positions 22 times, but had no success and retreated.

He added that units of the Rocket Forces and Artillery of the Defence Forces on the Tavriia front carried out 672 fire missions during the day. This number includes counter-battery fire and fire on planned targets that were identified earlier.

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Flag of Georgia

The Georgian regulator announced on Facebook on May 16 that the airline would operate flights to Moscow seven times a week, starting from May 20.

Read also: Tbilisi rules out opening Georgia's ports for Russian cruises

Georgian Airways will commence regular flights on the Tbilisi-Moscow-Tbilisi route. According to the airlines application to the State Aviation Agency, flights will be operated seven times a week, starting from May 20, the announcement said.

Yermak shared his thoughts on the Georgian authorities decision through Telegram.

History always remembers those who pretend not to notice genocide, Nazism, and its perpetrators. This historical memory is unlikely to be appreciated by anyone. Georgia has allowed another airline, Georgian Airways, and previously Azimuth, to operate direct flights to Russia, he wrote.

Read also: Black Sea wont be safe for at least 20 years due to Russias actions, top admiral says

Yermak noted that the Georgian people constantly demonstrate solidarity with Ukraine.

Nevertheless, he observed that some seem to be trying not to notice the missile attacks on Kyiv, the destruction of Maryinka, the deaths in Bucha, Irpin, Izyum, and the abductions of children, while also neglecting the tragedy that took place in the Georgian city of Gori.

Perhaps, some believe that these matters do not concern them. And interaction with terrorists and murderers is considered normal. It is a misguided stance, but history will eventually set things right, and people will undoubtedly do the same, Yermak added.

On May 10, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin unexpectedly lifted the visa requirement for Georgian citizens and permitted direct flights to Russia. The Association of Russian Tour Operators stated that the first flights could be launched by the end of May. Direct air communication between the two countries had been suspended since 2019.

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili referred to Russias cancellation of the longstanding visa regime for Georgian citizens and the ban on air travel as a provocation.

Story continues

Read also: Georgian president calls Russias lifting visa ban for Georgian citizens another provocation

Since the onset of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Georgia has maintained a neutral position, refusing to impose sanctions against the Kremlin regime or provide military assistance to Kyiv. Meanwhile, Tbilisi has extended humanitarian support and welcomed Ukrainian refugees.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Tuesday that he plans to discuss the longer-term security arrangements needed to support Ukraine when he meets other leaders at the Council of Europe Summit in Iceland.

"I'll be talking to other countries, making sure that we continue to support Ukraine, give them the support that they need to defend themselves against Russian aggression, and also start thinking about the longer term security arrangements that we will want to put in place to support Ukraine in the long term," Sunak told reporters in Iceland.

(Reporting by William James, writing by Muvija M)
University of Miami Provost Jeffrey Duerk will step down from his administrative role in July, becoming the second of six executive vice presidents to exit the top ranks of the largest private university in South Florida this summer.

UM President Julio Frenk sent an email to employees and others on Monday breaking the news: I write to inform you of an important development in the executive leadership team.

After six years, Duerk will leave his executive post as provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, take a one-year sabbatical starting July 1 and then return as a full-time faculty member.

UM paid Duerk a salary of $898,588, plus $48,994 in other compensation, for a total compensation of $947,582, according to UMs 2019 990 tax form, the latest form posted on Guidestar, the nonprofit that tracks financial information at schools and universities.

Frenk didnt elaborate about the move in his email and UM did not make available either Frenk or Duerk for a Herald interview. Jacqueline Menendez, a university spokeswoman, didnt answer questions about Duerks impending departure, and Duerk did not respond to a Herald email sent directly to him.

FROM 2022: UM hires a CEO as professors fight for raises

Last year, UM, with about 19,000 students and 17,000 employees, hired a CEO, a move that riled the faculty over bringing in a highly paid administrator when professors are struggling to get raises amid higher costs of living in South Florida. Joe Echevarria, the former CEO of UHealth, UMs medical arm, started as CEO last June. Colleges and universities normally do not have a CEO; they have presidents, provosts, vice presidents and boards of trustees.

UM did not disclose Echevarrias salary when he was hired and the latest Guidestar postings do not include 2022 data.

Frenks total compensation added up to about $1.75 million, according to UMs 2019 tax form posted on Guidestar.

READ MORE: Top UM executive is heading to this North Carolina university

Story continues

Another top UM leader is leaving

In late March, Frenk announced Jacqueline Travisano, UMs executive vice president for business and finance and its chief operating officer since June 2017, was leaving. Travisano will leave at the end of June to become executive vice president and chief financial officer at Wake Forest University, a private institution with about 9,000 students in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

In early April, Travisano told the Herald the Wake Forest position seemed thrilling and moving there was always her long-term plan, as her husband is a licensed general contractor in North Carolina and they own property there.

Whats next?

Frenk said he looked forward to a seamless transition this summer but didnt mention any transitional plans.

We will take a thoughtful approach to the succession process and will keep faculty members, trustees, and the rest of our community informed about major decisions, he wrote.

UM still hasnt publicly named Travisanos replacement.

Duerk first arrived at UM in July 2017. He succeeded Thomas LeBlanc, who became the president of George Washington University in Washington. LeBlanc left that job in December 2021.

Duerk had been on the faculty at Case Western Reserve University, a private university in Cleveland since 1988. He served as dean of the School of Engineering from 2012 to 2017.

An inventor, Duerk earned his bachelors in electrical engineering from Purdue University and a masters in the same at Ohio State University. He then received his Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Case Western in 1987.

Duerks legacy at UM

In his role, Duerk oversaw all schools and colleges. He supervised 14 deans, four vice provosts, two associate provosts, a vice president and eight center and institute directors, according to a chart posted online.

Last week, the law school at Florida International University surpassed UMs in national rankings for the first time ever.

In his Monday note, Frenk said Duerk led the faculty through various natural disasters and the pandemic.

Indeed, it was the work Jeff prompted early in his time at the U to ensure the continuity of our academic mission following Hurricane Irma that set us up for success during the COVID-19 emergency, he added.

RELATED: Check out photos from UMs graduation this spring 2023

Under Duerk, UM established 97 new endowed chairs and launched new degrees, including its first three-year baccalaureate degree and one-year accelerated degrees in software engineering and computer science, Frenk said.

During Duerks tenure, UM also opened the Frost Institute for Chemistry and Molecular Science, the Institute for Data Science and Computing, the Climate Resilience Academy, the Laboratory for Integrative Knowledge (U-LINK) and the Platform for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (PETAL).
WORCESTER  A civil case stemming from a 2021 payroll data breach at UMass Memorial Medical Center was settled for $1.2 million this week.

About 3,178 workers, who were shorted because of a cyber break-in in December 2021 that forced the shutdown of the payroll system, will be paid in the settlement, according to federal court documents.

Workers filed a lawsuit in March 2022 against UMass Memorial and its payroll management systems Kronos Inc. and UKG Inc., criticizing the hospitals insufficient computer security policies and practices.

Demanding $5 million in the suit, workers contended that they were not paid on time and were not paid the full amount of wages they were supposed to receive during and after the freeze, court documents show.

During the breach, UMass Memorial paid the workers using the amount of hours worked in the time before the shutdown, while ignoring the amount of hours worked during the shutdown, the plaintiffs contended.

UMass Memorial denied any wrongdoing at the time of the case filing, stating it had paid the workers for improper payments in the months following the pay freeze.

A representative for UMass Memorial said the hospital would not release a statement about the settlement.

In the settlement, each worker will be paid in proportion to what they lost in the data breach.

Meantime, between June 2020 and January 2021, UMass Memorial patients were targeted in a data breach in which 209,048 individuals' information was accessed by a hacker.

The information included names, subscriber ID numbers, benefits, election information, social security numbers and drivers license numbers.

The hospital offered free credit monitoring and data protection services to those affected by the breach.

This had been the second time UMass Memorial patients were notified of a breach in recent years. In September 2020 UMass Memorial informed patients that a vendor that provides data services, Blackbaud, was hit by a data breach.

Law360: UMass Medical to pay $1.2 million to settle data breach claims

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: UMass Memorial Medical Center of Worcester settles data breach suit
Tesla CEO Elon Musk meets with France's President Emmanuel Macron (L) at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris on May 15, 2023. MICHEL EULER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Elon Musk pulled up to his meeting with Emmanuel Macron unshaven after a night of clubbing.

He was seen partying in Mexico hours before meeting Macron, and said that he slept "in the car."

Macron met with Musk to discuss Tesla's possible investments in France.

Elon Musk pulled up to his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron unshaven and trying to shake off the effects of a night of partying.

Hours before his meeting with Macron at the presidential palace in Paris on Monday, the tech mogul was seen breaking it down on the dance floor of a luxury resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, per The Telegraph.

A tweet from The Telegraph shows the 51-year-old busting out some dance moves in a crowded nightclub.

While he'd swapped out his jeans and T-shirt combo for a crisp suit, Musk appeared to still be unshaven in his meeting with Macron.

He also jokingly told Macron that he had to "sleep in the car" prior to their meeting, The Telegraph reported.

This is not the first time that Musk has admitted to sleeping in odd locations. He previously said that he slept on Tesla factory floors to show that he was hard at work and not "drinking Mai Tais on a tropical island."

And earlier this year, he admitted that he sometimes sleeps on a couch in the library of Twitter's San Francisco headquarters.

The French leader met with Musk to urge him to make investments in France, per Reuters. Musk later told reporters that Tesla would make "significant investments" in France in the future without providing an exact timeline of when that would happen.

"No announcement today, but I am very impressed with President Macron and the French government and how welcoming they are to industry," he told reporters.

Macron later met with about 2oo business leaders in Versailles to discuss investments in France, Reuters reported.

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The leader has recently been criticized for raising the national pension age from 62 to 64, despite pushback.

But Musk has previously voiced support for his plans, saying in a tweet on January 20 that "Macron is doing the difficult, but right thing."

"The retirement age of 62 was set when lifespans were much shorter. It is impossible for a small number of workers to support a massive number of retirees," he added in his tweet.

Representatives of Macron and Musk did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment sent outside regular business hours.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Some women who expected to deliver their babies at Doctors Hospital in Manteca have had their plans changed. A corporate decision to close that hospitals obstetrics unit means those births will be diverted to Doctors Medical Center in Modesto and two other hospitals in San Joaquin County.

The labor and delivery unit at Doctors Manteca will be discontinued effective July 24.

The decision is expected to affect an unknown number of patients from Manteca to Mountain House to Patterson in western Stanislaus County.

Krista Deans, a spokeswoman for Doctors Manteca and other hospitals owned by Tenet Healthcare in Northern California, released a statement Monday explaining the decision to close labor and delivery in Manteca. The equivalent of 21 full-time employee positions are affected.

We regularly evaluate the services we offer to ensure our resources are properly allocated to meet the healthcare needs of our community, Tenets statement said. After careful consideration, we have decided to consolidate our labor and delivery services into the existing, high-quality programs offered at our nearby sister facilities.

Doctors Manteca will keep providing womens health services such as gynecology, womens imaging and surgery for breast cancer.

Tenet Healthcare, which owns Doctors Manteca and Doctors Medical Center in Modesto, did not say how many births will be diverted to other hospitals when the Manteca unit closes. Tenet also owns Emanuel Medical Center in Turlock.

After the unit closes July 24, some expectant mothers will deliver at Doctors Medical Center in Modesto, which is 22 miles away. Affected patients also are being referred to San Joaquin General Hospital in French Camp and St. Josephs Medical Center in Stockton. Most insurance plans are accepted at Doctors Modesto and the two other hospitals.

Patients are being advised to discuss insurance and other questions with the hospitals. The Manteca hospitals human resources unit is trying to help affected employees find other positions with the hospital or sister facilities.

Doctors Hospital in Manteca saw its first new arrival two days after it opened in 1962, and a fully equipped birthing center was added in 1985. In September, the 73-bed hospital announced it had received the 2021 Honor Roll Award for maternity care from the California Health and Human Services Agency.

We are grateful to the obstetrics department staff and physicians for their continued commitment to our patients, Tenets statement said.
A 30-year-old man shot and killed two people early Monday in a Lakewood apartment the day after his uncle died after overdosing in the same unit, according to charging documents.

Ontario Lavell Pruitt was charged in Pierce County Superior Court with two counts of aggravated first-degree murder and first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.

Pleas of not guilty were entered on his behalf at arraignment Tuesday afternoon. Commissioner Craig Adams set bail at $5 million. In arguing for that bail amount, deputy prosecuting attorney Afton Gregson said although Pruitt turned himself in, he didnt provide information about the firearm used in the shooting. Records say it hasnt been recovered. She also said the state considered him a flight risk because he is transient. According to a pretrial services report, the defendant reported he could stay at an address in Tacoma if he were to be released.

Ontario Lavell Pruitt, 30, appeared Tuesday, May 16, 2023, in Pierce County Superior Court to face arraignment on two counts of aggravated first-degree murder and unlawful possession of a firearm for a shooting Monday in Lakewood that ended with two men dead.

Pruitt appeared for the hearing shackled and in a yellow smock. Corrections deputies from Pierce County Jail requested the use of restraints for the safety of the defendant and courtroom staff. A deputy testified that the defendant had been on suicide precautions at the jail and had been yelling while being brought to court. Adams granted the request after hearing from the state and the defense.

Outside the courtroom, Darryl Williams, 60, told The News Tribune that his uncle, Joseph Smith, was one of the men who died in the shooting. Williams said hed seen Smith as recently as last weekend. Smith had lived in Lakewood for more than a decade, he said, and the man would have been 71 at the end of the month. He said the fact that the overdose death happened in Smiths apartment doesnt mean his uncle was making anyone take drugs.

Joe wouldnt harm a soul, Williams said.

Pruitt called a Lakewood Police Department detective the day of the shooting to turn himself in, according to the declaration for determination of probable cause. He allegedly told deputies he was sorry for what happened and that he had overreacted. Prosecutors wrote in charging papers that he has prior felony convictions, including convictions for first-degree theft, third-degree assault, attempted unlawful delivery of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a firearm.

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According to the probable cause document, Pruitts uncle died Sunday after overdosing, possibly on fentanyl, at Wisteria Walk Apartments, 3607 112th St. SW. In the early hours of Monday morning, the defendant, his cousin and a friend went there to inquire about the details of the overdose. The uncle reportedly raised Pruitt and was like a father to him.

The cousin later told detectives Pruitt was face-to-face with one man  identified in the documents as J.S.  when the victim fell to the ground and gunshots rang out. The cousin reportedly said he immediately fled, and according to detectives, he was adamant that he and the friend he was with didnt know Pruitt had a gun, records state.

The victims have yet to be publicly identified. According to court records and police, J.S. was a tenant of the apartment, and he was about 70 years old. Police said the other victim, who was in his 50s, was J.S.s acquaintance.

Detectives believe Pruitt pushed J.S. to the ground when he opened the apartment door, shot the other man, then fired six bullets into J.S. while he was on the ground, according to the probable cause document. The other victim reportedly appeared to have a single gunshot wound to his head and a possible second shot to his shoulder blade.
Bridget Brink, US Ambassador to Ukraine, has reacted to the new missile attack on Kyiv launched by Russia, which happened overnight on 15-16 May.

Source: Bridget Brink on Twitter, as reported by European Pravda.

Details: After the powerful explosions, Brink thanked the air defence forces of Ukraine for their work.

Quote: "Grateful for the powerful work of Ukrainian air defenders," she said.

Grateful for the powerful work of Ukrainian air defenders.

     .  Ambassador Bridget A. Brink (@USAmbKyiv) May 16, 2023

Background: Several loud explosions were heard in Kyiv on the night of 1516 May, and Ukraines air defence systems were activated. According to the local authorities, fragments of missiles fell in several districts of the capital. A non-residential building and several cars caught fire in the Solomianskyi district, and two more have been damaged by missile fragments in the Darnytskyi district.

According to preliminary information from the Kyiv City Military Administration, the vast majority of Russian targets were detected and destroyed in the sky over Kyiv.

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The U.S. is blasting the arrest of a former employee of its embassy in Russia, saying conspiracy charges against the man are wholly without merit.

Robert Shonov was detained in Vladivostok, a city on the southeastern coast of Russia, and charged with collaboration on a confidential basis with a foreign state or international or foreign organization, according to Russian state-run news agency TASS.

Shonov is a Russian national, according to the State Department, who worked for the U.S. Consulate General in the city for more than 25 years. The State Department said that after Russia ordered in 2021 that all local staff to the U.S. Mission be terminated, Shonov was employed by a private company that provided services to the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, saying it was in strict compliance with Russias laws and regulations.

Mr. Shonovs only role at the time of his arrest was to compile media summaries of press items from publicly available Russian media sources, a State Department spokesperson said in a statement. His being targeted under the confidential cooperation statute highlights the Russian Federations blatant use of increasingly repressive laws against its own citizens.

Shonov is facing up to eight years in prison and was taken to Russias Lefortovo detention center. It is the same detention center where Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter who was arrested in Russia in March and who has been labeled as wrongfully detained by the U.S., is reportedly being held, according to The New York Times.

Gershkovich was accused of spying, claims that both the White House and the Journal have resolutely rejected.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Sailors take part in a military parade in the Far Eastern Russian city of Vladivostok on May 9, 2023

The United States on Tuesday denounced Russia's arrest of a former employee of a US consulate, who risks prison time for what Washington said were routine activities.

Russia's state-run TASS agency said Robert Shonov, a Russian national, was being held under a law against "confidential cooperation" with a foreign state.

Shonov worked for more than 25 years for the US consulate in the Far Eastern city of Vladivostok until 2021, when Moscow imposed restrictions on local staff working for foreign missions.

The State Department said that Shonov was since working for a private company, contracted by the US embassy in Moscow, that compiles press accounts from publicly accessible Russian media "in strict compliance with Russia's laws and regulations."

"The allegations against Mr. Shonov are wholly without merit," said State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, who "strongly condemned" the arrest.

Shonov could face three to eight years in prison.

"It's clear that unacceptable activities by unfriendly states are not slowing down but rather are going up," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said, as quoted by TASS.

The State Department scoffed at the allegations.

"Like any diplomatic mission in the world -- including Russia's mission in the United States -- the US embassy contracts for local services to operate its diplomatic mission," Miller said.

"His being targeted under the 'confidential cooperation' statute highlights the Russian Federation's blatant use of increasingly repressive laws against its own citizens."

Relations between Russia and the West have deteriorated sharply since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, with the United States leading efforts to punish Moscow and arm Kyiv.

Even before the war, the United States was at loggerheads with Russia over rules on staffing of its embassy, which Washington said had been reduced to a skeleton crew.

sct/nro/ec
The US State Department considers the intentions of a range of countries to start training Ukrainian pilots to be an essential process.

Source: Vedant Patel, Principal Deputy Spokesperson of the US Department of State, during a briefing, as reported by European Pravda

Quote: "There is an important process as it relates with the alliance of a number of countries providing important security assistance to our Ukrainian partners," he stressed.

Details: The State Department representative stressed that the aim of Western countries is to do everything possible to ensure that Ukraine has the assets to defend its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

"And you have seen a number of countries step up and share systems, train individuals, and we look forward to deepening our partnerships in order to do that and play our role as well," Patel added.

Background: The UK reportedly agreed to start training Ukrainian pilots in the summer and has been working with other countries to provide F-16 fighters to Ukraine.

In addition, French President Emmanuel Macron said that following his meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, he had "opened the door" to training pilots from Ukraine, without specifying any details.

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China

It is important for the PRC to hear directly from our Ukrainian partners about why Ukraines security concerns and its sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected, he said.

Patel said that when it comes to diplomacy, nothing should happen about Ukraine without Ukraine.

He added that the Kremlin has yet to demonstrate meaningful interest in ending this war, and in fact theyve done quite the opposite.

Read also: EU-China relations will suffer if Beijing does not nudge Moscow towards peace, Borrell says

While others are focused on finding ways for this war to end, including (Ukrainian) President (Volodymyr) Zelenskyy, who has laid out his own peace plan, Russia is sending drones and missiles into a neighbors country, hitting apartment buildings, hitting hospitals, hitting movie theaters, killing scores of children and injuring others, the official said.

According to U.S. news channel CNN, Chinas special representative of Eurasian affairs Li Hui will visit Ukraine this week to promote peace talks.

Lis trip will begin on May 15, and he will travel to Ukraine, Poland, France, Germany, and Russia during the tour.

Read also: EUs top diplomat accepts only Zelenskyys peace formula, rejects Chinas position paper

Li is the highest-ranking Chinese official to visit Ukraine since the beginning of Russias full-scale invasion.

The visit comes after Chinese leader Xi Jinping spoke with Zelenskyy by phone last month for the first time since Russias full-scale invasion and war began last 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
By Moira Warburton

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic U.S. Representative Robert Garcia on Tuesday started the process of forcing a vote on a motion to expel Republican George Santos, the congressman from New York facing federal charges of fraud, money laundering and theft of public funds.

Two-thirds of the House of Representatives would have to vote in favor for Santos to be expelled, a bar unlikely to be reached in a chamber that Republicans control by a narrow 222-213 margin. But the vote will put many Republicans in the difficult position of defending a colleague with a history of lying about his work experience and biography.

Garcia, who represents a House district in California, used a parliamentary maneuver to force a vote within two days on the motion.

"George Santos is a fraud and a liar, and he needs to be expelled by the House," Garcia said in a statement. "Republicans now have a chance to demonstrate to Americans that an admitted criminal should not serve in the House of Representatives."

Santos's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Santos last week pleaded not guilty to the charges, calling the allegations against him a politically motivated "witch hunt."

He has made extensive false claims about his past, including saying he earned degrees from New York University and Baruch College despite neither institution having any record of his attending. He claimed to have worked at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, also untrue.

He said falsely that he was Jewish and that his grandparents escaped the Nazis during World War Two. He has admitted to fabricating large parts of his resume.

Santos, a first-term congressman, has said he intends to seek re-election in 2024. Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has said he would not support Santos's re-election bid.

Nine House Republicans have called on Santos to resign, including six from New York.

(Reporting by Moira Warburton; Editing by Will Dunham and Scott Malone)
Serviceman patrols in front of the Patriot air defence system during Polish military training on the missile systems at the airport in Warsaw, Poland February 7, 2023. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel

Russia launched a massive missile attack on Ukraine overnight on Monday.

Ukraine's air force said it managed to shoot down 18 different missiles, including six Kinzhals.

But a US official says the attack likely resulted in damage to a Patriot air-defense system, CNN reported.

A US-made Patriot air defense system likely suffered damage during a massive overnight Russian missile attack near Kyiv involving one of the Kremlin's most advanced missiles, CNN reported on Tuesday.

It's unclear how the Patriot was damaged. It's also unclear exactly how much damage was inflicted on the system, a US official told the outlet. Depending on the evaluation, the Patriot could either be repaired in the field or taken off its role protecting Ukraine's skies for more extensive work.

The barrage of missiles and drones launched by the Russians overnight included three ground-launched missiles, six Kinzhal missiles, and nine Kalibr missiles. Kyiv's defense ministry said it was "one of the most intense attacks" on the capital since the war broke out.

Ukraine's air force said it shot down "all" the targets. But Russia's defense ministry said on Telegram earlier Tuesday that a Patriot had been "struck" by one of the Kinzhals, though it did not go into more detail.

"We cannot comment on this. We'll stay out of commenting on Russian sources," Serhiy Ihnat, a Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson, said of Moscow's claim. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Ukraine's defense ministry, however, posted a screenshot of Moscow's Telegram statement saying it had "struck" the Patriot. "The russian ministry of defense's press service is more powerful than most countries' armies," Kyiv said. "russia doesn't even need an army to conquer the entire world; its state media and MoD spokesperson konashenkov are more than adequate."

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The Patriot system firing in Greece in November 2017 as part of a NATO exercise. Sebastian Apel/U.S. Department of Defense, via AP

The American-made Patriot defense battery  a highly mobile, truck-mounted surface-to-air missile system  is the most advanced US air defense system, and it is capable of engaging ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, aircraft, drones, and loitering munitions.

Oleksii Reznikov, Ukraine's defense minister, confirmed in late April that Kyiv received several Patriots and thanked the US, Germany, and Netherlands  three countries that have promised to deliver the systems. "Today, our beautiful Ukrainian sky becomes more secure because Patriot air defense systems have arrived in Ukraine," he said.

Just days later, in early May, Ukraine said it used its Patriots to shoot down a Russian Kinzhal missile. As it turns out, Russia had been trying to use the Kinzhal to destroy the Patriot, but the plan backfired.

Moscow has touted the Kinzhal, an advanced air-launched ballistic missile, as unstoppable while also inaccurately characterizing the weapon as a "hypersonic missile," a term that typically refers to a emerging class of new weapons of which the Kinzhal is not a part.

The single Patriot that the US promised Ukraine is part of the nearly $37 billion in security assistance that Washington has committed to Kyiv since Russia launched it's full-scale invasion last year. This military aid includes heaping amounts of artillery, rockets, armored vehicles, small arms, and other advanced weaponry.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The United States announced a $10 million reward for a Russian hacker who allegedly carried out ransomware attacks on US law enforcement agencies and health care providers

The United States announced Tuesday a $10 million reward for information leading to the arrest of a Russian hacker who allegedly carried out ransomware attacks on US law enforcement agencies and health care providers.

Mikhail Pavlovich Matveev is accused of deploying ransomware variants known as LockBit, Babuk, and Hive in a bid to extort milllions of dollars in payments, the Justice Department said.

"Total ransom demands allegedly made by the members of these three global ransomware campaigns to their victims amount to as much as $400 million, while total victim ransom payments amount to as much as $200 million," the department said in a statement.

"From Russia and hiding behind multiple aliases, Matveev is alleged to have used these ransomware strains to encrypt and hold hostage for ransom the data of numerous victims, including hospitals, schools, nonprofits, and law enforcement agencies, like the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington DC," said US attorney Philip Sellinger of the District of New Jersey.

Matveev has been operating since early 2020 using various aliases including "Wazawaka," "m1x," and "Boriselcin," the Justice Department said.

It said that LockBit ransomware has been used in more than 1,400 attacks on targets in the United States and around the world.

The Justice Department said the ransomware actors would access vulnerable computer systems and encrypt or steal data.

They would then send a ransom note demanding payment in exchange for decrypting the data or not releasing it publicly.

Matveev is charged with conspiring to transmit ransom demands, conspiring to damage protected computers and intentionally damaging protected computers.

The State Department offered a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to his arrest and conviction.

If convicted, Matveev faces more than 20 years in prison.

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Russia's missile attack on Ukraine on the night of 1516 May did not destroy a Patriot anti-aircraft missile system, as the Russian Defence Ministry has claimed.

Source: CNN, citing an anonymous US official

Details: A US official told CNN that a Patriot system was likely damaged, with the extent of the damage still being assessed. This assessment will determine whether the system can be repaired on the spot, or needs to be pulled back.

On Tuesday, Russias Defence Ministry said that "a high-precision strike by the Kinzhal hypersonic missile system in the city of Kyiv hit a US-made Patriot anti-aircraft missile system." Ukraine did not comment on the Russian statement, but said that its forces intercepted all six hypersonic Kinzhal missiles that Russia had launched.

Russia has targeted the US-made Patriot systems with hypersonic missiles before, including once on May 4. That attack failed, and Ukrainians successfully intercepted the missile before it could hit the Patriot, the officials said. The Pentagon confirmed that Ukrainian forces deployed a Patriot system to down the Russian missile that targeted it.

CNN wrote that the Patriot missile system "has a powerful radar to detect incoming targets at long-range, making it a potent air defense platform capable of intercepting ballistic missiles and more."

However, CNN explained, "the radar emission necessary to spot threats at a distance also makes it possible for the enemy to detect the Patriot battery and figure out its location. And unlike some shorter-range air defenses provided to Ukraine that are mobile and harder to target, the large Patriot battery is a larger and more stationary system, making it possible for the Russians to zero in on the location over time."

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This summer, Leona Serao, 23, is looking to make history by becoming the first Black woman to fly solo around the world.

The fact that I'm going to be the first one, means I'm going to be able to inspire other Black and other African people who want to join the aviation field, she told Yahoo News.

Serao plans to begin her 3-month round-the-globe journey from New York City in early August, and, before returning home, it will take her to 33 countries across four continents. To date, there have been 142 solo flights around the world, according to Earthrounders, a site that tracks the feat. Just 11 of the pilots have been women and none of those have been Black.

There are just over 158,000 licensed pilots in the U.S., according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Of that number, just 2.6% of pilots, or about 4,100, are Black and less than 1 percent, or about 150, are Black women.

Fight for it

Born in the U.S., Serao was raised in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the second-largest country in Africa where just three women are licensed pilots. Serao hopes her journey will inspire other young girls there.

It is a challenge because its a male-dominated field and women didnt really get the opportunity to be pilots before, she said. We couldnt even drive before [the 20th century]. And in the aviation industry, it stayed like that.

Aviator Leona Serao, who was born in the U.S. but raised in the Democratic Republic of Congo, plans to begin her historic 3-month journey in August. (Photo courtesy of Leona Serao)

Even getting to this point, Serao says, has been filled with challenges. After moving back to the U.S. ahead of college seven years ago, she found it difficult to adapt to American culture. She became a licensed pilot at the end of 2020 after intensive study for six months and spending upwards of $70,000 on flight school. She has since launched an online campaign to help cover the costs of food, fuel and lodging during her round-the-world trip.

When you have a goal, you have to fight for it, no matter the situation, she said.

The first Black man to circle the globe

In 2007, Jamaican-born American pilot Barrington Irving became the first Black person to fly around the world solo. Like Serao, he was also 23 when he made his flight.

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Irving told Yahoo News that he recalls taking off from Miami 16 years ago with just $30 in his pocket. He couldnt swim at the time, couldnt afford a life vest or a survival suit, but he was determined to succeed.

I'll never forget major media outlets interviewing me, a couple thousand people at the airport cheering, Go Barrington, go! and I only had three $10 bills, he said. But folks were so inspired. This was before crowdfunding was a big thing. ... I just told myself, I need to get from point A to point B and see how far it could go.

Jamaican-born pilot Barrington Irving at a news conference after his three-month flight around the world. (Alan Diaz/AP)

Looking back, he says, he has no idea what he was thinking given how few resources he had, but eventually people were so moved by his story, the donations started rolling in. The first, for $5,000, came from Florida Rep. Fredericka Wilson, and later came donations from players from the Miami Dolphins NFL football team.

In some ways, Irving said, the flight itself may have been the easiest part of the journey, despite the long hours of being alone. He recently contacted Serao to share his experiences and offer advice. After his flight more than a decade ago, Irving opened up a school to teach the next generation of aviators. He has also mentored at least six young people who have successfully flown solo around the world and knows the impact leading by example can have. In that way, Seraos attempt will be of lasting importance.

There is 100% a void of young women seeing other young women who look like them in the field of aviation that they can aspire to, Irving said. She will have the attention of so many women, not just Black girls, but so many women, to inspire them. And there's nothing like being the first.

For Serao, the inspiration to fly came from her father, a former pilot who died a year before she graduated high school.

I said, why not try to fly? Now I know Ive found my true passion.

Cover thumbnail photo illustration: Jack Forbes; photos courtesy of Leona Serao
The U.S. government has indicted a Russian national for his alleged role in ransomware attacks against U.S. law enforcement and critical infrastructure.

U.S. authorities accuse Mikhail Matveev, also known online as Wazawaka and Boriselcin, of being a "central figure" in developing and deploying the Hive, LockBit and Babuk ransomware variants.

In 2021, Matveev claimed responsibility for a ransomware attack against the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C, according to the U.S. Justice Department. The cyberattack saw the Babuk ransomware gang, which Matveev was allegedly a member of since early 2020, infiltrate the police department's systems to steal the personal details of police officers, along with sensitive information about gangs, suspects of crimes and witnesses.

Matveev and his co-conspirators also deployed LockBit ransomware against a law enforcement agency in New Jersey's Passaic County in June 2020, according to prosecutors, and deployed Hive ransomware against a nonprofit behavioral healthcare organization headquartered in nearby Mercer County in May 2020.

These three ransomware gangs are believed to have targeted thousands of victims in the United States. According to the Justice Department, the LockBit ransomware gang has carried out over 1,400 attacks, issuing more than $100 million in ransom demands and receiving over $75 million in ransom payments. Babuk has executed over 65 attacks and has received $13 million in ransom payments, while Hive has targeted more than 1,500 victims around the world and received as much as $120 million in ransom payments.

Matveev is also believed to have links to the Russia-backed Conti ransomware gang. The Russian national is believed to have claimed responsibility for the ransomware attack on the government of Costa Rica, which saw Conti hackers demand $20 million in a ransom payment  along with the overthrow of the Costa Rican government.

According to the U.S. Treasury, which announced sanctions against the Russian national on Tuesday, Matveev has also been linked to other ransomware intrusions against numerous U.S. businesses, including a U.S. airline. The Treasury added that Matveev has been vocal about his illegal activities, providing insight into his cybercrimes in media interviews and disclosing exploit code to online criminals. The sanctions make it illegal for U.S. businesses or individuals to transact with Matveev, a tactic often used to discourage Americans from paying ransom demands.

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The United States will not tolerate ransomware attacks against our people and our institutions, said Brian E. Nelson, the Treasury under secretary for terrorism and financial Intelligence. Ransomware actors like Matveev will be held accountable for their crimes, and we will continue to use all available authorities and tools to defend against cyber threats.

Matveev is charged with conspiring to transmit ransom demands, conspiring to damage protected computers and intentionally damaging protected computers. If convicted, he faces over 20 years in prison. The Department has announced an award of up to $10 million for information that leads to his arrest or conviction.
The school suspended Mary Walton for three days, her lawyer Natalie Hull said

A US high school is facing criticism after it suspended a student for recording her teacher using a racial slur in class.

Mary Walton, 15, filmed her teacher saying the n-word repeatedly on 9 May at Glendale High School in Springfield, Missouri.

Her family has since retained a lawyer and asked the school to apologise.

School officials said they believe the student was disciplined appropriately. The teacher who used the slur has quit.

As well as an apology, the young student and her mother, Kate Welborn, have asked the school to strike the suspension off her academic record, her lawyer Natalie Hull told the BBC.

The attorney argued that the suspension sends the wrong message to students.

"If you take a video of a teacher doing something wrong, then you yourself could also get in trouble," Ms Hull said.

The lawyer said that at the time of the incident students had been discussing the racial slur.

The unnamed teacher interjected, Ms Hull said, and used the word multiple times.

Ms Walton's video captured him saying the slur, as students asked him to stop.

"I'm not calling anyone a [slur]," the teacher can be heard saying. "I can say the word."

Ms Hull said the student shared the video with her mother and friend, after which it was posted widely on social media without her knowledge.

The school suspended Ms Walton on 12 May for three days - the maximum amount for her infraction under the school's guidelines, Ms Hull said.

In a statement shared with the BBC, the school's principal, Josh Groves, denounced the teacher's actions and said he was no longer employed at Glendale High.

Mr Groves added that the school was confident it had acted appropriately in response to the incident.

"Student discipline is confidential, per federal law, and Springfield Public Schools cannot disclose specifics related to actions taken," he said. "The student handbook is clear, however, on consequences for inappropriate use of electronic devices."

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Ms Walton's mother told the BBC she would like the school to amend its policy and to educate staff and students on how to respond should a similar incident involving a teacher happen again.

"The policy was either misapplied or it revealed that there is a problem with the policy and that there is no whistleblower provision," she said.

Ms Walton's actions have been defended by the head of the Radio Television News Association, who wrote in a letter to school officials that he had "serious concerns" about her suspension.

"She should be congratulated, not punished," Dan Shelley wrote in the letter, according to the Washington Post, adding that while the student was not a journalist, she had captured a "clearly newsworthy event" as reporters do.

Ms Walton is having a hard time after the incident, according to her mother.

"She would just like things to go back to normal so she can finish off the school year," Ms Welborn said.
A 51-year-old Cuban national accused of using false buyers to purchase weapons intended for Haiti is in federal custody in South Florida after being arrested in the Dominican Republic.

Elieser Sori Rodriguez was extradited to Miami on Friday after a grand jury in Fort Pierce indicted him on charges related to international arms trafficking and to directing others to purchase firearms on his behalf by having them lie on federal forms about whom the weapons were intended for.

Rodriguez, who is represented by the Federal Public Defenders Office, has an arraignment and detention hearing on Wednesday in Fort Pierce federal court. Prosecutors are seeking detention before trial, arguing he is a risk of flight and danger to the community.

According to an indictment, between November 2021 and August 2022 Rodriguez conspired with individuals in several Florida counties to purchase firearms on his behalf. The buyers made false statements on forms saying they were purchasing the weapons for themselves at several federally licensed firearms dealers in Martin, Port Saint Lucie, Palm Beach and Broward counties. In Broward, a known co-conspirator purchased four Taurus G3 firearms on or about Nov. 25, 2021, the indictment said.

But after the buyers purchased the weapons, they resold them to Rodriguez, the indictment said. This is known as straw-gun buying, a common practice in South Florida that fuels violent crime and unlawful weapons exports.

Rodriguez, after acquiring the weapons, then fraudulently and knowingly exported them from the United States to the Dominican Republic, where according to authorities there they were labeled as household items in a shipping container. Dominican authorities announced Rodriguezs arrest on Friday. He was apprehended, they said, on a street in the province of Montecristi during a joint operation carried out by agents from several agencies.

According to a Dominican government statement, Rodriguez is linked to the seizure of an arsenal of weapons in December 2021 by customs inspectors and other state intelligence agencies through inspections at the Puerto de Haina Oriental. In total, 33 firearms were seized, including rifles, pistols, shotguns, along with 350 units of ammunition and 56 magazines, 250 cartridges for pistols, 100 for 12 millimeter shotguns, 35 magazines for pistols and 21 for rifles.

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The investigation into this case has grown deeper because according to intelligence reports, the destination of the weapons used in this port interdiction operation were to be taken to the neighboring country of Haiti, the National Direction for the Control of Drugs said in the statement.

Rodriguezs arrest and subsequent deportation is the latest example of how weapons are pouring into Haiti, sometimes directly from Florida ports and other times by way of the Dominican Republic. Both Haitian and Dominican authorities in recent months have made arrests of individuals either attempting to cross into Haiti, or doing so carrying weapons.

A video shared by Dominican authorities showed Rodriguez being led onto a commercial flight at the international airport in Santo Domingo and being deported to the United States.

Miami Herald reporter Jay Weaver contributed to this story.
Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes, left, and executive producer Brandon Fugal appear on Season 4, Episode 4 of The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch, which premiered on the History Channel on May 9. | Screenshot, The History Channel

Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes has focused much of his tenure on combating human trafficking and, more recently, pushing back on environmental, social and governance investing strategies.

Reyes has also lent his credibility to the investigation of paranormal activities in northern Utah as a guest on the History Channel's "The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch" television series.

Located near Fort Duchesne, the so-called Skinwalker Ranch property is famous for reports of unexplained phenomena, which are the basis for the investigative reality series in which ranch owner and real estate mogul Brandon Fugal and a team of researchers "apply cutting-edge technology to investigate the 512-acre property to uncover the possibly 'otherworldly' perpetrators behind it all," according to the History Channel.

Reyes appeared as a guest on the latest episode of Season 4 and offered to investigate an unidentified aircraft  believed by the cast to be a Black Hawk military helicopter  that appeared to be monitoring the team's latest experiment at the ranch.

When asked how the attorney general became involved with the series, a spokesman for Reyes said he was "invited to the show because the ranch is a site of national interest."

"He is not appearing in the show in his official capacity," spokesman Rich Piatt said. "No taxpayer funds are used for his appearances on the show."

A clip of the show on the show's YouTube channel lists the headline: "Attorney General Assists in MAJOR UFO Investigation."

In the episode that aired May 9, Reyes seemed to suggest the aircraft may represent federal overreach on state lands, and vowed to look into it.

"We're a sovereign state," Reyes said, in response to the suggestion that the crew is under surveillance during filming. "We have our own constitutional rights and violations of our state's sovereignty and our state's rights, we have to take very, very seriously."

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Reyes said on the show that he has "a lot of friends and a lot of assets in this state and I would love to get to the bottom of this."

"Gentlemen, what the heck is flying around in my state?" he asked cast members when shown video footage that captured a small unidentified object.

In a later interview on the episode, Reyes said he could confirm that a Black Hawk helicopter had flown over the ranch after taking off from Heber City, but he didn't provide any further information.

Piatt said the office doesn't comment on official investigations, but said "any investigation related to the ranch would come through normal protocols and be conducted like any other investigation."

Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes appears in an episode of "The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch." | The History Channel, YouTube

Reyes also appeared in an episode of "The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch" in 2020, and was on a panel about the series at FanX Salt Lake last year. His spokesman reiterated that the appearances were outside of his official duties.

"In his personal time, Reyes has appeared on several television interviews, documentaries, podcasts, reports and programs," Piatt said. "He even narrates and co-produces A&E's program 'Addiction Unplugged,' to provide hope for those dealing with the cycle of addiction."

A&E Networks owns the History Channel and holds worldwide distribution rights for "The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch."

A person familiar with the matter said Reyes did not receive any fee or payment for his appearance on last week's episode.

According to mandatory campaign filings, Fugal donated $1,000 to Reyes' 2020 campaign for reelection. Fugal has also donated to several members of Utah's congressional delegation, including Congressmen John Curtis and Blake Moore, and Sen. Mike Lee.

Former Utah Gov. Gary Herbert also appeared on two episodes of the show in 2022, according to IMDb.
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Members of a local Facebook group helped police find a man accused of kidnapping two children, authorities in Washington said.

The mother left her two sleeping children in her Honda Odyssey minivan so she could drop off paperwork at her friends home at about 8:45 a.m. Monday, May 15, the Hoquiam Police Department said in a report posted on Facebook.

She didnt want to wake her children, so she left the vehicle running with them inside of it, police said.

A 34-year-old man got into the running vehicle and drove off with it, police said.

The kidnapping was posted on the Grays Harbor Scanner Facebook page. The page posts information from police and fire department scanner feeds within Grays Harbor County along with other local news.

The initial post said an 18-month-old child and a 6-year-old were inside the van.

Two members of the page saw the van with the children inside parked at a gas station in Aberdeen, police said.

Police responded to the gas station, and the accused kidnapper ran off, according to the report.

The man was caught and arrested on charges of kidnapping and theft of a motor vehicle, police said.

While this incident could have had a very tragic outcome, the community, from our 911 dispatchers, social media, and alert citizens, to multiple law enforcement agencies, all came together for a quick and happy resolution, police said.

Hoquiam is about 115 miles southwest of Seattle.

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One of the world's biggest carmakers has warned it may have to close UK factories if the government does not renegotiate the Brexit deal.

Stellantis, which owns Vauxhall, Peugeot, Citroen and Fiat, had committed to making electric cars in the UK, but says that is under threat.

It warned it could face tariffs of 10% on exports to the EU due to rules on where parts are sourced from.

In response to the comments, Rishi Sunak said he believed in Brexit.

"I voted for Brexit, I believe in Brexit," the prime minister told reporters while travelling to the G7 Summit of world leaders in Japan.

Mr Sunak cited what he called "Brexit benefits" he introduced as chancellor and reforms to retained EU law which he said would save business a billion pounds a year.

He did not directly address concerns made by Stellantis, but a spokesperson said the government was "determined" UK car making would remain competitive.

It is the first time a car firm has openly called for a renegotiation of the terms of the Brexit trade deal, and the BBC understands all major manufacturers in the UK have raised similar concerns with government.

Stellantis warned that if the cost of electric vehicle manufacturing in the UK "becomes uncompetitive and unsustainable, operations will close".

The car giant called on ministers to come to an agreement with the EU to maintain the status quo until 2027, with a review of arrangements for manufacturing parts in Serbia and Morocco.

Labour's Sir Keir Starmer said the country needed "a better Brexit deal" to ensure firms such as Vauxhall could continue operating in the UK.

Sources said Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch had a "constructive" virtual meeting with Stellantis on Wednesday, with them "cautiously optimistic" after conversations with the EU which recognised a deal was in both parties' interest.

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Just two years ago, Stellantis, which is the world's fourth biggest car maker, said the future of its Ellesmere Port and Luton plants was secure.

But the firm told a House of Commons inquiry the current trade rules posed a "threat to our export business and sustainability of our UK manufacturing operations".

From next year, 45% of the value of an electric car should originate in the UK or EU to qualify for trade without tariffs. This will rise to 65% in 2027.

Stellantis said it was "now unable to meet these rules of origin" due to the recent surge in raw material and energy costs.

If the government cannot get an agreement to keep the current rules until 2027, exports of its UK-made cars "would be subject to 10% tariffs" from next year, it said.

This would make the UK an uncompetitive place to manufacture cars compared with Japan and South Korea, it added.

"To reinforce the sustainability of our manufacturing plants in the UK, the UK must consider its trading arrangements with Europe," Stellantis said.

Car making in UK decline since Brexit vote chart

A government spokesperson said ministers will take "decisive action" to ensure future investment in the industry but Labour said car makers had been let down by a "government in chaos".

'Running out of time'

Trading rules around electric cars were one of the very last issues settled in the Brexit negotiations in 2020.

But Stellantis warned the current rules meant manufacturers could relocate abroad, pointing to BMW's decision to make its new electric Mini in Germany and Honda's closure of its plant in Swindon.

Along with trade barriers, a core problem remains the lack of electric car battery plants in the UK, when compared with the US, China and EU which are pouring subsidies into electric car making.

Former Nissan executive and battery start-up businessman Andy Palmer said the UK was "running out of time" to develop its own battery manufacturing industry.

Gigafactory

Earlier this week, French President Emmanuel Macron hosted Tesla's Elon Musk, who hinted he might invest in a battery plant - or gigafactory - in France.

Meanwhile, the Spanish government is currently trying to woo the UK's biggest car manufacturer, Jaguar Land Rover, into building a gigafactory in Spain.

With the rules due to tighten again in 2027 experts believe UK exporters will find it impossible to sell cars overseas tariff free unless they can source batteries domestically.
Firefly Aerospaces Alpha rocket in April 2023, during Victus Nox testing at Vandenberg Space Force Base.The Alpha rocket will carry a satellite from Millennium Space Systems.

What happens when a satellite gets destroyed in orbit? Typically, weeks, months, or even years of planning and logistics precede the launch of a replacement. However, Space Force has hatched a plan to ambitiously cut that time down to a mere 24 hours, and the latest test of that plan could happen any minute.



According to the Space Force FAQ, the newest military branch exists to organize, train, and equip space forces in order to protect U.S. and allied interests in space and to provide space capabilities to the joint force. Key to these goals is the acquisition of military space assets, but the potential for U.S. adversaries to knock out these assets has Space Force thinking about a concept known as tactically responsive space.

Read more

What is tactically responsive space?

As early as 2005, the Armed Forces of the United States began discussing tactically responsive space, then referred to as operationally responsive space. The idea was predicated on the possibility that, in times of war or some similar national emergency, satellites in orbit could be damaged or destroyed. In that time of crisis, replacing the faulty equipment quickly would be paramount for the U.S. military to maintain its foothold in space. The concept is seemingly a topic of interest for the Department of Defense as both Russia and China are reportedly amping up their offensive capabilities in space.

In 2019, the conversation around tactically responsive space continued, as the Pentagon announced that it would be pursuing satellite launches with a 24 hour turnaround time. Two years later, Congress tasked the Department of Defense with developing the capability. Democrat Representative Adam Smith from Washington, then chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, reportedly asked the Department of Defense to submit a plan for rapid launch turnarounds as part of the National Defense Authorization Act.

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This past March, Space Force officially submitted a budget to Congress asking for $60 million for tactically responsive spacethis marked the first time the Defense Departments budget had specifically requested funding for this initiative. Earlier funding came from congressional add-ons, but here, the DoD asked for $30 million in the 2024 fiscal year and another $30 million in the 2025 fiscal year.

What is Victus Nox?

Victus Nox, Latin for conquer the night, is an upcoming mission to demonstrate how Space Force, and contractors Firefly Aerospace and Millennium Space Systems, might actually be able to achieve this tactical capability. The Victus Nox mission will challenge Space Force, Firefly, and Millennium Space to launch a spacecraft into orbit within a mere 24-hour window after receiving the go-ahead.

Launch update: Our next launch, FLTA003, will support the @SpaceForceDoD responsive space mission, VICTUS NOX. Were in the final integration of our Alpha rocket and will soon stand ready for the 24-hour call-up. Were honored to work with this incredible team! #PartnersInSpace pic.twitter.com/Sch7LUX8mm  Firefly Aerospace (@Firefly_Space) March 20, 2023

In 2021, Space Force first demonstrated its rapid response capabilities during its Tactically Responsive Launch-2 mission, in which a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket flew to space. According to Space Forces own account, the mission occurred on June 13, 2021 and saw Northrop Grumman launching the rocket from Stargazer, a modified Lockheed L-1011 aircraft. After taking off from Vandenberg Space Force Base, Stargazer reached 40,000 feet (12 kilometers) above the Pacific Ocean and launched Pegasus, which carried a demonstration satellite into orbit.

The second rapid response demonstration will be Victus Nox, formally known as Tactically Responsive Launch-3, and unlike the previous mission, Space Force wants a rocket to launch directly from the ground and deliver its payload to space. In October 2022, both Firefly and Millennium Space officially announced that they had joined the Victus Nox mission; Firefly won a contract worth $17.6 million while Millenniums contract was for an unspecified amount. Firefly will provide the rocket and Millennium will provide the satellite.

The U.S. Space Forces vision to quickly launch an asset in response to dynamic changes in space is a critical capability for our national security, said Firefly Aerospace CEO Bill Weber in a statement emailed to Gizmodo. The importance of this mission for the Space Force and our country has been one of the motivating factors for our team to rapidly innovate, test, integrate, and stand ready for the 24-hour call up.

When will Victus Nox launch?

Details of the mission are scant, and thats on purpose, as Space Force wants the two contractors to treat Victus Nox like its the real deal. That said, both Firefly and Millennium Space were able to describe the basic plan to Gizmodo.

Dana Carroll from Millennium Space told Gizmodo in an email that the contractors are approaching the Hot Standby Phase, during which Space Force could call on them to begin launch preparations on Victus Nox. When Millennium Space Systems gets the go-ahead from Space Force, the company will have 60 hours to transport a satellite over 170 miles (274 kilometers) from the companys factory in El Segundo, California, to Vandenberg Space Force Base. The satellite is about the size of a mini-fridge, and while the company would not reveal the specifics of its size or what equipment it will carry, Carroll did tell Gizmodo that its a piece of equipment pulled right off the companys own production line.

Millennium Space Systems pulled a small satellite from its production line to prep for launch as part of Victus Nox.

Everything about this mission is exciting and challenging, from the rapid eight-month delivery of a satellite to the activation phases, Carroll told Gizmodo in an email. We have a small team dedicated to Victus Nox. Sixty hours is not a lot of time so you need to have the right people on hand that understand truly any discrepancy and can disposition it immediately.



After Millennium Space Systems delivers the satellite to Vandenberg, a six month window begins, during which both companies will get a call to launch the satellite within 24 hours using Fireflys Alpha rocket. Firefly spokesperson Risa Schnautz told Gizmodo via email that the companys Alpha rocket is ready and waiting at Vandenberg for Millenniums satellite, and that Firefly completed construction of a cleanroom to prepare the satellite for launch. The company is conducting dry runs in preparation for adding the payload to the rocket, and on April 12, the company completed a static fire test of the rocket, according to Schnautz.

Were now completing the final readiness milestones for the build-up phase before we enter the stand-by phase and wait for activation, Schautz told Gizmodo. Fireflys rapid-assembly manufacturing capabilities across the organization allows the team to accelerate Alpha production and support on-demand launch timelines.

Until then, we must all wait in anticipation. While Victus Nox is serving as a blueprint for bolstering national security from the threat of a damaged or destroyed satellite, the applications of a successful demonstration of tactically responsive space could pave the way for compressed launch windows in both private and publicly funded space agencies.

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Data a decade in the making by the Salisbury Police Department has reported an overall drop in crime across the board.

A Safer Salisbury, part 1 of a 2022 report tallying specific crimes and yielding a 10-year comparison, found the city experienced a 45% decrease over that time period. The part 1 offenses covered in this report are aggravated assault, rape, homicide, arson, human trafficking, motor vehicle theft, robbery, burglary and theft.

In 2022, Salisbury saw a total of 1,209 reported Part I crimes, in comparison to 2,199 in 2012. Thus far in 2023 through April, the city has had 10,990 calls for service. That is 5,546 less than in the same month a decade ago.

More on local taxes How much will Salisbury raise the property tax rate? Options on the table now

"Over the last 10 years, we have really worked to develop key relationships and collaborative processes," said Salisbury Chief of Police Barbara Duncan. "There's a healthier, more productive, more viable city. It wasn't that long ago when the total number for (common) offenses were just over 8,000. As of 2022, I'm happy to report, those numbers are a little over 1,200."

Partnerships and added police presence

Police Chief Barbara Duncan gives statistics on crime over the past year during a press conference on 'A Safer Salisbury' Tuesday, March 16, 2021, in the Salisbury Fire Department at 325 Cypress Street.

Significant decreases were reported in burglaries, from 324 in 2012 to 133 in 2022, and in thefts, from 1,464 in 2012 to 699 in 2022. One of the largest declines seen was in adult arrests, which fell from 2,754 in 2012 to 1,191 in 2022, a 58 percent decrease in 10 years.

Duncan also credited the decrease to collaboration between sworn and civilian staff, critical community connections between neighboring law enforcement offices, internal data analysis, and the introduction of new programs and policies that contributed heavily to the drop in crime.

Under Duncan's tenure as chief of police, the report stated the department has:

re-instituted its K-9 program,

reimagined the Criminal Investigations Division,

buildt a Crisis Intervention Team,

developed a co-responder pilot project and developed the Police Complaint Mediation process in partnership with Community Mediation Maryland and Tri Community Mediation, consistent with Maryland Police Standards.

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Salisbury Mayor Jack Heath noted the report is proof of the current administration's priorities.

Ive said it before, and Ill say it again: Public safety is our No. 1 priority, and these numbers are proof of that, said Heath. As we enter National Police Week, we cannot celebrate this victory without acknowledging the hard work and dedication of the members of the Salisbury Police Department to make Salisbury a safer city.

The Salisbury City Council is currently continuing discussions on a new fiscal year budget to boost police officer retention and recruitment efforts.

More on the Ward Museum Ward Museum latest: Salisbury University pushes on with move plan amid petition drive

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Is violent crime rising or falling in Salisbury? Report examines trend
Truss has made no secret of the fact that she considers herself to be some kind of iconoclast, a fancy word for a crushing pub bore who makes themselves feel clever by disagreeing with you about everything (PA)

At the age of just 48, the late John Profumo was barely a few months older than Liz Truss is now when his political career came to a sudden and profoundly embarrassing end. He calculated, quite correctly, that the best way to rehabilitate his reputation in the large number of years remaining to him was to devote himself to a quiet life of charitable giving.

Sadly, that is a calculation that Liz Truss has found herself unable to make. For her, the six explosive weeks in Downing Street during which everything she believes in was shown to be a ludicrous delusion is clearly a mere stepping stone to ever more ludicrous public displays of such delusion on ever grander stages.

Later this week, shes off to Tokyo to stand vaguely near the G7 summit, which she would be attending as prime minister had she been able to conceal her very obvious delusion for just a little bit longer. There shell address some sort of conference or other, where shell say that what the world needs to do is stand up to China by creating some kind of economic Nato. Quite what economic Nato actually is remains unclear, but it sounds a hell of a lot like the EU which, to her credit, she did campaign to remain a member of, even though she would later claim she didnt really mean to  just to make sure she could be equally loathed by every side going.

She also intends to have a pop at David Cameron and George Osborne over their futile mission to placate and pacify China through diplomacy.

Cameron is, to his credit, rarely seen in public, unless its to politely shirk questions about his lobbying activities. Who knows what he thinks about anything anymore? There are many things that must keep him awake at night, but one suspects dawn comes and goes before Truss gets a look in.

After that, shes off to Taiwan for an immeasurably colossal exercise in public attention seeking. Since Truss left office, it has been impossible to talk to any of her former staff without them laughing about the whole sorry affair. That she was ever our prime minister, or even our foreign secretary, felt like an out-of-body experience at the time, and now seems like some distant bad trip. Well, get ready for another one.

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Truss is still only months out of the job and yet she has already racked up one day of ceremonial ex-PM duties for every nine she spent as actual prime minister.

Her trip to Taiwan has been quite correctly called the very worst kind of Instagram diplomacy, of which she is a truly world expert. She has said she wants to show solidarity with the Taiwanese people, who to some extent may be grateful, though other options of expressing solidarity are available.

When Nancy Pelosi went to Taiwan, the Taiwanese people had to endure a full week of the Chinese army practising how they would invade them. But Pelosi was a very senior US politician at the time. Beijings reaction to arguably the worlds pre-eminent laughing stock acting out her elder statesperson cosplay fantasies we can only wait and see. It may be that they dont even notice.

On her other big recent international expedition, she told a US think tank that woke culture was responsible for a high-tax economy. These are the deranged ramblings of a person who never had anything credible to offer  but at least when she started out they werent actively dangerous.

Truss has made no secret of the fact that she considers herself to be some kind of iconoclast, a fancy word for a crushing pub bore who makes themselves feel clever by disagreeing with you about everything. Trouble is, if you get off on telling people theyre wrong, in pushing their buttons, youve got to keep pushing ever harder just to stop people ignoring you. And Truss has got decades and decades of attention seeking to go, in the hope that it might fill the void.

Where, exactly, does it end? Banjaxing your countrys entire economy and then insisting a few weeks later that the problem was that you were right and everyone else was wrong is one thing, but diplomatic brinkmanship is quite another.

She is already the ultimate advert for there being almost no limit to the damage you can do so long as you just believe in yourself. The worry is that she might only just be getting started.
via Telegram

The Wagner Groups feud with the regular Russian military has apparently peaked with mercenaries from the group now threatening to rape a lawmaker and lieutenant-general who spoke out against the notorious paramilitary force.

A video appeal circulated on Wagner-linked Telegram channels shows three masked fighters vowing revenge against lawmaker Viktor Sobolev.

We are fighters in Bakhmut, one man says, identifying himself as a draftee called up under Vladimir Putins mobilization order.

The other two men identify themselves as members of Wagnerone a regular mercenary, and one an ex-convict recruited by the group.

We want to tell lawmaker Sobolevif you, motherfucker, stick your nose in, and Russia loses the war because of motherfuckers like you, we will have to come to Red Square to protect our people and fuck you and people like you in the ass. So fucking come here, you old fucker.

The threat comes after Sobolev, a member of the State Dumas defense committee, vowed to have military draftees who join Wagner jailed for up to 15 years, calling the mercenary group an illegal military formation.

Prigozhin reacted with outrage, cursing out Sobolev and challenging him to come to the frontline to show what hes capable of.

Though Prigozhin has been railing against military officials for months, his attacks have recently hit a fever pitch, with the Wagner founder publicly admitting in a video last week that the mercenary group was wasting ammo executing Russian troops who retreat from the battlefield.

Stop Deceiving the Population: Russias Mercenary Boss Threatens Full-Blown Mutiny

The Washington Post also reported over the weekend that the mercenary boss had offered to provide Russian troop locations to Ukraine if Ukrainian troops would withdraw from Bakhmut, a proposal that was ultimately denied.

The Russian presidential administration is now said to be preparing a smear campaign to discredit the outspoken mercenary boss who seems to relish in making enemies.

Story continues

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Federal agents load a vehicle with evidence boxes taken from a property related to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska on Oct. 19, 2021, in New York. | John Minchillo, Associated Press

Two members of Utahs congressional delegation say change is imminent for the FBI in the wake of the Durham report, and that a growing number of lawmakers in Washington, D.C., think it could be time to disband the agency, or at least subject it to major reforms.

On Tuesday Rep. Chris Stewart and Sen. Mike Lee, both Republicans from Utah, expressed their dismay over what they say is a lack of accountability for those involved in the FBIs investigation of former President Donald Trumps 2016 presidential campaign.

When people say its time to disband the FBI, to delegate those authorities to others such as U.S. Marshals, theres a growing number of people in Congress who begin to feel this way, Stewart told Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo.

Related

... Look at what theyve done in the last 10 years, my gosh you can go back to Martin Luther King and (the FBI) blackmailing Martin Luther King. And then we ask, well, are they going to do it again in 2024? Stewart said.

The report, compiled by special counsel John Durham, was released Monday and details how the FBI used false and uncorroborated reports to launch its investigation into Trumps campaign. The investigation, dubbed Crossfire Hurricane, fueled years of debate over Trumps ties to Russia, and led to a high profile report from former special counsel Robert Mueller.

And although the Durham report did not recommend any new charges against those involved in the FBI investigation, Stewart and Lee said its impact will be far-reaching  Stewart said Congress is working to implement new reforms that could open the door for future criminal charges.

There is no accountability, he said, pointing to a new bipartisan group within the House Intelligence Committee focused on reforming the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA. ... This new working group that we have put together on FISA reform is going to be a vehicle to actually implement reforms, to add criminal liability for some of these activities.

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Stewart noted the actions detailed in the Durham report werent illegal, it just hasnt ever been envisioned that Justice Department officials, or FBI officials, would do this.

Lee, meanwhile, questioned the FBIs current funding, telling the hosts of Fox and Friends there is going to have to be major consequences for the FBI and Department of Justice.

I continue to wonder why we have agreed to fund $500 million for a new FBI headquarters; I continue to wonder whether we need a major restructuring at the FBI, a complete decentralization of law enforcement power within the federal government, because weve seen that these are ... consequences that our country cant endure, he said Tuesday morning.

Lee said that the FBI investigation could have impacted the 2020 presidential election and the Trump administrations ability to operate.

Its an offense to the Constitution, he said. Where you do that, to try to throw off a presidential election, that is devastating. Thats the moment where you break glass in case of emergency.

The Republican senator also said he expects civil action to be brought against individuals involved in the investigation, and stressed that despite the partisan reaction to the Durham report, his concerns go beyond party line.

Everyone should be equally offended by this because if they can do it today to a Republican, they can do it tomorrow to a Democrat, he said.
(Bloomberg) -- Up and down Wall Street, teams are huddling inside banks and gauging the risks to themselves, their clients and markets if US lawmakers fail to raise the debt ceiling. Their message to the Biden administration and Congress: Get it done  now.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Executives from banks including the nations three biggest  JPMorgan Chase & Co., Bank of America Corp. and Citigroup Inc.  are spreading the word inside Washingtons corridors of power, and sometimes even publicly, that the damage to US businesses and the economy will start well before a technical default.

Financial firms are already racking up expenses as they rush to prepare, assigning workers and executives  including heads of trading, corporate banking and consumer banking  to study how the governments failure to pay bills would cascade through markets, according to people with knowledge of the situation. Efforts to brace balance sheets and advise clients on contingency planning are prompting a surge of costly hedges.

Read More: Wall Street Loads Up on Doom Hedges as Countdown to X-Day Begins

We want to make sure market participants have a collective sense of how the system, the pipes that make things function, will work in the event of a breaching of the debt ceiling, said Rob Toomey, the head of capital markets at the Securities Industry & Financial Markets Association, a major trade group. Its never happened, so we dont know to what degree the markets will be impacted.

Bank executives advice to Washington  to reach a deal quickly  contrasts with the pace of talks there, where the deadline cited most often is the so-called X-day, when the government is expected exhaust options for funding itself. Thats projected to happen in just a few weeks.

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Yet on Monday, Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said negotiations are nowhere near reaching a conclusion. He and other congressional leaders are set to join President Joe Biden at the White House again Tuesday.

Read More: Yellen Warns Time Is Running Out Ahead of Biden-McCarthy Meet

One challenge complicating Wall Streets case for more urgency is, ironically, also coming from markets, where stock prices and bond trading remains relatively stable. Many investors see a default as so obviously catastrophic  akin to mutually assured destruction in nuclear war  that they have been behaving as if Democrats and Republicans will absolutely come together to hash out a solution, just as they have in the past.

While thats also the view of many rank-and-file bankers, the industrys leaders have grown concerned enough to assign significant resources to preparing for the worst, taking fresh looks at potential risks, their balance sheets and even the legal language underpinning trades or assets.

JPMorgan Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon went as far as describing his teams preparation as a war room.

Time Consuming

The planning has been time consuming, Dimon, 67, said in an interview last week. It affects contracts, collateral, clearing houses, clients  it affects clients differently around the world.

Some bankers are quick to point out that they are always working on managing risks. Just two months ago, they were trying to anticipate what kinds of problems might come their way from troubled regional lenders.

But an unprecedented US debt default is both harder to model and far more catastrophic, requiring far more time and personnel. One thing that makes that work slightly easier is that banks have seen deadlock over the debt ceiling in the past, giving them ample opportunities to create  and now dust off  plans for what to do if a deal isnt reached in time.

While finance-industry leaders have routine conversations with top regulators, their joint focus on the debt ceiling has intensified in recent weeks, the people with knowledge of the situation said, asking not to be identified discussing the confidential talks.

Some senior bank executives have been asked to talk through the various scenarios with the Treasury Department and Bidens economic advisers, describing the effects a default could have on their business and clients.

Among the notes that industry leaders keep hitting is that a prolonged standoff could hurt confidence in US creditworthiness, likely raising costs for the nations taxpayers and taking a toll on investors and companies around the globe, the people said.

The last thing that the world and America needs is to have a debt ceiling crisis, Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser said on Bloomberg Television earlier this month, calling the consequences quite dire for consumers, corporates and investors.

Spokespeople for the Treasury and three largest banks declined to comment.

On Tuesday, more than 140 top business executives from finance, real estate and other industries urged swift action to avert a potentially disastrous default. A stalemate over the debt ceiling in 2011 that ended without default depressed stock prices, slowed economic growth and eliminated jobs, they wrote in a letter to Biden and top congressional leaders.

Failure to resolve the current impasse could easily have more negative consequences, the group said. Not only do individual investors, pension funds and other governments hold US Treasuries, the US could find it harder to borrow and keep up with other bills  potentially including some payments to Social Security or Medicare recipients. This cannot be allowed to happen.

And last week, 17 of Wall Streets most experienced traders issued a public warning to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.

The short-term impacts of a protracted negotiation are costly; the long-term implications of a default are unthinkable, the group of current and former leaders of the Treasury Borrowing Advisory Committee, which advises the department on borrowing, wrote in a letter to Yellen. The magnitude of adverse consequences from a prolonged negotiation, or a default, is unquantifiable.

Signatories included Goldman Sachs Group Inc. co-head of global banking and markets Ashok Varadhan and financing group co-leader Beth Hammack, as well as former JPMorgan Chief Operating Officer Matt Zames.

At the same time industry groups are preparing market participants for a period not yet seen or tested, to avoid anyone being caught on their back foot.

Sifma, whose broker-dealer members command more than 80% of US market share, has been publishing materials to help securities firms plan for three potential scenarios: a delay of principal payment, coupon payment, or absence of an extension of operational maturity, according to an updated internal deck.

If such an unprecedented event does occur, Treasury and other government announcements will be communicated on five scheduled conference calls daily between 6:45 a.m. to 2 p.m.

--With assistance from Christopher Condon, Max Reyes and Dan Reichl.

(Updates with industry letter from 18th paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP)  Investor Warren Buffett's company bought another $127 million worth of Occidental Petroleum stock over the past week to give Berkshire Hathaway 213.9 million shares of the oil producer.

Berkshire's latest filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission late Monday showed that it had bought another 2.2 million Occidental shares.

Buffett's Omaha, Nebraska-based conglomerate controls 23.8% of Occidental's stock and holds warrants to buy another 83.9 million shares for $59.62 apiece, but the billionaire recently told shareholders that he has no plans to buy the entire company.

Many people like to copy Buffett's moves because of his remarkable track record. Buffett doesn't routinely comment on Berkshire's stock purchases.

Buffett has been regularly buying Houston-based Occidental shares since early last year whenever the stock drops below $60. Berkshire's latest purchases were made at prices between $56.34 and $58.52.

Occidental's shares were down slightly Tuesday morning at $58.23. So Berkshire's warrants remain out of the money.

Berkshire also holds 93,532 preferred shares of Occidental that are worth about $10.3 billion and carry a hefty dividend, but Occidental recently redeemed 6,468 of them for $110,000 apiece. Berkshire picked up those preferred shares and the warrants when it helped finance Occidental's purchase of Anadarko in 2019.

In addition to investments, Berkshire owns dozens of companies outright including BNSF railroad, Geico insurance, several major utilities and an eclectic assortment of other companies such as See's Candy, Helzberg Diamonds and Precision Castparts.
SEATTLE (AP)  Democratic and Republican leaders in the Washington Statehouse reached a tentative deal on a major new drug policy Monday, one that would avoid making the state the second to decriminalize the possession of controlled substances.

Lawmakers will consider the compromise Tuesday when they return to Olympia for a special session. Gov. Jay Inslee called them back after they failed to pass a new drug policy before adjourning late last month.

Under the deal, intentional possession or public use of small amounts of illegal drugs would be a gross misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail for the first two offenses and up to a year after that.

But police and prosecutors would be encouraged to divert cases for treatment or other services, and the measure provides millions of additional dollars for diversion programs and to provide short-term housing for people with substance use disorders. Prosecutors would be allowed to ask courts to end pretrial diversion in cases where the defendant fails to make substantial progress.

A temporary, 2-year-old law that makes intentional drug possession illegal is due to expire July 1. So unless the compromise passes, drug possession  even of fentanyl and other dangerous opiates  will become decriminalized under state law. The only other state that's tried decriminalizing drug possession is neighboring Oregon, where the experiment is off to a rocky start.

Lawmakers on both sides said the agreement strikes a balance between compassion and accountability for those struggling with substance abuse disorder. Rep. Roger Goodman, D-Kirkland, called it "a fair compromise that addresses urgent concerns about public disorder but follows evidence-based practices in helping people in need.

Both Goodman and Republican Rep. Peter Abbarno, of Centralia, said much work will remain even if the compromise is approved, because even with additional funding, the state doesn't yet have the treatment or diversion program capacity it needs to deal with the addiction crisis.

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"The state of Washington is a decade behind in having treatment providers and having adequate bed space and treatment facilities, Abbarno said. Even when we pass this policy, were still not going to see an immediate drop in crime or substance abuse, because we dont have the workforce development and infrastructure to deal with the off-ramps that this bill creates.

In 2021, the Washington Supreme Court struck down the state law making drug possession a felony. It was unconstitutional, the court said, because it did not require prosecutors to prove someone knowingly had the drugs. Washington was the only state in the country without that requirement.

In response, lawmakers made intentional drug possession a misdemeanor and required police to refer offenders to evaluation or treatment for their first two offenses  but there was no obvious way for officers to track how many times someone had been referred, and availability of treatment remained inadequate.

Lawmakers made the measure temporary and gave themselves until this July 1 to come up with a long-term policy.

But as this years session ended late last month, a measure billed as a compromise was voted down in the Democratic-controlled House 55-43.

The standstill put lawmakers against a ticking clock to pass a compromise before that temporary law making possession of small amounts of drugs a misdemeanor expires in July.

Without a major new drug measure passed in Washington, cities and counties would be free to adopt their own approaches to drug possession and paraphernalia, creating a patchwork of laws that could undermine efforts to treat addiction as a public health issue.

Under the agreement, the sale of drug paraphernalia, such as glass tubes for smoking fentanyl, is a civil infraction, but possession is not banned, and public health programs would be allowed to distribute such materials as well as test strips that can detect the presence of fentanyl or other substances in drugs.

Cities and counties would not be allowed to ban drug paraphernalia, but they would be allowed to regulate recovery residences or harm reduction programs such as those that provide methadone or other medication to treat addiction, in the same way that they can regulate other essential public services.

Republican Rep. Gina Mosbrucker, of Goldendale, called the tentative deal a good compromise that sets lawmakers up to send a new policy to the governor's desk within several days.

This bill stops hard drugs in Washington from becoming legal, so I think its critical that we move forward, Mosbrucker said. That doesnt mean we cant have amendments and things that we dont anticipate that might change that.
China's watch industry marches toward high end of global value chain

People's Daily Online) 10:24, May 16, 2023

China has been moving its watch industry to the high end of the global value chain after decades of unremitting efforts.

The country made its first watch in Tianjin in March 1955 thanks to the efforts of Zhang Shuwen, a local watch repairman, and three craftsmen from two local clock factories.

A watchmaker of Tianjin Seagull Watch Group Co., Ltd. examines spare parts of a watch. (Photo courtesy of Tianjin Seagull Watch Group Co., Ltd.)

Watch factories mushroomed nationwide in the years that followed, but back then, the watches they produced were based on foreign models. In the mid-1960s, Chinese watch factories began to design and develop watch movements.

Tianjin Watch Factory, which later became Tianjin Seagull Watch Group Co., Ltd., independently developed China's first watch movement in August 1966. The factory started to manufacture Dongfeng watches with the movement in 1969, and the annual output of this type of watch hit 1.2 million in 1978.

After the launch of reform and opening-up in 1978, an increasing number of foreign watches flocked to the Chinese market.

In the mid-and late 1980s, Japanese quartz watches were extremely popular among Chinese customers as they were very accurate and fashionable, which sent sales of domestic mechanical watches over a cliff, recalled Dong Guozhang, general manager of Shanghai Watch Industry Co., Ltd. According to Dong, a mechanical watch lost between 10 and 20 seconds a day while a quartz watch lost about one second or several seconds a month.

Chinese watch factories then started to embrace transformation, and a batch of domestic watch brands emerged.

A technician of FIYTA (Group) Co., Ltd. assembles a watch. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian)

In 1987, FIYTA (Group) Co., Ltd. was established in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province. Upon its founding, FIYTA decided to follow the development trend of the global watch industry and manufactured quartz watches, following a path that was different to most Chinese watch companies back then, said Sun Lei, chief designer at the company.

By applying new techniques, FIYTA has created many "firsts" in China's clock and watch industry, including the first domestic brand of watches with scratch-resistant sapphire crystal.

In 2003, Yang Liwei, China's first astronaut, wore a FIYTA watch, the country's first aerospace watch, during his space exploration.

Photo shows design blueprints of watches exhibited at FIYTA Building. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian)

Since then, the watchmaker has made breakthroughs in the design of aerospace watches and provided watches for Chinese astronauts on many historic occasions, including China's first spacewalk completed by an astronaut from the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft and the country's first space lecture given by Shenzhou-10 crew members.

Meanwhile, domestic watchmakers have produced watches that embody Chinese aesthetics. FIYTA, for instance, rolled out watches themed on Dunhuang, a city known for its Mogao Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage site, in northwest China's Gansu Province.

Nowadays, Chinese watches are becoming increasingly recognized by overseas consumers.

Starting from 2002, FIYTA has been an active participant in Switzerland's Baselworld, one of the worlds largest watch and jewelry fairs. Luxury watch brands such as Patek Philippe and Rolex are regular exhibitors at the fair. "But at that time, FIYTA was a lesser-known brand in the global market and our booth was set up together with those for spare parts," Sun recalled.

Photo shows a high-end wristwatch of Tianjin Seagull Watch Group Co., Ltd. (Photo courtesy of Tianjin Seagull Watch Group Co., Ltd.)

In recent years, FIYTA has expanded its brand influence and market share overseas thanks to its progress in original design and technological innovation. In 2011, the watchmaker was recognized as an international watch brand by Baselworlds organizers.

FIYTA has reached markets in 29 countries and regions, including France, Germany, and Singapore. "We will continue to make innovations in watch-making techniques to develop more watch products and further expand overseas markets," said Sun.

At Baselworld 2008, Tianjin Seagull was accused of plagiarizing key parts of a foreign company's double-axis tourbillon watches. However, following close evaluation, Swiss experts concluded that Tianjin Seagull's design was not an infringement. Tianjin Seagull's success marked the successful upgrade of China's watch industry.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming)
As industry experts and academics sound alarm bells, Washington has quickly turned its attention to artificial intelligence. But theres hardly a coordinated approach when it comes to regulating the fast-moving technology.

President Joe Biden's administration has rolled out a number of executive actions to study the technology, while Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is working with experts and stakeholders to develop a broad legislative framework for regulating AI. Without a clear game plan for tackling the issue, multiple committees on Capitol Hill are holding their own public hearings and private meetings to try to address AI capabilities that fall within their jurisdictions.

The reality is the development of AI is at warp speed and none of us can keep up with it, Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., a member of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, said in an interview.

I do think its important for us, together, to talk about what the values are that we hope to enhance and preserve and protect with AI, he said, but were a long way from having a coordinated approach.

This week, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, one of the nations leading voices on artificial intelligence, will address members of Congress as they try to get up to speed. Altman will speak to House Republicans and Democrats during a dinner discussion hosted by GOP Conference Vice Chair Mike Johnson, of Louisiana, and Democratic Caucus Vice Chair Ted Lieu, of California, on Monday night. Then on Tuesday, Altman will testify about AI for the first time on Capitol Hill, appearing before a Judiciary subcommittee on privacy and technology led by Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Josh Hawley, R-Mo.

Many tech leaders have called for some sort of regulation or guidelines for the AI industry, though few have offered detailed policy proposals. In March, thousands of tech leaders and academics signed an open letter calling for companies to pause new experiments with giant AI models for at least six months, with some apocalyptic warnings, though theres no indication that any of the major companies in the field plan to do so.

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Rather than proposing sweeping AI legislation that could take years to enact, the Biden administration is using its existing authority to try to shape AI technologies and ensure they are developed and used responsibly.

This month, on the same day Vice President Kamala Harris huddled with Altman and other AI leaders, the White House announced a series of executive actions, including a $140 million investment to launch seven new AI research facilities and new AI guidelines for federal agencies.

Last fall, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy rolled out an AI Bill of Rights  a road map for tech companies and other entities as they make and deploy powerful and potentially dangerous AI tools. The blueprint is nonbinding, but administration officials argue that the onus is on businesses  and the broader AI industry itself  to ensure that their products are safe and secure.

Several agencies, including the Justice Department and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, have said theyre watching for automated systems that might discriminate illegally, like algorithms that might deny a person housing based on their race. The Federal Trade Commission has threatened to investigate companies that overhype their use of AI for potential false advertising.

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, on July 6, 2022 in Sun Valley, Idaho. (Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images)

Even some lawmakers aggressively pushing for new AI legislation see the advantage of Biden taking executive action to try to influence the rapid development of AI tools, from OpenAIs enormously popular chatbot ChatGPT to AI image generators and voice cloning software that are fooling everyday Americans.

The tremendous advantage of using existing agencies and regulatory framework is that a new legislative initiative on AI would be immensely difficult  from an intellectual and legal standpoint but also a political perspective, Blumenthal said. Just think of how long and hard weve worked on privacy, which is complex and difficult but may be childs play compared to AI regulation.

'It's just too new, too hard'

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt argued on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday that the AI industry needs to come up with regulations before the government tries to step in "because there's no way a nonindustry person can understand what is possible."

"It's just too new, too hard, there's not the expertise," Schimdt said. "There's no one in the government who can get it right. But the industry can roughly get it right and then the government can put a regulatory structure around it."

Jen Easterly, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, said last week at a Hack the Capitol cybersecurity conference that there may be a regulatory solution to AI security concerns. But she added: Businesses should be organized at the top level to put a priority on safety and security.

"That doesnt mean you cant have innovation  you can have innovation  you just cant think about it as innovation is incompatible with security and safety," she continued.

Steve DelBianco, a tech industry lobbyist who opposes government regulation on AI, said that federal regulators and lawmakers have been forced to play catch-up to Silicon Valley in the past, with technologies like social media.

Washington doesnt trust Silicon Valley to have thought through the consequences and disruptions of technologies that theyve rolled out, DelBianco said.

Regulators and lawmakers are competing for the spotlight, to show that theyre taking the lead to protect constituents, protect consumers when it comes to AI, he said.

Germinating ideas

While Washingtons approach to addressing AI may now seem disjointed, policymakers, regulators and White House officials are having lots of conversations about it. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., who is the Judiciary Committee chairman, organized an AI briefing at the White House on May 3 with Arati Prabhakar, head of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, Durbins office confirmed. Roughly 20 senators, Democrats and Republicans, attended the meeting.

Blumenthal called AI the new bright, shiny object in Washington, and he said he doesnt see a problem with a more organic, bottom-up approach to developing regulations in these early stages.

I sort of see this phase as germinating ideas and coalescing around the ideas that make sense, but there doesnt have to be a kind of, you know, top-down approach. I think, let 1,000 flowers bloom, Blumenthal told NBC News.

Still, he argued that the executive branch will need to take the lead given that international cooperation will be required, similar to the Human Genome Project of the 1990s and early 2000s.

Ultimately, presidential leadership is absolutely necessary here, Blumenthal said. Theres so many international implications. Congress cant conduct negotiations with the Chinese on whether theyre going to follow standards or rules that we adopt.

Other lawmakers say they are looking at tackling the AI challenge in smaller bites. The Senate Armed Services subcommittee on emerging threats held a closed-door briefing last week where AI issues were discussed, said Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va. And he said there will be a lot of focus on AI issues in this years National Defense Authorization Act, the massive defense policy bill Congress must pass each year.

"I think the pace of discussions on AI on many committees is picking up right now," Kaine said.

Rep. Jay Obernolte, R-Calif., a video game developer who has a masters degree in AI from UCLA, said hes part of House-Senate talks to form a congressional AI working group that can hammer out issues ahead of time so they dont slow down a legislative package.

Were in the very early stages of formulating what a regulatory framework might look like. And I think that as the effort gets a little more mature, youre going to see more coordination, Obernolte said.

The goal, he said, will be to have a bipartisan, bicameral working group so we can put together something that doesnt have to go through the torturous process of being modified and completely changed as it moves from committee to House, and House to Senate.

Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., a Biden ally who serves on the Commerce panel, said he is committed to passing AI legislation on issues he cares about, particularly around national security and film and music copyright infringement. He predicted that Biden would back AI legislation if Congress sends it to his desk.

I appreciate what the executive branch is doing, Lujan said. Im a lawmaker, and Im a legislator, and we move legislation. We build packages together. We find consensus.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Iam Tongi delivered yet another soulful tribute to fatherhood on the May 14 episode of "American Idol," landing him a coveted spot in the Top 3.

The 18-year-old Season 21 contestant from Hawaii finished off the "Disney Night" episode with a performance of the 1970 song Father and Son by Cat Stevens, featured in "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2."

Tongi performed Father and Son while playing the guitar and belting the lyrics to the song, which uncoils a dynamic between a father and his son who wants to pave a different path.

Tongi finished his performance to the applause of the audience who took some time to settle down even as judge Lionel Richie began to offer his critique.

You have to understand something. Theres a moment in time in your life when magic happens  and, my friend, this is magical for you because this is a time when all the stars align, Richie remarked.

Katy Perry  who stood out during the evening while dressed as fictional superhero Helen Parr from The Incredibles threw down the gauntlet when she declared her belief that Tongi would win the entire season.

I believe its written in the stars, Perry said. I dont believe in coincidences. I know that youre Iam, but when I see your name, I see I am the next "American Idol."'"

Katy putting it out there, Luke Bryan replied.

In April, Tongis performance of The Sound of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel prompted fans to reflect on how his fathers passing brought an extra layer of sentiment to his songs.

Iam Tongi sings from the heart and has a gift which you cannot really teach, the way he sings touches your soul, and the tone of his voice is so soothing, you just want to hear more and more, one person wrote on YouTube. Whether he wins idol or not is irrelevant, hes able to share his incredible voice with us and his humbleness and humility (shine) through. Iam your father would be absolutely proud of you, and so are millions of people who watch you.

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When Iams dad passed away, he didnt want to sing anymore, Tongis mother explained in the episode. He kept saying that every time he sings, he can hear his dad back him up. After talking with him, (I shared) with him that its a beautiful thing that he could hear his dad.

In addition to "Father and Son," Tongi sang a wholehearted rendition of Lava from the musical short film of the same name in the May 14 American Idol episode.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Australias Royal National Park was once brimming with platypuses  which are endemic to the country. But its been more then 50 years since one of the creatures has been spotted in the park.

That is until last week when a reintroduction plan three years in the making was finally launched by the University of New South Wales, Sydney, scientists, the university said in a May 14 news release.

Four female platypuses were released on the banks of the parks Hacking River, the university said. The platypuses are the first batch of what will eventually be a group of 10 including four males and six females.

Experts hope by introducing the group of 10, they can create a self-sustaining population of platypuses within the park.

We really want platypus to be the new sentinels of our rivers. If your platypuses are doing well, the river is probably in pretty good shape, Richard Kingsford, director of the Centre for Ecosystem Science and member of the UNSW platypus research team, said in the universitys release.

A total of six more platypuses will be a part of the reintroduction plan, the university said. Richard Freeman/UNSW Sydney

It is fitting that we should be returning this top river predator to its right place, Kingsford said in the release. Exciting reintroductions like this provide a focus for monitoring management and learning how to deliver for conservation.

The creatures were collected from various sites in southern New South Wales that have more established platypus populations, researchers said.

Experts said they hope the plan will generate a healthy, self-sustaining population of platypuses in the park. Richard Freeman/UNSW Sydney

The welfare of the platypuses was always our highest priority  both at the source sites and the release site at Royal National Park, Tahneal Hawke, a researcher who worked on the project, said in the release. We collected platypuses from multiple sites across multiple rivers to ensure no impacts to the source populations, and to ensure genetic diversity of the introduced population at Royal National Park.

UNSW ecologists said they first introduced the plan to bring platypuses back to the park three years ago. Richard Freeman/UNSW Sydney

Scientists working on the project said they will spend the next several months monitoring the platypuses and their environment.

An iconic creature

Platypuses are considered an Australian enigma, but in recent years, they have been classified as a near-threatened species, according to the Platypus Conservation Initiative.

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A 2020 survey by researchers at the university found that the region of eastern Australia where platypuses live has shrunk by about 22% in the last 30 years, the school said in a March 2022 news release. This change can be attributed to land clearing, droughts and river regulation, according to researchers.

The platypus is an evolutionarily distinct mammal, making it of exceptional scientific value and an irreplaceable component of the Australian and global biodiversity, the conservation initiative said.

The Royal National Park is located in Sydney.

See reunited chimps share warm embrace in Florida after rescue from roadside Ohio zoo

Watch rare sighting of impressive beast swimming near Scottish coastline

Watch as super rare sea creature gives diver the shock of a lifetime in Malaysia
Humpback whales are a rare sighting off the Isle of May coast in Scotland, but recently, one of the creatures was captured on video.

The impressive beast was first seen from the mainland on Wednesday, May 10, David Steel said in a blog post shared by the Isle of May National Nature Reserve. Then, while returning to the island, the reserves manager caught the creature on camera.

It was still impressive to see such a mighty animal around the island and we hope it will stick around for a while to allow people to enjoy the great sight, the post said.

Humpback whales rarely journey to this area, so the recent sighting marks only the third in nine years off the Isle of May, according to the reserve. The massive animals are becoming more common in the greater region however.

Steel said the whale appeared settled and was feeding in large circles between the Isle of May and Crail.

The Isle of May is off the southeastern coast of Scotland, about 30 miles east of Edinburgh.

Watch release of rare snake  with deadly bite  after rescue from India neighborhood

Woman searching tidal pools spots colorful blob  and finds a rare creature in UK

Spiky creature found lurking on temple wall in India turns out to be a new species
The nesting instinct is strong in this issue, which is devoted to the concept of family, whether chosen or biological, child-centered or adult-focused. Creating a safe haven for those nearest and dearest is a profound act of love and hope, and each home we feature is joyful and touching in that regard.

When RuPaul and his husband, Georges LeBar, decided to take up residence in a grand Beverly Hills mansion, the couple called upon longtime friend and AD100 designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard to dramatically glam it up. This is the house of Ru, a mansion of style... the ultimate runway for the supermodel of the world, raves Bullard of the larger-than-life environment he conjured for the megastar. I could not imagine a more appropriate place for the universes drag mother to hold court.

Photo: Douglas Friedman

Speaking of mothers, the chic Argentine photographer Delfina Blaquier has four children with her husband, polo champion Nacho Figueras, and the entire clan seems to be happiest in the saddle. When not at their spectacular stables in Argentina (AD, April 2017), the peripatetic family is in Wellington, Florida, the winter circuit horse capital of the world, where they have recently traded up from a serviceable condo to an airy Moorish- style house they decorated in collaboration with buzzy designer Sarah Sherman Samuel.

Photo: Melanie Acevedo

Photo: Trevor Tondro

Photo: Ori Harpaz

Back on the West Coast, the town of Mendocino, California, has a long tradition of attracting artists, hippies, and freethinkers interested in connecting to nature and experimenting with communal models of domesticity. AD pays a visit to Max Goldstein and Jay Ezra Nayssan, a queer couple who hired another queer couple, designers Fritz Haeg and Jeremy Schipper, to reconceive their rustic cabin there as a site of collective contributions and connections. For our circle of friends, its now a place to retreat and relax, says Goldsteinand there is always space for one more guest. Welcome to ADs family issuewhere everyone has a place at the table.

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Photo: Andre Jones

This editors letter appears in ADs June 2023 issue. Never miss an issue when you subscribe to AD.

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest

More Great Stories From AD
At least six people are dead and 11 are missing after a fire broke out at a four-storey hostel in Wellington, New Zealand.

The 92-room Loafers Lodge hostel in Newtown, in Wellingtons south, caught alight just after midnight on Monday, prompting an evacuation.

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.

The prime minister, Chris Hipkins, who visited the scene on Tuesday morning, said at least six people had died.

I understand six confirmed previously and it looks like there are likely to be more.

Residents have described horrific details of making split second decisions to save their lives as the fire engulfed their building.

It was just scary, it was really scary, but I knew I had to jump out the window or just burn inside the building, Tala Sili, a resident of the lodge, told news outlet RNZ.

The Loafers Lodge offered basic, affordable rooms with shared lounges, kitchens and laundry facilities to people of a wide range of ages.

Key Points

A 'worst nightmare' fire in New Zealand's capital

Six dead and 11 missing after fire enguls Loafers lodge

Hipkins says there will be 'a number of investigations'

'Jump out the window or just burn inside the building': Residents describe their horror

Many elderly people reported living on upper floors

'A dreadful human tragedy': Albanese expresses condolences for New Zealand

06:30 , Stuti Mishra

Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese told reporters he had spoken with his New Zealand counterpart Chris Hipkins and offered Australian assistance.

This is a dreadful human tragedy, Mr Albanese said. I expressed my condolences on behalf of Australia to our friends in New Zealand at this very difficult time.

In pictures: View of the scene after fire at Loafers Lodge

06:00 , Stuti Mishra

A general view of the scene after a fire at Loafers Lodge (Getty Images)

Burnt windows can be seen on the second floor of the lodge (Getty Images)

Police and rescuers are seen present at the site (Getty Images)

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins arrives at the scene after a fire at Loafers Lodge (Getty Images)

'An absolute tragedy': Hipkins says there will be 'a number of investigations'

05:30 , Namita Singh

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Prime minister Chris Hipkins told news reporters in the morning that a number of investigations will be carried out after a fire engulfed Loafers Lodge in Wellington.

However, he added that the focus currently remains on dealing with the situation.

It is an absolute tragedy. It is a horrific situation, the prime minister told reporters.

In the fullness of time, of course, there will be a number of investigations about what has happened and why it happened. But for now, the focus clearly has to be on dealing with the situation.

Authorities had 'no concern' during recent inspection of hostel

05:00 , Namita Singh

The Loafers Lodge building was inspected and issued a building warrant of fitness by the Wellington City Council in March this year, according to New Zealand based news website Stuff.

There were no concerns raised by the independently qualified person who inspected and tested the life safety systems in the building, spokesperson Richard MacLean was quoted as saying.

'Jump out the window or just burn inside the building': Residents describe their horror

04:30 , Stuti Mishra

More accounts from Loafers Lodge residents are emerging as they describe their horror after a massive fire engulfed their building and they had to make split-second decisions to save their lives.

Tala Sili, a resident of the lodge, told news outlet RNZ that he saw smoke pouring through under his door and opened it to find the hallway pitch black.

I was on the top floor and I couldnt go through the hallway because there was just too much smoke, so I jumped out the window, Mr Sili said.

He said he fell onto a roof two floors below.

It was just scary, it was really scary, but I knew I had to jump out the window or just burn inside the building.

Mr Sili told RNZ

He said he was rescued from the roof by paramedics and treated for a sprained ankle.

Police announce 'Operation Rose' to trace survivors

04:00 , Io Dodds

New Zealand's national police force has appealed for help in determining who survived the fire and who did not, in an outreach scheme dubbed "Operation Rose".

"Police are urging people who were staying in Loafers Lodge on Adelaide Road, Newtown in Wellington in recent days and are safe, or anyone concerned for someone, to please get in touch," the force said.

"They are asked to call 105 and reference Operation Rose, or go online to https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105#online-report-options and select the form 'Something Else', referencing Operation Rose.

"Police are using these reports, as well as other information from our community partners, to help determine who was in the building at the time and ensure their welfare.

"We are aware of information circulating relating to number of deceased and number of unaccounted for. However, until more is known [we] will not be in a position to confirm numbers."

Many elderly people reported living on upper floors

03:34 , Io Dodds

Residents also say that many of the people on the hostel's upper floors were elderly.

One resident, who escaped from the third floor, told The New Zealand Herald that there were many old folk living in the top levels of the building.

Another person told New Zealand broadcaster 1Newz that some residents were 80 or 90 years old, and that he was concerned about whether they got out.

"I grabbed my hat on the way and just started crawling," said the man, who asked to be named only as Chris. "It was hard to crawl because there was only that much airspace on the ground. For me, it was hard, just that little distance  it was a struggle."

Residents say there had been numerous false fire alarms

03:07 , Io Dodds

Residents of the Loafers Lodge hostel have told Radio New Zealand that the building's fire alarms would often go off without explanation, meaning many occupants learned to ignore them.

"The alarm, they keep going every week... there's no good management there, there's no good management," Tamrat Isse Adan told the broadcaster.

Another resident, Miimetua Cameron, said she was woken by a phone call and not a fire alarm after most of her neighbours had already evacuated.

Paul Jury, who also lived in the hostel, likewise said there were often false fire alarms.

No sprinkler system in the building

02:35 , Io Dodds

Deputy national fire chief Brendan Nally has said there was no sprinkler system in the Loafers Lodge hostel, and that many residents did not have a clear exit path.

"They had difficulty getting out, and unfortunately and tragically quite a few haven't got out," he said, according to Radio New Zealand.

He said the building did have a dry riser system  which allows firefighters to connect their hoses to a system of internal pipes and pump water to upper floors  as well as some fire escapes on the outside of the walls.

As of Tuesday morning local time, 52 people had been taken out of the building and five had been rescued from the roof, while others were unaccounted for.

Five people were taken to hospital, two in a serious condition, and another 15 were treated by ambulance staff at the scene.

Casualty number likely to rise, says fire chief

02:12 , Io Dodds

Here's what we know so far about what happened last night in Wellington.

Fire crews were alerted to the fire at around 12:25am on Tuesday morning local time. They raced to the Loafers Lodge on Adelaide Road in Newtown, a southern district of New Zealand's capital city.

Although firefighters have a full register of the building's residents, officials said that it was initially not safe for rescuers to enter, meaning they were not sure how many people might be dead or injured inside.

"There are parts of the building that are significantly damaged, and firefighters' safety is very important," said FENZ deputy national commander Brendan Nally, according to Radio New Zealand.

"So we are searching those parts very carefully and deliberately, but unfortunately we believe the number of fatalities will rise throughout the day."

Number of missing people is 11

01:36 , Io Dodds

Deputy national FENZ commander Brendan Nally has confirmed that the number of people unaccounted for is now 11.

That's how many people firefighters are still searching for after saving "several dozen" from the blaze, according to the NZ news website Stuff.

'This is a once in a decade fire'

01:05 , Io Dodds

The local fire chief has described this incident as a "once in a decade fire".

Nick Pyatt, district manager for Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ), said: This is a tragic event for all involved. My heartfelt condolences go to the loved ones of those who have lost their lives.

"It doesnt get worse than this. This is a once-in-a-decade fire for Wellington. Its the worst nightmare for us.

Hostel housed vulnerable people under charity care

Tuesday 16 May 2023 00:53 , Io Dodds

A major Wellington social service agency has said that many of the Loafers Lodge residents are vulnerable people who are under its are.

The Wellington City Mission, a charitable trust that supports people in need, told the New Zealand news website Stuff that it had been looking after a "significant proportion" of hostel residents.

"This is an absolute disaster," said mission head Murray Edridge. "These are people who are inherently vulnerable anyway. Its a tragedy for our community."

The hostel has long been used as an emergency housing provider for homeless people, and was last listed as such by the Ministry of Social Development in 2021.

A 'worst nightmare' fire in New Zealand's capital

Monday 15 May 2023 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 Tuesday 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.
Wells Fargo is settling a class-action lawsuit from shareholders for $1 billion over claims the bank misled them about how it was complying with regulators in the aftermath of its fake sales scandal, new court records show.

The federal suit claimed the bank made materially false and misleading statements about its compliance with consent orders it had with federal regulators over previous practices. Wells Fargo has faced regulatory sanctions since the 2016 scandal, when it was discovered the bank opened millions of accounts for customers without their permission.

A proposed settlement order in the class-action case was filed late Monday, records show. The settlement still needs to be approved by the court.

Wells Fargo is based in San Francisco but has its largest employee base in Charlotte, with about 27,000 workers here.

This agreement resolves a consolidated securities class action lawsuit involving the company and several former executives and a director, who have not been with the company for several years, the bank said in a statement Tuesday to The Charlotte Observer. While we disagree with the allegations in this case, we are pleased to have resolved this matter.

If approved, the $1-billion deal likely would be the 17th-largest settlement of a shareholder class-action suit, the Wall Street Journal reported.

One of the court-appointed lead plaintiffs in the case was the Employees Retirement System of Rhode Island.

Wells Fargo betrayed the trust of Rhode Island pensioners and now is rightly facing consequences because of that, said Rhode Island General Treasurer James Diossa in a statement. I am proud that ERSRI stood up for its stakeholders and held Wells Fargo accountable for its misconduct, and for achieving the historic settlement.

The settlement class consists of people or entities that purchased common stock in Wells Fargo between Feb. 2, 2018, and March 12, 2020, according to the lawsuit. That means anyone who owned Wells Fargo stock during that time is automatically part of the class-action group, Diossas office said.

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Certain groups were excluded from the settlement, the proposed agreement notes, including Wells Fargo officers and directors, and shareholders who request from the court they be excluded from the settlement.

Claims in the Wells Fargo class-action suit

The class-action suit was filed in 2020 in federal court for the Southern District of New York. It focused on Wells Fargos actions in dealing with 2018 consent orders it had with its regulators.

The bank misled investors when it claimed it was in compliance with those orders when it had yet to even submit an acceptable plan or schedule for compliance to the regulators, according to plaintiffs claims in the lawsuit.

They claimed that Wells Fargo also was nowhere near meeting regulators requirements that were a precursor to lifting restrictions for the bank, including an asset cap, which the bank remains under. When the pace of the banks actions was revealed, including in congressional hearings, the banks stock price fell, the suit said.

In fact, Wells Fargos valuation plummeted by more than $54 billion over a two-year period ending in March 2020, Reuters reported.

Other Wells Fargo settlements and scandals

The fake sales scandal was the first of a number of activities by Wells Fargo that fell under federal scrutiny.

And a former top executive is facing prison time. In March, Carrie Tolstedt, the veteran leader of Wells Fargos retail banking division, agreed to plead guilty in federal court to obstructing a government examination of the banks misconduct.

Tolstedt faces up to 16 months in prison. In a separate civil settlement, she was banned from working in the banking industry and must pay a $17 million penalty.

Wells Fargo CEO on the defensive, and other takeaways as senators grill bank executives

Last December, Wells Fargo agreed to $3.7 billion in fines and restitution in a settlement with regulators to resolve issues related to auto lending, mortgages and consumer deposit accounts.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ordered Wells Fargo to pay a $1.7 billion fine, and refund more than $2 billion to customers for widespread mismanagement of those types of accounts. The bank was going to be required in a new consent order to pay the fine, pay back customers and stop charging surprise overdraft fees, among other things.

In September 2022, the bank reached a $145 million settlement with the U.S. Labor Department following an investigation into concerns over the the banks contributions to its 401(k) plan.

And in 2018, Wells Fargo was charged a combined $1 billion by the CFPB and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for auto-lending and mortgage practices that hurt consumers.
Publix is on a grand opening streak.

The Florida-based supermarket chain has opened three new stores across the state in May. And the chain this month is expected to reopen a hurricane-damaged store in Southwest Florida as well.

The May burst of new stores comes on top of several new supermarkets opening in March and April.

Heres what to know about recent Publix openings in Florida:

The first Publix to open in Miami Beach is at 1045 Dade Blvd.

New Florida store openings in May

Tallahassee: Opened May 11, The Shops at Bannerman Village, 8462 Bannerman Blvd.

Stuart: Opened May 11, Cove Shopping Center, 5943 SE Federal Hwy.

Jacksonville: Opened May 6, eTown Exchange, 11025 eTown Pkwy.

Kissimmee: Opened May 4, Celebration Pointe, 1725 Future Way

Plato meets young customers at Publix.

New Florida store openings in April

Sarasota County: Opened April 27, The Shoppes of Palmer Ranch, 8405 Honore Ave.

Shoppers are Publix.

New Florida store openings in March

Sarasota County: Opened March 23, The Landings, 4840 S. Tamiami Trail

Navarre: Opened March 8, Wynnehaven Plaza, 10040 Navarre Pkwy.

Tampa: Opened March 2, Gandy Shopping Center, 3617 W. Gandy Blvd.

Newest store in South Florida

Pembroke Pines: On Jan. 23, Publix opened a new store at 16024 Pines Blvd. in Pembroke Pines. The stores neighbor is an older Publix across the street at Paraiso Parc at 15729 Pines Blvd. The older store isnt going anywhere. As a whole, we look for opportunities to best serve our customers and, in some cases, alleviate congestion in stores, in addition to allowing for the best traffic patterns in a particular area, said Lindsey Willis, media relations manager for Publix.

Reopenings in Florida

Fort Myers Beach: Publix isnt saying when a hurricane-amaged store on Estero Boulevard will reopen. Local TV station WBBH-NBC2 is reporting that the reopening is expected May 25. We want our little Publix on the island, Fort Myers Beach Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt told the station. We love our Publix. Im hungering for Publix. Not just for grocery shopping, but to get a sub at the deli. The store has been shuttered since Hurricane Ian steamrolled the area last September. Publixs statement on the reopening: Our team is working diligently to get the store prepped and ready for reopening. We are going through our standard processes before we open any store to ensure we are prepared to provide all our customers with the best possible experience.
As Ukraine gathers forces for the counteroffensive, Russia continues to build defensive lines on a massive scale.

The lines are especially formidable in the southwestern part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, where many observers expect the main Ukrainian assault to strike.

But defenses have been prepared along pretty much the entire front; in occupied Crimea and inside Russia. They incorporate trenches, bunkers and strongpoints, infantry and vehicle shelters, anti-tank ditches, pyramidal concrete tank barriers called dragon's teeth, and minefields, as well as terrain and water features.

When properly manned, these lines could pose a tough challenge without an easy solution.

Russias ability to properly man them is debated. The Russian military cant hope to defend the entire 800-kilometer front line with equal vigor. During the defense, large Russian formations may have to fall back to prepared positions in a coordinated fashion  Russias shown that its large-scale maneuvering capability isnt the best.

However, fortifications may allow Russians to put up heavy resistance in key areas, possibly slowing down the Ukrainian forces long enough for reinforcements to arrive.

Here is an overview of what Russias defenses and troop concentrations look like at different parts of the front and what that can tell us about the battles to come.

A map of Russia's known fortifications across Ukraine, compiled by Brady Africk, a media relations associate in foreign and defense policy at the American Enterprise Institute. (Screenshot)

Kharkiv and Luhansk oblasts

Russias easternmost defenses start at the Kharkiv Oblasts national border and run down through Pokrovske and Svatove, to around Kreminna and Bilohorivka in Luhansk Oblast, a distance of around 140 kilometers.

Satellite images show that this stretch consists primarily of a single, solid belt of defenses set back from the current front line by distances of 5-20 kilometers. However, Russian forces have begun to construct another layer in northern Luhansk Oblast and Kharkiv Oblast, freelance OSINT analyst Pasi Paroinen observed.

Karolina Hird, a scholar with the Institute for the Study of War, said that in case of a Ukrainian attack here, the Russian forces seem like they intend to fall back just once to that one defensive line and try to hold it.

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Thats kind of their only option  to hold that line, she said. And then if theres a Ukrainian breakthrough on that line, that will allow Ukrainian forces to push into occupied Luhansk Oblast.

According to multiple reports, the Kupiansk axis in Kharkiv Oblast is guarded by a fairly dispersed force grouping, including the battered 1st Guards Tank Armys 47th Tank Division and the 6th Combined Arms Armys 138th Separate Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade.

The Kreminna axis in Luhansk Oblast further south has a much higher force concentration, with elements from the Western Military District, Central Military District, Airborne troops, Spetsnaz (Russian special forces), militias from occupied Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, and other irregular formations.

Multiple groupings, including the elite airborne forces have been fighting in the area for months, taking losses without capturing territory. These troops are unlikely to be fresh.

A map of Russian fortifications in Kharkiv, Luhansk, and Donetsk oblasts, compiled from satellite images by Finnish freelance open source intelligence analysts, the Black Bird Group. (Screenshot)

Donetsk Oblast

The defensive lines continue from the west of Sievierodonetsk, running down along the regional border between Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts until reaching the area behind Bakhmut where they peter out.

These defenses were similar to the single-layer hard line to the north, according to the ISWs April data. New fortifications started in the winter have been completed in the area recently, including in front of Lysychansk and Popasna, Luhansk Oblast.

According to the ISW, another line of defenses runs vertically from the south of Bakhmut, down to the national border.

However, the rear just east of Bakhmut is surprisingly unfortified, reflecting the fact that this is where Russia gained the most recent ground with Wagner Groups offensive. Its too hot of a front line to build anything extensive, said Paroinen.

Hird pointed out that there are reservoirs and rivers behind Bakhmut that act as natural barriers impeding mechanized movement. As for the existing defenses, the question is who will man them, as there are few conventional Russian forces around Bakhmut other than some Russian Airborne (VDV) units.

The area around occupied Donetsk itself is well-fortified after close to 10 years of both sides building up their defenses. There are extensive fortifications around the Avdiivka area and running from the edge of Donetsk to Marinka. Because these defenses have been there for a long time, theyre often omitted from recent maps of Russian defensive lines.

As a result, Donetsk and its surrounding settlements are a fortress, which would be very difficult and unsuitable for offensive operations. The forces here include many elements of the 1st Donetsk Army Corps, Russia's Southern Military District, the Northern Fleet, and multiple irregular and volunteer battalions.

Western Donetsk Oblast and eastern Zaporizhzhia Oblast

The Russian lines starting near Vuhledar, Donetsk Oblast, become much more sparse and scattered. This state of affairs extends all the way to north of Kamianka in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

There is no hard line for Russian forces to fall back to and more of a reliance on the water and terrain features of the river-crossed farmland. What trenches and isolated strongpoints exist are probably unmanned for the most part.

The force groupings closer to Vuhledar were utterly clobbered, said Hird. Elements in the area are in absolute shambles. Theyve been trying to take Vuhledar since October and have taken so many losses, entire naval infantry formations were restaffed in 3-4 iterations.

The Russians along the spottily-defended area are exhausted and there are known issues with command and poor command structure and culture, experts said.

These units include Eastern Military District elements, the Pacific Fleet marines, VDV, some special forces, as well as a few private military companies and irregulars.

A map of Russian fortifications in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts, compiled from satellite images by Finnish freelance open source intelligence analysts, the Black Bird Group. (Screenshot)

Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts

The hardest going will be in the south, where Russian forces prepared for a defense in depth. There are multiple layers of defensive lines, running up to dozens of kilometers deep. Defensive positions radiate down critical roads and encircle important settlements like Tokmak, Melitopol, and Kamianka.

The roadside fortifications can be seen all the way down towards Crimea. A double line guards the narrow crossing from the mainland into the peninsula and Crimeas main roads are also being lined with defenses.

Trenches have even been dug along Crimean beaches, which are unlikely to do much, since Ukraine doesnt have enough of a navy to conduct big landings but they reveal the Russian forces concern about the counteroffensive.

But the defensive lines in the southern Zaporizhzhia Oblast are formidable. There are multiple layers of antitank ditches and dragons teeth, as well as sheltered infantry and vehicle fighting positions.

Russians have recently been spotted adding more positions between the defensive line and the forward line of contact.

If heavily pressured, Russian forces here will be able to continually fall back to positions behind them, while laying down damage and slowing down the Ukrainians, with the aim of bogging them down and picking them apart.

They will have to do so, in fact, because its unlikely that all of these defenses are manned right now. The forces in this part of the front contain the battered remnants of those that withdrew from Kherson and units redeployed from other axes of attack.

However, theyve also seen months of relatively low-intensity fighting, meaning theyre fresher than their comrades in Donbas.

Likely groupings include elements of the Southern and Eastern Military Districts combined arms armies, the Black Sea Fleet marines, Spetsnaz, as well as multiple volunteer battalions.

In Kherson Oblast, the defensive positions start right on the left (eastern) bank of the Dnipro River, which has been heavily mined. Dragons teeth and pillboxes further harden the bank. Analysts think its unlikely that Ukrainian forces will conduct a large strike across the river.

Russia's defensive line north of Tokmak, Zaporizhzhia Oblast

Russias layered defenses, especially in the south, pose a daunting challenge to Ukraines forces.

The following is a brief description of the segment of a single Russian defensive line north of the city of Tokmak in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, photographed by Airbus DS Pleiades Neo satellite and analyzed by Black Bird Group, a team of freelance OSINT analysts.

Since these images are from March, they are likely outdated and the defenses have most likely been reinforced.

The first zone, set back by up to four kilometers from the Russians forward positions, consists of squad and platoon level outposts and individual company strongholds.

The second zone is the first defensive line, several kilometers deep. There are company-scale trenches and strongpoints built in a continuous line, using natural terrain features to their advantage. This zone is continually being built up and improved. The villages of Kopani and Robotyne serve as the anchors of this specific position.

The third zone is up to five kilometers deep and contains positions for reserves and decoys, if Russia has them. The majority of Russias artillery and mechanized reserve will likely be maneuvering around this area. There are multiple shelters for vehicles and equipment.

The fourth zone is the main defensive line, a big network of multilayered trenches with anti-tank ditches, dragons teeth, and minefields to deter Ukrainian vehicles. This zone runs in a 3-4 kilometer deep continuous defensive belt along the front.

Behind this main line, there are reserve and fallback positions extending back towards another anti-tank trench running all around Tokmak, reinforced with strongpoints.

Can Russia man its defensive lines?

For their defensive positions to be effective, the Russian forces need enough troops, equipment, and fighting skill.

"The defenses have the potential to be formidable obstacles, but their utility almost entirely depends on them being supported by sufficient artillery and personnel. It remains unclear if the SGF (Southern Grouping of Forces) can currently muster these resources," the U.K. Defense Ministry has said.

The ISW has repeatedly observed that the Russians might find it problematic.

For all the fortifications throughout the theater  Russian forces do not have the manpower to properly man these defensive fortifications, said Hird. Its not like there are soldiers stacked up on all of these lines.

She added that troops in many parts of the front are exhausted and arranged into odd, non-doctrinal formations.

For defenses to be effective, the defending side has to have substantial forces in reserve, being held back from the fortified positions. "Based on our understanding, this simply isn't the case," she said, with all of Russia's combined arms armies already committed.

However, some have cautioned against dismissing Russias preparations. Paroinen said that Russian forces could man the more forward defenses with lower quality troops, like mobilized conscripts, and keep more professional units in reserve, while pulling forces from other, quieter fronts, once they realize where Ukraines main attack is happening.

The Russian military likely has the manpower and reserves to mount a stubborn defense, along with minefields and entrenchments, wrote U.S. military analyst Michael Kofman. This doesn't mean Ukraine can't break Russian lines, but past offensives suggest that Ukraine has challenges sustaining momentum after a breakthrough is achieved.

The ability and spirit of the Russian conscripts and their equipment level are in question. Its also unclear how mobile they will be when forced to fall back to defenses behind them. Russia has lost thousands of infantry vehicles and armored carriers in the war so far.

The other big issue with defensive fall-back maneuvers is the poor coordination in the Russian Armed Forces. Conducting an organized fighting retrograde of an entire brigade or regiment is not a skill Russian forces have exercised so far, Hird said.

We have seen lots of small-scale tactical official operations all along the line, she said. The acumen it takes to do that is very different from whats needed for large-scale defensive operations.

Note from the author:

Hi, this is Igor Kossov, I hope you enjoyed reading our article.

I consider it a privilege to keep you informed about one of this century's greatest tragedies, Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. With the help of my colleagues, I will continue to bring you in-depth insights into Ukraine's war effort, its international impacts, and the economic, social, and human cost of this war. But I cannot do it without your help. To support independent Ukrainian journalists, please consider becoming our patron. Thank you very much.
Did you file your tax return by the April 18 deadline? If so, congrats! The hard part is over.

Now you're probably anxiously waiting on that refund (if you're getting one) to hit your bank account so you can spend it on the next family vacation. Maybe you want to treat yourself to a new pair sneakers, or a fancy meal. Maybe it'll go straight to other bills.

Regardless of what you choose to do with it, it's your money and you're ready to see it pop up in your checking account. But when will that happen?

Lucky for you, Knox News has it covered. Here's a breakdown of when you can expect your state or federal tax refund.

Where's my federal tax refund?

The IRS typically issues refunds 21 days after you file, so it should be here pretty soon. If you e-filed and chose to receive your refund by direct deposit, you'll likely get it even faster.

How do I track my return?

Tax filers are being warned that it's quite possible that many will see smaller refunds when they file 2022 returns than they what they saw last year.

To track your federal return, the IRS has a handy tool at irs.gov/refunds to check your refund's status.

Click the "check your refund" button. You will need to provide:

Your Social Security or taxpayer ID number

Your filing status

The exact refund amount on your return

The tracker will say where your refund is in the process. The stages, in order, are:

Return received

Refund approved

Refund sent

If you filed a paper return, you will need to wait at least four weeks after submitting before checking the status of your return.

Why is my tax return taking so long?

Should your return be delayed for extra review or corrections, the IRS will alert you via email.

The IRS is still dealing with service delays as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The service delays include:

Processing tax returns that need to be corrected

Answering mail from taxpayers

Where's my Tennessee refund?

It's not coming.

OK, that sounds ominous, but there's a reason. Tennessee has no state income tax, so Tennesseans are not required to file a state return. Essentially, you're not getting a state refund because you didn't pay any state income tax.

Story continues

An earlier version of this article mistakenly cited an outdated Tennessee interest income tax rate that no longer applies.

Silas Sloan is the growth and development reporter. Email silas.sloan@knoxnews.com. Twitter @silasloan. Instagram @knox.growth. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Where's my federal tax refund? What about a Tennessee tax refund?
Patriot air defense in Poland

At the same time, Kirby said the United States would assist Ukraine in repairing the damage, if it turns out a Patriot system was hit in the recent Russian hypersonic missile strike.

Read also: Ukraine has already used Storm Shadow missiles against Russian targets, report says

First of all, I cant confirm these reports, said Kirby.

It would depend on the scope of the damage if it could be repaired by Ukrainians on site. Obviously, if there was damage done to a Patriot system that needed to be repaired outside Ukraine, we would certainly assist with that.

Read also: Zelenskyy inspects Dutch Patriot batteries to be handed over to Ukraine

Earlier, CNN reported that a U.S.-made Patriot missile defense system was likely damaged, but not destroyed, during a Russian missile attack on Kyiv on May 16. Two Patriot systems are currently located in Ukraine, one provided by the United States and the other by Germany and the Netherlands.

At night on May 16, Russia fired 18 missiles at Kyiv, including six Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, all of which were successfully intercepted. The debris from downed missiles caused minor damage across the city, with no casualties. Ukrainian officials described the attack as an exceptional in terms of intensity.

Read also: Air Force reveals that Patriot system that took down Russian Kinzhal was operating autonomously

The Ukrainian Air Force declined to comment on Russian media reporting the attack managed to destroy a Patriot battery.

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
Blade Silvano - James Linsell-Clark/SWNS

A woman duped her girlfriend of two years into believing she was having sex with a man, a court has heard.

Blade Silvano, 40, is accused of carrying out a sophisticated scam to convince her partner, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, that she was a man.

Jurors heard how the pair met on an online dating site in 2016, had sexual intercourse on two separate occasions, and had discussed wedding plans.

Ms Silvano is said to have used an unknown item to penetrate her girlfriend and always kept her t-shirt and boxers on when intimate.

It is claimed she always made her partner wear a blindfold and rebuffed the alleged victims touches.

Her partner, who referred to Ms Silvano as he throughout the hearing, only discovered Ms Silvanos real gender via Facebook nearly two years later, Cambridge Crown Court heard on Tuesday.

I was never able to put my hands underneath his clothes

She told the court: I was able to move my hands freely, the side, his back, I was never able to put my hands underneath his clothes or down his boxers.

He would rebuff me every time I tried to make an advance, he would nudge me away.

He was using sex toys on me; it was not allowed the other way round.

Ms Silvano, of Bishop's Castle, denied two counts of assault by penetration.

Giving evidence on Tuesday, the alleged victim said Ms Silvano had given her surname as Mendez and that she had not consented to having a relationship with a woman.

During cross examination, the alleged victim denied that the relationship had all been part of a roleplay and an online fantasy between the couple.

Injured by a cow

She also denied claims that she had only communicated with Ms Silvano via video calls and texts on WhatsApp and that she had never met her in the flesh.

Ms Silvano is said to have told her girlfriend she served as a vet in the British Army.

On one occasion they had been due to go to an officer's dinner together, but Ms Silvano pulled out after telling her she had been injured by a cow, the court heard.

Story continues

The alleged victim said: He did say hed been injured by a cow and then sent me a picture of his leg elevated after going to hospital.

The trial also heard details of their wedding preparations, which the defence again argued was all part of their roleplay.

The alleged victim told the court she had even gone to try on a wedding dress and sent a photo of it to Ms Silvano.

The trial continues.

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.
A womans dismembered remains were found dumped in two Georgia counties, state investigators said.

Months later, her husband is now charged in her death.

Nicholas James Kassotis, 40, was arrested May 12 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania  more than 720 miles from where hunters stumbled upon his wifes body at a hunting club in Riceboro late last year, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

A day before his arrest, authorities confirmed the remains belonged to 40-year-old Mindi Mebane Kassotis. Investigators said the couple was living in nearby Savannah when Mindi Kassotis died.

Nicholas Kassotis is charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, tampering with evidence, and removal of body parts from scene of death or dismemberment, the GBI said in a news release.

The then-unidentified remains were found Dec. 2, 2022, in a wooded area of the Portal Hunting Club, which spans Liberty and McIntosh Counties, according to the release. Part of a womans body was discovered on the clubs property in Liberty County before additional remains were also found in McIntosh County.

At the time, investigators believed the woman had been dead for one or two weeks before she was discovered, McClatchy News reported. Further testing showed she was likely dumped there around Nov. 27, 2022, according to authorities.

State investigators, with help from the FBI, used DNA samples from family members to confirm Mindi Kassotis identity, the release said. Her relatives were also interviewed as part of the investigation.

Nicholas Kassotis was booked into the Lancaster County Prison and will be extradited to Georgia, according to the GBI.

Riceboro is about 275 miles southeast of Atlanta.

76-year-old shoots his wife and then turns gun at deputies, Georgia cops say

Dad wins custody of kids, then exs boyfriend kills him moments after, VA family says

Teacher points gun at wife after she didnt invite him to Olive Garden, Florida cops say
A man's game: Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on the campaign trail

As the credits rolled on Greek television's long-awaited election debate between the party leaders, one thing united them -- they were all men.

While the three battled for three hours over defence spending, unemployment and a wiretapping scandal, there is no reference to the elephant in the room, that Greek politics largely remains a man's game.

Women only acquired the vote in Greece in 1952, two decades after their British and Spanish sisters, and only one in five MPs are women, one of the lowest rates in the EU.

Outgoing conservative prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has only 10 women in his cabinet of 58, and only two of them are full ministers.

In 2015, Vasiliki Thanou became the country's first female prime minister -- but her tenure was purely technical and temporary before leftist Alexis Tsipras' re-election.

The former head of the supreme court was in charge for nearly a month with the country on the verge of bankruptcy and facing a refugee crisis.

"The number of women involved in politics is not satisfactory", Thanou told AFP.

"Perhaps Greek society is not mature enough to recognise that women have the same potential as men to assume political responsibilities," said the 72-year-old.

- 'Patriarchal society' -

Things seem to change under New Democracy's Mitsotakis, whose big sister Dora Bakoyannis was first woman mayor of Athens and Greek foreign minister.

In 2019, his government introduced a mandatory quota of at least 40 percent of female candidates on electoral lists.

A year later, his party made veteran judge Katerina Sakellaropoulou president, a largely honorific post.

But progress at the polls has been another matter.

"There are (indeed) a lot of women on the ballots, but they are not elected," said New Democracy candidate Dora Palli-Petralia, whose mother was one of the party's few women ministers in the 2000s.

Even so the place of women is changing in the country of 10 million people.

Story continues

The belated arrival of the #MeToo movement, spearheaded by the revelations of an Olympic sailing champion who was a victim of rape, raised awareness regarding violence against women.

But sexist remarks are still rife.

When the former Greek vice-president of the European Parliament Eva Kaili was held during the Qatargate corruption scandal, Greek media focused on her "beauty" and "beautiful blue eyes".

Speaking to young female YouTuber Nefeli Meg last month, Mitsotakis vowed to appoint "many more" women in government if re-elected.

His main rival, leftist leader Tsipras has promised to bring parity -- but his own cabinet in 2015 had just two women in its ranks.

"We live in a patriarchal society, we are a Mediterranean society and many gender stereotypes persist," Stella Kasdagli, co-founder of the non-profit organisation "Women on top", told AFP.

In Greece "the life of women is almost entirely defined by family tasks", in particular the education of children and frequently the care of elderly parents, she added.

Despite the five million women who are eligible to vote on Sunday outnumbering men, their place in Greek politics leaves a lot to be desired.

yap/jph/iwd/fg
A 38-year-old worker died after he was pinned between a forklift and freezer shelves while at a storage company in Utah, police said.

Authorities responded to the injured and bleeding worker at 12:29 p.m., Monday, May 15, at Americold Logistics in Clearfield, police said in a news release.

His coworkers tended to him until first responders arrived, police said.

First responders freed him, gave him medical aid and took him to a hospital, but he suffered significant trauma to his lower body and died, police said.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the workplace incident, police said.

On May 15, there was an incident at our facility in Clearfield, UT that resulted in the tragic passing of one of our associates. We are cooperating fully with authorities in their ongoing investigation, the company said in a statement to McClatchy News.

Americold provides cold storage warehouses and supply chain management.

Clearfield is about 30 miles north of Salt Lake City.

Amazon workers returned to work after improperly treated head, back injuries, feds say

37-year-old dies after getting trapped in equipment at tire company, SC officials say

It took 5 hours to dig workers body out of bin after soybeans collapsed on him, feds say
Wrestling legend "Superstar" Billy Graham is on life support in the hospital, his wife said Monday.

Doctors want to take the WWE Hall of Fame inductee off life support, but Graham's wife refused, she wrote early Monday on the wrestling legend's Facebook page.

"He's a fighter and his will is strong even if his body isn't," she wrote. "God is our hope."

The former wrestler, whose real name is Eldridge Wayne Coleman, has been suffering from medical issues for months, according to a GoFundMe page. He'd lost 80 pounds as of April 26 and has been enduring kidney, heart and lung problems.

His family has issued a plea for donations. According to the GoFundMe page, Graham's wife "is doing the best she can to work full time, while also doing all she can for her husband." Insurance is only covering part of the former wrestler's treatment, and bills are mounting. As of Monday evening, just over $15,000 had been raised.

The former wrestler has struggled with his health before. In his autobiography, Graham wrote about a history of drug abuse, which led to a liver transplant in 2002.

Graham was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004. The WWE describes him as "perhaps the single-most influential performer in WWE history whose interviews, fashion and physique inspired Hulk Hogan, Jesse 'The Body' Ventura and Scott Steiner."

Johnny Depp returns to movie screen as Cannes Film Festival kicks off

Sen. Blumenthal opens artificial intelligence hearing with AI-generated remarks

Senate artificial intelligence hearing explores possible rules for regulation
Treasury Department Secretary Janet Yellen warned Tuesday that time is running out for Congress to lift the debt ceiling and avert a default on the nations debt, which the secretary says would be catastrophic for the economy.

Time is running out. Every single day that Congress does not act, we are experiencing increased economic costs that could slow down the U.S. economy, Yellen said in remarks to the Independent Community Bankers of America.

Yellens department has warned that its ability to stave off a default using extraordinary measures could run out by June 1 unless Congress takes action, and the White House has been locked in debate with lawmakers on how to address the looming deadline.

Our current best estimate underscores the urgency of this moment: It is essential that Congress act as soon as possible. In my assessment  and that of economists across the board  a U.S. default would generate an economic and financial catastrophe, Yellen said.

More coverage of the debt ceiling from The Hill:

The community and regional bankers in Yellens audience Tuesday would be among those hit hard by the potential financial crisis.

A default would reverse the countrys economic progress and put the economy in the middle of an unprecedented economic and financial storm, likely leading to a loss of income and sparking a recession, Yellen argued. Services such as air traffic control, law enforcement, border security and national defense, all reliant on federal employees and contractors, could also be disrupted.

President Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) are expected to meet again Tuesday to talk about a possible deal to raise the borrowing limit.

Story continues

Republicans have been pushing for a debt ceiling increase thats tied to spending cuts, while the White House is advocating for a clean hike. Biden has also reportedly considered using the 14th Amendment to raise the ceiling on his own, as a possible last-ditch move if Congress doesnt act.

The U.S. Treasury market serves as the very bedrock of the global financial system. Theres a reason for that: The world has never doubted that America will pay the principal and interest on its bonds, in full and on time.  A default would crack open the foundations upon which our financial system is built, Yellen said Tuesday, warning of worldwide panic triggering margin calls, runs, and fire sales.

Let me be clear: If Congress does not address the debt limit, there are no good options that Treasury or the government can use to save us from catastrophe, Yellen said.

Generations of Americans have protected the full faith and credit of the United States. That has been a bedrock of our global economic leadership. There is no good reason to squander that reputation now  and to trigger a manufactured crisis of our own creation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
OLGA MALTSEVA - Getty Images

In late March, photos of tank-laden trains unearthed on Russian social media strongly suggested that Russia had finally begun reactivating some of its thousands of old T-54B tanks in deep storage for use in combat in Ukraine, due to massive losses of more modern T-72, T-80 and T-90 main battle tanks.

The T-54 entered production in the late 1940s, and has a crew of fourunlike Russias modern three-person tanks.

Photos in April showed the tanks had indeed arrived in Ukraine, without much in the way of visible upgrades such as add-on bricks of explosive reactive armor.

Now, according to social media posts by Andrei Tarasenko, proprietor of tank-themed Russian-language website btvt.info, sources in the Russian military say that T-54s are indeed being deployed into combatsupposedly used not so much as tanks, but as armored artillery vehicles firing indirect shells at distant targets.

Features of the use of the T-54, according to a participant from the RF Armed Forces -T-54B, south direction. A month ago, up to a company of such vehicles (T-54 and 55) was transferred to the howitzer division. They work as artillery, crews are 3 persons. pic.twitter.com/2dXxXQthsW  Andrei_bt (@AndreiBtvt) May 11, 2023

The post states a company of T-54Bs and T-55s (ordinarily 10 or 13 tanks in the Russian military) was transferred to an artillery regiment active in southern Ukraine. Despite a T-54 ordinarily requiring a crew of four (commander, driver, gunner, loader), the post claims these T-54s were operated by crews of three, presumably due to the limited need to simultaneously move and shoot. Reportedly, the crews were drawn from both the artillery and tank branchesinstead of just the latterand received just one week of training. Elsewhere, he posts that there already exist artillery firing tables for the T-54/55 and their 100-millimeter guns.

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A picture posted later shows a T-54 concealed in a muddy wilderness area with a two-layered cope cage of armor over the turret, probably in the hopes of protecting against attacking drones and anti-tank missiles with tandem charges.

Subsequent posts by the same blog indicate that Russia originally intended to use slightly less outdated T-62M tanks in the artillery role, but that those ended up being assigned to frontline units with an assault roles.

The technical condition of the T-62Mswhich have been modernized with reinforced BDD laminated BDD armor on the front turret, and were mostly dispatched to the Kherson regionis described as being at bottom level.

Tarasenko writes that many T-62Ms were left behind during a personnel rotation and ultimately abandoned when Russia withdrew from the west bank of the Dnieper River in November 2022, leaving them to be captured by Ukrainian forces.

Russias confirmed loss of at least 2,000 tanks destroyed, abandoned, or captured, and had already clearly forced Moscow to tap into increasingly rusty reserves when it began reactivating T-62s in the summer of 2022. The 2023 Victory Day parade in Moscowordinarily a tank-stravaganzafeatured only one tank, a World War-era T-34/85 tank.

VCG - Getty Images

Tank as Artillery: Good or Bad Idea?

The re-purposing of tanks to serve as ersatz indirect-fire artillery, arcing shells over longer distances, has a long history. And, undoubtedly, Russia now wants to deploy more artillery into Ukraine, and make more shells useable for artillery missionseven though large-scale indirect fire is not an ideal use of a tanks main gun.

Thats because tank guns are designed to discharge shells at very high velocities to maximize down-range armor penetration and accuracya method that imposes more stress on the gun barrel. This means the barrel usually must be replaced after several hundreds shots, or risk bursting.

Purpose-design howitzers and field guns, however, dont need so much armor-penetrating velocity, and are built for much longer barrel lives. So, tanks dedicated to artillery missions will wear through their valuable gun barrels much more quickly than purpose-built howitzers.

That said, the T-54s 100-millimeter D10T gun (introduced in World War II on the turretless Su-100 tank destroyer) is not as valuable as the modern 125-millimeter 2A46 tank guns used on modern Russian tanks. And stores of 100-millimeter shells compatible with the D-10T likely havent been as extensively tapped as standard Russian 122- and 152-millimeter artillery shells. Thus, the supply of 100-millimeter high-explosive shellsthough less effectivemay at least be easy to source.

Its also worth noting both Russian and Ukrainian tankers have, in videos, occasionally executed unusually precise indirect-fire attacks against individual enemy vehicles by using drone spotters to correct their fire. However, such tactics only appear to be getting implemented improvisation in the field, particularly as there is a voracious demand for drones across both militaries.

Despite supposedly being used as artillery, it seems likely the Russian T-54s will, at some point, be asked to provide direct fire supportperhaps to help Russian units in a particularly bad pinch, or for use defensively as a moving pillbox.

Tankseven those as old as T-54sdo have an impact on morale on the battlefield, especially for dismounted troop. In an interview filmed by the New York Times, a Ukrainian medic described:

Its scary when a tank is shooting at you. When its a mortar firing, you can hear where it goes, where its going to land. When its a tank, you can hear it fire, and then the shell lands immediately. You cant tell where its going to land. It happens in a split second. Theres a bang, and it lands before you even hear it.

However, while T-54s provide some basic firepower and armor protection, their 1950s-era designs will still be very vulnerable to modern anti-tank weapons. They will also be unable to penetrate the frontal armor of opposing main battle tanks, and lack the sensors and fire control to be first to detect and accurately hit more distant enemiesparticularly at night. So, the crew of those T-54s likely really do hope they continue to serve only in an indirect fire role.

Ukraine, too, has begun inducting a variant of the T-55 tank called the M-55S in its 47thAssault Brigade. However, this is a heavily upgraded Slovenian variant armed with capable Western 105-millimeter guns and fire control systems.

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NEW YORK  While Texas has borne the brunt of thousands of migrants who have crossed into the U.S. from Mexico, the epicenter of partisan rancor over the border is actually thousands of miles away in New York.

There, Democrats and Republicans from Congress down to local county officials have been squabbling over how to handle an influx of migrants into New York City and its suburbs. The results could have major implications for control of the House and the presidents reelection campaign next year.

Each side has sought to frame the crisis on its own terms. But Democrats, whose path to retake the House runs through the Empire State, are caught in an intraparty conflict that could gift their opponents a powerful talking point.

This national problem is being laid in the lap of New Yorkers, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a moderate Democrat, said during an interview Tuesday on a local Fox affiliate. This is an unsustainable crisis that's been forced on New Yorkers and is going to continue to grow if there's not a real response at our border.

Since last year, more than 65,000 migrants have traveled to New York City  the only major metropolitan area in the country with a legal requirement to provide them with a place to sleep. And with the citys shelter system at capacity, Adams began booking hotel rooms. So many, in fact, that half of all suitable hotel rooms in New York City are currently reserved by the administration, which expects to spend $4.3 billion on migrant care through the end of next summer.

This month, though, Adams said the city had reached its limit of hotels willing to take in migrants. So he began considering new shelter locations like warehouses, tents and a decommissioned prison in addition to bussing asylum-seekers to suburban hotels.

Thats when the political fever in New York really began building, complete with rhetoric that mirrors national political fault lines on immigration.

You've just said you might get 100,000 over the next couple of months, and that's probably accurate as they stream across the complete open border that we have, because of the complete failure of this president to do anything to secure [it], said Steve McLaughlin a Republican official from outside Albany said last week during a tense call between New York county leaders and Adams. We are all going to be overrun. And I feel for you, Eric, the problem is, I'm not a sanctuary county. I never advertised that we have any sanctuary cities.

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Protests and lawsuits have followed, with two counties obtaining restraining orders barring the city from sending migrants to their inns. Some of the most vocal resistance has come from areas rich with swing voters, who in 2022 helped the GOP flip several congressional seats and take control of the House.

McLaughlins home turf of Rensselaer County, for example, went for Biden in 2020 but veered to the right in a special election last year to support a Republican congressional candidate who narrowly lost. And voters in Rockland County, one of the municipalities that has sued New York City for moving migrants to its jurisdiction, helped oust the head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee last year, a particularly stinging rebuke for the party.

The migrant issue has fueled partisan fighting from the outset. Last year, the New York City mayor first accused Texas Gov. Greg Abbott of bussing migrants to the five boroughs against their will  an argument Democrats have used to portray the GOP as callous. And while Adams has said he is doing things differently when he buses the newcomers out of the city  by paying for services and coordinating with other municipalities  his New York counterparts have a different take.

It is in essence doing the exact same thing, Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne, a Republican, said during last weeks call.

As the debate has grown more pitched, Democrats have done themselves few favors.

Adams has repeatedly criticized President Joe Biden over the White Houses failure to get funding to New York City, to coordinate a resettlement strategy at the border and to expedite work authorization for asylum-seekers.

Where the heck is the president of the United States? Rosanna Scotto, a local Fox affiliate host, asked the mayor during his Tuesday interview.

That is a good question, Adams responded, one of his more tame assessments of the administration. I think we all should be asking: why is this happening to a city that was turning itself around, and will continue to do so?

The criticism of Biden over a volatile campaign issue heading into an election year has not been well received. Last week, Adams was no longer included in a list of surrogates for Bidens reelection.

Friends disagree on many occasions, the mayor said during a separate interview Tuesday morning, in response to an Axios story detailing the tension. I am a supporter of the president and Im going to do everything possible in his reelection campaign. But I am a person who believes my ultimate responsibility is to New York City.

The issue is creating rifts locally as well.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has resisted the role of coordinating the flow of asylum-seekers from New York City to hamlets and villages, including in areas where she is electorally vulnerable. And while she recently asked the White House to authorize a former military base in New York City as an asylum-seeker hub, fellow Democrats have pointed out her inaction.

The Gov has finally begun to provide some leadership. Still very much missing is Statewide coordination that should come from, wellthe state, Jumaane Williams, New York Citys progressive public advocate, tweeted Monday.

Hochuls hesitation, especially compared to the full-contact battles Adams has engaged in, suggests just how potent an electoral issue migrants could be.

Last year, Hochul was thought to be a shoo-in for her race in a deep-blue state that hadnt elected a Republican as governor since George Patakis third-term win in 2002. Her Republican opponent Lee Zeldin, however, rode a tide of outrage over bail laws, stoked by wall-to-wall news coverage on crime, to within 6 points of clinching the general election.

U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.) said it is still too early to know whether migrants will play a similar role in next years elections. While he and other members of the New York Congressional Delegation wrote a letter asking the Federal Emergency Management Agency to expedite funds to New York, he also said that programs rolled out by Biden and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas  such as expanding opportunities for people in Latin America to reunite with family members in the United States  have relieved some pressure.

I think the transparent way they handled it accounts for the lower numbers that are showing up at the border, when everybody else expected a surge, Espaillat said in an interview.

Some Democrats, however, dont seem to be taking chances and are staking out strong positions.

During the midterms, U.S. Rep. Pat Ryan received messaging advice from the New York City mayor, who won out over more progressive mayoral contenders with his position on public safety. But last week, the freshman lawmaker, who narrowly beat his Republican opponent in 2022, had harsh words for Adams in response to a New York Post report that 20 homeless veterans had been displaced from a Hudson Valley hotel to make way for asylum-seekers from the city.

This is bullshit. 20 veterans lost their housing tonight because of incompetence by New York City government, he tweeted May 12. I am doing everything I can to ensure these service members have a bed to sleep in tonight.

Let me be clear, he added, in words that may turn out to be prophetic. This will not be tolerated.
"The Mandalorian" Disney Plus

Expect to pay more for your favorite streaming services if you don't want ads.

Bob Iger said Disney+ can make more money from ad-supported subscribers and wants to raise ad-free prices.

Advertising was key in cable TV and could be the same in streaming as companies look for profit.

If you hate watching ads, expect to start paying more and more for your favorite streaming services.

Now that Netflix has shed its aversion to ads, all the top streamers are pursuing essentially the same strategy when it comes to their offerings: they have a low-priced tier with ads, a higher one that's ad free, and sometimes an even higher one that gets you more bells and whistles like ultra-HD video and high-quality sound.

You might think that these streamers make about the same amount of money per customer from their ad-supported and ad-free tiers. Take Disney+: It charges $7.99 for the ad-supported tier and $10.99 for the ad-free one. You'd be forgiven for thinking that Disney makes $3 from ads and that accounts for the price difference. It would make basic economic sense.

But in the current marketplace, that's often not true, and it's the reason you're likely going to have to pay more in the future to keep Disney+ and other streaming services ad free.

As Disney CEO Bob Iger explained on the company's earnings call earlier this month, he can make more money if you watch ads.

"Digital advertising is so attractive to advertisers that there's an opportunity for us to really lean into ad-supported and again raising our prices on the ad-free, keeping the prices on the ad-supported relatively modest to maybe perhaps no increases, increasing the delta, driving more subs in a higher [average revenue per user] direction," Iger said.

In plain English: Iger wants to raise prices on the ad-free version of Disney+ because the company can make more average revenue per user (ARPU) from the ad tier. This has generally been the case in the streaming industry and it's one of the major reasons Hulu, the early mover in ad-supported streaming, has historically had the highest ARPU among its peers. Even Netflix, the pioneer of ad-free streaming, has said it makes more per user from its ad-supported plan than its standard ad-free plan.

Story continues

We have exited the land-grab phase of the streaming wars when it was all about achieving scale and growing total subscriber numbers. That focus on subscriber growth had kept the prices of ad-free streaming artificially low. These companies are now focused on revenue and profit. Advertising was great for that in the last major era of TV, that of cable. It should be no surprise that it's returning in full force: Disney+, Hulu, Netflix, Max (HBO Max), Paramount+, and Peacock all now have ad-supported tiers.

That's good news for anyone who can tolerate watching some ads, which is a pretty high percentage of Americans. The fact that Iger and other CEOs can make extra money from you will help keep the price of your subscriptions low.

But if you really want to keep your viewing ad free, it means you'll likely have to pay up.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Youths incarcerated at Indian River Juvenile Correctional Facility attacked three employees in three separate assaults last week.

Youths incarcerated at Indian River Juvenile Correctional Facility attacked three employees in three separate assaults last week, leading to two workers being taken to the hospital.

Art teacher Matthew Benko suffered a broken nose, lacerations and a fractured hand after he was jumped Friday morning, according to multiple employees who spoke on condition of anonymity.

"He is doing as best he can. He has got a long road of recovery and he's got to seek specialists (for care)," said one employee at the youth prison in Massillon.

A female correctional officer was punched in the face and suffered a broken nose and a male officer was assaulted but did not go to the hospital.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating the three assaults.

Ohio Department of Youth Services spokesman Ryan Heimberger said department leaders are discussing safety and security with staff at Indian River.

The department introduced pepper spray and body cameras into its three youth prisons after disturbances at Indian River in October. Heimberger said those new tools have led to a decrease in staff assaults.

"Bringing our staffing levels up, however, will make the most difference in safety within our facilities. We continue to aggressively work to recruit new members to our DYS team," he said.

A recent report released by the Correctional Institution Inspection Committee said the youth prison saw a 20% rise in fights, disturbances and other violent events in 2022 over 2021. The committee staff conducted an announced inspection Feb. 9.

Teens at Indian River, which employs 294 people and houses about 154 juveniles, launched two riots in October, taking over a housing unit and then two weeks later barricading themselves in a school building. The second disturbance, which kids livestreamed on Facebook via a state laptop, caused $265,000 in damages.

Get more political analysis by listening to the Ohio Politics Explained podcast

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 3 employees at Indian River youth prison attacked in 1 week
President Volodymyr Zelensky held a meeting of the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief after his return from Europe to Kyiv, where he heard information about the situation at the contact line.

Source: Zelensky on Telegram

Quote from president: "The first thing after returning to Kyiv is the Staff meeting. I listened to the heads of the OSGT [operational and strategic groups of troops  ed.] about the course of hostilities on their fronts. We reviewed the general operational situation and intelligence data."

Details: At this meeting, the schedule for the supply of weapons and ammunition and their distribution by combat units and reserves was adjusted as well.

In addition, according to Zelenskyy, the results of checking the combat readiness of the newly created brigades were checked.

Background:

On the evening of 15 May, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that he was returning from visits to Italy, France, Germany and the UK with new defence packages for Ukraine and greater support for the Ukrainian peace formula.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






BEDFORD  A Goodview man accused of accessory after the fact: homicide in connection with an ongoing Bedford County murder investigation was granted a secured bond Monday.

Jonathan Dewayne Bell, 34, was arrested April 25, a week after human remains later identified as Ethan Ryan Bert, 20, of York, Pennsylvania, were found in a burning vehicle in Bedford County, Virginia State Police have said.

Joseph Richard Walker, 29, of Roanoke, was arrested in Brevard County, Florida, and charged with second-degree murder in connection with the killing of Bert, according to state police.

An investigation began after Bedford County Fire & Rescue crews were called to a vehicle fire on Sandy Level Road off Virginia 24 in the Goodview area on April 18, a news release has said. Firefighters arrived at about 12:45 a.m. to find the vehicle fully engulfed in flames.

First responders found human remains later identified as Bert, who according to investigators died by violent circumstances prior to his remains being placed in the vehicle, the release said. The victim and Walker were believed to have known one another, according to the release.

Bedford County Commonwealths Attorney Wes Nance said at a bond hearing in Bedford General District Court on Monday that he and Matthew Pack, Bells attorney, recommended a property bond of $25,000. Under the agreement Bell is to stay within the state while awaiting further court hearings, Nance said.

No other details of the case were revealed during Mondays bond hearing. Bell and Walker each face a preliminary hearing at 1:30 p.m. July 12.

 Justin Faulconer
A memorial service honoring law enforcement officers who have been killed in the line of duty was held at the base of Monument Terrace in downtown Lynchburg on Monday evening.

The ceremony was part of National Police Week, designated to honor the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers, and their commitment to protecting the residents of Lynchburg and surrounding counties. National Police Week runs through May 20, 2023. Lynchburg Mayor Stephanie Reed, Lynchburg Police Chief Ryan Zuidema and state Sen. Steve Newman spoke at the event.

Participating law enforcement agencies included: Altavista Police Department, Amherst County Sheriffs Office, Appomattox County Sheriffs Office, Bedford County Sheriffs Office, Campbell County Sheriffs Office, Central Virginia Community College Police Department, Liberty University Police Department, Lynchburg Sheriffs Office, Town of Amherst Police Department, Town of Bedford Police Department, Virginia State Police, and the Lynchburg Police Department.
The release of a chemical from a holding tank at Cathcart Rail, formerly Buncher Rail Car Service, on Hydro Street has been producing a strong odor for the past month, but poses no threat to public health, according to the Lynchburg Fire Marshal's Office.

The Lynchburg Fire Department first responded to reports of a chemical smell near downtown on April 3, according to a news release. The investigation lead them to the business on Hydro Street. During a recent follow-up visit, the fire marshal found a tank holding 2,200 gallons of ethyl acrylate, which was leaking.

The chemical is used in the production of resins, plastics and rubber materials, according to the release. Ethyl acrylate is a flammable liquid with an unpleasant odor.

The slow leak is contained to the immediate area, according to the news release. The Virginia Department of Emergency Management and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality were notified and both are working with the company on the cleanup, expected to begin this week.

Residents in the Rivermont and downtown area may notice a strong chemical smell but the fire department reiterated there is no risk to public health from the leak, the release said. The Fire Marshals Office will continue to monitor the situation until it is resolved.
A bicyclist died of his injuries in a crash involving a car last week in Campbell County, according to a Virginia State Police news release.

Josiah D. Fowler, 20, of McDonough, Georgia, died on Friday of injuries he received in the crash the day before, the release said.

Fowler was riding a Trek bicycle south on English Tavern Road near Depot Road, when a 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser attempted to pass the cyclist, the release said. The bicycle suddenly shifted toward the PT Cruiser, and the driver was not able to avoid hitting Fowler.

Fowler was taken to Roanoke Memorial Hospital where he died of his injuries, state police said. He was wearing a helmet.

The Chrysler's driver, a 47-year-old woman from Lynchburg, was not injured in the crash, according to the news release.

No charges were filed in the crash.
AMHERST  Sweet Briar Colleges 114th commencement took place on Saturday with 88 graduates.

In her address to the graduates, President Meredith Woo highlighted the accomplishments of the tenacious and strong-willed women who were being celebrated that day. She also praised the families of the graduates for their unwavering faith in their daughters and in Sweet Briar College, which they have called home.

Woo also recognized the hard work and perseverance of the faculty and staff at Sweet Briar, who have dedicated themselves to providing a top-notch education and support system for the students.

The alumni of Sweet Briar also were celebrated for their contributions to the colleges history and legacy. She thanked them for inspiring generations of students and for their ongoing support of the college.

I celebrate and salute the brave members of our community for their profound commitment to the long and important tradition at Sweet Briar of educating women of consequence, she said.

Sita Moses was awarded the prestigious Presidential Medal at the commencement ceremony. In her speech, she acknowledged the unique paths that each graduate has taken to arrive at the momentous occasion.

She highlighted that persistence and dedication have been key to their success and they have all relied on different skills and abilities to get to where they are today.

Moses emphasized the importance of community and the support systems that have helped them reach this point.

She expressed her gratitude for the community she has found at Sweet Briar College and the impact it has had on her education. She highlighted the conversations, both in and outside of class, that have challenged her thinking, and the horses on campus that have been a source of calm and comfort.

Acknowledging the history of the land on which Sweet Briar College sits, Moses paid tribute to the ancestral home of the Monacan Nation and the unsung founders, the enslaved people who labored and built the college.

We and every person who has known this land as home are in debt to these individuals, she said. Sweet Briar is a place of change hanging in the balance between past and future. I hope that it will continue to grow into what it strives to be and all that it can be. To my fellow graduates, lets thank those who helped us get here, those who came before, those who might never see again. And lets thank ourselves for our strength and kindness. Im so proud of us all. Enjoy the next adventure on your journey. We have truly earned our roses.

Brianna Rabassa, 2023 class president, gave a heartfelt tribute to her friends and family who have supported her throughout her college years. She spoke of the bittersweet nature of graduation, as it means leaving behind the people who have meant so much to her during her time at Sweet Briar.

Although the experiences have been incredible, the people who have journeyed with me through these experiences are more interesting, she said.

But the biggest supporters in Rabassas life are her parents, who she thanked for giving her a love of musicals and music and for filling their home with love and fun.

She closed her speech by reflecting on the sisterhood found at the college.

Sweet Briar has given us a family and sisterhood that no other college would have, she said.

The Honorable Verda Colvin, class of 1987 and Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court, spoke to the graduating class and reminded them Sweet Briar alumni paved the way for their education.

After we smile and reflect for a moment on the joys of campus life, I need you to be keenly aware that the world desperately needs a Sweet Briar woman, she said. You have been educated and grounded at an institution that allowed you to explore who you are  your values, strengths, and your visions for your future. That is a gift, an incredible starting point as you begin your lifes journey.

Colvin encouraged the graduates to be aware of the gift of personal growth and the power of the tools they have been given. She also reminded them of the urgent need for women in leadership roles and to remember their responsibility to each other and to humanity at large.

It is no secret that our country and our world are at a pivotal moment in many ways. In my lifetime, I have never seen the division that we now face. We seem to have forgotten that we all share a common humanity. And while we are not all equally guilty, we are all equally responsible for building a decent and just America, she said. As Sweet Briar women, each of you graduating today are uniquely qualified to do just that because in addition to expanding your minds, you have been made keenly aware of your responsibility to each other and to mankind at large.

Colvin shared statistics on how graduates of womens colleges have excelled in various fields, and how Sweet Briar has prepared its graduates for leadership positions.

It was just reported in March 2023 that while only 2% of American female college graduates attended womens colleges, graduates of womens colleges comprise more than 20% of women in Congress., she said. Graduates of womens colleges represent 33% of women on Fortune 1000. U.S. News reported that colleges that educate women provide opportunities that ensure that women graduate with STEM degrees two times more than the national average.

She urged the graduates to step into their rightful place and to build their own doors of opportunity.

When the table has not been set with you in mind, make a door and enter the room anyway and bring your own chair to the table. Dont wait to be invited, she said. Whatever you do, be committed to making an impact not just taking a seat. Taking a seat makes you replaceable, making an impact makes you invaluable. Dont play small. The world cant afford for you to wait.

In her charge to the 2023 class, Woo said it is one of the toughest duties as the president to say something meaningful and new.

For fun, she asked the latest version of chat GPT to write a commencement speech for the graduating class, particularly on how the liberal arts learning would help them navigate the post-college world where algorithms may become their bosses.

Though she admitted it was a brilliant and sophisticated speech, it lacked soul because it didnt know the students like she does.

She spoke about the students time at Sweet Briar, which was marked by two world historical events: COVID and the demand for racial justice.

You experienced it as much as the rest of the United States did  you were vaccinated, you were quarantined if need be, you sat six feet apart from each other, and you ate apples that had been wrapped in plastic, she said. In other ways, you experienced it only as you can at Sweet Briar. When the Spanish flu raged toward the end of World War I, Sweet Briar College understood that it was a unique place with its spacious campus and natural surroundings, it could keep the students safe and it succeeded in keeping the students safe. A century later it did the same when COVID hit.

She reminded them they came of age during the time of Black Lives Matter and the Me Too movement. She commended their participation in the movement for diversity and inclusion, where they expressed their aspirations for a community free of discrimination. She charged them to remember their experience during these events and to use it as a guide for their future as democratic citizens.

Artificial Intelligence, great as it is, cannot envision what it means to be a democratic citizen, she said. The soul of a democratic citizen is an infuriating one. It is rational and irrational at once, deliberative and temperamental at once, hidebound and traditional as it is forward looking. It is contradictory and above all, passionate. It is authentic  authentically American, authentically democratic, authentically you.
The Republican-led Virginia Department of Elections elected to withdraw from a multi-state election data-sharing partnership over concerns about privacy, costs and the alleged risk of data sharing with outside organizations being leveraged for political purposes.

Democratic lawmakers asserted Monday that the move is an effort to undermine voting access and trust in the electoral process.

The Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) was created in 2012 with Virginia as one of the seven founding members. Gov. Bob McDonnell, a Republican, promoted it at the time. The partnership allows for states to compare voting data to identify people who have died or moved between states and adjust rolls accordingly  measures that can prevent or catch instances of voter fraud.

ERIC primarily combated the things Republicans claim to care about, said House Minority Leader Don Scott Jr., D-Portsmouth, at a news conference Monday. Why would Republicans want to do away with it? The answer is and has always been clear since Governor (Glenn) Youngkin was elected  because they want to undermine our democracy.

Virginias ERIC pullout follows several other GOP-led states that have withdrawn  Alabama, Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri, Ohio and West Virginia. Texas has considered a withdrawal that is supported by the Republican Party of Texas, but has not yet left ERIC.

Scott remarked on how the Youngkin administration quietly changed the process for formerly incarcerated people to have their voting rights restored, and also noted the GOP-led push in recent years to walk back the expanded voting access that was implemented when Democrats held the governorship and majorities in the General Assembly.

From quietly changing the restoration of rights progress to this surprising departure from ERIC, everything they do is trying to disrupt our election process, he said Monday. These destructive changes harm voters and undermine faith in our system.

Last week, Department of Elections Commissioner Susan Beals wrote a letter to ERIC, citing reasons for Virginias planned withdrawal. She cited concerns over rising costs to participate following the departure of other states and confidentiality of the data sharing.

The letter noted momentum around the creation of viable alternatives to inter-state data sharing compacts and Virginias ability to replicate favorable ERIC functionality internally and develop true autonomy for all list maintenance and data sharing practices.

To accomplish this, Andrea Gaines, a spokesperson for Beals, said the department will obtain a subscription to the Limited Master Death file from the Social Security Administration and will continue to process records it receives from the Department of Motor Vehicles.

She added that Virginia has been in talks with other states for several months about creating new state-to-state data-sharing relationships for the purpose of identifying double voters.

On the concern over rising costs, Gaines said the fiscal year costs rose from $37,000 to $54,000 from 2022 to 2023. Participating states contribute to the funding for ERIC.

A spokesperson for Youngkin said rising costs were a reason to withdraw, along with concerns over privacy.

Virginia withdrew from ERIC because Virginians data was shared with an ERIC affiliated research organization and, despite its efforts, Virginia was unable to reform ERIC, said Macaulay Porter, a spokesperson for Youngkin.

ERIC has previously shared anonymized data for research purposes with an election organization led by David Becker, ERICs founder. States that participated did so voluntarily, VPM reported.

Democratic lawmakers have accused the Youngkin administration of buying into conspiracy theories. In Mondays news conference, several senators and delegates reflected on the growing national tensions around distrust in elections  spearheaded by former President Donald Trumps false claims that the 2020 election was stolen.

This is wild conspiracy theory stuff, right? said Del. Marcus Simon, D-Fairfax. Its really disturbing that the governor and Susan (Beals) do seem to buy into these debunked conspiracy theories. Theyre willing to believe that kind of information and actually use that kind of conspiracy theory to guide decision making over at the Department of Elections.

Asked if the Youngkin administration had a response to the allegation, Porter did not directly respond, but answered other questions.

During his 2021 campaign, Youngkin initially ducked questions about whether he believed the 2020 election was stolen. After winning the GOP nomination, he said he would have voted to certify the results. Last year, he campaigned for some GOP gubernatorial candidates around the country  like Arizonas Kari Lake  who continued to deny the results of the 2020 election.

As for ERIC, after roughly a decade of operating under the radar as a bipartisan coalition of more than 30 states, it has generated concern from leaders or constituents in the states that have pulled out of it.

In early 2022, it became the subject of far-right blogs framing the partnership as a liberal conspiracy to steal elections. Louisiana became the first state to withdraw from ERIC shortly afterward.

Shane Hamlin, ERICs current executive director, provided a statement to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, stating that the organization will follow its bylaws and membership agreement regarding any members request to resign membership.

That means that, following Beals resignation notice, it will be 91 days before the resignation is effective, according to the bylaws.

We will continue our work on behalf of our remaining member states in improving the accuracy of Americas voter rolls and increasing access to voter registration for all eligible citizens, Hamlin said in the statement.

Top five weekend events: Dominion Energy Riverrock, Lebanese Food Fest & Pauly D Dominion Energy Riverrock Pauly D Jo Dee Messina at After Hours Flowers After 5
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 into authorities without incident on Monday afternoon, a statement from the Blair Police Department said. He was arrested on a warrant for 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.
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.
The Masons of Cobia Lodge will warm up their grills Tuesday for the fourth annual Burgers for Blue in conjunction with Police week, which is May 14-20.

All area law enforcement officers are welcome to stop in and enjoy burgers and brats Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Masonic Lodge, 130 S. Sixth St. in Council Bluffs.

The purchase of the cookout is to honor and show our support and appreciation for all local, county and state law enforcement for the dedication and service to our communities, Patrick Morgan said in a press release from the lodge.

One of the principles of Masonry is to serve the community, the press release stated. Cobia Lodge, as well as the other two Masonic Lodges in Council Bluffs, contribute to many local organizations, charities and school scholarships. Burgers for Blue is an effort to give a little to those who give a lot.

The lodge offered its thanks to Hy-Vee Food Stores, Fareway, Bimbo/Sara Lee Bakery, Mobilis Home Medical, A. Raymond Plumbing and Nebraska Coast for their assistance with the event.
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.
Four political parties in Benin pocketed Monday close to $2.5 million in form of state funding for political movements having representatives in the legislature or local governments.

Bloc Republicain (BR), Union Progessiste Le Renouveau (UPR), Force Cauris pour le Benin Emergent (FCBE) and Les Democrates (LD) received the fund from the Chairman of National Autonomous Electoral Commission (CENA) Sacca Lafia, Banouto reports.

The funds cover the first two quarters of 2023. The CENA Head however indicated that LD backed form President Yayo Boni is not entitled to financial support for the first quarter because did not have representatives in parliament or any local government during the period.

BR, UPR and LD currently make up Benins 109-seat legislature following January elections. BR has 28 seats, UPR 53 seats while LD garnered 28 seats.

Benins Constitution has arranged provisions for state grants to political parties to promote their political programs, participation in electoral process, and training of their members as well as citizens on civic and political education.
EgyptAir has signed a long-term agreement with the travel technology specialist Amadeus to boost flight reservation systems, the airline said in a statement on Monday.

Amadeus is in a position to support Egyptair throughout its digital transformation, allowing us to provide customers with a best-in-class travel experience, Yehia Zakaria, chief executive, Egyptair Group, said.

Once these advanced solutions, including a new digital e-commerce platform are fully implemented, our employees will have the freedom and flexibility to better serve our passengers around the world.

As part of the deal, Amadeus will deliver a frictionless web and mobile experience to travelers while Amadeus Altea Booking Intelligence will help minimize fraud. The airline also per the deal will migrate to a new loyalty platform, where members will benefit from customer-centric experiences based upon traveler insights.

The deal comes within the framework of EgyptAirs digital transformation plans, Zakaria added.

The deal is an extension of an existing relationship between the Egyptian flag-carrier and the travel technology leader, and comes as the airline refreshes its digital offering ahead of a renewed period of growth.
The United States has paid tribute to the crucial voice of King Mohammed VI in promoting peace in the Middle East and building a secure and prosperous future for Israelis and Palestinians.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken lauded King Mohammed VIs crucial voice in advancing regional peace and his leadership in promoting a secure and prosperous future for Israelis and Palestinians, said the State Department in a press release issued following Blinkens latest telephone call with Moroccan Foreign minister Nasser Bourita.

The two ministers discussed on this occasion the importance of the Negev Forum and affirmed the importance of full adherence to the recent ceasefire in Israel and Gaza.

The United States has recently praised the role played by Morocco, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, Chairman of Al-Quds Committee, in supporting the Palestinian people and advancing the two-state solution and peace in the Middle East.

During their telephone conversation, Secretary Blinken and Foreign minister Bourita reviewed the latest regional and global developments as well as the U.S.-Morocco bilateral security and economic partnership.

On this occasion, Washington emphasized its strong commitment to further strengthening the U.S.-Morocco bilateral security and economic partnership.
Algeria is rushing to find an alternative to Russian arms which has fallen sharply due to the war effort in Ukraine.

Algeria has for long been the third buyer of Russian arms which make up more than 80% of its arsenal. The war in Ukraine has disrupted major transactions, including a 7 billion-dollar-deal to buy Russian weapons.

Russia has lost tanks and geared its war industry to meet the needs of its army in Ukraine where its assumptions for blitzkrieg failed giving way to what seems to be a protracted war of attrition on both sides.

Algerian kingmaker and chief of staff Saied Chengriha has raised the armys budget to a record 23 billion dollars this year as he struggles to find suppliers. He visited France as well as Brasil to seal supply deals.

Yet replacing Russia would prove to be a daunting task and a long-term endeavor that will disrupt the interoperability of its Russian arsenal.

Even Russian proxies such as the Wagner group are complaining of a shortage of arms supply. The paramilitary groups chief Evgueni Prigojine said it only received 10% of promised arms.

As Russia burns through its stockpile of arms and drafts long-mothballed soviet-era tanks back into service, Moscows arms exports are taking a backseat to supply the war effort.

Russian weapons transactions have also been hit by Western sanctions along with Russian military industry. The center for International Strategic Studies said in a recent report that sanctions have disrupted supply chains of the Russian defense industry, especially in the areas of semiconductors, night-vision technology and avionics.

The war in Ukraine was also a tough test of Russian military equipment. So far, Ukrainian resistance, buoyed by Western armament, is giving a hack of a lesson to Putins troops on multiple battlegrounds, casting a shadow of doubt on the efficiency of Russian arms.

Maintenance is also an issue as the Algerian army would struggle to receive Russian technicians and engineers for reparation.
The United States has denounced the continuing violations of religious freedom in Algeria wherein non-Muslim minority groups and Shiites suffer unabated harassment, persecution and growing restrictions.

In its 2022 International Religious Freedom Report, the State Department says the Algerian authorities continued in 2022 to arrest, jail, and fine Christians on charges of proselytizing, citing in this regard several cases such as the case of Christian convert Slimane Bouhafs who was charged with a variety of offenses, including blasphemy and terrorism related crimes.

On December 16, a court in Algiers sentenced Bouhafs to three years in prison and a fine of $733 for belonging to a terrorist organization, alleging he was a member of the Self-Determination of Kabylie (MAK) group, which the government designated a terrorist organization in 2021.

Several human rights organizations reported Bouhafs had been forcibly returned from Tunisia in 2021 where he had refugee status. At years end, Bouhafs remained in prison and faced additional charges, including of committing offenses against the Prophet Muhammad.

In June, the Algeria government charged a group of Shiite Muslims with participating in an unauthorized group and denigrating Islam. A group member said authorities had been intimidating and harassing the group since April, interrogating them about their religious beliefs, and confiscating their passports, cell phones, and laptops.

In October, Ahmadi Muslim community leaders said several members of their group were charged with blasphemy, holding unauthorized gatherings, and illegal fundraising.

In March, a court sentenced the president of the Protestant Church of Algeria (EPA), Pastor Salaheddine Chalah, to 18 months in prison for proselytizing on social media, practicing non-Muslim religious rites without authorization, and inciting an unarmed gathering, the charge for unauthorized protests.

Several religious groups, including the Ahmadi Muslim community and the EPA, said the government had yet to accept their registration applications. Both groups have made several attempts to register since 2012.

Furthermore, Catholic, Anglican, and Methodist groups said the Algeria authorities did not respond to their requests for foreign religious workers visas, resulting in de facto visa refusals.

Some Christian leaders and congregants said non-Muslims faced social pressure for practicing a non-Muslim faith. Local media outlets criticize Ahmadi Islam and Shia Islam as sects or deviations from Islam or as foreign and demonstrate a bias against these groups.

The U.S. report voiced serious concern over the violations of religious freedom in Algeria, calling on the Algerian regime to accept registration applications of minority religious communities, reopen closed churches and release all those imprisoned for practicing their faith.

For these reasons, the State Department continues to place Algeria on its Special Watch List (SWL) on recommendation by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) for ongoing repression of religious minorities.

The USCIRF says the Algerian government has systematically cracked down on the Evangelical Protestant community, in particular, through a string of church closures and raids, including two on the largest Protestant churches in the country.

The U.S. Independent and bipartisan body deplores the deteriorating religious freedom conditions in Algeria with the government increasingly enforcing blasphemy laws and restricting worship. These laws particularly impact religious minorities, such as Protestant Christians and Ahmadiyya Muslims.

The imprisonment of Algerians on charges of blasphemy and proselytization and the discriminatory implementation of legal provisions regulating worship constitute violations of the freedom of religion or belief as protected under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
David Atkinson, CEO and director, said the European medical community has condemned American doctors for tampering with the genitals of perfectly healthy children. Atkinson is from Boston, Massachusetts, and said the other folks with him on Monday are from California, Texas, Oregon and Denver.
Approximately 24 people have applied for seats on the new inland port authority to manage the port on the east side of Hershey, said Lincoln County Commissioner Chris Bruns, reporting to the board of commissioners on Monday.

He, Commissioner Kent Weems, Deputy County Attorney Tyler Volkmer, and Gary Person, president of North Platte Area Chamber and Development, make up the committee reviewing the applications.

For general information or to propose a name for the inland port, go to lincolncountyne.gov/inland-port-authority.

The committee will begin reviewing applications on May 25. Bruns said he would like commissioners to consider top applicants at their June 5 meeting.

Commissioners set a date of June 12 to receive bids to resurface 11.2 miles of county roads with asphalt this year.

The work will be done on 9.2 miles of Garfield Table Road and two miles of Antelope Road. Another two miles of Garfield Table road was listed as an alternative.

With all the rains Lincoln County has had recently, County Highway Superintendent Jason Schultz said there have been some areas with a few issues, but they have been minor, and not as anticipated. He added that the new culverts on OFallon Road north of U.S. Highway 30 look great.

The commissioners approved purchasing a second mower for the highway department. Schultz said the money is in the departments budget.

The new mower will be the same as the Rhino mower that the department has been using for two years, which has been super, he said. It is adapted well to the departments tractors.

Schultz had obtained three bids. The commissioners approved accepting the low bid, from AKRS Equipment Solutions, for $27,500. The other bids were from Titan Machinery and North Platte Kubota. The bid from Kubota was higher and was also a different model.

At the end of the meeting, during time set aside for discussion of concerns of elected officials and department heads:

Commissioner Kent Weems reported that discussions are underway for the county to take over management of black-tailed prairie dogs when the contract with the USDA is up for renewal next month.

Prairie dog management would be combined with the noxious weed control office. Todd Herndon is the County Noxious Weed superintendent. Weems and Commissioner Chairman Jerry Woodruff are on the countys black-tailed prairie dog management committee and Commissioner Micaela Wuehler is on the noxious weed committee.

Landowners are required to prevent prairie dogs from encroaching from their own land onto their neighbors lands. They are also required to control noxious weeds on their land.

The list of Nebraska state noxious weeds includes musk, plumeless and Canada thistle, salt cedar, leafy spurge and several other invasive plant species.

The county weed office sprays weeds, and the USDA controls prairie dogs for landowner, for a fee.

An advantage to consolidating the programs would be that it may make it easier for Herndon to retain employees, he said.

Currently the weed office hires seasonal workers and has the cost of training and certifying workers each year; workers typically do not return from year to year, Herndon said.

Retention may be easier if employees are giving year-round responsibilities related to prairie dog control, he said.

Wuehler praised Barry Johnson, the USDAs animal damage control agent who works in Lincoln County. Weems said they would like to be able to continue to involve him.

The committee members will continue conversations with the parties involved, and report back to the board of commissioners with recommendations.

In other business, commissioners:

Gave approval for the Lincoln County Sheriffs Office to submit a grant application for $28,000 to Nebraska Office of Highway Safety.

The money will be used to pay sheriff deputies overtime pay to assist North Platte Police Department with speed and alcohol enforcement.

The operation will be conducted during Nebraskaland Days, with a focus on the parade, rodeos and concerts. Lt. Dan Newton appeared before commissioners to make the request.

The sheriffs department receives NOHS funding and conducts the operation every year, said Newton, but we dont ever get what we ask. He said they would like to receive $22,000.

Authorized Bruns to attend the National Association of Counties annual conference in Austin, Texas, as a voting delegate. Bruns said expenses are being paid by Nebraska Association of County Officials.

He would be attending the conference even without serving as the boards voting delegate, as he has some committee assignments related to the state organization. The conference is scheduled for July 20-23.

Authorized Chairman Woodruff to sign a right-of-way application for Pearman Farms LLC of Maxwell, to bore under Fort McPherson Road to supply power to a new center pivot system.

The boring will begin and end in fields outside the right-of-way on each side of the road.

Approved a certificate of correction and refund submitted by County Assessor Julie Stenger for a 1972 Champion mobile home that is being demolished. The amount of refund is $38.68.

Considered a motor vehicle tax exemption application for First Baptist Church for a 2024 GMC Sierra truck to pull a fifth wheel trailer for church camp and other religious purposes.

County Treasurer Alex Gurciullo had denied the application because of concerns that the pastor may be using the vehicle for personal reasons.

The fifth wheel trailer is in his name, not the churchs, and other documentation was in his name, not the name of the church.

Kristy Smith, financial secretary for North Platte Baptist Church, was at the meeting. She assured the board that the vehicles are used only for church purposes.

Smith said another truck owned by the church had been found to lack the power needed to pull the trailer, and that is the reason they bought this one.

Commissioners ultimately approved the exemption for new truck, which was purchased for approximately $80,000. Woodruff asked Smith to ensure that documentation in the future makes ownership and sole use by the church clear.
A North Platte man received a prison sentence for trapping his girlfriend in his apartment and throwing glass pipes at her.

Colby T. Dewey, 31, was sentenced twice to 3 years in prison with credit for 101 days served in the Nebraska Department of Corrections after pleading no contest to third degree felony domestic assault and resisting arrest. Both were subsequent offenses.

He will be eligible for parole after 18 months. He will also have to undergo 18 months of post-release supervision. The two sentences will run concurrent with each other.

A third charge of misdemeanor false imprisonment was dropped as part of a plea deal.

The defense was hoping for some form of long term intensive probation. Dewey asked District Judge Michael Piccolo for leniency.

On the outside, life is hard, he said.

Dewey said he didnt know what else to do to get help on his own.

Piccolo said treatment could be consistently provided in a correctional facility.

According to police records, Dewey was arrested on Feb. 3.

When officers arrived at a disturbance, they found Dewey and his girlfriend. She had cuts on her hands from Dewey throwing a glass bong at her. She raised her hands up in defense when it shattered, court records said.

She attempted to leave the residence, but Dewey threw another glass pipe at her, held her back from the exit and placed a dresser in front of the door to prevent her from leaving. That was when she began yelling out the window for help and a concerned neighbors called the police.

Dewey remained in the house as his girlfriend explained the incident to police. This gave them probable cause for his arrest, court records said.

He repeatedly attempted to resist arrest, even running away in handcuffs before being caught and restrained. Officers reported delivering a knee strike to Colbys outer thigh on the right side causing him to slow down enough to hold him up against the police car.

While in the cruiser, he repeatedly slammed his head against the divider, splitting his head open in the process. He was taken to Great Plains Health and restrained in an emergency chair.

After treatment, he was booked in the Lincoln County Detention Center.
A North Platte sex offender will serve a prison sentence for attempted forcible rape.

Johnathon M. Hernandez, 30, was sentenced to six years in prison after pleading no contest to felony attempted first degree sexual assault of a child. The original charge of first degree sexual assault of a child was amended down as part of a plea deal.

District Judge Michael Piccolo sentenced Hernandez to six years in the Nebraska Department of Corrections with credit for 127 days already served.

He will have to register as a sex offender for 25 years and will be eligible for parole after 3 years.

Hernandez was arrested in August of 2021 after a young girl and her family accused him of sexually assaulting her.

According to police records, the girl and her sibling visited the Family Dollar to purchase some items on Aug. 1. While her sibling was in the store, Hernandez grabbed the girl by the arm while she was standing outside. He led her to his apartment, where he proceeded to assault her.

Her sibling ran home to tell their parents the girl was missing. They filed a missing juvenile report with the North Platte Police Department. She was found about a half hour later back at the Family Dollar.

She was subsequently interviewed at the Bridge of Hope Child Advocacy Center on Aug. 11.

Hernandez agreed to submit to a polygraph test where he admitted to sexually assaulting the minor.

In 2014, Hernandez pleaded no contest in Lincoln County District Court to two amended charges of attempted first-degree sexual assault of a child. He was sentenced to 1 to three years in prison.

Pick up the Wednesday edition of the Telegraph for more of Mondays district court roundup.
Photo: NY Daily News via Getty Images/NY Daily News via Getty Images

Immigration has become a central issue of Mayor Eric Adamss tenure, and not by choice. The city has contended with a staggering increase of asylum seekers from the southern border, many of whom were bused to New York from southern states like Texas and Florida, whose Republican governors are using the migrants to make a political statement. According to official tallies, more than 65,000 migrants have arrived in town since last year.

Now, Adamss handling of this influx is sparking major backlash among public officials in and around the city, which has already forced him to backtrack on at least one of his controversial proposals.

During an interview with NY1 Tuesday, the mayor said the city was looking at housing migrants in 20 standalone gyms that are separate from the school buildings themselves. None of us are comfortable with having to take these drastic steps. But I could not have been more clear for the last few months of what we are facing, Adams said.

The announcement was met by swift protest by both parents and students, some of whom demonstrated outside of P.S. 17 in Williamsburg on Tuesday in opposition of the proposed use of its gym.

That tactic seems to have worked. The City reported Wednesday that City Hall is stepping back from its plan and would bus migrants who were staying at Coney Islands P.S. 188  the only active school whose gym was being used for housing  to an undisclosed location. A source from City Hall told The City that a closed Staten Island school that is currently housing asylum seekers would continue to do so.

Tensions over the migrant issue came to a head last week as Adams took new steps in anticipation of Thursdays expiration of Title 42, the COVID-era restriction that allowed the United States to expel migrants who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border. Title 42s removal was expected to result in a significant increase of asylum seekers.

Earlier this month, the mayor announced plans to voluntarily relocate asylum seekers from the city to surrounding suburbs. But county executives in Orange and Rockland counties came out against Adamss idea of housing migrants in local hotels, and both have issued a state of emergency to challenge it. Several dozen asylum seekers were bused to an Orange County hotel last week, according to Gothamist.

On Tuesday, a judge granted Orange County a restraining order that will temporarily bar New York City from transporting migrants to the county, according to Spectrum News.

In announcing that program, Adams once again pointed the finger at the federal government and President Joe Biden, whom he has consistently said has not provided the city with the support it needs.

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. With a vacuum of leadership, we are now being forced to undertake our own decompression strategy, he said. This stance has helped lead to an increasingly strained relationship with the president.

In another move that prompted backlash, Adams last week signed an executive order that suspended certain aspects of the citys right-to-shelter law in anticipation of the suspension of Title 42. In a tweet, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams called the move a misguided and harmful action.

The administration is still continuing to expand its search for feasible locations to house asylum seekers and is keeping all options on the table. The Daily News reported Wednesday that City Hall is considering using the shuttered Otis Bantum Correctional Center on Rikers Island to house migrants.

Its not yet clear how these policies might affect Adamss popularity with his constituents. A recent Siena poll showed Adams with a 49 percent approval rating among voters in New York City, which was considerably better than a January Quinnipiac University poll showing the mayor with a 37 percent approval rate.
Mike Pence to Republicans: Why not pretend Trump never existed? Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Its understandable that former vice-president Mike Pence wants to rebrand himself in his 2024 presidential campaign. Hes known to the world as the cringingly obsequious Trump sidekick who refused to give the Boss the unconstitutional boost he needed to stop Joe Bidens confirmation as president-elect on January 6, 2021. In MAGA land, he will never, ever be forgiven for this betrayal of Donald Trump. In seeking a new identity, Pence is unsurprisingly returning to his pre-Trump image as a methodical movement-conservative warhorse with a particular connection to the Christian right (albeit one whose political career all but self-immolated thanks to his clumsy handling of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in Indiana).

In campaigning as the man who can return the GOP and the country to pre-Trump conservatism, Pence is obviously scratching a deep itch among Republican elites who want to imagine that the 45th presidency was just a nightmare that produced a lot of madness and some nice tax cuts. Theres a big problem, though. Practically everything the former veep wants the GOP to stand for is deeply unpopular, as this summary of the Pence message from the New York Times illustrates:

Mr. Pence is working to carve out space in the Republican primary field by appealing to evangelicals, adopting a hard-line position in support of a federal abortion ban, promoting free trade and pushing back against Republican efforts to police big business on ideological grounds. He faces significant challenges, trails far behind in the polls and has made no effort to channel the populist energies overtaking the Republican Party.

Imposing a strict national abortion ban is very unpopular outside (and to some extent inside) the Republican base, as Trump has repeatedly acknowledged. Free trade is a creed as outmoded as the free coinage of silver and is anathema in much of the heartland areas Republicans rely on. Populist conservative efforts to mess with corporate policies are irresponsible and hard to maintain, yet they help insulate Republicans from their ancient image as Wall Street toadies. But Pences unpopularity contest doesnt end there:

Unlike almost every major Republican running for president, Mr. Pence still defends former President George W. Bushs decisions to invade Afghanistan and Iraq, though he acknowledged in the interview that the weapons of mass destruction intelligence that Mr. Bush used to justify the Iraqi invasion was wrong.

And for dessert:

Mr. Pence says Social Security and Medicare must be trimmed back as part of any serious plan to deal with the national debt 

Mr. Pence said he would explain to people how the debt crisis would affect their children and grandchildren. He says his plan to cut benefits wont apply to Social Security and Medicare payments for people in retirement today or who will retire in the next 25 years. But he will pitch ideas to cut spending for people under 40.

Social Security and Medicare cuts are nearly as unpopular among Republican voters as they are among Democratic and independent voters, which is very unpopular indeed. And Republican politicians (most notably and recently George W. Bush and Paul Ryan) have forever sought to explain to people why its somehow fair to literally grandfather in the retirement benefits of old folks while screwing over their children and grandchildren with half a loaf or less. It hasnt worked.

The delusion Pence is counting on is simple: There was nothing wrong with old-school Reagan-Bush Republicanism until the Bad Man came along (with Pences sycophantic help, by the way) to wreck everything with his demagogic heresies. Unfortunately for this hypothesis, there was a lot wrong with where Republicans were heading going into 2016, beginning with the simple fact that the non-college-educated white voters on which the GOP had begun to depend didnt like free trade, slavery to big business, entitlement reform, or forever wars and warmed to a presidential candidate who pledged to overturn the party Establishment that promoted these shibboleths as though they came down from Mount Sinai on stone tablets. If Pence succeeds in making himself known as the would-be president who wants to get rid of half of Trumps more popular positions, his own popularity (his favorable-unfavorable ratio according to the FiveThirtyEight polling averages is 36-53) is likely to fade even more as voters begin to understand him.
From presidential front-runner to laughingstock, Rick Perry rose and fell. Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Veteran political observers got a good chuckle this weekend, when a familiar but unlikely name, Rick Perry, entered the 2024 presidential conversation, albeit by bringing the idea up himself, as CNN reported:

When asked if he believes Trump should be the Republican nominee next year, the former Texas governor said, Im still trying to sort that out for myself.

He may get to hear me call him names again, Perry added, alluding to previous clashes between the two men in the 2016 Republican primaries. If youll recall, I didnt announce for president in 2011 until August, so weve got a lot of time left.

If you didnt have Perry 2024 on your bingo card, its probably because the 73-year-old politician hasnt won an election since 2010 and undertook two unsuccessful presidential runs in 2012 and 2016 before a brief and inglorious stint as Donald Trumps Energy secretary that ended with his implication in the U.S.-Ukraine shenanigans that earned the 45th president his first impeachment.

But Perrys hint that perhaps the best is yet to come for him is a reminder that, back in 2011, he was briefly all the rage in Republican politics. He was a late-declaring presidential candidate surging in the polls, drawing huge crowds everywhere, and delighting Republican elites looking for a trusted and electable conservative to put up against Barack Obama in 2012. Perry was, in some important respects, the Ron DeSantis of that election cycle.

Now, you may laugh at the comparison. Perry, after all, is a good old boy from Paint Creek, Texas, who barely made it through the Texas A&M animal-sciences curriculum and climbed the ranks of Texas Republican politics without impressing too many people with his intellect. Despite fairly humble roots, DeSantis managed to get into and graduate from Yale and Harvard Law School. Perry left college to serve as an Air Force pilot. DeSantis left law school to serve as a Navy JAG officer who advised prisoner interrogators and (later) Navy SEALs on the front lines. Perry had a slow ascent to the governorship of his state, elected to the legislature initially as a Democrat, becoming Agriculture commissioner, then lieutenant governor, before inheriting the big job when George W. Bush was elected president. DeSantis was elected to Congress at 34 and became governor at 40.

But on the national stage, the two men have a lot in common. Both spent a lot of time boasting about their respective Sunbelt states as job magnets and economic paradises attributable to their sturdy conservative governing principles. Both have a knack for tossing red meat to right-wing audiences. And both became darlings of national Republican elites eager to sidetrack front-runners in a presidential nominating contest (Mitt Romney in 2012 and Trump in 2024).

Perry waited even longer in 2011 than DeSantis has this year to formally announce his candidacy (as it happened, on the very day that the candidacy of early Romney-alternative front-runner Tim Pawlenty crashed and burned at a big straw-poll event in Iowa). But Perry instantly leapt into first place in the national polls and, within a couple of weeks, was more than doubling Romneys polling numbers. Perry had tons of money and was attracting both ideologues and those focused on electability. But he then badly stumbled in two candidate debates. In the first, he came across as soft on immigration  a position that Romney ruthlessly exploited. And in a second, Perry famously couldnt remember the name of federal agencies he had proposed to eliminate and finally uttered his campaigns epitaph: Oops! By the time voters went to the polls, Perrys campaign was a shell of its former big, brawling self. He finished fifth in Iowa and dead last in New Hampshire and soon dropped out.

Perrys sad 2016 comeback attempt did not make it past September 2015, when his campaign could no longer make payroll.

Is there a chance the once high-flying DeSantis will wind up falling from the sky like Perry did in 2012? We wont know for a while what DeSantiss ultimate trajectory will be, but he has already lost quite a bit of altitude since November, when he was able to boast of a landslide reelection (in contrast to the underperformance of many Trump endorsees), and GOP elites ranging from Never Trumpers to Christian nationalists and social-media wackos seemed to be clambering aboard his bandwagon. Much like Romney did to Perry in 2015, Trump seems to have diminished DeSantis by outflanking him on substance (attacking his past support for Social Security and Medicare cuts) while outorganizing him.

And for all of the mileage DeSantis has gotten out of his record in Florida, it holds pitfalls for him as well  just as Perrys program offering in-state tuition to undocumented immigrants proved to be his undoing against Romney. The Florida governors much-ballyhooed battle with Disney could go either way, and his decision to sign a six-week abortion ban could prove perilous.

We dont know how well DeSantis will do in the candidate debates that were such a disaster for Perry. DeSantis is unlikely to have an Oops! moment, but, as Michael Bloomberg showed in 2020, you dont have to be dumb to bomb in a candidate debate, and as the entire 2016 campaign showed, Trump is very hard to debate.

The one big career advantage DeSantis has over Perry is age: When he first ran for president, the Texan was already 61. DeSantis is currently 44. So if DeSantis does crash and burn against Trump, he will be able to take his time relaunching his national political career. And he is not likely to follow up two presidential losses by seeking out and finding a reporter to take him seriously just one more time.
Pennsylvania Manufacturer Must Pay Terminated Employee $13K, Court Says

The employee was fired after an employee filed a complaint with OSHA, which later performed an inspection and issued citations.

A paper box manufacturer in Pennsylvania is being required to pay $13,000 to an employee who was fired, a federal court said.

According to a news release, a few years ago, OSHA cited Midvale Paper Box Company after performing an inspection. Prior to this inspection, one of the manufacturers employees filed a complaint alleging that the company did not provide employees with personal protective equipment and lacked required lockout/tagout procedures in October 2017, per OSHA.

Following this series of events, an employeewhose name was not shared as the Department of Labor (DOL) does not release this informationwas fired. This employee went on to file a whistleblower claim alleging that they were wrongly terminated because the company and its owner believed mistakenly that the employee they terminated had filed the OSHA complaint, the agency said. A complaint alleging a violation of employee rights was then filed by the DOL.

Through a summary judgment, the federal district court required that Midvale Paper Box Company and owner David Frank pay the former employee $13,000. They must also provide education on workplace safety requirements and whistleblower protection rights to certain workers, hang posters on these topics, never disobey whistleblower provisions and issue a neutral job reference to the terminated worker, OSHA said.

"Protecting the right of an employee to file a federal workplace safety complaint or participate in an OSHA inspection are critical components in OSHA's mission," said OSHA Regional Administrator Michael Rivera in Philadelphia in the news release. "Midvale Paper Box Company and owner David Frank are being held accountable for violating this employee's rights."
Saudi oil giant Aramco is studying the feasibility of an additional stock offering in Riyadh, which could help the worlds biggest oil firm raise billions of U.S. dollars, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday, citing sources familiar with the plans.

Aramco, which is also the worlds number-two company by market capitalization  second only to Apple  has been considering with several advisors the possibility of selling more stock on the market, according to Bloombergs sources. Neither the timing nor the size of a potential offering has been decided, they add.

Currently, Saudi Arabia owns just over 98% of Aramco after selling 1.7% in the initial public offering (IPO) in December 2019. Of the 98% held by the Kingdom, the Saudi government owns 90% of Aramco, while the sovereign wealth fund owns the other 8%.

Back in January 2021, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said that Aramco plans more share offerings to the public in the coming years.

There are going to be IPOs by Aramco in the following years, the crown prince said at the time, but did not give any details either about the timing of the new share sales or on which markets those sales could take place.

The share sale that Aramco is currently considering could take place as soon as this year if the Saudi rulers give the go-ahead, according to Bloombergs sources.

As Aramco is valued at around $2 trillion, even a sale of 1% could raise around $20 billion for the Saudi firm and government.

Saudi Arabia and its crown prince have planned massive investments in futuristic cities to attract tourists and talent in the digital economy and diversify away from its dependence on oil revenues.

Last week, Aramco reported a first-quarter net income of $31.9 billion, down by 19% from the first quarter of 2022, as macroeconomic concerns dragged down oil prices between January and March 2023. The companys average realized crude oil price dropped to $81.0 per barrel in the first quarter of 2023, down from $97.7 a barrel in the same period of 2022.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Crucial to Chinas multi-pronged, multi-generational One Belt, One Road power-grab project is the Shia Crescent of the Middle East. Dominated by Iran, Chinas chief longstanding ally in the Middle East, the Shia Crescent of Power  also comprising Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and Yemen  allows China three key geopolitical advantages. First, it can be used to hold the U.S. in check in those areas. Second, it offers several direct transport routes into Europe that can be utilised overtly or covertly. And third, it has huge oil and gas reserves, many of which are currently going cheap. The recent signing by Irans President Ebrahim Raeisi and his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad of a comprehensive plan for strategic and long-term cooperation, including oil and energy agreements, strengthen each of these factors for China and for its own broader geopolitical ally, Russia. As part of the Iran-China 25-Year Comprehensive Cooperation Agreement first revealed anywhere in the world in my 3 September 2019 article on the subject, and analysed in full in my new book on the new global oil market order, Irans then-First Vice President, Eshaq Jahangiri announced in August 2019 that his country had signed a contract with China to implement a project to electrify the main 900-kilometre railway connecting Tehran to the north-eastern city of Mashhad, close to the border with Turkmenistan. Adjunct to this was the plan to extend this upgraded network to the northwest through Tabriz, home to a number of key sites relating to oil, gas and petrochemicals, and the starting point for the Tabriz-Ankara gas pipeline. Ultimately, the Mashhad-Tehran high-speed train link will be a key part of the 2,300-kilometre New Silk Road that links Urumqi, the capital of Chinas western Xinjiang Province, to Tehran, and connecting Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan along the way. After that, the Chinese plan is to extend the railway links through Tabriz into Turkey and then Bulgaria, and then into the rest of southern Europe.

Related: WTO Chief: Nigeria Cant Rely On Oil & Gas Revenues



As an adjunct to these transport links running across the Shia Crescent countries, Iran  with Chinas help  has been building out a pan-Shia Crescent/Middle Eastern power grid, with Tehran at the centre. This is based around oil, gas and electricity supplies, which allows not just for the installation of permanent infrastructure linking one country to another but also for the on-site presence of permanent technical and security personnel, many of which are already  or will be  Iranian and Chinese. In just the same way that Russias huge level of gas supplies to Europe gave it immense power across that continent up until changes to that arrangement were made after the invasion of Ukraine, so Irans electricity and other power supplies will do the same in the Middle East. Roping in potential countries into this notion initially through a less overtly threatening proposition  Iranian ally Iraq offering oil supplies, for example  is a standard tactic for Tehran to achieve its aim, and deals announced between Iraq and Jordan are illustrative in this context.

One such regular announcement has been the extension of a contract for Jordan to import crude oil from Iraq. Underpinning this agreement have been broader discussions about the future relationship between Jordan and Iraq and these have resulted in a contract being signed to connect the electric power grids of the two countries. By extension, this would provide a direct link between Jordan and Iran, which still supplies Iraq with gas and electricity for its power grid. In 2020, Irans Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian stated that Iran and Iraqs power grids had become fully synchronised to provide electricity to both countries by dint of the new Amarah-Karkeh 400-KV transmission line. He added that Iranian and Iraqi dispatching centres were fully connected in Baghdad, the power grids were seamlessly interlinked, and that Iran had signed a three-year co-operation agreement with Iraq. In the meantime, Iraqs then-Electricity Minister, Majid Mahdi Hantoush, announced that not only was Iraq working on connecting its grid with Jordans electricity networks through a 300-kilometre-line, but also plans were being finalised for the completion of Iraqs electricity connection with Egypt within the next three years. This, in turn, he added, would be part of the overall project to establish a joint Arab electricity market.

For Syria, Chinas main interest for some time has been to allow Russia to take the lead on the basis that this would enable Beijing a freer hand elsewhere in the Middle East, with a particular focus on countries offering transport and energy resource advantages to it. This said, Syria - under the Assad regime - still has four considerable advantages to the overall China-Russia-Iran alliance in the region, as also analysed in my new book on the new global oil market order. First, it is the biggest country on the western side of the Shia Crescent of Power, which Russia has been developing for years as a counterpoint to the U.S.s own sphere of influence that had been centred on Saudi Arabia (for hydrocarbons supplies) and Israel (for military and intelligence assets). Second, it offers a long Mediterranean coastline from which Russia could send oil and gas products (either its own or those of its allies, notably Iran) for export. The main destinations were major oil and gas hubs in Turkey, Greece, and Italy or those into north, west and east Africa. Third, it is a vital military hub, with one major naval port (Tartus), one major air force base (Latakia) and one major listening station (just outside Latakia). And fourth, it showed the rest of the Middle East that Russia could and would act decisively on the side of the autocratic dynasties across the region.

By happy coincidence for Russia, Syria also has significant oil and gas resources that can be developed and used by the Kremlin to offset part of the costs it incurs as part of its geopolitical manoeuvring. According to Russias then-Deputy Prime Minister, Yuri Borisov, in the aftermath of Russias direct military intervention in Syria in September 2015, Moscow was working to restore at least 40 energy facilities in Syria, including offshore oil fields, as also analysed in my new book on the new global oil market order. This was part of a wider development programme aimed at bringing back the full oil and gas potential of the country as it was before July 2011 when, inspired by the Arab Spring revolutions, defectors from the Syrian army formed the Free Syrian Army and commenced armed conflict across the country. Prior to that point, it has been largely forgotten that Syria was a significant oil and gas producer in the global hydrocarbons markets.

As of the beginning of 2011, Syria was producing around 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil from proven reserves of 2.5 billion barrels. Before recovery began to drop off due to a lack of enhanced oil recovery techniques being employed at the major fields  mostly located in the east near the border with Iraq or in the centre of the country, east of the city of Homs  it had been producing nearly 600,000 bpd. For the period when the largest producing fields  including those in the Deir-ez-Zour region, such as the biggest field, Omar  were under the control of ISIS, crude oil and condensates production fell to about 25,000 bpd before recovering again.

It should also be remembered that a sizeable proportion of this crude oil output went to Europe, which was importing at least US$3 billion worth of oil per year from Syria up to the beginning of 2011, according to the European Commission. Much of the key infrastructure to handle oil from Syria remained operationally in place for a long time after the 2011 troubles began. Most of this, some 150,000-bpd combined, went to Germany, Italy and France, from one of Syrias three Mediterranean export terminals - Banias, Tartus and Latakia. Syrias gas sector was at least as vibrant as its oil sector, and less of that was damaged in the first few years of the conflict. With proven reserves of 8.5 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of natural gas, the full year 2010  the last under normal operating conditions  saw Syria produce just over 316 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d) of dry natural gas. The build out of the South-Central Gas Area, built by Russias Stroytransgaz, had started up by the end of 2009 and had boosted Syrias natural gas production by about 40 percent by the beginning of 2011. This allowed Syrias combined oil and gas exports to generate a quarter of government revenues at that point, and to make it the eastern Mediterraneans leading oil and gas producer at the time. After the onset of the domestic armed uprising in July 2011 and then ISIS moving west from Iraq into Syria in September 2014, gas production fell off to less than 130 bcf/d before recovering again.

By Simon Watkins for Oilprice,com

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The clean-up of oil spills in Nigerias oil-producing Niger Delta could cost around $12 billion, and oil majors including Shell and Eni should be held responsible for most of the environmental pollution, a new report by a local commission showed on Tuesday.

The report by the Bayelsa State Oil & Environmental Commission said that decades of oil production has left the state of Bayelsa in the grip of a human and environmental catastrophe of unimaginable proportions, as carried by Bloomberg.

The report finds failures of strategy, prevention, response and remediation by oil companies, the commission said in the report, as quoted by Reuters.

A spokesperson for Shells Nigerian unit, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, told Reuters that Shell was not privy to the final report and could not comment on its findings.

Eni, for its part, attributed the oil spills in the Niger Delta to sabotage, oil theft to feed illegal refineries, and illegal exports. Still, Eni has moved to remedy all spills, a spokesperson told Reuters.

According to the report of the Bayelsa State Oil & Environmental Commission, there are strong reasons to believe that the official statistics significantly and systematically over-state the number of leaks caused by sabotage while downplaying those attributable to other causes.

Eni and Shell have been called out for years by human rights and environmental organizations for neglecting the clean-up of oil spills in the Niger Delta.

For example, Amnesty International said back in 2018 that its researchers have identified that at least 89 spills may have been wrongly labeled as theft or sabotage when in fact they were caused by operational faults. Of these, 46 were from Shell and 43 from Eni.

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Earlier this year, the Nigerian upstream watchdog said that metering errors account for around 40% of the crude oil losses in Nigerias production generally attributed to oil theft.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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QatarEnergy awarded a $10 billion contract to Frances Technip Energies and Consolidated Contractors Company, the company said on Tuesday.

QatarEnergy said on Tuesday that the $10 billion project, awarded to Technip and Middle-Eastern-based CCC, is for engineering, procurement, and construction of its North Field South (NFS) projecthome to the worlds largest natural gas reserves.

The project covers two LNG trains with 16 million tonnes per year of combined capacity. The capacity should increase Qatars total production to 126 million tonnes per yearup from its current 77 million tonnes per year.

QatarEnergy holds a 75% stake in the NFS project, with the remaining quarter share held by TotalEnergies, Shell, and ConocoPhillips.

QatarEnergy has offered assurances that the NFS project has significant CO2 capture and sequestration facilities that will help the country to meet its goal of capturing and sequestering more than 11 million tonnes of C02 per year by 2035.

Qatar has made strides in securing ultra-long-term gas supply dealsparticularly with China. In November, QatarEnergy signed the longest-term contract in the history of the LNG industry when it signed a 27-year deal with Chinas Sinopec. Then in February, sources said that QatarEnergy was on the cusp of signing another long-term LNG deal, this time with CNPC.

Long-term supply deals with Qatar would enable China to stay above the fray when it comes to spot price volatility, no matter how much competition there is in the marketplace from places such as Europe as it tries to steer clear of Russian gas.

QatarEnergy estimates that the North Field holds about 10 percent of the worlds known natural gas reserves. The field sprawls across the border with Iran.

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Qatar is also one of the lowest-cost natural gas producers in the world, breaking even at less than $5/MMBtu landed into Asia as of last February, according to S&P Global Platts.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

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Venezuelas state oil company PDVSA has got new management that plans to boost production of crude to 1.17 million barrels daily by the end of the year, Reuters has reported, citing an internal document.

As of April, PDVSA was producing over 800,000 bpd - the first time it had topped the 800,000-bpd mark in more than a year.

Per plans, oil production should rise by 390,000 bpd by the end of the year and gas production should also increase, to some 645 million cubic feet daily to a total of 2.27 billion cubic feet.

The new management is part of a major shakeup at the state oil company that has also involved anti-corruption investigations and a comprehensive audit of the companys operations.

The audit revealed PDVSA has some $21 billion in accounts receivable from oil sales abroad. The value of Venezuelas oil exports was $25.27 billion between January 2020 and March 2023.

Yet documents provided to Venezuelas attorney general during the audit of PDVSA contracts showed that the state oil firm could only confirm the receipt of just $4.08 billion of this, according to the documents Reuters has reviewed.

Earlier this year, PDVSA began demanding advance payments for its oil in order to avoid accumulating so many duesthe review of contracts had already begun by that point.

A month earlier, in December 2022, the Biden administration granted Chevron a six-month license to restart its operations in Venezuela and the April pick-up in production reflects that restart, too.

The supermajor has plans to ship some 400,000 bpd to 500,000 bpd of oil from Venezuela but is facing technical difficulties in doing that. PDVSA has to dredge an inlet in order to enable to free movement of tankers but the company has not got the funds for the operation.

Meanwhile, demand for Venezuelan crude remains high among Gulf Coast refiners as they have lost access to comparable Russian grades and wildfires in Alberta have shrunk the supply of Canadian heavy crude.

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By Nichole Bastin via AGMetalminer.com

Copper prices continued to slide this past month, although not enough to trigger a downward trend. As lower lows have yet to form, price direction remains uncertain. Copper prices will likely stay within range until a breakout or breakdown in price occurs. Such an event will likely help drive prices in a more established market direction.

Overall, the Copper Monthly Metals Index (MMI) fell 4.43% from April to May.

Chinas Slow Recovery Dragging on Copper Prices

A long-term projected supply deficit remains the overwhelming narrative for the copper market. However, copper prices appear far from bullish. Indeed, since mid-January, prices have continued to demonstrate a slow drift to the downside, falling almost 9% from their peak. Its true that the global shift toward renewables will continue to add support. However, apparent softness in Chinas recovery has added a new drag, thus far preventing any obvious bullish breakout. Related: Equinor Reopens Gas Field In A Boost For Exports To Europe

While ongoing, Chinas returned demand has largely benefited its services sector. This is far different from commodity-driven recoveries in years past. According to the General Administration of Customs, imports of unwrought copper and copper products fell 12.5% from the previous year in April. Beyond copper, imports overall saw a sharp year-over-year contraction last month. Customs data showed a 1.4% decline in imports during March, followed by a 7.9% decline in April. Meanwhile, export demand appeared to moderate also, slowing from a 14.8% year-over-year jump in March to a softer 8.5% rise in April.

The increasingly gloomy outlook is due, in part, to the ongoing contraction of Chinas manufacturing sector. For instance, the Caixin General Manufacturing PMI dipped beneath market expectations from a flat 50.0 in March to 49.5 in April. While firms reported stable export demand, domestic demand proved weak. Indeed, new orders fell for the first time in three months. Meanwhile, output rose only slightly as both input costs and selling prices dropped at the fastest rate in over seven years.

Global Copper Smelting Slows Amid Supply Deficit

While apparent weakness in China has come as a relief to copper prices, supply remains tight. According to the International Copper Study Group (ICSG), 2022 saw an estimated 431,000-ton supply deficit. Back in October, the ICSG projected the market would return to surplus in 2023 by around 155,000 tons. However, the group adjusted its yearly forecast to a 114,000-ton shortfall in April.

Since the ICSGs October forecast, China returned from zero-COVID. This impacted the new outlook significantly. Indeed, the ICSG noted that better expectations for Chinas usage as compared to the Groups previous forecast helped sway this years expectations. Despite recent weakness, the ICSG predicts Chinas apparent usage of refined copper will rise by 1.2% in 2023 and 2.6% in 2024. The group expects a rise in global use as well. Meanwhile, supply has faced several challenges throughout the year, particularly in South America.

Smelting has also come under pressure, which will further burden tight supply. In April, global smelting activity fell to its lowest level since March 2021. Indeed, the global copper dispersion index from Earth-i showed smelter activity remained in contraction, falling from 46.8 in March to 44 in April. Beyond lackluster demand in China, a number of smelters continue to work through maintenance-related outages. These include a 75-day outage at Indonesias PT Smelting Gresik and an outage at Aurubis Pirdop smelter in Bulgaria. Further West, North America also showed a slowdown in activity. Ultimately, the regional index fell to its lowest level since July 2020 at 24.2.

Chile Mining Royalty Bill Moves to Senate

On the supply side, Chiles senate approved a new mining royalty bill. The move came after the Senates finance committee reached a deal with lawmakers to lower the top tax rate for major copper producers. The bill will now proceed to the lower chamber for a final vote this week. In its initial proposal, the bill aimed for a tax ceiling of 50%. However, the government agreed to reduce the top tax rate to 46.5% from 47% for companies producing over 80,000 tonnes of fine copper annually, and 45.5% for those producing between 50,000 and 80,000 tonnes. The current tax burden for miners in Chile ranges from 41% to 44%, which is the same in Peru, Chiles leading competitor.

The mining royalty bill, which forms part of the governments broader tax system reform plan, would also establish a 1% ad valorem tax on copper sales for companies exceeding 50,000 tonnes of fine copper. This is in addition to a tax based on the miners operating margin ranging from 8% to 26%.

Despite the adjustments made to the original proposal, the Chilean National Mining Society (Sonami) expressed concerns that the bills overall tax burden on the mining sector remains higher than in competing countries. With the world facing a projected multi-year supply deficit, this could discourage mining investment in the region. It could also add a new upside pressure to copper prices. According to data from the U.S. Geological Survey, Chile remains the largest global producer, accounting for 24% of global copper output in 2022.

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Copper Prices: Biggest Moves April to May

Korean copper strip prices saw the only increase in the index, albeit a modest one. Prices rose 0.9% to 10.74 per kg as of May 1.

Meanwhile, U.S. grade 102 copper producer prices fell 4.29% to $5.13 per pound.

U.S. grade 110 and 122 copper producer prices fell 4.47% to %4.91 per pound.

Japanese primary cash copper prices fell 4.98% to $8,709 per metric ton.

LME primary three-month copper prices fell 5.01% to $8,586 per metric ton.

By AGMetalminer.com

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A pair of Sarpy County veterans were among four thanked and honored for their service to the country during the 75th annual Nebraska Auctioneers Convention.

A ceremony as held in Lincoln on Sunday, April 30, as part of the convention that included wrapping Robert Bouchaert and Derrick Blackmore with a Quilt of Valor.

The awarding of the quilts is a heartfelt way to say thank you for their service. The mission of Quilts of Valor Foundation is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor.

Bouchaert enlisted in the U.S. Army in January 1966. He traveled to Ft. Leonard Wood for basic training. He said many troops smile as they refer to that location as Fort Lost in The Woods  which is within the Ozarks.

After basic training, he continued to advanced individual training at Ft. Monmouth, New Jersey, which led to his military responsibilities in communications and telephone repair.

Bouchaert was stationed at Ft. Ritchie, Maryland, and had top secret clearance. This location was also known as the Underground Pentagon, and he could not talk about his duties while stationed there.

He was deployed to Vietnam for one year. He said his unit was in the rear with all the gear to make things function for the services there. He served during the Tet Offensive of 1968. He tells of the severe rocket attack that was a sobering experience for him and other warriors in the area.

Once his deployment ended, Bouchaert spent six months at Ft. Lewis, Washington. His military occupations specialty was the Telephone Man.

He was honorably discharged in January 1969 at the rank of E-5. He came home to the Omaha area and returned to college. He says that he served his country  and that his country also served him. With the skills he learned during his service, he was able to get a job work at Northwestern Bell/AT&T for 33 years.

He is now retired. He and his wife Marilyn now live in Papillion.

Blackmore entered the U.S. Air Force in 1987. He was from Cleveland, Ohio, and had visions of seeing the world  and he got to see Omaha.

He began his training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Once his area of study was complete, he was then transferred to Offutt Air Force Base with assigned duties related to reconnaissance and missiles.

During the Middle East conflict, he was deployed to Maha, Qatar, and to Saudi Arabia, where duties were real-time reconnaissance and the programming of missiles. For his duties in the Middle East, he received the Desert Storm ribbon and Air Force Achievement medal. His rank was E-4 Senior Airman.

Blackmore received his honorable discharge in 1996. His life of service to others included 22 years as a paramedic for a private ambulance service and for the Ralston Fire Department.

He said it might take four days to tell all the stories of what he experienced, in addition ot the stories of Scott Jarman, who has been a partner (and maybe a partner in shenanigans) for many years. He also has stories about his father-in-law, Robert Bouckaert.

Blackmore is now a real estate agent for Nebraska Realty in Papillion and lives in La Vista.

Quilts of Valor is a volunteer organization founded by Catherine Roberts. Today, this National Foundation has over 10,000 members and 650 sewing groups who make heart-warming quilts. Since the beginning in 2003, over 343,365 U.S. active-duty military and veterans have been thanked and honored for their service.

This effort has become so popular that Australia, Canada, Great Britain and Korea are now awarding quilts to their military personnel and veterans.
Latina writer Ada Limon, a California native who now lives in Kentucky, was named U.S. Poet Laureate in 2022.

That was exciting news for Omahan Amy Haddad.

When I heard (about her appointment), I was driving and I actually let out a shout, Haddad said.

After retiring in 2018 from her job as director of the Center for Health Policy and Ethics at Creighton University, Haddad earned a master of arts degree in poetry, and Limon was her adviser.

Her work really resonates with me, Haddad said. Shes such an engaging poet.

The two will be reunited Thursday night when Limon is the featured guest at a 25th anniversary celebration for the Nebraska Cultural Endowment. Haddad is a member of the endowments board of directors, and is the honorary chairwoman of the event with her husband, Steve.

The endowment was created with state funds and private donations through a 1998 bill in the Nebraska Legislature. Its sole purpose is to provide funding for the Nebraska Arts Council and Humanities Nebraska, which have an imprint in every state legislative district, said Executive Director Maggie Smith. She joined the endowment last year after working as director of operations at Omahas Kaneko arts center.

Limon will present a poetry reading and participate in a discussion with Nebraska State Poet Matt Mason and Amelia Escalante, who is the current Nebraska champion of Poetry Out Loud, a national contest and arts education program that encourages the study of poetry. Escalante also will read one of Limons works at the celebration.

The U.S. has had a national poet since 1937, when the position was known as Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress. Since 1986, it has been known as poet laureate, and noted author Robert Penn Warren (All the Kings Men) was the first to have that title.

Limons appearance in Omaha coincides with her recent appointment for the first two-year second term in the history of the position.

She is the author of six poetry collections and has won numerous accolades, including the National Book Critics Circle Award for Poetry. She is on the faculty at Queens University in Charlotte, North Carolina, where Haddad received her degree.

Smith said she was selected for the celebration because leaders thought her genre easily applies to both organizations the endowment serves.

We felt like a poet could easily cross between arts and humanities, she said.

She thinks poets  and poet laureates  are essential to civilization.

Throughout history, poets have told the story of the society theyre in, she said. Sometimes its not an easy story to tell. (Poetry) encapsulates what people care about culturally. Sometimes its politics. Sometimes its just deeply emotional. To have a poet laureate says we value that voice.

Both Smith and Haddad say Limon writes poetry that is personal and relatable.

It really comes from her heart, Haddad said. She connects a lot with nature, is very observant, is not afraid to explore difficult topics and is accessible.

Smith said she thinks anyone could pick up one of Limons poems, understand it and have an emotional response.

Shes really in demand and so it was lucky we could book her, she said. Endowment leaders began organizing the 25th anniversary event a year ago.

Thursday nights celebration starts with a patron party at 5:30 p.m. Doors at the Holland Center, 1200 Douglas St., open to the public at 6 and the event runs from 7 to about 8:30, Smith said. Limon will sign books (for sale on-site through The Bookworm) for about 30 minutes after the program.

The party is sold out, but general admission tickets can still be purchased for $25 at nebraskaculturalendowment.org.

Nebraska has the distinction of being one of the states to produce a poet laureate. Ted Kooser, who was an English professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, served from 2004 to 2006.

We wanted him to come to the celebration, but his health is not great, said Smith, who herself is a poet who started a creative writing nonprofit when she lived in Ireland. He politely declined. We will be thinking about him. Poets in Nebraska will tell you that he is generous with his time and talent.

Photos: Omaha landmark Joslyn Castle through the years Joslyn Castle in 1949 Joslyn Castle Joslyn Castle Joslyn as OPS headquarters Joslyn as OPS headquarters Joslyn as OPS headquarters Joslyn Castle music room Joslyn Castle central hall Joslyn Castle voting Joslyn bridge Carols as Joslyn Castle 2015 Joslyn Castle renovations Joslyn Castle polling place Undated photo Joslyn Castle Joslyn stables used by school board Voting at Joslyn Castle Burke High string quartet at Joslyn Castle Joslyn Castle polling place 1913 tornado Snow at Joslyn Castle Snow at Joslyn Castle in 1944 1913 tornado 1913 tornado Joslyn Castle postcard Joslyn Castle in 1993 joslyn(2) IMG_1676-carriage house joslyn(3) joslyn(4) joslyn joslyn(2)-Portrait of George joslyn joslyn(3)-Portrait of Sarah 750891 joslyn(3) joslyn(2)
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
LINCOLN  Budding Nebraska education students can breathe a sigh of relief following the dismantling of a barrier thats been blocking the teacher pipeline for years.

During a Tuesday press conference, Gov. Jim Pillen signed the repeal of Rule 23, a state regulation that requires new teachers to pass a basic skills test before they can get their certificate.

Pillens approval was the last step needed in a repeal process that has taken several attempts by groups of local teachers and education officials. His sign-off comes two months after the Nebraska State Board of Education also approved the repeal.

Teachers have been trying to repeal Rule 23 for several years, said Jenni Benson, president of the Nebraska State Education Association (NSEA), which represents nearly 26,000 educators.

Benson has been on a committee focused on Rule 23 since she began her role six years ago. The state also has a subcommittee within a teacher shortage taskforce that has been working on the same regulation.

Its a wide variety of folks, from teacher colleges to administration, trying to figure it out, Benson said.

The basic skills test, which is the Praxis Core in Nebraska, has been deemed a substantial hurdle for college students trying to become educators in the state. It includes three sections: reading, writing and math.

Benson said students used to be able to get their certificate as long as they had a passing composite score, but then-Gov. Pete Ricketts changed the rule during his term to require that students pass all three sections.

Patsy Koch Johns, a member of the State Board of Education and a former teacher, said the Praxis Core has never been a fair test for students.

I taught English and speech and theater, and the Praxis contained algebra and calculus subjects that I have not had since I was in high school. And because of that, that made that section of it very, very, very difficult, Koch Johns said. Ive worked with student teachers and they would just be sweating blood about this test.

In 2019, the state board considered axing the test but backed off after Ricketts expressed concern it would lower the bar for teachers.

Benson and other education officials say repealing the test will have no effect on the quality of future Nebraska teachers.

Pillen echoed the sentiment during his conference on Tuesday, saying the exam is written so poorly it poses a challenge for test takers.

Its not even about whether you know the content. Its about how you figure out what the heck theyre even asking, Benson said. If a person is going to teach second grade and they are passing their college classes, then this should not be a barrier.

The test is also expensive for students. Benson said it costs $150 to take the first time and $90 to take each section of the exam again.

Tim Frey, dean of the College of Education at Doane University, said last year that it took, on average, nearly four attempts for students to pass the Praxis Core if they did not pass on their first attempt, costing more than $350.

The NSEA secured national funding to offer Praxis tutoring classes in an attempt to help teachers pass the test. The union also partnered with colleges to offer test-taking courses. Benson said the union probably spent at least $200,000 from the grant on the efforts.

Benson said the closest Nebraska educators got to changing Rule 23, until now, was during last years legislative session.

State lawmakers approved a law that allows teachers to show competency by multiple measures such as course work or college entrance exams. But this still did not get rid of the Praxis, since rules established by the Education Department still required the basic-skills test.

Regulations were also changed so the Praxis wasnt required to get into a teachers college, but it was still needed to get certification.

Benson said five years ago, only 75% of would-be teachers passed all three sections of the Praxis, even after retakes.

Here we are now in a teacher shortage five years later, and if we had done away with that basic skills five years ago, 25% more teachers would have been able to get into and do what they love and be fine teaching, Benson said. They still passed college, but they just couldnt go into a teachers college.

Nebraska, like other states in the nation, has recently been dealing with an educator shortage that isnt letting up and is ravaging school districts.

The state reported in a fall 2022 survey that 769 teaching positions remained unfilled or were staffed by an underqualified teacher at the beginning of the 2022-23 school year. This was an increase from 482 a year earlier.

On Tuesday, Pillen pointed to the crucial need to alleviate the shortage in signing the repeal of the Praxis.

We can never give up on our kids. Its tremendously important that we have teachers, Pillen said. Teachers are really important and we have a need to grow our teacher workforce.

Benson said its been frustrating that the state board and NSEA has worked for years on repealing the Praxis and that the state only went through with it when the teacher shortage became so apparent. Pillen also didnt invite Benson or anyone from the union to Tuesdays press conference.

Koch Johns said Benson has been fighting for teachers by working on the Praxis even before she became NSEA president six years ago.

I have heard her talk, I dont know how many times over those years, about how the Praxis was keeping teachers out of education, Koch Johns said. (The NSEA) are our comrades in education, and I know that she has worked hard over the years as a representative of the teachers and NSEA.

Deborah Frison, deputy education commissioner, said Nebraska will now join 33 other states that dont require a basic skills test for teacher certification.

The repeal of the Praxis will go into effect almost immediately, according to the Nebraska Department of Education. Students will still need to pass a second Praxis test in the subject they will be teaching in to receive a certificate.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of May 2023
GRAND ISLAND, Neb.  The student speaker at Grand Island Senior Highs graduation ceremony used the platform to call for an improvement to the schools culture.

Kenny Morales, who graduated from high school Sunday, called his speech Opening Pandoras Box. After a generic opening, the box opened in paragraph two, to shouts of support from some in the audience.

I dont know about yall, but I hated school, Morales told the crowd, per a transcript of the speech provided by Morales.

He touched upon the number of physical altercations at the high school, saying while each fight has its own story, they all stem from the same problem: And that is the culture at our school.

In his speech, Morales said: We lie, we pretend and we hide the truth with selective facts on positive things occurring around the school, instead of being honest and addressing the issues head on. We attempt to fix the issue by pulling them like weeds instead of fixing the underlying issue.

District decisions are made by administrators who sit in a room  everyone is guarded from the truth, Morales told the Independent.

The district declined to comment on Moraless speech. Hank McFarland, the Grand Island school board president, declined to comment before discussing the situation with other administrators.

Morales said he felt his speech consisted of constructive criticism.

I really dont think I was too critical, he said.

He told the graduates and guests the solution is raising expectations.

Sure, at first there will be resistance, but in the long term, there will be leaders within the class that will emerge and set the standard we so desperately need, Morales said in the speech.

Morales said the speech was not necessarily about shaming the school.

It was more about that message (of raising expectations), he told the Independent. I just wanted to start a conversation.

Morales said his calculus classmates encouraged him to submit a speech  in his own words. Knowing the speech he wanted to write wouldnt pass prior review, Morales enlisted ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence chatbot, to compose a decoy. ChatGPT uses data and computing techniques to mimic human conversation.

Students who are interested in speaking at graduation can submit their names and draft of the speech that they would like to give, said Mitch Roush, communications director for the Grand Island Public Schools. Then a group of GISH staff review them and score them blindly.

Then, Grand Island Executive Principal Jeff Gilbertson assesses the scores and makes the final call from there, Roush said. Once thats done, (the student selected) works with Mr. Gilbertson to refine their message and make sure they feel confident in what theyre doing.

At that point, Gilbertson gives the speech a final review, Roush said.

Morales didnt say how long it took to manufacture the submitted speech, but he did note the delivered speech was written in about a half-hour the day before commencement.

Its just holding people accountable, Morales said.

According to Nebraska Department of Education data, 553 students graduated from Grand Island High in 2021-2022  83.41% of the four-year cohort for that class. State data is not yet available for the class of 2022-2023.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of May 2023
Authorities are searching for an 11-year-old girl who disappeared from her home in York last week.

Mercedes American Horse is 5-feet tall and weighs 104 pounds, according to a press release from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. She also has brown hair and brown eyes.

The release said Mercedes was last seen wearing a black, long sleeve shirt, black shorts and white shoes. She was also carrying a pink backpack. She disappeared on May 8.

Anyone with information is asked to call the center at 800-THE-LOST (800-843-5678) or the York Police Department at 402-363-2640.

York is about 50 miles west of Lincoln.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of May 2023
The Chief Magistrate Court in Yaba, Lagos has granted bail to Afrobeat musician, Seun Kuti.

The court also ordered the Nigerian police to finish their investigation into the alleged assault of a policeman in 48 hours and allow Kuti to go home.

The court grants police 48 hours to complete their investigations after which Kuti can be left to go home on bail.

Kutis bail is with two sureties who must be with landed property in Lagos, a witness said.

News Direct learnt that the Chief Magistrate also asked the police to remove themselves from prosecuting him.

She directed that the case file should be duplicated and forwarded to the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions for prosecution.

News Direct had reported that the police prosecutors claimed at the Magistrate Court that the assaulted policeman was in a coma, and was receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

Speaking with SaharaReporters, a witness at the court had said, The Chief Magistrate Mrs, Adeola Olatunbosun Magistrate Court 1 Yaba took statement from the Nigerian police applying to detain Seun Kuti for 21 days, claiming the policeman he allegedly assaulted is in a coma at an undisclosed hospital.

However, Kutis lawyer, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika countered that the police already stated publicly that the police officer trailed and went to Seuns house and accepted N12,000 to repair his car. It also emerged that the DCP in Panti had gone to meet the Magistrate earlier before secretly moving Seun to the court without notifying his lawyer.

They also accused Seun of not writing a statement, but Olumide-Fusika countered that he was there when Seun wrote a statement. The Chief Magistrate decided to go on recess to study the file.
The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says it has arrested a 300 level medical student for helping candidates to write the ongoing 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination for candidates.

JAMBs Head of Media and Information, Dr. Fabian Benjamin said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Friday, April 12, 2019.

Benjamin said despite the measures JAMB put in place to curb impersonation and other forms of examination malpractice, desperate individuals still attempted to commit the offence. He said:

It has come to our notice that a lady was caught at the Rainbow Digital Tech centre, one of the centres for the examination in Kano, trying to impersonate by way of trying to sit for the examination for a candidate. On interrogation, it was discovered that the said lady is a medical student at Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto. Another case of impersonation was also reported in Benin.

He added that the second suspect is an undergraduate of the University of Benin (UNIBEN).

We will like to state in clear terms that the board has zero tolerance for such an offence and related crimes aimed at undermining the integrity of its examination and its processes. We have been briefed about these developments; at the appropriate time, they will face the full wrath of the law,

However, Benjamin maintained that so far, the board has recorded much success in the conduct of the examination.

He added that few cases of technical hitches in some of centres had, however, been recorded.
A Lagos High Court in Igbosere has renewed a bench warrant for the arrest of former Super Eagles captain, Augustine Jay-Jay Okocha for his failure to appear in court for evading payment of income taxes.

The judge, Justice Adedayo Akintoye, first made the order for Okorochas arrest on January 29, following an application by the Lagos State Ministry of Justice.

But in February, Okocha said he was never contacted over his alleged failure to pay income tax before the court issued a bench warrant for his arrest. He said:

I only read about it on the pages of newspapers. No one contacted me. As a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I know very well that nobody is above the law. But honestly speaking, I was never contacted by anybody on issues before the court order.

The Lagos High Court in Igbosere has renewed a bench warrant on Okocha who was charged by the state in a three-count charge bordering on failure to furnish return of income.

The prosecutor Jide Martins urged the court to issue a bench warrant to Okocha for his failure to appear in court since 2017 when the case came up for a hearing in October.

Martins also said that the defendants failure to pay his income taxes contravened Sections 56 (a) and (b) of the Lagos State Revenue Administration Law No.8, 2006, as well as Section 94 (1) of the Personal Income Tax Act Cap P8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has voided the suspension of former Kaduna Governor Ahmed Makarfi.

Makarfi, who was also a one-time PDP Acting National Chairman, was purportedly suspended by the Executive Committee of his Tudun Wada Ward in Makarfi local government area of the state.

But a statement on Monday by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said the purported suspension was inconsistent with provisions of the PDP constitution.

The Nation had earlier reported that a former Vice President, Namadi Sambo, had on Thursday called for the intervention of PDP leaders in what he described as arbitrary suspension of party members by the Kaduna PDP chapter.

Ologunagbas statement, which was issued on behalf of the National Working Committee (NWC), stressed that being a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC), Makarfi cannot be suspended by the Executive Committee of his Ward.

The statement reads: The NWC, after a thorough consideration of all the issues raised by the Ward Executive, hereby declares the purported decision and action of the Tudun Wada Ward Executives which borders on issues of discipline, as null and void and of no effect, not being consistent with the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (As amended in 2017).

For clarity, Section 57 (7) provides that Notwithstanding any other provision relating to discipline, no Executive Committee, at any level except the National Executive Committee, shall entertain any question of discipline as may relate or concern a member of the National Executive Committee, Deputy Governor or member of the National Assembly.

The NWC, therefore, charges all leaders, critical stakeholders, members, teeming supporters of our party in Kaduna State and the general public to disregard the purported suspension of Senator Makarfi by the Ward being a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of our Party.

The NWC also charges all party members in Kaduna State to remain united at this critical time especially as the party leadership is progressing in our concerted effort to ensure a comprehensive reconciliation in our party.

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The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), has distance itself from a purported website that has gone viral claiming to have shortlisted candidates for the 75 Regular Course of the Academy.

The Academy said the fake list is sighted on many social media platforms claiming to be the official website of the NDA.

Debunking the claim, Spokesman for the Academy, Major Victor Olukoya said the fraudsters are looking for ways to defraud the public of their resources, warning Nigerians not to fall victim of such deceit.

According to him: We wish to clarify that the list which has been published on several social media platforms already, is not only fake but the work of fraudsters. Their aim may be to fleece law-abiding members of the public of their resources.

Consequently, we wish to warn members of the public to steer clear of this fake publication and the publishers of this fake list. Their primary motive is to mislead and defraud members of the public. Hence, anyone dealing with them does so at their own risk.

Please note that the process of selecting members of 75 Regular Course of the Academy is rigorous and thorough, and is still ongoing. When completed, the authentic list will be officially published by the Academy in some national newspapers and on NDA official website:www.nda.edu.ng

Once more, the public is again reminded that the purported list circulating on social media sites is fake. It did not originate from the NDA. Members of the public are therefore warned against dealing with any fraudulent person or persons circulating that list, the statement reads.
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By Izunna Okafor, Awka

What could be better described as a discord has trailed the transfer of Idimmachukwu, the nine-year-old girl who was assaulted by her guardian, from the hospital where she was hospitalized in Anambra State to another hospital in Asaba, Delta State, on Monday.

Recall that the media space was awashed over the weekend by videos of a nine-year-old house-help who was battered, manhandled and inflicted with varied degrees of injury by her guardian, one Mrs. Chinyere Ifesinachi, who lived with her in Nkpor, Anambra State.

The underage house-help was, however, rescued and hospitalized, while her guardian and her husband were traced and arrested through the intervention of different stakeholders and institutions, including the Anambra State Ministry of Women Affairs, the Anambra State Police Command, an NGO, the Save and Secure the Child Initiative, among others.

It was, however, surprising to many actors in the matter as a skit maker, Lord Zeus shared a post on social media, announcing the transfer of the child from the hospital where she was in Anambra State to another hospital, known as First Delta American Hospital, Asaba, in Delta State.

Although, the skit maker did not give detailed information about the reason behind the transfer of the child from the initial Awka-based hospital where she was being treated, to another hospital outside the State; he only said he didnt like the hospital.

Announcing the transfer of the child on his social media handle with a video of the girl in the current hospital, Zeus wrote: Not to risk sounding derogatory, but I dont like the hospital she was initially kept at Awka. Everything there including the beds look old.

So we took her to First Delta American Hospital, Asaba. The little girl is traumatized, she fidgets when you touch her. The hospital suggested getting her a therapist, to overcome the trauma

Howbeit, when contacted by this reporter, the Anambra State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Ify Obinabo, said she was not aware of the transfer of the child from the hospital to another hospital, as everything was done outside her knowledge and without her consent.

She wondered why the child would be moved out of the hospital to another hospital without her being aware of it, despite her Ministrys commitments and full involvement on the matter.

She recalled the efforts so far made by her office in ensuring the general wellbeing and welfare of the child and her family there at the hospital in the last few days, and also recounted her Ministrys efforts in the general pursuit of the case, including the arrest and the incarceration of the suspect, whom, she revealed, would be charged to court on Wednesday, May 17.

So, it is very horrible for the people to have transferred that child out of the hospital without our consent and outside our knowledge, she said.

Commissioner Obinabo further explained that indigenes of Nnewi had earlier expressed interest in bankrolling the hospital bills of the child and caring for her, while they (the Nnewi indigenes) also nursed plan with the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Dr. Joseph Ugboaja, to transfer her down to NAUTH and be treated there.

Recall that the young girl in question, Miss Idimmachukwu, is a native of Nnewi.

Anambra State Government is capable of caring for the child and settling her hospital bills, as we have always done for other victims in the past. However, the indigenes of Nnewi expressed interest in bankrolling the bills themselves.

Lord Zeus or whosever they said the comedian is, had never paid or been paying hospital bills for us. So, I wonder how and why he just came from nowhere and transfer the child from the hospital to another hospital, without our knowledge and consent. That is quite disappointing, she said.

On his own part, when contacted, a stakeholder in Nnewi and member representing Nnewi North Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Nonso Smart Okafor, said he was also not aware of the transfer of the child to another hospital.

While revealing that he also got to know about the said transfer of the child after it had happened, the legislator attested that Nnewi indigenes were fully capable, ready and interested in bankrolling the bills of the young girl and ensuring her welfare to any level. He said they also warned against anybody using the child to beg for money in anyway, for her treatment or for anything else.

He, however, expressed his anger that the girl was moved to another hospital, even outside the State, without any of the Nnewi indigenes and stakeholders being informed of such move. He said he also contacted the Commissioner for Women Affairs, under whose custody the child was, but was surprised to hear that she, too, was not aware of the move before it happened.

I was infuriated about how and why such thing happened without our knowledge. So, my brother, there was not consensus by the Nnewi indigenes to transfer the child from that hospital to another hospital in Asaba, he said.

When contacted, the State Principal, Save and Secure the Child Initiative, which is a lead NGO following the matter from day one, Mr. Kingsley Obi said the organisation was also not aware of the transfer of the child, and that he was also never informed of any such plan.

He said he led his team to the hospital to visit the girl as they had always done on daily basis, only to hear that she was no longer in the hospital.

247ureports went further to contact the Spokesperson of the Anambra State Police Command, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, who also

said the Police was not aware of or involved in the said transfer of the young girl to another hospital.

The Police Public Relations Officer, however, explained that he was aware that the child was discharged today from the hospital, but said he did not know whether or not she was taken to another hospital. He also clarified that the child was discharged to her parents and handed over to them as well.

Furthermore, 247ureports contacted the mother of the child, Mrs Chinyere Chukwujekwu, who confirmed the Police submission, that her child was truly discharged to her.

Asked why the child was discharged and transfered to another hospital, the victims mother explained that it was the management of the hospital that actually discharged her without anyone asking them to do so, but on the basis that they had finished treating her.

They said they were done with their treatments, and therefore, discharged her to us. But my daughter was still crying and complaining of her hands and other pains around her body, she said (in Igbo language).

This got us so worried, and people suggested that we should take her to bigger hospital for an ultra scan, since that hospital does not have the facilities for that. That was why and how we got here to this current hospital in Asaba, she added.

Asked whether they told the Commissioner, the NGO, the Nnewi indigenes who have show interest in the childs wellbeing, and other relevant actors in the matter before transferring the child from the initial hospital to another hospital; Idimmachukwus mother confessed that she did not notify any of them before making the move.

While apologizing for not informing them, she said the action was taken as a matter of urgency and necessity, given the painful cry by her daughter who, she said, kept crying and complaining of her hands and pains before she was taken to the current hospital.

Asked if her daughter was lacking anything while she was in the previous hospital, the mother of the nine-year old said she did not lack anything, adding that there was no lack of money; and so, lack of money was not the reason we transferred her to another hospital.

We did so, not because of lack of money or care, but because of my daughters continued complain and cries, even before and after she was discharged from the previous hospital, and because of the need for better medical attention, Mrs. Chukwujekwu added.

She also testified that Idimmachukwus hitherto closed eyes were now open, while her health condition has continued to record more improvement since she was taken to the Asaba hospital.

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The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has voided the suspension of former Kaduna Governor, Senator Ahmed Makarfi.

Channels Television reports that Makarfi, a one-time PDP Acting National Chairman, was purportedly suspended by the Executive Committee of his Tudun Wada Ward in Makarfi Local Government Area.

READ ALSO: Resident Doctors Declare Warning Strike, FG Kicks

However, in a statement on Monday, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said the purported suspension was inconsistent with provisions of the partys constitution.

Ologunagba, who issued the statement on behalf of the National Working Committee (NWC), said that being a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC), Makarfi cannot be suspended by the Executive Committee of his Ward.

The NWC, after a thorough consideration of all the issues raised by the Ward Executive, hereby declares the purported decision and action of the Tudun Wada Ward Executives which borders on issues of discipline, as null and void and of no effect, not being consistent with the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (As amended in 2017), the statement read.

For clarity, Section 57 (7) provides that Notwithstanding any other provision relating to discipline, no Executive Committee, at any level except the National Executive Committee, shall entertain any question of discipline as may relate or concern a member of the National Executive Committee, Deputy Governor or member of the National Assembly.

The NWC, therefore, charges all leaders, critical stakeholders, members, teeming supporters of our party in Kaduna State and the general public to disregard the purported suspension of Senator Makarfi by the Ward being a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of our Party.

The NWC also charges all party members in Kaduna State to remain united at this critical time especially as the party leadership is progressing in our concerted effort to ensure a comprehensive reconciliation in our party.
May 15, (THEWILL)  The Federal Government has approved the establishment of 37 new private universities across the country.

Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, announced this on Monday, in Abuja, while briefing State House Correspondents at the end of an Extraordinary meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Adamu said the approval followed a memo presented by the Ministry of Education at the Cabinet meeting.

According to Adamu, the approval was given, considering the importance of education in bolstering the economic fortunes of the country.

Adamu, who declined to mention the names of the newly-approved higher institutions of learning only revealed that one of the 37 was an online university operated by a female Chancellor from Bauchi State.

Mondays approval brings the total number of universities approved for establishment under the Buhari-led government to 72. They include 14 Federal Universities, 21 State Universities and 37 Private Universities from 2015 to date.

When questioned about the FGs move to establish more universities despite the ailing public university structure nationwide, Adamu argued that the country needs more universities to school its swelling youth population.

He said, We need more universities. The existence of the many universities should not deter the creation of new ones. Besides, these are private universities.

Also, Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, said the Council approved the universal implementation of the Employee Compensation Act (ECA) 2010, which makes comprehensive provisions for payment of compensation to employees who suffer from occupational diseases or sustain injuries arising from accidents at workplace or in the course of employment.

He said council also directed the Attorney general of the Federation to avail the states circulars of the approved memo.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, noted that the Federal Government has witnessed a rise in school enrollment nationwide

She said the government has approved a budget of over N14 billion to train N-Power beneficiaries.

Farouq also said Council approved a policy on the National Home Grown School Feeding programme (NHGSFP), which seeks to address the issues of education, health, social protection and agriculture.

On his part, Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, said the council approved over N3 billion for the procurement and installation of a taxi lighting system.

So today in council, something very significant has happened in the world of civil aviation, part of our roadmap, the Aviation Leading company has been established and approved by council.

So, therefore, entrepreneurs and civil aviation will have access to lease equipment at affordable rates and within our country, Nigeria, and this is part of a roadmap. So the roadmap is gradually coming to 100% completion. So Im glad to see the full business case has been approved by the FEC.

A second memo was also awarded a contract for the procurement, and installation of taxi lighting system, and photometric pattern for Port Harcourt, Lagos, Abuja, and some other equipment all over the country. In this contract the total sum for the photometric and taxi lighting system for both airports mentioned is total contract sum is N3,047,127,022.72 with seven and half percent VAT and 12 months completion period. The contractor is Messess KSR3 Global Nigeria Limited. So those are the two memoranda, he said.
Despite complaints of proliferation of universities in Nigeria, the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has approved the licensing of 37 new universities in the country.

Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, revealed the information after the extra-ordinary Council meeting on Monday.

He noted that the development brings to 72 the total number of universities licensed by the Buhari administration since 2015.

He failed to name the universities, but revealed that one of them is an online university, the first of its kind in Nigeria, and owned by a woman from Bauchi State, with expectation that it will cater for the likes of northern Muslim women who feel reluctant or are restrained from attending physical campus education.

Fielding questions on the expediency of additional universities given funding challenges of the existing ones, Adamu explained that these ones are all private, with enough funds to run them and they should not be denied the opportunity to exist.

The Minister further explained that Nigeria actually needs more universities as the available ones are not adequate to take up all those yearning for higher education.
Vice Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has said that Nigerias constitution must be followed to the letter in electing president.

Datti, who spoke on Monday at a conference organised by the Coalition of Nigerians living in the United Kingdom with theme; Nigeria on Trial: Does Democracy Matter? which took place in London on Monday, said democracy must be practised to the letter and that without adherence to the constitution, there would be no democracy.

I believe in democracy, I dont believe in dictatorship and what I believed in more is that democracy must be practiced well? What is democracy? It is not an arbitrary act of government. What is democracy? It is the constitution and without it, you simply do not have democracy.

The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is different from the Electoral Act. I am speaking about We, the people. I am speaking about the supremacy of the constitution. I am speaking about how the constitution provides that the judiciary, the armed forces, the police and the National Assembly must exist.

I am speaking about a constitution which says what must happen before there can be a validly elected president. I am here to encourage your sense of nationalism. I dont have much to say as you very well know that the very little that i have said has rattled the system. So, out of respect for those who have advised before now, i wont say much.

Democracy belongs to the people who can practice it and the dividends of democracy belongs to the people who can extract it. Struggling to practice democracy is very healthy. I am speaking in general terms so that no minister will fly to New York and make allegations against me, he said.
Lagos State Police Command has reportedly refused to grant the bail application of Afrobeat star, Seun Kuti.

KanyiDaily had published a viral video showing the moment Seun Kuti assaulted and slapped a police officer on Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos.

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba ordered the arrest of the musician and also directed that a probe be carried out to ascertain the facts of the case.

It was gathered that policemen stormed Kutis Lagos resident on Saturday night and Sunday morning to arrest him, but did not meet him.

After reportedly going into hiding, Seun Kuti turned himself in to the police on Monday morning, accompanied by his lawyer and a family representative.

He was arrested, handcuffed by the police and moved to the State Criminal Investigation Department, popularly known as Panti, in Yaba, Lagos State.

According to SaharaReporters, the police turned Seuns visit in company with his lawyer, Olumide-Fusika, into a public spectacle, subjecting the embattled musician to mockery and taunting by hundreds of officers as he walked by.

Meanwhile, the Lagos police commissioner, Idowu Owohunwa, was noticeably absent for a significant portion of the incident.

Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and one of Seuns lawyers, had to contact the police commissioner to complain about the officers unruly behavior and the prevention of Olunide-Fusika from being present during his client interrogation.

Police sources at Panti told SaharaReporters on Monday night that the policemen at the facility continued to be hostile to Seun, his lawyers and his family members.

They reportedly chased away Seuns wife when she brought him food, subjecting her to derogatory remarks after calling her all sorts of names and threatening to arrest her as an accomplice.

Olunide-Fusika was said to have asked the police to grant the musician bail but the request was rejected under the pretext that they were yet to conclude with their investigation.

This was after their alleged futile attempt to trick Seun into writing a statement that would implicate him in the case of an alleged assault on a police officer.

The source police the publication that Seun refused to make any written statements when the police promised him bail if he would admit to being provoked to assault the police officer in question.

The police at SCIID unsuccessfully tried to trick him to write a statement that would implicate him in the alleged assault on a police officer on Sunday in Lagos. He didnt budge at all.

His counsel, Adeyinka Olunide-Fusika, a senior lawyer, talked to the police to grant him bail but they rejected the request and claimed that they were yet to conclude their investigation, one of the sources told SaharaReporters on Monday night.

Meanwhile, Seun Kuti has debunked reports that he gave the policeman in question money to fix his car after the assaulted police officer trailed him home.

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A picture taken on July 15, 2020, in Geneva shows Nigerian former Foreign and Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala smiling during a hearing before World Trade Organization 164 member states representatives, as part of the application process to head the WTO as Director General.  South Korean trade minister Yoo Myung-hee on February 5, 2021 abandoned her bid to become head of the WTOm, Seoul said, clearing the way for Nigerias Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to become the global bodys first woman and first African director-general. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP) (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images)

The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has advised the incoming governors to not depend on crude oil, but diversify the sources of revenue in their respective states.

Okonjo-Iweala spoke on Monday during an induction organised for the elected governors in Abuja, the nations capital.

According to the WTO boss, states with over-dependence on the monthly Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) would be adversely affected, warning that they should start preparing for the time petroleum products will no longer sustain the country.

We need to start preparing now for a time when our oil and gas will no longer serve us as the main sources of revenue. States with a heavy dependence on FAAC allocation will be particularly hit, Okonjo-Iweala stated.

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It is important that you governors start now to diversify your revenue sources. We ought to be seeking to double our growth rate and sustain that higher growth until we attain upper middle-income status.

Former Nigerias finance minister also urged the governors-elect to rebuild trust through their policies and programmes to regain the support of Nigerians.

She explained that a lot of trusts have been injured following the outcome of the 2023 general elections.

Honourable governors, let us be candid: trust in Nigeria has always been fragile but following the elections, a lot of trust has been broken.

Through your words, deeds, and policies, you need to demonstrate to Nigerians that they are equally loved. That they can settle and do business in any part of the country without fear. I love Nigeria deeply and I want to feel welcome in any part of this country, she added.
According to the source, only two houses were not damaged during the attack, leaving hundreds of Kitimi inhabitants homeless and displaced.

SaharaReporters reports that over 90 per cent of households that made up Kitimi communities in the Saminaka local government area of Kaduna State have been burned doqn.

They were burned down during an inter-community crisis between the village and Gure people last Friday.

This was also confirmed in a video obtained by SaharaReporters from a source in the community showing the aftermath of the incident.

According to the source, only two houses were not damaged during the attack, leaving hundreds of Kitimi inhabitants homeless and displaced.

The video also showed villagers motorcycles and other properties being burned during an inter-communal conflict.

SaharaReporters had earlier reported that at least one person had been confirmed dead during the crisis which started five days ago.

SaharaReporters gathered that some hoodlums from Gure village who were armed with cutlasses, guns and other dangerous weapons stormed Kitimi village on Friday over an age-long controversial claim of ownership of a piece of land bordering both villages.

It was learned that a woman died while three others were injured during the attack.

It was learned that the Nigerian security operatives had taken over Kitimi village after the incident to ensure peace was restored to the two warring communities.
An investigation by the BBC has revealed that Peter Obi of Labour Party won the Presidential election in Rivers state and not Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The collation was done using INECs IREV portal.

According to BBC, the investigation found evidence suggesting some results from Nigerias presidential election were manipulated.

This is as the declared winner Bola Tinubu is due to be inaugurated on 29 May but the opposition is challenging this.

Read the complete BBC report below:

A BBC investigation has found evidence suggesting some results from Nigerias presidential election may have been manipulated. The winner Bola Tinubu is due to be inaugurated on 29 May but the opposition is challenging this.

The BBC has uncovered significant anomalies in Rivers state, a key battleground, although not sufficient to change the overall national outcome of the election, which took place in February.

There are also questions over the identity of an election official who read out some of the unexplained results.

How votes are counted in Nigeria

On 25 February, Nigerians cast their votes at thousands of polling stations across the country.

At each polling station, the votes for the party of each candidate were publicly announced and the results sheets taken for collation first at the ward level, then at local government (LGA) centres.

An election official from each LGA then travelled to the state capital, where these results were officially declared.

For the first time in a Nigerian election, photographs of the polling station results sheets were published online by the electoral commission.

This made it possible to add up all the polling station sheets and to compare them with the results declared at the state level.

What we found in Rivers state

We added up the voting tally sheets from over 6,000 polling stations in Rivers state, where many of the opposition complaints had been made.

While the official result in this state gave a clear majority to Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), our tally suggested that Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) had actually received most votes in the state by a wide margin.

We found an increase of just over 106,000 in Mr Tinubus vote in the official declaration when compared with our polling station tally  almost doubling his total in the state.

In contrast, Mr Obis vote had fallen by over 50,000.

Its important to make clear that although we searched through the election website for every single one of the 6,866 polling stations in Rivers state, we were not able to obtain results from all of them.

Some were incorrectly uploaded, others were missing, even after a month from the date of polling.

For about 5% of polling stations, the photos of tally sheets were too blurred for us to read. Its reasonable to assume that the official count would have included these as they would have had the original documents.

In another 17%, there were no results at all. Many of these would have been places where no voting took place due to security issues or the non-arrival of voting materials. Others had technical problems preventing officials uploading the documents.

So there clearly would have been more polling stations included in the final official results that werent included in the BBC investigation.

However, these additional tally sheets would have increased the totals for each party, not decreased them. And what we found was that the votes for Peter Obis Labour Party had decreased sharply in Rivers state.

So how can the sharp fall in votes for Peter Obi  in the official result  be explained?

Where were the biggest discrepancies?

Two areas stood out.

The first was the Oyigbo local government area, where we found:

The vote for Bola Tinubu was six times larger in the officially announced results compared with the BBCs polling station count

Peter Obis votes had been cut in half

The second local government area where we found major discrepancies was in nearby Obio/Akpor:

The official result for Mr Tinubu was 80,239 votes, but we counted just 17,293 votes from polling station tallies

The count for Mr Obi was announced officially as just 3,829 votes, but the BBC counted 74,033 votes for him on the tally sheets

So how did these differences occur?

As explained earlier, all the polling station sheets are collated at local government (LGA) headquarters.

We found an official election document with these collated votes for the Oyigbo area, signed by an election official and some of the party agents.

Several different photographs had been taken of it and uploaded on social media accounts.

The numbers in this document closely matched our own tallies for the two leading candidates (Obi and Tinubu).

This would have been one of the 23 collation sheets from LGAs in Rivers state taken to the state capital, Port Harcourt, for the official declaration.

Broadcast live on television on 27 February, in front of a bank of microphones, Oyigbo election official, Dr Dickson Ariaga, announced his name and that he worked for the Federal College of Education in Omoku.

On the recording, the word Omoku is indistinct, but there is only one Federal College of Education in Rivers state.

Dr Ariaga then read out the results for each party in alphabetical order, including for all the smaller parties.

They all matched those on the collation sheet the BBC had obtained. But when he reached Mr Tinubus APC, instead of saying 2,731 as written on our photograph of the sheet, he read out 16,630.

Then for Mr Obis party (LP) the figure changed again  instead of the 22,289 seen on the sheet, he announced 10,784, more than halving his vote.

The mystery surrounding Dickson Ariaga

We asked the electoral commission if we could speak to Dr Ariaga, but they would not give us his details or reach out to him for us.

We spoke to the election official seated next to Dr Ariaga, but she told us she wasnt authorised to talk to the press.

So we sent a reporter to the Federal College of Education in Omoku, about two hours drive north of Port Harcourt, where hed said he worked when introducing himself.

The Deputy Provost Moses Ekpa told the BBC: From our records, both from our payroll and from our human resources, there is no such a name in our system and we dont know such a person.

We tried tracking him down on social media and eventually came across another Facebook account for someone in Port Harcourt, whose profile details had the name Dickson Ariaga.

When we compared an image from this account to the television pictures of Dr Ariaga using Amazon Rekognition software, we achieved a match of 97.2%, indicating a very high probability theyre the same man.

Dr Ariaga did not respond to messages sent by us to this account.

By reaching out to his Facebook friends we did finally manage to speak to a man who said he was a relative, who was at first willing to help us but then didnt return our calls.

What have the authorities said?

We put these findings to Nigerias Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec).

Johnson Sinikiem, Inecs regional spokesman in Port Harcourt, told us that due to a gross shortage of time and personnel they had needed to take on some people without verifying their identity documents.

Referring to Dr Ariaga, he said: If he had presented himself as a lecturer from [the college in Omoku] and its otherwise, then he is dishonest.

We also approached Inecs headquarters in Abuja for a response to our findings of discrepancies in the results in Rivers state. We were told that they were unable to comment due to ongoing legal challenges.

This is just one case in one state in southern Nigeria where the evidence points to the results having been manipulated.

On their own, these altered results would not have decisively swayed the outcome of the presidential election. Bola Tinubu won the national presidential vote by 1.8m votes over his nearest rival, Atiku Abubakar of the PDP.

Were still looking for Dr Ariaga to respond to the findings in this report.
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.. .For Undermining 2023 Democratic Poll

From Ikenna Esogibe and Austin Chikwado

Imo state Governor, Hope Uzodinma his Rivers State counterpart Nyesom Wike and other top Nigeria politicians have been banned from visiting the United States of America, USA, for undermining the Democratic Process in Nigeria during the last Presidential/State House of Assembly Elections.

Uzodinma and Wike made headlines in March after he superintended over what many describe as the worst display of electoral malfeasance and rigging in the states history.

In a statement on Monday, by the US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken 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.

The Secretary of State explained that the new visa ban is specific to certain individuals and not directed at the Nigerian people or the government of Nigeria as a whole.

The statement further explained that 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.

According to Blinken: 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.

Below is the full Visa Ban list bearing Uzodinmas name. It was also gathered that the ban also extends to family members/relatives of the offenders.

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PRESS RELEASE

SECURITY FORCES RAID INSURGENTS/TERRORISTS HIDEOUTS IN KADUNA AND KANO STATES

The Department of State Services (DSS) hereby informs the public that the Service and troops of the Nigerian Army and Police Force, in the early hours of 15th May, 2023, simultaneously raided hideouts of insurgents/terrorists in parts of Kaduna and Kano States.

During the raid in Kaduna State, the terrorists deployed Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) against the fighting forces. One of the terrorists who wore suicide jacket blew himself up. While three (3) suspects were arrested, items recovered upon a search on the groups accommodation, after Police EOD had diffused other IEDs, were: two (2) suicide jackets, one (1) AK-47 rifle, a pistol and one (1) laptop.

In Kano State, two (2) suspects were arrested while recovered items include: a pistol, eleven (11) mobile phones, two (2) hand grenades, one (1) fully charged AK-47 magazine, two empty AK-47 magazines, one (1) Peugeot 307 car and an ID card belonging to a suspect that escaped.

Intelligence had earlier revealed that high profile terrorist targets were regrouping in the North West to carry out dastardly acts in the area. Notably, the steady Military operations in the North East have necessitated the insurgents escape to the North West and Central zones where they are establishing active cells. The Service commends the Nigerian Military and Police for their resilience and support which led to the success of the operation. The sustained interagency synergy is, without doubt, a game changer in the counter-threat actions.

Also, the Service wishes to state and very clearly, that it will continue to collaborate with sister agencies to rid the nation of criminal elements particularly at this transition period and even beyond. This is more so that certain persons are desperate to undermine the process. But the Service will resist this and ensure a seamless event. It will always cooperate with stakeholders to achieve a peaceful environment critical to the pursuit of legitimate businesses by law abiding citizens and residents.

Peter Afunanya Ph.D, fsi

Public Relations Officer

Department of State Services

National Headquarters

Abuja.

16th May, 2023
A magistrate court in Yaba has granted Afrobeat star, Seun Kuti, a suspended bail that will come to effect after the 48 hours give to the police to complete its investigation.

KanyiDaily recalls that Seun Kuti turned himself to the police on Monday, after the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, ordered his arrest for slapping an officer on Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos.

On Tuesday, Seun Kuti was arraigned before the Yaba Magistrates Court to face charges of assaulting a police officer, a violation of Section 356 of the Nigerian Criminal Code Act.

The prosecution led by S. A Adebese and Morufu Animashaun prayed the court to remand the defendant for 21 days pending legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

But Kutis counsel, led by Femi Falana, SAN, pleaded with the court not to remand his client, asserting that they were unaware of the remand application.

After hearing both parties, Magistrate Adeola Olatunbosun requested a brief recess of five minutes to deliberate on the matter, instructing the registrar to keep her phone to avoid calls from both parties.

Upon the courts resumption, the magistrate announced her ruling, stating that she would not rely solely on the police investigation.

Consequently, she ordered that the defendant be remanded in police custody for 48 hours to allow the police conclude their investigation.

Magistrate Adeola Olatunbosun said, Court has decided to override any public opinion and pass the judgment of the court.

Following the remand application presented before the court, I am advising that the case file be duplicated and sent to the Directorate of public prosecutions within 72 hours.

The defendant is hereby remanded for 48 hours in police custody to allow the police to conclude their investigation.

After 48 hours, the defendant will be granted bail in the sum of N1m with two responsible sureties, a three years tax payment receipt that is verifiable; one of the sureties must have a landed property within the court jurisdiction.

The magistrate adjourned the case for mention to May 23, 2023.

KanyiDaily had reported how police refused to grant Seun Kuti bail after an alleged futile attempt to trick him into writing a statement that would implicate him.

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Nigerian Filmmaker, Zik Okafor has taken to social media to mourn the tragic death of popular movie star, Saint Obi.

KanyiDaily had reported how Saint Obi died at age of 57 after a prolonged illness. According to reports, the actor passed away on Sunday, May 6, at the home of one of his siblings.

In a long post shared on social media, Zik Okafor narrated how Saint Obis marriage to ex-wife Lynda Saint-Nwafor, led to his tragic death and exit from the movie industry.

Okafor, a former President of Association of Movie Producers of Nigeria, revealed that Obis wife was a top executive in a telecommunication company, MTN, and her siblings always saw him as a gold digger.

The filmaker narrated how Obis wife forced him to lose contact with his Nollywood buddies and her siblings harassed him, this eventually led to the end of the marriage.

He revealed that the actor sold his assets to cover medical expenses but remained plagued by his failing health mid last year, before his eventual death.

Zik Okafor partly wrote; Between Saint Obis marriage and his death

It was this stardom that fetched him his much professed financially strong and powerful wife . And their wedding, that solemn ritual of love, would drastically alter the cause of his life and tragically yank him off the creative community that threw him up for the wife to capture and indeed conquer.

Their marriage was at best a dramatisation of love. It was quick. He barely told us that he found a wife. Then, the marriage happened. It was something of a mystique, only those involved understood the histrionics that played out .

None of us who were his closest pals, who walked with him through the crucible to the crest of his career in Nollywood, was invited. The distance between us and the guy I admirably called Saint of the Storm had begun. This gulf would widen with each year. We saw him perhaps once in a year after this marriage.

The Filmmaker also claimed Saint never invited his friends in Nollywood for his three daughters christening or birthday.

Zik said it took Saint Obi three years after marriage to return to his hommies in Nollywood, after his wife, who worked for MTN, accused him of being a Gold digger.

And life actually seemed to have given him a fair shake of the dice. He dressed well, drove big cars and even his skin, in literal lingo, spelt wellness.

The Saint would be blessed with three beautiful children. But not one occasion were his friends in Nollywood invited for christening or birthday. We were told that his wife was of the topmost hierachy in telecom giant, MTN . But even if their celebrations were designed to be a rendezvous of the elites of the technocracies that his wife chiefly belonged, you expected that Saint would reach out to a few of his fellow creatives, for even if they would herald his small beginnings, there could be no tinge of shame to it because we all have our journeys and our stories. And even at that, the actor or cineaste in Nollywood is by no means poor.

But more tragic is the fact that his marriage did not only take away Obinna from his friends, it took him away from Nollywood. Saint stopped acting, absconded from his career and perhaps his calling.

It would seem prognostic now. Yes, because I recall leaving my house in Lagos Mainland for his massive office in Lekki, Victoria Island, Lagos. It was about six years ago. There, I demanded to know why my friend abandoned our industry. He told me with his usual shy expressions that he wanted to focus on some other businesses and also to work behind the camera. Because his visage was unconvincing to me, I told him in stark terms, that whatever his new vision and pursuits, he must not abandon the trade that made him who he was.

It took another three years for Saint to return to his homies. But when he did, some of the deeply disappointed ones sniggered behind him. This was because the simmering rumours of cracks in his marriage had hit home. And though secretive in his ways, he knew it was time to open up. And he did. I do not know why my wifes sibblings see me as a gold digger. They confront me, harass and fight me in my own matrimony. And my wife did nothing to stop them. I work hard, I earn my money. I have never depended on my wife, he lamented, eyes blurred with tears. You could tell he was in deep pain

Zik further revealed that Saint was attacked by his wifes brothers, and reported the case to police, which led to a crack in his marriage and divorce.

By the next visit, the Saint returned with a deep cut from knife on his left eye. His wifes brothers, he said, scaled the wall fence of their house to attack him. They were captured by hidden closed-circuit television, CCTV, installed for surveillance and security, he revealed.

He reported them at the police station and subsequently acquired a gun to defend himself. This effectively marked the beginning of the end of his marriage and perhaps Saint Obis long walk to a sad end. He moved out of his marital home to a new house to begin the reconstruction of his destiny, alone without his wife and worse still without his three beautiful children.

Meanwhile, his wife went to the police to defend her sibblings using her financial power to manipulate the cause of justice, Saint stated unequivocally. The wife also sued for divorce, not in Lagos, but in Ogun state. As Saint put it, It was to make the journey difficult for me. But I will not bend neither will I break. I will fight with my last blood to take custody of my children. They love me and they know it will be hard for me to live without them.The divorce is not an issue. My marriage has long been over, he said with a mix of courage and a quaky heart that betrayed his distress.

Okafor added that his friend went broke after the divorce saga and court case, fell ill and painfully died.

About mid last year, however, Obinna took ill. But he told no one. He simply became scarce. He was in and out of hospital, we would later learn. He sold two of his three big SUVs to take proper care of his health and to acquire six camry cars hed use for Uber. But his vanishing health continued unabated. He seemed to have a premonition of his own passing as he wept repeatedly about not seeing his children. He emaciated. Life took a grim picture. When I saw him by chance in January 2023, the dude called Saint looked 15 years older than his age. His macho cut had shrunk. His fat wallet was gone. What was left was only his fat will. His eyes seemed lost in their socket. This would be the last time I would see him.

Saint snuck out of Lagos to hang in with his sister in Jos. He told no one.

But a month ago, in April precisely, the once delightful actor who brought joy to many a home broke his icy silence. He called our mutual friend in US to give him a devastating message. He was on a deathbed, he said and wanted our friend to pray for him. Its not looking good, pray, pray for me, he appealed passionately.

His next call came on May 1, 2023. This time to his mentor, the man who made him a star with his productions, Zeb Ejiro, OON. He told him with a wavering voice that he had had three surgeries but was still in hospital in Jos. He averred again that his situation was not looking good, that he is also in a deep pain, distressed that he could not see his children. But still he begged him not to tell anyone about his ailment. Such was the life of this creative hermit, a lonely trouper.

KanyiDaily recalls that Stephanie Linus had also mourned Saint Obis death, stressing that the actors work and impact will always be remembered.

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The presidential candidate of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso has held a closed-door meeting with the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, in Paris, France.

Tinubu, who had travelled to Europe, met with Kwankwaso for four hours in Paris, on Monday, to discuss issues around the election of the legislative leaders ahead of the June 13 inauguration of the 10th national assembly.

According to TheCables, the speaker of the house of representatives and presumptive chief of staff to the president-elect, Femi Gbajabiamila was also present in the Paris meeting between which commenced at 12:30 PM and concluded at 4:45 PM.

Gbajabiamila reportedly attended the meeting while Abdulmumin Jibrin, an NNPP rep-elect and former leader of a Tinubu campaign organisation, accompanied Kwankwaso.

Additionally, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the wife of the president-elect, welcomed Kwankwasos wife, Salamatu.

TheCable learned that Tinubu and Kwankwaso reminisced about their longstanding relationship, which dates back to their time in the National Assembly in 1992 when Tinubu was a senator and Kwankwaso served as the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives.

In principle, Kwankwaso agreed to join Tinubus government, pending consultations with stakeholders on both sides, the NNPP and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Tinubu is expected to brief Kashim Shettima, the vice-president-elect, the APC Governors Forum, and other party leaders, while Kwankwaso will do the same with his party leadership.

During their discussion, Tinubu expressed concern about Kwankwasos strained relations between Abdullahi Ganduje, the outgoing governor of Kano state, pledging to mediate and reconcile their differences.

Ganduje previously served as Kwankwasos deputy when he was the governor of Kano from 2011 to 2015, but they have since parted ways.

Meanwhile, Godswill Akpabio had decribed Bola Tinubu as Gods own choice for leading the country.

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By Joshua Chibuzo Andrew, Owerri

The former Okigwe Senatorial Aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the bye election of 2020, evangelist Kelechi Uzoma has reacted to the recent statement by the former governor Ikedi Ohakim.

Ohakim whos statement was published on the Monday Nigeria Horn Newspaper, where he advised all Governorship candidates in the state, including his kinsman Senator Athan Achonu to step down their ambition for Uzodinma.

Ohakim in his statement also stated that the PDP candidate, Samuel Anyanwu should save his resources and abandoned his Governorship bid and Support Uzodinma who he scored his achievements in the state high.

However, reacting to Ohakims press statement on Wednesday in Owerri, Kelechi Uzodinma have accused the former governor of bringing shame to Okigwe Zone.

Uzoma said, Ohakim has been insulting himself and the people of okigwe zone, by now he should be able to know that he is a former governor he should behave himself in a manner that will not attract public ridicule to him.

I am not saying he should not support a governor whom he made Senator, he should look at the likes of the former govenor Achike Udenwa who maintain an advisory role after after he finished as governor.

No body should be discouraged, all candidates are qualified, they must go to the poll and winner will emerge.

Uzoma, further admonished former Imo governor to Support his preferred candidate and allow others to exercise their constitutional rights of franchise.

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 Says, November 11 Shall Witness Imos Liberation from Bloodshed, Anarchy

The Peoples Democratic party PDP in Imo State have accused the Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma of coming into power through judicial fraud, and not by Gods will.

This PDP stated this a press release signed by its publicity secretary, Collins Opurozor on Tuesday, 16th May and made available for newsmen.

Their statement read; The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State has been drawn to a recent statement credited to the outgoing Governor of the State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, in a church service wherein he claimed that it was God who installed him as Governor.

Even though we know Senator Uzodinma to be sorely deficient in morality, sincerity and integrity, we had at least expected him to pretend to respect God by not spewing barefaced lies and blasphemy against the Almighty God right on His Holy Altar. But he has once again proven that leopard cannot change its spots.

To be sure, Senator Uzodinma was declared winner of an election he barely participated in and deservedly came a distant fourth position.

He rode to power through the most satanic conspiracy enforced by the worst judicial fraud in the history of Nigeria. And wherever the forces of darkness reign, there is always blood, there is fire, there is weeping and there is misery. That is the case today in Imo State. It is the character of Satan to give with one hand and take with the other hand.

Our Party recalls that in the aftermath of Uzodinmas infamous judicial victory, Justice Nweze of the Supreme had cried out, that the decision of the Supreme Court to create and impose a governor on Imo State would continue to haunt Nigerias electoral jurisprudence forever. Till date, Imo has continued to be remembered whenever judicial travesty in Nigeria is discussed.

Justice Nweze also noted that Uzodinma, during the election tribunal, admitted that he hijacked the result sheets from the electoral umpire officials and completed the result sheets by himself. He concocted results from 388 nonexistent polling units without indicating the votes polled by other political parties nor the number of accredited votes. Nweze regretted that without evidence of meeting other constitutional provisions, the court misled itself into declaring Uzodinma as winner.

As a Party, we are duty-bound to remind Uzodinma that the God he mocked with his statement is not an author of fraud, criminality and injustice. The fraud that brought him to power turned Imo into a killing terrace, a field of agony, and a land of lack, deprivation and hopelessness. He cannot claim to have been installed by God when under his watch Imo has become a city of bloodshed and has plummeted in all indices of good life and good governance. This is not Gods desire for His people in Imo State. God is peace. He is also love and life. He is the ultimate giver of joy. But Imo today occupies the top positions in all the indices of social strife and misery in Nigeria.

Our Party, therefore, cautions Uzodinma to stop dropping the name of God in celebration of his abominable truncation of democracy and vicious usurpation of the peoples mandate in Imo State.

Imolites are aware that their covenant with God to reestablish a PDP-led administration in the State under Senator Samuel Anyanwu, which will wipe away tears, heal all wounds, offer succour to the masses, behead the monster of insecurity, make the land yield again, bring back those who have fled because of killings and make Imo safe again shall come to fruition on November 11, 2023. God never fails.

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R.Kelly has pleaded not guilty to all the charges levelled against him after he was arraigned in court on Tuesday, July 16, 2019.

Recalled that R.Kelly was arrested a few days ago by the police in Chicago on federal sex crime charges which include sex trafficking, child pornography and obstruction of justice.

TMZ reports that R.Kelly showed up in court dressed in a yellow jumpsuit and chained on Tuesday. The prosecution lawyer all debated about his release insisting that he should remain behind bars.

According to them, hes a danger to the community, especially to minor girls. They claim the risk of obstruction is real and ongoing, and also heightened by his fame and power. Prosecutors are also saying he has the unique ability to influence and intimidate witnesses and victims, and that continues to this day.

They further went on to say R.Kelly is a known child molester and that is who he is. R.Kelly went to plead not guilty to all the charges read before him. He was however denied a bail bond.

This means he would remain in prison custody which didnt go down well with his lawyers. For his lawyer, Steve Greenberg, Kelly has already surrendered his passport and noted the guy doesnt like to fly so hes not a flight risk.

Greenberg also says that, to his knowledge, Kelly didnt miss any court dates in his 2008 trial. Speaking of that trial, Greenberg responded to allegations that the case was rigged, saying R. Kelly faced a jury of his peers, and not a bench trial, TMZ reports.




Ned and wife, Regina loved up

Nigerian actress, Regina Daniels has continued to glow in her marriage to politician, Ned Nwoko.

The young and beautiful actress has taken to social media to shower praises on her husband while sharing loved up photos of them together.

See more photos below:
For breaching its guidelines on lending to the real sector of the economy, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has fined 12 major banks N499.1billion.

According to an approved debit instruction, the affected banks and the amount they will pay are: Citibank (N100,743,055, 321); First Bank of Nigeria (N74,668,880,480); FBNQuest Merchant Bank (N2, 697,456,144); First City Monument Bank (FCMB), (N14, 371,064, 742) and Guaranty Trust Bank (N25, 147, 933, 628).

Others are Jaiz Bank (N7, 525, 165,552); Keystone Bank (N4, 162, 938, 879); Rand Merchant Bank (N2, 823,177,399); Standard Chartered Bank (N30,027,137,984); SunTrust Bank (N1,703,205,427); United Bank for Africa (N99,676,181,916) and Zenith Bank (N135,629,337,625).

The banks will lose the money at source from their Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR) with the CBN.

The CRR is a portion of the banks deposits kept with the CBN for regulatory reasons.

The apex bank, on July 3, 2019, directed banks to maintain a minimum Loan Deposit Ratio (LDR) of 60 per cent by September 30, 2019.

The LDR, which was being reviewed quarterly to improve lending to the real sector, was 58.5 per cent as at May.

It has now been raised to 65 per cent for the last quarter of the year.

A CBN circular: Regulatory Measures to Improve Lending to the Real Sector of the Nigerian Economy, says in order to ramp up economic growth through investment in real sector, the CBN approved that all banks should maintain a minimum LDR of 60 per cent by September 30.

Based on the guidelines, failure to meet the minimum loan to deposit ratio of 60 per cent by October 1 would attract a levy of fine which is additional CRR equal to 50 per cent of the lending shortfall of the target.

Central bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele had said that banks that fail to meet its directive on the 60 per cent LDR would be penalised at the expiration of the deadline.

Failure to meet the above minimum LDR by the specified date shall result in levy or additional Cash Reserve Requirement equal to 50 per cent of the lending shortfall of the target, CBN Director, Banking Supervision, Ahmad Abdullahi, said in the July 3 circular.

The LDR policy is expected to push banks to increase lending to high risk-borrowers, with the potential of incurring heavy losses and higher non-performing loans.

To encourage SMEs, retail, mortgage and consumer lending, these sectors shall be assigned a weight of 150 per cent in computing LDR for this purpose.

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Former President of the Senate, Adolphus Wabara has dismissed any chances of an Igbo Presidency come 2023.

According to the former Senate President, the Igbo nation had been systematically confined to certain political limits in Nigeria and for this reason its chances to aspire and reach for the Presidency in the next four years have been limited.

Wabara said the South-East was not ready for the presidency come 2023 when compared to the preparedness of other regions who were interested and financially ready to prosecute the project

He maintained that the lack of preparedness of the South east had denied the region any basis to negotiate a presidential spot for itself in 2023.

Theres no chance for Igbo presidency in 2023 unless a miracle happens but there will be Igbo presidential candidates from some unpopular parties to satisfy all righteousness, he said.

Furthermore there shall be no basis for Ndigbo to negotiate with other regions when those regions are equally interested and even more financially ready. We are on our own. Nobody wants us near Aso villa.

As a matter of fact, we have been given our permanent place and limits in our country called Nigeria. However Ndigbo believes that a wise patient dog eats the fattest bone because this too shall pass, the former President of the Senate stated.
Several commercial banks in Nigeria have adopted measures to protect customers from coronavirus infection or spread of the virus as they enter banking halls. A survey by National Daily showed that all the banks provided sanitizers for free use by customers. At some of the banks visited in Ikeja, the capital of Lagos State, which include First Bank, GT Bank, Access Bank, Refuge Mortgage Bank, UBA, Fidelity, etc, customers were compelled at the entrance door into the banking hall to use sanitizer before gaining access into the bank. The security personnel is handy with a container of sanitizer which he gives to the customer, some will request to spray on the customers palm, for use before entrance into the banking hall. Some other banks, however, made the use of sanitizers voluntary by customers. In this case, customers walk into the banking hall and will only be offered sanitizers on request.

In some of the banks where the use of sanitizer is voluntary, this Reporter accosted the internal security personnel to know if sanitizer is available [where it is not kept in the open] and the security staff directs to the position of the sanitizer in the banking hall.

Generally, the banks provided sanitizer for customers both at the entrance door and on the counter in the banking hall; but not all banks made the use of sanitizer compulsory; only few ensure customers apply sanitizer before entrance into the banking hall.

However, several other institutions ignored such arrangement in their offices. It is more ridiculous that the Nigerian House of Representatives even contemplated going on two weeks vacation because of coronavirus. The federal lawmakers had resolved to shut down the Lower Chamber of the National Assembly for two weeks while mandating the National Assembly management to take action that will prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country. The legislators contemplated their vacation as though the National Assembly management is not staffed by humans, maybe they considered management staff relation of coronavirus.

The commercial banks clearly demonstrated patriotism and commitment to safety of their customers and staff, so, they can carry out their transactions with confidence.

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Nollywood actress, Yvonne Jegede, has finally confirmed that her one-year-old marriage to Olakunle Abounce Fawole has crashed.

Abounce, who is the son of a late actress, Bukky Ajayi, married Yvonne at a simple but classy wedding ceremony in Lagos in February 2018.

Separation rumours begun trailing their marriage some weeks back after reports surfaced that Yvonne had moved out of her husbands house.

The actress came clean in an interview with Pulse on Wednesday, saying she quit the marriage, three months after she got pregnant with her son.

Unconfirmed media reports said that the issue allegedly stemmed from the paternity of the child.

We started having issues before the birth of Xavier. I think I was about two to three months pregnant when the issues came. Immediately the issues came, there was never a dull moment, it just kept going up and up and it got worse and it got worse and today here we are, Yvonne said.

The 35-year-old actress also said that when the issues became obvious and irredeemable, she moved out of their matrimonial home after a mutual agreement.

Right now, we are not living together, and we are not living as husband and wife, we are not husband and wife anymore and I would say a mutual agreement to go our separate ways. It didnt work out, it wasnt working out, she noted.

However, the actress revealed that her marriage to Abounce was worth it for the months it lasted.

She said the times they shared together as a couple was nice and sweet so she would not trample on those times.

Fans have long suspected that all may not be well with the couple as their social media pages carry little of one another.

Abounce is yet to publicly comment on the issue.

The couple met 15 years ago on the set of Tade Ogidans popular drama serial, Behind the Seige.

Yvonne rose to prominence after she made a cameo appearance in 2Face Idibias award-winning music video, African Queen alongside Annie Macaulay in 2004.
The Suspects, Korede Pariosho, Jide Afolabi

Two suspected cultists have allegedly shot dead a member of the Oodua Peoples Congress in Ogun State, Kolawole Ajomale, in the presence of his pregnant wife.

The suspects, identified as Korede Pariosho and Jide Afolabi, allegedly shot Ajomale in the head and stomach, and he died on the spot.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, stated this in a statement on Wednesday.

Oyeyemi said Pariosho and Afolabi were arrested by the police on Tuesday, two days after they reportedly committed the crime.

He said the incident occurred on Sunday in Ijebu-Igbo in the Ijebu-North Local Government Area of the state.

Oyeyemi explained that the suspects invaded Ajomales house, situated at No. 20 Odo Balogun Street, Oke-Sopein, Ijebu-Igbo.

He said the suspects were arrested following an investigation embarked upon by detectives from the Ijebu-Igbo Divisional Police Station.

The PPRO explained that the detectives, led by Divisional Police Officer, Ijebu-Igbo, SP Kazeem Solotan, went to the hideout of the suspects and arrested them.

He added that the gun allegedly used to kill the victim had been recovered.

Oyeyemi stated, Operatives of the Ogun State Police Command, on April 7, 2020, arrested two members of a deadly cult, who assassinated one Kolawole Ajomale, a member of the Oodua Peoples Congress, on April 5, 2020, in Ijebu-Igbo.

The hoodlums had on April 5, 2020, attacked their victim in his house situated at No. 20 Odo Balogun Street, Oke Sopein, in Ijebu-Igbo, where the deceased was shot in the head and stomach in the presence of his pregnant wife, consequent upon which the victim died on the spot.

Since then, the police have been on their trail before they were finally apprehended following painstaking intelligence and technical investigation.

On interrogation, the two suspects confessed to killing the deceased, but they claimed to have done so in revenge for the death of a member of their cult, whom they alleged was killed by the OPC men in 2017.



They further confessed to have vowed since then that any member of the OPC seen would be killed in revenge for the death of their late member.



The PPRO added that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Kenneth Ebrimson, had ordered the immediate transfer of the suspects to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for discreet investigation and prosecution.
The Peoples Republic of China, China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC), through a subsidiary firm, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), has explained why they are supporting Nigeria in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic that is adversely affecting livelihoods and economies across the world by making available necessary medical equipment and health consumables.

The Managing Director of CCECC Nigeria, Micheal Jiang, in a statement indicated that CCECC delivered amongst others, about 16-tons of test kits, ventilators, disinfection machine, disposable medical masks, N95 masks, medicines, rubber gloves, protective gowns, goggles, face shields, infra-red thermometers and other critical care items, through a chartered flight operated by Air Peace, which arrived Nigeria on Wednesday.

The chartered flight arrived the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Wednesday with the items required by the Nigerian Government which were handed over by CCECC to relevant authorities.

CCECC MD explained that considering the companys large number of employees in Nigeria, CCECC at its own cost, further dispatched a 15-member working team from CRCC, 12 of whom are experienced medical professionals with expertise in infectious disease, respiratory illness, intensive care, cardiology, neurology, general surgery and anesthesiology. He added that members of the team also have relevant experience in the prevention and diagnosis of the COVID-19.

Micheal Jiang assured that all members of the working team have tested negative to COVID-19 and shall commence their stay in Nigeria by undertaking 14 days in quarantine.

The primary purpose of the working team is to escort the medical supply, provide guidance for their usage and distribution.

They will also provide CCECC employees with critical and necessary healthcare assistance where necessary.

They are also coming with adequate PPE and medical items for the employees. In addition, under the directive of Chinese Embassy and in response to the Nigeria Governments request, the working team may also share with Nigerian medical teams effective methods on how to contain the COVID-19 and provide advice on the use of relevant medical equipment. The team is not coming to treat Covid-19 patients in Nigeria, Micheal Jiang declared.

he added that in keeping with its corporate value, Stride with Nigeria, CCECC is participating in the construction of two COVID-19 response facilities in the FCT for free as part of its Corporate Social Responsibilities. The facilities were identified to include a 196-bed at ThisDay Dome Treatment Centre, in collaboration with Sahara Group and Arise News; and the 150-bed Idu Depot Treatment Centre.

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Canadian-born Ghanaian actress, Jackie Appiah photo surfaced online as she was seen pounding fufu with the native pestle and mortar on a National TV station in Ivory Coast.

Btls News gathered that the photo was taken after the actress visited Ivory Coast for a tour and as a guest at the Cosmos Shopping Mall in Abidjan.

Aside the tour, Jackie Appiah was interviewed on a national television concerning her acting career and plans she has to improve the industry.

The beautiful actress took to her Instagram page to share are lovely experience and photos as she wrote:

No suit will stop me from pounding fufu on the National tv station of Ivory Coast. @RTI @cmidi I had sooo much fun.

Fans of the actress on Instagram took to the comment section to shower praise on her: See Comment below

@sandyz_one expressed her love for the actress: Ma love for jacky.

@sarouchboye heaped praise on Jackie: You are definitely the best.

@nuellllaaa.xx could not hide her joy: Awww. I love u aunty.

@bobby_yong had this to say: Hmmm so cute. @cityhillsmedia commented: Weldone maam.

After many years of thrilling Ghanaians to the best movies, Jackie is known as Ghanas most popular actress. With a whooping 5.6 million followers on Instagram.

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BLOOMINGTON  The McLean County Coroner's office said a Bloomington man drowned in a Monday night crash on Interstate 55 in Towanda.

Coroner Kathleen Yoder said in a Tuesday press release that 60-year-old Rick J. Plourde was pronounced deceased at 11:37 p.m. Monday. She said initial autopsy results show that he died from drowning.

A press release from Illinois State Police said crews were called at 8:55 p.m. Monday to northbound I-55 at milepost 170, after a single vehicle drove off the road and into the Boyd Wesley Park Pond east of the interstate in Towanda.

ISP said it's not known why the vehicle left the road before becoming submerged in the water. Troopers added only one person was in the vehicle and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Yoder said toxicology testing is pending.

A journalist with The Pantagraph observed heavy police presence at the scene Monday, as well as a response by the MABAS 41 Underwater Recovery Team. A boat crew circled the lake and a drone was flown overhead, before divers dropped down from a second boat to the submerged vehicle.

Crews later recovered the vehicle from the lake.

Other responding agencies were the Towanda Fire Protection District, Bloomington Fire Department, the Normal Fire Department, the McLean County Sheriff's Office, the Hudson Fire Department, and the Illinois Department of Transportation.

ISP and the coroner's office continues to investigate the crash, Yoder said.

Photos: Hudson dive team trains with new sonar device 081321-blm-loc-3diveteam 081321-blm-loc-1diveteam 081321-blm-loc-2diveteam 081321-blm-loc-4diveteam 081321-blm-loc-5diveteam 081321-blm-loc-6diveteam 081321-blm-loc-9diveteam 081321-blm-loc-7diveteam 081321-blm-loc-8diveteam 081321-blm-loc-10diveteam
BLOOMINGTON  Gun crimes were up in Bloomington last year, prompting Police Chief Jamal Simington to stress the importance of community engagement and officer training.

Simington and Bloomington Fire Chief Eric West both presented city council members on Monday with their 2022 annual reports, which break down the number of emergency calls each department received last year.

In 2021, BPD reported a total of 31 shootings, 12 people shot and three homicides by gun.

But in 2022, 42 shootings, 15 people shot and five homicides by gun were reported. However, the department's patrol division helped to seize 88 illegal firearms, which was up from 57 in 2021.

Funding already has been authorized to take additional steps against violent crimes. In March, the city council approved a $500,000 budget ordinance to fund various violence prevention strategies, including access to nationwide ballistics database and a pair of public safety trailer cameras to deter crime at public events.

"Our officers can relate that it is important for us to increase our capabilities (and) our access to technology in order to drive violent crimes down," Simington said.

Other reduction strategies Simington announced included a gun buyback program, a payment for crime tips, enhanced technology, vouchers for gun safes and improved community education.

Connecting with residents

The police chief also highlighted the benefits of community engagement.

Last year, BPD's community engagement unit attended 231 community events, 18 "Coffee with a Cop" gatherings and six neighborhood walks.

"I think the most fun part of our community engagement was painting a mural at Miller Park," Simington said, "and we had an opportunity to work with the Western Avenue Community Center and all their kids."

Some aldermen credited the investment in community engagement as one of the reasons department complaints are down.

Of the 69,000 calls for police service in 2022, officers used or displayed force 209 times and 21 formal complaints were filed. That number was down from 32 complaints reported in 2021.

BPD also met or exceeded performance levels each month to remain accredited as a Center of Excellence under the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch in Police and Fire.

EMS calls on the rise

West reported 2022 as the fire department's biggest year ever.

The department responded to 13,272 incidents, 10,313 of which were EMS calls. This is up from 12,969 total calls and 9,654 EMS calls in 2021.

Fire calls, meanwhile, were on the decline: 3,315 calls in 2022 compared to 2,963 in 2021.

West said 197 fires were reported last year, 52 of which were structure fires. These incidents amounted to $1.2 million in damage.

The department was down 11 staff members at the end of 2022. However, West acknowledged changes in hiring requirements to increase recruitment at each station.

Even with the reduced staff, BFD's EMS providers were awarded the 2022 Mission Lifeline Gold Plus award for outstanding care to heart attack patients, which is an award given to only seven Illinois departments.

I cannot say enough about the members of our department, West said in a statement. I am proud of the professionalism and service that each member of the department provides to the citizens and visitors of the City of Bloomington.

Updated mug shots from The Pantagraph Bryant Lewis Derek Roesch Justin M. Mata Marcus D. Wesley Phillip Tinch Trisha L. Hanke William B. Givens David L. Oliver Kenneth E. Funk Jordan R. King Holly M. Isaacson Kenneth L. Minton Tony L. Jackson Britley L. Hilger Jasmine L. Smith Jackie S. Claypool Noah R. Demuth Brandon L. Parsano Alexander N. Williams Carlos Sanchez-Solozarzano Jaylin S. Bones Jordan R. King Dominique M. Banks Austin T. Daugherty Sandra M. Lewis Samantha E. Morris Nolan C. Love Nikkita L. Sandefur Katlin M.B. Wilson Eli C. Garozzo Tysean T. Townsend Curtis J. Byrd Noral K. Nelson Charles J. Tankson Davis, Micah S Livingston, Joshua D. Kevin L. Ewen Emmanuel K. Mpay Ahmad S. Manns Dylan R Mann Tony L. Jackson William R. Linden Zadek U. Moen Zachary T. Willis Cecily M. Sexton Tonisha A. Jackson
SPRINGFIELD  The Illinois Supreme Court is now deciding whether the states recently enacted assault weapons ban violates certain provisions of the Illinois Constitution.

In March, a circuit court judge in Macon County sided with a group of plaintiffs led by state Rep. Dan Caulkins, R-Decatur, and declared the law unconstitutional. The state appealed directly to the Supreme Court, which put a hold on the Macon County decision and put the case on an expedited schedule.

The court heard oral arguments Tuesday in the case. They argued that the law is unfair because it allows certain people, but not others, to continue buying and selling a category of firearms defined as assault weapons.

Plaintiffs attorney Jerry Stocks argued that because the law allows some people to continue owning the banned weapons  law enforcement officers, certain security guards, active-duty military personnel, and people who already owned those weapons before the law took effect, among others  it violates the state constitutions equal protection clause. He also argued it violates a ban on special legislation, or legislation written for the benefit of one person or group of people.

These are criminal statutes, Stocks told the court. And we're immunizing folks that have absolutely no difference in the enjoyment of the Second Amendment or the enjoyment of Article 1, Section 22 (of the Illinois Constitution)  than anyone else.

The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Article 1, Section 22 of the Illinois Constitution both deal with the right to bear arms. But the state constitutions language is different because it says the right is subject to the police power of the state, meaning it can be regulated to protect public health and safety or law and order.

That distinction is important because in federal law, the right to bear arms is considered a fundamental right, and any limitations on it are subject to strict scrutiny. That means the government has to show there is a compelling state interest that makes limiting the right necessary and that the law is narrowly tailored to achieve that interest.

In Illinois state constitutional law, however, the right to bear arms is not a fundamental right, and the government is authorized under the state constitution to put limits on it. That means the government only needs to show the limitations have a rational basis behind them.

The purpose of this legislation is to freeze the supply of assault weapons, reduce their further proliferation throughout the state to increase public safety, Assistant Attorney General Leigh Jahnig said, arguing for a rational basis review.

But Stocks argued that in more recent case dealing with the Second Amendment, the U.S. Supreme Court has moved beyond the rational basis vs. strict scrutiny question. In a decision last summer, the U.S. Supreme Court began using a new standard that requires the state to show that a regulation is consistent with the nations historical tradition of firearm regulation.

The state, however, argued that the federal standard for judging Second Amendment issues should not apply in the Illinois case because the plaintiffs did not make a Second Amendment claim in their initial suit. And Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis appeared to agree.

That's not what you brought, she told Stocks about his Second Amendment claims. You frame this in a totally different way. You could have joined the three federal cases. You chose to shape it in a different way around special legislation and an equal protection. Its a much different analysis.

Lawsuits move in federal court

On April 28, a federal judge in East St. Louis issued a temporary order blocking enforcement of the weapons ban while three cases consolidated in the Southern District of Illinois was being heard. But federal judges in the Northern District that were hearing similar challenges have declined to issue injunctions.

A week after the Southern District judges order, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals put a hold on it. The appellate court has since said it will hear a consolidated appeal in five cases dealing with the Illinois law, and it will do so on an expedited schedule.

Oral arguments before the Seventh Circuit are scheduled for June 29.

In the meantime, plaintiffs in the Southern District cases have filed an application with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett for an emergency injunction to block enforcement of the law while the appeals are being heard. Barrett has not yet ruled on that application.

Did you know TSA prohibits these innocent items from being in your carry-on bag? 1. English Christmas Crackers 2. Ink and toner cartridges 3. Most sports equipment 4. Aerosol insecticide 5. Bang Snaps 6. Cooking spray 7. Foam toy swords 8. Wrapped gifts 9. Samsung Galaxy Note 7
When is a chicken wing not a chicken wing? No, its not an existential question, but its a question that a Chicago man and his lawyers are asking a federal court to resolve in a somewhat absurd case against Buffalo Wild Wings.

It all started (as so many good stories do) with an order of chicken wingsor something labeled as chicken wings. But to hear Aimen Halim tell it, Buffalo Wild Wings duped him. To his apparent horror, the restaurant made his order of boneless wings not from wing meat but from breast meat.

Halim, with his discerning palate, claims that if he had known about this deceptive practice, he wouldnt have bought them or at least would have paid less for them. He then did what any reasonable person would do: He filed a class-action lawsuit against Buffalo Wild Wings for false advertising and is seeking financial compensation for the "injuries Buffalo Wild Wings caused to him with its deceptive marketing.

It should be a slam-dunk case, right? After all, Buffalo Wilds Wings responded to the lawsuit with a tweet saying, Its true. Our boneless wings are all white meat chicken. Our hamburgers contain no ham. Our buffalo wings are 0% buffalo.

But apparently Halims not persuaded. Will the court be?

Interestingly, this is not the first time Buffalo Wild Wings has come under fire for its boneless wings. In 2020, a man from Nebraska gave a speech to his local city council about their boneless wings, making the same claim that theyre misleadingly labeled because theyre not made of wing meat. Buffalo Wild Wings responded then via tweet as well, disagreeing with the man that its boneless wings arent wings, offering him free traditional wings for a year, and making a donation to the local Boys and Girls Club.

Now that seems like an appropriate resolution!

Sadly, Halims case has the potential to be yet another example of lawyers being the true beneficiaries of class-action lawsuits instead of the consumers whose interests they supposedly represent.

For example, several years ago, disgruntled plaintiffs claimed that their footlong Subway sandwiches werent really a foot long. This travesty came to light after an Australian teenager posted a photo, which went viral, to Facebook showing that his sandwich was only 11 inches. Oh, the horror! So, of course, in the United States, those who suffered this grave harm filed class-action lawsuits.

The case settled in 2016 and resulted in the 10 named plaintiffs receiving just $5,000 in incentive awards ($500 each) for their services representing the class of harmed individuals. The other class members essentially received bupkis.

Their lawyers, on the other hand, made out like bandits and received $520,000 to cover their costs, expenses and attorneys fees. The left-wing district judge who approved the settlement, Lynn Adelman, has a long history of issuing troubling decisions and making inflammatory statements.

Fortunately, Ted Frank, who objected in the district court and who objects to the ridiculous settlements in many class-action cases, appealed the original settlement to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, which rejected it as being worthless to the plaintiffs and only benefitting the attorneys.

In fact, Judge Dianne Sykes, who wrote the unanimous opinion for the three-judge panel, said that A class action that seeks only worthless benefits for the class and yields [only] fees for class counsel is no better than a racket and should be dismissed out of hand. And, she said, Thats an apt description for this [the Subway sandwich] case.

Its likely an apt description for the Buffalo Wild Wings case too.

The numbers support the conclusion that lawyers are the real winners in most class-action lawsuits, instead of consumers. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (despite its constitutionally problematic status) analyzed more than 500 class-action lawsuits where attorneys received close to half a billion dollars, while the average consumer got about $30. Another study by Jones Day had similar findings, that class-action settlements often award no monetary relief to class members yet award class counsel significant amounts of attorneys fees.

That will probably be the outcome for Halims case against Buffalo Wild Wings too if any recovery is made. He would probably be better off just enjoying Buffalo Wild Wings foodregardless of what he calls it.
The Pentagon leaks story first broke on April 6, when The New York Times reported that classified documents had been shared among members of a Discord server. Barely a week later, live footage aired of the suspected leaker  21-year-old Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira  being arrested at his familys home in Massachusetts.

Since then, new information has been uncovered about Teixeira, who worked on an Air Force Distributed Common Ground System (DCGS). It reveals that he was a conspiracy theorist who, prior to his arrest, aimed to back up his frequent anti-government rants by sharing top secret documents within his online community. He was also stockpiling weapons and military gear, including AR-style rifles, as well as displaying an obsession with mass shootings.

The fact that an extremist like Teixeira was granted access to highly classified information at a secret facility, and prompted no red flags, brings up a key problem: There is not enough public oversight of the military.

Every American should know more about what happens at Air Force DCGS sites across the country and around the globe. More than 1.25 million people possess a top secret clearance from the Department of Defense. How can we be sure that there arent hundreds of people like Teixeira holding documents that could impact national security, or if there are massive amounts of overly classified documents with information the public has a right to know about? Without real oversight, it is impossible to be truly informed about what our military is up to or where our tax dollars are spent.

Teixeiras job title was cyber transport systems journeyman, but what does that actually mean? The Air Force says the job provides communication through connection, and it includes upgrading and repairing data and video equipment. It is precisely this type of work that the military is recruiting teenagers for and targeting gamers specifically.

Psychological screenings and support must be funded, encouraged and available to troops who work within these massive weapon systems to mitigate the risks of another leak. Had Teixeira undergone a psychological evaluation, he would likely have been flagged before being granted access. It is significant that DCGS where Teixeira worked remains largely unknown while quietly gathering and distributing state secrets.

Since the leaks, a familiar narrative has taken shape: Teixeira is a bad apple; this was an isolated failure at a single facility; and that a comprehensive review by the Pentagon will prevent more leaks from happening in the future. This is an insufficient approach to systemic problems, especially as the Pentagon grapples with extremists infiltrating the ranks.

The Espionage Act of 1917, under which Teixeira is being charged, was used frequently during both the Obama and Trump administrations. Actual whistleblowers like Reality Winner and Daniel Hale saw that the classified information they handled within their workplaces did not match the information being given to the public, acted on principle, yet were prosecuted under the same overbroad act.

Now a new proposal by Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mi., to amend the Espionage Act would permit those charged under it the most democratic of rights: the ability to offer their own explanation for their actions to a jury of their peers. Motives matter, and to the extent that Teixeira had any for his actions, we need to know what they were from the only person who really knows: Teixeira himself. Because Espionage Act violations are strict liability offenses, this is not currently permitted at trial, and for this reason, both whistleblowers and leakers end up taking a plea deal.

As a country that spends more money on war and surveillance than any other, shouldnt we hold all who prosecute our wars, keep our state secrets, and spend our tax dollars to the highest standard? Teixeiras ability to gain top secret access, despite his extremist views, shows the danger of combining a growing dependency on data collection and secrecy with our ignorance of how our military functions.
Chicago media swarmed with debate over the events of the April 15 weekend, when a large group of Chicago teens headed downtown, with some causing serious property damage and even beating people up.

Thats because the event had the kind of controversy that generates web traffic.

On the one side you had Chicagoans lamenting the disruption of public order, the lack of parental responsibility and the economic consequences of people being afraid to come downtown. On the other, you had Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson, who the following Wednesday said this to legislators in Springfield: Theyre young. Sometimes they make silly decisions. They do. And so we have to make sure that were investing so that young people know theyre supported.

So, then, two sides existed to provide grist for the mill of talk radio and weeks in review. And while we weighed in criticizing Johnsons remarks, we also understood his point about everyones right to enjoy downtown and the need for better options for teens, especially in the summer.

But there are no two sides to what happened to Chicago police Officer Areanah Preston. What happened here should chill every Chicagoans bones.

As the Tribune reported following a bond hearing, Preston was still in her uniform after her shift when four teenage robbers caught her in their sights. The teens, between the ages of 16 and 19, were allegedly in the midst of what prosecutors rightly described as a very violent crime spree. The fact that Preston was wearing a police uniform appears to either have been incidental or offered a yet-greater level of opportunity. Police officers have guns. Guns can be quickly sold.

The motivation for this crime spree, according to prosecutors? A girlfriend of one of the suspects wanted money for a barbecue. So these kids allegedly wanted Prestons weapon, which they likely knew they could turn into cold, hard cash. And so this officer, who was about to graduate with a masters degree from Loyola University, was gunned down. In her uniform, in front of her own home. And Preston was not even the teens first victim that night, prosecutors said, citing at least five prior robberies in quick succession.

What, we wonder, does the new administration have to say about that, beyond offering sympathy and noting it was a tragedy, which offers a rough equivalence of hopes and prayers, a mantra on the gun-toting right?

Wrap your head around this: According to prosecutors, Jaylen Frazier asked a friend whether he had seen the medias coverage about Preston being shot and killed and proudly told him it was his work.

It was his work. That is what we are dealing with, a mindset not easily solved by more summer programs.

At Loyolas graduation ceremony Saturday, there will be one fewer graduate marching.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot put out a statement praising police for apprehending these suspects who were held without bail, for which we can all be thankful. The teens appear to have been oblivious to being caught on camera. And now we trust they will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

All the chatter about kids downtown is really a sideshow compared with what happened to Preston, even if national attention was now more focused elsewhere.

Just as we cannot become inured to mass shootings, we cannot become inured to this. We look forward to Johnson addressing the issue either on inauguration day or when he is next in Springfield.

Chicago Tribune
Feature: Chinese student fashion designer wows audience in London

Xinhua) 10:33, May 16, 2023

LONDON, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Home to numerous world-class designer brands and prestigious fashion schools, London always attracts the most enthusiastic and talented fashionistas from around the world, China included.

Wang Hanzhang, an 18-year-old from south China's metropolis of Shenzhen, is no exception. The student designer smiled and waved to his cheering audience as he ran down the stage after his first menswear show held in east London on Saturday.

"Our concept for this season is communication. People speaking different languages and coming from different regions all communicate through arts," he told Xinhua. Wang is a first-year undergraduate studying fashion in London.

"The whole thing was sensational and wonderful," said Eleanor Warrington, Wang's tutor, who is an associate lecturer at the London College of Fashion (LCF), a constituent college of the University of the Arts London (UAL).

Establishing his label "adarksecret" in 2019 while in high school, Wang learned that fashion is never just about dresses and looks, but also about expression and communication. Then he decided to pursue further education in fashion and design in London, the heart of the industry.

"Britain has a long history of fashion and has always been a great place in respecting different cultures and nurturing new brands," he said.

Wang said he believed the college had taught him to be more imaginative. "Here in London, ideas of each individual are highly respected and valued."

Growing up in China and studying in Britain, Wang said a better infusion of East and West is what he's looking for. It's never about competition or replacement, but always about combination and exchanges, he said.

"I was inspired by some designs from ancient Chinese clothing in this season's work, which shows both Chinese and Western cultures," he said, noting that China's thousands of years of civilization have provided a rich source of inspiration for the development and innovation of the Chinese fashion industry.

"We don't want our students to leave their culture or their roots behind," senior fashion designer and Wang's tutor Karen Heard said. "Students come here and we hopefully open things up and push the boundaries for them. And I think that's what we have seen today with Wang," she said.

A growing number of Chinese overseas students are now seen in creative arts, fashion included. Data released by the Higher Education Statistics Agency showed that in the 2021-2022 academic year, about 5,540 students in UAL came from the Chinese mainland, while their number was only 1,750 in 2014-2015.

"China's economy has developed very well in the past decades, enabling people to pay more attention to areas like arts and sports," Wang said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
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]









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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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.

Source: BBC









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South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has said there is "extraordinary pressure" on the country to abandon its non-aligned position on the war in Ukraine.



In in weekly newsletter, Mr Ramaphosa said South Africa would not take sides in what he said was "in effect a contest between Russia and the West".



His comments come days after the US ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety, accused the country of secretly providing arms and ammunition to Russia, despite its professed neutrality.



Mr Brigety said US intelligence was confident they had been loaded onto a Russian ship at a naval base in Cape Town in December.



Mr Ramaphosa has agreed to investigate the claim but says there is no concrete evidence to support the allegations.

Source: BBC









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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









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The National Democratic Congress Council of Elders Chairman of South Africa, Mr. Benjamin Kofi Quashie has appealed to the rank and file of the party to rally support for President John Dramani Mahama.



He argued that President Mahama, after winning Saturday's elections, is now the leader of the party and there is the need for all party members to support him going into the 2024 elections.



"Like it or not, he is the leader of the party. If you want to help the party, you need to help the leader as well. Dr. Duffuor is an astute politician and everything he did was geared towards victory 2024 and so we continue to urge that we all rally around our leader for victory 2024", he noted.



Speaking on 'The Probe' on Joy News, Sunday 14th May, 2023, he averred that, President Mahama is an all-inclusive person and would be able to work with everyone going into the 2024 elections.



When asked whether he shares the views of those calling for President Mahama to pick Dr. Duffuor as his running mate without prejudice to the former running mate, Mr. Quashie indicated that, that is a decision for President Mahama to make. "I'm sure he would do that taking into consideration the person's love for country, party and other considerations", he said.



"At this point, the constitution of the party allows for the presidential candidate to nominate a running mate, go to the Council of Elders, go to the Functional Executive Committee and I think President Mahama would make the right choice of a running mate", he stated.



Incidentally, he agreed to hearing some school of thought which believes Dr. Duffuor would be a good running mate for President Mahama. Mr. Quashie contended that, President Mahama's decision on his choice of a running mate would be based "not only on the interest of the NDC party but also on the interest of the Ghanaian community as a whole", he indicated.



Reacting to a seeming rift between President Mahama and his northern brothers in relation to recent leadership changes in Parliament, the SA Council Chair revealed that there exist no such rift and indeed Hon. Haruna Iddrisu was seen campaigning for Mr. Mahama and even held President Mahama's hand high after the election declaration was done. "That aspect unfortunately was not put into the public domain".



"Instructively, the so called rift between President Mahama and some Northern NDC stalwarts is a figment of people's imagination. The changes in the party's leadership in Parliament was done by the party at a time President Mahama wasn't the leader and can't be held liable for such an action even though he was consulted", he contended.



Mr Quashie also contented that, the NDC is better placed to beat any candidate the NPP will field in the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections, citing abysmal performance and the inability of the ruling party to touch base with the Ghanaian people.





Source: DC Kwame Kwakye - Contributor









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The Ashanti Regional executives of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) have invited female aspirant captured in a viral video spraying delegates and other party members with money in Ejura Sekyere Odumasi Constituency during the partys Saturday 13th May, 2023 presidential and parlientry primaries.



Juliana Kinang-Wassan, Parliamentary candidate of the partys just ended elections drew crowds of delegates to her vehicle when she arrived at the voting center while raining cash on delegates.



She turned up later in the day after the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) Muhammad Bawa Brimah and the other three contenders had already cast their ballots and taken their seats.



The notes that were seen flying in from her hands ranged from as little as five cedi notes to as much as a hundred cedi notes.



When asked by journalists if she knew sharing cash at the electoral centre to sway votes went against the electoral rules, Juliana indicated she decided to share the cash when she suddenly saw the huge bundle of money on top of her car.



An explaination the party believed is unconvincing an must give the party proper explaination.



GHone TV news sources among the partys regional executives has disclosed the young lady who lost the election will be sanctioned by the party.



Below is letter of invitation extended to her:



We bring you warm felicitations from the Ashanti regional secretariat of the NDC. You are by this

letter invited to meet with the Regional Executive committee of the party over a viral video in

which you were seen spraying cash in the air during the elections.



Meeting details.



Date, Tuesday, 16th May, 2023

Time: 1:00pm

Venue: Regional Party Secretariat.





Source: ghanaweb.com









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The sitting Member of Parliament for Sagnarigu constituency, Alhassan Bashir Fuseini, popularly known as Alhaji A.B.A Fuseini, will no longer return to Parliament in 2025.



The lawmaker unfortunately lost his seat during Saturdays primaries organized by the National Democratic Congress (NDC).



He polled 333 votes while his opponent, Atta Issah received overwhelming votes by polling 801 to emerge winner to contest the 2024 elections on the ticket of the party.



The other contenders Yakubu Ahmed, Abdul Majeed Alhassan and Hamza Bukari Zakaria polled 118, 42 and 27 votes respectively.



The NDC Parliamentary election results in the Sagnarigu constituency came as a shock as supporters of the party and his colleagues in Parliament wondered what could have been the reason for the defeat of Alhaji A.B.A Fuseini.



But former PNC National Chairman, Bernard Mornah has revealed the main reason that led to the defeat.



He disclosed on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show that the incumbent MP was voted out because he is poor.



According to him, there are times it became very difficult for the MP to find money for transportation to his constituency, thus this chiefly contributed to his loss.



"I think one of his major flaws is that Alhaji simply was poor in terms of money. He has no money...There are instances that Alhaji wants to go his constituency and he will be struggling to make money to go to his constituency", he said.



He wondered how the delegates expected Alhaji A.B.A Fuseini to spend on them as it has been the culture in Ghana's politics to see aspirants financially inducing electorates to vote for them.



"The man didn't have. How would he give something that he didn't have?", Bernard Mornah expressed as he pitied the MP.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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The US Department of Justice (DoJ) on Monday, May 15, 2023, announced the indictment of Ghanaian socialite Mona Faiz Montrage popularly known as Mona4Reall on fraud related criminal charges.



The announcement followed months of speculations about her supposed arrest by authoritie in the United Kingdom.



GhanaWeb highlights five facts about Monas arrest and her unsealed indictment charges as contained in the DoJs release below:



Arrest and extradition



According to the DoJ, Mona was arrested in the United Kingdom on November 10, 2022, in connection with a series of romance schemes and money laundering between 2013 and 2019.



Montrage was arrested in the United Kingdom on November 10, 2022, and was extradited from the United Kingdom on May 12, 2023, the DoJ stated in the release posted on its website on Monday.



Details of offense and indictment



As contained in the unsealed indictment charges of jury, Mona is facing six counts: one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of wire fraud, one count of money laundering conspiracy, and one count of money laundering. She is also charged with one count of receipt of stolen money and one count of conspiracy to receive stolen money.



A US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damien Wililiams is quoted as saying that Hajia4Reall and the members of a criminal enterprise based in West Africa targeted older Americans through romance and ended up receiving over $2million through the activities of the enterprise.



We alleged today that Ms. Montrage participated in multiple romance scams  often targeting elderly victims  resulting in more than $2 million in fraudulent funds under her control. 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, Damien Williams is quoted by the DoJ.



Alleged tricks



The unsealed indictment said Hajia4Reall in pursuit of her alleged scam activities committed offenses including opening multiple bank accounts in the US for the receipt of payments from her victims.



On or about September 15, 2016, Mona Faiz Montrage, the defendant opened a business bank account in the name of 4Reall Desigsn in the Bronx. New York (Account-1).



On or about November 1, 2018, Montrage received into Account-1 two check deposits from a romance scam victim (Victim-2) totalling at least approximately $195,000, the Grand Jury indictment said.



Trial



Mona4Reall following her extradition to the US was expected to be put before US District Court Judge Paul A. Crotty on Monday, May 15, 2023.



Possible jail term



If found guilty, she faces up to 75 years jail term if shes found guilty of all the charges levelled against her in the fraud.



The sentence duration of 95 years is subject to her receiving the maximum sentence for each of the six charges she is facing.



More often than not, sentences are handed down to run concurrently which means she could get a maximum of 20 years in jail.







Source: ghanaweb.com









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" " Each continent has its own list of popular last names. Some even cross continents. HowStuffWorks

While the Chinese have been using surnames since 2852 B.C.E., they're a modern invention elsewhere. Europeans adopted them in roughly the 15th century, while Turkey only started requiring them in 1934.

Scholars say cultures that use surnames generally employed them to describe one of five characteristics:

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patronymics (names that tell who your father or ancestors are  Johnson literally means John's son)

occupations (the last name Miller tells you the person is descended from millers)

toponymics (home region  e.g., Monte is Portuguese for mountain)

personal characteristics (personality or appearance, like Short, Long or Daft)

clans or tribes

Yet not every last name fits into one of these categories. Enslaved people were often forced to take the surnames of their subjugators, which is why many Blacks in the U.S. have European surnames such as Williams, Davis or Jackson. In fact, when you look at the most common surnames around the globe, you'll see they reflect the world's most dominant colonizers: the English, Spanish, Chinese and Muslims.

In English-speaking cultures, it's long been the custom for women to change their birth last name to their husband's upon marriage. (That practice has been on the decline since the 19th-century feminist movements, though.) And in Mexico, people are given two surnames: the father's surname followed by the mother's (for example, Catalina Gonzalez Martinez.) When addressing someone, though, the protocol is to use only the father's surname, so Catalina would be called Catalina Gonzalez.

Then there's the issue of migration. When people migrate to another country or culture, they may alter their surname to better match that of their new homeland. Take 20th-century immigrants to the U.S. Many Anglicized their surnames to better assimilate into U.S. culture, or simplified them because their surnames were difficult for Americans to spell or pronounce. So a Polish surname such as Ziolkowski, for example, might have been shortened to Zill. Other times, illiterate immigrants didn't realize a clerk, census worker or other official had misspelled their surname. Thus, a Joseph Heyer may have unwittingly become Joseph Hire.

Despite all of these complexities, or sometimes because of them, certain surnames dominate various corners of the globe. Yet there's no doubt about which surname is the most popular in the world: Wang. More than 106 million people have the surname Wang, a Mandarin term for prince or king. It's not too surprising that the top surname is Chinese, as China has the world's largest population. As of 2022, it was home to 1.45 billion people, or 18.5 percent of the world's total.

The reason Wang tops all other Chinese last names may be traced to the Xin dynasty, which began in 9 C.E. and was headed by Emperor Wang Mang. Mang and his Xin dynasty took away power from the Liu family, who were successors of the Han dynasty, so many royal families adopted this surname to protect their lives and wealth. From there, the name greatly proliferated throughout the centuries.

Now let's take a look at the most common surnames in each populated continent, according to genealogy website Forebears.
" " Jeffrey Dahmer, one of the most notorious serial killers in U.S. history, has 13 letters in his name. Corbis

The number 13 strikes fear into the hearts of many. Considered an unlucky number by many cultures, we tend to avoid poor, maligned 13 because of myriad superstitions. Most of these superstitions are well known, of course  Friday the 13th is an unlucky day, many buildings skip the 13th floor and so on.

You might want to check into the mystical number 13 a little closer to home, though. An old superstition says if you have 13 letters in your name, you'll suffer the devil's luck. Piggybacking on that superstition, conspiracy theorists believe they've found an interesting link between the number 13 and murderers. They posit that most murderers have 13 letters in their names [source: O'Keefe].

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You just added up the letters in your name, didn't you? It's okay, we did, too.

Lots of conspiracy and folklore websites love pointing out the connection between 13 and murderers (or serial killers). They list all the killers with 13 letters in their name, pointing out the eeriness of the phenomenon. Understandably, it's a pretty cool theory. But does it hold water? Let's put it to the test.

Here's a list of some known murderers with a total of 13 letters in their first and last names [sources: Conradt, Law]:

Albert DeSalvo  aka the Boston Strangler, believed to have killed 13 women

Jeffrey Dahmer  murdered and ate his victims; later killed in jail

Charles Manson  cult leader who had his "family" murder actress Sharon Tate

Aileen Wuornos  murdered seven men in one year and said she'd do it again

Saddam Hussein  overthrew the Iraqi government, started wars and committed genocide

Lavinia Fisher  known as the first American serial killer, poisoning over a dozen guests at her boarding house

Osama bin Laden  responsible for the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks which killed 3,000 people

Theodore Bundy  killer and rapist who confessed to at least 30 murders

Jack the Ripper  still unidentified killer of prostitutes in the 1880s London

Yes, it's true all of these murderers have 13 letters in their names. However, as with most superstitions, cause doesn't equal effect. Having 13 letters in your name doesn't make you a killer. It's simply a coincidence. For contrast, here's another list of people with 13 letters in their names:

Mahatma Gandhi  leader of the Indian independence movement, practiced non-violent protest

Shirley Temple  child star during the Great Depression, who later became a humanitarian and diplomat

Nelson Mandela  South African anti-apartheid activist, president of South Africa

Susan B. Anthony  activist and instrumental in securing women's right to vote

We could go on and on. Obviously, none of these historical figures had murderous tendencies. In the case of murderers having 13 letters in their names, it's a neat theory, but based on false data. You can pick and choose among the names you want to use and ignore the ones you don't  Ed Gein, Joel Rifkin and David Berkowitz (Son of Sam) are all famous killers without 13 letters in their names.

To summarize, it's not necessary to avoid anyone with 13 letters in their name. Unless you already find them annoying.

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Originally Published: Jul 1, 2015
" " Protesters hold placards in front of the Pennsylvania State Capitol during the Rally for Reproductive Rights. The rally was organized after the United States Supreme Court refused to block a Texas law prohibiting almost all abortions. Paul Weaver/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Nearly 50 years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court made one of its most controversial rulings with its landmark decision in Roe v. Wade. The ruling declared states criminalizing abortion violates a woman's right to due process, meaning a woman has the right to choose whether to terminate a pregnancy with limited government restrictions.

Until that point, nearly all 50 states outlawed abortion except in cases to save a woman's life or health, or in situations such as rape, incest or fetal anomaly.

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In the years since the landmark decision, state legislators have made numerous attempts to chip away at abortion rights through ballot measures and legislative moves, and cumulatively have passed more than 1,300 restrictions on abortion. Dozens more are currently making their way through state legislatures. But the precedent set by Roe v. Wade and its progeny case, Planned Parenthood v. Casey, remain intact.

However, a Mississippi case argued before the Supreme Court on Dec. 1, 2021, holds the potential to shake the very foundation upon which these cases stand. Add to that the surprise leak of the court's draft majority opinion on May 2, 2022, and it's apparent that the aftershocks of this case will have major ramifications for the future of abortion rights in America.

" " Attorney Gloria Allred (right) and Norma McCorvey (center), aka Jane Roe, are seen here during an abortion rights rally, July 4, 1989, in Burbank, California. Bob Riha, Jr./Getty Images
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

A few designs with pre-selected release regimes of medication release. Credit: Max-Planck-Institut fur Informatik

Don't be surprised to see pills with unusual shapes in the future. At first sight they may look funny, but they can release pharmaceuticals inside the body in a controlled manner. Using a combination of advanced computational methods and 3D printing, objects can be produced that dissolve in liquids in a predetermined format.

A group of Computer Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Informatics in Saarbrucken, Germany, and the University of California at Davis, have invented a process that relies solely on the shape of the object for a time-controlled release. This will have important implications for the pharmaceutical industry, which has recently begun focusing sharply on 3D printing.

Funny looking pills are not a design gimmick, they can release medication in a desired time regime. Controlling pharmaceutical drug levels in patients is an important part of medication. In the case of intravenous infusion, the concentration in the blood is determined by the drip rate multiplied with the proportion of the drug in the IV solution. A constant drug level might be achieved by initially administrating a large dose and maintaining it from then on by smaller doses. With oral administration, this regime is much more difficult to ensure.

One idea would be to use multi-component, multi-material structures with different drug concentrations at different locations, which is difficult to manufacture. On the other hand, great advances in 3D printing and its insurmountable capabilities for creating complex shapes, making free-form drugs with a constant distribution of the biochemical in the carrier material is currently a viable option. For such drugs, the release depends solely on the geometric shape, which is easier to ensure and control.

The project, led by Dr. Vahid Babaei (MPI for Informatics) and Prof. Julian Panetta (UC Davis), produces 3D objects that dissolve in a desired function of time, hence releasing their content in a controlled way. By cleverly combining mathematical modeling, experimental setup and 3D printing, the team can print 3D shapes that deliver a timed amount of drug as they dissolve. This can be used to set predetermined drug concentrations through oral delivery.

Since no external influence is possible after ingestion in the digestive tract, the desired time-dependent drug release must be generated by the shape (active surface that dissolves) of the specimen. With some effort, the time-dependent dissolution can be calculated from a given geometric shape. For a sphere, for example, it is strictly proportional to the decreasing spherical surface.

The research team proposes a forward simulation, based on a geometric intuition that objects are dissolved one layer at a time. Practitioners are, however, mostly interested in defining a desired release first and then finding a shape that dissolves according to that release profile. Even with this efficient forward simulation, the reverse engineering to find the appropriate three-dimensional shape for a desired drug regime has significant difficulties.

This is where topology optimization (TO) finds application: forward simulations are inverted to find a shape that exhibits a certain property. Originally developed for mechanical components, TO has meanwhile gained a wide range of applications. The team is the first to propose an inverse design strategy to find the shape from release behavior based on topology optimization. The dissolution is validated by means of experiments: the measured release curves are very close to the desired values.

In the experimental setup, the objects are printed using a filament based 3D printer. The dissolution is then evaluated by a camera system, i.e., actually measured, not just calculated by a mathematical model. For this purpose, the optical transmittance of the solvent is optically recorded. In contrast to the measurement methods commonly used to date, which directly determine the active ingredient concentration (e.g., by titrating), this method is much faster and simpler to set up. Optical methods for measuring the density of active ingredients have, by the way, been in use for quite some time: when grapes are mashed for making wine, the sugar content (Ochsle) of the grape juice is determined by refractometry.

The inverse design method can also incorporate different fabricability constraints of different manufacturing systems. For example, it can be modified to generate extruded shapes and thus does not stand in the way of mass production. Beyond the discussed application in pharmaceutics, further possibilities include the production of catalytic bodies or even coarse granular fertilizers.
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Two flood-resistant rice varieties are helping farmers in Africa to improve productivity, with huge potential returns for countries affected by climate change, agricultural food experts say.

Scientists at the Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) and International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) say the rice they developed could survive for more than two weeks under complete submergence, whereas existing rice varieties die after one week of flooding.

The experts found that it can generate up to two tons per hectare more than rice varieties vulnerable to flooding.

"Until recently, no flood-tolerant rice varieties existed in Africa and farmers suffered enormous losses due to floods," says Venuprasad Ramaiah, head of the International Rice Genebank at the IRRI.

"Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria and Tanzania are among the most flood-affected countries in Sub-Saharan Africa."

Ramaiah says the new varieties also produce a higher yield than existing types, even in drier periods.

"Their cultivation is expected to generate income that is comparable with other improved varieties in the market, in years with no floods," he added.

Ramaiah explains that a gene for submergence tolerance (SUB1 gene) was created and transferred into flood-susceptible African rice varieties.

Baboucarr Manneh, director-general of AfricaRice, tells SciDev.Net that the SUB1 gene was discovered in 1996 and scientists began transferring it into the farmer-preferred variety in the early 2000s. The first high-yielding submergence-tolerant rice variety called "scuba rice" was released in 2009 in Asia.

"This goes to show that the technology has been validated and proven successful and what we're doing is taking it further to tailor the needs of Sub-Saharan African rice farmers," says Manneh.

During the flood season, the new varieties sustain productivity, helping farmers maintain a stable income in both stressed and non-stressed years.

Rice-producing African countries such as Tanzania are highly vulnerable to climate change but rice farmers are particularly vulnerable to the crop as it suffers harsh climatic impacts including drought and flooding.

Financial rewards

"Most African countries have an ambitious plan to be self-sufficient in rice and potentially become the new rice bowl of Asia, but flooding poses a threat to these ambitions," Ramaiah adds.

Ramaiah said that the two released varieties have reached more than 30,000 farmers in Nigeria.

"We are not stopping there yet," says Ramaiah, adding that IRRI and AfricaRice are working with private seed producers, millers, rice traders, farmer cooperatives, and community organizations to design distribution schemes to get the rice to farmers in areas of need.

"With improved flood-tolerant rice varieties, smallholder farmers in the region are able to adapt better to the floods that used to destroy their crops, ensuring farmers' yields and income."

Ramaiah says the innovation has the potential to generate at least US$3 billion in returns for African countries experiencing flooding in the next five years.

Olawale Ojo, managing partner at Agricatalyst Innovations in Nigeria, tells SciDev.Net that flood-tolerant rice varieties could increase farmers' income, build climate resilience, and bring a US$43 return for every dollar invested.

He says funding for agricultural technologies is crucial for food security in Africa, adding, "Expanding the distribution of these varieties in Sub-Saharan Africa will benefit farmers and improve their livelihoods."

The IRRI/AfricaRice innovation won US$150,000 this month (May 1) at the Milken-Motsepe Prize in AgriTech in the United States.

"With the winning prize, there is now the potential to expedite the positive results from field condition tests and scaling up of adoption pathways," says Manneh.

Provided by SciDev.Net
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:

TESS target pixel file of TOI-244. Credit: Castro-Gonzalez et al, 2023

An international team of astronomers reports the detection of a new "super-Earth" exoplanet using NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). The newfound alien world, designated TOI-244 b, turns out to have an unusually low density. The finding was reported in a paper published May 8 on the arXiv preprint server.

TESS is conducting a survey of about 200,000 of the brightest stars near the sun with the aim of searching for transiting exoplanets. So far, it has identified nearly 6,600 candidate exoplanets (TESS Objects of Interest, or TOI), of which 331 have been confirmed so far.

Now, a group of astronomers led by Amadeo Castro-Gonzalez of the Spanish Astrobiology Center in Madrid, Spain, has confirmed another TOI monitored by TESS. They report that a transit signal was detected in the light curve of TOI-244 (also known as GJ 1018)a nearby bright, early type M-dwarf star of spectral type M2.5 V, nearly half the size and mass of the sun. The planetary nature of this signal was confirmed by radial velocity measurements conducted with the ESPRESSO spectrograph mounted on the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile.

"Based on the transit signal detected from TESS data, we carried out an intensive radial velocity campaign with ESPRESSO in order to confirm its planetary nature, obtain a precise mass measurement, as well as to search for additional planets," the researchers wrote.

According to the study, TOI-244 b has a radius of 1.52 Earth radii, while its mass is about 2.68 Earth masses, yielding a density at a level of 4.2 g/cm3. The planet orbits its host every 7.4 days, at a distance of about 0.056 AU from it, and its equilibrium temperature is estimated to be some 458 K.

Based on the findings, Castro-Gonzalez's team classified TOI-244 b as a "super-Earth." Such planets are more massive than Earth but do not exceed the mass of Neptune. Although the term "super-Earth" refers only to the mass of the planet, it is also used by astronomers to describe planets bigger than Earth but smaller than the so-called "mini-Neptunes" (with radiuses between two to four Earth radii).

The results suggest that TOI-244 b is composed of iron and silicates in a proportion similar to that of the Earth. However, the planet is less dense than the majority of super-Earths of its size. The density of TOI-244 b is also below what would be expected for an Earth-like composition.

The researchers assume that the low density of TOI-244 b is related to the presence of a significant amount of volatile elements.

"In that sense, we find that atmospheric loss processes may have been very efficient to remove a potential primordial hydrogen envelope, but high mean molecular weight volatiles such as water could have been retained," the authors of the paper concluded.

The astronomers added that TOI-244 b is an excellent target for future atmospheric studies, due to its unusual properties and the likely presence of an extended atmosphere.

More information: Castro-Gonzalez et al, An unusually low-density super-Earth transiting the bright early-type M-dwarf GJ 1018 (TOI-244), arXiv (2023). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2305.04922 Journal information: arXiv

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In 1914, two beads were found under the great ziggurat of Assur in Iraq, in a foundation deposit dating from around 1800-1750 BC. Their material has now been identified as amber using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). The beads represent some of the earliest amber specimens in southwest Asia and also some of the most distant discoveries from the find areas in the Baltic region.

Assur (now Qala'at Sherqat), on the west bank of the Tigris in Iraq, is one of the most important archaeological sites in northern Mesopotamia. The beginnings of the settlement go back to the 3rd millennium BC. Starting from the late 19th century BC the city became the center of an Assyrian territorial state.

From 1903 to 1914, the Royal Museums in Berlin and the German Orient Society conducted excavations in Assur under the direction of Walter Andrae (18751956). One of the aims of the excavation was to study the great ziggurat (stepped temple tower). In April 1914, in search of the foundation layers, the excavators widened an existing old tunnel.

In doing so, they uncovered several thousand beads of shell, stone, glass and pottery lying directly on the bedrock beneath the first layer of mudbricks. On the basis of find-sharing agreements, parts of the find ended up in the collection of the Vorderasiatisches Museum Berlin.

Among the beads were two disk-shaped ones whose material differed from the rest. They have now been re-examined by researchers from the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt, the Martin-Luther-University of Halle-Wittenberg and the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin.

Fragments of the two beads were examined in 2019 by the Rathgen-Forschungslabor der Staatlichen Museen zu BerlinStiftung Preuischer Kulturbesitz using Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Despite severe weathering, the spectra broadly matched those of Baltic amber (succinite), suggesting that the amber beneath the great ziggurat of Assur most likely originated in the Baltic or North Sea region. They belong to the period around 1800 BC or the first half of the 18th century BC.

Long-distance contacts in the Early Bronze Age

The beads thus represent one of the earliest examples of amber in southwest Asia and also one of the most remote from the source areas in the Baltic region.

The extreme rarity of amber in the Mediterranean and the Near East before about 1550 BC and the restriction to high-ranking contexts can be explained by the fact that the Central German Unetice culture, whose wealth and importance is expressed, for example, in richly furnished princely tombs (Leubingen, Helmsdorf, Bornhock) and the Nebra Sky Disk, controlled the paths over which the amber could reach the south.

The extremely rare amber finds from the early 2nd millennium BC are probably exclusive gifts from well-traveled people from Central or Western Europe to the elites in the south. After the end of the Unetice culture around 1550 BC., the picture changes and widespread trade is established, which made amber available in larger quantities in the Mediterranean and the Middle East.

The paper is published in the journal Acta Archaeologica.

More information: Jan-Heinrich Bunnefeld et al, Baltic Amber in Assur. Forms and Significance of Amber Exchange between Europe and the Middle East, c.20001300 BC, Acta Archaeologica (2023). DOI: 10.1163/16000390-20210031

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According to the analysis of the scientists, the orange tip (Anthocharis cardamines) is the only butterfly species in Europe for which a significant increase can be recorded. Credit: Ulrike Schafer

The diagnosis sounds worrying: More than 80% of habitats in the EU are currently considered vulnerable. This has negative consequences on their functional capability and thus the services they provide for humans. In order to counter this, the European Commission has proposed a new set of rules.

This "Nature Restoration Law" is one of the key elements of the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 to be published this May. It defines binding targets for the entire EU for the renaturation of various ecosystems. Two years after the regulation enters into force, member states must submit plans on how they intend to meet these targets. They must also document the success of their measures.

However, the latter is not so easy. So far, there are only a few indicators that can reliably show the state of biodiversity. For most animal and plant groups, there is a lack of comparable data across Europe from which to assess the development of populations. The few exceptions include birds, bats, and butterflies.

"Butterflies in particular are ideal bioindicators," says agricultural ecologist Prof. Dr. Josef Settele from the UFZ. This is because these insects occur in a wide range of habitats and react sensitively to environmental changes. With their specific requirements, they are often representative of many other insects. Finally, they are eye-catching, attractive, and popular. It is thus relatively easy to motivate volunteers to take part in scientifically oriented butterfly counts.

Such actions are becoming increasingly popular. For example, in 2005 the UFZ and the Gesellschaft fur Schmetterlingsschutz (GfS) launched a citizen science project called "Tagfaltermonitoring Deutschland" (Butterfly Monitoring Germany) in which anyone interested can participate.

Since then, butterfly enthusiasts from all over Germany have been walking fixed routes from spring to autumn to record the number of individuals and species they have seen. Similar monitoring programs now exist in most other European countries. "Around 5,000 volunteers spread all over Europe are now taking partall following the same protocol," says Settele.

The data are collected and analyzed in the central "European Butterfly Monitoring Scheme" (eBMS) database, managed by UKCEH and mirrored at UFZ and the Dutch "Vlinderstichting." In this way, the population development of individual species can then be tracked. Common trends for the inhabitants of certain habitats can also be identified.

This is precisely the idea behind the Butterfly Grassland Indicator, which is based on the population trends of 17 typical species of meadows and pastures. If the positive and negative trends in these species roughly balance each other out, the indicator remains at the same level. If more species decline than increase in the same period, the value decreasesand vice versa. Lower values thus indicate greater problems among grassland dwellers.

The latest results of these calculations, which include data from 1990 to 2020, therefore do not bode well.

The analysis, which was also co-financed by the EU project SPRING (Strengthening Pollinator Recovery through Indicators and monitoring) coordinated by the UFZ, shows only one winner: In the 27 member states of the EU, only the Orange Tip (Anthocharis cardamines) displayed a moderate increase. Three species are stable: the Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus), the Common Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), and the Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina).

Five speciesfrom the Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus) to the Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera)are showing declining populations. "The biggest loser in recent years has been the large blue (Phengaris arion), which for example has disappeared completely in the Netherlands," says Settele. For the remaining species of the 17 grassland inhabitants studied, there is either no clear trend or too little data.

The picture becomes even less favorable if we look not only at the EU but rather at Europe as a whole. Then there are no species on the rise and only three are stable. Six show a moderate and one even a strong decline.

In view of these developments, it is not surprising that the grassland indicator is now at a considerably lower level than before. In the last 10 years alone, the calculated value for the EU has fallen by 32%and that for Europe as a whole by as much as 36%. The crisis of the grassland dwellers has apparently already taken hold of the entire continent.

This is becoming increasingly more evident the more information is provided by the volunteer butterfly counters from different countries. "The declines are not confined to north-western Europe," says Chris van Swaay of Butterfly Conservation Europe. "However, some species in the South and East are doing much better."

He and his colleagues attribute the dwindling butterfly occurrences mainly to changes in agriculture. In north-western Europe, for example, the over-intensive use of meadows and pastures has a particularly unfavorable effect. The heavy use of fertilizers often also pollutes adjacent protected areas with excessive amounts of nitrogen. In the rest of Europe, the main problem is the complete abandonment of cultivation. That's because grassland butterflies also cope poorly with this.

According to the experts, a large set of measures is necessary in order to save them. It is important to promote the sustainable use of meadows and pastures, to create new valuable habitats, and to better connect the existing ones. And most grassland butterflies would also benefit from effective climate change mitigation.

"Despite all efforts, these insects are still declining in many parts of Europe," says van Swaay. "We hope that the upcoming Nature Restoration Law can stop this decline so that our children can also enjoy butterflies in flower-rich grasslands."
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Water rapidly flows from the eroded Oroville Dam spillway in February 2017. The large gully to the right was caused by water cascading through a broken and damaged concrete surface. Credit: California Governors Office of Emergency Services

Urban floods. Extreme heat. Hurricane storm surges. Polar vortices. Droughts and wildfires. Many casual conversations these days seem to open with anecdotes about the weather and, unfortunately, the effects of a changing climate on the environment, energy infrastructure, economy, and people.

The consequences of changing Earth systems are global. And they are demonstrably growing. What will the future look like, and how can our society plan to adapt to that future?

There is an urgent need for credible U.S. projections that have finely detailed views across space and time, says Paul Ullrich, a professor of regional climate modeling at the University of California, Davis.

Such information, he adds, would give the research community "targeted regional climate impact simulations" that clarify local effects on infrastructure and society.

TGW simulations: Modeling possible futures

To address these needs, a group of DOE-funded scientists recently released a set of high-resolution scenarios that span a range of plausible changes in U.S. climate over the 21st century. The approach is called thermodynamic global warming (TGW).

These scenarios are the result of a collaborative effort between two U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) projects, Integrated Multisector, Multiscale Modeling (IM3) and A Framework for Improving Analysis and Modeling of Earth System and Intersectoral Dynamics at Regional Scales (HyperFACETS). The two projects are funded by DOE's Earth & Environmental Systems Modeling program's MultiSector Dynamics and Regional & Global Model Analysis program areas, respectively. The two teams worked together to create future scenarios, developing four simulations that look 80 years into the future of the United States, from 2020 to 2099.

In this simulation of a future North America, purple and dark red indicate areas of more intense surface temperatures. Left to right: A historic heat wave event from 2012, the historic event replayed in 2052, and the historic event replayed in 2092 for one of the four scenarios. Credit: U.S. Department of Energy

The scenarios span a wide range of future warming possibilities and are designed to show how the events of the previous 40 years (19802019) would "replay" under warmer conditions. Each historic event replays eight times in the simulations (once in each of the two 40-year future periods for each of the four scenarios).

Jennie Rice, a senior research scientist at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and IM3's Principal Investigator, explains that the TGW simulations indicate potential increases in extreme event intensity, geographic scope, and duration, including how previously non-extreme events could become extreme under a warmer future. "For example," she says, "for each heat wave or cold snap that occurred between 19802019, these data sets provide eight future instances of those events that can be used to show how previous challenges to the electricity grid could worsen under more extreme conditions."

According to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) scientist Andrew Jones, events captured in the simulations include every type of extreme experienced over the 40-year historic perioddroughts, storms, dry wind events that increase the risk for wildfire, and compound events in which multiple extremes occur simultaneously.

"What is especially unique about this approach is that we reproduce known historic events that led to stress on our infrastructure and society," says Jones. "For example, these include the deadly Chicago heatwave of 1995 and the back-to-back storms behind the 2017 Oroville dam disaster."

Jones notes that reproducing known events is useful for validating modeled impacts of these events on society and our adaptive responses. "This approach also provides a perspective on the future that is grounded in our experience of the past, enabling us to systematically examine how those memorable events might play out under various levels of future warming," he says. "By applying this technique to such a large historic period and large geographic area, we can also examine how our findings translate to similar events in different contexts. Several past studies have only focused on one event or on a shorter time period."

The research team cautions that the TGW approach is not intended to estimate future changes in the overall frequency of extreme events linked to changes in large-scale atmospheric dynamics.

A TGW simulation shows precipitation due to Hurricane Irma under four future scenarios, including historically simulated precipitation and observations. Credit: U.S. Department of Energy

The simulations were led by LBNL scientists Jones (IM3 and HyperFACETS) and Pouya Vahmani (IM3), and Oak Ridge National Laboratory scientist Deeksha Rastogi (IM3).

They used the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model (version 4.2.1) to provide physical consistency across 25 hourly and more than 200 three-hourly climate variables with high spatiotemporal (space and time) resolution for the entire 80 years of each simulation. It took over a year to complete the simulations on one of the most powerful high-performance computing systems in the U.S. The TGW Simulations team currently has a paper in preparation.

Freely available data sets

The TGW simulation data sets are publicly available and more fully described on this landing page that includes instructions for downloading them via Globus, a file-transfer application and download manager. Many computing clusters provide mechanisms for transferring files from Globus endpoints.

Jones encourages the climate modeling community to download the data, apply it to their research, and collaborate with the TGW simulations team. The IM3 and HyperFACETS teams are currently incorporating the simulation results into their research. "There is so much rich information in this data set," he says. "Our hope is that the data unlocks a series of extreme event-focused climate impacts and adaptation studies that were previously not possible."

This data set has not been corrected for bias. A bias-corrected version is under development and will be released on the TGW Simulations website when available.

More information: For Data Set, see: Andrew D. Jones et al, IM3/HyperFACETS Thermodynamic Global Warming (TGW) Simulation Datasets, MultiSector DynamicsLiving, Intuitive, Value-adding, Environment (2022). DOI: 10.57931/1885756
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For most of U.S. history, tattoos have been associated with sailors and bikers, but not church-going people. As tattoos have become more popular, with nearly one-third of U.S. adults sporting at least one tattoo, religious-themed tattoos have also increased. A recent study examined the behaviors of college students with tattoos, including religious tattoos.

Jerome R. Koch, Ph.D., professor of sociology at Texas Tech University, and Kevin D. Dougherty, Ph.D., professor of sociology at Baylor, investigated the relationship between tattoos, religiosity and assumed behaviors. Koch and Dougherty published their research, "Tattoos, Religiosity, and Deviance Among College Students," in the journal Sociological Focus.

The researchers used survey data from 3,525 students at 12 American colleges and universities to determine whether there is a negative association between tattoo adornment and religiosity, and whether the type of tattoo (religious or secular) is related to deviant behaviors such as drinking, drug use and sexual activity.

Results demonstrate college students with tattoos are similar to their untattooed classmates in regard to their religious faith and frequency of prayer. However, students with religious tattoos have a stronger faith, pray more and attend religious services more often than students with no tattoos or secular tattoos.

"Religious tattoos tend to be a vivid expression of strong faith and regular religious practice," Koch said.

In contrast, findings also show students with religious or secular tattoos are similar in other surprising ways such as marijuana use and sexual activity.

"Students with religious tattoos are highly religious in some ways but strikingly secular in others," Dougherty said.

A potential explanation for this irony may be that tattooed individuals are sensation-seekers. The emotional content and practices associated with tattoos and religion may parallel each other in specific ways. Both tattoos and religion can signify belonging, identity, restoration, celebration and a commemoration of birth and death. These kinds of incidents and emotions are especially evident in the lives of those who hold strong religious beliefs and engage in religious experiences. In short, tattoos and religion are sensational.

"The religiously tattooed are more likely to use marijuana and be sexually active than those with no tattoos. Thus, the behavior of those with religious tattoos is more similar to those with secular tattoos and distinct from those with no tattoos. Tattoos, religious or otherwise, seem to be associated with a more sensory way of life," Koch said.

This research adds to the scholarly understanding of how aspects of identity are connected to tattoos and religion. Koch and Dougherty began collaborating on religious tattoos in 2018. Their collaborations have produced two journal articles and a book chapter. They have plans for more research together.

"Religious tattoos are a fascinating example of how people connect with and communicate their faith," Dougherty said. "Social scientists have largely ignored religious tattoos. Our research brings attention to these marks of faith."

Tattoos are popular, especially among Millennials and Gen Z. Religious tattoos reveal that religion still matters to younger generations of Americans, but the influence of religion may be different than it was for previous generations.

More information: Jerome R. Koch et al, Tattoos, Religiosity, and Deviance Among College Students, Sociological Focus (2023). DOI: 10.1080/00380237.2023.2199167
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Black adultsparticularly Black womenwith higher levels of education and experiences of discrimination and crime are more likely to own a firearm, according to a study by the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center at Rutgers.

In a new study appearing in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, researchers found that Black adults who endorsed firearm ownership were more likely to have grown up in homes with firearms, had previously shot a firearm, and planned to acquire a firearm in the coming year.

"The higher rates of firearm ownership among highly educated Black women were somewhat surprising to us," said Michael Anestis, executive director of the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center and senior author of the study.

"This might reflect a broader shift toward women and persons of color purchasing firearms across the United States in recent years, perhaps as a reaction not only to the turmoil of the pandemic era, but also to frequent highly publicized episodes of police brutality against Black men and women and the surge of gun violence witnessed across the U.S. during that time."

Recent research shows that since 2019, half of all new firearm owners in the United States identify as female.

Risk for injury and deathwhether by suicide, unintentional shooting or domestic violenceincreases sharply when firearms are kept in and around the home. Recent research has highlighted that Black men and women represent an increasing percentage of the firearm owning community.

Despite this, little research has focused on what distinguishes Black adults who do and don't own firearms. In the Rutgers study, researchers at the center surveyed two groups of English-speaking adults. The first group included 502 individuals who identified as Black and were recruited from a national sample in mid-2020.

The second sample included 1,086 individuals who identified as Black and were recruited from a sample drawn from New Jersey, Mississippi and Minnesota in early 2021. Each participant was asked about their experiences with firearms as well as factors related to their identities. In the second sample, participants were also asked about their experiences with discrimination, crime and suicidal thoughts.

In the second sample, researchers examined how extent adverse life experiences were associated with firearm ownership. Those with more experiences of discrimination, who had encountered more crime, and who felt less safe in their neighborhoods were more likely to endorse firearm ownership.

Black adults who endorsed firearm ownership were also more likely to experience suicide thoughts than Black adult who did not own firearms, according to the study.

Given the increased risk for death by suicide when a firearm is kept in or around the home, this indicates that Black adults at the greatest risk for thinking about suicide also are more likely to have ready access to the most lethal method for suicide. This last finding may help explain the sharply increasing rate of firearm suicide among Black U.S. residents.

"For Black Americans, experiences of racism and systemic inequalities may result in the decision to purchase a firearm to protect themselves and their loved ones," said Allison Bond, lead author of the study and a doctoral student with the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center.

"However, owning a firearm also increases the risk for death by suicide. This is concerning given that Black firearm owners are reporting high rates of suicidal thoughts. Individual and system level prevention and intervention efforts are needed to combat racism, increase secure firearm storage among the Black community and connect those at risk for suicide with evidence-based mental health care."

More information: Allison E. Bond et al, Examining characteristics and experiences of Black firearm owners, Journal of Clinical Psychology (2023). DOI: 10.1002/jclp.23532
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Note: This figure presents cumulative distribution of the test score distributions for lottery compliers following Abadie (2002) (and the implementation of Abdulkadiroglu et al. (2018)). Treated cumulative distribution functions (CDFs) are estimated using 2SLS regressions of the interaction of a kernel density function and an RTE seat indicator on the RTE seat indicator, instrumented by a random offer indicator and controlling for risk set dummies. Untreated densities are estimated by replacing the RTE seat indicator with a no RTE seat indicator in the 2SLS procedure. All models use a Gaussian kernel and Silverman (2018)s rule of thumb bandwidth. Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS) statistics are maximum differences in complier CDFs. p-values are estimated via bootstrap. Credit: (2022). DOI: 10.35489/BSG-RISE-WP_2022/088

Recently, the French Education Minister, Pap Ndiaye, announced a potential education reform that would require private schools to diversify their student population to maintain their public subsidies from the State. Although this state intervention into private education is somewhat unusual, Ndiaye argues that public schools alone cannot achieve diversity. Similarly, India's Right to Education Act imposed a 25% quota on all private schools for students from disadvantaged schools, creating the largest affirmative action policy in the world in 2009.

Abhijeet Singh and Mauricio Romero analyzed the effect of this policy introduction in Chhattisgarh, a state with a population of approximately 29 million people, using a lottery-based allocation of oversubscribed slots in private schools. They found that lottery applicants were generally more educated and better off than eligible caste groups and the overall population in the state.

Additionally, the authors showed that most individuals who did not receive a seat in a private school through the lottery still attended a private school (if not the same school), indicating that the policy's effects were limited and casting doubt on its relevance.

Interestingly, the authors discovered that lower application rates from poorer students did not stem from a lack of interest in private education. Poorer households placed equal value on these schools, but faced stronger information constraints and barriers to applying, including factors such as lack of awareness about the policy, lack of internet access at home, and limited familiarity with online application portals.

The paper's most important conclusion, with broader implications for policy design in general, is that the policy lifted only one barrier (financial) out of many (including informational hurdles) faced by poorer households when sending their children to school. Therefore, to achieve the desired outcomes, all barriers must be lifted simultaneously. These findings underscore the importance of conducting thorough policy assessments and designing comprehensive solutions when implementing large-scale policies.

The research is available as a working paper through the RISE Working Paper Series.

More information: Mauricio Romero et al, The Incidence of Affirmative Action: Evidence from Quotas in Private Schools in India, RISE Working Paper Series (2022). DOI: 10.35489/BSG-RISE-WP_2022/088

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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.
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This week, the Australian Space Summit is celebrating some of our nation's strengths and achievements in the space sector. But it's taking place under the shadow of significant cuts to space technology investment announced in last week's federal budget.

Space technologies play a critical role in responding to many national priorities, such as climate and disaster resilience, connecting regional Australians, contributing to regional security and driving economic growth. Yet, the sector suffers from a branding issuemost people think of rockets and astronauts, rather than the satellites we depend on globally.

This leads to a misunderstanding in government of the importance of space technologies to the issues we are seeking to solve. It also makes it harder to recruit talented people to the field.

So, how do we find enough people with the skills necessary to grow this critical technology sector?

Why diversity and inclusivity matter

The answer is placing a new priority on talent recruitment and expanding diversity and inclusivity in the space sector.

The space sector needs workers from all different backgrounds and disciplines, but is struggling to attract a diverse talent pool. This is due to a misconception that space only offers STEM-related jobs, as well as the overwhelmingly white and male make-up of the space industry, government and academia.

This not only impacts the workforce pipeline, but also potentially the sector's funding, due to a limited view of what kinds of solutions the space sector can provide to society's biggest challenges.

This is an urgent public relations issue for the space sector. It needs to rethink how it markets itself to the public to better recruit for a myriad of positions in fields like space law, policy, technology governance, social anthropology and archaeology, business, arts, communications and more.

The sector also needs to make diversity a priority. Currently, just one in five employees in the space industry are women. First Nations Australians also continue to be sidelined, despite the fact the majority of our ground-based infrastructure for space systems is on Indigenous lands.

We need greater inclusivity of perspectives from people of diverse genders, sexual orientations and ethnic and linguistic backgrounds, as well as people with disability. Research shows diverse and inclusive groups lead to greater trust, democracy and innovation, less "group think", more positive work environments and greater employee retention.

Additionally, greater diversity can make it easier to tell the story of why space technologies matter to society. This would help in terms of government funding and the industry's ability to punch above its weight globally.

A national conference on diversity in space

Last month, we brought together over 200 experts from the space industry, government, academia and the community to discuss these issues at the first-ever national conference on gender equality and diversity in space.

The participants agreed that diversity is an overlooked opportunity for the space sector. Many of the challenges facing the sector could be addressed by recruiting from a more diverse talent pool and ensuring diverse perspectives are being incorporated into technology design and solutions.

These are some of our key recommendations:

(1) Enhance workplace conditions and enact informal networks

Policy changes can help with diversity recruitment, such as tackling poor organizational cultures, offering equitable leave policies and improving current promotion and hiring policies.

But informal networks are important, too. There are networks for women in space in various countries, such as the US and New Zealand, which have proven to be vital in developing a more diverse workforce. A new Women in Space Network is soon to be launched in Australia.

(2) Don't just pay lip service to diversity

Diversity must be placed at the center of programs and policies in both the space sector and in governments at the federal and state/territory level. The space sector must also do a better job of explaining the importance of its work to government agencies.

(3) Establish diversity procurement policies

This includes minimum targets to support women-owned and First Nations-owned enterprises in the space sector and giving preference to space businesses that demonstrate improvements to diversity in their workforce.

Australia risks falling behind

In 2025, Australia will host the International Astronautical Conference, the largest annual conference for the space industry in the world. This is a great opportunity to showcase our leadership in promoting a values-based, diverse, equitable and sustainable space sector.

Yet, without tangible action now, Australia's space sector risks falling further behind our international counterparts.

The Australian Space Agency is currently working with a number of organizations, including the Global Institute for Women's Leadership, the ANU Institute for Space and the Australian Center for Space Governance, to develop our own policy for diversity in the space sector.

This is a step in the right direction, particularly in the wake of the latest budget. But the industry also needs to step up with data transparency on diversity, as well as tangible commitments and actions.

To this end, we are conducting research on improving diversity in the space sector. We are inviting anyone in government, industry and academic roles to take part in a survey to describe their experiences of inclusion, diversity, equality and access in their jobs. This input will contribute to Australia's statement on diversity and inclusivity in the space sector.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Microorganisms in the bee gut offer the prospect of improved health. Image credit:. Credit: CC0 via Unsplash

Awareness is growing worldwide of the crucial role that bees and other pollinators play in preserving natural habitats and securing food supplies. In the run-up to World Bee Day on 20 May, Horizon Magazine takes a closer look at how microorganisms in a bee gut are key to ensuring the insects'and the planet'sfuture.

With three-quarters of global food crops depending on pollinators to some extent, ensuring the well-being of these resourceful insects as they confront habitat loss, pollution and pesticides will be central to improving food provisions in years to come.

Easy honeybee

For bees as well as humans, a healthy digestive tract could go a long way towards enhancing longevity. That's why researchers are studying the mysterious inner microbiome in bees' guts to learn more about their resistance to diseases and how best to protect against sickness.

"The gut microbiota is important for protecting bees against pathogens," said Dr. Amelie Cabirol, a postdoctoral researcher in honeybee health at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland. "We need to understand all the determinants of the bee's physiology to be able to say 'This is the ID card of a healthy bee."'

In the world of honeybees, average lifespans can range from eight weeks to five years depending on the type of bee. Worker bees die within months while queen bees can live for years.

A honeybee's gut is relatively straightforward to study because it is dominated by specialized communities of only around nine bacterial species. That means they could serve as a good basis for learning more about microbiome in other species too, including humans.

Some pesticides and herbicides affect the gut microbiota of bees. Pesticides called neonicotinoids have often been implicated in pollinator declines. While their use outdoors was banned in the EU in 2018, exemptions have been granted before recent attempts to end the practice.

Changes to what's in a bee's gut aren't always lethal but can still hamper the ability to pollinate.

Bacteria-memory link

"There is growing evidence that having a disturbed gut microbiota will impact on bees' learning and memory performance," said Cabirol. "Such cognitive abilities are important for bees to associate odors with nectar they get from flowers and therefore remember the best food sources in their environment."

The HarmHoney project that she worked on investigated bee gut health using genetic sequencing and the study of small molecules involved in metabolism within cells. The initiative ran from May 2020 until October 2022.

Cabirol's team found that honeybees learned and memorized information better when their gut contained five types of core bacteria than when they contained just one or none.

That suggests performance is improved by interactions between microbe types. The next step will be to test various combinations to pinpoint what's happening.

"Now, we can only say that each microbial member on its own is not sufficient to promote these cognitive abilities, but we cannot yet say if every member is necessary for this," said Cabirol.

Although recent research suggests honeybees have been on the rise over the past decades, she said that individual colonies can still suffer severe losses and hopes that HarmHoney's findings can be applied to other threatened bee species.

For example, studies carried out by her colleagues at the University of Lausanne have started to unravel more about the diversity in the gut microbiomes of so-called stingless bees.

The relative ease of studying honeybees as a result of factors like their widespread global presence makes them good test cases, according to Cabirol.

"Honeybee colony losses raise the alarm that other non-managed bee populations may be suffering from similar stressors," she said. "Understanding the causes of colony collapse is critical for identifying stressors that may affect all pollinators, and should help improve agriculture and beekeeping practices."

Parasite problem

Among the stressors facing honeybees are gut parasites such as Nosema ceranae, which has become widespread globally.

Infection of adult bees at a young age can cause them to have difficulty digesting food for the rest of their lives. Follow-on implications include a shorter lifespan and reduced colony health, population and performance, which can ultimately result in the colony dying.

The antibiotic fumagillin has historically been deployed against Nosema species, but its use has been restricted in Europe as a result of bans on antibiotics in beekeeping and some studies have questioned how well it actually works in Nosema ceranae. That calls for new methods of prevention.

"We have to find natural solutions that do not create problems for bees and the environment," said Professor Diana Di Gioia, an agricultural microbiologist at the University of Bologna in Italy. "The concept is that, if the host has an increased composition of beneficial bacteria, it can react better to parasites."

She has led the NO PROBleMS project looking into potential new eco-friendly gut treatments for strengthening bees' resilience to disease. The initiative, which began in 2018, has been extended beyond a March 2023 end date.

During the project, the team has conducted DNA-based studies involving both bacterial solutions and plant-derived products in the lab and in the field in Ireland, Italy, Malta and Argentina to study their effectiveness under varying climates and levels of infection.

Secret formula

The researchers have found that a formula containing a mixture of two types of beneficial microorganisms seemed to lead to a reduction in Nosema ceranae.

The team has now developed a prototype formulation based on probiotic microorganisms and plant-derived molecules. The idea is that this formulation, for which a patent is being sought, can be fed to bees in their food and help improve their balance of microbiota.

The hope is to run a follow-up project in which the formulation can be tested under different conditions and doses to hone it and pinpoint the best application methods.

Apart from the benefits to bees, research into them may be very useful for examining the gut microbiome and its evolution more widely.

"With honeybees, we have this powerful tool," Di Gioia said. "It looks as though the bee was made to be a model for examining the gut microbiota."
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This screenshot from NASAs Eyes on the Solar System 3D visualization tool shows Lunar Flashlight making its close approach with Earth late on May 16. The CubeSat will pass about 40,000 miles (65,000 kilometers) from our planets surface over Brazils east coast. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

NASA's Lunar Flashlight mission to the moon has ended, but the briefcase-size spacecraft will soon fly past Earth before heading into deep space. On Tuesday, May 16, at 9:44 p.m. PDT (Wednesday, May 17, at 12:44 a.m. EDT), the CubeSat will pass about 40,000 miles (65,000 kilometers) from our planet's surface.

NASA's Eyes on the Solar System 3D visualization tool will track the tiny spacecraft in real time, giving users a front-row seat to the flyby. (The tool also provides plenty of information about the spacecraft, including its orbit and forthcoming deep space voyage, as well.) In addition, the CubeSat may be within reach of amateur astronomers' telescopes in the Southern Hemisphere.

"As Lunar Flashlight zooms by, it may reflect enough sunlight from its solar panels that it could be seen through a modest telescope," said Barbara Cohen, Lunar Flashlight principal investigator at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. "Depending on its orientation and position it could be up to a magnitude 5 or 6 moving dot."

While still tens of thousands of miles away, the sunlight bouncing off the CubeSat's solar panels may be visible for those with clear, dark skies. The brightness of an astronomical object can be measured as apparent magnitude. As an object of magnitude 5 or 6, the CubeSat may be visible to backyard telescopes when it passes at its closest point over the east coast of Brazil. Observers should use NASA Horizons to check where in the sky Lunar Flashlight will be.

After launch on Dec. 11, Lunar Flashlight was sent on a long, looping path, far beyond Earth orbit. Now it has returned to the proximity of our planet, after being pulled back by the combined gravity of Earth and the moon.

The spacecraft was designed to test new technologies and address knowledge gaps by exploring permanently shadowed craters on the moon's South Pole. But soon after Lunar Flashlight launched, its operations team discovered that the CubeSat's four thrusters were underperforming. After months of troubleshooting to remedy the situation, time ran out for the spacecraft to make critical maneuvers that would have put it in orbit around Earth with monthly flybys of the moon's South Pole.

When it became clear that Lunar Flashlight couldn't get into the required orbit for lunar observations, NASA called an end to the rest of its mission. The spacecraft's other systems are functioning well and it remains in contact with mission operators. NASA is now weighing options for Lunar Flashlight's future.

After passing Earth, the CubeSat will continue into an orbit around the sun. Lunar Flashlight's orbit will bring it close to Earth once more in November 2037.
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Okpa, a local delicacy made from Bambara beans, is commonly wrapped in leaves. Credit: Obiora Ezeudu

Street food is popular in Nigerian cities. Most of the local food delicacies are sold by vendors whose livelihoods depend on informal subsistence activities such as local food production and street food hawking. They are part of Nigeria's vast informal sector, which accounts for 57.7% of the country's economy.

But most food prepared by vendors has to be consumed within a short time to avoid spoilage. Refrigeration capacity is limited because of unreliable power supplies in the country.

The popularity of food sold by street vendors is part of a global shift in urban areas to "fast foods". Most of the fast food in Nigerian cities is packaged in plastic bags. These are bad for the environment.

Leaves could be an alternative for packaging. But their use in cities has not been fully exploredso we studied the possibility and sustainability of using natural leaves as packaging material for traditional foods in Nigeria. Leaves are still used in the Nigerian countryside to package food.

We analyzed academic literature as well as policy briefs and project documents from governmental and nongovernmental organizations. We found that leaf-type packaging material had several environmental advantages:

They are organic so they contain no artificial chemicals that can pollute the environment.

Their waste is easy to handle as they degrade fast.

Making them does not involve the use of energy, like burning of fossil fuels that could pollute the environment, unlike the production of synthetic packaging materials.

In the second part of our work we proposed a model that would help ensure the environmental sustainability of local food packaging materials. This model is based on the principle that good food packaging should protect food, be appealing, and preserve taste and nutrition. And there has to be a commitment to public health and environmental safety.

Considering that local food has been packaged in leaves since long ago in Nigeria, we concluded that there's a strong case for reviving the use of natural leaf type packaging in the country's cities.

Based on our research, we recommend that strong institutions and policies be put in place to oversee the local food industry. We believe that our work is critical in informing food, health and environmental policy decisions in Nigeria and other developing regions.

Alternative packaging

Our research involved looking at three phases of the leaf-type material used for food packaging in Nigeria. The first stage is when the leaf is sourced as the raw material for packaging; the second when it is used for packaging; and the final stage is when it is disposed of as garbage after use.

In rural areas, sources of green leaves for food packaging are backyard farms, nearby forests and bushes. People cultivate the source plant species close to their homes for convenience in daily use. These packaging materials are processed entirely naturally or organically.

But these materials are not abundantly available in urban areas. People living in towns and cities use discarded cans, old newspapers, foil, cellophane and polythene bags as substitutes.

There are special traditional types of Nigerian delicacies that are prepared, served and packaged using vegetable leaf wrappers. They include ogiri (spices), ukpaka (bean seed), akara (bean cake), agidi (corn cake) and fufu (cassava).

Green leaf packages prevent nutrients from being lost through evaporation or transpiration. They are easy to handle, making food distribution and transportation simple. And they protect food products from deterioration.

Environmentally, using vegetable leaves instead of synthetic packaging on a bigger industrial scale might cut down on carbon emissions. Used leaves also degrade quickly.

A model for use

Our circular economy concept has been developed as a possible way to achieve sustainability objectives. It seeks to ensure availability of local packaging materials in urban areas.

The proposed model would integrate stakeholders and activities in the value chain. It covers effective urban planning, proper waste resource management and wealth creation while considering social, political and economic realities typical to the developing world. The model explains the roles that all stakeholders, policies and institutions will play to make leaves abundantly available in cities while ensuring environmental sustainability.

For instance, while urban planning is concerned with tree-planting for aesthetics, using our model, the choice of trees could be those species that provide multiple functions.

The outcome shows that the green leaf packaging material for indigenous food items in Nigeria could work in terms of market viability and social acceptability.

What stands in the way

There is an urgent need for new regulations and better control of local food production, packaging and consumption in Nigeria. Two major factors inform this:

Many of Nigeria's food processing facilities are still home-based or in cottage industries using rudimentary tools and procedures.

There is minimal consideration for good manufacturing practices and hygienic production processes. This leads to frequent chemical and microbial contamination.

We identified some solutions.

Food packaging requires investment in technology and innovation. This investment is missing in Nigeria.

We also believe that if the government creates adequate channels, nongovernmental and private organizations could salvage the situation. There have been cases where developmental organizations bypassed government institutions and worked directly with private sector organizations and nongovernmental organizations involved with vendors or street food marketers and others at the micro-economy level.

This support could be in the form of basic health, hygiene and safety education and providing them with equipment like gloves and disinfectants.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

A new study analyzing online search terms used every day by millions of Russians suggests thatcontrary to official data from Russian polling agenciesthe invasion of Ukraine did not lead to a national "war rally" in happiness and life satisfaction among the Russian population.

In fact, levels of well-being and public morale in Russia may be close to their lowest in a decade, with internet search data revealing a "limited appetite among ordinary Russians for the war," according to a University of Cambridge report.

Research shows that web searches related to anti-war and anti-Putin sentiment surged during the early invasion, and continued to spike at points of military mobilization involving mass conscription. This has tapered off since the Kremlin switched to relying on mercenaries and prison recruits.

However, the study also suggests that Western economic sanctions had little effect on Russian households, with the financial situation of consumers and businesses appearing to stabilize rapidly in the spring of 2022.

State-sanctioned polling from the Russian Federation is no longer reliable, say political scientists, with data skewed by public fear of speaking against the war or Putin, as well as suspected government manipulation and dubious changes to methodology.

Researchers from the universities of Cambridge and Surrey analyzed data collected through Google Trends on a daily basis from 2012 until April 2023, and cross-referenced it with the last 12 months of search data from Russian tech giant Yandex, to assess public sentiment in Russia.

They found that, for several years preceding Russia's most recent invasion of Ukraine, web search trends closely matched the data from major Russian pollsters such as the Levada Center and VCIOM. From early 2022, however, results dramatically diverged.

Russian polling after the invasion saw Putin's ratings leap to 80%, with self-reported life satisfaction apparently closing in on record highs earlier this year. Yet search engine data shows public mood deteriorating, while searches for terms linked to "tacit dissent" rose sharply.

The report's authors plan to continue updating their dataset, arguing that online search trends are now a more accurate proxy for Russian public opinion than data from the country's leading survey institutes. The initial report is published by Cambridge's Bennett Institute for Public Policy.

"Online search data has been proven to be a powerful tool for inferring the beliefs and attitudes of national populations," said Dr. Roberto Foa, report co-author from the University of Cambridge. "Unlike social media data, online searches represent a much wider section of the population."

"Web searches are felt to be private, and often reflect internal thoughts and anxieties that people would not wish to broadcast. Such data provides insight into the public consciousness within repressive states, where truth is hidden by a fog of fear and disinformation."

"Polling from agencies within Russia shows the war boosted morale, but our research suggests that the national public mood is near its lowest level for a decade," said Foa.

"Online search data shows the Russian people are not simply passive subjects. The legitimacy of the regime is being eroded by failure in war and the demand for personal sacrifice at the altar of Putin's dictatorship."

The researchers tracked rates at which certain words and phrases were web-searched. These included mental health symptoms such as 'depression' and 'insomnia' to indicate well-being, and terms related to personal finance emergencies such as 'bankruptcy' and 'eviction' to measure the state of household finances.

Well-being search trends closely matches the pattern of VCIOM polling on life satisfaction right up to February 2022, when VCIOM data leapt by fifteen percentage points, while online search data for well-being flatlined.

The detailed nature of the web search data allowed researchers to create a weekly rolling average of national well-being in Russia, which shows a continual overall decline following the onset of war.

A mild bump in public sentiment occurred right at the point of invasionbut was extinguished as soon as 4 March 2022, when the Kremlin passes the War Censorship Act.

By April of this year, public mood among Russians was at its lowest since the invasion and only marginally higher than a 2021 nadir during the worst of Russia's coronavirus crisis.

Google and Yandex data shows levels of financial stress quickly bounced back to pre-war levels, with initial shocks from Western sanctions only lasting throughout March 2022 for Russian households.

However, the financial impact of the pandemic on Russians was severe, with little government help, and sanctions "blunted" what had been a steady recovery, say researchers, who found no lift in economic sentiment since the war. Yet official polling has financial satisfaction at a five-year high.

The study also looked at anti-war searches such as "pacifism," "no war" and anti-Putin phrasesthe portmanteau "Putler," for exampleto gauge the extent to which many Russians privately contemplate political dissent when online.

Searches for names of outspoken Putin critics Boris Nemtsov (assassinated) and Alexei Navalny (imprisoned) as well as famously anti-authoritarian writersfrom Orwell to Solzhenitsynwere included in the analysis.

Anti-war and anti-regime online searches saw huge spikes around conscription announcements, such as the call-up of aging reservists in May 2022 and last September's partial mobilization order, along with smaller but still significant jumps during periods of heightened Russian casualties.

"Ordinary Russians are more likely to think critically of the regime and search online for opposition movements when the chances increase that they or their loved ones will be sent to fight," said co-author Dr. Roula Nezi from the University of Surrey.

"Russia may have a vast population to draw on, but the Kremlin risks a tipping point of public dissent if it keeps forcing Russian citizens to fight in Ukraine. This could explain a growing reliance on aerial bombardment and use of convicts in the fighting," said Nezi.

Web search data tallies with this shift in Russian tactics. Since last autumn, what researchers describe as "cognitive dissent" has stayed at much lower levels while the Kremlin has been emptying prisons onto frontlines and leaning on long-range assault rather than mobilizing its citizens.

More information: Report: Piercing the Fog of War: Measuring Russian public opinion via online search data, www.bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk  cing-the-fog-of-war/
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A handout picture taken underwater and released by the Mission Blue NGO shows a scooba diver observing a kelp forest in the southern Chilean coastal area of Chiloe.

Chile's Patagonia is known for its mountains and hiking paradise but it is also home to the largest continuous kelp forest in the world.

Kelp forests are crucial for battling climate change by capturing carbon, regulating the sea's PH level, maintaining the structure of coasts and are home to multiple species.

But more than half of the world's kelp forests have been decimated by human activity and climate change.

"We want to show that this is what can be lost if we don't protect them," said Max Bello, a Chilean expert on ocean policy who was part of a nine-day scientific expedition run by American NGO Mission Blue to study the kelp forest in the southern area of Chiloe, around 1,400 kilometers south of Santiago.

"When you say Patagonia, we imagine mountains, huge rocks, wind, but few people know what there is underwater," added Bello.

"We know that Patagonia has the largest and best preserved continuous kelp forest in the world."

Bello said this potentially gave the kelp forest "greater carbon sequestration power even than the Amazon rainforest."

But it needs protectinga kelp forest off the coast of California has lost 97 percent of its size.

Kelp forests can store huge amounts of carbon, making them crucial in the fight against climate change.

One threat the southern Patagonian kelp forest faces is exploitation of alginate, a principal component in cosmetics which is extracted from algae, usually illegally along the northern coasts of Chile.

"If we don't protect ourselves from this threat, if we don't stop what is happening in the north, we will lose one of the few answers we have to be able to stop climate change," said Bello.

A dozen scientists, videographers and photographers took part in the mission to Patagonia.

They dived down up to 30 meters to collect information on this little explored ecosystem that expands across hundreds of islets, fjords and canals.

"They are truly playgrounds of many species" such as mackerel, sardines, otters, mollusks, sea urchins and octopi, said Bello.

 2023 AFP
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

International aid for pre-primary education has fallen further behind an agreed 10% spending target since the COVID-19 outbreak, according to new research.

The report, compiled by academics at the University of Cambridge for the global children's charity, Theirworld, highlights "continued, chronic" underfunding of pre-primary education in many of the world's poorest nations, after years of slow progress and pandemic-related cuts.

Early childhood education is widely understood to be essential to children's successful cognitive and social development and to breaking cycles of poverty in poorer countries. In 2017, Cambridge research for Theirworld resulted in UNICEF formally recommending that 10% of education aid should be allocated to pre-primary education. Last year 147 United Nations member states signed a declaration agreeing to the target.

According to the new report's findings, aid spending is falling far short of this goal and any progress towards the target ground to a halt following the COVID-19 outbreak. The most recent figures, from 2021, indicate that the proportion of education aid spent on pre-primary education internationally during the pandemic dropped by approximately (US)$19.7 million: from 1.2% to 1.1%.

The report identifies several reasons for the decline, notably spending cuts by the World Bank's International Development Association, EU Institutions, and by the governments of wealthy nations, such as the UK.

Professor Pauline Rose, Director of the Research for Equitable Access and Learning (REAL) Centre at the University of Cambridge's Faculty of Education said, "Hundreds of millions of children around the world are missing out on high-quality pre-primary education despite clear evidence that prioritizing this will improve their life chances. The overall trend is very worrying."

"Although some progress has been made towards the 10% target, it started from a very low base. Other education levels are still being prioritized amid a general decline in aid spending. International commitments to pre-primary education are good, but we need concrete action."

The United Nations' 2030 Sustainable Development Goals include the ambition to provide all children with proper childcare and pre-primary education. Over the past seven years, Theirworld and the REAL Centre have systematically monitored aid spending, tracking progress towards this goal.

The new report was compiled using the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development's creditor report system, which gathers information about the aid contributions of both individual countries and international agencies such as UNICEF and the World Bank.

It shows that over the past two decades, the proportion of education aid spending that goes to pre-primary education has never exceeded 1.2%. Between 2020 and 2021, spending on the sector dropped from $209 million to $189.3 million: a decrease of 9.4%, compared with a 6.9% fall in education aid overall and a 0.9% decline in total aid spending. In 2021, aid spending on post-secondary educationthe vast majority of which never leaves donor countrieswas 27 times higher than that spent on pre-primary, despite widespread acknowledgement of the need to invest in the early years.

The report nevertheless also shows that the 10% target is attainable. UNICEF, which has consistently prioritized pre-primary education, spent 30% of its education aid budget on the sector in 2021. Italy increased spending from $2.6 million to $38 million. The majority of this was allocated to the 'National Strategy on Human Resource Development' which focuses on supporting the Jordanian government in strengthening its education system.

The research shows that pre-primary aid is highly concentrated from a few donors, leaving early childhood development in poorer countries particularly vulnerable to sudden fluctuations in those donors' spending.

Much of the pandemic-induced drop in spending, for instance, occurred because the World Bank cut its investment in pre-primary education from $122.8 million to $70.7 million. Other donors, such as Canada, EU Institutions, France, Norway and the UK, also reduced spending in this area. In 2021, eight of the top 35 education donors allocated no funds to pre-primary education at all.

The UK's contribution was lackluster for the world's sixth largest economy, due in part to the Government's controversial decision to reduce overall aid spending from the UN-recommend target of 0.7% of Gross National Income to 0.5%. Between 2020 and 2021, its education aid spending dropped from $703.67 million to $584.95 million. Aid to pre-primary was particularly badly hit, falling from an already low $5.6 million in 2020 to just $1.8 million in 2021, equivalent to a mere 0.3% of its reduced education aid budget.

The report also shows that pre-primary education spending tends to be focused on lower-middle income countries rather than the very poorest nations. In 2021, just 15% of aid in this area went to countries classified as "low income", while 52.7% was allocated to lower-middle income countries.

As a result, some of the world's least-advantaged children have little prospect of receiving pre-primary support. Eritrea and Sudan, for example, received no pre-primary education aid in 2021. In many other poorer countriessuch as the Central African Republic, Chad, Niger and Syriathe amount of aid per primary school-aged child was less than $5.

Rose said the finding pointed to the need for a model of "progressive universalism", where those most in need receive a greater proportion of aid spending. "The biggest gaps are in the poorest countries, and particularly among the very poorest and least advantaged," she said. "Increasing spending on pre-primary alone will not be enough. We also have to make sure those in greatest need are prioritized."

The full report will be available on the Theirworld website.
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This image shows Twinn's Flood Map fluvial data in blue. Twinn Flood Score data points are overlaid, color coded to describe the flood risk to properties, with red representing locations with very high flood risk predicted. Credit: Twinn by Royal HaskoningDHV.

A new report from Bayes Business School (formerly Cass) shows how flood risk affects English residential property values to raise awareness among policy makers and regulators.

Data from the report, authored by Dr. Alexandros Skouralis, lead researcher and Dr. Nicole Lux, Senior Research Fellow at Bayes, shows that residential properties at risk of flooding are sold at 8.14% lower on average compared to non-affected properties, which reaches as high as 32.2% for the highest risk properties.

Using a unique property price dataset provided by Rightmove, the UK's number one property website, the report analyzes the 4.8 million listings and 3.2 million completed transactions that took place between 2006 and 2022.

For all properties, a property-level flood score was provided by Twinn by Royal HaskoningDHV that considers risk from fluvial, pluvial and tidal sources. It uses advanced flood-modeling techniques and incorporates the most current hydrology data from the Centre of Ecology & Hydrology. The model is also used by the major insurance companies.

Key findings from the report include:

Properties at highest risk of flooding are based in East of England, Yorkshire and the Humber and the North West, which typically have flood risk probability of between 10% and 12%.

Semi-detached and terraced properties (9% flood risk probability) are more vulnerable to flooding since prevention measuressuch as improved windows, doors, vents and pipes will only be effective in conjunction with neighbors versus detached houses with only a 7% flood risk probability.

Overall flood risk is expected to increase for 73% of affected properties by 2080, while the probability of flooding is set to increase by a further 8%. A low-risk property, with a probability of flooding below 20%, that is affected by a flood event is expected to be sold at a lower price of between 9.6% and 13.6%.

The value of lower priced properties is likely to be more affected by flood risk when compared to higher priced properties.

The report shines a light on the extent to which climate change and the increased propensity of natural disasters is affecting the housing market.

Ed Burgess, Strategic Manager in Data Services at Rightmove, commented, "We've been at the forefront of data innovations in the environmental space, using our unique position as the UK's number one property website to help businesses and organizations to better understand how climate factors could affect the property market, both now and in the future."

"Although flood risk is largely factored into a valuation at the property marketing stage, the analysis shows how it will play a more significant role in property valuations by 2050, and is likely to rise up the list of home-mover concerns."

Dr. Nicole Lux, Senior Research Fellow at Bayes Business School, said the findings should be a wake-up call for risk protection programs.

"In this empirical study we quantify the impact that the risk of flooding has on property valuations," she said. "With sea levels and unpredictability of climate set to rise in years to come, this poses a great threat to properties and the housing marketparticularly in low-income neighborhoods."

"Flood risk impact on low-income neighborhoods is something national programs from the Environmental Agency's flood risk management plans (FRMPs) should take into account."

"In any case, market participants such as property buyers, insurance companies etc have already accounted for the flood risk in all their underwriting and pricing."
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A new study finds emissions from major carbon producers were responsible for more than a third of the area scorched by forest blazes in western North America over the past 40 years.

In a first, US climate scientists have quantified the extent to which greenhouse gasses from the world's top fossil fuel companies have contributed to wildfires.

Their analysis, published Tuesday in Environmental Research Letters, found that carbon dioxide and methane emissions from the so-called "Big 88" firms were responsible for more than a third of the area scorched by forest blazes in western North America over the past 40 years.

First author Kristina Dahl, of the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), told AFP wildfires in the western United States and southwestern Canada have been worsening for decades: they are burning more intensely, over longer seasons, covering larger areas and reaching higher elevations.

To date, the cost of rebuilding and increasing resilience has largely been footed by the general public, "so we wanted to better understand the role that fossil fuel industry emissions have had in altering the wildfire landscape," she said.

"We really wanted to put a spotlight on their role in that, so that they can be held accountable for their fair share of the cost."

'Atmospheric thirst'

Using climate modeling, the team determined that emissions from the Big 88which includes ExxonMobil, BP, Chevron and Shellwere responsible for increasing global average temperatures by 0.9 degrees Fahrenheit (0.5 degrees Celsius) since the start of the 20th century, or roughly half of the observed warming.

For the purposes of this study, the authors included all emissions across the life cycle of fossil fuelsfrom extraction and flaring operations to refinement and use inside a vehicle, for example.

The companies' contribution to planet-wide warming was then used to calculate how much they added to a rise in "vapor pressure deficit" or VPD a measure of air's ability to draw water out of plants and soilswithin the western North America region.

Because warmer air can hold more water vapor, rising temperatures caused by climate change are causing this measure of atmospheric thirst to increase too.

A higher VPD makes an area more fire prone, and recent research has established a clear exponential relationship between increases in this aridity indicator and the area burned by forest fires.

Combining all these elements, Dahl's research team found that emissions from the Big 88 were responsible for 37 percent of the total area razed by forest fires in western United States and southwestern Canada between 1986, when reliable fire area data became available, and 2021.

That is 19.8 million acres (8 million hectares)an area roughly the size of the Czech Republic.

The study also found that emissions from the same companies were responsible for nearly half of the observed increase in VPD since 1901.

Other factors that increased fire danger conditions over the last century include aggressive fire suppression that led to large buildups of vegetation that normally would have burned in smaller regularly occurring fires, often managed by Indigenous communities.

Accidental ignitions have also increased as humans encroached into fire-prone areas.

Growing area of research

The research builds on an accumulating body of climate "attribution" studies, which have calculated how much greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels have contributed to global temperature increases, sea level rise, and ocean acidification.

Such work has paved the way for impacted communities to seek redress through lawsuits, said Dahl, and helps shift the conversation about tackling climate change away from individual responsibility.

"Lowering our individual carbon footprints is a narrative that has been very heavily pushed by the fossil fuel industry," she said.

"While individuals need to make the best choices we can, we also have to acknowledge that we're living in a reality that's been shaped by these companies and our choices have been constrained because of them."

The UCS is pushing for government investigations into past and ongoing disinformation campaigns by industry aimed at denying climate science that was predicted by the companies' own internal modeling.

More information: Kristina A Dahl et al, Quantifying the contribution of major carbon producers to increases in vapor pressure deficit and burned area in western US and southwestern Canadian forests, Environmental Research Letters (2023). DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/acbce8 Journal information: Environmental Research Letters

 2023 AFP
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Flowering Karoo Desert in spring, near Willowmore, Eastern Cape, Southafrica. Credit: Winfried Bruenken (Amrum)/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

Lining the Cape of South Africa and its southern coast are long chains of caves that nearly 200,000 years ago were surrounded by a lush landscape and plentiful food.

During a glacial phase that lasted between 195,000 to 123,000 years ago, these caves served as refuge to a group of humans that some researchers think were the only people to survive this ice age, called Marine Isotope Stage Six, or MIS6. And in this coastal region, a lot of archaeological research has taken place. Of less interest to archaeologists has been the interior of South Africa, which was thought to be an uninhabited, inhospitable place during at least two waves of ice ages, MIS3 and 2.

Now, a study has shown that the region might have been more fertile and temperate during these two glacial periods than previously thought, and that the region likely played host to human populations living around a series of paleolakes. The study, led by University of Michigan archaeologist Brian Stewart, provides a more comprehensive timeline of the age and stages of these lakes, and shows human fingerprints across the region. The research is published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"There's this perennial assumption that human population centers were always along the coast and that the interior, especially the southern interior of the Karoo Desert, were largely depopulated for long stretches of time," Stewart said. "The funny thing is that one just has to go into the interior and walk around and notice that there's archaeology everywhere."

But to flag the region as worthy of archaeological attention, the researchers needed to show that humans could have actually lived there. The research team, an international group including researchers from South Africa, the United Kingdom and France, examined a series of super flat areas of land ringed by higher ground. They showed that these regions, called "pans" in Afrikaans, are ancient lake beds, while the areas of higher elevation that encircle them are erosional landforms and sedimentary deposits left over from their ancient shorelines.

This suggests that these time periods were not as dry in this region as previously thought: there would have needed to have been sustained rainfall and humidity to keep these lakes full. The more temperate climate required to sustain lakes also meant the landscape was also able to sustain both vegetation and animals required to support human populations.

Reconstructing the paleolakes

The researchers used a variety of technologies to date and reconstruct these ancient lakes, shorelines and lake bottom deposits, and to recreate the landscape of the region.

These include radiocarbon dating and a technique called luminescence, which measures the radioactivity of tiny crystals of quartz or feldspar that haven't seen the light of day since they were covered by sediment tens of thousands of years earlier. While buried, electrons from radioactive elements common to all sediments get trapped in these crystal matrices at a constant rate. By measuring how many electrons accumulated in the sample and comparing that to the degree of background radioactivity, the researchers can predict its age.

The researchers used these techniques to date columns of sedimentary lakeshore and lake bottom deposits, called lacustrine deposits, found surrounding and within a series of three pans dotted across a region some 100,000 square miles, about the size of Texas. They also aged the shells of freshwater mollusks found scattered throughout the region and embedded within the sedimentary lake deposits.

An aquatic gastropod, Tomichia ventricosa, found at a pan called Swartkolkvloer, was embedded in a column of lacustrine deposits. Together, the deposits and shells were radiocarbon dated to two time periods: approximately 3955 thousand years before present, and approximately 3134 thousand years before present.

At another pan called Grootvloer, the researchers found a freshwater mollusk called Unio caffer, which required "perennial freshwater" and the presence of fish to reproduce. These shells and lacustrine deposits in this pan were dated to between approximately 2022 thousand years before present.

The researchers were also able to predict the area of land the lakes encompassed, as well as how deep they were, based on the height of the lacustrine deposits ringing their shorelines. For example, they determined that the paleolake at Swartkolkvloer was about 83 miles square and 59 feet deep, while the paleolake at Grootvloer was likely about 17 miles square and 62 feet deep. Another pan called Alexanderfontein, some 300 miles northeast near the town of Kimberley, held a lake about 13.5 miles square and 48 feet deep.

Based on these parameters, the researchers knew the lakes would have required a climate drastically different from the one that exists in South Africa's interior today. Using a hydrological model, they determined that evaporation rates within the region were between 20% and 25% lower than what they are today, while precipitation would have been more than 200% higher at Swartkolkvloer and 88% higher at Alexanderfontein.

"In various parts of the interior, between about 60 to about 12,000 years ago, we can see that there were enduring phases of pretty large bodies of water kicking around what used to be thought of as an arid and inhospitable environment," Stewart said. "This was a period that used to be thought of as notoriously dry and freezing cold in the winter. But we've got this evidence for these large lakes existing during this time period."

The researchers say current day regions that have similar climates and rates of precipitation and evaporation are likely northern Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Based on this estimation and data found from a contemporaneous site called Equus Cave, the researchers think large grazing and browsing mammals would have thrived in this region.

A complex, prehistoric people

Scattered alongside the lakes are human artifacts such as triangular points, bladelets, weathered ostrich shells and other assemblages. Much of these are from the Middle Stone Age, which ranged from about 280,000 years ago to about 25,000 years ago, and the Later Stone Age, which lasted from 25,000 years ago right up to European contact in the 15th century.

"There's Middle Stone Age archaeology just everywhere," Stewart said. "You can't drive anywhere and open the car door and not step on it. It's astounding how much there is."

Stewart says their findings could also expand the region where archaeologists think humans became more behaviorally complex. Over the past decades, researchers have found evidence that humans living in coastal South Africa started making the leap into complex thought, showing some of the earliest signs of behavioral complexity. It was thought that both climate and nutrient stabilityincluding the rich omega fatty acids gleaned from seafoodallowed humans here to become behaviorally modern.

The group's work may challenge this idea by suggesting that favorable conditions for hunter-gatherers were not confined to the coastline but probably characterized many regions as climates changed, including the interior, current-day desert.

"Ours is a basin-wide study with much more macro scale implications. It also involves some of these areas that are just inland of this coastal and mountain belt that's dominated the archaeological narratives for so long," Stewart said. "Just inland of this area is a region that has been, for a long time, portrayed as hostile, and it just simply appears not to have been the case for big chunks of timewith the caveat that we need information on temperature depressions to understand how humans dealt with that."

Stewart says next steps will be to return to the pans to study the archaeology throughout the region to understand better how humans lived in the area.

More information: Andrew S. Carr et al, Paleolakes and socioecological implications of last glacial "greening" of the South African interior, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2023). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2221082120 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
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University of Illinois weed scientist Aaron Hager, pictured, was part of an industry-changing 2015 study recommending the simultaneous use of multiple herbicides to slow herbicide resistance in agricultural weed species. Now, Hager is calling for farmers and the industry to adopt non-chemical control options as part of the battle against herbicide resistance. Credit: L. Brian Stauffer, University of Illinois

Eight years ago, University of Illinois and USDA-ARS scientists turned weed control on its head. More and more herbicide resistant weeds were popping up, and the pest plants were getting harder to kill. It was clear farmers could no longer rely on the same chemicals year after year. Industry campaigns and herbicide applicators began touting the benefits of rotating herbicides annually to avoid developing resistance, and rotation quickly became common practice.

But in 2015, a team of weed scientists from U of I and USDA-ARS studied the effects of herbicide rotation and found the practice actually increased resistance to glyphosate in waterhemp, a common and destructive Corn Belt weed. What worked, instead, was mixing multiple herbicides in the same tank and spraying simultaneously. Their large experiment, including 105 grain fields across Illinois, showed tank-mixing was 83 times less likely to lead to glyphosate resistance.

The study had a powerful impact, with recommendations changing nearly overnight; tank-mixing herbicides is now de rigueur. But one of the study's authors is now urging farmers and industry players to remember tank-mixing only delays the evolution of resistance.

"I worry this practice has become overused. It's too simplistic to think all you need to solve the challenges of resistance is to go on using herbicides but in a slightly different way," said Aaron Hager, weed scientist and faculty Extension specialist in the Department of Crop Sciences, part of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) at Illinois. Hager wrote about the topic in a new farmdoc article.

He notes waterhemp is now resistant to herbicides from at least seven herbicide modes of action, despite the advantages of tank-mixtures. And some waterhemp populations are resistant to herbicides to which they have never been exposed. In other words, herbicide resistance is a complex and fast-moving target. And we're not keeping up.

Speaking of targets, Hager notes the 2015 study focused on one type of herbicide evasion strategy: target-site resistance. That's when the weed's genetic code mutates such that the chemical no longer fits in the protein receptortarget siteit's designed to attack.

More often nowadays, including in the case of waterhemp developing resistance to a chemical it had never before seen, weeds are using another strategy. It's known as metabolic or non-target site resistance. Here, weeds ramp up production of detoxifying enzymes that render herbicides useless before they can kill the plant.

"As far as we know, there are no data testing the hypothesis that herbicide mixtures are the most effective way to avoid the evolution of non-target site-based resistance mechanisms," Hager said. "Without those data, how do we know which herbicides or what combinations remain effective against any waterhemp population? There is no simple way to know."

Hager emphasizes that the problem of resistance to herbicides is the direct result of over-reliance on a single, simple solution: chemical weed control. The problem, in his view, won't be solved by exclusively using the same tools, but in different ways. Instead, he says farmers should diversify tactics and focus on preventing or eliminating weed seed production.

"Look, herbicides will continue to be valuable tools to help prevent crop yield loss, but we also must consider additional tactics to ensure no waterhemp plant is allowed to produce seed during the growing season. All we know with certainty is that if plants can't produce seed, the frequency of any resistance mechanism can't change or grow. Even a few seed-bearing waterhemp plants remaining in the field at harvest could contain the newest herbicide-resistance mechanism," Hager said. "It's worth repeating: consider additional tactics to ensure no weed seed production."
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Map showing the primary sampling areas for Maugean skate population monitoring with inserts showing the complex bathymetry of Table Head (a) and Swan Basin (c). Credit: University of Tasmania

Tasmania's Maugean skate has been around since the dinosaurs but it could become the first ray or shark in the world to become extinct in modern times as a direct result of human activity, after a new study found their population has plummeted in recent years.

The Australian Government must do everything in its power to avoid a global extinction event that scientists fear could occur within 10 years, possibly as soon as five, the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) and Humane Society International (HSI) said today after the report was released. Urgent recovery measures for the Maugean skate must include: restoring the health of Macquarie Harbor; development of a captive breeding program; and ongoing population monitoring of the skate's population.

The Maugean skatepart of the cartilaginous group of fishes that includes sharks and rays lives solely in part of Macquarie Harbor on the remote west coast of Tasmania. It's an area of less than 100 square kilometers, making it one of the world's most geographically restricted shark or ray.

The water quality of Macquarie Harbor is extremely poor, primarily because of depleted oxygen from intensive salmon farming and altered river flows from the damming of rivers that feed the harbor. The skates, and any eggs they lay, are deprived of the oxygen they need to live.

AMCS shark scientist Dr. Leonardo Guida said, "The Maugean skate has been around since Tyrannosaurus Rex roamed the Earth but is now literally being choked to death in its home that man has turned into a putrid bathtub. If the Australian Government does not act now, it may disappear on our watch.

"Tasmania is home to Australia's most infamous extinction, that of the thylacine or Tasmanian tiger. Does the state really want the ignominy of hosting the world's first extinction of a shark or ray in modern times due to human activity?"

The Maugean skate population is plummeting. The University of Tasmania's Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) report is alarming, finding that since 2014 the population has declined by half (47%), with most of the decline occurring in two mass mortality events of 2019. Studies have not directly investigated the cause of mortality, but multiple lines of evidence indicate extremely low oxygen levels (0%20%) were a major factor, resulting from intensive salmon aquaculture and altered river flows into the harbor to support the production of hydroelectricity.

In 2019 intense coastal storms effectively turned the harbor water upside down, an "inversion event," where seawater pushed through the harbor's narrow entrance forced oxygen-depleted bottom water into the shallower waters where the skates prefers to live and lay eggs, literally choking the animal and its embryos. There are justifiable fears that unless the harbor is given a rest from salmon aquaculture, and river flows are regulated to support increased oxygen levels deep in the harbor, there will be no resilience against killer 'mixing events' that will likely increase with a warming climate.

Report author Dr. David Moreno, from the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies, said, "We have monitored the skates since 2012 and found the population declined by almost 47% between 2014 and 2021. It is also concerning that very few juveniles are coming through to keep the population viable.

"The reality is that we risk losing an important species that only exists in this harbor. So human activities related to the skate need to be managed, such as recreational fishing and those that affect the marine environment such as salmon aquaculture and river flow management for hydro production.

"There is an urgent need to consider this new information in any future management action, particularly those actions that can help directly address habitat degradation in the harbor."

The Australian Government has made the commendable ambition of "no new extinctions" and included the Maugean skate as one of Australia's "100 Priority Species," but it risks falling at the first hurdle with the extinction of the Maugean skate within as little as 10 years.

HSI marine biologist Lawrence Chlebeck said, "This is an extinction emergency. which is why HSI and AMCS have nominated the Maugean skate for Critically Endangered status. We are appealing to federal environment minister Tanya Plibersek to intervene to ensure urgent recovery measures are put in place to save the species. We cannot sit back and let another species disappear forever."

Dr. Guida said, "For the Maugean skate to have any chance at recovery, emergency conservation action must get underway and include a captive breeding program, ongoing population monitoring in Macquarie Harbor, and restoration of the health of the harbor itself to assist wild and captive bred individuals into the future. This means giving the harbor an immediate rest from salmon farming and regulating river flows for their downstream effects into the harbor."

Mr. Chlebeck said, "Australians are innovativewe invented wifi, the black box and the bionic ear. We can save the Maugean skate from extinction too, and we must start doing so now because we just might see a new extinction."

More information: Interim reportMacquarie Harbour Maugean skate population status and monitoring: imas.utas.edu.au/__data/assets  rim-report-FINAL.pdf

Provided by Australian Marine Conservation Society
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Digital elevation model of Mt. Etna (Ganci et al., 2019) obtained from tri-stereo Pleiades data acquired on 18 December 2015. Eastings and northings are in UTM Zone 33N. Red triangles indicate the location of seismometers while the shaded purple and green regions show the fine-grained and coarse-grained pyroclastic density current deposits, respectively, mapped by Andronico et al. (2018). The white box indicates the search area for the seismic source locations. The red box shows the crater area; see inset in the upper right (NEC, North-East Crater; VOR, Voragine; BN, Bocca Nuova; SEC, South-East Crater; NSEC, New South-East Crater). Credit: Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth (2023). DOI: 10.1029/2022JB026114

New Zealand research could help track the path of searingly hot rock and gas flows that are the world's most deadly volcanic hazard.

Te Whare Wananga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury School of Mathematics and Statistics Lecturer Dr. Leighton Watson has for the first time shown that seismic signalsground shaking recorded by seismometerscan be used to track pyroclastic flows, which can travel at up to 500 kmh (310 mph) during a volcanic eruption.

The catastrophic eruption at Whakaari White Island in 2019 caused a pyroclastic surge of gas and rock that killed 22 people, while an earlier eruption of Te Maari craters in 2012 on Mt. Tongariro also caused pyroclastic flows, resulting in the closure of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Around the world more than half of all volcano-related deaths are caused by pyroclastic flows.

Dr. Watson says these "terrifying" flows are challenging to study because they are sudden, fast-moving, and dangerous. "It's hard to know what is going on inside a flow because the internal flow dynamics are hidden by an opaque gas cloud which is impossible to see through."

However, he has used seismic data recorded by a permanent monitoring network at Mt. Etna, Italy, to track a pyroclastic flow that happened in February 2014. His findings have been published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth.

"We've shown that as the pyroclastic flow travels down the flanks of the volcano, it pushes on to Earth's surface producing seismic waves. We can use these seismic signals to track the flow, potentially informing modeling of their flow paths in real time which could help with making hazard assessments for future eruptions.

"By considering how seismic signals get smaller further away from the pyroclastic flow, we can locate the source of these vibrations and track their location over time."

He says because of the extreme hazard posed by pyroclastic flows there is an urgent need to improve monitoring capabilities. The findings could be applied at volcanoes in New Zealand such as Ruapehu, Tongariro and Taranaki.

"All of the New Zealand volcanoes are able to produce pyroclastic flows, so being able to monitor them better could help improve safety."

Dr. Watson hopes to carry out further research in the New Zealand context using seismic signals to track lahars (mudflows composed of rock, debris, and water), as well as pyroclastic flows. A lahar from Ruapehu destroyed a bridge over the Whangaehu River causing a train derailment in the 1953 Tangiwai disaster that killed 151 people.

"The ultimate goal is to better understand and monitor volcanic hazards and to use these findings to save lives. This is especially useful as volcanoes are often shrouded in cloud and eruptions can happen during the night when cameras are not effective."

Dr. Watson has already shown that sound waves can be used to detect mountain avalanches along the Milford Road and is currently working on monitoring avalanche activity in Mount Cook Aoraki National Park.

More information: Leighton M. Watson et al, Tracking a Pyroclastic Density Current With Seismic Signals at Mt. Etna (Italy), Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth (2023). DOI: 10.1029/2022JB026114
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Mohamed Nouri, an Orchard Systems Advisor for UC Cooperative Extension San Joaquin County, and UC Davis Plant Pathologist Florent Trouillas gather samples in a cherry orchard in Lodi showing signs of bacterial canker. Credit: Jael Mackendorf/UC Davis

The wave of atmospheric rivers that swept across the state this winter has created the right conditions for plant pathogens that haven't been seen for decades in California. University of California, Davis, plant pathologist Florent "Flo" Trouillas is getting more calls from growers and farm advisors concerned about potential crop damage.

"Generally, whenever you have rain events, you're going to have problems," said Trouillas, a Cooperative Extension specialist who is based at the Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Parlier. "In wet years we get really busy because most pathogens need and like water."

Trouillas is like a disease detective. He splits his time between the field and the lab, working to diagnose pathogens, diseases and other ailments that strike fruit and nut crops such as almonds, cherries, olives and pistachios.

On a recent visit to an almond orchard near Fresno, Trouillas joined Mae Culumber, a nut crops farm advisor for UC Cooperative Extension Fresno County. A few weeks earlier, the two had walked the orchard, taking note of the base of some trees that had gumminga thick, jelly-looking substance indicating a pathogen had taken hold.

"A lot of what Florent is doing is trying to assess patterns on a landscape," Culumber said. "Sometimes things may look like they are one thing, but it could be another problem."

When the two returned weeks later, the amber-colored gumming had moved into the canopy, looking like gumballs stuck to branches, some of which were already dead. "It's getting out of control from before," Trouillas says. "This branch was killed. This is widespread." Credit: UC Davis

From the field to the lab

Lab testing confirmed what Trouillas believed was the culprit: Phytophthora syringae, a pathogen that can affect almond crops but is rarely seen in California. If it is found, generally the site of infection are wounds caused by pruning, but that is not the case here, where the infection began in the canopy at twigs, or small branches.

It is a threat to a key crop, which according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, generates $5 billion annually. The last time Phytophthora syringae hit California was in the 1990s after a series of El Nino-influenced storms. Trouillas, who has a photographic memory, remembered reading about it in an old manual.

"It's rare for California and one that we see mostly following atmospheric rivers," he says.

"The disease will only happen following these extremely wet winters."

Phytophthora is soilborne, mostly found in tree roots, and doesn't generally spread up into branches. But the intense storms created the right conditions for the pathogen to "swim" up trunks as winds blew spores into the air and rain dropped them back down into the canopy, Trouillas said.

Some of the trees in this orchard will die; others can be saved by pruning infected branches and applying a recommended fungicide, he said.

A cherry tree showing signs of gumming from a bacterial canker in a Lodi orchard. Credit: Jael Mackendorf/UC Davis

Identification, diagnosis, education

Trouillas is one of more than 50 Cooperative Extension specialists at UC Davis and each is charged with identifying problems and developing solutions for those issues in support of agriculture, the ecosystem and communities throughout the state.

In his role, Trouillas focuses not only on pathology and research but also on educating growers, nursery staff, pest control advisors and others in agriculture about ways to manage potential threats and how to prevent crop damage.

"His role is very crucial," said Mohammad Yaghmour, an orchard systems advisor for UC Cooperative Extension Kern County. "He's not only on this mission to educate growers but he's also a source of education for us."

Trouillas typically conducts one or two site visits a week, usually after a farm advisor reaches out about a problem they can't solve on their own.

"This allows us to be at the forefront of disease detections in California," he said.

He likens these visits to house calls a doctor would make, only to fields instead. And one of those calls recently took him to a cherry orchard in Lodi.

An almond tree near Fresno infected with the pathogen Phytophthora syringae. The pathogen is usually found in tree roots but intense storms created the right conditions for the pathogen to "swim" up trunks. Credit: Emily C. Dooley/UC Davis

"These guys help me quite a bit," said Andrew Vignolo, a pest control advisor with Wilbur-Ellis who asked for a consult. "I bug them a lot."

The visit starts like any consult in a doctor's office, only the questions come fast as they walk around the Lodi orchard where branches are dying, there is gumming and the trees appear stressed. Some look to be sunburned from exposure. Old pruning wounds show cankers, indicating that past disease treatments didn't get rid of whatever was affecting the trees.

Trouillas asks about the cultivar of the trees because some varieties are more susceptible to pests or diseases. He focuses on stress because that opens the door to disease.

Do they prune in the dormant winter months or in summer when pathogens are more prevalent? Does the soil get tested? How old are the trees? What about nutrition?

"I'm trying to figure out how they got infected so bad," Trouillas said, walking the orchard. "Bacterial canker is a very mysterious disease."

He thinks it might be a bacterial canker disease and shaves some bark to take to the lab for testing. He wants to come back next winter to take some samples to see where the pathogen is overwintering.

"We'll know in a few weeks if we have a fighting chance," Vignolo said.

Be it Lodi, Fresno or elsewhere in the state, Trouillas focuses on local conditions. But what is learned in one field can be passed on to others, providing early warnings or advice for those in similar situations. "All these efforts at collaboration, from the field, to the lab, going through research projects, there's only one goal hereto help the farmers of California."
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Studying the Younger Dryas could help predict the potential effects of global change in the Mediterranean at the end of the 21st century. Credit: University of Barcelona

About 13,000 years ago, a climate crisis caused a global drop in temperatures in the northern hemisphere. This episode of intense cold, known as the Younger Dryas, also caused severe aridity across the Mediterranean basin, which had a major impact on terrestrial and marine ecosystems. But what do we know about the impact of this climate change on water circulation in the Mediterranean?

During the Younger Dryas, the flow of water masses from the eastern Mediterranean to the Atlantic Ocean through the Strait of Gibraltar doubled, according to a study published in Communications Earth & Environment. The work has applied the innovative technique of neodymium (Nd) isotopes to reconstruct the conditions in the Mediterranean since the last deglaciation, some 14,000 years ago.

The study is part of the doctoral thesis being carried out by Sergio Trias-Navarro, under the supervision of Professor Leopoldo Pena and Professor Isabel Cacho, from the consolidated research group in Marine Geosciences (GCR Marine Geosciences) of the Faculty of Earth Sciences of the University of Barcelona. The study presents some of the most relevant results of the European Research Council's TIMED project (ERC-Consolidator), and has an outstanding participation of members of the GCR Marine Geosciences, and experts from La Sapienza University of Rome, the University of Palermo (Italy), and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (Switzerland).

The most intense climate change in 13,000 years

The Younger Dryas was the most intense climate change of the last 13,000 years and the most far-reaching on a planetary scale. Its end marked the end of the Holocene, the interglacial period in which we find ourselves today. "There has also been climate variability during the Holocene, such as the episodes known as the Little Ice Age, the Medieval Climatic Anomaly or the Roman Warm Period. However, this climate variability had a lower relative intensity with different regional climatic expressions, without the capacity to generate changes on a global scale," says Professor Isabel Cacho, from the UB Department of Earth and Ocean Dynamics.

The paper also analyzes the last sapropel, a Holocene episode after the Younger Dryas linked to an extraordinary increase in rainfall in the Mediterranean region, especially in North Africa. The study provides the first quantification of changes in the deep circulation of the eastern Mediterranean during this episode, and it has estimated that it was reduced by up to a quarter compared to the Younger Dryas. Still, the experts explain that the impact this event may have had on the oceanography of the North Atlantic is unknown.

The new study supports the hypothesis that increased salt input from the Mediterranean into Atlantic waters during the Younger Dryas was key to reactivating the North Atlantic circulation: this led to a rapid warming in Europe and the Mediterranean, which marked the beginning of the Holocene.

"Mediterranean water masses are one of the primary sources of salt in the North Atlantic. Water salinity is an important factor in oceanography, as it determines the density of water masses. It is therefore a key process in the formation of deep waters in the Atlantic Ocean and is the driver of global ocean circulation," says researcher Sergio Trias-Navarro.

A technical innovation to study the oceans of the past

As in other previous studies conducted by the GRC Marine Geosciences, the team has applied the innovative technique of neodymium radiogenic isotopes as geochemical tracers to reconstruct the oceanographic conditions of the past. This analytical study has been carried out in the LIRA and PANTHALASSA laboratories, unique research support facilities in Catalonia located in areas of the Faculty of Earth Sciences and the UB's Scientific and Technological Centers (CCiTUB) and coordinated by experts Leopoldo Pena and Isabel Cacho.

"Compared to other types of geochemical tracers, Nd isotopes have the great advantage of being conservative. Therefore, they do not interact with or are not affected by biological processes, for example, biological productivity or the degradation of organic matter," says Professor Leopoldo Pena, co-author of the paper. "This technique allows us to go beyond time and it can be applied to oceanographic reconstructions of both the present and the past. It allows us to understand the dynamics of the ocean and reconstruct oceanography long before we could observe or measure it ourselves with other scientific tools," adds the expert.

Younger Dryas: A mirror for the Mediterranean of the future?

There are still many enigmas about the potential impact of Mediterranean waters on the North Atlantic circulation. Despite the scientific interest, "much of the oceanographic studies focusing on the Atlantic Ocean do not consider the Mediterranean, and perhaps the role of Mediterranean waters in the Atlantic circulation has been downplayed," note the authors.

The latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) presents the Younger Dryas as an example of the predictable changes in rainfall that will take place in the Mediterranean as a consequence of an expected reduction in the circulation of the North Atlantic. "On the other hand, according to projections for the end of the 21st century, the Mediterranean circulation will weaken and, consequently, so will its contribution to the Atlantic Ocean," says Isabel Cacho, coordinator of the TIMED project. In the current context of climate change, studies such as this one are increasingly necessary to better understand the sensitivity of the Mediterranean circulation to different climatic situations.

"The Younger Dryas is not a perfect analogue for future changes, as we are currently facing a much more amplified greenhouse effect. Still, our study reveals that the change in aridity which is expected by the end of the century is capable of inducing an intensification of the Mediterranean circulation, although the projected warming could counteract this effect. For this reason, we need to better understand the relative weight that these two variablestemperature and humidityhave had on the evolution of the Mediterranean circulation," concludes the research team.

More information: Sergio Trias-Navarro et al, Eastern Mediterranean water outflow during the Younger Dryas was twice that of the present day, Communications Earth & Environment (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s43247-023-00812-7 Journal information: Communications Earth & Environment
SOUTH GLENS FALLS  The former restaurant building destroyed in a fire Sunday morning had no utility services before it went up in flames.

Pete Corlew, South Glens Falls Fire Co. chief, said Monday that the building, formerly a location for Chinese Buffet and McDonalds restaurants, had been unoccupied for several years and had no power running through it at the time of the blaze.

Its been at least eight to 10 years since the China Buffet has come out, he said. I can say that all utilities were cut to that building.

Crews left the South Glens Falls firehouse by 4:47 a.m. to battle the fire, which was located at 22 Main St. The blaze was fully involved by their arrival. The Saratoga County Sheriffs Office, New York State Fire Investigators as well as mutual aid responses from departments in Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties were all part of the effort.

Fire spread to another structure on the south side, creating damage for Glens Falls Candy Co. and Wash and Wear Laundry. Corlew said that both business owners rushed to the scene.

They were extremely grateful that we were able to save a good majority of that building, he said. The closest side to the structure fire, which was the candy shop, has some water damage but for the amount of fire that we had to that second structure, my guys and our mutual aid department did a great job of extinguishing that building.

Both buildings were unoccupied when the fire broke out. No injuries were reported.

The fire chief said commercial structure fires are not common for the department. Investigators had not released information on what caused the blaze as of Monday afternoon.

The property at 20-22 Main St., which includes the restaurant building that first opened in 1978, was listed for sale on the LoopNet commercial real estate website for $650,000.

McDonalds moved from that location in 2005, and two years later, China Buffet opened there.

Saratoga County real estate records show the property is currently owned by Xiaomei Wang of Saratoga Springs. Wang purchased it from the owner of China Buffet in 2019 for $270,000. Its current full market value is $425,000, according to the county.
Looking perfectly comfortable in the cab of a 1976 International tractor, 12-year old Isaac Morse was in familiar territory. His family owns the machine, which is named after him, and is used daily at the family farm. Another tractor put by the family on static display, a 1946 Farmall, is actually favored by Isaac.
ALBANY  As the clock winds down on the legislative session, progressive activists and their allies in the Senate and Assembly are making a concerted push to enact measures designed to protect tenants from what they call unreasonable eviction efforts.

The nonprofit Legal Aid Society says the proposed legislation introduced in both the Assembly and Senate "would prevent landlords from denying lease renewals to tenants who have consistently abided by the terms of their leases, allowing tenants to advocate for repairs without the fear of retaliation."

The advocates have been seeking to rally support in Albany for the proposal since 2019. Some lawmakers wanted it to be included in the recently passed state budget, but Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, has been chilly to the proposal, instead favoring other ideas for expanding the availability of affordable housing in the state.

Landlords and their allies in the Legislature say Good Cause Eviction would have negative impacts on the availability of apartments for tenants and ultimately lead to a deterioration in the condition of existing rental housing stock.

"I believe the real missing link here is access to resources to help both landlords and tenants and promote home ownership," Buffalo landlord Ayat Nieves told CNHI.

Nieves is affiliated with a group called Homeowners for an Affordable New York, which is supporting a proposed housing access voucher program.

Leann Politi, the group's spokeswoman, urged the Legislature "to reject socialist ideas like Good Cause Eviction legislation, which does nothing to address non-payment of rent and would devastate New Yorks future housing supply, leading to an increase in homelessness.

Advocates for Good Cause Eviction, at a press conference in Albany Wednesday, cited a recent report issued by the Fiscal Policy Institute, a New York think tank, making the case that the high cost of housing has prompted tens of thousands of people to leave the state. They argued that a lack of sufficient checks on rent increases will accelerate that trend.

New York is facing an unprecedented housing crisis with rents and evictions soaring and working-class New Yorkers on the brink of displacement and homelessness," state Sen. Gustavo Rivera, D-the Bronx, said.

In a case of strange bedfellows, the advocates for tenants and the real estate lobby are both backing the creation of a state rent voucher program to serve people at risk of being left homeless.

Hochul has voiced concern the voucher proposal would be highly expensive for the state, likening the idea to the federal Section 8 housing subsidy program.

Nieves suggested state policymakers consider examples of how some government-run housing authorities have failed to adhere to safety standards, leaving tenants vulnerable, and are less efficient than housing managed by the private sector.

He predicted that if the state enacts the Good Cause Eviction legislation, more landlords will convert rental units into short-stay rental properties using the Airbnb platform, thus diminishing housing availability for the people the bill is intended to assist.
Two New York lawmakers hope that, like a fine wine, a bill to allow wine sales in grocery stores has only gotten better with age.

State Sen. Liz Krueger and Assemblywoman Pamela Hunter unveiled their proposal to allow New York supermarkets to sell wine. Its the latest attempt in a decades-long effort to bring wines to grocery store shelves.

Forty states allow wine sales in grocery stores, but not New York. New Yorkers wishing to buy wine must go to a liquor store or a winery.

Polls conducted over the years show strong support for permitting wine sales in supermarkets. Proponents of the bill noted that a recent Siena College poll found 76% of New York voters support allowing consumers to buy wine in grocery stores.

Consumers want the convenience of purchasing wine in grocery stores  where they buy their food and other beverages, such as beer, Hunter, D-Syracuse, said. Its good for consumers and its good for a critical New York industry.

Krueger, D-Manhattan, has long supported allowing wine sales in grocery stores.

When she has friends visit from places where wine is sold in supermarkets, she said theyre often dismayed to discover the law wont let them buy wine in the grocery store (in New York).

But its time to change that this year, she added.

The legislation introduced by Hunter and Krueger is different than the bill proposed more than a decade ago when there was a failed push to allow wine sales in grocery stores.

The new measure would limit wine sale licenses to full-service grocery stores, not convenience stores or drug stores.

Big box stores, such as Target and Walmart, would not be allowed to sell wine.

The previous version of the bill would have allowed wine sales at convenience stores and big box stores.

If the bill is signed into law, the sponsors estimate that roughly 1,900 wine licenses would be issued if all grocery stores participated.

An incentive  a lower license renewal fee  would be offered for supermarkets that sell New York state wines.

Liquor store owners, the leading opponent of past bills to allow wine sales in grocery stores, oppose the new legislation.

Stefan Kalogridis, owner of Colvin Wine Merchants in Albany and president of the New York State Liquor Store Associations board of directors, accused supermarkets of greed and panned the legislation, which he said will lead to the closure of many liquor stores in New York.

A lot of your liquor stores are anchored by supermarkets, Kalogridis said. I have a Hannaford next door to me. If Hannaford carries wine, what is going to happen to me? Am I going to be able to compete with Hannaford? No.

Meanwhile, grocery stores are advocating for the change. A sign outside a Syracuse-area Wegmans encourages customers to visit nytimeforwine.com, a website that includes a form for contacting legislators asking them to support the bill.

Nelson Eusebio, director of government relations for the National Supermarket Association, said allowing wine sales in supermarkets will be great for customers and independent store owners.

Krueger thinks its the right thing to do, while Hunter says it will provide convenience to consumers and benefit wineries and vineyards in New York.

Its time to get this done, Hunter said. Its time for wine, New York.

A spokesperson for Gov. Kathy Hochul said she will review the legislation if it is approved by the state Legislature.

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ATLANTIC CITY  Two city men were arrested Monday after they were found with more than 164 grams of marijuana and a handgun, police said.

Steven Jaquez-Perez, 25, and Ronaldo Paul, 24, were charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession with intent to distribute, possession with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school zone, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of hollow-point ammunition and possession of a weapon while committing a drug offense.

Detectives Alberto Valles, Eric Evans and Christopher Dodson and Officer Ivaylo Ivanov were surveilling the area around Bellevue and Florida avenues due to resident complaints of illegal sales of narcotics, police said Tuesday in a news release. At 1:20 p.m., they saw Paul engage in a drug transaction in a vehicle driven by Jaquez-Perez in the first block of South Bellevue Avenue.

Atlantic City enters era of green investment ATLANTIC CITY  Christina Casile stands in the lobby of Design 710 at 112 Park Place, the la

Once Jaquez-Perez drove off, officers stopped the vehicle.

Paul was arrested after he was found with marijuana packaged for distribution, police said. Jaquez-Perez was taken into custody after detectives searched the vehicle and found a loaded handgun with hollow-point ammunition, along with additional marijuana packaged for sale.

While recreational marijuana is legal in New Jersey, its sale is legal only for those licensed by the state Cannabis Regulatory Commission.
ATLANTIC CITY  Casino workers expressed concerns to the city before the first Atlantic City Cigar Social took place Saturday at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa.

Early last week, anti-smoking groups wrote the city criticizing the event.

But city officials said the Cigar Social was in compliance with city ordinances since it was held outside, and that Borgata followed the rules when hosting the event.

Our environmental services inspector determined that because this event was held outdoors, it was in compliance with all city ordinances, Jarrod Barnes, director of the citys Health and Human Services Department, said Tuesday.

The Cigar Social drew about 600 attendees as well as 20 vendors. It took place at Borgatas outdoor pool, away from gamblers.

Borgata posted signs stating no cigar smoking was allowed inside the casino.

A smoker's haven at the Atlantic City Cigar Social ATLANTIC CITY  Some people like to relax by watching TV, reading a book or taking a nice lo

Borgata management did not immediately return calls seeking comment Tuesday.

The event caused many workers to call out, said Aaron Rodriguez, vice president of communications for Moyer Strategies, who works with Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (CEASE) and Americans for Nonsmokers Rights.

Our sources at Borgata shared the following about how today went with workers: Over 200 callouts between day shift and swing shift today. Typical Saturday is around 25. The casino is offering $100 bonus for any worker to stay 4 extra hours to work, Rodriguez said Saturday.

He shared a photo with The Press that he said showed a person smoking a cigar indoors Saturday.

The issues come as a bill sits in the Legislature that would eliminate smoking on casino floors. The bill would close a loophole in the states 2006 indoor smoking law. That measure was written specifically to exempt casinos from bans on smoking indoors.

Currently, smoking is permitted on 25% of a casino floor in Atlantic City.

Dealers with cancer beg for Atlantic City casino smoking ban TRENTON  Tammy Brady began her career as an Atlantic City casino dealer at the age of 18. N

Several casino employees spoke in favor of the legislation during a March 9, discussion-only bill hearing. But no vote has been taken on the bill.

Gov. Phil Murphy has promised to sign the bill if it passes the Legislature.

Business groups have opposed a ban, and Bob McDevitt, president of Local 54 of the Unite Here casino workers union until he resigned this month, has predicted that prohibiting smoking would cost the industry 10% of its revenue and cause the closure of at least one casino.

Robert Zlotnick, executive director of Atlantic Prevention Resources, wrote a letter to the Atlantic City Health and Human Services Department last week urging officials to investigate the event due to concerns of cigar smoking on the casino floor and secondhand cigar smoke.

As you know, a 2007 Atlantic City ordinance requires that casinos limit smoking to only 25% of the gaming floor, said Zlotnick in the letter. We would like to know what measures are being taken to ensure compliance with the citys clean air ordinance and to prevent workers from being put in another situation of having to choose between a paycheck and their health.

Zlotnick said since smoking made its post-COVID return in 2021, table game dealers have been advocating for a ban on smoking inside casinos, including members of CEASE and Americans for Nonsmokers Rights.

Borgata claims that this is the cigar event the Jersey Shore has been waiting for. We find that difficult to believe given the fact that smoking is prohibited in all public spaces including on the iconic Atlantic City Boardwalk, Americans for Nonsmokers Rights President and CEO Cynthia Hallett said in a news release earlier this month. The reality is that hundreds of casino workers and guests have been calling on lawmakers to close the casino smoking loophole, and a strong majority of people prefer a smoke-free environment.

GALLERY: Atlantic City Cigar Social at Borgata
Legislative candidates have almost $18.7 million in cash reserves as they head into the June 6 primary, setting a record for the state, according to the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission.

Combined cash-on-hand reported by legislative candidates at $18.7 million is 16% above the 2021 total of $16.1 million.

Candidates also have raised a record $32.8 million for the 2023 elections, having spent almost $14.2 million.

Democrats, who control both the Assembly and state Senate, have almost four times more money in the bank ($14.8 million) for campaign purposes than Republicans ($3.9 million).

The majority party usually has more funds in the bank, said Jeff Brindle, ELECs executive director.

There are plenty of factors that decide elections. A lopsided party registration advantage. Quality candidates. Issues such as taxes or school curriculum changes. And of course, having a financial edge, Brindle said.

Democrats hold a 25-15 seat margin in the Senate and a 45-34 edge in the Assembly, with one vacancy.

Democrats also greatly outnumber Republicans in voting registration statewide. There are currently 2.54 million registered Democrats and 1.54 million registered Republicans. Another 2.38 million registered voters remain unaffiliated with any party.

More money translates into more campaign ads, polls, Election Day workers and other campaign outlays that can improve Election Day prospects, Brindle said. While a financial edge doesnt guarantee a win, it often helps. Particularly in so-called battleground districts where both parties have a chance to win.

As in previous elections, incumbents are dominating challengers in terms of fundraising. They have raised and spent more than seven times as much and have nearly eight times more cash on hand.

Senate races historically tend to attract the most money even though the number of senators (40) is half the number of Assembly members (80). The trend holds in 2023.

Spending independent of candidates or parties by special interest groups is well under the record $2.2 million spent in the 2021 primary election, ELEC reports showed.

Get South Jersey news at your fingertips Your story lives in South Jersey. From reporting on all of your favorite teams to the news t

So far during the 2023 primary, independent spending has totaled $78,873.

ELEC did its analysis based on legislative fundraising reports received by 10 a.m. Monday, it said.

Reports filed by legislative candidates are available at elec.nj.gov.

Legislators with the most money in the bank Senate President Nicholas Scutari-D, $2,047,100 Sen. Paul Sarlo-D, $1,124,394 Sen. Shirley Turner-D, $846,978 Sen. Richard Codey-D, $839,523 Assembly member Wayne DeAngelo-D, $610,847 Assembly member Raj Mukherji-D, $608,602 Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin-D, $596,710 Assembly member Gary Schaer-D, $569,772 Sen. Bob Smith-D, $505,136 Sen. Vin Gopal-D, $415,371
TRENTON  New Jersey counties are seeking residents to serve as poll workers for the upcoming June 6 primary election.

Those who staff a polling location will earn $21.43 per hour on in-person early voting days and $300 for a full shift on primary day, according to a news release from the New Jersey Division of Elections.

The division is partnering with counties to recruit election workers.

Poll workers are essential to our election process, said Assistant Secretary of State Lauren Zyriek Enriquez, who serves as acting director of the New Jersey Division of Elections. For the upcoming June primary, we will need thousands of New Jersey citizens to step up and serve their communities during the early voting period and on June 6th for Primary Day.

Residents are encouraged to submit an application at Pollworker.NJ.Gov.

Workers will be needed during the following times:

June 2 to 4 for in-person early voting

June 6 for primary election day

Poll workers must be at least 16 years old, U.S. citizens and residents of New Jersey, and must be registered to vote in their home counties.

College and high school students are encouraged to apply.

Those under 18 will work limited hours per shift and do not have to be registered to vote.

Contact your county board of elections for further information.

For full details on the June 6 primary, visit Vote.NJ.Gov, contact local election officials or call the Voter Information and Assistance Line at 877-NJ-VOTER (877-658-6837).
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.

Navlakhas 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 Navlakhas 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.

Advocate Nitya Ramakrishnan, representing Navlakha, vehemently opposed Rajus submission. She contended that they can certainly discuss with the probe agency regarding the area where he can be put under house arrest. IANS
The Encroachment department officials of the Pune Municipal Corporation were assaulted by a group of people during an anti-encroachment drive conducted on Kailas Crematorium and RTO Office Road on Tuesday. A security guard and an inspector of the Anti-Encroachment department attached with the Ghole Patil Road ward office of PMC were assaulted in the incident.

The assault took place during the anti-encroachment drive being conducted by the PMC ahead of the scheduled G20 summit in Pune. The incident took place at around 1:30 pm near Naidu Hospital.

The Pune Municipal Corporation employees have decided to protest against the matter and they will demonstrate against the act in the premises of PMC. The employees will meet the top officials of PMC to protest over the issue at 10 am on Wednesday.
ATLANTIC, Iowa  Iowa elected officials took action at the state and federal level aimed at combating rising rates of fentanyl-related drug overdoses on Tuesday.

Surrounded by state and local law enforcement, Reynolds signed the law in Atlantic, Iowa, where last year five area residents were arrested on federal charges in a fentanyl distribution case that led to a series of overdoses in Cass and Shelby counties.

The law enhances the penalty for selling fentanyl, imposing up to 10 years of prison time for small amounts of the potent opioid, and up to 50 years for more than 50 grams.

The law will also triple the sentence otherwise imposed by law for providing a drug that results in someones death, and double the sentence if it results in bodily injury. Manufacturing a drug in the presence of a minor or selling to a minor would carry twice the penalty otherwise imposed by law.

This poison  and thats what it is: poison  is fueling addiction, death and chaos, Reynolds, a Republican, said.

The law, proposed by Reynolds early in this years legislative session, is part of her push to put a spotlight on the rising presence of fentanyl in Iowa and its role in overdose deaths.

Fentanyl, a potent opioid about 100 times stronger than morphine, is often mixed into illicit pills, pressed to look like other prescription medications, and other drugs as a cost-cutting measure. Reynolds said Iowa law enforcement seized twice the number of fentanyl pills in 2022 than it did in 2021, and more than 27,000 in the last six weeks.

Synthetic opioids like fentanyl accounted for more than 80% of all opioid-related overdoses nationally in 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Iowas rate of overdose deaths is among the lowest in the country, but it is increasing. In Iowa, 432 people died of drug overdoses in 2020, according to the CDC, and 172 of those  about 40%  were from synthetic opioids.

A similar bill was proposed by Republican Attorney General Brenna Bird at the beginning of this years legislative session. Bird said the law will allow prosecutors to seek stricter penalties at the state level when a person dies from a drug overdose.

This law brings the drug dealers who kill to justice, she said. It gives prosecutors the tools that we need to seek justice for the victims of crime and their families. And it prevents the scourge of the dangers of drugs in our communities.

Under the new law, fentanyl sale and manufacture will be punished the following ways:

Less than five grams: Class C felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine between $1,000 and $50,000.

Between five and 50 grams: Class B felony, punishable by up to 25 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.

More than 50 grams: Class B felony, punishable by up to 50 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million.

The bill also expands who can dispense naloxone, a medication that reverses the effects of an overdose. The changes will allow law enforcement, emergency rooms and schools to get it into the hands of those who need it most, Reynolds said.

The law passed with mostly bipartisan support in the Legislature this year, but some Democrats opposed the law. They argued increasing penalties does not work in reducing criminal activity, and the bill did not do enough to prioritize treatment of substance use disorders.

Democratic Rep. Megan Srinivas, a doctor from Des Moines, proposed an amendment to the bill that would have legalized fentanyl test strips, which can be used to test for the presence of fentanyl in a pill or other drug.

Reynolds said she does not think fentanyl test strips should be part of the solution to the rising opioid death rates.

Thats not something that I pushed in my bill because I dont believe that that has an appropriate place, she said.

Reynolds also took aim at Democratic President Joe Biden's administration, whose border policies she said are to blame for the increase in fentanyl coming across the southern border.

"President Biden has a constitutional responsibility to secure our nation's border from illegal immigration and drug trafficking, human trafficking, and everything that's taking place the southern border," she said. "His failure is empowering criminals; it's empowering the cartel, who trade others' lives for profit."

Sen. Joni Ernst introduces fentanyl bill

Around the same time Reynolds signed the new law, Iowa Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst announced plans to introduce a bipartisan, bicameral bill with Virginia Democratic U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine that would direct the Department of Defense to take stronger action against Mexican cartels and transnational criminal organizations trafficking fentanyl.

Both Ernst and Kaine serve on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Im using my oversight authority of the Department of Defense to stem the fentanyl crisis at its source, Ernst told reporters.

The Disrupt Fentanyl Trafficking Act would classify fentanyl trafficking as a national security threat to provide a response proportional to the problem, Ernst said during a conference call with reporters.

It would require the Pentagon to develop a fentanyl-specific counterdrug strategy, including working directly with the Mexican military and increasing security operations with Mexico to combat the fentanyl drug trade and disrupt Mexican cartel activity.

The bill also seeks to address and better coordinate efforts between the military and federal law enforcement agencies.

The DoD plays a leading role in the nations counterdrug intelligence and monitoring operations, Ernst said. However, the lack of interagency cooperation, over classification and inadequate resources have hampered our governments counter-fentanyl efforts.

Fentanyl has become a leading cause of death in U.S. adults between the ages of 18 and 45. President Joe Biden, in his State of the Union address earlier this year, vowed to do more to tackle the epidemic.

The amount of lives lost in Iowa and across the country due to this deadly drug has far surpassed the federal governments response, and we must scale immediately to combat this national security threat, Ernst said in a statement following her news conference. This bipartisan work will engage Mexico as an active partner to counter fentanyl trafficking and put the Pentagons tools to use to save American lives.

Ernst met with Mexican officials at the Mexican embassy during a visit to Mexico City and the San Diego-Mexican border back in February as part of a congressional delegation that included Iowa Republican U.S. Reps. Randy Feenstra and Mariannette Miller-Meeks.

She said the crisis will only get worse with the expiration of a COVID-era policy that allowed known as Title 42 that allowed U.S. authorities to quickly expel migrants on public-health grounds.

Republican lawmakers have lambasted President Joe Biden and his administration's handling of a historic influx of illegal border crossings they say has allowed fentanyl to be smuggled into the U.S. at higher rates and fueled the opioid crisis.

Biden initially kept Title 42 in place after he took office, then tried to end its use in 2022. Republicans sued, arguing the restrictions were necessary for border security. Courts had kept the rules in place, but with the end of national COVID-19 emergencies the border restrictions have now gone away.

The federal government, however, is putting new restrictions into place at its southern border to try to stop migrants from crossing illegally and encourage them instead to apply for asylum online through a new process.

The White House earlier this month announced the Pentagon is sending 1,500 troops to support U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and a counter-smuggling operation in the Darien Gap. And the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is expanding detention capacity and deploying more resources and technology to support border communities, including hundreds more asylum officers and immigration judges to process migrants, according to the White House.

While most fentanyl is smuggled into the United States along the southern board, the vast majority of fentanyl seizures along the border have been at legal U.S. ports of entry, according to the Drug Enforcement Agency. Fentanyl is rarely carried over the border through the desert, but is rather smuggled across official border crossing in passenger vehicles with concealed compartments or commingled with legitimate goods on tractor-trailers, according to the DEA.

And I do have separate efforts where Im pushing the administration on greater resources so that we can interdict the fentanyl thats coming in through the ports of entry, Ernst said. But, we do know that a number of migrants will also bring fentanyl into the country in between those ports of entry, and that there will be more people coming in unfettered with the end of Title 42.

Sgt. Nick Nolte of the Cedar Rapids Police Departments narcotics division said over the last two months the department has seized more than 4,000 fentanyl-laced fake prescription pills.

And just this last week we had two more overdoses, Nolte said. Both people admitted to taking (counterfeit) pills, but would not cooperate with us.  And that continues to be a problem here in Cedar Rapids, just cooperation from the people to allow us to try to find the source of supply.

Photos: Quad Cities High School Apprenticeship Signing Day
CAMBRIDGE, Ill.  A Cambridge man was sentenced Friday in Henry County Circuit Court to three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for one count Class 2 felony aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

William A. Keller, 22, entered a fully negotiated plea to the count. A second count of criminal sexual abuse was dismissed. In addition to the prison time, he will have one year of mandatory supervised release. He was given a 100 percent waiver of assessments and credit for time served for his 307 days in custody to date will cover the $1,000 fine. He will have to register as a sex offender.

According to a factual basis for the charge, the sheriff's department was called to a Cambridge residence July 9, 2022 where an incident with a 12-year-old girl had occurred. Deputies located Keller who admitted to touching the girl. The girl was interviewed at the Braveheart Child Advocacy Center in Cambridge where she disclosed the abuse.

In 2019, Keller pleaded guilty to felony disorderly conduct in relation to a threat made against Cambridge High School and was given second chance probation, which he successfully completed.

Judge Colby Hathaway accepted Friday's negotiated plea agreement.

Photos: Friday at the Henry County Fair
One person was killed 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, Todd W. Evans, was attempting to cross the railroad tracks and was struck on the drivers side by an eastbound train.

Evans, 47, of Cedar Rapids, died in the crash.

An earlier new release from the Iowa State Patrol indicated two people had died in the crash. That was corrected in an updated release on the crash.

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.
Key votes

Bills sponsored

Successes of the session

I was very proud this year to pass The Student First Act. I believe every parent deserves the option to send their child to the school they think is best for them. Over the past few years, weve heard from many parents expressing frustrations with not having their voices heard by their public school. These parents will now have another option available to them if they so choose. And hopefully, this will result in more public schools actually listening to parents so the kids dont have to leave. Its also important to note that we can support our public schools and provide choice to parents. I think this bill accomplished both, along with our other bill to increase SSA funding for education to 3%.
A new super PAC formed to encourage Mike Pence to run for president will have an office in Iowa, the organization said Tuesday in a news release.

Committed to America launched Tuesday with the goal of supporting the former vice president.

Pence has traveled to Iowa multiple times this year, but has not yet definitively stated whether he will seek the Republican Partys nomination for president.

The man Pence served under in the White House, former President Donald Trump, has officially declared his candidacy.

Jeb Hensarling and Scott Reed were announced as Committed to Americas national co-chairs, and Bobby Saparow will lead operations as executive director, the news release said.

The organization will have offices in Dallas and Iowa, the latter being the site of the first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses.

Another Roast and Rider announced

Larry Elder, a Republican candidate for president, announced on social media that he will attend Iowa U.S. Sen. Joni Ernsts annual Roast and Ride fundraiser.

The event, which will feature many presidential candidates, is scheduled for June 3 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines.

PHOTOS: Roast and Ride: Sen. Joni Ernst takes fundraiser on the road Election 2022 Iowa Election 2022 Iowa Election 2022 Iowa Election 2022 Iowa Election 2022 Iowa Election 2022 Iowa Election 2022 Iowa Election 2022 Iowa Election 2022 Iowa Election 2022 Iowa Election 2022 Iowa Election 2022 Iowa Election 2022 Iowa Election 2022 Iowa Election 2022 Iowa Election 2022 Iowa Election 2022 Iowa
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.
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Nineteen years ago, I officially became an Iowan after making the big move from across the river in Moline. Four years later, after receiving my master's in physician assistant (PA) studies at the University of Iowa, I stayed.

Unfortunately, stories like mine are becoming a rarity these days. Today, 60% of PA students leave Iowa after graduation.

During a time of healthcare provider workforce shortages that are hitting rural areas in particular pretty hard, our state simply cannot afford to lose more of our skilled medical providers.

Addressing healthcare needs in rural regions  and all areas of our state  isn't something we can solve overnight or with one piece of legislation. However, we can make commonsense, incremental improvements to healthcare delivery that will ultimately strengthen our state's ability to meet the needs of patients.

For example, one bill recently signed into law, HF 424, will remove unnecessary burdens weighing down healthcare teams  paving the way for expanded patient care in our state. I commend Gov. Reynolds and the legislature  particularly bill sponsor Rep. Ann Meyer, and floor managers Rep. Brooke Boden and Sen. Dawn Driscoll  for making this much-needed update to law.

PAs are licensed clinicians who practice medicine in every specialty and setting. They work in hospitals, medical offices, community health centers, nursing homes, retail clinics, educational facilities, workplace clinics, and correctional institutions. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates PA employment will increase 28% between 2021 and 2031.

In the past, PAs have been required to have an on-paper, legal agreement with a specific physician in order to practice.

Eliminating the requirement for a PA to have a formal relationship with a specific physician and providing a modernized set of practice rules will make our state more appealing to new PA grads and practicing PAs, helping us to not only retain new graduates but also recruit more PAs to our state.

My hope is that with this change to law, we will see an expansion of rural healthcare in the state, led by PAs who are excited to serve the healthcare needs of those close-knit rural communities.

Another benefit of this change to law is that it will allow PAs to run a rural health clinic. PAs have the training, experience and expertise run clinics and are doing just that in many other states. PA practice laws vary by state, and people in other states without this type of restriction are reaping the benefits of an empowered PA workforce who can step up and serve in this way. Iowans need and deserve the same.

When patients have access to quality care within their community, they are more likely to seek care when it is needed and also to utilize preventative services. 850,000 Iowans live in primary care health provider shortage areas, which means that they may have challenges accessing primary care.

In many rural regions, PAs may be the only provider for many miles, offering high-quality care, such as primary care. Today, there are more than 1,300 licensed PAs in the state, with nearly 40% practicing in rural areas.

As a PA who has put my roots down in our great state, I want to say thank you to the Legislature and Gov. Reynolds for recognizing the capacity for PAs to do more to help patients. I am excited to see the health of our communities improve through expanded healthcare access made possible by modernized team-based healthcare.
A proposed expansion that would add nearly 50 acres of land and seven years of mining activity to the Coeur Wharf gold mine in Lead will face its final hurdle before the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources this week.

South Dakota's Board of Minerals and Environment will hold two days of contested case hearings in Pierre to determine whether Wharf Resources is qualified to receive an expansion permit. Wharf has been in operation since December 1982 and has been granted four additional mining permits to expand its operation: two in 1986, one in 1998 and another in 2011.

The Boston Expansion would add 48.2 acres of land to the existing Wharf Mine, an open pit, heap-leach gold operation that's the last of its kind in South Dakota. Lawrence County Commissioners approved a conditional use permit for the Boston Expansion in January 2022. The expansion would render 6.7 million tons of ore, according to Wharf's large-scale permit application from June 2022, to be processed in Wharf's existing heap-leaching facility.

Their initial plans indicate the first phase of expansion will occur in the Flossie Pit in 2023 should the permit be granted. They'll move onto the Portland Pit after mining in Flossie, planning to backfill the mined areas with waste rock as they go. Wharf has been doing concurrent reclamation and plans to continue salvaging topsoil with the goal of returning the area to rangeland.

Four isolated areas with the potential for acid rock drainage were identified as part of the permit application; Wharf plans to buffer those areas to neutralize potential acid-generating material.

"Wharf has operated for nearly 40 years without encountering significant acid producing conditions. Also, historic mines in the current mine area, which date back to the late 1800s, have not been a source of significant acid rock drainage," Wharf said in its application.

The report identifies two different sources of nitrate at the Wharf Mine which occur in groundwater in the area. The first is a natural breakdown of residual cyanide; the other is blasting residue from ammonium nitrate fuel-oil explosives. Wharf said several "accidental, low-level cyanide and ammonia release" impacted Annie Creek in the '90s and early 2000s. They use denitrifying bacteria to spray leach pads and spent ore, inject them into areas where nitrate in groundwater may be elevated, and treat ponds with water from sumps, spent ore repositories, process water and water treatment plants, the application stated.

Wharf is currently in violation of the surface water standard for selenium at False Bottom Springs and DANR issued a warning letter in 2021. The mitigation project, which included sonic drilling to analyze the source of the selenium, is ongoing.

Data from wildlife and vegetation surveys from 2020 and 2021 were used as part of the Boston Expansion permitting; Wharf conducted separate surveys for bat habitat and nesting raptors as required by South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks. The Northern Long-Eared Bat is listed as an endangered species, while four other species  Townsend's Big-Eared Bat, Silver-Haired Bat, Long-Eared Myotis and Fringe-Tailed Myotis  are listed as sensitive. Wharf's report states no bats were located in old mine works or cliffs along the proposed expansion areas. Three mine shafts in the area were closed as well.

The Broad-Winged Hawk, listed as rare under South Dakota's Natural Heritage Program, has been sporadically sighted in the western portion of the proposed Boston Expansion area, according to Wharf's permit application. They say no active nests have been observed in the area since 2003. Wharf will attempt to transplant a small patch of 10 thinleaf huckleberry plants  a sensitive species  should the area be disturbed during mining.

Opposition letters sent into DANR ask the permit not be issued due to the potential environmental impact from spills. The Prairie Hills Audubon Society requested the permit be denied until South Dakota's regulations on cyanide are improved and the bonds required by mining companies are increased. A Lead resident asked that "some portion of the northwestern Black Hills" be left alone, while another expressed concern about the potential contamination of aquifers. Others still cited the destruction of the Black Hills' unique landscape.

Black Hills Clean Water Alliance Executive Director Dr. Lilias Jarding wrote a letter opposing the expansion and claimed 181 reported surface spills since 1983. BHCWA worked with a geochemist from Columbia University to measure samples from Fantail, Whitewood and Annie Creeks; they say results appear to show multiple elevated samples of uranium and arsenic.

Carla Marshall of Rapid City petitioned to intervene in the permit process in late April, saying the process shows a lack of government-to-tribal communications, a violation of the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty and incomplete reporting data on the state website.

"From what I have gathered, from 1983 to 2023 Wharf/Coeur Mining, including the Golden Reward Mine, filed 216 'accident' reports," Marshall wrote. "The total amount of these reports comes out to be 125,333, but that is not an accurate amount as nine or more of these reports filed with the State are void of amount and unit."

In contrast, multiple organizations in the Northern Hills wrote to support the expansion at Wharf Mine, including the Lawrence County Commissioners, who cited Wharf as a "vital, reliable and consistent employer." Coeur Wharf's website shows they employ 260 mining professionals, 98% of whom live in the Black Hills.

Organizations like Wellfully and the United Way of the Black Hills wrote to support the expansion and highlighted Coeur Wharf's contributions to the local community since their inception.

"Employees of Coeur Wharf sit on our Northern Hills Community Cabinet as well as our Board of Directors. Employees and the company contribute to our fundraising campaign, which funds the grants to nonprofits. They have also been a partner in our education efforts in the Northern Hills," wrote Jamie Toennies, then-executive director of UWBH in Jan. 2022.

Director of SD CEO West Women's Business Center Michelle Kane said Wharf has been a key sponsor of their Women in Leadership Program for seven years, and that "it's really an example of a successful business and community nonprofit partnership where we are more efficient working together."

DANR issued a recommendation of conditional approval to Wharf for the Boston Expansion, stating it addresses all legal requirements. Their formal recommendation includes stipulations requiring Wharf to submit an annual surface and groundwater characterization report on or before March 1 each year; notify DANR within five working days of receiving any written complaints from landowners about dust, noise and blasting; and do tree-clearing operations outside of migratory bird nesting season.

The South Dakota Board of Minerals and Environment will hold a contested case hearing on the Boston Expansion permit application beginning at 9 a.m. Mountain Time May 18 and 19 in Pierre. The board will either approve, conditionally approve or disapprove the application. Any decision may be appealed to the circuit court and the State Supreme Court.
A 17-year-old Parmelee teen pleaded not guilty in adult court Friday to three felony charges and three misdemeanors after allegedly driving a vehicle at a Box Elder Police officer in April.

Kylee Young appeared out of custody before Circuit Court Judge Joshua Hendrickson for her arraignment in Pennington County Court. She was held on a $250 cash only bail, which was posted April 5.

Young is charged with felony aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, felony aggravated eluding, felony failure to stop in the case of an accident, misdemeanor possession of alcohol by a minor and misdemeanor speeding. She allegedly led law enforcement on a chase that reached 75 mph in a relative's vehicle she was not permitted to use April 2, according to the state at her initial appearance the following day.

The teenager is in adult court because her case falls in a specific window of age and severity of charges. In South Dakota, juveniles over 16 years old charged with one of the five most extreme felonies, classes A, B, C, 1 and 2, are tried in adult court and subjected to adult sentences.

Aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and aggravated eluding are both class 2 felonies. If convicted, Young would face up to 25 years in prison and up to a $50,000 fine for each felony.

Failing to stop at an accident, a class 6 felony, carries a maximum of two years in prison and up to a $4,000 fine.

The misdemeanors have a maximum penalty of 30 days in the county jail and up to a $500 fine.

Young's attorney, Ole Olesen, said the defense intends to request a transfer to juvenile court. The burden is on the defense to argue for the transfer. However, Olesen said he expects to come to an agreement with the state before Young's next hearing, which is scheduled for 3:15 p.m. June 26.
The National Park Service and the Federal Aviation Administration are seeking public feedback on a draft Air Tour Management Plan and associated environmental assessment that are being proposed for Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

The agencies encourage anyone with an interest in or concern about air tours over Mount Rushmore National Memorial to review and comment on the draft ATMP and environmental assessment. The proposed plan would not authorize any air tours above or within 0.5 mile of the boundary of Mount Rushmore National Memorial. There were on average 3,914 air tours per year over Mount Rushmore National Memorial reported from 2017 to 2019.

Public feedback can be submitted through the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment website from May 16 through June 16. The NPS and FAA will consider comments to help inform the final ATMP for Mount Rushmore National Memorial. The project website is available at: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/MountRushmoreATMP.

We encourage anyone who is interested in air tours over Mount Rushmore National Memorial to share their thoughts on the proposed plan, said Michelle Wheatley, the parks Superintendent. The draft plan is based on extensive analysis and consultation with Tribes and other parties, as well as response to public comments from our September 2022 Scoping Newsletter. The purpose of the ATMP is to ensure that park resource values, including natural sounds, visitor experiences, wildlife, and other natural and cultural resources, are protected.

The NPS is developing an air tour management plan for Mount Rushmore National Memorial in cooperation with the FAA. The agencies are working towards completing the air tour management plan for Mount Rushmore National Memorial by December 31. The schedule is part of a plan approved by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit for the agencies to comply with the National Parks Air Tour Management Act of 2000.

An important part of the process is the inclusion of American Indian Tribes. The agencies said they are consulting with Associated Tribal Nations that hold historic and cultural significance to land and resources within the park.
(Photo : ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP) (ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump-era special counsel John Durham releases a sweeping 300-page report criticizing the FBI over its investigation of Russia's involvement in the former president's campaign.

Former special counsel John Durham releases report criticizing FBI's investigation of Russia's involvement in Donald Trump's 2016 campaign

The sweeping 300-page report argued that the agency initiated the probe over vague and insufficient information

Durham claims that the FBI had confirmation bias among sensitive investigations

Trump-era special counsel John Durham releases his four-year-long report criticizing the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) over its investigation of Russia's involvement in the former president's campaign.

The sweeping 300-page report made public on Monday, accused the FBI of conducting the probe over vague and insufficient information. Former Attorney General Bill Barr named Durham to examine the origins and conduct of the investigation of whether or not former President Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign colluded with Moscow.

John Durham Releases Four-Year-Long Report

Durham noted in his report that the Department of Justice and the FBI could not uphold their mission of strict fidelity to the law. The report's conclusion added that senior FBI personnel needed more analytical rigor toward the data and information they gathered, as per NBC News.

In response to the report, the FBI said that the missteps Durham identified have already been addressed. The statement added that the agency implemented dozens of corrective actions following the conduct seen in 2016 and 2017.

Officials argued that if the reforms had already been in place in 2016, the identified missteps in Durham's report would have been prevented. They added that the conclusion reinforces the importance of ensuring that the agency can continuously conduct its work with the rigor, objectivity, and professionalism that the people of the US deserve and expect.

Durham's Monday report comes after he lost the only two prosecutions that he brought to court, seemingly in an attempt to appeal to the court of public opinion. He argued that FBI officials unfairly treated the former president by being too quick to unleash the agency's investigative powers.

Read Also: US Debt Default Threatens Global Economy, Warns World Bank President

FBI Investigation of Donald Trump

The report accused the FBI of acting on "raw, unanalyzed, and uncorroborated intelligence," including confirmation bias. Durham argued that this was seen when the agency ignored information that undercut the initial premise of the probe, according to BBC.

Moreover, Durham's report noted significant differences in how the agency handled the Trump probe compared to other potentially sensitive investigations. These include those that involved the former president's 2016 electoral rival, Hillary Clinton.

Durham said that Clinton and several others received "defensive briefings" from the FBI aimed at individuals foreign powers may have targeted. The list of people that received these briefings did not include the former president.

Despite the claims made in the report, Durham only provided little substantial new information regarding the investigation. Furthermore, it failed to produce any major revelations that call into question the FBI's alleged politically motivated misconduct over its investigation of Trump.

The report also referenced a conspiracy theory that many Trump supporters used, that the FBI investigation was because of the Steele dossier. This was opposition research said to be illegally funded by the Clinton campaign, claims later discredited, said the New York Times.

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The sunshine Monday brought relief to the area after steady rains fell across western South Dakota last week causing wet and gray conditions over the weekend.

Preliminary storm reports from the National Weather Service show varied rain totals from May 11 to May 14, with the highest report coming in at nearly eight inches in Spearfish. Bison in northwestern South Dakota received around four-and-a-half inches, while Ellsworth Air Force Base came in just under four inches. Heavy rains along the South Dakota-Nebraska border brought nearly four inches to places like Kyle.

The near-constant rain proved too much for smaller creeks like False Bottom in Spearfish, which flowed over the roadway and caused temporary closures of Roughlock Lane and Airport Road. Some minor flooding occurred in far-eastern Pennington County, with the Highway Department closing part of Big Foot Road after water covered the roadway.

The National Weather Service in Rapid City issued a flood warning from Monday morning to early Tuesday afternoon for the Cheyenne River near Plainview and Wasta. The Cheyenne River was measured at 15.8 feet Sunday morning and expected to crest to 17.4 feet by Monday evening. Flood stage is 17 feet.

National Weather Service Hydrologist Melissa Smith said the warning was issued because of some minor overflowing along the Cheyenne River right before it enters Lake Oahe. Another warning was issued Monday for the southern Cheyenne River Reservation as runoff continues flooding along the Cheyenne River.

Smith is hopeful the rain will have a measurable impact on the next drought monitor, which is set to be issued Thursday.

"The rainfall that we had over the past several days has done wonders for our soil moisture," she explained. "It has replenished our soil moisture in many locations, and in addition, the stock ponds are now filling up in many locations from this extra runoff that we were able to generate, which will really help things out at least in the short term for early this summer."

Rapid City has received about seven-and-a-half inches of rain since January 1, nearly two inches above normal.
The Montana University System has awarded the prestigious MUS Honor Scholarship to five Bitterroot Valley students.

Emilie Courchesne, William Cruse and Nathaniel Schwartz of Hamilton High School as well as Olivia Buoy from Corvallis High School and Quinn Lue of Florence-Carlton High School were all selected to receive the scholarship.

The MUS Honor Scholarship is a renewable scholarship offered by the Montana Board of Regents that waives undergraduate tuition for up to eight semesters at any campus of the Montana University System or Dawson, Flathead Valley or Miles community colleges. The scholarships average value is $20,000. It is the most prestigious scholarship offered centrally by the Montana University System.

Students offered this scholarship must be graduates of an accredited Montana high school with a minimum grade point average of 3.4 at the end of their seventh semester in high school, take either the ACT or SAT standardized test, meet college core requirements, and attend an eligible Montana campus.

These scholarships are for Montanas best and brightest and we are honored to be able to provide them, said Clayton Christian, Commissioner of Higher Education. We look forward to these students choosing the Montana institution of their choice and getting a great education right here in the state.

A total of 230 scholarships have been offered statewide. A full list is available at http://www.mus.edu/Prepare/Pay/Scholarships/MUS_Honor_Scholarship.asp.
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.
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."
May 15 correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly indicated the Legislature had fully approved the governor's changes to the state compensation program. The Senate, however, adjourned before taking action on those changes, meaning the governor's changes are moot. On May 12, Gov. Greg Gianforte vetoed the bill.

The state House agreed with the governors changes to the compensation program for people who were wrongfully convicted, but the Senates early adjournment without addressing the changes leaves the bill in limbo.

House Bill 423, carried by Rep. Amy Regier, R-Kalispell, built on a program established by the 2021 Legislature following years of bipartisan construction.

Lawmakers and advocates involved in that process came to Helena this year with several changes in hand aimed at stakeholders' original intent, which was to avoid costly, protracted litigation cases when someone seeks legal recourse after their convictions are exonerated.

One of the major changes anticipated for this session was removing counties where the conviction occurred from the equation when doling out responsibility for paying the claims.

The only case to test the new program so far is staged in Missoula County, where Cody Marble seeks compensation for his 15 years in and out of prison on a rape conviction the county attorney's office later said "lacks integrity."

Missoula County officials, facing potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars in compensation claims from Marble, have since reversed course, now arguing in court filings that Marble's conviction was sound.

Lawmakers in 2021 had passed legislation without counties, but Gov. Greg Gianforte sent the bill back, requiring they include counties or he'd veto the bill.

Lawmakers did so again this session, and Gianforte likewise sent the bill back to lawmakers with the same ultimatum.

"Historically, counties have been liable for approximately 77% of the damages paid to persons wrongfully convicted, and the state has been liable for approximately 23%," Gianforte's amendatory veto letter reads. " To ensure financial and legal responsibility rests with the part best able to keep it from happening again, and to protect Montana taxpayers," he requested lawmakers reinstate a provision that splits the county-state payout ratio to 75% and 25%, respectfully.

"That's because that the allegations have been that there was exculpatory evidence withheld by someone in local law enforcement," Rep. Bill Mercer, R-Billings, told the House floor on Tuesday as the chamber considered Gianforte's changes. "Those are the sorts of things that have led to reversals and settlements in these cases, but it's not been the state that's been responsible.

"To say that the state is going to fully fund this and the counties and municipalities would have no responsibility completely disrupts that order, the fact that we're going to try to minimize the kind of conduct that leads to these sorts of claims," he added.

Gianforte's changes also included a provision that would eliminate claims in which people seek compensation for convictions for marijuana crimes following legalization of recreational cannabis in 2020.

The House approved the changes on a 68-28 vote. The Senate, however, adjourned ahead of the House without taking action on the governors changes, meaning Gianforte will have to sign lawmakers version into law or veto the bill outright.

The program still provides $60,000 per year in prison and $25,000 per year under probation or parole to people who were later exonerated.

Under law, a person who has been exonerated has two options. They can file a claim under the program or attempt to seek damages in court, the latter being theoretically a riskier attempt for a higher dollar figure in financial recourse.

Marble, in the Missoula County case, abandoned his civil case against officials to seek a claim under the new state program and is now in a different form of litigation to secure the claim.

Richard Raugust, however, maintained course in his litigation and in December agreed to a $5 million settlement with Sanders County, where his homicide conviction was overturned after 18 years in prison.




Kathmandu, Nepal, May 16, 2023: The Supreme Court (SC), the apex court of the country, has issued an interim order on the name of Nepal government not to immediately implement the government's decision to distribute Rs 200,000 to the disqualified Maoist combatants.





Responding to the writ petition filed by Advocate Gyanendra Raj Aran against of the governments decision, a single bench of Supreme Court Justice Kumar Regmi issued the order on Tuesday.




UNITED NATIONS  Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas urged the United Nations on Monday to suspend Israel's 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.

Israel's U.N. ambassador, Gilad Erdan, 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.
This afternoon, HCPS officials were alerted to a gun on school grounds. While there are no known threats or injuries, HCPS alerted the SRO, who responded and is working with school officials to investigate thoroughly. pic.twitter.com/uUpXjkGi3D
The suspect arrested in the violent assault of a woman in Shockoe Bottom has been released and charges against him have been dropped, according to Richmonds top prosecutor.

Commonwealths Attorney Colette McEachin confirmed Tuesday that all charges had been dropped against Ladell Holmes after a review of the evidence suggested that Holmes, 23, was not the assailant who attacked a woman in an alley near the Poe Museum March 26.

Holmes was facing charges of attempted first-degree murder, malicious wounding and strangulation.

Jeff Truitt, one of the public defenders representing Holmes, told the Richmond Times-Dispatch via phone Tuesday that prosecutors agreed to drop the charges May 5, before his trial was set to begin.

They had serious doubts that Mr. Holmes was the person who committed these crimes, Truitt said.

McEachin said that her office moved to dismiss the charges given the substance of (the) evidentiary issues, but declined to go into specifics on what evidence prompted the dismissal.

Paula Akinwole, Holmes sister, said that she could not believe it when she returned from a vacation in April and learned that her brother  who she described as a playful, silly young man who loves art and music but also suffered from mental health issues  was a person of interest in a violent crime.

I was floored, Akinwole said. I never believed that he could be violent.

Akinwole told the Times-Dispatch that she had spoken briefly with Holmes since his release from jail, but had not seen him in person.

Police were initially called to the 00 block of North 19th Street around 11:30 p.m. Sunday, March 26 by a person who witnessed an assault near the Poe Museum.

Officers arriving on the scene found a woman seriously injured in the alley. She told police that she had been walking in the area when an assailant hit her hard in the leg and strangled her.

Rumors swirled on Facebook and Reddit in the weeks following the attack near the Poe Museum, with Holmes picture posted alongside warnings about an attacker targeting women in Shockoe Bottom and Church Hill.

More than three weeks after the attack, Richmond police at a press briefing outside RPD downtown headquarters identified Holmes as the suspect in the attack.

This was an assault that was as violent as it was senseless, said Detective Sgt. Anthony Catoggio, a member of the departments aggravated assault division, in the April 18 briefing.

Less than 48 hours later, police arrested Holmes without incident at a hotel along Chamberlayne Avenue. Interim Police Chief Rick Edwards cited media coverage and tips from the public the department received after the press briefing as components of this successful apprehension.

A statement from the police department Tuesday afternoon thanked the public again for providing tips to assist in the ongoing investigation and asked anyone with additional information to call Detective Hartley of the Major Crimes Unit at (804) 646-4314 or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at (804) 780-1000.

Mayor Levar Stoney, who praised the police after the arrest and cited the use of new cutting-edge technology to make Richmonds streets safer, declined to comment on the charges being dropped.

Akinwole told the Times-Dispatch that she sympathizes with the victim of the assault, even though the situation ultimately led to her brothers wrongful arrest.

My heart breaks for (her), she said. But my heart breaks for Ladell too.

She fears that public opinion has already hardened against her brother, but hopes the dismissal of charges will allow people to consider him in a different light.

Often times, in the eyes of other people, a (young) black man is a big, scary person, she said. That isnt Ladell. I need people to not look at him as some kind of monster.
The fire was three years ago, but the chaos it caused lingers on.

A lighting strike that hit a Hanover County cell tower during a major storm in 2020 turned the metal obelisk into a pillar of flame, and cell phone service is still spotty three years later, frustrating residents in the neighborhoods around the Atlee area of Ashcake Road.

Verizon manages the malfunctioning tower adjacent to New Highland Baptist Church off New Ashcake Road. The company sent an executive to talk with residents inside the church Monday night.

The hundred or so residents fired off questions about when their cell service would be restored to the reliable state it was in before the lightning strike, and complained that a number of solutions the company offered have provided only momentary relief from their service problems.

Hanover resident Patty Garza has an in-law suite where her elderly mother lives. She has been impacted by the cell service blackouts and worries over the safety of her mom in the event of an emergency. I work in Innsbrook and, if something happens, she has no way to call me, Garza said.

The tower first went down near the beginning of the pandemic when people were sent home to work.

Without a cell phone, I would be in the middle of a business call and it would drop, Garza said. Id have to get in my car and drive around to talk. Im not at my computer and Im driving around in my pajamas.

The tower that burned down was later replaced with a temporary tower. That temporary solution caused relief for some neighborhoods, but problems still persisted for many others.

Verizon customer service representatives told hundreds of those residents to install signal extenders. Many reported that those extenders gave them access to cellular data, but only in their houses, or in specific rooms inside of their homes.

Signal extenders are a secondary devices that are designed to amplify cell data. They are commonly recommended in rural areas or in places that have weak cell signals.

Garza explained that she tried submitting complaints to the Federal Communications Commission. She left a message to discuss the issue. When they called back at 9:30 p.m., she was in a different room of her home that does not have cell service. She called again the next day and had to leave a message again.

Hanover County Board Chairs Angela Kelly-Wiecek and Faye Prichard organized the meeting with Verizon in conjunction with county staff after seeing the public outcry about signal strength.

Russ Chandler, director for global network operations at Verizon, blamed much of the problem on the use of those signal extenders.

Those extenders help in a small market area but what they dont help is when youre driving down the street, Chandler said. One of the things that can happen is, you pick up your neighbors extender  then you have a really strong signal from the tower that youre not picking up.

A map at the meeting was left for people to circle areas where they were having issues. Residents reported that close to 5 miles of street between Sliding Hill Road and New Ashcake Road in Hanover have signal problems, along with several neighborhoods in between.

This is something we should have gotten in front of early on and said hey, we need to treat these areas differently to get the best solutions. The standards at the time were the best solution because they provided instant relief for those of you that have them, Chandler remarked.

The full tower has since been rebuilt, though it is 15 feet shorter than the original tower, per newer FAA regulations. Chandler said that the newly built tower is better, with prongs that point signal in four directions, versus three, leaving less potential for dead zones. Additionally, Chandler said the companys real estate team is looking into places to put additional towers.

Chandler said the company discovered yet another problem just one day before meeting with the local residents.

He said that the company that owns the tower  which Verizon leases  placed a metal mesh around it to keep birds from getting in. He said that mesh was placed in early April and was a detriment to the signal trying to transmit.

Fonjenik Turner, an area resident, started a Facebook group in late April called Verizon Wireless Can You Hear Me Now? Nope! Not in Hanover VA!

That group got about 100 members in just a few hours, jumping to nearly 400 people by the time the meeting took place.

I work in healthcare, my neighbor is a doctor who runs an ICU, Turner said. We need to be connected 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and we dont have that reliability.

Chandler told a full room at Highland Baptist that the company needed to first remove the mesh from the tower. The last possible step would be the powering down of peoples signal extenders, if nothing else worked.

We recognize what we need to do to make these calls go through, Chandler said.

Turner said it feels good to be heard but that she is waiting until her service is restored to be content.

It feels good to be heard and to know that they are actively working on it, Turner said. We werent given an estimated timeline of when we should be able to expect improvement. I feel hopeful based on that but I will feel better in about a month if there are actual tangible improvements.

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(Photo : Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images)

Thailand voters give overwhelming support to opposition parties in what many consider a demand for change from the current military-led regime.

Thailand opposition parties score a major victory in elections against military-backed incumbents

The Move Forward Party (MFP) is expected to win 151 seats in the House

On the other hand, the Pheu Thai party, which is linked to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, is set to win 141 seats

Thailand voters supported democracy in the national elections, allowing opposition parties to achieve a major victory in what is seen as a defiance of military rule.

Progressives and several members of the country's pro-democracy opposition parties achieved overwhelming success this weekend. It surprised many political observers in the region, which indicates that the nation's people are demanding change from the current military-led regime.

Thailand's Opposition Parties Score Major Victory

Furthermore, the victory of opposition parties sends a significant message that favors a more representative government. Pita Limjaroenrat's progressive Move Forward Party (MFP) is set to win 151 seats in the House. On the other hand, the Pheu Thai party, which is aligned with former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, is expected to win 141 seats, as per Vox.

Put together; the two opposition parties will have control of at least 292 seats out of the 500 available in the House. In a statement, Council on Foreign Relations fellow Josh Kurlantzick said that the results would cause a major change in the country since the MFP is the first to directly challenge major Thai institutions, such as the monarchy and the military.

For a long time, the military has had a hold on Thailand's political environment, a grip that was further bolstered by military coups in 2006 and 2014. The coup in the latter year was one that Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha led and resulted in a new Constitution that gave unprecedented power over the government to the military.

Another cause of concern was that one of the post-coup reforms that were implemented threatened the MFP's coalition. The country needed 376 members of parliament to elect a new prime minister, and the military was the one that appointed the 250-person Senate.

Read Also: National Conservatism Conference in London Disrupted by Extinction Rebellion Protesters

What Happens Next?

A visiting fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, Napon Jatusripitak, said the election could be considered a referendum on traditional power centers in Thai politics. He added that the country's people demanded change in the form of structural reform, according to the New York Times.

The opposition parties win the elections; the only question remains whether the military establishment will accept the results. The MFP used its campaign to target institutions and policies previously considered sacrosanct in Thai society.

These include mandatory military conscription and legislation that protect the country's king from criticism. With the Pheu Thai party in government, there may be a chance to place the former prime minister back into the center of the nation's politics.

Following the results, Pita said, while speaking at the party's headquarters in Bangkok, that the sentiment of the country's era has already changed. His party was able to ensure support from young voters who have been, for years, disillusioned by military rule, said BBC.

Related Article: Keir Starmer Supports Voting Rights for Long-Term EU Residents in the UK

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Dog and cat owners in the Richmond area will have an opportunity to get their pets vaccinated against rabies this weekend.

The Henrico County Police Division is holding a rabies clinic from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, May 20 at the Henrico County Government Center, located at 4301 East Parham Road.

Virginia law requires that all dogs and cats four months of age or older be vaccinated against rabies. The Virginia Department of Health recommends updating rabies vaccines every three years.

Vaccinations cost $15 and must be paid for in cash. Pets from all localities are welcome, but cats must be brought in carriers.

Dog licenses for Henrico residents will also be available for $10. The licenses, which are required for dogs four months and up, are valid for the life of the animal as long as the owner lives in Henrico and rabies vaccinations are kept current.

For more information, call the Henrico Police Animal Protection Unit at (804) 727-8801 or visit their website.

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The Republican-led Virginia Department of Elections elected to withdraw from a multi-state election data-sharing partnership over concerns about privacy, costs and the alleged risk of data sharing with outside organizations being leveraged for political purposes.

Democratic lawmakers asserted Monday that the move is an effort to undermine voting access and trust in the electoral process.

The Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) was created in 2012 with Virginia as one of the seven founding members. Gov. Bob McDonnell, a Republican, promoted it at the time. The partnership allows for states to compare voting data to identify people who have died or moved between states and adjust rolls accordingly  measures that can prevent or catch instances of voter fraud.

ERIC primarily combated the things Republicans claim to care about, said House Minority Leader Don Scott Jr., D-Portsmouth, at a news conference Monday. Why would Republicans want to do away with it? The answer is and has always been clear since Governor (Glenn) Youngkin was elected  because they want to undermine our democracy.

Virginias ERIC pullout follows several other GOP-led states that have withdrawn  Alabama, Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri, Ohio and West Virginia. Texas has considered a withdrawal that is supported by the Republican Party of Texas, but has not yet left ERIC.

Scott remarked on how the Youngkin administration quietly changed the process for formerly incarcerated people to have their voting rights restored, and also noted the GOP-led push in recent years to walk back the expanded voting access that was implemented when Democrats held the governorship and majorities in the General Assembly.

From quietly changing the restoration of rights progress to this surprising departure from ERIC, everything they do is trying to disrupt our election process, he said Monday. These destructive changes harm voters and undermine faith in our system.

Last week, Department of Elections Commissioner Susan Beals wrote a letter to ERIC, citing reasons for Virginias planned withdrawal. She cited concerns over rising costs to participate following the departure of other states and confidentiality of the data sharing.

The letter noted momentum around the creation of viable alternatives to inter-state data sharing compacts and Virginias ability to replicate favorable ERIC functionality internally and develop true autonomy for all list maintenance and data sharing practices.

To accomplish this, Andrea Gaines, a spokesperson for Beals, said the department will obtain a subscription to the Limited Master Death file from the Social Security Administration and will continue to process records it receives from the Department of Motor Vehicles.

She added that Virginia has been in talks with other states for several months about creating new state-to-state data-sharing relationships for the purpose of identifying double voters.

On the concern over rising costs, Gaines said the fiscal year costs rose from $37,000 to $54,000 from 2022 to 2023. Participating states contribute to the funding for ERIC.

A spokesperson for Youngkin said rising costs were a reason to withdraw, along with concerns over privacy.

Virginia withdrew from ERIC because Virginians data was shared with an ERIC affiliated research organization and, despite its efforts, Virginia was unable to reform ERIC, said Macaulay Porter, a spokesperson for Youngkin.

ERIC has previously shared anonymized data for research purposes with an election organization led by David Becker, ERICs founder. States that participated did so voluntarily, VPM reported.

Democratic lawmakers have accused the Youngkin administration of buying into conspiracy theories. In Mondays news conference, several senators and delegates reflected on the growing national tensions around distrust in elections  spearheaded by former President Donald Trumps false claims that the 2020 election was stolen.

This is wild conspiracy theory stuff, right? said Del. Marcus Simon, D-Fairfax. Its really disturbing that the governor and Susan (Beals) do seem to buy into these debunked conspiracy theories. Theyre willing to believe that kind of information and actually use that kind of conspiracy theory to guide decision making over at the Department of Elections.

Asked if the Youngkin administration had a response to the allegation, Porter did not directly respond, but answered other questions.

During his 2021 campaign, Youngkin initially ducked questions about whether he believed the 2020 election was stolen. After winning the GOP nomination, he said he would have voted to certify the results. Last year, he campaigned for some GOP gubernatorial candidates around the country  like Arizonas Kari Lake  who continued to deny the results of the 2020 election.

As for ERIC, after roughly a decade of operating under the radar as a bipartisan coalition of more than 30 states, it has generated concern from leaders or constituents in the states that have pulled out of it.

In early 2022, it became the subject of far-right blogs framing the partnership as a liberal conspiracy to steal elections. Louisiana became the first state to withdraw from ERIC shortly afterward.

Shane Hamlin, ERICs current executive director, provided a statement to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, stating that the organization will follow its bylaws and membership agreement regarding any members request to resign membership.

That means that, following Beals resignation notice, it will be 91 days before the resignation is effective, according to the bylaws.

We will continue our work on behalf of our remaining member states in improving the accuracy of Americas voter rolls and increasing access to voter registration for all eligible citizens, Hamlin said in the statement.

Top five weekend events: Dominion Energy Riverrock, Lebanese Food Fest & Pauly D Dominion Energy Riverrock Lebanese Food Fest Pauly D at The Park Jo Dee Messina at After Hours Flowers After 5
A part of a Powhatan Countys history of schools for Black youth will be protected as one of the latest grants from a state-funded foundation charged with protecting forests, farms and open space.

The Virginia Land Conservation Trusts latest grants also include $500,000 to secure 4.33 acres along Dock Street in Richmond, the only remaining privately held land on the north bank of the tidal portion of the James River in the city, clearing the way for an extension of the Virginia Capital Trail.

The grant is matched by $3.8 million in cash and property donations from the Capital Region Land Conservancy, the Land and Water Conservation Fund and the city.

This land will be added to the James River Park System.

In Powhatan, the fund granted $228,450, matched by $247,000 from the Virginia Outdoors Foundation and the landowner to buy and protect with an easement the 56-acre Rosemont property.

Listed on the state and national historic landmark registries, Rosemont was built in 1898 by C.L. Dodd, the architect who in 1895 designed the St. Francis de Sales Institute, a residential Catholic school for African American girls in Powhatan County.

The house is across the road from the school, and features stained glass windows and carved front doors similar to the schools.

St. Francis, like the nearby St. Emma Agricultural and Industrial Institute housed in the Belmead-on-the-James mansion, was a boarding school for Black and Native American youth from across the nation.

The school was founded by Saint Katharine Drexel and her sister, who hailed from one of Americas wealthiest families. Saint Katharine is one of only two American-born saints in the Roman Catholic Church.

In addition to the house, the grant and matching funds will preserve 40 acres of woodlands, an original wood-framed barn, 16 acres of open space and streams that bisect the property.

Conserving this property  shares a crucially important story of African American life impacted by the Drexel and Morrell schools in rural Virginia, said a document prepared for the foundation board detailing the grant.

Over the past six months, the foundations grants, totaling more than $3.3 million, have brought matches of property donations and money totaling more than $17.9 million.

Funded by Virginia taxpayers, the foundation is charged with protecting farmlands and forests, lands of historic or cultural significance, natural areas and open spaces and parklands.

Since beginning this work in 2000, the foundation has awarded more than 285 grants totaling more than $72 million to protect more than 100,000 acres across the state.

Meanwhile, the Capital Region Land Conservancy said a Charles City County landowner gave it a conservation easement to protect 58 acres that are home to two groups of the rare Virginia Least Trillium, a wildflower with three white petals typically seen between March and June or July. The plant favors acidic soils in low, swampy woodlands along streams, as well as red maple swamps. It is often found in groups on hummocks

Since the landowner had intentionally left the forested wetlands untouched for the last 35 years, we expected to find plant diversity on the property, said Ashley Moulton, the conservancys land stewardship manager.

But to find this rare plant growing here made protecting the property under a conservation easement a statewide conservation priority, Moulton added.

The easement runs along 900 feet of West Run, and provides an extra level of protection for a 100-foot wide buffer along the stream and surrounding the propertys wetlands.

Those wetlands are unusual for the region because they are fed year-round by a groundwater seep, with water moving through the soil from natural springs.

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US CONGRESS DEBT LIMIT

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 "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. 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 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.

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 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 said Monday that agency estimates are unchanged on the possible X-date when the U.S. could run out of cash.
09-21-1965 (cutline): The El Rancho, an Italian Cattle Ship, loads hay for Transatlantic Trip. Herd of Virginia Dairy cattle will go aborad today for milestone voyage.

04-03-1964 (cutline): This sea-going houseboat ends an 847-mile railroad trip here yesterday as it is swung off a railroad car at Deepwater Terminal, ready for launching into the James River. The 38-foot, steel-hulled boat was built by the River Queen Boat Works at Gary, Ind., and transported here for Ward Marine, Inc., by the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway. The boat is powered by two 160-horse-power engines.

01-03-1965 (cutline): Newsprint is hoisted from ship at Richmond's Deepwater Terminal. More sailings of ocean-going ships from here are predicted in 1965.

From the Archives: Deep Water Terminal

In December 1964, rolls of newsprint were hoisted from a ship at Richmonds Deepwater Terminal in preparation for delivery. The Virginia State Ports Authority was hoping to substantially increase trade activity; it had recently opened an office in Tokyo, adding to international locations in London and Brussels.

The port was built in 1940 as a general marine cargo terminal facility. For many years sugar and tobacco were the main products passing through the port. Newsprint also became a major cargo when local newspapers began to use domestic paper. In the late 1970s, the first containerized ocean shipping was introduced at the port and the importing and exporting of products expanded immensely.

Today, the port continues to bring in and take out cargo. Products passing through include machinery, aluminum, consumer goods, textiles chemicals, frozen seafood and more.

Did you know that the history of the port dates back to colonial times?

In 1619, Falling Creek Ironworks was built in the Virginia Colony which eventually became the site of the town of Warwick. Three years later, the facilities were utterly destroyed and the majority of the colonists killed in the Indian Massacre of 1622.

The unincorporated town and port of Warwick was located in a geographically strategic area where the James River was navigable for about 5 miles south of downtown Richmondeast of the fall line. Warwick was thus as far up river as most historic ships could securely navigate.

Because of its location, the town of Warwick was also targeted during the Revolutionary War. In the spring of 1781, British troops destroyed the town, burning warehouses, ships and store houses to the ground.

While the Lost town of Warwick no longer exists, the port's facility located at Deepwater Terminal encompasses part of the famous old site.
AMLO announces pay increase for Mexico teachers

Mexico City, Mexico  Teachers around the country will receive an 8.2 percent increase in their wages. The increase will be retrospective, being backdated to January 2023.

The announcement was made Monday by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador who said that all education workers will receive the 8.2 percent increase on their salary.

During his morning press conference, AMLO said that with the increase, there will not be any teachers in Mexico earning less than 16,000 pesos a month.

The increase will apply retroactively from January of this year. This action for the benefit of teachers will mean allocating an additional 42 billion pesos to the budget that is already channeled to strengthen public education and improve the conditions of the workforce, he said Monday referring to the more than 800,000 education workers in Mexico.

He said a review of their ISSSTE medical benefits and of pensions will also be looked into, since the education sector is one of the priorities of the Government of Mexico.
Pemex accepts $10.7 million USD payment from Lozoyz

Mexico City, Mexico  Pemex has accepted a $10.7 million USD payment agreement from Emilio Lozoya as compensation for damages. According to his lawyers, Lozoya will pay the $10.7 million USD as reparation.

The Board of Directors of Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) have reportadly accepted the deal. Lozoyas lawyers, Alejandro Rojas Pruneda and Miguel Ontiveros Alonso, indicated that the amount of reparation for damages in the Agronitrogenados and Odebrecht cases has been approved.

The lawyers have said that the amount of reparation was approved unanimously by the Board of Directors of PEMEX, with Mr. Romero Oropeza acting as General Director of that institution.

The agreed to amount for both cases is $10,736,351 USD and has already been claimed by the institutions of the Government of the Republic formally and in writing, and before the jurisdictional body belonging to the Judiciary of the Federation, Lozoyas lawyers said.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador says the $10.7 million is not enough compensation for the damages of Lozoya to Pemex. Lozoya is currently serving time in the North Prison.
Grammy Award-winning prog-grass band The Infamous Stringdusters and Rooster Walk festival organizers schemed up a new event for the festival site near Martinsville.

The Infamous Weekend is set for Sept. 15-16 at Pops Farm, with four sets from the Stringdusters, plus music from 49 Winchester, Yarn, Kendall Street Company, The Sweet Lillies, The Wilson Springs Hotel, Furnace Mountain and The Jared Stout Band. Tickets are on presale and go up for public consumption at 10 a.m. Friday via infamousweekend.com. Prices werent immediately available.

Lots of folks from Virginia and elsewhere remember when the progressive-picking, jam-leaning Dusters curated and hosted the Festy Experience at Devils Backbone Basecamp, in Roseland. Rooster Walk put on a smaller, reunion-style event during pandemic-era autumns.

Its really a perfect pairing, Rooster Walk and the Dusters, the festivals executive director, Johnny Buck, said in a news release. Were going to keep a small footprint on the event this fall, with plans of growing it every year going forward. Its exciting.

On-site camping, food, art and craft vendors, outdoor excursions and childrens activities are among the draws, in addition to live music on the festival sites Lawn Stage and Pine Grove Stage.
Franklin County Public Schools were closed Monday following a ransomware attack that is still impacting the school division.

According to a statement from schools Superintendent Bernice Cobbs, the decision was made to cancel classes Monday in the interest of on-campus security as the impact of the cyberattack was being reviewed. Proactive measures taken by the school system included taking certain systems offline.

"Like many other organizations across the country, Franklin County Public Schools became the victim of a ransomware incident," Cobbs said in a statement. "Immediately upon detection, we began an internal investigation and engaged third-party experts to assist in our remediation efforts. Fortunately, through this teams quick response, we were able to stop the progress of the attack."

Students and teachers returned to classes on Tuesday.

Cobbs said Franklin County Public Schools is currently working with local and national law enforcement in the process, including the FBI and Virginia State Police.

The FBI's Internet Crime Complaints Center defines ransomware as a type of malicious software, also known as malware, that encrypts data on a computer, making it inaccessible to its owner until a ransom is paid. Cyber-criminals also sometimes steal data off a system and hold it hostage for payment.

This is not the first cyberattack on a local government in the Roanoke and New River valleys. In fall 2017, a malware attack halted email, phone and computer networks in Roanoke City Public Schools for several days. In fall 2018, a phishing attack compromised email accounts in the town of Christiansburg, resulting in the town to offer free credit monitoring to more than 900 people.

Nationally, the FBI reported in March in its 2022 Internet Crime Report that more than 2,300 ransomware attacks were reported in 2022, with adjusted losses of $34.3 million. Among "critical infrastructure sectors" hit by ransomware attacks, health care and public health agencies were the most frequent targets, followed by the critical manufacturing sector, with government agencies, such as the Franklin County Public Schools, third.

Over the weekend The Philadelphia Inquirer was unable to publish its Sunday newspaper after a cyberattack compromised its content management system, the Associated Press reported. It was the biggest disruption to the newspaper's operations since a massive snowstorm 27 years ago.
ROCKY MOUNT  Just a month after providing temporary funding to last the remainder of the current school year, the Franklin County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday discussed providing a school resource officer at every school for the next school year and beyond.

Supervisors approved $100,000 in additional funding for the Franklin County Sheriffs Office last month to pay for a school resource officer at each school in the district. The request came following a school shooting in Nashville, Tennessee, that killed six people.

The additional money funded six additional resource officers to ensure each elementary school had an officer. Previously, six officers rotated between the countys six elementary schools.

At Tuesdays work session, supervisors agreed having a school resource officer at each of the schools should continue. The concern was how the county would fund it moving forward.

Some additional funding could come from a grant from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Service that the Franklin County Sheriffs Office applied for earlier this year for eight additional school resource officers.

If approved, it would provide $461,904 in funding annually for the next four years.

Franklin County would be required to provide a local match of $305,000 for the grant. That amount would increase to more than $400,000 annually by 2027.

Even with additional funding from grants, supervisors were concerned how the county would be able to afford the additional costs. The countys 2023-24 fiscal year budget approved last month was called a maintenance budget with little additional spending.

This cannot be done without a tax increase. Period, said Boone District representative Ronnie Thompson.

Thompson said a 1 cent increase to the real estate tax rate would increase revenue for the county by approximately $700,000. A real estate tax increase would need to be several cents to continue funding officers in the schools, especially after the grant ends in 2028. That year the countys cost for the program is estimated to exceed $2 million.

Thompson also asked what impact having officers in the schools would have on patrols in the county. He said it could take away officers from other areas where they are needed and create more problems in the future.

Hiring part-time officers to fill the school resource officers could provide some savings for the county, but costs would still exceed $1 million by 2028, according to a draft of possible funding options provided at Tuesdays meeting. Blue Ridge District representative Tim Tatum said he was in support of using some or all part-time officers to fill the positions.

Our job is to balance all this out, Tatum said. Weve got to roll up our sleeves and decide how we are going to fund this.

Blackwater District representative Ronald Mitchell said the county is in support of funding the officers. He said it is still necessary as there are still constant reports of mass shootings.

There is a mass shooting almost every day, Mitchell said.

While supervisors were unable to come to an agreement Tuesday, a vote will be necessary at an upcoming meeting if the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Service grant for eight additional school resource officers is awarded. A response is expected in the coming weeks.

If awarded, supervisors have 60 days to approve matching funds of $305,000.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke by phone today with President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon.

They discussed the close and enduring bond between the United States and Gabon, as well as a number of global and regional matters, to include cooperation during Gabon's current term on the United Nations Security Council.

READ NEXT: Statement from White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on House Democrats Reintroducing President Biden's Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill

Mr. Sullivan reiterated appreciation for President Bongo's participation at the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in December 2022, including the meeting that President Biden hosted on the importance of free, fair, and transparent elections. Mr. Sullivan and President Bongo affirmed the importance of tackling security challenges in the Gulf of Guinea and Central Africa region.

To that end, Mr. Sullivan announced Gabon's selection for the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program. Gabon will be paired with a State National Guard in the coming months and work jointly with the National Guard to tailor the program to its specific capability gaps and needs.

Mr. Sullivan thanked President Bongo for his leadership on climate and conservation, including in our shared Atlantic Ocean region, and they pledged to deepen collaboration on these important issues.

READ MORE: Statement from President Joe Biden on United Steelworkers Vote in Fort Valley, GA

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Email Thomas Elias at tdelias@aol.com. His book, "The Burzynski Breakthrough, The Most Promising Cancer Treatment and the Governments Campaign to Squelch It" is now available in a soft cover fourth edition. For more Elias columns, visit www.californiafocus.net
" " One of two golden-tongued mummies discovered in the temple of Taposiris Magna, currently being excavated by archaeologists outside Alexandria, Egypt. Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

There are probably some really boring things about digging up ancient dead bodies, but the reward probably comes in when you find the weird thing  the mysterious thing. Like mummies with golden tongues, for instance.

The Ancient Egyptians were a treasure trove of unusual funerary practices  for at least half of the 6,000-or-so years they buried their VIPs, it's obvious they were perfecting the process of preserving the soft tissues of their physical bodies, as well as streamlining the travel necessities for the deceased's journey to the afterlife. As their culture grew, so did the stories around the paces the dead would be put through in the Great Beyond.

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The process of mummifying somebody was long  it took a bunch of specially trained priests with detailed knowledge of human anatomy around 70 days to complete. It was also expensive, which is why it's the wealthy and royal ancient Egyptian people archaeologists find mummified in sarcophagi, tucked in among treasures and mummified cats and sometimes servants to take care of them in the afterlife, occasionally with their tongues covered in gold foil.

In a statement made by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in January 2021, two of the 16 mummies discovered in the temple of Taposiris Magna, currently being excavated by archaeologists outside Alexandria, were found with gold foil tongues stuck in their mouths. The Ministry statement explained this would have been done by the priest who prepared the bodies "to ensure their ability to speak in the afterlife"  particularly to Osiris, the Egyptian god of the dead.

Gold was as precious in ancient Egypt as it is today, and golden tongues have been found in Egyptian mummies before, but it is not known why some of the mummies got these precious prosthetics while others did not. However, the practice is mentioned in the Book of the Dead, the ancient Egyptian text outlining funerary practices. The text explains that placing gold foil on the tongue would ensure the deceased would be able to breathe, eat and speak in the afterlife.

The mummies found at Taposiris Magna were not in particularly good shape, but they were buried with some other treasure, including coins depicting the face of Cleopatra, which means they were entombed around 2,000 years ago, during the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt. The team that uncovered the 16 burials at Taposiris Magna has been working for years to find the tomb of Cleopatra, the last ruler of the last dynasty of ancient Egypt, which is believed by some to be submerged under the harbor in Alexandria.

Now That's Interesting During the mummification process, ancient Egyptian embalmers removed every organ but the heart, which was left so that the gods could weigh it.
FLORENCE, S.C.  A new restaurant at the Pee Dee State Farmers Market is bringing Hawaiian flavors to Florence.

Aloha Kitchen was founded by native Hawaiians who traveled to South Carolina after being drawn by Southern hospitality. Jebidiah Perkins, who owns the store with his son Damien, said food is a large part of Hawaiian culture, and he wanted to be able to share it with the people of Florence.

Weve been here for a few years, and we really miss our local food and culture, Perkins said. The aloha experience is something that is not just meant to be kept at home, but something that is to be for the whole community.

Hawaiian culture  and by extension, Hawaiian food  is a mix of many different cultures, according to Perkins. He said Asian cultures have had the biggest influences on the island chains culture and food, which makes it different from traditional American cuisine.

Its home cooking in a different way, he said.

The Asian influence can be seen throughout the restaurants menu: from the signature Hurricane Chicken Katsu plate, which coats fried chicken in a sriracha and teriyaki sauce, to the Chow Fun side.

The menu has five sections: Breakfast, plate lunches, salads, burgers and sides. Eventually, Perkins said, he wants to expand to include rotating specials.

We didnt want to just overwhelm everybody with different, so we are just kind of bringing just a few items now, he said.

The restaurant officially opened on May 5 and will stay open year-round from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday to Saturday.

To learn more about the restaurant or to see the full menu, visit: www.alohakitchensc.com
Security personnel stand guard outside Afghanistan embassy in New Delhi (AFP via Getty Images)

A power tussle between the Taliban and officials from the former Ashraf Ghani administration has taken a new turn after the latter resisted the militant groups attempts to take charge of Afghanistans embassy in New Delhi.

Farid Mamundzay, the Afghan ambassador to India who assumed his position under the countrys former Western-backed administration in 2020, rejected the Talibans attempt to install a charge daffaires on Monday.

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 said in a press statement.

The comment from the embassy comes amid reports from Afghanistan claiming the Taliban appointed its trade counsellor Mohammad Qadir Shah as an acting envoy to New Delhi. An unsigned document shared by Tolo news accused three envoys, including Mr Mamundzay, of corruption over a rent agreement with an Indian firm.

Mr Shah is a member of the existing envoys team and looks after trade, becoming the representative for import and export affairs between Delhi and Kabul. India counts as Afghanistans second largest hub for exports after Pakistan.

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 press statement said, adding that the diplomatic mission continues to function as normal and working for the interests of Afghan nationals in India.

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

Mr Mamundzay, an official from the administration now in exile, underlined New Delhis consistent position for supporting the interests of the Afghan people while not recognising the caretaker Taliban regime in Kabul at the same time, as has been the case with democratic governments around the world.

Story continues

The Indian governments Ministry of External Affairs termed the tussle a domestic matter for Afghanistan which needs to be settled among the representatives, reported The Indian Express.

The Independent has reached out to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan embassy in New Delhi for a comment.

No international administration has officially recognised the leaders from the hardline Islamist group as Afghanistans de facto rulers.

Most nations have also refused to allow the Taliban to set up embassies on their soil.

New Delhi has also refused to officially recognise Talibans envoy and attempt to set up its own official at the embassy headquarters.

Taliban has about 14 missions across the world, including in Pakistan, Iran, Russia, Qatar and Turkmenistan and has been seeking more control abroad.
Unique places to visit in Bangkok, Thailand. (PHOTO: Gettyimages)

Bangkok is one of those cities where many memorable experiences can be found just below the surface. Amazing restaurants are tucked down backalleys, the best shops are hidden in the depths of a market, and that perfect food stall is probably found between a laundromat and a 7-Eleven. To save you search time, here are a few must-see sites that are not on the typical Bangkok list.

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1. Wat Leng Noi Yi

Wat Leng Noei Yi is the most important Chinese Buddhist temple in Bangkok. (Photo: Gettyimages)

Built in 1871, Wat Leng Noi Yi, also called Wat Mangkon Kamalawat, is the most important temple in Chinatown. Worshippers are here at all hours, letting birds free from tiny cages, praying at altars and burning paper offerings. The last time I was there, I arrived just in time for the start of a ceremony with dozens of monks chanting in unison. With so much activity going on, the most respectful thing to do is find a quiet corner and take it all in. This is a great window into the Thai-Chinese life.

Wat Leng Noi Yi is on Charoen Krung Road near its intersection with Soi Itsara Nuphap. It's a long walk from the MRT station at Hualamphong. Open daily 6am-6pm.

2. Monk Bowl Village

Hand-made creation of iron bowl at the Monk Bowl Village (Baan Bat), Thailand. (Photo: Gettyimages)

A tiny back alley that is the one and only place in Bangkok where alms bowls are still made by hand, Baan Bat is truly one of the most unique places in town. A glimpse back to the Bangkok of yore, this little community has been making alms bowls for hundreds of years. If you're adventurous enough to find and speak to them, they might just show you just how the bowls are created. Wood-fired kiln, freshly hammered steel? My two favourite ways to start the day. Buy a bowl, and you'll receive a neighbourhood alley tour, and a pretty incredible souvenir for around 1,000 baht.

Baan Bat is located on Soi Baan Bat off of Thanon Bamrung Meuang. The bat makers are there daily from 10am until 6pm. The 508 bus stops nearby as does the khlong taxi to Tha Phan Fah. Follow the sounds of the hammers and make sure to hit up this particular spot, not the more tourist-ready bat makers on the main road.

3. Wat Sam Phran

Aerial view of Wat Samphran or Chinese Dragon Temple in Sam Phran District in Nakhon Pathom province near Bangkok Urban City, Thailand. Tourist attraction landmark in travel trip concept.

A massive dragon enveloping a pink temple? Count us in! Located one hour outside of Bangkok, the Wat Sam Phran temple can be found in the Sam Phran District in the Nakhon Pathom province of Thailand. There are two modes of transport to get here: a direct taxi or a train ride to Lak Song MRT station, followed by a taxi.

If you're coming via a taxi, you can observe the dragon from the highway. Up close, you'll notice the dragon's feet at the base of the temple and the dragon circling the 17-storey tower that reaches a height of 80 meters. There are stairs that tourists can hike up to the top of the storey, but for those with jelly legs, they can take an elevator for ease.

Wat Sam Phran is located at 92 Sam Phran, Sam Phran District, Nakhon Pathom 73110, Thailand. Open daily from 9.00 to 5.30 on weekdays and 6am to 5.30pm on weekends.

4. Chocolate Ville

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A woman (C) poses for photographs at Chocolate Ville, a European village-themed open-air restaurant, on New Years day in Bangkok on January 1, 2023. (Photo by MANAN VATSYAYANA / AFP) (Photo by MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP via Getty Images)

Looking for pictures for your 'gram? For some reason, there is a unique 19th-century European theme park called Chocolate Ville, a 30-minute drive from downtown Bangkok. The open-air complex actually houses cottages, windmills, and F&B restaurants. The new addition to this park is the cute and furry capybara, so don't forget to snap pictures of them.

Chocolate Ville is located on 23 1-16 Prasert-Manukitch Rd, Ram Inthra, Khan Na Yao, Bangkok 10230, Thailand. Opens daily from 15.00 to 00.00.

5. Papaya Design Furniture & Studio

Papaya Design Furniture & Studio. (PHOTO: Reta Lee/Yahoo Life Singapore)

Feast your eyes on this museum-like store in Bangkok. This four-storey building in an abandoned town houses thousands of furniture and decorations sourced from 18th century onwards. This is a treasure trove for production sets needs, and visitors like myself get transported to moments frozen in time. From theme park statues to vintage bicycles, sculptures, dolls and more, you'll spend close to two hours just discovering all the knick-knacks from every corner of the warehouse.

Papaya Design Furniture & Studio is located on 405 Soi Sukhaphiban 5, Tha Raeng Subdistrict, Bang Khen District, Bangkok 10220 Thailand. We'd advise coming here by taxi as the area is quite secluded. Opens daily from 9am to 7pm.

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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.
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BERLIN, GERMANY - MAY 14: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (unseen) at the German federal Chancellery on May 14, 2023 in Berlin, Germany. This is Zelensky's first visit to Germany since Russia invaded Ukraine last year. Germany is among Ukraine's firmest supporters and has supplied its military with a wide range of weapons.



During a whirlwind tour of European allies, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky was promised billions of dollars in new military aid, reflecting a dramatic shift in the political landscape as Europe assumes a more central role in arming Ukraine for its anticipated counteroffensive against Russia.

Zelensky's four-nation excursion began on Saturday in Italy. It concluded on Monday in the United Kingdom, where Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged to provide a substantial package of air-defense missiles and attack drones.

European Leaders Vow to Provide More Aids to Ukraine

This was in addition to the recent delivery of long-range cruise missiles by the United Kingdom. And it followed Germany's vow to provide Ukraine with nearly $3 billion worth of arms and less concrete promises of additional arms from France and Italy.

According to experts, Europe's support for Ukraine demonstrates that the war has entered a crucial phase, with Ukrainian forces massing for a counteroffensive that could determine the terms of future negotiations with Russia. Per NY Times, it also acknowledges that support for Ukraine in the United States, which remains by far the largest supplier of munitions, is likely to face pressure.

German and Ukrainian officials reported that Zelensky is concerned that President Joe Biden will be less able to lead diplomatic efforts as the American presidential campaign ramps up. Zelensky, who embraced Rishi Sunak after descending from a helicopter, characterized the meetings as "substantive negotiations" and referred to Sunak as "my friend Rishi" on Twitter.

In the coming weeks, France will train and furnish multiple battalions with dozens of armored vehicles and light tanks, including the AMX-10RC, according to the statement.

Paris would also concentrate on bolstering Ukraine's air defense capabilities. French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Zelensky to the Elysee Palace for the second time since the February 2014 Russian invasion of Ukraine, as per SCMP.

During a dinner at the presidential palace, the leaders will reportedly discuss France's "support" in responding to "Ukraine's imperative military and humanitarian requirements."

Macron would "reaffirm France and Europe's unwavering support for restoring Ukraine's legitimate rights and defending its fundamental interests," according to the statement.

In an interview published on Sunday in the newspaper Opinion, Macron stated that Russia has "already lost geopolitically" the Ukraine conflict and is becoming a vassal state of China. France has provided Ukraine with various munitions and fuel, including air-defense systems, light tanks, howitzers, and other weapons.

Read Also: WATCH: Deadly Cyclone Mocha Lashes Myanmar, Bangladesh, Causes Widespread Destruction

Zelensky Calls Putin 'Insane'

Before flying to Paris, Zelensky met with Scholz in Berlin to discuss his country's planned counteroffensive. Zelensky stated that the objective would be to liberate Russian-occupied territory within internationally recognized Ukrainian borders and not to attack Russian territory.

The Ukrainian president is visiting allies in search of additional armaments to help his country repel the Russian invasion and funds to reconstruct what has been demolished by more than a year of destructive conflict. A Luftwaffe aircraft transported Zelensky to Berlin from Rome, where he met with Pope Francis and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Saturday.

It was his first visit to Berlin since the start of the conflict, and it occurred a day after the German government announced a new military aid package for Ukraine worth more than $3 billion, including tanks, anti-aircraft systems, and ammunition.

Zelensky thanked Scholz for Germany's political, financial, and military support, noting that the country is now only second to the United States in assisting Ukraine and joking that he is working to make Germany the largest donor. Meanwhile, Zelensky has described Russian President Vladimir Putin as "insane" as he travels across Europe to bolster up support for Kyiv ahead of the country's long-promised counteroffensive.

During a Saturday visit to Rome, Zelensky conferred with Italian political leaders, including Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and the chief of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis. Before a concerted pushback against Russian forces, Kyiv's European allies pledged additional aid.

According to Newsweek, the Ukrainian leader traveled to Berlin on Saturday as Germany unveiled a new military aid package for Kyiv. Zelensky wrote on Twitter, "I applaud Germany for the largest military aid shipment since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion."

The government has increased military equipment shipments as it prepares for a spring counteroffensive. However, Kyiv officials have yet to elaborate on the nature of these operations.

Related Article: French Journalist Dies During Rocket Attack in Ukraine

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Iowa seniors and veterans can begin applying for a new property tax break created by legislation signed into law earlier this month by Gov. Kim Reynolds.

The new property tax law, House File 718, was approved with near-unanimous support in the Iowa Legislature. The bill is designed to limit the amount of new property tax revenue growth that local governments can use in their budgets.

Republican legislative leaders estimate the legislation will result in a $100 million property tax cut statewide.

It also provides new property tax exemptions for Iowans age 65 and older and for military veterans.

The law provides a $3,250 exemption on the taxable value of a home owned and lived in by Iowans 65 and older as of Jan. 1 of this year. The exemption applies for the 2023 assessment year that would have associated taxes due in fall 2024 and spring 2025. The homestead property tax exemption increases to $6,500 for the 2024 assessment year. The exemption is a reduction in the taxable value of the property  not a direct reduction in the amount of property taxes owed.

And that is in addition to the Iowa Homestead Tax Credit, which reduces the taxable value of an owner-occupied Iowa home up to $4,850. Persons in the military or in nursing homes who do not occupy the home are also eligible.

The Iowa Department of Revenue announced Monday it has amended the homestead tax credit exemption form to allow seniors to apply for the new exemption. Applications are due July 1 to local assessor offices.

Forms are available at tax.iowa.gov by searching for homestead pdf

If granted, the exemption will be allowed for future years without future filing as long as the claimant continues to qualify, according to the department.

Unlike the Iowa Homestead Tax Credit, however, local governments will not be backfilled for the loss in revenue from this part of the new law.

The new law also more than doubles a property tax exemption for veterans by increasing it to $4,000 in taxable value from the current $1,852 in taxable value.

As with seniors, applications are due July 1 to the local assessor. However, military veterans currently receiving the exemption do not need to file a new application as long as the veteran or the veteran's spouse is the legal or equitable owner of the property on July 1 for which the exemption is allowed, said John Fuller, a spokesperson for the Iowa Department of Revenue.

The exemption applies for a honorably separated, retired, furloughed to a reserve, placed on inactive status or discharged veteran.

Lawmakers passed the bill shortly after the latest round of property assessments across Iowa showed widespread, dramatic increases in the assessed value of homes  up a statewide average of 22 percent this year  to keep the rise from triggering dramatic increases in homeowners local property tax bills.

While calling the bill the most significant property tax reform in state history, Reynolds and Republican lawmakers have said the measure is just the first step in addressing property taxes, and intend to revisit the issue during next years legislative session.
State officials have scheduled a series of webinars to teach Iowans about how to apply for state-funded financial assistance to attend a private school in the 2023-2024 school year.

Applications for the Students First Education Savings Accounts will be accepted starting May 31 through June 30.

The program, signed into law by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds in late January after being passed by the Republican-led Iowa Legislature earlier this year, will be phased in over four years until, at full implementation, all K-12 students in Iowa will be eligible for roughly $7,600 per year in state funding to put toward private school tuition or other private school expenses.

The State Board of Education adopted administrative rules on May 4 that specify definitions for the program, eligibility requirements, parameters for the application process, and program administration and accountability.

The program is expected to cost $107 million in the first year and $345 million by 2027, when fully implemented. In total, over the course of four years, the program would cost the state an estimated $879 million.

A New York-based company, Odyssey, that administers similar programs in other states has been contracted by Iowa to operate the program.

The legislation was approved with only Republican support. They said the program will provide greater choice for families in their childs education. Democrats and critics of the program say it will divert state funding from public schools and will disproportionately benefit higher-income families.

A spokesperson for the Iowa Department of Education did not respond to messages and emailed questions seeking clarification about the information that will be presented in the series of webinars for parents and guardians of Iowa K-12 students.

Since the Education Savings Accounts were signed into law, some private schools have announced increases in their tuition fees for the coming school year.

Reynolds, speaking during an appearance on Iowa Press recorded Thursday at Iowa PBS studios in Johnston, said she does not feel that reports of some Iowa private schools increasing tuition weakens the states new financial assistance program, but said she will keep an eye on it.

Reynold told reporters that private institutions are facing the same increased costs in education that public schools are. She added private school teachers in Iowa often make less than public school teachers, and that tuition increases could go toward teacher salaries.

And we should be doing that across the board, and thats one of things Ill be working on next year, Reynolds said.

Iowa public school teachers make less than the national average. Iowa K-12 public school teachers made an average of $59,581 last fiscal year, according to data from the National Education Association.

The national average public school teacher salary in 2021-22 was $66,745. The average teacher starting salary in Iowa was $39,208.

Reynolds said that gap is why she introduced the provision in the ESA program allowing public schools to use unspent categorical funds to increase teacher salaries.

How Iowas private school savings accounts will work

Parents/guardians who choose to enroll their children in an accredited non-public school will receive an amount equal to the per pupil funding allocated to public school districts for each eligible child. The per pupil funding for the 2023-24 school year will be $7,635. Half of the money will be available to pay tuition and approved expenses for the fall semester and the remaining half will be available for the spring semester.

Funds will be deposited into an education savings account to be used for tuition, fees and other qualified education expenses. The money cannot be used to pay preschool tuition.

ESA funds must be used for kindergarten through 12th grade education at an accredited private school in Iowa. That includes an online private school, provided the student is enrolled full-time and the school is accredited through the Iowa Department of Education.

Who is eligible for an education savings account?

Year one (2023-24)

All kindergarten students

All public school students

Private school students at or below 300 percent of the federal poverty level ($90,000 for a family of four)

Year two (2024-25)

All kindergarten students

All public school students

Private school students at or below 400 percent of the federal poverty level that will be updated in January 2024

Year three (2025-26)

All K-12 students in Iowa, regardless of income

The nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency predicts 14,068 students will be enrolled in the program in fiscal year 2024, its first year. That includes an estimated 4,841 students who would transfer from a public school to a non-public school.

By fiscal year 2027, the agency expects 41,687 students in Iowa to receive Education Savings Accounts to pay their private school costs. Over that time, the agency projects enrollment in public schools to drop from 486,476 in fiscal year 2024 to 475,207 in fiscal year 2027.

Students must be enrolled full time and attend classes for at least 75 percent of the full-time schedule.

How to apply for an education savings account

The application process is in development, according to the Iowa Department Educations website. Iowa families may begin applying for Education Savings Accounts May 31. Applications will be due on June 30 for next school year. Applications are valid for one year, and a family must apply annually to remain eligible for the program, according to the states Students First Education Savings Accounts website.

Where to learn more

The Iowa Department of Education has created a website https://bit.ly/44Y3AjO with answers to frequently asked questions. Parents and guardians can also email studentsfirst@iowa.gov or call 515-954-5652 for more information.
COLUMBUS, Nebraska -- Fernando Perez is hoping to help expand his Christian faith to the Columbus community with the establishment of a new church, Iglesia Cristiana Conexion, later this year.

Perez, who comes from Mexico, said he has been a Christian all of his life, having always been involved in the church. His background, however, may differ from traditional pastors.

Perez has an engineering degree in mining. He said he worked in the states of Chihuahua and Durango in Mexico for three years, programming underground explosive devices to detonate electronically.

He married Sarai Guerrero in 2014, and the couple had a son, Matias Perez, in September 2017.

Once they had a child, Perez said, he decided to go into ministry full time. He attended a bible college for 2 years in Mexico and then spent another two years in Eagle Pass, Texas.

Perez said he enjoyed his work in the mines, but had trouble fulfilling his church duties with his schedule.

It was hard to attend the church, to serve the church, Perez said.  We didn't feel good with God in our relationship. We felt more separate from God and his church. We felt in our heart a desire to serve God full time.

The story of how he came to Nebraska dates back to 2009 when a missionary from Kearney arrived in Perezs town to help replace a roof at a church.

Ten years later while attending Bible college, that same individual and Perez were at an International Conference on Missions event in Virginia.

I talked with him for a little bit and I expressed to him my desire to learn more English and he said, I can help you with that, Perez said.

Perez attended an English-speaking course this past summer at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. He also took advantage of an opportunity to speak with area pastors, including one at the Connection Christian Church in Columbus.

Mike Moser, pastor at Connection Christian, and Perez then had conversations about starting a Hispanic church in Columbus.

Moser said he saw a need for services that were more moderate in the Christian community and also able to reach multiple generations of Hispanic immigrants.

We just kind of thought, What would it look like if we started a Hispanic church in Columbus and maybe shared some resources in doing so? Moser said.

Moser and Perez continued communication over the next year.

Perez came back to the Columbus area in January. The hope, Perez said, is that Iglesia Cristiana Conexion can open in the fall.

Moser noted that while both groups will be located in the same building, they will have separate services and separate leadership.

Perez is very intelligent, Moser said, and his unique background will prove beneficial.

I think (that) will help them to relate to the blue-collar nature of Columbus but also a heart for God, a heart for ministry that will help take them to another level in their spiritual faith as well, Moser said.

There's a church that regardless of where they come from, regardless of where they call home that Iglesia Cristiana Conexion is a place where they can they can connect and find family.

Perez said his goal is to provide an opportunity for people to make a relationship with Jesus.

Some people forget to make a relationship with God because they are busy, they are working a lot and they lost (their) focus on God, Perez said.

That, of course, is what happened to him and what led to his path to starting a church in Columbus.

We hope to bring an option for people (to) come in our service, have worship time and learn about the Scripture, the Bible, Perez said. Our desire is bringing to the people one place, one family to learn more about God and people can have a relationship with God.

Photos: Inside Lincoln's beautiful houses of worship Westminster Presbyterian St. Patrick's St. Thomas Aquinas Church and Newman Center First-Plymouth stars St. Mary's St. Joseph Catholic Church First Christian Church First Presbyterian Church Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Sabah Mosque St. Luke United Methodist St. Teresa's Zion Church Salem Baptist Saint Paul United Methodist North American Martyrs St. John the Apostle First United Methodist Church Christ Temple St. Thomas Aquinas Church and Newman Center Compline at First-Plymouth Tifereth Israel Synagogue St. Joseph Catholic St. Patrick's First Presbyterian Zion Church St. Thomas Aquinas Church and Newman Center Saint Paul United Methodist First-Plymouth St. Patrick's Churches Mount Zion Baptist Church Holy Thursday 4.1
GRAND ISLAND, Neb.  The student speaker at Grand Island Senior High's graduation ceremony used the platform to call for an improvement to the school's culture.

Kenny Morales, who graduated from GISH on Sunday, called his speech Opening Pandoras Box. After a generic opening, the box opened in paragraph two, to shouts of support from some in the audience.

I dont know about y'all, but I hated school, Morales told the crowd, per a transcript of the speech provided by Morales.

He touched upon the number of physical altercations at GISH, saying  while each fight has its own story, they all stem from the same problem: And that is the culture at our school.

In his speech, Morales contended: We lie, we pretend and we hide the truth with selective facts on positive things occurring around the school, instead of being honest and addressing the issues head on. We attempt to fix the issue by pulling them like weeds instead of fixing the underlying issue.

District decisions are made by administrators who sit in a room  everyone is guarded from the truth, Morales told the Independent.

The district declined to comment on Moraless speech. Grand Island Public Schools Board of Education President Hank McFarland declined to comment before discussing the situation with other administrators.

Morales said he felt his speech consisted of constructive criticism.

I really dont think I was too critical," he said.

He told the graduates and guests the solution is raising expectations.

Sure, at first there will be resistance, but in the long term there will be leaders within the class that will emerge and set the standard we so desperately need," Morales said in the speech.

Morales said the speech was not necessarily about shaming the school.

It was more about that message (of raising expectations), he told The Independent. I just wanted to start a conversation.

Morales said his calculus classmates encouraged him to submit a speech  in his own words. Knowing the speech he wanted to write wouldnt pass prior review, Morales enlisted ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence chatbot, to compose a decoy. ChatGPT uses data and computing techniques to mimic human conversation.

Grand Island Public Schools Communications Director Mitch Roush described the graduation speech submission process:

Students who are interested in speaking at graduation can submit their names and draft of the speech that they would like to give, Roush said. Then a group of GISH staff review them and score them blindly.

From there, GISH Executive Principal Jeff Gilbertson assesses the scores and makes the final call from there, Roush explained. Once thats done, (the student selected) works with Mr. Gilbertson to refine their message and make sure they feel confident in what theyre doing.

At that point, Gilbertson gives the speech a final review, Roush said.

Morales didnt say how long it took to manufacture the submitted speech, but did note the delivered speech was written in about a half hour, the day before commencement.

Its just holding people accountable, Morales said.

According to Nebraska Department of Education data, 553 GISH students graduated from the school in 2021-2022  83.41% of the four-year cohort for that class. State data is not yet available for the class of 2022-2023.

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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 2023 Quad Cities Law Enforcement Memorial Service 2023 Quad Cities Law Enforcement Memorial Service. 2023 Quad Cities Law Enforcement Memorial Service 2023 Quad Cities Law Enforcement Memorial Service 2023 Quad Cities Law Enforcement Memorial Service 2023 Quad Cities Law Enforcement Memorial Service 2023 Quad Cities Law Enforcement Memorial Service 2023 Quad Cities Law Enforcement Memorial Service 2023 Quad Cities Law Enforcement Memorial Service 2023 Quad Cities Law Enforcement Memorial Service
SIOUX CITY  A Sioux City man who set a fire that severely damaged an after-hours club was sentenced Friday to 15 years in prison.

District Judge Tod Deck found Valon Jackson guilty in March of second-degree arson, first-degree criminal mischief and third-degree burglary for the Aug. 22, 2021, fire at the Esquire Club.

Jackson, 37, must serve at least three years before he's eligible for parole. He also must pay $183,035 in restitution to the building's owner.

Jackson entered the club at 414 W. Seventh St., and lighted three incendiary devices, spreading them throughout the club. The building, which was empty at the time, sustained more than $100,000 in fire, smoke and heat damage. The fire also caused approximately $20,000 in damage to personal property.

Jackson had been at the club hours earlier and returned after it had closed with another man who remains unidentified. After his arrest, Jackson described to police the three bottles of fuel stuffed with rags he used to start the fire and where he placed him before he and the other man left the building.

Jackson told police he set the fire so the building could no longer be used as an after-hours club because he believed it was being operated in a manner that was detrimental to the community.
STORM LAKE, Iowa  A Storm Lake man was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison for having sexual contact with a girl who was under age 14.

Carlos Sican Alvarado, 51, entered his pleas in March in Buena Vista County District Court to two counts of lascivious acts with a child.

In addition to the prison sentence, District Judge Nancy Whittenburg ordered Sican Alvarado to register with the Iowa Sex Offender Registry and serve a 10-year special sex offender sentence after he completes his prison sentence. If he were to violate terms of the special sentence, he could be sent back to prison.

Sican Alvarado had sexual contact with the girl from January 2019 until March 2022. He is accused of touching the girl underneath her clothing, at one point threatening her if she told anyone about the incidents, which took place in three Storm Lake homes and in a vehicle while Sican Alvarado was driving.
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.
ELK POINT, S.D.  Union County authorities continue to wait for word from Texas that a Sioux City man suspected of killing a woman in Dakota Dunes can be returned to South Dakota.

Alfredo Castellanos-Rosales remains in custody in the Webb County Jail in Laredo, Texas, where he has been held since he was apprehended Friday in Mexico. He has yet to appear in court there for an extradition hearing that will help determine when he'll return to Union County to face charges of first- and second-degree murder.

Court personnel in Texas said no hearing had been scheduled as of Tuesday morning.

"As soon as he waives extradition, then we can bring him back," Union County Sheriff Dan Limoges said.

Limoges said Union County deputies could travel to Texas to pick up Castellanos-Rosales or the county could contract with the U.S. Marshals Service to transport him to Union County.

Castellanos-Rosales, 39, is suspected of killing 23-year-old Jordan Beardshear in her apartment at The Wellington at the Dunes apartment complex on April 25. Her body was discovered the following day.

Five days later, authorities publicly announced they were seeking Castellanos-Rosales, who had been dating Beardshear for the past 12 months and was the father of her 1-year-old son.

Castellanos-Rosales, who was born in Guatemala and is a U.S. citizen, was located in Mexico by Mexican authorities, who expelled him from the country and turned him over to the Marshals Service in Laredo. The Marshals Service then turned him over to state authorities.

Local authorities received cooperation from many people, some of whom helped Castellanos-Rosales leave the area, to learn where he was and notify Mexican law enforcement officials, said Brandon Johnson, supervisory deputy of Sioux City's Marshals office, which was asked by Union County and South Dakota officials to help with the search.

"We did extensive interviews and surveillance to determine who assisted him," Johnson said. "We spoke with many people to determine where he was located."

Johnson said he didn't have details about what city Castellanos-Rosales was found in or other circumstances surrounding his arrest. Johnson said it's possible those who helped Castellanos-Rosales leave the area could face charges.

According to court documents, witnesses saw Beardshear at about 8:30 p.m. April 25 at her apartment complex while she was waiting for Castellanos-Rosales to pick up their son. Cell phone evidence placed Castellanos-Rosales near Beardshear's apartment and her phone around 8:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. At approximately 10 p.m., Castellanos-Rosales called Beardshear's mother to come to his home to pick up the child.

After executing a search warrant at Castellanos-Rosales' home, investigators found clothing suspected of containing blood. Beardshear had sustained "significant" injuries, including stab wounds, defensive slashing wounds and trauma to her neck/throat area, court documents said.
SIOUX FALLS  A Wakonda, South Dakota, pharmacist who stole prescription painkillers from a hospital and its pharmacy for nearly three years was placed on probation Monday.

Cody Carstensen, 46, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Sioux Falls to two years' probation and must pay a $100 special assessment.

He pleaded guilty in January to one count of theft in connection with health care. Carstensen stole hydrocodone, oxymorphone, oxycontin, oxycodone and morphine from Landmann-Jungman Memorial Hospital in Scotland, South Dakota, and Scotland Pharmacy from June 2019 through February 2022. Carstensen admitted to stealing the drugs from several shipments delivered to the hospital and using them for his own purposes.

Carstensen also was ordered to pay restitution, which, according to a plea agreement, will be $4,097.

Three counts of obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception and subterfuge were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.
South Africa: Mapisa-Nqakula leads SA delegation to special sitting in Parliament of Azerbaijan

The Speaker of the National Assembly (NA), Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, is leading a South African parliamentary delegation to a special session of the Malli Majis (the legislative branch) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, held in Baku.

The session will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Heydar Aliyev, who was the National Leader of the Azerbaijan people and the founder of the independent State of Azerbaijan.

Aliyev, who led the people of Azerbaijan from October 1993 to October 2003, is credited for ably leading the State and the nation of Azerbaijan through hard and strict tests of history.

He created the independent country of Azerbaijan and its present realities and laid a reliable foundation for its bright future.

His name is associated with the rebirth of the Azerbaijani people in all spheres of public life, including politics, the economy and culture.

For his leadership and political activism, he was awarded the former USSR Lenin Order five times, Order of Red Star and numerous medals. He received the title of the Hero of the Socialistic Labor twice, as well as high awards from different countries, and honorary titles from prestigious universities worldwide.

In Azerbaijan, 2023 has been declared 'The Year of Heydar Aliyev.

Parliament spokesperson, Moloto Mothapo, said South Africas participation in the celebration is an effort to strengthen cooperation and parliamentary diplomacy between the two sister parliaments.

As the head of delegation, the Speaker will address the special sitting alongside other invited heads of Parliaments in the Plenary Hall [on] 16 May 2023. The delegation will also participate in break-away sessions, as well as bilateral meetings arranged on the sidelines of the special sitting, Mothapo said.

The South African delegation includes National Council of Provinces Deputy Chairperson, Sylvia Lucas and United Democratic Front Member of Parliament, Nqabayomzi Kwankwa.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2023-05-16. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Texas lawmakers propose bill to teach pupils dealing with "war zone" wounds: The Guardian

Xinhua) 10:49, May 16, 2023

LONDON, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Lawmakers in the U.S. state of Texas proposed that schools across the state should provide "bleeding control stations" to teach kids how to deal with casualties from a mass shooting, The Guardian has reported.

Under the terms of HB 1147, a bill pending in the House of Representatives of Texas, the bleeding stations equipped with tourniquets approved for use in battlefield trauma care by the U.S. armed forces would train school staff to use the equipment, so that they can pass on such battlefield skills to pupils in third grade upwards, the British newspaper said on Saturday.

Should the bill pass, eight-year-olds and above in Texas would be taught how to apply compression bandages and chest seals to the gaping, bloody wounds of their friends and teachers in the event of a mass shooting.

"It really worries me that we are training our kids that it's acceptable for their school to become a war zone," said Representative Ann Johnson during a recent debate in the Texas house on the bill.

Last Tuesday, The Guardian quoted the data of Gun Violence Archive that the United States this year has seen 202 mass shootings as of May 7. A mass shooting is defined by the archive as involving at least four people killed or injured by firearms, excluding the shooter.

Mass shootings have plagued the United States and attracted the world attention. No other industrialized country outside war and conflict zones experiences such habitual gun violence in civic life, The Guardian noted.

According to data from the archive, the United States is on pace for 60 mass killings this year, which is going to be the worst in recent history for mass killings. There were 31 in 2019, 21 in 2020, 28 in 2021 and 36 in 2022.

The United States is recording an average of more than one mass killing weekly, amid little political prospect of meaningful gun control, the newspaper added.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
(Photo : Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

The James Webb Space Telescope made another significant finding by observing water surrounding a comet in the main asteroid belt located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.

James Webb Space Telescope discovers water surrounding a comet in the main asteroid belt for the first time

The finding suggests that water vapor can be preserved in warmer areas of our solar system

The discovery involves the Comet Read, which is located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter

The James Webb Space Telescope has made another amazing discovery: a rare comet in the main asteroid belt surrounded by water.

The finding is the first time that water has been detected in a main-belt comet, a type of comet located in the main asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. The recent discovery comes after 15 years of astronomers' attempts to utilize different observation methods.

Water Surrounding a Main Asteroid Belt Comet

Astronomers could use the space observatory to detect water vapor surrounding the comet known as Read. This finding suggests that water ice can be preserved in a warmer part of our solar system. Scientists published a study detailing the journal Nature's findings on Monday, as per CNN.

The finding comes as comets typically exist somewhere in the Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud, which are icy regions beyond Neptune's orbit. These areas can preserve some of the frozen materials left over from the solar system's formation.

These cosmic objects traverse long, oval-shaped orbits around our sun, taking them thousands of years to complete. They produce streaming tails that develop as the frigid things sometimes pass closer to the sun. Comets' fuzzy appearance and tails of material differentiate comets from asteroids.

Scientists did not expect main belt colts to retain much ice due to being in areas considered much warmer than others. The latest discovery changes this train of thought and provides evidence to the theory of how water became a plentiful resource on Earth during our planet's early history.

Despite the discovery, this finding has brought another mystery regarding the universe for astronomers to solve. This is that while carbon dioxide normally represents 10% of the potentially vaporized material in a comet, James Webb did not detect any in Read, according to Engadget.

Read Also: UK's Space Forge Unveils Groundbreaking Innovation for In-Space Manufacturing Satellites

Water Vapor in Warmer Areas of the Solar System

Astronomers theorize that the CO2 either dissipated over the billions of years that the comet has existed or that Read formed in a comparatively balmy part of our solar system that does not contain any CO2.

The finding comes as Read was one of the first cosmic objects used to establish the main belt comte category. Furthermore, James Webb is the first piece of human technology powerful enough to study these types of comets in detail.

Astronomer Michael Kelley from the University of Maryland, who was the one who led the research, said that humans have previously seen objects in the main belt having the characteristics of comets.

However, he noted that it was all thanks to James Webb's precise spectral data that they could confidently say that it was water ice that created that effect. He added that the observations of Read allow them to demonstrate that water ice from the early history of our solar system can be preserved in the asteroid belt, said Space.

Related Article: NASA's Lunar Flashlight Mission Comes to an End

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The 17-year-old Lincoln boy accused of shooting and killing another teen at a crowded house party March 31 had confronted the victim over a bag of marijuana in the moments before the shooting, police said in newly unsealed court filings.

Kashuan McCree, who is accused of first-degree murder and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony in the shooting death of Damien Brave, approached the 18-year-old within 10 minutes of Brave's arrival at the north Lincoln house party and asked if he had marijuana on him, Lincoln Police Investigator Jason Drager said in the court filings.

Brave told McCree no, so the 17-year-old walked away, according to witness accounts included in the probable cause statement for McCree's arrest.

But minutes later, at 11:30 p.m. March 31, McCree confronted Brave again at the house party near 27th and Fair streets, inquiring again about the marijuana he suspected Brave had in a bag he'd brought to the party, Drager said in the statement.

According to police, one witness reported McCree said "something similar to, 'So if I were to shoot you, take your bag and look through it, there will be nothing in there?'"

Then, police alleged, McCree pulled out a gun and shot Brave in the stomach.

The 18-year-old lunged for McCree's gun and tried to wrestle it away from him before the 17-year-old shot Brave three more times, witnesses told police.

As some partygoers fled 1834 N. 27th St. and some called police, at least two attendees carried Brave to a private car and drove him to a local hospital, Drager said.

He was pronounced dead at around 2:30 a.m. April 1.

Brave, the city's fifth homicide victim of 2023 who left behind a grieving family that includes four sisters and his parents, "didn't get a chance to live his life," his mother said.

At least six witnesses later pointed investigators to McCree, who fled to Michigan in the immediate aftermath of the shooting, according to police.

Police arrested McCree in Detroit on April 6 for his alleged role in Brave's death, Lincoln Police Chief Teresa Ewins said at a news conference the next morning.

Ewins said investigators had recovered the bag that apparently ignited the feud between Brave and McCree, but she declined to say what was inside.

At last month's news conference, the police chief also stopped short of calling the shooting a robbery gone wrong, but in court filings, prosecutors said Brave's alleged murder was carried out in an "attempt to perpetrate (a) robbery."

Police don't believe Brave and McCree knew each other prior to the shooting, Ewins said. And, she said, Brave wasn't armed when he was shot.

Authorities haven't found the handgun thought to have been used in the shooting, the police chief said. McCree remained in custody in Michigan until he was extradited this week ahead of Friday's hearing. Appearing via Zoom from the Lancaster County Youth Assessment Center, the 17-year-old Lincoln boy grappled with the reality of his criminal charges at his first court appearance.

McCree asked Judge Thomas Zimmerman at Friday's hearing if he might be able to see his charges reduced after learning he faces up to life in prison.

"I heard 'life,' you know what I'm saying?" he asked the judge. "So, like, if I get a paid attorney  that's just like the range. But with a paid attorney ... or anything like that, that's just  I can get those lowered down with all the facts and everything, right?"

"Mr. McCree, it's between you and your attorney how you intend to conduct your defense of this case," Zimmerman said, before setting the 17-year-old's percentage bond at $1 million.

McCree must pay $100,000 to be released.

Remembering Lincoln's homicide victims of 2023 1. Julian A. Martinez 2. Rudy Requejo Jr. 3. Ronald Gonzalez Rivas 4. Christopher Karmazin 5. Damien Brave
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.

That's 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 that's 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. "I'm sure the guy that was hurt the other day wishes he had done that."

Top Journal Star photos for May 2023
Amber Schiltz says she and son, Sawyer, woke up to the most glorious chorus of bird songs last weekend while camping at Two Rivers State Recreation Area.

It was incredible, she said. I saw my first warbler. Its something I look forward to every year.

Its a good sign of spring and summer, she said, and warmer weather ahead.

Schiltz, who works in the Fish and Wildlife Education Division of Nebraska Game and Parks, uses the Merlin App to identify birds by their song. They found a rose-breasted grosbeak, an Eastern towhee, a tufted titmouse, Baltimore orioles, a yellow-rumped warbler, a white-crowned sparrow, a brown thrasher, a gray catbird, a ruby-throated hummingbird and pelicans.

Its a great tool for anyone to use to learn more about the birds around them, she said.

Joel Jorgensen, nongame bird program manager for Nebraska Game and Parks, said the majority of songbirds that nest and raise their young in Nebraska  and points north in summer  have arrived or are migrating through.

Millions of birds are on the move, including several species of warblers, vireos, flycatcher, buntings, tanagers and orioles.

In addition to songbirds, now is peak migration for a number of shorebirds and water birds, he said. While sandhill cranes and waterfowl get a lot of the fanfare, early and mid-May is the height of avian migration in Nebraska.

May is Nebraska Bird Month and Saturday is National Migratory Bird Day.

With its many wetlands, the state is a great place to watch birds. The diverse areas include marshes, lakes, river and stream backwaters, oxbows, wet meadows, fens, forested swamps and seeps.

Wetlands are highly productive  they produce lots of food and cover that birds like. And because of that, they probably have a better concentration of overall bird life than some other habitat types, said Ted LaGrange, wetland program manager at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

If you want to travel farther than your backyard or dont have a favorite spot to visit like the Schiltz family to see the spring migration, Game and Parks shared eight wetland areas that offer good birding opportunities.

Sawyer Schiltz loved his first camping trip of the spring and the chance to see a lot of birds.

It was 23 million-billion thumbs up, he told his mom.

Marsh Wren Saline Wetland: Located just north of Lincoln, this site is 150 acres of unique saline wetlands. Its a great place to observe spring and fall migrants, including a variety of waterfowl, shorebirds and songbirds. About 2 miles of minimally maintained maintenance roads offer outstanding birding opportunities. In the summer, these roads can be overgrown, so boots and pants are recommended. Visitors may be able to view such species as eastern meadowlark, marsh wren, shorebirds and waterfowl.

Fontenelle Forest: The 1,500-acre area includes a variety of landscapes  deciduous forest, oak savannah and prairie, along with wetlands along the Missouri River. Seventeen miles of maintained trails, including a 1-mile, ADA-compliant boardwalk offering year-round opportunities to observe wildlife.

Fontenelle Forest attracts many migrants and breeding songbirds. The half-mile Marsh Trail offers great views of riparian birds, as well as forest birds. This trail can get muddy after rain. A few species you can observe include wood ducks, yellow-throated vireo and prothonotary warbler.

Ponca State Park: With its wetlands along the Missouri River, this a must-stop location during peak spring migration, when the forests come alive with singing migrant and resident passerines. Here the Missouri River is still unchanneled, resembling its original state with sandbars that offer refuge for shorebirds, including the piping plover. There are several places with scenic overlooks of the Missouri River valley that offer great views of bald eagles in winter. Ducks and snow geese migrate past the Missouri River in spring and fall and can be seen from a viewing blind.

Harvard Waterfowl Production Area: Rainwater Basin site consists of 760 acres of wetlands and 725 acres of upland habitat. These wetlands attract tens of thousands of snow, Canada, cackling and greater white-fronted geese in spring, with numbers peaking in mid-March with up to 500,000 waterfowl. Occasional flocks of sandhill cranes stop over, and bald eagles are regular visitors in early spring. Later in spring and summer, the main basin and several smaller wetlands to the south offer excellent shorebird watching. As with any Rainwater Basin wetland, check conditions before visiting as they can sometimes be dry.

Valentine National Wildlife Refuge: Nebraskas largest national wildlife refuge contains a large number of Sandhill wetlands that attract a variety of wetland birds. At least 224 bird species have been sighted here. There are numerous marshes and shallow lakes that offer breeding habitat for western and pied-billed grebes, Forsters and black terns, a dozen species of waterfowl, shorebirds and other water birds like American bitterns and soras. A 9-mile gravel auto tour road, starting at U.S. Highway 83, is great for bird viewing, and some of the lakes are open for kayaking or boating, offering additional viewing opportunities.

Kiowa Wildlife Management Area: The alkaline wetland area attracts various shorebirds, including nesting American avocets, and is designated a Nebraska Important Bird Area. Canada geese nest here, and about 20 waterfowl species have been reported, including cinnamon teal and large wintering goose and duck populations. Common migrant shorebirds include Bairds, white-rumped and stilt sandpipers. Nesting shorebirds also include the black-necked stilt and likely Wilsons phalarope and Wilsons snipe.

Rowe Audubon Sanctuary: The 2,900-acre site attracts a variety of wetland and grassland birds. It is owned and operated by the National Audubon Society and includes a visitor center with educational displays, gift shop and viewing windows. The sanctuary protects prime sandhill crane and whooping crane stopover habitats, and guided and self-guided crane viewing opportunities are offered.

Lake Ogallala: Very attractive to migrant ducks, ospreys, Caspian terns, cliff swallows, gulls, American white pelicans, double-crested cormorants and other summering species, and it is used by numerous bald eagles and gulls in winter. An eagle-watching facility is available during peak periods, open from December to February on weekends or by scheduled appointments during the week.

Top Journal Star photos for May 2023
Offutt Air Force Base just doubled its fleet of radiation-monitoring planes.

The 55th Wing took delivery Wednesday of the second of three refurbished WC-135R surveillance aircraft, known informally as nuke-sniffers. The first arrived last July; the third is slated for delivery in the fall.

The new plane boosts the Wings ability to take air samples and detect atmospheric radiation from, say, North Korean weapons tests or nuclear submarine bases in the Russian Arctic in support of the 1963 Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. The Air Force calls the mission Constant Phoenix.

When we had one jet, if something happened in the Pacific and something happened in Europe, we had to choose, said Lt. Col. Chris Crouch, commander of the 45th Reconnaissance Squadron, which operates the Constant Phoenix jets. Now ... at least we have the option to respond to both.

The former Arizona Air National Guard refueling tanker (tail number 64-14831) arrived with little fanfare after a delivery flight from Greenville, Texas, where it was converted by the defense contractor L3Harris under the supervision of the Air Forces Big Safari program. Big Safari manages and supports special weapons systems aboard surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft.

The plane had been scheduled for delivery last winter. The 55th Wing declined to comment on the delay.

The total cost of converting the three aircraft is $218 million, appropriated by Congress in 2018 and 2019 at the urging of Nebraskas congressional delegation.

They are replacements for two 60-year-old WC-135s with outdated engines and avionics that had among the worst maintenance records in an Air Force filled with aged aircraft. Both are now retired. One was so notoriously cranky and prone to breakdowns that 45th Squadron crew members called it Lucifers Chariot at a mock retirement ceremony in November 2020.

Compared to the older jets, its a huge change, said Lt. Col. Sean Orme, commander of the 21st Surveillance Squadrons Offutt-based Detachment 1, which operates the radiation-detection gear.

The new Constant Phoenix planes arent really so new. All three rolled off Boeings assembly line in Renton, Washington, in August and September 1964, said Robert Hopkins III, a 55th Wing veteran and historian of Air Force reconnaissance flights. Each has about 25,000 to 27,500 flight hours, compared with between 29,500 and 36,000 for the now-retired WC-135s.

Though only two to three years newer than the aircraft they replace, all three were upgraded with new, quieter, turbofan engines in the early 1990s, and are equipped with newer avionics and flight controls.

That means most any 55th Wing pilot will be able to fly them.

Its brand-new on the inside, new equipment, new avionics, Crouch said. The mission-capable rates of these jets is just awesome.

Hopkins said their prior service in the Air National Guard means they are in better shape than the 55th Wing workhorses. He said Guard tankers typically rack up fewer flight hours and are maintained by National Guard mechanics who care for the same aircraft for years, unlike in the active-duty Air Force.

Offutt flies their jets hard, he told The World-Herald in 2020. Airplanes that come out of the Guard and Reserve have been pampered.

During the conversion, the long aerial refueling booms have been removed from the former tankers, and the flight controls and avionics modernized to match the other 24 C-135 variant aircraft in the 55th Wing fleet.

In the back end, they have been equipped with sensing pods on each side of the fuselage, over the wing. Filters inside the pods can capture tiny particles from a nuclear blast, giving analysts critical information about the composition of the bomb or other radiation source.

The planes also have been equipped with compressors that channel air samples into tanks for further study.

Crouch and Orme said their crews have learned a lot since the delivery 10 months ago of the first updated WC-135R, tail number 64-14836.

The first shift was more of the heavy lift, Orme said. We want to be sure the lessons learned on Eight-Three-Six will be applied on Eight-Three-One.

The first WC-135R deployed for the first time in January, to Puerto Rico  an unusual place for 55th Wing jets to operate.

Orme declined to discuss the types of missions flown from the U.S. territory in the Caribbean but hinted that it could see more reconnaissance deployments.

Puerto Rico is an option that could be exercised in the future, he said. We were able to hit some new ground.

For the past month, the jet has been operating in Europe and the Middle East, according to information gathered from flight-tracking websites by a 55th Wing veteran who goes by the Twitter handle MeNMyRC.

On Friday, for example, it flew from a deployed base at RAF Mildenhall, England, over the western Mediterranean, off the coast of Algeria and Tunisia. Other recent sorties overflew the Barents Sea on April 17, the Black Sea on April 21, the Persian Gulf on April 26, and the eastern Mediterranean on May 5.

From what Ive been seeing, shes been doing great over there, Orme said.

Photos: Offutt Air Force Base through the years Offutt Air Force Base is named for Lt. Jarvis Offutt  the first airman from Omaha killed in World War I. 1891 1952 1956 1957 1959 1961 1962 1962 1967 1970 1989 1992 1997 2000 2000 2003 2006 2012 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2019 2019
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 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.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch 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.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Debt-limit talks shifted into an encouraging new phase Tuesday as President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy named top emissaries to negotiate a deal to avert an unprecedented national default. Biden cut short an upcoming overseas trip in hopes of closing an agreement before a June 1 deadline.

The fresh set of negotiators means discussions are now largely narrowed to what the White House and McCarthy will accept in order to allow lawmakers to raise the debt limit in the coming days. The speaker said after a meeting with Biden and congressional leaders that a deal was possible by week's end, even as  in McCarthy's view  the two sides remained far apart for the moment.

Biden was publicly upbeat after a roughly hourlong meeting in the Oval Office, despite having to cancel the Australia and Papua New Guinea portions of his overseas trip that begins Wednesday. Biden will participate in a Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima, Japan, but then return to Washington on Sunday.

Theres still work to do," Biden said. "But I made it clear to the speaker and others that we'll speak regularly over the next several days and staff's going to continue meeting daily to make sure we do not default.

Senior White House officials, as well as top aides to the four congressional leaders  McCarthy, R-Calif., Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.  have been meeting daily.

But now, Steve Ricchetti, counselor to the president, Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young and legislative affairs director Louisa Terrell will take the lead in negotiations for the Democratic side, while Rep. Garret Graves, R-La., a key McCarthy ally who has been a point person for the speaker on debt and budget issues, will represent Republicans.

Now we have a format, a structure, McCarthy said as he returned to the Capitol.

Negotiators are racing to beat a deadline of June 1, which is when the Treasury Department has said the U.S. could begin defaulting on its debts for the first time in history and risk a financial catastrophe. The revised itinerary of Biden's upcoming trip showed the urgency of the talks.

White House officials sought to soften the impact of the trip cancellations. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby noted that Biden will already have met with some of the leaders of the Quad  the purpose of the Australia leg of the visit  while in Japan, and the president is inviting Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for an official state visit in Washington.

Still, Kirby added, We wouldnt even be having this discussion about the effect of the debt ceiling debate on the trip if Congress would do its job, raise the debt ceiling the way theyve always done."

Even as the Democratic president and the Republican speaker box around the politics of the issue  with Biden insisting hes not negotiating over the debt ceiling and McCarthy working to extract spending cuts with the backdrop of a potential default  various areas of possible agreement appeared to be emerging.

Among the items on the table: clawing back some $30 billion in untapped COVID-19 money, imposing future budget caps, changing permit regulations to ease energy development and putting bolstered work requirements on recipients of government aid, according to those familiar with the talks.

But congressional Democrats are growing concerned about the idea of putting new work requirements for government aid recipients after Biden suggested over the weekend he may be open to such changes. The White House remains opposed to changes in requirements for recipients of Medicaid and food stamp programs, although it is more open to revisions for beneficiaries of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families cash assistance program.

The idea of imposing more work requirements was resoundingly rejected by House Democrats at a morning caucus meeting, according to one Democrat at the private meeting and granted anonymity to discuss it.

Progressive lawmakers in particular have raised the issue. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said, We want to make sure that these negotiations do not include spending cuts, do not include work requirements, things that would harm people, people in rural areas, black, brown, indigenous folks.

Democratic leader Jeffries' staff sought to assuage the concerns late Monday, while a separate group of more centrist Democrats signaled to their moderate Republican colleagues they are prepared to work something out to reach a debt ceiling deal, aides said Tuesday.

While McCarthy has complained the talks are slow-going, saying he first met with Biden more than 100 days ago, Biden has said it took McCarthy all this time to put forward his own proposal after Republicans failed to produce their own budget this year.

Compounding pressure on Washington to strike a deal, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Monday that estimates are unchanged on the possible X-date when the U.S. could run out of cash.

But Yellen, in a letter to the House and Senate, left 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.

It is essential that Congress act as soon as possible, Yellen said Tuesday in remarks before the Independent Community Bankers of America. In my assessment  and that of economists across the board  a U.S. default would generate an economic and financial catastrophe.

Time is dwindling. Congress has just a few days when both the House and Senate are in session to pass legislation, although scheduled recesses could be canceled if more time is needed to clear whatever deal the White House reaches with McCarthy.

Congressional leaders will also need time to take the temperature of rank-and-file lawmakers on any agreement, and its not at all clear that the emerging contours go far enough to satisfy McCarthys hard-right faction in the House or would be acceptable to a sizable number of Democrats whose votes would almost certainly be needed to secure any final deal.

Republicans led by McCarthy want Biden to accept their proposal to roll back spending, cap future outlays and make other policy changes in the package passed last month by House Republicans. McCarthy says the House is the only chamber that has taken action to raise the debt ceiling. But the House bill is almost certain to fail in the Senate, controlled by Democrats, and Biden has said he would veto it.

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.
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.
A new super PAC formed to encourage Mike Pence to run for president will have an office in Iowa, the organization said Tuesday in a news release.

Committed to America launched Tuesday with the goal of supporting the former vice president.

Pence has traveled to Iowa multiple times this year, but has not yet definitively stated whether he will seek the Republican Partys nomination for president.

The man Pence served under in the White House, former President Donald Trump, has officially declared his candidacy.

Jeb Hensarling and Scott Reed were announced as Committed to Americas national co-chairs, and Bobby Saparow will lead operations as executive director, the news release said.

The organization will have offices in Dallas and Iowa, the latter being the site of the first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses.
At a glance - The 97% consensus on global warming

Posted on 16 May 2023 by John Mason, BaerbelW

On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a "bump" for our ask. This week features "The 97% consensus on global warming". More will follow in the upcoming weeks. Please follow the Further Reading link at the bottom to read the full rebuttal and to join the discussion in the comment thread there.

At a glance

What is consensus? In science, it's when the vast majority of specialists agree about a basic, well-established principle. Thus, astronomers agree that the Earth orbits around the Sun. Biologists accept that tadpoles hatch out from frog-spawn and grow into adult frogs. Almost all geologists agree that plate tectonics is real and you'd be hard-placed to find a doctor who thinks smoking is harmless.

In each above case, a phenomenon has been so thoroughly investigated that those who specialise in its study have stopped arguing about its explanation. Nevertheless, these examples are all things that were once argued about, often passionately. That's how progress works.

The establishment of scientific consensus is therefore the end-point of an often lengthy time-line starting with something being observed and ending with it being explained. Let's look at a classic and highly relevant example.

In the late 1700s, the Earth-Sun distance was calculated. The value, 149 million kilometres and incredibly close to modern measurements, got French physicist Joseph Fourier thinking. He innocently asked, in the 1820s, something along these lines:

Why is Planet Earth such a warm place? It should be an ice-ball at this distance from the Sun.

Such fundamental questions about our home planet are as attractive to inquisitive scientists as ripened fruit is to wasps. Fourier's initial query set in motion a process of research that within a few decades had experimentally confirmed that carbon dioxide has heat-trapping properties. Through the twentieth century, the research intensified, particularly during the Cold War when there was major interest in the behaviour of infra-red (IR) radiation in the atmosphere. Why? Because heat-seeking missiles, invented at the time, home in on jet exhausts which are IR hotspots, so they needed to thoroughly understand what makes IR tick.

That research led to the publication, some 130 years after Fourier's initial interest, of the landmark 1955 paper by Gilbert Plass, The Carbon Dioxide Theory of Climatic Change, explaining in detail how CO 2 traps heat in our atmosphere. Note in passing that Plass used the term "Climatic Change" all the way back then, contrary to the deniers' frequent claim that it is used nowadays because of a recent and motivated change in terminology.

From observation to explanation, this is a classic illustration of the scientific method at work, Fourier gets people thinking, experiments are designed and performed and in time a hypothesis emerges. The Oxford English Dictionary states: a hypothesis is a supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation.

Once a hypothesis is proposed, it becomes subject to rigorous testing within the relevant specialist scientific community. Testing ensures that incorrect hypotheses fall by the wayside, because they don't stand up to scrutiny. But some hypotheses survive such interrogation. As their supporting evidence mounts up over time, they eventually graduate to become theories.

Theories are valid explanations for things that are supported by an expert consensus of specialists. Gravity, jet aviation, electronics, you name it, all are based on solid theories that are known to work because they have stood the test of time and prolonged scientific inquiry.

In climate science today, there is overwhelming (greater than 97%) expert consensus that CO 2 traps heat and adding it to the atmosphere warms the planet. Whatever claims are made to the contrary, that principle has been established for almost seventy years, since the publication of that 1955 landmark paper.

Expert consensus is a powerful thing. None of us have the time or ability to learn about everything, so we frequently defer to the conclusions of experts. Its precisely why we visit doctors when were ill. Yet the public underestimates the degree of expert consensus that our vast greenhouse gas emissions trap heat and warm the planet. That is because alongside information, we have misinformation and certain sections of the mass-media are as happy to trot out the latter as the former. We saw a very similar phenomenon during the COVID-19 pandemic and it cost many lives.

For those who want to learn more, a much longer and detailed account of the history of climate science is available on this website.

Please use this form to provide feedback about this new "at a glance" section. Read a more technical version via the link below!



In case you'd like to explore more of our recently updated rebuttals, here are the links to all of them:
The 97% consensus on global warming

What the science says...

Select a level... Basic Intermediate Advanced 97% of climate experts agree humans are causing global warming.

At a glance

What is consensus? In science, it's when the vast majority of specialists agree about a basic, well-established principle. Thus, astronomers agree that the Earth orbits around the Sun. Biologists accept that tadpoles hatch out from frog-spawn and grow into adult frogs. Almost all geologists agree that plate tectonics is real and you'd be hard-placed to find a doctor who thinks smoking is harmless.

In each above case, a phenomenon has been so thoroughly investigated that those who specialise in its study have stopped arguing about its explanation. Nevertheless, these examples are all things that were once argued about, often passionately. That's how progress works.

The establishment of scientific consensus is therefore the end-point of an often lengthy time-line starting with something being observed and ending with it being explained. Let's look at a classic and highly relevant example.

In the late 1700s, the Earth-Sun distance was calculated. The value, 149 million kilometres and incredibly close to modern measurements, got French physicist Joseph Fourier thinking. He innocently asked, in the 1820s, something along these lines:

Why is Planet Earth such a warm place? It should be an ice-ball at this distance from the Sun.

Such fundamental questions about our home planet are as attractive to inquisitive scientists as ripened fruit is to wasps. Fourier's initial query set in motion a process of research that within a few decades had experimentally confirmed that carbon dioxide has heat-trapping properties. Through the twentieth century, the research intensified, particularly during the Cold War when there was major interest in the behaviour of infra-red (IR) radiation in the atmosphere. Why? Because heat-seeking missiles, invented at the time, home in on jet exhausts which are IR hotspots, so they needed to thoroughly understand what makes IR tick.

That research led to the publication, some 130 years after Fourier's initial interest, of the landmark 1955 paper by Gilbert Plass, The Carbon Dioxide Theory of Climatic Change, explaining in detail how CO 2 traps heat in our atmosphere. Note in passing that Plass used the term "Climatic Change" all the way back then, contrary to the deniers' frequent claim that it is used nowadays because of a recent and motivated change in terminology.

From observation to explanation, this is a classic illustration of the scientific method at work, Fourier gets people thinking, experiments are designed and performed and in time a hypothesis emerges. The Oxford English Dictionary states: a hypothesis is a supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation.

Once a hypothesis is proposed, it becomes subject to rigorous testing within the relevant specialist scientific community. Testing ensures that incorrect hypotheses fall by the wayside, because they don't stand up to scrutiny. But some hypotheses survive such interrogation. As their supporting evidence mounts up over time, they eventually graduate to become theories.

Theories are valid explanations for things that are supported by an expert consensus of specialists. Gravity, jet aviation, electronics, you name it, all are based on solid theories that are known to work because they have stood the test of time and prolonged scientific inquiry.

In climate science today, there is overwhelming (greater than 97%) expert consensus that CO 2 traps heat and adding it to the atmosphere warms the planet. Whatever claims are made to the contrary, that principle has been established for almost seventy years, since the publication of that 1955 landmark paper.

Expert consensus is a powerful thing. None of us have the time or ability to learn about everything, so we frequently defer to the conclusions of experts. Its precisely why we visit doctors when were ill. Yet the public underestimates the degree of expert consensus that our vast greenhouse gas emissions trap heat and warm the planet. That is because alongside information, we have misinformation and certain sections of the mass-media are as happy to trot out the latter as the former. We saw a very similar phenomenon during the COVID-19 pandemic and it cost many lives.

For those who want to learn more, a much longer and detailed account of the history of climate science is available on this website.

Please use this form to provide feedback about this new "At a glance" section. Read a more technical version below or dig deeper via the tabs above!

Further details

We know full well that we dont have the time or capacity to learn about everything, so we frequently defer to the conclusions of experts. Without experienced people using their expertise to perform many vital tasks  and without new people constantly entering such occupations  society would quickly disintegrate.

The same is true of climate change: we defer to the expert consensus of climate scientists. Indeed, public perception of the scientific consensus with regard to global warming has been found to be an important gateway into other enlightened climate-related attitudes - including policy support.

Let's take a look at summaries of the key studies, featured in the graphic above, into the degree of consensus. These have been based on analyses of large samples of peer-reviewed climate science literature or surveys of climate and Earth scientists. These studies are available online through e.g. Google Scholar. That slightly different methodologies reached very similar conclusions is a strong indicator that those conclusions are robust.

Oreskes 2004

In this pioneering paper, a survey was conducted into all peer-reviewed abstracts on the subject 'global climate change', published between 1993 and 2003. The work showed that not a single paper, out of the 928 examined, rejected the consensus position that global warming is man-made. 75% of the papers agreed with the consensus position while 25% made no comment either way.

Doran & Zimmerman 2009

A survey of 3,146 Earth scientists asked the question, "Do you think human activity is a significant contributing factor in changing mean global temperatures?" Overall, 82% of the scientists answered yes. However, what was most interesting was the type of response compared to the level of expertise in climate science. Of scientists who were non-climatologists and didn't publish research, 77% answered yes. In contrast, 97.5% of actively-publishing climatologists responded yes. As the level of active research and specialization in climate science increases, so does agreement that humans are significantly changing global temperatures. The paper concludes:

"It seems that the debate on the authenticity of global warming and the role played by human activity is largely non-existent among those who understand the nuances and scientific basis of long-term climate processes. The challenge, rather, appears to be how to effectively communicate this fact to policy makers and to a public that continues to mistakenly perceive debate among scientists."

Anderegg et al. 2010

This study of 1,372 climate science researchers found that (i) 9798% of the researchers most actively publishing in the field support the tenets of anthropogenic climate change (ACC) as outlined by the IPCC and (ii) the relative climate expertise and scientific prominence of the researchers unconvinced of ACC are substantially below that of the convinced researchers.

Cook et al. 2013

A Skeptical Science-based analysis of over 12,000 peer-reviewed abstracts on the subject 'global climate change' and 'global warming', published between 1991 and 2011, found that over 97% of the papers taking a position on the subject agreed with the consensus position that humans are causing global warming. In a second phase of the project, the scientist authors were emailed and rated over 2,000 of their own papers. Once again, over 97% of the papers taking a position on the cause of global warming agreed that humans are causing it.

Verheggen et al. 2014



Results were presented from a survey held among 1868 scientists studying various aspects of climate change, including physical climate, climate impacts, and mitigation. The survey was at the time unique in its size, broadness and level of detail. Consistent with other research, it was found that as the level of expertise in climate science grew, so too did the level of agreement on anthropogenic causation. 90% of respondents with more than 10 climate-related peer-reviewed publications (about half of all respondents), explicitly agreed with anthropogenic greenhouse gases (GHGs) being the dominant driver of recent global warming. The respondents quantitative estimate of the GHG contribution appeared to strongly depend on their judgement or knowledge of the cooling effect of aerosols.



Stenhouse et al. 2014



In a survey of all 1,854 American Meteorological Society members with known e-mail addresses, achieving a 26.3% response rate, perceived scientific consensus was the strongest predictor of views on global warming, followed by political ideology, climate science expertise, and perceived organisational conflict.

Carlton et al 2015



Commenting that the extent to which non-climate scientists are skeptical of climate science had not so far been studied via direct survey, the authors did just that. They undertook a survey of biophysical scientists across disciplines at universities in the Big 10 Conference. Most respondents (93.6%) stated that mean temperatures have risen. Of the subset that agreed temperatures had risen, the following question was then asked of them: "do you think human activity is a significant contributing factor in changing mean global temperatures?" The affirmative response to that query was 96.66%.

Cook et al. 2016

In 2015, authors of the above studies joined forces to co-author a paper, Consensus on consensus: a synthesis of consensus estimates on human-caused global warming. Two key conclusions from the paper are as follows:

(i) Depending on exactly how you measure the expert consensus, somewhere between 90% and 100% of climate scientists agree humans are responsible for climate change, with most of our studies finding 97% consensus among publishing climate scientists. (ii) The greater the climate expertise among those surveyed, the higher the consensus on human-caused global warming.

Lynas et al. 2021

In this paper, from a dataset of 88,125 climate-related peer-reviewed papers published since 2012, these authors examined a randomly-selected subset of 3000 such publications. They also used a second sample-weighted approach that was specifically biased with keywords to help identify any sceptical papers in the whole dataset. Twenty-eight sceptical papers were identified within the original dataset using that approach, as evidenced by abstracts that were rated as implicitly or explicitly sceptical of human-caused global warming. It was concluded that the scientific consensus on human-caused climate change, expressed as a proportion of the total publications, exceeds 99% in the peer reviewed scientific literature.

Myers et al. 2021

This study revisited the 2009 consensus among geoscientists, while exploring different ways to define expertise and the level of agreement among them. The authors sent 10,929 invitations to participate in the survey, receiving 2,780 responses. In addition, the number of scientific publications by these self-identified experts in the field of climate change research was quantified and compared to their survey response on questions about climate change. Perhaps not surprisingly, the study found that agreement on anthropogenic global warming was high at 91% to 100% and generally increases with expertise. Out of a group of 153 independently confirmed climate experts, 98.7% of those scientists agreed that the Earth is warming mostly because of human activities such as burning fossil fuels. Among the subset with the highest level of expertise, these being independently-confirmed climate experts who each published 20+ peer-reviewed papers on climate change between 2015 and 2019, there was 100% agreement.

Public Polls and Consensus

Opinion polls are not absolute in the same way as uncontestable scientific evidence but they nevertheless usefully indicate in which way public thinking is heading. So let's look at a couple taken 13 years apart. A 15-nation World Public Opinion Poll in 2009 PDF), with 13,518 respondents, asked, among other questions, Is it your impression that among scientists, most think the problem is urgent and enough is known to take action? Out of all responses, just 51% agreed with that. Worse, in six countries only a minority agreed: United States (38%), Russia (23%), Indonesia (33%), Japan (43%), India (48%), and Mexico (48%). Conversely, the two highest agree scores were among Vietnamese (69%) and Bangladeshis (70%) - perhaps unsurprisingly.

The two other options people had to choose from were that views are pretty evenly divided (24% of total respondents), or most think the problem is not urgent, and not enough is known to take action (15%). American and Japanese respondents scored most highly on views are pretty evenly divided (43 and 44% respectively).

How such a pervasive misperception arose, regarding the expert consensus on climate change, is no accident. Regular readers of this website's resources will know that instead, it was another product of deliberate misinformation campaigning by individuals and organizations in the United States and other nations around the world. These are people who campaign against action to reduce carbon emissions because it suits their paymasters if we continue to burn as much as possible.

Step forward to 2022 and the situation has perhaps improved, but there's still some way to go. A recent poll, Public Perceptions on Climate change (PDF), was conducted by the Policy Institute, based at King's College London, UK. It quizzed samples of just over 2,000 people from each of six countries (UK, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Italy and Germany). The survey asked the question: To the best of your knowledge, what percentage of climate scientists have concluded that human-caused climate change is happening? The following averages were returned: the UK sample thought 65%, the average of the whole survey was 68% and the highest was Ireland at 71%. Clearly, although public perception of expert consensus is growing, there's still plenty of room for strategies to communicate the reality and to shield people from the constant drip-feed of misinformation.

Expert and Public Consensus

Finally, let's consider the differences between expert and public consensus. Expert consensus is reached among those who have studied complex problems and know how to collect and work with data, to identify what constitutes evidence and evaluate it. This is demanding work requiring specific skill-sets and areas of expertise, preparation for which requires years of study and training.

Public consensus, in contrast, tends to occur only when something is blindingly obvious. For example, a serial misinformer would struggle if they tried running a campaign denying the existence of owls. Everyone already knows that of course there are owls. There is public consensus because we see and hear owls, for real or on the TV or radio. But complex issues are more prone to the antics of misinformers. We saw examples of misinformation during the COVID pandemic, in some cases with lethal outcomes when misinformed people failed to take the risks seriously. There's a strong parallel with climate change: it is imperative we accept the expert consensus and not kick the can down the road until the realisation it is real becomes universal  but utterly inescapable.

Update May 17, 2023: The myth statement now shows a quote from Ted Cruz and the basic level rebuttal was updated with a mention of Carlton et al. (2015).

Last updated on 17 May 2023 by John Mason. View Archives
A Colorado driver, suspected of driving under the influence, tried switching seats with his dog to evade arrest by the police, according to local law enforcement.

Unfortunately for the driver, his hopes of fooling the officer failed, and he now faces multiple charges after the incident.

Colorado Driver Tried Switching Seats With His Dog to Avoid Arrest

A Colorado driver's desperate attempt to avoid arrest took an unexpected twist. Armed with an unusual strategy, the motorist tried to switch seats with none other than his trusty four-legged companion, his dog.

Some might say the incident seemingly came straight from a wacky comedy film. However, this occurred in real life, according to the Colorado police.

As per a report by USA Today, the police in Colorado shares an incident wherein a suspected drunk driver attempted to create a peculiar excuse for using his furry pet to avoid getting arrested.

The Springfield Police Department shared the story on their Facebook account, saying that it started when an officer pulled over a vehicle in the Springfield area at around 11:30 pm. The officer stopped the car after reportedly cruising at 52 miles per hour (MPH) in a location that has a 30 MPH speed limit.

The police officer says he saw the suspect trade places with his dog before exiting his car from the passenger seat. The post says, "The driver attempted to switch places with his dog in the passenger seat" while the police officer walked towards the vehicle.

After exiting the passenger side of the vehicle, he told law enforcement that he was not the person behind the wheel of the speeding vehicle, according to the Facebook post.

Read Also: DUI Suspect in Bud Light Can Costume Pulled Over by Kansas Police

Suspect Faces Multiple Chargers

Despite his peculiar alibi, the police still charged the drunk-driving suspect with driving under the influence and speeding.

Besides switching places with his dog and pretending to be a mere passenger, he tried to run away on foot when officers asked how much alcohol he consumed. However, the officer caught him once again. The FB post states, "The male party was apprehended quickly within 20 yards of the vehicle."

And because of this, law enforcement slapped him with a resisting arrest charge.

Besides these new charges, it turns out that the drunk driving suspect has two active warrants of arrest, according to KKTV.com. And as such, he also received a driving under suspension charge.

Although the Springfield Police Department shared the incident on their Facebook page, they did not reveal the identity of the drunk driving suspect.

Some might be concerned about what happens to the furry pet. The Colorado police assured everyone that they gave the dog of the suspect to an acquaintance of the driver to take care of the canine in the meantime.

Related Article: George Santos Faces Criminal Charges Over String of Political Lies

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Successions election-night episode brought millions of viewers closer to the election of 2016 than anyone wants to go. The series has treated the Fox News stand-in ATN mostly as an off-screen abstraction, but with the story nearing its end, we finally went inside the belly of the right-wing beast and saw just how much damage the Roys sibling power struggles can inflict on the entire country. In America Decides, supporters of the extreme right-wing presidential candidate Jeryd Mencken set fire to 100,000 Democratic-leaning absentee ballots, casting the outcome of a pivotal state into doubt. This also allows ATNs CEOs, who trust Mencken to favor their interests, to shift the political winds in his direction. The fact that their maneuvering might result in a white nationalist becoming the most powerful person on the planet barely seems to faze them, nor does the permanent damage they might do to public confidence in the electoral system. Its a sobering vision of how easily the media apparatus can be twisted by the wills of its ultra-wealthy owners, with some frightening if exaggerated resonances with real life.

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To help process the shows most nerve-jangling episode and separate the fiction from the facts, we turned to Brian Stelter, the former host of CNNs Reliable Sources and the author of both 2020s Hoax: Donald Trump, Fox News, and the Dangerous Distortion of Truth and the forthcoming Network of Lies: The Epic Saga of Fox News, Donald Trump, and the Battle for American Democracy. Our conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity.

Sam Adams: The initial impressions I heard from people watching this episode tended to involve the word traumatized quite a lot. What was your reaction to it?

Brian Stelter: Well, not traumatized. To me this episode was an amalgamation of 2016, 2020, the potential of 2024and just total, utter fiction. Ive heard people say elements of the 2020 election as well. The way I view it mostly was as liberals fears of how network projections could go wrong.

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The way I described it to people who hadnt seen it yet was as if Fox News Arizona call in 2020 had gone the other wayif theyd shifted the narrative toward the right-wing candidate instead.

It seemed like the writers were trying to turn the Fox Arizona call for Biden on its head. And the race itself was more 2016-ish, it being the first time Trump was going to be elected, probably the only time.

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Right. Mencken is this fringe candidate who comes out of nowhere six months before the election.

Who nobody believes could win, and pulling it off. Stepping back, I think Americas television networks do play a pivotal role, not in electing the president, but in creating a consensus around the election of the next president. I think that is so interesting and deserves a lot more scrutiny. And it actually got a lot more scrutiny in 2020 because of Fox and Trump. 2020 was the first time that I saw folks on the outside thinking through and understanding the roles of the networks, because its a historical role. Its the major networks plus the Associated Press, so its been going on for a long time. And not just the presidential cycles; the AP calls a lot of local races. But rarely is there any kind of scrutiny or discourse around who does it and why. I think in 2020 there was progress made on that front, but theres still a lot more to be said and learned about it. Thats where the first day of election week 2020 comes into play with Succession. Arizona will always be argued about. We know that Trump got furious, but on that evening, Fox did not flinch.

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The ATN news apparatus gives in pretty readily to Roman and Toms demands that they call Wisconsin for Mencken. Even Decision Darwin basically complies, although he asks for a graphic to explain that hes calling the state but hes not really calling it.

In the real world, these decision desks are truly insulated from corporate or political pressure. What I find interesting about the Succession world is that there are networks competing with their version of Fox from the right, making election calls. In the real world, Newsmax and OAN dont give a hoot. They dont have decision desks. Theyre not making projections. But this is where I think we may be heading, in a way thats dangerous. In the Succession world, [the equivalent of] Newsmax is calling the states, the implication being calling states for political reasons, not based on data and science. So, when I say that this is potentially 2024, thats really interesting.

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OK, now youre scaring me a little.

Think about a world where outlets like Newsmax are calling states for Trump to help him, and that puts pressure on Fox. I think thats the most interesting thing the writers presented here. Historically, weve only got the major networks and the AP, and nobody else gets to try. Historically, we have not had a situation where weve had a major outlet seemingly making calls for political gain.

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Fox didnt call the 2020 election for Trump, and they ended up losing a ton of viewers to Newsmax.

And you can see that fear in Toms face, when Tom is talking about the other networks making calls.

The major new character in this episode is Darwin, played by Adam Godley, whos the head of ATNs decision desk. Did he seem based on someone in particular?

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So, the head of the Fox decision desk is a guy named Arnon Mishkin. To me this was clearly a riff on him. If I were Mishkin, I probably would have had a very hard time watching this episode. And for a couple of reasons, one of which is its a pretty fantastical, alternate-reality version of events. Its OK. Im a producer on The Morning Showthats what we do. We come up with crazy scenarios that never happened in real life. But he has been tested before. Meaning, there have been moments where people at the company did not want to believe his prediction. Thats what happens in 2020. Arnon Mishkin appears on Fox multiple times to defend the call and justify the call. But on Succession, I believe [Darwin] asks to go on, and basically Tom says no.

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Right: Someone relays Darwins request to have five minutes of air time for his caveats, and Tom turns him down.

The other thing is, I love when the anchors touch screen doesnt work. On Fox in 2020, there was a moment where the touch screen seemed to be glitching. The actual reason why was because the networks decision desk had just called Arizona for Biden, but the reporter didnt know that. That misfire was so emblematic of the miscommunication at Fox that night.

Theres a clip of Foxs Bill Hemmer at the touch screen, going from thinking its malfunctioning to saying, Why is Arizona blue? Did we just call it?

Ive always thought, in real life, that symbolizes Foxs failure to roll out the news the right way. If youre going to tell your audience something that it really doesnt want to hear, you have to do it the right way and not halfheartedly screw it up.

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This episode feels like 2016, but it is important to remember we dont actually know whos going to be elected president. One character says it might take months to resolve the election. So whats at stake is not so much who wins but will we believe it when they do, or will ATN be undermining the process the whole time?

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Yes, thats the 2000 part of it. And if a network gets it wrong, what does that do to the process?

And does the networks or the countrys credibility suffer more?

Arnon Mishkin isnt a Fox employee, hes a contractor, but they bring him back every election. There are a lot of reasons to be critical of Fox, but I do think as long as hes there, the wall will hold.

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What do you think of the situation, plausibility-wise, of specifically what happens in Wisconsin? There have been lots of circumstances in the U.S. where ballots have been challenged, but I dont know of one where 100,000 were simply destroyed.

Our system may be fragile. It did bend. But it doesnt break. Weve been so lucky that it hasnt broken. The show reminds me of what happens in other countries where theres this complete and utter collapse of trust in the system.

As someone whos been part of these kinds of broadcasts, were there details that stuck out to you?

The 5 p.m. meeting was very real, where they have the exit polls and tell everyone to keep them secret and no one does. You notice that Tom and Greg are just shooting the shit while theyre being told to keep it secret. And then, in the next frame, the next scene, you see the campaign is hearing about the exit polls. In 2016 at Fox, they went into that 5:15 or 5:30 meeting with Rupert Murdoch, and they believed Hillary was going to be their president based on the exit polls. So, thats very accurate, and it speaks to our overreliance on polls in general. I also loved how the decision desk character was saying he knows what the result of those missing ballots was going to be. Because he does. I dont know, but I do know. Thats real. People might hate it, and maybe well have an election someday that breaks those predictions, but weve yet to have it.

Speaking of predictions, do you have any thoughts on where Succession goes from here?

Well, I can see a scenario where Mencken cuts a better deal with Matsson or just decides that hes going to let the GoJo acquisition go through to show whos really in charge now. You thought I was your puppet, but actually youre my puppet. It might be a story where none of the kids live happily ever. Its actually this out-of-control president that theyve enabled who calls the shots.
Dear Prudence is online weekly to chat live with readers on Mondays at noon ET. Read part 1 of the chat here. Read part 2 below.

Q. Gift Guilt: I struggle with guilt. I have my entire life, but it has gotten worse the older I get. If my parents ever mention, even in passing, how much they spent on something for me, like a vacation or classes as a kid, then I would no longer be able to enjoy it because I would be filled with anxiety about what a burden I was. I also struggle with guilt about gifts. For example, when I graduated college, my parents gave me a computer program for people who want to write scripts. It was what I really wanted at the time. However, life and chronic illness got in the way, and my dreams changed.

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Now its been almost 10 years, and Ive never even opened it. Part of me thinks I could sell it to someone who would use it (obviously at a discount because of its age), and then it would go to a good home. But I feel so guilty about the idea of not using it. It sits on my shelf right now, and I cant get rid of it and I cant use it. I feel frozen with indecision. Logically, I dont think my parents would even care, but I feel ungrateful for even considering getting rid of it. How do I deal with this?

A: *Tiptoes over to unofficial therapists chair* Have you ever talked to someone about whether you might be living with depression? When I read your letter, Im not getting gift guilt as the theme. Im getting dark, negative feelings about my worth, what I deserve, what Ive achieved, my ability to make decisions, and the kind of person I am. As if theres a things are bad and Im bad filter on your picture of your own life. I could go on and on about how you deserved the things you received as a child, how being a recent college grad who doesnt quite write the script they dreamed of writing is completely normal, and how its okay to let the program gather dust for a while or find a recipient who would really love it. But I dont think any of that reassurance would get at the real issue, which is that you deserve to feel better and lighter. Ask a friend for help with the (admittedly daunting) process of finding a therapist. Thats the best gift you can give to yourself.

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Q. Give Me One Reason to Stay: My boyfriend and I have been together for nine years. We (mostly I) have been talking about marriage for three years. He has bought a ring. I think he has had it since November 2022. While in grad school and while in a different city for work, we opened our relationship. I asked him over six months ago why he hasnt proposed. He said, There just hasnt been the right moment because you left for grad school and for work. Ive not brought up him proposing again because I wanted to give him space/time to do it on his own.

I am currently in a different city than him because I got a dream job. Im thinking about staying here and breaking up with him OR moving back, working remotely, and hoping he eventually proposes. I feel hurt and insecure that he hasnt asked me yet. For reference, Im in my early-30s and he is a few years older. Id feel really bad for hurting him, both emotionally and financially (we bought a couch together for his apartment, where he expects me to move back to in six months, and he bought a ring). But Im tired of waiting. He knows this and keeps me waiting. Should I stay or should I go?

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A: Go. The communication between the two of you is terrible. If he wanted to propose, he could buy a ticket on Spirit Airlines for next to nothing and do it in person tomorrow. Repeat after me: I will not choose my life path based on having purchased a couch!

Q. Dog Gone: I have a minor phobia of dogs. My stepfather kept Great Danes and encouraged them to jump and hug people. I am barely 52. The family would always laugh when I got pushed down or pushed out of my own bed by these dogs. I was never bitten, but I hate, hate, hate any dog jumping on me or getting on my furniture. I have two roommates. One is dating Kylie, who brings her rescued small dog over. All. The. Time. He jumps on everything including me. It is like nails on a chalkboard. Kylie finds it funny when I push her dog away or gets angry when I tell her that the dog needs to get off my futon. All the living room furniture is mine.

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I finally put my foot down and told my roommate that the dog had to go. They told me the dog needed to be with Kylie because it has an attachment disorder and will freak out without Kylie. I told them to hang out at Kylies then. Kylie lives at home with her five brothers and they have zero privacy. I said too bad, so sad, no dog. We got into an argument but our other roommate backed me up and said that until Kylie paid rent, she doesnt get a say. Kylie has since been obnoxiously passive-aggressive like getting up off the living room furniture and apologizing for daring to sit on it when I come into the room. I have tried ignoring her but it is getting to me. Please help!

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A: How are your acting skills? Can you try to hide the fact that its getting to you? Your being bothered is whats keeping her going. Ugh, I know I sound like the unhelpful mother of a third-grader who is being bullied. But I promise, dont react and she will eventually get tired of doing this act. Also, good job standing up for yourself! Roommate life is tough and youre doing the best you can.

Q. Choosing Not to Booze: Im nearly six years sober and have generally found my friends and family to be supportive. I can definitely be around people while they are drinking, but if people get super intoxicated, I am uncomfortable. My best girlfriend of nearly 30 years, L, is generally not a huge drinker. Recently, she has gotten very serious with a new guy in another state. She had mentioned that he drinks a lot, but when I finally met him last month at my own house, I was shocked.

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My husband and I had made a nice dinnerhomemade dessert, flowers, candles, etc.for her and the boyfriend even though we were just back from an international trip and the super-jet lagged. We wanted to roll out the red carpet since she really seems to be in love with this guy. They showed up already a bit buzzed, and the boyfriend brought a fifth of bourbon and proceeded to drink the entire thing during the dinner party and then down a few beers as well. L had a bottle of wine to herself. The conversation was terribleit veered between him repeating jokes and her giggling, and both of them criticizing other people including her own children. It was nearly impossible to discern anything about the guy. It was one of the worst nights of my sobrietyI felt triggered and uncomfortable, and couldnt wait for them to leave.

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My friend called me several times over the next few days, wanting an opinion of the guy, and I felt really torn. I finally called her back and said he seemed nice, but that they were so drunk it was hard for me to get to know him. Thats when things really went southshe got angry and said, Youre a hypocriteI saw you drunk plenty of times over the years. And besides, you were pretty out of it last night. That was a month ago, and we havent spoken sinceits sent me back to active AA participation and just has me really upset. I dont think we can be friends anymore if she cant respect my reasonable boundaries, which are essentially, Dont get completely trashed around me and insult my sobriety. If I go back to drinking, itll kill me, and she seems to not understand that, even though she was supposedly my closest friend. What do you advise?

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A: You messed up by focusing on your assessment of your friends boyfriendand coming off as pretty judgmentalinstead of just being vulnerable and honest. You should have said, He seems to be really into you! I have to be honest, you know Im working on my sobriety, and while I can be around people who are drinking, its tough and uncomfortable for me when it gets past a certain point. Its definitely my issue to work through. But just because of where I am right now, it would probably be better for us to hang out in a less boozy situation next time. Anyway, tell me more, how are things with you guys?

Get the advice of a trusted mentor in AA, sit on it for a little bit, and then go back to your friend with a clearer messageone thats about you and your needs as a recovering alcoholic, not your counting her boyfriends drinks.

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Q. Living Room, Bed Room, Whats the Difference?: My wife and I sleep in different rooms for many reasons. My bedroom doubles as the playroom and the room to the backyard. When we have guests over, should I be dressing it up as a living room? Admitting we sleep separately? Not addressing it?

A: What will people think if they know you sleep separately? Honestly, probably something like: Oh yeah, lots of couples do that. Maybe someone snores, maybe they go to bed at different times, or maybe they like different temperatures at night. Anyway, I wonder when theyre serving dinner  This is not a big deal and is nothing you need to hide, at all.

Jenee Desmond-Harris: Thats all for today (and for the foreseeable future!) Ill see you elsewhere on the internet. Have a great week!

More Advice From Slate

My boyfriend and I have been living together for four years, and purchased our home together two years ago. He has a 7-year-old son, Mikey, whom we have a little less than half of the time. When it comes to the possibility of our own marriage and children, we have remained in a state of ambiguity, with neither of us really for or against it. Through the process of helping to raise Mikey, Ive begun to realize that my partner and I have some fundamental differences in regard to child rearing.
Sixty years ago this month, in May 1963, police in Birmingham, Alabama, used clubs, fire hoses, and dogs to attack crowds of Black people demonstrating against racial segregation. The images of canines mauling protesters, ripping their clothes and biting their bodies, are some of the most disturbing visuals of the entire civil rights movement.

A photograph of officer Dick Middleton setting a dog upon 15-year-old Walter Gadsden appeared on the front page of the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and the Washington Post on May 4. Newspapers in Asia, Europe, Africa, and Latin America followed suit, prominently featuring pictures of Birminghams K-9s attacking protesters. Concerned about damage to the countrys reputation, the United States Information Agency conducted a study of global coverage of the events in Birmingham, concluding that pictures of police brutality, particularly the use of police dogs, has militated strongly against the U.S. image. The outcry was compounded by the fact that many of the protesters were school-age, as Martin Luther King Jr.s lieutenant James Bevel had organized thousands of students to march in the Childrens Crusade against Jim Crow.

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The attacks by Birminghams police dogs prompted three main responses from Americans. Conservative critics of the civil rights movement defended the dogs as a necessary law enforcement tool against criminals. Many white liberal observers in the North, by contrast, decried them as cruel weapons of a renegade police force, while insisting that the Birmingham police were a department of bad apples amid an otherwise honorable profession.

But it was civil rights organizers themselves whose response was most consequential. The dog attacks in Birmingham offered activists in the South and North a political language for analyzing police abuses within the larger context of Black peoples pursuit of freedom and equality.

In Philadelphia, NAACP picketers demanded rights not bites, while protesters in New York denounced dog government in Alabama. Some argued that Alabama authorities were not the only ones bearing responsibility for the attacks and highlighted the presence of the dogs to sharpen their critiques. As James Baldwin told a rally of predominantly white marchers in Los Angeles, Those crimes in Birmingham, those dogs and fire hoses, are being committed in your name. A headline in Baltimores Afro-American newspaper captured the mood: Bhams Police Dogs Shock World.

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Indeed, just as horrific videos of police killing Eric Garner, George Floyd, and Tyre Nichols would galvanize protests across the country and globe decades later, the outrage in the wake of the news of Birminghams K-9 unit brutalizing protesters as young as 4 injected a local movement into the national, and even global, consciousness.

And yet, as Birminghams police dogs have endured as powerful symbols of backlash against the civil rights movement, their origins have largely escaped scrutiny.

In 1963 liberal critics condemned the Alabama citys K-9 unit as a relic of the Old South. The harder truth to accept, however, was that it was actually a product of a new America.

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For many, attacks by police dogs on Black citizens conjured disturbing images from the era of slavery, when bounty hunters pursued escaped enslaved people with bloodhounds. But the police dog was an innovation of modern policing, not a throwback to past centuries. Indeed, the Birmingham Police Departments dog squad was barely 4 years old when officers attacked protesters in Kelly Ingram Park.

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In 1959 Birminghams notorious police commissioner and unapologetic segregationist Bull Connor assigned Sgt. M.W. McBride to move to Baltimore for three months to complete a course on dog handling offered there by the citys police force.

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Though it dated back only to 1956, Baltimores dog handling team had quickly established itself as the countrys first successful K-9 unit. A handful of other U.S. police forces had experimented with dogs before, but none had sustained a squad for more than a few years.

At the time, Baltimore leaders championed their city as a moderate, even progressive metropolis. Less than 30 miles south of the Mason-Dixon Line, Baltimore had turned its back on Reconstruction by the new century, even pioneering, in 1911, Americas first city ordinance requiring racially segregated housing. But by the decade following World War II, the city aimed to position itself as a willing adapter of integration. Scarcely two weeks after the Supreme Court delivered the Brown v. Board of Education ruling in May 1954, Baltimores school board voted to implement the decision. The citys status as a major East Coast port and one of the countrys leading steel producers further reinforced its image among many white Americans as a leader of a forward-looking South, a regional trailblazer ready to make good on past injustices.

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Black Baltimoreans were far from satisfied with the pace of change. In January 1955nearly a full year before the Montgomery bus boycott and five years before the Woolworths sit-ins in Greensboro, North CarolinaBlack students from Morgan State College worked with the Congress of Racial Equality to stage a sit-in campaign at Reads Drug Store branches in Baltimore that triggered the desegregation of the local chains restaurants.

Authorities in Baltimore worried about their city. As the Great Migration brought thousands of Black new arrivals from Virginia and the Carolinas to the industrial powerhouse, the citys demographics changed rapidly, and by the decades end, about 33 percent of residents were Black, up from just 23 percent in 1950. White Baltimoreans began to flee the city.

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That the Negroes of Baltimore and of other urban centers commit more than their share of crime is certainly not news, a Baltimore Sun editorial opened in January 1956, signaling just how widespread racist attitudes about this demographic shift were. The newspaper was quick to identify Black newcomers to the city as a problem. It is not easyindeed it is often impossiblefor a country-bred colored boy to adjust himself to crowded city life. It is hard for him to get a job, and, even if he gets one, his slick friends often take his earnings from him. The temptation to get money by criminal means is thus always before him and too often he succumbs.

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It was at this moment of white flight, heightened racist fears about urban crime, and growing demands for equality that Baltimores police department launched its K-9 unit. Notably, other cities just below the Mason-Dixon Line, as well as self-styled New South metropolises that prided themselves on racial moderation, were quick to follow, with St. Louis, Atlanta, Houston, and Kansas City all creating their own police dog teams by 1959.

Baltimore police promoted their dogs to other departments with an almost evangelical zeal, not unlike todays law enforcement boosters who champion tasers and body cameras as humane, cutting-edge innovations. In addition to welcoming McBride from Birmingham, Baltimores K-9 unit opened its doors at various points to visiting police from D.C., New Jersey, and Rochester, New York, who all wanted to create their own K-9 divisions, and even international guests from Thailand, Turkey, Bolivia, Spain, and South Vietnam.

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Reporters showered praise on Baltimores police dogs, often after they were invited by officials to admire the canines firsthand. German Shepherds in Baltimore Prove Effective in Apprehending Bad Men read one glowing New York Times headline from 1959. The modern police dog is a highly trained animal that walks the streets with his handler with dignity and efficiency, Sgt. William Kerbe boasted to the Times in a second feature on the unit that appeared in the paper just three years later, adding, He is probably one of the most potent weapons given an officer.

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John Biemiller, a lieutenant in the unit, put it more bluntly: One dog and an officer can handle four or five punks. But if the canines were powerful, they were also safe, an impressed reporter for the Christian Science Monitor informed readers, uncritically repeating a dubious claim by Biemiller: Police dogs are trained to seize and hold the right arm of their quarry. Unless the person struggles severely, no serious damage is caused. The Associated Press, for its part, was happy to report that Baltimore police had discovered that two patrolmen accompanied by dogs could keep order in a throng of rock n roll devotees after a show or a dance where formerly eight burly officers were required.

Best of all, the dogs were reported to be expert crime fighters. The Baltimore Police Departments annual report in 1956 heralded the new division, with a handler next to a large hound standing on its hind legs, its front paws perched on a chalkboard, seemingly giving its approval to a hand-drawn message: Crime Reduced 26.9%.

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Baltimore police presented themselves as national authorities on K-9 units. In 1960 one officer, Irvin Marders, even published an instructional guide for law enforcement, How to Use Dogs Effectively in Modern Police Work.

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Birmingham police were no less proud of their K-9 unit, which McBride established shortly after returning to Alabama from Baltimore. The sergeant called his dogs Rebel and Blackie, names that suggested the departments Confederate nostalgia and unrepentant racism. Connor and his department booked McBride and his dogs on Birminghams dinner-talk circuit, with appearances before the local Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, and Kiwanis Club, and they trotted out the dogs for new station openings billed as community get-togethers. From the start, police dogs were prized not only for aiding officers in the field but also for their effectiveness in putting an adorable face on the less-than-attractive work of policing.

Maybe it was because Birminghams white residents so embraced the K-9 units that city police were caught off guard by the national and international opprobrium they faced when the dogs attacked protesters in May 1963. Weeks earlier, Connor had even bragged to a state legislator, Dogs have been of invaluable assistance to us here in keeping down violence in connection with the racial demonstrations.

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Although the May 1963 attacks on Black protesters solidified Birminghams reputation for having Americas most brutal police, few if any media outlets reported the fact that the supposedly good Southern city of Baltimore had equipped the Alabama officers with one of its most ruthless enforcement tools. Indeed, by 1963, police forces across the country had replicated the Baltimore K-9 unit, with teams popping up everywhere from Minneapolis to Pittsburgh, Honolulu, and Topeka, Kansas.

The real history of police dogs, it would seem, had been lost in the myth that the worst forms of police repression reveal a long history of Southern exceptionalism grounded in human bondage. More than many might like to admit, K-9 units instead betray law enforcements roots in racism throughout America after slavery was abolished.

Today, in the 21st century, police continue to find sophisticated, questionable, and modern ways to use dogs to their advantage. While canines are rarely deployed for crowd control, they still do terrible harm, as evidenced by the death of Joseph Pettaway, a Black man killed by a police dog in Montgomery, Alabama, in 2018, whose family has filed a federal suit against the department, scheduled for trial this year. Today Birmingham, Baltimore, and countless other police departments operate K-9 units, and they continue to hurt people. As one study has found, about 3,700 people bitten by police dogs reported to emergency rooms in the U.S. every year between 2005 and 2013.

And police departments are still eager to weaponize canines in the realm of public relations. Police dogs were all over the news in the wake of Tyre Nichols death at the hands of five Memphis police officers in January, as seen in puff pieces about law enforcement canines getting their mug shots taken or serving communities as comfort dogs. Perhaps the timing of all this was pure coincidenceor maybe many police and their supporters in the media hoped to promote feel-good stories about law enforcement, just as the profession was facing another wave of national outrage.
Oh, youre an eager one, Sen. Dianne Feinstein said as the elevator door opened and she saw me on Tuesday afternoon.

The senior California senator had just voted, after returning to the Senate last week after an extended absence following a case of shingles. The 89-year-old Feinstein, whose physical and mental capacity has deteriorated in recent years, and whose ability to continue serving in the Senate has come under question, is working an admittedly lighter schedule under doctors advice. She has, though, voted both days this week. On Tuesday afternoon, a male staffer escorted her on his arm to vote against a Republican bill to block a District of Columbia policing law. She was on and off the floor in an instantbut on her own two feet.

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It was about a minute later that I encountered Feinstein coming off an elevator, sitting in a wheelchair and flanked by staff. Its been hard to find the senator since her return; shes kept her movements mostly to the least-populated passageways and skipped luncheons and non-urgent committee hearings.

I asked her how she was feeling.

Oh, Im feeling fine. I have a problem with the leg. A fellow reporter staking out the elevator asked what was wrong with the leg.

Well, nothing thats anyone concern but mine, she said.

When the fellow reporter asked her what the response from her colleagues had been like since her return, though, the conversation took an odd turn.

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No, I havent been gone, she said.

OK.

You should follow theI havent been gone. Ive been working.

When asked whether she meant that shed been working from home, she turned feisty.

No, Ive been here. Ive been voting, she said. Please. You either know or dont know.

After deflecting one final question about those, like Rep. Ro Khanna, whove called on her to resign, she was wheeled away.

It is true that Feinstein has been in Washington and voting for the past week, while coming to committee hearings on a need-to-be-there basis. Last Thursday, for example, she attended a Judiciary Committee hearing to approve several partisan nominees who had been held back by her absence. Thatas well as close nomination votes on the full Senate flooris all that Democrats need from her at the moment.

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But it is not true that she had been here, in a physical sense, for the two-and-a-half-month stretch between February and last week. It was odd for that to skip her mind. The senators absence, and her insistence on not resigning, has been one of the biggest political stories of the year, given her critical role not just on the Judiciary Committee but as a pivotal Democratic vote in the full body. (Feinsteins office declined to comment.)

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You either know or dont know.

On Monday, I had asked another member of the committee, Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal, whether there really was any optimism that Feinstein could return to being a fully functioning, contributing member of the committee like her old self.

Theres one job that no one else can do for us, which is to vote, Blumenthal said. And shes been doing that job in the last few days, and so far as I can tell, shes been doing well.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, whom I asked separately, had a terser response: Im gonna leave that to the medics.
Its more fun via email (promise). This article first appeared in our Slatest evening newsletter, which seeks to surface the best pieces published across Slates digital and audio journalism. We publish it there to help you cut to the chase at the end of each day. To get it in your inbox, along with more of the best work we published that day, sign up below.

One of our reporters had a worrying encounter with Sen. Dianne Feinstein today. When Jim Newell spoke with her after she returned from voting on the floor, she seemed not to remember having been absent from the Capitol, though shes been home in California due to illness (and disrupting votes) for weeks.

Debt Ceiling Detente

A strange thing is happening on Capitol Hill: Republicans and Democrats have actually been talking to each other!

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Theyve been meeting to hash out an agreement that would raise the debt ceilingbut time is running out, and progress has been slow. (Picture the countdown clock from 24, but instead its counting down to June 1, when the economy might explode.)

Right now, the best-case scenario involves a highly unpleasant Memorial Day weekend for all those involved, Newell writes. He explains how we got here, and what needs to happen to avert economic catastrophe.

Santos Glam

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George Santos stands accused, among other things, of misusing campaign funds to buy designer clothing. But he wasnt just indulging in retail therapy for its own sakehis wardrobe has been a key part of his strategy to dupe people, Natalie Shutler writes. She does a close reading of Santos personal style and what exactly he was trying to project.

Elons Global Mess

Twitter suppressed certain election-related content at the Turkish governments request, amid a high-stakes race that could secure incumbent strongman Recep Tayyip Erdogan another term. Its not the first time Musks Twitter has enabled the suppression of speech in other countries, Nitish Pahwa writes.

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Plus: What Next looked at what Erdogans history tells us about the upcoming runoff election.

United We  What, Exactly?

The Ukraine war brought Europe together like never beforebut how long will the cohesion last? And to what extent is Germanythe continents largest, wealthiest nation and its most bountiful arms supplier to Ukrainestepping up to what might seem to be a logical role as its leader? Fred Kaplan asks. The answers to both questions have huge implications for the shape and unity of Europe; its relations with the rest of the world; and, most urgently, its success in helping Ukraine beat back Putins aggression.

Election Nightmares

So just how realistic was that nightmarish Succession election night scenario, anyway? (If you havent watched yet, avert your eyes!!) Sam Adams talked with Brian Stelter about whether it could really go down that way.

Today, Slate  TENDS TO TRAFFIC IN ESOTERICA*

 much like 2024 Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy, despite his populist bravado and his self-presentation as a younger, slicker version of Trump. (In his own words: Theres a new daddy in town.) Nitish Pahwa took a good look at whats going on with him.

Thanks so much for reading! Well see you tomorrow.

New Episodes for May 16

See all the latest episodes from Slate here!

More from Slate

A few recent stories you may have missed.
Germanys announcement on Saturday that it will send Ukraine another $2.9 billion worth of weaponsas much as it has previously sent in the 15 months since Russias invasionis being hailed as the clearest sign yet of Berlins all-in support for Kyivs war effort.

Over the same weekend, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky flew to Italy, France, and Britain, as well as Germany, where more arms and unflagging support were pledged from all parties. Even Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloniwho ran for office last fall as a populist friendly to Russian President Vladimir Putindeclared, We bet on the victory of Ukraine.

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The events, combined, bolster the impression that we are witnessing a significant shift happening in Europe. The old, postCold War Europe was marked by a casual attitude toward national defense and accommodation with Moscow (on the theory that open trade promotes peace). The new Europea phrase that popped up just days after the invasion, along with a Europe profoundly transformedis boosting defense spending, severing ties with Russia, and forging tighter bonds of unity than the European Union or the NATO military alliance have ever felt.

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But how deeply woven, how real, are the strands of this New Europe, not just in words but in deeds, and not just for the moment but for months and years to come? And to what extent is Germanythe continents largest, wealthiest nation and its most bountiful arms supplier to Ukrainestepping up to what might seem to be a logical role as its leader? The answers to both questions have huge implications for the shape and unity of Europe; its relations with the rest of the world; and, most urgently, its success in helping Ukraine beat back Putins aggression.

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I spent a month this spring as writer-in-residence at the American Academy in Berlin, trying to get a grip on these questions by talking (mainly on background) with foreign policy leaders in the Bundestag (Germanys parliament), national-security advisers, think-tank specialists, and political journalists.

The conclusion I reachedbased on a wide consensus across party linesis that Germanys pivot toward a more active, responsible role in European security has taken hold more widely and deeply, at least in the countrys self-image, than anyone could have imagined just a couple of years ago.

However, in terms of actual policy and priorities, the shift has fallen far short of transformativeand many of my sources have doubts about how long the shift will endure, especially after the war has passed.

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The shift began with a sudden, startling jolt. On Feb. 27, 2022, just three days after Putins invasion of Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholzthe leader of the dovish Social Democratic Party, who had held the countrys top post for not quite three monthsdelivered a speech to the Bundestag, declaring that, as a result of Russias aggression, Germany had reached a Zeitenwendea historic turning point, the start of a new era. The invasion, Scholz said, threatens our entire postwar order, and so, it is our duty to support Ukraine to the best of our ability in its defense against Vladimir Putins invading army.

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In the most dramatic part of his speech, Scholz announced an immediate infusion of 100 billion euros (about $109 billion) to the German defense budget (which, that year, totaled about 50 billion euros) and promised, from that point on, to spend 2 percent of Germanys gross domestic product on defensea pledge that all the NATO allies had made back in 2013 but that most (very much including Germany) had not fulfilled.

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Turning point was an understatement. For 75 years, since just after the end of World War II, Germanys political leaders had avoided even talking about defense budgets or weapons of war, sensitive to their neighbors fear that the slightest hint of a military buildup might trigger a revival of its imperial or Nazi past. (Germany sent a few thousand troops to Afghanistan, but more as a token gesture of good standing in NATO. Sending arms to other nations in Europe was taboo.)

Claudia Major, a director of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, told me, Before, defense issues were ignored or stigmatized. The defense industry and arms exports were described as evil. The majority of Germans were pacifists.

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Russias invasion changed all that. In this sense, Scholzs Zeitenwende speech was revolutionary, both in its acknowledgment of something new in the world and the need to confront it.

Still, his subsequent actions fell short of that standard.

For instance, it turned out that the extra 100 billion euros for defense, earmarked for a special fund, would be spent out over a period of at least the next five years, and possibly as many as eight to 10 years if not longer. In 2023, I was told, the government will spend just 8.3 billion of this fund. At that rate, it will take 11 years to dish out the full amount.

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Meanwhile, as part of the deal creating the special fund, Germanys baseline annual defense budgetnow at 50.1 billion euroswill be frozen. And Scholzs pledge to spend 2 percent of GDP on defense will be deferred until after the special fund is depleted. Right now Germany is spending about 1.7 percent of GDP; given the budget freeze, if the overall economy grows, that percentage will decline.

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Finally, the special fund is being used not to fill gaps in Germanys defense forces or to refurbish its defense industry, but rather to buy high-profile, foreign-built weapons, such as F-35 stealth aircraft and heavy troop-carrying helicopters, neither of which speak much to Germanys near-term defense needs.

At the same time, the weapons being sent to Ukrainewhich are substantial and very usefulcome mainly from Germanys stockpiles. Because of the budget freeze, there is no money to replenish these stocks. Erich Vad, a retired German general who served as former Chancellor Angela Merkels military policy adviser, recently wrote that while Germany is finally focusing on NATOs defense needs, it lacks almost everything to do much about it, citing massive workforce and munitions shortages. Further depleting these defense stocks to assist Ukraine means that these shortages are likely to intensify in the coming years.

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The inconsistencies of Scholzs policiesthe incompletion of his pivot, especially in the defense realmare due, in large part, to the nature of the German government, especially the particular government in power. Scholz presides over a three-party coalition (one more party than usual): his own Social Democratic Party, the centrist Free Democratic Party, and the Green Party.

Like all other Green parties, the German variant is avidly environmentalist, wanting to fund renewable sources of energy and slash fossil fuels. But it is unique in that it also supports military assistance to countries under particularly horrendous attack. This trait took hold in 1999, with the Serbian atrocities in Kosovo. The Green leader at the time, Joschka Fischer, declared that the partys traditional support for human rights and pacifism couldnt always both be observed, that extreme human-rights violations sometimes had to be met with armaments. So it was, as well, in February 2022, with Russias invasion of Ukrainea clear violation of human rights. The Greens, in fact, were the first to call for sending arms to Kyivs defending army.

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Soon enough, all of Germanys major partiesthe coalition partners and the Christian Democratic Union (Merkels conservative party, which the 2021 election ousted from power)joined in. Only the Left Party and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) oppose sending arms: the AfD because it supports Putin, the Left because of its onetime alliance with Moscowit grew out of the East German Communist Partyand because it associates any form of German militarism with Nazism. I asked a Left leader if he was embarrassed that he held the same position as the fascists. He replied, Yes, certainly. (The AfD holds just 10 percent of the seats in the Bundestag, and the Left holds 5, just barely enough to hang on to any seats at all.)

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However, all three coalition partners are also leery of higher defense spending. The Greens want to spend more on green energy; the Social Democratic Party wants to increase social-welfare spending; the Free Democratic Party wants to cut deficits. As part of the coalition bargaining after the election, the FPDs leader, Christian Lindner, became finance minister. In Berlin, department ministers have ultimate authority over their domains. Chancellors cannot overrule them. Nor is there anything like the American National Security Council, where cabinet secretaries hammer out their disputes and the president decides the policy. (A German NSC has been proposed several times, but it has been voted down by those whofor understandable historical reasonsloathe giving too much power to a chancellor.) Lindner insisted that the defense budget be frozen at 50 billion eurosand the chancellor cant do anything about it.

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The irony here is that the FPD won only 11 percent of the vote in the 2021 election. It was invited into the government only because the Social Democratic Party and the Greens, which had hoped to form a coalition of their own, together fell 9.5 percent short of a majority. (The SPD won 25.7 percent; the Greens, 14.8 percent.) Tacking on the FPD gave them a bare majority without having to bring in the CDU (which ranked a close 2nd place in the election, with 24.1 percent of the vote). In other words, defense spendingspending of all sortsis being held down by a party with a very small following.

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Still, a bureaucratic squabble rages on about the military budget. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who has ordered various reforms within the military, is pushing for an increase of $6 billion to $10 billion in the baseline defense budget. Some of his supporters in the Bundestag think he might get $3 billion to $5 billionwhich would help a little.

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One of the big lessons of the war in Ukraine is that the security of Europeold or newremains dependent on the United States. Without U.S. weapons to Ukraine (worth $37 billion and rising), along with training and the sharing of real-time intelligence of the Russian armys movements and orders, Kyiv would have fallen long ago. Scholz agreed to send Germanys Leopard tanks to Ukraine only after President Biden agreed to send the U.S. Armys Abrams tanks. Europeans stood up to Russian aggression in support of Ukrainian freedom, but they might not have done so, or been able to do so as efficiently or effectively, without leadership from Washington.

French President Emmanuel Macron has often advocated strategic autonomy for Europe, but Scholz has brushed this off as a pipe dream, and not a desirable one in any eventan attitude that has alienated Macron. While most EU leaders agree with Scholzs dismissal of Macrons idea, some complain that the chancellor ignores them too, bringing no German ideas to EU conferences. In part, this is because its hard for his coalition government to agree on new ideas. In part, its because Germans still feel reluctanta hangover from their postWorld War II guiltto take a leadership role in Europe. But in part its also because Scholz prefers to deal with Biden. Except for Macron, this is true of many European leaders, who understand the true locus of their security.

The whispered worry in Berlin is that Biden may be the last American president who cares deeply about trans-Atlantic relationsand that the most prominent Republicans seem not to care much at all.

Germany may be the only country with the power and resources to take the reins in hand if Europe has to take up the slack and provide for its own security, but for all the reasons above, this isnt happening.

Jana Puglierin, head of the European Council on Foreign Relations, told me shes worried that theres no sign of urgency about the political developments in America. We feel protected by the U.S., and theres no sense that it might vanish someday. Many raised questions about this after 2016 [when Trump became president], but no one did anything. Germany has no Plan B for 2024 if Trump wins again.

The war has brought Europe together, Puglierin continued, but it has also exposed these underlying tensions. She sighed and added, I wonder if Europe will ever get its act together.
Just hours after Elon Musk announced that NBCs Linda Yaccarino would succeed him as CEO of Twitter (slash X Corp.!), the social network got tangled up in a high-pay-grade global messone that has ramifications for free speech, world democracy, and fair elections. In other words, about as knotty it will get for the bird site in its extremely hardcore era.

On Friday night, the Twitter Global Government Affairs account tweeted out a thread explaining that in response to legal process and to ensure Twitter remains available to the people of Turkey, we have taken action to restrict access to some content in Turkey today. The account further declared that Twitter had informed the account holders affected and clarified that the restricted content will remain available in the rest of the world. One can assume from this characterization that Twitter Turkey took actions similar to what Twitter India has historically done in the face of a governments censorship demandsi.e., obscure a given tweets visibility within the countrys borders while allowing it to be viewed everywhere else Twitter operates.

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But the timing upped the stakes here. The restrictions occurred on the eve of a highly anticipated national election, one in which incumbent Turkish strongman Recep Tayyip Erdogan faced his strongest presidential challenge in two decades. Even more on the nose, Erdogans newfound electoral weakness this cycle stemmed in no small part from his disastrous response to the crippling February earthquakes that leveled much of Syria and Turkey while killing more than 50,000 Turks; in the immediate aftermath, one of Erdogans first responses was to entirely restrict Turkish citizens Twitter access, as the platform was inundated with criticism of the president that one would never find on Turkeys state-sanctioned media.

Although neither Twitter nor Turkey disclosed any further details, an Indiana University social media expert told Insider that hed tracked about a half dozen accounts posting content related to the Turkish election that had been suspended. A couple of these accounts, the Turkish Minute digital news outlet reported Saturday, belonged to two of the countrys key voices: Muhammad Yakut, a Kurdish businessman and accused criminal, and Cevheri Guven, a journalist. The former has previously been targeted for posting explosive allegations against Erdogans party on YouTubemost notably, that a botched 2016 coup attempt against Erdogan was a false flag operation orchestrated by the government as a pretext to purge its opponents and to consolidate state control over Turkish media. On April 19, authorities arrested a Turkish journalist for the mere act of sharing Yakuts videos, and an Istanbul court ordered that Yakuts YouTube channel be banned altogether. Just weeks ago, a warrant was issued for Yakuts arrest after he posted some follow-up videos. Nevertheless, the businessman promised to share even more anti-Erdogan allegations online by Saturday, which likely spurred Turkey to take action on his Twitter account. Guven also posts YouTube videos about elite corruption, and he told the Turkish Minute that Erdogans government has tried to throttle his reach any way that it can: It was made impossible to find my videos when people searched for them on YouTube in Turkey. Now comes the Twitter decision. Facebook has already been blocking my videos for the past two years.

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From what Twitter Global Government Affairs tweeted, it would appear that the Turkish government, whose head of state was preparing for a tough reelection, ordered that Twitter obscure accounts such as Yakuts and Guvens or lose the ability to operate within the country altogethernot a small issue for the platform, considering Turkey is its seventh-largest market. Indeed, that seems to be the tradeoff Elon Musk had in mind when acquiescing to the Turkish governments requests; his much-professed devotion to free speech always carried the asterisk of that which matches the law of a given country, no matter how oppressive. There was also the fact that Turkeys interior secretary had warned citizens on Friday to be wary of any Western influence on the upcoming elections, especially on digital networks: I am one of the people most vulnerable to attacks and insults through foreign social media accounts. The United States is interfering in these elections. Pissing off Turkey would have meant no Twitter access in a media market that favors Erdogan over his challengers to an almost cartoonish extentand that may have been happy to blame the United States for election interference had Erdogan lost.

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We have no idea whether that was the thinking behind the account restrictions, or whether that was part of the reason Musk hasnt yet followed through on his Saturday promise to post what the government in Turkey sent us. The fact is, Musk is often happy to follow foreign governments requests to crack down on users they oppose (which is absolutely not par for the course for all internet companies, no matter what he may claim). This is evidenced by the fact that Twitter under Musk has approved censorship orders at a higher rate than it ever had before his takeover, especially in repressive places like Turkey and India. In the latters case, Twitter has bowed to government requests to censor unfavorable content from global view altogethersuch as links to investigative documentariesand to obscure Indians access to foreign governments official accounts. (Speaking of India, were approaching the anniversary of a high-profile lawsuit that Twitters former executives filed against the subcontinent for its rampant takedown requests. Neither Musk nor Yaccarino has commented on the still-ongoing case.)

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For what its worth, it doesnt appear that Erdogans successful censorship was able to swing the election in his favor; for the first time ever, he failed to crack 50 percent of the electoral vote and will have to contest a runoff on May 28. Hell likely pull off reelection, but this newest scandal will only invite more global scrutiny of his electoral oversight, especially considering that his runoff opponent depends on Twitter for publicity; plus, more Turks are likely to download VPNs in order to hear from the very activists censored by Erdogan.

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As for Twitter, its leader continues to demonstrate how seriously he takes his role of steward of a global information platform adhering to free-speech principles. Live updates regarding Thailands monumental elections, which also took place this weekend, were delayed in part because the administrators of an Asian poll tracker found themselves locked out thanks to Musks changes to Twitters account security. Pakistans dayslong blockage of Twitter, in response to mass rallies that gathered in support of ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan, came and went without any comment from Musk. In fact, his last public engagement with the international sphere seemed to have occurred Saturday with a quote-tweet boost of OpIndia, a hate-fueled, disinformation-heavy digital outlet with ties to Indias right-wing rulers.

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Ironically enough, the last tweet that Twitter Global Government Affairs sent before Fridays Turkey announcement stated that as the town square of the internet, we believe in strengthening trust and the reliability of information as well as ensuring content moderation decisionsincluding government requestsrespect the fundamental purposes of freedom of expression. After this weekend, does anybody seriously believe that?

Update, May 16, 2023, at 12:52 p.m.: On Monday evening, the Twitter Global Government Affairs account tweeted out a thread with an update on our approach in Turkey: We were in negotiation with the Turkish Government throughout last week, who made clear to us Twitter was the only social media service not complying in full with existing court orders. We received what we believed to be a final threat to throttle the service after several such warningsand so in order to keep Twitter available over the election weekend, took action on four accounts and 409 Tweets identified by court order.  We will continue to object in court, as we have done with all requests, but no further legal action was possible before the start of voting. The account then shared pictures of court documents from the relevant litigation, which appear to display, in part, a long list of tweets from accounts belong to Muhammad Yakut.

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We are today sharing an update on our approach in Turkey.



We were in negotiation with the Turkish Government throughout last week, who made clear to us Twitter was the only social media service not complying in full with existing court orders.



We received what we believed to be  Twitter Global Government Affairs (@GlobalAffairs) May 15, 2023

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
Over the past few weeks, theres been some very public hand-wringing about artificial intelligencea lot of it coming from people who have made A.I. their lifes work. Geoffrey Hinton, dubbed the godfather of A.I., recently left his job at Google to embark upon a sort of media tour warning about the dangers of the technology. And its not just him. There was a public letter from Elon Musk and others calling for a pause in A.I. development and an essay in Time from theorist Eliezer Yudkowsky saying generative A.I. can harm humanityor even end it.

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On Fridays episode of What Next: TBD, I spoke with Meredith Whittaker, president of the Signal Foundation and co-founder of the AI Now Institute at NYU, to sort through the real threat of A.I. and what the doomerism discourse is missing. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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What do you make of the concerns raised by Geoffrey Hinton and others when it comes to A.I. safety?

Meredith Whittaker: The risks that I see related to A.I. are that only a handful of corporations have the resources to create these large-scale A.I. systems, and corporations are driven by interest in profit and growth, not necessarily the public good. I think that the concerns that were raised by Geoff and others are often looking at hypothetical future scenarios in which these statistical systems somehow become hyperintelligent, and I dont see any evidence backing those claims. Its not that I dont believe people are sincere in these beliefswhat I am concerned about is that the sort of Look over here into the vast future is playing into the hands of the corporations we need to be worried about right now.

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What were calling machine learning or artificial intelligence is basically statistical systems that make predictions based on large amounts of data. So in the case of the companies were talking about, were talking about data that was gathered through surveillance, or some variant of the surveillance business model, that is then used to train these systems, that are then being claimed to be intelligent, or capable of making significant decisions that shape our lives and opportunitieseven though this data is often very flimsy.

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The data that feeds these systems is gathered from all over the web by crawling millions of websiteswere talking about everything from news sites to hate speech. Why does that matter?

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That data is then being wrapped up into these machine learning models that are being used in very sensitive ways with very little accountability, almost no testing, and backed by extremely exaggerated claims that are effectively marketing for the companies that stand to profit from them.

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You work with the AI Now Institute, which argues that nothing about artificial intelligence is inevitable. What does that mean?

Part of the narrative of inevitability has been built through a sleight of hand that for many years has conflated the products that are being created by these corporationsemail, blogging, searchwith scientific progress. The message, implicitly or explicitly, has been Do not put your finger on the scales of progress. Instead, let the technologists do the technology. For a long time, that staved off regulation. That intimidated people who didnt have computer science degrees because they didnt want to look stupid. That led us, in a large part, to where we are.

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We are in a world where private corporations have unfathomably complex and detailed dossiers about billions and billions of people, and increasingly provide the infrastructures for our social and economic institutions. Whether that is providing so-called A.I. models that are outsourcing decision-making or providing cloud support that is ultimately placing incredibly sensitive information, again, in the hands of a handful of corporations that are centralizing these functions with very little transparency and almost no accountability. That is not an inevitable situation: We know who the actors are, we know where they live. We have some sense of what interventions could be healthy for moving toward something that is more supportive of the public good.

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What most concerns you about the moment were in with A.I.?

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There are many concerns we have to hold at once. This isnt a zero-sum game. And of course, data bias and the fact that these systems will be shaped like the data they are informed by is a big one. Nitasha Tiku at the Washington Post did a really brilliant exposition looking at what actually goes into creating ChatGPT. Where does it learn how to predict the next word in a sentence, based on how many billions of sentences its been shown? It showed some gnarly things like neo-Nazi content and deeply misogynist content that ChatGPT was using. So data is a big concern. Who gets to author data? Who gets to determine what it means and how is that shaping an implicit worldview that is then parroted back through these A.I. systems? For me, theres also a big concern about who gets to use these systems, who benefits from them, and who is harmed by them.

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Because these systems require so much expensive computing power and so much data, they can really only exist in the hands of either very wealthy corporations or very wealthy individuals. Whats the strategy behind releasing generative A.I. to the public?

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It costs billions of dollars to create and maintain these systems head-to-tail, and there isnt a business model in simply making ChatGPT available for everyone equally. ChatGPT is an advertisement for Microsoft. Its an advertisement for studio heads, the military, and others who might want to actually license this technology via Microsofts cloud services. We already know whos going to be able to actually use this, ultimatelywho the business model will target. Its not technology distributed democratically; its going to follow the current matrix of inequality in our world as it is shaped now.

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Theres a sort of bifurcation in the generative A.I. criticism: On the one hand, you have Geoffrey Hinton, Eliezer Yudkowsky, etc., saying there is an existential threat here. And on the other hand, people like Timnit Gebru, Deb Raji, Joy Buolamwini, and perhaps you are saying the issue here is as much in how these things are built and trained as anything else. I saw Hinton call those concerns less existential in a CNN interview. What do you make of these sort of two different camps of thinking about how these models are disseminated into the wild, and what kind of harms they might do?

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My concern with some of the arguments that are so-called existential, the most existential, is that they are implicitly arguing that we need to wait until the people who are most privileged now, who are not threatened currently, are in fact threatened before we consider a risk big enough to care about. Right now, low-wage workers, people who are historically marginalized, Black people, women, disabled people, people in countries that are on the cusp of climate catastrophemany, many folks are at risk. Their existence is threatened or otherwise shaped and harmed by the deployment of these systems. We can look at these systems used in law enforcement. Theres a New York Times story from a few months back about a man who was imprisoned based on a false facial recognition match. That is deeply existential for that persons life. That person was Black. People like Deb, Joy, Timnit have documented over and over again that these systems are more likely to misrecognize Black people. In a world where Black people are more criminalized, and there is inequality in law enforcement, that is going to have harms. So my concern is that if we wait for an existential threat that also includes the most privileged person in the entire world, we are implicitly sayingmaybe not out loud, but the structure of that argument isthat the threats to people who are minoritized and harmed now dont matter until they matter for that most privileged person in the world. Thats another way of sitting on our hands while these harms play out. That is my core concern with the focus on the long-term, instead of the focus on the short-term.

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So then whats the next step? Shut it all down?

The next steps are, in my view, things like the Writers Guild of America winning, showing that we can put clear guardrails on the use of these systems, and those guardrails dont have to come from entreating those who already have power. They can actually come from power building in workplaces and in communities. We also have some interesting proposals for more grounded regulation. I would look at Lina Khans New York Times op-ed recently that calls for structural separation of these companies. I would also look to the really grounded proposals that Amba Kak and Sarah Myers West at the AI Now Institute put out in their 2023 Landscape Report. Particularly, the proposal that looks at privacy legislation as something that could be beneficial in stopping some of the data-centric A.I. development. Because, of course, we have to get back to this core reality: A.I. is built on surveillance. It is a product of the surveillance business model.

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Where is your hope for reining that in, in a policy realm? Do you see that coming from the FTC? Because I certainly dont see Congress doing anything.

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It is complicated. We cant see legislation, regulation, and policymaking as disconnected from the rest of it. We know that these companies spend hundreds of millions of dollars lobbying and supporting astroturfed organizations that they can proxy their views through. We know that in the U.S., in a post-Citizens United world, it is very hard to get elected without a huge amount of money, and that money can be ultimately secretly contributed. So were in an ecosystem where policy doesnt just spring de novo from Zeus forehead. Theres a huge amount of influence that goes into shaping policy. And there are folks who are really taking this seriously, but that doesnt mean there arent fierce counterpressures. We still need people on the ground saying, No, we dont want facial recognition in our community. We need people lobbying for privacy. We need the California privacy law to be proven and to set the benchmark. We have to recognize that we have a lot of competition in applying that pressure.

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How do you want people to think about what feels like a sea of A.I. headlines?

Theyre not alone in being overwhelmed. Its really confusing. There are so many claims in the headlines about what these things do and dont do. If theres one thing I would say, its to keep an eye on who benefits and who is likely to be harmed. When you see a headline about OpenAI, you need to always recognize that thats talking about Microsoft. When you see a headline thats about A.I., you need to remember that there are only a handful of entities in the worldcorporations based in China or the U.S.that have the resources to make A.I.

And remember that A.I. is not magic. It is based on concentrated computational power, concentrated data resources that are generated via surveillance, and the concentrated power of these companies. Again, we know where they live, we know where their data centers are, and it is eminently possible to put these technologies in check if theres a will. So its not out of control, it is not out of our hands. And you dont have to be a computer scientist to be able to have an informed opinion about how these are used, who gets to use them, and to what end.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
Microsofts $68.7 billion acquisition of publisher Activision Blizzard, one of the largest in history, hit an unexpected hurdle just three weeks ago when the deal was blocked by the UKs Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), this situation however, it remains unresolved for now, despite Microsoft filing an appeal.

At least one ray of hope has now shone on the bargain, as the purchase was approved by the European Union yesterday, which means an important victory for Microsoft and a new step towards the final purchase of Activision Blizzard. The European Commission, after extensive research, came to the conclusion that the purchase would not harm competitiveness in the console market, where Microsoft currently occupies third place.

Like the CMA mentioned above, the Commission was more concerned about Microsofts cloud services. Of particular concern is the issue of cloud gaming streaming, which could harm the competition, as it does not have the financial backing to offer a serious competitive service with such a rich game library. It was precisely because of these concerns that the CMA blocked the purchase, while the European Commission added that by playing in the cloud, Microsoft would further consolidate its control over the PC operating system market, where it already has a monopoly.

But unlike the CMA, the European Commission was satisfied with Microsofts promises and commitments, which allow cloud gaming providers within the European Union to obtain a free license to stream games from the publisher Activision Blizzard, as a result of which players will be able to play these games on any platform they want. The current commitment is for a further 10 years, but of course the European approval will be based on Microsoft actually sticking to these agreements, and their diligence will be monitored by an independent watchdog.

The CMA has already reacted to the news and wrote on Twitter that they respect the decision of the European Union, but that they stand behind their decision, because in their opinion Microsoft will now control the market, which was previously completely open, and at the same time dictate its terms of sale of games and on which platforms players will be able to play them.

Microsoft thus achieved victory, but it is still at least a few months away from the final goal. First, the purchase must be approved by the FTC, or the US Federal Trade Commission, which has filed a lawsuit against Microsoft, so they have an even bigger battle ahead of them there, after which they must win the appeal against the CMA, which will also not be an easy task.
Cash seized in the investigation. Photo: Reuters



Head of the anti-corruption office Semen Krivonos said at the high-profile arrest that this is the biggest case of corruption in which the judicial branch of government is involved. According to him, the judges of the Supreme Court formed a criminal group.

The Ukrainian anti-corruption office already announced on Monday via social media that in a joint investigation with the special anti-corruption prosecutors office, they revealed extensive corruption at the Supreme Court, namely a scheme for accepting bribes from the management and judges of this court.

With real cases, real actions, we prove what our priority is. Its corruption at the top, its criminal gangs at the highest levels of power, Krivonos said.

As the special prosecutor at the anti-corruption office said Oleksandr Omelchenkothe Chief Justice has been detained while investigations continue into other individuals for involvement in criminal activities.

Kyiv demands the extradition of the billionaire from France

According to anti-corruption officials, the Ukrainian billionaire Constantine Jevagowhose extradition Kiev is demanding from France, with a law firm arrangedthat he would bribe the Supreme Court to make the decision he needed.

According to the prosecution, this former MP wanted the court to issue a ruling that would allow him to retain control of the shares of the mining company, which was the subject of a dispute between him and former shareholders.

Jevago he transferred 2.7 million US dollars to the lawyers. Of that, he is said to have paid $1.8 million to Supreme Court justices and $900,000 to mediation lawyers.

Anti-corruption leader Krivonos said that the arrest is proof of determination in the fight against corruption. Photo: Reuters



Jevagothe fifth richest man in the country, whose fortune is estimated by the Ukrainian version of the American magazine Forbes at $ 1.4 billion, is the owner of a mining group Ferrexpo and has been on Ukraines wanted list for financial crimes for several years. He is accused of embezzling $113 million from his bank, Finance and Credit Bank, which went bankrupt in 2015.

He was arrested in France at the end of last year, when he was detained for several days. Since the beginning of January, however, he has been under judicial supervision.

The fight against corruption, which is widespread in Ukraine, is one of the conditions that the European Union has set for Kyiv to maintain its status as a candidate for membership. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly promised a more determined fight against bribery, which is extremely widespread in Ukraine.

Despite progress in the fight against corruption in recent years, Ukraine ranks 116th out of 180 countries on the corruption perception index of the non-governmental organization Transparency International.

The court announced that in connection with events related to the president of the court, an extraordinary session of the Supreme Court plenum will be held on Tuesday.
(Photo : Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)

An 18-year-old opened fire in a community in northwestern New Mexico on Monday, killing three people.

Authorities say an 18-year-old armed with at least three firearms roamed a community in northwestern New Mexico on Monday, randomly firing at vehicles and residences, murdering three people and injuring six others, including two police officers, before being slain.

The shootings occurred at 11 a.m. in Farmington, a 50,000-person city near the Four Corners - where New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado meet - that serves as a supply line and residential community for the region's oil and natural gas industry.

New Mexico Gunman RandomlyShot at Cars, Houses

Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe stated in a video released Monday night that officers responding to reports of gunfire encountered the assailant within minutes and executed him with at least one shot.

The shooter discharged at least three weapons, including an "AR-style rifle," according to the witness. The massacre was "truly one of the most horrific and challenging days in Farmington's history as a community," he said, as per KHOU.

The identities of the shooter and the victims were not disclosed immediately. Investigators were still attempting to determine the attack's motivation by interviewing the shooter's family.

The suspect traversed the neighborhood for up to a quarter-mile during the incident. At least six houses and three vehicles were shot during the incident, as the suspect fired indiscriminately at whatever came into his mind.

Nick Akins, a middle school teacher whose home is located on a street that was cordoned off by police, characterized the neighborhood as a predominantly pleasant place to live, with various houses, short-term rental apartments, and churches.

Seeing Farmington in the national spotlight for another mass shooting was surreal for him, especially on his street.

CHRON said the response included the Sheriff's Office, the Farmington Police Department, and the state police. The ATF tweeted that agents from Phoenix were on their way to Farmington to assist with the investigation.

Read Also: Zelensky Reaps Billions of Dollars in Aids During Europe Tour as Ukraine Prepares for Counteroffensive Against Russia

US Gun Violence

In recent years, cafes and distilleries have sprung up in downtown Farmington alongside businesses that have been in operation for decades and sell Native American handicrafts such as silver jewelry and wool weavings. Last month, Farmington police shot and killed a man at his front door while responding to a domestic violence call at the incorrect address.

The incident on Monday in New Mexico is the 225th mass shooting in the United States this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which defines a mass shooting as an incident in which four or more persons, excluding the shooter, are shot or slain.

In a statement released on Monday, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said she was praying for the victims' families and that the incident "serves as a daily reminder of how gun violence destroys lives in our state and country."

Per USA Today, the governor's remarks reflect those previously made by the non-profit Everytown for Gun Safety, which stated that approximately 120 Americans are slain with firearms, and over 200 are shot daily.

Related Article: 'Doomsday Mom' Lori Vallow Daybell Found Guilty of Killing Children, Husband's First Wife

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
In a move that has the potential to revolutionize the fast-food industry, Wendys and Google Cloud have announced an expanded partnership to pilot a cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) solution, Wendys FreshAI. This technology is poised to transform Wendys drive-thru food ordering experience, employing Google Clouds generative AI and large language models (LLMs) technology.

The drive-thru has been the preferred ordering channel for 75 to 80 percent of Wendys customers. However, delivering a seamless ordering experience using AI automation has its challenges due to the complexities of menu options, special requests, and ambient noise. For instance, Wendys practice of preparing food when ordered and allowing customers to fully customize their orders results in billions of potential order combinations, leaving room for miscommunication or errors. Google Clouds generative AI capabilities aim to mitigate these issues, enhancing the drive-thru experience for customers, employees, and franchisees.

Wendys introduced the first modern pick-up window in the industry more than 50 years ago, and were thrilled to continue our work with Google Cloud to bring a new wave of innovation to the drive-thru experience, said Todd Penegor, President and CEO of Wendys. Google Clouds generative AI technology creates a huge opportunity for us to deliver a truly differentiated, faster and frictionless experience for our customers, and allows our employees to continue focusing on making great food and building relationships with fans that keep them coming back time and again.

For small businesses in the food service sector, this technological leap represents a potential blueprint for their own operations. It demonstrates how the use of AI can lead to improved efficiency, customer satisfaction, and overall business performance.

In June, Wendys plans to launch its first pilot of Google Clouds AI technology in a Columbus, OH-area restaurant. The pilot will include new generative AI offerings, such as Vertex AI, to have conversations with customers, understand made-to-order requests, and generate responses to frequently asked questions.

This will all be powered by Googles foundational LLMs that have the data from Wendys menu, established business rules and logic for conversation guardrails, and integration with restaurant hardware and the Point of Sale system. By leveraging generative AI, Wendys aims to simplify the ordering process, enabling employees to focus on delivering high-quality food and exceptional service.

Thomas Kurian, CEO at Google Cloud, added, Generative AI is fundamentally changing how people interact with brands, and we anticipate Wendys integration of Google Clouds generative AI technology will set a new standard for great drive-thru experiences for the quick-service industry.

Since 2021, Wendys has leveraged Google Clouds data analytics, AI, machine learning (ML), and hybrid cloud tools to enhance the customer experience. This ongoing partnership, and the forthcoming AI pilot, signals a new era for the quick service restaurant industry, one in which AI and cloud technology play a central role in delivering a superior customer experience.

In the face of such innovation, small business owners should consider the potential benefits of integrating AI solutions into their operations. This could range from more efficient ordering systems to improved customer service and business intelligence. As Wendys and Google Cloud continue to push the boundaries of whats possible in the quick service industry, its clear that the future of this sector will be heavily influenced by technological innovation.
In the digital transformation era, cloud computing has become a key driver of change, reshaping businesses and how they operate in the 21st century. The cloud engineer job has emerged as a pivotal role in this landscape, directly shaping the digital strategies of businesses across the globe, from startups to large corporations.

With an increasing shift towards cloud-based systems for IT infrastructure, data storage, and services, theres a growing demand for cloud engineers, opening up abundant opportunities for those proficient in cloud engineering.

Cloud engineers play a crucial role in the engineering and development of modular cloud-based systems, which enable seamless collaboration, enhance data accessibility, and streamline business processes. Their work is at the core of cloud initiatives, as they aim to deliver optimal cloud solutions tailored to a companys specific needs.

Cloud Engineer Career Path

Cloud engineering offers a dynamic and promising career path. Rooted in computer science and specialized skills in various cloud technologies, cloud engineers work in collaboration with developer teams to build and maintain cloud infrastructure. The cloud engineer job role could involve designing, developing, and managing cloud-based systems and applications, ensuring their efficient functioning.

Many cloud engineers start their careers in roles like software development or network management, where they acquire knowledge and experience of cloud-based platforms such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud. As they further engage with cloud computing applications, they may choose to specialize in areas like cloud security, cloud database management, or cloud network engineering.

Cloud engineering isnt just about technical knowledge. A good cloud engineer also needs strong analytical skills to solve complex problems, an understanding of company security policies to ensure a secure cloud environment, and knowledge of programming languages and APIs to develop and manage cloud applications.

How Much Does a Cloud Engineer Make?

The earnings of a cloud engineer can vary significantly, depending on factors like experience, location, and the specific demands of the job. However, given the high demand for cloud engineers, its generally a well-compensated role. Entry-level cloud engineers can expect to earn a competitive salary, which only grows with experience and further specialization.

The earning potential also goes up with mastery of specific cloud platforms, such as AWS, Google Cloud, or Microsoft Azure. Companies often seek cloud engineers who can navigate these platforms to leverage cloud resources optimally, build secure and efficient cloud environments, and drive new cloud initiatives.

Cloud Engineer Insights

Working as a cloud engineer involves a mix of technical, operational, and strategic responsibilities. On the technical front, cloud engineers manage cloud-based systems, debug cloud stacks, and ensure the efficient functioning of cloud services. They also play a strategic role, helping organizations navigate their cloud journey and adopt new cloud technologies.

Cloud engineers work in collaboration with different IT professionals, including solutions architects, cloud developers, and security services teams. Together, they work towards creating and maintaining secure, scalable, and efficient cloud infrastructures.

Cloud Engineer Job Description Example

So, what does a cloud engineer do? Heres a snapshot of a typical cloud engineer job description:

Role : Cloud Engineer

: Cloud Engineer Key Responsibilities : Designing, developing, and managing cloud-based systems and applications; implementing cloud initiatives; ensuring optimal performance of cloud services; ensuring a secure cloud environment; collaborating with development teams and solutions architects.

: Designing, developing, and managing cloud-based systems and applications; implementing cloud initiatives; ensuring optimal performance of cloud services; ensuring a secure cloud environment; collaborating with development teams and solutions architects. Required Skills : Proficiency in cloud computing platforms (AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure); knowledge of programming languages and APIs; understanding of data storage solutions; ability to debug cloud stacks; strong analytical skills.

: Proficiency in cloud computing platforms (AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure); knowledge of programming languages and APIs; understanding of data storage solutions; ability to debug cloud stacks; strong analytical skills. Qualifications: A bachelors or masters degree in computer science or a related field; relevant experience in managing cloud-based systems; certifications from recognized cloud platforms are an added advantage.

Working as a cloud engineer can be a rewarding career path,offering a unique blend of technical challenges and strategic initiatives. In addition to being at the forefront of new technology, cloud engineers also contribute to significant business decisions, directly impacting an organizations operational efficiency and strategic direction.

What is the Role of a Cloud Engineer?

The role of a cloud engineer extends beyond just managing cloud resources. They also play a crucial role in shaping an organizations cloud strategy, working closely with development teams to design, build, and optimize cloud-based systems. A cloud engineer responsibilities typically include:

Developing and implementing cloud initiatives aligned with the organizations business objectives.

Collaborating with the engineering team to design and develop cloud architecture, ensuring seamless integration with existing systems.

Identifying and leveraging new cloud technologies to enhance business processes and customer experiences.

Ensuring optimal performance of cloud services, and maintaining a secure cloud environment in line with company security policies.

Debugging cloud stacks and resolving infrastructure vulnerabilities.

With the ability to work on multiple cloud platforms and handle various cloud applications, cloud engineers are integral to an organizations digital transformation journey.

What Skills Do You Need to Be a Cloud Engineer?

Becoming a cloud engineer requires a blend of technical, analytical, and operational skills. Here are some key skills that cloud engineers typically need:

Technical Skills : Proficiency in cloud computing platforms like AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure is essential. Knowledge of programming languages, APIs, and database management is also important.

: Proficiency in cloud computing platforms like AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure is essential. Knowledge of programming languages, APIs, and database management is also important. Analytical Skills : Cloud engineers need strong problem-solving abilities to debug cloud stacks, identify infrastructure vulnerabilities, and optimize cloud solutions.

: Cloud engineers need strong problem-solving abilities to debug cloud stacks, identify infrastructure vulnerabilities, and optimize cloud solutions. Operational Skills : From managing cloud resources to implementing cloud initiatives, cloud engineers need to effectively manage a variety of operational tasks.

: From managing cloud resources to implementing cloud initiatives, cloud engineers need to effectively manage a variety of operational tasks. Strategic Skills: Given their role in shaping an organizations cloud strategy, cloud engineers also need to understand business objectives and how to align cloud solutions with these goals.

Moreover, as cloud technologies continue to evolve, cloud engineers need to stay updated on new developments and trends. This includes keeping abreast of emerging cloud platforms, tools, and best practices.

Job Description Template

When creating a loan processor job description, it is essential to outline the specific duties and responsibilities, required qualifications, skills, and experience, as well as any expectations for the workplace, schedule, and potential collaboration with other professionals. Here is a template to help guide you:

Job Description Template #1:

Job Title: Cloud Engineer

Responsibilities:

Design and implement cloud-based solutions to meet business needs

Configure and manage cloud infrastructure and services

Monitor and optimize cloud performance, security, and scalability

Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure successful implementation and operation of cloud solutions

Stay current with emerging cloud technologies and trends

Identify and troubleshoot cloud-related issues

Qualifications:

Bachelors degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field

3+ years of experience in cloud engineering or a similar role

Strong knowledge of cloud infrastructure and services, including AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities

Benefits:

Competitive salary and benefits package

Opportunities for professional development and growth

Positive and supportive work environment

Flexible scheduling options

How to Apply:

Please submit your resume and a cover letter detailing your experience and qualifications for the position.

Job Description Template 2:

Job Title: Cloud Operations Engineer

Responsibilities:

Ensure 24/7 operation of cloud infrastructure and services

Monitor cloud performance and availability, and take proactive measures to prevent downtime

Troubleshoot and resolve cloud-related issues

Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure successful operation of cloud solutions

Implement and maintain cloud security and compliance measures

Stay current with emerging cloud technologies and trends

Qualifications:

Bachelors degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field

3+ years of experience in cloud operations or a similar role

Strong knowledge of cloud infrastructure and services, including AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities

Benefits:

Competitive salary and benefits package

Opportunities for professional development and growth

Positive and supportive work environment

Flexible scheduling options

How to Apply:

Please send your resume and a brief cover letter outlining your experience and qualifications for the position.

Job Description Template 3:

Job Title: Cloud Solutions Architect

Responsibilities:

Design and develop cloud solutions to meet business needs

Evaluate cloud technologies and platforms to recommend the best solutions for the business

Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure successful implementation and operation of cloud solutions

Develop and maintain cloud infrastructure and services

Stay current with emerging cloud technologies and trends

Identify and troubleshoot cloud-related issues

Qualifications:

Bachelors degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field

5+ years of experience in cloud engineering or a similar role

Strong knowledge of cloud infrastructure and services, including AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities

Benefits:

Competitive salary and benefits package

Opportunities for professional development and growth

Positive and supportive work environment

Flexible scheduling options

How to Apply:

Please submit your resume and a cover letter detailing your experience and qualifications for the position.

Job Description Template 4:

Job Title: Cloud DevOps Engineer

Responsibilities:

Automate cloud infrastructure and services deployment and management processes

Develop and maintain cloud infrastructure as code

Monitor cloud performance and availability, and take proactive measures to prevent downtime

Troubleshoot and resolve cloud-related issues

Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure successful operation of cloud solutions

Stay current with emerging cloud technologies and trends

Qualifications:

Bachelors degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field

3+ years of experience in cloud DevOps or a similar role

Strong knowledge of cloud infrastructure and services, including AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities

Benefits:

Competitive salary and benefits package

Opportunities for professional development and growth

Positive and supportive work environment

Flexible scheduling options

How to Apply:

Please send your resume and a brief cover letter outlining your experience and qualifications for the position.

Is Cloud Engineering a Hard Job?

Like any tech job, cloud engineering comes with its challenges. The fast-paced nature of cloud technologies means that cloud engineers must continually learn and adapt. They need to understand different cloud platforms, programming languages, and cloud-based solutions, and how to integrate these into an organizations existing systems.

However, for those passionate about technology and problem-solving, these challenges can be exciting. The role offers the opportunity to work on cutting-edge technologies, collaborate with different IT professionals, and contribute to significant business decisions. The high demand for cloud engineers also means there are numerous opportunities for growth and advancement.

With the right skills and mindset, a career in cloud engineering can be both rewarding and fulfilling. Whether youre a recent computer science graduate or an experienced IT professional looking to specialize, theres never been a better time to become a cloud engineer.

So, are you ready to embark on a career in cloud engineering? With a clear understanding of the cloud engineer job description, the skills needed, and what the role involves, youre well on your way to a promising career in this exciting field.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the primary role of a Cloud Engineer in a small business?

The primary role of a Cloud Engineer in a small business is to manage and optimize cloud infrastructure, design and implement cloud-based solutions, and ensure the security and performance of cloud services.

What are the key skills required for a Cloud Engineer?

Key skills for a Cloud Engineer include proficiency in cloud platforms (such as AWS, Google Cloud, or Microsoft Azure), programming languages, problem-solving abilities, and a strong understanding of cloud security and applications.

What kind of educational background is needed to become a Cloud Engineer?

A Bachelors or Masters degree in Computer Science or a related field is typically required for a Cloud Engineer role. However, relevant experience and certifications in cloud platforms can also be considered.

Is prior experience necessary for a Cloud Engineer position at a small business?

While prior experience in cloud engineering can be beneficial, small businesses may consider candidates with a strong educational background in computer science and demonstrable skills in cloud platforms and applications.

What are the potential career growth opportunities for a Cloud Engineer at a small business?

Cloud Engineers at small businesses can advance their careers by becoming Cloud Architects, Cloud Security Specialists, or Cloud Team Leads, among other roles. As the business grows, there may be more opportunities for growth and specialization within the company.

What kind of cloud platforms do Cloud Engineers typically work with?

Cloud Engineers typically work with popular cloud platforms such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and Microsoft Azure. However, they may also work with other cloud platforms depending on the specific needs of the small business.
Part of your job as a business owner is to track and protect your company resources. This includes looking for signs of embezzlement or employee theft. To do this effectively, it helps to know the various types of embezzlement that are common in small businesses. Read on for a full list of examples of embezzlement.

What Is Embezzlement?

Embezzlement is the misuse or theft of company funds or company property. There are a variety of ways that an employee or business owner can steal or misappropriate resources, which you can see in the list below.

How Does Embezzlement Happen?

Embezzlement occurs when an employee or business owner steals or misappropriates company funds. For example, an employee may accept payment for a transaction without placing funds in the company bank account. See the list below for more embezzlement examples.

Common Examples of Embezzlement and Employee Theft

Embezzlement refers to a wide range of actions where employees or decision makers steal or misuse company resources. To protect your small business, here are several examples of embezzlement to know. And if youve ever wondered, How do I handle embezzlement and employee theft? you can also find tips under each example.

1. Voiding Transactions at the Cash Register

When an employee enters a transaction and collects money, they may then void the transaction and keep the money for themselves. This can be difficult to detect, because the system should balance out, but the customer still received their product or service, and your company doesnt receive the funds.

Prevention: Many modern point of sale systems have settings that require a supervisor or managers approval to void a sale. Upgrade your system or enact this feature to avoid giving employees this opportunity.

2. Pocketing Cash Payments from Fundraisers

If your business or organization hosts fundraisers, you may collect donations that arent counted right away. If just one worker has access to these funds before theyre appropriated, they may collect some for themselves.

Prevention: Have more than one employee in charge of collecting and counting funds.

3. Cashing Customer Checks

An employee may set up a bank account with a name similar to the company. Then they can cash customer checks or divert electronic payments into their account instead of the companys.

Prevention: This crime is most common where one employee is responsible for both collecting payments and keeping track of accounting records. Separate responsibilities so there are multiple people who can catch potential issues.

4. Overbilling Customers

An employee may charge customers more than your companys rate for a certain product or service, or add on extra fees and pocket the extra money.

Prevention: Conduct periodic audits of customer billing practices, and look into customer complaints surrounding billing or extra fees.

5. Forging Payments

An employee may write checks to themselves or transfer funds from the employee bank account if they have access to your information and signature. They may then create fraudulent accounting entries to cover up these payments.

Prevention: Avoid giving access to your electronic signature, and audit expense payments to catch any oddities.

6. Faking Vendor Payments

An employee may set up fake vendor accounts or edit accounting entries to make it seem like payments are being made to vendors. But then they send that money to themselves.

Prevention: Review all payments to vendors periodically, or have more than one worker check your entries.

7. Stealing Customer Credit Card Data

Employees who collect customer credit card data to complete purchases may then record the numbers to use for their own purchases. This is stealing directly from customers and can lead to lack of trust for your business.

Prevention: Use payment software that redacts the full credit card number and avoid taking information manually unless absolutely necessary.

8. Double Dipping

Employees may collect extra money from your expense account by first charging the expense to their company credit card and then requesting reimbursement funds as if they paid for it themselves.

Prevention: Separate responsibilities so other employees can check if an expense has already been covered. Expense management software can streamline this process.

See Also: 10 Disclaimer Examples

9. Misusing an Expense Account

Employees may also request reimbursement for expenses that arent related to company functions. For example, they may try to get a personal lunch covered, even if they werent meeting with a client.

Prevention: Create a clear policy of what is and isnt covered. Then use expense management software to collect data and receipts.

10. Misusing Employee Discounts

If a store or restaurant offers discounts only to employees, some may attempt to offer those privileges to friends, family, or others.

Prevention: Create a strict policy regarding who can and cannot use these discounts. Check on excessive purchases made by any employee.

11. Stealing Cash

Employees with sole access to cash may take small amounts, hoping they wont be noticed. However, these small increments can add up over time.

Prevention: This theft often occurs when one employee is responsible for county money or making bank deposits. There are many cash-handling best practices your business should follow to avoid this, including having more than one person complete these deposits.

12. Stealing Office Supplies

An employee may steal supplies from your storage area and bring them home or even sell them.

Prevention: Keep only small amounts of supplies accessible at one time. Or have employees request when they need more of a particular item.

13. Stealing Equipment

Equipment often includes larger items like computers or tech. Employees may take these items home or sell them for cash.

Prevention: Have employees sign out large devices, or require that they remain in the office.

More Embezzlement Examples to Know

Embezzlement refers to a huge range of actions that employees or decision makers take for personal gain. Here are even more examples of embezzlement for business owners to know.

14. Selling Trade Secrets  Corporate Espionage

This type of embezzlement occurs when an employee sells proprietary information to a competitor.

Prevention: Only give access to information that is essential for each persons roles. Use secure storage for important data, and track who has access.

15. Using a Company Credit Card for Personal Use

If your employees have access to company credit cards, using them for personal purchases may qualify as embezzlement.

Prevention: Set clear rules for credit card usage and review purchases regularly.

16. Burglarizing Your Location

Employees who have inside knowledge about your location, like alarm codes or locations of valuables, may participate in burglaries.

Prevention: Use security cameras and alarms, and carefully track who has access to sensitive information.

17. Stealing Merchandise

Retail employees may steal physical products off the shelves or take items that have recently been returned:

Prevention: Set strong inventory and returns practices, and use security cameras to monitor activity.

18. Claiming Lost Equipment

An employee claims a laptop or other equipment was stolen. They get a new one and keep the old one or give it to a family member.

Prevention: Use software to track the location of company devices or disable them if theyre lost or stolen.

19. Creating Ghost Employees

Employees that control your payroll may set up new employees that dont exist. They pay these fake employees and keep the money for themselves.

Prevention: Regularly review payroll documents and compare them to employee records. This is also a top reason why payroll is one function you should outsource to a reputable provider.

20. Stealing Tax Funds

Employees responsible for tax payments may keep that money for themselves. Not only are those funds missing, but youll also be on the hook for a larger tax bill.

Prevention: Audit your tax practices regularly or outsource this function to a reputable tax service.

21. Collecting Kickbacks

Kickbacks are payments from vendors to employees in exchange for your companys business or other perks.

Prevention: There are many ways to better manage your accounts payables and accounts receivables. Start by choosing vendors yourself or create a committee to make these decisions.

22. Identity Theft

This type of embezzlement occurs when an employee uses your business name to open credit cards or take out loans to use for their own purchases.

Prevention: Regularly check your companys accounts and credit score to note any irregularities.

23. Using Company Resources to Start a Business

If an employee uses company time, equipment, or funds to start their own business without your knowledge, that qualifies as embezzlement.

Prevention: Set clear rules about how company resources are to be used.

24. Ponzi Schemes

A ponzi scheme occurs when a company or individual promises high returns to investors or stakeholders but pays them with money from new investors instead of with the product or service the company claims to provide. This type of scheme is most common in financial management and retirement planning businesses.

Prevention: Track how money is brought in and where it goes. If working with investors, be completely transparent about the origins of funds.

25. Falsifying Business Records

Many forms of embezzlement involve falsifying business records to cover up the misappropriation of funds or to defraud investors.

Prevention: Find a reputable bookkeeping company to outsource these tasks to, and audit your records and finances periodically.

Is Embezzlement a White Collar Crime?

Yes, embezzlement is one of the most common white-collar crimes. The severity and type of charge can vary widely, but it is generally considered to be a form of theft or fraud.

What Is the Punishment for Embezzlement?

The type of criminal charges one might face for embezzlement can vary widely based on the situation and the amount of money or resources that were stolen or misused. Laws also vary by state. Minor embezzlement charges are often considered misdemeanors, which may involve fines or jail time. Felony embezzlement may include serious prison sentences of up to 15 years.

Can You Embezzle from Your Own Company?

Embezzlement occurs when funds or resources from a business are misused for personal gain. If you are the sole owner of your business, you generally cannot be charged with embezzlement, as youre the owner of those resources. However, if your company is part of a partnership or has multiple stakeholders, your misuse of funds could be considered fraud.
Contracts For May 3, 2023



Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Melbourne, Florida, is awarded a $60,000,000 cost reimbursable modification (P00067) to a previously awarded contract (N0001918C1037). This modification adds scope to procure long lead parts and associated support for two E-2D Advanced Hawkeye plus up aircraft for the Navy. Work will be performed in Syracuse, New York (25.06%); Rolling Meadows, Illinois (9.52%); Woodland Hill, California (5.87%); Menlo park, California (5.08%); Greenlawn, New York (3.33%); Aire-sur-l'Adour, France (2.02%); Owego, New York (1.79%); Edgewood, New York (1.41%); Melbourne, Florida (1.35%); and various locations within the continental U.S. (44.57%), and is expected to be completed in April 2028. Fiscal 2023 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $60,000,000 will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.



Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $25,296,081 cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price modification (P00005) to a previously awarded contract (N0001922C0032). This modification adds scope to provide for continued program management, logistics, sustainment, and system engineering support, in support of an undisclosed country's integration as a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customer into the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (85%); Orlando, Florida (10%); and various location outside the continental U.S. (5%), and is expected to be completed in April 2026. FMS customer funds in the amount of $25,296,081 will be obligated at the time of award, none? of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.



Contracts For May 4, 2023



No applicable data.



Contracts For May 5, 2023



Bell Boeing Joint Project Office, Amarillo, Texas, is awarded a $482,300,000 fixed-price incentive (firm-target) undefinitized modification (P00064) to a previously awarded contract (N0001917C0015). This modification adds scope for the production and delivery of four CMV-22B (Lot 27) aircraft for the Navy. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (30.08%); Ridley Park, Pennsylvania (15.22%); Amarillo, Texas (12.73%); Red Oak, Texas (3.33%); East Aurora, New York (2.55%); Park City, Utah (2.2%); McKinney, Texas (1.33%); Endicott, New York (1.15%); various locations within the continental U.S. (CONUS) (27.49%); and various locations outside the CONUS (3.92%), and is expected to be completed in June 2026. Fiscal 2023 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $213,770,836 will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity



American Electronics Warfare Associates Inc., California, Maryland, is awarded a $248,228,343 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to provide technical support services for the research, design, development, and associated engineering in support of battlespace simulation and distributed simulation requirements for the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division's Integrated Battlespace Simulation and Test Department. These efforts include research, development, and maintenance of battlespace simulation tools, application of battlespace simulation tools to specific customer requirements, research and development of warfare scenarios, development and integration of battlespace entity models and behaviors, and support for delivered battlespace products. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Maryland, and is expected to be completed in May 2028. No funds will be obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was competitively procured as a small business set-aside, one offer was received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N0042123D0005).



Contracts For May 8, 2023



No applicable data.



Contracts For May 9, 2023



Peraton Labs Inc., Basking Ridge, New Jersey, is awarded a $9,201,033 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the non-recurring engineering, development, production, testing and integration of 1553 Data Bus Cybersecurity Intrusion Detection/Intrusion Prevention System (IDS/IPS) devices for the MQ-8C Fire Scout. The non-recurring engineering is to design/develop the hardware, firmware, and software to meet MQ-8C integration requirements, to include relevant qualification testing. Additionally, this contract will provide two fully qualified IDS/IPS prototype kits. Work will be performed in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, and is expected to be completed in May 2025. Fiscal 2023 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $2,944,399; and fiscal 2022 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $6,256,634 will be obligated at the time of award, $6,256,634 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to 10 U.S. Code 2304(c) (1). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N0001923C0048).



Contracts For May 10, 2023



The Boeing Co., Seattle, Washington, is awarded a $10,482,918 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification (P00251) to a previously awarded contract (N0001914C0067). This modification adds scope and provides non-recurring engineering in support of mission systems hardware and software to develop a unique configuration of the P-8A aircraft for the government of Germany. Work will be performed in Seattle, Washington, and is expected to be completed in December 2024. Foreign Military Sales customer funds in the amount of $10,482,918 will be obligated at the time of award, none? of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.



Contracts For May 11, 2023



Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $34,655,442 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification (P00001) to a previously awarded contract (N0001923C0009). This modification provides program management, software engineering, software engineering transformation, and cyber support to develop the Beyond Line of Sight F-35 Capability. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (50%); and San Diego, California (50%), and is expected to be completed in February 2026. Fiscal 2023 research, development, test and evaluation (Air Force) funds in the amount of $200,000 will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.



Iridium Satellite LLC, McLean, Virginia, is awarded a $22,158,610 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for Iridium Satellite communications for the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division Weapons Control and Integration Department, Asymmetric Systems Division. Work will be performed in McLean, Virginia, and is expected to be complete by May 2028. Fiscal 2023 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funding in the amount of $100,000 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the fiscal year. This contract was solicited on a sole source basis via a synopsis posted in System for Award Management (SAM) and was awarded in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1), Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division, Dahlgren, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N0017823C2401).



Contracts For May 12, 2023



No applicable data.



Contracts For May 15, 2023



No applicable data.
Years ago I was a Republican. I was just out of college, a newly named advisor to a governor in the Midwest.

One morning about six months in, our chirpy secretary, Ill call her Tess, came to work downcast. Although our office was dark (mahogany paneling, green glass lampshades), I could see shed been crying.

Her face was puffy and her hands were shaking. I tried to comfort her without prying. She spent all day answering calls and typing, never leaving her desk, speaking softly and taking messages with her eyes down.

One morning she came in with a bruised face; it looked like a broken blood vessel. Without taking off her coat, she asked if we could talk in confidence. As we walked under the glass Rotunda toward the lounge, the pressure of maintaining her composure at a job she sorely needed exploded. She let me hug her, wracked in sobs, and began to talk.

The Silence Breaks

What vexed Tess was her 5-year-old son. More accurately, what tormented her was how her husband treated him. The problem was that young Robin wanted to wear girls clothes. He was excited to be a new Kindergartener, and wanted to wear dresses to school.

As a toddler, Robin had preferred dolls to trucks. Her husband tried to teach him the joys of toy soldiers and cars, but it wouldnt take.

Tess knew her baby boy was different, but thought it might be a phase. Her husband saw things differently.

Tesss husband crafted his own form of aversion therapy. As Robin grew into a preschooler, his father slapped and punched him if he caught him holding one of Tesss antique dolls, punctuating the blows with words of degradation and shame. Tess struggled to shield her son, to deflect her husbands anger toward herself instead, but a secretary with three young children could not afford divorce.

Young Robin began spending days in his room.

One time, her husband gone to work, Tess decided to let 5-year-old Robin wear a dress at home, complete with hair barrettes. Dressed to suit himself, the boy didnt parody or parade in front of the mirror. Instead, he climbed next to his mom on the sofa, and pressed into her side. She put her arm around him in quiet acceptance, pierced with a premonition of what Robin might face in life if this wasnt just a phase. They embraced in peace, and fell asleep on the couch.

Her husband woke them up. In a screaming, spittled rage, he lifted the boy off the sofa by the neck of his dress. He ripped it off, and beat Robin so severely he missed school the next day, the same day Tess came to work with bruises of her own.

Floridas GOP Bullies

I think of Robin and Tess whenever I read the slate of hate spreading through Floridas GOP controlled legislature.

DeSantis conservatives cant seem to get enough of bullying vulnerable kids like Robin, kids who may be confused about their gender, or who may in fact be transgender.

DeSantis prohibited gender-affirming medical care for minors, not through legislative action, but by executive fiat. At DeSantis behest, Floridas Board of Medicine, all of whom are DeSantis appointed- voted to ban gender-affirming care for minors, regardless of what parents know about their own child. Floridas SB 254, now close to signature into law, will codify the Boards rule into statute, and worse- make it a third-degree felony.

DeSantis also expanded the reach of his hateful Dont Say Gay law the same way  through executive fiat  by urging Floridas Board of Education to expand the speech-related ban through high school.

Although transgender people comprise less than 1% of the population, Floridas GOP lawmakers have filed over a dozen bills targeting them, regulating what bathrooms they can use, what medical decisions they can make, and what they can express in public.

Floridas puritans dont protect young Robins of the world, they justify their beatings.

Limited Government Hypocrites

Its hard to decide whats worse: the cruelty, the ignorance, or the hypocrisy. Conservatives trying to disappear gay and trans children promote "limited government." Expanding state powers to dictate private medical choice and regulate school speech is the opposite of limited government- think of the apparatus required to enforce it.

What is it about trans children in particular that drives conservatives to frenzy? Trans people have always been with us, including the two-spirit people of North America, the Hijira from India, Kathoey from Thailand, and Fafafine from Samoa, to name a few. Instead of learning about the full, beautiful spectrum of humanity, GOP bullies remain defiantly Dark-age ignorant.

Two weeks after Florida expanded Dont Say Gay, Montanas GOP, refusing to be outdone, muzzled a transgender legislator for speaking out against their anti-trans efforts. The gentlewoman from Montana may be silenced today, but she will have the last word: GOP state legislators, picking on vulnerable children like Robin, will soon have blood on their hands.
"Games of Thrones" Kristian Nairn witnessed the gay club shooting in Belfast, and the president of Turkey attacked the LGBT community during a speech.

Games of Thrones Actor Kristian Nairn Witnessed Gay Club Shooting

Kristian Nairn, best known for his role as Hodor in HBOs Game of Thrones, revealed that he was present at the 1997 gay club shooting in Belfast.

Nairn spoke about the shooting for the first time on BBC's Blood on the Dance Floor Podcast. The victim, 24-year-old police officer Darren Bradshaw, was shot and killed at the club, which was the citys only LGBT venue at the time. To this day, the case remains unsolved.

Nairn said he and his friends had just arrived at the club when the shooting happened.

"It happened so fast. It was just like stunned silence, just like a bomb had gone off," he said.

President Attacks Queer Community During Speech

SFGN file photo.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the president of Turkey, targeted the LGBT community during a speech in the Aegean city of Izmir.

In this nation the foundations of the family are stable. LGBT will not emerge in this country. Stand up straight, like a man: that is how our families are, said Erdogan.

Currently, LGBT people in Turkey are not protected from discrimination, the country does not have marriage equality, gay people are not allowed to adopt, and Istanbul Pride events have been banned since 2015. In recent years, Erdogan and his cabinet have become increasingly more hostile towards the LGBT community and their rights, leading several organizations like the LGBTI Equal Rights Association for Western Balkans and Turkey, to organize and work towards implementing protections.
The family warned me that eastern Slovakia was dangerous, but I thought it must be safer than continuing as the object of their hospitality.

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Frustrated with my progress in Slovak and feeling hemmed in by Bratislava, I hit the open road (vydat sa na cesty) on an August day for a 10-day tour through Slovakia (po Slovensku). Train and hitchhiking (vlak a stopovanie) were to be my modes of transportation. I would study Slovak every night, and engage strangers in long conversations. After having lived in this country for a year and a half, it was time, linguistically speaking, to sink or swim.

The first leg of my trip began, appropriately, in Martin, the birthplace of the Slovak language in 1848 and centre of a region where the purest Slovak is spoken. Locals, for example, tend to roll their 'd's, 'l's, 'n's and 't's whenever this is required by a mekchen, meaning that the l in dolava - to the left - is pronounced doh-lyava, compared to the hard Bratislava 'dollava'. I had a vague connection with a family in Martin that had agreed to put me up should I ever be passing through.

In one of his travel books, Bill Bryson writes that the most intractable quality of the English is their insistence that England is a big place. The opposite was true of this Martin family, who demanded I stay for more than a day and carted me here, there and everywhere (kade tade) through Slovakia, insisting our destinations were so close it would be wasteful not to see them all. We visited Levoca's churches (kostoly), which were just a kusok (lit. a small piece) from Spissky Hrad (castle), collected mushrooms (zbierat hriby) in nearby mountains, and drove to Orava Hrad, which they again insisted was only a kusok from Martin.

During my stay I was assailed by Slovak hospitality (pohostinnost), which meant, first of all, being offered slippers (papuce). Even though I consider walking barefoot one of the joys of indoor living, I accepted the flip-flops to put my guests at ease, who seemed to believe that going without footwear was a sure route to dying of pneumonia. I also made sure I mastered the correct occasions on which to put on my shoes (obut sa), take off my shoes (vyzut sa), change my shoes (prezut sa), and took care not to say to much on the virtues of being barefoot (bosy) compared to shod (obuty).
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Zimbabwean Brian Jakubec was on a sightseeing trip to the Moravian capital of Brno, Czech Republic, after the first coronavirus wave, in 2020, when he sensed that he was back home.

At that stage I wasnt Czech, and definitely wasnt Slovak, but I thought, If my dads looking down at me right now, Im right in the heart of his home country, the 66-year-old Jakubec recalls over a cup of coffee in a Bratislava bookshop. As I say, finishing off what he started.

Born in 1916, Jakubecs father, Frantisek, was brought up with his six siblings by their widowed mother in eastern Bohemia in Czechoslovakia. Coming from a poor family, the teenage Frantisek was accepted for studies at the Bata School of Work in the eastern Moravian town of Zlin. The boarding school offered in-house education and training for future employees of the widely-known Bata footwear manufacturer; Czech entrepreneur Tomas Bata had founded the global firm in Zlin at the end of the 19th century. At school, Frantiseks day had a strict daily routine: a group exercise shortly after 5:30, paid work from 7:00 to 19:00, with a two-hour break; study from 18:00 until 21:00; bedtime at 21:30. Jakubecs father worked different jobs at the Bata firm. In 1939, after eight years spent in Zlin, he moved to Kenya, then a British colony, where he helped expand the Bata business. A few years later, he relocated to the then British colony of Rhodesia, now independent Zimbabwe, to work as chief accountant for Bata. Towards the end of his career, the firm asked him to help establish another new factory in South Africa.

In some ways, Bata was buying loyalty because he was targeting poorer families to find employees, Jakubec explains. Bata workers earned more than the going salary in each region, and shoemakers could often earn more than managers if they worked long hours and improved their skills. This was yet another way, in addition to education and training, that Bata aimed to build a strong bond between his workers and his firm. It was a profit-sharing scheme that he introduced a hundred years ago, which in my mind is really remarkable.

Jakubecs two older brothers followed in their fathers shoes and worked for the Bata firm in several African countries, but not Brian himself.

I was a little bit of a rebel, he admits.
SaS leader Richard Sulik rejects any wrongdoing, accusing rivals of a political anti-campaign.

Former economy minister Karel Hirman on May 11, 2023. (Source: TASR - Jakub Kotian)

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SaS leader and ex-economy minister Richard Sulik is said to have squandered a huge amount of public money related to Slovakias participation in the Expo in Dubai international exhibition.

His successor, Karel Hirman (Demokrati), announced last week that the Economy Ministry cannot find documents, including invoices, regarding the organisation and financing of Slovakias participation in Expo Dubai.

Currently, outstanding financial obligations known to us that are related to Expo Dubai already exceed 1 million, said Hirman on May 11. He named, for example, an unpaid restaurant bill for 54,000.

We are filing the first lawsuits, because unfortunately we have no other options, Hirman added. He notes that the ministry's previous leadership changed Expo Dubai into family trips and trips for friends.

Hirman left the ministerial post following the replacement of the Eduard Heger caretaker government with a government of experts on Monday, May 15.

The Supreme Audit Office will also look into the money spent on the exhibition after MPs approved a proposal in parliament on May 16.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230515/trump-lashes-out-blasts-fox-news-as-desanctimonious-network--1110389348.html

Trump Lashes Out, Blasts Fox News as 'DeSanctimonious Network'

Trump Lashes Out, Blasts Fox News as 'DeSanctimonious Network'

Former President Donald Trump blasted Fox News as the "DeSanctimonious Network" for its favorable coverage of Gov. Ron DeSantis.

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Former US President Donald Trump took to his social media site Truth Social on Monday to lash out against Fox News, which he says is way down in the ratings."Trump called the network he previously had a close relationship with as the DeSanctimonious network, a reference to his nickname for Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL), who is expected to challenge him for the Republican nomination for president.The several post rant, which included a poll showing Trump leading DeSantis by 56 points, also compared Fox News to the Globalist Wall Street Journal and the now, way down, New York Post, adding They are desperately pushing DeSanctimonious who, regardless, is dropping like a rock.More recently, Trump has criticized both the networks $787.5 million lawsuit settlement with Dominion Voting Systems and its surprise firing of host Tucker Carlson in April. Trump echoed those criticisms again on Monday. The rant came about an hour after Trump posted about Fox News rival CNN. The later network hosted a town hall with Trump last week, a move that garnered criticism from the left. Trump again criticized the events host as not exactly [renowned US interviewer] Barbara Walters, or even close, but said CNN should take the GREAT RATINGS!According to poll aggregator FiveThirtyEight, Trump holds a 52.5% to 21.9% advantage over DeSantis among Republican voters.

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Vending machines will be repurposed to carry life-saving supplies to fight the opioid epidemic. In the US, there is a growing number of cities and local governments that are making harm-reduction items, such as the overdose-reversal drug naloxone that is available for free via machines.

(Photo: by STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

Narcan nasal spray, which is used to help a person overdose on an opioid, is for sale in a vending machine in Washington, DC, on April 22, 2023.

The recent approval of Narcan by US regulators is expected to drive more interest. Shaffer Distributing is one of the companies that worked with US communities to put medication in machines prior to the FDA's over-the-counter approval, as reported by APNews.

How the Vending Machines Will Work

The vending machines work like a typical machine, but this time, they are modified to dispense medications. The company has already worked on machines that dispense Narcan nasal spray, HIV testing kits, and more.

They have sold over 200 machines to the harm-reduction community. These machines have been put everywhere, from public libraries to city hall. There are also some that are delivered to post offices, college campuses, and sheriff's offices.

A vending machine, it will provide the end user with the opportunity to walk up without being judged or having to have the money to buy the product.

To use the vending machine, the user will need to follow a few simple steps. First, they must select the medication they require from the machine's touch screen options. Next, they must pay for the medication using cash, a credit card, or a smartphone payment app. Once payment has been made, the machine will dispense the medication, and the user can collect it from the dispenser.

The vending machines are designed to be easy to use and accessible to everyone. They are also designed to be secure, with built-in safety features to prevent theft and misuse. The machines are regularly serviced and restocked to ensure they remain fully operational and stocked with the needed medications.

Vending machines work by providing a convenient and discreet way for people to access the medications they need. They are designed to be easy to use, secure, and accessible, and they are already making a difference in many communities around the world.

Read also: US Opioid Crisis: CVS Health Agrees To $5 Billion Settlement of Nationwide Lawsuits

The Opioid Epidemic in the US

The opioid epidemic in the US is a growing public health crisis that has been fueled by the over-prescription of opioid painkillers and the availability of illegal opioids such as heroin and fentanyl. The epidemic has led to a sharp increase in overdose deaths and has had a devastating impact on families and communities across the country.

In response to the crisis, many states and local governments have implemented a range of strategies to address the issue, including increased access to addiction treatment, expanded use of naloxone, a medication that can reverse opioid overdoses, and increased regulation of prescription opioids.

Vending machines that dispense medications for opioid addiction have also been introduced in some areas as a way to increase access to treatment. These machines provide patients with buprenorphine, a medication that can help manage withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings for opioids. The machines are often located in clinics or other healthcare facilities and are operated under strict guidelines to ensure they are used safely and appropriately.

While vending machines are not a solution to the opioid epidemic on their own, they can be a useful tool in helping increase access to treatment and support for those struggling with addiction. As the crisis continues to evolve, it is important to explore all potential solutions and strategies to help address this complex issue.

Related article: Opioid Prescriptions Are Declining, But Fatal Overdoses Are Rising: Why?

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230516/china-could-beat-us-to-moons-south-pole---nasa-head-1110405407.html

China Could Beat US to Moon's South Pole - NASA Head

China Could Beat US to Moon's South Pole - NASA Head

China could beat the United States to a manned landing at the South Pole of the Moon, where crucial water resources are believed to be available and then claim possession of the territory

2023-05-16T18:41+0000

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The history of Chinas attitude towards claiming disputed territories in the South China Sea, especially the Spratly Islands, proved that they had established a pattern of claiming full territorial control when they could establish primacy of occupation, Nelson alleged. The NASA administrator said US leaders must realize the country is in a space race with China and how serious the race of getting on the Moon is. Currently the US Artemis program plans to return astronauts to the surface of the Moon in 2025. President Joe Biden's 2024 proposed budget requests more than $8 billion for the Artemis program, which plans to accelerate to annual crewed missions to the surface of the Moon starting with Artemis IV in 2028.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230516/chinas-envoy-kicks-off-visit-amid-intensified-battle-in-ukraine-crisis-1110403347.html

Chinas Envoy Kicks off Visit Amid Intensified Battle in Ukraine Crisis

Chinas Envoy Kicks off Visit Amid Intensified Battle in Ukraine Crisis

China's special envoy for Eurasian affairs Li Hui will visit Russia, France, Germany, Poland and Ukraine in a quest to find solution for ongoing hostilities.

2023-05-16T16:14+0000

2023-05-16T16:14+0000

2023-05-16T16:14+0000

world

ukrainian crisis

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China's special envoy for Eurasian affairs Li Hui is set to visit Ukraine, Poland, France, Germany and Russia as part of China's efforts to help find a political solution to the Russia-Ukraine crisis. The main mission of the visit will be learning and communicating on demands and opinions of these major parties concerned, experts said.The visit demonstrates China's efforts to bring about a political settlement to the Ukraine crisis, showing China's objective and fair stance as a responsible power, experts said. But they noted that China alone cannot solve the crisis, especially considering the US-led West's enhanced military support for Ukraine and the tough attitudes of Ukraine and Russia, urging more European partners that want peace to participate in peace mediation. Responding to an inquiry about the visit at a routine press conference on Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin reiterated that China will, together with the international community, continue to play a constructive role in seeking a political solution to the Russia-Ukraine crisis. Wang said China will release details of the visit soon.During a phone call in April, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky exchanged views on China-Ukraine relations and the Ukraine crisis.Xi said during the phone call that China would send a special representative of the Chinese government on Eurasian affairs to visit Ukraine and other countries to have in-depth communication with all parties on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, which experts see as a signal that China will engage more in the diplomatic front to contribute to a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.As a special envoy, Li's mission is to collect and exchange information among the parties rather than to persuade them, Cui Heng, an assistant research fellow from the Center for Russian Studies of East China Normal University, told the Global Times on Monday.Judging from the order of the five stops, Cui believes that Li will learn the demands and opinions of Ukraine first, then communicate those opinions with other main parties related to the crisis and, in the final stop, seek response from Russia to all these information.Li is reportedly the highest ranking Chinese senior official to visit Ukraine in the 15 months since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began. His visit came after some Western countries have provided new military support packages to Ukraine. It also coincides with the start of a planned counteroffensive on the battlefield, for which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been rallying support in the Europe over the past weekend. It is hoped that the visit of Chinese special envoy could bring a favorable turn to the bitter conflict, said the experts.China is the most suitable third party to kick off the mediation work, Cui pointed out, urging more European countries and developing nations that want peace to engage in the work to help promote an early peaceful solution.European people have also suffered a lot because of the conflict and European leaders are clearly aware of this, Cui noted.This text was originally published by Global Times.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230417/russo-chinese-military-cooperation-to-ensure-world-peace-1109597106.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230424/lavrov-spearheads-multilateralism-and-fairer-world-order-in-un-security-council-1109780739.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230516/us-not-making-correct-judgment-on-russia-china-relations-1110395445.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230516/chinese-japanese-defense-ministers-open-hotline-to-manage-and-control-crises-1110404682.html

Chinese, Japanese Defense Ministers Open Hotline to 'Manage and Control' Crises

Chinese, Japanese Defense Ministers Open Hotline to 'Manage and Control' Crises

The defense ministers of Japan and the Peoples Republic of China inaugurated a new military hotline on Monday, according to statements by both ministries.

2023-05-16T18:02+0000

2023-05-16T18:02+0000

2023-05-16T18:02+0000

asia

japan

china

hotline

quadrilateral security dialogue (quad)

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The defense ministers of Japan and the Peoples Republic of China inaugurated a new military hotline on Monday, according to statements by both ministries. The hotline is part of a larger effort to maintain communications during crises that began in 2018, called the Maritime and Aerial Communication Mechanism.Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister General Li Shangfu spoke with Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada for about 20 minutes on the direct telephone link, exchanging their views on bilateral and defense relations, according to a statement by the Chinese Defense Ministry.Japan's Defense Ministry similarly said the communication mechanism "plays an important role" in building mutual trust and avoiding contingency. At their first meeting in three years last November, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida declared their renewed intent to open the hotline amid rising tensions in the region.In the early 20th century, China and Japan fought several major wars, including when Japan invaded China in 1937 and occupied about one-quarter of the country, killing more than 20 million Chinese. After the Allied Forces defeated Japan and its fascist allies in Europe in 1945, Japan was occupied for 10 years and reconstructed as a liberal constitutional monarchy with constitutionally mandated neutrality.Four years after the wars end, communist forces overthrew the Republic of China and established the PRC in Beijing, but Japan continued recognizing the RoC rump government on Taiwan until 1972, when it switched to recognizing the PRC. By the time the two nations celebrated the 50th anniversary of that deal in 2022, China had become Japans largest trading partner, with a total annual trade value of 38.4 trillion ($281.1 billion), according to Japans finance ministry.Earlier this month, Hayashi revealed Tokyo was "already in discussions" to open a liaison office for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Brussels-based alliance of Western capitalist states.In addition to its disputes with China, Japan has also looked for Western support against the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK), a small socialist state with a large military that enjoys tacit support from Beijing. The DPRK regularly test-fires ballistic missiles across the Sea of Japan, including several rockets that have flown over Japanese territory. Tokyo has looked to enhance its missile defense capabilities, including efforts to acquire interceptor technology and a failed bid to build Aegis Ashore bases in several coastal cities.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230316/are-japans-best-known-brands-reluctant-to-join-tokyos-military-buildup--1108443073.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230515/us-and-china-had-secret-submarine-showdown-near-hong-kong-around-jan-6-events---report-1110384416.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230516/czech-opposition-party-spd-to-spearhead-rally-against-economic-reforms-on-may-24-1110406839.html

Czech Opposition Party SPD to Spearhead Rally Against Economic Reforms on May 24

Czech Opposition Party SPD to Spearhead Rally Against Economic Reforms on May 24

The Czech right-wing party Freedom and Direct Democracy plans to bring people out on May 24 to protest against the government's recently announced economic reform package, said party's leader, Tomio Okamura.

2023-05-16T20:21+0000

2023-05-16T20:21+0000

2023-05-16T20:21+0000

world

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tomio okamura

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The SPD chairman has asked trade unions for help in organizing demonstrations, but they were "still hesitant," he said. Last Thursday, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala presented a package of reforms designed to curb the rising national debt and budget deficit. It includes measures to reduce government subsidies, abolish tax exemptions, and revise the VAT as well as a pension reform. Fiala expects the cut in spending to save the budget 46 billion Czech korunas ($2.1 billion). On Monday, the leader of the Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions, Josef Stredula, responded to the announcement by threatening to take workers on strike over income cuts planned under Fiala's reform and accusing the prime minister of lying.The Czech news agency reported on Tuesday that a number of trade unions, including the Association of Independent Unions, the trade union of transport workers DOSIA and the union representing workers of car manufacturer Skoda Auto, expressed their willingness to join the strike. More than 70% of Czechs do not believe in the success of the economic reforms proposed by the government, according to the results of a survey conducted by the Median research agency on behalf of Czech Radio. Respondents most often agree that the biggest savings would be on the upkeep of the state apparatus.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230506/anti-government-rally-in-prague-1110137041.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230516/ex-svb-ceo-declines-to-say-if-he-would-pay-fired-bank-workers-from-his-bonuses-1110406226.html

Ex-SVB CEO Declines to Say If He Would Pay Fired Bank Workers From His Bonuses

Ex-SVB CEO Declines to Say If He Would Pay Fired Bank Workers From His Bonuses

Former SVB CEO Gregory Becker declined to say whether he would compensate bank personnel who lost their jobs due to the financial institutions collapse from the bonuses he received right before the bank failed.

2023-05-16T19:39+0000

2023-05-16T19:39+0000

2023-05-16T19:39+0000

economy

silicon valley bank

silicon valley bank collapse

senate banking committee

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The comment came in response to a senator asking Becker whether he was ready to pay the banks former employees from the $1.5 million in bonuses he received for 2022. Many lawmakers have expressed frustration that SVB executives received such bonuses on March 10, right before the bank effectively collapsed.However, Becker said the compensation he received was a decision by the banks board and the compensation committee, which is allegedly an independent body. Senators also asked Becker whether he intends to return his bonuses before SVB collapsed. "I am going to cooperate with the regulators as they go through the process to look at this specific area," he said. On March 10, US federal regulators closed SVB, the largest US bank to collapse since the 2008 financial crisis and the second largest implosion in the country's history. Later that week, the New York-based Signature Bank was seized in the third largest bank collapse in US history. Both lenders, which catered largely to the tech sector, became victims of a bank run.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230509/california-regulator-admits-underestimating-risk-of-svbs-unusually-rapid-growth-1110209141.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230516/fukushima-greets-summer-with-dread-as-nuclear-contaminated-wastewater-dumping-approaches-1110402649.html

Fukushima Greets Summer with Dread as Nuclear-Contaminated Wastewater Dumping Approaches

Fukushima Greets Summer with Dread as Nuclear-Contaminated Wastewater Dumping Approaches

Japanese TEPCO plans to dump nuclear-contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the sea this summer.

2023-05-16T15:58+0000

2023-05-16T15:58+0000

2023-05-16T15:58+0000

asia

japan

fukushima

nuclear power plant

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However, despite strong opposition at home and abroad, the Japanese government and the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) are set to go ahead with the plan to dump the nuclear-contaminated wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the sea this summer. As summer approaches, the Global Times reporters went to the Fukushima Prefecture. In this first installment of this field investigation, the Global Times reveals the palpable sense of fear and unease hanging over Fukushima, paired with intense opposition from locals who chanted "Never allow arbitrary dumping into the sea!"Boarding the "Hitachi" express train from the Tokyo station and heading northeast, through Ueno, Mito, and Isohara among other cities, the vast ocean filled the field of view. For the 215-kilometer, 2 hours and 25-minute journey, the train slowly stopped at Iwaki station in the Fukushima Prefecture.Iwaki is a coastal city in the southeastern part of Fukushima, facing the Pacific Ocean with a coastline spanning 60 kilometers, and is an area of about 1,232 square kilometers, with a population of about 323,000, both of which rank largest in the prefecture. Iwaki station is a transportation hub connecting Miyagi and Ibaraki prefectures. About 54 kilometers away from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, the city looks subdued with few passersby along the streets. The excavation of an underwater tunnel for the project to drain the nuclear-contaminated wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant was completed in April, and TEPCO announced that it is expected to complete the construction of the tunnel by the end of June. Measuring 1,031 meters long and 1 kilometer away from the coast, the tunnel will allow radioactive wastewater to be dumped into the sea.In a car headed north along National Highway 6, the Global Times reporters found it quite a change from the scene in 2017. Six years ago, the road was littered with collapsed houses, rust-covered street signs, and crumbling shop signs, a time capsule of the March 11 Japan earthquake and tsunami. Now the ruins have been cleared, but reconstructed houses are still uninhabited.The Japanese government purchased the land along the road and cleaned up the disaster area. Although with sporadic construction, the land is still overgrown with weeds. A huge compound filled with black plastic bags containing irradiated soil, which was seen on a previous visit, have also been removed and moved to an intermediate storage facility built by the Japanese government.A police car whizzing by brings the reporters back to reality. After passing two coal-fired power plants, Naraha, Tomioka, and Okuma towns, the car turns into Futaba, and the Fukushima Daiichi and Daini nuclear power plants are suddenly within reach.One kilometer away from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, a sign reading "Pass card confirmation" barred the entry.Two security guards barricade the road. As soon as the reporters got off the car, a security guard brandished a warning stick and came, motioning a cross in the air, an indication not to approach. The reporters tried to obtain some information from the guard, but regardless of what they asked, the security guard repeatedly replied "Please contact TEPCO."The security guard asked the reporters to leave immediately, saying sternly, "As commanded, you're not allowed to alight at all!"One of the Global Times reporters who had been there six years before remembered that people were allowed to walk up the mountain last time people could glance inside the nuclear power plant from the top. Additionally, they were able to walk up to the grid fence of the Fukushima power plant. This time, however, only a single road remains open with pass cards necessary to be granted entry. All other entrances into the facility are barred, making the path up the mountain impossible to trace. The plant is even more isolated.No Turning BackThe opaquer the environment, the more people have something to say. When the Global Times reporters set out to interview some Fukushima residents remotely, they were very enthusiastic about participating. They not only expressed their willingness to talk in person, but also repeatedly asked if there was anything they could do to help. Chiyo Oda, co-chairperson of an environmental NGO and city assembly "Stop polluting the oceans!" was one of them."Summer is coming. What's going to happen? Fukushima greets summer with fear!" said Oda, who expressed strong concern about the dumping of nuclear-contaminated wastewater at a conference themed "Don't Nuke the Pacific" on May 7. "The Japanese government has reached an agreement with the fishing community that nothing will be done without [the fishing community and other stakeholders'] understanding." Nevertheless, the Japanese government is apparently breaking its promise and is preparing to dump the water which is likely to start this summer.When the Global Times reporters met Oda, the 68-year-old woman had just returned to Iwaki from Fukushima city, the capital of Fukushima Prefecture. Early that day, with Kazuyoshi Sato, another co-representative of the city assembly, Oda had driven for two hours to the Fukushima prefectural office to hold a press conference to announce that a mass rally called "May 16 Tokyo Action" will be held in Tokyo on May 16 to urge the Japanese government and TEPCO to stop dumping the nuclear-contaminated wastewater.Oda told the Global Times that the campaign will last all day on May 16, when anti-sea pollution campaigners from all over Japan are meant to gather in Tokyo. As planned, they will gather in front of the TEPCO headquarters at 10:30 am, and then head to the House of Representatives with lawmakers to hold the rally. The rally and petition to the Japanese government and parliament will be followed by a speech at the Hibiya Open Air Concert Hall in the evening. It will then be followed by a massive demonstration in Ginza, Tokyo, which is expected to be attended by more than 1,000 people. The sea of my hometown, the Sea of Japan, and the seas of the world must not be polluted," said Oda.Oda noted that the Japanese government, TEPCO, the Fukushima Prefectural Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations, and the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations of Japan signed an agreement in 2015, stating it would not "do anything about the nuclear-contaminated water from Fukushima without the understanding and consent of the relevant people," but now the Japanese government and TEPCO insist on dumping the water despite opposition from all parties, including fishermen. "Such behavior should not be allowed," said Oda. People's trust in the government has weakened, and the thought that there is no turning back once the nuclear-contaminated wastewater is released into the sea has increased daily fear, Oda said.Accompanying Oda was 74-year-old Tsutomu Yoneyama, a member of the city assembly. Yoneyama had been engaged in chemical-related work before his retirement. He told the Global Times that from a professional perspective, the tritium and other radioactive substances are "poisons," and once they get inside the human body, the exact impact on health is unknown. There is very little research on this subject, and this is a deliberate move by the Japanese government, said Yoneyama. If anyone wants to conduct research on the matter, the government will cut funding, so there's very little relevant data and information.Yoneyama cautioned that releasing radioactive wastewater into the sea carries a potentially high risk of miscarriages for women and diseases such as leukemia, but that it is difficult to prove a direct link to the discharge, and therefore difficult to win damages in lawsuits, which is also scary.It is worth mentioning that the interview with Oda and Yoneyama took place at a Japanese-style hot spring hotel named Furutakiya, where books on the Fukushima nuclear accident were displayed in the lobby on the first floor. The banquet hall on the ninth floor has been converted into a research hall on the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, called "furusato" (hometown). Even if visitors don't patronize the hotel, they are still welcome to visit and use the makeshift research hall for free.Yoshio Satomi, 55, the 16th generation owner of the hotel, also opposes the wastewater release. Satomi said that in the 328 years since the hotel was established, Furutakiya has only had a few closures occasioned by the two World Wars, the Japan earthquake and tsunami of 2011, and the Fukushima nuclear accident, and could have only survived to the present time thanks to the support of the local people, so he feels a duty to protect his hometown.This Is The Sea We Want To ProtectGlobal Times reporters who visited Fukushima felt the overwhelming sense that locals had something to say. Concerns about there not being enough interviewees and voices were swept away during the visit. Yoshitaka Ikarashi, the Japanese representative of the Somei Platform - the Japan-China common market promotion association, has been working on the revitalization of Fukushima since the March 11 earthquake. He contacted the Global Times reporters when they were on the train to Iwaki and said he would like to be a guide and explain the local situation."Come on! I will take you to see the sea! Otherwise, you will not understand the determination of Fukushima's residents to protect the sea," the 45-year-old Ikarashi said when meeting the Global Times reporters for the first time in Iwaki.He took the reporters to the Usuiso beach, 14 kilometers away from Iwaki station. It was one of the areas hardest hit by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. At that time, the area was almost flattened by the 8.51-magnitude tsunami. But restoration work is well underway with rebuilt roads, houses, and other infrastructure, along with a new crop of coastal shelter forest vegetation.Along the coast is a white lighthouse. After climbing 103 steps, people can enjoy a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean where the sea meets the sky. Overlooking the waves crashing onto the vast beach and the mountains in the distance, the Global Times reporters finally understood why the people of Fukushima are struggling to protect the sea."Look! This is the sea we want to protect!" Ikarashi told the Global Times that he and his family have fond memories of living by the sea, eating the catch from the same sea, surfing, and frolicking with their children. The people of Fukushima live just like them, having enjoyed the bounty of the sea for generations. If the nuclear-contaminated wastewater is dumped into the sea, future generations will no longer be able to enjoy the beautiful nature.Ruiko Muto, who lives in Tamura, Fukushima, is the head of the association for the victims of the Fukushima nuclear accident. After the accident, she worked hard to hold the former management of TEPCO accountable as a member of the legal team for the Fukushima nuclear accident and the criminal prosecution team.Muto told the Global Times in an email that "ALPS-treated water" used by the Japanese government and TEPCO contains many other radioactive substances besides tritium, making it "not safe at all." Under such circumstances, attempts to release the radioactive wastewater from Fukushima into the sea must not be allowed.Muto said that as summer approaches, her group will join forces with other civic groups and continue to express opposition through protests and rallies.Dumping Not Only WayIn an on-the-spot interview, Global Times reporters noted the intense concern over whether "ALPS-treated water," as the Japanese government and TEPCO refer to it, is safe, and whether there is an alternative to dealing with the wastewater.Hideyuki Ban, a Japanese nuclear expert and co-director of the Tokyo-based Citizens' Nuclear Information Center (CNIC), told the Global Times that "the nuclear-contaminated wastewater contains 64 radionuclides, including tritium, some of which are very long-lived and cannot necessarily be diluted. [The compounds] can accumulate in the ocean and attach to fish and shellfish, and some of them can enter the body of marine organisms, causing human beings to be exposed to nuclear radiation after consumption. Even if [the wastewater] is treated and released into the sea, it is not safe.""There is no precedent in the world for dumping such wastewater containing 64 radionuclides into the sea," he said. "The capacity of ALPS to remove radionuclides and the amount of the nuclear-contaminated wastewater to be discharged are not fully understood, let alone gaining the understanding and consent of stakeholders. Under such circumstances, it is not allowed to arbitrarily discharge the wastewater," he said.Ban noted that there are other ways to dispose of the wastewater. For example, there is the option of "mortar solidification," where the nuclear-contaminated wastewater is mixed, solidified, and stored in mortar as in cement production. What the Japanese government has done is based on a political decision, not one based on scientific research, Ban criticized.Some observers believe that the Japanese government is trying to draw a line under the Fukushima nuclear accident by "draining the water." Muto said the Japanese government has said that the water dumping is necessary to push ahead with the project of decommissioning TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Units 1-4. The problem, however, is that even if the nuclear-contaminated wastewater is disposed of, key issues such as whether nuclear fuel debris can be removed from the Daiichi plant remain unresolved. The government plans to decommission the reactor in the next 30 to 40 years, but it has yet to give a clear explanation of how long it will take to complete the project and in what condition the facility will have to be in order to qualify as successfully decommissioned, according to Muto.Surrounded by the sea, Japan gives thanks to the gracious sea as a prosperous maritime nation, on "Sea Day" held annually on the third Monday of July, which is one of the statutory holidays in the country.. Born by the sea, the locals reached by the Global Times could not help but express their deep concern and fear that if the sea is polluted, it will be difficult to enjoy the sea's succor in the future.This text was originally published by Global Times.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20210702/fukushima-nuclear-accident-triggers-emergence-of-new-species-of-radioactive-boar-1083291453.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20211126/ice-wall-at-japans-fukushima-daiichi-plant-appears-partly-melted-reports-say-1091037602.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230328/japanese-professor-alps-treated-fukushima-radioactive-wastewater-still-contains-radionuclides-1108860162.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20210420/south-korean-students-shave-heads-to-protest-against-nuclear-waste-water-release-1082679135.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20220722/japan-regulator-approves-dumping-fukushimas-nuclear-waste-in-pacific-ocean-1097693418.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20210415/take-a-sip-first-china-says-japans-deputy-prime-minister-should-sample-safe-fukushima-water-1082637633.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20180623/japan-fukushima-nuclear-power-decommissioning-1065712514.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20180426/chernobyl-fukushima-anniversary-consequences-1063934165.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230516/growing-debt-to-strip-us-of-status-of-worlds-top-economy-warns-investor-1110392737.html

Growing Debt to Strip US of World's Top Economy Status, Investor Warns

Growing Debt to Strip US of World's Top Economy Status, Investor Warns

Legendary investor Jim Rogers told Sputnik that the ever growing debt of the US Government threatens its status as the number one economy in the world.

2023-05-16T03:47+0000

2023-05-16T03:47+0000

2023-05-16T05:21+0000

americas

jim rogers

joe biden

donald trump

sputnik

us debt ceiling crisis

national debt

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"In 100 years, it's going to be much worse. Young people in America are not going to have nearly as good a life as they had before. And some countries are going to rise to replace America as the number one," Rogers said. "What are the consequences? Continued decline in America's standard of living and in America's position in the world. It's happened to everybody. Every country that's been number one has made mistakes and spent a lot of money and gone into debt, has gone into decline." Rogers recalled that 100 years ago, Britain was the number one country in the world, but then spent a lot of money, and went deep into debt. When asked about what country could overtake the US's place, the investor said that "it should be China," but expressed belief that certain currency constraints may prevent the country from topping the list of world economies. Rogers noted, however, that the Chinese are opening their currency and they're making it more tradable. The United States is teetering on the brink of a default of its obligations if the Biden administration fails to get its Republican rivals in Congress to agree to raising the nations debt ceiling. The Congressional Budget Office warned on Friday that the United States faced a "significant risk" of defaulting within the first two weeks of June if lawmakers fail to increase the amount of debt the country is legally allowed to take on. Talks between President Joe Biden and top lawmakers on raising the $31.4 trillion debt ceiling are expected to resume early this week, after a planned meeting on Friday was postponed to allow staff to continue negotiations.The Election Will Have No Effect On EconomyThe US economy will experience economic issues by 2025 regardless of who is elected as the next president, Rogers told Sputnik.Current officeholder Joe Biden officially launched his reelection campaign in April.When further asked whether Biden's reelection would affect the US economy, Rogers said he suspects that the economy will be "bad" by November 2024."And then he will probably not get reelected because the economy will be bad, but I don't know," the investor said.Biden may once again square off against his Republican predecessor, Donald Trump. Trump announced his 2024 presidential campaign in November 2022 and is currently the most popular candidate among registered Republicans.On Situation With Frozen Russian AssetsRogers does not see the situation with the Russian assets frozen by the United States-led collective West turn into a major problem given that not many nations support Washington's position.When asked whether the frozen Russian assets may be transferred to Ukraine, Rogers said such a thing could happen and has happened.In April, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the United States is in talks with its allies on the ways to overcome legal hurdles to use Russian assets seized abroad for the purpose of rebuilding Ukraine. Yellen added that the United States had already started transferring the assets seized from Russian individuals to Ukraine, but the same cannot yet be done with Russia's state-owned assets.Rogers noted that assets freezes have happened numerous times but also said assets get unfrozen after conflicts end."Many people who have their assets frozen suffer for a while, but eventually, if nothing else, the war ends and the assets get unfrozen. And then people get their assets back and they start over," he said.However, Rogers also went on to say that the freezing of Russian assets has undermined trust and made even allies of the United States nervous that such a measure may be used against them."Of course, everybody is worried," he said. "Right now, many of America's allies are looking for something to compete with the US dollar because they realize it could be used against them too... Now we have to be very careful, there is a different world. And we have to ask a lot of questions we didn't ask before. But I want to say to you again, this is all in the history books, this has all happened before."After the start of Russia's military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the collective West has imposed comprehensive sanctions against Russia, including the freezing of nearly half of the country's foreign currency reserves - amounting to about $300 billion. The European Union alone froze assets of Russian organizations and individuals worth $23.3 billion, according to European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230514/us-deputy-finance-chief-says-debt-ceiling-talks-running-constructively-as-default-looms-1110355990.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230420/bidens-approval-rating-drops-amid-economic-trouble---poll-1109675936.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230513/ukraine-cant-have-russian-assets-frozen-in-switzerland-bern-says-1110323614.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230516/london-to-sydney-in-just-2-hours-air-travels-fate-may-take-cosmic-turn-1110396349.html

London to Sydney in Just 2 Hours? Air Travel's Fate May Take Cosmic Turn

London to Sydney in Just 2 Hours? Air Travel's Fate May Take Cosmic Turn

Presently, a London to Sydney flight can take up to 22 hours. However, the study published in Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance suggests that commercial suborbital space flights could revolutionize travel, drastically reducing the journey time.

2023-05-16T13:00+0000

2023-05-16T13:00+0000

2023-05-16T13:00+0000

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science & tech

virgin galactic

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In a groundbreaking development, holidaymakers could soon embark on a journey from London to Sydney in a mere two hours, thanks to suborbital space flights. While the current cost of these flights exceeds 350,000 per seat, regulators anticipate a future where such trips become widely accessible.The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is investing in medical studies to explore the effects of suborbital space flights, which involve briefly launching travelers into space before swiftly descending to their destination. A recent CAA-funded study, conducted in collaboration with King's College London and facilitated by the Royal Air Force (RAF), revealed promising results. It found that most individuals handled the G-forces of suborbital travel well, paving the way for its potential as an ultra-fast, point-to-point mode of transportation.This research indicates that individuals of varying ages and fitness levels could embark on these expeditions, with older adults potentially demonstrating an advantage in adapting to the demands of space travel.UK Aviation & Space Medicine Consultant, Dr. Ryan Anderton, expressed confidence in the benign physiological responses of most passengers. He highlighted the potential benefit for older individuals, citing their "stiffer arteries" as a factor that could mitigate the pooling of blood away from the brain during suborbital flights.While the current cost of suborbital space travel remains prohibitive for many, the CAA's investment in medical research signals a commitment to advancing this futuristic mode of transportation. As technology advances and costs potentially decrease, the prospect of reaching far-flung destinations in a fraction of the time is inching closer to reality.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230509/virgin-galactic-plans-to-launch-its-first-commercial-flight-after-2-year-hiatus-1110208977.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230427/pentagon-space-policy-chief-satellite-systems-essential-to-us-way-of-war-1109867248.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230516/musk-denounces-idiotic-subpoena-in-dumb-crook-epstein-trial-1110402782.html

Musk Denounces 'Idiotic' Subpoena in 'Dumb Crook' Epstein Trial

Musk Denounces 'Idiotic' Subpoena in 'Dumb Crook' Epstein Trial

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been served a subpoena in a case brought against JPMorgan Chase by the US Virgin Islands, a US territory where Epstein owned a private island at which he reportedly ran a massive sex trafficking operation.

2023-05-16T16:07+0000

2023-05-16T16:07+0000

2023-05-16T16:07+0000

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Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been served a subpoena in a case brought against JPMorgan Chase by the US Virgin Islands, a US territory where Epstein owned a private island at which he reportedly ran a massive sex trafficking operation. The court order demands a record of all communications between him and Epstein related to Tesla, especially financial advice Epstein may have given him. It also demands "all Documents reflecting or regarding Epsteins involvement in human trafficking and/or his procurement of girls or women for consensual sex."Musk is not being asked to testify under oath.Musk, who was difficult for the US Virgin Islands to reach and serve the subpoena directly, has so far refused to respond to media inquiries about the case. However, He did make a public comment about it on Twitter, a website he owns, on Monday night."This is idiotic on so many levels," Musk wrote on Twitter in reply to a tweet of a news article about the subpoena that was shared by "unusual_whales", an account that gives trading advice.The subpoena is based on a 2018 interview with the New York Times in which Epstein was asked about rumors he had advised Tesla when it came under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for comments Musk had made about intending to take the company private. The interview was printed in August 2019, after Epstein's alleged suicide in a New York jail.In the interview, Epstein is evasive, but claims someone at Tesla who was close to Musk had reached out to him for advice. Still, the author, NYT columnist James B. Stewart, writes: "It seemed clear Mr. Epstein had embellished his role in the Tesla situation to enhance his own importance and gain attention - something that now seems to have been a pattern."In the end, the SEC forced Musk to abdicate the role of chairman of Tesla for three years and pay a $20 million fine, although he remained CEO.While Musk has not been asked for a deposition, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon is set to be deposed concerning the case in a Manhattan court later this month.Notably, Musk has not been summoned before any court about an infamous 2014 photo of him and Ghislaine Maxwell, a British socialite who was found guilty in 2021 of recruiting underage girls for Epsteins sex ring. Musk has claimed he doesn't "know her at all" and that she "photobombed" him in the photo, which was taken at an event hosted by pop culture magazine Vanity Fair.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230516/did-george-soros-dump-tesla-shares-to-spite-elon-musk-1110395932.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230516/no-encouraging-prospects-for-grain-deal-extension-now---source-1110392546.html

No Encouraging Prospects for Grain Deal Extension Now - Source

No Encouraging Prospects for Grain Deal Extension Now - Source

A source told Sputnik that there are currently no encouraging prospects for extending the grain deal between Russia, Turkiye, Ukraine and the UN

2023-05-16T03:36+0000

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2023-05-16T09:16+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

stephane dujarric

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UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Monday that discussions about the future of the grain deal will resume at a technical level in the coming days. "These will be talks of technical delegations, which, in principle, have been underway since the mechanism start," the source said.He said the mechanism should not stop. Russia, Ukraine, Turkiye and the UN reached an agreement on July 22, 2022 to provide a humanitarian maritime corridor for ships carrying food and fertilizer exports from Ukrainian Black Sea ports. On March 18, 2023, Russia extended the deal for 60 days, until May 18. The Black Sea Grain Initiative is an integral part of a package agreement. The second part - the Russia-UN memorandum, designed for three years - envisions the unblocking of Russian exports of food and fertilizers, the reconnection of the Russian Agricultural Bank to SWIFT, the resumption of supplies of agricultural machinery, spare parts and services, the restoration of the Togliatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline and a number of other measures. Moscow says this part of the package agreement has not been implemented yet.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230512/kremlin-says-necessary-to-implement-2nd-part-of-grain-deal-on-russia-to-extend-initiative-1110286057.html

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Tesla has applied for regulatory clearance to expand their Shanghai plant and start producing pouch-type battery cells in small numbers.

The potential expansion will give the Shanghai Gigafactory more capacity to produce 1.75 million powertrain units every year. Currently, the gigafactory is making 1.25 million.

It is unclear whether Tesla is committed to expanding or only seeking approval for potential future capacity.

Tesla is also seeking clearance to produce pouch-type battery cells, in which a trial production line would have an initial yearly capacity to make 20,000 amp hours of cells. It is also unclear how the automaker would use the pouch cells, according to Reuters.

What are Pouch Cells

These pouch cells are used in consumer electronics, which are different from the cells the automaker uses for electric vehicles. The battery components are housed in a more flexible metal bag instead of a rigid cylinder.

Pouch cells are also known for having a higher energy density and being lighter weight, making them potentially more efficient for electric vehicles. However, it remains to be seen how Tesla plans to implement pouch cells in their cars.

(Photo: by Xiaolu Chu/Getty Images))

SHANGHAI, CHINA - MARCH 29: An aerial view of the Tesla Shanghai Gigafactory on March 29, 2021, in Shanghai, China. Tesla Shanghai Gigafactory reportedly produces vehicles at a rate of about 450,000 cars per year.

Tesla's move to explore the production of pouch-type battery cells aligns with its goal of continuously improving and innovating its electric vehicle technology.

Tesla could improve overall performance and extend driving range by incorporating these lighter, more energy-dense batteries into their cars.

Furthermore, using pouch cells also has potential implications for cost savings. These batteries are typically cheaper to produce than cylindrical ones because they require less material and are easier to manufacture at scale.

It should be noted that other automakers have already begun experimenting with pouch cell technology in electric vehicles.

For example, Hyundai recently released an all-electric SUV that uses a 64-kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack of prismatic-shaped cells (similar in shape to pouches).

Read also: Tesla Caught Fire Twice After Crashing Into A Building; Witness Shares Shocking Incident

Why Pouch Cells?

As competition heats up within the EV market, it will become increasingly important for Tesla to stay ahead by exploring new technologies like this one.

In addition to the potential benefits of increased energy density, lighter weight, and cost savings, pouch-type battery cells also offer greater flexibility in design.

With cylindrical batteries, automakers have less freedom regarding placement within a car's chassis. Pouch cells are more easily shaped and can be arranged in different configurations for optimal space utilization.

Another advantage of pouch cell technology is its safety features. The flexible packaging allows for better thermal management during charging and discharging cycles, reducing the risk of overheating or explosion.

While Tesla has yet to release any official statements regarding their plans for implementing pouch-type batteries into their cars, rumors suggest that they may be working on developing these new power sources at their Gigafactory facility in Nevada.

As electric vehicle adoption continues to grow globally, along with increasing pressure from governments worldwide pushing towards cleaner transportation options, innovation will become even more critical than ever before. It remains essential that companies like Tesla continue exploring cutting-edge technologies such as this one if they want to remain ahead of the curve amidst fierce competition within the EV market.

Related article: Tesla Bankruptcy Threat: Elon Musk Sounds Alarm Over Nightmarish Losses in Past 2 Years

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230516/the-legacy-media-are-blind-to-the-biden-corruption-1110389699.html

The Legacy Media Are Blind to the Biden Corruption

The Legacy Media Are Blind to the Biden Corruption

On todays episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan discussed current events including the release of the Durham report, and Turkish elections head to runoffs.

2023-05-16T04:41+0000

2023-05-16T04:41+0000

2023-05-16T11:26+0000

the backstory

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illinois

fake news

turkiye

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The Legacy Media are Blind to the Biden Corruption On todays episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan discussed current events including the release of the Durham report, and Turkish elections head to runoffs.

Sonja Van Den Ende - Independent Journalist, Writer | Russia Strikes Ukraine's Ammunition, President Zelensky Begs for More Help, and Elections in Turkiye Manila Chan - Veteran News Anchor and Co-Host of The Final Countdown | TMiller Lite Hates it's Old Advertisement, The Durham Report, and NBC UniversalIn the first hour, Lee spoke with Sonja Van Den Ende about the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, Russia attacked along its border, and speculation of depleted uranium in Ukraine. Sonja talked about the video of the Ukrainian ammunition destroyed by Russia and the Western media coverage of President Zelensky's tour in Europe for more weapons. Sonja discussed President Zelensky's meeting with the Pope and the Nazi clothing he wore during the meeting.In the second hour, Lee spoke with Manila Chan about Miller Lite misreading its women's audience, the media coverage of the Durham report, and the Democrat party merging with the intelligence agencies. Manila spoke about the intelligence community's interference in American elections and the media collusion in the 2020 election.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comThe views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230516/truck-blockades-over-green-tax-wreak-havoc-on-danish-roads-1110394006.html

Truck Blockades Over 'Green' Tax Wreak Havoc on Danish Roads

Truck Blockades Over 'Green' Tax Wreak Havoc on Danish Roads

While the new road tax has been touted as a way of hastening the so-called green conversion, critics see it as a ploy of the cash-strapped state to earn some extra money.

2023-05-16T06:11+0000

2023-05-16T06:11+0000

2023-05-16T06:11+0000

beyond politics

denmark

pernille vermund

aalborg university

new right (denmark)

truck

truck drivers

green economy

tax

fuel tax

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A wave of protests against the government's plans to introduce a "green" road tax has swept Denmark, with trucks blocking roads across the Nordic country. The planned tax will see heavy trucks running on diesel or petrol charged a "green" tax on a per-kilometre basis.Despite the fact that the planned demonstration was formally canceled at the end of last week, a significant number of drivers decided to go ahead with the plans to set up blockades on roads nonetheless, which led to dozens of charges.While the blockades can appear and disband at short notice, the demonstrations were in breach of Danish traffic laws, the police said in a statement, adding that the protests "cause danger of considerable disruption of public order." In total, Monday's protests led to 55 charges and 114 injunctions.Erik Ostergaard of the Danish truck drivers' union DTL said the union didn't support illegal protests, but argued that there was understanding among the public regarding drivers' opposition to the kilometer-based tax.By contrast, labor market researcher Laust Hogedahl from Aalborg University stressed that the protests were "not a normal sight" in Denmark and went so far as to call them "un-Danish," venturing that they may cost the movement public support. He stressed that the Danish way implies the protection of the collective interest, and activities such as lobbying rather than individual action. Bent Greve of Roskille Univeristy stressed that "there is no tradition in Denmark of bending to demonstrations."However, Pernille Vermund, the leader of the opposition New Right, stressed that the switch to electric trucks is unrealistic at the moment.A meeting between DTL representatives, Transport Minister Thomas Danielson and Tax Minister Jeppe Bruus to discuss the planned tax and the demonstrations has been negotiated.The kilometre-based tax will be charged on heavy goods vehicles from 2025 at a rate of DKK 1.30 ($0.19) per kilometer. The formal purpose of the tax is to pressure the heavy traffic into a green transition in a bid for Denmark to reach the climate target of a 70 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2030.In yet another unpopular move, the Danish government recently abolished the centuries-old Christian holiday called Great Prayer Day, ostensibly to replenish the state finances that are running dry.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230427/danish-competitiveness-crippled-by-high-energy-prices-industry-says-1109869698.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230413/danish-bankruptcies-soar-to-highs-not-seen-since-last-financial-crisis-1109457918.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230516/turkiye-election-a-nailbiter-ukraine-ammo-dump-explodes-bolivia-moves-to-yuan-1110390930.html

Turkiye Election a Nailbiter; Ukraine Ammo Dump Explodes; Bolivia Moves to Yuan

Turkiye Election a Nailbiter; Ukraine Ammo Dump Explodes; Bolivia Moves to Yuan

The Turkish election is on the front burner as US and European neocons root against Erdogan and the battle looks to be heading for a runoff.

2023-05-16T04:55+0000

2023-05-16T04:55+0000

2023-05-16T11:48+0000

the critical hour

radio

taiwan

ukraine

volodymyr zelensky

recep tayyip erdogan

thailand

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turkiye

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https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/05/10/1110390638_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_64f633806aa7db2eec743340d0f5fe3c.png

Turkiye Election A Nailbiter; Ukraine Ammo Dump Explodes; Bolivia Move to Yuan The Turkish election is on the front burner as US and European neocons root against Erdogan and the battle looks to be heading for a runoff.

Mark Sleboda, Moscow-based international relations security analyst, joins us to discuss Ukraine. The Turkish election is on the front burner as US and European neocons root against Erdogan and the battle looks to be heading for a runoff. Also, Ukraine's counter-offensive seems to be on hold.Regis Tremblay, an American citizen in Crimea, joins us to discuss foreign policy. The Turkish election is on the front burner as US and European neocons root against Erdogan and the battle is heading for a runoff. Also, a Ukrainian ammo dump has blown and some suspect it contained depleted uranium shells.Ray McGovern, former CIA analyst, and co-founder of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity, joins us to discuss US intelligence issues. The truth about the CIA's involvement in the assassination of JFK is coming out. Also, there is a forever war on Assange.KJ Noh, writer, teacher, and activist, joins us to discuss China. Antony Blinken hopes to visit China soon. Also, the US is using the Philippines to provoke China.James Carey, host of The Left is Dead podcast, joins us to discuss the Middle East. Israel denies the Nakba while perpetuating it.Linwood Tauheed, associate professor of Economics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, joins us to discuss the economy. Commercial real estate will likely be the next domino to fall in the US. Also, Bolivia is looking to move to the Yuan for trade with China.Caleb Maupin, journalist, and political analyst, joins us to discuss that Ukraine's counter-offensive seems to be falling apart as an ammo dump is blown in Western Ukraine.James Counts Early, former Assistant Secretary of Education and Public Service at the Smithsonian Institution and board member at the Institute for Policy Studies, in Washington, DC, joins us to discuss Latin America, Venezuela is planning on a law similar to the US Foreign Agent Registration Act. President Petro of Colombia argues that coups must be resisted and defeated.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comThe views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230516/turkiye-election-shattered-the-illusion-that-erdogan-was-untouchable-1110392035.html

Turkiye Election Outcomes Are Unevident

Turkiye Election Outcomes Are Unevident

After a tight election that has necessitated a runoff, Turkish President Erdogan is no longer untouchable in Turkish politics, an expert tells Sputnik

2023-05-16T03:24+0000

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2023-05-17T02:42+0000

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The outcome of the May 14 Turkish general election has shown that there is still no obvious winner. That's essentially "broken the belief that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is untouchable", independent investigative journalist Christopher Helali told Sputnik.While Erdogan received more votes than many observers expected, he failed to receive 50% of the vote, forcing a runoff election with opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu in two weeks.While much of Western media has focused on what the election could mean for geopolitics, Helali said the biggest issues for the Turkish people were economic ones.According to Helali, Erdogan had multiple instances where he could have done different policies that might have affected some significant change economically, but they werent done.Helali further suggested that strained Turkish relations with regional governments may soon ease. "I think in particular Greece, Armenia, maybe some changes in regards to Syria, he said.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230515/turkiye-wont-turn-its-back-on-russia-whoever-wins-presidential-runoff-1110386303.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230516/uk-cabinet-rejects-almost-all-proposals-by-home-secretary-to-curb-immigration---report-1110405231.html

UK Cabinet Rejects Almost All Proposals by Home Secretary to Curb Immigration - Report

UK Cabinet Rejects Almost All Proposals by Home Secretary to Curb Immigration - Report

The UK government has approved just one out of numerous proposals put forward by Home Secretary Suella Braverman to cut immigration.

2023-05-16T17:51+0000

2023-05-16T17:51+0000

2023-05-16T17:51+0000

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Braverman had drawn up at least five proposals aimed to curb immigration to the UK, with most of them rejected by ministers, the newspaper stated, adding that there were signs that the home secretary was "becoming increasingly frustrated" at the failure of the government to agree to her plans aimed at tackling migration.The measures proposed Braverman include increasing the minimum salaries for companies that hire skilled workers, making it harder for migrants to bring their family members to the UK, reducing the time of stay for foreign students after their course, removing them once they fail to finish studies and banning them from bringing their families to the UK, with only the latter proposal approved by the cabinet. the newspaper said.At the same time, the Home Office would increase efforts to address migration, despite the divisions within the government, The Times added.The growing number of migrants coming to the UK has been a pressing issue for the UK for years and only intensified after the country left the European Union. Net migration to the UK reached a record high of 504,000 in the year to June 2022, according to government data. The Times reported that the numbers for the current year are expected to increase to between 700,000 and 1 million.In March, Braverman presented plans to introduce an annual limit on the admission of refugees as well as a bill that seeks to relocate migrants who came to the UK illegally by boats across the English Channel to a "safe third country." Asylum in the UK will only be granted in exceptional cases and within a yearly quota. Later in the month, the UK and Rwanda signed an updated version of the migration agreement in preparation for the implementation of Braverman's plan.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230516/us-military-aid-to-ukraine-may-dry-up-by-july--1110394267.html

US Military Aid to Ukraine May Dry Up by July

US Military Aid to Ukraine May Dry Up by July

The US has already sent around $36 billion worth of military assistance to Kiev amid Russias repeated warnings that doing so will prolong the conflict in Ukraine.

2023-05-16T06:26+0000

2023-05-16T06:26+0000

2023-05-16T06:26+0000

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Washingtons funding for its security aid to Kiev could dry up by midsummer, and reupping it wont be easy, a US media outlet has cited unnamed sources as saying.According to the outlet, one insider estimated that, "based on the rate of announcements, the money to draw down existing US stockpiles will expire in July. That would mean the flow of equipment could be disrupted if Kiev has to wait an extended period for a new tranche of funding."The source added that the White House is already discussing a new package, which comes amid the US internal financial crisis, as Democrats and Republican remain at odds over the countrys debt ceiling, a standoff that may result in a default on Americas debt.The claims follow the US announcing a new $1.2 billion long-term military aid package to Ukraine earlier this month, which includes the Hawk air defense systems, as well as ammunition for air defense and anti-drone warfare.All this military hardware will be paid for under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which allows the Biden administration to purchase arms from industry rather than taking them from US stocks.The US and its allies ramped up their military supplies to Kiev shortly after Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine. Moscow has repeatedly warned countries sending weapons to Ukraine that it sees these military shipments as legitimate targets. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, for his part, stressed NATO allies arming and training Ukrainians is tantamount to a direct involvement in the conflict.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230308/ex-pentagon-officer-nato-divide-growing-us--eu-may-drastically-reduce-ukraine-aid-by-summer-1108188312.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230516/us-not-making-correct-judgment-on-russia-china-relations-1110395445.html

US Not Making Correct Judgment on Russia-China Relations

US Not Making Correct Judgment on Russia-China Relations

Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Tan Kefei stated that judging Russia-China Relations from the standpoint of Cold War is fundamentally wrong.

2023-05-16T09:14+0000

2023-05-16T09:14+0000

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Milley has said that the United States will do everything to interfere with the strategic military alliance between Russia and China. "The message and argumentation of those who judge others by themselves, follow the limited and outdated Cold War bloc thinking, look at China with concern and assess Russia-China relations, is wrong. Of course, they cannot make a correct judgment," the spokesman told a briefing.

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Matt Kakaley closed out a storybook week at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania -- one in which he went over $100 million USD in career earnings -- by notching his 6,000th driving victory with Willing Hanover in the trotting division of three $15,000 conditioned featured races on Tuesday afternoon.

The 35-year-old Kakaley teamed with the Donato Hanover gelding Willing Hanover to overcome an uncovered trip with ease, guiding him to a lifetime mark of 1:55 for trainer Tim Lancaster, also co-owner with Mark and Meghan Lancaster.

After the race, family, friends and the horses connections joined with Kakaley in the winner's circle -- their first winner's circle celebration of the week, as Kakaley went over $100 million USD by finishing second in a Pennsylvania All-Stars contest on Sunday.

There were also two pacing divisions of the feature. One went to the Betting Line mare Zeus Hanover, who was used early and late yet had enough to win a three-way photo in a lifetime-best 1:52.3. Jim Marohn Jr. adapted to circumstances well in winning with the Lisa Martin trainee, who is owned by Mary Martin and Roger Dirlam.

The other sector also went in 1:52.3 and also saw a new mark taken, as the Stay Hungry sophomore gelding Full Support moved to the lead off the first turn and held off pocket-pulling favourite Erinwood Yves for the victory. Kakaley capped off his day with his third triumph on the card, tops among the local crew, for trainer Joe Pavia Jr. and the partnership of Steven Held, Joe Pavia Jr. Stable Inc., Bridgette Jablonsky and PCW Racing LLC.

There were also three divisions of the top claiming handicap trot, each going for $15,500. Two of the winners were driven by Tyler Buter and trained by Jason Brewer, although Brewer lost both to $30,000 claims: Town Mister won in 1:55.3 as he departs the ownership of First Up Racing Stable and Ladys Image took a new mark of 1:54.2 before leaving the proprietorship of Ameer Najor. The other winner was 14-1 shot Mushana, piloted to a 1:55 victory by Marcus Miller and staying with trainer Steven Brabrook and owner Jaypaul Hoover.

Racing resumes on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Pocono with a strong card. On Sunday at 6 p.m., the card will feature the second preliminary round of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts.

(PHHA / Pocono)
Truro Raceway has announced that it will be celebrating the career of Clare MacDonald with a special day in her honour, which will be a fundraising day for the Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia on Sunday, Sept. 10 at the Bible Hill, N.S. track.

A native of Antigonish, N.S., Mary Clare Clare MacDonald is Canadas winningest female harness driver in victories (1,522) and purse earnings ($4,933,975) and was a recent finalist for the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. Her stats, all achieved while racing in the Atlantic provinces, rank her second among female drivers in North America, behind U.S. Hall of Fame member, the late Bea Farber-Erdman.

A second-generation horseperson, MacDonalds driving career began at age 17, with 19 wins in her first year. Since that time, in a career spanning over 40 years, she has surpassed $100,000 in annual earnings as a driver 25 times. Horses driven and/or trained by MacDonald have set track records at five tracks, and she also holds the honour of being the first driver to complete a sub-2:00 trotting mile in Atlantic Canada.

There is a lot of pride in Nova Scotia and the rest of Canada about the career that Clare has had and I know that fans will be excited to be able to meet her and get an autograph and a picture and share a story or two," said Steve Fitzsimmons, General Manager at Truro Raceway. "Were excited to host this special day and I know a lot of people will mark it on their calendars as a must-attend day this year. 

Im appreciative of Truro Raceway for thinking of me for this special day," said MacDonald. "It also means a lot that we will be able to raise money for a worthy cause, such as the Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia. It has touched a lot of peoples lives. Im looking forward to seeing everyone on September 10th.

There will be a commemorative t-shirt in MacDonald's racing colours created, as well as some other swag items, with all proceeds going to the Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia.

(With files from Truro Raceway and Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame)
A member of the Rappahannock County Social Services Board who is a longtime grassroots advocate has announced her bid to run as an independent for the District 28 State Senate seat in the November election.

Elizabeth Melson, 42, of Flint Hill currently manages a farm market through Farm to Table and has worked in fitness, hospitality, agricultural marketing and correctional programming, according to an email for the candidateone of four now running for the seat in the Virginia General Assembly.

Since 2012, State Sen. Bryce Reeves, Republican nominee, of Spotsylvania, has represented the area and he is seeking a fourth term in November.

The newly drawn district spans part of Fauquier and Spotsylvania and all of Culpeper, Orange, Greene, Madison and Rappahannock.

Workforce center manager Jason Ford of Culpeper announced his candidacy earlier this week. Spotsylvania small business woman Tawana Campbell has also announced, as an independent.

Melson, in addition to her farm work, teaches trauma-informed yoga, mindfulness and recovery/re-entry tips to residents at Rappahannock Shenandoah Warren Regional Jail.

The candidate holds a bachelors degree in sociology from Northern Kentucky University and a certificate in Culinary Arts from New River Community & Technical College.

I have extensive experience in grassroots organizing and citizen advocacy for good governance reforms, regenerative agriculture and consumer sovereignty, solar energy, sentencing reform, rights restoration, and I have advocated for meaningful programming in our corrections systems, Melson said in the email.

I know my way around the General Assembly and U.S. Congress and have made connections with elected and non-partisan leaders all across Virginia and the country.

Melson has served on the boards of Virginia Farmers Market Association and Virginia Hemp Coalition. She is co-founder and former President of FairVote Virginia. She said she decided to run for office so that district citizens have an option on the ballot that puts people over partisanship.

Just as competition in business is good, so is the free exchange of ideas in politics, Melson said. I intend to bring empathy, objectivity, and responsive leadership to the district. The same style of cross-partisan coalition-building that Ive used in my reform work, Id love to bring to the General Assembly.

She said she is a true independent.

My views have been shaped by people from all parties, Melson said. Ive learned something from everyone Ive crossed paths with. I believe it is so very important to take into account multiple perspectives and viewpoints when considering potential solutions to the issues our communities face.

Her top three legislative priorities are: putting small business first, good governance reforms like term limits and campaign finance reform and to improve mental health access for all and treatment focused alternatives to incarceration for non-violent drug offenders.

Learn more on Instagram @MelsonforVirginia and melsonforvirginia.com.
(Photo : MARTY MELVILLE/AFP via Getty Images)

Following a fire at a hostel, at least six people have perished, and others remain unaccounted for, the prime minister of New Zealand told local media.

At least six persons died overnight on Tuesday when a fire broke out in a hostel in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, according to Prime Minister Chris Hipkins.

The cause of the blaze was still unknown. According to the prime minister, there will be "several investigations" into the catastrophe.

At Lease 6 Dead in Hostel Fire in Wellington, New Zealand

Brendan Neally, a fire department representative, told Radio New Zealand that the hostel lacked sprinklers and that the fire alarm did not sound automatically. New Zealand's building regulations mandate the installation of sprinklers in newly constructed buildings but not in older structures.

The hostel passed a building inspection that included testing of the building's safety systems in March of this year, according to a statement from the Wellington City Council.

Some Loafers Lodge residents were beneficiaries of New Zealand's social welfare agency. According to officials, the 92-room hotel was entirely occupied when the fire broke out.

More than fifty residents who had escaped the fire were located, and five others were rescued from the hostel's roof, according to officials.

One of the four hospitalized individuals is in critical condition. At its height, more than eighty firefighters were combating the fire, which was extinguished around 6 a.m., Neally stated that eleven individuals were still missing.

Inspector Dean Silvester, a police spokesman, said that it was still unclear how many people had perished because the building was inaccessible. A drone was used to inspect the structure for structural damage, as per NY Times.

The hostel is located in Newtown, a socially and racially diverse neighborhood less than a mile from the city center of Wellington, where soaring house prices have driven out many students and low-income families.

Read Also: New Mexico Shooting: 18-Year-Old Teen Randomly Shot Cars, Houses, Killing 3, Injuring 9

Wellington Fire May Be Intentionally Ignited

According to The Sun, a fire commander referred to the terrifying conflagration as his "worst nightmare." Locals suspect the fire may have been intentionally ignited.

The Wellington Free Ambulance treated fifteen individuals at the site, and five people were rescued from the roof. People are believed to have jumped from windows to escape the fire.

According to a source, there are fatalities on every building floor. At 4 a.m. local time, at least 20 fire engines and up to 90 firefighters were battling what Wellington Fire and Emergency District Manager Pyatt described as a "once-in-a-decade conflagration."

The mayor of Wellington, Tory Whanau, stated that this is "our worst nightmare." The 92-room Loafers Lodge Hostel accommodates both short- and long-term visitors. In 2011, the Ministry of Social Development of New Zealand designated it as an emergency accommodation provider.

As of February, more than 3,300 households reside in emergency housing, according to official data. Per BBC, Loafers' customers range from shift employees like nurses and hospital personnel to the unemployed and homeless.

In comments to local media, Hipkins described the fire as "an unmitigated tragedy" and praised local firefighters "who placed themselves in harm's way over the past several hours to evacuate people and extinguish the fire."

Related Article: WATCH: Deadly Cyclone Mocha Lashes Myanmar, Bangladesh, Causes Widespread Destruction

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An estimated 200,000 men of color fought for the United States of America during the Civil War. Those men have been attributed with tipping the scales for a United States victory.

They must be heralded for their contributions that kept our nation as one, according to a release from Right the Record founder Zann Nelson.

From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. this Saturday, May 20, the Right the Record Project and partners will host a commemoration of the 321 men from Culpeper, Orange, Madison and Rappahannock who fought for our personal freedoms and the sanctity of one nation, the release stated.

The free event will be held at the Carver Center, 9432 James Madison Hwy, Rapidan, rain or shine. There will be speakers, descendants, a presentation of full military honors by the Culpeper VFW Color Guard and refreshments.

The highlight will be reading the names of the men from each county, Nelson said. Representatives from each county will receive a flag flown over the Nations Capital with a certificate honoring the men from their county who signed up to fight for the Union, from Rep. Abigail Spanbergers office.

One of these soldiers was 22-year-old William Newby, born in Culpeper County, most likely into enslavement.

By the time of his enlistment, he was living as a free man in Bridgeport, Ohio, engaged in farming with his family, according to Nelsons research. Newby signed up for the Union Army Sept. 10, 1863 in Athens, Ohio, records show.

His unit was detailed to Norfolk, VA then to N.C. and back to Virginia in time for the tragic Battle of Petersburg on July 3, 1864, reports Nelson. Newby was injured in the arm and leg at the battle, hospitalized and died a few weeks later on July 26 from blood poisoning, according to Nelsons research.

Another of those soldiers was Caleb Linza, 72, born in Orange County, Virginia in 1793. Yet he enlisted April 5, 1865 at Camp Nelson, KY in the 124th USCT Infantry, according to Nelsons research.

There were remarks noted on his papers at enlistment stating that he was a slave and owned by a George Brown. Caleb became sick almost immediately and was hospitalized at Camp Nelson from April 1865 until July 1865. according to Nelsons research.

He was listed as a deserter being absent without leave. Apparently they later found out that he was sick in the hospital and wrote in his papers that Absent without leave was written in error. There is no record of his discharge or the outcome of his hospitalization.

Representatives from each county at this weekends local USCT recognition ceremony will receive an customized exhibit panel listing the soldiers, for permanent display in each county.

A full house of individuals and groups have signed up to support the effort including the Orange Chapter of the NAACP, James Madison Museum, Orange Democratic Committee, Arts Center of Orange, Orange and Madison County African American Historical Societies, the Culpeper, Madison and Rappahannock NAACP Branch, Piedmont Race Amity, 23rd and 54th regiment re-enactors, Culpeper VFW Color Guard, Carver Alumni Association, Carver 4-County Museum, Virginia Tech. Extension Office, Freedom Foundation, Culpeper Tourism, African American Heritage Alliance, Museum of Culpeper History, Charlotte Cole, PATH Foundation and Scrabble School Foundation, and others.

Groups will have the opportunity to display about what they do at the event, according to Nelson. There will be a tent and seating is first come. It is recommended to bring a chair. Event opens at 9, program at 10.
Local law enforcement and community members took a trip Monday evening down the Old Oregon Trail in support of Special Olympics.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics began in 1981 in Wichita, Kansas, under the direction of Police Chief Richard LeMunyon, and since grown into the single largest public awareness and fundraising group for Special Olympics International. According to Gering Police Department Capt. Jason Rogers, law enforcement agencies in Scotts Bluff County have been hosting a Torch Run for several decades.

Weve been hosting this run for what feels like forever out here, Rogers said. Its one of the events that we do throughout the year to help support our Special Olympics athletes. We love them to death, theyre great people, and we want to show them that law enforcement is behind them and we support what they do.

Rogers said law enforcement agencies have developed a close relationship with the Special Olympics over the years through events like the Torch Run and Polar Plunge. The partnership doesnt just help raise money; it also helps advocate for the athletes and make them feel welcome in their communities.

Its to bring about acceptance and inclusion for our athletes, he said. Obviously its a fundraising event and were trying to bring about awareness for Special Olympics, but the marriage between Special Olympics and enforcement runs deep. Its something that we take pride in.

The true strength of the partnership is best illustrated in the personal connections made along the way. Rogers said the relationships formed between law enforcement officers and athletes are genuine and long-lasting.

It brings all of the agencies together for a common cause, and it starts to establish relationships between the officers and the Special Olympics athletes, said Rogers. We see athletes all over the place in the community, and they want to come up and give us a hug. Thats really what its about.

Mondays run saw law enforcement officials, Special Olympics athletes and community members travel by foot, bicycle and scooter from the foot of Scotts Bluff National Monument all the way to Legion Park in Gering.

Anyone who missed the Torch Run but is interested in making a donation can contact Sheriff Mark Overman at the Scotts Bluff County Sheriffs Office or Rogers at the Gering Police Department.
A search of newspaper articles in an online database of newspapers across the state and the county doesnt turn up much about Kerry Girard, a Scottsbluff woman missing since 1997.

Achievements are listed in the statistics columns of track stories, mostly in the Alliance Times-Herald. The young woman garnered recognition as an attendant in the St. Agnes School royalty court in April 1980. Her name is listed among her siblings as her parents, Bernard and Betty, celebrated their 40th anniversary in July 1991. She served in different roles in weddings of family members.

However, less than a handful of articles come up that document the womans disappearance. Most of those are a February 1999 Associated Press article circulated in newspapers across the state. Its just five paragraphs, with little information about the case as a former Scottsbluff Police detective says police were out of clues and looking for help in the case.

Twenty-four years after that article, the womans family hopes an effort to re-examine unsolved cases will finally bring them the answers they seek.

Recently, Scottsbluff Police Sgt. Krisa Brass attended a homicide training with a fellow Scottsbluff Police detective.

In that training, the two police officers discussed tools available to law enforcement today, she told the Star-Herald.

While we were there, we made a list of technology changes or database changes that we thought could be applied to some of our unsolved cases, Brass said. And then we brought the list back out, trying to figure out ways we could plug in that information.

Currently, Brass is on modified assignment and she is reviewing unsolved cases, including the disappearance of Kerry Girard.

Girard is believed to have disappeared sometime in June 1997. Brass said that timeline is based on court filings and interviews with Girards family.

A number of events led to the family losing contact with Girard, who had experienced some legal problems, and they were not immediately aware she was missing. She had been sentenced to one year in the womens penitentiary in York on a misdemeanor charge of attempted forgery after being convicted of stealing a check from a Gering man and cashing it for $500.

Kerry Girards brother, Dennis, and Betty Girard, Dennis and Kerrys mother, last saw her at that May 1, 1997, sentencing hearing, where the judge determined she was ineligible for probation.

However, Dennis said, Kerry wasnt upset about the sentence.

She was ready to serve her sentence, he said. She expected it.

Afterward, he said, her attorney advised that it would be about six weeks before the family could reach her, as she would undergo evaluations and other steps during the intake process.

At the conclusion of that six weeks, the family reached out to prison authorities, seeking to make contact with their sister and daughter  only to learn that Kerry Girard was not in the penitentiary. She had never been there.

Dennis Girard said he was surprised to learn that just four days after her sentence, the public defender representing her filed notice of intent to file an appeal to the district court, arguing that her sentence was excessive. Kerry Girard bonded out of jail for just $500. Her parents and other family members never knew.

Girards appeal was later denied. She appeared for a June 13, 1997, hearing in the appeal, but did not appear with her attorney for arguments in a July 11, 1997, proceeding. Her appeal was denied. Authorities didnt immediately issue a warrant for her arrest after she failed to appear to serve her sentence.

At just 35 years old, Kerry Girard went missing, never to be heard from again.

Earlier this month, the family, at least mentally, marked the last time that she was seen alive. Kerry would be 61 years old.

At the time of her disappearance, she was described as a white female, with dark blond hair and green eyes. She was 5-foot-7 and weighed 124 pounds.

Dennis and his wife, Marina, continue to hope that the family will learn about his sisters fate, even after all of this time. The family is not shy in admitting that they believe that Kerry Girard is dead  and even in that 1999 Associated Press article, a Scottsbluff Police lieutenant acknowledges said police also believe foul play to be involved in her disappearance.

Unfortunately, she did have a substance abuse problem, her sister-in-law said, admitting it complicated her relationships. But she always came around. She always called her mom on Mothers Day, or even visited her. She had a twin brother, and she always made contact with him for their birthday. She came to major holidays and we did things together.

Asked to share with people about Kerry, Marina said, Kerry was a loving, caring person. She was fun to be around.

Originally, Marina told the Star-Herald, after learning that Kerry had not reported in York, the family reported her missing to the Gering Police Department. Marina said she doesnt remember exactly why family reached out to the Gering Police Department, except that the family initially believed her to be in jail in Scotts Bluff County. Gering Police they had been handling Kerrys criminal case and the family had also been working with a child protective services worker in that jurisdiction at the time. They also made contact with the Alliance Police Department and other agencies.

The Girards experienced troubles similar to those many family members of missing adults report: With Kerry being an adult, an immediate presumption had been that she left on her own accord. It was further complicated, Marina said, by the fact that she was in a relationship involving domestic violence.

I believe that (initially) law enforcement believed that we were hiding her out, that we were protecting her to help her escape and avoid her sentence, she said.

They didnt know who to reach out to, Brass said of the Girards initial attempts to locate Kerry. With it believed that the woman had simply absconded, Brass said, I guess I would question how seriously it was taken at the time.

Then speculation arose that Kerry had left a domestic abuse situation and could be hiding in a safe house, Marina said.

At the time, Marina said, domestic violence cases were handled much differently than today. Family members attempted to help Kerry report incidents of domestic violence to police, only for her to later withdraw the charges. They had come to an impasse, believing that pushing Kerry further would lead to her or even her family members being killed if she didnt leave her relationship. Though family members had seen her with black eyes and other bruising, and believed her boyfriend to be a monster, in Marinas words, they were never sure how to handle the case. Even today, she said, there is very little record of the domestic violence reports Kerry did make.

There have been a lot of changes in the handling of domestic violence cases since then, she said, saying that Kerry had been isolated in the years before her disappearance and was fully dependent on her boyfriend. In the last 20 years, its taken a lot more seriously.

Eventually, Scottsbluff police made contact with the boyfriend, whom Brass described as uncooperative. According to Brass and the Girards, he told police that one day she just left. Its an area of the case that Marina said she wishes she would have pushed more. His home was not searched, and Kerrys belongings were never recovered.

According to the boyfriend, she took what little belongings she had and left, Brass said. According to people Brass has contacted in her initial inquiries in the case, she said, She had $20 to her name, no vehicle or no access to a vehicle.

Its unlikely that she had the resources to leave, she said.

In talking to investigators several times through the years, Dennis Girard said he learned they hadnt really made any progress in Kerrys case.

At some point, Marina said she was told that she didnt need to keep calling for updates in the case. To paraphrase, she said, she was told, We have your name and your contact information. If theres any developments, youll be the first one to hear from us.

When speaking to Brass, Marina said, she learned that notes were often made when the family reached out on the case. The file just said that a family member reached out.

The family has struggled with not knowing what to do, and how to do it.

We just didnt have enough connections, I guess, to push more, Marina said, saying the family often wonders if they should have done more, such as contacting a state senator or others.

After recently hearing from Brass, she said, the familys hope for peace and resolution have been quickly revived.

As Brass looked at the Kerry Girard file again, she said she found dental records were added through the years. At different points, those records have been examined as matches in physical descriptions have been seen in reports from other agencies.

The most recent update in Girards case will be the addition of DNA to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), a national clearinghouse and resource center for missing, unidentified and unclaimed persons.

It will be weeks before that DNA  which is a familial DNA and not Kerry Girards as none of her belongings were ever recovered  is processed and entered into the system. Requests from law enforcement are made to NamUS, which accepts them and puts them in the queue to be able to submit the DNA to a lab. After submission, a DNA profile will be built and available to explore for matches nationwide.

It will be helpful if a body or other DNA match appears in another area of the state or country, Brass explains. Though Marina and Dennis believe strongly that Kerrys body remains undiscovered, somewhere in Scotts Bluff County, its possible her body could be recovered somewhere else.

Kerrys parents, Bernard and Betty, died without knowing what happened to their daughter. In 2007, the couple filed a probate case on behalf of Kerry in Scotts Bluff County, looking to have the court presumptively determine her death and be appointed personal representatives to handle less than $35,000 in life insurance proceeds.

To have a child disappear, and not know what happened, is very hard. Very hard, Marina said, saying that the couples grief was further compounded by knowing that justice will never be had if her boyfriend were responsible for her death. Her boyfriend died within a few years of Kerrys disappearance. He died in 2000, according to an online listing for West Lawn Cemetery in Gering.

Kerry Girard had two children, who were adopted by family.

I want to give her the proper burial and the respect that she deserves, Marina said of her and Dennis desire for someone to step forward with any information about the womans disappearance and her probable death.

Were very appreciative that Sgt. Brass took this case on, Marina said. There have been so many cases, that after many years, they have been resolved. We know were never going to have a happy ending to it, but ...

Brass said she urges anyone with any information in the case to contact her at the Scottsbluff Police Department. Even a small detail could be helpful to police as they explore different pieces of the case.

The Scottsbluff Police Department can be reached at 308-632-7176. The Scotts Bluff County Crime Stoppers also has an anonymous tip line, 308-632-STOP (7867).
Saturday was a busy day at Western Nebraska Community College with 293 students taking part in graduation ceremonies.

In addition to WNCCs 91st commencement ceremony, the nursing department had 48 students take part in its nurses pinning ceremony. The Adult Basic Education department had 19 students who earned their GEDs.

WNCC Interim President John Marrin; Maya Wilson, president of Phi Theta Kappa, and former state Sen. John Stinner addressed the graduates during the commencement ceremony.

Marrin told the graduates and families and friends in attendance to live a fulfilling life.

We all need a path of lifelong learning, he said. One of the things I want you not to forget is to stay engaged in the world around you and continuing to grow and discover and share yourself. Engagement means things to your life and a purpose for the long hours to your career. Like Winston Churchill said, We make a living by what we get but we make a life for what we get.

Stinner told the crowd that he grew up one of seven children and neither of his parents graduated from high school. He told the graduates that anything is possible and talked about how he got started and became successful in the banking business despite obstacles like a downed economy and previous banks having failed in the area.

His parents taught him and his siblings that a college education serves as a pathway to a better and meaningful life.

Whether you are going to go on and get additional education or if you are going to enter the workforce, these are exciting times, Stinner said. These are exciting times because throughout my lifetime, Ive never seen the unemployment rate consistently below 4%.

Stinner talked about the dual credit classes that he helped start up as a Nebraska senator, pointing to the success of the program using Gering High Schools Kealan Hawley as an example. Hawley earned an associate degree from WNCC over the weekend and will graduate from Gering High School next weekend.

Stinner said this generation of graduates must adapt to change, including robotics and artificial intelligence.

I started in banking 40-plus years ago, he said. I remember sitting on the fender of my dads car handing him tools while he was tuning the engine by adjusting the carburetion and the diagnostics by ear. Today, that has changed. Today, you take your car in and a guy shows up with a white coat with instruments that he plugs in that does the diagnostics. There is probably more computer chips than probably what we sent up in the first spacecraft.

Stinner said embracing change equals lifelong learning.

The only thing I want to tell you now is get out of your comfort zone. There is a lot of times you will get opportunities to expand yourself, opportunities to take on new tasks, he said. One of the things that bothered me the most when I was an employer is when I asked an employee to take on a new task (and their reply was), Well, I am not sure I want to do that, I am not sure I am comfortable. Boy, do you limit yourself, you limit your opportunities ...

After Stinners speech, the graduates walked across the stage and received their diplomas before celebrating with family and friends.

In the pinning ceremony, 26 nurses got their associate degrees and an additional 22 received their practical nursing pins.

WNCC nursing instructor Jennifer Seiler said she was proud of all the accomplishments achieved by the nursing graduates.

Seiler said, Becoming a nurse is complex and doesnt stop at graduation; we are lifelong learners who provide our patients with the utmost safe and competent care. I tell my students that I am teaching them to be the best they can be because someday, we could work side by side, and our patients deserve the best care.

Also Saturday, the Adult Basic Education ceremonies recognized 19 individuals who received their GED diplomas. Rachel Mitchell, the WNCC Adult Basic Education director, said it was an exciting evening to see the hard work that these graduates put in to get that diploma.

The Adult Basic Education graduation celebrated students who earned their GED. The ceremony is incredibly special to everyone involved and went incredibly well, Mitchell said. We took time to spotlight every student during the graduation ceremony. ... Its truly moving to see so much love and support in one space.

PHOTOS: WNCC Graduation 2023
On May 13, Girl Scout Troop 13179 was excited to participate in Mooresvilles Stamp Out Hunger food drive, which is the largest one-day national food drive in the country. This annual effort provides assistance to the millions of Americans struggling to put food on the table.

To participate in the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive, residents were encouraged to leave a sturdy bag containing nonperishable food items such as canned soup, canned vegetables, peanut butter, pasta, rice or cereal next to their mailbox prior to the time of regular mail delivery.

Mooresvilles Girl Scout Service Unit has helped with this event for more than 30 years. Scouts of all ages gathered at Central United Methodist Church to help receive and sort food for the Mooresville Christian Mission as the mail carriers arrived with the donations. Family members and siblings were also welcomed to attend and help as well.

Mooresville Girl Scout Troop 13179 had a great time taking action and working hard to give back to the community and earning their community service patch. The food was donated to Mooresvilles Christian Mission, which provides crisis assistance, case management, life skills and job skills training, food pantry, free store, transitional housing and mentoring programs.
A man wanted on a murder charge out of Hawkins County, Tennessee was taken into custody in Saltville Monday night.

Chief of Police Erik Puckett said his office was notified that the suspect, 25-year-old Canaan Ellis Harless, had been staying at a residence on Perryville Road.

When officers with the Saltville PD, the Smyth, Washington and Hawkins county sheriff's offices, and the US Marshals Service arrived at the home, Puckett said Harless took off on foot, leading the officers on a brief foot chase over a hill before he was taken into custody.

Harless, of the Denton Valley area near the Tennessee/Virginia border, was wanted on felony murder and aggravated robbery charges in the April killing of 29-year-old Tyler Nelms, of Church Hill, Tenn.

According to area news reports, Nelms' body was found over an embankment just off the road in Hawkins County on April 23. His cause of death has not been made clear.

Puckett said Harless is being held at the regional jail in Abingdon pending extradition to Tennessee where he will face the murder and aggravated robbery charges.
When he learned about the mental health care now available at Marions Mel Leaman Free Clinic, U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith described it as amazing, especially when compared to many of its rural peers. The congressman toured the clinic Monday afternoon following a visit to Marion Senior High School, where mental health was also on his mind.

At the clinic, Griffith learned that a psychiatrist from the Southwest Virginia Mental Health Institute offers some care and, earlier this year, thanks to a $28,000 grant from the Foundation of the Carolinas, the clinic is also now providing onsite mental health care counseling through a partnership with Mount Rogers Community Services.

Susan Ferraro, the clinics executive director, told Griffith that when she accepted her post in 2018, she recognized the need for mental health care and immediately began seeking the resources for the clinic.

Griffith assured the clinic leaders giving him the tour that he is a proponent of mental health services and is working legislatively to support telehealth to fill the gap in providers. There just arent enough providers, he said. Additionally, the congressman said, hes in favor of allowing licensed clinical social workers to help provide services.

When speaking to the MSHS seniors, Griffith said, mental health came up and he spoke at length encouraging the students to get help if they need it. While he may have bored many students, Griffith said, if he helped one get needed help, it was worth it.

Dr. Neil Hollyfield, a retired oral surgeon and clinic board member, updated Griffith on the volunteer work he does there, typically seeing four to six patients each week.

Hollyfield, who volunteers with multiple dental programs in Southwest Virginia, told Griffith that a significant problem in dental care is a lack of providers who accept Medicaid.

The congressman acknowledged that Medicaids reimbursement rates are part of the problem.

While the clinic is searching for a restorative dentist to volunteer, this year it did enter a partnership with Smyth County schools and the Elgin Childrens Foundation to ensure that students ages 5-12 can get needed dental care, particularly extractions and fillings. Ferraro noted that the care is totally free for the children.

Hollyfield noted that about 300 Smyth County children qualified for the program.

During the tour, Ferraro celebrated the clinics partnership with Emory & Henry College and Smyth County Community Hospital.

On the tour, Griffith noted the power of wearable devices that monitor exercise, sleep, and other health areas, including the ability to do on-demand heart monitoring. Sharing that he knows two people whose lives were saved by such devices, Griffith said their affordability and FDA approval are hurdles that must be addressed. He declared, Wearables will be big down the road.

Griffith also learned about the clinics programs that help patients get needed prescriptions, including Rx Partnership, a non-profit that increases access to medication for uninsured Virginians. Aware that many clinics, like Marions, dont have pharmacies but still need access to affordable generic medications, in 2017, Rx Partnership launched the Access to Medication Program (AMP).

AMP uses bulk purchasing power to provide generic medications to 30 Virginia free clinics. Ferraro noted that for $3 the program will provide a 90-day supply of a generic medication for a clinic patient.

On Wednesday, celebrations were held throughout the Virginia, marking the one millionth prescription offered to the clinics low-income, uninsured patients.

The Mel Leaman clinic used the opportunity to celebrate its current and former patients, offering a hot dog lunch over several hours. Clinic staff noted that several of those patients made donations to the non-profit clinic.

The clinic depends on donations for its work. According to the clinics website, the average patient visit carries a cost of $153 not including donated medical care.

The clinic can also use the communitys help to maintain a small food pantry with non-perishable items and personal hygiene materials. Contributions can be dropped off at the clinic, which is on the Emory & Henry campus on Radio Hill Road, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Established in 2001, the clinic serves the uninsured of Smyth, Grayson and Washington counties. Ferraro noted that 82% of the clinics patients live in Smyth County.

As Medicaid coverage extended during the pandemic is no longer available to many individuals, Ferraro expects to see the medical centers patient total grow in the coming months.

To learn more, visit www.melleamanfreeclinic.org or call 276-781-2090.
The future resumption of the Constitutional Committee's work remains uncertain, al-Souria Net writes.

On Sunday, the UN envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen, held a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir Abdollahian. This meeting is part of a series of shuttle meetings that Pedersen has been conducting recently, which have garnered significant attention. These meetings are taking place within the context of two distinct tracks in Syria.

The first track pertains to the evolving relationship between Arab states and the Assad regime. The second track involves a quadrilateral dialogue between Turkey, Iran, Russia, and the Syrian regime. Efforts are being made to foster a constructive dialogue between Ankara and Assad.

Pedersen took to Twitter on Sunday to announce the conclusion of comprehensive discussions with Iranian Foreign Minister Abdollahian, Ambassador Khaji, and other high-ranking officials, focused on Syria. He expressed appreciation for Irans assessment of recent diplomatic developments in Syria and the wider region, as well as its support for the resumption of the UN-facilitated Constitutional Committees work.

Pedersen said he was discussing Syrian issues with senior Turkish officials.

Following his engagements with senior Russian officials, Geir Pedersen emphasized the significance of coordination between the United Nations and the countries involved in the Astana negotiations. He highlighted the importance of this coordination for the resumption of the Constitutional Committees work and the advancement of the overall political process.

The future resumption of the Constitutional Committees work remains uncertain, particularly in light of recent statements from Amman that allude to an activation clause involving the Syrian regime.

Pedersen also expressed gratitude for recent phone conversations with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, Egyptian Foreign Minister Shoukry, and Jordanian Foreign Minister Safadi. He stressed the importance of close coordination between the United Nations and Arab countries to establish an agreement on future steps.

With the best interests of the Syrian people at heart, Pedersen affirmed the UNs commitment to collaborating with all stakeholders, including the Syrian parties, Arab states, the sponsors of the Astana negotiations, and Western countries. Their collective aim is to initiate genuine confidence-building measures and foster a renewed political process in accordance with Security Council resolution 2254.

Pedersen is credited as a key proponent of the step-for-step approach, which has paved the way for Arab countries to gradually restore their relations with the Syrian regime.

Under the step-for-step policy, Washington and its allies consider lifting or easing certain sanctions on the regime. In return, Moscow plays a crucial role in exerting pressure on the Syrian regime to take meaningful steps toward advancing the stalled political solution process, while also avoiding military escalation.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
In Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, there have been many allegations of civilians being raped by armed men, government officials reported.

According to The Guardian, the director of a specialized section said she believed most cases of sexual abuse in the city were not being documented. The unit is helping four women and a girl, three of whom are refugees.

Suliema Ishaq, Director of the Ministry of Social Affairs' unit for combatting violence against women, stated, "I believe that the cases are way more than that, but because of what has been going on, not all the victims can reach us, and get the support needed."

Two of the ladies accused paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) members of sexually assaulting them. Three women who had fled to the city from their home nations because of violence said they were attacked sexually by men in armed uniforms.

Conflict in Sudan

Notably, Khartoum is where violence broke out in the nation a month ago.

Since April 15, when conflict erupted between the Sudanese army commanded by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the RSF led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (known as Hemedti), more than 600 people, including civilians, have been killed. More than 5,000 others have been injured, as well.

When the military overthrew the transitional government set up when dictator Omar al-Bashir was ousted in October 2021, al-Burhan and Hemedti took command together.

Also Read: Statement from President Joe Biden on the Conflict in Sudan

Bare Minimum of Assistance

Only 16% of Khartoum's hospitals are operating at full capacity. Health experts say certain facilities are taken by RSF soldiers, who now govern about 90% of the city.

Ishaq added that her team could only provide "the minimum of help" as a result of the violence and shortage of medical supplies. She remarked, "There are no safe passages to places where there are medicines, these places are being occupied."

The UN has reported that Khartoum and most of Darfur have severely curtailed resources. The UN population fund, UNFPA, announced last week that there are severe shortages of supplies for the clinical care of rape and dignity kits due to inaccessible inventories.

The two sides agreed on Thursday, May 11, to protect civilians to enable the delivery of humanitarian supplies. However, on the weekend, warfare broke out again in Khartoum and in El Geneina in West Darfur. This week, the warring factions are scheduled to meet for peace negotiations.

Hemedti, leader of the Janjaweed militia during the crisis in Darfur that lasted for almost two decades, has been accused of using sexual violence against civilians as a tactic of war.

Since anti-government demonstrations started in Sudan at the end of 2018, armed groups have been accused of a string of rapes and assaults. In June 2019, medics in Khartoum reported they suspected the RSF had committed more than 70 rapes when it assaulted a nonviolent rally.

Also Read: Sudan Crisis: Warring Generals Agree to 7-Day Ceasefire as Tensions Spark Fresh Wave of Refugees

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The meeting of officials from the Economic and Social Council served as a preparatory gathering for the upcoming Arab summit, according to Shaam Network.

The Economic and Social Council of the League of Arab States convened a ministerial-level meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. During the meeting, the Syrian regime, represented by its Minister of Economy, made an appeal to Arab nations for investment in Syria.

Mohammed Samer al-Khalil, the Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade, highlighted the perceived attractions and opportunities for investment in Syria, citing new laws and promising prospects. He expressed the regimes willingness to engage in discussions regarding bilateral and multilateral development, with the ultimate aim of benefiting Arab peoples.

Khalil acknowledged the exceptional circumstances resulting from global and regional changes, emphasizing the pressing need for achieving food security. He stressed the importance of strengthening joint Arab action in this area to address the urgent requirements.

The meeting of officials from the Economic and Social Council served as a preparatory gathering for the upcoming Arab summit. Reports suggested that the Council deliberated on strategies to enhance collective Arab efforts in achieving sustainable development, along with other social and economic matters of relevance to Arab nations.

Footage aired by the official Saudi news channel captured the presence of the Syrian diplomatic delegation, led by Khalil. This marked the first time Syria occupied its seat at an Arab League meeting since November 16, 2011.

During a seminar organized by the Friends of Damascus Association at the Cultural Center in Abu Roumaneh, Ali Kanaan, a professor at the Faculty of Economics at Damascus University, highlighted the role of financial institutions in promoting investment in Syria.

Kanaan pointed out that the regimes decision to restrict the exchange rate and allow prices to rise had negative consequences, leading to a stagnation in industrial and commercial activities.

He emphasized that countries and governments are actively seeking to attract investments due to the positive impact they have on material incomes and economic growth. Various measures are being taken to encourage investments, as investors contribute to the production of essential raw materials for industries. In the tourism sector, they help establish hotels and resorts. Additionally, investment plays a crucial role in tackling unemployment, boosting exports, and increasing investors profits.

However, the claims made by Median Diab, the director of the Syrian Investment Commission under the Assad regime, about high demand from Syrian, Arab, and foreign investors to initiate projects in regime-controlled areas appear to contradict the increasing trend of youth migration for various reasons, such as concerns regarding security and the overall economic situation. This raises significant concerns about the feasibility and viability of the alleged return on investments and projects.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
The ampere of electricity is sold to households and shop owners for 1,000 Syrian pounds, according to Orient Net.

Major traders supported by officers from the Fourth Division militia, led by Maher al-Assad, brother of Bashar al-Assad, a notorious figure in the drug trade, have initiated investments and electricity sales within the amperes system in key markets located in the capital, Damascus. These activities have been facilitated by the Ministry of Electricity under the Assad regime.

According to undisclosed sources reported by the Sawt al-Asima website, a commercial company linked to these traders and officers has commenced the distribution of commercial electricity through the amperes system in the central Damascus markets of Salhiya, Shaalan, and Hamra. This initial step is expected to be expanded to other areas in the near future.

The sources indicate that the sale of electricity in Damascus markets was made possible through the assistance of the security office of the Fourth Division militia and the 40th branch of the State Security militia.

The project cost for the three markets alone has surpassed 3 billion Syrian pounds, with potential plans to extend the projects coverage to Shaalan and Salhiya areas within the next three months, incurring an additional cost of up to 6 billion Syrian pounds.

The company offers one ampere of electricity for 1,000 Syrian pounds, requiring shop owners to subscribe to a minimum of one ampere and a maximum of 15 amperes. Subscription fees are collected weekly from shops and monthly from warehouses and lounges.

Facilitated by Assads Ministry of Electricity

According to information gathered from the customs of Assads militia, the website reported that traders successfully imported large generators with the assistance of senior officers within the fourth division about a month ago.

In addition, the Ministry of Electricity has facilitated the importation of these generators, albeit with a condition. The ministry receives a small percentage of the investors profits in return for granting them access to the necessary mechanisms for project implementation and the distribution of electricity to specific sectors through the public electrical wire network.

A ministry employee revealed that permanent power lines, commonly referred to as golden lines, have been discontinued since the beginning of this year in all regions, particularly in areas where the sale of electricity through the amperes system has commenced.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
The operation was aimed at dismantling an ISIS cell, Baladi News reports.

The U.S.-led international coalition, in collaboration with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), conducted an airdrop operation on Sunday evening, May 14th, in the city of Raqqa, located in eastern Syria.

According to a statement issued by the SDFs media center, the operation was carried out by its anti-terrorism unit (YAT) with the support of the international coalition in Raqqa. However, no specific details regarding the outcome of the operation were provided.

The sounds of explosions heard in the area at that time were attributed to the raid in Raqqa, as reported.

Additionally, the Al-Sharqiya-24 website confirmed that the international coalition forces executed an airdrop operation targeting a house in the al-Meshlab neighbourhood of Raqqa city. Meanwhile, sources close to the SDF claimed that the operation was aimed at dismantling an ISIS cell, but the results of the operation remain unknown as of the time of this report.

On February 22nd, the international coalition and SDF conducted an airdrop operation in the town of Jadid Akidat, located in the eastern countryside of Deir-ez-Zor.

According to the Deir-ez-Zor 24 website, the coalition and the SDF targeted a house adjacent to the residence of Fadi Rafi Al-Daoud. As a result, the owner of the targeted house, along with Fadi, fled their homes. The international coalition pursued them near the Euphrates River, utilizing drones and police dogs.

It is worth mentioning that the coalition forces are actively engaged in joint security operations with the SDF forces across the areas under SDF control in northern and eastern Syria. These operations aim to combat and neutralize ISIS cells.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Members of the participating delegations warmly welcomed the Syrians attending the meeting, according to al-Baath.

On a relevant note, senior officials attending the preparatory meeting of the Economic and Social Council of the Arab League (AL) in Jeddah expressed the strong brotherly ties with Syria as participating delegations arrived.

The Palestinian delegation members were filled with immense joy and offered sincere congratulations to the Syrian media delegation, who had come to Jeddah to cover the activities of the Arab Summit and the preparatory meetings at various levels.

Syria has always been open to Arab cooperation, and its media has consistently covered any Arab event that holds common interest for the peoples of the region.

The Iraqis, Algerians, Saudis, Egyptians, Jordanians, and other members of the participating delegations warmly welcomed the Syrians attending the meeting, both the participants within the Syrian delegation and the journalists covering the news.

They expressed their support for Syria and its decision to resume its participation in the Arab Summit meetings, which symbolize the strong fraternal ties among Arab nations.

The presence of Syria is greatly missed Brothers always return The meetings hold special importance with Syrias participation Welcome, Syrians These sentiments echoed through the corridors of the preparatory meeting in Jeddah.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
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

Artificial intelligence-powered writing assistants that autocomplete sentences or offer "smart replies" not only put words into people's mouths, they also put ideas into their heads, according to new research.

Maurice Jakesch, a doctoral student in the field of information science asked more than 1,500 participants to write a paragraph answering the question, "Is social media good for society?" People who used an AI writing assistant that was biased for or against social media were twice as likely to write a paragraph agreeing with the assistant, and significantly more likely to say they held the same opinion, compared with people who wrote without AI's help.

The study suggests that the biases baked into AI writing toolswhether intentional or unintentionalcould have concerning repercussions for culture and politics, researchers said.

"We're rushing to implement these AI models in all walks of life, but we need to better understand the implications," said co-author Mor Naaman, professor at the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute at Cornell Tech and of information science in the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science. "Apart from increasing efficiency and creativity, there could be other consequences for individuals and also for our societyshifts in language and opinions."

While others have looked at how large language models such as ChatGPT can create persuasive ads and political messages, this is the first study to show that the process of writing with an AI-powered tool can sway a person's opinions. Jakesch presented the study, "Co-Writing with Opinionated Language Models Affects Users' Views," at the 2023 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems in April, where the paper received an honorable mention.

To understand how people interact with AI writing assistants, Jakesch steered a large language model to have either positive or negative opinions of social media. Participants wrote their paragraphseither alone or with one of the opinionated assistantson a platform he built that mimics a social media website. The platform collects data from participants as they type, such as which of the AI suggestions they accept and how long they take to compose the paragraph.

People who co-wrote with the pro-social media AI assistant composed more sentences arguing that social media is good, and vice versa, compared to participants without a writing assistant, as determined by independent judges. These participants also were more likely to profess their assistant's opinion in a follow-up survey.

The researchers explored the possibility that people were simply accepting the AI suggestions to complete the task quicker. But even participants who took several minutes to compose their paragraphs came up with heavily influenced statements. The survey revealed that a majority of the participants did not even notice the AI was biased and didn't realize they were being influenced.

"The process of co-writing doesn't really feel like I'm being persuaded," said Naaman. "It feels like I'm doing something very natural and organicI'm expressing my own thoughts with some aid."

When repeating the experiment with a different topic, the research team again saw that participants were swayed by the assistants. Now, the team is looking into how this experience creates the shift, and how long the effects last.

Just as social media has changed the political landscape by facilitating the spread of misinformation and the formation of echo chambers, biased AI writing tools could produce similar shifts in opinion, depending on which tools users choose. For example, some organizations have announced they plan to develop an alternative to ChatGPT, designed to express more conservative viewpoints.

These technologies deserve more public discussion regarding how they could be misused and how they should be monitored and regulated, the researchers said.

"The more powerful these technologies become and the more deeply we embed them in the social fabric of our societies," Jakesch said, "the more careful we might want to be about how we're governing the values, priorities and opinions built into them."

Advait Bhat from Microsoft Research, Daniel Buschek of the University of Bayreuth and Lior Zalmanson of Tel Aviv University contributed to the paper.

More information: Maurice Jakesch et al, Co-Writing with Opinionated Language Models Affects Users' Views, Proceedings of the 2023 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (2023). DOI: 10.1145/3544548.3581196
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 US announced charges against several Russian and Chinese nationals for violating sanctions by seeking to export sensitive technolgy.

The United States announced charges on Tuesday against several Chinese and Russian nationals accused of stealing trade secrets and violating sanctions by seeking to export sensitive technology.

Among those indicted was a former software engineer at Apple who allegedly stole software from the California company related to the research and development of self-driving cars.

Also charged was a Chinese man accused of seeking to provide Iran with materials used to produce weapons of mass destruction.

Other criminal cases involved the dismantling of alleged procurement networks that helped Russia's intelligence services obtain sensitive US military technology and aircraft parts, US officials said.

The indictments were the work of the Justice Department's "Disruptive Technology Strike Force" and were announced by assistant attorney general Matthew Olsen.

"We stand vigilant in enforcing US laws to stop the flow of sensitive technologies to our foreign adversaries," said Olsen, who was flanked by US attorneys from around the country who brought the indictments.

Charged in California was Weibao Wang, 35, a Chinese software engineer at Apple from 2016 to 2018.

Wang, who fled the United States for China just hours after a search of his home in 2018, was accused of stealing self-driving car technology and other trade secrets from Apple.

Damian Williams, US attorney for the Southern District of New York, said Xiangjiang Qiao, 39, also known as Joe Hansen, was accused of seeking to send isostatic graphite to Iran in violation of US sanctions.

According to the US authorities, isostatic graphite is a high-tech material used in the nose tips of intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Qiao, who is at large in China, has been charged with sanctions evasion, money laundering and bank fraud, Williams said.

In another case related to China, Liming Li, 64, a southern California man was arrested on May 6 on charges of stealing smart manufacturing technology from two US firms he worked at and then providing it to businesses in China, US officials said.

The advanced technology was used to make parts for nuclear submarines and military aircraft.

The US companies Li worked for were not identified in the indictment.

'Double dealing'

Charges were also unveiled against a Greek national accused of smuggling military and dual use technology to Russia including sophisticated equipment used in nuclear weapons testing.

Nikolaos Bogonikolos, 59, who is charged with wire fraud conspiracy and smuggling, was arrested last week in France and the United States is seeking his extradition, said Breon Peace, US attorney for the Eastern District of New York.

Peace said Bogonikolos "while ostensibly operating as a defense contractor for NATO and other ally countries" was "double dealing, helping to fuel Russia's war effort and their development of next generation weapons."

Bogonikolos, who headed a company known as the Aratos Group, "conspired with a network of companies orchestrated by the Russian intelligence services to fraudulently acquire and then smuggle US-origin military and dual use technologies to aid the Russian defense and security sectors," he said.

In another case involving Russia, two Russian nationals, Oleg Patsulya and Vasilii Besedin, were arrested in Arizona for seeking to illegally export civilian aircraft parts from the United States to Russia, US officials said.

 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:

Regulators worldwide are increasingly worried about the lack of oversight of the digital currency sector.

EU ministers agreed stronger rules Tuesday to crack down on the use of cryptocurrencies in tax fraud, as Brussels bolsters its efforts to regulate the volatile sector.

Regulators worldwide are increasingly worried about the lack of oversight of the digital currency sector but the European Union has already taken steps to protect investors.

The 27-member bloc's parliament last month approved the world's first comprehensive rules covering crypto assets, which include cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin and ethereum and tradable tokens whose value is secured using blockchain technology, such as NFTs.

During a meeting of EU economy and finance ministers on Tuesday, they agreed on rules to go after individuals who stash their cash where tax authorities have no oversight.

The rules will close loopholes that allow people to avoid taxation on their income using crypto assets, Swedish Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson said.

"This reduces the risk of crypto assets being used as a safe haven for tax avoidance and tax fraud," she added in a statement.

The European Commission, the EU's executive arm charged with implementing EU laws and regulations, welcomed the ministers' approval, adding that it would also help curb tax evasion.

Tax authorities in the EU currently lack the information they need to monitor proceeds from crypto assets, which are easily traded across borders, it said.

As a result, member states are deprived of important tax revenues, the commission added.

The rules will force all crypto asset providers (CASPs) based in the EU, regardless of their size, to report the transactions of clients who reside in the bloc.

There will also be an automatic exchange of tax rulings within the EU relating to the wealthiest individuals to target attempts to hide money from the taxman.

The directive will come into force on January 1, 2026 after the European Parliament adopts its position.

The ministers also backed the Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) regulation that will ensure crypto asset service providers protect customers' digital wallets, and a second on fund transfers that will lead to greater oversight of crypto assets trades.

The EU says this will make it harder for criminals to use cryptocurrencies for illegal activity such as money laundering. The rules will progressively come into force from July 2024.

 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:

Barack Obama watches Asimo, a robot made by Honda. Researchers are still debating why we respond to robots the way we do  and how that will change in the future, as robotic technology advances. Credit: State Department photo by William Ng/Public Domain

When people encounter social robots, they tend to treat them as both machine and character. A Stanford psychologist and his collaborator explain why in a much-discussed paper.

The little dinosaur robot blinks its big, blue eyes and stretches its neck. It tilts its head toward a human, who responds with a pat. The dinosaur closes its eyes in apparent contentment. But when it suddenly freezes, the human flips it over to check its batteries.

Why we respond to social robots the way we dosometimes treating them as real beings, other times recognizing that they are machineryis the central question of new research by Stanford psychologist Herbert Clark, Albert Ray Lang Professor of Psychology, Emeritus, in the School of Humanities and Sciences, and his longtime collaborator Kerstin Fischer, professor of language and technology interaction at the University of Southern Denmark.

"It's puzzling how socially people respond to things that are actually machines," Fischer said. "There's lots of emotionality and sociality in interacting with a robot. How is it that these machines can be dealt with as if they were living people?"

Clark and Fischer argue that people interpret social robots, which are designed to interact with humans, as depictions of characterssimilar to puppets, stage actors, and ventriloquist dummies.

Their view is controversial. Clark and Fischer's paper appeared in March 2022 in the journal Behavioral and Brain Sciences alongside open peer commentary, in which dozens of researchers in multiple disciplines from around the world reacted to their conclusions.

The discussion matters in a world where humans are increasingly encountering robots, and those robots are increasing in their abilities. Understanding how and why people interact socially with robots could guide how future robots are designed, as well as shape how we interpret people's responses to those robots.

The basics of the depiction model

A person viewing Michelangelo's statue of David knows it's a chunk of carved marble. But the viewer simultaneously understands it as a depiction of the biblical character preparing for the battle against Goliath.

In the same way, Clark and Fischer said, people are aware that social robots are made of wires and sensors shaped into a depiction of a character like a little dinosaur, a pet dog, or a human caretaker or tutor. But when people interact with these robots, most are willing to treat them as the characters they depict.

"We understand what an image is, we understand what a drawing is, we understand what a movie is, and therefore we understand what a robot is, because we construct the robot's character in exactly the same way we construct the characters we see depicted in a drawing or movie," Fischer said.

People also recognize that the characters are specifically designed to interact with humans, Clark said.

"People do understand that these robots are ultimately the responsibility of the people who designed them and are working them," he said.

This knowledge comes into play when something goes wrong like a robot sharing bad information or injuring someone. People don't hold the robot responsible. They blame the owner or operatorre-emphasizing their understanding of the object and the character.

Another view from a Stanford colleague

One of the commentaries that expands on the depiction model comes from another Stanford researcher, Byron Reeves, the Paul C. Edwards Professor of Communication in the School of Humanities and Sciences, who studies how people psychologically process media characters and avatars, including robots.

Reeves argues that while people sometimes treat robots as depictions, they can also have quick natural responses to robots, with thought coming laterthe same way you might jump in fright when a dinosaur appears on screen in a movie, and then remind yourself it isn't real.

"It's the really fast-thinking stuff. I mean, milliseconds fast," Reeves said. "Now, in fairness, (Clark) thinks that his depiction model applies to those quick responses as well. I don't see a good fit with their main concepts. Depiction emphasizes words like 'appreciation' and 'interpretation' and 'imagination,' and they just seem slower, more thoughtful. They're kind of literary responses: 'I'll actively pretend this is real because that will be entertaining.'"

Clark and Fischer note in their response to the commentaries that people's immersion in the story world of a novel, for instance, "is continuous; they don't have to re-immerse themselves with each new sentence or paragraph. The same is true with social robots. People don't need extra 'time and effort' for 'reflection' at each new step of their interaction with a robot."

They argue that understanding depictions is immediate and fast, and even children understand them from a very young age.

"I have a granddaughter who is now six, but when she was one and a half or two, she was already able to take dolls and treat them as characters," Clark said.

Reeves said his model is more likely to predict how social robotics technology will progress in the future.

"The dinosaurs in movies are better and better, and juicier and juicier, and scarier and scarier," he said. "I think robots will go there as well."

Lessons for designers and interactors

While humans may treat social robots like real people or animals, the technology is a long way from replicating actual human interaction, Clark and Fischer said.

"It takes real skill for people to communicate effectively, even with simple things like spatial descriptions," Clark said. "People know precisely how to combine descriptions, gestures, eye gaze, and mutual attention in telling people where things are. Well, to get robots to be equally skillfuleven on a simple thing like thatwill be really, really hard."

Even advanced social robots are extremely limited. But when people interpret them as characters, they're prone to overestimate their capabilities.

"If you have a robot math tutor, you still cannot leave your kid alone with the robot. Why? Because it won't notice when the child is choking or climbing the balcony or doing something else," Fischer said.

This type of overestimation also causes problems with other popular but limited technologies, such as voice assistants and AI chatbots. People who design robots and similar technologies should make the constraints more transparent to users, Clark said.

Clark and Fischer said their model not only recognizes the level of work that goes into designing social robots, but also encourages a positive view of the people who interact with them. Under the depiction model, a person who treats the little dinosaur robot like a pet is behaving normally.

"Our model shows respect for the people who interact with the robots in social ways," Fischer said. "We don't need to assume they are lonely or irrational or confused, or deficient in any way."
(Photo : Saul Martinez/Getty Images)

In the Andrew Gillum corruption case, federal prosecutors attempt to dismiss charges against the former Florida mayor.

Federal prosecutors asked a judge on Monday to dismiss the remaining corruption charges against Andrew Gillum, the Democratic nominee for governor of Florida in 2018.

Prosecutors stated they intended to retry Gillum after the trial concluded on May 4. However, they changed their minds in a one-paragraph motion that also sought the dismissal of the case against Sharon Lettman-Hicks.

Prosecutors Drop Charges Against Andrew Gillum

The jury exonerated Gillum of lying to the FBI. However, it could not reach a verdict on more than a dozen fraud and conspiracy charges alleging that Gillum and Lettman-Hicks diverted tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions for his personal use.

According to CHRON, the trial was presided over by US District Judge Allen Winsor, who did not immediately rule on the petition on Monday. The US attorney's office did not comment beyond the court filing.

In 2018, Gillum, a 43-year-old former mayor of Tallahassee, sought to become the first African-American governor in Florida's history. He was defeated by the Republican Ron DeSantis by a margin of fewer than 34,000 ballots, which triggered an automatic recount.

Prosecutors alleged that Gillum committed fraud because he struggled financially after leaving his $120,000-per-year position with the progressive group People for the American Way to run for governor.

Lettman-Hicks, a longtime political adviser of Gillum and former executive with the organization, was accused of conspiring with Gillum to divert campaign contributions to his accounts. Also, the jury was deadlocked on these counts.

The acquittal, partial mistrial, and explicit dismissal represented a significant setback for the government and its lengthy and costly Operation Capital Currency investigation, which began in 2015 with FBI agents posing as corrupt developers in Tallahassee.

Read Also: New Mexico Shooting: 18-Year-Old Teen Randomly Shot Cars, Houses, Killing 3, Injuring 9

Andrew Gillum Can Now Resume 'His Life and Public Service'

On May 4, following a nearly three-week trial, the jury acquitted Gillum on a single count of making false statements. However, it could not reach a verdict on 18 other counts of conspiracy and wire fraud against both defendants.

Several anonymous jurors revealed that the 12-person panel voted overwhelmingly in favor of acquittal but that two "biased" jurors prevented a unanimous verdict. If they proceeded with a retrial, federal prosecutors confronted significant tactical disadvantages, according to AZ Central.

Retrials also provide an opportunity for prosecutors to retool and refocus their cases. Given that the false statements charge and the then-interactions mayor's with undercover FBI agents were no longer in play, prosecutors would undoubtedly have altered their narrative in a retrial of Gillum.

Gillum's legal team of David Oscar Markus, Margot Moss, and Katie Miller stated, "Andrew Gillum had the courage to stand up and say 'I am innocent. And that is finally being recognized."

Gillum's defense team added that he can now "resume his life and public service."

Per Politico, a federal magistrate is scheduled to conduct a hearing on the case on Wednesday, when he is expected to rule on the prosecution's motion. Gillum tweeted a screenshot of the government motion with the words "But God" and prayer palms emoticons.

Gillum was a rising Democratic figure who narrowly lost the 2018 governor's election to Republican Ron DeSantis. DeSantis used an ongoing federal investigation into corruption at Tallahassee City Hall to attack his opponent during the election, although Gillum would not be prosecuted until four years later.

Related Article: Trump Civil Trial: Second Accuser Testifies Against Ex-President's Sexual Assault

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(Photo : TONY KARUMBA/AFP via Getty Images)

A Kenyan lion believed to be the world's oldest died after being speared by herdsmen.



According to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), ten lions have been slain in southern Kenya in the past week, including six on Saturday alone, as human-wildlife conflict escalates in the region.

This is an "unprecedentedly large number of lions to be killed at once," a KWS representative told CNN on Sunday.

Kenya Lions Killed

It comes after conservationists announced earlier this week that one of Africa's oldest lions, Loonkiito, was killed at the age of 19 years.

One of Africa's oldest lions was slain in Kenya, according to conservationists. Loonkiito was described as frail by Kenya Wildlife Service spokesperson Paul Jinaro, who said it wandered into a village on Thursday night in quest of food after fleeing the Amboseli national park.

Loonkiito had left a protected area and entered a livestock pen because he was "starving," and the livestock owner slaughtered him, according to Lion Guardians.

According to the organization, the end of a drought is typically accompanied by an increase in human-lion conflict, as it becomes more difficult to pursue natural prey and livestock owners become "particularly vigilant" after losing so many animals. Kenya is enduring its worst drought in forty years.

The six lions that perished on Saturday had previously killed eleven goats and one dog, according to a press release issued by the KWS on Saturday. According to the United Nations, the lions were all part of the Amboseli ecosystem in Kajiado County, a UNESCO biosphere reserve site near Mount Kilimanjaro. KWS hosted a meeting with locals and government officials to discuss the recent killings.

Herders speared six additional lions from the same national park after they murdered 11 livestock and a dog in the Mbirikani area of Kajiado County. Sunday, tourism minister Peninah Malonza met with locals in the Mbirikani region and implored them to contact the wildlife service instead of spearing stray lions.

"The meeting centered on peaceful and harmonious coexistence between the community and wildlife," the Kenya Wildlife Service said in a statement on social media.

Per CBS News, the government and conservation organizations have a program to compensate herdsmen whose animals are slain by wild animals. After losing livestock to a drought in East Africa that has been described as the worst in decades, herdsmen have become more vigilant.

Craig Miller of the Big Life Foundation stated that it was regrettable that Loonkiito, the oldest lion in Amboseli national park, was killed.

"While we are relieved no humans were injured, this isolated but tragic incident is a stark illustration of the difficulties in ensuring coexistence between humans and wildlife," the group said in a Facebook statement. According to conservationists, wild lions rarely survive past 15 years.

Read Also: Zelensky Reaps Billions of Dollars in Aids During Europe Tour as Ukraine Prepares for Counteroffensive Against Russia

Loonkiito: Kenya's Oldest Lion

On the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, there are just over 100 lions in Amboseli, and the large cats are classified as "vulnerable."

According to African Impact, there are only 23,000 lions remaining in the wild as their population has decreased by 90% over the past decade. The World Wildlife Federation said that almost all lions reside in Africa, with a tiny population in India, Daily Mail reported.

Loonkito cannot be confirmed as the world's longest lion, but he was extremely old and exceeded the average survival age. The conservation organization Lion Guardians praised Loonkito as "a symbol of perseverance and coexistence."

In recent years, there have been more reports of wildlife straying into human habitats in Kenya, as the animals face increasing pressure from the expansion of cities into ancient migration and hunting grounds.

In July 2021, a lion escaped its habitat in Nairobi National Park and entered a densely populated neighborhood during morning rush hour, causing widespread alarm.

The park is only seven kilometers (four miles) from the center of Kenya's capital, and it is not uncommon for animals to escape the verdant plains and venture into the chaotic city of more than four million people. In December 2019, a lion mauled a man to death just outside the park, whereas in March 2016, another large feline was killed after attacking and injuring a nearby resident.

A month earlier, in February 2016, two lions spent a day meandering through Kibera, a densely populated urban slum, before returning to the park, and more lions were observed in town days later. According to Kenya's first-ever national wildlife census, conducted in 2021, there are approximately 2,500 lions in the country.

Related Article: Tokyo Ginza Robbery: 4 Teens Under Investigation After Suspects Stole Over 100 Rolex in 2 Minutes

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On Thursday 25 seniors from International Leadership of Texas Aggieland High School will make history as the charter schools inaugural graduating class.

All 25 students have been accepted to college and gifted a total of $3.3 million in merit-based scholarships to assist them with their next steps.

Thats really the goal is to have them be able to have any opportunity they want and not be held back by finances, by where they were born, where they live, nothing, Principal Linda Birdwell said, mentioning the school does not have a geographic boundary.

With a mission to prepare students for exceptional leadership roles in the international community by emphasizing servant leadership, mastering the English, Spanish, and Chinese languages, and strengthening the mind, body and character, Birdwell said ILTexas offers a rigorous class schedule that seeks to equip students for their futures.

Senior Josslyn Timbs is an example of this as she commutes from Brenham to school every day.

Through emphasis on leadership and language studies, Timbs said she and her classmates take leadership, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese classes as a part of their curriculum. This also includes community service, or others before self (OBS), projects the school brainstorms and performs to benefit the community.

The most used languages in the world are Spanish, English and Chinese; those are the ones that we are going to be using for the rest of our lives to communicate with our people and to use our leadership skills to help create a world where everything is accepted, Timbs said. Learning these languages and understanding the cultures helps us move forward and learn that we can all be together at the same time.

Accepted to Stephen F. Austin State University, Timbs plans to study Spanish education and use her knowledge acquired at ILTexas along the way.

With plans to attend Southwestern University to major in biology and minor in education with hopes of becoming a biology teacher, senior Lindsey Smith agreed ILTexas leadership courses have taught her lessons she will continue to use throughout her life.

ILTexas really does prepare you for stepping into adulthood, Smith said.

Birdwell, who taught math to many of the seniors in eighth grade, said she is eager to see how they change the world following graduation.

Im excited to see how they do that because theres no doubt in my mind, Birdwell said.

When asked how she would describe the first senior class in the schools history, Birdwell said they are incredibly courageous because ILTexas College Station K-8 opened when they were eighth graders with ILTexas Aggieland High School expanding with them every year. Nonetheless, Birdwell said these students took on the challenges and have continued to impress her.

They didnt have any fear; they stayed, and you can see that they are so strong now, Birdwell said. They know who they are, and thats one thing I build here is kindness and being OK with who you are.

That is another thing Smith said has stood out to her during her time as a student at ILTexas.

We know how to communicate with others; we know how to communicate with ourselves; we know how to analyze our traits and how we can better ourselves and better our community, Smith said.

Being the oldest students in the school since their eighth grade year, Birdwell said the now seniors could have let that get to their heads, but they have welcomed, encouraged and mentored their younger peers. This has strengthened the legacy of high standards this senior class is leaving behind, she said.

It is intense, and it is hard work, but when you put the hard work in it really shows, Smith said. You become proficient in so many things; you become a better person, a better leader, and youre on a different level.

Senior Analyse Garcia attended public school before enrolling at ILTexas and said it was a unique experience to step into a school where she was the oldest as a freshman.

As we go, we depend on each other because theres only 25 of us, Garcia said.

Now, less than a week away from graduation, Garcia said it feels surreal to be graduating with plans to study biology at Texas A&M University, apply for veterinary school and become a veterinarian.

This closeness has grown over their four years of high school, senior Hannah Byerly, who is also planning to attend Texas A&M University to study biomedical sciences and become a pharmacist or a physical therapist, said.

At the end of the day, weve spent so many years with these people that we grow together; we learn together because we know these are our classmates and our friends, Smith affirmed. We understand that this is a bond that is going to last forever.

These four seniors and their 21 classmates will graduate at 6 p.m. at the Rudder University Center on the Texas A&M Campus Thursday, May 18. For more information about ILTexas Aggieland, go to https://aggielandhs.iltexas.org/.
In the campaign commercial President Joe Biden released to announce his re-election campaign, there was one individual who was prominently displayed  Kamala Harris.

Since the moment Biden selected her as his running mate in July 2020, there has been no shortage of commentary about Harris and her role as vice president. No honest person can dismiss the fact that being a woman of color has been a political handicap for her.

As a woman of color and a biracial one at that, Harris has to deal with the twin evils of Jim Crow and Jane Crow. The term was espoused by pioneering legal scholar Pauli Murray in 1970.

Barack Obama was biracial, some will argue. But Obama was also a man running for president in an era that, although relatively recent, was not as politically fractured and divisive as the current climate.

Harris, the first Black woman and first Asian American vice president, has faced plenty of detractors during her first two and a half years as vice president, claiming shes failed to define an effective role in the administration. Some of her assignments have included the difficult tasks of solving Central American migration along the southern border and ensuring voting rights amid a barrage of new state election laws.

Various factors aside, the indisputable reality is that Harris was not the most inspiring candidate. Indeed, a number of people, myself included, were both intrigued and taken aback at how surprisingly ambiguous the vice president has come across to the larger public. She has routinely struggled to explain her policy stances and seems to equivocate routinely when asked where she stood on an issue. At other times, she seems to be totally vague in her responses.

The truth is we are in an era where voters across the political spectrum wants candidates who are unmistakably definitive in their beliefs and free of any level of ambiguity. At the present moment, the American people, across the political spectrum, hunger for candor. Indecisive commentary will be rejected soundly.

Harris (at least at this point) has failed to heighten her stature or convince a plurality of voters she harbors the politically vital ingredients necessary to step into the shoes of the presidency, should Biden be incapable of serving a full second term.

Political flaws imagined or real, Kamala Harris remains popular among Black women. She recently traveled to Nashville, Tennessee, to demonstrate support for the two lawmakers  Justin Pearson and Justin Johnson  who were callously expelled, then reinstated to the state Legislature.

Her journey to Africa last month and her most recent visit to her alma mater, Howard University, discussing abortion rights have earned solid marks from pundits and other political observers.

Both Biden and Harris must make a persuasive argument to fellow Democrats and swing voters why she remains the best choice to succeed him.

It is something that both of them must do unequivocally and unambiguously.
There is nervousness in the homes of ambitious American high school students awaiting the U.S. Supreme Courts decision on affirmative action at the University of North Carolina and Harvard University.

Will the justices upend preferences for certain racial and ethnic groups? Will they ruin the chances of many teenagers getting into a top school, which would bring them lifelong success?

The answer to the second question is no, regardless of how the court rules.

Affirmative action admission policies can help colleges achieve greater diversity on their campuses. But in the course of that public debate, we do college applicants great harm if we give them the false impression they will do better in life if they attend highly selective schools.

Long-standing research shows that except for some low-income students, being admitted to the most selective colleges has no significant effect on whether those young people achieve their dreams for life.

Were all naturally fascinated with pecking orders. We cant resist reading the latest rankings of colleges, restaurants, movie stars, even mouthwashes. Yet we dont seem to notice that many of our bosses at work and leaders in government attended colleges and universities far from the top of the U.S. News & World Report rankings.

The best research on the effect of college selectivity is still the 1999 study by Stacy Berg Dale, a researcher at the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and Alan B. Krueger, a Princeton economist who later became chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisors.

Their remarkable report, a National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper titled Estimating the Payoff to Attending a More Selective College, examined 14,239 students at 30 colleges, ranging from the most selective, including Yale and Swarthmore, to less selective places like Denison University and Penn State. The students enrolled in college in 1976 and were surveyed on how much money they were making 20 years later.

Dale and Krueger found that those who attended more selective schools did not earn more than other students who were accepted and rejected by comparable schools but attended less selective colleges. They concluded that unobserved characteristics, such as persistence, humor and warmth, might have influenced success in life as measured by salary, but getting into the pickiest schools did not.

One exception, they said, was low-income students. Those who attended more selective schools on average earned slightly more. Since 1976, the racial mix of college students has changed, with the percentage of white students dropping from 84% to 54% by 2020, as the percentage of all other racial and ethnic groups rose. Whether that shift might alter the conclusions of the Dale-Krueger study is unclear; theres been no comparable study addressing that issue.

A 2018 study by Suqin Ge, Elliott Isaac and Amalia Miller found that women who attended more selective colleges made more money than similar women who attended less selective colleges. But the reason appeared to be that women who attended selective colleges were less likely to marry and put their careers on hold for child rearing.

We can see in our own lives and from academic research that successful people do not come only from ultra-selective schools. In fact, most people I have interviewed about how college helped them succeed point to a specific program, professor or even informal connection made on campus, not to the selectivity of the school itself.

The opportunities provided by American colleges, whatever their selectivity, appear quite obvious to young people from Asia and Africa who enroll here. Steve Becker, a former high school counselor in Pennsylvania, does a wonderful job of explaining how this works on his website, lesshighschoolstress.com.

He ranked colleges just before the pandemic by the number, not the percentage, of first year students with SAT math scores more than 700 or ACT math scores more than 30. Such people were in the top 5% of test takers. Here are the top 10 U.S. schools on that scale in descending order: University of Michigan, UC Berkeley, Ohio State, University of Wisconsin, University of Texas Austin, Purdue University, University of Washington, UCLA, Rutgers University and Texas A&M. He found Michigan had 5,200 of those top students in its entering class and Texas A&M had 3,300.

So if you know very bright, hard-working students who feel like they have to settle for Purdue because they were turned down by Northwestern or Notre Dame, Becker said, point out to them that theyll have as many top-5% math students in their freshman class at Purdue as the other two universities put together.

Becker also points out a 2012 study by the Chronicle of Higher Education on employers priorities when choosing applicants just out of college. The study ranked eight factors in deciding whom to hire. Here they are in descending order: nature of college internships, what jobs they had in college, college majors, volunteer experiences, extracurricular activities, relevance of coursework and grade-point averages. College reputation was the very last factor.

Much has been written lately about Americans losing faith in higher education, but theres little evidence of that in the high schools I study, from wealthier suburban campuses to urban charter schools full of ambitious but lower-income students. The word college still retains a magic in those places.

We still may obsess over the college rankings and argue over what the Supreme Court does. But there is no question that colleges of every sort improve lives in innumerable ways, no matter what percentage of applicants they let in.
Cardinal Energy Ltd. (OTCMKTS:CRLFF  Get Rating) was the target of a significant growth in short interest during the month of April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 3,943,300 shares, a growth of 8.7% from the April 15th total of 3,627,300 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 22,800 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 173.0 days.

Cardinal Energy Price Performance

Cardinal Energy stock traded up $0.10 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $4.86. 24,300 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 24,166. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $5.26 and its 200 day simple moving average is $5.60. Cardinal Energy has a fifty-two week low of $4.64 and a fifty-two week high of $7.93.

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Cardinal Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 28th will be issued a $0.0445 dividend. This is a positive change from Cardinal Energys previous dividend of $0.04. This represents a dividend yield of 9.62%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 27th. Cardinal Energys dividend payout ratio is currently 8.93%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Cardinal Energy Company Profile

CRLFF has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. CIBC reduced their target price on shares of Cardinal Energy from C$11.00 to C$9.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 17th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price objective on shares of Cardinal Energy from C$9.00 to C$8.50 in a research report on Friday.

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Cardinal Energy Ltd. engages in the acquisition, exploration, and production of oil and natural gas. It focuses to explore and produce oil and natural gas in the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada. Its operational areas include Midale, which is located in Weyburn Saskatchewan; Southern Alberta; East Central Alberta; and North Area of Canada.

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Huhtamaki Oyj (OTCMKTS:HOYFF  Get Rating) was the target of a large increase in short interest in April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 289,000 shares, an increase of 15.7% from the April 15th total of 249,700 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 0 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently  days.

Huhtamaki Oyj Price Performance

HOYFF remained flat at $36.37 during trading on Monday. The firms 50 day moving average is $34.65 and its 200 day moving average is $35.07. Huhtamaki Oyj has a fifty-two week low of $36.37 and a fifty-two week high of $36.37.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, Handelsbanken raised Huhtamaki Oyj from an underperform rating to a market perform rating in a research report on Friday, February 10th.

About Huhtamaki Oyj

Huhtamaki Oyj manufactures and sells packaging products in the United States, Germany, India, the United Kingdom, Australia, Thailand, China, South Africa, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Findland, and internationally. It operates in foodservice packaging, flexible packaging, and fiber packaging business areas.

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abrdn plc lessened its position in Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE  Get Rating) by 8.7% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,037,308 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 99,133 shares during the quarter. abrdn plc owned 0.19% of Intercontinental Exchange worth $106,417,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in ICE. Boston Partners purchased a new stake in Intercontinental Exchange during the third quarter worth $152,011,000. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Intercontinental Exchange by 59.2% during the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 4,275,418 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $564,869,000 after buying an additional 1,589,999 shares in the last quarter. Veritas Asset Management LLP raised its position in Intercontinental Exchange by 55.0% during the third quarter. Veritas Asset Management LLP now owns 4,278,419 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $386,555,000 after acquiring an additional 1,517,876 shares during the period. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec raised its position in Intercontinental Exchange by 3,801.0% during the third quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 1,320,464 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $119,304,000 after acquiring an additional 1,286,615 shares during the period. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised its position in Intercontinental Exchange by 85.7% during the third quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 2,570,569 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $232,252,000 after acquiring an additional 1,186,666 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 87.28% of the companys stock.

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Intercontinental Exchange Price Performance

Shares of NYSE ICE traded down $0.58 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $109.28. 746,049 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,539,787. The company has a market cap of $61.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 42.58, a PEG ratio of 2.19 and a beta of 0.93. Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. has a 1 year low of $88.60 and a 1 year high of $113.07. The firms fifty day moving average price is $104.29 and its 200 day moving average price is $104.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78, a current ratio of 1.08 and a quick ratio of 1.08.

Intercontinental Exchange Dividend Announcement

Intercontinental Exchange ( NYSE:ICE Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 4th. The financial services provider reported $1.41 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.40 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $1.90 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.90 billion. Intercontinental Exchange had a net margin of 14.97% and a return on equity of 12.98%. The firms revenue was down .2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.43 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. will post 5.51 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 15th will be issued a $0.42 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, June 14th. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.54%. Intercontinental Exchanges dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 65.12%.

Insider Transactions at Intercontinental Exchange

In other news, CEO Jeffrey C. Sprecher sold 81,827 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $104.02, for a total transaction of $8,511,644.54. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,203,104 shares in the company, valued at approximately $125,146,878.08. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, SVP Douglas Foley sold 1,600 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $104.80, for a total transaction of $167,680.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 21,481 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,251,208.80. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Jeffrey C. Sprecher sold 81,827 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $104.02, for a total transaction of $8,511,644.54. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,203,104 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $125,146,878.08. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

ICE has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. TheStreet upgraded shares of Intercontinental Exchange from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 25th. Citigroup increased their target price on shares of Intercontinental Exchange from $110.00 to $117.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, February 3rd. Raymond James increased their target price on shares of Intercontinental Exchange from $126.00 to $127.00 and gave the company a strong-buy rating in a research report on Thursday, April 6th. Rosenblatt Securities reiterated a buy rating and issued a $168.00 target price on shares of Intercontinental Exchange in a research report on Thursday, April 6th. Finally, UBS Group increased their target price on shares of Intercontinental Exchange from $130.00 to $135.00 in a research report on Friday, May 5th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Intercontinental Exchange currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $131.00.

Intercontinental Exchange Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc engages in the provision of market infrastructure, data services and technology solutions. It operates through the following segments: Exchanges, Fixed Income and Data Services, and Mortgage Technology. The Exchanges segment includes trading and listing revenue from the global futures network, the New York Stock Exchange and other registered securities exchanges.

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The World Bank suspended financing of over $1 billion for humanitarian and development projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Congolese government abruptly and without warning dissolved the project financing, prompting this move.

Over 600,000 beneficiaries, including those who have experienced sexual assault, would be impacted by the suspension, according to a letter the World Bank sent to the finance minister of the Congo, per Reuters. An official from the World Bank confirmed the letter's veracity.

The letter also said that out of the $1.04 billion total, $91 million had already been released for the projects and that the World Bank is still seeking documents about their status.

The "Social Fund of the Democratic Republic of Congo" was dissolved by Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi on May 4, and a new public fund was created. President Tshisekedi attributed the change to the new legislative framework regulating public entities.

The World Bank's director of operations in the nation, Albert Zeufack, said in a letter dated May 12 that the organization had learned about the decision via the media.

Zeufack said in the letter that a deal on interim measures between the government and the World Bank was necessary for the project money to continue to be allocated. These methods guarantee that funds are used for their intended goals, according to a report from Yahoo! News.

Read Also: Reports of Khartoum Women Raped by Armed Men



Before making any more remarks, the finance ministry of Congo's spokesman said that he was seeking presidential clearance.

The presidential spokesperson, Tina Salama, disputed any funding stoppage and said the fund would be transitionally managed. Although she assured that preparations had been made, she remained silent when it came to the $91 million released funds.

Congo's Policy Change Criticized

The unexpected shift in the financial system was condemned by Valery Madianga, the head of a Congolese group that specializes in public finance audits, who saw it as an example of bad governance.

Four major opposition lawmakers in Congo recently urged the heads of the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and the International Monetary Fund to examine their finances in the country. They highlighted concerns about possible abuse.

According to a World Bank report, Congo's oil-dependent economic model may not support long-term development and employment creation. The expected depletion of Congo's oil reserves and the worldwide transition to a low-carbon economy are responsible for this.

When compared to other nations, Congo's worker productivity is low and deteriorating, which impedes economic progress. A decline in per capita income and an increase in poverty are the results of the decline in labor productivity. Using the $2.15 per day international poverty standard as of 2021, the poverty rate in Congo increased from 33% in 2014 to 52% in 2021.

Related Article: Zelensky Reaps Billions of Dollars in Aids During Europe Tour

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Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLC decreased its holdings in Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN  Get Rating) by 5.7% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 767,370 shares of the information technology services providers stock after selling 46,228 shares during the period. Accenture comprises approximately 0.9% of Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 17th largest position. Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLC owned 0.12% of Accenture worth $204,765,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of ACN. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in Accenture by 1.4% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 58,473,666 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $15,045,274,000 after acquiring an additional 816,734 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. lifted its position in Accenture by 0.7% in the third quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 46,363,742 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $11,929,391,000 after acquiring an additional 319,707 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its position in Accenture by 5.1% in the third quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 7,296,119 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $1,877,293,000 after acquiring an additional 354,513 shares during the last quarter. Polen Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Accenture by 0.5% in the third quarter. Polen Capital Management LLC now owns 5,799,259 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $1,492,149,000 after buying an additional 29,646 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Nuveen Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Accenture by 4.1% in the third quarter. Nuveen Asset Management LLC now owns 5,598,625 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $1,440,525,000 after buying an additional 219,573 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 73.97% of the companys stock.

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Accenture Trading Up 0.5 %

Shares of Accenture stock traded up $1.41 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $278.92. 465,153 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,357,090. Accenture plc has a 1-year low of $242.80 and a 1-year high of $322.88. The stock has a market capitalization of $176.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.55, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.42 and a beta of 1.25. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $271.70 and a 200-day moving average price of $276.42.

Accenture Announces Dividend

Accenture ( NYSE:ACN Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 23rd. The information technology services provider reported $2.69 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.49 by $0.20. The business had revenue of $15.81 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $15.59 billion. Accenture had a net margin of 11.00% and a return on equity of 30.73%. Accentures quarterly revenue was up 5.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.54 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Accenture plc will post 11.57 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, April 13th were issued a $1.12 dividend. This represents a $4.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.61%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, April 12th. Accentures dividend payout ratio is currently 41.25%.

Insider Transactions at Accenture

In other news, insider Ellyn Shook sold 5,250 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $275.90, for a total transaction of $1,448,475.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 26,908 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,423,917.20. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In related news, insider Ellyn Shook sold 5,250 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $275.90, for a total transaction of $1,448,475.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 26,908 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,423,917.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Jean-Marc Ollagnier sold 6,250 shares of the companys 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 transaction, the insider now owns 174,084 shares of the companys stock, valued at $48,753,965.04. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 15,010 shares of company stock valued at $4,180,030. Company insiders own 0.08% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

ACN has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Edward Jones upgraded shares of Accenture from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. Wedbush reiterated an outperform rating and set a $300.00 price target on shares of Accenture in a research note on Monday, March 13th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Accenture from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, May 5th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of Accenture from $289.00 to $294.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, March 24th. Finally, William Blair reissued an outperform rating on shares of Accenture in a research note on Monday, March 20th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $314.00.

Accenture Profile

(Get Rating)

Accenture Plc engages in the provision of management consulting, technology, and outsourcing services. It operates through the following geographical segments: North America, Europe and Growth Markets. The company was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.

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Armstrong World Industries, Inc. (NYSE:AWI  Get Rating) has earned an average rating of Hold from the ten brokerages that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, three have given a hold recommendation and five have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12 month target price among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $83.63.

A number of analysts have commented on AWI shares. Bank of America reduced their target price on shares of Armstrong World Industries from $90.00 to $87.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their target price on shares of Armstrong World Industries from $77.00 to $78.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. Credit Suisse Group reissued an outperform rating and issued a $100.00 price objective on shares of Armstrong World Industries in a research note on Wednesday, February 22nd. StockNews.com raised shares of Armstrong World Industries from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday. Finally, Truist Financial reduced their price objective on shares of Armstrong World Industries from $95.00 to $90.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 22nd.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On Armstrong World Industries

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Armstrong World Industries during the first quarter valued at $460,000. Owls Nest Partners IA LLC grew its stake in Armstrong World Industries by 2.8% during the first quarter. Owls Nest Partners IA LLC now owns 389,942 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $27,779,000 after acquiring an additional 10,583 shares in the last quarter. Southpoint Capital Advisors LP purchased a new position in Armstrong World Industries during the first quarter valued at $121,108,000. Maverick Capital Ltd. purchased a new position in Armstrong World Industries during the first quarter valued at $413,000. Finally, Gotham Asset Management LLC grew its stake in Armstrong World Industries by 45.5% during the first quarter. Gotham Asset Management LLC now owns 18,600 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $1,325,000 after acquiring an additional 5,818 shares in the last quarter.

Armstrong World Industries Stock Up 0.5 %

Shares of Armstrong World Industries stock opened at $65.77 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $2.97 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.65 and a beta of 1.11. The companys 50 day moving average is $69.14 and its 200 day moving average is $73.02. Armstrong World Industries has a twelve month low of $64.94 and a twelve month high of $94.94. The company has a quick ratio of 1.49, a current ratio of 2.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24.

Armstrong World Industries (NYSE:AWI  Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The construction company reported $1.12 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.06 by $0.06. Armstrong World Industries had a net margin of 16.32% and a return on equity of 41.94%. The business had revenue of $310.20 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $310.86 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.02 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 9.8% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts anticipate that Armstrong World Industries will post 4.87 EPS for the current year.

Armstrong World Industries Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 18th. Investors of record on Thursday, May 4th will be paid a dividend of $0.254 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, May 3rd. This represents a $1.02 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.54%. Armstrong World Industriess payout ratio is 22.60%.

Armstrong World Industries Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Armstrong World Industries, Inc engages in the design, manufacture, and trade of commercial and residential ceiling, wall, and suspension system solutions. It operates through the following segments: Mineral Fiber, Architectural Specialties, and Unallocated Corporate. The Mineral Fiber segment produces suspended mineral fiber and soft fiber ceiling systems for use in commercial and residential settings.

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Molson Coors Beverage (NYSE:TAP  Get Rating) and BrewBilt Brewing (OTCMKTS:BRBL  Get Rating) are both consumer staples companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, valuation, risk, institutional ownership, profitability, analyst recommendations and dividends.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Molson Coors Beverage and BrewBilt Brewings revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Molson Coors Beverage $10.83 billion 1.27 -$175.30 million ($1.19) -53.26 BrewBilt Brewing $120,000.00 0.00 -$8.55 million N/A N/A

BrewBilt Brewing has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Molson Coors Beverage.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

Profitability

76.2% of Molson Coors Beverage shares are held by institutional investors. 2.3% of Molson Coors Beverage shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 5.0% of BrewBilt Brewing shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

This table compares Molson Coors Beverage and BrewBilt Brewings net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Molson Coors Beverage -1.97% 7.16% 3.57% BrewBilt Brewing N/A N/A -498.93%

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current ratings for Molson Coors Beverage and BrewBilt Brewing, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Molson Coors Beverage 4 8 3 0 1.93 BrewBilt Brewing 0 0 0 0 N/A

Molson Coors Beverage presently has a consensus target price of $57.87, indicating a potential downside of 9.20%.

Risk & Volatility

Molson Coors Beverage has a beta of 0.83, suggesting that its stock price is 17% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, BrewBilt Brewing has a beta of 3.64, suggesting that its stock price is 264% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Molson Coors Beverage beats BrewBilt Brewing on 5 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

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. The company was founded in 1786 and is headquartered in Golden, CO.

About BrewBilt Brewing

(Get Rating)

BrewBilt Brewing Co. engages in the manufacture and sale of audio-video system technologies. Its product portfolio includes protection switches, high definition routers, analog routers, control panels, sound pals, and audio distribution. It offers advanced applications utilized in the commercial and government broadcast industry. The company was founded on November 15, 2006 and is headquartered in Grass Valley, CA.

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JPMorgan Alerian MLP Index ETN (NYSEARCA:AMJ  Get Rating) insider Ashley Bacon sold 16,766 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $135.00, for a total value of $2,263,410.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 195,356 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $26,373,060. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website.

JPMorgan Alerian MLP Index ETN Trading Down 1.0 %

NYSEARCA:AMJ traded down $0.23 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $22.60. 1,186,826 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 356,674. JPMorgan Alerian MLP Index ETN has a twelve month low of $17.73 and a twelve month high of $23.84. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $22.14 and a 200 day moving average price of $22.40.

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Institutional Trading of JPMorgan Alerian MLP Index ETN

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in AMJ. LPL Financial LLC raised its stake in JPMorgan Alerian MLP Index ETN by 2,217.5% during the 4th quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 824,029 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $17,923,000 after acquiring an additional 788,472 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its stake in JPMorgan Alerian MLP Index ETN by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 67,135,935 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,460,207,000 after acquiring an additional 549,083 shares in the last quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC raised its stake in JPMorgan Alerian MLP Index ETN by 4.6% during the 4th quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 7,220,966 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $157,056,000 after acquiring an additional 316,368 shares in the last quarter. Virtu Financial LLC bought a new stake in JPMorgan Alerian MLP Index ETN during the 1st quarter valued at $6,926,000. Finally, Equitable Holdings Inc. raised its stake in JPMorgan Alerian MLP Index ETN by 547.2% during the 4th quarter. Equitable Holdings Inc. now owns 288,050 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $6,265,000 after acquiring an additional 243,541 shares in the last quarter.

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AT & S Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik Aktiengesellschaft (OTCMKTS:ASAAF  Get Rating) was the recipient of a significant decline in short interest during the month of April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 169,500 shares, a decline of 12.8% from the April 15th total of 194,300 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 0 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently  days.

AT & S Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik Aktiengesellschaft Price Performance

Shares of ASAAF opened at C$31.39 on Tuesday. AT & S Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik Aktiengesellschaft has a 1-year low of C$27.58 and a 1-year high of C$31.39. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of C$32.37 and a 200 day moving average price of C$39.84.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, Jefferies Financial Group cut shares of AT & S Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik Aktiengesellschaft from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, March 13th.

About AT & S Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik Aktiengesellschaft

AT & S Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik Aktiengesellschaft, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and distributes printed circuit boards (PCBs) worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Mobile Devices & Substrates; Automotive, Industrial, Medical; and Others. It offers double sided standard, metal core, and copper inlay PCBs; multilayer standard, high frequency/low loss, and thick copper PCBs; high density interconnect (HDI) Microvia PCBs; HDI any-layer PCBs; flexible, semi-flexible, rigid-flexible, and HDI rigid flex PCBs; integrated circuit substrates; and insulated metallic substrates PCBs, as well as related services.

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Shares of AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (NYSE:AVB  Get Rating) have earned a consensus rating of Hold from the twenty-two research firms that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have given a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price target among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $203.40.

Several equities research analysts have commented on AVB shares. Truist Financial upgraded AvalonBay Communities from a hold rating to a buy rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $186.00 to $190.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 17th. Evercore ISI upgraded shares of AvalonBay Communities from an in-line rating to an outperform rating and set a $194.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Monday, April 10th. Piper Sandler upgraded shares of AvalonBay Communities from an underweight rating to a neutral rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $160.00 to $193.00 in a research report on Monday, May 1st. Mizuho upped their price objective on shares of AvalonBay Communities from $179.00 to $188.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, February 23rd. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of AvalonBay Communities in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company.

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AvalonBay Communities Price Performance

Shares of AVB opened at $178.66 on Tuesday. The businesss 50-day moving average is $170.40 and its two-hundred day moving average is $170.43. The company has a market capitalization of $25.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.51, a P/E/G ratio of 3.23 and a beta of 0.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a quick ratio of 2.04 and a current ratio of 2.04. AvalonBay Communities has a fifty-two week low of $153.07 and a fifty-two week high of $220.42.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

About AvalonBay Communities

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of AVB. Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in AvalonBay Communities by 6,357.6% in the first quarter. Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC now owns 298,343 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $50,140,000 after acquiring an additional 293,723 shares during the last quarter. Meeder Advisory Services Inc. increased its position in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 58.4% during the 1st quarter. Meeder Advisory Services Inc. now owns 2,340 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $393,000 after purchasing an additional 863 shares during the last quarter. Arbor Capital Management Inc. ADV raised its holdings in AvalonBay Communities by 6.0% in the 1st quarter. Arbor Capital Management Inc. ADV now owns 6,780 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,143,000 after buying an additional 386 shares during the period. Power Corp of Canada acquired a new position in AvalonBay Communities in the first quarter valued at about $5,213,000. Finally, Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio boosted its stake in AvalonBay Communities by 9.0% during the first quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 258,767 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $43,488,000 after buying an additional 21,265 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.30% of the companys stock.

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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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Baltimore Washington Financial Advisors Inc. decreased its position in Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE:RCL  Get Rating) by 9.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 59,883 shares of the companys stock after selling 6,011 shares during the quarter. Baltimore Washington Financial Advisors Inc.s holdings in Royal Caribbean Cruises were worth $2,960,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Capital World Investors raised its stake in shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises by 1,314.9% in the first quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 2,759,035 shares of the companys stock valued at $231,152,000 after purchasing an additional 2,564,035 shares in the last quarter. Primecap Management Co. CA increased its holdings in Royal Caribbean Cruises by 29.8% in the 3rd quarter. Primecap Management Co. CA now owns 6,776,061 shares of the companys stock valued at $256,813,000 after buying an additional 1,554,600 shares during the period. Absolute Investment Advisers LLC bought a new stake in Royal Caribbean Cruises in the 4th quarter valued at $980,000,000. Channing Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Royal Caribbean Cruises in the 3rd quarter valued at $16,431,000. Finally, Ariel Investments LLC increased its holdings in Royal Caribbean Cruises by 56.0% in the 1st quarter. Ariel Investments LLC now owns 1,022,510 shares of the companys stock valued at $85,666,000 after buying an additional 367,253 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 74.27% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

RCL has been the topic of several analyst reports. Susquehanna boosted their price target on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises from $80.00 to $85.00 in a report on Friday, May 5th. William Blair reissued an outperform rating on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises in a report on Thursday, May 4th. Bank of America raised shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and upped their target price for the stock from $40.00 to $78.00 in a report on Wednesday, February 8th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises from $78.00 to $88.00 in a report on Friday, May 5th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises from $86.00 to $90.00 in a report on Wednesday, February 8th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $83.14.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Trading Down 0.1 %

Royal Caribbean Cruises stock traded down $0.07 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $76.05. 599,392 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,695,679. The firm has a market capitalization of $19.45 billion, a P/E ratio of -18.70 and a beta of 2.43. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has a fifty-two week low of $31.09 and a fifty-two week high of $78.38. The company has a quick ratio of 0.23, a current ratio of 0.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.41. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $65.66 and its 200-day simple moving average is $62.54.

Royal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE:RCL  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 4th. The company reported ($0.23) EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.71) by $0.48. The business had revenue of $2.89 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.82 billion. Royal Caribbean Cruises had a negative return on equity of 25.86% and a negative net margin of 9.72%. The firms revenue was up 172.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted ($4.57) EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. will post 4.76 earnings per share for the current year.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Profile

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Royal Caribbean Group is a cruise company, which engages in the ownership and operation of the following global cruise brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises. The firm also holds interest in TUI Cruises GmbH, which operates the German brands TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.

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Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT  Get Rating) has been assigned a consensus rating of Moderate Buy from the thirty-six research firms that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, eighteen have issued a buy recommendation and one has issued a strong buy recommendation on the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $165.13.

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. Barclays assumed coverage on Walmart in a report on Tuesday, February 7th. They issued an overweight rating and a $159.00 price target on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada set a $163.00 price target on Walmart in a report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price target on Walmart from $164.00 to $169.00 in a report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Erste Group Bank reissued a hold rating on shares of Walmart in a research note on Tuesday, March 28th. Finally, Truist Financial increased their target price on Walmart from $159.00 to $160.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 9th.

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Walmart Price Performance

Shares of WMT stock opened at $151.88 on Tuesday. The stocks fifty day moving average is $146.99 and its 200-day moving average is $145.51. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a quick ratio of 0.21 and a current ratio of 0.82. The stock has a market capitalization of $409.67 billion, a PE ratio of 35.49, a PEG ratio of 4.58 and a beta of 0.48. Walmart has a 52 week low of $117.27 and a 52 week high of $154.64.

Walmart Dividend Announcement

Walmart ( NYSE:WMT Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 21st. The retailer reported $1.71 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.51 by $0.20. The company had revenue of $164.05 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $158.67 billion. Walmart had a return on equity of 20.45% and a net margin of 1.91%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 7.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.53 earnings per share. Equities research analysts expect that Walmart will post 6.06 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, January 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 8th will be paid a dividend of $0.57 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 7th. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.50%. Walmarts dividend payout ratio is currently 53.27%.

Insider Transactions at Walmart

In other news, Director S Robson Walton sold 157,406 shares of Walmart stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $138.00, for a total transaction of $21,722,028.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 260,926,943 shares in the company, valued at approximately $36,007,918,134. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In related news, Director S Robson Walton sold 157,406 shares of Walmart stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $138.00, for a total transaction of $21,722,028.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 260,926,943 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $36,007,918,134. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO C Douglas Mcmillon sold 9,708 shares of Walmart stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $142.37, for a total value of $1,382,127.96. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,371,994 shares of the companys stock, valued at $195,330,785.78. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 21,044,002 shares of company stock worth $2,981,168,308. 47.06% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Walmart

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Wealth Architects LLC lifted its holdings in Walmart by 3.3% during the 1st quarter. Wealth Architects LLC now owns 2,076 shares of the retailers stock worth $306,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares during the last quarter. Bluesphere Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Walmart by 3.5% during the 1st quarter. Bluesphere Advisors LLC now owns 2,003 shares of the retailers stock valued at $295,000 after acquiring an additional 67 shares during the period. Glassman Wealth Services lifted its position in shares of Walmart by 1.5% during the 1st quarter. Glassman Wealth Services now owns 4,477 shares of the retailers stock valued at $660,000 after acquiring an additional 68 shares during the period. Avalon Investment & Advisory lifted its position in shares of Walmart by 3.4% during the 4th quarter. Avalon Investment & Advisory now owns 2,070 shares of the retailers stock valued at $294,000 after acquiring an additional 69 shares during the period. Finally, Cyndeo Wealth Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of Walmart by 1.1% during the 1st quarter. Cyndeo Wealth Partners LLC now owns 6,515 shares of the retailers stock valued at $381,000 after acquiring an additional 69 shares during the period. 31.27% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Walmart Company Profile

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Walmart, Inc engages in retail and wholesale business. The company offers an assortment of merchandise and services at everyday low prices. It operates through the following business segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sams Club. The Walmart U.S. segment operates as a merchandiser of consumer products, operating under the Walmart, Wal-Mart, and Walmart Neighborhood Market brands, as well as walmart.com and other eCommerce brands.

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Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut shares of Brookfield (NYSE:BN  Get Rating) from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a report released on Friday, The Fly reports.

A number of other brokerages also recently issued reports on BN. TD Securities cut their price target on shares of Brookfield from $63.00 to $62.00 and set an action list buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 10th. Credit Suisse Group upgraded shares of Brookfield from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $41.00 price target for the company in a report on Monday, March 20th. TheStreet upgraded shares of Brookfield from a d+ rating to a c rating in a report on Monday, January 23rd. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on shares of Brookfield from $53.00 to $54.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, February 10th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on shares of Brookfield from $46.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, February 10th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, three have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $51.00.

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Brookfield Trading Up 0.7 %

BN stock opened at $30.57 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $50.07 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.35 and a beta of 1.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.47, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a current ratio of 1.22. Brookfield has a 12 month low of $28.25 and a 12 month high of $54.08. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $31.25.

Brookfield Announces Dividend

Insider Activity at Brookfield

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Investors of record on Wednesday, May 31st will be issued a $0.07 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 30th. This represents a $0.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.92%. Brookfields dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 24.14%.

In other Brookfield news, Director Multi-Strategy Mast Brookfield sold 24,744 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $11.96, for a total value of $295,938.24. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 21,104,923 shares in the company, valued at $252,414,879.08. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 11.00% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Brookfield

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Toth Financial Advisory Corp purchased a new stake in shares of Brookfield during the 4th quarter worth $25,000. First Horizon Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Brookfield during the 4th quarter worth $26,000. Edmond DE Rothschild Holding S.A. purchased a new stake in shares of Brookfield during the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise purchased a new stake in shares of Brookfield during the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Finally, Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Brookfield during the 4th quarter worth $31,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 60.90% of the companys stock.

About Brookfield

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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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Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLC lowered its holdings in shares of The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO  Get Rating) by 5.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,375,130 shares of the companys stock after selling 135,312 shares during the quarter. Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLC owned approximately 0.05% of Coca-Cola worth $151,082,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in KO. BlackRock Inc. grew its position in shares of Coca-Cola by 1.7% during the third quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 301,952,085 shares of the companys stock worth $16,915,357,000 after purchasing an additional 4,994,047 shares in the last quarter. Capital World Investors grew its position in shares of Coca-Cola by 61.4% during the first quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 10,764,084 shares of the companys stock worth $667,373,000 after purchasing an additional 4,095,881 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC grew its position in shares of Coca-Cola by 141.0% during the third quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 6,834,434 shares of the companys stock worth $382,865,000 after purchasing an additional 3,998,128 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Coca-Cola by 1.1% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 363,258,425 shares of the companys stock worth $20,349,737,000 after purchasing an additional 3,864,004 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Two Sigma Investments LP purchased a new stake in shares of Coca-Cola during the third quarter worth about $169,838,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.74% of the companys stock.

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Coca-Cola Trading Down 1.0 %

Shares of KO stock traded down $0.65 on Tuesday, reaching $63.29. 2,303,782 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 12,714,493. The Coca-Cola Company has a 52 week low of $54.01 and a 52 week high of $66.10. The company has a current ratio of 1.15, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.34. The stock has a market capitalization of $273.70 billion, a PE ratio of 28.02, a P/E/G ratio of 3.62 and a beta of 0.54. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $62.34 and its 200 day simple moving average is $61.74.

Coca-Cola Dividend Announcement

Coca-Cola ( NYSE:KO Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, April 24th. The company reported $0.68 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.65 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $11 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.78 billion. Coca-Cola had a return on equity of 42.96% and a net margin of 22.69%. Coca-Colas quarterly revenue was up 4.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.64 EPS. As a group, analysts forecast that The Coca-Cola Company will post 2.6 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 3rd. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 16th will be issued a $0.46 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 15th. This represents a $1.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.91%. Coca-Colas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 80.70%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. set a $67.00 price target on Coca-Cola in a report on Tuesday, February 14th. Royal Bank of Canada set a $69.00 price target on Coca-Cola in a report on Tuesday, February 14th. Citigroup raised their price target on Coca-Cola from $71.00 to $74.00 in a report on Monday, April 24th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price target on Coca-Cola from $61.00 to $62.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Monday, February 13th. Finally, Barclays raised their price target on Coca-Cola from $72.00 to $73.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $67.80.

Insider Activity

In other news, CEO James Quincey sold 46,421 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.50, for a total value of $2,808,470.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 592,546 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $35,849,033. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In related news, CEO James Quincey sold 46,421 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.50, for a total value of $2,808,470.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 592,546 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $35,849,033. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, SVP Nancy Quan sold 74,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $58.71, for a total value of $4,344,540.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 219,790 shares of the companys stock, valued at $12,903,870.90. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 523,523 shares of company stock valued at $32,907,391 in the last quarter. 1.00% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

About Coca-Cola

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The Coca-Cola Co engages in the manufacturing and marketing of non-alcoholic beverages. It operates through the following segments: Europe, Middle East and Africa, Latin America, North America, Asia Pacific, Global Ventures, and Bottling Investments. The company was founded by Asa Griggs Candler on May 8, 1886 and is headquartered in Atlanta, GA.

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Interview: Prominent Lebanese dance theater looks forward to meeting Chinese audience again

10:58, May 16, 2023 By Dana Halawi ( Xinhua

BEIRUT, May 15 (Xinhua) -- As the head of Lebanon's Caracalla Dance Theater, one of the most famous professional dance troupes from the Arab world, Ivan Caracalla can't get enough of sharing his incredible and unforgettable experience in China when talking about his fifth possible visit to China later this year.

Ivan Caracalla first explored the Chinese market in 2005 with his dazzling drama "Two Thousand and One Nights" and was lucky to have performed in China four times since then.

"China was, for me, an incredible journey of discovery, not just an experience," Caracalla told Xinhua.

Caracalla said he was always attracted by China's profound history and ancient traditions. "I learned a lot about Chinese history, the different kingdoms and eras, their theaters, and opera; so, when I received an invitation from a producer to Beijing in 2005, it was a natural trip for me because I was very much admiring their culture, music, history, philosophy, and legends; I was thrilled to connect with the country and its people," Caracalla said.

Caracalla's successive achievements in China allowed him to sign, in 2014, a five-year cooperation agreement for cultural exchange with China's National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA), the grandest platform for international arts exchange and an essential base for the artistic and creative industry.

Lebanon's steep financial crisis did not stop Caracalla from pursuing his international performances, and he is planning to meet the Chinese audience again later this year.

Motivated by the Chinese audiences, Caracalla told Xinhua that "people in China go to the theater as families and are very interested to learn about the outside world."

Caracalla praised the Chinese government's initiative of introducing the Chinese audience to international operas and theaters.

"The audience can watch international performances while staying in Beijing. There is tremendous openness which reflects China's status and position culturally worldwide. When you understand the world around you, you can assess your performance, and your innovation broadens. I am glad as Caracalla to be part to witness the Chinese development," he noted.

While Lebanon's cultural exchange with China has deepened over the past few years, a lot more can be done on this level, the Lebanese artist said.

"We should learn from China by sending their artists to visit Lebanon and participate in events in the country," he said.

Caracalla noted that the Chinese have great artistic attainment which encouraged him to invite dancers and cooperate with them in his performances.

"We do not just go to China and perform there; we aim to strengthen our cooperation with China by inviting instructors and producers to Lebanon to join us in our shows," he said.

After five years of absence, Caracalla Dance Theater returned to Lebanon with its new play, "Finiqia," staged on April 13 since its last performance in the city of Byblos in 2018, aiming to restore the happy atmosphere in the country.

"Reactions to our new play are incredible; people miss these performances and the beautiful spirit of Lebanon," he said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
United States President Joe Biden and legislative leaders, particularly House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, are under pressure to raise the debt ceiling as the deadline approaches, as they hold a critical meeting on Tuesday at the White House.

The afternoon meeting comes after US Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen recently said that if Congress does not increase or suspend the US debt ceiling, the United States may experience a serious financial disaster, The New York Times reported.

Yellen stressed that the US debt ceiling issue is already affecting financial markets and people, and the country is on the edge of an "economic and financial catastrophe." The threat of default has compelled individuals and companies to think about its effects while making financial plans.

Investors are wary of retaining government debt that expires in early June due to the prospect of the US running out of funds.

Republican leaders have pushed for significant cutbacks in government spending as a prerequisite for raising the debt limit, including Speaker Kevin McCarthy. This approach prepares the ground for possibly heated negotiations.

Read Also: Revolutionary Vending Machines Aim to Combat Opioid Epidemic in US

Biden Focused on Finding a Resolution to the US Debt Ceiling Crisis

The US debt ceiling limits the federal government's capacity to borrow money via US Treasury instruments like bills and savings bonds. Fiscal deficits force the US to borrow heavily.

If it exhausts its extraordinary measures and runs out of money, the government can't issue new debt or satisfy its payment obligations. Bondholder nonpayment might cause a global financial crisis.

The US Treasury Department earlier stated that it expects to satisfy the government's financial obligations through June 1 without a US debt limit increase, as per a previous Reuters report.

President Biden prioritizes settling the US debt ceiling deadlock above overseas obligations like the Quad meeting in Sydney and the Group of Seven meeting in Hiroshima. Depending on the talks, Joe Biden may attend these events live or online, according to VOA News.

Related Article: World Bank Halts Billion-Dollar Funding for Congo Projects

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
DiamondPeak Holdings Corp. (OTCMKTS:DPHCU  Get Rating) traded down 13.7% during trading on Monday . The company traded as low as $19.76 and last traded at $20.45. 65,400 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 32% from the average session volume of 49,678 shares. The stock had previously closed at $23.69.

DiamondPeak Stock Performance

The businesss 50-day moving average price is $20.45 and its 200 day moving average price is $20.45.

About DiamondPeak

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DiamondPeak Holdings Corp. does not have significant operations. It intends to effect a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses. The company was founded in 2018 and is based in New York, New York.

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Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) had its target price trimmed by Evercore ISI from $36.00 to $35.00 in a research note released on Friday morning, The Fly reports.

A number of other research analysts also recently commented on BAC. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective on shares of Bank of America from $34.00 to $35.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on shares of Bank of America from $38.00 to $34.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 10th. Piper Sandler cut Bank of America from a neutral rating to an underweight rating and cut their price objective for the company from $36.00 to $33.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 17th. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on Bank of America from $31.00 to $32.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Finally, Citigroup cut their price objective on Bank of America from $38.00 to $33.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $36.77.

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Bank of America Trading Up 2.1 %

NYSE:BAC opened at $27.65 on Friday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $28.66 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $32.74. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13. Bank of America has a twelve month low of $26.32 and a twelve month high of $38.60. The company has a market cap of $220.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.16 and a beta of 1.36.

Bank of America Dividend Announcement

Bank of America ( NYSE:BAC Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 18th. The financial services provider reported $0.94 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.83 by $0.11. Bank of America had a net margin of 21.85% and a return on equity of 11.72%. The firm had revenue of $26.26 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $25.28 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.80 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 13.0% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts expect that Bank of America will post 3.41 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, June 2nd will be given a dividend of $0.22 per share. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.18%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 1st. Bank of Americas dividend payout ratio is currently 26.43%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Matthew M. Koder sold 105,054 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $34.27, for a total transaction of $3,600,200.58. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 319,803 shares of the companys stock, valued at $10,959,648.81. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.27% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Altrius Capital Management Inc lifted its position in shares of Bank of America by 0.3% in the 4th quarter. Altrius Capital Management Inc now owns 92,587 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $3,066,000 after purchasing an additional 279 shares during the period. Vision Capital Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Bank of America by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. Vision Capital Management Inc. now owns 60,662 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,009,000 after purchasing an additional 288 shares during the period. Leisure Capital Management lifted its position in shares of Bank of America by 1.5% in the 3rd quarter. Leisure Capital Management now owns 20,055 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $606,000 after purchasing an additional 292 shares during the period. Hemington Wealth Management raised its position in shares of Bank of America by 2.2% in the 4th quarter. Hemington Wealth Management now owns 14,010 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $464,000 after acquiring an additional 298 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Lowe Brockenbrough & Co. Inc. raised its position in shares of Bank of America by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. Lowe Brockenbrough & Co. Inc. now owns 26,888 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $812,000 after acquiring an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. 68.34% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Bank of America Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Bank of America Corp. is a bank and financial holding company, which engages in the provision of banking and nonbank financial services. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Banking, Global Wealth and Investment Management (GWIM), Global Banking, Global Markets, and All Other. The Consumer Banking segment offers credit, banking, and investment products and services to consumers and small businesses.

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Forterra (LON:FORT  Get Rating)s stock had its buy rating reaffirmed by stock analysts at Peel Hunt in a report issued on Tuesday, Digital Look reports. They presently have a GBX 250 ($3.13) target price on the stock. Peel Hunts price target suggests a potential upside of 33.55% from the companys previous close.

FORT has been the topic of several other research reports. Berenberg Bank reaffirmed a hold rating and issued a GBX 250 ($3.13) price objective on shares of Forterra in a research note on Thursday, March 9th. Numis Securities reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a GBX 300 ($3.76) price objective on shares of Forterra in a research note on Thursday, March 9th.

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Forterra Price Performance

Shares of FORT traded down GBX 6.60 ($0.08) during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting GBX 187.20 ($2.34). The companys stock had a trading volume of 414,184 shares, compared to its average volume of 594,645. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 195.23 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 203.21. The stock has a market capitalization of 398.36 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 693.33, a PEG ratio of 0.66 and a beta of 1.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 26.40, a current ratio of 1.12 and a quick ratio of 0.82. Forterra has a fifty-two week low of GBX 176.20 ($2.21) and a fifty-two week high of GBX 301 ($3.77).

About Forterra

Forterra plc manufactures and sells masonry products in the United Kingdom. It operates through three segments: Bricks, Blocks, and Bespoke Products. The company offers bricks; aircrete and aggregate blocks; and bespoke products comprising precast concrete flooring, concrete block paving, and chimney and roofing components, as well as other building products under the London Brick, Butterley Brick, Ecostock, Cradley, Thermalite, Conbloc, Bison Precast, Jetfloor, Red Bank, and Formpave brand names.

Further Reading

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Equities researchers at StockNews.com started coverage on shares of GasLog Partners (NYSE:GLOP  Get Rating) in a research note issued on Sunday. The firm set a buy rating on the shipping companys stock.

Separately, TheStreet upgraded shares of GasLog Partners from a c rating to a b- rating in a research note on Friday, January 27th.

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GasLog Partners Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE GLOP opened at $8.50 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.99, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82. GasLog Partners has a 12 month low of $4.70 and a 12 month high of $9.27. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $8.42 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $7.99. The stock has a market cap of $448.77 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 4.80 and a beta of 2.40.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On GasLog Partners

GasLog Partners ( NYSE:GLOP Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The shipping company reported $0.62 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.46 by $0.16. GasLog Partners had a net margin of 29.49% and a return on equity of 21.63%. The business had revenue of $99.07 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $88.76 million. As a group, analysts predict that GasLog Partners will post 2.24 earnings per share for the current year.

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in GLOP. Citigroup Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of GasLog Partners in the first quarter valued at about $38,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its position in GasLog Partners by 41.5% during the first quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 695,411 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $3,999,000 after purchasing an additional 203,900 shares during the last quarter. UBS Group AG increased its position in GasLog Partners by 401.9% during the first quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 80,227 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $462,000 after purchasing an additional 64,242 shares during the last quarter. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. acquired a new stake in GasLog Partners during the first quarter worth about $58,000. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. acquired a new stake in GasLog Partners during the first quarter worth about $314,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 12.32% of the companys stock.

About GasLog Partners

(Get Rating)

GasLog Partners LP engages in the operation and acquisition of liquefied natural gas carriers. It owns bareboat fleet of LNG carriers including tri-fuel diesel electric engine propulsion and stream vessels, and ships which operates under long-term time charters. The company was founded on January 23, 2014 and is headquartered in Piraeus, Greece.

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Hannover Ruck SE (FRA:HNR1  Get Rating) shares were up 0.3% during trading on Monday . The company traded as high as 193.95 ($210.82) and last traded at 190.90 ($207.50). Approximately 171,817 shares changed hands during trading, The stock had previously closed at 190.25 ($206.79).

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have commented on HNR1 shares. Jefferies Financial Group set a 185.00 ($201.09) price objective on Hannover Ruck in a report on Thursday, March 9th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a 210.00 ($228.26) price objective on Hannover Ruck in a report on Friday, March 10th. The Goldman Sachs Group set a 225.00 ($244.57) target price on Hannover Ruck in a report on Wednesday, February 8th. Berenberg Bank set a 190.00 ($206.52) target price on Hannover Ruck in a report on Monday, March 27th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada set a 220.00 ($239.13) target price on Hannover Ruck in a report on Thursday, March 9th.

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Hannover Ruck Stock Up 0.3 %

The firm has a fifty day moving average price of 181.18 and a 200-day moving average price of 181.18.

Hannover Ruck Company Profile

Hannover Ruck SE, together with its subsidiaries, provides reinsurance products and services worldwide. It operates through Property & Casualty Reinsurance, and Life & Health Reinsurance segments. The company offers property, casualty, facultative, catastrophe XL, structured reinsurance, and insurance-linked securities.

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StockNews.com cut shares of Herbalife (NYSE:HLF  Get Rating) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report released on Saturday morning.

HLF has been the subject of several other research reports. Citigroup boosted their price target on Herbalife from $26.00 to $28.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 1st. Bank of America began coverage on Herbalife in a research note on Friday, February 3rd. They issued an underperform rating and a $14.00 target price on the stock. One research 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. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $22.60.

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Herbalife Stock Performance

Shares of Herbalife stock opened at $14.60 on Friday. Herbalife has a one year low of $12.04 and a one year high of $30.65. The company has a market cap of $1.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 5.73 and a beta of 1.13. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $15.77 and a two-hundred day moving average of $16.43.

Insider Activity at Herbalife

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). Herbalife had a net margin of 4.93% and a negative return on equity of 22.11%. The business had revenue of $1.25 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.22 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.99 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was down 6.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts predict that Herbalife will post 2.26 earnings per share for the current year.

In other news, Director Stephan Paulo Gratziani purchased 23,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, May 8th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $14.06 per share, with a total value of $330,410.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 34,529 shares in the company, valued at approximately $485,477.74. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, Director Stephan Paulo Gratziani acquired 23,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 8th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $14.06 per share, for a total transaction of $330,410.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 34,529 shares in the company, valued at $485,477.74. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director Sophie Lhelias purchased 8,500 shares of Herbalife stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 21st. The shares were acquired at an average price of $19.48 per share, for a total transaction of $165,580.00. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 17,060 shares in the company, valued at $332,328.80. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.66% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Herbalife

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. increased 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 buying an additional 747 shares during the period. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. lifted its stake 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 buying an additional 1,415 shares during the period. Citigroup Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Herbalife by 8.9% during the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 18,413 shares of the companys stock worth $559,000 after buying an additional 1,503 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its stake in shares of Herbalife by 1.8% during the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,011,947 shares of the companys stock worth $30,723,000 after buying an additional 17,482 shares during the period. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board acquired a new stake in shares of Herbalife during the first quarter worth $379,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 98.91% of the companys stock.

Herbalife Company 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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Shares of iShares iBonds Dec 2029 Term Corporate ETF (NYSEARCA:IBDU  Get Rating) were down 0.2% during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as $22.77 and last traded at $22.81. Approximately 60,940 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 57% from the average daily volume of 140,848 shares. The stock had previously closed at $22.85.

iShares iBonds Dec 2029 Term Corporate ETF Trading Down 0.2 %

The company has a 50 day moving average of $22.77 and a 200-day moving average of $22.54.

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Institutional Trading of iShares iBonds Dec 2029 Term Corporate ETF

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. OLD Mission Capital LLC raised its stake in shares of iShares iBonds Dec 2029 Term Corporate ETF by 2,943.1% in the first quarter. OLD Mission Capital LLC now owns 121,756 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,786,000 after acquiring an additional 117,755 shares in the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in iShares iBonds Dec 2029 Term Corporate ETF during the 1st quarter worth about $915,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its position in iShares iBonds Dec 2029 Term Corporate ETF by 2.7% in the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 99,872 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,285,000 after purchasing an additional 2,607 shares in the last quarter. US Bancorp DE boosted its stake in shares of iShares iBonds Dec 2029 Term Corporate ETF by 3.9% in the 1st quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 183,570 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,200,000 after buying an additional 6,975 shares during the period. Finally, Sandy Spring Bank increased its stake in shares of iShares iBonds Dec 2029 Term Corporate ETF by 7.7% during the first quarter. Sandy Spring Bank now owns 145,810 shares of the companys stock worth $3,336,000 after buying an additional 10,480 shares during the period.

About iShares iBonds Dec 2029 Term Corporate ETF

The iShares iBonds Dec 2029 Term Corporate ETF (IBDU) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund tracks a Bloomberg index of USD-denominated, investment-grade corporate bonds maturing between Jan 1 and Dec 15, 2029. IBDU was launched on Sep 17, 2019 and is managed by BlackRock.

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JGP Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in Target Co. (NYSE:TGT  Get Rating) by 90.8% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 13,223 shares of the retailers stock after buying an additional 6,293 shares during the quarter. JGP Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Target were worth $1,971,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Fisher Asset Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Target by 122,068.9% in the third quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 4,793,906 shares of the retailers stock worth $711,368,000 after acquiring an additional 4,789,982 shares during the period. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA increased its position in Target by 20.7% during the third quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 8,177,540 shares of the retailers stock valued at $1,213,466,000 after acquiring an additional 1,401,559 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its holdings in shares of Target by 2.6% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 34,191,786 shares of the retailers stock worth $5,073,719,000 after purchasing an additional 852,361 shares during the last quarter. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. grew its holdings in Target by 184.3% during the 3rd quarter. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. now owns 993,105 shares of the retailers stock worth $147,367,000 after acquiring an additional 643,746 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Parnassus Investments LLC purchased a new position in shares of Target in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $93,902,000. 78.86% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Brian C. Cornell sold 35,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $158.98, for a total value of $5,564,300.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 191,272 shares in the company, valued at approximately $30,408,422.56. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Insiders own 0.29% of the companys stock.

Target Stock Performance

NYSE:TGT traded down $1.98 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $158.59. The stock had a trading volume of 2,598,990 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,064,939. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $160.50 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $161.15. Target Co. has a 12-month low of $137.16 and a 12-month high of $215.58. The company has a quick ratio of 0.22, a current ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.43. The stock has a market cap of $73.20 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.71, a P/E/G ratio of 1.25 and a beta of 1.02.

Target (NYSE:TGT  Get Rating) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 28th. The retailer reported $1.89 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.40 by $0.49. The company had revenue of $31.40 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $30.73 billion. Target had a net margin of 2.55% and a return on equity of 25.63%. The businesss revenue was up 1.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $3.19 EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that Target Co. will post 8.42 EPS for the current year.

Target Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, June 10th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, May 17th will be given a dividend of $1.08 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 16th. This represents a $4.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.72%. Targets payout ratio is currently 72.24%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the company. Robert W. Baird raised their price objective on Target from $180.00 to $195.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, March 1st. Piper Sandler upped their target price on Target from $200.00 to $220.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, February 8th. Morgan Stanley restated an equal weight rating and issued a $155.00 price target on shares of Target in a report on Monday, February 13th. Credit Suisse Group upped their target price on Target from $160.00 to $170.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 1st. Finally, Roth Capital restated a neutral rating on shares of Target in a research note on Wednesday, March 1st. Thirteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seventeen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $181.69.

Target Profile

(Get Rating)

Target Corp. engages in the operation and ownership of general merchandise stores. It offers food assortments including perishables, dry grocery, dairy, and frozen items. The company was founded by George Draper Dayton in 1902 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, MN.

Further Reading

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TGT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Target Co. (NYSE:TGT  Get Rating).

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John Wood Group (LON:WG  Get Rating)s stock had its neutral rating reiterated by analysts at Citigroup in a report released on Tuesday, Digital Look reports.

WG has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Berenberg Bank reiterated a buy rating and set a GBX 165 ($2.07) price objective on shares of John Wood Group in a research report on Thursday, February 23rd. Jefferies Financial Group lowered John Wood Group to a hold rating and upped their price objective for the stock from GBX 190 ($2.38) to GBX 237 ($2.97) in a research note on Wednesday, March 8th. Barclays increased their price target on John Wood Group from GBX 180 ($2.25) to GBX 190 ($2.38) and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 18th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on John Wood Group from GBX 237 ($2.97) to GBX 217 ($2.72) and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 26th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of GBX 209.80 ($2.63).

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John Wood Group Price Performance

Shares of LON WG traded down GBX 75.40 ($0.94) during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching GBX 143.60 ($1.80). 21,040,605 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 530,810. The company has a market capitalization of 993.48 million, a P/E ratio of -175.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.33 and a beta of 1.48. The company has a quick ratio of 0.75, a current ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 34.13. John Wood Group has a 52-week low of GBX 102.05 ($1.28) and a 52-week high of GBX 255 ($3.19). The companys 50-day simple moving average is GBX 213.90 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is GBX 171.53.

Insider Buying and Selling

About John Wood Group

In other news, insider David Kemp bought 2,534 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 16th. The stock was purchased at an average price of GBX 145 ($1.82) per share, for a total transaction of 3,674.30 ($4,602.66). In related news, insider Jacqui Ferguson purchased 1,607 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 28th. The shares were bought at an average cost of GBX 195 ($2.44) per share, for a total transaction of 3,133.65 ($3,925.40). Also, insider David Kemp acquired 2,534 shares of John Wood Group stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 16th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of GBX 145 ($1.82) per share, with a total value of 3,674.30 ($4,602.66). In the last three months, insiders acquired 6,012 shares of company stock valued at $1,103,641. Company insiders own 1.80% of the companys stock.

(Get Rating)

John Wood Group PLC, together with its subsidiaries, provides consulting, project management, and engineering solutions to energy and built environment worldwide. It operates through four segments: Projects, Operations, Consulting, and Investment. The company offers engineering solutions, including decarbonization and optimization in energy and industry; and renewable energy, future fuels, and low carbon solutions.

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Shares of Koninklijke Philips (NYSE:PHG  Get Rating) have received a consensus rating of Hold from the twelve ratings firms that are covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1-year price target among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $15.60.

Several analysts recently issued reports on the stock. UBS Group lowered shares of Koninklijke Philips from a neutral rating to a sell rating in a report on Tuesday, January 17th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on shares of Koninklijke Philips from 17.00 ($18.48) to 16.00 ($17.39) and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 17th. Sanford C. Bernstein assumed coverage on shares of Koninklijke Philips in a report on Tuesday, March 7th. They issued a market perform rating on the stock. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Koninklijke Philips in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Finally, Societe Generale upgraded shares of Koninklijke Philips from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, April 25th.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On Koninklijke Philips

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of PHG. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. increased its stake in shares of Koninklijke Philips by 4.9% during the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 16,411 shares of the technology companys stock worth $501,000 after buying an additional 771 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its stake in shares of Koninklijke Philips by 2.3% during the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 62,767 shares of the technology companys stock worth $1,916,000 after buying an additional 1,414 shares during the period. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Koninklijke Philips during the first quarter worth approximately $311,000. Citigroup Inc. increased its stake in shares of Koninklijke Philips by 1.3% during the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 36,882 shares of the technology companys stock worth $1,126,000 after buying an additional 483 shares during the period. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can increased its stake in shares of Koninklijke Philips by 9.9% during the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 94,798 shares of the technology companys stock worth $3,002,000 after buying an additional 8,515 shares during the period. 10.17% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Koninklijke Philips Stock Up 1.4 %

NYSE PHG opened at $20.77 on Tuesday. Koninklijke Philips has a 52 week low of $11.75 and a 52 week high of $26.05. The company has a quick ratio of 0.78, a current ratio of 1.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $18.57 and its 200-day simple moving average is $16.56. The firm has a market cap of $18.47 billion, a PE ratio of -8.48 and a beta of 0.91.

Koninklijke Philips (NYSE:PHG  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, April 24th. The technology company reported $0.24 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.19 by $0.05. Koninklijke Philips had a positive return on equity of 6.29% and a negative net margin of 11.63%. The business had revenue of $4.17 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.99 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.32 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 6.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Koninklijke Philips will post 1.1 earnings per share for the current year.

Koninklijke Philips Cuts Dividend

The company also recently announced an annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 18th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 12th will be given a $0.9387 dividend. This represents a yield of 3.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 11th. Koninklijke Philipss dividend payout ratio is currently -31.43%.

About Koninklijke Philips

(Get Rating)

Koninklijke Philips NV is a technology company, which engages in the healthcare, lighting, and consumer well-being markets. It operates through the following segments: Diagnosis and Treatment businesses; Connected Care businesses; Personal Health businesses; and Other. The Diagnosis and Treatment businesses segment consists systems, smart devices, software and services, powered by AI-enabled informatics-that support precision diagnoses and minimally invasive procedures in therapeutic areas such as cardiology, peripheral vascular, neurology, surgery, and oncology.

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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is taking big steps toward a future US Presidential campaign as he invites his top financial backers to a meeting in Miami next week.

Political circles are anticipating the conference, set for May 24-25, with a potential extension. DeSantis officials asked invitees to save such days on their calendars, Fox News reported.

As confirmed by DeSantis' political staff, the Miami meeting functions as a pre-briefing for their most devoted supporters.

Ron DeSantis hasn't publicly announced his candidacy, but electoral finance regulations still permit him to speak with prospective contributors about his intentions for the 2024 US presidential election without asking for donations.

Governor Ron DeSantis is also about to sign a measure that would exempt him from Florida's "resign-to-run" rule, doing away with the need to renounce his position as governor to run for president, per The Guardian.

Florida Republicans Assembly enacted a bill that specifically states that candidates for president or vice president are exempt from the resignation requirement.

Additionally, the measure places extensive new voting limitations on the state, making it far more difficult for non-profit organizations to conduct voter registration efforts.

Read Also: Navy Retirees Must Refund Nearly $7 Million

Ron DeSantis Staff Gears Up For Campaign

This anticipated meeting with funders comes in the wake of many recent tactical actions that suggest DeSantis is about to begin his 2024 US presidential campaign. Notably, his campaign staff moved to new offices from the Republican Party of Florida headquarters, where they had been based ever since the governor's race last year.

According to a person familiar with the matter, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' political organization has started moving from Tallahassee to a new site. The operation, which began on Monday, is expected to cost over $5,000, according to CNBC. It also initiated a 15-day countdown to submit a "Statement of Candidacy" form to the Federal Election Commission.

Bryan Griffin, DeSantis' press secretary, announced his resignation from the position concurrently and said he intended to look into other opportunities to support the governor's national accomplishments. Griffin will reportedly serve as the DeSantis campaign's press secretary.

Related Article: Federal Court Seeks Dismissal of Charges Against Ex-Florida Mayor Over Corruption Claims



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Leonardo S.p.a. (OTCMKTS:FINMF  Get Rating) was the target of a large decline in short interest in April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 3,652,100 shares, a decline of 16.7% from the April 15th total of 4,382,400 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,500 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2,434.7 days.

Leonardo Trading Down 3.1 %

Shares of Leonardo stock traded down $0.38 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $12.04. 156 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,317. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $12.01 and a 200 day moving average price of $10.16. Leonardo has a fifty-two week low of $6.65 and a fifty-two week high of $12.87.

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About Leonardo

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Leonardo SpA engages in the aerospace, defense and security sectors. It operates through the following segments: Helicopters; Defense and Security Electronics; Aeronautics; Space, Defense Systems; and Other Activities. The Helicopters segment designs commercial and military rotorcrafts. The Defense and Security Electronics segment engages in the information management, sensors, and systems integration business, as well as delivers systems for critical missions, military sustainment requirements, and homeland security.

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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 report issued on Friday morning.

Other equities analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Molson Coors Beverage from $52.00 to $62.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 4th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price target on shares of Molson Coors Beverage from $47.00 to $50.00 in a research note on Wednesday, May 3rd. Wedbush increased their price objective on shares of Molson Coors Beverage from $53.00 to $60.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 4th. Citigroup initiated coverage on shares of Molson Coors Beverage in a research report on Thursday, February 16th. They issued a neutral rating and a $55.00 price objective for the company. Finally, TheStreet raised shares of Molson Coors Beverage from a c+ rating to a b rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 2nd. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Molson Coors Beverage presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $57.87.

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Molson Coors Beverage Trading Down 0.9 %

Shares of Molson Coors Beverage stock opened at $63.70 on Friday. Molson Coors Beverage has a 52-week low of $46.69 and a 52-week high of $66.67. The company has a quick ratio of 0.49, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $56.05 and its 200-day simple moving average is $53.52. The firm has a market cap of $13.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -53.53, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.65 and a beta of 0.83.

Molson Coors Beverage Increases Dividend

Molson Coors Beverage ( NYSE:TAP Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The company reported $0.54 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 company had revenue of $2.35 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.23 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.29 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 5.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Molson Coors Beverage will post 4.22 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 3rd were given a dividend of $0.41 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 2nd. This is an increase from Molson Coors Beverages previous quarterly dividend of $0.38. This represents a $1.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.57%. Molson Coors Beverages dividend payout ratio is presently -137.82%.

Institutional Trading of Molson Coors Beverage

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. FNY Investment Advisers LLC bought a new stake in shares of Molson Coors Beverage in the 1st quarter valued at about $25,000. Trustcore Financial Services LLC bought a new stake in Molson Coors Beverage during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $29,000. Lindbrook Capital LLC increased its stake in Molson Coors Beverage by 2,192.0% during the 1st quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC now owns 573 shares of the companys stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 548 shares in the last quarter. Beacon Capital Management LLC increased 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 worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 570 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC increased its stake in Molson Coors Beverage by 85.7% during the 4th quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 650 shares of the companys stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. 76.24% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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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Shares of Nabors Industries Ltd. (NYSE:NBR  Get Rating) have received an average recommendation of Hold from the eleven analysts that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12 month target price among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $163.57.

Several brokerages have commented on NBR. Citigroup lowered their price objective on shares of Nabors Industries from $210.00 to $200.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 22nd. 888 reissued a maintains rating on shares of Nabors Industries in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Barclays lowered shares of Nabors Industries from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and lowered their price target for the company from $250.00 to $150.00 in a research report on Tuesday, May 9th. Morgan Stanley raised shares of Nabors Industries from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and lowered their price target for the company from $175.00 to $165.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 18th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price target on shares of Nabors Industries from $195.00 to $176.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th.

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Nabors Industries Stock Performance

Shares of NBR stock opened at $90.65 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $864.80 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -6.06 and a beta of 2.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.40, a quick ratio of 1.61 and a current ratio of 1.87. Nabors Industries has a 52 week low of $87.71 and a 52 week high of $193.88. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $113.87 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $144.41.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Nabors Industries Company Profile

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in NBR. Quarry LP bought a new position in Nabors Industries in the 1st quarter worth $25,000. US Bancorp DE grew its position in shares of Nabors Industries by 165.9% in the 1st quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 226 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 141 shares during the period. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp purchased a new stake in shares of Nabors Industries in the 1st quarter worth about $32,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC grew its position in shares of Nabors Industries by 89.6% in the 3rd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 565 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $57,000 after buying an additional 267 shares during the period. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada grew its position in shares of Nabors Industries by 43.1% in the 3rd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 793 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $80,000 after buying an additional 239 shares during the period. 71.98% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Nabors Industries Ltd. engages in the provision of platform work over and drilling rigs. It also provides performance tools, directional drilling services, tubular running services, and innovative technologies. It operates through the following business segments: U.S. Drilling, Canada Drilling, International Drilling, Drilling Solutions, and Rig Technologies.

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Weitz Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Oracle Co. (NYSE:ORCL  Get Rating) by 20.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 435,500 shares of the enterprise software providers stock after buying an additional 75,000 shares during the quarter. Oracle makes up about 2.0% of Weitz Investment Management Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 21st largest position. Weitz Investment Management Inc.s holdings in Oracle were worth $35,598,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in ORCL. Bessemer Group Inc. increased its position in Oracle by 2,666.2% during the 3rd quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 2,547,659 shares of the enterprise software providers stock worth $155,585,000 after purchasing an additional 2,455,560 shares in the last quarter. Edmp Inc. grew its holdings in Oracle by 7,805.8% in the 4th quarter. Edmp Inc. now owns 2,045,628 shares of the enterprise software providers stock valued at $25,026,000 after buying an additional 2,019,753 shares during the period. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Oracle by 168.9% in the 3rd quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 2,127,969 shares of the enterprise software providers stock valued at $129,955,000 after buying an additional 1,336,512 shares during the period. PointState Capital LP purchased a new stake in Oracle in the 3rd quarter valued at about $65,465,000. Finally, Two Sigma Advisers LP grew its holdings in Oracle by 29.4% in the 3rd quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP now owns 4,130,900 shares of the enterprise software providers stock valued at $252,274,000 after buying an additional 939,600 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 40.96% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Safra Catz sold 1,837,101 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, April 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $93.86, for a total transaction of $172,430,299.86. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,118,592 shares in the company, valued at approximately $104,991,045.12. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other news, Director Jeffrey Berg sold 45,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, April 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $93.65, for a total value of $4,214,250.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 207,409 shares of the companys stock, valued at $19,423,852.85. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Safra Catz sold 1,837,101 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, April 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $93.86, for a total value of $172,430,299.86. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,118,592 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $104,991,045.12. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 43.70% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Oracle Price Performance

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Jefferies Financial Group set a $105.00 target price on Oracle in a report on Friday, March 10th. Piper Sandler reiterated an overweight rating and set a $104.00 target price on shares of Oracle in a report on Friday, March 10th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on Oracle from $95.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Friday, March 10th. UBS Group boosted their target price on Oracle from $87.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Friday, March 24th. Finally, Societe Generale cut Oracle from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, March 10th. They noted that the move was a valuation call. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have given a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $95.46.

Shares of ORCL stock traded up $1.07 on Tuesday, hitting $98.33. 1,532,491 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 6,918,143. The company has a market capitalization of $265.47 billion, a PE ratio of 32.41, a PEG ratio of 3.02 and a beta of 1.00. Oracle Co. has a 1-year low of $60.78 and a 1-year high of $98.37. The companys fifty day moving average is $92.41 and its 200 day moving average is $86.78.

Oracle (NYSE:ORCL  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 9th. The enterprise software provider reported $1.22 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.20 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $12.40 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.42 billion. Oracle had a negative return on equity of 262.40% and a net margin of 17.46%. The businesss revenue was up 17.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.94 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Oracle Co. will post 4.01 EPS for the current year.

Oracle Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 24th. Investors of record on Tuesday, April 11th were paid a dividend of $0.40 per share. This is an increase from Oracles previous quarterly dividend of $0.32. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.63%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, April 10th. Oracles dividend payout ratio is presently 52.81%.

Oracle Company Profile

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Oracle Corp. engages in the provision of products and services that address all aspects of corporate information technology environments. It operates through the following business segments: Cloud and License, Hardware, and Services. The Cloud and License segment markets, sells, and delivers applications, platform, and infrastructure technologies.

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PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE:PHM  Get Rating) hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $68.94 and last traded at $68.89, with a volume of 1044373 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $68.55.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

PHM has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Wedbush raised their target price on PulteGroup from $47.00 to $57.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 1st. BTIG Research upped their price target on PulteGroup from $68.00 to $83.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 26th. Barclays upped their price target on PulteGroup from $75.00 to $86.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on PulteGroup from $54.00 to $68.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on PulteGroup from $65.00 to $74.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, February 2nd. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, PulteGroup currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $66.86.

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PulteGroup Trading Up 1.4 %

The stock has a market cap of $15.52 billion, a PE ratio of 5.90, a PEG ratio of 0.48 and a beta of 1.33. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $60.50 and its 200 day moving average price is $52.59. The company has a quick ratio of 0.70, a current ratio of 0.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22.

PulteGroup Dividend Announcement

PulteGroup ( NYSE:PHM Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 25th. The construction company reported $2.35 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.78 by $0.57. The firm had revenue of $3.58 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.27 billion. PulteGroup had a net margin of 16.22% and a return on equity of 31.03%. The companys revenue was up 12.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.83 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that PulteGroup, Inc. will post 8.78 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 5th. Investors of record on Tuesday, June 20th will be issued a dividend of $0.16 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 16th. This represents a $0.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.92%. PulteGroups payout ratio is 5.51%.

PulteGroup declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a share repurchase program on Tuesday, April 25th that permits the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the construction company to reacquire up to 6.9% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are often an indication that the companys leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CFO Robert Oshaughnessy sold 115,102 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, April 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $66.90, for a total value of $7,700,323.80. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 177,564 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $11,879,031.60. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other PulteGroup news, Director Brian P. Anderson sold 15,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $66.95, for a total transaction of $1,004,250.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 55,886 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,741,567.70. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CFO Robert Oshaughnessy sold 115,102 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $66.90, for a total transaction of $7,700,323.80. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 177,564 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,879,031.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 244,100 shares of company stock valued at $15,962,206. Insiders own 0.83% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On PulteGroup

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of PHM. CVA Family Office LLC grew its position in PulteGroup by 222.9% in the 4th quarter. CVA Family Office LLC now owns 565 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 390 shares during the last quarter. Arlington Partners LLC acquired a new stake in PulteGroup in the first quarter valued at $26,000. Clear Street Markets LLC raised its stake in shares of PulteGroup by 90.9% during the 1st quarter. Clear Street Markets LLC now owns 441 shares of the construction companys stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 210 shares during the last quarter. Coppell Advisory Solutions Corp. acquired a new position in shares of PulteGroup during the 4th quarter worth $26,000. Finally, Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of PulteGroup during the 1st quarter worth $28,000. 88.07% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

PulteGroup Company Profile

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PulteGroup, Inc engages in the homebuilding business. The firm is also involved in mortgage banking and title and insurance brokerage operations. It operates through the Homebuilding and Financial services business segments. The Homebuilding segment includes operations from Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Texas, Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Washington.

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Qsemble Capital Management LP purchased a new stake in Danaher Co. (NYSE:DHR  Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm purchased 6,350 shares of the conglomerates stock, valued at approximately $1,685,000. Danaher accounts for approximately 1.2% of Qsemble Capital Management LPs holdings, making the stock its largest holding.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Texas Capital Bank Wealth Management Services Inc. lifted its position in shares of Danaher by 2,193.5% during the 4th quarter. Texas Capital Bank Wealth Management Services Inc. now owns 31,673 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $8,407,000 after purchasing an additional 30,292 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia raised its stake in Danaher by 54.5% during the 4th quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia now owns 387,375 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $102,862,000 after acquiring an additional 136,632 shares in the last quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC raised its stake in Danaher by 9.3% during the 4th quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 94,818 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $25,167,000 after acquiring an additional 8,105 shares in the last quarter. Scotia Capital Inc. raised its stake in Danaher by 2.0% during the 4th quarter. Scotia Capital Inc. now owns 182,934 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $48,555,000 after acquiring an additional 3,653 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Texas Capital Bancshares Inc. TX acquired a new stake in Danaher during the 4th quarter worth $622,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.26% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts recently commented on DHR shares. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price target on shares of Danaher from $289.00 to $260.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 26th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their target price on shares of Danaher from $310.00 to $275.00 in a report on Thursday, April 27th. Cowen reduced their target price on shares of Danaher from $340.00 to $320.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 25th. SVB Leerink reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Danaher in a report on Monday, May 1st. Finally, Credit Suisse Group reduced their target price on shares of Danaher from $300.00 to $270.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $294.06.

Insider Activity

Danaher Price Performance

In other news, Director Walter G. Lohr sold 3,490 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $240.88, for a total value of $840,671.20. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 12,115 shares in the company, valued at $2,918,261.20. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website . In other news, Director Walter G. Lohr sold 3,490 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $240.88, for a total value of $840,671.20. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 12,115 shares in the company, valued at $2,918,261.20. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website . Also, SVP Jose-Carlos Gutierrez-Ramos sold 500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $242.19, for a total transaction of $121,095.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 7,529 shares in the company, valued at $1,823,448.51. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold 14,619 shares of company stock worth $3,568,741 over the last ninety days. 11.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

DHR traded down $1.42 on Tuesday, hitting $225.52. 141,805 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,816,251. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a quick ratio of 1.51 and a current ratio of 1.89. The businesss fifty day moving average is $244.67 and its 200 day moving average is $255.83. Danaher Co. has a fifty-two week low of $225.05 and a fifty-two week high of $303.82. The firm has a market capitalization of $166.41 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.42 and a beta of 0.80.

Danaher (NYSE:DHR  Get Rating) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The conglomerate reported $2.36 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.26 by $0.10. Danaher had a net margin of 22.40% and a return on equity of 16.70%. The company had revenue of $7.17 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.06 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.76 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 6.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Danaher Co. will post 9.54 EPS for the current year.

Danaher Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 30th will be given a dividend of $0.27 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 29th. This represents a $1.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.48%. Danahers payout ratio is currently 11.64%.

Danaher Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Danaher Corp. engages in the design, manufacture, and marketing of professional, medical, industrial, and commercial products and services. It operates through the following segments: Biotechnology, Life Sciences, Diagnostics, and Environmental and Applied Solutions. The Biotechnology segment includes the bioprocessing and discovery and medical businesses and offers a range of tools, consumables, and services.

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Trisura Group (TSE:TSU  Get Rating) had its target price raised by stock analysts at Raymond James from C$52.00 to C$53.00 in a note issued to investors on Tuesday, BayStreet.CA reports. The brokerage currently has an outperform rating on the stock. Raymond James price objective would suggest a potential upside of 47.47% from the stocks previous close.

A number of other research firms also recently commented on TSU. BMO Capital Markets reduced their target price on Trisura Group from C$52.00 to C$49.00 in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. National Bankshares cut their price target on Trisura Group from C$69.00 to C$62.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 2nd. Scotiabank lifted their price target on Trisura Group from C$53.00 to C$55.00 in a research note on Tuesday. Cormark cut their price target on Trisura Group from C$56.50 to C$51.00 in a research note on Thursday, March 2nd. Finally, CIBC cut their price target on Trisura Group from C$60.00 to C$55.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 2nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of C$54.29.

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Trisura Group Price Performance

TSU stock opened at C$35.94 on Tuesday. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of C$32.24 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$38.82. Trisura Group has a twelve month low of C$29.56 and a twelve month high of C$47.90. The company has a current ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 0.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 17.95. The company has a market capitalization of C$1.65 billion, a P/E ratio of 61.97 and a beta of 0.86.

About Trisura Group

Trisura Group ( TSE:TSU Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 28th. The company reported C$0.51 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of C$0.41 by C$0.10. Trisura Group had a net margin of 4.70% and a return on equity of 5.86%. The firm had revenue of C$149.32 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of C$134.00 million. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Trisura Group will post 2.1546253 EPS for the current year.

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Trisura Group Ltd., a specialty insurance company, operates in the surety, risk solutions, corporate insurance, and reinsurance businesses in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company offers contract surety bonds, such as performance, and labor and material payment bonds primarily for the construction industry; commercial surety bonds, including license and permit, tax and excise, and fiduciary bonds to governments, regulatory bodies, or courts to guarantee compliance with legal or fiduciary obligations; and developer surety bonds comprising bonds to secure real estate developers' legislated deposit and warranty obligations on residential projects.

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First Republic Bank (OTCMKTS:FRCB  Get Rating) is one of 70 public companies in the Commercial banks, not elsewhere classified industry, but how does it compare to its competitors? We will compare First Republic Bank to related companies based on the strength of its analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, earnings, profitability, dividends, valuation and risk.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for First Republic Bank and its competitors, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score First Republic Bank 0 0 0 0 N/A First Republic Bank Competitors 625 2220 2264 58 2.34

As a group, Commercial banks, not elsewhere classified companies have a potential upside of 83.63%. Given First Republic Banks competitors higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe First Republic Bank has less favorable growth aspects than its competitors.

Dividends

Valuation and Earnings

First Republic Bank pays an annual dividend of 1.08 per share and has a dividend yield of 284.2%. First Republic Bank pays out 14.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Commercial banks, not elsewhere classified companies pay a dividend yield of 2.5% and pay out 17.4% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. First Republic Bank is clearly a better dividend stock than its competitors, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

This table compares First Republic Bank and its competitors revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio First Republic Bank $6.75 billion $1.67 billion 0.05 First Republic Bank Competitors $1,357.80 billion $3.08 billion 9.16

First Republic Banks competitors have higher revenue and earnings than First Republic Bank. First Republic Bank 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.

Volatility & Risk

First Republic Bank has a beta of 0.99, indicating that its stock price is 1% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, First Republic Banks competitors have a beta of 0.94, indicating that their average stock price is 6% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares First Republic Bank and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets First Republic Bank 20.45% 11.26% 0.72% First Republic Bank Competitors 18.99% 12.04% 0.98%

Insider & Institutional Ownership

95.2% of First Republic Bank shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 25.5% of shares of all Commercial banks, not elsewhere classified companies are owned by institutional investors. 0.7% of First Republic Bank shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 6.5% of shares of all Commercial banks, not elsewhere classified companies are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

First Republic Bank competitors beat First Republic Bank on 7 of the 12 factors compared.

First Republic Bank Company Profile

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First Republic offers banking for individuals and businesses, wealth management and more with a focus on tailored service and solutions. First Republic was founded in San Francisco in 1985 by James H. Herbert II with a single office and a small but dedicated staff. Years later, First Republic is one of the countrys largest banks, serving clients at more than 80 Preferred Banking Offices across the United States and through online banking services. First Republic prides itself on its convenient online presence, strong heritage and sustainable, client-centric approach that has provided consistent growth. First Republic Bank offers a full range of personal and business banking services including lending, deposit, foreign exchange and more, while First Republic Private Wealth Management provides trust, brokerage and wealth advisory services. Across all of its offerings, First Republic is committed to serving its stakeholders and clients with exceptional, personalized service, putting clients first in all that it does. Banking products and services are offered by First Republic Bank, Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender. Investment Advisory services are provided by First Republic

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Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD  Get Rating) CFO Shawn Vadala sold 880 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,360.61, for a total value of $1,197,336.80. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 4,900 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,666,989. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink.

Mettler-Toledo International Stock Down 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE MTD traded down $3.14 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $1,382.86. 58,342 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 94,528. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 76.98, a current ratio of 1.28 and a quick ratio of 0.86. Mettler-Toledo International Inc. has a twelve month low of $1,065.55 and a twelve month high of $1,615.97. The company has a market cap of $30.45 billion, a PE ratio of 35.20, a P/E/G ratio of 2.29 and a beta of 1.17. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $1,486.19 and its 200-day simple moving average is $1,471.27.

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Mettler-Toledo International (NYSE:MTD  Get Rating) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The medical instruments supplier reported $8.69 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $8.61 by $0.08. Mettler-Toledo International had a negative return on equity of 4,833.51% and a net margin of 22.45%. The business had revenue of $928.70 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $921.19 million. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $7.87 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 3.4% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts predict that Mettler-Toledo International Inc. will post 43.9 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Mettler-Toledo International

MTD has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Mettler-Toledo International in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Robert W. Baird dropped their target price on Mettler-Toledo International from $1,513.00 to $1,454.00 in a research report on Monday, May 8th. Citigroup upped their price objective on Mettler-Toledo International from $1,350.00 to $1,525.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, February 13th. TheStreet upgraded Mettler-Toledo International from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research report on Thursday, February 2nd. Finally, 51job reiterated a maintains rating on shares of Mettler-Toledo International in a research report on Monday, May 8th. Five 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 Hold and an average target price of $1,469.50.

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in MTD. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. increased its position in Mettler-Toledo International by 8.0% during the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 176 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $242,000 after buying an additional 13 shares during the period. Raymond James Trust N.A. increased its holdings in shares of Mettler-Toledo International by 19.7% in the first quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 176 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $242,000 after purchasing an additional 29 shares during the period. Vontobel Holding Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Mettler-Toledo International by 48.9% in the first quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 834 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $1,172,000 after purchasing an additional 274 shares during the period. Sei Investments Co. increased its holdings in shares of Mettler-Toledo International by 4.2% in the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 16,305 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $21,817,000 after purchasing an additional 662 shares during the period. Finally, Prudential PLC acquired a new position in shares of Mettler-Toledo International in the first quarter valued at approximately $626,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.94% of the companys stock.

Mettler-Toledo International Company Profile

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Mettler-Toledo International, Inc engages in the provision of precision instruments and services. The firm manufactures weighing instruments for use in laboratory, industrial, packaging, logistics, and food retailing applications. It also manufactures several related analytical instruments and provides automated chemistry solutions used in drug and chemical compound discovery and development, metal detection and other end-of-line inspection systems used in production and packaging and provides solutions for use in certain process analytics applications.

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The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:HIG  Get Rating) was the target of a large decline in short interest in April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 2,830,000 shares, a decline of 5.7% from the April 15th total of 3,000,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 2,230,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.3 days. Approximately 0.9% of the companys stock are sold short.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Trading Down 0.7 %

Shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group stock traded down $0.50 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $69.71. 375,931 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,044,409. The Hartford Financial Services Group has a twelve month low of $60.17 and a twelve month high of $79.44. The stock has a market capitalization of $21.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.25 and a beta of 0.85. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $69.40 and a 200 day simple moving average of $73.45. The company has a current ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 0.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31.

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The Hartford Financial Services Group (NYSE:HIG  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The insurance provider reported $1.68 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $1.68. The Hartford Financial Services Group had a net margin of 8.33% and a return on equity of 18.45%. The company had revenue of $5.91 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.70 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.66 earnings per share. The Hartford Financial Services Groups revenue for the quarter was up 9.6% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts forecast that The Hartford Financial Services Group will post 7.94 EPS for the current year.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Announces Dividend

Analyst Ratings Changes

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 4th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 6th were paid a $0.425 dividend. This represents a $1.70 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.44%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 3rd. The Hartford Financial Services Groups payout ratio is 29.26%.

HIG has been the topic of several recent research reports. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $75.00 to $77.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Monday, February 6th. Evercore ISI lowered their price target on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $85.00 to $80.00 and set an in-line rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of 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. Piper Sandler increased their price target on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $100.00 to $101.00 in a report on Monday, May 1st. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price target on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $78.00 to $77.00 in a report on Monday, April 10th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $86.15.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Robert W. Paiano sold 14,542 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $77.38, for a total value of $1,125,259.96. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 46,629 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,608,152.02. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, EVP Robert W. Paiano sold 14,542 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $77.38, for a total transaction of $1,125,259.96. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 46,629 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,608,152.02. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Adin M. Tooker sold 3,920 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $77.41, for a total transaction of $303,447.20. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 25,820 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,998,726.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 96,944 shares of company stock worth $7,549,248. 1.80% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On The Hartford Financial Services Group

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Jones Financial Companies Lllp raised its position in The Hartford Financial Services Group by 120.6% in the first quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 375 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 205 shares in the last quarter. Arlington Partners LLC purchased a new position in The Hartford Financial Services Group in the 1st quarter worth about $27,000. Dark Forest Capital Management LP purchased a new position in The Hartford Financial Services Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. MV Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in The Hartford Financial Services Group by 372.7% during the 1st quarter. MV Capital Management Inc. now owns 416 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 328 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Quarry LP purchased a new position in The Hartford Financial Services Group during the 1st quarter valued at about $31,000. 89.93% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned Americans that spring and summer could see a spike in mpox cases, formerly known as monkeypox.

The CDC raised concerns in a memo on Monday as people gear to attend festivals and crowded gatherings.

In the Chicago region, the CDC is now looking into 12 confirmed cases of mpox and one possible case. Between April 17 and May 5, the Chicago Department of Public Health received these instances, according to USA Today.

The World Health Organization's announcement that the mpox public health emergency had ended and the CDC study both came out at the same time.

The CDC predicted that people meeting at numerous events in this year's spring and summer could cause a mpox outbreak. The CDC has recorded at least 36 new cases in the last month alone throughout the nation, showing an increase in infections despite a week with no cases reported.

Dr. Chris Braden of the CDC raised alarm about the possibility of an upsurge in cases like the one in Chicago at an emergency conference called by the National Coalition of STD Directors.

Read Also: US Professor Sets New World Record for Longest Underwater Stay

Federal officials are concerned about a possible uptick in infections even if the number of confirmed cases is still less than it was at the height of the mpox outbreak in 2022.

Although there have been isolated new instances reported in New York City and California, no recurrence has been detected. However, wastewater discoveries in other jurisdictions have sparked new worries, CBS News reported.

Experts Advice Getting Mpox Jabs

Weill Cornell Medicine's Center for Pandemic Prevention and Response head, Dr. Jay Varma, emphasized the lack of assurance around both vaccine-induced and inborn protection from the virus.

He underlined that while there might be an increase in mpox cases, it is unlikely to be of the same magnitude as the mpox epidemic from the previous year because of prior infections and immunizations, CNN reported. However, the length of protection is unknown, and the number of unvaccinated sexually active people is rising.

Dr. Varma informed the public that the mpox vaccine is still safe and effective, and it was crucial in lowering transmission during the mpox outbreak last year despite these difficulties.

Related Article: Revolutionary Vending Machines Aim to Combat Opioid Epidemic in US



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StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Almaden Minerals (NYSE:AAU  Get Rating) in a report issued on Friday morning. The firm issued a sell rating on the stock.

Almaden Minerals Stock Performance

AAU stock opened at $0.11 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 18.39, a quick ratio of 18.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.06. The company has a market capitalization of $15.46 million, a PE ratio of -1.61 and a beta of 0.93. Almaden Minerals has a 12 month low of $0.11 and a 12 month high of $0.35.

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About Almaden Minerals

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Further Reading

Almaden Minerals Ltd. engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties. It focuses on the operation of Ixtaca gold-silver deposit. The company was founded by James Duane Poliquin on February 1, 2002 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

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TELUS International (Cda) Inc. (TSE:TIXT  Get Rating) reached a new 52-week low during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as C$22.61 and last traded at C$22.77, with a volume of 45643 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at C$23.08.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, Barclays dropped their target price on shares of TELUS International (Cda) from C$29.00 to C$26.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 25th.

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TELUS International (Cda) Price Performance

The company has a current ratio of 1.26, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 52.45. The companys 50-day moving average price is C$26.96 and its two-hundred day moving average price is C$28.00. The company has a market cap of C$1.63 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.22 and a beta of 0.72.

Insider Buying and Selling at TELUS International (Cda)

About TELUS International (Cda)

In other news, Director Brian Hannon sold 2,711 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$21.80, for a total value of C$59,092.75. In related news, Director Brian Hannon sold 2,711 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$21.80, for a total value of C$59,092.75. Also, Director Joshua Andrew Blair sold 15,786 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of C$20.11, for a total transaction of C$317,492.77. Insiders sold 23,812 shares of company stock valued at $492,439 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 2.68% of the companys stock.

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TELUS International (Cda) Inc provides customer experience and digital business services in Europe, North America, the Asia-Pacific, and the Central America. It offers digital experience solutions, such as AI and bots, omnichannel CX, mobility solutions, cloud contact center, big data, platform transformation, and UX/UI design; and customer experience solutions, including work anywhere/work from home, customer care, technical support, sales growth and retention, and healthcare/patient experience.

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The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY  Get Rating) declared a quarterly dividend on Tuesday, April 25th, Zacks reports. Investors of record on Friday, May 19th will be given a dividend of 1.036 per share on Thursday, June 15th. This represents a $4.14 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.53%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 18th.

Hershey has increased its dividend by an average of 9.0% per year over the last three years and has increased its dividend annually for the last 13 consecutive years. Hershey has a payout ratio of 40.1% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Analysts expect Hershey to earn $10.24 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $4.14 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 40.4%.

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Hershey Price Performance

Shares of HSY stock opened at $270.46 on Tuesday. The firms 50-day moving average is $257.75 and its two-hundred day moving average is $240.73. The company has a market capitalization of $55.28 billion, a PE ratio of 32.82, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.78 and a beta of 0.31. Hershey has a 12 month low of $201.42 and a 12 month high of $276.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 0.83 and a quick ratio of 0.47.

Insider Buying and Selling at Hershey

Hershey ( NYSE:HSY Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The company reported $2.96 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.67 by $0.29. Hershey had a net margin of 15.81% and a return on equity of 57.99%. The firm had revenue of $2.99 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.91 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.53 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 12.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts predict that Hershey will post 9.49 earnings per share for the current year.

In other Hershey news, SVP Jason Reiman sold 150 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $273.49, for a total transaction of $41,023.50. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 15,725 shares in the company, valued at $4,300,630.25. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In related news, CAO Jennifer Mccalman sold 173 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $239.99, for a total transaction of $41,518.27. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 2,702 shares in the company, valued at $648,452.98. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, SVP Jason Reiman sold 150 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $273.49, for a total value of $41,023.50. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 15,725 shares in the company, valued at $4,300,630.25. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 40,015 shares of company stock worth $9,954,591 over the last three months. Corporate insiders own 0.34% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Hershey by 1.6% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 14,057,990 shares of the companys stock worth $3,045,383,000 after acquiring an additional 216,715 shares in the last quarter. Morgan Stanley boosted its holdings in shares of Hershey by 57.2% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 2,648,666 shares of the companys stock worth $613,352,000 after acquiring an additional 964,019 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Hershey in the 4th quarter worth approximately $411,828,000. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its holdings in shares of Hershey by 26.1% in the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 1,738,558 shares of the companys stock worth $442,308,000 after acquiring an additional 360,132 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP raised its position in Hershey by 2,693.0% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 1,094,755 shares of the companys stock worth $237,156,000 after purchasing an additional 1,055,559 shares during the last quarter. 54.17% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

HSY has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on shares of Hershey from $246.00 to $256.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, April 11th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on shares of Hershey from $255.00 to $280.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 2nd. Barclays upped their target price on shares of Hershey from $245.00 to $265.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, April 28th. Bank of America upped their target price on shares of Hershey from $280.00 to $300.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, April 28th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Hershey from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Sunday, March 26th. Twelve equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Hershey presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $265.06.

About Hershey

(Get Rating)

The Hershey Co engages in the manufacture and marketing of chocolate, sweets, mints and confectionery products. The firm operates through the following geographical segments: North America and International and Other. The North America is responsible for the traditional chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery market position of the company, as well as its grocery and snacks market positions, in the United States and Canada.

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Trust Co. of Vermont grew its stake in shares of iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF (NYSEARCA:IJJ  Get Rating) by 30.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,474 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,052 shares during the quarter. Trust Co. of Vermonts holdings in iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF were worth $451,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. CFS Investment Advisory Services LLC boosted its stake in iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF by 8,532.8% in the 3rd quarter. CFS Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 3,662,370 shares of the companys stock valued at $646,000 after purchasing an additional 3,619,946 shares during the period. UBS Group AG raised its holdings in shares of iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF by 0.5% during the 4th quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 2,473,056 shares of the companys stock worth $249,284,000 after buying an additional 12,513 shares in the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF by 14.6% in the 4th quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 1,836,083 shares of the companys stock worth $185,077,000 after purchasing an additional 234,332 shares in the last quarter. Hamilton Capital LLC increased its holdings in iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF by 2.1% in the 3rd quarter. Hamilton Capital LLC now owns 1,291,456 shares of the companys stock worth $116,231,000 after purchasing an additional 26,608 shares in the last quarter. Finally, LPL Financial LLC increased its holdings in iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF by 0.9% in the 4th quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 933,874 shares of the companys stock worth $94,134,000 after purchasing an additional 7,993 shares in the last quarter.

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iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF Price Performance

Shares of IJJ opened at $99.48 on Tuesday. iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF has a 1 year low of $89.62 and a 1 year high of $116.78. The company has a market capitalization of $7.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.97 and a beta of 1.17. The business has a 50-day moving average of $100.65 and a 200-day moving average of $103.99.

iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF Company Profile

iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF, formerly iShares S&P MidCap 400 Value Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the S&P MidCap 400 Value Index (the Index). The Value Index measures the performance of the mid-capitalization value sector of the United States equity market and consists of those stocks in the S&P MidCap 400 Index exhibiting the strongest value characteristics.

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Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC cut its holdings in Vanguard Information Technology ETF (NYSEARCA:VGT  Get Rating) by 2.8% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 3,595 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 104 shares during the period. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLCs holdings in Vanguard Information Technology ETF were worth $1,329,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of VGT. Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new stake in shares of Vanguard Information Technology ETF in the first quarter valued at approximately $84,000. AMI Investment Management Inc. boosted its position in Vanguard Information Technology ETF by 5.9% during the first quarter. AMI Investment Management Inc. now owns 47,612 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $19,829,000 after acquiring an additional 2,662 shares during the last quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management boosted its position in Vanguard Information Technology ETF by 40.4% during the first quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management now owns 650 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $271,000 after acquiring an additional 187 shares during the last quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. boosted its position in Vanguard Information Technology ETF by 24.8% during the first quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 180,462 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $75,159,000 after acquiring an additional 35,906 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Laurel Wealth Advisors Inc. boosted its position in Vanguard Information Technology ETF by 5.9% during the first quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 5,085 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $2,118,000 after acquiring an additional 283 shares during the last quarter.

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Vanguard Information Technology ETF Stock Performance

Shares of NYSEARCA VGT opened at $388.80 on Tuesday. Vanguard Information Technology ETF has a 1 year low of $291.61 and a 1 year high of $391.60. The firms 50 day moving average price is $375.12 and its 200 day moving average price is $351.94. The firm has a market cap of $47.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.70 and a beta of 1.16.

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).

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VGT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Vanguard Information Technology ETF (NYSEARCA:VGT  Get Rating).

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Ransomware affiliates associated with the Qilin ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) scheme earn anywhere between 80% to 85% of each ransom payment, according to new findings from Group-IB.

The cybersecurity firm said it was able to infiltrate the group in March 2023, uncovering details about the affiliates' payment structure and the inner workings of the RaaS program following a private conversation with a Qilin recruiter who goes by the online alias Haise.

"Many Qilin ransomware attacks are customized for each victim to maximize their impact," the Singapore-headquartered company said in an exhaustive report. "To do this, the threat actors can leverage such tactics as changing the filename extensions of encrypted files and terminating specific processes and services."

Qilin, also known as Agenda, was first documented by Trend Micro in August 2022, starting off as a Go-based ransomware before switching to Rust in December 2022.

The adoption of Rust is also significant not only because of evasion detection capabilities, but also for the fact that it allows the threat actors to target Windows, Linux, and VMware ESXi servers.

Attacks mounted by the group make use of phishing emails containing malicious links as a means to obtain initial access and encrypt sensitive data, but not before exfiltrating it as part of a double extortion model.

Data from as many as 12 different companies have been posted on Qilin's data leak portal on the dark web between July 2022 and May 2023.

The victims, which mainly span critical infrastructure, education, and healthcare sectors, are located in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, France, Japan, Netherlands, Serbia, the U.K., and the U.S.

Group-IB said the Qilin actors also provide affiliates  who are recruited to identify targets of interest and stage the attacks  with an administrative panel to effectively oversee various parts of their operations.

"Qilin ransomware group has an affiliate panel divided into sections such as Targets, Blogs, Stuffers, News, Payments, and FAQs to manage and coordinate its network of affiliates," security researcher Nikolay Kichatov said.

Targets - A section to configure ransom notes, files, directories, and extensions to be skipped, extensions to be encrypted, processes to be terminated, and the mode of encryption, among others

Blogs - A section for affiliates to create blog posts with information about attacked companies that have not paid the ransom

Stuffers - A section for the threat actors to create accounts for other members of the team and manage their privileges

News - A section to post updates related to their ransomware partnerships (currently blank)

Payments - A section that contains transaction details, affiliate wallet balances, and options to withdraw illicit proceeds

FAQs - A section featuring support and documentation information that details the steps to use the ransomware

"Although Qilin ransomware gained notoriety for targeting critical sector companies, they are a threat to organizations across all verticals," Kichatov said.

"Moreover, the ransomware operator's affiliate program is not only adding new members to its network, but it is weaponizing them with upgraded tools, techniques, and even service delivery."
The student speaker at Grand Island Senior High's graduation ceremony used the platform to call for an improvement to the school's culture.

Kenny Morales, who graduated from GISH on Sunday, called his speech Opening Pandoras Box. After a generic opening, the box opened in paragraph two, to shouts of support from some in the audience.

I dont know about y'all, but I hated school, Morales told the crowd, per a transcript of the speech provided by Morales.

He touched upon the number of physical altercations at GISH, saying  while each fight has its own story, they all stem from the same problem: And that is the culture at our school.

In his speech, Morales contended: We lie, we pretend and we hide the truth with selective facts on positive things occurring around the school, instead of being honest and addressing the issues head on. We attempt to fix the issue by pulling them like weeds instead of fixing the underlying issue.

District decisions are made by administrators who sit in a room  everyone is guarded from the truth, Morales told the Independent.

Morales said he felt his speech consisted of constructive criticism.

I really dont think I was too critical," he said.

He told the graduates and guests the solution is raising expectations.

Sure, at first there will be resistance, but in the long term there will be leaders within the class that will emerge and set the standard we so desperately need," Morales said in the speech.

Morales said the speech was not necessarily about shaming the school.

It was more about that message (of raising expectations), he told The Independent. I just wanted to start a conversation.

The district declined to comment on Moraless speech. Grand Island Public Schools Board of Education President Hank McFarland issued a statement on Tuesday.

"I disagree with how this came about. Seniors are required to submit their speeches, and they should be giving the speeches as submitted. I'm a big believer in ... saying what you're going to do and then doing what you said you would do. That being said, however, Kenny made a couple of valid points. I believe strongly that if you have faults, you need to first admit to those faults, and then develop a plan to fix them. Do we need work on discipline in schools? Yes. Do we need to have high expectations of performance in the classroom? Yes. Do we need to make sure our students are doing a good job of attending class? Yes," McFarland said. "These are all things that we have already been discussing in the administration. And I can assure you that we will be making adjustments. Short story made long  does the student have valid concerns? Yes. Was the way he did it correct? No."

Morales said his calculus classmates encouraged him to submit a speech  in his own words. Knowing the speech he wanted to write wouldnt pass prior review, Morales enlisted ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence chatbot, to compose a decoy. ChatGPT uses data and computing techniques to mimic human conversation.

Grand Island Public Schools Communications Director Mitch Roush described the graduation speech submission process:

Students who are interested in speaking at graduation can submit their names and draft of the speech that they would like to give, Roush said. Then a group of GISH staff review them and score them blindly.

From there, GISH Executive Principal Jeff Gilbertson assesses the scores and makes the final call from there, Roush explained. Once thats done, (the student selected) works with Mr. Gilbertson to refine their message and make sure they feel confident in what theyre doing.

At that point, Gilbertson gives the speech a final review, Roush said.

Morales didnt say how long it took to manufacture the submitted speech, but did note the delivered speech was written in about a half hour, the day before commencement.

Its just holding people accountable, Morales said.

According to Nebraska Department of Education data, 553 GISH students graduated from the school in 2021-2022  83.41% of the four-year cohort for that class. State data is not yet available for the class of 2022-2023.
An "injured and exhausted" dog was successfully rescued from Scafell Pike, England's highest mountain, by a dedicated team of 13 rescuers.

The Keswick Mountain Rescue team's 42nd mission of the year was the lengthy, four-hour animal rescue operation of an Akita dog, according to KESQ News.

On Saturday, Rocky and its owners successfully climbed to the top of Scafell Pike in the Lake District. But an unanticipated difficulty occurred as they started to descend into Langdale. The 33-kilogram (73-pound) dog declined to go farther, showing indications of weariness and having an injured paw.

At 6:25 p.m. local time, the terrified owners of the dog requested assistance, which sparked a quick reaction from the Keswick Mountain Rescue crew.

The rescuers gently brought the dog down the mountain using a stretcher and a bag, ensuring it was always comfortable and secure. The crew praised the dog, calling it a "relatively lightweight casualty" despite its size. Throughout the whole rescue effort, the dog maintained his composure.

Read Also: Florida Schools Urge To Ban 'Furry' Clothing, Accessories to Curb Rampant 'Barking,' 'Meowing'

Dog Rescue Draws Mixed Reactions

The Keswick Mountain Rescue team's Facebook page got varied comments on the rescue effort, as per The Guardian. While some users chastised the dog's owners for subjecting him to such strenuous hiking, others justified their decision, speculating that the dog may have been exhausted as a result of an underlying injury.

One user commented that Akita dogs are known for their high level of independence and stubbornness. He emphasized that when an Akita decides they have reached their limit, there is no changing their mind.

The Keswick Mountain Rescue team had run into a similar case on Scafell Pike in the past.

In July 2020, they successfully rescued Daisy, a 121-pound St. Bernard, who had passed out while descending the mountain with her owners, per Fox News.

Related Article: Colorado Driver Tries Switching Seats With His Dog to Avoid Arrest

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A 39-year-old Grand Island woman received medical treatment after she took steps toward harming her infant girl Friday night.

Grand Island police responded to an apartment on Wortman Drive at about 8:20 p.m. to conduct a welfare check. The woman told police she has thoughts of hurting her 3-month-old child by choking her.

She said she called the Grand Island Regional Medical Center asking for advice on how to hurt her baby. A red mark was observed on the baby's neck. She said she may have started to apply pressure to the baby's neck before stopping and calling the hospital. She said she was still having thoughts of hurting her baby.

The baby was placed in a 48-hour hold.

The woman was not arrested because of medical concerns. "We wanted to make sure that the appropriate treatment was received first," said Grand Island Police Capt. Jim Duering.

The case was referred to the county attorney's office for a possible charge of criminal attempt of first-degree murder.
Pregnancy can be a wonderful experience when things go well, but unfortunately biology doesnt always work smoothly. It is one of the most dangerous things a woman can endure as it can cause blood clots, high blood pressure, strokes, hemorrhaging, sepsis, and many other complications leading to death. Rural women have higher risks of complications and maternal death as specialized health care is harder to access. For women of color, complications and maternal deaths are more than twice as high as for white women due to poorer health care access and treatment in our country.

This most recent attempt by the Nebraska Legislature to restrict abortion care by limiting it about 12 weeks is scheduled for debate Tuesday, May 16, after lawmakers who want to outlaw abortion introduced an amendment banning abortion to a bill banning gender affirming care for transgender youth. If this bill passes into law, it will cause Nebraskans pain and possibly cost their lives, despite having exceptions. I know exception clauses do not work, because I had a pregnancy that nearly killed me due to an abortion ban policy.

In 1982, I was 30 years old, healthy, and optimistic about my second pregnancy. At 20 weeks gestation my blood pressure spiked and I had uncontrollable nosebleeds. My regular obstetrician sent me to one of only two high-risk obstetricians in this state, a two hour drive away.

I was admitted to the hospital and after many tests it was determined that I had a molar pregnancy with a triploidy fetus. Our fetus was nonviable due to abnormal development such as having no lungs. Additionally cystic growths were absorbing the fetus, and cysts were growing outside the uterus pressing on my internal organs.

The pressure on my adrenal glands was causing the high blood pressure and bleeding. The only treatment possible was to terminate my pregnancy immediately. They estimated I had at most two weeks before the pregnancy would kill me.

However, there was a big problem. The hospital administration did not want abortions performed there and had a policy which threatened the livelihood of medical staff participating in an abortion, consequences similar to those found in LB626. By delaying my abortion, the hospital policy risked my life.

All policy requirements were met except for the signature of one medical administrator. He refused to grant permission for my abortion, effectively giving me a death sentence. Hospital administrators told my husband to take me elsewhere for care. My husband knew transporting me elsewhere was not an option for he had procured second opinions from many obstetric specialists, all of whom said an abortion was needed immediately and I would not survive being moved to another facility.

Fortunately, my husband is an attorney. He appealed the decision of the medical administrator who had refused my health care and showed him all the tests proving the need for the abortion and the many second opinions that the abortion had to happen at that facility.

The administrator did not want to risk his job to save the life of a woman he did not know. Again, he refused to give permission. Realizing facts and the ardent advocacy of the high-risk obstetricians did not matter to the administrator, my husband asked for his advice as a married man. Was my husband valuing my life more than other husbands valued their wives lives? Should he just bury me and find another wife to raise our 15 month old son? What would the administrator do if it was the administrators wife needing the abortion?

My abortion was scheduled the following morning and I am eternally grateful for the high-risk obstetrician, anesthesiologist and nurse who risked their licenses and jobs to save me.

Eighteen months later, I gave birth to a little boy in the same hospital. The doctors and nurse, who did my surgery, visited my son in the N.I.C.U. It was important for them to see that their life-saving action resulted in this precious life. By helping us through a heartbreaking situation, we all were able to have a happy ending.

I know my husbands love saved my life, but it took more than love to overcome the obstacles made by the hospitals policy. It took his skill and legal expertise as an attorney to meet all the conditions of the policy and push to override the initial decision on appeal. Not everyone is blessed to marry a loving and effective attorney.

Egregiously, this proposed amendment banning abortion at about 12 weeks will allow politicians, who are not medical experts, to eliminate Nebraskans right to decide what is best for our bodies, futures and families as well as penalize medical practitioners for practicing quality health care consistent with medical protocol.

The exceptions for health of the mother, rape, and incest are a ruse to soothe the public conscience and act as barriers to accessing needed abortion health care. In other states with similar bans, doctors weigh their legal risks against the health of their patients.

Before these bans, women who carried a nonviable fetus could terminate their pregnancy avoiding sepsis, increased chance of maternal death, and acute physical and emotional pain.

Today, women and their families, who cannot afford to seek quality health care in other states, fearfully endure the pain of those horrible situations. If this bill is passed into law, Nebraska families will have similar experiences.

I know what it feels like to have a ban that allows my life to be devalued. My family experienced the emotional, physical, and financial costs as well as the need for legal consultation caused by the exceptions. My experience is why I am fervently against the abortion ban.

I do not want other women to experience being in need of medical care and having it withheld. I am grateful for the growing majority of Nebraskans who trust women and their physicians to decide their medical care. We need to stand together to protect this right by encouraging our state senators to vote against this dangerous legislation.
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On May 14, a Facebook post from Robby Clark-Stokes publicly shared the news that his father, Robbie Stokes, had died.

His post read, Earlier today my dad, Robbie Stokes, passed away after a 3-year long battle with cancer. Throughout all the challenges, he maintained his sense of humor, positivity, passion for music, and love for his family. While we are devastated, we are at peace knowing that he is free of any discomfort and in a better place."

Stokes was an icon in the Southern Illinois music scene. He was a musician, historian, performer and columnist for The Southern for a time. Since the 1980s he also owned and operated Robco Audio, a Carbondale business specializing in live sound reinforcement.

But, even more than all of those accomplishments, Stokes was an encourager and a friend.

Robbie was really generous, Tim Crosby told The Southern, adding that Stokes was always willing to welcome new people into the field of music.

Crosby shared that he had recently just returned to performing music and Stokes attended a show Crosby did at Blue Sky Winery. After the show, Stokes offered to play on an upcoming CD Crosby was in the process of making. Stokes not only made good on the offer, but played on Crosbys last three CDs.

He played so well. He could change styles in music, Crosby said. He could just spit it out  whatever you wanted. He would stay until it was perfect.

Charles Morrill moved to Carbondale in 1964 and first remembers Stokes playing in a band called the Viscounts. He saw them play on the SIU campus and in local teen towns.

I dreamed of playing in a band like that. Then, I was invited by him to be a drummer. That started it all, Morrill said.

Morill's first gig with Stokes was at the Anna Teen Town. He made $15.

He played again with Stokes throughout the 1980s in Four on the Floor.

He always invited me to play in his band, Morrill said.

The two played together last on Crosbys CD.

Robbie loved playing and playing with good musicians. His influence is far and wide for the last 50 years. Hes going to be missed for sure, Morrill said.

Morrill thanked Stokes and added that he was able to thank him when he was alive, too.

It was a joy playing with him, Morrill said.

Peyton Blewett had known Stokes since he was in high school  about 46 years  and they had played together in bands for 41 years.

They started their first real band, the aforementioned Four on the Floor, in 1982. Blewett sang lead vocals and played rhythm guitar. Four on the Floor started as a 1950s style rockabilly band. The band played for 35 years.

About 11 years ago, they started a new band called the Venturis, with an entirely new repertoire that Blewett described as 1960s rock n roll. The band was still active, playing their last gig about a month ago.

Blewett said Stokes was like a big brother to him. Even though he had cancer for three years, Stokes death was still a blow to him, and he said it will be for the whole Carbondale music scene.

He was definitely a Carbondale icon, Blewett said.

Stokes was recently named the No. 1 Top Musician in Carbondale in The Southern's Music Historicity column.

He touched a lot of peoples lives as a mentor, guitar teacher, band mate or sound man, Blewett said. "Even though we kind of put him on a pedestal, he would hop on stage with anybody.

Stokes spent some time in California where he played with the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane.

He is among the most famous musicians to come out of Carbondale, but Blewett said he might have been more famous if he hadn't decided to return to his hometown.

Blewett added that Stokes knew who everybody was, saying he was the best soundman in Carbondale.

Im going to miss being on stage with him. I dont know if Ill continue to play in bands without him. We were next to each other 41 years, Blewett said.

He will miss the camaraderie, saying they were in their element on stage together.

Blewett was at the Clark-Stokes home on Monday afternoon, speaking about all the tributes on social media and texts. The Stokes family had received about 500 condolence messages.

He touched a lot of lives. He will be missed by a lot of people. He was a good family man, too. He loved his kids and grandkids, Blewett said.

The Southern's Music Historicity column, incepted by Stokes, currently is authored by Gary Gibula, a close friend, fellow musician and co-founding member of Four on the Floor. Gibula is planning a two-part series about Stokes' legacy beginning in next week's installment.
A pro-life group says they have filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Carbondale on Tuesday, taking aim at the 100-foot Bubble Zone the city recently enacted, the group says, to limit anti-abortion counselors and others from speaking with people entering the citys growing number of womens clinics.

Coalition Life filed the suit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, seeking relief and a permanent injunction against the ordinance which was passed Jan. 10. The group says the ordinance is unconstitutional in that it places content-based restrictions on expression and is a violation of civil rights.

The group announced the filing of the lawsuit during a rally outside Carbondale City Hall on Tuesday morning.

In a media release, the organization said: The ordinance creates an irrational and unreasonably large 100-foot zone around any entrance door to a hospital, medical clinic or health care facility in the city as well as an arbitrary anti-speech bubble around persons inside this zone, prohibiting freedom of speech. According to the unfair and overly-broad language in the ordinance, anyone knowingly approaching within eight feet of someone in the public way for the purpose of passing a leaflet or handbill to, displaying a sign to, or engaging in oral protest, education or counseling without that persons consent can be prosecuted.

The group, which calls itself a "professional sidewalk counseling organization," said the Bubble Zone ordinance burdens its exercise of religion as well as free speech.

Our sidewalk counselors are peaceful and loving people who simply want to help women, said Coalition Life Executive Director Brian Westbrook. There are thousands of women we have helped during a very difficult time in their lives and they want us on that sidewalk to help others. We will continue to do whatever it takes to be there for them. We must stand firm for our right to do this work and by extension the rights of all citizens to speak freely in public spaces.

Coalition for Life is working with the Thomas More Society, a nonprofit, public interest law firm.

This is a straightforward, clear lawsuit seeking to have the City of Carbondales Bubble Zone ordinance struck down as unconstitutional, Peter Breen, executive vice president and head of litigation for the Thomas More Society said. In the Dobbs decision, the U.S. Supreme Court stated very clearly that they believe that this sort of bubble zone activity was a victim of the abortion distortion of our laws and our Constitutional law, in particular, the First Amendment right to free speech.

The Dobbs decision held that abortion was not a protected right under the Constitution and returned responsibility for abortion regulations to the states.

Breen said while Carbondales ordinance applies to more than 150 medical facilities in the city, its really only aimed at the two (clinics offering abortions) that are here right now.

He added that he believes the ordinance is unfair and will be struck down.

The problem is, it's one thing to give advantages to abortion facilities and abortion providers. It's another thing to restrict your citizens rights, their fundamental rights to speak and to advocate, he said.

Rev. Mark Surburg, pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Marion spoke in support of the lawsuit.

We want to give women options and yet we have found that this ordinance restricts us from doing that, he said. We live in a country where our constitutional freedoms guaranteed us the free exercise of religion and also freedom of speech and religious matters. And this ordinance that's been passed by the Carbondale City Council restricts those and violates our freedoms and violates our rights.

Breen said the city has 21 days to respond to the complaint and from there he expects the lawsuit to move pretty quickly.

In an email to The Southern, Carbondale Public Relations Officer Roni LeForge-Croxell said, "On May 16, 2023, the City of Carbondale was informed that Coalition Life intends to seek injunctive and declaratory relief from Carbondale City Ordinance No. 2023-03. Although no formal complaint has been received by the City at this time, it is our policy not to comment on pending litigation.

The Supreme Court fight over an abortion pill: What's next? Intro What is mifepristone? How did the case get started? How did the case get to the Supreme Court? What could happen next? A closer look Supreme Court temporarily extends stay on Texas abortion pill ruling
BAMBERG  Rep. Justin Bamberg says a bill extending the terms of Bamberg County School Districts appointed board members is needed so lingering issues can be addressed.

Kids don't have

time to wait

Bamberg, D-Bamberg, introduced House Bill 4413 on May 2. Its now been approved by the General Assembly and is awaiting the governors signature.

The bill cuts the board down from nine members to seven members.

The members will be appointed by the Bamberg County Legislative Delegation, which consists of Bamberg and Sen. Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg.

The members will serve four-year terms beginning July 2024.

The bill sunsets on July 1, 2028. The sunset clause was added after Bamberg's original bill was amended on May 3 to include one.

Some citizens have expressed concern about the extension because under the original school district consolidation bill, Bamberg County voters were to begin electing new members in 2024.

The original act stated that voters were to then begin electing four members to serve four-year terms from single-member election districts 2, 4, 6 and 8 in nonpartisan elections to be conducted at the same time as the 2024 general election.

Bamberg said he was in the process of crafting school district election lines when he discovered that the school district's $5 million share from the Savannah River Site settlement was being held up.

The newly consolidated district has incurred at least $50 million in outstanding bond debt, including bonds issued to build Richard Carroll Elementary School in BSD1 and a new BSD2 pre-K-12 school.

The $5 million was part of a larger package, including approximately $8 million from the state Department of Education, he had secured to get the debts paid down to help lower taxes.

The bonds for whatever reason don't allow for a lump sum payment. So you wouldn't actually be able to feel the effect as planned if we had done it that way. So the money was sitting in the state Treasurer's Office.

So I tried to deviate and pivot from doing lines to, OK, what is going on with this money? because it was supposed to be able to lower the millage rate. Got that plan hammered out and, between that, there was a Denmark-Olar Middle School. Out of nine total teachers, I think eight of them were uncertified, Bamberg said.

He continued, The district had been working on, Well, what are we going to do to address that? Because these middle school kids need to be taught by certified teachers. If it doesn't get fixed, our school district would lose a ton of money. We get federal dollars and stuff like that for meeting certain requirements.

Bamberg said he felt that the present board did not need to be disbanded until the issue was fixed.

Between trying to accomplish the mission of lowering taxes and addressing the certified teacher shortage at Denmark-Olar Elementary School, there is no time to try to bring in a new board, he said.

There's already a teacher shortage, and we had this uncertified teacher shortage that the board is working on addressing with the school administrator and stuff, he said.

Bamberg took the stance that there wasn't time to interrupt fixing these issues by injecting brand-new people who have to be brought up to speed from scratch, and particularly on addressing the certified teacher issue, he said.

Bamberg continued, Those kids don't have time to wait for someone to get brought up to speed. We've got to address this stuff. So all I decided to do was allow the consolidated board that was appointed for purposes of consolidating the district, allow them to effectively serve one more term so that we can get all this stuff figured out and fixed.

We had a plan, the plan was solid, the plan was working, but there were some speed bumps. I just encourage everybody, the vast majority of the county is extremely supportive behind what we're doing. The vast majority of the county is praising the fact that for once in decades, all of the individuals tasked with making the decisions for public education in our county are considering all students and not just some, he said.

Bamberg continued, "I don't have the benefit like some parents, or others. They may have the benefit of only thinking about themselves and their family and their kids and their friends. I don't have that benefit. My job is to do what's best and think about everyone collectively across the county, including those people that others may not care anything about.

Bamberg said it's just a matter of timing.

I'm working on getting numbers from the district about how many students we have enrolled in each grade level. With that middle school issue, if there are no certified teachers, it may very well be that those students may have to go to Bamberg-Ehrhardt Middle School. So these are very complicated things. It's not as simple as people make it out to be. It's when you're trying to do it right, sometimes things just change, the legislator said.

And I want it fixed because every kid in our county deserves to have the absolute best public education possible, and if people had cared about that on a total basis, i.e. years ago, if people in charge cared about every kid instead of about certain kids, we wouldn't even be where we're at now," he said.

In an emailed statement, Board Chairwoman Janeth Walker said, "Based upon my understanding of the House bill filed, I believe that the legislative body is taking a practical approach to the continuation of a successful consolidation. I further believe the decision to file the bill was well thought out, measured and it lends itself to all the processes necessary for forward thinking."

Walker said consolidation has been an arduous task.

Anyone having experience in working through this aids in the ability to forecast what is required, in order for it to succeed. Every student attending our county schools deserves our very best. We owe this to them. I support the bill 100%, she said.

Board Vice Chairman John L. Hiers said, We really haven't had any discussions as a board, per say, about it (the bill), but I knew we were waiting on the new district lines to be restructured with the consolidation.

I'm anxious for us to have the elections as soon as possible, but I understand that there's procedures that have to be gone through to reestablish those lines. We're currently an appointed board anyway. So I guess that's just going to be extending the board's tenure, he said.

Hiers would like elections to take place, however, before 2028.

Bamberg said there is nothing to prevent that from happening.

Just because the bill says that it sunsets July 1, 2028, doesn't necessarily mean it has to be that long. If all of this stuff gets finished and gets tightened up, there's nothing that prevents the legislative delegation from going on and saying, All right guys, where we at? Everything's done, everything's ready. Let's go ahead to file our bill to immediately start the (election) process.

If the certified teacher stuff is addressed, and the debt services millage rate is recreated, thereby lowering the taxes, which was part of the plan, there's nothing that's stopping us from going ahead and starting the process of public elections and things like that, the legislator said.

Bamberg continued, It's just more, in my belief, based on lawmaking in Columbia, it's more prudent to give yourself more time than less. For example, with that original legislation, if we had built in more time, we wouldn't be having this problem in the first place.

You would have a larger window. You don't know when things are going to come up, or if there's going to be a monkey wrench in the plan, or whatever. All you know is that you can work diligently towards it.

'Votes taken away'

Bamberg resident Sharon Carter, who unsuccessfully challenged Bamberg in 2022, said, In my opinion, any time you take away people's right to have a voice in voting for the people that represent them in very important issues, especially schools, that concerns me.

She said Bamberg's original bill had no sunset clause, but Bamberg said that was an oversight on his part.

The reason this board was created was to consolidate the district. That's what they were tasked with. That process is not finished. I did not want to derail things and we just weren't there yet. I have a sunset provision. The bill I originally filed, it didn't sunset. That's on me. That was an oversight on my part. I just wasn't thinking about it in terms of how it may look, Bamberg said.

He claims only a handful of people are upset about the bill.

There are only a few people who are upset and have nothing to do with our school children, or what's best for our district. People have personal vendettas, he said.

Bamberg continued, "For example, one of the folks upset is a person who challenged me and lost. There's somebody upset because of things that happened with their friend. There are people upset because they applied for a job, and they did not get it because it went to someone more qualified.

Things we exactly wanted to keep out of consolidation, people are mad that that stuff didn't happen. My number one and only priority is that we do this correctly and do what's best for the children, do what's best for the teachers in our schools and do what's best for our county.

Carter said, For me, the point is simple: It's never good for people to get their votes taken away. Here is how I've seen it. We've contacted the both of them (Bamberg and Hutto) on numerous occasions prior to this, asking them, When are our lines going to be established so that people will know where they live and who can run?

So our representatives have yet to put together the lines for elections for school boards. Since they haven't done that, I don't know how they feel, but maybe they're buying the time that they in fact did not do their job this past year in developing lines. So that's one aspect.

A concerned parent of three children in the district, who didn't want to be named, said, The district is preaching about transparency and accountability and, you know, all of a sudden we're finding out that Rep. Bamberg is trying to pass a bill.

It somehow doesn't feel right that that our legislators would be making the decision before the people of Bamberg and for the parents and the teachers, to not even give them a heads up and say, Hey, this is what I'm doing and this is why I'm doing it, she said.

Bamberg said the bill is not about trying to seize power over the district.

So people are like, 'Oh, it's a power grab.' It's not a power grab. I have a bajillion things to do and so does Sen. Hutto. No one wants to run a school district. It's not about that, the legislator said.

I'm a civil rights lawyer. I talk to my grandma all the time about what it was like when she couldn't vote. No one wants to deprive people of voting. But we're doing something that should have been done 50 years ago if it wasn't for racial and geographical divides.

It would have been stellar if we could have completed and done everything and got a consolidated district where it needed to be within the window of that original bill, and it just didn't happen, he said.

Hutto did not respond to requests for comment on this story.
WASHINGTON  The Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether South Carolina's congressional districts need to be redrawn because they discriminate against Black voters.

The justices said Monday they would review a lower-court ruling that found a coastal district running from Charleston to Hilton Head was intentionally redrawn to reduce the number of Democratic-leaning Black voters and to make it more likely Republican candidates would win.

The case probably will be argued in the fall, and decided in the run up to the 2024 elections, when all the seats in the closely divided House of Representatives, now under Republican control, will be on the ballot.

The three-judge court that ruled in favor of civil rights groups that challenged the congressional map said in its opinion in January that the districts violated the federal Voting Rights Act by unfairly diluting the power of Black voters.

The Supreme Court has cut back on the reach of the landmark voting rights law, and is now weighing an Alabama case that could make it still harder to win lawsuits claiming racial discrimination in redistricting.

Republican Rep. Nancy Mace currently represents the 1st District. She narrowly beat Joe Cunningham in 2020 after Cunningham became the first Democrat to flip a U.S. House seat in South Carolina in 30 years.

In the round of redistricting that took place following the 2020 census, Republicans who control the state government redrew the district. Mace won by 14 percentage points in November.

Republicans defending the map have said partisan considerations, the desire to maintain the 6-1 Republican edge in the state's congressional districts, drove their decision, not race.

Civil rights groups quickly sued, labeling the plan the Legislature adopted "perhaps the worst option of the available maps" for Black voters.
Memorial Day weekend is approaching. More and more boaters are returning to South Carolinas waters after the winter months. The waterways will become very busy  and dangerous.

The National Marine Manufacturers Association says retail unit sales of new powerboats in the U.S. reached a 13-year high in 2020 with nearly 320,000 units sold, an increase of 13% compared to 2019. Annual U.S. sales of boats, marine products and services totaled $49.3 billion in 2020, increasing by 14% over 2019 totals. An estimated one hundred million Americans go boating each year.

South Carolina is seventh in the nation per capita with more than 500,000 boats. If you compare the number of registered boats to the Palmetto States population, it computes to a 1-in-10 ratio.

And the growing population on the states coast will mean even more South Carolinians on the rivers, lakes and waterways.

Safety should be at the forefront.

A U.S. Coast Guard report states that nationally 75% of deaths occurred on watercraft where the operator had no boating safety training and 16% of deaths occurred on watercraft where the operator had received training. And its not getting any better. From 2019 to 2020, boating accidents nationwide increased 26.3%, injuries increased 24.7% and deaths increased 25%.

The S.C. House of Representatives has passed a boating safety bill that had been languishing. The vote cleared the way for the law to take effect.

It would require anyone born after July 2007 to get a boating safety certificate before operating by themselves any boat with 15 horsepower or more and personal watercraft such as jet skis. South Carolina currently is one of only four states without such a law.

The approval likely would not have happened without Randall Smith, whose 11-year-old son, Drew, was killed by an impaired boater in 1997. He has been a supporter of boating safety issues in South Carolina for over 25 years and authored the Boating Safety and Reform Act of 1999, also known as Drews Law, which is still the states boating law.

He penned two recent columns about the difficulty of getting the legislation through the House, even in a boating state such as South Carolina. Opposition took on many forms but proponents won the day. If training is required to operate a motor vehicle, it makes sense amid busy and dangerous waterways to mandate boater education.

Note, however, that no boating license or any kind of training is required of adults. You just get your boat, put it in the water and go. Perhaps once that was OK, but the busy waterways are making learning the rules of the road on the water necessary.

To be clear, the new law will not mandate training for adults, though a training course is recommended for anyone operating a boat.

What the law will mean over time is that more and more people will have training. And that is a necessary mandate.
By CGTN

May 15, 2023: Information Clearing House -- " CGTN " -- The root cause of drug abuse in the United States lies in the country itself, said a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday, who also urged the U.S. to respect the facts, reflect on itself, correct the mistakes, and stop shifting the blame.

The remarks by the ministry's spokesperson Wang Wenbin were in response to a question about the comments by the U.S. senator John Neely Kennedy that Mexicans "would be eating cat food out of a can and living in a tent" if it were not for their nation's proximity to the U.S.

This reflects the U.S. hegemonic, domineering, and bullying practices, said Wang, adding that the U.S. has always adopted a beggar-thy-neighbor policy towards Mexico and other neighboring countries in Latin America and the Caribbean and has recently threatened to use force to tackle the drug problem in Mexico, showing no respect for other countries' sovereignty and dignity.

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The drug problem should be solved by the cooperation of the international community, rather than threatening to use force at every turn to interfere in other countries, he said.

China supports Mexico in defending independence and sovereignty and opposing foreign interference, and will continue to cooperate with other countries, including Mexico, to combat transnational drug-related crimes, contributing to global drug control, said Wang.
(TBTCO) - Ngay 18/5/2023, sau khi hoan tat cac thu tuc, Bao hiem PVI ai dien cho Lien danh Bao hiem a thuc hien chi tra bao hiem than may bay truc thang Bell 505 so ang ky VN-8650 cho Tong cong ty Truc thang Viet Nam (VNH) so tien la 1.569.400 USD (sau khi tru i muc mien thuong). Nhu vay, chi sau hon 1 thang xay ra su viec, Lien danh Bao hiem PVI  Bao Viet  MIC a hoan tat viec chi tra boi thuong toan bo cho than may bay VN-8650.
Instead of an adult teacher, a hoodie-clad schoolmate. Theyre our buddies, say kids who are tutored by older students. From Aktualne.cz.



Its a common enough scene in a Czech primary school. A teacher is explaining something, and while some of the pupils cant keep up, for others the pace is too slow. The idea of having two teachers or several assistants in a class is utopian  there are not enough people available. What can aid such a situation, however, is peer-to-peer instruction between older and younger children. While this idea is being advocated for timidly here, it is delivering results wherever it is introduced. Each child in the early grades is taught by an older schoolmate who gets to try their hand at taking an active approach, being accountable, communicating and being creative.

A small group of seventh-graders is sitting at their desks in a primary school in Roudnice nad Labem. Some have fake money, others a small cash register, others plastic fruit, vegetables or other fake food items. Third-graders are doing their best to ask them, in English, how much the food costs and then trying to pay for it correctly.

What would you like? Can I help you? one of the seventh-graders asks a small girl in English. Wait, you were already here, werent you? she continues in Czech. No, that was my twin, the little third-grader holding a shopping basket says with a smile. Her friend cannot remember the English word corn. The older girls say she has certainly heard a similar word if she has ever bought a certain snack at the movies. Popcorn! the younger pupil shouts. Well almost, but just part of that word, they say to assist her. Pop? she guesses. The seventh-graders playing the role of her teacher smile and say: Not that part.

This English lesson is based on peer-to-peer instruction, or the Buddies Program, as they call it at the private Smart Primary School in Roudnice nad Labem. The idea of friendly pairings of older and younger schoolmates has been a favorite instructional method in Australia and the United States for decades already. The idea was introduced to the Smart school in 2016 by the head teacher for lower primary education, Marie Kozakova, who was inspired by an Australian primary school near Melbourne where she spent time as a volunteer teacher.

The Buddies Program helps cultivate a good atmosphere in the school, principal Klara Koubska says.

Elsewhere in the Czech Republic this method is used occasionally, for example, in Montessori schools that teach several grades together in one classroom. At some schools they assign a buddy to be a guide, for example, to a child who is a foreign national, or to a child with a learning disorder or other disability. In Roudnice nad Labem, each pupil from the fifth through the eighth grade has a younger charge to tutor in the classroom several times a month and to assist with whatever is necessary. During lockdown, for example, these buddies explained to their younger charges how to master online instruction, or sometimes they just spent time online with them. When the classes take field trips or go to the swimming pool, the older pupils help the younger ones on those occasions as well.

The Smart school was established in 2014 by Klara Koubska, now the school principal, and other parents who could not find an appropriate school for their children locally. The town of 13,000 in the Litomerice area is not just known for its extensive historical center, its castle and its chateau, but is also known for its complex social situation. As much as 10% of the population is in debt and undergoing at least one collection proceeding, with an average number of five such proceedings per person. There are also several small poor neighborhoods in town, officially termed excluded localities.

Today 140 pupils attend the school with a maximum of 16 children per class. In the beginning the parents had to subsidize the school and the teachers worked there more or less as volunteers. When, at the end of that first year, the Czech School Inspectorates visit was a success, the school was able to request full funding from the state. It took five years for the school to become self-sufficient and today it breaks even. In 2020 the school won the prestigious EDUin prize, awarded for innovative approaches to education, for its Buddies Program.

Inspired by her experience in Australia, teacher Marie Kozakova introduced peer-to-peer instruction to the school in 2016.

This is a small town, its not Prague, we dont have so many educated parents who would seek this instruction method for their children, but even so the school has made a name for itself and interest in it is growing, Koubska boasts about the constant demand for places at the school, which exceeds what the school can offer.

Even though there is an eight-year college preparatory school (gymnazium) in Roudnice nad Labem, many pupils stay at the Smart school even after fifth grade. At the end of the 2020-2021 school year nobody transferred away, even though several pupils passed the entrance examinations for the eight-year institution, while at the end of the next school year just two children planned to transfer there.

Non-traditional teaching in Roudnice nad Labem Tuition at Smart Primary School costs approximately 3,000 Czech crowns ($120) per pupil per month, a price that includes extended instruction in English with a native speaker, English-language instruction of other subjects, and after-school childcare that includes activity groups. Parents pay extra to send their children here because there are just 16 pupils per class, the pupils and teachers have friendly relationships, and detailed feedback is given to the pupils about their progress instead of grades.

Teacher, Adviser, Friend

Each new first-grader is assigned a buddy at the beginning of the school year. Their fifth-grade friend will aid the younger pupil for the next four years with school and will tutor some subjects twice a month or attend an event outside of school with the younger pupil. The buddy is the first person the child goes to if there is a problem at school.

This older friend accompanies the younger one until he or she becomes a fifth-grader, at which point he or she switches roles and becomes a first-graders guide. The older pupil, now starting ninth grade, must fully dedicate himself or herself to preparing for secondary school. For those who successfully pass their secondary school entrance examinations, the school finds a way for them to perform some beneficial activity for the community for at least two weeks, for example, in nursery schools or senior citizens homes.

From the outside, Smart Primary School looks like a typical Czech school.

Peer-to-peer instruction also has its pitfalls. Teachers dont get to know their new pupils until enrollment, when they note their preferences and do their best to find an appropriate buddy for them. However, the pairs do not always get along. For that reason, at the end of each school year the teachers ask whether the children want to stay together or change.

It sometimes happens that the older pupils say they are doing their best to establish contact with the assigned child, but the younger one never responds to them. At other times we put two silent types together by mistake, so we change that for the next year, principal Koubska says.

Its April, Will We Huddle by the Stove Again?

The seventh-graders came up with the shopping-in-English idea for the third-graders themselves. They put together several stands, some displaying worksheets for the younger ones with pictures and the English names for the items, others with bingo cards on the subject, and then the model shop with its cash register, fake money and goods for sale.

I like the buddies because we are taught by people who are our same age. They talk like we do, says Elias, a third-grader. My buddy is also my friend. When we had distance learning, he taught me how to work in the Microsoft Teams program, he adds.

A fifth-grader helps his first-grade buddy learn to read.

After 45 minutes the seventh-graders return to their own classroom and discuss how the lesson went. They relate how they prepared everything themselves. They decided who would have what at which station and got the materials together. Sometimes they had to improvise, but they agree that they probably managed it.

They decidedly do not insist that everything happens on its own somehow. The students agree that the Buddies Program is hard work, but they can do it. It helps them to recall that they were little once, and they remember what didnt work for them and what they liked.

In another class, the fifth-graders are aiding the first-graders with reading Czech and with completing words that are missing from a text. Sometimes the pairs are of different genders, so for example a burly fifth-grade boy wearing a hoodie is assisting a little girl in a dress and pigtails. It doesnt matter if you dont know the proverb, he tells her. Try to read it and youll see which words fit: In March round the stove we   Huddle? Is that how you say it? asks the little girl.  Yeah, and April, we will still   Huddle again?  Well, almost. What else rhymes with that?

When the older pupils answer the younger ones questions, they are clarifying for themselves the problem being reviewed, and they are able to activate the younger pupils by asking them questions in return. It has been repeatedly confirmed that pupils perceive the various solutions to problems more easily and faster from their peers. The advantage is that children speak the same language and effectively transfer both content and skills, says Jana Kargerova Poche of Charles Universitys Faculty of Education, explaining the advantages of peer-to-peer instruction.

The Roudnice nad Labem teachers praise the peer-to-peer program for helping children learn mathematics as well. Teaching children how to count and reason logically is approached with games and activities such as pacing off steps or counting stairs or animals. To introduce younger students to science, eighth-graders may show the fourth-graders their experiments in chemistry and physics. They dont explain the essence to them, but they demonstrate how it works as an illustration, the principal explains.

Seventh-grade boys use a computer app to teach English to their younger schoolmates.

Most of the older pupils enjoy the work. Im glad when I can aid the younger ones with a problem, fifth-grader Klara says. In addition to her own first-grader, she is also helping her Ukrainian classmate Polina, who learned to speak Czech during annual visits to her grandmother in Roudnice nad Labem and so did not have to join the adaptation group for new pupils from Ukraine. Polina joined the Czech fifth-grade class right away.

Not everybody is enthusiastic about the program, though. I dont like it but Im glad to help, says fifth-grader Jenda. The head teacher for the lower primary level, Kozakova, warns that the program doesnt necessarily suit everybody and some pupils may directly refuse to participate in it.

We had one case like that. A pupil told us it didnt suit her and she didnt want to join. We respected that and she read books during program time, Kozakova says. She adds that there is no point in coercing a pupil to participate. If an older pupil were to be forced into performing this advisory role it would not assist their younger schoolmates learning process.

Big Kids Protect the Little Ones

At first glance it might seem that it is mainly the younger pupils who chiefly benefit from the peer-to-peer instruction, but Koubska mentions that the older ones acquire many skills by performing this role. They learn how to formulate their sentences so as to be comprehensible, they learn patience and respect, and they also develop their own creativity. If their younger friend doesnt get something, they do their best to present the problem from another perspective. Expert Kargerova Poche sees this similarly. Peer-to-peer instruction develops the skill of collaboration and communication, it contributes to the childrens personal and social development. They learn how to show consideration when negotiating with somebody else, how to give and receive aid, she says.

Moreover, according to Koubska, the program brightens the atmosphere in the school. The little children communicate with those who are four years older, they are not afraid of them, they consider them their protectors. We have no problems with undesirable behavior, the principal says. This teaching method is also quite effective, she adds. Every younger pupil benefits from one-on-one instruction, whereas It would take one educator 15 hours to hold 15 one-on-one sessions, she says.

Kozakova points out that older pupils who have problems with learning can also improve through the peer-to-peer experience. Thanks to the buddy role they grow and come alive. The feeling that even a weaker pupil can aid younger peers usually pushes such a pupil forward. The older guides have the chance to develop their own self-confidence, self-fulfillment, and self-esteem, Kargerova Poche says.

The very first ninth-graders are now leaving the Smart Primary School after competing with children from mainstream primary schools during the entrance exams to secondary schools. The principal says most of them passed the tests and are able to attend the secondary school of their choice.

We have also succeeded from the standpoint of their knowledge. Whats more, I have feedback from the preparatory courses for secondary school  the instructor tells me that our children know how to analyze problems and come up with solutions to them, Koubska says. Kozakova, the lower primary head teacher, adds that the pupils showed good communication skills during their classes to prepare for the exams. They dont over-respect us, we consider them our partners, we teach them how to discuss things with adults, she explains.

Koubska maintains that the Smart schools Buddies Program could also be introduced at a mainstream primary school. The system could work even in classes of 30 children, she says: They would just have to be split into two groups so they could fit into each classroom. She recommends starting the program with first-graders, for whom everything about school is new, pairing them with fifth-graders. It seems to me that the deciding factor is the educators enthusiasm. Interesting things can then be done, she declares.

Schools that are inspired to try peer-to-peer learning are advised to thoroughly prepare the teachers and the older pupils tasked with devising activities for particular subjects.

I really like the Buddies Program. Im glad when I can aid the younger ones, fifth-grader Klara says.

You cant just say one morning: Lets do buddies. All of this has to be agreed to in advance, prepared, and the older pupils have to be trained, Koubska continues.

Kargerova Poche of Charles University warns of another pitfall. Because peer-to-peer instruction is directed by the pupils themselves, there is the danger that children will refuse to collaborate, or will judge their younger schoolmates, or will abuse their psychological vulnerability. For that reason, it is important that the educators follow the buddy system closely and assess it as it happens, she says, adding, The teachers intervene invisibly, but their actions are actually quite important.



Zuzana Hronova is an editor and reporter at the Czech news site Aktualne.cz, where this article originally appeared as part of the Clever Czechia series on the challenges facing the countrys education system. The series is supported by the Ceska sporitelna Foundation.

Republished with permission. Photos by the author. Translated by Gwendolyn Albert.
A year after dozens of reporters sought safety in Riga, they are facing a distrustful public and stricter immigration laws. From the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism.

Thousands of journalists fled Russia after Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Over their first few weeks in exile, they spent most of their time finding accommodation and schools for their children, and adjusting to their new life. More than a year later, they spend almost every waking hour reporting on Russia and the war in Ukraine.

Theres so much to do now. I work 18 hours a day, says Aleksandra Ageeva, the founder and CEO of Sota.vision (Sota) and one of the journalists I spoke to for the piece I published in May 2022.

Hundreds of Russian journalists sought refuge in Riga, Latvias capital city. One year on, they are now facing a distrustful public, stricter immigration laws, mental health issues connected to traumatic events and difficulties adapting, as well as other challenges they discuss in this piece.

Life in Exile, One Year On

The last year has been very difficult for Russian independent news organizations. A good example is independent news site Sota. Its staff count in Russia currently stands at 50 journalists, up from 40 last year. But its reporters are frequently harassed and assaulted, at times temporarily jailed, and in three cases forced to flee the country.

Despite these challenges or perhaps because of them, Sotas team has managed to increase its subscribers across its Telegram, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube channels from 300,000 in early 2022 to around 400,000 now.

According to founder and CEO Ageeva, Russias unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine has been Sotas focal topic since February 2022. We cover tons of court hearings, verdicts, and anti-war protests. We try to follow everything, she says.

While its difficult to cover events in Ukraine itself due to a lack of correspondents, Ageeva says, her staff have been trying to show the scale of the protests in support of Ukraine. On the one-year anniversary of the war, Sota did a live, 11-hour broadcast showing anti-war protests in 30 countries including South Korea, New Zealand, Brazil, the United States, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Latvia, and the UK. We wanted to show that the whole world is coming out in support of Ukraine, Ageeva says.

According to Ageeva, Sotas reporters also conduct weekly surveys of Russians attitude towards the war and try to give those who are not afraid to speak out a voice.

Donations from subscribers were by far Sotas most important source of income in 2022, but many viewers dont subscribe or donate now out of fear of reprisals. This makes paying her staff in Russia extremely difficult.

Both the future of Sota and Ageevas personal situation are highly uncertain. As she is unlikely to receive a temporary residence permit in Riga, she recently applied for an extension of her long-stay visa, which allows her to travel within the European Union, but not to be employed by a Latvian legal entity.

Another Russian based in Riga is Kirill Kojemyakin, a 49-year-old journalist with independent news outlet Pskov Gubernija Media, whose newsroom was raided by Russian authorities in early 2022.

A sense of guilt for not having done more to prevent the war weighs heavily on Kojemyakin and many of his colleagues in exile. Some suffer from insomnia and burnout, while others have suicidal thoughts or grapple with symptoms of PTSD. Many join a walk through a forest in Rigas outskirts every week as a way to disconnect from the challenges posed by life in exile on the advice of experts in crisis intervention and psychosocial support.

Weve been recommended [by mental health professionals] to stop news production and news analysis for two hours every day, but its impossible, he says. We need to know all about the war in Ukraine and tell our audience in Russia at all times that its a crime. I feel tired every day.

Kojemyakin has had a hard time reporting on the war in Ukraine and speaking with sources inside his own country. We face a number of ethical issues, he tells me. Contacts with independent press can lead to a real prison sentence. We use secret chats, non-named accounts for communication. And many of our interviewees only agree to speak on the condition of anonymity.

When asked how they cover Ukrainians suffering, Kojemyakin says they do so on their website as well as on Telegram and TikTok to influence different audiences, and by referencing investigations into Russian atrocities in places like Bucha and Mariupol.

A Film Critic in Exile

Another person I spoke to in the spring of 2022 was film critic Anton Dolin. When we met back then, he had been in Riga for a few weeks and told me he was struggling. After spending over a year in Latvia, he says hes doing better. Everything and nothing has changed over the past 13 months, Dolin says matter-of-factly. Nothing because the war is still here, he says. Everything because Russia slapped him with the dreaded foreign agent label in December 2022.

In theory, every time I write anything on my social networks, I must add a disclaimer: This material is produced by Foreign Agent Anton Dolin. Many people oblige, but I refuse to do it. However, this could mean a criminal [fine] every time, and the third criminal [fine] is already a criminal case, which could land me in prison, says Dolin.

In late April, Latvian authorities extended Dolins long-stay visa. Like many other Russian journalists in Latvia, he had unsuccessfully applied for a temporary residence permit. This means, among other things, that his wife cannot work, which is a big burden for her and for the whole family, Dolin says.

When I ask him about his financial situation, he shares a joke from Soviet journalist Sergei Dovlatovs books:  Do they pay good money? Yeah, very good money, but not enough. Thats my situation. I have good money, but thats not enough for a family of four and the dog. So I have to travel all over the world giving all kinds of lectures and screenings.

When hes not traveling, he splits his time between his YouTube channel and writing film reviews and festival reports for independent news site Meduza. Although some of his videos get viewed hundreds of thousands of times, most advertisers stopped collaborating after he became a foreign agent.

The biggest problem for me psychologically is the situation in Ukraine, Dolin says. Im trying not to pity myself and my family too much. We are together and we are surviving. I can still watch films and work in my profession, and my global audience is growing. So I have good hopes for myself and for my family. But not for Russia and not for the situation in Europe in general.

In January, Dolins employer Meduza was labeled an undesirable organization, a sanction which puts its staff and its donors at risk of significant jail time. Its much, much worse than the foreign agent status. If I were to step on the soil of Russia now, I could go to prison for four years just for the fact that I published an article with Meduza about John Wick 4. Being part of an undesirable organization was one of the accusations against Kara-Murza, Dolin says, referring to Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was sentenced to 25 years in jail last month.

Aside from Meduza, around two dozen other Russian media organizations and their staffs went into exile in Latvia, including Novaya Gazeta, The Moscow Times, TV Rain and Echo of Moscow.

A Place Where Exiles Gather

Russian journalist Elena Kuznetsova. Photo by Benjamin Bathke.

One of the few constants in the life of Russian journalists living in Latvia is a co-working space in central Riga with desks, computers, meeting rooms, recording studios, and a kitchen. With free lunches and networking events, this bright space functions as a meeting place for this community of exiles.

Russian journalist Elena Kuznetsova works there a couple of times a week. People here are really friendly and quite creative, Kuznetsova said during a recent visit. Its like working in a team consisting of journalists from different media outlets and different regions of Russia. In another situation, we wouldnt have had a chance to meet.

Running the co-working space is one of four Latvian media NGOs that came together last year to create the Media Hub Riga to better support exiled journalists and news organizations. In the beginning, the NGOs helped these journalists and their families with immediate needs such as language classes, short-term accommodation, food, and visas.

Since then, they have added a tech support program, mentoring on topics such as fundraising, media management, and fighting Russian censorship as well as podcasting and mobile journalism training. According to Gunta Sloga, executive director of the Baltic Center for Media Excellence (BCME), the visa situation is the most challenging issue for Russian exiles.

The immigration process has been much slower than anybody expected, Sloga explains. Another issue is mental health: These journalists had to leave their home country in just a few hours or days, and they had to start their lives from scratch here. And then there are challenges around media viability  how do you launch a new publication, or try to bring back to life your old one which existed in Russia?

A Rare Opportunity

Launching a new publication is exactly what Kuznetsova has been tasked with. At the outset of the Russian full-scale invasion, this 35-year-old journalist was working as a culture editor for Fontanka.ru, one of the largest news sites in Russia.

For the first nine months, she and her husband barely made ends meet by freelancing for different Russian-language media outlets in Russia and Latvia while looking after their two-year-old son. Then, in March 2023, somebody from the Media Hub shared a job opening in the media workers group chat. It was for the editor-in-chief position of a new, Russian-language version of Neatkariga Rita Avize (Independent Morning Newspaper), a Latvian legacy publication known for its conservative and at times nationalistic stance, especially when reporting on Russia.

Kuznetsova got the job and she expects the site to go live in late May. She says it will feature a mix of culture and business reporting catering to the large Russian-speaking audiences in the Baltics and Poland. When asked about Neatkariga Rita Avizes new owner Anastasija Udalova, a Latvian businesswoman reportedly engaged to Oleg Ossinovski, one of Estonias wealthiest businessmen, who got caught up in a major bribery scandal but was acquitted, Kuznetsova said she first had to think for a while before accepting Udalovas offer.

I have full editorial independence, Kuznetsova says. Sometimes the managing director and the owner share their ideas, but thats actually a good thing because I am not a local. If there are any issues, I can resign.

Despite getting hired by a local publication, Kuznetsova and her husbands applications for temporary residence permits have been pending for more than four months now, which is why they are now hoping to get their one-year visas extended. According to a Media Hub Riga representative, only five of 99 applications for temporary residence permits submitted through the hub by April 2023 have been approved, with the rest still pending.

Riga, a Growing Media Hub

In 2022 a number of major Western media outlets also relocated their staff and operations from Moscow to Riga. Ten months after announcing that it would open offices in Riga and the Lithuanian capital Vilnius for its Russian and Belarusian services, respectively, Radio Free Europe/Radio Libertys (RFE/RL) large reporting hub started to operate in central Riga in early 2023.

Aside from housing staff of its Russian service and its 24/7 Russian-language TV and digital network Current Time, the office will also house a Russian investigative unit and a digital innovation hub designed to counter Kremlin disinformation and develop strategies to circumvent online censorship in Russia, Current Time director Pavel Butorin told me.

Once they finish the recruitment process, says Butorin, around 150 staff will be working out of the hub in central Riga, around one third of them Russian nationals. While some of RFE/RLs Russian service and Current Time staff is now in Riga, the Prague-based U.S. public broadcaster still works with an undisclosed number of contributors in Russia.

Other Western media outlets that relocated staff from Russia to Riga include German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle, Canadas CBC, the BBC, the Washington Post, Financial Times, Radio France International, and Sky News.

No Need for Exiled Media

Public sentiment in Latvia has become more nationalistic and anti-Russian since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. It moved Latvias political center to the right and mainstreamed many of the core policy positions of the right-wing populist National Alliance (NA) party, which has been in power since 2011.

That is why some people said We dont need those exiled media,  BCMEs Sloga says. As a result, immigration services, which were very slow even before those sentiments became louder, have become even slower. Moreover, the last government tightened the immigration law last fall to strengthen national security, which has made it harder for Russian and Belarusian citizens to obtain temporary residence permits and employment.

Under NAs leadership, the coalition in government has also squeezed the Russian language from the public sphere, including the school system. The Ministry of Culture even recently drafted a proposal to shut down the Latvian public broadcasters Russian-language service. As of [early May], Russian language audio tracks are no longer allowed on television in Latvia.

According to a survey from July 2022, less than half of Latvias ethnic Russians, who account for about a quarter of the Baltic countrys population of 1.9 million, condemned Russias war in Ukraine. These numbers reflect the growing rift between the countrys Latvian majority and the Russian-speaking minority.

The distrust among a majority of Latvians towards all things Russian came to a head last December, when Latvias media watchdog accused Russias last independent television channel, TV Rain, of breaking the law and revoked its broadcasting license. After less than five months on air, TV Rain (or Dozhd, as its known among Russian speakers) had accrued thousands of euros in fines and harsh criticism for, among other things, displaying a map in which occupied Crimea was shown as part of Russian territory.

The backlash against TV Rain, which has long been critical of Putin and the Russian government, reverberated through the small Russian-speaking media community in Latvian exile. Everybody was shocked, Kuznetsova says. We really had this feeling that we would be deported soon from Latvia. We didnt understand what would happen with our humanitarian visas or residence permits.

What May Come Next

Over the past 14 months, Media Hub Riga has supported around 380 mostly Russian media workers. While a steady stream of them arrived from the onset of the war, their number gradually dwindled after last September. A few still arrive each week, especially those relocating from other hubs for media in exile like Georgia, whose pro-Russian government has reportedly been denying independent Russian journalists permission to re-enter the country of late.

Roughly 35 media workers, including Meduzas investigative editor Alexei Kovalev and Holods special correspondent Victoria Lee, left Latvia after our visit in April last year. Many of the Russian reporters currently in Latvia have felt compelled to come up with a contingency plan due to the ongoing uncertainty, both in their homeland and in exile.

I cannot go back to Russia, its out of the question, Ageeva says. My mother and my son are here with me, but if I cannot stay here, well work out somewhere else. Ill find a way. Ageeva says shes currently discussing the possibility of relocating to another EU country not too far from Russias 11 time zones with Reporters without Borders.

Dolins plan B is to become a citizen of Israel, which he says would be a mere formality given his Jewish heritage. Living in Israel, getting a school for my son, earning money there  a solid backup plan is really important for me right now, especially psychologically. The country where I was born doesnt want me anymore. Every Jewish person is an eternal fugitive, but at least in Israel Id belong to a larger community of fugitives, he says.

As for Kuznetsova, the rare opportunity of getting hired by a local media outlet has hardly stabilized her situation, she says. Its my first job as editor-in-chief, so Ive never experienced some challenges Im facing now. There is no stability job-wise, nor in terms of my visa status. My husband and I really want to understand the options we actually have at this point.

One way shes better able to deal with the uncertainty, Kuznetsova says, is using a coping strategy a Media Hub Riga mentor taught her: perceiving herself not as an immigrant with nostalgia for her home country but as someone who can be successful in different locations.

I am neither an immigrant nor a journalist in exile, she says. Im just a reporter who moved from Russia to Latvia and tries hard to do her job.



Freelance journalist Benjamin Bathke has worked in television, print, and online journalism for the past five years. In 2015-2016, he was a Global Journalism Fellow at the University of Torontos Munk School of Global Affairs and a multimedia storyteller for Washington University in St. Louis.

This article originally appeared on the website of the Oxford University-based Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism and is republished under a Creative Commons license.
LONDON  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 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 $3 billion worth of equipment, including tanks, anti-aircraft systems and ammunition.

But Zelenskyys 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 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 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.

In Ukraines forests, fighters race to prepare for next push
Long-awaited improvements are about to get underway at Caspers 45-year-old headquarters on David Street. But first, contractors will have to remove and safely dispose of asbestos still lingering inside.

Casper City Council is expected on Tuesday to set aside $42,919 to that end, according to a draft contract published by the city. That contract also earmarks $2,081 for construction contingency costs, which would take care of any unexpected expenses.

The city has selected Wind River Environmental Solutions, a Lander-based construction company, for the project. Itd be funded through leftover money from Caspers most recent 1-cent tax cycle, the documents say.

Exposure to asbestos  a once-common construction material still routinely found in older buildings  is known to cause cancer and lung disease.

Eventual renovations planned for City Hall include improvements to its heating, cooling and ventilation systems, safety and security enhancements and renovations to the council chambers.

Casper City Council on May 2 approved a contract for $5.2 million with local construction company Caspar Building Systems (which included another $258,000 in construction contingency costs) for the improvements.

Most city offices will be moving to the Casper Business Center while City Hall is under construction. The city purchased the building last year, which will eventually house the Casper Police Department, for $8 million. That money came out of the $9.1 million in direct pandemic relief money Casper received as part of the federal American Rescue Plan Act.

City staff are hoping to move back into City Hall in the next year or so.
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.
JACKSON  Officials are investigating how Catheryn Danyelle Griffin, 38, died Saturday in the southwest corner of Yellowstone National Park.

On Saturday evening, park rangers responded to an accident reported on Craig Pass, the byway that traverses the Continental Divide and connects two of the parks most iconic destinations: West Thumb Geyser Basin and Old Faithful. When they arrived, rangers found a single vehicle that had been driven into a snowbank and a man standing outside. Griffin was found inside, according to a Monday afternoon Yellowstone press release.

The man was detained and arrested for drug possession and other traffic-related charges.

Yellowstone declined to provide that mans name.

But Michael Wayne McCollum, of Texas, was arrested and charged with drug possession and traffic violations over the weekend in Yellowstone, according to state and federal records.

McCollum is being held on Yellowstones behalf in the Gallatin County, Montana, Detention Center, where he was denied bond. Prosecutors are asking a federal judge to detain McCollum while his case is adjudicated, arguing that he is a flight risk.

Yellowstones press release, which provided some details about the incident, came almost two days after officials sent a Nixle alert announcing a road closure on Craig Pass. The alert cited an ongoing law enforcement incident.

Officials did not respond to the Jackson Hole Dailys request for more information over the weekend. In the meantime, rumors swirled on social media and in text messages about a possible fatality. Craig Pass reopened Sunday evening.

Teton County Coroner Brent Blue provided the Daily with Griffins name and birth date. Blue said Griffin was likely from Florida, though there were also addresses in Mississippi and Alabama tied to her name.

Yellowstone said it would share more information as the investigation proceeds but declined to provide more information on Monday.

Federal court records show McCollum was scheduled to appear at 1:30 p.m. Monday before Stephanie A. Hambrick, magistrate judge for the U.S. District Court of Wyoming in Mammoth Hot Springs.

There is no transcript of the hearing. Records were made public a few hours after McCollum was scheduled to appear. They also redact physical copies of the citations McCollum received.

The available documents do, however, show that McCollum is charged with operating a vehicle with a suspended or revoked license, doing so while the vehicles occupants werent wearing seat belts, and possessing a controlled substance.

Assistant United States Attorney Timothy J. Forwood, the lead attorney for federal prosecutors, asked for a pretrial detention hearing for McCollum after a continuance of three days.

Forwood said McCollums case is eligible for a detention order because there is a serious risk that the defendant will flee, and the case presents a serious risk of obstruction of justice. There are no conditions of release that will protect the safety of any other person and the community and reasonably assure that McCollum will appear as required, Forwood wrote.

Records also show that McCollum is currently representing himself.

A follow-up detention hearing had not been scheduled by press time, according to court records.

Blue, the Teton County coroner, said a final determination on how Griffin died will depend on an autopsy and isnt expected for weeks.

The National Park Services Investigative Services Branch and Yellowstone Law Enforcement Division are involved with the investigation, as are the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Attorneys Office and Teton County Coroners Office.

Yellowstone declined to comment on whether the incident is being investigated as a homicide.

What we have to share at this time is in the news release, park spokeswoman Linda Veress wrote in an email to the Daily. We will provide an update when we have it.

Veress referred the Daily to a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorneys Office, who did not respond to request for comment before press time Monday.

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75 years later, Israel Blocking Palestinian Refugees Return





Nakba Anniversary Highlights Continued Israeli Repression

By Omar Shakir

From the morgues of Cairo to the cells of Guantanamo, Ive seen a lot of anguish and cruelty in my human rights work over the years. But often more than blood spilled, its the lives stunted, solely because of a persons identity, that hits the hardest.

I had one such moment visiting a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon several years ago. Meeting kids who, through no fault of their own, were effectively condemned to lifelong refugee status, like their parents and grandparents before them, because they are Palestinian, shook me.

May 15 marks the 75th anniversary of Nakba Day, commemorating the more than 700,000 Palestinians who fled or were expelled from their homes, and the more than 400 Palestinian villages destroyed in the events surrounding the establishment of Israel in 1948. As the Palestinian human rights group al-Haq wrote, the legacy of the Nakba events is that about two-thirds of the Palestinian people became refugees, while Israel imposed a system of institutionalized racial discrimination over Palestinians who remained on the land. Today, there are more than 5.9 million Palestinian refugees, including the descendants of those who fled or were expelled.

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Israeli authorities have, pursuant to discriminatory laws, blocked those refugees and their descendants from returning to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Meanwhile, Israeli law entitles Jewish citizens of other countries to settle in Israel or West Bank settlements and become citizens. That means a Jewish citizen of any country who has never been to Israel can move there and automatically gain citizenship, while a Palestinian expelled from his home in what became Israel and languishing for more than 70 years in a refugee camp, cannot.

This reality reflects the long-standing Israeli policy to maintain the domination by Jewish Israelis over Palestinians, one element of its crime against humanity of apartheid.

International human rights law guarantees refugees and exiles the right to enter the territory they are from, even where sovereignty is contested or has changed hands, and reside in areas where they or their families once lived and have maintained links to. Like refugees in other contexts, such as Rohingya refugees expelled from Myanmar, Palestinians should have the freedom to choose among the options of returning to reside in the areas where they or their families are from, local integration, or third-country resettlement.

No matter how many years pass, recognizing and honoring the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homeland should remain central to the discussion of the future in Israel and Palestine.
CHEYENNE  One of three defendants connected to the Dell Range Boulevard shooting in January that led to the death of a Triumph High School student has pleaded guilty.

Nearly three months after Tirso Munguia, 19, sought to have the charges dismissed during a preliminary hearing, he pleaded guilty on May 1 to one count of involuntary manslaughter.

An order finding guilt and ordering a pre-sentence investigation was filed May 9 in Laramie County District Court, and his bond of $75,000 surety will continue with the same terms and conditions until a sentence hearing is held. Sentencing is currently set for Aug. 22 at 10 a.m. in district court.

The teen could have faced up to 20 years in prison, as well as a $10,000 fine, but the state will cap its recommended sentence between eight and 12 years, according to the plea agreement. The agreement said that Munguia is free to argue for whatever sentence he deems is reasonable and appropriate, and he agreed to pay all restitution.

Munguia was arrested after an investigation by the Cheyenne Police Department revealed he was in possession of a firearm when it fired on Jan. 9, leading to the accidental death of 16-year-old resident Angelina Harrison. He was in a vehicle at the time that was driven by Sarah Heath, 26, while sitting in the back seat next to gun owner Cody Nicholson, 18.

Both Heath and Nicholson were arrested along with Munguia following the shooting, and each was charged with one count of felony accessory after the fact to involuntary manslaughter. Heath was also charged with accessory to the crime, three counts of furnishing alcohol to a minor and one count of possession of marijuana.

Heath filed a motion May 4 seeking a date for a change of plea hearing. The reasons for the hearing requested by her lawyer were she is currently on bond, has reached an agreement with the state and it is in the interest of the justice to arraign the defendant as soon as possible.

Court documents did not indicate whether a hearing date for her change of plea had been scheduled as of Friday.

This request follows District Judge Edward Buchanans denial of a motion to suppress evidence in the form of statements made by the defendant. Her lawyer filed that motion on March 13, and it was denied May 3.

Nicholsons case is scheduled for a jury trial that will begin on Aug. 14 at 9 a.m. in the Laramie County Governmental Complex.

The trial date was decided following a scheduling conference in April, and his previous bond of $50,000 surety remains in effect, with the same terms and conditions.
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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Attorney General Reginald Armour, SC, yesterday sought to put the best possible spin on Governments 3/2 defeat at the Privy Council on the issue of the postponement of local government elections.

Speaking at a news conference at his Port of Spain office called to address the Privy Councils judgment which was delivered seven hours earlier, Armour could not say what the Governments next move would be in light of the ruling since he was giving it active consideration.
Why is there such nasty racism in Trinidad? A rhetorical question, to be sure. But for the u
May 15, 2023: Information Clearing House -- " The Hill " -- This week, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) tried to do the impossible. After he and his colleagues presented a labyrinth of LLC shell companies and accounts used to funnel as much as $10 million to Biden family members, Donalds tried to induce the press to show some interest in the massive corruption scandal. For those in the press, this easy pickings & Pulitzer-level stuff right here, he pleaded.

The response was virtually immediate. Despite showing nine Biden family members allegedly receiving funds from corrupt figures in Romania, China and other countries, The New Republic quickly ran a story headlined Republicans Finally Admit They Have No Incriminating Evidence on Joe Biden.

For many of us, it was otherworldly. A decade ago, when then-Vice President Joe Biden was denouncing corruption in Romania and Ukraine and promising action by the United States, massive payments were flowing to his son Hunter Biden and a variety of family members, including Biden grandchildren.

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Last year, I wrote a column about how the media were preparing a difficult scandal implosion to protect the Bidens and themselves from the backlash from disclosures of this influence peddling operation.

The brilliance of the Biden team was that it invested the media in this scandal at the outset by burying the laptop story as Russian disinformation before the election. That was, of course, false, but it took two years for most major media outlets to admit that the laptop was authentic.

But the media then ignored what was on that authentic laptop. Hundreds of emails detailed potentially criminal conduct and raw influence peddling in foreign countries.

When media outlets such as the New York Post confirmed the emails, the media then insisted that there was no corroboration of the influence peddling payments and no clear proof of criminal conduct. It entirely ignored the obvious corruption itself.

Now that the House has released corroboration in actual money transfers linking many in the Biden family, the media is insisting that this is no scandal because there is no direct proof of payments to Joe Biden.

Putting aside that this is only the fourth month of an investigation, the medias demand of a direct payment to President Biden is laughably absurd. The payments were going to his family, but he was the object of the influence peddling.

The House has shown millions of dollars going to at least nine Bidens like dividends from a family business. As a long-time critic of influence peddling among both Republicans and Democrats, I have never seen the equal of the Bidens.

The whole purpose of influence peddling is to use family members as shields for corrupt officials. Instead of making a direct payment to a politician, which could be seen as a bribe, you can give millions to his or her spouse or children.

Moreover, these emails include references to Joe Biden getting a 10 percent cut of one Chinese deal. It also shows Biden associates warning not to use Joe Bidens name but to employ code names like the Big Guy. At the same time, the president and the first lady are referenced as benefiting from offices and receiving payments from Hunter.

Indeed, Hunter complains that his father is taking half of everything that he is raking in.

None of that matters. The New York Times ran a piece headlined, House Republican Report Finds No Evidence of Wrongdoing by President Biden. That is putting aside evidence against all the family members around Joe Biden. It also ignored that other evidence clearly shows Biden lied about his family not receiving Chinese funds or that he never had any knowledge of his sons business dealings.

The fact is that the Times may indeed be trying for another Pulitzer Prize. The newspaper previously won a Pulitzer for the now debunked Russian collusion story. It was later revealed that this story was based on a dossier funded by the Clinton campaign and placed in the media by Clinton officials. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Bob Woodward warned the co-winner The Washington Post that the story was unreliable but was ignored. The Pulitzer Committee refused to withdraw the award.

What Donalds fails to appreciate is that this is sometimes how Pulitzers are made. Roughly 100 years ago, New York Times reporter Walter Duranty won the Pulitzer for his coverage of the Soviet Union despite serving as an apologist for Joe Stalin. Duranty refused to report on actual conditions from mass killing to starvation in the workers paradise.

Thus, when the Soviets were starving to death as many as 10 million Ukrainians, the Times ran a Duranty story with the headline Russians Hungry but Not Starving. He not only spinned Stalin labor camps that killed millions but also attacked reporters who sought to uncover the truth.

Years later, Ukraine and various groups demanded that Durantys prize be rescinded, but the Committee insisted that there was no clear and convincing evidence of deliberate deception.

What is most impressive about this week is that all but a few outlets seem to be angling for the next Duranty Pulitzer.

In discussing modern Russian propaganda, researchers at the Rand Corporation described it as having two distinctive features: high numbers of channels and messages and a shameless willingness to disseminate partial truths or outright fictions.

Sound familiar?

Today we are seeing a much more dangerous phenomenon. The coverage this week has all the markings of a state media. The consistent spin. The almost universal lack of details. The absurd distinctions.

It is the blindside of our First Amendment, which addresses the classic use of state authority to coerce and control media. It does not address a circumstance in which most of the media will maintain an official line by consent rather than coercion.

The media simply fails to see the story. Of course, it can always look to the president for enlightenment. Just before his son received a massive transfer of money from one of the most corrupt figures in Romania, Biden explained to that country why corruption must remain everyones focus. Corruption is a cancer, a cancer that eats away at a citizens faith in democracy, he said. Corruption is just another form of tyranny.

It is just a shame that no one wants to cover it.

Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law at George Washington University. Follow him on Twitter @JonathanTurley.
UNITED NATIONS  Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas urged the United Nations on Monday to suspend Israel's 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.

Israel's U.N. ambassador, Gilad Erdan, 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, emotionally charged speech, Abbas asked the world's nations why more than 1,000 resolutions adopted by U.N. bodies regarding the Palestinians were never implemented. He held up a letter from Israel's 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 more than 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 country's Jewish character.

The Nakba commemoration comes as Israeli-Palestinian fighting has intensified and protests over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government and its plan to overhaul Israel's judiciary show no sign of abating.

Israel's polarization and the Netanyahu government's extremist positions have also sparked growing international concern.

Abbas specifically blamed Britain, as Palestine's ruler before the 1947 partition, and the United States, Israel's 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." 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 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.

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.

As the 75th anniversary approached, the now 193-member General Assembly approved a resolution 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.

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 Israel's "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.
A 45-year-old man was shot early Sunday morning during an ongoing dispute, the Pima County Sheriff's Department said Monday in a news release.

Deputies were called to the 6000 block of East Hermans Road about 4:30 a.m. following a reported shooting in the area that's near South Wilmot Road, south of Interstate 10, the department said in the news release.

They found Thomas Valenzuela wounded with a gunshot to the abdominal area, and he was then to a hospital, the release said. No update on his condition was released Monday.

Detectives say they've learned Valenzuela was involved in an longtime dispute with a woman.

The woman is not being named by the Star because she has not be arrested in connection with the ongoing investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or 88-CRIME, the anonymous tipster line.
A national manufacturer of walk-in coolers and freezers is building its fourth plant in Tucson.

The 102,000-square-foot Imperial Brown plant will be located at 3350 E. Medina Road and serve its southwest customers in Arizona, Southern California, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado.

With rising freight costs and a very bulky product, this level of distributed manufacturing is a strategic advantage for the companys clients, many of whom have very large national footprints and growth plans, said Justin L. Sandall, the companys president and CEO.

Oregon-based Imperial Brown also has factories in North Carolina and Oklahoma.

The new Tucson plant will have 32-foot clear height, 72 truck courts for trailer storage and 24 dock positions.

The employee-owned company expects to hire 65 people when operations begin.

Aside from walk-in coolers for restaurants and commercial kitchens, the company manufactures cold storage components for fish processing plants and archival storage chambers for fragile, historic documents.

Other local commercial activity includes:

A 116,898-square-foot industrial building at 8500 S. Rita Road has been sold by Mithril Real Property Inc. for $13 million. Robert Glaser and Jesse Blum, with Picor, represented the seller. Gary Emerson, with GRE Partners, and Robert Cohen, from Newmark Knight Frank, represented the buyer.

SNJLF 2 LLC sold the 17-unit Castro Villas, 3020 N. Castro Ave., to Donald J. Hagen Jr. Separate Property Revocable Living Trust & MRH Tuzona LLC for $1.5 million. Joe Boyle and Joseph Chaplik, with Joseph Bernard Investment Real Estate, handled the sale.

Long Far Investments LLC bought an 8,000-square-foot industrial building at 2055 E. 17th St., from R2 Ewaste LLC for $675,000. Paul Hooker, with Picor, represented the seller.

Riley Engineering LLC leased 3,973 square feet at 3430 E. Sunrise Drive from Foothills Corporate LLC. Chris Tsighis and Victoria Lem, of Coldwell Banker, represented the tenant and David Volk, with Volk Co., represented the landlord.

Instrumental Music Center leased 2,514 square feet at 6300 E. El Dorado Plaza from Mountain Oyster Club Inc. Alex Demeroutis, with Picor, represented the tenant and Dean Cotlow, with Cotlow Co., represented the landlord.
A 15-year-old Tucson girl has won the statewide Adventures in Nature Photo Contest with her shot of a snowy scene in the Catalina Mountains.

Arianna DuPont took home the $5,000 top prize for capturing the tranquil beauty of a Rare March snow in Sabino Creek, which was selected over more than 300 other photos from almost 200 teenage photographers.

Ive always been so drawn to capturing the beauty of our surroundings, and Im so fortunate to live in such a beautiful city (and an) amazing state, where we have all these beautiful things to capture, DuPont said in a written statement, after celebrating the award with her family and her photography teacher, Amy Haskell, at the Gregory School.

Malia Means, 16, of Phoenix, took second place  and $2,000  for a photo of the Superstition Mountains called Towering Rocks Peeking Through Low Clouds.

Corbin Rouette, 18, of Tucson, captured third place  and $1,000  for a striking black-and-white image of Saguaros Watching the Clouds.

The 10th annual contest was put on by Arizona Highways magazine, The Nature Conservancy and Cox Communications.

Our mission at Arizona Highways is to get people off the couch, said Robert Stieve, the magazines editor. Weve been a proud co-sponsor of this photo contest for many years because it goes to the heart of what were trying to do.

The judges for this years contest were Arizona Highways photo editor Jeff Kida, Phoenix-based professional photographers Suzanne Mathia and Mark Skalny, former Arizona Daily Star photo editor Rick Wiley and acclaimed photographer John Schaefer, who previously served as president of the University of Arizona.

Seven participants earned honorable mentions and $250 each. They are: Gibson Gallares for Golden Hour with Bird Taking Flight, Grace Shepard for Fog Floating Through the Valley Alongside the Peak of Mt. Lemmon, Faiza Tasnim for Horseshoe Bend During a Semi-Cloudy Day, last years first-place winner Kaden VanDuyne for Sycamore Falls Evening, Tobey Yamashita for Portrait of a Red Fox, and Aidan Yu for two entries, Natural Elements of the Salt River and The Great Roadrunner.

Photography provides a purpose for these kids  it makes them think about what theyre seeing and experiencing, Stieve said. And even if their photos dont finish in the Top 10, theyre already winners for having had the experience of being outside.
WASHINGTON  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 the 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 a 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. 
PHOENIX  A trial judge will give Kari Lake one more chance to try to prove that Maricopa County did not properly verify signatures on early ballot envelopes.

But in so ruling late Monday, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Peter Thompson threw out Lakes separate claims that problems with equipment at voting centers led to some ballots cast on Election Day not being counted. He said that Lake, having failed to convince him the first time  and after his decision was upheld by the Arizona Supreme Court  is now improperly trying an entirely new theory in a bid to convince him to overturn the 2022 election results.

Thompson also took a swat at Lakes attorneys for claiming at a hearing last week they had new bombshell evidence of fraud and lying by county election workers.

Some of that proof was based on a report about Election Day problems prepared for the county by retired Supreme Court Chief Justice Ruth McGregor. Lakes attorney Kurt Olsen claimed McGregors report backs Lakes contention the county knew the equipment would fail on Election Day.

But the judge said that claim is 180 degrees from what the report actually says.

Lake, the Republican candidate for governor who lost in November to Democrat Katie Hobbs, had no comment on having that claim thrown out, again, by the judge.

But in a Twitter post, Lake immediately hailed the first part of the ruling late Monday as giving her the opportunity to EXPOSE election fraud IN COURT.

This is based on her contention first-level reviewers of the signatures on ballot envelopes found anywhere from 15% to 40% of them did not match an individuals voter registration record, yet most of the ballots were still counted after higher-level reviews.

Attorneys for the county said this is no surprise. They said the second-tier reviewers had not just more training on signature verification, but also access to more examples of each voters signature beyond the original voter registration effort. They said there was a third level of review, called curing, where election workers contacted voters  their phone numbers are on the envelopes  to determine if the ballots were theirs and whether there might be a reason for a signature mismatch, including age or ailments.

The trial, set to begin Wednesday, will allow both sides to present evidence.

Must prove it changed election outcome

But in agreeing to hear Lakes arguments, Thompson said it will take far more than her mere claims for him to conclude the laws on signature verification were broken and that he should set aside the results in which Lake lost to Hobbs by 17,117 votes.

She must demonstrate at trial ... that Maricopa Countys higher level signature reviewers conducted no signature verification or curing and in doing so had systematically failed to materially comply with the law, the judge said.

Thats just part of the hurdle.

Thompson said she also would need to prove all this changed the outcome of the election. Relying on a directive he got from the state Supreme Court to take another look at the issue, he said Lake must prove it by competent mathematical basis, and not by a theory.

He also said Lake must prove that by clear and convincing evidence.

That is less than beyond a reasonable doubt, the standard for criminal cases. But it is more difficult to prove than the normal standard in civil trials of preponderance of the evidence, meaning it is more likely than not that something occurred.

In a written statement, Clint Hickman, Republican chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, said the county has beaten back numerous challenges to its election procedures.

I look forward to once again showing our work, he said. We have nothing to hide.

Too late to change theory

While Lake will be able to present her evidence and arguments about signature verification, Thompson said there is no reason she should get a do-over of her claims that Election Day problems at vote centers disenfranchised some Maricopa County voters.

He pointed out that her initial lawsuit  which was dismissed  contended the on-site printers at vote centers were not certified and had vulnerabilities that left them susceptible to hacking.

But now, the judge said, Lake is saying the problem was with on-site tabulators that refused to read many of the ballots fed into them.

Suggesting that the tabulators were maliciously configured to not read ballots is different in kind from alleging that the printers could not write the ballots correctly, Thompson said. He said if Lake was changing her theory, that should have been done before the first trial in December, not now.

In fact, the law does not permit amendments of election contest complaints at any time after the contest filing deadline has passed, even to conform to the evidence, he wrote.

Thompson was no more impressed by Lakes claim the equipment failures were the result of fraud.

Clay Parikh, an expert witness called by Lake, said at the December trial that the only possible cause of the malfunctions on Election Day could be willful and intentional systemic manipulation.

Yet Thompson said another expert testifying the very next day  and also a witness called by Lake  undermined that theory. That expert said the problems with the printers and tabulators were mechanical issues, which could often be resolved by such actions as cleaning the tabulators and adjusting the settings on the printers.

Thompson said that was the same conclusion reached by McGregor after review, testing and evaluation of the equipment  even if Lakes lawyers falsely stated otherwise, he said.

Finally, theres the question of whether any of this could have affected the outcome.
Not Invisible Act Commissioners gathered at Twin Arrows Casino near Flagstaff on the Navajo Nation to hear testimony from people who have been impacted by the human trafficking and the MMIP Crisis on May 9, 2023. Photo by Shondiin Silversmith | Arizona Mirror

Five empty chairs sat at the front of the Not Invisible Act Commission hearing, each wrapped in a shawl, blanket or quilt representing a different group of individuals impacted by human trafficking or with a loved one who is missing or murdered.

We want to allow space for representing our relatives, commission member Grace Bulltail said, noting the traditions in many Indigenous families to always preserve a space for absent loved ones.

Were doing that to honor our loved ones, Bulltail said, explaining that, by putting the chairs there, the commission hearing was holding space for them.

The chair wrapped in a red shawl with white and yellow handprints honored the missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. The chair wrapped in a red, orange, bridge, and white Native design shawl with a black blazer draped over it was to honor the missing and murdered Indigenous men and boys.

Another chair was wrapped in a light blue, white and purple quilt. Pinned to the quilt was a picture of 11-year-old Ashlynne Mike, a Navajo girl who was abducted and killed on the Navajo Nation in 2016. This chair honored Indigenous children.

The chair wrapped in a maroon shawl with floral designs honored the LGBTQI and two-spirit Indigenous community. The chair wrapped in a brown Pendleton honored Indigenous veterans.

The Not Invisible Act Commission, organized by the U.S. Department of the Interior, held a public hearing at the Twin Arrows Casino near Flagstaff on May 9 to hear testimony and recommendations from victims and families impacted by human trafficking and the missing and murdered Indigenous peoples crisis. The commission also heard from local tribal leaders and advocates.

The Not Invisible Act was passed into law in October 2020, establishing the commission as a cross-jurisdictional advisory committee of federal and non-federal members, including law enforcement, tribal leaders, federal partners, service providers, family members of missing and murdered individuals, and survivors.

The commission is developing recommendations through the work of six subcommittees focused on improving intergovernmental coordination and establishing best practices for state, tribal and federal law enforcement to bolster resources for survivors and victims families and combating the epidemic of missing, murdered and trafficked Indigenous people.

The meeting at Twin Arrows was the commissions third public hearing. This summer, it has four more planned in Minnesota, northern California, New Mexico and Montana. The hearings are being held in communities impacted most by the MMIP crisis.

Hearing victim testimonies

Commissioners heard emotional testimony from Seraphine Warren and Pamela Foster as they shared their experiences of losing a loved one and advocated for change.

Warren is the niece of Ella Mae Begay, a Navajo woman who went missing from her home in Sweetwater, Arizona, on the Navajo Nation on June 15, 2021. Warren continued to advocate for not only her aunt but Indigenous people.

Advocating for my aunt has been an emotional experience, Warren said. Shes held prayer walks, visited with state, tribal, and federal officials, and advocated for other families impacted by MMIP.

Foster is the mother of Mike, the 11-year-old Navajo girl abducted and killed on the Navajo Nation in New Mexico in 2016. Foster has been at the forefront of advocacy efforts for Indigenous children and people since she lost her daughter.

I miss my daughter every single day, Foster said. I became a voice for my daughter the moment I received word that her life was taken from her.

Warren shared her testimony first. Speaking through tears, but supported by Foster and the victim service advocates in attendance, she told her aunts story.

I know it wasnt her legacy to be stolen or to be murdered, Warren said. Just because she isnt here doesnt mean she cant be part of change.

Warren shared with the commission how her aunt was a soft-spoken woman, but she was very aware of her surroundings and never put herself in dangerous situations.

Begay is still missing, but there have been developments in her case. In March, Preston Henry Tolth, 23, of New Mexico, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Phoenix for assault and carjacking.

The indictment alleges that, on June 15, 2021, Tolth assaulted Begay, resulting in serious bodily injury, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Tolth then took her Ford F-150 pickup truck and drove it from Arizona to New Mexico with the intent to cause death or serious bodily injury to Begay.

Warren said during Tolths arraignment hearing on April 7 in Flagstaff that she heard details about the night her aunt went missing that she was not ready for.

Warren, in tears, told the commission that Tolth told federal agents that he snapped and struck her in the face multiple times, causing her to bleed from the nose and mouth.

Tolth told authorities that he wasnt sure if she was dead, Warren said, and when he drove away, he said he regretted hitting her, since all he wanted was the truck.

Tolth is being held in custody and is expected to go to trial later in May.

When it was Fosters turn to share her experience, she talked about how the system failed when her children were missing in 2016. She said that May 1 to May 6 is a nightmare for her every year because she relives what happened to her children yearly.

The whole event turned my life upside down, Foster said.

On the afternoon of May 2, 2016, Ashlynne Mike and her 9-year-old brother, Ian Mike, didnt make it home from school. When they got off the school bus in Shiprock, New Mexico, on the Navajo Nation, a predator tricked them into getting into his van by promising them a ride home.

Hours later, passersby found Ian Mike wandering alone in the area. Police located Ashlynne Mikes body on May 3, 2016, and discovered she had been sexually assaulted, strangled, and bludgeoned repeatedly with a tire iron.

Foster talked about the hours from when her children disappeared to when they found her daughter; she ran into countless obstacles that left them without support.

It was very hard to sit there and know that there was no resources available for my children, Foster said. I absolutely had nothing.

She said local law enforcement was not adequately trained to handle child abductions. There was no clear communication between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.

Instead of searching for her children, Foster said they were trying to figure out exactly what protocols were needed to start looking.

Time was lost, Foster said, and they did not send out an AMBER Alert until the following day. Foster recalled the alert went out at 2 a.m., and she said that helped no one because not many people were awake then.

She remembers hearing officers from the neighboring jurisdictions tell her they couldnt go out to look for her daughter until they were given the clearance to do so by the Navajo Nation Police Department. Foster said it frustrated her how long it took for that to happen.

Foster said when they found her daughter, lying alone in the desert in Shiprock, that was a phone call she didnt want to hear.

I had to hear that phone call, Foster said through tears. Theres no words to describe that.

Foster said the anger and hurt about what happened to Ashlynne led her to be a voice for her daughter.

I promised her I would do something for all of our other Indigenous children, Foster said. To give them the protection that they need so they dont go through what I did.

Foster has led many grassroots efforts to support Indigenous children, including advocating and petitioning for the AMBER Alert system to include Indian Country.

Foster said she wanted to change, and she knew the justice system in Indian Country needed to be updated, so she focused her efforts on the AMBER Alert system. Her advocacy resulted in the Ashlynne Mike AMBER Alert in Indian Country Act of 2018, which makes tribes eligible for AMBER Alert grants to integrate into state and regional AMBER Alert communication plans.

Foster said she knows the Ashlynne Mike AMBER Alert is a considerable part of the work being put into the missing and murdered Indigenous people crisis.

Every day, its not just our adult relatives that go missing, but we have many indigenous children that go missing, Foster said. I continued my work, and I continued to be a voice for our children and for the families.

I always say that Ive never received justice for what happened to my daughter because nothing can bring her back, Foster said. There will never be justice, but we can learn how to move forward in changing laws to make things better for our people.

Recommendations from victims, advocates

The goal of the hearing was for the commissioners to listen and hear recommendations on the best course of action for the MMIP crisis. Commissioners will use the suggestions to develop their final report for the Department of Interior.

Fosters big recommendation was not only geared at the commissioners, but other attendees of the hearing. She encouraged them to tell their tribal leaders to receive the AMBER Alert in Indian Country Act training.

It is free, she said, adding that it is a vital program for Indigenous communities because it will train police officers and social workers from the tribe.

Since tribes are sovereign nations, Foster said the Department of Justice could not go on to tribal land and make agencies take the training. Instead, it has to be requested.

Have your tribal leaders request this training for your community because the children are our next generation, Foster said. Theres still a lot of tribes that need to be trained.

When Warren was finished sharing her aunts story, she laid out her recommendations, including how a national assessment should be conducted on how missing people investigations are performed on a state, tribal and federal level.

Transparency and swift action is key, Warren said, which means that when a person is missing, law enforcement should immediately inform all jurisdictions and issue press releases to media channels to inform the public.

Family members need to be regularly and constantly updated with the progress of the investigation, Warren said, and how families should be prioritized if any remains are found in any jurisdiction.
Dealing wisely

with nuclear power?

Re: the April 13 article "Dealing wisely with climate change."

Pundit Ambrose repeats the canard that the "obvious" problem with solar panels and wind turbines is "unreliability." Instead, he again touts nuclear power: "reliable" until it catastrophically isn't. Think Chernobyl and Fukushima. And he assures us that small modular nuclear reactors are "far cheaper" (only on paper because none have been built for commercial production), can be built more "quickly" (despite none having been) and "safely" (an optimistic and certainly premature projection). Sure, nuclear navy reactors are of similar size, but they work on a different technology using different fuel than their still-imaginary commercial cousins, have never been built or operated in a competitive market, and the operators are permitted higher radiation exposure levels than in the commercial sector. Apples to oranges.

It seems to me the wiser, simpler, cheaper, and inherently safer engineering challenge is to store energy overnight rather than to store nuclear waste essentially forever.

Jack Cohen-Joppa, co-coordinator of the Nuclear Resister

Midtown

Epidemic, Part 3

Re: the April 12 letter "Epidemic."

The so-called epidemic of TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome) might be a problem for some, but it is not abhorrent. However, suggesting that a boycott of CNN and the Daily Star will solve the massacre of children and innocent citizens is abhorrent.

The fact that FOX is being sued for $1.6 billion in damages is a problem for them, but knowing they have willingly continued to lie to their viewers about the 2020 election is abhorrent.

The fact that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has been raking in hundreds of thousands of dollars in vacation gifts from Republican billionaires is abhorrent.

The fact that my daughters and granddaughter have fewer reproductive rights than I did 50 years ago is abhorrent.

The fact that our Republican Arizona legislators deny climate change and voted to allow guns on school grounds (SB1331) is abhorrent.

The fact that those same Republican legislators lavish money on school vouchers to those who need it the least but refuse to adequately fund our public schools is abhorrent.

Rachel Rulmyr Ed.D.

Oro Valley

Aquarius Engine

With all the hype of gas versus electric  check this out. Revolutionary Israeli car engine: 1 cylinder, 1 piston, 86 horsepower, Double the efficiency, 40% energy efficiency, and double the best performance of the best standard engine today.

Ordinary engines produce a circular motion, while the Aquarius Engine produces a longitudinal movement. Aquarius does not drive the wheels directly but serves as a generator charging a battery. The battery operates the electric motors to drive the wheels. There are no valves, a crankshaft or other related parts. The engine can be set up to run on different fuel sources. The engine is lightweight and can easily be picked up by one person.

Why are we, as a nation, not jumping all over this? Saves gas, runs forever (as long as the fuel source lasts) and has NO downtime to charge for hours.

David Shelton

Northwest side

At the end of a bullet

The Second Amendment has left in its train of countless casualties and countless grieving relatives and friends. And it probably won't stop. There is way too much money in the sale of weapons and too many men who feel powerless without them. To them, it is worth the sacrifice our nation's citizens have to pay in order for the bullets to fly. Cowards are made of such stuff.

Ron Lancaster

North side

Thinking ahead?

The sanctimonious clique of the Supreme Court wants to outlaw abortion. To what end? Do these immaculate legal masterminds think that abortion will be eradicated by that action? Should they achieve their goal, they will no more abolish abortion than Prohibition eliminated alcoholism. It will surely increase lawbreaking, though. Their lack of foresight should have prevented them from membership in the Supreme Court.

Trying to inject their religious beliefs into government law in direct opposition to the preferences of the majority of the American populace makes these justices more hypocritically pious than Hawthorne's Reverend Dimmesdale. Transforming a woman's health issue into a criminal activity shouldn't be part of a justice's duties.

Rick Cohn

West side

Guns

Fire requires three elements: Heat. Heat is necessary for the ignition of fire. Fuel. Fuel is any combustible material. Oxygen is everywhere. Take away one element, and there is no fire. Killings also require three elements: Victim  found everywhere. Weapon  found everywhere. Shooter  found everywhere. Take away one element, and there is no killing. Which element is easier to take away so there is no killing? The weapon. Not all weapons need to be banned; only those that were designed to kill as many humans as possible or wound them so terribly they will not present a danger to the shooter. Hunting does not require a weapon that can fire multiple rounds in a very short period unless you are a terrible shot. Likewise, targets do not require a weapon that fires multiple rounds in quick succession. Home defense? Unless that weapon is always at your side, it is useless for self defense. So which element to remove from killings?

Jerry Lujan

SaddleBrooke

Supreme Court

ethics not political

I am a liberal. If one of the liberal-leaning Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court was taking tens of thousands of dollars worth of illegal gifts and not reporting them, that Justice should be investigated and should resign. Same if that Justice has a spouse or partner who has been unethically involved in the cases considered by the Court.

This is not a matter of political parties. It is a matter of ethics, integrity and criminality. Time for Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch and John Roberts to be investigated. It is definitely time for Justice Thomas to resign.

John Higgins

Southeast side

Why does this

keep happening?

I asked earlier why five people were not allowed to live. A Texas politician bravely suggested that the gun used wasn't the problem ... what was needed was some mental-illness treatment.

As I write this letter, that number is now 14 people in Texas now dead in only a matter of days, including a 5-year-old child! My question to that Texas politician is, while we're getting that mental illness program up and running ... and then while it is continued ... what number of gun deaths would be acceptable?

What if there weren't all these guns around for any person not easily identified nor cured in advance to suddenly decide to kill someone? And then there is perhaps a more straightforward way of looking at this problem ... why all the guns anyway?

Seems to me it's sort of like burying a huge number of explosives ... under sidewalks, in shopping centers, in hospitals and churches .... so we can experience avoiding them, hopefully safely, as we get on with our lives.

Why?!

Frank Parsons

Northeast side

The real reason

for Trump's anger

No. 45 is furious that he was quickly found guilty of all but one charge and ordered to pay 5 million dollars to his accuser. Despite his lies, he is guilty on ALL counts, and he knows that is the truth.

This case was another link in his chain of boasts about existing above the law. "I could shoot someone, etc." "I could declassify documents just thinking about it, etc." "When you're a star, etc."

The real reason for his anger is that he is being compelled to pay the consequences for his behavior. He finds it incomprehensible that the jury didn't understand that nobody is supposed to do that to him.

It won't be long, though, before he experiences this anger over and over, again and again.

Rick Cohn
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.
Rishi Sunaks Connections to Apartheid State Come Under Scrutiny

By Jessica Buxbaum

May 15, 2023: Information Clearing House -- " MPN " -- In March, the United Kingdom and Israel signed an agreement strengthening ties in trade, technology, and the military. Known as the 2030 Roadmap for UK-Israeli Bilateral Relations, the British government lauded the deal as boosting the economy, but activists say it makes the U.K. complicit in apartheid while ignoring the realities on the ground.

The agreement promises to tackle a number of issues, including antisemitism and anti-Israel bias, stating, the U.K. and Israel will work together to tackle the singling out of Israel in the Human Rights Council as well as in other international bodies.

Currently, the UNs Human Rights Council is investigating human rights violations in the occupied Palestinian territories and throughout 1948-occupied Palestine (or modern-day Israel). The ongoing probe has been slammed by Israeli politicians as antisemitic.

Additionally, the U.K. rejected using the term apartheid to describe Israel, despite several human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, recently declaring it an apartheid state.

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Opposition to the U.K.s policy decision was swift, with several pro-Palestinian British groups denouncing it.

In a statement, Kamel Hawwash, Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) chair, said:

This appalling paper erases Palestinians from the picture, making no reference to the Netanyahu Governments intensification of the violation of their rights and Israels claim to the whole of historic Palestine in defiance of international law. In this moment, to promise to deepen relations with Israel rather than holding it accountable, gives Netanyahu a green light to continue entrenching Israeli apartheid policies.

The British government has a responsibility to call Israel what it is  an apartheid state  and to impose sanctions on Israel for its flagrant and repeated violations of international law and systematic human rights abuse, Friends of Al-Aqsa (FOA), a U.K.-based NGO advocating for Palestinian rights, told MintPress News, noting how 2023 has been one of the most violent years for Palestinians in decades.

Last year was the deadliest for Palestinians since 2004, with Israeli forces and settlers killing 146 Palestinians. This year is on track to becoming even more fatal, with 89 Palestinians killed in the first three months, according to UN data.

It is utterly shameful that this government is instead choosing to strengthen economic and security ties with an apartheid state, FOA said.

The deal also reasserts the U.K.s objection to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement and its commitment to ending any such campaigns by public bodies, including through legislation.

The British government recently proposed an anti-boycott bill, which aims to prevent public bodies from engaging in boycotts that undermine community cohesion[and] making any boycott, divestment or sanctions decisions that arent in line with U.K. government foreign or economic trade policies.

BREAKING: Naamod went to Westminster this AM to protest the Govts draconian Boycott Bill. The bill will ban non-violent protest for Palestinian human rights & is being justified as a way to protect Jewish people. This bad for Jews, bad for Palestinians & bad for democracy!  pic.twitter.com/5SfDlN2fKC  Na'amod: British Jews Against Occupation  (@NaamodUK) February 28, 2023

UK-Israel Collaboration

Great Britain has a sordid history with Palestine, beginning with the notorious Balfour Declaration, a 1917 British pledge to establish a Jewish state in Palestine. The letter from then-foreign secretary Arthur Balfour, to Lionel Walter Rothschild, a leader in Britains Jewish community, arguably triggered the ethnic cleansing of Palestine by Zionist forces in the decades following. Since then, the countrys relationship with Israel has significantly cemented its complicity in Israels human rights violations.

Most notable is the arms trade between Israel and the U.K. According to War on Want, a British nonprofit aiming to combat the root causes of poverty, London approved nearly $500 million of military technology and arms exports to Israel from 2016 to 2021. F-16 fighter jets and Apache helicopters, which contain components manufactured by British arms company BAE Systems, have been used in Israeli attacks against Palestinians, such as in Israeli airstrikes on the besieged Gaza Strip. According to the U.K.-based Campaign Against Arms Trade, Britain also spends millions every year on battle-tested, meaning used in Israeli assaults on Palestinian weapons from Israeli companies.

The new U.K.-Israel deal suggests these arms deals will increase.

Of deep concern is the fact that the roadmap includes a further strengthening of cyber-security relations, PSC said in a statement. The cybersecurity sector in Israel is interwoven with the military  with Israel being central to the development and export of military-grade spyware. This poses a danger to human rights across the world.

Beyond military cooperation, British prime minister Rishi Sunak has significant business interests in Israel.

Infosys, an Indian IT firm founded by Sunaks father-in-law N.R. Narayana Murthy, is linked to Israels military. Sunaks wife, Akshata Murty, has a 0.93% stake in Infosys and collects 11.5 million (more than $14 million) in annual dividends from the company.

In 2012, Infosys signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Israel to boost cooperation between it and Israeli corporations.

The firm is co-directed by Israeli entrepreneur Uri Levine, who served in the Israeli Military Intelligence Unit 8200, an elite agency responsible for gathering private information about Palestinians. Infosys, as well as its subsidiaries, all employ former Israeli military personnel.

Yotam Kreiman, the current deputy chief of mission of Israel in Portugal, worked as a process specialist at Infosys in 2018 and, before that, was a combat trainer in the Israeli army. Eyal Cidon, who worked as a software engineering intern at Infosys in 2012, served in the Israeli army from 2007-2010.

Israeli subsidiaries, LivePerson, Panaya, and CloudEndure, are also tied to Israels military.

Reut Dror, who works as LivePersons business operation manager, was a major in the Israeli army and served for nearly eight years. Jaime Locketz, a current Israeli military spokesperson, worked as an internal communications specialist prior to joining the military. Dror Weiss, Panayas director of technology from 2009 to 2013, worked as a software engineer in the Israeli military. Tal Arnon, Panayas vice president of research and development, worked in the Israeli Armys Military Intelligence Corps from 2004 to 2018 and then went on to become head of the militarys cyber business unit.

Infosys was also a key seed investor in CloudEndure, a tech company founded by Leonid Feinberg and Ofir Ehrlich, who both served in the Israeli army.

At a time when Israel is slammed with criticism, activists are decrying the U.K. for choosing to side with apartheid and a failing fascist state in exchange for military, technology, and financial connections.

Jessica Buxbaum is a Jerusalem-based journalist for MintPress News covering Palestine, Israel, and Syria. Her work has been featured in Middle East Eye, The New Arab and Gulf News
Champaign News-Gazette. May 13, 2023.

Editorial: Its long past time to enact ethical reforms

A former governor has a plan for what ails Illinois politics.

A Chicago federal jurys guilty verdict in the Commonwealth Edison bribery conspiracy case has initiated another round of what-can-we-do-to-stop-corruption talk in Illinois.

The unfortunate answer is, most probably, nothing. The instinct is too deeply embedded in the DNA of the average public official. The greater their opportunities, the more enthused they become about the prospects of feathering their own nests.

There are, however, steps the state can take to disincentivize misbehavior. They involve eliminating the flexibility politicians have to monetize their public offices and raising the costs of getting caught.

Illinois, of course, already has ethics laws on the books that, at least on the surface, police the political class, most especially members of the Illinois House and Senate. Unfortunately, they have been written to provide the illusion of oversight, not real oversight.

Thats one reason why former Gov. Pat Quinn is back in the news. Hes come up with a series of proposals that he recently submitted to Gov. J.B. Pritzker. In his May 9 letter, he urged Pritzker and legislators to take immediate action to protect the public trust and enact much stronger ethical standards for Illinois politicians and lobbyists.

Quinn, of course, is a longtime foe of the political establishment, proudly carrying his rebel reputation even when he was governor from 2009 to 2015. Its worth noting that he became governor when his corrupt predecessor, Rod Blagojevich, was removed from office through the impeachment process.

Not all of his eight proposals are great ideas. But some are overdue.

Chicago Sun-Times. May 8, 2023.

Editorial: Power alert: Be wary of lifting moratorium on new Illinois nuclear plants

Advocates of ending the moratorium have said they want to make it possible to build small power nuclear power plants in the state.

Illinois should move carefully before repealing its three-decade-old moratorium on new nuclear power plants.

On Tuesday, the House Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee will discuss an amended version of a bill passed by the state Senate to lift the moratorium and allow advanced nuclear reactors. Advocates of ending the moratorium have said they want to make it possible to build small power nuclear power plants in the state, which would take advantage of new federal spending, although the technology to make that possible is years in the future. And its not clear how the advanced nuclear reactors in the bill would differ from small modular ones.

Meanwhile, Illinois still faces the problem that led to the moratorium in the first place: There is no long-term storage facility to store nuclear waste, which can go on emitting hazardous radiation for tens of thousands of years.

As envisioned, small modular nuclear power plants would have about a third of the generating capacity of traditional nuclear reactors. Their modular design would allow them to be factory assembled, saving money and allowing them to be constructed on sites too small for traditional reactors. U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry has said small modular reactors can be a tool to fight against climate change.

But some environmentalists and stakeholders are wary. Whats really at play here is the attempt to resurrect the moribund and uneconomic nuclear industry, said David Kraft, director of the Nuclear Energy Information Service, a nuclear watchdog. But most fundamentally and important, we need an overhaul of the transmission grid, because you could have a million reactors or you could have a million wind turbines, but if you cant connect power to the customer, they are worthless.

Illinois environmentalists have accepted subsidies for existing nuclear energy in both the Future Energy Jobs Act and the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act as a way to keep the lights on during the transition to renewable energy. Zero-carbon nuclear plants provide about half of Illinois energy, and more electric power will be needed as the state transitions to electric vehicles and an emphasis on appliances, heating and other uses that dont burn fossil fuels.

But small nuclear plants are a dubious answer. Will the nuclear waste they generate lead to vulnerable storage sites or risky transportation of spent fuel? Global energy prices are higher now, but if they go back down, will smaller reactors be in line for the subsidies larger ones got? Why focus on them when they wont be built in time to meet the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changes 2030 deadline to halve carbon emissions?

Illinois needs to focus on achieving its goal of transitioning to renewable energy. The state must ensure the idea of new nuclear plants does not divert it from that mission.

Chicago Tribune. May 11, 2023.

Editorial: Invest in Kids scholarships work, pure and simple. Springfield should make the program permanent.

Amid all of the partisan wrangling that characterizes lawmaking in Springfield, there are examples of bipartisan teamwork that yield resounding successes.

The Invest in Kids scholarship program is one of them. The programs worth is undeniable.

Enacted in 2017, the initiative gives low-income and working-class parents who cannot otherwise afford to send their children to private and parochial schools the means to do so. The program is funded by donors who get a state tax credit of 75 cents on every dollar donated to the scholarship fund.

Since its passage, the program has awarded more than 40,000 scholarships amounting to more than $330 million, according to Empower Illinois, one of the largest scholarship-granting organizations associated with Invest in Kids. Families helped by the effort have an average of $45,046 in yearly household income. More than 60% of recipients are from nonwhite families.

Many of the children benefiting from the program had been attending ineffective, underperforming public schools until they got a chance at an alternative. As a result, demand for the program is sky-high; only 22% of families applying were able to secure a scholarship.

So why does Invest in Kids once again find itself facing extinction?

The program was enacted as a pilot effort. It received an extension in 2021 but is at risk of expiring in December if lawmakers dont renew it.

Even an extension wouldnt be enough, we believe. Springfield should make Invest in Kids permanent.

The programs benefit reaches far beyond participating families. When kids in long-neglected neighborhoods get access to a strong, well-rounded education, those neighborhoods are better off, as is Chicago as a whole.

It Takes A Village Family of Schools, which serves mostly Black and Latino children on the Near West and South sides, participates in Invest in Kids. Its co-founder, Anita Andrews-Hutchinson, wrote in a Tribune op-ed on April 17 that the initiative isnt just an investment in education; its also an investment in violence prevention, poverty reduction and economic acceleration. In the last three years, the program has allowed Andrews-Hutchinsons schools to award 88 scholarships worth more than $1 million to students and their families.

Predictably, the powerful Chicago Teachers Union sees Invest in Kids as anathema to improving education, not to mention its own interests, and wants to see the programs demise. When Invest in Kids was enacted in 2017, CTU called it a ticking time bomb of a voucher scheme. In 2021, Gov. J.B. Pritzker labeled Invest in Kids a corporate loophole and proposed to gut it by slashing the tax credit from 75 cents on the donated dollar to 40 cents.

The governor didnt get very far. Though Pritzkers fellow Democrats control Springfield, the General Assembly left the tax credit alone. They went further  extending the program through December 2023 and expanding it to include scholarships to career and technical academies.

Thats not enough, however. State lawmakers on both sides of the aisle must realize the importance of making Invest in Kids a permanent fixture in Illinois education landscape.

Shutting down Invest in Kids would force an unacceptable level of uncertainty on parents and their children, who would have their academic journeys upended and their futures suddenly jeopardized. Schools that participate in the scholarship program would see their enrollments drop. Conversely, local school districts would have to absorb the thousands of students who benefited from the program.

We have pointed out in the past that the cost of that absorption would exceed the costs to the public till generated by the tax credits.

For so long, Invest in Kids has been one of the General Assemblys prized initiatives. Its demise would constitute one of Springfields biggest legislative blunders. As Empower Illinois President Anthony Holter told us, Invest in Kids had to pass muster during its five-year pilot phase. Its clear it exceeded expectations.

You do a pilot program to see if something works, Holter said. And we know it works for the families its designed to help.

Precisely. And dont get us started on the hypocrisy of those who choose to send their kids to private or parochial schools and yet dont support a similar option for families with the income level thats typical of participants in Invest in Kids.

The state legislature wraps up its spring session May 19. That leaves lawmakers with precious little time to act. Springfield should prevent the programs expiration, and that rescue should entail making the pilot effort permanent. Invest in Kids is all about giving every child in Illinois a chance at an effective, enriching education  not just kids from families with deep pockets.

Springfield, the clock is ticking. Ensure that Invest in Kids remains a legislative success story.

END
ChatGPT's maker said Friday that the artificial intelligence chatbot is available again in Italy after the company met the demands of regulators who temporarily blocked it over privacy concerns.

OpenAI said it fulfilled a raft of conditions that the Italian data protection authority wanted satisfied by an April 30 deadline to have the ban on the AI software lifted.

ChatGPT is available again to our users in Italy, San Francisco-based OpenAI said by email. We are excited to welcome them back, and we remain dedicated to protecting their privacy.

Generative AI systems like ChatGPT, which use vast pools of online data like digital books, blog posts and other media to generate text, images and other content mimicking human work, have created buzz in the tech world and beyond.

But their rapid development has stirred fears among officials and even tech leaders about possible ethical and societal risks, with European Union negotiators scrambling to update draft artificial intelligence regulations that have been years in the making.

Last month, the Italian watchdog, known as Garante, ordered OpenAI to temporarily stop processing Italian users personal information while it investigated a possible data breach. The authority said it didnt want to hamper AIs development but emphasized the importance of following the EUs strict data privacy rules.

OpenAI said it addressed or clarified the issues raised by the watchdog.

The measures include adding information on its website about how it collects and uses data that trains the algorithms powering ChatGPT, providing EU users with a new form for objecting to having their data used for training, and adding a tool to verify users' ages when signing up.

Some Italian users shared what appeared to be screenshots of the changes, including a menu button asking users to confirm their age and links to the updated privacy policy and training data help page.

The Garante said in a statement that it welcomes the measures OpenAI implemented and urged the company to comply with two other demands for an age-verification system and a publicity campaign informing Italians about the backstory and their right to opt out of data processing.

The watchdog imposed the ban last month after finding that some users messages and payment information were exposed to others. It also questioned whether there was a legal basis for OpenAI to collect massive amounts of data used to train ChatGPTs algorithms and raised concerns that the system could sometimes generate false information about individuals.

Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini on Instagram, wrote approvingly of the return of ChatGPT and said that his League party is committed to help start-ups and development in Italy.

Other regulators are now looking closer at such AI systems, with Frances data privacy regulator and Canadas privacy commissioner investigating after receiving complaints about ChatGPT.

The head of the Federal Trade Commission, Lina Khan, warned this week that the U.S. government will not hesitate to crack down on harmful business practices involving artificial intelligence.
The Oklahoma House and Senate passed and sent to the governor on Monday a three-piece, $218.6 million incentive package believed to be for a solar panel manufacturing facility at the Tulsa Port of Inola.

Also sent to the governor was a $10.8 million supplemental appropriation to continue work on a new veterans home at Sallisaw.

Senate Bill 1177 establishes the parameters for the Perform Fund, which would make available up to $180 million in rebates to the manufacturer, which is unnamed in the legislation but reported to be Italian multinational sustainable energy innovations business Enel.

Enel already has offices in Oklahoma City and a large investment in western Oklahoma wind farms.

The bill would allow Enel to recover up to 10% of its capital expenditures and/or payroll with a minimum required investment of $1 billion. An investment of $1.8 billion over 10 years would be required for payment of the full $180 million.

The bill passed the House 81-19, with all but one of the nay votes cast by Republicans.

SB 1179, which passed the House 79-18, would make the actual $180 million appropriation for SB 1177s incentive program.

Both bills passed the Senate last week.

A companion piece, HB 2888, passed the Senate 43-4 on Monday, again with the opposition from Republicans. The bill would provide $38.6 million through the Oklahoma Water Resources Board for water and sewer improvements at the Tulsa Port of Inola related to the bid for the Enel plant.

HB 2888 passed the House last week.

The Senate also passed and sent to the governor on Monday HB 2887, which includes the $10.8 million supplemental appropriation for the over-budget veterans home. The project is expected to get another $10.8 million in the regular fiscal year 2024 budget, which is due out over the next two weeks, to cover overruns the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs has blamed on design flaws.

Discussed at length but ultimately laid over until Tuesday was HB 1976, a measure whose meaning and purpose were hotly disputed by author Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, and several Democrats.

The bill essentially would put the Oklahoma Highway Patrol in the counterintelligence business by authorizing the state public safety commissioner to assign personnel within the Department of Public Safety to:

Collect information concerning the activity and identity of individuals reasonably believed to be engaged in terrorism, threats to public safety, organized crime, criminal conspiracies, or any other threats of violent crime;

Analyze collected information and disseminate such information to other law enforcement agencies.

Or, more simply, spying, as Rep. Andy Fugate, D-Oklahoma City, put it.

The real problem Fugate and some others have with the bill, though, is that the Highway Patrol is directly under the control of the governor, whereas the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is not.

Several Democrats pressed Humphrey about potential abuse by a governor, such as occurred before the OSBI became an independent agency in the 1970s. He insisted that he is not concerned, saying, I have more worries about Facebook and Twitter than I do this.

Rep. Regina Goodwin, D-Tulsa, noted that the bill would give the OHP authority to investigate terrorism and asked whether that would include teachers unions, since State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters has described them as terrorist organizations.

Humphrey did not directly answer the question but seemed to discount the possibility. He acknowledged that the bill does not define terrorism or who would decide whether someone is engaged in those activities.

The final version of the bill, Humphrey said, actually would give the Highway Patrol less authority than the version that passed the House 75-19 on March 20.

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OKLAHOMA CITY  Transgender Oklahomans and their allies visited the state Capitol on Monday to find a sense of community and share their feelings after Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a ban on gender-affirming care for minors.

Because public testimony is not allowed in legislative hearings, two LGBTQ-rights groups held a Peoples Hearing to give a voice to residents who had limited opportunities to speak out against the new law as it advanced through the Oklahoma Legislature.

We wanted to give Oklahomans a chance to tell their stories about how this legislation is going to affect their very real lives, said Molly Whitehorn of the national organization Human Rights Campaign, one of the events organizers. The other group was Freedom Oklahoma.

The hearing appeared to be a cathartic experience for the dozens of Oklahomans who attended.

Most of the people who spoke shared personal stories about how they have struggled with their gender identity. Some speakers accused the governor and Republican legislators of vilifying transgender people and spreading falsehoods about gender-affirming care.

Kane Kliewer, who is transgender, showed up for the hearing mere days after undergoing gender-affirming surgery.

The 27-year-old Oklahoman said the hormone therapy treatments he started just a few years ago saved him from his years-long struggle with suicidal thoughts and depression.

He said transgender Oklahomans are not dangerous, and he criticized conservative politicians and the right-wing media for stoking fear of transgender people.

They continue to red herring everything and point the finger at LGBTQ people  trans people specifically and also drag queens, Kliewer said. But the danger is not us. Im really proud of my fellow trans, nonbinary, two-spirit community for persisting. You guys have kept me alive.

Stitt signed on May 1 a bill that bans gender-affirming surgeries, puberty-blocking drugs and cross-sex hormones for minors. The ban on surgeries took effect immediately, but the law contains a six-month grace period for the purpose of assisting the minor with gradually decreasing and discontinuing use of the drugs or hormones.

The new law is the subject of a federal lawsuit brought by several Oklahoma families with transgender children.

Stitt has defended the law as a common-sense measure that prevents minors from undergoing irreversible surgeries. He has characterized the measure as no different from laws that block minors from getting a tattoo or purchasing alcohol or tobacco products.

Transgender Oklahomans simply want to be left alone, said Cathy Cott, who has a transgender son. But because of Oklahomas Republican elected officials, transgender health care is nearly impossible to find within the state, said Cott, 63.

Our childs life is here, she said of Oklahoma. I want them safe and able to live a healthy and happy life. Right now, thats not possible because of an uninformed fear-mongering governor and Legislature.

Ramona Diaz, a transgender woman, issued a call to action for people to get more engaged in politics. A music teacher in Oklahoma City, Diaz recently formed the Transgender Action Choir to create a space for members of her community to bond and make music.

Diaz said she grew up thinking everyone is created equal and should be entitled to the same rights and freedoms. But transgender Oklahomans are being forced to continuously fight for their rights in the hopes of finding a sense of normalcy, she said.

This is only the beginning of a really long fight for a lot of people, she said.

Video: Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt on potential legal challenges to law banning gender-affirming care for kids
The Peoples Committee of Phu Quoc City in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang greeted a delegation of officials from Yeonsu District in South Koreas Incheon City on Tuesday morning, seeking to boost two-way cooperation in various fields. Phu Quoc City expects to strengthen the partnership with Yeonsu District, mainly in tourism, to fuel the growth of the two localities, said Huynh Quang Hung, chairman of the Phu Quoc City Peoples Committee. Phu Quoc, known as the 'pearl island of Vietnam, is home to some 38 islands and boasts stunning landscapes, including nearly 300 tourism projects being developed with a total pledged capital of VND399 trillion (US$17 billion). These projects will provide 30,000 hotel rooms, including 16,000 high-end units. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Phu Quoc City, which is one of Vietnams most popular tourist attractions, welcomed some 2.5-3 million visitors a year. In 2022, over two million travelers visited the city. Yeonsu District mayor Lee Jae Ho said that Phu Quoc has a lot of potential for tourism development. Many South Korean firms see the island city as an attractive investment destination, which offers many incentives to local and international investors. The representative of the South Korean delegation hoped that the two sides would foster cooperation in education, economy, and tourism, contributing to deepening the diplomatic ties between the two countries. At the reception, the leaders of Phu Quoc City and Yeonsu District signed a letter of intent on friendship and cooperation. The representative (R) of the Phu Quoc City Peoples Committee gives a present to the representative of the Yeonsu District delegation. Photo: Chi Cong / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

The Peoples Committee of Phu Quoc City in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang greeted a delegation of officials from Yeonsu District in South Koreas Incheon City on Tuesday morning, seeking to boost two-way cooperation in various fields.

Phu Quoc City expects to strengthen the partnership with Yeonsu District, mainly in tourism, to fuel the growth of the two localities, said Huynh Quang Hung, chairman of the Phu Quoc City Peoples Committee.

Phu Quoc, known as the 'pearl island of Vietnam, is home to some 38 islands and boasts stunning landscapes, including nearly 300 tourism projects being developed with a total pledged capital of VND399 trillion (US$17 billion).

These projects will provide 30,000 hotel rooms, including 16,000 high-end units.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Phu Quoc City, which is one of Vietnams most popular tourist attractions, welcomed some 2.5-3 million visitors a year. In 2022, over two million travelers visited the city.

Yeonsu District mayor Lee Jae Ho said that Phu Quoc has a lot of potential for tourism development.

Many South Korean firms see the island city as an attractive investment destination, which offers many incentives to local and international investors.

The representative of the South Korean delegation hoped that the two sides would foster cooperation in education, economy, and tourism, contributing to deepening the diplomatic ties between the two countries.

At the reception, the leaders of Phu Quoc City and Yeonsu District signed a letter of intent on friendship and cooperation.

The representative (R) of the Phu Quoc City Peoples Committee gives a present to the representative of the Yeonsu District delegation. Photo: Chi Cong / Tuoi Tre

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Police in Thanh Hoa Province, north-central Vietnam said that they confiscated numerous types of weapons and a small amount of marijuana, along with some other dangerous items from K-12 students backpacks across the province. More than 3,000 police officers recently checked 631 middle schools, high schools, and vocational schools in Thanh Hoa Province to assess the compliance of 166,997 students with the law within the schooling environment in response to the escalating issues of school violence, alcohol and addictive substance use, as well as underage driving. Officers also inspected 773 beverage and food stores near schools and more than 4,000 vehicles used by K-12 students. As a result, the police force seized various items, including 152 knives and scissors of different types, 27 nunchucks, a three-section staff, iron tubes, wooden sticks, 24 dangerous items like plastic guns, plastic knives, pepper spray, and homemade electric batons, along with 23 pliers, wrenches, screwdrivers, and hammers. They also found 91 e-vaporizers, 16 bottles of e-liquids, 10 packs of cigarettes, cannabis, five slingshots capable of shooting bullets, 36 iron balls, and numerous other non-educational items such as playing cards, lighters, nail clippers with knives, and hacksaws in students backpacks. In addition, 392 underage students were found riding motorbikes with a cylinder volume over 50 cc, which are only for people at least 18 years of age. A total of 79 shops in close proximity to schools were found engaging in the trade of goods of unknown origin. The police force promptly initiated discussions with the students to verify and obtain further information. Simultaneously, they collaborated with schools and families to raise students awareness of the issues of school violence, alcohol and addictive substance use, and underage driving. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

Police in Thanh Hoa Province, north-central Vietnam said that they confiscated numerous types of weapons and a small amount of marijuana, along with some other dangerous items from K-12 students backpacks across the province.

More than 3,000 police officers recently checked 631 middle schools, high schools, and vocational schools in Thanh Hoa Province to assess the compliance of 166,997 students with the law within the schooling environment in response to the escalating issues of school violence, alcohol and addictive substance use, as well as underage driving.

Officers also inspected 773 beverage and food stores near schools and more than 4,000 vehicles used by K-12 students.

As a result, the police force seized various items, including 152 knives and scissors of different types, 27 nunchucks, a three-section staff, iron tubes, wooden sticks, 24 dangerous items like plastic guns, plastic knives, pepper spray, and homemade electric batons, along with 23 pliers, wrenches, screwdrivers, and hammers.

They also found 91 e-vaporizers, 16 bottles of e-liquids, 10 packs of cigarettes, cannabis, five slingshots capable of shooting bullets, 36 iron balls, and numerous other non-educational items such as playing cards, lighters, nail clippers with knives, and hacksaws in students backpacks.

In addition, 392 underage students were found riding motorbikes with a cylinder volume over 50 cc, which are only for people at least 18 years of age.

A total of 79 shops in close proximity to schools were found engaging in the trade of goods of unknown origin.

The police force promptly initiated discussions with the students to verify and obtain further information.

Simultaneously, they collaborated with schools and families to raise students awareness of the issues of school violence, alcohol and addictive substance use, and underage driving.

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WELLINGTON - A fire at a hostel in New Zealand killed at least six people on Tuesday and officials said they believe the toll could rise with 11 people still missing. The blaze broke out on the top floor of Loafers Lodge in the Wellington neighbourhood of Newtown just after midnight, police said. The cause of the fire is not known. "This is a once-in-a-decade fire for Wellington. Its the worst nightmare for us," District Manager Commander Nick Pyatt said in a statement. "This is a tragic event for all involved. My heartfelt condolences go to the loved ones of those who have lost their lives." Loafers Lodge resident Tala Sili said he saw smoke coming under his door and opened it to find the hallway full of smoke. He decided to jump out the window onto a roof two floors below. "It was just scary, it was really scary, but I knew I had to jump out the window or just burn inside the building," he told state-owned Radio New Zealand. Fire and emergency crews work at the scene of a fire at the Loafers Lodge, in Wellington, New Zealand, May 16, 2023. Photo: Reuters Firefighters are on the scene as there are still small fires inside the building, and structural and risks assessments are being undertaken. Investigations into what caused the fire are under way, according to Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ). Police said they will not have more information until the 92-room building is safe to enter, and there remains a risk the roof will collapse. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins told breakfast television show AM that six were dead and police said that they expect the death toll will be fewer than 10. Hipkins visited the site and spoke with emergency service providers. "It is an absolute tragedy and it is a horrific situation," Hipkins told media after the visit. "In the fullness of time, of course there will be a number of investigations about what has happened and why it happened but for now, the focus needs to be on dealing with the situation." Fire and Emergency Wellington District Manager Commander Nick Pyatt speaks with the media outside the Loafers Lodge hostel after a fire, in Wellington, New Zealand, May 16, 2023. Photo: Reuters Fire and emergency crews work at the scene of a fire at the Loafers Lodge, in Wellington, New Zealand, May 16, 2023. Photo: Reuters

WELLINGTON - A fire at a hostel in New Zealand killed at least six people on Tuesday and officials said they believe the toll could rise with 11 people still missing.

The blaze broke out on the top floor of Loafers Lodge in the Wellington neighbourhood of Newtown just after midnight, police said. The cause of the fire is not known.

"This is a once-in-a-decade fire for Wellington. Its the worst nightmare for us," District Manager Commander Nick Pyatt said in a statement.

"This is a tragic event for all involved. My heartfelt condolences go to the loved ones of those who have lost their lives."

Loafers Lodge resident Tala Sili said he saw smoke coming under his door and opened it to find the hallway full of smoke. He decided to jump out the window onto a roof two floors below.

"It was just scary, it was really scary, but I knew I had to jump out the window or just burn inside the building," he told state-owned Radio New Zealand.

Fire and emergency crews work at the scene of a fire at the Loafers Lodge, in Wellington, New Zealand, May 16, 2023. Photo: Reuters

Firefighters are on the scene as there are still small fires inside the building, and structural and risks assessments are being undertaken. Investigations into what caused the fire are under way, according to Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ).

Police said they will not have more information until the 92-room building is safe to enter, and there remains a risk the roof will collapse.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins told breakfast television show AM that six were dead and police said that they expect the death toll will be fewer than 10.

Hipkins visited the site and spoke with emergency service providers.

"It is an absolute tragedy and it is a horrific situation," Hipkins told media after the visit.

"In the fullness of time, of course there will be a number of investigations about what has happened and why it happened but for now, the focus needs to be on dealing with the situation."

Fire and Emergency Wellington District Manager Commander Nick Pyatt speaks with the media outside the Loafers Lodge hostel after a fire, in Wellington, New Zealand, May 16, 2023. Photo: Reuters
The Vietnamese Ministry of Transport submitted a proposal to the prime minister to develop the second airport in Hanoi as a domestic one, but the Hanoi Peoples Committee said that the Hanoi Capital Region needs one more international airport. While providing feedback on the national airport system development master plan for the 2021-30 period, with a vision toward 2050, the Hanoi Peoples Committee proposed the ministry weigh adding the second international airport in the city to the master plan. The proposal is aimed at raising the Hanoi Capital Regions airport capacity to 130-150 million passengers a year by 2050 to serve the soaring air travel demand of the city and the capital city area, according to a dispatch recently sent to the prime minister and the ministry by Hanoi. The Hanoi Capital Region includes Hanoi as a core city and nine other provinces around it. The region is projected to have 21-23 million people by 2050, with a total land area of over 24,310 square kilometers, making it roughly equivalent to the Ho Chi Minh City Metropolitan Area, the Hanoi Peoples Committee said in the dispatch. The Ho Chi Minh City Metropolitan Area consists of Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai Province, Binh Duong Province, Tay Ninh Province, Binh Phuoc Province, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, Long An Province, and Tien Giang Province. The ministry factored in two international airports, including Tan Son Nhat in Ho Chi Minh City and Long Thanh in Dong Nai Province, with a total capacity of 150 million passengers a year, for the Ho Chi Minh City Metropolitan Area, but it failed to do the same for the Hanoi Capital Region. The capital region is in dire need of two international airports to meet the demands for air travel and create a boost for socio-economic growth, said the Hanoi Peoples Committee. The Hanoi Peoples Committee proposed the prime minister and the Ministry of Transport re-determine the capital regions second airport as an international one. Hanoi-based Noi Bai International Airport will handle 60 million passengers a year by 2030 and 100 million passengers per year by 2050, with the respective areas of 1,500 hectares and 2,230 hectares, according to the dispatch. Meanwhile, the projected second airport in the Hanoi Capital Region will be built in either southeast or south Hanoi. The capacity and size of the second airport remain unknown. Vietnam will be home to 33 airports by 2050, according to the national airport system development master plan for the 2021-30 period, with a vision toward 2050 submitted to the prime minister by the Ministry of Transport in early May. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

The Vietnamese Ministry of Transport submitted a proposal to the prime minister to develop the second airport in Hanoi as a domestic one, but the Hanoi Peoples Committee said that the Hanoi Capital Region needs one more international airport.

While providing feedback on the national airport system development master plan for the 2021-30 period, with a vision toward 2050, the Hanoi Peoples Committee proposed the ministry weigh adding the second international airport in the city to the master plan.

The proposal is aimed at raising the Hanoi Capital Regions airport capacity to 130-150 million passengers a year by 2050 to serve the soaring air travel demand of the city and the capital city area, according to a dispatch recently sent to the prime minister and the ministry by Hanoi.

The Hanoi Capital Region includes Hanoi as a core city and nine other provinces around it.

The region is projected to have 21-23 million people by 2050, with a total land area of over 24,310 square kilometers, making it roughly equivalent to the Ho Chi Minh City Metropolitan Area, the Hanoi Peoples Committee said in the dispatch.

The Ho Chi Minh City Metropolitan Area consists of Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai Province, Binh Duong Province, Tay Ninh Province, Binh Phuoc Province, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, Long An Province, and Tien Giang Province.

The ministry factored in two international airports, including Tan Son Nhat in Ho Chi Minh City and Long Thanh in Dong Nai Province, with a total capacity of 150 million passengers a year, for the Ho Chi Minh City Metropolitan Area, but it failed to do the same for the Hanoi Capital Region.

The capital region is in dire need of two international airports to meet the demands for air travel and create a boost for socio-economic growth, said the Hanoi Peoples Committee.

The Hanoi Peoples Committee proposed the prime minister and the Ministry of Transport re-determine the capital regions second airport as an international one.

Hanoi-based Noi Bai International Airport will handle 60 million passengers a year by 2030 and 100 million passengers per year by 2050, with the respective areas of 1,500 hectares and 2,230 hectares, according to the dispatch.

Meanwhile, the projected second airport in the Hanoi Capital Region will be built in either southeast or south Hanoi.

The capacity and size of the second airport remain unknown.

Vietnam will be home to 33 airports by 2050, according to the national airport system development master plan for the 2021-30 period, with a vision toward 2050 submitted to the prime minister by the Ministry of Transport in early May.

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Ho Chi Minh City has seen daily electricity consumption set four new records in less than one month due to extreme weather, according to the Ho Chi Minh City Power Corporation (EVN HCMC). Bui Trung Kien, deputy head of EVN HCMC, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the city experienced scorching temperatures, sending power consumption soaring in late April and early May. The city consumed over 93.53 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity on April 21, the highest daily power consumption level. On April 25, the electricity consumption reached a new high of 93.57 milllion kWh, while over 94.43 million kWh of electricity was consumed in the city on May 5. Then, it set a new record in power consumption at 94.8 million kWh on May 6. Searing heat in the city pushed up demand for air conditioning and electric fans, resulting in an upsurge in power consumption, according to an EVN HCMC representative. The power consumption of air conditioning might increase 1.5-3 percent after temperature gets one degree Celsius hotter, Kien said. Quan, who resides in Ward 22 of Binh Thanh District, said that his monthly power bills in the first three months of the year ranged from VND2.5 (US$106) to VND2.6 million ($110), but the bill soared to VND6 million ($255.1) in April. My friends said that their April power bills were double those in the previous months, Quan said. Similarly, Nam, a native of Tan Binh District, also complained about the sky-high power bill in April. Dang Nguyen Phuong, head of the sales division at Southern Power Corporation, said that electricity consumption in 21 provinces and cities of the southern region is on the rise, posing the risk of a power crunch. In April, the region consumed over 7.7 billion kWh of electricity, up 8.92 percent month on month. On April 7 alone, the regions power consumption totaled more than 269 million kWh. Tips for saving electricity, protecting health Kien from EVN HCMC advised residents to use power suitably, regularly clean electric devices, install condensing units, and select standard electric equipment to save electricity. Residents should create green space in their houses to reduce heat and create fresh air, according to the Southern Power Corporation. In addition, houses should be equipped with curtains to limit sun exposure to protect residents health. The low water level of the Ialy hydropower reservoir is pictured on May 10, 2023. Photo: Viet Ha / Tuoi Tre Enhanced efforts in electricity supply Vo Quang Lam, deputy general director of Vietnams state utility EVN, said that in early May, the northern and central regions saw temperatures soar to record highs. Temperature measured in Nghe An Province, north-central Vietnam on May 7 set a national record of 44.2 degrees Celsius, exceeding the 44.1 degrees Celsius recorded just a day earlier in neighboring Thanh Hoa Province, according to the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting. As such, the demand for electricity in the country skyrocketed. Specifically, on May 6, the nation consumed over 985 million kWh of energy, the highest ever, up 12.3 percent year on year. EVN said that 11 of 47 reservoirs, with a total energy generation capacity of 4,500 megawatts, are approaching the minimum allowable water level. To guarantee power supply, the National Load Dispatch Center has mobilized some oil-fired generators since April 17. EVN is stepping up efforts to fuel power generation by stockpiling materials, ramping up operation and repair work, and ensuring the safety of the energy system, said Lam. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

Ho Chi Minh City has seen daily electricity consumption set four new records in less than one month due to extreme weather, according to the Ho Chi Minh City Power Corporation (EVN HCMC).

Bui Trung Kien, deputy head of EVN HCMC, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the city experienced scorching temperatures, sending power consumption soaring in late April and early May.

The city consumed over 93.53 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity on April 21, the highest daily power consumption level.

On April 25, the electricity consumption reached a new high of 93.57 milllion kWh, while over 94.43 million kWh of electricity was consumed in the city on May 5.

Then, it set a new record in power consumption at 94.8 million kWh on May 6.

Searing heat in the city pushed up demand for air conditioning and electric fans, resulting in an upsurge in power consumption, according to an EVN HCMC representative.

The power consumption of air conditioning might increase 1.5-3 percent after temperature gets one degree Celsius hotter, Kien said.

Quan, who resides in Ward 22 of Binh Thanh District, said that his monthly power bills in the first three months of the year ranged from VND2.5 (US$106) to VND2.6 million ($110), but the bill soared to VND6 million ($255.1) in April.

My friends said that their April power bills were double those in the previous months, Quan said.

Similarly, Nam, a native of Tan Binh District, also complained about the sky-high power bill in April.

Dang Nguyen Phuong, head of the sales division at Southern Power Corporation, said that electricity consumption in 21 provinces and cities of the southern region is on the rise, posing the risk of a power crunch.

In April, the region consumed over 7.7 billion kWh of electricity, up 8.92 percent month on month.

On April 7 alone, the regions power consumption totaled more than 269 million kWh.

Tips for saving electricity, protecting health

Kien from EVN HCMC advised residents to use power suitably, regularly clean electric devices, install condensing units, and select standard electric equipment to save electricity.

Residents should create green space in their houses to reduce heat and create fresh air, according to the Southern Power Corporation.

In addition, houses should be equipped with curtains to limit sun exposure to protect residents health.

The low water level of the Ialy hydropower reservoir is pictured on May 10, 2023. Photo: Viet Ha / Tuoi Tre

Enhanced efforts in electricity supply

Vo Quang Lam, deputy general director of Vietnams state utility EVN, said that in early May, the northern and central regions saw temperatures soar to record highs.

Temperature measured in Nghe An Province, north-central Vietnam on May 7 set a national record of 44.2 degrees Celsius, exceeding the 44.1 degrees Celsius recorded just a day earlier in neighboring Thanh Hoa Province, according to the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting.

As such, the demand for electricity in the country skyrocketed. Specifically, on May 6, the nation consumed over 985 million kWh of energy, the highest ever, up 12.3 percent year on year.

EVN said that 11 of 47 reservoirs, with a total energy generation capacity of 4,500 megawatts, are approaching the minimum allowable water level.

To guarantee power supply, the National Load Dispatch Center has mobilized some oil-fired generators since April 17.

EVN is stepping up efforts to fuel power generation by stockpiling materials, ramping up operation and repair work, and ensuring the safety of the energy system, said Lam.

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A police officer lost control of a traffic police pickup truck, causing it to crash into multiple motorbikes and a truck along the roadside in Lai Chau Province, northern Vietnam on Monday afternoon. The traffic police car suddenly drove into the opposite lane when it came around a bend in Tam Duong District at around 2:00 pm, a source told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. It also knocked down a road milestone, plowed through several motorbikes parked along the roadside, and crashed into a truck. The traffic police department of Lai Chau confirmed the crash later the same day, saying that a police officer of Than Uyen District was driving the pickup truck in question. The slippery road surface caused by rain was determined as the cause of the accident, the department said, adding that nobody was harmed, including the traffic police officer, as the affected vehicles owners were not at the site at that time, but a truck and four motorbikes were damaged. The traffic police department arrived at the scene immediately after the accident, said a leader of the department. We checked the alcohol concentration of the driver and the result showed that he had a blood alcohol concentration of zero." Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

A police officer lost control of a traffic police pickup truck, causing it to crash into multiple motorbikes and a truck along the roadside in Lai Chau Province, northern Vietnam on Monday afternoon.

The traffic police car suddenly drove into the opposite lane when it came around a bend in Tam Duong District at around 2:00 pm, a source told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

It also knocked down a road milestone, plowed through several motorbikes parked along the roadside, and crashed into a truck.

The traffic police department of Lai Chau confirmed the crash later the same day, saying that a police officer of Than Uyen District was driving the pickup truck in question.

The slippery road surface caused by rain was determined as the cause of the accident, the department said, adding that nobody was harmed, including the traffic police officer, as the affected vehicles owners were not at the site at that time, but a truck and four motorbikes were damaged.

The traffic police department arrived at the scene immediately after the accident, said a leader of the department.

We checked the alcohol concentration of the driver and the result showed that he had a blood alcohol concentration of zero."

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Washington Wants War with China Served Hot, Not Cold



By Connor Freeman

May 15, 2023: Information Clearing House -- " Libertarian Institute " -- The ruling class in Washington is planning on using Americas sons and daughters as cannon fodder to wage their long-awaited war against China. President Joe Biden along with the other de facto employees of the military industrial complex, including in Congress, have not made their plans a secret. Contrarily, they are quite happy to brag about basically any escalation they can get.

Hawks in the Pentagon, along with those in the administration and legislative branchincluding the key leadershiphave been speaking explicitly about the coming war with China for a while now, usually boasting about all they are doing to prepare for, as well as provoke, such a conflict.

This all began in earnest during the Barack Obama administration. War with China, despite the Republican Partys obsession with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), is the Progressive Democrats project led byamong othersthe likes of Obama, Biden, Hillary Clinton, Kurt Campbell, Antony Blinken, Lloyd Austin, and Michelle Flournoy.

In 2011, Obama launched the pivot to Asia. The policy has been expanded by each successive administration. Obamas project for the new American century entails the largest military buildup since the Second World War, shifting hundreds of bases as well as two-thirds of all U.S. Air and Naval forces to the Asia-Pacific region. Washington is encircling China for a future war with Beijing. In the words of Lew Rockwell, The U.S. seeks to encircle China and make it bow down before the hegemon.

The new Cold War on China has been heating up for years, but things have taken a turn for the worse under the Biden regime which is significantly more hawkish than both the Obama and Donald Trump administrations.

In January, the top U.S. Marine Corps general in Japan explained to the Financial Times that Washington and Tokyo are setting the theater, for war with China. Lt. Gen. James Bierman, commander of the Third Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF) and of Marine Forces Japan, said Washington is working with its allies in the region to prepare for the coming war with China, much like the U.S. did with its NATO allies following the 2014 U.S. backed coup in Kiev.

Why have we achieved the level of success weve achieved in Ukraine? A big part of that has been because after Russian aggression in 2014 and 2015, we earnestly got after preparing for future conflict: training for the Ukrainians, prepositioning of supplies, identification of sites from which we could operate support, sustain operations, the general said. He went on to explain this is called setting the theater. And we are setting the theater in Japan, in the Philippines, in other locations.

Later the same month, NBC News reported on a memo written by four-star U.S. Air Force General Mike Minihan, the head of Air Mobility Command (AMC), discussing the coming war with China. AMC includes 50,000 airmen and oversees roughly 430 aircraft. I hope I am wrong. My gut tells me [we] will fight in 2025, Minihan said, ordering his forces to begin preparing for war with Beijing.

In recent weeks and months, the U.S. has worked on deals to gain exclusive military access to the Federated States of Micronesia, secured an agreement with Manilla to gain access to four more military bases in the Philippines, awarded contracts to begin work on a new radar installation in Palau, announced increased cooperation between American and Japanese armed forces for a future confrontation with China, and made plans to deploy additional Marine units armed with anti-ship missiles along the Okinawa islands.

In April, Washington and Manila carried out their largest ever joint military exercises. 17,600 military personnel took part, including 12,000 American troops. The Balikatan exercises saw more than 100 Australian soldiers participate. The increasing pressure on both Russia and China has seen Moscow and Beijing step up their own cooperation in the region.

Later this year, the U.S. and Australia will carry out the largest-ever iteration of their Talisman Sabre war drills. This bilateral military exercise takes place every two years. As Antiwar.com News Editor Dave DeCamp has explained,

The plans for the massive exercises come after the US, Australia, and Britain unveiled their plans under the AUKUS military pact with the ultimate goal of Canberra being able to produce nuclear-powered submarines by the 2040s. The U.S. Navy envisions AUKUS will turn Australia into a full-service submarine hub for the United States and its allies in the region in operations targeted at China. As part of the deepening U.S.-Australian military ties, the United States also plans to deploy more troops and aircraft to Australia, including nuclear-capable B-52 bombers.

The rhetoric of U.S. military leaders may seem unhinged, but it is now all too common. In February, U.S. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth declared that we need to be prepared to fight a direct, hot war against China over Taiwan, and win it. I personally am not of the view that an amphibious invasion of Taiwan is imminent, she told an audience at the American Enterprise Institute, adding but we obviously have to prepare, to be prepared to fight and win that war.

Her plan consists of sending more U.S. troops and advanced weapons to the region, including hypersonic missiles. She also discussed setting up theater distribution centers in the region where weapons and other supplies can be pre-positioned for the coming war, suggesting Japan and Australia would make good candidates.

She said our goal is to have Army forces in the Indo-Pacific seven to eight months out of the year, when the war starts their job will be establishing staging bases for the Navy, for the Marines, for the Air Force, adding they will be providing intra-theater sustainment.

Wormuth also discussed what appeared to be a plan for the Army to impose martial law in the United States during the coming war with China. If we got into a major war with China, the United States homeland would be at risk as well, with both kinetic attacks and non-kinetic attacks. Whether its cyberattacks on the power grids, or on pipelines, the United States Army, I have no doubt, will be called to provide defense support to civil authorities.

In March, General Kenneth Wilsbach, the head of U.S. Pacific Air Forces, told a symposium in Colorado that his focus is on blowing up Chinese ships in the event that Beijing orders a blockade on the island of Taiwan. You saw when Speaker Pelosi went to Taiwan, what [China] did with their ships, Wilsbach said, adding, They put them on the east side of Taiwanas a sort of blockade.

The Generals conclusion is [w]eve got to sink the ships. He continued, sinking ships is a main objective of not only PACAF [Pacific Air Forces] but really anyone thats going to be involved in a conflict like this. In other words, even if the cross-strait conflict which Washingtons build up and closer ties with Taiwan is actively provoking does not immediately go kinetic, General Wilsbach will ensure that it escalates quickly as a result of his attempts to shoot through the Chinese naval blockade.

That same month, Trumps former national security adviser Robert OBrien said in the event of a cross-strait conflict, the U.S. would bomb and destroy Taiwans advanced semiconductor manufacturing facilities. The United States and its allies are never going to let those factories fall into Chinese hands, OBrien threatened during an interview with Semafor.

A similar plan was laid out, as a potential joint operation with Washington and Taipei, in a 2021 paper published by the U.S. Army War College. The paper characterizes obliterating the islands chip factories as a scorched earth strategy designed to leave Taiwan in ruins not just unattractive if ever seized by force, but positively costly to maintain.

The paper continues, explaining this could be done most effectively by threatening to destroy facilities belonging to the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, the most important chipmaker in the world and Chinas most important supplier.

This month, Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) told a think tank conference the U.S. should make it very clear to the Chinese that if you invade Taiwan, were going to blow up [the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company], which produces most of the worlds advanced semiconductors.

Apparently, the Taiwanese military brass did not get the memo. Taiwans Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng fired back against the Congressma, saying [i]t is the militarys obligation to defend Taiwan and we will not tolerate any others blowing up our facilities.

In April, for the first time, the U.S. Armys Special Operations Command defended Taiwan from a mock Chinese invasion as part of CAPEX, the commands annual capabilities exercise.

Lt. Gen. Jonathan P. Braga declared it was about time, these war drills are in accordance with our national defense strategy, [China] is our true pacing challenge out there.

According to Military.com, [m]embers of the U.S. Armys Special Operations Command fired Carl Gustaf recoilless rifles, breached tunnels and operated Switchblade drones that flew with an unsettling whiz over a training areaThe exercise combined some of the hallmark tactics and weapons that were used during the Global War on Terror with other tools reflecting a seismic shift for the command as it prepares for potential conflict against major military rivalsand the mission they were gaming out was an insertion into Taiwan to defend against a Chinese invasion.

Last fall, Navy Admiral Charles Richard, the head of Strategic Command, which oversees American nuclear forces, ominously warned the Ukraine crisis that were in right now, this is just the warmupThe big one is coming. And it isnt going to be very long before were going to get tested in ways that we havent been tested [in] a long time. Unmistakably, the big one is the coming war with China.

For almost 50 years, the One-China policy has governed the now extremely fragile relationship between Washington and Beijing. Thirty years after Maos forces won the civil war, Washington accepted reality and made an agreement which has kept the peace and prevented war. Under the policy, the U.S. severed diplomatic ties with Taipei and recognized that there is but one China, with Beijing as the sole Chinese government.

One-China means the U.S. does not have an official relationship with Taipei, with Washington recognizing China and Taiwan as the same country. The U.S. also maintains strategic ambiguity towards Taiwan or at least it did until the Joe Biden administration unilaterally overturned that part of the delicate policy.

Per the former approach, the U.S. would never commit to defending or not defending the island against a potential attack against the breakaway province. Critically, strategic ambiguity has aimed to deter Beijing from attempting to retake the island by force and, at the same time, to discourage Taiwans radical factions seeking to declare Taiwans independence.

But for the bipartisan China hawks, that successful arrangement is no longer good enough. Worst of all, some are proposing, and in some cases outright issuing, defense commitments in contradiction of the longstanding U.S. policy.

Since Biden came into office, he has continued to make gaffes announcing the U.S. is doing away with strategic ambiguity and even potentially the One-China policy. Biden has seemingly committed Americans to Taiwans defense multiple times. But now it appears that these notorious mistakes which were often walked back by the White House, were not gaffes at all.

In March, speaking before a House Intelligence Committee hearing, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines announced that strategic ambiguity was dead and gone. When asked by Rep. Chris Stewart (R-UT) if the policy needed to be changed, Haines responded by announcing I think it is clear to the Chinese what our position is, based on the presidents comments.

Indeed, Washington constantly ramps up U.S. military cooperation with Taipei, committing billions of dollars in military aid to Taiwan, expanding U.S. National Guard training programs with the Taiwanese military, sending ever more Congressional delegations to the island, deploying ever higher numbers of U.S. troops to the island, concurrently training hundreds of Taiwanese soldiers for war on U.S. soil, converting Taiwan into a giant weapons depot, and sailing American warships through the sensitive Taiwan strait almost every month.

The U.S. government absurdly promises these provocations are done to deter war, but China has made clear that Taiwan is a red line and Washingtons actions makes war more likely. Beijing has repeatedly said that they are seeking a peaceful reunification with Taiwan but they have not ruled out using force.

Even Haines appeared to admit this when, at the same hearing, she admitted its not our assessment that China wants to go to war. Bellicose members of Congress are foaming at the mouth for a confrontation with China nonetheless.

In April, during an interview on Fox News Sunday, Republican senator and neoconservative spokesman Lindsey Graham (R-SC) called for an outright reversal of strategic ambiguity, as well as a complete overhaul of Washingtons China policy. As the Libertarian Institutes Kyle Anzalone reported,

Graham claimed the United States had only a short window of time to prepare for the coming conflict, calling to increase training and get the F-16s they need in Taiwan, He also complained about a backlog of arms sales to the island, arguing the transfers should move ahead while proposing new US military deployments in Asia and elsewhere. I would move war forces to South Korea and Japan. I would put nuclear-tipped cruise missiles on all of our submarines all over the world, Graham continued. He additionally explained he was willing to send US troops to fight for Taipei, a dramatic departure from longstanding policy, saying Yes, Id be very much open to using US forces to defend Taiwan.

The ultra-hawkish Republican Chair of the House Foreign Relations Committee, Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), further declared that sending U.S. troops to fight China over the island of Taiwan is on the table. McCaul clarified his position that if communist China invaded Taiwan, it would certainly be on the table and [thats] something that would be discussed by Congress and with the American people.

How gracious of our ostensible representatives! After more than 70 years of illegal, undeclared wars and millions killed, some are willing to concede perhaps before going to war with another nuclear superpower, it may warrant at least a discussion with the American people.

To date, wethe peoplehave not been consulted regarding any of these horrendous and reckless policies. The hyper-drive propaganda against China is already designedly overwhelming our neighbors psyches. Given the current anti-Russia hysteria among the populace, with minimal domestic resistance, the White House has been able to ratchet tensions with Moscowvia its proxy war in Ukraineto levels not seen since the Cuban Missile Crisis. In fact, its even worse, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists says the risk of nuclear war has never been higher.

There is no telling what Americans may be frightened into consenting to if a cross-strait conflict kicks off, or if there is an accident or confrontation between U.S. and Chinese forces in the South China Sea. Not too long ago, some were almost calling for war with China over a weather balloon.

As is the case with Russia, the U.S. launching a direct war with Beijing is essentially guaranteed to lead to a nuclear exchange. In such a scenario, China has the ability to destroy continental American cities, not just the aircraft carrier strike groups and the hundreds of U.S. military bases encircling China.

This should go without saying, if the hawks were honest about the risks of the war with China they are proposing, and indeed cultivating, the American people would refuse to allow a continuation of the buildup at all.

It is not inconceivable that, under the circumstances, an informed American populace may collectively decide they no longer wish to be ruled by notoriously venal people in Washington irrevocably caught up in the insane, outmoded, long discredited, and arms industry funded neoconservative ideology of unipolar, global hegemony.

And yes, that is what this coming war with China is about: world domination by Washington. The same Democrats and Republicans whose hands are still covered in blood from Ukraine, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Palestine, Yemen, Somalia, and Afghanistan now want to go to war with China.

But just like the other wars youve likely lived through, its not our warits their wareven if the American people are fighting it.

We must stop this madness.
The Australian Film Television and Radio School honoured three industry luminaries at its annual graduation ceremony held last Friday.

First Nations media executive Dot West, OAM, showrunner, writer and director Tony Ayres and the late director, Shirley Barrett were awarded Doctor of Arts, Film and Television.

Dot West (pictured left) said: I am honoured to receive this recognition from an institution that, for the last 50 years, has supported the growth and development of our creative industry to become the revolutionary force it is today for Australia and the world.

Tony Ayres (pictured centre) said: I attended AFTRS in 1989 at a time when I was very uncertain about whether I belonged in the screen industries or not. It was the inspiration and guidance of key teachers there (in particular, Barbara Masel) which set me on the course that sees me still in this industry thirty-four years later. For me, the idea of revolutionary screen content is finding the courage to say what is not being said, to be additive to current cultural conversation, and to humanise polarising debates.

Shirley Barretts (pictured right) posthumous hononary degree was accepted by her husband, Chris Norris.

Chris Norris said: Shirley and I met when we were nineteen. It was exciting to be with her as her talent flourished. I watched as she thrived at AFTRS. It was there that she developed her unique voice. She often spoke of what a privilege it was to have the opportunity to play and experiment in an environment that was so well-resourced, supportive and unrestrictive. Her final year film, Cherith, which she wrote and directed, gave her the confidence and resolve to follow a creative path that was her own. Her distinctive comedic style was piercingly funny but always compassionate.

As the years went on I marvelled at what a determined, disciplined and uncompromising artist she was, but also an inclusive and generous collaborator. It was these qualities that made her greatly loved and highly regarded in the Australian film and television industry. That and the fact that she was so much fun to be around.

The ceremony saw 141 students graduate from the 2022 academic year.

Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke addressed the students saying, The reason we have a cultural policy isnt a set of arts announcements, we have a cultural policy because the work youve now been trained to do as graduates is essential for Australians to know themselves, for us to understand each other and for the world to come to know us.

Also announced was the winner of the inaugural Women in Cinematography Prize, presented to AFTRS graduate Grace Clinton.

Nick Rowe, Demand Creation Manager, Sony ANZ, said: We congratulate Grace Clinton for her outstanding creative excellence in cinematography, and for being awarded the Women in Cinematography Prize sponsored by Sony. This initiative recognizes the challenges faced by women and diverse practitioners in the film industry and encourages female-identifying students to take up cinematography roles. Australias vibrant film and television sector is fundamental in sharing Australian stories with a global audience, and Grace is amongst those paving the way for more diversity and representation in this industry.

Grace Clinton responded, I am exceptionally honoured to be awarded this prize, Im thrilled to have been considered alongside some incredibly talented cinematographers. This Women in Cinematography Prize from Sony has given me a chance to pursue my dreams as a cinematographer, as I one day intend on leading large-scale long-form productions, both here in Australia and internationally. But, before I do all that, I hope to make more exciting short form content alongside all the talented individuals Ive met along the way of my film journey. I hope to help create stories that demand attention, and I will use this opportunity to get more amazing women behind the camera and hopefully create a space where women feel invited in a predominantly male field. I am very fortunate to be in the position I am and Im exceptionally grateful to Sony and everyone who has supported me on my AFTRS journey, especially Jackie Wolf, Simeon Bryan and my wonderful Lake Emba production crew, particularly our director Maddy Jurd.

Russel Howcroft, attending his last Graduation as AFTRS Council Chair, said: AFTRS Graduation ceremony celebrates the remarkable achievements of our graduates who have completed their journey through this world-class institution. The Australian film, television and radio industry has a bright future with AFTRS graduates certain to go on to make significant contributions, creating memorable works of art that will touch hearts, change minds and impact our Australian culture.

AFTRS CEO, Dr Nell Greenwood, said: Graduation is always a significant and very proud moment in the AFTRS year as we celebrate the talent and hard work of our graduating students. In the Schools 50th anniversary year, its been a particularly joyful event as we reflect on the Schools long history of excellence in creative education and the strength, generosity and brilliance of the AFTRS alum community that these new graduates have just joined.

Preceding graduation, AFTRS held its annual First Nations graduation event to acknowledge the dedication and hard work of First Nations students. The event brought together the graduating class of the AFTRS First Nations students  Nazareth Alfred (Bachelor of Screen Production), Kyneisha Murray (Bachelor of Screen Production), Natalie Agius (Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting), Reilly OLoughlin (Master of Screen Art Production Design), and Joshua Yasserie (Master of Screen Art Animation  along with their families, friends and community to celebrate Indigenous excellence. This was an evening to celebrate with family, friends and community. The event included dances, a Welcome to Country from AFTRS Elder-in-Residence Aunty Rhonda Dixon-Grovenor, a keynote address by veteran producer Pauline Clague, and screenings of the students work.

Dr Romaine Morton, AFTRS Director, First Nations & Outreach, said: We are honoured to support five First Nations graduating media makers as they emerge into the national and global media making landscape. Each graduand is imbued with a unique voice vital to the totality of First Nations representation and each is positioned to contribute to the ongoing celebration of First Nations excellence.

Dot West, nee Henry, is a Noongar woman from the south west of Western Australia, with ancestral ties to the north. She has been living and working in the Kimberley region since 1977. Dot started her media career in radio in 1987, before moving across to the screen industry. For ten years Dot was Head of Productions at Goolarri Media in Broome overseeing radio, television, music and events operations. Dot has held numerous board positions across the industry. She is currently working as a scriptwriter, story advisor and accredited trainer, and serves as Director of Goolarri Media Enterprises and Ramu Productions in Broome, as a Board Member of Cinefest Oz Film Festival and as Chairperson of the First Nations Digital Inclusion Advisory Group. Since 2014, Dot has been the co-facilitator of the Goolarri Writers Program where she supports emerging Indigenous writers.

Tony Ayres is an award-winning Australian showrunner, writer and director, and one of the founding members of Matchbox Pictures. In 2018 Tony established his own production company Tony Ayres Productions (TAP), developing and producing feature films and television for global audiences and international marketplaces. Overall, Tonys feature films and TV shows have been nominated for over one hundred Australian and international awards, and has won over sixty of these awards including an International Emmy, a BAFTA, a Golden Horse (the Asian Oscars), six AACTA awards, and six Logies. Tony was the creator/showrunner on The Slap, Nowhere Boys and global number one Netflix hit, Clickbait. He co-created and was an Executive Producer on Glitch, Stateless, and Fires. He has Executive produced acclaimed shows such as Barracuda, Seven Types of Ambiguity, Wanted, Creamerie, The Devils Playground, Old School, Underground: The Julian Assange Story, The Straits, and The Family Law. In feature films, Tony directed Cut Snake (2015), The Home Song Stories (2007), and Walking on Water (2002). He has also executive produced award winning feature films such as Alis Wedding and Lou. His films have premiered and screened at A-list festivals around the world including the Berlinale and the Toronto Film Festival.

Shirley Barrett was a screenwriter, director and novelist. She graduated from AFTRS in 1987, specialising in writing and directing. Her final year film Cherith won both the Dendy and AFI Awards for Best Short Fiction and the Prix Canal+ award. She went on to write and direct three feature films. Love Serenade (1996) won the Camera dOr (Best First Feature) at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival. The film was also awarded Best Film at the Valladolid International Film Festival Spain 1996, selected for screening at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival and was the opening night film at New Directors New Films, New York 1997. Walk the Talk (2000) screened at the Toronto and Rotterdam Film Festivals. South Solitary (2010) had its world premiere opening the Sydney Film Festival 2010. Shirley was awarded Winner Western Australia Premier Literary Award 2009 (Premiers Prize and Script Award) and Winner Queensland Premiers Literary Award 2010 (Film Script). Shirley also worked extensively in Australian television as a director and writer. Her credits include Boys From The Bush, A Country Practice, Heartbreak High, Police Rescue, Packed To The Rafters, Wild Boys, House Husbands, Mr & Mrs Murder, Love Child, Winter, A Place to Call Home, Offspring, Five Bedrooms and Home And Away. She wrote three novels: Rush Oh! (2015 Picador Pan Macmillan) and The Bus on Thursday (2018 Allen and Unwin). Mrs Hopkins is to be published by Allen and Unwin in June 2024. Shirley died in August 2022.
Amazon expressed interest in picking up Neighbours almost immediately after its very sentimental finale screened last year on 10 and Channel Five (UK).

Speaking recently at Screen Forever, Daniel Monaghan, Senior Vice President, Content & Programming, Paramount ANZ said, We were always openly sad when Neighbours came to a close last year. Wed partnered with Channel Five for such a long time but we werent able to find a partner to continue the show, which we were devastated about until that wonderful day last year -not too long after after the epic finale went to air- we found out that Amazon Freevee was interested.

Its a really good partnership. I think Freevee will do a great job around the rest of the world and well have that Australian premiere on 10 and then it will play out on 10Play and (Prime Video) as well, after a period of time.

The deal between three broadcasters was put together by Fremantle CEO Greg Woods.

Tyler Bern, Head of Content, Prime Video Australia, NZ, Canada explained, Essentially theres three commissioners, really. Its Channel 10, Prime Video and Freevee. So its a unique rights set. Its a really interesting field that were able to put together because theres the obvious partnership between Channel 10 and Prime Video in Australia.

Channel 10 has the premiere, and episodes are showing up on Prime Video seven days later. Freevee has the premiere in the UK. If you arent familiar with Freevee, its a sister service to Prime Video. Its our ad-supported service. So its completely different content and theres a different team within Amazon that is commissioning originals and licensing content for Freevee.

Freevee in the UK wanted Neighbours because it rates like a million people per episode its insane. And then Prime Video has Neighbours in Canada, South Africa, Ireland and New Zealand. Neighbours will be on Freevee in the US, UK, Germany and Austria.

Filming is currently underway in Melbourne with cast including Stefan Dennis, Jackie Woodburne, Alan Fletcher, Ryan Moloney, Annie Jones, Rebekah Elmaloglou, Georgie Stone, Tim Kano, Lucinda Cowden -and guest Mischa Barton (pictured).

We can all stake a claim to casting Mischa, Im going to claim it, Tyler can claim it, but it was neither of us, Monaghan joked.

But its given us a little bit of noise. Weve been announcing the cast quite slowly about who is returning and what new faces we have.

Look out for it later in the year.

Amended.




Snobar | Twocircles.net

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his colleagues in the BJP are promoting the film The Kerala Story, but a large number of women residents of Kerala Two Circles talked to said that the film seemed like the response of right-wing Hindu men who dont know how to respond to vocal Muslim women.

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Rehna Shajahan, a resident of Kerala said that the film seemed like yet another frustrated attempt of Right-wing Hindu men

Right-wing Hindu men dont know how to respond to women like me because we are vocal, we call out their bigotry online. So they would come up with Sulli bai, and Bulli bai apps to harass us. The film seems like one of those tools to silence us but Muslim women wont be silenced, she said.

Vulgar Propaganda Against Kerala and Muslims

Many Keralites said the film had nothing to do with reality. They regarded the film as vulgar propaganda against Kerala and Muslims.

The movies trailer had earlier shown that 32,000 women from Kerala had been converted and moved to join ISIS.

Ms. Shajahan said that The Kerala Story was nothing more than a harmful propaganda piece targeting Muslims and Kerala without any factual basis or evidence.

She asserted that the true story of Kerala is that the state is known across the country for having one of the highest rates of literacy, a high human development index, access to healthcare, the least amount of poverty, and tourism.

The film is political propaganda that seeks to portray Kerala as a state rife with anti-national activities. Kerala is proud of its multi-religious, multi-ethnic identity. The title of the movie itself defames the state of Kerala, added Rehna who was in the news for making a world record by becoming the first person to achieve 81 online course certificates in a single day in 2020.

The real-life incident on the conversion of women and their joining ISIS is available on YouTube. That is not what the movie shows, she added.

A Manifestation of North Indians Prejudiced Image of Kerala

Mubashir who is from Kerala and is doing PhD from Jamia Millia Islamia University in Delhi, said that the film is how some people in North India would like to see Kerala. The film seems like a manifestation of a prejudiced image of Kerala, as seen by some people in North India. The film is a piece of propaganda which I have observed being widely used in the northern part of India, he said.

The state of Kerala is noticeably different from northern India. For instance, Christian and Hindu homes are situated close to the houses of Muslims. This is very hard to imagine in a North Indian state like Uttar Pradesh. The division we see in northern India is not perceptible in southern India, added Mubashir while saying that the politics of North India promotes religious hatred and division to consolidate the Hindu vote.

Mubashir said that it is true that three or four women converted and joined ISIS. The movie shows that it is a much wider phenomenon which is false.

The movie Will Promote Hatred Against Muslims

Mubashir said that the film might end up promoting hatred between communities which will have real-life consequences. The only purpose of this movie is to spread hatred. As soon as you come out of the theatre and you see any woman with a hijab or any man with a beard and a kurta pajama, you will hate them, he said.
Momentum investing revolves around the idea of following a stock's recent trend in either direction. In the 'long' context, investors will be essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." With this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving that way. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.

While many investors like to look for momentum in stocks, this can be very tough to define. There is a lot of debate surrounding which metrics are the best to focus on and which are poor quality indicators of future performance. The Zacks Momentum Style Score, part of the Zacks Style Scores, helps address this issue for us.

Below, we take a look at Copa Holdings (CPA), a company that currently holds a Momentum Style Score of A. We also talk about price change and earnings estimate revisions, two of the main aspects of the Momentum Style Score.

It's also important to note that Style Scores work as a complement to the Zacks Rank, our stock rating system that has an impressive track record of outperformance. Copa Holdings currently has a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy). Our research shows that stocks rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and #2 (Buy) and Style Scores of A or B outperform the market over the following one-month period.

You can see the current list of Zacks #1 Rank Stocks here >>>

Set to Beat the Market?

In order to see if CPA is a promising momentum pick, let's examine some Momentum Style elements to see if this holding company for Panama's national airline holds up.

Looking at a stock's short-term price activity is a great way to gauge if it has momentum, since this can reflect both the current interest in a stock and if buyers or sellers have the upper hand at the moment. It is also useful to compare a security to its industry, as this can help investors pinpoint the top companies in a particular area.

Story continues

For CPA, shares are up 13.1% over the past week while the Zacks Transportation - Airline industry is flat over the same time period. Shares are looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the monthly price change of 14.45% compares favorably with the industry's 1.04% performance as well.

While any stock can see its price increase, it takes a real winner to consistently beat the market. That is why looking at longer term price metrics -- such as performance over the past three months or year -- can be useful as well. Shares of Copa Holdings have increased 12.47% over the past quarter, and have gained 50.86% in the last year. In comparison, the S&P 500 has only moved 1.24% and 6.64%, respectively.

Investors should also pay attention to CPA's average 20-day trading volume. Volume is a useful item in many ways, and the 20-day average establishes a good price-to-volume baseline; a rising stock with above average volume is generally a bullish sign, whereas a declining stock on above average volume is typically bearish. CPA is currently averaging 388,129 shares for the last 20 days.

Earnings Outlook

The Zacks Momentum Style Score also takes into account trends in estimate revisions, in addition to price changes. Please note that estimate revision trends remain at the core of Zacks Rank as well. A nice path here can help show promise, and we have recently been seeing that with CPA.

Over the past two months, 5 earnings estimates moved higher compared to none lower for the full year. These revisions helped boost CPA's consensus estimate, increasing from $11.55 to $12.60 in the past 60 days. Looking at the next fiscal year, 3 estimates have moved upwards while there have been no downward revisions in the same time period.

Bottom Line

Given these factors, it shouldn't be surprising that CPA is a #1 (Strong Buy) stock and boasts a Momentum Score of A. If you're looking for a fresh pick that's set to soar in the near-term, make sure to keep Copa Holdings on your short list.

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Copa Holdings, S.A. (CPA) : Free Stock Analysis Report

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Singapore Airlines (SIA) Group carried a total of nearly 2.7 million passengers in April 2023. (PHOTO: Reuters)

SINGAPORE  Singapore Airlines (SIA) and low-cost airline Scoot carried a combined total of nearly 2.7 million passengers in April 2023.

This is an increase of 85.5 per cent from a year ago when the total number of passengers carried was just over 1.4 million.

In its operating results for April 2023 released Monday (15 May), SIA Group said it continued to see strong passenger traffic and load factors across all route regions.

"This was supported by the robust leisure demand during the Easter holiday," said the group.

It added that the East Asia region continued to see healthy growth in demand to China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.

The group's passenger capacity was up 36.7 per cent from a year ago, while group passenger load factor (PLF) was 88.3 per cent, a 15.6 percentage points addition from one year ago. SIA's PLF was 87.5 per cent, while Scoot's PLF was 90.8 per cent.

Meanwhile, the cargo load factor of 50.7 per cent was 16 percentage points lower than a year ago. The group noted that cargo loads declined by 11.2 per cent year-on-year due to weaker demand, while capacity expanded by 16.8 per cent as increased passenger services resulted in higher bellyhold capacity.

Flight resumptions

During the month, Scoot resumed services to Haikou, Ningbo, and Xi'an. At the end of April 2023, the Group's passenger network, or the number of destinations, countries and territories including Singapore, covered 112 destinations in 36 countries and territories. SIA served 74 destinations, while Scoot served 61 destinations.

On the other hand, the cargo network comprised 118 destinations in 38 countries and territories.

On 30 December 2022, SIA resumed passenger flights to Beijing for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted flights there in March 2020.

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By Kane Wu

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Sweden's Essity has kicked off the sale process for its 52% stake in Hong Kong-based Vinda International - a maker of tissues and diapers, two sources with knowledge of the situation told Reuters.

Bank of America, Essity's adviser on the sale, has sent information to potential buyers including a number of private equity funds, said one of the sources and a third person with knowledge of the matter.

The stake was worth $1.7 billion as of Tuesday's close.

First-round non-binding bids are due by the end of June, one of the sources said.

Interested parties are looking at potential deal structures and an offer for Essity's 52% stake could trigger a buyout of the entire company, the sources said, although they added that discussions are at a very early stage.

The Swedish maker of hygiene products said last month it has initiated a strategic review of its stake in Vinda as it wants to reduce its consumer tissue division's share of group sales.

An Essity spokesperson said the company is in the early stages of the review and has nothing more to add at this point. He declined to comment on what he called "market rumours".

Vinda did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

It said on Saturday that it had not received any update on Essitys strategic review, responding to media reports that Fu An International Co Ltd, Vinda's second-largest shareholder with a 21% stake, was seeking to buy Essity's holding.

All sources declined to be identified as the information was confidential. Bank of America declined to comment.

Founded in 1985, Vinda's core business segments include tissues, sanitary napkins and adult and baby diapers.

It has 8 brands and 13 production bases, 10 of which are in mainland China, according to the company's website.

Vinda in 2022 accounted for 16% of Essity's 156 billion Swedish crowns ($15.2 billion) turnover, while its private label consumer tissue business in Europe represented 6%.

(Reporting by Kane Wu; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)
Arsenal are set to bank 6million from Pablo Maris loan deal to Monza being made permanent.

Mari joined Monza on loan last summer and as part of the move there was a clause to make it permanent this year.

The centre-back would stay with the Italian club if they avoided relegation from Serie A and he made a certain number of appearances.

Mari has activated both of those clauses and, as a result, Arsenal will bank 6m from his move to Monza - with that figure including the initial loan fee.

Mari was Mikel Artetas first ever signing at the Emirates, joining Arsenal on loan from Flamengo in January 2020 before joining permanently that summer.

On the move: Pablo Mari will leave Arsenal for Serie A side Monza on a permanent deal this summer (Getty Images)

He featured regularly during Artetas first 18 months in charge, but slipped down the pecking order last season and was loaned to Udinese.

The 29-year-old attracted interest from several clubs last summer, but chose to join Monza as he wanted to return to Italy.
By Jerry Kroth

May 15, 2023: Information Clearing House -- A few months before war broke out, Putin held a press conference. A BBC reporter asked if he was going to invade the sovereign county of the Ukraine or would he be giving them some sort of security guarantees? Frustrated, Putin said Security guarantees! We are the one who need security guarantees! The US built missile bases and attack systems in Poland and Romania. What would you do if we built missile bases in Canada or Mexico?

That got me wondering, but then the war started, and all the sanctions and condemnations flowed, and I kind of forgot about that press conference.



But now that we are over 400 days into this war, I still wonder if Putin was as crazy as he is described in the media, or whether there was any basis for his fear.

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I wrote to a number of professors of international relations, but then decided, Hey why not ask Chat Gpt?



So I did. My first question was this:



The US has missile bases in Poland and Romania. It says the bases are purely defensive. Russia argues they could easily be converted to offensive attack systems. Question: Does Russia have a right to inspect the Polish and Romanian missile systems to verify that they are purely defensive in character?



And Chat GPT said No!



Hmmm!



My next question was whether there were any nuclear weapons in Eastern Europe.



Chat GPT said No!



Well that is reassuring. What makes Putin so uptight? I thought to myself.



Then I asked Are there any treaties prohibiting placing nuclear weapons in Eastern Europe?



Chat GPT said No!



Hmmm! Well maybe he does have a right to worry.



Then I asked Are there Pershing II missiles in Europe which can carry nuclear weapons? 



Chat GPT said  Yes, and they were stationed in Germany but then it said there were none in Europe, so I didnt get a straight answer.



Chat GPT kind of disappointed.



Then I asked if there were any hypersonic nuclear missiles in Europe today?

Chat Gpt said the following:



Im not sure about hypersonic nuclear missiles in Europe today, but according to an article on globalresearch.ca, the United States will soon deploy hypersonic missiles, armed with a variety of payloads (that is, nuclear and conventional warheads), in Europe (there are rumors of a probable first base in Poland or Romania). However, I couldnt find any information on whether these missiles have been deployed yet.



And then I said to myself, Jesus!



I then asked how fast a hypersonic nuclear tipped missile can fly

It answered, 6200 km/hour.



I started putting two and two together. If Ukraine joined NATO and US/NATO built military bases there, a hypersonic nuclear tipped cruise missile could hit the Kremlin, which is 390 miles away, in about 6 minutes!



So, basically, this amounts to a Cuban Missile Crisis in reverse, happening before our eyes. When Putin says NATO presents an existential threat, hes talking straight talk.



If NATO wins this war, the Kremlin could be hit in 6 minutes with a hypersonic nuclear missile based in Ukraine, and there are no treaties prohibiting that eventuality.



If we negotiated a strategic arms treaty, today, it could specify that only defensive weapons in Poland and Romania could be deployed, no NATO bases in Ukraine, no hypersonic nuclear tipped missiles at all in Europe, no nuclear weapons in Eastern Europe, and Russia would get to inspect and verify. Simple enough. Imagine that!



There would have been no war at all. And all those lives lost could have been saved.



Why we couldnt or cantagree to that boggles my mind?



Jerry Kroth, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor Emeritus from Santa Clara University in California and may be contacted through his website collectivepsych.com


FILE PHOTO: A Stellantis sign is seen outside company headquarters in Auburn Hills,

(Reuters) - Automaker Stellantis has signed a deal with France's Faurecia and Michelin to buy a 33.3% stake in their Symbio joint venture, a fuel cell system maker for hydrogen mobility, the three companies said on Tuesday.

"Acquiring an equal stake in Symbio will bolster our leadership position in hydrogen-powered vehicles by supporting our fuel cell van production in France," said Stellantis Chief Executive Carlos Tavares.

Faurecia will raise 150 million euros ($165.12 million) from the deal, its parent company Forvia said in a separate statement.

Following the binding deal, whose closing is expected by the third quarter, Faurecia and Michelin will remain Symbio's shareholders with a 33.3% stake each.

The three groups entered exclusive talks about the potential deal in December last year.

Stellantis, the world third-largest carmaker by sales, launched hydrogen-powered mid-size vans late last year and aims to expand its hydrogen offer to large vans in Europe in 2024 and in the U.S. in 2025.

($1 = 0.9084 euros)

(Reporting by Federica Urso and Romolo Tosiani, Editing by Bernadette Baum)
A mayoral candidate from the Greek minority community in Albania has won his election from behind bars.

Dhionisios Alfred Beleri was arrested by Albanian police while he was allegedly offering some 40,000 Albanian leks (360) to buy eight votes in municipal elections. A second person was arrested on the same charges and a court confirmed Saturday that they would both remain in custody.

Beleri won by just 19 votes in the southern municipality of Himare  a town with a significant Greek minority presence. Beleri belongs to the Human Rights Union Party of the ethnic Greek minority, and was running as part of an opposition coalition on this ballot.

The arrest of the ethnic Greek politician has re-ignited tensions between Tirana and Athens over issues of minority rights and the sizeable Greek community in Albania.

Greeces Foreign Ministry demanded Beleris immediate release, hinting that the case could negatively impact Albanias application to join the European Union.

Meanwhile, 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."

Xhacka added that "the hard evidence they were looking for couldnt be any harder  Beleri has been caught engaging in criminal activity against free and fair elections.

"We do not understand how being a Greek national exempts him from the law as a citizen of Albania. We urge our Greek friends to refrain from making statements that disrespect the independent institutions of our country," the minister said.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said he had been very pleased to hear of Beleris victory, during a campaign stop in Athens ahead of next weekend's general election in Greece.

I hope this incident will soon be over," he said on Monday, adding that "Albanias path to Europe goes through respecting the rights of the Greek national minority.

Beleri remains imprisoned and it is unclear whether he will take the mayoral post or if another round of elections will be held in the municipality.
CAN THO  Orbis International, with support from express transportation company FedEx, has launched its first surgical programme in Viet Nam since 2020 on board the Flying Eye Hospital, a fully accredited ophthalmic teaching hospital on board a plane.

Orbiss clinical staff and medical experts will provide in-person, hands-on training to 52 eye-care professionals in Can Tho, including ophthalmologists, nurses, biomedical engineers, and anesthesiologists, building their skills to treat the leading causes of blindness and visual impairment in their communities.

This marks the 12th time the Flying Eye Hospital has held a training project in Viet Nam, including one virtual project on Cybersight, Orbiss telemedicine platform.

Training activities will take place on the Flying Eye Hospital, currently located at Can Tho International Airport, and at two partner hospitals, Can Tho Maxillo Dental and Eye Hospital and Can Tho Children's Hospital.

Over the course of three weeks, participants will receive simulation training followed by surgical training, focused on treating the leading causes of blindness and vision impairment in both children and adults.

This initiative aligns with Orbis Vietnams goal to address the needs of local health personnel and contribute to the National Blindness Prevention Strategy approved in 2016.

We are so grateful to FedEx for not only sponsoring this programme in Viet Nam but also standing side by side with us for more than 30 years in the fight against avoidable vision loss around the world, said Orbis Vietnam country director Ngoc Pham.

FedEx has played an indispensable role in helping Orbis carry out our mission, including donating the current MD-10 aircraft that serves as the third-generation Flying Eye Hospital, she said.

FedEx is proud to play a role in the global fight against avoidable blindness. As we celebrate our 50th anniversary this year, FedEx has been positively impacting lives and creating a Better World through connecting people to more possibilities. We are committed to using our resources and our network to help address the social and economic needs of those in need in our local communities, said Ee-Hui Tan, managing director of FedEx Express Vietnam and Cambodia .

FedEx has supported Orbis in its mission for over three decades and through more than US$22 million in donations and in-kind shipping.

In addition to providing aircraft parts, maintenance, and pilot training, the FedEx-donated MD-10 is flown by FedEx pilots who volunteer their time to navigate the plane around the world to Orbis projects.  VNS
A leading SAP ERP consultant in Viet Nam, FPT IS is receiving this award for a second consecutive year.

Recently the world's leading technology company, SAP, organised the "2023 South East Asia Partner Success Summit" to honour strategic business partners in Southeast Asia with outstanding achievements.

FPT IS also received important awards for being Best Rise Partner and Mid-market Partner.

But the Partner of the Year award is the highest. FPT IS was the only company in Viet Nam to be so honoured, underlining its leading position, capacity and experience in implementing SAP solutions.

The Best Rise Partner Award recognised the flexibility in business strategy that enabled FPT IS to deploy the RISE with SAP solution.

The first RISE with SAP solution implementation partner in Viet Nam, FPT IS has successfully operated many large projects, especially the one with An Gia Group.

The Mid-market Partner Award recognised FPT ISs efforts to drive business in the mid-range enterprise segment. The decisive factors in giving away the award include the amount of revenue contributed and the number of contracts in the mid-level market.

Leading SAP ERP consultant in Viet Nam

Over 20 years of offering SAP ERP solutions in Viet Nam, FPT IS has had customers in many fields -- like finance-banking, real estate, manufacturing, and agriculture -- and implemented hundreds of projects.

Since 2022 it has been implementing projects for many big customers such as Stavian, Vietjet, VCP Holdings, Tan Long, Ba Huan, and Vinatech.

Nguyen Hoang Minh, CEO of FPT IS, said the company is proud to be the leading partner of SAP in Viet Nam, and the three important awards are a recognition of its efforts to consult and implement a number of SAP ERP projects for large enterprises.

We not only master technology from SAP and understand business processes in each industry, but also develop and integrate many Made by FPT IS solutions to help businesses have a comprehensive management system.

After 20 years of working with businesses we are familiar with problems in all fields, and can zero in on optimal implementation methodologies, reducing the time frame compared to conventional ERP projects.

FPT IS has integrated several Made by FPT IS solutions with the core ERP system, including FPT.eInvoice, FPT.eContract and FPT.iHR, thereby enabling high efficiency for many enterprises like Truong Thanh, Tan Long and Boston Pharma.

For Siba Food, a subsidiary of agricultural company Tan Long Group, it installed the SAP ERP system and the Made by FPT IS solution FPT.iHRP.

These are foundational systems that help Tan Long consolidate its existing strengths and accelerate growth.

In manufacturing, FPT IS digitised operations for Boston Pharma within six months by integrating SAP ERP system with Boston Sale application and automated robots, thereby increasing revenues and labor productivity.

Earlier, with revenues of VN400 billion (US$16.9 million), Boston Pharma needed three or four accountants but still could not complete the work in time.

Now, after revenues have exceeded VN1 trillion ($42.5 million), Boston Pharma only needs one or two accountants to do the work.

In the field of construction - real estate, FPT IS has collaborated with some key players to create a highly feasible project implementation methodology with a set of specific solutions developed on the SAP platform.

Its efficiency has been proven by projects carried out for Coteccons, An Gia, Filmore, Phat Dat, and TNR Holdings Vietnam.

In Viet Nam, FPT IS is SAP's Gold partner and was the first company to obtain a certificate of specialized implementation capability in ERP.

FPT IS has won many awards from SAP in the past too such as Partner of the Year and DRS Partner of the Year in 2021, and Partner of the Year and SAP Partner Excellent in 2019.

Enterprises interested in the SAP ERP system can get in touch with contact@fis.com.vn for more details.
Interview: Xi'an summit to open new chapter for China-Central Asia cooperation, says Kyrgyz expert

Xinhua) 11:08, May 16, 2023

BISHKEK, May 16 (Xinhua) -- The upcoming China-Central Asia Summit will provide a new platform and open a new chapter for the cooperation among the six participating countries, a renowned Kyrgyz expert has said.

Central Asia is not only geographically adjacent to China, but also very closely connected with China, especially in the fields of economy, trade, finance and credit, said Kubanychbek Taabaldiev, a Kyrgyz political scientist and professor of international relations at Ala-Too International University, in a recent exclusive interview with Xinhua.

"Central Asia is located along the ancient Silk Road, and all countries in the region have participated in the Belt and Road Initiative in different ways," he said. "All countries in the Central Asian region are implementing bilateral projects with China, which benefits all parties."

For example, preparations for the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway have begun, which testified to the common aspiration of China and Central Asia to improve transportation, energy and other infrastructure along the Silk Road, he said.

Another important reason for the close ties between countries in the region and China is China's success, not only in the economic field or the introduction of new digital technologies, but also in poverty eradication and the improvement of civil society conditions.

"Uzbekistan, for example, is very interested in learning from China's experience in poverty reduction. Over the past 40 years, China has lifted more than 700 million people out of poverty."

The huge Chinese market is becoming increasingly attractive for manufacturers of all kinds of goods, he noted, the export of Central Asia's green agricultural products to China is gradually increasing.

Uzbekistan has become a leading exporter of cherries to China, and Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are gradually increasing food exports, including meat, honey and dried fruit, to China as well. Trade between Kazakhstan and China is also booming, the expert said.

"I firmly believe that after the Xi'an summit, the relations and interconnections between China and the five Central Asian countries will be strengthened and reach a higher level," said Taabaldiev.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Twitter can't seem to catch a break since it has another issue on its hands just after having a new CEO appointed. The social media platform has been accused of censoring content in Turkey, to which former Twitter CEO Elon Musk responded scathingly.

Twitter Limits Access to Some Tweets

The platform has been criticized for limiting access to certain tweets in Turkey during what is arguably the most heated elections in the country. The blocked posts were said to be in response to the legal process, and doing otherwise could have Twitter completely restricted.

In response to legal process and to ensure Twitter remains available to the people of Turkey, we have taken action to restrict access to some content in Turkey today.  Twitter Global Government Affairs (@GlobalAffairs) May 13, 2023

Bloomberg columnist Matthew Yglesias took to the platform to express his insight on the matter by quoting the announcement. He stated that the Turkish government asked Twitter to censor opponents right before an election, which it agreed to do.

Musk, also known for his controversial tweets, responded by asking: "Did your brain fall out of your head, Yglesias?" and said that it was between limiting access to some tweets or being throttled completely, proceeding to ask the journalist which one he preferred.

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

The limitation or block could affect the progression of elections as polls show that Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the candidate opposing the current president, is slightly ahead. Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been on the seat of the presidency for two decades.

According to Engadget, Erdogan's loss in the election could have political implications regarding the country's relationship with other powers which include Russia and NATO. Kilicdaroglu's platform promises change in Turkey's domestic policy, reports say.

As of right now, the opposition to the current president of Turkey is ahead by 11 percent. The move puts into question Musk's vision of Twitter being a platform for free speech. Some would expect him to take the path of pride and restrict Twitter entirely as opposed to "censorship."

Although, it's still unclear which content will be restricted in Turkey, so no one can say for sure how it will affect the elections. The platform may still put up the blocked tweets, but they will be labeled stating that the visibility is limited, therefore not showing what it says.

Read Also: Twitter to Issue Limited Visibility Label on Tweets Violating Hate Speech Policy

Twitter Limit of Reach

Twitter implemented a new policy just a little over a month ago where some tweets would be limited if it has violated Twitter rules. They stated that although people have the right to express their opinions without censorship, they also have the responsibility to keep users safe.

The policy, which the company calls "Freedom of Speech, not Freedom of Reach," is a way of enforcing Twitter rules without having to take down the tweet. It is the proposed solution to the "leave up or take down" conundrum the platform has with certain content.

If a tweet was labeled as having violated the platform's rules, it will state: "Visibility limited: This Tweet may violate Twitter's rules against Hateful Conduct." In some instances, a user can still choose to view the tweet if they want to.

The author of the tweet with limited reach will also see themselves if their post was restricted. The platform plans to expand the new policy's reach not only for the Hateful Conduct policy but to others as well in the coming months.

Related: Twitter Pledges to Protect 'Freedom of Speech, Not Reach' in Updated Policy
HA NOI  Toyota Vietnam sold 4,415 passenger cars, including the luxury brand Lexus, in April, topping the passenger car market, the joint venture reported.

It delivered 4,247 Toyota models to buyers, comprising 1,876 domestically assembled cars and 2,371 imported completely built-up units.

Corolla Cross and Vios were among the 10 best sellers in the market with respective sales of 1,310 and 695 units.

Meanwhile, 168 Lexus-branded cars were sold, raising the number of those vehicles in Viet Nam so far to 10,960, the firm added.

Last month, members of the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association (VAMA) sold 22,409 automobiles of all kinds, a month-on-month decrease of 25 per cent.

Of the total, there were 15,748 passenger cars, 6,487 commercial vehicles and 174 special-purpose ones, down 27 per cent, 19 per cent, and 51 per cent from March, respectively.

The sales of domestically-assembled cars decreased by 18 per cent while that of imported ones dropped by 34 per cent compared to the previous month.

During January-April, VAMA members sold a total of 92,801 vehicles, falling 30 per cent year on year. VNS
VIENTIANNE  A ceremony was held in Samneua District, Laos' Houaphanh Province on Monday to hand over and put into operation Nong Khang Airport, which is expected to play a strategic role in the economic development of the northeast of Laos and Houaphanh Province in particular.

Nong Khang Airport is part of the Lao Governments infrastructure development strategy aimed at transforming Laos from a landlocked to a regionally connected nation. The Build-Transfer (BT) project has a total investment of US$82 million, financed through a loan from Viet Nam's Hoang Anh Gia Lai Agriculture JSC. The airport is built according to the 3C standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), capable of serving 100,000 passengers per year and accommodating aircraft with 70-100 seats.

Speaking at the event, Secretary of the Party Committee and Governor of Houaphanh Province Vanxay Phengsoumma said the inauguration of Nong Khang Airport was not only an important milestone in Laos-Viet Nam cooperation but also fulfilled the long-awaited expectations of local ethnic groups, offering opportunities to the province to grow in all aspects.

According to the Lao Department of Civil Aviation, Nong Khang Airport facilitates quick connectivity between the northeast of Laos and Vientiane capital city, as well as other cities and provinces.

Located in an important economic-trade gateway between Laos and Viet Nam, the airport also contributes significantly to the development of cross-border export-import activities between the two countries. It not only promotes tourism and economic growth of Houaphanh but also symbolises the enduring friendship and sustainable cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.  VNS
HCM CITY  As many as 160 Vietnamese food and beverage (F&B) businesses will display and promote their products at Asias largest F&B trade show to be held in Bangkok next week.

Slated for May 23 to 27, Thaifex - Anuga Asia 2023 features some 3,000 exhibitors from 43 countries, including East Asia, ASEAN, the EU, the US, Australia, Latin America and the Middle East.

Top Vietnamese firms, including Viet Nam Dairy Products Joint-Stock Company (Vinamilk), Dan On Foods Corporation, Acecook Vietnam, Rita Food & Drinks Co Ltd, and Vinh Hoan Corporation, have participated in the fair for many years.

The Investment and Trade Promotion Center of Ho Chi Minh City (ITPC) will take part in the fair for the first time.

This year, Vietnamese manufacturers will bring both cultivated and processed clean products that are environmentally friendly and have non-toxic standards, including organic rice, honey, birds nest and cereals.

Other Vietnamese agricultural and food products will be promoted as safe, nutritious and with high quality, including fruits and vegetables, fresh meat, poultry, processed foods, and milk and dairy products, among others.

Viet Nam, as a rapidly growing ASEAN economy, will have a great deal to offer the global businesses attending the trade show, according to the events organisers.

The expo features six specialised shows with a focus on innovative blueprints, bold ideas, and cutting-edge solutions.

A variety of food and beverage products will be on display at the fair, including coffee and tea, drinks, fine food, food service, food technology, frozen food, fruits and vegetables, meat, rice, seafood, and sweets and confectionery.

There will be a virtual trade show to cater to the needs of trade visitors who are unable to travel.

The virtual show allows visitors to browse and choose product categories of interest, while viewing 3D models, videos, product catalogues, and product images. They can also negotiate trade deals via video calls, chat, or messaging.

The fair will present innovative and environmentally conscious production methods, including carbon footprint and eco score labelling, while highlighting zero waste and food waste products to promote sustainable practices across the value chain.

There will be conferences to open knowledge-sharing platforms among experts, decision-makers, and enthusiasts in the industry.

Natiya Suchinda, director of the Thai Office of Agricultural and Industrial Trade Promotion, said the fair would facilitate business transactions worth over 70 billion baht (US$2 billion), with online purchases exceeding 1.5 billion baht ($44 million).

Viet Nam's F&B industry will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 8.65 per cent from 2021-2026, according to industry analysis and consulting firm Mordor Intelligence.

Experts estimate the market size will reach $678 million by 2025.

They recommended Vietnamese enterprises focus on building brands with long-term strategies to stay competitive in the international market.

Themed Beyond Food Experience, the fair is expected to attract over 60,000 visitors from over 120 countries.

It is co-hosted by the Thai Department of International Trade Promotion, Thai Chamber of Commerce and Koelnmesse, a food and food-technology event organiser.  VNS
HCM CITY  A picture book on Viet Nam, featuring the history, culture and developments of the countrys 54 ethnic groups, has been reprinted by the Kim ong Publishing House.

The reprinted work targets children and teenagers aged 11-15 years old.

The 172-page book is titled at Nuoc Gam Hoa (Beautiful Viet Nam) and is written by female author Vo Thi Mai Chi. Its coloured pictures, based from different sources, are created by Ho Quoc Cuong.

It includes 63 maps of regions, cities and provinces across Viet Nam.

The book serves as an important learning tool for young readers, in the classroom and at home, to help them develop language and creativity skills. Its pictures help to improve children's storytelling skills and boost their engagement in reading.

Reading at Nuoc Gam Hoa will help us discover and learn facts about the country, its history and culture, said Nguyen Minh Thuy, a fifth-grade schoolgirl from HCM Citys Phu Nhuan District.

Kim ong Publishing House, the countrys leading State-owned publisher for children's books, has 65 years in the industry. It has signed contracts with well-known authors, including young writers, to create books for teenagers.

Its reading programmes provide new book titles for children by Vietnamese and foreign writers.

The editing staff is working to provide more Vietnamese titles for children and senior school students this summer.

Books featuring Vietnamese culture, customs, history and arts have been issued. They include works by famous authors and poets such as Le uc Duong, Mai Ngo and Luu Quang Vu.

Its website, www.nxbkimdong.com.vn, has introduced new books in literature, history and the arts targeting children and teenagers.

"We want to join with society and parents to offer a safe and meaningful summer to children, said a representative of Kim ong Publishing House.  VNS
PhD Nguyen Thi Ngoc Diep, postdoctoral research fellow from the Daffodil Centre, speaks to Viet Nam News reporter Thu Trang about the Investment Case Study on HPV Vaccination in Viet Nam.

What inspired you to conduct the research HPV vaccinations in Viet Nam? What were the targets?

The vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV) has had huge success on a global stage. After hundreds of millions of doses have been delivered in more than 100 countries over the last 15 years globally, we know it is safe and highly effective at preventing HPV infections and cervical cancer, as well as other HPV-related cancers.

In 2020, the World Health Organisation launched a global strategy for cervical cancer elimination, which was structured around reaching three goals by 2030  90 per cent of young girls globally with be vaccinated against HPV, 70 per cent of women will be screened with a high precision test such as HPV testing a minimum twice in a lifetime, and 90 per cent of women that require access to cervical precancer and cancer treatment will be able to access such treatment.

Although there is clear evidence about the success of the HPV vaccine at the global level, Viet Nam's Ministry of Health (MoH) realised that there is a need to have scientific evidence on the cost-effectiveness and the return-on-investment of HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening among the Vietnamese population to support the decision-making process regarding cervical cancer elimination in the country.

To respond to the MoHs request, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Viet Nam has connected with two research groups from Australia to conduct this evaluation.

The evaluation was led by me at the Daffodil Centre, a joint venture between the Cancer Council NSW and the University of Sydney, Australia [https://daffodilcentre.org/] and Dr Kim Sweeny, principal research fellow from the Victoria Institute of Strategic Economic Studies, Victoria University, Australia [https://www.vu.edu.au/]. It was conducted in consultation with UNFPA, the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE) and the countrys experts.

I was excited at the results of the study. I have been working to support HPV vaccine implementation in Viet Nam since 2009. After pursuing a PhD in this area, I am positive about the results of this study. Cervical cancer is a protectable cancer and now we have tools to prevent it. Therefore, no women in Viet Nam or globally, should die from this disease.

Dr Kim Sweeny also said that the results of this study provided strong support for the National Action Plan on Prevention and Control of Cervical Cancer in Viet Nam.

Can you give some key findings of the research?

Findings from our most recent study include:

HPV vaccination would be highly effective at a population level in Viet Nam, especially if 90 per cent coverage can be reached in girls. This could prevent more than 100,000 deaths by the end of the century and can help Viet Nam eliminate cervical cancer by 2084.

If we also offer primary HPV screening and adequate treatment for women with precancer and invasive cancer, we can eliminate cervical cancer by 2055 (29 years earlier than if vaccination was implemented alone), and this would prevent up to 300,000 deaths over the century.

Offering HPV vaccination for boys provides incremental benefits only and at this stage would not be cost-effective in Viet Nam.

For every dollar invested for cervical cancer prevention, Viet Nam will have US$5 to $11 returned in economic benefits and $8 to $20 returned as combined economic and social benefits (through 2100).

What are the advantages and disadvantages you faced during the research?

The advantage is that the model we used for the evaluation, Policy1-Cervix, is a longstanding, comprehensive and well-validated model that has been adapted to represent the Vietnamese population given the local data available.

But we also have disadvantages. First, as the study conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, most activities have been conducted virtually. Secondly, data in the country is limited, particularly in rural areas of Viet Nam, which makes the modelling of long-term outcomes more challenging. At last, with huge efforts from the research team and great support from local experts, the study has been successfully completed on time and with high quality.

What are the researchs recommendations?

Our finding indicates that a national HPV vaccination programme for adolescent females would be highly effective and cost-effective in Viet Nam. Together with HPV vaccination, offering primary HPV screening for women aged over 30 and adequate treatment for those with precancer and invasive cancer could eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem if this triple-intervention is offered across the country.

We hope these findings mean that these preventative measures, as well as better access to cervical precancer and cancer treatment, are made available to Vietnamese girls and women across the country.  VNS
HA NOI  Vietnamese Minister of Public Security Gen. To Lam held talks with Cuban Minister of the Interior Lazaro Alberto Alvarez Casas in Ha Noi on Monday after chairing an official welcoming ceremony for the latter.

Lam emphasised the significance of the Cuban ministrys first ministerial visit since 2010, which would contribute to the relationship between the two countries in general and the two ministries in particular. He also expressed his delight at the sound and effective development of the Viet Nam-Cuba traditional friendship based on mutual trust, understanding, and respect.

After the COVID-19 pandemic was brought under control, between mid-2022 and now, the ministries cooperation resumed quickly in the fields of delegation exchange, security, technical logistics and medical care, said the Vietnamese minister.

Given that criminal activities, especially transnational, high-tech and other types of non-traditional crimes, were increasingly sophisticated and difficult to deal with, the expansion and strengthening of the cooperation had become more urgent for the interests and national security of each country, he noted.

The ministries agreed to enhance exchange of experience and equipment as well as capacity building for security officers, especially in protection techniques such as detection and prevention of terrorist plots. They said they would deploy collaboration in research and production of drugs, vaccines, biological products, including those that have been successfully researched and put into treatment for patients in Cuba.

Minister Lam affirmed that the Vietnamese ministry would give the highest support and be willing to exchange experience and consult with the Cuban Ministry of the Interior on policies serving the construction and protection of the fatherland.  VNS
DHAKA  Deputy Foreign Minister o Hung Viet joined over 300 senior officials, researchers, and scholars from more than 30 countries worldwide at the 6th Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) in Dhaka, Bangladesh from May 12-13.

In his speech at the plenary session, the Vietnamese official shared his assessment of the situation in the Indian Ocean and Asia-Pacific regions, especially major challenges facing the region due to the impact of conflicts, disputes, and strategic competition among major powers, as well as non-traditional security issues.

Viet conveyed a three-point message for a peaceful, prosperous and solid future of the region, stressing the need to build an open and inclusive regional architecture based on fundamental principles of international law with ASEAN playing the central role; enhance mutual understanding and respect, build trust and conduct an independent and self-reliant foreign policy in the context of competition among major powers; and promote cooperation and partnership, especially maritime cooperation, through bilateral and multilateral mechanisms and a comprehensive approach.

The Vietnamese representative also emphasised the importance of respecting and complying with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS); and the necessity to respect the sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction, and legitimate maritime interests of each country in accordance with international law, and resolve disputes and differences through peaceful measures in line with international law.

Viet highlighted ASEANs efforts in implementing the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and building a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) in accordance with international law.

He proposed strengthening cooperation and connectivity among countries in the Indo-Pacific region, especially with ASEAN member countries, in promoting sustainable development, turning the blue-sea economy into a motivation for sustainable and inclusive economic growth, and addressing non-traditional challenges.

In the framework of the conference Deputy FM Viet had bilateral meetings with State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka Tharaka Balasuriya, Australian Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Tim Watts and Secretary (East) of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs Saurabh Kumar.

During their meeting, Viet and Balasuriya affirmed that Viet Nam and Sri Lanka would continue to coordinate and support each other at international forums, and agreed to soon organise meetings of important bilateral cooperation mechanisms; strengthen cooperation on Buddhism and spiritual tourism; consider the opening of air routes connecting the two countries, and seek solutions to expand two-way trade and investment in the coming time.

Meeting with Viet, Tim Watts affirmed that cooperation with Viet Nam is always Australia's priority in both bilateral and multilateral frameworks. For his part, the Vietnamese official suggested the two countries fully tap the growth momentum of bilateral trade; facilitate cooperation in agriculture, labour and tourism; and expand cooperation to new areas of mutual benefit such as climate change response, digital economy, and energy transition.

During his meeting with the Indian official, Deputy FM Viet affirmed Viet Nams consistent policy of attaching importance to the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership with India. He suggested the two sides strengthen the exchange of high-ranking delegations, bolster cooperation in trade, investment, tourism, culture, people-to-people, and security-defence; and closely coordinate at multilateral forums.

Saurabh Kumar said India would continue to further expand cooperation with Viet Nam, especially in trade, oil and gas, and defence, and at international forums.

Themed Peace, Prosperity & Partnership for a Resilient Future, the 6th IOC discussed issues related to politics, economy, security, environment, and climate change, contributing to creating a premise for countries in and outside the region to promote cooperation, toward building an environment of peace, development and prosperity.  VNS
HA NOI  Secretary of the Ha Noi Party Committee inh Tien Dung hosted Teresa Maria Amarelle Boue, a member of the Council of State of Cuba and Secretary General of the Cuban Women's Union in the city on Tuesday.

Welcoming the delegation, Dung affirmed that the Party, State and people of Viet Nam always treasured and promoted the special ties with Cuba through all channels of Party, parliament, Government and people-to-people exchange.

He lauded the outcomes of her working session with the Vietnamese Womens Union at all levels, contributing to promoting the role of women in the political, economic and social life and in dealing with challenges facing them during the development process.

Dung said that the capital city had been working to reinforce and expand the friendship with Havana, adding that the two cities signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on promoting cooperation in 2000 and 2005.

He also showed impression at the effective gender equality work in Cuba with the second largest rate of women joining the parliament in the world, asking the Cuban side to support bilateral collaboration in women affairs.

For her part, Teresa Maria Amarelle Boue said that she was impressed by the new-style rural area building programme of Viet Nam, which was also an area of Cubas interest.

She said during the visit, her delegation had learnt helpful experience as well as models and achievements of Viet Nam in economic development.

Particularly, the experience from women-led economic development models would help Cuba develop new management methods with the engagement of women, contributing to turning Cuba into an economically self-reliant country amid the current difficult situation, she said.  VNS
HA NOI  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will lead a high-ranking delegation of Viet Nam to the expanded summit of the Group of Seven (G7) and pay a working visit to Japan from May 19 to 21.

The expanded sessions include discussions on crisis management, joint efforts for a sustainable planet, and moving towards a world of peace, stability, and prosperity.

The trip will be made at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio.  VNS
HA NOI  President Vo Van Thuong has signed a decision approving the agreement on mutual judicial assistance in civil matters between Viet Nam and Thailand.

The approval was made as proposed by the Government on April 27.

The agreement is expected to create a legal basis for the requests for judicial assistance in civil matters and the timely provision of help for settling civil disputes, thereby guaranteeing the rights and legitimate interests of individuals and organisations in the two countries and enhancing relations in civil, trade, and economic aspects to contribute to socio-economic development in Viet Nam and Thailand along with their traditional friendship.

The approval of this agreement aims to help implement the Party and States policy on strengthening cooperation with international partners in legal and judicial matters. It also looks to help perfect the legal mechanism for protecting the rights and legitimate interests of Vietnamese citizens and entities abroad, including the 13th Party Central Committees Resolution No 27-NQ/TW, dated November 9, 2022, on the continuation of building and perfecting the law-governed socialist State of Viet Nam in the new period.  VNS
A lot of Apple enthusiasts are always waiting for the newest generation of the iPhone to come out, and one of the predictable things about it is that the Pro and Pro Max models don't have much difference aside from their size. With the iPhone 15 release, however, it may be different.

iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max

People are expecting the release of the iPhone 15 lineup this September 2023 if rumors are to be believed, and one major change that people can count on is its transition to a USB-C charging port. Although, a leak suggests that it will not be the only major change.

It seems that iPhone 15 Pro Max will have a camera feature, a Persicope lens, which the iPhone 15 Pro will not, based on leaker Unknownz21's tweet. This might come as a disappointment to some users especially since the difference between the two has been minimal.

Finally received independent confirmation of this:



Periscope lens will be available exclusively on the iPhone 15 Pro Max.  Unknownz21  (@URedditor) May 8, 2023

This means that people might have to take the new feature into consideration now when choosing which one to purchase, meaning that size and battery life are not all that they will sacrifice if they wish to acquire a cheaper model from the lineup.

On the bright side, the addition of the Periscope lens will finally allow Apple to compete with other brands that already have the lens in their camera. It's still not clear whether it will compete with Samsung's latest S23 Ultra's ability to zoom up to 100x.

As mentioned in Forbes, the availability of the Periscope lens being limited to the Pro Max model may have something to do with size, as it may not be able to fit in the smaller models. It is also why bigger smartphones are the only ones fitted with the camera feature.

The rumor has already been going around for months, but it's only recently that there has been a stronger lead since the confirmation came from a respected leaker. If it is true, then iPhone users who are fond of its camera quality may have to opt for the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Read Also: iPhone 15 Pro Leak Features Samsung Technology Used To Hide Face ID

What to Expect Based on Leaks

Aside from the shocking leak that is the addition of the Periscope lens, more rumors and leaks have been circulating about the upcoming iPhone 15 lineup. Users can expect more changes when it comes to the design as well. The volume buttons will have two separate buttons and the mute switch will be replaced with buttons.

As for the chipset, it's likely that Apple will still be using the Bionic A16 chipset, which is what was used in the iPhone 14 Pro models. Some rumors say that it will come with a titanium frame, thinner bezels, and a new color, according to The Verge. Although it's possible that the iPhone 15 Pro Max might be called iPhone 15 Ultra, reports say that the name won't be used until 2024.

Want to made a correction here as my last render looks too saturated, when I apply the given color code to metal in render, they actually look more dull than the actual color, so this might be a closer look to the iPhone 15pro in red #Apple #iphone15 #iphone15Pro #iPhone pic.twitter.com/dzaveUUVj8  Hans (@Hanstsaiz) February 24, 2023

Since the iPad Pro, Mac Mini, and MacBook Pro already supports Wi-Fi 6E, the new iPhone lineup is likely to have that too. With the new additions, the upcoming iPhone generation may very well exceed the iPhone 14 Pro Max price starting at $1,099.

Related: iPhone 15 Pro Models: Rumors Titanium Frame, Taptic Buttons, Increased RAM Features
PARIS  Viet Nam attaches importance to multilateral cooperation, including with UNESCO, in the challenging post-COVID-19 context, Deputy Foreign Minister and Chairman of the National Commission for UNESCO Ha Kim Ngoc said at the 216th session of the UNESCO Executive Board that was opened on Monday (local time) in Paris, France.

Speaking at the opening session, he said he appreciated efforts by the UNESCO Secretary-General and Director-General in mobilising resources, promoting multi-dimensional approaches, effectively implementing activities, and providing timely support for member countries in crisis.

Regarding the future direction, Ngoc suggested appropriate resource allocation for two global priorities, Africa and gender equality; and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and youth.

He also affirmed Viet Nam's commitment to promoting multilateral cooperation and cohesion with UNESCO in fields of professional cooperation.

Ngoc announced the organisation of an international conference on promoting the role of UNESCO titles for sustainable development in Viet Nam in July 2023, with a view to turning UNESCO titles into support for sustainable development and inspiration for the future.

On the sidelines of the 216th session of the UNESCO Executive Council, Ngoc had meetings with UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Deputy Director General Xing Qu, and Assistant Director General for Priority Africa and External Relations Firmin Edouard Matoko to promote bilateral relations between Viet Nam and UNESCO.

On this occasion, the Vietnamese official will meet with World Heritage Center Director Lazare Eloundou Assomo and ICOMOS General Director Marie Laure Lavenir to discuss strengthening cooperation in the protection and promotion of values of UNESCO-recognised heritages in Viet Nam, as well as promote the countrys dossiers seeking UNESCO titles for Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Islands, Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac relic and landscape complex, and Oc Eo Ba The relic site.

The official said that Viet Nam had passed half of the term as a member of the UNESCO Executive Council. The country was said to be an active and responsible member that had made contributions to UNESCO's activities.

This was considered a great opportunity for Viet Nam to meet the leaders of the Secretariat and interact with member countries to strengthen cooperation with UNESCO as well as promote bilateral connections with other nations in handling global and bilateral issues.

He said that currently, Viet Nam had participated in almost all of the most important mechanisms of UNESCO and the country had been very proactive, active, and responsible to contribute to the activities of UNESCO mechanisms in general and the 216th session of the Executive Council in particular.

The 216th session of the Executive Council of UNESCO will take place until May 25 in Paris with the participation of 58 member countries and an agenda with nearly 50 topics on fields such as education, culture, science, human resources, management, and foreign relations.

During the session, discussions on the draft Programmes and Budget for the 2024-2025 period are expected to draw much attention as UNESCOs current budget fails to cover the proposed programmes and activities.  VNS
UK Business and Trade Secretary, Kemi Badenoch, launches negotiations for a modern, updated free trade agreement with Switzerland.

Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch today [15 May] flies to Switzerland to launch negotiations on a new UK-Switzerland free trade agreement (FTA) to boost trade between the two services superpowers.

Switzerland is one of the wealthiest countries in the world and the UKs 10th largest trading partner. The two countries are among the worlds leading service economies, exporting almost 15 billion worth of services including financial, professional, legal, and architecture every year.

The current UK-Switzerland FTA is based on an EU-Swiss deal from more than 50 years ago  before the advent of the home computer or the internet  and does not cover services, investment, digital or data. With most of the UKs services exports to Switzerland delivered electronically  almost 69% in 2020  both sides are keen to rectify this in upcoming talks.

Business and Trade Secretary Kemi 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."

ONS figures published earlier this year showed UK services exports reaching record highs in 2022, totalling 397 billion - an increase of 20% compared to 2021 in current prices.

The Business and Trade Secretary will launch talks on the new, modernised deal with her counterpart Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin in Bern, the countrys capital city.

During her visit, Badenoch will also go to SIX, the operator of the Swiss Exchange, Europes 3rd biggest stock exchange and one of the industrys most respected post-trade service providers.

Whilst at SIX she will visit the innovation accelerator Tenity where she will meet startups already operational in the UK including Enterprise Bot, Xworks, SmartPurse and Jrny.

A refresh of our trading relationship with Switzerland will add to the UKs growing armoury of powerful service-focused deals by removing remaining market access barriers, improving regulatory cooperation and enabling UK firms to compete on an equal footing in Switzerland, now and in the future.

Switzerlands demand for imports is expected to grow in real terms by 78% by 2050. The new deal could lower tariffs on UK exports to Switzerland, which could reduce annual duties for UK businesses by around 7.4 million.

It will also benefit the more than 14,000 UK businesses which already export goods to Switzerland, 86% of which are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), by creating simpler trade rules for products of origin, customs procedures and digitisation.

CEO of SIX, Jos Dijsselhof, said:

"The new UK-Switzerland free trade agreements shared ambition hold also great importance for the financial sector, fostering cooperation, trade, and mobility."

"SIX welcomes this move, supporting open and international capital markets, promoting healthy exchange and competition between the two major financial centres in Switzerland and the UK."

Switzerland is a key investment partner to the UK with the total stock of Swiss foreign direct investment in sectors such as textiles, chemicals, manufacturing and financial services worth 74 billion in 2021, while UK investment into Switzerland was worth 52 billion. A new FTA would look to boost this even further, helping facilitate more investment by Swiss companies into communities around the UK and seeking preferential terms for UK investors in Switzerland.

Policy Chairman of the City of London Corporation, Chris Hayward, said:

"The UK and Switzerland are the two largest financial centres in Europe which means strengthening our services trade relationship is a top priority for the sector. An enhanced trade agreement would address key cross-cutting issues including mobility, data flows and digital trade to the benefit of both jurisdictions."

"Negotiating a new free trade deal with Switzerland along with a ground-breaking mutual recognition agreement in financial services presents a unique opportunity to set a new paradigm for services trade, and would provide a template for the UKs future trading relationships."

Alexander Dennis Fleet Sales Director, Matthew Lawrence, said:

"Were the worlds leading manufacturer of double-deck buses and bus companies in Switzerland and we supplied Swiss national operator PostAuto with a fleet of low-emissions Alexander Dennis double decker buses."

"A free-trade agreement between the UK and Switzerland would benefit us and our Swiss customers in streamlining the supply of spare parts, while also opening up business opportunities for further British-built buses."

Executive Director of International Policy, Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, Claire Machin, said:

"Negotiation of an Enhanced Trade Agreement between the UK and Switzerland provides a pivotal opportunity for a world-leading agreement between two life science superpowers."

"Prioritisation of life sciences in negotiations could help to boost the growth of our two innovation-intensive economies and set world-leading standards to encourage the creation and adoption of the next wave of scientific technologies."

During her visit to Switzerland, Badenoch will also meet with leading female business leaders at Advance, a network of close to 140 Swiss companies committed to increasing the share of women in management in Switzerland.

Background:

See the UKs approach to negotiating an enhanced free trade agreement with Switzerland, and the joint statement.

The launch will take place at the Federal Palace of Switzerland. The first round of talks are scheduled for week commencing 22 May.

Switzerland ranks as the UKs 2nd largest trading partner in Trade in Professional and Business Services. In 2022, total PBS trade with Switzerland amounted to 9.2 billion (39% of total UK services trade with Switzerland).

Talks will also look to provide long-term certainty on business travel, particularly for services firms, helping firms in a wide range of sectors, from life sciences to tech to share expertise, form vital partnerships and expand into new markets.

We will also seek to cut remaining tariffs on UK exports such as red meat, chocolate and baked goods, which are currently very high. Switzerland imports over 5.5bn a year of agri-goods under product lines where tariffs still apply for the UK.

The businesses are supported by Tenity, which provides incubation and acceleration programs to help startups in connect with entrepreneurs, experts, mentors, and investors for early-stage venture and late-stage venture investing.

Source: GOV.UK
JAKARTA, Indonesia, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In line with the investor growth target set by the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) in 2023, namely 13.5 million investors, and with the same passion for developing the Indonesian Capital Market, PT CGS-CIMB Sekuritas Indonesia continues to consistently introduce and increasing public literacy and inclusion in the capital market with sufficient investment products for the younger generation who are familiar with technology, namely stock investment. As a form of this commitment, particularly in reaching retail investors, PT CGS-CIMB Sekuritas Indonesia has again launched a new breakthrough in the world of capital markets which is in line with the program from the Indonesian Stock Exchange (IDX), namely "Synergy for Sustainability and Beyond" in collaboration with BMoney.





CEO BukaFinancial & Commerce, PT Bukalapak.com, Tbk, Victor Lesmana (left), Director Trading & Membership Indonesia Stock Exchange, Irvan Susandy (middle) and Group COO CGS-CIMB Securities Carol Fong (right) exchanged tokens of appreciation with the Board of Directors of CGS-CIMB Sekuritas Indonesia, Ashmore Assets Management, and PT Buka Investasi Bersama to mark the launch of BMoney Saham feature.

BMoney, an online investment application owned by Buka Investasi Bersama, a financial technology company in collaboration with Bukalapak and Ashmore Asset Management Indonesia, in collaboration with well-known securities company CGS-CIMB Sekuritas Indonesia, launched a share feature and a special program for the premium user segment called BMoney Privilege. Through the share feature, BMoney users can buy and sell shares of various issuers in the country easily and safely. This collaboration is the first collaboration between a technology platform and a security company in Indonesia.

CGS-CIMB Sekuritas Indonesia itself is a securities company that has been operating since 1990 and one of the top 3 brokers based on market share data in Indonesia as of January 2023.

Meanwhile, BMoney Privilege is an investor priority program that can be enjoyed by premium BMoney users to transact various BMoney products digitally with the support of experienced marketers and access to various additional features that can better meet the investment needs of users of this service, as well as providing inclusive investment experience to all Indonesians with various investment goals through appropriate products.

As a partner of BMoney in launching the stock trading feature, CGS-CIMB Sekuritas Indonesia welcomes this collaboration because it is an opportunity for CGS-CIMB Sekuritas Indonesia to support the enthusiasm for stock investment in the country while at the same time contributing to the dynamics of investment in Indonesia. "By combining CGS-CIMB Sekuritas Indonesia's experience and expertise with the robustness of the BMoney technology platform in facilitating the investment needs of its users, we see this partnership as a strategic step in encouraging appropriate and safe stock investment habits in Indonesia. From here, national economic growth can also be positively affected, of course," said Lim Kim Siah, President Director of PT CGS-CIMB Sekuritas Indonesia.

"Buka Investasi Bersama as part of Bukalapak carries the same spirit that we have carried so far, which is to provide equal opportunities for everyone through the power of technology, including the opportunity to invest easily and safely. BMoney from BIB is our platform to realize this passion and mission. Through the presence of the Shares and BMoney Privilege features, BMoney can provide inclusive services for more Indonesians who have various investment needs. This is also part of BMoney's goal to assist the public in finding investment product choices that are safe and catering to to their needs," said Victor Lesmana, CEO of BukaFinancial & Commerce at the Press Conference: Launch of BMoney Shares (16/5).

On the same occasion, Dhinda Arisyiya, COO of PT Buka Investasi Bersama, conveyed the launch of the Shares and BMoney Privilege features as a form of BMoney's commitment to expanding its support for investors with ever-increasing needs. "BMoney has successfully served nearly one million investors since its launch in 2020 with a total managed fund of more than 1 trillion Rupiah where the managed fund has experienced a triple digit increase throughout 2022. Departing from this growth, we want to expand our services in facilitating many more investment needs of the community. Based on data from IDX until the end of December 2022, it was recorded that the number of domestic investors in the Indonesian capital market grew significantly during 2022 to reach 10 million single investor identification (SID) and the number of stock investors was 4 million SID registered in Indonesia. Referring to these data and our internal data, we see high interest in stock investment, especially among non-investors and the potential is still very large in increasing the penetration of stock investors in the country. Therefore, we have designed the share transaction feature at BMoney to accommodate user needs and increase healthy investment habits for users in achieving their financial goals", she said.

Through the BMoney Privilege, BMoney provides an easy investment experience to help investors in developing their assets. BMoney Privilege will give its users access to portfolios, real-time data insights and the latest news about the stock market, support from marketers, opportunities to expand the network, as well as investment options consisting of choices of Mutual Funds from various asset classes.

For more information about the Shares feature in BMoney and BMoney Privilege, visit bmoney.id. Also follow BMoney Instagram (@bmoney.id) to get the latest news about BMoney.

For seamless investment experience with BMoney, download BMoney app.

About Buka Investasi Bersama

PT Buka Investasi Bersama ("BIB"), which is a financial technology company in collaboration with PT Bukalapak.com Tbk ("Bukalapak") and PT Ashmore Asset Management Indonesia Tbk ("Ashmore"), was established on June 12 2019 and registered with the Indonesian Financial Services Authority. Finance ("OJK"(with license number Mutual Funds Selling Agent ("APERD") KEP-9/PM.21/2020 and Level II Securities Brokerage Marketing Partner ("PPE Level II Partner") 03/D.04/ STTD/MPPPE/2022 is registered and supervised by the Financial Services Authority (OJK).

This is based on our understanding while providing financial products, especially investment products, since 2017, that investment and financial services play an important role in creating a better life for every individual.

For more information about Buka Investasi Bersama, visit BMoney website.

About PT CGS-CIMB Sekuritas Indonesia

PT CGS-CIMB Sekuritas Indonesia (formerly known as PT CIMB Sekuritas Indonesia) is a company formed by a Joint Venture ("JV") between China Galaxy International Financial Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Galaxy Securities Co.,Ltd ("CGS ") with CIMB Group Sdn Bhd ("CIMB").

With this Joint Venture, we are currently in a strategic position to tap into the extensive network of two shareholders, namely CGS and CIMB. Where this is expected to strengthen the foundation of our business network which is spread through branch offices and partners in more than 20 countries and branch offices in Indonesia located in 9 major cities in meeting the investment needs of retail customers.

PT CGS-CIMB Sekuritas Indonesia, which has received various international awards and is also present in the top 3 securities companies in Indonesia based on market data in Indonesia in January 2023, continues to support the Indonesian capital market.

Source: Bukalapak Related Stocks: Jakarta:BUKA OTC:BKPTY
HCMC  The prime minister issued a decision approving the national power development plan VIII yesterday, May 15, with a strong emphasis on renewable energy, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The power development plan VIII for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, is set to focus on developing electricity sources and transmission lines of 220kV and above, as well as the industrial and service sectors related to renewable energy and transmission line interconnection with neighboring countries.

As per the plan, Vietnam eyes 50% of office buildings and 50% of residential houses in the country using rooftop solar power for self-consumption by 2030.

The plan prioritizes the development of renewable energy and aims for those sources to make up 30.9-39.2% of the total electricity production in 2030.

It also targets achieving a 47% renewable energy ratio as part of Vietnams commitment to the Just Energy Transition Partnership.

By 2050, the renewable energy ratio is expected to reach 67.5-71.5%.

Renewable energy development looks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from electricity production to 204-254 million tons by 2030 and around 27-31 million tons by 2050.

The country will also establish two regional centers for renewable energy industries and services by 2030 to facilitate electricity production, transmission and consumption.

Vietnam also aims to develop a renewable energy industrial ecosystem in the northern, south-central and southern regions.

It will foster favorable conditions for electricity generation from renewable energy sources and new energy for export. The target is to achieve an electricity export capacity of 5,000-10,000 MW by 2030.

The total investment in the development of energy sources and transmission lines is estimated at around US$134.7 billion for the 2021-2030 period and from US$399.2 billion to US$523.1 billion for the 2031-2050 period.

Among those, the investment in energy development accounts for US$364-511 billion, and the money for transmission lines is US$34.8-38.6 billion.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has been tasked with finalizing the amended laws on electricity and renewable energy and submitting them to the National Assembly in 2024.

The ministry has also been required to propose direct power purchase policies to the Government.
Since Vietnam and the UK announced a strategic partnership in 2010, the bilateral trade exchange has more than tripled, reaching $6.84 billion in 2022.

Nguyen Canh Cuong, Trade counsellor Vietnamese Embassy in the UK

According to figures from the General Department of Vietnam Customs, in 2022 alone, Vietnams goods exports to the UK hit more than $6.06 billion, up 5.2 per cent on-year, with Vietnam earning a trade surplus of nearly $5.3 billion  up 7.7 per cent over the previous year.

The key exports items from Vietnam to the UK with a high growth rate included assorted mobile phones and spare parts (18.75 per cent); machinery, equipment, and spare parts (14 per cent), garments and textiles (13.25 per cent); assorted footwear (12.6 per cent); computers, electronics, and spare parts (6.8 per cent); aquatic products (5.2 per cent); and wood and wooden products (3.9 per cent).

In the first quarter of this year, total two-way trade turnover reached $1.58 billion, down 0.6 per cent as compared to the same period last year. Vietnams exports were worth more than $1.4 billion  down 0.3 per cent on-year, while Vietnams trade surplus hit $1.23 billion  up by $88,600 on-year.

The UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) has helped two-way trade increase by 3.3 per cent last year as compared to 2021.

The agreement is on route to becoming a highway for businesses to reach the other sides markets faster and stronger thanks to its extensive tariff reduction roadmap. This agreement creates advantages for many products of both sides to access the other sides markets such as smartphones, machinery, textiles, footwear, seafood, furniture, iron and steel, coffee, and cashew nuts from Vietnam as well as modern machinery, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and leather and footwear materials from the UK.

The UKs service sectors including finance, transport, and retail are also entitled to benefit in Vietnam. What is more, the UKVFTA also sets up an important framework for green development cooperation in the future by the commitments to sustainable development.

When it comes to investment cooperation, the UK is in 15th position among 141 countries and territories with investments in Vietnam. British funds have invested more than $4 billion in about 500 projects focusing on renewable energy, finance, banking, and oil.

At present, Vietnam is accelerating its technological innovation strategy, digital transformation, and supply chain diversification as well as focussing on developing foundation industries and supporting industries to improve the economys internal resources, competitiveness, and production efficiency.

Meanwhile, Vietnams industries are also making strategic shifts in production and increasing energy efficiency to promote sustainable development, contribute to better environmental protection, and achieve net-zero carbon emissions.

The UK-Vietnam strategic partnership supported by the UKVFTA, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and intergovernmental cooperation mechanisms such as the Just Energy Transition Partnership will open many new opportunities for businesses to enhance cooperation, beckon investment, and transfer technology in global trending development fields including renewable energy, environmental industry, green trade and financial services, green logistics, digital transformation, and fintech.

The UKVFTA has established a tax-free roadmap for almost all Vietnamese products exported into the UK and vice versa. As a result, many Vietnamese products have a superior competitive advantage in the UK market compared to similar products originating from countries that do not have FTAs with the UK such as China, India, Thailand, Malaysia, and more besides.

The Vietnamese government is committed to setting up a transparent and friendly environment for business and to creating stronger conditions for investors so that they may access resources and opportunities to run their business activities efficiently in Vietnam.

The UK government is meanwhile encouraging British enterprises to do more business with Vietnamese counterparts and supporting them to take part actively in the global production and supply chain.

A number of Vietnamese food and furniture exporters have actively participated in fairs in London, Birmingham, and Northern Ireland thanks to the support of the Vietnam Trade Office in the UK since 2021. They hope to have new customers and gradually expand their market share in the UK.

In 2024, after the UK officially joins the CPTPP, some Vietnamese products with big potential such as fragrant rice, tuna, and honey will be able to increase their market share in the UK thanks to more tax-free quotas.

Vietnam is also likely to be selected by large British businesses as one of the important links when they rearrange their production facilities and restructure their global supply chains in the face of fluctuations in international relations, especially the relationship between major countries.

Potential through the roof for bilateral advancement in UK-Vietnam linkages The United Kingdom and Vietnams relations are at an all-time high, and in that context, we are delighted to be celebrating five decades of diplomatic relations this year. The UK-Vietnam Strategic Partnership, refreshed in 2020 shortly after I arrived in the post, set the tone for an ever-closer political and economic relationship.

Vietnam-UK trade bond underway After nearly two years of entry into force, the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, in addition to Vietnams improved investment and business climate, have facilitated both nations to increase trade and investment.
Banyan Tree Lang Co celebrates 10 years presenting in Vietnam

More than a decade ago, the founders of Banyan Tree Group came to Central Vietnam, and were captured by the breathtaking natural beauty of Lang Co Bay.

Falling in love with this culturally rich destination, they became the pioneers in developing Vietnams first world-class integrated resort in Lang Co Bay, which was then an unknown destination in terms of luxury travel.

Unparalleled luxury travel in Central Vietnam

Perched on the Annamite (Truong Son) Range, the newly launched three-bedroom seaview pool villa brings unparalleled luxury to Central Vietnam, offering a spacious heated infinity-edge pool, three bedrooms with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass that optimises the mesmerising seaview, and an exquisitely private living space featuring an artful interior design inspired by Vietnamese traditions and culture.

Banyan Trees Stay for Good programne

As a part of our Stay For Good initiative of Banyan Tree Group, the new on-site biodiversity initiative inspires and motivates guests to immerse themselves in the natural beauty at Banyan Tree Lang Co, featuring a transformative bird-watching experience and an innovative Birds Sanctuary Photo Gallery that raises the awareness of respecting and preserving biodiversity.

Nestled between the azure waters of the East Sea and the Annamite Range, featuring diverse and favourable natural habitats, Banyan Tree Lang Co is home to a variety of bird species.

Inviting guests to discover the fifteen signature birds while marvelling at the spectacular natural landscape at Banyan Tree Lang Co, the bird watching is a first-of-its-kind resort activity in Vietnam that aims to reconnect guests with mother nature.

The opening of the birds sanctuary

Birds Sanctuary Photo Gallery, a new feature of Banyan Tree Lang Co, is an open bird photo exhibition supported by the local bird photographer Duong Thai Dung.

In future, any bird photographers or visitors with a passion for this type of photography are welcome to contribute their wild bird photos taken during their stays at Banyan Tree Lang Co, in the hope of enhancing public awareness of the environment and biodiversity.

Saffron in Lang Co Bay awarded with ThaiSELECT Signature

Saffron in Lang Co Bay is one of the first Thai restaurants in Vietnam to be awarded the highest ranking in the ThaiSelect programme, a mark of certification granted by the Ministry of Commerce, and the Royal Thai Government to guarantee the authentic Thai taste of Thai restaurants around the world.

Adorned with traditional Thai or contemporary decorations, these restaurants portray an exquisite image or the uniqueness of Thai cuisine, inspiring a sense of pride among diners.

In the celebration of Banyan Tree Lang Cos 10th anniversary, Taneeya Foocharoen, minister counsellor (Commercial) of the Royal Thai Embassy in Vietnam, was present at the resort to give the ThaiSELECT Signature Award to Chef Sivanart Wiphaphakanan, head chef of Saffron Xuan, and Glen Cook, area general manager of Banyan Tree Lang Co.

Taneeya Foocharoen - minister counsellor (Commercial) - Royal Thai Embassy to grant ThaiSELECT Signature Award to Saffron at Banyan Tree Lang Co

In 2023, Banyan Tree celebrates 10 years of exceptional experiences in Central Vietnam, a decade of life-long memories for our guests, sustainable values for the environment and economic benefits to our local communities.

At the group level, Banyan Tree will open at least four new properties in Vietnam with the opening of Angsana Ho Tram and Dhawa Ho Tram on 1 June, followed by Angsana Quan Lan (Halong Bay) and Garrya Mu Cang Chai (Yen Bai) in late 2023.

It also has a strong pipeline in the coming years in Vietnams most desirable destinations, including Nha Trang, Quy Nhon, Mui Dinh, Tu Le, Hoi An and Danang, according to area manager Glen Cook.
Brendan Nelson, President of Boeing Global

What is the main purpose of your visit?

Brendan Nelson: I have come to Vietnam because it is an important country. It is one of the first countries that I have visited since I have taken on the responsibility for Boeing's global operations. And the visit is informed much more by what we intend to do in the future than what we have done in the past.

Apart from meetings with Vietnamese government officials and ministers, I also officially opened our permanent office.

Considering the relationships that we have with suppliers, the airlines and listening to advice and suggestions on what more we could and should do.

Among my responsibilities is to serve on the Executive Council of the Boeing Company, and to report to the CEO of The Boeing Company, David Calhoun, the opportunities that exist in Vietnam and the vision the country has for its aviation sector.

Boeing is proudly an American parent company, but we are determined to genuinely globalise our business, to invest in and partner with the countries with whom we do business.

We have a significant presence in 20 countries outside the United States, and presence in another 35.

Vietnam is one of our most important countries  it is one of those 20. Vietnam is a respected and influential member of ASEAN. It has deeply committed to the Indo-Pacific economic framework.

It is a nation of 100 million people with economic growth in excess of 6 per cent, and our determination is to do everything we can to support the development and growth of the aviation industry in Vietnam.

We are determined to play our role in seeing that the Vietnamese people have access to flight, and opportunities for employment in every aspect of the aviation industry in Vietnam.

We currently have six suppliers in Vietnam. We want to grow those numbers and are currently working directly with five Vietnamese suppliers to train them in getting to the safety and technical standards necessary to join our supply chains.

We held the first Boeing Vietnam Aviation Industry conference late last year. This attracted 100 companies, suppliers and universities. And of course, Vietnamese aviation officials.

In March this year, we held a four-day seminar to provide training and assistance in every aspect of airport and aviation management. We have also held a suppliers conference.

And we are doing everything we can to assist the Vietnamese airlines in operations and in the acquisition of new aircraft.

The Prime Minister asked Boeing to support the development of the aerospace industry in Vietnam, particularly in aircraft maintenance centres in Chu Lai of the central province of Quang Nam. What is your comment on this?

Michael Nguyen: We listened to the Vietnamese government regarding their request for us to consider certain locations, including Chu Lai.

We will give it serious consideration. But we do not have any decision regarding having a maintenance facility in Chu Lai or any other place at this time.

So, we are working with the potential partners in Vietnam, including the airlines, to consider having a repair maintenance centre to support our customers. And a part of that consideration is to have a critical mass of Boeing aircraft that needs maintenance.

The Vietnamese government has for long hoped for Boeing to help develop the aviation industry in Vietnam, but most suppliers are foreign. What are the possibilities of helping domestic suppliers join Boeing supply chains?

Brendan Nelson: We are here with a permanent office, in part because we need to and want to build a bigger supply chain with Vietnamese businesses. We would like more Vietnamese suppliers and our responsibility is to help train local businesses to meet the quality, safety, and certification standards that are required to be part of our supply chain.

We believe in Vietnam, and we want to develop the suppliers in Vietnam.

Michael Nguyen: Regarding the current suppliers that we have, it is important to note that I estimate close to 95 per cent of the workers, professionals and managers of our current suppliers (in Vietnam) are Vietnamese people.

Boeing opens new permanent office in Vietnam

Green growth is an inevitable trend in Vietnam and airlines are getting serious about hydrogen-powered planes. What should the country do to position itself as the top hydrogen supplier to global airlines?

Brendan Nelson: The Vietnamese government has committed to net-zero by 2050. We share this ambition. We are completely committed to decarbonising aviation, and every aspect of aviation in the manufacture of aircraft, in the management of energy and waste, and of course, the use of fuels.

We admire the vision of the Vietnamese government in working and investing in hydrogen. Boeing has been doing a lot of work testing hydrogen-powered and electric-powered aircraft.

In the near term, over the next 30 years, the key solution is sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). We have almost completed a detailed study of the production of SAF, feedstock, sources etc. its production and distribution in Southeast Asia. This is an area where we would like to work with Vietnam because it is ideally placed for the feedstock for SAF, and perhaps its production.

So, of course, we would like to explore with Vietnam how we can work together for the production of and uptake of SAF for aviation whilst seeing a longer-term place for hydrogen.

All of those figures for the growth in aviation in Vietnam in the next decade demand that all of us, as quickly as we can, reduce greenhouse gas emissions from aviation.

Boeing opens office in Hanoi, commits to expanding investment in Vietnam Brendan Nelson, senior vice chairman of aerospace giant Boeing, has underscored the company's unwavering commitment to expanding its presence and fostering collaborative ventures in his latest visit to Vietnam.

Boeing eyes supply chain expansion in Vietnam Boeing is planning to seek more suppliers in Vietnam to expand its supply chain network and tap into growing demands.

New planes and routes as aviation picks up With a promising outlook in the post-pandemic era, international aircraft manufacturers are seeking to expand their partnerships in Vietnams burgeoning aviation market to tap into its growing demand for aircraft and related tech, as well as to expand their supply chain.

Aerospace groups look to board Boeing production Opportunities are opening up for businesses in Vietnam to join aerospace manufacturing supply chains, adding to its status as the fastest-rising commercial aviation market in the region.

Action required for aviation to achieve net-zero commitments Fleet renewal, improved operational efficiency, renewable energy, and advanced technology are the four main actions that need to be taken by the commercial aviation industry between now and 2050
According to a report sent to the National Assembly Economic Committee in late April, the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has approved the mandatory transfer of four struggling credit institutions (CI) that fall under the special supervision category.

Direction clearer in weak bank overhaul - illustration photo/ Source: Shutterstock

The move includes three CIs that were acquired for the rock-bottom price of zero VND  CBBank, OceanBank, GP Bank  along with DongA Bank.

Previously, four banks had already announced their plans to receive mandatory transfers from weak banks, namely MB, Vietcombank, HDBank, and VPBank.

MB was the first to gather feedback from shareholders regarding the plan to receive mandatory transfers from one weak bank starting in 2022. The compulsory transfer was approved at last years AGM and, as per the implementation schedule, the SBV is currently conducting the valuation process, which will be submitted to the government for approval before the transfer takes place.

Vietcombanks chairman Pham Quang Dung, meanwhile, noted in late April that this lender has completed the mandatory transfer plan with a CI, and is now waiting for the SBVs approval. He further said that Vietcombank expects to transform this bank into a healthy organisation within 8-10 years.

For some time, there have been rumours in the market about Vietcombanks possible acquisition of CBBank. In 2015, when CBBank was acquired for nothing due to losses and negative equity, Vietcombank was appointed to participate in supporting the restructuring of the bank.

At its 2023 AGM, HDBank shareholders also approved the banks continued participation to restructure CIs according to the direction of the SBV.

Several years ago, news emerged of HDBanks involvement in supporting the restructuring of DongA Bank. Thus, it is highly likely that both DongA Bank and HDBank will persist on the path of restructuring previously undertaken.

On the same note, chairman of VPBank, Ngo Chi Dung, reaffirmed the banks involvement as one of the four banks participating in the restructuring of weak CIs, with proposals currently under review.

Although VPBank has not yet disclosed the target institution, market speculations suggest that it could be the destination for GP Bank. Previously, at the appointment ceremony of GP Banks new chairman and CEO in September 2022, a representative of VPBanks leadership was in attendance.

Furthermore, these supporting banks will receive certain benefits, including exemption from merging distressed banks financial statements, allowance for separate consolidated capital adequacy ratios, and greater credit ceilings from the SBV.

Specifically, as per the plan formulated by the SBV, four banks will be mandatorily subject to acquisition, including two banks that have proposed to raise the foreign investor ownership ratio to 49 per cent, in response to the takeover of four underperforming banks.

For Saigon Commercial Bank (SCB), the SBV is carrying out procedures and regulations according to the law to evaluate the overall situation and restructuring plan. This will create a basis for the restructuring of this bank, which will then be presented for official approval.

SCB has been under special supervision since October 2022. The central bank has been working closely with relevant ministries and agencies to implement solutions according to the law to ensure the safety of the banking system and protect the rights and interests of depositors.

Economic expert Can Van Luc said that bank mergers are part of the governments general policy on restructuring the economy, including credit institutions and enterprises. This policy has been established for a few years, and the government has now set a goal to finalise the process. However, the merger of CIs has been slow due to many reasons.

Merging them contributes to making the banking market healthier, increasing financial stability and macroeconomic growth, said Luc.

If weak banks were allowed to go bankrupt, it would cause a lot of turmoil for depositors. Therefore, mergers are a better option than bankruptcy.

Pham Nhu Anh, Deputy executive officer under the Board of Management, MB As per the plan submitted and approved last year, MB believes that implementing the compulsory transfer plan will provide opportunities for the bank to achieve higher growth than the average market growth rate, about 1.5-2 times in the long term, bolster its competitive ranking, and create new growth space. Specifically, MB will acquire approximately 401 transaction points, which will save time, investment costs, and increase customer coverage in line with the retail and digital transformation strategy. During the implementation of the compulsory transfer plan, MB will handle capital contributions and shares in appropriate forms or merge according to the approved plan. This provides an opportunity for MB to create surplus value and/or increase its scale. Participation in restructuring CIs is also a condition for MB to receive preferential treatment in the process of applying for credit room extension and other special incentives under the SBVs regulations. We are currently in the process of evaluating the compulsory transfer. According to the states procedures, the valuation process takes just under a year. We expect the valuation to be completed by the end of this year or early 2024.
In the first quarter, the northern industrial market welcomed a new supply of about 116 hectares for Tam Duong I Industrial Zone (IZ) located in northern Vinh Phuc province. Meanwhile, no new warehouse supply was recorded in this quarter.

Tam Duong Industrial Park I, source: investvinhphuc.vn

According to Cushman & Wakefield (C&W), currently, many IZ investors are speeding up construction to be able to hand over land to customers. By the end of 2023, it is expected that the market will receive an additional supply of 670ha of industrial land.

The future supply of ready-built factories (RBFs) and ready-built warehouses (RBWs) will continue to be abundant towards 2025, with 1.2 million sq.m of factories and 700,000 sq.m of warehouses entering the market.

Thanks to its favourable location, improved infrastructure, and connectivity, the northern key economic region continues to receive a wave of investment, especially from the electronics and automobile industries. Among the outstanding manufacturers are Goertek, Autoliv, and Xiamen Sunrise Group.

C&W forecast that in the northern market, the demand for industrial real estate will still be maintained thanks to the expansion of manufacturers out of China, but is likely to slow down soon enough. Furthermore, industrial land rents will continue to increase. The RBW rental rates may continue to rise, but at a slower pace depending on market developments.

In the south, meanwhile, the industrial real estate market did not record any new IZ supply in Q1 due to lengthy legal and procedure process. A supply of 82,000 sq.m of factories and 51,500 sq.m of RBW were reported. New supply may slow down in 2023, at nearly 1.1 million sq.m for both RBWs and RBFs, C&W said.

In the short term, the supply of IZ land will continue to be limited, while the supply will continue to increase, but at a slower rate than 2022.

Dong Nai province, a location with a strong track record for manufacturers, also faces difficulties in industrial real estate development.

According to Nguyen Huu Nguyen, director of Dong Nai Department of Planning and Investment, many groups are asking for large-scale land to build a production base, but such land has been exhausted.

The giant Lego project had to move from Dong Nai to Binh Duong province after it waited three years for land here. These types of issues are a serious challenge for Dong Nai, Nguyen said. We have also not paid enough attention to adding value as well as the quality of labour. That is why Dong Nai has numerous immigrants but low quality of labour.

Currently, Dong Nai has plans to set up another nine IZs alongside the 31 that are already in operation.

Meanwhile, weak infrastructure, planning quality, and ineffective mobilisation of capital are some of the limitations for attracting more investors in to IZs and economic zones in Ca Mau province.

According to the Management Board of Ca Mau Economic Zone, the quality of planning has not been met in the long term due to the fluctuating socioeconomic situation. The province is facing difficulties in mobilising capital to build infrastructure and mostly depends on the budget distribution from the government.

Besides that, the zones have not been able to mobilise other capital sources, such as government bonds and official development assistance. Other formats such as public-private partnerships have not been promoted.

In addition, at present, Ca Maus IZs are offering general preferential policies found in the rest of the country, which is deemed inadequate to entice potential investors.

Ca Mau province has three established IZs with a total area of about 662ha. Over the past few years, about 200 delegations of domestic and foreign investors have come to explore opportunities in the province. Among those were the Wealth Power Vietnam Group, Thien Phuc Industrial Park Investment, Tuan Chau Group, B.Grimm Power of Thailand, Infrastructure Investment and Transport JSC, Yat Fung International Holdings, Hong Ha Petroleum, Minh Phu Seafood Corporation, and Indochina International Infrastructure Group.

However, the amount of available land in this province is minimal and cannot meet their demand, authorities said.

According to C&W, in the first months of 2023, challenges from the global economy caused the amount of registered foreign capital and export orders to the south region to decrease. Global economic uncertainties, weakening consumption, and reduced export orders have been affecting the demand for industrial real estate rental in the short term.

Bac Tien Phong Industrial Zone hails $165 million vehicle parts venture An investment registration certificate granted to Boltun Vietnam marks an inspiring sign for a new investment wave into the north-eastern province of Quang Ninh.

Industrial zones Devoid of true management? Although Vietnam is one of the globes biggest manufacturers, industrial zones must be managed and handled properly in order to function efficiently, boost their appeal, and fulfil the growing demands of investors.

IZ land leasing causes concerns for businesses Land lease in industrial zones is a major concern of manufacturers investing in Vietnam. This short Q&A with Hao Tran, head of Legal at BW, provides a legal perspective.
As of April 25, the credit debt for the real estate industry has experienced a notable increase of 3.51 per cent compared to the end of 2022, according to the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV). This growth surpasses the overall credit expansion rate of the entire banking system, which stands at 2.75 per cent.

Lenders adjust as real estate giants revive ventures, illustration photo

One key aspect that has posed significant challenges in the realm of real estate lending, as highlighted by chairman of BIDVs Board of Directors, Phan Duc Tu, is the complex web of legal issues surrounding the market. Recently, these legal complexities have been the primary impediment to smooth operations and sustained growth in the sector.

At BIDVs AGM last month, Tu stated that BIDV has conducted extensive consultations with 15 prominent developers, revealing that more than 70 per cent encountered difficulties attributed to legal intricacies. Even hindrances concerning capital within the banking system are intricately intertwined with prevailing legal concerns, Tu said.

Currently, loans related to real estate ventures account for approximately 2 per cent of BIDVs total outstanding debt, while loans directed towards aspiring homeowners constitute a considerable 15 per cent.

Tu noted that BIDVs selection process for funding allocation is meticulous and strategic. We prioritise real estate enterprises that possess impeccable legal credentials, exhibit robust project execution capabilities, and boast a strong presence in the market. Such stringent criteria serve as the bedrock for the banks decision-making process when considering loan disbursement, he said.

Luu Trung Thai, chairman of MBs Board of Directors, highlights that the challenges faced by enterprises such as Novaland and Hung Thinh are not exclusive to the real estate industry but pervade the entire sector. The most significant current issue lies in legal obstacles rather than financial constraints, Thai stated.

Novaland is poised to revive several ventures. Last week, it held a signing event for implementation of the NovaWorld Ho Tram project, encompassing the Habana Island and Wonderland phases.

Last week it also embarked on the reactivation of NovaWorld Phan Thiet and arranged a sponsor signing ceremony with its credit partner, MB Bank.

MB, along with numerous other financial institutions, has reinstated the disbursement of funds to support Novalands projects following a prolonged hiatus prompted by concerns over the conglomerates financial standing.

Elsewhere, Ho Hung Anh, chairman of Techcombanks Board of Directors, acknowledged the banks relatively high proportion of real estate lending. However, he clarified that this primarily consists of loans extended to individuals seeking to purchase homes.

The bank selectively chooses reputable clients and projects with complete legal compliance to ensure that, despite the challenging market conditions, these projects continue to be implemented.

Meanwhile, at TPBanks AGM, shareholders queried the leadership regarding a recent credit agreement with Novalands project, The Grand Manhattan, located in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City. According to the agreement, TPBank provided financial support to ensure the projects continued construction after a temporary halt, as well as offering credit facilities to homebuyers.

The banks CEO, Nguyen Hung, explained that this particular project is among seven initiatives in Ho Chi Minh City that are currently focused on resolving legal complications.

This is the only project so far that has cleared its legal hurdles, Hung asserted. The banks CEO stated that even if the projects value decreases to the maximum extent due to market conditions, the involved parties remain fully capable of repaying their debts.

Hung further emphasised that TPBank continues to provide financial support to construction contractors and project completion. There is still a significant amount of money owed by homebuyers from previous transactions, ensuring substantial repayment to the bank, he said.

Meanwhile, around 60 per cent of corporate bonds that VPBank has invested in are intricately tied to real estate businesses.

VPBank has actively engaged in financing endeavours, extending its support to more than 40 real estate projects helmed by prominent entities such as Sun Group, Vingroup, Novaland, and Dat Xanh, said the banks CEO Nguyen Duc Vinh.

The banks commitment to prudent risk management is exemplified by the fact that no individual client accounts for more than 1 per cent of the banks aggregate debt. In the case of Novaland, VPBank currently oversees the funds of customers who have purchased properties from Novaland and collaborates with relevant authorities to alleviate difficulties faced by the corporation.

We are not burdened by the spectre of non-performing loans (NPLs), as our collateralised assets and robust risk provisions empower us to effectively manage such challenges, said Vinh.

The latest report by VNDirect Securities indicated that Q1 2023 has revealed emerging challenges in the banking sectors financial performance. In the context of slowing credit expansion, commercial banks with a significant proportion of loans to large corporate customers, such as HDBank, Techcombank, VPBank, and TPBank, have exhibited better-than-average credit growth.

Conversely, banks lending to individuals has experienced a decrease or slower growth in credit, as observed in the cases of ACB, VIB, and Sacombank, compared to the start of the year.

According to the SBV, the NPL ratio for the entire banking sector increased to 2.9 per cent by the end of Q1, compared to 2 per cent at the end of 2022. Most banks have reported an increase in NPLs and a decrease in credit risk provision ratios compared to the previous quarter.

Lenders manifest steady trajectory with profit figures Although first quarter business results of banks show deceleration compared to the final quarter of 2022, in the current macro context, this still is an encouraging growth.
Vice Media Group is now officially bankrupt.

The company behind Vice and Motherboard has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to engineer its sale to a group of lenders following years of financial difficulties and top-executive departures.

The company had to restructure and downsize its workforce in the past before it ultimately filed for bankruptcy.

Vice Media Group Bankruptcy Details

Vice Media Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Monday in the Southern District of New York, possibly due to poor management and warring owners, with it listing assets and liabilities in the range of $500 million to $1 billion, per Business Insider.

Aside from the previously mentioned reasons, Business Insider listed allegations of sexual harassment, layers of debt, ambitious but failed plans to go public, and more than a year of searching for a new owner as reasons that led to its demise.

While the group said it would continue to operate during the bankruptcy process, it is no doubt a deep fall to what it was - it was previously valued at $5.7 billion in 2017.

However, there could be salvation in sight for the group - its filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy opens it to being taken over by a new owner for $225 million. The group expects to emerge from bankruptcy as a "financially wealthy and stronger company in two to three months."

Read More: YouTuber Influencer Admits to Crashing Plane for Views

A CNBC news report stated that if its application for Chapter 11 bankruptcy is approved, other parties could place a bid for the company, allowing them to swap secure debt for company assets rather than pay cash. Currently, the lender consortium, which includes Fortress Investment Group, Soros Fund Management, and Monroe Capital, will provide about $225 million as a credit bid for substantially all of Vice Media Group's assets and also assume significant liabilities at closing.

The group did what it could to stave off such a result. Its restructuring and job layoffs in late April 2023 sealed the fate of "Vice News Tonight," its flagship news show on cable channel Vice TV, and the jobs of more than 100 workers, per Deadline. Unfortunately, this move didn't solve or delay the inevitable, resulting in its filing for bankruptcy.

Currently, Vice's multi-platform media brands, such as (but not limited to) Vice News, Pulse Films, Virtue, Refinery239, and i-D, will continue to run despite Vice Media Group's bankruptcy filing.

Vice Media Group's History

Vice Media was first launched in 1994 as a fringe magazine called "Voice of Montreal" by Shane Smith, Gavin McInnes, and Surrosh Alvi. It eventually expanded globally through youth-focused content and a prominent social media presence that soon attracted a steady following.

Vice Media Group was once heralded as one of the companies that spearheaded the disruption of the traditional media landscape with its content in various forms, such as print, events, music, online, TV, and feature films.

Unfortunately, the majority of online ad revenues went to tech giants like Google and Meta, making competing with them difficult in the ad market. This difficulty started to create problems for Vice Media that eventually led to the issues it faced before bankruptcy.

Related Aricle: Disney Looks To Combine Streaming Services To Provide Streamlined Content
Prof. Raymond Gordon, BUV vice chancellor and president

The ceremony on May 14 welcomed representatives of the British Embassy, the Ministry of Education and Training, non-profit social organisations, and teachers from the high schools where the freshers will graduate from.

Specifically, in two days (May 13-14), almost 150 talented students received prestigious scholarships at BUV, including the UK Ambassador's Scholarship (100 per cent), the Founder's Scholarship (100 per cent), the Sir Graeme Davis Scholarship (100 per cent), the President's Scholarship (75 per cent), and the Dean's Scholarship (50 per cent). Besides these, the winners of the Talent Scholarship and the Educational Development Scholarship were also honoured at this ceremony.

They are all accomplished students who have passed a competitive application process and met the university's selection criteria, including showing excellent academic and extracurricular achievements, having clear goals and plans, gaining experience in community service activities, and demonstrating the ability to become a leader in the future.

Millions of dollars of BUV scholarships were presented

Prof. Raymond Gordon, BUV vice chancellor and president said, "BUV's mission is to develop kind graduates who care for people and the environment. They will be multiskilled, able to work in multiple sectors, and have a creative mindset."

In particular, the two Lion Heart Scholarships of 2023  which aim to encourage and help students with difficult family circumstances or those facing physical or health issues to overcome barriers, strive for excellence, and inspire those around them  have already given to Vi Thanh Nhat and Do Ngoc Anh. Each scholarship is worth VND1 billion ($43,500), supporting the entire tuition bill for an English preparatory course, a university preparatory course, and a bachelor programme, along with the living expenses to cover the time spent at BUV.

Nguyen Anh Tung, who has just received one of these BUV scholarships, told VIR that he is incredibly happy and honoured.

"I have tried my best and was lucky enough to be selected for the scholarship, which will significantly reduce the monetary pressure on my family. I believe that BUV will give me the skills to work and succeed in the future," said Tung.

More students receiving their scholarships

Le Nhat Nam, the British Ambassador's Scholarship Winner 2020, said that he is no longer the same person he was. He said he used to be very shy when he first set foot on this campus.

"Through my experiences here, I have discovered my independence, found my voice, and began my journey towards becoming a leader. BUV has something for everyone. So if you are looking for a place to grow, learn, and thrive, BUV is the place for you," said Nam.

Officially established in 2018, the BUV Scholarship and Financial Aid Fund's mission is to provide the opportunity to study UK undergraduate and graduate programmes in an international-standard educational environment in Vietnam. It trains excellent bachelors who will be respected and builds their character. Students will also develop their language abilities and interdisciplinary work skills, learn to think creatively, and build confidence and humility as they constantly grow as young adults.

At the same time, BUV is constantly improving the quality of training and its student support system. In early 2023, it became the first and only university in Vietnam and the ASEAN region, and one of only 22 universities outside the UK, to achieve QAA accreditation as an independent educational institution.

The QAA is an independent higher education quality body that is responsible for ensuring the standards of UK universities and higher education institutions around the world. BUV is also the first and only higher education institution in Vietnam to be certified with a comprehensive 5-star QS Stars standard based on criteria including training quality, facilities, and job opportunities for students.

VBF asks for digitalisation of learning (Education 4.0) To encourage the continued development of Vietnam's economy, the upskilling and education of its future labour force is essential.

BUV scholarship fund and financial support open for applications for 2022 From December 1, 2021, British University Vietnam (BUV) scholarship and financial support fund worth VND46 billion ($2 million) officially opened for applications for the academic year 2022. The deadline for application is May 25, 2022.
For around a month Nguyen Ngoc Minh, a worker for a Japanese firm producing industrial spare parts at Hanois Thang Long Industrial Park, has been working with reduced hours. The company doesnt want to apply a cutback of employees, and instead has reduced the official working time per worker from an average eight to seven hours. We are also not allowed to work three hours of overtime each day as before, Minh said.

This company employs about 2,000 workers, about 1,200 of whom have suffered from the new policy induced by a reduction in export orders from Europe and the United States.

At a recent meeting with workers, the companys leadership said that this is only a temporary solution to cope with difficulties. However, they also said a 3 per cent rise in electricity would cost the company additional tens of thousands of US dollars a month, meaning more difficulties, Minh said.

According to the General Statistics Office (GSO), Vietnams index for industrial production (IIP) in April increased 0.5 per cent compared to the same period last year, when it rose 10.7 per cent on-year.

However, poor performance of many enterprises has caused a 1.8 per cent drop in the first four months of this year. In the corresponding period last year, the rate expanded 7.8 per cent on-year.

This is due to the world economys slow recovery and the tightened monetary policy in many nations, leading to a slash in consumption demands of Vietnams key trade partners. This has resulted in a reduction in production orders and export turnover, the GSO said.

Vietnams four-month export turnover is estimated to hit $108.6 billion, down 11.8 per cent on-year. The countrys export value from all of its key markets witnessed a big drop, including in China, the US, South Korea, ASEAN, the EU, and Japan.

Meanwhile, Vietnams four-month imports from these markets also saw a shrink by well over 10 per cent in all these markets. Despite some recovery in April, industrial production in the first four months still dropped on-year. Key growth momentum in areas such as investment, export, and consumption has dipped. Exports and imports in the four months also declined, while the four-month public investment disbursement and registered foreign direct investment have also fallen on-year, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at a government meeting early this month.

In the first four months of 2023, the mining sector fell 2.8 per cent compared to the same period last, while the processing and manufacturing sector dropped 2.1 per cent on-year. The electricity production and distribution sector only grew 0.5 per cent on-year, versus a 7 per cent climb in the first four months of 2022. The reductions in these sectors have led to a big decrease in the four-month IIP. The economy grew only 3.32 per cent on-year  lower than the target of at least 6.5 per cent.

The IIP in many key sectors has narrowed, such as production of vehicles by 9.6 per cent; engined vehicles by 8.5 per cent; paper and paper-based products 7.9 per cent; clothes 7.4 per cent; furniture 6 per cent; electronics, computers, and optical products 5.1 per cent; and textiles 5 per cent.

According to the GSO, in the first four months of 2023, there were about 49,900 newly established businesses registered with around $20.2 billion and employing as many as 331,400 workers  up only 0.6 per cent in the number of enterprises but down 26.8 per cent in registered capital.

If an additional $26.28 billion registered by the nearly operational 17,200 enterprises is considered, the total newly registered capital inserted into the economy in the first four months sat at $46.48 billion, down 46 per cent on-year.

Also in this period, the number of businesses with halted operations reached nearly 50,000, up 21.8 per cent on-year. Nearly 21,000 enterprises stopped operations and waited for completing dissolution procedures  up nearly 40 per cent. Some 6,100 businesses completed such procedures  up 10.1 per cent. On average, each month 19,200 enterprises left the market.

According to the latest Business Climate Index report released over a month ago by the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam and conducted by Decision Lab with over 1,300 member companies, foreign businesses in Vietnam continue to grapple with regulatory opacity, administrative inefficiencies, and visa and work permit issues. There has been an upward trend in respondents pointing out inadequacies in anti-corruption legislation.

The top significant regulatory obstacles for the companies when doing business in Vietnam in Q1 include unclear rules and regulations at 51 per cent; administrative issues at 41 per cent; visa and work permit issues 31 per cent; customs procedures 23 per cent; and inadequacies in anti-corruption legislation 19 per cent.

To strengthen Vietnams appeal as a dynamic locale, participants reinforced the need for improvements in political stability, regulations, and tax and tariff regimes. These will go a long way in addressing the concerns of businesses and bolstering confidence in the countrys economic prospects, the report said.

Exporters anxious over EU carbon tax implementation With the European Union to begin use of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism in October, the changes will have a direct impact on four categories of industrial products exported by Vietnam to the EU.

Vietnam's exports plunge in first quarter Vietnam's exports are down almost 12 per cent in the first four months of the year, with some sectors reporting declines of between 6 and 19 per cent.
The disbursement of billions of dollars is targeted to help companies with taxes, rents, and more, photo Le Toan

Implementation and review of the countrys 2022-2023 Programme on Socioeconomic Recovery and Development (PSRD), valued at $15 billion, will be among the biggest issues to be discussed at the fifth session of the 15th National Assembly, which will open on May 22 and close on June 20.

The government has reported to the National Assembly Standing Committee (NASC) that from now until the years end, one of its most important tasks is to boost deployment of the PSRD, which remains slow due to a raft of obstructions.

The economy grew 3.32 per cent on-year in Q1, only slightly higher than the 3.21 per cent rise of Q1 of 2020, and such low growth is threatening the implementation of other goals for economic performance.

It is calculated that for the economy to hit its targeted 6.5 per cent this year, it must grow 6.7 in Q2, 7.5 per cent in Q3, and 7.9 per cent in Q4. The growth rates for the remaining two quarters must be 1 and 0.8 percentage higher than the Q3 and Q4 growth scenario of set early this year (6.5 and 7.1 per cent, respectively).

This would also mean the growth speed for Q3 and Q4 must be 2.26 and 2.38 times higher than the 3.32 per cent growth rate in Q1. It is being called a very challenging scenario in the context that key impetuses for growth are weakening.

In the coming months, the government will continue implementing an effective fiscal policy, with a focus laid on supporting enterprises and people so that they can save their input costs and boost business and production activities, said Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung at a NASC meeting over a week ago. We will also boost public investment disbursement, the PSRD, and three other national target programmes. This will create bigger momentum for economic growth.

Desired outcomes

The PSRD was adopted by the National Assembly early last year amid businesses and individuals suffering from massive woes caused by the pandemic. On a macro-view, it is expected to enable the economy to achieve a higher level of growth, at 6.5-7 per cent annually over the 2021-2025 period.

The PSRD embraces five key components: re-opening the economy pertaining to enhancing medical capacity, and pandemic prevention and control; ensuring social welfare and employment; assisting enterprises recovery, cooperatives, and business households; developing infrastructure; and increasing institutional and administrative reform as well as improving the investment and business climate. Moreover, another $435 million will be mobilised from non-state budget financial funds.

After more than one year of implementing the PSRD, the government and authorities at all levels have made great efforts to carry out assigned tasks. All 17 relevant documents have been enacted, and related policies have supported people and enterprises, said a government report on the programme sent to the NASC.

By late April, around 29 per cent of the PSRDs total value of $13.08 billion (excluding $2 billion for purchasing vaccines, medicines, and equipment) had been disbursed. However, as it stands, the PSRD will officially expire at the end of this year, the government reported.

Breaking down the disbursed sum for schemes on providing preferential loans via the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP), accumulatively as of April 26, this bank disbursed types of loans valued at $737.26 million for about 332,000 customers. This included over $36 million for purchasing more than 86,000 computers and equipment for online study; $207.9 million as loans for buying social homes; $434.8 million as loans for employment assistance; $8.04 million as loans for 2,600 non-state nurseries and primary schools; and $50.56 million as loans for more than 23,700 customers in ethnic minorities and based in mountainous areas.

By late March, VBSP had disbursed loans with preferential lending rates of 6 per cent a year worth $58.56 million for poor people.

When it comes to the policy on providing housing rental for factory workers, localities disbursed $163.37 million, or 57.2 per cent of this policys value. About 5.3 million workers have been assisted.

For the policy of offering a 2 per cent lending rate from the state budget for enterprises, cooperatives, and household businesses via commercial banks, the government reported that accumulatively as of late March, the total provided reached only $14.2 million, tantamount to merely 0.82 per cent of the policys value of nearly $1.74 billion.

Accumulatively by late March, about $2.48 billion was disbursed for exempting and decreasing land taxes; and payment of land taxes and land rental worth $4.81 billion was extended. What is more, the opportunity cost for assistance via policies on extending land taxes and land rental reached $321.74 million. At present, all of these types of policies have been terminated.

The implementation of the PSRD has closely followed the directions and policies of the Party and resolutions of the NA, contributing to the macroeconomic stability and assisting the economy to recover and develop, the government reported to the NASC.

Heavy obstructions

Minister Dung acknowledged the slew of impediments to the implementation of the PSRD. For example, the NA in early 2022 decided on a plan to use $1.74 billion from the state budget as a 2 per cent lending rate incentive for enterprises, cooperatives, and household businesses via commercial banks.

However, the deployment of this policy has been very slow. It is expected that by late this year, the disbursed sum may reach only $111.74 million, and the remaining $1.62 billion may not be disbursed, Minister Dung said.

According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the main reasons behind such a low disbursement is that three-quarters of customers in the sectors eligible for assistance and have sufficient conditions to obtain loans have no demand for them. In addition, about 87 per cent of customers in sectors that are eligible for assistance failed to meet the conditions in order to obtain loans.

Specifically, one of the key conditions to get a 2 per cent lending rate incentive is that borrowers must demonstrate their recovery ability if they want to benefit.

Having a recovery ability is a very difficult condition to prove for those wishing to benefit from the incentive. Both commercial banks and enterprises said that it would be hard to specify what the recovery ability is. This condition is a tough nut to crack, said Deputy Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam, Dao Minh Tu.

In another case, the NA last year decided on a plan to earmark $287 million from an increase in state budget revenue and a reduction of the state budget expenditures in 2021 for supporting factory workers in housing rental. However, the actual disbursement rate reached only 57.2 per cent.

The design of this plan for supporting workers failed to meet reality. The implementation, including the submission and appraisal of dossiers and then disbursement of money for beneficiaries, were all slow, said the governments report. Personnel who received and appraised the dossiers are in small number and have no expertise, with low responsibility in performance.

Also under the PSRD, VAT for applicable goods and services was reduced to 8 per cent within 2022, excluding that for goods and services in telecommunications, IT, finance and banking, insurance, stock, real estate business, metal production and mining (except coal), coke production, petroleum, chemicals, and commodities and services that are subject to special consumption tax. However, in January 2023, the VAT rate returned to a normally fixed rate of 10 per cent.

Last week, the government agreed on a similar 8 per cent VAT reduction scheme, which will be submitted to the NA for discussion and adoption.

Business rejuvenation still dependent on PSRD thrust As part of Vietnams colossal efforts to drive the economy forward, the implementation of the countrys largest-ever monetary and fiscal initiative is moving at a slow pace, meaning an impediment for businesses to quicken their recovery and for the economy to achieve desired growth.

Government strives to extend fiscal policy outlined by PSRD Amid difficulties forecast to continue undermining the business community, a fiscal policy under Vietnams hallmark socioeconomic recovery initiative is expected to be lengthened next year in a bid to fuel enterprises performance and achieve desired economic growth.

Leaders declare intention to up PSRD deployment Amid difficulties continuing to undermine the business community, the government is hurrying the deployment of the national hallmark socioeconomic recovery and development initiative in a bid to fuel enterprises performance and achieve desired economic growth.
170 Renaissance-branded hotels worldwide will come together to enhance guest experiences by showcasing the uniqueness of each location during the group's 9th anniversary of Global Day of Discovery on May 18

The annual event aims to go beyond traditional tourism conventions, providing unexpected discoveries to create a memorable stay for guests.

In Ho Chi Minh City, on the open-top buses branded Global Day of Discovery, tourists will embark on a journey to explore the city's distinct offerings from seminars on Vietnamese coffee, to Vietnamese lunches, a water puppet show and a painting session with local artist Nguyen Tan Luc at the Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon.

In the evening, guests can experience the "Saigon Paradox Rooftop Party" where the hotel will organise sand painting, traditional instrument performances, and drum performances.

In conjunction with the Global Day of Discovery events at Renaissance hotels, Marriott Bonvoy, the loyalty scheme of Marriott International, has launched the "2K per day" promotion to encourage tourists stays during the summer. It rewards guests with 2,000 bonus points per day for bookings made until June 30, 2023, with stays valid until July 19, 2023.

By participating in this promotion, Marriott Bonvoy members can earn 4,000 bonus points for a two-night stay, enabling them to unlock various added benefits such as complimentary hotel stays and dining experiences globally, including exclusive access to "Marriott Bonvoy Moments," which offer unique cultural encounters, cuisine, and lifestyle.

With a portfolio comprising 16 hotels and resorts located throughout Vietnam, Marriott affords travellers the flexibility to select their ideal holiday experience.

Tet Hamper 2023 from Renaissance Riverside Saigon Convey your well wishes with our curated Tet Hamper filled with auspicious delicacies from the Renaissance Riverside Saigon.
Under the MoU, SP has been commissioned by SABECO to install and operate the rooftop solar panels at the Cu Chi (expansion), Lam Dong, Ha Tinh, Ha Noi, Tay Do, Vinh Long, Nguyen Chi Thanh, Bac Lieu, and Quang Ngai breweries. The installation is scheduled to be completed soon, and the system is expected to go into full operation by the end of Q3 this year.

The first phase kick-started in 2020, when SABECO invested more than $4.7 million into rooftop solar power systems with a maximum output of 9MWp at the Cu Chi, Dak Lak, Phu Yen, Quy Nhon, Song Lam, Khanh Hoa, Can Tho, Soc Trang, and Ben Tre breweries.

This move will bring the total number to 17 breweries adopting solar energy in SABECOs system.

The whole system is estimated to provide almost 23 per cent of the electricity consumption at the breweries, amounting to a 25 million kilowatt-hour saving of electricity, which is equivalent to a reduction of 18,000 tonnes of emitted CO 2 annually. This will contribute to the companys target to achieve net-zero emission by 2050.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Bennett Neo, general director of SABECO, emphasised that SABECO continuously seeks to implement initiatives and solutions that support the sustainable operation of the company. Over the past few years, it has already embarked on various environmental, social, and governance initiatives through its 4C corporate social responsibility pillars  consumption, conservation, culture, and country.

To accelerate the adoption of sustainable operations in our breweries, since 2020, we have implemented the Best Brewery Awards to encourage our breweries to embed a sustainability mindset which is consistent with SABECOs vision and our commitment to the National Green Growth objectives for the 2021-2030 period, he added

"To accelerate the adoption of sustainable operations in our breweries, since 2020, we have implemented the Best Brewery Awards to encourage our breweries to embed a sustainability mindset which is consistent with SABECOs vision and our commitment to the National Green Growth objectives for the 2021-2030 period," said Bennett Neo, general director of SABECO.

Brandon Chia, managing director of Sustainable Energy Solutions for Southeast Asia and Australia at SP Group said, This partnership demonstrates our commitment to facilitating the clean energy transition of our customers by advancing the adoption of renewable energy sources for manufacturing facilities. By leveraging our comprehensive range of sustainable energy solutions, we look forward to supporting SABECO with their energy efficiency goals and co-creating a more sustainable future for Vietnam.

To maximise the solar energy generated and consumed at SABECOs breweries, both SP and SABECO will study the feasibility of incorporating energy storage systems (ESS) at selected breweries. The incorporation of ESS will allow SABECO to manage the issue of supply intermittency, as solar power can fluctuate due to weather conditions.

Apart from energy usage, SABECO has implemented various other initiatives to mitigate its environmental impact. These include driving continuous improvements in water usage, where it has reduced the amount used per litre of beer produced from 5 litres in 2018 to below 3 litres in 2022.

In addition, the company has embarked on plant-based biomass fuel usage  produced from rice husks, sawdust, cashew shells, and leaves  instead of using fossil fuels to power its boilers, applied the CIP wastewater treatment system, used sustainable packaging by down gauging its cans and light weighting its cardboard boxes and bottles, and reused beer glasses and bottles.

SABECO also promotes other sustainability initiatives which focus on the local communities where it operates. One recent drive, the Light up the Rural project, which is part of the 3-year strategic partnership between SABECO and the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, has constructed 34km of street lighting that uses solar power in 34 rural areas across the country.

This initiative aims to improve local socioeconomic infrastructure by promoting renewable energy and bringing a sustainable and safe environment to more than 210,000 beneficiary households. The project will be expanded in 2023 with more than 39km of solar street lights expected to be installed.

SABECOs national system consists of 26 breweries, 11 member trading companies, and a network of hundreds of thousands of sales points across the country. The company takes pride in its portfolio of beer brands that are beloved by the people of Vietnam, including Bia Lac Viet, Bia Saigon Chill, Bia 333, Bia Saigon Special, Bia Saigon Export, Bia Saigon Lager, and Bia Saigon Gold.

SABECO and Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union promote sustainability Under the cooperation agreements that took place at the headquarters of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union in Hanoi, SABECO and the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU) will focus on national development, cultural preservation, promotion of a civil lifestyle, and sustainable development.

SABECO steadfast in growth goals Recognising the opportunities and challenges ahead, the board of directors at Saigon Beer-Alcohol-Beverage Corporation, known as SABECO, continues to set sustainable growth goals to create tangible action for long-term development.
Large outdoor areas include an infinity pool, playground, and more

Sedona Suites is one of the very few serviced residences located in the heart of the city, with an excellent location as a premier lifestyle destination and within a walking distance to all major attractions. In terms of stays, it boasts great products either for business or leisure, with studio rooms to spacious and well-equipped three-bedroom suites, perfect for families. It would be the ideal site for get-together events as well.

Sedona Suites features huge floor-to-ceiling windows, providing a unique experience and unbeatable city views from any angle. It is especially a vantage point to admire the boats floating on the shimmering waters of the Saigon River, along with the lush green spaces extending through September 23 Park and the iconic outline of Ben Thanh Market, as well as a historic Hindu temple directly below.

Sedona Suites boasts nearly 200 state-of-the-art suites

The complex is a stones throw away from major tourist attractions, key government offices, and financial institutions. This ideal location makes Sedona Suites Ho Chi Minh City the most desired residential address in the city, with 195 state-of-the-art suites where luxury awaits.

Staying in a property with extensive in-room facilities like this has become integral to being in a home away from home. Sedona Suites also offers large outdoor areas with a childrens playground, infinity pool, barbecue area, and games room with television screens and video games. Guests are impressed by the small touches, such as staff remembering their names and preferences, the occasional in-house parties, and quarterly events.

The SKY28 Restaurant is surrounded by a spectacular view of the city. It is well known for its well-curated Western and Vietnamese dishes, not to mention a large selection of Singaporean items. It is the ideal place to organise events or business meetings too.

Sedona Suites Ho Chi Minh introduces new director of Sales & Marketing Sedona Suites welcomes Vuong Thu Nguyet (Nina to her friends and clients) as its director of Sales & Marketing as of October 10, 2022.
Phu Quoc island was expected to entice big tourist numbers over the recent break as the first holiday of the peak season for domestic tourism, but instead it recorded a drop in the number of visitors.

Phu Quoc Island

The island welcomed just over 118,000 visitors during the five-day holiday from April 30, down 40 per cent compared to the same period in 2022. The decrease in arrivals resulted in a drop in Phu Quocs total tourism revenue by around one-quarter, according to Kien Giang Tourism Department.

In 2022 as a whole, Phu Quoc was a hotspot on the Vietnamese tourism map, welcoming nearly five million visitors and bringing in more than $300 million in revenue.

Some industry commentators said Phu Quoc has become less attractive because the airfare and travel services are too expensive.

There are times when a return plane ticket to Phu Quoc is higher than the price of a package tour of Thailand. Seafood is also 2-3 times more expensive than other cities, while the quality is often not comparable, said Hang Dinh, a travel blogger with more than 30,000 followers on Facebook.

In addition to domestic tourists, international visitors to Phu Quoc have decreased as some international routes to the island from India, Taiwan, and Hong Kong are suspended. There are currently only international connections to Phu Quoc from South Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand.

Despite the surprising figures in Phu Quoc, Vietnam served about 300,000 international visitors and seven million domestic visitors during the holiday break, an increase of 40 per cent over the same period in 2022. Total revenues from tourism are estimated at $1 billion, an increase of 9 per cent over the same period last year.

A number of destinations have recorded a sudden increase in visitors from 25 to more than 30 per cent, of which Thanh Hoa led with 1,195,000 visitors, Can Tho welcomed 982,000 visitors, Ho Chi Minh City 950,000 visitors, Nghe An 780,000 visitors, and Hanoi 719,000 visitors.

Thua Thien-Hue served 99,000 visitors in the period, an increase of more than 80 per cent over the same period in 2022.

According to domestic travel agencies in Vietnam such as Saigontourist and Vietravel, marine tourism products including cruise ships, cross-Vietnam cruises, and island tours are popular with international tourists.

However, according to Nguyen Cong Hoan, deputy general director of Hanoi Redtours, the influence of foreign exchange rates and rising petrol prices has caused domestic tour prices to increase by more than half, with hotel room rates and meals also going up by about 10 per cent.

This time last year, Vietnamese airlines enthusiastically adhered to a tourism stimulus programme by reducing airfares. This year, ticket prices have tripled in places.

With an average cost of $350-450, tourists will absolutely choose to go to Thailand, Malaysia, or elsewhere instead of signing up for a domestic tour, Hoan said.

Before the start of the holiday season, at Hanoi Redtours, tours to Thailand, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, and Cambodia were full, while the number of people booking tours to top domestic destinations such as Nha Trang, Mui Ne, and Phu Quoc decreased or showed no movement.

A total of 80 per cent of our visitors book overseas tours and the remaining 20 per cent book domestic tours. Many people go abroad not only for sightseeing but also to spend a lot on shopping, which means that the domestic tourism industry is losing out, Hoan said.

Elsewhere, TST Tourist served about 2,000 tourists during the holiday season, 61 per cent of which chose foreign tours. Vietfoot Travel and Vietravel also saw more than half of visitors register for a tour abroad.

In early May, the Vietnamese government submitted to the National Assembly a proposal to include a number of new policies on the management of entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam into a joint resolution of the National Assembly in Hanoi this month.

Reforms in visa policy may go some way to helping the country meet the target of welcoming eight million international visitors in 2023 as a whole. According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, Vietnam welcomed nearly 3.7 million international visitors in the first four months of 2023.

Escaping to the tropical Phu Quoc Island Honoured to be Asias Leading Luxury Family Resort 2022 by the prestigious World Travel Awards, InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort is one of the signature landmarks on the emerald Phu Quoc Island.

Phu Quoc ramps up efforts against IUU fishing Phu Quoc island city, along with other coastal localities in the southern province of Kien Giang, has been concertedly rolling out solutions and exerting great efforts to fight illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Vinexpo Asia this year will be held from May 23 to 25 in Singapore

Vinexpo Asia will take place every odd-numbered year going in Singapore and every even year in Hong Kong, thereby guaranteeing a presence in a constantly changing marketplace.

This year's event will run from May 23 to 25 in Singapore

The strategy illustrates Vinexposiums determination to bolster its leadership position in the wine and spirits industry in Asia by providing a quality event that meets the expectations of industry professionals.

Boasting 25 years of presence in the region, Vinexpo Asia in Singapore will be the first event of its kind, but is already fully subscribed.

All the exhibitor areas were sold ahead of schedule. A total of 1,000 producers from 35 countries are readying to meet 8,000 trade visitors from across Asia, spearheaded by Singapore, China, South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Japan.

1,000 producers from 35 countries will be meeting 8,000 trade visitors from across Asia, spearheaded by Singapore, China, South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan and Japan

Vinexpo is a very well-organised, high-level event. As the managers of an e-commerce platform in China, we have a duty to attend Vinexpo Asia in Singapore because of all the people we can meet there, said Song Jin, General Manager of BtoB e-commerce platform WAJIU China, one of the largest importers in China.

Vinexpo Asia will also be hosting 40 sessions as part of the Vinexpo Academy, one of the most insightful and prestigious programmes in the world.

The masterclasses, major tastings and conferences will bring together prominent international experts.

The 70 leading names that will have the honour of presenting these events include Raimonds Tomsons (2023 Best Sommelier of the World), Elaine Chukan Brown (American wine writer), Evan Goldstein (Master Sommelier), and Mason Ng (ASI 2022 Best Sommelier of Asia and Oceania).

Vinexpo Asia will also be hosting 40 sessions as part of the Vinexpo Academy

In a few weeks time, Vinexpo Asia will resume its place in Asia. All the indicators are positive and expectations are high, said Vinexposium CEO Rodolphe Lameyse. Vinexpo Asia will continue to be held in Singapore in odd-numbered years with its sights set firmly on embracing Asian markets across-the-board. In even years, it will return to Hong Kong, which is still the gateway to the Chinese market.

Making Vinexpo Asia an annual event, rotating between these two pivotal cities for the wine and spirits trade, is part of a successful, dynamic international strategy executed by the Vinexposium group around the world. We are delighted to be returning for the long-term with this eagerly awaited event, Lameyse.

Vinexposium offers a cohesive focal point for every strand of the wine and spirits industry by designing a variety of formats all-year round and across the globe. By bringing together exhibitors and visitors at 10 events a year, and its community every day of the year at vinexposium365.com, Vinexposium is the industrys ally, geared to developing its sales reach.

Appropriate, efficient, and fair policy a must for beverage sector With more than 30 years of representing businesses in the industry, the Vietnam Beer-Alcohol-Beverage Association deeply understands the role, potential, and benefits of stakeholders, and has been proactive to engage all stakeholders. Its mission is to protect the legitimate interests of members, to promote the industrys development, and to share social responsibility.

F&B groups snapping up new stores in bid for victory Consumer belt-tightening is not having much impact on the revenues of food and beverage businesses in Vietnam, with many maintaining stable growth rates.
This view was shared by many participants at a conference discussing the importance of investment partnerships to the Vietnamese economy, organised by VIR on May 15.

In the energy sector, rooftop solar power has become one of the areas attracting quite a lot of attention from investors around the world. As the technology has improved and developed, the production and installation costs of rooftop solar power systems have decreased significantly.

Policies in Vietnam related to rooftop solar power have been crafted to promote opportunities for domestic and foreign-backed ventures. According to a recent report by the General Statistics Office of Vietnam, the energy produced from rooftop solar power in Vietnam reached 9.5 megawatts peak in 2020, twice the amount seen in 2019 and showing the ongoing potential of this sector.

A report published by the International Renewable Energy Agency suggests Vietnam has the potential to become one of the largest rooftop solar power markets in the Southeast Asia by 2025.

Bui Trung Kien, vice chairman of CME Solar Investment, shared a story about a garments and textiles company in the northern province of Nam Dinh and a delegation of US firms looking for partners to export goods to the US market. One of their non-negotiable requirements was that their partners had to use a clean energy source. As this company is a client of CME, it was selected ahead of local rivals as they had already completed the installation of a rooftop solar power system.

Speaking about the real estate sector, Trang Le, head of Research and Consulting at JLL Vietnam, noted that previously, FDI had focussed primarily on residential real estate in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. However, at present, overseas capital is spreading more into industrial real estate and high-end, serviced luxury condos.

Prof. Nguyen Mai, chairman of the Vietnam Association of Foreign-Invested Enterprises said that it is urgent to improve the investment environment by simplifying a series of unnecessary administrative procedures and removing a range of sublicenses that take a long time to disburse for one deal, all of which cause investors to hesitate to inject money into the country.

Improving the environment is vital as neighbouring countries are offering attractive incentives, such as available clean land, tax incentives, and licence permits, to entice groups in The Fortune Global 500, Mai said.

He added that, in Indonesia, the president will directly approve and grant the licences for high-tech projects with investment capital from $75 million upwards.

VIR to hold major foreign investment conference on May 15 Vietnam Investment Review will hold a conference on May 15 to gather government officials, senior economists, international organisations, and the business community to discuss foreign investment inflows in Vietnam, and how to foster more in the new era.

VIR conference attracts hundreds of participants Hundreds of government officials, senior economists, international organisations, and the business community participated in a major foreign investment conference hosted by VIR to discuss the contributions of foreign-invested enterprises to the country's development.

Investment companies share Vietnamese success stories In the first panel discussion at today's VIR conference, with the theme 'Together We Thrive', companies and organisations shared their success stories and the lessons they have learned when investing in Vietnam.
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.
Hana Bank / Yonhap



Prosecutors raided the residence of a former chief of a major banking firm on Tuesday, as part of a probe into bribery allegations involving a former lawmaker in connection with a high-profile land development corruption scandal.



The Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office said its officials searched the home of Kim Jung-tai, former chairman of Hana Financial Group, to confiscate evidence.



Kim is suspected of doing a former ruling party lawmaker, Kwak Sang-do, a favor and pulling the strings to help a little-known asset management firm form a consortium with KEB-Hana Bank to win a big apartment complex development project in Daejang-dong district in Seongnam, just south of Seoul.



Kim headed Hana Financial Group, which has KEB-Hana Bank under its wing, in 2012 and 2015, and 2018-2022.



Prosecutors are investigating the Daejang-dong development case for the appeals trial, after Kwak was acquitted in February of bribery charges that he took 5 billion won (US$3.7 million) from Hwacheon Daeyu Asset Management under the pretext of severance pay and incentives for his son, who worked at the firm.



Prosecutors put the actual amount of bribery at 2.5 billion won after deducting taxes and the son's actual severance pay.



In its first ruling since the massive scandal surfaced, the Seoul Central District Court delivered a not-guilty verdict for Kwak, stating that 5 billion won cannot be viewed as a bribe. (Yonhap)


PHILADELPHIA  Cassandra Nunez and her grandmother cast their first ballots in a U.S. presidential election in 2016. She was a first-year college student; her grandmother, a newly minted citizen. They both hoped to elect the first woman president over a man who bragged about grabbing and kissing women at will.

But Donald Trump became president, and it would be nearly seven years before a Trump accuser could press her claims at trial. This week, jurors in a New York civil case said they believed that Trump sexually assaulted writer E. Jean Carroll in a dressing room in the 1990s  making him the first U.S. president found liable by a jury in a sexual battery case. The panel awarded her $5 million in damages.

Its a victorious moment, but why did the people of the United States let this happen? said Nunez, now 25, of Los Angeles, noting the number of sexual misconduct accusations against Trump during the campaign and since his election. Its kind of late.

The verdict  a rare moment of accountability for a former president and powerful men like him  comes as women across the U.S. ponder the cultural landscape amid sweeping threats to their hard-won progress, including Hillary Clintons loss to Trump in 2016, the Supreme Courts repeal of abortion rights last year and the uneven success of the #MeToo movement.

Juliet Williams, a professor of gender studies at UCLA, called it an ambiguous time for women.

Its very hard to feel at this moment that the accounting, the reckoning that we need has yet happened, she said. I feel this is a small step in the right direction.

Some may find yet another day contemplating the behavior of Donald Trump just feels like a colossal waste of attention, Williams said. But she believes its important to address the everyday abuses of power that have real consequences for victims.

With a string of investigations swirling around Trump, the sex-abuse case  a civil verdict, with no criminal prosecution possible  hit only so hard across a news-weary America. Nunez followed the trial and discussed it with a few colleagues at her public relations job. For others, the news barely hit their radar, if they were aware of the decision at all, even as Trump campaigns for the presidency again.

Trumps long list of scandals makes any single moment seem less surprising, said Kelly Dittmar, a scholar with the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. What might certainly derail other candidates or elected officials meets an eye roll among many Trump detractors  and only further mobilizes Trump supporters around the idea that this is a witch hunt against him.

Carroll this week savored the outcome of the lawsuit she filed the day New York, like some other states, opened a one-year window for adults to file suit over old sexual assault claims. Advocates say it can take years for victims like the 79-year-old advice columnist to move past their sense of shame and go public. But its often too late, as it was for her, to pursue criminal charges.

Trump dismissed the accusation as a way to boost sales of Carrolls 2019 book, What Do We Need Men For?

But Carroll, in the wake of the verdict, said the case was never about money. She said she only hoped to clear her name, one the jury  in awarding nearly $3 million for defamation  agreed Trump had sullied.

The day after his inauguration in January 2017, millions of people around the world took part in a Womens March to protest his rise to power. Many sported bright pink hats that were the brainchild of the Pussyhat Project  a cat-eared design meant as a wry clapback to Trumps infamous comments on womens genitals.

The Womens March demonstrated that we are watching, Williams said. "But in terms of the scope of sexualized violence, a $5 million fine to somebody who commands immense resources and will certainly not show that this does any material harm to him, theres a grotesque imbalance with this outcome.

Los Angeles screenwriter Krista Suh, who helped launch the Pussyhat Project, is not sure Tuesdays verdict strikes a death knell for Trumps political career.

Hes very good at skirting the truth, and Im just not sure this verdict pins him down, but it definitely helps, the 35-year-old said.

Despite the jurys view that Trump is a sexual offender, millions of women would likely still vote for him given the chance in 2024, to maintain the countrys social, economic or racial order, Williams said. More than half of white women voted for Trump in 2020.

For Nunez, Trumps victory over Hillary Clinton in 2016 was a double whammy given his behavior. His presidency, and later the #MeToo movement, spanned her time in college at Loyola Marymount University. She sees progress in small victories, like when her workplace required sexual misconduct training.

These beginnings give me hope that one day when I have my own children, she said, leaders will be held accountable for all their actions, and all types of violence against women will not be tolerated.

Milestones in women's history from the year you were born Milestones in women's history from the year you were born 1919: National Women's Party sparks 'Watchfires of Freedom' 1920: The 19th Amendment becomes law 1921: Edith Wharton wins the Pulitzer Prize 1922: First woman serves in the Senate 1923: Equal Rights Amendment is first proposed 1924: First woman diplomat gets to work 1925: Nellie Tayloe Ross becomes the first woman governor in the U.S. 1926: Gertrude Ederle swims the English Channel 1927: Women petition to become 'persons' in Canada 1928: Britain's Equal Franchise Act becomes law 1929: Nigeria's Women's War wins rights 1930: Frances Marion writes Oscar-winning 'The Big House' 1931: Jackie Mitchell strikes out two of baseball's best 1932: Amelia Earhart's first solo flight across the Atlantic 1933: First female Cabinet member is appointed 1934: First woman serves on board of directors of a major corporation 1935: National Council of Negro Women is founded 1936: Wallis Simpson is Time's first female Person of the Year 1937: First woman climbs the Adirondack High Peaks 1938: First woman wins the Nobel Prize in Literature 1939: Kitty O'Brien Joyner is NASA's first woman engineer 1940: First African American woman wins an Oscar 1942: First woman is awarded Purple Heart medal 1944: French women win the right to vote 1945: Ireland's laundry workers go on strike 1947: First woman wins a Nobel Prize in medicine 1948: UN Declaration of Human Rights debuts 1949: 'The Second Sex' is published 1950: First girl plays Little League baseball 1951: Rosalind Franklin makes crucial DNA discoveries 1952: Grace Hopper revolutionizes computers 1953: First woman breaks the sound barrier 1954: UN Convention on the Political Rights of Women goes into force 1955: Rosa Parks sparks Montgomery Bus Boycott 1956: Women march on Pretoria 1957: First television show built around a female protagonist airs 1958: First woman wins multiple Grammys 1962: Katherine Johnson helps send a man to space 1963: Betty Friedan publishes 'The Feminine Mystique' 1964: First woman of color elected to Congress 1966: National Organization for Women is founded 1967: First woman runs the Boston Marathon 1968: Miss America ignites 'bra burning' protests 1969: Nation's first 'no fault' divorce law passes 1970: First woman plays American football 1971: Reed v. Reed is decided 1972: Title IX goes into effect 1973: Roe v. Wade is decided 1974: Women earn the right to open their own credit cards 1975: Icelandic women go on strike 1976: First class of women enters West Point 1977: First woman wins an EGOT 1978: Pregnancy Discrimination Act passes 1979: UN adopts the Women's Bill of Rights 1980: First democratically elected female president takes office 1981: First woman is appointed to the Supreme Court 1982: First African American principal ballerina leads a U.S. company 1985: Guerilla Girls forms 1986: Oprah becomes first woman to own and produce her own talk show 1987: First woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 1988: Switzerland establishes Federal Office of Gender Equality 1990: First female president of the Americas is elected 1991: Anita Hill testifies before the Senate 1992: Junko Tabei finishes climbing the Seven Summits 1994: Violence Against Women Act passes 1995: Fourth World Conference on Women commences 1998: Senegalese mothers end female circumcision in their villages 1999: Google's first female engineer gets to work 2000: Million Mom March commences 2004: March for Women's Lives takes place 2005: Kuwait's Blue Revolution secures women's suffrage 2006: Iran's One Million Signatures campaign ends polygamous marriage 2007: First woman Speaker of the House takes the gavel 2008: Rwanda becomes first country with majority-female legislature 2009: Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act is signed into law 2010: First woman wins Oscar for Best Director 2013: Pentagon announces end to ban on women in combat 2015: Emma Sulkowicz carries her mattress across campus 2016: Hillary Clinton becomes first female presidential candidate for a major party 2018: Record-breaking number of women are elected to Congress 2020: First woman elected US vice president 2021: Most gender-balanced Olympics in history
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WATERLOO  A former Waterloo teen is the latest victim of gun violence in Fort Dodge.

Police said Adrian LePrie Grover was shot in the chest with a handgun around 2:45 a.m. Saturday in a neighborhood on 10th Avenue Southwest.

He was 18 years old.

Grover had lived in Waterloo, according to friends. He later moved to Fort Dodge, where his father and other relatives reside.

One person has been arrested in connection with Grovers death. Police arrested Quanterious Leadeal Altman, 18, of Fort Dodge, on a charge of first-degree murder. He was also arrested for first-degree harassment for allegedly pointing a gun at Taelore Presswood and threatening her during the incident.

Court records show Altman has a prior conviction for allegedly shooting a rifle into a group of people in June 2022 in a Fort Dodge parking lot, injuring one person. He is awaiting trial for a November 2022 traffic stop where police found a handgun following a report of gunfire at Fort Dodge apartment complex.

This is the second tragedy for Grovers family in recent years. His brother, Edward Jayce Brown, of Fort Dodge, passed away in October 2022. He was 31.

The US surpasses 160 mass shootings in 2023. Here's every event mapped Mass shootings take place in nearly every type of public and private space Mass shootings have happened in gun-friendly statesand some stricter ones
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CEDAR FALLS  A contingent of familiar advocates approached the City Council on Monday and garnered enough support to win approval of a highly anticipated housing needs assessment.

The Cedar Falls Economic Development Corporation-sponsored report passed 4-3 after more than an hour of discussion. Everyone acknowledged there are problems with housing inventory and the ability to build what is needed in the city. The disagreement came over committing to the 125-page reports conclusions and recommendations.

Councilmembers Daryl Kruse, Susan deBuhr and Dave Sires dissented.

Councilmember Simon Harding was a leading supporter of the study and its recommendations. He noted his mother is retired, on fixed income, and needed a house priced at $140,000. She couldnt find one in Cedar Falls and moved to Waterloo.

My point is that we need this, he said. There is not affordable housing here.

Recommendations range from establishing a landlord risk mitigation fund to requiring a certain percentage of any developers project be designated for low- to middle-income residents, to name a couple.

One hesitation I have is whenever we allow a large document it really gets the ball rolling, and sometimes its hard to put the brakes on some of the items we arent interested in, deBuhr said.

Several people contended nothing is guaranteed to happen as a result of the reports approval. Council action is still necessary.

But Kruse expressed skepticism about whether that would be the case, while Sires pressed for a definition of affordable housing. He expressed dissatisfaction that a push for manufactured housing was not considered among the possibilities for change.

When I hear people say we got to adopt this, that sounds like I have to accept all of these strategies here, said Kruse.

Mayor Rob Green was among those urging councilmembers to oppose a motion to table the issue.

People leave the city for development not because of the votes but because of the tone. I would tell you that, already, council has damaged our developmental future with this discussion, he said.

Most larger Iowa communities  including Waterloo  have completed similar assessments in recent years. Cedar Falls last made such an assessment in 1998.

The analysis found the average price of a single family home built between 2021 and 2022 was $476,800 in Cedar Falls. Median sale price had been $225,000 from 2019 into fall 2022. Thats significantly higher than the range of $170,000 to $200,000 in Denver, Hudson, and Jesup, according to the report.

The assessment sought ways to respond to rising home prices  up 25% the previous five years  and declining inventory of homes for sale  down 66% the previous five years.

Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Jim Brown came armed with testimony from stakeholders voicing support, stating housing is the foundation of economic development, needed to attract more people to live and work in Cedar Falls.

Please dont let us fall any further behind with our housing needs, he said.

Prominent developer Mark Kittrell, a member of the corporations board, noted growth is supported by housing. He was among those pushing for more public and private discussion on solutions.

I think its important to remember if you dont want to raise taxes on people, weve got to see the growth in the tax base, he said. Because its the growth in the tax base that will create additional revenue and will continue to allow us to have the services and the kind of community that we really all love and want to see continued.

Grow Cedar Valley CEO and President Cary Darrah said she supports the needs assessment and wasnt going to contribute any comments at the meeting. However, she was among those in the audience to add her two cents as the discussion approached the hour mark.

I will tell you the most damaging thing (for) developers and anyone that wants to grow a business in this community is uncertainty  and thats exactly what not passing this is going to provide them, she said.

The assessments adoption serves as supplementary material for two developers applications to the Iowa Workforce Housing Tax Credit Program. Both were endorsed in separate 5-2 votes by the council, which provided necessary matching funds from the city. Sires and deBuhr dissented on those votes.

Were leaving money on the table with the state that were sending down there and were not bringing back, said Councilmember Gil Schultz. That should be enough of a reason to adopt this.

One applicant is BJW Holdings, led by Brian Wingert, a key participant in the assessment. He wants to construct 12 small cottages at 215 W. Ninth St., the former site of a Mennonite church he purchased and demolished.

The other applicant is CV Commercial, led by Brent Dalhstrom. He seeks to construct a five-story, multi-use building with 32 market-rate residential units at 2119 College St. and 1003 W. 22nd St. on College Hill, a controversial plan approved by the council in 2019.

Sires was against providing the match.

I want to see public funds stay with the public taxpayer and thats one thing I take very seriously is our tax dollars, he said.

The housing needs assessment took a year to craft, a product of Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments Executive Director Brian Schoon and Housing Planner Rose Phillips, who asked the council to look at all of the recommendations.

This isnt the be-all, end-all, said Schoon. This is not the to-do list.

The city had planned to sponsor the housing study before the council pulled it from the current years budget to slightly reduce a property tax hike a year ago. It had been recommended by the Racial Equity Task Force to address a lack of affordable housing.

Photos: 2023 Cedar Valley Top Nurses recipients at award ceremony COURIER CELEBRATES CEDAR VALLEY'S TOP NURSES Nurses 2 Nurses 3 Nurses 4 Nurses 5 Nurses 6 Nurses 7 Nurses 8 Nurses 9 Nurses 10 Nurses 11
WATERLOO  Two months after the introduction of an ordinance and following multiple hours of public comments, the city has banned the practice of conversion therapy.

Conversion therapy is the practice of attempting to change someone who doesnt identify as heterosexual to become heterosexual.

The ordinance was passed and the rules were suspended 6-1 on Monday by the City Council, with Councilmember Dave Boesen voting against it, making Waterloo the third governmental entity in Iowa to ban the practice. The city of Davenport and Linn County are the other two.

The ordinance, written by Ward 2 Councilmember Jonathan Grieder, states that residents could make a complaint to the city attorney or the human rights commission that a licensed medical professional is practicing conversion therapy.

The issue would then be looked into with a letter sent out if the process goes forward. That would allow the city to report a potential ethical violation to medical licensing bodies.

(The ordinance) says in Waterloo if you are in the LGBTQ+ community, you cannot be subjected to what amounts to a harmful practice trying to convince you to be someone you are not, Grieder said.

He said numbers from Iowa Safe Schools, which helped work with Grieder, state there have been six complaints of conversion therapy practice in the area during the past year. He did not specify whether those complaints were about counseling by medical professionals or pastors, but the ordinance passed does not stop unlicensed clergy from providing counseling.

Of the 33 community members who spoke at the public comment portion of the meeting, many noted they were concerned the council has no authority to pass such an ordinance. Boesen said this is why he voted against it.

My vote is not based on one sides ideology, its based on the fact that this ordinance (may not be) legal, Boesen said. I believe it will be challenged in court and its not in the City Councils purview to enact this ordinance.

Others believed the ordinance was redundant, stating that there are currently standards in place to stop the use of conversion therapy since many major medical associations have denounced the practice.

Theres no need for the city to be involved in this at all, resident Al Manning said. I see no reason for this ordinance to go through yet you seem to be insistent on pushing it. He said the ordinance has just created a divisive atmosphere.

Grieder, along with other councilmembers who voiced their opinion before the vote, said multiple avenues of reporting arent necessarily a bad thing.

If folks dont want to confront their abuser (through the Department of Human Services) they can contact the city attorney or human rights commission, Grieder said. We are simply providing guidance for folks who are being abused who need extra help because theyre being abused.

However, a handful of residents believe the council does have a place in the conversation of banning the practice. They said it would protect the citys children.

The youth in our community need to know that if they are forced into conversion therapy there is an option available for their own protection, Mike Knapp said.

One woman, Jill Miller, said both of her children are moving out of Iowa due to what is happening to villainize the LGBTQ+ community. She said her children need to know that cities and counties are protecting them.

One resident, Maura, who did not provide a last name and identifies as a queer woman, said that she doesnt feel safe in the Cedar Valley, Iowa, or the U.S.

She mentioned Cedar Falls Mayor Rob Green, who said he would not sign an LGBTQ+ Pride Month proclamation for June due to his Christian faith. After a heated council meeting there earlier this month, he signed the proclamation.

She also said she did not feel safe in Waterloo because the council did not pass the conversion therapy ban the first time it appeared on the agenda in March.

State Sen. Sandy Salmon, R-Janesville, came up to the podium as well after a few residents mentioned the Legislature passing bills that focused on the LGBTQ+ population, such as a law that bans gender-affirming medical care for transgender children.

Salmon said that she knows that some of the legislation passed has been deemed as anti-LGBTQ.

I dont believe that to be the case, she said. The council chambers erupted in laughter.

Salmon said she attended the meeting because, although she doesnt represent Waterloo or Black Hawk County, many of her constituents go to Waterloo for medical services. She believes the ordinance would limit their choices of therapy.

Families ought to be able to choose counseling that best fits the goal they have for their minor child, Salmon said, suggesting mental health providers shouldnt be denied an ability to counsel based on their faith. It is wrong based on principles of freedom of religion, freedom of speech, parents rights, professional code of ethics for practitioners and equal protection of law.

After Salmon spoke, Mayor Quentin Hart said one of the challenges people are having is that they dont have an opportunity to properly communicate with legislators at the state level.

This story has been updated to correct Al Mannings name.

Photos: University of Northern Iowa Friday Commencement CONGRATULATIONS, GRADUATES! UNI Graduation 2 UNI Graduation 3 UNI Graduation 4 UNI Graduation 5 UNI Graduation 6 UNI Graduation 7 UNI Graduation 8 UNI Graduation 9 UNI Graduation 10 UNI Graduation 11 UNI Graduation 12 UNI Graduation 13 UNI Graduation 14 UNI Graduation 15
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)  The families of two teenagers shot to death in a Des Moines alternative high school have filed a lawsuit alleging the program and its founder were negligent in not keeping the premises safe.

The families of Rashad Carr, 16, and Gionni Dameron, 18, filed the lawsuit Monday against the program Starts Right Here and its founder Will Keeps.

Both teens were killed Jan. 23 in a shooting in the school, an educational program designed to keep at-risk youth out of trouble. Keeps, an activist and rapper whose given name is Will Holmes, also was shot and seriously injured but survived.

Student Preston Walls, 18, has been accused of the shooting, and police allege Bravon Tukes, 19, drove a getaway car. Both Walls and Tukes faces charges including two counts of first-degree murder.

Prosecutors have said in court filings that the shootings revolved around a dispute between rival gangs.

In the lawsuit, the families of Carr and Dameron argue that Keeps and the school knew of potential dangers but didn't take needed steps to protect the two teens. At the time, Starts Right Here did not have security guards, but after the shootings the program reopened with guards and metal detectors.

The program has a contract with Des Moines schools to work with students who have struggled in their traditional high schools. The school is located at an office park on the edge of downtown Des Moines.

In a text message sent to Des Moines media outlets, Keeps said he was surprised and deeply hurt that the families would sue him.

I am crushed that after being thanked for helping to save and change the lives of their sons that I am now their target," Keeps said. "My focus is on our students  being shot did not distract me and neither will this lawsuit.

A trial for Walls is scheduled for Aug. 28, and Tukes' trial is scheduled for Oct. 2.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy came up with a set of measures meant to boost trade with the country's No. 1 trading partner, as Korea has experienced a fall in exports to China in recent months amid a global economic slowdown, in this July 13, 2021 file photo. AP-Yonhap



Korea will strengthen cooperation with China and extend marketing and financial support for domestic companies to prop up exports to the neighboring country, the industry ministry said Tuesday.



The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy came up with a set of measures meant to boost trade with the country's No. 1 trading partner, as Korea has experienced a fall in exports to China in recent months amid a global economic slowdown.



Under the plan, the Seoul government will actively seek to communicate with the central Chinese government, as well as smaller municipal bodies, to create more business opportunities.



More trade financing and various incentives will be available for Korean exporters seeking to trade with China.



The government will set up additional support centers and designate trade officials to be in charge of helping corporate activities in China.



It also plans to give extra help for reshoring companies from China with their facility relocation and business restructuring, the ministry said.



Three key areas, in which Korea is aiming to expand exports with China, are new industries, such as secondary batteries, as well as consumer goods and the fields related to the digital and green transition, it added.



In April, Korea's exports to China fell 26.5 percent on-year to $9.52 billion, extending their losing streak to the 11th consecutive month.



It has also suffered losses in trade with China since October last year, and the figure for April came to $2.27 billion, according to government data.



In an effort to promote the overall exports, the government on Tuesday came up with a list of 30 "promising" export items, including electric vehicles, high-value memory chips, games and cosmetics, to provide companies in the sectors with tailored support.



It also vowed to strengthen trade financing and push for various projects to help domestic companies actively make inroads into the global solar, wind power and other renewable energies market. The country set a goal of exporting 5 trillion won ($3.74 billion) in exports by 2030.



"We are still facing difficult export conditions amid an economic slowdown. The government will strive further to prop up exports," Industry Minister Lee Chang-yang said during a meeting with officials from ministries concerned.



Exports fell for the seventh consecutive month in April, with outbound shipments dropping 14.2 percent on-year to $49.6 billion, as exports of semiconductors, the country's key export item, sank 41 percent on-year on falling demand and a drop in chip prices, the ministry said. (Yonhap)


The Courier Des Moines Bureau surveyed Northeast Iowa legislators to get their views on the highs and lows of the 2023 legislative session that ended last month.

Below are responses from members of the Iowa House.

Jerome Amos Jr.

Jerome Amos Jr. is a Democrat who resides in Waterloo and represents House District 62. He is a college instructor and in his first term in the Iowa House.

Key votes

Education savings accounts: No

Property tax reductions: Yes

Gender affirming health care ban for minors: No

Restrictions on LGBTQ topics, school library books: No

Loosening child labor laws: No

Bills sponsored

House File 217: Eliminates the ability of an applicant for retail alcohol licenses to appeal a local authoritys denial, instead allowing the applicant to challenge the denial in court (Did not pass).

Senate File 219: Strikes requirement that temporary unemployment be limited to four weeks (did not pass).

House File 690: Extends postpartum Medicaid coverage from 60 days to 12 months (did not pass).

Successes of the session:

We had a lot of bills go through, and 90% of those  I say 90%, thats just a guess  were bipartisan. We passed them from a standpoint of what was good for the people of Iowa.

Disappointments from the session:

There were a lot of issues that were brought forward that in my mind should not have been brought forward within the Legislature. What Im talking about are the LGBTQ+ issues and those types of things where were going after the kids in school. And Ive told some of my legislators on the other side, and I didnt think that those were the things that we should have been addressing. We have far too many other issues. Mental health issues, infrastructure issues, and just different things that we could have, and should have been addressing as opposed to going after people.

Timi Brown-Powers

Timi Brown-Powers is a Democrat who resides in Waterloo and represents House District 61. She is a therapist and in her fourth term in the Iowa House. Brown-Powers is the ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee.

Key votes

Education savings accounts: No

Property tax reductions: Yes

Gender affirming health care ban for minors: No

Restrictions on LGBTQ topics, school library books: No

Loosening child labor laws: No

Bills sponsored

House File 120: Requires law enforcement to provide risk assessments around domestic abuse (Did not pass).

House File 122: Requires the state labor commissioner to create standards for mitigating infectious diseases, including COVID-19 (did not pass).

House File 189: Increases dental reimbursement rates under Medicaid (did not pass).

Successes of the session:

"One of the successes was that we passed the bill for the suicide hotline number to be on the back of all student IDs. This year I was able to get a Republican partner to run the bill. And the Waterloo student city council kids were the ones that lobbied for that last year and this year, and got such good bipartisan support for their bill, and then it passed and is actually being signed by the governor this week. So that probably is a hometown success. Just because I've been working with the Waterloo student city council group for about three years, and this was something that they really were passionate about for students. It's a small bill, but I think it will save lives in the long run and so that makes it a huge bill for Iowans."

Disappointments from the session:

"Im the ranking member of Appropriations, and I was disappointed that I think we really got disrailed at the end of session because Speaker Grassley and Senate leaders were not able to come to a working agreement. And so as we looked at the overall budget, we knew that this was a year we could have been robust. This is a year where we have a lot of money that was put back. We had the surplus available. We had good money coming into the state of Iowa. We had some leftover ARPA dollars. We had some money from the COVID interest in the bank. And so this would have been a great year to really reach out and do some really robust things for Iowans across the board in all areas. But just as the leaders and their inability to work together and get along, those fell apart again, and that's too bad."

Pat Grassley

Pat Grassley is a Republican who resides in New Hartford and represents House District 57. He is a farmer and in his ninth term in the Iowa House. Grassley is the speaker of the House and chair of the Education Reform Committee.

Key votes

Education savings accounts: Yes

Property tax reductions: Yes

Gender affirming health care ban for minors: Yes

Restrictions on LGBTQ topics, school library books: Yes

Loosening child labor laws: Yes

Bills sponsored

House File 1: Property tax limitations (Signed into law with amendments as HF718).

Senate File 103: Requires landowner consent to enter into easement negotiations with hazardous liquid pipeline companies (did not pass).

House File 3: Creates new regulations and eligibility tests for public assistance (Passed with amendments as SF494).

Successes of the session:

Iowans have come to know Iowa House Republicans as a caucus that will deliver on our promises to Iowans. Representing all 99 of Iowas 99 counties, House Republicans are in a better position than ever to listen to Iowans and deliver on their priorities. This session we made property tax reform House File 1. It was a top concern for Iowans so it was a top priority for us. We were able to deliver about $100 million in property tax relief, creating new exemptions for Iowa seniors and veterans and providing some certainty for all property taxpayers. It also laid the groundwork for us to deliver more property tax relief in the near future.

Disappointments from the session:

At the start of session, House Republicans released House Files 1-13, outlining our priorities for the session. We were able to deliver on 9 of those priorities. One that did not make it to the Governors desk would have helped address the teacher shortage in Iowa. House File 255 created additional pathways to license teachers in Iowa. We also passed a bill to allow schools to compensate student teachers, but that bill also died in the Senate. We will continue to make addressing our teacher shortage a priority when we return next session.

Chad Ingels

Chad Ingels is a Republican who resides in Randalia and represents House District 68. He is a farmer and in his second term in the Iowa House. Ingels is the chair of the House Veterans Affairs Committee.

Key votes

Education savings accounts: No

Property tax reductions: Yes

Gender affirming health care ban for minors: No

Restrictions on LGBTQ topics, school library books: No

Loosening child labor laws: Yes

Bills sponsored

House File 30: Expands eligibility for the butchery innovation fund (Passed as HF185).

House File 80: Changes licensing rules for farmers market vendors (passed with amendment as HF661).

House File 297: Increases funding to school districts for the statewide preschool program (did not pass).

Successes of the session:

While smaller in scope, I think its great that the Legislature continued funding for the Butchery Innovation grant program. This program has been very well received by and supportive of meat lockers since it was started in 2021. Also along that same line, the Legislature created and funded the new Dairy Innovation Fund to provide grants for dairy processing and technology. This is something I sponsored, along with Rep. Shannon Latham last year. A big success was also the passage of a property tax relief bill during the last week of the session. The most important part of this bill was that the Legislature actually did something instead of punting it to next session when the two chambers had different proposals.

Disappointments from the session:

A couple of the larger disappointments might the Legislatures inability to provide more funding for nursing homes. While we did increase funding, it was $10 million less than what the House thought was the right amount. Nursing homes are undergoing severe financial stress, and I thought we should have done more to support them. On a more personal note, I am disappointed that we werent able to pass a bill I sponsored to provide scholarship funds for students with intellectual and learning disabilities to attend college programs like University of Iowa REACH program and the Northwestern NEXT program.

Craig Johnson

Craig Johnson is a Republican who resides in Independence and represents House District 67. He works in business development and is in his fourth term in the Iowa House. Johnson is the vice chair of the House Education Committee and an assistant majority leader.

Key votes

Education savings accounts: Yes

Property tax reductions: Yes

Gender affirming health care ban for minors: Yes

Restrictions on LGBTQ topics, school library books: Yes

Loosening child labor laws: Yes

Bills sponsored

House File 544: Exempts the price of lodging supplies sold to a lodging provider from the state sales tax (did not pass).

House File 2: Prohibits state from investing in companies that have environmental, social and governance policies (did not pass).

House File 9: Requires parent or guardian consent if a student requests to be called by a different name or pronouns (Passed as part of SF496).

Successes of the session:

Did not respond.

Disappointments from the session:

Did not respond.

Bob Kressig

Bob Kressig is a Democrat who resides in Cedar Falls and represents House District 75. Now retired, he formerly worked at John Deere and is in his 10th term in the Iowa House. Kressig is the ranking member of the House Public Safety Committee..

Key votes

Education savings accounts: No

Property tax reductions: Yes

Gender affirming health care ban for minors: No

Restrictions on LGBTQ topics, school library books: No

Loosening child labor laws: No

Bills sponsored

House File 15: Requires Iowa community colleges to offer education and employment programs to people leaving prisons or jails (did not pass).

House File 19: Makes eligibility changes for the mental health professional loan repayment program (did not pass).

House File 36: Makes changes to rules for school driving permit holders (did not pass).

Successes of the session:

My thoughts are we were able to come together and pass a bipartisan property tax bill.

Disappointments from the session:

The lack of resources to help with the lack of services with mental health accessibility across the state. We need to focus on improving critical care access and early intervention in our community and schools.

Josh Meggers

Josh Meggers is a Republican who resides in Grundy Center and represents House District 54. He is an Iowa State Trooper and in his first term in the Iowa House.

Key votes

Education savings accounts: Yes

Property tax reductions: Yes

Gender affirming health care ban for minors: Yes

Restrictions on LGBTQ topics, school library books: Yes

Loosening child labor laws: Yes

Bills sponsored

House File 126: Allows local emergency management agencies to levy property taxes for their operations and removes that authority from counties (did not pass).

House File 127: Provides that a public safety telecommunicator or an emergency management coordinator is included in the protected occupation category of the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System (did not pass).

House File 155: Increases penalties for a felon in possession of a firearm (did not pass).

Successes of the session:

Coming into this session as a freshman legislator, there was more than one notable success. We passed Education Savings Accounts, putting in parental choice. And also, we worked on a bill that we passed to get more control back into the classroom to the teachers. And there was property tax reform. There was a lot of successes in this session, and I was happy to be and very fortunate to be a part of this legislative session.

Disappointments from the session:

We had such a historic year. We had some really good legislation. We asked for some things and unfortunately, youre not going to get everything that you asked for, but thats just part of it.

Charley Thomson

Charley Thomson is a Republican who resides in Charles City and represents House District 58. He is a retired Marine and federal government executive and is in his first term in the Iowa House.

Key votes

Education savings accounts: Yes

Property tax reductions: Yes

Gender affirming health care ban for minors: Yes

Restrictions on LGBTQ topics, school library books: Yes

Loosening child labor laws: Yes

Bills sponsored

House File 454: Requires school administrators to teach classes (did not pass).

House File 542: Prohibits the government or citizens of China from buying property in the state (did not pass).

House File 543: Requires members of a committee to swear that a ballot was cast in secret when voting in elections (did not pass).

Successes of the session:

Did not respond.

Disappointments from the session:

Did not respond.

Derek Wulf

Derek Wulf is a Republican who resides in Hudson and represents House District 76. He is a farmer and in his first term in the Iowa House. Wulf is the vice chair of the House Agriculture Committee.

Key votes

Education savings accounts: Yes

Property tax reductions: Yes

Gender affirming health care ban for minors: Yes

Restrictions on LGBTQ topics, school library books: Yes

Loosening child labor laws: Yes

Bills sponsored

House File 388: Prohibits people from flying drones over agricultural property (did not pass).

House File 66: Requires the construction and maintenance of rumble strips on certain highways (did not pass).

House File 8: Prohibits instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade (passed as part of SF496).

Successes of the session:

Did not respond.

Disappointments from the session:

Did not respond.

This story has been updated to add comments from Timi Brown-Powers.

Photos: Cedar Valley athletes at state qualifying track meet in Dubuque State Qualifying 10 State Qualifying 9 State Qualifying 5 State Qualifying 6 State Qualifying 3 State Qualifying 2 State Qualifying 12 State Qualifying 11 State Qualifying 13 State Qualifying 7 State Qualifying 8 State Qualifying 1 State Qualifying 4 State Qualifying 14 State Qualifying 15
The State Duma denounced the CFE Treaty. That is where he is dear. This document lost its relevance for us back in 2007. But now, even in the line of previously suspended international obligations, nothing prevents us from placing our weapons where we want to protect our national interests. Including our Russian part of Europe.

And of course, we will maximize the production of weapons, military and special equipment and weapons.

PS By the way, hello Macron. According to his logic, this is also a geopolitical loss for Russia

Medvedev
 Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation

(16 May 2023)

Part I (see Part II)

The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation launched a combined attack with long-range precision-guided air- and sea-based weapons against the AFU units, as well as depots of ammunition, weapons and military equipment supplied by Western countries.

 The goal of the attack has been reached. All the assigned targets have been neutralised.

 U.S.-manufactured Patriot surface-to-air missile system has been struck by Kinnzhal hypersonic glide vehicle in Kiev.

In Kupyansk direction, the attacks, launched by aviation and artillery of the Zapad Group of Forces, have resulted in the neutralisation of the AFU manpower and hardware close to Novomlynsk and Kislovka (Kharkov region).

 The actions of five Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups have been suppressed close to Timkovka, Masiutovka, Kotlyarovka (Kharkov region), and Novosyolovskoye and Stelmakhovka (Lugansk Peoples Republic).

 The enemy losses were up to 60 Ukrainian servicemen and 4 motor vehicles.

In Krasny Liman direction, the attacks, launched by Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems of the Tsentr Group of Forces, have resulted in the neutralisation of the AFU units close to Nevskoye, Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk Peoples Republic) and Grigorovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

 The AFU losses were up to 65 Ukrainian servicemen, 2 infantry vehicles, and 1 Akatsiya self-propelled howitzer.

In Donetsk direction, the assault detachments continued to conduct offensive actions against the enemy in the western part of Artyomovsk.

 The units of the Yug Group of Forces held the enemy by covering the flanks of the assault units.

The most difficult situation was near Krasnoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic), where the units of the 4th Motorised Rifle Brigade have repelled 10 AFU attacks.

 The enemy losses were over 70 Ukrainian servicemen, 1 infantry fighting vehicle and 2 armoured personnel carriers.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, as well as artillery of the Yug Group of Forces inflicted a fire damage on the enemy units close to Chasov Yar and Bogdanovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

As a result of the air strike, a road overpass, that used to transport the enemy reinforcements to the town of Artyomovsk, has been destroyed close to Krasnoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

Russian aviation have made 9 sorties in this area during the day. The Groups artillery have performed 74 firing missions.

In Donetsk direction, the enemy losses were up to 215 Ukrainian servicemen, 5 armoured fighting vehicles, 7 motor vehicles, as well as Msta-B and D-30 howitzers.

#MoD

 @mod_russia_en

 Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation

(16 May 2023)

Part II (see Part I)

In South Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, the attacks, launched by aviation and artillery of the Vostok Group of Forces have resulted in the neutralisation of the enemy units close to Shevchenko and Velikaya Novosyolka (Donetsk Peoples Republic), Malinovka, Chervonoye, Belogorye and Novodanilovka (Zaporozhye region).

The actions of 1 Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group have been disrupted close to Urozhaynoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

 The enemy losses were up to 135 Ukrainian servicemen, 3 motor vehicles, 2 Msta-B howitzers and 1 Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system.

In Kherson direction, the enemy losses were up to 25 Ukrainian servicemen, 1 Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system and 5 motor vehicles.

 Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, and Artillery of the Russian Group of Forces have engaged 75 AFU artillery units, manpower, and hardware in 102 areas during the day.

 Fighter Aviation of Russian Aerospace Forces have shot down Su-24 and Su-25 aircraft of Ukrainian Air Force near Varvarovka and Krasnoarmeysk (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

Air defence forces intercepted 7 Storm Shadow long-range cruise missiles, 3 HARM anti-radar missiles and 7 HIMARS multiple-launch rocket system projectiles.

 Air defence facilities have shot down 22 unmanned aerial vehicles close to Ivanovka and Yevgenovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic), Topolyovka (Lugansk Peoples Republic), Inzhenernoye, Blagoveshchenka (Zaporpzhye region), and Krynki (Kherson region).

In total, 427 airplanes, 233 helicopters, 4,178 unmanned aerial vehicles, 422 air defence missile systems, 9,176 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,100 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 4,828 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 10,233 special military motor vehicles have been destroyed during the special military operation.

#MoD

 @mod_russia_en

WtR
 Answer of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia A.V. Grushko to the media question in connection with the statements of the President of France Emmanuel Macron in an interview with the French magazine Opinion

 Question: Recently, in an interview with the French magazine Opinion, President of France Emmanuel Macron, as a fait accompli, announced the geopolitical defeat of Russia and the alleged vassal dependence of our country on China. How could you comment on these statements?

 Answer : We have long been accustomed to the repeated statements of the leadership of France, as well as other countries of the collective West about the imminent and almost inevitable victory of the Kiev regime, about the Russian economy that has practically collapsed under the burden of sanctions, about the alleged international isolation of Russia.

 It is already clear to everyone in the world, including the Western partners themselves, that all this is nothing more than an attempt to wishful thinking .

The continued reckless pumping of armaments by the fascist Kyiv regime is the only way to absolve themselves of responsibility for the crisis into which they plunged many countries and regions with their thoughtless policy of playing neighbors against each other.

Obviously, progressively strengthening friendly, time-tested, self-sufficient and non-opportunistic relations of strategic partnership between our countries are haunting Paris. The West is generally frightened by the formation of a truly multilateral system of international relations taking place before our eyes with a number of independent, independent centers, including Russia and China.

 This emerging new world order means the end of the centuries-old domination of the golden billion countries.

WtR
Locals are invited to take a hike.

At the UW-Platteville Baraboo Sauk County campus on Saturday, May 20, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. locals are invited to celebrate Ice Age Trail hiking.

Baraboo, West Baraboo, and Portage are the Ice Age Trail Alliances newest Ice Age Trail Communities.

Baraboos festivities begin at 9 a.m. There will be community and business partner booths open at that time. At 9:30 a.m. there will be a community celebration ceremony. At 10 a.m. there will be short guided hikes and a scavenger hunt.

Attendees will be able to enjoy a family-friendly hike along a portion of the Baraboo segment of the Ice Age Trail. Those who complete an on-your-own scavenger hunt will be rewarded free ice cream at the Baraboo Culvers.

Portage has been named an Ice Age Trail Community, as well. An official designation celebration, hosted by the Ice Age Trail Alliance, the Baraboo Hills  Heritage Volunteer Chapter, and the City of Portage and Portage Chamber of Commerce, will take place on Saturday, June 3, during Canal Days.

At noon, immediately following the Canal Days Parade, the event will take place along the Ice Age Trail  Portage Canal Segment, near the County Administration Building at the corner of Adams Streets and Edgewater Street.

The 3-mile Portage Canal Segment of the Ice Age Trail has been recently improved and runs through the city.

An Ice Age Trail Community is a place where Ice Age Trail enthusiasts enjoy healthy walks, visit local businesses, and take part in local events. These communities, of which Baraboo and West Baraboo are now a part of, work hand-in-hand with the Ice Age Trail Alliance to advance the Ice Age Trail, promote the qualities that make each place unique, and provide pathways to community health and well-being.

Together, the Ice Age Trail Alliance and Ice Age Trail Communities promote the unique qualities that make the Ice Age Trail, and the communities it travels through, a meaningful destination.

The Ice Age Trail Alliance is a nonprofit organization made up of staff, volunteers, and members dedicated to supporting the Ice Age Trail.

The Ice Age Trail is a place where all people may enjoy and embrace unique glacial landscapes and cultural histories, the Alliances vision statement reads, while finding physical and mental renewal in a peaceful setting and an enduring connection to the land.

That land runs through Baraboo, Portage, and much of the state of Wisconsin. The trail is a 1,000-mile footpath managed in partnership among the National Park Service, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and the Ice Age Trail Alliance.

Locals can celebrate the nearby segments quite soon in their hiking boots, and, if theyre lucky, with Culvers ice cream to boot.
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) has placed a deer farm in Dodge County under quarantine.

A deer at the farm has tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD).

The announcement came late last week that a 9-year-old doe at the farm had tested positive. The results were confirmed by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa.

The statement noted that the 8-acre farm has been placed under quarantine. This means that no live animals, nor whole carcasses, are allowed to be removed from the property.

The herd will remain under quarantine while an epidemiological investigation is conducted by DATCP, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) veterinarians, and staff.

Chronic wasting disease is a fatal, infectious nervous system disease of deer, moose, elk, and reindeer. CWD occurs only in members of the deer family, both wild and captive.

It may take over a year for an infected animal to develop symptoms that may include extreme weight loss, stumbling, listlessness, and other neurological symptoms.

CWD is fatal to the infected animal. There are no treatments or vaccines.

To date, there have been no reported cases of CWD infection in people.

The Wisconsin DNR began monitoring the states wild white-tailed deer population for CWD in 1999. The first positives were found in 2002.

Recent Wisconsin DNR dates of CWD, by county, in wild deer populations include Dodge County (2,840 analyzed with 8 testing positive for CWD); Columbia County (7,952 analyzed with 400 testing positive for CWD); and Sauk County (21,214 analyzed, with 1,701 testing positive for CWD).

To learn more about Wisconsins deer population in regard to CWD visit www.dnr.wi.gov.

Photos: Opening day of Wisconsin's 9-day gun-deer season Traditional gun-deer season opens Traditional gun-deer season opens Traditional gun-deer season opens Traditional gun-deer season opens Traditional gun-deer season opens Traditional gun-deer season opens Traditional gun-deer season opens Traditional gun-deer season opens Traditional gun-deer season opens Traditional gun-deer season opens Traditional gun-deer season opens Traditional gun-deer season opens
A ballot question for a constitutional amendment that sought to enhance the rights of crime victims was properly worded and legally adopted after Wisconsin voters overwhelmingly approved it two years ago, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.

The state's high court ruled 6-1, with liberal Justice Ann Walsh Bradley dissenting, that the contested measure known as "Marsy's Law" will stand as law, despite arguments raised that the original ballot question before voters in 2020 was vague or misleading.

The majority concluded Wisconsin's constitutional requirement is that amendments to the document must be submitted to voters but does not contain "any explicit obligations regarding form or substance." The ruling could have a lasting impact on future amendments to the Wisconsin Constitution at a time when some conservative groups have called on state Republicans to ramp up their use of such ballot questions as a way to enact or preserve legislation with liberals holding the governor's office and poised to take control of the state Supreme Court in August.

"The legislature is granted substantial discretion and freedom in how amendments can be submitted to the people," conservative Justice Brian Hagedorn wrote for the majority. "The text simply requires that the people must have the opportunity to ratify or reject a proposed amendment."

The constitutional amendment, which was approved by about 75% of Wisconsin voters, was challenged by the Wisconsin Justice Initiative, along with a group of defense attorneys and now-retired Democratic state Sen. Fred Risser, who disputed the validity of the question put to voters. They said the ballot question didn't sufficiently describe the potential negative repercussions for people accused of crimes.

In the ruling, the majority note that only once, in 1953, has the state Supreme Court reversed a proposed amendment to the state constitution. In that instance, the court concluded the question submitted before voters described the amendment in a fundamentally counterfactual way, according to Tuesdays ruling.

While (Wisconsin Justice Initiative) takes issue with the wording, completeness, and implications of the ballot question, we conclude the question was not fundamentally counterfactual such that voters were not afforded the opportunity to approve the actual amendment, Hagedorn wrote Tuesday.

Bradley dissents

Bradley, in her dissent, wrote the ballot question was improperly worded, as it did not mention provisions in Marsy's Law that provide greater rights for victims and the diminishment of the rights of the accused. In part, the law gives victims the right to refuse an interview, deposition or other discovery request made by the accused or any person acting on behalf of the accused.

Margo Kirchner, executive director with Wisconsin Justice Initiative, said she was disappointed with the court's decision and supported Bradley's sentiments, but also expressed concern with the potential long-reaching impact of the court's decision.

"The court, in its decision, ended up giving the Legislature really unfettered power regarding constitutional amendment referendum questions in the future," Kirchner said.

Constitutional amendments must pass two successive legislative sessions before going before voters. They cannot be vetoed by the governor.

Rights of the accused

Supporters of the amendment said it gives alleged victims the same rights as the accused. Lawyers representing the Wisconsin Elections Commission and groups that support the amendment cautioned the Wisconsin Supreme Court against interfering with legislative proposals.

The question voters saw on their ballot stated: "Shall section 9m of article I of the constitution, which gives certain rights to crime victims, be amended to give crime victims additional rights, to require that the rights of crime victims be protected with equal force to the protections afforded the accused while leaving the federal constitutional rights of the accused intact, and to allow crime victims to enforce their rights in court?"

A Dane County judge ruled in late 2020 that the statewide ballot question inadequately spelled out the effect the amendment would have on the rights of people accused of crimes. He said voters would have been better informed had the question been broken into two parts  one addressing greater rights for victims and another on the diminishment of the rights of the accused.

Dane County Circuit Court Judge Frank Remington also noted that while the ballot question said victims' rights will be protected "with equal force" as those accused of crimes, the amendment altered the constitution to say the rights of crime victims should be protected by law in a manner "no less vigorous" than the protections given to those accused of crimes. He called the discrepancy "misleading."

To the high court

About a year after Remington's ruling against the amendment, a three-judge panel of the state District 3 Court of Appeals asked that the state Supreme Court bypass the appeals court and decide the case, citing its statewide importance and the novelty of some of the questions the appeal asks and the lack of significant legal authority on other questions.

Before the Wisconsin Supreme Court, lawyers for the Wisconsin Justice Initiative, along with the ACLU of Wisconsin and liberal legal group Law Forward, said that ballot questions must reference "every essential element" of the proposed measure.

But attorneys for the state Department of Justice, representing the Wisconsin Elections Commission, say the question communicated the amendment's essential purpose. Unless the ballot question presented "an entirely different question" from the amendment, then the question wasn't misleading, they said in court files. They added that the Legislature has broad discretion over wording and exercised it properly in this instance.

The state Supreme Court concluded the question was proper as all provisions in Marsys Law relate to expanding and defining victims rights.

Nationwide effort

The law was named after Marsalee (Marsy) Ann Nicholas, a University of California-Santa Barbara student who was stalked and killed by her ex-boyfriend in 1983. Just a week after the murder, Marsys mother, Marcella, was confronted by her daughters murderer at a local market. She hadnt been told he had been released on bail just days after Marsys murder. Henry Nicholas III is Marsys brother, and the billionaire founder of the Marsys Law national campaign.

Ultimately, Marsy's Law added 16 new rights for victims while eliminating a reference in the constitution to a fair trial for the defendant.

In a separate decision Tuesday, the Wisconsin Supreme Court cited Marsys Law in overturning 30 years of precedent that gave a criminal defendant the ability to have a judge review the victims privately held, otherwise privileged health records.

The court, in a 5-2 decision, determined that the 1993 Wisconsin Court of Appeals ruling granting those rights was wrongly decided and unworkable, and that its rationale has been undermined by the adoption of Marsys Law and other laws protecting the rights of victims.

The court reached its conclusion in a case in which a Waupaca County man charged with several felonies for allegedly sexually assaulting his son and daughter had wanted the judge to review his sons mental health and counseling records. The Supreme Court ruled that the circuit court must deny the defendants motion to have the judge review the records.

Justice Rebecca Dallet wrote the majority opinion, joined by justices Patience Roggensack, Hagedorn, Jill Karofsky and Rebecca Bradley. Ann Walsh Bradley and Chief Justice Annette Ziegler dissented.

State Journal reporter Alexander Shur and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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. &&
People walk through a traditional market in Incheon, one of the participating cities for a nationwide campaign this month to promote small businesses and the self-employed, on May 9. Yonhap



By Yi Whan-woo



The risk of default faced by small businesses and the self-employed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic is rising again, after the government declared an end to its classification of COVID-19 as a health crisis last week.



Its classification as a health emergency has been cited as the justification for the financial authority to repeatedly extend due dates for loans taken out by borrowers whose businesses suffered due to pandemic restrictions, to reduce time pressure in making repayments.



Furthermore, the government kept granting grace periods to borrowers, many of whom are small businesses and the self-employed, in making principal and interest payments until their sales recover to pre-pandemic levels.



"Under the circumstances, the end of the health emergency suggests that the government may no longer have a convincing reason to sustain its relief program for those borrowers," an official from a major commercial bank said on condition of anonymity, Tuesday.



The relief program has been extended five times since being introduced in early 2020, and will expire in September unless the government grants another extension.



The due dates for loans can still be extended  every six or 12 months  until September 2025 depending on the borrowers' financial condition even after the relief program ends.



However, they no longer will be given a grace period, and will be asked to resume principal and interest payments thereafter.



In a statement released on Tuesday, an advocacy group for small businesses and the self-employed expressed grave concerns on their behalf. "Sales have not fully recovered to make repayments on time in a routine manner," the group explained.



The group cited a need for the government to maintain the relief program, referring to its own survey conducted early this year in which 63.4 percent of the targeted borrowers saw their debts increase over the previous year.



"With such a tricky situation, the termination of the relief program could push those who are not ready to repay their loans to the brink of default," another official from a different bank said.



He noted the outstanding balance of the money they had borrowed from both banks and non-banking firms, such as credit card firms, which was already nearing 141 trillion won by the end of the first half of 2022.



Concerning the five largest banks in Korea  KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Hana, Woori and NH NongHyup  the remaining balance amounted to 36.62 trillion won as of April.



The official speculated that making repayments on time will be tough for many beneficiaries of the relief program.



According to the official, even those who were in better financial shape and thus were not eligible for the program, struggle with repayments following a steep rate hike and a prolonged economic slowdown.



The base rate was lifted by an aggregate of 3 percentage points since August 2021, bringing the rate to a 14-year high of 3.5 percent and increasing annual interest by 2 million won for all borrowers in general.



Correspondingly, the rate of delinquency in loan payments among all banks in the country was 0.36 percent in February, up 0.11 percentage points from a year earlier.



To reduce the burden on repayments and also to prevent borrowers from defaulting, Joo Won, deputy director of Hyundai Research Institute, suggested determining the monthly repayments "at an affordable level."



"We can't keep delaying loan payments over and over, but at the same time, we must make sure it's divided over a sufficient period of time to minimize the shock on borrowers," he said.


Researchers investigating a sunken Neolithic settlement off the southern coast of Croatia have unearthed a 7,000-year-old road buried beneath layers of mud. The approximately 13-to-15-foot-wide stone-plate pathway is believed to have once connected the now-submerged settlement to a nearby island.

The announcement was made by the University of Zadar via a Facebook post published to the social media site on May 7, 2023. According to the statement, the road linked the artificially-created settlement of Soline to the island of Korcula, in the Adriatic Sea.

Wood collected from the path was subject to radiocarbon dating, which shows it dates back to around 4,900 BC, when the Hvar culture resided in the area.

Soline was discovered by University of Zadar archaeologist Mate Parica in 2021. He was analyzing satellite images of the coastline around Korcula when he saw something he believed to be human-made. This prompted him to dive down between 13 and 16 feet into the Adriatic, where he found stone walls that were once part of an ancient settlement.

Speaking with Reuters in 2021, he shared, The fortunate thing is that this area, unlike most parts of the Mediterranean, is safe from big waves as many islands protect the coast. That certainly helped preserve the site from natural destruction.

The research team unearthed a similar Neolithic settlement on the opposite side of Korcula, in Gradina Bay. Along with finding strange structures at the Soline site, numerous Stone Age artifacts have also been uncovered in the bay, including axes.

More from us: Is There a Lost City Located In the Depths of the North Sea?

The discovery of the 7,000-year-old road was a collaborative effort by the University of Zadar, the Dubrovnik Museums, the City Museum of Korcula, the Museum of the City of Kastela, and a number of photographers and divers.
In the vast expanse of the Namib Desert, a ghostly reminder of a once-thriving diamond mining town lies silently buried under the shifting sands. Kolmanskop, a forgotten settlement in southern Namibia, once buzzed with life and prosperity during the early 20th century. Today, as nature reclaims its territory, Kolmanskop stands abandoned, inviting intrepid adventurers and curious souls to explore its crumbling ruins. Whats in a name? Kolmanskop was named after a man called Johnny Coleman who lived in the nearby settlement of Aus. He drove an ox wagon, transporting supplies between the German-settled towns of Keetmanshoop and Luderitz.

On one such trip, he was caught in a sandstorm which forced him to abandon his wagon on a hill just across from where Kolmanskop would be built. The wagon remained there for some time, and the site was given a name.

Founding Kolmanskop

The place was first called Colemanshuegel, but was eventually named Kolmanskop. While it had a name, it wasnt until April 1908 that the location became something special. Zacharias Lewala, a Namibian railway worker, found stones while digging near a railway line in the region.

He brought them to his boss, German August Stauch, who identified them as diamonds. Stauch didnt give Lewala any form of reward for his find. News of this discovery spread quickly throughout the area, prompting many to try their luck as well.

Diamond rush

Those who hoped to make their own fortune quickly flocked to Kolmanskop, abandoning the large settlement of Luderitz. They traveled however they could, with wagons, animals, or even on foot. By 1912, the town was finding roughly one million carats of diamonds yearly.

The wealth of diamonds soon led to Kolmanskop becoming a bustling town with many different businesses and amenities. There was a butcher, a gymnasium with a bowling alley, a swimming pool, a playground, numerous factories, and even a hospital.

A true community

There was also a police station that opened only a year after Kolmanskop was established. Perhaps the most interesting part of their work was that they patrolled the diamond-rich town by riding on camels.

The town had many cultural elements. One of the most important was the recreation center which was used for everything from over-the-top parties to opera, orchestra, and theater performances.

A German town

The area even boasted the first tram in Africa, as well as a direct rail link to Luderitz. These businesses and amenities were created for and by the flourishing community that lived in Kolmanskop.

Many of the people who lived there were German colonists profiting from the diamond mines. They built a town that was a slice of Germany placed in the middle of the dessert.

The true locals

This is why Kolmanskop was designed in a very German architectural style, something that could really be seen in the elaborate houses built by those who profited from the mines. There were also, however, far more people living there who werent German.

While the mines were owned and operated by colonists, it was the Owambo people who were paid to work in them. At the towns peak, they outnumbered the Germans two to one.

Beginning of the end

As with nearly all towns created during diamond or gold rushes, Kolmanskop eventually came to an end. Surprisingly, it wasnt the closure of the mines during the First World War that marked trouble for the town.

When they re-opened, the colonists in the area continued to prosper. In fact, by the early 1920s, it was one of the richest towns in the entire continent.

Better diamonds elsewhere

The first sign of trouble came in the 1930s when the mines diamond supplies started to dwindle. They had been mined so intensely that there simply werent as many stones to find as there had once been.

In contrast, there were many other locations in Africa identified in the following years that were still flush with the stones. Many people who lived in the settlement picked up and moved on to these operations.

Mining ceases

Not only were these areas, near the Orange River, far richer in diamonds, but they also required far less work. Instead of having to mine underground for them like in Kolmanskop, people only had to walk along the beaches to find stones washed up.

While many moved on, there were some who remained in the once-great settlement. The owner of the mines left Kolmanskop in 1943, but operations continued until 1950, although on a much smaller scale than in the past.

Reclaimed by nature

It wasnt until 1956 that Kolmanskop was officially abandoned. Without people living there, it didnt take long for the desert town to be reclaimed by the sand.

Blowing sand has entered many of the buildings, gathering over time into large piles that almost completely cover the interior floors and doors. Its this sight that has made Kolmanskop a fascinating tourist destination.

Tourist town

Popular with avid travelers and photographers alike, Kolmanskop requires a permit to visit. It is located in the Tsau Khaeb (Sperrgebiet) National Park, an area of the Namib desert where visitation is restricted.

More from us: Fort Ross: The Southernmost Russian Settlement in North America

Although the town is technically abandoned, there are now a number of businesses that have opened once more to serve any visitors.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks about the roll-out of the International Religious Freedom Report at the State Department in Washington, May 15. AP-Yonhap



North Korea continued to execute, torture and physically abuse its own people for their religious activities in 2022, the U.S. State Department said in an annual report on international religious freedom, citing an earlier report by a nongovernmental organization (NGO) that said the country's denial of religious freedom remains "absolute."



The report also noted the country especially persecuted Christians and followers of shamanism.



"The government reportedly continued to execute, torture, arrest, and physically abuse individuals for their religious activities," the report said of North Korea.



"Officials principally targeted Christians and followers of Shamanism," it added. "NGOs and defectors said the government often arrested or otherwise punished family members of Christians."



North Korea was designated a state violator of religious freedom for the 21st consecutive year in 2021, along with 10 other states that were designated "countries of particular concern."



A senior state department official said the secretary of state will make countries of particular concern determinations later in the year based on the report released on the day.



"So for now, the report is focused on really laying out the religious freedom landscape in each country, in the world, and then we will get to the designation a few months from now," the official said in a telephonic press briefing, while speaking on condition of anonymity.



Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States will continue to advocate for religious freedom at home and abroad.



"We will keep advocating for religious freedom in countries where the rights are under attack, both publicly and directly in our engagement with government officials. We will keep working to defend and promote religious freedom here at home," he told a press conference.



"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 the people of faith can do in our societies and around the world to promote peace, to care for the sick, to protect our planet, to expand opportunity for underserved communities and so much more," added Blinken.



The report noted there existed a small number of officially registered religious institutions, including churches, in North Korea.



They, however, operated "under tight state control and functioned largely as showpieces for foreigners," it said.



"There were reports of private Christian religious activity, although the existence of underground churches and the scope of underground religious networks remained difficult to quantify," it added.



The report said COVID-19 restrictions on travel to and from the country made details on cases of abuse "difficult to verify," adding the number of North Korean defectors entering South Korea has drastically fallen from 1,047 in 2019 to 67 last year.



"Along with the closure of many foreign diplomatic missions during the pandemic and the government's continued lack of engagement internationally on human rights issues, it remained difficult to gain a comprehensive understanding of conditions within the country and to verify the details of individual cases," said the report.



Still, the report insisted that Pyongyang made it "nearly impossible" to exercise freedom of religion in the country, citing a 2021 report by the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in North Korea, which also noted that "Christians are categorized as a 'hostile class'."



Rashad Hussain, U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, said the U.S. report on religious freedom has served as an invaluable tool for anyone seeking to understand and address religious freedom conditions in any country over the past 25 years.



"We vow to redouble our efforts to ensure greater respect for freedom of religion or belief for everyone everywhere. We will continue to stand in solidarity everyday with all those who are seeking to exercise their beliefs," he told the press conference. (Yonhap)




New High-Grade Drill Results Confirm Paddy's Lode Discovery

Perth, May 16, 2023 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Rox Resources Limited ( ASX:RXL ), in conjunction with its joint venture partner Venus Metals Corporation Limited ( ASX:VMC ), is pleased to confirm the discovery of a new high-grade mineralised position immediately south of the Youanmi Main Lode at its 3.2Moz Youanmi Gold Project (OYG JV), located near Mt Magnet in WA.



The new mineralised lode, referred to previously as the 'Youanmi South' prospect, has now been intersected over a considerable strike and dip extent, confirming its significance as an important new discovery within the Youanmi gold field (Figure 2*).



In light of this, the mineralised structure has been named the Paddy's Lode after the former Director of Operations at Youanmi Gold Mines Ltd, Patrick (Paddy) Fitzgerald. Mr Fitzgerald led Youanmi Gold Mines through one of is most prosperous periods with the company producing more than 100,000oz of gold from shafts located just to the North of Paddy's Lode between 1937 and 1942.



Current drilling has intersected the mineralised shear structure at Paddy's Lode up to approximately 200m south of the bonanza discovery intercept of 28m @ 34.81g/t from RXRC458 reported earlier this year.



This high-grade, mineralised structure located immediately south of the Youanmi Main Pit represents an extremely exciting opportunity for the Youanmi Gold Project (OYG JV).



The geological interpretation of this mineralised structure is developing, and Rox is prioritising its understanding with an initial phase of diamond drilling. The potential is clearly significant with the mineralised structure remaining open along strike and largely untested up-dip and at depth.



The exceptional drilling results received to date will be followed up immediately with approximately 3,000m of Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling to further develop this new high-grade structure along strike and to test the updip and down-dip extents.



Rox Managing Director Comments



Rox Resources Managing Director, Mr Robert Ryan, said the new batch of high-grade assay results, coupled with visual observations of additional drill intercepts for which assays are pending, has confirmed Paddy's Lode as a significant new discovery within the historic Youanmi gold field.



"Diamond drilling has provided important structural information that has helped to define a significant new mineralised position which we believe has enormous potential.



"Put simply, Paddy's Lode is emerging as a likely game-changing discovery which has now been defined over a strike length of 200m and has the potential to extend significantly further to the south.



"Early indications are that the structure is an offset of the Youanmi Main Lode to the south and, given historical underground gold production of 411koz from the Youanmi Main lode, Paddy's Lode presents a new, unmined mineralised system with huge growth potential.



"RC drilling will commence in the coming weeks as we look to build upon the known extents of the Paddy's mineralised system and to test for near-surface mineralisation."



Paddy's Lode Drilling Results



Diamond drilling designed to follow up the Paddy's Lode discovery hole (RXRC458, 28m @ 34.81g/t Au) initially targeted the up-dip and down-dip positions of this intercept.



The down-dip drill hole (RXDD080) showed a well-developed shear zone with similar widths and strike-trend to the Youanmi Main lode.



- RXDD080: 5.70m @ 8.26g/t Au from 233.30m



The up-dip drill hole (RXDD097) also showed mineralised shearing with a similar strike-trend to the Youanmi Main Lode. As the drill hole was located proximal to the approximately 200m offsetting sinistral fault, the hole is believed to have passed through the disrupted drag fault zone proximal to the offsetting fault.



This resulted in two thinner mineralised shear zones:



- RXDD097: 0.48m @ 4.60g/t Au from 225.26m; and

0.34m @ 4.44g/t Au from 237.33



The next two follow-up diamond drill holes tested targets to the south of the discovery hole following the striketrend of the structural measurements taken from the initial two diamond drill holes.



These two drill holes (RXDD095 & RXDD098) showed a well-developed shear zone with a similar strike-trend to the Youanmi Main Lode:



- RXDD095: 5.08m @ 9.56g/t Au from 225.80m

- RXDD098: 3.32m @ 8.29g/t Au from 200.05m



These three drill holes have only had the assays received for the immediate main shear zone to date. Assays are still pending for the remainder of the drill-hole. A number of thinner, sulphide-rich shear zones were geologically logged and there remains the potential to define additional parallel striking hanging and footwall wall lodes to the main shear zone.



Four additional diamond holes have been drilled through the target structure. All holes have intersected the well-developed shear zone with assays pending. The last of the diamond holes (RXDD102) is being extended to test for potential additional lodes to the east of the newly discovered "Paddy" Lode (see Figures 3, 4 and 5*).



- RXDD099: Shear zone intercepted. Assays pending.

- RXDD100: Shear zone intercepted. Assays pending.

- RXDD101: Shear zone intercepted. Assays pending.

- RXDD102: Shear zone intercepted. Assays pending.



The mineralised shear zones intersected all show a well-developed shear zone with clear contacts to a package of mafic rock, generally basalt. The level of shearing varies from moderate to intense, with pyrite and arsenopyrite sulphides present varying generally from one to two percent, but up to five percent in zones.



It is observed in the drill hole closest to the sinistral offsetting fault (RXDD097) that there is a potential drag fault disrupted zone due to the approximate 200m offset displacement. Drill-holes intersecting the mineralised structure to the south of the offsetting fault show a well-developed clear cohesive shear zone with sharp contact boundaries up against a relatively unsheared surrounding mafic rock package.



From the drilling and results to date, this newly discovered mineralised lode is most likely to represent the southern offset of the Youanmi Main Lode. The gold intercepts show similar mineralised widths to the Youanmi Main Lode, but more exciting is the fact that the gold grades returned to date are generally of a higher tenor compared to the Youanmi Main Lode.



Next Steps



Now that the strike and dip of the newly-discovered Paddy's Lode has been established, the structure will be further developed with a series of RC drill holes to test the up-dip extension through the transition and oxide zones. One of the main objectives of this RC drilling is to test for a potential supergene mineralised zone in the oxide zone. The understanding of E-W faults in offsetting strongly mineralised zones, will be important in future exploration targeting.



*To view tables and figures, please visit:

https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/696S3H3R





About Venus Metals Corporation Limited





Venus Metals Corporation Limited (ASX:VMC) is a West Australian based Company with a focus on gold, base metals, vanadium and lithium exploration projects. The Company aims to increase shareholder value through targeted exploration success on its projects.

The Company's major gold project is the Youanmi Gold Mine, located 500km north-east of Perth. The Youanmi Gold Mine is now jointly owned by Venus Metals (30%) and Rox Resources Limited (70%); Indicated and Inferred Resource of the mine is in excess of 3 million ounces of gold.


Assays Significantly Extend Cu-Ag Mineralisation in Botswana

Sydney, May 16, 2023 AEST (ABN Newswire) - The initial set of assay results from Cobre Limited's ( ASX:CBE ) recently completed 5,120m diamond drill campaign at the Ngami Copper Project (NCP) have returned several significant copper-silver (Cu-Ag) intersections into new and developing targets, demonstrating the scale of the mineralised system which appears to be extensively developed on both the southern limb of the anticline opposite the Comet Target and along strike to the northeast of Comet.



Noting these are wide-spaced exploration holes into new and developing targets, intersection results include:



o NCP40: 26.0m @ 0.4% Cu, including 1.2m @ 1.1% Cu, from 272 to 298m downhole (Interstellar Target);



o NCP38: 9.6m @ 0.6% Cu & 9 g/t Ag, including 0.25m @ 5.7% Cu & 39 g/t Ag, from 263 to 272.6m downhole (Interstellar Target); and



o NCP42: 14.9m @ 0.5% Cu & 13 g/t Ag from 142.5 to 157.4m downhole (Cosmos Target).



Results demonstrate that the anomalous Cu-Ag background mineralisation, on the southern anticline at NCP, extends over a much greater area (several tens of kilometres) than initially anticipated on both limbs.



The extensive strike of anomalous Cu-Ag mineralisation underscores the potential for multiple structurally controlled high-grade zones, including the drill-tested zone at the Comet Target.



The presence of larger structural trap-sites where Cu-Ag mineralisation may be upgraded is further supported by a drill section completed across the Helios Target, which has confirmed the interpretation of extensive macro-parasitic folding of the south limb of the anticline.



Samples for the remainder of the drill programme, including results over the Comet and Asteroid Targets, are currently being processed with results pending.



Commenting on the initial assays results, Chief Executive Officer, Adam Wooldridge, said:



"The first batch of assay results from recent drilling includes data from new targets identified from soil sampling anomalies. The presence of anomalous intersections in several drill holes confirms the extensive scale of coppersilver mineralisation, which exceeds our initial expectations. The results suggest that we may now have several tens of kilometres of prospective strike, where mineralisation may be locally (structurally) concentrated into economic grades rather than isolated targets. The results bear many similarities to the anomalous copper background, size and structural setting of Banana Zone in the north-eastern Kalahari Copper Belt, providing a useful exploration analogue. Our primary focus for follow-up work will be to identify the higher-grade portions of the contact."



Results from the first batch of assay results for the recently completed 5,120m diamond drill programme at NCP have been received. Assaysrelate to drill holes NCP35 through to NCP42 which intersected newly identified targets Interstellar, Helios, Cosmos and Meta with several encouraging Cu-Ag intersections reported. In addition to advancing targets Cosmos and Interstellar, the assay results highlight the extent of the mineralising system at NCP which is significantly larger than initially interpreted, extending over several tens of kilometres on both the northern and southern limbs of the main target anticlinal feature at NCP (Figure 1*).



Of particular interest is the confirmation, through drilling, of a set of large parasitic fold features, originally identified in detailed magnetic data, on the southern limb of the regional anticline at the Helios target. A drill section crossing the target has confirmed that the mineralised contact is doubly folded in this area providing several interesting options for trap-site formation where mineralisation may be upgraded (Figure 2*). The variability in mineralisation along the drill section provides further support for remobilisation of Cu-Ag mineralisation into local structural trap-sites.



At Interstellar, both drill holes NCP38 and NCP40 have intersected vein hosted chalcocite mineralisation as well as fine grained chalcocite above the main redox contact which provides further encouragement for potential highgrade vein dominated mineralisation, typical in several Kalahari Coper Belt (KCB) deposits. Selected core photos of mineralisation are illustrated in (Figure 3*).



Samples for the remainder of the programme, including infill drilling at the Comet Target, are currently being processed at ALS laboratories in Johannesburg Cu-Ag intersections for all the completed assay results for drill holes at NCP are provided in Appendix Jorc Table 2*, with results pertaining to the current announcement highlighted.



NCP Regional Exploration Potential



The drill program at NCP has been designed to intersect sedimentary-hosted, structurally controlled, Cu-Ag mineralisation associated with the redox contact between oxidised Ngwako Pan Formation red beds and overlying reduced marine sedimentary rocks of the D'Kar Formation on the moderate to steeply dipping limbs of a large anticlinal structure which extends across the southern portion of the project area under 50 to 80m of Kalahari Group cover. To date, 52 drill holes, targeted off partial digest low detection limit soil sampling, have intersected the mineralised contact along both limbs of the anticline with the majority of the holes returning anomalous copper intersections for the KCB, demonstrating the prospectivity of the ~80 km of contact associated with the anticline.



The recent assay results highlight the north-eastern portion of the anticline where notable Cu-Ag grades extend over several tens of kilometres on both north and south limbs. As with other portions of the KCB, higher grade structurally controlled deposits are anticipated where mineralisation is locally concentrated to produce economic grades. Of interest, is the nature of the mineralisation, which is dominated by fine-grained chalcocite which offers advantages for beneficiation.



Completion of 3D modelling



A 3D geological model has been created using a combination of lithological and structural data from oriented diamond drill core in Leapfrog software. In addition to modelling, the main stratigraphic contacts and upward coarsening cycles, distinct marker units have also been individually modelled providing information on lateral facies variations which may provide further vectors to higher grade mineralisation. The model also serves as a starting point for future resource modelling. Results are illustrated in Figure 2*.



Exploration approach



Cobre is following a systematic stage-gated exploration approach with a view to evaluating several potential copper districts across the Company's extensive license package, prioritising targets in prospective districts, identifying anomalous Cu-Ag mineralisation in the halo of new deposits, delineating high-grade zones within these anomalous halos and ultimately, resource drilling. The current results highlight this process which has successfully advanced the regional prospectivity of the NCP project as well as progressing both Interstellar and Cosmos Targets to the second and third evaluation stages (Figure 4*).



Target Model



The NCP area is located near the northern margin of the KCB and includes significant strike of sub-cropping Ngwako-Pan / D'Kar Formation contact on which the majority of the known deposits in the KCB occur. The Project is located immediately east of the Kitlanya West (KITW) licenses collectively covering a significant portion of prospective KCB stratigraphy. In terms ofregional prospectivity, the greaterlicense package includes:





- Over 500km of estimated Ngwako Pan / D'Kar Formation contact with several prospective targets located in the KITW and NCP properties.



- Strategic location near the basin margin typically prioritised for sedimentary-hosted copper deposits.



- Outcropping Kgwebe Formation often considered a key vector for deposits in the northeast of the KCB.



- Well defined gravity low anomalies indicative of sub-basin architecture or structural thickening (several deposits in the KCB are hosted on the margins of gravity lows).



- Relatively shallow Kalahari Group cover (between 0m and ~90m thick).



- Numerous soil sample anomalies identified on regional sample traverses.



The Company is targeting analogues to the copper deposits in Khoemacau's Zone 5 development (Figure 5*) in the north-eastern portion of the KCB. These include Zone 5 (92.1 Mt @ 2.2% Cu and 22 g/t Ag), Zeta NE (29 Mt @ 2.0% Cu and 40 g/t Ag), Zone 5N (25.6 Mt @ 2.2% Cu and 38 g/t Ag) and Mango NE (21.1 Mt @ 1.8% Cu and 21 g/t Ag).



*To view tables and figures, please visit:

https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/JHWA02PX





About Cobre Limited





Cobre Limited (ASX:CBE) is a copper and base-metals explorer with projects in Western Australia and Botswana. The Company recently discovered a new high-grade VMS deposit enriched in Copper, Gold, Zinc and Silver in Western Australia, and is currently exploring approximately 8,100 km2 of tenements within the Kalahari Copper Belt (KCB) in Botswana.


Results of Loyalty Option Offer

Perth, May 16, 2023 AEST (ABN Newswire) - BPH Energy Limited ( ASX:BPH ) is pleased to confirm that its Loyalty Option offer to eligible shareholders in accordance with a Prospectus dated 24 March 2023 (Prospectus) closed on Wednesday, 10 May 2023.



The offer was made on the basis of up to one (1) Loyalty Option for every eight (8) Shares held by those Shareholders registered on the Record Date at a subscription price of $0.004 per Loyalty Option to raise up to $438,799 (based on the number of Shares on issue as at the date of the Prospectus) (Loyalty Options Offer). The Options have an exercise price of $0.03 each and an expiry date of 30 September 2024.



Applications were received from eligible shareholders totaling $715,294, including applications for 140,704,219 Loyalty Options under the shortfall offer, totaling $562,816. Total applications received by the Company include applications for 8,814,552 Loyalty Options totaling $35,258 to be settled by amounts owing to the applicants by the Company.



39,796,761 Loyalty Options will be issued today for shareholder entitlements under the Loyalty Options Offer. In accordance with the previously announced timetable, and subject to confirmation with ASX, it is anticipated that these Loyalty Options will be quoted on the ASX on 16 May 2023. The directors are currently determining the shortfall allocation. In accordance with the previously announced timetable, the shortfall offer will close within 3 months from the date of the Prospectus.



As detailed in the Prospectus, it is the Company's intention to apply the funds raised from the entitlement offer to its investments including investment into clean hydrogen technology and funding for exploration and development of the Company's oil and gas investments.





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).
SANTA FE  Jerry Apodaca was remembered Monday as an energetic trailblazer who opened doors for a wide swath of New Mexicans, while charting a more modern and energy-independent course for the state.

The former governor, who died April 26 at age 88, became the first Hispanic governor in modern New Mexico history when he was elected in 1974.

Since he left office in 1978 due to term limits that have since been extended, four of New Mexicos subsequent seven governors have been Hispanic.

That list includes current Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who lauded Apodacas vision and political courage during a Monday memorial service in the Capitol rotunda attended by roughly 200 people. Apodaca lay in state during the service.

Gov. Apodaca led a revolution around the nation and the world to make sure that leadership represented the people they serve, Lujan Grisham said.

She also cited Apodacas work on education issues  including establishing statewide Kindergarten  and support of medical cannabis research, even at a time when the federal government staunchly opposed the idea.

After leaving office, Apodaca still frequented legislative committee hearings for bills he supported, the governor said.

He was also credited with making state government more efficient by streamlining hundreds of different agencies into a Cabinet-level structure thats still in use.

Jeff Apodaca, one of Jerry Apodacas five children, said his father shook up state government in part by assembling a younger and more diverse team of appointed agency heads.

He continued to push for greater gender and minority representation in corporate boardrooms after leaving the Governors Office, he said.

His legacy is he created opportunities for hundreds of thousand of people across New Mexico and the United States, said Jeff Apodaca, who ran unsuccessfully for governor himself in 2018.

The Monday memorial service at the Roundhouse drew numerous current and former state officials and legislators.

Former Govs. Toney Anaya and Bill Richardson both attended, as did Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller and House Speaker Javier Martinez, D-Albuquerque.

The Rev. Charles Becknell Sr., who was appointed by Apodaca to a Cabinet-level post leading a state criminal justice agency, said the former governor was loyal and unafraid to shake up the status quo.

If you had Jerry Apodaca as a friend, you had a friend for life, Becknell said.

Richard de Uriarte, who was a spokesman for Apodaca, said the former governor was among a wave of forward-thinking governors in the 1970s that also included Jimmy Carter of Georgia and Michael Dukakis of Massachusetts.

He recalled Apodaca holding weekly office hours with constituents as governor, and once talking on the phone with an armed individual barricaded in a bank who eventually agreed to surrender.

He didnt just want to be governor, he wanted to make a difference, said de Uriarte, who now lives in Arizona.

The memorial service was held just a stones throw from the state public education building named after Apodaca, and Lujan Grisham credited the former governor for laying the groundwork for some of her administrations policies, such as universal pre-kindergarten.

There would be no infrastructure to make those investments without Gov. Apodaca, she said.

A funeral Mass for Apodaca will be held Tuesday at noon at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in downtown Santa Fe.
Many of the 800 people on Virgin Galactics flight waiting list have had reservations for more than a decade.

New Mexicans have waited even longer for the $225 million Spaceport America and its anchor tenant to turn a profit.

Although weve been disappointed before, Virgin Galactic and the worlds first purpose-built commercial spaceport that officially opened in October 2011 could finally be on the cusp of a defining moment for both.

Virgin Galactic is headed back to space this month with a six-person crew that includes Native New Mexican Jamila Gilbert. The 34-year-old Gilbert, who grew up in Las Cruces, isnt a typical mission specialist. Shes a linguistics, anthropology and studio arts graduate of New Mexico State University who previously conducted tourist tours for Visit Las Cruces before joining Virgin Galactic in 2019.

Theyre diverse in regard to their individual points of view and disciplines, which allows them to see and experience things differently, Virgin Galactic spokesman Jeff Michael said of the crew. Jamila Gilbert most clearly represents our customers, most of whom are not engineers. Shes decidedly from the creative side.

If all goes well, the companys final test flight in late May will be followed in late June by its first-ever flight with paying passengers from the Italian Air Force, who will conduct research and training. That research-and-training flight with Italian astronauts, dubbed Galactic 1, will pave the way for monthly suborbital flights in July or August.

Our excitement continues to build, Virgin Galactic CEO Michael Colglazier told investors during a first-quarter earnings conference call on May 9. Were finally at the cusp of a defining moment for the company with commercial operations set to begin.

The company has spent the past 18 months upgrading and modifying both its VSS Unity spaceship and VMS Eve mothership to improve vehicle durability and reliability before initiating tourist flights. Its last suborbital flight was nearly two years ago, when company founder Sir Richard Branson flew from Spaceport America in July 2021.

Its been a long wait, but space-tourism could finally be here this summer with monthly suborbital flights launched from Spaceport Americas 12,000-foot runway. The flights cost up to $450,000 apiece. Taxpayers will see little benefit because the expensive tickets are not subject to gross receipts taxes.

As an incentive for growing the states space industry, New Mexico lawmakers exempted payloads launched from spaceport from being subject to GRTs. But they made no distinction between commercial and human cargo. With Virgin Galactic expecting to generate $2.7 million for every six-passenger space flight, thats a pretty big tax loophole.

A bipartisan bill to close that loophole was grounded by a House committee in 2022. The Journal Editorial Board supported the initial exemptions on taxes, but hopes state lawmakers will take another look at closing the loophole as the space industry takes off. Then, all New Mexicans can benefit from the trips to the edge of space, and not just the few who actually experience microgravity and breathtaking views of the Earths curvature.

This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.
The future of Public Service Co. of New Mexico and energy giant Avangrids proposed merger will remain in the state Supreme Courts hands, at least for now.

In an order released Monday morning, the court rejected a joint request by Avangrid, PNM and the Public Regulation Commission to remand the case back to the PRC for reconsideration. The courts order also scheduled oral arguments in the case for Sept. 12.

That means the appeal Avangrid and PNM filed last year against a previous PRC decision to reject the merger will continue uninterrupted at the court in a process that now is unlikely to conclude until late 2023 or early 2024, said Cydney Beadles, attorney for Western Resource Advocates, one of the parties involved in the case.

This means the court will proceed on deciding the merits of the appeal, Beadles told the Journal. And since oral argument is now scheduled for Sept. 12, the court may not issue its final opinion until the end of the year.

That puts a sharp stop to efforts by Avangrid and PNM to get a rapid rehearing of the case by the newly appointed PRC, which took office in January. Members of the new commission joined Avangrid and PNM in a March motion asking the court to dismiss the pending appeal against the previous PRCs rejection of the merger.

That would have allowed the current PRC to regain legal jurisdiction over the case, paving the way for it to reconsider the issue.

But the March motion generated intense controversy among some parties in the case, especially since it called for the court to remand it to the PRC for a rehearing of existing evidence, rather than a reopening of the record for parties to present new evidence and provide broad input through public hearings.

The PRC did agree in April that reopening rather than rehearing the case would be most appropriate if the court remanded it back to the commission.

But Santa Fe-based New Energy Economy, which adamantly opposes the merger, exhorted the court to outright reject the motion to remand the case, arguing that the previous PRCs rejection was legally sound and would withstand Avangrid and PNMs objections if the appeal process is allowed to proceed. It also asked to supplement the court record with new evidence against the merger.

The controversy gained intensity in early May, after a series of emails that Avangrid and PRC lawyers had exchanged when discussing their joint motion raised concerns about potentially inappropriate ex-parte communications between the commission and the merger partners. That led some parties to ask that the court hear oral arguments about those communications before ruling on the remand request.

In the end, its unclear what arguments persuaded the five Supreme Court judges to reject the remand motion and retain jurisdiction. The order offered no explanations. It simply denied the joint motion and rejected NEEs request to supplement the record, as well as the request by other parties to review alleged ex-parte communications.

NEE, however, claimed victory and praised the court for protecting public rights.

I think its an enormous vindication of the rule of law and a victory for the people of New Mexico, NEE executve director Mariel Nanasi told the Journal.

Its unclear how Avangrid and PNM will respond now that the appeal process continues.

In April, the two companies extended their agreement to merge by three months to July 20. But with oral arguments in the appeal now scheduled for Sept. 12, and a final court decision unlikely until late 2023 or early 2024, the companies will need to extend their merger agreement yet again.

We received the courts order and were reviewing it, PNM spokesman Ray Sandoval told the Journal.

The New York Stock Exchange temporarily suspended trading of both Avangrid and PNM Resources Monday afternoon to allow all investors to be informed about the Supreme Court decision before their stock starts trading again.
The person who shot three people in broad daylight on Sunday remained at-large on Monday.

One person was killed and two others were injured in the shooting, which happened around 1 p.m. Sunday near Central and Wyoming.

Rebecca Atkins, a police spokeswoman, said no arrests have been made.

Atkins on Monday identified the person who was killed as Lance Tungovia, 34.

Police didnt say if it appeared the victims were targeted or shot at random.

We are not characterizing Sundays homicide in any way, Atkins said. Detectives are still gathering evidence.

Central was closed in the area for hours Sunday during the investigation.
This undated photo, provided by Ukraine's presidential office, shows first lady Olena Zelenska. Yonhap



Ukraine's first lady Olena Zelenska has expressed an intention to invite President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee to her war-torn country, calling South Korea a "model of resilience and development."



In an exclusive written interview with Yonhap News Agency, the second in less than a year, Zelenska also cautioned against any war fatigue and appealed for "more radical" support for her country's fight against Russia's aggression, which she said affects the "future of the whole world."



Since the outbreak of the war in February last year, she has been at the vanguard of a campaign to shed light on the wartime tragedy and enlist global solidarity for Ukraine. She is currently in Seoul to attend a local forum.



"Ukraine is always waiting for its friends," she said when asked if Kyiv has a plan to invite Yoon and the first lady. "Such a visit would be very supportive to Ukrainians because it is a way to share our confrontation with us, at least for a day of our lives."



She expressed her gratitude for South Korea's continued support to Ukraine.



"For Ukrainians, South Korea and its history are a model of resilience and development. So thank you for setting a good example and inspiring us," she said.



Seoul's assistance to the war-ravaged nation has been limited to non-lethal items. But in a media interview last month, Yoon signaled a potential policy shift, saying it might be difficult to insist only on humanitarian or financial aid if Ukraine comes under a large-scale attack on civilians.



Zelenska called the move "a wise decision by the president."









"Indeed, when there is a criminal in the house, the owners clearly need not only humanitarian aid, food and medicine, but something more radical to drive the criminal out," she said. "We say to everyone  give us a resource and we will drive the criminal out of our home."



The first lady highlighted the importance of the international community's undiminished attention to Ukraine, as the country has been grappling with woeful incidences of violence, particularly against children, the "most defenseless" in the throes of the war.



She catalogued a raft of grim wartime stories, including a 12-year-old boy forcibly separated from his mother who is still in Russian captivity, and two siblings taken to an orphanage after his father was thrown in prison.



With such ordeals seemingly far from over, international solidarity is of great importance for Ukraine, she stressed.



"I think the world should be more afraid of losing this interest than we are, because if the aggressor wins, the whole world loses," she said. "I do not advise anyone to lose this interest because it is an interest in your own life and the future of the whole world."



On the idea of reaching a ceasefire with Russia, Zelenska said Ukraine will only be satisfied with the "peace that will result from our victory, not an abstract armistice."



"It is impossible to shake hands with the hand that has just killed your relatives and neighbors. You cannot sit down at the negotiating table with a murderer who has no regrets," Zelenska pointed out.



She also cited U.S. President Joe Biden's remarks earlier this year: "If Russia stopped invading Ukraine, it would end the war. If Ukraine stopped defending itself against Russia, it would be the end of Ukraine."





This undated photo, provided by Ukraine's presidential office, shows first lady Olena Zelenska. Yonhap
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.
As details of Mondays shooting trickled in, elected officials from all over the state expressed condolences.

It is with profound sorrow that I acknowledge a shooting that occurred in our midst, an act of violence that has left us reeling in anguish and disbelief, Farmington Mayor Nate Duckett said in a statement. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families during this incomprehensible time of pain and loss.

In a statement released on Twitter, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said she was deeply upset by the tragic violence that unfolded today in Farmington, and that she was praying for the families of the victims, the wounded and the entire community of Farmington following this horrific tragedy.

A Democrat in her second term, Lujan Grisham said the shooting was another reminder of the prevalence of gun violence throughout the country.

Although details continue to emerge about this incident, this serves as yet another reminder of how gun violence destroys lives in our state and our country every single day. This administration will not stop fighting the epidemic of gun violence from every angle possible, she said.

The Republican Party of New Mexico thanked law enforcement for quickly stopping the criminal shooter.

Our hearts and prayers go out to the grieving families and survivors, including the two police officers who were wounded at the scene, the party said. Our state is experiencing an unprecedented crime crisis that is being intensified every year by softer penalties for violent criminals.

State Sens. Steven Neville, R-Aztec, and Bill Sharer, R-Farmington, said in a joint statement they were disturbed and distraught by the violence.

We mourn the loss of our neighbors and friends who had their life cut short, they said. Our deepest gratitude goes out to Farmington Police officers who stood up to this individual and put an end to the carnage. We pray for a speedy recovery for our officers shot in the line of duty and for the families who grieve the loss of a loved one tonight.

New Mexicos Congressional delegation, who are all Democrats, also issued a joint statement pledging federal resources moving forward. They also said they would support additional gun-control measures.

Today, gun violence took the lives of our elders, wounded two police officers, and paralyzed Farmingtons small community in fear, Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, whose district includes the Farmington area, said on Twitter. 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.
FARMINGTON  A little before 8 p.m. Monday, more than a hundred people gathered in front of Hills Church, beneath a towering steel cross, to pray for the victims of a deadly shooting earlier in the day.

The hastily-convened vigil  organized in a little over an hour Monday night  included short speeches by the mayor and two local pastors, as well as hymns and bible verses. Mourners hugged each other and wiped away tears as they listened.

The night concluded with a solemn moment of silence, for those who lost so much this afternoon.

I cant express to you my sorrow, I cant express to you my pain, said Mayor Nate Duckett, addressing the crowd. I cant express to you how I thought forever that this wouldnt happen to us here. We are a community that is defined by the quality of our character, by our ability to serve one another in a moment of need.

This senseless act of violence is not who we are, he added.

Law enforcement officers from the Farmington Police Department, San Juan County Sheriffs Office and New Mexico State Police mingled among the crowd.

The response to this call to action was immediate, it was swift, Duckett said. This is a well trained law enforcement agency, Im talking city, county, state, the FBI, everybody came to the call. That comforts me, knowing that those folks are there and theyre ready.

Fred Proctor, who attended the vigil, said he was drawn there to be with the community.

Its not like something youve got in a playbook, he said. The healing  you have to come together as a community. Were not defined by an event.

Randy Joslin, a pastor at Oasis Ministries about six blocks from the where the shooting took place, said his staff heard the gunfire and had to evacuate the office.

He stressed that it was not just the victims families who were grappling with the tragedy, but also the family of the shooter and many others.

We have first responders who have been impacted by the events today, we have children who were suddenly locked down in their classroom, all of them hurting, Joslin said. So what do we do.we let our light shine because when the light shines the darkness cannot overwhelm it.
Electing a new mayor every four-to-eight years disrupts progress in Albuquerque, two councilors backing a proposal to change the citys form of government said Monday.

Councilors Louie Sanchez and Renee Grout are cosponsoring a City Charter amendment that would integrate the mayor into the City Council, eliminating the so-called strong mayor form of government in place for half a century in Albuquerque.

Councilors voted 9-0 on Monday to defer action on the measure until June 5.

The proposal would give a council-appointed city manager many of the powers now held by the mayor, including the authority to appoint the police chief and other department directors.

Its not about politics for me  its about growing in the right direction, Grout said of the proposal. I want to take politics out of what we are doing.

Supporters say cities with a weak mayor structure  including Rio Rancho, Las Cruces and Las Vegas, Nevada  function more efficiently with a council-manager form of government.

When you look at the cities around us, they are thriving, Grout said.

No councilors took a hard stand against the proposal, although several said changing the citys form of government is a major decision that requires additional discussion.

I think these are healthy discussions, Councilor Isaac Benton said of the proposal. He and Councilor Klarissa Pena said those discussions should include the possibility of consolidating the governments of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County, which is not included in the current proposal.

At least six of the nine city councilors must agree to put the measure on the Nov. 7 local election ballot. The measure then would require support from city voters.

City Clerk Ethan Watson told councilors that he must file the measure with Bernalillo County no later than Aug. 29 to get it on the ballot.

If approved by voters, the changes would not take effect until after the next mayoral election in 2025. As such, the measure would not affect Mayor Tim Keller unless he seeks reelection.

This is not a referendum on the current mayor, Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn said. This is a referendum about what is the best form of government.

A draft of the legislation said the mayor would be recognized as the head of the city government for all ceremonial purposes but have no administrative duties. The mayor would vote at council meetings only in the event of a tie, which is rare for the citys nine-member council.

Kellers administration opposes the measure.

We are committed to working with Council and taking a hard look at how we can work more efficiently, but an extreme change to our form of government is not the answer, the mayors spokeswoman, Ava Montoya, said Tuesday in a written statement. This proposal would drastically alter Albuquerques local government, eliminating individual accountability and checks and balances, placing all city power into a committee and an unelected city manager.

Co-sponsor Sanchez urged councilors to send the measure to voters.

If the voters tell us that we need to change the government, we change it, he said.

Pay raises for city employees included in new budget

Councilors on Monday also approved a $1.37 billion budget for fiscal year 2024  $53.6 million lower than the fiscal year 2023 budget.

The budget, which takes effect July 1, includes a 3.5% pay raise for city employees and $4 million to increase pay for police officer cadets. Councilors also approved a $15 minimum wage for city employees.

The budget also includes $48.8 million in nonrecurring appropriations, including a $3 million increase to pay for free fares on city buses, and $14 million for housing vouchers.
NEW YORK (AP)  Allies of former Vice President Mike Pence are launching a new super PAC to support his expected candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

Committed to America, the Pence-sanctioned group, publicly launches Tuesday, according to people familiar with the project, who spoke on condition of anonymity to share details of the planning and strategy.

The countrys at real crossroads and the Republican Party needs a strong conservative candidate who can win, said Scott Reed, the longtime GOP consultant, who will co-chair the group. Pence has the experience, the unparalleled character, communication skills and the conservative credentials to win both the nomination and a general election.

The launch is the latest sign that Pence is moving ahead with his expected bid for the GOP nomination  a move that would put him in direct contention with his former boss, former President Donald Trump. Pence has said he will announce his plans well before late June and aides have been discussing potential launch dates for a campaign as early as May, but more likely in June. In the meantime, Pence has kept a busy schedule of visits to early-voting states, policy speeches and media interviews as he gears up for a run.

The new group will be co-chaired by Reed, who previously served as political director of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and managed Bob Doles 1996 presidential campaign. Joining him will be former Texas Rep. Jeb Hensarling, who developed a close friendship with Pence when they served in the House and is a former chair of the House Republican Conference.

Serving as executive director will be Bobby Saparow, who managed Georgia Gov. Brian Kemps winning 2022 reelection campaign. Kemp defeated his Trump-endorsed challenger, former Sen. David Perdue, by more than 50 points. Trump had targeted Kemp as retribution for the governors refusal to go along with his desperate attempts to overturn his defeat in the states 2020 presidential election  a plot that is now under investigation and expected to yield multiple indictments.

Mike Ricci, who previously served as communications director to former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, will oversee communications.

Pence faces an uphill battle to the nomination with much of the attention and fundraising focused so far on Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is planning his own entry into the race in the coming weeks. The field also includes former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson. South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott has formed a presidential exploratory committee and is expected to formally launch his campaign next week.

The new Pence group is animated by the belief that while the former congressman, talk radio host, Indiana governor and vice president of the United States is widely known by voters, their perceptions are mostly colored by his time as Trumps ever-loyal second-in-command.

They believe that if people are reminded of his experience, his character and his conservative credentials, they will embrace his candidacy.

People know Mike Pence, they just dont know him well, Reed said. This campaign is going to reintroduce Mike Pence to the country as his own man, not as vice president, but as a true economic, social and national security conservative  a Reagan conservative.

The group sees early-voting Iowa as critical for Pence and plans to launch their efforts there before expanding to other states, including New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada.

Were going to organize Iowa, all 99 counties, like were running him for county sheriff, said Reed.

They note a large portion of caucus-voters identify as Evangelical Christians, and believe Pence, a born-again Evangelical, staunch opponent of abortion rights, and a Midwesterner, will connect especially well in the state, which in previous years boosted the campaigns of fellow conservatives like Ted Cruz, Rick Santorum and Mike Huckabee. Ultimately, however, they all failed to win their partys nomination after first-place caucus finishes.

The people familiar with the super PAC would not say how much money had been committed to the group by donors, but insisted that they will raise as much money as they need to spend.

The group intends to focus on building a data and paid ground operation dedicated to turning people out to vote for Pence, citing Kemps campaign as a model.

We are going to do something very similar, Saparow said. You will see that what we built out with Gov. Kemp is going to be taken to the national stage. So we will also be doing a very extensive paid voter contact program through Committed to America.

There is a recipe and there is a roadmap of success that Ive worked on in the past that I believe well be able to replicate with the vice president, he added.

They also spoke specifically of Pences role on Jan. 6, 2021, when he resisted Trumps pressure campaign to overturn the results of the 2020 election  a power that Pence, as vice president, never possessed. Pence had been proceeding over a joint session of Congress to certify President Joe Bidens win when a violent mob of Trumps supporters broke into the Capitol, smashing windows, ramming through doors and clashing with police. Pence was rushed to safety in a Senate loading dock as some outside the building chanted, Hang Mike Pence!

The people said they believe voters will be drawn to Pences defense of the Constitution. Yet it remains unclear how salient that position will be in a party still dominated by the former president. A large swath of Trumps base will never forgive Pence for his actions that day, while many Trump critics see the former vice president as complicit in Trumps most divisive actions.

A Quinnipiac University national poll released in May found 36% of Republicans nationwide view Pence unfavorably  a higher unfavorable rating than Trump or DeSantis.
This image released by Focus Features shows writer-director Wes Anderson on the set of "Asteroid City." (Roger Do Minh/Pop. 87 Productions/Focus Features via AP) FILE - Tallia Storm poses for photographers upon arrival at the opening ceremony at the 75th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, on May 17, 2022. The 76th international film festival kicks off May 16. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole, File) The official poster featuring actress Catherine Deneuve from the film 'La Chamade' is pictured on the facade of the Palais des Festivals ahead of the Cannes film festival, in Cannes, southern France, Sunday, May 14, 2023. The 76th edition of the film festival runs from May 16 until May 27. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole) Workers prepare the lighting on the red carpet of the Palais des Festivals ahead of the Cannes film festival, in Cannes, southern France, Sunday, May 14, 2023. The 76th edition of the film festival runs from May 16 until May 27. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole) This image released by Sony Pictures Classics shows Ethan Hawke, left, and Pedro Pascal in a scene from "Strange Way of Life." (Sony Pictures Classics via AP) This image released by Disney/Pixar Studios shows Ember, voiced by Leah Lewis, in a scene from the animated film "Elemental." (Disney/Pixar via AP) This image released by A24 shows a scene from "The Zone of Interest." (A24 via AP) This image released by Lucasfilm shows Harrison Ford in a scene from "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny." (Lucasfilm Ltd. via AP) This image released by Apple TV+ shows Lily Gladstone, left, and Leonardo DiCaprio in "Killers of the Flower Moon." (Apple TV+ via AP) Prev 1 of 9 Next

The Cannes Film Festival, which will kick off Tuesday, is such a colossal extravaganza that taking measure of its ups and downs is notoriously difficult. Its a showcase of the worlds best cinema. Its a red-carpet spectacular. Its a French Riviera hive of dealmaking.

But by at least some metrics, Cannes  following a canceled 2020 festival, a much-diminished 2021 edition and a triumphant 2022 return  is finally all the way back.

Lets just say its gotten very hard to get restaurant reservations again, says Christine Vachon, the veteran producer and longtime collaborator of Todd Haynes.

When the 76th Cannes Film Festival opens Tuesday with the premiere of Jeanne du Barry, a historical drama by Maiwenn starring Johnny Depp, the gleaming Cote dAzur pageant can feel confident that it has weathered the storms of the pandemic and the perceived threat of streaming. ( Netflix and Cannes remain at an impasse.)

Last years festival, a banner one by most judgments, produced three Oscar best-picture nominees (Top Gun: Maverick, Elvis and the Palme dOr winner Triangle of Sadness ), again proving Cannes as the premier global launching pad for films big and small.

A BLOCKBUSTER CANNES

This years festival is headlined by a pair of marquee premieres: Martin Scorseses Osage Nation 1920s epic Killers of the Flower Moon, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro, and James Mangolds Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, starring Harrison Ford in his final performance as the character.

But as blockbuster as Cannes can be, even those films suggest the wide spectrum of cinema on hand. Both Scorsese and Mangold were first in Cannes decades ago to premiere their early breakthrough films in the Directors Fortnight sidebar: Scorsese with 1973s Mean Streets, Mangold with 1995s Heavy.

This time, though, theyll debut much bigger films, sure to be the hottest tickets on the Croisette. Scorsese has his $200 million epic for Apple TV+. And Mangold will premiere, as he says, a more splendiferous project than his minimalist debut.

The Indy celebration will include a tribute to Ford. He, along with Michael Douglas, will be given honorary Palme dOrs. To Mangold, its a chance for Ford to embrace the franchises international following. The Indiana Jones films essence, the director says, is rooted in golden-age cinema.

These are things where youre taking your guidance from the classics, Mangold says. Thats something thats really appreciated by the French about American cinema. In many ways, they revere the old pictures more than even the audience in the United States do. That makes it a really wonderful platform.

A RECORD HIGH FOR FEMALE FILMMAKERS

This year, 21 films are competing for the Palme dOr, which will be decided by a jury led by last years winner, Swedish writer-director Ruben Ostlund. Seven are directed by women, a new high for Cannes in its nearly eight decades of existence. Among the most anticipated is Italian filmmaker Alice Rohrwachers La Chimera, starring Josh OConnor and Isabella Rossellini.

The festival, running through May 27, will unspool against the backdrop of labor unrest on both sides of the Atlantic. France has been beset in recent months by protests over pension reforms, including raising the retirement age. In the U.S., screenwriters are on strike to seek better pay in the streaming era.

The prospect of a prolonged work stoppage could potentially drive up prices for finished films at Cannes, the worlds top movie market. Among the titles seeking distribution is Haynes May December, which stars Natalie Portman as a journalist who embeds with a couple (Julianne Moore, Charles Melton) once renowned for their age discrepancy.

Though arthouses have struggled to match the box-office recovery at multiplexes, Vachon, a producer on May December, says her company, Killer Films, and the indie stalwart Haynes are accustomed to pivoting endlessly and finding opportunities no matter what the sea winds bring.

AUTEURS AND A-LISTERS

As usual, this years competition lineup returns plenty of Cannes heavyweights, including Hirokazu Kore-eda (Monster), Wim Wenders (Perfect Days), Nuri Bilge Ceylan (About Dry Grasses), Ken Loach (The Old Oak) and Nanni Moretti (A Brighter Tomorrow).

Jonathan Glazers The Zone of Interest, shot in Auschwitz, is one of the festivals most eagerly awaited films. Its his first since 2013s Under the Skin. Pedro Almodovar will premiere the short Strange Way of Life, with Pedro Pascal and Ethan Hawke. Wes Anderson, flanked by another starry ensemble, will debut Asteroid City.

Theres also the upcoming HBO series The Idol, from Euphoria filmmaker Sam Levinson starring Abel Tesfaye  also known as the Weeknd  and Lily-Rose Depp; Firebrand with Alicia Vikander as Catherine Parr and Judd Law as Tudor King Henry VIII; and the Pixar movie Elemental, which closes the festival.

Steve McQueen, the 12 Years a Slave filmmaker, will debut the longest film playing at Cannes and one of its most thought-provoking. Occupied City, which McQueen made with his wife, Dutch author Bianca Stigter, is a four-hour-plus documentary that combines narration detailing violent incidents across Amsterdam during the Nazi occupation with present-day footage from those locations.

McQueen, too, began his feature filmmaking career at Cannes. His 2008 debut, Hunger, won the Camera dOr, a prize for best first film. Its never as good as the first time, McQueen says.

But its the most important film festival, continues McQueen. Our film is asking questions. This is where you want to premiere films that challenge and films that ask questions. Youre right on the front line.

POTENTIAL BREAKTHROUGHS

While many eyes will be on reactions to the new Scorsese or Asteroid City, Cannes will, as it does every year, bring new directors to wider film audiences. Senegalese filmmaker Ramata-Toulaye Sys Banel & Adama is the rare first feature in Palme competition.

Argentine filmmaker Rodrigo Moreno, 50, will be making his first trip to Cannes with The Delinquents, a heist drama sprinkled with existentialism and cinematic flourishes. Its one of the highlights of the Un Certain Regard section.

The film took Moreno five years to make, partially because of the pandemic. But its Cannes selection is a long time coming in another way. Morenos first feature as a solo director was invited to both Un Certain Regard and main competition at Berlin. The producers chose Berlin.

At this point of my career. Im focused on: If this allows me to keep on working and make the next film, to me, thats OK. Its the only thing I really want, says Moreno.

The shooting of this film spanned almost five years, which is crazy, he adds. But the nice side of that is that every year, I had to shoot. The one thing I knew was that a new year began, and I had to shoot. And the following, I had to shoot.

___

Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP
BERLIN (AP)  A German court convicted five men Tuesday of breaking into a Dresden museum and stealing 21 pieces of jewelry containing more than 4,300 diamonds.

The men ages 24 to 29 received prison sentences ranging from four years and four months to six years and three months, German news agency dpa reported. One defendant was acquitted.

The Dresden state court ruled that the five were responsible for the theft of the 18th century jewelry from the Green Vault Museum on Nov. 25, 2019. Officials said at the time that the stolen items included a large diamond brooch and a diamond epaulet.

The crime was considered one of Germanys most spectacular jewelry heists in recent history. The pieces taken had a total insured value of at least 113.8 million euros ($129 million).

The men were accused of starting a fire just before the break-in to cut the power supply to street lights outside the museum, and also setting fire to a car in a nearby garage before fleeing to Berlin. They were caught several months later during raids in Germanys capital.

The court convicted them of particularly aggravated arson in combination with dangerous bodily injury, theft with weapons, damage to property and intentional arson.

The judges who heard the case observed that some of the men had acted with considerable criminal energy, dpa reported. The aim was to get rich, the judges said.

More than 100 witnesses and 11 experts gave testimony during the trials main proceedings, according to the news agency.

The Green Vault is one of the worlds oldest museums. It was established in 1723 and contains the treasury of Augustus the Strong of Saxony, comprising around 4,000 objects of gold, precious stones and other materials.

In January, the defense, prosecution and court reached a plea bargain after most of the stolen jewels were returned. However, some of the most important pieces featuring large diamonds remain missing, according to dpa.

Four defendants who agreed to the plea bargain subsequently admitted their involvement in the crime through their lawyers. The fifth defendant also confessed, but only to helping to procure objects such as the axes used to make holes in the museum display case, dpa reported.

The returned pieces do not erase the fact that the museums collection of complete jewelry sets is probably destroyed forever, Presiding Judge Andreas Ziegel Ziegel said.

The state of Saxony, where Dresden is located, claimed damages of almost 89 million euros to cover the cost of pieces that were returned damaged, the missing jewelry and repairs to the destroyed display cases and the museum building.

In his remarks Tuesday, Ziegel directly addressed the defendants, saying it is up to them to decided whether to continue committing crimes.

There are things in your life that are worth living a different life for, the judge said said, according to dpa. Its your choice what you do with your life.
When Raising Canes came to Albuquerque last week, the line wrapped around the block.

But the Louisiana-founded chicken chain isnt the only national chicken franchise setting up shop in New Mexico. El Pollo Loco, which has nearly 500 locations, has signed a new territory agreement for Northern Colorado, El Paso  and New Mexico.

Nine locations are planned for the Land of Enchantment. The first is due to open in November 2024, although no addresses have been set yet.

The restaurant chain was first started in 1975 in Guasave, Sinaloa, Mexico. In 1980, the first U.S. Pollo Loco location opened in Los Angeles. Its headquarters are now located in Costa Mesa, CA.
FARMINGTON  Police say an 18-year-old Farmington High School student walked out of his home on Dustin Avenue and roamed up and down the street late Monday morning shooting indiscriminately at passing cars. Minutes later, Beau Wilson was killed in an exchange of gunfire with several officers

In all, officials said at least 150 rounds were fired along a quarter-mile stretch of road.

Three women, all over the age of 70, were killed. Six others, including two police officers, were injured.

At a news conference Tuesday afternoon, Farmington Police Deputy Chief Baric Crum identified the women killed as 79-year-old Shirley Voita, 97-year-old Gwendolyn Schofield and Schofields daughter, 73-year-old Melody Ivie.

Schofield and Ivie died at the scene. Voita was taken to San Juan Regional Medical Center, where she died.

Several others, ranging in age from 30s to 70s, were injured by gunfire or shattering glass as their windows were shot out.

At least six houses along the busy street lined with churches and homes abutting a quiet middle class neighborhood were struck by bullets, although all those who were injured in the explosion of gunfire were in vehicles.

Farmington Police Department sergeant Rachel Discenza was shot in the pelvic region during the shootout with Wilson. New Mexico State Police officer Andreas Stamatiadas was injured by gunfire while driving to the scene. Both have been treated and released.

Appears to be purely random

At the news conference, Farmington Police Deputy Chief Kyle Dowdy said Wilson used three different weapons, including an AR-style rifle he bought legally in November and two other guns that belonged to family members. Dowdy wasnt sure if the family members knew Wilson had those guns.

Neither of Wilsons parents could be reached for comment. Dowdy said the department is still investigating.

Its important to note that this incident appears to be purely random and had no specific targets or motives that we can identify at this time, Dowdy said.

He said Wilson had some minor infractions as a juvenile but nothing that would rise to the level of any serious crime.

We have come across some indication that potentially he had some mental health issues and thats through interviews with involved parties in his life, Dowdy said. In subsequent interviews there has been some concern about his mental health.

Shooting timeline

It was 10 minutes between when police say a Ring video captured the first shots fired outside Wilsons fathers house at 10:56 a.m. and when he was killed in an exchange of gunfire in front of the First Church of Christ, Scientist a couple of blocks away.

Dowdy, Farmington deputy police chief, provided this timeline of Mondays shooing:

10:56 a.m.: A Ring doorbell in the neighborhood captures Wilson firing shots in the vicinity.

10:57 a.m. (approximately): Officers from the Farmington Police Department are dispatched to the area of Ute and North Dustin following reports of shots fired.

11:02 a.m.: Shots are continuously being fired by Wilson as officers arrive on scene.

11:06 a.m. Wilson and responding Farmington Police officers fire shots at one another in the 700 block of North Dustin. Wilson was shot and an officer was shot almost simultaneously. Wilson is later pronounced deceased on the scene.

One neighbor, who lives next to the church, said she watched Wilson walk down the street and he looked like he had a mission.

She said he went around behind the church and then came back out yelling at the cops and ended up getting shot.

Four Farmington Police Department officers shot Wilson and that part of the incident is now being investigated by the San Juan County Sheriffs Office and other agencies, which is standard for police-involved shootings.

San Juan County Sheriffs deputies also responded to the scene while it was active, along with State Police officers. The FBI is assisting with the investigation into the incident.

There is no doubt yesterday that countless lives were saved by the heroic actions of our law enforcement agents from multiple departments who addressed this threat head-on, said Farmington Mayor Nate Duckett. I was made aware last night that three of our responding Farmington police officers were at lunch when the call came in and responded to this call without body armor.

Journal staff writers Esteban Candelaria and Elizabeth Tucker contributed to this report.

More coverage
Insomnia  yes, insomnia  is being added as a qualifying condition in the states medical cannabis program, the New Mexico Department of Health announced on Tuesday.

The sleep disorder that makes it harder for people to fall asleep or stay asleep is the states 30th qualifying condition for the program. It will go into effect in June.

The addition of insomnia comes just months after the state added anxiety as a qualifying condition amid a year of declining enrollment in the program following the states April 2022 launch of commercial cannabis sales for adult users.

Even though patients may access cannabis without a medical cannabis card through the adult-use program, by including insomnia in the list of qualifying conditions, patients would have increased opportunity to discuss with their medical provider how cannabis can be used to impact their insomnia and help them sleep better, DOH Secretary Patrick Allen wrote in his decision approving the condition. From a health equity perspective, medical cannabis can offer a legal alternative to the expensive medications sometimes utilized by those suffering with insomnia.

Insomnia  which affects millions of Americans across the country  was recommended as a qualifying condition by a state medical cannabis advisory board in March. At the time, board members voted unanimously to support the recommendation before the approval was made on Tuesday.

But adding insomnia as a qualifying condition is just a small patch in the larger issue of declining enrollment. State data shows there were 101,119 patients enrolled in the medical cannabis program at the end of April, down from 134,307 a year ago.

Dominick Zurlo, the states medical cannabis program director, told the Journal earlier this year that the decline in enrollment is to be expected with the introduction of a recreational industry. But he cited the medical programs benefits, including enrolled patients not having to pay gross receipts or cannabis excise taxes and higher potency cannabis products.

But others, including Ultra Health CEO and President Duke Rodriguez, have questioned the programs viability in a new age of cannabis where anyone over age 21 can head to a New Mexico dispensary with just their drivers license.

Its naive to think that one condition like insomnia is going to positively impact enrollment, Rodriguez told the Journal.
Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shake hands before a news conference in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Sept. 23, 2022. Reuters-Yonhap



Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will arrive in Korea on Tuesday for a summit with President Yoon Suk Yeol as the two countries seek to boost cooperation on security and critical minerals used in batteries.



Yoon and Trudeau are scheduled to hold a summit and joint press conference on Wednesday, followed by an official dinner, said Yoon's deputy national security advisor, Kim Tae-hyo.



Trudeau's visit, the first in nine years by a Canadian leader, marks the 60th anniversary of bilateral relations, and both sides will issue a joint statement mapping out their partnership for the next 60 years, Kim said.



The two U.S. allies have been exploring ways to deepen cooperation on critical minerals used in electric vehicle (EV) batteries and step up intelligence sharing.



"The two leaders will discuss intensively on ways to build a norms-based global order including on North Korea's human rights issues, launching a high-level economic and security dialogue, strengthening cooperation on key minerals," Kim told reporters.



Yoon and Trudeau will sign an agreement on key mineral supply chains, clean energy conversion and energy security cooperation, a Korean government official told Reuters, and requesting anonymity as the deal was not finalized.



Canada has been trying to scale up EV production, with ample mineral reserves, including lithium, cobalt and nickel, which are used to make batteries for those vehicles.



The two leaders agreed to deepen cooperation on minerals supply chains when they met last September, as part of efforts to cut emissions to fight climate change.



The two countries have also sought to step up security cooperation including intelligence sharing, while navigating an intensifying rivalry between the United States and China.



Diplomatic tensions between Canada and China have been running high since the detention of Huawei Technologies executive Meng Wanzhou in 2018 and Beijing's subsequent arrest of two Canadians on spying charges.



Last week, China expelled a Canadian diplomat in Shanghai in a tit-for-tat move after Ottawa told a Toronto-based Chinese diplomat to leave.



Yoon has trodden cautiously with China, Korea's largest trade partner, but he has been more vocal over tension in the Taiwan Strait. Last month Seoul and Beijing exchanged harsh words over Yoon's comments in an interview with Reuters. (Reuters)


Instagram Celebrity

The 'Made in Chelsea' star and the 'Only Way is Essex' actor work together for the new collection in order to help guys look after their wellbeing to coincide with mental health awareness week.

May 16, 2023

AceShowbiz - Sam Thompson and Pete Wicks have joined forces to help men's mental health with new Baylis and Harding collection. "Made in Chelsea" star Sam and Pete, who found fame in "The Only Way is Essex", have collaborated on the new Baylis and Harding Goodness Men's collection which runs from May 15 to May 21.

The stigma surrounding men and mental health has caused a significant gender suicide gap, with suicide rates being higher for men compared to women, as men are told to present as "strong" and "be a man" by suppressing their emotions.

According to new research conducted by luxury bath brand Baylis and Harding, 85 percent of British men reported feeling stressed, while 46 percent of men surveyed admitted that work is their biggest cause of stress followed by finances, health and the current cost-of-living crisis.

Radio presenter Sam, who has been candid about mental health struggles, urged the importance of prioritising self-care. The 30-year-old celebrity said, "This study proves what I already know to be true, that prioritising mental health is the most important form of self-care for more than two thirds of men."

"It's really important that men take the time to do proper self-care and look after their mental wellbeing to release the stress of day-to-day life, which is why I'm so happy to be working with Baylis Harding on its new Goodness Men's range as they are highlighting the simple act of a cold shower can benefit the body and mind alongside the product's natural ingredients. Personally, I love a sit-down shower to wind down or a cold shower to get me focused and spa diffusers, especially peppermint, while reading and playing with my cats also does the trick," she added.

Pete continued, "It can often be a struggle for men to really take the time to de-stress and focus completely on their own mental health  something which I myself have been guilty of. Teaming up with Baylis and Harding, we're hopefully encouraging more men to actively take that time to reflect and focus on themselves, their mind and their body. For me self-care doesn't have to be a big thing, it can be something small like taking a shower, a walk or even spending time with family and friends that can really help me reset my mindset."

Tania Slater, co-founder of Baylis and Harding, said, "Despite the all-important mental health benefits of self-care, British men spend an average of just 30 minutes on their daily routine. Simple things like taking a shower can make a huge difference - you can enjoy a wellbeing boost by adjusting the water temperature, with countless studies showing that cold showers stimulate the release of endorphins which reduce depression and anxiety symptoms, as well as improving circulation."

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After a video emerged of the 'Awwsome' hitmaker and his manager being detained at gunpoint by police, it reportedly stems from an incident where he allegedly pulled a gun on his girlfriend.

May 16, 2023

AceShowbiz - New details of Shy Glizzy's latest run-in with the law have been uncovered. The rapper was arrested over the weekend after he allegedly pulled a gun on his girlfriend and threatened to harm her.

On Sunday, May 14, a video surfaced of the Southwest emcee and his manager being detained by police at gunpoint in Sherman Oaks, California. Now, TMZ reports that the arrest stems from an incident involving his girlfriend on Saturday.

Shy was arrested on Saturday following a verbal altercation with his on-and-off girlfriend which escalated to the point where the rapper grabbed a firearm and made a threat, police say. It reportedly occurred on a public street around 9 A.M. on Saturday and he took off after the argument.

West Hollywood Sheriff's Deputies somehow got involved and a criminal report was made. Shy was eventually tracked down by 6 P.M. that day and arrested on a felony charge of making criminal threats.

Police reportedly did not find a gun on Shy when he was arrested and he denied ever threatening his girlfriend, whom he has reportedly been dating on and off for 4 months. Records show he was released after about 4 hours behind bars on a $50,000 bond, while the case remains under investigation.

The girlfriend, whose identity has not been made public, has since filed documents asking for a restraining order against Shy. The hip-hop star has not commented on the arrest report.

In the video, which went viral on Sunday, a man was seen raising his two hands 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.

Earlier this year, Shy was accused of sexual misconduct by OnlyFans model Bri. She claimed he pressured her to take an unknown drug while on the set of his music video "White Girl". After they wrapped the shoot, Bri said he demanded oral sex. When she declined, he allegedly told her that she would not get paid for her appearance in the music video.

Shy later denied the allegations. "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," he said, before adding, "It's not true. 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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Supporters of the Duchess of Sussex quickly accuse the Princess of Wales of copying one of Meghan's styles while recording her piano performance ahead of the Eurovision 2023 finale.

May 16, 2023

AceShowbiz - Kate Middleton's new video on Instagram sparked chatter among fans of Meghan Markle. After Kate shared the clip on Instagram on Saturday, May 13, supporters of the Duchess of Sussex quickly accused the Princess of Wales of copying one of Meghan's styles.

In the said video, Kate could be seen looking stunning while donning a billowing, one-shouldered blue dress by Jenny Packham. The 41-year-old wife of Prince William recorded her piano performance of an instrumental version of "Stefania" at Windsor Castle ahead of the Eurovision 2023 finale.

She joined last year's Eurovision winners, Ukraine's Kalush Orchestra, for the piece. It also seemed that the mom of three paid tribute to one of the colors of the war-torn country's flag with the bright blue frock.

The fans of the former "Suits" artist took issue with Kate's blue gown, which looked like the one the Duchess of Sussex wore to the NAACP Awards back on February 26. "Kate is copying Meghan again. Same color. Same shoulder. Kate is soooooooo dull," one fan noted, blasting the Duchess of Cambridge.

"I thought royal insiders and palace sources said it was filthy and classless for royalty to wear off-the-shoulder dresses like the one Meghan the Duchess of Sussex wore to the @NAACP Awards," one person added.

Another Twitter user posted a side-by-side comparison of the two wearing their blue gowns. "I guess it is only against protocol when the Black duchess does it & not Kate Middleton," the person said.

However, some others pointed out that Princess Diana once wore a similar gown. "Diana did it first," a fan shared a picture of Princess Diana donning a one-shouldered blue frock at a 1996 event in Australia.

Meanwhile, Meghan debuted a new hairstyle while meeting some Californian students from their local youth group, AHA! Santa Barbara with Prince Harry. For the outing, she styled her silky hair in loose waves which looked similar to her sister-in-law's usual look.

Meghan paired her then-new hair with a chic black dress and gold bangles. The mom of two finished her elegant look with a smoky eyeshadow and nude lipstick.

During the hour-long session, the couple talked about the ways in which they can improve feelings of insecurity and peer-pressure young people may face while using social media. They additionally opened up a conversation with the teenagers to try and find solutions together.

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While advising everyone to take 'everything you read on the internet with a grain of salt,' the 'Marvelous Mrs. Maisel' star admits that she 'would jump at the chance [to play Lois Lane] if it arose.'

May 16, 2023

AceShowbiz - Rachel Brosnahan has broken her silence on report linking her to "Superman: Legacy". After it was reported that she is among the mix to play Lois Lane in the upcoming DCEU movie, the actress has expressed interest in starring in the film.

"The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" star was asked about being one of the frontrunners to play Lois Lane during her appearance on "The View" on Monday, May 15. "I mean, look, take everything you read on the internet with a grain of salt is my first piece of advice," she coyly said at first.

While she neither confirmed nor denied the news, the Emmy winner added, "Look, it would be extraordinary. I grew up watching Lois Lane, this incredibly talented journalist, far from a damsel in distress, and I would jump at the chance if it arose."

Brosnahan was also talking about the final season of her critically-acclaimed Amazon series "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" and her role in the Broadway revival of the Lorraine Hansberry play "The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window" during the interview with the talk show's co-hosts.

The Hollywood Reporter was the first to report that Brosnahan is among the names being considered to portray the love interest of Clark Kent a.k.a. Superman. She reportedly delivered an "outstanding" audition, but at 32, she might be not the Lane that James Gunn is looking for, which is a heroic Metropolis character in her twenties.

Other names eying the part reportedly included "Bridgerton" star Phoebe Dynevor, Emma Mackey of Netflix's series "Sex Education" and "Scream VI" star Samara Weaving. Nicholas Hoult has been tipped to play the classic villain Lex Luthor, while David Corenswet is allegedly the frontrunner to play the titular superhero.

"Superman: Legacy" will be the first project in the new DC Universe as supervised by Gunn and his DC Studios co-head Peter Safran. Gunn is set to direct with the script that he also writes. The movie is expected to be released sometime in 2025.

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The 1975 frontman is pictured carrying a Louis Vuitton overnight bag and wearing a hat bearing the name of his girlfriend's 2019 album after he hung out with her dad at one of her Philly concerts.

May 16, 2023

AceShowbiz - Taylor Swift and Matty Healy's alleged new romance continues to heat up. The pair apparently had a sleepover at her place after he met her father at one of her "The Eras Tour" shows in Philadelphia.

The British musician was spotted leaving Taylor's apartment in New York City on Monday, May 15. In pictures published by Daily Mail, he was seen carrying a Louis Vuitton overnight bag as he left the pop superstar's home.

The 1975 frontman was not shy to show his affections for his girlfriend. He was also seen wearing a hat bearing the name of Taylor's 2019 album "Lover" as he walked across the street in the paparazzi snaps.

Matty went low-key in a simple black long-sleeve shirt with black jeans rolled up at the hems. He teamed his outfit with brown boots. He seemingly tried to dodge shutterbugs by leaving the apartment via a back door before heading on to another building downtown.

Matty Healy was spotted as he left Taylor Swift's NYC apartment.

Over the weekend, Matty continued to show his support for Taylor by attending her concerts at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. He was even spotted hanging out with his girlfriend's dad Scott Swift on her second Philly stop on Saturday.

In a video taken by a fan, Scott was seen watching his daughter perform from a box seat out in the stands where Matty stood next to him. The two can be seen enjoying the concert, jamming out together as Scott was also documenting the performance with his phone.

According to one concertgoer, Matty confirmed that he's dating Taylor when asked about rumors about their relationship. "Taylor's parents omggg," the fan wrote over a TikTok video. "Then Matty Healy [sic] he said yes when we asked if they were dating."

Prior to this, Taylor and Matty were reportedly caught "cuddling and kissing" during a date at Casa Cipriani on May 11. They were also spotted holding hands during the outing with Jack Antonoff and his fiancee Margaret Qualley.

After pictures of Taylor and Matty's date leaked online, some members of the club reportedly got the boot for violating their no-pic policy. "At least three members got kicked out for taking pictures of Taylor," a source has told Page Six. "There is a no picture policy. Their membership was revoked."

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Indias leading consumer data intelligence company, Axis My India announced a partnership with Bharat Rajamani, Co-Founder & CEO at GetafixM  a full services marketing and media firm to build a Consumer Insights led Business Consulting Practice. Keeping consumers at the heart of the process, the partnership aims to resolve brands pressing business problems by identifying and bridging the gap between consumer and product needs.

Axis My India, has a physical presence across India and can mobilize engagement with over 190 million Indian households, brings forth its consumer data intelligence and large-scale research capabilities to this partnership. Bharat Rajamani aims to bring forth a strong filter and present the data to the business and marketing teams in a manner which would have a positive impact on their business growth.

Commenting on the partnership, Pradeep Gupta, Chairman & MD of Axis My India said, We are pleased to partner with Bharat Rajamani, a distinguished business leader with a rich and diverse leadership experience across EY and KPMG and a trusted business advisor. We are confident that with Bharat's consulting experience of over two decades and his unique ability to solve complex business challenges, we will be able to provide our clients with a steady and truthful representation of facts, insights, and trends across 700+ districts in India. The practice aims to enable consulting with real time data, muti phase approach of guiding brands on new product development, growth and help them measure real valuation and demand of a product based on consumers current need and future market potential. Our work doesnt stop at the strategy stage, we will also help brands in constant monitoring and execution of these growth plans and keep a measure of the overall impact. With our combined strengths, I am highly optimistic about our success.

Bharat said In todays era some of the key impediments for business growth are knowledge of diverse customer needs, business intelligence, competitor mapping, keeping the brand culture intact. To truly understand the needs and preferences of consumers, it is imperative to invest more resources and change our approach to business & marketing strategy. We want to bridge the industry need of good quality data by being a strong filter and present the data to the Business and Marketing teams in a way they see a great value in the process and outcome for their business growth. Our partnership with Axis My India, a trusted and established leader in consumer data intelligence, gives us the confidence to provide valuable and accurate insights to business and marketing leaders. We look forward to working together.

The partnership aims to address the industry need for data by providing fast and accurate insights from the ground through their combined expertise in understanding the pulse of the consumers and the ability to solve business challenges.
The European Commission has granted approval, subject to certain commitments, for Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard under the EU Merger Regulation. The approval is contingent upon Microsoft's full compliance with the commitments offered, which effectively address the competition concerns identified by the Commission. This acquisition represents a significant advancement for cloud gaming compared to the current landscape.

The decision follows a thorough investigation conducted by the European Commission into the potential acquisition. The Commission based its decision on solid evidence and extensive input from competitors, customers, game developers, distributors, and cloud game streaming platforms within the European Economic Area (EEA).

The investigation revealed that both Microsoft and Activision Blizzard are involved in game development and publishing for PCs, consoles, and mobile devices, as well as game distribution for PCs. Microsoft, in addition to game distribution, also offers the widely popular Xbox console and a range of products and services, including the PC operating system "Windows." Activision Blizzard's renowned game portfolio includes titles such as Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Overwatch, and Diablo.

During the preliminary investigation, the Commission determined that Microsoft could potentially harm competition in the distribution of console and PC video games, multi-game subscription services, and cloud game streaming services, as well as in the supply of PC operating systems.

After conducting an in-depth market investigation, the Commission concluded that Microsoft would not pose a threat to rival consoles and multi-game subscription services. However, it found that Microsoft could impede competition in the distribution of games through cloud game streaming services and strengthen its position in the market for PC operating systems.

The Commission's key findings include:

 Microsoft would have no incentive to withhold the distribution of Activision's games from Sony, the leading global distributor of console games, including within the EEA, where Sony PlayStation consoles greatly outnumber Microsoft Xbox consoles. Microsoft has strong motivations to continue distributing Activision's games through popular platforms such as Sony's PlayStation.

 Even if Microsoft were to withdraw Activision's games from the PlayStation, it would not significantly impact competition in the console market. Sony, leveraging its size, extensive game catalog, and market position, would be capable of safeguarding its competitive standing.

 Activision would not have made its games available for multi-game subscription services even without the proposed acquisition, as it could cannibalize individual game sales. Thus, the transaction would not alter the situation for third-party providers of multi-game subscription services.

 The acquisition would harm competition in the distribution of PC and console games through cloud game streaming services, a transformative market segment in gaming. The Commission found that Activision's popular games could foster the growth of cloud game streaming. However, if Microsoft were to make Activision's games exclusive to its own cloud game streaming service, Game Pass Ultimate, and exclude rival providers, competition in the distribution of games through cloud streaming would be diminished.

 Making Activision's games exclusive to its cloud game streaming service could also bolster Windows' position in the PC operating systems market. This scenario could arise if Microsoft obstructed or impaired the streaming of Activision's games on PCs utilizing operating systems other than Windows.
Authored by Pankaj Krishna, Founder & CEO, Chrome DM

What is a good workplace culture?

Its a question that plagues every organization irrespective of their years in endurance. Chrome DM has been in this industry for over 14 years and yet, we strive each year to create a space that lends a common sense of purpose  that purpose being a safe haven for diverse perspectives and cultural flexibilities that can be more challenging to achieve in a standard corporate setting.

However, for past four years, ever since I have personally taken the Natutarian path  we at Chrome DM have gone through a tidal wave that has morphed this once sacred place to a thriving space for holistic wellness and conscious living.

At first, we started small  Tiffins and Hot Cases : So, we all were handed glass / steel utensils to carry food from home and provided with conventional hot ovens in office (against Microwaves). We are all aware that home-cooked meals are preferable to processed foods. Microwaves are BAD  they pretty much kill all the good nutrients in the food and the team here is hugely dissuaded to use them and plastic containers. Additionally, plastic containers release harmful chemicals when heated in a microwave.

Fresh Fruits and Cold Press Juicing Machines:

Fresh fruits instead of packaged snacks, organic over processed, and much more. Coffee machines were replaced with cold pressed juicers and induction plates were introduced. As for Tea & Coffee, both prepared in-house using naturally sourced ingredients. As time went on, we slowly but surely got many of our employees to choose fresh juices, in-house masala chai, and coffee over flavoured sodas.

Drinking Water

NO - NO to the fake 20 litres so called mineral water packed in plastic for months! Given our absurd AQI and water turbidity, we had opted for an Alkaline-based water purifier that brings our PH to an optimum level of 7.5 along with a TDS of 150 required for daily consumption. The TDS in MOST leading brands of packaged water is around 50, which not only is dead water, it is terribly harmful for you bones and overall well-being, it sucks out the minerals of your body

Cleaning Raw Fruits and Veggies

Freshly cut salad and organic pickles are on the house for all! We also invested in an Ozonizer to disinfect our fruits and vegetables from toxic levels of pesticides and other harmful toxins. Half an hour of cleansing pretty much removes most toxins making the raw produce ready for consumption. What logic to have people carry salad from home which would go soggy by lunchsalad loaded with tonnes of fibre critical to go with each meal.

Seating Crossed legged on the floor while eating

Alti Palti is just so natural  but then Japanese style seat sounds cooler. Seating cross-legged on the floor while eating is not only natural but also has several health benefits. It helps in improving digestion, maintaining posture, and increasing blood circulation. Regardless of the seating style, it's essential to prioritize comfort and good posture during meals to avoid any discomfort or health issues in the long run. At Chrome DM we have a dedicated lunch room with floor seating  Shoes Out please!

This renewed compulsion to go natural and minimal has fared us radical results in past one year. The results, to no ones surprise, were immeasurably positive! Besides having an engaging workforce with renewed efficacy, our employees have also seen concrete results yielding in even the most bruising circumstances. Because through all dire straits at our wits end, we have always attempted to work around the mantra that encourages a healthy work/life balance - where both work and life should yield equal importance by finding the right balance.

The progression came naturally, after enduring several physical check-ups and multiple health scares over the years. Maybe it was the sudden isolation from the fast-paced life from pre-Covid times that dealt a rough blow to our social psyche, but the urge to return to simpler, more natural way of living became all too consuming  all at once!
Swiss Beauty, a leading makeup brand, has onboarded Bollywood superstar Taapsee Pannu as its brand ambassador. With Taapsee's influence and the brand's commitment to high-performing makeup, they aim to redefine standards and help people make better makeup choices. This collaboration deepens the audience connection, as both Taapsee and Swiss Beauty have risen from the ground up. Together, they inspire people to embrace their unique beauty, marking a transformative chapter that celebrates authenticity and helps them make informed decisions for their makeup.

Taapsee Pannu, celebrated for her exceptional talent and authentic personality, has become an inspiration to millions of people across the country. Her natural beauty and genuine portrayal of real-life experiences perfectly align with Swiss Beauty's core values. Through this collaboration, Swiss Beauty aims to make its makeup accessible to as many people as possible as Taapsee has a huge set of audience that matches the brands consumer group.

With a massive fan following in India, Taapsee Pannu's association with Swiss Beauty is expected to strengthen the brand's dominance and open new avenues.

Mr. Amit & Mohit Goyal, Directors of Swiss Beauty, expressed their enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, "Taapsee's independent personality perfectly aligns with Swiss Beauty's inclusive makeup line, which aims to be every makeup lover's go-to brand with long-lasting and comfortable products. As we celebrate a decade in the industry, we are confident that her association with the brand will uplift our brand and widen the consumer base.

Speaking about onboarding Taapsee Pannu, Mr. Saahil Nayar, CEO, Swiss Beauty, said, We are delighted to have Taapsee Pannu as our Brand Ambassador, as she perfectly embodies our brand's spirit. We are confident that her association with the brand will help us reach a wider set of audience.

Taapsee Pannu shared her excitement about the collaboration, saying, "Brands that matter are brands that have a story to tell. Swiss Beauty is all of it & more: grew from the ground up with a super strong aim of making makeup dependable, comfortable yet high-performing. I've always been drawn to products that do more than they cost, and Swiss Beauty truly embodies this principle. Their makeup range offers a diverse set of choices & voices that speak to the youth & almost everyone!

Feels good to be attached to the brand and look forward to working together to set new beauty standards that resonate with the modern outlook."

Swiss Beauty's partnership with Taapsee Pannu marks an important milestone in their commitment to redefine beauty standards and being a makeup brand that has products for everyone. The collaboration combines Taapsee's charismatic personality with Swiss Beauty's dedication to excellence, promising to create a positive impact in the beauty industry.
Westlife Foodworld Ltd. (formerly Westlife Development Ltd.) - owner and operator of McDonald's restaurants in West and South India - designated Amit Jatia, previously Vice Chairman of Westlife Foodworld, as Chairperson of the company effective today. Along with this transition, Smita Jatia, will now be taking over as Vice Chairperson of the company.

Amit, widely regarded as the country's pioneer of the QSR industry in India, was instrumental in establishing McDonalds in India in 1996. Since then, he has been an integral part of the QSR industry for over 26 years. Under his leadership, McDonalds India (West & South) expanded its footprint to over 357 restaurants, launched its in-house specialty coffee chain McCafe, and scaled itself to a food tech company going from strength to strength.

Amit Jatia, Chairperson, Westlife Foodworld said, "I am deeply honoured to accept the appointment as Chairperson of Westlife Foodworld. It has been a privilege for me to lead such a talented and dedicated team of professionals who have built a strong organization over the years. I am humbled by the trust that the Board of Directors has placed in me, and I am committed to serving the best interests of our shareholders, employees, customers, and communities.

My role will be to ensure that we continue to navigate the opportunities of the rapidly changing global business landscape, through a culture of innovation, collaboration, and excellence across all facets of our business. At the same time, we shall remain true to the core values that have made our company successful. I look forward to working closely with our Board of Directors, leadership team, and all our employees to achieve our shared vision for the future.

Smita Jatia, has been elevated to Vice Chairperson of the company, effective today. A business stalwart with over two decades of experience in the QSR industry, Smita was instrumental in the company's growth trajectory, launching innovative formats, and most importantly, reviving the brand during and after COVID. She has been at the forefront of driving the aggressive growth of McDonalds in the market and establishing it as one of the most loved brands in the country.

Smita Jatia, Vice Chairperson, Westlife Foodworld said, "I am honoured and excited to accept the position of Vice Chairperson of Westlife Foodworld. The journey to this new role has been remarkable, and I am grateful for the support and encouragement of my colleagues, the Board of Directors, and our stakeholders.

As Vice Chairperson, I am committed to advancing our companys growth strategy and building on the legacy of the iconic brand. I will leverage my experience to guide our talented team in identifying new opportunities, expanding our reach, and enhancing our value proposition in an ever-changing market. In this new role, I look forward to contributing to Westlife Foodworlds continued success.




Korea and Canada held an inaugural high-level economic security dialogue Tuesday, with the two nations expected to discuss ways to strengthen their partnership in key minerals and other areas, Seoul's foreign ministry said.







The meeting, which coincided with a visit by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to Korea later in the day for a summit with President Yoon Suk Yeol, was attended by Foreign Minister Park Jin, Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly and Francois-Philippe Champagne, Ottawa's innovation, science and industry minister.







During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on pending economic issues and explored ways to strengthen cooperation in various areas, including the supply chains of critical minerals and semiconductors.







Korea and Canada agreed to establish the high-level dialogue during a bilateral summit held between Yoon and Trudeau in September last year.







On Wednesday, Yoon and Trudeau will hold a summit, followed by a joint press conference and an official dinner, according to Yoon's office. (Yonhap)


State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation

Bern, 16.05.2023 - State Secretary for Education, Research and Development, Martina Hirayama, met with Spanish Minister for Science and Innovation, Diana Morant Ripoll, in Madrid on 16 May 2023 to discuss Swiss-Spanish cooperation in research and innovation.

State Secretary Martina Hirayama and Minister Morant Ripoll explored ways to strengthen bilateral research and innovation cooperation beyond the already numerous cooperation initiatives between both countries. They also discussed the European Research Area and Switzerlands efforts to attain associated country status in Horizon Europe as quickly as possible. This is the EUs latest framework programme for research and innovation (FP9). During the previous one, Horizon 2020 (FP8) from 2014-2020, Swiss and Spanish researchers worked together on around 1,400 different projects, making Spain Switzerlands fifth main partner country.

All things considered, Switzerland considers Spain to be a key partner in the ERI domain. Between 2011 and 2021, the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) supported over 1,000 projects having a cooperation component in Spain, making Spain the SNSFs ninth main partner country. In the intergovernmental initiative EUREKA, which supports international cooperation projects where R&D is pursued for commercial purposes, Swiss and Spanish researchers have worked together on around 90 programmes thus far.

State Secretary Hirayama also visited the European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC) in Villafranca del Castillo, which is near Madrid. This facility is run by the European Space Agency (ESA). Ms Hirayama was welcomed by the Director of Science and ESAC Head, Dr. Carole Mundell. The two discussed ongoing and future missions in which Switzerland is a key partner.

Switzerland is a founding member of the ESA, contributing a total of CHF 195 million each year to help fund the programmes and activities of this organisation. This funding contribution allows Swiss universities and industry to take part in ESA space missions. Scientific excellence, technological innovations in the national space sector and close cooperation between research institutes and companies are important drivers of economic growth. Switzerland contributes to European space activities as a founding member of the ESA and through its participation in EU programmes. It has built a solid international reputation as a reliable partner in this sector.

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Junior contemporary womens fashion chain Dry Goods will open its first Alabama location this year in Bridge Street Town Center in Huntsville.

The retailer, a subsidiary of Von Maur Department Store, opened its first location in 2010 in Aurora, Ill. and currently operates 71 stores in 19 states.

No timetable was given for the opening.

The Huntsville location is one of 11 new stores announced, including the companys first in Arkansas and New York.

Other stores were announced for Murfreesboro, Tenn.; Columbia, S.C.; Albany, Buffalo, Syracuse, and Victor, N.Y.; Noblesville, Ind.; Liberty Township, Ohio; Rogers, Ark., and Wichita, Kan.

The brand was created to harken back to the first Von Maur Dry Goods store in 1872, to bring our tradition of customer service to a new generation of younger, fashion-forward customers, Lindsay Caltagirone, vice president of stores for Dry Goods, said.

Those interested in a job with the company can visit here.
Its so important that people realize how history unites, as opposed to divides, said Karlos Finley. Whats important is how people interacted and how they created this wonderful tapestry that we call Mobile. And the United States of America.

The Dora Franklin Finley African American Heritage Trail, an organization of which Finley is president, is about to throw open a home that played a unique role in that history. And that opening comes amid a full weekend of celebrations that include an award ceremony honoring The Excelsior Band and an Underground Railroad Bike Tour.

At the center of it all is the spacious, elegant home at 355 N. Ann St., which once was home and office of Dr. James Alexander Franklin. It also served as a safe haven for high-profile Black guests visiting Mobile during the Jim Crow era.

An event on Saturday, May 20, will offer a preview of the house, which has been refurbished and equipped to serve as both a monument to Dr. Franklins accomplishments and legacy and as a contemporary events space. Karlos Finley prefers to call it a gallery rather than a museum, but either way it provides a sense of a man who exemplified Black achievement in the Deep South of the early 20th century.

Dr. Franklin, who had been educated at the University of Michigan prior to service in World War I, was near penniless when he arrived in Plateau in 1919 after leaving Evergreen to avoid a threat of lynching. He earned a reputation for generosity among those who couldnt afford fees, but also steadily developed his portfolio of business and residential properties. Among the exhibits in the home is a 1954 Ebony Magazine profile describing him as The Souths Richest Negro Doctor. In it, hes shown in front of the home with his second wife, Marguerite. Hes described as a self-effacing man who disdains pomp and show who accrued wealth because he lived quietly, invested his money in real estate and opened a drug store.

But starting in the early 1930s, he made the same home a refuge. John LeFlore invited Oscar De Priest of Chicago, the first African American to be elected to Congress after Reconstruction, to speak in Mobile. When the Klan threatened retaliation against anyone who helped De Priests visit, Franklin and his first wife, Dora, opened their home to him. Karlos Finley credits his grandmother with the decision to station armed guards on the roof and outside.

Photos shows some of the other celebrities who stayed in the home: Dorothy Dandridge, Paul Robeson, Marian Anderson. This became the respite for famous African Americans to stay during the Jim Crow South, Karlos Finley said.

The house, rebuilt to its current outlines in 1950, bears a recently bestowed banner and shield of historic preservation. Its furnishings and fixtures are a mix of original and period pieces. The many photographs range from family memorabilia to images from the University of South Alabama archives.

With multiple large rooms and a conference room, a courtyard, modern internet connectivity and a kitchen suited to the needs of caterers, Finley said the home is suited for use as an event space, from corporate retreats to luncheons to weddings.

For Karlos Finley and other descendants of Dr. Franklin, its a very personal space. This is where we came for every Easter, every Christmas, every holiday dinner, he said. The grandchildren of his 10 children all gathered in this house and we celebrated.

But its once again ready to play a role in public life, he said, providing a tangible connection to a vibrant past.

This weekends schedule of events:

Friday, May 19: The Griot Award Gala. Karlos Finleys sister, Dora Franklin Finley, was the founder of the heritage trail that bears her name. After her death in 2012, Karlos Finley said, the Griot Awards were created to honor her memory. The annual awards ceremony celebrates individuals or entities who personify the spirit of the Griot, he said. The Griot, in African culture, is the keeper of the history. The individual who ensures that the next generation never forgets, that history is not lost. They were orators and musicians. So we honor, each year, an individual or entity who carries on that spirit.

This years honoree is The Excelsior Band, the Mobile institution honored as one of the National Endowment for the Arts 2022 National Heritage Fellows. The gala takes place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, May 19, in the Atrium of Government Plaza. Tickets are $75 per person and tables are available. For tickets or full information visit www.dffaaht.org/events.

Saturday, May 20: The preview of the Historic Franklin House and Gallery runs from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at 355 N. Ann St. The event is free and the public is welcome. Light hors douevres and refreshments will be served, and a shuttle service will run from the Franklin Primary Health Center at 1303 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.

Sunday, May 21: An Underground Railroad Bike Tour, being held in conjunction with National Bike Month, begins at 2 p.m. at Heart of Mary School, 310 Stengstak St. Points of interest on its route, which covers six to eight miles, include Stone Street Baptist Church, Creole Fire Station No. 1, John Raglands Slave Market and Africatown. Tickets are $50, which includes a T-shirt, swag bag and admission to a post-ride party. For more information, visit www.dffaaht.org/events.
Bob Ross loved happy little trees.

The host of The Joy of Painting also loved Waffle House and breakfast for dinner, said Joan Kowalski, president of Bob Ross Inc., which was started by her parents and Ross and continues to sell art supplies in his name. That was one of his big things. If there was a Waffle House nearby, chances are he would eat there.

Ross died of complications from lymphoma in 1995 at the age of 52, but his show lives on.

Wednesday marks the 29th anniversary of the final episode of The Joy of Painting, the PBS show that turned Ross into an unlikely celebrity.

A Clearwater, Florida Waffle House played a role in the landscape artists origin story.

Heres how this whole crazy thing started and how Clearwater fits in, Kowalski said.

It begins with another artist, William Alexander, whose The Magic of Oil Painting was the original famous PBS art class show. Kowalski calls him the godfather of TV painting.

Alexander also toured the nation and trained others as traveling art teachers.

Bob Ross was one of those teachers, covering Florida and a little of the east coast, Kowalski said. He was just this guy in a motor home with a dream of teaching classes and a lot of them were in Vero Beach and Clearwater.

A tragedy in 1982 brought her mother, Annette Kowalski, to one of Ross classes.

My oldest brother died in a car accident, Kowalski said. My mother was depressed about it, and the only thing she could manage to do was watch public television and, in particular, William Alexander.

Kowalskis father, Walt Kowalski, suggested that his wife take an Alexander class.

He had retired from the road but Ross, his top protege, was teaching less than a days drive from the Kowalskis Virginia home.

My mother and father jumped into the station wagon and drove to Clearwater, Kowalski said. And thats where my mother took a weeklong painting class with Bob Ross and my mother saw something in him that was just remarkable. She told us recently that she didnt paint much. She sort of followed Bob around, watching him interact with others.

Annette Kowalski told her husband, a retired CIA employee, that she believed Ross talent for teaching art was not being fully utilized and that they should market him.

My mother and father took Bob to dinner at a Waffle House, Kowalski said. And they said to him, Why dont you let us help you do classes higher up the east coast. Well set up classes for you and you can spread your wings.

To promote one of those courses, they produced a commercial, she said. Realizing that Ross spoke to the camera as well as he spoke to students, the trio decided to launch his PBS show. It premiered on Jan. 11, 1983.

Ross taught viewers how to paint landscapes via 400 30-minute episodes of The Joy of Painting, filmed primarily in an Indiana studio.

His ability, unique demeanor, and sayings such as, We dont make mistakes, just happy little accidents turned Ross into a pop culture sensation.

Ross made appearances on MTV and network programs like Live with Regis and Kathie Lee and The Joan Rivers Show and was mobbed by fans when out in public.

None of that might have happened if not for a chance meeting in Clearwater and a business agreement made in a Waffle House.

In a sentence, Kowalski said, thats kind of where everything began.

2023 Tampa Bay Times. Visit tampabay.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Montgomery police are looking for information to identify two men suspected in a deadly shooting Saturday afternoon.

The incident happened at about 5:23 p.m. Police responding to the 400 block of Finley Avenue on a shots fired call found a woman with a life-threatening gunshot wound.

Deontae Vickers, 34, of Montgomery, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators have released photos of two men who may have been involved in the shooting. One was seen wearing a blue shirt and red shorts, and the other was seen wearing a black hooded jacket and black pants.

Central Alabama Crimestoppers is offering a $1,000 cash reward for any information leading to the identification and arrest of the suspects.

Anyone with information may call police, or CrimeStoppers using the 24-hour tip line at 334-215-7867 or 1-833-251-7867, or download the P3-tips app. Make sure you receive a Tip ID and password for any potential follow-up questions.

If you need to remain anonymous call CrimeStoppers.
The Alabama House of Representatives has passed a bill that would require cellphone and tablet manufacturers to make their devices automatically block access to pornography when activated in Alabama.

The sponsor, Rep. Chris Sells, R-Greenville, said the intent is that manufacturers automatically turn on filters that are now turned off unless users take steps to activate them. The bill is called the Protection of Minors from Unfiltered Devices Act. Users would have a password to unblock a filtered website.

Sells has been proposed the bill for several years but it has not passed. The House approved it today by a vote of 70-8 with 24 abstentions. It moves to the Senate.

During discussion of the bill today, some lawmakers thanked Sells for proposing it several years in a row. Others said they agreed with intent of protecting young people from harmful online content but did not think Sells bill was the right approach. Some of their arguments were similar to those made at a public hearing on the bill last month, when a lobbyist for the wireless industry said it was not practical to expect manufacturers to make Alabama-specific devices. Others said effective filtering software is readily available for parents without the activation mandate.

Today, Rep. Ben Robbins, R-Sylacauga, proposed a substitute bill that would have targeted porn websites instead of device manufacturers. It would require the websites to pay a licensing fee to distribute porn in Alabama and to use age-verification measures to limit access to people under 18. But at Sells request, the House voted 56-30 to reject Robbins substitute bill.

The House added an amendment saying the bill would not create a cause for lawsuits against retailers. The amendment also said the bill would not authorize class-action lawsuits.

A manufacturer could be held liable for a minors exposure to harmful material for failure to follow the requirement for an activated filter and a minor is exposed to porn.

The bill moves to the Senate.
Alabama lawmakers, seeminglingly lock step, hit back this week at the Biden administrations reported decision to keep U.S. Space Command headquarters in Colorado instead of moving it to Alabama.

U.S. Rep. Dale Strong represents Huntsville, home to Redstone Arsenal, which came out on top of a required Pentagon comparison of bases that wanted to host the new command. That included the Colorado Springs Air Force base reportedly now favored by Bidens team.

An NBC report Monday night said the Biden White House is concerned about Alabamas strong anti-abortion laws and also believes the headstart Colorado got by being the current home of the command shouldnt be wasted.

When the Air Force looked at what was in the best interest of national security, they chose Redstone Arsenal to house U.S. Space Command headquarters, Strong said of the Pentagon review. Any deviation from that is a slight against those serving in uniform. Ive seen all the reviews and reports on the basing process  but dont remember access to late-term abortions being one of the 21 criteria used to evaluate the sites.

The command was started in Colorado, but Colorado Springs had to compete for the permanent right to host the command according to Pentagon rules.

The White Houses inaction and handwringing have brought the consequence of a more than two-year delay for the final basing decision for Space Command, Strong said. Each passing day is another reminder that the Biden Administration is willing to prioritize bowing down to political pressure over what is best for the military and national defense.

Strong wasnt the only Alabama official speaking out. Gov. Kay Ivey joined the pushback today with a strong statement on Twitter.

Alabama is the only choice for Space Command Headquarters  no ifs, ands or buts about it. The contest wasnt even close.



The Pentagon knows it. And the White House knows it. Ill keep saying it, and Alabama will keep proving it until HQ is officially in Huntsville. #alpolitics  Governor Kay Ivey (@GovernorKayIvey) May 16, 2023

U.S. Sen. Katie Britt issued a statement Monday night calling the reported decision political and a dishonor to (Bidens) oath of office as our nations Commander-in-Chief.

Multiple studies have confirmed Huntsville is the best site for U.S. Space Command, but instead of doing whats best for the military and taxpayers, Biden is flexing for his liberal base and using our pro-life beliefs as an excuse to reverse course. https://t.co/r6DigQxK3P  Will Ainsworth (@willainsworthAL) May 16, 2023

Locating the permanent Space Command Headquarters on Redstone Arsenal undoubtedly remains in the best national security interest of the United States, Britt said. President Biden should allow the Air Force to proceed with doing its job. Alabamas world-class aerospace and defense workforce, capabilities, and synergies stand ready to fulfill the mission and strengthen our national security long into the future.

Huntsville finished first in both the Air Forces Evaluation Phase and Selection Phase, leaving no doubt that the Air Forces decision to choose Redstone as the preferred basing location was correct purely on the merits, Britt said. That decision should remain in the Air Forces purview. Instead, President Biden is now trying to hand the Gold Medal to the fifth-place finisher.

The presidents blatant prioritization of partisan political considerations at the expense of our national security, military modernization, and force readiness is a disservice and a dishonor to his oath of office as our nations Commander-in-Chief. Locating the permanent Space Command Headquarters on Redstone Arsenal undoubtedly remains in the best national security interest of the United States.

Other members of thecongressional delegation also weighed in.

Multiple independent, nonpartisan government reviews have found Space Command headquarters would be best served in Huntsville, said U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville on Monday.

This report, if true, is very concerning for national security. This is the second article in two months discussing the possibility of Space Command remaining in Colorado, U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt said.

After the previous article, I questioned Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall directly during a hearing, and he assured us that the Space Command basing decision was his, and his alone. He told me that President Biden had put the decision squarely in his hands. I would like to know what has changed in the past two months.

U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, the lone Democrat in the Alabama delegation, joined the chorus.

Both a GAO & IG report confirmed that the Air Force used a merit-based process in deciding to locate Space Command HQ in Huntsville. This conclusion was made under two separate administrations, Sewell tweeted.

The White House should immediately reconfirm Huntsville as the headquarters of Space Command. To change course would be because of politics and not merit. Surely, the Biden Administration would not allow politics to improperly influence this decision, Sewell added.

Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle on Monday said that a data-driven, multiyear search confirmed Huntsville was the best spot for USSPACECOM headquarters  not just once, but twice.

If the report is accurate, Battle said, Huntsville, along with several other cities that also ranked higher than Colorado Springs in hosting Space Command headquarters, deserves an apology from the U.S. Department of Defense and Air Force for putting each community through this exhaustive and costly exercise, only to have the results dismissed due to the latest political discourse.

Not only does Huntsville have the talent and experience to oversee Americas military operations in space, but we also have secure land at Redstone Arsenal as well as 70-plus federal agencies providing robust military and aerospace expertise to protect our nations security, Battle said. Our high quality of life, low cost of doing business, schools, healthcare system and more also informed the vetting process that found Huntsville was the lead choice for making USSPACECOM a success.

On Tuesday, Huntsville was named the second best place to live in the United States, according to U.S. News and World Report.

Win or lose, Battle said, Huntsville will move forward and continue to be a good neighbor with our national military partners. We will work closely with our military and aerospace sectors to ensure Huntsville remains a key component in furthering USSPACECOMs mission on both the national and global stage.
The invasive Joro spider makes an intimidating figure with its massive size, bright colors and ability to thrive in areas frequented by humans.

But new research from the University of Georgia suggests that the giant spiders from Asia are actually extremely shy and non-aggressive, compared to other spiders commonly found in the Southeast.

One of the ways that people think this spider could be affecting other species is that its aggressive and out-competing all the other native spiders, said Andy Davis, lead author of the study and a research scientist in UGAs Odum School of Ecology. So we wanted to get to know the personality of these spiders and see if theyre capable of being that aggressive.

It turns out theyre not, Davis said in a news release.

The researchers tested the aggressiveness of the Joro, which was first spotted in Alabama last year, by blasting the spider and 10 other species with two small puffs of air from a turkey baster.

The sudden air bursts cause the spiders to freeze in place, being completely still, with no movement of their body or legs, a common response in spiders to perceived threats.

But while most species resumed their activities within a minute or so, most of the 16 Joro spiders tested stayed frozen for more than an hour. The shortest startle response for a Joro was 11 minutes.

They basically shut down and wait for the disturbance to go away, Davis said. Our paper shows that these spiders are really more afraid of you than the reverse.

The results were published Monday in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Arthropoda.

Joro spiders are native to Japan, Korea and China and were first reported in north Georgia in 2013. The spiders are believed to have arrived in a shipping container north of Atlanta. They have been rapidly spreading across the Southeast over the past decade.

Joro spiders have now been reported in Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and Alabama.

The first reported Joro sighting in Alabama occurred in 2022.

The spiders have become especially entrenched and noticeable in the Atlanta area, colonizing areas by the hundreds and weaving massive, three-dimensional, tunnel-shaped webs.

While the Joro spider does have venom, its jaws are extremely small and would be unlikely to break a persons skin in the case of a bite.

READ MORE: The scariest Alabama spiders that cant actually hurt you

Most people think invasive and aggressive are synonymous, said Amitesh Anerao, co-author of the study and an undergraduate researcher at the university. People were freaking out about the Joro spiders at first, but maybe this paper can help calm people down.

One reason the Joro created such a stir is its willingness to set up shop in places many native spiders avoid, weaving large webs on power poles and above gas pumps.

Another is its rapid rate of reproduction, and habit of living in groups, even sharing webs with other Joro spiders.

Davis said the paper helps provide clues as to why the Joro is spreading so effectively.

One thing this paper tells me is that the Joros rapid spread must be because of their incredible reproductive potential, Davis said. Theyre simply outbreeding everybody else. Its not because theyre displacing native spiders or kicking them out of their own webs.

Davis previous research has shown the Joro has a much higher heart-rate and metabolism than the similar golden orbweaver species. That might allow the spider to survive colder climates than its evolutionary cousins, potentially allowing them to survive throughout much of the eastern United States.

At any rate, the researchers said, the Joro spiders are likely here to stay in the Southeast.

Theyre so good at living with humans, Anerao said, that theyre probably not going away anytime soon.
Its the nature of milestone anniversaries to both celebrate the past and look to the future. Thats what Lockheed Martin is doing as it marks its 60th year in Huntsville.

There is the joy of reflection in being one of Huntsvilles there-from-the-beginning defense contractors and the successes that have come along the way. And there is the unrelenting future with more successes relied upon for the sake of national defense for a company that has established itself as a critical part of the countrys safety.

I was here on this campus when there were only like 80 people in total on the Huntsville campus, said Jeff Kepley, vice president of Missile Defense Programs and Huntsville executive site lead at Lockheed Martin. And then 30 years later, to be sitting here with 1,800 (employees) in northern Alabama, its just kind of mind boggling but goes right along with the growth of the city. It goes right along with the missions that we serve here. And we are super proud to be part of Huntsville and have been part of Huntsville the last 60 years. And (were) looking forward to what the future has for us here as well.

The past aside, Lockheed Martin supports an array of defense and space programs in Huntsville. They include programs such as the U.S. Armys Long Range Hypersonic Weapon, Black Hawk helicopter and Future Vertical Lift; Missile Defense Agencys Next Generation Interceptor, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), and Command and Control Battle Management and Communications (C2BMC) system and NASAs Mars Ascent Vehicle as part of the agencys flagship Mars Sample Return program.

Lockheed Martin's 1960s-era facility in Huntsville. (Lockheed Martin)

Lockheed Martin in 2021 opened a new digital factory for hypersonic strike production in Courtland  about 50 miles west of the companys Huntsville campus on Bradford Drive in Cummings Research Park. According to a Lockheed Martin press release from that ribbon cutting, its the companys commitment to establishing northern Alabama as the home of hypersonic strike production.

The hypersonic program is an integral part of Lockheed Martins mission in north Alabama, Kepley said.

If you just look in the news in the last five years, what weve gone through with the growth of hypersonics, that mission has now opened up and has kind of dominated headlines, he said. But its also an area where Lockheed Martin is committed to put time and energy and satisfy the needs of the warfighter from a hypersonic perspective as well. So I would say hypersonics in conjunction with missile defense have kind of changed the overall mission front that we serve.

The Huntsville campus is growing as well with the construction of the $16.5 million Missile System Integration Lab thats expected to be completed later this year. The facility will be used for development of Lockheed Martins Next Generation Interceptor missile program and support the Missile Defense Agency at Redstone Arsenal to help protect American soil against ballistic missile threats.

At 60 years and counting, Lockheed Martin is one of Huntsvilles outstanding legacy partners, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said in a statement. They were among the first tenants in Cummings Research Park, and as employment grew from 50 workers to 1,800, the company became a key player in successful defense and space efforts at Redstone and the Marshall Space Flight Center. Congratulations to Lockheed Martin for their instrumental role in creating and maintaining Huntsvilles reputation as the Rocket City.
Chinese envoy calls for political settlement of Ukraine crisis

Xinhua) 13:34, May 16, 2023

UNITED NATIONS, May 15 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Monday called for the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis with the greatest sense of urgency.

The Ukraine crisis still drags on. The humanitarian situation remains extremely dire and the spillover effects of the crisis continue to manifest themselves. The international community should take positive steps to mitigate the humanitarian consequences of the conflict and make joint efforts for the de-escalation of the situation and an early cessation of hostilities, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations.

First, every effort should be made to reduce the harm and suffering done to civilians, he told a Security Council meeting on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine.

Second, the red line of nuclear safety must never be crossed, he said, adding nuclear weapons must not be used and a nuclear war must not be fought.

"We call for maximum restraint and for avoiding words and deeds that could exacerbate confrontation and lead to miscalculations. China supports the director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency in maintaining communication with Russia and Ukraine and playing a crucial role in safeguarding the safety and security of civilian nuclear facilities."

Third, the spillover effects of the conflict response measures should be taken seriously and managed, said Zhang.

The world economy is faced with renewed risks of recession, a situation that demands coordinated actions by all countries to jointly keep global food, energy and financial markets stable. However, one round of unilateral sanctions after another and ever-expanding long-arm jurisdiction have not only led to severe humanitarian consequences, but also undermined the global industrial and supply chains, he said.

The United States and other relevant countries should seriously reflect on their behavior, immediately mend their ways and create conditions for developing countries to grow their economies and improve livelihoods. They must refrain from engaging in economic coercion on the one hand, and on the other hand cooking up narratives accusing other countries of economic coercion, he said.

Fourth, and most fundamentally, the greatest sense of urgency is needed for the political settlement of the crisis, said Zhang.

There are no simple answers to complex issues. Any comprehensive solution always begins with the first step and the resumption of dialogue and negotiations cannot be delayed indefinitely. All parties should create conditions for advancing dialogue and negotiations instead of adding fuel to the fire and escalating tensions in an attempt to profit from it, he said.

On the Ukraine issue, China has always been on the side of peace and everything it does is for the promotion of talks for peace. Li Hui, China's special representative on Eurasian affairs, has begun visits to Ukraine, Poland, France, Germany and Russia, in a bid to engage with various parties on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. China stands ready to work with the international community in continued and tireless efforts toward the political settlement of the crisis, he said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
President Yoon Suk Yeol shakes hands with Ukraine's first lady Olena Zelenska at the presidential office in Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of presidential office



By Nam Hyun-woo



Ukraine's first lady Olena Zelenska asked President Yoon Suk Yeol to expand South Korea's aid to the war-torn country during a meeting in Seoul, Tuesday, according to the presidential office.



Presidential spokesperson Lee Do-woon said Zelenska, who visited Seoul as a special envoy of her husband, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, expressed her hopes that South Korea will provide Ukraine with non-lethal military equipment, such as mine detection and removal equipment, as well as medical evacuation vehicles.



In response, while conveying "the support and solidarity of the [South] Korean government and people for Ukraine" as well as expressing his condolences to the families of the victims of the war, Yoon said South Korea will work closely with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members to ensure proactive support for Ukrainians.



The spokesperson added that Zelenska also requested the participation of South Korean businesses in Ukraine's post-war reconstruction efforts.





President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a meeting with Ukraine's first lady Olena Zelenska at the presidential office in Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of presidential office



Zelenska's visit came as South Korea plays a balancing act between growing calls to supply arms to Ukraine and Russia's threat to support North Korea with weapons if Seoul arms Kyiv.






Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin on Tuesday proposed a $554 million city budget for the fiscal year 2024, which starts July 1, 2023.

The budget anticipates a continuing steady increase in revenue for the city from previous years.

The budget projects sales tax revenue to top more than $146 million. Other major revenue streams include $116 in occupational licenses and $73 million in business licenses.

The proposed operating budget total is $554,805,617, with $464,375,563 in appropriations to city departments.

That includes a large increase in funding for street paving: $15 million, a $2.5 million increase from fiscal 2023.

I am very pleased with the commitment we have made to street resurfacing, Woodfin said. It is a priority for residents therefore it is a priority for me. Over a five-year period, we have committed $60 million to street paving in our operating budgets. This work will continue.

Woodfin has also emphasized investments in youth to help curtail crime over the long term, along with neighborhood revitalization, public transportation and cost-of-living increases for the more than 4,000 city employees.

Birmingham Promise, which offers college scholarships to city schools graduates, will receive $2 million. The city schools will received $1 million for mental health counselors and programs, $1 million for a financial literacy program; $1 million for a conflict resolution program, in partnership with city schools; $500,000 for the Safe Haven Program through the Parks and Recreation Department, $225,000 for the RESTORE juvenile re-entry program and $210,000 for the Kids and Jobs program through the Department of Youth Services.

The Birmingham City Council set a public hearing for June 5 at 5:30 p.m. at Boutwell Auditorium.

The budget for Birmingham Police remains flat at about $115 million, after accounting for an extra $2.7 million set aside for police overtime pay during the World Games last year, with 1,098 employees including 726 sworn officers.

Public transportation receives a significant boost in the proposed budget with $11 million for the Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authoritys fixed route service, $3 million for the Birmingham Xpress bus rapid transit system and $2.5 million for the Birmingham on Demand shared mobility service powered by VIA.

The budget provides funding for additional neighborhood revitalization efforts, such as $2 million for weed abatement, $1 million for demolition of abandoned structures, $500,000 for Land Bank acquisition of property, $200,000 for sidewalks and $250,000 for traffic-calming measures such as speed bumps.

The budget proposes a five percent cost of living adjustment for police and firefighters. That would follow up on two separate five percent cost-of-living increases provided for all city employees since May 2022. The budget also funds merit and longevity pay for employees.

Merit Pay is available for over 2,500 eligible employees and Longevity Pay for nearly 1,900 eligible employees.

The city will cover the majority of an increase in health benefits cost for employees.

We have already dedicated $60 million from budget surplus to invest in our people, neighborhoods and facilities, Woodfin said. We are leveraging the more than $140 million provided by the Biden-Harris administrations American Rescue Plan Act to make an impact in our community. This proposed operating budget combined with those investments will provide an opportunity for us to support our shared priorities, enhance our current efforts and position Birmingham for continued growth.

Ruffner Mountain, Rickwood Field and Red Mountain Park get $250,000 each; Vulcan Park $525,000; Birmingham Zoo $500,000; and Railroad Park $944,000. The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute would get its usual $1 million appropriation, plus another $1 million for capital improvements.

Woodfins proposed budget can be viewed online.

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A Miller Lite commercial from March is just now going viral with many drawing parallels to Bud Lights current marketing controversy.

In an ad celebrating Womens History Month, Miller Lite used comedian Ilana Glazer to announce Bad $#!T to Good $#!T, an initiative creating fertilizer made from old sexist beer advertising that will be used to grow hops for female brewers, a press release from March reads.

The idea is to amend the industrys sexist history of beer marketing and rectify the past.

Centuries later, how did the industry pay homage to the founding mothers of beer? They put us in bikinis, she said as she walked by past beer advertisements featuring bikini-clad women and throwing one in the trash. Wow. Look at this s---! Wild!

Its time beer made it up to women, so today, Miller Lite is on a mission to clean up not just their s---, but the whole beer industrys s---, she added. Miller Lite has been scouring the internet for all this s--- and buying it back.

A spokesperson Miller Lites parent company, for Molson Coors, told Fox News Digital there is nothing controversial in the ad.

This video was about two things: worm poop and saying women shouldnt be forced to mud wrestle in order to sell beer. Neither of these things should be remotely controversial and we hope beer drinkers can appreciate the humor (and ridiculousness) of this video from back in March, the statement read.

The ad campaign was met with some negative feedback by many conservatives, calling the ad woke.

So women in bikinis selling beer is a problem but Dylan Mulvaney in a bubble bath wearing pearls is just fine. Men really do make the best women. https://t.co/OHwXyhnvPC  David Marcus (@BlueBoxDave) May 15, 2023

Now you might be asking yourself "How could they be stupid enough to do this?"



They just saw what happened to Bud Light, go woke go broke right?



But that's because you still think the purpose of corporations and advertising is to respond to the market instead of engineer it https://t.co/B9QxvtyqLU  Auron MacIntyre (@AuronMacintyre) May 15, 2023

Miller Lite thinks women are fragile victims.



Bud Light doesn't know what a woman is.



Is it too much to ask to just brew beer instead of meeting your ESG requirements? https://t.co/RavrBsThaG  Michael Seifert (@realmichaelseif) May 15, 2023

Miller Lite said to Bud Light, hold my beer, and decided to create a new ad campaign straight out of early 2010s I hate all men feminism to sell a drink to customers they hate. pic.twitter.com/9gTnP9rNik  Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) May 15, 2023

No no no no no! Miller Lite is my beer! Who is running these companies?! Bad bad move. https://t.co/KfkXzBvMod  Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) May 15, 2023

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: pic.twitter.com/k9RKWVLJRF  Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) May 15, 2023

Bud Light faced massive backlash after a marketing partnership with trans activist Dylan Mulvaney. The company created commemorative beer cans for Mulvaney celebrating the activists first full year of girlhood.

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. studio show.
Huntsville is no longer the best place to live in the United States, according to rankings released Tuesday from U.S. News & World Report that crowned the Rocket City as the best last year.

Instead, Huntsville is now the second-best place to live in the United States.

Related: Is today Huntsvilles last as nations best city to live in? New rankings out soon

Related: US News & World Report says Huntsville is the best place to live: Mayor says still work to do

It was a soft descent from the top spot for Huntsville, which finished behind Green Bay, Wisc., in the rankings that consider four categories: Quality of Life, Value Index, Job Market Index and Desirability Index.

Alabamas largest city, Huntsville has ranked in the top 15 Best Places to Live for six straight years and the top three for three straight years. Prior to being No. 1 last year, Huntsville ranked No. 3 in 2021.

We have always known that Huntsville is a great place to live, work, and play, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said in a statement. It is an honor to receive this recognition and to share our citys story with the rest of the country.

U.S. News & World Reports ranked the countrys top 150 most populous metropolitan areas in developing its Best Places to Live list. Huntsvilles metro area includes Madison and Athens.

Other Alabama cities on the list were Birmingham at No. 80, Montgomery at No. 94 and Mobile at No. 115.

Green Bay, Huntsville and third-place Raleigh & Durham, N.C., each finished with an overall score of 6.9.

Boulder, Colo., ranked fourth and Sarasota, Fla. fifth. Ranked Nos. 6-10 were Naples, Fla., Portland, Maine, Charlotte, N.C., Colorado Springs, Colo., and Fayetteville, Ark.

Huntsville is proud to once again join this impressive listing of dynamic cities, Battle said. Whether were No. 2, No. 1 or No. 15, well continue our focus on sustainable growth and maintaining the exceptional quality of life that our residents deserve.

Florida has four cities in the top 20, including Melbourne and Jacksonville at Nos. 15 and 16. Knoxville is the top-ranked city in Tennessee at No. 21 while Savannah is the top city in Georgia at No. 37. Jackson is the top city in Mississippi at No. 120  one spot ahead of Gulfport-Biloxi.

This years rankings are a reflection of the current economic, social and natural factors that impact a places livability for its residents, Devon Thorsby, real estate editor at U.S. News, said in a press release accompanying the rankings. People are considering more than housing when they look at an areas affordability  they want to know how much goods cost in that area. The ever-present risk for severe weather and a communitys ability to recover  coupled with that areas opportunities for social activities  are also taken into account when evaluating a best place to live.

U.S. News said it expanded its data points this year to better encapsulate a places strengths and weaknesses.

Data collection includes information from public surveys as well as the National Weather Service, Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Census Bureau, the FBI, Sharecare, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. News rankings for best high schools and hospitals.

Updated today, May 16, 2023, at 8:27 a.m. with comments from Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle.
U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Alabama) told U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin today why his department and the U.S. Air Force should stand by the decision to put the U.S. Space Command headquarters on Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville.

Britt spoke a day after NBC News reported that President Biden is preparing to reverse the decision to name Redstone the permanent headquarters for USSSPACECOM. The story said the president is planning to leave the headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colo., where the command was started.

As the leader of the Department of Defense, I implore you to cut through the politics and make a final basing decision for the U.S. Space Command headquarters, Britt said. As you know, Huntsvilles Redstone Arsenal finished first in both the Air Forces Evaluation Phase and the Selection Phase. That leaves no doubt that the Air Forces decision to choose Redstone as the preferred basing location was correct and it was done on the merits. That decision should remain in the Air Forces purview.

See also:

Media reports have said that the president and those in the White House are preparing to prioritize partisan political considerations at the expense of our national security, our military modernization, and our force readiness, and for me that is deeply disturbing.

When you look at this, you said earlier, in order to compete and succeed against China we must use all of our tools. When you look at that, we know those tools are there at Redstone Arsenal.

Britt did not ask Austin to comment and he did not speak on the base location report.
A Sonic Drive-In employee in Texas died over the weekend after being shot during a confrontation with a 12-year-old juvenile and a 20-year-old man.

Keene Police Department officers responded to reports of a shooting at a Sonic Drive-In around 9:40 p.m. on Saturday and tended to the victim, 32-year-old Matthew Davis, who suffered multiple gunshot wounds. He was airlifted to Harris Methodist Hospital in Fort Worth, where he was pronounced dead.

Davis was shot after confronting 20-year-old Angel Gomez, who was being disorderly in the parking lot, according to a news release from Keene PD. The confrontation became physical and a 12-year-old juvenile, who was a passenger in Gomezs vehicle, pulled out a firearm and fired numerous shots that struck Davis, according to police.

The boy used an AR-style rifle in the shooting, Police Chief James Kidd told The Dallas Morning News, AP reported.

Gomez and the juvenile fled the area, according to the release, but Gomez later returned to the Sonic and was taken into police custody. Authorities continued investigating the scene and were led to the juveniles location in Rio Vista, about 20 minutes south of Keene, where they were taken into custody and several firearms were recovered.

Both Gomes and the juvenile have been charged with murder, officials said.

We would like to thank all agencies that assisted with the scene and investigation, Keene PD said in the release.
President Biden is putting politics above national security amid a report that the administration is reversing the decision to relocate Space Command headquarters to Alabama over the states abortion ban, Sen. Tommy Tuberville said Monday.

Multiple independent, nonpartisan government reviews have found Space Command headquarters would be best served in Huntsville, said Tuberville, who along with the rest of Alabamas congressional delegation championed the effort to make the state the agencys permanent headquarters.

Two previous, extensive reviews that took place after President Joe Biden took officefound there was no improper political influence on the process that awarded the headquarters to Alabama.



Fact check: true.https://t.co/izHwEmetLl  Coach Tommy Tuberville (@SenTuberville) May 16, 2023

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.

Alabamas strict abortion ban played a role in the decision, an unnamed administration official told the outlet. 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.

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.

Tuberville has blocked more than 180 military nominations over the Defense Departments policies expanding abortion access. The senator has claimed the policies are unlawful.

The facts are clear and undeniable. Huntsville is a better home for U.S. Space Command than anywhere else. https://t.co/vPrjtWEMUF  Coach Tommy Tuberville (@SenTuberville) May 16, 2023

An official told NBC News that the senators move is not to blame for the administrations decision on Space Command, although the official said, hes not helping, referring to Tuberville.

Another official said the Biden administration was delaying an announcement that Space Command headquarters would remain in Colorado because they dont want to aggravate Tuberville even more.

The senator could not immediately be reached for further comment.
Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville today said yesterdays Durham report shows that a whole list of people lied, including members of Congress, about links between the Donald Trumps 2016 presidential campaign and Russia.

Speaking to Newsmax, Tuberville said he cant even talk about it its so bad.

Speaking on John Bachman Now, Tuberville said, If people dont go to jail for this, the American people should just stand up and say, Listen, enoughs enough, lets dont have elections anymore. I wish there was a special investigation into the voter fraud, but it was outrageous what happened, but nobody wanted to look into it because they were afraid they were going to be called out. But it is what it is. I hate that it happened.

 Coming up live on @NEWSMAX to discuss my work to support the police and secure the border.



Tune in. pic.twitter.com/D3KmmqWoUs  Coach Tommy Tuberville (@SenTuberville) May 16, 2023

Efforts to reach Tubervilles office for clarification were not immediately successful.

Special counsel John Durham released a roughly 300-page report yesterday, finding that the FBI rushed into its investigation of ties between Russia and Trumps campaign and relied too much on raw and unconfirmed information.

Trump and allies had claimed the investigation would expose massive wrongdoing by law enforcement and intelligence officials. However, prosecutors secured a guilty plea from a little-known FBI employee but lost the only two criminal cases they took to trial.

Trump, on his Truth Social platform, claimed the report showed the American people had been scammed.

The Swamp does not like any outsider, whatsoever, Tuberville said.

Tuberville also said Mexican drug cartels are running our borders now, in response to questions about the end of Title 42, the coronavirus restrictions on asylum that have allowed the U.S. to quickly turn back migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border for the past three years.

Its not Joe Biden, Tuberville said. Its not the Democrat Party. Its not the American people. Its not the Border Patrol. The cartels are running it. Theyre controlling it every day. Its a disaster. Its a crisis.

However, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Sunday that the number of encounters along the southern border has dropped by 50% since last week.

Tuberville said Mayorkas had lied about this the whole time.

You know, they sent 1,500 troops down there, to make sure they get them in quicker, he said. Thats all they did. We need 15,000 down there with guns to help keep them out.
The U.S. Virgin Islands is demanding Elon Musk turn over documents related to his association with the late pedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein for its civil case against JP Morgan Chase, but the Tesla founder is proving elusive.

The government on Monday asked to serve Tesla Inc., instead, saying it had been unable to pin down Musk or his attorneys since issuing the subpoena on April 28.

The U.S. Virgin Islands lawyers asked Judge Jed Rakoff for permission in a court filing in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in Manhattan. The attorneys said they had even hired an investigative firm to search for possible addresses and had not heard back from his lawyer.

Musk is not being accused of any wrongdoing, but the U.S. territory is requesting all communications between the Tesla billionaire and the bank, which Epstein may have referred him to. Theyre looking for documents dating back to Jan. 1, 2002 that would reveal any back-and-forth between Musk and JPMorgan or Musk and Epstein related to the latters role in Musks accounts, transactions or financial management.

The U.S. Virgin Islands government sued JP Morgan Chase last year, alleging the banking giant facilitated Epsteins recruiters and was indispensable to the operation and concealment of the Epstein trafficking enterprise, according to court documents.

Prior to his shocking 2019 death while in prison, Epstein pleaded not guilty to sexually abusing dozens of girls in New York and Florida, some no older than 14. He also brought girls to his private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands, activity that was enabled by JPMorgan Chase, the government claimed.

JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon is scheduled for deposition in the case on May 26, according to CNBC. The bank did not comment on Monday, and neither did Musk.

Epstein hung himself in his cell on Aug. 10, 2019, at the federal Metropolitan Correctional Center prison in downtown Manhattan while awaiting trial.

With News Wire Services

2023 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
After the Mobile City Council voted unanimously last week to authorize a referendum on annexation, a campaign is now underway to turn out voters in the proposed annexation areas  all of whom currently get police protection from the city.

Those areas all lie in the citys police jurisdiction, a belt of land that extends three miles outside of the city limits, something that annexation advocates argue may be going away soon.

Weve all come to the conclusion that police jurisdictions are going to be going away in the next five years, we expect, Del Sawyer, chairman of the West Mobile Annexation Committee, said.

Its not a far-fetched concern: in 2020, Alabama state Sen. Chris Elliott (R-Fairhope) introduced a bill to get rid of municipalities police jurisdictions, arguing that police jurisdictions are an exercising of municipality power outside of municipalities. That bill did not pass, but in 2021, a bill that Elliott filed reforming and limiting police jurisdictions made it into law.

Elliotts hope is that, eventually, police jurisdictions cease to exist.
An inmate at a central Alabama prison was killed Tuesday by another inmate, according to the state Department of Corrections.

Stephone Lvon Marshall, a 38-year-old inmate at Elmore Correctional Facility, was found by corrections officers with injuries, the department said, according to the Montgomery Advertiser.

Marshall was the victim of an apparent inmate-on-inmate assault, the agency said.

Marshall was taken to the prisons health care unit for emergency treatment. Life-saving measures were taken but the inmate died of his injuries.

A suspect has been identified, the agency said.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, third from left, meets enlisted soldiers at the Seoul Youth Guarantee Center in the city's Yongsan District, Monday. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government



By Ko Dong-hwan



The Seoul city government has decided to provide enlisted soldiers stationed in the city with various new support so as to help them integrate back into life outside of the barracks after being discharged from their mandatory military service.



The decision comes after Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding the city government's new policies on Monday. The policies are part of the city's?Youth Happiness Project, launched in March 2022 to help residents in their 20s and 30s with their careers, health, welfare and financial planning.



With the city government's new policies coming into force, enlisted soldiers will from now on be supplied with one-on-one financial consultations on how to manage their monthly wages and use their capital pools wisely after being discharged. Consultations are also offered for those with concerns regarding their mental health or those suffering from distress, which can be exacerbated by the sharp contrast of soldiers' daily living environments, being stationed in military camps for 18 months or longer compared with living in society once discharged.



Especially for those nearing the end of their service, the city government provides a special consultation to help them understand themselves better and plan for their careers. To help those interested in getting employed right after their discharge, the government provides more practical support, including job search consultations, job interview practice sessions using an AI interviewer as well as free suit rental for job interviews.





Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, left, and Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup pose after signing a memorandum of understanding on introducing the city government's new services, which support enlisted soldiers with job search assistance, mental health care and financial planning at Seoul Youth Guarantee Center in the city's Yongsan District on Monday. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government
In parts of Oaklawn Memorial Cemetery, one of Mobiles known Black burial sites, you can see glimpses of gray and moss-covered graves poking out of the long grass or behind fallen tree limbs. In other places, the barely visible dirt paths lead to beautifully cared-for plots with graves adorned in bright-colored flowers under the kind of dreamy and languid trees you might only find in the South.

Other paths, half-covered in weeds and grass, unspool into neglected tree lines and ground depressions where the graves of genuine Black heroes have been long consumed by nature.

There are beautiful stories under all this, said Ursel Forbes, observing the overgrown fields around her small family plot. She was checking it for flood damage with her brother John Forbes who was visiting from Texas. What you can see is kept up by families and volunteers. So much of the rest is hidden or probably long gone.

Sign up for John Hammontrees weekly newsletter The Conversation: Subscribe today to get a Wednesday exploration of what's leading the national conversation through ideas, perspectives and people that you're not likely to find in other media.

Recent flooding shifted one of her grandparents gravestones. Her brother said that just touching it could cause it to fall.

Among those resting at Oaklawn are the famed Buffalo Soldiers and Tuskegee Airmen, alongside veterans from as far back as World War One and all the wars after that. The U.S. Coast Guard and a local veterans group help where they can, but most of the upkeep is done by families.

Without their help, Oaklawn would go the way of many other Black cemeteries in the United States, especially in the South: unseen, forgotten, and eventually lost.

Black cemeteries have long been a window into the past, where communities have gathered to mourn and remember their loved ones.

In the era of slavery, enslaved people were often buried in unmarked graves without formal acknowledgment. Black communities began to establish their own burial sites after emancipation as a form of resistance and resilience. The cemeteries were typically on the outskirts of cities, where land was cheaper and where white people would have fewer objections.

Upkeep of the cemeteries back then was just as it is today, through families and local volunteers.

Today, Black cemeteries hold a long and complex history, standing as a monument to Black heroes while also serving as a reminder of those who endured and overcame slavery, segregation and discrimination.

But as climate change brings increasingly unpredictable weather, Black cemeteries, in particular, are under serious threat.

Severe weather and income inequality

Flooding can shift gravestones and the heavy vaults below. Prolonged rain can cause large branches and trees to fall on the graves. Hurricanes, regular visitors to the Gulf of Mexico, can bring weather so destructive that it could wipe out an entire familys history in a moment, just like what happened in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina.

For example, regular city or church cemeteries are better equipped to deal with severe weather. They have perpetual care programs and a responsibility to ensure that cemeteries have adequate drainage and that the elements do not overcome graves.

Black cemeteries are different.

Income inequality is the same in life as it is in death for most Black people, said Jennifer Blanks, lead author of Preservation at the Intersections: Patterns of Disproportionate Multihazard Risk and Vulnerability in Louisianas Historic African American Cemeteries. Our problem as a society is we dont protect Black spaces in the same way we protect white spaces, and because of that, climate change could erase so much of our history.

Blanks research, published in Feb. 2021, looked at a region in Louisiana known as Cancer Alley, an 85-mile stretch of the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge where over 150 petrochemical plants loom over tiny Black communities and the cemeteries where residents have for over 100 years buried their dead. The cancer rate in the region is higher than in the rest of the country.

The study found that cemeteries in South Louisiana sustained significant damage during hurricanes and annual flooding, such as dislodged coffins, making it difficult to reintern remains. They also found that burial records, often kept in nearby courthouses, had been lost, damaged, or destroyed.

African American cemeteries are vulnerable to climate change impacts such as flooding, are often inaccessible, undocumented, and rarely recognized as environmental justice concerns, until now, noted the report.

However, there has been a recent push to preserve African American cemeteries.

Legislation is helping

The African American Burial Grounds Preservation Act was signed into law in December. The act establishes a program at the National Park Service to provide competitive grants and technical assistance to research, identify, survey, and preserve African American cemeteries.

The act helps preserve African American history and reinforces other legislation. For example, the 1966 National Historic Preservation Act prohibits major projects that disturb historic sites. That law has been used recently to delay major oil and gas projects in Cancer Alley.Using the new act, communities now have assistance in establishing that an area is a site of historical significance, which means the company building the chemical plant must devise a plan to minimize harm. The Army Corp of Engineers can deny a permit if the proposed project cannot avoid harming the sites.

Read More: Buckle Up: These US regions are projected to face the worst of climate change

By finding these Black cemeteries and unveiling other areas of historical significance, campaigners have been able to pause some of the oil and gas construction in Cancer Alley.

That means less pollution for the people who live there now, and it also puts a small dent in climate change  the greatest threat to Black cemeteries and other historical sites, said Blanks.

But documenting the burial sites of formerly enslaved people, which is the preferred mode of defense against petrochemical companies, is very difficult and time-consuming. Not all burial grounds are marked, and not all formerly enslaved people have documentation tying them to the area or if they were even buried at that location.

Its only sometimes possible to piece together enough information to present to the Army Corps of Engineers.

Research and genealogy is vital

Lenora Gobert, a genealogist working with the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, a New Orleans-based environmental non-profit, recently succeeded in stopping the construction of a $9.4 billion petrochemical plant.

Gobert found documented evidence linking a 9-year-old Black girl who died in 1832 to an old plantation home where a petrochemical company wanted to build a new plant. The more evidence Gobert can gather about the people who used to live there, the better the chances are of saving the site for preservation.

Were working hand in hand with archaeologists, she told Reckon in a recent interview. Im doing the genealogy work in the area, but the archaeologists are determining definitively where the sites are. And you cant have one without the other. And that connection has been helpful in stopping these plastic companies from destroying these sites.

Blanks also created a database and map of cemetery locations  most of which had never been mapped before  based on the race or ethnicity of those interned in two Louisiana parishes. After performing a spatial analysis comparing the cemeterys exposure to floods and proximity to hazardous chemical sites, she found that Black cemeteries have more multihazard exposure than white, Jewish, and mixed cemeteries due to accessibility issues and flooding.

There is literature out there that tells us this is happening in other parts of the country, said Blanks. Black cemeteries often have very sad and differing fates from others.

For now, some graves at Oaklawn are barely surviving as part of the ever-present past. They stand in stark contrast to the neighboring Catholic Cemetery, which is primarily a white cemetery run by the Archdiocese of Mobile. The grass is short, and the trees are well-trimmed back.

Three Mile Creek is to the rear of both cemeteries and where the very last enslaved people to enter the United States were baptized sometime in the early 1860s. Just 200 feet away, youll find the perfectly preserved graves of Confederate Admiral Raphael Semmes and Timothy Meaher, who illegally brought those formerly enslaved people in on the slave ship Clotilda circa 1860.

Its nice over there, but we dont worry about that history, said Forbes as she cleared away a few loose leaves from her familys plot. Were just doing our best over here.
Bill Barr is inserting himself into politics again. And he's doing it in the best way to get fawning media coverage  sniping at his former boss, President Donald J. Trump. Barr issued a statement about Trump:

He does not have the ability for strategic thinking and linear thinking or setting priorities or how to get things done in the system. He will deliver chaos, and if anything lead to a backlash that will set his policies much further back than they otherwise would be.

The doctor's diagnosis is that Trump lacks the temperament or wisdom to deliver on his promises. Okay, fine. But before we accept his advice, let's assess his expertise on the subject.

Is Barr saying that another Trump presidency would somehow be different from the last? In his last term in office, Trump provided

Middle East peace progress via the Abraham Accords,

energy independence,

secure borders,

economic prosperity,

enhanced national security  confronting threats and strengthening NATO, and

exposing that the D.C. swamp was working against the wishes of the self-governed  perhaps his greatest accomplishment.

Is Barr saying Trump doesn't have the discipline to deliver any of that  again? Or is Barr simply in dread of the "chaos" that he perceived during the first Trump administration?

But what Bill Barr mistakes for "chaos" was actually "disruption"  something entirely different.

"Chaos" is disorder and confusion. It is allowing anarchy to rule. As applied to America, chaos would be the breakdown of our social order  allowing everyone to operate outside any legal boundaries. It would be government functionaries each pursuing his personal agenda rather than the mission assigned them by the citizenry.

"Disruption" is something quite different. It is the imposition of turmoil to arrest the advancement of something. It can be used for destruction or correction. Turmoil could be used to disrupt progress toward racial harmony, or to disrupt the corruption of a self-serving administrative state.

To someone without strategic vision, "disruption" may look like "chaos." Patients in cancer treatment appear to be suffering from biological chaos. The nausea, loss of hair, loss of weight, and susceptibility to infection make it appear that the body is losing to the natural ravages of entropy. But that's not what's happening at all. The patient's body is in turmoil while the advancement of the cancer is disrupted. The patient is trading short-term hardship for long-term health.

Donald Trump is a disruptor. He inflamed tempers more than any president in modern history, because he didn't adhere to the D.C. swamp orthodoxy. He made progress internationally, economically, and constitutionally by doing things differently. He is the George Patton of presidents. His methods are aggressive, and sometimes harsh. But he made progress on all of the fronts noted above.

However, while he successfully exposed the corruption, he failed to cure it because he was surrounded by "experts" who didn't understand that they had sick patients. They pushed for order over disruption. Bill Barr was one such "seasoned pro" who contributed to that failure.

Barr inherited a very afflicted Department of Justice, in which the cancer had metastasized throughout all of its organs. Prior to Barr taking responsibility, the patient had

destroyed evidence of criminal activity during the Mid-Year Exam investigation  Hillary Clinton's exposure of classified documents with an illegal email server,

created an insurance plan called the Crossfire Hurricane investigation  to keep the people's choice from becoming president,

falsified evidence and misled a FISA court to surveil a political party,

charged Michael Flynn with felony lying to the FBI  even though no crime had been committed and the investigating agents noted no deception, and

fully embraced the Lavrentiy Beria method of criminal justice  when Robert Mueller (whom Barr fawns over in his book) was shown the man and sent to find the crime.

If Dr. Barr didn't see the tumors in his department, he was not the diagnostician that he now claims to be.

When Barr was charged with caring for his patient, he chose a few years of relative comfort over long-term survival. He chose order when disruption was called for.

Under his leadership, lawbreakers within the DOJ have remained relatively unpunished. Andrew McCabe was never charged for committing the crime that he had charged Michael Flynn for. Kevin Clinesmith violated the civil rights of Carter Page when he falsified evidence against him. But he was charged for a lesser crime and can still practice law.

Warrantless surveillance of Americans continued under Bill Barr. The inspector general reports that illegal violations by the DOJ are now down to 130,000 in 2022. That's an improvement from the millions of violations just a few years earlier. That is 356 constitutional violations per day, from the department charged with "justice"  that didn't acquire any ethical guardrails under Bill Barr.

The FBI actively worked to violate the 1st Amendment rights of Americans by seeking to censor unwelcome speech. Those 80 agents assigned to Twitter to shut down "disinformation" were in place during Barr's tenure.

His department worked to influence an election by hiding or discrediting evidence of Biden family corruption. A whistleblower in Barr's own department offered evidence of Biden bribery and was ignored. When news of the Hunter Biden laptop became public, officials in the DOJ attempted to hide it, and when that failed, they attempted to discredit it. That's the "justice" that Bill Barr's Department of Justice delivered.

Leadership like Bill Barr's is why a disruptor like Donald Trump is necessary. Barr could have excised the cancer from the DOJ, with a president who would have helped him, but chose instead to ignore the tumor and let it metastasize. His DOJ needed disruption, but he allowed it to continue unimpeded on its path of two-tiered justice and violation of the Constitution.

Now Bill Barr ignores his own contribution to what will surely be actual chaos  if left undisrupted. When the public has lost complete confidence in our criminal justice system, there will be actual chaos. I hope Barr likes the Purge that he will have helped to create. And yet he has the temerity to claim that the rot after the body dies is the fault of the guy who wanted to give treatment.

Existing government officials with a Barr-like mindset of see nothing and do nothing are why a disruptor like Trump was necessary in 2016  and remains necessary today. Barr chose "business as usual" rather than corrective action for the DOJ. Rather that treat the tumor, he just touched up the x-ray, looked the other way, and enjoyed a couple of years of blissful ignorance in lieu of painful recovery. The current state of DOJ corruption is the direct result of Barr choosing to let the corruption grow  undisrupted. The abuses of the Merrick Garland DOJ are Bill Barr's legacy.

John Green is a political refugee from Minnesota, now residing in Idaho. He has written for American Thinker and American Free News Network. He can be followed on Facebook or reached at greenjeg@gmail.com.

Image via Flickr, public domain.
As the presidential primary season commences, many career politicians, experts, and news outlets have already made one thing abundantly clear. While Donald Trump might win the nomination, he has no path to win the general election they say, or something to that effect. Some suggest that even Trump and his supporters secretly know this. These are bold statements for anybody to make so early in a primary cycle, let alone people who have decades of political experience. The average person could easily read those quotes attached to prominent names and assume they must be true. But as we have seen time and again during the Trump era, when so many predict his demise, the opposite often occurs.

There are a few key elements to examine when contemplating potential election outcomes. Despite all the intricate dialogue that floods the airwaves during U.S. elections, its not rocket science. Measuring swing states, overall voter enthusiasm, and primary challenges is the blueprint to follow.

Every election, America focuses on a handful of states that are expected to swing the results in ones favor. For example, the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections saw Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin play a pivotal role in the outcomes. Trumps better-than-experts-expected performance in those states in 2016 enabled him to secure the presidency. Trumps 2020 margins were on an even better trajectory in most of those states throughout election night in 2020 until unprecedented events denied him a second consecutive term. Those were the only five states that changed from 2016.

A deeper dive into voter turnout in those states reveals the big picture. Trump received more votes in Arizona, Georgia, and Pennsylvania than any presidential candidate ever, Republican or Democrat, aside from Bidens inflated numbers in those three states that were all influenced by questionable events. Had just those three states (despite there being many more with irregularities) addressed those issues, Trump would be well into his second term.

Regarding Michigan and Wisconsin, those states had not even been in play for Republicans since the late 80s. In fact, just days before the 2016 election, news outlets already accounted for those two states to be locked up for Hillary Clinton. Yet Trump not only won them in 2016, but he also received more votes than any Republican in history in 2020.

Analyzing how Trump significantly outperformed past Republican candidates in states that traditionally vote blue also reveals a massive level of enthusiasm for him across the entire nation. He eclipsed six million votes in California in 2020, a feat never achieved by any Republican presidential candidate in history. In fact, Democrat governor Gavin Newsom received just 400 thousand more votes in his recent re-election than Trump did in 2020. While that is not quite a coin flip, a Democrat governor in California typically outpaces the Republican presidential nominee by millions. Additionally, he received more votes in New York in 2020 than Governor Kathy Hochul did in her election this past fall. In Oregon, another Democrat stronghold, Trump received the fifth most votes in state history, trailing only Obama (twice), Clinton, and Biden but outpacing other prominent Democrats such as Al Gore and John Kerry. This trend also occurred in smaller states such as Hawaii and even Bidens home state of Delaware, where Trump also received the most votes of any Republican ever.

And just for good measure, despite enthusiasm for Ron DeSantis from Rupert Murdoch-owned conservative outlets following his reelection this past November, Trump received 5.6 million votes in Florida, another record for any presidential candidate, which was over 1.1 million more votes than DeSantis received in his recent election. Perhaps most telling is that Trump leads DeSantis in the state where he is most popular, Florida, by comfortable margins. This is in addition to Trump already securing endorsements from a majority of Floridas Republican members of Congress.

Lastly, primary challenges are arguably the most reliable predictors. Historically, whenever an incumbent faces a considerable primary challenge, they go on to lose the general election. For example, President Gerald Ford staved off a tough challenge from California governor Ronald Reagan in 1976 for the nomination, only to lose to Jimmy Carter in the general that November. Just four years later in 1980, Carter was the incumbent who survived a primary challenge by a margin similar to Fords, but lost to Ronald Reagan in the general. George H.W. Bush underperformed to an extent in the 1992 primary, which allowed Reform Party candidate Ross Perot to take a large chunk of votes when he ran in the general, where Bush lost to Bill Clinton. These are additional reasons as to why the outcome of the 2020 election remains so anomalous. Trump won all but one delegate in his primary while Biden received 51% of the vote, meaning almost half of Democrat voters preferred somebody else, but I digress.

Looking ahead, Biden has already suffered an unprecedented lack of support from within his own party for a sitting president. While official votes have not yet been cast, recent polling revealed a majority of Democrat voters would prefer somebody other than Biden to represent them in the general election. In fact, another poll shows Biden in a virtual tie with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. In comparison, most polling shows President Trump with not only a substantial but expanding lead amongst other Republican contenders. The Biden primary parameters signal a promising outlook for whoever becomes the Republican nominee, and that undoubtedly includes Trump, despite the false narratives about his chances.

While the media focuses on flaws they find in Trump that make him unelectable, voters weigh both options as opposed to focusing on the flaws of whoever the media targets, which they still inconceivably dont understand. And evidence suggests many preferred the path America was on under Trump as opposed to Biden, or whoever is pulling his strings.

With all this in mind, when you hear people like Paul Ryan say Anybody not named Trump can beat Biden, or others say Democrats want to face Trump again because they know they can beat him, understand if they truly believed those things, they wouldnt continuously try to convince America this was the case. Trump received more votes than any president in history and since then things have trended in the wrong direction across the board. So, it stands to reason that he is stronger now than ever before, and that there would be even more momentum behind him the next time around.

So, can Trump win the general? Simply put: The candidate who generates the most enthusiasm within his partys base is obviously the candidate with the best chance to win the presidency. Despite the newest establishment-parroted talking point, Id actually make the case that a perfect storm is brewing in Trumps favor, perhaps even greater than 2016 and 2020 when he received 62 million and 74 million votes, respectively. Of course, this sidelines the obvious threat of massive voter fraud once again occurring. But when gauging the true pulse of American voters, voter fraud aside, there is no question Trump is stronger than any challenger he will face.

With all the voting records Trump has already set, his outperformance of previous Republican candidates and Democrat governors in blue states, combined with the historic unpopularity of Joe Biden, it would not be an exaggeration to expect a Nixon/Reaganesque map for President Trump in a fair election, demonstrating to the whole world that America is truly the United States.

Matt Kane is a writer who graduated from Stony Brook University with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science. Follow on Truth Social: @MattKane

Image: Gage Skidmore
Many have concluded QAnon was a Deep State intelligence operation to lull Trump supporters into complacency in the runup to the 2020 election and to provide a new pejorative term for the Left to use against the Right. The timing of the rise and abandonment of QAnon postings adds credence to this belief. Trust the plan was a component of a sophisticated strategy (concocted far earlier than almost anyone now realizes) to ensure Trumps 2020 defeat. This strategy included the placement of the fake DNC and RNC J6 pipe bombs, the 51 intelligence professionals swearing to the Russian provenance of the laptop from hell, failure to call up the National Guard on J6 and the dozens (hundreds?) of agents provocateurs embedded in the J6 crowds. The strategy also includes the J6 kangaroo courts and onerous sentencings to deter future protests. Back in the old days, a young man could be arrested for illegally entering the Senate without serious repercussions:

You know, I walked in when I was 21 [c. 1964], and I got arrested. It was, it was a Saturday. I was down visiting some friends from Georgetown University and, uh, I came up on a Saturday morning because I was fascinated with the Senate. And they had a Saturday session. I walked up -- those days no guards stopping you everywhere, and they just got out of session. I walked in the back, all of a sudden I found myself in the chamber and I walked up, sat down. The presiding officers seat. Guy grabbed me by the shoulder, said Youre under arrest!

This would be the same activist arrested in the 1970s when attempting to meet Nelson Mandela or earlier when protesting civil rights.

Now comes Patriot Front, sallying forth from rented U-Hauls, complete with a military drumbeat, to provide a poor excuse for a White supremacist boogeyman in time for the 2024 election. A magical manifestation of the militant insurrectionists missing from the J6 event? Cue Bidens pandering Howard University commencement address of May 13, 2023:

After being -- no longer being Vice President, I became a professor at the University of Pennsylvania for four years. But in 2017, in Charlottesville, Virginia, crazed neo-Nazis with angry faces came out of the fields with -- literally with torches, carrying Nazi banners from the woods and the fields chanting the same antisemitic bile heard across Europe in the 30s. Something that I never thought I would ever see in America. Accompanied by Klansmen and white supremacists, emerging from dark rooms and remote fields and the anonymity of the Internet, confronting decent Americans of all backgrounds standing in their way, into the bright light of day. And a young woman objecting to their presence was killed. And what did you hear? That famous quote. When asked about what happened, that famous quote. There are very fine people on both sides. Thats when I knew -- and Im not joking -- thats when I knew I had to stay engaged and get back into public life. (Applause.) No, I -- I dont say it for that reason. I say it for the journey. I dont have to tell you that fearless pro-progress towards justice often meets ferocious pushback from the oldest and most sinister of forces. Thats because hate never goes away. ...To stand up against the poison of white supremacy, as I did in my Inaugural Address -- to single it out as the most dangerous terrorist threat to our homeland is white supremacy. (Applause.)

Three instances of white, to ensure the message was received. This was from the same Biden who courageously took on Corn Pop at the swimming pool during his lifeguarding career or who vouched to having been repeatedly arrested in South Africa in support of Mandela. He made a career out of pandering to whatever group he is interfacing with, and Black voters are no exception. The problem for Democrats is they have been increasingly bleeding Black supporters, for multiple reasons, including economics. Is there anyone who believes the economy will not be in rough shape come November 2024?

Was it a coincidence Biden outlined Democrats 2024 game plan on May 13, the day 150 to 200 Patriot Front puppets marched on Washington, 1.5 years prior to the next federal election? This designer cult might pass for refugees from a Mel Brooks movie, but this is the best excuse for a White racist mob currently able to be cobbled together. Biden is a career liar. The clearest tell he is lying is when he announces, Im not joking. The Right never successfully refuted the Charlottesville narrative, which will be recycled continuously as part of a multipronged scheme. On May 14 Alejandro Mayorkas appeared on MSNBC to recite his assigned lines, another preview of coming attractions:

In the terrorism context, domestic violent extremism is our greatest threat right now. Individuals are driven to violence because of ideologies of hate, anti-government sentiment, false narratives, personal grievances and regrettably we have seen a rise in white supremacy. [One instance of white.]

It would be easy to dismiss and ignore Bidens latest comments as more of the same from a serial plagiarist and prevaricator. But he has now been joined by an army of professional fabricators: Mayorkas, Lloyd Austin, Mark Milley, John F. Kirby, Karine Jean-Pierre, Merrick Garland, Janet Yellen, Jennifer Granholm, Pete Buttigieg, etc., who tell us night is day. Biden is no longer an amateur anomaly; the task at hand is too great for a single sophist. The lies we are fed have a purpose. To ignore where they obviously lead is a serious miscalculation.

QAnon (and its predecessor anons) appears a sophisticated psy-op emanating from the intelligence community, one of an increasing number of such operations directed against Americans. QAnon evaporated as soon as the 2020 election was in the bag. Trust the plan and WWG1WGA of 2017-2020 were reconfigured as trust the science of 2020 to 2022. QAnon played the same role as Fauci and when both were no longer needed they exited the stage. From Dealey Plaza and the Gulf of Tonkin through Saddams alleged WMDs and countless other conspiracies, the American public has been continuously manipulated.

Joe Rogan and Matt Taibbi joked about the fed-like appearance of Patriot Front (language warning):

Joe Rogan and Matt Taibbi making fun of the absolutely absurd "Patriot Front" awhile back still cracks me up to this day...



"This is so stupid it hurts my feelings"



"WHERE'S THE FAT PEOPLE!?" pic.twitter.com/F82RJAKYhB  Gain of Fauci (@DschlopesIsBack) May 14, 2023

As the likelihood of a second Trump administration increases alongside a struggling economy, we should anticipate manipulation efforts will multiply exponentially, especially use of the term White supremacy. Antifa and BLM riots were allowed to fester, along with incidents such as the Kyle Rittenhouse prosecution, to precondition us for what lies immediately ahead. Al Sharptons impromptu retail race baiting in Crown Heights has been elevated to an organized, wholesale level. How successful such efforts might be remains doubtful. History repeats, first as tragedy, then farce. Regardless, we should buckle up.

Image: XPlayer2x
Several weeks ago, on my way to lunch, I stopped at the testing facility in our hospital for my weekly COVID test. This has been a requirement of my employment for at least the last year and a half, after I refused vaccination. The pretty young woman who has been assisting me collected my sample. She then informed me that the testing facility was closing for good later today. Subsequently, the hospital administration minimized the requirements for masking within the facility. With these developments, it felt as though the COVID debacle had finally ended.

Reflecting on this, I think back over the three-plus years and cannot escape the profound effect it has had on my life both during the pandemic and now afterward. I have seen death, certainly particularly in the older patients and those with comorbid problems. But I have also seen fear and anxiety as a catalyst of social change, and generally not for the good. I have seen factionalism develop over differences in one's level of vigilance and concern over the disease burden, and later about attitudes toward treatment and vaccination.

I lost friendships, in the beginning over fear of being in contact with me as a caregiver for these patients, and later because I invoked natural immunity and avoiding vaccination. I endured their ridicule and even anger about my quaint notions of viral immunity that would have seemed completely rational two years before.

Now things are changing. Very quietly, I think people have grown to accept the notion that this virus was born in the Wuhan lab and that the draconian lockdowns were of little help, and left a lot of economic, social, and educational damage. They are finally beginning to understand that natural immunity, though not perfect, is likely to be more durable than that provoked by "boosters."

It is also beginning to sink in that the vaccines were untested, were minimally helpful, and are likely to an extent unsafe, especially for the young. The lack of acceptance of the new bivalent injection, I think, confirms a new public wariness. Likewise, there has been a pronounced lack of enthusiasm for pediatric inoculation.

But for me, there have been much broader revelations.

As a physician in my 40th year of practice, the events of the past several years have had a profound effect on the way I think of the care I have been rendering.

The CDC and NIH manipulated the government and the willing press into supporting incredibly corrupt behavior. Prestigious medical journals such as the Lancet suspended their usual stringent review processes to publish fraudulent data. The regulatory agencies, and Big Pharma acting in concert, punished non-doctrinaire opinions. They manipulated our academic institutions by the issuance and withholding of grant money. Leaders such as the beloved Dr. Anthony Fauci promoted phony letters to the editor decrying the lab leak origin story. This was done to protect the NIH, and its likely illegal contributions to the Wuhan Institute of virology for gain-of-function research.

Because of all this, I looked back and wondered about my entire career. Was everything a lie? Were there medications, perfectly adequate, that I was convinced to discontinue in favor of newly patented and expensive medications, with less well understood safety profiles? How many of the other articles that I had read over the years were corrupt documents, meant to bolster the profits of the pharmaceutical industry? Just how badly have I been manipulated?

As a physician, particularly at my age, I have tried hard to remain current with my specialty. But how much of the latest information I absorbed served only to support the lucrative relationship between academic medicine and their sponsors at the pharmaceutical companies? I never meant to bring too much drama to this pandemic, which I was fairly sure, even early on, would not be as severe as the doomsayers predicted. But I failed to anticipate the more profound interpersonal, economic, and professional impacts it would have on my life and the lives of others.

There is a punch line here. Despite being completely asymptomatic, and despite the fact that months ago, the CDC declared random testing to be useless, my last test was...positive.

Henry F. Smith, Jr., M.D., FCCP is a pulmonary and sleep physician. He practices in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Image: Publicdomainvectors.org.
David French, the newest NeverTrump columnist at The New York Times, cites relevant statistics about the late Jordan Neely  and the problems homeless (and mentally challenged) people pose to the general population  to conclude, "New York City failed Jordan Neely. And it also failed the passengers on that [subway] train." It does not take a cynic to wonder how soon we shall be reading of a civil suit against the City of New York, the subway system, the NYPD, and (focusing on his legal defense fund) Daniel Perry.

Of no importance will be the information that French put in his May 15 column, titled, in the print edition, "A Preventable Tragedy on New York's Subway," and, on-line, "When the Rule of Law Fails Us." One can be excused if the moral from the French column is, "If you see something, do nothing."

Before pointing out, in the third paragraph of the column, that subway crime has sharply increased in the past year  but not noting that the Manhattan D.A. likely will not prosecute most of the offenses French opines, "The rule of law is failing on New York's subways." This assertion, perhaps offensive to the Times' base, was followed, immediately, by this woke-ist statement: "In this case, Neely was obviously the principal victim of this failure." Victim  or example of the failure of the rule of law in New York City?

After all, French himself told his readers that Neely "had been arrested more than three dozen times" with "four cases" of striking people, including seriously injuring a 67-year old woman, an offense that, French wrote, should result in "meaningful consequences." Yet French again contended that Neely was failed by "the law."

French acknowledged that Mr. Neely was in jail for 15 months for causing serious injury to the elderly woman but was not sentenced to prison time, instead ordered to a treatment facility for 15 months, but leaving  how French does not tell us  "after 13 days." More likely than not, he drew a probation sentence with the condition that he go to a treatment facility, and his violation of the condition of probation resulted in an arrest warrant (French does not call it an arrest warrant). Although Mr. Neely was apparently well known as a top-ranked homeless person, French writes that he was not taken into custody. (Translation  and as former NYC probation assistant general counsel, I write from experience  the arrest warrant was never served despite Mr. Neely's high visibility as a homeless person  and, reportedly, Michael Jackson impersonator [on the subways?]).

French gets to the salient point in his seventh paragraph: "In short, Neely should not have been in that subway car. He should have still been in the treatment facility or in jail." And three paragraphs from column's end, French asks, "How passive should we be when unstable men act out in public, especially when the police are nowhere to be found?" (If you see something, who is there to say something to?) And so, Jordan Neely was on the loose, untreated for his mental problems, getting along day-by-day, how?  there not having been even a public defender to guide him onto the right path.

Beyond all doubt, the Neely Incident is now in the public arena, not yet in a courtroom. If and when the incident is brought into a courtroom  criminal or civil  will outside clamoring for justice or no peace be permitted to tilt the scales of justice?

Columnist French is, arguably, premature in declaring the Neely Incident as evidence of the failure of the rule of law in the City of New York. The strength of the rule of law in New York City is still to be tested in the aftermath.

Image: Billie Grace Ward via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
John Durham's report issued yesterday after three-plus years of investigation paints a damning picture of a conspiracy among federal officials, leading legacy media, and the Hillary Clinton campaign and Obama administration. But by issuing no indictments whatsoever, he enabled the complex story to be buried by the same media in a day or two.

Tom Fitton of Judicial Watch summarizes what was proven:

As confirmed by Durham: Obama knew. Clinton knew. Biden knew. Comey knew. Brennan knew. McCabe knew. Strzok knew.Clapper knew.Schiff knew.FBI knew.DOJ knew.They all knew Trump was innocent but they smeared and spied on him. Worse than Watergate. Trump is a crime victim! pic.twitter.com/hnrD3z3KDe  Tom Fitton (@TomFitton) May 15, 2023

He also summarizes the betrayal of punting on doing anything about what was uncovered:

DURHAM FAIL: @RealDonaldTrump is a crime victim who was targeted by a seditious conspiracy by Obama, Biden, Clinton and their Deep State allies. But Durham let down the American people with few and failed prosecutions. https://t.co/KGPsX72jcJ pic.twitter.com/xBZfiERzCa  Tom Fitton (@TomFitton) May 16, 2023

There was never any basis for the FBI to have opened its 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," Durham wrote.

Recall that James Comey's briefing of Donald Trump on the investigation was the trigger for the media to start the orgy of coverage of the non-scandal, lending an official imprimatur to the false charge that Trump was elected thanks to collusion with the Russians.

The conspiracy continued after this kickoff:

"Based on the review of Crossfire Hurricane and related intelligence activities, we concluded 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," wrote Durham. "The FBI personnel also repeatedly disregarded important requirements when they continued to seek renewals of that FISA surveillance while acknowledging  then and in hindsight  that they did not genuinely believe there was probably cause to believe that the target was knowingly engaged in clandestine intelligence activities on behalf of foreign power."

There was a second, equally vital disinformation campaign from the same guilty parties: covering up the actual involvement of Hillary Clinton with the Russians. Mark Wauck, a retired FBI special agent who knows about the predication necessary to open an investigation, wrote:

Trust me on this  everyone involved knew it was complete b------- from the very start, just like Durham says. Here's a tell on that from Techno Fog. While the Deep State, led by the FBI and DoJ, was targeting Trump based on their hoax, what were they doing about known serious violations by Hillary? The FBI and DOJ restricted two investigations into Hillary Clinton during the 2016 election: 1) The Clinton Foundation investigation 2) Illegal foreign contributions to the Clinton Campaign "No investigative activities occurred for months"  Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) May 15, 2023 According to an FBI CHS in early 2016, the Clinton Campaign was "fully aware" of and "ok with" a foreign contribution in violation of federal law. The FBI agent didn't get receipts - and asked the source to stay away from the Clinton campaign. The FBI made "no effort" to investigate "the Clinton campaign's acceptance of an illegal "campaign contribution that was made by the FBI's own long-term CHS."

Preventing Trump from winning, and then ejecting him from office after his unexpected victory, was one strategic thrust of this effort. But the choice of a fake Russia conspiracy as the means of doing so reveals a larger and longer-term goal, as Wauck posits:

From this perspective we can see that the Russia Hoax play two roles. On the one hand, it would help put Hillary  an indifferent campaigner and shrewish personal presence at best  over the top. But the claim of Russian interference in a presidential election could gin up righteous outrage among the American public and lend support for the coming war with Russia. In the event, of course, Hillary lost. The Russia Hoax ended up being used by the Neocons mostly to tie Trump's hands on foreign policy with regard to Russia. A Hillary regime might have seen a sanctions war to the hilt, such as we now see, before Putin had prepared Russia for that eventuality. Trump's presidency, despite his own sanctions regime, put that plan on hold  thus the undying Neocon hatred for Trump. However, the DC Establishment rallied around Joe Biden to defeat Trump. Key in this effort, Bluto Barr buried the Hunter laptop, turned a blind eye to the prospect of massive election fraud and to Antifa violence  beyond protecting a few public buildings  and enabled Durham's slow walking of the Russia Hoax investigation, with nothing really to show for it except confirmation of the bleeding obvious. And so here we are. The Ruling Class got Biden installed in the White House, they got their war, and now America is facing geopolitical defeat on a grand scale thanks to our corrupt Ruling Class. You have to wonder. But for the Russia Hoax, would the war on Russia even have been possible?

So here we are, engaged in a proxy war with Russia, holding the world's largest nuclear arsenal. Putin is in a war that he can't afford to lose, and he is forced into China's embrace, triggering a geostrategic realignment whose consequences are already nearly catastrophic, and risking a nuclear war if Putin gets desperate.

It's hard to think of a more consequential political conspiracy. And yet nobody will be prosecuted. Durham must be counted as an enabler of the biggest scandal in American political history.



Photo credit: Official portrait.

Note from Andrea: I agree completely with Thomas's analysis. And if you're wondering why this feels familiar, think back to James Comey, in July 2016, reciting chapter and verse of all the national security crimes Hillary committed  and then concluding by saying, in essence, "Never mind." I long suspected that Durham was part of a cover-up, and I think that's proven by his revealing little that wasn't already in the public domain and his utter passivity in the face of a vast fraud on the public that deeply damaged America.
It's obvious to anyone in the Democrat camp not totally delusional that Joe Biden's declining mental faculties make him almost impossible to re-elect in 2024. Douglas Schoen and Andrew Stein are two Democrats who have a good grasp of reality, and so they are putting out a signal in the Wall Street Journal  which is read by virtually every media editor in the country  that it is time to push Michelle Obama into running. That is, if she has not already been convinced by her husband.

Donald Trump's spirited performance in last week's CNN town hall, combined with recent polls, has some Democrats realizing he could be elected president again in 2024. The latest ABC News/Washington Post poll finds President Joe Biden with a 36% approval rating and trailing Mr. Trump by 6 points in a race for the White House. We aren't the only Democrats considering alternatives and wondering: If not Mr. Biden, who should be the nominee? (snip) If Mr. Biden can't run for re-election, his natural successor is Vice President Kamala Harris. But Ms. Harris is even less popular than the president: Only 35% of registered voters have a favorable opinion of her compared with 41% for Mr. Biden, according to a recent Wall Street Journal poll. Ms. Harris's approval rating in November 2021 hit a historic low for any modern vice president, and she is viewed much less favorably than her four predecessors at the same point in their respective tenures. Furthermore, Mr. Trump trounces Ms. Harris in a general election match-up. According to a Harvard CAPS-Harris poll released this year, Mr. Trump leads Ms. Harris by 10 points, 49% to 39%. (snip) A Zogby Analytics poll released last year found that if Mr. Biden were to bow out in 2024, Mrs. Clinton would be a distant third choice for Democratic primary voters, behind Ms. Harris in second place. The favorite is the only Democrat with broad national appeal: Michelle Obama. Mrs. Obama is popular within the Democratic Party. She left the White House with a 68% favorability rating nationally and was one of the most admired women in the U.S. from 2018 through 2020, according to Gallup polls. With a broad network of supporters and the ability to resurrect Barack Obama's political organization, she would be the strongest candidate by far. While Mrs. Obama has expressed no desire to seek national office, she may be persuaded to jump in if Mr. Biden can't run and Mr. Trump appears close to returning to the White House.

This is more than a trial balloon by Schoen and Stein, who are serious players. Schoen was a key figure in Bill Clinton's campaigns for president and a White House adviser. Stein was Manhattan borough president and the last president of the New York City Council. It is a message: Biden is losing it by the day and could lose if he sticks it out, even to Trump, which is the unimaginable horror in Democrats' (and many establishment Republicans') minds.

So who is the best backup? They say there is need for a backup plan, but once out of the bag, this is game on. Unless Michelle claims an absolute lack of interest, then she is OK with it.

Biden would withdraw before South Carolina if she challenged him since he would be humbled there, as Hillary was by Obama in 2008. Blacks may love the white candidate who kisses up to them, but only until there is a black challenger around. Our country is much more tribal than it has been since the Civil War.



Caricature by Donkey Hotey, CC BY-SA 2.0 license.
Never forget how wrong they were on virtually everything concerning COVID-19. From lockdowns to masks, social distancing, testing, vaccines, and so on, the American left  especially those in the media, education, and the Democrat party  got almost everything on COVID wrong. (For a litany of information on all things COVID, see here (2020), here (2021), here (2022), and here (2023).

Additionally, as the video below highlights, whether media leftists or Democrats, the COVID-19 zealots slanderously accused the unvaccinated of numerous health care "sins." The likes of Mika Brzezinski, Don Lemon, Stephen Colbert, Whoopi Goldberg, Howard Stern, Joy Reid, et al. called the unvaccinated "lunatics" who are "killing people." The unvaccinated were told, "You are the problem" and were "not to be trusted."

Jimmy Kimmel was for denying the unvaccinated hospital beds. The unvaccinated were blamed whenever COVID cases rose, though that flew in the face of the mantra that the COVID vaccine would protect one from getting infected (it didn't!). Additionally, unvaccinated were used to keep the foolish, ignorant, and useless mask mandates in place.

As Bob Hoge at RedState rightly puts it,

Entire swaths of citizens were deemed enemies of the country by our own president, and many thought that those who did not want to get the shots were simply stupid or evil or both. This is in spite of the fact that it quickly became apparent to any rational mind that the mRNA jabs weren't working to stop transmission or infection. ... The viciousness and self-righteousness displayed by so many "leaders" during the pandemic will go down as one of the darker periods in American history. It would be bad enough if they were right  but they were wrong, and it was they who ignored the science. Trust them again at your peril.

Watch for yourself:

Covid Retrospective Series, Vol. 1



Media: The Unvaccinated Are Scum pic.twitter.com/hPvLfEtW3O  Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) May 12, 2023

Trevor Grant Thomas: At the Intersection of Politics, Science, Faith, and Reason.

www.trevorgrantthomas.com

Trevor is the author of the The Miracle and Magnificence of America.

tthomas@trevorgrantthomas.com

Image: Key Notez, Pexels.




Korea's homegrown KF-21 fighter jet passed a provisional combat suitability evaluation earlier this week, the state arms procurement agency said Tuesday, in a key milestone ahead of its initial production phase set to begin next year.







The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said the evaluation by the Joint Chiefs of Staff came Monday, based on the outcome of hundreds of flight and ground tests on the jet that have proceeded for some two years.







The "provisional" evaluation scheme has been introduced to allow weapons developers to secure mass-production budgets even before prototypes meet all combat requirements in an effort to accelerate the overall production process.







"This evaluation has laid the foundation, upon which we can proceed with the initial mass-production plan next year," DAPA said in a press release.







Since the rollout of the first KF-21 prototype in April 2021, the authorities have conducted various tests, including around 200 flight tests, to check some 260 testing items, including the flight speed, combat operational range, and takeoff and landing distances.







A total of six KF-21 prototypes, manufactured by Korea Aerospace Industries, are set to undergo a combined 2,200 flight tests through 2026 to confirm the jet's overall capabilities.







Launched in 2015, the 8.8 trillion-won ($6.59 billion) KF-21 project is aimed at developing a supersonic fighter to replace Korea's aging fleet of F-4 and F-5 jets. (Yonhap)


In April, a still-unidentified whistleblower came forward with allegations that congressional Republicans understood to mean that the Hunter Biden investigation was getting preferential treatment from the IRSand that AG Merrick Garland lied to the House when he assured them that the case was being handled in an even-handed manner. Now, though, the whistleblowers attorneys say that, not only was the whistleblower removed from the Hunter Biden project, but also that his whole team was removed, too, and that this request came from the Justice Department itself. Digging a little deeper, though, indicates that, for at least a year, any investigation may have been a sham.

The whistleblowers attorneys, Mark Lytle and Tristan Leavitt, informed Congress of this fact just before the final Durham report was released. The NY Post reported on the letter from Lytle and Leavitt:

Today the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Supervisory Special Agent we represent was informed that he and his entire investigative team are being removed from the ongoing and sensitive investigation of the high-profile, controversial subject about which our client sought to make whistleblower disclosures to Congress. He was informed the change was at the request of the Department of Justice, Mark Lytle and Tristan Leavitt wrote. [snip] Our client has a right to make disclosures to Congress  He is protected by 5 U.S.C.  2302 from retaliatory personnel actions  including receiving a significant change in duties, responsibilities, or working conditions (which this clearly is) because of his disclosures to Congress. Any attempt by any government official to prevent a federal employee from furnishing information to Congress is also a direct violation of longstanding appropriations restriction. Furthermore, 18 U.S.C.  1505 makes it a crime to obstruct an investigation of Congress, Lytle and Leavitt wrote. The whistleblowers team added: We respectfully request that you give this matter your prompt attention. Removing the experienced investigators who have worked this case for years and are now the subject-matter experts is exactly the sort of issue our client intended to blow the whistle on to begin with.

As of now, neither the IRS nor the Justice Department have responded to these charges.

Image: Hunter Biden by DonkeyHotey. CC BY 2.0.

On its face, this looks very disturbing, but when you dig deeper, the whole story is even more upsetting for those of us who still believe in the rule of law and government accountability. According to an April 2023 report from NBC, it appears that both the IRS and the FBI (which works for the Justice Department) stopped investigating Hunter more than a year ago:

Federal prosecutors have considered charging Hunter Biden with three tax crimes and a charge related to a gun purchase, said two sources familiar with the matter. The possible charges are two misdemeanor counts for failure to file taxes, a single felony count of tax evasion related to a business expense for one year of taxes, and the gun charge, also a potential felony. Two senior law enforcement sources told NBC News about growing frustration inside the FBI because investigators finished the bulk of their work on the case about a year ago. A senior law enforcement source said the IRS finished its investigation more than a year ago.

(Hat tip: The Conservative Treehouse.)

If the above is true, its unclear why the IRS still had a division investigating Hunter Biden. What were left with is speculation:

The DOJ has decided to charge Hunter, and the IRS was looking for final evidence. Having found it, the IRS division is no longer necessary.

The DOJ has decided not to charge Hunter and, having gone through the motions for a suitably long time in the Kabuki theater that is Democrat and Deep State rule of law, the IRS division is no longer necessary.

The IRS is just going through the motions but, with the whistleblower having gone public, the IRS and DOJ are pulling the plug. Why? Because, as was the case with the FBIs 2016 investigation into Hillarys illegal server and the recent Durham report, this is all Kabuki theater. After all, both Comey and Durham did exactly the same thing: They laid out chapter and verse of gross malfeasance, fraud, and election interference, and then finished by saying, Never mind. The message to the Deep State is clear: You are untouchable.

Of the three scenarios that come to mind, I consider the first the least likely.
Killing someone takes a lot of wickedness backed by an equal amount of temerity, none of which was lacking in Tony Marino, Joseph "Red" Murphy, Francis Pasqua, Hershey Green, and Daniel Kriesberg, when they gathered at a shabby speakeasy in New York City on a cold winter night in 1933, and hatched a scheme. It was the height of the Depression, and these five lowly men were struggling to make their ends meet. Tony was the proprietor of the establishmenta derelict store wedged between a small awning shop and a brick wall. It never seemed to open, until late at night, when the doors were unlocked to usher in all kinds of shady characters looking to wet their whistle.

Depression-era speakeasy. Illustration by Virnard/Shutterstock.com

But not all of Tony Marinos customers paid. Some emptied out their dirty pockets and put the rest on a tab, which was conveniently forgotten. The biggest offender was Michael Malloy, an old Irishman who came to America seeking a better life, but instead found himself, along with the rest of the nation, plunged into poverty and homelessness.

Malloy worked as a firefighter before the stock market crash. Then he began doing odd jobs like sweeping alleys or collecting garbage. At nights he staggered to the door of Marinos speakeasy and drank his brains out. He was, the Daily Mirror wrote, just part of the flotsam and jetsam in the swift current of underworld speakeasy life, those no-longer-responsible derelicts who stumble through the last days of their lives in a continual haze of Bowery Smoke. 

That night, as Malloy sat snoring in one corner of the bar, the five men discussed the hard times and how they might earn some quick bucks. Over several rounds of drinks, the men decided on a sinister planthey would take out an insurance policy on innocent naming themselves as beneficiaries, then they would kill the victim and collect the cash. Marino had pulled off such a scheme once before. Just the previous year, he had befriended a homeless woman, convinced her to take out a $2000 insurance policy, and then one frigid night, got her drunk and left her naked, wet and and unconscious beside an open window. The medical examiner ruled her death as an accident, and Marino collected the policy amount without incident.

Marino and his party of crooks believed they could do it one more time. All they needed was someone expendable with no friends or family. Mallory fitted the bill perfectly.

Tony Marinos speakeasy. Photo: Ossie Le Viness/NY Daily News

The five conspirators started cosying up to Malloy and plied him with free drinks. They explained to him that the men were collecting signatures for a petition that would get Marino elected to local office. If Malloy signed the petition, Marino promised he would get unlimited credit. The promise of free booze delighted Malloy, and he hastily signed everything that was put in front of him. Without knowing Malloy signed three insurance policies, for a total of over $3,500 (roughly $70,000 in 2020).

The plan was simple. Malloy was in his fifties, although he looked at least a decade older, and was in awful shape. With unlimited credit, Marino thought that Malloy would abuse it and drink himself to death. But Malloy turned out to be a hardy fellow. Each night, Malloy would drink half his weight in booze, thank Marino for his hospitality, and return the next day without fail.

The gang realized that alcohol alone wouldnt do the job, so Marino started adding a little antifreeze to his drinks. But that made no difference. Antifreeze was replaced with turpentine, followed by horse liniment, and finally rat poison was mixed in. Still Mallow lived. The group then tried raw oysters soaked in wood alcohol, because Pasqua, one of the conspirators, had seen a man die after eating oysters with whiskey. Then came a sandwich of spoiled sardines mixed with poison and carpet tacks. Malloy not only lived, he thrived, even putting on weight.

The group concluded correctly that Malloy had an iron stomach and it might be impossible to kill him with alcohol and food. So they decided to try out the tested methodfreeze him to death, like Marino did with the homeless woman. On an exceptionally cold night they waited until Malloy passed out, put him outside, and poured water over him. But that didnt work either. Malloy woke up sometime later, and dragged his half-frozen body to Marinos speakeasy to sleep it off on the floor.

By this time killing Malloy had become as much a matter of pride as payoff. With monthly insurance payments looming large, Marino in desperation hired a cab driver to run over Malloy. But that only left Malloy with a few broken bones. After a short stint in the hospital, Malloy was back at the speakeasy.

Tony Marino and Frank Pasqua, after their arrest.

This time, the gang had enough. On February 22, after Malloy passed out for the night, they took him to Murphy's room, put a hose in his mouth and connected it to the gas jet. This finally killed Malloy. He barely lasted five minutes. They bribed a doctor to pronounce him dead by lobar pneumonia and he was quickly buried. But a story like this stays rarely buried. Soon word got out of Malloy the Durable and when the rumors fell on the cops ears, an investigation was opened. Malloys body was exhumed and forensically examined

What the murderers didnt know was the gas that killed Malloy was carbon monoxide, a gas that forms such a lethal and stable bond with proteins in the blood that it stays with the body for months. Laboratory analysis easily found lethal levels of carbon monoxide in the remains of old Malloy. A little grilling from the cops and both the doctor, who conducted the initial autopsy, and the cab driver hired to run down Malloy sang like a bird. The entire gang was arrested.

Hersey Green went to prison, while the other four members were executed in the electric chair.

References:

# Karen Abbott, The Man Who Wouldnt Die, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-man-who-wouldnt-die-89417903/

# Harry Brent, The incredible story of Durable Mike Malloy - a Donegal man living in New York who simply refused to die, https://www.irishpost.com/life-style/incredible-story-durable-mike-malloy-donegal-man-living-new-york-simply-refused-die-169395

# Deborah Blum, The Legend of Mike 'The Durable' Malloy, History's Most Stubborn Murder Victim, https://io9.gizmodo.com/the-legend-of-mike-the-durable-malloy-historys-most-st-5918834
Samsung has released the May 2023 update for a couple of premium mid-range smartphones from 2021. The Galaxy A52s 5G and Galaxy A72 follow the Galaxy A52 to the latest security update party. The new SMR (Security Maintenance Release) has been already rolled out to dozens of other Galaxy devices.

The May SMR for the Galaxy A52s 5G is currently available in a handful of countries in Latin America. Users in Mexico are getting this update with the firmware build number A528BXXS3EWD5. That for users in Bolivia, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia, and Paraguay is A528BXXS3EWD4. The update doesnt seem to bring any new features or improvements. Samsung is only pushing the latest security fixes to the device. A global rollout should follow in the coming days. The Galaxy A52s 5G wasnt released in the US.

The latest security update is also available to the Galaxy A72 in Latin America. The rollout began recently with the firmware build number A725MUBU5DWE1 in Argentina. The build number suggests the update contains more than just the latest security fixes. Maybe it brings One UI 5.1. Unfortunately, Samsung hasnt yet added this release to its update tracker. So we cant confirm anything. We expect the update to reach more markets in the coming days. Like the Galaxy A52s 5G, this phone also didnt arrive in the US.

As usual, you will receive a notification once this update becomes available for your Galaxy A52s 5G or Galaxy A72. You can also manually check for updates from the Settings app. Go to the Software update menu and tap on Download and install. If an update is available, you will be prompted to download it. But if you dont see any pending OTA (over the air) update today, wait a few days and check again. The May SMR contains fixes for more than 70 security flaws, including at least six critical issues across the Galaxy family.

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Galaxy A52s 5G and Galaxy A72 should get the Android 14 update

Samsung released the Galaxy A52s and Galaxy A72 in September and March of 2021, respectively. Both devices came running Android 11 out of the box. They have since picked up updates to Android 12 and Android 13. Based on Samsungs update policy, they should get one more major Android OS release. So the Android 14 will probably reach the two premium mid-range models. The rollout is expected to begin later this year but the Galaxy A52s and Galaxy A72 may not receive it until next year.
Samsung has launched a special edition Galaxy S23 in the US. The Galaxy S23 Tactical Edition is a unique phone made specifically for the United States Department of Defense (DOD) personnel. The company has also added the Galaxy XCover 6 Pro to the Tactical Edition portfolio.

Samsung launches new Tactical Edition Galaxy devices for DOD personnel

The Galaxy S23 and Galaxy Xcover 6 Pro Tactical Edition are mission-ready devices equipped with advanced capabilities based on military security requirements. These mobile devices are part of a comprehensive partner ecosystem that includes custom software and features. Samsung ships the devices with purpose-built drivers that support tactical radio and mission device protocols.

They let DOD personnel access drone feeds and laser rangefinder information while simultaneously offering conventional cellular capabilities, including LTE, CBRS (Citizens Broadband Radio Service), Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. A stealth mode lets operators LTE and e-911 and mute all radio frequency broadcasting for completely off-grid communications. The Tactical Edition devices also offer secure tactical communication systems.

For on-device security, Samsung has equipped the devices with its defense-grade security platform Knox. Its Knox Dual Data at Rest (DualDAR) service is an NSA (National Security Agency) approved security service that provides dual-layer encryption to protect confidential data even when the device is powered off or in an unauthenticated state. It ensures the secure storage of sensitive information or safe use of the devices in mission-critical environments.

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The Galaxy S23 and Galaxy Xcover 6 Pro Tactical Edition devices also come preloaded with special apps. Samsung names the Android Team Awareness Kit (ATAK) and the Battlefield Assisted Trauma Distributed Observation Kit (BATDOK). ATAK and BATDOK. The former helps improve the real-time situational awareness of operators through mapping, messaging, and geo-fencing. All team members can simultaneously see the necessary information on their screens.

The latter, meanwhile, helps collect and distribute real-time patient encounter information. It enables medics quickly obtain a patients treatment history and also monitors the vitals of patients. They can then convey the information forward for advanced care if needed. These apps come with an optimized interface along with support for the programmable side button on the Galaxy Xcover 6 Pro. The devices also seamlessly integrate with a range of peripherals.

Along with all these tailored customizations, the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy Xcover 6 Pro Tactical Edition also benefit from the devices existing set of security features and durability. The former has Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection and an Armor Aluminum frame. It includes a rugged military-grade case as well. The latter, meanwhile, has a MIL-STD-810H standard ruggedness. Both models boast an IP68 rating and night vision mode as well. Military personnel can also leverage Samsung DeX to quickly create a desktop experience without needing one.

The latest Tactical Edition devices will arrive later this summer

Samsung has collaborated with the DOD for special edition products for over a decade now. It has launched Tactical Edition versions of its latest Galaxy devices in the past as well. The Galaxy S20 Tactical Edition in 2020 was the last such device. The company has now come up with two more. It unveiled the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy Xcover 6 Pro Tactical Edition devices at the national convention for the United States Special Operations Forces (SOF Week 2023) last week. Samsung will release the devices later this summer.
The next update for the Galaxy S23 Ultra could bring a host of camera-related changes. Tipster Ice Universe recently suggested that Samsung will greatly optimize the phones camera with a new update in June. We are expecting several new features, bug fixes, and quality improvements.

Samsungs Galaxy S23 phones are among the best when it comes to camera performance, particularly the Ultra model. But that doesnt mean theres no room for improvement. There have been a few issues, while the devices have lacked some basic features as well. The company did push a major camera update to the lineup in late March, but we still have a few complaints. Not least the halo effect issue and the lack of a 2x zoom option for portrait shots.

The Korean behemoth recently confirmed that it will soon address both of these complaints. On top of it, Samsung also said that it is working on improving the quality of zoomed videos. When recording videos in 2X zoom, the Galaxy S23 Ultra will automatically switch to 50MP resolution from 200MP before cropping the image. This will ensure minimal loss of detail. There have been rumors about Samsung working on improving low-light videos too.

While we dont yet have a confirmation about whether all of these camera goodies will arrive with the same update for the Galaxy S23 Ultra, the latest tweet from Ice Universe suggests Samsung has something big on the horizon. The new firmware build is reportedly undergoing in-depth optimization as we speak and roll out in June. The source has an excellent track record when it comes to Samsung leaks, so theres little reason to doubt this claim. They reported the aforementioned March update for the Galaxy S23 series a few weeks before Samsung began the rollout.

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The June update may finally fix the halo effect issue with the Galaxy S23 camera

Galaxy S23 cameras have had a weird HDR problem that produced a halo effect in photos since the beginning. The issue is particularly prominent in low-light photos where objects have a fine whitish border around them, which normally shouldnt exist. Samsung didnt fix this issue with the March update but recently confirmed that the next update for the Galaxy S23 lineup would address it. By the looks of it, the company is referring to the June firmware release for its latest flagships. We will let you know when the rollout begins.
According to a report from Korea, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 will launch on July 26. Weve seen several rumors pointing to a July launch date, and it seems like those rumors were accurate.

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 & Flip 5 will seemingly launch on July 26

This info comes from the Chosun publication, as its said that the phones will launch in Seoul, Korea. This will be a global launch event, though, but Samsung seemingly chose its home country to host the event this time around.

This event will also be known as the second Unpacked event of the year. As many of you know, Samsung usually hosts its second Unpacked event in August. So, this year, the company decided to do it a bit earlier.

The exact reason behind that is still unknown. We did see some reports claiming that the Pixel Fold is the reason why, though. Googles first foldable smartphone got announced during Google I/O, and it will go on sale at the end of next month. Samsung wants to jump the gun and directly compete with it.

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The Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 wont be the only devices that Samsung will launch during this event, but theyll most definitely be the focus of it. The company is expected to bring some design improvements to both phones, as a response to some other OEMs out there.

These will be high-end offerings from Samsung

Both of these phones will be high-end offerings from Samsung. Theyre expected to offer a better hinge this time around, a hinge that will allow them to fold flat. Theyll once again offer water and dust resistance, its rumored.

Both devices are said to offer high-end specifications, and the Flip 5 will even have a much larger cover display than its predecessor. The overall size and form factor wont really change much, that goes for both devices.

Qualcomms Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy SoC is tipped to fuel both devices. Theyll be made out of metal and glass, and ship with Android 13 out of the box.
Accumulating accounts is a reality for most people. Over the course of a couple of years, some people will make different accounts for specific reasons and abandon them. This is something that Google acknowledges and is taking action against. According to 9To5Google, Google will delete Gmail accounts that have been inactive for 2 years.

Its easy to rack up a large number of Google accounts. Sometimes you need to make an email address for a business or maybe you want to create a YouTube channel. The thing is that it could be difficult to keep track of all the accounts that you make. So, its common for people to have several accounts just sitting and gathering dust.

Google will delete and active Gmail accounts

By inactive, Google means that you havent logged into it in a solid two years. So, if youve logged in at all in the past 2 years, then you wont need to worry. It doesnt matter if youre not actively using it as your main email account.

If youre worried about losing your precious data, you can rest assured for several reasons. Firstly, Googles not going to start deleting emails until December of this year. In the meantime, the company will send constant notifications in the months leading up to the deletion. Itll send notifications to the main email address and the recovery email address if one has been assigned.

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Also, in order for an account to be considered inactive, you really have to abandon it completely. If you use a device signed into that account, that counts as activity. It also applies to downloading an app using that phone, watching a YouTube video on that account, reading emails, using Google Drive, using search, Etc.

What gets deleted?

Pretty much everything. Google will not stop at deleting emails. The company will delete everything from emails to Google Drive files to photos and videos. The company did say that it will not delete YouTube videos, however.

This is all a move to help with security. Older Google accounts are likely to have reused passwords, and theyre unlikely to use two-factor authentication. This makes them much easier to be infiltrated. Deleting the data associated with those accounts means that Google will have less of your data thats vulnerable to being stolen.

One thing to note is that, while the accounts are being deleted, Google will not let people repurpose the email addresses associated with them. If you want to retain your old Google accounts, its important to sign in now and figure out what you want to do with them.
If youre looking for a really nice case for your Pixel phones, we may have something that could interest you. Carved is now offering truly unique wood cases for the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro handsets.

Carved is now offering its unique wood cases for the Pixel 7 & Pixel 7 Pro

Carved is a company that releases live edge cases. These cases are made from real wood, but have resin highlights. That makes them look truly unique, and also pop at the same time. Carved usually uses live colors for that purpose.

Each of the companys cases is made by hand from burl wood and is completely unique. Carved has a pattern that it uses for its designs, but no two cases are the same. These cases are also made in the US, in Indiana.

These are the first Pixel cases that Carved ever offered. Up to now, the company has been focused on iPhone and Samsung Galaxy devices. We dont know if the Pixel 7a will join the fold, but for now, only the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro cases are available.

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These cases are quite pricey, and made in the US

Now, weve seen some rather expensive smartphone cases, and these definitely belong in that category. Youll have to part with $189 in order to get one Carved case, that goes for both of these smartphones.

That is the same price tag Carved placed on its cases for iPhones and Samsung Galaxy phones. The company also has rubber-sided cases on offer, but not for the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, at least not yet. Those cases usually go for $60, so theyre a cheaper alternative to Carveds pride and joy.

You can check out some of the designs for the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro in the gallery below. If youd like to grab one of Carveds cases, tap the link below.

Google Pixel 7 Carved cases

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Google Pixel 7 Pro Carved cases
Another day, another Galaxy device receives Samsungs May 2023 update in the US. To be precise, several Galaxy smartphones are picking up the latest security patch today. Unlocked Galaxy S21, carrier-locked Galaxy Z Fold 3, Galaxy Z Flip 5G, and Galaxy A52 5G are the latest to join the ever-growing May SMR (Security Maintenance Release) party. It contains more than 70 vulnerability patches.

Galaxy S21 series and Fold 3 are getting the May update widely

Yesterday, Samsung rolled out the May SMR to the carrier-locked version of the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and Galaxy S21 Ultra in the US. The update came with the firmware build number G99*USQS6EWD5 or G99*USQS6EWD4 depending on the carrier. A day later, users with a factory-unlocked Galaxy S21 are also picking up the same update. The new firmware version for those devices is G99*U1UES6EWD6 (via). The rollout is already available widely on all major networks. Like the carrier-locked units, these phones are also only getting the latest security patch with no new features.

The story for the Galaxy Z Fold 3 unfolds the other way around. Samsung first released the May SMR for the unlocked versions of this phone. The rollout began last week alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 4, Galaxy Z Flip 4, and Galaxy Z Flip 3. The carrier-locked versions of the latter three recently picked up the new security patch. The 2021 Fold model is also now joining the party. The updated build number for this phone is F926USQS3FWE3 (via). Once again, the update is all about the latest security fixes and doesnt bring any new features or improvements.

The Galaxy Z Flip 5G, meanwhile, is just starting to get the May SMR in the US. Samsung has released the update for the carrier-locked variant of the device. It comes with the firmware build number F707USQS4HWE1. Users in Europe also recently started picking up the latest security patch. The new firmware version for them is F707BXXS8JWD3. The 5G version of the original Samsung clamshell foldable isnt getting any additional goodies with this update. The May SMR isnt yet available for the LTE model, which debuted a few months earlier than its 5G sibling.

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Samsungs May update is also available for the Galaxy A52 5G in the US

Joining these flagships to Samsungs May security update party in the US today is the Galaxy A52 5G. The 2021 premium mid-range smartphone is receiving the new SMR on both carrier-locked and unlocked units. The new firmware versions are A526USQS8EWE2 and A526U1UES8EWD3, respectively. Samsung doesnt seem to push anything apart from this months security fixes to the phone. If youre using any of these Galaxy devices in the US, the May 2023 security update should be available to you anytime now.
The fifth KF-21 prototype conducts a test flight, Tuesday, from the Air Force's 3rd Flying Training Wing in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province. Courtesy of Defense Acquisition Program Administration



By Lee Hyo-jin



Korea's homegrown KF-21 Boramae fighter jet has achieved "tentative" combat sustainability, laying the groundwork for mass production of the combat aircraft from next year, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), Tuesday.



The state-run arms procurement agency announced that the KF-21 had passed the provisional testing scheme following hundreds of ground and test flights carried out over the last two years.



Gaining tentative combat sustainability allows Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) to begin mass production even before prototypes meet all combat requirements. The procedure, aimed at speeding up the overall manufacturing process, was also used in the development of T-50 supersonic trainer jets and light-armed helicopters (LAH).



"Tentative combat sustainability has been successfully verified through various ground tests and some 200 flight tests measuring the flight speed, combat operational range, takeoff and landing distances, carried out in the last two years. This is expected to lay the groundwork for the beginning of its mass production next year," DAPA spokesperson Choi Kyung-ho said during a briefing.



The administration also said the swift evaluation process was possible through close cooperation with the Ministry of National Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).



The warplane, manufactured by KAI, is capable of traveling 2,200 kilometers per hour with a maximum range of 2,900 kilometers. Since the rollout of its first prototype in April 2021 and its maiden flight in July 2022, the KF-21 has flown about 200 sorties so far, including a flight reaching supersonic speeds in January this year.



The KF-21 is equipped with various high-end technologies including the active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar that tracks multiple targets with highly advanced and efficient components.



DAPA noted that it will further conduct additional tests including air-to-air guided missile launch and aerial fueling, with the aim of achieving final combat sustainability in 2026 and plans to deploy the first KF-21 aircraft to the Korean Air Force from the latter half of that year.



Later in the day, a fifth prototype of the KF-21 carried out a successful test flight at the Air Force's 3rd Flying Training Wing in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province. It took off at 2:19 p.m. and completed a 45-minute flight.



A total of six prototypes of the KF-21 have been rolled out.



The 8.8 trillion won ($6.7 billion) KF-21 co-development project was launched with Indonesia in 2015, with an aim to develop a supersonic fighter to replace Korea's aging fleet of F-4 and F-5 jets.


Sony is far from being the top smartphone brand in the world, but that doesnt mean that the company isnt still popping out devices year after year. The Japanese Company still manages to raise some excitement for its new phones, and were looking forward to two new phones this year. However, there might be a third, as rumors point to Sony working on the Xperia Pro-II.

The Xperia Pro-I launched back in 2021, and it was definitely the most interesting Sony device of the year. This phone was an absolute camera powerhouse with a set of extremely powerful cameras. The notable thing about it was the 1-inch sensor in the main camera.

That beefy phone was the most expensive Xperia handset to launch that year coming in at $1,799. Its currently being offered for $999, so if you are interested in that phone, you can pick it up for a 44% discount.

We have possible details on the camera for the Xperia Pro II

Since were talking about leaked specs and rumors, you will want to take this news with a grain of salt. The information we have on this phone its pretty scarce, so more updates will arrive as time goes on.

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GSMArena notes that the rumors are pointing to this new device coming with an upgraded camera setup over the Xperia 1 V. Thats to be expected. The camera package is expected to have three Exmor-T stacked sensors.

So, the Xperia Pro 1 V will be the standard flagship device with the Xperia 10 V sitting at a lower tier. Towering above those two, we could have the Xperia Pro-II.

Right now, details are coming from different sources. One Source claims that the main camera will use the 1-in sensor while another one says that Sony will use different sensors this time around. This points to the phone being in very early development with no solid details about the camera just yet.

In fact, the Xperia Pro-II isnt even expected to launch this year. Rumors point to an early 2024 launch. So, we are several months out from the launch. Its even going to be a while before we get an official announcement. You will want to stay tuned as more information on this phone comes out.
Amal Clooney praised young female community leaders and said lasting change has to be led by people on the ground as she presented a special honour at the Princes Trust awards.

The high-profile barrister and wife of Hollywood star George Clooney presented the Amal Clooney Womens Empowerment Award to a young Tanzanian woman at the ceremony on Tuesday.

The annual Princes Trust Awards recognise young people who have succeeded against the odds, improved their chances in life and had a positive impact on their local community.

The Clooneys were among the stars that attended the 19th annual event in London, alongside British talent including actor Stephen Graham, Eurovision star Sam Ryder and rapper Bugzy Malone.

Award winner Zamana was recognised after launching her own campaign to support and encourage girls to stay in school in Tanzania.

The campaign translates as Allow Me To Study and focuses on helping schoolgirls and their parents understand the importance of completing their education.

Presenting her womens empowerment award, Amal Clooney said: As a lawyer, I can work to change laws.

But lasting change has to be led by people on the ground, in the community. Sometimes, these leaders can be found in girls as young as 16. Like Zamana, who we are honouring today.

Zamana told me that one of the ways she convinces parents to let girls study is by showing them images of successful women  and I have no doubt that she will one day be among them.

George and Amal Clooney were among the famous faces at the ceremony in London on Tuesday (Ian West/PA)

Elsewhere, This Is England star and Princes Trust ambassador Graham read a letter to the audience from the King.

The actor also presented the Homesense Young Achiever of the Year award to 24-year-old Joanna Drewett from South Manchester.

Ms Drewett was admitted to a psychiatric hospital at 15, which disrupted her education, and she finished school with just three GCSEs, before reaching out to the Princes Trust.

Presenting her with the award, Graham said: Joanna should be very proud of herself.

Princes Trust ambassador Stephen Graham read a letter to the audience from the King during the ceremony (Ian West/PA)

She hasnt let the challenges in life hold her back and is now thriving, loving and enjoying lifes experiences.

This is a real testament to her strength and determination. Congratulations on the award win and best of luck in your future endeavours.

Awards were also presented by celebrity supporters and Princes Trust ambassadors including Edward Enninful, Geri Horner, Fearne Cotton, Holly Willoughby, Rylan Clark and Kate Garraway.

Tuesdays event was hosted by celebrity presenters and long-term ambassadors of The Princes Trust Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, and featured a performance by Ryder.

Ryder, who was heavily involved in the recent Eurovision celebrations in Liverpool, said he had nothing but respect for those who had overcome tribulations and challenges in life.

Sam Ryder (Ian West/PA)

Being around this kind of energy inspires the transmission and the radiation of that kind of energy from your own life and your own heart and your own spirit, he told the PA news agency on the events carpet.

I had a dream of a career in music since I was about 14 years old it took a long time and the only thing that I can attribute that is just never giving up.

You have this feeling and this fire inside of your heart that you want to share music for no other reason but a connection with total strangers and to enrich your life in that way.

So, Ive got nothing but respect for people who have that same spirit and same vigour.

He added: Whatever life throws at them, whatever failures, tribulations and challenges, they will never cease in this search to share light.

Charles is set to meet the winners of this years Princes Trust awards at a reception at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday.
A man at the helm of one of Britains biggest businesses has told a High Court judge that his 88-year-old uncles financial and marital difficulties are not good for the family.

Aidan Barclay told Sir Jonathan Cohen that he felt terribly sorry for what had happened to Sir Frederick Barclay and his aunt Lady Hiroko Barclay.

However, he said Sir Fredericks non-payment of 100 million he owed to Lady Hiroko, who is also in her 80s, was not really my issue.

He was giving evidence, at a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London, during the latest stage of a long-running fight over money between Sir Frederick and Lady Hiroko.

In May 2021, Sir Jonathan ordered Sir Frederick to hand Lady Hiroko lump sums totalling 100 million following the breakdown of their 34-year marriage.

Sir Jonathan, who has heard the money has yet to be paid, said then that Sir Frederick had behaved in a reprehensible fashion during the litigation.

Lady Hiroko, who petitioned for divorce on the grounds of unreasonable behaviour, has complained Sir Frederick had not paid her as ordered  and alleged that he was in contempt of court.

Sir Jonathan subsequently ruled that Sir Frederick was in contempt as a result of failing to pay about 245,000 he owed his ex-wife for legal fees and maintenance.

Sir Frederick and his twin brother, Sir David Barclay, were among the UKs most high-profile businessmen.

Sir David died aged 86 in January 2021.

Their interests included the Telegraph Media Group and The Ritz hotel in London. The family also has links to the Channel Islands and Monaco.

Sir Jonathan has been told that Sir Davids sons, his nephews Aidan and Howard Barclay, now have day-to-day responsibility for group business.

Sir Frederick said he has been unable to pay Lady Hiroko because his nephews hold the purse strings.

He has argued a trust which could provide him with money is being starved of funds from the family business  and has told the judge his nephews had turned off the tap in 2019 as a result of conflict.

Sir Jonathan told Aidan Barclay on Tuesday that the situation was desperate.

Lady Hiroko Barclay petitioned for divorce on the grounds of unreasonable behaviour (Kirsty OConnor/PA)

Aidan Barclay told the judge that he had not spoken to Sir Frederick for a couple of years.

But he said it was not true that the tap had been turned off in 2019.

We were having some difficulty, he told the judge.

We had to readjust the way in which we were operating. Things have been quite difficult since then.

He said he had tried to negotiate something which would settle the problem between his uncle and aunt.

This is not good for the family, he said.

It is not good for the people involved.

Sir Frederick, and his daughter Amanda, had trusts, assets and income which were nothing to do with the business, Aidan Barclay told the judge.

To be honest with you, this is not really my issue, not my fight, he added.

I feel terribly sorry it has happened.

I would like it to go away.

Aidan Barclay told the judge that the Barclays employed about 20,000 people and had about 100 companies in around five jurisdictions.

He said business was not easy.

It is a time of doom and gloom, yes, he said.

It is not actually easy at the moment.

We have had severe pressures in the business in the last couple of years.

He told the judge that he had paid Sir Fredericks legal bills.

Aidan Barclay said he did not want to see a man in his 80s go to prison.

The judge adjourned the hearing until later in the week.
Broadcasting union Bectu has warned of a crisis in the unscripted television industry after reports from UK freelancers about an unprecedented lack of work.

The union, which represents more than 40,000 staff, contract and freelance workers in the media and entertainment industries, issued a statement of support for freelancers and called for urgent action.

A motion carried at Bectus national conference in Eastbourne on May 14 noted that 2023 had been unusually quiet for freelancers in the unscripted genres.

Many have reported being without any form of work since January or earlier, Bectu said.

Head of Bectu Philippa Childs said many freelancers had already faced incredible challenges brought on by the coronavirus pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis and were struggling to simply get by.

We are deeply concerned at increasing reports of unscripted freelancers struggling to find work, with many telling us this is the longest period without work that they have ever experienced, she said.

Freelancers are critical to the success of the UKs world-class film and TV production sector, however, at times it can be a lonely and uncertain profession.

Many have already faced incredible challenges brought on by the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis, and work long hours to the detriment of their mental health, family lives and work/life balance.

We're deeply concerned at increasing reports of unscripted freelancers struggling to find work. Many tell us this is the longest period without work that they have ever experienced. We stand with all unscripted freelancers at this difficult time. More from @philippachilds  https://t.co/aZVy2U6HsL  Bectu (@bectu) May 16, 2023

Now, many are struggling to simply get by.

Bectu said the lack of work was uncharacteristic for the industry and had caused more freelancers to consider leaving.

The union said it was very concerned there would not be a sufficient workforce to meet demand when production returns to more normal levels.

It is urging industry stakeholders, including broadcasters, streamers and production companies, to come together to address the issue as a matter of urgency.

The feast or famine nature of the industry  whereby there may be an overabundance of work one minute and none the next  is an incredibly challenging environment to work in and we urge the industry to come together not just to address the current crisis, but to commit to long-term change, Ms Childs said.

Bectus statement comes amid the ongoing strike by Hollywood writers (Damian Dovarganes/AP)

Broadcasters must better communicate with freelancers and give them a seat at the table to find solutions to a system that places all of the risks of employment and unemployment on the individual workers.

Talented workers who are the backbone of the industry are suffering, and we must not underestimate the damaging impact of this system, both financially and in terms of mental health and wellbeing.

Their skills, talents and livelihoods must be better respected.

It comes amid an ongoing strike by Hollywood writers, which has seen more than 11,000 members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) stop work after their contracts expired.

The WGA has also voiced concerns about the effects of increased streaming content, which it says has affected writer pay and show exclusivity.
Up to one in seven bus services across England could be lost if Government funding is not extended, an industry body has warned.

The Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) urged ministers to provide long-term support for the sector and claimed passengers are clearly worried about services being cut.

The Governments current funding deal to keep services running despite the fall in demand sparked by the coronavirus pandemic expires at the end of June.

But operators planning to cancel or change routes are required to give six weeks notice, meaning they are eager for a new agreement to be secured by Friday.

A survey of 2,050 people commissioned by CPT indicated that 59% of bus users are worried about increased travel costs and being disconnected from work and leisure opportunities if services are reduced.

The results of the poll, shared with the PA news agency, also suggested that 68% of low earners are anxious about how they would get to work if local bus services were cut.

This rises to 71% of people who do not drive regularly.

The CPT warned that 15% of services in England could be axed if the Governments bus recovery grant is not continued or replaced.

It believes 260 million a year would allow operators and local authorities to maintain services at current levels.

In February, the grant was extended for three months to June 30 at a cost of up to 80 million.

CPT chief executive Graham Vidler said: With over a million people travelling to work every day by bus, we know how important buses are to levelling up communities by keeping them connected to the jobs market.

With the risk of service reductions looming, this new research shows that people are clearly worried about getting to work as well as having to spend more by travelling by car or being cut off all together.

If the Government is really serious about levelling up and getting people back into the workplace, then it needs to back our buses for the long term.

Latest Government figures show bus use in Britain outside London was at 90% of pre-coronavirus levels on May 5.

This was eight percentage points higher than the equivalent day last year.

A Department for Transport spokeswoman said: Since March 2020, weve invested over 2 billion to maintain bus routes, including a further 80 million to continue protecting vital bus routes until the end of June.

To help with the cost of living as well as encourage more people back onto buses, we have also capped single tickets at 2 until the end of June, and allocated more than a billion pounds to improve services across England.

We will set out future steps in due course.

 The survey for CPT was conducted by research company Opinium last month.
The KSS-III Shin Chae-ho / Courtesy of Republic of Korea Navy



By Nam Hyun-woo



A planned summit between President Yoon Suk Yeol and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is prompting speculation over a potential submarine deal between Korea and Canada as Ottawa plans to replace its aging submarines.



Yoon and Trudeau will sit down with each other Wednesday in Seoul to commemorate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries. Trudeau is the first Canadian prime minister to visit Korea in nine years.



During their summit, the leaders are expected to discuss the two countries' cooperation in national defense, including Canada's submarine replacement program.



Multiple Canadian news outlets have reported that the Royal Canadian Navy is urging the government to purchase up to 12 new conventionally-powered attack submarines to replace its aging Victoria-class diesel submarines.



Military analysts note that Korea's KSS-III submarines, Japan's Taigei-class submarines and Spain's S-80 Plus class submarines are the perfect fit for the replacement program.



Timothy Choi, a fellow with the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, and Chris Spedding, a fellow at British American Security Information Council, wrote in their report for Starshell, a magazine issued by the Naval Association of Canada, "The KSS-III is one of the few operational conventionally-powered crewed submarines (SSK) designed to carry submarine-launched ballistic missiles, the Taigei incorporates lithium-ion batteries in place of traditional lead-acid batteries, and the S-80 Plus is the largest European SSK."





From right, Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun, Foreign Minister Park Jin, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly and Innovation, Science and Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne pose during their inaugural economy and security meeting, called a two plus two meeting, at the foreign ministry in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap
Government has been urged to look again at the approach for dealing with Northern Irelands troubled past proposed in the 2014 Stormont House Agreement.

The call comes after a man whose father was killed in west Belfast in 1974 created his own legacy process by using an interlocutor to secure answers from the UVF.

Paul Crawford worked with Winston Irvine for seven years and secured a report from the UVF answering questions his family had around Johns killing.

Mr Crawford said the process he underwent wont be for everyone but said bereaved families should be able to get answers.

He drew comparisons with the legacy proposals in the Stormont House Agreement in 2014 which involved interlocutors liaising with paramilitary groups.

He also called the governments proposed legacy Bill  which would give people immunity in exchange for information on Troubles crimes as well as halting future court processes  fantasy island.

The Stormont House Agreement included provisions to establish a range of mechanisms, including a cross-border Independent Commission on Information Recovery, to facilitate those seeking information from organisations with corporate knowledge of the death of their loved ones.

Mr Crawford said: I know that not every victim would want to engage in the kind of process in which I have been involved for that last number of years and of course no-one should ever pressurise them to do so.

That was the beauty of the mechanism proposed in the Stormont House Agreement.

It provided for investigations but it also provided victims with a choice to engage in exactly this kind of interlocutor process to armed groups in which I have been involved and which has delivered for me.

Professor Kieran McEvoy from the Queens University said it should not be up for victims to have to go to find answers themselves.

A copy of a report by Queens University Belfast into the murder of John Crawford (Liam McBurney/PA)

I pay testament to Pauls courage and tenacity to have initiated and seen this process through  but victims should not have to do that. It is the responsibility of the state to provide such mechanisms and the state has failed Paul and thousands of other victims, he said.

As was recognised in the Stormont House Agreement, in addition to proper investigations one of the ways in which information can be gleaned is from the groups themselves that are responsible for past violence.

Information can only be accessed in this way if there are armed groups who have the political will and the capacity to provide that information and if there are effective mechanisms  such as through the work of an interlocutor.

The Stormont House Agreement provided victims with a range of options, including engaging via interlocutors with armed groups  in exactly the way that Paul has done in this case.

While the current UK legacy Bill has been rightly castigated for closing down victims access to the courts, its lack of proper investigative powers and the amnesty scheme, that Bill has also seen the UK Government abandon the interlocutor process which was agreed to in the Stormont House Agreement and in a treaty between the UK and Irish governments.

Sadly, the people who will suffer most as a result of the abandoning of the Stormont House Agreement in the current legacy legislation are those victims who could otherwise have gained information from armed groups, as Paul has done.
LONDON (Reuters) -Former British Prime Minister Liz Truss's visit to Taiwan was on Tuesday described as a "dangerous political show which will do nothing but harm to the United Kingdom" by a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in London.

"We urge the relevant British politician to correct her wrongdoing, stop making political shows with the Taiwan question, and stop conniving at and supporting 'Taiwan independence' secessionist forces," a statement by the spokesperson published on the embassy website said.

Truss is the most well-known British politician to visit Taiwan since former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the 1990s, and her trip comes at a time when relations between Britain and China are the worst in decades.

She represents a section of the governing Conservative Party who oppose the British government's approach to China, which involves seeking to engage in areas such as trade and climate change while trying to limit national security threats.

(Reporting by Farouq Suleiman and Andrew MacAskill, editing by William James)
A construction company has been fined 550,000 over the foreseeable and avoidable death of a worker who was impaled on metal piping, according to the Crown Office.

Matthew Mason, 20, was working at Bearsden train station in East Dunbartonshire to install a PA system when he fell to his death.

The worker was attempting to free cabling which had become stuck when he fell backwards from a step ladder and was impaled on a section of piping being used as the handle on a cable drum.

Matthew Mason fell from a stepladder at Bearsden train station in East Dunbartonshire (Crown Office/PA)

He was pronounced dead at the scene after the pipe pierced his side.

Sheffield-based Linbrooke Services Limited was found guilty at Dumbarton Sheriff Court of three offences, including failing to identify the risks of pulling cabling through a conduit at height, despite previously having been alerted to the issues by a sub-contractor.

The company was also ordered to pay 200,000 to Mr Masons family in compensation when the case called for sentencing on Monday.

In a 14-day trial, prosecutors argued the firm had failed assess risks and put in place a safe system of work.

Stepladders were also identified as being unsuitable for Mr Masons work, as well as insufficient measures having been put in place to prevent a fall and to ensure the work area was free of material that could cause injury in the event of a fall.

Debbie Carroll, who heads the health and safety investigations team at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said: Matthew Mason lost his life in circumstances which were foreseeable and avoidable.

His death could have been prevented had Linbrooke Services Limited put in place appropriate planning, supervision and protective measures to manage the risk of working at height.

It is well known that falls from height are one of the single greatest causes of death and serious injury to workers within the construction industry.

From the evidence heard here there needs to be an increased recognition and rigour within the industry in addressing the risks associated with the use of stepladders.

This prosecution should remind duty holders that a failure to fulfil their obligations can have fatal consequences and they will be held accountable for this failure.

A spokeswoman for Linbrooke said: This was a tragic accident, and our sympathies remain with Mr Masons family.

Our overriding commitment to safety is continually measured by our industry-leading track record over many years and this was recently demonstrated by the significant amount of related evidence that was considered by the court.

Whilst we are disappointed by the verdict, we respect the decision of the jury.

The health and safety of our people, in all aspects of our business, remains one of the key pillars of our culture and ways of working.
England has gained a top five place in new international rankings for reading.

The latest Progress in International Reading Literacy Study, known as PIRLS, puts England in fourth place in a global education league table, based on tests which are typically carried out every five years.

Singapore scored the highest result, with an average score of 587, taking top place out of the 43 countries that tested the reading levels of nine and 10-year-olds at the end of the school year.

Second was Hong Kong with an average score of 573, followed by Russia (567) and England (558).

The rankings show that Finland had an average score of 549, the same as Poland, while Taiwan had an average score of 544, the same as Sweden.

Overall, the 2021 study assessed nearly 400,000 students in 57 countries during the pandemic  and 43 of the countries tested children of the same age (which is pupils in Year 5 in England) at the end of the school year.

Schools minister Nick Gibb said the Governments reforms  such as a focus on phonics, which teaches children to read using sounds  are behind Englands successful performance despite disruption from the Covid-19 pandemic.

In the 2016 rankings, England came joint 8th place out of 50 countries with an average score of 559  and Ireland and Northern Ireland were above England.

The pandemic caused disruption to the 2021 study and 14 countries  including Northern Ireland and Ireland  delayed testing until the start of the next school year which meant pupils were older when they were assessed.

The International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA), which runs the study, did not include this group of 14 countries in the main rankings table due to the different ages of the children being tested.

Overall, girls were ahead of boys in their reading achievement in nearly all the countries that took part in the 2021 study  and in England, girls had an average score of 562 and boys had an average score of 553.

The gender gap in reading performance in England has narrowed as girls average scores have fallen slightly, the data suggests.

In 2016, female pupils in England had an average score of 566, which is higher than the latest study, and their male peers had an average score of 551.

When asked by the media whether he was concerned that girls reading scores have dropped, Mr Gibb said the decline was very minimal.

He said: In terms of girls, we dont want there to be any decline of any group within these reading surveys.

But whats significant is if you take the results overall we are not seeing a significant drop in our actual score despite all the challenges of the Covid-19 period  and when other countries amongst these 43 countries did see declines in their score.

The Government said Englands success follows the introduction of the phonics screening check in 2012  a measure of progress among Year 1 pupil  and the English Hubs programme in 2018, which is designed to develop expertise in teaching reading in schools.

Mr Gibb said: The approach that the Government has taken, in the face of quite a lot of opposition from vested interests, has been successful in seeing childrens reading improving in this country.

He added that the commitment of 250,000 primary school teachers to reading who have embraced the phonics approach has also contributed.

But the study found that only 29% of pupils in England said they very much enjoyed reading, compared with 42% internationally.

Overall, fewer pupils in England reported enjoying reading than in the last two cycles of PIRLS.

The schools minister said: I do worry about making sure that the gains that children are making in maths and reading in primary school are sustained through secondary school as well.

Its really important in terms of social mobility that children continue to read regularly and for pleasure and thats something that were still working on as a government, he added.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: Driving up literacy rates is central to our plan to grow the economy, one of my five key priorities, so its great to see England move up to fourth in the international rankings for reading.

These results also show a welcome narrowing in the attainment gap between boys and girls and the highest and lowest performing pupils. This shows that our approach is working.

He added: While there is always more progress to be made, pupils and teachers across the country should be incredibly proud of this achievement today.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: This is a badly needed piece of good news for an education system that feels beleaguered.

These excellent results in reading standards of nine10-year-olds are testament to the hard work, skill and dedication of primary school teachers and leaders.

The Government is quick to claim that this is the outcome of its policies, but in truth, these results have been achieved despite the Governments record of neglect which has led to a critical shortage of funding and teachers.

The Prime Minister is right to praise our brilliant teachers, but he now needs to match this rhetoric with a decent, fully funded pay award which improves recruitment and retention and protects education standards.

Dirk Hastedt, executive director of the IEA, told the PA news agency: Its very positive that England was able to maintain the same high achievement despite the Covid-19 pandemic that we have had, with all the school closures and other negative impacts on education.

He said: One might also assume that without Covid, the education would have been even improved further than that. England was on a positive trend since 2006 already.
Britain has lost self-confidence without the essential threat of the Cold War, a former head of MI6 has said.

Sir Richard Dearlove said Britain no longer had the cohesion and motivation that drove the former spy when he joined the service in 1966.

He told the National Conservatism conference in Westminster: It never occurred to me that I was not on the side of the angels.

Sir Richard, who led MI6 between 1999 and 2004, said: Looking back, we were self-confident without any hint of complacency. We took for granted the fundamental moral difference between the values we espoused and the totalitarian nature of Soviet Russia and Maoist China.

Comparing his experience to the modern world, he said: It seems to me we have since lost our way.

Without the essential threat to our way of life that was a constant feature of the Cold War, we have lost cohesion and motivation, and especially our self-confidence.

Minority views amplified by social media have been allowed disproportionate political and social space so that the mainline political and social debate has become seriously distorted by fringe movements.

Sir Richard appeared at the right-wing National Conservatism conference as part of a panel on national realism and foreign policy, alongside other speakers who claimed woke movements had undermined security.

Michael Anton, a former US national security official under Donald Trump, claimed the American armed forces were struggling with recruitment because too many Americans had been taught that their country is evil and they should hate it.

Discussing active measures  disinformation and subversion efforts usually associated with Communist nations  Sir Richard warned: Active measures work best in a fertile social and political environment where naivety about Russian and Chinese intentions is rife, where doubt about our own values system and its foundations has irrational strength.

Im worried when I witness eminent members of our own elite doing the work of our foremost enemies for them.

Whether it is advocating for Huawei, refusing to publish any serious scientific study that questions the Chinese narrative on the origins of the Sars-Cov 2 virus, or promoting a settlement in the war between Russia and Ukraine that ignores the peace conditions laid down by President Zelensky.

Sir Richard also argued that only a revolution could end the threat from Russia, saying: The sheer brutality of Putins regime leads me towards the conclusion that Russias political DNA is so corrupted that only another revolutionary change might rebalance it.
(Correction, amending pars 7-9 to make clear that the surgery was not carried out by Mono. This copy originally ran on Saturday January 2, 2021, at 02:45)

The family of a British mother-of-three who died following liposuction treatment in Turkey are warning others about the risks of health tourism.

Abimbola Ajoke Bamgbose, a 38-year-old social worker, died in August after buying an overseas package deal with Mono Cosmetic Surgery.

Her husband Moyosore Olowo is now suing the firm and the surgeon responsible, Dr Hakan Aydogan, for 1 million, claiming medical negligence. Proceedings have been issued in the Turkish courts.

He told the PA news agency: She was the backbone of the family.

Abimbola Ajoke Bamgbose and husband Moyosore Olowo, with their three children (Moyosore Olowo)

My wife was an excellent mum. My son has special needs and she was a calming influence on him.

Now I am left alone caring for the children and it is really, really painful.

Ms Bamgbose travelled to Izmir, a city on Turkeys Aegean coast, in an overseas package deal with Mono Cosmetic Surgery  which acts as an intermediary between patients and surgeons in locations such as Turkey, while also providing travel and accommodation.

Although she had initially hoped to have surgery in the UK, she looked abroad after finding it was too expensive, Mr Olowo said.

Having compared options, she eventually settled on spending 5,000 in Turkey.

Mr Olowo said Ms Bamgbose began experiencing severe abdominal pain after receiving the treatment.

Four days later, he said, she was seen by another specialist at the hospital and had a second surgery.

The mother-of-three began experiencing severe abdominal pain following the surgery (Moyosore Olowo)

At this point Mr Olowo, who said his wife was his best friend, flew to Turkey, where he was told by medical staff at the hospital an error in the initial procedure had led to complications.

After returning home to take care of his family, Mr Olowo then received a WhatsApp call from the surgeon, where he was told his wife had died. The couple, originally from Nigeria, had been together for 15 years.

In the post-mortem examination, the North West Kent Coroner Service found Ms Bamgbose died from peritonitis and multi-organ failure following a complication of the liposuction surgery.

She was a dedicated social worker (Moyosore Olowo)

Mr Olowo said his beautiful wife had suffered from low self-esteem after giving birth to her three children, Morayo, 13, Eyitayo, 10 and Titilayomi, seven.

Mr Olowo has not been able to return to work as a Network Rail contractor since she died because of childcare commitments.

He said he would advise anyone thinking of having surgery in Turkey to not go.

I am not going to label all medical practitioners in Turkey as below par, but there is the language barrier, he said.

He said he fears communication issues may have contributed to signs of her complications being missed.

Do your due diligence, but remember the rules and regulations are different over there. If something goes wrong you will want to be in your home country, Mr Olowa added.

She began suffering from low confidence following the births of her three children (Moyosore Olowo)

The surgery was booked via the Mono Clinic, a Turkish company that uses appeals on its website and social media to attract potential health tourists from countries such as the UK, Germany and Sweden.

Britons looking into surgery abroad are advised to speak directly to a hospital surgeon or use those recommended by their UK doctor.

Mr Olowos Turkish lawyer Burcu Holmgren, of London Legal International, said: I warn everyone who wants to book surgery in Turkey to not use an agent firm, speak to your surgeon directly, speak to their patients and never pay for a package deal of flights, hotel, surgery, etc.

There are incredible surgeons in Turkey and they are too busy operating they wont be getting into deals with agencies to bring patients to their clinics. So please do your research and be careful.

The Mono Clinic and Dr Aydogan have both been contacted for comment.

Ms Holmgren added: We say Abimbolas death is due to medical negligence.

We do realise these procedures are risky, however medical experts we spoke to who have reviewed her hospital records indicated her operation was not handled the way it should have been.

Now a loving wife and a caring mother is gone, and we are looking for answers. We also want to hold people responsible accountable.

(Moyosore Olowo)

Nothing will bring back Abimbola but the one million pound compensation claim is for her children to be able to have a future. We are confident we will prove our claim.
Published 17 May 2023 at 11:54 am

Johnny Depp made a triumphant return to the international film stage on the opening day of the 2023 Cannes film festival.

The Hollywood actor stars in historical drama Jeanne Du Barry as King Louis XV alongside French actress Maiwenn, Pierre Richard and Benjamin Lavernhe.

Depp was pictured with his castmates on the red carpet on Tuesday and posed for pictures in a simple three-piece black suit ahead of the films premiere screening  which kicked off the two-week festival.

The project is his first major onscreen appearance since his high-profile defamation case with his ex-wife Amber Heard last year.

Director Maiwenn, from left, Johnny Depp, and Pierre Richard pose for photographers upon arrival at the opening ceremony (Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP/PA)

Depp sued the Aquaman star over a 2018 article she wrote for The Washington Post about her experiences as a survivor of domestic abuse, which his lawyers said falsely accused him of being an abuser.

His appearance at Cannes comes after Adele Haenel, one of Frances top actors, announced she was quitting the industry, denouncing it for complacency toward sexual aggressors.

Johnny Depp (Scott Garfitt/Invision/AP/PA)

Her criticisms were rejected by Cannes Film Festival chief Thierry Fremaux earlier this week.

Depp was greeted by hordes of fans as he arrived on Tuesday, with some holding banners that read viva Johnny and we love Johnny.

Directed by Maiwenn, Jeanne Du Barry tells the story of Jeanne, a young working-class woman who uses her intelligence and allure to climb the social hierarchy, eventually landing on the radar of King Louis XV.

Fans hold banners in support of Johnny Depp at the opening ceremony of the Cannes film festival (Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP/PA)

Depp reportedly became visibly emotional, after the film received a seven-minute standing ovation following the screening.

Elsewhere on Tuesday, veteran actor Michael Douglas received an honorary Palme dOr  the highest prize awarded at Cannes.

He arrived at the event with his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones and daughter Carys Zeta Douglas.

Zeta-Jones wore a flowing red gown with one sleeve cape detail.

Carys Zeta Douglas, from left, Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones (Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP/PA)

Her daughter opted for a semi-sheer white net gown with delicate detailing and a cut-out back and sides, from Elie Saab.

According to outlets that were present, Douglas became emotional while accepting the award onstage ahead of the Jeanne Du Barry screening and received a standing ovation.

He was then joined by renowned French actress Catherine Deneuve and the pair officially declared the 76th Cannes Film Festival open.
A judge-led inquiry should examine the Crown Offices role in the granting of a warrant to search Nicola Sturgeons house and SNP HQ, Alba MP Kenny MacAskill has said.

It comes after the Scottish Sun reported that police requested the search warrant on March 20, but it was only green-lit and sent to a sheriff a fortnight later.

This meant the search took place on April 5, after the conclusion of the SNP leadership race.

The execution of the warrant  which was connected to the ongoing investigation into the SNPs finances  led to police searching Ms Sturgeons home as well as the partys offices in Edinburgh.

On Tuesday, the BBC reported that sources close to the inquiry had denied there has been any undue delay.

Mr MacAskill, who was Justice Secretary under Alex Salmonds government, said the public needed to be reassured that there had been no undue political influence on the process.

Kenny MacAskill said the issue was of the utmost gravity (David Cheskin/PA)

He said: These are matters of the utmost gravity and seriousness with huge implications for the functioning of our legal system and our democracy.

As Justice Secretary I was involved in changes to expedite the warrant process.

Delays then were due to bureaucracy and IT systems. I never envisaged that police investigations might be delayed by what appears to be political considerations.

That is why I am today calling for a judge-led inquiry into the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in order to restore trust and confidence in this vital institution.

He said this would reassure the public that the decisions taken by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service have not been influenced by political considerations.

The Police Scotland investigation led to the arrest of Peter Murrell, Nicola Sturgeons husband and the former SNP chief executive, on April 5. He was later released without charge pending further inquiries.

A spokesperson for the Crown Office said: In all matters, Scotlands prosecutors act independently of political pressure or interference.

It is standard that any case regarding politicians is dealt with by prosecutors without the involvement of the Lord Advocate or Solicitor General.

COPFS understand the interest in this case but to protect the fair administration of justice we urge restraint in public comment.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: As the investigation is ongoing we are unable to comment further.
A murder accused nurse has told jurors that killing babies was not on her mind as she and friends looked forward to a holiday abroad.

Lucy Letby, 33, is alleged to have attempted to murder a baby boy at the Countess of Chester Hospital a day before she flew out to Ibiza with a colleague and a friend.

It is alleged she went on to murder a newborn triplet boy on her first shift back following her return from the Spanish island  and then killed his brother the next day.

Letby denies murdering seven babies and attempting to murder 10 others on the neonatal unit between June 2015 and June 2016.

On Tuesday, she agreed with her barrister Ben Myers KC that the allegations against her are of the most grave nature.

She said that in June 2016 she had a busy, active life outside of work, with lots of hobbies and friends.

Mr Myers asked her about an exchange of WhatsApp messages with a nurse, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, on June 13 in which they referenced packing and joked about appearing on Love Island.

Letby told Manchester Crown Court: So myself, (the nurse) and the other person were going on holiday together.

Mr Myers said: How did you feel?

Letby said: We were excited. We were looking forward to it.

Mr Myers said: Are those people your friends?

Yes, said Letby.

Mr Myers said: And this is what you are chatting about?

Yes, said Letby.

Mr Myers said: You were going to have to go to work before you went away, how were you feeling about going to work?

Letby said: I was happy to go to work but I was also looking forward to time off and going on holiday.

Mr Myers said: In the middle of that were you planning on killing babies?

Letby said: No.

Mr Myers said: Thats what the prosecution are saying.

Letby said: That didnt happen.

Mr Myers said: Is that what was on your mind?

No, said Letby.

Letby denied first attacking Child N, a baby boy born with the blood clotting disorder haemophilia, in the early hours of June 3.

She said she was unaware his blood oxygen levels had dipped during her shift before he made a relatively swift recovery.

Twelve days later Child N had a profound deterioration at 7.15am on June 15, the court heard.

Letby said she looked after Child N on June 14 and did not recall any concerns with him but his condition had deteriorated by the time she arrived for duty the next morning.

She said she went to nursery three to talk to colleague Jennifer Jones-Key, who was a good friend of mine.

Letby said she was stood in the doorway  as her colleague tended to another baby in the room  when Child Ns monitor alarm sounded.

She said: I went over and found him to be mottled and not breathing properly.

He was a blueish colour. Straightaway I started Neopuffing (breathing support) and called for help.

(Child N) recovered from that episode within minutes and the same thing then happened again.

He dropped his saturations, his colour was not good and he was mottled.

She said a registrar decided that Child N needed to be moved to nursery one, the intensive care room.

Mr Myers asked: How long had you been on the unit?

Letby said: Minutes. I had just got to nursery three when this happened.

Letby was on holiday from June 16 to June 22, the court heard.

On successive days on June 23 and 24 she is alleged to have murdered two triplet brothers, Child O and P.

Earlier, Letby said she was in a different nursery when a doctor alleged he saw her doing nothing when a baby girl collapsed on the unit.

The defendant is alleged to have deliberately dislodged the infants breathing tube shortly before a consultant walked into nursery one.

Giving evidence earlier this year, Dr Ravi Jayaram said he saw Letby standing by the incubator of Child K as her blood oxygen levels plummeted.

No alarms were sounding, he said, and he recalled the nurse was doing nothing.

On Tuesday, Letby said she was feeding another baby in nursery two at or shortly before 3.50am on February 17 2016.

Mr Myers asked: Did you interfere with (Child Ks) tube?

No, replied Letby.

Mr Myers said: Was there a time when you were in the nursery and Ravi Jayaram came in and he found you to be standing there close to (Child K)?

Letby said: No.

Mr Myers said: Do you recall any incident when you were present while (Child K) deteriorated and Ravi Jayaram was involved at about 3.50am?

Letby said: No I dont.

Mr Myers said: Or at any other time?

Letby said: No.

The defendant told the court she was feeding another baby at roughly 3.30am, which involved changing a nappy and giving 55ml of milk via a nasogastric tube.

Mr Myers asked: How long would that take?

Letby said: Around half an hour potentially.

Mr Myers said: If that is ongoing do you have any reason to be in nursery one at or shortly before 3.50am?

Letby replied: No, I was with this baby.

The Crown allege Letby struck less than two hours after the extremely premature youngster was born weighing 692 grammes.

Child K was transferred later that day on February 17 to Wirrals Arrowe Park Hospital, where she died three days later.

The prosecution does not allege Letby caused her death.

Letby, from Hereford, denies all the allegations.

The trial continues on Wednesday.
The schools minister will look at concerns that last weeks Sats exams were too difficult amid claims that a paper left some Year 6 pupils in tears.

Nick Gibb said he does not want the exams which are taken by 10 and 11-year-olds in England to be too hard as that is not the purpose of the assessment.

His comments come after hundreds of parents and teachers complained online that last weeks reading exam was too difficult and a headteachers union said some staff also struggled to understand the questions.

When asked about parents concerns over the difficulty of Sats, Mr Gibb said: Ive not seen the paper yet. Ill look at it next week when its available.

The Standards and Testing Agency have tested this test before in tests before the pandemic, they tested it last year with a large group of children, they monitored the response of those children to the test, to the questions, they found that 85% enjoy taking the test.

But we will look at this. I will certainly look at this because I know that there has been concern expressed by some schools.

Sats, or Standard Assessment Tests, are used to measure childrens English and maths skills in Year 2 and Year 6, and consist of six 45-minute papers.

The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) has expressed concerns over last weeks Sats reading paper and said it plans to raise the issue with exams regulator Ofqual and the Standards and Testing Agency.

Sarah Hannafin, the unions head of policy, said members had reported that the difficulty of the reading paper was beyond previous tests, left children upset, and some staff struggled to understand the questions.

On Friday last week, the Department for Education (DfE) said the tests are designed to be challenging to measure attainment across the ability range.

Addressing the fresh concerns about the Sats exams, Mr Gibb told journalists on Monday: We have psychometricians and practising teachers who put a lot of effort and time into making sure these tests are right for children.

They do have to test a range of ability to make sure that we can show what proportion of children are exceeding the standard and so on.

But we dont want these tests to be too hard for children. Thats not the purpose.

The purpose is to test the range of ability and the Standards and Testing Agency is charged with making sure that these tests are appropriate for this age group.

Last week, Kerry Forrester, a headteacher at a Cheshire primary school, expressed concern about the negative impact of the Sats exams on the mental health of her pupils and she said some were reduced to tears.

James Bowen, assistant general secretary at the NAHT, said: We are pleased that the Government will be looking at what happened with the reading test this year.

We have had clear feedback from school leaders that this years paper was not pitched appropriately for a large proportion of pupils and even highly proficient readers struggled with it.

It is essential that test papers are accessible for the large majority of pupils. We need to remember that these are 10 and 11-year-olds and the last thing we need are papers that leave them feeling demotivated and dejected.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: We welcome Nick Gibbs commitment to look at the concerns raised over the Key Stage 2 reading paper.

Weve received a lot of feedback that this paper was unnecessarily difficult and that it left children distressed and teachers very anxious about the impact on their pupils.

He added: Key Stage 2 tests are not supposed to be some sort of gruelling rite of passage, but an accountability measure to check on attainment at the end of Key Stage 2.
U.N. Command Commander Gen. Paul LaCamera speaks during a ceremony celebrating the founding of the Korea-UNC Friendship Association in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap



U.N. Command (UNC) Commander Gen. Paul LaCamera on Tuesday highlighted the U.S.-led institution's role in crisis management on the Korean Peninsula and peace in Northeast Asia, saying it "cannot be replicated by any other organization."



LaCamera made the remarks as the command maintains its relevance as an enforcer of the armistice that effectively halted the 1950-53 Korean War, amid lingering questions over the need to update the long-standing entity.



"The work of the U.N. Command remains vital for maintaining the armistice agreement, providing tools for crisis management, and is essential to maintaining peace and stability in Northeast Asia," he said at a ceremony marking the founding of the Korea-UNC Friendship Association, a body promoting the importance of the command.



"This is the type of work that the UNC performs daily, and it cannot be replicated by any other organization," he added.



The UNC was launched in 1950 under a U.N. mandate to "restore peace" during the war. Following the establishment of the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC) in 1978, the UNC has served primarily as an enforcer of the armistice.



Seoul officials have said that talks have been under way between South Korea and the UNC to update or modernize the command in line with changes that have occurred over the last decades. Details on the process remain unknown.



LaCamera also leads the CFC and the U.S. Forces Korea. (Yonhap)


Online fashion giant Boohoo has slumped to an almost 91 million loss after shoppers were hit by the soaring cost of living.

However, shares in the company made strong gains after bosses said it will improve profitability over the new financial year and push forward with efforts to stem its declining sales.

The retailer revealed that sales slipped by 11% to 1.77 billion for the year to February 28, compared with the previous year.

Sales have dropped as shoppers grappled with rocketing household costs, such as higher energy and food bills, over the past year.

The group said revenues in the UK were down 9% for the year, with a weaker performance over the second half after inflation increased and consumer demand was impacted by cost-of-living pressures.

Meanwhile, international revenues dropped by 13% as the group said longer delivery times also impacted trade.

Boohoo also told shareholders that sales growth was impacted by climbing return rates, which jumped above pre-pandemic levels for the first time.

On Tuesday, Boohoo revealed that it fell to a 90.7 million pre-tax loss for the year, from a profit of 7.8 million.

However, the group said it expects profitability to improve significant for the current year due to cost efficiencies and cost deflation in the supply chain.

Boohoo said it fell to a 90.7 million pre-tax loss for the year (Ian West/PA)

John Lyttle, group chief executive officer, said: Looking ahead, we are investing for the future growth of this business with automation, local fulfilment capacity in the US and building global brand awareness.

We will deliver sustainable returns on these investments.

We will continue to give our customers the latest trends, outstanding value and a great experience.

Our confidence in the medium-term prospects for the group remain unchanged, and as we execute on our key priorities we see a clear path to improved profitability and getting back to double digit revenue growth.

David Reynolds, equity analyst at Davy, said: The emergence from the pandemic has been hard for the online retailers, Boohoo is no exception.

The revenue line remains fragile, but adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation), inventory and cash flow have been well managed.

The strategic intent is clear, execution remains challenging.
It is not worth turning a blind eye to anti-competitive business takeovers in order to boost the UKs reputation as a place to do business, the chair of the competition watchdog has said.

His comments come after the bodys decision to block Microsofts 69 billion US dollar (55 billion) takeover of games company Activision Blizzard, a deal which the European Union approved earlier this week.

Following the decision, Microsoft said the EU was clearly a more attractive place to start a business.

On Tuesday, Competition and Markets Authority chair Marcus Bokkerink pushed back against the idea that blocking deals made Britain seem less attractive.

We are vigilant, as it is our duty to be vigilant, about investments that consolidate and entrench market power, he told MPs on the Business and Trade Committee.

I think I would challenge the premise that if there is an impact on international confidence in doing business in the UK, that the best way that that confidence is served is by turning a blind eye to anti-competitive mergers.

Sarah Cardell, the watchdogs chief executive, told MPs that the body looked at specific deals on a case-by-case basis but absolutely considered the attractiveness of the UK when setting its strategy.

Individual cases need to be decided on their merits, she said.

When were looking strategically at the role of the competition authority, absolutely we will consider the impact of the decisions that we have made and the impact that has for the UK economy, including the reputation externally.

I believe that strong competition is a very positive signal for the UKs reputation externally.

Asked about how much the CMA had liaised with the the US authorities over the Activision Blizzard takeover, Ms Cardell said that an independent panel at the authority took decisions on their own.

The CMA will take its decisions based on our assessment on a merger, she said.

We are absolutely not, and I would clarify this because I think theres been some speculation on this, for example, in the press  we are absolutely not doing the bidding of other agencies.

We undertake our own analysis and, as I mentioned before, we have our independent panel groups who are responsible for those decisions and take those responsibilities incredibly seriously.
Bakery chain Greggs is set to open until 2am on Thursday to Saturday nights at its flagship Leicester Square store after reaching an agreement with the council, bringing an end to its court battle.

It will be allowed to sell hot drinks and its signature sausage rolls and pasties after 11pm, but not items from its hot food menu, and it must have bouncers on the door.

The fast-food chain was set to appeal against the decision by Westminster City Council to refuse an extended licence, with a three-day hearing meant to start on Tuesday.

But the hearing was cancelled after the appeal was withdrawn.

It comes as Greggs has been extending opening hours across its UK stores as it rolls out more hot evening meals including pizzas, chicken goujons and hot baguettes.

These items require special permissions from local authorities to be sold between 11pm and 5am.

Greggs said these products have been selling well as cheap meals remain compelling to consumers facing a cost-of-living squeeze.

The firm had hoped to have a 24-hour store in Londons Leicester Square, opened in July last year, to serve hot food throughout the day and night.

But it was blocked by the council over concerns that the store would cause late-night disturbances and antisocial behaviour.

Councillor Aicha Less, deputy leader of Westminster City Council, said: Greggs had originally applied for a licence in Leicester Square to sell hot food and hot drinks for 24 hours, Mondays to Sundays.

This was refused by Westminsters licensing sub-committee and Greggs appealed that decision.

Based on the merits of this case, Westminster have come to an agreement with Greggs that works for everyone.

Greggs launched its flagship shop on Leicester Square, London, in July last year (Matt Alexander/PA)

The branch can sell hot drinks and food that is baked elsewhere and reheated in stores, such as sausage rolls and pasties but it will be banned from selling items on its hot food menu after 11pm.

The agreement means it can stay open until midnight on Sunday to Wednesday, and until 2am on Thursday to Saturday.

It also must instal CCTV at the premises, have door supervisors and ensure litter is cleared outside the shop.

We are pleased to continue to support local businesses and look forward to working with the company going forward, the council added.

Greggs chief executive Roisin Currie told the Evening Standard it had reached a compromise with the council, and was working on what it can sell later into the evening.

Its very positive and weve worked well together, she said.
The Health Secretary will hold a further meeting with the head of the Royal College of Nursing as the battle over pay and conditions continues.

Pat Cullen told members of the RCN at their annual conference in Brighton that she is set to meet Steve Barclay though it is not about negotiations and she will explain again why nurses have rejected the current pay settlement.

An RCN postal ballot on further industrial action will open on May 23 and close on June 23.

The RCN has warned that strikes could go on until Christmas, which would force the cancellation of thousands of patient operations and appointments.

Ms Cullen said to applause: In seven days from now, nursing staff in England will receive fresh ballot papers on the question of whether to continue with strike action for up to six more months.

If you give the college another six-month mandate for strike action, across the whole of Englands NHS, then Government will be forced to act once more.

She added that they might even be watching congress, adding: Ill tell you why. Who emailed me last night at nine oclock?

To cheers from the audience, she said: The Health Secretary wants to see me.

Colleagues, this is not about negotiations, but it is important that I go and tell him again why many of you voted to reject the pay offer.

Ms Cullen later told reporters she has sent three letters to Mr Barclay and I was very pleased to get a response last night.

She added: As I said in my speech, its very clear. Its not about negotiations opening up but it is important that I go along and state the case again for our members, and I will do that as soon as congress is over.

She said Mr Barclay had made it clear in his correspondence the meeting will not be about opening up negotiations.

She said a date has not yet been set for the meeting.

(PA Graphics)

Asked what it will take to satisfy RCN members on pay, Ms Cullen refused to be drawn on the exact figure needed, saying being in a room with Mr Barclay is the right and proper place to negotiate.

She added: But if you look at that hall today, at the thousands of nurses that have come along to congress and their conference, we owe it to every single one of them to get into a negotiating room and to finish that work off.

Ive said to the Prime Minister, Lets get that done as quickly as possible and let those nurses get back to their work. But in order to address the crisis that weve got, and the fragility within the health service as we stand at the minute, thats not going to be addressed unless we address pay

Every one of us will need a nurse at some point in our lives and theyre not going to be there

At some stage you will need a nurse and unless we really waken up to this, we arent going to have those nurses there to care for us if we dont pay them properly.

Ms Cullen said nurses live and breathe optimism and now we need that optimism to make sure we get into that room and negotiate as quickly as possible and get the best deal for every singe nurse.

She said she will tell Mr Barclay sensibility is needed from all parties, adding: We need to own and the Secretary of State needs to own the crisis that healthcare is in within this country

And once he feels that and owns that, he will do the right thing.

She said the Government cannot ignore the voice of 30,000 nurses that will be balloted later in May and if they do that, they will do that at risk.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: We hugely value the work of nurses and it is disappointing that RCN leadership now want to escalate strike action, even though they recommended the Governments pay offer to their members.

The majority of unions on the NHS Staff Council voted to accept the Governments fair and reasonable pay offer  which includes a double-digit pay rise of 10.7% over two years for nurses at the entry point of band 5.

We hope RCN members recognise this is a fair deal and decide it is time to bring industrial action to an end.

Earlier, Ms Cullen told RCN members she has never met a nurse or support worker who wanted to be on a picket line.

She added: Standing outside our work became the only way to change what was happening inside.

Patients are not dying because nurses are striking, nurses are striking because our patients are dying. It is as clear as that.

Ms Cullen has urged ministers to prevent nurses from going into the winter months on strike.

She initially urged members to accept the Governments revised pay offer of 5% for this year and a one-off payment for last year.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4s Today programme on Monday, she said: 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.

Ms Cullen was referring to the 4% pay uplift from 2022/23 and the 5% for 2023/24 consolidated.

Downing Street said some nurses would have got double-digit pay rises under the deal rejected by RCN members.

All the unions involved in industrial disputes over the past year, including the RCN, have stressed to members the importance of voting because of legislation on ballots.

The Trade Union & Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 sets out the legal requirements in respect of industrial action in England, Scotland and Wales.

It was amended in 2016 to cover turnout, with additional requirements for public services. There is separate legislation in Northern Ireland.

In England, Scotland and Wales, the legislation says industrial action ballots must attract at least a 50% turnout and the majority must vote yes for action to be lawful.
Not for EU labelling on British food products sold across the UK will be phased in gradually from this autumn, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has said.

Mr Cleverly told peers that during negotiations with retailers ahead of the signing of the Windsor Framework, UK-wide labelling was identified as the preferred option.

The labelling requirement is part of the Governments deal with the EU to reduce checks on British products entering Northern Ireland.

The Foreign Secretary gave evidence to the House of Lords Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland Sub-Committee on the Windsor Framework, signed earlier this year to resolve trading difficulties between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, caused by the post-Brexit Northern Ireland Protocol.

Baroness Ritchie asked the Foreign Secretary to update the committee on plans for UK-wide food labelling (Paul Faith/PA)

Baroness Ritchie asked Mr Cleverly to update the committee on the requirement for Not for EU food labelling.

She said retail representatives had raised concern about a lack of details ahead of an October 1 deadline.

Mr Cleverly said during consultation with retailers, the centre of gravity of the voices that we had was that UK-wide labelling was the preferred option.

He added: The practical point was that retailers were saying they would prefer a UK-wide regime, philosophically Northern Ireland is part of the UK so it seems logical that something we are asking Northern Ireland to do, we should ask the UK to do.

I am very comfortable with having a UK-wide regime.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said a food labelling scheme would be phased in over a couple of years (Yui Mok/PA)

Mr Cleverly said that while autumn was the starting point for the plan, it would be phased in over a couple of years.

He added: We have been talking about this for quite some time, including in the Command Paper in 2021, so this shouldnt really be a surprise to the retail sector.

Of course they will want to have details about size and prominence and I will get details about exactly how and when.

It is not just a sudden start, we have been talking about this for a couple of years and it wont be fully implemented for another couple of years.

I am not a retailer, I dont want to imply simplicity when there might be complexity, but this is something we discussed extensively with the retail sector, including those who said that labelling would be a good way of ensuring their products would be available in GB, not just in Northern Ireland.

DUP peer Lord Dodds said that traders had also expressed concerns about new green and red lane arrangements to deal with the flow of goods from Britain into Northern Ireland.

He added: We had evidence from a manufacturer a couple of weeks ago who said basically that most manufacturers would put everything through the red lane just for clarity.

We have heard evidence that the green lane is effectively a retail lane for goods that can be guaranteed to stay in Northern Ireland.

How does that square with the Prime Ministers statement that any sense of an Irish Sea border has been removed?

Mr Cleverly said he believed the commitment by the Prime Minister had largely been brought to reality.

He said he was willing to look at specific examples where concerns remained.

The Foreign Secretary added: Northern Irelands relationship both with its proximity to the single market and its part of the United Kingdom means that complete perfection in all instances is not something that is ultimately deliverable.

But I think we have in very large part made good on that promise to eradicate that sea border in Northern Ireland.
Britain will not achieve its ambition to decarbonise the electricity grid by the middle of the 2030s with the current system of polite queuing, the boss of Ofgem has said.

Regulator chief Jonathan Brearley said that it is unacceptable that some renewable energy projects which may never be built are able to block more viable wind and solar farms from being connected to the grid.

He promised a major review which will report within two years and help slash the backlog of projects that are waiting to be connected to the grid.

Builders of wind farms say that the difficulties of securing a cable which connects them to the grid is one of the biggest issues holding back the rollout of clean energy across Britain.

It does not matter how fast they can put up wind turbines if these turbines are not able to get the electricity they produce to the businesses and households who need it, they say.

It can take up to 10 years to get a connection, while more than half of projects wait for more than five years.

Ofgem said it could phase out the current first-come first-served system whereby, it said, zombie projects which are never likely to go ahead still take priority over newer but more viable plans.

Polite queuing may be in the very best of British traditions  but the first-come, first-served connections regime is not fit for purpose if we are to end fossil fuel power within 12 years, Mr Brearley said.

It is unacceptable energy projects are blocking great low-carbon schemes from plugging into the transmission network  with connection times of a decade or more.

The Government hopes that all electricity produced in the UK will not have any carbon emissions from generation by 2035.

To get there ministers hope that 50 gigawatts of offshore wind will have been installed by the end of the decade, and 70 GW of solar by 2035.

But Mr Brearley warned that ambitious targets could turn into empty words without change. He warned that connection delays and costs were the biggest risk to this.

We cant scale up the grid capacity needed by 2035 without much bolder intervention to get new power on the grid as quickly as possible, he said.

It comes a day after a report from National Grid said that urgent action was needed from Ofgem, the Government and industry to reach the 2035 target.

It called for reform to the planning system, changes to regulation and governance and echoed Ofgems call for a move away from the first-come, first-served system.

National Grid boss John Pettigrew said: Today, we all stand at a critical juncture. The scale of the transformation needed over the next decade and beyond is a level not seen for generations with a far greater level of investment needed over a much shorter timeframe.

Incremental change will not be sufficient  we need a transformative approach.

National Grid ESO, which runs the grid independently to National Grid, said that it had launched an amnesty which could let projects withdraw from its queue without penalties.

It is also updating how connection dates are calculated, among other things.
More seasonal fruit pickers will be allowed into the UK if they are needed, Rishi Sunak has said after the Home Secretary pushed for lower migration.

The Prime Minister confirmed during a farming summit in Downing Street that an extra 10,000 visas could be made available on top of the 45,000 currently allocated to the agricultural sector.

His comments were in apparent contrast to those made by Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who on Monday said Britain could train its own fruit pickers.

Mr Sunak told the gathering of farmers and other food producers: Weve already expanded the seasonal worker visas for horticulture and poultry through to next year.

But for you to plan, we know that you need to know the numbers, so today I can confirm another 45,000 visas for next year, with the capacity for a further top-up of 10,000, and I know thats something many of you have asked for and Im pleased that we can deliver that today.

He said the Government was responding to the needs of farmers with the extra visas.

Challenges facing the food industry including continued high prices were discussed at the summit earlier on Tuesday, after the Prime Minister pledged to give farmers greater protections in future trade deals.

Today Im setting out my plan to ensure British farming is at the heart of British trade. By backing farming in this way, we can enable the whole world to feast on the very best of British, while creating new jobs, growing our economy & delivering the food security we need   Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) May 16, 2023

Which? analysis of April prices on more than 26,000 food and drink products at Aldi, Asda, Lidl, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsburys, Tesco and Waitrose found that inflation had eased slightly in categories that had previously seen the highest rises, including milk, butters and spreads and bakery items.

But other essential food groups like meat, fish and vegetables have continued to climb month on month.

It comes after Ms Braverman spoke about the importance of controlling legal migration.

In a speech at the National Conservatism conference on Monday, the Home Secretary said: Its not racist for anyone, ethnic minority or otherwise, to want to control our borders.

After her remarks, Downing Street insisted the focus on cutting net migration was in line with the Governments approach.

Suella Braverman speaking during the National Conservatism conference (Victoria Jones/PA)

On Tuesday, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said: What weve committed to is ensuring that the sector has certainty.

So we have confirmed another 45,000 visas will be available next year. Thats what theyd been asking for that provides the certainty so they can plan.

The scheme has flexibility in it so we can adjust accordingly.

Asked if more Britons should be trained to pick fruit, the spokesman said absolutely, but added: Another area were investing in is automation. Were providing extra support to help industry with that move.

That would be another way to help put a downward pressure on costs.

Former food tsar Henry Dimbleby said Mr Sunak was getting the train back on the tracks with his pledge to protect farmers.

So there was a quite complicated, hugely ambitious programme to move our farming to produce not only food but restore biodiversities  then it was comprehensively blown up by Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, the businessman, who previously led an independent review into the UKs food system, told BBC Radio 4s PM programme.

Liz Truss did a trade deal with Australia which broke the manifesto commitment to protect UK standards. As prime minister, she rebranded Defra as a growth department, recently they scrapped the horticulture strategy and they restricted, completely unnecessarily, seasonal workers as part of some kind of immigration culture war.

Farmers went from being nervous but kind of backing the programme to being scared and not really understanding this completely illogical, incoherent approach the Government was taking.
Child safety concerns have sparked calls in Parliament for a register of home-schooled children to be established.

Conservative MP Flick Drummond will seek to table a new Bill aimed at placing a legal duty on local authorities to maintain a register of children who are not in school.

The MP for Meon Valley, who will suggest the idea in the Commons on Tuesday, said there could be up to 81,000 children in England who are being home schooled, but no one knows how they are being educated.

Tory MP Flick Drummond (David Woolfall/UK Parliament/PA)

Ms Drummond told the PA news agency: Now, many of those, of course, will be well-educated because their parents are doing a brilliant job.

But there are an awful lot of children that arent. And the local authorities at the moment have no right to actually go in and see how they are being educated, which is extraordinary.

Ms Drummond said the proposals to create a new legal duty for parents to supply information to a council-maintained register were once part of the now-scrapped Schools Bill, adding: So, I know the Department for Education is happy with it.

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan told MPs on the Education Select Committee in December that the Schools Bill would have not progressed in the third session of Parliament but added that ministers remained committed to its objectives.

She said the Government would continue to prioritise certain elements of the Bill, including the proposed register for children who are not in school.

On Tuesday, Ms Drummond will say to the Commons: Currently, we hold no comprehensive data about how many children are not on a school roll, where they are and what quality of education they are receiving, if any.

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan (Jonathan Brady/PA)

This was echoed in a recent report by the Education Select Committee, which concluded that the status quo does not allow the government to say with confidence that a suitable education is being provided to every child in the country.

This is not acceptable. A quality education holds the key to a brighter future for every child, as well as playing a core role in ensuring our nations society and economy thrives.

She will stress that no one, neither the Government, nor local authorities, nor schools, can honestly answer the question how many children are missing from school, adding: Therefore, how can we know that every child is safe and suitably educated?

Summing up the proposals of her Children Not In School (Register) Bill, Ms Drummond will say: This is what my Bill today is about. Ensuring that every child is visible, safe, suitably educated and receiving the support they need to thrive.

On the concerns some parents might have about being registered, the Tory MP is expected to say: Not every parent has voluntarily taken up the home education mantle, fully aware of the responsibility it brings. Not every child is safe at home.

We are not seeking to disrupt those families who are successfully home educating.

Ms Drummond will present her Bill via the 10-minute rule motion procedure, which will allow her 10 minutes to outline her proposals. The Bill is unlikely to make further progress in its current form due to a lack of parliamentary time to debate Bills tabled by backbench MPs.

Commenting on the proposals, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders union the NAHT, said: Currently there is no legal obligation for a parent to provide any notification to a school about the withdrawal of a child to be home educated, and no way to check the quality of education that child is receiving.

This is a clear safeguarding concern and could lead to a child at risk being missed, with neither school nor local authority knowing for certain what has happened to them. Without an officially maintained register, there remains the risk of children becoming lost outside the system.

It is frustrating that the more helpful elements of the white paper such as the introduction of a register of children not in school seem to have been abandoned along with it. We would like to see a plan from the Government as to how they intend to take these measures forward.
Vodafone, which employs around 104,000 people around the world, declined to say how many jobs would be lost in Britain. Photo: Neil Hall/Reuters

Vodafone (VOD.L) shares have hit their lowest level since 1997 on Tuesday, after the telecommunications fir announced it will axe 11,000 jobs worldwide over the next three years.

The cuts equal around a tenth of its global workforce and will affect its UK headquarters and other countries.

The company, which employs around 104,000 people around the world, declined to say how many jobs would be lost in Britain.

Vodafone has 12,000 staff in the UK, based in seven offices including at its UK headquarters in Berkshire.

Margherita Della Valle, who was permanently appointed CEO last month after her predecessor Nick Read was ousted late last year, said: "Our performance has not been good enough.

"My priorities are customers, simplicity and growth. We will simplify our organisation, cutting out complexity to regain our competitiveness."

Read more: FTSE and European stocks lower as China's growth disappoints

She was speaking as Vodafone reported a 1.3% drop in full-year earnings to 12.8bn ($16bn). That figure missed its own guidance.

Revenues stagnated at 45.7bn, with growth in Africa and higher equipment sales offset by lower service revenue in Europe.

It also forecast earnings would be "broadly flat" for the current financial year.

Shares in Vodafone have fallen 25% over the past 12 months compared with a 4% gain in the FTSE 100 (^FTSE).

"Margherita Della Valle  more like Cruella de Vil. The recently appointed boss of Vodafone had some harsh words for her new charge as she made the stark assertion that performance had not been good enough, indicating the need for change and unveiling swingeing job cuts, Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said.

"With her strong words accompanied by a plan to remove 11,000 staff from its payroll in just three years, Della Valle has signalled she is not messing about. But it will take more than just streamlining the business to make it relevant for the 21st century world of telecoms.

"The company is close to concluding its merger with Three as it looks to build scale in a competitive mobile market. Della Valle says she wants to focus on customers, simplicity and growth. It is the latter which may well determine if she is perceived as a success by shareholders."

Matt Britzman, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said the firm's performance had been "lacklustre" in recent years.

"Lacklustre performance has been something markets have come to expect from Vodafone of late, and full-year results didn't buck the trend, he said.

Read more: Japan vies to be 'number one again through web3 innovation' | The Crypto Mile

"Higher energy costs and continued weakness in Germany meant underlying cash profit came in below the recently downgraded company guidance.

"New CEO, Margherita Della Valle, has been very vocal about the host of challenges she's facing in her new role  the honesty is refreshing but not enough to keep shares from falling on the news."

Neil Wilson from markets.com said it was a bold move as investors are not sure she will manage to turn the company around.

This has the look of a kitchen sink job from the new CEO Della Valle as earnings are weaker than expected as she gets to grip with this supertanker and tries to turn it around. Its a bold move but investors will want to see what she does with Spain and Italy, selling these to focus on Germany and emerging markets, and reduce its debt, albeit this was down almost a fifth to ~33bn.

Watch: Vodafone to cut 11,000 jobs as CEO says our performance has not been good enough

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There will be no renegotiation of the Windsor Framework agreed between the UK Government and the EU, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has told peers.

Mr Cleverly also said it was inconceivable that the Government would ignore the Stormont brake element of the deal if it was triggered by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Appearing before the House of Lords Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland Sub-Committee, Mr Cleverly said the deal was achieved because both sides accepted a degree of theoretical risk.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen unveiled the Windsor Framework earlier this year (Dan Kitwood/PA)

The UK Government and EU unveiled the Windsor pact earlier this year as a means of resolving trading difficulties between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, caused by the post-Brexit Northern Ireland Protocol.

But the DUP, which collapsed the Stormont powersharing institutions last year in protest at the protocol, has said its political and trading concerns must be met before it returns to government.

Mr Cleverly told peers about the process of achieving the agreement, which he said was designed to square a circle.

He added: What we sought to do through this was to turn what had been a conversation about theoretical problems into a conversation about practical problems and how we might resolve them

Where we have ended up is accepting on both sides a degree of theoretical risk that we think is very manageable in the real world.

That is what helped us shift and get a deal over the line.

The Foreign Secretary was also questioned about the Stormont brake element of the Windsor deal.

The brake mechanism would allow a minority of MLAs in the Stormont Assembly to formally flag concerns about the imposition of new EU laws in Northern Ireland  a move that could see the UK Government veto their introduction in the region.

The Stormont brake is an incredibly important mechanism, it is a unique mechanism that Stormont has that isnt replicated in any other part of the UK because of Northern Irelands unique relationship with Ireland and therefore by extension with the EU, Mr Cleverly said.

He added: We would hope that it is not needed, we hope we can tackle any potential diversion issues before it was needed to be used.

But it is there for a reason and it is powerful for a reason. It is not envisaged to be used lightly which is why it is set at least two parties and at least 30 MLAs in order to make sure that it is something that is taken seriously by all parties.

Because it is structured as such the UK Government is duty-bound to take it very seriously, in a political sense, if this was triggered it is inconceivable that the British Government would ignore it.

It is designed to be used if necessary, but ultimately what we want to do is avoid circumstances where there is the necessity for its use.

Ulster Unionist Party peer Lord Empey asked if there was any intention to renegotiate the Windsor Framework (Liam McBurney/PA)

Ulster Unionist peer Lord Empey asked the Foreign Secretary if the Government had any intention of negotiating changes to the framework during the current parliament.

Mr Cleverly said: It is a very simply answer which is no.

He then referred to the Governments Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, which was introduced last year to override parts of the protocol, but was dropped when the framework was agreed.

He said: It was really, really, really unpopular, with our interlocutors in the European Commission and had that progressed through all of its parliamentary stages, I know that would have caused huge amounts of friction between the UK Government and the European Commission.

It was there to address the issues which were raised to us by the unionist community and their representatives about the feeling that Northern Ireland was being pulled away from its rightful position in the United Kingdom.

I was willing, if need be, to cause damage to out bilateral relationship with the Commission, in order protect Northern Ireland as part of the UK.

He added: The reason why I say no to renegotiation is because we got movement from the Commission that for many, many years the Commission told us was impossible.

The idea that somehow there was a significantly or subtly better deal just over the horizon I think is wrong.

He said the EU had taken political risks to reach the Windsor deal, as well as the UK.

If we reopen negotiations there is no guarantee that we would get more movement from the EU.

It may be entirely feasible that their hinterland would say if youre renegotiating with the Brits, we want you to negotiate this thing back off the table.

I genuinely feel that this was the best deal that we could get that was also sellable within the EU and it needs to be sellable within the UK, including Northern Ireland, and it needs to be sellable within the EU as well.
A group of fishermen once abducted by North Korea cheer after they were cleared of violations of anti-communist and security laws in a retrial by a district court in the city of Chuncheon, 75 kilometers northeast of Seoul, May 12. Yonhap



The prosecution will pursue retrials for 100 fishermen who were wrongfully imprisoned after their release from captivity in North Korea five decades ago, officials said Tuesday.



The Supreme Prosecutors Office has instructed five district offices to initiate the process of requesting retrials ex officio for the crew of 23 fishing boats, who were abducted by North Korea in 1968 and returned to the South the following year.



Upon their return, the fishermen were convicted of various charges, including violations of anti-communist laws.



After examining their cases, the prosecution has confirmed they were unlawfully detained during the investigations, according to the prosecution office.



"This is the first time for the prosecution to file for retrials with its authority for a large group of abducted fishermen who were returned and criminally punished," an official said. "We anticipate a prompt restoration of their honor and rights."



In May 1969, North Korea released 150 fishermen who had been kidnapped while fishing in the East Sea the previous year.



Upon their return, they were detained in various facilities and subjected to investigations.



Among them, one man died and 149 others were found guilty of violating the anti-communist, national security and fisheries laws. Seventeen were sentenced to one year in prison, while 132 others received suspended prison sentences.



The prosecution has already proceeded with retrials for nine of the fishermen, who were subsequently acquitted by a district court in the eastern city of Sokcho on Dec. 21, 2022.



Additionally, retrials have been requested by 40 others on their own behalf or by their families.



In a separate case, 32 fishermen who were abducted by the North in 1971 and released in 1972 were cleared of violations of anti-communist and security laws in a retrial by a district court in the city of Chuncheon, 75 kilometers northeast of Seoul, on May 12. (Yonhap)


The Princess Royal has said National Service conscripts understood all too well the price of freedom and shouldered that burden on our behalf at a service commemorating the two million who served.

Princess Anne was speaking to hundreds of former servicemen at an event marking the 60th anniversary of the end of National Service at the National Memorial Arboretum on Tuesday, adding this nation owes all of them a huge debt of gratitude.

She also laid a wreath at the Armed Forces Memorial to commemorate the 395 National Servicemen killed on active duty from 1947-63.

The event was the culmination of the national Ask Dad and Ask Grandad campaigns by the Royal British Legion (RBL) to find the unsung heroes of National Service.

Speaking at the service in Staffordshire, Anne said: Some thrived, others endured, but all were called upon to give up some of their time for this country and they did just that.

As the mists of the Second World War cleared and Britain tried to forge a new future, these men were stationed across the globe and also here at home.

Some saw active duty while others did not. But they understood all too well the price of freedom and shouldered that burden on our behalf.

All were prepared to step forward and serve our country when we needed them. We recognise that this nation owes all of them a huge debt of gratitude for that service.

If I may, on behalf of the entire country, take this opportunity to thank them all.

National Service saw more than two million men aged between 17 and 21 conscripted. No women were made to serve.

Hundreds of thousands of servicemen are estimated to still be alive, aged between 80 and 97.

Conscripts had to serve for 18 months, which was extended to two years during the Korean War, before becoming a reserve for four years.

An average of 150,000 men were conscripted every year, but some were exempted due to their professions.

While many served in the UK, tens of thousands were stationed worldwide, including in Iraq, Korea, Egypt, India and Germany.

Conscripts experienced frontline combat in conflicts including the Suez Crisis, and the wars in Korea and Malaya.

The memorial to those who completed National Service at the National Memorial Arboretum (National Memorial Arboretum/PA)

The RBL says it was not unusual for demobbed servicemen to immediately return to their job they left two years earlier, which was legally required to be kept open for them.

This meant many did not reflect on or discuss their experiences, causing them to slip out of public consciousness.

Peter Backlog, 86, signed up for National Service aged 18 in 1955 and really enjoyed it, before joining the Royal Marines Reserves, leaving as a Major in 1983.

He said: Once a Marine, always a Marine. I think it taught us to never give up, and that takes you right through civilian life.

It also teaches you timing. Never be late, never be early, so I annoy my grandchildren by being furious if theyre more than five minutes late or five minutes early.

Peter Backlog signed up for National Service aged 18 in 1955 (Jacob King/PA)

During his service, Mr Backlog, who now lives in Fareham, Hampshire, fought in the Suez Crisis as part of Operation Musketeer and received the Naval General Service Medal.

But he did not believe it would ever return, adding: It became normal to do National Service. Nowadays, without National Service, would it come back? No.

I dont think the snowflake generation would put up with it, and nor should they.

Whats the point in training people to shoot other people, unwillingly? It wouldnt work.

Mr Backlog met Ray Harrington, 87, in 1962 while training for the Special Boat Service  the special forces unit of the Royal Navy  and the pair have remained friends ever since, continuing to meet up.

They also completed their jungle warfare training with Paddy Ashdown  who went on to become the leader of the Liberal Democrats  in Malaysia.

Mr Harrington, from Flint Mountain in North Wales but originally from Liverpool, served in Germany after starting his National Service in 1953 and stayed in the military as a reservist for a further 37 years.

He said: National Service is completely forgotten. The majority of people dont even know what National Service was.

Ray Harrington said stayed in the military as a reservist for 37 years (Jacob King/PA)

When you went on National Service, it changed your life completely, because you had regimental restrictions on you and you did what you were told.

The service, led by the actor Robert Powell, included readings, performances from a choir and buglers and films, followed by a rendition of The Exhortation and the Last Post and a two-minute silence, before a Spitfire flypast.

Philippa Rawlinson, director of remembrance at the RBL, said: We are proud to be recognising this unique generation of today  men who were called away from their everyday lives, their jobs, their families, their partners, to do something extraordinary and serve their country.

This event at the National Memorial Arboretum acknowledges the service, bravery and sacrifice of the two million men who were conscripted into National Service.

Many of the men who completed National Service played down the fact that they served their country and havent really talked about it in the years that have passed.

Today will give them the opportunity to share their memories, meet others with similar experiences, remember the fallen and for all of us to mark an important moment in history.
The decision for officers to restrain Sheku Bayoh without a medic on scene to help provide medicine meant his prognosis was very poor, the countrys leading clinical toxicologist has told an inquiry.

Professor Michael Eddleston, 54, was giving evidence at the inquiry into the trainee gas engineers death after he was restrained by multiple police officers in May 2015.

When the father-of-two died he had the drugs MDMA and alpha-PVP in his system and his behaviour was consistent with someone under psychostimulant intoxication, the inquiry previously heard.

On Tuesday, Prof Eddleston told the inquiry that at the time, the 31-year-old was not understanding whats going on, hes fighting against the restraint, and that is going to go on until he is exhausted.

Laywer Aamer Anwar with Sheku Bayohs sisters Kadi Johnson and Kosna Bayoh at a previous hearing (Andrew Milligan/PA)

If that restraint had been started and there had been a plan, an availability of a paramedic or a doctor able to provide drugs within a few minutes, then the prognosis would have been different, he said.

It would have been better  Im not sure how good it would have been, but I think almost as soon as you get medicines into a patient there is a beginning of the process of chemical de-escalation.

But by going ahead and doing this without that plan in place, the prognosis was very poor.

The hearing, being held at Edinburghs Capital House, was told there was no precise fatal dose range on record for alpha-PVP, but there had been some examples in the past.

Mr Bayoh had 70 micrograms of alpha-PVP present per litre of blood, which the inquiry was told was consistent with but at the lower range of these case examples, and that the circumstances of the trainee gas engineers death should not be ignored.

Mr Bayoh was not in a calm situation  he was also restrained, Prof Eddleston told Laura Thomson, the inquirys junior counsel.

Its possible because of the restraint he died at a lower dose than would have been expected than if he hadnt been restrained and had survived, or had died for another reason.

Mr Bayoh died after he was restrained by around six police officers who were called to Hayfield Road in Kirkcaldy, Fife, on May 3 2015 after reports of Mr Bayoh acting erratically.

The inquiry is investigating the circumstances of the 31-year-olds death and whether race was a factor.

On Tuesday the inquiry also heard from written evidence, in which Professor Eddleston said that he considered that the attempt at restraint was naive and that, if Mr Bayoh had been treated as though he had a psychiatric illness, it might have resulted in a different outcome.

He wrote that while this was not an expert view, he felt it was one which was valuable and was based on his day-to-day clinical experiences on his ward.

Prof Eddleston, of the University of Edinburgh, told the inquiry how a person suffering from stimulant drug-induced psychosis would often be brought in to hospital by the police or their family.

He told Ms Thomson that the first thing to do would be to assess the situation, to establish what level of danger there was, and if the patient was violent  and if not, to speak to them.

But he told the inquiry if it was unsafe or there was aggression involved then, in the hospital, security and police would be called and physical restraint would be used.

The problem with physical restraint is its basically a dangerous thing to do, and something you try and keep as short as possible, he said.

So if that was required because of the situation we would then immediately start drawing up drugs to give either intramuscularly or via a cannula to try and get on top of the situation because the general feeling is the shorter the amount of time someone is restrained, the better the situation.

That doesnt mean short restraint is always safe, but its safer than one hour of restraint.

And if someone has a lot of drugs involved and we dont give them medicines you will have to physically restrain them for a long time.

So in the hospital you assess the situation and if we cant use talk to try de-escalate the situation we will very rapidly call in physical restraint, but someones drawing up medicines to get on top of them.

Roddy Dunlop KC, who represents some of the police officers involved, read from Prof Eddlestons expert report, written in 2017.

Overall, the situation on that morning was difficult and fast moving. A powerfully built psychotic man had been violent to people and cars. He did not respond to clear police instructions, the report said.

Unfortunately, his psychosis prevented him from understanding the situation or the instructions.

His paranoid thoughts caused him to attack the police, resulting in physical restraint until submission, without the aid of medicines to induce sedation administered by paramedical or medical staff.

The inquiry, before Lord Bracadale, continues.
A proposed amendment to the Online Safety Bill would require social media firms to prevent online abuse and violence against women and girls.

A cross-party group of lords, led by former culture secretary Nicky Morgan, is backing the amendment, which would mean companies that failed to remove abusive misogynistic content and ban repeat offenders would face fines, while bosses could be jailed for persistent breaches.

Writing for The Telegraph, Tory peer Baroness Morgan of Cotes said social media companies at the moment are failing women and girls.

She said: I have tabled an amendment calling for a Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Code of Practice to be written into the Online Safety Bill.

Baroness Morgan of Cotes (Paul Ellis/PA)

There are already codes for other issues such as terrorism and child abuse, but a code is desperately needed to specifically address the harms to women and girls.

There is strong support from all sides of the House of Lords for a code of practice that would allow media regulator Ofcom and the social network companies themselves to make the internet safer for women and girls and protect them from harm.

Lady Morgan said that statistics from domestic abuse charity Refuge showed that 36% of UK women have experienced online abuse on social media or another online platform.

The reality is online spaces are still a wild west, with illegal activity such as stalking and harassment a daily occurrence for women and girls, she said.

The Online Safety Bill provides a real chance to make online spaces safer for women and girls. We hear time and again how the government pledges to tackle VAWG as a priority, but this must be reflected offline as well as online.

We have a duty to ensure this landmark legislation  the Online Safety Bill, does its job and protects women and girls.

We all have a right to be respected and valued both on the streets and in digital spaces.

Rachel Treweek, the bishop of Gloucester, and Labour frontbencher Lord Knight of Weymouth are among those backing the amendment to the Bill, which is due to be debated in the House of Lords on Tuesday.

A Government spokesperson said: We are committed to tackling online abuse and violence against women and girls.

In the Online Safety Bill, we have made it a priority for platforms to proactively tackle the most harmful illegal content which disproportionately targets women and girls. This includes revenge and extreme pornography, sex trafficking, harassment, coercive or controlling behaviour and cyberstalking.

The Bill also includes tools that will give women, and all adults, greater control over what they see on social media, including content that is abusive or incites hatred on the basis of sex.
Published 16 May 2023 at 9:12 pm

British rapper Slowthai has appeared in court charged with two counts of rape.

The 28-year-old, whose real name is Tyron Frampton, was bailed at Oxfordshire Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Frampton will next appear at Oxford Crown Court on June 15, a court official told the PA news agency after the hearing.

The rapper was nominated for a Grammy award in 2021 and a Mercury prize in 2019.

He has won gongs at the NME Awards and UK Music Video Awards.
A restaurant manager has contradicted the evidence of a former Metropolitan Police officer who claimed she had never been shown CCTV footage of a car used by Wayne Couzens when he flashed female members of his staff.

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 the McDonalds restaurant in Swanley, Kent, on February 14 and 27, a police disciplinary hearing was told.

On both occasions, Couzens was seen by female members of staff to have his pants open and his penis on display.

Wayne Couzens was sentenced in March to 19 months in prison after admitting three counts of indecent exposure (Metropolitan Police/PA)

Ms Lee attended the restaurant on March 3, interviewing the branchs manager, Sam Taylor, hours before Sarah Everard was kidnapped by Couzens in Clapham, south west London.

Ms Lee is alleged to have lied about her actions when later questioned about the interview, as she claimed she believed that the CCTV at the restaurant deleted automatically and so there was no CCTV evidence of Couzens or the offence.

But at the hearing on Tuesday, Mr Taylor said that he had shown Ms Lee CCTV footage and told her it could be downloaded onto a USB stick.

I showed her on the actual screen in the office, he said.

I showed her what I looked at before using the time from the receipts and it shows the car coming around.

He said he explained to her that Couzens registration plate could be seen in the CCTV footage of the second incident.

He said he knew what times to play the CCTV at because of the time stamps on Couzens receipts.

He added: I said we could burn this on a USB.

He said he showed her all the evidence he had.

I told her everything I knew and I explained how we caught him out the second time, he said.

He said that Ms Lee stayed at the restaurant for probably 10 minutes in total.

It wasnt quick, it wasnt long either, it was probably 10 minutes, he said.

Former Metropolitan Police officer Samantha Lee could be banned from serving in the force again if she is found to have committed gross misconduct (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

Mr Taylor said he also gave her Couzens receipts from the two incidents, which showed the same last four digits of a credit card number, and witness statements he had gathered from the victims.

On March 12, a meeting was held between Ms Lee and her commanding officer Inspector Rita Jones, after the arrest of Couzens three days earlier.

Ms Jones said she was shocked to discover that Ms Lee still had the witness statements and they had not been placed in a sealed evidence bag.

I was a tiny bit shocked she still had them, she said. This was two weeks later.

She added that Ms Lee did not mention the existence of the receipts, and that she did not realise at the time that there had been two incidents of flashing.

However, she said that Couzens offending during the incidents was, at most, medium risk and it would not have been treated as needing an immediate call.

The risk is now at the level of a medium risk, she said.

You would ask them to do it as a priority, maybe not as an immediate call, but as a priority.

In March 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 related to when Couzens exposed himself to a female cyclist on a Kent country lane in November 2020.

Ms Lee is said to have breached the forces 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 senior SNP MP has warned the party against the use of easy soundbites to attack Labour  such as comparing them to the Tories.

Stewart McDonald, who served as the partys defence spokesman until resigning after Stephen Flynns ascension to Westminster leader, urged the SNP to focus on a platform of prosperity, fairness, resilience and independence in Europe at the next election.

The comments appear to run counter to the approach taken by party leader Humza Yousaf, who attacked Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer on Saturday  claiming his party were a replica of the Tories.

The SNP has ramped up its attacks on Labour in recent months, with former leader Nicola Sturgeon devoting a section of her party conference speech to Sir Keirs party back in November.

If we retreat to the comfort zone and the easy slogans, well lose. We can absolutely take this lot on, but only if get it right. Lets win on a platform of prosperity, fairness, resilience and independence in Europe.  Stewart McDonald MP (@StewartMcDonald) May 15, 2023

Both the SNP and Labour have boosted their election rhetoric in the past two weeks ahead of an expected election vote next year.

Mr McDonald went on to say the party would only win the next election if it is able to answer the economic, social and global insecurities reaching into every community.

Responding to a political commentator on Twitter, the Glasgow South MP said: We must critique Labour, of course, but after the disaster years of Boris and weeks of Truss, telling people Lab & Con are the same wont get us far.

We must show we can answer the economic, social and global insecurities reaching into every community.

And goodness, there is much to critique Labour on, and offer a strong alternative to, but well only win if we can credibly answer the three common insecurities mentioned above, as part of an unashamedly pro-independence and EU platform. IMO (in my opinion) thats where the winning coalition is.

No matter how easy Labour might sometimes make it for us, we should resist easy soundbites and answers when the problems people are facing are complex. Let us engage in solving those problems and offering a real alternative to broken Westminster governance.  Stewart McDonald MP (@StewartMcDonald) May 15, 2023

He added: If we retreat to the comfort zone and the easy slogans, well lose.

We can absolutely take this lot on, but only if (we) get it right. Lets win on a platform of prosperity, fairness, resilience and independence in Europe.

No matter how easy Labour might sometimes make it for us, we should resist easy soundbites and answers when the problems people are facing are complex.

Let us engage in solving those problems and offering a real alternative to broken Westminster governance.
Sting has said that when he writes songs he listens to the music and asks it to tell me a story.

The multi-award-winning musician said it was his job to translate abstraction into stories and characters and that it happened nine times out of 10.

The former frontman of The Police, 71, is due to be awarded a fellowship by the Ivors Academy on Thursday.

Sting is due to be awarded a fellowship by the Ivors Academy (Owen Humphreys/PA)

He will be the 23rd fellow the academy has inducted in its 79-year history, and joins the likes of Sir Paul McCartney, Kate Bush, Joan Armatrading, Peter Gabriel and Sir Elton John.

Throughout his career, he has won 17 Grammys, three Brits and various other accolades.

He was the primary songwriter and frontman of new wave rock band The Police from 1977 until 1984, after which he left to pursue a solo career.

The band found fame with hits such as Roxanne, Message In A Bottle and So Lonely.

Speaking about his songwriting process, Sting said: Theres no one way of knowing how its going to happen.

I tend to write music first. And then if you construct the music in the right way, it already has an abstract narrative.

So my job is to translate that abstraction into lyrics, into stories, and into characters. I listen to the music, ask the music to tell me the story.

And, nine times out of 10, it comes, eventually.

Stings 1983 hit Every Breath You Take was nominated for three Grammy awards at the 26th annual ceremony, including song of the year.

He said he had been staying at a house once owned by James Bond creator Ian Fleming in Jamaica while writing the song in 1982.

Sting said that some of the spirit of the famous fictional secret agent lay in the song.

Sting has won 17 Grammys, three Brits and other accolades (David Mirzoeff/PA)

Every night Id sit at Ian Flemings desk and try to write songs, he said.

I think one of the strange things about Every Breath You Take is that its very ambiguous. It has double meanings.

I never contradict peoples interpretations, because I think it enriches the song. And this song has that double-edged thing.

My theory is that James Bond, you know, hes a double character. And I think some of that spirit is in this song, though you can interpret it any way youd like.

Sting has previously won seven Ivors including the lifetime achievement award in 2002, and said he regards the awards as the most prestigious in music.

To commemorate his new fellowship, the Ivors newly announced sponsor, Amazon Music, will release a previously unheard demo of Stings 2021 single If Its Love, taken from his most recent album The Bridge.

It will be released exclusively on Amazon Music.

The winners of the 2023 Ivors will be announced at a ceremony at Grosvenor House in London on May 18.
The Stone of Destiny has been returned to Scotland after playing a key role in the coronation of King Charles.

The stone, a 152kg slab of pinkish sandstone on which Scottish kings were crowned for centuries, was taken from its home in Edinburgh Castle to Westminster Abbey under tight security.

Once there it was installed in the Coronation Chair for the historic service earlier this month, in which Charles was crowned the nations monarch.

The artefact, which is also known as the Stone of Scone, in now back on display at Edinburgh Castle.

The Stone of Destiny is back on public display in Edinburgh Castle (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Confirming its safe return, Kathy Richmond, head of collections and applied conservation at Historic Environment Scotland, said: We are delighted to have fulfilled our responsibilities on behalf of the Commissioners for the Safeguarding of the Regalia and that the Stone of Destiny is now back on display for visitors to Edinburgh Castle to enjoy.

Historic Environment Scotland is proud of the hard work that went into achieving this, not just by our teams, but by the partners who supported us and collaborated to ensure the Stone was safely included and returned to the Castle.

After the coronation the stone was on temporary display at Westminster Abbey, before being transported north again to Edinburgh Castle  where it has been kept since it was returned to Scotland in 1996.

It will remain there until it is moved to Perth, where it will be part of the collection in the new City Hall Museum, which is due to open in 2024.
A magnificent 3D replica of Earth as seen from space has been unveiled in a Glasgow church.

Seven metres (nearly 23ft) in diameter, Gaia, created by the renowned British installation artist Luke Jerram and named after the Greek goddess of Earth, has gone on show at Mackintosh Queens Cross Church, the only church ever designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

The globe is around 2.1 million times smaller than the real Earth, with each centimetre of the internally lit sculpture representing 21km of the worlds surface.

Formed using detailed Nasa imagery of the Earths surface, the artwork in the church in the citys Maryhill area provides the public with the opportunity to see our planet floating in three dimensions.

Volunteer Lillian Kerr underneath Luke Jerrams replica of Earth (Andrew Milligan/PA)

The unveiling of the artwork kicked off a month-long series of events in the city organised by the Charles Rennie Mackintosh (CRM) Society to mark its 50th anniversary.

Director Stuart Robertson remarked: Were thrilled to unveil the magnificent Gaia installation and welcome visitors to see this stunning spectacle and enjoy our exciting 50th anniversary events.

We have a packed programme of exhibitions, concerts, talks and film nights under Gaia.

Whether youve been to Mackintosh Queens Cross before, or are visiting for the first time, we look forward to welcoming you.

Gaia will be on show at Mackintosh Queens Cross until June 24, during which time a number of 50th anniversary events are scheduled to take place.

These events include talks about Glasgows history, concerts featuring artists such as Amy May Ellis and Siobhan Wilson, several film screenings and a special exhibition showcasing some of Charles Rennie Mackintoshs unbuilt designs.
Members of the Korean Construction Workers Union, an affiliate of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, hold a rally in central Seoul, Tuesday, protesting the government's suppression of the construction union. They will also stage another demonstration Wednesday that will include a march toward Samgakji Station near the presidential office. Yonhap
The Council of Europe meeting, at which Rishi Sunak will push for co-operation on tackling illegal migration, will not have a big focus on migration, host country Iceland has said.

The Prime Minister will warn European leaders in Reykjavik that the international system for policing human trafficking is not working.

He will also call for reforms to rules that prevented the UKs first scheduled deportation flight taking asylum seekers to Rwanda.

But Icelands foreign affairs minister Thordis Kolbrun Gylfadottir suggested these issues will not be top of the agenda at the gathering.

She told BBC Radio 4s World At One programme: The biggest focus is of course Ukraine, and then other issues such as AI and environment and other things. So this summit doesnt have a big focus on migration in general.

But I agree that that is an issue for Europe. And of course, that system has to develop with the challenges that we face.

Mr Sunak will hold talks with the president of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), Siofra OLeary, over reforms to how Rule 39 works  the order that blocked the inaugural flight to Kigali last year.

Asked whether Iceland and other European nations will consider an overhaul of the rules, Ms Gylfadottir said: I believe that there will be a discussion on it, but there will not be I think a real concrete outcome on reforming certain articles.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen (Dan Kitwood/PA)

Immigration will also come up in the Prime Ministers bilateral meeting with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, Downing Street said.

His official spokesman told reporters: Im not going to pre-empt their discussion, but I imagine they will talk about Ukraine following president (Volodymyr) Zelenskys visit to other countries and to see the Prime Minister yesterday.

And I would have thought they will talk about the challenge of illegal migration.

Northern Ireland would potentially be discussed as well, the spokesman said.

Mr Sunak is also expected to hold one-on-one talks with Mark Rutte, the prime minister of the Netherlands.

At the summit, Mr Sunak will say that both European communities and the worlds most vulnerable are paying the price for the failure to prevent unlawful migration.

It comes as his 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.

No 10 said the Government remains committed to reducing net migration amid speculation it could pass the one million mark next year.

It follows reports that the Home Office has privately shared figures with No 10 suggesting more than 1.1 million foreign workers and students could legally arrive in Britain in 2024/25, just as the Tories face a general election test.

Mr Sunaks spokesman said: I wont get into specific pieces of advice that go between departments and No 10.

The Government remains committed to reducing net migration over time while ensuring the economy has the skills we need.

He said there is no specific target on reducing migration numbers and that the priority is tackling illegal migration in the first instance.

Cabinet minister Michael Gove, when it was put to him at the National Conservatism conference that net migration could hit the one million mark, said: I dont think it will reach those figures.

But the Housing Secretary added that the numbers recently have been at a level where there is an inevitable pressure on housing and on public services.

The Leave campaigner said a critical part of Brexit was being able to say this is the level of migration we as a country believe is right and establishing that there is a limit.

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.

Speaking ahead of his trip, the Prime Minister said: 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.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman argued 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 Illegal Migration Bill has come in for criticism and sparked demonstrations (Kirsty OConnor/PA)

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.

The meeting, which Ukrainian president Mr Zelensky is due to join virtually, will focus on the situation in his country and how international allies can hold Russia to account for breaches of international law since the invasion.

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 the 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.
Former prime minister Liz Truss will use a trip to Taiwan to make a personal plea for her successor Rishi Sunak to brand China as a threat to UK security.

Ms Truss is expected to use a speech in Taipei City on Wednesday to challenge the Prime Minister to deliver on the language he used during last summers Conservative Party leadership contest.

During his unsuccessful campaign, having only become Britains leader in October after Ms Truss exited No 10 following her disastrous mini-Budget, Mr Sunak declared China the biggest-long term threat to Britain, while also promising to close all 30 of Beijings Confucius Institutes in the UK.

The institutes promote Chinese culture on campus in higher education as well as in some British schools.

In a pre-briefed extract of her speech to the Prospect Foundation, Ms Truss is expected to say: Last summer the now British Prime Minister described China as the biggest long-term threat to Britain and said the Confucius Institutes should be closed.

He was right and we need to see those policies enacted urgently.

The UKs integrated review needs to be amended to state clearly that China is a threat.

Confucius Institutes should be closed down immediately. Instead the service could be provided by organisations with the support of Hong Kong nationals and Taiwanese nationals who have come to the UK on a free basis.

During her brief 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 stint in Downing Street  cut short to only 44 days after her mini-budget impact on the markets last year saw confidence in her premiership collapse  meant her update to the UKs foreign policy position did not have time to materialise.

Instead, her successor Mr Sunak chose not to go as far, updating the UKs integrated review on foreign and defence policy in March to describe China as representing an epoch-defining and systemic challenge.

In what is thought to be the first visit of a former British prime minister to Taiwan since Margaret Thatcher made the journey in the 1990s, Ms Truss is expected to urge the West not to work with China, warning that totalitarian regimes dont tell the truth.

There are still too many in the West who are trying to cling on to the idea that we can co-operate with China on issues like climate change, as if there is nothing wrong; that there are bigger issues than Chinese global dominance or the future of freedom and democracy, she is expected to say.

But without freedom and democracy there is nothing else.

Liz Truss will warn against collaborating with Chinese president Xi Jinpings administration (Jack Taylor/Pool Photo via AP)

We know what happens to the environment or world health under totalitarian regimes that dont tell the truth. You cant believe a word they say.

Ms Truss is also expected to draw comparisons between the tensions between China and Taiwan, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Taiwan and China split in 1949 following a civil war that ended with the Communist Party in control of the mainland.

The island has never been part of the Peoples Republic of China, but Beijing says it must unite with the mainland, by force if necessary.

Ms Truss will argue that her trip to the self-governed Pacific island, which she will herald as an enduring rebuke to totalitarianism, is about showing solidary with the Taiwanese people.

But it comes amid fears of a potential backlash by China against the UK, with Beijing reacting when Nancy Pelosi, then-speaker of the US House of Representatives, visited Taiwan last year.

Minister Wu warmly welcomed @trussliz following the former #UK PMs arrival in #Taiwan! Her continued support of our democracy & #TaiwanStrait stability is highly appreciated by the government & people. We look forward to stimulating dialogues with the MP over her 5-day stay. pic.twitter.com/qahT5x3LX7   Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ROC (Taiwan)  (@MOFA_Taiwan) May 16, 2023

China retaliated for the visit by staging a naval and air force blockade of Taiwan and cutting off channels of communication with Washington on issues from environmental protection to maritime security.

But Ms Truss will argue that Western allies cannot avoid responding to Chinese aggression out of fear of a new Cold War given that Beijing is already growing its military.

She is set to say: We must support free democracies like Taiwan in the face of aggression from a Chinese regime whose record is all too clear for the world to see.

We in the United Kingdom and the free world must do all we can to back you.

A UK Government spokesman said it was in Britains interests to continue engagement with China while recognising the challenges the Far East country presents.

The spokesman said: We have always been clear that China remains the biggest state-based threat to the UKs economic security.

Thats why our integrated review refresh sets out a new approach to dealing with the challenge which China presents for the UK and the wider world.

Given China is a permanent member of the UN Security Council and the second largest economy in the world, its in the national interest to continue engagement particularly on issues such as climate change, global health and macro-economic stability.

This is an approach which has been reflected by many of our allies.
A man whose father was killed by loyalist paramilitaries 50 years ago says he has secured the answers his family searched for  from the group which carried out the murder.

John Crawford, a father of nine, was killed in January 1974 at his furniture workshop in west Belfast.

It was unclear for many years who had killed him, with the Official IRA initially blamed as well as false allegations he had been behind two murders.

His son Paul has emphasised the importance of clearing his fathers name both in a Historical Enquiries Team report and an acknowledgement by the UVF that their information had been flawed.

John Crawford with his wife Eileen (Family handout/PA)

The UVFs involvement became clear in 1977 when Raymond Glover, a man with UVF connections, confessed to involvement in the killing and was jailed.

The Crawford family went through an inquest, a criminal trial, a Police Ombudsman report and an HET report.

However, Mr Crawfords son Paul said he secured the answers his family wanted by talking to the UVF via interlocuter Winston Irvine.

The process started in 2016, and Mr Crawford worked with Mr Irvine to ask questions and receive answers as well as verifying what he was told.

One of those questions was around the familys long-held belief that there had been collusion in the killing.

The report from the UVF said there had not been collusion in terms of there having been no joint enterprise involving other groups or agencies.

However, they said they now accept that the information they acted on was flawed.

The process, described by Queens University academic Professor Kieran McEvoy as a first for loyalism, is the subject of a new report.

Professor McEvoy said the closest comparison to the process is the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims Remains (ICLVR), through which the IRA and INLA have provided information to help try to find the remains of the disappeared.

Paul Crawford (left) sits alongside Queens University Belfast professor Kieran McEvoy (right) at the launch of the report (Liam McBurney/PA)

Mr Crawford said the process with the UVF delivered absolutely full answers and full resolution of what I was seeking.

My father was an innocent man who was brutally murdered in a sectarian assassination for which no organisation ever claimed responsibility, he said.

My mother Eileen, now deceased, told journalists immediately after the murder in 1974, we want to know who did this and why it should happen to him. Like many families who lost loved ones, that has remained our quest in the ensuing five decades.

Paul blasted the original investigation as poor and that the brief inquest in 1974 merely confirmed the cause of death.

One man, James Glover, was convicted in 1978 of the murder after he was arrested for something else and confessed to being involved in my fathers killing and several others.

However, because he pleaded guilty at trial there was no cross examination and opportunity to learn anything further, he said.

A subsequent Police Ombudsman investigation, during the tenure of Al Hutchinson as ombudsman, was a complete waste of time.

Victims Commissioner Ian Jeffers praised Paul Crawford (Liam McBurney/PA)

A Historical Enquiries Team report confirmed that my father was an innocent man but that determination was undermined by the fact that one of the original investigating RUC officers was dead and another refused to cooperate.

After all of these processes, we still had many questions and I concluded that those questions could only be answered by the group responsible, the UVF.

The process took a long time as it involved agreeing a set of ground rules, with me setting out clearly the information that I was seeking, including that I was not looking for the names of those involved, and then the information being relayed back and forward over many scores of meetings via the interlocutor.

Ultimately, my family and I received answers to the questions we were seeking and a formal written acknowledgement of responsibility for the murder from the UVF.

I do not believe in closure  my father was brutally and unjustifiably taken from us and that is a wound that will never heal  but as far as I am concerned this process has delivered absolutely full answers and full resolution of what I was seeking.

Victims Commissioner Ian Jeffers commended what Mr Crawford has done as tremendously brave.

From my point of view, it shows that with the right tenacity and the right approach you can get information  but the reality is leaving that up to the victim to do seems very, very cruel and thats something we must address as a civil society, he said.
Mobile phone giant Vodafones new boss has revealed plans to slash 11,000 jobs across the group over the next three years as she said the firm must change to address its poor performance.

Margherita Della Valle, recently appointed Vodafones group chief executive, said the cull comes as part of a plan to simplify the business.

It will impact the groups UK headquarters in Newbury, Berkshire, as well as markets worldwide.

Ms Della Valle said: Our performance has not been good enough.

To consistently deliver, Vodafone must change.

We will simplify our organisation, cutting out complexity to regain our competitiveness, she added.

It comes as Vodafone reported a 1.3% drop in full-year earnings to a lower-than-expected 14.7 billion euros (12.8 billion) and forecast little or no growth in earnings over the current financial year.

The groups former boss Nick Read, who was ousted abruptly in December due to concerns over the groups performance, unveiled plans late last year to drive around one billion euros (883 million) of cost savings.

The firm said at the time it could lead to job losses but did not put a figure on the number of roles being cut.

Vodafone previously announced a major cost savings programme which it said could lead to job losses (Yui Mok/PA)

Vodafone has some 12,000 staff across the UK, based in seven offices including its headquarters in Newbury and hubs in London, Manchester and Glasgow.

Its global headquarters is based in Paddington in London.

The telecoms giant said the 11,000 job cuts would take place over three years, affecting both its headquarters and local markets.

The group, which had around 100,000 employees throughout the world at the end of last year, has been selling off chunks of the business amid an ongoing overhaul.

In January, it finalised a deal to sell its Hungarian arm for 1.5 billion to local technology company 4iG.

And earlier this year, the company said it would cut 1,000 jobs in Italy, followed by reports that full-time roles would be axed in its biggest market Germany which it said is under pressure.
A collage showing the facade on one of her houses before and after restoration. Rubia Daniels.

Rubia Daniels flew to the town of Mussomeli in Sicily after hearing about its cheap homes.

She ended up buying 3 crumbling houses for $3.30 in 2019, and she's restoring them now.

Many Italian towns have introduced similar schemes in an attempt to repopulate rural Italy.

When Rubia Daniels first heard about Italy's cheap houses, she knew she had to take a look at them herself.

"I was so amazed. It was one of those things where you have to see it to make sure it's true," Daniels told Insider. "I did my research, and within three days I had my plane ticket, a rental car, the hotel, and I left."

By the end of a 10-day trip to Mussomeli, a small town in Sicily, in July 2019, she was the proud owner of three dilapidated homes that she bought for just 1, or $1.10, each.

A representative from Case 1 Euro, the organization responsible for the housing project in Mussomeli, confirmed the sales.

Rubia Daniels standing in front of one of her Mussomeli properties. Rubia Daniels.

Daniels, who moved to California from the outskirts of Brasilia in Brazil 30 years ago, said the Italian town reminded her of her childhood home.

"People were super welcoming and everyone wanted to have a coffee with me. The realtors embraced me like a sister  they were with me every single day through the time I was there," Daniels said.

She was charmed by the rich history of the town and its inhabitants, and she also loved the idea of restoring an abandoned home.

A collage showing the roof on one of her houses before and after restoration. Rubia Daniels.

"It's an environmental concept," Daniels, who works in the solar industry, added. "We need to stop building and start remodeling the existing things that we have."

Daniels said she had different plans for each of her new houses.

"The one that I'm working on it now, I'm planning to turn into an art gallery. One will be for me to stay. And the third house, which will be my biggest project, I want to convert into a wellness center to give back to the community," she added.

The building with the green door is the third property that Daniels owns. Rubia Daniels

The 49-year-old restarted restoring the properties towards the end of 2019 but had to pause the project due to the pandemic.

"COVID-19 happened and we weren't allowed to go back, so I just started renovations again last year," Daniels said. She splits her time between San Francisco and Mussomeli, spending at least a month in the Italian village each time she travels there.

So far, she's completed the exteriors of two houses but hasn't started on the last one, she said.

Italy is desperate for people like Daniels

Daniels isn't the only person to jump on Italy's desperation to repopulate its empty, sleepy towns.

In 2021, nine villages in southern Italy offered to pay millennials $33,000 to move there if they helped to repopulate fast-emptying towns. The villages  all in the southern Italian region of Calabria  offered people under 40 years old a cash payment to make the move. The towns on offer included the cliffside Civita village and Aieta, a coastal beach town.

The one thing these places had in common was that they all had under 2,000 residents and were mere years away from turning into ghost towns.

The region of Calabria also made the news in the summer of 2020 when it offered homes for $1.14 in the village of Cinquefrondi. Twelve houses were put on sale for that price in a mad dash to repopulate the town dubbed "Operation Beauty."

And in 2019, Insider's Will Martin reported on Cammarata  a town in central Sicily that was giving away houses for free to anyone who wanted to live there. The town's mayor, Vincenzo Giambrone, said that this was part of an effort to prevent the town from turning "into a ruin."

However, taking over a $1 house is no small feat. The catch, according to Insider's Tom Murray, involves dealing with a home that might be in complete disrepair and require extensive renovations just to be liveable.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The mystery surrounding Tucker Carlsons ouster from the airwaves at Fox News  and his future plans in media  are coming into sharper focus.

On April 26, Carlson spoke by phone with one of Fox Corp.s eight board members, who told the host that his recent benching was a condition of Fox News settlement with Dominion Voting Systems, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the conversation.

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The unnamed board member told Carlson that the condition does not appear in any of the settlements documents, and instead was a verbal agreement. If Fox didnt comply, the settlement was off, Carlson was told. Dominion had plenty of leverage given that the $787.5 million deal to settle Dominions defamation suit against the network wouldnt officially close until late-May.

If Dominion opted to blow up the deal, Fox would return to square one on settlement talks or potentially subject the Murdoch family empire to a jury trial that would undoubtedly expose more embarrassing details about the operation of Fox News and fallout from its 2020 president election coverage. Unlike Sean Hannity, Jeanine Pirro and Maria Bartiromo, Carlson wasnt a key player in the suit that claimed Fox News repeatedly and knowingly aired false claims about the company with regards to the 2020 U.S. presidential election.

But Dominion was looking for the best way to maim the conservative news network, and forcing Fox News to cut ties with the most-watched personality in cable news would deal a potentially insurmountable blow and lead to a viewer exodus, according to Carlsons understanding.

That condition was intended to hurt Fox, and Tucker is just collateral damage, says a source familiar with the matter. Dominion wanted to punish Fox, and its working.

Dominion and Fox Corp. both strongly dispute that the decision to take Carlson off the air was directly linked to the settlement. A Fox News spokeswoman called it categorically false. Dominion issued a statement to Variety.

As the Fox principals who negotiated the settlement well know, Dominion made no demands about Tucker Carlsons employment orally or in writing, Dominion said in a statement. Any claims otherwise are categorically false and a thinly veiled effort to further damage Dominion. Fox should take every effort to stop these lies immediately.

Still, the speculation about Dominion and Carlson has spread. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, inserted himself into the drama on May 13 when he called out Dominions alleged role in Carlsons removal from the airwaves. I am happy that Dominion does not operate in Texas, and I dont think that they should do so in the future, Abbott tweeted. We may disagree with others positions, but we should never try to improperly silence views contrary to our own. (In 2020, Texas rejected the use of Dominion software.) Some other Republican governors are expected to follow Abbots lead.

Amid a standoff with Fox  technically still Carlsons employer given that the network has not terminated his employment  the polarizing but popular anchor is poised to launch a show on Twitter within the month, two knowledgeable sources say. With Tucker Carlson Tonight senior executive producer Justin Wells on board, Team Carlson is working as quickly as possible to post his debut show from his home in Maine, where he has a full production studio.

If Fox tries to prevent Carlson from launching the show on the social media platform, where he enjoys a following of 7.5 million, the host is prepared to litigate or watch the network implode attempting to challenge free speech, says one of the sources. As the battle plays out, Fox is continuing to pay Carlson, an enormously influential voice in conservative politics, his $20 million annual salary.

After learning that he was being sidelined on April 24, Carlson hired high-powered Hollywood attorney Bryan Freedman for the contract dispute. Freedman  whose other media clients include Don Lemon (ousted by CNN on the same day as the Carlson-Fox split), Megyn Kelly, Chris Cuomo and Tiffany Cross  is well known as the lawyer you retain when you are ready to go to war with a media giant. As such, Freedman sent a letter to Fox on May 9 saying Fox employees, including Rupert Murdoch himself, broke promises to Carlson intentionally and with reckless disregard for the truth. (A source says Fox has not yet responded to the letter.)

The attorney, who forced NBC News to pay Kelly $69 million after she was fired in 2019, has made it clear to Fox that its cabler breached Carlsons contract by pulling him from his top-rated 8 p.m. slot, and now he is free to do what he wants. (Carlsons contract expires in January 2025.) Freedman declined to comment for this story but recently told Axios: The idea that anyone is going to silence Tucker and prevent him from speaking to his audience is beyond preposterous.

Following the split, embarrassing Carlson text messages leaked to various media outlets, the worst being a missive in which he expressed mixed feelings about three Donald Trump supporters beating up on an Antifa activist during the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. Jumping a guy like that is dishonorable obviously. Its not how white men fight, he wrote. The text messages were part of Dominion legal filings, and unredacted versions were not available to the public. One of the sources says Carlson believes the leaks came from either Fox or Dominion.

But the leaks may play to Carlsons advantage. If Fox tries to cite Carlsons text messages as cause for firing, it will open a Pandoras box given that other popular anchors the network is trying to hold onto are said to have embarrassing text exchanges that would surface in any Carlson litigation, negating the point of Fox paying nearly $800 million to make the Dominion suit go away.

Carlsons Twitter move could have additional reverberations with talent at the network. A handful of Fox anchors have reached out to Carlson directly or had their surrogates contact him to say they are eager to join whatever venture he starts on Twitter when their contracts are up, according to sources.

Twitter owner Elon Musk stressed that Carlson does not have a deal with the social media giant. [W]e have not signed a deal of any kind whatsoever, he recently tweeted. Tucker is subject to the same rules & rewards of all content creators. As for how Carlson could monetize his mega following on Twitter, Musk also recently detailed how any such arrangement would work, noting that the company will take nothing the first year and then 10% on content subscriptions thereafter. Ever since Carlson interviewed Musk in mid-April, the two have been in constant communication, says a source familiar with their dealings. (Perhaps surprisingly, Carlson has been texting with recently ousted CNN anchor Lemon and also has been in talks with Kelly to appear as a guest on her titular SiriusXM show.) As for Carlsons relationship with his former bosses, that source says he still has some affection for Lachlan Murdoch and doesnt blame the scion for being sidelined.

Meanwhile, Dominion may not have been the only entity looking for Carlsons removal from the airwaves. Semafor recently reported that both Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch held separate calls with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy this spring, leaving open the possibility that Carlsons benching may be related. But a source in contact with the Ukrainian leader threw cold water on the idea of Zelenskyy lobbying the Murdochs to cut ties with the anchor who has been skeptical of the U.S. sending billions of dollars in weaponry to Ukraine.

Zelenskyy knows who Tucker is and is aware of him, but thats it, the Zelenskyy source says. He definitely likes Hannity better.

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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.

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.

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YANGON, Myanmar (AP)  As Myanmars military celebrated the annual Armed Forces Day holiday with a parade Saturday in the country's capital, soldiers and police elsewhere killed scores of people while suppressing protests in the deadliest bloodletting since last month's coup.

The online news site Myanmar Now reported late Saturday that the death toll had reached 114. A count issued by an independent researcher in Yangon who has been compiling near-real time death tolls put the total at 107, spread over more than two dozen cities and towns. Thats more than the previous high on March 14, which ranged from 74 to 90.

The killings quickly drew international condemnation, including a joint statement from the defense chiefs of 12 countries.

A professional military follows international standards for conduct and is responsible for protecting  not harming  the people it serves, it said. We urge the Myanmar Armed Forces to cease violence and work to restore respect and credibility with the people of Myanmar that it has lost through its actions.

The European Unions delegation to Myanmar said that the 76th Myanmar Armed Forces Day will stay engraved as a day of terror and dishonor.

The killing of unarmed civilians, including children, are indefensible acts, it added.

U.S. Ambassador Thomas Vajda in a statement said security forces are murdering unarmed civilians.

These are not the actions of a professional military or police force, he wrote. Myanmars people have spoken clearly: they do not want to live under military rule.

The death toll in Myanmar has been steadily rising as authorities grow more forceful in suppressing opposition to the Feb. 1 coup that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. The coup reversed years of progress toward democracy after five decades of military rule.

Figures collected by the Yangon researcher, who asked not to be named for his security, have generally tallied with the counts issued at the end of each day by the Assistance Association of Political Prisoners, which documents deaths and arrests and is widely seen as a definitive source. The Associated Press is unable to independently confirm the death tolls.

Up through Friday, the association had verified 328 deaths in the post-coup crackdown.

Junta chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing did not directly refer to the protest movement when he gave his nationally televised Armed Forces Day speech before thousands of soldiers in Naypyitaw. He referred only to terrorism which can be harmful to state tranquility and social security, and called it unacceptable.

This years event was seen as a flashpoint for violence, with demonstrators threatening to double down on their public opposition to the coup with more and bigger demonstrations. The protesters refer to the holiday by its original name, Resistance Day, which marks the beginning of a revolt against Japanese occupation in World War 2.

State television MRTV on Friday night showed an announcement urging young people  who have been at the forefront of the protests and prominent among the casualties  to learn a lesson from those killed during demonstrations about the danger of being shot in the head or back.

The warning was widely taken as a threat because a great number of the fatalities among protesters have come from being shot in the head, suggesting they have been targeted for death. The announcement suggested that some young people were taking part in protesting as if it was a game, and urged their parents and friends to talk them out of participating.

In recent days the junta has portrayed the demonstrators as the ones perpetrating violence for their sporadic use of Molotov cocktails. On Saturday, some protesters in Yangon were seen carrying bows and arrows. In contrast, security forces have used live ammunition for weeks against what have still been overwhelmingly unarmed and peaceful crowds.

The U.S. Embassy said shots were fired Saturday at its cultural center in Yangon, though no one was injured.

The military government does not issue regular casualty counts, and when it has released figures, the totals have been a fraction of what independent parties such as the U.N. have reported. It has said its use of force has been justified to stop what it has called rioting.

In his speech Saturday, Min Aung Hlaing used the occasion to try to justify the overthrow of Suu Kyis government, accusing it of failing to investigate irregularities in last Novembers general election, and repeating that his government would hold a free and fair election and hand over power afterward.

The military has claimed there were irregularities in the voting rolls for the last election, which Suu Kyis National League for Democracy party won in a landslide.

The junta detained Suu Kyi on the day it took power, and continues to hold her on minor criminal charges while investigating allegations of corruption against her that her supporters dismiss as politically motivated.

Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director for New York-based Human Rights Watch, said Saturday's events showed that the military, known in Myanmar as the Tatmadaw, should be prosecuted in international courts of law.

This is a day of suffering and mourning for the Burmese people, who have paid for the Tatmadaws arrogance and greed with their lives, time and time again, he said.
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)
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  A court on Tuesday ordered South Koreas biggest adoption agency to pay 100 million won ($74,700) in damages to a 48-year-old man for mishandling his adoption as a child to the United States, where he faced legal troubles after surviving an abusive childhood before being deported in 2016.

However, the Seoul Central District Court dismissed Adam Crapsers accusations against the South Korean government, which he saw as responsible for creating an aggressive, profit-driven adoption industry that carelessly removed thousands of children from their families during a 1970s-80s child export frenzy.

The civil case, tried for over four years, was the first in which a South Korean adoptee sued the countrys government and a domestic adoption agency over fraudulent paperwork and screening failures.

In reading out the verdict, Judge Park Jun-min did not elaborate why the court refused to hold the government accountable in Crapsers case. His lawyers said they will review the full version of the ruling, which the court didnt immediately release, before deciding whether to appeal.

We want to express our very, serious regret, said Kim Soo-jung, one of Crapsers lawyers.

The (government) knew that children procured for adoptions were not being (properly) protected, that their human rights were being violated  they should have done something about it, but they didn't  It seems that the court simply saw the government as a monitoring institution, and not as an actor that directly committed illegal acts.

Crapser, who left South Korea last year and currently lives in Mexico, did not attend the ruling.

Holt Childrens Service, which handled Crapsers adoption to American parents in 1979, and South Koreas Justice Ministry, which represents the government in lawsuits, did not immediately comment on the verdict.

It remains to be seen whether Crapsers case inspires more lawsuits by adoptees, who are becoming more vocal with their criticism of South Koreas past corruption in adoption practices, which have caused a huge but unknown number of wrongful family separations and stymied thousands from reconnecting with their roots.

Tuesdays verdict came months after hundreds of Korean adoptees from Europe and North America asked South Koreas Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate their adoption circumstances. They say their statuses and identities were laundered to facilitate marred adoptions.

The commission has opened investigations on dozens of those applications and may take more cases in following months, as it proceeds with the most far-reaching inquiry into South Koreas foreign adoptions yet.

The commissions potential findings could possibly allow more adoptees to launch legal actions against agencies or the government, which would otherwise be difficult because South Korean civil courts put the burden of proof entirely on plaintiffs, who often lack information and resources.

Crapser, who was named Shin Seong-hyeok by his Korean mother, had sought 200,000 won ($149,000) in damages against South Koreas government and Holt. His lawsuit filed in 2019 accuses the defendants of manipulating his paperwork, employing poor background checks that failed to weed out his abusive adopters, and not following up on whether he obtained U.S. citizenship.

While describing Crapsers plight as unfortunate, the government and Holt had denied any legal wrongdoing, saying that his adoption went according to procedure and that it was the responsibility of his American adopters  not theirs  to ensure that he obtained U.S. citizenship.

Crapsers lawyers have claimed that his case exposes how South Korea failed to protect its most vulnerable citizens from an adoption industry that sent thousands of children abroad every year to meet Western demands during its heyday, and how often those adoptions amounted to child selling.

Crapser revealed his plans for his lawsuit during an exclusive interview with The Associated Press in 2019, where he described being abused and abandoned by two different sets of U.S. parents and then being deported after run-ins with the law because none of his guardians filed citizenship papers for him.

Forcibly separated from his then-wife and children and friends in America, Crapser said he struggled with intense anxiety and depression in South Korea, where he found himself isolated by language and culture four decades after being sent to his initial adopters in Michigan at age 3.

About 200,000 South Koreans were adopted overseas during the past six decades, the majority to white families in the West, representing whats now the worlds largest diaspora of adoptees. More than 4,000 Korean children were sent abroad in 1979, the year Crapser arrived in the United States.

South Koreas foreign adoption boom from late 1970s to 1980s was driven by Seouls then-military dictatorships, which were focused on economic growth and reducing the number of mouths to feed.

Agencies, governed by board members close to the military leaders, were notorious for their aggressive child-gathering activities and falsified paperwork that manipulated child origins as they raced to send more children abroad.

It wasnt until 2013 that South Korea required the foreign adoptions of its children to be vetted at family courts, ending a decades-long practice of allowing the private agencies to dictate the cross-border transfers of custodies.

Crapser was among thousands of South Korean adoptees who were described in their paperwork as abandoned orphans despite their having known Korean relatives who could be easily identified and found, which made them easily adoptable under U.S. laws.

Crapsers birth mother, Kwon Pil-ju, told the AP that she was single, disabled and desperately poor, and that she finally decided to give Crapser and his sister away because of fears that theyd starve.

Crapsers lawsuit cited the government as responsible for allowing adoptions to be controlled by profit-driven agencies that ran on fees collected from foreign parents, and also for allowing foreigners to adopt children without actually coming to South Korea, which he blames for screening failures that matched him with abusive parents.

His case also highlights the shaky legal status of many South Korean adoptees in the United States whose parents may have failed to get them citizenship, potentially leaving them vulnerable to deportation if they acquire a criminal record.
Yang Sun-woo, chairperson of the Seoul Queer Culture Festival organizing committee poses during an interview with The Korea Times at the committee's office in Mapo District, Seoul, Monday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul



By Lee Hae-rin



For an estimated 2.5 million Koreans identifying themselves as sexual minorities, the annual Seoul Queer Culture Festival (SQCF) is the long-awaited "national queer holiday," a rare occasion where they feel safe and encouraged to gather and express their identity.



The festival, which celebrates its 24th anniversary this year, started in 2000 with 50 participants on a road in northeastern Seoul's Daehangno area. The event grew to over 135,000 participants last year, and despite opposition and interference by conservative Christians, it seemed to have nestled at Seoul Plaza, one of the biggest public venues in the capital.





The inaugural edition of Seoul Queer Culture Festival takes place in Daehangno in northern Seoul, Sept. 9, 2000. Around 50 Korean sexual minorities participated in the event titled "Rainbow 2000." Courtesy of Seoul Queer Culture Festival organizing committee



However, the festival now has to find an alternative venue this year, after the Seoul Metropolitan Government earlier this month disapproved the use of the city square for the upcoming festival.



This two-decade evolution of the SQCF has been a "journey of finding a public space where the country's LGBTQ communities can be and show who they are," Yang Sun-woo, the chairperson of the SQCF organizing committee, said during an interview with The Korea Times, Tuesday.



Yang, an activist at the Korean Sexual Minority Culture and Rights Center, has been taking part in the SQCF since she joined it in 2005 as a staff member of the Korea Queer Film Festival, a part of the SQCF. She has been in her current position since 2015.



Amid opposition from conservative Christians and merchants, the festival had to find one venue after another across the capital  from Daehangno to Itaewon to Cheonggye Stream to Sinchon  to house the growing queer community and its supporters, she said.



"By 2014, the anti-LGBTQ movement by conservative Christians turned more fierce and systematic," she said, explaining that in the meantime, the event also grew in scale, joined by over 3,000 people and foreign embassies in Seoul.



In that respect, the festival's organizing committee had no choice but to apply for the use of Seoul Plaza for its event next year, which has been open to any group upon application. "There are not that many places in the city that can take in over 100,000 people," she explained.



"Over the last decade, renting buses to come from outer-Seoul areas to express the hatred against the LGBTQ and disrupt our event with loudspeakers playing noise have grown like a 'culture' for the haters," she said, adding that her group also faces discrimination in the city government's administrative process.





Conservative Christians dressed in Korean traditional attire known as hanbok hold anti-LGBTQ demonstrations during Seoul Queer Culture Festival in Seoul Plaza in this photo taken in June 28, 2015. The banner reads, "The country built with blood and tears breaks down with homosexuality." Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk



The Seoul government said earlier that the civic committee in charge of the management of Seoul Plaza decided to disapprove the event citing the regulations that if more than one organization applies for the same date and refuses to reschedule, the committee can rule in favor of an event that is child- and youth-oriented.



However, according to the stenographic records of the committee's meeting on May 3, the committee approved the Christian event, citing the "rights of others not to want to look at them" meaning SQCF participants, and the "negative impacts the queer event could have on children's sexual education."



Nine out of 12 members of the committee, consisting of experts, scholars and civilians "with knowledge and experience," Seoul Metropolitan Council members and public servants who attended the meeting agreed with the decision unanimously.



Yang likened the disapproval to the anti-LGBTQ groups' propaganda that views sexual minorities and their events as "obscene and sexual," which "should be concealed."



"It's similar to how gay men have been associated with HIV and AIDS," she said.



Yang and her colleagues' journey to finding such an inclusive space led them to participate in neighboring countries' Pride festivals, including Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Sydney. Pride parades take different forms in each country, but the Korean activists find the foreign experience strangely "quiet," due to the absence of anti-LGBTQ protests, Yang said.



"We even joked, (sarcastically) saying, 'this festival is not as loud, and not as fun,'" she said, but the inclusivity and LGBTQ-friendliness of the foreign cities were also overwhelming, making them feel as if they were in a "rainbow paradise," she said.



Finding an alternative venue is the next biggest dilemma for SQCF organizers. Although the venue for the upcoming SQCF is yet unknown, Yang insisted it needs to be in the city center.





A giant rainbow flag is carried aloft by participants at the Seoul Queer Culture Festival in Seoul Plaza, central Seoul, June 1, 2019. The event was joined by over 180,000 LGBTQ people and supporters combined. Courtesy of Seoul Queer Culture Festival organizing committee
BRUSSELS (AP)  European Union vaccine politics reached a fever pitch Friday with charges of British blackmail and unfair practices among EU members flying about as the bloc frantically sought to ramp up production and impose export controls to stave off another deadly surge in coronavirus infections.

Underscoring the ebbing cross-Channel relations, French Foreign Minister Yves Le Drian highlighted the lopsided exports between the EU and Britain, to where the EU had approved the export of 21 million doses while none have come the other way since vaccinations began in December.

The U.K. has adopted a policy of quickly giving as many people as possible a first dose of vaccine. Le Drian said that meant the country would struggle to get enough doses to administer the required second shots and that the British government was pressuring to get more supplies, at the cost of the EU's vaccination drive.

You cant play like this, a bit with blackmail, in the sense that you wanted to vaccinate with the first dose at all costs but you find yourself a little handicapped for the second," Le Drian told French radio network France Info. "Its not up to Europe to pay the price for this policy.

Britain denied it faces such a quandary, saying it was confident it had adequate vaccine supplies, but the tension underscored the foul political mood.

The U.K.'s withdrawal from the EU, which was completed on Jan. 1, already had soured relations, And with 47% of Britain's population having received a dose of vaccine, compared to just 14% of the people living in the 27-nation bloc, the vaccine issue stings Brussels badly.

To avoid losing out on vaccines, especially to Britain, EU leaders late Thursday backed a export control system that aims to keep doses in the EU until the company that produces then has fulfilled its delivery contracts to EU nations.

EU leaders accuse British-Swedish firm AstraZeneca, in particular, of putting its contract with the U.K. ahead of promises to the bloc.

Britain points out that it signed a vaccine deal with AstraZeneca first, and has warned the EU against stopping companies from fulfilling their contracts.

"It would be very damaging if countries started to pull up drawbridges and prevent vaccines, medicines or elements of them from crossing international borders, and the U.K. strongly opposes that, British government minister Robert Jenrick said. The two sides plan to negotiate over the weekend to find common ground.

Within the bloc too, there is no unified stance toward Britain. Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, noting a blockade would create tit-for-tat measures, said that we absolutely should not arrive at this and we wont arrive at this.

The EU is not only dealing with problems at its borders, but also internally.

EU leaders failed to settle a fight about the distribution of COVID-19 shots among member nations after Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said Thursday that some countries were receiving more than their fair share at the cost of others, such as Croatia and Bulgaria.

Most nations say the allegedly shorted EU members lagged in supplies because they made the wrong choice when given the option to pick a vaccine provider. AstraZeneca has been woefully underdelivering.

EU ambassadors are now tasked to bring the two sides closer together. Kurz saw the stalemate as a victory on Friday.

It was the main topic, and the discussion went on for hours." he said. "At some point, people claimed that Austria was standing alone. I can only tell you that one-third of all member states supported this position very, very, vehemently.

Italy's Draghi warned Kurz on Friday not to get his hopes up, arguing it wasnt worth starting over with a new distribution plan just because some countries banked heavily on AstraZeneca vaccines that havent been delivered.

Think about a new model of distribution? No, he told a press conference. Germany and we decided no.

France is convinced EU unity is paramount in the vaccine crisis.

We are facing a world war of a new kind. We are confronted with Russian and Chinese destabilization attempts trying to exert influence with the help of vaccines, French President Emmanuel Macron said after Thursdays summit. "If we want to hold out, we need (vaccine) sovereignty.

To that end, the EU's vaccine czar, Thierry Breton, is crisscrossing the 27-nation bloc visiting facilities for several manufacturers in an effort to increase the EU's autonomy over the next months.

While visiting a plant near Barcelona, Breton said that 52 factories across the EU are currently churning out vaccines. He says the EU will be producing 2 billion or 3 billion doses by end of year.

This will make our continent probably the first continent in terms of production by the end of this year, giving us a capacity to produce between 2 to 3 billion doses for us, of course, for our fellow citizens, Breton said.

___

Nicole Winfield from Rome, Angela Charlton from Paris, Jill Lawless from London, Barry Hatton from Lisbon and Samuel Petrequin contributed.
NEW YORK (AP)  In her new PBS special, Lidia Bastianich samples the foods of the world without ever crossing the U.S. border.

The Emmy-award winning TV host, author and restaurateur explores the immigrant experience through food in Lidia Celebrates America: Flavors That Define Us. It airs May 30 on PBS and will also stream starting that day on PBS.org and the PBS app.

Bastianich visits a Bhutan refugee who has built a new life in Ohio, Cuban immigrants feeding people in Kentucky, and Indian Americans creating businesses in California. In Texas, she meets Afghan refugees helping new arrivals, and a second-generation Vietnamese American who has multiple restaurants.

There were a lot of interesting connections between the food and them and the new culture and me, Bastianich says. Food somehow opens the doors for me all the time.

Bastianich herself was a Cold War refugee who turned a knack for homestyle Italian cooking into an empire of restaurants, products and media.

I came here when I was 12 years old. A great opportunity was given to me and to my family. And I wanted to share that because sometimes I think that America is maligned. Its not appreciated the way I would like it, she says.

In the special, Bastianich travels to both new and established immigrant communities, and asks arrivals about their motivations, challenges and experiences.

There is this tremendous difference of flavors, but there is a commonality of cooking, she says. Food is not threatening. Food is positive.

In Reynoldsburg, Ohio, she meets the man from Bhutan, who spent 18 years in a refugee camp in Nepal and was resettled in America, arriving with just $9. He landed on a Thursday and by Saturday morning was working at a 7-Eleven. He became a U.S. citizen and a city council member.

America is all about immigrants. And as immigrants, we owe it to this country to give back, Bastianich says. Once we are comfortably set and we are given the opportunity we need, it's important to really become part of this and give back.

In Louisville, Kentucky, she is fed and serenaded by Cuban immigrants, one of whom started as a waiter before opening a restaurant with his maxed-out credit cards. In Bakersfield, California, she meets a community of Punjabis who have opened a roadside truck stop, and others who are almond farmers and processors.

Zara Frankel, senior director of programming and development at PBS, hopes the special will inspire people to step outside their comfort zone, learn about new ingredients, test out unfamiliar recipes, and taste something theyve never experienced before.

Among her stops, Bastianich visits Houston to meet MasterChef season-three winner Christine Ha, who often mixes her Vietnamese heritage with Tex-Mex elements. The two chefs make a braised pork belly dish, while Ha recalls being teased as a youngster for the pungent lunches she brought from home.

For me, being able to take these dishes that were once uncool and unpopular, and the things I would take to school and get laughed at or teased about, and now being able to introduce it onto the menus at my restaurants and having people excited to try it, is the ultimate accomplishment, Ha says.

Throughout the series, Bastianich and the immigrants share their food, from stuffed flatbread from India to the Cuban classic ropa vieja. She marvels at the different flavors but also the commonalities.

Bhutan's pea soup, for instance, "reminded me so much of the American split pea soup or, as we make it in Italy, the dry fava soup, she says.

Over a table  or sometimes on the floor  Bastianich eats meals that the immigrants say remind them of their homelands, and shares their new dreams.

No matter what culture is getting together  at the table or floor  to eat together, thats the moment of real exchange and understanding and nurturing and wanting well for somebody, she says.

One of the most personal visits Bastianich makes is with Polina Frishko, a new Ukrainian refugee who fled the war in her homeland with her teenage son. They first got to a camp in Poland and then ended up in Hartsville, South Carolina, thanks to a resettlement group.

When he smiles, when he is not in danger, this is my happiness, Frishko says.

The connections between Bastianich and Frishko are striking. Bastianich was born in 1947 in Istria, an Italian territory ceded to Yugoslavia after World War II. She spent the first years of her life under communist rule, then fled with her family across the border to Italy. There they lived in a refugee camp for two years until an aid organization helped bring them to New York in 1958.

Bastianich laughed that Frishko's son has jumped feet-first into American life and culture, hardly looking back.

I wanted to become American so quickly, so badly, she says. That doesnt mean that I forgot who I am. Later on in life, I had this desire to combine my birth and my adoptive cultures, put them together, and I feel all the richer for it.

___

Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits
KEENE, Texas (AP)  A 12-year-old boy and a 20-year-old man have been arrested on a murder warrant in the fatal shooting of a Sonic Drive-In employee in Texas, police said.

Matthew Davis, 32, was shot and killed Saturday night as he fought with Angel Gomez, 20, in the parking lot of the restaurant in Keene, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) southwest of Dallas, police said.

The boy was at the restaurant with Gomez, who was causing an unspecified disturbance in the parking lot, and shot Davis several times after taking a gun from Gomezs vehicle, according to a police statement.

Davis was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said.

The boy used an AR-style rifle in the shooting, Police Chief James Kidd told The Dallas Morning News on Tuesday.

Both Gomez and the boy fled the scene, but Gomez later returned and was arrested on a murder warrant and the boy, whose name has not been released, was found and arrested in the nearby town of Rio Vista, said police.

Court records do not show that formal charges have been filed.

The shooting comes in the wake of two mass shootings that has focused attention on guns in Texas.
In the summer of 2017, Eric Valentine recalled that he was volunteering with an eastern Oregon Boy Scout troop when they encountered a group of rafters in need of assistance.

Six years later, the 80-year-old retired judge  and former Scoutmaster  was the one in desperate need of help.

And the Boy Scouts showed up.

Valentine, who works as a freelance photographer, was hiking along Hells Canyon in early May and taking photographs when he lost his balance and fell 60 feet down a slope while trying to get a milkweed plant off one of his boots, according to a Boy Scouts of America news release.

A Boise firefighters wife spotted Valentine crawling and was able to flag down a group of members from Eagles Boy Scout Troop 77, who were out canoeing on the Snake River.

I asked God to send angels, Valentine told nearly a dozen members of Troop 77 in his hospital bed Monday evening at Saint Alphonsus Regional Rehabilitation Hospital in Boise. He sent me the Boy Scouts.

Eric Valentine talks to one of Troop 77s Scoutmasters from his hospital bed Monday evening. Nearly two dozen members of the troop were out on a canoe trip in May 6 when they were flagged down and able to help Valentine after he fell off a hill.

Valentine is recovering from surgery but said he expects to head home to La Grande, Oregon, in a few days. He has a broken ankle, cracked tibia, fractured back and three broken vertebrate in his neck, but that didnt stop him from making the packed hospital room burst into laughter.

During the roughly 30-minute visit, Valentine joked that he was fully prepared for his hike  like a Boy Scout should be  except that he didnt bring a buddy.

Nearly two dozen members of the troop were on the canoe trip, including 16-year-old Henry Cavanagh, 15-year-old McCoy Bondelid, 17-year-old Nathaniel Jacob and 17-year-old Brendan Karabensh. The boys said Monday that they were able to spot Valentine easily because he was wearing a bright red jacket, which is something that he put on after hed fallen, knowing that it would make him more visible.

The troop, along with former Boise firefighter Steve Rasulo, tended to Valentine until he could be transported to a nearby Idaho Power boat. That assistance came after Troop 77 Assistant Scoutmaster Nate Bondelid used his satellite phone to make an emergency call for help.

The troop members wrapped gauze around Valentines head, gave him water and used a towel to support his head in case he had a spinal injury. Idaho Power personnel transported Valentine to the Copper Trail Creek Area by boat, and it was flat enough there for a helicopter to land. He was then taken to Saint Als.

Valentine on Monday praised the Scouts, others who helped and the hospital staff at Saint Als.

What are the chances thered be a Boy Scout Troop from Eagle, Idaho? Valentine asked. Thats almost impossible, but not with God.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  Legislation banning most abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy will become law in North Carolina after the states Republican-controlled General Assembly successfully overrode the Democratic governors veto late Tuesday.

The House completed the second and final part of the override vote after a similar three-fifths majority  the fraction necessary  voted for the override earlier Tuesday in the Senate. The party-line outcomes represent a major victory for Republican legislative leaders who needed every GOP member on board to enact the law over Gov. Roy Coopers opposition.

Cooper vetoed the measure over the weekend after spending last week traveling around the state to persuade at least one Republican to side with him on the override, which would be enough to uphold his veto. But in the end, the four Republicans targeted by Cooper  including one who recently switched from the Democratic Party  voted to override.

Republicans pitched the measure as a middle-ground change to state law, which currently bans nearly all abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, without exceptions for rape or incest.

The votes came as abortion rights in the U.S. faced another tectonic shift with lawmakers in South Carolina and Nebraska also considering new abortion limits. North Carolina and South Carolina have been two of the few remaining Southern states with relatively easy access.

Such restrictions are possible because the U.S. Supreme Court last year struck down the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling, which established a nationwide right to abortion.

Under the bill up for a vote Tuesday in the South Carolina House, abortion access would be almost entirely banned after about six weeks of pregnancy  before women often know theyre pregnant. The South Carolina state Senate previously rejected a proposal to nearly outlaw abortions.

However, a final vote would have to wait until later Wednesday after the South Carolina House moved to reconvene at 10 a.m. while the computer system rebooted.

Nationally, bans on abortion throughout pregnancy are in effect in 14 states.

Abortion is banned or severely restricted in much of the South, including bans throughout pregnancy in Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia. In Georgia, its allowed only in the first six weeks.

The Carolinas, Florida and Virginia are now the main destinations in the region for those seeking legal abortions. Florida has a ban that kicks in 15 weeks into pregnancy. Under a recent law, that would tighten to six weeks pending a court ruling. Further west, women often travel to Illinois, Kansas, New Mexico or Colorado.

If both the North and South Carolina bans become law, combined with Floridas recent ban, it would be just devastating for abortion access in the South, Jamie Lockhart, executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia, said earlier Tuesday.

After the final vote Tuesday in the North Carolina House, abortion-rights advocates and Democrats in the chamber gallery loudly booed the outcome and shouted Shame!" Many observers in the gallery were escorted out by General Assembly police.

Similar displeasure poured out after the earlier North Carolina Senate debate, although many anti-abortion demonstrators also were in the audience, pleased with the outcome.

Today marks the beginning of North Carolinas first real step towards becoming a pro-life state, Tami Fitzgerald, executive director of the socially conservative North Carolina Values Coalition, said after the House vote.

Senate Republicans said Cooper ignored $160 million within the measure that would boost funding to increase contraceptive services, reduce infant and maternal mortality and provide paid maternity leave for state employees and teachers.

This bill provides resources for the pregnant woman. It provides broad resources and a significant knowledge base to enable her, to equip her in finding a path forward  a path forward for her, and a path forward for her unborn child," said Rep. Kristin Baker, a Cabarrus County Republican and psychiatrist.

The new abortion limits set to take effect July 1 also will include rape or incest exceptions through 20 weeks of pregnancy and exceptions for life-limiting fetal anomalies during the first 24 weeks. An existing exception for when the life of the pregnant woman is in danger will remain.

Democrats focused on details of the abortion rules, which they said would place barriers between women and their doctors, leaving those who are pregnant in danger, with less access to abortion services.

Women did not ask for your oversight. We didnt ask for your approval, Rep. Julie von Haefen, a Wake County Democrat, told GOP colleagues. Its our fundamental right to make decisions about our own bodies and our own health care.

Cooper said in a statement after the vote that he'll continue doing everything I can to protect abortion access in North Carolina because womens lives depend on it.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the law will make it even more difficult for women to get the reproductive health care they need."

North Carolina Republicans were able to complete the override due in large part to Mecklenburg County Rep. Tricia Cotham's party switch to the GOP last month. That gave Republicans veto-proof seat majorities in both chambers.

Cotham has supported abortion rights in the past. She said in a statement late Tuesday that the bill strikes a reasonable balance that anyone not holding extremist positions on abortion can support.

In South Carolina, the impasse dates back to a special session last fall when House lawmakers demanding a near-total ban did not meet to negotiate with their Senate counterparts pushing for a ban around six weeks.

The stalemate persisted even after the state Supreme Court in January struck down a previous law banning abortions once cardiac activity is detected.

That decision left abortion legal through 22 weeks of pregnancy. A sharp increase in abortions since then has rankled Republicans.

The House was weighing a Senate bill similar to the one they denied last year. The measure would ban abortion when an ultrasound detects cardiac activity, around six weeks.

A late night is expected even after Republicans invoked rules to limit debate. House Speaker Murrell Smith has said the chamber will not adjourn until the measure gets approval. Democrats slowed the process Tuesday by speaking for all three allotted minutes on each of their hundreds of amendments and forcing other procedural votes.

In Nebraska, conservatives in the Legislature got just enough votes Tuesday to fold a proposed 12-week abortion ban into a bill that would ban gender-affirming health for minors.

Throughout, hundreds of protesters filled the Capitol rotunda just outside the chamber doors, nearly drowning out debate at times with chants, shouts and foot stomping.

The plan won the 33 votes it needed in the state's one-chamber, officially nonpartisan legislature to end debate and set up other votes to advance it. It must now survive a final round, which could happen as soon as Thursday, to pass.

In Montana, Republican Gov. Greg Gianfortes office announced Tuesday that he had signed into law a bill that makes performing the abortion method most commonly used after 15 weeks of gestation a felony. Planned Parenthood of Montana asked a judge to temporarily block the ban on dilation and evacuation abortions.

A separate challenge to abortion access will be considered Wednesday, when a federal appeals court hears arguments on whether the Food and Drug Administrations approval of the widely used abortion drug mifepristone should be overturned. A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will review a ruling last month by a federal judge in Texas who ordered a hold on approval of mifepristone, a decision that overruled two decades of scientific approval of the drug. That ruling was stayed while the appeal is pending.

The three judges who will hear the case each have a history of supporting restrictions on abortion. A ruling is not expected immediately.

___

Lavoie reported from Richmond, Virginia. Associated Press writers James Pollard and Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, South Carolina, Geoff Mulvihill in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, Amy Beth Hanson in Helena, Montana and Sarah Rankin in Richmond, Virginia contributed to this report. Schoenbaum and Pollard are corps members for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden said Tuesday he's curtailing his upcoming trip to the Indo-Pacific, scrapping what was to be a historic stop in Papua New Guinea as well as a visit to Australia for a gathering with fellow leaders of the so-called Quad partnership so he can focus on debt limit talks in Washington.

The scuttling of two of the three legs of the overseas trip is a foreign policy setback for an administration that has made putting a greater focus on the Pacific region central to its global outreach.

Biden said he still plans to depart on Wednesday for Hiroshima, Japan, for a Group of Seven summit with leaders from some of the world's major economies. He will return to the U.S. on Sunday.

Im postponing the Australia portion of the trip and my stop in Papua New Guinea in order to be back for the final negotiations with congressional leaders," Biden said at the start of a Jewish American Heritage Month event at the White House. He added, The nature of the presidency is addressing many of the critical matters all at once. So Im confident were going to continue to make progress toward avoiding the default and fulfilling Americas responsibility as a leader on the world stage.

Biden said he spoke to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese earlier on Tuesday to inform him he was postponing a visit to Australia and invited him to Washington for an official state visit at a yet-to-be determined date. White House staff broke the news to Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape.

White House officials did not offer an immediate response to questions about when Biden might reschedule visits to the two countries.

Revitalizing and reinvigorating our alliances and advancing partnerships like the Quad remains a key priority for the President, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. This is vital to our ability to advance our foreign policy goals and better promote global stability and prosperity. We look forward to finding other ways to engage with Australia, the Quad, Papua New Guinea and the leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum in the coming year.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has invited Albanese, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as Pacific Island leaders to come to Hiroshima during the G-7. Albanese in an Australian Broadcasting Corp. interview said that the Quad leaders are now hoping to hold a meeting in Hiroshima.

Well also hopefully be able to find a time when the four of us can sit down, Albanese said. We will have to organize the logistics of the Quad meeting now in Sydney and well be discussing with our partners in the U.S., but also Japan and India over the next day or so.

Biden had been scheduled to travel on to Papua New Guinea to meet with Pacific Island leaders and then to Australia for a meeting of the leaders of the Quad partnership, made up of the U.S., Australia, India and Japan. The Papua New Guinea stop would have been the first visit by a sitting U.S. president to the island country of more than 9 million people.

The Quad partnership first formed during the response to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that killed some 230,000 people. Since coming into office, Biden has tried to reinvigorate the Quad as part of his broader effort to put greater U.S. focus on the Pacific and counter increasing economic and military assertiveness by China in the region.

Biden announced his decision soon after he wrapped up a meeting on Tuesday afternoon with Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jefferies, D-N.Y., for talks on the debt limit standoff.

Earlier Tuesday, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby expressed administration officials' frustration that the debt talks are having an impact on the president's dealings on the international stage.

We wouldnt have to have this conversation. I wouldnt have to answer these questions if Congress just did the right thing, Kirby said.

Some Republican lawmakers questioned Biden's decision to travel overseas considering the consequences of the debt limit talks.

I think he should not leave and he should focus on the debt limit here at home, Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla.

With the brief stop in Papua New Guinea to meet with Pacific Island leaders, Biden had hoped to demonstrate that the United States is committed to 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 hes 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.

As vice president, Biden saw up close how domestic politics can complicate foreign policy during the 2013 government shutdown. President Barack Obama was forced to bail on attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit and the East Asia Summit in Brunei as well as a visit to Malaysia and the Philippines in the midst of a government shutdown as he negotiated with GOP leaders.

President Bill Clinton opted to skip his scheduled participation in the APEC summit in Japan in the midst of the 1995 government shutdown. He opted to send Vice President Al Gore in his place.

___

Associated Press journalist Rick Gentilo contributed to this report.
PORTLAND, Maine (AP)  President Joe Biden wants to change the way the U.S. uses energy by expanding renewables, but he will need to navigate a host of challenges  including the coronavirus pandemic and restoring hundreds of thousands of lost jobs  to get it done.

The wind and solar industries have managed to grow despite a less-than-supportive Trump administration, which favored fossil fuels such as coal. They have a new ally in the White House in Biden, who has set a goal of 100% renewable energy in the power sector by 2035. Now comes the hard part  making it happen.

Disruption from the pandemic has cost the renewable energy industry, which relies heavily on labor, about 450,000 jobs. The pandemic has also made it more difficult to build wind and solar infrastructure and has redirected federal resources away from the energy sector. There's the additional challenge of getting pro-environment legislation through a deeply divided U.S. Senate where Democrats hold the narrowest margin possible and have some key members in fossil fuel states.

To reach Bidens 100% renewable energy goal will require a massive buildout of grid infrastructure to get energy from the windy plains or offshore wind farms over long distances to cities where electricity is needed. About a sixth of today's U.S. electricity generation is from renewable sources, the U.S. Energy Information Administration has said.

Michael Mann, an American climatologist and geophysicist who directs the Earth System Science Center at Pennsylvania State University, said Biden campaigned on and has a mandate to act on climate, and that boosts his prospects of getting tough changes through. However, he said, its going to be a fight, and compromises will need to be made.

We must recognize that Green New Deal-like legislation probably cannot pass in a divided Congress and climate advocates may need to make some concessions if we are to see climate legislation in the U.S. over the next couple years, Mann said.

Still, the industry is optimistic Biden's ambitious goal can be reached.

Its doable, but it wont be easy, said Larry Gasteiger, executive director of WIRES, the transmission industry trade group.

It takes about a decade to get transmission lines planned, sited and built, he said, so 2035 may sound like its a ways off, but its really not when you think about all of the infrastructure thats going to need to be built."

It could cost $30 billion to $90 billion over the next decade to build the transmission infrastructure necessary to connect all the new generation resources and maintain reliability, according to WIRES.

Biden's presidency  along with the rise of Democrats in the Senate  is widely viewed as a potential boon to a renewables industry that's already growing, despite the Trump administrations focus on fossil fuels and the pandemic's challenges to new utility-scale operations. Last year was a record year for wind and solar power installations.

Some state-level politicians, such as Democratic Maine Gov. Janet Mills, started making moves in favor of offshore wind around the time of Bidens victory. Mills announced in November that the state is planning to help develop the first floating offshore wind research farm in U.S. history.

And the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management announced on Feb. 3 that it's resuming an environmental review of a proposed offshore wind project off Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts. BOEM Director Amanda Lefton said offshore wind has the potential to help our nation combat climate change, improve resilience through reliable power and spur economic development to create good-paying jobs.

The Biden administration is in a position to accelerate trends toward renewable energy and away from fossil fuel power, said Dave Reidmiller, a Maine-based scientist who assisted Bidens transition team in the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Utilities and others kind of see the writing on the wall of where this is going, Reidmiller said. I suspect its no surprise that the Biden administration has fairly ambitious de-carbonization goals for American society.

The U.S. has just two working offshore wind farms  off Block Island in Rhode Island and off Virginia  but more than two dozen others are in various stages of development. The wind power industry and clean energy advocates say the new administration can make the country an offshore wind power leader.

One way Biden could boost the offshore wind industry would be accelerating permit procedures. Jeff Berman, manager of emissions and clean energy analytics at S&P Global Platts, said that would help encourage growth of a resource that there isnt very much of in this country."

But one of the clean energy industry's first priorities is to regrow and even expand jobs, said Matthew Davis, legislative director of the League of Conservation Voters.

Estimates of employment in the U.S. clean energy sector range from about 700,000 to 3 million jobs. Biden pledged to create 10 million jobs.

Biden says we need millions more solar roofs, tens of thousands more wind turbines, getting offshore wind industry off the ground, Davis said. It's doable but aggressive, and we're going to be pushing right along the administration and our allies in Congress to make this happen.

Industry representatives also believe Bidens focus on climate change and new environmental regulations will make wind and solar more competitive by reducing their cost relative to fossil fuels.

East Providence, Rhode Island-based ISM Solar, is planning six to eight new community solar projects in Maine over the next few years, totaling about 30 megawatts  enough to power more than 10,000 homes.

The more you clamp down on emissions, the more that will help renewables, said the companys vice president, Mike Lucini.

Under Biden, the industry is also banking on more certainty about tax credits, which analysts say have been major drivers of renewables growth. Tax credits for wind and solar were extended in the December stimulus bill  with Trump's approval  and wind and solar interests are hopeful they can rely on long-term extensions in the coming years.

In addition, the industry wants an end of tariffs that cause the U.S. to pay some of the world's highest equipment prices.

Tariffs on solar components are set to expire in 2022. While it's unclear if Biden could end those tariffs earlier, Berman of S&P Global Platts said his administration probably won't extend them  unlike the Trump administration which was looking to increase those tariffs as recently as a few months ago.

In Maine, Dirigo Solar co-founder Bob Cleaves said theres no question the Trump tariff on solar panels that weve already purchased really slowed down our projects."

Bidens administration raised the industry's hopes with a set of executive actions aimed at tackling climate change on Jan. 27.

Justice for disadvantaged communities and welcoming legacy energy workers into the clean power workforce are vital aspects of the success of the clean energy transition, said Heather Zichal, chief executive officer of the American Clean Power Association.

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Bussewitz reported from New York.

___

On Twitter follow Patrick Whittle: @pxwhittle and Cathy Bussewitz: @cbussewitz
Cannabis entrepreneurs Dwayne Hirsch, left, and Reginald Reese. (The Green Toad Hemp Farm via blackprpresswire)

Black farmers are looking to the budding cannabis industry in the U.S. to spur generational wealth in the Black community after decades of grappling with the hardships of being locked out of the agricultural industry and land ownership, while being on the receiving end of the detrimental effects of cannabis being classified as a drug.

This is a plant that has been tied to the very fabric of not only the nation, but to Black America as a whole, Jason Brooks, co-owner of Green Toad Hemp Farm, Georgias first Black-owned hemp farm, told Yahoo News. As a second-generation farmer, Im so proud to be a part of growing this plant that so many of our people have been incarcerated behind. Now we get to do it in a legal way.

U.S. legacy of Black farming

An African American man cultivating cotton in North Carolina, circa 1902. (Buyenlarge/Getty Images)

Brookss lineage in America, like many Black Americans in the U.S., dates back to the slavery era, during which people were brought from Africa to cultivate land for crops whose yield became the backbone of the U.S. economy.

Black people have always been a people that have been great at mastering and tilling soil, Brooks said. One of the few things that we did on the land for years was grow hemp and make hemp products.

In January 1865, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, Union Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman signed Field Order 15, in which the U.S. agreed to provide 400,000 acres of southeastern U.S. land previously owned by members of the Confederacy to Black families. But after the land was returned to Confederate owners later that year, many Black farmers turned to sharecropping  renting shares of land, largely from white landowners and plantations  giving them a hefty portion of the crop yield.

There was heavy discrimination against Black farmers, especially in the Bible Belt where a lot of people that were sharecropping lost millions of hectares of land, Brooks, whose grandfather was a sharecropper, explained. They got deals that were predatory and a good portion of the family that I have has lost all their farmland.

State of Black farmers now

Co-founder and CEO of Green Toad Hemp Farm Reginald Reese, in Metter, Ga. (Courtesy of the Green Toad Hemp Farm)

The population of Black farm owners in operation in the U.S. has dwindled dramatically, from nearly a million farmers in 1920 to currently representing less than 50,000.

Black farmers have been subjected to a long history of discriminatory policies by entities like the Department of Agriculture; these include being disproportionately rejected for federal farm assistance and lending, which caused many Black farmers to forgo land ownership and farm foreclosure.

To this day, very few Black farmers get the resources and the knowledge that they need in order to go forward, Brooks explained.

The U.S. has started to pay off loans for Black borrowers under the American Rescue Plan Act, answering to lawsuits that cite years of racial discrimination against Black farmers.

As noted by Yahoo News partner the Grio, some states are also granting medical cannabis licenses to Black farmers who had been left out of previous application processes.

Generations were essentially cut off from the lifeblood of their family business, Brooks said. Now, we the children and grandchildren are trying to rebuild that legacy. The government does have a huge responsibility to bear on that to make sure that we can produce and provide products to this country because this is our home, and this is what you do inside of a nation like this.

Reclaiming legacy and reparations through cannabis farming

A growing field at the Green Toad Hemp Farm (Courtesy of the Green Toad Hemp Farm)

Black farmers say cannabis legalization has created inroads for America to right the wrongs inflicted by the residual effect of slavery, Jim Crow-era laws, the mass incarceration of Black people from the Reagan-era war on drugs and their lockout in the agricultural industry.

Marijuana is now legal in 22 states and Washington, D.C., and medical marijuana is legal in 38 states plus D.C. According to the Marijuana Business Factbook, by 2024, legal cannabis sales will increase 181% from $38 billion in 2019 to about $130 billion annually for the U.S. economy. But the Marijuana Business Daily reported in 2021 that 81% of cannabis business owners and founders were white, while Black people made up just 4.3%.

We need reparations in the spaces of cannabis, Brooks emphasized. To be able to grow and cultivate, we need priority contracts set aside just for us. We need tax-exempt status so that we are allowed to repair ourselves and be made whole.

When the Farm Bill was signed into law in 2018, hemp  defined as cannabis and derivatives of cannabis with no more than 0.3% THC on a dry weight basis"  was removed from the definition of marijuana in the Controlled Substances Act.

Many Black families took advantage of this new opportunity to grow hemp as a legal crop. Brookss father-in-law, Reginald Reese, founded the Green Toad Hemp Farm in Metter, Ga., in 2019. His venture began after trying to find opioid alternatives to deal with his chronic back pain.

He really understood that our body has an endocannabinoid system, and this endocannabinoid system needs to be fed, explained Brooks. Its in every persons human DNA. He started experimenting with CBD and found that he did get great relief and didnt have any nasty side effects. So he decided to dedicate his life to spreading awareness about the healing powers of the cannabinoid system, starting his own farm.

Dwayne Hirsch, president and chief of business development of the Green Toad Hemp Farm. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

The family now works about 30 acres of farmland to produce cannabis products. Brooks said that Green Toad Hemp Farm has also partnered with Georgia Southern University, which has a program for students to research the use of hemp for human use, while keeping the production of it eco-friendly.

Farming is literally 22nd-century stuff, Brooks said. They have drones out now that will survey the land. So the advancement into this space along with AI technology and robotics is going to make farming even more efficient.

Brooks described the farming industry as ripe for revolution and change as it invites academia and younger generations into the farming space.

We see YouTube, TikTok and Instagram pages of Black people still farming, Brooks said. This is something thats encoded into our very DNA and souls.

However, Black farmers in the cannabis industry still face significant barriers like access to land, markets, resources, capital for operation, health insurance, loans, legal and administrative obstacles, and obtaining crop insurance as a cannabis farm.

If you gave us the resources to take care of our communities by finally getting paid what we're supposed to be getting paid, I guarantee youll see a severe decrease in issues that plague the Black society.

But Brooks doesnt want consumers to fall into the pit of buying from Black-owned farms just because they are owned by Black farmers.

The hope is that when people see the effort that we put into our products to make sure that they compete or are even better than some of the products on the market today, well break down that wall where people will stop seeing us as just Black folks with farms and seeing us as Americans who have farms. ... And nothing breaks down a barrier quite like sharing a good blunt.
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP)  Brazils former President Jair Bolsonaro faced questioning Tuesday by Federal Police in an investigation into allegations that COVID-19 vaccine cards were falsified to get around U.S. vaccine requirements.

Police havent publicly named the targets of their investigation, but local media reports have said authorities are looking into the vaccine cards of Bolsonaro, his advisors and members of his family and whether they were altered ahead of U.S. visits.

Bolsonaro, who arrived Tuesday afternoon at the police headquarters in Brasilia to give a sworn deposition, has denied wrongdoing, saying he never claimed to be vaccinated nor presented documentation saying that he was.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the former president spent months sowing doubt about the efficacy of the vaccine. A police statement about the investigation alleges that alterations to the coronavirus documents were meant to sustain the discourse aimed at attacking the vaccine against COVID-19, but it does not elaborate.

Bolsonaros sworn deposition Tuesday is a step forward in just one of the several investigations targeting the far-right leader.

Earlier this month, police searched Bolsonaros home and seized his phone. They searched several other locations and carried out arrest warrants for a half dozen people  including key Bolsonaro allies. One was Mauro Cid, an army lieutenant colonel who had been Bolsonaros right-hand man.

Bolsonaro told reporters earlier this month that he had not falsified anything, saying it didnt happen. He said that his vaccination records were not required for any of his trips to the U.S. I didnt take the vaccine, period. I never denied that.

Bolsonaro has been to the U.S. at least three times after it began generally requiring in November 2021 that non-citizens be fully vaccinated to enter.

Other legal headaches for Bolsonaro include an investigation into his role in uprising in capital Brasilia one week after leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's inauguration. Thousands of Bolsonaros die-hard supporters raided the Supreme Court, Congress and presidential palace, seeking to bring about Lula's ouster. Hundreds of them will stand trial.

Brazil's Prosecutor-general Augusto Aras said in April that the former president had allegedly encouraged the perpetration of crimes against the rule of law, and Bolsonaro gave testimony at the Federal Police headquarters last month as part of an ongoing investigation. He also answered police questions about three sets of diamond jewelry brought to Brazil from Saudi Arabia, two of which made it into Bolsonaro's possession. A third set was seized at Sao Paulo's international airport.

Meanwhile, Brazils electoral court is investigating his actions during the presidential election campaign, particularly his unsubstantiated claims that the nations electronic voting system is susceptible to fraud. Those threaten to strip him of his political rights and render him unable to run for office in upcoming elections.
Kim Su-jung, legal representative of Adam Crapsey, speaks to reporters at the Seoul Central District Court on May 16, 2023, after the court ordered Holt Children's Services to pay 100 million won ($74,730) to the plaintiff for falsely registering him as an orphan before sending him to the United States for adoption 40 years ago. Yonhap



A Seoul court on Tuesday ordered Holt Children's Services to compensate an adoptee for falsely registering him as an orphan before sending him to the United States for adoption 40 years ago.



Adam Crapsey, 46, filed a lawsuit against the prominent international adoption agency and the South Korean government in 2019.



Crapsey, who was adopted in 1979, claimed that Holt fabricated his adoption documents, falsely portraying him as an orphan despite having a living biological mother.



He also argued the government failed in its responsibility to provide the necessary support for him to acquire U.S. nationality.



The Seoul Central District Court ordered Holt to pay 100 million won ($74,730) to the plaintiff while dismissing the claim against the government.



Crapsey had sought compensation of over 200 million won from both parties involved.



"It is only natural to acknowledge Holt's responsibility for its illegal actions," Crapsey's attorney, Kim Su-jung, said after the ruling.



"But it is regrettable that the state's responsibility for leading, managing, planning and tolerating illegal overseas adoptions was not recognized," she added.



Crapsey, whose Korean name is Shin Song-hyuk, was adopted by a U.S. family at the age of three but was subsequently abandoned.



At the age of 12, he was readopted by another family, only to be abandoned once again four years later.



Crapsey alleged that he suffered abuse from both adoptive families and was unable to properly apply for citizenship.



He was deported to South Korea in 2016 after his criminal record from his youth was revealed during the process of renewing his permanent residency in 2014. (Yonhap)


Updated May 17, 2023 at 3:49 AM

This is a developing story. Check back to sanluisobispo.com for updates.

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What started as a structure fire quickly ballooned into a 110-acre vegetation fire in California Valley on Monday afternoon.

According to emergency response app, PulsePoint, a fire was reported at Angwin Trail and Alleghany Road around 12:23 p.m.

The fire began at a structure, but began spreading to the surrounding grass, according to emergency scanner traffic.

The fire was mostly doused by 3:30 p.m., after burning roughly 110 acres, according to a Cal Fire spokesperson.

In total, Cal Fire sent eight engines, two crews, two bulldozers and a water tender to attack the blaze, while the Bureau of Land Management sent two engines and a hotshot crew, the spokesperson said.

Cal Fire also ordered an air attack along with three tankers and a helicopter, she said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, the spokesperson said.
The deadly threat of avian flu lurks on the horizon for all bird species  including the critically endangered California condors.

Will the 91 condors flying free in Central California elude the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) that has killed millions of wild and domestic birds, including 21 condors in Arizona and Utah?

How vulnerable are the condors in San Simeon, Big Sur and Pinnacles? And whats being done to protect the enormous, critically endangered birds?

Is there a California condor vaccine?

Ventana Wildlife Society executive director Kelly Sorenson said the recent outbreak in Arizona appears to have elevated the sense of urgency to develop a vaccine for the condors, carrion eaters with majestic 9 -foot wingspans that escaped near extinction 40 years ago.

In an ideal situation, condors would be captured one by one and vaccinated to protect against a possible biological catastrophe.

However, an effective vaccine for these birds is still in the early stages of development. No date has been set for a vaccine trial on condors.

Joanna Gilkeson, with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, said her group is working with the U.S. Department of Agricultures Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to finalize details of a vaccine trial for California condors.

APHIS is responsible for announcing when the trials begin, Gilkeson explained in an email.

At this time APHIS and FWSare exploring the logistics and use of a vaccine in that population (of condors), Tanya Espinosa, public affairs specialist with APHIS, wrote in an email.

A California condor flies free in the wild. The enormous, critically endangered birds are at risk of contracting highly pathogenic avian influenza. US Fish & Wildlife

Condor quarantine pens

Ventana Wildlife Society has ordered 10 large quarantine pens, which will arrive in panels and be installed this week. They cost $85,000, money that was provided via a fundraising campaign.

The pens measure 12 feet wide, 12 feet deep and 8 feet high, and are made with 6-gauge

galvanized welded wire mesh and 16-gauge galvanized steel tubing.

These pens will most likely be used for the treatment of infected birds, Sorenson explained. The pens will allow for infected condors to receive supportive care in an environment that is removed from zoos, domestic poultry and the free-flying condor population.

Sorenson holds out hope that the large pens will also be useful for vaccinating the flock, she said, rather than just treating sick birds.

Reevaluating condor feeding sites

California condors, known to scientists as Gymnogyps californianus, frequently eat at communal feeding sites.

Local dairies provide stillborn calves so condors, especially juveniles, can be assured of lead-free nutrition.

Such congregate feeding sites carry an increased risk, as they attract more birds than just condors.

Turkey vultures are known to have a high incidence rate for HPAI, and often dine alongside condors.

Since avian influenza spreads through airborne transmission from infected birds  and secondarily through contact with mucus, feces and saliva  feeding sites present an elevated risk to condors.

VWS may eventually stop feeding at all sites, Sorenson said.

This drastic measure would be put into place should an outbreak (of HPAI) occur in California, she said.

Shutting down the feeding sites could put condors in harms way because the birds would then be obliged to search for carrion, which could contain lead fragments and poison them.

If we did stop feeding, Sorenson said, it would be during migration season when turkey vultures are in higher numbers.

We may temporarily stop feeding at the San Simeon release site until after the fall migration, when the next cohort of captive-bred juveniles will be released into the wild, since there are more turkey vultures seen at San Simeon than Big Sur.

When it comes to preventing HPAI, Condors are stuck between a rock and a hard place, Sorenson said.

To make a contribution to the campaign to protect the 91 free- flying condors in the Central California flock, visit ventanaws.org/donatetocondcorrecovery.html.
BEIJING (AP)  China and Russia said they will build a lunar research station, possibly on the moon's surface, marking the start of a new era in space cooperation between the two countries.

A statement posted on the website of the China National Space Administration Wednesday said the International Lunar Research Station would also be open to use by other countries, but gave no timeline for its construction.

It described the project as a comprehensive scientific experiment base with the capability of long-term autonomous operation.

The station would be built on the lunar surface and/or on the lunar orbit that will carry out ... scientific research activities such as the lunar exploration and utilization, lunar-based observation, basic scientific experiment and technical verification," the statement said.

It said a memorandum of understanding on the project was signed Tuesday by Zhang Kejian, administrator of the China National Space Administration, and Russian space agency Roscosmos chief Dmitry Rogozin.

China drew heavily on Russian expertise in the early years of its space program, but has largely forged its own path since launching its first crewed mission in 2003. Despite that, China's Shenzhou spaceships closely resemble Russia's Soyuz capsules and the CNSA has worked with countries around the world, apart from the U.S. Congress bans almost all contacts between NASA and China over concerns about technology theft and the secretive, military-backed nature of China's space program.

Russia and China will adhere to the principle of co-consultation, joint construction, and shared benefits,' facilitate extensive cooperation in the ILRS, open to all interested countries and international partners, strengthen scientific research exchanges, and promote humanitys exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purpose," the Chinese statement said.

Russia is a participant in the International Space Station but its space program has been somewhat eclipsed by those of China, the U.S., India and others. In its most recent development, Russia successfully test-launched its heavy lift Angara A5 space rocket for the second time in December after lengthy delays and technical problems.

China has planned four crewed missions this year to work on its first permanent orbiting space station, the core module of which could be launched as soon as next month.

China has already launched two smaller experimental space stations, placed a rover on the little-explored far side of the moon in 2019 and has a spacecraft, the Tianwen-1, in a parking orbit around Mars in anticipation of landing a rover on the surface in the coming months. If it succeeds, China would become only the second country after the U.S. to put a spacecraft on Mars.
The U.S.s chief intelligence agency has turned to the favored social media platform in Russia known as Telegram to launch its latest recruitment effort and appeal to Russians opposed to the war in Ukraine.

On Monday night the CIA posted a recruitment video in Russian to not only Telegram but YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.

"The CIA wants to know the truth about Russia, and we are looking for reliable people who know and can tell us," the agency said in a statement with the video posted to YouTube. "Your information may be more valuable than you think."

The seal of the Central Intelligence Agency is shown at the entrance of its headquarters in McLean, Virginia, Sept. 24, 2022.

FBI TURNS TO SOCIAL MEDIA TO RECRUIT RUSSIANS FOR INTELLIGENCE GATHERING

The U.S. intelligence agency took similar steps last year when it appealed to Russian citizens disillusioned with the war in Ukraine and President Vladimir Putin by launching a social media campaign. But the CIA has now taken it one step further and created a Telegram channel titled "Securely Contacting CIA."

The CIAs campaign last year was described to Fox News as "fruitful," and the top intelligence agency is looking to gain information in numerous sectors within Russian society.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"Are you a military officer? Do you work in the field of intelligence, diplomacy, science, high technology, or are you dealing with people who do this? Do you have information about the economy or the top leadership of the Russian Federation? Contact us," the CIA appealed.

An activist holds a poster during a peaceful gathering of members of the Russian diaspora in the main square of Krakow, Poland, on Feb. 25, 2023.

'HAVANA SYNDROME' NOT LIKELY CAUSED BY FOREIGN ADVERSARY, INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY FINDS

The video, titled "Why I made contact with the CIA: My decision," depicts fictitious Russians who made the decision to contact the CIA and details how to safely get in touch with the agency.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Russian media Tuesday that the Telegram channel  which already has over 5,200 subscribers  is a "very convenient resource for tracking those who apply."

But the CIA maintains that an individual can securely contact the agency through its "Tor hidden service" and provided a link for instructions on how to safely do so.

Russian police officers detain a female protester during an anti-war protest on Sept. 21, 2022, in Moscow.

The agency additionally urged patience after an individual does make contact.

"Please be patient. We thank you for your courage," the CIA said. "We carefully review the submitted documents in order to give an appropriate response and at the same time ensure your safety."
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP)  The Democratic candidate hoping to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton in Arkansas abruptly dropped out of the race Tuesday, citing a family health concern, leaving Democrats with no one to contest the seat.

Josh Mahony announced on Twitter that he was ending his campaign, two hours after the filing deadline for Arkansas expired. It was unclear what options, if any, the party might have for replacing him in the race.

Mahony did not immediately return messages seeking comment Tuesday afternoon.

"It has been the honor of my life to be able to meet and visit with so many Arkansans over the last six months and hear their voices. It was my sincere hope to be their advocate in Washington, DC," Mahony said in a statement posted on Twitter. "However, in this moment right now, I need to focus on my family and place their interests first."

Mahony was the only Democrat who had filed to run against Cotton.

The announcement leaves Democrats without a candidate to challenge Cotton, who was first elected to the Senate in 2014. Mahony had badly trailed Cotton in fundraising and faced an uphill challenge in the solidly red state. Cotton last month reported having more than $4 million in the bank for his re-election bid, while Mahony had $25,833.

"Sen. Cotton is praying for Josh and his family. He hopes they recover and he wishes them well," Brian Colas, a consultant for Cotton's campaign, said.

State Democratic Party Chairman Michael John Gray said he was not aware of Mahony's plans until the tweet and was unsure what options the party may have. Arkansas law generally only allows parties to replace nominees because of death or serious illness.

"I've reached out to some election officials and we're gathering that information," Gray said.

Mahony last year unsuccessfully challenged Republican U.S. Rep. Steve Womack in northwest Arkansas.

Libertarian candidate Ricky Dale Harrington Jr. and Independent candidate Dan Whitfield have also filed to run against Cotton.

Mahony announced in May that he was challenging Cotton, accusing the GOP lawmaker of losing touch with constituents. Cotton in September began running a digital ad that didn't mention Mahony, but instead criticized former Democratic presidential hopeful Beto O'Rourke's call for confiscating assault rifles.

Before he dropped out of the race, the state GOP said Tuesday it planned to file a complaint with the FEC against Mahony that accused him of falsely listing himself as a small business owner on contribution records.

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Follow Andrew DeMillo on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ademillo
BRUSSELS (AP)  The European Unions top court on Thursday rejected an effort by a Scandinavian youth group and families around the world to force the EU to set more ambitious targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, arguing that they were not individually affected by Europes climate policy.

Those behind the initiative  including a Portuguese farmer, an Arctic indigenous activist and German islanders  expressed disappointment at the ruling, but also were determined to keep fighting for faster action against climate change.

Families from Kenya, Fiji, Germany, France, Italy, Portugal and Romania, along with the Swedish Sami Youth organization, launched the legal action in 2018. They hoped to draw attention to the impact that climate policy had on individuals and those fighting for starving Arctic reindeer and other environmental issues.

The European General Court acknowledged that the plaintiffs are generally affected by climate change but rejected the case in 2019 on procedural grounds. The families and youth group appealed to the European Court of Justice, or ECJ, the blocs top court.

The ECJ upheld the lower courts decision Thursday, saying the plaintiffs are not individually concerned by the EUs climate legislation so the case won't be heard.

The Sami people live in the middle of the climate crisis every day. We see how the climate crisis affects the reindeer, nature and our culture," Sanna Vannar of the Sami youth organization told reporters. "It makes me so angry and frustrated that the EU does not take this problem seriously and address it like an emergency.

Plaintiff Alfredo Sendim, a Portuguese farmer who has struggled with season after season of drought, said: The courts decision is disappointing, but we will not give up. We will continue seeking protection of our rights and demand climate protection."

Environmental activists held a small protest in Brussels after the ruling.

After the legal effort was launched, the European Commission proposed a European Green Deal with more ambitious goals toward fighting climate change. European Union leaders reached a deal last year to cut the blocs net greenhouse gas emissions at least 55% by 2030 compared with 1990 levels, more than the previous goal of 40%.

Experts say ending the use of fossil fuels is one of the most important measures needed to limit global warming, which is believed to be causing stronger storms, fiercer droughts and other weather problems that are damaging lives and livelihoods around the world.

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Follow all AP developments on climate change issues at https://apnews.com/hub/Climate.
Three hours after an explosion shook a Pasco welding business, employees are figuring out what happened and cleaning up the mess.

By Tuesday afternoon firefighters had turned the building at 716 Oregon Ave. back over to the Spokane-based OXARC company, said Ben Shearer, the Pasco Fire Department public information officer.

Firefighters were called shortly before 10:20 a.m. for an explosion in a metal building where acetylene is manufactured. The production building contained only acetylene containers and the machine that makes it.

Acetylene is a flammable gas used in welding and doesnt produce much smoke when it burns. Its kept in canisters under pressure, and it can explode when exposed to high heat.

Its not clear what sparked the fire.

One employee was working in the area when the explosion happened but was able to escape unharmed.

OXARC employees were evaluated by Pasco medics at the scene and one employee was taken to a local medical center to be checked further, said Shearer.

Much of the time battling the blaze was spent planning an approach to extinguish several burning containers of acetylene but not put fire crews at risk.

The fire was complicated from the aspect that OXARC is a large supplier of many different gas products, some that do not care if they get wet and some react violently if they get wet, Shearer said in a news release.

They worked with OXARC employees to determine where the acetylene was being stored and making sure the machinery that produced it was shut off.

Firefighters on the scene focused on making sure the heat and fire didnt spread to other buildings.

Once we knew what we were dealing with, everything went very quickly and efficiently, Shearer said.

Shearer didnt know how extensive the damage was to the building, but the business is shut down at the moment.

OXARC provides welding and industrial supplies and safety products and training from its 21 locations across the Northwest.

While there was some initial concerns about the smoke and acetylene in the air moving through East Pasco, Shearer said the gas had dissipated quickly. He said they are not aware of any public health issues.

There also wasnt any chemical spills. Shearer said firefighters prevented water from going into the storm drains.

An explosion forced people to flee from OXARC Tuesday morning. Firefighters have closed Oregon Avenue to battle the blaze.

Oregon Avenue has opened after being shut between East A Street and East Lewis Street. It also sparked a brief lockdown at some nearby schools as a precaution.

The warm temperatures meant firefighters were being rotated in and out at the scene and then able to rest in a cooling area.

In all, 34 fire units helped at the fire, including crews from Pasco, Richland, Kennewick, Franklin County Fire District 3, Walla Walla Fire District 5, Benton County Fire districts 1 and 4, West Benton Fire Rescue and from the police and utility crews from Pasco and Franklin Emergency Management.
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP)  A fire ripped through a hostel in New Zealands capital overnight, killing at least six people and forcing others to flee the four-story building in their pajamas in what a fire chief on Tuesday called his worst nightmare.

Six bodies were found but not all areas of the building had been searched yet because the roof on the top floor had collapsed, bringing down debris and making the area unsafe, said Bruce Stubbs, the incident controller for Fire and Emergency New Zealand.

Officials said 52 people had made it out of the building alive but they were still trying to account for others.

Loafers Lodge resident Tala Sili told news outlet RNZ that he saw smoke pouring through under his door and opened it to find the hallway was pitch-black.

I was on the top floor and I couldnt go through the hallway because there was just too much smoke, so I jumped out the window," Sili said.

He said he fell onto a roof two floors below.

It was just scary, it was really scary, but I knew I had to jump out the window or just burn inside the building," Sili told RNZ. He said he was rescued from the roof by paramedics and treated for a sprained ankle.

The Loafers Lodge offered basic, affordable rooms with shared lounges, kitchens and laundry facilities to people of a wide range of ages. Some were placed there by government agencies and were considered vulnerable because they had little in the way of resources or support networks.

The hostel has 92 rooms and features billboards on one side. Dark smoke stains extended up the exterior walls on the top story of the building in an industrial area near Wellington Regional Hospital.

Firefighters were called to the hostel at about 12:30 a.m. Emergency officials said the building had no fire sprinklers, which Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said was not required in New Zealands building code for older buildings that would have to be retrofitted.

Police said the cause of the fire was not known yet but they didnt believe it had been deliberately lit. Police Inspector Dion Bennett said the plan was to begin a thorough scene investigation Wednesday after fire officials handed building access off to them.

Residents told reporters that fire alarms would regularly sound in the building, possibly from people smoking or overly sensitive smoke monitors, so many had initially thought it was another false alarm.

Hipkins said it could take authorities some time to confirm the number of dead. Police said they did not have an exact count, although they believed the death toll was less than 10.

It is an absolute tragedy. It is a horrific situation, the prime minister told reporters. In the fullness of time, of course, there will be a number of investigations about what has happened and why it happened. But for now, the focus clearly has to be on dealing with the situation.

Health authorities said two people who had been in the building were being treated at hospitals and both were in a stable condition. Three others had been treated and discharged, while a sixth patient had chosen to leave before getting treatment.

Nick Pyatt, the Wellington district manager for Fire and Emergency New Zealand, said his thoughts were with the families of those who had perished and with the crews, who had rescued those they could and tried to rescue those they couldnt.

This is our worst nightmare," Pyatt said. It doesnt get worse than this.

Wellington City Council spokesperson Richard MacLean said city and government officials were helping about 50 people who escaped the fire and were at an emergency center the council set up at a running track that had showers and other facilities.

He said a number of elderly people had escaped the building with only the pajamas they were wearing.

A lot are clearly shaken and bewildered about what happened, he said.

The hostel provided a combination of short-term and long-term rentals, MacLean said. He didn't have all the details, he said, but he believed it was used by various government agencies to provide clients with needed accommodation.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters he'd spoken with Hipkins and offered Australian assistance.

This is a dreadful human tragedy," Albanese said. I expressed my condolences on behalf of Australia to our friends in New Zealand at this very difficult time.
Perhaps more than any other expression of our changing climate, Californians are acquainted with wildfire. Thats whether they have lost a home, evacuated one, witnessed the apocalyptic day in 2020 when the sun never came out, or simply had to cancel plans.

Who is to blame? Worsening wildfires in the Western U.S. have been definitively linked to climate change for years, and now scientists are drawing a measurable connection between acres burned and carbon emissions released by the worlds largest fossil fuel companies.

A new study released Tuesday by the Union of Concerned Scientists, a national science advocacy organization, linked emissions from the worlds major fossil fuel producers to 37% of acres burned by wildfire in the North American west between 1986 and 2021.

Those emissions, researchers say, are also responsible for nearly half the atmospheric conditions drying out California forests. They hope these findings translate into corporate accountability for damages wrought by past and future disasters.

This is the first study that we know of in the world that attributes wildfire impacts from climate change to specific fossil fuel producers and cement manufacturers, said Kristina Dahl, Union of Concerned Scientists researcher and the studys leading author.

I hope that this helps to shift the narrative for the general public and for our policymakers in California toward one in which we broaden out our view of corporate responsibility for wildfires.

Between 2017 and 2021, Californians experienced more than 45,000 wildfires that burned a total of more than 9.5 million acres  including the states eight largest wildfires on record  and cost $25 billion in suppression response and economic damage.

The 2018 fire season alone destroyed more than 22,000 structures and caused damages exceeding $140 billion, not to mention worsened air quality and particulate matter that disproportionately harmed the health of low-income communities.

While the state is making progress addressing wildfire risk, the studies authors said, more resilience is needed. And to date, the general public has been left footing the bill for these disasters.

Fuels behind fires

To conduct the study titled The Fossil Fuels behind Forest Fires, scientists used a measure of airs thirstiness for plant and soil moisture, called vapor pressure deficit, to connect fossil fuel emissions to increasing wildfire intensity.

Studies have shown that a rapid jump in vapor pressure deficit in the western U.S. contributed to increases in the frequency and severity of wildfires, as well as the type of prolonged megadrought California experienced over the last decade.

Researchers asked what role fossil fuel companies played in this trend by looking at regional and global temperatures with and, hypothetically, without emissions of the worlds 88 top fossil fuel producers  a list of coal, oil, natural gas and cement companies.

Those companies range from household names such as Chevron, Exxon and BP to state-owned and government-run firms. The study was published in the Environmental Research Letters journal this week.

Using observed data and statistical models, they found that the influence of these companies emissions accounted for 48% of the increase in vapor pressure deficit since 1901 and 37% of the cumulative burned area from California to New Mexico and up to southwestern Canada since 1986.

In a statement, Kevin Slagle, vice president of strategic communications at the Western States Petroleum Organization, downplayed the scientists findings and called for collaboration toward a common cause.

We all want the same thing: affordable, reliable and ever-cleaner energy and fuels, he said. A press release from a well-funded activist group with a long history of attacking energy industries is unhelpful to the serious and realistic climate and energy policy discussions needed to get us there.

Measuring uncertainty

At the root of the study, Dahl said, is the question of who should be held responsible for the impacts of our intensifying climate. She said individuals often wrongly bear the burden despite never having been offered alternatives to gasoline cars and gas stoves.

Oil giants such as Exxon predicted global warming with scientific accuracy internally since the 1970s, Dahl said, and then spent decades publicly smearing the same science. She said people might understand that were living in a reality influenced by fossil fuel companies, but havent connected it to our lived experience of wildfire.

Pacific Gas and Electric has borne the brunt of Californians pursuit of accountability, having been found guilty for sparking some of the states largest wildfires and neglecting to maintain their equipment over decades. But she said responsibility should extend beyond the utility.

There is this much bigger set of corporate actors that have shaped our climate, such that a spark from PG&ES equipment can turn into a nearly million-acre wildfire, Dahl said. So I hope that people in California start to see that we need to be demanding broader accountability.

Comprehensive or not, advocates hope this type of research leads public officials and individuals to demand accountability from fossil fuel companies as questions arise about who will pay for efforts to decarbonize the economy and respond to climate disasters.

But like any scientific research, the study has limitations. Its authors noted that the analysis does not account for the legacy of fire suppression, prohibition of indigenous burning and increased likelihood of humans starting remote fires.

Anthony LeRoy Westerling, a professor of applied climatology at UC Merced, said a more comprehensive model that included factors such as drastic changes in precipitation would find that fossil fuel emissions are connected to a vastly higher percentage of wildfire damage.

Id say 100%... They are ignoring parts that they dont have enough data to quantify properly, he said. Its difficult to create these models. But if I was a betting man, nobodys going to be saying oh yeah, 48% of that increase was from greenhouse gas emissions effecting vapor pressure deficit 50 years from now.
Students evacuated in Indian school after bomb threat

Xinhua) 15:20, May 16, 2023

NEW DELHI, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Students of a school in New Delhi were evacuated on Tuesday after the school administration received an email about a bomb threat, police said.

The evacuation took place at Amrita School in New Delhi's Pushp Vihar locality. The school received the threatening email at around 6:35 a.m. local time on Tuesday, according to the officials.

The email from the unknown sender sent a tizzy among the school administration, who alerted the police.

Immediately the bomb detection and disposal squad along with the dog squad were rushed to the school premises to conduct a thorough check.

"The school has been thoroughly checked by the bomb disposal squad and nothing suspicious has been found," Chandan Chowdhary, Deputy Commissioner of Police, South Delhi told media.

Last week the Delhi Public School (DPS) in Mathura Road received a similar threat claiming that a bomb had been planted on its premises. However, it turned out to be a hoax.

Last month also two threats about bombs being placed on school premises in the capital were received and both turned out to be false.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office in Seoul, May 16. Yonhap



President Yoon Suk Yeol rejected the opposition-led nursing act Tuesday amid strong protests from doctors and nursing assistants against it, exercising his veto power for the second time since taking office.



The act, which was railroaded by the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea last month, is aimed at stipulating the roles and responsibilities of nurses, and improving their working conditions.



"The people's health cannot be exchanged for anything," Yoon said during a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office, before rejecting the legislation and asking the National Assembly to reconsider it.



Yoon said people's health comes ahead of anything else, such as politics, foreign policy and economic policy, and can only be properly maintained through cooperation between various groups of medical professionals.



"The nursing act is creating excessive conflict between these related groups, and the move to separate nursing services from medical institutions is causing people to feel anxious about their health," he said.



"It is very regrettable that such social conflict and anxiety were not resolved through sufficient consultations between groups and sufficient deliberation by the National Assembly," he added.



The ruling People Power Party and the government agreed during a high-level policy consultation meeting Sunday to ask Yoon to veto the bill, saying it would take the people's health and lives hostage.









Doctors and nursing assistants have opposed the bill, arguing the legislation would cause confusion in the medical sector because it could lead to nurses opening their own clinics without doctors' supervision and that nursing assistants could be discriminated against.



Nurses tout the bill as essential in redefining their work as a more independent and professional service amid growing medical needs. They also argue that the act was one of Yoon's campaign promises ahead of last year's presidential election.



This was the second time Yoon vetoed a bill after he rejected a revision to the Grain Management Act last month, which required the government purchase of surplus rice.





A Cabinet meeting led by President Yoon Suk Yeol is held at the presidential office in Seoul, May 16. Yonhap
Fresno, long accustomed to coming in near the bottom of various national rankings despite its place as Californias fifth-largest city, has another unfortunate distinction thats unlikely to receive a place of honor at City Hall.

The Fresno metro area came in at 146th out of the 150 largest metro areas in the U.S. on U.S. News & World Reports latest version of its annual rankings of Best Places to Live. Fresno is joined by 11 other California cities  including those in the inland Central Valley region  among the 50 lowest-ranked areas in the magazines annual list.

The online magazine issued the rankings early Tuesday morning.

Only two California cities  both in the San Francisco Bay Area  ranked among the top 50 large metro areas nationwide. A total of 14 places in the state were included in the rankings.

Editors at U.S. News tapped San Jose as the 13th best place to live, while nearby San Francisco came in at No. 45 in the rankings. Both cities rankings slipped from the list released in 2022, with San Jose slipping eight spots from No. 5 and San Francisco dropped 35 places from its 10th-place spot in 2022.

The Fresno metropolitan area encompasses the entirety of Fresno County with a population of more than 1 million people, including the city of Fresno and its 500,000-plus residents.

Other California cities on the 2023 list are:

San Diego: 93rd, up 14 spots from 107th in 2022.

Santa Barbara: 124th, up two spots from 126th in 2022.

Santa Rosa: 125th, up seven spots from 132nd in 2022.

Sacramento: 127th, down five spots from 122nd in 2022.

Los Angeles: 139th, down 11 spots from 128th in 2022.

Vallejo/Fairfield: 142nd, unchanged from 2022.

Salinas: 143rd, up one spot from 144th in 2022.

Modesto: 145th, up one spot from 146th in 2022.

Fresno: 146th, down five spots from 141st in 2022.

Visalia: 147th, up one spot from 148th in 2022.

Stockton: 148th, up one spot from 149th in 2022.

Bakersfield: 149th, down two spots from 147th in 2022.

Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer told The Fresno Bee that such rankings miss the mark when it comes to evaluating communities. I get tired of hearing people who live thousands of miles away putting a ranking on Fresnos livability, he said. They dont know what they dont know.

As Fresnos mayor, and knowing how great this city is, I dont give any credence to it, he added, and I dont think anyone else should, either.

Fresno City Council President Tyler Maxwell, whose district encompasses parts of central and east-central Fresno, concurred. Maxwell was born and raised in Fresno, and moved to the East Bay for about seven years before returning to Fresno.

I came back to Fresno because it had that a sense of communities that those cities just didnt have, Maxwell said. Where else can you find a city as big as Fresno that still has that small-town vibe to it?

What do the rankings measure?

This years rankings are a reflection of the current economic, social and natural factors that impact a places livability for its residents, said Devon Thorsby, real estate editor at U.S.News. People are considering more than housing when they look at an areas affordability  they want to know how much goods cost in that area.

The ever-present risk for severe weather and a communitys ability to recover  coupled with the areas opportunities for social activities  are also taken into account when evaluating a best place to live, Thorsby added.

Nationwide, the Wisconsin city of Green Bay topped the U.S. News rankings, followed by Huntsville, Alabama; Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina; Boulder, Colorado; and Sarasota, Florida, as the five highest-ranked places.

Rounding out the top 10 are Naples, Florida; Portland, Maine; Charlotte, North Carolina, Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Fayetteville, Arkansas.

The methodology of the rankings includes weighted evaluations of such factors as:

Quality of life: Includes crime rates, quality of education, happiness and well being, average commute times, quality and affordability of healthcare, air quality and risk of natural disasters.

Value: Includes housing affordability, household income, housing costs, and the cost of living compared to the national average.

Desirability: Includes results from a nationwide survey of about 3,500 people asking where the would most like to live; migration, weather, and restaurants/bars and events/activities as a rate per 10,000 people.

Job market: Includes unemployment rates and average salaries.

Despite low ranking, plenty of positives for Fresno

Such formulaic factors, Mayor Dyer said, miss the mark. There are things that cant be measured by some of the statistical data that they measure us by, he said.

Dyer noted that the city has experienced a 38% decline in its poverty rate over the past eight years, was cited as having the second-strongest economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and was ranked in the top 10 places for growth in worker productivity.

Wages in Fresno had the highest percentage growth in 2022 in the state, and Fresno Yosemite International Airport has seen a 122% increase in passengers compared to before the pandemic.

Dyer, who was Fresnos longtime police chief before he was elected mayor in 2020, added that the city has seen marked decreases in murders, violent crime and property crime from 2022 levels.

Dyer and Maxwell both noted Fresnos central location within California and its proximity  within a couple of hours drive  to the Pacific coast and to the forests and national parks in the Sierra Nevada range on the east side of the San Joaquin Valley.

Fresno is still one of the most affordable places to live, in one of the best states, Maxwell said. And you can get just about anywhere you need to within about 15 to 20 minutes; you cant do that in those bigger cities. I dont think those studies take that into consideration.

When you look at all of those factors, and the fact that the L.A. Times said we had the hottest real estate market in the state, Id say we are one of the best cities to live in, Dyer said. And shame on those people who would rank us otherwise.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Rep. Peter King, a moderate Republican who has represented a Long Island congressional district for nearly 30 years, announced Monday he won't seek reelection, enhancing Democrats' chances to grab yet another suburban House seat as they defend their majority in 2020.

The decision comes days after voters flocked to Democratic candidates in state elections in Kentucky and Virginia, underscoring Republican vulnerability in a suburban revolt against President Donald Trump.

But in the latest indication that congressional Republicans are rallying behind Trump for now, King said he will oppose Democratic efforts to impeach Trump. King also opposed Bill Clinton's impeachment in 1998.

"In the coming weeks and during the next year I intend to vote against President Trump's impeachment and will support the President's bid for re-election," King said.

The 14-term congressman, 75, said in a Facebook post that he's retiring because he wants "flexibility to spend more time" with his children and grandchildren "after 28 years of spending 4 days a week in Washington, D.C."

King, a former chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, has cultivated a reputation for bipartisanship while maintaining a hard line on immigration and crime. He is the longest-serving Republican member of New York's congressional delegation, and has been among the most pragmatic members of his party, especially as it has veered right.

King's keen political instincts and reputation as a fighter for New York's interests gave him remarkable political resiliency; at one point, after the 2008 election that sent Barack Obama to the White House, he was the state's lone GOP member of Congress.

He won reelection in 2018 by just 6 percentage points.

He teamed up with powerful Democrats such as Chuck Schumer to win a huge Superstorm Sandy aid package after the 2012 storm, despite foot-dragging by GOP leaders. On Monday, the Senate Democratic leader took to Twitter to lavish praise on King.

"Peter King stood head & shoulders above everyone else," Schumer wrote. "He's fiercely loved America, Long Island, and his Irish heritage and left a lasting mark on all 3."

His district includes once-reliably GOP territory in southwestern Suffolk County and a portion of Nassau County, about an hour's drive east of Manhattan. It went narrowly for Trump in 2016.

In his brief stint as Homeland Security panel chair after Republican took back the House in 2010, King's focus included the threat of Muslim extremism  attracting criticism that he was unfairly lumping in innocent Muslims with hearings on the alleged radicalization of others at some U.S. mosques.

"Peter King is an Islamophobe who held McCarthyite hearings targeting American Muslims, said 'there are too many mosques in this country' and blamed Eric Garner for his own death at the hands of police," tweeted Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., one of two Muslim women in Congress. Garner died after rough handling during an arrest by New York City police for selling cigarettes.

Other critics have noted that when he was a rising Nassau County politician, King was an unapologetic supporter of the Irish Republican Army and its U.S. fundraising network.

King lost the Homeland Security gavel in 2012 because of GOP term limit rules.

More recently, King was an ardent backer of legislation to finance the health care of first responders who have gotten cancer or other severe health problems in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks at the World Trade Center. He also opposed the 2017 GOP tax overhaul bill, which cut back a federal deduction for state and local taxes that was a big benefit to King's highly-taxed constituents.

Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill., who heads House Democrats' election arm, said King's retirement "underlines just how serious Republicans' problems are in swing districts across this country." While her party has long targeted his district, she added, "We will compete to win it in 2020."

Many suburban districts around the country have been moving steadily toward Democrats as moderate, well-educated voters swing away from the polarizing president.

Twenty House Republicans have announced they will not seek reelection. Three other GOP lawmakers have resigned and already left Congress.

Only a handful of Republican-held districts being vacated by retirements are expected to be seriously competitive next year, but King's will certainly be among them. The GOP's once-powerful grip on Long Island has long since loosened, though King's seat has been in Republican hands for almost five decades.

Democrats retook the U.S. House majority in 2018, aided by victories in what had been GOP-held suburban seats from Virginia to California.

New York State Republican Party Chairman Nick Langworthy praised King and said, "We have every confidence we will retain this seat and continue the strong representation that Long Islanders deserve."

Relatively unknown Democrat Liuba Grechen Shirley lost to King by 6 percentage points last year despite being significantly outspent and said Monday that she's considering another run.
LAS VEGAS (AP)  Presidential candidate Kamala Harris zeroed in on the Democratic Party's debate over health insurance Friday as she made her pitch to one of Nevada's most powerful political forces, the casino workers' union.

Leaders and members of the Culinary Union and its parent organization, Unite Here, have made it clear they don't favor "Medicare for all" plans like those proposed by Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren that would eliminate private insurance.

Before Harris took the stage for a town hall with union members, vice president Leain Vashon said the union fought hard to get the "the best" insurance and "we're not looking for second best from anyone."

Harris, who is struggling to catch up to Sanders, Harris and Joe Biden, highlighted her Medicare for all plan that would preserve private insurance as the biggest contrast between her and some of her rivals.

"I had you in mind because I know what you have given up to get that coverage. I know what you've given up," Harris said.

Culinary Workers Union Local 226, a 60,000-member group of housekeepers, bartenders, porters and others that keep the glittering resorts of Las Vegas humming, is one of the most powerful political forces in Nevada, the third state to weigh in on the presidential contest next year.

An endorsement from the organization could be decisive in the state's February caucuses.

The union has not yet decided it if will endorse anyone in the primary, but it's listening to candidates and telling them what workers want, secretary-treasurer Geoconda Arguello-Kline said.

Though most of the Democratic candidates have held private meetings with the union's leaders, Harris was the first to get a coveted invite to speak to members. About 250 gathered to hear her Friday night at the union's hall north of the Las Vegas Strip.

The group is planning more town halls with other top Democratic candidates, though it has declined to say which have received invitations.

Nevada, considered the first test of a candidate's appeal in a diverse state, has a 29% Latino population. The heavily immigrant, majority Latino union is seen as a key mobilizer of Latino voters and does outreach in English and Spanish, as well as in Tagalog, Amharic and Chinese.

The union's organizing is credited with helping former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid win a tough re-election campaign in 2010 and delivering Democratic victories in 2016 and 2018.

In the state's early presidential nominating caucuses, the Democratic Party traditionally sets up at-large caucusing locations near the Las Vegas Strip, which allows casino shift workers to participate in the meetings.

The union's backing hasn't always translated to a slam-dunk for candidates: In 2014, union-backed Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford lost in a Republican wave.

In 2008, the union decided to back Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton. The move was a boon to Obama, who won more delegates in Nevada, but Clinton won the popular vote and had a strong showing at the at-large caucus sites near the Strip.

The union sat out the 2016 Democratic primary.

Some of the 2020 candidates have waded into the union's dispute with Station Casinos over unionizing votes at several of the company's Las Vegas properties, issuing statements urging the company to join the bargaining table.

Harris on Friday told a worker at one of the company's properties that she had called one of the company's executives to press that point.

The California senator pumped her fist and led members in chants of "We vote, we win" and "Si, se puede" before describing her plans to use executive orders as president to extend protections for young immigrants in the country illegally and their families.

Arguello-Kline said that along with health care, good jobs and workers' rights, immigration is a top priority for the union.
The Justice Department has announced the creation of an inter-agency task force to combat transnational and domestic trade in illicit wood, including some used by Florida suppliers of the yacht industry.

The task force, a joint effort with the Agriculture, Interior, Homeland Security and State departments as well as the U.S. Council on Transnational Organized Crime, will investigate complex timber trafficking cases, develop new techniques to enforce U.S. laws surrounding the timber trade and build global partnerships to curb wood smuggling.

The announcement last month came in the wake of a joint investigation by the Miami Herald and Washington D.C.-based International Consortium of Investigative Journalists highlighting how millions of pounds of teak worth at least $25 million has entered U.S. supply chains  potentially including Floridas yacht industry  from the Southeast Asian country of Myanmar (formerly Burma), despite U.S. sanctions.

The sanctions have been in place since April 2021 and were imposed against the Myanmar state firm that de facto controls the teak trade for the production and export of timber on behalf of the ... military regime that overthrew the civilian government two months prior.

While announcing the task forces creation, Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin Mizer said that the trafficking undermines climate change mitigation efforts and causes widespread loss of biodiversity, while spurring forestry crime.

The task force, called Timber Interdiction Membership Board and Enforcement Resource Working Group, stemmed from the sense that it would take an improved and coordinated effort to make progress in this fight, Mizer said.

Earlier this year, U.S. agencies in charge of enforcing trade laws and sanctions all declined comment when the Herald asked about teak imports from Myanmar potentially violating sanctions. None confirmed if any action is being taken against the importers.

Three weeks after the Herald sent questions to the agencies and importers, the State Department had a meeting with leading companies in the sector with special attention to teak coming from Burma, an agency spokesperson said. The agency declined to provide the Herald a list of attendees or divulge details of what was discussed.

Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, head of the military council, inspects officers during a parade to commemorate Myanmars 77th Armed Forces Day in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Sunday, March 27, 2022. The occasion commemorates resistance against Japanese occupiers during World War II, and is a show of strength as the military battles armed resistance to its takeover last year that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)

Marigold Norman of World Forest ID, an environmental nonprofit, specifically cited the Heralds stories at the roundtable where the DOJ launched the TIMBER Working Group. She welcomed the agencys move toward more stringent enforcement, especially since high-risk and potentially sanctioned timber-flows continue to enter the United States.

The Treasury Department, the lead agency that imposes sanctions, monitors violations and refers cases to the Justice Department for possible prosecution, is, however, not part of the task force, a spokesperson told the Herald.

The Heralds investigation was in partnership with the nonprofit International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and 40 other news outlets across the world. The project, dubbed Deforestation, Inc., highlighted the challenges of enforcing international laws and sanctions when it comes to environmental crimes.

At a time of increased focus on how the demand for natural resources finances conflict and exploitation, the Heralds findings on the supply chain of teak  which makes its way into furniture, flooring and yacht decks  shed light on a product with a history of corruption and labor abuses and how consumers in Florida may be unwittingly financing a military juntas repressive acts.

The nonprofit watchdog Environmental Investigations Agency, which has offices in both London and Washington, D.C, also published a report Tuesday May 16 that cites the Heralds stories and through an analysis of trade data, lists the U.S. businesses that continue to import Myanmar teak. The watchdog had shared the names of these importers with U.S. authorities, including the State Department and enforcement agencies in December last year. They are now making the names public.

The flagged traders include two Florida firms  Sarasotas Teakdecking Systems and West Palm Beach-based Florida Teak. The two companies, both of which supply teak to yacht makers, imported more than half a million pounds of teak from Myanmar after the sanctions were imposed, the Herald reported in March. They deny any wrongdoing.

Military control of Myanmars ports as well as the state firm that controls the timber industry means any sale of teak contributes to the juntas coffers. Pro-democracy activists in Myanmar say the funds are being used by the military to buy arms, equipment and fuel needed to wage its campaign of terror against the people.

The U.S. government needs to show political will and leverage its resources to enforce sanctions  to stop the trade in illicit timber and profits supporting the criminal, brutal Myanmar regime, said the watchdog agencys Faith Doherty.

The junta in Myanmar has so far killed nearly 3,500 people and arrested more than 22,000 civilians, according to human rights groups.
HONG KONG (AP)  The life sentence imposed by China on a 78-year-old U.S. citizen, who was also a Hong Kong permanent resident, on spying charges shows the city should stay vigilant to security risks, its leader said Tuesday.

Chief Executive John Lee answered none of the lingering questions about why John Shing-Wan Leung was prosecuted. The sentence was announced Monday but neither the Hong Kong government nor the court in the eastern Chinese city of Suzhou that tried Leung have released details of the charges.

This incident showed us that national security risks could be hidden in society. Thats why we repeatedly stressed that, although Hong Kongs situation appears to be largely stabilized, we cant let down our guard over national security risks and have to stay vigilant, Lee said.

The government said mainland Chinese authorities had informed Hong Kong of his arrest in 2021. Hong Kong's government was prepared to provide assistance to anyone arrested by mainland authorities upon request but had not yet received any in Leung's case, authorities said.

Lee, a former police officer and ex-head of security in the city, was effectively appointed to lead Hong Kong last year after running unopposed in an election choreographed by Beijing. In his previous posts, he oversaw a campaign that crushed the pro-democracy camp.

In an echo of party propaganda, Lee referred to the 2019 pro-democracy protests that triggered the crackdown as black violence and Hong Kongs version of color revolution, a phrase used by China and Russia to describe political movements seeking to overturn authoritarian regimes. Lee said the protest movement was an alarm bell that reminds the city to keep monitoring such risks.

Leung's sentencing threatens to further exacerbate already strained ties between Beijing and Washington.

Leung was detained April 15, 2021, by the local bureau of Chinas counterintelligence agency in 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 lockdowns affecting tens of millions to fight the spread of COVID-19.

Such investigations and trials are held behind closed doors and little information is generally released.

The harsh sentence given Leung was especially notable because of his previous affiliations with pro-Communist Party organizations, including one seeking overseas support for Beijing's goal of unification with self-governing Taiwan.

Relations between Washington and Beijing are at their lowest in decades amid disputes over trade, technology, human rights and Chinas increasingly aggressive territorial claims toward Taiwan, the South China Sea and elsewhere.

High-level government exchanges between the sides have been placed on hold and U.S. companies are delaying major investments amid mixed messaging from Beijing. Many Chinese firms, most notably telecoms giant Huawei, have been effectively shut out of the U.S. market due to legal bans and high tariffs.

The sentencing comes as U.S. President Joe Biden is traveling to Hiroshima, Japan this weekend for the summit of the Group of Seven major industrial nations, followed by a visit to Papua New Guinea, a Pacific island nation in a region where China has sought to expand its economic, military and diplomatic influence.

While the Suzhou court offered no indication of a link between Leung's case and overall China-U.S. relations, spying charges in China often appear highly selective and evidence backing them up is held in secret. The party's rigid control over courts, civil society and the media effectively blocks efforts to gain further information or mount legal appeals.

The U.S. Embassy in Beijing said Monday it was aware of Leung's 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.

A former British colony, Hong Kong was promised it would retain its financial, social and political liberties when returned to China in 1997. Beijing has since torn up that commitment through progressively harsher restrictions on public gatherings, free speech and political participation, while still promoting the city as an efficient and corruption-free center for trade and finance.

Meanwhile, on the mainland, Chinese national security agencies have 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.

The pressure on foreign companies appears to clash with attempts by Beijing to lure back foreign investors after draconian COVID-19 pandemic restrictions were lifted at the beginning of the year.

It wasn't clear who represented Leung at his trial and his family has not commented on the sentence. Friends and former colleagues declined The Associated Press' requests for comment.

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. Online commentary and independent information sources have been muzzled and universities 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 a Canadian diplomat to leave at short notice in retaliation for Ottawas expulsion of a staffer at the Chinese Embassy who was accused of threatening a member of the Canadian Parliament and his family members living in Hong Kong.

China's leader for a decade who faces no term limits, Xi has taken a highly confrontational stance toward the U.S. and other democracies, while backing Russian President Vladimir Putin in his invasion of Ukraine and supporting other autocratic governments from Nicaragua to Myanmar.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The House approved a $1.9 trillion pandemic relief bill early Saturday in a win for President Joe Biden, even as top Democrats tried assuring agitated progressives that theyd revive their derailed drive to boost the minimum wage.

The new presidents vision for flushing cash to individuals, businesses, states and cities battered by COVID-19 passed on a near party-line 219-212 vote. That ships the massive measure to the Senate, where Democrats seem bent on resuscitating their minimum wage push and fights could erupt over state aid and other issues.

Democrats said the still-faltering economy and the half-million American lives lost demanded quick, decisive action. GOP lawmakers, they said, were out of step with a public that polling shows largely views the bill favorably.

I am a happy camper tonight," Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., said Friday. This is what America needs. Republicans, you ought to be a part of this. But if you're not, we're going without you."

Republicans said the bill was too expensive and said too few education dollars would be spent quickly to immediately reopen schools. They said it was laden with gifts to Democratic constituencies like labor unions and funneled money to Democratic-run states they suggested didn't need it because their budgets had bounced back.

To my colleagues who say this bill is bold, I say it's bloated," said House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. To those who say it's urgent, I say it's unfocused. To those who say it's popular, I say it is entirely partisan.

Moderate Democratic Reps. Jared Golden of Maine and Kurt Schrader of Oregon were the only two lawmakers to cross party lines. That sharp partisan divide is making the fight a showdown over who voters will reward for heaping more federal spending to combat the coronavirus and revive the economy atop the $4 trillion approved last year.

The battle is also emerging as an early test of Biden's ability to hold together his party's fragile congressional majorities  just 10 votes in the House and an evenly divided 50-50 Senate.

At the same time, Democrats were trying to figure out how to assuage progressives who lost their top priority in a jarring Senate setback Thursday.

That chamber's nonpartisan parliamentarian, Elizabeth MacDonough, said Senate rules require that a federal minimum wage increase would have to be dropped from the COVID-19 bill, leaving the proposal on life support. The measure would gradually lift that minimum to $15 hourly by 2025, doubling the current $7.25 floor in effect since 2009.

Hoping to revive the effort in some form, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is considering adding a provision to the Senate version of the COVID-19 relief bill that would penalize large companies that don't pay workers at least $15 an hour, said a senior Democratic aide who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal conversations.

That was in line with ideas floated Thursday night by Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., a chief sponsor of the $15 plan, and Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., to boost taxes on corporations that don't hit certain minimum wage targets.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., offered encouragement, too, calling a minimum wage increase a financial necessity for our families, a great stimulus for our economy and a moral imperative for our country. She said the House would absolutely" approve a final version of the relief bill because of its widespread benefits, even if it lacked progressives treasured goal.

While Democratic leaders were eager to signal to rank-and-file progressives and liberal voters that they would not yield on the minimum wage fight, their pathway was unclear because of GOP opposition and questions over whether they had enough Democratic support.

House Ways and Means Committee Chair Richard Neal, D-Mass., sidestepped a question on taxing companies that don't boost pay, saying of Senate Democrats, I hesitate to say anything until they decide on a strategy."

Progressives were demanding that the Senate press ahead anyway on the minimum wage increase, even if it meant changing that chamber's rules and eliminating the filibuster, a tactic that requires 60 votes for a bill to move forward.

Were going to have to reform the filibuster because we have to be able to deliver, said Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., a progressive leader.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., another high-profile progressive, also said Senate rules must be changed, telling reporters that when Democrats meet with their constituents, "We cant tell them that this didnt get done because of an unelected parliamentarian.

Traditionalists of both parties  including Biden, who served as a senator for 36 years  have opposed eliminating filibusters because they protect parties' interests when they are in the Senate minority. Biden said weeks ago that he didn't expect the minimum wage increase to survive the Senate's rules.

Pelosi, too, seemed to shy away from dismantling Senate procedures, saying, We will seek a solution consistent with Senate rules, and we will do so soon.

The House COVID-19 bill includes the minimum wage increase, so the real battle over its fate will occur when the Senate debates its version over the next two weeks.

The overall relief bill would provide $1,400 payments to individuals, extend emergency unemployment benefits through August and increase tax credits for children and federal subsidies for health insurance.

It also provides billions for schools and colleges, state and local governments, COVID-19 vaccines and testing, renters, food producers and struggling industries like airlines, restaurants, bars and concert venues.

Democrats are pushing the relief measure through Congress under special rules that will let them avoid a Senate GOP filibuster, meaning that if they are united they won't need any Republican votes.

It also lets the bill move faster, a top priority for Democrats who want the bill on Biden's desk before the most recent emergency jobless benefits end on March 14.

But those same Senate rules prohibit provisions with only an incidental impact on the federal budget because they are chiefly driven by other policy purposes. MacDonough decided that the minimum wage provision failed that test.

Republicans oppose the $15 minimum wage target as an expense that would hurt businesses and cost jobs.

___

Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick and Kevin Freking in Washington contributed to this report.
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.
Jackson Mahomes, the social media influencer and brother of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, allegedly grabbed a woman by the throat and forcibly kissed her three times, as well as pushed a restaurant employee, according to court records released Monday in Kansas.

Johnson County District Judge Thomas Sunderland ordered the release of a redacted copy of the affidavit stemming from charges placed against Mahomes, according to the Kansas City Star. The influencer was arrested earlier this month and charged with battery and three counts of aggravated sexual battery. Police confirmed in March that the 22-year-old Mahomes was the subject of incidents that occurred in February at Aspens Restaurant and Lounge in Overland Park, a suburb of Kansas City.

Jackson Mahomes, center, exits the Johnson County jail after being arraigned on three charges of sexual battery on May 3 in Olathe, Kansas.

Jackson Mahomes 'pushed' restaurant employee: affidavit

Police in Overland Park were dispatched to Aspens Restaurant and Lounge on Feb. 25 for a reported battery, according to the affidavit. The victim, whose name was not released, told police he needed to get his water bottle from the restaurant's office, and found the door locked. After entering the door code, the victim attempted to enter the room but Mahomes allegedly pushed the victim and told him he could not come in.

"(The employee) told Jackson that he worked there and needed his water bottle. The defendant pushed (the employee) again and told him to get out," the affidavit reads.

Police spoke with someone that was in the room and allegedly told officers Mahomes extended his arm toward the employee, but couldn't tell if physical contact was made. Other people interviewed offered different accounts if Mahomes made contact with the employee. Mahomes allegedly later apologized, but "also told him that he shouldn't have to tell (the victim) twice to leave a room and that if he is in a room in the restaurant, it is off limits."

Mahomes 'forced' woman's head back, kissed her without consent: affidavit

When investigating the battery report, the owner of Aspens Restaurant and Lounge, who was not named, told police they've had problems with Mahomes before and had to previously kick him out, according to the affidavit.

The woman told police Mahomes had previously told her he needed to speak with her in the office, where they went and he closed the door, the affidavit reads.

"He then grabbed her throat, forcing her head back and kissed her and put his tongue in her mouth," according to the affidavit.

The woman told authorities she didn't consent to the actions and pushed Mahomes away, but 30 seconds later, he allegedly did the same thing. The woman said she struggled with Mahomes and pulled his hands off her waist and pushed him away. Seconds later, Mahomes allegedly committed the same act for a third time, telling her not to tell anyone.

According to the affidavit, the woman tried calling for employees but they didn't hear her.

"After the defendant left the office, she told them both what had happened and showed them her neck which had visible sign of injury that was fresh," the affidavit reads. "Both servers confirmed this account to police."

Mahomes allegedly told woman 'what he could do for her business'

After the incident, the woman called her boyfriend while Mahomes re-entered the office and told the woman "what he could do for her business," the affidavit reads.

The woman's boyfriend arrived at the restaurant and saw Mahomes in the office with her. Mahomes allegedly refused to leave the office until the woman gave him a hug, "which she reluctantly did," according to the affidavit. After the woman told her boyfriend what happened, he went up to Mahomes and told him and his friends to leave. He was reportedly angry being told to leave, but eventually left.

A 19-year-old male waiter and the 40-year-old female owner of the restaurant previously told the Kansas City Star of the alleged incidents.

Mahomes, who was arrested and later released on a $100,000 bond on May 3, according to jail records, is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday for a bond hearing, the Kansas City Star reported. The court will decide if he can have contact with several witnesses on the condition he doesn't discuss the case with them.

Brandon Davies, an attorney for Mahomes, previously said the court has prohibited Mahomes and his lawyers from commenting on the charges.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jackson Mahomes forcibly kissed woman without consent: affidavit
DOVER, Del. (AP)  A Delaware judge has ruled in favor of Oracle founder Larry Ellison in a shareholder lawsuit alleging that he coerced the technology companys board into paying a grossly inflated price to acquire software company NetSuite Corp. in 2016.

Vice Chancellor Samuel Glasscock III on Friday rejected the plaintiffs allegation that Oracles acquisition was not entitled to the deference traditionally shown corporate decision-makers under Delawares business judgment rule.

The shareholders argued that the $9.3 billion deal should be subjected to a more rigorous entire fairness review because Ellison was both a controlling shareholder of Oracle at the time and owned almost 40% of shares in NetSuite, which he cofounded in 1998. The lawsuit alleges that Oracle overpaid for NetSuite by $3 billion.

While noting that Ellison was a force at Oracle and a face of the company, Glasscock said Ellison was not a controlling shareholder and did not try to influence the boards decision to acquire NetSuite. Ellison withdrew from Oracles consideration of the NetSuite acquisition just before the initial presentation to the Oracle board, and the remaining directors set up a special committee to conduct negotiations, the judge noted.

This is adequate to cleanse Ellisons conflict as a director and officer standing on both sides of the transaction, Glasscock wrote.

Glasscock also acknowledged that, while its possible for minority stockholders to exercise control of the corporate machinery for their own benefit, such a scenario did not apply to Ellison, who is not a majority shareholder of Oracle.

The evidence demonstrates that he did not control Oracle, and that he absented himself from the acquisition of NetSuite, the judge wrote. Moreover, the directors appointed a special committee, and I find that body well-functioning and independent of Ellison.

Glasscock also rejected the shareholders allegations that Ellison and Oracle CEO Safra Catz breached duties of loyalty by misinforming the special committee and concealing material facts regarding the acquisition.

Ellison co-founded NetSuite with Evan Goldberg, a former Oracle employee, in 1998. Both Oracle and NetSuite sell software that allows businesses to automate and manage business processes such as accounting, risk management and supply chain operations.
President Yoon Suk Yeol walks into a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office in Seoul, May 16. Yonhap



The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) on Tuesday criticized President Yoon Suk Yeol's veto of the controversial nursing act, labeling it as an act of "arrogance" that disregards the legislative right of the National Assembly.



Yoon exercised his veto power for the second time since taking office to reject the act, which is aimed at defining nurses' roles and improving their working conditions. The act was unilaterally passed by the DPK last month amid strong protests from doctors and nursing assistants.



"President Yoon's veto of the nursing act is 'hypocrisy' that only cares for the medical system on the outside, 'incompetence' that does not carry out a presidential election pledge, and 'arrogance' that disregards the National Assembly's legislative right," DPK spokesman Rep. Kim Han-kyu said in a release.



The DPK, supported by nurses, has argued the bill is essential in redefining roles of nurses as more independent and professional services amid growing medical needs. The party has also argued that the act was one of Yoon's campaign promises ahead of last year's presidential election.






PHOENIX (AP)  A judge has rejected a bid by election officials to throw out the last remaining election misconduct claim by Kari Lake, the 2022 Republican candidate for Arizona governor, setting up a three-day trial over the former TV anchor's challenge of her defeat to Democrat Katie Hobbs.

In a ruling issued Monday night, Superior Court Judge Peter A. Thompson refused to throw out Lakes claim that centered on signature-verification efforts of early ballots in Maricopa County.

Thompson said Lake should have the chance to present testimony about whether Arizona's most populous county properly verified signatures on ballot affidavit envelopes.

The trial is scheduled to begin Wednesday.

Lake was among the most vocal of last years Republican candidates promoting former President Donald Trumps election lies, which she made the centerpiece of her campaign. While most other election deniers around the country conceded after losing their races in November, Lake did not.

Courts have dismissed most of her lawsuit. Late last week, Thompson heard arguments on whether or not the final claim should move ahead to a trial.

Attorneys representing Arizona election officials and Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs say Lakes allegation that the election was rigged is based on unsubstantiated speculation.

Lakes lawyers say there was a flood of mail-in ballots in Maricopa County, home to more than 60% of the states voters, at a time when there were too few workers to verify ballot signatures. Her attorneys say the county ultimately accepted thousands of ballots that had been rejected earlier by workers for having mismatched signatures.

The Arizona Supreme Court revived her claim challenging the application of signature-verification procedures, reversing a lower court decision that found she waited too long to raise it.

The state Supreme Court sent the claim back to the lower court to decide if there is another reason to dismiss it, or if Lake can show that enough votes were affected to change the outcome of the election, which she lost by more than 17,000 votes.

Lake alleged at least 164,000 illegal votes were counted, according to filings by her attorneys. Three signature verification workers have said they experienced rejection rates due to mismatched signatures on 15% to 40% of the ballots they encountered.

Opposing attorneys said the workers speculation does not amount to a violation of the law or misconduct by election workers, and raised questions about whether the three workers truly knew the ultimate outcome of the ballots they had flagged.

Earlier in her lawsuit, Lake had focused on problems with ballot printers at some polling places in Maricopa County. The defective printers produced ballots that were too light to be read by the on-site tabulators at polling places. Lines backed up in some areas amid the confusion. Lake alleged ballot printer problems were the result of intentional misconduct.

County officials say everyone had a chance to vote and all ballots were counted because those affected by the printers were taken to more sophisticated counters at election headquarters.

In mid-February, the Arizona Court of Appeals rejected Lakes assertions, concluding she presented no evidence that voters whose ballots were unreadable by tabulators at polling places were not able to vote.

The state Supreme Court declined March 22 to hear nearly all of Lakes appeal, saying there was no evidence to support her claim that more than 35,000 ballots were added to vote totals. Earlier this month, the court sanctioned Lakes lawyers $2,000 for making false statements when saying more than 35,000 ballots had been improperly added to the total count.
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.

He pleaded not guilty to all charges during the arraignment, according to WJW.

Severed hand found on sidewalk, California police say. Then man reports sword attack

Umpire tackles deputy at youth game, then fans rush to help, Missouri sheriff says

Suspected drunk driver tries to frame his dog during traffic stop, Colorado cops say
Four people, including a teenage suspect, were killed and two police officers were wounded Monday in a chaotic shooting in the Four Corners region of New Mexico, authorities said.

Three "civilian victims" were killed, Farmington police said, in addition to a suspect who was "confronted and killed on scene." Police said that the suspect was 18 years old and that he had multiple weapons, Deputy Police Chief Baric Crum said.

Its just a devastating day, Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe said in a video Monday night.

The 18-year-old shooter, who was shot at least once by police and died, appeared to fire at victims at random, Hebbe said.

At least six houses and three cars were shot, Hebbe said. The gunman used at least three weapons, including what Hebbe called an AR-style rifle.

Officers who responded to 911 calls about shots fired at 10:57 a.m. Monday came upon a "chaotic scene" as the shooter was still firing at people.

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. (Susan Montoya Bryan / AP)

"We have four officers from the Farmington Police Department that confronted the subject," Crum said. "They were able to stop his actions at that time."

Six people were injured, including two police officers  one was a Farmington officer and the other was a member of the state police, according to police. The state police officer was still hospitalized, and the Farmington officer was treated and released.

A motive was under investigation. Hebbe said that investigators will be talking to family members and analyzing evidence.

"It appears to be completely random. There was no targeting of specific victims that we can identify at this stage," Hebbe said. But he cautioned it was very early.

The suspect is believed to have traveled in the neighborhood up to approximately 1/4 of a mile and to have fired three weapons, the police chief said.

Initially, police were concerned there was another shooter and schools were placed in lockdown  but Hebbe said Monday night that police believe there was never a second shooter.

Authorities urged anyone with information about the shooting to contact police.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham thanked police for a quick response.

I am deeply upset by the tragic violence that unfolded today in Farmington. I am praying for the families of the victims, the wounded and the entire community of Farmington following this horrific tragedy," she said in a statement. "Im also grateful for the quick response by law enforcement. My administration will not stop fighting the epidemic of gun violence from every angle possible."

Police had Farmington Municipal Schools lock down at 11:15 a.m., officials said. The order was lifted by 1:05 p.m.

Agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and San Juan County sheriffs deputies also responded.

Judith McIntosh, 77, said Monday afternoon she was driving home from the grocery store with a friend when she saw a woman lying on the street. She thought it was odd but continued driving. Moments later, as she was by a church near her home, three to five gunshots rang out.

McIntosh said she then saw at least one person lying on the grass on the church's property.

"We saw the first older lady in the street and thought she had been hit by a car," McIntosh said. "And then we went a little bit further, by the church, and heard the gunshots. ... And then we saw other people that were on the ground and thought: 'Oh, my God. What's going on? What's happening?' People are getting killed."

She added, "I'm still very upset."

McIntosh said that there was then a flurry of police activity in the area and that she was not able to get into her home for hours. When she did, she discovered that a gunshot had pierced her bedroom window.

"There was a bullet hole in my bedroom window, through the curtains, through the living room and over the top of my recliner."

McIntosh said the bullet struck her living room wall.

"If I happened to be home, I could have been shot," she said.

Investigators were concentrating 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 state capital.

The community  near the famed Four Corners, where the borders of New Mexico, Utah, Colorado and Arizona meet  is also close to three major Native American reservations: those of the Navajo, the Ute Mountain Indians and the Southern Utes.

New Mexico's five members of Congress  Sens. Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan and Reps. Teresa Leger Fernandez, Melanie Stansbury and Gabe Vasquez  thanked first responders in a joint statement and vowed to fight gun violence via federal legislation.

"We are devastated by todays mass shooting in Farmington, New Mexico," they said. "As we await further updates, we are grateful to our state and local law enforcement officers who responded to the scene, and to our health care providers who are caring for those injured. Our hearts are with the families of the deceased and those injured."

Farmington Mayor Nate Duckett called the violence a horrific tragedy, and said the two wounded officers suffered injuries that were not life-threatening. He said the response by police saved lives.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families during this incomprehensible time of pain and loss," Duckett said.

Monday's 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 them, 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 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.
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.

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
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  A man convicted of killing four passengers in his Mercedes Benz SUV in Minnesota and dumping the bodies in a Wisconsin cornfield has been sentenced to 103 years in prison.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press reported that Judge JaPaul Harris on Monday sentenced 39-year-old Antoine Suggs of Scottsdale, Arizona, to consecutive sentences for the killings of Jasmine Sturm, 30; her brother, Matthew Pettus, 26; her boyfriend, Loyace Foreman III, 35; and her friend, Nitosha Flug-Presley, 30. Sturm, Pettus and Foreman were from St. Paul, Minnesota. Flug-Presley was from Stillwater, Minnesota.

Suggs was convicted in April of four counts of second-degree murder in the September 2021 deaths. He testified that he shot the four in self-defense because he thought they were going to rob him.

Prosecutors said his motive was unclear but that Suggs meant to kill the victims after a night of drinking in St. Paul.

Suggs father, Darren McWright, who also goes by the last name Osborne, was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to helping his son hide the victims bodies at a Wisconsin cornfield about 65 miles (105 kilometers) east of St. Paul.

Suggs told the judge on Monday that he was wrongfully convicted. Harris responded that Suggs showed no remose or sympathy and cast blame on others.
GHENT, Ky. (AP) -- Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin "had a good four years," but he says a review of Bevin's narrow reelection defeat is unlikely to change the outcome.

Bevin trailed Democrat Andy Beshear by about 5,000 votes in the Nov. 5 election. A re-canvass of votes is scheduled Thursday.

McConnell was in Carroll County on Monday to tout a US-Spain treaty he helped pass that cut the taxes for the North American Stainless plant there. McConnell said the treaty helped the company avoid a $35 million tax payment.

While there, McConnell said he's "sorry Matt came up short." He said the re-canvass is unlikely to change the election results, and that "barring some dramatic reversal on the re-canvass, we'll have a different governor in three weeks."

Bevin has refused to concede and cited voting irregularities in the governor's race but has not provided evidence. Some Republican leaders have said Bevin should accept the results of the re-canvass if Beshear's lead holds.

"My first election was almost the same number of votes that Beshear won by. We had a re-canvass, added them up, it didn't change and we all moved on," McConnell said.

McConnell was asked whether he was concerned about the results of the governor's race ahead of his own reelection effort next year. Republicans won all the down-ticket races in Kentucky, despite Bevin's apparent defeat.

"Well, we'll find out, because the 2020 election is underway already," McConnell said. He mentioned an ad aired by Democrat Amy McGrath, who has announced she will run in next year's U.S. Senate race.

McConnell was also asked about a second potential Democrat challenger, broadcaster Matt Jones, who was pulled off his radio show last week after the state Republican party filed a complaint alleging Jones was using his show to promote himself. McConnell said his campaign had nothing to do with the Federal Election Commission complaint.

"I'm not going to get into (talking about) the Democratic primary, I'll be happy to run against whoever wins the nomination," he said.

___

This story has been corrected to give the exact wording of a McConnell quote about election results.
FARMINGTON, N.M. (AP)  The gunman who killed three people and wounded six others as he fired randomly while roaming his northwestern New Mexico neighborhood was a local high school student and his victims include a 97-year-old woman and her daughter, police said Tuesday.

Investigators were still trying to determine a motive for the attack by Beau Wilson, 18, in the Farmington neighborhood where he lived. They say he opened fire Monday, killing Gwendolyn Schofield, her 73-year-old daughter, Melody Ivie, and 79-year-old Shirley Voita.

Witnesses and police say Wilson walked through the neighborhood a short drive from downtown Farmington spraying bullets until police arrived within minutes and fatally shot him. Two police officers were among the wounded.

The amount of violence and brutality that these people faced is unconscionable to me, Deputy Police Chief Kyle Dowdy said. I dont care what age you are, I dont care what else is going on in your life, to kill three innocent elderly women that were just absolutely in no position to defend themselves is always going to be a tragedy.

Deputy Police Chief Baric Crum said Wilson was indiscriminately shooting at vehicles, but that some rounds also hit homes.

Dowdy said investigators do not believe Wilson knew anyone he shot.

Weve discovered nothing that leads us to believe that the suspect knew" the victims, he said. Were pretty confident in that this was completely random.

In November, after he turned 18, Wilson legally purchased at least one gun used Monday, police said. He carried three firearms in the attack, including an assault-style weapon.

Four officers fired a total of 16 rounds at Wilson, including one of the wounded officers, said San Juan County Sheriff Shane Ferrari.

Mayor Nate Duckett said Tuesday that the Farmington officer and state police officer were treated for their wounds and released from a hospital.

Authorities began receiving reports of gunshots at 10:57 a.m. and the first officer arrived at 11:02 a.m., police Chief Steve Hebbe said Monday in a video statement. Three minutes later, the gunman had been killed.

Joseph Robledo, a 32-year-old tree trimmer, said he rushed home after learning that his wife, Jolene, and their year-old daughter had sought shelter in the laundry room when gunshots rang out. A bullet went through his daughters window, without hitting anyone.

Jolene Robledo said they had just finished breakfast when she heard pop, pop, pop, pop," which she first thought was a car backfiring. She said they were going to run out the back door until she heard a man curse right outside, so she quietly shut the door and hid with her daughter between the washing machine and dryer.

I mean it was crazy. I called my husband and he could hear the gunshots over the phone, she said. He was freaking out and I was like, dont hang up, dont hang up!

Joseph Robledo said he 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 a 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,

Downtown Farmington, a short drive from the neighborhood, has undergone a transformation of sorts in recent years, with cafes and breweries cropping up alongside decades-old businesses that trade in Native American crafts from silver jewelry to wool weavings.

Nick Akins, a middle school teacher and resident, said it's a great place to live, with a mix of homes, short-term rental apartments and churches.

You never think its going to happen here, and all of a sudden, in a tiny little town, it comes here, Akins said.

On Tuesday, orange circles of spray paint still marked the ground where police had collected evidence. Authorities were using metal detectors to search the grass in front of one of the churches along the street where gunfire erupted.

As night approached Monday, dozens of people gathered at Hills Church, a few miles (kilometers) from the attack scene, to pray at the base of a tall metal cross. Lead pastor Matt Mizell talked about living in a dark and broken world but told the crowd there was still hope and asked God to provide them strength.

Politicians also weighed in about the attack.

Duckett said in a statement that the shooting has left us reeling in anguish and disbelief.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said in a statement that she was praying for the families of those killed and that it serves at yet another reminder of how gun violence destroys lives in our state and our country every single day.

New Mexico enacted a red-flag law in 2020 that can be used to seize guns from people who pose a danger to others or themselves. Dowdy said relatives expressed concern about Wilsons mental health when interviewed by police but that he didnt have enough information at this time to further elaborate.

Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, a Democrat who represents the area in Congress, said in a Facebook post that our beautiful Nuevo Mexico is not immune to the mass shootings that occur across the country  Every. Single. Day.

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, she said.

___

Lee reported from Santa Fe and Yamat reported from Las Vegas. Associated Press writer Terry Tang in Phoenix contributed.
South Carolina Republicans control both State House chambers, the governors and statewide offices.

In 2020, Republicans flipped back a Democrat-held seat, made more red in the last redistricting cycle, and secured their hold over U.S. Sen. Lindsey Grahams Senate seat, defeating Democrat Jaime Harrison, who now chairs the Democratic National Committee.

Still, two Republicans vying to replace Drew McKissick say the state Republican Party chairman has not done enough to push conservative values  a race symbolic of the national and statewide intraparty squabbles in the Trump era over the past several years.

This Saturday, a simple majority of the expected 943 state GOP delegates wholl descend on Lexingtons River Bluff High School will decide their next chairman and the face of the party before the 2024 presidential election.

McKissick is running for his fourth two-year term against Greenville Countys Jeff Davis, who was once thrown out of a state executive meeting, and Zoe Warren, who unsuccessfully ran for lieutenant governor in 2022 on a joint ticket with Harrison Musselwhite, also known as Trucker Bob.

McMaster, a Richland County delegate, told reporters earlier this month that hes backing McKissick, first elected chair in 2017.

Hes done I think a fine job over the years, said McMaster, who served as S.C. GOP chairman from 1993-2002. I can see that the party is moving well. Were winning elections and we have a good chairman. When your team is winning you dont change the coach.

Davis and Warren say its not the winning thats the problem with McKissick, but its whether the party has done enough to elect Republicans who will pass conservative legislation in the State House.

Both cite a ranking by The Center for Legislative Accountability, an initiative of the Conservative Political Action Coalition, that rates South Carolinas General Assembly as the 27th most conservative state legislature in the country in 2021. The organization bases its ratings on a review of more than 105,000 bills and whether lawmakers made a vote that follows conservative principles.

The mission of the South Carolina Republican Party is to promote the platform and elect candidates who will support that platform, Warren said. I want to support anybody who is going to support our platform and help people in precincts that will have support of candidates who support our platform, Warren said.

Both Davis and Warren believed in unfounded allegations that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. Musselwhite, who ran on a ticket with Warren, also challenged the results of the 2022 governors race, despite that McMaster won with 83% of the vote.

The S.C. GOPs executive committee rejected the challenge.

Zoe Warren of Lexington County is running for the S.C. Republican Party chairmanship at the Saturday, May 20, 2023 state party convention.

Davis, meanwhile, also has run on a school choice platform, calling the states program the worst in the nation. A nonprofit private school scholarship program he and his wife, Olga Lisinska, ran has been unable to raise money and provide scholarships.

I dont necessarily want the (chairs) job. I want the people that are in the position to do the job, and Drew McKissick is not doing the job, Davis said.

A common theme over the year from the conservative faction of Republicans is that GOP leaders are not doing enough to push conservative legislation when the party controls the General Assembly.

Warren, for instance, wants Republicans to close primaries and criticized House GOP Caucus rules that, in part, prohibit members from campaigning against their caucus colleagues, coined as a loyalty oath by the now-18 member House Freedom Caucus. The 18-member freedom caucus, part of the national State Freedom Caucus Network, has pushed the lower chamber to pass what it deems more conservative bills. The caucus recently sued the House Ethic Committee to be able to raise money and campaign for candidates.

McKissick has disputed Davis and Warrens allegations that hes somehow not conservative enough.

For example, he says, hes endorsed and pushed state lawmakers to pass a six-week abortion ban previously thrown out by the state Supreme Court, advocated for lawmakers to loosen gun regulations, urged lawmakers to eliminate hospital build rules and used the bully pulpit to call on the Legislature to expand school choice options for parents.

This is not an issue of a lack of progress on any conservative policies. The bottom line is what is the organization about? We are a campaign committee, and thats what some people dont want to recognize. Our job is to win campaigns, McKissick said, pointing to other policy-oriented organizations that exist to to push legislation.

South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Drew McKissick speaks at the Lindsey Graham watch party on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020 at the University of South Carolina Alumni Center.

Davis run follows contentious relationship with GOP

Davis candidacy for state GOP chair in particular follows what has been a yearslong tumultuous relationship between him and many South Carolina Republicans.

In 2021, Davis asked Lin Wood, a Trump attorney who pushed conspiracy theories about the 2020 election, to challenge McKissick for chair. McKissick won with 68% of the vote.

Davis also has been at odds with Republicans over the states private school scholarship program for children with special needs.

The S.C. Department of Revenue investigated Palmetto Kids First, the nonprofit ran by Davis and his wife, Lisinska, after the agency received complaints that the nonprofit pressured parents into donating in exchange for scholarship and tax credits.

Lawmakers later made changes that kept the couple from running their nonprofit school choice scholarship program.

Since, Davis has filed several lawsuits against the Exceptional Ed scholarship program and its leaders, including Chad Connelly, a former S.C. GOP chair.

I would like to have someone in that (chair) position who can bring us all together, is not going to fall toward the establishment once we get elected, and I think thats why a lot of people have confidence in me that Im not going to capitulate to the establishment if I get elected, Davis said.

The same year that Davis urged Wood to challenge McKissick, Davis was elected chair of the Greenville County Republican Party. Davis is a leader of the My SCGOP movement, which advocated against COVID-19 precautions, such as wearing masks or vaccine requirements. In response, local GOP members launched the Fourth District Republican Club for mainstream Republicans in Greenville and Spartanburg counties.

Davis was later censured and barred in 2021 from future state GOP meetings, and he was kicked out of a state executive committee meeting after clashing with party members, the Greenville News reported.

Drew has been arrogant, hes been vindictive, used a heavy hand to quash down any kind of debate, said Davis, who was elected Greenville Countys GOP state committeeman earlier this year.

Jeff Davis

McKissick declined to discuss the partys specific issues with Davis.

Im not going to focus on rehashing any of his individual problems, making him the focus of anything and letting him be a martyr, McKissick said.

Instead, McKissick said he will continue to focus on campaign fundamentals.

You have to have a message that resonates with people. You have to have the organization and the manpower to get your vote out, and then you have to raise the money to make those two things possible, McKissick said. Everything revolves around that. If you dont have those three things, well, youre going to have problems.
The North Carolina Senate budget proposal would give single-digit raises to state employees and teachers, but a substantial hike to the governor and other top elected officials.

The Republican-controlled Senates spending plan would give the governor a raise of nearly $40,000, or 22.5%, over the next two years. Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, currently earns $165,750. Thats $7,138 more than the previous year. If the Senates proposal becomes law, Cooper would get a raise to $198,120 as of July 1. That is a $32,370 raise.

The following fiscal year, the governor would make $203,073, according to the budget. Coopers term is up at the end of 2024, and he cannot run for a third consecutive term.

The minimum salary for a state employee is $15 per hour, which is $31,200 a year.

The Senate wants to give 5% raises over the next two years to state employees, and an average of 4.5% to teachers.

The major parties frontrunners for the 2024 governors race are Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein and Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson. Stein and Robinson, like Cooper, serve on the Council of State, which is the group of 10 statewide elected officials.

Council of State members would also get hefty raises. All Council of State members, aside from the governor, currently make $146,421, which was a raise of $6,305 over the previous year.

Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger, center, outlines the Senate Republicans budget proposal during a press conference on Monday, May 15, 2023 at the Legislative Building in Raleigh. Travis Long/tlong@newsobserver.com

In the Senates proposal, those Council of State members  lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer, labor commissioner, insurance commissioner, agriculture commissioner, superintendent of public instruction and auditor  would see their salaries rise to $168,384 over two years. They would see an increase to $157,403 starting July 1, before the rest of the raise in the 2024-25 fiscal year.

The median household income in Raleigh for 2021, the latest numbers from the U.S. Census, is about $73,000.

Compared to other states, North Carolinas governor would join some of the highest-paid governors with salaries topping $200,000 a year. Other states have given significant raises to top elected officials. In South Carolina, some state officials who had been making less than $100,000 a year had their pay hiked. News 19 in Columbia, S.C., reported in 2022 that the attorney generals pay more than doubled, to $208,000.
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.
Members of the Korean Nurses Association cries after a press conference in front of the presidential office, Tuesday, following President Yoon Suk Yeol's announcement of his decision to veto the Nursing Act. Yonhap



By Jun Ji-hye



President Yoon Suk Yeol exercised his veto power against the opposition-led Nursing Act, Tuesday, despite continued calls from nurses to sign it into law.



The president made the decision during a Cabinet meeting, siding with doctors, nursing assistants and other medical workers, who claim the act will only divide the medical profession and cause conflict and confusion.



In protest against the president's decision that could eventually lead to the scrapping of the bill, the nurses' association threatened to begin collective action.



Independent from the Medical Services Act, the Nursing Act is aimed at clarifying the scope of nurses' duties and improving their working conditions. Nurses claim the Medical Services Act views them as being subordinate to physicians. Also, due to ambiguities in the current law, nurses say they are often forced to perform duties outside of their job descriptions, leading to overwork and difficulty in providing quality care for patients. But doctors call the Nursing Act "an evil law," claiming that its enactment may allow nurses to intervene in the duties of physicians, causing confusion in hospitals, which may threaten patients' safety.



A veto override requires a two-thirds vote in the National Assembly. Falling short of that majority leads to the scrapping of the bill.



The presidential veto came 20 days after the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), which controls more than half of the 300-seat National Assembly, railroaded the law at the Assembly's plenary session, despite a boycott by the ruling People Power Party and fierce opposition from medical workers except nurses.



"The Nursing Act has caused excessive conflict between medical professionals," Yoon said during the Cabinet meeting. "The move to separate nursing from medical institutions has also caused people to feel anxious about their health. It was regrettable that the Assembly failed to resolve such conflict and anxiety during its deliberation."





President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office, Tuesday. Yonhap
Dallas activist groups demanded at a press conference Monday that authorities thoroughly investigate the possibility that the May 6 mass shooting in Allen was a racially motivated hate crime.

Despite killers racist content targeting Indian women among other groups, local law enforcement downplays role of targeted racism and hate in the devastating mass shooting, a press release signed by multiple advocacy groups said.

Authorities have not officially determined the gunmans motive for the May 6 shooting that killed eight people and injured seven at the Allen Premium Outlets mall. On May 9, Texas Department of Public Safety North Texas Regional Director Hank Sibley said at a news conference the agency cant yet confirm whether the attack was an act of domestic terrorism motivated by racist or Nazi obsession. DPS did confirm 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia had neo-Nazi ideation and acknowledged that a Russian social media profile with white supremacist, misogynistic, anti-LGBTQ and antisemitic posts is believed to be the shooters, but said his motive remains under investigation.

Out of the eight people who Garcia killed, four were of Asian descent. Among the seven people injured in the shooting are a 6-year-old Korean-American boy whose parents and brother were killed, and a man from India whose friend was killed. At least one injured victim is Black. At least four victims were Hispanic, as was the shooter.

At Mondays press conference, Lily Trieu, interim executive director of Asian Texans for Justice, said the statements Sibley made about the shooting were outrageous because it seemed the agency dismissed the shooting as a possible hate crime before a thorough investigation has been completed.

Our community is scared to be together amongst one another, she said. So designating it a hate crime, doing a thorough investigation, is the lowest bar of what can be done.

The press conference was held at the Dallas Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation building and included the Dallas Asian American Historical Society, SAAVETX Education Fund, Asian Texans for Justice and Somos Tejas.

Calls to label shooting as hate crime

Allen is a destination for many Asian families, Chandra Parbhoo with SAAVETX Education Fund said at the press briefing, and the outlet mall is frequented by people of diverse backgrounds and ethnicity. The shooting was an intentional attack that intensified our sense of vulnerability and a lack of safety, she said, and left the community frightened knowing that someone with so much hate had targeted us.

Parbhoo urged elected officials to acknowledge that most of the victims were immigrants or people of color and classify the mass shooting as a hate crime.

Weapons of mass destruction and hate groups are a dangerous mix for Texas, she said. We must support a full and thorough investigation by authorities.

A woman signs a cross as a child looks on at a makeshift memorial by the mall where several people were killed in the May 6 mass shooting, on Monday, May 8, 2023, in Allen, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Trieu, and several other speakers, drew connections between how the Allen shooting has been handled to authorities initial response to the Dallas Koreatown shooting last year. In May 2022, a gunman shot three women inside a Koreatown salon. Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia initially said he could confidently say there was no indication the shooting was motivated by hate. A day later, the gunman was linked to two other shootings targeting Asian-American businesses, and Garcia reversed his statement to say the authorities did see the shooting as a hate crime. Trieu noted Garcia met with business owners and offered them resources after the shooting.

This is a string of repeated actions  this has now become a pattern of the Department of Public Safety not taking the seriousness of AAPI safety as a real concern, she said.

Hate crimes send a violent message to members of the targeted community, said Stephanie Drenka, co-founder and executive director of the Dallas Asian American Historical Society. The message from the Allen shooting was one of racism and hate, and the response from law enforcement and officials has to be a strong denouncement of that hate, she said. The lack of a strong response from law enforcement and officials makes communities of color feel more vulnerable, she said, and leaves the door open for people who would commit crimes like this to think they have the leeway to do so.

Caroline Kim, an Asian-American resident of Dallas, spoke at the press conference about her personal experience with racism in North Texas. Kim said it is important to quickly label a hate crime as such because doing so mobilizes communities, law enforcement and resources faster; media responds faster and differently.

Jerry Hawkins, executive director with Dallas Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation, called on local municipalities and DPS to detail their plans for combating the domestic threat of white nationalism. Hawkins said he was on a call with the White House just before President Joe Biden gave a speech Saturday in which the president said white supremacy is the single most dangerous terrorist threat in our homeland.

Hawkins said elected officials should be having similar conversations about the threat of white supremacy in Texas, where the FBI and other agencies have identified a potential hotbed of white nationalist extremism.

Several speakers also called on elected officials to pass gun safety legislation to tackle the prevalence of mass shootings. Ramiro Luna, co-founder and executive director of Somos Tejas, listed various other shootings where the shooter used an AR-15, and said Texas leaders should at least do something to limit the use of the gun.
Amid uncertainty about how to address public drug use and controlled substance possession under state law, Pierce County officials say theyre making plans to step in if the state Legislature cant agree on a bipartisan solution by July 1, when a legislative amendment is set to expire.

A special legislative session has been called for May 16 to find a solution for the states drug possession laws after lawmakers failed to find a compromise during the regular session. The session is scheduled for 30 days but can adjourn when the work is completed.

In the 2021 State v. Blake case, Washington Supreme Court justices ruled the states felony drug possession laws unconstitutional and removed any criminal penalties for drug possession. Under that decision, convictions were vacated and dismissed by an order from the court.

Area mayors and Pierce County Council members are trying to get ahead of the decision in the event the Legislature cant come to an agreement by July 1.

In March Lakewood passed an ordinance banning the use and disposal of dangerous drugs in public and commercial spaces. Other cities, including University Place, Bonney Lake, Sumner, Auburn and Fife, have discussed or passed related ordinances.

Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier and Pierce County Council Chair Ryan Mello both said they believe the Legislature will come to an agreement before July 1. If not, rather than having a patchwork of drug possession ordinances passed by different cities within the county, a unified county-wide ordinance is being considered, they said.

On Monday the Pierce County Rules and Operations Committee voted to send a controlled substances ordinance that would make a violation a gross misdemeanor to the Public Safety Committee for further consideration next week.

What was the State vs. Blake decision?

On Feb. 25, 2021, the Washington Supreme Court struck down the states main drug possession law by finding in State v. Blake the crime of possessing a controlled substance unconstitutional because the law didnt require proof the offender knowingly possessed the controlled substance.

In 2016, Shannon Blake was arrested in Spokane and convicted of simple drug possession. Blake argued a small baggie of methamphetamine police found in the pocket of her jeans wasnt hers and that she had borrowed the jeans from a friend who bought them secondhand.

In response to the State v. Blake ruling, the Legislature passed ESB 5476, which added a knowledge requirement to the crime of possessing a controlled substance and reclassified the crime from a class C felony to a misdemeanor.

The legislative amendment prohibits law enforcement from arresting or citing someone for unlawful possession of a controlled substance until the offender has twice been diverted to voluntary social services.

In a letter sent to the Lakewood mayor and city council in March, assistant city attorney Samantha Johnson said practical difficulties of tracking how many times someone has been referred to substance abuse treatment has resulted in people using and possessing illegal drugs openly in public places and exposes the public to the harm associated with the use of illicit drugs.

Pierce County officials discuss action plan

Dammeier said the way the law is written now has resulted in a kind of de facto legalization of hard drugs and has effectively [made] it unworkable for our law enforcement and for our prosecutors.

If [the Legislature doesnt] have a deal, we are going to be faced with, our communities will be faced with, de facto legalization of hard drugs with no ability to hold people accountable, he said.

The number of overdose deaths in Pierce County dwarfs the number of car accident fatalities and firearm fatalities, Dammeier said. Without accountability, its less likely people will seek addiction treatment and public drug use will continue, which puts the rest of the community at risk, he said.

We want the ability to hold them accountable. We want it to be done in a workable fashion  and for it to be treatment-focused, for there to be resources for treatment, Dammeier said. This is not about locking people up. This is about trying to help save their lives, candidly.

Mello said in the past few weeks hes had many conversations about the Blake decision with local officials. In the event the Legislature doesnt act, Pierce County is poised to pass something and sign it into law to become effective July 1, he said.

We do have a public safety problem here. And we do need to highly encourage individuals to get to treatment and that would be, thats the primary objective that the County Council has, Mello said. Folks are not going to get well sitting in a jail. Thats just not how people get well. An addiction like this is a disease and its a public health crisis, and we need to treat it like a public health issue, which means moving people to treatment and having the support they need for drug treatment.

Mello said hes frustrated this issue is falling in the lap of local government when the state should be the authority setting the standard for crimes and punishment.

I think we need to think very seriously. Im not gonna sit here and say willynilly, I know for sure it should be a gross misdemeanor or misdemeanor. This is not a body of law that Ive been needing to really focus on, Mello said. I want to use the time we have over the next three or so weeks  to really hear from treatment providers, others, about what it really takes to encourage people to get into and stay in treatment. Im looking for evidence-based solutions and not just looking like were solving a problem.
Raleigh homeowners could see a 10% increase in their city property tax bill under a proposed budget that begins paying for last falls $275 million parks bond and recommends pay raises for city workers.

City Manager Marchell Adams-David presented her $1.26 billion spending plan to the Raleigh City Council Tuesday afternoon.

The proposed property tax rate is 43.30 cents per $100 valuation, up from 39.3 cents. That would cost the owner of a $350,000 home $140 more in city taxes a year.

Homeowners in the city also pay a county property tax. Wake Countys proposed budget includes an additional 3.25 cent per $100 valuation increase to the county property tax rate.

The intent behind this budget was to ensure that our budget process was not created in a silo, said Sadia Sattar, the citys new director of Budget and Management Service. So we took into account City Council priorities, our citys strategic plan, (and) we took into account departmental needs.

This budget is rooted with community engagement and equity at its core, she said, adding that the city got more than 3,000 responses to its budget survey. And, for the first time, focus groups were held with residents about their budget priorities which included affordable housing, transportation and public safety.

The proposed budget also include a 4% rate increase to the base water charges, 2.5% increase to the stormwater charges and a $2.10 fee increase per month for garbage collection.

That was a lot, but it is very well done, Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin said. I want to say thank you for your efforts. I think this is the 14th city budget I have been involved in, and it is kind of miraculous work that gets done. It is very much appreciated.

Parks bond

Raleigh leaders had already told residents that last falls bond, the citys biggest-ever parks and greenway bond, would raise taxes 3 to 4 cents per $100 of assessed property value and cost the average homeowner about $100 more a year.

The city has more than 10,000 acres of parks and 118 miles of greenway trails. Baldwin pitched a bond as part of her moonshot plan for lifting the citys quality of life in 2019, but COVID delayed it. It won overwhelming approval last November, passing with 73% of the vote.

City workers

The proposed budget includes a 5% pay increase for hourly full-time workers and a 3.5% pay increase for full-time salary employees. Part-time employees would see a 1% pay increase. That totals $9.5 million in merit increases. The city of Raleigh has 3,832 full-time employees.

The budget also includes $500,000 to address leapfrogging in the police, fire and emergency communications.

The city also plans to contribute a flat 3% into employee retirement funds regardless of employee matching.

Other budget highlights:

GoRaleigh buses would remain fare free for the next year.

$80 million for bus rapid transit projects include implementation of the Southern Corridor, an ADA facility construction and bus shelter improvements.

11.8 million in housing assistance programs

$6 million in performing arts complex, convention center and Walnut Creek maintenance

Two new employees in community engagement, six new telecommunicators and expansion of the citys ACORNs unit.





Wifi upgrades for over 50 community centers and wifi installed in the citys fire stations.

$7.8 million for affordable housing

Next steps

The Raleigh City Council will hold a budget work session on June 5 and a public hearing for the budget is scheduled for 7 p.m. June 6.

The city has to approve a budget before the start of the next fiscal year, which begins July 1.

Read the budget

The budget, its supporting documents and presentation can be found online at budget.raleighnc.gov.

This story will be updated with more information as it becomes available.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP)  U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky says Matt Bevin's recent election performance had more to do with voters' displeasure toward Kentucky's GOP governor than their attitudes about Republicans in general.

Paul, a Republican, said Sunday on NBC's "Meet The Press" that there was "sort of a red wave in Kentucky" but teachers were unhappy and their "anger came out" Tuesday in the governor's race. Republicans won the other five statewide races.

Bevin had a running feud with teachers who opposed his efforts to revamp the state's underfunded public pension systems.

Bevin has refused to concede the governor's race to Democrat Andy Beshear after results showed Bevin trailing by more than 5,000 votes out of more than 1.4 million counted. Bevin requested a recanvass, which is set for Nov. 14.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  Abortion access would be almost entirely banned after about six weeks of pregnancy under a bill being debated Tuesday in the South Carolina House after the state Senate recently rejected a proposal to nearly outlaw the procedure that House leaders had long demanded.

The two GOP-dominated chambers disagreement epitomizes the intra-Republican debates over how far to restrict access that have developed nationwide since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade last year and allowed states to set their own policies on abortion.

It became like we were playing with live ammunition, said South Carolina Republican Sen. Tom Davis, who helped block the near-total ban but supports other limits. It was like this is for real now and everything that we debate and pass is going to be law.

The end of federal abortion protections has forced politicians to acknowledge nuances in opinion that public polling has long shown, said Alesha Doan, a University of Kansas professor who studies public policy and gender. The conflict within the Republican Party arises from officials attempts to flesh out their positions on an issue where they are out of step with most Americans, she said.

Once you get what you want, the real work begins," Doan said. "What are the on-the-ground implications for pregnant peoples healthcare? What are the legal implications, the public health implications, the political implications?"

The impasse in South Carolina dates back to a special session last fall when House lawmakers insisting on a near-total ban did not meet to negotiate with their Senate counterparts pushing for a ban around six weeks.

The stalemate persisted even after the state Supreme Court struck down a previous law banning abortions once cardiac activity is detected.

That January decision left abortion legal through 22 weeks of pregnancy, and a sharp increase in abortions since then has rankled Republicans. Provisional state health department data show South Carolina reported nearly 1,000 abortions in each of the first three months this year, after totaling just over 200 in the one full month the previous ban took effect.

The House is now weighing a Senate bill similar to the one they didn't consider, without any real discussion, last year. The measure would ban abortion when an ultrasound detects cardiac activity, around six weeks and before most people know they are pregnant.

Senators believe the new version contains tweaks that will overcome anticipated legal challenges this time around.

Opponents say a ban around six weeks is essentially an outright abortion ban. South Carolinians oppose such restrictions because it pushes health care further out of reach for the vulnerable, and makes pregnancy more dangerous for everyone, Ann Warner, the CEO of Women's Rights and Empowerment Network, said last week in written testimony.

South Carolina Republican Sen. Larry Grooms said the majority partys troubles began last year when some House lawmakers wanted to be more pro-life by insisting on a near-total ban that lacked the necessary support in the Senate.

For those folks, the politics were more important than the policy, said Grooms, whose biography lists awards from anti-abortion and conservative Christian groups.

This session, the House could have passed the Senate bill without amendments and it would have reached the governors desk to become law. But a House committee last week approved changes to mandate child support starting at conception and require a judge sign-off on any minors request for an abortion.

The focus is on which changes make the final House version. Davis said the Senate's ability to end debate and pass the bill would be jeopardized if it contains language that moves toward granting full legal rights to fertilized eggs.

A late night is expected even after Republicans invoked rules to limit debate. House Speaker Murrell Smith has said the chamber will not adjourn until the measure gets approval. Democrats began slowing the process Tuesday by speaking for all three allotted minutes on each of their hundreds of amendments and forcing other procedural votes.

We are going to make it hurt if they're going to force this on us, Democratic Rep. Beth Bernstein said at a Tuesday press conference, flanked by dozens of supporters with signs reading BANS OFF OUR BODIES.

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Pollard 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.
Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert!

CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY CONDEMNS TENNESSEE HOUSE

Emotions got a little heated on the Assembly floor Monday, as lawmakers debated a resolution to condemn the GOP-controlled Tennessee State House of Representatives for expelling two Black members last month.

The resolution itself, AJR 5, itself passed 60-0.

But prior to the vote Assemblyman Mike Gipson, D-Gardena, who authored the resolution, said that the expulsion of Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson for their role in a gun safety protest was a threat to democracy not just in Tennessee but the entire nation. (Both were quickly reinstated by local officials)

On April 6. 2023, democracy was violated, Gipson said, adding that Jones and Pearson were raped by the expulsion.

Assemblyman Corey Jackson, D-Moreno Valley, recounted past offenses committed by Tennessee state lawmakers that did not rise to the level of expulsion, including child molestation, urinating on office chairs and illegally prescribing drugs to family members and mistresses.

Tennessee Rep. Justin Jones speaks during a press conference surrounded by California state legislators at the state Capitol on Monday. Jones was expelled in April along with fellow Democrat Rep. Justin Pearson from the GOP-dominated Tennessee General Assembly after a pro-gun control demonstration on the House floor. Assemblyman Mike A. Gipson, whose resolution condemning the expulsions passed 60-0 in the Assembly on Monday, stands at left.

When Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher, R-Yuba City, rose to speak, he began by denouncing his party members for expelling Jones and Pearson. But then he added that the lecturing he was hearing from other assemblymembers about democracy falls a little flat.

Much as Jones and Pearson are in the minority party in Tennessee, Republicans comprise a super-minority in the California Legislature. Gallagher accused his Democratic colleagues of using their political power to suppress their speech, denying hearings on GOP legislation on subjects ranging from wildfire prevention to bills to fentanyl trafficking.

Dont get up here and preach to me about democracy and talk about other states. The message about Rep. Jones is not just about Tennessee. Its for you! Gallagher said forcefully.

The Assembly Republican leader said that he was about ready to get a megaphone and come onto the floor for his bills, a reference to the actions that led to Pearson and Jones being expelled, but conceded thats not really my style.

The bottom line is, if we want to ensure democracy, we better do it right here at home, Gallagher said. Do a little soul-searching first before you make this into a day of the panderer.

FORMER REP. ROUDA CALLS ON MIN TO DROP OUT OF RACE

One prominent Orange County Democrat has broken the silence around State Sen. Dave Mins DUI arrest a couple weeks back.

No, not Rep. Katie Porter, D-Irvine, whose CA-47 seat Min is running to fill in 2024; Porter has yet to withdraw her endorsement of Min.

It was former Orange County Democratic Congressman Harley Rouda, who on Monday called on Min, D-Irvine, to drop out of the race.

While we thank Dave Min for his service to the party, with his recent DUI he should immediately withdraw from the race. If it was a Republican candidate who got a DUI, Democrats would demand exactly that. Lets not be hypocrites... Rouda said in a statement shared on Twitter.

Rouda himself withdrew from the race for CA-47 this year, citing health issues.

Instead of Min, Rouda is supporting Democratic activist Joanna Weiss, whom Rouda credited with helping break the Republican lock on the regions congressional seats, also called theOrange Curtain.

The stakes are too high to get this choice wrong and I call on Democrats to rally behind Joanna. Rep. Katie Porter barely won this House district despite outspending her Republican opponent by an unprecedented $23 million. ...This time, we cant rely on a war chest that big, Rouda said.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

If San Francisco got click bait royalties from this wave of coverage, the City wouldnt have a budget deficit. San Francisco has real problems  absolutely the case  but this wave of media obsessive negativity is now officially over the top.

- Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, via Twitter.

Best of The Bee:
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  Syria's embattled President Bashar Assad received an invitation to attend the upcoming COP28 climate talks in Dubai later this year, even as the yearslong war in his country over his rule grinds on.

Assad's invite, late Monday, to the climate talks comes as the Syrian president already is scheduled to attend the Arab League summit this Friday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, years after being frozen out of regional politics. A brutal crackdown by Assad's government on demonstrators in a 2011 Arab Spring uprising challenging his rule descended into a civil war and consequently became a regional conflict.

The war has killed half a million people and displaced half of Syria's population.

Assad's invitation came in a letter from Emirati leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Syria's state-run SANA news agency reported. The agency published images of Assad reading the letter alongside an Emirati diplomat in Damascus. The UAE similarly had cut ties with Assad, only to slowly restore them in recent years.

Asked for comment, the Emirati office organizing the upcoming climate conference said in a statement that the event marked a milestone opportunity for the world to come together, course correct, and drive progress towards keeping the goals and ambitions of the Paris Climate Agreement alive.

COP28 is committed to an inclusive COP process that produces transformational solutions," the statement added. This can only happen if we have everyone in the room.

Syria is both a party to the Paris Climate Agreement, as well as the Kyoto Protocol. Scientists have linked a drought in Syria that began in 2007 to climate change, saying that it likely played a part in the conflict.

However, Assad's invitation will probably heighten scrutiny of the Emirates ahead of hosting the talks.

Already, activists have criticized the UAE for nominating the head of its dominant state oil company as the president of the talks. That company has plans to boost its production of both crude oil and natural gas, fossil fuels that produce more of the heat-trapping carbon dioxide that the U.N. negotiations hope to limit. But the oil chief, Sultan al-Jaber, has also helped oversee the Emirates pledging tens of billions of dollars toward renewable energy projects worldwide.

The Conference of the Parties  where COP gets its name  will be held at Dubais Expo City from Nov. 30 through Dec. 12.

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Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Ukrainian air defenses, bolstered by sophisticated Western-supplied systems, thwarted an intense Russian air attack on Kyiv early Tuesday, shooting down all missiles aimed at the capital, officials said.

The bombardment, which targeted locations across Ukraine, included six Russian Kinzhal aero-ballistic hypersonic missiles, the most fired in a single attack in the war so far, according to Ukrainian air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly touted the Kinzhals as providing a key strategic competitive advantage and among the most advanced weapons in his country's arsenal. The missiles are difficult to detect and intercept because of their hypersonic speed and maneuverability.

If Ukraine's claim of having shot down six fired Tuesday is confirmed, it would mark another blow to Putin's war efforts and show the increasing effectiveness of the country's air defenses.

Air force spokesman Ihnat, who said in March that Ukraine lacked the equipment to intercept the Kinzhals, didn't explain Tuesday what systems were used to knock them down. Since March, Western countries have supplied Ukraine with various air defense systems.

Russia fired the Kinzhals from MiG-31K warplanes, along with nine cruise missiles from ships in the Black Sea and three S-400 cruise missiles launched from the ground, Ihnat said. In all, Ukraine's military said later, Russia had targeted Ukraine with 27 missiles in a day and launched 37 airstrikes.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu late Tuesday contested the Ukrainian claims, telling the state-run RIA-Novosti news agency: We have not launched as many Kinzhals as they allegedly shoot down every time with their statements.

Loud explosions boomed over Kyiv in the major nighttime attack apparently aimed at overwhelming Ukraines air defenses. Kyiv's mayor reported three people were wounded.

The barrage came as European leaders sought new ways to punish Russia for the war and a Chinese envoy sought traction for Beijings peace proposal, which appears to have made little impression on the warring sides. It also came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy returned home from a whirlwind European tour to seek more military aid.

The overnight attack on Kyiv was exceptional in its density  the maximum number of attacking missiles in the shortest period of time, said Serhii Popko, the head of the Kyiv military administration.

Kyiv resident Valentyna Myronets, 64, said she felt pain, fear, nervousness, restlessness amid the assaults. God, we are waiting for victory and when all this is over, she said.

U.K. Ambassador Melinda Simmons tweeted that the barrage was pretty intense.

Bangs and shaking walls are not an easy night, she wrote.

It was the eighth time this month that Russian air raids had targeted the capital, a clear escalation after weeks of lull and ahead of a much-anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive using newly supplied advanced Western weapons.

After the first onslaught, Russia also launched Iranian-made Shahed attack drones and conducted aerial reconnaissance, Ihnat said.

Debris fell across several districts in the capital, starting fires, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.

Sophisticated Western air defense systems, including American-made Patriot missiles, have helped spare Kyiv from the kind of destruction witnessed along the main front line in the country's east and south. While most of the ground fighting is stalemated along that front line, both sides are targeting other territory with long-range weapons.

Associated Press reporters saw a metal fragment that landed inside the Kyiv zoo labeled Lockheed Martin and Boeing, two of the companies involved in manufacturing the Patriot missile system.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said a Kinzhal destroyed a Patriot missile battery in Kyiv but he didn't provide evidence, and the statement couldn't be independently verified. Ihnat, the Ukrainian air force spokesman, refused to comment on the claim.

Russia began using the Kinzhal to strike targets in Ukraine early in the invasion but has used the expensive weapon sparingly and against priority targets, apparently reflecting limited availability.

The Russian military says the missile's range is up to 2,000 kilometers (about 1,250 miles) and it can fly at 10 times the speed of sound. Its speed and heavy warhead allow the Kinzhal to destroy heavily fortified targets, such as underground bunkers or mountain tunnels.

Ukraine's bolstered air defenses have deterred Russia's aircraft from going deep into the neighbor country and helped shape the course of the war, military experts say.

In Iceland, European leaders are taking part in a rare summit of the 46-nation Council of Europe, the continents main human rights body, to discuss how to manage claims for compensation from Russia's damage to Ukraine.

Meanwhile, a Chinese envoy is preparing to visit Ukraine and Russia as Beijing advocates a peace plan it released in February. Li Hui, a former ambassador to Moscow, also will visit Poland, France and Germany, according to the Chinese foreign ministry.

Ukraine has cautiously welcomed China's proposal while saying it would wait to see what specific actions China takes. Chinese leader Xi Jinpings government says it is neutral and wants to mediate in the war, but has given Moscow political support, and a breakthrough appears unlikely.

In Russian-occupied southern Ukraine, about 500 kilometers (300 miles) from Kyiv, Russian officials began training to evacuate 3,100 staff members of the shut-down Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and their families, a representative of Energoatom, Ukraines state nuclear company, said Tuesday.

The plant, Europes largest nuclear power station, employed around 11,000 people before the war, some 6,000 of whom remain at the site and in the surrounding town of Enerhodar.

More Russian military units have arrived at the plant and are mining it, the representative told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. Russian troops have barred remaining workers from communicating with each other or leaving, Energoatom said on Telegram.

In other developments:

Ukrainian forces recaptured around 20 kilometers (7.7 square miles) of territory north and south of Bakhmut since last week, but Russian troops continue their grinding advance within the city, Ukraines deputy defense minister said Tuesday. Heavy battles continue with differing results, Hanna Malyar said on Telegram. The Russian-installed head of the partially occupied Donetsk region, Denis Pushilin, told Russian state TV that Russian forces near Bakhmut have reinforced their flanks in the face of Ukrainian successes.

Ukraine's intelligence chief made a rare acknowledgement Tuesday of his country's involvement in assassinations of Russian officials. In an interview posted on YouTube with a Ukrainian journalist, Kyrylo Budanov responded to a question about the deaths of Russian propagandists by saying: We have already got a lot of people." He declined to provide any details.

 In Ukraine's latest corruption scandal, which saw the head of the Supreme Court detained for alleged bribery on Monday, the chief of Ukraines National Anti-Corruption Bureau, Semen Kryvonos, identified the main suspect in the case as mining magnate Kostiantyn Zhevago. Zhevago was arrested in the French Alps in January on suspicion of embezzling tens of millions of dollars.

 South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts have agreed to separate meetings with a delegation of African leaders to discuss a possible plan to end the war. Ramaphosas office said he spoke with Putin and Zelenskyy by phone over the weekend and they agreed to host an African leaders peace mission in Moscow and Kyiv, respectively.

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Vasilisa Stepanenko in Kyiv, and Yuras Karmanau in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed to this report.

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Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Ukrainian air defenses thwarted an intense Russian air attack on Kyiv early Tuesday, shooting down all 18 missiles aimed at the capital, officials said.

Loud explosions boomed over Kyiv as the nighttime attack combined Russian missiles launched from the air, sea and land in an apparent attempt to overwhelm Ukraines air defenses. No casualties were reported as Western-supplied weapons helped fend off the assault.

The barrage came as European leaders sought new ways to punish Russia for the war and a Chinese envoy sought traction for Beijings peace proposal.

Russia's latest attack on Kyiv was exceptional in its density  the maximum number of attacking missiles in the shortest period of time, said Serhii Popko, the head of the Kyiv military administration.

Valentyna Myronets, a 64-year-old Kyiv resident, said she felt pain, fear, nervousness, restlessness amid the assaults. God, we are waiting for victory and when all this is over, she said.

A full on aerial attack on Kyiv last night, pretty intense. Bangs and shaking walls are not an easy night. Hope everyone is ok.  Dame Melinda Simmons (@MelSimmonsFCDO) May 16, 2023

The British ambassador to Ukraine, Melinda Simmons, tweeted that the barrage was pretty intense.

Bangs and shaking walls are not an easy night, she wrote.

It was the eighth time this month that Russian air raids had targeted the capital, a clear escalation after weeks of lull and ahead of a much-anticipated Ukrainian counter-offensive. It also came as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy concluded a whirlwind European tour to greet Ukraine's key wartime allies, which spurred an additional tranche of pledged military aid.

Firefighters put out fire caused by fragments of a Russian rocket after it was shot down by air defense system during the night Russian rocket attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, early Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Ukrainian Emergency Situations Ministry via AP)

Six Kinzhal aero-ballistic missiles were launched from MiG-31K aircraft, nine cruise missiles from ships in the Black Sea and three land-based S-400 cruise missiles targeted the capital, Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said in a statement on Telegram.

After the first onslaught, Russia also launched Iranian-made Shahed attack drones and conducted aerial reconnaissance, Ihnat said.

Debris fell across several districts in the capital, starting fires, but no losses were reported, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.

Sophisticated air defense systems provided by Ukraine's Western allies, including American-made Patriot missiles, have helped spare Kyiv from the kind of destruction witnessed elsewhere in the country as Russian forces press on with their tactic of long-range bombardment.

The bolstered air defenses have deterred Russian aircraft from going deep into Ukraine and helped shape the course of the war, military experts say.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov cheered the display of defensive prowess, calling it in a tweet another unbelievable success.

A firefighter tries to put out fire caused by fragments of a Russian rocket after it was shot down by air defense system during the night Russian rocket attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, early Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Ukrainian Emergency Situations Ministry via AP)

The barrage came as European leaders were due to attend a rare summit of the 46-nation Council of Europe, the continents main human rights body.

The two-day meeting in Iceland seeks to set up a way of logging damage in Ukraine caused by the Kremlins forces so compensation claims can be lodged against Moscow.

Meanwhile, a Chinese envoy is preparing to visit Ukraine and Russia in coming days as Beijing presses the peace plan it released in February.

Li Hui, a former ambassador to Moscow, also will visit Poland, France and Germany, according to the Chinese foreign ministry.

Chinese leader Xi Jinpings government says it is neutral and wants to play a role as mediator in the war, but it has given Moscow political support and a breakthrough appeared unlikely more than 14 months after Russia's full-scale invasion.

At least seven civilians died and 14 others were wounded in Russian shelling of Ukrainian regions from Monday through Tuesday morning, the countrys presidential office said.
President Yoon Suk Yeol meets with Ukraine's first lady Olena Zelenska at the presidential office in Seoul, May 16. Yonhap



President Yoon Suk Yeol met with Ukraine's first lady Olena Zelenska at the presidential office Tuesday, saying Korea will provide active assistance to her country in close coordination with the international community, his spokesperson said.



Zelenska is in Seoul as a special envoy of her husband, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.



"The president conveyed the support and solidarity of the Korean government and people for Ukraine and expressed his condolences to the families of victims and the Ukrainian people," presidential spokesperson Lee Do-woon said during a press briefing.



"The president also spoke highly of first lady Zelenska's efforts to share the horrors of the war in Ukraine with the international community and her efforts to secure aid," he added.



Zelenska thanked Korea for the support and solidarity, and humanitarian assistance it has sent so far to Ukraine and asked that it increase aid in areas where it is able.



"First lady Zelenska said she hopes for aid in non-lethal military equipment, such as mine detection and removal equipment, and ambulances," Lee said.



The first lady also requested the participation of Korean businesses in Ukraine's post-war reconstruction effort.



"President Yoon replied that we will actively support the Ukrainian people in close coordination with NATO member states and the international community," Lee said.



Zelenska met separately with first lady Kim Keon Hee. (Yonhap)




Saddleback Church, the Southern California megachurch founded by best-selling author Rick Warren, is appealing its ouster from the Southern Baptist Convention for having women pastors on staff, according to the denomination.

Saddleback is asking the annual meeting of the SBC, which convenes next month in New Orleans, to overturn a February decision by the denomination's Executive Committee to expel it.

The committee said Saddleback has a faith and practice that does not closely identify with the Conventions adopted statement of faith, as demonstrated by the church having a female teaching pastor functioning in the office of pastor. That was an allusion to Stacie Wood, wife of Lead Pastor Andy Wood, who holds the role of teaching pastor.

The appeal extends the standoff between the nation's largest Protestant denomination and one of its largest, most successful churches.

Saddleback was one of five congregations that the committee ousted over the issue of women as pastors. One of those congregations, Fern Creek Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, is also appealing its dismissal.

Under SBC bylaws, churches can appeal a dismissal by the Executive Committee to the full SBC annual meeting. Monday was the deadline for filing appeals.

The SBCs statement of faith says that men should be in authority in families and churches. While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture, the statement says. The SBC is not a hierarchy and cant tell a member congregation what to do, but it can deem a church to be not in friendly cooperation with the Convention, the verbal formulation for ouster.

Saddleback, with multiple campuses across Southern California, had 54,000 members as of 2021, according to its annual membership report to the SBC. It averaged attendance of 28,000.

The standoff began in 2021 when Saddleback announced it was ordaining three women as pastors. After founding pastor Warren retired in 2022, he was succeeded as lead pastor by Andy Wood, whose wife, Stacie Wood, then assumed a role as teaching pastor.

And earlier in May, Saddleback announced that Katie Edwards, one of the three women ordained in 2021, would assume the role of pastor of its flagship Lake Forest campus.

Saddleback did not issue a statement on the appeal this week.

But in a video statement released in March after the Executive Committee vote, Andy Wood said that the church's leaders do interpret the Bible to say that men should be in authority over a church  but that they can authorize women to be pastors. All of the elders at Saddleback are men, he said.

A man who is an elder can empower women and mobilize women to use their spiritual gifts in the local church, he said, saying there are examples of this occurring in the Bible.

Fern Creek Baptist Church also sent formal notice to the SBC that it is appealing the decision to oust it. The Rev. Linda Barnes Popham has served as Fern Creeks pastor since 1993.

We obviously interpret scripture referring to women in ministry differently than some others in Baptist life, the church said in an earlier response to the SBC's Credentials Committee, which reviews churches' qualifications and can recommend their dismissal to the Executive Committee. We are happy to meet with you to further discuss how we feel Jesus has led us to this interpretation.

Fern Creek said the question of women in ministry should be a second or third tier issue on which Baptists can disagree.

Other churches that were ousted in February, and which are not appealing, said they would continue to operate with women as pastors. They include Calvary Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi; New Faith Mission Ministry in Griffin, Georgia; and St. Timothys Christian Baptist Church in Baltimore.

Also appealing its dismissal on a separate issue is Freedom Church in Vero Beach, Florida. It is disputing the Executive Committee's decision to dismiss it based on a lack of intent to cooperate in resolving concerns regarding a sexual abuse allegation. The denomination has been roiled by allegations in recent years of sexual abusers remaining in ministry, prompting the convention to vote for stricter policies.

Freedom Church, in an earlier letter to national, state and local Southern Baptist entities, disputed any allegation of abuse and asked for additional information about the decision.

Warren, author of the widely successful The Purpose Driven Life, started Saddleback Church with his wife, Kay Warren, more than four decades ago. With Warren's charisma and easy, informal preaching style, Saddleback eventually attracted tens of thousands and fostered an ambitious plan to expand the churchs reach across Southern California as well as globally  a vision his successor has promised to continue.

David Sons, chairman of the Executive Committee, said this will be the first time any churches have ever appealed their dismissals to the Southern Baptists annual meeting. He urged representatives attending the meeting to be prepared and informed about the process.

Ed Stetzer, a church-growth expert and professor at Wheaton College in Illinois, said Saddleback succeeded in connecting with the contemporary, casual culture of its surroundings while holding firm to its core beliefs.

Itll be the choice of the convention whether Saddleback still holds essential Southern Baptist beliefs, as it claims to, said Stetzer, a former director of the SBC-affiliated Lifeway.

But if the convention upholds the church's ouster, it will lose something that Saddleback has brought to the SBC for decades  a vibrancy, a new way of thinking.

The SBC has been in membership decline for nearly two decades. In statistics released earlier this month by Lifeway Research, the denomination fell to 13.2 million members in 2022. That is the lowest level since the late 1970s, which marked the start of years of doctrinal battles that led to a strong rightward shift in the convention.

Southern Baptists' rate of baptisms  seen by many as a better sign of spiritual vitality than membership  are also in long-term decline despite a small post-pandemic bounce in 2022.

___

Reporter Deepa Bharath contributed to this report

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman appeared before Congress on Tuesday morning to testify about the dangers posed by emerging artificial intelligence technologies, including his companys ChatGPT AI chatbot.

The hearing before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law offered congressional members the chance to question Mr Altman and other tech leaders about the urgent need to create regulations around AI.

Senators questioned Mr Altman, and the other witnesses, Gary Marcus, a Professor Emeritus at New York University and Christina Montgomery the chief privacy and trust officer at IBM, about the need to AI regulations.

Mr Altman spoke to the dangers of artificial intelligence harming the integrity of future elections, manipulating individuals opinions, limiting access to certain information and copyright infringement among other things.

The OpenAI CEO offered possible solutions like creating an international regulator committee or agency, led by the US.

My worst fears are that [the AI industry] cause significant harm to the world, Mr Altman said.

Ahead of the hearing, Committee Chairman Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), said, Artificial intelligence urgently needs rules and safeguards to address its immense promise and pitfalls.

Key points

AI is facing the perfect storm'

Sam Altman says he is concerned about election misinformation

Artificial intelligence is bull in a china shop'

Lawmakers compare the need for legislation to the mistakes of social media

Delaying artificial intelligence advancements by six months is unlikely

Sam Altman Congress hearing live: Watch the stream

15:02 , Anthony Cuthbertson

Heres the live stream if you want to watch along:

Hello and welcome...

11:08 , Anthony Cuthbertson

to The Independents live coverage of OpenAI boss Sam Altmans first ever appearance before Congress.

The tech executive will be appearing alongside Gary Marcus, Professor Emeritus at New York University, and Christina Montgomery, chief privacy officer at IBM, to face questions from the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology & the Law.

The hearing will begin at 10am local time (3pm BST), and well be bringing you all the build-up for what could be a critical day for establishing AI rules and limits in the US.

Sam Altman Congress hearing live: How to watch

13:57 , Anthony Cuthbertson

Theres just over an hour to go until OpenAI CEO Sam Altman appears before Congress, alongside New York University Professor Gary Marcus and IBM executive Christina Montgomery.

Well have a live stream of the hearing for you to watch right here, pinned to the top of this page, as soon as its available.

Its not clear yet how long it will last, but these things tend to go on for a few hours with most or all of the Senators wanting to use their maximum time to air their concerns and pose their questions.

Sam Altman Congress hearing live: What to expect from the Senate Committee

14:04 , Anthony Cuthbertson

Todays hearing will see Sam Altman testify before Congress for the first time ever, following in the footsteps of many of his high-profile peers in the tech industry.

The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology & the Law are expected to ask him about AI risks and how best to establish safeguards to protect against them.

Heres what US Senators Richard Blumenthal and Josh Hawley, Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, had to say ahead of todays hearing:

Artificial intelligence urgently needs rules and safeguards to address its immense promise and pitfalls. This hearing begins our Subcommittees work in overseeing and illuminating AIs advanced algorithms and powerful technology. I look forward to working with my colleagues as we explore sensible standards and principles to help us navigate this uncharted territory.

Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)

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.

Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO)

Sam Altman Congress hearing live: Opening remarks from committee chair

15:11 , Anthony Cuthbertson

The hearing is underway, with US Senator Richard Blumenthal, Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee, saying in his opening remarks that the hearing aims to demystify and hold accountable the technology.

He begins by using an AI voice cloning software to read a text in his voice. The text is written by OpenAIs ChatGPT.

Its pretty convincing. The AI begins: Too often we have seen what happens when technology outpaces regulation.

Senator Blumenthal says it may seem amusing but he fears what would happen if the same technology was used to mislead people into thinking he had made an endorsement of Vladimir Putin.

His biggest immediate fear, however, is the looming new industrial revolution that will leave millions unemployed when AI displaces their jobs.

Sam Altman Congress hearing live: Senator warns AI could be as devastating as the atom bomb

15:16 , Anthony Cuthbertson

Senator Blumenthal ends his opening remarks saying the ideas that we develop from this discussion will provide a solid path forward for establishing regulation for the AI industry.

He adds that it will be the first of many hearings on artificial intelligence.

Senator Josh Hawley, ranking member of the committee, adds some remarks.

We could be looking at one of the significant technological innovations in human history, he says.

He speculates it could be as great as the advent of the printing press, or as devastating as the atom bomb.

Sam Altman Congress hearing live: ChatGPT boss says AI could be printing press moment

15:26 , Anthony Cuthbertson

Sam Altman and the other witnesses swear in, before the OpenAI boss gets underway with his opening remarks.

Its really an honour to be here, he says.

OpenAI was founded on the belief that AI has the potential to improve nearly every aspect of our lives... We think it can be a printing press moment.

AI Congress hearing live: Artificial intelligence is bull in a china shop'

15:34 , Anthony Cuthbertson

Christina Montgomery, chief privacy officer at IBM, is up next to give her opening remarks.

She says the era of AI should not be part of the move fast and break things culture that has driven Silicon Valley since its early days.

Gary Marcus, Professor Emeritus at New York University, follows up by saying he is worried about the rapid development of artificial intelligence.

We have built machines that are like bulls in a china shop: Powerful, wreckless and difficult to control, he says.

AI Congress hearing live: We are facing the perfect storm'

15:37 , Anthony Cuthbertson

The professor continues: We are facing a perfect storm of corporate irresponsibility, widespread deployment, lack of adequate regulation, and inherent unreliability... The choices we make now will have lasting effects, for decades, maybe even centuries.

Seven minute rounds of questioning will now follow.

AI Congress hearing live: AI is bomb in a china shop'

15:41 , Anthony Cuthbertson

Senator Blumenthal agrees with Professor Marcuss perfect strom assessment, but says it is less like a bull in a china shop and more like a bomb in a china shop.

AI Congress hearing live: Testing labs suggested

15:48 , Anthony Cuthbertson

Sam Altman will face the first questions, with Senator Blumenthal suggesting to him that independent testing labs for AI tools could be one idea to help regulate the technology.

He also asks what his thoughts are about mass job displacement. Altman agrees that there will be significant disruption, but adds that he is very optimistic about how great the jobs of the future will be.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman appears before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law on 16 May, 2023 (YouTube/ Screengrab)

AI Congress hearing live: ChatGPT boss says technology can go quite wrong'

15:53 , Anthony Cuthbertson

The OpenAI boss is asked about the potential risks of AI.

My worst fears are that we cause significant harms to the world, he responds. If this technology goes wrong, it can go quite wrong.

Its worth noting that Altman has admitted in the past to being a doomsday prepper - specifically prepping for an AI apocalypse.

You can read all about that here:

Why tech bosses are doomsday prepping

AI expert says we need a cabinet-level position or more to regulate

16:07 , Ariana Baio

Gary Marcus, a leading voice in AI, author and professor, advised the Senate Judiciary Committee that the US, or the world, may need a completely new agency to regulate it.

My view is that we probably need a cabinet-level organisation within the US to address this, Mr Marcus told the committee on Tuesday.

Mr Marcus explained how AI will likely be a massive part of the future but given how fast-moving and complicated it is the government cannot rely on current legislation and agencies to understand it and thoughtfully regulate it.

Sam Altman says his worst fear is causing significant harm to the world'

16:30 , Ariana Baio

My worst fear is that we cause significant harm to the world, Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI told the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law.

OpenAI is one of the leading companies in creating new artificial intelligence. The company has created Dall-E and Chat GPT.

Sam Altman says he is concern about election misinformation

16:31 , Ariana Baio

Multiple members of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee raised concerns about the future of election misinformation regarding artificial intelligence, citing foreign intervention with social media in the 2016 election.

Sam Altman said he is quite concerned about the impact [AI] can have on elections due to the technologies limitations.

Several reports have shown how Chat GPT can generate false information and cite misinformation in articles when asked by users - something called hallucinations.

Mr Altman said Chat GPT has been developed to refuse to generate answers to harmful things and is monitored to ensure false information is not consistently given under the guise of truth.

AI expert says the key to regulating AI is transparency

16:45 , Ariana Baio

Gary Marcus, an AI expert, said the key to understanding AI systems and regulating them is to ask companies to be more transparent about how they train the models.

What [AI] is trained on has biases for the system, Mr Marcus said during the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing on Tuesday.

Mr Marcus encouraged companies with AI tools to provide transparent information that would explain what their system is trained on to help people determine whether the information it is providing is biased.

OpenAI CEO says they are working on copyright model

16:46 , Ariana Baio

Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI said that the company was working on how to handle copyright with their systems.

Creators deserve control over how their creations are used, Mr Altman said on Tuesday.

AI tools like Chat GPT have been accused of stealing artists work and then re-purposing it as original content.

Mr Altman said the company was working to create a new copyright model to give artists credit, compensation and consent.

AI leaders and experts agree Section 230 does not apply to them

16:50 , Ariana Baio

Sam Altman, Christina Montgomery and Gary Marcus all agreed that Section 230 does not apply to their platforms and indicated new regulatory legislation is needed.

Section 230 provides immunity for online computer services when harmful content is uploaded to their platforms.

Sam Altman speaks to AI-generated images

17:05 , Ariana Baio

The CEO of Open AI spoke to AI-generated images, like the one of Donald Trump being arrested when he was indicted.

Sam Altman said an easy way to fix misinformation spread online from images like this is to label them as generated.

Trump shares deepfake photo of himself praying as AI images of arrest spread online

OpenAI wants less people to use it

17:12 , ariana.baio

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said multiple times throughout Tuesdays hearing that ChatGPT needs less people to use it because it does not have enough GPT for everyone to use it.

Mr Altman made it very clear to the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee that they are not an advertising-based platform therefore having more users does not benefit OpenAI.

Mr Altmans comments were related to lawmakers raising concerns about AI using personal data to grasp peoples attention and hold it for as long as they can.

Though he recognised that AI is being used in marketing, he clarified that was not OpenAIs goal.

VOICES: AI isnt falling into the wrong hands  its being built by them

17:15 , Ariana Baio

VOICES: The loudest voices in the AI discourse tend to exhibit a startling level of misplaced certainty about what AI is capable of and how the technology can be controlled.

These are essential, urgent questions that will require input from a wide diversity of voices, especially of those who are most likely to be imperilled by the use of AI.

So far, the earliest victims of malign forms of AI, such as inaccurate facial recognition tools or deepfake porn generators, have been members of historically marginalised groups, including women and people of colour. But these groups are woefully underrepresented among the loudest voices in the AI debate.

Arthur Holland Michel reports:

AI isnt falling into the wrong hands  its being built by them

Witnesses encourage lawmakers to think of the future

17:23 , Ariana Baio

Sam Altman, Christina Montgomery and Gary Marcus all agreed that artificial intelligence is nowhere near being as advanced as it can be, therefore lawmakers need to make legislation that can be used as it develops.

Mr Altman and Mr Marcus agree that the best way to start this is creating a regulatory agency or independent commission to look into the complicated world of AI to create a set of regulations for companies that create the technologies.

Ms Montgomery suggested creating rules that begin with the risk of AI rather than regulating the technology itself is a better way to go about it.

But all three witnesses believe Congress should think of guidelines that can be applied to the future of automatic generated content and more.

AI could harm local news

17:40 , Ariana Baio

Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) brought to attention how generative AI could harm local news by encouraging users to use ChatGPT rather than read news from a newspaper.

Ms Klobuchar asked Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, about how the platform will compensate the smaller new organisations that ChatGPT pulls information from to generate answers.

Do you understand that this could be exponentially worse in terms of local news content if theyre not compensated? Ms Klobuchar asked.

Because what they need is to be compensated for their content and not have it stolen, she added.

Mr Altman said ChatGPT would be willing to do things to help local news.

He said, We would certainly like to.

ACLU encourages Congress to implement AI safeguards

17:45 , Ariana Baio

Flawed automated decision-making systems are increasingly being used by the government to make important decisions in key areas of our lives.



Catch up on today's hearing to see @acluidaho's Ritchie Eppink discuss the dangers of AI and why Congress must implement safeguards now. https://t.co/rkk34HQJ5g  ACLU (@ACLU) May 16, 2023

AI expert says medical advise through AI could be harmful

17:50 , Ariana Baio

Professor Gary Marcus, an expert in artificial intelligence, said lawmakers should be concerned about medical advice given through AI systems like ChatGPT.

Mr Marcus said there needs to be tight regulations around what AI may generate, or not, on medical advice as it could make users think they have a medical condition or use it to seek medical advice.

(Getty Images)

Senator Kennedy asks witnesses for guidance on rules

17:55 , Ariana Baio

Senator Ted Kennedy (R-LA) asked the witnesses what rules they would implore if they were kings and queens for the day under the hypothesis that Congress doesnt understand AI and could harm it by creating regulations.

Sen. Kennedy (R-LA) asks panel what reforms they'd make as queen or king for a day if 3 hypotheticals are true:



1. Congress doesn't understand AI

2. Congress could hurt AI w/regulations

3. There's likely a berserk wing of AI community that could use AI to kill all of us pic.twitter.com/V7B2kus4Qk  The Recount (@therecount) May 16, 2023

AI can change jobs of the future

18:12 , Ariana Baio

Over and over again, lawmakers and witnesses debated the negative impact AI will have on the jobs of the future during Tuesdays hearing.

Asked if he thought AI could harm most jobs, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said he felt optimistic about how AI will change jobs.

I believe there are far greater jobs on the other side of this, Mr Altman told members of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee.

Christina Montgomery, chief privacy and trust officer at IBM agreed with Mr Altman.

The most important thing that we can be doing and should be doing now is prepare the workforce of today and the workforce of tomorrow of partnering with the AI technologies, Ms Montgomery said.

Gary Marcus, a professor at New York University and an expert in AI, slightly disagreed, saying far down the line AI could replace most jobs.

AI could take over much of heavy lifting involved in teaching, says Keegan

Sam Altman says AI can go quite wrong without regulations

18:25 , Ariana Baio

While testifying before Congress, Sam Altman said, If this technology goes wrong, it can go quite wrong when speaking about the harms that artificial intelligence can have.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on AI: "If this technology goes wrong, it can go quite wrong."



In other words, now that OpenAI is in the lead, Congress needs to regulate their competitors pic.twitter.com/LZ8XH9tVtF  Genevieve Roch-Decter, CFA (@GRDecter) May 16, 2023

Sam Altman says OpenAI could use advertisers in the future

18:45 , Ariana Baio

When asked if OpenAI would use advertisers in the future, CEO Sam Altman said it wasnt out of the question completely.

Mr Altman previously said during Tuesdays hearing that OpenAI was not interested in collecting personal data and using it in OpenAIs technology models because it was not advertising-focused.

However, when asked if advertising could ever be an option Mr Altman said, I wouldnt say never.

Mr Altman said he prefers a subscription-based model to profit from.

Lawmakers compare the need for legislation to the mistakes of social media

19:01 , Ariana Baio

From the beginning of the hearing, a similar sentiment has been said among many lawmakers: now is the time to act.

Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) started the hearing by explaining how lawmakers cannot make the same mistake that they made by failing to regulate social media before it became harmful to children and young people.

(Getty Images)

Delaying artificial intelligence advancements by six months is unlikely

19:25 , Ariana Baio

During Tuesdays hearing, lawmakers brought up a letter that circulated around the tech community earlier this year calling for companies like OpenAI to pause the development of technology for the next six months to allow lawmakers to play catch-up.

The letter, signed by industry leaders including Elon Musk, called AI systems a, profound risk to society and humanity.

However, all three witnesses did not believe pausing technology advancements for six months would help the situation.
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.

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.
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."

Sarah Bonner (Courtesy Sarah Bonner)

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.

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
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.

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.

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)

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.

"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.

'Based on raw, uncorroborated information'

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.
(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.
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.

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.

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.
University of Miami Provost Jeffrey Duerk will step down from his administrative role in July, becoming the second of six executive vice presidents to exit the top ranks of the largest private university in South Florida this summer.

UM President Julio Frenk sent an email to employees and others on Monday breaking the news: I write to inform you of an important development in the executive leadership team.

After six years, Duerk will leave his executive post as provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, take a one-year sabbatical starting July 1 and then return as a full-time faculty member.

UM paid Duerk a salary of $898,588, plus $48,994 in other compensation, for a total compensation of $947,582, according to UMs 2019 990 tax form, the latest form posted on Guidestar, the nonprofit that tracks financial information at schools and universities.

Frenk didnt elaborate about the move in his email and UM did not make available either Frenk or Duerk for a Herald interview. Jacqueline Menendez, a university spokeswoman, didnt answer questions about Duerks impending departure, and Duerk did not respond to a Herald email sent directly to him.

FROM 2022: UM hires a CEO as professors fight for raises

Last year, UM, with about 19,000 students and 17,000 employees, hired a CEO, a move that riled the faculty over bringing in a highly paid administrator when professors are struggling to get raises amid higher costs of living in South Florida. Joe Echevarria, the former CEO of UHealth, UMs medical arm, started as CEO last June. Colleges and universities normally do not have a CEO; they have presidents, provosts, vice presidents and boards of trustees.

UM did not disclose Echevarrias salary when he was hired and the latest Guidestar postings do not include 2022 data.

Frenks total compensation added up to about $1.75 million, according to UMs 2019 tax form posted on Guidestar.

READ MORE: Top UM executive is heading to this North Carolina university

Another top UM leader is leaving

In late March, Frenk announced Jacqueline Travisano, UMs executive vice president for business and finance and its chief operating officer since June 2017, was leaving. Travisano will leave at the end of June to become executive vice president and chief financial officer at Wake Forest University, a private institution with about 9,000 students in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

In early April, Travisano told the Herald the Wake Forest position seemed thrilling and moving there was always her long-term plan, as her husband is a licensed general contractor in North Carolina and they own property there.

Whats next?

Frenk said he looked forward to a seamless transition this summer but didnt mention any transitional plans.

We will take a thoughtful approach to the succession process and will keep faculty members, trustees, and the rest of our community informed about major decisions, he wrote.

UM still hasnt publicly named Travisanos replacement.

Duerk first arrived at UM in July 2017. He succeeded Thomas LeBlanc, who became the president of George Washington University in Washington. LeBlanc left that job in December 2021.

Duerk had been on the faculty at Case Western Reserve University, a private university in Cleveland since 1988. He served as dean of the School of Engineering from 2012 to 2017.

An inventor, Duerk earned his bachelors in electrical engineering from Purdue University and a masters in the same at Ohio State University. He then received his Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Case Western in 1987.

Duerks legacy at UM

In his role, Duerk oversaw all schools and colleges. He supervised 14 deans, four vice provosts, two associate provosts, a vice president and eight center and institute directors, according to a chart posted online.

Last week, the law school at Florida International University surpassed UMs in national rankings for the first time ever.

In his Monday note, Frenk said Duerk led the faculty through various natural disasters and the pandemic.

Indeed, it was the work Jeff prompted early in his time at the U to ensure the continuity of our academic mission following Hurricane Irma that set us up for success during the COVID-19 emergency, he added.

RELATED: Check out photos from UMs graduation this spring 2023

Under Duerk, UM established 97 new endowed chairs and launched new degrees, including its first three-year baccalaureate degree and one-year accelerated degrees in software engineering and computer science, Frenk said.

During Duerks tenure, UM also opened the Frost Institute for Chemistry and Molecular Science, the Institute for Data Science and Computing, the Climate Resilience Academy, the Laboratory for Integrative Knowledge (U-LINK) and the Platform for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (PETAL).
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Justice Department announced a series of criminal cases Tuesday tracing the illegal flow of sensitive technology, including Apple's software code for self-driving cars and materials used for missiles, to foreign adversaries like Russia, China and Iran.

Some of the alleged trade secret theft highlighted by the department dates back several years, but U.S. officials are drawing attention to the collection of cases now to highlight a task force created in February to disrupt the transfer of goods to foreign countries.

We are committed to doing all we can to prevent these advanced tools from falling into the hands of adversaries who wield them in a way that threatens not only our nation's security but democratic values everywhere, said Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen, who heads the Justice Department's national security division.

One of the newly unsealed cases, in federal court in San Francisco, accuses a former Apple software engineer of taking proprietary data related to self-driving cars before his last day at the company in 2018 and then boarding a one-way flight to China on the night that FBI agents were conducting a search at his house. Prosecutors say the defendant, identified as Weibao Wang, is believed to be now working at a China-based autonomous vehicle competitor.

Other cases disclosed Tuesday have resulted in arrests.

One defendant, Liming Li, 64, was arrested earlier this month on charges that he stole thousands of sensitive files from his California employer, including technology that can be used in the manufacturing of nuclear submarines and military aircraft, and used them to help competing Chinese businesses.

Li has been in custody since his arrest. A lawyer who has been representing him declined to comment.

Additionally, two Russian nationals, Oleg Sergeyevich Patsulya and Vasilii Sergeyevich Besedin, were arrested in Arizona this month on charges of conspiring to send aircraft parts to Russian airline companies. Lawyers for both men did not immediately return phone messages seeking comment.

The Justice Department also unsealed a separate criminal case accusing a Chinese national of conspiring to transmit isostatic graphite, a material that can be used in the nose of intercontinental ballistics, to Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions. And it charged a Greek national with participating in the smuggling of dual-use technology with a military application, including quantum cryptography, to Russia.

The departments of Justice and Commerce and other agencies earlier this year launched the Disruptive Technology Strike Force as a way to prevent U.S. adversaries from acquiring sensitive technology and address what officials said is a growing problem.

Our greatest national security concerns stem from the actions of nation-states like China, Russia, Iran and North Korea  nation-states that want to acquire sensitive U.S. technology to advance their military capabilities with their ultimate goal being to shift the world's balance of power, said Matthew Axelrod, an assistant secretary at the Commerce Department.

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Follow Eric Tucker at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP
NEW YORK (AP)  The government of the U.S. Virgin Islands is trying to subpoena billionaire Elon Musk for documents in its lawsuit seeking to hold JPMorgan Chase liable for sex trafficking acts committed by businessman Jeffrey Epstein.

Musk has never been publicly accused of any wrongdoing related to Epstein, who killed himself in 2019 as he awaited sex trafficking charges in a federal jail in Manhattan.

But over the years, there had been unconfirmed speculation  encouraged by Epstein himself  that Epstein had advised Musk on certain business matters.

Spokespeople for Musk have denied those reports, but the government of the U.S. Virgin Islands said in a court filing that it believes Epstein may have referred or tried to refer Musk to JPMorgan as a potential client.

The Virgin Islands, where Epstein had an estate, sued JPMorgan last year, saying its investigation has revealed that the financial services giant enabled Epsteins recruiters to pay victims and was indispensable to the operation and concealment of the Epstein trafficking enterprise.

Lawyers for JPMorgan did not immediately return messages seeking comment Monday.

In the past, they have said victims are entitled to justice but litigation attempting to blame the financial institution for Epsteins actions were legally meritless, directed at the wrong party and should be dismissed.

Authorities alleged that Epstein recruited and sexually abused dozens of underage girls at his mansions in New York and Palm Beach, Florida, in the early 2000s. He had pleaded not guilty.

Lawyers for the Virgin Islands told a federal judge Monday that they haven't been able to locate Musk to serve him with the subpoena.

They asked the court to serve Tesla, his electric vehicle company, instead.

They said they hired an investigative firm to search public records databases for possible addresses for Musk and reached out to one of his lawyers by email, but received no response.

A message sent to a lawyer for Musk seeking comment Monday was not immediately returned.

The subpoena  one of several sent to prominent business figures  sought documents from Jan. 1, 2002, to the present reflecting communications between Musk and JPMorgan or Musk and Epstein regarding Epstein or Epsteins role in Musks accounts, transactions or financial management.

It also sought all documents reflecting or regarding Epsteins involvement in human trafficking and his procurement of girls or women for commercial sex.

And it sought information about fees Musk might have paid to Epstein or JPMorgan and any documents concerning communications between Musk, Epstein and JPMorgan regarding accounts, transactions or the relationship at JPMorgan.


By Kim Ae-ran



Can one person make a change? Sure, each of us can change society. As in the book "L'homme qui plantait des arbes" ("The Man Who Planted Trees") written in 1953 by Jean Giono (1895-1970); one person can do something different and marvelous by being inspired and led by the Holy Spirit.



In the above-mentioned short story, Elzeard Bouffier brought a deserted valley back to life by planting one hundred thousand acorn trees for three years. The author, Jean Giono, even declined to receive any royalties for his story. He just granted it for free to anyone.



Sister Gemma Hong is such a person. For over 30 years, she has devoted herself to her ongoing mission trips to North America.



In religious life, we take turns doing certain missions. The officially given terms last for about 3 years, 5 years or 10 years in general, but some missions are sustained by one person for a longer period of time, depending on the needs of the apostolate. Doing one thing for over 30 years is enough to make a person an expert in that field.



The Korean mission, with book exhibits in the United States, started in 1989 with the initiative of Sister Susanna Yu and Sister Gemma Hong. Since then, Korean Pauline Sisters have visited the United States irregularly for the purpose of diffusion and animation up to now. Junior Sisters came to the United States in 2012 and 2015 for fruitful apostolic experiences.



In 2013, Sr. Gemma was transferred from the Korean Province to the American Province. Then, the Korean mission in the United States was approved by the General Government of our congregation in Rome. Thus, the Korean mission was able to undergo constantly with the goal of letting the light of the living words of God reach out to each Korean family in the hope of giving joy, peace and consolation.



However, the mission was suspended by the outbreak of COVID-19 from 2020 to 2022. Despite all the difficult situations, Sr. Gemma didn't give up her hopeful dreams; she organized eight book clubs with the help of Zoom.



Her original intention to make book clubs was in order to express gratitude to collaborators and to give them hope, joy, peace and consolation through sincere sharing. As she consulted all those who supported Korean book exhibits while staying at their houses, they became willing to join the book clubs.



She is always happy to select 10 books to read throughout the year, and each member devours one book a month to then share their thoughts and impressions through Zoom. Book clubs appeal to people because the first generation of immigrants can read and speak the Korean language.



Approximately more than 2 million Koreans are spread out across the United States: 10 percent of them are Catholics while 61 percent are Protestants, 6 percent are Buddhists and 23 percent follow other religions.



Thanks to the hard work and efforts of the first generation of Korean immigrants, the second generations, who were born and educated well in the United States, are more adapted to the American way of thinking and culture. Therefore, Sr. Gemma does her best to give spiritual food to Korean immigrants through book exhibits.



How to approach them through the Pauline mission challenges our mission trips across the United States and Canada.



"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the one bringing good news!" (Isaiah 52:7)





The author is a member of the Daughters of St. Paul. Please feel free to visit her blog "A piece of sunshine" at mtorchid88.blogspot.com.




Australias Royal National Park was once brimming with platypuses  which are endemic to the country. But its been more then 50 years since one of the creatures has been spotted in the park.

That is until last week when a reintroduction plan three years in the making was finally launched by the University of New South Wales, Sydney, scientists, the university said in a May 14 news release.

Four female platypuses were released on the banks of the parks Hacking River, the university said. The platypuses are the first batch of what will eventually be a group of 10 including four males and six females.

Experts hope by introducing the group of 10, they can create a self-sustaining population of platypuses within the park.

We really want platypus to be the new sentinels of our rivers. If your platypuses are doing well, the river is probably in pretty good shape, Richard Kingsford, director of the Centre for Ecosystem Science and member of the UNSW platypus research team, said in the universitys release.

A total of six more platypuses will be a part of the reintroduction plan, the university said.

It is fitting that we should be returning this top river predator to its right place, Kingsford said in the release. Exciting reintroductions like this provide a focus for monitoring management and learning how to deliver for conservation.

The creatures were collected from various sites in southern New South Wales that have more established platypus populations, researchers said.

Experts said they hope the plan will generate a healthy, self-sustaining population of platypuses in the park.

The welfare of the platypuses was always our highest priority  both at the source sites and the release site at Royal National Park, Tahneal Hawke, a researcher who worked on the project, said in the release. We collected platypuses from multiple sites across multiple rivers to ensure no impacts to the source populations, and to ensure genetic diversity of the introduced population at Royal National Park.

UNSW ecologists said they first introduced the plan to bring platypuses back to the park three years ago.

Scientists working on the project said they will spend the next several months monitoring the platypuses and their environment.

An iconic creature

Platypuses are considered an Australian enigma, but in recent years, they have been classified as a near-threatened species, according to the Platypus Conservation Initiative.

A 2020 survey by researchers at the university found that the region of eastern Australia where platypuses live has shrunk by about 22% in the last 30 years, the school said in a March 2022 news release. This change can be attributed to land clearing, droughts and river regulation, according to researchers.

The platypus is an evolutionarily distinct mammal, making it of exceptional scientific value and an irreplaceable component of the Australian and global biodiversity, the conservation initiative said.

The Royal National Park is located in Sydney.

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Wells Fargo is settling a class-action lawsuit from shareholders for $1 billion over claims the bank misled them about how it was complying with regulators in the aftermath of its fake sales scandal (DEVIN YALKIN/NYT)

Wells Fargo is settling a class-action lawsuit from shareholders for $1 billion over claims the bank misled them about how it was complying with regulators in the aftermath of its fake sales scandal, new court records show.

The federal suit claimed the bank made materially false and misleading statements about its compliance with consent orders it had with federal regulators over previous practices. Wells Fargo has faced regulatory sanctions since the 2016 scandal, when it was discovered the bank opened millions of accounts for customers without their permission.

A proposed settlement order in the class-action case was filed late Monday, records show. The settlement still needs to be approved by the court.

Wells Fargo is based in San Francisco but has its largest employee base in Charlotte, with about 27,000 workers here.

This agreement resolves a consolidated securities class action lawsuit involving the company and several former executives and a director, who have not been with the company for several years, the bank said in a statement Tuesday to The Charlotte Observer. While we disagree with the allegations in this case, we are pleased to have resolved this matter.

If approved, the $1-billion deal likely would be the 17th-largest settlement of a shareholder class-action suit, the Wall Street Journal reported.

One of the court-appointed lead plaintiffs in the case was the Employees Retirement System of Rhode Island.

Wells Fargo betrayed the trust of Rhode Island pensioners and now is rightly facing consequences because of that, said Rhode Island General Treasurer James Diossa in a statement. I am proud that ERSRI stood up for its stakeholders and held Wells Fargo accountable for its misconduct, and for achieving the historic settlement.

The settlement class consists of people or entities that purchased common stock in Wells Fargo between Feb. 2, 2018, and March 12, 2020, according to the lawsuit. That means anyone who owned Wells Fargo stock during that time is automatically part of the class-action group, Diossas office said.

Certain groups were excluded from the settlement, the proposed agreement notes, including Wells Fargo officers and directors, and shareholders who request from the court they be excluded from the settlement.

Claims in the Wells Fargo class-action suit

The class-action suit was filed in 2020 in federal court for the Southern District of New York. It focused on Wells Fargos actions in dealing with 2018 consent orders it had with its regulators.

The bank misled investors when it claimed it was in compliance with those orders when it had yet to even submit an acceptable plan or schedule for compliance to the regulators, according to plaintiffs claims in the lawsuit.

They claimed that Wells Fargo also was nowhere near meeting regulators requirements that were a precursor to lifting restrictions for the bank, including an asset cap, which the bank remains under. When the pace of the banks actions was revealed, including in congressional hearings, the banks stock price fell, the suit said.

In fact, Wells Fargos valuation plummeted by more than $54 billion over a two-year period ending in March 2020, Reuters reported.

Other Wells Fargo settlements and scandals

The fake sales scandal was the first of a number of activities by Wells Fargo that fell under federal scrutiny.

And a former top executive is facing prison time. In March, Carrie Tolstedt, the veteran leader of Wells Fargos retail banking division, agreed to plead guilty in federal court to obstructing a government examination of the banks misconduct.

Tolstedt faces up to 16 months in prison. In a separate civil settlement, she was banned from working in the banking industry and must pay a $17 million penalty.

Wells Fargo CEO on the defensive, and other takeaways as senators grill bank executives

Last December, Wells Fargo agreed to $3.7 billion in fines and restitution in a settlement with regulators to resolve issues related to auto lending, mortgages and consumer deposit accounts.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ordered Wells Fargo to pay a $1.7 billion fine, and refund more than $2 billion to customers for widespread mismanagement of those types of accounts. The bank was going to be required in a new consent order to pay the fine, pay back customers and stop charging surprise overdraft fees, among other things.

In September 2022, the bank reached a $145 million settlement with the U.S. Labor Department following an investigation into concerns over the the banks contributions to its 401(k) plan.

And in 2018, Wells Fargo was charged a combined $1 billion by the CFPB and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for auto-lending and mortgage practices that hurt consumers.
Hundreds of abortion-rights supporters rally outside the North Carolina Legislative Building in Raleigh, N.C, on Saturday, May 13, 2023, to urge Republican legislators to sustain Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper's veto of new abortion restrictions. (AP Photo/Hannah Schoenbaum) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  North Carolinas Republican-controlled legislature on Tuesday will attempt to quickly override the governors veto of legislation banning nearly all abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy in a consequential test of unity for the party's recently attained supermajority.

The Senate plans to first consider an override Tuesday afternoon, according to Senate leader Phil Berger. House Speaker Tim Moores chief of staff said the speaker then aims to complete the override later in the day should Senate Republicans be successful.

Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed the bill over the weekend in an unconventionally public ceremony after spending last week traveling around the state to convince one or more Republicans to uphold his expected veto.

He singled out four GOP lawmakers  one in the Senate and three in the House  whom he said made campaign promises to protect abortion access. Among them is Rep. Tricia Cotham, whose recent switch from the Democratic Party to the GOP gave House Republicans the one additional vote they needed for veto-proof majorities in both chambers.

Both the House and Senate passed the bill along party lines this month, signaling an override could be successful. While GOP leaders in both chambers say they're confident they have the votes, some uncertainty lingers in the House, where another key Republican called out by Cooper was absent for the original vote and has declined to comment on the bill.

Republicans have pitched the measure as a middle-ground change to state abortion laws developed after months of private negotiations between their House and Senate members. It adds exceptions to the 12-week ban, extending the limit through 20 weeks for cases of rape and incest and through 24 weeks for life-limiting fetal anomalies.

But Cooper has repeatedly said the details contained in the 47-page bill show that the measure is not a reasonable compromise and would instead greatly erode reproductive rights for North Carolinians and others who have become dependent on the state for abortions later in pregnancy.
Former Vice President Mike Pence speaks at a luncheon Friday, April 28, 2023, in Salt Lake City. (Rick Bowmer/AP)

A new super PAC backing Mike Pence as a 2024 presidential candidate launched Monday, marking a significant step as the former vice president weighs whether to enter the GOP primary in the coming weeks.

Committed to America announced its leadership, which includes former Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) and veteran GOP consultant Scott Reed as national co-chairs.

Mike Pence is the conservative leader our nation needs at this critical time,Hensarling said in a statement. From chairing the House Republican Conference, to leading the state of Indiana, to serving as vice president, Mike has consistently demonstrated an unparalleled commitment to conservative principles and the Constitution. Mike can win, he is ready to lead, and I am proud to help lead the effort that will send him to the White House.

The executive director of the group will be Bobby Saparow, who managed Georgia Gov. Brian Kemps (R) reelection campaign in 2022, when Kemp defeated Democrat Stacy Abrams by a wider margin than he did in 2018.

We are taking what we did so successfully with Governor Kemp to the national stage, mobilizing an unprecedented voter contact program to win and make Mike Pence the next president of the United States.Bobby Saparow

We are taking what we did so successfully with Governor Kemp to the national stage, mobilizing an unprecedented voter contact program to win and make Mike Pence the next president of the United States, Saparow said in a statement.

The pro-Pence super PAC will launch with offices in Dallas and Iowa, the group said, with additional hiring announcements expected in the coming days.

The launch of Committed to America is one of the clearest signs to date that Pence is likely to enter the 2024 presidential race.

The former vice president has made several trips to New Hampshire over the past year, as well as other states that are early on the primary calendar, like Iowa and South Carolina. He will be in New Hampshire and Iowa for separate stops in the coming weeks.

If Pence opts to enter the race, it would pit him against his old running mate, former President Trump. Pence has said anybody who wants to get into the race and be competitive would likely need to decide by June whether to do so.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A former aide to former Trump attorney Rudolph Giuliani says he told her the ex-New York City mayor and then-president Donald Trump were offering to sell presidential pardons for $2 million apiece, according to court documents.

The bombshell allegation was levied in a complaint filed against Mr Giuliani by Noelle Dunphy, a New York-based public relations professional who is suing him for unlawful abuses of power, wide-ranging sexual assault and harassment, wage theft, and other misconduct committed while she worked for him in 2019 and 2020.

The lawsuit also claims that she was subjected to sexual assault, harassment, wage theft and other misconduct by Mr Giuliani, and alleges that she was forced to perform sex acts on him and work in the nude.

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, according to the lawsuit.

She then states that Mr Giuliani asked her if she knew anyone in need of a pardon because 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 suit added.

During Mr Trumps presidency, he frequently granted pardons to wealthy or well-connected individuals without the involvement of the Pardon Attorney, the Department of Justice official who is charged with reviewing petitions for executive clemency and making recommendations as to whether a given petition should be granted.

No evidence has ever emerged that Mr Trump or Mr Giuliani were ever compensated for any presidential pardon granted during Mr Trumps time in office, but Ms Dunphys allegation matches that made by another person who once sought a pardon from the then-president.

In August, The New York Times reported that former CIA officer John Kiriakou broached the topic with Mr Giuliani during a meeting at the Washington DC hotel Mr Trumps company ran between 2016 and 2022.

Mr Kiriakou, who in 2012 was sentenced to nearly three years in prison for disclosing classified information, told the Times that one of Mr Giulianis associates at the meeting said the ex-New York City mayor could assist him  for a price.

Its going to cost $2 million  hes going to want two million bucks, he recalled the Giuliani associate as saying.

He also told the Times that he did not pursue a pardon through Mr Giuliani because he could not afford to pay him $2 million.

I laughed. Two million bucks  are you out of your mind? Kiriakou told the outlet. Even if I had two million bucks, I wouldnt spend it to recover a $700,000 pension, he said.

Ted Goodman, a spokesperson for and adviser to Mr Giuliani, told The Independent in an email that the former New York mayor unequivocally denies the allegations raised by Ms Dunphy.

Mayor Giulianis lifetime of public service speaks for itself and he will pursue all available remedies and counterclaims, he added.

The Independent has reached out to Mr Trumps team for comment.


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By Simon Hutagalung



The reunification of North and South Korea is a longstanding issue that has been the subject of international debate and negotiation. This essay will analyze North Korea's policy for reunification and the potential implications for the future of the governments of both countries. It will examine the official policy of North Korea for reunification, the role of Russia and China in North Korea's reunification policy, and the potential consequences of reunification for the regime in both North and South Korea. Finally, the essay will discuss potential solutions to the issue of North Korean reunification.



North Korea's doctrine for reunification is guided by its political ideology, history, and national identity. The regime sees itself as the rightful leader of the Korean Peninsula and believes that the reunification of the two countries should occur under its leadership. The principles that guide North Korea's approach to reunification include the establishment of a socialist state, the preservation of its political system, and the reunification of families separated by the division of the peninsula.



The official policy of North Korea for reunification is the Byungjin Line, which emphasizes the simultaneous development of the economy and nuclear weapons. It aims to develop nuclear capabilities while also strengthening the economy, ultimately leading to the reunification of the peninsula under North Korean leadership. But it is important to note that North Korea's official policies and rhetoric regarding reunification may not necessarily reflect its actual intentions and actions.



The role of Russia and China in North Korea's reunification policy cannot be ignored. North Korea has historically relied on support from these countries, both politically and economically. China, in particular, is North Korea's main ally and trading partner, and its support is critical to the regime's survival. Russia also has economic and geopolitical interests in the Korean Peninsula and has shown interest in improving relations with North Korea.



As such, North Korea may need a green light from these countries to pursue reunification, and their interests and priorities may impact North Korea's policy. For example, China has emphasized the need for stability on the Korean Peninsula and may be hesitant to support reunification if it leads to instability. Russia, on the other hand, has shown interest in using the issue of reunification as a means of gaining influence in the region.



The potential consequences of reunification for the regime in both North and South Korea are complex and multifaceted. If reunification occurs, it means the end of the regime in both countries. The political, economic and social factors that would shape the future of the two countries in the event of reunification are numerous and interdependent.



The reunification of the Korean Peninsula would require significant political, economic and social restructuring, and it is not clear what kind of state would emerge. A new regime may emerge that is acceptable to the major powers in the region, such as the United States, Russia, Japan and China, but this is not guaranteed. Also, reunification leads to significant economic and social costs, as the two countries have vastly different systems and levels of development.



Finally, a solution to the issue of North Korean reunification must involve cooperation between North and South Korea, as well as the major powers in the region. The best way to approach this complex issue is through a step-by-step process that prioritizes stability, economic development and humanitarian concerns.



One potential solution involves the establishment of a joint commission for reunification that would involve representatives from both North and South Korea, as well as major powers in the region. The commission would work towards establishing confidence-building measures, such as the exchange of humanitarian aid, people-to-people exchanges and joint economic projects. These measures would help build trust and understanding between the two countries and pave the way for more substantial negotiations on reunification.



Also, to build trust and confidence, it is important to address the economic and social factors that would shape the reunification process. The economic gap between North and South Korea is vast, with South Korea's economy being significantly more developed than that of North Korea. This would lead to challenges in integrating the two economies and result in economic shockwaves for both countries. It is therefore important to establish a framework for economic cooperation that considers the different economic systems and levels of development between the two countries.



Social factors such as language, culture and education also need to be addressed in the reunification process. There are significant differences between the two countries in terms of language, customs, and education systems. Efforts need to be made to bridge these gaps and promote greater understanding and tolerance between the two countries.



Another important consideration is the role of the international community in the reunification process. The major powers in the region, such as the United States, China, Japan and Russia, all have important interests in the Korean Peninsula. Any solution to the issue of reunification will need to take these interests into account and involve these countries in the process.



To sum up, the reunification of North and South Korea is a complex and multifaceted issue that requires a comprehensive and thoughtful approach. North Korea's policy for reunification is guided by its political ideology, history and national identity, and it is important to understand these factors to analyze its approach to the issue. The role of Russia and China in North Korea's reunification policy cannot be ignored, and the potential implications of reunification for the governments of both countries are complex and multifaceted.



A solution to the issue of North Korean reunification must involve cooperation between North and South Korea, as well as the major powers in the region. A step-by-step process that prioritizes stability, economic development and humanitarian concerns is the best way to approach this complex issue.





Simon Hutagalung is a graduate of the City University of New York and received his master's degree in political science and comparative politics. The opinion expressed here is his own.




YEREVAN, MAY 16, ARMENPRESS. The EU should crack down on India reselling Russian oil as refined fuels including diesel into Europe, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Josep Borrell told the Financial Times.

Borrell told the Financial Times that Brussels was aware that Indian refiners were buying large volumes of Russian crude oil before processing it into fuels for sale in Europe, saying for the first time the EU should act to stop it.

If diesel or gasoline is entering Europe . . . coming from India and being produced with Russian oil, that is certainly a circumvention of sanctions and member states have to take measures, Financial Times quoted Borrell as saying.

The trade is legal under EU sanctions but has been criticised by those who want to see harsher sanctions imposed on Russia and argue that it has allowed Moscow to keep earning large revenues from its oil sales.
H C Smith Ltd is pleased to represent WFMT in its search for a new Head of Programming and Operations. WFMT is one of the worlds most respected classical and folk music radio stations, accessible via broadcast at 98.7FM, streaming live at wfmt.com, and on the WFMT app. WFMTs purpose is to enrich lives, engage communities, and inspire exploration.

BACKGROUND

In December of 1951, a radio station with the call letters WFMT made its debut on Chicagos airwaves. Founders Bernie and Rita Jacobs had a vision: to create a station they themselves could enjoy, respect, and share with others. WFMT would strive to entertain, engage, and above all, respect its listeners with a quality and variety of programming found nowhere else. The stations first series of Chicago Symphony Orchestra concert broadcasts began in 1965. In 1968, WFMT began 24-hour broadcasting and that same year Bernard Jacobs sold WFMT to WGN Continental Broadcasting Company, which in turn donated the station to WTTW in 1970.

Today, with an annual operating budget of approximately nine million dollars, WFMT is recognized for trusted hosted and produced programming, immersive live performances and concerts, strong partnerships with community organizations, and championing young, local musicians and access to the arts. Across broadcast and digital channels, WFMT spotlights inspiring music, musicians, and musical performances from Chicago and around the world including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Sinfonietta, Lyric Opera of Chicago, the New York Philharmonic, and many more. As a strong and treasured Chicago cultural organization, WFMT also syndicates audio programs about arts and culture for radio stations and platforms across the country and abroad through the WFMT Radio Network.

In the years to come, WFMT is committed to broadening the appeal of classical music and taking listeners on a journey of discovery, to inspire people of all ages to explore different kinds of music.

OVERVIEW OF THE POSITION

The WFMT Head of Programming and Operations reports to the President and CEO of WTTW and will work cross-functionally to manage operations and produce and present relevant, best-in-class classical music content that drives audience growth; map station activities to strategic plan initiatives and goals; and align with the organizations mission, vision, values, and purpose.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Collaborate with the leadership team to understand and identify priorities, align resources with budget/funding considerations and operational capabilities, and recommend and deliver on strategic goals.

Identify a clear vision for WFMT, and supervise day-to-day broadcasting, programming, and production to align with vision.

Participate in business planning and execution (e.g., budgeting, community engagement, cross-functional priority projects) with leaders across the organization.

Collaborate cross-functionally to enhance content development, marketing/promotion, digital content production, community engagement, engineering; and development/sales.

Lead produced programs and live in-studio performance development and productions.

Oversee WFMT pledge drive production from planning to execution  including scheduling on-air hosts, producing on-air spots, and serving as on-air fundraiser  with an outcomes-driven and new member acquisition view; requires a focus on sustainability.

Leverage data to implement classical music programming best practices when scheduling hosts, programming hosted classical music, and producing listener-focused playlists across dayparts.

Identify classical music special programming and partnership opportunities to drive community impact across younger and more diverse audiences and work with relevant staff to develop and deliver content for multi-platform promotion and delivery.

Proactively manage a team of approximately 25 + staff including on-air hosts, music director, producers and broadcast managers and coordinators.

Lead by identifying goals and objectives and deploy resources most effectively, providing constructive feedback, incorporating performance measurement, and reinforcing accountability.

Oversee the WFMT syndication business, including station relations and operations, to meet and maximize annual financial targets to ensure long-term financial sustainability.

In collaboration with key staff, oversee music scheduling database and other systems.

Perform other duties as assigned; some travel required.

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS AND QUALITIES:

Must have a deep love and knowledge of classical music, both traditional and expanding canons from the long-established masters through new music from emerging artists.

Forward-looking knowledge of trends in radio and audio streaming that will guide creation, development, and execution of new ideas.

Demonstrated ability to build effective teams across a variety of working styles and personalities.

Ability to lead and cultivate a business culture of collaboration, contribution, accountability, and creativity focused on audience growth and high quality, audience-driven content.

Mentor, and foster cooperation and alignment among a diverse staff with myriad priorities.

Ability to present to small and large groups in person, virtually, and during on-air drives.

Bachelors degree and a minimum of 7-10 years of leadership experience in radio broadcasting and/or performing arts administration. MBA a plus.

Radio production experience a plus.

Compensation and Benefits:

The salary for this position is $150,000 annually based upon experience and qualifications. Competitive benefits package.

WFMT does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status under federal, state, or local law. We encourage individuals of all identities and abilities to apply.

All interested candidates are asked to contact Rebecca R. Smith, Managing Director, at rebecca@hcsmith.com, or E.B. Smith, Partner at eb@hcsmith.com. All inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.

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As Imrans bete noire, Gen. Munir had to endure the former PMs reciprocal indignity of supposed corruption charges

When the relatively unknown and perceptibly dour Gen. Syed Asim Munir took over as Pakistans Chief of Army Staff from the barrel-chested and garrulous Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa on November 29, 2022, it seemed like a change of sensibilities and perhaps even narrative. Gen. Bajwas initial selection (2018 elections) and later ejection (2022 no-trust vote) of Imran Khan was completed. Gen. Bajwa hung up his boots while the vainglorious Imran was given the boot! But it wasnt the end as Imran kept ranting, provoking and getting under the Pakistan Armys skin. Beyond Gen. Bajwa and the current ISI chief (Lt. Gen. Nadeem Anjum), Imran called out the ISI number two (Maj. Gen. Faisal Naseer, Dirty Harry) to shame the establishment. It was a pressure test for Gen. Munir. Imran baited, Gen. Munir bit hard. Ultimately, no change of narrative resulted.

In hindsight, Gen. Munir was always the establishments chosen one  meaning of Gen. Bajwa. The reasons are clearer now. Gen. Munir had tellingly overcome the technicality of getting selected for COAS despite his then retirement date as a lieutenant-general falling on November 27, while Gen. Bajwa was to doff his uniform only by November 29, yet Gen. Munir defied the odds of required adjustment. The farce of Schedule V-A of Pakistans Rule of Business says: The appointment of, and above the rank of, lieutenant-general in the Army and equivalent ranks in the other defence services will be made by the Prime Minister in consultation with the President. The real McCoy for passing the COAS Malacca cane was singularly Gen. Bajwa, representing the establishment. Incidentally, the sitting Pakistan President, Arif-ur-Rehman Alvi, is a founder member of Imrans Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI): he couldnt possibly have been allowed to exercise his mandated choice, not in the circumstances then prevailing.

As a rare Shia COAS, Gen. Munir faces the onerous task of exhibiting his fidelity to the establishment and steely resolve to the nation, just as it drove the only two other Shia COAS  Gen. Muhammad Musa and Gen. Yahya Khan  to wars with India in 1965 and 1971. Gen. Munir carries the unsaid burden of proving himself in a deeply sectarian society. He was ISI D-G when the Pulwama attack took place on February 14, 2019. Not responding or succumbing to Imrans accusations about Pakistans Army was not an option.

Lo and behold, on May 9, 2023, Imran was bumped into a personnel carrier of the Punjab Rangers and whisked away rather unceremoniously for a former Prime Minister. It was reminiscent of the arrests of Iskander Mirza in 1958 (Ayub Khans coup), Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in 1978 (Zia-ul Haqs coup) and Nawaz Sharif in 1999 (Pervez Musharrafs coup). Gen. Munir moved against a man who seemed to be unsettling the Deep State even more than the ruling civilian government.

Gen. Munir earned his place at the top with the critical one crescent, one star and three crowns on his epaulettes (as a brigadier), directly under then X Corps commander Gen. Bajwa. Clearly not wet behind his ears in terms of societal posturing, Gen. Munir is a Hafiz-e-Quran (one who has memorised the complete Quran). Unlike many flamboyant colleagues, he served under the radar and seemed safe (as was ironically, and wrongly, assumed for Ayub Khan, Zia-ul Haq and Pervez Musahrraf). Well-versed with the intrigues of Pakistan, Gen. Munir is the only COAS to have worn the dual hats of director-general of military intelligence and also director-general of ISI.

With the shortest tenure as the ISI D-G, due to his unusual questioning of the corruption trail leading to the wife of then PM Imran Khan, Gen. Munir has his unhealed personal history with him. As Imrans bete noire, Gen. Munir had to endure the former PMs reciprocal indignity of supposed corruption charges, while posted as XXX Corps commander. However, as ISI D-G, he would have been wise enough to know the consequences of pointing fingers at the PMs wife, so presumably he would have only been doing Gen. Bajwas bidding to send out a message to Imran to adhere to the establishments playbook. But Imran didnt confine himself to the establishments red lines. While Gen. Munir was to be the sacrificial lamb in 2019, he romped home in 2022 as the dark horse who became the all-powerful COAS.

If ever there was any doubt about Gen. Munir as Gen. Bajwas acolyte, it was put to rest with his taking stock of the situation, as Pakistans generals tend to do historically, whenever they or their institution stand to get besmirched. Whether Imran Khan has tripped Gen. Munir into making him an ever-bigger hero in the public eye, or, has bitten more than he can chew, will depend on how the emotions get manufactured and controlled in the days and weeks to come. But the establishment has moved decisively, and committed itself to a point of no return  at least for the next two and a half years of Gen. Munirs tenure. Imran stands to be politically neutralised (not physically, as he melodramatically claimed, as that would irreversibly turn the public tide against the Army).

So, brace yourself for sneaky leaks, sleazy exposes and corruption charges against Taliban Khan (as the world increasingly sees him), that will be gleefully and dutifully supported by the discredited ruling side and scared judiciary. Whenever the establishment decides to do something, they usually get it, legitimately or illegitimately. Gen. Munir has turned out to be a chip of the old block!
Wazir Khan, a 23-year-old activist, set up Today Child in Bagrami, 17 km from downtown Kabul, where, with a group of volunteers, he holds lessons for about 1,000 boys and girls, and goes door-to-door to speak to families about the importance of education, even amid todays desperate situation in Afghanistan.

Kabul (AsiaNews)  The Afghan population has been deprived of a future since the Taliban took over the country again in almost two years.

Since then, 90 per cent of the population has been plunged into poverty; most are food insecure, and girls and women have been denied their rights.

The United Nations estimates that at least six million children have been denied the right to an education with the start of the new school year.

While the international community is still stuck between the need to send humanitarian aid and the refusal to recognise the Taliban regime, some are still dreaming of giving children a different future.

Wazir Khan, 23, is one of them. About a year ago he founded Today Child, "a school that offers free education in rural areas," he told AsiaNews.

In fact, it is not a real school with a roof, classrooms, desks and school supplies. Wazir teaches classes outdoors thanks to a portable blackboard, while the children, who can follow the teachings for up to two years, listen to him sitting on the ground.

And they come in all kinds of weather, even when the temperature drops below zero. "They are eager to learn, Wazir explains, and are happy to have this opportunity. So are their parents." Girls are in the front row.

"I am originally from Baghlan province, but I live in Kabul," the young teacher said. Noting that he started with a handful of students, he now has "1,000 pupils". The school is located in Batkhak in the Bagrami district of the capital, where there are no state schools.

"I started as an activist a year ago because there were no schools for girls," he explained. "I saw children in rural areas who didn't have the opportunity to learn, so I decided to jump into education."

With a group of volunteers, Wazir is moving in two directions. On the one hand, he is trying to build a school building for local children; on the other hand, he is leading a door-to-door campaign to find children", speaking to families about Today Child and "raising awareness among parents about drug use and children's rights".

Batkhak is about 17 kilometres from downtown Kabul and most of the residents farm and raise livestock. "Volunteers work completely free of charge, Wazir said. They are not financially supported by any person or organisation.

The shockwaves caused by the return of the Taliban are still being felt by the Afghan population, Wazir said. Despite a 20-year war, young people were free to go to school. Then, everything vanished in an instant, but Wazir decided not to give up, nor did his pupils.

His school also takes in children with disabilities, like Hamid, 10, who moves on a wheelchair. When he comes to school, Hamid stays in the front row, next to the girls so he can easily reach the blackboard to write. Perhaps, if his school had had desks, walls and stairs all this would not be possible.
Winds of up to almost 250 kilometres per hour tore down telecommunication towers and razed entire houses to the ground. Before the disaster already 6 million people between Burma's Rakhine State and the refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, were in need of humanitarian assistance. The local Church took action to send aid. In the previous days, army troops had forced thousands of civilians to flee in the rain.

Yangon (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Hundreds could be dead after Cyclone Mocha struck on 14 May between the city of Sittwe, capital of Burma's western Rakhine State, and the refugee camp of Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, where around one million ethnic Rohingya Muslim refugees who fled Burmese army violence have found shelter since 2017.

Although some 400,000 people had been evacuated, over 2 million individuals have been impacted by what experts consider to be one of the worst weather disasters to hit the region in recent times.

Myanmar's coup junta, which conducted a coup on 1 February 2021 and has been fighting resistance forces for more than two years for control of the country, declared Rakhine a disaster area after winds of up to almost 250 kilometres per hour knocked down telecommunications towers and razed entire homes to the ground.

The organisation Partners Relief and Development reported that refugees in the Rakhine refugee camps had 'counted deaths in the hundreds', while Aung Kyaw Moe, a Rohingya activist and advisor to the Ministry of Human Rights of the government of national unity in exile - composed mostly of former deputies of the previous government ousted in the coup - wrote on Twitter that the death toll in Sittwe alone was 400.

Bangladeshi officials currently reported no casualties in the refugee camps in Cox's Bazar, but communications have not yet been fully restored.

"Initial reports suggest that damage is extensive and needs among already vulnerable communities, particularly displaced people, will be high," reads a UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) document. Before the cyclone hit, 6 million people, including 1.2 million displaced by ethnic conflicts, were in need of humanitarian assistance.

The local Church sent a number of aid items to the people affected by the cyclone: "We sent rice, oil, onions and tarpaulins to 40 families whose houses were damaged in the municipality of Kyaukphyu. We used our Lenten fund for the emergency response," said Fr Nereus Tun Min, director of the Catholic charity Karuna Pyay.

"Communications remain down in Sittwe and Kyauktaw. It is also difficult to get there because of transport problems,' the priest added.

Hundreds of people who had taken refuge in elevated places in Myanmar returned to their homes yesterday, but complicating the situation in Rakhine, the United Nations points out, is the presence of ordnance due to the civil war in Myanmar because landslides and floods may have moved landmines and other explosives into areas previously considered safe.

In recent days, the military junta's incursions have forced at least 16,000 people to flee under torrential rains: before hitting Rakhine, Cyclone Mocha flooded areas of Myanmar where the army is fighting against the strongholds of the anti-golpe resistance.

In the northern region of Sagaing, 'military columns have attacked villages since the storm began on 12 May. On Saturday, regime forces occupied the village of Min Ma, forcing residents to flee into the forest in the pouring rain,' a rescuer told The Irrawaddy.
by Nirmala Carvalho

The archdiocese has appealed for relief for more than 45,000 refugees, victims of clashes between ethnic Meitei and Kiku. A tense calm imposed by the army reigns in the states 16 districts. Meanwhile, the death toll has reached 60. Some 40 churches have been affected, including Catholic facilities in eight locations. The attacks appear to have been planned. The Church is trying to lead the way towards reconciliation.

Imphal (AsiaNews)  Shaken since 3 May by serious violent unrest that has left at least 60 people dead, the situation in the eastern state of Manipur is one of fear, uncertainty and a general sense of hopelessness, writes Archbishop Dominic Lumon of Imphal.

In a statement, the prelate on behalf of his archdiocese calls for relief to help thousands of people displaced by the devastation that left homes and churches in ruin following clashes between mostly Hindu majority Meitei and mainly Christian minority Kiku in the small state on the border with Myanmar, home to some 3.4 million people.

The army has restored a precarious calm imposing a curfew in the state capital of Imphal and all 16 districts of the state following the clashes, but wounds are deep.

Two communities are warring reads the statement, but the situation has affected all the people of Manipur irrespective of which community one belongs. [. . .] Many lives have been lost, villages/hamlets in the foothills have been vandalised, looted and torched.

Overall, Thousands have fled their homes and have reached some shelter camps. About 45,000 people are in relief camps in the valley and the hills. Around 13,800 in Imphal West, around 11,800 in Imphal East, around 4,500 in Bishnupur, 5,500 in Churachandpur, around 7,000 in Kangpokpi district.

"This information is based on daily newspapers and our own intelligence, but the number may be higher. Spot verification is not possible because the situation is tense. An economic blockade is also looming."

Given this, the archdiocese has launched an appeal asking the faithful to contribute by sending basic necessities or money to a fund assistance.

"The situation is volatile. There is unspoken mistrust among all the communities of the state", wrote a few days ago the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Imphal, Fr Varghese Velikakam, in a detailed report sent to all the bishops of India.

The text, accompanied by pictures of the devastation, describes the violence and the causes that originated it.

Extensive destruction to private homes and property have been inflicted on both sides. Vandalism and looting of properties in broad daylight is the uneasy order of the day in many pockets.

Along with private properties, many churches have been the target of attack in many parts of the valley region. Unconfirmed numbers of the destroyed (mostly burnt) churches are more than 40. The Catholic Church and its institutions have suffered the fury of the mob in at least eight places.

Many lives have been lost. What the newspapers are giving are the confirmed cases but there are many more lives lost than are officially published. [. . .] Many people, especially the student community, have been forced to move out of Imphal, the report goes on to say.

The central armed forces are assisting the State government in maintenance of law and order. It is hard to say if the State forces were outnumbered or overwhelmed with SOSs or if they were complicit. The absence of the security personnel in places where they were most needed raises questions that are unsettling, the report reads.

[W]hy was it that not even in one place of attack were the state force able to prevent things from running amuck for a prolonged time. Why is it that vulnerable places even after attempted attacks were left unguarded? the vicar general asks.

In fact, we cannot rule out that some sections of the people have attacked the churches with deliberate motive, while The multiple attack on the churches and hostels with relentless intent is disturbing.

Many churches belonging to Meitei Christians were also burnt in several places. Some attacks had nothing to do with the conflict, [which] indicates the strong and active involvement of some fanatical groups on the pretext of preserving Meitei customs, cultures, tradition and indigenous religion. This suggests that violence was premeditated and planned.

"The healing process will take time," notes Fr Velikakam, wondering who will be able to start it, given the obvious responsibilities of the local government.

The Church must go slow and assess the situation and refrain from too hasty decisions, which could be construed as biased. She must maintain neutrality and foster peace and unity.


Steps required urgently to address suicide, self-isolation among young people



Korea's suicide rate, still the highest among OECD member nations, has declined gradually over the past decade.



A notable exception is the suicide rate among children and adolescents.



According to Statistics Korea, the suicide rate among people aged 17 and under was 1.2 per 100,000 in 2000. However, the figure more than doubled to 2.7 in 2021. The comparable rate primarily for middle school students aged 12-14 jumped nearly fivefold, from 1.1 to 5.0 persons.



That, along with Korea's lowest birthrate worldwide, casts doubt on this society's health and sustainability. So many buds wither or are trampled long before they blossom. What has gone wrong?



Suicide by teenagers, and its weaker or preceding stage of reclusion, are due to the avoidance of social activities such as study and play. Another possible cause is society itself teeming with limitless greed and competition. All parents here wish the worldly successes of money and reputation for their children  and only that. Kids unable or unwilling to go all the way drop out of the rat race.



Korea may not be alone. But nowhere else are these phenomena more severe than here. This country industrialized and democratized itself over the span of just two generations and is the only one among 140 nations that became independent after World War II. It is the fifth hardest-working country in the OECD and perhaps the only one that can make Japan appear lazy. Korea and its establishment deserve praise for that and may as well have pride.



However, according to a survey conducted by the vernacular daily Dong-A Ilbo, 29.4 percent of people in their 20s said they "don't like being Korean." As reasons, they pointed to their country being "too competitive," "complicated," and "exhausting." Young Koreans think they have nothing to do with their country's or parents' accomplishments. These only pressure and discourage youngsters who will not and cannot repeat what their seniors did. For the poor, the increasingly hierarchical society also appears hopeless.



In this gloomy social atmosphere, various websites and online communities are mushrooming into the dark side of this IT-savvy country.



About a month ago, a girl in middle school jumped to her death from a 19-story building in Seoul's Gangnam District. The suicide was streamed live on Instagram and viewed by dozens of people. The operator of the website believed to be responsible for abetting the suicide has rejected a police request for a voluntary and temporary shutdown, maintaining that other online sites will continue to remain open. The Korea Communications Standards Commission does not enforce its closure, citing "freedom of expression." Meanwhile, two more teenagers attempted copycat suicides but failed.



The incident reveals two problems.



First, numerous ugly and wicked adults are bent on abusing and exploiting disoriented teenagers. They approach young victims online disguised as helpers, but abuse them sexually and financially offline, encouraging self-harm and suicide and extorting money. More and more teens fall prey to them amid social ignorance and legal leniency. Second, as one former victim said, there is the problem of having "no other adults to talk to," forcing teenagers to visit these websites and risk danger. Parents and teachers are of no help to these desperate kids, some of whom are already injured, mentally if not physically.



What society should do is clear enough.



In the short term, the government must punish individuals and organizations that abuse children and adolescents. It should force relevant online communities to shut down voluntarily by enacting laws if necessary and prosecuting those responsible. Protecting young lives is far more important than freedom of expression. It should also open many "anonymous"  instead of open and public  websites through which these youth can communicate freely and frankly.



In the long term, this society and the country should rethink its direction. Korea, where its people, especially younger ones, are almost the unhappiest worldwide, should be where most can live while doing what they want to do without social alienation or economic want.



Aiming to be a wealthier and stronger country is okay. However, what good is this if people are unhappy?




by Arundathie Abeysinghe

Seventeen sectoral oversight committees will have five appointed youth representatives who will be able to view bills and ask questions about funding. Last year, youth led anti-government protests that forced President Rajapaksa's to resign. For current President Wickremesinghe, involving young people is the first step towards the countrys success.

Colombo (AsiaNews)  Sri Lanka is the first country in the world to provide youth with the opportunity to be represented in parliaments sectoral oversight committees (SOCs).

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe made the announcement at an orientation workshop for youth representatives at SOCs organised by parliament with the assistance of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

For the president, the opportunity to participate in the SOCs offered young people a "novel approach" to contribute to Sri Lankas development between now and 2048.

In 25 years, the youths will be able to proudly say that, It was the step taken by us today that led to the system change which paved the way for the countrys success, Wicremesinghe said.

To this end, they can participate in the functions of parliament, not as observers, but as young representatives in the parliamentary committees.

Between March and July 2022, thousands of young people in Sri Lanka took part in mass protests (aragalaya) demanding a "system change". This forced then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign amid a deepening crisis and widespread protests.

Following the publication of a newspaper advertisement, 535 youth representatives were selected for the committees related to 17 subject areas established by parliament, senior government sources told AsiaNews.

These SOCs function with the participation of parliamentarians representing all political parties in the parliament and the chairperson of a committee can call five youth representatives each to assist its work.

Currently, the government plans to introduce certain bills on climate change and womens rights, which will give the youths an opportunity to discuss them, express their views, see how money is spent, why the money is allocated to certain subjects and not others. A new Parliamentary Budget Office will be created with assistance from ministries.

It is our responsibility to start a new chapter through this approach, said Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, as it ushers in a new era of participatory democracy.
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City of Aspen staff present an update on the New Castle Creek Bridge project to the Aspen City Council on Monday. The council did not support further investigations into the preferred alternative and asked for information instead about replacing the current bridge.
Korea-Japan Economic Association Chairman Kim Yoon, front row fourth from left, poses with Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun, front row fifth from left, Japan-Korea Economic Association Chairman Mikio Sasaki, front row sixth from left, and other officials of Korea and Japan applaud during an event at Lotte Hotel in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap



By Lee Kyung-min



About 240 high-ranking government officials and business leaders of Korea and Japan shared ways to boost bilateral cooperation, Tuesday, for Korea's bid to host World Expo 2030 in Busan, according to the trade ministry.



The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said that the two sides discussed ways for Korea to help Japan successfully organize the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, and for Japan to help Korea win the right to host the World Expo 2030 in Busan.



The face-to-face two-day event was resumed after four years off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.



The high-profile event in Seoul is the latest development in the recent wave of rapprochement between the two countries.



Other items on the agenda include strengthening bilateral cooperation to bolster personnel and technological exchanges in new growth-driver industries.



Korea-Japan Economic Association Chairman Kim Yoon, the organizer of the two-day meeting held in Seoul, said rapid improvement in the long-frayed bilateral ties will be most pronounced in the economic sector, as underpinned in part by restoration of high-level regular meetings and communication channels.



"Business leaders will continue efforts to lead and sustain the momentum for amicable bilateral ties and mutual growth," he said during the event at Lotte Hotel in Seoul.



Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun in his opening remarks called for more participation of business figures from the two countries.



He said Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and President Yoon Suk Yeol share a deep understanding on the need to advance bilateral relations.



Among the joint economic cooperation initiatives are collaboration on the new growth driver industries, countering global trade challenges and fortifying trilateral relations centering on the Korea-Japan partnership to extend influence on the global stage.



The event came about a week after the Japanese prime minister visited Korea from May 7 to 8, largely in response to Yoon's visit to Japan in March when the long-troubled bilateral relations found a breakthrough.



The bilateral trade relations largely recovered after Japan included Korea on its whitelist of favored trade partners eligible for simplified export procedures.



The inclusion essentially lifted export curbs Japan put in place in July 2019 in retaliation against Korea' Supreme Court ruling ordering Japanese firms to compensate South Korean victims of wartime forced labor.



The friction sparked by the top court found a compromise after the countries agreed to establish a fund for education and cultural exchanges of young people in both countries.



Attendees of the two-day event will hold a meeting organized by the two countries' chambers of commerce and industries in Busan next month.



The business network organization will discuss ways to bolster Busan's bid to hold the 2030 Expo and establish a platform for skilled young workers of the two countries.


The bike you're looking at now wears a name you might be familiar with, Big Dog. For some, that would be the current makers of things like the Bulldog, Mastiff, and K9, but in this case it couldn't be further from the truth. As you can clearly see, this is not any of those impressive Big Dogs, but an entirely different bike altogether.The man responsible for the two-wheeler as it sits before us now is Rick Fairless, the man of Strokers Dallas motorcycle shop fame, and a guy that, had he had his own show, might have been even more famous than OCC . At least according to some people, and the shop itself.Strokers, the most famous custom shop in the world (as it says about itself), made this contraption as a show bike back in 2004, and it toured the nation over the past few years, attending specialized events. It is a chopper true and true, and that's impressive on its own. But the thing that catches the eye the most with this one is the paint job.You see, despite his many other qualities, Fairless is first and foremost known for his paint jobs. The one you see here, a multicolor blend of awesomeness, is called Kaleidoscope, and was airbrushed all over, from the front fender and headlight to the fuel tank, frame, and swingarm.Said frame, of the hardtail variety, contains in its embrace an S&S engine that's 107ci in displacement and runs a Baker six-speed transmission. A snaking exhaust system signed by Martin Bros. can be seen to one side of the ride.The wheels, which are custom works of art in themselves, are backed by single disc brakes. The one at the front meets the asphalt at the end of a long fork.The long sleek body of the two-wheeler has on its back an integrated fuel tank, as not to break the line of the build. Further back, a leather seat can be seen (if you really squint, that is), the work of a crew that goes by the name Bitchin' Stitchin.We mentioned the Indianapolis auction earlier because that's where this bike is selling too, under the watchful eye of Mecum. It's listed with no reserve, but there are estimates as to how much it's expected to get. And that would be anywhere between $30,000 and $40,000.
BEV



Photo: IC



IC said he would share the videos presenting evidence that the The Dacia Spring caught fire 15 minutes later smoke started flowing from the battery pack. According to IC, it only took ten minutes for the vehicle to be completely destroyed. More than the vehicle loss, the Dacia owner is worried about what his family went through. His wife and kids got terrified by the whole thing. His oldest one was in shock, and he said they were "all going through some tough times emotionally. I don't wish it on anyone."IC said he would share the videos presenting evidence that the battery pack caught fire soon after he showed them to Dacia. Stirile Pro TV obtained footage of the fire and published it while talking about an apartment fire in Hunedoara as well, but it made a serious mistake. The journalist said the automaker contacted IC and that he got a new car from the company, but he denied that on Facebook. While that may still happen, it hasn't so far. You can watch the video below  only in Romanian, but the images are the most crucial part. I have tried to contact IC and the automaker, and I am still waiting for their replies to understand what will be the next steps.



Photo: IC



I have asked Dacia about other fires involving the BEV, but I should probably have asked about all the other Luckily for the Dacia owner, his vehicle still had 18 months of warranty left and also a comprehensive insurance policy that would reimburse him for 15,841 ($17,260 at the current exchange rate) should his vehicle be a total loss. Commenters in his post said that the insurance company would probably refuse to pay him any compensation if the fire was caused by a manufacturing defect. IC answered that he does not care that much about the car but that he would rather have "the quiet and the peace" his family had before this whole episode. He also thinks only technicians from the Chinese factory may be able to determine what happened with his Spring.I have asked Dacia about other fires involving the BEV, but I should probably have asked about all the other seven derivatives based on the same electric car project. With most of them in China, we do not hear about them as much as we should. This may be the first fire case in Western markets where Renault sells the Dacia Spring, the Renault City K-ZE, and the Renault Kwid E-Tech Electric. If you have heard about any other, please share with everyone in the comments.



Photo: Dongfeng



Even if it is something restricted to IC's car, the fire shows how difficult it is to extinguish thermal runaway events even in a vehicle with a relatively small battery pack (27.4 kWh ) such as the



There are several possible causes for the blaze. Manufacturing defects are among them, but impacts on battery packs have also caused fires in the past. IC's wife did not report that when she told him about the noises and later about how the situation developed. Only careful investigation will be able to reveal what happened, especially considering how little of the car was left for any inspection.Even if it is something restricted to IC's car, the fire shows how difficult it is to extinguish thermal runaway events even in a vehicle with a relatively small battery pack (27.4) such as the Dacia Spring . The tiny Honda e has a much larger unit (35.5 kWh), and the smallest battery pack on a Tesla had 60 kWh. I'll keep an eye on this case to tell you any news that Dacia or IC may have to share with us.

The vehicle owner shared the images in a Facebook group dedicated to the car and answered all questions the other members had about the whole thing. Thanks to them, we learned that IC (the owner's initials) bought the car in October 2021. It was one of the very first to be sold in Romania. Although it has a Dacia badge, the vehicle is made in China, and it is based on the Renault City K-ZE . Thehad only around 36,000 kilometers (22,369 miles) on the odometer when the blaze destroyed it. It was always charged at home and never presented any major issues.According to the Spring owner, his wife was driving home with their kids when she saw a battery sensor warning light on the dashboard. It was followed by "an infernal noise from under the car," "a loud hiss coupled with a squeak from hell" that resembled "a combination of whistling and loud screaming" that could be heard 300 meters (328 yards) from where she eventually managed to park (in front of the owner's house). It lasted a few minutes before smoke started pouring out of the battery pack. IC said he has videos that show precisely where the smoke was intermittently coming from.
If you believed Elon Musk was about to give up his latest toy without finding a replacement, you're in for a surprise. Musk, who also leads SpaceX and Tesla, will have more time to spend outside of Twitter now that the social media platform has a new CEO. This is something that investors have been asking for the past year since Musk bought Twitter. Still, they might've been happier with Musk distracted than with him alert.On May 15, Tesla's CEO sent a letter to all its employees telling them he would personally approve all hires, including contractors. Based on the email's tone, Musk seems concerned about the company's hiring practices. He announced all Tesla vice presidents to send him a list of their department hiring requests for review. Musk wants this list forwarded on a weekly basis and warned his subordinates to "think carefully" before sending him a request. Tesla's CEO said that no one can join the company, even as a contractor, until he personally approves it. The move is bizarre, considering that Tesla hired 30,000 new employees in 2022. This represents an average of about 600 employees per week, potentially cluttering the entire Musk's agenda. This hiring spree will only accelerate because Tesla is expanding in Mexico and plans new mineral-processing facilities, among other things. Unless Musk gives his team more leeway, his request threatens to grind Tesla operations to a halt.Unless Musk plans a hiring freeze , this might be another one of his tricks to keep workers alert. People are always more careful when they know the boss is watching. The move could also be aimed at controlling spending at a time when Tesla profits have plummeted. The company reported a 20% drop in first-quarter net income compared to Q1 2022, fueled by massive price cuts operated in the quarter. The situation is not expected to improve anytime soon, which might confirm that Tesla is trying to curb unessential hiring.This is not the first time Tesla implemented a hiring freeze. The last time this happened was in 2022, when Musk announced the company wanted to cut 10% of its staff and pause hiring globally. At the time, he had a "bad feeling" about the economy's direction. Many technology companies announced layoffs around the same time, fearing a recession was looming. Still, despite the announcement, Tesla continued to hire more people in 2022, increasing its workforce by 28% throughout the year.
Photo: Benetti Yachts

Photo: Benetti Yachts

Photo: Benetti Yachts

Photo: Benetti Yachts

Strangest yet, Luminosity, a gigayacht described by builder Benetti as "art in motion," was never sailed by either owner. Not just that, but they didn't even get to set foot on it, which brings a whole different meaning to the phrase "money down the drain," given its reported $270 million price tag."Luminosity is a gigayacht for the 21st century," Benetti says in the official description of the vessel. "A hybrid of technologies and dreams built with a visionary spirit. An innovative, soundless cruising experience." An incredible, ultra-luxurious, fully custom, and most technologically advanced superyacht that has never gone anywhere except out to sea trials. A wonder that the very person who should have enjoyed it more, its owner, never did.We all have bad and worse days, but the case of Luminosity shows there's truth to the old saying, "The bigger they are, the harder they fall." It's a spectacular case of a spectacular vessel whose steep fall from the top happened even before it got the chance to shine at its brightest.The sanctions against Russian oligarchs did it, as you might have anticipated. While we're not saying that the fall is permanent, it does offer an insight into the exclusive world of the one-percenters and shows that when they're having a bad day, it's quite possibly the worst.Luminosity was launched in February 2019 and should have been delivered to the original owner in the spring of 2020. Its design and build took years because the owner, Kutayba Yusuf Ahmed Alghanim, a Kuwaiti billionaire, was very specific in the briefing. A firm believer that luxury is defined by "the volume of space and the air that you breathe," he wanted a gigayacht that would feature incredible amenities and the best open-air feel out of all the other vessels in operation. His yacht had to be a floating palace but made of glass, packed with art, and boasting hybrid tech that would also make it the greenest build around.It was a hefty task, but Benetti Yards carried it through spectacularly. Based on naval architecture by Azure Naval Architects, with a design by Reymond Langton and Giorgio Cassetta, and interiors by Zaniz Interiors, Luminosity is a mammoth measuring 353 feet (107) meters in length, an interior volume of 5,884 GT across six decks. It is also a fully-custom yacht, offering accommodation for as many as 27 guests and 37 crew, and the most lavish amenities ranging from unique wellness areas to packed tender garages and beautiful art pieces like a bathtub carved out of a single piece of Carrara marble.As requested in the briefing, Luminosity is a glass palace, in an almost literal sense. It features almost 9,000 square feet (836 square meters) of glazing throughout, the most found on a vessel today. It also features a glass forest in the center: a walkway framed by screens on all sides, with an encased floating glass staircase. As you walk through, the screens come alive with e-flowers, which bloom as you pass  of course, you can set the scene to whatever tickles your fancy, but Benetti advertised this space as a glass forest.Amenities also include several pools, be they plunges, jacuzzis, or counter-flow, two helipads (one of which is a certified helideck with a refueling station), a spa area with a fully-equipped gym and sauna, and incredible lounges, both indoor and alfresco, where you can enjoy your billionaire lifestyle with like-minded friends. As the video tour below shows, Luminosity is an absolute stunner, elegant and imposing, sophisticated but still welcoming.That said, the highlight of this megayacht is its ability to cruise with reduced noise and emissions. Luminosity is the most technologically advanced and greenest superyacht around right now, with hybrid diesel-electric propulsion that gives it wide range and reduced environmental impact.As noted in a separate presentation , Luminosity relies on twin 2,200kW ABB Azipods powered by six Caterpillar diesel generators and large lithium-polymer batteries. It has a range of over 8,000 nautical miles (9,206 miles/14,816 km) at cruising speed and can max out at 16.5 knots (19 mph/30.5 kph) or run hotel functions at anchor for a full 24 hours on batteries alone.The strangest thing about Luminosity is that it never got its time to shine, even after 3 years from delivery. Alghanim, the original owner, refused delivery only weeks before it was scheduled to happen, so it was listed for sale at 225 million (approximately $245 million at the current exchange rate). Shortly after, it was sold to Russian billionaire Andrey Guryev, who also owns the controversial Alfa Nero , and it was delivered to Montenegro just days before Guryev was included on sanctions lists.For the past 2 years, Luminosity has been stuck in Montenegro, plagued by various issues and seemingly abandoned by the owner. Guryev has denied being the direct beneficiary (that's owner" for us, non-millionaires) of Luminosity  and Alfa Nero , for that matter.Management company Burgess cut ties with the owner as sanctions went into effect , which rendered it unable to pay crew salaries. With a ship over a certain size, you have to have a skeleton crew onboard at all times to run maintenance and for safety reasons, so it's not like Burgess could padlock Luminosity and go about its day.Two years after sanctions, the last of the original and replacement crews walked off, according to insiders speaking with eSysman Superyachts. Today, the Montenegro government is paying for all fees related to the vessel, including the small crew now onboard. This beautiful, revolutionary, and insanely luxurious gigayacht remains abandoned and, because of it, a burden on the regular taxpayer. It's a $270 million floating palace of glass with incredible green credentials, turned into a $270 million pain in the butt.
AMG

The E in CLE brings it closer to the E-Class, which is referred to as the 214 series for the 2024 model year. But in truth, it's also related to the lesser C-Class because of its platform.Said platform is the MRA II, as in the second coming of the Modular Rear Architecture for rear-biased vehicles. Compatible with everything from a puny four-pot engine to a 6.0-liter V12, this platform is artificially limited to four-cylinder lumps in the C-Class. Even the C 63 flaunts a hand-built four in combination with plug-in hybrid assistance.Certain voices expect Mercedes-to use said powertrain for the 63 series of the CLE, which may hold water. But on the other hand, the mad professors in Affalterbach would shoot themselves in the foot for preferring four over six cylinders.For starters, the 2024 model year E-Class is available with a turbocharged inline-six mill stateside. It's dubbed 450, and this very engine has also been confirmed by Mercedes through an EPA filing for the CLE. Scheduled to arrive in showrooms for the 2024 model year as well, the CLE is also getting a 53 version, as per the aforementioned EPA filing Care to guess the number of cylinders? Not surprising in the least, we're getting the 450's engine . Codenamed A236 in cabrio form and C236 as a coupe, the CLE is due to go on sale in October 2023. Lesser versions are certain to use the four-cylinder turbocharged engine of the 350 series. The question is, will the long-awaited CLE 63 get four or six cylinders?Nobody except Merc knows for certain. We're keeping our fingers crossed for the sixer despite it not being a true AMG engine, and six makes more sense than four if you look at the bigger picture: C 63 with an I4, E 63 and CLE 63 with an I6, and S 63 with a V8. The incredibly powerful I4 of the C 63 may be a hand-built engineering marvel, but alas, the sounds it makes are best described as glorified vacuum cleaner.Recently spied testing in sunny Spain, the CLE 63 is pictured with the sunroof and side windows fully open. Most likely, Mercedes is testing the climate control at full blast. We can further notice mismatched wheels and bronze calipers squeezing on drilled rotors. Bronze calipers usually mean carbon-ceramic brakes, which aren't presently available in the C 63. On the upside, Mercedes says they're in the offing.Pictured with trapezoidal exhaust tips  just like the C 63  the CLE 63 Coupe shows a fuel door on the right rear fender. The charging port door is located on the rear bumper, just below the right taillight. By comparison, the C 63's charging port is on the left rear fender, opposite to the gas cap.Does this mean we're dealing with an inline-six? God willing!
MPV

SUV

kWh

Renault introduced the Austral last year as it retired the ill-fated Kadjar . The Samsung-based compact crossover failed to ignite the passion of European customers. Despite its bland name, Austral was supposed to be the top dog in its segment and push Renault into the upper echelon of the European market. Still, its fame was short-lived, considering that Renault has already announced a new flagship.The Renault Rafale will compete in the D segment, where Renault also sells the recently unveiled Espace. Espace used to be an, but Renault thought SUVs were cooler , giving it a new spin. Although the Espace is noticeably larger, it shares many technical details and even body panels with the C-segment Austral. Now, Renault wants to add the Rafale to the lineup, which is a coupe-version of the new Espace.Rafale is a popular name in France, thanks to the fighter jet built by Dassault Aviation. If you wonder what's the connection between Renault and the multirole fighter, there isn't one. Instead, Renault connects to the Caudron C460, a famous racing plane from the 1930s. Renault acquired Caudron in 1933 and renamed the C460 as Rafale, the French name for "gust." Nevertheless, this is the first time when the Rafale name has been used for a car model. It's way better than Austral, admit it.The upcoming Renault Rafale marks the dawn of a new D-segment strategy at Renault. The new coupe-SUV will be powered exclusively by the latest generation of Renault's E-Tech hybrid powertrains. The Rafale will be available with mild and full hybrid powertrains, with the former backed by the gas-powered four-banger 1.3-liter engine. The full-hybrid version combines a three-cylinder, 1.2-liter engine with an electric motor and a 1.7-Li-ion battery for a total of 196 horsepower. No fully-electric version is planned.Design-wise, the Rafale should borrow the front cues of the Austral and Espace while retaining the longer wheelbase of the latter. The rear is entirely new, though, with a raked rear glass and LED taillights extending over the car's entire width. The cabin will inherit the same glass cockpit as the Austral and Espace, with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12-inch infotainment screen. A 9.3-inch head-up display is also on offer.The Renault Rafale will premiere on June 18 during the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, with the market launch planned for late 2023 or early 2024. Rumor has it that the Rafale will also be available in a sporty Esprit-Alpine guise, in line with its premium ambitions.
EV

kWh

Despite rumors that Tesla is facing a demand problem , themaker is expanding its production capacity throughout its factories. Although production has remained flat in the first quarter, this is usually the weakest, and Tesla expects the demand to increase in the coming months. That's why it keeps ramping up Giga Austin and Giga Berlin. With the imminent production start for the Cybertruck, Tesla will need the supply chain and production capacity to perform at their best.That's why we're not surprised to learn that Tesla is looking to further expand its gigafactory in China. Giga Shanghai is Tesla's most efficient factory and has become its main production hub in the past year. Tesla produced almost 730,000 Model 3 and Model Y EVs in Shanghai, many exported to Europe, Asia, and North America Tesla is seeking regulatory clearance to expand its operations at Giga Shanghai, although it's unclear whether it will start the work immediately. The clearance is standard procedure in China, allowing the public to comment on the environmental impact of the potential expansion. According to the filings reviewed by Reuters, Tesla wants to increase the drive-unit production capacity to 1.75 million units, up from 1.25 million currently. It also wants to set up new facilities to recycle chemicals for waste-water treatment in the plant.Another intriguing piece of information indicates that Tesla wants to start producing pouch-type battery cells. Pouch cells , which keep battery components in a flexible bag, are widely used in electronic devices. Some carmakers, including General Motors, also use them in their EVs, although the Chevy Bolt recall shows why Tesla said they are too dangerous. It's intriguing that Tesla now wants to produce such battery cells, although they might not be destined for EV battery production. Instead, Tesla might use them in other products, with speculations that Tesla Bot might be one of them.Elon Musk explained in 2021 why Tesla would never use pouch-type battery cells in its EVs. The shape and size of the cells needed for EV batteries mean that the distance from the cooling loop to the center of the cell is higher for pouch cells than for cylindrical cells. This facilitates a thermal runaway, especially as cells heat up and swell during regular operation. The weak bag makes it impossible to stop the whole pack from burning, said Musk . That's why Tesla always used cylindrical cells in its battery packs, and other carmakers intend to switch to using them.Considering all this , it's safe to assume that Tesla will not use large but smaller pouches. This means Tesla must have other use-case scenarios in mind. The pouch-cell battery production line at Giga Shanghai would have an initial capacity of 20,000 amp-hours. Considering the cell voltage of 3.5-4.2 Volts, this equals a 70-84capacity, which is barely enough to make a single EV battery pack. Hopefully, Tesla will offer more information during the upcoming Annual Shareholder Day.
First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Economy of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko, front row center, poses with Vice Chairman of Korea Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) Woo Tae-hee, front row third from right, and other officials during a business meeting at the KCCI building in Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of KCCI



By Kim Hyun-bin



The deputy prime minister of Ukraine called on Korean firms to participate in the war-torn country's post-war reconstruction projects, which are estimated to reach up to $893.2 billion over a 10-year period.



At the "Korea-Ukraine Partnership for the Future" meeting organized jointly by the Korea Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) and the Embassy of Ukraine in Korea, Ukraine's First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said, "Ukraine has to work on rebuilding its infrastructure, energy (sector) and more."



"We hope for cooperation in the fields of environmental energy, green hydrogen, and other areas where Ukraine, a country with high potential in environmental technology, can collaborate with Korean companies," she said.






Joining forces with Hurst and drag racing's most famous lady

Photo: National Hot Rod Association

From prototype to limited-series drag weapon

Photo: American Motors Corporation

Purposely downplaying its power potential

Photo: American Motors Corporation

A slow start followed by a record-breaking season

Photo: Mecum

The Super Stock today

Photo: Mecum

The American Motors Corporation was born on May 1, 1954, after the merger of the Nash-Kelvinator Corporation and the Hudson Motor Car Company.While Hudson used to be a pioneer in American motorsport, dominating NASCAR during the early years of the competition, AMC didn't keep the flame burning. The company initially went by the motto: "The only race we care about is the human race" and developed economy cars that had nothing to do with performance. And it went well for the first few years.But, with the market's appetite for high-horsepower machines growing during the first part of the 1960s, AMC fell far behind Detroit's Big Three in terms of sales and reputation. It became known for building cars tailored for grandparents , so younger buyers usually stayed far away from its dealerships.In 1965, management sounded the alarm and began shifting the company's focus toward exciting products that would attract younger buyers. It took several years of development, but by the summer of 1968, AMC's model lineup included a rival for the Mustang in the shape of the Javelin pony car and the closely-related AMX two-seater, which became a viable, cost-effective alternative to Chevy's Corvette. Both models were available with a wide range of options, including the X-code 390-ci (6.4-liter) V8, which delivered 315 hp and 425 lb-ft (576 Nm) of torque.Although it arrived a bit late to the muscle car party, AMC was heading in the right direction. Nevertheless, it needed to raise the excitement bar higher in order to mount a serious challenge for GM, Ford, and Mopar muscle.Before it unleashed the AMX on public roads, AMC hired land speed record holder Craig Breedlove and his "Spirit of America" team to help promote the car. With the help of Traco Engineering, they put together two specially-prepared cars , then set 106 world speed and endurance records at Goodyear's track in Texas. It was a terrific marketing effort for a company with a fraction of the budget and manpower of its Detroit-based rivals. However, this was just the beginning.Thanks to newly-appointed performance manager Walt Czarnecki - who came over from Hurst's Research division in Ferndale, Michigan - AMC continued to flex its muscles on both the street and the strip. For the street, they joined forces with Czarnecki's former employer and developed the legendary 1969 SC/Rambler . Then, for the strip, the AMC/Hurst partnership focused on building a special version of the AMX that could compete in the National Hot Rod Association's popular Super Stock class.To build and test the first AMX Super Stock prototype, the company enlisted the help of accomplished drag racer Shirley "The Drag-On Lady" Shahan and her husband, engine builder extraordinaire H. L. Shahan.H.L. went to work on transforming the stock 1969 AMX into a legitimate Super Stock contender, and thanks to the car's solid, factory-built platform, he didn't have to re-engineer the entire thing.He spent most of the time working on the 390 V8, which he upgraded with higher compression ratio JE pistons, Crane cylinder heads complete with a solid roller camshaft, an Edelbrock dual-quad aluminum intake, Doug's tubular exhaust headers, a Mallory dual-point distributor, and a pair of Holley 650 carbs.The already-lightweight chassis required little modifications. It gained sturdier suspension components, a new crossmember that allowed easy access to the oil pan, and a Twin-Grip AMC 20 rear axle with 4.44:1 gears.Tipping the scales at 3,050 lbs (1,383 kg), the prototype didn't require lighter body panels, and as soon as it hit the strip with The Drag-On Lady behind the wheel, it effortlessly delivered 11-second runs.With the prototype proving its worth, AMC delivered 52 body-in-white AMX units to Hurst Performance Research's Detroit facility, where they were converted to Super Stock spec.The Hurst-prepared cars were all equipped with four-speed manual transmissions equipped with Hurst shifters. Finished in either Frost White or a patriotic red, white, and blue scheme, they featured most of the upgrades received by the prototype, save for engine blueprinting and the solid roller Crane cams, which were replaced with stock 390 variants. The idea behind this move was to allow dealers and buyers to fit the cams they preferred, then blueprint the engines themselves.AMC also rated its output at 340 hp so it could run in the NHRA's Super Stock/G class, where it would have obliterated the competition. In reality, a well-prepped engine was capable of more than 500 hp when put on a dyno - something that NHRA officials became aware of.Therefore, they rated the engine at 420 hp and homologated the car for the more competitive SS/E class. Later, rule changes would send it to SS/D and SS/C classes, but that didn't stop the AMX Super Stock from proving itself.The Super Stock - which came with a competitive $5,994 ($50,113) price tag - was not marketed as a ready-to-race drag weapon but a semi-finished base car that could be easily tailored to the driver's preference.In part because of this, sales were initially slow, and many Super Stocks remained in dealerships for months. Then, factory- and dealer-backed teams started competing in more races, shattering many class speed and ET records.The AMX Super Stock went from underdog to fan-favorite, and soon, all 52 cars were sold. They continued to dominate the class in the following seasons, becoming drag racing legends.As it turned out, 1969 marked a turning point in the history of AMC, which managed to reinvent itself and become one of the leading muscle car manufacturers. On the street, the SC/Rambler was a resounding success, laying the groundwork for the 1970 Machine , and the AMX Super Stock boosted the company's image even further on the strip.Although all 53 cars (including the prototype) saw serious race action throughout the years, as many as 40 are still around today. Although not as famous as similar Ford, GM, or HEMI-powered Mopar drag weapons, they're still highly sought-after on the collectors market.Last year (2022), an example fully restored to the showroom condition went under the hammer at a Mecum auction , fetching $181,500. However, a well-kept, highly-original example with a winning resume can be worth much more than that.The 1969 AMC AMX Super Stock defied all odds and became both a drag racing and a muscle car icon . It was perhaps the ultimate drag racing underdog, proving that a small yet determined carmaker could hang with the big boys in the high-performance world.In the YouTube video below by If This Car Could Talk, you can get to know the last Super Stock ever produced, which was recently restored by its owner, Dan Curtis.
kWh

When people learned that Geely would acquire Volvo, everyone thought the worst was about to come. Yet, the Chinese company helped Volvo reach its full potential while offering a financial lifeline. Geely intelligently juggled tasks across its brands, making Volvo the group's technological spearhead. The EX90 launched in November 2022 was just a glimpse into Volvo's future, and we must say it looks bright. The technology-packed EX90 will undoubtedly be very expensive, but the Swedish brand also covers the lower market segments.The small electric crossover EX30 was first teased alongside the EX90 last November in what was planned as an easter egg during the presentation. Later, Volvo offered more details about its future bestseller. The EX30 will be built in China to keep the costs down, as Volvo targets the Gen-Z generation. To make the new model more affordable, Volvo announced a subscription-based sales model dubbed Care by Volvo. This is probably needed, considering the upcoming model will not be exactly cheap for an entry-level model.Our photographers snapped a Volvo EX30 prototype undergoing final testing in Eastern Europe. Despite being less than two weeks away from the official unveiling, Volvo still covers the EX30 in air-tight camouflage. We can see that the prototype features the production lights we've previously seen in leaks and patent images . The traditional "Thor hammer" light signature, introduced in 2015, is clearly visible. The spy shots also reveal the size and proportions of the EX30, which looks like a raised compact hatchback in the pictures, a proper competitor to the Mercedes-Benz EQA.The EX30 will be built on Geely's Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) alongside the ZEEKR 003 and smart #1 and smart #3 crossovers. Based on the technical characteristics of its siblings, the Volvo EX30 should be no slouch, with at least 268 horsepower on tap. The most powerful versions could go as wild as 422 horsepower. The smart #1 features a 66-battery pack, and Volvo will likely feature a similar setup. It doesn't sound like it will be cheap, especially as Volvo aims to mass-produce the EX30.The Volvo EX30 will be officially unveiled on June 7, when we'll learn more about Volvo's mass-market crossover. The compact crossover will slot below the XC40 Recharge, although it's likely to bring its early demise. The veteran electric crossover inherited an aging architecture from the combustion-engine version, which makes it less attractive. Ultimately, it depends on Volvo's pricing strategy, which could make the EX30 expensive enough to render the bland XC40 Recharge more attractive.
Charles Michel, the European Union chief who hosted the talks, said Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev confirmed their unequivocal commitment to  respective territorial integrity of Armenia (29,800 square kilometers) and Azerbaijan (86,600 square kilometers).

The total Soviet-era area of Azerbaijan cited by Michel includes Karabakh.

Negotiations are ongoing on the provision of international guarantees for ensuring Nagorno-Karabakhs rights and security, Deputy Foreign Minister Mnatsakan Safarian repeatedly told reporters as they pressed him on the implications of Michels statement.

Safarian said Armenia always recognized Azerbaijans territorial integrity. So there is nothing new here, he said.

The diplomat did not clarify whether Yerevan will explicitly recognize Karabakh as a part of Azerbaijan in a peace treaty currently discussed by the conflicting sides.

The Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers are scheduled to meet in Moscow later this week for further talks on the treaty.

Meanwhile, Armenian opposition leaders continued to portray Michels remarks as further proof of Pashinians readiness to help Baku regain control over Karabakh.

86,600 square kilometers means Karabakh is a part of Azerbaijan, said Armen Rustamian of the opposition Hayastan alliance.

Pashinian has not yet made any public statements on the Brussels summit held on Sunday. In recent months, he has publicly encouraged Karabakhs leaders to negotiate with Azerbaijan while accusing Baku of planning to commit genocide in the Armenian-populated region.

The authorities in Stepanakert have repeatedly denounced Pashinians comments on the conflict with Azerbaijan. In a joint statement issued on April 19, the five political groups represented in the Karabakh parliament again accused him of undermining the Karabakh Armenians right to self-determination which was for decades supported by international mediators.
16 May 2023 15:43 (UTC+04:00)

Elnur Enveroglu Read more

One meeting at a time, the agreement of the Armenian leadership in the meeting, and in the end, different opinions and chaos in the country, and ultimately Pashinyan's reneging on his promise - pretending to be fearing for his life. All this has already turned into a constantly repeating scenario, which has been a tedious story for Azerbaijan, Europe and the West, and even Russia.

Finally, on May 14, in accordance with the wishes of Azerbaijan, as well as the steps taken for the restoration of real peace in the region, the trilateral meeting was held among three leaders bringing the Brussels format back. The meeting, which took place in a positive mood, ended with some successful results for Azerbaijan as well. Even though the tripartite meeting in Brussels did not fully satisfy Armenia, it was undeniable that in the end, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan would agree to the set conditions.

What points were considered at the Brussels meeting?

First, the main issue was the adherence of Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders to the terms of the 1991 Almaty declaration and the mutually respect of both parties to each other's territorial integrity. This was also a confirmation of the Armenian Prime Minister's recognition of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, similar to the meeting in Prague.

Another issue discussed was the mutual agreement regarding prisoners of war. As the President of the Council of Europe, Charles Michel, emphasized, it seemed promising that positive results would be achieved between the two sides. However, every time Armenians, being faithful to their tradition, try to violate what is written on the document. Some statements made in the Armenian media the other day brought back the old anti-Azerbaijan atmosphere. In the statement of Armenian deputy Artur Khachatryan, the criticism of Pashinyan once again showed that Armenia does not want to negotiate with Azerbaijan. At the same time, it can be emphasized that the MP's calling the Brussels meeting inconclusive and Azerbaijan's "taking over the rule of the Nagorno-Karabakh" as a clear disrespect for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. A question also arises here: does this country have a leader? Whose word is superior in this country?

The formation of such a chaotic mood in the country after Pashinyan's meetings can mean that the leadership either lacks authority or that Pashinyan is simply mentally ill. Because there is a choice in the middle: either you have to agree and follow, or you have to give up and have the last word...

But this is not the end. Although the final result regarding the fate of the prisoners of war at the Brussels meeting was satisfactory, it was not received unequivocally within Armenia. In other words, Pashinyan says one word outside, but a different story is heard inside the country. Also, this can be understood as a refutation of not only Pashinyan, but also the President of the Council of Europe, Charles Michel. Siranush Sahakyan, the representative of the interests of Armenian prisoners, claims that Azerbaijani military personnel, who recently went missing and were brutally beaten and arrested by Armenia, deliberately entered the Armenian territory. Moreover, she called the terrorist groups arrested by the Azerbaijani side in the territory of Karabakh after the signing of the capitulation document between Armenia and Azerbaijan as prisoners of war. Mrs. Siranush probably neglects the November 9 statement, which Pashinyan agreed to with his signature. The Armenian populist's statement to Russian media shows that Armenia has not yet woken up from its illusions and cannot discern the prisoners of war from terrorist groups either by her stupidity or knowingly. Even Siranush's discussion of the law and rights regarding the arrested Azerbaijani servicemen puts the puppet government in Yerevan in a ridiculous situation. After all, what legal regulations is Armenia talking about? Is beating an unarmed soldier and torturing him included in the Armenian law?

Of course, it is not surprising to see this from the Armenian society, which cannot distinguish between peace negotiations and the politics of ethnic cleansing. In the sovereign territory of another state, speaking on behalf of its legal citizens is written in which international laws? Is Armenia really thinking about taking care of the 30 thousand Armenians in Karabakh, or is it about carrying out its nefarious plans over the poor people there?

Thus, the pleasant impressions of the Brussels meeting are only until the moment of the Armenian leadership shakes hands with the parties at the meeting. While Pashinyan was speaking at the meeting, the adoption of separate decisions in Yerevan can also be a message for Azerbaijan as it has to take tougher decisions.

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Elnur Enveroglu is AzerNews deputy editor-in-chief, follow him on @ElnurMammadli1

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16 May 2023 19:00 (UTC+04:00)

Rena Murshud Read more

It seems that Armenia was concerned about some of the points presented at the tripartite meeting in Brussels on 14 May. The main thing is that Charles Michel's statement about the fate of our lost soldiers touched them. According to Siranush Sahakyan, a so-called human rights activist in Armenia, it does not comply with international laws, the Armenian soldiers are not missing, but are being held by Azerbaijan as prisoners of war. Also, Azerbaijani soldiers crossed the Armenian border not by accident, but deliberately. In other words, Azerbaijan is trying to present its soldiers as missing, and the EU has accepted this position.

In a comment for Azernews, military expert Telman Gasimov said that Sahakyan has always tried to take a one-sided approach to issues related to prisoners and hostages, acting from the position of Armenia. They are only trying to accuse Azerbaijan of issues that are in line with international conventions. Siranush Sahakyan, in turn, is trying to manipulate. But all claims are lies.

"As you know, about 60 Armenian soldiers have been arrested. 30 of them were returned and the rest were arrested. The matter between the arrested Armenians and our missing soldiers are completely different. Armenian soldiers were arrested after a massive ceasefire was announced with fully equipped weapons. And our soldiers, on the contrary, were unarmed and unprepared, and lost their way and crossed into the territory of Armenia,"- said the expert.

Telman Gasimov also touched on the torturing of our soldiers by the Armenians on social networks. "Armenians shamelessly claim that our soldiers carried out sabotage and killed their guards standing in the mine. Of course, all this is absurd. Because the Armenians who arrested them announced that they did not find any phones on our soldiers.

As for the Brussels meeting, the military expert said that Pashinyan will not keep his word and the process will be prolonged.

"Although the so-called Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, in practice we see the opposite. Pashinyan's statement that "We will discuss the final result in Russia" indicates that he was not independent and could not conduct an independent policy. In this regard, Armenia's violation of the ceasefire on the border and such provocations are expected to happen until early June," he stressed.

In addition, the military expert expressed an opinion about the interests of the Western side in the resolution of the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

"I must note that although the issue of a short-term settlement of the Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict in the South Caucasus is not interesting for the West, they are obliged to do their best to resolve the conflict. The main Ukraine-Russia conflict plays an important role here. Because the West is also very interested in the use of the Zangazur corridor for transport purposes. The reason is simple: As we know, Ukraine, which is used by the West as a transport route, is currently at war. Therefore, a new international corridor is needed. The West also knows that another country that is interested in this corridor is Russia. I would like to emphasize that for the West, not the fate of Armenia, but rather its own political and economic interests are the priority," Gasimv opined.

In addition, Telman Gasimov emphasized that the President of the Council of Europe used the word "past" in front of the expression "Nagorno-Karabakh."

"The fact that Charles Michel referred to former Nagorno-Karabakh and not "Nagorno-Karabakh" in this meeting caused serious concern in the Armenian authorities.

For the Azerbaijani side, the steps taken and the decisions made are completely correct and decisive. The rapid development and reconstruction work that is being carried out in our lands freed from occupation is tangible. Over 30 years of occupation, our lands were looted and destroyed by Armenians. I am sure that the West and Russia observe the processes, and therefore, they are undoubtedly interested in opening the corridors as soon as possible," the expert concluded.

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Follow Rena Murshud on Twitter: @RenaTagiyeva

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16 May 2023 12:37 (UTC+04:00)

Ganja Automobile Plant signed a cooperation agreement with the Italian SDF group, Azernews reports, citing the Plant.

The Plant noted that SDF group is a manufacturer of tractors distinguished by their quality and durability, high productivity characteristics, both in Europe and in the world agricultural market.

According to the press service of the Union, a preliminary agreement was reached for the assembly of German models DEUTZ-FAHR 4100 W, 6205 g and 115 G AGROFARM in Azerbaijan. According to the terms of the contract, the Ganja Automobile Plant intends to introduce the model range of tractors to be assembled within the framework of bilateral cooperation with the Italian SDF group in the future.

The chairman of the supervisory board of the Ganja Automobile Plant Production Union Khanlar Fatiyev, Umberto Miceli, the international regional director of the Italian SDF group, Niyazi Bayramov, the head of the Ganja City Executive Authority and other official guests took part in the presentation ceremony of the new model tractors.

The contract was signed by Bagban Nabiyev, director of Ganja Automobile Plant PU, and Umberto Miceli, international regional director of SDF Group of Italy. According to the research conducted by the service and marketing department of the Union, taking into account the demand for quality German tractors in the Azerbaijani market, Ganja Automobile Plant Production Union plans to assemble about 300 tractors at the initial stage during the year.

It should be noted that the Ganja Automobile Plant, which has been operating since 2004, has assembled and delivered nearly 15,000 tractors and other agricultural machinery of various models and modifications to the enterprise since 2007. During this period, more than 5,000 trucks of different brands and models were assembled at the plant.

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16 May 2023 12:41 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Baku Steel Company CJSC, the largest metallurgical company in the Caucasus, has already started exporting pipes to the United States, Azernews reports.

Baku Steel Company CJSC said that the expansion and strengthening of the company's position in the foreign market is considered one of the main goals of the company. As a result of the successful representation of the manufactured products in the foreign market, seamless pipes of various diameters have already been exported from Azerbaijan to Texas, USA.

The pipes are manufactured in accordance with the requirements of the American standard "ASTM A106" at the Pipe-rolling workshop of Baku Steel Company CJSC and meet high standards.

It should be should be noted that the pipes of different sizes and types produced by Baku Steel Company CJSC, including those used in the oil and gas industry, have been sold to Italy, Romania, Turkiye, Tunisia, Russia, Kazakhstan, etc. partners in the countries, bought by large companies. During its activity, the company's products were sold to more than 20 countries in Europe, America and Asia, in addition to the local market, under the "Made in Azerbaijan" label. In 2022, Baku Steel Company CJSC was accepted as a regular member of the World Steel Association, which is considered a prestigious international organization of world metallurgists.

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16 May 2023 15:21 (UTC+04:00)

Rena Murshud Read more

South Africa wants to develop cooperation in the tourism sector with Azerbaijan.

Azernews reports, citing Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa Nosivive Mapisa-Nqakula telling media.

She noted that very good relations have been formed between our countries.

"At the beginning of this year, the Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament was our guest. There is an Azerbaijani embassy in South Africa, which contributes to the development of trade between the two countries, she said, adding that Azerbaijan is a very safe country.

We are here because we have very good relations with Azerbaijan and we are members of the parliamentary assembly of the Non-Aligned Movement, the speaker said.

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16 May 2023 10:47 (UTC+04:00)

On May 15, the Azerbaijani delegation led by the Speaker of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) Sahiba Gafarova participated in the opening ceremony of the exhibition organized on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the National Leader with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation at the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Azernews reports.

The Aide to the Azerbaijani President Anar Alakbarov, the Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu, deputies of the Milli Majlis, management of the TASS agency, members of the Federation Council, and other officials took part in the event.

Photographs depicting different periods of the life and activities of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev were displayed at the exhibition.

Valentina Matviyenko, the chairman of the Federation Council, who opened the ceremony, shared her thoughts about the life and political activities of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev, the founder of modern Azerbaijan.

Speaking at the event, Sahiba Gafarova said that more than one generation of the modern history of Azerbaijan is connected with the founder of national statehood, outstanding political figure Heydar Aliyev - a genius who left his name forever in the history of Azerbaijan and dedicated his life to the welfare of the people of Azerbaijan.

She brought to attention that Heydar Aliyev's leadership qualities, far-sighted policy, and strong will were prominent both in the Soviet era and in the most fateful moments of Azerbaijan. After Heydar Aliyev came to power in Azerbaijan in 1969, the vector of management in all spheres of life changed radically.

Heydar Aliyev's invaluable role in the development and strengthening of comprehensive relations based on solid foundations such as equal cooperation with Russia, respect for each other's interests, and non-interference in internal affairs after the restoration of Azerbaijan's independence was especially noted. She emphasized that the traditions of historical friendship and good neighborliness, deep relations, political dialogue, and humanitarian cooperation between our states are now dynamically developing as a result of the tireless efforts of the heads of state, Ilham Aliyev and Vladimir Putin.

She underscored that Heydar Aliyev's historical forecast has already come true today, fast restoration works are being carried out in the territories liberated from occupation, and large-scale infrastructure projects are being implemented.

In the artistic part of the event, the children sang excerpts from poems loved by National Leader Heydar Aliyev in Azerbaijani and Russian languages.

Then the Speaker of the Milli Majlis, Sahiba Gafarova, had a one-on-one meeting with the Chairman of the Federation Council, Valentina Matviyenko.

It was noted at the meeting that the events held in Russia show how this genius has conquered a great peak.

During the conversation, views were exchanged on the current state of Russian-Azerbaijani inter-parliamentary relations and development prospects, as well as other issues of interest to the parties.

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16 May 2023 14:18 (UTC+04:00)

According to the training plan for 2023 approved by the Azerbaijan Defense Minister, the next training session for a group of reservists is being held in one of the military units, Azernews reports, citing Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry.

The reservists were provided with military uniforms and other supplies after appropriate registration and medical examination at the headquarters of the assembly point.

The main purpose of the training session is to improve reservists combat skills, military knowledge and experience, to familiarize them with the modern weapons and military equipment which is in Azerbaijan Armys armament, and to teach how to use them properly and effectively.

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Ukrainian servicemen rest at their positions after a fight, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, near the front line city of Bakhmut, in Donetsk region, Ukraine May 11. Reuters-Yonhap



Ukraine on Monday hailed its first substantial battlefield advances in six months as President Volodymyr Zelenskiyy 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.



Zelenskiyy 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.



Britain, which last week became the first Western country to offer Ukraine long-range cruise missiles, followed that up during Zelenskiyy'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 Zelenskiyy had not discussed delivering warplanes.









"I have not talked about airplanes. I have talked about missiles. I have talked about training," Macron said.





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, May 12. AP-Yonhap
16 May 2023 16:28 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijans Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov is on a working visit to the Republic of Iceland.

As part of the trip, FM Bayramov will attend the 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe to be held in the capital city Reykjavik, Iceland, as well as hold bilateral meetings with a number of officials who will participate in the Summit.

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16 May 2023 20:55 (UTC+04:00)

Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev sent a letter to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Heydar Aliyev.

To His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Dear Ilham Heydarovich!

Please accept my sincere congratulations on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Heydar Aliyev.

Your father went down in world history as an outstanding politician, a symbol of modern Azerbaijani statehood. As a worthy son of his people, he laid the foundation for the current course of development of the new Azerbaijan - a strong, prosperous republic, which pursues independent and pragmatic policy in the international arena.

Heydar Aliyev's great personal contribution to the continuous development of friendly neighbourly relations between our countries is highly appreciated in Russia.

Dear Ilham Heydarovich, I wish you good health, prosperity and further success, and all people of Azerbaijan peace and prosperity.

Dmitry Medvedev

Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation

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16 May 2023 11:45 (UTC+04:00)

Rena Murshud Read more

The head of diplomacy of the European Union (EU), Josep Borrell, called good the exchange of views he had with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov during a meeting in Brussels on Monday.

Good exchange with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov. I welcomed the resumption of trilateral meetings organized by European Council President Charles Michel, we discussed its results and further actions, and exchanged views on EU-Azerbaijan relations, Borrell wrote on Twitter, Azernews reports.

The EU continues to contribute to the achievement of lasting peace and security in the South Caucasus, the head of EU diplomacy added.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said yesterday that Bayramov and Borrell discussed the current state and prospects of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the EU, including cooperation in the field of energy and transport corridors, the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the current situation in the region.

Good exchange with FM @Bayramov_Jeyhun. Welcomed resumption of trilateral meetings hosted by @eucopresident, discussed its outcomes & way forward and exchanged views on EU-Azerbaijan relations. The EU continues engagement towards lasting peace and security in the South Caucasus. pic.twitter.com/SbvlD3Aa0M  Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) May 16, 2023

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U.S. President Joe Biden boards Air Force One as he departs for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at Delaware Air National Guard Base in New Castle, Delaware, U.S., May 15. Reuters-Yonhap



The G7 summit U.S. President Joe Biden attends in Japan this week will show leaders unified behind a common approach to dealing with China based on shared values, even while recognizing each country will manage its own relationship with Beijing, a senior U.S. administration official said on Monday.



Biden's Japan visit will show that Washington can both support Ukraine and maintain an unprecedented level of engagement with the Indo-Pacific region, the official told Reuters on condition of anonymity.



After the three-day summit starting Friday, Biden will make a brief, historic stop in Papua New Guinea, then travel to Australia for a meeting of the grouping known as the Quad countries.



Asked whether the leaders of the group of seven rich nations  Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States  would be able to show unity in dealing with China, the world's second largest economy and the main challenge to U.S. global supremacy, the official replied:



"While the G7 is a consensus-driven group, the hosts do play a big role in setting the agenda and the Japanese are very, very concerned with economic security issues writ large, including vis-a-vis China.



"I think that what you can expect is that G7 leaders will make clear that we're all unified and united behind a common approach grounded in common values. And at the same time, that each G7 country is going to manage its own relationship with China, but that we're all aligned around the principles that will guide all of our relationships."



The official said that while this was "one of the more complex issues" for the G7 meetings in Hiroshima, the United States was "very optimistic."



Differences among the nations about how to deal with China emerged after French President Emmanuel Macron visited Beijing last month. He called for the European Union to reduce its dependence on the U.S. and cautioned the EU not to get drawn into a crisis over Taiwan driven by an "American rhythm and a Chinese overreaction."



Two years ago in Britain, G7 leaders chided China on human rights.



The U.S. official said the G7 would focus on the need to support developing countries hit by recent shocks, including debt and climate change, and leaders would rally around the need for bold action to accelerate the transition to clean energy.





U.S. President Joe Biden, Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz and France's President Emmanuel Macron attend a meeting alongside the G7 leaders summit at Bavaria's Schloss Elmau, near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, in this June 28, 2022 file photo. Reuters-Yonhap
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.
One of the best things about joining a book club is that it takes reading, normally a solitary pastime, and turns it into a fun activity that can be shared with friends and loved ones. This summer in Houston, that fun is taking on a truly communal scope with a massive, city-wide read-along meant to be accessible to readers of all levels.

One Houston, One Book - Diverse Stories for a Diverse City, which was announced on May 15 by the Houston Public Library, is a program meant to "promote literacy, diversity, and community conversations by encouraging Houstonians to read and discuss books with a common theme," according to HPL. Through September 30, libraries across the city will host story times, book discussions, block parties, author talks, crafting sessions, and other special events in tandem with the program.

"One Houston, One Book is our way of celebrating the city's diversity," HPL executive director Dr Rhea Brown Lawson said in the announcement.

The program is a partnership with the Mayor's Office for Adult Literacy. Founded in 2019, the office helps to encourage adult literacy while studying its impact on the city's economy, communities, families, and individuals. Before its founding, one in three adults in Houston was considered functionally illiterate. MOAL remains the only mayoral office of its kind in the United States.

Houston Public Library

The name One Houston, One Book is a bit of a misnomer. The program actually features three books: an award-winning children's book, a novel in verse for teens, and a memoir for adults. Lawson said in her announcement that there is an option for every reading level. The books were selected in part because of how they highlight identity and inclusion and mirror the experiences of many Houstonians.

The selections include The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi, a book for readers aged 5-9 years old. Having just moved from Korea, main character Unhei is anxious about fitting in. So instead of introducing herself on the first day of school, she decides to choose an American name from a glass jar. But while Unhei thinks of being a Suzy, Laura, or Amanda, nothing feels right. With the help of a new friend, Unhei will learn that the best name is her own.

The young adult choice is a novel in verse called Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Dr. Yusef Salaam. As a teen, Salaam became one of the Central Park Five (now known as the Exonerated Five) a group of Latino and Black boys falsely convicted of assaulting a woman in New York City. Partly inspired by Salaams life, Punching the Air follows a Black teen who is imprisoned for a crime he did not commit as he tries to find refuge in art.

The reading selection for adults is a memoir called Once I Was You by Maria Hinojosa, the executive producer of National Public Radio's Latino USA. The intimate story follows Hinojosa's experience growing up Mexican-American on the South Side of Chicago while also exploring America's immigration policy and the way political rhetoric informs American attitudes toward immigrants.

Each of the authors will visit HPL this summer, starting with Ibi Zoboi and Dr. Yusef Salaam at Vinson Neighborhood Library on July 13. The book club will culminate in September with a special grand finale event that has yet to be announced.

HPL has said it has secured thousands of additional copies of each book in print, ebook, and audiobook format to make sure everyone who wants to participate in the read-along can. Between June 1 and July 31, participants are also encouraged to track their progress through Beanstack, an online reading challenge and tracking app. Readers can check the HPL website for One Houston, One Book events at libraries throughout the city.
Two weekends of Coachella have come and gone. Stagecoach has moseyed off into the distance. Whether or not you made it to Indio last month, there are a ton of excellent music festivals coming up this summer, throughout California and just across the Nevada border.

From new country to nu metal, Mariah to Missy, Korn to modern bands that actually want to sound like Korn, theres a fest that deserves to be in your plans, from Memorial Day through Labor Day (and a little beyond).

Lightning in a Bottle, May 24-29

If youve always sort of wanted to go to Burning Man but just cant be bothered, consider a trip to Buena Vista Lake, CA, for the 20th anniversary of this slightly less demanding festival. Its five days of camping, dancing, Diplo, dreadlocks, holistic living, RVs, Sofi Tukker, Zhu and more. So, so, so much more.

California Roots, May 25-28

Its a festival run on vibes. Its a chill vibe. Headliners include Rebelution, Stick Figure, Dirty Heads and Wu-Tang Clan (when did Staten Islands finest turn into the elder statesmen of weed festival headliners? 2013? 2018?). The 13th annual music and arts festival is a little bit hip-hop, a little bit electronic and a hell of a lot of reggae.

BottleRock Napa Valley, May 26-28

Listen, I love the Smashing Pumpkins. I think theyre one of the most overlooked, culturally relevant bands of the last 30 years. But its really silly theyre one of the headliners of this music, wine and food festival. The other top billed acts are Post Malone (makes sense, dude likes to party), Lizzo (everyone loves Lizzo), Duran Duran (everyone and their parents love Duran Duran), Red Hot Chili Peppers (what rap-funk band is more appropriate for Napa Valley?) and Lil Nas X (Old Town Road is the gateway drug for MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)). They all make sense. Billy and friends are going to get a sunburn. Its going to be great.

Punk Rock Bowling, May 26-29

This Vegas fest is good for the person who wants to see as many acts as possible in a traditional festival setting and the curmudgeon who only thinks live music is good in a club setting. The big, outdoor thing is May 27, 28 and 29 with no overlapping sets, something rarely done. The club shows are throughout downtown Vegas from May 26 to 29 and do not overlap with the regular festival, something also rarely done. And theres bowling, obviously. If you went to Warped Tour in 2003 and wish you could have legally drank at Warped Tour in 2003, heres your chance to enjoy sets by Rancid, Bad Religion, Dropkick Murphys and a few dozen more punk lifers.

Country Summer Music Festival, June 16-18

This Santa Rosa festival does not mess around with its name; its just not entirely accurate. If you like Lynyrd Skynyrd, Eric Church, Brothers Osborne and more country and country-adjacent acts, you may enjoy this springtime festival. But summer officially begins June 21. And Lynyrd Skynyrd is southern rock.

High Sierra Music Festival, June 29-July 2

This camping-friendly festival in Quincy, CA, has a jam-band vibe but headliner Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit helps give it a country and rock vibe, which is perfect since its the weekend before Independence Day, and Isbell may become Americas most important voice in rock n roll if/when Springsteen ever stops touring.

Lake Tahoe Reggae Festival, July 22-23

Some reggae fests are a few reggae bands and a bunch of hip-hop, electronic and jazz acts. Not this fest! Rebelution headlines Saturday, Stick Figure headlines Sunday, and a dozen more acts perform at the sixth annual fest.

Blue Note Jazz Festival, July 28-30

I love jazz. Jazz legends Mary J. Blige, Nas and Chance the Rapper headline each night. Jazz comic Dave Chappelle hosts. All kidding aside, apart from the headliners, this Napa fest has a stacked, jazz-centric lineup. Expect highly billed Ari Lennox to be headlining this thing in a few years.

Mammoth Festival of Beers and Bluesapalooza, August 3-6

Maybe the most scenic festival on this list, the 27th edition of this beer and music fest is a great reason to visit Mammoth Lakes. Go for guitar god Kenny Wayne Shepherd, stay for the 80 participating breweries. Eighty! Youll need all four days to responsibly sample every brewery.

Sol Blume, August 19-20

One of the best R&B festival lineups anywhere across the globe, Sol Blume will make Sacramento the epicenter of the future of the genre in mid-August. Headliners Brent Faiyaz and Kehlani are great, but do not sleep on Ella Mai and Teyana Taylor.

Down in the Valley, September 2-3

If youre a fan of the Head and the Heart, youre going to want to be in Napa the first weekend in September. This is their festival, but were most excited for Waxahatchee and Faye Webster.

Life Is Beautiful, September 22-24

Celebrate a decade of this Vegas festival with hometown favorites the Killers on Friday, Kendrick Lamar on Saturday and festival fave Odesza on Sunday. Like most fests, the acts just under the headliners are the ones you really want to catch: Yeah Yeah Yeahs on Friday, The 1975 on Saturday and Kim Petras on Sunday.

This article was featured in the InsideHook SF newsletter. Sign up now for more from the Bay Area.

The post 12 California Music Festivals Worth the Drive This Summer appeared first on InsideHook.
Beloved Texas creamery Blue Bell is releasing a new ice cream just in time for summer.

The new flavor is set to arrive in stores on Thursday, but the company has not yet said what it will be. Instead, Blue Bell dropped hints on social media all day long on Tuesday to tease and excite customers ahead of the big reveal.

"You deserve more clues," the brand wrote. "Details drop tomorrow on our Facebook and Instagram Stories at 10, 2 and 4."

At 10 a.m., the company posted a graphic that said, "Two iconic brands, one delicious ice cream flavor." At 2 p.m., Blue Bell posted a video of someone using an ice cream spoon to scoop up a serving of the ice cream.

Blue Bell Ice Cream Blue Bell Ice Cream Screen grabs from Blue Bell Ice Cream Facebook stories

Ice cream lovers left their predictions of the new flavor in the comments, with several people guessing Dr. Pepper since the pictures posted featured burgundy backdrops with white fonts and a glass of soda. Dr. Pepper was also created in Texas, which the company may have alluded to when it said "two iconic brands."

The company will release one more hint at 4 p.m. Recently, Blue Bell also brought back its Peaches and Homemade Vanilla flavor for spring and released Peachy Peach in pint size.
SOUR LAKE -- The name Hardin-Jefferson Junior High just might not go up on its namesake district's new school after all.

With dozens of community members gathering and 10 community members making a public comment in the Hardin Jefferson ISD's school board room Monday night, one thing was clear: the alumnus of Hardin-Jefferson loved longtime Principal James H. Henderson, and they want his name to stay on the middle school campus.

Henderson, the school's first Black principal and the district's only Black principal immediately after integration in the 1960s, has had a campus named after him in Hardin-Jefferson ISD for some 60 years. The school board in March voted to rename the campus Hardin-Jefferson Junior High in an effort to align the name with other campuses in the district, all named after the district itself or their geographical locations.

After the just over half-hour of public comments made, school board President Andrew Brooks said that at the board's next meeting, slated for June, it will discuss and potentially create a policy for future facility renamings, with emphasis put on including community input in the process.

Before the board went into closed session, Brooks told The Enterprise that a policy would need to be adopted before the school board revisits the Henderson decision. But the door was not closed on whether the board would reverse its March decision to rename Henderson Middle School "Hardin-Jefferson Junior High."

RELATED: 'It's not just a name:' Community members speak out against local school name change

The subject of community input was a common theme amongst the public comments made Monday night. Almost every commenter mentioned how they had not known that the school board was even considering changing the name of the campus, with many adding that they didn't know about it until their grandchildren made them aware, or they saw it featured in local news.

"Why did six board members vote to change Henderson Middle School's name without ensuring that the voices of the students, parents and community taxpayers were included?" Henderson alumnus Deborah Spikes said during her comment. "Nobody on the outside knew about this. I am so disappointed with these board members and this district."

Spikes said the rebuilding and opening of the new middle school campus should have been a "joyous" occasion for the community after the devastation brought on the community by Tropical Storm Harvey, but that the triumph instead was overshadowed by a decision to "quietly" rename the school.

"I'm confused as to why, up until now, a school that was named in honor of a historic figure, a man who for decades was applauded for instilling and expecting academic excellence for all students (will) have his name removed so that the new middle school's name can reflect the counties that it sits between," Henderson alumnus Sarah Spikes said at the meeting. "Dropping Mr. Henderson's name did not occur through the various renovations to the campus (when it was) in China, Texas. Dropping Mr. Henderson's name did not occur when the campus was switched to replace the old high school. And dropping Mr. Henderson's name did not occur when our middle school students were forced to be confined to be educated in portable buildings. So, why is there now a problem for Mr. Henderson's name to go on the new middle school building?"

Claudia Tyler and Beverly Carrier-Walters, who previously spoke with The Enterprise about Henderson's legacy and what the name change meant to them, also spoke at the meeting Monday night, reiterating their stance that there is no other honor sufficient for Henderson than leaving his name on the middle school.

RELATED: School's razing revives memories

"Really, when you walk in that school, there should be a bronze picture with his name and his legacy for every child to know," Tyler said. "I just do not understand how someone can just dismiss him so easily. We can't dismiss him."

Carrier-Walters said she has always been proud of where she's from and was always proud to be an alumnus of Hardin-Jefferson ISD. But after this decision, she's not so proud anymore.

"Henderson Middle School is a living testament of our legacy," she said "Hardin-Jefferson has always been a good district. I was proud to send my children there and my grandchildren and my parents were proud to send me there. If we don't protect our history, if we fail to educate our young generations about that history, we will forever lose parts of our community that our parents, our grandparents and Mr. Henderson strived to create."

While Henderson was certainly an important figure in the Black community for his role in trying to establish a peaceful environment for all students during integration, he was an important figure in the white community, too.

Hardin-Jefferson High School history teacher and alumnus William Kolander presented to the board historical context for the atmosphere in which Henderson became principal of an integrated school.

"As a kid, even before I met Mr. Henderson, I knew there was something special about this man," Kolander said. "I knew this because my parents and their friends referred to Mr. Henderson as 'Mr. Henderson,' not 'Jim, Jimmy or James,' as other Black men were referred to in those days, by their first names."

RELATED: Divisive symbols still linger in Southeast Texas

Kolander said that though the Supreme Court of the United States in 1954 ruled that state laws establishing racial segregation in public schools were unconstitutional in Brown v. Board of Education, it was some 12 years before the schools in Hardin-Jefferson were integrated.

Additionally, in retaliation to integration, many schools throughout the south renamed their schools after figures that were offensive to the Black students who would go there, including names such as Robert E. Lee and Nathan Bedford Forrest, among others.

"They often took (this) course of action to demonstrate to the Black community that they, the white community, not the federal government, was still in charge," Kolander said.

Hardin-Jefferson even partook in the trend, changing its mascot from the Warriors to the Rebels -- a Confederate soldier with a Confederate emblem -- in the early 1960s, prior to the district's integration. The district changed to the Hawks mascot in 1972.

"It was crazy in the south," Kolander said. "The white folks were frightened of the Black folks and the Black folks were frightened of the white folks. Some of our community leaders fueled this tension, racial prejudice, distrust and hatred. And some community leaders were the voice of calm, non-violence and love. Mr. Henderson was one of (the latter)."

RELATED: Confederate symbols linger in Southeast Texas

In an effort to atone for its decision in changing the district's mascot to something offensive, particularly for its Black students, as well as other actions done against Black community members, Kolander said the district's school board chose to name an integrated campus after Henderson.

"Those board members and school officials decided to take a leadership role in the business of breaking down system racism in our public schools," he said. "Naming that school after Mr. Henderson was an acknowledgement of the wrong and an atonement for that role. Now today, you want to take that atonement back. Is an atonement taken back an atonement?"

Several other alumni recalled their memories of Henderson -- the school and the man for which it was named. Some shed tears at the thought of legacy being lost.

After Brooks' statement regarding future community involvement in such decisions, audience members clapped, many planning on following up with the board next month to make sure that word is kept.

For Tyler and Carrier-Walters, they won't stop until the decision is reversed.

William Kolander is related to reporter Olivia Malick but was included in the story because of his position as a history teacher as well as a lifelong resident of the Hardin-Jefferson region, who lived through integration.
ideabug/Getty Images/iStockphoto

A city in Texas has been renamed after the federal government voted to remove a specific derogatory term used in some location names around the country.

The U.S. Department of the Interior refers to the term only as "sq__" and removed the word from U.S. town names because it's historically been used as an offensive ethnic, racial and sexist slur toward Native American women.
Some Hong Kong pools and beaches will not open this summer because of lifeguard shortages. SCMP





Only 40 percent of 600 seasonal lifeguards had reported for duty so far, Hong Kong's leisure authorities conceded on Monday, suggesting a full reopening of public beaches and pools in Hong Kong was "unlikely" this year.



The revelation sparked an outcry among lawmakers who demanded more progressive measures by the government to tackle the acute shortage of lifeguards, which they said had been a long-standing issue.



Director of Leisure and Cultural Services Vincent Liu Ming-kwong said the government was struggling to hire lifeguards for public beaches and pools despite the introduction of a more attractive two-year, full-time contract with the aim of finding more than 110 people.





A lifeguard patrols Deep Water Bay Beach. SCMP



Only 40 successful applicants were ready to be deployed, he added.



"It is the first time in years we have had difficulties recruiting full-time employees," Liu said.



The Leisure and Cultural Services Department said that more than 600 seasonal lifeguards needed to be hired by May to cater for demand when all aquatic venues were reopened. But, by May 1, only 240 of them had reported for duty.





Lifeguards on duty at the Repulse Bay Beach. SCMP



The department said life-saving services would only be provided at 22 out of 42 public beaches because of staff shortages this month, with three of them being closed for other reasons.



Up to 17 of the 45 public swimming pools would be partially open, while another four are under redevelopment or maintenance.



While recruitment continued, Liu said, it was "unlikely that we can expect a full reopening [of public beaches and pools]".



The department has started a fast track program which provides lifeguard training and helps trainees secure the required qualification in six months or less.



It also plans to introduce a new AI drowning detection system  designed to calculate the possibility of drowning and alert the lifeguards  in Kwun Tong swimming pool in the next few months under a pilot scheme.



But lawmaker Michael Tien Puk-sun slammed the government for its slow action, saying a similar AI drowning detection system had been implemented in Kowloon Munsang College a year ago.



Liu explained the testing delay was because of different settings between school and public pools and that the department needed to examine other AI systems.





Hong Kong has prioritised staffing at 17 of 41 government beaches. AP-SCMP
Imagine its May 24 in Uvalde and teachers and other school staff are armed. Could one of them have stopped the 18-year-old shooter from murdering 19 students and two teachers? This is the alternate reality lawmakers are trying to sell. We dont buy it.

Not only do we not buy it, but we see this type of thinking as a capitulation to violence. Perhaps an armed teacher could limit the carnage  or perhaps another gun in a classroom would make matters worse  but implicit in this type of thinking is an acceptance of continued school shootings. There is nothing about arming teachers that addresses easy access to guns or root causes of violence.

Our lawmakers say school safety is a priority this session, but theyre not doing enough. Instead of pushing commonsense gun reforms such as Uvalde Democratic Rep. Tracy Kings House Bill 2744, which would raise the minimum age to purchase semi-automatic guns from 18 to 21, they are pushing forward a reactive effort to harden schools. Kings bill cant even get a floor vote even though polling in June from the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas at Austin found 70% of respondents either support or somewhat support raising the purchase age for a firearm.

In a 119-25 vote on April 25, the Texas House approved House Bill 3, authored by Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, that would place an armed officer, guardian or district employee on every campus, provide incentives for school employees to become certified to carry a firearm and install silent panic alert buttons in every classroom.

It would also establish statewide standards for campus security, boost coordination between schools and local law enforcement. House Bill 13 would increase the school safety allotment from less than $10 per student to $100.

Were glad the Legislature is making an effort to keep students safe  there are aspects of these bills we support  but we cannot address gun violence without addressing guns.

The Uvalde murderer waited until he turned 18 to legally purchase his arsenal.

Its true that in a rampage, saving precious minutes could saves lives, that maybe someone with a gun could make a difference. But lets also remember that the Uvalde shooter fired off more than 100 rounds in minutes, and stymied officers who initially sought to enter the classroom. Could an armed teacher be better prepared?

During the House hearing last month, Burrows said when he crafted the bill, he kept in mind his conversations with Uvalde grandparents and classroom educators. He also made the common GOP comparison to armed guards at airports, universities, banks, malls, sporting events and the Texas capitol. But schools are different. Schools should be safe places where children go to learn and grow, not fortresses preparing for battle. Lawmakers should be addressing why the gun threatens the school. Thats what is missing here.

We share concerns with state representatives who offered amendments that failed.

State Rep. Vikki Goodwin, D-Austin, wondered why they werent discussing gun reforms; she questioned if armed school staff would make schools more dangerous. And State Rep. Ana-Maria Ramos, D-Richardson, whose daughter is a teacher, said teachers dont want guns in classrooms.

We all want to imagine an alternate reality to what happened in Uvalde. Weeks after the school shooting in Uvalde, we wrote that it was outrageous that arming teachers would be considered a meaningful response to school violence. That the plan to harden schools is acquiescing to more carnage. Its what we still believe.

The first anniversary of the Uvalde massacre, the second-worst school shooting in America, looms and schools arent safe. We understand the need for improved security given the reality of the moment, but, lets remember that arming teachers and hardening schools are reactive accommodations for continued gun violence, not proactive solutions to prevent it. We are disheartened that in Texas, which in the past decade has had more school shootings than any other state, lawmakers are ignoring gun safety reforms. Firearms were the leading cause of death for children and adolescents in 2020.

Imagine its May 29  five days after the Uvalde anniversary and the final day of the 88th legislative session  and our Texas Legislature has done nothing to regulate the purchase of assault-style weapons. What a failure that will be.
Below are five hospitals ending services that Becker's has reported on since Jan. 10:

Ascension St. Vincent's Riverside in Jacksonville, Fla., will end maternity care at the hospital later this year, affecting 68 jobs, according to a Workforce Adjustment and Retraining Notification filed with the state Jan. 17.



Redlands (Calif.) Community Hospital will shutter its behavioral health unit due to financial unsustainability.



Pittsburgh-based Allegheny Health Network has temporarily closed its AHN Express Care East urgent care center in Harborcreek Township, Pa., due to a shortage of nurses.



Las Vegas-based Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center plans to end inpatient operations on or about March 11, pending approval from the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services.



Hollister, Calif.-based Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital is closing its home health services department effective Jan. 31.
The gender pay gap among physicians who practice pediatric rheumatology is the smallest of all medical specialties, according to Physicians Thrive's "2023 Physician Compensation Report."

Physicians Thrive, a financial advisory group, compiled data from more than 12 sources, including Doximity, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Merritt Hawkins, for the report.

Among oral and maxillofacial surgeons, women earn 22.8 percent fewer than their male counterparts  the greatest difference of any specialty.

Here are the five specialties with the smallest pay disparities between genders, along with the percent difference in salary earned by women compared with men in the same specialty:

1. Pediatric rheumatology: Women earn 7.8 percent less than men.

2. Pediatric infectious disease: 10.1 percent less.

3. Pediatric hematology/oncology: 11.3 percent less.

4. Hematology: 12.1 percent less.

5. Pediatric cardiology: 12.5 percent less.
A 67-year-old man who had eye surgery said his physician and surgical staff hid evidence of a mishap that left him with a small cut on his forehead, Kaiser Health News reported Nov. 28.

Jerry Bilinski had cataract surgery at the Fayetteville (N.C.) Ambulatory Surgery Center, which is part of Carolina Eye Associates. He was under light sedation and heard commotion during the procedure.

"I hear the doctor yelling at me, 'Don't move! Stay still!'  yelling in my ear," Mr. Bilinski said. "And then I hear the doctor say, 'What's that cut on his head?'"

He had a small abrasion on his forehead which later healed, and his surgery was a success. However, he said surgical staff didn't mention the incident after surgery. He said his surgeon, Tarra Millender, MD, also didn't address it until he brought it up at a follow up appointment.

"And at that point I think she probably knew the jig was up and said, 'Yeah, we had a little incident. You had a little adverse impact from the anesthesia,'" Mr. Bilinski said.

Later, Mr. Bilinski's medical records said the surgery had "no complications." The ASC said he owed $50 after Medicare insurance coverage.

Mr. Bilinski spoke with T.J. McCaskill, chief operating officer for Carolina Eye Associates, but didn't receive a satisfactory explanation or apology. Mr. Bilinski filed a complaint with the North Carolina Medical Board and filed an affidavit with police.



Mr. McCaskill, declined KHN's request for an interview. The physician who operated on Mr. Bilinski didn't respond to KHN.
Former Modesto, Calif.-based physician Sawtantra Chopra, MD, pleaded guilty to three counts of illegally prescribing opioids, the Justice Department said May 11.

Mr. Chopra, who surrendered his medical license in 2020 as the case was pending, admitted to prescribing hydrocodone, alprazolam and promethazine with codeine syrup without a legitimate medical purpose.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 5 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
Tirun Gopal, MD, a senior physician at Sutter Health in Allentown, Pa., joined Becker's to discuss burnout among physicians, countering misinformation and more throughout his more than 40 years of experience.

Question: Only 57.5 percent of physicians said they would choose to become a physician again in a recent survey. What reform would you make to change their minds?

Dr. Tirun Gopal: It is easy to complain about one's career. After all, is there a career or profession which does not have challenges? Besides, the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.

There is so much concern about physician burnout and fatigue, loss of morale and empathy. The factors which contribute to these are the following:

1. A considerable part of the journey to become a physician is spent in medical school and training.

2. At the end of this journey, the student emerges as a physician with a formidable debt, the equivalent of a mortgage. It therefore becomes necessary to choose a specialty which is lucrative. This is to the detriment of healthcare in general because it diminishes the number of primary care physicians, especially in outlying areas.

3. Medicine is becoming increasingly complex, with increasing specialties and subspecialties; thus, the physician becomes increasingly an expert on a decreasing part of the patient's anatomy. The modern physician therefore is more likely to treat the condition and not the patient.

4. With the abundance of information and disinformation on websites, the patient has a tendency these days to come into the visit armed with half-baked knowledge of their condition, creating a strain or barrier to the relationship. This affects both the physician and the patient adversely.

5. Now that artificial intelligence is gaining ground and making inroads into the medical field, lots of physicians are concerned that they would soon be replaced by the indefatigable AI, which has more empathy and is predicted to soon gain sentience.

6. Having been in practice myself for the last 45 years, I must confess that I miss the trust I used to enjoy from my patients in the days of yore. I admit that I am resentful of the patient who challenges me with information that she gleaned from Dr. Google overnight and does not mind confronting me without any regard for the fact that I will always know more medicine than they ever will. At age 74, if there is something that would prompt me to give up medicine, it is this.
Despite protests from patients, health systems and providers, UnitedHealthcare is moving forward with major changes to its prior authorization requirements for gastroenterology care, which will take effect June 1.

The changes were first proposed at the beginning of March and have faced strong opposition from several providers.

Here are five things to know about upcoming GI care changes:

1. UnitedHealthcare plans to cut back on its overall use of prior authorization, removing procedures and devices from the list and reducing yearly authorizations from 13 million to 10 million. It has not specified which services will be affected.

2. Beginning June 1, GI patients will need prior authorization for gastroenterology endoscopy services, including esophagogastroduodenoscopies, capsule endoscopies, diagnostic colonoscopies and surveillance colonoscopies.

3. On June 1, UnitedHealthcare will also change its telehealth reimbursement policies for individual and family plans.

4. GI industry groups, including the American College of Gastroenterology, have released opposition plans to the changes.

5. A 2022 study from the American Medical Association showed that excessive prior authorization puts patients at higher risk for hospitalization, life-threatening events and permanent bodily damage.
The University of Utah in Salt Lake City is set to have a first-of-a-kind graduate from its School of Dentistry, according to a May 12 report by CBS affiliate KUTV.

Janice Darko, an immigrant from Ghana, will be the first Black female graduate in the dental school's 10-year history.

Bart Watts, DDS, an associate instructor at the School of Dentistry, encouraged other students of color to apply to the school.

Ms. Darko also created an art display to promote and celebrate other cultures and backgrounds at the dental school.

"This is bigger than me," she told KUTV. "This is not just about me. This is about representing my community."
Sens. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and Gary Peters, D-Miss., introduced new legislation that would require the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to develop a rural hospital protection strategy.

The legislation would require the Department of Homeland Security to develop a cybersecurity workforce plan for rural hospitals, according to the bill introduced into the Senate May 11.

The strategy outlined in the bill focuses on "partnerships between rural hospitals, educational institutions, private sector entities, and nonprofit organizations to develop, promote, and expand cybersecurity education and training programs tailored to the needs of rural hospitals."
Jackson-based University of Mississippi Medical Center is tapping AMC Health as its new remote monitoring partner.

The partnership will focus on monitoring patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and hypertension. The hospital evaluated more than 20 remote monitoring vendors before selecting AMC, according to a May 16 AMC Health news release.

The AMC platform allows patients to monitor vital signs, view health plans and virtually connect with clinicians.
Microsoft's Azure OpenAI platform is being used to collect and analyze healthcare data.

For instance, Opus 5K, a health IT software company based in Australia, deployed the technology for its MARS (Measurement, Analysis and Reporting System) platform.

"Were using Azure Open AI to automate both the data collection and the actions part of the solution," Hassan Kani, founder and director of Opus 5K, told Microsoft in a May 16 blog post. "So for example, weve built MARS to query the Azure OpenAI service for generic guidance, based on the industry and the specific area that a user wants to hone in on. For example: 'Suggest some questions that could be included when doing blood management audits in a healthcare organization.'"

Opus 5K hopes to bring its product to the international market soon.
North Carolina Senate Republicans on May 15 outlined a budget proposal that could shut down certain hospitals if they do not hit a savings target for reducing costs for the state health plan, which serves teachers and state employees, according to The Herald Sun.

Under the proposal, urban hospitals would be required to reduce "healthcare costs to the citizens of this state as a requirement for hospital licensure," Senate Republicans said in a press conference, according to The Herald Sun.

The provision would be for hospitals in counties with a population of more than 210,000  of which there are 12. It would also include hospitals recognized as academic medical centers, such as UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill.

Under the "state health plan hospital savings initiative," lawmakers would have until July 1 of each year to set an annual target for hospital savings for the following year, according to the report. The state health plan's board would be able to assign individual targets for hospitals based on the portion of claims they were paid by the plan in the previous five years.

Hospitals would also need to agree with the board or the plan's claims processor on the cost cuts they plan to make to hit their specific targets, The Herald Sun reported. According to the provision, HHS would not issue or renew licenses for urban hospitals that do not prove that they have entered into a savings agreement with the state health plan board or claims processor.

The annual statewide savings target for 2026  the first year that the provision would be implemented if passed into law  is $125 million, according to the report.

The North Carolina Hospital Association told Becker's that there are certain elements of the Senate's budget that are helpful  including increases in funding for education and behavioral health and salary increases for state employees  but it "does not support language that mandates state health plan savings at the risk of losing the ability to operate as a licensed hospital."

"This approach not only places healthcare at risk for over 10 million North Carolinians, it also looks like government intrusion into private business, which we believe is bad for North Carolina and a dangerous precedent," according to the NCHA. "Hospitals across the state are ready and willing to work with the state health plan and its beneficiaries to improve the health of members and reduce costs through care management of chronic conditions and enabling healthier lifestyles. This requires empowering and supporting those who are responsible for delivering care, rather than creating additional bureaucracy and administrative burden that would empower insurance companies versus care givers. We know that a healthier workforce is more productive, happier and costs less. It is time we look to support those care givers who care for all North Carolinians."
Operating weakness and elevated debt have contributed to the downgrade of bonds held by Yale New Haven (Conn.) Health, Moody's said May 5. The bond rating slipped from "Aa3" to "A1" and the outlook was revised to stable from negative.

Management's focus on cost and revenue initiatives should lead to improved operating performance, Moody's added. The five-hospital system, whose flagship 1,541-bed Yale New Haven Hospital is spread over two campuses, has $1.7 billion in outstanding debt.

Debt could increase from the system's agreement in October to acquire the assets of three hospitals and ancillary providers from Prospect Medical Holdings, Moody's said.

"This is an opportunity to stabilize the Prospect hospitals, but it won't be easy," Yale New Haven CEO Chris O'Connor said at a recent meeting about the proposed acquisition. "This is a very difficult time for all Connecticut hospitals in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Yale New Haven Health is dealing with its own challenges."
HCA Florida Kendall Hospital in Miami, part of Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare, has made several promotions and transfers among its leadership team.

A hospital spokesperson told Becker's these were independent decisions of each person and not part of a purposeful restructuring of leadership.

Three things to know:

1. Brandon Haushalter resigned as CEO of Kendall Hospital for another opportunity outside of HCA Healthcare. Ben Harris was selected as the new CEO.

2. Sean Benoit, MD, was named chief medical officer of Kendall Hospital. Dr. Benoit will step into the role in late June. He is replacing Kendall Hospital's former CMO, Michael Reitz, DO, who was promoted in April to CMO of HCA Healthcare's continental division based in Denver.

3. Joe Britner, COO of HCA Florida Woodmont Hospital in Tamarac, was promoted to COO of Kendall Hospital. He will step into the role June 26.
Members of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East picketed May 16 at RWJBarnabas Health's Clara Maass Hospital in Belleville, N.J., after the suspension of nine nurses.

The union represents about 500 registered nurses at Clara Maass, who voted to join 1199SEIU last summer. After months of negotiations, the hospital and union have not reached a contract to address issues such as pay and staffing, according to an 1199SEIU news release. Clara Maass nurses voted to picket on May 16 amid unresolved contract issues and what they say is "the mistreatment of union members who stood up against unfair discipline."

According to the union, Clara Maass suspended nine nurses who attempted to deliver a petition on April 26 signed by 170 colleagues in support of another nurse who was suspended "without just cause for an incident prompted by the acute staffing shortage at the hospital." 1199SEIU contends the nurse followed hospital procedures and acted to protect the safety of her patient and herself. However, a Clara Maass spokesperson disputed that claim.

"The initial disciplinary action of a nurse at the hospital stemmed from their actions with regard to patient care that not only violated hospital protocols, it was also so egregious that it likely would have violated protocols of care at any hospital," the hospital spokesperson said in a statement shared with Becker's. "In fact, the action and subsequent discipline was reviewed and sanctioned by the employee's peers through a standard peer review process that the union was fully aware of and participated in."

The nine nurses are back at work, and the nurse who 170 other nurses and physicians signed the petition in support of was fired May 15 after joining the group to deliver the petition, a union spokesperson told Becker's.

Clara Maass "fired a nurse with 25 years of experience for attempting to deliver a petition to her manager. She had clocked out for the day and was accompanied by a handful of colleagues in support," a statement from the union says.

1199SEIU said the petition the nurses tried to deliver was signed by 170 healthcare professionals who work at the hospital and sought reconsideration of the hospital's decision to suspend the nurse for two weeks "after she safely  rendered critical care to one of the hospital's patients who was in dire need of an IV line to enable the patient to receive medication."

The union said it has filed complaints with the National Labor Relations Board related to the situation.

A hospital spokesperson said, "RWJBarnabas always has been and always will be a union-friendly organization that values our nurses, their hard work and their dedication to our patients." The hospital spokesperson called the statements distributed by the union about employee suspensions as "factually inaccurate and disingenuous."

The hospital spokesperson also said that other employees were disciplined "after a large group of individuals, including CMMC nursing staff and an unauthorized non-employee representative, surrounded an experienced nursing director on a patient unit and in front of patient rooms to challenge the suspension of the individual involved in the original patient issue. The manager felt so intimidated and threatened for their personal safety that the director filed a formal complaint. Such behavior cannot and will not be tolerated and will be met with swift and decisive action."

Regarding negotiations with the union, the hospital spokesperson said the hospital recognizes nurses' right to organize and are committed to working in good faith during negotiations.

"Because we value our nurses, their hard work, and their dedication to our patients, we immediately offered the union a market adjustment wage increase at the very first negotiations session," the hospital spokesperson said. "The union rejected that offer. We hope the union will reconsider our offer to increase nurses' pay so these increases can go into effect as soon as possible."
Members of the Committee of Interns and Residents are set to begin a five-day strike May 22 at Elmhurst Hospital Center in New York City.

The union represents about 170 resident physicians who work at Elmhurst Hospital, an NYC Health + Hospitals site, and are employed by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Union members have been in negotiations with Mount Sinai for about a year, according to a May 15 news release from the Committee of Interns and Residents, a local of the Service Employees International Union. Union members voted in favor of authorizing a strike May 2.

Union members contend that Mount Sinai is refusing to bring the physicians' salaries up to parity with Mount Sinai Hospital residents or to agree to hazard pay language for the physicians.

"It feels so unjust that we, as largely immigrant doctors serving this working class immigrant community in Queens, have to beg to get what we need to pay our rent, and from a corporation like Mount Sinai that touts its commitment to New York communities," Tanathun Kajornsakchai, MD, said in the union release. "Mount Sinai should invest in the doctors caring for so many people in Queens who cannot get care anywhere else."

The health system shared the following statement with Becker's earlier this month: "Working with the NYC Health and Hospital Corp., we have offered a counter proposal to the SEIU resident physicians at Elmhurst Hospital.  The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai is the academic affiliate and sponsor for these educational training programs, and passes through to the residents a salary that is determined by NYC Health and Hospital Corp. We remain committed to working with NYC Health and Hospital Corp. and the residents to resolve the situation in a way that is fair and fiscally sustainable while ensuring that the residents' clinical training is not disrupted."

Becker's reached out to Mount Sinai and will update this story if a new comment is received.



A strike could be averted if an agreement is reached. Members of the Committee of Interns and Residents at Jamaica and Flushing hospitals in New York City recently reached a tentative agreement, averting a planned strike at those facilities.
A physician and pharmacist are facing manslaughter charges after the wrong medication dose led to an older patient's death in 2020, KFOR reported May 16.

The Oklahoma attorney general's office charged pharmacist Justin Lee and physician Alexander Frank, MD, with second-degree manslaughter and neglect by caretaker.

The case involved a 75-year-old patient recovering from an at-home fall and associated rhabdomyolysis at Oklahoma City-based Bellevue Health and Rehabilitation Center. The patient was given 100 milligrams of methotrexate over a five-day period instead of the recommended 20 milligrams per week, according to KFOR.

Court records said Dr. Frank approved the incorrect dose of methotrexate via electronic signature. The documents allege that Mr. Lee received the prescription and "ignored" a computer-generated warning that stated the dose fell "above the recommended geriatric daily dose." Mr. Lee reportedly failed to follow the instructed requirement to verify the dose and filled the prescription for the patient.

The patient was given 20 milligrams of the drug daily for five days in May. On May 16, the patient was found in a medical crisis. He was intubated, placed on a ventilator and died 10 days later, the report said.

The court filing coincides with a wrongful death suit filed by the family, according to the report.
An administrative backlog prompted the State Department to announce in its May 2023 Bulletin that this year's allotment of EB-3 visas has been exhausted and no applications submitted after June 1, 2022, will be considered until further notice. An EB-3 visa is required for an overseas nurse to work in the United States.

This means hospitals that set out on the 10-month application and approval journey of bringing foreign nurses to work for them in the U.S. are now in a holding pattern with those plans, and thousands of international nurses who have moved through the majority of the process, having passed U.S. licensure exams and English fluency tests, have to wait.

Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Sanford Health set out to hire 800 internationally trained nurses to help with the nursing shortage in all its system's hospitals. Erica DeBoer, RN, chief nursing officer, said the retrogression will definitely affect the healthcare system.

Sanford Health has already onboarded 270 international nurses. Another 400 were expected to arrive and assume the positions they have accepted from Sanford this year. Ms. DeBoer doesn't expect them to arrive stateside for at least six to eight months.

"This will exacerbate some of the staffing challenges in our skilled nursing facilities as well as our critical access hospitals.Those are the places I'm most worried about," Ms. DeBoer told Becker's. "However, with the 270 nurses already here, our [hospitals] in urban areas are looking forward to having a little bit of a break just because of the intense nature of onboarding a nurse from overseas."

Additionally, Ms. DeBoer said the health system has other strategies in place to fill in where needed, including robust partnerships with nursing colleges as well as upcoming recruitment events.

It takes about 10 months from start to finish for a green card application to be processed. The government said hospitals shouldn't expect to see more immigrant nurses until 2025  and that's assuming the application process reopens in October when the next fiscal year begins and more green cards are made available.

"Immigrants account for disproportionately high shares of essential workers across the U.S. economy," according to the Migration Policy Institute. "Nearly 2.8 million immigrants were employed as health care workers in 2021, accounting for more than 18 percent of the 15.2 million people in the United States in a health-care occupation."

The American Association of International Healthcare Recruitment issued a statement on April 20 saying it expects the green card freeze to throttle the influx of international healthcare talent.

"Visa retrogression amounts to a catastrophic interruption of the stable flow of healthcare talent to the bedside, and it will be felt acutely by ordinary patients, from pregnant mothers to dialysis patients," Patty Jeffrey, RN, president of the AAIHR, said in the statement.

"One in six registered nurses practicing medicine today in the United States is an immigrant. American hospitals, particularly those serving rural populations, would have collapsed long ago without the contributions of international nurses," she said.
Nursing students in New York can now complete one-third of their clinical education using simulation technology after Gov. Kathy Hochul signed bill S447C into law May 15.

The hope is that allowing this will expedite training and graduate nurses into the field more quickly amid the ongoing national nursing shortage. The simulations will be overseen by the New York State Education Department. Thirty-one states already have standards around employing simulation technology to train nurses.

"Training needed to become a highly skilled nurse in New York limits clinical placements in a hospital setting, and until students complete those placements, they cannot receive their nursing license and join the workforce," the press release states. "Instead of forcing eager students to wait for an open spot in a hospital, expanding simulated training will help clear the logjam, address the shortage, and ensure high quality care for millions of New Yorkers."

The bill will take effect Nov. 11, 2023.
Nurse staffing challenges at healthcare organizations have a significant effect on care delivery, patient safety and the viability of organizations, according to the Nurse Staffing Task Force's May 10 report.

"This crisis is not a nursing problem; it is a healthcare system problem," Connie Barden, MSN, RN, chief clinical officer of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, told Becker's. "Inappropriate staffing endangers patients, nurses and the entire health delivery system."

Partners for Nurse Staffing launched a two-prong project in early 2022 to bring together leaders from several healthcare organizations. The worked together to make suggestions on how to fix the nursing challenges. The group created the Partners for Nurse Staffing Think Tank with representatives from the AACN, the American Nurses Association, the American Organization of Nursing Leadership, the Healthcare Financial Management Association and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.

The think tank's recommendations, Priority Topics and Recommendations, published in April 2022, focused on strategies that could be implemented in 12 to 18 months.

These served as a prelude to a more comprehensive project to be tackled by the Nurse Staffing Task Force. Members of the task force have been meeting virtually to consider "longer-term sustainable solutions to address the ongoing challenges that generate inappropriate staffing in acute and critical care," Ms. Barden said.

One result of those task force meetings was the report, which includes specific imperatives and myriad actionable recommendations, is set to be discussed at the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses conference in Philadelphia on May 23.

The five key imperatives identified by the task force are reforming the work environment, innovating models for care delivery, establishing staffing standards that ensure quality care, improving regulatory efficiency and discovering ways to better value the contributions of nurses.

"Moving the needle on nurse staffing is certainly the intent of this work, and we are confident that engaged conversations by nurses and healthcare leaders around these imperatives will help us continue that journey," Ms. Barden said.

Some recommended actions, based on the identified imperatives, include overhauling and modernizing delivery care models, empowering nurses to have a seat at the table when it comes to creating sustainable flexible staffing strategies, advocating for legislation that would maintain minimum staffing standards, making licensure processes more efficient and removing barriers to full scope practice for registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and advanced practice registered nurses.

"Since there is no one-size-fits-all solution, the recommendations offer an array of actions that nurses and their colleagues can consider depending on the circumstances in their unit, department, organization, healthcare system and state," Ms. Barden said. "Because the document is inclusive of diverse expertise, we labeled the actions as 'actions to consider' so that nurses and other healthcare leaders can identify the steps that fit the environments in which they work."

View all of the Nurse Staffing Task Force's recommendations here.






CVS Pharmacy has agreed to pay $6.15 million to resolve allegations that the company in some instances failed to follow prescription pricing procedures set by Massachusetts' workers' compensation insurance program.

The state attorney general's office claimed that several CVS Pharmacy locations in Massachusetts failed to validate prescription costs for injured workers against certain regulatory benchmarks designed to keep costs low.

Under the settlement, CVS will work with the state to improve the Massachusetts workers compensation billing system and create procedures to prevent overcharges.



"We are pleased to resolve this matter with the Massachusetts Attorney Generals Office," a spokesperson for CVS Pharmacy told Becker's May 16. "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. We agree with the AGO 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."
Rising popularity of Novo Nordisk's Ozempic is making it more difficult to find, leaving some patients to turn to unauthorized alternatives, The New York Times reported May 16.

Originally developed as a treatment for Type 2 diabetes, Ozempic and Eli Lilly's Mounjaro have both proven to be effective for aiding patients with weight loss, fueling the rise in demand. While neither are officially approved for that purpose, an April 3 report from The Wall Street Journal predicted "In the coming months, it is widely expected to get the go-ahead from U.S. health regulators to be prescribed for losing weight and keeping it off."

While current supply of the drug is not keeping up with demand, patients seeking a solution have sometimes turned to promises from individuals claiming to be physicians on social media who promise a generic form of it, according to the Times.

The issue though is two-fold in that there is currently not an FDA-approved generic version of Ozempic and Novo Nordisk also does not sell semaglutide  what the drug is made from  to any pharmacy for compounding or mixing purposes. Regulators worry that individuals receiving what was promised to be an Ozempic alternative on social media may be at risk, according to the Times.

Since a shortage of Ozempic is occurring, compounding pharmacies that reformulate drugs are allowed to purchase ingredients and compounds  including semaglutide  to aim to curb the shortage. However, experts are concerned since "semaglutide sodium does not appear to meet standards for compounding in federal law, in part because the substance is not part of any F.D.A.-approved medication," the Times article states.

"The F.D.A. does not vet compounded medications, and has not reviewed, approved or tested  for safety or effectiveness  the semaglutide drugs compounding pharmacies offer," according to the Times.

Several states have begun to issue warnings and statements on the matter in the hopes that it will deter compounding pharmacies from continuing their production of the off-brand, unapproved Ozempic-like medications. To crack down further, Novo Nordisk is also taking action and may even issue cease-and-desist orders to the compound makers, the Times reported.
The Supreme Court declined to hear Teva Pharmaceuticals USA's challenge to a $235 million award to GlaxoSmithKline in a patent dispute over a generic heart drug.

The case involves "skinny labels," which allow generic drugmakers to avoid patent lawsuits if a generic drug's label omits infringing uses of a brand-name drug.

In 2014, GSK sued Teva in Delaware federal court over its generic version of GSK's heart drug Coreg. Teva argued it followed FDA instructions to "carve out" a patented method for using the drug to treat heart failure.

A jury awarded GSK $235 million in 2017. The ruling was overturned but then reinstated in 2020 by the U.S. Court of Appeals. The court determined Teva's label combined with its marketing encouraged physicians to prescribe the generic in a way that constituted patent infringement.

In Teva's Supreme Court appeal, it told the court the ruling would cause "havoc" and discourage the use of skinny labels which it claimed are "extraordinarily common" and "save patients and the federal government billions." The Biden administration also urged the Supreme Court to hear the case. However, the Supreme Court declined.

GSK said in a court brief that it "presents no threat to generic companies who operate properly under the law."
Distrust in healthcare may be high, but some health system brands still retain consumer trust, according to the latest ranking from brand consultancy Monigle.

For its 2023 Humanizing Brand Experience study, Monigle polled 25,521 U.S. household healthcare decision-makers about their feelings toward healthcare and their perceptions of industry brands between November and December 2022.

It's a tricky time for healthcare brands, given that consumer trust and engagement in healthcare are both in a rut and in what Monigle describes as a state of "malaise." Thirty-three percent of respondents said that they don't always trust their healthcare provider to make the right decision for them, up from 29 percent the year prior.

"We've spoken at length in past reports about the goodwill-inspired trust bump that likely came as a result of individual brand's and our collective industry's COVID response, but this improvement is now gone. People have gone back to trusting our brands even less than they did before COVID," the company noted in the report.

Below are the 30 most trusted healthcare brands out of more than 200 brands evaluated in Monigle's 2023 Humanizing Brand Experience study, which can be found in full here.

1. Emory Healthcare (Atlanta)

2. University of Iowa Health Care (Iowa City)

3. Northwestern Medicine (Chicago)

4. Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minn.)

5. Johns Hopkins Medicine (Baltimore)

6. UT Southwestern Medical Center (Dallas)

7. OhioHealth (Columbus, Ohio)

8. Cedars-Sinai (Los Angeles)

9. Ochsner Health (New Orleans)

10. UChicago Medicine

11. Mass General Brigham (Boston)

12. Baptist Health South Florida (Coral Gables)

13. Torrance (Calif.) Memorial Medical Center

14. University of Miami (Fla.) Health System

15. Baptist Health System (San Antonio, Texas)

16. Valley Health System (Ridgewood, N.J.)

17. University of Maryland Medical System (Baltimore)

18. Memorial Healthcare System (Hollywood, Fla.)

19. Northeast Georgia Health System (Gainesville, Ga.)

20. Duke Health (Durham, N.C.)

21. UW Medicine (Seattle)

22. Hoag Memorial Health (Newport Beach, Calif.)

23. The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center (Columbus, Ohio)

24. The University of Kansas Health System (Kansas City)

25. Roper St. Francis Healthcare (Charleston, S.C.)

26. Crouse Health (Syracuse, N.Y.)

27. Nebraska Medicine (Omaha)

28. UR Medicine (Rochester, N.Y.)

29. University Hospitals (Cleveland)

30. Northside Hospital Atlanta
Orlando (Fla.) Health has launched a virtual care clinic at a local convention center.

The clinic, a partnership with the Visit Orlando tourism bureau, is located at the Orange County Convention Center. It will be staffed by an Orlando Health team member who can help connect visitors to medical providers via a video screen.

"A board-certified physician will assess patients with minor conditions so they can resume their activities at the convention center and enjoy the rest of their visit in Orlando," said Thibaut van Marcke, senior vice president of Orlando Health's southeast region and president of Orlando Health Dr. P. Phillips Hospital, in a May 9 news release.

The physician can virtually evaluate such conditions as cold and flu symptoms, skin rashes, pink eye, insect bites, diarrhea, respiratory infections and sprains. Prescriptions can be sent to a local pharmacy.
The state of Minnesota is moving forward with a plan to exempt Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic from its controversial Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act, the Star Tribune reported May 15.

Health systems, including Mayo Clinic, have spoken out against the bill; if passed, it would require hospitals to form nurse staffing committees and comply with the established staffing ratios. In a May 13 statement, Mayo Clinic said the legislation would "severely limit" its ability to provide world-class care. Mayo's CEO said he would consider relocating a billion-dollar project outside Minnesota if the legislation is passed.

Following that claim, Minnesota lawmakers have been working up a draft compromise. One version would exempt hospitals from the staffing laws if they operate outside the Twin Cities, use an electronic staffing system that considers patient volume and acuity, and have more than 40 percent of patients from outside the state. Under these criteria, only Mayo Clinic in Rochester would be exempt  not its other facilities in Minnesota.

"Mayo is different," Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman said on a Sunday morning news show. "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."
Leeanne Armstrong, employment legal director at TLT, reflects on the increasing cost of childcare in Northern Ireland and what employers can do to help parents return to work

Employees in Northern Ireland are entitled to up to 18 weeks unpaid parental leave to look after their children

Employees in Northern Ireland are entitled to up to 18 weeks unpaid parental leave to look after their children

The trend we saw throughout the pandemic of employers flexing working policies to support working parents balancing work and childcare, has shaped the new hybrid working model were seeing being adopted by many businesses today.

This renewed importance placed on increasing rights for working parents was exemplified in announcements by the UK Government a few months ago that the 30 hours free childcare provision for working parents already provided to parents in England is being expanded to cover one and two-year-olds.

However, funded childcare hours are not available in Northern Ireland. Here, 12.5 hours per week of free pre-school education is available for all three and four-year-olds during term time, provided by the Department of Education. Outside of these funded term time pre school hours, where then does that leave families requiring support with childcare?

Research from Ulster University in 2020 suggested that childcare costs for families in Northern Ireland are some of the highest in Europe.

In addition, a 2021 survey by Employers for Childcare revealed that for 44% of parents, difficulties accessing or affording childcare have impacted on their ability to work.

This rises to 58% of mothers, compared to 27% of fathers.

Recent news stories of parents struggling to make ends meet because of the cost of childcare and having to choose to stay at home instead of returning to work because of the lack of availability of essential childcare, has placed more emphasis on what more employers can do to support working parents and facilitate their return to work.

We take a look at some of the legal obligations employers currently have which can provide support to working parents, and some additional family-friendly initiatives employers can consider to attract, retain and support working parents.

Employees in Northern Ireland are entitled to up to 18 weeks unpaid parental leave to look after their children

Flexible working

In Northern Ireland, parents have a legal right to request flexible working. This could include a request for flexible working hours, compressed working hours, or home working. This is a right to request only, and there is no legal obligation on employers to grant the request. However, there is a strict process to be followed in considering a flexible working request and if it is to be rejected, employers must provide a valid business reason for rejecting an application which are set out in legislation. To meet the criteria to apply, employees must:

 Be an employee but not an agency worker other than those returning from a period of parental leave;

 Have worked for the employers for 26 weeks continuously before applying; and

 Have not made another application to work flexibly under the right during the past 12 months.

Employers can operate policies to provide more than the legal minimum, such as making the right to request flexible working a day one right.

This is something the UK Government has already announced it intends to roll out under plans to make flexible working the default. Employers may also want to open up to larger sections of the workforce, where the arrangements can support business need, the ability to avail of hybrid working to make such requests more widely available and accessible to working parents.

Parental leave

Employees in Northern Ireland are entitled to up to 18 weeks unpaid parental leave to look after their children. This is a per child entitlement so it will be a maximum of 18 weeks even if you move employer. Employers should ensure they adequately communicate and familiarise staff with the terms and conditions associated with parental leave. In some cases, employers may wish to consider providing some paid enhancement to encourage eligible employees to avail of the entitlement where it is needed.

Family-friendly policies

Family-friendly policies help to promote a supportive, empathetic culture where working parents feel supported to do their jobs. Family-friendly policies can include enhanced payments for those taking maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave, and ramp up, ramp down programmes for parents returning from such leave to provide them with the flexibility and time to reintegrate into the working world at their own pace, without facing any financial impact. Its vital employers communicate their family-friendly policies to staff and provide training to managers on the initiatives and support available to working parents.

Financial support for childcare

Although the childcare voucher scheme closed to new entrants in October 2018, if you were part of the scheme at the time you can still avail of it. Childcare vouchers are usually provided through a salary sacrifice arrangement meaning staff have to give up a portion of their pre-tax salary to obtain the benefit.

Vouchers can provide substantial savings helping parents pay for childcare. Childcare vouchers were replaced with a Government tax-free childcare scheme, available to employees and the self-employed, which pays 20% of eligible childcare costs, with parents paying 80%. It applies to children under the age of 12, and under the age of 17 if the child has a disability.

With Employers for Childcare stating that many childcare providers are planning to raise fees by 10%, its important businesses seriously review the family-friendly policies and arrangements they have in place to support working parents.

Whilst financial support and better guidance is required from the Government to put the childcare sector back on its feet, businesses still have a responsibility and duty to ensure they are introducing all measures possible to help working parents.
The head of the artificial intelligence company that makes ChatGPT has told Congress that government intervention will be critical to mitigate the risks of increasingly powerful AI systems.

As this technology advances, we understand that people are anxious about how it could change the way we live. We are too, OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman told a Senate hearing on Tuesday.

He proposed the formation of a US or global agency that would license the most powerful AI systems and have the authority to take that licence away and ensure compliance with safety standards.

His San Francisco-based start-up rocketed to public attention late last year after it released ChatGPT, the free chatbot tool which answers questions with convincingly human-like responses.

Sam Altman (Patrick Semansky/AP)   Patrick Semansky

What started out as a panic among educators about ChatGPTs use to cheat on homework assignments has expanded to broader concerns about the ability of the latest crop of generative AI tools to mislead people, spread falsehoods, violate copyright protections and upend some jobs.

There is no immediate sign that Congress will create sweeping new rules on artificial intelligence, as European legislators are doing, but the societal concerns brought Mr Altman and other tech CEOs to the White House earlier this month and have led US agencies to promise to crack down on harmful AI products that break civil rights and consumer protection laws.

Senator Richard Blumenthal, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committees subcommittee on privacy, technology and the law, opened the hearing with a recorded speech that sounded like the him, but was a voice clone trained on his speeches and recited a speech written by ChatGPT after he asked the chatbot: How I would open this hearing?

The result was impressive, said Mr Blumenthal, but he added: What if I had asked it, and what if it had provided, an endorsement of Ukraine surrendering or (Russian President) Vladimir Putins leadership?

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The Democrat said AI companies ought to be required to test their systems and disclose known risks before releasing them.

Founded in 2015, OpenAI is also known for other AI products including the image-maker DALL-E. Microsoft has invested billions in the start-up and has integrated its technology into its own products, including its search engine Bing.

Mr Altman is also planning to embark on a worldwide tour this month to national capitals and major cities across six continents to talk about the technology with policymakers and the public.

On the eve of his Senate testimony, he dined with dozens of US legislators, several of whom said they were impressed by his comments.

Artificial intelligence will be transformative in ways we cant even imagine, with implications for Americans elections, jobs and security, said the panels ranking Republican, Josh Hawley. This hearing marks a critical first step towards understanding what Congress should do.

Mr Altman and other tech industry leaders have said they welcome some form of AI oversight but have cautioned against what they see as overly heavy-handed rules.
After suffering for years under a reign of terror at the hands of increasingly powerful gangs, the people of Haiti are standing up and fighting back to regain control of their neighbourhoods and cities.

A movement called Bwa Kale (literally peeled wood, and a metaphor for an act of swift justice) emerged at the end of April in response to an alarming rise in gang-related violence this year. With this movement, the people are taking matters into their own hands and have established self-defence organisations to protect their neighbourhoods from the gangs.

Surge in gang violence

Gangs have been a problem in Haiti for decades. The gangs have direct ties with the corrupt police as well as politicians and the ruling class, who have funded the gangs and used them for their own purposes: in criminal schemes, to intimidate rivals and settle scores, to collect money and votes, etc.

With the gangs, the Haitian political elites and the ruling class had a Frankensteins monster on their hands. As the crisis of Haitian society has deepened, the state and civil society are completely dysfunctional. The general sickness of capitalism in Haiti has allowed the gangs to grow and metastasise like an aggressive cancer.

The further the situation in Haiti declines, the more powerful the gangs become. The cancer of the gangs now threatens the very life of Haitian society itself. The gangs have slipped from the leash and are now in a powerful position. It is estimated that they currently control around 80 percent of the capital, Port-au-Prince, as well as the major roads in and out of the city.

Gang violence has been spiralling out of control for several years, especially since the assassination of president Jovenel Moise  with brazen kidnappings, murders, and sexual violence. Gangs have engaged in open warfare for the control of territory, terrorising entire neighbourhoods and were involved in the assassination of activists and journalists.

Given the economic crisis and the political disintegration in Haiti, it was only a matter of time before the gangs became a political force on a national level. There was a crisis in September 2022 when the G9 gang, considered the most powerful gang, seized control of the countrys main fuel terminal in response to the governments plan to cut fuel subsidies. The two-month fuel blockade resulted in a fuel shortage exacerbating an already dire economic situation and leading to the closure of hospitals, schools and businesses.

The G9 blockade was a display of the gangs power and a direct challenge to the state. The blockade of the fuel terminal was eventually brought to an end when the Haitian National Police were able to regain control of the port in early November, but the general situation has continued to worsen since then.

According to the United Nations, in the first three months of 2023 there were 1,647 recorded incidents of gang-related violence in Haiti  murders, rapes, kidnappings and lynchings. Painting a picture of just how dire the situation is, one recent article said the following:

It is hard to overstate the desperateness of the situation. Haitians at every level of society have been living in daily fear  of being kidnapped, killed, raped or caught in cross-fire Almost everyone in Port-au-Prince knows someone who has been kidnapped. The Center for Analysis and Research in Human Rights, based in Haiti, counted 389 kidnappings over the first quarter of 2023, a rise of 72 percent from the same period the previous year, and of 173 percent on 2021.

The gangs have direct ties with the corrupt police as well as politicians and the ruling class / Image: HaitiMania, Twitter

More than 600 people were then killed in a wave of gang violence that erupted in April 2023. The gangs have unleashed a reign of terror in what amounts to a very much one-sided war against the people.

But there has been a significant change in the situation. The United Nations has acknowledged that because the Haitian state did not have the capacity to respond to the gang violence, people are thus taking the law into their own hands. This has led to a rise in mob killings and lynchings of alleged gang members. At least 164 gang members were reportedly killed in April.

A recent article on the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) noted that Port-au-Prince is as violent as it has ever been, but for two weeks now the fear has also flowed in a different direction  thanks to a phenomenon known as Bwa Kale.

Bwa Kale

A spontaneous event in the Canape Vert neighbourhood of Port-au-Prince seems to have sparked off a broader movement of resistance to the gangs across the country. On 24 April, around a dozen gang members were travelling through the neighbourhood to join with an allied gang in a nearby district. The gang members were not heavily armed and were stopped and detained by police. A crowd of local residents gathered at the scene of the arrests. Demanding justice the crowd attacked and killed the gang members, stoning and burning them to death.

A local activist explained that the attack on the gang members dispelled the myth of [the gangs] invincibility adding that the group the killed gang members were going to meet was then also attacked by the population the following day.

Calls went out for Operasyon File Manchet (Operation Sharpen Machete) on social media. Apparently, even some churches got involved in spreading the message. The Bwa Kale movement was born as people in neighbourhoods across the capital and the rest of the country started to take action against the gangs.

In the following days, many neighbourhoods of Port-au-Prince moved onto a war footing. Where gangs would enter a neighbourhood, people would bang on pots and pans to alert residents. The people, not very heavily armed compared to the gangs, would throw rocks or use other rudimentary weapons to confront gang members, and have been able to repel incursions by the gangs.

The Bwa Kale movement has seen crowds of neighbourhood residents go on the offensive. They have used their numbers to overwhelm gang houses. There have been numerous scenes of the people dragging suspected gang members out of these houses and even from police stations to kill them in the streets.

The CBC recently published an interview with a local human rights activist, Velina Elysee Charlier, who lives in the Turgeau neighbourhood of Port-au-Prince. The residents of this neighbourhood had recently defended themselves against a gang incursion.

The gang members, she said, they came to Debussy, which is on the upper hill of the Turgeau area in Port-au-Prince. And for the very first time, the population was not having it They started shooting back. Whoever had guns and enough ammunition, they started shooting back on the gangs. And then the population came out with machetes, rocks or wooden sticks  whatever they could find to fight back They started pursuing all the bandits and the gang members down the hill in every area that they went to hide.

The Bwa Kale movement has since spread across the country and has already had an immediate impact on the levels of gang violence. According to some recent reports, an estimated 100 gang members have been killed and only one case of kidnapping has been recorded since Bwa Kale started.

The role of the police

The Bwa Kale movement has meant that the gangs have been forced to flee many areas in the capital. Gang members have been lynched or summarily executed when captured by the people, sometimes acting alongside the police.

Indeed, when asked about why the people were taking matters into their own hands to deal with the gangs, Charlier had said, Many neighbourhoods were already fighting back, and brigades were already organising themselves in different neighbourhoods so the population has been quietly organising themselves. And I think what really made the difference is the fact that the police also showed up for the people, which is a very big development, and one of the very few times that we saw [the] population going hand-in-hand with the police to fight back against the bandits.

The people of Haiti have suffered an intolerable situation under the reign of terror of the gangs for years. The scenes of gang members being killed and burned alive are grisly, though the anger of the people and their thirst for justice are also understandable. The gangs have terrorised the people for years, with raping, pillaging, torturing and kidnapping on a massive scale. The gangs have ruthlessly attacked and extorted the poorest families in the poorest neighbourhoods. The people are now standing up to defend themselves and are taking direct action to deal with the gangs.

The police appear to be using the Bwa Kale movement of the people to reassert some control over the situation / Image: United Nations, Flickr

The people have demonstrated that they can defend themselves. They have demonstrated that they do not need the state or the police to do this. It is precisely because the state and police have been powerless in the face of gang violence that the people have been forced, inevitably, to take matters into their own hands.

The Henry regime does not have the means to deal with the gangs. The Haitian National Police are a relatively small force. They are outmanned and outgunned by the gangs and have been powerless to do anything about them for years. There are also corrupt elements in the state and the police that have close connections with the gangs.

The involvement of the police in the Bwa Kale represents a mortal danger to the movement. The police appear to be using the Bwa Kale movement of the people to reassert some control over the situation. Ultimately, while the police may be helping to attack the gangs for the moment, their main goal will be to contain the movement of the people and preserve the status quo of the failed Henry regime. Corrupt politicians and elements in the police could also attempt to use the Bwa Kale movement to settle scores with various gangs and other political and economic rivals. These are only a few ways that the movement of the people could be corrupted.

Revolutionary self-defence

The Bwa Kale appears, at the moment, to be a broad movement that has sprung up in numerous neighbourhoods across the capital and the rest of the country. But class divisions are already visible in the movement.

The neighbourhoods of Laboule and Thomassin are wealthier suburbs of Port-au-Prince. Last September, gang members had killed three police officers and killed a prominent resident, a former presidential candidate.

The gangs then started terrorising the population, killing, shooting, raping, kidnapping, ransoming in the neighbourhood. The local residents asked the government for help but received none. They eventually took matters into their own hands.

Led by a local lawyer, the neighbourhood self-defence group reached a deal with the police. Residents of the neighbourhood raised around USD $32,000, a significant amount of money in Haiti, to repair a broken armoured vehicle in exchange for a police commitment to use it to defend their neighbourhood only. The group has also hired private security guards and has acquired pickup trucks to patrol the neighbourhood.

Of course, every neighbourhood in Haiti has an interest in organising its own defence against these gangs. But some of the wealthier neighbourhoods have shown an extremely narrow self-interested approach of defending their own neighbourhoods alone.

Such a narrow approach, of organising in an atomised and individual way, is shortsighted. If the movements to deal with the gangs are disunited with little or no coordination between neighbourhood and city defence committees, then the struggle against the various gangs could end up being an unnecessarily protracted and violent conflict.

Each neighbourhood may or may not be able to defend its boundaries from the gangs, but such an approach will not do anything to solve the fundamental problems that led to the growth and power of the gangs in the first place.

The Haitian masses have taken matters into their own hands to deal with the gangs. The people in many neighbourhoods have taken the significant step of organising self-defence committees. The workers and poor must be able to defend themselves from kidnappings and assassinations and the armed defence of neighbourhoods to protect from gang violence is necessary.

The struggle against the gangs is also a social struggle. Truly defeating the gangs means sweeping away all the rotten economic and social conditions that allowed the gangs to grow and become so powerful. The gangs are now a component part of capitalism itself in Haiti. The social disintegration and corruption runs so deep that the entire capitalist system, including the political framework, has become criminalised and gangsterised. Defeating the gangs ultimately demands an alternative to capitalism.

The social disintegration and corruption runs so deep that the entire capitalist system has become criminalised and gangsterised / Image: Echojounal, Twitter

It is not clear how the self-defence committees in the various neighbourhoods are being organised. There are likely many different models. The masses must insist on democratic control of the neighbourhood committees via elected and recallable delegates. This will ensure that the committees reflect the will of the people and will prevent any attempts to corrupt or gangsterise them.

To overcome the crisis, the Haitian masses must forge their own path, fight for and create their own democracy. They must create a regime of genuine, popular, revolutionary democracy.

The neighbourhood committees should also coordinate their activities through elected and recallable delegates across neighbourhoods and on a city-wide, regional, and ultimately a national level. A national movement of united, democratic neighbourhood committees could mobilise the masses and coordinate actions to defeat and disarm the gangs quickly.

Capitalism has utterly failed in Haiti. What is needed is a total revolutionary sweeping away of all the corruption and rot of Haitian capitalism. The socialist transformation of society is the only way forward.

A movement of united neighbourhood committees could challenge the power of the capitalist state and the gangs, and form the launchpad for the revolutionary overthrow of capitalism in Haiti. But first, it would need to develop an economic, political and social programme that can eradicate the poverty that drives people to join gangs. It would need to take over the management of the collection and distribution of basic goods such as food, water and fuel; and the organisation of transportation, education, healthcare, and housing.

In such a way, these committees could form the starting point for a struggle for power by the workers and poor of Haiti and the expropriation of the bourgeoisie, and liberating the country from the greed and corruption of the capitalists and the imperialists, and forming the basis for an economic plan that could provide jobs and decent wages. This will be the only way to truly defeat the gangs.
An author from Northern Ireland has won The Bookseller magazines Book of the Year for her debut novel Trespasses on Monday evening.

Louise Kennedys novel is set during the height of the Troubles and is about a young Catholic teacher who begins an affair with an older married Protestant.

Released in November 2022, the book has garnered significant critical acclaim.

At the award ceremony in London, Ms Kennedy received her award in the Debut Fiction category.

Writing in the magazine, the organisers said: Louise Kennedys 1970s Northern Ireland-set debut, Trespasses, was a blazing success in this category.

"The judges were deeply moved by this beautifully written tale of forbidden love.

It is one of the best books I have ever read, declared one judge; a masterpiece, agreed another.

"Trespasses introduced me to a completely different world I didnt know anything about, said one judge; Kennedy is writing about the Troubles in a way I havent read before, added another.

The judges also praised the eye-catching jacket design, created by deputy creative director Greg Heinimann, and Bloomsburys commitment to author care on the publicity trail.

"Trespasses was the critics most-picked book of the year in 2022 and the judges are eager to see what Kennedy, a standout debut writer in her fifties, writes next.

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Ms Kennedy grew up near Belfast and now lives in Sligo. Trespasses is her first novel, but she has previously published a collection of short stories called The End of the World Is a Cul de Sac. She has written for The Guardian, The Irish Times, and BBC Radio 4.

Previous to her writing career, she worked as a chef for almost 30 years.

Last month it was announced she has been shortlisted for the prestigious Womens Prize for Fiction.

The 2023 Womens Prize for Fiction will be awarded on Wednesday June 14 at the Womens Prize Trusts Summer Party in central London.

The winner will receive an anonymously endowed cheque for 30,000 and bronze figurine known as a Bessie, created and donated by artist Grizel Niven.
A judge has praised the actions of a mother who pretended to be her daughter after her child was contacted on social media by a sexual predator.

Judge Neil Rafferty made the comment as he jailed Co Londonderry man Christopher Joseph Quinn for 12 months.

Coleraine Crown Court heard the paedophile was absolutely terrified of going to jail and was ashamed of himself.

The 57-year-old, of Church Way, Maghera, admitted a string of charges including sexual communication and attempted sexual communication with a child between March and July 2020.

Judge Rafferty said the offending was uncovered by the child's mother when she accessed her daughter's social media account.

The mother took over the conversations and then brought them to the attention of the police in West Yorkshire, he said.

Judge Rafferty said the social media comments posted by Quinn became more and more sexualised and he used his social media profiles of Irish Trucker and Horny Old Goat.

West Yorkshire Police tracked the messages to Quinn who after he was arrested told the police he was disgusted and ashamed by his actions.

He told the police he'd committed the offences due to the lockdown during the pandemic.

Defence barrister Eoghan Devlin said Quinn was absolutely terrified of going to prison and made full admissions at the earliest possible time.

He said Quinn had informed his family who, while not condoning his actions, were supportive of him.

Mr Devlin said the relevant safeguarding issues had been put in place in relation to Quinn's children.

Judge Rafferty told Quinn his offending clearly justifies a custodial sentence.

Addressing the mother of Quinn's victim who watched and listened to the sentencing hearing via video link, Judge Rafferty said: I want to take time to acknowledge what you did and how you did it. It is quite clear that your concerns were absolutely well placed and that your thought process was entirely protective of your daughter and that the calm way that you dealt with that situation was probably the best for your daughter and the best in terms of the gathering of evidence for a criminal prosecution.

The protective measures of a good and loving parent should not be under estimated as our children encounter the internet and social media. I acknowledge what you did and I thank you, he said.

Read more Lurgan man admits posting sick animated image of recently deceased woman

Quinn also admitted four charges of an adult causing a child under 13 to look at an image of a person engaging in sexual activity.

He also admitted attempting to incite another to take an indecent photograph of a child and attempting to incite the distribution of an indecent photograph of a child.

In addition to the jail sentence, the Maghera man was placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years and sexual offences protection order (SOPO) imposed for a similar period.

Under the terms of the SOPO Quinn is banned, unless approved by his designated risk manager, from any access to children under the age of 16, unless accidental, and banned from entering into any relationship without full disclosure of his criminality.

He is also banned from engaging in any activity which gives him access to children, banned from using a mobile phone and banned from possessing any internet enabled device. He must also give the police unrestricted assess to his home following his prison release.
Michaela McAreavey song: Jamie Bryson claims company bowed to GAA pressure as tribunal told family given apology

An unfair dismissal case is being taken by HGV driver Andrew McDade, who is being represented by Mr Bryson

Andrew McDade appeared at the tribunal, represented by Jamie Bryson (inset), to argue that his dismissal by the Norman Emerson Group for his involvement in the incident was unfair

Allison Morris Tue 16 May 2023 at 20:15
Appearing at Craigavon Crown Court by video-link from prison, 39-year-old Joe McCabe pleaded guilty to stealing 72 of razor blades from Tesco on February 23, last year.

Remanding him back into custody, Judge Patrick Lynch KC said he would sentence him on Thursday.

McCabes multiple previous convictions include the rape of a 64-year-old grandmother.

And today was far from the first time that McCabe, with an address at Edward Street hostel in Portadown, has appeared before Judge Lynch.

Last November, he was handed a four-month jail sentence after he admitted yet a breach of his Sexual Offences Prevention Order,

And August 2020, he was handed a 10-month sentence for stealing 464 of turkeys in the run up to Christmas.

Jailing McCabe last November, Judge Lynch said his record of multiple SOPO breaches was an aggravating factor and ordered that the four months wont begin until October this year when his currently suspended prison licence has expired.

McCabe had entered a guilty plea to a single count of breaching the requirements of the sex offenders register on April 28, last year, by failing to notify the police of his new address.

Prosecuting counsel Nicola Auret told the court the facts of the case were simple and straightforward in that McCabe was released from prison and registered his address as Edward Street hostel.

The breach arose, said the lawyer, because the convicted rapist left the hostel and did not notify police of his new address.

That breach was just another entry on McCabes mammoth criminal record which includes numerous dishonesty convictions but its his 2006 case which led to his notoriety.

On February 1, 2005, McCabe and another man broke into the home of a 64-year-old grandmother with McCabe subjecting her to what a judge described as a violent sexual offence carried out with significant gratuitous violence.

Imposing a 14-year sentence, Judge Kevin Finnegan KC said the victim had been subjected to a terrifying prolonged ordeal in her own home.

Freed in 2013 having served half his sentence, McCabe sparked an island wide manhunt after he went but he handed himself in.

Since then, McCabe has breached his licence and the sex offenders register more than half a dozen times.
A poll carried out by LucidTalk collated over 2,500 responses.

Pupils at Fort Hill Integrated Primary School, along with IEF Chair Peter Osborne and teacher Susan Jones, celebrate recent poll findings that 66% of people in Northern Ireland agree that Integrated Education should be the norm

Around two thirds of people in Northern Ireland feel an integrated system should be the main model for local education, a recent poll has shown.

The poll, carried out by Belfast-based independent polling and market research company LucidTalk on behalf of the Integrated Education Fund (IEF), revealed 66% of respondents felt integrated education should be the default system.

Over 2,500 full responses were collated, and the poll was balanced by gender, age-group, area of residence, and community background, to ensure it was demographically representative of Northern Ireland today.

Respondents said integrated schools, which intentionally educate children in the same classrooms, inclusive of different religions, gender, and race, should be the main model for our education system.

65% of those polled also said they would support their school transforming to integrated status.

Those polled included 53% who have children currently being educated in pre-school, primary and post-primary schools, plus an additional 35% who have children aged over 19 years old.

The IEF have claimed the poll shows a clear majority of Northern Ireland residents support integrated education as the mainstay of the sectors future.

With the poll showing 73% of those agreeing integrated education should be the norm are between 18-34 years old, the IEF said there was a need to provide more support to grow the integrated sector.

"The timing of this Northern Ireland wide attitudinal poll is particularly apt as we reflect on the 25th anniversary of the Belfast/ Good Friday Agreement which pledged to facilitate and encourage Integrated Education, said Peter Osbourne, Chair of the IEF.

"Over the past 25 years we have seen interest, support and parental demand for Integrated Education continue to increase. The poll results highlight the support for Integrated Education from the people of Northern Ireland.

"Despite this support, many areas in Northern Ireland remain with limited or no Integrated options available to parents. The IEF and its supporters will continue to support all efforts to increase Integrated Education provision in response to the growing demand.

It comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told Queens University Belfasts Agreement 25 conference last month that integrated education should be the norm in Northern Ireland.

In 25 years, should integrated education not be the norm rather than the exception? Of course, we wont build that better future overnight, he said.

"And it wont be easy. Every time I visit Northern Ireland, I feel more optimistic and hopeful.
A new sewage works has been given the green light close to a recently approved West Belfast social housing development at the Kennedy Enterprise Centre site.

Concerns had been raised about smell and noise for potential residents of the yet-to-be-built estate coming from the waste water centre, but Belfast City Council said the impact would be low level and councillors approved the sewage works at its most recent full meeting of the Planning Committee.

The application, by Northern Ireland Water, involves a partial redevelopment of former Kennedy Way waste water treatment works to include the development of new mechanical and electrical workshops, storage, changing facilities and ancillary offices.

The development will include three new buildings, a main hub building, a store to hold an alternative bottled water supply, and a generator store. It will also include a new cesspool, access improvements, parking, service yards, storage areas, contractors compound, boundary fencing, solar PV panels and landscaping.

The site is at the former NI Water sewage treatment works, Blackstaff Road, BT11. The council had previously approved a social housing led, mixed tenure residential development of 139 units at the former Kennedy Enterprise Centre, north of Westwood Shopping Centre, Blackstaff Road, Belfast BT11.

This approval came despite warnings at City Hall that the plan was not suitable.

Planning officers recommended that elected representatives reject the plan, which involves 52 dwelling houses and 87 apartments, with public open space, a childrens play park, landscaping, car parking, associated site works and infrastructure and access arrangements from Blackstaff Road.

Despite the recommendation for rejection, the plan was carried through at the councils Planning Committee with nine votes in favour from Sinn Fein, Alliance, the SDLP, the Green Party, and People Before Profit, to four votes against the plan from the DUP, UUP and PUP.

UUP Alderman Jim Rodgers said the plan was not suitable as it was in the middle of an industrial site while a council officer told the Planning Committee the application represented poor place making.

Planning officers however did recommend the new sewage works. This was after councillors raised a concern that the proposed development could have an in-principle environmental impact on a live planning application for proposed residential development for social housing on an adjacent site.

The council planning report states: Officers have sought the view of Environmental Health and further information has been provided by the applicant to provide clarification on the frequency of night-time activities and odour.

Following consideration, Environmental Health advises that the approval of the proposed NI Water development would not have an adverse impact on the proposed housing development on the adjacent site.

Based on information provided by the applicant, Environmental Health consider that the need for out of hours access will be intermittent, emergency access less again, and the degree of activity on-site during night time hours would not give cause for noise impact concern, especially set in the context of other noise sources already extant in the area during the evening and at night associated with a number of commercial premises that already exist in the immediate area.

Furthermore, Environmental Health advises that the proposed mitigation measures by way of glazing and alternative means of ventilation for the proposed housing development have been designed to a high specification to deal with existing high noise levels measured and modelled in the area during the daytime and at night.

The additional access requirements to the redeveloped NI Water site (with the new access point) at night and the relatively low level of activity on site during this time would not, in the opinion of Environmental Health Officers, lead to a significant increase in noise levels in the area on those occasions such that the proposed mitigation measures (for the housing development) would not be designed to deal with.

The report adds: With regard to odour, the RPS Odour Impact Assessment accompanying this planning application concluded a low level impact and that odour is typically transient. Additionally, the odour source is not part of the proposed development and lies outside the application site.

Notwithstanding, Environmental Health consider that the proposed residential development is further away than the RPS subjective odour monitoring positions, and given the prevailing wind direction, i.e. south westerly, there is unlikely to be significant impact on external amenity areas within the proposed housing development.

In conclusion, officers are satisfied that the proposed development would not give rise to unacceptable impacts should the proposal for social housing proceed.

Mr Paddy Brow, Head of Living with Water Programme, NI Water, told the committee approval of the application would help protect, enhance and grow the entire city and how the increased wastewater capacity would facilitate economic growth.
Photo of PSNI officer (Photo by Aodhan Roberts for Belfast Telegraph)   Aodhan Roberts

Police are investigating after three boys reported they were assaulted in sectarian-motivated attacks in north Belfast.

The separate incidents happened on Monday afternoon, May 15.

The alleged assaults took place on the Ardoyne Road and Ballysillan Road areas of north Belfast.

The PSNI said officers are treating the assaults as sectarian-motivated hate crimes.

The boys are not thought to have any serious injuries following the incidents.

According to the PSNI, the boys injuries included cuts and bruises.

An 18-year-old man was arrested in connection with the assaults on Monday but has since been released on police bail to allow for further enquiries.

Workers Party representative Fiona McCarthy condemned the assaults.

"There is no justification whatsoever for these kind of criminal and sectarian attacks," she said.

She said it raises concerns that sectarianism is still a prevalent issue in Northern Ireland, and attacks like these will continue until politics here drastically changes.

"They [the assaults] are of course the outworkings of tribal and sectarian politics in our society, she said.

Ms McCarthy encouraged politicians to consider the impact of their policies.

Those parties and individuals who ferment sectarianism to divide the community and build their support bases should reflect long and hard on their own actions, she said.

Ms McCarthy passed on her sympathy to the assault victims and encouraged those with information to come forward.

A PSNI spokesperson said: "It was reported that three boys were assaulted in separate assaults. Injuries sustained included cuts and bruises and these assaults are being treated as sectarian-motivated hate crimes."

An 18-year-old man arrested has since been released on police bail pending further enquiries.

The PSNI spokesperson added: "Our enquiries are ongoing to determine the circumstances and we would appeal to anyone that could help with our investigation to contact us on 101.
The scene on Greenland Parade in Larne, Co. Antrim, where police are investigating an overnight arson attack on a van (PressEye).

Police are appealing for information following a petrol bomb attack on a van in Larne on Tuesday morning.

Sergeant Thompson said: At approximately 12.30am we received a report of a van on fire in the Greenland Parade area of the town.

Officers along with colleagues from NIFRS attended and the fire was extinguished.

Police have said the incident is being treated as arson, and have asked anyone with information to contact them via 101.
Titanic hopeful takes aim at Turas founder for soldiers speaking only Gaelic report findings

East Belfast GAA has said it will not be making a comment in relation to Anne Smyths remarks

The TUVs council candidate for east Belfasts Titanic ward, Anne Smyth, has criticised language rights activist Linda Ervine for her attempts to persuade east Belfast people to learn Gaelic.

Mrs Smyth further condemned the East Belfast GAA club, of which Ms Ervine became the first president after its formation in 2020.

In a statement entitled The GAA Saga In East Belfast, Mrs Smyth said: Linda Ervine first came to public notice for her attempts to persuade east Belfast people to learn Gaelic, and a group of supposed researchers from her organisation received National Lottery funding to produce a report suggesting that a substantial number of First World War soldiers from east Belfast were monoglot Irish speakers (meaning that they spoke Gaelic only and not English).

This misrepresentation flew in the face of common sense, never mind genuine research, but the group doubled down on it regardless.

The 72-year-old, who was born in Glasgow, also stated: Many east Belfast residents first became aware of the arrival on the scene of an East Belfast GAA club when information came to their ears of its use of council-run playing fields at Church Road, Castlereagh.

While the name of Linda Ervine has been associated with this club, its Facebook page is remarkably coy about naming other participants or the location of the clubs activities.

Ms Ervine is an east Belfast native and comes from a Protestant background.

A sister-in-law of the late PUP leader David Ervine, she is married to Brian Ervine, who also led the party.

Ms Ervine is also the current manager of the Turas Irish language project on the Newtownards Road and was officially awarded an MBE by the Queen last year for her services to the Irish language.

In response to Mrs Smyth, who is also the mother of BBC NIs director Adam Smyth, Ms Ervine told the Belfast Telegraph: This is a misrepresentation of the outcomes of the First World War project carried out by a group in east Belfast.

If Mrs Smyth would like help in understanding the actual findings of the research, we would be happy to meet with her.

Our research shines a light on the diversity and shared history within east Belfast and contributes to greater community cohesion. It is unfortunate when electoral candidates use negative electioneering to attack and criticise local people and projects rather than focusing on the positives that they could bring to a community.

A few years ago, Turas undertook an 18-month research initiative. Through studying historical census data and military records, Turas said it discovered that 74 First World War soldiers, who were from the traditionally loyalist east Belfast area and identified as British, also spoke Irish.

The project, which was supported by the UK National Lottery Heritage Fund, cross-referenced responses to the censuses of 1901 and 1911 with information contained in military records of Belfast soldiers compiled by local historian Jason Burke.

Mrs Smyth has also hit out at East Belfast GAA for its lack of transparency regarding training facilities.

She said the decision to cancel a taster GAA session at Strandtown Primary School was justifiable in view of the sectarian nature of the supposed sporting organisation that is the GAA.

She also detailed that an open letter was sent to the school to point this out and to sympathise with its experience, after the school claimed it had been threatened on social media, but that no response was received.

Mrs Smyth then criticised Sinn Fein representatives on Belfast City Council for reconfiguring the council-run Henry Jones Playing Fields in Castlereagh for GAA use without waiting for the full council to ratify this decision.

She also lambasted the council for recently asking a French television production team to leave the council chamber so that a committee could discuss in private its decision to approve East Belfast GAA for use of the site.

Unionists are scapegoated again, as it is reported that the young east Belfast club has faced a torrid time as it attempts to establish itself on the Belfast GAA scene, facing unionist objections and loyalist hostility. If the club is sincere in its wish to reach out to the unionist community of east Belfast, all it has to do is dissociate itself from the GAAs fixation with violent republicanism, both historically and currently, said Mrs Smyth.

East Belfast GAA has said it will not be making a comment in relation to Mrs Smyths remarks.

The only commentary we will be making is in regard to our playing of sport, added a club spokesperson.

Belfast City Council has been contacted for further response.
The work will be completed over four weekends in May and June.

The Westlink will be closing to allow resurfacing work to take place

A major resurfacing scheme on the Westlink, Belfast, is set to begin this Friday, May 19.

The essential structural maintenance work along the westbound lanes, between Divis and Broadway Underpass is scheduled to be completed over four weekends of 19-22 May, 26-29 May, 2- 5 June and 17-19 June.

To complete the scheme safely, it will be necessary to implement a series of lane closures and overnight road closures along the Westlink on each of these weekends.

When will the Westlink be closed?

On the weekends of 19- 22 May, 26-29 May and 2-5 June the westbound carriageway will be closed between Divis and Grosvenor Road as follows:

 Friday from 11pm until 8am on Saturday

 Saturday from 9pm until 10am on Sunday

 Sunday from 9pm until 6am on Monday

On the weekend of 17- 19 June the westbound carriageway will be closed between Divis and Grosvenor Road as follows:

 Saturday from 9pm until 10am on Sunday

 Sunday from 9pm until 6am on Monday

One lane of the westbound carriageway will operate at other times during Saturday and Sunday. The eastbound carriageway towards Belfast will be unaffected.

During periods of closure a diversionary route will be signed via Divis Street, College Avenue, Great Victoria Street, Bruce Street, Dublin Road, Donegall Road, Broadway Roundabout, M1 motorway.

The Department has programmed the work operations and traffic management arrangements to minimise inconvenience, however, road users should expect some delays and are advised to allow additional time when travelling in the vicinity of the works and to comply with all temporary traffic restrictions.

Further details will be communicated via the Department of Infrastructures social media channels and at www.trafficwatchni.com.

Completion of the work by June 19 is subject to favourable weather conditions and DfI will keep the public informed of any change.
Aontu candidate for the Derg area Leza Houston has given birth to a healthy baby boy and said she hopes to get back on the campaign trail ahead of Thursdays election.

The Derry City and Strabane District Council candidate said shes delighted to announce the birth of baby Bennett in recent days as she thanked the amazing Community Ante-natal Team in Strabane.

"I will still be contesting the election in two days time, and hope to get back to my campaign soon, she added.

"The fact that I have given birth so close to the election will make for a great story for Bennett when he's older.

Aontu leader Peadar Toibin TD welcomed the most fantastic news for all involved in this campaign.

"With politics there is always a lot of negativity, especially so close to the finish line, but this brilliant news reaching us, of the birth of baby Bennett, has put a smile on all Aontu faces across the island, and given us all a fantastic boost of happiness.

"In congratulating Leza and her family, I want to pay tribute to her hard work in this campaign. Leza Houston is a working student, currently studying Law in Ulster University.

"She lives in West Tyrone with her young family. Lezas passion for human rights motivated her to get involved in politics.

"She is particularly passionate about childrens rights and improving her community for children in this area. I hope to see her elected in a few days time!"

Aontu selected Leza Houston to contest the Derg DEA, West Tyrone in the upcoming local election.

She is a working student, currently studying law in Ulster University. She lives in the Glebe with her five children.

Ms Houston said Aontu is a movement that is dedicated to the Human Right to life of everyone, the unity of Ireland and economic justice for all in society.

Speaking at the time she was selected, she added: I believe in the traditional Republican vision that all the children of the nation should be cherished equally.

Mrs Houston continued: "I am especially frustrated with whats happening to my county of Tyrone. The cost of living crisis is hurting so many families.

"That people are going without food and heat while the political establishment are sitting on their hands in Stormont is not good enough.

"We are calling on MLAs to lose their salaries if they won't do their job. It would not be tolerated in any other walk of life.

"We are also calling for the end to the system where any one party can crash the Assembly over and over again or block the Assembly from functioning and we want to devolve economic power from London to Belfast so Stormont can actually help people here."
Leo Varadkar and his partner Matt Barrett with the King during a reception at Buckingham Palace prior to the coronation (Ian Jones/PA)   Ian Jones

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.
The latest Progress in International Reading Literacy Study, known as PIRLS, puts England in fourth place in a global education league table (PA)   Ben Birchall

England has gained a top five place in new international rankings for reading.

The latest Progress in International Reading Literacy Study, known as PIRLS, puts England in fourth place in a global education league table, based on tests which are typically carried out every five years.

Singapore scored the highest result, with an average score of 587, taking top place out of the 43 countries that tested the reading levels of nine and 10-year-olds at the end of the school year.

Second was Hong Kong with an average score of 573, followed by Russia (567) and England (558).

The rankings show that Finland had an average score of 549, the same as Poland, while Taiwan had an average score of 544, the same as Sweden.

Overall, the 2021 study assessed nearly 400,000 students in 57 countries during the pandemic  and 43 of the countries tested children of the same age (which is pupils in Year 5 in England) at the end of the school year.

Schools minister Nick Gibb said the Governments reforms  such as a focus on phonics, which teaches children to read using sounds  are behind Englands successful performance despite disruption from the Covid-19 pandemic.

In the 2016 rankings, England came joint 8th place out of 50 countries with an average score of 559  and Ireland and Northern Ireland were above England.

The pandemic caused disruption to the 2021 study and 14 countries  including Northern Ireland and Ireland  delayed testing until the start of the next school year which meant pupils were older when they were assessed.

The International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA), which runs the study, did not include this group of 14 countries in the main rankings table due to the different ages of the children being tested.

Overall, girls were ahead of boys in their reading achievement in nearly all the countries that took part in the 2021 study  and in England, girls had an average score of 562 and boys had an average score of 553.

The gender gap in reading performance in England has narrowed as girls average scores have fallen slightly, the data suggests.

In 2016, female pupils in England had an average score of 566, which is higher than the latest study, and their male peers had an average score of 551.

When asked by the media whether he was concerned that girls reading scores have dropped, Mr Gibb said the decline was very minimal.

He said: In terms of girls, we dont want there to be any decline of any group within these reading surveys.

But whats significant is if you take the results overall we are not seeing a significant drop in our actual score despite all the challenges of the Covid-19 period  and when other countries amongst these 43 countries did see declines in their score.

The Government said Englands success follows the introduction of the phonics screening check in 2012  a measure of progress among Year 1 pupil  and the English Hubs programme in 2018, which is designed to develop expertise in teaching reading in schools.

Mr Gibb said: The approach that the Government has taken, in the face of quite a lot of opposition from vested interests, has been successful in seeing childrens reading improving in this country.

He added that the commitment of 250,000 primary school teachers to reading who have embraced the phonics approach has also contributed.

But the study found that only 29% of pupils in England said they very much enjoyed reading, compared with 42% internationally.

Overall, fewer pupils in England reported enjoying reading than in the last two cycles of PIRLS.

The schools minister said: I do worry about making sure that the gains that children are making in maths and reading in primary school are sustained through secondary school as well.

Its really important in terms of social mobility that children continue to read regularly and for pleasure and thats something that were still working on as a government, he added.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: Driving up literacy rates is central to our plan to grow the economy, one of my five key priorities, so its great to see England move up to fourth in the international rankings for reading.

These results also show a welcome narrowing in the attainment gap between boys and girls and the highest and lowest performing pupils. This shows that our approach is working.

He added: While there is always more progress to be made, pupils and teachers across the country should be incredibly proud of this achievement today.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: This is a badly needed piece of good news for an education system that feels beleaguered.

These excellent results in reading standards of nine10-year-olds are testament to the hard work, skill and dedication of primary school teachers and leaders.

The Government is quick to claim that this is the outcome of its policies, but in truth, these results have been achieved despite the Governments record of neglect which has led to a critical shortage of funding and teachers.

The Prime Minister is right to praise our brilliant teachers, but he now needs to match this rhetoric with a decent, fully funded pay award which improves recruitment and retention and protects education standards.

Dirk Hastedt, executive director of the IEA, told the PA news agency: Its very positive that England was able to maintain the same high achievement despite the Covid-19 pandemic that we have had, with all the school closures and other negative impacts on education.

He said: One might also assume that without Covid, the education would have been even improved further than that. England was on a positive trend since 2006 already.
The CAA said it has issued 343 licences since and is assessing a further 25 (Skyrora/PA)   Skyrora

Nearly 350 operating licences have been granted to companies in the UK space sector.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said it has issued 343 licences since it became the UKs space regulator in July 2021, and is assessing a further 25.

More than 750 UK satellites in space are also being monitored by the organisation.

The regulators joint interim chief executives Paul Smith and Rob Bishton met with senior figures from Edinburgh-based rocket manufacturer Skyrora on Tuesday ahead of the companys application for a launch from the planned SaxaVord Spaceport on Unst at the very north of Scotlands Shetland Isles.

Mr Bishton said: With more than 340 licences granted across all aspects of space since July 2021, were continuing to play our role in enabling the space sector to grow and our engagement with industry is a key part of that.

We are working constantly with industry to review and improve our processes to make sure the UK space sector is safe, sustainable, and successful.

As the UKs space regulator, it is our role to enable and support the sector so it can become world-leading.

The UK space sector is thriving, and Scotland is poised to be right at the heart of the UKs future space ambitions.

Scottish engineers and scientists will help drive the technology and innovation needed to help put the UK on the map in the burgeoning space sector.

According to the Scottish Government, it is estimated that Scotlands space sector could generate 4 billion for the Scottish economy by 2030, as well as creating 20,000 jobs.

A Virgin Orbit rocket failed to complete the first satellite launch from UK soil in January.

The rocket took off from Spaceport Cornwall in Newquay attached to a jumbo jet but suffered a dislodged fuel filter which caused an engine to overheat.
Move Forward Party leader and prime ministerial candidate Pita Limjaroenrat attends a press conference following the general election, at the party's headquarters in Bangkok, May 15, 2023.

The Thai peoples rejection of military-backed rule could not have been louder. The opposition scored an absolute rout in Sundays general election, with Move Forward unofficially winning 152 parliamentary seats and Pheu Thai claiming 141 seats.

The incumbents were totally humiliated. The two parties attached to the current government and led by the men who staged the 2014 coup, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha of the United Thai Nation Party (UTN) and Prawit Wongsuwan of the Palang Pracharath Party (PPP), only garnered 76 out of 500 seats in Parliaments lower house.

To put it into perspective, when people were given the choice to vote for only a party, nearly 70% of the electorate chose opposition parties. Only 1% chose the incumbent PPP while 13% selected Prayuths party.

Prawit himself was only elected from the party list, not directly elected. This was as thorough a rejection of the military-involvement in politics as you could have.

Move Forward stole the show, poaching supporters from Pheu Thai, which underperformed even in its stronghold in the north. Move Forward thoroughly dominated Bangkok, winning 32 of 33 seats. In a year of anti-incumbency and a desire for real change, Pheu Thai was seen as being too status quo with not enough progressive economic policies.

Other parties had mixed performances.

The Democrat Party, Southeast Asias oldest political party, has never recovered from its endorsement of the 2006 coup and working relationship with the military since. Party leader Jurin Laksanawisit resigned to take responsibility for the partys poor showing.

Bhumjaithai did well in voting for directly elected seats, especially in its stronghold, but got crushed on so-called party-list ballots. In other words, local politicians have their bases of support, but there is less support for the party and its policies.

What next?

If Thailand had a normal Westminster-style parliamentary system, Move Forwards Pita Limjaroenrat would be given the opportunity to form a coalition government.

He vowed to do just that with Pheu Thai as he announced efforts to build a six-party coalition.

But Thailand isnt a normal Westminster system. Remember, Pheu Thai received a plurality of the vote in 2019, but didnt get a chance to form a government, either.

As part of the militarys attempt to stave off opposition rule, the 250 members of the military-appointed Senate get to vote for the prime minister.

That body includes the six top military leaders, and one-third of Senators are uniformed military  i.e. they are still under the chain of command, regardless of Senate rules that say they can vote as individuals.

The civilians are a mix of retired military officers and ultra-royalists, who have already stated their reservations about Pita and Move Forward. Sen. Kittisak Rattanawaraha, for example, insinuated that Pita has not demonstrated sufficient loyalty to the royal institution to become prime minister.

As such, an opposition-led coalition needs 376 lower house seats to overcome a Senate veto.

Pita contends that in the face of an overwhelming mandate, the Senate would have to endorse the popular will.

That is naive. The Senate was created and appointed to do one thing: maintain a conservative-royalist hold on politics. While a handful of Senators have indicated they will endorse the elected parties, it is unlikely that the overwhelming majority will do so.

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha gestures to supporters during a final general election campaign rally in Bangkok, May 12, 2023. [Sakchai Lalit/AP Photo]

Why would the elites backing the military and monarchy unilaterally give up the Senates role in selecting the prime minister when doing so would hand the government over to the opposition, one of whose parties is in favor of significant reforms to the monarchy, including amending Article 112 (Lese-Majeste)?

Why would the Senate endorse a party that seeks to amend the military-drafted constitution of 2017? Why would the military allow a party that plans to abolish conscription to rule?

For those elites, democracy is an existential threat, as its a gateway to republicanism. They are not going to unilaterally cede the tools they have wielded to consolidate power.

Could Pita be disqualified?

Pita and other leaders of Move Forward have a swath of existing legal cases against them. Any one of them could be disqualified by the Election Commission, which is not an independent body. Indeed, the party itself could be dissolved, as a PPP legislator asked a court to do last week. Any citizen can file Lese-Majeste charges.

Recall that courts dissolved the opposition Future Forward Party after its electoral win in 2019, and stripped its leader, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, of his parliamentary seat, before hounding him with a myriad of lawsuits.

The Election Commission (EC) has 60 days to conduct investigations and potentially disqualify elected MPs and/or dissolve parties if they find significant problems. The EC and courts have never dissolved a pro-military party despite irregularities and criminal behavior.

The EC will leave no stone unturned. Sadly, the EC, which deserves credit for its competent running of elections, is also a tool that can be used to undermine those very elections.

In short, hopes of an opposition-led government are based on the assumption that the military, the Senate, and the Election Commission are good-faith actors who will endorse the parties with a popular mandate, and not protect their vested interests.

So is there a pathway forward for the opposition to form a government? That gets trickier.

Pita has steadfastly refused to form a government with any party tied to the military or the 2014 coup.

Move Forward Party supporters celebrate the party's election results in Bangkok, May 15, 2023. [Jorge Silva/Reuters]

His coalition could try to woo Bhumjaithai, with its 70 seats. Its leader, Anutin Charnvirakul, had previously been a member of Pheu Thai and the party, the third largest, has some crossover appeal.

But Anutin would reject Move Forwards policies on monarchy reform, and its unclear whether Pita would make such a compromise on a core issue so soon.

Its also hard to see the royalist elites not pressuring Anutin to turn down such an offer, and sweetening the deal should he join a conservative coalition. Regardless, Bhumjaithai is the kingmaker party in this election.

In sum, it was a rout in terms of the popular vote; but that wont necessarily translate into a governing coalition. A conservative coalition between Bhumjaithai, the PPP, United Thai Nation Party, and the Democrat Party is far more likely to form a government with overwhelming Senate backing is a real possibility, and one that would lead to massive street protests.

A conservative coalition between Bhumjaithai, the PPP, United Thai Nation Party, and the Democrat Party is far more likely to form a government with full Senate backing.

While the opposition won big, in Thai politics often its loser takes all.

Zachary Abuza is a professor at the National War College in Washington and an adjunct at Georgetown University. The views expressed here are his own and do not reflect the position of the U.S. Department of Defense, the National War College, Georgetown University or BenarNews.
Members of PNG Trade Union Congress mentioned U.S. President Joe Bidens upcoming visit to Papua New Guinea and other issues at a press conference in Port Moresby, May 15, 2023.

U.S. President Joe Bidens and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis upcoming visits to Papua New Guinea are provoking both excitement and skepticism in a Pacific island country that grapples with poverty, tribal conflicts and lack of infrastructure.

From hopes of support for Papuans who want independence from Indonesia  which has a long border with Papua New Guinea  to warnings about global conflict, the most populous Pacific island country is bubbling with opinions about the merits of the visits, particularly Bidens.

The American president is expected to briefly stop over in the capital Port Moresby on Monday before heading to Sydney for a meeting with the leaders of Australia, Japan and India. Modi will be visiting Port Moresby for a summit with leaders of Pacific island countries, who Biden also will meet.

Papua New Guineas Prime Minister James Marape last week quixotically cautioned his fellow citizens to be cautious when commenting about the visits and to refrain from unnecessary inferences, especially on matters that you know little of, such as global geopolitics and various other issues.

Biden, leader of a country that is the world's largest economy and a nuclear-armed superpower, met Pacific island leaders in Washington in September 2022. That summit was meant to highlight renewed U.S. participation in the Pacific where China has made inroads over several decades. His visit to Papua New Guinea is meant to underscore that commitment, analysts said.

High school student Cameron (left), pictured in Papua New Guineas capital Port Moresby on May 11, 2023, said U.S. President Joe Biden should make his intentions clear to ordinary Papua New Guineans when he visits later this month. [Harlyne Joku/BenarNews]

Cameron, a high school student in Port Moresby who gave only his first name, said he wanted to know what benefits Bidens visit would bring to Papua New Guinea.

We are honored and happy that U.S. President Biden is coming to PNG, but we do not know of his intentions, he said. He must make it clear to us ordinary Papua New Guineans.

Bidens visit, according to Vincent Manukayasi, an activist with civil society group PNG Trust, is an opportune time to address the plight of Papuans who live on the western half of New Guinea island under Indonesian rule.

Biden has to be told about what is happening, he said.

Indonesia took control of the territory from the Dutch in the early 1960s and its rule was cemented by a referendum in 1969 in which little more than 1,000 Papuans were allowed to participate.

The actions of Indonesias government and military in West Papua are a genocidal attempt by Jakarta to remove the Melanesian race, said Manukayasi, referring to the frequent reports of human rights abuses.

Most countries including the United States and Papua New Guinea recognize Indonesias sovereignty over its Papuan region. However some Pacific island countries including Melanesian nations such as Vanuatu are staunch supporters of self determination for Papuans under Indonesian rule.

The brevity of Bidens planned visit  reported by Papua New Guineas media to be three hours  has drawn unfavorable comparisons with Chinese President Xi Jinpings stay in the Pacific country in November 2018, when it hosted the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders summit.

The United States sent then-Vice President Mike Pence to the summit, but he and his delegation based themselves in northern Australia rather than Port Moresby.

China was genuine. President Xi Jinping was here on the ground, businessman Justin Parker said in the WhatsApp group for PNG ThinkTank, an online forum. He showed genuine development partnership with PNG.

Bidens visit, said Parker, is nothing but for [the] U.S. own security interest.

Others said Papua New Guinea should be pragmatic and try to benefit from the China-U.S. rivalry in the Pacific.

What we can do is to take advantage of this short visit, riding on our friends to all, enemies to none foreign policy stance to leverage the best outcome for the country, said Anton Sekum, acting general secretary of the PNG Trade Union Congress.

If the U.S. or any other country thinks there are opportunities here their country can benefit from, they must come prepared with a clean deal for our peoples benefit too, he said.

Betelnut seller Kini, pictured in Papua New Guineas capital Port Moresby on May 11, 2023, said he hopes U.S. President Bidens upcoming visit will bring mutual respect. [Harlyne Joku/BenarNews]





Kini, who sells betelnut, a mild stimulant, from a makeshift stall in Port Moresby, said he would like to greet Biden in person.

When he comes we will respect him and he too must respect and help us, he said.
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos (second from left) and Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, May 11, 2023.

The top Filipino diplomat said Tuesday that stronger security ties with Japan were essential for peace in the Asia-Pacific region, as he advocated for enhancing Philippine defenses because of repeated infringements on our sovereignty.

The comments in Tokyo by Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo underlined the security challenges that both nations face from China  Tokyo and Manila are embroiled in maritime disputes with Beijing over the South and East China seas, respectively.

We have never been more convinced as now that our stronger security cooperation will allow our peoples to live in greater peace, Manalo said during a policy speech at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies.

We are driven by the same faith in rules and commitment to multilateralism, he added, according to a copy of his speech obtained by reporters in Manila.

Manalo was in Tokyo for the Munich Leaders Meeting, which ended on Tuesday.

In the coming years Philippine-Japanese ties would focus on maritime security, particularly on domain awareness and law enforcement to implement the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), he said.

While the Philippines has had conflicts with China in the South China Sea, Japan has had its own territorial disputes with the Asian superpower over the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.

Manalo said that while dialogue and diplomacy should be the primary means to address disputes, repeated infringements on our sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction  also necessitate the enhancement of our defense capabilities.

Let me emphasize that maritime cooperation will always be a key feature of Philippines-Japan ties. Being island-states binds us in the common objective of keeping the seas of the Indo Pacific safe, secure and peaceful, Manalo said.

Manalo also urged further discussion between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China on a code of conduct for the South China Sea.

To achieve a peaceful and UNCLOS-based regime, sincere dialogue among all claimants is crucial, both bilaterally and through discussions between ASEAN and China on a code of conduct, Manalo said.

The Philippines advocates for an effective and substantive code of conduct that adheres to UNCLOS and takes into account the interests of all stakeholders, even extending beyond ASEAN and China.

In July 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines, and threw out Chinas expansive claims in the South China Sea, particularly the waters within Manilas exclusive economic zone.

China, however, ignored the landmark ruling and has carried on with its military expansionism in the strategic waterway, including building artificial islands.

During Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.s official visit to Japan in February, he and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed to increase the defense capabilities of their respective countries, and further strengthen overall security cooperation.

The two sides agreed to increase bilateral communications between their defense and military officials in light of the very challenging regional security environment.
Metropolitan News-Enterprise

Monday, May 15, 2023

Page 1

U.S. Supreme Courts 2022 Decision on Right to Bear Arms Doesnt Apply to Ex-Felons

By a MetNews Staff Writer

Div. Two of the Fourth District Court of Appeal held on Friday that the U.S. Supreme Courts decision last year invalidating a New York statute that limited permits for carrying firearms in public to those who had demonstrated proper cause does not render invalid a conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

The nations high court on June 23, 2022, held in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen that the Second and Fourteenth Amendments protect an individuals right to carry a handgun for self-defense outside the home. That ruling, Justice Frank J. Menetrez said in the Court of Appeal decision, does not aid appellant Alex Joseph Alexander, convicted in San Bernardino Superior Court of violating California Penal Code sections barring persons convicted of felonies from toting arms.

Alexander was convicted in 2006 of attempted murder.

Facially Valid Statutes

We conclude that section 29800(a)(1) and section 30305(a)(1) are facially valid because the possession of firearms and ammunition by convicted felons is not conduct covered by the Second Amendment, Menetrez wrote.

In Bruen, Justice Clarence Thomas noted that the petitioners were law-abiding, adult citizens who are part of the people whom the Second Amendment protects, declaring:

New Yorks proper-cause requirement violates the Fourteenth Amendment by preventing law-abiding citizens with ordinary self-defense needs from exercising their right to keep and bear arms in public.

Menetrez pointed out:

Convicted felons, by definition, are not law-abiding. Felons thus are not among the people who have an individual right to possess firearms under the Second Amendment.

Law-Abiding Ex-Felons

The jurist went on to say:

We reject Alexanders contention that law-abiding citizens include law-abiding ex-felons. The argument is foreclosed by Bruen. Bruen reasoned that laws requiring concealed carry applicants to undergo background checks do not violate the right to bear arms for self-defense in public .A background check seeks to determine whether a person has been convicted of a crime in the past, not whether the person is presently committing additional crimes. Bruen described a background check requirement as ensuring that only those who are law-abiding are allowed to bear arms .It follows that the Second Amendment right afforded to law-abiding citizens does not extend to convicted felons who are presently refraining from committing additional crimes.

The case is People v. Alexander, 2023 S.O.S. 1466.

Copyright 2023, Metropolitan News Company
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Community News Editor / Librarian

Jeannie Maschino is community news editor and librarian for The Berkshire Eagle. She has worked for the newspaper in various capacities since 1982 and joined the newsroom in 1989.
In Massachusetts, when you work farmland protected by an Agricultural Preservation Restriction, you can grow fruits and vegetables, berries and nuts, and food for humans and animals. You can grow tobacco, flowers, sod, trees, and ornamental plants and shrubs, too.

But you cant grow hemp.

Unlike its other cousins in the cannabis family, hemp doesnt make people high. Instead, the fast-growing, fibrous plant is made into products like fabric, cordage (think ropes, twine, string) and paper. Its other uses range from biodegradable plastics to being a binder in concrete.

Two lawmakers hope a small change to the current APR law  to include hemp on the list of approved crops to grow on APR farmland  will make a big impact for farmers. Their bill also would equalize taxes on hemp and other agricultural products, which is intended to be a boon for struggling farmers.

State Reps. Smitty Pignatelli, D-Lenox, and Natalie Blais, D-Deerfield, introduced the bill, which would allow farmers to grow hemp on APR land. APR is a state grant codifying the use of specific land as agricultural. If farmland qualifies as APR, it means significant tax savings for traditional crops grown there, but hemp is currently excluded.

Pignatelli said he thinks the change could make the difference between a loss and a profit for some farmers.

I really believe that hemp could be the cash crop that could save many farms, he told The Eagle.

Tools in the toolbox In exchange for farmers commitment to protect their land from development, the APR program pays farmers the difference between the fair market value and agricultural value of land. Currently, farmers in Massachusetts can grow hemp for commercial purposes but are unable to take advantage of the reduced tax rate that is applicable to all other agricultural land, State Reps. Smitty Pignatelli and Natalie Blais said in public hearing on the bill. The bill would add hemp to the list of agricultural products that qualify for preferential tax treatment under an APR. More than 80 percent of Berkshire County's farmland is not permanently protected, according to agricultural organization American Farmland Trust. The APR program is part of an array of ways farmers have been forced to be creative in the face of climate change and other challenges to farmland preservation, including urban sprawl. Berkshire County lost an estimated 10,000 acres of farmland between 2002 and 2017. Pignatelli said the hemp bill is another tool in the toolbox for farmers.

Cheshire hemp farmer and founder of CAVU Hemp Jacob Zieminski supports the bill, but disagreed with Pignatellis assessment of its potential impact, saying Massachusetts currently cant compete with the South and West regions of the country in hemp production.

The out-of-state prices are a fraction of what it costs to grow hemp in Massachusetts, he told The Eagle in an email. I do think it will be a viable option to add to a farmers portfolio, but unless that farm is a vertical model, meaning they can grow, process, manufacture and sell their own products, they will struggle to keep afloat.

Pignatelli said he hopes the legislation will sustain existing farms and possibly get more people to grow hemp.

The ability to grow hemp could be attractive not only to large tracts of farmland but to some of the smaller farms as well, he said. If you have a small farm of one acre, its hard to make a living growing corn, but you could do well with growing hemp, too.

Zieminski said he doesnt necessarily think the legislation would encourage farmers to grow hemp, but it could attract a few farmers that have been on the sideline because of this formality.

However, its a formal, progressive step to normalize hemp as a standard agricultural crop, promote it as an option for a farms portfolio, and not create additional barriers to entry or disqualify farms that have existing APR or other grant programs implemented, he added.

Zieminski contends that more must be done to incentivize Massachusetts hemp farmers, including better enforcement of a regulation requiring only Massachusetts-grown hemp flower be processed and packaged for state Cannabis Control Commission licenses.

He said that hemp must be considered the same as all agricultural products in all circumstances in order to qualify for the traditional grant support other crops enjoy. Grant programs that dont currently include hemp could mean more than $100,000 for soil, energy or water management projects, Zieminski said.

Other proposed bills would create an agency to enforce that CBD hemp only be sold to state dispensaries and would allow hemp to be sold at farmers markets.

Farmers and advocates have contended that cannabis should also be treated equally to other agricultural products for taxes and grants.

We should not be concerned if its hemp or cannabis, Zieminski said. We need to address the elephant in the room, and thats the lack of land preservation and a critical food crisis upon us. Cannabis will behave just like other commodities and fluctuate, we need to position these farmers to be diverse and nimble so that adjustments can be made based on market demands.
Are those shoes tucked behind the water closet the ones Sherlock Holmes wore in pursuit of the hound of the Baskervilles? This is the master detectives loo, as seen in the Sherlock Holmes Museum in London when Eagle columnist Bernard A. Drew visited in 2012.
Cumberland Farms could theoretically control 206 food store licenses for wine and malt beverages at all of its Massachusetts locations, including this one on First Street in Pittsfield, under a bill being considered in the state Legislature.
Saint-Denis: un conducteur blesse par le tir d'un policier apres un refus d'obtemperer

Un policier municipal a fait usage de son arme pour stopper le conducteur apres une course-poursuite qui avait demarre dans le 7e arrondissement de Paris.
For Lorenzo Zamora 21, the best part of working with the Falcon Food Pantry is the connection he makes with others.

As a Bowling Green State University masters student and graduate assistant at the food pantry, Zamoras work breaking down boxes, organizing shelves and keeping track of inventory is not always glamorous  but its tangible benefits are visible each time a student experiencing food insecurity starts a visit with a warm greeting and returns home with a bag of food.

Food insecurity is a really sad issue, but I dont want anyone who is experiencing it to feel bleak, Zamora said. Im there just to help if people need it. Its nice for students to have, and I want them to feel welcome and to be happy when theyre at Falcon Food Pantry.

Recognition was not the reason that Zamora committed his time to the Falcon Food Pantry, but nonetheless, his efforts have earned a nationwide award dedicated to college students at the forefront of fighting food insecurity on campus.

Zamora became one of just three students nationally selected as a winner of the 2022 Nachman Justice Award from Swipe Out Hunger, a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to combat food insecurity among college students.

In return for being selected as a winner, Zamora received a $1,000 prize earmarked for college expenses like tuition, housing and books.

Lorenzo never asks for glory and recognition, which is one reason Im so happy that he won this huge, national award, said Dr. Shannon Orr, a BGSU professor of political science and the faculty director of the Falcon Food Pantry.

He has great people skills, hes very organized and he never hesitates to jump in and get things done. A lot of food pantry work is not glamorous, but he never hesitates.

Zamora, who is from nearby Napoleon, Ohio, graduated from BGSU with a bachelors degree in political science. He is now pursuing his Master of Public Administration degree with a focus on nonprofits.
By Laren Kowalczyk '07

No one forces Rachel Walny 17, 21 to run 8 to 10 miles a day, six days a week.

She is driven by her determination to qualify for the 2024 U.S. Olympic trials and knows the training and preparation required to reach that goal.

Walny is approaching the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Bowling Green State University with that same mentality.

As a runner, you have to be a self-starter and extremely disciplined, she said. There's a lot of work behind the scenes, and you really have to enjoy putting your head down and doing the work. Its the same with this program. You have to have the self-discipline and focus to do what you need and get it done in the limited amount of time we have.

The Universitys Doctor of Physical Therapy program is Ohios first and only public, accelerated, hybrid DPT program, and Walny is among 96 students in the first cohort  the largest in the state  that began last fall. This will be Walny's fourth degree from BGSU, where she was also a standout in track and cross-country.

Dr. Cheryl Obregon, assistant clinical professor in the School of Physical Therapy at BGSU, said Walny's drive to succeed has been evident from the start, both in class and in her role as a team leader. Students were grouped into teams of 10 at the beginning of the semester to provide each other support throughout the program.

Shes already demonstrating skills of being the kind of leader who pushes people to be the best versions of themselves," Obregon said. "She leads by example and creates a path of trust with her colleagues in the cohort. I expect shell carry that into the future when interacting with her patients.

Shes a hard worker, diligent, purposeful and gets the job done no matter what obstacle is in front of her.

Walny has a bachelors degree in exercise science and a dual masters degree in kinesiology and food and nutrition from BGSU. As an undergraduate, she set numerous records in track and cross-country, including school-record times in the 5K, 6K, 5,000-meter indoors and 10,000-meter outdoors.

Walny also is the only BGSU athlete selected to the NCAA Division I All-Region Cross Country team during all four years of her eligibility.
By Laren Kowalczyk 07

Joshua Auten was only about a month into his summer internship at Welltower Inc. when he presented to the companys chief financial officer and several senior leaders alongside other members of his team.

With support and encouragement from his managers, the Bowling Green State University senior and his team proposed the global real estate investment company explore using a tool with which Auten had experience from another internship.

By the last week of his internship, Welltower had adopted the new tool companywide.

On my first day at Welltower, the CEO was on a call with all the interns and said, Lets change how we do business,' Auten said. I think our financial planning and analysis analyst team did just that.

Autens work ethic and early impact at the company garnered him a job offer.

With most of his bachelors degree requirements completed in Fall 2022, Auten began working full-time in January as a financial planning and analysis analyst at Welltower, headquartered in Toledo.

Hes completing a few remaining commitments at the University this spring, including his term as an undergraduate trustee on the BGSU Board of Trustees.
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.
BIG RAPIDS  The Big Rapids city commission has accepted a bid from Olsson Concrete Construction, LLC for $33,834 to install sidewalks along Third Avenue as part of the citys ongoing sidewalk improvement program.

City manager Mark Gifford told the board during a May 8 commission meeting that the city had received requests from individuals and organizations in the area for an extension of the sidewalk along the east side of the roadway.

That is the area of Community Mental Health, New Journey Clubhouse and Our Brothers Keeper, Gifford said. They have been advocating for the sidewalk extension along the east side of Third Avenue. What we are doing is extending that sidewalk from the East Side Grocery down to those facilities.

He added the project would be partially funded by a grant from the Michigan Department of Transportation for $5,000.

The city dedicates funds each year as part of the Capital Improvement Plan budget to support additional sidewalk installation and/or sidewalk repairs throughout the city as part of the Department of Public Works sidewalk program.

The public works department's strategic plan is to improve sidewalks throughout the city and includes rehabilitating existing sidewalks, installing new sidewalk, connecting sections of sidewalks and installing accessible ramping.

Public Works director Heather Bowman said previously that it is a partnership with property owners throughout the city whose sidewalks are in need of repair or replacement.

The DPW identifies areas of need and goes out to bid to have the improvements done. Each year a section of sidewalk is completed as part of the ongoing program.
Looking for something to do? The Stay Local events calendar publishes a list of nonprofit and community events Tuesdays and Fridays. Please check with your club or organization to be certain of meetings, outings and classes, as they may be canceled due to bad weather or COVID-19. If any listing is inaccurate or to submit an event, contact Julie Norwood at 231-592-8358 or julie.norwood@pioneergroup.com. (Deadline is noon Sundays for Tuesday's paper and noon Wednesday for Friday's paper.)

Camp 911: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 17 at the Big Rapids Department of Public Safety building, 435 N. Michigan Ave. Hands-on learning program is designed to prepare senior adults for various emergencies. For more information or to register call 231-796-4848.

Business After Hours: 5-6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 18, at The Brook Assisted Living, 14595 215th Ave., Big Rapids. Co-hosted by the Mecosta County Chamber of Commerce. Questions, call 231-408-7379.

Big Rapids High School Commencement: 7 p.m. Thursday, May 18, at Big Rapids High School, 21175 15 Mile Road, Big Rapids.

Veterans Benefits and Resources Fair: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, May 19, at Michigan Works!, 14330 Northland Drive, Big Rapids. Open to military personnel and veterans. Meet with representatives from Congressman John Moolenaar's office and local service organizations about issues you are facing with VA benefits, service medals, and other concerns.

Mom 2 Mom Sale: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 20, at ResLife Church of Big Rapids, 14734 215th Ave., Big Rapids. Cost: $1 door fee benefits Angels of Action.

Spring Craft and Vendor Show: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 20, at Royal View Assisted Living, 9100 Buchanan, Mecosta. Features local artists, craftsmen, galleries, and more.

Baldwin Blessing of the Bikes: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, May 21, at the Baldwin Municipal Airport, 7038 S. M-37, Baldwin. Blessing is at 1 p.m. Cost: $5, available at the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, 895 Michigan Ave., Baldwin; the Duane E. Dewey AmVets Post 1988, 1959 W. 24th St., Baldwin; and at the gate Sunday morning.

Con Brio Voce Chamber Brass: 4 p.m. Sunday, May 21, at Big Rapids High School, 21175 15 Mile Road, Big Rapids. Con Brio Voce Chamber Brass will celebrate Latin and Spanish music in its first concert since before COVID-19 pandemic. Cost: Free.

Shop for a Cure: 6-8 p.m. Monday, May 22, at The Old Pioneer Store and Emporium, 118 N. Michigan Ave, Big Rapids. Twenty percent of all sales will go to Prostate Cancer Foundation and the University of Michigan's Rogel Cancer Center.

Traditional Arts Weekend: May 26-18 at Wheatland Music Festival Site, 7251 50th Ave., in Remus. Features over 80 workshops in traditional forms of dance, music, crafts, vocal and instrument instruction. For prices and schedule, visit wheatlandmusic.org/traditional-arts-weekend.

MEMORIAL DAY CELEBRATIONS

Memorial Day Pancake Breakfast: 8-11 a.m. Saturday May 27 at Morton Township Fire Rescue, 8260 100th Ave., Canadian Lakes. Features pancakes, sausage, juice and coffee. Donations support the Morton Township Fire Association.

2023 Reed City Memorial Day Parade: Parade line-up begins at 8:15 a.m. May 29 in front of Pere Marquette Bistro and Catering, 102 E. Upton Ave.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5315 Memorial Day service: Noon on Monday, May 29, at 2225 S M37, Baldwin. The officers of the post will perform the service along with the Lake County Honor Guard

ONGOING PROGRAMS, ACTIVITIES

Big Rapids Farmers Market: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays (May 3-Oct. 27) and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays (May 23-Sept. 26) in the city hall parking lot, 226 N. Michigan Ave. Big Rapids.

Mecosta County Historical Museum: New summer hours, 1-3 p.m. Saturdays at 129 S. Stewart Ave., Big Rapids. For more information or to schedule a private tour, call 520-334-0123, 231-796-4662, or 231-867-3311.

Mecosta County Genealogical Society: New summer hours, 5-7 p.m. Wednesdays, at 424 N. Fourth Ave., Big Rapids, next to Recycle. Open for the public to research genealogy or the history of Mecosta County and surrounding areas. Volunteers needed to help with sorting and indexing. Call Maureen Nelson at 231-250-5555 for more information.

Reed City Heritage Museum: Open from 1-4 p.m. Friday through Tuesday at 138 W. Slosson Ave., Reed City. Free Admission. Groups are welcome.

Mecosta County Sheriff Posse: 7 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at the Mecosta County Jail basement training room, 225 S. Stewart Ave., Big Rapids. This volunteer group is always looking for more members. For more info call 231-250-9241.

Morley Community Center: 151 7th St., Morley. For more information, visit morleycenter.org/events or call 231-856-4496.

Cardio Drumming: 1-2 p.m. Sundays

Pickleball: 9 a.m. to noon Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays; 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays.

Open Gym: 3:30-5 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays.

Garage Sales: Every other Friday and Saturday (Feb. 17-18, March 3-4, etc.).

Blood Drive: 1-7 p.m. second Monday of odd numbered months

Community Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays at Third Avenue United Methodist Church, 226 N. Third Ave., Big Rapids. The community lunch program has re-opened.This is a free meal service, although donations are appreciated. For more information call 231-796-4157 or 231-796-6779.

ARTWORKS CLASSES, EXHIBITS

106 N. Michigan Ave. in Big Rapids / 231-796-2420 / artworksinbigrapids.org

Lecture on Roman Landscapes: At noon Friday, May 19. Dr. Rachel Foulk will examine how the Tomb of Patron, a first-century B.C. tomb in Rome, utilizes landscape to defy the darkness of death.

After School Art: 3:45-5:15 p.m. Wednesdays, for ages 7-13. Drop-ins are welcome on a first come, first serve basis, but we highly recommend calling our gift shop to pre-register: 231-796-2420. Registration will only be accepted for the current weeks class beginning Monday of that week. For more information, visit artworksinbigrapids.org/after-school-art.

Open Pottery: 5-8 p.m. Tuesdays. Cost: $10 per session, $60 for an eight-session punch card. (Additional firing fees apply. Clay may be purchased in bulk for $20 per 25 lbs.) Call 231-796-2420 to schedule your session.

Exhibit  Landscape and Culture: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday in Artworks' Alley Gallery.

Exhibit  Landscape Painting: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday, April 11-June 30, in Artworks' Batdorff Gallery. Featuring work by Anthony Cairo, Katie Mester, James Roberts (JR), and Tom Tomasek.
OSCEOLA COUNTY  Following the recent passage of gun safety measures by the Michigan Legislature, the Osceola County board of commissioners has responded with the adoption of a resolution opposing all firearms control legislation.

The resolution was introduced by Commissioner Sally Momany during the May 2 board meeting and was passed by unanimous consent.

The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution protects the right to keep and bear arms. It was ratified on Dec. 15, 1791, along with nine other articles of the Bill of Rights, Momany said. In District of Columbia v. Heller, the Supreme Court affirmed for the first time that the right belongs to individuals, for self-defense in the home, while also including, as dicta, that the right is not unlimited and does not preclude the existence of certain long-standing prohibitions such as those forbidding the possession of firearms by felons and the mentally ill or restrictions on the carrying of dangerous and unusual weapons. In McDonald v. City of Chicago, the Supreme Court ruled that state and local governments are limited to the same extent as the federal government from infringing upon this right. New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen assured the right to carry weapons in public spaces with reasonable exceptions.

The Second Amendment is one of our basic freedoms and no one has the right to take it away from us, she said. My father, father-in-law, uncles, cousin (who died as a result of the Vietnam War) and son-in-law all fought for our country to protect our freedoms. As a commissioner, I feel it's our job and obligation to protect the freedoms our military has fought and laid their life down for.

She said several other counties have adopted similar resolutions in opposition to gun legislation including Livingston, Ontonagon, Alger, Houghton, Kalkaska, and Lapeer counties.

The people of the United States are guaranteed the right to keep and bear arms without any legislative infringement under the Constitutional authority of Amendment 11, the resolution states. The people of the state of Michigan have the inherent, inalienable right to hold all political power in the state  according to the Constitution of the State of Michigan  (and) are guaranteed the right to keep and bear arms without any infringement

According to the resolution, the Osceola County board of commissioners is instructing the representatives of the 100th Michigan Legislature to vote in opposition of all proposed legislation that would infringe on the right of the people to keep and bear arms and to oppose legislation that infringes on the right to own, purchase and sell items relevant to the operation, management and modification of firearms, including ammunition, magazines, stocks, triggers, braces, barrels and etc.

THE LEGISLATION

On April 13, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed into law legislation requiring the safe storage of firearms and ammunition around minors.

The safe storage law requires owners to lock up firearms in the presence of anyone younger than the age of 18, with noncompliance resulting in a misdemeanor punishable by not more than 93 days in jail and a fine up to $500, or both, if a minor obtains the firearm due to improper storage.

If a minor hurts another person with an obtained firearm, the owner could be guilty of a felony punishable by up to five years in prison, a fine up to $5,000, or both, and should the minor kill another person with an obtained firearm, the owner could receive up to a 15-year prison sentence, up to $7,500 in fines, or both.

The new safe storage laws do not apply to instances of ranching or farming, target practice, hunting or instruction in the safe use of a firearm, nor to an employed minor required to possess a firearm as a condition of employment.

Whitmer also signed a pair of bills that exempt firearm safety devices from the states sales and use tax through Dec. 31, 2024, as a way to encourage safe storage.

Legislation altering how Michigan processes background checks for gun licenses was also signed into law. Once that law takes effect, every person buying a gun in the state will need to undergo a background check for any firearm purchased in order to obtain a license. Previously, a background check was only required on pistol licenses in the state.

As part of the act, military members either on leave or discharged from active duty are also required to obtain a license for their firearms within 30 days of arriving in Michigan.

In order to obtain a license via background check, a purchaser must be at least 18 years of age and the seller must be at least 21. The purchaser must not have felony charges pending against them and must be considered a legal resident of the state, as well as several other qualifications.

The legislation does not apply to firearms bought or obtained prior to the bill taking effect and does not apply to pistols handed down through a will. Firearms handed down through a will, however, will need to be licensed within 30 days of exchanging hands.

Additionally, legislation that creates the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act was sent to Whitmers desk April 20, which will require courts to issue an order if there is evidence to support the idea that a person poses a safety risk to themselves or to others and should not be in possession of firearms.

Those who may file an order include family members, former partners, healthcare professionals or police officers. A granted order would be valid for one year, with modifications to the decision possible prior to the end of the order.

Democrats have also introduced additional measures aimed at curbing gun violence, including bills to raise the minimum age to purchase firearms from 18 to 21, banning forearms at or near polling places and absentee ballot counting boards, establishing a 14-day waiting period between the purchasing and obtaining a firearm and allowing municipalities to ban open carry of firearms.
Tonight's rundown:

 Talking Points Memo: Joe Biden continues to decline with the world watching and remains out of the press reach

 Presidential Historian Larry Cook weighs in on how Bidens relationship with the press compares to past presidents

 US Special Forces have been confirmed to be in Ukraine

 OReilly describes Democrats hosting the DNC in Chicago as Crazy Arrogant

 The trial of Fox News gets underway

 58% of Americans are now living paycheck to paycheck even as inflation begins to cool off

 Smart Life: Utilizing Kelly Blue Book when searching for a new car

 This Day in History: FDR dies in office

 Final Thought: what to do when someone is disrespectful to you

In Case You Missed It:

 Read Bill's latest column, "Reason to Believe"

 Join 'Team Normal!' Order your gear now at BillOReilly.com!

 Pre-order Bills next bestseller Killing the Witches NOW

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dr Mansukh Mandaviya interacts with representatives of Japanese Medical Devices Companies

The medical devices sector is an essential and integral constituent of Indias healthcare sector. The sectors contribution became even more prominent as India supported the domestic and global battle against COVID-19 pandemic through large scale production of medical devices & diagnostic kits. This was stated by Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, during his interaction with representatives of Japanese Medical Devices Companies, in Tokyo recently.

He has invited Japanese Medical Devices companies to take advantage of the opportunities to Make in India, Innovate in India, and Discover in India.

To invite investors from across the world, India is allowing 100% FDI under the automatic route for both Greenfield & Brownfield setups. To boost domestic manufacturing, the government launched the Production Linked Incentive Schemes for medical devices with financial incentives worth $400 million. To support our investor community, government has also approved the establishment of 4 Medical Devices Parks in the states. These Parks will significantly reduce manufacturing cost, optimise resources, build on economies of scale, and provide easy access to standard testing and infrastructure facilities", said the Minister.

Dr Mandaviya also informed that in order to facilitate orderly growth of the medical devices sector and to meet the public health objectives of access, affordability, quality and innovation, India recently approved its first National Medical Devices Policy.
Old Friends Young Talent has been appointed to champion Bootlegger's national strategic, branding, communications and digital efforts.

The partnership will include brand and communications support across B2B and B2C, strategy development, design, social media and content.

This is an exciting marriage between a beloved Cape Town brand on the quest to strengthen its standing across South Africa and one of South Africas prolific independent creative agencies.
In the midst of the global Covid-19 pandemic, digital marketing strategist Gidyon Lankers embarked on a bold mission to launch Disrupt, his innovative agency, from the confines of his Sandton studio. With a passion for creating meaningful impact, Lankers shares his journey with us and sheds light on the vision behind his agency.

Gidyon Lankers, the founder of Disrupt and Carmen Powell, the marketing director.

Tell me a bit about yourself.

I was born in Joburg, but I grew up in Nelspruit (Mpumalanga) where my parents had moved for work when I was about six years old. After completing school, I spent a year in Los Angeles before returning to South Africa to study at Vega School in Durban.

Once I graduated in 2019, I moved back up to Joburg with a goal to learn about business, as I knew Joburg is the best place to do that. I believed that if I could succeed in Joburg, then I could succeed anywhere in SA.

What really inspires me is the idea of chasing a dream. Im someone who is always looking for ways to take risks and has larger-than-life ambitions. Im drawn to people who are willing to carve their own path, and I love solving problems and finding ways to make sense of complex information.

More than anything, I believe in taking action and experimenting in the real world. Its more fulfilling to see the impact of my actions than to talk about them and never put my ideas into action.

What interested you in marketing?

Marketing has always been an organic interest of mine. I've always had a natural talent for communication and finding ways to convey information effectively to others. It's a trait that has stayed with me throughout my life and I believe it's what ultimately led me to a career in marketing.

Additionally, I've always had a passion for creating visual content such as videos, music, and designs. This interest in aesthetics has helped me develop the visual aspect of marketing. It's amazing how these seemingly unrelated interests have come together to form my career path.

Despite not knowing what marketing was during my school years, everything just fell into place for me. I trusted the journey and followed my interests, which eventually led me to where I am today. Although it may sound cliche, I truly believe that when you follow your natural talents and passions, it will guide you towards a fulfilling career.

Tell us a bit about your educational background.

After graduating from high school, I pursued a BCom Digital Marketing degree at Vega School in Durban, which helped me solidify my passion for entrepreneurship.

I appreciated the education I received from my lecturers, but I felt that my personality was better suited for creating new things rather than pursuing a traditional career path. It was during my time at Vega that I began to formulate the idea of launching my own company.

When did you start Disrupt? Why?

I started Disrupt because I wanted to build a company (and a team) that would have an impact on the world. I wanted to create a place where really talented, driven, hard-working people could come and build a career and become hugely successful.

My mentor at the time, Marnus Broodryk, helped me register the company in 2019 while I was working for him. However, it wasn't until the following year, 2020, that I began working full-time and the company truly came to life. Unfortunately, this coincided with the start of the Covid-19 lockdown, meaning that most of Disrupt's first year was spent in a tiny studio apartment in Sandton.

What have been the challenges of running this company?

The first major challenge was learning how to create a product or service that could attract clients. This included learning how to price services, put together deals, close sales, and deliver on promises made. Although mistakes were made along the way, it was an enjoyable learning process.

As the business grew, the second challenge was to develop systems that could support the growth of the company. It was crucial to create proper systems for invoicing, payroll, onboarding, hiring, and delivery. It was necessary to move beyond ad hoc approaches and become more professional to build a strong foundation for growth.

Currently, Disrupt faces a new challenge of scaling the business to something much bigger than the core team. With the new head of growth, Kara Peach, responsible for growing the client base aggressively and the marketing director, Carmen Powell, helping build the machine that delivers excellent work to clients, my role is shifting towards building the team and ensuring they have what they need to succeed.

What have been the highlights?

Two things stand out as particularly exciting for me. Firstly, I love hiring talented people and working alongside them to solve complex problems. Its really fulfilling to see the team grow and develop over time, and to know that were making an impact together.

Secondly, theres nothing quite like the rush of winning a big new client. From the initial proposal process to the moment we get the news that weve landed the contract, the feeling is indescribable. Its a tangible validation of all the hard work weve put into building the company, and it drives us to keep pushing forward and delivering outstanding results.

What do you do on a day to day basis?

On a day-to-day basis, my role is divided between two main areas - sales and delivery. I work closely with my team to pitch to new clients and secure new contracts, as well as overseeing the delivery of our services to our existing clients.

This means that I spend a lot of time on calls and in meetings with potential clients, writing proposals, managing the finances and administrative tasks related to the business, and helping to create content strategies.

Additionally, I stay in close communication with our team to ensure that everything is running smoothly and that our clients are satisfied with the work we're doing.

How many people are employed by you?

There are currently only three of us working full-time in Disrupt, but with our ecosystem of designers, videographers, web developers and media buyers, we employ about 10 people in any given month. This varies depending on the scope of work were dealing with in any given month. Very soon well be hiring more talent and building a bigger internal team who are on full-time contracts.

What are your future plans for Disrupt?

Our mission at Disrupt is to help build the biggest brands in the world, and we have no desire to be just another digital agency. We want to be highly specialised, sought-after, and hugely valuable.

Our goal is to build something massive that has a global impact, and we plan to achieve that by staying true to our culture of being rebels at heart who find new ways of solving problems. We believe that by consistently delivering world-class services, dreaming big, attracting the best possible people, and never giving up, we can achieve our vision.

We understand that our approach may not be for everyone, and that's okay. We are not afraid to take risks in pursuit of massive gain, and we believe that this mindset will continue to attract people who share our character traits. Our focus is on being authentic to who we are and delivering exceptional results for our clients. We believe that if we continue to do these things, Disrupt could become a huge success on a global scale.

We're not interested in fitting in - we're interested in disrupting the status quo and making a difference in the world.
According to the WHO, around 15% of the world's population lives with some form of disability - making them the world's largest minority. Despite this reality, the marketing industry has failed to include them sufficiently over the years.

The 2023 Marketing Trends Guide dives into this topic to unpack what has caused this vast underrepresentation. On the one hand, there has been a lack of advertising that includes and highlights disabled people, and on the other, there is still a widespread lack of customised and inclusive websites and apps. With social pressure rising, and companies' forced to follow through on their DEI promises, signs are emerging that change is on its way.

We have Gen Z to thank for this in part; consumers who have advocated for captions on social media to the point where it has become a common sight in the last two years. Younger generations also seem to love captioning, which has led to important advances for people with hearing loss.

In 2021, for example, both TikTok and Instagram introduced the possibility of automatic captioning, and last year Instagram introduced auto-generated subtitles for videos in the feed. LinkedIn has also started to offer real-time captioning for audio events, with many more platforms likely to follow suit as the year progresses. Especially in light of the success of TikToks cousin CapCut, a video editing tool where users can easily create subtitles synchronised with audio.

To help marketers behind the scenes, Google has also expanded its inclusive marketing resource, All In, to encompass disability inclusion and accessibility. Examples of increased accessibility on the PR front include, for instance, Beyonce and Lizzo apologising and removing disability slurs from their newly released songs, after facing a lot of criticism on social media from people with disabilities. These developments demonstrate not only the awareness of social media users to these types of slurs, but also the widespread influence they have.

So we are making great progress, right?

In light of these recent developments, it may seem as if the marketing industry is moving in the right direction, but it is rather that the awareness of the issue has increased, with much work still to be done. A Business Disability Forum survey of disabled consumers found that 42% of respondents were unable to complete an online purchase because of inaccessible websites or apps and 47% of respondents could not find information about a product's accessibility features.

With ESG being an important method of retaining customer loyalty, further advancements must be achieved

Here it is Google thats leading the way, continuing to make steps in the right direction, expanding its All In inclusive marketing resource to include disability inclusion and accessibility. This move encourages marketers to think about whether their content is accessible by disabled people and whether their campaigns are created with accessibility in mind from the start. When marketers fail to do so, campaigns risk becoming incompatible with assistive technology, thereby limiting the ability of millions of people to interact. And this is not only an ethical loss for companies, but also a financial one.

More accessibility in the Metaverse?

The trend suggests that more and more platforms will start investing in more accurate automatic captioning for video, live and audio events. When it comes to physical events, marketers should focus on customisable spaces and get creative with multi-sensory experiences. And that's where the Metaverse  the now-criticised hype concept of 2022  comes in.

In fact, the Metaverse can offer great opportunities when it comes to inclusion and increased accessibility. Just a few months ago, the European Disability Forum discussed how people with disabilities are empowered to explore environments that would otherwise be inaccessible to them made possible by these new tools for better experiences. And it's an important discussion for today's marketers to take part in.

How might digital identities actually affect representation? What are the opportunities and risks? Will the next phase of the internet be equally inaccessible if the development of websites and apps does put inclusion and accessibility front and centre? The marketing industry as a whole needs to take these questions seriously.

Keywords related to accessibility in 2022 according to Meltwater

Finally, it's worth mentioning that "accessibility" was tweeted 2.5 million times in 2022, peaking on Global Accessibility Awareness Day on 18 May. This number will most likely only continue to rise this year. Consumers will continue to demand more and more inclusion and representation, and businesses need to make it a priority from the start. Social responsibility, whether it's sustainability or inclusion, requires genuine ambition that goes beyond being perceived as a responsible brand and actually walking the talk.

Read more about representation in marketing content and how you can incorporate that into your strategy in our 2023 Marketing Trends Guide.




Research output, measured by the total number of research articles (10%)



High-quality publications, measured by the number of research articles appearing in top-tier journals (10%)



Influence, measured by the number of research articles published in highly-influential journals (10%)



Citations, measured by the number of highly-cited research articles (10%).

UCTs highest ranked indicator is quality of education, which at 182nd position was down four places from last year. The alumni employment indicator (placed 224th) performed well and continued its climb, moving up 13 places compared to last year, which was also up 23 places on the previous year. The research performance indicator (ranked 245th) improved by five places compared to last year.

How other South African universities ranked

The University of Witwatersrand was ranked 290th globally and was the second-best-placed university in the nation. Although Stellenbosh University was ranked as the third-best university in South Africa, it fell nine spots to 450th in the world.

The fourth- and fifth-ranked universities in South Africa were the University of KwaZulu-Natal (478) and the University of Pretoria (557), respectively.

The University of Johannesburg (628), North-West University (887), University of the Free State (1160), University of Western Cape (1188), and Rhodes University (1300) were also included in the top 10 South African universities.

"The University of Johannesburg is pleased with the outcome of the latest CWUR World University Rankings. This is testament that our academic efforts are bearing fruit, once again with this global recognition. This also demonstrates UJs commitment to excellence and its dedication to providing high-quality education and research opportunities," said the university's Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi.

The sole difference in the local ranking from the previous year is that Rhodes University surpassed the University of South Africa.

Although the global rankings of seven of the 12 South African universities fell, none of the universities' overall scores did, with nine of the 12 universities improving their rankings.

View the CWUR 2023 Global 2000 list.
Sustainability is a growing priority for almost every industry on the planet right now and hospitality is no exception. That's hardly surprising. Apart from a desire to act as good corporate citizens, it's also something that the industry's customers increasingly demand. In fact, a 2021 study found that 81% of travellers planned on choosing sustainable accommodation in the next year.

Source: lifeforstock via Freepik

Its not just travellers either. Investors in the hospitality sector also increasingly demand sustainability. That much should be obvious from the uptake of green bonds issued by some of the worlds biggest hotel companies. Its a phenomenon which fits in with a broader investor focus on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues. A Bloomberg study found that there are currently $37.8t in assets under management by funds with a focus on sustainability.

Perhaps most importantly, however, the industry needs to play whatever role it can in operating more sustainably. The sector is, after all, responsible for around 1% of global emissions and must cut its emissions by 66% by 2030 and 90% by 2050 to stay within the goals set out in the Paris Climate Agreement.

Knowing all that, how can hotels incorporate sustainability into their day-to-day operations and beyond?

Small changes make a big impact

When it comes to making sustainability-driven changes from an operational perspective, small changes can make a big difference.

For instance, simply measuring energy and water usage as well as waste can give hotel managers and operators a baseline from which they can start making improvements. Those improvements frequently dont require major retrofits either.

A good example of this is water usage. The Radisson Hotel Group, for example, has, for a number of years now, asked hotel guests to reuse their towels. For each set of towels thats reused, 15 litres of water are saved. That might not seem like much, but for a hotel like the Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront with 177 rooms operating throughout the year, it can quickly add up. Similar gains can be made by improving energy efficiency and reducing waste and single-use plastics wherever possible.

Taken together, such changes can result in hotels operating in a much more sustainable manner without compromising (and in some cases even improving) the overall guest experience.

Building out sustainability beyond the hotel grounds

Of course, sustainability doesnt start and end at the entrance to the hotel grounds. It also has to extend to the broader world outside the hotel. Its therefore important that hotels work with organisations that are making a difference on the ground in the towns and cities in which they operate.

This could also involve partnering with local city and governmental institutions that are working to alleviate the effects of poverty, for example. Hotel teams should reach out to City Managers to seek out the initiatives that are in need of support.

Its also important to remember that sustainability is about more than just the environment. People play an important role too. That's why weve partnered with the Cape Town City Improvement District (CCID) and Hope for the Homeless organisation to provide warm blankets to Cape Towns unhoused community, ahead of the cold winter season, says Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront Training Manager, Porche Benjamin.

Radisson Group hotels in the city including Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront, Radisson Blu Hotel & Residence, Park Inn Foreshore and Radisson RED V&A Cape Town, for example, will each have a box on display in their lobby area in order to get as many blanket donations from guests and staff as possible.

This shows that hotels arent just able to drive sustainability through their own actions but can also help their guests participate in sustainability initiatives in the destinations they visit.

Focusing on our collective future

Ultimately, while there are numerous incentives for hotels to focus on sustainability, the most important thing to remember is that such a focus may be critical to a future where hotels, the people in the surrounding communities, and the surrounding environment can all thrive.
Partnering with an Employer of Record can help virtual emigrants and SA employers avoid non-compliance risks.

The world of work has evolved rapidly over the past few years, with technological advancements and globalisation reshaping traditional employment models. One trend that has gained significant traction is virtual emigration, which is the term used to describe a situation where employees work remotely for international companies without physically leaving their home country.

... when South African citizens engage in virtual emigration,

it is vital that they ensure the hiring process, and

employment contract, is fully compliant with all local employment regulations

Since Covid-19, virtual emigration has become increasingly prevalent in South Africa due to advancements in communication technology and a greater level of openness amongst global organisations to employ outside of their countries borders. But while the prospect of gaining international experience while being paid for your work in a strong foreign currency is undoubtedly appealing, for the unwary virtual emigrant, such remote working arrangements can be fraught with potential pitfalls. This is particularly true if the foreign employer is not taking the necessary steps to ensure that their remote employment opportunities tick all the necessary compliance checkboxes.

Thats according to Simonetta Giuricich, chief operating officer for Playroll, who emphasises that when South African citizens engage in virtual emigration, it is vital that they ensure the hiring process, and employment contract, is fully compliant with all local employment regulations.

Confirming that your remote employment with an international company is undertaken in a way that is compliant with SA employment requirements is of utmost importance, Giuricich explains, and such compliance needs to cover a host of legal and regulatory aspects, including tax laws, work permits, employment rights, health insurance, and employee benefits, all of which can vary significantly across jurisdictions.

Giuricich highlights the importance of SA-based employers ensuring their remote employees are correctly classified as permanent employees. Although classifying employees as independent contractors may be a cheaper alternative, it can mean that those employees miss out on certain employee benefits that are due to them, she explains, and by misclassifying employees in this way, the employer also stands to violate country-specific employment laws, which could result in stiff penalties.

A third key consideration that Giuricich points to is ensuring that your rights and benefits as a remote employee are fully protected. It is essential for employers and employees to understand the rights and entitlements of remote employees under SA laws, she says, including, but not limited to, remuneration, working hours and contract terms and conditions, to leave entitlements and various other employment-related benefits.

To navigate these challenges, Giuricich says that employees and employers engaging in virtual emigration would be well advised to consider partnering with an Employer of Record (EoR), like Playroll, to ensure that the employment arrangement is fully compliant. An EoR acts as the legal employer of the remote worker, handling payroll, taxes, benefits, and other employment-related matters, and ensuring compliance with local labour laws and regulations. An EoR not only reduces the administrative burden and compliance-related tasks for the employer, Giuricich says, but for a South African remote employee, recommending such a partnership to your foreign employer is also a great way to achieve greater job security and enjoy total peace of mind.




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.

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.
From left to right, postdoctorate scholar Katie DuBois 11, Nicky Yoong 24, Bridget Patterson 23, Katie Navarro 23, and Kianne Benjamin 24 in Miami.

The Benthic Ecology Meeting is an annual conference that brings together scientists and students from around the world to exchange information on benthic ecosystems (e.g. rocky intertidal and coral reefs) and "to foster the next generation of benthic biologists."

This year the meeting was held April 26-29 in Miami.

The students conducted their experiments and laboratory analyses at the Schiller Coastal Studies Center, with mentorship from faculty and staff.

"Our students are presenting results from in-depth, multi-year projects and are often mistaken for graduate students," said Doherty Marine Biology Postdoctoral Scholar Katie DuBois 11, who accompanied the students to the Miami conference. "Their research is advancing the scientific community's knowledge of marine ecological processes in the Gulf of Maine, and after presenting they were inundated with questions about their research, invited to lunches, and offered graduate positions."
A former senator was arrested three times for public order offences during a 24-hour period in Dublin after he failed in his bid to enter as a candidate for a Seanad by-election, a judge has heard.

James Heffernan shouted profanities at a Trinity College Dublin (TCD) security man, gave bar staff the finger when he was refused service, and kicked and lashed out at gardai before calling them c**ts and paedos, Dublin District Court was told on Tuesday.

Heffernan, with an address at Main Street, Kilfinane, Co Limerick, was found guilty of obstruction, being intoxicated to the extent he was a danger to himself and others, and using threatening and abusive words or behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace during incidents on February 12th, and February 13th, 2022.

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Judge John Cheatle imposed a four-month sentence, suspended on the condition Heffernan did not re-offend for 18 months.

Heffernan had 33 prior convictions, which included 14 offences under the Public Order Act, three assaults, thefts and road traffic offences.

The 43-year-old, who contested the charges, told the court he had been in Dublin on February 12th to hand in nomination papers to run in the Seanad by-election in TCD, but they were not accepted.

Garda Thomas McConville encountered Heffernan at around 5pm, and described him as being highly intoxicated and unsteady on his feet, and was abusing and shouting profanities at a TCD security man.

That night, Garda Seamus Barry had been dealing with a violent individual on the ground in Crown Alley in Temple Bar at about 1.25am. He suddenly felt a liquid pour over his back and turned to find Heffernan, who was holding a plastic container which he had discarded.

Garda Barry said the man he was arresting was screaming obscenities but was not asking for help.

Garda Joe OConnor witnessed the incident in Temple Bar and spoke to the accused, who was intoxicated and almost immediately began abusing gardai, calling them c**ts and paedos.

He began to kick and shout as he was handcuffed and arrested for the second time in a matter of hours.

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The garda said there was no CCTV footage from the Old Storehouse near the incident as their cameras did not point at the scene. The defence argued other cameras should have been checked.

Alcohol

Heffernan claimed the man under arrest was gasping and could not breathe, prompting him to speak to gardai. He denied pouring the drink on the garda or shouting verbal abuse.

Garda Barry said at 5.30pm that day, he met the accused unsteady on his feet at Jervis Street, and said there was a strong smell of liquor from Heffernan, who gave the middle finger to staff in TP Smiths pub.

The court heard he had been refused service after entering with an opened can of the non-alcoholic energy drink Monster. He denied that he had been drinking alcohol earlier that day.

Heffernan told the court he understood pub etiquette and finished the energy drink outside. However, he claimed he was refused service without a valid reason when he re-entered the pub to order a hot whiskey.

He admitted he had been dishevelled and sleeping rough the night before.

Defence counsel Maeve MacCabe submitted that Heffernans behaviour was rude and annoying but not threatening, and one out of the six charges was dismissed.

Pleading for leniency, counsel said Heffernan had a spectacular fall from grace. The court heard he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and completed treatment for alcohol addiction, and having battled his demons now helps other people battle theirs.

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Counsel added Heffernan is halfway through a community and addiction studies degree course at the Technological University of the Shannon.

Garda OConnor told the court the accused now looks like a different person.

Heffernan, a qualified primary school teacher and a former member of Limerick County Council, was elected for Labour to the 24th Seanad in 2011.

He lost the party whip the following year when he voted against budget cuts and joined the Social Democrats in 2015 but failed to secure a seat in the 2016 general election.
A Dublin woman, who sought 60,000 in damages having claimed she was injured when she was forced to slam on her brakes on the M50 to avoid a collision, has had her case thrown out by a judge.

Judge James ODonohoe told hairdresser Deborah Poole (49), "no collision, no claim", after he was told there had been no impact between the two cars in question.

Barrister Raymond Delahunt told the Circuit Civil Court that Ms Poole, of Railway Road, Clongriffin, Dublin, had taken the claim against his client, Nichola Ann O'Mahony, of Moylaragh Court, Balbriggan, Co Dublin.

He said Mr Poole's only alleged grounds for her case was that she had suffered a neck injury as a result of having been forced to make what she claimed was a violent braking manoeuvre to avoid a collision with Ms O'Mahony's vehicle.

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Mr Delahunt, who appeared with Kelly Grant of Pembroke Solicitors for OMahony and AIG Insurers, said there had been no collision between the two cars, adding that in his 29 years at the Bar he had never come across a case where someone had sued for damages for personal injuries in a "no-collision road traffic accident".

Judge ODonohoe had heard the case earlier but adjourned the matter, asking both legal parties to carry out detailed research as to whether there was any legal justification in law for such a claim.

The court had heard that Ms O'Mahony's car had collided with another vehicle on the M50 in March 2018. Ms Poole alleged she had been forced to violently slam on her brakes to avoid hitting Ms O'Mahony who, she alleged, had veered across her lane after hitting the other car.

Ms Poole said she had been following Ms O'Mahony's car prior to the collision with the other car and had suffered a neck injury as a result of her sudden braking manoeuvre.

Mr Delahunt told the court he had been unable to identify any Irish case law whereby a plaintiff had successfully demonstrated they were entitled to recover damages where no collision occurred.

Judge O'Donohoe then said Ms O'Mahony had no case to answer and struck out Ms Poole's claim, ordering her to pay Ms O'Mahony's legal costs.
A man who was banned from driving rammed two garda cars, endangered other motorists and drove the wrong direction through the Jack Lynch Tunnel in Cork has been jailed for two and a half years for a "shocking litany of driving offences."

Tony Caulfield, from Cathedral Road in Gurranabraher in Cork, appeared before Cork Circuit Criminal Court having pleaded guilty to offences such as endangerment, dangerous driving and criminal damage.

The 26-year-old pleaded guilty to endangering life on November 18th 2021 when he drove against oncoming traffic on the N20 Mallow Road, Killeens, Co Cork causing risk of death or injury.

He also pleaded guilty to intentionally ramming two garda cars on the same date. Mr Caulfield also admitted causing 7,000 worth of damage to a Garda car on the Skew Bridge in Cork and to being responsible for causing 3,000 damage to another garda car at Killeens on the same date.

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Mr Caulfield also pleaded guilty to causing 6,000 damage to a patrol car at Mallow Road in Cork on the same date. He also admitted to pleading guilty to counts of dangerous driving at Knockfree Avenue and Sweeney's Hill in Cork on the same date.

The court also heard on November 18th 2021 Caulfield drove down narrow city streets in Cork at high speed, went through eleven red traffic lights and four stop signs.

Mr Caulfield also drove down pedestrian steps in the city in an attempt to avoid being arrested. On coming vehicles were forced to take evasive action as he drove on the wrong side of the road.

Mr Caulfield also didn't have insurance and was driving when he was under two different disqualification orders.

Meanwhile, Mr Caulfield was also sentenced for driving offences which occurred on February 21st, 2021 when he went the wrong direction through the Jack Lynch Tunnel in Cork. Workers were doing maintenance onsite in the early hours of the morning when the offence occurred.

Mr Caulfield has 67 previous convictions. These include two convictions for endangerment and twenty convictions for dangerous driving.

Siobhan Lankford, defence barrister, said that her client started smoking cannabis at the age of ten and left school six years later at the tender age of 16.

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Ms Lankford said that Caulfield moved on to harder drugs as his drug taking escalated. He has to take prescribed

anti-psychotic drugs as a result of ingested substances from such a young age.

Ms Lankford said that Caulfield had "a lamentable history" in relation to driving.

"Over the last 10 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.

Ms Lankford made an appeal for leniency in the case. She expressed the hope that Caulfield had turned a corner in relation to his offending behaviour.

In sentencing, Judge Dara Hayes said that the actions of the disqualified driver were contemptuous.

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This was an appalling litany of driving offences covering large swatches of Cork city. He drove the wrong way through the Jack Lynch Tunnel when unsuspecting maintenance workers were entitled to presume the absence of traffic.

It is a miracle no-one was injured during either of these disgraceful episodes. Gardai were placed in great danger by him.

It shows a contemptuous attitude as he flouts disqualifications. He has ruined his life, and he is remorseful for his actions. He says he was young and stupid, but the probation report puts him at a high risk of re-offending."

Judge Hayes jailed Mr Caulfield for four and a half years. However, he suspended two years of the sentence and disqualified him from driving for eight and a half years.
There will be no renegotiation of the Windsor Framework agreed between the UK Government and the EU, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has told peers.

Mr Cleverly also said it was inconceivable that the Government would ignore the Stormont brake element of the deal if it was triggered by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Appearing before the House of Lords Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland Sub-Committee, Mr Cleverly said the deal was achieved because both sides accepted a degree of theoretical risk.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen unveiled the Windsor Framework earlier this year (Dan Kitwood/PA)

The UK Government and EU unveiled the Windsor pact earlier this year as a means of resolving trading difficulties between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, caused by the post-Brexit Northern Ireland Protocol.

But the DUP, which collapsed the Stormont power-sharing institutions last year in protest at the protocol, has said its political and trading concerns must be met before it returns to government.

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Mr Cleverly told peers about the process of achieving the agreement, which he said was designed to square a circle.

He added: What we sought to do through this was to turn what had been a conversation about theoretical problems into a conversation about practical problems and how we might resolve them

Where we have ended up is accepting on both sides a degree of theoretical risk that we think is very manageable in the real world.

That is what helped us shift and get a deal over the line.

The Foreign Secretary was also questioned about the Stormont brake element of the Windsor deal.

The brake mechanism would allow a minority of MLAs in the Stormont Assembly to formally flag concerns about the imposition of new EU laws in Northern Ireland  a move that could see the UK Government veto their introduction in the region.

The Stormont brake is an incredibly important mechanism, it is a unique mechanism that Stormont has that isnt replicated in any other part of the UK because of Northern Irelands unique relationship with Ireland and therefore by extension with the EU, Mr Cleverly said.

He added: We would hope that it is not needed, we hope we can tackle any potential diversion issues before it was needed to be used.

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But it is there for a reason, and it is powerful for a reason. It is not envisaged to be used lightly which is why it is set at least two parties and at least 30 MLAs in order to make sure that it is something that is taken seriously by all parties.

Because it is structured as such the UK Government is duty-bound to take it very seriously, in a political sense, if this was triggered it is inconceivable that the British Government would ignore it.

It is designed to be used if necessary, but ultimately what we want to do is avoid circumstances where there is the necessity for its use.

Ulster Unionist Party peer Lord Empey asked if there was any intention to renegotiate the Windsor Framework (Liam McBurney/PA)

Ulster Unionist peer Lord Empey asked the Foreign Secretary if the Government had any intention of negotiating changes to the framework during the current parliament.

Mr Cleverly said: It is a very simply answer which is no.

He then referred to the Governments Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, which was introduced last year to override parts of the protocol, but was dropped when the framework was agreed.

He said: It was really, really, really unpopular, with our interlocutors in the European Commission and had that progressed through all of its parliamentary stages, I know that would have caused huge amounts of friction between the UK Government and the European Commission.

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It was there to address the issues which were raised to us by the unionist community and their representatives about the feeling that Northern Ireland was being pulled away from its rightful position in the United Kingdom.

I was willing, if need be, to cause damage to our bilateral relationship with the Commission, in order protect Northern Ireland as part of the UK.

He added: The reason why I say no to renegotiation is because we got movement from the Commission that for many, many years the Commission told us was impossible.

The idea that somehow there was a significantly or subtly better deal just over the horizon I think is wrong.

He said the EU had taken political risks to reach the Windsor deal, as well as the UK.

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If we reopen negotiations there is no guarantee that we would get more movement from the EU.

It may be entirely feasible that their hinterland would say if youre renegotiating with the Brits, we want you to negotiate this thing back off the table.

I genuinely feel that this was the best deal that we could get that was also sellable within the EU, and it needs to be sellable within the UK, including Northern Ireland, and it needs to be sellable within the EU as well.
The widow of a 45-year-old man from Co Meath who died several days after undergoing an elective medical procedure to treat his cancer at a Dublin hospital has settled High Court actions brought over the standard of care he allegedly received.

Following the death of her husband, Sean Lundy, in May 2017 his widow, Susan Lundy, sued St Vincent's Hospital for nervous shock she claimed she suffered and over the fatal injuries he allegedly sustained while he was a patient at the hospital.

Mrs Lundy, of Somerville Ratoath, Co Meath, alleged the hospital was negligent towards her husband, and had breached its duty of care to him.

Mr Lundy's treatment at the hospital, it was also claimed, fell "far below the standard of care that should have been made available to him" and had resulted in his death, it was alleged.

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The claims were denied and the settlement was made without an admission of liability by the hospital. The terms of the settlement are confidential.

However, one aspect of the claim, the statutory payment of a solatium of 35,000 to Mrs Lundy, which is to be used for the benefit of the plaintiff and the couple's three minor children, was required to be formally approved by the High Court.

The payment is for the mental distress suffered by Mr Lundy's family.

Whipple procedure

Represented by Barney Quirke SC, with Esther Earley Bl instructed by O'Brien Murphy solicitors, the court heard that on May 10th, 2017, Mr Lundy underwent a procedure known as a Whipple procedure, which is used to treat a malignant bile duct stricture.

Following his surgery, it was claimed he became very ill and went into shock, which was caused by internal bleeding, and he underwent further surgery.

It was claimed that after the emergency surgery he was placed in the hospital's intensive care unit (ICU). After two days, the court heard he was moved out of intensive care because the bed in that unit was required for another patient.

It was further claimed that following his transfer to another unit in the hospital, Mr Lundy was given food orally. However, this allegedly caused him to vomit, and accidently breath some food into his lungs, resulting in him developing severe respiratory problems.

Mr Lundy died on May 15th, 2017, five days after undergoing the procedure.

Among the allegations made against the hospital, Mrs Lunday claimed the defendant failed to carry out the surgical procedure in a competent manner and failed to carry out proper assessments of his condition after her underwent the operation.

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The defendant had also failed to keep Mr Lundy in the ICU following his emergency follow-up surgery, she alleged, and had transferred him when his condition required him to be kept in the unit.

He should not have been fed orally in the post-operative unit to which he was moved, Mrs Lundy further claimed, and he was allowed to develop respiratory problems, which were allegedly not properly monitored.

St Vincent's denied all of the claims.

The payment was approved by Mr Justice Paul Coffey, who, after formally striking out the claims, extended his sympathies to Mrs Lundy and her family.
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.

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Speaking to British Vogue, Chalamet recalled his earliest of memory of the brand related to his late grandmother.

(Chanel/PA)

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.

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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.
The head of the artificial intelligence company that makes ChatGPT has told Congress that government intervention will be critical to mitigate the risks of increasingly powerful AI systems.

As this technology advances, we understand that people are anxious about how it could change the way we live. We are too, OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman told a Senate hearing on Tuesday.

His San Francisco-based start-up rocketed to public attention late last year after it released ChatGPT, the free chatbot tool which answers questions with convincingly human-like responses.



Sam Altman (Patrick Semansky/AP)

What started out as a panic among educators about ChatGPTs use to cheat on homework assignments has expanded to broader concerns about the ability of the latest crop of generative AI tools to mislead people, spread falsehoods, violate copyright protections and upend some jobs.

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There is no immediate sign that Congress will create sweeping new rules on artificial intelligence, as European legislators are doing, but the societal concerns brought Mr Altman and other tech CEOs to the White House earlier this month and have led US agencies to promise to crack down on harmful AI products that break civil rights and consumer protection laws.

Senator Richard Blumenthal, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committees subcommittee on privacy, technology and the law, opened the hearing with a recorded speech that sounded like the him, but was a voice clone trained on his speeches and recited a speech written by ChatGPT after he asked the chatbot: How I would open this hearing?

The result was impressive, said Mr Blumenthal, but he added: What if I had asked it, and what if it had provided, an endorsement of Ukraine surrendering or (Russian President) Vladimir Putins leadership?





WATCH: @SenBlumenthal and the Senate Judiciary Committee hold a subcommittee hearing on the oversight of artificial intelligence.



Senators are examining what safeguards and oversight are necessary to minimize risks with AI technology. https://t.co/38VLeHjjaH  Senate Judiciary Committee (@JudiciaryDems) May 16, 2023

The Democrat said AI companies ought to be required to test their systems and disclose known risks before releasing them.

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Founded in 2015, OpenAI is also known for other AI products including the image-maker DALL-E. Microsoft has invested billions in the start-up and has integrated its technology into its own products, including its search engine Bing.

Mr Altman is also planning to embark on a worldwide tour this month to national capitals and major cities across six continents to talk about the technology with policymakers and the public.

On the eve of his Senate testimony, he dined with dozens of US legislators, several of whom said they were impressed by his comments.

Artificial intelligence will be transformative in ways we cant even imagine, with implications for Americans elections, jobs and security, said the panels ranking Republican, Josh Hawley. This hearing marks a critical first step towards understanding what Congress should do.

Mr Altman and other tech industry leaders have said they welcome some form of AI oversight but have cautioned against what they see as overly heavy-handed rules.
The Japanese and Chinese defence ministers inaugurated their long-awaited hotline on Tuesday as a step to build trust and improve communication at a time when Japan and other neighbours are concerned about Beijings increasingly assertive military activities.

Japans defence minister, Yasukazu Hamada, and his Chinese counterpart, Li Shangfu, talked for about 20 minutes on the hotline for the first time since it was established on March 31st the Japanese defence ministry said.

The two ministers welcomed the start of the operational use of the hotline and affirmed the importance of the maritime and aerial communication mechanism, which includes the hotline, in building trust between the two sides while avoiding contingencies.

Tokyo and Beijing are embroiled in a dispute over tiny Japanese-controlled islands in the East China Sea, known as the Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China.

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Chinese defence minister general Li Shangfu spoke to his Japanese counterpart. Photo: AP Photo/Manish Swarup, File.

China routinely sends coastguard vessels and planes into waters and airspace surrounding the islands to harass Japanese vessels and forcing Japans military to scramble jets in response.

Chinas naval fleet also regularly circles around Japanese coasts, sometimes in joint military exercises with Russia, irking Tokyo.

Japan is increasingly worried about the tensions around self-ruled Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory and has threatened to annex by force if necessary.

World Syrian president Bashar Assad invited to attend Co... Read More

Mr Hamada, noting the row over the islands and other disputes between Japan and China, said candid communication between them is necessary especially when their relations are not as good.

The two ministers also ensured the hotline was working properly, and agreed to continue communication between their respective defence authorities.

The idea for the hotline was initially agreed in 2018 between then-prime ministers Shinzo Abe and Li Keqiang as a way to avoid accidental clashes between their militaries.
Pacific Island leaders are criticising 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.

Leaders and representatives from Pacific Island nations demanded at a UN climate change conference on Monday in Bangkok that the world make more effort to put aside differences in combating the environmental impact, especially as their countries emerge from the economic devastation of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Prime Minister Mark Brown of the Cook Islands said the finance model for combatting climate change  giving out loans to reduce the impact  is not the way to go for countries in his region with such small populations that produce inconsequential amounts of carbon emissions but suffer the most from the effects.

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He encouraged a shift toward grants or interest-free loans to help ease the financial burden on poorer countries.



Palau president Surangel S Whipps Jr is among the Pacific Island leaders who have called for more to be done on climate change (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

All were doing is adding debt to countries that have come out of Covid with increased debt, and to me it is actually quite offensive that we would be required to borrow money to build resilience, and to borrow from the very countries that are causing climate change, he told the Associated Press.

Mr Brown said his country lost an estimated 41% of its GDP because of the pandemic, a loss of a decades worth of prosperity.

He said he will give this message to leaders when he represents his tiny South Pacific nation with a population of about 17,000 at a summit later this week of the Group of Seven leading industrialised nations in Japan, where he hopes to be able to speak on a more equal footing to the leaders than as a grateful recipient to benevolent donors.

Palau president Surangel S Whipps Jr agreed that financing opportunities are few and difficult, and criticised wealthy countries for failing to commit to provide the financial help they had promised, which he said represents only a tiny portion of their prioritised expenditures such as the military.

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Pacific Island leaders have met at a UN conference on climate change in Bangkok, Thailand (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

We didnt cause the problem, but now theyre going to make money off of us by giving us a loan so we can pay back with interest, he told the Associated Press.

So now you have to adapt, but well give you money and make money off of you by giving you that money to adapt. That doesnt make sense.

Mr Whipps said Palaus economy relies heavily on tourism, which is greatly threatened by the impact of climate change.

The countrys economic security is also a major issue in Palaus negotiations with the US on the compacts of free association, a broader agreement that will govern its relations with Washington for the next two decades.

Those ties grant the US unique military and other security rights in the islands in return for substantial aid.

Mr Whipps said the administration of President Joe Biden has promised approximately 900 million US dollars (720 million) over the 20-year period.

While the amount is definitely less than what his country would have wanted, Mr Whipps said he is largely satisfied with the terms, renegotiated from what was achieved during the administration of former president, Donald Trump.
Ukrainian air defences, bolstered by sophisticated western-supplied systems, have thwarted an intense Russian air attack on Kyiv, shooting down all missiles aimed at the capital, officials said.

The bombardment included six Russian Kinzhal aero-ballistic hypersonic missiles  the most fired in a single attack in the war so far  according to air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly touted the Kinzhals as a key strategic advantage for Russia, difficult to detect and intercept because of their hypersonic speed and other characteristics.



Police officers investigate fragments of a Russian rocket that fell down in the city zoo after it was shot down by air defence systems over Kyiv (Alex Babenko/AP)

If Ukraines claim of having shot down six fired on Tuesday is confirmed, it would mark another blow to Mr Putins war effort and show the increasing effectiveness of the countrys air defences.

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Mr Ihnat said Russia fired the Kinzhals from MiG-31K warplanes, along with nine cruise missiles from ships in the Black Sea and three S-400 cruise missiles launched from the ground.

Loud explosions boomed over Kyiv in the major nighttime attack apparently aimed at overwhelming Ukraines air defences. Kyivs mayor reported three people were wounded.

The barrage came as European leaders sought new ways to punish Russia for the war and a Chinese envoy sought traction for Beijings peace proposal, which so far appears to have made little impression on the warring sides.

It also came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky returned home from a whirlwind European tour to seek more military aid.





The overnight attack on Kyiv was exceptional in its density  the maximum number of attacking missiles in the shortest period of time, said Serhii Popko, the head of the Kyiv military administration.

UK ambassador in Kyiv Melinda Simmons tweeted that the barrage was pretty intense, adding: Bangs and shaking walls are not an easy night.

It was the eighth time this month that Russian air raids had targeted the capital, a clear escalation ahead of a much-anticipated Ukrainian counter-offensive using newly supplied advanced western weapons.

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After the first onslaught, Russia also launched Iranian-made Shahed attack drones and conducted aerial reconnaissance, Mr Ihnat said.

Debris fell across several districts in the capital, starting fires, mayor Vitali Klitschko said.



Firefighters put out a fire caused by fragments of a Russian rocket (Ukrainian Emergency Situations Ministry/AP)

Sophisticated western air defence systems, including American-made Patriot missiles, have helped spare Kyiv from the kind of destruction witnessed along the main front line in the countrys east and south.

While most of the ground fighting is stalemated along that front line, both sides are targeting other territory with long-range weapons.

Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said a Kinzhal destroyed a Patriot missile battery in Kyiv but he did not provide evidence, and the statement could not be independently verified.

The bolstered air defences have deterred Russian aircraft from going deep into Ukraine and helped shape the course of the war, military experts say.
The corporate runaway train hurtling towards a crash  otherwise known as PwC  has appointed veteran troubleshooter Ziggy Switkowski to investigate the cause of its tax scandal. It will be a controversial choice.

The bloke, a nuclear physicist and affectionately considered a nerd, has the job of identifying what went so spectacularly wrong at the accounting giant. This includes who is to blame and how it should be fixed  and he has four months to get it done.

Ziggy Switkowski: Trouble magnet.

How to rehabilitate a casino; how to restore a disgraced banks cultural shortcomings; how to develop Australias nuclear future; or how best to sticky tape the countrys dodgy broadband rollout? Switkowski seems to be the person on speed dial.

But the root and branch review ordered by PwC requires a degree of mongrel  a trait Switkowski is not known for.
Prominent federal Labor minister Tanya Plibersek and the City of Sydney have weighed into the growing row over the future of the $500 million redevelopment of the Powerhouse Museum at Ultimo, upping pressure on the Minns government to hit pause on the knockdown rebuild of the museums modern wing.

Plibersek, who is the sitting member for the seat of Sydney, said the NSW government needed to be sure the demolition plan it inherited for the museum was the right thing to do before proceeding.

Tanya Plibersek speaking at the Save the Powerhouse rally in 2015. Credit: Fiona Morris

Plibersek was at the forefront of community rallies to save the Powerhouse at Ultimo eight years ago when it was to have been relocated to Parramatta, and the Ultimo site sold off.

She told this masthead: I want to see the site maintained and restored so it can be enjoyed by future generations. Before the NSW government decides to approve the removal of any of its history, they need to be sure its the right thing to do.
A Queensland man has been jailed for the brazen sexual assault of a woman in her own home after he was hired to perform a Valentines Day massage.

Yevgeny Borodinov, 38, pleaded not guilty to one charge of sexual assault and one charge of rape but was convicted on both counts following a jury trial this month.

Medical authorities served the offender with a notice prohibiting him from practising massage when he was first charged, and he will not be able to work in the industry again. Credit: File image

At a sentencing hearing on Tuesday in the Brisbane District Court, crown prosecutor Michael Andronicus said Borodinov should receive a sentence of up to three years in prison for his offending that left significant and traumatic effects on the victim.

[The victim] has installed security cameras on all her doors, Andronicus said.
A Queensland student has been rushed to hospital after another teenager allegedly stabbed her at a school in Cairns.

Police were called to Peace Lutheran College  a private school in the suburb of Kamerunga  at 10.35am on Tuesday, where the 18-year-old female student was found with stab wounds.

Peace Lutheran College, a co-ed Christian day and boarding school in Cairns. Credit: Google Street View

Police have charged an 18-year-old man, also a student at the school, with attempted murder after taking him into custody, while the young woman was taken to Cairns Hospital.

Police initially described her condition as serious, but Detective Acting Inspector Jason Chetham later confirmed she had been transported in a critical condition.
Its good news for wannabe astronauts. Playground rockets, first inspired by the 1960s Cold War space race, are making a comeback.

A new version of the rocket is being installed at Waverley Park, which featured one of Sydneys original moon rocket slippery dips.

The new rocket due to touch down in Waverley Park. Credit: Proludic

Mayor of Waverley Paula Masselos said the new rocket and launch tower is set to spark joy in a new generation and harks back to a time before electronic gaming devices when imaginative play ruled, and [create] hopes and inspiration for future professions.

Heritage consultant Susan Jackson-Stepowski says society became absolutely fixated on anything to do with space between the late 1950s and mid-1970s. Jackson-Stepowski is explaining the remarkable story of NSWs rocket playgrounds with a talk at Marrickville Library on Wednesday.
Mental health services say they are receiving an influx of distressed phone calls from LGBTQ people alarmed by recent anti-trans events and the cancellation of drag queen story times due to threats of violence.

Mind Australia said its LGBTQ suicide prevention service had received a months worth of referrals in two days after events led by British anti-transgender rights activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull, also known as Posie Parker, including one on the steps of Victorian Parliament that was gate-crashed by neo-Nazis.

University of Melbourne research fellow Dr Sav Zwickl says trans mental health is in crisis. Credit: Penny Stephens

It said demand for the service remained high with the cancellation of drag story time events due to threats of violence also undoubtedly affecting the mental health of vulnerable trans and gender diverse people.

We know these shallow, polarising public discussions about trans and gender diverse identities have an impact on our community. We saw it with the rallies, the Religious Discrimination Bill, the marriage equality plebiscite - and now drag story time. Trans lives are not up for debate, said Isabelle McGovern from Mind Australia.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed that next weeks Quad leaders summit has been scrapped, following US President Joe Bidens decision to cancel a much-anticipated visit to Australia because of ongoing debt-ceiling negotiations with Republicans in Washington.

At a press conference in Tweed Heads this morning, the prime minister acknowledged that the Quad leaders meeting will not be going ahead in Sydney next week.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Joe Biden at last years Quad in Tokyo. Credit: Getty

He said he expected that all four leaders - himself, Biden, Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida - would instead attempt to have side meeting at the G7 summit in Hiroshima this weekend, and that he would have a separate bilateral meeting with Biden.

The White House announced on Wednesday morning that the US presidents scheduled visit to Sydney for the Quad meeting had been postponed, meaning he will no longer address a joint sitting of parliament in Canberra.
London: One of Australias most powerful national security figures has re-entered public debate over deteriorating global relations, warning world leaders not to yield to war fever and to better learn the lessons of the past in an era of nuclear weapons and rapidly emerging disruptive technologies.

Home Affairs Department secretary Michael Pezzullo said in his annual Anzac Day email to staff that the world must avoid war by all necessary and reasonable means, describing the pursuit of peace as perhaps the noblest of all.

Home Affairs secretary Michael Pezzullo encouraged recipients of his annual Anzac Day email to staff to watch 1995 Hollywood blockbuster Crimson Tide. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

The veteran public servant made international headlines with a similar note to department employees in 2021 when he said free nations again hear the beating drums of war, amid rising military tensions in the Indo-Pacific.

Several Labor frontbenchers strongly criticised Pezzullo at the time for his inflammatory tone, with Penny Wong, who was then opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman, saying it was a poor choice of words when we are trying to be sober and cautious.
Police would have ignored Brittany Higgins rape allegation had it not centred on Parliament House, the lawyer for the ACTs top prosecutor has alleged in a post-mortem of the Lehrmann trial.

Mark Tedeschi, KC, said he and ACT Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold, SC, aimed to prove investigators reluctance to pursue the allegation was a classic example of their attitudes towards sexual assault claims.

ACT Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold, SC, outside the inquiry into the Lehrmann trial. Credit: Rhett Wyman

Had it not been for the publicity, had it not been an [alleged] offence that occurred in Parliament House, it would have been one of 250 matters that were just ignored by police, Tedeschi told the inquiry into the handling of Bruce Lehrmanns abandoned rape trial on Tuesday.

The former Coalition staffer pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting Higgins in the parliamentary office of their then-boss Linda Reynolds in March 2019. The trial was aborted in October due to juror misconduct before Drumgold dropped a retrial due to Higgins mental health. Lehrmann has always denied the allegation.
Weve definitely got states moving over to the No column now, he said. This is a reminder that you dont need to go below 50 per cent at a national level to lose this referendum. You can lose it at 54 or 53 per cent. And the Yes campaign is getting down to that level. Support for the reform fell from 64 per cent last September to 58 per cent earlier this year before sliding again to 53 per cent over the past month. The latest findings come after Opposition Leader Peter Dutton stepped up his warnings against the change to the Constitution on the grounds there was no clarity about who would be elected to the Voice group and how it would influence government decisions.

I find it a very dangerous process because youre talking about every element of government decision-making where the Voice will have to be consulted, he said on Monday. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has rebuffed calls from conservatives to scale back the power of the Voice to gain input into decisions by executive government, limiting its role to consulting with parliament. Weve definitely got states moving over to the No column now. Resolve director Jim Reed We should just listen to people, ask them if were going to have an impact on them, thats just really common courtesy, he said in a radio interview on Tuesday. And importantly, you get better results when you involve people in things that impact them.

While the government has expressed confidence in gaining a Yes vote at the referendum  likely to be held in October or November  the results in the Resolve Political Monitor confirm the trend against the proposal over months of results from 28 polls by JWS, Essential, YouGov and other firms in addition to Resolve. Reed said a key problem was that voters were not convinced by the model being put forward even if they supported the aspiration. He pointed to the recent decision by the Yes campaign to emphasise the recognition of First Australians in its advertising rather than go into the details of the Voice. No amount of advertising is going to sell a product that people arent sure about, Reed said. Not being able to talk about the product or the problem it solves in your advertising only amplifies the perceived risk.

The Resolve Political Monitor tells respondents the proposed change to the Constitution in the exact wording set out by the government in the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) Bill before asking them their views in two main questions. The first gives voters the option to be undecided while the second allows only a yes or no response akin to the referendum. The results have a margin of error of 2.4 percentage points. In the first question and the yes or no question, the Resolve Political Monitor gives respondents the proposed referendum question in full: A proposed law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve this proposal alteration? Loading The latest survey found that 69 per cent of Labor voters and 83 per cent of Greens voters backed the Voice in the yes or no question but only 27 per cent of Coalition voters did the same, highlighting the partisan divide on the issue. While the Resolve Political Monitor found there was majority support in a majority of states for the Voice at the beginning of this year, Reed said support had fallen below a majority in Queensland and results from South Australia and Tasmania were volatile from month to month.
Queensland Health Minister Yvette DAth will be pulled from the states tough health portfolio as part of Premier Annastacia Palaszczuks first major cabinet shake-up since the 2020 election.

Labor sources confirmed that the overhaul across a range of portfolios was expected to be laid out in more detail this week, after a testing period for the third-term government.

The move comes fewer than 18 months out from the next state election and follows months of intense pressure on the government across a range of issues, including health, crime, and housing.
Ukrainian anti-corruption authorities say they are investigating large-scale corruption in the countrys judicial system and shared a photograph of piles of dollars neatly lined up on a sofa.

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) did not name anyone accused of corruption, but two local media organisations reported Supreme Court Chief Justice Vsevolod Kniaziev had been detained on suspicion of receiving a $US3 million ($4.5 million) bribe.

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) posted this picture of cash it said was connected to undue benefits and the countrys Supreme Court. Credit: Facebook/NABU

Anti-graft authorities displayed the cash photograph on its Facebook page, which said the discovery followed investigations by NABU and the office of the Special Anti-corruption Prosecutor (SAP).

NABU and SAP have exposed large-scale corruption in the Supreme Court, namely a scheme for receiving undue benefits by the leadership and judges of the Supreme Court. Urgent investigative actions are currently underway. Details later, the bureau said in the post.
Caged Tiger: How too much Government is Holding Indians Back Author: Subhashish Bhadra

Publisher: Bloomsbury Pages: 301 : Bloomsbury

Price: Rs 799

A tiger locked in a cage is constrained by the external world. Indias constraints are primarily domestic and self-imposed to moderate the pace of redistribution of social and economic power. The metaphor of an elephant, held captive by the simple artifice of an emotional and physical bond with its keepers, its brute power disciplined by just a notional rope or chain looped around a stump in the ground, seems more readily applicable. : Rs 799

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Written in an engaging, easy style the book is a pleasant but intensely informative read. Time-constrained readers can access standalone chapters, though it would be a pity if they missed the introduction. A balanced narrative presents alternative points of view via 708 references  or nearly three per page. It is a sign of our polarised times that extensive referencing is also the best insurance against lawsuits dragging publishers and authors to the courts. This is the burden of the authors song, sung evocatively across a longish introduction and nine artfully curated chapters with pithy titles such as Economic Restraints: What ails the Indian economy; The Panopticon: The surveillance state; Controlled Cacophony: The status of citizen freedoms and safeguards; His Masters Police: The internal security apparatus; Cultural Revolution: Nationalism as culture; Crumbling Temples: The decaying political architecture; Regulatory Tentacles: Still born autonomous regulation; Peering into the Crystal Ball: The future of Indias institutions; and, finally, A Peoples Reinvention: Hope in the people of India. A cross-cutting political economy lens examines institutional resilience buttressed by anecdotal evidence.



This brings us to one glaring omission. This is the missing discussion around the judiciary and its share in the disrepute in which the rule of law sector finds itself. References to the judiciary are supportive and complementary, whilst shortcomings in the bureaucracy, autonomous regulatory agencies, politicians, political parties and Parliament are dealt with comprehensively. This is a departure from the authors otherwise balanced approach. On the other hand, increasing recourse to the courts by both government sympathisers and dissidents is surely institutional progress. Enforcing author liability by using bottom-up, caveat emptor principles rather than top-down, administrative fiat that simply censors a book or delays its publication illustrates maturing rule of law and institutions. This should meet the authors approval given his preference for light touch regulation, popularised in the administrative mythology around the efficiency of western democratic systems.



In general, the book swims against the tide of current events on three counts. First, the era of light-touch regulation and globalisation has been substituted by protection and active trade and industrial policies enhancing government intervention. Improving the quality of governance becomes even more critical. A discussion on judicial injudiciousness is limited to its prickliness with overt challenges to its judicial dignity associated with its vast adjudicatory and plenary (constitution defining) powers, as evidenced by a Supreme Court Bench holding senior advocate Prashant Bhushan in contempt of court in 2020, for publicly questioning the appropriateness of an unmasked, previous chief justice riding a motorcycle even as Covid-19 restraints shackled the country. Mr Bhushan refused to yield or apologise. This ended with a classic in-house compromise. The bench upheld the principle of inviolability of the court from public scrutiny, by levying a notional fine of Rs 1 which the reputed senior advocate paid, thereby retaining his reformist, public persona within the cozy confines of the informal rules of the legal fraternity.



The quality of political institutions remains closely related to the quality of the underlying social structures. Social inequity, including caste and gender-insensitive empowerment, perpetuates economic inequity. The adoption of laws, regulations or processes templated for their success elsewhere is a lazy and ineffective way to reform Indias many ills. Our Parliament can never be a copy of the British Parliament, nor can we replicate the cultural ethos of US-style politics in India. Solutions have to be incremental, sequenced and home grown, and linked to the science of the possible, rather than ideological best practice.

Second, the imagined world of western democracy is less compelling because the associated economic influence has waned. Third, western democracies have not managed the transition to a multipolar world or economic slowdown well. Growing domestic inequity in their distribution of wealth and income questions the validity of associating sustainable or equitable growth with western templates. The most dynamic economies currently are either authoritarian, electoral or flawed democracies. China and India are estimated to contribute one half of global growth this year with the rest of Asia and the Pacific contributing an additional one fifth.


Sanjiv Chadha, managing director and chief executive officer of BoB, said the bank identifies issues in advance and makes provisions if required. Bank of Baroda (BoB) has made prudential provision of Rs 500 crore for exposure to Go First, which has sought bankruptcy protection after the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) admitted its plea for voluntary insolvency.



Out of this exposure, about Rs 1,000 crore is collateralised by tangible securities and by way of corporate guarantees. In Q4, the bank has gone ahead to make provision of Rs 500 crore for this account. Which means any potential downside has been fully taken into account and the bank is completely protected as far as this account is concerned, Chadha told the media after announcing results for the March quarter of financial year 2022-23 (Q4FY23). The Mumbai-based public sector lender has an exposure of Rs 1,300 crore to the troubled airline. This does not include exposure that is guaranteed by the Centre under the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme.



The board of directors recommended a dividend of Rs 5.5 per share (of face value Rs 10 each) for FY23, subject to requisite approvals, the bank said. Its stock closed 1.4 per cent higher at Rs 186.35 apiece on the BSE on Tuesday. Its net profit grew 168 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 4,775 crore in Q4, buoyed by healthy growth in advances and net interest income (NII). This was the highest quarterly net profit. In the whole year, its net profit grew 94 per cent to Rs 14,110 crore from Rs 7,272 crore in FY22.

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BoBs NII, which is interest revenues minus interest expenses, grew 33.8 per cent YoY to Rs 11,525 crore in Q4, compared with Rs 8,612 crore a year ago. Its net interest margin improved 45 basis points YoY to 3.53 per cent in Q4. Its capital adequacy ratio (CAR) stood at 16.24 per cent with common equity tier-I of 12.24 per cent at the end of March. While the bank did not hint at any plans to raise capital through equity shares, it would raise up to Rs 2,000 crore through debt capital instruments like additional tier-I bonds and tier-II bonds in FY24.



Total deposits increased 15.1 per cent YoY to Rs 12.03 trillion in FY23. The banks advances grew 18.5 per cent YoY to Rs 9.69 trillion in FY23. In advances, retail grew 26.8 per cent YoY to Rs 1.78 trillion at the end of March. The bank has guided for 13-14 per cent growth in credit in FY24.


The Murugappa Group company plans to invest around Rs 2,000 crore in two years in various segments, including specialty chemicals. The government scheme markets fertilisers in the country under Bharat brand name. Accordingly, fertiliser bags across the country have a uniform design labeled Bharat Urea, Bharat DAP, Bharat MOP and Bharat NPK. Coromandel International, an agriculture solutions company, has said the governments One Nation, One Fertiliser scheme launched last year has not impacted its sales and it expects volume to increase by 6-10 per cent in FY24.



For the current year, we are looking into around Rs 2,000 crore of investment approval and the cash flow could happen over the next couple of years, said Satagopan. The company had earlier announced that it will invest Rs 1,000 crore in the next two years to expand operations in crop protection chemicals and enter the contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) business. This initiative has not impacted our volume. We expect it (sales) to be in the range of around 6-10 per cent during the current financial year, Jayashree Satagopan, president (corporate) and chief financial officer at Coromandel International, told 'Business Standard'. In FY23, the company has seen its volume increasing by 10 per cent for fertilizers and manufacturing output moving up by 14 per cent, along with a capacity utilization of over 90 per cent. Coromandel deals in fertilisers, crop protection chemicals, bio products, specialty nutrients, organic fertilizers, and retail.



For the first time we have crossed the Rs 2,000 crore mark in net profit. We have grown not just in revenue terms. In our main business of fertiliser, the MRP is guided by raw material prices. Given the highly elevated raw material prices, this year we have seen a high revenue growth. When raw material prices cool, we may see reversal happening. You need to also look at volume terms. Volume growth has been 10 per cent for fertilizer, she said. The company reported a net profit of Rs 2,013 crore in FY23 compared to Rs 1,528 crore in FY22. Total income in FY23 increased to Rs 29,799 crore compared to Rs 19,255 crore in FY21-22.

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A group of senior Tesla Inc. executives plan to visit India this week to meet with federal government officials in a newfound bid to deepen the carmakers supply chain in the country as it pushes to diversify beyond China. By Sankalp Phartiyal and Ragini Saxena



The visit could represent a thaw in the relationship of India and Tesla, which has yet to enter the country in a meaningful way. Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk has criticized Indias high import taxes and its electric-vehicle policies, and India, in turn, has advised Tesla not to sell cars in the country that have been made in China, its political adversary. The executives are scheduled to meet with government representatives including those from the office of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss local sourcing of components for Teslas models, people familiar with the matter said, declining to be named as the plans are private.



Tesla didnt immediately respond to an email sent to the press address on its website outside of US office hours. A representative for the ministry of road transport and highways didnt respond to request for a comment. The visitors are set to include C-suite executives and managers from Austin, Texas-based Teslas supply chain, production and business development teams. The executives are expected to reiterate Teslas request for India to cut import taxes on its vehicles, the people said.

Also Read Tesla recalls 1.1 million electric cars from China over braking defect After China, Tesla now announces price cuts on its electric vehicles in US Tesla continues to dominate US EV market with a share of over 50% Tesla raises US prices on Model S, X, and Y EVs: All you need to know Innovative techniques and smaller factories to help cut costs: Tesla Foxconn lines up Rs 4,110 cr for new Hyderabad plant, 25,000 jobs likely Shapoorji Pallonji Group taps private credit market to raise $1.6 bn BSNL targets to increase market share by double in three years: BSNL CMD Vedanta-Foxconn JV set to get govt approval for its chip-making plant Apple to not make iPads, Mac PCs but may manufacture AirPods in India



While Tesla has found it difficult to break into India, its global rivals such as Mercedes-Benz AG have taken steps to sell locally assembled cars. Theyre betting on rising demand for electric vehicles in what is the worlds most populous country and an automobile market with high growth potential. Sourcing more from India could help Tesla win Modis favor as he tries to make the country a global manufacturing hub. Thus far, Modis administration has been lukewarm to Tesla, asking it to avoid selling vehicles assembled at its Shanghai factory. India has been engaged in a long-time border dispute with neighbor China.



But US companies including Tesla are increasingly realizing the importance of pivoting beyond China as trade tensions between Washington and Beijing show no signs of easing. To be sure, Tesla is still far from considering India as a base for assembling its pricey cars. Musk has said his company wont set up manufacturing plants in any location where it isnt allowed to first sell and service its vehicles.


With this plan, the government plans to establish India as a global hub for semiconductor manufacturing. The official was quoted in the report as saying, "Their plan is for fabrication of 40 nm (nanometre) chips  there are some conditions they need to fulfil. We are going to approve it." The centre is ready to approve the plans of the Vedanta-Foxconn joint venture to make semiconductor chips, a report in The Economic Times (ET) said. Senior government officials told the newspaper that this would be done under the aegis of the $10-billion India Semiconductor Mission (ISM).



Additionally, the government has directed VFSL to submit details of the "binding technology transfer agreement" with either of the two companies, the official aware of the developments said. To this end, Vedanta Foxconn Semiconductors Limited (VFSL) has signed agreements with two companies, GlobalFoundries and STMicroelectronics, to facilitate technology transfer. The report said the details of these two companies have been submitted to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).



VFSL is a joint venture between India's Vedanta Group and Taiwan's Hon Hai Precision Industry (Foxconn). The two have 63 and 37 per cent stake in the company, respectively. IT Ministry is the nodal ministry to oversee ISM. The ministry has suggested that GlobalFoundries and STMicro acquire a stake in VFSL. The two companies have responded positively to the suggestion, and their proposal is awaited.

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The company is initially looking to invest Rs 66,000 crore to set up a semiconductor manufacturing facility at Dholera in Gujarat. The joint venture has planned a total of Rs 1.54 lakh crore in investments for the Dholera facility.


The companys consolidated gross revenue down by 1.9 per cent to Rs 15,781 crore for the March quarter as compared to Rs 16,089 crore in the year-ago period. Jindal Steel & Power Ltd (JSPL), on Tuesday, posted profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 466 crore for the March quarter. This is 69.4 per cent fall from Rs 1,527 crore a year ago, the company statement said.







India's steel industry, already grappling with a slump in prices, was also hit with an export tax on certain steel intermediaries last year, which was withdrawn in November. Shares of Jindal Steel & Power on Tuesday ended 2.66 per cent lower at Rs 560.20 on BSE. In a regulatory filing, Jindal Steel and Power said, The board of directors considered and recommended final Dividend for the financial year 2022-23@200%, i.e., Rs 2/- per equity share of face value Re 1/- each, out of the profits of the Company for the financial Year 2022-23, which shall be paid, subject to the approval of the shareholders in the ensuing Annual General Meeting and other authorities, wherever required.



Weak steel prices and falling demand in Europe also weighed on bigger rival Tata Steel, which reported a 83% fall in its quarterly profit earlier in the month. "Rebar prices moved strongly during the first half of the quarter but corrected sharply in the second half. However, key raw materials, especially iron ore remained elevated through the quarter" the company also added in a statement The company's consolidated expenses from depreciation and amortization more-than-tripled to Rs 873 crore in the quarter.

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However, Jindal Steel said exports accounted for 11 per cent of total standalone sales volume in the quarter, as compared to 5 per cent in the previous quarter.



(With inputs from Reuters)




Triveni Turbine Ltd (TTL) on Tuesday posted a 68.5 per cent jump in its consolidated net profit at Rs 55.6 crore during March 2023 quarter, boosted by higher revenues.

It had clocked Rs 33.0 crore net profit during January-March quarter of preceding financial year 2021-22, TTL said in a statement.

The company's revenues from operations also rose by 56.3 per cent to Rs 369.8 crore from Rs 236.6 crore in the year ago quarter.

CMD Dhruv M Sawhney said: "Our company has delivered yet another record year in FY23, building upon the strong foundation of the previous year. In the year gone by, We achieved highest ever turnover at Rs 12.48 billion, with an impressive growth of 46 per cent over the previous financial year."



On the order booking front, the company's performance has been the highest ever with total order booking of Rs 16.05 billion, he said.

The contribution of exports in total turnover has increased to 45 per cent in FY23 from 30 per cent in FY22.

The company is a leader in industrial steam turbines in India and also among the leading manufacturers of industrial steam turbines globally.

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While these six countries out of Indias top ten export destinations saw contraction, shipments to Saudi Arab, the Netherlands, United Kingdom (UK) and Italy saw 8.38 per cent, 23 per cent, 20.69 per cent and 3.59 per cent, growth respectively. These 10 countries comprise 48 per cent o

Indias biggest export market  the US  with 17 per cent share witnessed 17.16 per cent contraction at $5.9 billion in April. This was followed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that saw 22.09 per cent decline at $2.23 billion exports. These two countries exported goods worth $8.13 billion, indicating a share of over 23 per cent in April.
All drug samples made in India will undergo quality checks prior to shipping, the report added. According to ministry sources, this new policy is being discussed by the Union health ministry and the Department of Pharmaceuticals. Suggestions were also sought from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) regarding this.

The health ministry is considering implementing a new system for drug exports in light of reports that subpar Indian medications have resulted in health issues and even fatalities in nations like US, The Gambia, and Uzbekistan, a report by NDTV said.


A senior government official told ET that the Centre could devise measures that encourage businesses to employ retirees through part-time work arrangements and flexible retirement age policies. The Centre has started internal discussions about recruiting and hiring retirees for part-time work, consulting jobs, and mentorship positions in industries like education and healthcare that are experiencing talent shortages, an Economic Times (ET) report said.



Even though India is regarded as a young country, the United Nations projects that by 2050, the number of Indians over 60 will double and account for nearly 19.6 per cent of the country's total population. The official added that additional measures, including a minimum wage framework based on prior experience for those over a certain age, phased retirement, and changes to roles and responsibilities, are also being considered.



The 2011 Census estimated Indias older population at 104 million. By 2036, the number is expected to more than double to 225 million, and by 2061, it will have increased by more than fourfold to 425 million. "India is ageing quickly, and the government is looking at how we can use the experience of our elderly while making sure jobs for younger generations are not jeopardised," said the official.

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India has emerged in the past year as a top buyer of Russian oil following the war. Access to cheap Russian crude has boosted output and profits at Indian refineries, enabling them to export refined products to Europe and take a bigger market share. Borrell told the newspaper he will raise the issue with Indias foreign minister, S Jaishankar.



The European Union should crack down on India reselling Russian oil into Europe as refined fuel, including diesel, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in an interview with the Financial Times.
Despite Congress' clear mandate in the Karnataka assembly polls, suspense over chief minster continues with Karnataka Congress president D K Shivakumar, one of the two contenders to the post, scheduled to arrive in Delhi later on Tuesday ahead of an announcement by the party.

Congress leader Siddaramaiah, the other frontrunner for the chief minister's post, had arrived in the national capital on Monday.

Shivakumar, who celebrated his birthday yesterday had stayed behind in Bengaluru citing a stomach infection. Both he and Siddaramaiah had been called to Delhi by the top leadership of the AICC for a discussion. The Congress won 135 seats in the 224-member Karnataka assembly.

The party's central observers for Karnataka had yesterday briefed Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on the views of the newly elected MLAs. According to party sources, Kharge will consult Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra before announcing a final decision.

"The name of the next Karnataka CM will be announced in the coming 24 hours," they said.

The Congress legislative party had met late evening on Sunday in Bengaluru and passed a one-line resolution empowering Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge to pick the head of the legislative party.

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On Monday, Shivakumar said that all the MLAs are together and the call on the chief minister will be taken by the party's high command.

Speaking to ANI, Shivakumar said, "The party high command will take a call. I don't want to comment or speak anything more. Whatever I had to speak, I have spoken already. I do not want MLAs (support)...that is not important to me. Ours is a Congress block. 135 is the number and one more ally member. We all are one and will work together".

Meanwhile, Congress veteran Siddaramaiah met with the top leadership of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) at Delhi's Lodhi Hotel late on Monday night.

Siddaramaiah, who served as chief minister of Karnataka from 2013-2018, however, remained tight-lipped on the meeting and did not interact with the reporters.

DK Shivakumar's brother DK Suresh arrived in Delhi on Monday evening and met with AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge at the latter's residence.

"I have met the AICC chief. I meet him whenever I come to Delhi. The same way I met him today. Our AICC general secretaries will let you know about other issues," Suresh told reporters.
Banks have requested the RBI for one more year's time to implement the system of Expected Credit Loss (ECL) for provisioning of loans.

At present, banks set aside money after an asset turns bad, and once the new system is put in place, it is widely expected to have an one-time impact on banks' profits.

"We have requested the regulator to allow us little more time to prepare ourselves for this," industry lobby grouping IBA's chief executive Sunil Mehta told reporters on the sidelines of a Fintech event here on Tuesday.

Answering a specific question on the time sought, Mehta said, "we have requested them (RBI) for one more year"



He also added that in the "worst case scenario", the banking system is gearing up for the switch to the new system.

"... the banking sector is already geared up, few of the banks have already developed their systems (and) have got their data in place on which they can design their ECL-based risk models," he said.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has already come up with its proposed guidelines on the switch to ECL but a definite timeline is yet to be decided.

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Meanwhile, Mehta said that Russian investors have started investing in Indian government securities after getting a nod from the RBI for the same.

He said the investment activity has come about because of the excess rupee liquidity which the Russians are saddled with due to the trade deficit with India, which is among the few countries buying oil from Russia.

"They have surplus of money. They have invested (in local bonds). They are Russian banks, they are all our members, we know. RBI has opened the window that whatever trade surplus they have, you can invest in government bonds," Mehta said.

The Russian investments are for shorter duration because how long the war and the sanctions on Russia will last is still unclear, Mehta said and added that the bets are for less than one year.

When asked about the banks' tie-ups with fintechs and the troubles with the latter, he said whenever fintechs have partnered with banking system, they don't get into a problem.

Banks provide them with resources and big customer base, he added.

According to him, the problems with fintechs emanate because of poor governance and non-compliance with regulatory mandates.
HBSE Result 2023 Class 10th date isn't officially declared. The report stated that the result would be made public at 3 pm today May 16. Students are advised to continue to take a look at the official site for any updates on HBSE Results.

Today, May 16, the Board of School Education Haryana, BSEH 10th Result 2023 is expected to be released. The official website, bseh.org.in is where those who took the Haryana Board class 10th exams can view and download their results. Candidates will be asked to log in to the website using their roll number and any other information asked in order to access the HBSE 10th marksheet 2023.
As many as 321 people from six of the eight Northeastern states on Tuesday received appointment letters, during a Rozgar Mela' held in Nagaland, for jobs in six ministries and Assam Rifles.

Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Pratima Bhowmik distributed the appointment letters to the new recruits at the common Rozgar Mela' held in Imliyanger Memorial Centre (IMC) here.

Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi gives priority to empowerment of women, 67 women were among the 321 newly inducted employees, Bhowmik said.

The Union minister said that the Prime Minister had said last year that the government will provide jobs to youths in a systematic manner.

It is the promise of the Prime Minister to provide jobs to youths and make India atmanirbhar' and vishwaguru' by 2047, she said, urging the youngsters to work hard and contribute towards nation-building to achieve this feat.

Of the new appointees, over 50 people were from Nagaland.

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The common Rozgar Mela' was held for Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura.

The PM does not force youths to move forward through government jobs but encourages them to stand on their own feet through startups and build their future.

Youths have started their own startups and have also provided jobs to people, the minister said.

Pointing out that there has been tremendous development in road infrastructure, rail connectivity and other development activities in the Northeast, the minister said, The more development takes place, youths get more job opportunities.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday addressed the newly inducted employees, who participated in the mela at 45 locations across the country, through video-conferencing.
All illegal encroachments in Uttarakhand will be demolished "at any cost", said Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday, adding that the state government will comply with court orders in the Haldwani case.

"The drive to remove illegal encroachments is underway in the state and it will continue till all of them are removed," he told reporters at the secretariat here on Monday.

Dhami said he expects people who have illegally encroached government land to vacate them on their own to avoid action against them.

Answering a question on the alleged encroachments at Haldwani's Banbhoolpura area, the chief minister said "whatever is legally appropriate will be done".

Any order or directive issued by the court on the matter will be complied with, he said.

In December last year, the Uttarakhand High Court directed the removal of "illegal encroachers" in Banbhoolpura from land that the Indian Railways has claimed as its own.

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The Supreme Court later stayed the high court order to evict the residents of Banbhoolpura.

On Prime Minister Narendra Modi's proposed visit to Uttarakhand, Dhami said, "The Prime Minister is fond of Uttarakhand. People of the state also eagerly await his visits."



Dhami said people have responded positively to the prime minister's appeal to spend five per cent of their budget for the Chardham Yatra on buying local products during the pilgrimage, which is benefitting self-help groups and creating jobs for locals.

The CM said the yatra to Yamunotri, Gangotri and Badrinath is going on smoothly but the journey to Kedarnath has witnessed several interruptions due to bad weather.

Therefore, registrations for Kedarnath have been halted from time to time so that pilgrims do not have to face any inconvenience, he said.

Arrangements will be made to ensure that every pilgrim bound for Kedarnath gets to visit the temple and offer prayers there, Dhami added.
The Congress has claimed that the BJP is "disgraceful" when it loses elections and accused the rival party of making "mischievous attempts" to disturb social harmony, asserting that the "factories manufacturing hate are hyperactive".

The strong criticism of the Congress came on Monday after the BJP attacked it 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.

In a tweet, Congress general secretary 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 said.

Earlier, the BJP's IT department head Amit Malviya attacked the Congress, saying, "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 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 and Education. It's the responsibility of the Congress to thank us with this"



"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," Malviya tweeted.

Hitting back at Malviya, Congress' media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said, "I understand your need to fake. But this is a bit too much. Shafi Sadi is backed by BJP."



In the May 10 Karnataka Assembly elections, the Congress won 135 of the 224 seats, while the BJP and the Janata Dal (Secular) secured 66 and 19 seats, respectively.

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The court also said, asked about the "source of power" of the Lieutenant Governor under the Constitution and the law to nominate 10 aldermen to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) without the aid and advice of the elected government.

Apart from these cases, here is a list of some of the other important cases heard by the court: The Supreme Court on Tuesday heard some crucial cases during which the court directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to not create an "atmosphere of fear", after the Chhattisgarh government alleged that the probe agency is "running amok" and is trying to implicate Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel in a money laundering case linked to the alleged Rs 2,000 crore liquor scam in the state.The court also said, asked about the "source of power" of the Lieutenant Governor under the Constitution and the law to nominate 10 aldermen to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) without the aid and advice of the elected government.



- It rapped alleged conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar for filing a plea seeking extension of time to meet and consult his lawyers in the Mandoli jail here. - The court agreed to hear in July, after the summer vacation, a plea of several Gujarat judicial officers whose promotions were stayed by it on the ground that the high court and the state government followed the policy of giving precedence to seniority over merit for promotion.



- It transferred a 2011 PIL to the Kerala High Court for monitoring the state government's action in providing medical and palliative care to the victims of toxic pesticide Endosulfan in Kasargod district - The apex court transferred to the Jammu and Kashmir High Court a plea alleging that over 20 people detained under the public safety law have been shifted out of the union territory prisons to jails in various states like Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.

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- The court upheld the life term awarded to a man for kidnapping and murdering a two-year-old girl in Delhi in 2016. Here is a list of cases heard in the Delhi High Court:



- It has expressed concern over incidents wherein innocent people are cheated with the promise of providing government jobs and refused to grant anticipatory bail to a woman accused of posing as a senior police officer and giving fake training to victims of such a fraud. - The High Court sought the response of Delhi government, CBSE and NHRC on a petition challenging certain provisions of the Right to Education Act, 2009 for being "arbitrary and irrational" and seeking a common syllabus and curriculum for students of classes 1 to 8 across the country, including madrasas and vedic pathshalas.
Delhi Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar has convened a meeting of the Civil Services Board (CSB) on May 16 to consider the AAP government's directions to transfer officers, including Services Secretary Ashish More, officials said on Monday.

It will be the first meeting of the CSB after a Supreme Court judgment placed the control of bureaucrats working with the Delhi government (excluding those related to police, public order, and land) under the elected government. Earlier, transfers and postings of all Delhi government officers were decided by the Lieutenant Governor.

More was removed by the Delhi government from his post on May 11, hours after the Supreme Court order.

In an order, Services Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said the two other members of the CSB, being junior to the chief secretary, who chairs the board's meeting, may be unable to "fearlessly" express their views and directed that a draft of the meeting be prepared in advance.

"CSB consists of two secretaries and is chaired by the Chief Secretary. The two secretaries are junior to the CS and are unable to express their views fearlessly in a physical meeting.

"Therefore, views of CSB members shall be taken in the following manner through circulation -- after preparing the first draft, Secretary (Services) shall then send the file to the other member who will note down his comments. He will then send the file to CS," the order read.

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The chief secretary, after noting his comments, if needed, will present the file to the minister in charge (Bharadwaj) who will then take a final decision, it said.

Bharadwaj also said the chief secretary will not try to "influence" the preparation of the first draft or "influence" the other two members of the CSB in any manner.

Sources claimed that the order for More's transfer was issued bypassing the CSB, which deals with matters related to the transfer of IAS officers.

Following Bharadwaj's directions to transfer the officers and complying with the Supreme Court judgement, the chief secretary has convened the CSB meeting on Tuesday, the officials said.

Besides ordering More's removal, Bharadwaj ordered that he be replaced by A K Singh. The transfer orders are yet to be implemented.
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued criminal contempt of court notice to advocate Ravi Kumar and his client after they alleged that a single-judge bench had "dishonestly" passed an order against them.

Kumar and his client had filed two appeals against the single-judge's order.

Before the division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad, Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma and Standing Counsel for Centre Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar apprised that the appeals state that the judge has dishonestly made an effort to favour the respondents.

However, after examining the appeals, the bench observed that such allegations being made against the judge is unfortunate and that those statements amount to contempt.

In it order, the bench said: "Let notice of contempt be issued to the petitioner and the counsel for making such type of reckless allegations against the learned single-judge which brings down the majesty of the court."

The counsel urged the court to record his submission regarding a few rules in its order, but the bench said it would first take into account his response to the notice of contempt.

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Following the conclusion of the arguments, the counsel asserted once more that the case had been decided dishonestly by a single judge and that, in accordance with the Supreme Court's ruling, the use of the phrase "dishonest" does not constitute contempt.

The court has now listed the matter for May 29.

--IANS

spr/svn/
The LG Secretariat has returned the files related to Services matters to the Delhi government in light of the Supreme Court's order last week on transfers and postings of bureaucrats in the city, Raj Niwas officials said on Tuesday.

In a statement, the Delhi government said it expected full cooperation from LG VK Saxena and the Centre but the Chief Secretary and the Services Secretary are still creating hurdles and even the first order for removing Services Secretary has not been implemented yet.

The 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 last week, hours after the Supreme Court gave the AAP dispensation control over the transfer and posting of officers in the state.

The apex court ruled on Thursday the elected government in Delhi has legislative and executive powers over services department matters, barring those related to land, police and public order that still come under the jurisdiction of the lieutenant governor.

"The LG Secretariat, in compliance of the Supreme Court Constitution Bench Judgment dated May 11, has returned files pertaining to Services matters, back to the Government for necessary action," said an official.

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These files include proposals for extension of contractual tenure of staff in various Delhi government hospitals and acceptance of resignation of a Group 'A' staff of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Hospital. These were sent to the LG for approval.

"These have been returned with the observation that the departments may be advised to take appropriate action/further necessary action, in light of the judgment of CB (Constitution Bench) in Apex Court on May 11," the official added.

The Delhi government said it expected full cooperation from the LG and Centre.

"We expect full cooperation from LG and central govt. However, the chief secretary and services secretary are still creating hurdles. The first transfer order for changing the services Secretary has not been implemented yet," it added.

Delhi Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar had convened a meeting of the Civil Services Board (CSB) on Tuesday to consider AAP government's directions to transfer officers, including Services Secretary Ashish More.
Personality development classes, training on curbing tourist-related malpractices and deployment of English-speaking staff are part of the guidelines issued by Delhi Police for the forces' tourist police wing in the run-up to the G20 summit.

The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued on Tuesday for "Tourist Police Vans" stated that a task-oriented training program would be conducted for every member of the tourist police unit in association with Delhi Tourism Department and other stakeholders soon.

As part of the training, the staff attached to the tourist police wing will be taught soft skills, personality development, effective communication skills and ways to enhance etiquette, manners, attitude and behaviour towards tourists.

They will also be given the training to communicate in English and curb tourist-related malpractices like unauthorised taxi or bus reservations, cheating and activities of touts and unauthorised travel agents.

They will be acquainted with major markets, shopping places, hotels, restaurants, railway stations, bus terminals, eating places, foreign exchange bureaus, historical monuments and museums in the national capital.

In addition to this, they will be trained in handling the latest MPV gadgets, phablets and Google Maps applications and will have to keep note of important phone numbers of emergency services like that of fire, ambulance, major hospitals, airports, ticket reservation centres, embassies and hotels.

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According to the SOP, Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora has also ordered a monthly inspection of the vans taken remedial action based on the shortcomings and ensured that medicines in these vans are recouped before the expiry date.

A separate desk under the control of a tourist police inspector would also be created inside the PCR unit with a focus to improve the delivery and performance of Tourist Police.

When asked about the fresh SOP for the Tourist Police wing, a senior police officer said, "The SOP has been prepared ahead of the G20 summit to ensure that foreign tourists coming to Delhi are not inconvenienced and in case of some unforseen circumstances, if they interact with the police, they should not feel uncomfortable and this is also a step towards enhancing our visibility to ensure no untoward incident takes place."



The SOP is also issued visualising this specialised service as a 'proactive' face of PCR, instead of its general tasking of being 'reactive' to emergency response helpline number 112, he added.

According to the official directive, the tourist van shall have the label "Tourist Police" and distinctive branding on it so that it can be recognised easily by the tourists.

They would also wear an arm badge displaying "Tourist Police" and wear distinctive jackets provided to them.

At least four police personnel, including a female, who are physically fit and have good English communication skills would be deployed on each tourist MPV per shift.

Apart from the standard PCR vans equipment, additional articles would also be made available with the vans, including Do's and Don'ts for tourists, a map of Delhi and NCR (physical and digital on a tablet), the latest fare and distance chart for taxi, autorickshaw and cloud-based taxi services like Uber, Ola etc.

List of locations of important business centres, commercial and cultural places and malls. A directory on emergency services, Delhi Metro and DTC route chart of important tourist spots in the national capital along with drinking water and sanitiser etc will also be present in these vans.

For now, these vans will be placed at 20 locations in the national capital including New Delhi Railway Station, Paharganj Side, New Delhi Railway Station, America Gate Side, Humayum Tomb, Rajghat, Red Fort, Palika Bazar, Janpath, Connaught Place, India Gate, Qutub Minar, IGI Airport, Terminal-1, IGI Airport Terminal 2, IGI Airport Aero-City or Mahipalpur, IGI Paharganj, Lotus Temple, Akshardham temple, Delhi Haat, Jama Masjid, Delhi Zoo Purana Qila and Hauz Khas village.

The staff posted with tourist police vans have been asked to ensure proactive patrolling and visibility at their respective locations and for this purpose, two staff members, preferably one male and one female shall coordinate with beat staff and carry out foot patrols in the area where the tourist police vans get stationed.

During patrolling, they will have to interact and communicate with tourists and keep watch on any unwarranted person or activity.

The SOP also states that the staff posted in tourist police vans should be adequately trained to assist tourists at railway stations, airports, bus terminals, important tourist places, malls etc in getting transport.

"They will have to sensitise tourists about the safety, security, precautions to be taken at the tourist destinations and should also ensure safety and security of tourists against cheats, touts and bag lifters.

"They have been asked to guide tourists on issues related to passport, visa, permits and currency exchange and also provide support to tourists in case of any criminal incident or medical emergency.

"They have been asked to guide and motivate tourists to download various Delhi Police Apps i.e. Tatpar and Himmat Plus during their stay in Delhi," the SOP mentioned.

The staff attached to the tourist wing have been instructed to keep a stern watch over deviants and delinquents who may be frequently seen at particular tourist destinations.

"Ensure that all criminal offences committed against tourists are reported and registered. The tourists should be encouraged to give full information so that legal action can be taken against the offenders," the SOP stated.

"They have been asked to check and deter the entry of beggars and unauthorised hawkers at the particular tourist destinations and provide immediate medical help by if required by tourists," it added.
The Centre has decided to recruit private sector specialists as joint secretaries, directors and deputy secretaries on contract basis in its different departments, an official said on Tuesday.

The Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) has asked the Union Public Service Commission to recruit such specialists through "lateral entry" mode in 12 government departments/ministries, he said.

Lateral entry refers to appointment of private sector specialists in government departments.

Usually the post of joint secretaries, directors and deputy secretaries are manned by officers of all-India and Group A services, among others.

The proposed recruitment will be done for the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals under Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Department of Food & Public Distribution in Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and the Ministry of Heavy Industries.

Select posts in the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Department of Legal Affairs under the Ministry of Law & Justice, Department of Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Department of Pharmaceutical, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers and Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education will also be filled through this lateral recruitment, the official said.

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"A detailed advertisement and instructions to candidates will be uploaded on the UPSC's website on May 20," he said, adding that interested candidates can apply from May 20 to June 19.

"Candidates will be short-listed for interview on the basis of the information provided by them in their online application," the official said, sharing an official communique in this regard.

He said the number of vacancies, to be filled through this lateral recruitment, will be advertised on May 20.

The Personnel Ministry had in June 2018 invited applications against 10 joint secretary-rank posts through lateral entry mode for the first time. The recruitment for these posts was done by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

The Commission had in October 2021, recommended 31 candidates for the appointment as joint secretaries (three), directors (19) and deputy secretaries (nine) in different central government departments.

Now, the process for lateral entry recruitment for the third time by this government will be initiated from May 20 onward, the official added.
As Subodh Kumar Jaiswal completes his tenure on May 25, the government has appointed Karnataka's Director General of Police (DGP), Praveen Sood, to be the next Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Background & education



He took a sabbatical from IPS in 2003 to pursue post-graduation in public policy and management from IIM Bangalore and Maxwell School of Governance, Syracuse University, New York. Originally from Himachal Pradesh, Sood completed his graduation from IIT Delhi before joining IPS in 1986.



He was appointed Karnataka DGP in January 2020 and will soon begin his tenure as CBI Director. Beginning his career as an Assistant Superintendent of Police, Mysore in 1989 and went on to serve as Superintendent of Police in Bellary and Raichur before landing the post of Deputy Commissioner of Police, Law and Order in Bengaluru.

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Key achievements and awards

Praveen Sood received the Chief Gold Medal for Excellence in Service in 1996, Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 2002 and President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 2011.



Upon Sood's to Mysore as Commissioner of Police from 2004 to 2007, where he led a successful operation in apprehending two members of the Al Badr group. Fahad, also known as Mohammed Koya, and Mohammed Ali Hussain, alias Jahangir, were both convicted of acts of war against the nation, in violation of the Explosive Substances Act and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). For his contributions in road safety and traffic management, Sood was awarded the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award in 2006 and later in 2011, the national E-Governance Gold Award for the 'Most innovative use of technology for traffic management'.

Staunch supporter of tech

According to Sood's personal blog, he is a "staunch supporter of the use of technology" in traffic and has supported many tech development initiatives throughout his career.



In the same blog, Sood emphasises his role in launching 'Suraksha-Bengaluru City Police' app and 'Pink Hoyasala', patrolling vehicles that are managed by women cops especially for women and children in distress. In Bengaluru, as Commissioner of Police, he also launched 'Namma 100', an upgraded emergency response helpline based on the 999 helpline model in London.



Appointment Sood also worked to implement Crime & Criminal Tracking Network System (CCTNS) throughout Karnataka to create direct networks between the state and Delhi, creating a more efficient data entry and information retrieval system for police officers in real-time.



According to a report by The Hindu, Sood's name was not among the names originally short-listed for the position and he was set to retire in May 2024. With this appointment, however, Sood is set to serve till at least May 2025, unless the tenure is extended. IPS officer Praveen Soon was approved by the Appointments Committee of Cabinets (ACC) on May 14.



This list included Punjab cadre officer Dinkar Gupta and Madhya Pradesh cadre officer Sushir Saxena, along with IPS Praveen Sood. The panel comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud, and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury met on Saturday to shortlist three senior IPS officers for the post.



The appointment is for a fixed tenure of two years with an extension of up to five years. Sood will be the third IPS officer of the Karnataka cadre to be appointed as CBI Director after Joginder Singh and D R Karthikeyan.

Controversy with D K Shivakumar

DK Shivakumar, the President of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee had called Sood 'Nalayak' (translated as 'Useless') on March 14 when addressing reporters before the Convention of Tigala community members.
The Aurangabad divisional commissioner has suggested that in order to stop farmers in Marathwada from committing suicide, they should be provided a financial assistance of Rs 10,000 per acre before the commencement every crop season.

This conclusion has been made after the revenue department reached out out nearly five lakh families of farmers in the region as part of a survey conducted in December last year, Divisional Commissioner Sunil Kendrekar told reporters on Tuesday.

The Marathwada region, which comprises Aurangabad, Beed, Hingoli, Jalna, Latur, Nanded, Osmanabad and Parbhani districts, reported 1,023 farmer suicides in 2022.

As many as 10,431 farmers committed suicide in this region since 2001, as per figures provided by the divisional commissioner's office.

Kendrekar said the administration studied the socio-economic condition of farmers and their families in the eight districts of Marathwada.

"The survey was conducted to find the families where farmers were vulnerable to taking the extreme step due to various conditions. The farmer suicide rate in Marathwada is more (compared to other parts of Maharashtra," he said.

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"Less crop yield, no good returns on crops, climatic conditions, problems due to wild animals and costly farming inputs were some of the main reasons for farmer suicides in the region. We called four such families and had discussions with them," the official said.

He said the families get aid after they lose their member to suicide.

"To find such suicide vulnerable farmer families, we decided to reach out to the cultivators through a survey comprising 104 questions. It was like a psychological test," the official said.

Through this survey, the farmers families were found that were tired of their (socio-economic) condition, he said.

"The situation is serious. There are families with girls to be married, children who have left their education. If a family has five-seven acre of land and doesn't have ample water, it yields less crop. They take loans from banks and private money lenders," he noted.

Kendrekar said farmers need money in this "risky" business of farming.

"Like the Telangana government, I think the farmers should be given an aid of Rs 10,000 per acre before a crop season. They can purchase seeds and make their farms ready for sowing. After this, they can purchase other farming essentials without any debt and interest. We will recommend this to the state government soon," the official said.

Market reforms are also necessary to prevent farmer suicides, he added.
The first meeting of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) in Brussels marks a significant milestone in the strategic partnership between India and the European Union due to its focus on critical domains, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Tuesday.

The meeting, co-chaired on the Indian side by the EAM, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Communications, Electronics and IT Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, covered key focus areas of strategic technologies, digital governance and green energy technologies. The EAM highlighted that India has a crucial role to play in all aspects and also with regard to its impact on the global talent pool.

This first meeting of the Trade and Technology Council is a significant milestone in the strategic partnership between India and the European Union, Jaishankar said in his address.

We are obviously important partners for each other but what the TTC represents is a focus on key domains that are critical to both the global economy and global security. Today the challenge is to address simultaneously the dual requirements of responsible growth and de-risking global economy. This means promoting resilient and reliable supply chains and additional drivers of global production and growth, he said.

The minister stressed on the importance of ensuring trust and transparency in the digital domain, including cross-border flows, which would involve embracing low-carbon growth while ensuring that this did not create critical vulnerabilities.

In each of the focus areas of the TTC strategic technologies, digital governance and connectivity, clean and green energy technologies, and resilient value chains, India has experiences to share in terms of innovation, production and deployment. We are also an important factor in regard to the global talent pool that has been discussed this morning, he noted.

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It is our expectation that TTC would become the crucial platform for the exchanges in this regard so that we arrive at both policy and business decisions in the relevant domains, he added.

The TTC was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, during her visit to India in April last year.

It led to the creation of three Working Groups under the TTC: 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.

"Began the day in Brussels with a Digital & Clean Energy Stakeholder Event. Thank European Commission Executive VP @vestager for convening the meeting. In this Techade, TTC can promote Trusted Collaboration so essential to Re-Globalisation. Stakeholders are key to delivery," Jaishankar tweeted earlier on Tuesday.

With Belgium, the EAM concludes a three-nation tour which began in Bangladesh last week and also covered Sweden for the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum (EIPMF) in Stockholm.
The delegates of 'G20 Troika Youth for Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Resilient Infrastructure' on Tuesday visited the priority section of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RAPIDX corridor, officials said.

During the visit, National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) officials shared detailed information about India's first regional rail project, amenities for commuters at the stations, features of the trains and the various initiatives undertaken for the sustainability of this large-scale complex transit infrastructure project, they said.

The young delegates belonging to diverse fields appreciated RAPIDX -- the new-age mobility solution -- and NCRTC's focus on commuter-centricity and universally accessibility and the several technological solutions being adopted for the first time for this project, the officials added.
With the G20 Summit being held in September in the national capital when the dengue scare is generally high, Mayor Shelly Oberoi on Tuesday asked officials to take extra precautions and ensure the safety of foreign delegates.

During a meeting here, she instructed officials to prepare for the menace of vector-borne diseases, saying hundreds of foreign nationals will be visiting the country which is a a matter of pride.

The meeting was attended by malaria inspectors, assistant malaria inspectors and public health department employees, officials said.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) health officials also gave a presentation about their preparedness during the meeting, they said.

"The mayor took stock of the situation and asked officials to be prepared. Moreover, the emphasis was given on the G20 Summit, which will be organised in September. Dengue cases are generally on the rise in Delhi during September. It is a matter of the nation's pride as hundreds of foreign nationals will be visiting the country," an official said.

"Action will be taken on a war-footing in coordination with various Delhi government departments to control vector-borne diseases," he said.

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Oberoi last week had said the MCD will start a Dengue-Malaria-Chikungunya (DMC) campaign in all MCD zones to prevent spread of mosquito-borne diseases.

The city had reported 4,469 dengue cases in 2022, and according to the official tally, nine people died due to this vector-borne disease last year.
India on Tuesday trashed as "motivated" and "biased" a report by the US State Department on religious freedom that criticised the country for alleged attacks on minorities.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said such reports continue to be based on "misinformation and flawed understanding".

The annual report listed alleged attacks on religious minorities in India and expressed concerns over such incidents.

"We are aware of the release of the US State Department 2022 Report on International Religious Freedom. Regrettably, such reports continue to be based on misinformation and flawed understanding," Bagchi said.

"Motivated and biased commentary by some US officials only serves to undermine further the credibility of these reports," he said.

Bagchi was responding to media queries on the report.

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"We value our partnership with the US and will continue to have frank exchanges on issues of concern to us," he said.

The report that documents the status of religious freedom in countries across the world was released on Monday.

A senior US official said far too many governments, including Russia, India, China and Saudi Arabia, continue to freely target faith community members.

"Far too many governments continue to freely target faith community members within their borders," Rashad Hussain, Ambassador at Large, Office of International Religious Freedom, told reporters at a news conference in Washington soon after the report was released by Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.

The report provides a fact-based, comprehensive view of the state of religious freedom in nearly 200 countries and territories around the world, Blinken said.
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.

"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.

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"Some claimed they were not trained but that is not correct. They have undergone training. But I will not support corruption or criminal activity," she said.

On the state government employees agitating for hike in DA at par with central government employees, she said, "Go get a central government job, you will get more. When you are a state government employee, you will have to follow the state's rule."



"DA is not mandatory but optional. If I have funds and I am satisfied with your work, I will pay you the hike as a reward. The Centre conducts a review of the performance of its employees which we do not do. But don't think I am weak," she said.

The service rules and financial policy of the Centre is different from that of the state government, she said.

Banerjee said state government teachers are getting their salaries on the first day of the month, which was not the case during the Left Front rule.

She alleged that the CPI(M) has joined hands with the BJP in instigating the state government employees.

"CPI(M) leaders have no work and they are plotting so that lakhs and lakhs of people lose their jobs. Do you think you will gain politically and consolidate your position?" 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.

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.
The first ministerial meeting of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) will be held in Brussels on Tuesday, to be co-chaired on the Indian side by Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Communications, Electronics and IT Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

The TTC was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, during her visit to India in April last year. It led to the creation of three Working Groups under the TTC: 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.

Thank President of @European_Commission @vonderleyen for meeting the Indian ministerial team, Dr Jaishankar tweeted after arriving in Brussels on Monday evening.

Appreciate the open discussion on trade, technology and geopolitics. Look forward to the India-EU Trade and Technology Council meeting tomorrow [Tuesday], he said.

He was joined at the meeting by his ministerial colleagues Goyal and Chandrasekhar, who called on Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo ahead of the meeting at the European Commission.

Ahead of the first TTC meeting with the European Union (EU), the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that both sides have maintained continuous engagement within the Working Groups at various levels and meetings of the three Working Groups have also taken place in the lead up to the meeting in Brussels this week.

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Low-cost airline IndiGo will run a direct flight from Goa to Dehradun (Uttarakhand) connecting both the tourist destinations from May 23.

The flight between Manohar International Airport (Mopa) in Goa and Jolly Grant Airport (Dehradun) in Uttarakhand will be operated by IndiGo.

Goa tourism minister Rohan Khaunte is scheduled to board the first direct flight on May 23 to mark the beginning of a collaboration between the two states, an official of Goa tourism department said.

"The new direct flight route is set to provide an easy and convenient way for tourists to travel between Goa and Uttarakhand and explore the unique cultural and natural attractions of both states," the official said.

In a media statement released here, Khaunte said, "I am delighted about the commencement of direct flights between Goa and Uttarakhand, which will help in promoting spiritual tourism in Goa under the vision of Dakshin Kashi."



He said that Goa has several archaeologically important temples that tourists will now be able to easily access.

"Similarly, this will also benefit tourists from Goa visiting Uttarakhand for the state's splendid natural beauty. The launch of this new direct flight will enhance the connectivity between the two states, allowing tourists to explore the diverse cultural heritage, natural beauty, and adventure tourism opportunities that both Goa and Uttarakhand have to offer," he added.

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Khaunte said that the collaboration is aligned with the 'Dekho Apna Desh' initiative that was launched as an appeal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to people to give preference to domestic tourism over international travels.

"The initiative aims to encourage people to witness and experience the rich heritage and vivid culture of India," he added.

According to the India Tourism Statistics 2022, Goa witnessed 33 lakh domestic visitors, while 1.9 crore domestic tourists visited Uttarakhand in 2021.
The Maharashtra home department should investigate whether recent incidents of violence follow any pattern or happened out of misunderstanding, state Nationalist Congress Party chief Jayant Patil said on Tuesday.

Maharashtra witnessed communal clashes on Saturday and Sunday in Akola city and Shevgaon village in Ahmednagar district, respectively, in which one person was killed and 13 others injured. In another incident, members of a different religion allegedly tried to force their way into the famous Trimbakeshwar temple in Nashik, prompting the state government to set up an SIT.

The home department should look deeply into the frequent incidents wherein riot-like situations prevailed and take steps accordingly. It should be thoroughly investigated whether these riots are taking place due to some misunderstanding or are deliberate," Patil told reporters.

He said the state needs to ensure that such incidents do not happen in future.

Speaking about violence, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who holds the Home portfolio, on Monday said there are some organisations and people who want the state to be unstable, but the government will teach them a lesson.

Fadnavis' cabinet colleague and BJP leader Girish Mahajan had claimed the violence in Akola was possibly pre-planned.

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Patil, when asked if Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has finalised a seat-sharing formula for upcoming Lok Sabha elections, replied negatively.

He said two representatives each from constituents of MVA- Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP, and Congress-would sit together and discuss it (sharing of seats).

"We will also take small allies into confidence ahead of seat sharing, Patil added.

Maharashtra sends 48 members to Lok Sabha.

On the ongoing investigation against Sameer Wankhede, who headed the Mumbai NCB when actor Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan was arrested in connection with an alleged drug bust on Cordelia cruise, Patil said NCP leader Nawab Malik's allegations are validated by the CBI.

Malik stands vindicated as CBI is investigating (the alleged demand for money by Wankhede). In those days, BJP was supporting Wankhede. It explains the true nature of the BJP, he alleged.

The NCP leader said he had not received any fresh notice from the Enforcement Directorate.

I will visit the ED office at a given time and hopefully learn about the reasons behind the notice. There should not be any confusion about I am being served with one more notice by the ED, he said.

ED sources said on Monday that a fresh summons was issued to Patil for questioning in a money laundering case linked to alleged financial irregularities in the now-bankrupt financial services firm IL&FS.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said she would participate in the Niti Aayog meeting scheduled in New Delhi on May 27, and highlight the issues the state has been facing.

Banerjee also claimed that the erstwhile Planning Commission gave states a platform to speak and resolve issues, but now the Centre "decides the agenda" to discuss at Niti Aayog meetings.

I will participate (in the meeting). There is no other platform to highlight the issues of the state even if I am allowed to speak only at the end," she said.

"They will maybe let me speak after sunset and after everyone. Still, I will go. I have been escalating several matters related to West Bengal, and I will highlight those, the CM said.

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Meghalaya has close to 14,000 schools and over 55,000 teachers, significantly higher than other small states in the Northeast region, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said on Tuesday.

The state incurs an annual expenditure of almost Rs 2,200 crore for these institutions, the chief minister said while addressing the centenary celebration of Jaiaw Presbyterian Higher Secondary School here.

According to Sangma, the expenditure is not enough and Meghalaya needs to strive harder to be among the top-performing states in the country's education sector.

He announced that an Education Commission will be set up soon to look into all aspects of improving the education sector in the state.

During the function, the chief minister also announced a grant of Rs 20 lakh from the Chief Minister's Special Development Fund for expansion of the school building.

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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said a multi-pronged approach is needed to destroy the entire network of the drug mafia and rehabilitate addicts.

Addressing a meeting of the National Narcotics Coordination Portal (NCORD) state level committee, Adityanath said the problem of drug trafficking was not confined to a state and is widespread, and efforts to deal with it should also be integrated.

All the forces involved in enforcement should unite and take action in this direction, he said.

"There is a need to intensify the campaign against illegal manufacture, purchase and sale of drugs and drug trafficking in the state. Gather reliable information, make a better action plan and then, after careful planning, take decisive action.

"Whoever is found involved in such anti-social work, the strictest action should be taken against them including attachment of their properties. It is necessary to destroy the entire network of the drug mafia," he told the officials of central and state governments attending the meeting.

The chief minister said vigilance and intelligence will have to be further improved in sensitive districts and it should be increased on the interstate and international borders.

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Along with the Home Department, the Urban Development and Rural Development Departments will also have to cooperate in this campaign, he added.

Stringent action should be ensured against the drug mafia with better coordination, he said.

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has decided to set up a new zonal headquarters in Gorakhpur, he said.

"The state government should make available the necessary land, resources for the headquarters building. This effort of NCB will be our big ally in ending the illegal drug business in the state," he said



He stated that people involved in the illegal business of drug trafficking are the enemies of society.

"A zero tolerance policy should be adopted in such cases. It is necessary to hear NDPS cases in fast-track courts, so that criminals are punished expeditiously. Under the NDPS Act, special courts should be constituted in the districts with maximum pendency of cases. Necessary action should be taken in this regard at the government level," the chief minister said.

Taking important steps last year for well-planned and effective action against drug trafficking in the state, the Anti-Narcotics Task Force was constituted by the state government in August 2022.

ANTF has all necessary powers for search, seizure, arrest, attachment and investigation. It is a matter of pleasure that in the national conference of ANTF heads, the system of Uttar Pradesh was considered ideal and exemplary for other states, he said.

All necessary resources should be made available to the ANTF, he said.

At present ANTF police stations have been established in Gorakhpur, Meerut and Barabanki while its five units are functional.

Now, in the next phase, police stations should also be made functional in Jhansi, Saharanpur, and Ghazipur, he said.

In 2020, more than 11,400 criminals were arrested, while in the years 2021 and 2022, 11,749 and 11,595 people were arrested respectively.

As many as 64 people have been arrested in 26 cases by ANTF alone, while illegal drugs worth Rs 27.43 crore have been seized, he said.

The fight against drugs is not the fight of just one government, it is the fight of the people, he said, adding that the fight against drugs has to become a mass movement.

He directed officials to prepare for a statewide awareness programme on drug addiction between September 25 (Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay's birth anniversary) and October 2 (Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary).

Efforts should be stepped up to raise awareness about de-addiction in educational institutions, he added.

Voluntary and non-governmental organisations like 'Apna Ghar' in Varanasi have done inspiring work in the direction of rehabilitation of drug addicts, he said.

Such non-governmental organisations and religious organisations will have to be encouraged in all the districts.

In the first phase, preparations should be made to set up such rehabilitation centres at all divisional headquarters, he said.

A multi-pronged approach is needed to destroy the entire network of the drug mafia and rehabilitate addicts, he said.
Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh on Monday underscored the potential economic ramification of going back to the old pension scheme (OPS) that was shelved by the National Democratic Alliance government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee nearly two decades ago.

The talk of restoring the OPS for the sake of power is on. Society should debate whether such moves would create an economic crisis in the country akin to Sri Lanka and Pakistan, he said at a lecture series on Challenges in New Era.

Harivansh said that the NDA government led by Vajpayee scrapped the OPS on April 1, 2004, and introduced the National Pension Scheme (NPS).

Under the OPS, an employee gets 50 per cent of the last drawn monthly salary as pension as against the NPS which is a market-linked scheme.

Now, for the sake of power, there is talk of reverting to OPS because government employees are organised, and thus, they form a significant vote bank, he said.

The five states that have restored the OPS have been burdened with an estimated Rs 3 lakh crore as per media reports, he said. He said that 56 per cent of the total tax revenue of the Rajasthan government will be spent on just six per cent of workers.

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so do we want to create Sri Lanka and Pakistan-like situations in our country in future? Society should debate on this issue, he added.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the Centre and states over a report that the circulation of child sexual abuse material on social media in India has increased by 250-300 per cent, officials said on Tuesday.

Reportedly, such contents are from foreign countries and the Indian investigation agencies have not come across any Indian-made material so far, the rights panel said.

The commission, in a statement, has observed that the content of the media report, if true, amount to a violation of human rights relating to the life, liberty, and dignity of citizens, and protection of the young children from the danger of their sexual abuse on social media.

The NHRC said it has taken suo motu cognisance of the media report that the circulation of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) has increased by 250-300 per cent on social media in India.

Accordingly, it has issued notices to the commissioner of police, Delhi; the director generals of the police of all states and Union territories, the director, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), and the secretary, the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, seeking a detailed report within six weeks on the steps taken to prevent such menace on social media, the statement said.

According to the media report, carried on May 15, about 4,50,207 cases of spread of child sexual abuse material have been reported in 2023 so far. Out of these, the Delhi Police has taken action in 3,039 cases. Of these, 44,7168 cases are currently being studied, it said.

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"In some cases, even photographs taken lovingly, of young children by respective fathers, brothers and sisters in India have been classified as child sexual abuse by an American NGO. There were 2,04,056 cases reported in the year 2022; 1,63,633 in the year 2021, and 17,390 in the year 2020 of child sexual abuse material on social media in India," the statement said.

The NHRC said it has been concerned with the ill-effects of online child sexual abuse material on human rights. It may cost irreparable psychological damage on children, impacting their growth and development.

It has been organising dialogues from time to time in the recent past to come out with ways and means to check this menace. In March, it organised a national seminar on CSAM at Vigyan Bhawan here.

Earlier, in July 2020 also, it had organised an online national conference on the subject with valuable inputs from international organisations, government ministries, law enforcement agencies, national and state commissions, civil society groups, domain experts, and parents' associations, it added.

The commission has also issued "Human Rights Advisory for the Protection of the Rights of Children in the Context of COVID-19" in September 2020 and in June 2021, respectively, wherein it made recommendations to the authorities concerned regarding cybercrime and online safety of children.

These pertained to using the cybercrime reporting portal and PRAGYATA Guidelines for Digital Education.

Also, a discussion was held in November 2022, wherein various domain experts brainstormed on the nature, extent, and different manifestations of the issue of CSAM.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia from May 19 to 24, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Tuesday.

Modi will be in Japanese city of Hiroshima from May 19 to 21 for the G7 summit.

The MEA said the prime minister will speak at G7 sessions with partner countries on subjects such as peace, stability and prosperity of a sustainable planet; and food, fertiliser and energy security.

From Japan, Modi will then travel to Port Moresby where he will host the third summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation jointly with Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea James Marape on May 22, the MEA said in a statement.

On the third and final leg of the trip, Modi will visit Sydney in Australia from May 22 to 24 to attend the Quad summit.

The summit, being hosted by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, will also be attended by US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

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"The summit provides an opportunity for the leaders to exchange views about developments in the Indo-Pacific region and advance their vision for a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific," the MEA said.
In view of the ongoing G20 meeting in the city, the Mumbai police has prohibited the flying of drones or balloons.

The flying of "para-gliders, all types of balloons, kites and remote control microlight aircraft" is prohibited, said the order issued under section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) on Monday.

It will be in force between May 16 to 25.

The third meeting of the energy transition working group of G20 began here on Monday.

It is apprehended that drones and similar aircraft could be used by terrorists or anti-social elements to launch an attack as a large number of VIPs are expected to attend the G20 meeting, the official release said.

"Considering safety and security of the people who are attending the meeting, Mumbai Police has prohibited the flying of drones in the jurisdictions of Sahar, Vakola, BKC, Bandra, Colaba and Azad Maidan police stations," it said.

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Days after a Supreme Court's order giving it control over services, the Delhi government has asked its various departments to hold back action on directions of Lt Governor V K Saxena issued directly to them in recent months.

After the apex court's judgement, directions were issued on May 12 by ministers-in-charge to departments concerned asking them to strictly follow transaction of business rules (TBR) and desist from putting up files before them through the chief secretary.

Now, according to a circular issued on Monday by the Delhi government, the various departments have been asked to put on hold implementation of all the directions issued by the LG directly to them in the last few months.

Lt Governor Saxena has issued several directions directly to various departments through the chief secretary, "completely bypassing" the elected government, the circular said.

The Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court in its 2018 order and recent order on May 11 has clearly stated that the LG is bound by aid and advice of Council of Ministers on all subjects, including services, barring only three subjects -- land, public order and police, it said.

Therefore, direct orders of the LG to the departments are contrary to the Constitution and orders of the Supreme Court, it added.

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The circular asked the department heads to provide a list of directions issued directly to them by the LG and take no further action on them till further instructions from the ministers-in-charge.

Prior to the top court's May 11 order, the services department was under executive control of the LG.

The government has also flagged that the provisions of TBR are not being followed and directed for its strict compliance.

It was also directed that the secretary of department concerned will present files directly before the minister-in-charge and not through the chief secretary.

"The secretary of the department will present files directly to the minister and not through the chief secretary in accordance with provisions of Rule 15.2 of the TBR," read an order issued last week.

The files related to the subjects mentioned in Rule 23 have to be sent to the LG through the chief secretary and chief minister. All such files should first be presented by the department secretary to the minister quoting the sub-rule of Rule 23 which is applicable, the order said.

"The minister will give his finding whether he agrees with the secretary. If he agrees with the secretary, the minister will note his approval and send the file back to the secretary. Finally, the secretary will send the file to the LG through chief secretary, minister and chief minister," it said.

It was also observed that the chief secretary was giving directions to officers directly. He does not have any powers under TBR to give any directions directly to any officer, it said.

If any such direction is received from the chief secretary, it should be presented before the minister for appropriate instructions. "Any violation will be viewed adversely," the order said.
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to the US on June 22, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will be visiting the country for a week at the end of this month during which he will attend several programmes.

According to party sources, Rahul Gandhi is slated leave for the US on May 30 or 31 and will visit California, Washington and New York.

"During his visit, he will participate in public outreach programmes as well at university meets," the sources said.

On June 4, Rahul Gandhi will also address the Indian diaspora at Madison Square, New York.

Earlier this year, Rahul Gandhi had visited the UK and participated in several programmes.

In a statement last week, the White House had announced that US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host Prime Minister Modi for an official state visit on June 22.

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--IANS

aks/ksk/
Union Minister of State for Power Krishan Pal Singh on Tuesday said that the people of Rajasthan are facing a power crisis due to the failure of the state government.

He said that there is no shortage of electricity in the country as in the neighbouring state Haryana, 24 hours electricity is being made available in the villages and cities.

"The production of electricity in the country is double its consumption. There is no shortage of electricity. The centre is ready to provide as much electricity as Rajasthan wants, but due to the failure of the state government, the people of Rajasthan are facing a power crisis," the minister told reporters here.

He was here to take part in an 'unemployment fair' under which 71,000 appointment letters in different government departments were given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi through video conferencing.

"In the neighbouring state of Haryana, 24-hour electricity is available in the villages and cities. Then why is the crisis in Rajasthan only? That is because the management of your government is not good," the minister said.

He said that the state government needs to improve and worry about the farmers and poor people in the village.

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Hitting out at paper leaks of government recruitment exams in the state, the Union minister said that the way papers have been leaked 18 times in the state, no action has been taken till date.

"The government should get the CBI inquiry done. Such a government has no right to remain in power even for a moment. The future of unemployed youth is being played with. This government is running on the mercy of God," he said.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday rapped alleged conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar for filing a plea seeking extension of time to meet and consult his lawyers in the Mandoli jail here.

A bench of Justices Ajay Rastogi and Bela M Trivedi said visitation is already being provided to Chandrasekhar as per prison rules.

"You give the name of the lawyers, we will ask the jail authorities to allow your lawyers stay in the jail. What kind of statement you are making in this court? Do you want a privilege in jail? the bench remarked.

The counsel appearing for Chandrasekhar submitted that 28 cases are pending against his client in six cities and more than 10 lawyers have been engaged.

According to jail rules, only 30 minutes twice a week is being given to meet lawyers, which is not sufficient, his lawyer said, adding his client's right is being contravened.

The apex court then said in its order, "It is not is dispute that visitation is provided to the petitioner in compliance of jail rules. What is being prayed for is extraordinary relief which is not permissible."



A prisoner is allowed two interviews (meetings) every week with his relations or friends for half-an-hour duration, according to jail rules.

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Chandrasekhar and his wife are lodged in jail on charges of alleged money laundering and duping several people.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday directed officials to soon start the 'Matrubhumi Yojana' which aims at facilitating individuals or private institutions to contribute to the development of villages.

At a review meeting here, he said a large number of people have associated themselves with this scheme and have expressed their desire to get buildings, roads and community centres built in their villages in the name of their ancestors.

Efforts should be made to connect more and more people with this scheme, he said, adding a proposal for such a plan should be prepared for urban areas as well.

In November 2021, the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet approved the proposal for the implementation of 'Mathrubhumi Yojana' to facilitate individuals or private institutions to contribute to the development of any village.

According to officials, a large number of people from rural backgrounds now working in cities or abroad want to contribute to the development of their village but were not being able to do so due to the lack of any systematic platform.

If any such person or private institution wants to contribute to development works in any village panchayat and is willing to bear 60 per cent of the cost, the remaining 40 per cent will be arranged by the state government under this scheme.

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Emphasizing the need for major reforms in the functioning of tehsils, the Uttar Pradesh chief minister said, "We have to make concerted efforts keeping in mind transparency, timeliness and redressal of public grievances and problems should be done within a time limit."



A detailed action plan should be prepared and presented for improvement in the functioning of the tehsils keeping the expectations of the common man in mind, he said.

At the meeting, Adityanath said the communicable diseases campaign conducted in April has sent a strong message among the people.

Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, Finance Minister Suresh Khanna, Women Welfare and Child Development Minister Baby Rani Maurya, and Minister of State for Transport (independent charge) Dayashankar Singh were present in the meeting.
The Uttar Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority (UP RERA) on Tuesday said it has invited expression of interest (EOI) for use of artificial intelligence in quasi-judicial process in e-Courts.

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) includes interventions at the level of complaint filing, filtering or prioritisation of cases or notifications and tracking of cases, it said in an official statement.

The UP RERA was established in 2017 to regulate the fast-growing real estate sector, bring transparency, protect the interest of homebuyers and ensure speedy resolutions of disputes between consumers and builders.

UP RERA wishes to leverage emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and natural language processing (NLP) for designing, developing, and implementing an 'Intelligent Quasi-Judicial System - Smart Court', that would enable the authority in achieving an efficient, fair, explainable, and speedy processing of complaints filed, the UP RERA said.

The (COVID-19) pandemic has led to a surge in digitization of the e-Courts system with creation of virtual courts, and adoption of online dispute resolution mechanisms. Apparently, AI will be key technology in scaling up and strategizing the capabilities of online platform and system, it noted.

Artificial intelligence is a technological ability to efficiently and seamlessly perform a complex task which significantly required human intelligence by leveraging the capabilities of big data, machine learning, neural networks, pattern recognition, self-learning, predictive analytics, data science, and natural language processing approaches, the statement said.

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Further, the capabilities of machine learning/deep learning algorithms can be deployed to support the real time activities like scheduling hearings and creating cause lists, to more complex tasks like discovery and review of evidentiary documents, it said.

Other simpler tasks which can benefit from the use of AI and ML include interventions at the level of smart complaint filing, intelligent filtering or prioritization of cases or notifications and tracking of cases, it added.

Eventually, in the process of enhancing the quasi-judicial system, AI technology will promisingly contribute to building three major categories of systems namely, supportive system (inform-support-advise) for the users of quasi-judicial systems, function-based automation system (replace humans who perform routine jobs and activities) and autonomous system (support presiding officers in decision making), the UP RERA said.

The real estate regulator has floated advertisements in national dailies of Hindi and English languages. The EOI document containing the details of qualification criteria, submission requirement, brief objective and scope of work and evaluation criteria, etc. can be downloaded from the website http://www.up-rera.in, it said.

The last date for submission of EOI is May 26 up to 3 pm, it said, adding that consultants may submit their proposals using the online form made available on the UP RERA web portal too.


The DPIIT is aware of GST problems in the leather sector, and has sent proposals in the past for rate reduction to the Finance Ministry. However, the rates on leather goods are subject to approval by the GST Council, he added. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has sent proposals for reducing goods and services tax (GST) rates on certain segments of the leather sector, Rajeev Singh Thakur, additional secretary at DPIIT, said on Tuesday.



Thakur said about Rs 350 crore had been disbursed under the Indian Footwear and Leather Development Programme (IFLDP) out of the Rs 1,700-crore allocation till FY26. The leather industry has been demanding that GST be reduced to 5 per cent from the current rate of 12 per cent. Leather products exporters have also expressed resentment over the hike in GST from 5 per cent to 12 per cent on finished leather.



Six proposals from Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Manipur have been received under MLFAC. Singh said the proposals are scrutinised by NPC (National Productivity Council) and are likely to be considered soon. Land acquisition clearances from the state government is the main problem in building such clusters, he added. IFLDP is being implemented with six sub-schemes, that is Integrated Development of Leather Sector (IDLS), Sustainable Technology and Environmental Promotion (STEP), Establishment of Institutional Facilities (EIF), Mega Leather Footwear and Accessories Cluster Development (MLFAC), Brand Promotion and Development of Design Studios.

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The sector provides employment close to 4.42 million people  mainly women and weaker sections of society. The sector is dominated by family-oriented business enterprises of small and medium nature. India footwear market witnessed a growth of 13 per cent on an average from 2015 to 2019 but reduced sharply in 2020-21 due to Covid. It regained a growth of 20 per cent in FY22 in comparison to FY21, according to the DPIIT.




Prashant R Menon, director of Tesla India, did not respond to a specific query on the meetings. Senior Tesla executives including those from its supply chain are planning to come to India on Wednesday and Thursday for meetings with government officials, including those in the Prime Ministers Office, according to sources.



Many, however, see the visit more as an attempt to reopen a dialogue with the government after Tesla announced in 2022 that it was shelving its plans to sell cars in India by importing them through the CBU (importing finished, assembled cars). The decision was a response to the government's refusal to accept Teslas request for a reduction in import duties on luxury cars which were at 100 per cent for cars with a cost insurance freight (CIF) value of over $40,000. Tesla asked for the duties to be reduced to 40 per cent because, without it, the price of a Tesla 3 went over Rs 1 crore for which there was hardly any market. Sources say that the executives are coming to see how they can expand and develop local sourcing of components from India for the Tesla car. They already have some suppliers such as the Sona group, which offers them differential gears, and Sandhar Technologies, which provides some components indirectly, but the numbers have been limited.



Auto industry experts say that Tesla should be looking at the possibility of assembling the Tesla in the manner of Mercedes and Volkswagen through the CKD route and adding value by sourcing seats, tyres, glass, and the internal fit and finishings from a vibrant Indian component industry which would reduce its manufacturing costs. The government urged Tesla to assemble cars in CKD (exporting cars in pieces and assembling them here) rather than importing them from China as Tesla had wanted and to bring down prices. Tesla had been looking at expanding its supply base from India even earlier. It was working with the component manufacturers association in India to invite Indian component manufacturers to a tech show in the US to discuss the components Tesla requires from vendors. The discussions were, however, halted when Tesa decided to postpone its plans for India.

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Teslas experience of India has been a bumpy ride. Two years ago, Tesla founder Elon Musk said he planned to come to India, registered a firm in Bengaluru to import cars, and talked about setting up company-owned retail showrooms. But Musk soon realised that permissions would not be smooth sailing. He abandoned the search for showroom space and reassigned the small India team around the globe. A veteran CEO of a global car company remarked that Tesla could easily buy an assembly facility that would not cost more than $100 million.



The government has not relented, making it clear that Tesla would not be allowed to import cars from China; he would have to assemble them in India. Through Twitter, Musk has made no secret of his dislike for Indias import duties of 60-100 per cent on electric vehicles which are among the highest in the world. He would like a sharp reduction as a condition for entry. He has also complained that treating clean energy vehicles on a par with petrol vehicles is inconsistent with Indias climate change goals.

Domestic manufacturers such as Mahindra & Mahindra and Tata Motors, through the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, have argued against a duty reduction as unfair given that the government has set a high localisation threshold for Indian industry.








According to IAMAI, size or scale-based applicability of regulations under an ex-ante digital competition policy will impact larger players in the market in their growth trajectory, while also limiting the growth potential of start-ups. The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) in its official submission to the Committee on Digital Competition Law (CDCL) flagged concerns over proposed ex-ante regulations for Indias digital market saying that the move may affect the growth potential of domestic startups.



Several Indian startup founders have recently criticized IAMAI for allegedly promoting pro-foreign big tech views on government regulations and other contentious matters. The industry body aims to represent the digital services industry with over 500 Indian and multinational corporations as its members. Ex-ante regulations aim to prescribe what businesses should do beforehand, based on anticipated changes or activity, whereas the norm is ex-post regulations where regulators lay out what is not to be done. IAMAI has submitted that ex-ante regulations in the digital competition bill will burden Indias most promising sector and inhibit its ability to scale, innovate and attract investments.



The CDCL was formed by the Ministry of corporate affairs in February 2023, after the parliamentary standing committee on Finance suggested tighter regulations for Systemically Important Digital Intermediaries (SIDIs). The move was aimed at preventing anti-competitive practices by dominant platforms  especially big techs  in the digital market with revenues, market capitalization and number of active users above a certain threshold. Currently, Sanjay Gupta, Country Head & Vice President and Shivnath Thukral, Public Policy Director, India, WhatsApp Inc, Vice-Chairman lead the industry body as its chairperson and vice chairperson respectively.

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The industry body also highlights issues with the previously enacted ex-ante regulations under the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices (MRTP) Act, 1969. MRTP Act limited the growth and scaling up of Indian companies. Notably, as part of various economic reform measures, India consciously moved away from an ex-ante regime under the MRTP Act, IAMAI said. Regulations that kick in as soon as certain financial/size-based thresholds are met, will disincentivise Indian tech companies from scaling so as to avoid additional regulations. It is pertinent to note that ex-ante regulations may affect Indian companies even before they can achieve scale to compete globally or achieve profitability, IAMAI said. It added that the provision may in turn reduce value creation and valuations.


Green steel, or low-carbon emissions steel, is at a nascent stage globally, with companies undertaking pilot projects. Large-scale investments are required for the transition but with demand and green premium in question in the domestic market, steel firms are looking for government support. Indian steelmakers are stressing the need to incentivise green steel as they invest to cut down on carbon emissions.



Its moving in that direction, but today, if my CO2 is lower at the Jamshedpur plant than the Meramandali plant, it does not get any advantage, he said. And customers dont pay us more for the steel that comes out of Jamshedpur than Meramandali. The whole ecosystem has to evolve for this transition to happen faster. In India, the regulatory environment isnt yet incentivising the transition, T V Narendran, managing director and chief executive officer, Tata Steel, said.



The governments proactive support is a must to accelerate the green steel journey, added ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India CEO Dilip Oommen said. The journey to low-carbon emissions steel is in the right direction, albeit gradual. In Europe, where Tata Steel has a large operation, its more definitive. About 40-50 per cent of our footprint in Europe has to go green by 2030, the rest by 2035, Narendran said. The capex we spend will partly come from us and hopefully, there will be some support from the government. And partly, the customers will pay more.

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He also pointed out that all major steel players, which have announced huge capex plans to achieve the 300 MTPA (million tonnes per annum) target by 2031 and beyond, were actively exploring the potential for renewable energy integration into the supply chain. The right set of policy and regulatory frameworks along with support in terms of incentives for both producers and consumers of green steel will go a long way in driving low-carbon economic development and ultimately achieving the ambitious net-zero goal by 2070, Oommen said.



We require government intervention for demand creation, R K Goyal, managing director of Kalyani Steels and director of Saarloha said. In all government and public sector purchases, a certain quantity should be specified as green with less than 0.2 tonne of CO2 emission per tonne of crude steel. There should be some incentive. Saarloha Advanced Materials, a Kalyani Group company, started producing green steel under the Kalyani Ferresta brand last October, but demand and premium for the product are yet to pick up.



Additionally, CBAM (carbon border adjustment mechanism) would protect local mills producing green steel by taxing CO2 emissions, partially making up for the additional production cost, she explained. Steel companies in other geographies are getting government support for the transition. The European Union has granted funds to support capex-related activities, Hetal Gandhi, directorResearch, CRISIL Market Intelligence and Analytics, said.



In India, the Union steel ministry has set up 13 task forces to identify action points for each aspect of green steel production including raw materials, technology and policy frameworks. Similarly, the US government has initiated a $6.3-billion Industrial Demonstration Programme, which will provide grants of up to 50 per cent of the cost to projects that aim to cut emissions, Gandhi said, adding, Canada has introduced the Decarbonisation Incentive Programme (DIP) to incentivise the decarbonisation goals of its industrial sector,



Viability gap funding is the right way to help decarbonise the steel industry. This has to be dovetailed with generating demand for low-emission carbon steel through government procurement to begin with, Sahay added. In the long term, it is policy interventions, financial support and infrastructure development that would push deep decarbonisation of the steel industry, Alok Sahay, secretary general, Indian Steel Association, said.



A spokesperson of Jindal Stainless said they had started receiving enquiries about green initiatives from international customers. They are mostly enquiring about the companys green initiatives and emissions target. Demand for low-carbon steel is yet to pick up in India but developed nations have steeper net-zero targets, and they are already asking about emissions.



Indias steel strength Global-facing steel companies have net-zero targets that are ahead of Indias target year of 2070. As they add capacity  mostly through the blast furnace route  firms are working on various options to lower carbon emissions. Since these options are likely to entail significant investment, theyre looking for government support for faster transition.



Crude steel production: 125.32 FY23 (in million tonne)



Consumption: 119.17 Finished steel production: 121.29

Source: Ministry of Steel
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Shares of Aurobindo Pharma surged 5 per cent to hit a 52-week high of Rs 646.35 on the BSE in Tuesdays intra-day trade on the back of heavy volumes. The average trading volumes on the counter had more-than-doubled today. A combined 3.8 million equity shares representing 1 per cent of total equity of the drug maker changed hands on the NSE and BSE till the time of this report.The stock price of Aurobindo zoomed 63 per cent from its 52-week low of Rs 397.30, touched on February 3, 2023. Thus far in the calendar year it has soared nearly 50 per cent on improved performance. In comparison, the S&P BSE Sensex gained 1.7 per cent.Aurobindo Pharma is a leading pharmaceutical company that is vertically integrated with business units engaged in formulations, custom synthesis, peptides, R&D and active pharmaceutical ingredient (API).The companys revenue in October-December quarter (Q3FY23) rose 6.7 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 6,407 crore, mainly driven by revenue from the US.The US business improved 9.3 per cent YoY to Rs 3,001 crore driven by a rise in volume and higher demand, which accounted for 46.8 per cent of consolidated revenue.The companys profit after tax declined 13.8 per cent YoY (up 20.0 per cent quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) to Rs 491 crore. EBITDA margin contracted 200bps YoY to 14.9 per cent (+30bps QoQ), primarily due to increased R&D expenses and higher other overheads.In terms of US business, the company is expected to generate a double-digit growth going forward. Aurobindo aims to commercialise 40 ANDAs in the next 12 months. The company expects to generate strong cash flow from FY25, supported by the Penicillin-G project and biosimilars business.The US market share recovery, the Penicillin-G project, and the biosimilars business new product launches are expected to support the company in generating strong cash flow from FY25, according to Geojit Financial Services.In the coming quarter, we expect margin to remain under pressure as R&D expenditure is expected to be elevated. However, the companys new products and upcoming projects are likely to support its long-term performance. In addition, the US business is recovering, and sales have increased due to higher demand, volume and stable price, it said.The US is expected to follow the trend in the coming quarter and fiscal year. Therefore, the brokerage remains optimistic about the stock and retained its BUY rating. The stock was trading above its target price of Rs 554 per share.Meanwhile, in the January to March quarter (Q4FY23), Aurobindos revenues are likely to increase 10.9 per cent YoY to Rs 6,440 crore on back of higher sales from US business, which are expected to grow 12.2 per cent to Rs 3,060 crore followed by Europe sales up 11 per cent YoY to Rs 1,708 crore, according to ICICI Securities.Subsequently, EBITDA is expected to deliver a 12.9 per cent YoY to Rs 1,100 crore. EBITDA margins are expected to increase 30 bps YoY to 17.1 per cent. Adjusted profit after tax is expected to de-grow 18.8 per cent YoY to around Rs 596 crore due to higher base on account of an exceptional item in Q4FY22, the brokerage firm said in Q4 result preview.Analysts at Prabhudas Lilladher expect the margin trajectory to improve from FY24. However, pick up in US sales hinge on timely niche approvals along with stabilization of pricing pressure in base business. The brokerage believes Aurobindo has multiple growth drivers in place with investments in vaccines, injectables, biosimilars and PLI, which are expected to be reflected from FY24.
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Shares of Engineers India (EIL) hit an over three-year high at Rs 103.30, as they rallied 6 per cent on the BSE in Tuesdays intra-day trade in an otherwise subdued market amid heavy volumes. In comparison, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 0.25 per cent at 62,187.60 at 12:08 PM. A combined around 15 million shares of the company had changed hands on the NSE and BSE.The stock of state-owned civil construction company quoted at its highest level since January 2020. In past seven weeks, it has zoomed 45 per cent from a level of Rs 71 on March 28, 2023.There is no pending undisclosed/price sensitive information or any impending announcement/corporate action which has a bearing on the price/volume behavior in companys scrip. The increase in volume of companys scrip is purely market driven, EIL had said on clarification on increase in volume of companys securities across exchanges in the recent past.EIL has been at the forefront of the domestic hydrocarbons industry for over five and a half decades. As Indias leading Engineering Consultancy & EPC  Navratna firm, the company has a significant track record across the entire oil & gas value chain, and has also made a mark globally by executing landmark projects around the world. EIL is a PSU under the charge of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoPNG).As on December 31, 2022, EIL total order book position stood at Rs 7,866 crore, of which 57 per cent are from consultancy segment and 43 per cent are from turnkey segment.The company is currently working on feasibility projects across multiple hydrocarbon fuels, pipeline and renewable fuels like hydrogen, ethanol and other biofuels. Analysts at ICICI Securities believe as capex cycle picks up, these capabilities might help win execution orders for the company. Supported with improved order intake outlook and strong cash rich balance sheet, the brokerage firm maintains our BUY rating on the stock with a target price of Rs 105 per share.
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Shares of HDFC twins, Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) and HDFC Bank slipped up to 2 per cent on the BSE in Tuesdays intra-day trade after turning ex-date for dividend.HDFC slipped 2 per cent to Rs 2,732, while, HDFC Bank was down 1 per cent at Rs 1,653.55 on the BSE in intra-day trade. In comparison, the S&P BSE Sensex was down marginally by 0.02 per cent at 62,331.21 at 09:52 AM.The board of HDFC at their meeting held on May 4, 2023 declared an interim dividend of Rs 44 per equity share of face value of Rs 2 each for the financial year ended March 31, 2023 (FY23).The record date for determining the shareholders entitled to the interim dividend for FY23, as approved by the board shall be Tuesday, May 16, 2023, HDFC had said. The company further said dividend will be paid June 1, 2023 onwards.HDFC Banks board has recommended a dividend of Rs 19 per equity share of Re 1 each fully paid up (i.e. 1900 per cent) for FY23. The record date for determining the eligibility of members entitled to receive dividend on equity shares fixed on Tuesday, May 16, 2023.In past one year, HDFC and HDFC Bank have outperformed the market by surging 27 per cent, as compared to 17.7 per cent rise in the S&P BSE Sensex.HDFC is the largest non-banking finance company (NBFC) engaged in the housing finance business. It has demonstrated a consistent performance in terms of both business growth as well as asset quality.Healthy demand outlook coupled with strong market positioning and fundamental bodes well. Merger with bank is seen providing further opportunity, according to analysts at ICICI Securities.Analysts at Prabhudas Lilladher have retained Buy rating on HDFC with a target price of Rs 3,200 per share. We see superior AuM growth at 12 per cent in FY24/25E as bulk of run-down has been effected and HDFC expects home loan momentum to sustain. Company would need to build-up liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) before merger since LCR as per bank norms is around 75 per cent (reported 128 per cent). While we await clarity on the LCR need to assess the NIM impact, HDFC Bank does hold excess statutory liquidity ratio (SLR), the brokerage firm said in result update.Meanwhile, last month, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has given HDFC Bank three years to comply with the priority sector lending norms (PSL) following its merger with HDFC, though no relaxation is allowed for abiding by the cash reserve ratio and statutory liquidity ratio rules.According to RBI norms, commercial banks need to extend 40 per cent of the adjusted net bank credit (ANBC) of the previous year towards the priority sector. CLICK HERE FOR FULL REPORT
The resolution was nearly four years in the making and was spearheaded by the Pacific Island state of Vanuatu. It was eventually piloted by a Core Group of 18, known as ICJA04, which includ

The ICJs legal opinion is being sought on legal consequences for states that by their acts and omissions damage the climate in such a way that it affects others, particularly small island developing states and present and future generations.
Like the retail giant Walmart, WhatsApp too has been eyeing the large Indian market. In a matter of few years, it has become part of daily lives of over 480 million people in India. But, scammers also came along. And despite all the checks and regulations in place, an increasing number of people are falling prey to their tricks. People now are also reporting unsolicited calls from unknown international numbers. Why is it so? And what are WhatsApp and Indian regulators doing to make this platform safe?



Doug McMillon, the chief executive officer of the biggest retail company of the world, Walmart, was in India recently. During this time, in a conversation with Business Standard, he indicated that the retail giants aspiration for multi-brand retail might be a thing of the past. What then is Walmarts future Indian strategy?
Former Rajasthan chief minister and BJP leader Vasundhara Raje on Monday said there was an attempt by the Congress to topple the erstwhile state government of Bhairon Singh Shekhawat when he was undergoing treatment in the US.

"... although the Congress could not succeed in the plan... " she said while speaking at the memorial meeting of Shekhawat -- a former Vice President, at Khachariawas in Sikar.

She said this while reacting to Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's claims that when Shekhawat was ill, the then chief minister's "own people" had approached him (Gehlot) to topple the government. Gehlot, who was then the Congress' Rajasthan unit president, however, said that he had refused to do so.

Raje said that in 1996, Shekhawat was undergoing treatment for heart-related issues in the US.

"During that time, people tried to topple his government. He was being operated upon. On the other hand, a different kind of operation was going on in Jaipur. Although the Congress people could not do anything," she added.

Raje also said that Shekhawat's role has been important in bringing her into politics.

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"Bhairon Singh ji used to say that one should not be afraid of the challenges and problems in politics," she said.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said that "Bhairon Singh Shekhawat was our ideal leader. His plans were also praised by the World Bank".

Leader of the Opposition Rajendra Rathore said "everyone knows Shekhawat by the name of Ajatshatru".

--IANS

arc/pgh
Rajasthan minister Mahesh Joshi on Tuesday slammed Congress leaders who have mounted an attack on the Gehlot government, saying it was



surprising and disappointing that some responsible people were making allegations of corruption against the government.

Congress MLA from Didwana, Chetan Dudi also hit out at those lashing out against the government.

The two leaders came out in defence of the Ashok Gehlot government a day after Pilot and Sainik Kalyan Minister Rajendra Gudha levelled fresh corruption allegations.

Without naming Gudha over remarks that the Rajasthan government was going beyond 40 percent commission of Karnataka government, Joshi said, Such leaders should have thought before accusing their own government that they in a way levelling these allegations on themselves too".

Gudha made the allegations during Pilot's rally in Jaipur on Monday.

In a statement on Monday night, Joshi said those who have made allegations know it well that whenever the matter of corruption has come, the chief minister has taken strong action by following the policy of zero tolerance and the Anti Corruption Bureau's actions against the corrupt are indicative of this.

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Dudi, who was earlier considered close to dissident Congress leader Sachin Pilot but stood with the government during the political crisis in 2020, said the three demands raised by Pilot were impractical and completely incomprehensible.

On the issue of corruption by the former Vasundhara Raje government, Dudi said all those cases have been settled by the High Court and the Supreme Court and the mining leases have already been cancelled.

Apart from a call for a high-level probe into corruption, Pilot on Monday 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 the paper leak.

Don't you know that RPSC is an independent constitutional body which can never be dissolved? Even the resignation of the RPSC member is accepted by the president. Why are you confusing the youth? Dudi tweeted on Monday night.

The MLA claimed the demand for compensation on paper leak is only for getting false praise because this does not happen in any state.

Till date no leader in history has made such a demand. Strict actions that have been taken on paper leak in Rajasthan have not been taken in any other state. Youths know this fact very well, he said.

Dudi said in Rajasthan, more than 150 people have been jailed for paper leak, special law and STF have been made on paper leak.

In a series of tweets, Dudi asked Pilot which cases of the Vasundhara government are still pending that he wants to get investigated.

Because as soon as the government came to power, these cases have been settled by the High Court and the Supreme Court and all the mines have also been cancelled, he said.

Pilot has been raising the issue of alleged corruption of the former government led by Raje, that included the mines scam.

Dudi also took a dig at Pilot over union minister Gajendra Singh's tweet after his rally in which he shared a photo and video clipping of Pilot's rally, and said, A large group of Congress workers and leaders in Rajasthan, 'through whose hard work the government came', today itself is calling its government corrupt.

The Congress MLA wrote, Rajasthan's biggest scam is Sanjeevani scam in which lakhs of people's houses were looted, but in the rally, the name of the main accused of Sanjeevani scam was not even taken and after the rally, the main accused tweeted in praise of Pilot. This is the truth of the rally because friendship has been there since the time of Manesar.

Pilot and his supporting MLAs, who had revolted against the Gehlot government in July 2020, had stayed in hotels in Manesar town near Gurgaon.

Former deputy CM and Tonk MLA Pilot held a rally in Jaipur on Monday on the culmination of his Ajmer-Jaipur 'Jan Sangharsh Pad Yatra' on the issue of corruption and paper leak.

The rally was attended by at least 14 Congress MLAs, as many former MLAs and several other leaders of the party and a large number of his supporters in which he announced to agitate against the government if THE three demands raised by him were not fulfilled by this month end.


Apple supplier Foxconn broke ground on Monday for a production plant near Hyderabad, strengthening Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Raos investment plans. The plant will employ more than one lakh people and Foxconn will reportedly invest $500 million on it. Just months before losing elections in May, the BJP government in Karnataka announced clearing a Rs 8,000 crore investment plan. Foxconn had not confirmed the investment. For the new Congress government in Karnataka there shall be little time to lose in getting foreign investments for the state.



Karnatakas economic policies are expected to continue in the same direction as before the elections. The rich states of Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka do not miss any trick to draw investments. Each of them has a well structured digital economy road map they use to chase investors. Another Apple supplier Pegatron is soon expected to announce its expansion plans. Pegatron and Foxconn both have factories in Tamil Nadu. Karnataka government officials have said Pegatrons investment is the prize they aim to win. Tamil Nadu is equally determined for it.



We are trying and hope Pegatron will consider us favourably for their expansion, said Sanjeev Gupta, CEO of Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) who led the delegation. The BJP government in Karnataka, earlier this year before elections, had sent a high powered delegation to Taiwans Smart Cities Expo to chase companies.

Also Read Karnataka Election Results 2023: Here is how tally looks like at 11:30 am Karnataka Election Results 2023: Here is how tally looks like at 12:30 pm Karnataka elections: AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge wins back Gulbarga Karnataka elections: JD(S) heading for one of its worst performances High-voltage campaigning for Karnataka elections to end today at 5 pm My mother is my party, no question of resigning, says D K Shivakumar Pralhad Joshi hints at replacement of K'taka BJP chief after party's defeat Lingayats demand Karnataka CM post, lobbying begins for Deputy CM EC's allotment of Shiv Sena name to Shinde faction a prospective decision Regional party income from unknown sources was Rs 887.55 cr in 2021-22: ADR



Next door, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin will visit Singapore in May to seek investments. His state has the numbers to make investors notice. Of the 12 Japanese industrial townships in India, three are in Tamil Nadu. KDEM is a 51:49 ratio joint venture company between the industry and the Karnataka government with its operating expenses supported by the state. Pegatron has declined to comment on KDEMs move.



Karnataka, investment and politics As the competition for investments narrows down to the states of Western and Southern India, governments there, irrespective of the party affiliations, are more or less in sync with what industry needs.



The Congress party has promised freebies that will not impact investors. Its promise of providing 200 units of free electricity to households or an unemployment allowance will instead impact the state budget. But then like Delhi, Karnataka can afford to dole out freebies due to its impressive fiscal numbers. For FY23, Karnataka has revised upwards by Rs 20,000 crore its tax collection projection. For FY23, the state has budgeted Rs 1.65 trillion in tax projections. The Congress election manifesto for Karnataka avoided the trap of free electricity and steered clear of taking a hard position on labour law changes. The BJP government earlier this year had allowed for a considerable leeway in labour laws, including relaxing terms for eight-hour shifts.



Data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) shows that during the five-year transition period (July 2017 to June 2022), the top five GST compensation receiving states were Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Punjab. Karnatakas share of GST compensation in tax revenue has remained below 10 per cent on an average--it is just comfortable. As it works to keep to its manifesto promises, the new Congress government is likely to unleash expenditure programmes on the revenue side. What it needs to do is not go past this comfort zone. In the first eleven months of FY23, Karnataka achieved a 95 per cent utilisation rate of its capex target of Rs 43,573 crore. It beat Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, which have achieved only 61 per cent and 39 per cent of their annual targets, respectively. Karnataka has the best hospital bed ratio to population in the country, as per Niti Aayog data. Yet among large states, as per the same Niti Aayog data, it is 19th on the health preparedness index as of 2019-20, the last year when it was conducted. In the Panchayati Raj ministry performance awards this year, Karnataka just did not figure.
The BJP in Jharkhand on Tuesday decided to organise a month-long mega public outreach campaign from May 30 on the occasion of completion of nine years of the NDA's rule at the Centre.

The decision to launch 'Mahasampark Abhiyan' was taken at a working committee meeting of the state BJP here in Ranchi.

The BJP-led central government, in the last nine years, transformed the country into a self-reliant one and helped flourish its economy, the party's state president and MP Deepak Prakash said.

BJP workers will undertake the campaign to reach out to the people to make them aware of the achievements of the Centre ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he said.

They are gearing up to ensure that BJP candidates win all the 14 Lok Sabha seats in the state, Prakash said.

People of Jharkhand want to "get rid of corruption and appeasement policies of the state government", he said.

Also Read Jharkhand Assembly adjourned twice on ruckus over new employment policy BJP to launch district-level agitation against Jharkhand govt from tomorrow Centre bars tourists at Shri Sammed Shikharji in Jharkhand, amid protests Jharkhand Cong stages 'Sankalp Satyagraha' against Rahul's disqualification Cong rejigs Jharkhand unit, appoints 11 V-Ps, 35 gen secys and 82 secys Siddaramaiah meets Kharge, announcement on K'taka CM likely on Wednesday Fake Aadhaar cards used to cast votes in ULB polls: Akhilesh Yadav BJP plans massive outreach exercise to mark Modi govt's ninth anniversary PM Narendra Modi distributes 71,000 job letters before 9th anniversary Dead heat for foreign investment as Congress takes charge of Karnataka

BJP's Jharkhand in-charge and MP Laxmikant Vajpayee urged workers to go to the doorstep of every house and convey the message of the prime minister for an 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India).

According to the month-long programme, a campaign to seek support for the BJP will run from June 1 to 22.

On June 19 and 20, there will be a conference of beneficiaries of the central government schemes at the assembly level. Public meetings will also be organised in Lok Sabha constituencies.

Union Minister Arjun Munda, BJP's national vice president and former chief minister Raghubar Das, its legislature party leader Babulal Marandi, and several other leaders were present at the meeting.
As the tussle for the next Karnataka Chief Minister intensifies, the All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha has written to the Congress high command demanding the coveted post for the community.

In its letter addressed to AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, the Mahasabha said that their demand has to be considered as 34 elected MLAs from the Congress are Lingayats.

It also said that the party had given tickets to 46 candidates, of which 34 won.

"The community has played a major role in electing MLAs in other 50 seats. The community has shifted its loyalty from BJP to Congress," says the letter.

Meanwhile, other community groups have also come out and demanded the Deputy Chief Minister's post for their leaders.

Belagavi North MLA Asif Sait has demanded that the post should be given to KPCC Working President Satish Jarkiholi.

Also Read Cong meet Lingayat Mutt heads, tough situation for BJP in North K'taka Congress Prez Kharge to hold meeting in Delhi, Rahul Gandhi may attendijd J&K Police busts narcotics module in Kupwara, 5 cops among 17 arrested Former Karnataka CM Jagadish Shettar joins Congress post exit from BJP Congress high command will decide on who will be the CM: D K Shivakumar EC's allotment of Shiv Sena name to Shinde faction a prospective decision Regional party income from unknown sources was Rs 887.55 cr in 2021-22: ADR Congress leaders hit out at those alleging corruption in Gehlot govt Cong slams PM over 'Rozgar Melas', accuses him of destroying governance MVA will never be able to form government in Maharashtra: Fadnavis

"In north Karnataka, Satish Jarkiholi is the leader. He should be given the post. Giving the Deputy Chief Minister post to senior leader Zameer Ahmad Khan is left to the discretion of the party," Sait stated.

Meanwhile, the supporters of Ramalinga Reddy, senior Congress leader demanded that he should be given the post.

The Karnataka Reddy Jana Sangha Director pointed out that Ramalinga Reddy is the senior most leader of the community.

"Ramalinga Reddy has been elected to legislature more times than Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah. He deserves to be the Deputy Chief Minister," he said.

When Yediyurappa was the Chief Minister, he made three community members Ministers.

"After him, only one cabinet berth was given and the BJP has paid for it. Ramalinga Reddy should be made DCM and two members of the community should be made ministers," he demanded.

"We have written a letter to the Congress high command, if they do not respond, the party will face stiff resistance from the community in coming days."

Muslim community members staged a protest in Gangavathi of Koppal district demanding the post for Congress leader Zameer Ahmad Khan.

--IANS

mka/ksk/
Karnataka Congress chief D K Shivakumar, who is one of the top contenders for the state chief minister's post, on Tuesday said the party is his mother and there was no question of his resigning from the organisation.

Shivakumar is set to meet Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge around 5 pm on Tuesday here to discuss the government formation in the southern state after the party staged a stupendous victory by winning 135 seats out of a total of 224.

Soon after reaching Delhi, Shivakumar went straight to his brother D K Suresh's office and residence at Kaveri Apartments. He also had his lunch there.

The Karnataka Congress chief later told reporters that he has come to Delhi to meet senior party leaders and party chief Kharge.

"My mother is my party, We have built this party. No question," he said when asked to comment on reports that he may resign from the party if not given the chief minister's post.

"If any channel is reporting that I am resigning from the post, I will file a defamation case against them...Some of them are reporting that I will resign and all, all bull****. Nothing," he said.

Also Read Congress high command will decide on who will be the CM: D K Shivakumar Congress to decide Karnataka CM, Siddaramaiah, DKS in Delhi today Karnataka elections: AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge wins back Gulbarga Congress victory in Karnataka is best birthday gift for me: Shivakumar Shivakumar to reach Delhi for next Karnataka CM talks, says won't backstab Pralhad Joshi hints at replacement of K'taka BJP chief after party's defeat Lingayats demand Karnataka CM post, lobbying begins for Deputy CM EC's allotment of Shiv Sena name to Shinde faction a prospective decision Regional party income from unknown sources was Rs 887.55 cr in 2021-22: ADR Congress leaders hit out at those alleging corruption in Gehlot govt

On whether he will also meet Rahul Gandhi, the Karnataka leader said, "I have to meet all leaders. First, I have to meet my Congress president."



"My high command is there, my party is there, our MLAs are there - 135," Shivakumar said as he left the residence of his brother and Bengaluru Rural MP D K Suresh.

Suresh also said that since the party has won under his (Shivakumar's) leadership as Pradesh Congress chief, he had the right to stake his claim on the top post.

Suresh had met Kharge on Monday evening at the latter's residence, after Shivakumar cancelled his visit citing health issues. Shivakumar arrived in the national capital this morning.

Both Shivakumar and former chief minister Siddaramaiah are staking claim on the top post and are set to meet the party's top leadership before a decision on the new chief minister of Karnataka is taken.


At the event, the PM spoke about his governments initiatives towards employment generation, stating that the past few weeks have brought news of unprecedented positivity in industry and investments, detailing his meetings with the leading CEOs of global companies. I met the Walmart CEO (Doug Mcmillon) a few days back. He said his company will start exporting goods worth Rs 80,000 crore from India in the next three-four years. This is big news for our youth who wish to work in the logistics and supply chain sector, the PM said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked nine years of the day the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won the 2014 Lok Sabha elections on May 16, 2014, by distributing 71,206 appointment letters at a Rozgar Mela on Tuesday. With this, the PM has handed out 359,000 appointment letters in five such events since October 22, 2022. In June last year, the PMO tweeted that Modi instructed all departments and ministries to recruit one million people in a mission mode in the next 18 months by December 2023.



The PM noted that over the next week, he would be meeting the CEOs of several global companies who are enthusiastic about investing in India, and these efforts are proof of the speed with which employment opportunities are increasing in different sectors in India. During his India visit, CISCO CEO, Chuck Robbins, told him that his company was targeting exporting products worth Rs 8,000 crore from India, Modi said. The PM said top executives of NXP Semiconductors met him recently and were positive about the capability of Indias semiconductor ecosystem. Foxconn has also started investing thousands of crores in its several projects in India, Modi said.



The PM recalled that on May 16, the results of the Lok Sabha polls were announced nine years ago, which the entire country celebrated. The government and BJP have elaborate plans to mark the Modi governments nine years, including the PM addressing a public rally on May 30 and possibly inaugurating the new Parliament building, which is getting its final touches. Modi said according to the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) net payroll data from 2018-19 onwards, more than 45 million people have received formal jobs. It is evident that there is a sharp increase in formal jobs and self-employment opportunities, he said.

Also Read Fact check: Did Asle Toje call PM Modi biggest contender for Nobel Prize? World TB Day: PM Modi launches initiatives to eliminate disease by 2025 Come May 13, will BJP script history in 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections? Karnataka elections 2023: Modi, Shah, Nadda named BJP's star campaigners Modi govt to complete 9 years this month, lines up series of events Dead heat for foreign investment as Congress takes charge of Karnataka My mother is my party, no question of resigning, says D K Shivakumar Pralhad Joshi hints at replacement of K'taka BJP chief after party's defeat Lingayats demand Karnataka CM post, lobbying begins for Deputy CM EC's allotment of Shiv Sena name to Shinde faction a prospective decision



The Congress accused Modi of destroying governance by personalising it. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said there were three million vacancies in the central government. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said the PM had taken governance to new lows through his Rozgar Melas  as if he has personally created these jobs and as if he is personally paying those getting these jobs, and as if those getting these jobs should feel beholden to him and him alone. Modi said start-ups had increased to nearly 100,000 from a few hundred before 2014, and they are estimated to have provided a minimum of one million jobs. The government has disbursed loans worth more than Rs 23 trillion under the Mudra Yojna since 2014, helping establish new businesses, buy taxis or expand their existing establishments. About 80-90 million citizens have become first-time entrepreneurs after availing of loans under the scheme.

Ramesh said the job-seeking youth in the country know it was this PM who destroyed lakhs and lakhs of jobs  both in the government and private sectors  through demonetisation, flawed GST, crippling of MSMEs, and the wholesale privatisation of PSUs.


Moments after Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar met Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in the outgoing assembly and former chief minister Siddaramaiah also met the party chief at his residence, where deliberations have been going on to select a new chief minister.

Party sources said that announcement on new chief minister will be made on Wednesday in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

Siddaramaiah, who arrived in the national capital on Monday by a special flight on Tuesday, met Kharge at his residence here.

His meeting with Kharge came after Shivakumar met the party chief at his residence around 5 p.m. whereas Siddaramaiah arrived at Kharge's residence at 6.15 p.m.

According to party sources, the announcement for the new Karnataka chief minister will be made in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

Meeting of both the leaders with Kharge comes hours after former party chief Rahul Gandhi, party general secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala held a long discussion with the party chief to decide on the new Karnataka chief minister. The meeting of the senior Congress leaders lasted for over one and half hours.

Also Read Congress high command will decide on who will be the CM: D K Shivakumar Congress to decide Karnataka CM, Siddaramaiah, DKS in Delhi today Shivakumar to reach Delhi for next Karnataka CM talks, says won't backstab Congress victory in Karnataka is best birthday gift for me: Shivakumar Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, two aspiring CMs in race for state's top post Fake Aadhaar cards used to cast votes in ULB polls: Akhilesh Yadav BJP plans massive outreach exercise to mark Modi govt's ninth anniversary PM Narendra Modi distributes 71,000 job letters before 9th anniversary Dead heat for foreign investment as Congress takes charge of Karnataka My mother is my party, no question of resigning, says D K Shivakumar

On Monday night, party sources had said that the Congress chief will decide on the next CM of Karnataka after discussing the result of the secret ballot voting with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and former party chief Rahul Gandhi. Sonia Gandhi is currently in Shimla.

On Monday, all the three observers for Karnataka had submitted their report to Kharge and the meeting of the party leaders lasted for over 5 hours.

Siddaramaiah had arrived in the national capital on Monday afternoon through a special flight whereas Shivakumar didn't come on Monday due to stomach infection. He arrived in the national capital on Tuesday afternoon. Before leaving for Delhi from Bengaluru, Shivakumar said that the party is "God" to him.

"Ours is a united house. Our number is 135 and I am a party President. Congress party is my temple. The party is like a mother. I have done my job," Shivakumar stated.

"The God and mother know what to offer to the children. I am going to meet my God in the temple. I am going alone. The General Secretary had asked me to come there alone," Shivakumar stated.

Veteran leader Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar are vying for the top post.

Sources said that despite Siddaramaiah getting the majority, Shivakumar is not willing to budge. He is claiming that he had delivered the victory to the party and hence deserved the chief minister's post.

Congress had won 135 seats in Karnataka whereas ruling BJP managed to win only 66 while the JD-S, which was hoping to play the role of kingmaker, was reduced to 19 seats in the state.

--IANS

aks/uk/
Google on Tuesday said it will delete personal accounts and their content that haven't been used or signed in for at least 2 years.

The company said it will purge the content in inactive accounts within Google Workspace (Gmail, Docs, Drive, Meet, Calendar), YouTube and Google Photos.

While the policy took effect on Tuesday, it will not immediately impact users with an inactive account and the earliest the company will begin deleting accounts is December 2023.

"The policy only applies to personal Google Accounts, and will not affect accounts for organisations like schools or businesses," Ruth Kricheli, VP, Product Management at Google, said in a statement.

The update aligns Google policy with industry standards around retention and account deletion and also limits the amount of time Google retains the unused personal information.

"If an account hasn't been used for an extended period of time, it is more likely to be compromised. This is because forgotten or unattended accounts often rely on old or re-used passwords that may have been compromised, haven't had two factor authentication set up, and receive fewer security checks by the user," Google explained.

Also Read Google Workspace introduces conversation summaries in Spaces Chats Google's AI chatbot Bard now available for users with Workspace accounts Google may lose search on Samsung devices to Microsoft Bing: Report Google's parent Alphabet reports $76 bn in revenue, bets big on AI Google to soon introduce end-to-end encryption for Gmail users on web Carefully examining risks involved in using ChatGPT, in healthcare: WHO Govt launches Sanchar Saathi, AI-based portal to detect telecom frauds Apple unveils tools for cognitive, vision accessibility in its products Apple may announce its long-awaited AR headset at WWDC in June: Report OnMobile Global launches SaaS-based gamification platform 'Gamize'

Google's internal analysis shows that abandoned accounts are at least 10x less likely than active accounts to have 2-step-verification set up.

This means that these accounts are often vulnerable, and once an account is compromised, it can be used for anything from identity theft to a vector for unwanted or even malicious content, like spam.

"To reduce this risk, we are updating our inactivity policy for Google Accounts to 2 years across our products," said the company.

"We will take a phased approach, starting with accounts that were created and never used again," it added.

Before deleting an account, Google will send multiple notifications over the months leading up to deletion, to both the account email address and the recovery email (if one has been provided).

As previously announced, people will need to specifically sign in to Google Photos every 2 years to be considered active.

--IANS

na/vd


Background Turkey's President Recep Tayyib Erdogan is facing a real challenge in the nation's elections for the first time since coming into power in 2003. Leading the Opposition is 74-year-old Turkish economist and retired civil servant, Kemal Kilicdaroglu. Popularly referred to as "Gandhi Kemal" by the Turkish media, Kemal Kilicdaroglu is the leader of Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi (CHP) (translated to Republican People's Party in English), Turkey's oldest political party founded by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, who is considered the founding father of the Republic of Turkey, serving as the first President of the nation from 1923 until his death in 1938.



Political Career Kilicdaroglu was born in 1948 in the province of Tunceli. He graduated from Ankara Academy of Economics and Commercial Sciences (now Gazi University) in 1971 with a degree in economics. He was a civil servant at the Ministry of Finance, working his way up from junior account specialist to Director General of the Revenues Department before embarking on his political career.



In 2010, Kilicdaroglu was elected as the leader of the CHP, and since then, he has led the party in several elections. Although the CHP has been in Opposition for most of its existence, Kilicdaroglu has managed to maintain the party's position as a significant force in Turkish politics. Kilicdaroglu's political career began in the 1980s when he joined the Social Democratic Populist Party (SHP), which later merged with other left-wing parties to form the CHP. Kilicdaroglu quickly rose through the ranks of the party and became a member of parliament in 2002.

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One of Kilicdaroglu's most notable political actions was the March for Justice in 2017. After a member of parliament (MP) from the CHP was sentenced to prison on terrorism charges, Kilicdaroglu embarked on a 450-kilometer march from Ankara to Istanbul to protest the verdict and demand justice for the MP. The march attracted widespread support from Opposition parties and civil society organisations, and it highlighted the increasing authoritarianism in Turkey under President Erdogan's rule. In 2016, he was prosecuted for making statements that implied that President Erdogan was a dictator while speaking against the arrest of over 20 Academics for Peace who condemned the military crackdown in the-dominated southeast.

Turkey's Gandhi

Kilicdaroglu's leadership style and political actions have led some to compare him to Mahatma Gandhi. The Washington Post noted that Kilicdaroglu earned the nickname "Gandhi" because of his physical resemblance to the Indian leader. Dundar also noted that Kilicdaroglu's commitment to non-violent resistance and his struggle for justice and equality for all people are qualities that are similar to Gandhi's philosophy.

Religious minority

According to Minority Rights Group International, Alevis are "the largest religious minority in Turkey". The Alevi community is an Islamic sect that has significant differences from mainstream Sunni Islam in Turkey.



Political agenda and future of Turkey Erdogan has pushed the Sunni form of majoritarianism into a previously secular system. As a result, the community has become more isolated and continues to face growing discrimination along with other marginalised groups.



In an interview with Sky News, Kilicdaroglu stated that Turkey was no longer a transparent country and that his first step would be to conduct a report to survey the damage and share it with leaders. Without seeing the balance sheets and assessing the liabilities it is difficult to create a plan for the future. According to a Reuters report, Kilicdaroglu has faced criticism for lacking a clear vision for the future of Turkey after Erdogan and claims he lacks the ability to capture audiences.



Why this election is important? Kilicdaroglu, in the same interview and in many public discourses has reiterated that the focus is to bring back democracy to the nation by reversing Erdogan's policies and improving relations with the West, and becoming part of the European Union.



Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu are staring at a runoff vote after none of them managed to secure the necessary 50 per cent votes in the election on May 14. With the nation going into a runoff on May 28, the future of the nation lies with swing voters and Turkey's youth who will be voting for the first time.

Western nations and foreign investors are closely awaiting the outcome of the votes as Turkey is placed at the center of the East and West. As the center of diplomatic relations, the country has played a key role during the war in Syria, NATO expansion, and exports of Ukraine's grain.


A Russian man was charged by US authorities in connection with his alleged role with multiple ransomware gangs that attacked hospitals, schools and police departments.

By William Turton



Ransomware groups typically hack into computer networks and deploy malicious software that encrypts computers and makes them unusable. The groups demand extortion payments in cryptocurrency and threaten to leak stolen data online if the ransom is not paid. Mikhail Pavlovich Matveev, who was known online as Wazawaka, was an active member of three ransomware gangs that collectively demanded $400 million from victims and received nearly $200 million in ransom payments, according to the Department of Justice.



The alleged victims include the Metropolitan Police Department in the District of Columbia, which was attacked with ransomware in 2021. The hackers proceeded to publish dozens of stolen personnel files. Matveev was allegedly a member of the Lockbit, Babuk and Hive ransomware gangs. Those groups are ranked among the most active and destructive cybercriminal threats in the world, Philip Sellinger, the US attorney for the district of New Jersey, wrote in an indictment. Matveev, along with other members of the ransomware gangs, attacked as many as 2,800 victims in the US and around the world, Sellinger wrote.

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Matveevs identity was previously revealed by cybersecurity journalist Brian Krebs in January 2022. At the time, Krebs reported that Matveev had claimed affiliation with the Darkside ransomware group, which claimed responsibility for the attack on Colonial Pipeline Co. in May 2021. The groups also targeted churches and nonprofits, the Department of Justice said.
Prime Minister of Belgium, Alexander De Croo on Tuesday (local time) met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Minister of Commerce & Industry, Piyush Goyal and Union Minister of State for Entrepreneurship, Skill Development, Electronics & Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar and discussed strengthening ties in renewable energy and technology.

"Had a productive meeting with @DrSJaishankar, @PiyushGoyal and @Rajeev_GoI, discussing ways to enhance the partnership between Belgium, the EU, and India. Focused on strengthening ties in key areas like renewable energy and technology, aiming for shared progress and prosperity," tweeted Croo.

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.

Speaking on 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.

Also Read EAM Jaishankar to visit Cyprus, Austria from Dec 29 to Jan 3: MEA S Jaishankar reaches Guyana on 3-day visit, receives warm welcome Jaishankar's 4-nation visit to Central and Latin America begins today Relations with Indian diaspora bolstered due to Sushma Swaraj: Jaishankar Goods and services exports may cross $750 bn-mark this fiscal: Piyush Goyal Robert Lucas, winner of the 1995 Nobel Prize in Economics, dies at 85 Russia, India, China, among others target faith community members: US LIVE: Shivakumar to reach Delhi today; Cong to decide on Karnataka CM post US to buy 3 mn barrels of crude oil to replenish reserve in August Dumping other banks, Warren Buffett recommits to Bank of America stocks
By Bastian Benrath

Managers at Credit Suisse Group AG, UBS Group AG and government officials are set to face further questioning by members of parliament into the formers near-collapse and rescue, as lawmakers wield a rarely-used power of oversight to probe the takeover deal.





Unlike other legislative bodies, a PUK has judicial powers to subpoena witnesses and access minutes of government meetings. Since the foundation of modern-day Switzerland in 1848, such a commission has only been called four times, the last time in 1995 amid a scandal over state pension funds. The oversight committees of both houses voted in favor of installing a parliamentary inquiry commission, or PUK, on the sale of Credit Suisse announced in March and the governments usage of emergency law to facilitate it, the committees said in a statement late Monday.



Leaders of the upper house are due to meeting for a decision on Wednesday. The earliest time in which the broader membership of both houses could decide would be in the session from May 30 to June 16. If lawmakers greenlight the PUK there, it could be formed as early as the fall. While the inquiry will not prevent the deal from going forward, it is likely to yield information on who pulled the strings in confidential meetings leading up to the takeover. Before the inquiry is launched, upper-house leadership has to sign off on it and it has to clear the floor of both houses, where lawmakers are likely to follow the lead of their oversight committees.

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President Joe Biden is ready to discuss the debt ceiling with congressional leaders at the White House in a high-profile session with reverberations across the globe as early outlines of a potential deal begin to emerge despite painstakingly slow negotiations.

Raising the stakes, the Tuesday afternoon session comes as Biden is preparing to depart for the Group of Seven summit in Japan where the US leadership will be on the world stage later this week.

The president and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy are trying to strike a budget deal before the US Treasury runs out of cash to keep paying the nation's bills, which could occur as soon as June 1.

While Biden has remained upbeat that we'll be able to do this, McCarthy is prodding the president to move faster to avert a crisis. The Republican speaker says they need an agreement soon to avoid default. Expectations are low that a deal is that close at hand. Instead, it is more likely that staff talks will continue while the president is overseas.

I just don't see the progress happening, McCarthy told reporters on Monday.

But Biden was optimistic, saying over the weekend, There's a desire on their part as well as ours to reach an agreement."



It's the second time in a week that Biden has met with McCarthy of California and other congressional leaders at the White House. Biden is confronting a politically divided Congress for the first time on the debt ceiling, a test for both the president and McCarthy, the new speaker, as they work to stave off an economic crisis that could come from a federal default.

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The meeting will also include Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York.

Even as the Democratic president and the Republican speaker box around the politics of the issue with Biden insisting he's not negotiating over the debt ceiling and McCarthy working to extract spending cuts various areas of possible agreement appear to be emerging.

Talks have been under way at the Capitol for much of the past week, closed-door discussions where White House and congressional staff are discussing what it would take to craft a budget deal that would unlock a separate vote to lift the nation's borrowing capacity, now set at USD 31 trillion.

Among the items on the table: clawing back some USD 30 billion in untapped COVID-19 money, imposing future budget caps, approving permitting reforms to ease energy development and putting bolstered work requirements on recipients of government aid, according to those familiar with the talks.

McCarthy has complained the talks are slow-going, saying he first met with Biden more than 100 days ago and that the president should be more focused on issues at home.

"An American president should focus on the solutions of America," McCarthy said ahead of Biden's trip.

But Biden has insisted Republicans must rule out default and consider budget issues separate from the need to raise the nation's debt limit. The president has said it took McCarthy all this time to put forward his own proposal after Republicans failed to produce their own budget this year.

The debt limit must be lifted, as has been done countless times before, to allow continued borrowing to pay already accrued bills.

Compounding pressure on Washington to strike a deal, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Monday that agency estimates are unchanged on the possible X-date when the US could run out of cash perhaps as early as June 1.

But Yellen, in a letter to the House and Senate, left 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.

Time is dwindling. Congress has just a few days when both the House and Senate are in session to pass legislation.

It's time for the principals to get more engaged, get their closers out there, said Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the Republican whip. My impression is that they have too many cooks in the kitchen, too many people in the room and not the right people.

Details of a potential budget deal remain politically daunting, and it's not at all clear they go far enough to satisfy McCarthy's hard-right faction in the House or would be acceptable to a sizable number of Democrats whose votes would almost certainly be needed to secure any final deal.

Republicans led by McCarthy want Biden to accept their proposal to roll back spending, cap future outlays and make other policy changes in the package passed last month by House Republicans.

McCarthy says the House is the only chamber that has taken action to raise the debt ceiling. But the House bill is almost certain to fail in the Senate, controlled by Democrats, and Biden has said he would veto it.

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.

An increase in the debt limit would not authorise new federal spending. It would only allow for borrowing to pay for what Congress has already approved.

As June 1 approaches, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has warned of a significant risk of default sometime in the first two weeks of next month.

The CBO noted 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.
By Mihir Sharma



Populist leaders might injure democracy, but it is very hard to kill. In Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been forced into a runoff election  something he managed to avoid in both 2014 and 2018. In Thailand, voters have resoundingly rejected parties associated with the junta that has ruled since 2014, giving them only 15% of the seats. And, in India, voters in the southern state of Karnataka, which includes the technology hub of Bengaluru, handed the opposition Indian National Congress party the most decisive mandate in 34 years.

Erdogan appears likely to triumph in his runoff, and Thailands democrats will struggle to govern given that the legislatures upper house is composed of junta loyalists. (Some 40% of the Thai senate are in the military or police.) The ruling Bharatiya Janata Partys sharp reversal in Karnataka does not necessarily imply that Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself will struggle to win next years national elections. Populist leaders might injure democracy, but it is very hard to kill. In Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been forced into a runoff election  something he managed to avoid in both 2014 and 2018. In Thailand, voters have resoundingly rejected parties associated with the junta that has ruled since 2014, giving them only 15% of the seats. And, in India, voters in the southern state of Karnataka, which includes the technology hub of Bengaluru, handed the opposition Indian National Congress party the most decisive mandate in 34 years.



In Karnataka, the BJP has lost its only southern stronghold. It now rules only a narrow band of states in the center of the country (and in the northeast, which tends to vote for whichever party holds power in New Delhi). Of Indias 20 large states, the BJP rules just six. And in two of them  Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh  it only seized power after engineering splits in opposition coalitions years after elections had taken place. Nevertheless, the last week has been full of reminders that, even in an age when democracy seemed to be in retreat, voters retain the power to prevent their countries from collapsing into autocracy.



Voters may not have taken that accusation entirely seriously, given that one of the reasons Congress did well in Karnataka was because the party held one of the longest sections of its Unify India march over the past year in the state. At the same time, linguistic and states rights sub-nationalism was unquestionably instrumental in the Congress victory. Powerful state governments have thus become the main check on the BJPs control of India. Modi often pitches double-engine development to voters, promising that BJP governments at both state and federal level would serve as dual locomotives of economic growth. By and large, the message has fallen flat. Thats provoked a sharpening of rhetoric: In the Karnataka campaign, Modi accused Congress of promoting secessionism and believing that Karnataka is separate from India.

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Other state parties have successfully deployed similar tactics. In West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee won re-election by painting Modi and the BJP as outsiders. Tamil Nadus chief minister, M.K. Stalin, responded to the Congress win in neighboring Karnataka by celebrating the landmass of the Dravidian family  south India  being clear of the BJP. While the BJPs Hindu nationalist ideology has been extraordinarily effective at the national level, regionalism and sub-nationalism have increasingly outweighed it at the state level. Take one of the unexpected flashpoints in the election: milk. Congress accused the federal government of pushing its preferred milk cooperative  Amul, based in Modis home state of Gujarat  into Karnataka, which already has its own alternative, Nandini. A battle of brands morphed into a matter of local Karnataka pride defending against Gujarati ambition: Congress linked the milk row to the takeover of a local state-controlled bank by one from Gujarat, and of local ports and airports by the giant Gujarat-based conglomerate Adani Enterprises Ltd., run by Modis close associate Gautam Adani.



India is hardly alone in this. Erdogan has similar tools at his disposal. In Thailand, the breakout star of the election  the Move Forward Party  is actually its leaders second try, after an earlier party was dissolved by the countrys Constitutional Court. The Anti-Corruption Commission and the Election Commission may yet combine to disqualify Move Forwards leader. Voters may also resent the weaponization of the national government against regional leaders: Stalin highlighted the unjustifiable disqualification of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from parliament, and the misuse of federal investigative agencies against opposition politicians. One of the Congress candidates to be chief minister of Karnataka was sent to jail in 2019 by the Enforcement Directorate, the police arm of New Delhis finance ministry; other state chief ministers have been similarly hounded by the Directorate and its sister agencies. When you put that together with the BJP governments influence over the media, the judiciary, and the Election Commission, the odds can appear unfairly stacked against the opposition.
Violent clashes continued between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) 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 late Monday.

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", reports Xinhua news agency.

Also on Monday, the Sudanese Foreign Ministry condemned what it called the "RSF attacks" on a number of diplomatic missions in Khartoum.

"The RSF 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.

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Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission in Sudan on Monday issued a statement on the development of the situation in the country.

The Commission condemned the use of air force and heavy weapons in the vicinity of civilian residences, which resulted in civilian casualties.

It 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.

In its latest report, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that at least 676 people have been killed since the clashes first 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 neighbouring countries.

According to the UN, it is estimated that about 15.8 million Sudanese, or about one-third of the country'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 two 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 army and the RSF have accused each other of breaching the deal and continuing the armed clashes.

--IANS

ksk/
Pentagon on Monday (local time) said that it has "communicated with China" to stop it from sending weapons to Russia.

"We have communicated with China about the negative consequences of providing lethal support to Russia. Not only it would extend the duration of Russia's illegal occupation of Ukraine and result in thousands of innocent killed in Ukraine and will surely put them in camps of countries that are looking to eliminate Ukraine as a nation," said Pentagon press secretary Pat Ryder.

However, he said that Pentagon does not have any indications that China has provided lethal assistance to Russia.

Regarding the change in US calculations of supplying longer-range fires to Ukraine, after Britain's promise of cruise missiles and -- and long-range UAVs effect, Ryder said, "No, it doesn't. You know, as we've said all along, we're going to continue to stay in active discussions with Ukraine, with our allies and our partners on what their most urgent security assistance needs are. As you know, we have provided a wide variety of capabilities, including things like artillery, air defence, armour, ammunition, and -- and we'll continue to do that going forward."

He also said that the US is in close contact with Ukraine after it made a renewed push for Western warplanes again.

"I don't have anything to announce today in regards to any type of fighter aircraft. Again, we're going to stay in very close contact with Ukraine and our allies and partners to look at their near-term and longer-term security needs," said Ryder.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy lauded promises of fresh military aid made by European allies he met over the past few days -- but he continued to press for modern fighter jets.

Ukraine said Russian forces are no longer capable of large-scale offensive action. The claim comes as the Ukrainian military said it was able to capture more than 10 Russian positions near Bakhmut.

31 US Abrams tanks have arrived in Germany for the training of Ukrainian forces: Thirty-one M1 Abrams tanks have arrived in Germany ahead of a training program for Ukrainian forces on the US tanks, the Pentagon said Monday.

"The Ukrainian crews are expected to begin training at Grafenwohr in Germany in the next couple of weeks. Because we're doing this concurrently, we will be able to provide those tanks to them in the fall timeframe to get them into Ukraine before the end of the year," Ryder said. The training program is expected to take several months, and the tanks are expected to be sent to Ukraine sometime in the fall.
By Anna Edgerton and Rachel Metz



OpenAI Inc. Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman plans to tell Congress that artificial intelligence technology is becoming so powerful that the US and other governments should consider imposing regulation on products above a crucial threshold of capabilities.





Its vital that AI companies  especially those working on the most powerful modelsadhere to an appropriate set of safety requirements, he plans to say. A copy of his prepared remarks to a Senate panel was obtained by Bloomberg News. Altman, who will testify for the first time since OpenAIs ChatGPT exploded in popularity, plans to say that artificial intelligence companies should be subjected to a combination of licensing or registration requirements for the release of advanced models, according to his prepared remarks, which dont specify what that threshold would look like.



Even as Tuesdays hearing will discuss safeguards to prevent this technology from being abused, Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat and chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law, said hed also ask what US companies need to ensure supremacy in the field. Congress is debating the potential and pitfalls of artificial intelligence as products like ChatGPT raise questions about the future of creative industries and the ability to tell fact from fiction.

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Altman will tell the senators that hes engaged with policymakers worldwide to help them understand artificial intelligence and what guardrails should be in place. He will also urge the imposition of rules that would apply no matter where the products are deployed. We need to be the world leader in AI, Blumenthal said in a telephone interview Monday. We cant allow China to surpass us.



San Francisco-based startup OpenAI has captured the worlds attention with products built on its large language models  AI systems that ingest enormous volumes of digital text from the internet, and use that material to train software that predicts and generates content on its own when given a prompt or query. We are not alone in developing this technology, Altman plans to say. It will be important for policymakers to consider how to implement licensing regulations on a global scale and ensure international cooperation on AI safety.



Christina Montgomery, chief privacy and trust officer for IBM Corp., also plans to testify Tuesday. According to her prepared remarks, she plans say that regulation should focus on how the technology is used, leaving room for innovation in constructive applications like modernizing electricity grids and preventing fraud. Millions of people have experimented with ChatGPT, and other companies and have released similarly capable chatbots. Microsoft, a major OpenAI investor, rolled out its Bing chat powered by OpenAIs technology, while Alphabet Inc.s Google created one called Bard.
By Faseeh Mangi



Pakistans army said restraint will no longer be exercised on groups attacking military installations, vowing to take legal action against those who damaged property after former premier Imran Khans dramatic arrest last week.

The 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 said in a statement late Monday without naming anyone. Pakistans army said restraint will no longer be exercised on groups attacking military installations, vowing to take legal action against those who damaged property after former premier Imran Khans dramatic arrest last week.



The militarys sharp reaction marks another escalation in an ongoing showdown between Pakistans most powerful institution and Khan, who was arrested by an anti-graft agency and later released by the Supreme Court. His detention sparked widespread anger among his supporters and some groups breached the military headquarters while others set fire to a military commanders official residence. 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.







Khan attempted to control military promotions, opposing the army chief at the time in an incident that sowed the seeds for his ouster in April last year. He accused the army of conspiring with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the US to oust him, which all three denied. But his campaign to turn public opinion against the military continued. The increasingly public defiance against the military signals a shift in attitudes in Pakistan which has been directly ruled by the army for almost half of its history since its creation in 1947. Most prime ministers have depended on the institutions support to stay in power, including Khan himself, but his ties worsened during his time in power. At least eight people were killed and scores more arrested, including close aides and political associates of Khan.

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Khans party denied its supporters vandalized army property. No direct reference was made to Khan in Mondays statement but in the days leading to his arrest by paramilitary troops, the army criticized him for accusing the institution of being behind at least two assassination attempts, including a shooting incident in November. The military has consistently denied the allegations.

We also believe that those involved in terrorism against the state must be punished but it is very important that they should be correctly identified, Shafqat Mahmood, a senior leader in Khans Tehreek-e-Insaf party said by phone. There were people in the crowd who were not our supporters. Clearly they were outsiders.
Elon Musk's SpaceX has roped in NASA's former head of human spaceflight Kathy Lueders to help in its Starship launch, the media reported.

Lueders will be a general manager, and she will work out of the SpaceX's Starbase facility in Texas. She will report directly to SpaceX president and COO Gwynne Shotwell, CNBC reported.

After a 31-year career at NASA, Lueders retired from the space agency at the end of April, as associate administration of Space Operations Mission Directorate (SOMD).

In July 2020, she became the head of NASA's Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate. Before that she oversaw the culmination of its Commercial Crew programme as manager, including the first SpaceX missions to carry NASA astronauts.

Her career at NASA also included stints on the Space Shuttle and International Space Station (ISS) programmes.

As head of the SOMD, she oversaw the Cargo and Crew Dragon missions to and from the ISS, including SpaceX's first crewed mission for the agency.

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Her knowledge of the human spaceflight programme at NASA will help SpaceX considerably upping the ante with Starship -- intended to be a deep space transportation carrier that may eventually reach Mars.

Previously, NASA's William Gerstenmaier, joined SpaceX in 2020 after more than a decade as the agency's top human spaceflight official.

Gerstenmaier is now SpaceX's vice president of build and flight reliability.

--IANS

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Twitter Inc. and Saudi Arabia were sued by the sister of an activist who disappeared in 2018, alleging the social media network allowed the kingdom to target dissidents including her brother by allowing them to access their confidential data.

Twitter  which was once the chosen platform for Arab youth revolutionizing to liberate their countries from despotic leadership during the Arab Spring  enabled its co-conspirators in the Saudi Criminal Enterprise to crush that very dissent, and then even permitted Defendant KSA to enjoy an equity stake in Defendant Twitter through its private investment funds, Al-Sadhans sister said in the complaint, which was filed on Tuesday in San Francisco.

The suit claims the Saudis have targeted numerous dissidents since the murder of Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul by accessing Twitters confidential data with help from its own employees and supplying that data to Saudi Arabia to retaliate against its critics, by kidnapping, torturing, imprisoning, and killing perceived dissidents.
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.

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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.
Democratic and Republican leaders in the Washington Statehouse reached a tentative deal on a major new drug policy Monday, one that would avoid making the state the second to decriminalise the possession of controlled substances.

Lawmakers will consider the compromise Tuesday when they return to Olympia for a special session. Gov. Jay Inslee called them back after they failed to pass a new drug policy before adjourning late last month.

Under the deal, intentional possession or public use of small amounts of illegal drugs would be a gross misdemeanour, punishable by up to six months in jail for the first two offenses and up to a year after that.

But police and prosecutors would be encouraged to divert cases for treatment or other services, and the measure provides millions of additional dollars for diversion programs and to provide short-term housing for people with substance use disorders.

A temporary, 2-year-old law that makes intentional drug possession illegal is due to expire July 1. So unless the compromise passes, drug possession even of fentanyl and other dangerous opiates will become decriminalised under state law.

The only other state that's tried decriminalizing drug possession is neighbouring Oregon, where the experiment is off to a rocky start.

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Lawmakers on both sides said the agreement strikes a balance between compassion and accountability for those struggling with substance abuse disorder. Rep. Roger Goodman, D-Kirkland, called it "a fair compromise that addresses urgent concerns about public disorder but follows evidence-based practices in helping people in need.

Both Goodman and Republican Rep. Peter Abbarno, of Centralia, said much work will remain even if the compromise is approved, because even with additional funding, the state doesn't yet have the treatment or diversion program capacity it needs to deal with the addiction crisis.

"The state of Washington is a decade behind in having treatment providers and having adequate bed space and treatment facilities, Abbarno said. Even when we pass this policy, we're still not going to see an immediate drop in crime or substance abuse, because we don't have the workforce development and infrastructure to deal with the off-ramps that this bill creates.

In 2021, the Washington Supreme Court struck down the state law making drug possession a felony. It was unconstitutional, the court said, because it did not require prosecutors to prove someone knowingly had the drugs. Washington was the only state in the country without that requirement.

In response, lawmakers made intentional drug possession a misdemeanour and required police to refer offenders to evaluation or treatment for their first two offenses but there was no obvious way for officers to track how many times someone had been referred, and availability of treatment remained inadequate.

Lawmakers made the measure temporary and gave themselves until this July 1 to come up with a long-term policy.

But as this year's session ended late last month, a measure billed as a compromise was voted down in the Democratic-controlled House 55-43.

The standstill put lawmakers against a ticking clock to pass a compromise before that temporary law making possession of small amounts of drugs a misdemeanour expires in July.

Without a major new drug measure passed in Washington, cities and counties would be free to adopt their own approaches to drug possession and paraphernalia, creating a patchwork of laws that could undermine efforts to treat addiction as a public health issue.

Republican Rep. Gina Mosbrucker, of Goldendale, called the tentative deal a good compromise that sets lawmakers up to send a new policy to the governor's desk within several days.

This bill stops hard drugs in Washington from becoming legal, so I think it's critical that we move forward, Mosbrucker said. That doesn't mean we can't have amendments and things that we don't anticipate that might change that.
By Thomas Seal



Vodafone Group Plcs new Chief Executive Officer Margherita Della Valle unveiled a plan to revive growth at the telecom giant, pledging to slash jobs and simplify the companys corporate structure.

Vodafone will cut about 11,000 roles across the business over the next three years, work to turn around its German market and start a strategic review of its Spanish unit, the Newbury, England-based company said in a statement Tuesday. Last month, Bloomberg reported Vodafone had attracted takeover interest for its operations in Spain. Vodafone Group Plcs new Chief Executive Officer Margherita Della Valle unveiled a plan to revive growth at the telecom giant, pledging to slash jobs and simplify the companys corporate structure.



Our performance has not been good enough. To consistently deliver, Vodafone must change, she said in the statement. My priorities are customers, simplicity and growth. We will simplify our organization, cutting out complexity to regain our competitiveness. Della Valle, a Vodafone veteran who previously served as chief financial officer and interim CEO before she was made permanent in the top role last month, is charged with turning around the company, which has suffered from a lagging share price and difficulty consolidating its sprawling global operations. In the statement, she said she would reallocate resources to focus on the quality service our customers expect and grow the Vodafone Business unit.



Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization after leases are expected to be 13.3 billion in the year ending in March, which Vodafone described as broadly flat once factoring in the the partial sale of mobile mast unit Vantage Towers and divestment of its business in Hungary. Adjusted free cash flow, a closely watched metric, will drop by about 31% to 3.3 billion ($3.6 billion) in the fiscal year ending in March, following divestments but also taking a hit due to expected working capital movements, the company said. Much of the decline is due to a change in German law which affects how Vodafone is able to collect money from customers, a spokesman said. A company-compiled consensus of analyst estimates had put the figure at 3.6 billion.

Also Read Vodafone to hand over pink slips to 'several hundred' employees: Report Vodafone Idea expected to come up with revival plan within a month: Report In search of funding, Vodafone Idea dials KKR and Temasek Holdings Vodafone inks new deal with Google on RCS messaging, Pixel devices Vodafone Idea's fundraising put on hold as govt delays equity call Debt ceiling showdown: Biden to meet as McCarthy pushes for faster deal Pakistan likely to turn to China for a bailout as IMF deadlock continues Italy's public debt crosses $3 trillion for first time: Bank of Italy SpaceX hires former NASA human spaceflight cheif for its Starship launch Morgan Stanley weighs 7% cut in Asia-Pacific investment banking workforce

Vodafones new CEO must also grapple with a suite of new shareholders from the telecom industry, some of whom are becoming more vocal about their desire to influence the direction of the company. Emirates Telecommunications Group Co., or e&, has been steadily building a stake and is now the companys largest shareholder. The United Arab Emirates-backed companys CEO Hatem Dowidar, a former Vodafone executive, will join the board as a non-executive director, Vodafone said last week.
Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway reworked its financial-sector bets amid regional bank turmoil, exiting US Bancorp and Bank of New York Mellon, even as it placed a wager on Capital One Financial. Capital One surged as much as 9.6 per cent.

This is far from Berkshires first revamp of its financial stock picks. In May of last year, the conglomerate disclosed it had fully cut its position in Wells Fargo & Co, which once ranked as its biggest common-stock bet. Berkshire unveiled new positions in auto-lender Ally Financial and Wall Street titan Citigroup in that same filing, and still holds those firms.

Berkshires move out of several financial stocks and into Capital One in the first quarter, detailed in a regulatory filing, comes after Buffett said publicly he was cooling on the sector. Bank failures earlier this year and concern about liquidity at various regional lenders have shaken finance.
By Robert Burnson

Wells Fargo & Co. agreed to pay $1 billion to settle a shareholder lawsuit that accused it of making misleading statements about its compliance with federal consent orders following the 2016 scandal involving the opening of unauthorized customer accounts.





The investors sued the bank in 2020 claiming that its former chief executive officer, Tim Sloan, and other executives made misleading statements in testimony before Congress and to investors and the media. The settlement is one of the top six largest securities class-action settlement of the past decade, according to lawyers for the investors, who filed a request Monday for a Manhattan judge to approve the accord.



The proceeds of the settlement will go to investors who bought Wells Fargo stock from February 2, 2018, through March 12, 2020. The investors alleged that the executives presented too rosy a scenario about their interactions with regulators, including not disclosing that their initial reform plans had been rejected by authorities.

Also Read Wells Fargo tops Q4 profit expectations, records revenue of $19.66 billion Wells Fargo to pay $3.7 bn to settle charges of consumer law violations Wells Fargo reports beat on earnings, profit rise on higher rates Air India 'pee-gate': Wells Fargo terminates accused Shankar Mishra Vodafone's largest shareholder rules out bid after raising its stake US factories production surges in April as motor vehicles output rises European Union adopts law banning products which fuel deforestation Singapore Exchange to focus on risk-hedging products like Indian infra, ESG Pakistan high court extends Imran Khan's bails in two cases until June 8 Australian consumer confidence hits lowest since April 2020: Report



The news was reported earlier by the Wall Street Journal. This agreement resolves a consolidated securities class action lawsuit involving the company and several former executives and a director, who have not been with the company for several years, a Wells Fargo spokesperson said. While we disagree with the allegations in this case, we are pleased to have resolved this matter.
NTT Data Payment Services has chosen Facctums FacctViewTM screening platform to expand its anti-financial crime defenses. This new technology will support NTT Data Payments Services e-commerce platforms by detecting and assessing sanctions, terrorism financing and money laundering risk in consumer transactions. The deal provides NTT Data Payment Services with high-performance counter measures to the threats posed by criminals attempting to commit financial crimes.

Takeo Ueno, CEO at NTT Data Payment Services, said, "Facctum technology is a great match for the needs of our high-growth and customer-focused PSP business in India. Its addition to our anti-financial crime defenses shows our commitment to protecting customers and providing the highest standards of compliance effectiveness. This approach extends the capabilities of the business to provide continuous robust compliance whilst also improving the speed of services for customers.

With growing volumes of digital transactions, combined with changing customer behaviors, there is an increasing concern about the potential abuse of Payment Service Providers (PSPs) through cyber-attacks. The increasing risks to which PSPs are exposed have led to increasingly stringent regulatory standards of compliance effectiveness. In response, PSPs are prioritizing investments in risk screening capabilities, not only to fulfil regulatory obligations but also to protect consumers and deter criminals.

K.K. Gupta, Founder and CEO of Facctum, comments, The payments ecosystem is facing a growing threat from financial criminals. This is increasing the need for regulatory and compliance countermeasures. Leaders of PSPs have therefore recognized the vital importance of robust and resilient anti-financial crime technology to meet the challenges of regulatory change and ever-changing risks. I am humbled that NTT Data Payment Services has trusted Facctum technology to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of risk controls.

FacctView is powered by innovative parallel processing technology and an extensive library of risk detection algorithms. This combination enables the rapid detection of comprehensive financial crime risks. An innovative approach to data management technology also delivers low-latency batch processing of payment transactions that are scalable to massive volumes.

NTT DATA Payment Services India is part of NTT DATA Corporation, one of the globally top 10 IT service providers, headquartered in Japan. The NTT DATA Payments division group has a significant presence across Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, and Malaysia. Amongst path breaking Payment infrastructures, NTT DATA operates CAFIS, Japans largest card payment processing network. The company has an annual transaction value of INR 150,000 crore and a volume of over 10 crore transactions across India. The company aids merchants to provide a seamless digital payment experience to customers, via both online and offline channels. The company caters to more than six million merchants across India in sectors such as education, government, retail, BFSI, healthcare, among others.

ENDS

About NTT DATA Payment Services India Ltd.

NTT DATA Payment Services India Ltd., formerly known as Atom Technologies Ltd., is an end-to-end payment service provider offering a myriad range of payment solutions through online and offline platforms via point of sale, payment gateway, Interactive Voice Response (IVR), and mobile applications. The company offers a host of digital payment solutions tailor-made to cater to the needs of its merchants such as point of sale, online payment gateway, mobile applications, wallets, BNPL, IVR, QR codes, and white-labeled solutions. Being a veteran in the payments industry, the company services more than 6 million+ merchants and has processed more than 100 million transactions, worth INR 1.5+ Trillion, annually. Visit us at www.nttdatapay.com

About NTT DATA

NTT DATA  a part of NTT Group  is a trusted global innovator of IT and business services headquartered in Tokyo. We help clients transform through consulting, industry solutions, business process services, IT modernization, and managed services. NTT DATA enables clients, as well as society, to move confidently into the digital future. We are committed to our client's long-term success and combine global reach with local client attention to serve them in over 50 countries. Visit us at nttdata.com

About Facctum

Facctum is a risk tech company specializing in a cloud-delivered enterprise risk decisioning technology. Founded in 2021, it was created by former users and architects of financial crime compliance (FCC) technology to build solutions for agile, low-latency and highly effective screening, at massive scale. Facctum uses risk analytics technology to improve compliance effectiveness and make operations more efficient. Its SaaS-first FCC platform is based on high-performance parallel processing and fully deterministic technology. This approach results in more enhanced risk detection, increased speed to compliance and improved operational sustainability.

Facctum is headquartered in London, with operations in Dublin, Johannesburg, Pune, and Bengaluru.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230515005441/en/
Modified On May 16, 2023 09:55 AM By Tarun

This version of the Yaris Cross debuted in Indonesia as a Hyundai Creta rival, just like the Hyryder in India

Toyota has just revealed an all-new Yaris Cross for the ASEAN market. Its a brand new SUV from scratch and is different from the SUV with the same name sold in European markets. It wont be coming to India, since we have the Urban Cruiser Hyryder, but it is a direct competitor to the Hyundai Creta in the Indonesian market.

Here are five things you need to know about the Yaris Cross:

Chunky Design

The Yaris Cross is based on Toyotas DNGA platform which underpins several models in the ASEAN countries. It looks significantly different from the European version, especially since it carries a traditional boxy SUV look. The front profile looks quite upright and similar to the Highlander SUV. The trapezium-shaped grille, sharp LED headlamps, and skid plate also give it an aggressive look.

Thanks to the squared wheel arches and black cladding, the SUV has a mildly rugged appeal too. The upright stance continues with the roofline design as well. Its rear profile seems inspired by the globally sold Corolla Cross, which also gets the angular tailgate, sharp LED tail lamps, and body cladding integrated into the rear bumper.

Also Read: Toyota Hyryder vs Skoda Kushaq vs Hyundai Creta vs Maruti Grand Vitara vs Volkswagen Taigun: Space And Practicality Comparison

A Typical Interior

The cabin of the Yaris Cross looks similar to several Toyota models sold abroad. It carries a simple and practical design with an all-black theme and a thin blue strip flowing through the dashboard. It gets leatherette seats which add to the premium quotient of the cabin. The central console has a pillar design on the front passenger side for a driver-oriented layout that does feel out of place in this very mild-looking SUV.

Premium Features But Nothing Special

In terms of features, the SUV is equipped with a free-standing 10.1-inch touchscreen system, a 7-inch digital drivers display, a panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting, an electrically adjustable drivers seat, and wireless charging. The Yaris Cross also comes with a hands-free powered tailgate. Decent Safety Features

The safety aspect is covered by six airbags, electronic parking brake with auto hold function, hill start assist, and blind spot monitor. The Yaris Cross also gets the added active safety of radar-based ADAS (advanced driver assistance system) tech.

Powertrains

Toyota offers the Yaris Cross with a 1.5-litre petrol engine that can be opted with the strong-hybrid technology. Without electrification, it is rated at 106PS and 138Nm while the hybrid version uses an electric motor tuned to develop up to 112PS paired to an e-CVT gearbox. The petrol option can be had with the choice of a five-speed manual or a CVT.

Also Read: Toyota Innova Crysta Through The Ages - Undefeated Even After 18 Years!

As said earlier, the Yaris Cross wont make it to India since we already have the Toyota Hyryder on sale. Its sized similarly (both are around 4.3-metres long) and uses similar powertrain options. Based on the looks and the cabin, which one would you prefer - the Hyryder or this Yaris Cross? Let us know in the comments below.
AIATSL Recruitment 2023 was advertised by Air India Air Transport Services Limited (AI Airport Service Limited) to fill 480 openings for Manager-Ramp, Customer Service Executive, Jr. Customer Service Executive, Ramp Service Executive/Utility Agent Cum Ramp Driver, and other positions. Interested and qualified candidates may attend the AIATSL Recruitment 2023 walk-in interview, which will be held from May 25 to May 30, 2023.

Overview

Recruitment Authority Air India Air Transport Services Limited (AIATSL)

Name of Posts Manager-Ramp, Customer Service Executive, Jr. Customer Service Executive, Ramp Service Executive/Utility Agent Cum Ramp Driver, etc.

Vacancies 480

Walk-In-Interview Dates 25 May to 30 May 2023

Selection Process Walk-In Interview

Job Location Mumbai

AIATSL Recruitment 2023 Official Website https://aiasl.in

How to Apply

Go to the official website.

Candidates must complete the application form completely and accurately.

Provide all essential documentation.

The interview date, time, and location will be listed.

The application form is included with the PDF notification.

Check the Notification PDF by clicking the "Click to Apply" button.

Application Fee

Non-refundable application charge of Rs.500/- payable." Ex-servicemen/candidates from SC/ST communities are not required to pay any fees.

Details of the Interview

Interview Date: 25/05/2023 to 30/05/2023

Interview Time: 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM

Salary

The salary package varies following the posts.

Selection process

Personal /Virtual interview

Screening/Interview

Trade Test

Driving Test

Group Discussion

Physical Endurance Test

Eligibility

Academic Background Applicants must have a 10+2 Graduate/Bachelor of Engineering/MBA from a recognised institution or board, as well as a diploma in Mechanical / Electrical / Production / Electronics / Automobile Engineering from a recognised university or board.

Age Limit

The age limit of candidates for AIATSL Recruitment 2023 is between 28-55 Years

Vacancy Details
The highly anticipated moment for class 10th students in Odisha has arrived. The Board of Secondary Education (BSE), Odisha, has officially confirmed the date and time for the declaration of the Matric or HSC results for the year 2023. BSE President Ramashis Hazra has announced that the Odisha Matric result will be unveiled on May 18, at 10 am.

Students who have eagerly awaited their results can check their Odisha HSC result 2023 on the official website of the board - bseodisha.nic.in. Additionally, the Odisha Matric result will also be available on orissaresults.nic.in.

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to check your Odisha Matric result 2023:

Visit the official website orrisaresults.nic.in.

Look for the link to check the BSE Odisha HSC result 2023.

Enter your roll number, date of birth, and the text/numbers from the displayed image in the login portal.

Click on the login button to access your result.

Your result will be displayed on the screen.

Verify your marks and other details carefully.

It is advisable to download and take a printout of the result page for future reference.

Students are encouraged to visit the official website of the board for any other information related to the Odisha 10th examination.
CBSE Result 2023: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced the initiation of the re-evaluation and verification process for Class 10th and 12th board exams today, starting from 16th May 2023. Students who have appeared for the CBSE board exams and are dissatisfied with their marks in the CBSE Class 10 and 12 exams now have the opportunity to send in their answer sheets for re-evaluation and verification.

To apply for re-evaluation or verification, students will need to visit the official CBSE website at cbse.gov.in. They will be required to pay the applicable fee as mentioned while applying. Students also have the option to obtain a photocopy of their CBSE Class 12 evaluation answer script. However, it is important to note that only candidates who apply for verification will be eligible to request a photocopy of their answer books.

The fee structure for the re-evaluation and verification process is as follows:

For verification of marks: Rs 500

For obtaining a photocopy of answer books (Class 12): Rs 700

For obtaining a photocopy of answer books (Class 10): Rs 500

Here are the steps to apply for CBSE Class 10 and 12 re-evaluation and verification:
When carmakers lend out vehicles, often, its the top-of-the-line trim. This is their way of putting their best foot forward. Occasionally, ...
Dyckerhoff supplies low CO2 efficient construction

16 May 2023

The new residential quarter in Ludwigshafen am Rhein, "Mein Ludwigs, has been supplied with Dyckerhoffs low CO 2 efficient cements and concretes for the large-scale construction project. The new residential area is currently being built on a former 2.5ha company site in the southwest of Ludwigshafen, near the banks of the Rhine, Germany. It was planned by the multiple award-winning Frankfurt architecture firm Stefan Forster Architekten, which specialises in residential buildings.

The Dyckerhoff Rhein-Main-Taunus concrete branch is supplying the construction site C, which includes one of the four buildings in the district, with around 17,000 m of concrete, mainly from the CSC-certified ready-mixed concrete plant in Ludwigshafen. The company weisenburger bau from Karlsruhe is building 195 apartments and an underground car park here. In line with the sustainable concept of the entire project, CO 2 is used for the foundation and the shell-efficient cements from the Dyckerhoff (Buzzi Unicem) main plant in Amoneburg (Wiesbaden). These are the blastfurnace cement HOZ Doppel [CEM III/A 42.5 N (na)] for concrete of strength class C35/45 and the Portland composite cement cement CEDUR [CEM II/CM (S-LL) 42.5 N-NA] for all concretes of strength classes C20/25, C25/30 and C30/37. The CEDUR concretes are mainly used for foundations, columns, floor slabs and walls. Almost 8000m of this has already been installed since the start of delivery.

Overall, the CO 2 footprint (GWP net) of both the HOZ Doppel and the CEDUR is around 39 per cent lower than with pure Portland cement of strength class 42.5N. They both meet the increased requirements for Dyckerhofffs CGreen products. The foundation stone for construction site C was laid in autumn 2022. The entire construction project should be completed by the end of 2025.

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Cleveland area grant winners Dr. Michelle Little, owner of Foundation Direct Family Care Ella Livingston, owner of Cocoa Asante Inflated supporters NW Georgia Grant winners & TVFCU personnel Rod's Rockin Rolls supporters The Professional Cleaning Solution cheering section Todd Fortner, Chattanooga grant winners and Tommy Nix Previous Next

Throughout the week of May 8, Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union brought their Sixth Annual Idea Leap Grant to its conclusion with pitch competitions in Cleveland, Dalton and Chattanooga. A total of 11 entrepreneurs pitched their small business plans and expansion goals, each taking home a grant between $10,000 and $30,000.For the first time ever, we expanded the Idea Leap Grant Program by hosting three separate competitions in the Chattanooga, Ocoee and Northwest Georgia areas, said Tommy Nix, vice president of business and commercial services.We did this to reach more small businesses and to help further stimulate economies across the 17 counties we serve at TVFCU. On behalf of the entire credit union, I offer a sincere congratulations to the 11 businesses who earned grants during this years program.The Ocoee Area winners are: Direct Primary Care Associates - $25,000; Biskit NV - $15,000; and Rods Rockin Rolls - $10,000.The Northwest Georgia Area winners are: Foundation Direct Family Care - $25,000; Baxter Dean Studios - $15,000; and Inflated - $10,000.The Chattanooga Area winners are: Cocoa Asante - $30,000; Simply Props - $15,000; RMJ Tactical - $10,000; The Local Juicery - $10,000; and The Professional Cleaning Solution - $10,000.Winning first place was an absolutely incredible moment, said Ella Livingston, owner of Cocoa Asante. This was my third year applying for the Idea Leap Grant, so it was a full-circle moment for me. Im incredibly proud of myself and of the other amazing business owners who pitched as well.Since TVFCU started the Idea Leap Grant in 2018, the credit union has awarded approximately $500,000 in grants and scholarships to local small businesses.This program and our Idea Leap Loan offering have contributed significantly to our regions small business ecosystem, said Todd Fortner, president and CEO of TVFCU. Next year, we want to extend the reach of our Idea Leap Grant and Loan programs even further. We intend to open applications for the next grant in November, so we encourage entrepreneurs to stay tuned to our social media pages and website for announcements and other news.TVFCU extends gratitude to the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce, Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce and Chambliss Startup Group for hosting receptions before each pitch competition. The credit union would also like to thank Dr. Paul Conn, Representative Kasey Carpenter and David Wade for serving as keynote speakers. Finally, TVFCU notes their appreciation for Sunny 92.3, Mix 104.1 and Mix 104.5 for their support in promoting the Idea Leap Grant.Additionally, TVFCU would like to recognize the panels of volunteer judges in each area that were instrumental in selecting the grant recipients.Cleveland Area Judges are: Jennie DeCook  director, Tennessee Small Business Development Center, Cleveland; Brittany Katz  owner, Terra Running Company; Jennifer Pennell-Aslinger  president, Junior Achievement of Ocoee Region; Lucy Rymer  executive director, Museum & Cultural Center at 5ive Points; and Margaret Schenck (celebrity judge, Night of Pitch Competition only)  community volunteer.Northwest Georgia Area Judges are: Jackie Killings  business consultant, Khensani Business Advisors; Purvi Patel  owner, Dos Bros Fresh Mexican Grill; Yulian Paramo  owner, Dalton Rug and realtor with Keller Williams; and Jonathan Connell  president & CEO, MedStat Supplies.Chattanooga Area Judges are: Vickye Bone  business consultant, Smith Bone Consulting; Kristin Copeland  manager, women & minority owned business, EPB; Jeffrey Maddux  attorney, Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel; Chuck Fisher  attorney, Grant, Konvalinka & Harrison; TyQuan Glaze  EPB; Mike Bradshaw  entrepreneur-in-residence and interim director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, UTC; and Liza Soydan  COO, Chestnut Funds.Dionne Jenkins, vice president of diversity and inclusion at TVFCU, led each regional panel of judges.The Idea Leap Grant is an extension of the credit unions Idea Leap Loan Initiative that was created specifically for small businesses in 2016. To date, TVFCU has funded more than $5 million in loans to emerging and early-stage businesses through the loan initiative.For more information about the Idea Leap Grant, and TVFCUs other products, services and initiatives, visit tvfcu.com.
An employee at East Brainerd Wine & Spirits, 7804 E. Brainerd Road, told police he had video footage of a black male and two black females concealing multiple bottles of liquor each and leaving the building. The employee said he didn't know who they were and is unsure the total number of bottles stolen at this time, and he also didn't know the price for all the bottles stolen.



* * *

An employee at Ross Dress for Less, 2040 Hamilton Place Blvd., told police a woman wearing all black had a black bag that was full when she left the store, and she believed it to be full with about $40 worth of small merchandise. The employee said the inventory is pending at this time, as she figures out what was stolen. The woman left in a red Ford sedan.

* * *

Police arrived on scene to a commercial fire on E. 10th St. that seemed to have been set by homeless people on the steps of an abandoned building. Police observed sleeping bags, blankets and pillows on fire, or about to be on fire, plus two shopping carts that were fully involved. The structure of the building remained intact with soot and fire damage to the concrete area of the stairs where the fire burned. It is unknown at this time who owns the property. Police will attempt to locate a property owner to establish both a trespass notice for vagrants as well as a property damage report, if they feel one is needed.

* * *

While working an extra job at Dillard's, 2100 Hamilton Place Blvd., police observed a black female walk into the men's fragrance area and grab two boxes that contained two bottles of men's fragrance apiece ($262 total). Police were unable to reach the female in time before she left the store. Police sent a photo of the woman to a supervisor to post on CPD Sworn in an attempt to identify her.

* * *

A caller reported seeing people looking into a clothing donation bin at 3901 Hixson Pike. Police did not locate anyone at the donation bin. They did, however, see a person leaving on a bike and spoke to him. The man said he was at the bin, but was cleaning up clothes that were strung out all around the outside of the bin. The man did not have any extra clothes on or in his possession. Police thanked the man for his cooperation.

* * *

A vandalism was reported at a home on W. 37th St. Police spoke with the son of the homeowner and his aunt, who were both at the house. The son said his mom, the homeowner, was at work until 6 a.m. and was not able to speak with police at this time. He told the first officer on scene that he was "just upset and went upstairs to his bedroom to sleep, and then heard a glass break downstairs." Upon second officer arrival, police observed the front right window of the residence broken. The window blinds were pushed out of the broken window as if the window glass was broken from the inside of the residence. Police questioned the son about the blinds looking like the window was broken from inside the residence and he said that he was upstairs when he heard the glass break and he did not see any possible suspects. Police observed video from the Ring door camera across the street and did not observe anyone in front of the residence in or around the area of the broken window from approximately 10-11 p.m.

* * *

A man told police he parked his truck at 7625 Hamilton Park Dr. on Monday morning and returned last night to discover that the tool box in the bed of the truck had been damaged, as well the rear window had been pried open. The man also discovered his steering column had been broken. He said he discovered his Jump Start box had been stolen as well. The man did not have anyone he suspected for the crime and there was no video of the event.

* * *

Catoosa County officers found an abandoned vehicle in the middle of the road - a black 2007 Toyota. The vehicle registration listed the owner's address on Cannondale Loop. Catoosa officers asked if police could assist by making contact with the owner of the vehicle to check if it was stolen. Upon arrival, officers knocked on the front door and the door was found to be open. Due to the possibility of a stolen vehicle and the above circumstances, police checked the residence for well-being. Prior to making entry to the residence, officers knocked on the door and announced themselves with the door fully opened. While at the front door, officers announced if there was anyone in the home to make themselves known. After receiving no response, police checked the residence and were able to locate the homeowners, a man and his wife. The couple confirmed they were okay and that the vehicle in question was recently sold by their son and possibly just broke down due to several previous issues it had.

* * *

A man on Vaden Village Drive told police he parked his vehicle there the night before, and, when he woke up, he noticed his vehicle had been spray painted and his license plate had been removed. He told police he had recently broken up with his girlfriend and believes she may have damaged the vehicle. The man showed police video of the incident, which showed a dark figure approaching his vehicle and removing his license plate. The dark figure then came back to the location with a second person and spray-painted the rear of his vehicle. Police searched the area, but could not locate any video of the incident to identify the suspects.

* * *

Police were asked to assist several Public Works employees in clearing the Airport Inn, 7725 Lee Hwy. (condemned) of potential vagrants and squatters. Numerous people have broken into and vandalized the Airport Inn prior, and Public Works wished to ensure the building was clear before securing both the exterior and interior of the building. Officers cleared the building for Public Works. No people were found inside the building, and the scene was left to Public Works.
The latest and potentially greatest threat to the welfare of Chattanooga citizens is the secretive funding of our police department.

Ron Hart, private investor from Florida, has started a nonprofit to fund our police department. Without oversight this will undoubtedly create two tiers of Chattanooga police. Those that are not of the donor class will receive assistance directly proportional to their donations.

If this were a truly magnanimous gesture it would be operated with transparency and oversight but that wont happen unless the city places specific requirements on this benevolent donor fund.

Chief Murphy, dont allow our citys police department to be owned by special donor class interests. Stop this Trojan Horse at the gate and only allow this with full oversight, transparency and accountability.

John Mathna
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee on Tuesday signed an executive order to advance Tennessees position as a national leader in nuclear energy. Executive Order 101 creates the Tennessee Nuclear Energy Advisory Council, which will seek to build upon the states legacy in nuclear innovation and drive continued investment to create a nuclear energy ecosystem for the future of Tennessee.

Tennessee is ready-made to lead Americas energy independence and drive continued economic growth with safe, clean and reliable nuclear energy for the future, said Governor Lee. Today, Im signing an executive order that will continue our work to make Tennessee the number one state for nuclear energy companies to invest and thrive, bringing greater opportunity and quality jobs for Tennesseans.

Yesterday, prior to signing Executive Order 101 in Knoxville, Governor Lee joined industry leaders at the annual Nuclear Energy Assembly in Washington, D.C. to highlight Tennessees leading role in the future of American energy.

The Tennessee Nuclear Energy Advisory Council will consist of 15 members, including members of the Lee administration, the Tennessee General Assembly, Tennessees Congressional Delegation and key nuclear industry stakeholders.

The advisory council will recommend the following actions to advance Tennessees ability to lead the nation in nuclear energy:

Legislative, policy and budgetary changes to address regulatory, workforce or education barriers that exist to the creation and expansion of nuclear energy facilities in Tennessee

Funding opportunities for state government, local governments and the private sector

Storage and waste practices that continue the states long history of conserving Tennessees natural resources

Federal actions that Tennessee should pursue with federal partners and agencies

This year, Governor Lee partnered with the Tennessee General Assembly to create a $50 million Nuclear Fund in the states Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget. The fund, proposed by Governor Lee at his 2023 State of the State address in February, will establish a nuclear development and manufacturing ecosystem built for the future of Tennessee by providing grants and assistance to support nuclear power-related businesses that choose to relocate or grow in the state.
A long time ago in a galaxy far far away, the Lord intimately and intentionally knew a woman he desired to create and on September 17, 1951, Harry and Edna Lishman welcomed Krystal Kris Marie Frainie into their Hampton, Virginia home. She was the youngest of three girls following Penny, who is 10 years her senior and Linda, who is five years her senior. Kris completed their family and forever impacted our world!

Kris was smart, funny and an avid reader. She enjoyed creating, writing, serving others and studying God's word. Her love for scripture led her to eventually pursue a degree in theology. She was unashamed of the gospel of Christ and knew that if Jesus Christ could set her free, He could set anyone free! Kris became involved in the pro-life movement in the late 70s. While living in Knoxville, she served to counsel young unwed mothers in crisis pregnancy and defend the right to life. In the late 80s/early 90s, Ed & Kris moved their family to Chattanooga where she became actively involved as the office manager for AAA Womens Services. As she continued to participate in crisis pregnancy counseling with the team at AAA, it was realized the younger population needed to be reached before sex and pregnancy became a crisis. In 1991, Kris developed an abstinence education curriculum called Birds, Bees and Other Baloney, designed to present biblical truth on the issue of sexuality. She would teach this curriculum to youth groups in churches, until the call for her to reach the local schools came in and she received the support and team to do just that. The Why kNOw? abstinence education program was developed and directed by Kris and now serves as a national model for similar programs. The curriculum is widely used in Chattanooga & North Georgia area schools.

Throughout her married life, Kris kept an open door to the needy and her desire to honor God through helping others led to housing pregnant unwed mothers and their pre-born babies, refugees from Vietnam, missionaries and many others. She would joke that other people's children brought home stray animals and her children brought home stray peopleand they never left! She had a profound gift to see the good in people and cover those she encountered with love.

If you were privileged to know Kris personally, you know she is a Trekkie at heart, with a love for sci-fi fantasy movies and time spent with her husband and family. You could find her reading the latest JD Robb novel, meeting with her weekly crochet knitting group, serving with her husband at Calvary Chapel Chattanooga on the weekends or speaking VERY LOUDLY at the TV News.

When the culture and the pains of this world became too great, Kris would say Beam me up Scottie, there is no intelligent life down here and the Lord, in his great mercy, finally answered her with warp speed.

Peacefully in her favorite position of sleep, our beloved wife and mother opened her eyes in heaven to see her savior, Jesus, face to face! She is now in glory forever healed and free. We are thankful for the gift of her salvation which led to the salvation of her husband, children and grandchildren. Her legacy is faith, prayer, the word of God and the pursuit of truth. She loved with deep loyalty and compassion. She fought tirelessly for life and the protection of it from the womb to the grave. Her marriage of 52+ years to Edward Frainie was preceded by four years of dating, after meeting on Buckroe Beach, Virginia, in 1966. She tells of seeing the handsome sixteen year old in an arcade and asking for a nickel. She has asked him for money ever since. Their love story began when she was 14 years old and only grew deeper and more intimate throughout the years. Her marriage produced three very loved children Mark, Kimberly and Hope who have produced four beautiful granddaughters Emilie, Charis, Maya & Gladys.

Thank you to our wife, mom, daughter, sister, aunt, niece, cousin and friend!

All our love!

Well done & see you soon!

We will be celebrating Kris Frainies life on June 25, 2023 at 4 p.m. in the afternoon at Calvary Chapel Chattanooga located at 3415 Broad Street, Chattanooga, Tn. 37409.

We are preparing a special presentation for the service including comments, videos and photos submitted to mcmommyk@gmail.com. We welcome stories, memories, scriptures, prayers and pictures.

In lieu of of flowers, please make a donation to the following in honor of Kris Frainie:

National Memorial for the Unborn, https://www.memorialfortheunborn.org/#Donate

St. Jude Children Hospital, https://www.stjude.org

Condolences and memories may be shared at www.williamsonandsons.com.

Arrangements are by Williamson and Sons Funeral Home, 8852 Dayton Pike, Soddy Daisy, TN 37379.
When education leaders talk about lightening the load, it isnt about doing less, it is about focusing efforts on what is most important. Stephen Covey made a career out of teaching others how to prioritize their time and tasks for greater effectiveness and efficiency.

Professional Educators of Tennessee has built a professional learning conference around helping our teachers and administrators learn ways to lighten their load as they navigate the ever-changing education landscape. We need a paradigm shift in education policy to give educators on the ground the right tools and policies which allow them the flexibility to adjust workloads to set all students on a path to success. Dr. Shamender Talwar, a crisis and social psychologist, who assisted families following the devastating recent school shooting in Nashville has called mental health the new pandemic.

Dr. Talwar told the Tennessee Ledger, The stigma of mental health should be taken seriously. The new pandemic after COVID is mental health issues, mental health illness, and mental health situations. And Nashville is an eye-opener. He adds, [First Responders] are suffering post-trauma to what theyve witnessed, and they need support as much as the parents.

Public education needs to frequently revisit our mission, vision, and priorities. Most importantly, we must listen to our educators doing the actual work and hear their voices. They have been telling us for years the workload and stress are becoming impossible. The stress even impacts our students, and possibly their parents.

According to a Gallup survey: anger, stress, worry, and sadness have been on the rise globally for the past decade -- long before the COVID-19 pandemic. Jim Clifton, chairman of Gallup, wrote, Anxiety and depression disorders manifest in very different ways than physical illness does. While they can debilitate the individual, anxiety, and depression disorders also can debilitate teams, families, schools, and all institutions around them.

Gallup suggests two solutions: First, by being aware of the crisis, getting in front of it, and working to prevent it. Second, take immediate action to address, treat, and if possible, reverse the condition if possible. We must be more aware of what is going on in our schools, identify problems and work to address them.

In Nashville after the Covenant school shooting, we witnessed a united community of police, fire, medical personnel, churches, politicians, volunteers, the media, and countless others respond to a crisis. Together they created a support system. We need a support system for our schools at the front end. We must lighten the load on our educators now.

Dr. Talwar is addressing this critical subject for Professional Educators of Tennessee at the Leader U Conference on June 7, at the Student Union Building at Middle Tennessee State University. Teachers, administrators, parents, and concerned citizens are welcome, but registration is required.

JC Bowman

Executive Director of Professional Educators of Tennessee
Ronald V. Smith, affectionately known as Ronnie, was born on February 8, 1951, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He passed away peacefully on May 5, 2023, surrounded by family members in Paducah, Kentucky, and is rejoicing in Heaven with his LORD and Savior.

Ronnie completed his education in the Chattanooga City School System. He received his primary education at Chattanooga Avenue School. He later became a proud alumnus of Howard High School, as a member of the graduating class of 1969. After graduation Ronnie enlisted in the United States Air Force. He served faithfully and proudly for a short time before returning to Chattanooga.

Ronnie began his civilian career with Combustion Engineering Company, where he worked for five years. He then served 23 years with the Electric Power Board (EBP) in Chattanooga. While at the Electric Power Board, he became a member of the United States Department of Labor Apprenticeship Program and received the designation of Outstanding Electrician. Ronnie was a responsible, dependable, conscientious worker who was seen as a vital and valuable member of EPB.

Over the years he worked his way up from Groundsman to Under Groundsman, Overhead Lines, and Groundsman Trainer with the EBP. This role later took him from Chattanooga, Tennessee to Paducah, Kentucky to represent EPB during the blizzard of 1993. In recognition of his dedication, hard work, and expertise he became a part of the Paducah Power family serving for six years. While settling in Paducah he would later meet his wife Willa P. Gary. The two would marry on September 25, 1999.

Ronnie had a deep sense of humility and undying love for his family, especially for his wife, children, and grandchildren. He often referred to himself as a Super Daddy with Superpowers. He was considered a history buff. He enjoyed studying different cultures and immersed himself in various teachings of religion. He has been described as a comical man, who could tell a story that would have you laughing for days. Ronnie had many interests and talents and was widely recognized for earning his Black Belt in Karate and being an avid Chess player. He was a proud member of Hyksos Temple 123 and Past Master of Phoenix Lodge number 6 in Chattanooga. Ronnie had an overwhelming affection for nature and often marveled at Gods creations. He spent countless hours in his yard watching the songbirds that frequently gathered there.

Ronnie was preceded in death by his mother, Dorothy L. Smith; his son, Tracy L. Jackson. He leaves to cherish his precious memories, his wife of 24 years, Willa P. Smith of Paducah, KY; two daughters, Dr. Pamela Smith-Ligon, Atlanta, GA and Tiffany (Ivan) Gunn, Nashville, TN; father, James A. Smith, Chattanooga, TN; sisters, Karen (William) Patterson, Seattle, WA and Valerie (Robert) Thomas, Chattanooga, TN; brothers-in-law, Huey Gary of Paducah, KY, William Gary and Keith Gary both of Seattle, WA; granddaughters, Taylor Jackson, Chattanooga, TN, London K. Ligon, Atlanta, GA, Kacie Jackson, Memphis, TN, Kamryn Gunn, and Kiley Gunn both of Nashville, TN; grandsons, Tracy Odom-Jackson, Tristian Odom, Tyson Odom, and Tevin Jackson all of Chattanooga; nieces, April (Dee) Sharp, Chattanooga, TN, Kristian Patterson, Los Angeles, CA, Kimberley Patterson, Seattle, WA and Kelly Knowles (Mark) of Melbourne, Australia; nephew, Kenneth Freeman; special friends, Charles Daniel, Charles Harris, Julius Summerrow, and George Woodruff, and a host of other relatives and friends.

A funeral service will be held at noon on Saturday, May 20, in the chapel of John P Franklin Funeral Home with Bishop Kevin Adams officiating and Rev. George Woodruff as eulogist.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. The service will be livestreamed via the John P. Franklin Funeral Home Facebook page.

Arrangements are by John P. Franklin Funeral Home, 1101 Dodds Ave., 423 622-9995.
The father of a boy who was raped when he was 15 by a family friend said he is "angry to no end" that 29-year-old Jeffrey Tyler Collins did not get jail time.

The father said at a sentencing hearing on Tuesday afternoon, "This predator should get the ultimate penalty. I think it should be mandatory jail time."

The father said he would not allow the boy to testify at the hearing, saying, "He's gone through enough."

Andrew Basler of the District Attorney's Office said an assessment from the probation department said Collins was not likely to re-offend. He said if he does get into new trouble that he would be made to serve his time in prison.

The prosecutor said discussing the proposed settlement with the victim's family "was extremely difficult."

Criminal Court Judge Amanda Dunn said prison time was "out of my purview" since she agreed earlier to the settlement of the case that did not involve time behind bars.

She set a maximum four-year suspended sentence for aggravated statutory rape and placed Collins under active probation supervision. He will be on the Sex Offender Registry for the next 10 years.

Judge Dunn said Collins is now living in Florida with his husband and is holding down two jobs.

It was testified that Collins met the youth when they worked together. The boy was staying at the time with an aunt. Collins was allowed to stay over at their house a night or two, it was stated.

Family members said after the incident that the boy began acting out and his grades plummeted. He threatened to harm himself as well as kill a family member. It was testified that he currently is doing better.

A tearful Collins said, "I sincerely apologize for all the heartache I caused. I just want the family to know how truly sorry I am. If I could do anything in the world to take it back, I would. But I know I can't."

He said of the offense, "I'm not that kind of person."
House Speaker Cameron Sexton continues to muse about rejecting $2 billion in federal funding for education. After revealing the idea in February, he proposed a task force to make a feasibility recommendation by Dec. 1 this year.

Our state can afford not to take federal education dollars, Rep. Sexton told Hamilton County Republican Women Tuesday. We would have total control of what we teach in the schools.

Tennessee would be the first state ever to reject the money, and Rep. Sexton suggested that Tennessee has been first a lot lately, and other states have been following.

Rep. Sexton said that Tennessee is leading the country, with the best economy in the 50 states. Our limitation is the federal government, he said.

These blue states do not like it, he said, acknowledging the trend of voters to identify as conservative or progressive, not Republican or Democrat.

As the California state legislature votes to raise the debt ceiling from $23 billion to $32 billion, he said, Tennessees current budget cuts $407 million in taxes while halting sales tax on groceries for three months later this year. Tennessees rainy-day fund is in the billions.

Rep. Sexton said that the Republican-controlled General Assembly and the Caucus will not support red flag laws to limit gun sales in the upcoming August special session. He said the state would go far if it first enforced its existing laws, including an existing order of protection law regarding mental illness.

But there are loopholes to close, too, he said. Under current law a conservatee cannot own a gun but he can purchase a gun. Mental health histories and violent crime histories of juveniles are wiped clean at 19 years old, he said, and some important incidents may be just a few months old.

Rep. Sexton said that the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has a 200,000-case data entry backlog, or 12 years worth of data that might keep dangerous people from buying guns. He speculated that people like the Covenant School shooter could be listed in this backlog.

Im not going to mention her name because its not worth it, he said.

This years budget funds an armed school resource officer in every Tennessee school, public or private. He said children should be safe anywhere they go.

It shouldnt matter if theyre in public or private school, he said. SROs build relationships with students and prevent tragedy, he said.

They become fabric of that school, he said.

The budget also doubles funding for behavioral health care in schools, and Rep. Sexton proposed that mental health care be offered in schools as well. If schools have rejected federal money, they will have more local power to resist a federal agenda, he said.

Rep. Sexton predicted that young peoples stress and anxiety brought on by the pandemic will be huge during the next 10 years.

I think that there are a lot of things that we can do, he said.

Rep. Sexton praised the Truth in Sentencing law of 2022, which requires some violent criminals to serve their full sentences without possibility of parole or early release.

He said the Memphis man who murdered runner Eliza Fletcher should have been in jail at the time, but a good credit system allowed him early release.

Rep. Sexton said he would like to build Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology onsite at jails to help prisoners prepare for release. He said vocational job training and housing are better versions of rehabilitation programming. His own Crossville constituents tell him, Just dont send me home, so they can break the cycle, he said.

He has also pushed secret ballots in the unionization process for companies that receive state money. Rep. Sexton said that a company has never unionized in Tennessee with a secret ballot.

If the secret ballot system is good enough for local and federal elections, he said, it should be good enough for unions.

Rep. Sexton said the general assembly is working to protect the lives of mothers as well as the lives of their unborn babies.

You can do both, he said.

Rep. Sexton closed by saying that if he could do it all over again, he would still vote to expel the Tennessee Three, even though it made some bad press.

You hope they learn, you hope they change, he said. Im not so sure about these three, but well see.
The detection of explosives is important for civil security. Previous sensors are heavy, expensive and complex to maintain. A team of founders from the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) wants to bring a mobile explosives trace detector to market that detects explosives more reliably and thus makes an important contribution to security in the civil sector

In the civil security sector, explosives have so far been detected mainly by stationary stand-alone devices, for example at airport security gates. The few portable devices currently available on the market, weighing an average of five kilograms, are only suitable for mobile use to a very limited extent. In addition, the maintenance and cleaning of these devices are very cost-intensive.

"For most users, the devices are also too expensive to purchase. They also do not tolerate water and are therefore prone to false alarms in high humidity. Because they work on the basis of ion mobility spectroscopy, some devices contain a radioactive source and are thus subject to numerous safety regulations for transport, storage, use and disposal," explains Mustafa Biyikal, an expert in chemical sensors at BAM.

A few years ago, Biyikal set himself the goal of developing an explosives detector that is not only more powerful, but also lighter and less expensive than existing devices. Together with Knut Rurack, his mentor at BAM, he developed a novel detection technique based on chemical-optical measurement technology and now holds several patents for it. Special dyes are used to detect explosives. They react to the explosives, e.g. TNT, and change their fluorescence behavior; this in turn is registered by a photoelectron multiplier and converted into an electronic signal. Detection takes place in a matter of seconds. A unique feature here is that after measuring a heavily contaminated sample, only the chip needs to be changed, not the entire device, which requires time-consuming cleaning. They also succeeded in accommodating the detections for nitro, nitrate, peroxide and inorganic explosives on a chip the size of a postage stamp (lab-on-a-chip), thus saving weight.

Now the sensor technology expert wants to bring the explosives detector, which weighs just 1.3 kilograms, to market maturity with a start-up. To this end, he is founding True Detection Systems GmbH (TDS) together with his BAM colleagues Martin Kaiser and Bruno Jan Rycek, experts in artificial intelligence and finance and marketing respectively, and Christopher Walter, an engineer from the aviation industry. Over the next year and a half, the team will be supported by the EXIST funding program of the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK). EXIST is aimed, among others, at scientists from non-university research institutions who want to realize a business idea around an innovative product.

Starting in 2025, the team plans to launch the explosives sensor initially in the EU and the UK. Later, it will also be available in the U.S., Canada and Asia.

"Our sensor is interesting for a broad market, in Germany alone for the federal and state police, the German armed forces, the fire department, the Federal Agency for Technical Relief, state authorities, customs and, of course, private security companies," said team member Bruno Jan Rycek.

"The spin-off of True Detection Systems GmbH in the important field of civil security shows how application-oriented and innovative research is carried out at BAM. It is another example of successful technology transfer from science to practice," said BAM President Prof. Dr. Ulrich Panne. "I wish the founding team every success.".
Unsplash/Tingey Injury Law Firm

The legislators in Nebraska who are identified as conservatives are proposing to merge two of the most divisive bills from the current legislative sessions, in which these are; banning abortion, and restricting gender-affirming care on minors.

This unprecedented action comes after conservatives narrowly failed last month to advance a bill that would have prohibited abortions at roughly six weeks of pregnancy by a margin of only one vote. Right now, conservative lawmakers are in favor of a change to the transgender health bill that would limit abortions to those that go no longer than 12 weeks.

Unique Legislative Process in Nebraska's One-Chamber, Nonpartisan Legislature

According to the shared article in Yahoo! News, this approach sets up a pivotal vote on Tuesday that could go any way: conservatives could win a double triumph on both abortion restrictions and bans on transgender health care this year. The results of this vote will serve as a crucial herald of the state's future legislative course on these divisive social issues.

Nebraska is the only union state with a unicameral, nonpartisan legislature, creating a particular legislative procedure. Each legislative session begins with public committee hearings on all filed bills. The committee then decides whether to send each bill on to the 49-member full legislature.

A bill that has advanced must make it through three rounds of discussion before it can be passed. While uncontroversial laws typically pass through this procedure without incident, Nebraska legislators frequently utilize the filibuster to block contentious legislation. The amount of time allocated for debate in each round is predetermined:

Eight hours for the first round

Four hours for the second

Two hours for the third

A closing vote is taken to conclude the discussion once the allotted time has passed. To finish the conference, 33 legislators must vote in favor of it. According to the article in PBS News Hour, the bill is tabled for the duration of the session if the cloture motion is unsuccessful. A simple majority is required to pass a measure in the last round or to move it on in the following round if the closing vote is successful. Though they are formally neutral, lawmakers frequently identify as Republican, Democrat, or Independent, and they frequently put forth and support legislation based on their political affiliations.

Currently, Democrats hold 16 members, Republicans hold 32 seats, and the final seat is held by a progressive independent who frequently votes with the Democrats. With such a small margin, the departure of just one lawmaker from either side can significantly impact efforts to enact or thwart legislation.

Also Read:Governor DeSantis Set to Sign Legislation Prohibiting Gender-Affirming Care for Minors and Other Restrictions

The Goal of the Combined Proposed Bill

According to the article in the Associated Press News, the proposed transgender health bill aims to prohibit hormone therapy, puberty inhibitors, and gender reassignment surgery for people under the age of 18. However, there would be exceptions in circumstances of rape, incest, and where the mother's life was in danger. The abortion amendment, on the other hand, seeks to outlaw the practice after 12 weeks of pregnancy. The transgender health ban and the abortion amendment will be tabled for the remainder of the year if MPs cannot reach a consensus on how to terminate the discussion.

Strong opposition has been expressed to these ideas. At the Capitol, protesters have gathered to express their disapproval as the arguments go on. The hearings on Tuesday may have a significant impact on Nebraska's most critical social issues, even though the outcome is still undetermined.

Related Article: Attorney General of Missouri Imposes Emergency Order Limiting Gender-Affirming Treatments
Evangelicalism has always emphasized the necessity of personal conversion through a born-again experience in which the Holy Spirit supernaturally changes a persons heart.

From the 18th century to the present, many evangelical churches have required a personal testimony of conversion as a prerequisite for church membership. And most of the time, this involves a personal experience of divine transformation.

But what happens if someone doesnt have this kind of transformative experience? What if a person believes not because of any perceived religious encounter but simply because of a reasoned conviction about the truth of Gods declarations? Are such individuals really saved? And even if so, can they still consider themselves evangelical Christians?

This was the dilemma faced by Francis Wayland (17961865), an ordained Baptist minister and early 19th-century president of Brown University. He never had what he considered to be a born-again experienceand for the president of a leading Baptist college in the 1800s, that was a problem.

I briefly encountered Wayland in my study of early 19th-century American antislavery activism, but I only recently realized that this opponent of slavery and professor of Christian evidences also struggled with assurance of his salvation because of lacking what he considered an authentic born-again experience.

For much of his early life, Wayland believed such an experience was required to become a Christian. After all, he had grown up steeped in the evangelical theology of Jonathan Edwards in a Calvinist Baptist home. He believed true conversion required a supernaturally wrought change of ones affections and will. And like many evangelicals of his day, he believed this change manifested in a conviction of sin followed by a sudden sense of bliss.

For Wayland, the conviction camebut not the ecstatic experience.

Wayland grew up going to church and learning theological truth, and he was never a profligate sinner by conventional worldly standards. He continued to attend church after leaving home, and he lived what his evangelical contemporaries would have considered an upstanding moral life. By his own account, he also fully believed the claims of Jesus and the theological doctrines of Christianity.

And yet he realized in his final year of medical school that he was living for himself rather than for God. When my purposes were crossed, my spirit, as I well remember, rose against the government of God, he wrote. I knew that had there been any universe to which I could have fled, where God did not reign, I would at once have gone thither.

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In other words, he discovered he had no real love for God. In his pursuit of success in his medical studies, he found he was living for his own interests rather than for Gods priorities.

As he reflected on this, he suddenly realized how spiritually hazardous his secret enmity with God was. I believed all that the Bible said of my condition and my danger, Wayland wrote. Jesus Christ came to save sinners; yet I had never sought his forgiveness.

He therefore resolved to seek God in the way that he had been taught to do as an evangelical Calvinist in the 1800sthat is, to spend hours in concerted prayer until God in his sovereign grace chose to save him.

Wayland therefore opened his Bible and spent the entire day doing nothing but reading scripture and praying. Nothing happened. So, he tried again the next day. And yet he still felt no discernible change in himselfno sense of assurance or feeling of a supernatural entrance of the Holy Spirit into his heart. He tried again for a third day but still saw no results.

He eventually had to return to his daily activities and medical college studies, but he resolved that in his spare time he would read only scripture and Christian books. He attended church with more enthusiasm. He even went to a revival meeting. He now had a love for other believers that he had never experienced before, as well as a new concern for the lost and a desire for others to believe in Jesus. He loved the doctrines of the gospel in a way that he never had before. And he had a sorrow for his earlier life of secret rebellion against God.

But he did not consider any of these new desires and emotions as indicative of the conversion experience he expected. Instead, when he reflected on his faith, he felt it was based entirely on reasonand therefore could not be the result of the Holy Spirits direct work.

I could not believe that the light which had gradually dawned upon my soul was anything more than what was taught by the precepts of men, Wayland wrote. Everything in religion seemed to me so reasonable, that all which I felt seemed to arise from the mere logical deductions of the intellect, in which the heart, the inmost soul, had no part.

He believed in the existence of God based on the evidence of design from nature. He believed that the Bible came from God and that Jesus really had risen from the dead after being crucifiedbased on historical evidence and logical deduction. And based on the evidence of biblical prophecy and the testimony of the gospel writers, he believed that Jesus was indeed the divine Son of God who had given his life for sinners.

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Given these beliefs, he thought it was only logical that he should trust Jesus for salvation and live his life for God rather than for his own selfish desires. From there, it was only logical that he now earnestly desired the salvation of others who were lost. It was logical that he should seek the company of other believers and devote himself to worshiping the Lord and finding joy in such activity.

But since all of this was so logical, was it possible that he had arrived at such beliefs solely through his own intellectmeaning it was not really a saving faith at all since, according to him, it was not produced by the Holy Spirit?

I could not deny that there had been a change in me, but the change had been so reasonable [that is, produced through reasoned reflection] and so slight in degree, that I could not be a child of God, he reasoned.

And since he had never experienced the divine heart transformation he sought, Wayland was convinced that he was still losta thought that terrified him.

It took another Baptist minister to convince Wayland that he really had experienced a divinely produced regeneration. Wayland did believe and had been changed, the minister argued. And if that was the case, then Wayland had truly been converted and received the Holy Spiritregardless of whether he came to saving faith through reasoned reflection or a dramatic experience.

Wayland eventually admitted that the minister was right. He would have preferred a more direct experience that would have given him greater assurance, but God in mercy disappointed me, and made me willing to accept his grace in any manner that he chose to bestow it.

Yet in his older years, Wayland continued to wrestle with recurring doubts about his own salvation, because he could not honestly point to a single moment when the Holy Spirit entered his heart and changed his life.

Even with his supposed moment of conversion as a young medical student, he said, everything was gradual, and seemed to have proceeded in the line of logical deduction. The precise time when a moral change took place in my character I cannot determine.

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Since that time, he wrote, I have had many seasons of religious declension and revival; I have been harassed with many doubts of my state before God, and have rarely attained to that full assurance of faith which is the privilege of so many of the disciples of Christ. He repeatedly prayed for such assurance, but it never came.

Instead, Wayland resolved to live a life of obedience and submission to the Lord. For decades, he taught Brown Universitys class on Christian evidences. (This, of course, was an era when Brown, like several other Ivy League schools, was still a Christian college.) If he could not find assurance in his own experience, he could nevertheless find objective, nonexperiential grounds to know that God was real and had revealed himself in Jesus Christand that those who trusted in Jesus could be assured of Gods promises.

In talking with his students and acquaintances, he also came to realize that there were many more people like himself than he had first supposedpeople, that is, who had grown up in evangelical homes and wanted to serve the Lord but who felt they never had an experience of salvation. Oftentimes, their spiritual counselors encouraged them to seek the Lord through prayer and contrition in the way that Wayland had, in hopes that such an encounter would come.

But Wayland advised a different course. Instead of continuing to seek after an experience that may never come, people simply needed to believe the gospel and do the things God said to donot to earn a sense of assurance through good works but to serve the kingdom with the confidence that God has accepted them and that this is what God wants them to do.

Wayland came to see that God could work through reason just as much as through experience and that, in Gods sovereign grace, not everyone would receive a feeling of the miraculous in their lives. Some people are blessed with a dramatic conversion or a sense of peace. Others, like himself, may never have such an experience and so constantly struggle with the temptation to believe that their faith could not be genuine.

Wayland could not give an exact date for his conversion. He could not say with confidence that he felt the Holy Spirit living within him in any sort of experiential way. He could not say that his own faith in Christ transcended reason. But he could say that he loved the Lord and wanted to give up everything to follow Jesus. As Wayland said, If I know my own heart, I do really with pleasure submit myself and all that I have to God.

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And if that was true, he decided, it must mean he really had been born again.

Personally, I found it reassuring to encounter someone like Wayland in my research, since I, too, have faced similar struggles. While I can give some sort of testimony of salvation, in moments of honesty Im forced to admit that I dont always find my experience very convincing.

Like Wayland, my connection to God has usually seemed so logical that its tempting to wonder whether it was produced by the Holy Spirit or was instead a counterfeit faith produced by my own reasoned efforts. And if my faith in Christ or confidence in my salvation were dependent entirely on my own experience, I would feel as lost as Wayland didespecially after seeking the Lord and feeling no sense of assurance.

But Waylands testimony is a reminder that evangelical Christians who sincerely love the Lord and are humbly surrendering themselves to Gods wont always have the religious experiences their theology might predict. Gods promise of salvation and regeneration does not rest on our experience but on something much more objective, as Wayland discovered.

Wayland chose to believe the promises of God in Scriptureand in the end, that was enough. I have no doubt that he truly was born again, even if he did not perceive it at the time.

Daniel K. Williams is a professor of history at the University of West Georgia and the author of Defenders of the Unborn: The Pro-Life Movement Before Roe v. Wade.
Forgiveness is the heartbeat of salvation history and the virtue that should mark the followers of Jesus. But those who seek to control and manipulate others can twist even the very heart of the gospel for their perverted ends.

A friend of mine experienced this. She endured a hellish childhood and abuse by several family members, including her father. No one in her life intervened or spoke up. As an adult, she finally gathered the courage to confront her abusers, who misused Scripture and twisted theology to excuse their actions and demand her silence.

Citing Ephesians 4:32 and Colossians 3:13, my friends abusers pressed her to forgive as God forgives. God forgives us by taking on our punishment, they argued, so she should likewise forgive and forget and forgo reporting their crimes to the police. After initially forgiving her offenders, my friend distanced herself from her family. When she did so, they interpreted her actions as unforgiveness and bitterness, adding to her moral conflict.

She is not alone. Again and again, across denominations, we hear stories about how forgiveness has been used to vindicate abusers and silence the abused. Once this coerced forgiveness is offered, it seems impossible to retract, which is often why abusers use forgiveness as a silencing technique.

How, then, can we de-weaponize forgiveness? I see at least four ways for the church to help dismantle faux forgiveness thats wielded as a weapon by offenders while preserving the central place authentic forgiveness has in the Christian faith.

First, churches can help survivors strengthen their sense of agency and self-worth. Since the 1980s, researchers like Judith Herman and Bessel van der Kolk have shown how child sexual abuse severely damages survivors self-esteem and sense of independence. Without substantial recovery of ones sense of agency and self-worthwhich often requires years, if not decades, of loving support, counseling, and inner workthe act of forgiveness will often be involuntary and a continuation of the abuse.

Only when significant healing has taken place and a sense of self-worth and independence from the offender has been regained can forgiveness become what God intended. As philosopher Nicholas Wolterstorff points out, the expression of forgiveness communicates to the offender that you have wronged me and unjustly violated my rights. Proper anger against wrongdoers and their crimes, which presupposes a sense of self-worth, is therefore not incompatible with forgiveness but part of it.

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Second, we must understand that forgiveness does not mean a lack of accountability or punishment for the evildoer. The act of justice actually demonstrates the biblical love of neighbor. Forgiveness is part of the virtue of love, the fulfillment of the law, and what God gives us through Christ and the power of the Spirit (Rom. 13:8, Matt. 22:3440).

At the start of his discourse on love in his letter to the Romans, Paul famously urges his readers to overcome evil with good (12:21), to not avenge themselves, and to leave room for the wrath of God (v. 19). For Paul, to love ones enemy involves letting go of personal revenge. Yet, importantly, it does not mean letting go of accountability for anothers actions.

In Romans 13:4, Paul describes the government as Gods servant to execute wrath on the wrongdoer. Child abuse is a sin and a crime, and as a crime, it is a societal problem. Crimes require the governmentthe embodiment of the people and the servant of Godto call the offender to account. In other words, leaving room for Gods wrath and asking the government as Gods servant to execute wrath are fully compatible with one another.

In fact, reporting sexual abuse is an act of love. For survivors, reporting the crime underscores that they have worth in Gods eyes and that the abuse is unjust. It redresses the power imbalance in the dynamics of the abuse. A just sentence defeats what Daniel Philpott calls the standing victory of the wrongdoers injustice. In condemning an abusers actions, society vindicates survivors as being wronged by their offenders.

Reporting a crime can also be an act of love for the broader community because it prevents the abuser from harming others. And it can be an act of love toward the abuser, as it holds him or her accountable and invites repentance.

Third, we can disarm a misuse of forgiveness by properly understanding reconciliation. An emphasis on reconciliation is often used by an offender to sear the victims conscience and silence him or her. The proper response to such injustice is not reconciliation but repentance.

True reconciliation, when it is possible, requires fully acknowledging the evil of the abuse and the harm it causes, displaying active repentance of the evil done, and offering restitution to the victim. These actions do not impede reconciliation; they are prerequisites for it. If offenders refuse to be confronted with their abuse, it suggests they have not fully come to terms with their victims dignity, the evil they have done, and the pain they have caused.

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It is similar in our relationship with God. We all flourish as human beings only when we acknowledge the evil we have done toward God, actively repent of it, and offer restitution by surrendering our lives to the Lord (Prov. 28:13).

Only through repentance do we experience Gods forgiveness and prepare ourselves for the day when our sinspast, present, and futurewill not hinder in any way our relationship with the Lord. Those who try to force their victims to forgive not only reabuse their victims but also manipulate Scripture, violate Christian practice, and avoid their real good: accountability, repentance, and restitution.

Finally, a truly repentant offender recognizes that forgiveness is an undeserved gift that must be offered freely by the injured party. The one who has committed a sin cannot demand forgiveness from God or from a fellow image-bearer. Otherwise, it would still be coercion.

And God does not coerce the vulnerable. Instead, he promises to defend them, heal them, and invite them into the fullness of his kingdom (Ps. 37:2729). The church must bear witness to that good news, so that forgiveness will not be used to cover up sin and silence the abused.

Wilco de Vries is an assistant professor at Theological University of Utrecht|Kampen in the Netherlands and a research fellow at Duke Divinity School. This essay is adapted from a presentation for a Harvard Symposium on Faith and Flourishing: Preventing and Healing Child Abuse. Speaking Out is Christianity Todays guest column.

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Saddleback Church wants to keep its place in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC).

The California megachurchonce one of the biggest in the denominationplans to appeal the SBCs move to disfellowship Saddleback for appointing women as pastors.

Saddleback is among three churches that will make their case before Southern Baptists at their annual meeting in New Orleans next month. The body can vote on whether to overturn the previous decision and allow Saddleback back into friendly cooperation with the SBC or to let the decision to remove the church stand.

The SBC Executive Committee, which is in charge of denominational business outside of the annual meeting, disfellowshipped Saddleback and five other churches with women pastors in Februarythe first time churches have been forced out for that reason. The congregations had until Monday to state their intention to appeal at the June 1114 gathering.

SBC bylaws plainly outline the process for churches determined to be not in cooperation with the Convention to appeal their cases before messengers cast their votes, said David Sons, the chairman of the SBC Executive Committee and a pastor in South Carolina. Since this is the first time in SBC history for this particular item of business to come before the Convention, its important for everyone coming to New Orleans to be prepared and informed about the process.

A representative from each appealing church will be given three minutes to make their case. The credentials committee, which makes recommendations for churches that are out of alignment with the SBC, will be given three minutes to respond before the vote. The other appealing churches are Fern Creek Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, and Freedom Church in Vero Beach, Florida.

Saddleback, famously founded and led by Rick Warren until his retirement last summer, came under scrutiny after ordaining three women in May 2021. The ordinations reflected Warrens shift on the issue.

I actually had to change because of Scripture. Culture could not change me on this issue. Anecdotes could not change me on this issue. Pressure from other people would not change me on this issue, Warren said earlier this year. What changed me was when I came into confrontation with  scriptures nobody ever talked about that I felt had strong implications about women in ministry, including the Great Commission.

Pushback from some Southern Baptists intensified last year when Warrens successor, Andy Wood, brought on his wife Stacie Wood as a teaching pastor. And last week, Saddleback named one of the women ordained two years ago, Katie Edwards, as campus pastor at its Lake Forest location.

The Baptist Faith and Message, the SBCs statement of faith, says, While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.

Last year, the convention debated at its annual meeting whether the line implicitly referred to lead and senior pastor roles, or any role with that title. Southern Baptists, proudly an association of independent and locally led churches, also challenged whether the SBC has consistently enforced that congregations adhere to every position in the statement.

At the time, Warren spoke from the floor to encourage the SBC to continue to provide autonomy to local churches and focus on the work of evangelism.

After Saddleback was disfellowshipped three months ago, Warren opened up to CT editor in chief Russell Moore about how he disagreed with the decision, saying, We should kick out churches for sin. We should kick out churches that harm the testimony of the convention. This isnt harming the testimony of anybody. And its whats a disputable issue, as Paul says in Romans 14.

Warren also said hes changed his position on women in ministry, based on his understanding of the Great Commission and the New Testament.

Weeks after the decision to disfellowship Saddleback in February, Andy Wood quipped that it was his second time getting kicked out of the SBC; his former congregation, Echo Church in Sacramento, had decided to cut ties with the denomination over the same issue.

This time, the disfellowship move was made publicly and drew national attention given Saddlebacks prominence. Leaders at Saddleback also had some interaction with the credentials committee to explain their position in hopes of remaining part of the SBC.

On a podcast with Carey Nieuwhof back in March, Andy Wood said the church had not yet decided whether to appeal the SBC decision, but leaders were in prayer over it. He affirmed that the church was committed to including both men and women in pastoral rolesa position they saw as both open handed and rooted in Scripture.

I can see the unifying component of it, of empowering both men and women, doing it in a loving way, non-feisty, and even not feeling like we have to defend ourselves when we do it, he said. I dont feel like every time I obey God I need to give a defense for why I obey God and do what he asks me to do.

As of last December, the church assigned pastoral titles to all women in pastoral roles.

It felt incongruent, or almost hypocritical, to have a woman serving in the same position, a counterpart of a male, but then the male is called pastor but the woman is called minister or director, Stacie Wood said.

As teaching pastor at Saddleback, a position she was given by Warren and the churchs elders, she preaches about once a month.

Warren, a fourth-generation pastor who founded Saddleback in 1980, was recently appointed the honorary chancellor of Spurgeons College in London. In April, he published a new book, Created to Dream.
67 Arkansas churches leave the UMC

Sixty-seven congregations in Arkansas have officially disaffiliated from the United Methodist Church, being part of a wave of departures driven largely by the mainline Protestant denominations ongoing debate over LGBT issues.

At a Special Session of the UMC Arkansas Annual Conference held at the Hot Springs Convention Center on Saturday, the regional body voted to approve the departures of 67 churches.

Arkansas Bishop Laura Merrill said in a statement on Saturday that while it was a difficult day for the regional body, she was grateful for the grace that Conference members extended to each other and to me as we accomplished our work.

I look forward to healing and continued ministry with United Methodists who lost their church home today, and I trust that God will open a new and fruitful path before us. We will move forward in faith, sharing the love and hope of Jesus Christ with our neighbors, Merrill stated.

The ratification of the disaffiliation votes was in keeping with the UMC Book of Discipline, which allows congregations to leave the UMC if they feel compelled to do so amid the denominations ongoing debate over sexual ethics.

If the church conference votes to disaffiliate from The United Methodist Church, the terms and conditions for that disaffiliation shall be established by the board of trustees of the applicable annual conference, with the advice of the cabinet, the annual conference treasurer, the annual conference benefits officer, the director of connectional ministries, and the annual conference chancellor, noted the Book of Discipline's section titled, "Disaffiliation of a Local Church Over Issues Related to Human Sexuality."

The terms and conditions, including the effective date of disaffiliation, shall be memorialized in a binding Disaffiliation Agreement between the annual conference and the trustees of the local church, acting on behalf of the members.

Last November, the UMC Arkansas Conference voted to approve the disaffiliation of 35 congregations, while also rejecting the disaffiliation requests of three churches: First United Methodist Church of Cabot, First United Methodist Church of Jonesboro and First United Methodist Church of Searcy.

Last December, First UMC Jonesboro filed a lawsuit in the Circuit Court of Craighead County Civil Division against the regional body, arguing that it had a right to leave the denomination with its church property.

That same month, the conference suspended First UMC's pastor, the Rev. John Miles, reportedly over holding a second meeting in which church members again voted to leave the UMC.

In March, Judge Gary Arnold rejected a motion by the conference to dismiss the lawsuit and scheduled a trial for Jan. 29, 2024. Days before the ruling, Merrill announced her decision to appoint the Rev. Britt Skarda as interim pastor for First UMC.

Recently, large numbers of UMC congregations have decided to leave the mainline Protestant denomination due to its ongoing debate over whether to change its official stance on LGBT issues.

According to the UMC Book of Discipline, the Church prohibits the blessing of same-sex unions and bars the ordination of individuals who are in same-sex romantic relationships.

Nevertheless, many theologically progressive leaders within the UMC have actively refused to follow or enforce these rules, prompting many theological conservatives to seek dismissal.

Many of those leaving the UMC have opted to join the Global Methodist Church, a theologically conservative denomination that was officially launched in May of last year.
Gwyneth Paltrow reveals she wasn't prepared for what her daughter's school taught in sex ed

Actress Gwyneth Paltrow admitted during a recent podcast interview that she wasn't prepared for how much her childrens school in Los Angles, California, taught preteens about sex.

The Hollywood star and founder of the newsletter Goop, which also sells beauty products and sex toys, said during a May 3 interview with host Alex Cooper on the "Call Her Daddy" podcast that her childrens school taught sex education to sixth graders.

The starlet remembered her daughter, Apple, now 19, sitting in the kitchen one day with her friend Emily; the color drained from both of their faces, and both appeared to be in shock after what they had learned in school.

"They taught them everything. Everything. Anything you're thinking, they taught like the 11, 12-year-olds, she said. "They're like, 'Do people do this?'

Paltrow told the story in response to a question about how she discusses topics such as dating and sex with her children, revealing that she believes parents should tread lightly and let [their children] come to you.

The actress has two children, Apple and Moses, from her marriage to Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. As Glamour magazine reported in 2013, the pair moved back to Los Angeles after living in London for 10 years. The couple later announced their breakup in a 2014 Goop blog post titled Conscious Uncoupling.

The Oscar winners surprise regarding the content her pre-teens were exposed to at school appears to have become increasingly more common with parents throughout the country, as several controversies about the materials taught in schools have gained attention in recent years.

As The Christian Post reported in March, the Churchill High School in Eugene, Oregon, placed a health teacher on leave after parents objected to an assignment that asked students about their sexual fantasies. The teacher, Kirk Miller, asked students in his Health 2 - Human Sexuality course in January to write at least one paragraph on the topic.

In the assignment, students were told not to write about any fantasies that included any form of penetration or oral sex and to exclude all forms of intercourse that result in a sexually transmitted illness.

"You will choose three items (romantic music, candles, massage oil, feather, feather boa, flavored syrup, etc.) to use in your story," the assignment read. "Your story should show that you can show and receive loving physical affection without having sex."

The Eugene 4J School District, which oversees the high school, launched a third-party investigation, as The Register-Guard reported on March 17. The district began reviewing the OWL curriculum used in the health class, which stands for Our Whole Lives.

The OWL curriculum was originally published in connection with the United Church of Christ and the Unitarian Universalist Association and was first implemented in the 1990s. In response to an inquiry from CP at the time, a spokesperson for the UUA directed the outlet to a statement it had released addressing the controversy.

The UUA asserted that the assignment provided to the ninth grade health class was an "unapproved adaptation that was taken out of context from an out-of-print version of the curriculum." In addition, the UUA claimed that the health class teacher was not trained by one of its certified OWL trainers.

Another assignment in the class called "With Whom Would You Do It?" involved a spinning wheel labeled with various sexual acts. When the wheel was spun and landed on a sexual act, students would write the initials of a male or female classmate they wanted to do that sexual activity with.

Justin McCall, the father of a female student in the class, told Oregon-based news outlet KEZI that his daughter felt very, very, very uncomfortable in the classroom. The same outlet reported on March 9 that the district superintendent approved replacing the curriculum by the end of the year.

As CP reported, parents at another school district in Florida objected to the content included in a sexual education curriculum. The Hillsborough County School Board held a hearing in November after opponents of a sexual education curriculum adopted in September filed over 3,000 petitions.

Bay News 9 reporter Angie Angers shared a copy of the petition in a Twitter post last year. Parents objected to the use of graphic drawings of genitalia intended for discussion and the curriculum connecting seventh grade students to Planned Parenthood for abstinence advice.

The parents also noted that amaze.org is included in the materials, which they pointed out has videos about gender identity. However, Health Education Supervisor Ashlee Cappucci clarified during the hearing that the gender identity videos are not included in the lesson plans.

In July, the Miami-Dade County School Board reversed its initial decision to adopt two sexual education textbooks following objections from parents. The books, Comprehensive Health Skills for Middle School and Comprehensive Health Skills for High School, were intended for the 2022-2023 school year.

The textbooks reportedly contained a section on sexually transmitted diseases, gender identity, contraception and abortion.

Parents opposed to the material claimed it violated Floridas "Parental Rights in Education Act, which prohibits schools from teaching lessons on gender identity and sexual orientation from kindergarten through third grade. Under the law, schools must also inform parents about relevant changes to their child's well-being.
California to pay over $1M to churches that sued state over abortion coverage mandate

California has agreed to pay more than $1 million in attorneys fees to four churches following two separate rulings determining that the First Amendment to the United States Constitution protects churches from having to fund abortion coverage in their healthcare plans.

The nonprofit legal organization Alliance Defending Freedom, which has represented several churches in litigation against the state of California over its abortion coverage mandate, announced in a statement Friday that state officials have agreed to pay $1.4 million in attorneys fees as part of the settlements in two separate lawsuits filed in federal court on behalf of four churches in the state.

ADFs announcement comes three days after California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat, outlined the agreement reached between plaintiffs Foothill Church, Calvary Chapel of Chino Hills and Shepherd of the Hills Church and defendant Mary Watanabe, director of the California Department of Managed Health Care. As part of the agreement, Watanabe will pay the plaintiffs $500,000 in attorneys fees by June 30. $490,000 of that award will go to ADF attorneys, while $10,000 will go to local counsel.

The agreement follows the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Californias Feb. 2 order granting a permanent injunction on behalf of the plaintiffs. Two days later, on Thursday, Judge Ruth Bermudez Montenegro of the U.S. District for the Southern District of California issued a ruling in favor of Skyline Wesleyan Church in a separate lawsuit.

Thursdays ruling grants the request of Skyline Wesleyan Church for a permanent injunction declaring the abortion coverage mandate a violation of its rights under the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment in addition to ordering the DMHC to consider requests and proposals from Plaintiff for abortion care coverage comporting with its religious beliefs, and to approve or provide feedback on the proposed coverage within 30 days. Additionally, it requires defendant Watanabe to pay the plaintiff $900,000 in attorneys fees by June 30.

As was the case with the agreement involving the state and the other three churches, the state will pay the overwhelming majority of the attorneys fees ($850,000) to ADF attorneys. The remaining $50,000 will go to local counsel.

ADF Senior Counsel Jeremiah Galus reacted favorably to the latest developments in the litigation. The government cant force a church or any other religious employer to violate their faith and conscience by participating in funding abortion, he said.

For years, California officials, in collaboration with Planned Parenthood, have unconstitutionally targeted faith-based organizations, Galus added. This is a significant victory for the churches we represent, the conscience rights of their members, and other religious organizations that shouldnt be ordered by the government to violate some of their deepest faith convictions.

As Galus indicated in his remarks, the litigation on behalf of the plaintiff churches over the abortion-coverage mandate dates back several years. The DMHC first issued a requirement that employers pay for elective abortion services in employer-sponsored healthcare plans in 2014. Emails obtained by ADF attorneys revealed that the abortion-coverage mandate came in response to pressure from the state affiliate of Planned Parenthood, the nations largest abortion provider, as well as the American Civil Liberties Union.

The ADF filed its first lawsuit against the abortion-coverage mandate on behalf of Foothill Church in 2015. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California ruled in favor of the plaintiff churches last August, determining the requirement that employers pay for their employees abortions was unconstitutional. The second case, filed on behalf of Skyline Wesleyan Church and resolved last week, dates back to 2016.
Family of middle school boy punished for wearing '2 genders' shirt prepare to sue

The family of a middle school boy is prepared to sue after staff punished the seventh grader for wearing a T-shirt declaring, There are only two genders, alleging that the district violated the boys free speech rights.

Liam Morrison, a 12-year-old student at Nichols Middle School in Middleborough, Massachusetts, was removed from class in late March and ordered to remove his shirt because of its message that said, There are only two genders. In another incident on May 5, the seventh grader wore a shirt that read, There are censored genders, and the school asked him again to take off his shirt as class started.

According to Fox News, attorneys for the school had informed the Massachusetts Family Institute (MFI), an organization representing the Morrison family, that it would not allow the student to wear the shirt stating a biological reality that there are only two genders, which is why the boy wore the second shirt on May 5.

Sam Whiting, a staff attorney for MFI, told the news outlet that he expects a lawsuit to be filed against the school in the near future, implying that it could be filed in a few weeks or months. The attorney disclosed that the school should expect to receive a summons to federal court from MFI.

"We believe that we're going to get a win on this. I mean, I really can't think of a better fact pattern to vindicate a student's First Amendment rights," he said, arguing that the school censored the seventh grader for his "political and cultural viewpoint" on a topic of "widespread debate right now in the public square."

The attorney highlighted how Liam had not created a disruption or harassed anyone by wearing the first shirt and that the school censored the boy because they disliked the students opinion. He also noted that the second shirt made a statement about censorship, not gender, insinuating that because it was Liam wearing it, the school made him remove it.

"Liam has the same right in school to discuss that as he would anywhere else, as long as he's not causing a disruption that ... affects the operations of the school," Whiting said.

According to Liam, many of his classmates respect him for what he did, and that school has been relatively normal since the school told him to take off the second shirt. The boy informed Fox News that he had arrived at school early on May 5, just as the building opened up when someone entered his homeroom class and instructed the boy to follow him.

"And knowing the shirt I was wearing and even though how different it was, I figured out that they would probably want me to come to the principal's office, Liam said. And after I had followed them, I went to the room that they told me to, and I already took my shirt off because I knew that that's what they were going to ask me to do."

The seventh grader emphasized that the shirt was not directed at anyone who identifies as transgender, lesbian or gay, and the intention was to voice his opinion. Liam encouraged others who find themselves in a similar situation to stand up for their beliefs.

Always fight for what you believe in and well, never let anyone stop you from believing," he said. "To be honest, in the place that we live, or in the time that we live, there are a lot of people that try and make it so that you're not allowed to believe what you can. But, it's being taken away from us. And being able to speak up not just about your own opinion, but for everybody else."

Middleborough Public Schools did not immediately respond to The Christian Posts request for comment.

As The Christian Post previously reported, a video of Liam addressing his school committee on April 13 went viral, with the middle schooler telling the committee he never thought that the shirt I wore to school on March 21 would lead me to speak with you today. The Twitter account Libs of TikTok posted the video on April 30, and at the time of this report, the video has reached over 13 million views.

The student explained how he was taken out of gym class for a discussion with two adults when he wore the first shirt. Liam described the talk as uncomfortable, and he recalled how the adults told him that the words on his shirt made other students feel unsafe, and he could not return to class until he removed the shirt.

I was told that the shirt was a disruption of learning. No one got up and stormed out of class. No one burst into tears. Im sure I would have noticed if they had, he said.

I have been told that my shirt was targeting a protected class, he continued. Who is this protected class? Are their feelings more important than my rights? I dont complain when I see pride flags and diversity posters hung throughout the school. Do you know why? Because others have a right to their beliefs just as I do.

Liam stressed that wearing a shirt with those five words is protected by the First Amendment and he hopes the school will speak up for the rest of us so we can express ourselves without being pulled out of class.

He added, Next time, it may not only be me because there might be more students that decide to speak out.
California churches take fight against state abortion coverage mandate to circuit court

Three churches went before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, arguing that California is unlawfully forcing them to provide insurance coverage for abortions.

Foothill Church in Glendora, Calvary Chapel Chino Hills in Chino, and The Shepherd of the Hills Church in Porter Ranch argued before the circuit court last Friday in San Francisco.

The churches are being represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative law firm that has successfully argued religious liberty cases before the United States Supreme Court.

ADF Senior Counsel Jeremiah Galus, who argued the case before the Ninth Circuit, said in a statement released in advance of oral arguments that the state shouldnt be forcing churches to pay for abortion.

We are asking the 9th Circuit to invalidate this unconstitutional mandate because California officials are required to follow the law and legal precedent, not the dictates of groups that have an axe to grind against religious organizations that dont share their views on abortion, said Galus.

In 2013, Loyola Marymount of Los Angeles and Santa Clara University dropped abortion coverage from their health insurance plans, to be in conformity with their Catholic beliefs.

In response, the California Department of Managed Health Care sent an official letter in August 2014 to Anthem Blue Cross and Kaiser Permanente saying that insurance companies operating in the state could not restrict abortion coverage.

"The purpose of this letter is to remind plans that the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975 (Knox Keene Act) requires the provision of basic healthcare services," stated the DMHC.

" [T]he California Constitution prohibits health plans from discriminating against women who choose to terminate a pregnancy. Thus, all health plans must treat maternity services and legal abortion neutrally."

In response to the letter, Foothill Church, Calvary Chapel, and Shepherd filed a lawsuit in October 2015 against DMHC Director Michelle Rouillard in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Sacramento Division.

In March of last year, District Court Judge Kimberly J. Mueller ruled against the churches, arguing in part that they failed to show discriminatory intent by the state.

 accepting as true plaintiffs' allegation that defendant knew only religious organizations would be affected does not, without more, make it plausible that her object was to target religious employers. Rather, plaintiffs must demonstrate more than awareness of consequences, ruled Mueller.

Plaintiffs must plausibly plead that defendant acted because of, not merely in spite of the impact of her actions on religious entities  and they have not done so here.
California can't force churches to cover abortions in healthcare plans, court rules

A federal judge has struck down a California mandate challenged by churches requiring employers to cover abortions in their private health insurance plans amid a yearslong legal battle.

On Wednesday, Judge Kimberly Muller of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California ruled in favor of Foothill Church, Calvary Chapel Chino Hills and Shepherd of the Hills Church.

The churches sued over a 2014 California Department of Managed Health Care policy requiring the removal of "any limitations on or exclusions of abortion services from the health care coverage [insurance companies] offered to various employers, including [the] plaintiffs."

The legal nonprofit Alliance Defending Freedom represented the plaintiffs and touted the ruling as a victory for religious employers.

"The government can't force a church or any other religious employer to violate their faith and conscience by participating in funding abortion," ADF Senior Counsel Jeremiah Galus asserted in a statement reacting to the ruling.

"For years, California has unconstitutionally targeted faith-based organizations, so we're pleased the court has found this mandate unconstitutional and will allow the churches we represent to operate freely according to their religious beliefs."

Letters sent by the DMHC informed seven private health insurers that the agency had "erroneously approved or did not object to" language in their healthcare plans that the state believed "may discriminate against women by limiting or excluding coverage for terminations of pregnancies."

They characterized "[e]xclusions and limitations on abortion" as "incompatible with both the California Reproductive Privacy Act and multiple California judicial decisions" establishing a right to abortion.

The DMHC ordered the health insurers to "amend current health plan documents to remove discriminatory coverage exclusions and limitations" or "omit any mention of coverage for abortion services in health plan documents, as abortion is a basic health care service." The agency emphasized that complying with the policy required health insurance plans to "treat maternity services and legal abortion neutrally."

The plaintiff churches objected to the new policy, citing concerns that it would violate their religious beliefs establishing that "life begins at conception." While the churches initially contacted their health insurance providers to request religious exemptions, the insurance companies informed them that the California Department of Managed Health Care's letter laying out the new policy did not include religious exemptions.

Although the DMHC later approved another organization's request for a religious exemption, the plaintiff churches filed a lawsuit citing the mandate as a violation of their rights under the First and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

That lawsuit was ultimately dismissed at the district court level although the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ordered the lower court to rehear the case in light of the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Fulton v. City of Philadelphia.

ADF filed a motion earlier this year asking the court to issue a summary judgment in favor of the churches, citing the Fulton decision's finding that "a law burdening religious exercise must satisfy strict scrutiny if it gives government officials discretion to grant individualized exemptions." ADF lawyers contend that the DMHC mandate for abortion coverage did not live up to that level of scrutiny.

As explained in both the ADF motion and Muller's opinion, "Summary judgment is appropriate if 'there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.'"

Muller, an Obama appointee, agreed with ADF's legal analysis asserting that the DMHC mandate violated the churches' rights under the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment and failed to measure up to the "most rigorous of scrutiny."

"In sum, the Director [of the DMHC] has not shown '[she] lacks other means of achieving [her] desired goal without imposing a substantial burden on the exercise of religion by [plaintiffs]," Muller wrote. "The Director's denial of the Churches' request for exceptions to accommodate their religious beliefs, based solely on the fact that those requests did not originate with a plan, was not narrowly tailored to serve a compelling interest."

Muller also dismissed the churches' claim that the mandate violated their rights under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

As both ADF and Muller noted, abortion provider Planned Parenthood played an instrumental role in crafting the DMHC mandate for abortion coverage. ADF obtained emails documenting Planned Parenthood's involvement in the development of the policy.

Expressing concern that "Catholic Universities have been purchasing large, group employee health plans that exclude certain types of abortions," Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California Legislative Associate Brianna Pittman asked California's Department of Health and Human Services "whether there is a regulatory/ administrative fix" for what she viewed as a major problem.

In a subsequent email, Pittman indicated a meeting occurred between California HHS officials and pro-abortion advocacy groups before requesting that the DMHC decline to "approve any further plans that exclude coverage for abortion or other reproductive health care service." She also sought "a clarification that there is no such thing as an elective or voluntary abortion exclusion," adding, "Simply saying that plans only need to cover 'medically necessary' abortions has been the source of the issue and does not solve the problem."

Emails obtained by ADF also reveal that following a meeting with Planned Parenthood officials, California HHS began "working with DMHC" to create an "updated" interpretation of California state law regarding abortion, culminating in the new policy.
Children, Teletubbies seen performing on stage at Los Angeles drag convention hosted by RuPaul Im Horny All Night Long song heard playing on PA around children; event sponsored by LA Public Library, Paramount+

Editor's note: Warning this article includes videos from the convention that are not intended for younger readers and might offend others.

Children as young as 8-years-old were dressed in drag and Teletubbies danced with a man wearing a skirt at a Los Angeles drag convention this past weekend.

Thousands of people were estimated to attend the DragCon LA event May 12-13 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, which featured over 180 drag performers, along with dance performances, wig and sewing workshops and, yes, even the popular childrens TV characters.

Sponsored by Teletubbies, Paramount+, Los Angeles Public Library, Postmates, Cash App and others, DragCons organizers described the convention as an all ages event, with children ages 8 and younger allowed in for free if accompanied by an adult with a paid ticket.

The first DragCon event started in 2015, when Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey, co-founders of LA-based production company World of Wonder, started DragCon in response to RuPaul, who wanted to find a way to physically bring people together, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Performer Queen Priyanka from Canadas version of "RuPauls Drag Race" joined the Teletubbies on stage for a dance number, tweeting, I came, I conquered, I teletubbied.

I came, I conquered, I teletubbied ????



my collab with the @TeletubbiesHQ is the crossover we ALL deserve ???????? Dont miss the biggest weekend in #DragRace herstory! #DragConLa@RuPaulsDragCon@WorldOfWonderpic.twitter.com/4YiDh95AO9  queen priyanka (@thequeenpri) May 13, 2023

According to the event site, attendees ages 16 and younger were required to be accompanied by a guardian, but that did not bar those aged 16 and under from any so-called VIP event with a ticketed adult.

Videos posted on social media showed several underage drag performers on stage with adults, including one performer whose parent shared a video showing him wearing makeup and dressed in womens clothing while he danced on stage.

The caption for the video reads in part: To think ANYONE would say this child is FORCED to perform.  Your child wants to be an astronaut, mine wants to be an entertainer and she has said that from the moment she could formulate a sentence  PURE HAPPINESS  Thank you Drag Con for opening up the stage for a short time, so the kids could show the world their joy!

Another video from the event included an interview with an independent journalist Right Now Views and a mother and her 8-year-old son dressed as a girl. When asked how he became interested in drag, the boy said accidentally before his mother explained, I was watching drag and she kinda just got into it.

I spoke to a mother and her 8-year old son dressed in drag at the all-ages drag convention. The boy says he accidentally got into drag from watching his mom watch drag shows. #DragCon#DragConLA#DragConvention#DragQueens#DragStoryHour#DragStoryTime#DragKids#Rupaulpic.twitter.com/gr60kltgr6  Right Now Views (@Right_Now_Views) May 13, 2023

Parents walked the convention floor and pushed their small children in strollers as a song with the chorus Im horny all night long played through the convention center's PA system in another video.

An image from the event shows a child in a stroller with a cup in the shape of a penis in a drink holder behind their head.

Parents are bringing their children to a Drag queen convention in LA filled with s*xual performances and costumes. Anyone wondering a few months people donated so I can expose this event. #DragCon#DragConLA#DragConvention#RuPaulsDragCon#dragkids#LAConventionCenter#DragRacepic.twitter.com/foe8KWaadY  Right Now Views (@Right_Now_Views) May 13, 2023

Meanwhile, outside the venue, protesters held up signs with Bible verses and shouted through a megaphone at attendees and performers, some of whom made profane gestures to the protesters.

As police looked on, one protester was heard yelling, Theres not going to be any Drag Queen Story Times in Hell. Oh, you look hideous, youre a monster. Look what sin has done to you. Look what homosexuality has done to you. Its changed you into a monster.

The American Civil Liberties Union, which earlier this year partnered with RuPauls Drag Race along with Viacom and event organizer World of Wonder to create a Drag Defense Fund, was also on hand at the convention center. In support of the ACLU, the fund reportedly raised $40,000 during the two-day event, bringing its fundraising total to about $1.4 million.

The Christian Post reached out to Wildbrain, the company behind the Teletubbies, and World of Wonder, which organized DragCon, for this story, but did not receive a response from either as of Monday afternoon. This story will be updated if either company provides a statement.

While drag shows are often touted as for all ages and family friendly, video footage in the last few months shows children at events where men in revealing outfits perform highly sexualized choreographed dances. Other footage has shown children dancing  sometimes provocatively  on stage while adults throw money at them.

One such event held last September in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, was billed as family friendly but featured men in makeup and wearing thongs on stage.

A viral video of an all-ages drag brunch performed at a restaurant in Plano, Texas, last October showed a drag performer lifting his skirt and lip-synching to an explicit song in front of young children.
Universalism and open Heaven: Pastor identifies the signs of a woke church

A pastor and podcaster recently provided valuable advice to Christians searching for a new church, cautioning them about specific warning signs that indicate a church might be embracing "woke" ideology.

Pastor Lucas Miles is the author of the book Woke Jesus: The False Messiah Destroying Christianity, which is scheduled for release next month.

In a May 4 episode of the "Politely Rude With Abby Johnson" podcast, Miles shared tips for Christians on how to discern the red flags when church hunting. It's crucial for believers to be aware of these red flags and exercise discernment when evaluating potential churches, he said.

Miles contends that churches have been invaded" by various ideologies, such as the Black Lives Matter movement, the LGBT movement and critical race theory.

Of course, the very obvious things. If the flag is rainbow colored, or if there's a BLM flag flying above the cross outside, then that might be something to note, Miles said.

Miles emphasized the importance of asking a set of crucial questions before Christians decide to join a church. He stressed the need for careful observation of signs that may indicate a church's alignment with "wokism."

You want to listen for language, maybe, of critical race theory, Miles told Johnson, a pro-life activist. "So, are they talking about white fragility?"

"Are they using this word 'diversity' all the time? Are [the church leaders] more focused on that than [they] are about just loving people because Christ has called us to love everybody?

Miles emphasized that a church rooted in biblical principles will not embrace a distorted understanding of grace and truth as its fundamental theology.

Is there still a handle on grace and truth? So, one of the things I always tell people is that  the Bible tells us  The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ, Miles shared.

According to Miles, any deviation into heresy tends to occur through two avenues: an excessive emphasis on grace or a problematic distortion of the truth. He emphasized the importance of remaining vigilant in both aspects of the equation.

"If you are elevating grace over truth, you become a progressive. If you elevate truth over grace, you become a bigot. We need both of those in full force, he said.

Some other signs of a woke church, according to Miles, is if it teaches a Universalist view on salvation. Universalism promotes the idea that all people, regardless of what they believe, will be saved.

Are they teaching an open Heaven?" Miles said. "That you can go to Hell, but maybe get out of it later on in life and kind of work your way back to Heaven? That would be something to watch for."

Miles advised Christians not to hesitate in scheduling meetings with the pastor or elders of prospective churches to inquire about the church's stance on specific topics. This proactive approach, he said, allows believers to gain clarity and make informed decisions.

Miles also said that one way to look for red flags that a church is woke is by looking at a churchs website and biographical information about its church staff.

Does the pastor have pronouns in his bio? That's probably something that you want to look for and really recognize there, Miles said. "I think also asking them what other nonprofits they support."

Miles addressed Christian listeners who have children, advising them to exercise caution by asking questions to church leaders and conducting research before their children become deeply involved in a particular church.

I think that you have the right if you're going to attend there, and you're going to give money there, to just come out and ask them  'Where do you stand on the issue of abortion, marriage, sexuality? Do you hold to a biblical framework? Do you perform gay weddings here at the church?' Miles advised asking.

Just ask those questions, just flat out, so that you don't have to wonder and you're not attending there for three or six months and your kids get invested in relationships and then you realize it's a problem, he continued. And what happens then, a lot of times, is people will stay because they don't want conflict. They will stay in [the church], many times, and justify rather than [leave] over these issues.
Texas moves closer to statewide ban on sex-change procedures for kids

Texas is one step closer to passing a ban on sex-change surgeries and body-altering drugs for children after state lawmakers approved legislation these extreme procedures.

Introduced by Republican state Sen. Donna Campbell, Senate Bill 14 would prohibit chemical castration, like puberty blockers or opposite-sex hormones. SB14 cleared the Texas Senate in early April and, after nearly a month of debate, received initial approval Friday in the House.

The legislation  which was sent back to the Senate for approval on minor changes and still requires a final vote in the House  would also require the state medical board to revoke the license of any physician who provides such drugs or surgeries for children and prohibits the use of taxpayer funds for such procedures.

Republican state Rep. Tom Oliverson, who was among those who advocated for the passage of SB14 and its companion bill HB 1686 in the state House, laid out his case for the legislation by focusing on what he sees as a mental health issue.

Representative @TomOliverson lays out his case in TX House, Pt 2. Gender Dysphoria is a mental health disorder not a physical one. Protect Texas kids from harmful gender modification operations, drugs and procedures. Sign the petition: https://t.co/sli9eKIOmH #SB14#txlegepic.twitter.com/1iY7mV46OG  Texas Values Action (@TxValuesAction) May 12, 2023

Gender dysphoria is a mental health disorder, not a physical one, said Oliverson. Research shows as much as 80% of children with gender dysphoria, given supportive counseling and psychotherapy will come to accept their biologic sex by early adulthood.

Oliverson also addressed parents who might have children suffering from gender dysphoria and the false choice of transitioning their child or watching their child take their own life.

In truth, the scientific literature never supported this dichotomy, he added. But it speaks to the degree of irresponsible messaging that many who practice this experimental medicine use.

During debate on the House floor, Democratic Rep. James Talarico  who, earlier in May, voted against rating pornographic materials in school libraries while leading a legislative effort to oppose the placing of the Ten Commandments in public schools  called SB14 the most dangerous bill being heard by the Legislature, according to the Epoch Times.

In a debate lasting nearly six hours, Democrats offered as many as 18 amendments aimed at limiting SB14s language to apply only to surgeries while still allowing doctors and other licensed medical professionals to prescribe puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones.

Eleven Democrats, including Rep. Shawn Thierry, crossed party lines to vote in favor of the ban, compared with one Republican who voted against SB14, Rep. Charlie Geren, who did so. Geren and two Democratic lawmakers later said their votes were the result of either a mistake or a malfunction.

In addition to her vote, Thierry published a public letter explaining why she voted for the ban.

After voting for the ban Friday, Thierry wrote: "After hearing from constituents, listening to stakeholders, and reviewing the scientific data in this country and around the globe, I am assured that this position is rooted in sound policy which supports the health, development, and overall well-being of minors.

"It is only honest to admit and accept that little is known about the long-term effects of prescribing, taking GnRH-analogs, (i.e. "puberty blockers") and cross-sex hormones to children as young as 8, 9, and 10 years of age solely for the purpose of affirming gender dysphoria.

For Texas, the ban on gender modification marks the final steps of a journey that began in August 2021, when Texas Gov. Greg Abbott asked the states family services department to compile a report analyzing whether subjecting children with gender dysphoria to sex reassignment surgeries constitutes child abuse.

In a letter to Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Commissioner Jaime Masters, Abbott requested the state official to issue a determination of whether genital mutilation of a child for purposes of gender transitioning through reassignment surgery constitutes child abuse.

Noting the department is responsible for protecting children from abuse, Abbott wrote, Subjecting a child to genital mutilation through reassignment surgery creates a genuine threat of substantial harm from physical injury to the child.

This broad definition of abuse should cover a surgical procedure that will sterilize the child, such as orchiectomy or hysterectomy, or remove otherwise healthy body parts, such as penectomy or mastectomy."

While some of Americas most well-known medical associations  including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association and the American Psychiatric Association  support puberty blockers and other drugs and surgeries for children, several states, including Alabama, Arizona and Arkansas, have banned prescribing puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for minors and disfiguring surgeries in light of concerns about the long-term effects of such procedures.
Texas millionaire shares inspirational journey from poverty to success through faith

A Texas millionaire entrepreneur who was a former member of the George W. Bush administration recently shared her testimony about her challenging faith journey.

Rebecca and David Contreras, who've been married for 33 years, were invited as guest speakers at Capital Life Church of Arlington, Virginia, on May 7, where they shared their testimonies with the congregation.

During her youth, Rebecca confronted the challenges of being a teenage mother, quitting high school, struggling with drug addiction and enduring poverty.

Rebecca, the president and chief executive officer of the prominent consulting firm AdvantGarde, attributes her success to the grace of God and the transformative influence of Jesus in what she refers to as her previously "broken life." Without these factors, Rebecca believes she wouldn't have achieved her current position.

In her 2021 memoir, Lost Girl: From the Hood to the White House to Millionaire Entrepreneur, Rebecca provides a detailed account of her journey to Christ and how divine intervention led her to meet her husband, David. The book also reveals their approximately 12-year tenure serving under Bush, both in Texas when he was governor and in Washington, D.C.

I am a miracle of God. And I don't know any other way to describe it. And so, if you guys have a dictionary at home and you look up the word 'dysfunction,' you'll see David and Rebecca Contreras right under that word, Rebecca quipped.

We are definitely an incredible, redemptive power and the true redemptive story of what God can do with two very broken people and surrendered lives."

A cycle of poverty

Rebecca grew up in El Paso as one of four children. She recounted her upbringing where her mother, who was never married, struggled with mental illness, drug addiction and poverty. Rebecca and her siblings faced the challenges associated with their mother's circumstances.

Consequently, Rebecca said she succumbed to "the path of least resistance" due to her mother's struggles, leading her to grapple with drug addiction and poverty.

I got involved in all sorts of stuff," she said. "You know, you don't have an identity and you don't know who you are when you're told your whole life you're not going to amount to anything because you're making mistake after mistake. You begin to believe that as a young woman and as a young person."

At 17, Contreras became a mother. However, her own mother, who had undergone a spiritual transformation and overcame her drug addiction, believed Rebecca was not capable of being a suitable parent. As a result, she left home.

Losing my daughter was traumatic. But at the time, [it was] because I had so many issues with addiction and poverty," said Rebecca. "I had a bout of mental illness myself and just not understanding who I was until God reached me in my point of need. I was not looking for Him, but He reached down and pulled me up.

At 19, Rebecca crossed paths with her future husband at a small church located in East Austin, where he had grown up and was actively engaged in gang outreach.

Two years after their initial meeting, Rebecca and her husband got married.

Caught up in drugs

According to David, he, too, carries a profound awareness of his past and the transformative power of God.

Prior to meeting his wife, he lived a life consumed by drugs. Reflecting on those years, he acknowledged the challenges he faced and the significant role that God played in pulling him out of that destructive path.

David revealed that his father, a veteran of both World War II and the Korean War, lost his life in an accident in their home when he was only 5 years old. This unfortunate event left his mother, who had a limited education because she had only completed the sixth grade, to raise five children.

I started out life very, very traumatic and very difficult. And I didn't understand that trauma follows you," he said. "And it really impacts your life in different ways. And it can come in different forms: divorce, death and abandonment."

During his upbringing, David lived alongside his grandmother, Maria, who was from Guadalajara, Mexico. Both his mother and grandmother instilled in him the significance of a strong work ethic and the importance of owning a home. His family acquired their first house in a predominantly white neighborhood in Texas in the 1960s.

I grew up without a father, without real leadership, without direction, and I got caught up in the drug life. And my friends were good people who were lost. Out of my five closest friends, three served time in the penitentiary; one died in a fiery car crash in high school. But one, Ruben, is the reason why I'm sitting here today because he came to know Jesus, he recalled.

On Feb. 10, 1984, he experienced a significant encounter with Jesus that he described as an incredible and unexpected event. He shared that in the midst of his tumultuous lifestyle, God reached out to him.

David said that God healed him of his 10-year drug addiction instantaneously.

God just snapped it off me," he recounted. "It was this 800-pound gorilla I could not shake. But for the Holy Spirit, He came in and thumped that dude off me and set me free.  And I've been free ever since."

A redeemed love story

Five years after he was saved, David met his wife.

God did a work. [It] took a season to really change my heart and teach me how to become a man, teach me how to treat women, teach me how to have respect for women, respect for myself, and how to learn how to honor God," he said. "And then, eventually, He brought this beautiful creature into my life and here we are 33 years later."

Following their encounter, Rebecca expressed her decision to enroll in a welfare-to-work program, driven by her aspiration to pursue further education and make a meaningful impact.

She recounted her strong desire to escape the hardships of abject poverty and provide a better life for her daughter. She landed a job working for Ann Richards as a receptionist during the time Richards was running for governor of Texas. Richards became a transformative figure in Rebecca's life. Under Richards' guidance, Rebecca received support for her education and was given opportunities to thrive.

Six years later, Richards reached out to inform Rebecca about how there was a job opening available working for the newly elected governor, George W. Bush, in 1995.

Intrigued by the opportunity, Rebecca joined the staff, embarking on a remarkable journey that eventually resulted in her serving in the White House as the Bush administrations special assistant for personnel.

During this time, she and her husband started their own family, attributing their professional and personal growth to the transformative work of God in their lives.

Forming meaningful bonds

Rebecca emphasized the significance of relationships in shaping her career and life, starting with her foremost connection to God. Throughout her personal journey, she learned the importance of forming and nurturing relationships with individuals whom she believes God has placed in her life.

Rebecca recalled her experience of securing a job while on welfare, where she had a single interview that led to her employment with Richards and then the former president. Since then, she said, she has not needed to go through traditional interviews.

She now runs a $20 million business that she established in 2011. Rebecca attributes her success to the relationships she's cultivated in various aspects of her life, including personal, career and spiritual spheres.

Rebecca said she evaluates relationships based on three criteria: their strategic alignment with her goals and purpose, mutual value addition, and their potential to help her grow as a person and align with her vision and aspirations.

She concluded with a prayer for unity amid the "brokenness" seen across society.

"You are a God of unity; unite us together, God," she prayed. "There's more that unites us than divides us. Bring us together in hope so that we can once again walk in our full purpose and potential."
Texas one step closer to allowing chaplains in public schools

Texas lawmakers have passed a bill that, if enacted, would allow public schools to have chaplains, with the proposed legislation being sent to the desk of Gov. Greg Abbott.

The Republican-controlled Texas House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 763 last week, in a vote of 89 yeas to 58 nays that largely fell along party lines, with the Senate having approved it earlier.

A school district or an open-enrollment charter school may employ or accept as a volunteer a chaplain to provide support, services, and programs for students as assigned by the board of trustees of the district or the governing body of the school, reads the legislation.

A chaplain employed or volunteering under this chapter is not required to be certified by the State Board for Educator Certification.

If signed into law, the act would apply for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year, with individual school districts expected to vote on whether to allow chaplains into the schools.

Each board of trustees of a school district and each governing body of an open-enrollment charter school shall take a record vote not later than six months after the effective date of this Act on whether to adopt a policy authorizing a campus of the district or school to employ or accept as a volunteer a chaplain, continued the bill.

The National School Chaplain Association, which had lobbied in support of the legislation, celebrated the passage of SB 763, calling it a great win for Texas in a Facebook post.

Texas Freedom Network is among the critics of the legislation, with its Just Texas Faith Organizer Shan Schaffer releasing a statement last month in opposition to the bill.

Texas students, who are a diverse community with varied religious views and cultural practices, deserve to enjoy true religious freedom at public schools without being forced to learn according to the religious rights belief system, stated Schaffer.

Finding your own spiritual journey is a deeply personal one that should be guided by a childs personal connections, not forced upon them by strangers that were not directly given trust by the child or their parent.
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.
Yoga opens demonic doors' to evil spirits,' warns ex-psychic who became Christian

While some think of yoga as a form of exercise or a way to clear the mind, others view it as a demonic door that opens its practitioners to and oppression.

For former psychic-turned-Christian Jenn Nizza, yoga was once a ritualistic exercise she purposely used to connect to evil spirits. After leaving the occult and turning to Christ, Nizza is using her platform to speak out against the idea that yoga is simply all fun and innocent movements.

I used to do yoga ritualistically, and the meditation aspect really opened me up and helped me to receive communication from evil spirits, Nizza detailed in an episode of Billy Hallowells "Playing With Fire" podcast.

Yoga is a Hindu spiritual practice and the word yoga is rooted in Sanskrit. It means to yoke to or to unite with. And what theyre doing is  they have deliberate postures that are paying tribute, honor and worship to their false gods, she explained.

According to Nizza, Hinduism has over 330 million false gods, which are demons, and theyre honoring them with these postures. Thats what yoga is, and it is not just stretching and breathing.

Nizza cited yoga as violating the biblical teaching in Exodus 23, which she summarized as commanding the faithful not to worship any gods before our one true God and not to have any other gods before Him.

Youre opening demonic doors by practicing yoga because those postures that youre doing are worshiping other little g gods; not the one true God, of course, but Hindu demons, Nizza said.

The whole thing with the demonic spirits and in the Church and everything else, I think it seems that people either over-demonize or under-demonize, Nizza added. Were not looking for a demon behind every corner. But we cant be ignorant to the fact that theyre there and that there are practices that invite them and invoke them.

When you give the permission to do that and invite them into your space, youre signing up for the consequences that follow. And thats why the warning is so, so important.

Nizza addressed Christians who believe yoga is merely a series of physical postures and harmless as long as there is no malicious intention. She advised them to read Jeremiah 17:9, which she summarized as stating, The heart is deceptive.

Its not like you can take yoga and blast worship music and cry out to Jesus. Or you say youre praying while youre doing these exercises, Nizza maintained. People say to me, Well, God knows my heart, God knows my heart. Thats right, and you should be concerned about that.

My friend Doreen said once, You wouldnt put Scripture on a Ouija board and think that its OK to do it.  This is a real spiritual practice and super deceiving, especially because it has infiltrated the Church. Many people in the Church, many churches, are supporting yoga. Its very heartbreaking.

When someone practices yoga, they open the door or sign up or give permission to demons to come into your space, according to Nizza. She stressed that anyone who practices yoga will be vulnerable to demonic oppression and the variety of symptoms it causes.

Nizza listed many ways that demons can harm a person as a result of them practicing yoga.

Anxiety, confusion, planting seeds of doubt, sickness sometimes even; they can actually affect your health. Again, as the Christian, spiritual confusion, spiritual vulnerability, not wanting to go to church or open your Bible, anything that will be leading you away from God, thats what the battle is.

Demons, she said, intend to get you away from God, get you into disobedience to God as well and then get you into sin," adding: "Its so, so dangerous to do that.

And then of course, as a former psychic medium, when you go through  any form of New Age meditation, youre opening yourself up to communication with demons as well, where maybe youre hearing things or seeing things in your home, and youre bringing that home with you. And my concern is for the soul of the person and also for their children, by the way, who youre bringing that demonic oppression home to.
Does Mary command Catholic mystics and angels to obey her?

Maria of Agreda was a 17th-century Franciscan nun and spiritual writer. She claimed that private messages were dictated to her by Mary, the humble and highly favored (Luke 1:28) mother of our Lord. As a noted mystic of her era, Maria's best known single work is The Mystical City of God, consisting of eight books.

Endorsed by many renowned Popes, including Pius IX and Pius X, no other Catholic work has received as much analysis and approval by Church authorities. The Vatican Secretary of State issued a statement in 1999 assuring Catholics that The Mystical City of God contains no errors of faith or morals.

Maria was initially reluctant to transcribe the transcendental messages she was receiving. She felt most unworthy, and yet somehow, she resolved and attempted to write of divine and supernatural things (Introduction, #1). Maria even sought Marys assistance:

I fled in this affliction to our Queen and Lady as to my only refuge in all troubles, and after I had manifested to her my way of life and my desires, she deigned to answer me in these sweetest of words: My daughter, console thyself and do not be disturbed in thy heart on account of this labor; prepare thyself for it and I will be thy Mother and Superior, whom thou shalt obey; and the same I will be to thy subjects. In all thy temptations and troubles, thou shalt take refuge with me, confer about them with me, and take the advice, which I will give thee in all things. Obey me, and I will favor thee and will continue to be attentive to thy affliction. (Introduction, #7).

The Apostle Paul wrote much of the New Testament, and yet never once instructed believers to converse with Mary, pray to her, or obey her. Nevertheless, Maria was convinced that she was in regular dialogue with Mary and with various angels. In her passionate zeal to obey Mary, Maria sought greater revelations. She prayed, Speak therefore, O Lady, that thy servant may hear with an ardent desire to obey thee (Introduction, #13).

Maria described a time the Queen stood near by  and said to me: My daughter; I desire that thou be my disciple and my companion, and I will be thy Teacher; but remember that thou must obey me courageously. (The Conception, Chapter 1, #7).

Marias response was emphatic. I prostrated myself before the throne of the King and Queen of the universe and I offered to obey her in all things (The Conception, Chapter 1, #7).

Does God want Catholics to become Mary's disciples? According to Maria, even angels must obey Mary. The holy angels obeyed their Queen and, visible only to her, stood in attendance (Chapter 22, #762).

The 17th-century French Roman Catholic priest, Saint Louis-Marie de Montfort, explained: Mary has the authority over the angels and the blessed in Heaven  God has made her Queen of Heaven and Earth, leader of his armies, keeper of his treasure, dispenser of his graces, mediatrix on behalf of men, destroyer of his enemies 

Scripture knows nothing of such fanciful superstitions.

In reality, it was extremely unwise for Maria to pursue conversations with angels. She described consulting about my doubts with the holy princes and angels, whom the Most High had appointed to direct this work of writing the history of our Queen (Introduction, #8). On many other occasions the prince Saint Michael informed me  (#9).

Consulting with angels, including one claiming to be Michael the archangel, invites spiritual deception. New Agers often consult with angels. The problem is that fallen angels are skilled at pretending to be someone else, while insisting they have nothing but good intentions. Once they gain a persons trust, these deceptive angels direct people to place their full confidence in anyone but Christ and his sacrificial death on the cross.

After much dialogue with her invisible spirit guides, Maria expressed her supreme confidence in Mary. She wrote, In thy hands do I place my salvation, O Mistress and Queen! Do thou take charge of it to the end; for thy desires are holy and powerful on account of the merits of thy most holy Son (Chapter 19, #311).

The Holy Spirit has never led anyone to place their salvation in the hands of Mary. Such misplaced confidence can stem from conversations with entities who pretend to be holy angels or saints in Heaven. The Apostle John wrote, Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God (1 John 4:1).

Maria dearly wanted her fellow Spaniards to become fully devoted to Mary. She wrote, would that all thy inhabitants unite in a burning devotion to the most holy Mary! How greatly would thy glory then shine forth! How much wouldst thou be enlightened! How valiantly wouldst thou then be protected and defended by this Queen (Chapter 19, #306).

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John recorded many words of the Savior. Jesus never once directed his followers to rely upon Mary for assistance or protection. And in Jesus seven letters to seven churches in the Book of Revelation, there is not a single reference to Mary. Instead, Jesus addressed matters pertaining to salvation and genuine discipleship, as I explained in my 2014 CP op-ed, What Would Jesus Say to Churches Today?

In comparing The Mystical City of God to Scripture, one points to Mary, and the other to Jesus.

Did Mary dictate private messages to Maria, or was it a fallen angel claiming to be Mary who convinced Maria to willingly become a medium? It is not uncommon for a medium to go into a trance, varying from light to deep, permitting spirits to control their mind. Throughout the 1620s Maria would repeatedly lapse into deep trances. The young Franciscan remained motionless and insensible for two or three hours. The ecstasy came along with levitation. She was elevated from the floor "

Anthony William is known as the Medical Medium. He said, Give the angels your true consent, and they will intervene. As one psychic and metaphysical teacher stated: You need to come from a place of open-heartedness, you need to be willing to ask...you need to be willing to receive the energies that will begin flowing to you.

If a fallen angel deceived Maria of Agreda, how many other dictated messages or apparitions of Mary have also come from fallen angels? And what about devout Catholics who love Jesus, yet remain enthralled and enchanted by superstitions about Mary, even though such tales are found nowhere in Holy Scripture? Spiritual discernment is needed to see through the fog.

(I addressed a related topic 10 years ago in a CP op-ed titled, Praying to the Departed Conjures Up Fallen Angels.)
Revelation 13: The rise of the beast

Revelation chapter 13 describes the rise of the Antichrist and his activities. It will be necessary to tarry on this subject for a while, cross-referencing this chapter with Old and New Testament texts.

Here is what the apostle John wrote about him:

Then I saw a beast rising up out of the sea. It had seven heads and 10 horns, with 10 crowns on its horns. And written on each head were names that blasphemed God. This Beast looked like a leopard, but it had the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion! And the dragon gave the Beast his own power and throne and great authority. I saw that one of the heads of the Beast seemed wounded beyond recovery  but the fatal wound was healed! The whole world marveled at this miracle and gave allegiance to the Beast. They worshiped the dragon for giving the Beast such power, and they also worshiped the Beast. Who is as great as the beast? they exclaimed. Who is able to fight against him? Then the Beast was allowed to speak great blasphemies against God. And he was given authority to do whatever he wanted for 42 months. And he spoke terrible words of blasphemy against God, slandering His name and his dwelling  that is, those who dwell in heaven. And the Beast was allowed to wage war against Gods holy people and to conquer them. And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation. And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the Beast. They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered before the world was made. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand. Anyone who is destined for prison will be taken to prison. Anyone destined to die by the sword will die by the sword. This means that Gods holy people must endure persecution patiently and remain faithful (Revelation 13:1-10).

In recent years, the world has seen something of its incredible vulnerability for a global disaster of monumental proportions. The geopolitical tensions and the use of nuclear armaments could lead to catastrophic consequences. An economic collapse or financial crisis could trigger social unrest and upheaval across nations. With the increasing dependence on the internet and digital technologies, cyberattacks could cause widespread damage to critical infrastructure, financial systems, and national security. Extreme weather events and natural disasters could significantly damage infrastructure, homes, and human lives. The outbreak of infectious diseases such as COVID-19 can spread rapidly and cause significant social and economic disruption. Pollution and abuse of natural resources can lead to conflicts over water scarcity, food depletion, and widespread malnutrition.

Any leader who could sufficiently address these concerns and promise humanity peace and prosperity could gain control of the entire world. The Bible says that Satan will raise up a Superman who can do it. Revelation says he will come up out of the sea (Revelation 13:1). The sea is symbolic of Gentile nations (Revelation 17:15; Isaiah 57:20-21).

So, the likelihood is that this individual, the Antichrist, will be a Gentile world religious and political leader, who will astonish everyone with his incomparable abilities and be worshipped internationally. People will ask, Who is as great as the beast? (Revelation 13:4).

The name Antichrist is only found in the apostle Johns first and second epistles. In those texts, John says anyone who denies Christ is antichrist.

Today there are many clergy who could legitimately be labeled antichrist.

Recently I was teaching an adult Sunday School lesson at my home church, and I was sharing how progressive clergy can be so pomp and pious. Yet they support so-called abortion rights, celebrate LGBTQ, and laud socialism, something for which they should be ashamed. They rarely, if ever, raise their voices against the things destroying peoples lives: alcohol, marijuana, gambling, pornography, and other evils. They never speak out or challenge the false philosophies and doctrines of devils, ruining minds and twisting personalities. They encourage a disregard for biblical morality and the rejection of orthodox Christianity. These clergy never risk a confrontation with the forces of sin, and their silence gives tacit approval to the bad influences literally tearing our nation apart. They fear they may be branded an extremist, a holy roller, an out-of-date Puritan of yesteryear, or a prophet of doom. They prefer popularity and acceptance. If they had any love for the truth, they would be ready to fight for the fidelity of Gods truth. It is not an overstatement to call these religious leaders antichrists. Like the devil, they lead people away from God. They oppose the will of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Although anyone who denies Christ, or the way of Christ, can be labeled antichrist, the Bible still recognizes a real end-time person who will appear in a crescendo of opposition to the true Savior of the world.

So, the events of the final days and the person of the Antichrist are inseparable. The spirit of antichrists pervades the entire Christian era and is prevalent today. But there will be an individual who rises to world dominance and attains the accolades and affection of the masses. Although the nations will laud him as magnificent and majestic, Revelation refers to him as a Beast to reveal his characters beastly nature.

This Beast plans to plant his flag on this planet as a God-free zone. He will turn people away from the Lord and his mercies and coerce small and great to bow down to him.

We see types of the Antichrist in the Old Testament.

The book of Genesis says Nimrod was a great hunter and a king (Genesis 10:8-12). The expression great hunter refers to his remarkable ability to communicate and win over the hearts and minds of the people of his day. He was the founder and ruler of Babylon, and known for his great strength and military prowess. He was also a great builder and directed the construction of the Tower of Babel. The Tower would reach to the heavens, signifying the world unifying around a false religion.

Nimrods name has come to be associated with rebellion and defiance against God. Some scholars believe he was a god-like figure in the eyes of his people, and they worshiped him as a deity.

Nimrod was a shadow of the Antichrist.

Pharaoh was a type of the Antichrist. He was an oppressor and persecutor of the Jewish people, much like the Antichrist will be an enemy of Gods people in the latter days. Additionally, the Pharaohs rejection of Mosess messages and refusal to acknowledge the power of God mirrors the Antichrists rejection of Jesus and Gods authority in the end times.

Some believe Haman, as described in the book of Esther, is a foreshadowing of the Antichrist because of the similarities between his actions and character to those of the Antichrist. Haman and the Antichrist are seen as power-hungry, malicious, manipulative, and authoritarian characters determined to destroy the people of God. Both are also obsessed with control and dominance, as evidenced by Hamans desire to have all Jews killed and the Antichrists commitment to do the same and rule the world. Additionally, both use deception and flattery to achieve their goals, which results in significant harm and suffering for innocent people. Haman clearly serves as a warning of the coming of the Antichrist and the importance of being prepared for the latter days.

Through the years, there has been considerable speculation as to the identity of the Antichrist. The following are some of the many figures throughout history who were suspected or accused of being the Antichrist.

In the first century A.D., some Christians believed the Roman Emperor Nero was the Antichrist because of his cruel persecution of Christians.

In the 10th century, rumors circulated that Pope Sylvester II had made a pact with the devil and was the Antichrist. In the 12th century, St. Bernard called Pope Leo the Antichrist. In the 13th century, Frederick II, ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, accused Pope Gregory IX of being Antichrist.

In the 16th century, some Catholics believed Protestant reformer Martin Luther was the Antichrist because he departed from Catholic doctrine and had many sharp criticisms for the Catholic Church. Interestingly, Catholics of this period revived the old theory that the Antichrist would be a Jew. This position relieved the Pope of any possibility of Antichrist guilt. However, the revival of this theory which associated the Jew with the Antichrist also gave rise to the anti-Semitic overtones of the Inquisition.

In the early 19th century, some Christians believed Napoleon Bonaparte was the Antichrist because of his tremendous military conquests and growing political power over much of the world.

During World War II, some Christians were convinced Adolf Hitler was the Antichrist due to his acts of genocide against the Jews and his ambition for world domination.

In the 1980s, some Christian groups believed Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev was the Antichrist because of his role in the Cold War, his efforts to reform the Soviet Union, and his development as someone with increasing influence on the world stage.

In the 21st century, some conservative Christians believed former U.S. President Barack Obama was the Antichrist because of his policies and political ideologies. Although the President claimed to be a Christian, he downplayed the influence of Christianity and erroneously showed favor for Islam as a beautiful and peaceful world religion.

Regarding the many conjectures and suppositions which sought to identify the Antichrist, and there have been hundreds of them, each one was proven wrong. It seems as though such labeling was often born out of political or religious hatred and suspicion. Christians should be more circumspect in their understanding and application of biblical prophecy.

The late M.R. DeHaan, in his book, Revelation, offers wise advice:

"The true identity of the Antichrist will not be known until the Church is gone [until the Church is raptured out of the world]. This is definitely stated in II Thessalonians 2:3, where we are told that the man of sin will not be revealed until after the Church is gone. It is foolish, therefore, to speculate as to his identity."

Nevertheless, as mentioned beforehand, it certainly seems the groundwork is being laid for the Antichrists appearance at the present hour. Current events such as increasing divisions and conflicts between nations, tremendous social unrest, a general hostility toward the Jews and Christianity, rank moral degradation, technological advancements that have enabled widespread surveillance and control, global pandemics, and the probability of a major worldwide economic crisis, are all signs of the last days pointing to the coming of the Devils superman, who will deceive the vast majority of the worlds population that he can solve every global issue. He will appear as a charismatic and persuasive leader who can provide salvation and deliverance. When in reality, he is a Beast  a human monster whose power comes from the dreaded Dragon  the devil himself.

Let me close with another quote from M.R. DeHaan:

Terrible are the days which lie ahead. The rumblings of the coming judgment can be heard in the distance. The clouds are gathering. Inventionshave made men tremble at what lies ahead. There is only one way out, and that is through him [Christ], who is the door to absolute safety. Those who receive him and enter through the door by faith are safe. They are described as those whose names are written in the Lambs Book of Life. Is your name written there? Are you ready for his coming? If not, will you turn to him [Christ] and be saved now?

Will you?
The choices Christians have to make

A few years ago, a friend of mine from high school who used to consider herself a Christian, encouraged me to check out a book that she thought I would like. The book is called The Unlikely Disciple, and to this day it is one of my favorite reads because it offers a unique perspective  a perspective that recently came to mind when reflecting on the times we live in. The book centers around a college student from Brown University who decides that instead of doing a semester abroad in a foreign country, he would instead do a semester in an environment that is just as foreign to him: attending Liberty University.

Kevin Roose, the author and central figure of the book, pretends to be a Christian, even though he is himself agnostic and politically and ideologically liberal. He writes about the perception he has of evangelical Christians from spending a few months at the largest conservative Christian college in America. The book was not an attack on Christianity at all, but the experience of reading the book was like looking in a mirror and seeing how outsiders to the faith see us. It was an honest look from his interactions with other students and seeing what we are really like, what we profess to believe in, and how much our actual walk matches our talk. The truth of the book that echoes in my heart for what has been burdening me recently for the Church in America is a simple yet profound truth: The world is watching us.

Ronald Reagan once said, You and I have a rendezvous with destiny. We will preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on earth or we will sentence them to take the last step into a thousand years of darkness.Reagan was talking about America and the Cold War, but the essence of that message speaks to the crossroads moment that I believe evangelical Christianity faces here in America in 2023. In case youve been living under a rock, we are in trouble in many ways. America is divided and teetering, our society is collapsing, Judeo-Christian influence seems to be eroding, and while it is certainly perilous times in which we find ourselves, it is also the opportunity of a lifetime for every believer in Jesus and for the Church at large. The question is, how will we respond to this moment?

Christians can stand out or blend in, we can speak up or shut up, we can live out and reach out to others with an authentic faith in Jesus or we can damage the name of Jesus. We can either hold to compromise our convictions or stand by them, we can either show others compassion or we can give into the undercurrent of anger and lack of civility that increasingly seems to be dominating our culture. Jesus called Christians to be the light of the world, and the salt of the earth. The question facing us is whether we will rub off on the world or whether the world will rub off on us.

America is more divided than at any time since before the Civil War, so is the Church rising to this moment with displaying Christian unity, or will the Church itself and Christians become as divided with each other over secondary issues and over politics to an extent of where we look as divided to the world as our country is? Our culture is clearly sick and confused, seen clearly in topics like sexuality, gender, and abortion rights. Will we speak the truth in love, or will we in the name of love omit biblical truth, or in the name of proclaiming truth leave out love?

America and the Church in America have arrived at an inflection point where it needs to be asked: What is our mission? What do we want to be known for? How will we respond to this moment? Will we as Christians be counter-cultural or will we get caught up in the culture wars raging around us?

The far left pushes a message that will conflict with what the Bible says when it pushes its agenda on sexuality and gender ideology, and euphemisms that minimize the barbaric nature of abortion. But the far right pushes a message of political retribution and nationalism that conflicts with the sermon on the Mount, and that can cause us to forget that ours is a spiritual kingdom to advance, not an earthly one. The truth is the Church and Christians should not be able to fit entirely with any political or ideological camp because the Gospel is above all that, and both liberals and conservatives need Jesus Christ.

Christians should be careful to remember Jonah, who was so caught up in demonizing the other side and filled with anger at the people of Nineveh that he ran from carrying out his mission to proclaim Gods message of compassion and warning of judgment. Christians, Jesus said, should be known for their genuine love for each other and for those outside the faith. We must not lose sight of our mission given by Jesus Christ, which is not to gain political power or influence at all costs but rather to proclaim the life-changing power of the Gospel of Christ in the hope it will change hearts and minds, and ultimately, the world. Jesus does not say in Matthew 24 that He will return for the Church once it sufficiently proclaimed political and ideological talking points, or once enough elections have been won. Jesus said He will return once the Gospel has been shared with everyone.

For anyone watching, it seems to be clear that not only are we in for difficult times ahead, but that our politics are ugly and getting uglier from all sides. We must stand out by not allowing the toxicity of our cultural and political climate to rub off on us but we need to rub off on it. And while, certainly, Christians can and should participate in the political process and vote our conscience, may we be careful not to betray our values and beliefs in the name of advancing them.

The world is watching.

Do all things without complaining or arguing, that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world (Philippians 2:14-15).
Rick Warren appointed first chancellor of Spurgeon's College

Purpose Driven Life author Rick Warren has been installed as the first-ever chancellor of Spurgeon's College in London.

The college is the UK's leading Baptist theological institution and was founded by Baptist preacher, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, in 1856.

Warren recently retired as pastor of the Baptist megachurch he founded, Saddleback, in California, but remains active, founding the Finishing the Task coalition to spread the Gospel among other projects.

He has a strong personal connection to Spurgeon's College as his great, great grandfather studied there and was led to faith, commissioned to Christian service and sent to the US to plant churches by Spurgeon himself.

Commenting on his appointment, Warren said, "I am delighted to have officially joined Spurgeon's College as its first chancellor at this important time in its development and mission.

"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."

His appointment is another significant milestone for the college after it was granted full degree awarding powers in 2022

In his role as chancellor, Warren will support the college in its vision to train men and women for Christian mission, ministry and leadership in the contemporary world, and make Jesus known in light of the continuing decline of Christianity in the UK.

Spurgeon's College vice chancellor, Rev Prof Philip McCormack, said he was "absolutely thrilled" to welcome Warren to the Spurgeon's College family.

Deputy vice chancellor, Rev Helen Stokley, said, "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.

"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."
STAMFORD  OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma is seeking a bankruptcy judges approval to pay employee bonuses for 2023 that could total up to nearly $22 million, a proposal that it is not being challenged by Connecticuts attorney general.

The bonuses would be distributed among more than 450 employees, who account for nearly all of Stamford-based Purdue's workforce. Company officials argue that the additional compensation is needed to limit turnover and compete for new hires.

The debtors employees are shouldering substantial burdens. Cumulative attrition has exacerbated the workloads of those employees who remain, all of whom must continue to operate a complex pharmaceutical business in the midst of these protracted Chapter 11 cases, Purdue said in its motion for the bonuses, a proposal that is scheduled to be heard during a bankruptcy court hearing on May 23. While the senior management teams intense focus on fostering employee well-being and engagement in the face of trying circumstances, combined with providing appropriate compensation under the prior court-approved key employee incentive and retention plans, has held voluntary attrition to manageable levels in recent periods, the company already maintained lean operations. The company also faces a challenging labor market.

Purdue's bonuses would include $15.1 million in Key Employee Retention Plan payments for approximately 450 employees. Of that total, 16 would be vice presidents and 438 would be middle management, professional employees and support and technical staff, which include scientific researchers as well as regulatory, compliance, quality and manufacturing personnel, according to Purdues motion.

In addition, the company proposes Key Employee Incentive Plan bonuses that would total up to approximately $6.7 million for the companys chief executive officer and president; chief financial officer; and executive vice president, general counsel and secretary. Those executives would receive bonuses only if Purdue achieves certain performance metrics.

Dr. Craig Landau, the CEO and president, could earn bonus compensation for 2023 of up to about $2.89 million. Last year, the judge who was then managing Purdues case, Robert Drain, approved a 2022 bonus of up to about $2.55 million for Landau. Two-dozen state attorneys general, including Connecticuts William Tong, had opposed an earlier Purdue proposal to pay Landau a 2022 bonus of about $3 million. Following Drains retirement last June, another judge, Sean Lane, is now presiding over Purdues case.

In its motion, Purdue did not list Landaus base salary. The company declined to answer a question from Hearst Connecticut Media about his base salary. Landaus base salary had totaled about $2.6 million, according to court filings in early 2020.

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong is not taking a position on this years bonuses, according to a spokesperson for his office.

More than three-and-a-half years after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Purdue is still trying to resolve several thousand lawsuits that allege it fueled the opioid crisis with deceptive OxyContin marketing. While the vast majority of plaintiffs, including Connecticut, have accepted a $6 billion national agreement with the company and the Sackler family members who own the firm, the settlement plan is not a done deal because a district judge, Colleen McMahon, overturned in December 2021 Drains approval of the plan. Purdue appealed McMahons ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. It is not clear when the Second Circuit will issue a ruling on the appeal.

If the Second Circuit upholds Drain's confirmation of the settlement plan, then Purdue would work toward emerging from bankruptcy, a process that could be completed within a few months. But if a party disagrees with the Second Circuits ruling, it could appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Department of Justices U.S. Trustee still opposes Purdues proposed settlement terms.
CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP)  Nevadas Democrat-controlled Legislature passed a trio of gun control bills Monday, sending them to Republican Gov. Joe Lombardos desk, where they face questionable futures.

Lombardos office has not commented on the gun bills, nor on many other wide-ranging proposals that are running through the Legislature in the final stretch of its session.

One bill would raise the eligible age to possess semiautomatic shotguns and assault weapons from 18 to 21. Another would bar possession of a gun within 100 yards (91 meters) of an election site entrance with narrow exceptions, while also solidifying language meant to ban homemade ghost guns. A third bill would prohibit owning a firearm within a decade of a gross misdemeanor or felony hate crime conviction.

Lombardo, the former Clark County sheriff, has previously bucked other Republicans by supporting universal background checks, but he still positions himself as firmly pro-Second Amendment while touting his NRA membership.

He previously vowed to veto any legislation curtailing ghost gun access while on the campaign trail, meaning the measure banning them has little chance for signature.

All three bills were subject to contentious hearings filled with personal stories about the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting, a rise in mass shootings nationwide and allegations from Republican Legislators about unfair testimony and rushed committee votes.

Democratic Assembly Majority Leader Sandra Jauregui, who sponsored two of the bills, previously said the package would protect second graders and the second amendment at the same time." She noted that 21 is already the eligible age to own a handgun in Nevada.

Jauregui was among the 22,000 concertgoers who in October 2017 fled 10 minutes of gunfire raining into a country music festival crowd from a high-rise hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. The attack killed 60 people and injured hundreds more.

The NRA, the Nevada Republican Party and several gun owners who testified in opposition have called the bills unconstitutional and discriminatory. Some said taking away guns, particularly in public areas where elections are held, could make those areas more dangerous, particularly with drop boxes in heavily-populated areas with other establishments.

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Stern 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. Follow him on Twitter: @gabestern326
By Anne Berest, translated by Tina Kover

Europa Editions. 477 pp. $28

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One snowy morning in January 2003, the French writer Anne Berest's mother, Lelia Picabia, received a postcard in the mail. It was an ordinary tourist's postcard, with an image of the Opera Garnier on the front. On the back, all that was written besides Lelia's address were four names:

Ephraim

Emma

Noemie

Jacques

These are the names of Lelia's grandparents, aunt and uncle, all of whom died at Auschwitz in 1942. Who could have sent such a thing? Who was there left alive who even knew those names? The family was shocked, but in time they managed to forget about it.

Until, as Berest describes it in her book "The Postcard," the day 13 years later when her daughter has an antisemitic encounter at school. The violence of it, and the school's nonchalant reaction, knocks something loose in her, and she immediately remembers the mysterious card that turned up at her parents' house. Part novel and part documentary, "The Postcard," translated by Tina Kover, is an account of Anne's attempt to solve the mystery of who could have sent the postcard, and why. Moving between past and present as Anne, with her mother's help, pieces together her family's story, it also grapples with Anne's own relationship to Judaism.

It all starts in early-20th-century Russia, where the family's patriarch, Nachman Rabinovitch, warns his children that the winds of antisemitism are blowing again, and that he and their mother are leaving to grow oranges in Haifa. Ephraim - ambitious, socialist and irreligious - takes his family to Riga, Latvia, to Palestine and finally to France. There he and his wife and three children thrive and assimilate, to the point that Ephraim sighs to his wife when his father comes to visit: "He doesn't look like a Jew . . . he looks like a hundred Jews."

As the children grow up in Paris the story shifts to their perspective, especially to that of Myriam, the eldest Rabinovitch child, who is a great success at the prestigious Lycee Fenelon (where Berest would one day be a student), and her younger sister Noemie, who reads Irene Nemirovsky and dreams of one day becoming a novelist, too.

But to be a Jew in Paris in the late 1930s is to live within the loop of an ever-tightening noose. Assimilated or not, the Rabinovitch family will be rounded up with all the others in July 1942: first the children, then the parents. Berest handles the deportations and deaths of her four relatives with sensitivity; she mostly avoids bathos by keeping her eye firmly trained on her subjects and their everyday humanity.

Myriam alone survives, because she happened to have recently married a non-Jew, Vicente, the bohemian son of the artist Francis Picabia and his wife, the writer Gabriele Buffet-Picabia. "All of our lives," Lelia tells her daughter, "were spun from that impossibly slender thread of luck."

The book alternates between the Rabinovitches and Anne herself. She and her sisters were raised in no faith except that of republicanism and socialism. But although their Judaism wasn't mentioned during their childhood - Anne grew up believing she was Breton on one side, Provencal on the other - they were haunted by their dead relatives. Anne tells her sister in a letter that she identifies with Myriam: "I always know where the exit is. I run away from danger. . . . I take the side streets. . . . I prefer still waters, and I always slip through the net."

Berest tells her mother about the filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky's concept of "psychomagic," which holds, in part, that there are, in everyone's family tree, "traumatized, unprocessed places that are eternally seeking relief. From these places, arrows are launched toward future generations. Anything that has not been resolved must be repeated."

She also turns to the work of the psychologist Nathalie Zajde, who has studied the children of Holocaust survivors to try to understand why they have their parents' nightmares, even when they have no firsthand knowledge of what they experienced. Accused by a romantic rival of being Jewish only "when it suits" her, Anne replies:

"I carry within me, inscribed in the very cells of my body, the memory of an experience of danger so violent that sometimes I think I really lived it myself, or that I'll be forced to relive it one day. To me, death always feels near. I have a sense of being hunted. I often feel subjected to a kind of self-obliteration. I search in the history books for the things I was never told."

"The Postcard" is, in this sense, a powerful exploration of family trauma, of "psychogenealogy," or "cellular memory", transmitted in the womb or down the generations; a longing for what we don't know and can never know of the people whose lives are responsible for our existence, and an internalization of the very worst that humans can do to one another, visited on one's own family.

Berest acknowledges that she has blind spots, and some of her evocations of Jewish life seem, at best, shaky; at worst, reliant on stereotypes of men with sidelocks and tzitzits. Occasionally, issues are introduced in the translation - on the whole fluid and engaging - that are not her fault at all. For instance, Kover, relying too heavily on literalism, translates a phrase that could become "Passover" as "Jewish Easter." In a book that is literally about the attempt to exterminate the Jews and their traditions, it seems important to get elements about Jewish culture right.

What kept me engaged, despite these issues, is not the question of whether Anne will solve the mystery but how she goes about trying to ascertain the unascertainable. This is, after all, why we read: to understand that which we may not ourselves have experienced. And it is what writing facilitates, especially for our generation, at two removes from the Shoah: The devoir de memoire, the duty to remember, has become a duty to piece together the clues we've been left, fragments of a vanished world.

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Lauren Elkin is a writer and translator whose books include "Flaneuse: Women Walk the City" and "Art Monsters: Unruly Bodies in Feminist Art."
Sunday Best

Does this dress, worn by NPR journalist Tamara Keith to the White House Correspondents' Dinner on April 30, look familiar to you? It does if you love the 1987 movie "Broadcast News," in which TV journalist and smartest-person-in-the-room Jane Craig (played, in an Oscar-nominated performance, by Holly Hunter) wears a remarkably similar dress to a banquet. Keith, who loved the movie and the character, had a DC bridal shop recreate the dress  right down to the proper spacing of the polka dots  for the event. Giving a speech at the dinner (Keith is president of the White House Correspondents' Association), she spoke of first seeing the film as a teenager, and how "it showed me what a career could look like  that there was this place far, far away where news is life and where people take politics and journalism very seriously ... The dress represents a dream of a career that, somehow, through hard work and a lot of luck, actually happened." Excuse me; there's something in my eye.
The City of Laredo held a ceremony to proclaim May 15, 2023 as Founders' Day to mark the 268th anniversary of the founding of Laredo.

Margarita Araiza, executive director of the Webb County Heritage Foundation, spoke about how May 15 is Laredo's founding day.

We are here today because 268 years ago, Don Tomas Sanchez - with three families - arrived at this location and decided to make this the city of Laredo. This was a very hostile terrain. They have risked their lives already to be here, to get here with their families. And because it was not created with funding as a presidio or as a mission, Laredo is considered the oldest independent city in Texas, she said.

Araiza continued saying that that spirit of independence is reflected in the people of today.

It led at one point to the declaration of the Republic of the Rio Grande, of course Laredo and Laredoans were the instigators, were part of the government of that republic, she said. And today that spirit of independence lives on in our population, is something that drives the city and has brought us to be the largest inland port in the nation, a very dynamic population. Those qualities of fierce independence, quiet determination and strength in adversity, those traits move on in our population, it is in our genes, it's in our DNA.

Araiza then presented Laredo Mayor Dr. Victor Trevino as one of the descendants of Tomas Tadeo Sanchez.

And I am very happy to welcome a direct descendant of Tomas Sanchez to help us with this ceremony. He carries those same genes and is now entrusted to lead our city, to defend it from adversity, and it is my big honor to present Dr. Victor Trevino, she said.

Trevino said that he was very proud to be the 85th mayor of the City of Laredo.

As we celebrate Founders' Day, it gives me great pleasure to celebrate the evolution of our great community that has had a long and rich history and culture that pre-dates the formation of our great country, he said. As we all should know, Laredo was established in 1755 when Captain Tomas Sanchez de Barrera y Garza was granted permission by Jose de Escandon for a new settlement about 30 miles up river from Nuestra Senora de Dolores Hacienda which is now known as Zapata County.

Trevino continued saying that Sanchez was Laredo's first settlement local government as the captain in charge of civil and military authority.

Through all this time, Laredo has some notable history like the establishment of an independent territory - the Republic of the Rio Grande - during several months in 1840. In addition, Laredo families were part of the founding of the city of Nuevo Laredo in 1848, right after the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo which ended the war between Mexico and the United States, he said.

He added that 17 Laredo families who wished to remain in Mexico as Mexican citizens moved to the Mexican side of the Rio Grande and identified themselves with Mexico's history, its culture and its customs.

Laredo has played a significant part in the regions history, and it gives me great pleasure and humility to serve Laredo as a public servant, as a mayor to honor this day, he said.

Trevino then read the Founders Day proclamation.

He added that this celebration was also done so that people do not forget history, who we are and where we come from.

We are not just a city on the border, we are a city that has history in the formation of two countries before they were two countries. It's very important that people know this and feel proud and see us as one community, he said. We are the same people, we go to Nuevo Laredo and our relatives are there, we come and go because it has always been a community, a regional community and in the pandemic we symbolize it with regional vaccination. It is time that we identify ourselves as special, unique and proud people because we have been around for many years and will continue to exist for many more.

Margarita also invited the community to celebrate Laredo's birthday on Saturday, May 20 where there will be vendors, food, music and lots of history.

We invite the entire community to participate in these activities that we will have for the celebration of the 268 years, she said. "The board of directors wanted to do something more open and public and free to the public. In our celebration there will be music, performances, loteria, food and then we also will have old and very interesting videos of Laredo at 6 p.m. The public is cordially invited to attend this event. This is for the public, it is our birthday celebration of the city and everything is free of charge.

The Founders' Day Celebration will be held in Downtown Laredo from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. It begins with a wreath-laying ceremony at 9 a.m. at the Monument to the Founders at San Agustin Plaza. A mass will be held at 10 a.m. at San Agustin Cathedral. After that, the plaza will feature live music, food, arts and crafts, yoga, loteria and more until 5 p.m. The rest of the celebration will be held at the Border Heritage Museum at 810 Zaragoza St. from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
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Deputy Micheal Eakin made a traffic stop along the Hardy Toll Road on Sept. 29, 1998 when a passenger ran from the vehicle. The 25-year-old Harris County Precinct 1 Constable's Office deputy got into a scuffle before he was shot in the head twice and killed.

Nearly 25 years later, his father, Bill Green and sister, Michelle Green-Wallace stood together during a ceremony Tuesday outside the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office to mark the beginning of National Police Memorial Week, which runs through May 21.

The father and daughter held a blue memorial rose, which represents an officer who lost their life in the line of duty.

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The Green family were among more than 50 who attended to pay respects to fallen officers in the community.

In 2022, a total of 246 officers were killed in the line of duty, with 35 officers being from Texas, said Montgomery County Sheriff Rand Henderson. Since Jan. 1, 2023, there have been 42 officer deaths, with one being from Texas, he said.

"When a peace officer dies, communities are shaken and families are changed forever," Henderson told those in attendance, which included community members and local officials.

Eakin had his life ahead of him and would have started a family of his own, said Green, his adopted father. Green and his wife bought him a house, which he only spent a day in before he was killed, the father said.

"You can lose a lot of things, but losing a kid is tough," Green said as he fought back tears. "And losing a kid like that is even tougher."

On YourCourierNews.com: Montgomery County's rate for court interpreters questioned again after 20 minutes of work nets $650

A Conroe High School alum, Eakin originally went to Sam Houston State University to become an agriculture teacher, Green said.

In 1992, Eakin was the Texas FFA president, a student-led agriculture education organization. After speaking with his uncle, Bobby Green, who retired from the Houston Police Department, he decided he would change career paths, Green said.

He worked for the Montgomery County Precinct 1 Office as a deputy for several years before working his remainder years at the Harris County Precinct Constable's Office.

"We were about the same age," Henderson said. "We graduated at different academies, but graduated at the same time. We were young patrolmen at the same time...just a stand up guy doing the lord's work. And I was proud to call him a friend and a partner...his legacy lives on through his family and through his remembrance. With every opportunity we have, we try to remember Micheal."

Eakin left behind a legacy that inspired his aunt, Linda Paulk, to become an officer at the Aldine Independent School District, Green said. Green-Wallace, his sister, works for the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office. And his 39-year-old horse, Travis, still lives at Green's farm, which Eakin used during his time as a member of the Montgomery County Constable Precinct Mounted Posse.

A memorial was created for Eakin by the Harris County Constable Pct. 1 Office in 2018.

"He's a person we think about everyday," Green said.
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
NEW HAVEN  Two months after the city cleared the "Tent City" encampment along the West River off Ella T. Grasso Boulevard, another encampment is about to be cleared  this time by the state  just a few blocks away beneath the Boulevard near Lamberton Street in the Hill section, activists said.

Activists, people experiencing homelessness and supporters rallied Tuesday at City Hall to protest any efforts to remove the Lamberton Street encampment, which is adjacent to the Amtrak / Metro-North railroad tracks. A person was killed in that area Feb. 11 when he was struck by a passing train.

"This is the second time in two months the City of New Haven is colluding in an illegal effort aimed at the throwing out of people from where they live," activist and social worker Billy Bromage said at Tuesday's rally against what activists said is the imminent action.

Meanwhile, "the city has refused to provide people with a safe place to live," Bromage said at the rally, organized by the Unhoused Activists Community Team, or U-ACT. "The breaking up of encampments actually leads to worse outcomes for people.

"We call for the immediate stop to all breakups of encampments," Bromage said. "People's lives are going to be horribly disrupted if the city breaks up an encampment in the Hill.

U-ACT member Arthur Taylor, who has been unhoused  and held a sign that read, "Fight poverty, NOT the poor"  said, "Once again, we're in the same situation. They say history repeats itself, but it's not history. It only happened two months ago."

He said authorities are treating unhoused people, now off Lamberton Street, "as if they're the outcasts of society."

Mayor Justin Elicker later said that this time, "The city is not clearing the encampment. The state (Department of Transportation) is clearing the encampment. The state notified us about safety concerns. There was an individual on Feb. 11 of this year that was hit by a train that we believe was staying at the encampment."

DOT spokesman Josh Morgan said, "It is incredibly dangerous to be near railroad tracks, and a person was recently killed crossing these tracks. In addition, conductors continue reporting that people are crossing and nearly being struck by trains.

"We are working with our partners to ensure that the safety needs of every community in the State are met," Morgan said. "CTDOT is coordinating with the City of New Haven and state partners like the Department of Housing, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and Connecticut Mental Health Center to make sure needed assistance is available for the people living in this area."

Elicker said, "We were very clear to the state that if the state clears the encampment, they need to work to make sure that the people at the encampment have a landing place." He reiterated that the city is not "the villain" this time around.

Since the city first spoke with the state, officials from the state DMHAS and the CMHC have been out at the encampment, Elicker said.

While the city is not the agency taking action this time, "I very much understand and appreciate the state's concerns about safety, especially because" someone died there, Elicker said.

"What I have been told is that the state is working to ensure that the people remaining at the encampment have a plan for an alternative," he said.

Meanwhile, "the city is doing many, many things to support the unhoused and has to do more, but we need to see meaningful support from the state of Connecticut in our surrounding towns," Elicker said. "We cannot do this alone."

Activists said New Haven needs to do more  and needs to stop treating homeless people as if they were criminals.

"The city apparently is going to act again without conscience," said Mark Colville, whose Catholic Worker House on Rosette Street now has 16 people living in tents and pallet huts in the backyard.

"When I was there (off Lamberton Street) yesterday, I was told that they're evicting people because 'it's too dangerous for them,'" Colville said.

Colville, who was arrested for trespassing when he went to, and then refused to leave, Tent City May 16, only to later see charges nolled, said New Haven "undertook a criminal conspiracy" with the state and "they're going to go over and destroy the homes that people have been living in for two years."

Meanwhile, "the only option that the city is offering you if you don't have a place to live tonight is to go to a shelter, get patted down," and then be separated from family members and pets in exchange for a bed for the night.

"If somebody gets hurt, who gets blamed?" he asked. "We blame the victim."

To ease the city's homeless crisis, "we need a space," Colville said. "We need a piece of land." If activists can get those things, "We will do it ourselves." For now, "we have invited them to join us" on Rosette Street if they need a place to stay, "but we're running out of room," Colville said.

If need be, "there's a city-owned piece of property nearby" that activists will take over in order to provide shelter for people, he said.
TOKYO - President Biden heads to Japan on Wednesday for a wide-ranging trip that marks a renewed push on his part to confront China's growing political, military and economic power, at a time when some experts warn that tensions between the two superpowers have grown dangerously high.

Biden is traveling to Australia and Papua New Guinea as well as Japan on the seven-day excursion, which is also aimed at bolstering support for Ukraine, combating climate change and tackling global inflation. But more than any other issue, the trip is meant to counter China, a global superpower that will not be at the meetings but will be very much top of mind.

The trip comes as U.S.-China relations show little sign of warming, to the concern of many foreign policy experts.

"No one is especially optimistic about the future of U.S.-China relations," said John Delury, a professor of Chinese studies at Yonsei University in Seoul. "Blame will be apportioned differently, and opinions will diverge over whether U.S.-China tension is desirable, inevitable or avoidable. But most observers in the region will tend to share a pessimistic view of where things are headed."

Administration officials say Biden has made clear he does not want a new Cold War with China, and that he has pushed to engage with the Chinese in areas where there is mutual interest or where it is crucial to avoid dangerous outcomes. But aides say the success of that effort depends in part on how firmly other countries ally with the United States in taking on Beijing's aggressiveness.

"The best way to establish a constructive relationship with China, in which there is an understanding about the larger framing, is to do that diplomacy within the context of a strong allied and partner engagement," said a senior administration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to preview the president's trip. "And that's exactly what we're trying to do."

Biden's trip will start Thursday with a summit of the Group of Seven leading economies in Hiroshima, Japan, where on Aug. 6, 1945, the Enola Gay, a U.S. bomber, dropped a uranium-235 bomb that killed an estimated 140,000 people. Biden and other leaders are expected to meet with survivors of that bombing.

Then, on Monday, Biden plans to be the first U.S. president to visit Papua New Guinea, an island nation in the Southwest Pacific, for a brief stop where he will address the 18-member Pacific Islands Forum. He is expected to sign a defense pact that will help Papua New Guinea develop security infrastructure and allow for more joint training exercises with the U.S. military.

Like the Japan visit, Biden's stop in Papua New Guinea is aimed squarely at shoring up the global alliance against China, especially its expanding military operations in the South Pacific. China recently signed a pact with the Solomon Islands that allows the country to request security aid from Beijing, and in 2018, Papua New Guinea became the first South Pacific nation to sign up for China's global infrastructure program known as the Belt and Road Initiative.

John Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, confirmed that Biden would discuss China policy with other world leaders, but he said the president's trip is not about making countries choose between Washington and Beijing. Rather, he said, "countries are coming to their own conclusions about some of the pitfalls" of siding with China.

"We are not going to the Indo-Pacific this week to arm-twist," Kirby said. "We're going to talk to allies, partners, friends and neighbors about mutual challenges and opportunities in the region, and how we can capitalize on each other's capabilities and the strong geographic presence so many of these nations have."

When Biden took office, he sought to take a more assertive posture in the region, including an effort to wrap in smaller countries that had long felt neglected. The administration last year hosted a U.S.-Pacific Island summit in Washington, bringing leaders together to negotiate new security arrangements.

The president will continue his push in Australia, which recently signed a deal to receive submarine technology from the United States and Britain in a counter to China's military expansion in the Indo-Pacific region. In Sydney, Biden will join meetings of the so-called Quad, a group that includes Australia, India, Japan and the United States.

But as each side pushes to shore up its alliances and expand its influence, some foreign policy experts warn that Washington and Beijing are on a dangerous path.

"The two cannot continue aggravating and goading each other," said Kerry Brown, professor at King's College London and author of "The World according to Xi." "The rest of the world lives like dependents of two warring parents who are determined to rip the house up if they cannot get their own way. This is a very scary situation, and one that needs to be constantly managed and worked against."

Michael O'Hanlon, a foreign affairs specialist at the Brookings Institution, added, "We've got to find a way to tone down the overall rhetoric."

In November, Biden met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping during a Group of 20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, using the decades-long relationship between the two men to try to smooth relations between the two countries. They emerged pledging to work together and deputized their advisers to conduct high-level meetings on a range of topics.

But tensions flared anew when a Chinese spy balloon floated across the United States before being shot down off the Atlantic coast. Secretary of State Antony Blinken responded by canceling a trip to Beijing, and despite talk of a phone call between Biden and Xi, none has been scheduled so far.

U.S. and Chinese officials have spoken in recent weeks, including a meeting between Jake Sullivan, Biden's national security adviser, and China's top diplomat Wang Yi. The senior administration official said there is an expectation that Biden and Xi will engage again in coming months.

But the relationship remains tense, and Delury said the possibility for progress that came out of the Biden-Xi meeting six months ago has largely evaporated. "We seem to be out of free-fall and settling into a period of slower yet steady deterioration," he said.

The trip also comes at a dicey moment in domestic politics. Biden's trip could be overshadowed by concerns over whether Congress will allow a potentially catastrophic U.S. government default. Asked last week whether he might cancel the trip amid his debt limit talks with lawmakers, Biden said it was "possible but not likely."

Biden's trip also comes ahead of the 2024 campaign, at a time when many Republicans are challenging longtime pillars of U.S. foreign policy, arguing for less American engagement in the world - and in some cases, less confrontation with authoritarians.

"I've rarely seen a foreign policy right now more tethered to domestic political constraints than we have now - on Iran and on China, and even to Ukraine to an extent," said Aaron David Miller, a veteran diplomat and senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "Biden would say the greatest threat the public faces is not Xi or Putin, it's from us. We've seen the enemy and it's us. We have to repair ourselves."

Even as officials look for ways to lower the heat between the two superpowers, conflicts over issues like Taiwan appear likely to keep flaring up, as China bristles at any U.S. suggestion that the self-governing island is not Chinese territory. In recent months, Russia's invasion of Ukraine has fed concerns that China could similarly move into Taiwan.

"Ukraine today may be East Asia tomorrow," Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has said.

In addition to the G-7 countries, Japan has invited several developing nations to the Hiroshima summit, including Brazil, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Comoros (which currently holds the African Union presidency) and the Cook Islands (current chair of the Pacific Islands Forum). South Korea and Australia, which are not part of the G-7, were also invited.

At the summit, leaders are expected to focus on concerns about economic coercion on the part of Beijing, but it is not clear whether China will be criticized in a public statement.

"It's up to the leaders," said a senior Japanese government official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to talk candidly.

"Our target is not to get them to explicitly reject a deepening dependence on China," the official said, adding that the leaders would not make such a declaration in any case. "But raising their awareness that overreliance on one country, and using the economy as a diplomatic tool to gain an advantage, these are not a good thing. If these are the messages we can share with Asian countries, it would be a good thing."

Biden has significantly increased his international travel this year, already visiting six countries and with more trips planned. With a deeply divided Congress, it is a moment in his presidency where he can arguably effect more change abroad than he can at home.

Hanging over the trip is the possibility that a different president could be in office after the 2024 election, possibly even Donald Trump, who during his time in the White House was eager to disrupt U.S. alliances and reach out to its rivals.

"The U.S. does have a proactive role in the region, but with an election coming up at the end of next year, all that could change," Brown said. "Ironically, these days the U.S. is the more unpredictable partner. Under Xi Jinping, China has become way more predictable - though often not in an entirely positive or reassuring way."

- - -

Pager reported from Washington. The Washington Post's Ellen Nakashima contributed to this report.
Sadness, hopelessness and suicidal thoughts have increased among Connecticut high school students, yet the number of students who say they're able to get the support they need has decreased, a newly released survey shows.

According to the Connecticut School Health Survey, conducted in 2021 and released this month by the Department of Public Health, more than a third of Connecticut high school students reported having felt sad or hopeless, while more than a quarter report that their mental health was not good most or all of the time and about one in seven said they had seriously considered suicide.

Yet only 22.3 percent of students said they can often or always get the help they need, the lowest figure on record.

"This is like warning lights flashing at us non-stop, and we're not doing enough about it," Sarah Eagan, the state's child advocate said Monday. "We are missing the boat."

Data from the Connecticut School Health Survey shows that feelings of sadness among hopelessness have increased steadily over time, reaching a new high during the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of students who reported considering suicide has increased in recent years as well, reaching 14.1 percent in 2021, though the number of students who report having attempted suicide has decreased.

Mental health struggles are more common among female students, the survey found, with 47.6 percent of girls reporting feelings of sadness or hopelessness (compared to 24.2 percent of boys) and 40.5 percent saying their mental health was not good most or all of the time (compared to 16.4 percent of boys).

These findings reinforce what advocates have called a children's mental health crisis in Connecticut and elsewhere, exacerbated by the pandemic. They say rising needs among kids have stretched providers, leading to crowded emergency departments and hospitals and long wait lists for outpatient services.

One key in-home treatment program, known as IICAPS, had a wait list of 500 children as of last week, Eagan said.

Kathrn Meyer, an attorney with the Hartford-based Center for Children's Advocacy, said she has seen a rush of young people seeking mental health services since the pandemic and a shortage of services available to help them.

"The increased isolation really put kids in a position of not having that socialization practice," said Meyer, who directs a medical-legal partnership at the Yale Child Study Center. "The peer conflict ... is just so escalated from the intensity, the severity, the frequency, the language used in the cases I've seen is just very escalated."

Eagan cited several figures from the Connecticut School Health Survey in a recent letter to state officials advocating for more funding for children's mental health programs in the state budget. In recent weeks, behavioral health providers have warned that budget proposals from both Gov. Ned Lamont and the legislature's Appropriations Committee could endanger key programs, including some that were established as part of a widely celebrated package of children's mental health bills passed last spring.

The budget process remains ongoing, and it's unclear whether lawmakers will eventually find more money for the programs.

The Connecticut School Health Survey, conducted biannually, polled 1,760 students in 25 high schools during fall 2021, asking about not only mental health but also other aspects of youth behavior. Other findings included:

24.8 percent of students reported having had sexual intercourse, down from 34.3 percent in 2019 and the lowest figure on record, while 18 percent said they were currently sexually active. Only 1.9 percent said they'd had sexual intercourse for the first time before age 13.





15.4 percent of students said they had been in a physical fight, the lowest figure on record.





38.4 percent of students said they did not always wear a seatbelt, also the lowest figure on record. Reports of drunk driving and riding with a drunk driver also decreased to new lows.





Reported alcohol use also decreased, with 10 percent of students saying they had their first drink before age 13 and 17.5 percent saying they currently drank.





Use of tobacco decreased as well, with 1.3 percent of students saying they smoked cigarettes and 10.6 percent saying they used an electronic vapor product.





However, the number of students who described themselves as obese (15.1 percent) or overweight (16.6 percent) increased from 2019 to 2021, while the number who reported regularly eating fruits and vegetables declined.





53.7 percent of students described their health as excellent or very good, the lowest figure on record.

In presenting its findings, the Department of Public Health cautioned that the pandemic may have skewed the data in several ways. Whereas the survey is typically conducted during the spring semester of a given school year, the 2021 version was conducted in the fall, when data suggests some risk behaviors tend to be lower.
H John Voorhees III / Hearst Connecticut Media

DANBURY  One person has been sent to the hospital after a boating accident on Candlewood Lake, officials say.

Danbury Fire Chief William Lounsbury said the accident occurred shortly before 11 a.m. Monday. He said initial reports indicated one vessel was taking on water, while another was attempting to return to Lattins Cove State Boat Launch.
Joining a national wave of conservative attacks on programs that promote diversity in higher education, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed a bill into law Monday to defund such efforts at the state's public colleges and limit how race can be discussed in many courses.

Critics of the new law worry it is trampling on academic freedom and could hurt efforts they say are critical to serving increasingly diverse student populations. But DeSantis and other opponents of diversity, equity and inclusion programs say they reinforce racial divisions and promote liberal orthodoxy.

"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 said at a news conference at New College of Florida in Sarasota. "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, who is expected to launch a bid for the White House, has made "culture war" issues a major focus as governor.

Florida's new law joins legislation in 19 other states where lawmakers have targeted diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, according to a tracking project from the Chronicle of Higher Education.

Under the new law, Florida's public colleges are prohibited from spending state or federal money on DEI efforts. These programs often assist colleges in increasing student and faculty diversity, which can apply to race and ethnicity, as well as sexual orientation, religion and socioeconomic status. The bill does not prohibit colleges from spending money on such programs if they are required by federal law.

The law also forbids public colleges from offering general education courses - which are part of the required curriculum for all college students - that "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."

DeSantis said students who want to study "niche subjects," such as critical race theory, ought to look elsewhere. "Florida's getting out of that game," he said. "If you want to do things like gender ideology, go to Berkeley."

Students can still major in areas such as African American studies and gender studies. But the legislation has inspired concerns that professors will be limited in how they teach those courses - whether they're part of the general education curriculum or not. For example, the law requires the university system's Board of Governors to review programs and curriculums on its campuses, identifying any that run afoul of the banned concepts.

The Florida legislation has been met with backlash at both the state and national level, where higher-education experts and First Amendment advocates say the state is trampling on academic freedom. They say the law will have an immediate chilling effect on faculty members, who may avoid covering controversial subjects altogether.

"It's basically state-mandated censorship, which has no place in a democracy," Irene Mulvey, president of the American Association of University Professors, said in a recent interview with The Washington Post.

Mulvey called the bill in Florida and other legislation like it a "dog whistle appeal" to the conservative base, and part of a "coordinated campaign to maintain White supremacy."

The governor held the bill signing on the campus of New College of Florida, a public liberal arts college where DeSantis recently appointed a group of conservative trustees. Eliminating New College's DEI office was among the newly constituted board's first orders of business.

The signing ceremony drew protesters, whose chants could be heard inside the event space. Christopher Rufo, one of the new trustees, spoke during the event, deriding the demonstrators for what he called their "kindergarten-level protests." Rufo is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, a conservative think tank, where he co-wrote model anti-DEI legislation.

"Florida's farmers and waitresses and truck drivers should not be subsidizing a permanent bureaucracy of left-wing activists who hate them and hate their values," said Rufo, a Georgetown University graduate who lives in the Seattle area.

Targeting higher education

Bills targeting college DEI programs in other states have also drawn opposition from students and faculty. In Texas last week, some students waited up to 19 hours for a chance to testify against a bill that would ban DEI offices, the Austin American-Statesman reported. Students said DEI offices offered critical resources for underrepresented minorities and first-generation students, who may need customized help navigating college life.

At the same time, conservatives say the influence of DEI offices has led to the creation of litmus tests for faculty members, who may be required to sign statements committing to diversity. The University of Wisconsin's system president recently told lawmakers that the university would do away with any such statements.

A spate of new laws have been passed in recent years that shape or ban discussions about race or gender at the K-12 level, but eight states, including Florida, now have "educational gag orders" that apply to higher education, according to Jeremy Young, a program director at PEN America, a nonprofit group that advocates free expression.

"The focus on higher ed has accelerated," Young said.

The first wave of such legislation targeting "divisive concepts" came in 2021 with laws in Idaho, Iowa and Oklahoma, Young said.

It is fine for lawmakers to set standards for public colleges, such as a civics requirement for students, said Joe Cohn, a First Amendment lawyer. But banning ideas is a different matter. "The case law is clear that the government can't select certain ideas that it dislikes and ban them from college classrooms," said Cohn, legislative and policy director at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.

Florida's efforts to limit concepts covered in college classrooms have already been met with opposition in court. In November, a federal judge blocked the state from enforcing portions of the so-called Stop WOKE Act that restricted what professors could teach.

Nationally, faculty members say, they are concerned about lawmakers making it easier to retaliate against professors for their ideas. A bill in Texas targeting tenure, for example, has been met with fierce opposition.

Florida's new law states that a personnel decision, such as dismissal, cannot be appealed beyond the university president. That would eliminate opportunities to dispute such actions through arbitration, which is commonly used today, said Andrew Gothard, the president of the United Faculty of Florida, a union representing professors and other groups.

"They're trying to stop faculty from having any ability to protest being targeted for their political viewpoints," Gothard said.

DeSantis said Monday he would like to see presidents and trustees, rather than a "cabal of faculty," empowered to run the universities. The state's public college governing boards are mostly DeSantis's political appointees or people with deep ties to the Republican Party. Two recently appointed college presidents include Ben Sasse, a former Republican U.S. senator, who leads the University of Florida; and Richard Corcoran, DeSantis's former education commissioner, who was named interim president of New College after the governor's board shake-up.
Elon Musk made a series of attacks on George Soros overnight, tweeting that the Jewish-born investor and liberal philanthropist, who often is subject to virulent antisemitic conspiracy theories, hates humanity and "wants to erode the very fabric of civilization."

Musk, who has overseen an increase of antisemitism and other hate speech on Twitter since he bought the social media platform last year, did not give a reason for singling out Soros. But he made his comments three days after Soros's investment fund reported that it had sold all its stock in Tesla, the electric carmaker that Musk also runs.

And Musk seemed to specifically reference the 92-year-old Holocaust survivor's background by comparing Soros to Magneto - a Jewish supervillain who "fights to help mutants replace humans as the world's dominant species," as Marvel's official character description puts it.

"Soros reminds me of Magneto," Musk posted at 10 p.m. Monday, apropos of nothing. The tweet triggered a flood of replies comparing Soros to various symbols of evil, recalling long-standing conspiracy theories that paint him as a godlike billionaire Jew who uses his philanthropic foundations to flood Europe with refugees and corrupt American politics.

The left-wing commentator Brian Krassenstein replied to Musk, pointing out that Magneto is a Holocaust survivor in Marvel lore, where the character manipulates magnetic fields to oppose (and occasionally help) the heroes of X-Men films and comics. "[Soros], also a Holocaust survivor, get's [sic] attacked nonstop for his good intentions which some Americans think are bad merely because they disagree with this political affiliations," he wrote.

Musk replied to Krassenstein five minutes later: "You assume they are good intentions. They are not. He wants to erode the very fabric of civilization. Soros hates humanity."

His tweets were condemned Tuesday morning by Jonathan Greenblatt, chief executive of the Anti-Defamation League, which has catalogued similar conspiracy theories that hold Soros wants to control the world.

"Soros often is held up by the far-right, using antisemitic tropes, as the source of the world's problems," Greenblatt wrote on Twitter. "To see Elon Musk, regardless of his intent, feed this segment - comparing him to a Jewish supervillain, claiming Soros 'hates humanity' - is not just distressing, it's dangerous: it will embolden extremists who already contrive anti-Jewish conspiracies and have tried to attack Soros and Jewish communities as a result."

Musk, who has gutted Twitter's media relations department, could not immediately be reached for a response.

Soros, who was forced into hiding as a Jewish teenager in Nazi-occupied Hungary, is the focus of international hostility for his wealth, religious background, investments and his Open Society Foundations, which spend hundreds of millions promoting democratic institutions and liberal causes.

Glenn Beck attacked Soros in a three-part Fox News series titled "The Puppet Master" in 2010, Donald Trump has accused him of meddling in U.S. politics, and the conspiracy theorist Alex Jones has spread lies that Soros turned on other Jews during World War 2 and collaborated with Nazis.

Musk, who has used his position to amplify extreme-right personalities since he bought Twitter for $44 billion last year, sounded much more ambivalent about Soros a few months ago, when his company was still investing in Tesla.

Asked in January by Ian Miles Cheong - a far-right commentator who has since called for Soros to be arrested - what questions Musk would ask the philanthropist, Musk replied: "Do you actually know where your money is going?"

In March, Musk jumped into a conversation with the far-right Twitter user Catturd, who was promoting a mostly false claim that Soros donated $1 million to New York's district attorney.

"Soros figured out a clever arbitrage opportunity," Musk told Catturd. Small political contests, he said, "have much higher impact per dollar spent than the big races, so it is far easier to sway the outcome."

In fact, The Washington Post's Fact Checker found the claim highly misleading, and wrote that it "plays into stereotypes of rich Jewish financiers secretly controlling events."
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COMPTON, Calif. - The riders on horseback clopped past corner stores and barking dogs, through busy downtown streets and along a creek feeding the Los Angeles River, spurs on their boots, sombreros on their heads and chaps riding up their calves.

"This is the forgotten Compton," Rogelio Diaz said on a recent Sunday, while riding his 12-year-old horse, Yolie.

The city south of Los Angeles is known as one of the great hubs of Black culture, producing countless Black athletes, rap legends and other celebrities, from Serena and Venus Williams to N.W.A. and Kendrick Lamar.

But Compton is no longer a Black city. Forty years ago, the city's population was 74 percent Black; now it is nearly 70 percent Latino.

On weekly rides, Diaz and other members of his nonprofit, Connecting Compton, want to remind the city's 93,000 residents that vaqueros on horseback - a Mexican American tradition - are as representative of this community as the pop culture references for which it's better known.

Public perception isn't the biggest obstacle Compton's Latino activists say they face to gaining greater recognition: The city's leadership still reflects its demographic past, with an all-Black city council and school board. It has never had a Latino mayor. Compton is part of a congressional district represented by a Latina lawmaker, but its first and sole Latino council member was ousted last year after being accused of election fraud.

Latino activists attribute their lack of representation in Compton's elected offices to a struggle to find candidates and traditionally low voter turnout, among other issues. In 2021, during the city's last mayoral election, Latinos made up an estimated 38 percent of votes cast despite being 50 percent of registered voters, according to a Washington Post analysis of voter registration data from the political data firm L2. Black residents accounted for roughly 45 percent of votes cast, while making up only 32 percent of registered voters.

The entrenched Black leadership has also done little to engage with the Hispanic community, Latino activists say, while clashing over the need for Spanish-speaking government workers. That has resulted in a lack of murals and monuments dedicated to Latino heroes, they say.

"It's a very pro-Black environment right now in the administration within Compton," Diaz said. "It's just constant events and movements that are pro-Black and not necessarily for all in Compton."

Compton began voting in Black leaders, including its first Black mayor, in the 1960s after the Civil Rights movement and the passage of the Voting Rights Act.

In a statement, the city's mayor, Emma Sharif, who is Black, said she is proud of Compton's history "as one of the first and only cities in the region to have as much Black representation as we have had." Being voted into public office "while Black Americans fought racial segregation and discrimination - that has a special significance for me," she added.

She "cannot speak to why" there has never been a Latino mayor, Sharif said. "I hope there will be more Latino representation in our future." In the meantime, she said, the city is doing "quite a bit to engage with the Latino community, but we know there is always more to do."

Some Black residents say they fought too hard for political power to relinquish it just yet - and that Compton's Black leaders are still battling racism from other racial groups.

"It's like Game of Thrones. We have to keep this power, we have to keep the little bit that we have, which is all we have," said Nina Childs, a Black local activist and filmmaker. "And we're not giving it up."

The story of people of color calling on White leaders to cede power for more diverse representation is deeply rooted in American history. But Compton reflects a newer power struggle, which experts say the nation may see more of in the years to come as traditional White and Black strongholds grow more Latino and the Latino community demands more political representation.

The tension is driven by the continued growth of the Latino population, already about one fifth of the country, while the White population declines and the share of the Black population stagnates.

New York and Houston, two of the nation's most populous and diverse cities, haven't had a Latino mayor in more than 100 years. Neither has Chicago, the nation's third largest city, whose Black and Latino populations are nearly on par.

"Political power is probably always the slowest thing to change because you control the money and the resources that you don't want to give up, especially if you fought for it for a very long time," said Jennifer Jones, a University of Illinois Chicago professor and author of "The Browning of the New South." "That power is difficult to let go of and you still have some constituents that you want to make sure are not abandoned again."

The mounting tension from these demographic changes erupted into public view last year in Los Angeles, where Latinos make up half of the population but less than a third of council seats. In a recording leaked in October, council members discussed ways to increase Latino representation through the redistricting process using vulgar and racist language against the city's Black and Indigenous communities. The release of the recording led to days of protests and three Latino leaders resigning.

The Los Angeles council's controversy did a disservice to Latinos seeking better representation across the country, said Adriana Orozco, a Compton community advocate. Conducting conversations about increasing Latino representation with her Black counterparts without appearing anti-Black is already challenging, said Orozco.

"It's sad and its discouraging but I'm not going to let that stop me . . . it's actually going to push me to be better," she said.

On Connecting Compton's weekly rides, Diaz and the other riders are waging their own campaign. Children scamper out of houses to pet the horses' manes and neighbors in their yards pause to wave as they pass by. They're preparing for their next horse parade - a cabalgata - later this year which typically draws hundreds of residents, mostly Latinos, who they hope to turn into voters in the 2024 election.

"This is our opportunity to tell our story, our opportunity to capture the history, to talk about it and get people involved," Diaz said.

- - -

Little progress

Compton has been at the center of fights for power before. It was once a predominantly White, wealthy community that actors like Kevin Costner called home in the 1950s.

Black people were kept out by racial covenants that prevented them from buying homes. As those restrictions were lifted, Black families moved in and White people left. In 1963, the city elected its first Black city council member, marking the start of Compton's rise as an iconic Black stronghold.

But as the city's crime rate exploded in the 1980s, some Black families began to leave for wealthier, safer communities. They were replaced by Mexican and Central American immigrants, some of them undocumented, seeking cheap rent and working class jobs. The demographics of the city changed but it remained poor with a 17 percent poverty rate, compared to 11 percent nationwide. Only 9 percent of residents have a bachelor's degree or higher.

Compton didn't elect its first Hispanic city council member, Isaac Galvan, until 2013, after a lawsuit against the city argued that the at-large council positions discriminated against Latino voters. It led to single district council seats, and Galvan served for nine years until being ousted after a judge ruled he had rigged votes to win his 2021 reelection campaign. Galvan denied the allegations.

In the years since, advocates say there has been little progress.

Although about 65 percent of residents speak a language other than English at home, some government documents are still not translated into Spanish, local events rarely incorporate Latino cultural touchstones - such as mariachi troupes or papel picado - and Latinos are not represented enough in the artwork across the city, local Hispanic advocates say.

For years, Candace Leos Valdepena, founder of Compton Advocates, which champions local Latino issues, has translated city and community notices for Spanish-speaking residents, while hosting citizenship classes and Mexican bingo.

"We'll have raspados and Mexican candy and treats, bacon wrapped hot dogs for everyone to enjoy," she said. "And while they were there, then all right - let's talk about how there's an election coming up."

Recently, President Biden signed a bill, introduced by one of the city's two congresswomen, Nanette Diaz Barragan (D), to rename a post office after James Anderson Jr. - a Compton native who was the first Black Marine to earn a Medal of Honor.

"You'd think they'd do more research and realize the community isn't majority Black anymore. And hey, why aren't we recognizing the Latino community that has lived here for a long time as well?" said resident Christopher Martinez, 22.

City leaders say the Latino population is being served well.

"When people come to me and say there's no Hispanic representation, I say show me where Hispanics are getting shortchanged. Show me where these kids are not getting the best education," said Charles Davis, school board president,citing the school district's graduate rate, which is nearly 90 percent, according it its website.

The city's mayor, Sharif, declined to be interviewed for this story but said in a statement that Compton in recent years has begun translating community materials and city meetings into Spanish in real time. She hasn't received complaints about the need to increase Latino representation in city murals or events, the statement said.

When asked about the city's outreach to the Latino community, Sharif cited the creation of the Compton Community Empowerment Coalition, describing it as "an inclusive coalition aimed at bringing the Black and Latino communities together to discuss neighborhood issues."

But the founders of Connecting Compton, Vecinos Unidos por Compton and Compton Advocates - among the largest Latino-led groups in the city - said they had not heard of it.

- - -

A historic mayoral race

In 2021, Cristian Reynaga became the first Latino mayoral candidate to run in the general election.

The race quickly got ugly.

Reynaga, whowas born and raised in Compton, said he faced anti-Latino discrimination during the campaign.

"His concern will be for Hispanics just like other Mexican mayors," read one text sent to a member of Reynaga's campaign staff, which was reviewed by The Post. "Next thing he will be having kids from the border in Compton."

It's important to keep Black people in charge, said Jasmine Gates, 27, founder of the New Black History Makers in Compton, who supported Reynaga's opponent, Sharif.

"Once we hand that power over to a Hispanic, or non-Black person, it's going to be hard to get that back," Gates said, sitting alongside Childs, the local activist and filmmaker, inside the Yetunde Price Resource Center, a meeting space funded by the famed Williams sisters and named after their sibling, who was killed in a drive-by shooting in Compton.

Latinos should have representation in leadership, she said "but as a Black woman I have to advocate for the representation of the people that look like me."

Childs chimed in: "We want you [Latinos] to have representation too, it's just having to be the right representation."

"Essentially we all want the same thing," Gates said. "We don't want a different Compton. We want a safe Compton, we want a better Compton, we want a Compton of leaders that hear us. The desires aren't far fetched."

Reynaga narrowly lost the nonpartisan election to Sharif by about 200 votes, or 2.5 percentage points.

Given the small margin, change may be coming soon, said Robert Lee Johnson, a Compton native and author of "Notable Southern Californians in Black History."

"The next voting cycle, the next couple of cycles, you're going to see a big change in Compton," said Johnson. "What we'd like to see is a multicultural, mixed administration working for the betterment of the community as a whole, and I really think there's a chance for that to happen."

- - -

'The real Compton'

Compton's most famous cowboys are not the Latinos on horseback who proudly stroll through city streets. It's the Compton Cowboys, founded in the 1990s by a group of Black men to combat negative stereotypes and help keep the city's youths out of gangs. In 2019, Diaz and two fellow horseback riders decided to launch their own group, Connecting Compton, to raise awareness of Latinos' large presence in the community.

Last year, Connecting Compton led a voter drive in Arizona to get Navajo members to the polls. This year, they plan to replicate that effort in Compton.

"The Black community is really engaged. They show up. But the Latinos don't," said Valdepena. "That has probably been my biggest challenge, is figuring out the best way to get my people to understand like, your voice is powerful and important as well - and your vote."

Daniel Zepeda, 32, a Connecting Compton co-founder, lives in a low-slung home down an agriculturally zoned residential street in Compton that belies an entire strip of land behind it full of crowing, neighing and mooing animals. He has about 10 horses, 45 goats, two cows, several dogs and countless chickens.

In the mornings, he and his neighbors often drink homemade pajarete, made of fresh goat's milk, coffee and liquor. In the evenings, they tend to their animals, milking the cows and taking their horses out for exercise.

"This," Zepeda said, "is the real Compton."

- - -

The Washington Post's Lenny Bronner contributed to this report.
STAMFORD  Kent Mawhinney, who is charged with conspiracy to commit murder in the death and disappearance of Jennifer Dulos, is free from house arrest just seven months after he was determined to have tampered with his court-mandated electronic monitoring device.

Mawhinney appeared in state Superior Court in Stamford Monday on motions submitted by his attorney, Jeffrey Kestenband, to modify the conditions of his release.

Kestenband argued Mawhinney had been compliant with the conditions of his house arrest since it was imposed five months ago, when his client was released after posting a $246,000 bond on Dec. 15.

There have not been any problems even with him leaving the house without permission or any problems with him charging the electronic monitoring bracelet, that is still on and we are not asking to have removed today, Kestenband said.

Supervisory States Attorney Michelle Manning did not object to house arrest being lifted. The states main concern, she said, is that GPS monitoring continue for Mawhinney, particularly in light of events last fall.

In October, Mawhinney was taken back into custody on a $1.5 million bond after a judge ruled that he had tampered with his mandated electronic monitoring device.

Judge Gary White later lowered Mawhinneys bond back to $246,000 in December. Mawhinney eventually posted that bond and was placed on house arrest.

At Mondays hearing, White ruled that Mawhinney would no longer need to serve house arrest. White also approved a request from Mawhinney to travel to Massachusetts on May 16 for a family-related event.

Mawhinney is accused of aiding Fotis Dulos in the disappearance and death of his estranged wife Jennifer Dulos by trying to provide an alibi for his friend during the period she went missing on the morning of May 24, 2019. She is presumed dead by police and her family although her remains have not been found.

Mawhinney and Michelle Troconis, the former girlfriend of Fotis Dulos, are the remaining defendants in the case. Fotis Dulos died by suicide in January 2020 while facing murder, kidnapping and other charges in the case.

Both Mawhinney and Troconis have pleaded not guilty to the charges connected to the case.

Prosecutors have indicated that Mawhinney, who decided in January 2022 to take his case to trial, will testify against Troconis if she goes to trial.

Arrest warrants detail how investigators believe Mawhinney attempted to create an alibi for Fotis Dulos the morning of the disappearance.

Mawhinney was also connected with an East Granby gun club where witnesses told investigators they found what they thought was a human grave leading up to the disappearance, according to an arrest warrant. Investigators wrote in the arrest warrant that the hole was later covered up and no remains were found at the site.

Mawhinney briefly eluded state police on Jan. 7, 2020, as they sought to take him into custody, officials said. He was later apprehended at gunpoint during a Tolland traffic stop.

Fotis Dulos was believed to have been lying in wait for his estranged wife at her New Canaan home after she dropped off their five children at school around 8 a.m. on May 24, 2019, according to an arrest warrant. Investigators said Jennifer Dulos was the victim of a serious physical assault in the garage of the home. The states chief medical examiner determined she suffered wounds that were not survivable without immediate medical attention.
There were close to three million coffee take-out users in Shanghai over the past year, according to data released by food delivery platform Meituan at a news conference for the third Shanghai Coffee Culture Week in Shanghai on Tuesday.

This year's coffee week will take place from May 20 to June 2.

Data also shows that Shanghai accounts for one-tenth of coffee consumption in China, the highest among all Chinese cities.

Social media platform Xiaohongshu, or Red, also released its coffee trend insight report, which revealed that about 70 percent of users on the platform have a habit of drinking coffee, and about 50 percent of users drink more than one cup of coffee per week.

Shanghai, which is home to more than 7,000 coffee outlets, the highest in the world, has been hosting the annual coffee culture week since 2021. This year's event will provide free coffee and feature various events such as coffee markets.

Multiple coffee brands, including Luckin coffee, McCafe, NOWWA, and Yongpu Coffee will collaborate with delivery platforms like Eleme.com and Meituan to offer at least 500,000 cups of free coffee throughout the year.

Related coffee fairs will be held at Xuhui's West Bund area, Xintiandi in Huangpu district, and Daxue Road in Yangpu district during the coffee week.
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MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  A man convicted of killing four passengers in his Mercedes Benz SUV in Minnesota and dumping the bodies in a Wisconsin cornfield has been sentenced to 103 years in prison.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press reported that Judge JaPaul Harris on Monday sentenced 39-year-old Antoine Suggs of Scottsdale, Arizona, to consecutive sentences for the killings of Jasmine Sturm, 30; her brother, Matthew Pettus, 26; her boyfriend, Loyace Foreman III, 35; and her friend, Nitosha Flug-Presley, 30. Sturm, Pettus and Foreman were from St. Paul, Minnesota. Flug-Presley was from Stillwater, Minnesota.
During the past 14 years he spent working in maintenance for the Maryland Transportation Authority, Harold Coleman, 54, has thought of seeking professional advancement.

But his options are limited, he explained to Maryland lawmakers this year, by a burglary charge he incurred while homeless on the streets of Baltimore.

Any hope of clearing his permanent record by expungement would have to wait until Oct. 4, 2024 - 15 years after he completed his entire sentence, including his parole. Had he lived in most other states, Coleman could have gone before a judge to ask years ago.

"I've excelled," Coleman told the panel of lawmakers, which was weighing changes to those wait times. "I'm trying to move forward, set an example for the people that's coming up behind me."

They listened. And on Tuesday, Gov. Wes Moore (D) signed into law changes to bring Maryland's conservative expungement rules in line with the state's philosophical shift away from '90s-era "tough on crime" policies that left Black people disproportionately incarcerated. Proponents of the legislation, which halves wait times to apply for expungements of nonviolent convictions, say the change is long overdue. But prosecutors and Republican lawmakers - even those who support second chances in concept - said the measure sends the wrong message as reducing crime remains a top concern.

"It's a pretty big deal," said Christopher Dews, a lobbyist working for Baltimore-based criminal justice advocacy groups Out for Justice and the Job Opportunities Task Force. "It's the most expansive expungement bill that we have had in almost a decade."

Under the new law, anyone convicted of qualifying misdemeanors could apply to expunge their record five years after their sentence is completed; those convicted of specific nonviolent felonies could apply after seven years. More than 70,00 people applied for expungements in 2019, according to an analysis of the bill by the Department of Legislative Services, and the changes could open up the process to tens of thousands of Marylanders with charges ranging from felony burglary to misdemeanor prostitution and second-degree assault (more commonly known as assault and battery).

After a sentence is completed, including parole, probation and mandatory supervision, applicants would petition the court where the original case was held for an expungement. The process takes about 90 days from the filing of the petition, and a prosecutor has 30 days to object to a request.

Champions of the law expect it to have an outsize influence on Black people, who, according to state legislative reports, make up about 30 percent of the overall state population but roughly 70 percent of the prison population.

While some liberal lawmakers say the legislation does not go far enough and should encompass more serious convictions, opponents question whether too much attention has been put on the needs of those who have committed crimes at the expense of crime prevention.

At issue for prosecutors, Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger said, is what happens if someone whose convictions have been wiped away is charged again. Anyone with an expunged record can answer "no" truthfully in court if a judge asks whether they've been convicted, he said.

"You are allowed to say no. So you could be in a courtroom for that third burglary and . . . you can you can say, 'No, I've never been convicted' because the expungement takes it away," he said. "And that's one of the reasons why I had advocated for what we call shielding. And that is if you can't get a job because you had a bar fight seven years ago, well, then let's just shield it from the public view. But don't hide it from the police, the judges and the prosecutors."

Political clashes over competing visions for public safety have escalated in recent years in Maryland and across the country as a pandemic-era uptick in crime ran up against reform efforts rooted in public outcry after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis three years ago.

"This is just another example, candidly, of the attitude here, which is that we always need to be looking out for how we can take care of those who have committed crimes and make things more fair for them . . . instead of really going after and doing things to strengthen our laws in dealing with those committing criminal offenses," state Senate Minority Leader Justin Ready (R-Carroll) said during the debate.

A Goucher College poll released this month found that 83 percent of Marylanders said it was "extremely" or "very" important for Moore to reduce crime during his first term. It was one of the leading concerns among residents.

In recent years, the state has enacted laws barring colleges from asking prospective students about their criminal histories; removing the governor from the decision on whether to grant parole to individuals serving life sentences; and abolishing life without parole for those who committed crimes as juveniles. Last year, in advance of legalizing cannabis, a measure was passed to allow people who were arrested for marijuana possession to have their records expunged after three years and others serving time for simple possession to get their sentences reconsidered. All of this builds on the Maryland Second Chance Act, a bipartisan effort eight years ago to shield certain nonviolent misdemeanor criminal records from public view, making it easier for formerly incarcerated people to get a job.

Those revisions left many surprised by Maryland's national ranking of 42nd longest wait time for record expungement from the Collateral Consequences Resource Center, an advocacy group that works on criminal justice initiatives.

"All I got to say is dang because I always thought Maryland was progressive," Mary Denise Davis, chief attorney with the Office of the Public Defender, said after state Sen. Jeff Waldstreicher (D-Montgomery), the bill sponsor, presented the national statistics. "But that chart does not make us look very progressive."

When proposing the bill, Waldstreicher said he thought about how much time former offenders lose.

"You commit a nonviolent felony at 20 and not have that expunged until you're 40 years old," he said. "I'm 43. Between age 20 and 43, I've gotten married, purchased two houses and had three kids. That's a lot of living. And that is impacted by a criminal record."

Waldstreicher saw the measure as the next logical next step to the state's passage seven years ago of the Justice Reinvestment Act, a bipartisan law that sent people charged with drug possession to treatment instead of prison and created a list of nonviolent crimes that would be eligible for expungement.

"Maryland law should not be the reason that returning citizens are locked out of employment over a decade after they have repaid their debts to society," he said. "By cutting the waiting period, it provides greater access to the resources that ex-offenders need to get back into the mainstream economy."

For the most part, the measure uses the expungable crimes that are outlined in the Justice Reinvestment Act and, despite efforts from liberal lawmakers and advocates, does not expand them to include violent crimes. The House of Delegates did amend the bill to include malicious destruction, which includes spraying graffiti, and to allow an offender to receive an expungement even if they cannot afford the court costs.

State Sen. William G. Folden (R-Frederick) voted for the initial bill but opposed the amended version because he said it was rewritten to advance a liberal agenda. He didn't support allowing an expungement if fees and court costs aren't paid.

"They keep trying to needle things through, and it just gets to be like, 'This is enough,'" he said.

"We're trying to help you out. But now they're going to say that if you didn't do any of your fees or costs, you don't have to worry about those either," he said. "I mean, we just can't keep doing that. People have to take responsibility and be accountable for their actions at some point . . . It's just gotten beyond ridiculous."

For Coleman, the measure would help him continue to turn his life around - something he said he has worked hard to do.

He ties his criminal activity to growing up in a Baltimore home with a drug-addicted mother. He began using as a teenager, then started selling drugs. Years later, he became homeless, which led to him burglarizing homes, he said.

He got his current job after someone he knew pulled some strings. There he is friends with police officers and others who have never interacted with law enforcement.

"They all live a clean life. And you feel out of place because you feel like, 'Well, damn, I want to be like that,'" Coleman said in an interview.
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BOSTON (AP)  Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins will resign following a monthslong investigation by the Justice Department's inspector general into her appearance at a political fundraiser and other potential ethics issues, her attorney said Tuesday.

The Justice Department's watchdog has yet to release its report detailing the findings of its investigation, but an attorney for Rollins told The Associated Press that she will be submitting a letter of resignation to President Joe Biden by close of business Friday.

The resignation of a U.S. attorney amid ethics concerns is an exceedingly rare phenomenon and is especially notable for a Justice Department that under Attorney General Merrick Garland has sought to restore a sense of normalcy and good governance following the turbulent four years of the Trump administration.

Rollins' attorney said she has been profoundly honored to have served as U.S. attorney and proud of her office's work but understands that her presence has become a distraction. Attorney Michael Bromwich  a former Justice Department inspector general  said Rollins will make herself available to answer questions after the dust settles and she resigns.

"The work of the office and the Department of Justice is far too important to be overshadowed by anything else, Bromwich said.

The Justice Department didn't immediately comment Tuesday. The inspector general's office declined to comment.

Rollins was a controversial pick to be Massachusetts top federal law enforcer and twice needed Vice President Kamala Harris to break a tie for her nomination to move forward in the Senate amid fierce opposition from Republicans, who painted her as a radical.

Before taking the high-profile U.S. attorney job, she was the top prosecutor for Suffolk County, which includes Boston. In her role there, she sparred with Bostons largest police union and pushed ambitious criminal justice changes, most notably a policy not to prosecute certain low-level crimes such as shoplifting.

She was the first woman of color to serve as a district attorney in Massachusetts and the first Black woman to become U.S. attorney for the state.

Massachusetts Democratic Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren, who had pushed for Rollins to be nominated to the post, said in a joint statement that they will respect her decision to step down.

Rachael Rollins has for years dedicated herself to the people of Massachusetts and equal justice under the law," they said.

The Associated Press was the first to report in November that the inspector generals office had opened an investigation into Rollins over her appearance last year at a home in Andover, Massachusetts, for a Democratic National Committee fundraiser featuring first lady Jill Biden. That was according to two people briefed on the investigation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the probe.

The inspector generals office generally investigates allegations of fraud, abuse or violation of other Justice Department policies.

People familiar with the investigation told the AP at the time that the probe had expanded into other areas, including Rollins use of her personal cellphone to conduct Justice Department business and a trip she took to California that was paid for by an outside group.

Rollins said in a July tweet that she had approval to meet the first lady and left the event early to speak at two community events. One person familiar with discussions before that event told the AP that Rollins was only given limited permission to meet Jill Biden outside the home.

The U.S. Office of Special Counsel, another federal watchdog agency, has also been investigating whether Rollins attendance at the fundraiser violated the Hatch Act, a law that limits political activity by government workers. The status of that investigation is unclear.

The inspector generals office copied the phone contents of some employees in Rollins office as part of their probe into her possible use of her personal phone for Justice Department business, one person familiar with the matter told the AP last year.

Investigators also examined a trip Rollins took to California that was paid for by an outside group, even though Justice Department employees are not supposed to accept payments for travel. The trip was for CAA Amplify, the annual gathering of entertainment, business and political figures run by one of Hollywoods leading talent agencies, the Creative Artists Agency.

Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, a fierce critic of Rollins who had sought to block her confirmation, had urged the inspector general last year to investigate whether the U.S. attorneys actions violated the Hatch Act.

Cotton said in a letter to Inspector General Michael Horowitz earlier this month that a whistleblower recently alleged that Rollins had been removing significant numbers of documents from the U.S. attorneys office and continued removing these documents even after being instructed to stop by the Department of Justice leadership.

Rollins' attorney called the allegation complete nonsense," adding that Cotton's time "would be better spent learning about the realities of running a law enforcement agency and fighting crime in our major cities.

Cotton said in a statement Tuesday that he had warned Democratic senators that Rachael Rollins wasnt only a pro-criminal ideologue, but also had a history of poor judgment and ethical lapses.

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Tucker reported from Washington. Associated Press reporters Steve LeBlanc in Boston and Lindsay Whitehurst in Washington contributed.

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This story has been corrected to reflect that Rollins was the first Black woman, not the first Black person, to serve as Massachusetts U.S. attorney.
The state Medical Examining Board voted Tuesday to allow a former Connecticut doctor accused of trying to fake his COVID vaccine in 2021 to surrender his license and avoid discipline.

Dr. Kenneth Inchalik, who was a pediatrician at ProHealth Physicians in Marlborough, is accused of acting "incompetently" and "inappropriately" when he asked a nurse in 2021 to "falsely administer a COVID-19 vaccine" by drawing up the shot without giving it to him, according to a statement of charges issued by the state Department of Public Health in 2022.

Inchalik also asked the nurse to document that he received the vaccine, the statement of charges said. He asked for the fraudulent shot so he could avoid a "vaccine mandate," DPH documents said. ProHealth Physicians filed a complaint with the DPH against Inchalik in February 2022, saying he attempted "to solicit staff" to violate policy and to "lie on his behalf," records show.

The nurse told the DPH in a statement that she refused to participate in his scheme to avoid the vaccine mandate, the documents show.

The medical board could have revoked his medical license or issued some other type of discipline, DPH documents said. However, the board voted Tuesday to withdraw the charges based on Inchalik's agreement with the DPH to not renew his Connecticut medical license, which had expired.

Since he will not renew his license, the "continued prosecution of this case is unnecessary," DPH documents said.

Inchalik agreed in a signed statement that if he moved to seek the renewal of his license in Connecticut, the allegations in the statement of charges "shall be deemed true." He also waived his right to a hearing and indicated he understood the agreement to not renew would be sent to a national database for physicians who have been disciplined.

Inchalik now lives in New Hampshire and has retired from practicing medicine, DPH documents said. He is still licensed in New Hampshire, DPH staff attorney Aden Baume said during the meeting. Due to the reporting requirements in the database, New Hampshire medical officials will be notified that he agreed to give up his license in Connecticut because of the vaccine fraud, Baume said.

Correction: This story has been updated to reflect Dr. Kenneth Inchalik was a pediatrician at ProHealth Physicians in Marlborough.
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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PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)  Firefighters rescued over a dozen people and three dogs from a dramatic apartment building fire Tuesday in downtown Portland, Oregon.

Portland Fire & Rescue tweeted about 10:45 a.m. that they had responded to the blaze and shortly after said rescues were underway. Fire officials said before noon that firefighters had been for a time told to pull back because of the fires growth. Crews then did one of several checks to make sure all the firefighters were accounted for, officials said.

Rick Graves, told The Associated Press Tuesday that the department was confident everyone got out of the building, which had about 50 units and was built in 1910. A few cats may have perished, he said.

Photos and video posted by the fire agency showed black smoke pouring out of the four-story building and firefighters helping residents and even a dog down ladders to safety.

Several times, windows exploded as the fire ripped through the structure. Authorities were concerned the building might collapse or the flames might spread to another structure just feet away, Graves said. Huge plumes of thick smoke were visible from most areas of the city.

Graves said they moved fire trucks to areas that would be safe should the building collapse. One firefighter was hit in the forehead with glass while standing across the street. The injury was minor, and the firefighter returned to fighting the blaze, Graves said.

Portland General Electric also cut power to the area at the fire bureau's request.

The fire in the city's core also posed dangers for drivers. Transportation officials closed Interstate 405 for about two hours, and surface streets were closed in the immediate area because of low visibility from heavy smoke.

John Rosenthal lives several blocks from the building. Its just nonstop hoses going in there, he said of firefighters flooding the building with water.

From Blake Strouds apartment about a half mile away, he could see a smoke plume oscillating between white and dark smoke, he said.

At the bottom of the plume you could see the flames, he said.

The cause of the blaze wasnt immediately known, but it appears to have started on the third floor and jumped to the fourth, Graves said.

Around 1 p.m., Graves said the fire had maxed out but likely would burn until Wednesday.

Its unlikely residents will be allowed back inside, he said.

A complaint filed with the Bureau of Development Services late last year said the apartment building didn't have smoke, gas and carbon-monoxide detectors, had exposed electrical wiring and had severe leaks leading to mold and mildew, records show.

Ken Ray, a spokesperson for the fire department, confirmed to The Oregonian/OregonLive the existence of the complaint and said inspectors had been investigating the issues before the fire Tuesday.
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Saddleback Church, the Southern California megachurch founded by best-selling author Rick Warren, is appealing its ouster from the Southern Baptist Convention for having women pastors on staff, according to the denomination.

Saddleback is asking the annual meeting of the SBC, which convenes next month in New Orleans, to overturn a February decision by the denomination's Executive Committee to expel it.

The committee said Saddleback has a faith and practice that does not closely identify with the Conventions adopted statement of faith, as demonstrated by the church having a female teaching pastor functioning in the office of pastor. That was an allusion to Stacie Wood, wife of Lead Pastor Andy Wood, who holds the role of teaching pastor.

The appeal extends the standoff between the nation's largest Protestant denomination and one of its largest, most successful churches.

Saddleback was one of five congregations that the committee ousted over the issue of women as pastors. One of those congregations, Fern Creek Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, is also appealing its dismissal.

Under SBC bylaws, churches can appeal a dismissal by the Executive Committee to the full SBC annual meeting. Monday was the deadline for filing appeals.

The SBCs statement of faith says that men should be in authority in families and churches. While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture, the statement says. The SBC is not a hierarchy and cant tell a member congregation what to do, but it can deem a church to be not in friendly cooperation with the Convention, the verbal formulation for ouster.

Saddleback, with multiple campuses across Southern California, had 54,000 members as of 2021, according to its annual membership report to the SBC. It averaged attendance of 28,000.

The standoff began in 2021 when Saddleback announced it was ordaining three women as pastors. After founding pastor Warren retired in 2022, he was succeeded as lead pastor by Andy Wood, whose wife, Stacie Wood, then assumed a role as teaching pastor.

And earlier in May, Saddleback announced that Katie Edwards, one of the three women ordained in 2021, would assume the role of pastor of its flagship Lake Forest campus.

Saddleback did not issue a statement on the appeal this week.

But in a video statement released in March after the Executive Committee vote, Andy Wood said that the church's leaders do interpret the Bible to say that men should be in authority over a church  but that they can authorize women to be pastors. All of the elders at Saddleback are men, he said.

A man who is an elder can empower women and mobilize women to use their spiritual gifts in the local church, he said, saying there are examples of this occurring in the Bible.

Fern Creek Baptist Church also sent formal notice to the SBC that it is appealing the decision to oust it. The Rev. Linda Barnes Popham has served as Fern Creeks pastor since 1993.

We obviously interpret scripture referring to women in ministry differently than some others in Baptist life, the church said in an earlier response to the SBC's Credentials Committee, which reviews churches' qualifications and can recommend their dismissal to the Executive Committee. We are happy to meet with you to further discuss how we feel Jesus has led us to this interpretation.

Fern Creek said the question of women in ministry should be a second or third tier issue on which Baptists can disagree.

Other churches that were ousted in February, and which are not appealing, said they would continue to operate with women as pastors. They include Calvary Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi; New Faith Mission Ministry in Griffin, Georgia; and St. Timothys Christian Baptist Church in Baltimore.

Also appealing its dismissal on a separate issue is Freedom Church in Vero Beach, Florida. It is disputing the Executive Committee's decision to dismiss it based on a lack of intent to cooperate in resolving concerns regarding a sexual abuse allegation. The denomination has been roiled by allegations in recent years of sexual abusers remaining in ministry, prompting the convention to vote for stricter policies.

Freedom Church, in an earlier letter to national, state and local Southern Baptist entities, disputed any allegation of abuse and asked for additional information about the decision.

Warren, author of the widely successful The Purpose Driven Life, started Saddleback Church with his wife, Kay Warren, more than four decades ago. With Warren's charisma and easy, informal preaching style, Saddleback eventually attracted tens of thousands and fostered an ambitious plan to expand the churchs reach across Southern California as well as globally  a vision his successor has promised to continue.

David Sons, chairman of the Executive Committee, said this will be the first time any churches have ever appealed their dismissals to the Southern Baptists annual meeting. He urged representatives attending the meeting to be prepared and informed about the process.

Ed Stetzer, a church-growth expert and professor at Wheaton College in Illinois, said Saddleback succeeded in connecting with the contemporary, casual culture of its surroundings while holding firm to its core beliefs.

Itll be the choice of the convention whether Saddleback still holds essential Southern Baptist beliefs, as it claims to, said Stetzer, a former director of the SBC-affiliated Lifeway.

But if the convention upholds the church's ouster, it will lose something that Saddleback has brought to the SBC for decades  a vibrancy, a new way of thinking.

The SBC has been in membership decline for nearly two decades. In statistics released earlier this month by Lifeway Research, the denomination fell to 13.2 million members in 2022. That is the lowest level since the late 1970s, which marked the start of years of doctrinal battles that led to a strong rightward shift in the convention.

Southern Baptists' rate of baptisms  seen by many as a better sign of spiritual vitality than membership  are also in long-term decline despite a small post-pandemic bounce in 2022.

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Reporter Deepa Bharath contributed to this report

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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.
Julie Mabry remembers walking with her sister into the Bonham Exchange, San Antonio's iconic queer bar, for the first time in 1989. "I just saw a completely different person. She was just happy, she was in a great mood," Mabry said.

Mabry had watched her sister struggle for years before that night: "From a very young age, my sister's identity was more like a boy," Mabry explained. "And we didn't have these terms, we didn't have this knowledge when we were kids. It's just how she was born."

After watching her fight through years of isolation and addiction, Mabry says the memory of her sister's happiness that night in San Antonio inspired her to open Pearl Bar, the only remaining lesbian-specific bar in Houston.

"It became something I was obsessed with. The idea was to provide an environment for people like my sister so she could have something to do so she wasn't [using drugs], or going through things where she hated herself, because people on the outside didn't see her as normal. That was the purpose of Pearl Bar," said Mabry.

Ten years after launching what has become a pillar of queer nightlife in Houston, Mabry says the ongoing push by conservative lawmakers to restrict LGBTQ rights in Texas has jeopardized her business: for the first time since its doors opened in 2013, Pearl Bar was denied an insurance policy it needs to continue operations earlier this year, specifically because it hosts drag shows.

The denial came amid an ongoing push from the Texas GOP to criminalize drag performances in the statean effort experts say is designed to target the LGBTQ community as a whole. Bills like SB 12, which a Texas House approved on Friday by a 9-4 vote, would prohibit venues from exposing minors to any "sexually oriented performance." The bill defines sexually oriented performance as "a visual performance that... appeals to the prurient interest in sex," and would empower the Texas Attorney General to pursue civil penalties of up to $10,000 per alleged violation. SB 12 would also classify a violation as a Class A criminal misdemeanor, punishable by a maximum $4,000 fine and up to one year in jail.

"This seems to be a consistent theme emerging with anti-LGBTQ legislation: they're using less direct language in the legislation, and then in enforcement being very selective," said Alejandra Caraballo, clinical instructor at Harvard Law School. "Appeals to the prurient interest in sex... that is a highly subjective standard," Caraballo continued. "The people who are against LGBTQ folks and drag inherently view LGBTQ people as sexualized, even though they're not. And that's the subjective part that allows them to say 'this is sexual in nature,' even though it's not."

Mabry's situation began a few months ago, when she decided she wanted to shop around for a new insurance policy with a new agent. The agent eventually came back to Mabry with bad news: the only underwriter that made an offer quoted Mabry at $91,000more than double what she paid to insure Pearl Bar just one year prior, according to financial documents shared with Chron.

Days later, the underwriter backpedaled and rescinded the offer entirely.

In a Mar. 23 email reviewed by Chron, Mabry's insurance agent shared the underwriter's explanation for denying Pearl Bar: "we will not consider this one due to the drag," the underwriter wrote. "We won't write this risk."

Mabry chose not to reveal information about the underwriter, explaining that she is concerned about potential backlash from the insurance industry. She chose not to reveal the identity of the insurance agent.

Pearl Bar remains insured through December, but Mabry says she's worried about what comes next. "They're adding in drag as a risk factor and I can't stay in business if the expenses stay this high," she says.

Caraballo said that Pearl Bar's situation illustrates conservatives' greater strategy for legislating against the LGBTQ community more broadly. "The goal is essentially to regulate these establishments out of business, to make it so that these businesses cannot function," Caraballo said. The true aim of measures like SB 12, Caraballo explained, is to target the LGBTQ community as a whole. "They use children as the pretense but the reality is, they want LGBTQ people out of public life."
At 8:55 a.m. on May 10, a day before Pappas Restaurant Group was set to move out of Hobby Airport, a line was already forming at the Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen near Gate 41.

We open at 9, a sign by the hostess stand read. "We might as well eat here, since it's their last day," a woman said to her male companion as they waited outside.

After two decades as the main concessionaire at Hobby, Pappas Restaurants, operating under the umbrella group 4 Families of Hobby, lost a contract on March 8 to continue operating restaurants at the airport. Following a contentious and prolonged bidding process that was delayed in part due to COVID-19, Houston City Council opted to award a new contract to Spain-based Areas SAU, giving Pappas a move-out deadline of May 11. Pappas sued the city on April 11, citing issues with the way council conducted its contract procurement process. Pappas also went to court twice to postpone the move-out date hoping to be granted time for its lawsuit to play out, but was twice denied.

In the meantime, employees of Pappas' Hobby restaurants were grappling with a choice  stay with the company and be relocated to another restaurant, or stay and take a new job with Areas SAU at the airport. Pappas, which also permanently closed five restaurants during the height of the pandemic, promised employees they'd be placed elsewhere, but a bartender at the airport, who'd worked there for eight years, said he was worried he'd have to take a salary cut. (Neither Pappas Restaurants nor Areas SAU responded to requests for comment for this story as of press time. Chron is not naming the employees quoted in this story in order to protect their employment status.)

"Yeah you can go to a new location," he said. "With a demotion."

At the hostess stand, a manager talked to some travelers who were looking to grab breakfast. She directed them to Pappasito's Cantina, saying they might have breakfast tacos. "But they're winding down their menu," she added.

The same was true for Pappadeaux. Instead of laminated menus, the day's dishes were listed on a quarter-sheet of paper, consisting of soups and salads only. The bar was almost empty as wellno gin, no prosecco, but plenty of bottles of liqueur like curacao and schnapps. While customers talked about the battle between the city and the restaurant group, the manager walked back inside and reminded the bar staff to turn on the music. "Let's lighten the mood," the bartender quipped.

The turnover of restaurants was expected to be hectic. Pappas was to be out of the airport by midnight May 11, with Areas expected to be up and running by 6 a.m. May 12. Next door to Pappadeaux, heavy black curtains covered a fast food restaurantPick Up Stixthat was preparing to open. It's one of the handful of temporary restaurants set up by Areas until more permanent bars and sit-down restaurants can be built out in the spaces vacated by Pappas. According to a press release from Houston Airports, those concepts20 in all aren't expected to open until late 2024.

Brittanie Shey

At Pappadeaux, both the bartender and bar manager, who had also been with Pappas for several years, said they'd opted to take new jobs with Areas, but were already questioning that decision.

"It's been a s---show," the bartender said. "We're supposed to start work Friday and we don't even have our schedules."

The bar manager said she'd attended training earlier that week with the new company, but it consisting solely of learning Areas' point-of-sale software. When she brought up concerns about the turnover, she said she was dismissed. "I've worked here eight years," she said. "I know our clientele."

More customers trickled in throughout the morning, some waiting out long layovers, others ordering another round after Houston's heavy rains caused flight delays. To remember their last shifts together, the manager and some employees stood outside Pappadeaux, taking selfies in front of the restaurant's sign.

On May 14, three days after Pappas' move-out date, those same heavy black curtains were wrapped around the bar. The furniture, liquor bottles, and other equipment had been removed. Next door, at Pick-Up-Stix and the other food court restaurants, lines stretched out towards the gates. The wait looked long and the travelers weary, but there was no place else to eat.
Mikala Compton/Associated Press

The Texas House on Monday granted final approval to a bill that would outlaw gender affirming care for transgender youth in Texas. The legislation will now head back to the Texas Senate for final approval of changes made in the House before landing on Gov. Greg Abbott's desk to be signed into law.

The bill would revoke medical licensure from doctors who perform gender-affirming medical treatments for transgender Texans under 18-years-old treatments that have been endorsed repeatedly by the U.S.'s top medical association as vital interventions for trans people's physical and psychological health. According to the Dallas Morning News' Lauren McGaughy, the House voted Monday in favor of the bill 87-56. Per the Morning News' McGaughy, all House Republicans voted for the bill, with four DemocratsHouston's Harold Dutton and Shawn Thierry, Robstown's Abel Herrero and Batesville's Tracy Kingbreaking party ranks to support it.
Andrew Harnik/AP

WASHINGTON (AP)  An unknown man managed to slip undetected inside the home of White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, according to two people familiar with the incident. The U.S. Secret Service is investigating.

The door was apparently unlocked, and the intruder was able to get inside Sullivan's home around 3 a.m. last month, the people said. Secret Service is investigating whether the person intentionally went into the home or whether it was some kind of accident; the person appeared to be intoxicated, the people said. The people were not authorized to talk about an ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP)  Brazils former President Jair Bolsonaro was questioned Tuesday by Federal Police in an investigation into allegations that COVID-19 vaccine cards were falsified to get around U.S. vaccine requirements.

Police havent publicly named the targets of their investigation, but local media reports have said authorities are looking into the vaccine cards of Bolsonaro, his advisors and members of his family and whether they were altered ahead of U.S. visits.

Bolsonaro, who arrived Tuesday afternoon at the police headquarters in Brasilia to give a sworn deposition, has denied wrongdoing, saying he never claimed to be vaccinated nor presented documentation saying that he was. Vehicles thought to transport Bolsonaro were seen arriving around 1:30 a.m. local time and left over four hours later.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the former president spent months sowing doubt about the efficacy of the vaccine. A police statement about the investigation alleges that alterations to the coronavirus documents were meant to sustain the discourse aimed at attacking the vaccine against COVID-19, but it does not elaborate.

Bolsonaros sworn deposition Tuesday is a step forward in just one of the several investigations targeting the far-right leader.

Earlier this month, police searched Bolsonaros home and seized his phone. They searched several other locations and carried out arrest warrants for a half dozen people  including key Bolsonaro allies. One was Mauro Cid, an army lieutenant colonel who had been Bolsonaros right-hand man.

Bolsonaro told reporters earlier this month that he had not falsified anything, saying it didnt happen. He said that his vaccination records were not required for any of his trips to the U.S. I didnt take the vaccine, period. I never denied that.

Bolsonaro has been to the U.S. at least three times after it began generally requiring in November 2021 that non-citizens be fully vaccinated to enter.

Other legal headaches for Bolsonaro include an investigation into his role in the Jan. 8 uprising in the capital, Brasilia, one week after leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's inauguration. Thousands of Bolsonaros die-hard supporters raided the Supreme Court, Congress and presidential palace, seeking to bring about Lula's ouster. Hundreds of them will stand trial.

Brazil's Prosecutor-general Augusto Aras said in April that the former president had allegedly encouraged the perpetration of crimes against the rule of law, and Bolsonaro gave testimony at the Federal Police headquarters last month as part of an ongoing investigation. He also answered police questions about three sets of diamond jewelry brought to Brazil from Saudi Arabia, two of which made it into Bolsonaro's possession. A third set was seized at Sao Paulo's international airport.

Meanwhile, Brazils electoral court is investigating his actions during the presidential election campaign, particularly his unsubstantiated claims that the nations electronic voting system is susceptible to fraud. Those threaten to strip him of his political rights and render him unable to run for office in upcoming elections.
PARIS (AP)  French first lady Brigitte Macron issued a rare statement Tuesday condemning a physical attack on her great-nephew that took place on the sidelines of a demonstration against her husbands contested pension reform.

Police said eight people were arrested in the northern French city Amiens in connection with the Monday night assault on Jean-Baptiste Trogneux, 30, who runs a family chocolate shop.
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP)  A police officer tasked with protecting a private school for girls in northwestern Pakistan on Tuesday opened fire at a school bus carrying teachers and students, killing an 8-year-old girl and injuring five others, officials said.

The shooting happened in the Swat Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Senior police official Nasir Satti said officer Alam Khan was immediately arrested. He said the shooting was not a militant attack.

Satti said officers were questioning Khan to determine what prompted him to fire at the bus as it was leaving the school that serves girls up to age 17. He said four students and a woman who was on the bus were injured in the shooting.

Satti said Khan was on security duty at the school because of concerns of possible militant attacks.

The Swat Valley was the stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban, formally called the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, until 2019 when security forces cleared the region of militants after military operations.

Gun violence targeting children is rare in Pakistan. However, nearly 150 people, mostly students, were killed in 2014 when TTP militants attacked a school in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Since then, authorities have deployed police at schools across the country, especially in the volatile northwest where the Pakistani Taliban have stepped up attacks on security forces in recent months.

The Pakistani Taliban are a separate group but also a close ally of the Afghan Taliban, who seized power in neighboring Afghanistan in August 2021 as U.S. and NATO troops were in the final stages of their pullout from the country after 20 years of war.
HARTFORD  With soft support in a crucial committee threatening his nominee for the state Supreme Court, Gov. Ned Lamont said Tuesday that he will push lawmakers to endorse Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra Slack Glover, who was the target Monday of bipartisan criticism during a day-long public hearing.

"I thought she did an extraordinary job," Lamont said in a morning interview outside the State Capitol. "I watched a fair amount of the testimony. People know where her heart is. They know where she stands. Everybody knows she has absolutely impeccable credentials. She would be an amazing Supreme Court justice."

But committee members including veteran Rep. Bob Godfrey, D-Danbury, said they will not support Glover.

"I don't think she passes the litmus test," Godfrey said outside the House chamber Tuesday afternoon. "We don't know her. This is a small state. Everybody kind of knows everybody else. There are too many missing pieces. And this is the Supreme Court. This isn't the trial court. This isn't somebody doing traffic tickets. This is important."

The legislative Judiciary Committee peppered Glover, 52, with a barrage of questions for nearly seven hours on Monday, followed by closed-door caucuses for more than 100 minutes before state Rep. Steve Stafstrom, D-Bridgeport, one of the co-chairmen, announced there would be no vote that night. A committee meeting to take up the nomination has not been scheduled. While leaders of the committee on both sides of the aisle declined comment, sources with knowledge of the nomination said that among the 38 members, fewer than 10 supported Glover.

By around 12:30, during a meeting with reporters before the House session, Stafstrom said that if there was enough support in the Judiciary Committee, he would also vote to confirm Glover. Speaker of the House Matt Ritter agreed.

"I met with her in my office with my chief of staff and I thought she gave good answers to some of those tough questions, but also this is very personal for some people," Ritter said. "I think people need to have those individual conversations."

Criticism centers on Glover's 2017 support of conservative Amy Coney Barrett for a federal judgeship that was a springboard to her appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court under President Donald Trump, as well as lack of experience with Connecticut criminal and civil cases because of her nearly two decades of work in the U.S. Attorney's office, where she heads the appellate division.

Godfrey cited the Barrett letter as a reason to oppose her, but while she freely admitted that she opposed the U.S. Supreme Court's abortion ruling, defended LGBTQ and rights and affirmative action, she would not talk to the committee about other social justice issues. "It just raised more questions about her qualifications and her suitability," Godfrey said.

By mid-afternoon Lamont said his staff was reaching out to lawmakers. He admitted to reporters that the letter written by former federal clerks made less of a negative impact on him as he was vetting her. "I've talked to leadership and we just have to reintroduce her to folks," Lamont said.

"She regretted that letter," Lamont said. "All the clerks from all the Supreme Court justices going back to 1998, I guess it was, signed this thing saying Amy Coney Barrett was qualified and in good character. But in hindsight, I know Sandra regrets signing that letter. And she said it up front. I suppose I probably should have been more alert when they told me all 35 justices' clerks, including Ruth Bader Ginsburg's clerks and everybody signed on to this. I thought it was some years ago."

"I thought she answered the questions," Lamont said in the earlier interview Tuesday. "She showed she has the qualifications to be a really strong Supreme Court justice for the state of Connecticut. I think people got a really good sense on where she stands for Connecticut values, starting with pro-choice and celebrating diversity. But let's face it, she's not from the usual suspects that come. She comes from a little bit of a different background. That's one of the things I liked about Sandy. Let's face it, I heard a lot of those questions and people have got to get to know her better."

"I also heard, 'Hey, you don't kind of come from this ecosystem. You didn't come through the ranks,'" Lamont said. "You weren't in Superior Court first." The governor likens Glover's predicament to his early appointment in 2019 of former Wall Street executive David Lehman to head the Department of Economic and Community Development. "He had some head winds early on because he wasn't part of the old-boys network here, and he ended up being an extraordinary head of economic development. She's going to be a great Supreme Court justice."

"We'll talk to some of the members, see if we've answered their questions, see if that letter from 10 years ago or whatever is decisive for them," Lamont said. "I think she addressed that very strongly." He reiterated that Glover unequivocally said she supports reproductive rights. Glover told the committee that last year's overturning of abortion rights was wrong and threatens the health of women.

"The Supreme Court has never taken away a right like that and certainly has never made women effectively second-class citizens in this country, subjects to the whims of the legislators in the states where they live," Glover told the committee.

"I've got to see what their real concern is," said Lamont, adding that he met with Glover for about a half hour during a job interview before he nominated her on April 25. Talking to reporters later in the afternoon, Lamont said that the controversial letter didn't come up until after his job interview with Glover.

Asked about Glover's focus on federal law and admitted lack of familiarity with Connecticut civil and criminal statutes, the governor said Glover was recommended to him by his former legal counsel, Nora Dannehy, the former U.S. attorney for Connecticut for whom Glover worked, as well as Chase Rogers, the former chief justice of the state Supreme Court who is currently in private practice. "Nora and Chase have helped us think about other justices," he said.

"Like I said with Lehman, I wanted somebody with a little different background," Lamont said. "I thought that would really help the Supreme Court. She's practiced law, but she's practiced law with (former U.S. Supreme Court Justice) Sandra Day O'Connor. She's practiced all over the country. She brings a very different perspective, which I think is valuable."

Lamont had just finished a ceremony hoisting a Trinity College flag atop the State Capitol in honor of the institution's 200th anniversary. House Majority Leader Jason Rojas, D-East Hartford, who participated in the event with the governor and college officials, said that while the Monday hearing was long, it's too soon to tell whether Glover's nomination is in jeopardy.

"We haven't done a vote count or anything like that," Rojas said. "I think it was a very long public hearing. I don't know that people were ready to take a vote right after that hearing. I watched it. It seemed cordial. There were tough questions that were asked, but it remains to be seen whether she is in trouble or not."
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When the chief banking officer of a $10.3B community bank visited a competing super-regional branch in her suburban New Jersey neighborhood, she noticed something troubling.

Piles upon piles of paper crowded the branch managers desk and cluttered the nearby credenza. Set amid an open floor plan, the stacks of files left sensitive customer informationbusiness and personal, loans and depositsavailable for all to see1.

Todays rapidly rising rate environment is driving activity across the countrys 72,000 bank branches2. Those branches, and their operational sites and processing centers, are full of paper. As most banks maintain a hybrid of physical and digital records, front-line branch associates struggle to provide a friendly, frictionless customer experience.

What the chief banking officer understood while visiting a competitors branch was both the complexity and the necessity of digital transformation, including paperless initiatives. Her bank, currently undergoing an acquisition, has conducted five mergers in the past ten years and consolidated approximately 40 branches. In each case, they contended with volumes of new and decades-old paperwork.

By digitizing customer records, operational records, and legacy records, banks like the one led by the chief banking officer see improvements in key areas: accessibility, efficiency, and compliance3.

Consider the following real-world scenarios.

 A tier 1 North American bank digitally transformed more than 1,000 of its branches. They determined and executed a store versus destroy strategy for paper documents based on client classification and record retention schedules4.



 A global bank with more than 1,400 branches in Latin America indexed critical customer data. This freed up branch space by eliminating stored boxes of paperwork. They achieved a secure chain of custody with files in an electronic repository. The correct documents were then put in long-term storage to meet compliance requirements5.



 A tier 1 US retail bank tackled paper at more than 5,000 of its branches. Information is now secure and easily accessible to branch associates leading to better customer service. The bank stored needed information and safely destroyed the rest6.



 A large financial institution acquired a smaller bank. They organized and secured assets from 30 redundant branches and office locations to rapidly prepare for closures7.



 A small regional bank securely disposed of IT assets across five branches and a data center as it began a massive upgrade to its backend and customer-facing technologies8.

Its not really about the paper

Some market analysts predict the extinction of paper banking in the next decade9. In response, leading financial services organizations employ cloud-based solutions combined with artificial intelligence10.

Of the top 50 US banks, 46 work with Iron Mountain, a company known in the intelligent document processing and content services platform markets. More than 2,500 financial services institutions, almost all Fortune 1000 companies, and thousands of local enterprises rely on Iron Mountains solutions and services.

These industry leaders are hastening a digital transformationone that promises to show a return on investment in less than 18 months, reduce the risks of non-compliance, and save 40% of employee time11.

Working with bank branches, Iron Mountain experts customize the right software implementation and integration with existing systems. Ultimately, they find the most efficient and risk-averse ways to scan, process, and securely store12 or destroy physical documents. Electronic information gets encrypted with restricted access and role-based permissions. Documents from other locations, such as cloud repositories, enterprise content management systems, and file shares, can be accessed for enhanced visibility and connection. Using optical character recognition technology13, documents are searchable by text or index, available for many file types and in many languages.

Though reducing space-hogging stores of paper does shrink the branch footprint, its not really about the paper. Its about the data within those documents, said Olivia Markbreiter14, a Principal Advisor at Iron Mountain.

When you open a customer file, you really can be reading their life story: when they opened their account, if they have a spouses account, if they have their childrens accounts or a business account, Markbreiter said. So, the challenge here is not just about paper but how we get all this data into a digital format and a unified customer profile.

That customer profile helps the branch optimize customer service, as does the use of technology to sort paper files rather than assigning tellers to the task.

Artificial intelligence technologyavailable in Iron Mountains InSight15 softwarecan spot elements such as names, Social Security numbers, customer ID numbers, check amounts, and addresses. Then, it automatically indexes records based on any specified criteria. This means legacy paper documents merge with online records for a more complete digital profile that can be queried, searched, and integrated with automated workflows.

Whats taking so long?

If digital transformation were easy, everyone would have done it by now. What makes the move to paperless uniquely challenging for banks comes down to three things.

Uncertainty: Many banks are unsure about their inventoryexactly whats in all those boxes and cabinets. Wary of regulatory compliance, they need a strategy around which papers to keep and which to destroy. Also, they must be mindful of minimizing disruptions to banking operations and daily customer service. Volume: Across hundreds of bank branch locations, each has its own circumstances. One might be new with a digital-first mindset, while another is an acquired branch with decades of records. Theres just so much to sort through. Inside every branch sits 100+ different document types with distinct data points, taxonomies, and retention periods. In hybrid environments, additional care must be taken to reconcile digital files against physical documents. Complexity: Many banks have gone through acquisitions, divestitures, or consolidation, leading to a great commingling of files. To untangle the snarl, records must be reviewed at the document level. And internal decision-makers must agree on how to index and tag each document.

Time to play whats in the box?



After years of supporting financial services clients with their digital transformations, the experts at Iron Mountain recommend a sensible and effective approach for bank branches.

Determine objectives: Identify pain points, places where digitization can have the most impact. For some branches, this might mean improving the customer experience with customer-facing technologies such as mobile banking, digital contracts, and self-service money management. Others may need to boost internal efficiency by digitizing documents and automating workflows for productivity gains. Make an accurate assessment: Determine how much paper the branch uses, creates, and stores. Note the number of filing cabinets and how much space they occupy. Have floods or other events damaged legacy records? Are there information gaps? Look for quick wins: Find ways to go paperless, perhaps with customer statements. This alone would yield a significant cost reduction and provide environmental benefits. Plus, its more convenient for the customer.

An ideal starting point is to talk to a professional in this arena. Iron Mountains team works with thousands of bank branches to consult and customize solutions that address objectives as well as pain points. They know how to reduce the risk and stress illustrated by the chief banking officer who witnessed an all-too-common scene of associates overwhelmed by paper. Not only will digital transformation declutter branch desks, but it will also enhance compliance, increase efficiencies, and protect sensitive customer information.

For more information and support with becoming a paperless branch, learn about the Iron Mountain Digital Bank solution.
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Charities have expressed concern over the polices swift enforcement of new laws introduced to prevent public disruption from protests.

The Public Order Act 2023 received royal assent earlier this month, with police officers also given powers to intervene against highly disruptive slow marching tactics used by protestors.

Since the laws were introduced, the Metropolitan Police has faced criticism for some of its enforcement actions against protestors, including its arrests of six members of the Republic pressure group on the day of King Charles IIIs coronation.

In a letter to Sadiq Khan , commissioner Mark Rowley wrote that the police had arrested six people after suspecting they had committed the new offence introduced in the act of being equipped to lock on.

However, the Met took no further action after judging that it would not be able to prove criminal intent beyond reasonable doubt.

ACEVO: Draconian legislation

Charity sector figures criticised the new laws when they were first proposed in last years Queens speech.

They have now renewed their criticism as the laws have been enforced alongside the additional clampdown on slow marching introduced as a statutory instrument.

Roberta Fusco, head of influencing at ACEVO, said: The swift implementation of the Public Order Act and the almost immediate use of its powers seen during the coronation events, with arrests taking place in advance of any peaceful protest taking place, is deeply concerning and evidence of the severe curb on civic space that is being introduced through this draconian legislation.

Peaceful protest is a key component of democratic participation and an important element of campaigning.

ACEVO strongly defends the right and lawful ability of charity leaders to campaign with freedom and confidence in furtherance of their charitable objectives and for the strength of civil society in holding those in power to account.

Bond: Public Order Act has constrained us

Rosemary Forest, policy manager for civic space at NGO umbrella body Bond, said: The detention of protesters during the coronation sets a worrying precedent.

Protest is critical to democracy and a core element of campaigning  this is how we hold those with power to account and express different opinions.

Organisations must have the space to campaign and protest, but the reality is, the Public Order Act - the second piece of anti-protest legislation in just over a year  has constrained us.

How can the UK call other countries out for restricting the right to protest if we are doing the same thing here?

Freedom from Torture: Creeping authoritarianism

Sonya Sceats, chief executive of Freedom from Torture, said: Creeping authoritarianism in Britain is a threat to us all, from legislative assaults on civil liberties to these ludicrous examples of overreach by the police.

It was unthinkable 10 years ago that a British government would seek to de-criminalise torture by British troops and ban refugees, but we have had to campaign with torture survivors on both these fronts of late.

Now more than ever it is crucial for civil society to take a united stand for the right to campaign and protest, because it could be any cause in the firing line next and Britains status as a liberal democracy is on the line.

SMK: We need to resist this

Sue Tibballs, chief executive of the Sheila McKechnie Foundation, said: The events that we saw at the coronation show just how far and how quickly our rights can be eroded under this legislation. For some, especially those from already over-policed communities, the risk is even greater.

Charities can and do organise protest with care and attention but, under these laws, can no longer guarantee that sticking to the rules is protection from police action.

We need to resist this becoming normal  and politicians must be part of actively defending this aspect of our democracy.

Meanwhile, Robbie de Santos, director of communications and external affairs at Stonewall, said: The restrictions around freedom of assembly in the Public Order Act are deeply troubling.

Freedom to protest and speak out against injustice are vital cornerstones of a healthy democracy. We urge the UK Government to amend the act and uphold peoples basic human rights.

Home secretary: Disruptive protesters are wreaking havoc

Commenting on the new laws last month before their introduction, home secretary Suella Braverman said the legislation permits the police to clear the roads of slow marching protesters who are hell-bent on causing chaos across the UK.

Selfish, disruptive protesters are wreaking havoc in peoples everyday lives across the country and this must be brought to a stop, she said.

This is why we are bringing forward this new law to clearly define serious disruption as requested by police chiefs.

Meanwhile, chief constable BJ Harrington said: Policing is not anti-protest, but there is a difference between protest and criminal activism, and we are committed to responding quickly and effectively to activists who deliberately disrupt peoples lives through dangerous, reckless, and criminal acts.

It is the responsibility of Parliament make the law, and our job to enforce it. We have advised and provide professional advice to the Home Office to inform decisions about public order legislation.

This has been based on ensuring that we can discharge our responsibilities appropriately, while balancing the rights of the public who are going about their daily business lawfully, and the rights of those protesting.



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Homelessness charity Padley Group is set to merge into YMCA Derbyshire, it has announced.

YMCA Derbyshire is the larger of the two charities. Commission data for the financial year ending 31 July 2021 shows its total income is close to 4m and its expenditure 3.6m.

Meanwhile, data for the financial year ending 31 March 2022 puts Padley Groups total income at 591,000 and expenditure 637,000.

Padley Groups services with be run under the name [email protected] Derbyshire as part of the merger, while the larger charity will retain its current name.

Staff from Padley will TUPE and become YMCA Derbyshire employees.

Merger to for strength and sustainability

Allan Shaw, chair of the Padley Group, wrote in a statement that trustees realised that in order to strengthen and sustain the help and support we give to our beneficiaries, we should merge with another local charity that had a similar vision to the charity.

The charity trustees said after meeting with YMCA Derbyshire, we quickly realised that they had similarity in their vision, mission and values.

YMCA Derbyshire also have the strength and sustainability that Padley needs to continue our vision to support and empower those affected by homelessness and poverty to improve their lives, the statement says.



The combined charities will make a more resilient and effective contribution to both the citys and countys strategies for supporting individuals and communities experiencing homelessness and poverty.



Padley Groups beneficiaries will not have to move from its accommodation or stop receiving support as YMCA Derbyshire is already a social housing provider and will incorporate its 18 Padley Pathways flats into its portfolio.

Padley Group, which said the merger will enable the charity to grow its funding for both organisations, which means a stronger, more impactful organisation for the years to come.

Additional information on the website says a new bank account will be set up for donations in due course but the Padley Group bank account will remain open for at least six months.

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Earlier this year, Semafors Liz Hoffman and Ben Smith reported that a potential sale of Forbes had stalled for fear of five letters: CFIUS. CFIUS is the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, a federal body that reviews overseas investments in US businesses on national-security grounds. The fear in the Forbes case was that CFIUS would not look kindly on the prominent involvement of Shiv Khemka, the Indian billionaire leading the deal, and his history of business ties to Russia. More recently, Sara Fischer reported for Axios that the consortium hoping to buy Forbes had dropped Sun Group, where Khemka is vice chair, as lead investor, hoping instead to obtain the bulk of the funding from domestic sources. Over the weekend, Fischer reported that Austin Russell, a twenty-eight-year-old US automotive-tech entrepreneur, will take an eighty-two percent stake in Forbes, though the deal, in Fischers words, may yet be substantially paid for by foreign investorsincluding Sun Group.

This was not the first time that observers had invoked the name of CFIUS in connection with a potential deal for Forbesthough on the previous occasion, the concern was not about Russia, but China. Last year, the magazine sought to go public via a special-purpose acquisition company, or SPAC. Forbes abandoned the plan as the market for SPACs cooled, but shortly before it did so, four Republican US senators, including Ted Cruz and Tom Cotton, wrote to Janet Yellenwho, as treasury secretary, chairs CFIUSand urged her to review the SPAC in question and its ties to a Chinese sovereign wealth fund. Forbes is a recognizable American brand with immense propaganda value to the CCP, the senators wrote, using shorthand for the Chinese Communist Party. Additionally, the CCPs direction of Forbes editorial content and business operations, or its access to Forbes financial and personal research, could present a serious national security threat to the United States.

CFIUS is more broadly relevant in media circles these days; a joke about the bodys potential to stall a media takeover even featured in last weeks episode of the media-business drama Succession. The body has recently been on the radar of tech reporters as it has conducted a review of TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, with the Wall Street Journal reporting in March that CFIUS had threatened to ban the app in the US unless ByteDance sells up.

TikTok is not what used to be termed a news-media company. But it is a company that disseminates news, and that news organizations use to reach consumers. And the recent reporting on Forbeswhich, compared to the furor around TikTok, has flown somewhat under the radarraised questions for me about the evolving role of CFIUS and how it might apply to more traditional news-media takeovers going forward. Were the Forbes concerns outliers? Or do they point to something bigger? The criteria by which CFIUS evaluates news-media takeovers, specifically, havent necessarily changed of late. One thing that has sharply changedfor CFIUS, media investors, and everyone else in the economyis the geopolitical climate in which deals are getting done.

CFIUS was founded in 1975, under the presidency of Gerald Ford, at a time when OPEC member states were increasingly investing in the US. In its early days, it had little consequential authority, but over the years a series of laws variously expanded and modified its powers and national-security focus, often in response to contemporaneous trends in foreign investment. In 2018, Donald Trump signed into law the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act, or FIRRMA, which, in addition to bringing more types of transaction under CFIUSs jurisdiction, significantly expanded the bodys resources. Last fall, President Biden issued an executive order directing CFIUS to consider five sets of factors in its work, from supply-chain resilience to threats to sensitive personal data (though these were not new focuses for the committee).

In theory, CFIUS can review any foreign transaction that would confer control over a US business (and in certain specific cases, investments that do not confer control). Its focus is limited to national security in ways that are guided by law but ultimately discretionary. Officials from across the federal government can influence a given review, though only the president can formally block a transaction from going ahead. This has happened on just seven occasions, though marginal cases can be quietly withdrawn before reaching his desk.

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CFIUS reviews in 2021 (the most recent year for which data is available) were concentrated in sectors of the economyfrom power generation to semiconductor manufacturingthat have little in common with the media industry. But it is common for foreign transactions involving US media businesses, especially when a lot of money is changing hands, to go through a CFIUS review, or at least for dealmakers to seriously consider engaging with the process. Hypothetically, a media takeover could meet the conditions for a review to be mandatory, though such deals are much more likely to go via a voluntary track that constitutes the bulk of CFIUSs work. (If a voluntary filing is approved, CFIUS cannot overturn it in the future; if a transaction is not filed, it can be overturned at a later date.)

Typically, Stephen R. Heifetz, a partner at the law firm Wilson Sonsini, told me, there are two main things that people worry about with respect to an acquisition of a media business. One is the ability to influence the public. The second is sensitive personal data. Heifetz and others with whom I spoke told me that the latter concern is more commonly raised around social-media companies than traditional media firms that may not have any more access to invasive personal information than the average business. Still, different publishers collect data to varying degrees. And high-profile critics of the recent Forbes dealsincluding the four aforementioned US senatorshave expressed concern about a hostile foreign power getting its hands on that magazines information. Writing for Real Clear Policy in December, James Spider Marks, a retired US general, argued that access to search terms related to the concerns Americans share about business, personal finance and politics, alongside other data, could help the Kremlin and its intelligence services influence US opinionor even elections.

Such commentary can come across as hyperbolically hawkish. But foreign investors with ties to Russia and China, in particular, are attracting more scrutiny right across Washington; in 2020, for example, Rep. Jim Banks, a rising Republican star from Indiana, introduced a bill that would have barred companies with ties to China from owning a majority stake in critical US businesses, including those engaged in the production and dissemination of news media. In general, what constitutes such ties can be hard to pinpoint, including, according to Heifetz, within CFIUS. I often refer to the six degrees of Kevin Bacon game, where Kevin Bacon is China or Russia, he said. (By law, the CFIUS process must establish credible evidence that a takeover would harm national security, and that other laws arent sufficient to mitigate the risk, before a deal can be blocked.)

Whatever goes on within an individual CFIUS reviewand these are to some extent a black box, due to confidentiality obligationsthe present geopolitical climate, and how its perceived in Washington, may give media-deals lawyers more to think about as they weigh whether to engage with the body voluntarily. It strikes me that those of us who work for media companies have something to think about here, tooespecially at a moment when our corporate overlords are increasingly looking overseas for capital. Who gets to own us? And who gets to decide that, and on what grounds? Conversations I had while writing this piece suggest that a debate as to what all this might mean has yet to really take hold across the industry. Ultimately, whether a given media owner is good or bad depends on their values and resources, not their passport.

After breaking the Forbes-CFIUS story earlier in the year, Hoffman, of Semafor, went on CNBC to talk about it, and noted two trends underpinning her reporting: US national-security regulators viewing propaganda as the next war, and the fact that economic hawkishness is a rare dynamic that currently inspires relative bipartisan consensus in DC. Without asking Hoffman to divulge her sources, Andrew Ross Sorkin, the host, said that when he read her article, he felt as if someone was trying to send a message to the business community beyond the individual case of Forbes. I think that message has clearly been sent, Hoffman said.



Other notable stories:

ICYMI: The publisher of the Times on journalistic independence

Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop.
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.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
STRONGSVILLE, Ohio -- A Dunkin, formerly known as Dunkin Donuts, has been proposed for the northwest corner of Pearl Road and Broxton Drive, north of Ohio 82, on the current site of the Village Motel.

Before the project can move forward, however, City Council would have to rezone the site, at 8810 Pearl, from a general business district to a restaurant-recreational services district.

A public hearing on the rezoning, which received a favorable recommendation from the Strongsville Planning Commission last month, is scheduled for 8 p.m. June 5 in the Michael Kalinich Sr. City Council Chambers, 18688 Royalton Road.

The rezoning would not go before voters. Under the city charter, only rezonings involving residential districts are placed on the ballot.

Elizabeth Eaken -- principal architect with Metis Design Services LLC, a Kent firm working on the Dunkin project -- didnt return calls about whether Dunkins corporate office or a potential franchisee proposed the new restaurant.

It also wasnt known at the time of this article whether Dunkin or a franchisee has an option to purchase the Village Motel property, contingent on the rezoning.

The current property owner, James J. Shepard, has owned the site since 1991, according to the Cuyahoga County Fiscal Office website.

Two Dunkin restaurants already operate in Strongsville. One is on Pearl south of Ohio 82 and the other is on Ohio 82 at West 130th Street.

According to the petition for rezoning submitted by Eaken in March, the restaurant would measure 1,860 square feet and would stand on a lot measuring about two-thirds of an acre, just north of Whitney Road and across from OCharleys restaurant.

The Dunkin would include a dining room and a drive-thru window.

General business zoning allows restaurants, but only if they share a wall with another similar business. Restaurant-recreational zoning would permit a standalone restaurant, like the proposed Dunkin.

The zoning change does not materially change the permitted use on the property, Eaken said on the application. The additional (sic) of a Dunkin (is) in keeping with other nearby businesses along Pearl Road.

If council approves the rezoning, it wouldnt be the first time a motel site on the citys north end has been redeveloped.

In 2019, the planning commission approved a Burger King and Starbucks on the former site of La Siesta Motel, on Pearl just south of Sprague Road and north of Parkside Tower Apartments.

Fairview Park developer WXZ Development Inc. tore down La Siesta to make room for the Burger King and Starbucks.

Meanwhile, on the southwest corner of Pearl and Broxton, across from the Village Motel, a Jiffy Lube was proposed in fall 2022. That project has stalled.

The planning commission tabled the proposed Jiffy Lube in October to allow time for a wetlands study of the site.

The commission, in addition to approving a site plan for Jiffy Lube, would also have to approve a conditional use permit for the business. Under city code, automotive service centers are allowed on Pearl at Broxton -- a general business district -- only on a case-by-case basis.

Read more from the Sun Star Courier.
WESTLAKE, Ohio -- Theres something new coming to Westlake Porter Public Library.

The library and the Friends of Porter Public Library will host a community dedication celebration for the Friends Programming Pavilion from 2 to 4 p.m. June 4, weather permitting.

In addition to a ribbon-cutting ceremony, there will be refreshments, including a Kona Ice truck; childrens activities; and music from CJ the DJ.

The Friends Programming Pavilion was created as an outdoor programming and activity space and named for the Friends in honor of their 50th anniversary in 2022. The group made a substantial donation toward construction of the pavilion, which will be used for library programs.

It also can be reserved by community groups. The librarys meeting room policies and procedures apply.

In case of rain, the dedication ceremony will be moved to June 11.

Library patrons also should note that the library parking lot will be closed for resealing and striping from 7 p.m. May 27 through 6 a.m. May 30. There will be no access to the drive-up book drops while the parking lot is closed.

The library will be closed May 28-29 in observance of Memorial Day, which coincides with the parking lot project. The work will be done if weather permits.

And in further library news, its time to start thinking about summer reading. The library invites readers of all ages to participate in the annual Summer Library Challenge, which begins June 1 and continues through Aug. 1.

This years theme is All Together Now, which is about spreading kindness, friendship and unity.

In addition to reading for 40 days, participants are asked to perform two acts of kindness. There will be activity rewards, and the library will also offer a variety of special programs, including the annual STEAM Week July 9-15.

For every 10 days of reading, children can stop by the library for a sticker. Participants can earn a halfway prize and a grand prize raffle ticket by reading for 20 days and doing an additional kindness activity.

Reading for 40 days and completing one more kindness activity will earn participants a final prize, plus more tickets for the grand prize drawing.

Reading and activities can be tracked on logs available at the library or on Beanstack. Visit westlakelibrary.beanstack.org to register for the program or access a log.

For game boards and more information about the Summer Library Challenge, visit westlakelibrary.org/summer. Details on programs offered at the library can be found at westlakelibrary.org/events.

Water Warriors: The Bay Village Water Warriors -- Kiwanis Club of Bay Village, Bay High School Key Club, Bay Village Middle School Builders Club and Westerly K-Kids -- will have a Well-a-bration, a Walk for Water, from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday (May 19) at Bay High School, 29230 Wolf Road in Bay Village.

There will be food trucks, music, games and more at the 3.75-mile walk. Donations are welcome.

It costs $25 to provide fresh, clean water for one person for life; $12,000 will fund a freshwater well for a community in need.

Visit tinyurl.com/3r4hdejb for more information.

Support local history: The Bay Village Historical Society invites the community to support the nonprofit by enjoying a meal anytime May 25 at Boss ChickNBeer, 27321 Wolf Road in Bay Village.

Show a flyer in print (see the BHS Facebook page) or on a smartphone, or tell the cashier youre there to support the Bay Village Historical Society, and all profits from your food and drinks will be donated to the society.

Gift card purchases do not apply to the benefit.

West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church will host a free concert May 21 in the church sanctuary. (Carol Kovach/special to cleveland.com)

Spring concert: The West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church choir will perform Requiem for the Living by Dan Forrest at 10:15 a.m. Sunday (May 21) in the church sanctuary, 24101 Hilliard Blvd. in Rocky River.

The free choral concert is part of the churchs B. Neil Davis Artist Series. All are welcome.

The choir will be accompanied by David Blazer, piano; Andrew Pongracz, timpani; Mell Csicsilla, percussion; and Emily Laurance, harp.

On stage: Rini Gauntner and Steve DeJohn, longtime Lakewood residents, are busy rehearsing a musical that will be presented at the Rocky River Senior Center later this month.

Gauntner is playing Gloria Swanson and DeJohn is portraying Walter Beery in the production of Standing Ovation, which tells the story of a group of old performers from the 1940s who are making a comeback in the Palace Theater in Peoria, Ind.

Sources say the show is filled with laughs.

Admission is free, but call the Rocky River Senior Center at 440-333-6660 to make reservations. Performances are at 7 p.m. May 24 and 1:30 p.m. May 28 and May 29.

Condolences: Longtime Sun News readers might remember Dennis Seeds, who spent three decades with the newspaper chain as a reporter, photographer, editor and technical guru helping the papers navigate the change from print only to digital.

He had a knack for figuring out technical things and carved a niche for himself as the go-to guy for solving computer-related issues at Sun. After leaving Sun, he worked for trade publications and co-authored five books.

Seeds, 71, a Bay Village resident, died April 27 after a short illness.

He and his wife, Sue, who would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary June 29, lived in Lakewood for most of their marriage, moving to Bay Village several years ago. They were active at Lakewood Presbyterian Church, where a memorial service took place May 6.

He was remembered fondly by his wife, sons and brother, Dale Seeds, during the service.

I had the pleasure of working closely with Dennis, beginning in the mid-1970s, for most of his time with Sun.

My deepest sympathy to Sue; Jeremy; Jeremys wife, Jennifer; Jonathan; Jonathans wife, Meredith; granddaughters Lola and Ruby; his brother, Dale, and wife, Laurel; extended family and all his many friends and co-workers.

There were many remembrances and stories shared at the reception following the memorial service.

Information, please: Readers are invited to share information about themselves, their families and friends, organizations, church events, etc. from Bay Village, Rocky River and Westlake for the West Shore Chatter column, which I write on a freelance basis. Awards, honors, milestone birthdays or anniversaries and other items are welcome. Submit information at least 10 days before the requested publication date to carolkovach@hotmail.com.

Read more from the West Shore Sun.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A former Streetsboro councilman, convicted of sending a lewd photograph to a 13-year-old boy whose house he later tried to sneak into, was sentenced Tuesday to spend a year in prison.

John Ruediger, 44, was convicted of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, a fifth-degree felony, after a three-day trial in April. Jurors found him not guilty of a second-degree felony child porn charge that carried a potential sentence of eight years in prison.

Ruediger, who was elected in 2011 and twice re-elected, does not have to register as a sex offender.

Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Kathleen Ann Sutula said that Ruedigers lack of criminal history and reputation in the community did not weigh into her sentencing decision. She said she has seen countless men of standing be convicted of crimes against children.

This is what every parent fears for their children, the judge said.

Ruediger has been jailed since the jury returned its verdict. In seeking probation, he cited his work in the community throughout his adult life and maintained that he did not know the boy he met online was a minor. He apologized to the boy and the boys family, and he said his actions were stupid.

I hope this court understands that, if a picture was sent, it would have been done on an adult-only dating site, so I was under the impression I was speaking with an adult, Ruediger said.

Prosecutors and the boys mother both asked for a prison sentence.

He chose the path, the boys mother said. He should be allowed to walk that path.

Ruediger and the boy connected on Grindr, a dating application that says its users must be at least 18 years old, in April 2021. The two moved their chats to SnapChat, an application where the messages disappear a short time after the recipient views them, and began exchanging lewd photographs, according to court records.

The boy invited Ruediger to his house in Mayfield Heights and told him to climb in through the bathroom window just after midnight, according to court records.

Ruediger parked a block away from the house, walked through the boys backyard and up to the back door, the records said. The boy sent Ruediger a message telling him to leave because he heard his mom, the records said.

Ruediger then sent the boy a sexually charged message in which he said he saw through the window how cute the boy was, the records said.

The next morning, the boys mother checked the surveillance video and saw video of a man coming to the back door, the records said. She then checked her sons phone and discovered the messages and notified police, the records said.

Investigators linked the account to Ruediger, then posed as the boy and invited him to meet up at a bagel shop on April 29, 2019. Police arrested Ruediger after he pulled into the parking lot.

Assistant Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Fallon Radigan said that, despite Ruedigers statement that he didnt believe he was chatting with a child, he continued to discuss sexual acts with the boy after he saw him through the window at his house.

Those are conversations we cant ignore for someone who was 28 years older than a 13-year-old child, Radigan said.
AKRON, Ohio  A 15-year-old girl is in a hospital in serious condition with a gunshot wound to the face after another teen accidentally fired a gun inside an East Akron home, police say.

Levell Gary, 18, is charged with felonious assault in connection with the shooting, which occurred just before 11 p.m. Friday. The unidentified victim was taken to Akron Childrens Hospital and her wound is considered non-life-threatening, according to police.

A witness tells police that Gary, who lives in the home, shot the girl accidentally while both were in the living room. Police say Gary initially left the home, but returned a short time later and was taken into custody without incident.

Gary is being held in the Summit County Jail on a $50,000 bond.
COLUMBUS, Ohio  A Classic Lotto ticket from the Saturday, May 13, 2023, drawing worth $1.3 million was sold at gas station convenience store in Marion County, according to Ohio Lottery officials.

The ticket, the fourth Classic Lotto winner since the beginning of April, was purchased at Green Camp Pit Stop in Green Camp, which is about 120 miles southwest of Cleveland. The $1.3 million prize is an annuity and will pay the winner approximately $43,333 a year for 30 years before taxes.

Saturdays numbers are 5-6-21-24-44-46 Kicker 201037. The buyer of the winning ticket used auto pick to select the numbers and has 180 days to collect the prize. Green Stamp Pit Stop receives a $1,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.
ASHVILLE, N.C. -- A girl from Illinois whom police say was abducted by her mother in 2017 was found 700 miles from home and four states away, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children announced Monday evening.

Kayla Unbehaun of South Elgin, Illinois, disappeared July 5, 2017. South Elgin police said her father went to pick her up at her mothers residence that day, but neither she nor her mother were there, Fox News reported.

The father had permanent custody of the 9-year-old. She had been visiting with her mother for a few days over the July 4 holiday.

Over the past weekend, a man recognized Kayla at a shopping center in Asheville and called police, according to WLOS-TV. The man had seen a story about Kayla in an episode of the Netflix series Unsolved Mysteries, Fox said.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children had also been raising awareness about Kayla via a Facebook page named Bring Kayla Home, posting age-progressed photos of what she might look like, CBS News said.

Police in Asheville said they arrested Kaylas mother, Heather Unbehaun, 40, on Saturday. She faces a child abduction charge and is being held on a $250,000 bond. Elgin police had issued a warrant for her arrest after Kayla disappeared.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children shared a message from Kaylas father, Ryan Iskerka, saying, Im overjoyed that Kayla is home safe. I want to thank @ElginPDFD, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and all of the law enforcement agencies who assisted with her case. We ask for privacy as we get to know each other again and navigate this new beginning.
ALPENA TOWNSHIP, Michigan  A 13-year-old boy was able to prevent the attempted abduction of his younger sister by shooting the suspect with a slingshot and causing him to flee, reports say.

A 17-year-old male is facing multiple criminal charges after he was accused of trying to abduct the 8-year-old girl from her backyard, mlive.com reports.

Michigan State Police say the girl was mushroom hunting in her backyard when the suspect emerged from the woods and grabbed her, covering her mouth, CNN reports. The girl was able to break free from the suspects grasp, police say.

The 13-year-old saw the attempted abduction and used his slingshot to shoot the suspect in the head and chest, mlive.com reports, causing the male to run from the backyard.

One of the girls family members saw the suspect running from the area. He was later caught at a nearby gas station, The Detroit News reports.

The teen suspect has been charged as an adult with kidnapping/child enticement, attempted assault to do great bodily harm less than murder, and one count of assault and battery, mlive.com reports. He is being held in jail on a $150,000 bond.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A 15-year-old sophomore at Glendale High School in Springfield was suspended for three days after she used her cell phone to film her teacher repeatedly saying the N-word in class.

Mary Walton, who is white, was not sure how to respond when she heard her geometry teacher use the racial slur four times, her lawyer Natalie Hull, told The New York Times.

So, she pulled out her phone and began recording a video.

This kid did what we want people to do  see something, say something, Hull told The Washington Post. Now were telling students, If you see something, dont show it, because then youll get suspended.

Hull likened Marys actions to a whistleblower collecting evidence of an authority figures wrongdoing. Punishing Mary will have a chilling effect on students inclined to do so in the future, she said.

Mary recorded the teacher saying the racist slur twice more before he noticed and told her to put her phone away, The Post reported.

When she refused, he told her to go to the office. She remained in class as the teacher returned to his lesson but shared the video with her mother and a friend seeking advice.

The video was posted to social media. Hull told The Times that Mary was not the person who posted the video but that it was circulating within the community within half an hour of it happening.

That prompted concerned parents to contact the school, which then placed the teacher on administrative leave.

Three days later, Mary was informed she was suspended for three days for violating a rule in the student handbook, which says that students are prohibited from using cellphones to make audio or visual recordings of faculty or staff in the classroom without the schools approval. Violating the rule could prompt punishment including a parent-teacher conference, detention, and a suspension of up to three days.

On Monday, nearly one week after the incident, Principal Josh Groves announced the teacher was no longer employed by the district. He has not been publicly identified.

The 56-second video, which Hull shared with The Times and The Post, begins after the teacher had already used the N-word and was being questioned by students.

I dont like the word, at all, the teacher is heard saying. I dont know. It feels like when a Black person is using it towards another Black person, its the same. How is it not still a derogatory word?

A student responds, but the comment is muffled amid other noises in the classroom.

The teacher then says: Is the word  he repeats the slur  not allowed to be said?

A student tells him: Dont say it right now as a teacher if you want to keep your job. This isnt a threat.

The video then shows the classroom, including the teacher, who says: Im not calling anyone a and repeated the slur.

He continues, I can say the word.

One student gasps. Another puts their head on their desk. A third covered their mouth with their hand when the teacher used the slur, then says: Why are you saying it?

That is when the teacher looked up, pointed at Mary, ordered her to put her phone away and directed her to the office when she refused.

In an email to parents, Groves defended the decision to suspend Mary.

Officials are confident that the district appropriately and promptly handled all matters related to what occurred at Glendale, Groves said in the email obtained by The Post. We want our schools to be safe and welcoming learning environments. When students have concerns, they should follow the appropriate steps for reporting.

Hull said the school has refused to erase the suspension, which ended Tuesday, or apologize.

Dan Shelley, president and CEO of the Radio Television Digital News Association, who grew up attending Springfield public schools, wrote to Superintendent Grenita Lathan expressing serious concerns the association has about Marys punishment, according to The Post.

Mary was exercising her First Amendment right when she started recording  to hold a public official in a position of power to account, no less, according to Shelley.

She should be congratulated, not punished, he wrote in his letter. As best we can tell, the student in question is not a journalist by vocation or even avocation. But nonetheless recording a clearly newsworthy incident she  knowingly or unknowingly  became a journalist by chronicling an important event.
SPRINGFIELD, Colorado  Its not uncommon for people to blame dogs for their misdeeds ... missing snacks, unfinished homework, the source of certain, uh, odors.

This might be a new one ... police say a man suspected of drunken driving tried to switch places with his dog, who was in the passenger seat.

Officers pulled the vehicle over at about 11:30 p.m. Saturday when it was clocked doing 52 mph in a 30 mph zone, police say in a news release. As the officer approached the car, the driver reportedly switched seats with the dog, then got out of the passenger side and claimed he wasnt driving.
 
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., May 11, 2023. Brendan Mcdermid | Reuters

Here are the most important news items that investors need to start their trading day:

1. Looking for action

We might see some real action from stocks Tuesday after a fairly ho-hum session Monday that nonetheless ended with all three major indices slightly higher. There weren't any meaningful developments out of Washington on the debt ceiling (see below), earnings have slowed to a trickle, and it appears the Federal Reserve is likely going to keep rates in place for a while. The nation's top banking regulators, including Fed Vice Chair Michael Barr, are set to appear before the House Financial Services Committee on Tuesday, a hearing that could provide further clues on the state of the regional banking sector after recent failures. Fed Presidents Raphael Bostic of Atlanta, John Williams of New York and Austan Goolsbee of Chicago are slated to speak elsewhere Tuesday. Follow live market updates.

2. Debt ceiling update

President Joe Biden hosts debt limit talks with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., in the Oval Office at the White House on May 9, 2023. Kevin Lamarque | Reuters

President Joe Biden might be optimistic about the direction of talks to raise or suspend the debt ceiling, but his Republican foil, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, doesn't think things have gotten better since they met last week. While White House and congressional staff have met daily in a bid to hammer out a deal to avoid a debt default, on the surface, at least, it doesn't look like there's been much progress ahead of Tuesday afternoon's planned meeting between Biden, McCarthy, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Time is running short. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Monday reaffirmed that the U.S. is on track to run out of money to pay its bills as soon as June 1.

3. Gloomy report from Home Depot

A Home Depot store in Livermore, California, US, on Thursday, May 12, 2022. Home Depot Inc. is scheduled to release earnings figures on May 17. Photographer: David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Home Depot's earnings report is out, and it's not great. While the bottom line barely beat Wall Street's expectations, revenue came up short. In fact, it was the home improvement retailer's second consecutive revenue miss after previously posting 12 consecutive beats. Home Depot also lowered its same-store sales estimate for the year to a decline of 2% to 5%. Before, it had expected the metric to stay effectively flat. The company's lackluster results and outlook come as the retail stage of earnings season kicks off. Target reports Wednesday, Walmart posts its results Thursday, and Home Depot rival Lowe's is up a week from now.

4. Musk faces subpoena in Epstein case

Electric car maker Tesla CEO Elon Musk meets with French Minister for the Economy and Finances Bruno Le Maire on the sidelines of the 6th edition of the "Choose France" Summit at the Chateau de Versailles, outside Paris on May 15, 2023. Ludovic Marin | Pool | Via Reuters

The U.S. Virgin Islands has issued a subpoena to billionaire Tesla CEO Elon Musk in its lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase for the bank's ties to the dead sex trafficker and predator Jeffrey Epstein. Specifically, the USVI government is seeking documents from Musk that show any communication involving him, Epstein and JPMorgan. The islands' government issued the subpoena out of suspicion that Epstein, who had relationships with rich and powerful men including Bill Gates and Prince Andrew, may have referred Musk to JPMorgan. The USVI has so far failed to serve Musk with the subpoena and is seeking the judge's OK to to do so through Tesla's registered agent. Musk, on Twitter, called the subpoena "idiotic on so many levels." Be sure to tune in to CNBC at 6 p.m. ET Tuesday, when David Faber will interview Musk live.

5. Russia hammers Kyiv

Firefighters at work in Kyiv, Ukraine on May 16, 2023. State Emergency Service of Ukraine
Wind Catching Systems wants to develop a floating, multi-turbine system. This illustration shows what it could look like once deployed. Wind Catching Systems

With their considerable height and sweeping blades, wind turbines are perhaps the most visually striking sign of the world's shift to a more sustainable future. Over the past few years, major players in the sector have developed huge new turbines, with the era of "super-sized" onshore and offshore structures appearing to be just round the corner. While these massive pieces of kit are based on a familiar design that incorporates a tower, nacelle and blades, some firms are working on new ideas that, if built, would look very different indeed. Wind Catching Systems is one of them. Established in 2017 and headquartered just outside the Norwegian capital of Oslo, it's focused on the development of what it calls a "floating wind power plant based on a multi-turbine design." The overarching idea behind the Windcatcher system, as it's known, relates to maximizing "power generation from a concentrated area." The design also incorporates an elevator-based system for installing turbines and maintenance. Illustrations of what the Windcatcher would look like are certainly striking, resembling a vast, water-based wall of rotating blades. The potential scale of it is considerable. CEO Ole Heggheim said the "large model" would have a height of 300 meters (around 984 feet) and a width of 350 meters. Such an iteration is some way off, however. While the large version of the Windcatcher would use 126 turbines of 1 megawatt, Heggheim said a planned pilot model will have "between seven and 12," with the exact number to be decided over the next few months. The plan is for a gradual scale-up. Following the pilot, Heggheim said his firm would "most likely build an intermediate size, probably around 40 megawatts, before we go for the large size."

Floating tech

Floating offshore wind turbines are different from fixed-bottom offshore wind turbines, which are rooted to the seabed. One advantage of floating turbines is that they can be installed in far deeper waters than fixed-bottom ones, and in recent years major economies like the U.S. have laid out goals to ramp up floating wind installations. Firms like Wind Catching Systems are beginning to attract some notable backers as countries and companies around the world look to slash their emissions and hit net-zero goals. In June 2022, the company said it entered into a strategic agreement with automotive giant General Motors and also secured investment from GM Ventures. The agreement with GM, Wind Catching Systems said, related to "collaboration covering technology development, project execution, offshore wind policy, and the advancement of sustainable technology applications."

More recently, in February 2023, the company announced it was awarded a pre-project grant of 9.3 million Norwegian krone (around $872,500) from Enova, which is owned by Norway's Ministry of Climate and Environment. Wind Catching Systems said the grant would "support the initial implementation of a full-scale Windcatcher." "Through the pre-project, Wind Catching Systems will mature and validate the technology and cost estimates for a full-scale Windcatcher," it added.

Bird concerns

Over the past few years, the interaction between wind turbines and the natural world has generated a huge amount of discussion and debate, sometimes presenting hurdles to projects. The effect on birds is a particular concern. The website of the U.K.-based Royal Society for the Protection of Birds states that while wind power "is one of the most advanced renewable technologies" wind farms can nevertheless "harm birds through disturbance, displacement, acting as barriers, habitat loss and collision." It adds that "impacts can arise from a single development and cumulatively multiple projects." In order to minimize the effects of both offshore and onshore facilities, the organization stresses the importance of "strategic planning which sites renewables in the least sensitive areas and ... [assesses] ecological impacts at the very start of the process." The RSPB goes on to state that it's calling for a "more strategic and long-term approach to wind development  which will benefit nature and climate." During his interview with CNBC, Heggheim attempted to highlight how his company's design might mitigate any risk. "We have a large structure behind the turbines [and] we hope that that will be a visual for the birds," he said, explaining that there was also the opportunity to incorporate detection and deterrence systems on the structure. "We are hopeful that we can make something that is more benign, if you like, for birdlife," he said.

A crowded field
Farmer Marin Iliev poses for a picture in his fields near the town of Saedinenie, Central Bulgaria on April 20, 2023.

WASHINGTON  Russia has yet to decide if it will extend the terms of an international agreement that guarantees the food security of tens of millions of people, and its decision could further exacerbate the fallout of the Kremlin's war in Ukraine.

By all accounts, the deal brokered in July to reopen key ports, known as the Black Sea Grain Initiative, is set to expire on May 18.

Earlier on Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said "there are still a lot of open questions" about a potential extension of the agreement.

"When the appropriate decision is made, we will inform you, this is the only thing I can say so far," Peskov told reporters at a daily press briefing.

Before Russian troops poured over Ukraine's borders in February 2022, Kyiv and Moscow accounted for almost a quarter of global grain exports. Those shipments came to a severe halt for nearly six months until representatives from Ukraine, Russia, the United Nations and Turkey agreed to establish a humanitarian sea corridor and reopen three Ukrainian ports.
Chinese authorities have carried out an investigation into consulting firm Capvision Partners, state media CCTV reported on May 8. CCTV said that investigations by Chinese national security authorities had found that overseas institutions have used domestic consulting firms to steal state secrets and intelligence on areas key to China.

China wants foreign investment, but it wants them on its own terms.

However, Beijing's terms aren't clear for now  and it's raised concerns and triggered second guessing in the global business community.

Last Monday, state broadcaster CCTV singled out a consulting company for not complying with China's national security laws.

Shanghai-based Capvision Partners was just the latest company recently subjected to such investigations in the mainland. In March, U.S. due diligence firm Mintz told Reuters police raided its Beijing office, and detained some of its Chinese staff. In April, U.S. management consultancy Bain & Co reportedly confirmed police visited its Shanghai office.

These firms provide due diligence services, which companies and investors routinely employ to determine whether suppliers are complying with rules and regulations  not just in China, but in other jurisdictions as well. They also audit supply chains, among many other services.

At a time when China is actively encouraging foreign investment into the world's second-largest economy that has been deeply hurt by the country's long-held zero-Covid policy, such an escalation in China's concerns about data is hurting sentiment and seems at odds with its overt claims of openness.

"It may seem a paradox," said Chong Ja Ian, an associate professor at the National University of Singapore who studies Chinese foreign policy. "But this is consistent with what we have seen of the current China leadership: they want more control over all facets of society."

"This is a government that built its legitimacy on performance, so they would be anxious to maintain a perception of control when the country is facing more pressures from different directions now," he told CNBC.
CNBC's Tanvir Gill discussed ethical investing with top-performing fund manager Philip Ripman, as they talked about how to invest sustainably without sacrificing returns. Ripman's fund, Storebrand Global Solutions, avoids companies that make over 5% of their revenues from fossil fuels, tobacco, alcohol, war and other vice-related activities. It ranks top for 10-year annualized returns (15%) on Morningstar's list of global mega-cap equity funds. The portfolio manager at Storebrand Asset Management discussed his top holdings which include mostly large-cap companies, ranging from tech giants to renewable energy. They include chip behemoth Nvidia , cybersecurity firms Palo Alto and Crowdstrike , as well as electric vehicle maker BYD . Renewable energy is also a hot topic for Ripman, who discussed the impact of geopolitical tensions, as well as electric vehicles, battery stocks and solar companies to watch. Ripman is based in Oslo, Norway and has been the fund manager of Storebrand Global Solutions since 2015. Learn more from our previous Pro Talks: Want to invest in the A.I. boom? Veteran tech fund manager names 4 stocks to own Here's how to spot a good growth stock, according to one fund manager 'Data is the new oil': investor picks one stock to play the trend Related coverage from Pro: Analyst Mark Mahaney shares his top two tech stock picks, giving one 152% upside Here's what history indicates is in store for U.S. and global stocks in May Short-sellers raise their stakes against these 2 European banks by billions since the SVB crisis Correction: This article has been updated to include the top stock holdings as outlined in Storebrand's latest monthly report.

CNBC's Tanvir Gill discussed ethical investing with top-performing fund manager Philip Ripman, as they talked about how to invest sustainably without sacrificing returns. Ripman's fund, Storebrand Global Solutions, avoids companies that make over 5% of their revenues from fossil fuels, tobacco, alcohol, war and other vice-related activities. It ranks top for 10-year annualized returns (15%) on Morningstar's list of global mega-cap equity funds. The portfolio manager at Storebrand Asset Management discussed his top holdings which include mostly large-cap companies, ranging from tech giants to renewable energy. They include chip behemoth Nvidia , cybersecurity firms Palo Alto and Crowdstrike , as well as electric vehicle maker BYD . Renewable energy is also a hot topic for Ripman, who discussed the impact of geopolitical tensions, as well as electric vehicles, battery stocks and solar companies to watch. Ripman is based in Oslo, Norway and has been the fund manager of Storebrand Global Solutions since 2015.
Chris Licht, Chairman and CEO, CNN Worldwide speaks onstage during the Warner Bros. Discovery Upfront 2022 show at The Theater at Madison Square Garden on May 18, 2022 in New York City.

Nearly a week after CNN's May 10 town hall with Donald Trump, CEO Chris Licht has acknowledged internally there are some things he wished the network had done differently.

Licht continues to stand by the concept of the town hall, telling people both inside and outside CNN that history will look kindly on the network's decision to interview Trump in front of cheering supporters in a live town hall format.

But there are several production elements that he would have liked done in a different way, according to people familiar with his thinking.

Licht said he wished he had introduced the in-person audience to TV watchers so that viewers could better identify who they were, said the people, who asked not to be named because the discussions were private.

The crowd was a main character in the event as many Trump supporters cheered his responses and jeered CNN host Kaitlan Collins when she challenged him. Licht would have liked to openly question the crowd before the town hall began so the TV audience could better understand who they were and why they were supporting Trump, said the people.

Licht and other CNN executives also pointed to direction elements CNN could have done differently, such as focusing the camera only on Collins when she tried to fight off Trump's lies about election fraud in 2020, rather than using wide shots on both Trump and Collins. That way, CNN could draw the audience's focus to the substance of the question rather than the spectacle of Trump. CNN could have also graphically shown each question while Trump spoke, emphasizing his answers didn't always match the topic at hand.

Licht said he wished that after the town hall he'd had the network anchors focus on the news Trump made, such as his claim that he would settle Russia's war with Ukraine within 24 hours or his refusal to weigh in on a federal ban on abortion. CNN could have gone live to a reporter in Ukraine, as an example, which would have reminded the audience of the network's journalistic range.

The post-event panel, co-hosted by CNN anchors including Jake Tapper and Anderson Cooper, looked like they had a case of deja vu after the town hall's conclusion, clearly showing trauma from previous Trump interviews and speeches where he'd peddled election fraud lies and talked over questioners.

A CNN spokesman declined to comment.

Several high-profile CNN employees told CNBC they were embarrassed by the Trump town hall. One person said it was the network's lowest point since a 2012 incident when the network initially misreported that the Supreme Court had struck down the Affordable Care Act.

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav chose Licht to run CNN last year in an attempt to reimagine the network as a down-the-middle, facts-only cable news network.

Other news networks will likely follow CNN's lead in booking Trump interviews  especially if he continues to be the front-runner to win the Republican nomination for president in 2024. NBC and its news networks have been in contact with many of the U.S. presidential candidates, including Trump, about scheduling upcoming appearances, according to a person familiar with the matter.

NBC isn't likely to do a Trump town hall, given how CNN's went, said the person. An NBC spokesman declined to comment.

Disclosure: NBCUniversal is the parent company of CNBC.

WATCH: Jury finds Donald Trump did sexually abuse E. Jean Carroll
President Joe Biden hosts debt limit talks with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., in the Oval Office at the White House on May 9, 2023.

WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden is set to meet with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Tuesday afternoon alongside other top congressional leaders to discuss the debt ceiling, a day before Biden is slated to head to Japan for the Group of Seven summit.

Behind the scenes, staff from both sides have been working daily since the leaders met last week to try to come to a deal before June, when the federal government could run out of money. The leaders left the previous meeting with little progress to show.

"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. As to his state of mind, he said, "I remain optimistic because I'm a congenital optimist."

McCarthy sang a different tune, telling NBC News on Monday outside the Capitol, "I still think we're far apart."

"It doesn't seem to me yet that they want a deal," McCarthy said. "It seems like they want to look like they're in a meeting. They're not talking anything serious."

Biden and McCarthy were slated to meet again Friday with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who attended the last meeting, but that was postponed as negotiations continued behind the scenes. Vice President Kamala Harris will also attend this time.

A source familiar with the meetings told NBC News that the delay is a positive development and a sign that talks were "progressing."

The White House has maintained that Biden intends to go to the G-7 summit in Japan later this week, but the president himself has said that could change depending on the debt ceiling talks. After the G-7 trip, Biden was slated to travel to Papua New Guinea before going to Australia for a meeting of the leaders of the "Quad" nations, the U.S., Australia, Japan and India.

McCarthy told reporters it was critical that they reach a deal before this weekend so the bill would have enough time to pass through both chambers of Congress and make it back to the president's desk for signing.

The discussions have high stakes: Defaulting on sovereign debt would wreak havoc on the economy and roil global markets. A default on Treasury bonds could throw the U.S. economy into a tailspin. The last time congressional Republicans threatened a default in 2011, Standard & Poor's downgraded the U.S. credit rating for the first time ever to AA+ from AAA.

Lifting the debt ceiling is necessary for the government to cover spending commitments already approved by Congress and the president and prevent default. Doing so does not authorize new spending. But House Republicans have said they will not lift the limit if Biden and lawmakers do not agree to future spending cuts.

The Treasury Department has taken extraordinary steps to keep paying the government's bills, and expects to be able to avoid a first-ever default at least until early June. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned last week failure to hike the debt ceiling would cause an "economic catastrophe."

If the U.S. were to default, gross domestic product would drop 4% and more than 7 million workers would lose their jobs, Moody's Analytics recently projected. Even a brief default would lead to the loss of 2 million jobs, according to the data.
U.S. President Joe Biden hosts debt limit talks with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and other congressional leaders in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., May 9, 2023. Kevin Lamarque | Reuters

WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden and House Republicans remained far apart Tuesday, following an hour long meeting on the debt ceiling in the Oval Office that all four top congressional leaders attended. But attendees said they made progress, including through an agreement to turn the multilateral debt limit negotiations into direct one-to-one talks between a close ally of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and two White House aides, on Biden's behalf. "That doesn't mean we're going to get to an agreement," McCarthy told reporters after the meeting, but he said there was "now a better process" overall. Biden told reporters he is often tasked with addressing multiple things at once, and he feels confident the negotiations will progress even as he attends the G-7 summit.

U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) speaks to reporters with U.S. Senate Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) at his side following debt limit talks at the White House in Washington, U.S., May 9, 2023. Kevin Lamarque | Reuters

"There's still work to do but I made it clear to the speaker and others that we'll speak regularly over the next several days and the staffs' going to continue meeting daily to make sure we do not default," Biden told reporters after the meeting. The White House said Biden "directed staff to continue to meet daily on outstanding issues. He said that he would like to check in with leaders later this week by phone, and meet with them upon his return from overseas." "There was an overwhelming consensus I think in today's meeting with congressional leaders that defaulting on the debt is simply not an option," Biden told reporters. The president said he was disappointed congressional Republicans have been unwilling to discuss "raising revenues" but progress is being made. It was "a good and productive meeting," said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who noted that it was "more cordial" than a previous meeting last week. "Having a bipartisan bill in both chambers is the only way ... we're going to avoid default," Schumer said. The White House also said Tuesday that it would cancel the second leg of the president's upcoming international trip, given the delicate state of the debt ceiling negotiations. Biden is currently scheduled to depart Wednesday for Japan, where he will attend the G-7 summit. He will now return to the U.S. on Sunday immediately after the meeting ends, and will not make planned visits to Papua New Guinea and Australia, a source familiar with Biden's trip planning told NBC News. His return will set up a critical stretch in the efforts to avoid a first-ever default on U.S. debt and prevent major economic damage.

U.S. President Joe Biden hosts debt limit talks with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Vice President Kamala Harris and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., May 16, 2023. Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters

Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris met Tuesday with McCarthy, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. McCarthy said his side would be represented in the ongoing talks by his close ally in the House, Rep. Garrett Graves, R-La., and that the White House would deploy Shalanda Young, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, and Steve Ricchetti, one of Biden's closest advisors in the West Wing. In recent days, stricter work requirements for social safety net programs have emerged as a potential area of compromise.
The Apple Park campus stands in this aerial photograph taken above Cupertino, California, U.S., on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019.

A former Apple software engineer was charged with stealing Apple's autonomous technology for a Chinese self-driving car company, the Department of Justice announced Tuesday.

Weibao Wang worked as a software engineer at Apple from 2016 to 2018, a DOJ indictment said. Wang worked on Apple's Annotation Team and was granted "broad access" to databases which the Justice Department said could only be accessed by 2,700 of Apple's 135,000 employees.

Wang is the third former Apple employee to be accused of stealing autonomous trade secrets for China.

Wang has been charged with six separate counts involving the theft or attempted theft of Apple's "entire autonomy source code," tracking systems, behavior planning for autonomous systems, and descriptions of the hardware that was behind the systems.

A year into his employment, four months before he quit his job at Apple, Wang accepted a job at the U.S.-based subsidiary of an unnamed Chinese company that was developing autonomous driving technology and he began to siphon "large amounts" of sensitive commercial technology and source code, the indictment alleges.

In April 2017, only 5,000 of Apple's 135,000 full-time employees had been informed about the project, the DOJ indictment alleges, or around 4% of the company. An even smaller segment, around 2%, had access to "one or more" of the databases Wang accessed, the indictment continues.

Law enforcement executed a search of Wang's home in California on June 27, 2018, where they found large quantities of stolen, confidential, and proprietary data, the indictment alleges. Wang was able to flee the country even after law enforcement executed the search, despite promising that he wouldn't.

Wang boarded a flight to Guangzhou, China, from San Francisco International Airport. In a press conference, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California Ismail Ramsey said Wang is in China and would face 10 years in prison for each count if extradited and convicted.

The charges were announced as part of a sweeping enforcement action led by the Disruptive Technology Strike Force. Four other cases were unveiled across the United States, involving criminal behavior to supply Iranian forces with sensitive ballistic technology, Russian intelligence and research units with quantum technology, and sanctions-violating exports.

The allegations against Wang come after another Apple employee, Xiaolang Zhang, pleaded guilty in San Jose federal court to a similar theft involving trade secrets in Apple's car division.

Like Wang, Zhang had planned to flee to China. Both Zhang and Wang were working at Apple's autonomous division at the same time, and both left their employment at Apple in 2018.

Another employee, Jizhong Chen, was also facing federal charges over his alleged 2019 theft of sensitive information. Chen also attempted to flee to China, according to court documents. Chen's case is proceeding in California federal court.

Apple declined to comment on the case.

Read the indictment here:
Two activist investment firms are calling on Dollar General and Dollar Tree shareholders to approve a pair of resolutions aiming to improve worker safety and wages, the firms said Tuesday.

Dollar General Proposal 7, led by Domini Impact Investments, calls for an independent audit into worker safety and well-being. It will be voted on during the company's annual shareholder meeting May 31.

Dollar Tree Proposal 7, led by United Church Funds, calls for the creation of a wages and inequality report. It will go before shareholders during the retailer's annual meeting June 13.

The resolutions aim to address longstanding workplace safety and wage concerns that have plagued employees of the growing discount chains, which are increasing store counts faster than any other retailer. Collectively, they employ more than 377,000 employees nationwide, company filings show.

Dollar General is currently facing more than $16 million in fines from the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration for safety hazards, including blocked fire exits, blocked electrical outlets and dangerous levels of clutter.

"It's far too dangerous in the stores that we work in," David Williams, a Dollar General stocker, said during a panel event Tuesday. "It's a dire need and it makes no sense to always look behind your back and always try to do your job but at the same time always trying to make sure you're safe as well."

Federal regulators have repeatedly found similar violations at Dollar General stores across the country, prompting OSHA to label it a "severe violator" of workplace safety rules. It's a designation considered "unprecedented" and "rare" for a company of its size and stature, said Debbie Berkowitz, a former chief of staff and senior policy advisor at OSHA.

"[It's] a program for the worst safety violators in the nation. It is totally rare for a large employer with many work sites to be in the severe violator program. Most companies in their program are small construction companies," said Berkowitz, who is also a fellow at the Kalmanovitz Initiative at Georgetown University.

"OSHA rarely finds the same hazards or cites the same company so many times and for the same violation. Usually companies try to correct safety hazards that endanger workers," she said.

Berkowitz pointed out that OSHA fines are notoriously low. Considering the $37.84 billion in sales Dollar General posted in fiscal 2022, the penalties are unlikely to have a major impact on its balance sheet.

The retailer didn't respond to a request for comment. It is currently in settlement negotiations with OSHA. Its board has called on shareholders to vote "against" Domini's resolution, proxy filings show.
Visitors look at a Jidu Robo-01 electric SUV during the 20th Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition at Canton Fair Complex on Dec. 30, 2022 in Guangzhou, China.

On Tuesday, the U.S. government accused a former Apple employee, Weibao Wang, of stealing trade secrets from the company's self-driving car division, including the entirety of Apple's "autonomous" source code.

The U.S. government did not identify in the charging documents who Wang works for now, but according to Reuters and several company profiles, Wang is an executive at Jidu, an electric vehicle joint venture between Chinese internet company Baidu and Chinese car maker Geely.

The U.S. government is concerned that Beijing is using various tactics to steal proprietary information from American companies, including "corrupting insiders." Tuesday's announcement was part of a Department of Justice task force designed to "counter efforts by hostile nation-states to illicitly acquire sensitive U.S technology."

Federal prosecutors have accused Wang of agreeing to work for a U.S. subsidiary of a Chinese automaker months before he left Apple in 2018, and of stealing privileged information dealing with Apple's autonomous systems development, allegedly to give to an unnamed Chinese company.

According to a since-deleted LinkedIn profile that appeared in a Chinese-language interview, after Wang left Apple he began working at a health care artificial intelligence firm called Singularity.AI, which has offices in California and China. Following that, he worked as chief technology officer at Neolix, a Chinese self-driving car company. In 2021, Wang joined Jidu to run the company's intelligent-driving efforts.

In June 2018, law enforcement officials searched Wang's apartment on Apple's suspicions that he had taken internal company files. Wang purchased a ticket and flew to China the same day, according to Tuesday's filing. The charges suggest Wang can no longer travel to the U.S. without risking arrest.

Wang is the third former Apple employee from China to be accused of stealing trade secrets from Apple's self-driving car division. Xiaolang Zhang, who worked at Apple around the same time as Wang, pleaded guilty to stealing trade secrets from Apple in August. And ex-Apple employee Jizhong Chen is also facing charges, but a trial date for his case has yet to be set.

Neither Zhang nor Chen were able to leave the country before they were arrested separately in 2018 and 2019, and Apple lawyers said in 2019 they were worried that they would flee to China.

Apple has reportedly been working on a self-driving car since at least 2015, although it has never discussed its goals or plans publicly and no car has been announced. The most public sign of Apple's efforts is a fleet of cars with sensors for gathering data, which can be spotted driving around some California neighborhoods.

In February, Jidu confirmed plans to deliver its first car this year, and that it will be using ChatGPT-like technology in its vehicles.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California, which is prosecuting the case, declined to comment. An Apple representative declined to comment. Baidu and the FBI's San Francisco field office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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The Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday filed a lawsuit seeking to block drug giant Amgen 's $27.8 billion acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics , arguing that the deal would "stifle competition" in the pharmaceutical industry. The FTC said that the deal would allow Amgen to "entrench the monopoly positions" of two of Horizon's fast-growing medications: the thyroid eye disease treatment Tepezza, and Krystexxa, which is a gout medicine Specifically, the agency said, Amgen would be able to offer rebates on its existing drugs to pressure insurers and pharmacy benefit managers into favoring the two Horizon products, a strategy known as "cross-market bundling." The FTC claimed California-based Amgen has a history of leveraging its drug portfolio to gain advantages over potential rivals. The suit comes four months after Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, in a letter to FTC Chairwoman Lina Khan asked the regulator to "heavily scrutinize" the acquisition, and the then-pending merger of Indivior and Opian, which she warned could lead to higher prices.

Robert Galbraith | Reuters

"Today's action  the FTC's first challenge to a pharmaceutical merger in recent memory  sends a clear signal to the market: The FTC won't hesitate to challenge mergers that enable pharmaceutical conglomerates to entrench their monopolies at the expense of consumers and fair competition," said Holly Vedova, agency's bureau of competition director, in a statement. Horizon's share price closed 14% lower Tuesday. Amgen's stock price ended down by more than 2%. Amgen and Horizon, which is based in Ireland, in separate statements said that they believe they will be able to complete the deal by mid-December after responding to the lawsuit in court.

Amgen said that it was "disappointed" by the FTC's complaint, and that the company believes it has "overwhelmingly demonstrated" that the merger poses no competitive issues. Amgen "remains committed to completing this acquisition, which will bring significant benefits to patients suffering from very serious rare diseases in the U.S. and around the world," the company said. The firm added it has been working "cooperatively" to answer questions raised by the FTC's investigative staff over the past several months. Horizon said it "does not and has no plans" to engage in cross-marketing bundling. The two drugmakers in February said that the FTC sent them a second request for information about the acquisition as part of the agency's review of the deal. Amgen struck the deal to buy Horizon Therapeutics in early December and had initially said that it expected to complete the sale in the first half of 2023. The purchase would strengthen Amgen's drug portfolio as it prepares to face several patent expirations for key treatments over the next decade. That includes a patent for a medicine that treats psoriasis, an autoimmune condition that causes inflammation of the skin.

Street sentiment
A little over a month ago, Ethereum underwent a major technology upgrade that allowed investors to withdraw their "staked," or locked up, coins on the network for the first time ever. The change, known as Shanghai or Shapella, was meant to bring more liquidity to the network by allowing investors to withdraw their staked assets. There were initial concerns about potential sell pressure that might hit the market as a result. However, more liquidity also means developers can create better and more differentiated applications on the network. Ether 's price has fallen about 14% over the past month, though it's still up more than 50% year to date, according to Coin Metrics. Many of the down moves have been more closely tied to investor concerns about the economy and the likelihood of a recession, as well as the health of the U.S. banking sector. Staking trends have beaten expectations, however. As of Tuesday, the total amount of ether staked is about 18.2 million, and there are about 573,000 validators on the network, who are earning an average return of 5.5%, according to Beaconcha.in, an Ethereum blockchain data tracker. Fees on Ethereum are the highest they've been in a year, according to CryptoQuant, which leads to higher yields for investors who stake their ether. The total value of ether staked has risen, while the supply has fallen dramatically. "In the month since [Shapella], Ethereum has seen record staking inflows, so more and more investors are recognizing ETH, especially staking ETH, as a competitor to U.S. T-bills with an equivalent 5% yield and now a duration below 30 days," said Matthew Sigel, head of digital assets research at VanEck. "After the initial backlog of withdrawals  the backlog to withdraw ETH is now down to zero days and there's a 30-day backlog to enter the staking queue. So compared to what expectations were a month ago, we've flipped completely," he added. The backlog of withdrawals in April was dominated by the crypto exchange Kraken, which was forced to get out of the staking business by the Securities and Exchange Commission in February. There's a limited number of investors who can withdraw their coins at any given time due to the two-day "unbonding" period  the amount of time a blockchain delegator waits before they can move or sell their tokens  and a variable exit queue that changes based on the number of participants in line. Some expected that post-Shapella, investors would wait as long as 30 days to 60 days to exit. Here's what else has happened in the month since Shapella: 1. Staked ETH is at record highs The total volume of staked ether has hit a record high of 21 million ETH, and the daily volume of ether being staked is at its highest since November 2020, according to CryptoQuant. Many worried that with the new ability to withdraw their locked up funds, investors would take the opportunity immediately and dump millions of ether onto the market, Owen Lau, an analyst at Oppenheimer said. "It looks like the initial selling pressure is done, and people feel more comfortable about the staking now," he said. "And that's how you attract more investors to come back in." 2. Higher fees As network activity spiked, fees surged to their highest level in a year, according to CryptoQuant. Some skeptics believed ether yields could decline with a rise in staking, Bernstein analyst Gautam Chhugani pointed out in a note Monday. So far, however, ETH fees have outpaced the growth in the amount of ether staked, leading to higher yields, he said. 3. More depositors on the network The number of new stakers has accelerated since Shapella. The number of unique depositors has grown about 8% since April 12, with people being more willing to lock up their funds for a return now that they're also able to withdraw them, according to CryptoQuant's Julio Moreno.
South Africa: President Ramaphosa hosts Singapore Prime Minister

President Cyril Ramaphosa will today host Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of the Republic of Singapore for an Official Visit at Tuynhuys in Cape Town.

In a statement, the Presidency said the visit will be an opportunity for the two countries to strengthen their longstanding partnership and explore new areas of bilateral economic cooperation.

President Ramaphosa and Prime Minister Hsien Loong will hold official talks on cooperation in the areas of communications and digital technology, science and innovation, water and sanitation and skills development.

The Official Visit will also bring leading business people from the respective countries to collaborate in sectors ranging from ports, logistics and supply chain, healthcare and biomedical, food manufacturing and engineering, the Presidency said.

The leaders discussed the potential for closer collaboration in these areas when they met on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders Summit held in Bali last year.

Cooperation is expected to deliver mutual benefits in terms of economic growth, job creation and innovation.

South Africa's economic relations with Singapore are focused on trade, investment, tourism promotion and skills transfer.

Singapores visit to South Africa continues the high level engagement the two governments have fostered since diplomatic relations began in 1993, ahead of South Africas democratic transition.

Since then, the two countries have shared excellent bilateral relations, which have formed the basis of regular high level visits.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of South Africa and the Republic of Singapore as partners who work closely together in multinational fora.

Singapore, like South Africa, is a member of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), the Commonwealth, as well as the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

The two countries have signed numerous agreements to enhance cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, education, and defence.

Todays high level visit is preceded by an Official Visit undertaken by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, to Singapore in July 2022.

Singapore is a significant investor in South Africa, with investments totalling over R5 billion in sectors such as manufacturing, financial services and real estate.

One of the key areas of collaboration between South Africa and Singapore is trade. Singapore is one of South Africa's largest trading partners in Southeast Asia, with trade between the two countries totalling approximately R28 billion in 2022.

South Africa exports a range of products to Singapore, including gold, diamonds and wine, while Singapore exports electronics, chemicals, and machinery to South Africa. SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2023-05-16. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
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.
Six months after Morgan Stanley pulled its rating on Carvana shares, the firm says it has "improved confidence" in the used-car dealer. Analyst Adam Jonas reinstated coverage of the stock, giving it an equal-weight rating. His price target of $12 implies just 3.6% upside from where shares closed on Monday. Meanwhile, the stock was down more than 5% late Tuesday morning. The analyst's bear case for the stock anticipates a drop to a valuation of $1. However, in his bull case, shares could pop to $60, a jaw-dropping jump of more than 400% from the previous session's close. "While the stock still offers a wide range of potential outcomes, we have improved confidence in management's ability to mitigate operational cash burn while passing through the worst of [the] used car market dislocation," Jonas wrote in a Monday note. The analyst is optimistic on Carvana's shift to a "shrink to grow" strategy. Carvana's CEO Ernie Garcia III said during the company's first-quarter earnings call that the company would focus on first obtaining positive adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, as well as positive unit economics before reprioritizing growth. "Consensus revenue expectations have been reeled in materially," Jonas said. "We believe that the market has sufficiently priced in, and is giving credit to, a more efficient and better operated smaller Carvana." The analyst added that the company's reductions of selling, general and administrative expenses have been progressing better than expected, marking a "turning point" for Carvana. "In their 4Q22 shareholder letter, Carvana outlined a plan to remove $100mn of Non-GAAP SG & A expense by the end of 1H. By the end of Q1, they had already cut $119mn.  We think that the fact that Carvana not only met their operating objectives, but did so a quarter early, is a turning point for the company, and adds to our increased belief in its outlook," said Jonas. Carvana shares have soared nearly 130% in 2023. To be sure, the stock is still down by more than 71% over the past 12 months. CVNA YTD mountain Carvana stock CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON  New York Attorney General Letitia James is leading a multistate effort to urge the Supreme Court to overturn a decision that threatens the existence of the nation's leading consumer protection agency.

Attorneys general in 22 other states and the District of Columbia joined New York in an amicus brief filing to the court Tuesday in support of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The brief comes a day after dozens of current and former Democratic lawmakers filed a separate amicus brief defending the agency.

"The CFPB has proven that it is able to stand up for consumers and help states, including New York, to ensure that our residents are protected," James said in a statement. "That is why opponents are attacking the agency, and that is why I am proud to push back on these brazenly anti-consumer protection efforts. I will continue to work with my fellow attorneys general to defend the CFPB and ensure it is able to work with our respective states to help protect consumers throughout the country."

The Supreme Court agreed in February to hear arguments after the Biden administration appealed the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals' decision that the CFPB's funding method is unconstitutional. The justices might not issue a final ruling until 2024.

The CFPB was created under the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act after the 2008 financial crisis. Congress chose to fund the agency from the Federal Reserve and allow the CFPB to avoid the annual appropriations process to spare it from unpredictable funding cycles.

Republican lawmakers have routinely criticized the CFPB for continuing to operate outside of appropriations, but Democrats argue that the agency has congressional oversight and must justify its budget to the House on a biannual basis.

If the Supreme Court decides not to overturn the 5th Circuit's ruling, it could invalidate "numerous CFPB rules and other regulatory actions" and harm millions of Americans while destabilizing the consumer financial sector, the attorneys general said in a statement.

The attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin signed on to the amicus brief alongside New York and the District of Columbia.
Artificial intelligence regulation should not repeat the same mistakes Congress made at the dawn of the social media era, lawmakers at a hearing of the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on privacy and technology made clear Tuesday.

During the hearing, where OpenAI CEO Sam Altman testified for the first time, senators from both sides of the aisle stressed the need to figure out guardrails for the powerful technology before the greatest of its harms emerge. They repeatedly compared the risks of AI to those of social media, while acknowledging AI is capable of greater speed, scale and very different kinds of harms.

The lawmakers did not arrive at specific proposals, though they bounced around ideas of new agencies to regulate AI or a way of licensing the tool.

The hearing came after Altman met with a receptive group of House lawmakers at a private dinner Monday, where the CEO walked through risks and opportunities in the technology. Tuesday's hearing had a somewhat skeptical but not quite combative tone toward industry members on the panel, which included both Altman and IBM chief privacy and trust officer Christina Montgomery, alongside New York University professor emeritus Gary Marcus.

Chair Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., opened the hearing with a recording of his remarks, which he later revealed was created by AI, both in substance and the voice itself. He read a flattering description of why ChatGPT wrote the opening remarks the way it did, pointing to Blumenthal's record on data privacy and consumer protection issues. But, he said, the party trick would not be so amusing were it used to say something harmful or untrue, like falsely endorsing Ukraine's hypothetical surrender to Russia.

Blumenthal compared this moment to an earlier one that Congress had let pass.

"Congress failed to meet the moment on social media," Blumenthal said in his written remarks. "Now we have the obligation to do it on AI before the threats and the risks become real."

Ranking Member Josh Hawley, R-Mo., noted that Tuesday's hearing couldn't even have happened a year ago because AI had not yet entered the public consciousness in such a big way. He envisioned two paths the technology could take, likening its future to either the printing press, which empowered people throughout the world by spreading information, or the atom bomb, which he called a "huge technological breakthrough, but the consequences: severe, terrible, continue to haunt us to this day."

Several lawmakers brought up Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, the law that has served as the tech industry's legal liability shield for more than two decades. The law, which helps expedite the dismissal of lawsuits against tech platforms when they are based on other users' speech or the companies' content moderation decisions, has recently seen critiques on both sides of the aisle, though with different motivations.

"We should not repeat our past mistakes," Blumenthal said in his opening remarks. "For example, Section 230. Forcing companies to think ahead and be responsible for the ramification of their business decisions can be the most powerful tool of all."

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., who chairs the full committee, said passing Section 230 in the early internet days was essentially Congress deciding to "absolve the industry from liability for a period of time as it came into being."

Altman agreed that a new system to deal with AI is needed.

"For a very new technology we need a new framework," Altman said. "Certainly companies like ours bear a lot of responsibility for the tools that we put out in the world, but tool users do as well."

Altman continued to receive praise from lawmakers Tuesday for his openness with the committee.

Durbin said it was refreshing to hear industry executives calling for regulation, saying he couldn't remember other companies so strongly asking for their industry to be regulated. Big Tech companies such as Meta and Google have repeatedly called for national privacy regulation among other tech laws, though often such efforts come in the wake of regulatory pushes in the states or elsewhere.

After the hearing, Blumenthal told reporters that comparing Altman's testimony to those of other CEOs was like "night and day."

"And not just in the words and rhetoric, but in actual actions and his willingness to participate and commit to specific action," Blumenthal said. "Some of the Big Tech companies are under consent decrees, which they have violated. That's a far cry from the kind of cooperation that Sam Altman has promised. And given his track record, I think it seems to be pretty sincere."

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WATCH: How Nvidia grew from gaming to A.I. giant now powering ChatGPT
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman spoke to an engaged crowd of about 60 lawmakers at a dinner Monday about the advanced artificial technology his company produces and the challenges of regulating it.

The wide-ranging discussion that lasted about two hours came ahead of Altman's first time testifying before Congress at a Senate Judiciary subcommittee on privacy and technology hearing on Tuesday. IBM Chief Privacy and Trust Officer Christina Montgomery and New York University Professor Emeritus Gary Marcus will also testify at the hearing, which is focused on AI oversight.

The dinner discussion comes at a peak moment for AI, which has thoroughly captured Congress' fascination. On Tuesday, at the same time as the meeting where Altman will testify, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee is hosting a separate hearing on artificial intelligence in government. And on Wednesday, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet will hold yet another hearing focused on AI and copyright law.

About half a dozen members who spoke with CNBC outside of the dinner on Capitol Hill described a wide-ranging and informative discussion with Altman that spanned the many fears and hopes for opportunities that come with AI.

Altman received high praise from several members.

"I thought it was fantastic," said Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus who co-hosted the dinner with GOP Conference Vice Chair Mike Johnson, R-La. "It's not easy to keep members of Congress rapt for close to two hours. So Sam Altman was very informative and provided a lot of information."

"He gave fascinating demonstrations in real time," Johnson said. "I think it amazed a lot of members. And it was a standing-room-only crowd in there."

One of the demonstrations, Johnson said, was having ChatGPT, OpenAI's generative AI chatbot, write a bill dedicating a post office to Lieu. After, he had it write a speech for Johnson to deliver in introducing the bill on the House floor.

"It was a beautiful speech," Lieu quipped.

"It kind of also freaked us out," Johnson said.

Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., said that despite being in her third term in Congress, she's "never been to a meeting like this," and praised Lieu and Johnson for bringing together "a total cross-section of our entire Congress to engage in a topic that is transforming our world."

Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., who co-chairs the Congressional AI Caucus, called Altman very "forthcoming" and "wonderful to have a thoughtful conversation."

"There isn't any question where he pulls back on anything," she said, adding that lawmakers had very thoughtful things to ask.

Eshoo said she had invited Altman to speak to the caucus, but that Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., insisted it be open to the entire chamber. Eshoo said she welcomed the opportunity.

"You have to understand something before you can accept or reject it," Eshoo said. "But then, it's like getting socks on an octopus, because it covers everything."

One of those tentacles has to do with copyright law, something House Judiciary Subcommittee on IP Chair Darrell Issa, R-Calif., has been thinking a lot about.

Issa said he's "very interested in fairly quickly providing additional guidelines for the copyright office," adding that even if entirely AI-generated content can't be covered by copyright, there needs to be guidance about when material that was created with the assistance of AI can be copyrighted.

As for Altman, Issa said that in general, "He made it clear that this can't go forward without some legislative and regulatory action, and at the same time, it would be adverse to shut down the momentum. So it's, how do you develop guardrails without sideswiping it or taking it off the road?"

Rep. Jay Obernolte, R-Calif., who has a graduate degree in artificial intelligence and sits on the congressional AI caucus, said he discussed with Altman the potential to regulate the precursors to the technology, much like is done with the raw materials needed to make nuclear weapons. Obernolte suggested this might take the form of an international registry that keeps track of which entities have enough computing power to create advanced AI.

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., whose district spans part of Silicon Valley, said Altman made two important points to members in the room.

"One is that AI is a tool, not a creature," he said. "This is something that is going to assist human beings not replace human beings. Second, that it will do tasks, not jobs. This is something that's going to help people with the jobs they have, not displace those jobs. And so I think it's been a sober conversation that's helping members understand what the tool actually does and help refute some of the hype."

Still. there are unanswered questions about the vast capabilities of AI, where Congress should step in, and OpenAI's approach to harnessing the technology. For example, some experts have critiqued the company for choosing to be less forthcoming about what went into making its latest large language model, GPT-4, something its executives have defended as an important competitive and safety move.

Khanna said the question of openness of the model is something he's discussed with Altman before, though not at Monday's dinner.

"The challenge and the value we have to contemplate is the value of having this be open source so other non-incumbents can participate," Khanna said. "But the danger of open source is they could get into the wrong hands. And there's a trade off between that."

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WATCH: Can China's ChatGPT clones give it an edge over the U.S. in an A.I. arms race?
U.S. Food and Drug Administration staff on Tuesday said Pfizer's vaccine that protects infants from respiratory syncytial virus has "generally favorable" safety data.

The FDA staff made the conclusion in briefing documents ahead of a meeting on Thursday when a panel of external advisors to the agency will discuss whether to recommend full approval of the RSV shot.

The advisors will vote on whether Pfizer's late-stage clinical trial data on the vaccine supports its safety and efficacy. The FDA typically follows the advice of its advisory committees, but is not required to do so.

The agency is slated to make a decision on whether to clear the shot in August before RSV season in the fall. If approved, Pfizer's jab would become the world's first vaccine that protects infants against RSV.

RSV usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. But infants and older adults are particularly vulnerable to having more severe cases.

Each year the virus kills 6,000 to 10,000 seniors and a few hundred children younger than 5, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The FDA earlier this month approved an RSV shot from GlaxoSmithKline for adults ages 60 and older.

The agency is expected to make a decision within weeks on Pfizer's other RSV shot for that same age group.

Pfizer's RSV vaccine that protects infants is administered to expectant mothers in the late second or third trimester of their pregnancy.

The single-dose vaccine triggers antibodies that are passed to the fetus, which provides it with protection against RSV from birth through the first six months of life.

Along with safety information, the staff also reviewed the vaccine's efficacy data.

Pfizer's trial found the shot was 82% effective at preventing severe disease from RSV in newborns during the first 90 days of life. The shot was about 70% effective during the first six months of the baby's life.

Most of the more than 3,000 mothers who received the shot in a phase three trial experienced mild to moderate adverse reactions, according to the FDA staff's review of data.

The most common reactions were fatigue, muscle pain, headache and pain at the injection site. Most reactions resolved within three to four days after vaccination, the staff review noted.

A higher number of premature births occurred among mothers who took the vaccine compared to those who received a placebo, according to the staff review.

But they said that difference does not appear to be statistically significant.

Some of the participants' children also had low birth weights, the staff review said.

The trial reported a total of 18 peripartum fetal deaths, which includes infants who survived briefly after birth and fetuses that died during pregnancy.

But the FDA staff said it is unlikely that those deaths are related to Pfizer's shot.
Former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speak at midterm election rallies, in Dayton, Ohio, Nov. 7, 2022, and Tampa, Florida, Nov. 8, 2022, in a combination of file photos.

As former President Donald Trump blinks on the abortion debate, his likely top rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, is taking an opportunity to fight him on a key 2024 election issue that is shaping up to be as divisive in the Republican primary as it will be in the general.

DeSantis, who is expected to publicly announce his presidential plans in the coming weeks, took a direct swing at Trump on Tuesday after the current GOP presidential front-runner suggested that Florida's new six-week abortion ban was "too harsh."

Asked about that remark, DeSantis said the legislation he signed is something that "probably 99% of pro-lifers support."

The governor noted that Trump had dodged on whether he would back that bill.

"As a Florida resident, you know, he didn't give an answer about, 'Would you have signed the heartbeat bill that Florida did, that had all the exceptions that people talk about?'" he said.

"The Legislature put it in, I signed the bill, I was proud to do it," DeSantis said, adding, "He won't answer whether he would sign it or not."

The governor's remarks at a bill-signing event marked a rare rebuttal to Trump, who has spent months bludgeoning his potential primary rival with attacks that have mostly gone unanswered.

Trump was a main catalyst for last year's lethal blow to federal abortion rights, as he appointed three of the conservative Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn Roe v. Wade. That seismic ruling made good on Trump's 2016 campaign promise to put abortion regulations back in the hands of the states.

It was the biggest-ever win for conservatives whose opposition to abortion protections has been a rallying cry for decades. But it drew a ferocious backlash.

Many voters, incensed by the sudden loss of what had been a constitutional right for nearly five decades, flocked to the polls in the November midterms, and pro-abortion rights Democrats broadly outperformed expectations that had strongly favored Republicans. Surveys showed the high court's ruling galvanized turnout among young voters, women and those voting in a general election for the first time.

Now, as he looks for another term in the White House, Trump has shown comparatively little interest in flaunting his record on abortion. When pressed to detail what his abortion agenda would look like if he won in 2024, the pugilistic ex-president has opted for a softer, less committed tone than some of his competitors.

Trump himself underlined that contrast when asked in a recent interview about the six-week abortion ban that DeSantis had just signed in Florida.

"Many people within the pro-life movement feel that that was too harsh," Trump said in an interview published Monday with The Messenger. He demurred on whether he felt the same way, or whether he would sign a similar ban.

"I'm looking at all alternatives. I'm looking at many alternatives," Trump said.

He was similarly hard to pin down in a recent CNN town hall, declining to say if he would sign a federal abortion ban or what other policies he might favor instead.

"What I will do is negotiate so that people are happy," Trump said, while defending his efforts that led to Roe's reversal.

Trump may be speaking with a general-election audience in mind: National polls tend to show most voters support abortion rights, especially following the Supreme Court's ruling. Surveys also show voters consider the issue extremely important to them.

President Joe Biden has taken notice: His reelection announcement video slammed what he described as Republican "MAGA extremists" who are bent on "dictating what health care decisions women can make."

But DeSantis' willingness to hit Trump from the right on abortion could also be a strategic one. A recent Wall Street Journal poll found a strong majority of likely Republican primary voters, 68% to 27%, supported banning most abortions after six weeks.

Those numbers could be emboldening the governor, who otherwise has appeared to go out of his way to avoid alienating the swath of Republican voters still highly sensitive to criticism of Trump.

Other candidates, both those who have declared their campaigns and those who are considering taking the plunge, seem to be making their own calculations.

Trump's former vice president, Mike Pence, has reaffirmed his staunchly anti-abortion views as he appears to be inching toward his own White House bid. He has also come out against a widely used abortion pill, mifepristone, saying he wants the medication taken off the market.

South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, who launched a Republican presidential exploratory committee last month, has said that he would limit abortions to "no more than 15 weeks" of pregnancy if elected president.

Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, meanwhile, distinguished herself by addressing the abortion debate head on, saying in a speech that the next president must find a "national consensus."
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In an aerial view, Tesla Corporate Headquarters are seen on January 03, 2023 in Travis County, Texas. Brandon Bell | Getty Images

Tesla CEO Elon Musk addressed shareholders at the company's annual meeting on Tuesday, predicting the economy would pick up after 12 months and promising the company would deliver production Cybertrucks later this year. Highlights included: CEO Elon Musk said Tesla will deliver its first Cybertrucks this year, and should be able to deliver 250,000 to 500,000 a year once production has started. He said he'll drive a Cybertruck on a daily basis.

The economy will be in the doldrums for the next 12 months, and many companies will go bankrupt, but Tesla will be well positioned for the long run.

The Model Y will be the "No. 1 selling car on earth this year"

Tesla may reconsider its long stance against traditional advertising: "We'll try out a little advertising and see how it goes."

Tesla plans to produce a new kind of drive unit, which Musk said will require less silicon carbide than prior drive trains, and no rare earth elements. Tesla will also switch to a new, low voltage architecture in its cars which should require less copper.

JB Straubel, former Tesla CTO and current leader of e-waste recycling company Redwood Materials, was voted onto the board as an independent director. Shares rose about 1% after hours during the event. During the Q&A session, an attendee dressed like a robot with a cowboy hat, asked Musk if Tesla would build an RV or a camper. Musk said the company doesn't plan to build an RV at this time, but the forthcoming Cybertruck could be converted into an RV or a camper. Responding to a question about his $44 billion takeover of social media service Twitter, Musk said it was a "short-term distraction" and said he had to do some "major open-heart surgery" to ensure its survival, then noted that he was excited to have former NBC Universal advertising executive Linda Yaccarino joining the company to become its new CEO. Another attendee asked Musk if he would reconsider Tesla's long-standing stance on traditional advertising. Historically, the company has relied on word of mouth, influencer marketing and other nontraditional marketing and advertising to get the word out about its products and their best attributes. Musk said on Tuesday, "We'll try out a little advertising and see how it goes."

Straubel added to board, Optimus touted

Earlier, shareholders voted to add former Chief Technology Officer JB Straubel, who is now the CEO of Redwood Materials, to the automaker's board of directors. Redwood Materials recycles electronic waste and batteries, and last year struck a multibillion-dollar deal with Tesla supplier Panasonic.

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After the shareholder vote, CEO Elon Musk kicked off his portion of the meeting with a commitment to conduct a third-party audit of Tesla's cobalt supply chain, namely to ensure there is no child labor within any of Tesla's cobalt suppliers. Cobalt is a critical ingredient for production of batteries that go into Tesla's electric cars and backup battery packs used at homes and for utility-scale energy projects. "Even for the small amount of cobalt that we do us, we will make sure six weeks til Sunday that no child labor is being exploited," Musk said to the cheers of investors in attendance in person. Later in his presentation, Musk boasted about the company's energy storage business and said growth in the sales of "big batteries" was faster than growth in the company's core automotive segment. Back in 2017, Musk unveiled a "next gen" Tesla Roadster during an event to announce the Tesla Semi, the company's class 8 electric truck. On Tuesday, he said the Roadster, which was originally slated for production and deliveries in 2020, may go into production in 2024. Musk also waxed optimistic about a humanoid robot in development at Tesla, referred to as Optimus. Optimus should be able to run on the same kind of software and computer that Tesla uses to enable advanced driver assistance systems in its cars, Musk said. The CEO said he believes that "a majority of long-term value" at Tesla will be derived from Optimus eventually.

Distraction concerns

Since the electric vehicle maker's last annual meeting in August 2022, Tesla's largest retail shareholder, Leo Koguan, has criticized Musk for selling billions of dollars worth of his Tesla holdings to finance a $44 billion buyout of Twitter. Koguan, who is a billionaire and founder of the IT services firm SHI International, called for the company's board to "perform shock therapy to resuscitate stock price," namely by way of a share buyback late last year. Some institutional Tesla investors have admonished Musk for being too distracted during his role as Twitter CEO to perform optimally at the helm of Tesla, but Musk said on Tuesday that he expected to spend less time on Twitter going forward than he has in the last six months. They have also criticized the Tesla board, led by Chair Robyn Denholm, for failing to rein him in and protect shareholders' interests. An attendee asked Musk about rumors that he is thinking of stepping down from Tesla. Musk said "it ain't so." He added, "I think Tesla's going to play an important role in AI and AGI and I think I need to oversee that to make sure it's good," speaking of artificial general intelligence, which is the idea of a hypothetical intelligent agent. Musk then claimed that Tesla has "by far the most advanced real world AI" of all tech companies today. Shares in Tesla closed at $228.52 on October 28, 2022, after Musk officially took over Twitter. They closed at $166.52 on May 16, 2023, as the meeting kicked off, and rose about 1% after hours. At last year's shareholders meeting, Musk predicted an 18-month recession, teased the possibility of share buybacks, and told investors that electric vehicle business was aiming to produce 20 million vehicles annually by 2030, which he thought would require a dozen factories total with each one producing 1.5 million to 2 million units per year. Disclosure: NBCUniversal is the parent company of CNBC.
Big tech isn't dead, according to portfolio manager Trent Masters, who identified his favorite stocks to play artificial intelligence and more. "[It was a] wild reporting season. While there were minimal changes to earnings estimates in aggregate, this was better than feared heading in," said Masters, global portfolio manager at Sydney-based Alphinity. "One of the main stories was big tech; they weren't dead, but only resting," he told CNBC's "Street Signs Asia" last week. There are two main themes in tech worth considering right now, Masters said: cloud and artificial intelligence. On the latter, he said momentum was clearly starting to build, as recent earnings transcripts were peppered with AI references. "The inflection is real," he said of AI. "Now I'm normally very skeptical of claims of the next transformative tech breakthrough, but the AI momentum is no Segway: it is real  This one really has some legs in terms of playing it." 'Really exciting area' Artificial intelligence took the world by storm earlier this year as ChatGPT made headlines , causing analysts and fund managers alike to turn bullish on companies benefiting from the trend  from Big Tech to chipmakers. Masters said that one "really exciting area" yet to be explored is the creation of verticals that sit on top of large language models like ChatGBT. Large language models, or LLMs, are programmed to understand human language and generate responses based on large sets of data. "Whether that's around legal or finance or travel, you can see some really powerful tools being developed. And I really do think that's where we could see the next Microsoft or Google or Amazon really start to emerge," he said. Microsoft Masters said Microsoft is "the first port of call" for investors who want to delve into AI. The tech giant plays into the theme across a number of different areas, he said, including its cloud business, and an extension of AI features into its Office 365 software. "You can see the uplift in terms of output when you start to push those AI capabilities through that broad Microsoft product set and across what is around 500 million commercial customers," Masters said. "The upward inflection in terms of earnings can be quite remarkable." Chip stocks Semiconductor firms will also gain from the infrastructure "that sits behind" AI, he said, naming Nvidia and AMD as top picks. However, he warned that investors will have to be selective in making sure the "juice hasn't been factored into" the share prices. Masters also named Onsemi as another semiconductor pick, in notes sent to CNBC. "Despite concerns for some peers in auto semis, ON continue to deliver. Great result with exceptional execution around the development of their silicon carbide business. Auto demand continues to hang in as the broader EV adoption trends remain on track," he said. Fortinet Another favorite stock of the portfolio manager's is U.S. cybersecurity firm Fortinet , which he sees as having "good execution." Spending in cybersecurity remains resilient, he added, and Fortinet is well positioned in the growth areas of operational technology security, and the convergence of security and networking. "Wrap this together and you have core secular drivers + share gains that should drive growth of > 20% in the coming years, and with free cash flow growth even higher," Masters said in notes to CNBC.  CNBC's Ryan Browne contributed to this report.
European leaders are meeting in Iceland on Tuesday for a two-day summit meant to show their support for Ukraine but also send a powerful message on core democratic values many feel are under threat.

In only the fourth summit of the Council of Europe (CoE) since it was founded after World War Two, the 46 members of the leading human rights body, which is entirely separate from the European Union, will gather to discuss emerging threats as the war in Ukraine rages on.

"The Council of Europe is often underestimated in its importance," Frank Schwabe, a German lawmaker who was closely involved in the planning of the summit told Reuters.

The CoE's democratic values are upheld by the Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights, where citizens can take governments to court in case of human rights violations.

Russia's membership was suspended the day after it invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Moscow then left the watchdog hours before a vote to expel it.

According to a draft of the final declaration seen by Reuters, the leaders will approve a new Register of Damages, a mechanism to record and document evidence and claims of damage, loss or injury incurred as a result of the Russian invasion.

"The summit will also be about saying what happens if you don't respect the rules," Schwabe said. "The threat of expulsion is already a sharp sword. Even Russia didn't want to leave the Council of Europe, Turkey doesn't want to leave either."

Turkey, which is in the middle of a presidential election fought by President Tayyip Erdogan, faces removal from the CoE after it failed to implement a 2019 court ruling to release jailed businessman and philanthropist Osman Kavala.

The CoE's Committee of Ministers has launched infringement proceedings against Ankara that have so far stressed dialogue but could eventually see Turkey's removal or its membership suspended, experts say.

European leaders such as Germany's Olaf Scholz, Britain's Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron will attend the summit in Reykjavik, while Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskiy will address his counterparts via videolink.

Icelandic organisers said the meeting will be an opportunity to support Ukraine through "concrete measures" as well as to boost initiatives to address emerging threats to democracy, including from climate change and artificial intelligence.

 Reuters
The fighting between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has triggered unrest in other areas of Sudan, especially in the western region of Darfur, but is concentrated in Khartoum.

Air strikes and artillery fire intensified sharply across Sudan's capital early on Tuesday, residents said, as the army sought to defend key bases from paramilitary rivals it has been fighting for more than a month.

The air strikes, explosions and clashes could be heard in the south of Khartoum, and there was heavy shelling across the River Nile in parts of the adjoining cities of Bahri and Omdurman, witnesses said.

The fighting between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has triggered unrest in other areas of Sudan, especially in the western region of Darfur, but is concentrated in Khartoum.
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 16)  Grab Philippines is ready to reimburse the remaining 6.66 million to users as early as Friday, a company official said, following the anti-trust bodys move to impose a fresh penalty against the ride-hailing firm.

In a statement on Tuesday, Atty. Sherielysse Bonifacio, the firm's director for public affairs, said Grab was already working on the implementation and will be ready to implement as early as Friday.

READ: PCC slaps Grab with 9M fine

Grab also said that it has been in constant communication with the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC), seeking guidance on how to reimburse the remaining amount to users.

The firm noted that it informed the PCC of its difficulties in completing the refund as some users did not have GrabPay wallets or were no longer in the Philippines using the mobile application.

Bonifacio said some of those users were tourists who visited in 2018 and 2019. She added that Grab Philippines had reached out to them, but to no avail.

The lawyer also said Grab proposed seven options, including placing the funds in escrow with the government or donating it to charity.

Buti ngayon po, finally klaro na po kung ano po yung gagawin natin dun sa remaining 6.66 million. Hopefully after this ma-resolve na po natin yung isyu na ito at matuldukan natin, Bonifacio was quoted as saying in the statement.

[Translation: It's good that it's now finally clear what we're going to do with the remaining 6.66 million. Hopefully, after this, we will be able to resolve this issue.]

The ride-hailing giant said it already completed the reimbursement of 18.78 million to riders, or 73.8% of the 25.4 million Grab had to pay.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 16)  Pageant veteran and newly crowned Miss Universe Philippines Michelle Dee shared what pushed her to continue joining beauty contests despite the pressure such competitions bring.

I don't want to live a life of regret. I owe this to my future self, I owe this to my country and ultimately, I knew I had so much more to prove and so much more to give back and that kept me through, she told CNN Philippines on Tuesday.

Dee bested 37 other candidates on Saturday, succeeding Miss Universe Philippines 2022 Celeste Cortesi.

The two queens were the top two finalists in last years edition of the competition, with Dee landing first runner-up with the Miss Universe Philippines Tourism title.

Comparing her experience, Dee said she made sure that all the wrong things that happened in her first attempt in 2022 will not happen in her new journey.

All my life Ive been wanting to build a platform to really have a voice and really instill positive change last year, I won first runner-up and I just felt like I didnt perform at my maximum so I didnt want to live a life of regret," she shared. "And then I came back stronger this year."

Now representing the country on the international stage, Dee said she will make sure she will be at her best to hopefully bring home the Philippines fifth Miss Universe crown.

I trust the Miss Universe Philippines team wholeheartedly and I know that theyll give me the tools necessary to represent the country, said Dee, one of the stars of GMA action series "Mga Lihim ni Urduja."

Asked about the advice her mother, 1979 Miss International Melanie Marquez, has given her, Dee said it is to shine as my own woman.

Miss Universe 2023 will be held in El Salvador with Miss Universe R'Bonney Gabriel crowning her successor.

The Philippines last won one of the most coveted beauty pageant titles in 2018 through Catriona Gray.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 16)  The newly crowned Miss Supranational Philippines and Miss Charm Philippines on Tuesday shared their excitement as they prepare to bring Filipino pride to the international stage.

All I can hope for is that Ill be able to represent the best of the Philippines, Miss Supranational Philippines 2023 Pauline Amelinckx, who is set to compete in Poland in July, told CNN Philippines.

On the other hand, Miss Charm Philippines 2024 Krishnah Gravidez, who will compete in February next year, said she hopes to bring the amazing stories of the Filipinos on the Charm stage.

Both queens were crowned on Saturday along with Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Dee.

READ: I had so much more to prove, Michelle Dee on winning MUPH crown on 2nd try

While she is already a pageant veteran, Amelinckx said there will always be room for growth and progress.

We always have to keep working on ourselves like we cant become complacent especially now that we are not just wearing our own provinces or municipalities over our hearts, we are carrying the Philippine sash already, so we have to really be our best to represent the best of the Philippines, she said.

As for Gravidez, her journey so far taught her to be grateful and be ready for whats been offered to her.

This crown thats been given to me and this experience, I had so many firsts joining this (Miss Universe Philippines) pageant so I'm just living every bit of this experience and Im just really grateful for this, she said.

If Amelinckx takes home the Miss Supranational 2023 crown, it will be the country's second after Mutya Daul in 2013. And it will be the Philippines first Miss Charm title if Gravidez wins the pageant.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 15)  President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is "very much concerned" with the impact of the proposed reform to the pension system of military and uniformed personnel (MUP) despite agreeing to the recommendations of his finance secretary.

Defense officer-in-charge Carlito Galvez Jr. appealed to senators during a hearing on Monday that the morale and welfare of Filipino soldiers be given due weight in the deliberation, "considering that the mere notion of modernizing our pension system it created already some sort of apprehension."

"In fact, the President also gave an instruction that he is very much concerned on the impact of this MUP [reform] on the morale and welfare of army personnel and policemen," Galvez said. "He wanted that there should be a continuous discussion to have the common ground."

In March, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said he hopes the current administration agrees to overhaul the MUP pension system as the situation is "not sustainable."

"I said if this goes on, there will be a fiscal collapse," he previously said.

Diokno's call was not new, as he also pushed for reform in the MUP's pension system during his budget secretary stint in the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who approved the almost doubling of MUP's base pay.

Proposals for the reform include mandatory contributions, removal of automatic indexation of pension to the salary of active personnel of similar ranks, raising the pensionable age to 57 years old, and that these would apply to all active personnel and new entrants.

The proposals were agreed upon by Galvez and Interior Secretary Behur Abalos during a meeting with Marcos.

According to Diokno, the chief executive "approved" the proposals and that he was "part of the decision making."

"The President is recognizing the need for this. Talagang ipu-push niya [He would really push for it]," Diokno earlier said.

Economic managers reiterated in the Senate hearing that they were alarmed that expense for pension is bigger than the defense department's capital outlay.

Galvez said the Department of Defense is anticipating around 70% to 80% of enlisted personnel to retire if the pension system is reformed.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 16)  The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday said it has no pending amount to settle with its contractor for the 2022 debate.

To the best of our understanding and best of our reading of the contract, wala naman po tayong (we don't have any) obligation, Comelec chairman George Garcia told CNN Philippine The Source.

On Monday, the Comelec said it received on May 8 a copy of the "final demand" letter from Impact Hub Manila, urging the commission to pay its alleged unsettled liability amounting to 15.3 million. This is in relation to the agreement signed by the two parties for the conduct of the Pilipinas Debates during the 2022 polls.

Despite our clients repeated demands, both verbally and via email, the claims have remained unpaid. As such, please consider this as the final demand to coordinate and set a meeting with us to discuss the settlement of the outstanding balance, the April 27 letter read.

The company warned it will implement legal remedies if the amount is not settled.

Garcia maintained that the poll body has no pending obligations with Impact Hub Manila.

Public funds po ito and therefore we have to protect it at all costs over our dead bodies because peoples fund po ito and therefore subject ito sa pinaka-stringent rules on auditing, rules on the disposal of this public fund, he pointed out.

[Translation: These are public funds, and therefore we have to protect it at all costs over our dead bodies because these are the peoples fund and therefore this is subject to the most stringent auditing rules, rules on the disposal of this public fund.]

At the same time nagkaroon po kasi ng problema diyan sa pagi-implement ng proyekto na yan and therefore dumating sa point na napahiya ang Commission on Elections, he added.

[Translation: At the same time, there was a glitch in the implementation of the project to the point that it caused embarassment to the Commission on Elections.]

He was referring to the incident that happened in April when the last two Comelec-sponsored debates were canceled following the failure of Impact Manila Hub to settle its 14-million debt to Sofitel, the venue for the event.

Garcia said an investigation was already conducted with an initial report expected next week.

Five to six Comelec personnel may be involved in the mess, he said. Criminal, civil, and administrative cases will be filed against those liable, he noted.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 16)  The Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs on Tuesday cited in contempt and ordered the detention of another police officer linked to the massive drug haul in Tondo, Manila last year, which led to the seizure of 6.7-billion worth of illegal drugs.

PCpt. Jonathan Sosongco, who led the arresting team that conducted the drug operation in October 2022, got the ire of the panel's chair Senator Ronald Dela Rosa for failing to give details about the informant behind the drug operation.

Sosongco admitted that he got in touch with the informant, but he maintained that he has no idea about the latter's identity.

"Tawag tawag lang yung information na ina-ano, sir," the embattled cop said. "Yung informant, sir, based on the tawag lang."

[Translation: The information was just given through calls. I just got in touch with the informant through calls.]

Despite Dela Rosa's push for Sosongco to identify the informant, the latter can't give a name during the hearing.

"Wala naman po talaga akong maibigay, sir kasi hindi ko naman po talaga kilala yung informant," said Sosongco.

[Translation: I cannot really give anything, sir, because I really don't know who the informant is.]

Moreover, Sosongco said the details about the informant came from PSMSgt. Jerrywin Rebosora of the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group's (PDEG) Intelligence and Foreign Liaison Division. But Rebosora denied the claim.

"I have nothing to do with the informant. Kasi kung informant namin, sa amin na lang, hindi po namin pwede ipagkatiwala sa iba," said Rebosora.

[Translation: I have nothing to do with the informant. Because if we know that informant, we will not entrust his details to others.]

Rebosora was also cited in contempt along with PMSgt. Lorenzo Catarata last March due to inconsistencies in their statements regarding the drug raid.

Dela Rosa was not convinced with Sosongco's statements.

"Parang ginagawa mo akong tanga. Hindi ka nahiya. Mga senador itong kausap mo, harap harapan mo, dati mo pang chief PNP," the senator said.

[Translation: You are just fooling me and you are not ashamed of that. You are talking in front of senators and your former PNP chief.]

Following the involvement of policemen in the issue, members of the PDEG will now go through lifestyle checks annually.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 16)  The World Health Organization's declaration that COVID-19 no longer constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) will not derail the expected arrival of bivalent vaccines in the country next week, the Department of Health said Tuesday.

"The lifting of the PHEIC doesn't have any effect sa ating pagtanggap ng donasyon ng bakuna na dadating na next week," Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said at a briefing, referring to WHO's announcement earlier this month.

[Translation: The lifting of the PHEIC doesn't have any effect on the arrival of the vaccines next week.]

Vergeire said around 391,000 doses will arrive "hopefully" by next week. These vaccines were donated by an unnamed country.

Another two million vaccines from the COVAX facility are also being discussed.

"Meron na ring pakikipag-usap ulit sa COVAX kung saan tinuloy na yung negosasyon na ating sinagawa nung first quarter na tayo ay nakipag-usap na interesado tayong matanggap pa rin yung additional two million doses from the facility," Vergeire said.

[Translation: There are discussions again with COVAX. We resumed negotiations that happened during the first quarter where we said we were interested to receive the additional two million doses from the facility.]

The DOH earlier said health workers and those included in the vulnerable groups  senior citizens and individuals with comorbidities  would be prioritized to receive bivalent vaccines.

Meanwhile, Vergeire said they submitted to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday a memo containing recommendations on COVID-19 that were discussed in the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF). However, no details are available.

"Ang masasabi ko lang sa inyo pagkatapos namin maibigay yung memo for the president, napagkasunduan na ng mga opisyales ng IATF that we will already draft for whatever decision the president will be, we are prepared and will submit to him a draft declaration if ever," she said.

[Translation: What I can say is after we gave the memo to the president, IATF officials agreed that we will already draft for whatever decision the president will make, we are prepared and will submit to him a draft declaration.]
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 16)  The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday announced that it will file torture charges against former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag, who has been accused of stabbing two inmates in the New Bilibid Prison last year.

The DOJ said that in a resolution dated May 2, state prosecutors found probable cause to indict Bantag for two counts of physical torture and mental/psychological torture over the incident that allegedly occurred in February 2022.

He will also face charges for two counts of serious physical injuries.

Meanwhile, the department said ex-BuCor Deputy Security Head Ricardo Zulueta will face charges as an accessory to the crime.

It added that the cases will be filed before the Regional Trial Court in Muntinlupa City. The DOJ did not say when they will be filed.

Both Bantag and Zulueta  who have been implicated in the October 2022 killing of veteran broadcaster Percival "Percy Lapid" Mabasa  are at large.

Last January, Bilibid inmates Ronald Usman and Jonathan Escopete filed a complaint before the DOJ against Bantag and Zulueta over the stabbing incident, which allegedly took place while Bantag was drunk and furious over a jailbreak that happened the month prior.

They presented as witnesses five detainee leaders who were with them when they were summoned to Bantag's office.

According to Escopete, the ex-BuCor chief stabbed him in the left thigh, while Usman said he was stabbed in his right hand, causing his middle finger to become paralyzed.

READ: Bantag on claims he stabbed Bilibid inmates: Just prove it

After the incident, Zulueta supposedly gave them 50,000 each for them to remain silent.

The DOJ said an administrative charge against Bantag for grave misconduct was also recommended to be referred to its technical division for proper action.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 16)  Former Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group chief Narciso Domingo admitted on Tuesday that mandatory witnesses were only called up right after the massive anti-illegal drug operation in Manila last year, which led to the seizure of 6.7-billion worth of shabu.

Senator Raffy Tulfo questioned why witnesses were only available right after the buy-bust operation.

"Anong guarantee namin na mayroon na kayong naitago o naipuslit na ebidensya bago dumating ang mga media o witnesses? In this case, dito kayo nagkaroon ng lapses," said Tulfo during the Senate hearing.

[Translation: Whats our guarantee that you have not pilfered or hidden the evidence before the media or witnesses arrived? In this case, there are already lapses here.]

"Sa isang oras na biyahe o sabihin natin 30 minutes, marami nang pwede mangyaring milagro in that span of 30 minutes," he added.

[Translation: Within an hour or say 30 minutes of travel, many things could have already happened in that span of 30 minutes]

CCTV footage caught some operatives of the PDEG behind the alleged pilferage of the seized drugs. A total of 990 kilos of shabu were found at a property of Police Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo Jr.

The Supreme Court in 2022 reminded law enforcers to ensure the presence of mandatory witnesses  the media and representatives from the Department of Justice  during drug operations, in line with the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2022.

Domingo admitted that he also arrived after the buy-bust operation because he was not informed beforehand by PDEG Special Operations Unit Region 4A chief PCol. Julian Olonan about the operation.

For the record, may I emphasize there was no massive, attempted cover up as already portrayed in the media, otherwise, I would not have taken action and reported the following to the national police headquarters, said Domingo.

I was informed at about past 1 o'clock in the afternoon, but the operation started at past 11 in the morning, he added.

But Tulfo was not convinced with Domingos reason.

You should be there to lead, that's the quality of a good leader [] You should be there to give instructions to lead your men at kung may nangyari man doon, at least kasama ka (if anything happens, at least you are there), the senator said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 16)  The Commission on Elections' second division has disqualified a winning Legazpi City councilor for allegedly taking part in a cash assistance payout during the 2022 campaign period.

Comelec said City Councilor Al Barizo was found liable for violating the Omnibus Election Code, which prohibits the release, disbursement, or expenditure of public funds by a public official 45 days before election day.

The poll body looked into a Facebook post posted on Mar. 31, 2022 which purportedly showed Barizo and other candidates participating in a two-day Tricycle Drivers' Cash Assistance Payout during the prohibited period.

It said the councilor admitted to participating in the activity while arguing that it was only a continuation of a cash assistance program. But the Comelec Second Division argued that Barizo was heading the city's Committee on Public Utilities and Energy (Transportation) at that time so he had the "impetus to push for the cash dole-out intended for tricycle drivers."

"Further, as a then-incumbent councilor, he was 'in a position to influence local legislation to favor the transportation sector.' Even if he is not proven to have a hand in the illegal release or disbursement of public funds during the prohibited period, he surely was a prominent figure in the expenditure of those funds when those were handed out to the tricycle driver-beneficiaries," Comelec quoted.

Barizo now shares the same fate as his party-mates former Albay Governor Noel Rosal and Legazpi Mayor Geraldine Rosal, who were both disqualified by Comelec after their win.

Last week, Comelec affirmed with finality the disqualification of Mayor Rosal for her involvement in the same cash assistance payout that coincided with the 45-day election spending ban. But the Supreme Court later issued an order that effectively reinstates Rosal and temporarily stops former Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr. from assuming the post.

RELATED: SC halts disqualification of Legazpi mayor Rosal

Noel Rosal was also disqualified as governor in September 2022 over his involvement in the same cash aid distribution program.
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 16)  The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Tuesday it would welcome assistance from the Philippine Navy when it comes to installing sovereign markers, but this should not be in areas where there are tensions with other countries.

The Navy could take part with this activity perhaps in other areas that are not contested, PCG Task Force Kaligtasan sa Karagatan Commander Vice Admiral Joseph Coyme told CNN Philippines The Source.

On May 14, the PCG said it has installed five more navigational buoys in critical areas in the West Philippine Sea following aggressive actions by China in waters within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The new markers in Patag Island, Kota Island, Panata Islands, fishing ground in Balagtas, and Juan Felipe Reef are on top of the other five others near Likas Island, Parola Island, Lawak Island, and Pag-asa Island.

Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said the Philippine Navy can assist the PCG in the installation of more buoys in other parts of the West Philippine Sea "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."

In my opinion, especially in disputed areas, if it is disputed and contested it's quite difficult to expose our gray ship or our Philippine Navy because it could be construed as assertiveness or somehow increasing the tension, Coyme explained.

Aside from being sovereign markers, the buoys were put up for safety for boats and ships during day and night navigation, Coyme said.

He also said this can help in establishing strong presence, administrations, and control over these areas, as well as protect fishermen when they encounter problems while fishing.

Coyme said these buoys will only be destroyed if deliberately done. Teams have been deployed to monitor the markers, he noted.

He said more buoys will be installed, but did not specifically mention where.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 16)  The SIM registration extension gave scammers a last chance to "hasten" their scamming methods, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said.

"I already warned that once we extend this [SIM registration deadline], scammers will use that to take the opportunity to continue and hasten their scamming methods using their respective cellphones," DICT Secretary Ivan Uy said in a press briefing on Tuesday.

A day before the initial deadline, Malacanang announced that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. approved the 90-day extension of the SIM registration in a bid to increase more registrants.

READ: Govt extends SIM registration for 90 days

Uy acknowledged that scams are still prevalent despite the extension, but he said most of the scammers have "redirected" and "reprogrammed" their approach.

He said among the new methods is to ask users to click on a link that would redirect to a fake website to supposedly register their SIM cards.

Scammers also pretend to be e-wallet providers, urging users to re-register their SIM to activate their e-wallet, he added.

"That is not true," Uy clarified. "Once you register your SIM card, everything is still the same and you are still registered to your e-wallet."

The secretary warned the public anew not to fall for these scams and to register their SIM to "cut the avenue of defrauding."

As of May 10, the DICT has recorded more than 95 million SIM cards registered. Uy said they expect to hit the target number of registrants (around 100 million) in the following months.

SIM registration has been extended until July 25.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 16)  The Philippines has no plan to reimpose strict travel measures despite the spike in COVID-19 cases, the tourism chief said Tuesday.

Asked at a Palace briefing if her department is looking at implementing tougher restrictions, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said the COVID-19 pandemic already ended, as declared by the World Health Organization.

While we continue to support the Department of Healths measures as far as ensuring the health and safety of Filipinos, the direction of the Philippines is forward and that is to ensure that we continue to open up the country to travel and tourism, Frasco explained.

On Monday, OCTA Research said that the rate of people testing positive for COVID-19 in Metro Manila and some provinces increased for the past week, with Camarines Sur, Quezon, and Rizal posting more than 40% positivity rate.

The Department of Health also reported that the country saw a total of 12,414 new COVID-19 cases during the week of May 8 to 14.

Of course, all the minimum health standards are in place, Frasco said, referring to DOT-accredited establishments.

The tourism industry was one of the sectors greatly hit by the pandemic as governments around the world limited peoples mobility to stop the spread of the virus.

Since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assumed his position in June last year, his administration vowed to end hard lockdowns and pursue the safe reopening of the economy.

The department previously said that the tourism industry generated 208.96 billion in revenues after logging 2.65 million international visitor arrivals in 2022.

Frasco also announced during the briefing that the president approved the National Tourism Development Plan that would serve as the blueprint and development framework for the tourism industry for the duration of the Marcos administration.

READ: Marcos approves PH tourism development plan 2023-2028
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 16)  Six Filipinos were rescued from human trafficking syndicates in Myanmar after they escaped to Thailand, Malacanang reported on Monday.

The victimsfour females and two males who were not identified due to security reasonswere recruited via social media and were made to believe that they would be working as customer service representatives in Thailand.

However, upon arriving in Thailand, they were brought to Myawaddy, Myanmar where they were made to work in a love scam and cryptocurrency operations.

They were able to get in touch with Police Col. Dominador Matalang, the police attache in Bangkok, who coordinated with the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) for their rescue.

"The six Filipinos had to endure a tortuous journey by land from KK Park and Century Park Myawaddy to the border crossing of Myanmar and Thailand. They then crossed the Moi River by boat to the other side of the border where they had to travel for another 30 minutes to a hotel in Mae Sot City, Thailand," Malacanang said.

They stayed in the hotel for a night before traveling for another eight hours to Bangkok where they stayed for four days to process their travel documents. They said the syndicate took their passports and other belongings.

The victims arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 on May 11 after they were rescued through the coordinated efforts of the Office of the Police Attache in Thailand and the PAOCC.

The Palace said the victims were also provided with legal, medical, and psychological aid.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin tasked the PAOCC and other involved agencies to investigate the case to identify the recruiters in the Philippines for prosecution.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 17)  The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved on second reading the bill aiming to require internet service providers to block websites with pirated content.

House Bill 7600, or the proposed Act Strengthening the Powers and Functions of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHIL), is set to amend the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines to include the scope of what would be considered as pirated content, which could include posts published online.

The bill, authored by Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda, was approved via voice voting.

In his sponsorship speech, Salceda assured that the people's right to due process would not be violated once the bill is passed into law.

"In practical terms, it allows the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines to receive complaints and petitions to take down infringed content posted online, or to conduct site blocking. The complaints can be heard in a simplified manner that also adheres to the constitutional requirement of due process including means for appeal," he said.

"And within five days, the IPOPHIL can decide on the complaint, and 48 hours thereafter, compel an internet service provider to block the offending site," he added.

The proposed measure also eyes more enforcement functions, which include guidelines on gathering intelligence information, conduct of investigations, and development of countermeasures to piracy.

Salceda said digitalization has made it so easier for content to spread. He added that this harms the victim content creators whose works are being pirated.

"Once pirated content becomes viral, it becomes very difficult to prevent other users from accessing it. Copyright laws become impossible to enforce on viral content. So, the point of any intellectual property enforcement law in the digital age must be to prevent infringement before it becomes viral," he noted.

According to Salceda, creative industries account for 7.5% of Gross Domestic Product, with digital content creation contributing as much as 0.46% of GDP to the economy.

"It will continue to grow, but so will the cost of online piracy, already estimated to cost around 0.12% of GDP, or more than one-fourth the size of the total digital creatives sector. Without enforcement, piracy will kill this sector in its infancy," he said.

"I urge the House to prevent this post-partum economic abortion and allow this very highly potent sector to flourish and mature," he added.
Reading about policy can never fully replace the experience of hearing firsthand about policy from someone who was involved in its very making, says Jiun Bang, assistant professor of Political Science and Asian Studies.

Bang arranged for Nakyon Lee, the former prime minister of South Korea (2017-2020), to speak to students on campus May 12. About 50 students from political science and economics classes and some faculty listened intently as Lee described what he thinks is needed to achieve peace on the Korean peninsula.

The number one priority, he says, is to end the isolation of North Korea.

It is impossible to succeed in denuclearization without addressing North Koreas perception of security threats and their desire for survivalwhich is far more essential than any other need, says Lee.

To do that, the former prime minister says South Korea should not build a nuclear weapons arsenal and the U.S. should not take an aggressive stance toward North Korea. Lee says denuclearization should be addressed in parallel with mutually reducing threats and improving relations, adopting a realistic and pragmatic approach.

A steady stream of students asked questions of Lee, including HeeYeal Lee, a first-year student interested in history and political science, who was born in South Korea and immigrated to the U.S. as a baby.

I'm highly fascinated by his approach of an easing of tensions, shares HeeYeal Lee. I believe his message comes from a valid perspective of Western antagonization being detrimental to North Koreas survival. History has shown that aggressive militarization can serve as motivation for conflict. In my opinion, while such policies of detente have had varying degrees of success, it definitely has proven effective in its goal of benefitting our globalized world.

Bang, who was also born in South Korea and spent part of her childhood there, was impressed by the robust question-and-answer session following the former prime ministers speech.

Im just always happily surprised to see how engaged our CC students are on weighty issues such as denuclearization, especially given our relative disadvantage in terms of proximity to East Asia, Bang says. I believe the ability to seriously engage in a challenging and sticky matter like North Koreas nuclear program, but not lose that sense of hope in the process, is a testament to the CC spirit to want do good in the world.

HeeYeal Lee asked the former prime minister about a hypothetical event of Korean reunification happening, should South Korea have nuclear weapons.

I thought PM Lees response about German reunification was beautifully said. Even in a world filled with highly militarized global powers, the current Republic of Germany never sought to possess a nuclear arsenal. Yet, the nation of Germany continues to maintain their significance on the world stage with its impressive economy and peaceful attitude, he says.

Following the event, the two Lees shook hands as the younger bestowed the esteemed guest with a bouquet of flowers, as is custom in Korean meetings.

I hope to maintain a strong network of communication with Prime Minister Lee and hopefully, in the future, be directly involved in U.S. foreign policy in East Asia, HeeYeal Lee says.

Before the speech, the former prime minister met with President L. Song Richardson, who welcomed him, his wife, and two professors from the University of Colorado accompanying Lee to campus.
Colorado Politics is published both in print and online. Our website features subscriber-only news stories daily, designed for public policy arena professionals. Member subscribers also receive the weekly print edition of our award-winning newspaper, containing outstanding features and news stories, in their mailboxes every Saturday.
Today is May 16, 2023 and here is what you need to know:

NBC News reported Monday that President Joe Biden may halt plans to move Space Command to Huntsville, Ala.

Unnamed sources in the report say they believe the White House's potential plan to delay stems from "abortion politics" in Alabama, which recently passed what is considered to be one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the United States.

In his final days in office, former President Donald Trump made the decision to move Space Command from Colorado Springs to Alabama, a decision which Colorado Springs officials and members of the states congressional delegation have worked for more than two years to reverse, or at least to reopen the headquarters location process.

The Gazette previously reported that they argued moving the command would cost more than $1 billion, force many of the commands personnel and civilian employees to move or quit, and would likely delay the commands plan to formally begin operations later this year.

When considering a headquarters location, the military generally considers access to health care, housing, room for growth and quality of life. According to the NBC report, the White House said the Alabama abortion ban was not a factor in its ongoing review of the headquarters location decision.

In a victory for tenants' rights, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled on Monday that landlords must provide 30 days' notice of an eviction for federally supported housing units, a requirement that Congress enacted in the early COVID-19 pandemic which has never expired.

The decision appears to be the first of its kind from any state Supreme Court. Judges across the country, and even within Colorado, have reached different conclusions about whether the 30-day notice requirement enshrined in a major pandemic relief law continues to trump state-level notice windows  10 days, in Colorado's case.

Justice Melissa Hart, in the Supreme Court's May 15 opinion, acknowledged Congress had explicitly allowed a related moratorium on evictions to expire in mid-2020.

"But the Notice Provision includes no expiration date. We cannot insert an expiration date where Congress omitted one," she wrote.

When Mike Johnston became principal of Thornton's Mapleton Expeditionary School of the Arts in 2005, he learned many of his students couldn't claim in-state tuition if they enrolled in college after graduation because they were living in the country without proper immigration documentation.

He recalled in a recent interview that his distraught and dispirited students were questioning the point of all the work they were putting into high school.

The 48-year-old Johnston, a candidate in next month's runoff election for Denver mayor, says that's what planted the seeds that have driven him to a career in public service, including multiple runs for office.

After working on Barack Obama's first presidential campaign as an advisor on education issues, Johnston was appointed by a vacancy committee to fill a state Senate seat in Northeast Denver. At the State Capitol, he worked with other lawmakers to introduced legislation to allow immigrant students who lacked sufficient documentation to qualify for in-state tuition rates at state colleges and universities.

The proposal, dubbed the ASSET Bill  short for Advancing Students for a Stronger Economy Tomorrow  would fail to gain traction over several sessions before finally passing with bipartisan support in 2013, making Colorado the 14th state to grant in-state tuition to students who arent in the country legally.

Kelly Brough was serving then-Mayor John Hickenlooper as chief of staff when the Great Recession took its toll and local governments' budgets went into a downward spiral.

So, rather than planning for spending in good times, Brough found herself building a budget for Denver in the worst of times.

And because around 70% of the city budget is allocated for personnel, she knew each reduction would directly affect someone.

"It's one thing to build budgets when revenues are growing, and it's another thing to build a budget when you're cutting," Brough said in a recent interview. "Every decision you make affects individuals and their quality of life, and you're always trying to figure out how to live inside your budget but deliver the services our residents need."

By Brough's retelling, this juncture in her career helped equipped her to tackle Denver's myriad challenges as its next mayor. Brough faces Mike Johnston, a former state senator and nonprofit head, in a runoff election on June 6 to replace outgoing Mayor Michael Hancock.

At the end of The Searchers, one of John Waynes most renowned Westerns, a kidnapped girl has been rescued and a family reunited. As the closing music swells, Wayne's character looks around at his kin  people who have other people to lean on  and then walks off toward the dusty West Texas horizon, lonesome and alone.

It's a classic example of a fundamental American tall tale  that of a nation built on notions of individualism, a male-dominated story filled with loners and rugged individualists who suck it up, do what needs to be done, ride off into the sunset and like it that way.

In reality, loneliness in America can be deadly. This month, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy declared it an American epidemic, saying that it takes as deadly a toll as smoking upon the population of the United States. Millions of people in America are struggling in the shadows," he said, and thats not right.

He cited some potent forces: the gradual withering of longstanding institutions, decreased engagement with churches, the fraying bonds of extended families. When you add recent stressors  the rise of social media and virtual life, post-9/11 polarization and the way COVID-19 interrupted existence  the challenge becomes even more stark.

People are lonely the world over. But as far back as the early 19th century, when the word loneliness began to be used in its current context in American life, some were already asking the question: Do the contours of American society  that emphasis on individualism, that spreading out with impunity over a vast, sometimes outsized landscape  encourage isolation and alienation?

Or is that, like other chunks of the American story, a premise built on myths?
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By SA Commercial Prop News

An artist impression showing the entrance of the R850 million Mall of Tembisa on Gautengs East Rand.



Tembisa residents will soon no-longer have the need to travel as far as Midrand and Kempton Park in search of quality retail therapy as construction of Mall of Tembisa commenced early April.

The Mall is set to be built in the township's most densely populated area as retail boom continues.

McCormick Property Development (MPD) confirmed yesterday that they are currently developing a new 42 889sqm shopping centre in Tembisa on Gautengs East Rand.

Speaking to SA Commercial Prop News, the company said the R850 million mall is scheduled to open in the last quarter of 2020.

ALSO READ: The Global Lift & Escalator Expo comes to South Africa

The initial dolomite assessments undertaken in 2018 indicated pockets of dolomite which resulted in further assessments and pre-drilling of the site to assess and strategiseon the way forward.

The centre will be located in the under-serviced north-western quadrant of the sprawling township of Tembisa, on the main thoroughfare of Olifantsfontein road.

The project is being undertaken in conjunction with KJA Developments. As specialists in low cost housing, KJA will add the high-density residential components to what will ultimately be a mixed-use development, including logistic and commercial developments.

ALSO READ: Click here if you need reasonable modern Office Space

The Mall of Tembisa has been designed to take full advantage of its excellent visibility off the main road, without turning its back on the residential suburbs which surround it.

Rainwater harvesting and solar photovoltaic panels will be contributing factors in developing the mall to world class standards.

The mall will bring quality retail facilities to an area which currently has little in the way of shopping amenities and the rights exist to expand the retail portion to 80,000m 2 as demand dictates.

We are excited to get going on this phase of the project as it takes us one step closer in our goal of delivering top class retail to previously under serviced areas, says Managing Director of MPD, Jason McCormick.

Meanwhile, McCormick and bus company Putcos property arm, Putprop, have agreed to develop and co-own a shopping centre in Mamelodi, Tshwane and another in Dobsonville, Soweto.

The properties are Portion 111 of Farm Mamelodi 608 and Portion 21 of Farm Vogelstruisfonten 233. The Mamelodi property measures 4.2178ha, while the Dobsonville property measures 5.0064ha. There are no structures on the Mamelodi property.

ALSO READ: Sandton grows apace with R3bn Skyscraper

McCormick, which builds malls in semi-urban areas and townships, was founded in 1983 by John McCormick. His son, Jason, is an executive at the group and in 2018 listed Exemplar REIT, a real estate investment trust with R5.5bn worth of retail assets, acquired from McCormick Development.

Putprop was listed by Putco in 1988.

About Tembisa

Tembisa is a large township situated to the north of Kempton Park on the East Rand, Gauteng, South Africa. It was established in 1957 when black people were resettled from Alexandra and other areas in Edenvale, Kempton Park, Midrand and Germiston.

The name Thembisa is a Nguni word meaning promise and hope was later misspelled as Tembisa. The settlement when it was founded carried with it a lot of hope and promise for a brighter future for its inhabitants.

Though its initial residents were forcefully removed from parts of Kempton Park and Edenvale, for the purpose of clearing blacks from "white areas", settling in Tembisa also marked the end of years of harassment by apartheid authorities, and a reprieve from a life of squalor in their previous settlements.
With Google's I/O announcement expo now firmly in the rearview mirror, it's time for us to enter the inevitable next phase of any tech-tinted revelation  and that's the careful contemplation of everything we've just experienced.

It's my favorite phase of all, personally, as it lets us really dive in and analyze everything with a fine-toothed comb to uncover all the subtle significance that isn't always apparent on the surface.

And this year, my goodness, is there some splendid stuff to pore over.

Specific to the realm of Android, the sharp-eyed gumshoes over at 9to5Google noticed that this year's under-development new Android version, Android 14, was mentioned by name only one time during the entire 2,000-hour Google I/O keynote.

All right  so it wasn't really 2,000 hours (even if it did feel like it at times). But the keynote was two hours and five minutes, and it included plenty of talk about Android itself. A new Android version is typically a major focus of every I/O event. And somehow, Google made it 125 minutes with only one specific callout of this year's latest and greatest Android offering.

[Get fresh insight in your inbox with my Android Intelligence newsletter. Three things to know and try every Friday!]

It sure seems strange on the surface, wouldn't ya say? But remember: This moment is all about going beyond the surface and seeking out the deeper meaning of Google's actions. And you'd better believe there's some serious significance to be sussed out in this situation.

Google's invisible Android pivot

I won't keep you waiting: Google appears to have very much avoided focusing on Android 14 as a deliberate and tactical strategy  not because it's inching away from Android as an entity but because it wants to place less emphasis on each new Android version as the measure of evolution across the platform.

It's a fascinating shift and one that anyone who's been reading this column for long knows has been building up for years. In fact, we've been talking about it in these quarters for well over a decade now.

In case you haven't been following along  or maybe just don't think about this stuff 24/7, like certain unbalanced and deeply disturbed individuals (insert awkward eye-darting here)  what I'm hinting at is the way Google's been working to pull more and more pieces out of the actual Android operating system and treat 'em as standalone elements instead.

Since 2010, we've been watching Google go at this without any formal announcement or pointing out of its piecemeal pivot. But it's one of the most consequential changes the operating system has ever experienced, and it's something that affects all of us who use Android-associated gadgets.

Plain and simple, a massive array of elements that'd traditionally be considered system components are now technically apps  individual items in the Play Store that are still core parts of any phone's foundation but are now able to get updated numerous times a month in a way that reaches all devices instantly.

It's not something an average phone owner is even aware of, and that's kinda the point. But it has an immeasurable effect on the overall experience of owning an Android-oriented apparatus.

In fact, it even gives those of us on the Android side of the mobile-tech spectrum an important advantage over our iPhone-carrying comrades, despite the popular narrative to the contrary.

Think about it: In the span of a few months, we see a level of significant system-level updates across Android that'd amount to a full major new OS version on iOS  with hefty advancements for everything from our default email, messaging, note-taking, web browsing, and photo storing apps to meaningful improvements aimed at under-the-hood elements responsible for our phones' privacy, security, and performance.

As a certain astute Android-obsessed writer put it last month:

Google's approach actually presents a pretty significant practical advantage, since the updates to all these pieces often land multiple times a month instead of being collected into annual clusters  but with the way bigger OS updates command the most attention, it also presents a very real problem around perception. ... Google doesn't do much to emphasize the fact that we get these sorts of updates constantly on Android while iPhone owners get 'em only once or twice a year. When you stop and think about it, it's really no surprise that so few people see the forest for the trees and realize how it all adds up.

This same writer (who, by the by, is both exceptionally charming and extraordinarily humble) has been bangin' this drum for eons now. And finally, with its 2023 Google I/O gala, Google is for the first time starting to share that rhythm and adjust the way it's talking about Android.

Here it is plain as day, confirmed in a conversation between an Android executive and a reporter from The Verge:

Sameer Samat, VP of Android ecosystem ... said that as Google has implemented ways for Android devices to receive updates outside of a once-a-year platform upgrade, like Play System and app updates, its become necessary to frame things a little differently. "So this year, we thought its important to show people whats new in Android from a user experience standpoint, regardless of the OS version. While some features that we announced will launch with Android 14, many will arrive in peoples hands through these continuous updates," he says.

Well, goodness gracious. How 'bout them apples?!

But hold the phone  'cause there are two sides to every story. And this one is certainly no exception.

One platform, two stories

First things first: Google's Android messaging shift is a powerful and important pivot after years of Android taking a beating for its less-than-exceptional across-the-board performance with operating system update rollouts.

You know the deal on that front, right? Outside of Google itself, with its self-made Pixel products, most Android device-makers do an embarrassingly poor job of keeping their products up to date and sending out software updates in a reasonably timely manner  to the point where it's become impossible to recommend anyone buy any Android products made by certain particularly prominent offenders.

But here's the problem: While the operating system updates on Android absolutely aren't the entire story anymore or anywhere near as all-encompassing as they once were, they are still important  in ways that go beyond the fancy new features and interface improvements we see on the surface.

With Android 14, for instance, the software introduces a new privacy requirement that plainly shows you if and how an app shares location data with any third parties anytime a location permission is requested. It includes a new feature for better protecting your phone's PIN, too, as well as a more nuanced system for granting apps access to media files stored on your device.

These sorts of system-level enhancements to privacy, security, and performance are common parts of Android operating system updates, even if they aren't the parts that tend to get the most attention. And for all of Google's admirable efforts at pulling pieces out of the operating system and updating 'em in an a la carte manner through the Play Store, certain foundational elements can still be handled only as part of the formal OS layer.

So ultimately, there are two sides to this shift: an awareness of what Google's doing and why it's a good, if overdue, change in focus  and a remaining awareness of why it still doesn't address everything and why it's important to pick an Android device-maker who provides the level of post-sales software support you or your business deserve to have.

More than anything, though, perspective matters. And this shift in messaging goes a long way in better conveying the current state of Android and how updates are actually handled.

Now let's see if Google manages to keep it up and make sure everyone  including the kind of average Homo sapiens who wouldn't watch an event like Google I/O in the first place  remains aware of what's happening.

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There are vital national interests in advancing artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline public services and automate mundane tasks performed by government employees. But the government lacks in both IT talent and systems to support those efforts.

The federal government as a whole continues to face barriers in hiring, managing, and retaining staff with advanced technical skills  the very skills needed to design, develop, deploy, and monitor AI systems, said Taka Ariga, chief data scientist at the US Government Accountability Office.

Daniel Ho, associate director for Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI) at Stanford University, agreed, saying that by one estimate the federal government would need to hire about 40,000 IT workers to address cybersecurity issues posed by AI.

Artificial intelligence tools were the subject of two separate hearings on Capitol Hill. Before the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, a panel of five AI experts testified that while adoption of AI technology is inevitable, removing human oversight of it poses enormous risks. And at a hearing of the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on privacy, technology, and the law, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was joined by IBM executive Christina Montgomery and New York University professor emeritus Gary Marcus in giving testimony.

The overlapping hearings covered a variety of issues and concerns about the rapid rise and evolution of AI-based tools. Beyond the need for more skilled workers in the US government, officials raised concerns about government agencies dealing with biases based on faulty or corrupt data from the AI algorithms, fears about election disinformation, and the need for better transparency about how AI tools  and the underlying large language models  actually work.

In opening remarks, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committee Chairman Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) said the US must take the global lead in AI development and regulation by setting standards that can address potential risks and harms.

One of the most obvious threats? The data used by AI chatbots such as OpenAI'sChatGPT to produce answers is often inaccessible to anyone outside the vendor community  and even engineers who design AI systems don't always understand how the systems reach conclusions.

In other words, AI systems can be black boxes using proprietary technology often backed by bad data to produce flawed results.

Bad data in, bad results out?

Peters pointed to a recent study by Stanford University that uncovered a flawed Internal Revenue Service AI algorithm used to determine who should be audited. The system chose Black taxpayers at five times the rate of other races.

Peters also referenced AI-driven systems deployed by at least a dozen states to determine eligibility for disability benefits, which resulted in the system denying thousands of recipients this critical assistance that help them live independently, Peters said.

Because the disability benefits system was considered proprietary technology by the states, citizens were unable to learn why they were denied benefits or to appeal the decision, according to Peters. Privacy laws that kept the data and process hidden weren't designed to handle AI applications and issues.

As agencies use more AI tools, they need to ensure theyre securing and appropriately using any data inputs to avoid accidental disclosures or unintended uses that harm Americans' rights or civil liberties," Peters said.

Richard Eppink, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho Foundation, noted a class action lawsuit has been brought by the ACLU representing about 4,000 Idahoans with developmental and intellectual disabilities who were denied funds by state's Medicaid program because of an AI-based system. We cant allow proprietary AI to hold due process rights hostage, Eppink said.

At the other hearing on AI, Altman was asked whether citizens should be concerned that elections could be gamed by large language models (LLMs) such as GPT-4 and its chatbot application, ChatGPT.

Its one of my areas of greatest concern, he said. The more general ability of these models to manipulate, persuade, to provide one-on-one interactive disinformation  given were going to face an election next year and these models are getting better, I think this is a significant area of concern.

Regulation, Altman said, would be wise because people need to know if theyre talking to an AI system or looking at content  images, videos or documents  generated by a chatbot. I think well also need rules and guidelines about what is expected in terms of disclosure from a company providing a model that could have these sorts of abilities were talking about. So, Im nervous about it."

People, however, will adapt quickly, he added, pointing to Adobes Photoshop software as something that at first fooled many until its capabilities were realized. And then pretty quickly [people] developed an understanding that images might have been Photoshopped, Altman said. This will be like that, but on steroids.

Watermarks to designate AI content

Lynne Parker, director of the AI Tennessee Initiative at the University of Tennessee, said one method of identifying content generated by AI tools is to include watermarks. The technology would allow users to fully understand the contents provenance or where it came from.

Committee member Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) said there would be a future hearing on the topic of watermarking AI content.

Altman also suggested the US government follow a three-point AI oversight plan:

Form a government agency charged to license large AI models and revoke those that dont meet government standards.

Create LLM safety standards that include the ability to evaluate whether theyre dangerous or not. Like other products, LLMs would have to pass safety tests such as not being able to self-replicate, go rogue, and start acting on their own.

Create an independent AI-audit framework overseen by independent experts.

Altman, however, didnt address transparency concerns about how LLMs are trained, something Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and other committee members have suggested.

Parker, too, called for federal action  guidelines that would allow the US government to responsibly leverage AI. She then listed 10, including the protection of citizen rights, the use of established rules such as NISTs proposed AI Management Framework, and the creation of a federal AI council.

Onerous or heavy-handed oversight that hinders the development and deployment of AI systems isnt needed, Parker argued. Instead, existing proposed guidelines, such as the Office of Science and Technologys Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights would address high-risk issues.

Defining the responsible use of AI is also important, something for which agencies like the Office of Management and Budget should be given responsibility.

One concern: vendors of chatbot and other AI technologies are working hard to obtain public information such as cell phone records and citizen addresses from state and federal agencies to assist in developing new applications. Those applications could track people and their online habits to better market to them.

China makes an AI push

The Senate committee also heard concerns that China is leading in both AI development and standards. We seem to be caught in a trap," said Jacob Siegel, senior editor of news at Tablet Magazine. "Theres a vital national interest in promoting the advancement of AI, yet at present the governments primary use of AI appears to be as a political weapon to censor information that it or its third-party partners deem harmful.

Siegel, whose online magazine focuses on Jewish news and culture, served as an intelligence officer and a veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan War.

American AI governance to date, he argued, is emulating the Chinese model with a top down, political party-driven social control. Continuing in this direction will mean the end of our tradition of self-government and the American way of life.

Siegel said his experiences in the war on terror provided him with a glimpse of the AI revolution. He said the technology is already remaking Americas political system and culture in ways that have already proved incompatible with our system of democracy and self-government and may soon become irreversible.

He called out testimony given earlier this month by Jen Easterly, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), who said China has already established guardrails to ensure AI represents its values. And the US should do the same, Siegel said.

The Judiciary Committee held a hearing on March to discuss the transformative potential of AI as well as its risks. Todays hearing focused on how AI can help the government offer services more efficiently while avoiding intrusions on privacy, free speech, and bias.

Concerns about censorship

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) painted a particularly ominous, Orwellian-like scenario where AI such as ChatGPT not only acts through erroneous data its fed, but can also knowingly produce disinformation and censor free speech based on what the government determines is for the greater good.

For example, Paul described how during the COVID-19 pandemic a private-public partnership worked in in concert with private companies, such as Twitter, to use AI to automate the discovery of controversial posts about vaccine origins and unapproved treatments and delete them.

The purpose, so they claimed, was to combat foreign malign influence. But, in reality, the government wasnt suppressing foreign misinformation or disinformation. It was working to censor domestic speech by Americans, Paul said. George Orwell would be proud.

Since 2020, Paul said, the federal government has awarded more than 500 contracts for proprietary AI systems. The senator claimed the contracts went to companies whose technology is used to mine the internet, identify conversations indicative of harmful narratives, track those threats, and develop countermeasures before messages go viral.
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.
There's a whole lot of history out there, and for some reason, we keep getting more of it every single day. And since schools can't even always make it clear that the Nazis were the bad guys, the history of early humanity is largely glossed over, to the point where you could pick up more by playing Age Of Empires. Countless stories of obscure cultures go untold entirely. So here are five especially remarkable ones that will either broaden your view of the world or allow you to smugly brag about how you already knew all of this. 5 New Zealand Was Home To A Giant Murder Eagle Australia is stereotyped as hosting a menagerie of animals that will happily murder you at will. But indigenous wildlife only claims a few Australians a year. Meanwhile in New Zealand, the last major landmass to be claimed by humans, there was once a creature so deadly it could have become a "them or us" scenario. In the 13th century, the Maori made the fertile hunting grounds of New Zealand their final stop after thousands of years of island-hopping that originated in Taiwan. And once they settled in, their folk tales soon began to star a bird big enough to hunt and kill their children. New Zealand had no native land mammals, but many a bird species, and Haast's eagle ruled over all of them like a god made of talons and hunger. At 40 pounds and a nearly ten-foot wingspan, it was twice as large as the next-biggest existing eagle species, and its claws were of the size of a tiger's. Oh, and it could dive at an estimated 80 kph, which, while making it far from the fastest bird around, was more than quick enough to surprise whatever unsuspecting hunk of flesh and bone it felt like crushing to death. John Megahan/PLoS Biology Throw in some corny CGI and Jeff Goldblum, and this could be the next Jurassic World sequel. Advertisement Their most common prey was the same bird the Maori found themselves hunting, the moa. The moa was peaceful, because it could afford to be. Measuring in at up to 6.5 feet and 500 pounds, it was the biggest bird of its era ... until the Maori hunted it to extinction. Only an estimated 160,000 were alive when they arrived, and while their size made them difficult for even humans to hunt, their slow breeding rate and lack of fear of humans who hadn't yet discovered the concept of extinction was a bad combination. And once their primary food source vanished, Haast's eagle was doomed too. There may have been no more than 1,000 breeding pairs to begin with, and the Maori moving in on their habitats didn't help. Both giant species simply weren't equipped to handle the human era, although there's been surprisingly serious talk about one day cloning the moa so it can eat up New Zealand's sprawling brush. There is hopefully no talk about reviving Haast's eagle outside of a movie wherein the Rock has to fight one, because it would immediately seek revenge by trying to kill us all. Advertisement Related: 44 Important Parts Of History You're Picturing Wrong

4 The Arctic Was First Settled By A Mystery Culture If we asked you to imagine someone who lives in the Arctic, well, you'd probably picture Santa Claus. But if we asked you to imagine someone else who lives in the Arctic, you'd picture an Inuit person. Various tribes live in Alaska, northern Canada, and Greenland, but while you may assume that they've basically always been there, their arrival on the scene was relatively recent. The Thule, who lived in western Alaska, started spreading east around the year 1000 and became today's Inuit, but the Arctic they settled wasn't empty. Advertisement Advertisement The Inuit themselves could have told you this, as they have stories about people they called the Tuniit. The Tuniit were bigger and stronger than them, giant men supposedly able to crush the neck of a walrus and drag it home like it was just another trip to Safeway. Other stories say the Tuniit knew magic and slept with their legs in the air so the blood would drain from their feet, making them light enough to outrun caribou (we tried it ourselves, to mixed results). But despite their all-around badassery, the Tuniit were a shy people who tended to keep to themselves and avoid conflict. They were "easily put to flight" if needed, so the Inuit took many of their best hunting grounds, while the Tuniit receded and vanished. These stories were long considered myths, what with the magic and caribou-tackling and not super-swell relationship between Native Americans and the general scientific community. But a 2014 genetic study confirmed that while the Tuniit may not have bench-pressed seals, they did exist as a distinct people. Dubbed the Dorset, they lived in the Arctic for over 4,000 years, but vanished by 1300 CE, just 300 years after the Inuit arrived. Advertisement Their most distinct feature was their relative lack of genetic diversity. Not only did they migrate to the Arctic with few women in their group, but they also steadfastly refused to bone down with the Inuit and any other cultures they encountered. And that's a notable aberration, because throughout the epic sweep of history, discovering what a new culture was like in bed was inevitably a top priority after first contact. While it's unclear where the Dorset migrated from, their very existence shows that people arrived in North America in more ways than previously believed. And given that the Inuit of their time were just as baffled by the Dorset as we are today, they're another valuable reminder that the pre-European history of North America is far more complicated than "A bunch of Natives just hung out for a while." In addition to being a society of wallflowers, the Dorset apparently preferred to hunt with spears despite bows being far safer, and their surviving carvings imply a focus on rituals and spiritual beliefs that may explain why they chose not to intermingle. As for what happened to them, the best guess anyone has is that diseases brought over by Viking traders did them in. Way to go, Vikings. Dalbera/Wikimedia Commons Leaving us with nothing but questions and some extremely cool-looking ivory bears. Advertisement Advertisement Related: 5 Important People Who Were Screwed Out Of History Books

3 Japan Has Their Own Population Of Indigenous People Most people don't think of Japan as having an indigenous population, because that would just be, well, Japanese people, right? But it's more complicated than that. To give you the extremely short version, the Ainu came to Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido over 20,000 years ago and established a hunter-gatherer society. The precursor societies of modern Japan arrived on the other islands even earlier, but it was a larger number of migrants around 2,800 years ago who brought over their farming practices while mingling with those precursors which kicked off the population boom which gave us the Japan we know today. Nataliya Hora/Adobe Stock The ethnic makeup, at least. We assume there were a few steps from Bronze Age farming to pachinko parlors and beetle vending machines. Advertisement Sometimes the Japanese and Ainu peacefully traded, and sometimes they fought. But by the 1500s, Japanese people were expanding to Hokkaido, sometimes reluctantly escaping conflict and famine and sometimes enthusiastically looking to tame a "land of barbarians." By the late 1800s, colonization efforts became official, and the already-dwindling Ainu found themselves being assimilated. Advertisement To cram millennia of history into a crude metaphor, the relationship between the Japanese and the Ainu is not unlike how European settlers and modern America treated indigenous North Americans, which is never a great benchmark. The Ainu were forced into Japanese schools, forced to take Japanese names and live Japanese lifestyles, and sometimes forced into slave labor. They weren't legally allowed to practice their own customs until 1997, or legally recognized as a distinct indigenous population until 2008. (At least America acknowledged the people they were exterminating, goddammit.) Advertisement Historically, the Ainu tended to be lighter-skinned than most Japanese, and the men often wore bushy beards while women sported distinctive mouth tattoos. They hunted wolves, bears, and deer, the latter by driving herds off cliffs. Bears and bear imagery play a large role in Ainu culture, both for long-standing ecological reasons and because a bear god is frankly a badass god to have in your corner. They still have their own music, style of dress, and everything else that makes up a culture. There are only around 24,000 Ainu today, and only an estimated ten are fluent in their critically endangered native language. Many Japanese aren't even aware of their existence, and of those who are, discrimination and stereotypes of the Ainu as "noble savages" are common. Ainu aren't given the same educational and economic opportunities, and are twice as likely to need welfare just to scrape by. But attitudes are changing. An Ainu political party was formed in 2012, in 2015 the government conducted an official discrimination study, and there are plans to open an Ainu cultural center in time for the 2020 Olympics. So if you ever visit Japan, go learn something about them instead of being yet another Western tourist who "ironically" buys a body pillow. Advertisement Related: 6 Places You're Picturing Utterly Wrong (Thank Pop Culture) Advertisement

2 There Was A Bizarre Apartheid In France And Spain The Pyrenees form a natural border between Spain and France -- two countries that, while not exactly squeaky clean in the history books, aren't thought of as home to cultures that would have made South Africa's Apartheid regime say "Whoa, too much." And yet, from before the 13th century until the end of the 18th, regions surrounding the Pyrenees discriminated against people called the Cagots with such intensity that it's darkly cartoonish. The Cagots were confined to their own ghettos on the least desirable land, buried in their own cemeteries, and stereotyped as lepers, cannibals, and criminals, inevitably blamed and killed for any unsolved wrongdoings. They had to use their own church entrances and pews, were given communion with long spoons, and had their own church fountain where the water was presumably a little less holy. In the early 18th century, one relatively successful Cagot dared to use the non-Cagot font, and was punished by having his hand chopped off. Peyre/Wikimedia Commons Just like Jesus intended ... in all those verses where he told people to do exactly the opposite. Advertisement Advertisement But being declared inferior in the eyes of God is still in the infield of the bigotry ballpark, so let's get to the really weird stuff. The Cagots were forbidden to practice most forms of work, to the point where a Cagot who farmed the fields he lived on had his feet impaled with hot spikes. It was better to let land sit fallow than have a Cagot, ew, grow plants in it, so most were forced to become woodworkers. It's unclear why carpentry was considered a sufficiently undignified profession, but whatever the logic, the Cagots became great at it, building many of the churches they would be discriminated against in. It gets stranger! When a Cagot entered a non-Cagot area, they had to wear a goose foot on their clothes and announce their presence with a bell. They weren't allowed to share food, share bathwater, or even walk barefoot around non-Cagots because of how noxious their very being was considered. There's yet more, but you get the idea. Cagots were snubbed as unclean, untouchable people who should have considered themselves lucky they were allowed to live. Advertisement So just what the hell did they do to earn such absurd repression? No one knows. By the time Cagots enter the historical record in the 13th century, they were already being written about as an inferior caste. The great mystery is that they spoke the same languages, practiced the same religion, and even looked basically the same as their oppressors. The Cagots were only unique because they were Cagots. No one outside of western France and northern Spain had any issues with them. There was even a 1514 papal bull that essentially said "Come on, don't be dicks, they're good Christians just like the rest of us," but it went ignored. Centuries of theories have emerged and been found lacking, although modern academics have a couple of strong guesses. The first is that they were descendants of Muslims who took part in the 8th-century invasion of the Iberian Peninsula, and were thus distrusted for their recent conversion to Christianity. By the time their conversion was no longer recent, the distrust had become systemic. The other theory is that they were the descendants of a medieval woodworking guild that was involved in an intense commercial rivalry before that discrimination evolved into a more general hate. Neither exactly justifies centuries of pure dickishness. Advertisement Advertisement The discrimination finally started to die out when Cagots gained the opportunity to emigrate to North America, and then the French Revolution allowed them to enter the general population. But even their modern descendants don't like identifying as Cagots, and most of the unique culture they developed under the circumstances they were stuck in has been lost. But at least they'll always live on as the perfect example of why racism is stupid. Related: 13 Famous Places With Dark Secrets In Their Past

1 Madagascar Was Claimed By People Who Traveled 3,000 Miles To Get There The average person doesn't give Madagascar a lot of thought unless they're deeply engrossed in a Risk game, but if they had to say who settled Madagascar, they would understandably guess people from Africa. The whole continent is sort of right there. But while there's evidence that African hunter-gatherers visited the island over 2,000 years ago, the people who settled it arrived around 1,200 years ago. Oh, and they came from Southeast Asia. Advertisement It's long been noted that Madagascar's Malagasy language has little African influence, but is similar to many of the languages spoken on the Indonesian island of Borneo, despite there being 3,000 miles of Indian Ocean between the two. Additionally, the remnants of Asian plants have been found on the island. Recent genetic studies have confirmed that Madagascar, also one of the last places on Earth to be settled, was claimed by an unusually small group of Indonesians who traveled an entire damn ocean in outrigger canoes. Advertisement Their motivation for all that canoeing is a mystery. They may have been blown off course, or they may have been fleeing something. We do know they arrived on the Comoros, a smaller African archipelago, in the 8th century, and left their linguistic influence there before moving to Madagascar 300 years later. And while the long, complicated, and often ugly history of Madagascar is likely what led to most of the island's Asian cultural influences being stamped out, the simple fact that such an epic journey was made at all has led to it being dubbed "the single most astonishing fact of human geography." Advertisement It's difficult to overstate what a challenging and exhausting odyssey it must have been, and while research continues into how they went about their lives on Madagascar, we may never know for sure why they came. But their legacy will live on, both in the genes and words of their descendants, and the reassuring knowledge that you can end even your worst days by zoning out in front Netflix instead of having to hop in a canoe, sail across a whole ocean, and hope that somewhere you can live in peace awaits on the other side. Mark is on Twitter and wrote a book. For more, check out How One Escaped Slave Changed The American Civil War Forever: Follow us on Facebook. Because we love you.

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This fall the Supreme Court will be hear a case captioned Community Financial Services of America v. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, dealing with the constitutionality of the CFPB's funding mechanism. I'm pleased to announce that Patricia McCoy and I filed an amicus brief today in support of the CFPB. We were very capably represented by Greg Lipper of LeGrand Law.

The tl;dr version: if the 5th Circuit's opinion is upheld it will result in market chaos--all of the CFPB's existing regulations will be void, and that includes things on which market actors rely, such as TILA disclosure safe harbors and ability-to-repay rule safeharbors. Moreover, there's no way to cabin the 5th Circuit's opinion to the CFPB--if the Bureau's funding is unconstitutional, so too is that of every federal banking regulator, including the Federal Reserve Board. There's simply no credible way to do a surgical strike on the Bureau's funding without collateral damage of economic havoc.
Lome and its surroundings : These retention basins that retain nothing !

Hard, hard in these rainy times to live on the edges of the retention basins of Lome and its surroundings. This is evidenced by all the annoyances that these residents have to deal with every rain.

While the maritime region, especially Lome and its surroundings have been watered since 4 a.m., it is the retention basins that have refused water, because they are full. According to our colleagues from Gapola, "from Leo 2000 to Adidoadin via Adidogome Customs, the water reservoirs gave way one by one, creating total desolation in the houses". And continues the colleague, not only are the houses flooded in Leo 2000, 2 Lions, Adidoadin and recently in Adidogome Douane, there are also losses of human life and significant material damage. To this is added the impassability of the access streets, the impossibility of access to the houses, the proliferation of mosquitoes, the cessation of economic activities in the surroundings, the general pollution of the environment and, in the worst cases, diseases.

And the author of the article quotes a local resident who says, The Leo 2000 area had no problem. But one day we decided to create a pool. Thats how they sacrificed us, because the area was not affected. We damaged the area by setting up this basin. The first five (5) years, the problem was not visible. Due to a lack of maintenance and cleaning to maintain the capacity of the basin, we ended up with a disaster in the area.

Also, we are talking about the very capacity of these basins to contain water and a job that is approximately done. When we take the case of the Leo 2000 or Adidogome Douane basins, these are basins that cannot contain water. It can only be a transit towards an outlet. Particularly at the level of Leo 2000, we unfortunately note that it is only a rough work. The reservoir is poorly sized and poorly maintained. The government is making efforts to fight against the floods, but we realize that those who do the work are only wheeler-dealers, he explained.

The colleague accuses the "lightness of the work of these works, the lack of outlet or collector and pumping device to drain the water towards the lagoon and the sea" ; which "regularly cause flooding in the neighborhoods sheltering these water reservoirs".

As a possible corrective to these works and to the floods which harm the local populations, it is proposed by more than one, the crew of these basins in difficulty in "pump of great pumping capacity" and the installation of the access roads to these basins and their regular cleaning.

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Like all healthcare providers, US-based Northfield Hospital has a big responsibility when it comes to cybersecurity as sensitive data and the lives of patients could be at stake. A study by Proofpoint and the Ponemon Institute released in September 2022 found that patient mortality rates increased across more than 20% of healthcare organizations that suffered the most common types of attacks.

If that healthcare organization is down and the patient doesn't have access to health care that delays their care and can increase mortality, especially if you're talking about a stroke victim or a heart attack where time is important. And when you don't have automation to move that patient through your system and get them the care they need, that can increase the risk of mortality, Vern Lougheed, Northfield Hospitals security information officer, tells CSO.

Northfield Hospital Vern Lougheed, Northfield Hospital security information officer

Established in 1910 as a 12-bed facility in Minnesota, Northfield Hospital has grown into a 37-bed facility with a 40-bed long-term care center, seven clinical locations, and more than 65 healthcare providers that services the local rural community, including the town ambulance service. With healthcare providers always a target of cybercriminals, the hospital has been constantly updating its cybersecurity stack to ensure staff is always able to provide the best care patients need.

Foetal heart monitoring is something that we do here and  when a mother is in labor and you're monitoring the heartbeat of the baby you don't want that the go away during an event, says Lougheed.

Legacy cybersecurity systems replaced by AI-enabled protection

What the Northfield Hospital first had in place was a traditional cybersecurity stack with basic firewalls, intrusion protection and detection systems, internet security gateway, e-mail spam and virus filtering. When AI-enabled products started to emerge, the hospital moved to an AI-based endpoint protection system, the first step into artificial intelligence tools in cybersecurity.

But nothing was integrated; nothing really talked with each other, Lougheed tells. They were all islands of information, all islands of managing those devices. It was difficult to really understand and have that visibility that we desperately wanted into our network to understand what our threats were, what's occurring, and that's why we started looking for a tool set that allowed us to get that visibility. It was hard to sort flyby attempts from targeted ones, he explains.

The first AI-enabled product was just the first step as soon Lougheed found out that it provided a narrow scope of telemetry data coming from the network. He knew then that these were the type of products that would provide the visibility needed, but he needed to look for one that was able to cover the whole enterprise and not just an endpoint.

Advancing Northfield Hospitals protection

Increasing concerns around the risks to healthcare and the needs of Northfield Hospital saw them doing a proof of concept with Darktrace pre-COVID-19. The vendor was still fairly new then, Lougheed says, but their maturity was increasing.

That proof of concept really proved to us the visibility that this AI engine can provide us, not only from just a client, but from a user, from a protocol, from an IP to a source to a destination to a myriad of different areas of telemetry that we can get that we never had access to before. It was really eye opening. Having the ability to understand what was normal and what was anomalous was what the hospital needed, he says.

Another approach was also to simplify the cybersecurity stack, rather than having multiple products overlapping just in case one didnt catch something, the hospital is reducing the cybersecurity stack while keeping things that for now still work separately including firewalls and internet security gateways.

Preparing Northfield Hospital for futures risks

Phishing emails have become increasingly convincing and that is one of Lougheeds concerns, especially those that may ask a doctor or a nurse for help concerning health issues, which are happening more often. He says that Darktrace is also helping identify and understand those.

The other concern is the security of medical devices as they become more software driven. Patients and caregivers rely on such devices to be online and available. And they have very unique workflows that are that are hard to protect, and you can't just easily shut off somebody's heart monitor just because there's a cybersecurity attack to protect that device. You have to keep that device going, Lougheed says.

This is even more a concern to him as he explains that these medical devices are going off the network and into patients homes. Once that they are at a patients home, the risk increases and makes it harder to keep them protected.

A recent event has also made that a very real threat. A few months ago, a hospital employee was sent home with a new device so this person was able to work from home. Not long after the device was connected to the employees private network, a telemetry report from the Darktrace C sensor installed in that computer showed that the employees home network was compromised by a Russia-based IP that was trying to connect to the device.

While Lougheeds team consists of him and another staff member, they rely on the autonomous action within the product, which acted by taking that computer offline. Later, the employee was informed of the reasons and actions that should be taken and the device was quarantined. It was just a matter of minutes after the device was connected that we had the alert and the device was offline.

Due to how quick the issue was solved, Lougheed explains that it is hard to know what the intent of that might have been. Even the IP location could be incorrect as it is easy to spoof IPs coming from different locations.

Cybersecurity training and continuous stack update for staff and patient safety

A ransomware attack is Lougheeds biggest worry, an event that could bring the hospital down would be devastating, he says. To counter this yearly training is provided to all staff and to new ones before they join in. This training is updated with information collected throughout the year on threats and events. Phishing exercises are also done automatically via Darktrace, which sends report to Lougheed.

Tools that can run things like phishing exercises are particularly important to smaller enterprises such as those in healthcare and even more so when the IT teams are even smaller.

On the technology side, Lougheed plans to continue to reduce the number of vendors in the hospitals cybersecurity stack as complex environments can increase risk, he tells. He also wants to reduce the complexity of monitoring and managing the hospital defense systems. This needs to be completed carefully and in a way that doesnt increase risk, but rather decreases risk.

AI-based systems are how this will continue to happen as threat actors are already coming after us with AI-based threats and we need to be prepared, Lougheed says. Were not a large enterprise, but we need the same level of protection afforded to those who are much larger than us and we need to manage that with less resources 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The need for patient care never stops. Well continue to look at ways to protect more our most critical asset and that is our patients. This will include bringing in the healthcare medical devices into the protection umbrella of Darktrace.
The administrative account of the Mayor, Edoe Gunn, rejected by the majority of Councillors !

Togo, a decentralization problem ?, are we tempted to ask ourselves, given the various hiccups encountered in the collaboration first between the advisers themselves, coming from different political sides, then vis-a-vis the administration central.

The last of these hiccups is the one that the Commune of Lacs 3, Agbodrafo, has been experiencing for a while. After a complaint that a Councilor would have filed against one of her peers for an alleged usurpation or falsification of signature, it is the turn of the Principal Mayor to bear the brunt of a vote yesterday Thursday. It was during the second ordinary session of this year 2023 opened since last Wednesday.

According to information received by our editorial staff, this session devoted to the study and vote of the administrative account of 2022, turned against the boss of the Town Hall of Lacs 3, Edoe Gunn. Of the 13 Councilors of the Town Hall, 7 voted against the administrative account presented and 6 for, consequently, the administrative account was purely and simply rejected.

Sources within local elected officials who had voted against this account, the main reason for this rejection is the lack of transparency in the management of the municipalitys financial resources and a certain inability to absorb investment revenue. The latter argue that on a forecast of 200 million CFA francs, it is difficult to manage to invest 35 million CFA francs, or 17.27%.

These peers of the Principal Mayor, Edoe Gunn, who thus mark their disagreement with the administrative account and the management that is done by the latter, regret even more the fact that no investment is made to positively impact the lives of their parents or voters who "crouch in misery".

Our attempts to obtain the version of the Principal Mayor of the commune of Agbodrafo, Mr. Gunn, have so far remained unsuccessful. However, we will come back to his version of the facts as soon as possible.

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Nozomi Networks has announced the upcoming release of Vantage IQ, a new AI-based analysis and response engine designed to address security gaps and resource limitations in critical operational infrastructure. The new offering will be available from Q3 2023 as an add-on to Vantage, Nozomi Networks SaaS-based security management platform. It is built to enhance threat detection and remediation with AI-assisted data analysis to help security teams reduce cyber risk and response times, the firm said.

Critical infrastructure is a prime target for cyberattacks, particularly during periods of geopolitical tensions with state-backed actors posing significant threats. Securing national critical infrastructure (CNI) and improving its cyber resilience is therefore high on the agenda for organizations, governments, and industry collectives.

Vantage IQ centers on autonomous analytics, intelligence across IT, OT, IoT devices

Vantage IQ focus on security analytics and automation, giving users the ability to understand whats happening across a network of IT, OT, and IoT devices, extract process intelligence and priority tasks expanding networks and data sources, and lower response times with deeper insights, correlation, and actionable intelligence, according to a press release.

Key features in Vantage IQ include:

AI-powered insights via Vantage IQs Insights Dashboard show alerts that are automatically correlated, prioritized, and supported with root cause information. Deep neural networks identify activity patterns in network data, with data correlated to streamline forensic analysis, tuning, and security enhancements.

AI-based query and analysis help users gain a deeper understanding of their environment using natural language queries that answer common questions about vulnerabilities, network assets, and other environmental details.

Advanced predictive monitoring strengthens operational resiliency and prevents system outages with early warnings that system behaviors are deviating from the norm. The Time Series feature augments Vantages ability to alert to changes in the network with an additional level of alerting on unusual changes in the bandwidth of activity going through the sensors monitoring those networks. In the future, Vantage IQ will also alert on process variables enabling even great levels of predictive monitoring and maintenance.

Securing critical infrastructure high on the agenda

Last month, leading cybersecurity response firms Accenture, IBM, and Mandiant joined the Elite Cyber Defenders Program  a new, collaborative initiative designed to help secure critical infrastructure. Led by Nozomi Networks, the program aims to provide global industrial and government customers access to strong cybersecurity defense tools, incident response teams, and threat intelligence.

In April, the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) published seven advisories covering vulnerabilities in industrial control systems (ICS) and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) software from multiple vendors. Some of the flaws were rated critical and two had public exploits. In the same month, the UK National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) issued an alert to CNI organizations warning of an emerging threat from state-aligned groups, particularly those sympathetic to Russias invasion of Ukraine. The alert stated that newly emerged groups could launch destructive and disruptive attacks with less predictable consequences than those of traditional cybercriminals, with CNI organizations strongly encouraged to follow NCSC advice on steps to take when cyber threats are heightened.

Meanwhile, the hacking group responsible for the supply-chain attack targeting VoIP company 3CX also breached two critical infrastructure organizations in the energy sector, with one located in the US and the other in Europe,
A humanitarian aid worker who used an anonymous Twitter account to mock Saudi Arabia about its economy has filed a federal racketeering lawsuit against the social media platform, the kingdom and a number of individuals alleging an attempt to silence critics overseas.

Abdulrahman al-Sadhan, was working for the Red Crescent in Riyadh in 2018 when plain-clothed security forces entered the office of the Red Crescent offices in Riyadh. He was taken away without any explanation.

How the Saudi government linked al-Sadhan to the Twitter account remains a mystery. In April 2021, the anti-terrorism court where he was tried handed down a prison sentence of 20 years for al-Sadhan, followed by a 20-year travel ban. Al-Sadhan has appealed the ruling.

In 2019, Ahmad Abouammo, a U.S. citizen and former media partnership manager for Twitters Middle East region, was charged with acting as an agent of Saudi Arabia without registering with the U.S. government. The complaint also alleged that Saudi citizen Ali Alzabarah, who worked as an engineer at Twitter, accessed confidential Twitter data about users, their email addresses, phone numbers and IP addresses, the latter of which be used to identify a users location. A third man named in FBI complaint is Saudi citizen Ahmed Al-Mutairi, who is said to have worked with an unnamed member of the Saudi royal family as an intermediary.

Abouammo was convicted last summer of failing to register as an agent for Saudi Arabia and other charges.

On Tuesday al-Sadhan and his sister Areej al-Sadhan, a dual Saudi-U.S. citizen living in California, sued Twitter Inc. and Saudi Arabia, alleging that they are members of a racketeering enterprise that seeks to extend the authoritarian control of Saudi Arabia beyond its borders and silence its critics. The suit, which seeks a trial by jury, also names as defendants Abouammo, Alzabarah and Al-Mutairi.

The lawsuit alleges that members of the Saudi Criminal Enterprise unlawfully surveilled, killed, tortured, disappeared, kidnapped, extorted and threatened perceived dissidents to silence their speech and to export its terror, repression and control to the United States.

The complaint also alleges that the defendant Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission, based in Fairfax, Virginia, is a tool the Saudi government uses to surveil, stalk, and harass dissidents and U.S-based Saudi students who criticize the kingdom. Alzabarah was a recipient of a SACM scholarship before he worked at Twitter, according to the plaintiffs.

"It shouldnt require a federal lawsuit for a U.S. citizen to protect herself from Saudi Arabias thugs, but Areej has been left with no other options. We hope U.S. courts can provide them both with some measure of justice and protection that is sadly unavailable elsewhere, Andrea J. Prasow, executive director of the Freedom Initiative, said in a statement.

Prasow filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The Freedom Initiative is a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for prisoners wrongfully detained in the Middle East and North Africa.

The public relations office of Twitter was disbanded by Elon Musk after he acquired the company last year. A request for comment from the company was answered with an automated email.
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CANNES, France (AP)  The Cannes Film Festival red carpet sprang to life Tuesday with the premiere of the Louis XV period drama Jeanne du Barry," with Johnny Depp, as the French Riviera movie pageant launched a star-studded and potentially controversy-rife 76th edition.

Throngs of onlookers shouted Johnny! as Depp, in purple-hued sunglasses signed autographs and edged back into the spotlight following his explosive trial last year with ex-wife Amber Heard. Jeanne du Barry, directed and co-starring Maiwenn, has been billed as Depp's comeback  though his prominent presence at Cannes has been hotly debated.

A coterie of stars streamed down Cannes' famous red carpet for the opening night ceremony, including Brie Larson, Uma Thurman, Gong Li, Elle Fanning, Naomi Campbell, Catherine Deneuve (who graces this year's festival poster) and a blue-haired Helen Mirren, who carried a fan labeled #worthit.

During the opening ceremony, Michael Douglas received an honorary Palme d'Or, with his wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones and their daughter, Carys Zeta Douglas, looking on from the audience.

I'm even older than the festival," said Douglas, 78, after receiving a warm standing ovation.

Douglas and Deneuve officially declared open a festival that promises a Cote d'Azur buffet of spectacle, scandal and cinema set to be served over the next 12 days. It's unspooling against the backdrop of labor unrest. Protests that have roiled France in recent months over changes to its pension system are planned to run during the festival, albeit at a distance from the festival's main hub.

Meanwhile, an ongoing strike by screenwriters in Hollywood could have unpredictable effects on the French Riviera festival.

My wife is currently picketing with my 6-month-old, strapped to her chest, Paul Dano, a juror, said Tuesday, referencing Zoe Kazan. I will be there on the picket line when I get back home.

But with a festival lined with some much-anticipated big-budget films, including James Mangold's Indiana Jones and the Dial of the Destiny and Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon, the party is sure to go on, regardless. Stars set to hit Cannes' red carpet in the next week and a half include Natalie Portman, Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Sean Penn, Alicia Vikander, Scarlett Johansson and Abel Tesfaye  also known as the Weeknd.

Earlier Tuesday, the jury that will decide the festival's top prize, the Palme d'Or, was introduced. Swedish filmmaker Ruben Ostlund, a two-time Palme winner who last year won for the social satire The Triangle of Sadness," is presiding over a jury including Dano, Larson, Argentine filmmaker Damian Szifron, Afghan director Atiq Rahimi, French actor Denis Menochet, Moroccan filmmaker Maryam Tourzani, Zambian-Welsh director Rungano Nyoni and French director Julia Ducournau, who in 2019 became the second female filmmaker to win the Palme d'Or for Titane.

Ostlund, 49, wondered whether he might have been handed the opportunity a decade too soon. But while addressing the press, Ostlund  whose The Triangle of Sadness was nominated for best picture at the Academy Awards  made it clear where his allegiances lie.

If I can choose between an Oscar and a Palme d'Or, it's an easy choice," said Ostlund. "I would rather have one more (Palme) than have an Oscar.

The opening night selection has attracted some controversy. Jeanne du Barry, which simultaneously opened in French theaters Tuesday, was produced following the much-watched 2022 trial during which both Depp and Heard accused each other of physical and verbal abuse. A civil jury awarded Depp $10 million in damages and $2 million to Heard.

Maiwenn has made headlines recently, too. The French actor-director has been accused of spitting at prominent French journalist Edwy Plenel. Earlier this month, she confirmed that she assaulted him in a restaurant.

In remarks to the press Monday, Cannes director Thierry Fremaux defended the choice, praised Depp as an actor and said he paid no attention to the trial.

To tell you the truth, in my life, I only have one rule, its the freedom of thinking, the freedom of speech and the freedom to act within a legal framework, said Fremaux. If Johnny Depp had been banned from acting in a film, or the film was banned we wouldnt be here talking about it.

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Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP

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For more coverage of this years Cannes Film Festival, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/cannes-film-festival
SIMSBURY  After several hours of lengthy public hearings held over multiple weeks, the Simsbury Zoning Commission Monday finally took a vote on a proposed apartment complex that would bring some much-needed affordable housing to town.

The commission denied the proposal by a 4-2 vote.

The commission cited a lack of parking that would result in overflow parking on Hopmeadow Street, a need for a traffic signal, and fire safety concerns related to access to the complex for fire apparatus, as well as a lack of play space for children in its decision. It was also noted that the complex would be the tallest building in town and bring an "urban density" with it.

The proposal had come under fire from vocal residents during more than 4 hours of public comment over a variety of factors, including concerns over its size, traffic safety, physical damage and plunging property values to abutting property owners, flooding, water pollution and harm to local wildlife.

Proponents of the project said it is needed to increase state-mandated affordable housing. Only 5.9 percent of the town's housing is considered affordable by state standards, which call for 10 percent affordable housing per community. They also said that more affordable housing is needed for young people who want to move into town or the older population that hopes to remain in Simsbury as they downsize.

Opponents argued that while they agreed that more affordable housing is needed, this project was not the right size or location to make that happen.

During the final night of public comment earlier this month, the developer's Glastonbury attorney, Peter Alter, reminded the commission that all of the issues regarding traffic, water pollution, public safety and others had been addressed and approved by town officials and that the development was consistent with the town's plan of conservation and development.

Any denial, Alter said, would require the commission to seek remedies and be so significant that it outweighed the need for affordable housing.

The four-story complex, to be built by Vessel Technologies, which specializes in modular building techniques designed to reduce costs and construction time, was originally slated for 77 one-bedroom and 3 two-bedroom units with 24 of them set aside for reduced rent affordable housing. The development was also designed with 94 parking spaces in mind. However, after residents and town officials raised concerns about the project's size, the developer reduced the complex by about 20 percent to 61 one-bedroom and 3 two-bedroom units with 20 units set aside for affordable housing. Parking was also increased to 102 spaces.

The company released a statement Tuesday morning saying the decision "reflects the sad but enduring power of the NIMBYism movement in Connecticut's bedroom communities."

"The members of Simsbury's Planning and Zoning Commission clearly understood their obligation to abide by state law and approve this incredibly well-planned project, that had received sign-off from all their own professionals and staff, but instead caved to a small but vocal group of self-interested condominium-owning neighbors, the statement said. "We're very sorry that Simsbury's teachers, police officers, firefighters, and other local workers will need to remain patient for a bit longer, but they should rest assured, in the end, we will prevail in court and the project will be built."

At one point Monday, the commission considered a further-reduced project that would be limited to 32 units and two stories, but a vote on that proposal also failed.

The New York City-based company completed its first building last year in New Jersey and is midway through construction of its first Connecticut project in New London, where construction of 30 units of what the company calls "attainably priced" housing is underway.
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MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  A Minnesota man who told an FBI informant that he was building an arsenal of automatic weapons to use against police and admired mass shooters pleaded guilty Tuesday to illegally possessing a machine gun.

River Smith, 21, of the Minneapolis suburb of Savage, entered his plea on the single count before U.S. District Judge David Doty. His sentencing will be scheduled later. The maximum sentence is 10 years.

Smith was initially charged in December with possession of a machine gun  specifically devices to convert guns to fully automatic fire  and attempting to possess unregistered hand grenades. He paid an FBI informant $690 for four auto sear devices and three dummy grenades, prosecutors alleged at the time.

Law enforcement took him down before he could execute his plan, federal prosecutor Manda Sertich said at a hearing in December, when a magistrate judge denied bail.

FBI Special Agent Mark Etheridge testified at that hearing that when Smith was arrested he had a loaded Glock 17 semiautomatic handgun, with three full magazines for a total of 52 rounds of ammunition, including the bullet in the chamber. He was wearing soft body armor designed to stop handgun rounds. A search of his car turned up an AR-style rifle and two other handguns, as well as a drum magazine for the rifle that held 100 rounds.

A federal grand jury formally indicted Smith on two counts in January involving the auto sears and grenades.

Defense attorney Jordan Kushner said in a court filing two weeks ago that Smith wanted to take responsibility for his actions and not further prolong the proceedings. Kushner said there was no plea agreement and that Smith didn't want to contest the charges, but the attorney questioned whether the count involving the grenades was legally valid, given that they were dummies.

According to the original complaint and the agent's testimony, Smith had expressed interest in joining neo-Nazi paramilitary groups; called the person who killed five people at a gay nightclub in Colorado last November a hero, expressed sympathy for the shooter who killed 17 people at a high school in Parkland, Florida, in 2018; described Black people as agents of Satan and expressed hatred of Jews. The agent said Smith carried a note cursing police inside his body armor so they could find it after his death.

Smith also said in online messages that he learned about his enemy by watching police bodycam video of shootings online, prosecutors alleged.

Authorities began investigating after getting a call in September from a retired police officer who was working at a gun range that Smith frequented. He told them he was concerned because of how Smith practiced shooting from behind barriers while wearing heavy body armor designed to stop rifle bullets, and conducting rapid reloading drills.
PHOENIX (AP)  A judge has rejected a bid by election officials to throw out the last remaining election misconduct claim by Kari Lake, the 2022 Republican candidate for Arizona governor, setting up a three-day trial over the former TV anchor's challenge of her defeat to Democrat Katie Hobbs.

In a ruling issued Monday night, Superior Court Judge Peter A. Thompson refused to throw out Lakes claim that centered on signature-verification efforts of early ballots in Maricopa County.

Thompson said Lake should have the chance to present testimony about whether Arizona's most populous county properly verified signatures on ballot affidavit envelopes.

The trial is scheduled to begin Wednesday.

Thompson said Lake isnt contesting whether voters signatures on ballot envelopes matched those in their voting records. Instead, she alleged Maricopa County officials failed to perform any higher level signature verifications on ballots that had been flagged by lower level screeners for any inconsistency.

Lake faces a high bar in proving not only her allegation over signature verification efforts but also that it affected the outcome of her race.

Clint Hickman, chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and one of the officials who Lake sued in her challenge, said in a statement that the county has previously shown in court that its signature verification process is thorough, legal and always subject to bipartisan oversight.

We have nothing to hide, Hickman said. We are proud of our team, proud of our processes and confident we will prevail in a courtroom where the facts matter above all else.

Lake was among the most vocal of last years Republican candidates promoting former President Donald Trumps election lies, which she made the centerpiece of her campaign. While most other election deniers around the country conceded after losing their races in November, Lake did not.

Courts have dismissed most of her lawsuit. Late last week, Thompson heard arguments on whether or not the final claim should move ahead to a trial.

Attorneys representing Arizona election officials and Hobbs say Lakes allegation that the election was rigged is based on unsubstantiated speculation.

Lakes lawyers say there was a flood of mail-in ballots in Maricopa County, home to more than 60% of the states voters, at a time when there were too few workers to verify ballot signatures. Her attorneys say the county ultimately accepted thousands of ballots that had been rejected earlier by workers for having mismatched signatures.

The Arizona Supreme Court revived her claim challenging the application of signature-verification procedures, reversing a lower court decision that found she waited too long to raise it.

The state Supreme Court sent the claim back to the lower court to decide if there is another reason to dismiss it, or if Lake can show that enough votes were affected to change the outcome of the election, which she lost by more than 17,000 votes.

Three signature verification workers have said they experienced rejection rates due to mismatched signatures on 15% to 40% of the ballots they encountered.

Opposing attorneys said the workers speculation does not amount to a violation of the law or misconduct by election workers, and raised questions about whether the three workers truly knew the ultimate outcome of the ballots they had flagged.

Earlier in her lawsuit, Lake had focused on problems with ballot printers at some polling places in Maricopa County. The defective printers produced ballots that were too light to be read by the on-site tabulators at polling places. Lines backed up in some areas amid the confusion. Lake alleged ballot printer problems were the result of intentional misconduct.

County officials say everyone had a chance to vote and all ballots were counted because those affected by the printers were taken to more sophisticated counters at election headquarters.

In mid-February, the Arizona Court of Appeals rejected Lakes assertions, concluding she presented no evidence that voters whose ballots were unreadable by tabulators at polling places were not able to vote.

The state Supreme Court declined March 22 to hear nearly all of Lakes appeal, saying there was no evidence to support her claim that more than 35,000 ballots were added to vote totals. Earlier this month, the court sanctioned Lakes lawyers $2,000 for making false statements when saying more than 35,000 ballots had been improperly added to the total count.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrived in South Korea on Tuesday for a meeting with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol at which they are expected to discuss expansion of trade and challenges posed by North Korea.

Trudeau, the first Canadian leader to visit South Korea in nine years, will meet with Yoon on Wednesday, hours after he delivers a speech at the National Assembly in Seoul.
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.
Christian Abraham / Hearst Conne/Christian Abraham

MILFORD  A tip from Google launched a child sexual abuse material investigation that culminated in the arrest of a local man last week, according to police.

Keith Civitello, 39, was charged with first-degree possession of child pornography, Milford police said in a news release Tuesday afternoon. Civitello was held on a $100,000 bond and arraigned at state Superior Court in Milford on May 9, police said.
MBABANE  Dagga weighing 12.69 kilogrammes, with an estimated street value of about E53 298, was discovered in a false compartment, underneath the rear end of a Toyota Avanza.

The discovery of the dagga was made by the South African Police Service (SAPS) on Saturday morning at Mahamba Port of Entry, on the South African side. According to a SAPS statement issued yesterday, the police, who were at the port of entry, searched a vehicle at the arrivals at about 10:30am. It was reported that the police were suspicious of the vehicle because it looked like it had been tampered with.

Searched

They then searched it and discovered a false compartment underneath the rear end of the vehicle, and that was where they found six rolls of loose dagga. The stuffed dagga was contained in plastic bags covered with brown masking tape. A 29-year-old suspect from Eswatini was arrested and charged with possession of dagga. The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, sent a strong warning to drug traffickers that they could not outclass police with their tricks. We are continuing to make sure that the province is drug-free, said the general. The arrested liSwati adds to the 15 emaSwati who were arrested for dagga possession in South Africa (SA) in the past six months. Last week, this publication reported that over E4 million worth of dagga had been smuggled into SA over the aforementioned period (six months). Between March and April this year, there were over eight emaSwati who were arrested in the various ports of entry. In two instances, dagga worth over E1 million was confiscated.

Increasing

The crime statistics for dagga are significantly increasing, something which has been cited as a stumbling block by the Cannabis Association of Swaziland. Chairman of the Cannabis Association, Saladin Magagula, said the buck stopped with the Ministry of Health, which was delaying the Act to legalise cannabis. Magagula stated that they recently made their presentation before the Health Portfolio Committee last session, but to date, there was nothing new that they were contributing towards the Act. Our report passed in Parliament and the next step has to be the implementation, he said.
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP)  A nominee to Connecticut's 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 legislature's Judiciary Committee, as several members of the Democratic majority expressed concerns about her support of Barrett. The committee held off voting on Glover's nomination Monday evening, citing the late hour. No date for a vote was immediately set.

Glover had said she wasn't 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 Barrett's 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 Barrett's 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 Monday's 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. attorney's 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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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
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ROME (AP)  Rivers swollen by days of downpours flooded some towns in northern Italy on Tuesday, forcing some residents to rooftops, while in Venice, authorities prepared to activate a mobile barrier in the lagoon in hopes of sparing the city from a rare May high-tide flooding.

After the Savio River overflowed its banks in the town of Cesena, in the heart of the Emilia-Romagna region, some residents of heavily flooded streets took to rooftops to await rescue by helicopters, Italian firefighters said. An older man died in his flooded home in the countryside outside of Cesena, while his wife managed to make it to safety, Italian state radio said early Wednesday.

Some rescues were especially dramatic. In Cesena, neighbors swam across the fast-moving waters of a flooded street to take a young girl from her mother's arms. One rescuer held the child above the floodwaters until she could be passed into the arms of other rescuers. Other residents helped the mother also to safety.

In a pair of interventions, firefighters rescued a family with a four-month-old baby and a disabled man in the province of Pesaro-Urbino. Elsewhere in the deluged north, parents and their two young daughters were plucked to safety by a firefighter helicopters, rescuer said.

The nearly 100,000 residents of the town were told to avoid the temptation to view the raging waters and not to stay on ground floors if they lived near the river.

"Use prudence, don't be curious, so disaster doesn't turn into tragedy,'' Mayor Enzo Lattuca urged in remarks on Rai state TV.

In all, some 900 people in flooded areas of northern Italy were evacuated by late Tuesday night, some taking shelter gyms or schools, the radio report said.

In the tourist town of Ravenna in northeast Italy, authorities urged residents to move to upper stories of buildings to ride out the storm. In Riccione, a beach town on the Adriatic Sea, the mayor warned people to stay home as some took to rubber dinghies to navigate streets.

In Venice, the barrier system, known by its acronym MOSES, and recalling the Biblical account of the Red Sea parting, will be lifted Tuesday night for the first time ever in May. It is nearly 20 years to the day when construction on the project, which is still not officially completed, began.

Firefighters in Riccione, in the northern region of Emilia-Romagna, were deployed to rescue people from flooded homes and businesses. By Tuesday afternoon, firefighters had carried out around 40 rescues in the province of Rimini, parts of which are on the Adriatic coast. Reinforcements for the rescuers were moved in from the cities of Forli'-Cesena, Ferrara and Bologna.

In the area between Ancona, a major Adriatic port, and Pesaro-Urbino, two towns popular with tourists, firefighters carried out 80 interventions for local flooding, fallen trees and mudslides and rescued motorists in difficulty, the corps said in a tweet. Pesaro is an Adriatic beach town in the Marche region.

In Modena, a small city famed for gastronomical products, authorities said they would close local bridges to traffic on Tuesday evening as a precaution against rising river levels.

Elsewhere, in the town of Senigallia, the Misa River's waters were receding, local officials said.

Meteorologists say Italy can expect several days of heavy rain, pummeling the north which had been suffering a shortfall of precipitation for weeks this spring.

Schools in areas bracing fearing flooding were closed.

Train travel was halted on the Bologna-Ancona land the Ravenna-Faenza routes, Italian media said.

Earlier this month, a day and a half of nonstop rain caused flooding in Italys populous Emilia-Romagna region, leaving at least two people dead as riverbeds left dry by drought overflowed their banks.

The intense rainfalls came as Italy had been bracing for a second year of drought, which has depleted its largest river, the Po. The river supports agriculture in the vast Po River Valley before emptying into the Adriatic Sea east of Bologna.

While northeast Italy was hardest hit by the downpours, flooding also caused damage in the south. On the island of Sicily, rescuers responded to flooding, fallen trees and other problems in the countryside between Palermo and Trapani. By Tuesday morning, the weather there was improving, firefighters said.

___

A previous version of this story was corrected to show that bridge traffic in Modena will be closed Tuesday, not Friday.
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KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Ukrainian air defenses, bolstered by sophisticated Western-supplied systems, thwarted an intense Russian air attack on Kyiv early Tuesday, shooting down all missiles aimed at the capital, officials said.

The bombardment, which targeted locations across Ukraine, included six Russian Kinzhal aero-ballistic hypersonic missiles, the most fired in a single attack in the war so far, according to Ukrainian air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly touted the Kinzhals as providing a key strategic competitive advantage and among the most advanced weapons in his country's arsenal. The missiles are difficult to detect and intercept because of their hypersonic speed and maneuverability.

If Ukraine's claim of having shot down six fired Tuesday is confirmed, it would mark another blow to Putin's war efforts and show the increasing effectiveness of the country's air defenses.

Air force spokesman Ihnat, who said in March that Ukraine lacked the equipment to intercept the Kinzhals, didn't explain Tuesday what systems were used to knock them down. Since March, Western countries have supplied Ukraine with various air defense systems.

Russia fired the Kinzhals from MiG-31K warplanes, along with nine cruise missiles from ships in the Black Sea and three S-400 cruise missiles launched from the ground, Ihnat said. In all, Ukraine's military said later, Russia had targeted Ukraine with 27 missiles in a day and launched 37 airstrikes.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu late Tuesday contested the Ukrainian claims, telling the state-run RIA-Novosti news agency: We have not launched as many Kinzhals as they allegedly shoot down every time with their statements.

Loud explosions boomed over Kyiv in the major nighttime attack apparently aimed at overwhelming Ukraines air defenses. Kyiv's mayor reported three people were wounded.

The barrage came as European leaders sought new ways to punish Russia for the war and a Chinese envoy sought traction for Beijings peace proposal, which appears to have made little impression on the warring sides. It also came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy returned home from a whirlwind European tour to seek more military aid.

The overnight attack on Kyiv was exceptional in its density  the maximum number of attacking missiles in the shortest period of time, said Serhii Popko, the head of the Kyiv military administration.

Kyiv resident Valentyna Myronets, 64, said she felt pain, fear, nervousness, restlessness amid the assaults. God, we are waiting for victory and when all this is over, she said.

U.K. Ambassador Melinda Simmons tweeted that the barrage was pretty intense.

Bangs and shaking walls are not an easy night, she wrote.

It was the eighth time this month that Russian air raids had targeted the capital, a clear escalation after weeks of lull and ahead of a much-anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive using newly supplied advanced Western weapons.

After the first onslaught, Russia also launched Iranian-made Shahed attack drones and conducted aerial reconnaissance, Ihnat said.

Debris fell across several districts in the capital, starting fires, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.

Sophisticated Western air defense systems, including American-made Patriot missiles, have helped spare Kyiv from the kind of destruction witnessed along the main front line in the country's east and south. While most of the ground fighting is stalemated along that front line, both sides are targeting other territory with long-range weapons.

Associated Press reporters saw a metal fragment that landed inside the Kyiv zoo labeled Lockheed Martin and Boeing, two of the companies involved in manufacturing the Patriot missile system.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said a Kinzhal destroyed a Patriot missile battery in Kyiv but he didn't provide evidence, and the statement couldn't be independently verified. Ihnat, the Ukrainian air force spokesman, refused to comment on the claim.

Russia began using the Kinzhal to strike targets in Ukraine early in the invasion but has used the expensive weapon sparingly and against priority targets, apparently reflecting limited availability.

The Russian military says the missile's range is up to 2,000 kilometers (about 1,250 miles) and it can fly at 10 times the speed of sound. Its speed and heavy warhead allow the Kinzhal to destroy heavily fortified targets, such as underground bunkers or mountain tunnels.

Ukraine's bolstered air defenses have deterred Russia's aircraft from going deep into the neighbor country and helped shape the course of the war, military experts say.

In Iceland, European leaders are taking part in a rare summit of the 46-nation Council of Europe, the continents main human rights body, to discuss how to manage claims for compensation from Russia's damage to Ukraine.

Meanwhile, a Chinese envoy is preparing to visit Ukraine and Russia as Beijing advocates a peace plan it released in February. Li Hui, a former ambassador to Moscow, also will visit Poland, France and Germany, according to the Chinese foreign ministry.

Ukraine has cautiously welcomed China's proposal while saying it would wait to see what specific actions China takes. Chinese leader Xi Jinpings government says it is neutral and wants to mediate in the war, but has given Moscow political support, and a breakthrough appears unlikely.

In Russian-occupied southern Ukraine, about 500 kilometers (300 miles) from Kyiv, Russian officials began training to evacuate 3,100 staff members of the shut-down Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and their families, a representative of Energoatom, Ukraines state nuclear company, said Tuesday.

The plant, Europes largest nuclear power station, employed around 11,000 people before the war, some 6,000 of whom remain at the site and in the surrounding town of Enerhodar.

More Russian military units have arrived at the plant and are mining it, the representative told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. Russian troops have barred remaining workers from communicating with each other or leaving, Energoatom said on Telegram.

In other developments:

Ukrainian forces recaptured around 20 kilometers (7.7 square miles) of territory north and south of Bakhmut since last week, but Russian troops continue their grinding advance within the city, Ukraines deputy defense minister said Tuesday. Heavy battles continue with differing results, Hanna Malyar said on Telegram. The Russian-installed head of the partially occupied Donetsk region, Denis Pushilin, told Russian state TV that Russian forces near Bakhmut have reinforced their flanks in the face of Ukrainian successes.

Ukraine's intelligence chief made a rare acknowledgement Tuesday of his country's involvement in assassinations of Russian officials. In an interview posted on YouTube with a Ukrainian journalist, Kyrylo Budanov responded to a question about the deaths of Russian propagandists by saying: We have already got a lot of people." He declined to provide any details.

 In Ukraine's latest corruption scandal, which saw the head of the Supreme Court detained for alleged bribery on Monday, the chief of Ukraines National Anti-Corruption Bureau, Semen Kryvonos, identified the main suspect in the case as mining magnate Kostiantyn Zhevago. Zhevago was arrested in the French Alps in January on suspicion of embezzling tens of millions of dollars.

 South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts have agreed to separate meetings with a delegation of African leaders to discuss a possible plan to end the war. Ramaphosas office said he spoke with Putin and Zelenskyy by phone over the weekend and they agreed to host an African leaders peace mission in Moscow and Kyiv, respectively.

___

Vasilisa Stepanenko in Kyiv, and Yuras Karmanau in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed to this report.

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Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
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.
MBABANE - Six police officers have opened a case against a 48-year-old man of Queensgate, who they accused of assaulting them, while executing their duties at St Marks.

They are Sergeant P. Mbhamali, Constable J. Ginindza, Constable S. Dlulu, Constable Magagula, Constable Mkhonta and Constable Ngcamphalala. In their statement, which had been reduced to a charge sheet, the officers of the law alleged that Sibusiso assaulted them while resisting arrest. They stated that they effected the lawful arrest on Sibusiso after he had obstructed Mbhamali, Ginindza and Dlulu, while they tried to arrest him and confiscate alcohol. The booze was exhibits to be used against Mxolisi Dlamini, who was accused of trading in alcohol without a licence. They mentioned in the charge sheet that Sibusiso shouted unpalatable words and further blocked their way while executing their duties.

Backup

The police officers stated that Sibusisos conduct resulted in them calling for backup. However, they submitted that Sibusiso continued to assault them while resisting arrest. Appearing at the Mbabane Magistrates Court, also charged for contravening Section 23 (1) (c) of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act of 1938 and resisting arrest, Sibusiso pleaded guilty to the charges. Mitigating on the sentence after conviction, Sibusiso acknowledged that he took a bad decision while under the influence of alcohol. He pleaded for the courts leniency, stating that he had five children, who were attending school. He was sentenced to eight months imprisonment with an option to pay a fine of E1 000 in each of the counts. However, the sentences were made to run concurrently, meaning he parted with E1 000.

Meanwhile in the same court, Zandile Dlamini (35) of Mahwalala appeared charged with theft of a Samsung A04 cellphone valued at E3 000, the property in the lawful possession of Sandile Dlamini. Zandile pleaded guilty and pleaded for the courts leniency. She was sentenced to eight months imprisonment with the option to pay a fine of E1 000.
University of Oregons chapter of Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlan, a nationwide organization of student groups and Chicanx student unions, held its first in-person conference since the start of the pandemic on Monday.

Around mid-day, high school students and members of the MEChA de UO gathered in the EMU auditorium. They arrived to UOs campus for the 2023 Raices Unidas, MEChAs annual youth conference held to promote higher education options to Latinx high school and middle school students across the state.

The conference was made up of more than a dozen workshops, including guided discussions on Latinx identity, career designing and planning sessions and interactive activities where students could engage each other about community building strategies, mental health practices and self-reflection.

Jessica Lloyd, chair of the Patos Alumni Network of University of Oregon alumni, faculty and staff who identify with or support Latin American culture and heritage, was involved with MEChA when she was at the UO in 2005. As a first-generation student, she said during her speech at the rally that the opportunities, partnerships and support she received from the organization went a long way to helping her succeed.

You dont have to speak Spanish, you dont have to be as Brown as everyone else, you can belong, Lloyd said.

Sophia Olivares, MEChAs director and president, said this years theme was Quien tu eres? which means Who are you? The purpose of this years theme, she said, was for those to attend to celebrate a shared sense of identity and belonging as they consider their future academic pursuits.

Olivares said holding the event in-person is helping to get this annual event up and running again.

A lot of things with MEChA right now are restarting and revamping, especially since COVID ended, Olivares said. I think for the most part weve gotten our foot on the ground again, and were starting anew.

Olivares said the Raices Unidas conference is a way for MEChA to connect with high school and middle school students about the opportunities available to them at the University, including grants and scholarships.

I think what the University of Oregon brings to us, even the MEChA organization, its a big deal, Lloyd said. Belonging, being here with each other, supporting each other, even in all the other things that happening in the world with borders, you guys can come together and be so much more.

Jamie Diep contributed to this story.
After a bomb threat was called into Eugene Police Department Tuesday morning, EPD has completed its search of the school and found no threat, according to an EPD press release.

The students have been released back to the school following an evacuation.

With this being the third bomb threat to the school within three weeks, there is an ongoing investigation by multiple agencies into the threats. Threats like these have also occurred in other states and Oregon cities, according to an EPD press release.
The Willamette Confluence Preserve, 1,300 acres of restored wildlife conservation land in Lane County, has recently transferred ownership to the Mckenzie River Trust from The Nature Conservancy for long-term management.

A confluence is an area where two rivers meet. In this case, it is the confluence of the coast fork and middle fork of the Willamette River. The site is located just outside of Eugene near Mt. Pisgah. McKenzie River Trust also owns and has restored and managed a piece of land at the confluence of the Willamette and McKenzie Rivers called Green Island since 2003, giving them experience working with this type of project, according to McKenzie River Trust director Joe Moll.

This confluence had previously been a gravel mining site since the 1940s, leaving the land and river altered and nearly bare of native vegetation. In 2010, The Nature Conservancy bought the land from Wildish Construction using Willamette Wildlife Mitigation program funding and began the decade-long restoration process.

In general, what we were trying to do there is just set the river and the floodplain and the landscape on a trajectory of healing, Jason Nuckols, Restoration Project Manager at the Nature Conservancy, said.

Bonneville Power Administration and the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board funded this project through conservation easements.

What we're really trying to do is reconnect the river and add complexity and also allow the river to meander and provide for all those concerns as it does for fish and wildlife and people, Nuckols said.

This project involved planting over 500,000 trees and shrubs on the site. It also entailed restructuring the geometric and unnatural state the landscape was left in, allowing the river to reconnect and create more natural conditions for the river and floodplain to recover on its own.

The site was funded and restored for the purpose of becoming a habitat area to cater to the fish and wildlife that live on the property due to the fact that this area is a habitat for many species, including over 30 species that are considered at risk. One of these species is the Chinook Salmon, which has been put under fishing cancellations across Oregon for the 2023 fishing season. In addition, many fish species use these forks of the river to travel and spawn, and the oak woodlands on the property support many bird species.

Fish and Wildlife Project Manager for the BPA Virginia Price said there are also many species that are significant to the Indigenous tribes of Oregon in the area.

That is always one of our major focal points when conserving these properties, is ensuring that we are providing a benefit not only to the peoples of the future and being sustainable in that way, but we're also protecting these culturally significant species and properties, Price said.

The property is currently not open to the public because of the conservation easements, which keeps land in private ownership, and requires the investing companies to guarantee this property is protected and prioritizing its conservation goals. However, the McKenzie River Trust holds tours and offers volunteer opportunities on the property throughout the year for those who wish to learn about the property or get involved.

Probably one of our bigger challenges is, we've been describing it as, how do you help people love a place without sort of loving it to death or overrunning it? McKenzie River Trust director Joe Moll said.

Because people have been living and building around rivers, those rivers have been simplified, habitats have been limited and floodplains have been destroyed, Moll said.

Not only is the Willamette Confluence Preserve beneficial to the wildlife in the area, but it also provides benefits for the surrounding community by maintaining cleaner water at the source, Moll said. Springfield Utility Board pulls water from the Middle Fork just north of the confluence through their water facilities, and Eugene Water and Electric Board has plans to put in a water facility just downstream of the confluence in 2026.

Protecting areas upstream and adjacent to source water areas is really critical from a long term resource, Moll said. We see this as an opportunity to build upstream and help landowners and other communities who want to do a better job of caring for that source water.

Moll also sees visual recreational benefits in the land turning back to nature. He said the McKenzie River Trust recognizes the importance of the role natural areas play in helping people relax and reset.

Moll said the long term goal is to let the area recover and adapt naturally and reintroduce dynamism to the confluence. While they intend to let nature take its course, this will still involve active management in the upcoming years.

For me, a long term professional goal is, I think, coming to fruition, that we're talking about nature conservation as integral to community development, Moll said. It's not simply that we'd love to watch nature or touch nature, but natural flowing rivers have great benefits to us.

McKenzie River Trust will continue to own and manage the confluence for the foreseeable future.

The McKenzie River Trust books tours of the Willamette Confluence Preserve, as well as other community events, tours and fundraisers, on its website.
PIGGS PEAK  Tragedy befell a family of Ntfonjeni, when an elderly man and his granddaughter reportedly fell into a maize storage tank (silo) and died.

The incident happened at Sidvwashini, near Mswati High School, on Sunday night. Sources said the death of the two Lulane family members remained a mystery as their bodied were found inside the maize storage tank, with bloodstains. A family member, who preferred to comment on condition of anonymity, because other family members were still to be informed of the incident, confirmed the death of the elderly man, He said Msweli Lulane was his uncle and a close relative to the minor. He said his uncle had reached the age of 60 and was benefiting from the government elderly grant. The deceased girl, whose identity could not be established, was said to be about 10 years old.

Maize

What happened is that my uncles wife asked him to transport bambara groundnuts (tindlubu) to Matsamo. She further asked him to pass by the hammer mill (esigayweni) and grind maize. The girl was then asked to go to the maize storage tank to get the maize, said the relative. He narrate that the young girl did not return from the maize storage tank. They wondered where she could have gone. My uncle decided to go and check the maize storage tank to establish what was delaying her. Apparently, when he got there, he found his granddaughter to have fallen into the tank and instead of calling for help, he decided to rescue her himself. It seems as if while trying to rescue his granddaughter, he also fell into the tank, hitting the basement with his head, said the nephew.

He said the maize was at a low level in the tank and a weevil tablet had been put inside but it was apparently ineffective as it had expired. A bit later, the family became worried as my uncle also did not come back. His wife asked my younger cousin to go and check what was going on at the maize storage tank. After calling for them and searching around, he decided to check inside the storage tank and saw them both lying inside. He called for help, said the relative. Family members are said to have rushed to try and save them by pushing the tank to the ground. They were then able to first pull out the elderly man, who vomited blood and then died shortly. According to the relative, the young girl was found to have been long dead when they pulled her out of the tank.

Police were called to the scene and the bodies of the deceased persons were taken to a health facility and later to a mortuary. The nephew of the elderly man said what was puzzling was that his uncle was found with blood and a scar on the forehead, while the minor had blood coming out of her mouth and nose. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed the matter. She fell into a maize storage tank with her grandfather and they both died, she said.


Life can be odd. Some people bring their entire family into disrepute, embarrass themselves in front of the world, cost their relatives a fortune  and still get to keep their vast grace-and-favour mansions with hot-and-cold-running servants.

Others, by contrast, spend their lives in service and offer unquestioning friendship, dedication and support  but the moment they're no longer needed, they're out on their ear.

I speak, of course, of Prince Andrew and Angela Kelly respectively.

The former, who settled claims of sexual assault out of court for millions, remains stubbornly ensconced at 30-room Royal Lodge, despite reports that his brother wants him to move out.

The latter, the late Queen's loyal and long-time dresser, was this week spotted tearfully moving out of her home in Windsor to start a new life in the Peak District.

Angela Kelly, seen this weekend, helps move her belongings to a removal van as she moves out of her home in Windsor to start a new life in the Peak District

Ms Kelly is now, reluctantly, leaving her riverside home to move to the Peak District where the King has gifted her a new home to honour his late mother's promise. Above: Ms Kelly carries out belongings from her Windsor home

Angela Kelly is pictured carrying her belongings to a white removal van in Windsor, England

Angela looks on as she helps load to removal van in Windsor, England, over the weekend

Ms Kelly cut a rather sad figure, loading her belongings into a white van  a far cry from the confident, stylish blonde we were used to seeing in photographs with Elizabeth II.

She's not being made homeless: the King has bought a house in which she is entitled to live for the rest of her life. Still, from where I'm sitting, it seems like a funny way to thank the woman the late Queen was clearly very fond of.

Her Majesty regarded Angela as more of a friend than an employee, giving her the title of 'Personal Assistant, Adviser and Curator to her Majesty'.

She even trusted her enough to give her permission to write a series of books about their relationship. Whether you think her trust was justified  and none of us is really in a position to judge  that alone should be enough to afford her a degree of respect.

But if we have learnt anything from the first months of this new Carolean age, it's that the late Queen's wishes are not always uppermost in the minds of those who now call the shots at the Palace.

Let's face it, Elizabeth's wish was that Camilla be known as Queen Consort; she is now Queen. An important difference.

And it was also her wish that Ms Kelly should remain in her home on the Windsor estate; now she is moving to the Peak District.

Well, it's Charles's train set, of course  and he can do what he wants with it. And there have long been rumours about Ms Kelly's spiky personality. Maybe she just annoyed the wrong people. As a spiky woman myself, I've often been falsely accused of all sorts of outlandish and absurd behaviour.

But even if she is the biggest witch in the world, it doesn't sit right with me. Especially when you contrast Ms Kelly's treatment with that of Prince Andrew.

Yes, Andrew is family  but the reputational damage he has done to the royals as a result of his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein and his involvement in the Virginia Giuffre affair is far worse than anything even Prince Harry, with his wild accusations, has managed.

If anyone should be banished hundreds of miles from Windsor, surely it should be Andrew, not a 65-year-old woman who looked after the King's late mother for more than 25 years.

To add insult to injury, Queen Elizabeth's private secretary, Sir Edward Young, has been given a peerage. Is it because Ms Kelly is just a working-class lass from Liverpool, the daughter of a docker, that she gets shunted to one side, while Sir Edward, male and privileged, gets another title?

Queen Elizabeth II, with Chief Executive of the British Fashion Council, Caroline Rush (L), British-American journalist and editor Anna Wintour (2R), and royal dressmaker Angela Kelly

From another angle, Kelly is seen (fourth from the left) looking on during the Queen's visit to London Fashion Week's BFC Show Space in central London on February 20, 2018

Angela Kelly (centre) is seen leaving Westminster Abbey during the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on September 19, 2022 in London, England

If there was one thing the late Queen was not it was a snob. She treated everyone on merit, no matter how small and insignificant they might have seemed to everyone else.

She understood that it wasn't status, money or titles that mattered, but character. It was one of the many reasons she was loved by her people, and why we still miss her.

We never cease hearing about how King Charles wants to modernise the monarchy. Respectfully, I would suggest that a good place to start would be to stop running it like an old boys' club  and start treating ordinary people like Ms Kelly, who help make it the great and wonderful institution it is, with the respect they are due.

Racket over this badge of honour

All credit to the BBC's Panorama team for exposing the racket surrounding ADHD and the ease with which private clinics diagnose patients for the right price.

I come at this as a mother of teenagers who joke that they wish they could be diagnosed with ADHD so they can be prescribed focus-enhancing medication such as Ritalin and get extra time in exams.

So many young people are on the drug it's almost a badge of honour, fuelled by social media and celebrities 'sharing' their ADHD stories: Justin Timberlake, Mel B and Paris Hilton among them.

Leonardo Da Vinci, Mozart and Alexander Graham Bell are also believed to have had ADHD. Who wouldn't want to be in that club?

Paris Hilton attends the de Grisogono party during the 69th Cannes Film Festival at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc on May 17, 2016 in Cap d'Antibes, France

If there was ever a reason to doubt the wisdom of allowing AI to continue to take over our lives, it's the face of Sam Altman, inventor of ChatGPT, testifying before a U.S. Senate Committee about the potential of the technology.

He looks terrified, not to mention a tad deranged. If our future really is in the hands of people like him, then it's game over for humanity.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman testifies before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law for an oversight hearing to examine the rules governing artificial intelligence (AI) in the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, DC USA, 16 May 2023

I was told off by the vet the other day because the cat has put on a little weight. 'It's not my fault,' I protested. 'If I don't feed her she yowls at me, and vandalises the kitchen.'

The vet looked at me as though to say: 'What kind of a fool lets their cat tell them what to do?'

To which I can only say, you've obviously never been owned by a cat.

Ratings for ITV's This Morning programme, presented by Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, have plummeted since rumours of the two presenters falling out took hold  despite a saccharine attempt to paper over the cracks.

If you ask me, it's obvious that the problem is Schofield: he needs to take a break. Dropping 170,000 viewers should focus ITV bosses' minds.

The editor of 'Emojipedia', a sort of online dictionary for emojis (yes, such things exist), warns against using certain ones.

I knew peaches, aubergines and water droplets were off limits  apparently anything with red hearts should also be avoided.

As I discovered when I sent my daughter a smiley emoji with hearts for eyes.

She texted straight back: 'Mum that emoji means I think ur fit btw.'

Oh dear. I dread to think who I may have importuned by mistake.

A new report warns that one in five taxpayers is set to pay 40 per cent income tax as a result of the Chancellor freezing tax thresholds.

How is it possible that under a Conservative government, a pay rise could leave people counting the pennies?
Almost everyone who has examined the 2016 EU referendum has concluded that a desire to rein in mass immigration played a major part in the vote to leave.

The British people aren't racist. But the slogan 'take back control' resonated at a time when the number of immigrants, particularly from Eastern Europe, appeared to be rising year by year.

After the result, the Tory Party seemed finally to have got the message that something concrete had to be done. The 2019 Conservative manifesto promised that 'overall numbers will come down'.

At last, the Government  rather than Brussels  was in a position to determine how many legal migrants should be allowed to come here every year, though admittedly, the much smaller number of illegal migrants trying to cross the Channel in small boats can't be easily regulated.

Betrayal

What has happened? Have the Tories, armed with their new powers, fulfilled their pledge to bring down net legal immigration? No, they have not. But they haven't merely failed in this endeavour. They have made things far, far worse than they were before.

Suella Braverman (pictured) has been a member of the Cabinet since February 2020  a couple of months after the Tories were elected on the promise of bringing down net migration

Next Thursday, the Office for National Statistics will report net migration  the difference in numbers between those who leave and arrive in the country  in the year to December 2022. The Centre for Policy Studies think-tank has looked at the number of visas the Government has handed out, and concluded that the figure will be between 700,000 and 997,000. And that in a single year!

Data already released for the 12 months to June 2022 showed net legal migration at a record 504,000. Note that the previous record, achieved in 2015, was 329,000. So the amount for 2022 could be three times higher than the pre-Brexit one, assuming that the Centre for Policy Studies knows what it is talking about.

If its forecast is correct, this is a betrayal on an epic scale, as well as proof of monumental incompetence. One marvels that the Tories, who are supposed to be moderately efficient administrators if nothing else, should have made such a hash of things.

Such is the background to yesterday's speech by Home Secretary Suella Braverman in which she chided the Government  of which she is a very senior member  for its failure to curb legal immigration. She should have the grace to accept a fair portion of the blame herself.

Mrs Braverman knows that a missile  the net migration figure for 2022  is heading in the Government's direction, and that when it arrives next week there will be a massive explosion which could cause the ship to capsize, or even sink. It's too late for her to jump off, but she thinks she should at any rate express her dissatisfaction.

In fact, of course, Suella Braverman has been a member of the Cabinet since February 2020  a couple of months after the Tories were elected on the promise of bringing down net migration  though it's true she became Home Secretary, with overall responsibility for immigration, only last September.

In her speech, Ms Braverman reasonably asked why we can't train more of our own lorry drivers and fruit pickers

Attacking your own government in public is seldom wise or justifiable  and not only because it undermines the convention of collective responsibility. It also advertises disunity at the centre of power. If there is one thing the public dislikes above all else in politics, it is a divided party.

If Mrs Braverman disapproves so strongly of the Government's immigration policy, and is unable to persuade her Cabinet colleagues to change direction, the honourable thing for her to do would be to resign. Her shock tactics are discreditable.

The fact remains that she is fundamentally correct. The Government of which she is a leading light has failed on a grand scale. And unless it quickly changes course, it will hand an enormous electoral gift to Sir Keir Starmer. Not that Labour would have done any better, but it merely has to point to Tory ineptitude.

The problem is that since 2019 no one at the top has made a concerted effort to curb immigration. Boris Johnson certainly didn't, having long been relaxed about it. A few days after the EU referendum, he doubted in a newspaper article whether 'those who voted Leave were mainly driven by anxieties about immigration'.

Under his leadership, the Government dramatically widened the range of supposedly skilled jobs that could be filled by immigrants, thereby watering down the Australian- style points system which the Tories trumpeted before the 2019 election. All that is necessary is an offer of employment at an annual salary of 26,200 (20 per cent below the median salary of 33,280) plus a limited command of English, and hey presto.

Visas

In 2022, work visas were handed out to 268,000 foreign workers and 155,000 dependants. I realise we are constantly being told about labour shortages  only yesterday I read for the umpteenth time about unpicked fruit and vegetables rotting in the fields  but foreign workers and their family members are coming here in huge numbers.

Meanwhile, the number of foreign students (traditionally included in net migration figures) has ballooned, with 490,000 of them being given visas in 2022, plus 136,000 dependants. Some of our universities depend on such people, which is why Education Secretary Gillian Keegan is reportedly opposing tighter restrictions. Believe it or not, some 20 per cent of students at Liverpool University are Chinese.

Then there have been  and here I doubt that many of us would object  around 200,000 visas awarded to refugees from Ukraine, and 58,000 to those escaping Chinese repression in Hong Kong.

The upshot of all this is that numbers in 2022 could be heading towards one million, and unless the Government takes radical action there's little reason to suppose that 2023 will be markedly better.

As a consequence, pressure on schools and the NHS is certain to increase, and of course on housing. When London Mayor Sadiq Khan was interviewed about housing shortages in the capital on Radio 4's Today programme yesterday morning, he characteristically failed to mention the effect of mass immigration.

Election

There is another point, which Suella Braverman rightly touched on in her speech. She reasonably asked why we can't train more of our own lorry drivers and fruit pickers. There are estimated to be five million economically inactive adults in the UK. Some of them could, and should, be encouraged to work, but they are unlikely to seek employment as long as migration continues on this scale.

Rishi Sunak has made much of stopping the small boats coming across the Channel

Rishi Sunak has made much of stopping the small boats coming across the Channel, and rightly so. But actually the numbers (some 46,000 in 2022) are tiny in comparison with legal migration. The Government has concentrated on the small boats while ignoring  or seeming not to care  about the soaring overall figures.

Is it too late? Very possibly. It is not even clear whether there is a majority in the Cabinet wanting to bring down legal migration, which may explain why Suella Braverman felt it necessary to make such an issue of it yesterday.

The election is not much more than a year away. Do the Tories want to lose it? It sometimes seems so. A betrayal of Brexit, by allowing mass migration on a scale never before seen in this country, offers Rishi a very speedy exit out of No 10.
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Are you looking for a way to add a touch of bohemian style to your home decor? Look no further than this rug, cushion and bag set.

Crafted from high-quality materials and designed with a beautiful boho-inspired pattern the popular bundle from Australian brand Hendeer comes in a range of designs and is the perfect for all your outdoor adventures, and a simple way to transform any room in your home into a bohemian oasis.

Hendeer Bundle Sets Consisting of two matching cushion covers, one large bag and a rug, and over 30 cheaper than when bought individually, this set adds a touch of bohemian charm to any room. They can be used for a variety of things too. The rug could be used on the sofa, on the bed, or even as a wall tapestry. It could even be bought on your summer holidays, whether as a picnic blanket or a rug for the campervan. Shop

Are you looking for a way to add a touch of bohemian style to your home decor? Look no further than this rug, cushion and bag set

Let's face it, life is better with matching stuff - wearing matching undies, for example, always adds a certain je ne sais quoi to a day.

These bundle sets allow you to have cushions that match your bag and bed rug, adding a 'put together' funky style to a room.

The brand uses its bestselling patterns for these bundle sets. And they say that these patterns have been inspired by 'art and different cultures around the world'.

You could buy a set with a pattern that reminds you of the market covers of the Czech Republic village you strolled through on your honeymoon

So, you could buy a set with a pattern that reminds you of the wall tiles of a Mexican cafe you scoffed Tacos in during your gap year. Or one that brings you back to the market covers of the Czech Republic village you strolled through on your honeymoon.

As well as bringing back memories of times abroad, the durable sets are also versatile for family life.

The rugs can be used for park picnics, as a cover when the kids are chilly at the seaside, or even as an arty-looking wall tapestry in your bedroom.

These sets have been made using a blend of 'cotton and recycled polyester sourced from plastic bottles and waste diverted from landfills and oceans'

What's more, these sets have also been made using a blend of 'cotton and recycled polyester sourced from plastic bottles and waste diverted from landfills and oceans'. So, who knows, you could be chilling on a rug made from a bottle you drank from last year!

The popular company offers same-day dispatch, so it won't be long till you can live in that bohemian oasis! They've also racked up a load of glowing reviews from customers.

'Hendeer is the best,' raved one happy customer. 'Great company, beautiful designs, speedy dispatch and delivery. Have purchased other boho throws, but none compare in value and quality like Hendeer.'

The popular company offers same-day dispatch. So, it won't be long till you can live in your bohemian oasis

'Boho beaut,' a second agreed. 'Great quality, nice colours, true to shown images, great for in the home or in the yard for chilling out or picnic lunches.'

A third penned: 'Absolutely stunning rich colours, they look more beautiful than pictured. Very prompt and professional delivery.'

So, if you'd like a versatile set that's great for family life and adds a touch of boho to your life, shop the Hendeer bundle sets online here.
If you're looking for some slick gym headphones that look good, do a top job at cancelling out background noise and hold their charge then look no further than Marshall's stylish and uber lightweight A.N.C Motifs. Tried and tested, these earbuds stay in place throughout the most vigorous of workouts and have great sound quality. In terms of tech detail, perks include adjustable EQ settings via a dedicated app, IPX5 water resistance, Bluetooth 5.2, 20 hours of wireless playtime with A.N.C, plus 'transparency mode' for whenever you need to let the world back in. The headphones come with various sizes of buds for the perfect fit and they come encased in the classic chassis we've come to know from its days as an amp maker.
MBABANE - The passport number, which appeared in the investigative piece, was shared with the Deputy Chief Immigration Officer, Sandile Mazibuko, and he is yet to verify the identity of the passport holder.

However, he asserted that the ministry had been experiencing a network slowdown hence they could not run down the information on the system to verify the information. He said the situation was so dire yesterday that some people had to be turned back as the ministrys technicians were working tirelessly to restore the network. We understand the sensitivity of the situation, but currently we are experiencing some problems with the network and the system is down. We will continue to work on restoring the system and will then verify the information concerning the allegations of the passport acquired by a foreign fugitive in Eswatini, he said. Prior to that, this publication had engaged the ministrys Spokesperson, Mlandvo Dlamini, who shared that they usually did not disclose information about their clients, because it was confidential.

However, he said due to the sensitivity of the matter, they were ready to assist with any relevant information. At the time, Dlamini requested the passport number but later shared that the officer responsible for verifying the information was currently not in the office, but at an official meeting. He said they had engaged the officer on the urgency of the matter and he would give feedback on any developments. However, there was no feedback at the time of going to print yesterday. The issue of foreigners, particularly Asian nationals getting Eswatini citizenship, is nothing new as this publication reported back in 2012 that the Ministry of Home Affairs had embarked on a drive to weed out immigrants from Asian countries, who acquired Eswatini citizenship under unclear circumstances. Minister at the time, Chief Gcokoma, said they had identified over 1 000 such nationals, who were granted citizenship by the defunct Citizenship Board. The Board was at the time led by Zonke Khumalo, the late and former Minister of Justice. Chief Gcokoma said most of the citizenship was granted during the tenure of the Board that was suspended in 2010.

Citizenship

If found invalid, their citizenship was nullified and holders were deported. He said most of the documents were released based on allegedly false information. Preliminary investigations of the ministry revealed that some of the Asians forged documents and paid money to some officials at various levels when they successfully went through the application process. This case has many similarities to that of Thabo Bester in South Africa, who was jailed and sentenced to life for luring women through Facebook, promising them modelling jobs only for him to rape and murder them. He faked his death in prison with the help of his girlfriend Dr Nandipha Magudumana and he escaped. A few months later, it was uncovered that he was alive and he learned that police were on him, he escaped to Tanzania where he was busted and found with several fake passports.
They were considered ITV's golden couple of hosting - but rumours of an off-camera rift risk seeing the 15-year partnership collapsing.

According to reports Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby - previously close friends - now barely speak behind the scenes and have called in lawyers and PR experts to salvage their on screen reputations.

Bosses from the broadcaster were allegedly furious after Phil, 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'.

And the pair's emotional clash can be explained by tensions amid their alignments, an astrologer has revealed.

Michelle Bell - founder of Cosmic Fusion - told FEMAIL that while both Phil and Holly are very compatible, one half of the pair fosters a 'cool and calculated nature' which can also become distant, while the other is 'adorable' but struggles when isolated and taken out of the spotlight.

According to reports Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby - previously close friends - now barely speak behind the scenes and have called in lawyers and PR experts to salvage their on screen reputations

Here, she explains how the alleged feud could be manifesting itself in their placements...

HOLLY WILLOUGHBY: AQUARIUS METAL ROOSTER

Holly, 42, is 'very bright, extremely intelligent, phenomenally ambitious' and quite brilliant talent', Michelle says.

However, her placements also show a tendency to distance oneself, thanks to a 'fierce outer shell'.

'Aquarians are in the top three for strength of character in Western astrology,' the horoscope pro said.

'So when you consider that the Metal Rooster is also ranked top in terms of strength in Chinese astrology, you won't be surprised to learn that we are dealing with a cool, calculated, tough, determined creature.'

Michelle also says those born with these placements are 'a little complex'.

'Aquarians are ordinarily drawn to all things creative and obscure,' she explained.

'However, the Metal Rooster is driven, ambitious and business-orientated.

'They have such searing self-belief and just plain confidence that success tends to be preordained.'

This could be seen in Holly's ambitious and dedicated career path, with the presenter going from one strength to another - having been exposed to the working world as young at 14 years old.

'There is a bit of harshness here,' Michelle admitted. 'They can be quite tough, distant and forthright - the irony is they don't mean to be. It is mostly to do with the Aquarius/Metal combo, which creates a fierce outer shell.

'This character is impressive but they are quite difficult to get close to, even more, impossible to fathom. They can be distant, but they're also very, very classy.'

Bosses from the broadcaster were allegedly furious after Phil, 61, broke his silence with a shock statement about the fall out with his co-host of 14 years

PHILLIP SCHOFIELD: ARIES WATER TIGER

According to the astrology expert, Phillip's Aries' 'drive and enthusiasm', coupled with the TV star's 'affable, happy-go-lucky Water Tiger' makes for 'a very endearing and likeable character'.

However, this comes with a restlessness.

'They're an impetuous creature and will probably never finish any task they undertake, which is a shocking trait, but you'll still love them because they're so nice,' Michelle said.

'Some people are born to interact, bring a smile to our faces and a little ray sunshine to our lives and this is one such person.'

Phillip is 'full of ideas' - which are 'well-conceived'... but just 'never actioned'.

This may surprise few people, with the co-host often characterised for his energetic humour, which in past often left him and Holly dissolving into uncontrollable giggles.

'Sister': Phil came out as gay in 2020 and shared an emotional conversation with Holly on This Morning during which he called her 'the sister I've never had'

Co-stars: The pair, pictured in February, first started working together on ITV's Dancing On Ice in 2006

'They're positive, kind, adorable, loveable, but they do need one thing - a little guidance,' Michelle revealed.

'It'll make all the difference, because their intentions, ideas and concepts are all fabulously well-conceived but the implementation of their ideas may well become an ongoing issue for these happy, up-beat souls.

'Isolation, solitude, and repetitive endeavours are the death of these characters. It is something they simply cannot endure.

'They have to be in the mix, they have to be in the epicentre of all action. They just adore company.'

While Aries Water Tigers do have 'a feisty kick to them' - Michelle says it's 'purely defensive'.

HOW COMPATIBLE ARE PHIL AND HOLLY?

'These two characters are actually very compatible,' Michelle says. 'However, their personalities are starkly different.'

Holly's Aquarius Metal Rooster is 'far stronger' than Phillip's Aries Water Tiger - meaning she will always outweigh him in a power imbalance.

Until recently, Holly is said to have put their growing differences aside because she felt strong loyalty towards her co-host, who was key to her landing the This Morning job in 2009.

But Phillip's release of a statement about their friendship without first consulting her has hit her hard, friends say, and now Holly thinks it is time to go it alone.

Close: Until recently, Holly is said to have put their growing differences aside because she felt strong loyalty towards her co-host, who was key to her landing the This Morning job in 2009 (pictured on their first show together)

WHY DID THE PAIR FALL OUT?

After almost 15 years of friendship, the first signs of a feud began when the pair were criticised after failing to queue for the Queen's Lying in State.

The presenters were seen on the camera feed after using press accreditation to ensure they didn't have to wait for hours to enter Westminster Hall alongside thousands of well wishers and other celebrities including David Beckham and their ITV colleague Susanna Reid, who both queued.

Furious fans accused Holly and Phil of lacking in 'common decency' and said they should be 'ashamed' of themselves.

Three days after the incident the pair issued a statement live on This Morning but both stopped short of using the word 'sorry' - a move which created even more backlash.

Still on air: After a weekend dealing with the fallout of Phillip's statement, the pair returned to screens together, notably failing to address the feud

Holly was said to be particularly upset over the reaction and 'has never had to deal with anger and vitriol like this in her life', with the situation even forcing her off social media as the criticism continued for weeks.

Last month, Phillip was absent from This Morning for two weeks 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.'

The Mail's Katie Hind had been told that at the heart of Holly and Phil's fall-out is a dispute over whether he confided in her that his brother faced charges of child sex offences.

Friends say Holly was in the dark until Phil took his leave from the ITV daytime show to avoid the limelight while the trial took place  something he is at pains to deny.

Phil returned to This Morning after Holly's presenting stint with Alison Hammond was praised by viewers.

The Mail on Sunday first revealed cracks are showing in their relationship with the strains beginning with the fallout from the queue-jump allegations.

Sources revealed that the pair no longer speak to each other when the cameras on This Morning stop rolling.

Amid the flurry of reports, Phil released an extraordinary statement to insist that there has been no fallout with his co-host.

'Holly is my rock,' Phil told The Sun.

'We're 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 I've been there for her.'

As Phillip admitted that 'the last few weeks haven't been easy for us,' sources close to Holly told MailOnline that she had no idea that Phillip was going to make a statement.

After a weekend dealing with the fallout of Phillip's statement, the pair returned to screens together, notably failing to address the feud.

Cosmic Fusion is available on Apple and Android
Princess Eugenie was glowing in a maxi dress designed by Samantha Cameron during a visit to a school as part of her work in anti-slavery campaigning.

The Princess, 33, attended the Archbishop's School in Canterbury last week to meet with teachers and students to hear about their diversity project.

During the visit, Eugenie, who is expecting her second child this summer, opted for a maxi dress with a floral print that was clinched with a row of frills at the waist from Cefinn, Samantha Cameron's clothing brand.

She paired the 340 dress with slingback black crocodile pumps with a pointed toe and a gold buckle from Dune, costing 115.

While visiting the school with the Anti Slavery Collective, Eugenie, who teamed up with the Bishop of Dover Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin, learnt about the school's Voices of Welcome project which opens its arms to refugees.

Princess Eugenie donned a navy blue floral dress from Samantha Cameron's clothing brand Cefinn to attend the Archbishop's School in Canterbury last week (pictured with Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin)

Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson's daughter was pictured chatting to both teachers and students as they explained the project, which aims to work with young foreign children who are more vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation.

It supports these young pupils through their education and with their language skills to help them integrate into society.

In particular it is working with students from Afghanistan, Ukraine and Britain to foster a 'cross-cultural exchange' in the school, where 40 languages other than English are spoken by pupils.

Eugenie's visit comes just weeks before she is due to give birth for the second time, after announcing earlier this year that she and her husband Jack Brooksbank are expecting a child this summer.

The Princess was pictured in the classroom chatting to teachers about the Voices of Welcome project

Getting crafty! Eugenie, who is expecting her second child with Jack Brooksbank in the summer, painted with the pupils

The Princess posed for photos with the Revd and teachers at the Archbishop's School following her visit

However in the meantime, both Eugenie and her older sister Beatrice, 34, are hard at work following the King's Coronation, as they have represented the Royal Family at several events.

Following the Coronation on May 6, the sisters attended the concert at Windsor Castle the next day with their parents Fergie and Prince Andrew.

They also represented the royals at the Big Lunch at Chalfont St Giles in Buckinghamshire where they met with members of the public.

The sisters were praised by Matt Eyre, who told FEMAIL they 'were amazing' with his children Bobbi-May, 11, and Bertie, nine, who have special needs.

The pair met representatives from All Together Community, a group which distributed food parcels to vulnerable people during the pandemic and continues to offer the same service, along with running a community fridge.

After a long week of royal duties, the Princess finally enjoyed a bit of down time last weekend as she was spotted in Portobello Road to meet a friend for lunch.

Spotting the princess in West London, an onlooker noticed that she, and her friend with whom she was lunching had some trouble parking.

After finding a suitable spot to park, the duo went on to eat lunch together.
A trio of sisters left a bar and headed straight to catch a flight after booking themselves 25 return flights to Dublin to party for five and a half hours.

After seeing people online catching flights to go on a night out, these sisters knew they needed to hop on the trend and get themselves to Dublin, Ireland, for one night only.

Brogan Moore, 24, from Huddersfield, was accompanied by her two sisters Amelia and Isabel, who are both 19 and work as cabin crew, on a spontaneous night out in Dublin.

The three of them caught their flight from Leeds Bradford Airport at 8:25pm in their outfits before trudging back to the airport at 4am to get their 6am flight home.

Brogan Moore, 24, from Huddersfield and her two sisters Amelia and Isabel, who are both 19, spontaneously flew to Dublin for a night out

Brogan, right, during her night out in Dublin, which cost the sisters around 150 each on top of flights

The trio got on a Ryanair flight out of Leeds airport at 8:25pm in their outfits, with tickets costing 25 each

Customer services worker Brogan said: 'It was so worth it. I'd give the night out an easy nine out of ten, and it's definitely something we'd all do again.

'We left our house at half six in the evening and arrived in the centre of Dublin at 10:30 - it was a very heavy night.

'Over the course of the night, we all easily spent over 150. Our airport breakfast was very needed, but very expensive at 50 for three meals.

'It was quite funny telling everyone we had to be back at the airport for 4am until we got in the taxi back. We spent a large part of the journey home not speaking as we were all trying not to be sick.

Brogan tuycking in to a much-needed breakfast at Dublin airport before flying home

Brogan (left) at Leeds airport. She left home with her sisters at 6.30pm and got back at 8am the next morning

Brogan doing shots on the night out. She admits it was a 'heavy' night out and everyone was feeling the worse for wear on the journey back to the airport

'To our surprise, we had no trouble getting back on the plane home and got back in bed at about 8am which completely wrote off that day.

'I had no idea the video would blow up like that, so many people have been tagging their mates to do the same, so we've definitely inspired a few people.'

It comes after two mothers revealed how they spent a wintery Monday in the Canary Islands after bagging 23 flights.

Posting on TikTok, 38-year-old, mother-of-four Rebecca went viral with her best friend after they flew 2,500 miles for a day out in Lanzarote.

The Manchester mother, who goes by the user name 0nlyMums, said it was better 'than a Sunday round Sainsbury's.'

The friends, who between them have seven children, decided to catch a flight to spend nine hours on the sunny island, and they were back in their own beds at 12.30am.
It's a school beloved by royals which has been dubbed Hippy Hogwarts due to its location in a 12th century Welsh castle.

But while a number of royals have attended the United World College of the Atlantic, Princess Ariane of the Netherlands, 16, is set to study at the sister school, United World College of the Adriatic, in Italy, according to Royal Central.

Ariane will become the latest in a long list of royal alumni at the colleges, including her father King Willem-Alexander. Princess Elisabeth, heir to the throne of Belgium, who graduated from UWC Atlantic in 2020, as well as Princesses Leonor and Sofia of Spain.

Much like its 12th century Welsh equivalent, the school in Duino was founded by German educationalist Kurt Hahn in 1926.

School fees for the two-year course cost a whopping 40,000 and include Serbian, World Arts and Cultures and Environmental Systems.

Princess Ariane of the Netherlands is set to study at the United World College of the Adriatic in Italy, the palace announced yesterday

Ariane will become the latest in a long list of royal alumni at the colleges, including Princess Elisabeth, heir to the throne of Belgium, who graduated in 2020, Princesses Leonor and Sofia of Spain, and her father King Willem-Alexander

Much like its 12th century Welsh equivalent, the school in Duino (pictured) was founded by German educationalist Kurt Hahn

Kurt Hahn, he believed his approach to education, for pupils aged 16-19, could lead to a quicker resolution of international conflict, an ethos that is still carried by the establishment, which aims to 'promote mutual understanding'.

The United World College Movement includes 18 schools around the world, and takes students from around 150 countries.

The school counts Queen Noor of Jordan as its president and encourages international cooperation from students of all background.

A number of royals have attended the United World Colleges Movement.

King Willem-Alexander, the King of the Netherlands, studied at the Welsh College from 1983 to 1985 and graduated with an International Baccalaureate before undertaking his military service and moving on to study History at Leiden University from 1987 onwards.

Princess Leonor of Spain pictured at UWC Atlantic College at St Donat's Castle in Wales

Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, the daughter of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, enrolled in 2018 but had to cut her time at the college short due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and continued her studies online from home.

Meanwhile Princess Raiyah of Jordan, the daughter of King Hussein of Jordan and Queen Noor also attended her institution as a teen before studying Japanese as an undergraduate at The University of Edinburgh.

In 2018, The Times reported that pupils were discouraged from showcasing their wealth with expensive gadgets, and were as likely to rub shoulders with 'refugees from west Africa' and 'California hippies.'

Former student Louise Callaghan previously revealed how Princess Elisabeth of Belgium would to be 'the most normal person there' and would not get any 'special treatment' despite her royal credentials.

Unlike a conventional full school day of teaching, lessons at UWC begin at 8am and are finished in time for lunch.

Activities on offer at the college including sailing and kayaking around the Italian coast on which the college is perched

Unlike a conventional full school day of teaching, lessons at UWC begin at 8am and are finished in time for lunch

Who is UWC's founder Kurt Hahn? Kurt Matthias Robert Martin Hahn CBE was a German educator. He founded several schools in Germany and the UK, including Prince Charles' former boarding school Gordonstoun, and the United World Colleges. Hahn's educational philosophy was based on respect for adolescents, whom he believed to possess an innate decency and moral sense, but who were, he believed, corrupted by society as they aged. He believed that education could prevent this corruption, if students were given opportunities for personal leadership and to see the results of their own actions. This is one reason for the focus on outdoor adventure in his philosophy. Hahn founded the institutions as a practical response to the search for new and peaceful solutions in a post-war world riven by political, racial and economic divisions. Hahn had been invited to address the NATO Defence College, where he saw former enemies from several nations working together towards a common goal. With a number of colleagues Hahn realised how much more could be done to overcome the hostility of the Cold War if young people from different nations could be brought together in a similar way. He envisaged a college for students who were already grounded in their own cultures but impressionable enough to learn from others. Drawn from all nations, the students would be selected purely on merit and potential, regardless of race, religion, nationality and background. Advertisement

The school offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP) curriculum.

Core basics at the school include Biology, Chemistry, Economics, English Literature, Geography, History, Mathematics and Physics.

Meanwhile there are also a wide selection of optional courses to choose from, including Arabic, Slovene, Serbian, Croatian and Bosnian, World Arts and Cultures, Environmental Systems, and Art.

Alongside their academics, pupils are expected to undertake a minimum of two hours of community service, two hours of physical activity and a further two hours of creative activity each week. Sessions take place in the afternoons, evenings and weekends.

The school seeks to 'inspire changemakers' who want to work for the common good with its lessons.

It looks for students who 'can navigate the complexity of life and (reach) beyond easy answers', the school's website said.

The school, which is located in the Italian village of Duino, seeks to 'inspire changemakers' who want to work for the common good with its lessons

It looks for students who 'can navigate the complexity of life and (reach) beyond easy answers', the school's website said

Among their options for extra-curricular activities, pupils can take up a Tai Chi lesson or rock climbing (pictured)

Pupils are encouraged to be 'empowered' to take 'authentic responsibility to make their own decisions and actions'.

According to the website, the programme also focuses on a 'lifelong commitment to service in the community, to collaborative work and social engagement'.

It describes developing 'in young people a sense of personal initiative and the skills of leadership.'

Students are 'placed into positions of trust, authentic responsibility and decision making' and required to 'demonstrate a commitment to making a positive difference in the world'.

They are also 'continuously exposed to the richness and diversity of Italys cultural heritage' and encouraged to integrate into the local community.

Among their options for extra-curricular activities, pupils can take up a Tai Chi lesson or rock climbing.

Music plays a major role at UWC Adriatic thanks to the presence of an in-house music academy which aims to explore the full range of musical genres and styles from around the world.

They also bring in professional musicians to the college for masterclasses and performances.
Keith Broni, 33, from Dublin, has revealed which emoji to avoid when flirting

An emoji expert has revealed what the peach, aubergine and water droplets emoji really mean - and which to avoid when flirting as they come off 'too strong'.

Keith Broni, 33, from Dublin, revealed the emojis we should and shouldn't be using when messaging a love interest - and says the red love heart, eggplant and smiley devil face are best avoided.

The editor-in-chief of Emojipedia, the emoji search engine, says emojis can be used to 'inject a sense of playfulness' with flirtatious banter.

But he warns against using certain ones, such as the eggplant, peach and water droplets, too early on in a potential relationship which may come across as too much because they have developed sexual connotations.

Keith claims people should also avoid using the fire emoji, anything with red hearts and the disembodied tongue during the initial stages of dating.

Keith Broni, 33, from Dublin, revealed the emojis we should and shouldn't be using when messaging a love interest - and says the red love heart, eggplant and smiley devil face are best avoided

Keith said: 'Many emojis now have euphemistic meanings. The eggplant and peach are a no go. As are the water droplets.

'The red heart - I would warn against. It can come off strong.

'The smiley devil face is a little inappropriate and naughty. It's sexually charged. It can come off OTT.

'Avoid anything overly explicit. Emojis are used alongside words.

'If you wouldn't put the request in words, you shouldn't encapsulate it in emojis.'

Keith said emojis are popular on dating app profiles - with many people using them in their bios to express their hobbies and interests.

But he warns to be careful with the emojis chosen due to how they might come across to a potential date.

He said: 'People use them to try and ensure that tone of the message is conveyed.

He revealed the emojis we should and shouldn't be using when messaging a love interest and says the red love heart can make you come off 'too strong'

Keith said the poo emoji and laughing face are in popular use on dating apps but warns against an excessive use of any emojis

An emoji expert has revealed what the peach, aubergine , fire and water droplets emoji really mean - and which to avoid when flirting as they come off 'too strong'

Keith (pictured) said many emojis now have 'euphemistic meanings' including the eggplant (pictured) peach and water droplets

'The winking face is used when people want to be playful and coy. You should treat emojis in the same you would if chatting to a friend.'

Keith said we should also avoid the wink with tongue face and the disembodied tongue is 'off limits'.

Emojis to avoid when flirting Eggplant - has developed sexual connotations Fire - often sent as a compliment but can come off strong Red heart - connotations of romance Disembodied tongue -has developed sexual connotations Wink with tongue out-has developed sexual connotations Devil face - can come across as naughty Water droplets - is sexually charged Peach- can come across as naughty Advertisement

He said: 'Avoid the wink with tongue out. It can be a little OTT.

'Avoid the fire emoji - it's used as a compliment, but it's very explicit.'

Keith said replying with just an emoji can shows the extent you are willing to respond and can be 'a stopper' in a conversation.

He said: 'You're saying this is the extent of the response you're going to get from me.

'A single emoji reply can be a conversation stopper.'

Keith said the poo emoji and laughing face are in popular use on dating apps but warns against an excessive use of any emojis.

He said: 'If you use too many that can be seen as childish.

'You don't need to punctuate every sentence with an emoji.'

Keith said it's appropriate to use emojis with sexual connotations when you are comfortable with someone and in a relationship.

He said: 'When a relationship is cemented it's safer to use the sexual emojis.'
Queen Letizia of Spain looked incredibly lush as she stepped out in a tailored pant suit for a solo engagement in Spain.

The royal, 50, was fashion perfection in the structured lilac trouser suit as she attended the 'Mental Health In Spain Forum: 40 Years For Mental Health, For Rights, For You.'

The mother-of two glowed in the co-ord which she elegantly paired with a white lace top, set with floral detailing.

The monarch was first spotted in the stylish number while attending 'World Cancer Research Day' at the Asociacion Espanola Contra el Cancer in Spain back in September 2021.

And the fashionista was back to re-dazzle in the almost 600 lilac crepe trouser suit, by high end Spanish brand Bleis Madrid.

Queen Letizia of Spain looked incredibly lush in a lilac crepe trouser suit, by high end Spanish brand Bleis Madrid

The Spanish monarch re-dazzled in the pants suit, which she teamed with a white lace top and minimal jewellery

Straight out of the Resort 2022 collection, the suit featured a tailor-cut blazer priced at 347, and a high-waist cropped trouser to match, at 221.

The queen gracefully stunned in a a pair of leather pointy-toe pumps in colour nude, while opting to forego a bag this time around.

She accessorised the look with three stone-set mini hoops in each ear, in addition to a simple gold ring that she rocked on her index finger.

Her lustrous locks were parted at the top by an off-centre line, as they delicately swept her cheeks while she delivered a speech at the podium.

For her face, she donned an embellished orange eye shadow, joined by a smidge of mascara and a glossed rosy lip.

The queen delivered a speech at the 22nd edition of the Mental Health In Spain Forum: 40 Years For Mental Health, For Rights, For You

The mother-of-two accessorised the look with three stone-set mini hoops in each ear, in addition to a simple gold ring

She glowed in the stylish ensemble as she was spotted posing with officials at the event

Letizia was first spotted in the stylish number while attending 'World Cancer Research Day' at the Asociacion Espanola Contra el Cancer in Spain back in September 2021

The queen delivered her speech with elegance at the 22nd edition of the mental health forum, as she was spotted greeting and conversing with officials.

Her incredible look is uncanny in resemblance to the radiant chic white suit she wore as she carried out a solo engagement in Croatia last week.

The Spanish royal stepped out at the Presidential Palace in Zagreb to attend a welcome dinner ahead of a Congress on the Prevention of Childhood Obesity.

The Spanish Queen dazzled in a bright white suit as she posed for a photo with the Croatian President and his wife as she arrived at the Presidential Palace

Letizia dazzled in the bright white suit which had structured shoulders and a chic cut as she met with officials at the event.

Her hair was slicked back into a low bun in a rare updo as the Spanish Queen often allows her brunette locks to hang down her shoulders.

She opted for sparkling diamond and pearl dangling earrings to accessorise the look as she posed for photos with Croatian President Zoran Milanovic and his wife Sanja.
A trio of camouflaged snakes pictured in their natural habitat have left social media users baffled and questioning their vision - but can you spot them in these images?

The pictures shows what appears to be a shallow area of a lake, where rocks, twigs, and leaves can be seen.

But three snakes were lurking there in the image taken by Ben Morgan, 64, at a 35-acre lake in Cordova, Tennessee.

Can you spot the three snakes in the picture below?

A trio of camouflaged snakes pictured in their natural habitat have left social media users baffled and questioning their vision - but can you spot them in these images?

Can you spot the snakes in this image taken in a shallow lake in Tennessee?

Mr Morgan took the picture last week before challenging social media users to locate all the snakes.

'I was just out finishing my morning run at the time,' Ben, a business owner, told the NeedToKnow site. 'I spotted them after looking closely into the lake, and decided to snap a pic.

'When they're in the water, they can be hard to spot, but I was fortunate that a couple were only partially submerged.

'I think I have an eye for them, having grown up around lakes and rivers in the area.'

Hundreds of Facebook users took to the comments section to share their guesses, with the majority unable to locate all three reptiles.

Linda said: 'Too many,' while Beverley joked: 'Four? What kinds are these snakes, I'll be relocating and need to know.'

'I see four but I thought the experts claim snakes don't congregate,' added Keith.

Julie said: 'I saw two, I might be going to the ER, I didn't see the others,' while Joanne added: 'I think I see at least five.'

The trio have been identified as non-venomous, common water snakes, called nerodia sipedons.

Common water snakes can be found across the southern United States and northern Mexico and are considered the largest of all American water snakes, measuring up to 5ft in length.

The trio have been identified as non-venomous, common water snakes, called nerodia sipedons

The snakes are non-venomous but their bite is painful thanks to rows of sharp teeth, designed to grip on to their prey, which largely consists of fish and amphibians.

If threatened the snakes will hiss and flatten themselves to appear larger.

They are also known to release a foul-smelling musk, spray fecal matter, and even regurgitate food to put off attackers.

Ben added: 'As our home is located adjacent to this lake, we have seen a variety of snakes over the years.

'In the springtime, they are usually out sunning early in the morning.

'I have seen water snakes before, but never more than one at a time..'

Revealed: Did you find the snakes circled below?
A seemingly harmless Twitter poll has sparked a fierce debate about who was 'hotter' - a young Al Pacino or a young Robert De Niro?

New York writer Ashley Reese's tweet over the weekend ignited the light-hearted - but heated - social media firestorm.

'At a wedding and having a big debate rn (right now). Please vote. Who was hotter?' her poll read, before giving the two possible answers: 'Young Al Pacino' or 'Young Robert De Niro.'

The poll then went viral, with 277,372 votes cast, more than 38 million views and more than 2,700 retweets.

A great debate has taken over social media: Who is 'hotter' - a young Al Pacino (left in 1974) or a young Robert De Niro (right in the 1970s)?

New York writer Ashley Reese's tweet over the weekend was the ignition point of this light-hearted - but heated - social media firestorm

And the result didn't even clear up the matter. When the poll closed votes were 50/50.

'Pacino. I can't believe it's even up for debate,' one person wrote.

Poll So what do you think? Young Robert De Niro Young Al Pacino So what do you think? Young Robert De Niro 325 votes

Young Al Pacino 777 votes Now share your opinion





Another simply said: 'Easily De Niro.'

A third person added with a little diplomacy: 'It's Pacino. HOWEVER, I'm seeing a lot of De Niro disrespect. He was also very sexy!'

'It's shocking to me that Pacino is not killing this,' someone else wrote.

'De Niro was hotter longer. But Pacino was hot af (as f***) in Serpico. Look at those eyes,' another person added.

A Pacino fan was clearly baffled over how anyone could even contemplate picking De Niro: 'This is the correct answer, are half of you having some kind of episode, what on earth?'

But someone else said the two actors catered to two different categories: 'Pacino is folk, De Niro is punk. This argument will last forever.'

De Niro who is now 79 welcomed his seventh child with his girlfriend recently, while Pacino is now 83. The pair are pictured last year at the Tribeca film festival

A young Pacino as Michael Corleone in The Godfather in 1972

De Niro starred as Travis Bickle in the 1976 film, Taxi Driver. He and Pacino also starred in Heat and The Irishman together

Ashley's Twitter poll sparked a very healthy debate among social media users

Pacino, now 83, is most well known for playing Tony Montana in Scarface and, of course, Michael Corleone in The Godfather franchise.

He and De Niro - now 79 and played a young Vito Corleone in the second Godfather movie - have starred in several movies together, including Heat, Righteous Kill and The Irishman.

Last week De Niro revealed he had welcomed his seventh child with martial arts instructor girlfriend Tiffany Chen.

He told CBS Mornings' Gayle King that his daughter was born on April 6 and was named Gia Virginia Chen-De Niro.

'This baby is planned,' De Niro said, adding that they both wanted the baby and are 'over the moon.'
1,000-lb Sisters star Tammy Slaton has been flaunting the benefits of her 300lb weight loss transformation after finally being able to walk unassisted.

The 36-year-old, who first rose to fame in early 2020 when she starred in the TLC reality series alongside sister Amy, was spotted running errands in Indiana.

She was seen coming out of a gas station walking completely unaided - without the help of her usual stroller.

The star kept it casual in a long-sleeve knit gray dress and black yoga pants with a black bag slung over her shoulder.

1,000-lb Sisters star Tammy Slaton has been flaunting the benefits of her 300lb weight loss transformation after finally being able to walk unassisted

The 36-year-old was seen coming out of a gas station walking completely unaided - without the help of her usual stroller

The reality star, who was still using her oxygen tube, then popped into a Sam's Club in the area to pick up groceries

It was there that she resumed the use of a mobility scooter to get around both the parking lot and store before returning to the car

Tammy, who recently shed 300lbs, eventually clambered up into the car but was aided by a set of portable steps

Tammy recently reached her weight loss goal - going from 717 pounds to 534 pounds - and successfully qualified for bariatric surgery

As she headed to the car, the 26-year-old star did resume the use of a stroller to aid her with walking

But being able to walk independently is a major feat for a woman who once weighed 717 pounds (left in 2021) and whose family believed she would be dead within five years

Tammy, who was sporting a shock of orange hair, rested her hand on a car as she stepped down from the curb.

She paused momentarily to shake her hand in apparent pain - as if she had received a light scolding from the hot hood.

The reality star, who was still using her oxygen tube, then popped into a Sam's Club in the area to pick up groceries.

It was there that she resumed the use of a mobility scooter to get around both the parking lot and store before clambering into the car with the aid of portable steps.

The reality star's progress was the focus of much praise on social media, with dozens of users speaking out to congratulate Tammy on her transformation and health journey.

'Way to go Girl,' one person wrote - while another chimed in: 'Congrats, #TammySlaton on your tremendous weight loss. You look like a different person! Keep on goin'!'

A third Twitter user added: 'We are soooo proud of you girl!!! I love you and I am praying for you all the time...you are an inspiration to so many people...God bless this beautiful woman.'

Other supportive commenters expressed their 'pride' at how far Tammy has come, with one writing: 'I'm so happy for her,' while another simply said, 'Way to go!'

The star kept it casual in a long-sleeve knit gray dress and black yoga pants with a black bag slung over her shoulder

Tammy's unaided walk comes after an ongoing battle with her weight - but she was finally able to shed the pounds after checking herself into a food addiction program

Tammy, seen outside the grocery store, recently turned over a new leaf - and also quit smoking and drinking completely

The 1000-Lb Sisters star was seen getting into the passenger side of the vehicle on her day of errands

Tammy, who was sporting a shock of orange hair, helped unload the shopping into the car during the outing in Indiana

Social media users were quick to praise the reality star's transformation

But being able to walk independently is a major feat for a woman who once weighed 717 pounds and whose family believed she would be dead within five years.

She reportedly reached rock bottom in late 2021 when she was rushed to the hospital after she had trouble breathing.

Tammy had to have a tube inserted into her throat to assist her and spent three weeks on life support.

The health scare inspired the reality star to finally change her lifestyle and she checked herself into a food addiction program.

And, as she turned over her new leaf, she also quit smoking and drinking completely.

The latest season of 1000-Lb Sisters gave viewers a glimpse into the weight loss facility in Ohio.

It was there that Tammy reached her weight loss goal - going from 717 pounds to 534 pounds - and successfully qualified for bariatric surgery.

She said: 'I'm feeling thrilled, proud, excited  just all the emotions. I proved everybody wrong.

Tammy, seen getting into the car, recently wowed fans after her 300lb weight loss transformation

The TV personality (left) first rose to fame in early 2020 when she starred in the TLC reality series alongside sister Amy (right)

Tammy is reportedly dating a 25-year-old man named Greg Morgan - just weeks after news hit the web that she had split from her husband

'Everybody that doubted me, I finally got mine! My told-you-so moment!'

The weight loss transformation has also helped her find new love, according to The Sun.

Tammy is reportedly dating 25-year-old Greg Morgan - just weeks after news hit the web that she had split from her husband, Caleb Willingham.

She is said to have met her new man through a dating app.

A source told the outlet that they 'immediately hit it off' and have been 'seeing each other for about a month now.'

'He's come to see her a handful of times. He takes a six-hour bus from Indianapolis to visit her in Kentucky,' they dished.
Queen Maxima of the Netherlands was a sight to behold today as she stepped out for a social engagement in Nuenen, Netherlands.

The royal, 51, looked exceptional in a coffee-brown coat, brown pointed pumps and a tanned straw fedora hat to match.

The stylish monarch was spotted in town for a solo trip to the opening of the renovated Van Gogh Village Museum.

The mother-of-three couldn't help but turn heads as she strutted the streets in a grey dress, which was gorgeously decorated with large frills at the front.

Queen Maxima teamed the look with a brown suede clutch bag, which she paired perfectly with her high-heeled suede pumps.

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands was ever stylish while out on the town for a solo trip to the opening of the renovated Van Gogh Village Museum

The queen, 51, looked exceptional in a coffee-brown coat, brown pointed pumps and a tanned straw fedora hat to match

She styled the look with a plethora of accessories including a pair of brown translucent beaded bracelets, a chunky ring in dark orange and dark brown stone drop earrings.

Her choice of accessories were the perfect match for her knee-length dress, which featured a ring of brown beads at both the neck and the waist.

For her make-up, the queen kept it simple with lightly smoked eyes, a dash of mascara and a lightly glossed pink lip.

Her golden-blonde locks fell elegantly beside her cheeks, while she tucked the rest away into her large straw hat.

Queen Maxima topped off the look with freshly manicured nails painted in off-white, as her engagement ring dazzled on her ring finger.

She dazzled in a plethora of accessories including a pair of brown translucent beaded bracelets, a chunky ring in dark orange and dark brown stone drop earrings

The stylish queen was photographed attending the opening of the Van Gogh Village Museum, in Nuenen, Netherlands where she greeted officials

Queen Maxima strutted the streets while stunning onlookers in her incredible look

The Van Gogh Village Museum was previously closed for six months, having undergone renovation to include a new exhibition space and a new wing

The Van Gogh Village Museum, in Nuenen, Netherlands, was previously closed for six months, having undergone renovation to include a new exhibition space and a new wing.

The museum is dedicated to the Nuenen period of the world-famous Brabant master painter and the exhibition highlights the development Van Gogh went through in Nuenen on the basis of his studies and sketches.

The queen was spotted cutting a stylish figure once more, while out attending a summit in Amsterdam last week.

She looked typically chic in a leopard print dress, a bold red hat and matching stilettos as she attended the Good Leaders Summit at the Beurs van Berlage.

Maxima completed her ensemble with a bright red leather handbag which perfectly matched her other accessories.

Queen Maxima of The Netherlands cut a stylish figure as she attended a summit in Amsterdam on Thursday

She appeared in great spirits as she waved at the crowd on her way into the venue.

She added a bit more glamour with diamond drop earring which featured a red ruby to tie in with her ensemble.

Her blonde locks were swept back inside her stylish hat and her glam makeup enhanced her flawless complexion.
Princess Eugenie was glowing in a white polka dot dress as she enjoyed a pub lunch with friends on Tuesday.

The Princess, 33, who is expecting her second child this summer, was spotted leaving The Audley pub in Mayfair.

Eugenie opted for a maxi dress with black polka dots which she paired with a cream waist coat.

She opted for comfort in white trainers and she carried her belongings in a black leather handbag.

The mum-to-be's brunette locks were swept back into a half ponytail and she donned chic sunglasses.

Princess Eugenie was glowing in a white polka dot dress as she enjoyed a pub lunch with friends on Tuesday in Mayfair

The royal appeared to be carrying a slew of shopping bags as she made her way to her car.

It comes after Eugenie was glowing in a maxi dress designed by Samantha Cameron during a visit to a school as part of her work in anti-slavery campaigning.

She attended the Archbishop's School in Canterbury last week to meet with teachers and students to hear about their diversity project.

She opted for a maxi dress with a floral print that was clinched with a row of frills at the waist from Cefinn, Samantha Cameron's clothing brand.

She paired the 340 dress with slingback black crocodile pumps with a pointed toe and a gold buckle from Dune, costing 115.

While visiting the school with the Anti Slavery Collective, Eugenie, who teamed up with the Bishop of Dover Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin, learnt about the school's Voices of Welcome project which opens its arms to refugees.

Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson's daughter was pictured chatting to both teachers and students as they explained the project, which aims to work with young foreign children who are more vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation.

The Princess, 33, who is expecting her second child this summer, was spotted leaving The Audley pub

The royal appeared to go makeup free for the outing showcasing her naturally flawless complexion

Eugenie appeared in great spirits as she enjoyed the sunshine while out with friends for lunch

Eugenie opted for a maxi dress with black polka dots which she paired with a cream waist coat

She opted for comfort in white trainers and she carried her belongings in a black leather handbag

The mum-to-be's brunette locks were swept back into a half ponytail and she donned chic sunglasses

It supports these young pupils through their education and with their language skills to help them integrate into society.

In particular it is working with students from Afghanistan, Ukraine and Britain to foster a 'cross-cultural exchange' in the school, where 40 languages other than English are spoken by pupils.

Eugenie's visit comes just weeks before she is due to give birth for the second time, after announcing earlier this year that she and her husband Jack Brooksbank are expecting a child this summer.

However in the meantime, both Eugenie and her older sister Beatrice, 34, are hard at work following the King's Coronation, as they have represented the Royal Family at several events.

Following the Coronation on May 6, the sisters attended the concert at Windsor Castle the next day with their parents Fergie and Prince Andrew.

Eugenie donned a navy blue floral dress from Samantha Cameron's clothing brand Cefinn to attend the Archbishop's School in Canterbury last week (pictured with Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin)

The Princess posed for photos with the Revd and teachers at the Archbishop's School following her visit

They also represented the royals at the Big Lunch at Chalfont St Giles in Buckinghamshire where they met with members of the public.

The sisters were praised by Matt Eyre, who told FEMAIL they 'were amazing' with his children Bobbi-May, 11, and Bertie, nine, who have special needs.

The pair met representatives from All Together Community, a group which distributed food parcels to vulnerable people during the pandemic and continues to offer the same service, along with running a community fridge.

After a long week of royal duties, the Princess finally enjoyed a bit of down time last weekend as she was spotted in Portobello Road to meet a friend for lunch.

Spotting the princess in West London, an onlooker noticed that she, and her friend with whom she was lunching had some trouble parking.

After finding a suitable spot to park, the duo went on to eat lunch together.
Queen Rania and King Abdullah II of Jordan were every inch the proud parents as they watched their daughter Princess Salma graduate from the University of Southern California last week.

The 22-year-old royal achieved a Bachelor of Arts in Archaeology and graduated in the same class as Sasha Obama - the younger daughter of the former US president.

The Jordanian Queen, 52, put on a stylish display in a 2,250 yellow Brandon Maxwell dress as she cheered on her daughter from the stands.

The royal teamed her statement dress with some Dior heels, a burgundy YSL bag and a pair of aviator sunglasses from Louis Vuitton.

She was accompanied by King Abdullah, as well as her daughter Princess Iman, 26, with her husband Jameel Thermiothis, who had travelled in force to show their support for the young princess.

Queen Rania and King Abdullah II of Jordan were every bit the proud parents as they attended their daughter Princess Salma's graduation from the University of South California over the weekend

Rania looked elegant in a honeydew dress from Brandon Maxwell, while Abdullah was dapper in a navy suit

Princess Iman, 26, who married her partner Jameel Alexander Thermiotis at Beit Al-Urdon Palace in Amman in March, looked elegant in an embroidered silk tunic dress by Isabelle Marant she paired with a Louis Vuitton pouch and Gucci heels.

Meanwhile, King Abdullah looked dapper in a navy suit he wore with a light blue shirt and a blue tie. Jameel Thermiothis, the eldest of the children, looked relaxed as he wore a crisp white shirt with a pair of black trousers.

Salma, who was wearing a black and red graduation gown with the traditional cap, beamed as she sat with her fellow students after accepting her degree.

'So proud to celebrate my Salma's graduation yesterday from the University of Southern California,' Queen Rania wrote on Instagram. 'I can't wait to see what you do next. Congratulations!'

Pictures shared on Instagram by Jordan's royal house also show how the couple shook hands with fellow proud parent Barack Obama after the ceremony.

The proud parents first met Barack and his wife Michelle in 2009 when the ex-President hosted the royals at the White House during a state visit.

Before the couple left office in 2017, Rania paid tribute to Michelle on Instagram and described her as an 'exceptional' First Lady.

The Queen wrote: 'Looking forward to the next chapter in your life and the inspiration you will bring to girls' education. Watch out world- you haven't seen the best of this woman yet!'

The ceremony was attended by former US president Barack Obama, whose daughter Sasha was also graduating

Rania beamed a she congratulated her youngest daughter on graduating university. Salma was wearing the traditional university graduating cap and gown

Rania looked tenderly at her eldest daughter, Princess Iman, who also travelled to Los Angeles for the occasion

Salma shared a sweet hug with her father during the ceremony. She appeared to be wearing a lacy white dress under her gown

The USC graduate proudly showed the Jordanian flag embroidered to her gown during the ceremony

All eyes were on Salma as she celebrated the end of her degree with her fellow classmates, proudly showing the Jordanian flag embroidered to her graduation gown.

The royal has kept a low profile while studying Archeology at the Californian university.

Salma attended USC at the same time as Sasha Obama, who was also present at the graduation ceremony.

Proud parents Barack and Michelle Obama were amongst those who attended the ceremony.

Jordan's royal court also shared a picture of Rania and Abdullah II warmly shaking hands with the former head of state during the event.

Rania hugged her daughter as she received her degree during the ceremony attended by the Obamas

The mother-daughter duo could be seen beaming in pictures of Salma's special day shared on social media

The royal couple were among the foreign dignitaries and crowned heads who attended King Charles' Coronation at Westminster Abbey earlier this month.

For the occasion, Rania donned a yellow number with a matching pillbox hat.

Speaking to People, the mother-of-four said she was 'impressed' by how Charles had updated the service since the late Queen was crowned in 1952.

During the ceremony, the King received a greeting from representatives of the Jewish, Sikk, Muslin, Buddhist and Hindu faiths.

Describing how an 'inclusive' Charles had 'put his own stamp' on the traditional service, Rania said: 'It felt very natural to see representatives of different religions play a role in the service.

'This was unprecedented in Britain's history, but it showed how focused His Majesty is on inclusivity.'

Sasha Obama, 21, graduated from the University of Southern California in Friday

Former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama were beaming with pride

As well as cutting down the service to just two hours, King Charles also added crowned royals to the guest list, meaning a number of kings and queens were able to take part in the pageantry.

For centuries, convention dictated that no other crowned royals should attend the coronation of a British monarch, in a tradition that lasted for 900 years.

What's more, the monarch said she was deeply moved by the 'unforgettable' ceremony.

She continued: 'The ceremony was beautiful and unforgettable. It struck the perfect balance of solemnity, spectacle, and spirituality.'

Over the course of their 24-year reign, Rania and Abdullah have met several members of the British Royal Family.

During the interview, Rania described Charles as an 'excellent listener' and says he's 'in his element' when speaking to the public about the causes close to his heart - such as the environment.

The mother added: 'In our every meeting, King Charles has always shown himself to be insightful, genuine, and empathetic - indispensable qualities to a monarch.'

As such, the Queen concluded that Charles will be a 'progressive' ruler.

Rania also noted that Queen Camilla's 'kindness, passion and warmth shone through' on their last visit to Jordan.
An ABC meteorologist has alleged that she was fired from her job for not straightening her hair and for being a 'size 12' rather than a 'size two.'

Tabitha Bartoe, 22, from Knoxville, Tennessee, was ecstatic when she landed her dream role as a weekend morning weather anchor for ABC affiliate WATE 6 On Your Side back in February.

But only four months later, she announced that she was no longer working for the publication - and she hinted that she had been axed due to her 'appearance.'

In a message shared to her Twitter account earlier this week, Tabitha revealed that her time at WATE had 'come to a close' - while reminding people that 'everyone is beautiful in their own ways,' and encouraging her followers to embrace their 'natural' beauty.

An ABC meteorologist has alleged that she was fired from her job for not straightening her hair and for being a 'size 12' rather than a 'size two'

Tabitha Bartoe, 22, from Knoxville, Tennessee, was ecstatic when she landed her dream role as a weekend morning weather anchor for ABC affiliate WATE 6 On Your Side back in February

But only four months later, she announced that she was no longer working for the publication - and she hinted that she had been axed due to her 'appearance'

In a message shared to her Twitter account earlier this week, Tabitha revealed that her time at WATE had 'come to a close' - while encouraging her followers to embrace their 'natural' beauty

She said looks 'should not play a large circumstance in your job,' and insisted that curly hair is just as 'professional' as straight

She said looks 'should not play a large circumstance in your job,' and insisted that curly hair is just as 'professional' as straight.

'When I went to college, I was told that you will hear negative things about you and you have to ignore it,' she began in the lengthy note.

'I hope that in the future, we all learn to appreciate and accept people for who they are, for their appearance, and for their style.

'Everyone is beautiful and professional in their own ways. No matter if you have curly hair, or if you're not a size two, but a size 12.

'You matter, and people's comments should not let you down. It should not play as a large circumstance in your job.

'If you have natural curls, embrace them and be proud of your natural hair. It is professional.'

Tabitha, who received her bachelor's degree from Valparaiso University and her master's from University of North Dakota, explained that this was her 'first job out of college' and that she was 'extremely excited' about it.

'I'm so appreciative of the Storm Team, the digital producers, the rest of the air talent, and everyone in the control room,' she continued.

Tabitha (seen with her co-stars) explained that this was her 'first job out of college' and that she was 'extremely excited' about it

'I'm so appreciative of the Storm Team,' she continued. 'They were the ones that kept spirits lifted and things positive, even if the circumstances with management were not great'

'They were the ones that kept spirits lifted and things positive, even if the circumstances with management were not great.'

The weatherwoman concluded with a quote from Frank Sinatra, writing, 'The best is yet to come. I can't wait to share with you my next adventure.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to ABC's WATE 6 On Your Side for comment.

Tabitha's heartbreaking message quickly got a lot of traction online, gaining more than 10,000 views and sparking a slew of responses from people who came to her defense.

NY1 anchor Kristen Shaughnessy reposted it and added, 'Not a good look @6News. Did you fire Tabitha because she wouldn't straighten her hair? Did you think because she is young she wouldn't speak up?'

Tabitha's heartbreaking message quickly got a lot of traction online, gaining more than 10,000 views and sparking a slew of responses from people who came to her defense

'It's so sad to see women being treated like this over their natural hair and looks,' someone else wrote.

'@6News made a really, really poor decision,' read a third tweet, while a fourth said, 'I am so sorry to learn you are no longer on WATE.

'Please do not give up if this is your dream. You are a true pleasure to watch and a bright light in the world.'

Another person added: 'I'm sorry to hear that. It's their loss and another's gain. Looking forward to hearing about your next adventure.'

'Absolute horse crap move by your employer,' a different user raged. 'You have naturally curly hair which accentuates your facial features.'
Princess Anne cut a solemn figure today as she took part in a ceremony of remembrance for National Service veterans.

The royal, 72, visited the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire this afternoon to commemorate ex-servicemen.

The National Service was introduced as a form of peacetime conscription for British men after WWII and was demobilised in 1960, with the last servicemen discharged in 1963.

60 years on, Princess Anne paid her respect during a ceremony today, where she addressed the crowds and laid a wreath at the Armed Forces Memorial to commemorate the 395 National Servicemen killed on active duty from 1947-1963.

The event was the culmination of the national 'Ask Dad' and 'Ask Grandad' campaigns by the Royal British Legion to find the 'unsung heroes' of National Service.

Princess Anne, 72, took part in a ceremony at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire this afternoon to commemorate those who took part in the National Service from 1949 to 1963

In her speech to the crowd assembled at the Remembrance event, the Princess Royal said National Service conscripts 'understood all too well the price of freedom'

For the occasion, the King's sister wore a forest green dress and a white blazer.

She accessorised her outfit with a black leather across body bag, leather heels and some black gloves.

Her hair was pinned into an elegant updo, and Anne wore discreet jewellery for the occasion, donning a pair of small drop earrings and two golden brooches on the lapel of her jacket.

She finished off her look with a dash of mascara and some bright red lipstick.

Anne paid her respects today as she laid the wreath at the Arboretum, before bowing her head as a sign of respect and quiet reflection.

In her speech, the Princess Royal said National Service conscripts 'understood all too well the price of freedom and shouldered that burden on our behalf'.

Princess Anne added: 'This nation owes all of them a huge debt of gratitude.

'Some thrived, others endured, but all were called upon to give up some of their time for this country and they did just that.

The Princess royal carried the wreath to the National monument during the emotional ceremony

Anne, dressed in an elegant forest green dress and white blaser, gently put down the wreath this afternoon

The royal addressed the crowds who had come to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of the National Service

'As the mists of the Second World War cleared and Britain tried to forge a new future, these men were stationed across the globe and also here at home.

'Some saw active duty while others did not. But they understood all too well the price of freedom and shouldered that burden on our behalf.

'All were prepared to step forward and serve our country when we needed them. We recognise that this nation owes all of them a huge debt of gratitude for that service.

'If I may, on behalf of the entire country, take this opportunity to thank them all.'

National Service saw more than two million men aged between 17 and 21 conscripted.

Hundreds of thousands of servicemen are estimated to still be alive, aged between 80 and 97.

Members of the Armed Forces all took part in the ceremony and laid wreath to pay their respects

The actor Robert Powell also took part in today's solemn event and addressed the crowd as well

Conscripts had to serve for 18 months, which was extended to two years during the Korean War, before becoming a reserve for four years.

An average of 150,000 men were conscripted every year, but some were exempted due to their professions.

While many served in the UK, tens of thousands were stationed worldwide, including in Iraq, Korea, Egypt, India and Germany.

Conscripts experienced frontline combat in conflicts including the Suez Crisis, and the wars in Korea and Malaya.

The RBL says it was not unusual for demobbed servicemen to immediately return to their job they left two years earlier, which was legally required to be kept open for them.

Anne was joined by members of the Armed Forces and other officials for today's event in Staffordshire

Many decorated veterans could be seen standing behind Anne, who was wearing civilian clothing

Members of the armed forces proudly wearing their uniforms walked in a line to lay down their respective wreaths

After the Princess Royal laid down her wreath, the representative of the Armed Forces laid down theirs in groups of three

An official in civilian clothes is pictured laying down their own wreath during today's ceremony of remembrance

Peter Backlog, 86, signed up for National Service aged 18 in 1955 and 'really enjoyed it', before joining the Royal Marines Reserves, leaving as a Major in 1983.

He said: 'Once a Marine, always a Marine. I think it taught us to never give up, and that takes you right through civilian life.

'It also teaches you timing. Never be late, never be early, so I annoy my grandchildren by being furious if they're more than five minutes late or five minutes early.'

During his service, Mr Backlog, who now lives in Fareham, Hampshire, fought in the Suez Crisis as part of Operation Musketeer and received the Naval General Service Medal.

But he did not believe it would ever return, adding: 'It became normal to do National Service. Nowadays, without National Service, would it come back? No.

'I don't think the 'snowflake' generation would put up with it, and nor should they.

'What's the point in training people to shoot other people, unwillingly? It wouldn't work.'

Members of the public watched a Flypast launched to mark today's commemorative event, which included a spitfire plane

Veterans and other officials excitedly waited for today's ceremony to get underway in Alrewas today

Mr Backlog met Ray Harrington, 87, in 1962 while training for the Special Boat Service - the special forces unit of the Royal Navy - and the pair have remained friends ever since, continuing to meet up.

They also completed their jungle warfare training with Paddy Ashdown - who went on to become the leader of the Liberal Democrats - in Malaysia.

Mr Harrington, from Flint Mountain in North Wales but originally from Liverpool, served in Germany after starting his National Service in 1953 and stayed in the military as a reservist for a further 37 years.

He said: 'National Service is completely forgotten. The majority of people don't even know what National Service was.

'When you went on National Service, it changed your life completely, because you had regimental restrictions on you and you did what you were told.'

The service, led by the actor Robert Powell, included readings, performances from a choir and buglers and films, followed by a rendition of The Exhortation and the Last Post and a two-minute silence, before a Spitfire flypast.

Philippa Rawlinson, director of remembrance at the RBL, said: 'We are proud to be recognising this unique generation of today - men who were called away from their everyday lives, their jobs, their families, their partners, to do something extraordinary and serve their country.

'This event at the National Memorial Arboretum acknowledges the service, bravery and sacrifice of the two million men who were conscripted into National Service.

'Many of the men who completed National Service played down the fact that they served their country and haven't really talked about it in the years that have passed.

'Today will give them the opportunity to share their memories, meet others with similar experiences, remember the fallen and for all of us to mark an important moment in history.'
Charlotte has been in the top three for 10 years

Oliver has been the top boy's name since 2014

Top baby names have been revealed with one boy's moniker falling off the top spot for the first time in eight years - while one remains popular for the girls.

New South Wales Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages revealed the ten most popular baby names given to Aussie kids in the state in 2022 with Noah and Charlotte coming out on top.

Oliver had held the number one spot for the boys since 2014 but has finally lost its reign and was bumped down to second place by Noah.

Charlotte climbed two places to be the most popular baby girl's name however it has held a place in the top three since 2012.

2021's favourite girl's name Olivia had its popularity dwindle with Aussie parents dropping from number one down to number four in the space of a year.

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New South Wales Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages revealed the ten most popular baby names given to Aussie kids in the state in 2022 with Noah and Charlotte coming out on top

Jack has danced around the top ten since 2010 but in 2022 dropped from third place to sixth between 2021 and 2022.

Isla has climbed the ranks making a debut in the top ten in 2016 and holds the number three position.

William is one boy's name that is lasting generations having been in the top five since 2010 and making second place a century ago in 1922.

Leo shot up from sixth to third place on the boy's list while Theodore jumped from eighth to sixth.

Newcomers to the top ten include Willow and Sienna for the girls and Charlie for the boys while Thomas made its way back onto the list for the first time since 2020.

Oliver had held the number one spot for the boys since 2014 but has finally lost its reign and was bumped down to second place by Noah

Most popular boy's names in NSW in 2022 1.Noah 2. Oliver 3. Leo 4. William 5. Theodore 6. Jack 7. Luca 8. Henry 9. Thomas 10. Charlie Advertisement

Most popular girl's names in NSW in 2022 1. Charlotte 2. Amelia 3. Isla 4. Olivia 5. Mia 6. Ava 7. Ella 8. Matilda 9. Sienna 10. Willow Advertisement

In the top 100, Remy rocketed to the 78th spot with with 100 baby boys taking the name compared to just 23 girls.

However the same name spelled Remi was given to 161 girls in 2022 making 38th place in the top 100.

Similarly, Billie made 37th spot for the girls and Billy came in 69th for the boys.

Riley ranked for both genders coming in on the girl's list at 77th and 58th on the boys'.

Joshua dropped 27 places for the boys and Lara 24 spots for the girls between 2021 and 2022.

Classic names like Grace, Evelyn, Jack and Henry ranked within the top 20 in both 2022 and 100 years prior in 1922.

Poll What's your favourite boy's name? Noah Oliver Leo Charlie What's your favourite boy's name? Noah 56 votes

Oliver 55 votes

Leo 58 votes

Charlie 58 votes Now share your opinion





Poll What's your favourite girl's name? Charlotte Amelia Isla Willow What's your favourite girl's name? Charlotte 83 votes

Amelia 63 votes

Isla 52 votes

Willow 30 votes Now share your opinion





NSW Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib said picking a baby name can be a daunting task for parents and a once-in-a-lifetime decision forming a childs identity and creating a connection to family, community and culture.

'While there are so many special and culturally significant names starting to appear in the top 100, there were also almost 11,000 bubs given an unrepeated name in 2022,' he added.

Blacktown and Dubbo recorded the most births in 2022 with 718 and 608 respectively while Auburn and Orange where just behind with 537 and 513.

Oran Park saw the highest jump in births with a 90 per cent increase in babies born since 2012.
When Tia Kabir, 19, filmed herself sobbing in the street in Bali after seeing her tattoo for the first time she never expected the clip to 'go viral'.

She's since revealed the tattoo has been 'fixed' and become the target of cruel bullies who have called her ignorant, made comments about her appearance and slammed her for being an OnlyFans model.

Earlier this month the young woman from Canberra, flew to Bali to get 'Angel Energy' inked on her forearm, but was instead left with 'Energy Angel' by mistake.

She shared the tattoo fail on TikTok in the now famous video which was seen by more than 3.8million people.

And while most people felt for the young holiday maker, not everyone was so nice about her misfortune.

Many have called Tia 'liar' and dubbed the situation as 'fake' while others stringed together racial slurs.

'My response to this hate is that this [reaction] is 100 per cent genuine. In moments like this, it would often be reasonable to keep situations private, but as an influencer it's important as my role to keep people updated with everything I go through,' Tia told FEMAIL.

Scroll down for video

Tia Kabir, from Canberra, flew to Bali to get 'Angel Energy' inked on her forearm, but was instead left with 'Energy Angel' by mistake

Now she's copped hurtful comments over the incident

On TikTok, one person called Tia out for saying she 'doesn't get tattoos all the time, only every few months' while sobbing on the street.

Others questioned why she 'didn't check the stencil' before being inked.

'You have tattoos already, how would you not know to look before they tattoo it?' one wrote.

Despite having the stencil drawn three times, the tattooist still got it wrong.

'The size was incorrect the first time, second was the spacing and then the third it somehow swapped the other way,' Tia told FEMAIL, adding: 'I was not paying attention to the tattoo as I'm soft when it comes to needles and looked away the whole time.'

On Instagram one racist man commented on Tia's nationality and wrote: 'I've never even been to Australia but I know she ain't an Australian.'

But Tia hit back and said: 'First of all you don't know how to spell. Secondly, skin colour has nothing to do with a residency of nationality. You can be born [in] any part of the world and you will be identified as part of that country.'

While she didn't receive a refund, the text was modified and it now reads 'Energy of an Angel' (right)

The brunette beauty, who makes a living by making content for OnlyFans, said she wanted a 'powerful tattoo' to symbolise everything she's copped being in the social media spotlight.

'I've always wanted Angel Energy on my arm as I believe through everything I have been through in the negative to becoming the influencer I am now, that I can leave a good spirit imprinted on my body as well as sending a message to others who read it,' she said.

After seeing the end result, she 'instantly broke down in tears' and the staff apologised for the mistake.

The tattoo itself cost her around 1.35million Indonesian Rupiah - about $150 AUD - but she didn't receive a refund.

Instead the tattoo artist managed to modify the text and it now reads 'Energy of an Angel'.

After her TikTok video went viral, Tia posted a follow-up clip explaining what happened next.

'Yes, it's fixed now. Thank God. Thank you to the people who sent me a lot of love. I got unconditional love on my Instagram, TikTok and other platform,' she said.

And she also addressed the 'haters' by poking out her tongue.
Madeline Kaklikos felt shattered when she was told she would probably never have children because of a rare condition which meant she had two uteruses.





Months later the 24-year-old was pregnant with twins, one conceived with the help of IVF and the other conceived naturally.

The social worker explained she was born with uterus didelphys - which meant she had two uteruses and two cervixes.

'It felt as though my heart was going to jump out of my chest,' the mum recalled.

Medics have since told her that her pregnancy is a 'one in 50million' miracle.

She started trying for a baby with her husband Jon, 27, back in 2020 but the couple was stumped after a year of no progress.

They eventually decided to go to a doctor who diagnosed Madeline with the congenital condition and devastated the couple.

Madeline Kaklikos, 24, is a social worker who was always told giving birth would be nearly impossible after being diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome and uterus didelphys - which meant she had two uteruses and two cervixes

After the diagnosis, the couple attempted conceiving via IVF and went through nine rounds of the process over two years.

Madeline was successfully able to conceive in one uterus after the tenth round - and she also 'miraculously' became pregnant naturally in her other uterus.

The social worker gave birth to two boys named Nate and Cole nine months later in February 2023.

'When I first fell pregnant with two babies, medics told me that this was a one in 50 million pregnancy, because Nate was in one uterus and Cole was in the other, and they had also been conceived in different ways and at different times,' the mum told Caters News.

The Melbourne mum recalled the family's anticipation on hearing back from the hospital back in June 2022.

But Madeline and Jon were 'over the moon' with the great news and couldn't believe their luck after years of trying.

'We erupted into screams, and tears streamed down our faces as we hugged,' the mum said.

'We had our first early pregnancy scan soon after, and it was perfect. I lay on the bed, Jon held my hand, we heard our baby's heartbeat for the very first time, and the doctor reassured us that everything was good.'

Madeline was successfully able to conceive in one uterus after the tenth round - and she also 'miraculously' became pregnant naturally in her other uterus

But things took a turn when the couple went back for their 10-week scan.

'There were some disturbances while the sonographer scanned the first baby, and I instantly went into panic mode and wondered if something was wrong.'

Jon was the first to notice something amiss and asked the medical professional if he heard a second heartbeat in his wife's womb.

The sonographer soon revealed that there was another baby in Madeline's other uterus.

'My jaw fell to the floor and the colour drained from my husband's face,' she said. 'I thought she must have been joking with us.'

The second baby was smaller than the first, and it was suspected that the couple conceived another baby spontaneously the week after their IVF.

Five doctors advised the couple to terminate one pregnancy due to safety concerns

'We had been advised to avoid having sex during the time of the transfer, however, we'd gone against the recommendations.'

'This was our tenth round of IVF and we spent two years trying to have a baby without any success, so we never imagined that this one time would result in us finally spontaneously falling pregnant.'

The couple was in 'total shock' after receiving the news because a spontaneous pregnancy just 'wasn't on the radar'.

'We were warned that the pregnancy would've been complicated enough with one baby, never mind two. We'd even been recommended by five doctors to reduce the pregnancy to one baby, due to the risk of losing them both.'

But the couple could not imagine letting go of their 'miracles' and Madeline continued on with the pregnancy.

'My pregnancy went fairly smoothly, and I was under constant monitoring, so I felt very secure. At 34 weeks, my waters broke, and I went into labour very quickly.'

'Within half an hour I was dilated four centimeters, and we proceeded with my planned C-section. I was panicking the entire time and totally terrified, but Jon was so calm and supportive.'

Madeline's twins were born on 20 February 2023, and needed to be incubated for the first few days of their lives

Madeline's twins were born on 20 February 2023, and needed to be incubated for the first few days of their lives.

'They're both doing so well, and we are loving life as parents to our one in 50 million twins. I wish they knew how special they really are,' the mum said.

'This hadn't just been a nine-month pregnancy, these babies were years in the making, and I was starting to believe this was never going to happen to me.'

'Cradling my newborn twin boys for the first time, I had that feeling that everyone talks about.'

'A feeling that I never thought I would experience after hellish rounds of IVF and over two years of trying to have a baby, but there I was, with not only one but two babies.'
Severe hot flushes could increase women's risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, according to a new study.

The common and uncomfortable symptom affects around three quarters of women experiencing the menopause, and can last for up to 10 years.

But, if untreated, it could lead to what is called 'metabolic syndrome', experts have warned.

This is the term given to when a group of three or more conditions - such as high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol levels - occur at the same time.

And people who suffer from metabolic syndrome are at a higher risk of developing the likes of heart disease, type 2 diabetes or having a stroke.

Severe hot flushes could increase women's risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, according to a new study

Researchers from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens examined 825 health women aged between 40 and 65, who had recently gone through menopause.

They monitored these women over the course of 15 years, and found that those who suffered from moderate to severe hot flushes were more likely to develop metabolic syndrome, as well as high blood pressure.

Previous studies have also shown women experiencing hot flushes have a higher risk of developing different types of conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels.

But this is the first time a study has been carried out in women with varying degrees of symptoms.

The team said their findings highlight the importance of using hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to treat symptoms in menopausal women.

Lead researcher Dr Elena Armeni said: 'Our results re-emphasise the role of cardiovascular prevention strategies, such as the use of HRT, which should be implemented shortly after menopause.

The common and uncomfortable symptom affects around three quarters of women experiencing the menopause, and can last for up to 10 years

'This healthy group of women who are already candidates for HRT should be encouraged to opt for this treatment.' The researchers said if further studies confirm the most symptomatic women have a higher risk of developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes or a stroke, this group will require 'appropriate health education to ensure they will remain fit and healthy in old age'.

READ MORE: What does a healthy diet for the menopause look like? The foodie tweaks that can help relieve your hot flushes Advertisement

This weekend it emerged women are still struggling to get a hold of HRT medication a year after shortages crippled the supply chain.

Sufferers are once again resorting to sharing medication and waiting months for their prescriptions to be fulfilled.

The Daily Mail's 'Fix the HRT Crisis' campaign, launched last year, aimed to help women get access to their much-needed medication during supply issues.

Less than a month after our campaign launch the government announced a Serious Shortages Protocol, making it easier for pharmacists to substitute treatments.

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) also made the decision to make a particular form of HRT available over-the-counter in a landmark UK first, and a scheme saving menopausal women more than 200 a year came into force last month.

The findings of the new study were presented at the 25th European Congress of Endocrinology in Istanbul.
Possessing menacing eyes and devilish grins, you would be forgiven for assuming these were just aliens from a Hollywood sci-fi blockbuster.

Yet, believe it or not, they are not fake.

Instead, they are genuine MRI scans of human babies in the womb.

Freaked out social media users have joked of their horror at seeing the nightmare-inducing snaps, which were originally posted in 2021.

However, similar scans have resurfaced on social media this week, prompting new comments online about the strange sights.

The MRI image was shared by Twitter user @CaptKarnstein last week. Similar images have been confirmed as legitimate and published by Harvard University papers

Parent's are not regularly offered MRI throughout their pregnancy and will typically only have the scan if there is a concern for the child's growth and development

MRI scans are different to ultrasounds. They are only required if a mother or unborn baby requires one for medical reasons.

For example, they can help define and detect neck, thoracic, abdominal and spinal malformations in foetuses, according to Great Ormond Street Hospital.

When used during pregnancy, however, MRIs can produce a very life-like image of their baby.

The detailed black and white images burst the bubble of many parents who blindly believe their tiny tot is going to be adorable through and through.

Dozens of foetal MRI scans were shared on Twitter in 2021 after being unearthed from a Harvard Medical School-backed project.

A Twitter-user said MRIs are discouraged during pregnancy because 'people would realise they're incubating nightmare demons and would be rightfully terrified'.

An MRI machine uses and sends magnetics and radio frequency waves into the mother's stomach to produce these disturbing images of unborn babies

MRI images of babies tend not to get the same social media attention as ultrasound images as the very detailed images can look a little on the demonic side, according to hundreds of social media users

While getting an MRI during pregnancy can be a beautiful and memorable moment to cherish, these hair-raising images seem to have people believing in the devil

Social media users also mocked the startling pictures, claiming they were going to give them 'nightmares'.

While some suggest they have been traumatised by viewing such discomforting images, others seem to find them comical.

The 'horrifying' pictures were later recirculated on Reddit, where users believed the foetus was an extra-terrestrial being.

One user likened an image to a Tim Burton alien movie, while others suggested that it was the spawn of the devil.

The posts went viral, getting hundreds of thousands of likes.

This led to an investigation by fact-checking website Snopes, which probed whether the images were real.

Some social media users were not ready to see the reality of pregnancy and they claimed the images were going to give them bad dreams

Some took the post more lightly and understood the unborn child will not actually look as scary when the mother has given birth

Some users likened the pictures to a 1996 American science fiction film diected by Tim Burton

They confirmed the pictures were real and spoke to a researcher at the University of Wisconsin, who uses MRI technology to study age-related brain changes.

He said the MRI results appear to be authentic and confirmed at least two images in the tweet were previously shared by Harvard researchers.

MRI uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of the inside of the body.

The eyes and brain have high levels of 'signal'  a radio wave  which causes them to appear brighter and stand out on the scan.

Other parts of the body give off lower levels, and therefore appear darker.
Diyar Al Muharraq, a leading real estate development company in Bahrain, has announced the winners of its key design competition, which offered creatives the opportunity to submit their architectural landmark designs for Diyar Al Muharraq's main entrance.

Held in Q4 last year, the landmark entrance design competition drew a wide turnout from GCC countries and Arab countries, including Jordan, Egypt, Palestine, Iraq, Yemen, and Syria.

The event also gained traction from Asian countries, with entries received from China, Japan, India, Pakistan, Taiwan, Thailand, and Iran, in addition to European countries like Great Britain, Germany, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, and US.

In the final phases of the competition, the judging panel met with the finalists to evaluate their designs and select the top three winning teams.

And finally the jury declared the winning team members - all holders of Master's degrees in Architecture Studies and Architecture from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - and have won the Marvin E. Goody Award from the same institute.

The winning team, that walked away with a cash prize of $50,000, comprises Maryam Al Jomairi, who is currently submitting her Doctoral Thesis at Harvard University, and Latifa Al Khayat, who recently received the Aga Khan Travel Grant Award.

The second place winners are a team from Istanbul Technical University comprising architects Sinan Gunay and Nurhayat Oz who were awarded a cash prize of $20,000.

The third place was bagged by a team of graduates from the Department of Architecture at the University of Bahrain. These include Ahmed Al Abbas, Fatima Kalawadh and Ghaida Mohamed, who clinched the cash prize of $10,000.

Lauding the winners, CEO Engineer Ahmed Ali Alammadi said: "Diyar Al Muharraq had launched the competition with the aim of fostering a spirit of creativity and innovation, by designing an architectural landmark that reflects authentic Bahraini culture and incorporates tradition and contemporary architecture to create a one-of-a-kind concept."

"We are proud to have been able to spread Bahrain's rich heritage and authentic local culture on an international scale, and we look forward to launching similar initiatives in the future," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Your soap could be making you seem tastier to blood-thirsty mosquitoes.

For researchers have discovered some fragrances could make you more attractive target to the pests.

US scientists found the insects were drawn to those who use floral scented Dove or Simple Truth but were unnerved by the coconut-smelling brand, Native.

The results suggest people who're 'extremely attractive to mosquitoes' can become 'repellent' by switching soap, the experts said.

Writing in the journal iScience, scientists stated their findings could be used to help design artificial blends to repel the disease-carrying insects.

US researchers found the insects were drawn to those who use floral scented Dove or Simple Truth but were unnerved by the coconut-smelling brand, Native

Researchers put the nylon sleeves used by study participants in a mesh-covered cup filled with adult female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes  a species known to spread diseases including yellow fever, Zika and dengue. Only female mosquitoes were used, as they feed on blood - male mosquitos conversely feed exclusively on plant nectar

Academics from Virginia Tech University analyzed the chemical odours emitted by four participants before and after they washed themselves with Dial, Dove, Native, and Simple Truth soaps.

Volunteers washed one arm, rinsing only with water for 30 seconds and drying with a paper towel.

The other was washed with the test soap for 10 seconds and rinsed for a further 10 seconds.

Both arms were then covered with a nylon sleeve each, with the process repeated for each soap.

After an hour, researchers put the nylon sleeves in a mesh-covered cup filled with adult female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes  a species known to spread diseases including yellow fever, Zika and dengue.

Which soaps did researchers use? Four body washes were selected by scientists based on their brand popularity, and fragrance. These were: 1. Dial Body Wash, Marula Oil, 21 fl oz 2. Dove Deep Moisture Nourishing Body Wash, 24 fl oz 3. Simple Truth Organic Honey Blossom Baby Shampoo & Body Wash, 16 fl oz 4. Native Coconut and Vanilla Body wash (Native San Francisco, California, USA) Advertisement

Only female mosquitoes were used, as they feed on blood. Male mosquitos, on the other hand, conversely feed exclusively on plant nectar.

Fabric sleeves were also used rather than exposing the volunteers themselves to the insects, to exclude the effects of other important cue for mosquitoes.

Any potential effects of other substances present in the soaps 'has not been considered here and remains to be analyzed', the researchers noted.

Washing with Dove, Dial and Simple Truth increased the attractiveness of some, but not all, volunteers to the mosquitos, scientists found.

But washing with Native soap tended to repel mosquitoes.

'Among the soap tested here, Dial and Dove increased the overall abundance of chemicals in the headspace significantly more than the Simple Truth and Native soaps', they wrote.

'Native-washed hosts tended to be avoided, and a significant aversion was observed in the case of the fourth volunteer,' they added.

The relatively repellent effect of Native could be linked to its coconut and almond scent, the scientists said, as there is some evidence that coconut oils are a natural deterrent for mosquitoes.

Benzaldehyde - a compound commonly found in plants with an almond-like odour -was also 'most strongly associated with the Native soap', they wrote.

Senior author Dr Clement Vinauger said: 'It's remarkable the same individual that is extremely attractive to mosquitoes when they are unwashed can be turned even more attractive to mosquitoes with one soap - and then become repellent or repulsive to mosquitoes with another soap.'

Knowing what lures the hungry pests also opens the door to developing better repellents, traps and other methods to keep them at bay.

The study's co-author Dr Chloe Lahondere added: 'We know ratios of chemicals are extremely important for determining whether mosquitoes are attracted or repelled.

'Changing the ratio of the same exact chemicals can result in attraction, indifference, or repulsion.'
A Kansas man who suffered strokes twice in his 20s and 30s has warned others 'it's not about your age' when it comes to the condition.

Bill Ramsey of Kansas told KSN News Wichita he woke up on the floor one day and thought he had blacked out. In reality, he had a stroke. He had one at 28 years old and another just five years later, at age 33.

Mr Ramsey found himself temporarily blind after the second incidence. Unsure of what was wrong, he waited two says to see a doctor. The doctor told him that despite his age, he'd had a stroke.

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States, and cases are on the rise in young people amid climbing obesity and diabetes rates - both of which are risk factors.

Bill Ramsey of Kansas had two strokes by the time he was 33, one of which left him temporarily blind. 'Its not about your age. Its not about your health,' Mr Ramsey said. 'Theres all kinds of things that can cause it, and you need to understand what those signs are so that you can help somebody.'

'About a year of battling short-term memory loss, struggles to have conversations with people where I would lose my place. Ive lost a lot of feeling on the left side. My face droops when I get tired,' Mr Ramsey said. 'I call them acceptable losses because it could have been so much worse.'

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, someone in the U.S. has a stroke every 40 seconds. That is almost 800,000 people a year. Nearly one in four have had a stoke before.

A 2022 study in the journal Stroke found an 11 percent increase in the past 15 years in intracerebral and hemorrhage strokes, also referred to as ICH strokes.

The largest increase was in Americans ages 18 to 44, with a 38 percent rise.

Though the chance of having a stroke doubles every 10 years after reaching age 55, as many as one in seven people age 15 to 49 will suffer the event.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute lists the most serious risk factors as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart and blood vessel diseases, high cholesterol, smoking, brain aneurysms, and conditions that cause inflammation.

Many of these risk factors are also on the rise. Among people who had ICH strokes in the 2022 study, for example, the percentage of people with high blood pressure rose from 74.5 percent to 86.4 percent.

Stroke symptoms are commonly remembered under this four-letter acronym, FAST. Patients experiencing a stroke can often have their face drop on one side, struggle to lift both arms and have slurred speech, while time is essential, as immediate treatment for a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or minor stroke can substantially slash the risk of a much deadlier major stroke

At younger ages, men are more likely than women to suffer a stroke. However, as they age, women are at higher risk since they tend to live longer. The CDC suggests one in five women between the ages of 55 and 75 will have a stroke.

WHAT ARE WARNING SIGNS OF A MINI STROKE? A transient ischemic attack (or, TIA) involves a temporary lack of blood flow to the brain, which causes momentary dizziness, confusion, tingling, and numbness in the arms. You should call 911 if you suspect you are suffering a TIA. Symptoms include: vision changes

dysphasia (trouble speaking)

confusion

balance issues

tingling

an altered level of consciousness

dizziness

passing out

an abnormal sense of taste

an abnormal sense of smell

weakness or numbness on just one side of the body or face, determined by the location of the blood clot in the brain Advertisement

'Its not about your age. Its not about your health,' Mr Ramsey said. 'Theres all kinds of things that can cause it, and you need to understand what those signs are so that you can help somebody.'

Though Mr Ramsey has recovered from his strokes, he still has lasting effects.

'About a year of battling short-term memory loss, struggles to have conversations with people where I would lose my place. Ive lost a lot of feeling on the left side. My face droops when I get tired, he said.

'I call them acceptable losses because it could have been so much worse.'

Ischemic stroke is the most common type of stroke, according to the CDC. These occur when the path between blood vessels and the brain is blocked due to fatty deposits called plaque causing blockages.

This happens due to cardiovascular disease, when blood vessels become narrowed or blocked over time by fatty deposits known as plaques  a process known as atherosclerosis.

One variation of these events are transient ischemic strokes, also known as 'mini strokes' or 'warning strokes.' These only block blood flow for short periods of time, often as short as five minutes.

Though they're short lived, they serve as warning signs of a future stroke and are considered a medical emergency.

The CDC estimates that more than a third of people who experience this type of event and don't get treatment end up suffering a major stroke within a year. As many as 10 to 15 percent of people will have a major stroke within three months of a warning event.

Mr Ramsey didn't know he needed immediate care, but quick intervention can minimize the long-term effects of a stroke.

The American Heart Association has a set of guidelines called F.A.S.T. for spotting a stroke. F stands for 'face drooping,' such as one side of the patient's face feeling numb or their smile appearing uneven. A stands for 'arm weakness,' or one arm drifting down when the person has both raised. S stands for 'speech difficulty,' or slurred speech. T represents time to call 911.

Despite the challenges, Mr Ramsey is proof that life doesn't end after a stroke.

'You can recover from this and have a wonderful life,' he said.
The WHO said it was enthusiastic about the 'appropriate use'

Now even the World Health Organization (WHO) has called for caution in using artificial intelligence for public healthcare, saying it is 'imperative' to assess the risks.

In a statement published Tuesday, the WHO said it was enthusiastic about the 'appropriate use' and potential of AI but had concerns over how it will be used to improve access to health information, as a decision-support tool and to improve diagnostic care.

The agency added that the data used to train AI may be biased and generate misleading or inaccurate information and the models can be misused to create disinformation.

It was vital to consider the potential issues of using generated large language model tools (LLMs), like ChatGPT, to protect and promote human wellbeing and protect public health, the UN health body said.

What are the dangers? Fears about AI come as experts predict it will achieve singularity by 2045, which is when the technology surpasses human intelligence and we cannot control it

Geoffrey Hinton, 75, who is credited as the 'godfather' of artificial intelligence, issued a warning that 'scary' chatbots like the popular ChatGPT could soon be smarter than humans

Its cautionary note comes as artificial intelligence applications are rapidly gaining in popularity, highlighting a technology that could upend the way businesses and society operate.

The WHO warned: 'Precipitous adoption of untested systems could lead to errors by health-care workers, cause harm to patients, erode trust in AI and thereby undermine (or delay) the potential long-term benefits and uses of such technologies around the world.'

Meanwhile, a study last month by the University of California San Diego found that ChatGPT provides higher quality answers and is more empathetic than a real doctor.

A panel of healthcare professionals compared written replies from doctors and those from ChatGPT to real-world health queries to see which came out on top.

The doctors preferred ChatGPT's responses 79 percent of the time and rated them higher quality in terms of the information provided and more understanding. The panel did not know which was which.

ChatGPT recently caused a stir in the medical community after it was found capable of passing the gold-standard exam required to practice medicine in the US, raising the prospect it could one day replace human doctors.

The artificial intelligence program scored between 52.4 and 75 percent across the three-part Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE). Each year's passing threshold is around 60 percent.

Debate: The 'godfather' of artificial intelligence Geoffrey Hinton has tossed a grenade into the raging debate about the dangers of the technology  after sensationally quitting his job at Google and saying he regrets his life's work. Some of those who and against AI are pictured

Researchers from tech company AnsibleHealth who did the study said: 'Reaching the passing score for this notoriously difficult expert exam, and doing so without any human reinforcement, marks a notable milestone in clinical AI maturation.'

The 'godfather' of AI has also tossed a grenade into the raging debate about the dangers of the technology after sensationally quitting his job at Google and saying he regrets his life's work.

British-Canadian pioneer Geoffrey Hinton, 75, issued a spine-chilling warning that 'scary' chatbots like the hugely popular ChatGPT could soon become smarter than humans.

Some of the world's greatest minds are split over whether AI will destroy or elevate humanity, with Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates championing the technology and Tesla founder Elon Musk a staunch critic.

The bitter argument spilled into the public domain earlier this year when more than 1,000 tech tycoons signed a letter calling for a pause on the 'dangerous race' to advance AI.

They said urgent action was needed before humans lose control of the technology and risk being wiped out by robots.

In the medical world, research has suggested a breakthrough AI model could determine a person's risk of developing pancreatic cancer with staggering accuracy.

Using medical records and information from previous scans, the AI was able to flag patients at a high risk of developing pancreatic cancer within the next three years with great accuracy.

There are currently no full-proof scans for pancreatic cancer, with doctors using a combination of CT scans, MRIs and other invasive procedures to diagnose it. This keeps many doctors away from recommending these screenings.

The study has doctors hopeful because pancreatic cancer is notoriously hard to spot, making it one of the deadliest forms of the disease, killing more than half of sufferers within five years of diagnosis.

Over time, they also hope these AI models will help them develop a reliable way to screen for pancreatic cancer  which already exists for other types of the disease.
Pat Cullen told members the discussion with is 'not about negations'

The head of the Royal College of Nursing will meet the Health Secretary as she pursues a double-digit pay rise for nurses.

Pat Cullen told members at the unions annual conference yesterday that her meeting with Steve Barclay is not about negotiations, however. She will instead explain why nurses have rejected a pay settlement ahead of a new strike ballot, which will open on May 23 and close on June 23.

The RCN has warned that strikes could go on until Christmas, which would force thousands more operations and appointments to be cancelled.

Ms Cullen told the congress in Brighton: If you give the college another six-month mandate for strike action across the whole of Englands NHS, then Government will be forced to act once more.

She said the Government may be watching the conference, adding: Ill tell you why Who emailed me last night at nine oclock?

Royal College of Nursing head Pat Cullen (pictured) told members at the unions annual conference yesterday that her meeting with Steve Barclay

Ms Cullen will explain to the health secretary why nurses have rejected a pay settlement ahead of a new strike ballot, which will open on May 23 and close on June 23. Pictured: Nurses holding a protest outside St Thomas' Hospital in London

To cheers from the audience, she said: The Health Secretary wants to see me. Colleagues, this is not about negotiations, but it is important that I go and tell him again why many of you voted to reject the pay offer.

A Department of Health and Social Care source said Mr Barclay is happy to listen to nurses concerns but stressed the current pay deal is final and negotiations will not be reopened, adding: The Health Secretary wants to work constructively with unions on making the NHS a better place to work.

Yesterdays conference also heard claims that NHS trusts are using students as unpaid healthcare assistants and employing cheaper nursing associates  who have less training than registered nurses  to plug gaps in rotas.

With around 80 nurses leaving the profession every week, and 45,000 vacancies in England, the less-qualified workers are said to be picking up the workload but for less pay.
A mainstay high street fashion brand is set to reinvent itself as an online retailer after closing all 170 of its shops and collapsing into administration in December last year.

Scottish clothes seller M&Co, formerly known as Mackays, is set to launch a new website this June after shuttering the last of its high street stores in April.

The 189-year-old business, that was first started as a pawnbrokers in Paisley, filed for bankruptcy due to rising prices and falling demand for its clothes.

Now, the retailer is planning to pivot to the web, after being pulled out of administration by its new owner, AK Retail Holdings, which bought the brand in February.

The clothes seller's digital reinvention will see it begin selling a range of womenswear collections and create its own app, following the launch of its website next month.

M&Co is set to become an online retailer following the launch of its website in June

The 189-year-old company collapsed in December due to rising prices and falling demand

The plans come after M&Co, which has its head office in the small village of Inchinnan, Renfrewshire, was saved after being bought by Peterborough firm AK Retail Holdings for an undisclosed sum in February.

Under the terms of the deal, AK Retail bought the M&Co brand, but not the firm's network of 170 high street shops, meaning the stores were forced to close.

Aside from M&Co, AK Retail Holdings also owns an array of online clothes shops including large men's brand BadRhino and petite womenswear outlet PixieGirl.

The holdings company also owns Long Tall Sally, which sells clothes to women who are 5'8" or taller, and Yours Clothing which is aimed at plus sized women.

AK Retail's CEO Andrew Killingsworth, said the firm has 'big plans' for M&Co, while also remaining committed to 'maintaining' the company's 'values' and 'legacy'.

'M&Co has long held a strong reputation as a local family brand that customers trust to find high quality clothing at an affordable price,' Mr Killingsworth told Drapers.

'We have big plans for the brand, with an immediate focus on M&Cos digital presence, with our brand-new site set to launch at the end of June 2023, and an app coming soon.'

The Scottish firm was pulled out of insolvency after being bought by AK Retail in February

The company's 170 UK stores will remain closed as M&Co pivots to the internet

'M&Co has enormous potential, and we are excited to bring our expertise and experience to the table,' the CEO continued.

'We want to ensure that M&Co continues to be a beloved and trusted brand for generations to come.'

Prior to its bankruptcy, M&Co employed more than 1,900 staff in its 170 high street shops across the UK.

The business previously collapsed in 2020, leading to the loss of 380 jobs and the shuttering of 47 of its stores.

Its collapse followed the closure of major high street retailers including Joules, Topshop, and Debenhams in recent years.

M&Co's administrators were contacted for comment.
Motorists across the country face a tsunami of penalties this year as oversized yellow box junctions become the latest 'cash cow' trap to be rolled out by councils.

Some 27 local authorities are awaiting approval for new powers to issue fines of up to 160 for motorists who stop in one of 111 yellow boxes nationwide.

Until now, only the police and councils in London and Cardiff have had the power to slap you with a penalty for stopping in box junctions.

But new rules announced by the Department for Transport (DfT) last year allow any council to apply for the same powers  and cream off extra cash from drivers.

Confusion: Butterwick junction in Hammersmith is the most lucrative yellow box junction in Britain, punishing on average 70 vehicles a day

Now experts fear hundreds more yellow box junctions could be set up with cameras to fine motorists who break the rules if councils are successful in their applications.

Yet critics warn that up to 90 per cent of these boxes are 'problematic'.

The yellow 'criss-cross' hatched boxes are designed to ensure traffic flows smoothly through busy junctions, according to the Highway Code.

Drivers must only enter a yellow box when there is enough space for their car to fit on the other side of the markings  or if they are waiting for a space to turn right.

Critics say that most of these boxes are far larger than is necessary and so unfairly catch out some motorists who are driving safely.

Ten biggest cash cows 1. Talgarth Road and Butterwick junction, Hammersmith, West London - 26,000 tickets a year, costing up to 3.4million* 2. West Hill Wandsworth fire station junction, South-West London. A grid in front of the station on a busy road - 18,000 tickets a year, costing up to 3 million** 3. Traffic lights at the junction between New Kings Road and Bagleys Lane in Fulham, West London - 16,000 tickets a year, costing up to 2.1 million* 4. Traffic light junction for Euston Road, Judd Street and Midland Road in North London - 12,000 tickets a year, costing up to 2 million** 5. Fire station junction on Homerton High Street, North-East London - 10,000 tickets issued a year, costing up to 1.6 million** 6. Traffic light junction between West Hendon Broadway and Cool Oak Lane in Barnet, north London - 11,000 tickets a year, costing up to 1.4million*. 7. Traffic light signal area at the New Road and Link Road junction in Barking, east London - 7,000 tickets a year, costing up to 940,000*. 8. Traffic light signals box at the Putney High Street and Lacy Road junction in Wandsworth, south west London - 7,000 tickets a year, costing up to 900,000*. 9. A Give way sign at the Croydon Road and Langley Road junction in Bromley, south London - 7,000 tickets a year, costing up to 900,000*. Pictured: File image 10. Traffic lights at junction between Churchill Way and Bute Terrace in Cardiff, south Glamorgan - 9,000 tickets a year, costing up to 600,000***. Source: Yellow Box Guru. Freedom of Information requests. Using latest figures pre-pandemic 2019 as estimate for current traffic fines. Value calculated on Penalty Charge Notice of 130*, 160**. These charges halve if paid within 14 days.

Many are deemed to serve no useful purpose other than making money for councils  while others are not clearly visible to approaching motorists.

More than 40 yellow boxes around Britain pose visibility issues for drivers, a report commissioned by the RAC finds.

A further 16 are on the side of the road opposite T-junctions, which the DfT has stated serves 'no useful purpose', says Sam Wright, a chartered engineer who used to be responsible for the design and approval of yellow boxes for Transport for London and who wrote the report.

Meanwhile, nine yellow box junctions are placed in non-permitted locations according to the regulations and 18 boxes extend too far beyond junctions and may no longer be compliant with the rules, he adds.

Drivers already fork out 1.8 billion a year in parking charges to local authorities. Increasing the numbers of yellow boxes where you can be fined will end up costing drivers tens of millions more.

Mr Wright now runs a website called Yellow Box Guru, to highlight problems with the traffic markings.

He says: 'No local authority plans ever seem to review the visibility of a box from a driver's point of view, let alone when dark, if the weather is bad or there is congestion up ahead.

'You can overhang a box for just a moment and get a ticket. A fine often earns councils money but serves no traffic purpose.'

Research by the RAC has found that eight out of ten drivers say they struggle to clear yellow box junctions  with half saying they have accidentally got stuck in one.

A key reason given is bad driving by other motorists.

Simon Williams, a spokesman for the RAC, says that some yellow boxes are so poorly designed that they may even add to congestion.

'Many drivers get trapped in these junctions through no fault of their own,' he says. 'In some cases, we believe enforcement may actually increase congestion as a result of drivers hesitating before moving for fear of being fined.'

He adds: 'Councils must be ordered to justify all junctions they propose to enforce  and look at the driver's perspective rather than how much money it could make.'

The local authority with the highest number of yellow boxes, and which could soon be granted the power to fine drivers, is Reading. The council has a total of 17 across 15 sites in the Berkshire borough.

South Gloucestershire Council has 12 while Herefordshire Council could start imposing penalties on eight boxes.

Linda Taylor, transport spokesman for the Local Government Association, says: 'These new powers are designed to deal with traffic hotspots to aid the smooth flow of traffic and improve safety as well as reduce poor air quality in problem areas.

'Councils that have adopted them are proceeding with due diligence and caution to ensure that motorists are treated fairly.' At the moment, if you stop in one that doesn't fine you, there will be no cameras and no repercussions. The police does have the power to fine you but this is very rare, according to Mr Wright.

In London and Cardiff, all yellow box junctions on which you can be fined will have cameras set up. While the local authorities can impose a penalty, they do not do it for every location.

When to appeal a box fine

Mr Wright believes many yellow box junctions are unreasonable. Unclear rules around what constitutes wrongdoing in a yellow box mean that motorists can face a lottery when lodging an appeal.

'The rules are extremely complicated, so it's common for assessors to disagree between themselves on the interpretations and whether a ticket is due,' Mr Wright says.

For example, it's unclear whether a stationary bicycle that has forced you to stop in a yellow box would qualify as a 'stationary vehicle' or not, he says.

Motorists who think they have been unfairly caught should appeal their fine. This is what to watch out for:

Drivers should have adequate visibility beyond the box to be able to make a clear judgment before entering it.

This includes being able to see the end of the box and whether there is enough space beyond it for a car.

Markings should be clear during the daytime, in bad weather and at night. If this is not the case, take photographs from a motorist's point of view as evidence.

You can ask a passenger to take a picture for you from your perspective so long as they do not obscure your view or get in the way while you drive. Yellow box markings lack the reflective qualities of white paint used in the centre of roads and so can be particularly hard to spot at night-time.

Traps: Critics warn that up to 90% of boxes are 'problematic' with most, far larger than is necessary to ensure traffic flows smoothly

They may also have been rubbed off over time or obscured by rubber tyre marks left by other vehicles.

There are clear rules about where yellow boxes can be installed and what sizes are acceptable.

The Yellow Box Guru website has guidance that you can check if you think you have been unfairly fined due to flaws with a yellow box.

For example, DfT rules state that a yellow box can only be installed at a junction between two or more roads, a 'gyratory system' or roundabout, along a two-way road that is no greater than 4.5 metres wide at its narrowest point or adjacent to a fire, police or ambu-lance station.

If you want to fight a fine, ask the council that issued it for the video evidence. This should include an image of both the entrance and exit for the box.

If the council video shows you were forced to stop due to an obstacle  such as pedestrians, cyclists or an animal  then you may also have a case for the fine to be thrown out.

You may also win an appeal if the council fumbles the paperwork  such as failing to send clear video evidence, putting down the wrong car registration plate details or incorrect yellow junction address.

Fines are typically halved if you pay the local authority within 14 days  so that 130 or 160 demand becomes 65 and 80 respectively.

This is to encourage you to pay up without arguing, but do not be deterred if you have a strong case.

If the council rejects your appeal, you can take the Penalty Charge Notice case to an independent adjudicator  though this should be done within 14 days of getting the decision.

This is the Traffic Penalty Tribunal in England and Wales, to which you can appeal at foam.traffic penaltytribunal.gov.uk/your_appeal, the London Tribunals in London at londontribunals.org.uk, the Parking and Bus Lanes Appeals service in Scotland at generalregulatory chamber.scot/home/parkingandbuslaneappeals.

In Northern Ireland it is the Northern Ireland Traffic Penalty Tribunal at justice-ni.gov.uk/articles/northern-ireland-traffic -penalty-tribunal.

moneymail@dailymail.co.uk
A National Australia Bank client has revealed how he lost a six-figure sum when scammers used a convincing text message to gain control of his account.

Tim Watkins received a text message on March 18 informing him that $800 of his money had been spent on Amazon gift cards.

The text appeared to come from the same number that NAB had been using to send him messages since January last year.

Therefore Mr Watkins had no reason to believe the text was suspicious and thought that someone had actually used his account to purchase the gift cards.

By responding to the attached phone number, he became enmeshed in an exchange with the scammers which saw him lose more than $100,000 in a matter of minutes.

Now Mr Watkins has a vital message for all Australian bank customers.

Tim Watkins, who banks with NAB, received a text message on March 18 informing him that $800 of his own money had been spent on Amazon gift cards

'Do not respond to a text if you're at all doubtful, the bank will follow up with you if it is really them,' Mr Watkins told Daily Mail Australia.

After Mr Watkins called the number provided in the text message that was sent by the scammers, they asked him to log in to his account and send them the one-time code that is normally sent by a bank to a customer to verify who they are.

Each time Mr Watkins passed on that code - and he ended up doing so with 10 one-time codes - the scammers claimed the number was wrong or time had elapsed.

But actually, the scammers used each code to authorise a transaction in his name and withdrew large sums from his personal and business accounts in 10 minutes.

'On returning home I logged into NAB online to find out that a significant six figure sum had been taken, wiping out my business and personal bank accounts,' Mr Watkins said.

Impersonating a business or government body is known as a spoof scam.

It is usually performed by scammers who are able to gain access to a company's phone number and use it to deceive customers.

'I immediately reported this to NAB Fraud who said they would contact the main recipient bank of nine of the transactions (at) UBank ... a division of NAB,' Mr Watkins said.

The tenth transaction had landed in an account with Bendigo Bank.

Even having been made aware that Mr Watkins had been a victim of the scam and had a large amount of money previously on deposit, the bank was unwilling to grant his request to tide him over financially.

'As I had no money in my personal or business accounts and because of the exceptional circumstances and urgent requirements to honour payments, I asked about getting an immediate credit facility set up but this was declined by NAB,' Mr Watkins said.

Mr Watkins claims NAB was 'consistently unhelpful and not at all sympathetic' over the next few weeks.

'I was also surprised that they did not seem to have any protocol in place to deal with the cyber scam nor to help me in what was a very traumatic time,' he said.

Mr Watkins filed a complaint with the the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) and later the Australian Cyber Security Centre.

He was then contacted by NAB and informed the bank was 'not liable for the stolen funds' as the transfers were made from Mr Watkins' regular device.

'As a "gesture of goodwill" NAB were prepared to offer me $10,000 in full and final resolution of your dispute,' Mr Watkins said.

'The offer was available until April 26, but if I continued to dispute through AFCA then the offer would be withdrawn.'

Mr Watkins claims $29,213.09 was later credited to his business account under the description, 'Recovery of Scam Funds'.

Mr Watkins claims NAB were 'consistently unhelpful' throughout the ordeal, and offered him $10,000 out of 'goodwill' that was rescinded when he filed a complaint with AFCA (stock image)

'NAB Fraud have not provided any information about the recovery despite numerous calls and emails,' he said.

'NAB have to accept a degree of liability and responsibility and I believe there is misconduct and a duty of care from them in protecting my money.'

'How is it that a substantial amount of money can be transferred in 10 transactions over 10 minutes from my bank accounts to other accounts and banks that I have never dealt with in the past?

'Surely there should be red flags and algorithms in place to check, for example a call back from NAB before transferring the money.'

Mr Watkins still receives text messages from the once-trusted NAB phone number to this day.

Chris Sheehan, NAB Executive for Group Investigations and Fraud, said: 'Unfortunately, once the funds have left an account and are sent to another bank, it is extremely hard for us to retrieve them. These criminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated and operate with speed to move stolen funds.'

'NAB has a comprehensive, bank wide strategy including around 60 initiatives that are either completed or underway to combat fraud and scams.'

'While we can't comment on individual cases, we've seen a significant increase in scams in recent years.

'We know the results can be devastating on the people they impact, both emotionally and financially,' Mr Sheeran said.

'This is a scam epidemic and it requires collaboration across government, banking, telecommunications, online and social media industries, consumer groups and regulators in a Team Australia approach to address the problem.'

Mr Sheehan re-iterated advice for customers to never respond to unsolicited or unexpected texts, but if concerned by the content to independently call the bank on its main number and speak to a staff member, or go into a branch.

'When a customer receives a text message or call impersonating NAB, it means a criminal has spoofed our number and is impersonating us. NABs systems have not been breached in any way.

'NAB will never ask a customer to confirm, update or disclose personal or banking information via a link in a text message or email. People need to know that their bank will never ask them to transfer money to another account to keep it safe.'

Scammers are able to use sophisticated software that masks their phone number as a phone contact in spoof scams (pictured) and often use trusted names such as banks

In February, NAB announced they were working with telecommunication providers to help curb the amount of 'spoof' scams that impersonate the bank.

'Scams impersonating NAB and other recognised brands have continued to rise, and its clear we need more collaboration across business sectors to stop this occurring,' Mr Sheehan said.

Mr Sheeran said the bank had received a 38 per cent uptick in scam reports last year.

They have seen a drop of 50 per cent in scam reports since December when the bank began working with telco providers to block known scam numbers, leading to a 70 per cent reduction in losses for customers.

'There is no silver bullet to stopping scams. Scammers target individuals and essentially con us into handing over the keys to our accounts and money,' Mr Sheeran said.

Australians lost a record $3.1billion to scams over 2022, an average of $20,000 per person.
Pictured: CR Commercial Property Group chief executive and managing director Nicole Duncan

The boss of a commercial property business has slammed 'selfish' employees for choosing to work from home, claiming previous generations spent two to three hours per day commuting to the office and didn't complain.

CR Commercial Property Group chief executive and managing director Nicole Duncan told 2GB's Ben Fordham she was 'passionate' about people returning to their offices in city centres.

'This generation is so selfish,' she said.

'In our younger days, we caught trains, buses, and 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 and get bolshy about this, it's not going to change because the unemployment rate is still too low.'

Ms Duncan said that due to people working from home, businesses were suffering, and the CBD had become 'slow and rambling'.

'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.'

Fordham said people couldn't be blamed for choosing to work from home if it was an option available to them, but warned more businesses wouldn't allow it.

'Well that's the trouble,' the chief executive replied.

'The first thing people ask is what's your flexible work policy. And then what's the salary I'm on?

Ms Duncan said it was a 'very big frustration' that workers hadn't returned to the office full-time and claimed people were more distracted at home.

'Well, you get distractions at work, you get them at home, you get them everywhere,' Fordham replied.

'But we need that foot traffic Nicole, and I'm with you on that.

'I've stood inside a restaurant in the CBD with the restaurant owner looking out the window and I said to him - "boy it looks quiet today" - and he said, "mate, it's like this almost everyday".'

Aussies shared their thoughts on the CEO's take on 'selfish' office workers.

'Oh yes, I should commute 3 hours a day to keep businesses that I didn't spend money with before and still won't, afloat,' one man said.

'Give people more money to come back into the office, and they will do it. Saving money on transport these days is valuable,' a second said.

Ms Duncan said it was a 'very big frustration' that employees hadn't returned to the office full-time and claimed workers were more distracted at home (pictured, a woman works from home during the 2021 Covid lockdown)

The CEO said Sydney's CBD needed to look vibrant and and busy (pictured in February, 2023)

A third shared: 'I get so much more work done at home, and my team is spread across 3 states. working in office is more of a hindrance.'

'So I should drive an hour to take my laptop to another desk?' a fourth commented.

While another stated: 'The CEO of a commerical real estate agency is complaining about people not going back to the office... surprise, surprise.'

It has been nearly three years since the beginning of the pandemic which saw a remote work revolution.

The March Transport Opinion Survey conducted by the University of Sydney's Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies showed Australian workers are spending 27 per cent or more of their working hours at home.

The figures are higher in capital cities than in regional areas with workers in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane spending 31, 35 and 33 per cent of their work week at home, respectively.

Business Sydney Executive Director Paul Nicolaou told Daily Mail Australia in order for Sydney to be the number one city in Australia, workers who are able should be working on site.

'Sydney is Australia's only truly global city. It looks and feels like a global city on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday but it needs to be a vibrant city seven days a week 24 hours a day,' Mr Nicolaou said.

A Sydney CEO has complained the city centre (pictured) looks 'slow and rambling' after Covid saw the vast majority of people work from their homes instead of the office

He explained the CBD needs businesses including cleaners, newsagencies, cafes and restaurants operating at a full-time capacity to become the number one city.

He said young workers can benefit from working from the office.

'There are benefits in people being able to showcase their abilities and successes under the spotlight of a workplace,' Mr Nicolaou said.

'We think there are many younger employees who want to be seen achieving big things in real time.'

The executive director said working in the office also allows people to maintain human contact, with Thursday becoming the 'new Friday' as employees are getting together after work.

'Working from home by definition means a certain level of isolation that cannot be fully replaced by zoom and team's conference calls,' Mr Nicolaou said.

'It surely has to be beneficial to mental health to have social contact that is typical of life in a workplace team.

'Workplaces are all about building teams and it would be hard to build cohesive teams when there is a geographical and communication gap.'

Business Sydney has consistently called for city employees to return to their offices at least three to four days a week post-pandemic (stock image)

Business Sydney has consistently called for city employees to return to their offices at least three to four days a week.

Mr Nicolaou said working from home also has the potential to create an imbalance among frontline workers.

'There is an imbalance when there are some staff working from home and others in the office,' Mr Nicolaou said.

'Some employees have never had an opportunity to work from home. Our essential workers have always been expected to turn up throughout the pandemic and beyond.'

Founder of independent agency, Cummins&Partners Sean Cummins said working from home has become a one-sided conversation and industry leaders refrain from voicing their support for workers to return to the office.

Interest in both fully remote and hybrid work arrangements have remained high and has become the new normal in the post-pandemic work environment (pictured, the Sydney CBD)

Cummins explained he was 'tired' of people proclaiming working from home as a better alternative than being in the office and said Australians need to separate work from home for their mental, physical and emotional health.

'I'm tired of the dogma. I'm tired of people saying that working from home is better and acting as though it's incontrovertibly true. It is not. My whole point is separate work from home. It's a beautiful way of doing it,' Mr Cummins told Mumbrella.

'What I care about is my people, their health, their mental health, and their ability to actually separate work from home and work from life.

'It just needs to be a balanced discussion, and I am for the majority of time at work. I am for flexibility, but I'm not for this whole sense that this is indeed a good thing. It's not a good thing if you can't separate work from home.'

Mr Cummins added employers, leaders and managers play a vital role in making working in the office interesting.

He said office culture should be a collision of meaningful connections, guidance, conversations, learning, training and instruction.
The 'hippie' city is now working to outlaw public drug use after seeing a significant uptick in crime and fatal overdoses two years after decriminalization

Mom Melissa Welch, 35, who's accused of running a drug ring, her boyfriend Cody Craig, and the girl's father Michael Doane are all charged with murder

DailyMail.com can reveal five-year-old Olivia Doane as the youngest victim of the fentanyl crisis plaguing Bellingham, Washington, after she died on March 8

Pictured in the arms of the mother now charged with her murder, this is the youngest victim of 'hippie town' Bellingham's fentanyl crisis  seen four years before she died alone in the dark, while foaming at the mouth.

DailyMail.com can now reveal the little girl's name was Olivia Doane, and that her father Michael Doane, 33, and her mother's boyfriend Cody Craig, 32, have also been charged with murder over her death.

The toddler's tragic overdose comes amid a drastic spike in fentanyl-related deaths in the Washington town in the last year that has since sparked calls to outlaw public drug use two years after statewide decriminalization took effect.

At the time of Olivia's death, Craig was already under investigation for running a drug ring in Whatcom County and is described in court papers as a 'mid-level drug dealer'.

Five-year-old Olivia Doane - pictured in her mother Melissa Welch's arms, alongside older sister Kendall, now eight, in 2019 - died on March 8 after ingesting fentanyl at her Bellingham, Washington home

Welch's boyfriend Cody Craig, 32, (left) and Olivia's father, Michael Doane, 33, have been charged with the young girl's first-degree murder alongside her

In a revolting twist, both Craig and the girl's mother Melissa Welch, 35, continued to run their illegal operation in the weeks after Olivia died before being arrested while selling narcotics in a Bellingham suburb a month later.

A neighbor, who gave his name as Shane, said he had been about to begin CPR on Olivia before realizing she had already been dead for hours when she was discovered cold in her bed at 9am on March 8.

He added: 'I used to see her come by all the time and she would always say 'Hi Shane'.'

'I can't forget what happened. Now all I want is to see her come by. I can't get it out of my head.'

The cream-painted property where Olivia died is now locked and papered with orange public health warnings alerting visitors to fentanyl contamination within  in stark contrast to the red Valentines stickers still plastered over Olivia's bedroom window.

Welch, Craig and Doane are locked up in the Whatcom County Jail in Bellingham while Doane's girlfriend Journee Markuson, 28, has not been charged despite being at the trailer home at the time, and being an addict herself according to her mother Teena, 68.

Meanwhile, Olivia's older sister Kendall, eight, who was in the trailer home in Ferndale, 10 miles north of Bellingham, when her sibling died, has been sent to live with her uncle and aunt in Blaine, Washington.

Michael Welch, 40, told DailyMail.com he is struggling with what happened to his niece, describing it as a 'tough time'.

Welch and Craig are accused of continuing to run their alleged illegal operation in the weeks after Olivia died before being arrested while selling narcotics a month later

Olivia was found alone in the dark and foaming at the mouth at her home on March 8. Police say all three suspects were at the property when she died and had all used fentanyl

Valentine-theme stickers were still plastered over the young girl's bedroom window when DailyMail.com visited the scene last week

The property is now locked up, with bright orange public health warnings tacked on the doors, alerting visitors to fentanyl contamination within

He added: 'I didn't see her for the last three years because I was trying to keep my kids away from it [drugs]. It all f***ing sucks,' he said.

Olivia's paternal grandfather Leif Doane, 60, said he has been left devastated by the little girl's death but said he is also worried for his son  who he says was not at the home at the time of her death and is anguished over being charged with her murder.

He said: 'I know my son. He wasn't there at the time. Imagine losing your daughter and then being accused of her murder.

'He swears up and down he wasn't there. My granddaughter was like my daughter. I spent a lot of time with her.'

Although she is the youngest victim of fentanyl in the area, Olivia is far from alone in losing her life to drugs in liberal mecca Bellingham.

A town of 90,000 people famous for its historic downtown, woke public signage and lush parks, the city has become a battleground in Washington State's fight against drugs over the past three years.

In 2018, Bellingham was named 'the most hippie town in Washington' by OnlyInYourState.com. It was a title local media bragged about but it opened the door for deregulation, which has led to crime spikes and drug casualties.

Callouts for overdoses are running at an average 2.3 per day, according to the most recent city figures, while crime driven by drugs and homelessness has soared, forcing the city to take action.

Officials are now working on banning the consumption of drugs in public and increasing outreach programs, while stores downtown have hired a phalanx of security guards to protect their businesses.

The liberal city  whose picturesque neighborhoods and coastal areas are now sites for rough sleepers and public drug use  has become a battleground in Washington State's fight against drugs over the past three years

When DailyMail.com visited the city last week vagrants could be seen snoozing outside city landmarks such as the Hotel Leo and lines of decrepit RVs were parked up close to the port

Drug users were seen openly smoking narcotics at parks, sidewalks, and parking lots

But despite their efforts, when DailyMail.com visited rough sleepers could be seen snoozing outside city landmarks such as the Hotel Leo, lines of decrepit RVs were parked up close to the port and drug users were seen openly smoking narcotics just a few blocks from City Hall.

Part of the problem is Washington State's relatively relaxed drug law which criminalizes possession only on the third arrest  and even then, punishes it with a maximum fine of $1,000 or 90 days in jail.

A town of 90,000 people famous for its historic downtown and lush parks, Bellingham has become a battleground in Washington State's fight against drugs over the past three years

That law is due to expire on July 1 at which point drug use would effectively be decriminalized unless a replacement is pushed through by lawmakers in the state capital, Olympia.

Whether that will happen remains in doubt after a bill that would have made drug possession a gross misdemeanor punishable by a $5,000 fine and a year in jail was voted down last month.

But while politicians wrangle, the state's drug crisis continues to explode with Bellingham and Whatcom County in the eye of the storm.

According to the Whatcom County Sheriff's Department, fentanyl was seized by deputies over 559,000 times in 2022  a 290 per cent increase on 2021 which itself saw a 600 per cent increase on seizures in 2020.

As a result, overdose deaths went up by a third to 89 in 2022, compared to 50 in 2021, while the first three months of this year alone saw the deaths of Olivia and high schooler Emily Halasz, 15, who was found dead of a drug overdose in a homeless encampment set up behind Home Depot that was finally demolished last week.

Associated crime has also increased, with the Bellingham Police Department's log showing they were called out 30 times on Thursday alone  mainly for theft, behavioral problems and drug possession.

Officials in the city say they saw a near-immediate uptick in crime and public drug use in 2021, after the state Supreme Court struck down a state law that made simple drug possession a felony

The state's relaxed drug laws - which criminalizes possession only on the third arrest  and even then, punishes it with a maximum fine of $1,000 or 90 days in jail  has seen public drug use become commonplace

There is now a growing homeless population in Bellingham's historic downtown, with open air drug use being practiced at all hours of the day

'The widespread availability of fentanyl throughout all parts of Whatcom County represents nothing less than a deadly scourge that has impacted too many individuals and families,' Sheriff Bill Elfo said

Earlier this week, cops arrested Derrick Brown, 31, after he was caught masturbating in a public toilet while other callouts in the past seven days include homeless people spending hours locked in the bathrooms of big box stores such as WinCo and multiple incidences of shoplifting.

WCSO now has five deputies devoted to dealing with the issue full time, with Sheriff Bill Elfo telling DailyMail.com: 'The widespread availability of fentanyl throughout all parts of Whatcom County represents nothing less than a deadly scourge that has impacted too many individuals and families.

'The Sheriff's Office remains committed to using all tools at its disposal to disrupt the activities of those who manufacture, transport, or are in any way involved in the distribution or sale of this drug.

'Towards that end, our Gang and Drug Task Force continues to collaborate and work in close concert with federal law enforcement, especially the DEA and HSI.'

Just last month, the WCSO and the DEA busted a drug gang  including three people living in Bellingham  that was trafficking vast quantities of fentanyl from Seattle for sale in the town.

But of all the deaths caused by the drug, Olivia's is among the most senseless. Speaking to DailyMail.com, Darryl Johnston, who manages the trailer park where she lived, described how she had been let down by the adults around her  and described her death as 'heartbreaking'.

Earlier this month, authorities shared photos of a drug bust during which three Bellingham residents and three from outside of town were indicted for trafficking fentanyl in Whatcom County

Her parents had 11 previous convictions between them, with Welch's rap sheet including repeated incidences of drug possession and one for stealing from her mother 'while coming down off heroin.'

Drug dealer Craig, meanwhile, has a record that stretches back to 2004 and a count of 'vehicle prowling' while more recent convictions include theft and drug dealing.

Despite all that, Johnston said Olivia had appeared to be a happy little girl with parents who seemed friendly  although Craig was described as 'a two-time loser'.

He added: 'You wouldn't have thought anything was going on but on the day she died, all the adults were outside crying.

'Her mother was so gone, she had to hand the phone over to a neighbor because she couldn't remember the address.'

Johnston, who said all four adults were regularly seen coming and going at all hours of the day and night, added: 'It's all drugs. I had an idea that someone would die in that house but always an adult  I never thought it would be a child. It's a tragedy.'
Elon Musk has told staffers at Tesla that the company cannot make any new hires unless he personally approves them.

In an email to employees, the chief executive of the electric vehicle company said that this also includes contractors.

According to The Information, Musk told executives on Monday to send him a list of hiring requests on a weekly basis, while also cautioning them to 'think carefully' before submitting such requests.

It comes just days after Musk announced that he had appointed a new CEO at Twitter - and that he would be stepping down from the role, allowing him more time to run Tesla.

On May 12, Musk confirmed that NBCUniversal executive Linda Yaccarino would be taking over - and hinted the platform will be rebranded as 'X, the everything app'.

Musk reportedly told executives to send him a list of hiring requests on a weekly basis

This is allegedly not the first time the billionaire has made such directives to his employees

According to The Information, Musk has issued similar orders in the past at both Tesla and Space Exploration Technologies, the rocket company better known as SpaceX where he is also CEO.

Current and former employees have said the directives have been tantamount to hiring freezes because it is so difficult to get his approval to hire, the outlet alleges.

The billionaire is expected to address Tesla shareholders on Tuesday at the company's annual meeting at its headquarters in Austin, Texas.

Tesla did not immediately respond to request for comment.

Musk confirmed that he was stepping down as Twitter CEO on May 11 - and pledged to spend more time working at Tesla as a result.

The billionaire made his mark on the company, but his tenure certainly was not without controversy.

He has slashed around 70 percent of Twitter's staff since buying the firm for $44 billion, including its entire executive team, in a bid to cut costs.

Immediately following the announcement, Tesla's shares jumped more than 2 percent, in a sign that investors were pleased about the move.

A group of shareholders publicly urged the board in April to ensure that Musk dedicated more time to the company.

The letter said they had become 'increasingly concerned with governance and leadership issues at the company.'

On May 12, Musk revealed that Linda Yaccarino would be taking over his position at the social media company.

Tesla shares jumped following Musk's announcement on Twitter on Thursday

Musk announcement Yaccarino's appointment with a tweet which said: 'Looking forward to working with Linda to transform this platform into X, the everything app'

Elon Musk was interviewed by Linda Yaccarino at a marketing conference on April 18 and it's been speculated the meeting played an important role in her appointment

He wrote on Twitter that Yaccarino 'will focus primarily on business operations', while he focused on 'product design & new technology.'

'Looking forward to working with Linda to transform this platform into X, the everything app,' he wrote.

Yaccarino had resigned as NBC's head of advertising earlier in the day - following growing speculation she'd be chosen for the Twitter role. Musk said in December that he'd step down as CEO once he'd found someone 'foolish enough' to replace him.

Her appointment comes after she interviewed Musk at a marketing event earlier this year and boasted about her 'work ethic' - a meeting which some have speculated may have played an important role in her appointment.

NBCUniversal's head of advertising Linda Yaccarino has been appointed CEO of Twitter

Musk has spoken previously about transforming Twitter into 'X, the everything app'

At the event on April 17, she told the audience: 'Many of you in this room know me and you know I pride myself of my work ethic, but buddy, I met my match.'

She also spoke positively about Musk's 'push for democratization' at Twitter during the the POSSIBLE marketing conference in Miami.

During the conversation, Musk also elaborated on his vision to turn Twitter into X, the everything app.

'Twitter is effectively an accelerant to an idea I've had for a long time... X, the everything app,' he said. He described it as a 'platform that is so useful that you find it is essential to conduct your life'.

The app would provide tools to enable payments, private and public communications, and 'be incredibly useful'.
New Delhi/Suva, May 16 (UNI) The development partnership between Fiji and India remains strong, the two countries share unique ties that have kept them bound together, Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Rajkumar Ranjan Singh said in his address to the Indian diaspora in Suva.

As a trusted partner we have been with Fiji at all times and despite the challenges of the recent pandemic our partnership for progress has continued to expand steadily, he said during his interaction with the Indian Diaspora at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva.

He also extended Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis greetings to the Indian Diaspora in Fiji. The unique cultural linkage and very strong people-to-people ties bind our two countries together, he added.
Police in Cannes have cracked down on all forms of protest to 'guarantee public order' over fears angry protesters could drown out Hollywood A-listers at the 76th annual film festival.

Stars, including Johnny Depp, whose new movie Jeanne de Barry is controversially opening the festival, are expected to flock to the French riviera in the coming days.

The festival has historically served as a backdrop for protest, but authorities are determined to stamp out any trouble before it has even started amid ongoing unrest over pension reforms nationwide.

Now, in an unusual move, all demonstrations and gatherings have been banned on the public highway for the duration of the Festival by the region's Alpes-Maritimes Prefecture.

Unions are refusing to back down, with the General Confederation of Labour (CGT) releasing a statement saying it plans to 'make its own movie moment in Cannes' this year.

There was a significant police presence on The Croisette as the final preparations were made ahead of the festival

The ban on demonstrations covers the Rue d'Antibes, the Palais des Festivals, the Croisette and the Promenade de Pantiero alongside the Marche du Film's International Village

Johnny Depp's new movie, Jeanne de Barry, is controversially opening the festival (file image)

The CGT, one of the country's most powerful trade unions, has called on employees from the hospitality industry to take part in a rally outside the glamorous Carlton hotel.

A favourite spot for celebrities, the newly-refurbished seafront residence is based just outside the festival grounds.

A protest will be held on its forecourt by cafe, restaurant and hotel workers on May 19, as the eyes of the world are on the prestigious festival.

The action is just one of a series of actions taken as part of French unions' '100 Days Of Anger! 100 Days To Win' campaign.

It was sparked by Emmanuel Macron's overhaul of the state retirement age, which is set to be raised from 62 to 64 by 2030.

It has seen workers from a huge spectrum of sectors walk out and violence on the streets of Paris and other cities.

Last month, the the CGT FNME - France's main energy workers union - threatened to cut power supplies at big events including Cannes.

The ban on demonstrations by local authorities in the city, covering May 16 to 27, was posted by the prefecture on its website on Friday evening.

A nationwide day of strike back in March saw the Old Harbour in Marseille taken over by peaceful demonstrators

It said it was necessary in order 'to guarantee public order during an exceptionally big and international event'.

It covers the Rue d'Antibes, the Palais des Festivals, the Croisette and the Promenade de Pantiero alongside the Marche du Film's International Village.

Stars themselves may be reassured at the decision to ban protests, with a state visit to Paris by King Charles and Queen Camilla cancelled earlier this year due to ongoing unrest in the French capital.

Depp, 59, stars as King Louis XV in the forthcoming costume drama, which marks the star's return to acting

Johnny Depp, specifically, may be relieved at the protest ban, after he faced demonstrations from anti-domestic abuse campaigners following his defamation case with his ex-wife, Amber Heard.

The actress had referred to herself as a 'public figure representing domestic abuse' following their marriage. Depp strongly denied abusing her.

Depp, 59, stars as King Louis XV in the forthcoming costume drama, which marks the star's return to acting.
The Supreme Court has sided with an Alabama death row inmate who wants to be put to death by nitrogen gas after his lethal injection attempt was called off due to a faulty IV.

The justices turned away an appeal by Alabama officials of a lower court's decision to revive Kenneth Smith's lawsuit seeking to block the state from putting him to death through lethal injection.

Smith instead is seeking to be executed using Nitrogen gas. Conservative Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented from the decision to allow Smith's challenge to proceed.

Kenneth Eugene Smith (left) was convicted in a 1988 murder-for-hire slaying of preacher's wife Elizabeth Sennett (right). Smith, 57, argued the state should not try to execute him again by lethal injection, but should instead use nitrogen gas

Kenneth Smith filed his lawsuit in August 2020, alleging that the state's lethal injection protocol would expose him to undue pain. Pictured, Alabama's lethal injection chamber at Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore

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.

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 November 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 11pm.

Elizabeth Sennett had two sons, Chuck and Mike, and several grandchildren. She was murdered when her husband, Rev. Charles Sennett, hired a man to murder her. He was put to death in 2010. Charles Sennett committed suicide a week after his wife's murder

Sennett's husband, who was the pastor of the Westside Church of Christ in Sheffield, killed himself one week after her death when the murder investigation started to focus on him as a suspect, according to court documents

'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.'

John Forrest Parker, the other man convicted in the slaying, was executed in 2010

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.
The owners of a French bulldog have expressed shock after being forced to fork out $37,000 to a veterinarian hospital to save their dog's life.

Sydneysiders Daniele and Sabrina paid $5,000 to reputable breeder to purchase the now five-year-old French bulldog named Matisse but he started to develop health issues.

Daniele and Sabrina noticed her back legs had become 'wobbly' on Easter Saturday and took her to the vet twice on the same day, but she was sent home.

Then the couple rushed Matisse to Sydney Veterinary Emergency & Specialists after Sabrina saw the dog was in a lot of pain and struggling to breathe.

Daniele (left) and Sabrina (right) rushed their five-year-old French bulldog to the vet after they noticed her back legs were 'wobbly' and she had difficulty breathing

Matisse (pictured) was taken to Sydney Veterinary Emergency & Specialists where doctors performed tests, CT scans and life-saving spinal surgery

The pair were told Matisse needed to stay the night to be stabilised and were asked to sign some documents and leave a $3,000 deposit.

Matisse needed scans, tests, round-the-clock monitoring and surgery to save her life - all of which came at a high cost.

'Unfortunately, these French bulldogs are ticking time bombs,' Sabrina told A Current Affair on Monday.

'They just put her under oxygen, and it went downhill from there.'

The couple did not have pet insurance and was first quoted $8,900 for Matisse's treatment.

However, Daniele said the bill kept getting 'higher and higher' until it reached a whopping $36,896.19 for six days spent at the vet.

The three-page itemised bill included $3,250 for spinal surgery, $2,750 for CT scans, and a public holiday surcharge of $4,084.07.

'I couldn't believe it. It's a massive, massive bill so we're just asking them to reconsider.'

Daniele said the vet would not negotiate on the price but agreed to let Matisse go home after Daniele offered them $29,0000 - some of which had to be raised by selling Sabrina's designer handbags.

'I said, 'If I can get you the money, can you give us the dog?' And she goes, 'Ok, well we're happy with that',' Daniele said.

'Prada, Louis Vuitton, Gucci,' Sabrina said. 'I had to sell a few designer handbags that I didn't really want to part with. You do what you have to do.'

Matisse spent six days at the veterinarian hospital for treatment which cost her owners $36,896.19

In a statement, Sydney Veterinarian Emergency & Specialists (SVES) said Daniele and Sabrina agreed to the cost before treatment.

'Our hospital is a Specialty and Emergency Hospital and provides the highest level of care by a team of Specialist Veterinary Surgeons, often in emergency situations,' SVES said.

'As is our standard practice, the client was made aware of and consented to the cost for this unique and critical case prior to treatment after choosing between alternative treatment options.

'The client also obtained a second opinion with an independent third party about the proposed treatment and costs prior to consenting to the cost of the surgery.'

Sydney Veterinarian Emergency & Specialists (pictured) explained Matisse received a standard of care equal to that provided to a human in a critical care unit

SVES explained Matisse received a standard of care equal to that provided to a human in a critical care unit.

'Matisse presented in a critical condition requiring lifesaving intensive care and treatment for breed specific complications,' SVES said.

'This included intubation, diagnostic imaging, complex spinal surgery and 24/7 one on one nursing care during his treatment.

'The standard of care was equal to what would be provided to a human in a critical care unit.'

French bulldogs have been selectively bred to create their cute appearance but the lack of muzzle and narrow nostrils create breathing difficulties and many other health problems.

The dog is among Australia's 20 most popular breeds, but due to their popularity have been deformed by backyard breeders over many years.
Special Counsel John Durham's report identifies Irish-born PR exec and Clinton ally Charles Dolan as the likely source of the infamous 'golden showers' rumor about Donald Trump in the discredited Steele dossier that ended up in the FBI director's very awkward briefing on potential 'kompromat' days before he took office.

Durham's 300-page report contains new information about the possible source of the discredited salacious claim  and puts together a detailed map of how the information may have come to light.

It says Dolan, a public relations expert with Kremlin contacts who advised Bill and Hillary Clinton's presidential campaigns, got a tour of the Ritz Carlton in Moscow in 2016 and met with key staff members there.

Dolan then emailed an acquaintance in Moscow saying: 'I'm in Russia making plans to be adopted in the event this mad man [Trump] gets elected.'

Durham's four-year investigation concluded that the FBI never had credible grounds to investigate Trump's links with Russia before the election and didn't find any collusion. Despite the lack of substantiation the allegations were fed to the media and jumped on by Democrats and critics.

The damning report also states that the FBI wanted to keep paying Russian national and primary source of the dossier Igor Danchenko $300,000 - even after the bureau found his evidence not credible - in an apparent bid to buy his silence.

Steele was also offered up to $1million for the now discredited claims about what Durham describes as 'salacious sexual activity' by Trump and any links to Vladimir Putin.

Charles Dolan is a PR exec who was identified in the indictment of Igor Danchenko, who was acquitted after Dolan's office brought charges. The Durham report says he was the 'likely' source of salacious allegations about Donald Trump at the Moscow Ritz

The report identified Dolan as the 'likely' source of information about salacious allegations involving Trump. It says he met with officials at the Moscow Ritz during his own 2016 trip there. Trump stayed at the hotel during the 2013 Miss Universe pageant  but not in the Presidential Suite, according to Durham

Presidential: Hotel records from the Moscow Ritz reviewed by Durham's staff reveal that Trump did not stay in the Presidential suite, which was referenced in the 'dirty dossier,' during his 2013 trip

Mueller's investigators interviewed hotel staff and interrogated witnesses in an effort to trace the rumor that became the infamous 'golden showers' passage contained in the dossier

The room where it didn't happen: The presidential suite has stunning views of Moscow. But according to the $6.5 million Durham report, Trump didn't stay there in 2013, notwithstanding 'raw' information that made it into the Steele dossier

The report goes on to finger Dolan as a 'sub-source' of information for Danchenko, a Russia expert who provided information that found its way into the Steele Dossier  and lays out the information trail that led to the golden showers claim.

The report devotes about six pages to tracking down a possible origin of the shocking claim  and blows up at least one element of it: that Trump stayed in the same presidential suite while in town for the 2013 Miss Universe Pageant at the hotel where President Barack Obama had stayed in 2009.

The detail is seemingly key to the story. According to the dossier, 'TRUMP"s (perverted) conduct in Moscow included hiring the presidential suite of the Ritz Carlton, where he knew President and Mrs OBAMA (whom he hated) had stayed on one of their official trips to Russia.' It went on to recount information according to 'Source D' about prostitutes 'defiling' the bed in the infamous 'golden showers' episode.

However, Trump evidently stayed in a lesser room, although Durham's team does not identify the exact room or suite.

Durham's team examined hotel records at the hotel, where the Kremlin is believed to have a presence.

Durham's investigators trace the material to Dolan, who took a June 2016 trip to Moscow in preparation for a conference in Moscow called the 'Inside the Kremlin' on behalf of the Young President's Organization.

At the time, Dolan was already establishing a working relationship with Igor Danchenko, who was acquitted of charges of lying to the FBI as one of several Durham prosecutions that fell apart.

Durham's investigators drafted a section titled: 'Trump's alleged salacious sexual activity at the Ritz Carlton Moscow appears in a Steele Report

Former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele gathered information from sources and compiled them into what became the Steele Dossier

Russian analyst Igor Danchenko was acquitted during his 2022 trial on charges of lying to the FBI about his sources. The damning report states that the FBI wanted to keep paying Danchenko $300,000, even though they knew he lied about the Steele Dossier

Danchenko has been identified as a 'primary source' for the dossier.

Durham interviewed Dolan and Danchenko, and tracked down email traffic where Danchenko 'forwarded' information to former British intelligence officer Chris Steele, who compiled what became known as the Steele Dossier on Trump.

In an April 2016 email, Dolan referenced 'meetings with the Kremlin' as well as meeting 'intelligence guys.'

He also had cultivated a relationship with the powerful and now sanctioned Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov, according to the report.

He had earlier attended events at the Russian embassy in Washington in preparation for the event, and met former Ambassador Sergei Kislyak, who would later pose for photographs grinning photographs with Trump inside the Oval Office early in the Trump presidency.

Dolan and Danchenko lunched in Moscow during the June 2016 trip  but it isn't Danchenko who stayed at the infamous hotel, the report underlines.

In addition to advising the Clintons, he worked with Ketchum public affairs and later kglobal.

The episode is described in a section on 'Trump's alleged salacious activity at the Ritz Carlton Moscow.'

A source of information identified by Durham as 'U.S. Person-1' took a tour of the the hotel and its Presidential Suite along with Dolan.

At the time, a staff member told them that Trump had stayed in the suite but 'did not mention' any salacious activity.

Dolan's own recollection was 'inconsistent' and 'vacillated' during an interview with Durham's team. He said he had no 'specific recollection' about telling Danchenko about Trump and the Presidential Suite.

Durham's office even interviewed the German citizen who was then the GM of the hotel  which appears to line up with dossier sourcing of a 'senior (western)' member of the hotel staff.

The hotel official denied hearing allegations about Trump. 'Further, the Office obtained records from the Ritz Carlton Moscow that reveal that Trump was a guest at the hotel in 2013, but did not stay in the Presidential Suite then or at any other time.'

Durham notes that Dolan returned to Washington, D.C. on June 15, 2016, and that just days later, on June 20, Steele described in his report an allegation describing 'salacious sexual activity that Trump allegedly had participated in while a guest at the Ritz Carlton Moscow.

The report also says Danchenko visited but did not stay in the Ritz in 2016, but spoke himself to hotel staff who 'did not deny' the validity of the allegations.

It connects the dots, saying based on the analysis Dolan was 'the only person who met with both Danchenko and the Ritz Carlton general manager (and other managers) during the June PLanning Trip was Dolan.'

Even after the years-long look and lengthy examination, Durham's team isn't making a definitive statement.

'Our investigation ... revealed that it was Dolan, not Danchenko, who actually interacted with the hotel staff identified in the Steele Reports, so between the two, Dolan appears the more likely source of the allegations,' it concludes.

During Danchenko's 2022 trial, Dolan testified that he lied when passing on information to the Russia expert about the firing of former Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort following disclosures about Manafort's lobbying and links to a Kremlin-backed political party.

He said he would 'dig around' and referenced a GOP friend, but admitted during testimony that he provided information from public reports and decided to 'embellish' it.
Chilling details have emerged of how a much-loved retiree was allegedly 'mutilated' after being stabbed to death.

Paul Anthony Coughlan, 68, has been charged with murder and interfering with a corpse after the lifeless body of retired teacher's aide Chris Gwin was found in his Conondale home on the Sunshine Coast Hinterland on Saturday.

Police allege Mr Gwin, 69, was stabbed to death in an unprovoked attack two days earlier.

A concerned friend went to Mr Gwin's home and made the grim discovery after he failed to meet with friends for a weekly dinner.

Coughlan didn't appear when the matter was heard in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Monday, where shocking new details were heard.

A court has heard how retired teacher's aide Chris Gwin (pictured) was allegedly mutilated by his accused killer after being stabbed to death

Police will allege Coughlin had 'mutilated' Mr Gwin's body after stabbing him sometime between 10am and 1pm last Thursday, court documents state.

The documents also stated Maroochydore man was mentally unwell and has been placed under the Mental Health Act, the Sunshine Coast Daily reported.

The court also heard Mr Gwin knew his alleged killer.

The case was adjourned until August 18 for committal mention. Coughlan remains behind bars and is referred to prison mental health.

Meanwhile, tributes continue to flow for Mr Gwin, who was well-liked in the close-knit community of Crystal Waters, where he lived for more than 20 years.

'One big hearted gentleman, passionate about the environment and those suffering,' one heartbroken friend wrote.

'And Chris wouldn't hurt a fly literally because of his Buddhist principles. So many people knew Chris, were touched by him.'

A crime scene remains set up at the Conondale home where Chris Gwin was found dead

Another wrote: 'He was just a wonderful, kind sweetheart of a man. He deserved so much more than this.

'I also found out he had cancer but didn't tell anyone. Just quietly went about living other people and living his life with grace and humour. I can't believe he's just gone.'

Neighbour and close friend Debra Fogarty described Mr Gwin's death as alarming.

'He's just quite a gentle, harmless guy,' Ms Fogarty told the ABC.

'For something to be so big here  it's quite scary for our community.'

The homicide investigation into Mr Gwin's death continues.

Crime scenes were set up at three properties.

Heartbroken locals described Chris Gwin (pictured) as a 'kind, gentle and peaceful' man

'Christopher is a well-liked member of the Crystal Waters community, who are shocked and saddened over his death,' Sunshine Coast Detective Inspector Christopher 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.'

Anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage recorded over the past week near the Conondale property are urged to call Crime Stoppers.
A New Zealand hostel hit by a horrific blaze that killed at least 10 people housed rough sleepers, pensioners and recently released prisoners, it has emerged.

Fire and emergency crews were called to the Loafers Lodge Hostel on Adelaide Road in Wellington just before 12:30am to battle a fire raging on the top floor.

Up to 52 people were evacuated from the building after but another 20 are believed to be unaccounted for.

Loafers Lodge advertises itself as an affordable place for people to stay while in Wellington but has been widely criticised for bedbugs and the poor quality of its rooms.

Locals have also reported that the hostel is mostly used as temporary accommodation for people leaving prison, the homeless and others who are considered vulnerable.

Hospital staff are also believe to have been staying at the Lodge at the time of the fire.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said on Tuesday: 'It's short term, hostel-type accommodation, so there will be people in there who potentially are in quite a vulnerable situation.'

Ministry of Social Development housing general manager Karen Hocking revealed that some of the people living in the building were those receiving financial assistance from the government.

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)

This could include people on welfare, low income and pensioners.

There were no vacancies at the hostel, which is also used for transient housing, except for a number of rooms being treated for bedbugs, Radio NZ reported.

Efforts to establish how many hospital staff were in Loafers Lodge at the time of the fire was underway by Capital and Coast District Health Board.

'We are aware that a number of our staff reside in the building, however we are not able to confirm numbers at this time,' a spokesman said this morning.

'We are working to establish whether they were in the building at the time of the incident, and to confirm their safety.'

A former resident of Loafers Lodge said he was 'horrified' to see the floor he previously stayed on had gone up in flames - and revealed how he had previously raised the alarm about safety concerns.

'I'm really angry that people have died,' he told Stuff.co.nz. 'It's not good enough.'

He said the fire alarms frequently went off in the building and the manager had told him not to worry because it was 'probably burnt toast'.

The unnamed man said he feared some residents would have heard the alarm and just stayed in their rooms.

A nearby shop owner added they were saddened but not surprised by the fire: The building was pretty rundown and it's had a pretty bad reputation in the past. It's just a maze in there.

A significant number of the residents were under the care of Wellington City Mission, which provides transitional housing for people without a home.

Meanwhile, Community Corrections staff confirmed they had people on community release staying at the lodge.

City Missioner Murray Edridge said many vulnerable people under their care had registered the lodge as their address.

'A significant proportion of residents of the lodge are under our care. This is an absolute disaster. These are people who are inherently vulnerable anyway. It's a tragedy for our community.

'Our plan is to try to contact people to establish if they are alright and if so what they need.

'We are working with the Council. We have offered social work to support people who are displaced, whether they are our clientele or not.

'We have offered food and support that they might need in the hours and days ahead.'

Deportee advocate Filipa Payne said the hostel was used by Prison Aid and Rehabilitation to house returned deportees.

Damage is seen on the Loafers Lodge hostel building following a fatal fire in Wellington

Up to 10 people have died after a fire broke out at a hostel building in central Wellington overnight amid fears there could be more fatalities (pictures is the Lodgers Loafers hostel)

'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.'

Others have criticised the lodge online, leaving scathing reviews on Google.

A source said: 'It was a pretty horrible hostel and many refused to stay there.

'It was full of drunks and junkies.'

One Google review read: 'Good if you're in a bind, but it's pretty gross and people will steal your stuff.'

Another said: 'A friend was staying there, the management kicked him out because he completed about bed bugs, so it's bed bug lodge. Do not stay there, manager does not care.'

While a third said: 'This place is run by lunatics. Don't stay here.'

Some reviews were more complimentary, with a man saying: 'If you're a lone wolf who doesn't cause trouble and doesn't want trouble, just prefers a safe, peaceful and quiet place where you can be your own self and not have to worry about being in the spotlight or being in a crowd, then this safe haven is the place for you.'

Ms Hocking added that Loafers Lodge was not currently used as a supplier of emergency housing.

The hostel was on a list of accommodation providers and had been used in the past but there were not currently any emergency housing clients there.

It has also been confirmed there were no 501 deportees there either.

'We sympathise with all those affected by the fire at Loafers Lodge in Wellington this morning,' Hocking said.

At least six people have died in a horror hostel fire, with fears dozens could be unaccounted for

'Our deepest sympathy to the families of those who have lost their lives.

'Some of the people who lived there have been in 'receipt of financial assistance from MSD', she said.

The ministry is yet to provide complete numbers about its clients in the building.

MSD was working closely with Wellington City Council, which was leading the welfare response, she said.

'Our staff are onsite at the welfare centre with other agencies to ensure the needs of those impacted are addressed.

'We will be working with all agencies to support the needs of our clients with clothing, footwear and working with those agencies to rehouse those displaced by the fire.'
Pictured: Skye Jerome outside ACT Supreme Court last year

A prosecutor in Bruce Lehrmann's rape trial sent the political staffer's defence lawyer a barrage of furious texts at 7am, demanding to know whether he leaked sensitive police documents to the media.

The heated exchange between Mr Lehrmann's barrister Steven Whybrow and prosecutor Skye Jerome appears in documents released by a Board of Inquiry, which is investigating how the trial last October was handed by prosecutors and police.

Mr Lehrmann was accused of raping Brittany Higgins in 2019 and was tried in a month-long hearing in the ACT Supreme Court. It was abandoned due to jury misconduct. He pleaded not guilty and has always maintained his innocence.

Ms Jerome sent the first message to Mr Whybrow on December 3 - the day after her senior counsel in the matter, the ACT Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold, publicly announced he dropped the case against Mr Lehrmann.

'Outrageous,' she wrote.

'Quoting all the police advices.'

She then sent him a link to a story in The Weekend Australian newspaper, which published a police document - known as the Moller report - less than a day after the case was dropped.

Mr Whybrow asked: 'What's happened now?'

Steven Whybrow (pictured) was Bruce Lehrmann's defence lawyer during the trial in October

Pictured: Texts between Skye Jerome and Steven Whybrow, during which she asked him if he leaked information to media

Ms Jerome replied: 'Who leaked the documents to The Australian?'

Mr Whybrow told her that he had 'no idea where that came from,' before he flipped the question on her and asked how news.com.au journalist Samantha Maiden found out the case was going to be dropped before the announcement.

Ms Jerome hit back and said -'I asked you a question'.

Mr Whybrow angrily responded: 'Hope you make the same accusation to the cops.'

The defence barrister was adamant he had not read the article and that none of his team was responsible.

She then sent him screenshots of the story, to which he replied: 'Wow. Thanks for sending. F**k.'

The inquiry is investigating whether there was political interference before, during and after Mr Lehrmann's trial.

Brittany Higgins is pictured, left, outside the ACT Supreme Court in October

Bruce Lehrmann, left, is pictured with Steven Whybrow. He has always maintained his innocence

The inquiry was prompted by a heated email Mr Drumgold sent to police on November 1 - before the sexual assault charge was dropped.

Mr Whybrow's statement to the inquiry reveals that on October 19 - while the jury was deliberating - he was contacted by a journalist at The Australian Janet Albrechtsen, who asked about the Moller report.

'I received a call from Janet Albrechtsen (journalist) asking me about a document she referred to as the ' Moller Report,' Mr Whybrow's statement read.

'From what she was telling me, I understood this to mean the Investigative Review Document or some parts of it.

'Ms Albrechtsen requested I confirm the document existed. I informed her I was not prepared to comment on the matter at all.

'I suggested she may wish to enquire with AFP media, the Police involved in the investigation, or lodge a Freedom of Information request for the document she was describing.'

Mr Whybrow then contacted Detective Inspector Marcus Boorman on October 20: 'Mate can you give me a call or better can we have a chat?'

In further texts, Detective Boorman said there was a 'lady' who wanted documentation but would need to obtain it through freedom of information.

Shen Drumgold (pictured) was heavily questioned by a Board of Inquiry last week

The report in question detailed claims that senior police officers in the investigation into Ms Higgins' allegations did not believe there was enough evidence to convict Mr Lehrmann.

The documents were not used during the trial because Mr Drumgold believed they contained 'inadmissible opinion evidence'.

Mr Drumgold was heavily questioned last week, and eventually conceded he no longer thought there was political interference in the case.

Mr Drumgold said the issues he had were with the police's ineptitude in handling the investigation, the inquiry heard.

On December 2, when the case was dropped, Mr Drumgold told reporters: 'During the investigation and trial, as a sexual assault complainant, Ms Higgins has faced a level of personal attacks that I have not seen in over 20 years of doing this work.'

'She has done so with bravery, grace and dignity, and it is my hope that this will now stop, and Ms Higgins will now be able to heal.'

Mr Whybrow was questioned by the inquiry on Monday and said he took issue with Mr Drumgold's comments because, he said, it implied Ms Higgins was a victim rather than an alleged victim.

'He's supposed to be an objective minister of justice and he could arguably have said 'no doubt this has had a significant impact on Mr Lehrmann whose had his life turned upside-down',' Mr Whybrow said.

The inquiry continues.
UK Study says humans can cope with the G-forces

Australians could soon be able to travel from Sydney to London in just two hours as part of an ambitious plan to fly travellers around the world via space.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority has funded a study researching how humans would cope with suborbital flights and the impact of G-force speeds on their bodies.

The results have been promising showing human bodies would recover well after bearing at least six times the usual force of the Earth's gravity.

The study has raised hopes residents could fly across the world in just two hours in the next decade - with the travel time drastically shorter than the current commercial flight time of 22 hours.

However, it could prove expensive - with the CAA predicting the cost of a ticket could be about $AUD655,600.75 (350,000) per passenger when the service launched.

The entrepreneur's Virgin Galactic space flights (pictured) is one of three companies that offer suborbital flights to adventurous and cash-laden travellers

It comes as the space industry and its regulators have forecasted getting from 'A to B' via suborbital travel will be available by the mid 2030s (pictured, an interior of a Virgin Galactic spaceship)

Travellers had a mixed reaction to the news with some open to the idea of flying via space while others said the idea of moving so quickly made them feel sick.

'I think I would be up for it yeah, it would be exciting and scary all at once,' an Australian told Channel Nine's Today on Tuesday.

Another woman said she could definitely not endure all the G-forces involved. 'I don't even do rollercoasters,' she said.

It's not the first time the idea of a two-hour flight between Australia and London has been raised by travel companies.

Virgin Group's Sir Richard Branson forecast it would become a reality within 'a generation' back in 2015.

The entrepreneur's Virgin Galactic is one of three companies that offer suborbital flights to adventurous and cash-laden travellers.

Elon Musk's SpaceX and Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin also promise to lift humans up into space - as long as they are prepared to part with a whopping $670,000 for one seat.

It comes as getting from 'A to B' via suborbital travel is expected to be available by the mid 2030s, according to regulators and experts in the space industry.

The super-fast flights would run rings around the current 22 hours and 40 minutes it can take for a Sydney flight to reach London - which includes at least one stopover across the mammoth 16,983 km distance.

One Virgin Atlantic flight from Sydney to London can take 33 hours to get there with a mammoth 11-hour layover in Los Angeles.

An Emirates flight has three to five hour waits in Dubai in store for travellers.

Qantas' Project Sunrise promises to give passengers a non-stop flight to Europe from Sydney by late 2025.

While there are 19-hour direct flights to London available now from Perth or Darwin.

The two-hour flights that would go through space for a short time before descending to their destination would be a relief for those who do the regular trips to Europe.

And the new research has shone a light on the resilience of would-be travellers bearing up under G-forces six times more than what humans are used to (pictured, a Virgin Galactic spacecraft in 2021)

The study that was funded by the UK Civil Aviation Authority - an aviation safety regulator - recreated the G-forces felt when a suborbital rocket and space plane launches into the air and descends

It would also cancel out frustrated passengers waiting around for delayed connecting flights or missing them altogether.

The new research has shone a light on the resilience of would-be travellers bearing G-forces six times more than what humans are used to.

Tests done on 24 young and healthy people between the ages of 32 and 80 at the RAF centrifuge at Cranwell in Lincolnshire, England showed most of the effects were not harmful.

The study that was funded by CAA - an aviation safety regulator - recreated the G-forces felt when a suborbital rocket and space plane launches into the air and descends.

The G-forces reached four times the normal gravity of Earth for 20-30 seconds when the spacecraft went up and then went to to six times the weight on descent for 10-15 seconds.

It revealed the older generations could handle the G-forces better than the younger ones, the study published in the Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance monthly journal said.

The medical lead for flight at the CAA Dr Ryan Anderton told The Times the 'stiffer arteries' in older people can minimise the pooling of blood away from the brain.

'For the vast majority of people, even older people, that's not necessarily going to present a problem and there isn't a detrimental effect long-term,' Dr Anderton said.

'What we're trying to do in research is determine which individuals might be more susceptible and what we might have to screen them for.'

The experiments showed the G-forces created a heavy sensation on the chest, which restricted breathing and in turn can reduce the intake of oxygen.

It also affected the rhythm of the heart and made blood pool away from the brain.

The experiments showed the G-forces created a heavy sensation on the chest, which restricted breathing and in turn can reduce the intake of oxygen (pictured, a Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity comes in for a landing after its suborbital test flight in Mojave, California)

'I think in my children's lifetime you'll definitely be able fly London to Australia, in the air, I think you could be less than two hours,' Sir Richard Branson said in 2015

The study also found participants had a 'greying out' of peripheral vision when the G-force was at its strongest and a rise in heart rate and blood pressure.

But it discovered people were able to recover well afterwards.

One of the human guinea pigs lost consciousness during the process but had no long lasting effects.

The dream of 'ultra fast long-haul travel' is not a new one for entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson.

'I think in my children's lifetime you'll definitely be able fly London to Australia, in the air, I think you could be less than two hours,' he said in 2015.

'By the time you've got through the airport etcetera, it could be more like four or five hours. But the flight itself could be really quick.'

But social media commenters were skeptical about the long-term affects a trip like this would have on a traveller's health and hip pocket.

'At what cost ? Be out of most peoples price range,' one said.

The distance from Sydney to London is 17,000km. You have to be flying 8,500km/h to get there in two hours. Good luck to your internal organs and brain,' another said.

'Best thing to do is leave Sydney,' a third wrote.
Donald Trump has lashed out at ex- FBI Director James Comey after a new report concluded his probe into alleged Russian collusion should never have been opened.

The former president, who has long decried that investigation as a 'witch hunt', said in an interview with Fox News Digital that those officials should be held accountable.

'I, and much more importantly, the American public have been victims of this long-running and treasonous charade started by the Democrats  started by Comey,' the 76-year-old real estate mogul said.

'Public anger over this report is at a level that I have not seen before...there must be a heavy price to there pay for putting our country through this,' he added.

Trump's political opponents claimed for years that he colluded with Vladimir Putin to interfere in the 2016 election

Trump, who is the runaway favorite for Republican presidential nomination, later hit out at the FBI once more on his Truth Social platform.

'WOW! After extensive research, Special Counsel John Durham concludes the FBI never should have launched the Trump-Russia Probe!' Trump said.

'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!' he added.

The report by special counsel John Durham, released earlier on Monday, found the Department of Justice and FBI 'failed to uphold their mission of strict fidelity to the law'

It comes after his years-long investigation into the origins of the FBI's original investigation, known as 'Crossfire Hurricane.'

Investigators were looking into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia to influence the 2016 presidential election.

Durham's task, according to an order by then-attorney general Barr, was to look into the origins of Crossfire Hurricane, which was launched in July 2016, as well as special counsel Robert Mueller's subsequent investigation initiated in May 2017.

But the special counsel said senior FBI personnel showed 'a serious lack of analytical rigor' and a 'significant reliance on investigative leads provided or funded (directly or indirectly) by Trump's political opponents.'

In a statement, the FBI said the current leadership of the bureau has implemented dozens of corrective actions.

'Had those reforms been in place in 2016, the missteps identified in the report could have been prevented,' the FBI said in a statement.

Trump has repeated trashed claims of Russian collusion as a 'hoax' and 'a witch hunt'

Special Counsel John Durham has been investigating the FBI probe for the past four years

Durham's investigation led to the indictments of a Russian national and a prominent Washington lawyer for making false statements to the FBI but both were acquitted.

The Russian, Igor Danchenko, was accused of supplying information for a report that contained unverified salacious information about Trump and Russia known as the 'Steele dossier', compiled by a former British intelligence agent, Christopher Steele.

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 then sent a copy to top members of Congress before making it public.

Lindsey Graham, a Republican lawmaker from South Carolina, used the findings to lash out at the U.S. media.

'The New York Times and Washington Post were given a Pulitzer Prize for writing a bunch of politically motivated crap,' Graham wrote on Twitter.

'When it comes to reporting on Donald Trump, the mainstream media is dead,' he added.
The Australia Day letter Victorian Premier Dan Andrews didn't want voters to read has finally been released after a sudden U-turn in his bid to block its publication.

The draft email outlines the state government's stance on the two sides of the bitter row surrounding Australia Day, with the letter both celebrating it and condemning it.

Victoria's Liberal opposition filed a Freedom of Information application to access the government's reply to a constituent's email about changing the date of the holiday.

The Department of Premier and Cabinet blocked its release, insisting it would be 'contrary to the public interest' and said it may cause 'confusion and unnecessary debate'.

But the Premier's department has now dropped a legal bid to prevent its publication after being over-ruled by The Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner.

The Australia Day letter Victorian Premier Dan Andrews (pictured) didn't want voters to read has finally been released after a sudden U-turn in his bid to block its publication

The draft email outlines the state government's stance on the two sides of the bitter row surrounding Australia Day (pictured), with the letter both celebrating it and condemning it

The draft was written for Aboriginal Affairs Minister Gabrielle Williams on behalf of Premier Andrews and tells the un-named constituent that Australia Day is set by the federal government, and can't be changed by the state.

'For some people, Australia Day is an opportunity to celebrate the diversity and multiculturalism in Victoria and the things that we have in common that bring us together,' it says.

'However, I acknowledge that for some people, particularly our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities, 26 January can be a difficult day and rightly so.

'It can be a day of mourning, loss and trauma because of colonisation, child removal and dispossession of traditional lands.

'For other Aboriginal people the day represents the strength and survival of First Peoples' cultures and traditions. I note you have raised some of these points in your email.'

The email adds that Australia Day can be a 'day of mourning, loss and trauma' (pictured, independent senator Lidia Thorpe at an Invasion Day rally in Melbourne on Australia Day 2023)

The draft email (pictured) was written for Aboriginal Affairs Minister Gabrielle Williams on behalf of Premier Dan Andrews and tells the un-named constituent that Australia Day is set by the Federal Government, and can't be changed by the state

It adds: 'In Victoria we aim to get the balance right on Australia Day by acknowledging the nation's past as we look ahead to shaping a better, more inclusive future for all Victorians.'

The final version of the email which was actually sent remains a mystery as it is missing from the state's documents management system.

Victoria's shadow special minister for state David Davis blasted the 'chronic secrecy' around Premier Andrews' government which had tried to block the email's release.

'Daniel Andrews and Labor's chronic secrecy is typified by their resistance to the release of these Australia Day letter drafts,' he told The Australian.

'What do they have to hide? The letters on one hand adopt a black arm band view, effectively disparaging Australia Day, despite its overwhelming popularity with the Victorian community.'

He acknowledged that the letter also hailed the date's importance to Victoria's migrant community as a chance to celebrate their citizenship.

But he added: 'Nowhere does the rhetoric in the Andrews Labor government's letters recognise or even concede the vital significance of Victoria's British heritage or its significance to our constitutional and political history.'
New Delhi/Brussels, May 16 (UNI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, along with Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Union Minister of State for Electronics and Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar met EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the Prime Minister of Belgium Alexander De Croo, during which talks were held on trade, technology and geopolitics.

In tweets, the EAM said:

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.

On their meeting with the Belgium PM Alexander De Croo, he said that they discussed the 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.

The Belgium PM, in a tweet on the meeting said they held productive discussions on ways to enhance the partnership between Belgium, the EU, and India.

Had a productive meeting with @DrSJaishankar, @PiyushGoyal and

@Rajeev_GoI, discussing ways to enhance the partnership between Belgium, the EU, and India.

Focused on strengthening ties in key areas like renewable energy and technology, aiming for shared progress and prosperity.

The EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a tweet said she held an excellent meeting with the Indian ministerial team for the first EU-India Trade and Tech Council. She also said the EU is committed to negotiating an ambitious free trade agreement with India.

Excellent meeting with @DrSJaishankar @PiyushGoyal @Rajeev_GoI for the first EU-India Trade & Tech Council.



As strategic partners we will work to upgrade our relations on digital, clean tech and trade.



The EU is committed to negotiating an ambitious free trade agreement with India.

Piyush Goyal, in a tweet said: A new chapter in the India-EU partnership. #TTC

It was a pleasure to meet the President of the European Commission @VonderLeyen.

Delighted to call on the Prime Minister of Belgium H.E. @AlexanderDeCroo with my colleagues @DrSJaishankar ji &

@Rajeev_GoI ji.

Had an excellent discussion on deepening our bilateral cooperation and giving further impetus to the growing India-EU partnership.

EAM is visiting Brussels, from May 15-16, for bilateral engagements with Belgian and EU officials.

He is attending the first Ministerial Meeting of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council along with Minister of Commerce Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Electronics Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

The TTC Ministerial Meeting is scheduled to be held on May 16.

UNI RN
A fundraiser for the ex-Marine soared past $2.3million in donations for defense

Penny, 24, was filmed restraining Jordan Neely on a New York subway on May 1

Daniel Penny's attorney said the Marine vet was ambushed by criminal charges

The lawyer for Marine veteran Daniel Penny who was filmed choking a 'deranged' man on a New York City subway said his client was ambushed by the charges against him.

In a new interview with FOX News' Jeanine Pirro, Steve Raiser said Penny, 24, simply 'wanted to help his passengers' aboard the F train in Manhattan from Jordan Neely, 30.

The attorney also said their team was shocked when Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg announced charges, despite having been allegedly told the process would be slow.

'We were told that there was going to be a grand jury presentation and that would take some time. 'It was going to be a very kind of deliberate process. It was not going to be rushed.

'Then suddenly we got a call one night before Daniel's to surrender,' Raiser said. The lawyer's interview comes just days after Penny turned himself in to prosecutors and hours after a fundraiser for the Marine soared to over $2million.

The lawyer for Marine veteran Daniel Penny who was filmed choking a 'deranged' man on a New York City subway says his client was ambushed by the charge against him

In a new interview with FOX News' Jeanine Pirro, Steve Raiser, pictured, said his client simply 'wanted to help his passengers'

A GiveSendGo for Daniel Penny has reached $2.3 million as of Monday evening

In his interview with Pirro, Raiser said the Marine had nothing in his mind except protecting himself and those around him.

'When he acted, his mind-set was to keep his fellow passengers safe from attack. Neely entering the train and acting in a very violent manner. Both physically and with the words,' the attorney said.

Last week, a subway rider on the train at the time of the chokehold death of Neely said the erratic passenger was threatening others on the train.

Raiser said the man's concerning behavior has been verified by fellow passengers and that he was disrupting others' travels with troubling claims.

'Saying things to the effect, 'I need certain things. I need food, this or that and if I don't get it, I don't care if I go to prison for the rest of my life' and the passengers had actually said they interpreted that to mean, when would you go to prison for the rest of your life? If you kill somebody. Everybody got the message,' he said.

The lawyer also claimed passengers reported Neely swinging at others on the train.

Since being taken into custody, Raiser said Penny has been fully cooperative with DA Bragg and the investigation despite the surprise of being charged.

Raiser claimed prosecutors called their team and said: 'He's got to surrender to the police department tomorrow.'

The statement shocked Raiser and Penny. 'What do you mean tomorrow?' the lawyer said. 'This was going to be a long process. Suddenly it is tomorrow.

'When he acted, his mind-set was to keep his fellow passengers safe from attack. Neely entering the train and acting in a very violent manner,' Raiser said during the interview

'Thank you for protecting the citizens that day,' one person wrote on a fundraiser for Penny

In the interview, Raiser also denied claims that the chokehold death of the passenger was racially motivated when asked by Pirro.

'None of that is based on the facts. As to race, it's simply not the motivation for Danny,' he said.

He [Penny] is the one that put himself in danger to save who? All the people on that train. Black people, brown people, white people. It didn't matter to Danny. Danny put his life at risk to save all those people,' the attorney continued.

'Has nothing to do with race,' he said.

The interview with Penny's lawyer comes as donations continue to pour in for the Marine vet.

On Monday, a GiveSendGo organized for his legal defense hit $2.3 million just days after it was launched.

More than 47,000 people have donated to the campaign and some 34,000 people have left prayers and messages of encouragement.

Several anonymous donors have contributed $10,000 each.

'Thank you for protecting the citizens that day,' one person wrote.

'Do the right thing. Dan did. It's not that tough,' another added.

People attend a vigil at City Hall Park for Jordan Neely on May 11

Last week, Penny's family called out Manhattan prosecutors for charging their loved one while not charging two other men who assisted in subduing Neely.

Whereas Penny was charged with second-degree manslaughter, the two other men have walked free and have never been named.

'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.'

Neely's family, on the other hand, have spoken out after his death and called for Penny to be charged in his murder.

The family also urged New Yorkers not to shy away from erratic, homeless people on the subway even if they're behaving threateningly.
A resident living inside a New Zealand hostel that burst into flames was forced to jump from a fourth storey window onto a roof in a desperate attempt to save himself.

Tala Sili was inside the Loafers Lodge Hostel, in Wellington, early on Tuesday morning when the building caught alight - killing at least 10 residents. The death toll is expected to rise with at least 11 people unaccounted for.

The 92-room hostel was home to hospital staff, Kiwis who have been deported from Australia, meatworkers, pensioners and former prisoners on community release.

Mr Sili had been living in the hostel for a year and said he sprained his ankle frantically jumping from the window on the highest floor onto a roof two storeys below.

'I was on the top floor and I couldn't go through the hallway because there was just too much smoke so I jumped out the window,' Mr Sili told Radio NZ.

Tala Sili is now on crutches after jumping out of a fourth storey window onto a roof two floors below after the Loafers Lodge hostel in Wellington caught alight

'It was just scary, it was really scary, but I knew I had to jump out the window or just burn inside the building.'

Mr Sili was rescued by paramedics from the roof with a ladder and is now on crutches.

He said while he couldn't see the flames himself, he could feel the severe heat from the inferno.

'The smoke was really dark and heavy, it smelled like poison,' he told NewsHub.

'I've basically lost everything.'

Tala Sili was inside the Loafers Lodge Hostel, in Wellington, early on Tuesday morning when the building caught alight (pictured later on Tuesday morning)

The hostel was engulfed in flames. Authorities believe the fire may have been deliberately lit

Another resident, Tamrat Isse Adan, who's lived in the hostel since last year, is now worried that his neighbour may not have made it out alive.

'I'm very sad, very sad. My neighbour, he's missing, maybe he's dead, police say there's a lot of people missing. Very sad,' he told Stuff.

Mr Adan was in his room on the second floor when he realised a fire had erupted and has now lost everything except his phone and a jacket.

'When I come from the toilet there was smoke everywhere ... people running everywhere. I just jumped to my room, and I take my jacket and my mobile, that's it,' he said.

Firefighters are seen at the scene of the fire. At least 20 fire trucks were called

He said the smoke alarm went off several times a week so residents of the hostel didn't think much when it was triggered.

One Loafers Lodge Hostel resident, Chris, who's lived on the third floor since November, said the stairwell was covered in 'thick, black smoke'.

'It was hard to breathe,' Chris told NewsHub.

'I'm worried about all the elderly people in there that ain't strong or fit enough to get out. It would've been hard for them to get out of the building, especially on the top floors.'

He believed there was two fires, and the first was put out quickly but the second took hold of the building.

When Chris first woke to hear the fire alarm, he said he went into the hallway but didn't notice anything wrong.

One Loafers Lodge Hostel resident, Chris, who's lived on the third floor since November, said the stairwell was covered in 'thick, black smoke'

'But then it was the neighbour [shouting] ''fire! fire!'' and the whole hallway was filled with smoke,' he told the NZ Herald.

He quickly grabbed his phone and fled the burning building.

'I was then thinking ''what else do I grab'', but then was like ''ah, f**k this I'm out of here'',' he said.

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.

It was put out at about 6am local time.

Emergency crews rescued 52 people from the inferno, with five people needing to be rescued from the roof by a helicopter.

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.
A trade minister has appealed to hospitality and retail bosses to share data with the Government on how the hated 'tourist tax' is damaging Britain's economy.

In a significant step for the campaign to bri ng back tax-free shopping, Nigel Huddleston said the Treasury would consider whether to retain the levy ahead of the Autumn Statement.

He made the comments in response to the Daily Mail's bid to 'Scrap the Tourist Tax', which has won the backing of 200 business chiefs and dozens of cross-party MPs and peers.

Campaigners say bringing back tax-free shopping for tourists could bring in hundreds of millions of pounds a year and support jobs in a range of sectors across the country.

Mr Huddleston said the Government was 'open to engagement' with businesses demanding the policy be re-examined.

Trade minister Nigel Huddleston has appealed to hospitality and retail bosses to share data with the Government on how the hated 'tourist tax' is damaging Britain's economy

'If they have got information and data to bring into us then we're always open to that, particularly at the Department for Business and Trade,' he told LBC radio yesterday.

The minister said he did not know whether the tax was 'under review', but said: 'Tax policy is always looked at in the advance of fiscal events, the next one being later on this year.'

His comments were last night hailed as 'real progress' by hotelier Sir Rocco Forte, who organised the letter to the Chancellor signed by 200 business chiefs.

Mr Huddleston acknowledged the tax may 'influence' tourists in deciding where to travel  but said there were 'many reasons why people come to the UK'.

'It's not just about the amount of tax that people pay, but it 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.

Mr Huddleston warned scrapping the tax would lead to 'some loss of revenue which we need to pay for our essential services'.

He said: 'So it's all a matter of balance and making sure that we balance out what comes in versus what the dynamic impacts may be of changing a policy like this. The Treasury will always look at this. I engage with the hospitality industry as well, as do many colleagues.

He made the comments in response to the Daily Mail's bid to 'Scrap the Tourist Tax', which has won the backing of 200 business chiefs and dozens of cross-party MPs and peers

'The appeal is please give us the data and the information and then that will help inform our decision-making.'

Responding to his comments, Sir Rocco said: 'This looks like real progress in the campaign to restore tax-free shopping.

'For the first time, we have a minister asking for evidence from business on the impact and saying the decision will be reviewed ahead of the autumn statement.

'It is significant that it is a minister from the trade department who seems open to argument rather than the Treasury, since it is the Treasury's short-sighted economic modelling that led to the tourist tax in the first place.

'We are... confident that any serious analysis of the economic impact will show that the UK is missing out on billions of pounds in lost spending in shops, hotels, theatres, restaurants, pubs, taxis and tourist attractions.

'The tourist tax is a spectacular own goal for UK Plc and it must be reversed. It is also not acceptable that we should have to wait until the autumn statement for action, by which time we will have lost a whole season of potential business. The Government should act sooner.'
An anti-bullying firm that was handed 140,000 to crackdown on harassment in the Cabinet Office has been accused of disability discrimination itself by one of its founders.

The Cabinet Office is said to be 'urgently reviewing' its contract with the Manchester-based company Culture Shift, which was announced only last month.

The organisation which provides 'real-time reporting platform to identify and prevent harassment and bullying' was introduced to Whitehall to allow civil servants to 'anonymously report incidents of Bullying, Harassment or Discrimination'.

The firm was handed the contract just days after former Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab resigned over allegations of bullying staff. Mr Raab always denied the claims.

But now former co-founder of Culture Shift, Stuart Bradley, who helped create the business in 2018, claims he was unfairly dismissed himself, as his long Covid symptoms should have been considered as a disability under the Equality Act.

Co-founder of Culture Shift, Stuart Bradley (pictured), claims he was unfairly dismissed from the company on the grounds of disability discrimination

Culture Shift was handed 140,000 to crackdown on harassment in the Cabinet Office has been accused of disability discrimination itself by one of its founders

According to The Times, a tribunal ruled that Mr Bradley was able to proceed with the liability hearing and unfair dismissal case against Culture Shift Communications Ltd.

Speaking in light of the findings, Mark Serwotka, the general secretary of the civil servant's union PCS, said the new contract was 'extremely worrying'.

A Cabinet Office source also told The Times: 'We are urgently reviewing the circumstances around how this contract was awarded.'

The findings come as the Cabinet Office has come under scrutiny for its bullying allegations.

Last year, an independent report found that one in ten civil servants working in the Cabinet Office, amounting to 1,000 staff, had suffered from some form of bullying, harassment or discrimination.

This included non-white civil servants feeling alienated or suffering from 'microaggressions' such as being mistaken for a colleague of the same ethnicity.

Following his resignation, Mr Raab blasted 'activist' anti-Brexit civil servants and their 'passive aggressive culture'.

Speaking to the BBC in the hours following his departure he claimed his departure would spark a 'very dangerous precedent' within Whitehall and could mean it's 'almost impossible for ministers to deliver for the British people'.

Last month, Dominic Raab resigned from his position as deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary amid bullying allegations

Culture Shift co-founder Gemma McCall (pictured) tweeted following Mr Raab's resignation: 'Greater leaders should and can inspire and motivate their team to achieve success without resorting to shouting, bullying or intimidation'

After Mr Raab stepped down from his position in Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Cabinet, the chief executive of Culture Shift Gemma McCall tweeted: 'Greater leaders should and can inspire and motivate their team to achieve success without resorting to shouting, bullying or intimidation.'

The organisation, which claims to have an 'exceptional workplace culture', is expected to roll out a pilot of 1,000 civil servants before expanding more widely to up to 10,000.

It comes amid warnings that civil service morale is in decline, according to a survey published in October by Civil Service People Survey, with the number of individuals experiencing discrimination rising year on year.

A Cabinet Office spokesperson told the newspaper: 'All contracts are reviewed and awarded through robust due diligence processes and in line with procurement regulations and transparency guidelines.'

Culture Shift and Mr Bradley both declined to comment when asked by the Times.

MailOnline has also contacted the Cabinet Office, Culture Shift and Mr Bradley.
Two fast-food businesses in Victoria are facing hundreds of charges for allegedly breaking child labour laws.

Red Rooster in Wodonga has been hit with 355 criminal charges while iconic ice cream chain Cold Rock in Shepparton is facing 124 criminal charges, amid a crackdown by the state's child employment watchdog.

Wage Inspectorate Victoria alleges both businesses breached the Child Employment Act on various occasions, including for employing children for more hours than they were allowed to work.

Each faces fines of up to $20,000 per breach of the law.

A Red Rooster outlet at Wodonga, Victoria is alleged to have employed several children under the age of 15 without the appropriate permit on nearly 170 occasions (pictured, Red Rooster's Wodonga store)

It has been claimed the Wodonga Red Rooster also employed several children under the age of 15 without the appropriate permit on nearly 170 occasions.

The business also allegedly failed to ensure child employees were supervised by a staff member with a Working with Children Clearance.

Meanwhile, Cold Rock in Shepparton is accused of failing to provide sufficient breaks of at least 30 minutes every three hours and employing children later than 9pm.

Wage Inspectorate Victoria Commissioner Robert Hortle said the charges would put other businesses on notice, particularly those in regional areas.

'These are the type of businesses where many kids get their first job, so people rightly expect them to have a strong focus on creating a safe workplace for kids, which is what child employment laws help ensure,' he said.

It follows another case involving Muffin Break Southland, in Melbourne's Cheltenham.

Cold Rock in Shepparton (pictured) is accused of failing to provide sufficient breaks of at least 30 minutes every three hours and employing children later than 9pm

The small business was hit with 360 charges last month relating to various breaches, including failure to provide breaks and obtain the necessary permits.

Victoria's child labour laws restrict when businesses can employ children and for how long they can work.

Children must receive a 30-minute rest break after every three hours of work and cannot work after 9pm.

Workers under 15 must be supervised by someone who holds a valid employee Victorian Working with Children Clearance.

AAP has contacted the businesses for comment.
The detective who led the search for evil police officer Wayne Couzens has been drafted in to help find the body of Muriel McKay who was murdered more than 50 years ago.

Detective Superintendent Katherine Goodwin, who tracked down Sarah Everard's murderer Couzens within a week of him snatching the 33-year-old off the streets of south London, met with Ms McKay's impassioned family last week.

Ms McKay, 55, was the victim of a bungled abduction by Nizamodeen Hosein and his older brother Arthur Hosein in 1969 after they mistook her for the Anna Murdoch - the then wife of media baron Rupert Murdoch.

The Trinidadian brothers forced their way into the McKay home in Wimbledon, south London, on December 29 and bundled her into a car before taking her to Rooks Farm in Hertfordshire where they lived.

Posing as mafia, they then demanded 1million for the return of Ms McKay, who was married to Mr Murdoch's deputy Alick McKay. She was never seen alive again and her body has never been found to this day.

Detective Superintendent Katherine Goodwin (pictured) met with Muriel McKay's determined family last week

DSI Goodwin tracked down killer cop Wayne Couzens (pictured) within a week of him murdering Sarah Everard

Ms McKay's (pictured) family are still determined to find her body after she was murdered in 1969 during a bungled abduction by Nizamodeen Hosein and his older brother Arthur Hosein after they mistook her for the wife of media tycoon Rupert Murdoch

Ms McKay's family wrote to Sir Mark Rowley when he became Met Police commissioner and asked him to review the attempts made to uncover her body last April, according to The Times.

Murder detectives were seen searching the Hertfordshire farm after Nizamodeen Hosein confessed for the first time that her body had been buried on the 11-acre farm where she was held.

DSI Goodwin, who oversaw the Met's inquiry into Ms Everard's disappearance, has joined efforts to find and dig up Ms McKay's body on the farm.

At the time of the trial in 1970, the brothers, then 22 and 34, were found guilty of Ms McKay's murder in one of Britain's first convictions without a body being found.

For five decades, they had refused to say where her body was until Nizamodeen finally came clean in 2021.

Despite efforts to excavate the area, Ms McKay's body was not found. Her family now want a warrant to search another part of the farm as they believe police were searching the wrong area.

Mark Dyer, Ms McKay's grandson, said: 'We are in a unique position. How often do you have a murderer telling the victim's family where they buried the body? I told DSI Goodwin that this is a fresh slate and I believe she is the right person to move things forward.'

Nizamodeen (right) and Arthur Hosein (left) were convicted of her murder though police never recovered McKay's body

Nizmodeen (above) revealed the site where Ms McKay was buried for the first time in 2021

The brothers thought they were abducting Rupert Murdoch's then wife Anna Murdoch, pictured here in 1988

The McKay's had a formal settlement with Nizamodeen Hosein, who declined any financial reward for his help, while his brother Arthur died in prison in 2009.

Nizamodeen first revealed Ms McKay's whereabouts after he was tracked down in Trinidad by documentary makers covering the story last year.

He told Matthew Gayle, a British barrister in Trinidad hired by the family, that he wanted 'closure' before he died and so would reveal the location of McKay's body.

He said: 'At the farmhouse there's a wooden gate, there's a few wooden gates, it has barn beside, barn beside, and ten foot forward, ten foot this side [left], the body's somewhere around there. Next to the barbed wire fence, about three foot [from the fence].'

He also said he was the only person who buried Ms McKay, refusing to implicate his brother Arthur who was also convicted for her murder.

Nizamodeen also protested he had not killed Ms McKay, maintaining instead that she had collapsed and later died from a heart attack while while watching a news report of her kidnapping.

He said he panicked, dug a hole behind a barn near the farmhouse and buried her after wrapping her body in a coat.

Ms McKay was kidnapped after the brothers tailed a chauffeured Rolls-Royce belonging to Mr Murdoch that was on loan to her husband Mr McKay.

Investigators digging in fields where they believed the remains of Ms McKay were in April 2022. Ms McKay's family want police to search another area

Nizmodeen Hosein protested he had not killed McKay, maintaining instead that she had collapsed and later died from a heart attack while sitting downstairs in the farmhouse (pictured) watching the news of her kidnapping on TV

She was snatched in the brothers' Volvo and taken to Rooks Farm, where they lived with Arthur's wife and children, who were on holiday at the time.

Newspaper executive Mr McKay returned home to find the telephone ripped off the wall and the contents of his wife's handbag strewn over the hall.

He later received a call from a man demanding 1million if Ms McKay was to be returned alive, sparking the UK's first high-profile, kidnap-for-ransom case.

Over the 40-day ordeal the brothers, who claimed to be a mafia group called M3, sent three letters and made 18 further calls demanding the money. They also sent Ms McKay's husband five letters allegedly written by her, including one in which she said she was cold and blindfolded, as proof of life.

Two attempts by police to deliver fake notes to the kidnappers failed but the second try led officers to Rooks Farm, where Ms McKay was taken by the brothers.

At the time of revealing the location of Ms McKay's body, Nizmodeen also agreed to talk to Ms McKay's daughter Dianne in a video call.

Dianne said the revelation gave her 'a sense of comfort, just to think she was buried somewhere' especially as 'there was so much horrible speculation about being fed to pigs.'

She said she was 'desperately keen to find [Ms McKay's] body' and that if remains were found she and her siblings would have to decide what to do with them.

A spokesman for the Met said: 'We continue to review any opportunities to recover Muriel's body and return her to her family.'
A group of sorority sisters at the University of Wyoming have broken cover to express their fear that a trans woman will be allowed to move into their house next term.

The seven Kappa Kappa Gamma girls, who filed a lawsuit against the college, claim Artemis Langford, 21, has been visibly aroused while being in their company.

Langford, who is 6'2' and weighs 260lbs, is not currently living in the property but has spent a 'significant' amount of time there alongside 50 other young women and has been granted permission to move into the Sorority House from September.

The women who already live there are now speaking out and said the move leaves them feeling 'vulnerable' and 'uncomfortable'.

'It is really uncomfortable. Some of the girls have been sexually assaulted or sexually harassed. Some girls live in constant fear in our home,' one of the sisters, Hannah, told Megyn Kelly on her podcast on Monday.

Female students who are part of a sorority at the University of Wyoming have spoken of their fear that a trans woman is to be allowed to move into their house next year

A lawsuit filed by seven sorority sisters of Kappa Kappa Gamma (KKG) claims that transgender Artemis Langford, 21, seen top right comes to the house to stare at them

Langford is alleged to have become physically aroused while being in the company of the sorority sisters

'Men are never allowed on the second floor of our house apart from moving in and moving out.

'So it is an only-female space and not like living in the dorms. We share just a couple of main bathrooms but it is supposed to be safe space for us to rest our head at night.'

One of the sisters is now demanding the management of the Sorority ensure that the home is preserved as an 'female only' safe space.

In the lawsuit, obtained by Cowboy StateDaily, it is claimed Langford would stare at the girls in a common-area for hours without talking.

All of the women are calling for a judge to declare Langford sorority membership as void and to award unspecified damages according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit states: 'An adult human male does not become a woman just because he tells others that he has a female 'gender identity' and behaves in what he believes to be a stereotypically female manner,

A lawsuit filed by some of sorority sisters alleges Langford, top left, has exhibited inappropriate behavior, including staring at the girls and being openly aroused

Langford, who is 6'2' and weighs 260lbs, is not currently living in the property but has spent a 'significant' amount of time there alongside 50 other women and is expected to move in soon

'The Fraternity Council has betrayed the central purpose and mission of Kappa Kappa Gamma by conflating the experience of being a woman with the experience of men engaging in behavior generally associated with women.'

Prior to the vote on Langford's admittance to the sorority, several members of the sisterhood claim that the president and membership chair of the Chapter simply dismissed their concerns.

'It's a weird gut wrenching feeling that every time I leave my room I'll walk past him in the hall in whatever setting that may be. And it's never a pleasant encounter and that's the scary part. This just goes to show that we need women's spaces for that reason. Our house is our home,' Jaylyn said to Kelly on the podcast.

'All of the bathrooms are shared spaces and there are no private changing areas or locks. It's very open and vulnerable.'

The women say they understand that a transwoman such as Langford also needs to be protected and have their own safe space - but moving into their home is not the answer.

Some senior members of the sorority have also encouraged the sisters to welcome Langford to the group (file photo)

Before Langford was voted in, KKG sent out a Google document for members to vote on - which they were initially told would be anonymous

'There has been an exemption granted for his safety but not for us,' Ellie explained to Kelly. 'They have decided that the individual does not need to live in the house but this individual has gotten preferential treatment.

'He [Langford] still come to the house and engages in dinners and sits in chairs to watch the girls.'

The eight sisters from KKG could all be seen nodding in agreement.

'We lost quite a few members as a result of this. I refuse to subvert my rights as a women to cater towards the comfort of a man. Everyone needs to be treated with dignity and request but there's a line and it has been crossed,' Cassie explained.

'We can't allow woke culture to be the arbiter of what sisterhood is. It's a shared experience. It's growth and development. This experience is not doing this individual any justice whatsoever.'

The lawsuit also alleged that Langford 'has, while watching members enter the sorority house, had an erection visible through his leggings. Other times, he has had a pillow in his lap.'

They also accused him of taking photos of them at a slumber party and to have made inappropriate comments to them.

Senior members reportedly told the group 'regardless of what your political views are, our Kappa values are acceptance and kindness so if that is something that you disagree with, that's not in line with Kappa values'

Fellow sisters reportedly later revealed to her that Langford had 'his hands over his genitals' and appeared sexually aroused. Pictured, the University of Wyoming campus in Laramie

It continued: 'Langford repeatedly questioned the women about what vaginas look like, breast cup size, whether women were considering breast reductions and birth control'.

He was reportedly supposed to leave the party by 10pm but stayed until midnight and returned the next morning where he reportedly stood in the corner watching the girls change out of their pajamas.

One of the women claimed she didn't know her sorority sister had returned to the residence and had changed out of her pajama top without a bra on and when she turned around she found Langford staring at her, the complaint alleged.

Fellow sisters reportedly later revealed to her that Langford had 'his hands over his genitals' and appeared sexually aroused.

'Since that event, Mr. Smith [Langford] has repeatedly asked [the woman] about her romantic attachments,' the lawsuit read.

The women also claimed that Langford is attracted to women, which they say is evident on her Tinder profile 'through which he seeks to meet women.'

Another alleged she watched her walked down the hallway in a towel and that she sat at the back of the room during a group yoga class in December and 'watched the assembled young women flex their bodies,' the lawsuit said.

One member even said that she was called a 'bigot and a transphobe' for not wanting to shower and sleep with Langford in the same area

But one sorority sister said Langford had not made 'any effort' to 'physically look like a girl', adding: 'He's just calling himself a girl. All you have to do is identify as a she/her'

Langford also identifies as male on a Washington State driver's license even though she legally could have identified on it as female or 'X' gender, the lawsuit alleges.

But supporters of the community say trans women are already vulnerable, and that it is unfair to persecute the vast majority who just want to live their lives in peace because of the actions of a few bad apples.

It wasn't simply the managers of the Chapter who pushed for Langford to be admitted, but other senior members of the sorority also encouraged the sisters to welcome Langford to the group.

They reportedly told the group 'regardless of what your political views are, our Kappa values are acceptance and kindness so if that is something that you disagree with, that's not in line with Kappa values.'

Another member allegedly said: 'It's 2022. If you vote no, it better be for, like, literal issues with that new member or else it's homophobic.'

A third added: 'If your only concerns are about her living in the house, you are thinking too far down the road.

'If you have something to say about this that isn't kind or respectful, keep it to yourself', according to the National Review.

One sorority sister told the publication that Langford isn't even making 'any effort' to 'physically look like a girl', adding: 'He's just calling himself a girl. All you have to do is identify as a she/her.'

The sorority is accused of improperly relying on a 2018 'Guide for Supporting Our LGBTQIA+ Members' that says Kappa Kappa Gamma is a 'single-gender' organization that admits both 'women' and 'individuals who identify as women' rather than official bylaws, according to the lawsuit.

Leadership reportedly told members that if they have any issues with Langford then they can 'drop out'.

One member even said that she was called a 'bigot and a transphobe' for not wanting to shower and sleep with Langford in the same area.

They told the National Review: 'It's an awful situation to be in. It's scary, not knowing if I'm going to transfer out of the school next semester.'

Before Langford was voted in, KKG sent out a Google document for members to vote on - which they were initially told would be anonymous.

However the online ballot asked members to identify themselves with their emails, which left the intimated women feeling more uncomfortable.
Social media platforms are set to be fined if they do not deal with misogynistic abuse and bosses could face jail - as the government draws up new measures.

A cross-party group of lords led by former culture secretary, Baroness Morgan, is proposing a new amendment to the Online Safety Bill which would legally require social media firms to prevent the online abuse and violence against women and girls.

The amendment to the bill, which is due to be debated on Tuesday, is backed by Tory and crossbench peers, Labour and the Liberal Democrats.

It also means that companies who failed to remove misogynistic content would face fines worth up to 10 per cent their global turnover.

Bosses could even be jailed up to two years if the legal changes take place, which would treat online violence and abuse against women and girls in the same way as illegal child sexual abuse and terrorist content.

Social media platforms are set to be fined and bosses could even face jail if they do not deal with misogynistic abuse [File image]

Last year, ministers rejected classing misogyny as a hate crime and instead the government compromised by creating a new offence of public sexual harassment.

In April it was feared that WhatsApp could soon be banned if it refuses to comply with the new Online Safety Bill.

Under the Bill, tech companies will have a duty to find and remove illegal content being distributed through their social networking platforms.

But this could mean doing away with 'end-to-end encryption' - a security feature which scrambles messages to ensure that only the sender and recipient can read them.

Messaging services that use it, including WhatsApp, Signal, Viber and Element, have signed an open letter opposing the Online Safety Bill ahead of its final reading in the House of Lords.

'The UK government is currently considering new legislation that opens the door to trying to force technology companies to break end-to-end encryption on private messaging services,' it reads.

'The law could give an unelected official the power to weaken the privacy of billions of people around the world.

'We don't think any company, government or person should have the power to read your personal messages and we'll continue to defend encryption technology.'
A former soldier who murdered his daughter's partner has been jailed for life.

Daniel Langman strangled Anthony Collins, 28, at his flat in Port Glasgow, Renfrewshire, on May 16, 2021.

The 48-year-old later claimed he 'lost control' after finding his home in disarray that night, before confessing to his mother he had done 'something stupid'.

Langman was yesterday jailed for at least 17-and-a-half years at the High Court in Glasgow, having been convicted of murder last month. Lord Fairley told him: 'It is quite clear to me from the statement produced by Anthony Collins's elder sister that his death is deeply felt both by her and other members of his family.'

The judge said he will not automatically be freed at the end of the sentence, with the Parole Board making the decision.

Daniel Langman, 48, was found guilty on Monday, 17 April, 2023, following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow. He was sentenced yesterday for the murder of Anthony Collins

Jurors heard how Langman did not like Mr Collins and believed he was bad for his daughter Chloe.

He admitted barring the victim from his flat but insisted he meant no harm towards him.

Langman said he came home on the night of the killing and found his flat 'obliterated'. He saw Mr Collins and claimed he was hit.

Langman went on to strike Mr Collins up to four times with his guitar.

He punched him before claiming his mind went 'hazy' about what then took place, but recalled his former co-accused Anthony McGovern 'screaming' at him.

Langman told the court: 'I realised I was on top of him [Mr Collins] strangling him.'

Prosecutors said Mr Collins was choked by a cable. He was also said to have been struck with an iron, metal poles, a plastic tube and a screwdriver.

Langman told jurors he had not meant to kill the man.

The trial heard how after the killing he called his mother Jennifer Goodwin, who said he was upset and crying.

The 67-year-old said: 'He told me he had done something stupid. He said he went home and a man was in his flat.

'They got into a fight and he thought things went too far.'

The High Court in Glasgow, Scotland, where former soldier was sentenced yesterday

Langman had convictions for violence and weapons.

Donald Findlay, KC, defending, said: 'He has accepted he lost control and his actions went way beyond anything that he had contemplated.'

McGovern, 36, had been on trial with Langman and also accused of murder but the charge was found not proven.
Network Rail has been warned by the industry regulator that it is failing to properly check the safety of some 70,000 monitored pieces of rail infrastructure, putting passengers at potential risk and causing delays to services across the network.

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) said in a letter addressed to Network Rail's Chief Executive that if it did not complete required inspections on time, it risked faults going undetected which could 'lead to a safety incident' or see speed restrictions put in place to offset the risk, making it 'more difficult' for trains to run on time.

The regulator raised concerns that some regions were not making good use of new technologies - like drones and sonar - to help check for issues along lines which could speed up the time taken for required inspections and reduce the backlogs.

Writing to Network Rail head Andrew Haines, regulator chief John Larkinson warned Network Rail 'does not have robust plans in place across all its regions to achieve a reasonable level of compliance with the new standard and reduce the backlog'.

In Oxfordshire, a sinking bridge connecting Oxford to London Paddington remains shut as engineers look to install a temporary structure to stabilise the Nuneham viaduct, with Network Rail promising to reopen services by 10 June at the earliest.

A sinking bridge in Oxford is to remain shut until June at the earliest as engineers make repairs

Engineers were 'working around the clock' to get services operational from Oxford to London

In the letter dated 15 May 2023, Mr Larkinson noted that 'constructive conversations' between the ORR and Network Rail had taken place since raising the concerns.

The letter aimed to summarise the background to these pressing issues.

Mr Larkinson noted that the ORR had begun 'escalating' concerns about non-compliance as far back as 2021 - and the progress had 'not been good enough'.

In some cases, compliance with inspections appeared to have taken steps back.

In order to redress the concerns that Network Rail lacked a proper plan going forward, and that it had failed to make full use of available technology, the groups have agreed to meet at the end of May to review progress before submitting an initial plan for reducing non-compliance at the end of June this year.

This will require Network Rail to detail how it will adopt new technologies and a process for keeping up progress once achieved later down the line.

Network Rail will thereafter be required to keep the ORR informed of its delivery.

Graphs shared of non-compliance across the asset manager's portfolio showed regional variation.

The letter follows a review of Network Rail's contribution to train service performance in January, which noted the percentage of trains arriving on time had already fallen from 73.6% in early 2022-23 to 68.7%.

The percentage of cancelled train services also rose from 3.4% to 3.9% between the start of the last financial year and 7 January 2023.

It said that while Network Rail - and the industry more broadly - had spotted a good opportunity to learn from high performance during the optimal operating conditions of the pandemic, progress since had started to taper off.

Mr Larkinson cited 'the extensive pressure on timetable planners who have been diverted onto work to accommodate frequent short-notice changes to timetables due to changing demand patterns, engineering work and industrial action' as some of the reasons why.

For over a year, the RMT unions has sought to better members' pay and conditions.

But the greater use of automation and new technologies such as AI to improve Network Rail's servicing has been resisted by RMT.

In January, Mick Lynch, the union's general secretary, said relying on technology like AI would make the railways 'less safe than they are now'.

Industry sources told The Telegraph at the time that drones with laser scanning capability could detect defects in bridges, the railway and tunnels.

The Network Rail logo. Network Rail is the owner and infrastructure manager of most of Britain's railway network

RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch joins members of the RMT trade union on a picket line during strike action outside Paddington Station on May 13, 2023 in London, England

Proponents of the technology argue the systems would reduce the need for people to walk up and down the tracks for inspections, freeing them up to work elsewhere.

Network Rail has detailed nine ways technology innovation is improving services.

Modelling allows the body to explore possible options for developments, ultimately saving costs. A new traffic management system is also helping operators manage the timetable and share updates in real time.

Critics worry the adoption of automating technology would make working people redundant, or result in missing possible safety risks along the network.
New Delhi, May 16 (UNI) The Congress on Tuesday launched a scathing attack at Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing him of destroying jobs through demonetisation, flawed GST and privatisation of PSUs.

"The job-seeking youth in this country know it is this PM who has destroyed lakhs and lakhs of jobsboth in government and private sectorthrough demonetisation, flawed GST, crippling of MSMEs and wholesale privatisation of PSUs," said Congress general secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh, shortly after the PM virtually addressed the National Rozgar Mela and

distributed about 71,000 appointment letters to newly inducted recruits in various Government departments and organisations.
A child's birthday drone that had gone missing created chaos at Gatwick this week, forcing the London airport to close for one hour, with 12 flights being diverted amidst the mayhem.

Flights were grounded while those coming into land were forced to circle as three sightings of a drone sparked safety fears.

Diverted flights were sent to different airports all over the country, including Luton, Southend and Bristol.

A father writing on Facebook on Sunday wrote four minutes before the airport havoc asked if anyone had seen his son's missing drone.

They had been playing with the small aircraft at Goffs Park, Crawley, less than a ten-minute drive from the huge airport.

Gatwick Airport was closed for an hour on Sunday after reports of a drone flying over head sparked chaos, causing flights to be grounded and 12 to be diverted elsewhere

One concerned father posted on Facebook that his son's drone had gone missing from a park located around five miles from the huge London airport

Flights were grounded on Sunday afternoon while those coming into land were forced to circle as three sightings of the drone sparked safety fears

The park is also within the five-mile airport exclusion drone which prevents drones and model aircrafts from being flown anywhere near to where planes are taking off and landing.

The man, who appeared to be unaware of the 1 million or more worth of damage done on Sunday afternoon between 1.44pm to 2.35pm, wrote: 'My son was learning to drive his drone 15-20 mins ago and it's disappeared, he is hysterical at the moment.

'He was trying to learn how to fly it when it decided to take its own direction. Looked like it went towards town, so please if anyone finds it could you message on post.

'He literally got it yesterday as a birthday presenter and I know it's not an expensive one, but it was his birthday present and he's in pieces over it.'

One man, named Robert Filton, replied to the post: 'Child's toy or not you are supposed to not fly one (does not matter how high you fly it) within 5km of the airport and Goffs park is within that zone.

'It's an offence to do it with police showing up if you do.'

Another Mark Gazmin wrote: 'Shouldn't be flying drones near the airport in the first place.

One woman shared that the post about the missing drone and the airport had aligned on her Facebook homepage

Police using a covert high tech analyser on Gatwick Police Station roof on Sunday to work out the drone's frequency

This is not the first time Gatwick has been targeted by suspected drones. Activity at Gatwick saw around 1,000 flights cancelled or diverted between December 19 to 21 in 2018

'They can fly for miles when home GPS is not set before flying and reaching heights of at least 50 metres post takeoff. I hope you find it.'

Jaime Neale added: 'Big delays at Gatwick due to drone activity and people not boarding, live reports from daughter who is delayed waiting to fly out.'

A Gatwick spokesperson said on Sunday: 'Passenger safety is the airport's absolute priority and - following established procedures - operations at London Gatwick were suspended temporarily while investigations into the sighting of a suspected drone close to the airfield took place.

'These investigations have now completed, and the airfield reopened.

'Five inbound aircraft were diverted to other airports during the investigation; however we expect these will return to London Gatwick shortly.'

It comes just a week after it emerged that an easyJet plane flying at more than 300mph missed a suspected drone by as little as 16ft over the Sussex countryside.

The incredibly close call happened at a height of 5,000ft just three minutes after the Airbus A320 had taken off from Gatwick on a flight to Basel, Switzerland.

Those on Facebook were quick to point out the missing drone could be responsible for the airport closure

A report by the UK Airprox Board, the official body for assessing near misses, revealed that the pilots initially thought the object was a bird before concluding it was a drone being flown illegally.

The pilots immediately informed air traffic controllers who put out a warning to other planes departing from Gatwick.

It is believed that the drone may have been flown by a rogue operator wanting to get dramatic video footage of an airliner flying past.

There could have been catastrophic consequences if the device had gone into one of the jets engines or smashed the cockpit screen.

Drones are normally limited to flying at up to 400ft, meaning that the suspected drone was potentially at more than 12 times the maximum legal altitude.

Investigators were unable to confirm that the object was a drone due to a lack of evidence other than the account of the two pilots.

If a drone operator had been identified, they could have been convicted of endangering an aircraft and jailed for up to five years.

The incident happened at 3.21pm on February 24 while the jet was climbing to its cruising height in an area just north of Uckfield, East Sussex.

This is not the first time Gatwick has been targeted by suspected drones.

Activity at Gatwick saw around 1,000 flights cancelled or diverted between December 19 to 21 in 2018.

A spokesperson for Sussex Police said: 'Police assisted Gatwick Airport staff with a search on Sunday following reports of a suspected drone sighting, as is our standard procedure working with the airport.

'No drones were found and no further police involvement was required'

MailOnline has contacted Gatwick.
A juror who was responsible for the collapse of the rape trial against Bruce Lehrmann told the judge they were 'deeply sorry' for bringing banned materials into the jury room.

Mr Lehrmann was tried before a 12-person jury in the ACT Supreme Court in October last year over allegations that he raped Brittany Higgins in Parliament House in March 2019.

He had pleaded not guilty and continues to maintain his innocence.

Chief Justice Lucy McCallum discharged the 12-person jury because one member brought research material into the deliberation room about the frequency of false complaints in sexual assault matters.

Bruce Lehrmann was tried before a 12-person jury in the ACT Supreme Court in October last year over allegations that he raped Brittany Higgins

The juror, who cannot be identified, was questioned by the Justice McCallum in a private hearing.

A transcript of that hearing has now been released by the Board of Inquiry during an investigation into the way the trial was handled by prosecutors and police.

According to a transcript of the exchange, the juror told the judge: 'I am deeply sorry for this.

'I'm willing to take responsibility for that, Your Honour, if you feel that that's appropriate,' the juror said.

Justice McCallum responded: 'That's a matter for you, but I do remind you that it's an offence to disclose your deliberations.

'So I would prefer you to preserve your anonymity.'

Mr Lehrmann's case was heard in the ACT Supreme Court in October last year, but the jury was eventually dismissed over the banned research material.

A retrial was scheduled for February this year, but the case was eventually abandoned due to concerns over Ms Higgins' mental health.

Mr Lehrmann has always maintained his innocence.

Mr Lehrmann's defence lawyer will face further questions at the independent inquiry into how the ACT justice system handled the rape allegations.

Steven Whybrow is expected on Tuesday to expand on his evidence that a senior police investigator who said he would resign if Mr Lehrmann was found guilty experienced a 'moral trauma' by the end of the trial.

Mr Whybrow told the inquiry he did not get the impression police had acted unprofessionally during the investigation or trial.

Chief Justice Lucy McCallum discharged the 12-person jury because one member brought research material into the deliberation room

But he had never had a senior officer tell him they would resign over a verdict, which is what happened during a meeting with ACT Police detective inspector Marcus Boorman while the jury was still deliberating.

"In relation to Detective Inspector Boorman, he was somewhat stressed (and) my impression was a sort of moral trauma," Mr Whybrow said on Monday.

"He expressed the view that he thought (Mr Lehrmann) was innocent."

The inquiry, led by former Queensland solicitor-general Walter Sofronoff, is examining the actions of ACT police, prosecutors and a victim support service during the high-profile investigation and trial.

It was established after accusations by police and prosecutors about each other's conduct during the case.

ACT Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold called for a public inquiry because of what he believed was a "passion" from investigators for the prosecution to fail.

But Mr Whybrow disagreed with Mr Drumgold's assessment of police behaviour.
More than 100 leading editors from around the world  including the Mail's Ted Verity  have called for the release of Hong Kong democracy activist and publisher Jimmy Lai.

They have joined Reporters Without Borders in signing an unprecedented and powerful joint statement in support of the detained British media mogul.

The signatories include editors from all of the UK's major newspapers including Chris Evans of the Daily Telegraph, Tony Gallagher from The Times, Victoria Newton from The Sun, Alison Phillips of the Daily Mirror and Katharine Viner from The Guardian.

The statement was also signed by publisher of the Washington Post Fred Ryan, editor-in-chief Matthew Kaminski of Politico (USA), and 2021 Nobel Peace Prize laureates Dmitry Muratov (Novaya Gazeta, Russia) and Maria Ressa (Rappler, the Philippines).

RSF secretary-general Christophe Deloire said: 'We have brought these powerful voices together to show that the international media community will not tolerate the targeting of their fellow publisher. When Press freedom is threatened anywhere, it is threatened everywhere.'

More than 100 leading editors from around the world  including the Mail's Ted Verity  have called for the release of Hong Kong democracy activist and publisher Jimmy Lai (pictured)

Jimmy Lai was jailed in December 2020 on 'arbitrary' charges

Mr Lai, who founded the once popular pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper, was arrested in 2020.

China has used a national security law to prosecute at least 28 journalists and Press freedom defenders in Hong Kong over the past three years.

Mr Lai is among 13 journalists who remain imprisoned alongside six of his staff from Apple Daily. The newspaper itself was shut down  a move seen as the final nail in the coffin of press freedom.

China has used a national security law to prosecute at least 28 journalists and Press freedom defenders in Hong Kong over the past three years

The signatories of the statement declare: 'We stand with Jimmy Lai. We believe he has been targeted for publishing independent reporting, and we condemn all charges against him. We call for his immediate release.'

Mr Lai, 75, is serving six years on allegations of fraud and charges of attending 'unauthorised' pro-democracy protests.

He faces a trial on further charges in September which carry a life sentence.
The cafe had a 'pay what you can' model and was 'anti-capitalist'

The Anarchist in Toronto, Canada has shuddered after a year in business

An anti-capitalist cafe in Toronto where patrons would pay what they can has shut down after a year in business after failing to make enough money.

Owners of The Anarchist, which opened in March 2022 and had been described as an 'anti-capitalist, anti-colonial cafe, shop and radical community space on stolen land,' said the coffee shop will close its doors on May 30.

'Unfortunately, the lack of generational wealth/seed capital from ethically bankrupt sources left me unable to weather the quiet winter season, or to grow in the ways needed to be sustainable longer-term,' owner Gabriel Sims-Fewer wrote.

Sims-Fewer ended his announcement to patrons by writing: 'F*** the rich. F*** the police. F*** the state. F*** the colonial death camp we call 'Canada.''

An anti-capitalist cafe in Toronto where patrons would pay what they can has shut down after a year in business after failing to make enough money

An anti-capitalist cafe in Toronto where patrons would pay what they can has shut down after a year in business due to failing to make enough money

In his message, the shop owner said that his cafe had been successful in every way he hoped and that ts gave him 'so much inspiration and education.'

Sims-Fewer also wrote he plans to use that new knowledge in future projects.

'It's been an amazing experience, connecting with so many great community members, sparking desperately needed debate, raising the blood pressure of Conservatives (that includes you, 'anarcho-capitalists' and 'Libertarians'),' he wrote.

'Fulfilling the dream of most service workers by not having to tolerate the presence of professional class-traitors (pigs and military), and experimenting with living and working in ways that don't enthusiastically embrace the pure misanthropy of Capitalism,' Sims-Fewer continued.

The shop had honed in on a 'pay what you can model' that had been criticized by some throughout its year-long endeavor.

Higher-priced drinks helped to subsidize the shop, according to its website.

Critics of the scheme complained it was wrong to charge more for inexpensive drinks just to help cover the costs where others were not contributing.

In September, the cafe's owner also came under fire and was called an 'arse' on Instagram after making a post regarding Queen Elizabeth's death.

'Still closed, but will post soon as I'm fit for work. At least a royal parasite died,' The Anarchist's Instagram page posted on September 8.

They also posted less than a week after Her Majesty's death: 'The Queen was s**t, and should have died sooner.'

In his message, shop owner Gabriel Sims-Fewer said that his cafe had been successful in every way he hoped and that is gave him 'so much inspiration and education'

The shop had honed-in on a 'pay what you can model' that had been criticized by some throughout its year-long endeavor

Some of the posters on sale inside the anti-capitalist cafe in Toronto

In September, the cafe's owner also came under fire and was called an 'arse' on Instagram after making an post regarding Queen Elizabeth's death

They also posted less than a week after Her Majesty's death: 'The Queen was s**t, and should have died sooner'

In addition to the statement posted to their website, the cafe's Instagram page also shared the news on May 10.

The post received dozens of comments from supporters and adversaries. 'Good riddance,' responded one Instagram user.

'Devastating news! Will miss you very much!' another commented. 'Are we gonna torch the place or nah no farewell burn?' one person wrote.

'I'm so sorry, f**k capitalism,' added another.
Three Texas Christian University students have been jailed for just five days each after one kissed a 19 year-old, then shoved him off their boat and on to a propeller that killed him.

Delaney Brennan boarded the boat with boyfriend Jack Elliott, 19, and ten others in October 2019 - just months after starting at the college - before the tragic incident.

All except one were drinking: Brennan and Elliott were sitting at the front of the boat as it cruised Lake Travis, near Austin.

Brennan, from Huntington Beach, California, pushed Elliott, who went overboard, was 'struck by the propeller multiple times and was killed,' a report from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department concluded.

The group only spent five minutes searching for Elliott before returning to the dock. Brennan and two others concocted a story about how Elliott had gone overboard, and lied about the events leading up to his death.

Jack Elliott, 19 (left), a Texas Christian University freshman, was pushed by Delaney Brennan (right) off a boat while out on a lake near Austin in October 2019. He was struck by the boat's propeller and died

Elliott and Brennan, both Texas Christian University attendees, were allegedly kissing and flirting when she pushed him off the boat in October 2019

Police searched for Elliott's body after the group of teens on the boat the night of the incident failed to locate him

On Thursday, a judge in Austin sentenced Brennan, Elle Weber and Carson Neel - whose father ran the marina - to five days each in prison.

Elliott's younger sister, Ava, told the defendants she hoped their lives were joyless, as her family's now were.

'I hope that the guilt catches up with each and every one of you and takes a little bit of joy out of every happy moment, similar to what grief has done to me and my parents,' she said in her victim's statement, according to The Orange County Register.

'Considering that Jack is missing out on nearly 80 years of his life, the thought of each of you spending 15 to 30 days in prison sounds like the better end of the deal.'

Elliott's father Brett said the trio had 'zero integrity'.

The group lied about how he died, and colluded to hide the truth.

'You did the wrong things over and over, and you lied over and over and your parents supported the lies,' he said in court.

'Now, here in this courthouse, is where you end up  a convict going to jail.

'And yet the sad part is you still have zero character and zero integrity.'

Brett Elliott said he was disgusted at the trio participating in candlelight vigils while lying about what happened.

Brett Elliott is seen (left) with his son Jack, who died in October 2019

Jack's body was found near where he disappeared, ten days later more than 100 feet below the surface

Elliott, who was 19 at the time, had been partying and drinking together with 11 other teens on the waters of Lake Travis, a manmade lake, northwest of Austin.

'All of you stood together arm in arm and took pictures and smiled, knowing you had killed Jack,' he said.

'You stood up there lying and manipulating everyone basking in the sympathy. Then, the truth was exposed.'

Weber, who like almost all the others had been drinking, was at the wheel of the boat when she saw Brennan give Elliott a 'playful little shove', and he fell into the water.

Neel jumped in after him, but they could not find him, and after five minutes turned around.

Weber then rang 911, but gave her name as 'Elle Macpherson'. She claims she had not heard of the supermodel.

Elle Weber (pictured) had been behind the controls on the boat that day according to her sworn deposition. She originally said nobody had any clear idea how their friend fell overboard - but her answer changed after a 2020 lawsuit

The boating expedition was led by Carson Neel whose father, Billy, ran the Northshore Marina

The group threw the alcohol overboard as they were returning to the dock, and made the only one not to have drunk - Anthony Salazar, who was feeling unwell - take the wheel.

They told police Elliott did a backflip off the boat and disappeared.

They then said he was vomiting off the side, and fell.

The group even rang Elliott's parents at home in California and tearfully promised to tell the truth.

Weber told the Elliotts: 'We don't know how Jack fell off the boat. We don't know if Jack stood up to change his position and he lost his balance or if he was fixing his hair, we don't know what he was doing.

'These are the most honest answers we can give you right now.'

Yet soon after their call, the Elliotts were contacted by the father of one of the teenagers who was also in the room at the time of the call.

He told them he had heard that Elliott did not fall off the boat but was in fact pushed, the Register reported.
Anthony Albanese fled to London and Portugal to clear his head after being blindsided by his wife wanting a divorce after two decades of marriage, with the Prime Minister admitting he even considered quitting politics all together.

The Labor leader opened up about the troubled weeks following his ex-wife's shock decision during a radio interview on Tuesday, reiterating that he was surprised by her revelation she was unhappy in the marriage.

'I didn't understand it, but I came to accept it,' he told Melbourne's Triple M radio.

Carmel Tebbutt, the former deputy premier of NSW, told Mr Albanese she wanted a divorce on New Years Day in 2019, after 19 years of marriage and 30 years together.

In March, he flew to London to visit friends, and then on to Lisbon. In total, he spent two weeks abroad.

'It was two weeks to clear the air, determine what I wanted to do with my life, decide whether I wanted to run again in the election,' he said.

Carmel Tebbutt, the former deputy premier of NSW, told Mr Albanese she wanted a divorce on New Years Day in 2019, after 19 years of marriage and 30 years together

He made the decision to come home and throw himself into public life, announcing a run for the top job in the lead up to the 2022 election.

Mr Albanese and Labor romped to victory, and along the way the PM found love again with Jodie Haydon.

The duo met at an event in Melbourne in which he addressed the crowd and mentioned his love of the South Sydney Rabbitohs NRL club.

Ms Haydon was a guest and revealed she was also an avid fan of the team. They hit it off and have been together ever since.

'I never did Tinder,' Mr Albanese said, acknowledging it would be 'fine' for him to use it - 'except [everyone] would know about it'.

He said: 'It was [incredibly challenging], but you live in the public eye. It was very difficult for me personally, but Carmel made a decision that she wanted to move on with her life... our son had reached 18, he'd graduated from school.

'It was a decision I found difficult but one she obviously had the right to do.'

Ms Tebbutt was seen campaigning for Minister for Indigenous Affairs Linda Burney during Mr Albanese's run for the top job, and helping Mr Albanese by walking their dog

Mr Albanese and Ms Tebbutt met in Young Labor during the late 1980s. Ms Tebbutt was the state's first female deputy premier and held the position under Nathan Rees and Kristina Keneally from 2008 to 2011

In spite of the heartache, Mr Albanese and Ms Tebbutt do appear to be on good terms.

They famously share custody of their dog, Toto, and Ms Tebbutt was seen on the campaign trail for Labor during the election.

Mr Albanese said at the time she 'absolutely' supported his bid to become Prime Minister and was doing everything she could to help out, including by keeping Toto during the most tiresome parts of the campaign.

As for his new relationship, Mr Albanese said it's 'fantastic' that he 'has someone to spend his personal life with', along with his son Nathan, particularly given the complex challenges that come with running a country.

'I'm most proud of my resilience,' he said. 'I've hung in there, I've stayed true to my values and I think I've made a difference.'

Mr Albanese has been doing interviews to promote the federal Budget, which achieved a surplus for the first time in 15 years, and fight back against the Greens over his housing bill.

The Greens and the Coalition last week blocked a vote in the Senate on the Housing Australian Future Fund to build 30,000 new social and affordable homes in the next five years.

The Greens say it doesn't do enough to solve the crisis. They want a national rent freeze and the annual spending cap of $500million to be increased significantly.

Mr Albanese and Labor romped to victory, and along the way Mr Albanese found love again with Jodie Haydon

The duo met at an event in Melbourne in which he addressed the crowd and mentioned his love of the South Sydney Rabbitohs NRL club

And Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has also opposed the policy, warning rising migration over the next five years will make the housing crisis significantly worse.

He also argued the government has 'no plan' to ease the pressures on Australians.

'You can't announce a Big Australia policy, with 1.5 million people coming to Australia over five years, competing with Australians who can't rent a unit or a house now, who can't afford to buy a house now,' Mr Dutton said on Monday.

'You're going to put upward pressure on prices, both rent and home prices, at the same time that you're choking supply'.

But the prime minister said Mr Dutton's argument is not 'based on fact', again insisting his housing policy provides a genuine solution.

Under the proposed policy, Labor would invest $10billion and all returns - up to $500 million per year - would be spent on building the new properties.

As for his new relationship, Mr Albanese said it's 'fantastic' that he 'has someone to spend his personal life with', along with his son Nathan, particularly given the complex challenges that come with running a country

Mr Albanese and Ms Tebbutt have a son Nathan. 'I have a fantastic relationship with my son, which is great,' Mr Albanese said. 'He's terrific.' Father and son are pictured together on May 1, 2022

In its current form, Greens housing spokesperson Max Chandler-Mather describes the bill as a 'gamble on the stock market' that his party is not willing to take, noting the Future Fund lost 1.2 per cent in 2022.

'If Labor had invested the $10 billion already, $120 million would have been lost, with no profits generated to build a single home,' Mr Chandler-Mather said.

Mr Albanese's proposal would see 20,000 social housing properties built within the first five years of the scheme - 4,000 of which would be allocated specifically for women and children fleeing domestic violence.

Older women who are at risk of homelessness would also receive special consideration, while 10,000 affordable housing properties would be made available to frontline workers.
Tara Moss's legal battle against a doctor she said failed to diagnose a serious hip injury has been discontinued on the eve of what was set to be a weeks-long trial.

The model turned crime novelist and disability advocate had been set to face-off against Dr Chris Coghill at a Supreme Court hearing in Sydney.

Moss had claimed Dr Coghill failed to detect a hip injury which forced her to use a cane she calls 'Wolfie' but Daily Mail Australia has learnt the action is over.

A Supreme Court spokesman said only that the medical negligence claim, launched almost four years ago, had been discontinued on May 1 with the consent of both parties.

Tara Moss's legal battle against a doctor she said failed to diagnose a serious hip injury has been discontinued on the eve of what was set to be a weeks-long trial

The court had previously been told Moss required ongoing physical assistance and was seeking an 'extremely large claim' against Dr Coghill.

Moss, who uses her Instagram account to destigmatise mobility aids such as walking sticks, often posts photographs of herself using a walker or wheelchair.

The 49-year-old claimed Dr Coghill was negligent and failed in his duty of care by not diagnosing a soft tissue injury to her hip, causing disabilities, economic loss and ongoing pain.

Dr Coghill, a Blue Mountains GP with more than 20 years' experience, denied any negligence, saying he acted competently and professionally at all times.

'If any damages were suffered by [Moss] as alleged (which is denied), they were caused or contributed to by [Moss's] own negligence,' he said in a statement of defence.

Moss, who now lives in her native Canada, alleged she consulted Dr Coghill on eight occasions from February 2016 to September 2017.

Moss, who uses her Instagram account to destigmatise mobility aids such as walking sticks, often posts photographs of herself using a walker or wheelchair

She said in her statement of claim she had suffered a dull pain in her right pelvis following surgery performed by another doctor in early 2016.

The best-selling author claimed that pain became more intense after a second procedure, to the point she could not 'stand comfortably' during a photoshoot in March.

Moss alleged she when she visited Dr Coghill that month he initially attributed the pain to a 'blighted ovum', but he denied that was the case.

She claimed Dr Coghill failed to examine her pelvic area for signs of a hip injury but in his defence he stated 'there was no clinical indication to do so'.

Moss said she visited Dr Coghill in 2017 and told him the pain in her hip was 'not resolving and was severe'. Dr Coghill said he was told 'her pelvic discomfort was slowly resolving'.

In 2018, Moss visited another GP who recommended she get an MRI scan of her hip area, which found she had a labral tear around her hip socket, she claimed.

Moss alleged failure to detect that tear left her with chronic hip and back pain, nerve damage, psychological injuries and an abnormal gait.

Dr Coghill had countered that the tear was not present when he treated Moss and she was at fault for not telling him she was suffering from hip pain.

Lawyers for Moss and Dr Coghill engaged in mediation last month ahead of Moss returning to Australia from Canada for what was expected to be a six-week trial.

Law firm Slater and Gordon, which acted for Moss, declined to comment on the case being discontinued.

HWL Ebsworth Lawyers, which represented Dr Coghill, did not respond to an inquiry.
Anthony Albanese has taken aim at a Greens MP behind a popular TikTok account for blocking Labor's $10 billion housing fund while opposing new developments in his electorate, saying the party 'can't have it both ways'.

Mr Albanese on Tuesday criticised Greens housing spokesman Max Chandler-Mather for his attacks on proposed new housing developments in Queensland's capital.

Mr Chandler-Mather, who is the member for the inner Brisbane seat of Griffith, has launched a relentless series of attacks on the Labor government over its housing policies - including rental assistance - on social media, raking in thousands of views.

Mr Chandler-Mather has utilised TikTok to reach a younger audience, many of whom would be directly impacted by the lack of affordable housing in Australia.

His clips attract hundreds of thousands of views and interactions, breaking down how Labor is spending taxpayer dollars and answering questions in real time about the biggest political stories of the day.

But the Prime Minister said Mr Chandler-Mather is also directly opposing the development of more homes in his own electorate, which he says is also making life harder for constituents.

Anthony Albanese has ripped into the Greens over their opposition to a $10billion Labor housing fund

Mr Albanese has accused Max Chandler-Mather (above) of 'having it both ways' - by opposing a housing development in his electorate

'One of the things I find remarkable is at the same time as the Greens are blocking additional support for social housing, they're also running petitions of their housing spokesperson to block... development of more housing supply in Brisbane, ' Mr Albanese said.

'You can't have it both ways.'

Mr Chandler-Mather has joined community residents in opposing proposals to build new apartment buildings, including the Bulimba Barracks site, where three-to-five storey towers are proposed.

'Luxury apartment towers makes the housing crisis worse,' he wrote on Twitter.

'My suggestion to Labor hacks is focus your advocacy on stopping Labor outsourcing its entire housing policy to property developers and banks.'

And he said in a statement on the back of Mr Albanese's criticism that he spent 'years prior to the election campaigning to stop the State Labor government selling off public housing in Griffith'.

'I recently actively supported the construction of a social housing development in my electorate. To be clear, I will never oppose the construction of social housing in my electorate.'

Instead, Mr Chandler-Mather was concerned about luxury development being built on a flood plain. Instead, he wants the government to focus on building up safer zones, while flood prone areas remain as open space or parkland.

'The reason Labor are using personal attacks is to try and distract from the fact their federal budget found hundreds of billions of dollars for submarines and the Stage 3 tax cuts, but couldn't find a single extra cent to build public housing, and only found just over $1 a day for rent assistance.'

Mr Chandler-Mather also had a message direct for Mr Albanese: 'Do your job and sit down with the Greens to work out a plan to invest billions of dollars in public and affordable housing. And, coordinate a national freeze on rent increases.

'Rather than coming to the table and working out a plan to tackle the worst housing crisis Australia has seen in generations, we've got the Prime Minister of this country launching into personal attacks and lies about me.

'People are sick of that sort of politics.'

Labor's Housing Australia Future Fund aims to build 30,000 social and affordable homes over five years, including 4,000 dwellings for women and children experiencing domestic violence.

The government's efforts to bring on a vote for its signature election policy were defeated by the Greens and the coalition in the Senate last week.

Mr Chandler-Mather's TikTok videos have sometimes garnered hundreds of thousands of views

An artist's impression of how the Bulimba Barracks site may look

Asked about reports Labor was facing an internal push to limit negative gearing at the party's national conference in August, Mr Albanese ruled out any changes.

'The government's position is very clear and it's a position for which we received a mandate at the 2022 election and I'm someone who keeps the commitments that we made,' he said.

The 49th ALP national conference will be the first to be held face-to-face in five years.
The IRS has removed the entire team probing Hunter Biden's tax returns 'in retaliation against a whistleblower who alleged his colleagues were covering-up the president's son's financial crimes.'

Those dismissal orders came from the Justice Department, the whistleblower's attorneys told Congress in a letter, according to The New York Post.

But IRS commissioner Daniel Werfel told Congress that his agency would not retaliate against whistleblowers.

Hunter's business dealings have been under the microscope since a series of leaked emails sparked suspicions that he was using his political connections to land lucrative consulting contracts.

The IRS has removed the entire team probing Hunter Biden's tax returns 'in retaliation against whistleblower who alleged they were covering up president's son's financial 'crimes.' Pictured: Hunter Biden joins family at the University of Pennsylvania where his daughter was graduating

On April 27, 2023, IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel appeared before the House Committee on Ways and Means. He testified: 'I can say without any hesitation there will be no retaliation for anyone making an allegation or a call to a whistleblower hotline'

'Today the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Supervisory Special Agent we represent was informed that he and his entire investigative team are being removed from the ongoing and sensitive investigation of the high-profile, controversial subject about which our client sought to make whistleblower disclosures to Congress.

'He was informed the change was at the request of the Department of Justice,' Mark Lytle and Tristan Leavitt wrote.

That whistleblower - who has not been named - did not publicly identify Hunter as the subject of his coverup claims, but congressional sources did.

'On April 27, 2023, IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel appeared before the House Committee on Ways and Means.

'He testified: "I can say without any hesitation there will be no retaliation for anyone making an allegation or a call to a whistleblower hotline."

'However, this move is clearly retaliatory and may also constitute obstruction of a congressional inquiry,' the lawyers said.

'Our client has a right to make disclosures to Congress  He is protected by 5 U.S.C.  2302 from retaliatory personnel actions - including receiving a "significant change in duties, responsibilities, or working conditions" (which this clearly is) because of his disclosures to Congress.

'Any attempt by any government official to prevent a federal employee from furnishing information to Congress is also a direct violation of longstanding appropriations restriction.

'Furthermore, 18 U.S.C.  1505 makes it a crime to obstruct an investigation of Congress,' Lytle and Leavitt wrote.

'We respectfully request that you give this matter your prompt attention. Removing the experienced investigators who have worked this case for years and are now the subject-matter experts is exactly the sort of issue our client intended to blow the whistle on to begin with.'

Hunter, 53, was spotted earlier Monday, along with his father President Joe Biden, and First Lady Jill Biden, at University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia for his daughter Maisy's graduation.

He still waits to find out if he will be charged with tax fraud as corruption claims pile up against his family.

His legal team met with Department of Justice officials on April 26 in a sign that a decision is forthcoming on whether he will face criminal charges.

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

The probe will look at whether the consultant dodged taxes, laundered money and lied about past drug use to buy a gun.

There is understood to be 'growing frustration' within the FBI over the fact that Delaware US Attorney David Weiss, who is supervising the case, had not yet brought charges after the bureau concluded most of its work last year.

The White House has repeatedly denied interfering in the case.

Republican lawmakers are currently probing how ten family members of Joe Biden raked in over $10 million from foreign nationals around the time he was Obama's deputy.

Those who benefitted included Hallie Biden, Beau Biden's widow and Hunter Biden's one-time girlfriend, Hunter Biden's ex-wife Kathleen Buhle.

Hunter Biden's current wife Melissa Cohen Biden, Biden's brother James and his wife Sarah, and the grandchildren and nieces and nephews of Joe Biden also alleged to have received payments.

Joe Biden met with relatives' business associates on many occasions  including those from China, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Russia and Ukraine  and House Republicans allege that Biden family members offered no legitimate business services and were merely selling access to the upper reaches of US government.

After his father took office as president and promised no further family conflicts of interest abroad, Hunter launched an art career seeking as much as $500,000 for his novice works.

Hunter's membership on the board of a Ukrainian energy company also raised suspicions of influence-peddling.

He and the president's sister Valerie Biden Owens traveled on Air Force One on the commander-in-chief's recent visit to Ireland.

Hunter Biden pictured arriving at a Batesville, Arkansas courthouse earlier this month

Photo of laptop computer reportedly owned by Hunter Biden

Biden recently appeared before a judge in Arkansas in a paternity case filed by a former fling, Lunden Roberts.

Hunter will also have to submit to a deposition in June in which Roberts' lawyers will likely grill him about his various businesses and shady overseas ventures.

Hunter Biden's laptop also included a series of lewd photos and a webcam video of the 53-year-old that portrayed his struggles with flatulence

They'll also want to know Hunter's finances have cratered while he's selling paintings for up to $500,000 apiece under his new guise as an abstract artist.

Roberts, a former stripper, won a reported $2.5 million settlement from Hunter after taking him to court in 2019.

She also forced the ex-Navy reservist, booted out of the military in 2014 for testing positive for cocaine, to take a DNA test to prove he fathered their daughter, Navy Joan, during their 2017 fling.

Roberts's lawyers say Hunter Biden has not provided 'a single item or word of discovery' in their ongoing child support lawsuit.
An Aussie drinker has revealed how he was hit by a huge '10.30pm tax' while out at the pub.

The man and his friend were drinking at the Oxford Hotel in Darlinghurst, Sydney when they bought a Young Henry's Newtowner jug at 10.37pm.

It had previously cost them $24 at around 9:18pm but the second jug, which they purchased after 10.30pm, cost them $33.50.

When they asked a member of staff to explain the difference in price they were told there was a 'late night surcharge after 10pm'.

The stunned customers said there was no signs announcing the surcharge at the bar.

The man and his friend were drinking at the Oxford Hotel in Darlinghurst when they bought a Newtowner jug at 10.37pm and were charged extra

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Oxford Hotel for comment.

Multiple customers have confirmed the surcharge online, though the pub is yet to respond to claims.

Taking to social media, the man said: 'Ive never heard of a late night surcharge before and its a 30% increase! Not exactly a small increase.

'Theres no signage to notify anyone of the fee after 10pm. Ive never even heard of this practice in Australia.

'Has anyone experienced this before? Is it even legal?'

Aussies were stunned by the man's experience - though many highlighted similar incidents.

One said: 'Wow. Maybe the venue just expects that by 10:30 the punters will be too drunk to notice.'

A second added: 'Surcharges and semi-forced gratuities are becoming commonplace now unfortunately.'

While a third wrote: 'So sick of this. It needs to stop. Australian culture is being killed before our eyes by these greedy establishments not willing to pay their staff living wages.'

When they asked a member of staff to explain the difference in price they were told there was a 'late night surcharge after 10pm'

According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, businesses are required to display 'clear and accurate prices'

Its website adds: 'There are specific laws about how businesses must display their prices.

'Businesses must display a total price that includes taxes, duties and all unavoidable or pre-selected extra fees.

'If a business charges a surcharge for card payment, weekends or public holidays, it must follow the rules about displaying the surcharge.'
The Supreme Court has 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
President Joe Biden let Title 42 expire on May 11 after 38 months

The video was taken along the US-Mexico border in Eagle Pass, Texas

Footage shows a US Army soldier letting in a horde of migrants on the border

Security footage taken along the US-Mexico border in Texas showed a US soldier opening a gate to let migrants in just days after Joe Biden let Title 42 expire.

The video, shared by FOX LA's Bill Melugin, showed a large group crossing from the Mexico side of the border into the U.S. as a large white bus appeared to wait for them.

The one-minute clip showed the female Army officer standing by as the horde shuffled onto private property Monday morning.

She's said to have done so at the direction of the federal government.

The video comes just hours after Biden cheered a drop in border crossings since the end of Title 42 with a swipe at the media.

When asked by reporters about how he believes things were proceeding after Title 42 expired, Biden responded: 'Much better than you all expected,' with a chuckle.

Footage taken along the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas showed a US Army soldier opening up a gate to let migrants in just days after President Joe Biden allowed Title 42 to expire

NEW: Security video from a contact in Eagle Pass, TX shows a large group of migrants crossing illegally onto private property this morning. Crossings have been down big in Texas last few days, but are expected to rise again as cartels/smugglers figure out the post T42 border. pic.twitter.com/6iLcIeUkuY  Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) May 16, 2023

When asked by reporters about how he believes things were proceeding after Title 42 expired, Biden responded: 'Much better than you all expected,' with a chuckle

According to Melugin, the Texas National Guard confirmed the female seen opening the gate in the video was not a Texas soldier or a Texas National Guard member.

'I'm told she is a Title 10 soldier from the Missouri ARNG under orders from the federal gov & working w/ BP,' the FOX reporter wrote.

The video posted online sparked outrage among Twitter users who blasted her actions.

'I'm not against immigration, our country was built on it, it's our strength, but I'm not for an out of control invasion of immigrants to serve the nefarious purposes of an illegitimate government,' one user wrote.

'Thank God there's a camera there so we can watch them all come through in a nice orderly fashion,' another retorted.

'It's harder to get into most secure office buildings,' one added. 'Ridiculous.'

Since Biden allowed the pandemic-era policy to expire, crossings have been down roughly 50 percent.

Experts say the drop could be represented by migrants and smugglers who prey on their status as they assess the new regulatory regime.

The number of crossings is expected to rise again, some have indicated.

Title 42 allowed the U.S. to deny asylum to migrants who were seeking asylum.

The video, shared by FOX LA's Bill Melugin showed a large group crossing from the Mexico side of the border into the U.S. as a large white bus appears to wait for them

According to Melugin, the Texas National Guard confirmed the female seen opening the gate in the video was not a Texas soldier or a Texas National Guard member

Talking with reporters Monday, Biden said his administration has more work to do as migrants are filling processing centers to capacity.

'They have gone down my hope is that they'll continue to go down, and we have a lot more work to do,' Biden said while biking near his Rehoboth, Delaware beach house.

Many of the migrants are being released onto the streets with immigration court date appearances set far in 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.

'And we need some more help from the Congress as well in terms of funding and legislative changes,' Biden said.

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

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

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas 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.
A teenage girl has been stabbed at a school near Cairns and an 18-year-old boy taken into custody.

Queensland Police rushed to Peace Lutheran College in Kamerunga, north-west of the city, about 10.35am on Tuesday.

The girl was rushed to hospital in a serious condition.

The pair are believed to be known to each other.

Queensland Police rushed to Peace Lutheran College in Kamerunga, north-west of the city, about 10.35am on Tuesday

Police investigations are continuing.

'The patient was transported in a critical condition to Cairns Hospital,' a QAS spokeswoman said.

A police spokesperson said an 18-year-old man was taken into custody.

'We believe it happened inside the school grounds but investigations will confirm,' a police spokesperson said.

'It is believed the two people are known to each other and there is no further threat to the public.'

A spokeswoman for Peace Lutheran College confirmed both people involved in the incident were students.

'A student is receiving treatment in hospital and one student is being questioned by police. All parents have been contacted,' the spokeswoman told Cairns Post.

'The school will continue to assist Queensland Police Service in their investigations. All other students and staff are being provided with support.
A sextortionist sent a warped message to a South Carolina lawmaker after driving his teenage son to suicide by threatening to release a nude photo of him.

The message to South Carolina State Representative Brandon Guffey read: 'Did I tell you your son begged for his life,' followed by a laughing face emoji, CNN reported.

The GOP lawmaker's son Gavin Guffey was the victim of sexual extortion, or 'sextortion,' where scammers posed as a girl and tricked the 17-year-old into sending a nude photo. They then demanded cash not to release it.

Gavin had transferred everything in his Venmo account - $25 - and begged them to give him more time. But on July 27 2022, he shot himself at his family's home in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

His father, who won his run for State House Representative six months later, briefly considered quitting but instead vowed to use his position to help save others. And when Guffey needs inspiration, he puts on Gavin's white Vans sneakers that are scribbled with a Spider-Man doodle.

'I feel like he (Gavin) would want me trying to save additional kids from ever having to feel the way that he felt at that time,' he said, adding the shoes make him feel like he can handle anything.

Lawmakers last month unanimously passed a state bill to criminalize the type of scam that led to his son's death. And on Thursday, state senators passed the legislation  naming it 'Gavin's Law.'

South Carolina State Representative Brandon Guffey (right) introduced a state bill to criminalize the type of scam that led to the death of his son Gavin Guffey, 17, (middle) who was a victim of sexual extortion and took his own life on July 27

Scammers posed as a girl, tricked the 17-year-old into sending a nude photo and then demanded cash not to release it. Gavin had sent them $25 - but it wasn't enough

Minutes before Gavin killed himself he sent a text message to his younger brother and some of his friends.

It was a heart-shaped symbol of love  <3  on a black background. Gavin then shot himself in the bathroom down the hallway from his room.

His father said it sounded like someone had slammed a bowling ball to the floor. The heartbroken family struggled to find out why their son had taken his own life and searched for any signs they had missed.

That's when they found out that scammers had posed as a young woman and sent Gavin nude photos.

They had asked Gavin for nude photos in return and when he sent to them, the scammers threatened to release them publicly unless he handed over money.

In the weeks following Gavin's death, the scammers then turned their attention to Gavin's family, sending them a slew of messages on Instagram, threatening to release the nude photos unless they paid up.

On August 20, which would've been Gavin's birthday, the scammers messaged the family: 'Did I tell you your son begged for his life.'

Minutes before Gavin Guffey shot himself in the bathroom of his home, he had sent a text to his younger brother and to some of his friends: <3  on a black background

On July 27, Gavin shot himself in the bathroom at the family's Rock Hill, South Carolina, home. His father said it sounded like someone had slammed a bowling ball to the floor

Nearly a year later, no arrests have been made, an FBI spokesman in Columbia, South Carolina, told CNN. No further information has been released.

'I was a basket case, I didn't know what to do,' Guffey said, recalling the day he found his son in the bathroom, a pistol on the floor. 'My initial thought was, this is my fault  I left the gun out.'

He explained sextortion was a lucrative crime that has attracted both international fraudsters and local scammers.

'If you can extort ten teenage boys that aren't gonna say anything for $100 each, and do all that with one image that you got from a girl, it's fairly simple,' he said.

'And teenage boys, whenever they see they're getting that attention (from a girl), they're not necessarily thinking.'

Guffey remembers his son as a typical teenage boy. He loved skating and art, and had stickers of dinosaurs, Spider-Man and Deadpool on his car's dashboard.

Nearly a year later, no arrests have been made, an FBI spokesperson in Columbia, South Carolina, told CNN. No further information has been released

Guffey briefly considered quitting his new role as South Carolina State Representative, but has vowed to use it to help save others. When he needs a little push, he puts on Gavin's white Vans

A flag with a face of rapper Ye  formerly known as Kanye West  with the words 'Don't tread on Ye' on it, was delivered to Gavin on the day he died. It now hangs in Guffey's office.

'Gavin would constantly troll me,' he said with a laugh. 'I'm a pretty conservative guy, and Gavin was more of a liberal kid. But I always encourage my kids to think on their own, and to be their own person. As long as they're thinking, that's what's most important.'

In the months since Gavin's death, Guffey's goal has been to make sextortion scammers 'think twice before they target children in South Carolina.'

Under the new law proposed by Guffey, scammers who extort a minor will face up to five years in prison for a first offense. The bill will soon be sent to Gov. Henry McMaster to be signed into law.

Federal officials said in a recent alert that sextortion cases have soared in the past year and are contributing to an alarming number of suicides nationwide.

'This crime starts when young people believe they are communicating with someone their own age who is interested in a relationship ' the FBI said in the alert.

'The shame, fear, and confusion children feel when they are caught in this cycle often prevents them from asking for help or reporting the abuse.'

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or mental health issues, please call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 (or call 800-273-8255) to connect with a trained counselor.
An Indigenous woman accused of stealing chocolate at a supermarket claims she was 'racially profiled'.

The shopper was on her way out of Gracemere Woolies, 630kms north of Brisbane, when a worker asked the woman to empty her pockets.

She claims it's the third time in three visits to the store that she has been stopped and searched by staff.

Footage from the 35-second clip posted online shows her turning out her empty pockets before asking for an apology.

Woolworths are now investigating the incident.

An Indigenous woman accused of stealing chocolate at a supermarket claims she was 'racially profiled'

Footage from the 35-second clip posted online shows her turning out her pockets before asking for an apology

'Look in my pocket, the only thing I put in my pocket was the change,' the fed-up shopper says.

'This is the third time I've walked through and been accused of something.

'I've got a receipt for what I've paid for.'

The employee who said that she'd seen the shopper pocket some chocolates near the fridges, then backs down.

'Yep, no worries,' the worker says as she begins to walk off.

'No apology,' the shopper asks in a raised tone.

'I'm terribly sorry,' the worker says.

The customer claims that previously she'd had her bags checked while cars drove by and shouted racial slurs.

Woolworths has said that they are investigating the incident internally after being made aware of the viral video (pictured stock Woolworths)

The shopper was commended online for her steady handling of the embarrassing scene.

The supermarket has confirmed that they are aware of the video, and that they are now looking into it.

'We are concerned about the incident as this is not the shopping experience we aspire to provide,' a Woolworths spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.

'We take customer feedback of this nature very seriously and have commenced an internal investigation and made contact with the customer.'
A sales clerk has been stabbed while trying to stop a robbery at the David Jones Emporium in Melbourne.

The incident unfolded inside the department store at Bourke Street Mall, in the city's CBD, just before midday on Tuesday.

The Saint Laurent sales assistant tried to stop a man and woman from stealing a designer handbag.

A sales clerk has been stabbed while trying to prevent a store robbery at a Saint Laurent in the Bourke St Mall's David Jones in Melbourne's CBD (pictured)

He went to intervene when he was then stabbed in the arm by the knifeman.

Victoria Police released a statement saying the worker is in a serious condition in hospital.

'A male staff member confronted a man and woman who stole a designer handbag from a Little Bourke Street department store shortly before 12pm,' the statement reads.

'The male thief stabbed the staff member in the arm before fleeing with his accomplice.

'The staff member was taken to hospital with serious injuries.'

No arrests have been made with the duo still on the run, however the Melbourne Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating the incident.

Police believe a male and female perpetrator had stolen a handbag from the store, the male stabbing the clerk in the arm when he approached them

The clerk has been rushed to hospital with serious injuries while the two perpetrators are still on the run from Police and the store and entrance have been closed (pictured)

David Jones released a statement following the horrific incident.

'For David Jones the safety of our team members, our concession partner team members and our customers is paramount, the statement said.

'Our thoughts are with the team member and we are assisting police with their investigation into this incident.

'Across the country retailers are seeing increasing incidents of theft and violence towards workers.

'This is completely unacceptable, and we continue to partner with the police and have taken appropriate measures with security across our store network.'

A sign has been erected outside of the store to notify customers the entrance to the store has been temporarily shut.

Any witnesses or anyone with vision is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Matt Gaetz suggested FBI agents should be fired and prosecuted over the Durham report, which concluded the Bureau should never have launched the probe into whether Donald Trump colluded with Russia to win the 2016 election.

Gaetz said the agency should be defunded and 'defanged', describing the agents' actions as 'ugly', after Durham ruled there was insufficient evidence to probe Trump in the first place.

The Florida lawmaker said John Durham's recommendation that only one person - a lawyer who lied to the FBI - be charged with wrongdoing was 'insufficient'.

'This report is an insufficient consequence for the malfeasance and corruption that we have seen here,' Gaetz said.

'It was an operation from beginning to end to fuse political opposition research from the DNC and the Clinton campaign with this intelligence process and criminal process. And it's a sad day in America.

'If that had been a Republican operation - an operation to help a Republican candidate - it wouldn't have ended in a report: it would have ended with real significant indictments.'

Matt Gaetz on Monday night said the publication of the long-anticipated Durham report showed the need for the FBI to be defunded

The Durham report is an absolutely DAMNING treatise on the weaponization of the FBI against President Trump.



This should be a clarion call for legislative reform. We need to defund and deauthorize government entities that are converted from the just cause of defending our nation pic.twitter.com/peaeMcVr6q  Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) May 16, 2023

The 300-page report, made public on Monday at the end of a four-year enquiry, found the FBI relied too heavily on 'raw, unanalyzed, and uncorroborated intelligence'.

Trump seized on the report, accusing the FBI agents involved of a plot to overthrow his presidency. 'Treason!' he wrote on Truth Social.

His allies Gaetz and Jim Jordan, a congressman from Ohio who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, said the report showed the FBI to be dangerously partisan.

Jordan said he had invited Durham to testify before his committee next week.

Gaetz told Newsmax on Monday night that the FBI had become 'the enforcement wing of the Democratic party to play offense against Trump.'

He called for the FBI to have its funding slashed.

'It's very ugly for our country and it's very ugly for the future of a democracy where the people make the choices - not the law enforcement and intelligence officers,' said Gaetz.

'I think we have to deauthorize, defang and defund many of these authorities and entities and different task forces that actually converted the just and righteous act of protecting our country with the desire to have a particular political candidate win or lose.'

He also said more people should have been prosecuted as a result of Durham's investigation.

'The only indictment that Durham is able to cite here is the indictment of Kevin Clinesmith,' said Gaetz.

'This was the FBI lawyer who changed evidence before a secret court.

'And guess what? He's already back to practicing law. Got his law license back, and practicing law here in DC now. Insufficient.'

Matt Gaetz is seen striking a pose with Donald Trump

Gaetz said the report was a sad indictment of the state of America.

'In a proper world, Republicans and Democrats would be able to work together on this,' he said.

'Because it wasn't that long ago that the FBI was a right-wing organization, weaponized against civil rights leaders and others.

'And it was wrong then, and it's wrong now.'

Gaetz said the report, written by John Durham, the former U.S. Attorney for Connecticut who was appointed as special counsel in October 2020, was 'a clarion call to every Republican'.

'We cannot continue to fund the FBI at its currently level,' he said.

'And I think we should claw back the $325 million that Nancy Pelosi had gifted for the new FBI headquarters in the DC area.

'That's a bad thing for people's civil liberties.

'There should be firings, and there should be reform, and it should be bipartisan.'

Jordan on Monday night told Fox News anchor Sean Hannity there was 'a double standard' for Republicans and Democrats, and agreed with Gaetz that the FBI's funding should be cut.

Jim Jordan, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, said the Durham report exposed double standards in the way Republicans and Democrats were treated, and called for the FBI to have its funding cut

'If conservatives were involved in anything like this they would be going after them nonstop - but the other way around, you never see them actually held to account,' he said.

'That's why we have to look at the power of the purse.

'We have to look at the appropriations process.'

The FBI issued a statement apologizing for their errors and saying they had since instituted reform.

'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 agency 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.'
Daure went to the police who told her the issue is a civil matter

Lt. Colonel Dahlia Daure says Vincent Simon moved into her home and has refused to move out, claiming he has a $19,000 lease

A female Army officer has told how a man with a lengthy criminal history is squatting in her Atlanta-area home while she is in Chicago on active duty.

Lt Colonel Dahlia Daure told local media Vincent Simon - a man who has been convicted on guns, drugs, and theft charges - is living in her $500,000 home.

Daure said she has been away from her Ellenwood, Georgia, residence to serve her country in the Windy City - and only found out he had moved in as the house was in the process of being sold.

'I felt violated. Had I not been serving my country, I would have been in my home,' Daure told WSB-TV.

The active-duty Army officer was told by police they could not evict Simon and that the issue is considered a 'civil matter.'

'I want to go shoot out the windows, turn off the water, cut wires, but I can't. That's a crime. Law-abiding citizens can't do that,' she said.

Lt. Colonel Dahlia Daure says a man with a lengthy criminal history is squatting in her Atlanta-area home while she is away on active duty and that he refuses to move out

Daure told local media the man is living in her Dekalb County, Georgia home valued at $500K

Daure says the man inside her home is Vincent Simon, a Georgia resident who has been convicted on guns, drugs, and theft charges

According to Daure, she was only made aware of the situation after her real estate agent was making final preparations for the sale of her Holly Hill Parkway home.

The massive 4,300 square-foot estate where Simon is holed up has five beds and five baths, Zillow states, and is valued around $495,000.

Before listing the home, she had been renting it out and had even put in an estimated $35,000 in renovations.

After she had received a cash offer and the house was under contract, Simon allegedly moved in. Daure said she at one point saw him moving giant safes into the house.

The active-duty officer says Simon has claimed he had a lease for the home and that he paid $19,000 for six months.

'The police called the number that's on the lease, it doesn't exist,' Daure said.

When WBS-TV went to the Holly Hill Parkway home over the weekend, they found 'beware of dogs' signs posted as cardboard covering some windows.

Daure has since served Simon with eviction papers. However, he has a legal right to respond and have his case heard in front of a judge. 'He's not a tenant. He's a squatter,' she said.

'I felt violated. Had I not been serving my country, I would have been in my home,' Daure said

The massive 4,300 square foot estate where Simon is holed-up has five beds and five baths, Zillow states, and is valued around $495,000

'I can't ask them to leave. I can't put them out. The police can't put them out. What justice is that?' Daure said

The military officer now says she feels like her case is stuck as she has to wait for the eviction process to play out.

'I can't ask them to leave. I can't put them out. The police can't put them out. What justice is that?' Daure said.

The woman said the sale of the home appears to be off as well.

WSB-TV reported that DeKalb County police and an official private process server served Simon with eviction papers.

Simon can respond in court and request a trial before a judge.

If his request is granted, the eviction process could take weeks or months.
A menacing warning of a 'community-enforced curfew' has threatened to 'discipline' youths found on a town's streets after 10pm in an escalating vigilante crackdown.

Locals in Mackay, central Queensland, are threatening to take the law into their own hands after claiming police were failing to act against alleged criminals in the town.

It follows an angry mob of 100 residents - led by One Nation-backed kickboxer Torin O'Brien - gathering outside the homes of youths allegedly involved in a crime wave in Rockhampton, 400km south.

Now anonymous signs have been posted up around Mackay warning of the vigilante curfew - and calling on local fathers to join them to police the 'unpunished' crimes.

Unlawful entry crimes have more than doubled year on year with 108 incidents in the area between January and April this year compared to just 50 the year before.

A menacing warning of a 'community-enforced curfew' has threatened to 'discipline' youths found on Mackay streets after 10pm in an escalating vigilante crackdown after Torin O'Brien (pictured front left) organised an angry mob of nearly 100 people in Rockhampton on Sunday

The anonymous signs (pictured) have been posted up around Mackay warning of the vigilante curfew - and calling on local fathers to join them to police the 'unpunished' crimes

'Due to the large number of unpunished break ins and car thefts we would like to advise a one week notice period to all parents of the Northern Beaches area,' the 'community announcement' says.

'As of the 22/05/2023 there shall be a community enforced curfew for all youths. From 10pm till daylight, Mon-Sun any youths caught walking the streets shall be disciplined.

'I urge all parents to share this announcement with your family and friends.

'Any fathers that are ready to stand up for your community please get involved, watch over your street and look out for your neighbours and protect those unable to do so.'

Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Torin O'Brien is connected with the curfew notice in Mackay.

The chilling threats have been met by a warning against locals meting out their own form of justice, with police telling they will be monitoring the situation.

Two people were arrested for trespassing after the vigilante gathering in Central Park in North Rockhampton on May 7 when the crowd surrounded three homes and banged on windows and doors.

'I 100 per cent understand people are frustrated and they're angry,' Detective Inspector Luke Peachey said later.

'I'm a resident here too, I've lived here for 25 years now - it disgusts me some of the behaviour going on now with our property offences.

'But the last thing we can have is untrained people going around and trying to take matters into their own hands.'

Insp Peachey said that at one stage, four people jumped into the backyard of one home.

'Already we've charged two of those people with trespass, so the messaging out there is 'Leave it up to police',' he said.

'By all means have your peaceful protests, but if you're detected committing an offence, then you will be charged.'

The last protest only ended after more than a dozen police officers with dogs turned up in a fleet of police vehicles and threatened the mob with a move on notice.

The Rockhampton protest only ended after more than a dozen police officers (pictured) with dogs turned up in a fleet of police vehicles and threatened the mob with a move on notice

Insp Peachey said he understood the community's frustration, but said the vigilante threats would not ease tensions.

'We've got a designated property team working 24/7 trying to detect these offences and trying to bring them before custody,' he said.

'The last thing we need to do is be taking resources away from them to go and investigate good people who have become angry and started committing offences.'

On Friday, local Indigenous communities met at Rockhampton's Central Park to highlight their fears that their children may be wrongly targeted by the vigilantes.

'We have concerns about our children, there has been mistaken identity across our country for a lot of years and there has even been deaths,' Darumbal man Trent White told the Courier-Mail.

'Our kids, that arent out there committing crime, are caught in the crossfire of kids and even adults who are.'
Mike Pence is reportedly preparing to launch his 2024 campaign and will run as a 'classical conservative' as he attempts to 'reintroduce' himself to the nation 'as his own man'.

Pence, 63, has long teased the idea of a run and faced questions about how closely he will align himself with his former boss Donald Trump.

Trump is currently comfortably ahead in the polls: FiveThirtyEight put him at 52.5 percent, in their poll of polls, with Florida governor Ron DeSantis - who is yet to declare - at 21.9 percent.

Pence trails both by a wide margin, with only 5.7 percent of support.

But the former vice president's team and allies told the New York Times they were not concerned about the early lack of enthusiasm.

Mike Pence is seen on April 25 speaking at the Federalist Society in Washington DC. He hopes to run for 2024 as a 'classical conservative'

Donald Trump is seen on January 6, 2021 at the 'Stop the Steal' rally that preceded the Capitol riot. Trump accused Pence of failing him, and his supporters chanted: 'Hang Mike Pence'

Trump supporters brought a gallows to the Capitol as they chanted: 'Hang Mike Pence'

'This campaign is going to reintroduce Mike Pence to the country as his own man,' said Scott Reed, a veteran conservative strategist who ran Bob Dole's 1996 presidential campaign.

Reed is helping set up Pence's super PAC, called Committed to America. 'People know Mike Pence. They just don't know him well,' Reed added.

Pence is due to give a speech in New Hampshire - a vital early-voting state - on Tuesday night, where he will reportedly call for 'free trade with free nations.'

The speech is intended to position himself as a Reagan conservative, focused on free trade and hoping to win over the Christian right, fiscal conservatives and national security hawks.

Pence's team is also hoping that he can make a strong showing in Iowa - which has a powerful evangelical voter base likely to be impressed by Pence's own faith.

'Iowa feels more like Indiana than any other state in the union,' said Pence, a former governor of Indiana. 'It just feels like home.'

Pence has set out to distinguish himself from his rivals by stressing a tightening of budgets - taking aim at his former boss while doing so.

Trump is seen with Pence in November 2020, campaigning for re-election

Pence is seen on January 6, 2021 inside the Capitol as it was being overrun by people baying for his blood

'It is fairly remarkable that Joe Biden and Donald Trump have the same position on fiscal solvency: The position of never going to touch Social Security and Medicare,' he said.

He is also at odds with Trump over abortion: Trump has said it is an issue for the states, and at last week's CNN town hall refused to be drawn over what he thought the right threshold was.

Pence, strongly pro life, has repeatedly said he wants a nation-wide abortion ban.

'For the former president and others who aspire to the highest office in the land to relegate that issue to states-only I think is wrong,' he said.

His senior adviser, Marc Short, said Pence regarded a 15-week national ban as a 'minimal threshold'.

Pence faces an uphill battle to the nomination, with much of the attention and fundraising focused so far on Trump and DeSantis, who is said to be planning his own entry into the race in the coming weeks.

The field also includes the former governor of South Carolina, Nikki Haley; tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson.

Tim Scott, a senator for South Carolina, has formed a presidential exploratory committee and is expected to formally launch his campaign next week.

Pence, seen in Salt Lake City on April 28, is expected to launch his campaign in the coming weeks

Pence's team spoke specifically of Pence's role on January 6, 2021, when he resisted Trump's pressure campaign to overturn the results of the 2020 election - a power that Pence, as vice president, never possessed.

Pence had been proceeding over a joint session of Congress to certify President Joe Biden's win when a violent mob of Trump's supporters broke into the Capitol, smashing windows, ramming through doors and clashing with police.

Pence was rushed to safety in a Senate loading dock as some outside the building chanted: 'Hang Mike Pence!'

Pence's allies believe voters will be drawn to Pence's defense of the Constitution.

Yet it remains unclear how salient that position will be in a party still dominated by the former president.

A large swath of Trump's base will never forgive Pence for his actions that day, while many Trump critics see the former vice president as complicit in Trump's most divisive actions.

A Quinnipiac University national poll released in May found 36 percent of Republicans nationwide view Pence unfavorably - a higher unfavorable rating than Trump or DeSantis.
Gina Rinehart has launched an extraordinary attack on Labor in a scathing speech - slamming the Federal government's welfare policies and its forecast that 1.5million migrants will come to Australia in the next five years.

The country's richest woman spoke at an event hosted by the Queensland Resources Council on Tuesday where she claimed Treasurer Jim Chalmers' Federal budget surplus was built on the back of the mining industry.

The resources magnate, who is the executive chairwoman of Hancock Prospecting, said that state and federal governments would not 'have their massive tax revenues to waste without our industries', amid booming commodities prices.

In a ten-page speech, Mrs Rinehart also insisted governments needed to stop using pejorative two-word descriptions of mining such as 'dirty mining' and 'evil mining'.

She also expressed fear that Australia would not be able to afford to ramp up its defence forces because of 'grossly insufficient taxpayer funds ... after increased welfare payments and net zero schemes'.

Australia's richest woman spoke at an event hosted by the Queensland Resources Council on Tuesday, slamming Labor for their alleged 'propaganda' against mining

Mrs Rinehart also nodded to the worker shortage which is affecting several key industries across the country - with unemployment at 3.5 per cent.

She argued that veterans and pensioners face 'onerous paperwork' which deters them from seeking out jobs.

She said: 'Morally this is so wrong, how can a government, knowing of the worker shortage crisis and businesses' needs and the cost of living crisis, restrict pensioners to dreadful poverty, effectively preventing our Australian pensioners from being able to work if they wish.'

Mrs Rinehart, a top political donor to the conservative side of politics, instead proposed a retirement model similar to that used in New Zealand.

Kiwi pensioners are permitted to 'work as much as they like and simply pay income tax like the rest of us on their work earnings', she said.

'Doesn't your blood boil, when you know that our veterans, who were sent to terrible conditions overseas, many risking their lives, too many live in poverty, some even homeless on our streets, (are) not able to work more than a few hours per week in the country they served.'

Mrs Rinehart claimed governments at a state and federal level would not 'have their massive tax revenues to waste without our industries'

Mrs Rinehart also called for Australia to mine further critical minerals. Australia produces large quantities of iron ore, nickel, aluminum, opal, uranium and copper in particular, along with natural gases.

'Our recent federal government budget had a small surplus thanks to our industry, but still huge debt, a debt that is costing Australians in interest around $60 million each day,' she said.

'Let's urgently bring more of our minerals to production, so we can achieve more funding for our defence, elderly, hospitals, police and emergency services.'

Mrs Rinehart also used her address to comment on Labor's plan to increase migration to 1.5 million in the next five years.

She adopted a line - also used by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton - that more immigrants will place further pressure on the housing market.

Mrs Rinehart also used her address to comment on the Federal Budget forecast that 1.5million migrants will arrive in Australia over the next five years

'We all know there is a housing shortage for Australians already, rents are escalating, our hospitals are inadequate without adding more, police already can't police crime and crime is escalating, electricity requirements will increase, adding to unreliability and increased costs, and so on,' she said.

'If we want our standards of living to continue, we simply must have more investment in mines, more mines developed... and to ensure our government puts policies in place that actually welcome, not deter, investment.'

The billionaire said the government should focus less on handing out 'billions of taxpayer money for unproven technologies' and instead help to build 'the great mines of the future'.

Pointing to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Mrs Rinehart claimed German and US imports are 'effectively funding the war' and urged Australia against falling backwards and allowing Russia to 'become the preferred supplier of energy and coal'.

She noted it's 'popular' right now to restrict mining in the name of the environment, but warned it also means 'less investment, less philanthropy, less bonuses, and less money available for salary increases.'

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'When governments choose favourites, they don't choose well.'

The coal and gas industry suffered a 'big hit' in March when the Greens struck a deal with Labor on its key climate policy, the safeguard mechanism.

The law will require the country's top 215 carbon dioxide emitters to cut pollution by five per cent per year through to 2030 and will place a 'hard cap' on emissions.

Greens leader Adam Bandt said the bill will include a 'pollution trigger' that will require the climate change minister, currently Chris Bowen, to test the impact of new or expanded polluting projects on the country's cap and net carbon budgets.

He said: 'There will now be, in legislation, a hard cap on actual emissions that the safeguard sector can emit.

'This puts a limit on coal and gas expansion in this country. In fact, the limit must decline over time.

'There will be, in law for the first time in this country, a limit on the amount of pollution that these corporations including the coal and gas corporations, can pollute.

'I want to say to everyone who despairs about the future under our climate crisis and who is worried about their lives or their kids' or their grandkids', you should have a spring in your step today because we have shown that it is possible to take on the coal and gas corporations and win.'

Under the deal there will be a ceiling on gross greenhouse gas emissions, which won't be able to exceed current pollution levels of 140 million tonnes a year, and there will be a decreasing cap over time.
A bitter legal battle between a wealthy couple over how long they were married is set to be renewed today.

Angela Jilina, 49, and estranged husband Walid Abu-Zalaf, 64, had asked Mr Justice Mostyn to make decisions at the High Court relating to when exactly their marriage ended.

Ms Jilina, who comes from Russia, said the marriage broke down in 2020, while Mr Abu-Zalaf, editor of Palestinian newspaper Al-Quds, said it broke down in 2013.

The judge had considered arguments in the Family Division of the High Court in London, and ruled in favour of Mr Abu-Zalaf in October last year.

Ms Jilina is today challenging the ruling at the Court of Appeal.

Mr Justice Mostyn heard that the influential pair, who had attended Tony Blair's daughter's wedding and hosted Ivanka Trump for dinner, had run up lawyers bills of more than 400,000 between them  and suggested that the case was unique.

Glamorous Angela Jilina, 49 (pictured arriving at the Royal Courts of Justice) - who claims the marriage only ended in 2020 - is today challenging theHigh Court ruling

Millionaire Abu-Zalaf (left) - who is the publisher of the Palestinian AL Quds newspaper - won the High Court fight on October 12 2022, saying his marriage with Ms Julina (right) broke down in 2013

Lawyers had told the judge his ruling would affect how much Ms Jilina, who comes from Russia, would walk away with under a prenuptial agreement - and indicated that hundreds of thousands of pounds were at stake.

Ms Jilina had been involved with the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women and attended their daughter Kathryn's wedding with Abu-Zalaf in 2019.

The former Prime Minister and daughter of US president Donald Trump had also been guests at their London home.

The couple - who also had homes in Ascot, Berkshire and Switzerland - were married in 2012 and Ms Jilina filed to end the coupling a year later.

Mr Abu-Zalaf had 'net property assets' of about 13 million plus a share in a family business.

He had agreed to make financial provision for Ms Jilina as part of a prenuptial agreement, depended on the length of the marriage.

The judge said for the 'less than two years category' there was a 'housing provision' of 2 million and said annual spousal payment was to be 96,000.

A barrister indicated at the hearing that Ms Jilina could benefit by an amount approaching 1 million if she won.

In court, the estranged couple were asked about the nature of their relationship between 2014 and 2020, including questions about how often they had sex.

The judge had considered arguments at a recent hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London, and ruled in favour of Mr Abu-Zalaf.

He said the case was 'only about money'.

The result of the appeal will impact the amount of money Ms Jilina walks away with

Ms Jilina had been involved with the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women and attended their daughter Kathryn's wedding with Abu-Zalaf in 2019

A family court judge had granted a decree nisi in 2013, a decree which signals the end of a marriage, after an application by Ms Jilina.

But he was told the decree nisi had never been made absolute, a move which legally ends a marriage.

Ms Jilina said there was reconciliation in 2014 and the marriage finally broke down in 2020.

She had said the 2013 decree nisi is 'now antiquated and stale', should be rescinded, and wants to issue a fresh divorce petition.

Mr Abu-Zalaf told the judge 'we never reconciled' and said they were only 'technically married'.

He wants the 2013 decree nisi to be made absolute.

'My husband called me his wife,' Ms Jilina told the judge.

'We had a sexual relationship. Everywhere we went socially as I known as his wife.'

READ MORE: Wealthy journalist wins fight with estranged wife over length of marriage Advertisement

Mr Abu-Zalaf said the relationship had been 'convenient'.

He said they were 'technically married' but not married 'in reality'.

'We never reconciled,' he said. 'We were treating each other like single people.'

He told the judge: 'It was convenient for me always to go out with someone.'

Mr Justice Mostyn said in his written ruling: 'The wife's position is superficially curious and the facts of this case are very unlikely to be repeated in the future.

'One might ask: why does it matter whether she is divorced pursuant to the 15 November 2013 decree, or pursuant to a divorce order yet to be made?

'The answer is that the prenuptial agreement provides for increasing levels of provision to be made to the wife depending on the length of the marriage (which is to be measured in full years from the date of the ceremony to the date of separation).'

Mr Justice Mostyn added: 'If the decree is set aside and this marriage is treated as having lasted for eight years then the level of provision is increased quite substantially both in respect of free capital, capital in trust and spousal periodical payments.'

He went on: 'I calculate that the agreement would give the wife an extra 1.7m housing capital (to be held on trust for her benefit during her lifetime while she remains single) on top of the 2m such housing capital in trust already provided; a lump sum of 250,000; and additional spousal maintenance of around 13,500 per annum, on top of the existing maintenance now standing, with indexation, at 123,000 per annum.

Ms Jilina said there was reconciliation in 2014 and the marriage finally broke down in 2020. She had said the 2013 decree nisi is 'now antiquated and stale', should be rescinded, and wants to issue a fresh divorce petition

In court last year the estranged couple were asked about the nature of their relationship between 2014 and 2020, including questions about how often they had sex

'This then is the reason for the wife's application.

'It is not to proclaim to the world the true facts as she now says that they are. It is not about correcting a false finding as to her status. It is not about correcting a public injustice.

'It is about money, and only about money.'

Mr Justice Mostyn said evidence came 'nowhere near to demonstrating' that findings made about the state of the marriage, when the decree nisi was granted in 2013, were wrong.

'The evidence shows that the parties had a highly defective marriage which was rightly put out of its misery by the making of decree nisi,' he said.

'For reasons that have not been explained, for 12 months after the pronouncement of the decree, but before the 'reconciliation', the wife did not apply for the decree nisi awarded in her favour to be made absolute.

'That delay is very puzzling. In November 2014 she and the husband resumed a toxic, damaging and unhealthy relationship which had none of the qualities of marriage and which cannot be described as a marital reconciliation. That relationship endured until March 2020 when it came to a final end.

'However, I am completely satisfied that at all times following the decree nisi their marriage was and remained irretrievably broken down.

'I conclude by pointing out that if there had been a genuine marital reconciliation between the parties in and after November 2014 then an application could have been made by the wife at any time thereafter  for a rescission of the decree nisi on the grounds that the parties were reconciled and both consented to the rescission.

'The fact that the wife made no such application speaks volumes.

'For these reasons, the wife's applications are dismissed and the husband's application is granted.'

Lawyer Sara Hannell, who is based at law firm Alexiou Fisher Philipps and represented Mr Abu-Zalaf, said in a statement following the ruling: 'Mr Abu-Zalaf is pleased that the judge has supported his application for decree absolute and rejected Ms Jilina's attempt to gain substantial additional sums of money from him, over and above the generous financial settlement made for her in their prenuptial agreement.

'Mr Abu-Zalaf welcomes the court's clear ruling that the marriage effectively ended in 2013 when Ms Jilina applied for and was granted decree nisi and that their subsequent relationship did not constitute reconciliation of the marriage.'

She added: 'Mr Abu-Zalaf's wish is now to work amicably with Ms Jilina and to put this private matter behind them and move on.'
Russia launched a brutal drone and missile attack on Ukraine's capital early this morning, just hours after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said he would be returning from a European tour with a restocked weapons arsenal.

Ukraine claimed its robust air defence system, comprised of Soviet-era and Western-supplied platforms, managed to successfully shoot down 18 of Moscow's missiles, six of which were reportedly hypersonic 'Kinzhal' missiles which Vladimir Putin once boasted were 'unstoppable'.

But the Russian Defence Ministry in turn claimed one of its missiles had successfully destroyed a US-designed and supplied Patriot air defence system - a feat amounting to the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of state-of-the-art technology that could leave the Ukrainian capital vulnerable to further attacks.

The claim is yet to be confirmed, though a grainy security camera video circulating on the Telegram messaging app appears to show the moment a surface-to-air battery explodes after exhausting all of its ammunition amid the attacks.

Officials in Kyiv said Moscow's strike - the eighth on the Ukrainian capital this month and certainly the most intense - involved drones, cruise missiles and probably ballistic missiles launched 'from different directions simultaneously'.

Ukrainian military general Serhiy Popko said the nighttime onslaught had been 'exceptionally complex and dense'.

'The maximum number of rockets were fired at the city in the shortest period of time... the vast majority of enemy targets in the airspace of Kyiv were detected and destroyed.'

The busy Solomyansky district of Kyiv, home to the international airport, was the most heavily damaged, with a fire breaking out in a non-residential building.

According to Telegram posts by Mayor Vitali Klitschko, three people were injured in Solomyansky, while missile debris fell on Obolonsky district, a leafy outer suburb.

Explosion of a Russian-launched missile in the sky over Kyiv this morning

Kyiv officials said the attack - the eighth on the capital this month - involved drones, cruise missiles and probably ballistic missiles launched 'from different directions simultaneously'

Emergency services trying to contain a fire after a Russian missile strike

Firefighters battle flames in the wake of Russia's latest attack on Kyiv

Missile debris after a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine May 16, 2023

Grainy security camera video circulating on the Telegram messaging app appears to show the moment a surface-to-air battery explodes after exhausting all of its ammunition amid the attacks

The latest attack on Kyiv follows Mr Zelensky's collection of fresh arms delivery pledges from Berlin, Paris and London, deepening a military arrangement between the West and Ukraine that has helped put Russia on the back foot.

After his whirlwind tour of major European capitals, Mr Zelensky tweeted last night that he was 'returning home with new defence packages'.

Ukrainian forces are widely believed to be gearing up for a long-awaited counter-offensive against Russian troops, with gains already claimed around the flashpoint of Bakhmut.

But Mr Zelensky has yet to succeed in his coveted goal of enlisting Western fighter jets to seize command of the skies, although Rishi Sunak yesterday announced preparations to open a flight school to train Ukrainian pilots.

France has also offered to train Ukrainian fighter pilots, though president Emmanuel Macron ruled out sending warplanes to Kyiv.

And while Russia's ally China vies to act as a peace broker, sending an envoy to Kyiv this week, Moscow's reported attempt to acquire more drones with military collaborator Iran has caused ire in Washington.

'This is a full-scale defense partnership that is harmful to Ukraine, to the region in the Middle East, and to the international community,' US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said yesterday, adding that further sanctions would soon be announced.

Mr Zelensky's tour to shore up military assistance to help make his troops more battle-ready began in Italy, with weekend visits to France and Germany, followed by yesterday's stop in the UK.

France offered dozens more light tanks and armoured vehicles, while Germany said it was preparing a military package worth 2.7billion (2.35million) - its biggest yet for Ukraine.

At Mr Sunak's official country residence of Chequers yesterday, Mr Zelensky won the promise of hundreds more air-defence missiles and long-range attack drones.

Dressed in his trademark fatigues, Mr Zelensky gave a bear hug to Mr Sunak after disembarking from a Royal Air Force Chinook helicopter.

He said the crisis was a matter of 'security not only for Ukraine, it is important for all of Europe'.

Sunak noted that the Chequers meeting was taking place in the buildup to a Council of Europe leaders' meeting in Iceland and a G7 summit in Japan.

'The front lines of Putin's war of aggression may be in Ukraine, but the fault lines stretch all over the world,' Mr Sunak said.

Russia said the new UK weapons would cause 'further destruction' and claimed to have downed a Storm Shadow cruise missile that Britain last week said it was providing, in the West's first deployment of long-range missiles for Ukraine - though Mr Kirby said he was unable to confirm the reports.

The timing and focus of Ukraine's high-stakes counter-offensive remain unclear, but Mr Zelensky's tour of European capitals underscored the importance of securing Western heavy weapons and ammunition.

A firefighter works at a site of car park damaged by remains of Russian missiles overnight

Ukrainian air defence systems are seen launching to knock out incoming missiles

Volodymyr Zelensky is welcomed by France's president Emmanuel Macron upon his arrival at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris at the weekend

Rishi Sunak with Mr Zelensky at Chequers, the prime minister's official country residence, yesterday

The two leaders greeted each other with a hug after the Ukraine president landed in Chinook helicopters

Mr Zelensky visited Britain on 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

The head of Russia's private Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has again accused the Russian army of inaction around Bakhmut

On the ground, the fighting appears poised to increase after months of stalemate.

Kyiv said the southern region of Kherson came under 'massive enemy attack', damaging several residential buildings.

Meanwhile, seven people, including a Moscow-installed senior official and a teenager, were injured in a blast in Russian-controlled Lugansk, local officials said.

Ukrainian forces said they have captured more than 10 Russian positions on the outskirts of Bakhmut, where a fierce battle for control began nearly a year ago.

Russia said two of its military commanders had been killed in combat near the town.

The head of Russia's private Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has again accused the Russian army of inaction around Bakhmut.

But he dismissed as 'laughable' a Washington Post report that he had offered information on Russian troop positions to Ukraine in January in return for respite for Wagner forces.

In another sign of tensions with the West, Russia said yesterday it had scrambled a Su-27 fighter jet over the Baltic Sea to intercept two aircraft, one German and one French, which Moscow said had attempted to 'violate' its airspace.

'After turning the foreign military planes away from the Russian Federation state border, the Russian fighter [jet] returned safely to its airbase,' the Russian defence ministry said in a statement
Lib Dem leader Ed Davey today suggested it will be 'logical' for him to prop up Keir Starmer in No10 if there is a hung Parliament.

Sir Ed fuelled rumours that the two parties are plotting an alliance as he said it is his 'job' to 'get the Conservatives out of power'.

Although he added that he was not focused on anything beyond the election, the comments will reinforce fears that a deal is in the offing - with polls suggesting Labour might fall short of winning outright.

Both support dramatic changes to the electoral system that could allow 16-year-olds and European nationals living in the UK to vote. The Lib Dems have long pushed for first-past-the-post to be ditched altogether and replaced with PR.

Tories are alarmed that would effectively lock them out of power for good, as it would give smaller parties more sway in the Commons and make coalition governments routine.

Ed Davey fuelled rumours that the two parties are plotting an alliance as he told LBC it is his 'job' to 'get the Conservatives out of power'

Keir Starmer has said he believes he is on course to win a general election outright after a strong showing in local polls earlier this month - but analysts said he could fall short

Sir Ed was asked on LBC today whether he would form a coalition with Labour if that was the way to get rid of the Tories.

'When I first got the job as leader of the Liberal Democrats I made it clear my job was to get rid of as many Conservative MPs as I possibly could and to get the Conservatives out of power,' he replied.

'I have fought the Conservatives all of my life, even in coalition, and it's therefore logical if I've had that fight and we're fighting them at the next general election that we get rid of them.

'That's my focus, I'm not focused on anything after the election, I'm focused on doing my job.

Sir Ed said the current administration was the 'most incompetent government I can remember'.

The Labour leader has said he believes he is on course to win a general election outright after a strong showing in local polls earlier this month.

The party gained 635 councillors across England as the Conservatives lost 960 seats under Rishi Sunak's leadership - worse than most Tories had feared.

But the national vote share gave Sir Keir's supporters pause for thought and Mr Sunak some grounds for hope.

The Tories were on 29 per cent, the worst in a significant ballot event since 2013.

Labour was up five points on 2019 on 36 per cent - but that was only a marginal improvement on a year ago.

Closely-watched projections by academics Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher found that Labour would have 298 MPs if the results were replicated at a general election.

Closely-watched projections by academics Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher found that Labour would have 298 MPs if the local election results were replicated at a general election

That would be up 95 on the standings from 2019 - but still around 30 short of an outright majority.

Meanwhile, the Tories are on track to plunge 127 seats to just 238.

The estimates were based on the 4.2million ballots cast for councillors, and come with the caveat that behaviour is often different in Westminster polls.

Former Lib Dem leader Vince Cable said last week that 'serious, but deniable' talks were already in the offing with Labour about a deal if there is a hung Parliament.

Sir Vince insisted that scrapping the first-past-the-post voting system in favour of proportional representation would be crucial.




A former female prison guard who was secretly recorded talking dirty on a phone call with a prisoner has been fined in court.

Nicole Lisa Georgiou, 44, fronted Brisbane Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with having an intimate relationship with an inmate and possessing dangerous drugs, which were found at her Gold Coast property.

The court heard during a separate investigation into the supply of illicit drugs into Queensland correctional centres, detectives examined the phone of Georgiou.

This led them to discover she was involved in a relationship with Teariki Touna May, an inmate at a different prison, Woodford Correctional Centre an hour north of Brisbane, between June and July 2022.

She visited him twice at that location where they hugged four times and May squeezed her bottom twice.

On a phone call Georgiou was recorded telling May she was 'thinking about your big c**k', reports The Courier Mail.

The female prison guard had deposited money into the inmate's account (stock image)

'So there's obviously some more content that effectively supports that the relationship was sexualised between these two,' Queensland Police Service prosecutor Tim Wise said.

During a subsequent raid of Georgiou's house, police found four bundles containing 195 strips of the prescription opiod medication buprenorphine.

However police dropped a charge of supply drugs within a correctional facility, along with a misconduct in public office type charge.

Georgiou's defence barrister said she had lost her job at Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre after the investigation.

He added that she had known May before he was put behind bars and had deposited money into his account without trying to hide it.

'What turned (her behaviour) illegal was the conduct on those visits and the content of those phone calls really,' he said.

'Otherwise it would have been perhaps a prisoner simply taking advantage of someone else because she was the one putting money into his account.'

Magistrate Michael Quinn acknowledged she had lost her job and her blue card, making it hard for her to find work, and had suffered damage to her reputation.

But he said it was important such relationships were prohibited in order to maintain boundaries and control in the prison population.

He noted it was not alleged the drugs found in her house were for anything but personal use.

He fined Georgiou $1,000 and no conviction was recorded.
A German porn star and Big Brother contestant has been elected onto a local council in the country following news she was having an affair with a prominent married MP.

Annina Ucatis-Semmelhaack, 44, was elected onto the municipal council of Elmshorn, northwest of Hamburg, on Monday.

It comes just months after it was revealed she was having an affair with Free Democratic Party (FDP) MP Hagen Reinhold, a 45-year-old father-of-three.

The former adult actress - who is a member of the FDP and regularly updates her social media followers with snaps of her campaigning and meeting with constituents - is now an elected FDP member. The party received 10.4 percent of the vote in Elmshorn.

'I am really so happy. The hard campaigning paid off. I will not disappoint my voters,' she said, speaking to German newspaper Bild.

She thanked her supporters on Instagram: 'Just as motivated as in recent weeks, we are now going to work with a strong team @fdpelmshorn. Once again I would like to thank all my fellow Liberals for their efforts, because only together have we achieved this great result.'

Annina Ucatis-Semmelhaack is elected onto local council in Germany... months after she was revealed to be having an affair with father-of-three MP

The former adult actress - who is a member of the FDP and regularly updates her social media followers with snaps of her campaigning and meeting with constituents - is now an elected FDP member

Since the initial scandalous reveal, she has frequently posted a number of pictures alongside the MP, showing off their now-public romance

Ucatis, an economics graduate who was previously married to millionaire real estate mogul Theodor Semmelhaack, 65, starred in German Big Brother on its ninth season in 2009 and previously made her name in films such as Big T** A-List and Busty C*** Worshippers 2.

She scandalised German politics in 2022 after starting a relationship with Reinhold - who was married with three children - following an internship in his Bundestag office.

Reinhold, chairman of his party's Eastern division, shocked Berlin after swapping partner of 16 years Karoline Preisler, 51, for double-G cupped Ucatis.

On Instagram at the time, Ucatis said: 'It's a great love and we're going into a happy future together.'

Ex-porn actress Annina Semmelhaack, 44, and politician Hagen Reinhold, 45, pose in undated photo

She scandalised German politics in 2022 after starting a relationship with Reinhold - who was married with three children - following an internship in his Bundestag office

Porn actress Annina Ucatis (R) poses for a picture at the 15th 'Venus' erotic fair in Berlin September 29, 2011

Meanwhile her new partner added: 'We got to know and love each other in the FDP.'

After news of the affair emerged, Reinhold's embittered ex posted on Twitter: 'The past few months have been bitter for me.'

She said: 'After years with Hagen Reinhold (...) and politics in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, there is something new to do.'

A friend of hers commented: 'Is this a joke?'

But Preisler replied: 'No, it is love.'

She explained she would be moving back to Berlin and giving up politics after working as an MP in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in the northeast of Germany.

In June last year, Ucatis posted a photo with Reinhold of the pair sitting down during their 'mentoring and skills training', showing their close bond as the pair stare deeply into each other's eyes.

She said at the time: 'During the last week of the German Bundestag session, I visited the office of Hagen Reinhold, MdB.

'The team gave me a very warm welcome and involved me in the political work.

Ucatis, an economics graduate who was previously married to millionaire real estate mogul Theodor Semmelhaack, 65, starred in German Big Brother on its ninth season in 2009 and made her name in films such as Big T** A-List and Busty C*** Worshippers 2

Adult film star Annina Ucatis posts photos and a video of herself touring New York City and NYPD headquarters on her Instagram page on October 16-19, 2019

'Thank you very much for your participation and your commitment, I felt very comfortable with you!'

Since the initial scandalous reveal, she has frequently posted a number of pictures alongside the MP, showing off their now-public romance.

Ucatis also runs her own real estate agency named Holsteiner Grund & Boden, following her previous marriage to the real estate mogul.

After completing her economics degree, she swiftly traded academics for a career in porn on 1998, which lasted until 2010.

After her marriage to Semmelhaack in 2013, she worked for his housing company and began describing herself as an entrepreneur before a switch in 2022 to a career in politics.

Ucatis previously made headlines in 2019 when New York Police Department allowed her to take a private tour of their headquarters without any apparent explanation.

The X-rated star shared photos and videos of the Real Time Crime Center among other sensitive areas of the NYPD's One Police Plaza and at the Security Coordination Center at 55 Broadway.

In the series of posts, the 40-year-old actress poses in front of a variety of NYPD paraphernalia. A uniformed man appeared in several of the photos.

Ucatis posed in front of a memorial for fallen police officers before taking shots in front of other parts of the lobby of the plaza.
Rishi Sunak's hopes of getting Europe to take immigration reform seriously appeared to be dashed today as the host of a summit in Iceland said it was not a priority for discussion.

The Prime Minister pushed for reforms to the way the European Court of Human Rights works when he meets ECHR president Siofra O'Leary at a Council of Europe meeting in Reykjavik.

The Government's plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda was blocked last year by a 'Rule 39' order from a judge at the Strasbourg-based court.

This saw the first of Britain's scheduled deportation flights to the African country abandoned following the 11th-hour ruling in June.

Mr Sunak, in his discussions with Justice O'Leary in the Icelandic capital, raised 'procedures before the ECtHR ... including Rule 39 interim measures,' No10 said.

But Iceland's foreign affairs minister Thordis Kolbrun Gylfadottir earlier suggested migration issues will not be top of the agenda at the gathering.

She told BBC Radio 4's World At One programme: 'The biggest focus is of course Ukraine, and then other issues such as AI and environment and other things. So this summit doesn't have a big focus on migration in general.

Rishi Sunak will meet with the head of the European Court of Human Rights to demand an overhaul of Strasbourg judges' last-minute rulings

The Prime Minister is to push for reforms to the way the European Court of Human Rights works when he meets Siofra O'Leary in Reykjavik.

The Government's plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda was blocked last year by a 'Rule 39' order from a judge at the Strasbourg-based court

But Iceland's foreign affairs minister Thordis Kolbrun Gylfadottir (centre) suggested migration issues will not be top of the agenda at the gathering.

'But I agree that that is an issue for Europe. And of course, that system has to develop with the challenges that we face.'

Asked whether Iceland and other European nations will consider an overhaul of the ECHR's Rule 39 orders, Ms Gylfadottir said: 'I believe that there will be a discussion on it, but there will not be I think a real concrete outcome on reforming certain articles.'

Speaking to broadcasters this evening, Mr Sunak said he would push for Strasbourg to conduct itself in a way that is 'fair, transparent and effective'.

The PM will argue sovereign countries should not be stopped from taking measures to tackle domestic challenges by international judges.

It comes as Mr Sunak is trying to stave off pressure from Tory MPs to withdraw Britain from the ECHR completely.

He recently bowed to Conservative backbenchers' demands by unveiling planned laws to allow the UK to sidestep Strasbourg judges' interim rulings.

Priti Patel, who was then home secretary, signed a migration deal with Rwanda in April last year - but no asylum seekers have yet been sent to the African country

But it has been suggested the PM wants to agree reforms with the ECHR so ministers never have to use the controversial powers.

Downing Street said Mr Sunak wants to see an overhaul to the ECHR's Rule 39 process to provide proper transparency, greater accountability and to ensure decisions can be reconsidered.

The PM will use his address to leaders at the Council of Europe summit tonight to call for greater efforts to tackle illegal migration.

Mr Sunak has vowed to 'stop the boats' to end the Channel migrant crisis and is seeking greater cooperation between European capitals and institutions.

He will also hold a series of one-on-one meetings with other national leaders, as well as EU chiefs.

The Council of Europe, of which 46 countries are now members, was established after the Second World War to uphold democracy and freedom across the continent.

Mr Sunak will stress that measures taken by individual countries to address illegal immigration - such as his planned overhaul of Britain's asylum rules - must go hand-in-hand with international cooperation to establish a global asylum system 'fit for purpose'.

The PM said ahead of the summit: '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 world's most vulnerable people are paying the price.

'We need to do more to cooperate 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.'
A mother-of-two who caused a head on road smash which seriously injured a woman who later died has been spared jail after the victim's grieving husband accepted she had made a 'big mistake' and bore her 'no ill-will'.

Nicola Holford, 37, faced jail after she admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving after an incident in Cheshire that left Carolyn Worrall, 75, in hospital, Chester Crown Court heard.

But she was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years after Mrs Worrall's husband Tony turned down requests to give a personal statement on behalf of his late wife as he did not want to be 'reminded of the accident.'

Ms Holford from Newton Le Willows, was driving her Kia Sportage SUV on a country road with her young children in the back when she tried to overtake a tractor and trailer on a blind bend and ploughed into an oncoming Honda CR-V.

Mrs Worrall who was sat in the front passenger seat of the Honda suffered multiple lacerations to her bowel and five broken ribs in the impact and had to be cut free from the wreckage.

Nicola Holford, 37, was driving her Kia Sportage SUV on a country road in Cheshire when she tried to overtake a tractor on a blind bend and ploughed into an oncoming Honda CR-V

Carolyn Worrall (right), 75, who was sat in the front passenger seat of the Honda, with her husband Tony (left) driving, suffered multiple lacerations to her bowel and five broken ribs in the impact

The retired school nurse, described as an 'adored gran' by her family, was treated in hospital for six days.

She was said to have made a full recovery from her injuries but died just five months after the accident from an unrelated aneurism.

Mr Worrall who was driving the vehicle suffered minor injuries in the crash on the A50 near Holmes Chapel, Cheshire.

He told police: 'It all happened so quickly. I hardly had time to react.'

Investigators found no link between the accident and Mrs Worrall's death.

The crash occurred on March 22 2002 at 7.30pm when Ms Holford was returning home with the children after visiting her mother.

Ms Holford was returning home with the children after visiting her mother

The retired school nurse, described as an 'adored gran' by her family, was treated in hospital for six days after the crash on March 22 2002 at 7.30pm

Prosecutor Ms Joanne Moore said: 'Mr and Mrs Worrall were also driving home but in the opposite direction after visiting their son.

'It is a wide single lane road and the speed limit is 60mph. At a point in the road there is a blind bend there is a single white line and the speed limit is 40 mph and that is where the collision occurred.

'A Darren Ball was driving his tractor with a trailer along the road and behind him was the defendant with her two children in the rear of the vehicle.

'Two other vehicles had overtaken the tractor on a straight stretch of road prior to the bend but the defendant then also tried to overtake after them despite the road being at a blind bend.

'Mr Worrall described seeing the tractor ahead with flashing lights on the opposite side of the road - then suddenly saw the lights of the defendant's vehicle in front of him. He knew that something was wrong but he had no time to react.

'They came to an immediate stop and the airbags were deployed. His first thought was for his wife. He asked if she was OK, and she only groaned. He himself was in immediate discomfort. They had to be cut free from the wreckage.'

Ms Holford from Newton Le Willows, admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving, Chester Crown Court heard

But the Auto Trader finance worker was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years

Ms Holford and her children, who were all wearing seatbelts, were helped out of the Kia by other drivers and escaped with minor injuries.

Ms Moore added: 'At the time Mrs Worrall herself said she saw the headlights coming towards her before there was a large impact, a sudden bang and then nothing till she came to. She was taken to hospital where she remained for six days.

'She suffered multiple lacerations to her bowel which required surgery and had five broken ribs. When a statement was taken on April 20, 2022, she said she was struggling to manoeuvre around the house because of bruising. She did not recall a great deal of the collision.

'Sadly, since this offence Carolyn Worrall has died but the hospital did not think that the injury and loss of life were linked. Mr Worrall was asked if he would like to provide a victim statement on behalf of his wife and he declined to do so.

'He said the defendant had made a big mistake but he bore no ill will. He did not want to be contacted by the police as he did not want to be reminded of the collision.'

Ms Holford had no convictions or motoring offences' on her record.

Ms Holford and her children, who were all wearing seatbelts, were helped out of the Kia by other drivers and escaped with minor injuries

Defence counsel Steve Swift said: 'She is highly regarded by close friends and colleagues.

'She has described these last 15 months as the worst of her life - but she doesn't want to focus on herself. She is fully aware of the impact of her actions on others and the potential harm to her own family.

'Clearly, there was a momentary lapse but she cannot really provide an explanation for what happened. It was a split-second lack of judgment.'

Ms Holford was also ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and was banned from driving for two years. She must take an extended driving test before she can get her licence back.

Judge Michael Leeming told the court: 'This was a dangerous manoeuvre in which there was a serious misjudgement on your behalf.

'There was a serious disregard for the unbroken white line, and the bend and the danger of overtaking there was obvious.

'But you present a low risk of reoffending. I've read a letter you gave to the court and I've also read the character references from your partner, your line manager and others, all of which speak highly of you and tell of your remorse. It is plain that your remorse towards the victim is genuine.'
A Lancaster bomber will mark the 80th anniversary of the Dambusters raids tonight with a special flypast of Lincolnshire's wartime Royal Air Force airfields.

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will commemorate the Operation Chastise attack on the Nazi Germany reservoirs which took place on the night of May 16, 1943.

The 617 Squadron carried out the raid which involved 133 aircrew and 19 Lancaster Bomber aircraft unleashing bouncing bombs to deal a major blow to Adolf Hitler.

Tonight's flypast involves one of the last two airworthy Lancaster bombers flying over the RAF Museum located on the former Hendon Aerodrome in Colindale, north London, then all 28 former Bomber Command bases in Lincolnshire.

Subject to the weather and there being no low cloud, the plane will begin with a flight over the RAF Museum at 6.01pm.

The Lancaster will then travel north, arriving above the former Spitalgate airfield near Grantham at 6.58pm, then following a route around Lincolnshire ending at RAF Coningsby at 8.07pm.

Where and when can you watch tonight's Lancaster flypast? RAF Museum , Colindale, north London, NW9 5LL - 6.01pm

, Colindale, north London, NW9 5LL - 6.01pm Spitalgate , Lincolnshire, NG31 9EW - 6.58pm

, Lincolnshire, NG31 9EW - 6.58pm Fulbeck , NG32 3JE - 7.02pm

, NG32 3JE - 7.02pm Swinderby , LN6 9US - 7.04pm

, LN6 9US - 7.04pm RAF Waddington , LN5 9NB - 7.07pm

, LN5 9NB - 7.07pm Lincoln - IBCC , LN4 2HQ - 7.08pm

, LN4 2HQ - 7.08pm Skellingthorpe , LN6 0HX - 7.12pm

, LN6 0HX - 7.12pm Scampton , LN1 2TH - 7.15pm

, LN1 2TH - 7.15pm Dunholme , LN2 3QF - 7.16pm

, LN2 3QF - 7.16pm Wickenby , LN3 5AX - 7.18pm

, LN3 5AX - 7.18pm Faldingworth , LN8 3NW - 7.19pm

, LN8 3NW - 7.19pm Ingham , DN21 5BU - 7.21pm

, DN21 5BU - 7.21pm Hemswell Cliff , DN21 5TY - 7.22pm

, DN21 5TY - 7.22pm Blyton , DN21 3PE - 7.24pm

, DN21 3PE - 7.24pm Elsham Wolds , DN20 0NT - 7.30pm

, DN20 0NT - 7.30pm Kirmington , DN39 6YH - 7.31pm

, DN39 6YH - 7.31pm N Killingholme , DN40 3JL - 7.32pm

, DN40 3JL - 7.32pm Grimsby , DN36 4RX - 7.37pm

, DN36 4RX - 7.37pm Binbrook , LN8 6EG - 7.39pm

, LN8 6EG - 7.39pm Ludford , LN8 6AD - 7.41pm

, LN8 6AD - 7.41pm Kelstern , LN11 0RQ - 7.42pm

, LN11 0RQ - 7.42pm Strubby , LN13 0LN - 7.47pm

, LN13 0LN - 7.47pm Spilsby , PE24 5BD - 7.51pm

, PE24 5BD - 7.51pm East Kirkby , PE23 4DE - 7.53pm

, PE23 4DE - 7.53pm Bardney , LN3 5TZ - 7.58pm

, LN3 5TZ - 7.58pm Fiskerton , LN3 4EZ - 8.00pm

, LN3 4EZ - 8.00pm Metheringham , LN4 3RD - 8.04pm

, LN4 3RD - 8.04pm Woodhall Spa , LN10 6QG - 8.05pm

, LN10 6QG - 8.05pm RAF Coningsby , LN4 4SY - 8.07pm Advertisement

Flight Lieutenant Giles Croft, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight operations officer, said the team worked to produce 'an achievable plan that allows us to showcase the Lancaster, commemorate the unsung heroes of Bomber Command and also incorporate the tasking we already had for the evening.'

He said the Lancaster sortie for the evening includes 34 flypast locations, 'which is far more than we would normally plan in a single sortie'.

Flight Lieutenant Croft added: 'We will try to "make up the time" by reducing most events to a single overflight so that we can meet our fixed time over the RAF Museum in Hendon but still manage a tour of the Lincolnshire Bomber Command Airfields prior to landing before sunset.

'I personally can't wait to see our Lancaster over her home turf, against the same backdrop she would have had in the 1940s. I just hope that backdrop is clear evening skies with less than 15 knots crosswind.'

Tomorrow, a commemorative service will take place at St Clement Danes Church on the Strand in London, also known as the Central Church of the RAF, at 5pm.

Those invited to the service include representatives from the areas around the Mohne, Eden and Sorpe dams which were attacked by Operation Chastise.

Retired Wing Commander, Dr Andrew Walters, chairman of the 617 Association, said: 'The service will focus on the human aspect and reconciliation.

'We are inviting a wide range of guests associated with the Dams Raid, including the Chief of the Air Staff, Commonwealth and German Air Attaches, the Mayor of Mohnesee, representatives of related charities, manufacturers associated with Op Chastise, aviation authors, surviving veterans, and relatives of the Dams crews from across the Commonwealth.'

However, there will be no aerial tribute over the British dams where the crews trained - unlike similar flypasts in 2003 and 2013.

And the gothic, turreted Derwent and Howden dams themselves are now under threat as part of a plans for a super-reservoir in the Derbyshire Peak District, which could see them disappear beneath rising waters.

The lack of a flypast over the dams and the threat to the sites has been met with concern from Dambusters' families.

Operation Chastise: Wing Commander Guy Gibson and the legendary Dambusters raid of 1943 On May 16, 1943, 19 aircraft set out to destroy three dams in the Ruhr valley - the Mohne, the Eder and the Sorpe. The idea was to damage a vital source of power to the key industrial area of Germany. The strategic targets not only supplied hydro-electric power, and water for steel-making, but also supplied drinking water. The squadron was assembled by Wing Commander Guy Gibson with only 11 weeks to prepare for their mission - using special bouncing bombs, invented by Barnes Wallis. They were not told that they would be bombing the Ruhr valley until six hours before the raid began, following weeks of practice over Peak District reservoirs. On the night of the mission - codenamed Operation Chastise - the 113 crewmen took off in three waves along two different routes to bomb the dams. Gibson attacked first at the Mohne at 12.28am, but five bombs were dropped before it was breached. The first wave's three remaining aircraft with bombs then attacked the Eder which finally collapsed at 1.52am. Aircraft from the other two waves bombed the Sorpe but it remained intact. Although the mission was hailed a success, eight aircraft and 53 crew were lost during the raids. Advertisement

Both the 60th and 70th anniversaries saw a vintage Lancaster from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight making hugely-popular fly-pasts above the dams, attracting up to 10,000 people.

On the 75th, although bad weather meant the main flypast over the dams was cancelled, celebrated Dambusters Squadron Leader George 'Johnny' Johnson, who died last December aged 101, was taken on a Lancaster flight over the site days later.

Geoff Gosling, 75, whose late father, Cyril was part of ground crew for the German missions but was onboard testing 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.

'It's a crying shame really but I guess the commemorations will get smaller as time goes by.'

Mr Gosling, whose father regularly attended anniversary flypasts before he 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, niece of Victoria Cross-winning Wing Commander Guy Gibson, also called for the Derbyshire 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.

'I think there needs to be greater consideration of whether it really 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.'

Meanwhile, relatives of George 'Johnny' Johnson and bouncing bomb inventor Barnes Wallis also said it was important the Dambusters are not forgotten. As well as the reservoir raids, they 'did so much else', close family members say.

Some 53 squadron members died during the raids, when they flew only 60ft above water, while 1,300 people were killed in resulting flooding. The entire operation relied on the use of the 'bouncing bomb', designed by aeronautical engineer Wallis.

A Lancaster bomber from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight performs a flypast over the Derwent Reservoir on May 16, 2013 to mark the 70th anniversary of the Dambusters raid

A Lancaster over the Derwent Reservoir on May 16, 2008 to mark the 65th anniversary

A Lancaster over the Derwent Reservoir on May 16, 1988 to mark the 45th anniversary

Charles Johnson, son of 'Johnny' Johnson, said: 'The one thing that the raid did was to raise the country's morale to enormous heights.'

Lancaster bomber facts LENGTH : 69ft 6in

: 69ft 6in WINGSPAN : 102ft

: 102ft POWER : 1,640 hp each

: 1,640 hp each ENGINE : 4 x Packard Merlin 224

: 4 x Packard Merlin 224 MAXIMUM SPEED : 275mph

: 275mph CRUISING SPEED : 210mph

: 210mph SERVICE CEILING : 25,700ft

: 25,700ft RANGE : 2,530 miles Advertisement

Mr Johnson said the family were also 'proud' of his father's 35 years working in the mental health sector, as well as with children with special needs in education.

Barbara Wallis, Barnes Wallis's daughter-in-law, said he should also be remembered 'for all the other work he accomplished. Like on the airships, the Wellington bomber, his research into supersonic aircraft.'

It is unclear why tomorrow's flypast does not include Derwent dams, with the RAF saying no security arrangements were in place for expected crowds, while Severn Trent, the water firm which runs the reservoirs, said it had not been approached.

An RAF spokeswoman 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.'

An insider said Severn Trent Water would have been 'very supportive' of a flypast and was 'surprised no contact' was received from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

Squadron Leader George 'Johnny' Johnson was Britain's last surviving 'Dambuster' before his death in 2022. He poses for a photograph in 2018 to mark the 75th anniversary of the raids

The crew of 617 Squadron board a Lancaster bomber in 1943. Pictured from left, Richard Trevor-Roper, John Pulford, George Deering, Frederick Spafford, Robert Hutchison, Guy Gibson and Harlo 'Terry' Taerum

A reconnaissance photograph of the Eder Dam in Nazi Germany taken in July 1943, two months after the Dambusters raid, showing a 96ft breach in the dam

A Severn Trent spokesperson 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.'

READ MORE: Grave of Dambusters hero's dog could be moved from RAF Scampton amid plans to house migrants at the site Advertisement

The company - which last year made a 274.1million pre-tax profit but was Britain's second-worst water firm for leaks  has launched a consultation on plans to increase storage in the Derwent Valley to meet 'unprecedented demand' and make up for leaks.

Initial plans involve a fourth reservoir on moorland or a new, higher dam downstream of the iconic Derwent and Howden dams, which would then disappear as the waters rose.

Both ideas were met with local anger due to potential environmental damage.

Severn Trent, whose shareholders include private equity groups and the Qatari Investment Authority, is due to submit new proposals to the Peak District National Park Authority in July.

Its spokesman said: 'We're working through a range of feasibility designs as part of the water resources management plans, which are required by law to future-proof water provision in decades to come.'

On Sunday, the International Bomber Command Centre museum, near Lincoln, launched Men of The Dams, a tribute to the Dambusters to mark the anniversary.

It involves metal figures of the 53 crew who lost their lives, which have been produced by a collaboration between British artists Dan Barton and Simon Smith.
British men are allegedly being offered up to 10,000 to pose as fake fathers for migrant women so their children can get UK citizenship, an investigation has found.

The 'fake father' scam sees men receive large sums of money in return for adding their names to a child's birth certificate as a way to give them UK citizenship and the mother residency.

A BBC Newsnight investigation claimed that scammers are predominantly using Facebook to drum up business, promoting their scam by saying they have helped thousands of women this way.

Meta said it does not allow the solicitation of adoptions or birth certificate fraud on Facebook and it would remove content that violates its policies.

Meanwhile, the Home Office said immigration fraud using false birth certificates is a 'serious offence' which they had measures in place to detect and prevent.

The investigation saw an undercover researcher introduced to 'Andrew', who said he would receive 8,000 for posing as a 'fake father'

They also met an agent who called himself 'Thai', who offered the undercover researcher the 'full package' for 11,000

During their investigation, a Newsnight researcher went undercover and posed as a pregnant woman who was living in the UK illegally, meeting up with an agent who called himself 'Thai', a translator and the prospective British 'father'.

Thai who told her he knew of multiple British men that were willing to pretend to father her unborn child as part of a 'full package' costing 11,000.

He assured her the process was 'very easy' and he would 'do everything' to get her unborn child a British passport.

She was then introduced to the prospective British 'father', who went by the name of Andrew, who told her he would receive an 8,000 cut of the money for adding his name to the child's birth certificate.

Newsnight uncovered posts in Vietnamese Facebook groups for those searching for work, including one that said: 'I'm four months pregnant. I desperately need a citizenship daddy aged between 25-45.'

Another agent said she would guarantee the undercover researcher a British passport.

She said: 'I know how to handle everything. You won't have to worry about not having a passport. It will definitely be granted.'

A parent can apply for a family visa if their child is living in the UK and already a British citizen under Home Office rules.

During their investigation, a Newsnight researcher (circled) went undercover and posed as a pregnant woman who was living in the UK illegally

They must have sole or shared parental responsibility, and the child's other parent must be a British citizen.

Official figures show that last year, 4,860 family visas were granted to 'other dependants'.

The Home Office does not publish data on visas granted for non-UK parents.

A Home Office spokesperson said: 'Immigration fraud using false birth certificates is a serious offence which is why we have measures in place to prevent and detect it.

'Caseworkers receive fraud awareness training, and a range of checks are conducted during the processing of both immigration and passport applications.

'Where we need to establish who the natural father of a child is, the law states that a birth certificate alone may not be sufficient evidence of proof of paternity, and additional evidence may be requested to enable our checks to be satisfactorily completed.'

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, said: 'We dont allow the solicitation of adoptions or birth certificate fraud on Facebook, and well continue to remove content that violates our policies.

'While weve not been given the opportunity to review the examples raised in this investigation, well investigate these as soon as the BBC shares the details with us and take action in line with our policies.'
A police chief has been cleared of assaulting his wife after he was accused of rugby tackling her when she found 'embarrassing' messages on his phone which suggested he was cheating on her.

Karl Wilson, who works for Northumbria Police, was charged with assaulting his wife twice and damaging her property during a domestic incident at their home in the Great Park area of Newcastle.

North Tyneside Magistrates' Court heard how the 49-year-old's wife returned home from a Halloween party on October 28 last year and found him intoxicated.

Michael Bunch, prosecuting, told the court how she looked at his mobile phone as she had concerns as to his faithfulness. He said: 'She identified messages that appeared to suggest her fears were genuine.'

Wilson was initially accused of rugby tackling his wife and kneeling on her chest to recover the mobile phone, ripping her dress, damaging her necklace and a mobile phone in the process.

Karl Wilson (pictured outside court), who works for Northumbria Police, was charged with assaulting his wife twice and damaging her property during a domestic incident at their home in the Great Park area of Newcastle

He was then accused of grabbing her wrist in a second assault, after he was arrested by police. The court heard how his wife had dropped his phone and he moved forward to get it, allegedly grabbing her wrist.

Wilson, of Great Park, Newcastle, denied two charges of assault by beating and one count of criminal damage.

The first assault by beating charge and the criminal damage charge, which related to all three items, were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

Two police officers, Craig Brown and Nathan Collins, who attended the address on the night, gave evidence to the court in North Shields.

Both witnesses said Wilson was slurring his words and, after being arrested on suspicion of assaulting his wife, he grabbed her by the wrist.

PC Brown told the court how he initially arrested Wilson but did not put handcuffs on him. He said it wasn't until his wife dropped the phone, and Wilson made a grab for it, that he needed to take alternative action.

In body worn footage, which was played to the court, PC Brown can be heard telling Wilson: 'Don't grab her.'

During his evidence, PC Brown said: 'I got a hold of his wrist. He had a hold of her wrist as I had a hold of his. I wasn't physically dragging him away, I'm like 'come on, no fighting' and pull his wrist away.'

PC Brown said he then put handcuffs on Wilson.

When PC Collins was asked how sure he was that Wilson had a physical hold of his wife, he replied: 'Yes, certain.'

Wilson denied grabbing his wife by the wrist, telling the court that she had taken the phone out of his hand. During his evidence on Monday afternoon, he said: 'At that point I wanted possession of my mobile phone.

'We had an argument about some of the messages on my phone, which were highly embarrassing messages, quite upsetting for Helen. Something I'm certainly not proud of.'

He went on to say that he had drank three large glasses or wine, telling the court: 'I was drunk but I certainly recall the whole incident.'

Wilson (pictured) was initially accused of rugby tackling his wife and kneeling on her chest to recover the mobile phone, ripping her dress, damaging her necklace and a mobile phone in the process

Steven Reed, defending, said: 'This was someone taking back their own property. The officers didn't know this was his own property.

'There's insufficient evidence here to show it's intentional and it's someone using their right to protect their own property.'

District Judge Paul Currer said he was satisfied that the body worn footage showed a scuffle for the phone.

He said: 'The defendant did no more than try to retain his phone in his home in a very dynamic and difficult situation.

'In reality I don't think he took a hold of her at all. I find this not proved.'

Wilson chose not to comment following the not guilty verdict.
The number of global executions recorded in 2022 was the highest in five years, Amnesty International has found.

The group's annual review recorded a total of 883 executions across 20 countries - 90 percent of which were carried out in Iran, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

The figure marks a 51 per cent rise on the number of executions globally in 2021.

Amnesty's report found that Iran put 571 people to death in 2022, up from 314 in 2021, making it the country primarily responsible for the global increase.

Of the country's total killings in 2022, 270 people were convicted of murder, 255 of drug-related offences, 21 of rape, and 18 of the national security charge of 'enmity against God'.

A demonstrator from the Iranian Portuguese community protests in front of the Parliament building in Portugal following Iran's sentencing to death and public execution of two young demonstrators, Mohsen Shekari and Majidreza Rahnavard

Two men were sentenced to death for 'enmity against God' following the anti-government protests which erupted in September.

The figure excludes China, which is thought to execute thousands every year. The nation's rigidity on classifying death penalty data has made it difficult for Amnesty to record a precise number.

Meanwhile Saudi Arabia carried out the second-highest number of executions at 196. This is triple the 61 carried out in 2021 and is the country's highest recorded figure in 30 years.

Of the Saudi convictions, 85 were for terrorism-related charges and 57 for drug-related ones.

In one day in March 2022, 81 people were executed - of which 41 were members of the minority Shia Muslim community - according to Amnesty International.

In Egypt, 24 executions were recorded last year. This was a 71 per cent decrease from the previous year, when 83 were put to death.

Elsewhere in the Middle East, 11 executions were recorded in Irag, seven in Kuwait, five in Palestinian territories and four in Yemen.

Amnesty's secretary general, Agnes Callamard said: 'It's time for governments and the UN to up the pressure on those responsible for these blatant human rights violations and ensure international safeguards are put in place.'

Meanwhile, 18 people were executed in the US - up from 11 in 2021 - while 11 were executed in Singapore.
A girl whose mother abducted her aged 9 from her father's care in 2017 has been found alive and well in North Carolina by a store owner who recognised her after watching her story on Netflix's Unsolved Mysteries.

Kayla Unbehaun, who was abducted by her non-custodial mother Heather Unbehaun, had last been seen on July 4, 2017.

Her father Ryan Iskerka, who had full custody at the time, went to pick her up from her mother's house in Wheaton, South Elgin, on July 5 - but Kayla was nowhere to be found.

Heather Unbehaun, 40, was arrested last weekend in Asheville, North Carolina, after a store owner recognised Kayla at a shopping center in Asheville after watching an episode on her disappearance on a Netflix show and called the police.

Her mother, who only had visitation rights at the time of the abduction, is being held on a $250,000 bond and is awaiting extradition.

Kayla Unbehaun, who was abducted by her non-custodial mother Heather Unbehaun, had last been seen on July 4, 2017

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children posted alerts online in the years since her abduction showing the missing girl aged 9 as well as age-progression photos of how she likely looks like now (pictured: an age-progression picture of Kayla aged 14)

Kayla, who is now aged 15, is in protective custody.

The case was the topic of an episode focusing on parental abductions on Netflix's Unsolved Mysteries series.

Kayla is featured at the end of the episode 'Abducted by a Parent' as a part of a Missing Children Roll alongside CJ and Billy Vosseler, Luis Alderete-Martinez, Huaiyu and Binyu Chin, Reuben Blackwell Jr., Tammy and Diego Flores, and Christopher and Lisa Zaharias.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children posted alerts online in the years since her abduction showing the missing girl aged 9 as well as age-progression photos of how she likely looks like now.

After being alerted that Kayla had been found, the organisation shared a message from her father, Ryan, which said: 'I'm overjoyed that Kayla is home safe. I want to thank @ElginPDFD, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and all of the law enforcement agencies who assisted with her case.

'We ask for privacy as we get to know each other again and navigate this new beginning.'

Heather Unbehaun, 40, was arrested last weekend in Asheville, North Carolina, after a store owner recognised Kayla at a shopping center in Asheville after watching an episode on her disappearance on a Netflix show and called the police

The Kane County State's Attorney charged Heather Unbehaun with one charge of child abduction when she was located.

Lt. Diana Loveland of Asheville, North Carolina Police Department, told ABC : 'It is unusual but it's good that when someone does suspect that they recognise someone, no matter how old the story might be, that they are not afraid to give us a call so we can come and investigate.'

Her father Ryan Iskerka (right), who had full custody at the time, went to pick her up from her mother's house in Wheaton, South Elgin, on July 5 - but Kayla was nowhere to be found

Two weeks ago, a DNA test confirmed the identity of a Texan woman who was abducted as a toddler 51 years ago and was reunited with her family last year.

Melissa Highsmith, now 53, was taken from her parents' Fort Worth home in 1971 by a babysitter when she was just 22 months old

She was miraculously reunited with her biological parents - Jeffrie Higshmith, 72; Alta Alpantenco, 73 and siblings - Rebecca Del Bosque, 48; Vicitoria Highsmith, 47; Sharon Highsmith, 45 and Jeffrey Highsmith, 42 - on November 26.

Fort Worth Police Department announced it had completed official DNA testing which confirmed Melissa's identity as the missing child.

For more than half a century her parents and siblings had been looking around the country for her - but she had been living just ten minutes away.

They eventually found her through her children's DNA samples which were shared on genealogy website 23andMe.
Rishi Sunak has taken a swipe at his predecessor Liz Truss as the Prime Minister promised British farmers they will no longer be an 'afterthought' in trade deals.

In an open letter to the UK's farming community, Mr Sunak vowed to protect their interests when signing new post-Brexit trade agreements.

It follows anger over Britain's trade deal with Australia, negotiated by Ms Truss when she was international trade secretary, among farmers.

Former environment secretary George Eustice branded the agreement a 'failure' after he left office last year and claimed it was 'not actually a very good deal'.

He claimed the UK 'gave away far too much for far too little in return' during negotiations, before the deal was formally signed in December 2021.

Mr Sunak insisted he would never allow 'chlorine-washed chicken' or 'hormone-treated beef' - which could be demands in a future agreement with the US - to flood British markets under his approach to trade deals.

In an open letter to the UK's farming community, Rishi Sunak vowed to protect their interests when signing new post-Brexit trade agreements.

It follows anger over Britain's trade deal with Australia, negotiated by Liz Truss when she was international trade secretary, among farmers.

Mr Sunak penned an open letter addressed to 'UK farmers' in which he set out his 'six principles' for future trade deals

The National Farmers' Union has said there is a 'real risk' to British farmers from both the Australia deal and the trade pact signed with New Zeland in February last year.

In the wake of the row, Mr Sunak penned an open letter addressed to 'UK farmers' and hosted a 'Farm to Fork' summit, aimed at strengthening food security, in Downing Street today.

The PM promised, under his leadership, that 'trade deals will always consider the full impacts and opportunities of those trade agreements for our domestic agricultural sector'.

He said the Government was 'prepared to do what is right to protect particularly sensitive sectors' and vowed to 'continue to protect food standards in the UK under all existing and future free trade agreements'.

'There will be no chlorine-washed chicken and no hormone-treated beef on the UK market. Not now, not ever,' Mr Sunak added, as he set out his 'six principles' for future trade deals.

The PM also pledged to uphold UK production standards and make efforts to enhance international cooperation on animal welfare.

'Production methods such as sow stalls and battery cages are not permitted in the UK,' he continued.

'We will safeguard our ability to maintain high environmental, animal welfare and food standards in new trade agreements.'

Mr Sunak also reiterated his aim of ensuring Britain continues producing 60 per cent of the food the country consumes.

The PM used today's 'Farm to Fork' summit in No10 to outline a package of support for UK farmers, including 30million to unlock new technologies.

NFU President Minette Batters praised Mr Sunak for keeping his commitment to hold a food summit in Downing Street.

'These actions recognise the importance of coordinated action across government to support confidence, investment and growth in British food.

'We looking forward to working with the PM, the Environment Secretary and the rest of the Cabinet to back British farming and bolster our domestic food security.'
Hundreds of residents and businesses are fleeing Democrat-run cities across America in droves after having their livelihoods threatened by the growing number of homeless camps and soaring rates of crime.

Homeless encampments are taking over liberal-run cities like Portland, Los Angeles, Seattle and San Francisco, with frustrated residents describing soaring violence, daylight drug use and no response by police officers due to cuts.

Furious residents and business owners are accusing city leaders of turning a blind eye to the crisis and are not addressing the long-term issue by helping the homeless get accomodation.

The sheer rate of homelessness - which has reached a 20-year high in San Francisco - and crime in the Democrat-led cities has forced many residents to leave their homes and business owners to move their businesses elsewhere - all while the city leaders fail to address the crisis.

'I felt safer when I was walking around in downtown Saigon when I was in Vietnam than I do here in Portland,' 83-year-old Vietnam veteran Armand Martens told Fox 12 Oregon about a homeless camp where people were using drugs and setting fire to properties.

Martens told how his neighbors have been terrorized by squatters who set up camp next door to their home and even set their property on fire.

Hundreds of residents and businesses are fleeing Democrat-run cities across America in droves after having their livelihoods threatened by the growing number of homeless camps and soaring rates of crime

Homeless encampments are taking over liberal-run cities like Portland (pictured), Los Angeles, Seattle and San Francisco, with frustrated residents describing soaring violence, daylight drug use and no response by police officers due to cuts

A camp of homeless people set up on a street in Denver as pictured in March. The city has done little to fight the problem

People are seen on streets of the Kensington neighborhood in October as homelessness and drug addiction hit Philadelphia in Pennsylvania

San Franciscans in the SoMa neighborhood have taken to carrying around defensive weapons after a drug 'sobering' clinic moved into the neighborhood. Pictured: Homeless people are seen in San Francisco in July last year

Cities across America are now in peril as homeless encampments take over and businesses flee to safer cities.

Business owners are also leaving Portland in droves as a result of the growing crisis, with more than 2,600 downtown businesses fleeing after the city elected a progressive new DA amid calls to defund the police after the death of George Floyd.

Once hailed as the 'crown jewel of the West Coast' for its trendy art and food scenes, The City of Roses has been in peril since 2020, largely due to efforts to defund police and lax bail reform laws that leave little to no deterrent for increasingly brazen criminals.

Several big-name employers, such as Umpqua Bank, Cracker Barrel and Walmart, have been among the mass exodus from Portland, carried out by owners who have taken issue with the rising crime levels and homelessness - and the city's failure to address it.

Real estate developer Dustin Michael Miller told 'Fox & Friends First' that he's moving his company out of Portland after his office was targeted in a rain of bullets in an incident he described as 'absolute madness'.

'It's not uncommon to see homeless people running around the city with axes and machetes, and it's just a common thing that nobody does anything,' Miller said. 'You call the police, and it's very rare that they show up.'

This past December, a Portland retail store for the popular clothing brand Rains was forced to shut after being broken into 15 times over the course of just two months.

Now overrun by drug addicts and hundreds of homeless encampments, the Democrat-run city has one of the most deserted downtowns in the United States - a far cry from its glory days as a progressive, artsy haven on the cusp of the Canadian border.

Business owners are fleeing Portland in droves amid a pronounced rise in crime and homelessness. Pictured: Drug users in Portland in February

About a third of the entire US homeless population's 171,521 people are in California. That includes more than half of the country's unsheltered homeless population, 115,491 people

That deterioration has seen a swath of businesses this year to announce plans to pack up and move shop out of the city, with big box chain Walmart being the most recent to do so, citing poor financial performance from its two remaining Portland stores.

Nike, whose HQ is in nearby Beaverton, also had to close a long-standing community store for weeks because shoplifting was so out of control, with several other businesses in the city's Downtown - which has been overrun with tent encampments since the pandemic - also following suit.

And to make matters worse, Democrat lawmakers in Oregon want to decriminalize homeless camps with a law that would allow the people who live in them to sue for $1,000 if they're harassed or told to leave.

And other cities across America are in peril as scores of other business are deciding to safer areas where there are no homeless encampments and related crime at their doorsteps.

Last year, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz announced he would be closing 16 cafes in the left-leaning cities of Seattle, Philadelphia, Portland, LA and Washington DC - where crime rates and homelessness have soared due to woke policies including police cuts.

Starbucks is closing more than a dozen stores due to reports of rife drug use and disturbances by brazen members of the public at the popular cafes. Pictured is a shuttered store in Portland, Oregon - one of the cities that will see closures - that was ransacked by looters in 2021

In Chicago, rising homeless and crime has seen flagship stores like Macy's, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Gap, Uniqlo and Timberland flee their large premises. Many were driven away by soaring crime and violence, with the vacancy rate on the once tony shopping strip rising 10-fold since 2016, when it sat at just 3.6 percent, to the current 30.1 percent vacancy rate.

And to the south in Austin, Texas, residents have complained that the streets are 'plagued' with crime amid a surge of homelessness in the city.

Despite being one of the major cities in a traditionally Republican state, Austin is under Democrat leadership and is joining the ranks of Portland and San Francisco, with business owners being forced to flee to due a surge of crime.

Pedro Morales, a business owner in Austin, said a homeless encampment has been set up in an alley next to a property he rents out.

'When is enough going to be enough?' Morales said, adding that he's received no help from the city. 'When does harassment of another person's safety and happiness come into play?'

Earlier this year, the owners of a hair salon in the city said they are considering closing their business for good after a crazed man from a nearby homeless camp approached their glass storefront swinging a piece of timber.

Hairdressers Laura North and Erin Mutschler said such incidents outside Headspace Salon, which she started four years ago, have been happening around twice a week in the last six months and police usually take an hour to respond.

Laura North and Erin Mutschler opened a hair salon in South Austin four years ago but increasing harassment from people in a nearby homeless camp has forced them to consider closure

An incident in January in which a crazed man waved a piece of timber (pictured) at them terrified both patrons and staff

In Austin, Texas, residents have complained that the streets are 'plagued' with crime amid a surge of homelessness in the city. Pictured: A homeless camp in Austin in January

Three years ago Austin's city council ended a ban on homeless camping which had been in place for 23 years.

That caused a surge in the visibility of homelessness. In response to the crisis, voters in Austin quickly imposed a new ban in May 2021, reversing the the short stint of legalized homeless camping.

But those legislative changes drove swathes of the city's homeless population into a number of concentrated camps, one of which is around the corner from Headspace Salon in the south of Austin.

And the situation is just as bad in LA, with scores of residents being forced to flee - among them being Happy Days star Scott Baio and actor Jim Carrey.

In LA, the drug-addled homeless populations have all-but overtaken entire areas of the city, making it hard for people to run businesses and parents to feel comfortable with their children walking to school.

Baoi said last week he is now living in Florida with his wife and daughter after leaving California where homeless camps and the sheer rate of crime has turned the state into a 'third-world country'.

The actor said he has been 'forced out' of his $3.85million home in Woodland Hills, LA, because the city has become 'unlivable', citing the homeless doing drugs on the sidewalk in the middle of the day, crime being 'out of control', and 'graffiti on everything'.

'Between the homeless defecating on the sidewalk, doing drugs on the sidewalk in the middle of the day, illegal aliens all over the place, law means nothing, crime is out of control, graffiti on everything... all of my tax dollars, I don't know what they go for,' Baoi said.

He added: 'I'm afraid to go to the mall, my wife and kid are afraid to go to the mall. It's become an unlivable situation.'

Meanwhile, a homeless camp mushroomed into a sea of tents in an upscale enclave neighbouring Beverly Hills this month - before it was finally broken up after disgruntled residents complained for weeks that the tent-dwellers were dealing and using drugs.

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.

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

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)

A homeless person is seen napping on a patch of grass in a park on the corner of Santa Monica Blvd. and Crescent Dr. near Beverly Hills

But the highly controversial camp is now being cleaned up and its residents are moving into more permanent housing as part of Beverly Hills' Inside Safe Program

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.

According to the LA Times, the state of California has lost over 500,000 residents between 2020 and 2022. It's the fourth largest decrease in the country in that time, behind New York, Illinois and Louisiana.

Meanwhile, Denver business owners have been spending millions on private security groups to keep their properties safe as crime and theft by homeless people has run rampant in the Democrat led city.

Though the city has banned camping on the streets and sunk $250million into mitigating homelessness, many business owners feel those restrictions are loosely enforced and expenses are doing nothing to keep their properties safe.

A group of homeless people camped out on a sidewalk in downtown Denver in March

A homeless man sleeps on a piece of cardboard on the sidewalk in downtown Denver in March

Walter Isenberg, whose Sage Hospitality Group manages a number of prominent downtown Denver developments, told the Denver Post he spends $3million per year on armed security to protect his properties. Ten years ago his security budget was $250,000.

Denver is just the latest city to be plagued by crime and theft. Business owners have also been fleeing downtown San Francisco which has been left deserted by workers and employees who fear for their safety.

Homelessness is at a nearly 20 year high in San Francisco currently, and local businesses have threatened to stop paying taxes unless the city cleans up the colonies of tents and tarps that have grown along neighborhood streets.

And major crimes in San Francisco are up 7.4 percent so far last year from the same period in 2021, with assault up 11.1 percent and robbery up 5.2 percent.

A billionaire partner at Sequoia Capital, Michal Moritz, 68, launched a scathing attack on the city's officials in February.

He wrote in the Financial Times how the city 'bans plastic straws but permits plastic needles,' and noted that the city saw more deaths from drug overdoses between 2020 and 2022 than it did from COVID-19.

Sequoia Capital is headquartered in Menlo Park, just south of San Francisco's downtown which has been nearly deserted during the height of rush hour in recent weeks as scores of large and small businesses alike have fled the city.

Homeless people line the sidewalks in the Tenderloin district of San Francisco where crime has spiked over the last year

Major crimes in San Francisco are up 7.4 percent so far this year from the same period in 2021

About 7.6 percent of San Francisco residents said they're thinking of moving away as the city continues to be plagued by crime and homelessness

Moritz said that without handling the city's drug and homelessness problems, any effort to solve the rest of the city's problems 'will be fruitless.'

'Fentanyl, the synthetic drug that is 50 times more powerful than and a fraction of the cost of heroin, has turned many blocks of the city into zombie zones,' he wrote.

'Beyond the shocking waste of potential, the drug use and homeless tents consume an enormous part of San Franciscos annual $13.95bn budget. Direct city spending on homelessness has risen from about $200mn for the fiscal year 2016 to $680mn this year.'

'Even this number doesnt approach the true costs because it fails to include the burden that drugs and homelessness place on the police, fire and public works departments, local hospitals and the judiciary.'

The number of homeless people in San Francisco was tallied in February of last year at almost 8,000, the second highest figure of any year since 2005, according to the official government count which takes place every three years.

Major crimes in San Francisco are up 7.4 percent so far last year from the same period in 2021, with assault up 11.1 percent and robbery up 5.2 percent.

A recent poll found that a majority of San Franciscans believe their city is going down hill, and a third plan to leave the city within three years.

Some residents blame Mayor London Breed, whose earlier popularity for steering the city through the pandemic appears to have waned amid rising crime, the fentanyl epidemic and other woes.

San Francisco has the highest overall crime rate of the 20 largest cities in the United States, easily exceeding the crime rates of the five largest cities (seen above)

San Francisco's failure to quell crime has further hampered the situation, with city leaders vowing to crack down on increasingly prevalent open-air drug markets (pictured in September)

One specific harm reduction policy that failed was the opening of the Tenderloin Center last year 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.

And in Philadelphia, the streets have become the latest open-air drug market as homeless people inject themselves in broad daylight in the Democrat-led city.

It comes as Pennsylvania is increasingly blighted by its drug problem, with overdoses rising for the last five years in a row and soaring to over 5,000 last year.

Increasing numbers of homeless people can be seen on streets of the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia as homelessness and drug addiction hit new heights.
Detectives wanted to search Nicola Sturgeon's home as part of a financial probe into the SNP while she was still First Minister but were blocked from doing so by prosecutors, it has been claimed.

Police Scotland officers investigating the disappearance of 660,000 of donations asked to raid the Glasgow home of Ms Sturgeon and husband Peter Murrell on March 20.

But they did not get approval from the Crown Office to do so until April 3, with the search and the arrest of Mr Murrell, the former chief executive of the SNP, happening on April 5.

The delay allowed the SNP to hold the final week of its leadership election campaign and unveil Humza Yousaf as the new party leader and First Minister before the sensational raid took place.

The revelation, first reported by the Scottish Sun, puts pressure on officials at the Crown Office, which oversees prosecutions in Scotland, to explain the delay. A police source told the paper that potential political 'ramifications' were taken into account  something the Crown Office denied.

Tory MSP Russell Findlay told the paper: 'Given obvious sensitivities about alleged fraud relating to the party of government, and the husband of the former First Minister, it's vital that any issues about timings and procedures are made clear to the public.'

Police Scotland officers investigating the disappearance of 660,000 of donations asked to raid the Glasgow home of Ms Sturgeon and husband Peter Murrell on March 20.

But they did not get approval from the Crown Office to do so until April 3, with the search and the arrest of Mr Murrell, the former chief executive of the SNP, happening on April 5.

The delay allowed the SNP to hold the final week of its leadership election campaign and unveil Humza Yousaf as the new party leader and First Minister before the sensational raid took place.

Ms Sturgeon was last night accused of 'shamelessly trying to rewrite history' after condemning how polarised Scottish politics has become.

In her first major policy intervention since quitting as First Minister in March, she criticised the 'often highly toxic' nature of public debate  and said she had underestimated the scale of the problem when she stood down.

Ms Sturgeon also took aim at lawyers threatening to boycott controversial Scottish Government plans to ditch juries in rape trials, saying those who have adopted fixed positions on the issue should 'take a breath'.

But critics last night accused the former SNP leader of 'an incredible lack of self-awareness' and claimed she was responsible for stoking division during her period of more than eight years as First Minister.

Scottish Conservative chairman Craig Hoy said: 'Nicola Sturgeon is shamelessly trying to rewrite history in talking about how polarised politics is in Scotland.

'During her entire tenure as First Minister she constantly pushed for another divisive independence referendum, against the majority of Scots who had no wish to be pitted against each other all over again.

'Over her eight years in charge, she never made any attempt to govern in the interests of the whole country.

'Her remarks about underestimating the scale of the problem of polarisation demonstrate an incredible lack of self-awareness. Nicola Sturgeon was the person who only last year said she 'detested' her opponents.'

When she announced in February her intention to quit, Ms Sturgeon said it was time to hand over to someone who was not subject to the same polarised opinion and who can 'reach across the divide' in Scottish politics.

Yesterday, in an article published in The Guardian, the 52-year-old MSP said: 'One of the reasons I gave for my decision to stand down as First Minister was a concern about the part I might be playing, however unwittingly, in the polarisation of our politics.

'Polarised, often highly toxic, public discourse is not a uniquely Scottish phenomenon. And by no stretch of the imagination was I the sole or even primary cause of it in Scotland.

'But I had come to feel that the duration of my time in the trenches of frontline politics was making it harder for me to broker the common ground necessary to advance difficult or controversial policy changes. On the issue of polarisation, I think that, if anything, I underestimated the depth of the problem.

'That people have strong opinions and express them vehemently is to be celebrated.

'Give me passion over apathy any day of the week. But it is depressingly striking in today's politics just how quickly people adopt fixed and immovable positions. I'm not breaking news with this observation  but being more removed from the cut and thrust has made it so much starker to me.'
This is the terrifying moment four masked men wielding knives broke into a father's home as they took his young daughters hostage and threatened to kill his son before stealing his car.

Mohammed Ali, 39, woke at 11pm to 'panicked screams' from his girls, aged seven and 12, after robbers armed with machetes, a meat cleaver and a brick burst through his front door.

The HGV driver found two masked men on the stairs of his semi-detached four-bed home holding metre-long machetes.

A third intruder was holding a knife against his daughters' throats in the living room.

His son emerged from his upstairs bedroom seconds later and one of the men yelled 'Kill him! Kill him!' before advancing towards the 18-year-old.

Mohammed Ali, 39, revealed the terrifying moment four masked men wielding knives broke into his home as they took his young daughters hostage and threatened to kill his son before stealing his car

Mr Ali said he pushed the teen back into his bedroom and ran to a bathroom, where he took refuge while the robbers hacked at the doors with their machetes.

The brutes finally fled the property after a terrifying five minutes and stole his white Seat Leon car from his driveway when they found his keys.

He said: 'My daughter said one of them had a knife and he was saying, 'It's all your dad's fault, be f***ing quiet,' and was putting a knife to her neck.

'They all had gloves and everything, but you could see their eyes through the balaclava - and their voice, I could never forget it.'

Mr Ali said he'd gone to bed at 9.30pm on May 9, leaving his youngest son, who is five, and two daughters watching TV at their home in Fir Tree Avenue in Oldham, Greater Manchester.

His make-up artist wife Michelle Dunkley, 40, had forgotten her keys when she left the house for work in the evening so he'd unlocked the door before heading upstairs.

Mr Ali woke up to two masked men on the stairs of his semi-detached four-bed home holding metre-long machetes while a third intruder was holding a knife against his daughters' throats in the living room

Mr Ali took refuge in a bathroom while the robbers hacked at the door with their machetes

He said: 'It wasn't a scream where the kids were fighting. This was a panicked scream, a worried scream. I knew as a parent this was not normal.

'As I was trying to get down the stairs, I was faced by three guys in balaclavas. Two were on the stairs, one at the bottom, and one had my kids downstairs.

'I started screaming: 'Get out! Get out!' They started swearing at me. My son had the room next to the stairs, and when he came out, they said: 'Kill him! kill him!'

'I pushed him into his room and closed the door, and they started coming up the stairs. I went to the bathroom, which was right behind me.

'I was just screaming: 'Make sure they don't get to you!

'They started hacking at the doors with the machetes, and while they were hacking it, the third guy was ransacking my house.'

Mr Ali said he spent a terrifying five minutes holding the door shut, hoping the men wouldn't break through.

Mr Ali realised they had made their way down the stairs when he heard the rev of his car engine

The robbers stole Mr Ali's white Seat Leon

The intruders left after a terrifying five minutes inside Mr Ali's house

He added: 'I was still half asleep. I was dazed and in a panic and I didn't know if they'd got my son or my other kids downstairs.

'Once my car started and they were driving off, I gave chase then went inside and saw my kids were alright.'

He added: 'I've not slept since. My family is broken. My kids wouldn't come home.

'It was my daughter's birthday yesterday, and literally everything is spoiled and I don't know what to do or what to say to them. I feel like I've failed them.'

Mr Ali said he did not know why his home was targeted.

He added his children were unharmed despite their trauma, and besides his vehicle, the men took only a box of his daughter's miniature dolls.

Mr Ali shared footage of the robbery on social media, and said another family in nearby Rochdale reported the same gang had attacked them just an hour later.

The disturbed father said he had reported the attack to Greater Manchester Police but didn't think they were taking the incident seriously.

He said: 'It's absolutely disgraceful. I left it with the police. But it's like they're not bothered.

'They will only take action when someone is seriously hurt or dead but I don't want that on my conscious.'

Greater Manchester Police are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the incident or heard something from around that time.

Detective Inspector Andrew Fink, of GMP's Oldham Division, said: 'This was a shocking incident in which a family were threatened in their own homes. We have zero tolerance for these sort of shocking acts and we are determined to bring those responsible for this crime to justice.

'Our officers are working hard to establish all leads and information, and any information that the public may have would be of great assistance to their enquiries.

'I would urge anyone with CCTV, dashcam, or doorbell footage to please get in touch. No matter how small you think the information is, it could be of great use for the investigation.'

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 0161 856 8962 quoting log number 4272 of 9/5/23.

People can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
She was the ultimate 90s pin-up girl known for her wild antics and photoshoots for Playboy and Guess. He was the octogenarian oil tycoon with a multimillion-dollar fortune.

Anna Nicole Smith and her husband J. Howard Marshall - at the time of their marriage, 63 years her senior - endured a complicated love story.

After living two distinct lives - Marshall as a Yale Law School-educated oil tycoon and Smith as a waitress turned stripper turned Playboy model - the two married in 1994 and spend 13 months together before Marshall's death.

Who was Anna Nicole Smith?

Anna Nicole Smith initially rose to fame as a pin-up girl in the 90s following photoshoots for Playboy and Guess.

Prior to the glamor of Hollywood life and her untimely death aged just 39 in 2007, Anna Nicole - born Vickie Lynn Hogan - came from a humble background in Mexia, Texas.

Smith accepted Marshall's proposal and the two married - dressed in all white - at the White Dove Wedding Chapel in Texas in 1994

Anna Nicole Smith and her husband J. Howard Marshall are pictured in front of a Christmas tree in 1995, shortly before Marshall's death

Smith had grown up in Houston with her mom Virgie, stepfather, and five half-siblings. But after ditching school and getting into fights at home she was sent to live in the small town with her aunt.

After dropping out of school at 14 she took a job as a waitress at a fried chicken restaurant - Jim's Krispy Fried Chicken - in Mexia.

After stints in a strip club where she later met her second husband J. Howard Marshall, Smith became a model for Playboy and Guess.

She would later marry her second husband in 1994, 89-year-old J. Howard Marshall, which resulted in speculation that she married him for his money. She denied this.

Smith endured a tragic final few years before her untimely death. She left behind her infant daughter after giving birth just months before her death.

After welcoming her daughter, her only son Daniel died days after at the age of 20 in a hospital room. He died from an accidental overdose of methadone and antidepressants.

This led Smith to fall 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.

Who was Anna Nicole Smith's first husband Billy Wayne?

Smith - then Vickie Lynn Hogan - married Billy Wayne before her 18th birthday. She became a mom nine months later.

She had met Smith while working at Jim's Krispy Fried Chicken after dropping out of school. Smith was working as a fry cook at the restaurant.

At 16-years-old, she quickly developed an infatuation with Billy, who was one year her junior and also a high school dropout. He was initially not interested but the two later got together.

Anna Nicole Smith initially to fame as pin-up girl in the 90s following photoshoots for Playboy and Guess

Anna Nicole Smith died from an accidental drug overdose in February 2007 aged just 39 - leaving behind her infant daughter Dannielynn. She is pictured in 2004

The star later reflected: 'He drove me crazy. I chased him and chased him the way young girls do until I finally got him and married him. By then, of course, I wasn't interested.'

The pair dated for 11 months and soon married on April 4 1985 when Anna was 17 and Billy was 16. They then moved into a house behind the chicken shop.

The pair's son Daniel Wayne Smith was born months later on January 22, 1986.

Cracks began to form in the pair's marriage around this time - Smith would claim that Billy controlled her and became possessive once they wed.

The two separated in 1987 and divorced in 1993.

Wayne, now 55, as since remained out of the spotlight following their split over three decades ago.

How did Anna Nicole Smith meet J. Howard Marshall and what was their age difference?

Smith met oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall II while working in a strip club in Houston, Texas. The meeting would see her marry the multimillionaire in the years to come, but would propel her to becoming a household name.

After dancing for him at the strip club Gigi's, it is understood that Smith agreed to go for lunch with the oil tycoon the following day in 1991.

Over lunch he reportedly gave her $1,000 and Smith quit her job in the topless strip club the same day. She would continue receiving cash payments from Marshall.

Smith had grown up in Houston with her mom Virgie, stepfather, and five half-siblings. She is pictured in 2000

Marshall was said to have asked Smith to marry him several times following their first date together.

Over the course of several years, Smith would go on to success as a Playboy Playmate and model in campaigns for Guess. She also starred in movies including Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult and The Hudsucker Proxy.

Eventually Smith accepted Marshall's proposal and the two married - dressed in all white - at the White Dove Wedding Chapel in Texas in 1994.

Who was J. Howard Marshall?

J. Howard Marshall was best known for his marriage to Smith, 63 years her senior at the time of their marriage.

But prior to their relationship hitting the front pages, Smith was a very rich and successful businessman.

He was born in Philadelphia on January 24, 1905 to a Quaker family.

He graduated from the Quaker Haverford College in 1926 before going on to Yale Law School in 1931.

After graduating from the Ivy League college, he became assistant dean, and taught business courses and wrote about the oil industry.

Marshall went into government some years later, becoming the assistant solicitor at the Department of the Interior in 1993. His role centered around writing codes regulating the oil industry.

He then spent some time as special counsel for the president of Standard Oil of California - now named Chevron - before joining Pillsbury Madison Sutro, the Petroleum Administration for War during the Second World War, the Ashland Oil and Refining Co., and then the National Petroleum Council.

Marshall was said to have asked Smith to marry him several times following their first date together

After stints in a strip club where she later met her second husband J. Howard Marshall, Smith became a model for Playboy and Guess

Then in 1952, Marshall co-founded Great Northern Oil with the Koch brothers, before founding the eponymous Marshall Petroleum in 1984.

Prior to marrying Smith, Marshall was married twice before.

The oil man married Eleanor Pierce in 1931. They shared two children together.

He would divorce Pierce in 1961 and mary Bettye Bohannon later that year. The two stayed married until Bohannon's death in 1991 from Alzheimer's.

However, Marshall had already had a fling starting in 1982 with a Texan dancer named Jewell Dianne 'Lady' Walker. She also died in 1991.

After marrying Smith in 1994, Marshall died 13 months later. But after not naming his wife in his will, the model was caught in a lengthy legal battle with Marshall's family for over a decade.

The case eventually came before the Supreme Court. Smith would win the case but a second case relating to unsolved issues regarding the inheritance would later go before the Supreme Court following her death. Her estate lost the case.

Smith is pictured with her daughter Dannielynn who was born in September 7, 2006

Anna Nicole Smith and son Daniel at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. Daniel died in 2007

How did Anna Nicole Smith die?

Smith died of an accidental prescription drug overdose at just 39-years-old in February 2007. Nine prescription drugs were found in her system when she died, including methadone, valium diazepam and lorazepam and chloral hydrate.

She had long had an addiction to the drugs.

At the time of her death she had a stomach flu and an 105 degree fever brought on by a pus-filled infection on her buttocks from repeated injection of other drugs.

Her final few days were spent at a hotel where she lay semi-conscious in bed. She was eventually found lifeless by a family friend on February 8, 2007.

She was given CPR and paramedics continued to work on her as they wheeled her to an ambulance. But she was pronounced dead at Memorial Regional Hospital in Florida that afternoon.

Smith's death was ruled an accidental drug overdose of the sedative chloral hydrate that became increasingly toxic when combined with other prescription drugs in her system.

Smith was buried beside her son Daniel.
A serial predator who raped a mother just a day after being released from jail for sex offences has been cleared to be moved to an open prison where he will be eligible for day release.

Stephen Gale was 33 when he was jailed indefinitely for the savage attack on a woman he followed from a train at Tunbridge Wells, Kent, on February 1, 2007.

Maidstone Crown Court was told that he pounced on the woman in a Morrisons supermarket car park in Vale Road, close to the town's railway station.

Just hours earlier Gale, who has spent the past 11 years in and out of prison for sexual offences, had signed on the sex offenders' register at Tonbridge police station.

The victim had a knife held to her stomach throughout her ordeal and feared she would die.

Stephen Gale was 33 when he was jailed indefinitely for the savage attack on a woman he followed from a train at Tunbridge Wells

At his sentencing in May 2007, the judge jailed Gale under a rare 'protection of the public' order, with a minimum term of five years and 261 days.

Judge Andrew Patience QC said at the time that it was 'hard to foresee a time' when Gale would be considered safe to be released.

Gale's minimum term expired in February 2013. He has so far spent an additional ten years in jail.

In his last parole hearing in 2021, the Parole Board recommended Gale be sent to a Category D open prison to prepare him for an eventual return to freedom.

However, the Justice Secretary rejected the recommendation and ordered Gale stay locked up in a closed prison.

Despite this, following a hearing in April, Gale, now 49, has again been recommended for transfer to an open jail in his sixth parole hearing.

The Justice Secretary had 28 days to step in but did not do so.

The Parole Board rejected Gale's appeal to be released on licence.

Maidstone Crown Court was told that he pounced on the woman in a Morrisons supermarket car park in Vale Road (pictured), close to the town's railway station

A spokesperson for the Parole Board said: 'The Parole Board refused the release of Stephen Gale but recommended a move to an open conditions prison following an oral hearing in April 2023.

'This was a recommendation only and the Secretary of State for Justice considers the advice before making the final decision on whether a prisoner is suitable for open conditions.

'We will only make a recommendation for open conditions if a Parole Board panel is satisfied that the risk to the public has reduced sufficiently to be manageable in an open prison and if a transfer to open prison is considered to be essential to inform future decisions about release.'

MailOnline has obtained the written summary of the Parole Board.

Under a heading of 'risk assessment' it states: 'At the time of his offending, these risk factors had included his early life experiences, the difficulties he had in his relationships, and his misuse of drugs and alcohol.

'Mr Gale would think about sex a lot and he was prepared to commit offences to meet his sexual needs. He believed that men should dominate women and he had difficulties in managing extreme emotions.'

Referring to the decision to overturn the recommendation that Gale be moved to an open prison, the board states: 'In 2021, the Parole Board reviewed Mr Gale's case and recommended that he should be transferred to an open prison.

'The Secretary of State rejected that recommendation, with his officials considering that there was a need for Mr Gale to complete further work in a closed prison.'

The summary adds that Gale had continued his progress in jail with sex offending courses, and had worked with jail psychologists to help him deal with his problems.

It concludes: 'After considering the circumstances of his offending, the progress made while in custody and the evidence presented at the hearing, the panel was not satisfied that Mr Gale was suitable for release.

'However, on considering the criteria for recommending placement in open conditions, the panel recommended that Mr Gale should be progressed in this way.

'It is now for the Secretary of State to decide whether he accepts the Parole Board's recommendation.'

At his trial, the court heard that Mr Gale, who had shaved his body hair to his knees, and the woman travelled on the same train and arrived at Tunbridge Wells at 9.30pm.

Anne Phillips, prosecuting, said as the woman left the station, Gale 'matched her pace for pace'. She walked up stairs knowing that Gale was behind her.

At one point, Gale walked past her. But as she approached her car Gale went towards her. He blocked her path and warned: 'Do exactly as I say or I will kill you.'

Gale pressed a red-handled knife into her stomach. He became more forceful, before moving her back towards the foyer area of the stairwell and lifts.

Gale then stroked her face and grabbed her hair, forcing her onto her knees, before ordering her to perform a sex act on him.

Without warning, he said, 'I'm bored with all this', and walked off. The woman ran to her car and drove to Tunbridge Wells police station. Gale admitted rape and assault by penetration.

Andrew Patience QC said: 'Such wicked, cruel and degrading conduct as you made your victim suffer on that night deserves only the severest penalty, both to punish you and to deter and serve as a warning to others.

'You are, in short, a danger to women.'

His victim said the attack had ruined her life. 'I am no longer the same mother,' she said.

Speaking after the court hearing, Detective Chief Inspector Tony Thomas said: 'Stephen Gale's victim has been incredibly brave and I hope that she may now get some comfort from knowing that he is behind bars and unable to hurt anyone else.

'Gale is a dangerous man and we are all very pleased that he cannot pose a further threat to women.'

Gale will be eligible for his seventh parole hearing in 2025.
An Irish holidaymaker has been killed and her daughter seriously injured after they lost control of an off-road buggy and plunged into a pile of rocks.

The pair fell around 65 feet while driving the vehicle during a tourist excursion in Lanzarote.

The older woman, aged 61, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The other victim, who was travelling on a South African passport, was rushed to Doctor Jose Molina Orosa Hospital in the Spanish island's capital Arrecife with injuries including head wounds.

She was believed to be in intensive care today although the hospital has not yet made any official comment.

An Irish holidaymaker has died and her daughter has been seriously injured after plunging off rocks in Lanzarote in their hired off-road buggy

The scene of the accident where the death occurred

Firefighters, police, Civil Protection workers and paramedics were among the emergency responders who raced to the area on Monday afternoon.

A helicopter was also sent to the scene although fire crews were finally able to stretcher the survivor, who is understood to be aged in her mid-forties, to a waiting ambulance on foot.

The area where the tragedy occurred is between the town of Teseguite and the village of Guatiza, and boasts unique volcanic rock formations which attract visitors from all over the world.

The island's Civil Guard police force has been placed in charge of an ongoing investigation into the incident.

Firefighters, police, Civil Protection workers and paramedics were among the emergency responders who raced to the area on Monday afternoon

A spokesman for the Civil Guard in Lanzarote insisted: 'It is too early at this stage to speculate on what could have caused the tragedy.

One report said police were probing the possibility the buggy driver, thought to be the older of the two women, may have plunged into the abyss after losing control of her vehicle on a bend because she was going too fast.

But a spokesman for the Civil Guard in Lanzarote insisted: 'It is too early at this stage to speculate on what could have caused the tragedy.

'The investigation is still at a very early stage.'

A Civil Guard source added: 'A 61-year-old Irish woman died in the tragedy and her daughter, who was travelling on a South African passport, was seriously injured and was taken to hospital.

'They were travelling on the buggy as part of an organised excursion.'

The injured survivor remained in a critical condition in intensive care today.

The company that organised the excursion the women were on, that describes itself online as the main company dedicated to buggy routes in the north part of Lanzarote, declined to comment.

The firm says it uses Maverick Trail 800T model buggies and flags up on its website that all excursions have an 'expert guide' whose job includes 'leading the group and maintaining security.'
Ministers have been warned the UK could see an influx of 1.1million foreign workers and students before the next general election without action to cut numbers.

The warning from the Home Office to the Government came as it prepares for net migration figures for the past year to be released next week.

They are expected to show numbers almost reaching a million for the first time, swollen by the arrival of refugees from Ukraine and Hong Kong.

But a 12-page analysis, seen by The Telegraph, suggests that people on work and study visas alone could pass one million in 2024-25, which could be when the nation next heads to the ballot box for a general election.

It comes as Rishi Sunak faces concerted pressure from the Tory Right over immigration.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman yesterday used an astonishing speech at a London conference to lambast the policy of a Government in which she is a senior minister.

Today, backbencher John Hayes, one of her close allies, used his own address to the National Conservatism conference in Westminster to warn that mass immigration and 'overwhelming' population growth threatened to strain public services and change Britain's towns and cities 'beyond recognition'.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman yesterday used an astonishing speech at a London conference to lambast the policy of a Government in which she is a senior minister.

Today, backbencher John Hayes, one of her close allies, used his own address to the National Conservatism conference in Westminster to warn that mass immigration and 'overwhelming' population growth threatened to strain public services and change Britain's towns and cities 'beyond recognition'.

Sir John chairs the 'anti-woke' Common Sense Group of Tory MPs and was at the centre of the row over leaked policy documents that saw Mrs Braverman dismissed from her first stint as Home Secretary by Liz Truss.

He told the event: 'We must reclaim our constitution from the opportunistic aims of a privileged liberal caste that has purposefully divorced itself from the nation.

'We must be unafraid to pursue policies which enjoy popular support, which fuel the common good and elevate the people.'

Housing Secretary: We need more homes Housing Secretary Michael Gove has conceded there 'simply aren't enough homes' in Britain as he said the Prime Minister had commissioned him to work on policies to help first-time buyers. Mr Gove also appeared to confirm suggestions that his pledge to abolish leaseholds entirely will be watered down. Speaking to the National Conservatism conference on Tuesday, Mr Gove said Rishi Sunak had tasked him with addressing the issues faced by first-time buyers, with housing expected to be a major issue at next year's general election. The admission comes after Mr Gove and the Prime Minister scrapped house-building targets last year in the face of a Conservative backbench rebellion. Across Britain, the average asking price for a first-time buyer type property currently sits at a record of 224,963, according to data shared earlier this month by property website Rightmove. Cabinet minister Mr Gove said: 'There is a problem and the problem is there simply aren't enough homes in this country. 'It is increasingly difficult to get on the property ladder.' The admission comes after Mr Gove and the Prime Minister scrapped house-building targets last year in the face of a Conservative backbench rebellion. Ministers backed down and made the target of building 300,000 houses a year in England advisory rather than mandatory, taking the pressure off local authorities to approve new developments. Labour has said it will revive the target if it wins power at the next election. Mr Gove told the conference, held at the Emmanuel Centre in Westminster, that the UK Government needed to ensure people were able to rent or buy a home of 'sufficient size, with sufficient security', particularly when deciding to have a family. 'We do need to think about supply but we also need to think about how it is that we can help people, particularly younger people, in that increasingly competitive market to get the first-time buyer support that they need,' he said. 'That is something that Rishi has explicitly asked me to look at.' Advertisement

He added: 'It means an immigration system driven not by the demands of amoral big business but in tune with the will of the people, cognisant of the social and cultural pressures that mass immigration brings.

'It means ending the overwhelming population growth which strains public services and changes beyond recognition the character of our towns and cities.'

Downing Street said the UK Government 'remains committed' to reducing net migration amid speculation it could pass the one million mark next year.

It follows reports that the Home Office has privately shared figures with No10 suggesting more than 1.1million foreign workers and students could legally arrive in Britain in 2024/25, just as the Conservative Party faces a general election.

The Prime Minister's spokesman said: 'I won't get into specific pieces of advice that go between departments and No10.

'The Government remains committed to reducing net migration over time while ensuring the economy has the skills we need.'

The No10 spokesman said there was no specific target on reducing migration numbers.

Rishi Sunak's spokesman continued: 'As the Prime Minister has said, the priority is tackling illegal migration in the first instance.

'That is why we are moving ahead with the (Illegal Migration) Bill and other elements to that end.'

He will warn European leaders during a gathering in Iceland that the international system for policing human trafficking is 'not working'.

This afternoon, Housing Secretary Michael Gove told the conference he did not think net migration figures in the UK would hit the one million mark.

'I don't think it will reach those figures,' he said. 'But you are right, if we are looking at pressure on housing, you need to look at it in the round. So, Britain has always been a country that has benefited from people of talent arriving here and people fleeing persecution.

'The numbers recently have been at a level where there is an inevitable pressure on housing and on public services.'

The Leave campaigner said a 'critical part of Brexit' was being able to 'say this is the level of migration we as a country believe is right' and establishing that 'there is a limit'.

Mr Sunak will tell the Council of Europe meeting in Reykjavik that both European communities and the world's most vulnerable are 'paying the price' for the failure to prevent unlawful migration.

It comes as his 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 5.5million cost of housing migrants who make it to the UK.

During his time in the Icelandic capital, Mr Sunak will hold talks with the president of 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 world's 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 Mrs Braverman arguing in her speech at Monday's 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 2019 Conservative Party manifesto pledged overall migrant numbers would 'come down'.

Ahead of Mr Sunak's 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.

They argued that the 'scourge of illegal migration' was placing 'unbearable pressures on countries throughout Europe', citing that cases had risen by 50 per cent 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.

Today's 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.

No10 said the Conservative Party leader intends to discuss ECHR reform, including on Rule 39, when he meets court president Siofra O'Leary.
A woman who posed as a man so that she could have sex with another woman told her victim she had cancer and never let her near 'his' private parts, a court heard today.

Blade Silvano, 40, is accused of using an unknown object to have 'intercourse' during the relationship and even proposed marriage. The 'sophisticated deception' involved her claiming to be an Army officer, sending photos of herself 'shaving', and never walking around naked.

The alleged victim told Cambridge Crown Court that Silvano would discuss the cancer treatment 'he' was having.

Asked about intimacy between them, she said she had never seen 'his' private parts, adding: 'He would never allow me to go near his genital region.'

She had been expecting to go to an officers' ball in December 2016 with Silvano, who claimed to be a vet in the Army, but this was called off after 'he' told her about being trampled by a cow.

Blade Silvano, 40, is accused of sexually assaulting the woman she met on the internet, where she allegedly claimed to be male looking for a female partner

'He sent me a picture of his leg elevated on a sofa at his house,' the woman told the jury.

'He said because it was the weekend they [doctors] couldn't do anything further but he'd be going back to hospital to have a small operation to rectify what the cow had done.' Silvano had never been in the Army, the jury was told.

The 40-year-old is said to have met her victim through an online dating site where she described herself as a man looking for a woman.

Her alleged victim, who can't be named for legal reasons, only discovered her lover's true sex by chance on Facebook.

She told police in an interview: 'She denied me the right to consent. Everyone has the right to know who they are having sex with and what they are having sex with.

'I consented to have sex with a male, not a female. I did not consent to have sex with a female who was penetrating me with something.'

Debra White, defending, suggested Silvano had never been to the woman's house and all communication had been via mobile devices.

'Had you met in the flesh, you would have known that Blade Silvano was a woman,' she said.

Blade Silvano, pictured in a Market Times article from 2016, denies two counts of assault by penetration

The complainant replied: 'That is incorrect. I've only known Blade as a man.'

The court heard that the woman eventually learned that Silvano had a partner. At the time the partner had a business selling witchcraft and goth items at a market in a Victorian town hall, where Silvano ran a cafe.

The woman denied seeking revenge on Silvano after discovering she was already in a relationship.

However, she sent an angry WhatsApp message to the defendant, which was read out in court.

It said: 'You clearly have been leading me on and have some serious issues. I hope the woman in your life figures you out.

'I deserve to be someone's only. My boys deserve better than this rubbish. You have messed up  getting someone to go wedding dress shopping, getting me to think you were seriously ill

'All I wanted was a loyal, honest man. It's obvious you like to play with hearts and minds. Clearly you have psychological issues to do this for two years.'

The woman said her last contact with Silvano was in October 2018, when she messaged her to ask if her partner would stop 'contacting my family'.

Asked if the person sitting in the dock had changed over the past six years, she told the court: 'The person I knew six years ago had much shorter hair and more masculine clothing. Her breasts were not evident. They are now.'

The complainant told police in an interview that she did 'not consent to' having a sexual relationship with a woman, the BBC reports. Pictured: Blade Silvano outside Cambridge Crown Court

The pair met through dating website Plenty of Fish, Cambridge Crown Court heard, with the complainant approaching Silvano  who was allegedly using the name Blade Mendez  'because his picture was a little bit different to all the other pictures'.

She told police: 'It was a photo of Blade himself with a quirky haircut and him pointing towards his hair. That's what I found different to other people.'

Prosecutor Michael Hillman said they first met up in December 2016 and they kissed, before having sex at a subsequent meeting.

They didn't see each other for a while after that as the defendant claimed 'he'd been trampled on by a cow' while on duty. Silvano had never been in the Army, the jury was told.

The defendant claimed to have been discharged from hospital in February 2017, Mr Hillman said, and the pair met up again for sex.

They planned to marry in December that year but this was postponed when Silvano, of Lydham, Shropshire, allegedly said he was suffering from an illness.

It was only in September the following year that the complainant synced her contacts for a new Facebook account and the defendant appeared with a 'different surname to the one that I'm aware of'.

In her police interview, the woman added: 'There was nothing unnatural whatsoever. He was very fluid when he moved. He wasn't shy or timid. It did not feel like a woman next to me.'

Her partner's chest 'looked flat' and he 'walked around in his T-shirt and boxers'.

She added: 'All the conversations we had, to pictures of him shaving and his stories  he always stated he was male.'

Under cross-examination yesterday, she denied being bisexual when they met and refuted claims she had been a willing participant in a 'fantasy'.

Debra White, defending, said the couple had talked of marriage despite only meeting on a 'handful of occasions' and questioned why the complainant had sent photos of herself trying on a wedding dress 'when it's tradition that the [other] person doesn't see it until the morning of the wedding'.

'The reason you sent the photo was because there was never going to be a wedding, was there?' she asked.

The woman replied that was 'incorrect', adding the defendant had raised the subject of marriage with her.

Mr Hillman told the court the alleged victim 'obviously believed she was communicating with a male' and Silvano 'regrettably embarked on a sophisticated deception'.

The defendant, who at the time was running a cafe in a Victorian town hall in Welshpool, Powys, denies two charges of assault by penetration.

She claims never to have met the complainant, insists her 'gender had never come up in conversation' and denies using the surname Mendez.

The trial continues.
Controversial non-binary model Deni Todorovic had a heated hour-long run-in with airport staff and police before flying from Melbourne to Sydney for Australian Fashion Week.

The 35-year-old was on Monday seen in animated conversation outside Melbourne's domestic departure terminal with two Australian Federal Police officers.

Todorovic claimed to have been subjected to 'homophobic and racist' behaviour after getting into a dispute with Jetstar staff over an additional charge for an overweight second piece of luggage at check in.

The fashionista, who was wearing a ballgown, admits to 'yelling' after being told there would be a $100 fee for the bag being 10.5kgs over the limit.

Shortly afterwards, two airport policemen approached and the argument continued - with the model eventually missing the flight.

'I almost got arrested over $100 f***ing dollars,' Todorovic explained to the Daily Telegraph after finally touching down in Sydney on Tuesday to attend an Erik Yvon show for Fashion Week.

A photo taken outside Melbourne's domestic departures terminal on Monday show controversial non-binary influencer Deni Todorovic in conversation with police

'I was sitting on a suitcase and then I said to mum, "I should probably put some pants on because I will get more respect".

Todorovic, who identifies 'by all pronouns', said the police made accusations of violence and was told to leave.

Photos of the incident show Todorovic perched on a suitcase in a frilly turquoise gown worn over a black shirt, engaging two standing officers in intense discussion.

Todorovic said the look was based on the Carrie Bradshaw character from hit 90s romantic comedy TV series Sex in the City.

The model from Geelong said 'I hate Australia.'

'Money means nothing to me, it comes in, it comes out. So many people got in my way, I couldn't get the flight,' Todorovic said.

As a further protest the model wrote 'Jetstar, suck my d***'' across the top of both thighs in black texta.

Todorovic, who goes by 'all pronouns, said they got into a dispute with Jetstar staff over a $100 charge for an overweight piece of luggage

A Jetstar representative denied staff did anything wrong.

'We categorically deny these allegations,' a statement said.

'Our airport staff did everything they could to support the customer. When the customer decided not to fly, we supported that request.'

The AFP confirmed they had spoked to a passenger but gave no further details other than saying no further action would be taken.

One witness said the exchange happening near the terminal entrance were 'a bit of a spectacle'.

Todorovic's involvement with swimwear brand Seafolly campaign led to a customer boycott in March.

His subsequent erratic behaviour and tirades have seen the model ditched from various public roles by underwear label Bonds, youth charity Minus 18, and gin brand Tanqueray.

Last month the Todorovic's admitted on Instagram to liking 'a line or two' of cocaine.

Despite the outrageous admission, Todorovic told followers there was no substance abuse issue.

Non-binary influencer and activist Deni Todorovic (pictured) has been dropped by several high-profile brands following a string of alarming social media posts

'I will give you a motherf**king urine sample if you need one because I have not been on motherf**king drugs for fifteen days today,' they ranted.

Todorovic's followers expressed concern in the comments section of the video, which has now been deleted from their account.

'This is coming from a loving place but I'm worried about you,' one wrote.

'Please take care of your health and mental health.'
Prosecutors in the Bruce Lehrmann trial texted each other criticising the conduct of police officers who investigated Brittany Higgins' allegations, according to documents tendered to an inquiry.

The series of text messages sent by Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold and crown prosecutor Skye Jerome on the evening of May 11, 2022 were released by the ACT board of inquiry on Tuesday.

Mr Drumgold tendered the messages as part of his statement to the inquiry that outlined the breakdown of the relationship between his office and the police during the matter.

In the statement, he said the conversation between the co-workers was to 'work out whether the conduct of the AFP could be explained by "unsophisticated corruption" or "atomic level stupidity".'

Mr Drumgold sent Ms Jerome a diary note made by Detective Superintendent Scott Moller on June 17 2021 which was included as part of the officer's statement.

Texts between Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold (pictured) and crown prosecutor Skye Jerome were released by the ACT board of inquiry

Prosecutors in the Bruce Lehrmann trial texted each other criticising the conduct of police officers who investigated Brittany Higgins' (pictured) allegations, according to documents tendered to an inquiry.

The note by Detective Moller recalled a conversation he had with then-deputy chief police officer Michael Chew about the investigation.

'DCPO advised he had a meeting with DPP who stated they would recommend prosecution. DCPO stated 'if it was my choice I wouldn't proceed but it (sic) not my choice,' the note read.

'There is to (sic) much political interference.

'I said "That's inappropriate given I think there is insufficient evidence".'

The diary note prompted Ms Jerome to ask her colleague 'why would one need to record that thought process'.

'They both require a lesson on reasonable suspicion,' she said.

A major flashpoint in the inquiry for Mr Drumgold was the perception Detective Moller and Detective Inspector Marcus Boorman did not want him to proceed with a prosecution.

He claimed in the messages the file note shed light on his perception.

'It is abundantly clear that people from the top did not want this to proceed,' the DPP wrote to Ms Jerome.

'The real question is why? It is highly unusual for a DCPO to get involved in a fairly basis (sic) sex matter!

He continued: 'I am still toggling between unsophisticated corruption and atomic level stupidity

'Why would you put that in your notebook? ....To document your cover up?'

In his statement to the inquiry, Mr Drumgold rejected suggestions his advice to prosecute was made because he was placed under 'political pressure'.

'I can categorically state that, at no time before 17 June 2021, or ever, was political pressure placed on me in relation to the prosecution - other than of what I perceived as a campaign of pressure from police to agree with them that the matter should not proceed to charges, and the other conduct of police as set out in this statement,' he wrote.

Mr Drumgold first raised concerns about 'political and police conduct' in a letter he sent the ACT's chief of police in the days following the mistrial, which ultimately sparked the inquiry.

Mr Lehrmann (pictured) pleaded not guilty to one charge of sexually assaulting his former colleague Ms Higgins before the trial was aborted due to jury misconduct

Giving evidence last week, the DPP said a series of 'strange events' led him to believe there was political pressure to 'make the matter go away'.

However just a day later, he hosed down that claim.

The DPP told the inquiry he was wrong to suspect interference and after reading police statements to the inquiry he had concluded a 'skills deficit' was more likely to blame.

Defence barrister Steven Whybrow SC told the inquiry he did not agree with suggestion police had been resentful of Mr Drumgold throughout the matter.

'I don't mean that they were loving and kind,' he said.

'My impression was that it was Mr Drumgold who was hostile towards the police.'

A diary note from Detective Superintendent Scott Moller on June 17 2021 said 'There is to (sic) much political interference'

Detective Moller will be the first witness called before the inquiry when it reconvenes next week.

Mr Lehrmann pleaded not guilty to one charge of sexually assaulting his former colleague Ms Higgins before the trial was aborted due to jury misconduct.

Mr Lehrmann has continually denied the allegation and the DPP declined to pursue a second trial due to concerns over Ms Higgins' mental health and dropped the charge.

The inquiry, chaired by retired judge Walter Sofronoff, is due to report back to the ACT government by July 31.
Rishi Sunak today dismissed Nigel Farage's claim that 'Brexit has failed' after the ex-UKIP leader hit out at 'useless' Tories for 'mismanaging' the UK's exit from the EU.

The Prime Minister rejected a suggestion by Mr Farage, now president of Reform UK, that Britain had not benefitted economically from cutting ties with Brussels.

Downing Street pointed to new freedoms for farmers and an overhaul of Britain's agricultural sector as just some of the ways in which the UK has been boosted by Brexit.

It came after Mr Farage told the BBC's Newsnight programme that the Government was 'driving business away from our country' and strangling firms in regulation.

He claimed ministers had 'not delivered on Brexit' and did not rule out a comeback to frontline party politics, after he stepped down as leader of Reform UK - formerly known as the Brexit Party - in 2021.

Nigel Farage claimed 'Brexit has failed' and hit out at 'useless' Tory ministers for 'mismanaging' the UK's exit from the EU

But the Prime Minister rejected the suggestion by Mr Farage, now president of Reform UK, that Britain had not benefitted economically from cutting ties with Brussels

Asked if, economically, Britain would have been better off staying within the EU, Mr Farage said: 'I don't think that for a moment.

'But what I do think is we haven't actually benefitted from Brexit economically, when we could have done.

'What Brexit has proved, I'm afraid, is our politicians are about as useless as the commissioners in Brussels were.

'We have mismanaged this totally. And if you look at simple things such as takeovers, such as corporation tax, we are driving business away from our country.

'Arguably, now we're back in control, we're regulating our own businesses even more than they were as EU members. Brexit has failed.'

Quizzed on whether he would consider a comeback to frontline party politics, Mr Farage added: 'I wouldn't rule it out. It's not top of my bucket list.

'But, frankly, we've not delivered on borders, we've not delivered on Brexit, the Tories have let us down very, very badly.'

The PM's official spokesman today insisted Mr Sunak, who hosted a farming summit in No10 this morning, does not agree with Mr Farage's view on Brexit.

'The PM has talked about the benefits of Brexit on a number of occasions,' he said.

'Just thinking about farming alone, we're talking about some of the benefits that moving away from the bureaucratic Common Agricultural Policy that skewed money towards the largest landowners - 50 per cent going to the largest 10 per cent.

'We now have a fairer system tailored to British farmers post-Brexit.'

The spokesman also highlighted new freedoms to use gene-editing technology to allow farmers to 'mimic the natural breeding process to help farmers grow more nutritious, more productive crops'.

'Those are just two examples in one sector of the benefits that the public and UK businesses are enjoying,' he added.
Special Counsel John Durham revealed that he questioned former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in May 2022, but did not find any 'provable criminal offense,' despite her clear attempt to 'vilify' Trump by linking him to an unsubstantiated collusion plot with Russia ahead of the 2016 election.

Durham said in the report published Monday that the FBI should have done more to look into a 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.

However, in a footnote in the report published Monday, Durham said Clinton denied the claims when she sat down with the special counsel team on May 11, 2022.

During the interview, Clinton stated to Durham's attorneys that it's 'really sad,' but that she understood why they had to continue to ask questions.

'I get it, you have to go down every rabbit hole,' the former secretary of state said according to the report.

According to Durham, Clinton responded during the interview when asked to address declassified information by the then-Director of National Intelligence Ratcliffe about her 'alleged plan' to 'stir up a scandal between Trump and the Russians.'

It 'looked like Russian disinformation to me; they're very good at it, you know,' Clinton responded.

'Clinton advised that she had a lot of plans to win the campaign, and anything that came into the public domain was available to her,' the report continued regarding her interview in 2022.

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

The report also states that 'several other former members' of the Clinton campaign were interviewed regarding the 'plan' that Clinton had approved. Those individuals included John Podesta and Biden's current National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.

Despite the government's handling of the 'Clinton Plan' intelligence amounted to a 'significant intelligence failure' and a troubling instance of 'confirmation bias' leading to tunnel-vision pursuit, it did 'not amount to a provable criminal offense,' Durham concluded.

The conclusion sparked out rage from Republicans, who say the FBI should be held accountable.

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., said the FBI's funding levels should be seriously clawed back due to Durham's findings.

'There should be firings, and there should be reform, and it should be bipartisan,' Gaetz said.

House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan on Monday night told Fox News anchor Sean Hannity that there was 'a double standard' for Republicans and Democrats, and agreed with Gaetz that the FBI's funding should be cut.

Durham also found 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.

'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.
CNN's Jake Tapper has slammed the FBI over the 'devastating' Durham Report which concluded the agency had no evidence to investigate allegations of Trump-Russia collusion.

Speaking on the network on Monday night, Tapper said that the report had, to a degree, exonerated former President Trump.

He said: 'It might have not produced everything of what some Republicans hoped for, it is regardless devastating to the FBI, and to a degree, it does exonerate Donald Trump.'

In an embarrassing turn around, the CNN host said the newly published report went some way to exonerating Trump, after years of frequently championing the Russian collusion narrative.

Durham criticized the agency in his report for acting on 'raw, unanalyzed, and uncorroborated intelligence.'

Special Counsel John Durham released his highly-anticipated report Monday

Tapper called the report into the FBI 'devastating'

Tapper has said publicly that he is not a member of any political party, but his political commentary often shows a tendency to align with CNN's liberal slant.

In 2018, he said it 'was pretty clear' Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya who attended a now infamous Trump Tower meeting with Trump Jr was there as part of the Russian government.

He said: 'It's pretty clear that Veselnitskaya was a Russian government attorney and that the meeting was part of the Russian government efforts to help Donald Trump's campaign.'

The former President labelled Tapper as a 'flunky' after Tapper kicked his White House Aide off air for sharing pro-Trump talking points.

Tapper later added on Monday: 'It is possible that the FBI had legitimate cause for concern and it is also possible that some individuals in the FBI got ahead over their skis and were not as professional as they should have been.'

The Durham report summarized findings related to whether the Trump campaign in 2016 had colluded with Russia to meddle with the outcome of the election.

It ultimately found that the Department of Justice and the FBI had 'failed to uphold their mission of strict fidelity to the law' when they launched their probe.

Writing in his report, Durham said: 'Based on the evidence gathered in the multiple exhaustive and costly federal investigations of these matters, 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.'

Crossfire Hurricane was the internal code name for the investigation by the FBI that was launched in 2016.

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.

Special Counsel John Durham was appointed in 2019 by then-Attorney General Bill Barr (left) to look into misconduct related to the Crossfire Hurricane probe

Durham (pictured) was appointed in 2016 to investigate the allegations surrounding the 2016 election

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.'

In a statement released on Monday, the FBI said: '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.'

Former President Trump celebrated the findings in the report in a post to his Truth Social account Monday afternoon.

He posted: 'WOW! After extensive research, Special Counsel John Durham concludes the FBI never should have launched the Trump-Russia Probe!'

Trump had repeatedly railed about the Russia probe, blasting it as a 'witch hunt' over the years.

Tapper had previously came under fire after a guest on his show claimed former President Trump had 'radicalized more people than ISIS' - and the presenter remained silent throughout.
A 12-year-old Texas boy has been charged with murder after shooting a Sonic staff member with an assault rifle.

Cops found 32-year-old Matthew Davis lying on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds when they arrived at the Sonic Drive-In in Keene, 50 miles southwest of Dallas, around 10pm Saturday. He was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Detectives believe Angel Gomez, 20, was the driver of the 12-year-old boy and other passengers. Gomez was loud and disorderly and had been confronted by Davis after urinating in the parking lot, cops said.

During the heated exchange, the child grabbed the AR-15 rifle from the car and fired six rounds at Davis, authorities said.

The boy and Gomez fled the scene. Gomez later returned to the Sonic and was arrested. The child was detained at a house in Rio Vista, about 14 miles south of Keene, where multiple guns were seized, police said.

Matthew Davis (pictured), who leaves behind a 10-year-old son, had recently moved to Keene and started working at the Sonic just two weeks ago

Detectives believe Angel Gomez, 20, was the driver of the 12-year-old boy and other passengers. He was loud and disorderly and had been confronted by Davis after urinating in the parking lot, cops said

The shooting took place at the Sonic Drive-In in the 300 block of S. Old Betsy, Keene, Texas on Saturday night

Gomez and the boy - who cops have not named - have been charged with murder.

Davis, who leaves behind a 10-year-old son, had recently moved to Keene and started working at the Sonic just two weeks ago.

His mother is working to bury him in Louisiana where he is from.

Lynne Barton, Davis' aunt, posted on Facebook: 'It is with deep sadness that I share my family has had a major loss this Mothers Day. My best friend and sister has just lost her son due to a unspeakable tragedy. Her son was shot while at work, while trying to earn a living. Please share this as we are trying to get enough money to put our beloved son, brother, nephew and friend to rest. Thank you.'

Dylan Elliott, a nearby resident, said she heard gunfire and then an air ambulance.

'I was outside. My fiance ran in the house, and I heard a bunch of gunshots,' Elliott told Fox.

'You see [helicopters] every once in a while, but you never see them flying this low and this close to home at least.'

She added: 'A 12-year-old in this day has access to a gun and kills someone. Breaks my heart mainly.'

Davis in a picture posted to a fundraising page which has been set up to help his family

The restaurant remained closed on Monday as residents came to lay flowers.

Jane Baggett told NBC: 'I wish there was more that we could do, but right now if they could just see that support and love, and maybe, even if we didn't know him, his life mattered to many of us.'

A Sonic spokesman said: 'We are saddened to learn about the tragedy involving a franchised team member in Keene, TX. The franchisee is cooperating fully with local authorities as they conduct their investigation.'

Under Texas law you must be 18 to buy a handgun or long gun, but there is no minimum age for possession of a firearm. Parents and legal guardians are allowed to give written permission for one to be sold or given to a minor as a gift.

People aged 21 and over do not need a license to carry a handgun in public. At least 20 other states also have some form of permitless carry.

Most arms, including military-style weapons, can be owned in the Lone Star State.
Rishi Sunak's Indian mother-in-law has revealed border staff thought she was pranking them about staying in Downing Street during a visit to the UK.

Sudha Murty, wife of billionaire Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy, said she wrote down the historic address on a form.

She told the Kapil Sharma chat show in India that the border guard looked at her and said: 'Are you joking?'

'I told him, "no, I'm telling you the truth",' Ms Murty - mother of the PM's wife Akshata - continued.

'No one believes that I, a 72-year-old simple lady, can be the mother-in-law of the Prime Minister.'

Ms Murty hit the headlines last month when she credited her daughter with steering Mr Sunak into No10.

Sudha Murty, wife of billionaire Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy and mother of the PM's wife Akshata, appeared on the Kapil Sharma chat show in India

Ms Murty said that a border guard asked if she was joking when she wrote down Downing Street - where her daughter Akshata lives with Rishi Sunak - as her temporary address

The philanthropist and author proclaimed that she was 'able to succeed in making my husband a businessman'.

She added with great pride: 'But my daughter has made her husband Prime Minister of the UK.'

Ms Murty also disclosed that she had persuaded Mr Sunak to fast every Thursday in honour of a Hindu guru the family worship.

Akshata has praised her mother for teaching her the values of 'hard work, humility and selflessness'.

Ms Murty was the only female student at an engineering college she studied at in the late 1960s in the state of Karnataka and was admitted on the condition that she only ever wore a sari, never spoke to male students and did not visit the canteen.

In 1974, she became the first female engineer to be hired by the TATA group, India's leading auto manufacturer and worked in Pune, south India, after famously writing to the firm's boss to complain about the fact that they did not hire females.

She gave up a scholarship to study in the US so that she could be a 'champion' for Indian women in the engineering industry.

After meeting her husband, she helped him set up consulting and IT services firm Infosys in 1981.

It is now worth around 50billion, with Akshata's stake valued at hundreds of millions of pounds.

The wider family are still close despite the Sunaks living in the UK

Sudha was raised in a modest middle-class home and was born in August 1950 in Shiggaon, Karnataka, south India

Sudha is credited as a driving force behind her husband's business empire.

She once said in an interview: 'We always cared for the family, children, grandchildren and took our work seriously. We respect, we give space to each other. We advise each other, but we do not interfere in each other.'

Despite their huge wealth, the couple live in a relatively modest home in a suburb of Bengaluru and shun A list parties.

Sudha is a life-long vegetarian, along with her husband, who dresses in simple saris and is deeply religious.

In a 2018 interview, Sudha revealed there was no television in the family home and evenings were spent with the whole family 'doing something productive.'

She also claimed that she had adopted a no shopping policy and had not bought a new sari for over 20 years.

Akshata on the other hand is known for her love of expensive designer clothes.
Police are on the hunt for three men suspected of attacking a 38-year-old man and fracturing his skull by throwing him against a concrete wall.

The alleged victim was sent to hospital with a bleed on the brain, after getting in a 'verbal altercation' with three men at Chiswick station, at around 11.50pm on 14 October.

The train passenger was knocked unconscious and later suffered a cardiac arrest, before dying in hospital in January this year.

Three individuals suspected of being involved in the attack fled the west London station, before boarding a bus towards Chiswick's Turnham Green.

British Transport Police today released CCTV images of three individuals who may be able to assist them in their investigation.

Police are searching for three men in connection with an attack at Chiswick station

The 38-year-old alleged victim suffered a bleed on the brain after being thrown against a concrete wall

Three individuals fled the station following the attack and boarded a bus towards Chiswick's Turnham Green

Pathologists are yet to establish the cause of the 38-year-old's death. However, police are not currently treating the case as a murder investigation.

A British Transport Police spokesperson said: 'Do you recognise these men? Officers investigating a serious assault at Chiswick station are today releasing these images in connection.

'On October 14 at around 11.50pm the victim was at Chiswick station when a verbal altercation took place with three men.

'The victim, a man aged 38, was thrown against a concrete wall which resulted in him banging his head and being knocked unconscious.

'The three men ran from the scene and boarded a bus towards Turnham Green.

'The victim was taken to hospital where he suffered a bleed on the brain and a fractured skull.

'Very sadly, the victim suffered a cardiac arrest in December and died in hospital in January this year.

'Detectives await further pathologist results to establish his cause of death however they are not currently treating it as a murder investigation.

'Following a number of enquiries detectives are now releasing images of three men who they think may be able to assist their investigation.'

Anyone who recognises them or has information can contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 555 111, quoting reference 12 of 14/10/22 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
The Discovery of Shackletons ship Endurance in Antarctica

The Gibraltar National Museum has announced a special lecture which it has organised for Tuesday 30th May.

Renowned explorer Mensun Bound, will share memories of his life as a marine archaeologist and in particular the incredible journey of the Endurance22 team to find the Endurance, the lost ship of Sir Ernest Shackleton, which is chronicled in his latest book, The Ship Beneath the Ice: The Discovery of Shackletons Endurance.

Mensun was director of exploration for two expeditions to the Weddell Sea which led to the rediscovery of the Endurance, in which Sir Ernest Shackleton and a crew of 27 men sailed for the Antarctic on the 19141917 Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. The ship sank after being crushed by the ice on the 21st November,1915, but it was only rediscovered by the Endurance22 expedition in March 2022 - and this will be the theme of Mensun's talk in Gibraltar.

Mensun is also renowned for directing the excavation of an Etruscan 6th Century BC shipwreck off Giglio Island, in Italy, the oldest known shipwreck of the Archaic era. Fine wares from the site consisted mainly of Corinthian, Laconian, Ionian and Etruscan fabrics representing a range of shapes. Some were painted with human figures, animals, florals and mythological motifs.

Mensun, born in the Falkland Islands, directed the recovery of the Hoi An Cargo from the wreck of a 15th Century junk, which revolutionized the understanding of Ming-Vietnamese porcelain from Vietnam's art-historical Golden Age. The Hoi An excavation, licensed by Vietnam's Minister of Culture, was the deepest, full-scale archaeological excavation ever attempted, involving three large vessels, three deep-ocean tugs, two gun-boats for protection and over 150 people. The excavation took four years and cost US $14 million.

In 201415, Mensun led a search for the Imperial German East Asia Squadron, which was sunk during the Battle of the Falkland Islands in 1914. Since then, using an autonomous underwater vehicle and remotely operated vehicle on surveys, he eventually located the squadron's flagship, SMS Scharnhorst in April 2019, 105 years after her sinking.

Mensun, who lives in Oxfordshire, also led a survey in 1997 of the third-rate ship of the line, HMS Agamemnon (built 1781). This was Lord Nelson's first major command, the ship on which he first fought the French and, in 1805, was part of his column at the Battle of Trafalgar (it was also the ship upon which he first met Lady Hamilton). In 1809, the ship was lost in Maldonado Bay near the mouth of the River Plate. The main result of the survey was the discovery of a cannon, which, because of the number on its breach, was confirmed by the Woolwich Arsenal to be the only cannon in existence fired in the Battle of Trafalgar. The cannon was conserved in the Uruguayan Navy Yard and is now on display in the Naval Museum of Montevideo, in Uruguay.

Mensun's work has been the subject of many documentaries in England, Italy and the US, including an award-winning, four-part series entitled Lost Ships. The BBC has made several documentaries on his work including Queen Elizabeth's Lost Guns, about the recovery, replication and test-firing of an Elizabethan iron cannon from the wreck at Alderney in the Channel Islands. In all, three cannon were recovered and a variety of Tudor weaponry and pottery.

Of particular interest to those attending the talk will be the survey that Mensun conducted (1992- 94) in collaboration with Clive Finlayson of the Gibraltar Museum on a large deposit of cannon that was found just beyond the Detached Mole.

This will be a unique opportunity to hear a first-hand account of the discovery of the Endurance from a world-renowned marine archaeologist who has been giving major lecture tours in UK, Europe, the United States and Canada. It will also be an opportunity to attend a signing of the book that tells the story of the discovery and which is now in its fifth edition and became a best seller just before Christmas 2022.

The lecture will take place at the John Mackintosh Hall on Tuesday 30th May at 7pm and entrance is free.

Tickets for the event may be obtained from: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-discovery-of-shackletons-ship-endurance-in-antarctica-by-mensun-bound-tickets-634756542907
The suspect was shot and killed on the scene, though police have not released his name

Two officers were injured but are in stable condition

Three people were killed in a shooting in Farmington, New Mexico on Monday

Three people were killed and six people, including two police officers, were injured on Monday after an 18-year-old gunman opened fire in a New Mexico neighborhood.

The suspect, who has not been named, reportedly began firing just before 11am Monday, and used several weapons, including an AR-15-style rifle.

New footage showed the moment the suspected gunman was killed by law enforcement in a church yard on the avenue where the bulk of the attack took place.

The unnamed gunman, in all black, is seen roaming around a church yard before the video - shot from many yards away - showed him crumple to the ground.

One witness told a local outlet he saw the gunman fire upwards of 100 rounds within the first 20 minutes of the attack.

In a video message on Monday, Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe said the suspect had 'roamed' the neighborhood before randomly spraying bullets at cars in houses during the attack.

Two officers were shot, one from the Farmington Police Department and one from the New Mexico State Police. Both were taken to San Juan Regional Medical Center and treated for their injuries but are said to be in stable condition.

Several civilians were injured and multiple vehicles and houses were reportedly struck by bullets.

One victim was reportedly a 35-year-old male who had been shot in the arm.

Four nearby schools were placed under lockdown at the request of the Farmington Police Department within 15 minutes of the attack's start, according to Farmington Municipal Schools.

Farmington is a mid-size town about 150 miles northwest of Albuquerque and about 10 miles south of New Mexico's border with Colorado.

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.

Community members hold candles during a prayer vigil at Hills Church on May 15, 2023, in Farmington

Farmington City Council members Jeanine Bingham-Kelly , second from left, Linda Rodgers, center, and Sean Sharer, right, participate in a vigil at Hills Church Farmington Monday

Law enforcement investigate the scene of a shooting on North Dustin Avenue in Farmington Monday

Investigators work along a residential street following a deadly shooting Monday

Hank Shirley, who lives a block away from the scene of the shooting said he was home watching TV when he heard a series of gunshots that he described as a prolonged gun battle.

'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.

Several minutes after the gunfire ceased, he said he heard sirens and saw emergency vehicles approaching.

Chief Hebbe said that 'during the course of the event, the suspect roamed throughout the neighborhood up to a quarter of a mile.'

Law enforcement officials continue to investigate a motive.

Kyle Watchman told The Journal he was inside his house on Dustin Avenue - where the police were first called - when he heard gunshots begin to ring out.

'I came out of my house wondering what was happening and I see the guy casually walking down the street, shooting at cars, holding a handgun with an extended clip.' he said. 'I don't know he was just hunting.'

Kandi Brammell, who lives next door to the church where the shooter's body was found, said she too heard gunshots just before 11am.

'At first, we just heard one and thought it might be fireworks, but as they got closer, we know they weren't fireworks,' she said.

Brammell added that she and a friend left her house and saw a man in all black walking around the church yard, shouting. She then saw him 'coming down the street shooting an automatic long gun randomly across the street.'

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

On Monday evening, Farmington Mayor Nate Duckett released a statement expressing his grief about the 'horrific tragedy that claimed the lives of three innocent citizens and injured several others.'

The 'act of violence has left us reeling in anguish and disbelief,' he said.

In an unrelated incident four weeks ago, Farmington Police went to the wrong address and shot dead an innocent man.
Barack Obama has said he did not appreciate the degree of stress and tension his wife Michelle was under while raising their two daughters in the White House.

The former president's comments come after Michelle candidly spoke out late last year and said she 'couldn't stand' her husband for a decade while their children Malia and Sacha were young.

Speaking to CBS about how he bounced back from his marital woes, Barack Obama said: 'It sure helps to be about of the White House, and to have a little more time with her.

'What also helps though, about children, Michelle when our girls were growing up that was priority one, two, three, and four.

'And so I didn't appreciate, as engaged as a father as I was, the degree of stress and tension for her.'

Barack Obama said he did not appreciate the degree of stress and tension his wife Michelle was under while raising their two daughters in the White House

Disjointed: Michelle previously explained that she was doing most of the work when it came to taking care of their daughters, which made her feel like she and Barack were no longer a 'unit'

The Obama family pictured in 2015 when he was still president

'Knowing that not just me and Michelle were under scrutiny and in this strange environment, but we were raising our daughters in a kind of situation that just wasn't normal.

'Now that they're doing good, she is a little more forgiving of my flaws.'

Barack said Michelle has since told him: "Looking back you did ok as a dad."

He added: 'And if I pass that test, she will forgive me most of my other foibles.'

Speaking to Revolt in early December, Michelle said: 'People think I'm being catty for saying this: it's like, there were 10 years where I couldn't stand my husband.

'And guess when it happened? When those kids were little.

'For 10 years, while we're trying to build our careers and worrying about school and who was doing what and what, I was like, 'Argh, this isn't even'.'

'And guess what? Marriage isn't 50/50, ever. Ever. There are times I'm 70, he's 30. There are times he's 60, 40. But guess what? Ten years.

'We've been married 30. I would take 10 bad years over 30  it's just how you look at it. People give up  'Five years; I can't take it'.'

Malia, 24, and Sasha, 21, were seven and 10 when their family moved into the White House after several years on the campaign trail.

The couple have spoken candidly about their martial struggles, with Michelle describing the 'resentment' she had over having to put her career on hold to be a mother while Barack's continued to flourish, and her 'stress' over being propelled into the public eye, despite making it clear that she wanted nothing to do with the spotlight.

Speaking to Revolt in early December, Michelle said: 'People think I'm being catty for saying this: it's like, there were 10 years where I couldn't stand my husband'

The family are pictured on a dog walk in 2009

On her podcast, Michelle previously recalled wanting to 'push Barack out of the window' on numerous occasions, but added that she was glad she 'didn't quit' on her husband

Expanding their family: They went on to welcome two daughters together, Malia, now 24, in 1998, and Sasha, 21, in 2000

Barack then proposed to Michelle during a romantic dinner date two years into their relationship in 1991. They are seen at their wedding

Michelle, 59, and Barack, 61, first met in 1989 when they both worked at a law firm in Chicago. The future president became smitten with Michelle almost immediately, but she was uninterested.

Despite turning him down multiple times, Barack did not give up - and when she finally decided to give him a chance, the two fell quickly for one another.

They wed in 1992, and welcomed their first daughter, Malia, six years later, and their second daughter, Sasha, two years after that.

But they later revealed that having children nearly tore them apart - since Michelle grew frustrated that she was stuck taking care of their kids alone most of the time, while budding politician Barack would commute on a six-hour round trip to work at the Illinois Senate, and sometimes spend days away due to his job.

For years, Michelle and Barack's marriage was beset by late-night arguments and fierce fights, with him recalling an exhausted Michelle telling him on one occasion: 'This isnt what I signed up for, Barack. I feel like Im doing it all by myself.'

As he slowly made his way up the ranks in the US government, Michelle did not want any part of the 'messy' political world or the 'exposure' that came with it, with her stating after he decided to run for Senate: 'Dont expect me to do any campaigning. In fact, you shouldnt even count on my vote.'

She was at first resistant when Barack decided he wanted to run for president.

But she eventually came around after she realized the enormous impact he could have on young, black children across the nation as America's first president of color.

Unfortunately, tensions only grew during their time in the White House due to the immense 'pressure' that came with 'needing to get everything right and be "on" at every moment,' as well as Barack's focus on his work rather than his family.

Despite all of their problems, Michelle and Barack never gave up on one another, and the President later explained that even during their darkest times, they did not stop showing each other 'respect.'
Protesters in Ireland have blocked access to holiday homes being used to house migrants, claiming the asylum seekers were being moved there 'underhandedly' and citing fire safety and sewage management concerns.

A group of 34 asylum seekers was accommodated at three holiday homes on the site of Magowna House Hotel in Inch yesterday evening.

However, access roads to the site were then blocked by local protesters using tractors with another gate blocked by a silage bail.

Today some asylum seekers expressed fear over the ongoing situation, while one of the drivers of the tractors, who did not want to provide his name, said locals had concerns about fire safety and sewage management on the site.

He said they expected another bus to arrive and that the asylum seekers were being moved 'underhandedly'.

'So we stopped the roads, we blocked the roads so a second bus could not get in.'

He said this was because there would be '70 people in this locality with nowhere to go', and questioned how the asylum seekers would integrate into the community.

Four asylum seekers have decided to leave the accommodation amid the protests.

Asylum seekers outside the accommodation at the Magowna House hotel in Inch, Co Clare

Silage bales used to blockade the entrance to accommodation housing asylum seekers

A woman delivers homemade brownies to the asylum seekers outside the Magowna House Hotel

Asylum seekers, who told reporters they were heading for Dublin, leaving the grounds of the hotel

Protesters said they would not prevent an asylum seeker from leaving, and those blocking access to the site have allowed some members of the media through and said they would allow food deliveries.

Minister of state for community development Joe O'Brien said the hotel did not have a fire safety certificate but there was no issue with fire safety or wastewater management at the holiday homes.

'I just ask people to step down the blockade, I think it is done on the basis of a misunderstanding of what's happened,' he said.

Mr O'Brien said there is ongoing work at the hotel and people would not be accommodated there until it is safe.

He added that there are 500 asylum seekers without accommodation and the Government is 'looking at every possible angle and every possible case'.

On concerns about the isolated location of the holiday homes, Mr O'Brien told RTE's Today with Claire Byrne that a shuttle bus would be provided to Ennis for asylum seekers who wanted to access services there.

There were tense exchanges outside the centre with some asylum seekers wanting to leave over concerns for their safety and lack of satisfaction with the accommodation.

Some asylum seekers took their belongings and left them outside in preparation for leaving, while others said they were happy to stay.

Sultan Muhammad, from Afghanistan, said he came to Ireland five months ago and had been staying in Citywest in Dublin.

He described the situation Co Clare as 'difficult' but said the accommodation was 'okay'.

'We are feeling good here. I like this place. I like it, I will live here.'

A Fianna Fail TD for Clare said there has been a lack of information about the accommodation of asylum seekers at the site and 'someone has put the cart before the horse'.

Asylum seekers outside the accommodation at the Magowna House hotel in Inch, Co Clare

Asylum seekers leaving the accommodation

Last year, Clare county council decided Magowna House in Inch was unsuitable for accommodation for Ukrainian refugees, he said.

'Magowna House could not be used.

'It wasn't fit for purpose last night so they're crammed into ancillary buildings on the site and I just think someone has put the cart before the horse here,' Mr Crowe told RTE's Morning Ireland.

'I would take the view that if you're going to bring people to a facility, it should be safe, it should be a sanitary environment.

'It's questionable if Magowna House is at that level yet.'

Mr Crowe said he hopes to meet with the minister for equality and integration Roderic O'Gorman this afternoon.

He said the protesters are 'entitled to their concerns'.

He said he visited the hotel earlier that day and saw it being fitted with beds.

'I went out because there was a lack of information and my office was being bombarded with emails and phone calls,' he said.

'We did get a briefing note from the Department late on Thursday but there was still a lot of stuff I couldn't answer.

'It [the briefing note] related to the mechanics of the situation: that there would be a contract between the department and the owner, that it would initially be for a 12-month duration, that there would be a manager on site, that meals would be cooked on site and that it would be for men in the international protection system.'
A Pulitzer-prize winning report by The New York Times that includes allegations of Russian meddling in US elections has been torn apart by the John Durham investigation.

The probe by the special counsel contains fresh embarrassment for The Gray Lady and Washington Post, both of which won Pulitzers for their reporting on the saga.

And left-leaning networks and newspapers which lapped up the fabricated stories linking Trump to the Kremlin and the salacious Steele dossier are now facing renewed fury.

Durham highlights a Times report from December 2017, which claimed that in May 2016, George Papadopoulos, a young foreign policy adviser to Donald Trump, 'made a startling revelation' to Australia's top diplomat in Britain.

Namely: 'Russia had political dirt on Hillary Clinton' and 'Moscow had thousands of emails that would embarrass Mrs Clinton'.

Staff members from The New York Times and The Washington Post (from left: Maggie Haberman, Jo Becker, Matt Apuzzo, Rosalind Helderman, Tom Hamburger, Ellen Nakashima, Adam Entous, Greg Miller and Mark Mazzetti) accept the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting from Columbia University President Lee Bollinger

Former NYT executive editor Dean Baquet was criticized in a scathing review of the newspaper's coverage of the Trump-Russia saga by the Columbia Journalism Review

A report by Special Counsel John Durham discredits a dossier by a British ex-spy that was swallowed up by the media, including The NYT and Washington Post

Yet the Australian diplomat in question - Alexander Downer - told the Durham probe that 'Papadopoulos made no mention of Clinton emails, dirt or any specific approach by the Russian government to the Trump campaign'.

In fact, Durham found the Papadopoulos information was so not 'startling' that agents immediately dismissed it.

But The NYT report was critical in triggering the FBI probe into Donald Trump's alleged collusion with Russia, which the Durham report has now found should never have been launched.

It has fueled calls for the Pulitzers to be returned, after the board who issues the prizes rejected calls for them to be rescinded last year.

Ted Cruz, Trump's former rival, tweeted Monday: 'Accountability now - starting with WaPo and The New York Times returning their Pulitzer Prizes for breathlessly spreading these "Russia, Russia, Russia" lies.'

The Durham investigation comes hot on the heels of an excoriating report by the Columbia Journalism Review (CJR), which took aim at The Times for its coverage of the Trump-Russia saga.

The CJR, the in-house publication of America's most prestigious journalism school, spent 18 months digging into the media's reporting of Trump's alleged ties to Russia.

The report contained criticism of the media as a whole, but author Jeff Gerth reserved particular disdain for The Times.

The investigative journalist introduced his findings by stating his belief that the newspaper had damaged its credibility outside its 'own bubble'.

Renowned journalist Bob Woodward told him coverage of the Russia probe 'wasn't handled well'.

DailyMail.com breaks down how the Trump-Russia stories flourished in the media, despite a lack of credible evidence, and how the award-winning articles have been debunked.

EARLY REPORTING

Gerth noted inconsistencies in the newspaper's reporting. In October 2016, it ran the headline, 'Investigating Donald Trump, FBI Sees No Clear Link to Russia' on a story about alleged covert communications between the Trump Organization and the Kremlin-linked Alfa Bank.

In January 2017, however, just days before Trump's inauguration, the newspaper said: 'Intercepted Russian Communications Part of Inquiry into Trump Associates'.

It prompted Peter Strzok, who was leading the FBI inquiry, to text the publication, 'no substance and largely wrong', adding 'the press is going to undermine its credibility', Gerth reported.

A month later, then executive editor of The Times Dean Baquet personally signed off a story headlined 'Trump Campaign Aides Had Repeated Contacts With Russian Intelligence', describing it as 'the biggest story in years'.

Gerth noted contradictions between a disclaimer high up in the piece stating that sources 'so far' had seen 'no evidence' of the Trump campaign colluding with Russia and an ensuing paragraph that reported 'anonymous officials being 'alarmed' about the supposed Russian-Trump contacts'.

The story added that 'the FBI declined to comment', but Strzok was in fact telling his bosses that he had found 'numerous inaccuracies, including a categorical refutation of the lead and headline', Gerth found.

Strzok wrote: 'We are unaware of ANY Trump advisers engaging in conversations with Russian intelligence officials.'

STEELE DOSSIER

British ex-intelligence officer Christopher Steele compiled the infamous dossier of material on Donald Trump and the then-candidate's Russia ties

Durham's report is highly critical of the Steele dossier, an explosive document that had been used by the FBI to argue it had probable cause for securing surveillance warrants against a former Trump campaign adviser.

The dossier, compiled by British ex-spy Christopher Steele, contained unverified allegations about Trump's connections to Russia, but Durham found the FBI 'did not and could not corroborate any of the substantive allegations'.

In its reporting, The Times claimed Steele had 'a credible track record'.

In March 2017, The Post ran the headline: 'FBI wants to pay author of Trump dossier: Arrangement fell apart but shows bureau found his inquiry credible.'

Yet the report never quoted anyone saying the dossier was credible.

It was later that year that The Times ran its Papadopoulos piece - the last story in its Pulitzer entry - with the headline: 'Unlikely Source Propelled Russian Meddling Inquiry.'

This claimed that it was in fact the Trump adviser, not the dossier that fueled the FBI investigation.

Papadopoulos has never been accused of or charged with conspiring with Russia, but served 12 days in prison for lying to the FBI.

'THE PLOT TO SUBVERT AN ELECTION'

Deputy Assistant FBI Director Peter Strzok rubbished reports by The NYT on Russiagate

The newspapers are now facing calls to hand back Pulitzers won for their coverage of the story

The Post told DailyMail.com last night that it 'stands by its reporting'

In January 2017, intelligence officials asserted 'the impact that Russian activities on the outcome of the 2016 election' could not be measured.

But Gerth noted that The Times took its own view on the matter with an article headlined: 'The Plot to Subvert an Election'.

It used the example of Facebook posts of a Vladimir Putin banner unfurled on a Manhattan bridge, which had been promoted by the Internet Research Agency (IRA), a privately owned troll operation in Russia.

The Times described it as 'the most effective foreign interference in an American election in history', concluding the posts had an 'eventual audience of 126 million Americans'.

Veteran journalist Gareth Porter, however, described this claim as 'bogus' given that the figure was only a 'potential audience'.

He said that the paper's failure to add that Facebook users were exposed to 33 trillion news feeds during that period meant the report 'should vie in the annals of journalism as one of the most spectacularly misleading use of statistics of all time'.

The Post ran a similar opinion piece in December 2017, headlined: 'Doubting the intelligence, Trump pursues Putin and leaves a Russian threat unchecked.'

It argued: 'The result is without obvious parallel in US history. A situation in which the personal insecurities of the president - and his refusal to accept what even many in his administration regard as objective reality - have impaired the government's response to a national security threat.'

AFTERMATH

Former Trump campaign aide George Papadopoulos arrives with his wife Simona Mangiante at for his sentencing hearing in 2018 in Washington, DC. Papadopoulos pleaded guilty to lying to investigators during the FBI's probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election

In November 2021, The Post retracted large chunks of two articles published in 2017 and 2019 that relied on the Steele dossier.

Sally Buzbee, the executive editor for the Washington Post, said the newspaper was unable to stand by the accuracy of their reporting regarding source Sergei Millian - former president of the Russian-American Chamber of Commerce - noting the indictment filed by Durham that month.

The Times has not issued any retractions, but Gerth, a former reporter for the paper himself, said that it was one of many news organizations that 'were quick to highlight the lack of firsthand evidence' for many of Steele's 'substantive allegations'.

In his concluding remarks, the CJR reporter slammed the NYT for ignoring a publicly available document showing the FBI didn't think there was much evidence of Trump-Russia collusion.

He also cited the newspaper's repeated failures to seek comment from the person it was accusing of wrongdoing in its articles - a fundamental tenet of rigorous reporting - and its consistent reliance on vague, anonymous sources.

An NYT spokesman told Gerth it reported the Russiagate saga 'thoroughly and in line with our editorial standards'.

The Washington Post told DailyMail.com that it 'stands by its reporting'.

In a statement in July last year, the Pulitzer Prize Board said two independent reviews of the prize-winning reports 'converged in their conclusions: that no passages or headlines, contentions or assertions in any of the winning submissions were discredited by facts that emerged subsequent to the conferral of the prizes'.
A 'scammer' accused of conning at least five Manhattan women out of more than $1.8million after meeting them on dating sites appeared in court to try and get released from jail - but a judge denied his claim.

Nelson Counne, 70, appeared in Manhattan Supreme Court Monday as he faces two counts of second-degree grand larceny, third-degree grand larceny and fraud.

He requested to be released on his own recognizance but Judge Gregory Carro deemed him to be a flight risk.

Counne, who pleaded not guilty, is being held on $150,000 cash bail or a bond of up to $350,000.

He was previously unmasked as a conman by a piece in the New Yorker  which branded him as 'the worst boyfriend on the Upper East Side.'

Nelson Counne, 70, is accused of conning at least five Manhattan women out of more than $1.8million after meeting them on dating sites

He appeared in Manhattan Supreme Court Monday to get released from jail on his own recognizance, but a judge denied this and deemed him to be a flight risk

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said that the incidents date to 2012, but he was only arrested on March 13 this year and has denied the allegations against him

Counne told women he was a wealthy art collector and investor before allegedly scamming them into making hefty investments in his fake companies.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said the incidents date to 2012, but Counne was only arrested on March 13 this year and has denied the allegations.

The suspected con artist would meet women on Our Time, which catered to an older clientele, before bragging about his homes in London, Florida and Saint-Tropez, as well as a huge mega-mansion apartment close to Central Park  35 East 63rd Street.

He used the alias 'Nelson' or 'Justin Roth' in his schemes, telling women that he claimed he had access to the Alibaba Group and a fake start-up company Counne said he co-owned with a former Google executive.

Soon into the new relationships he would start pitching women investment opportunities, with some claiming to the New Yorker that he would also steal their jewelry to gift to his new love interests.

Kristie, who did not want to share her last name with the media, was previously conned out of $5,000 by Counne and wasted a year of her life when she met him at the Upper East Side Italian restaurant Campagnola in 2000.

She was not part of the five women detailed in the most recent accusations.

But she managed to secure justice when he was jailed for a year on two counts of grand larceny and hopes the five women involved in the latest case get justice too.

I think he should be in jail for all of his life, she told the New York Post. He rapes women of their money, of their dignity.

Kirstie was dealing with quite a painful breakup when she met Counne and she said he claimed he was an art dealer from Hastings, England, visiting New York to complete a deal that wasnt totally legit but would make him rich.

The 71-year-old said he lied about being a Vietnam hero, an art dealer, investment opportunities and even having cancer.

He was absolutely a sweet talker, she said. Then he came up with this investment plan that if I gave him some money, he could give me back ten times that because he had this person allowing him to invest. And he wanted me to make money.

She then gave him $1,000 but she didnt see any returns. Counne later proposed to her with a diamond ring he told her not to wear until it was insured.

Counne, who pleaded not guilty, is being held on $150,000 cash bail or a bond of up to $350,000

He would use the alias 'Nelson' or 'Justin Roth' in his schemes, telling women that he claimed he had access to the Alibaba Group and a fake start-up company he co-owned with a former Google executive

Kirstie took it to a jeweler to see if it was real but it was not and she confronted him, although they stayed together.

He invited her to go to Europe with him over Christmas but canceled and said he had colon cancer and was being treated in New York-Presbyterian Hospital but did not want to be seen.

She tried to visit him and staff told her he had never registered, however Counne claimed he was unlisted on a private floor.

She added: There was always an excuse. Its amazing what he conjured up, like the feds were after him.

But to me, I was ready in my life to let go, just to abandon my life and he painted this fantasy of a life that we could lead together.

I wanted to just explore and go to Europe and have all this money that he told me we were going to have.

He continued to press her for money and managed to get $5,000 from her.

Kristie realized her $2,000 diamond ring was missing and she immediately suspected Counne, who denied taking it.

She then received a call from another woman named Elaine who had been dating him too and she had lost a necklace.

The pair began bonding and digging into him before they met a third woman in Philadelphia who was also being conned by Counne.

Kristie continued to date him to extract more information and kept notes to remember details that could help with the case before they reported the stolen jewelry to the police, which led to his conviction.

Counne was sentenced to a year in prison and served eight months.

He was revealed to be doing exactly the same thing with different women in 2018 under the name Nelson Roth.

He began speaking to an Upper East Side woman online and claimed he was an art dealer who had multiple homes around the world and a luxury apartment on East 63rd Street.

Counne allegedly borrowed $7,000 from her daughter Julia, and after a month she paid this money back herself.

Soon into the new relationships he would start pitching women investment opportunities, with some claiming to the New Yorker that he would also steal their jewelry to gift to his new love interests

Counne would brag that he was a wealthy art collector and investor and lived in a mega-mansion close to Central Park

Julia read messages on her mothers phone, which indicated he owed her at least $60,000 and she began to look into her mothers new boyfriend with the help of a private investigator who told her who Counne actually was.

She then told her mother everything and she then contacted the District Attorneys office who charged him with stealing more than $1.8million from five women as far back as 2012.

Kristie is planning to attend Counnes trial and has been writing a screenplay on her ordeal.

I think its very empowering for women to hear my story, she said. And to know that theyre not alone, that this happens all the time.

I knew who he was back then, when I put him in jail. This is who is he is; hes a serial con man.

Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Kofi Sansculotte told the court in March: 'In the end, almost all of Counne's representations proved to be false.

'He was not independently wealthy and the only funds into his accounts were from confirmed and suspected victims of his romance scams.

'Further, the money put into his accounts by the victims were never used for any investments but were instead used to perpetuate the illusion of his wealth to new victims and to repay previous victims who had detected his fraud.'

Prosecutors also told the court that Counne had never traveled internationally and did not even own a passport.

He would use dating apps as well as targeting women in luxury hotels and restaurants  including five-star UES hotel Carlyle and the Surrey.

Victims told the New Yorker that they met him in Campagnola, Bemelmans Bar and the Orsay restaurant during their dalliance with him.

Once women started making initial investments, he would claim that they had to give him more money for expenses and salaries for staff.

Counne claimed that his funds were tied up in investments or that his accounts were frozen due to U.S. and European investigations into his financial activities.

He promised to repay each of the victims their initial investment plus a substantial profit within a few weeks.

Last year he was also charged with scamming a Connecticut woman out of $500,000, according to a report by the Greenwich Time.

His lawyer told Manhattan Supreme Court in March that he is an 'elderly man' who always appeared in court when required.

Dannielle Von Lehman added that his criminal history dates to 2007 but did not provide details.

In 1987, Counne was indicted for the murder of a jewelry dealer, for which he was later acquitted  with the alleged conman then being shot multiple times in the chest three years later.

Victims told the New Yorker that they met him in Campagnola, Bemelmans Bar (pictured) and the Orsay restaurant during their dalliance with him

He would use dating apps as well as targeting women in luxury hotels and restaurants  including five-star UES hotel Carlyle and the Surrey

Assistant DA Raymond Castello said that a family member of the jewelry dealer who had been killed, was 'some kind of karma for his past deeds' according to the New Yorker.

The article in the New Yorker details Counne's relationships with at least four women dating to 2000.

All of the women say they met him in the Upper East Side, and Counne presented himself as a 'mysterious' man who had a lot of money and

Counne has also found himself battling against a civil case, which was lodged in 2022, where he was accused of 'owing money to the plaintiff for loans'.

It is unclear if the plaintiff, another woman, is one of the five referred to in the criminal case. Her lawyers are seeking at least $1million in interests, costs and expenses as well as damages.

DA Bragg added: 'As alleged, Nelson Counne's sole source of income for the past eight years was money he swindled.

'He allegedly fed lie after lie to women he falsely claimed to have a romantic interest in, enticing them with investment opportunities that never existed while using their funds to repay past victims, lure in new ones, and fund his lifestyle.

'We urge everyone to exercise caution when told there's an investment opportunity that seems too good to be true.
Essex Police have opened an investigation into senior MP Julian Knight after Scotland Yard referred an allegation of 'serious sexual assault'.

The Metropolitan Police had previously shelved its investigation into the Solihull MP, who was stripped of the Conservative whip, and it is not clear why the case was referred onwards.

The Tories refused to restore the whip to Mr Knight after the Met dropped the case, with the party saying at the time it had received 'further complaints'.

Mr Knight has denied what he described as a 'false and malicious accusation'.

On Tuesday, a statement from Essex Police said: 'We have agreed to take on an investigation which has been referred to us from the Metropolitan Police Service. We are investigating an allegation of serious sexual assault.

Essex Police have opened an investigation into MP Julian Knight after Scotland Yard referred an allegation of serious sexual assault

'Detectives who specialise in cases of this kind will gather evidence and conduct a thorough investigation.'

Detective Chief Superintendent Andy Waldie will oversee the work carried out by a senior investigating officer with 'extensive experience'.

'In the interests of justice and of all concerned, we have asked media outlets and others not to enter into any speculative comment or reporting on this matter,' Essex added.

'We would also remind everyone that victims of sexual offences are entitled to life-long anonymity, regardless of how a case proceeds.

'The Essex Police investigation remains at an early stage.'

The Met Police confirmed in December it would be carrying out an investigation into Mr Knight. But the force announced this probe was over in March.

Mr Knight is currently sitting in the Commons as an independent and has announced that he will stand down at the next election.

In December, the then chairman of the Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee insisted he is 'entirely innocent of any wrongdoing whatsoever' after the Met opened its investigation.

But fresh accusations of sexual misconduct surfaced last month following reports there had been a string of complaints made against the 51-year-old, ranging from inappropriate comments to sexual assault.

The latest allegations which reportedly came to light last month about Mr Knight (pictured) range from inappropriate comments to sexual assault, according to the BBC

Four women have complained to the parliamentary authorities about Mr Knight since police dropped an investigation into him, it has been reported.

The fresh complaints are thought to be about inappropriate comments and behaviour, according to the BBC. The broadcaster also claims five different women and a third party witness have raised sexual misconduct allegations about him to the police.

The complainants are separate which means nine women are said to have made complaints about him in total.

The force said in March that it was 'no longer proceeding with an investigation', with no arrests having been made.

Mr Knight urged the Tories to hand back the whip, meaning that he could rejoin colleagues in the parliamentary party.

But the Conservatives refused his demand and said that 'further complaints' had been made to the Whips' Office.

'These complaints, if appropriate, will be referred to the relevant police force, or appropriate bodies,' a spokeswoman for Chief Whip Simon Hart said at the time.

The Conservatives declined to comment on Tuesday.

Speaking out last month about the allegations he faces and the previous probe by the Met Police, Mr Knight said: 'As I have repeatedly said, I am fully aware of the circumstances of the single complaint made against me to the Metropolitan Police and the motivations of those involved in making it.

'This baseless complaint was dismissed by the police without their even feeling the need to interview me, which they never did.

'I have not been made aware of any details of allegations supposedly made subsequently against me to any parliamentary authorities.

'Nor am I the subject of any investigation by Parliament's Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme.

'Should I become the subject of any such investigation, I will fully and publicly defend myself against any allegations.

'Meanwhile it is deplorable that, despite the police decision, I remain the subject of what appears to be a smear campaign conducted through leaks, false innuendo and briefings.'
Netflix continues to dominate the streaming sector with 232.5 million paid subscribers across the globe, pouring money into producing its own original content.

So which of these Netflix originals are Americans enjoying the most?

Google Trends data analyzed by perfectrec ranked the shows by search volume, revealing the paranormal hit Stranger Things came out on top, being the most frequently searched of them all.

The overall top ten also featured Outer Banks at number two, followed by Love is Blind, The Watcher, Bridgerton, Cobra Kai, The Umbrella Academy, Wednesday, Virgin River and The Crown taking the number ten spot.

Stranger Things is also takes the title of top original show of all time on the platform, followed by the dystopian Black Mirror. The Witcher came in third place, followed by House of Cards, Money Heist, Squid Game, Daredevil, Narcos, Dark and Lucifer.

Here we take a look at the rankings state by state to see how American viewers' tastes differ across the country.

The most popular Netflix Original show by US State

Stranger Things was ranked Number 1 overall and the most searched Netflix Original of all time. Pictured L-R: Noah Schnapp, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Sadie Sink and Caleb McLaughlin

In California the Karate Kid spinoff Cobra Kai has proved most popular.

The series, starring Karate Kid's Ralph Macchio, follows the ongoing, decades-long rivalry between Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence.

Johnny decides to reopen the famous Kobra Kai dojo re-sparking his feud with a now-successful Daniel.

Charlie Brooker's cult series Black Mirror topped the search bar for New Yorkers.

Each episode is a stand-alone drama exploring anxieties about the modern world, including all-pervasive technology and the meanings of crime and punishment.

The dystopian thrillers have been on our screens since 2011 and have starred a range of actors, from Game of Thrones' Jerome Flynn to The Help's Bryce Dallas Howard.

Maine viewers, however, are most interested in a brand new series, Beef.

The show follows Steven Yeun and Alix Wong's characters in a bitter feud sparked by a road rage incident.

The dark comedy explores class and repressed sadness that brings the enemies closer together.

In California the Karate Kid spinoff Cobra Kai starring Ralph Macchio, left, has proved most popular

Charlie Brooker's cult series Black Mirror starring Domnhall Gleeson, pictured left, topped the search bar for New Yorkers

Maine viewers are most interested in the brand new series Beef starring Ali Wong, pictured

Already on its 7th season, the rebooted Queer Eye dominated in Louisiana.

The show documents the makeovers five gay men give to the show's guests.

The Fab Five, Jonathan Van Ness, Antoni Porowski, Karamo Brown, Tan France and Bobby Berk, use their specialized skills from hairdressing to interior design to revamp the lives of those that have fallen into a rut.

The show's popularity in the conservative-leaning state Louisiana is testament to the show's broad and enduring appeal.

The Sunshine state rejected the perhaps obvious choice of Florida Man and opted instead for the uplifting LGBTQ+ romance series Heartstopper.

The show follows teenagers Charlie and Nick as they discover there may be something more to their unlikely friendship.

Based on the graphic novel by Alice Oseman, this drama is one to warm the heart.

Already on its 7th season, the rebooted Queer Eye dominated in Louisiana. Pictured L-R: Tan France, Jonathan Van Ness, Karamo Brown, Antoni Porowski and Bobby Berk

The Sunshine state rejected the perhaps obvious choice of Florida Man and opted instead for the uplifting LGBTQ+ romance series, Heartstopper starring Joe Locke (pictured)

Texas' choice was Blood of Zeus which follows the adventures of Zeus' illegitimate son

Texas' choice was Blood of Zeus. Released during the pandemic, the series chronicles the adventures of god Zeus' illegitimate son Heron as he battles to save the world despite the machinations of a vengeful goddess.

The animated series proved so popular that it has been commissioned for a second series, and the writers Charley and Vlas Parlapanides are hopeful they will be able to produce as many as five.

Oregon most favored Sex Education, the series set in a UK high school following the awkward and emotional first sexual and romantic experiences of a group of teenagers.

Otis, whose mother is a sex therapist played by Gillian Anderson, sets up a school sex therapy clinic with impossibly cool rebel Maeve.

Though Otis may have all the academic answers, things become more complicated when he has to put his own advice to the test in his personal relationships.

Oregon most favored Sex Education, the series set in a UK high school following the awkward and emotional first sexual and romantic experiences of teenagers. Pictured: Asa Butterfield

The Witcher, the fantasy series beloved by Oregon, is based on the book series written by Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski. Pictured: Freya Allan

Iowa searched most for Love Is Blind, a social experiment of a reality dating show

The Witcher, the fantasy series beloved by Oregon, is based on the book series written by Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski and stars Henry Cavill, Anya Chalotra and Freya Allen.

A mutated monster hunter dubbed the Witcher must protect the sorceress Yennefer of Vengerberg to prevent her magical powers being used for malevolent purposes.

Iowa searched most for Love Is Blind, a social experiment of a reality dating show that follows a group of strangers who try to find the person they want to spend the rest of their lives with, without ever meeting them face-to-face.

Hosted by married couple Nick and Vanessa Lachey, the series exploded onto our screens at the height of lockdown and its popularity is reflected in the fact that the show is now on its fourth series.

Stranger Things Season 4 poster promo designed by Illustrator Kyle Lambert. The show topped the rankings for overall most popular show in the U.S and top original show of all time for the streamer

The most popular series in the country, Stranger Things, which made stars out of its young cast, including Millie Bobby Brown and Noah Schnapp, follows a group of friends as they encounter supernatural forces in their small hometown in 1980s Indiana.

First released in 2016, the show begins with the mysterious disappearance of young Will Byers, and his loyal friends' unceasing search for his whereabouts.

Written by the Duffer Brothers, the show has proved so popular that fans even briefly crashed the streaming platform when the first episode of Season 4 was released last year. As well as taking the top spot overall, the series was the most-searched title in Utah according to perfectrec.

The results come as Netflix has been forced to slash its prices in more than 30 countries in order to maintain its existing audience and attract new subscribers.

It's believed the price reductions are an attempt to attract subscribers in markets where numbers are underwhelming.

Netflix has already been trying to find ways to boost revenue, such as its controversial ban on password sharing.

Under new rules, people watching Netflix using someone else's account will have to create their own logins and pay for their own accounts or sign up to more expensive 'paid sharing' option.
Sir Frederick Barclay's nephew said his uncle's marital problems with Lady Barclay are 'not really my issue' - but their long-running fight over money is 'not good for the family'.

Aidan Barclay told Sir Jonathan Cohen he felt 'terribly sorry' for what happened to his relatives, while giving evidence at a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London.

In May 2021, Sir Jonathan ordered Sir Frederick to hand Lady Barclay lump sums totalling 100 million following the breakdown of their 34-year marriage.

Sir Jonathan, who heard the money has yet to be paid, said then that Sir Frederick had behaved in a 'reprehensible' fashion during the litigation.

Lady Barclay, who petitioned for divorce on the grounds of unreasonable behaviour, has complained Sir Frederick had not paid her as ordered - and alleged that he was in contempt of court.

In May 2021, a judge ordered Sir Frederick, 88, pictured today, to hand Lady Barclay lump sums totalling 100million following the breakdown of their 34-year marriage

Lady Barclay, pictured in 2019, who petitioned for divorce on the grounds of unreasonable behaviour, had complained Sir Frederick had not paid her as ordered - and alleged that he was in contempt of court

Sir Jonathan subsequently ruled that Sir Frederick was in contempt as a result of failing to pay about 245,000 he owed his ex-wife for legal fees and maintenance.

Sir Frederick and his twin brother, Sir David Barclay, were among the UK's most high-profile businessmen. Sir David died aged 86 in January 2021.

Their interests included the Telegraph Media Group and The Ritz hotel in London. The family also has links to the Channel Islands and Monaco.

Sir Jonathan has been told that Sir David's sons, his nephews Aidan and Howard Barclay, now have day-to-day responsibility for 'group business'.

Sir Frederick said he has been unable to pay Lady Barclay because his nephews 'hold the purse strings'.

He argued a trust which could provide him with money is being 'starved' of 'funds from the family business' - and has told the judge his nephews had 'turned off the tap' in 2019 as a result of 'conflict'.

Sir Jonathan told Aidan Barclay on Tuesday that the 'situation' was 'desperate'.

Sir Jonathan Cohen, pictured at court last year, heard that the money Sir Frederick owes to Lady Barclay has yet to be paid and said that Sir Frederick had behaved in a 'reprehensible' fashion during the litigation

Aidan Barclay told the judge that he had not spoken to Sir Frederick for a 'couple of years'.

But he said it was 'not true' that the 'tap' had been turned off in 2019.

'We were having some difficulty,' he told the judge.

'We had to readjust the way in which we were operating. Things have been quite difficult since then.'

He said he had tried to 'negotiate something' which would settle the problem between his uncle and aunt.

'This is not good for the family,' he said.

'It is not good for the people involved.'

Sir Frederick, and his daughter Amanda, had trusts, assets and income which were 'nothing to do' with 'the business, Aidan Barclay told the judge.

'To be honest with you, this is not really my issue, not my fight,' he added.

'I feel terribly sorry it has happened.

'I would like it to go away.'

Sir Frederick has said has been unable to pay Lady Barclay, pictured in 2022, because his nephews 'hold the purse strings'

Aidan Barclay told the judge that the Barclays employed about 20,000 people and had about 100 companies in around five jurisdictions.

He said business was 'not easy'.

'It is a time of doom and gloom, yes,' he said.

'It is not actually easy at the moment.

'We have had severe pressures in the business in the last couple of years.'

He told the judge that he had paid Sir Frederick's legal bills.

Aidan Barclay said he did not want to see a man in his 80s go to prison.

The judge adjourned the hearing until later in the week.

Meanwhile, Barrister Stewart Leech KC, who represents Lady Barclay, told Sir Jonathan that more than 1million had been spent on lawyers representing Sir Frederick.

He said: 'It is astonishing that so much has been spent on lawyers to thwart Lady Barclay getting what she is entitled to.'

Mr Leech also told the judge that Sir Frederick had arrived at the Royal Courts of Justice complex, where the hearing is being staged, in 'style'.

'He came here in style,' said Mr Leech. 'Driven in a Range Rover parked in the judges' car park. Goodness knows how that happened.'

The Barclay twins were estimated to be worth 7billion in the 2020 Sunday Times Rich List.

Born within ten minutes of each other, the pair were knighted in 2000 for their support of medical research.

The family also has links to the Channel Islands and Monaco.

Sir Jonathan has been told that Sir David's sons, Aidan and Howard Barclay, now have day-to-day responsibility for 'group business'.

They are expected to give evidence at the hearing.

Sir Frederick has said has been unable to pay Lady Barclay because his nephews 'hold the purse strings'.

He has argued that a trust which could provide him with money is being 'starved' of 'funds from the family business'.
Special Counsel John Durham released a scathing report Monday finding the FBI 'failed to uphold their mission of strict fidelity to the law'

House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan has formally requested Special Counsel John Durham to appear before his committee next week to discuss his scathing report and take questions from lawmakers.

Jordan, R-Ohio, confirmed to DailyMail.com that Durham was asked to appear before his committee on Capitol Hill next Thursday, May 25 at 9 a.m. ET. The chairman sent a letter to the special counsel Monday evening.

Earlier Monday, Special Counsel John Durham released a report finding that the FBI did not have enough 'factual evidence' to investigate allegations of Trump-Russia collusion.

Durham's report, which is over 300 pages, revealed 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.

Special Counsel John Durham released his highly-anticipated report Monday

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.'

The FBI's opening of Crossfire Hurricane was 'based on raw, unanalyzed, and uncorroborated intelligence,' Durham states.

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.

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 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.

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 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.'

Weve reached out to the Justice Department to have Special Counsel John Durham testify next week.  Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) May 15, 2023

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

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.'

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.
A teenager left bed-bound and unable to go the toilet by herself after developing a crippling addiction to nangs has issued a devastating warning.

Molly Day, 19, first used nangs at her end-of-year school celebrations, but what started out as a bit of a laugh slowly morphed into a deadly addiction.

The teenager, from Perth, would purchase canisters using buy now, pay later apps at smoke shops and convenience stores, racking up thousands of dollars of debt.

She would inhale as many as two 1.3-litre nitrous oxide canisters every day.

Molly's addiction became so bad that she is now bedridden in hospital with nitrous oxide poisoning.

Perth teenager Molly Day (pictured right with her mother, Nancy) had an addiction to nangs that left her bedridden with nitrous oxide poisoning

What are nangs? Nangs are nitrous oxide canisters and they can be found in convenience stores for as little as 10 for $10, or in much bigger quantities online. Typically the drug is used for sedation and pain relief in dentistry but more people are using it to get high. Users experience symptoms such as dizziness, euphoria, uncontrollable laughter, and giddiness. However, people can also die from using nangs as too much can cause a heart attack. Long-term use can cause depression or psychosis. 'There is no evidence demonstrating that mixing nitrous oxide with other substances increases health risks,' the Alcohol and Drug Foundation's website stated. 'However, it is possible that combining the gas with stimulants and other drugs places additional pressure on the heart, increases blood pressure and may disrupt heart rate.' Source: Alcohol and Drug Foundation Advertisement

She has little feeling below the waist. She cannot walk, eat or go to the bathroom without assistance.

Now the teenager is imploring others not to make the same mistake.

'Please listen to me. Just don't do them,' she told A Current Affair.

'Two weeks ago I was a perfectly healthy, walking girl and now I can't do anything for myself. I can't walk, can't control anything. It's so deadly,' she said.

Molly's mother, nurse Nancy Day, says her daughter is 'crying every night in my arms' about her condition.

She has urged other teenagers to heed her daughter's warning.

It was when Molly's twin sister, Piper, expressed her concerns at her the sibling's addiction that Ms Day took notice.

Ms Day recalled going into Molly's bedroom at one stage and finding 30 canisters inside, including 'big three-litre canisters of nitrous oxide'.

'I had no clue. I'm a health professional. I should've known. I should've seen the signs,' she said.

Molly's addiction to nangs completely starved her brain of oxygen.

It became so severe that she crashed two cars in the space of two months after falling asleep at the wheel.

It was only when Molly began experiencing numbness in her legs that she drove herself to hospital and found out she was suffering from nitrous oxide poisoning.

Molly and her mother have now called on the government to change the laws when it comes to selling laughing gas.

Molly's addiction saw her inhale one to two 1.3-litre nitrous oxide canisters per day. She would buy canisters from smoke shops and convenience stores using buy now, pay later apps

The teen now has little feeling below her waist. She cannot walk, eat or go to the bathroom without assistance

Are nangs illegal? Nitrous oxide is not illegal for adults to buy or sell, but it is a crime in NSW, Victoria, and South Australia to sell to a customer the seller believes will misuse it. Victoria imposes $8,000 fines and up to two years' jail for anyone selling them for human consumption. South Australia is the only state that regulates the sale of nitrous oxide, banning purchases between 10pm and 5am. Shops also cannot openly display nitrous oxide cannisters. There is no explicit crime in Queensland, but police could levy fines under summary offences laws if they could prove the seller reasonably believed the customer might misuse the product. The Therapeutic Goods Administration will from October 1 classify nitrous oxide as a schedule 6 poison, unless it is being used for therapeutic purposes. That means boxes must have warning labels and safety directions telling customers not to inhale the contents. However, it declined to impose any restrictions on sale, including quantity limits or hours of trade. Advertisement

Inside a nang addict's den: Young Aussie man with astrophysics degree and $160k job reveals how he sucked down 2,400 bulbs in one session, lost his fiancee and friends and went to work in only a HAT before a harrowing night at the pub changed everything

By Nic White

First comes a sharp hiss like the cap of a soft drink bottle opening followed by an urgent, almost desperate, inhaling sound.

Within seconds, the rhythmic unscrewing of the charge holder begins and the chrome nitrous oxide cannister hits the floor with a metallic clang.

Other chrome charges rustle together in a box as a new one is selected, jammed into place, and the holder screwed on to begin again.

Hiss, whoosh, unscrew, clang, reload.

Robert Davis has his method of chain-inhaling the bulbs of laughing gas, or 'nangs', with a whipped cream dispenser to such precision that the next one is down his windpipe in well under a minute.

Robert Davis, 31, was a nang addict for two years, regularly inhaling up to 1,200 nitrous oxide cannisters a session after buying them from late-night delivery services

Any delay and the fleeting high will begin to wear off, and the harsh realities of life, and his surroundings, will start rushing in.

Robert, 31, would go through at least 1,200 nangs over the course of a few hours for the cost of about $600, but at his worst it was double.

But the Melbourne man is not your usual nang user, and certainly not someone you would expect to be addicted to a teenage party drug.

Robert has a degree in astrophysics, an IQ in the top few per cent of Australians, and makes about $160,000 a year as an app developer.

His tiny flat in Melbourne is littered with hundreds, if not thousands, of used nang charges - a confronting sign of his crippling addiction.

Some are piled in a large cardboard box sent by a late-night courier, but most are spread out across the room.

'I'd try to put them in a box as I do try to keep the room tidy but as I got more high from lack of oxygen, I'd stop giving a s**t,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

Mr Davis (pictured recently) finally kicked the habit last year and is rebuilding his life and is back to being his old self

Robert's nang use began in early 2019 when some friends invited him over for a small gathering later revealed to be what they called the 'nang Olympics'

Mixed in with the illicit debris are dirty clothes and layers of cat hair clumped on the carpet and furniture after weeks of being ignored.

Robert speaks quickly and often incoherently, babbling and lurching between topics with the speed of a hyperactive child but none of the charm.

One minute he's giving a garbled but still technically correct scientific explanation, followed by a bizarre, unrelated theory before suddenly teetering on the verge of tears - depressed and horrified by his circumstances.

Yet on he goes sucking down the chemicals, his hands guided by the muscle memory of close to 100,000 nangs as his brain becomes increasingly oxygen deprived. Until finally there are none left.

If this scene seems both horrifying and depressing, imagine what it must be like for those of us who knew him when he was healthy and well.

Robert's addiction has cost him his fiancee, several jobs, tens of thousands of dollars, and all but a handful of his friends.

Now months sober and working a job he loves, he is paying off his huge drug debts and rebuilding his life piece by piece - and warning others not to follow his path.

His tiny flat in Melbourne was littered with hundreds, if not thousands, of used nang charges, as a shocking sign of his crippling addiction

Robert first tried nangs at a party when he was at university in Perth, sucking in one balloon's worth and 'feeling like his head was in space'.

A decade later in 2019, some friends invited him over for a small gathering that was later revealed to be what they called the 'nang Olympics'.

'I thought "yeah I remember nangs, they were fun. I'd be up for doing that again",' he recalled.

Stupid, but relatively harmless fun, a childish joke for a buck a balloon. But it clicked something inside him.

'The turning point for me came when we ran out of nangs and they said "we can just get more". I didn't realise they were so easy to get,' Robert said.

Online nang products have names like like 'InfusionMaxElite' and 'Miami Magic' and came in a variety of flavours with discount codes, bulk savings, and free delivery on orders over $100

On-demand nang deliveries have increased in popularity in recent years in the same way as the proliferation of other convenient services such as UberEats, Deliveroo, and Jimmy Brings.

Customers order however many nangs they want online and a dealer on a bike or in a car shows up, pings when they're outside, and hands over a bag or a box.

The entire process takes less time than ordering a pizza and is just as easy and available late at night when a user's willpower is at its worst.

A month or two after the gathering, Robert was still thinking about the experience and wondered if he could get some nangs at home.

'I was struggling with how fast my life was changing as the wedding was coming up and we were planning on having children as soon as possible afterwards  and I wasn't ready to be a father,' he said.

'I tried small amounts at first, every now and then. Then it became at least once a week, buying packs of 50, and before long I was doing 200 or 300 in one sitting.'

Robert (pictured before his addiction) had his method of chain-inhaling nitrous oxide bulbs with a whipped cream dispenser down to such precision that the next one is down his windpipe in well under a minute

Robert soon realised he could buy nangs in bulk boxes of 600 so they cost as little as 50c each instead of $1 each for the 50-pack cartons.

By June 2019, he realised he was addicted and tried to detox with a weekend away at a hot springs retreat on the Mornington Peninsula.

He came back feeling refreshed and ready to stay sober, but days later had a huge fight with his fiancee and fell off the wagon.

She was unhappily aware that he was using nangs, but he was able to hide the extent of his problem - until towards the end of 2019.

As Robert's addiction intensified, he became less careful and one day his fiancee came home to find him in the middle of a big session.

She told Robert it was the last straw and he needed to go to rehab. He agreed and spent his birthday cut off from the world as his mental health went downhill.

Robert claimed the day he was due to get out of rehab, his fiancee told staff at the facility that she had opera tickets with her mother and requested they keep him an extra day because she didn't trust him to be home alone.

That was also the point she decided to call off the wedding.

'I got out of the psych ward ready to stay clean, and a week later my whole future fell apart,' Robert recalled, still with great anguish.

He wouldn't have been able to afford the fancy $150-per-person wedding his fiancee wanted anyway as he'd blown too much of his savings on drugs.

Robert was engaged to be married in January 2020, but his fiancee left him due to his habit

Forced to move out of their shared home and into a tiny, depressing apartment in inner Melbourne, Robert no longer felt he had reason to hold back.

Every payday he would blow as much of his weekly salary as he could on hundreds of nangs, usually a box of 600 that he would order a refill of when it was almost empty.

On his worst night he went through 2,400 nangs while watching the entire Monty Python's Flying Circus series.

When his salary wasn't enough to finance his habit, Robert opened several credit cards and took out thousands in payday loans.

Robert estimated his take home pay was $2,000 to $2,500 a week, and unless it was rent week he'd spend only $300 to $400 of it on things that weren't nangs.

He was earning $160,000 a year and still living week-to-week.

'Anything I did to try to keep money from myself I found a way around,' he said, resorting to buying Coles gift vouchers so he would be forced to buy food.

'When I couldn't afford to do nangs, I was thinking about the next time I could afford it. All the time, at work, when I was out. I couldn't relax.

'I was addicted to the feeling of being stupid. My brain was constantly thinking about stuff - worrying about everything and it wouldn't slow down. The nangs helped me switch off.

'Inhaling it used to feel like going to space, but as I used it more it just became a numbing sensation, it stopped me from caring about the world. Sometimes I got fixated on things or had paranoid delusions and wild fantasies.'

Mixed in with the illicit debris were dirty clothes and layers of cat hair clumped on the carpet and furniture after weeks of being ignored

I flew down to Melbourne in January 2020 to visit, having already bought the tickets for Robert's wedding and figuring he shouldn't be alone that day.

The difference from the last time I'd seen him was jarring. He'd always been an eccentric guy, but in a way that everyone loved and gravitated towards.

Robert's parties, both in Perth and Melbourne, were legendary bashes that drew huge crowds and raged into the night. Now he had no one.

I dragged him out of his depressing flat for maybe two beers, where he openly wept at what should have been the happiest day of his life being spent nearly alone.

But other than those couple of hours, all he wanted to do - despite my pleading - was pickle his brain into oblivion with hundreds of nangs.

Within weeks, his tiny flat became even smaller when the Covid pandemic plunged Australia into lockdown, with Melbourne enduring five more months as a second outbreak gripped Victoria.

'Part of why I got so addicted was that during Covid lockdown I had no company, my friends didn't want anything to do with me because I was a drug addict, and my family were on the other side of the country,' Robert said.

Most company names refer to whipped cream, but on promising 15-60 minute delivery times 24/7 called itself Nangaroo - a play on Deliveroo

The company even had staff attend a festival in uniform to promote its products

'So the only company I had were my cats, and anyone who was bringing me drugs.'

Robert said he pushed people away with inappropriate jokes and bizarre ramblings while he was high on nangs.

'I stopped caring about how rude it was to call someone at 2am and a lot of people got weird voicemails or texts from me, or even on work Slack channels,' he said.

'I said horrible things and the worst part is I didn't remember saying them when people wanted me to apologise.

'I felt like everyone hated me, and it was easier just to assume the whole world did. Part of me thought that was a good thing, because if I took my own life it would be easier on everyone.

'The only thing stopping me from killing myself is I promised my mum I wouldn't [before she died].

'Not having any support or people to talk to makes it almost impossible to stay sober, everything is so much harder when you're doing it alone. Maybe I would have been able to if everyone hadn't given up on me.'

Robert lost one job after he showed up at work high and took off all his clothes except a hat

Robert's addiction also threatened to destroy his professional life with colleagues horrified by his behaviour.

He lost one job after he showed up at work high and took off all his clothes except a hat.

But he was too qualified to stay unemployed and regardless of how many jobs he managed to lose, he kept getting hired for high-paying roles within a couple of weeks of being sacked.

Most casual nang users inhale them through balloons filled with the gas, in much the same way as Victorian-era 'laughing gas parties', and the short high is seen as a benefit rather than a drawback.

But more committed users, like Robert, use whipped cream dispensers to get the nitrous oxide out of the cannister and depressurise it enough to be inhaled.

'Buying my first whipped cream dispenser for about $80 was like buying my first bong, it was a big step,' he said.

'By 2020, I'd go through a lot of them because they're only designed to do a certain number, and I learned how to repair them with parts from another broken one.'

However, as the gas is stored in the bulbs at -40C, repeated use makes the dispenser cold enough to be a hazard by itself.

'My hands would be blistered from frostbite so I'd put one next to a heater while I used another, and swap them when it got too cold,' he said.

Mr Davis said one of the worst moments of his addiction was when he dug through stinking rubbish for a broken dispenser he'd thrown away while high, and cleaned and repaired it when the other one stopped working.

'It was an absolutely disgusting thing to do and I felt like a piece of s**t but I was so desperate to get high,' he said.

As nang use skyrockets, from 10 to 20 per cent between 2015 and 2021 according to the Global Drug Survey, so too have unscrupulous sellers trying to make a buck.

Robert pictured in the middle of his nang addiction just before his fiancee broke of their engagement

It is not illegal to sell, possess, or abuse nitrous oxide cannisters. It only becomes a criminal matter if they are sold to someone who intends to misuse them, which is nearly impossible to police.

People can buy them online as 'kitchen supplies' with a credit card or PayPal, or cash on arrival.

'The people who sell nangs don't consider themselves drug dealers,' Robert said, having got to know a few who dropped off his regular orders.

Often they were recent immigrants or owners of legitimate small businesses making a bit of extra cash on the side, dropping off the nangs while on food delivery runs.

Robert was always anxious while waiting for the nangs to arrive, so he often used services with a tracker, just like food delivery, to see far away it was.

'The only exercise I got during lockdown was carrying those boxes upstairs to my apartment  fully loaded they weigh about 20kg,' he said.

Nangs are now the seventh-most popular drug in Australia with almost a quarter of Australians aged 18 to 29 using them last year.

The Ecstasy and Related Drugs Reporting System, which asks MDMA and psychostimulant users about their drug use, found the percentage of those who also used nangs doubled from about a quarter in 2015 to 54 per cent in 2020.

Use was on average only once a month, but the median session was five to 10 cannisters and up to a median of 25 for a bigger session.

Two deaths in Australia have been linked to nang use since 2010: Aaron McDonald, 22, who died of asphyxiation, and a schoolie who fell off a balcony on the Gold Coast.

Nitrous oxide abuse appears harmless to its young users, but carries serious health risks that dramatically escalate with heavy or prolonged use.

Repeatedly inhaling the gas can disable vitamin B12 in the body, leading to a deficiency that affects nerves.

Darren Roberts, medical director of the Poisons Information Centre at Westmead Children's Hospital in Sydney, said serious cases were dramatically increasing.

'I dont think regular nitrous oxide use is ever benign,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

Dr Roberts said serious symptoms came in two broad groups that often gave nang users lifelong disabilities that treatment couldn't completely repair.

Damage to the nerves that control muscles gradually reduced function, starting with tingling and numbness that heavy users often ignored.

They also had balance and coordination issues and reduced muscle strength.

'Users can't use their hands properly, they're falling over, many are bed or chair-bound and trying to drag themselves around the floor  this not an uncommon feature of heavy daily use,' Dr Roberts said.

This box holds 600 nitrous oxide cannisters, costs just $300, and is delivered to your door faster than a pizza

Others had problems with nerves controlling their bladder and bowels, sometimes to the point where they don't work at all.

Heavy users can also exhibit signs of advanced dementia.

'Some people come in with psychosis and are seeing or hearing things that aren't there,' Dr Roberts said.

'Others have an inability to concentrate and feel depressed, and on scans we can see shrinking of the brain to look like one of a much older person.

'Often this is largely irreversible, some people have improvement after extensive rehabilitation but few get back to where they were before. We have some treatments but they have to be given early.'

In extreme cases, users were so disabled by a cycle of nang abuse that they were unable to care for themselves.

They ended up malnourished or with severe vitamin deficiencies, and could suffer from pressure sores that became ulcers due to reduced mobility. If the ulcers got infected, the patients may require intensive care, or even die.

Robert has experienced many of these symptoms, the most obvious being constant pins and needles in his feet and toes since the end of 2019 that he still feels today.

Even though his two-dispenser strategy protected his hands from frostbite, sometimes it misfired and froze the inside of his throat.

Robert is unsure of the potential damage to his brain from oxygen deprivation, but at one point last year he was hearing the voices of David Tennant and Jodi Whittaker from the Doctor Who series in his head.

However, he said he was still able to do his job at the same level as before his addiction started.

Dr Roberts said the proliferation of nang delivery services appeared to be helping fuel the spike in serious cases due to easy, around the clock access.

'These services add to the problem because we know a lot of people misuse nitrous oxide because theyre lonely or depressed and easy access to the substance makes them feel better and perpetuates a bad cycle,' he said.

A deadly addiction Council worker Aaron McDonald, 22, died on November 28, 2013, from asphyxiation while using nangs. A Victorian coroner found he died in 'tragic accidental circumstances from asphyxia following the recreational use of nitrous oxide'. 'It's cost me the person I was meant to be with... [they have] blood on their hands,' his girlfriend Jess Cochran told A Current Affair. 'Part of me would want to yell and scream at him but another part would just want to embrace him.' Council worker Aaron McDonald, 22, (pictured with his girlfriend Jess Cochran) died on November 28, 2013, from asphyxiation while using nangs Hamish Bidgood fell from his death from a Gold Coast balcony during Schoolies after taking nangs Then in 2018, Turramurra High School student Hamish Bidgood fell from his death from a Gold Coast balcony during Schoolies. Police at the time said he was inhaling nitrous oxide after a night of drinking with friends, before he was found dead about 5am. Brisbane woman Tamika Dudley became unable to walk for two months after becoming a regular user before nights out or when she was 'bored', after trying them for the first time in 2019. The young woman was rushed to hospital in May 2019, unable to feel her arms and legs after suffering severe damage from inhaling the drug. Tamika Dudley became unable to walk for two months after becoming a regular nang user Doctors were initially unaware of what was going on, and Ms Dudley had to undergo multiple tests, including an MRI, CT scan, and a lumbar puncture. The next morning she was paralysed from the waist down. She later discovered she had severely damaged her nerves due to long-term vitamin B12 depletion, caused by her nitrous oxide use. 'I was scared I was going to be a vegetable in a wheelchair forever,' she said. 'Not once in my head did I think "this is going to make me paralysed" or f***k "I might end up like a vegetable forever" not once did it cross my mind.' Advertisement

Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association executive officer Sam Biondo said there was a lack of social responsibility among many sellers of nitrous oxide.

'Many of these operators are actively trying to make a profit from the misuse of nitrous oxide, with a disregard for their health and welfare,' he said.

'Nitrous oxide being delivered at 3am is definitely not for making a cake.'

Dr Roberts said nang users were generally well-educated and pointed to the example of some taking B12 supplements in the mistaken belief it would counteract the effects, indicating better information resources were needed.

He said family or friends concerned about a loved one using nangs and want to intervene should look out for the early signs of abuse including tingling in the fingers and toes, changes in concentration, feeling depressed, and reduced coordination and incontinence.

'Similarly, finding many bulbs in the rubbish is also concerning,' he said.

Robert finally managed to get clean after he was sexually assaulted when he had his drink spiked during his first visit to his local pub after lockdown ended last year.

He went through heavy weeks of nang use to 'cope with the trauma' - and then said the 'shock to his system' from the assault combined with the end of lockdown and being free to leave his flat set him on the path to recovery.

Eight months later, he is excelling at his new job and the physical and personality changes that alarmed me during his addiction have receded.

Robert now looks, sounds, and acts like his old self and is slowly rebuilding his life by making new friends and restoring his finances.

He had just $10 in his bank account after finally kicking the habit and owed tens of thousands to credit card companies and nang dealers. But he is on track to have all his debts paid off by October, and has moved into a new, bigger flat.

On-demand nang deliveries flourished in recent years in much the same way as the proliferation of UberEats, Deliveroo, and Jimmy Brings

Despite the significant damage they did to his life, Robert refuses to scorn anyone who uses nangs - particularly as a coping mechanism for a traumatic childhood.

'Anyone who's felt the benefit of a cup of coffee on a Monday or a beer on a Friday can't judge me for what I've done to cope with my own life,' he said.

Instead, he warned those considering nangs and other drugs that his experience shows anyone can get addicted.

'I don't think there's anything we can say that will stop teenagers trying nangs or other drugs,' Robert said.

'But we can teach them harm minimisation and to recognise the signs of addiction, so if they see themselves or one of their friends slipping into it, they can get help.

'We need to be more understanding of how people get addicted and try to help them.'
Mental Health Awareness Week - 15th May  20th May

This year, Mental Health Awareness will be focusing on Anxiety.

Anxiety is a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear, that can be mild or severe. Everyone has feelings of anxiety at some point in their life which is normal.

Severe anxiety makes it difficult to get through your day. Symptoms include feelings of nervousness, panic and fear as well as sweating and a rapid heartbeat.

You may withdraw from friends and family, feel unable to go to work, or avoid certain places.

'The good news is that anxiety can be manageable with the right tools and we want to let everyone know that there is help out there.'

'By focusing on anxiety for Mental Health Awareness Week in 2023, we want to improve publics understanding of anxiety and share some of the things that can help prevent it from becoming a problem.'

Director General, Prof Patrick Geoghegan, OBE said As a GHA, we have made a firm commitment to the mental health agenda. Following the publication of a national mental health strategy.

Over the past 12 months. We have seen major improvements where we have reached out to people and provided more and more on the spot support.

Im delighted that we are focusing this year and how we educate the public and how to manage anxiety are now and how not to be ashamed if they are worried, as there will always be help out there to support them.

The CEO of Clubhouse, Tania Aguilar said At Clubhouse Gibraltar we focus on wellness, and we provide support for our members in their recovery journey in a safe and non-judgemental environment. Being part of the Clubhouse community and feeling connected, helps reduce symptoms of anxiety and other forms of poor mental health. If you need mental health support, reach out and seek for help. You are not alone.

This weeks activities and fund raising will run in conjunction with many different charities and essential services.
Video was then shared online of the student wearing the outfit on the school bus

A middle school teacher in Kentucky has been suspended after approving a student's request to dress as a KKK Grand Wizard for a history assignment.

The teacher, who has not been named, at Southern Middle School allegedly told the eighth grader they were allowed to dress as Nathan Bedford Forrest, a confederate soldier and the first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan from 1867 to 1869.

Students were invited to dress as historical figures as part of an 'extra credit' assignment given on May 10, LEX18 reported. On Friday the student brought the costume to school and wore it in the classroom.

Video of the student wearing the outfit on a school bus was posted to TikTok and shared locally over the weekend by outraged students and parents.

A still from a video posted to TikTok on Friday in which an eighth grade student is seen wearing a KKK outfit which their teacher gave them permission to wear in class

A middle school teacher in Kentucky has been suspended after approving a student's request to dress as a KKK Grand Wizard for a history assignment. Pictured is the entrance to Southern Middle School in southern Kentucky

The superintendent of Pulaski County Schools said the board learned about the incident on Monday and said the teacher was suspended and would be reported to the state's Educational Professional Standards Board.

Patrick Richardson of the Pulaski School Board said he was 'extremely disappointed and embarrassed' in a statement to LEX18.

'It sickens me that this has occurred,' Richardson said. 'It embarrassed not only me but our school district and community. I'm angered by the lack of thoughtfulness that went into this situation.'

LEX18 reported that the student who wore the outfit will not face disciplinary action because they were given permission.

'That teacher should be ashamed of [themselves],' Jane Leclercq, a grandparent of a student told the station. 'Why would a teacher actually approve something like that? I don't understand, I'm outraged, it's ridiculous.'

Kathy Townsend, a community organizer in the town of Somerset, around 70 miles south of Lexington, said she was angry when she found out and thinks the teacher has to face disciplinary action.

'The KKK represents hate, simple as that,' she said. 'This is harmful, when I was young I was scared to just see pictures of the KKK, so can you imagine what students at Southern Middle who aren't white children [felt].'

Students were invited to dress as historical figures as part of an 'extra credit' assignment given by the teacher on May 10

Patrick Richardson of the Pulaski School Board said he was 'extremely disappointed and embarrassed'. Pictured is Southern Middle School

Another still from a video of the student on the school bus. The student will not face disciplinary action because they were given permission to wear the costume

The president of the local NAACP said that 'sensitivity training' should be made compulsory to all students to avoid such incidents arising again the future.

Whit Whitaker at the Lexington-Fayette NAACP told WYMT: 'Would he have done the same thing if he wanted to come as Charles Manson or Hitler?'

'My initial response was outrage, but it's happened so many times. I think people get numb to it. They want to apologize later instead of stopping it before the fire gets out of control,' he said.

'This is nothing new, this is stuff that this country endorses. It's happened in Pittsburgh, a Pittsburgh school, it happened in California, its happened in Texas.'

A bust of Bust of Nathan Bedford Forrest was removed from the Tennessee Capitol in 2021.
Biden, McCarthy, Jeffries, Schumer and McConnell are slated to meet at the White House Tuesday afternoon

The Treasury Department reiterated Monday that they still believe the day the nation could run out of funds to pay its bills could be as soon as June 1

Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Monday morning there had been 'no progress' in debt ceiling negotiations overnight, with just hours to go before he is set to sit down with President Biden.

'There's no progress that I see,' he told reporters of the staff-level talks that went through the weekend. 'And it really concerns me with the timeline of where we are.'

The Treasury Department reiterated Monday that they still believe the day the nation could run out of funds to pay its bills could be as soon as June 1.

Majority Leader Steve Scalise expressed a similar level of pessimism: 'I'm not even sure their negotiations continue.'

Biden and the 'Big Four,' McCarthy, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell are set to meet at the White House Tuesday 3 p.m.

The four first met last Tuesday. They had originally been slated to meet again on Friday, but those talks were canceled after not enough staff progress had been made throughout the week, according to McCarthy.

'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

And just 16 days before June 1, Biden and 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.

Majority Whip Tom Emmer said he hoped Biden has been 'doing his homework' ahead of the meeting.

'I hope he has been coming up with other ideas or he's going to support our idea. Those should be the only two choices. If the President goes into that meeting today, if he gives more empty rhetoric like he has in the past meetings that will show you he's not serious. I hope he's serious, because we've been serious a long time.'

'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

'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.'

In a surprise development over the weekend, 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 has also seemed open to clawing back unspent Covid-19 funds, estimated to amount to between $50 billion and $70 billion. He's reprtedly open to discretionary spending craps through the remainder of his term.

In exchange, Biden is demanding Republicans drop their attempt to roll back his key legislative accomplishments, including student debt relief, limit spending caps to two years and increase the debt ceiling at least through the 2024 election.

Biden's openness to work requirements enraged progressives.

'We did not elect Joe Biden of 1986,' Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., chair of the Progressive Caucus, told Politico. 'We elected Joe Biden of 2020.'

She called adding new work requirements for SNAP an 'absolutely terrible idea' and 'a nonstarter for many of us across the Democratic caucus.'

'As we continue debt ceiling negotiations, we cannot consider the Republicans short-sighted proposal to increase work requirements for aid programs,' Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., wrote on Twitter.

Biden also said he planned to attend the G-7 in Japan on Wednesday - a trip he previously said he could attend virtually if debt limit talks required him to remain in Washington.

'You would think if he knows he's leaving the country, then finish these talks before he leaves, he can do that. I would encourage him strongly to do that,' Scalise told reporters Tuesday.

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.

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.
Ms Jilina will benefit 'hundreds of thousands of pounds' if the court accepts case

But millionaire editor of Palestinian newspaper Al-Quds insists was over in 2013

Angela Jilina, 49, claims her marriage to Walid Abu-Zalaf broke down in 2020

A wealthy couple with links to Tony Blair and Ivanka Trump went on holidays together and had sex after their decree nisi, a court heard amid a legal battle over how long their marriage lasted.

Angela Jilina, 49, claims her marriage to Walid Abu-Zalaf, 64, broke down in 2020, but he insists it was over in 2013 - just a year after they wed.

That year a family court judge granted a decree nisi, a decree which signals the end of a marriage, after an application by Ms Jilina.

Ms Jilina will benefit by 'hundreds of thousands of pounds' if the court accepts her case.

Abu-Zalaf, a millionaire editor of Palestinian newspaper Al-Quds, won the dispute in October 2022 but his wife has appealed to the High Court.

Angela Jilina, 49, pictured, claims her marriage to Walid Abu-Zalaf, 64, broke down in 2020, but he insists it was over in 2013 - just a year after they wed

Abu-Zalaf, a millionaire editor of Palestinian newspaper Al-Quds, (left) won the dispute in October 2022 but his wife (right) has appealed to the High Court

In his previous ruling on the case Mr Justice Motsyn had said the case was 'only about money'.

He had agreed to make financial provision for Ms Jilina as part of a prenuptial agreement, dependant on the length of the marriage.

Speaking for Ms Jilina today, Rebecca Carew Pole KC said: 'She is still his wife and he is still her husband. The marriage is yet to be dissolved.

'In September 2013 the wife petitioned for divorce, saying that the marriage had irretrievably broken down.

'Neither party for a period of more than eight years sought to terminate the marriage.

'The husband was violent before the decree nisi but not after.

'The husband accepted that they had sexual relations after the decree nisi and that they holidayed together.

'They were drawn together twelve months after the decree nisi.'

Ms Carew Pole said that they did not live together after the decree - but they had not done so before either.

Ms Jilina will benefit by 'hundreds of thousands of pounds' if the court accepts her case

Both Jilina and Abu-Zalaf accept that they referred to each other as husband and wife in public after 2013

'There was no cohabitation after the decree nisi but nor had there been beforehand. There was no change in that regard,' the lawyer said.

'They spent several nights a week together.

'Her husband supported her financially above and beyond the financial order until 2020.'

Addressing Ms Justice Motsyn's comment that the case was about 'money and only money' Ms Carew Pole said: 'Marriage is about a lot more than money.'

She also emphasized that Abu-Zalaf would also have been concerned about money.

She continued: 'It was unfair of the judge to turn his ire on my client and not on the husband.'

Both Jilina and Abu-Zalaf accept that they referred to each other as husband and wife in public after 2013.

Abu-Zalaf claims that this was partly because it made it easier for her to be invited to 'glamorous events' and that 'having this status is important to Angela'.

Ms Jilina arrived in the UK in 1995 and volunteered on NHS hospital wards during the COVID pandemic. She also trained in the oncology ward at the Royal Marsden Hospital, working night shifts and caring for terminally ill patients

Ms Jilina had been involved with the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women and attended their daughter Kathryn's wedding with Abu-Zalaf in 2019

'The judge never found that my client was not telling the truth,' Ms Carew Pole said.

'He never rejected my client's evidence.'

The couple have links to former Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie.

Ms Jilina had been involved with the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women and attended their daughter Kathryn's wedding with Abu-Zalaf in 2019.

The former Prime Minister and daughter of US president Donald Trump had also been guests at their London home.

In his earlier ruling Mr Justice Motsyn said: 'The wifes position is superficially curious and the facts of this case are very unlikely to be repeated in the future.

'One might ask: why does it matter whether she is divorced pursuant to the 15 November 2013 decree, or pursuant to a divorce order yet to be made?

'The answer is that the prenuptial agreement provides for increasing levels of provision to be made to the wife depending on the length of the marriage (which is to be measured in full years from the date of the ceremony to the date of separation).'

Jilina arrived in the UK in 1995 and volunteered on NHS hospital wards during the COVID pandemic.

She also trained in the oncology ward at the Royal Marsden Hospital, working night shifts and caring for terminally ill patients.

Born in Russia, she is a dual national and considers herself British. She has family living and fighting in Ukraine.

The hearing continues.
He was set upon outside the chocolate shop owned by Brigitte Macron's family

The 30-year-old was badly beaten and is awaiting a brain scan, his father said

Jean-Baptiste Trogneux was set upon by anti-government protesters on Monday

The great-nephew of French First Lady Brigitte Macron, who runs the family's main chocolate shop, has been beaten up in an apparent politically motivated assault, police and family sources said on Tuesday.

Jean-Baptiste Trogneux was set upon by anti-government protesters on Monday evening outside the famed Trogneux chocolate shop in Amiens, northern France, his father said.

The 30-year-old was hit repeatedly on the head, arms and legs by his aggressors, who insulted 'the president, his wife and our family' before running away, his father Jean-Alexandre Trogneux declared.

Jean-Baptiste Trogneux was set upon by anti-government protesters on Monday evening outside the famed Trogneux chocolate shop in Amiens, northern France , his father said

'They've crossed the line. I'm flabbergasted,' he added, saying his son was being checked by a doctor and was awaiting the results of a brain scan.

Local police said they had arrested eight people after the attack, which took place shortly after President Macron had appeared for an interview on the country's main TV news programme at 8:00pm (1800 GMT) on Monday evening.

The six men and two women remained in custody on Tuesday, and face charges of assault occasionally actual bodily harm, and gang violence, said a local police source.

(FILES) This photograph taken on April 25, 2017, shows a general view of the Jean Trogneux chocolate shop in Amiens, northern France, which is owned by the family of Brigitte Macron, wife of the French President. Jean-Baptiste Trogneux was savagely beaten outside the shop

French President Emmanuel Macron walks with his wife Brigitte Macron

Jean-Alexandre Trogneux said: 'About forty demonstrators were there, after the president's speech on TF1.

'Around a dozen of them recognised him and attacked. They beat him up, with a lot of blows to the face.

'He was hit continually, as he rolled on the ground, trying to defend himself, while they shouted out insults against the president and his wife. Neighbours intervened and then they ran away.

'He now has trauma and has to have a brain scan. There has been an association between our business and Emmanuel Macron since his election, and this has caused huge problems.

'What has now happened has gone too far, and I am scared. There is no financial link between the Trogenux chocolate business, and the presidential couple, and yet we are targeted.'

Brigitte Macron's family have run the Jean Trogneux chocolate shop in the centre of her home city of Amiens for six generations, specialising in a sugary local almond-based treat known as the Amiens Macaron.

She met her husband while he was a pupil and she was a teacher at a private school in the city in the 1990s.

The Trogneux family business, which has since expanded around northern France, has been repeatedly targeted by protesters during Macron's six years in power amid rumours - repeatedly denied - that the first family have a financial interest in the company.

Brigitte Macron met her husband while he was a pupil and she was a teacher at a private school in the city in the 1990s

Macron has sparked the biggest demonstrations in a generation over reforms to the pension system, which include raising the retirement age to rise to 64 from 62 later this year. He pushed the measures through without a parliamentary vote  causing outrage across the country.

During protests in April, a fire was started at one of his favorite restaurants in Paris, the upmarket La Rotonde brasserie.

But this is the first time that family members have been targeted.

Both Mr Macron, 45, and Mrs Macron, 70, were born and brought up in Amiens, capital of the Somme department.

She was a married mother of three when she began a relationship with the then schoolboy Emmanuel Macron.

The unrest during protests in recent years, as well as attacks on the offices of local and national lawmakers, have sparked debate about whether the country is growing more intolerant and prone to violence.

The mayor of a village in western France announced his resignation last week after a suspected arson attack on his home, causing an outcry among fellow politicians.

Yannick Morez from the village of Saint Brevin had been repeatedly targeted by far-right activists over his support for a local centre for refugees.

Interior ministry statistics showed that reported acts of physical or verbal violence against lawmakers increased by 32 percent year-on-year in 2022, when the country held parliamentary and presidential elections.
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said a preliminary report shows that Maradiaga had a cut on his tongue and most likely had the epileptic attack

A grieving Honduran mother is calling on the United States government to answer for the death of her 17-year-old son, who died from an alleged 'epileptic seizure' at a Florida migrant shelter last week.

Angel Maradiaga left his home in the town of Olanchito on April 25 and several days later was stopped by the U.S. Border Patrol before he was transferred to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on May 5.

The agency placed the Central American teenager at the shelter in Safety Harbor because he had cross the border without his parents.

He fell ill May 10 and was rushed to Mease Countryside Hospital, where doctors attempted to revive him before confirming him dead.

Pinellas County's Sheriff's Office confirmed that Maradiaga probably died while he was sleeping after he suffered the seizure.

Sheriff Bob Gualtieri corroborated a report which indicated that the boy had a cut on his tongue and most likely had the epileptic attack.

Angel Maradiaga died a Florida migrant shelter on May 10 after he suffered what authorities say was an epileptic seizure. The 17-year-old became the first migrant minor to die in U.S. custody under the administration of President Joe Biden after six immigrant children died during former President Donald Trump's tenure

Norma Espinoza holds a portrait of her 17-year-old son, Angel Maradiaga, at her home in Olanchito, Honduras. Maradiaga was being held at a facility in Safety Harbor, Florida, and died May 10 after suffering an epileptic seizure, according to a preliminary report obtained by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office

The Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Service migrant shelter in Safety Harbor, Florida, where a teenage boy from Honduras died May 10 is one of several long-term facilities that hold minors who cross the border without a parent until they can be placed with a sponsor

However, Maradiaga's mother, Norma Espinoza, told The Associated Press that her son was first diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of eight and was in good health after he set off on his journey to the United States.

'Since he was 10 years old he wanted to live the American Dream to see his father and have a better life,' she said. 'His idea was to help me. He told me that when he was in the United States he was going to change my life.'

Espinoza last spoke to Maradiaga's for a few minutes on May 5 and was reassured that everything was OK.

'He told me he was in a shelter and not to worry because he was in the best hands,' she said.

Espinoza learned of her son's passing after one of his friends called her to break the news.

Maradiaga had not woken up for breakfast and was found dead. She initially doubted her son's friend and called someone in the United States who was expected to take him and received confirmation that her he had died.

Norma Espinoza said her son, Angel Maradiaga, left their home in Olanchito, Honduras, on April 25 to reunite with his father in the United States. He was stopped by U.S. border agents several days later and was placed in a migrant shelter for minors on May 5 in Florida. On May 10, the 17-year-old was found dead at the site after he suffered an epileptic seizure

Norma Espinoza sits next to a portrait of her son Angel Maradiaga. The 17-year-old is the first migrant child to die in U.S. custody under the administration of President Joe Biden. Six migrant children immigrant children died in U.S. custody during President Donald Trump's tenure.

Angel Maradiaga, a 17-year-old migrant from Honduras, died May 10 at the Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Service shelter in Safety Harbor, Florida

The teen, Espinoza recalled, had 'brief and not serious' seizures as a child in the past and she doubts that is the reason he died.

'I want to clear up my son's real cause of death,' she said. 'No one tells me anything. The anguish is killing me. They say they are awaiting the autopsy results and don't give me any other answer.'

Maradiaga is the first migrant child to die in U.S. custody under the administration of President Joe Biden.

Six migrant children immigrant children died in U.S. custody during President Donald Trump's tenure.

The Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Service center is one of several long-term facilities that hold minors who cross the border without a parent until they can be placed with a sponsor.

The facilities generally have beds as well as schooling and other activities for minors, unlike Border Patrol stations and detention sites where detainees sometimes sleep on the floor in cells.

Advocates who oppose the detention of immigrant minors say that U.S. Department of Health and Human Services facilities are not suited to hold them for weeks or months, as sometimes happens.

More than 8,600 minors are now in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services custody.

But the amount of children may increase amid the shift in border policies as well as sharply rising trends of migration across the Western Hemisphere and the traditional spike in crossings during spring and summer.
A man has suffered serious head injuries after falling 10 metres onto concrete at a construction site.

Police and ambulance crews were called to the Smith Street work site in the western Sydney suburb of Summer Hill at about 4pm on Tuesday where a 75-year-old-man was reported to have fallen.

Paramedics treated the man at the scene for head injuries.

A man fell 10 metres onto concrete at a construction site in Sydney's west on Tuesday afternoon (scene pictured)

He was then rushed to Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred hospital in the city's east and he is now in a critical condition.

A large number of police attended the scene and began interviewing construction workers.

Bystanders flocked to the front of neighbouring houses watching solemnly on.

A front-end loader could be seen on the large concreted over site which had high walled embankments surrounding it.

Police have notified Safework NSW about the incident.

Police alerted Safework NSW to the the incident that left the man suffering serious head injuries

Police were called to the scene on a Smith Street work site and were told the man had fallen
A driver in Colorado tried to avoid being arrested for a DUI by swapping seats with his dog after being pulled over.

The unknown man was stopped by police in Springfield, Colorado, just before midnight on Saturday for allegedly driving 52 mph in a 30-mph zone.

Springfield Police Department said that they conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle which had been traveling near 7th and Main Street in the town.

In a post to Facebook, the department said: 'The driver attempted to switch places with his dog who was in the passenger seat, as the SPD officer approached and watched the entire process.

The post on Facebook shared by the police department details the bizarre story

'The male party then exited the passenger side of the vehicle and claimed he was not driving.'

The man, whom police didnt name, appeared intoxicated, and when asked by an officer if hed been drinking, he ran away.

He was then apprehended about 20 yards from the vehicle, police said.

The man was taken to a hospital where he was medically cleared, then booked into the Baca County Jail on charges including driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, speeding and resisting arrest, police said.

Police also said that the man had been driving from Las Animas to Pueblo, both in Colorado, and had gotten lost.

The dog was then later handed over to a friend of the driver and police confirmed that the pet was let go with just a warning and will not face charges.

The unknown man was later put

Since sharing information about the incident on social media, their post has been inundated with comments from users who find the situation hilarious.

One user shared a meme of a Boston Terrier having their mugshot taken as well as other dog themed memes.

Meanwhile other users have been calling on the department to release the body cam footage of the exchange.

The post made by the police proved an instant hit with social media users who shared memes and comments about the incident

Social media users found the story hilarious, and are calling for the body cam footage of the incident to be released

Others said: 'Body cam or it didn't happen.'

Another posted: 'How drunk was he? If he thought it was ok to let the dog drive he must've really been wasted.'

While one other said: 'I'd pay money to watch the dash and body cam of this whole thing.'

Officials have confirmed to DailyMail.com that they are not yet releasing the footage of the incident
He has been a vocal critic of the White House's handling of the migrant crisis at the Mexican border which has resulted in thousands arriving in New York City

The New York City Mayor blasted in April: 'The president and the White House have failed this city'

Adams is no longer on a list of prominent Democrats who are campaign surrogates for President Joe Biden

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been dropped from President Joe Biden's 2024 campaign advisory board after criticizing the White House over the migrant crisis.

Adams strayed from the Democrat party line in April to blast: 'The president and the White House have failed this city.'

He has now been quietly removed from a list of top-ranking Democrats that were named as campaign surrogates for Biden.

Adams had appeared on a list of names to Biden's National Advisory Board in March. But he was noticeably absent from the list published by the campaign last week - following his repeated criticism of Biden's handling of the crisis at the US-Mexico border.

Both Adams and the White House have now attempted to gloss over the apparent spat with statements maintaining their support for one another.

Eric Adams has been dropped from a list of top Democrats named to Joe Biden's National Advisory Board following his criticism of the White House's handling of the migrant crisis

President Joe Biden is under pressure to deal with an influx of migrants across the US-Mexico border following the expiration of the Title 42 authority on Thursday last week

New York, the country's largest city, has said it will cost billions of dollars to deal with its intake of migrants who have recently crossed the US-Mexico border. Officials say more than 1,000 are arriving every day and the situation has been worsened by the expiration of Title 42 last week.

Adams has made several statements criticizing the Biden administration's handling of the situation.

He said earlier in May: 'It is not about the asylum-seekers and migrants, all of us came from somewhere to pursue the American Dream.

'It is the irresponsibility of the Republican Party in Washington for refusing to do real immigration reform, and it's the irresponsibility of the White House for not addressing this problem.'

One insider told Politico that the relationship between Adams and the White House 'has soured' over the issue. Adams 'made somewhere between in-artful to stupid comments that were kind of out of bounds', the Democrat aide said.

A spokesman for the New York City mayor has since said Adams 'stands ready to help the president with reelection however he can'.

Adams has also attempted to explain his position as simply a disagreement over a single issue, which is not indicative of his broader support for the president.

He said in March: 'Being the president comes with a menu of items, it doesn't mean there's not going to be an item on that menu that I dislike.

'I dislike what we're doing around the asylum seekers, but I always say that I believe the president is just a blue-collar president. I'm a blue-collar mayor. I like his policies. I think he's good for the country  and it doesn't mean I'm going to agree with him 100 percent on everything.'

He has also insisted 'Biden is my guy, I want Biden to be the next president'.

Asylum seekers are held prior to being transferred via city bus from Port Authority bus terminal to housing facilities in the Bronx and Queens on May 15, 2023

After arriving from the Texas/Mexico border and being processed by New York City officials, the migrants are sent to various housing facilities around the NYC boroughs

White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates told Axios: 'President Biden and his team are proud of their collaborative relationship with Mayor Adams.'

Biden attempted to laugh off the issue at the border over the weekend when asked how the situation was going following Title 42's expiry.

'Much better than you all expected,' he told reporters 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 2033.

'They have gone down my hope is that they'll continue to go down, and we have a lot more work to do,' Biden said while biking near his Rehoboth, Delaware beach house.

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.

Dozens of homeless veterans were recently kicked out of their upstate New York hotels to make room for an influx of migrants fueled by the expiration Title 42.

The struggling veterans were only informed at the start of last week that they would be making way for the migrants, a nonprofit veterans organization told The New York Post.

Sharon Toney-Finch, who runs the Yerik Israel Toney Foundation helping the homeless individuals, said the hotels decided to kick out the vets 'due to what's going on with the immigrants.'

Migrants pictured arriving at The Crossroads Hotel in Newburgh, where homeless veterans were kicked out to prepare for the influx

The migrants were bussed north by New York City Mayor Eric Adams to alleviate the pressure on the Big Apple as more than 10,000 people a day across the southern border in record numbers.

Toney-Finch, a disabled military veteran, said: 'One of the vets called me on Sunday,' He told me he had to leave because the hotel said the extended stay is not available... Then I got another call.'

Toney-Finch said she was left in tears after seeing the veterans swiftly kicked out of the hotels, despite being promised temporary housing for a month.

'We didn't waste any time,' she said of her efforts, revealing the vets still had two weeks left of their stay before they were ejected.

Of the 20 veterans being kicked from the hotels, she claimed 15 had been booted from the Crossroads Hotel in Newburgh, Orange County.

The five others were removed from the Super 8 and Hampton Inn & Suites in Middletown, roughly 70 miles north of Manhattan.

All 20 of the displaced ex-military members have been moved to a separate hotel in Hudson Valley, but Toney-Finch said the ordeal has been heartbreaking for the struggling veterans.

Hours before Title 42 was lifted, hundreds of migrants lined up on U.S. soil in Yuma to begin the process of applying for asylum. Numbers have surged in recent days

Security forces watched on as migrants tried to enter the U.S. after crossing the Rio Grande River, in Matamoros, Mexico ahead of the end of Title 42

On Monday last week, heads of city agencies were asked to provide a list of potential shelters: among the suggestions were the Flatiron Building, tents in Central Park, and hangars at JFK airport.

On Wednesday, Adams announced that he had signed Executive Order 402, suspending aspects of the 'Right to Shelter' law, enacted in 1981.

Under the new rules, New York City will no longer have to provide migrant families with their own room and can direct them to a communal shelter instead.

'This is not a decision taken lightly and we will make every effort to get asylum seekers into shelter as quickly as possible as we have done since day one,' said Fabian Levy, City Hall spokesperson.

But the Legal Aid Society and Coalition for the Homeless condemned the decision, saying it was 'prolonging suffering that no human being should experience.'
A policewoman known as 'Officer Naughty' on her OnlyFans site was shown CCTV footage of Wayne Couzens flashing staff at a McDonald's drive-thru just hours before he murdered Sarah Everard, a hearing was told.

Samantha Lee is said to have failed to carry out 'correct investigative enquiries' over two incidents when Couzens exposed himself to female employees at the restaurant in Swanley, Kent, on February 14 and 27, 2021.

The incident was reported to the Met but just days after the second incident, Couzens, then a parliamentary and diplomatic protection officer, kidnapped, raped and murdered Ms Everard.

Today, a police disciplinary hearing heard the McDonald's manager contradict the evidence of former PC Lee, who claimed she had never been shown CCTV footage of Couzens' car.

Sam Taylor told the hearing how Ms Lee attended the restaurant on March 3 to interview him, just hours before Ms Everard was kidnapped by Couzens in Clapham, south London.

Samantha Lee (pictured) is said to have failed to carry out 'correct investigative enquiries' over two incidents when Couzens exposed himself to female employees at the restaurant in Swanley, Kent, on February 14 and 27, 2021

Ms Lee is alleged to have lied about her actions when later questioned about the interview, as she claimed she believed that the CCTV at the restaurant deleted automatically and so there was no CCTV evidence of Couzens or the offence

Ms Lee is alleged to have lied about her actions when later questioned about the interview, as she claimed she believed that the CCTV at the restaurant deleted automatically and so there was no CCTV evidence of Couzens or the offence.

But at the hearing today, Mr Taylor said that he had shown Ms Lee CCTV footage and told her it could be downloaded onto a USB stick.

'I showed her on the actual screen in the office,' he said.

'I showed her what I looked at before using the time from the receipts and it shows the car coming around.'

He said he explained to her that Couzens' registration plate could be seen in the CCTV footage of the second incident.

He said he knew what times to play the CCTV at because of the time stamps on Couzens' receipts.

He added: 'I said we could burn this on a USB.'

He said he showed her all the evidence he had.

'I told her everything I knew and I explained how we caught him out the second time,' he said.

He said that Ms Lee - who was based in the South Area Command Unit and is said to have quit the force after she set up her OnlyFans account - stayed at the restaurant for 'probably' 10 minutes in total.

In March this year, Couzens (pictured) 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 on March 3 2021 and then murdering her

Ms Lee calls herself a 'good girl gone bad' on her Instagram profile, which features several provocative and semi-nude photos.

In March 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 on March 3 2021 and then murdering her.

The third indecent exposure incident related to when Couzens exposed himself to a female cyclist on a Kent country lane in November 2020.

Ms Lee is said to have breached the 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.
Police are investigating the death of a six-month-old British baby girl after she reportedly choked to death at a five-star Turkish holiday resort.

Elizabeth Coffey was rushed to hospital after suffering breathing difficulties when 'food or something similar' got lodged in her throat.

Parents Michael and Elizabeth Coffey, from London, had been on holiday with their daughter and 30 family members at the Land of Legends Kingdom Hotel in Serik, southern Turkey.

The six-month-old began to have breathing difficulties on Saturday morning. A medical team was quickly sent to the hotel after the family raised the alarm.

After being rushed to the Aspendos Anatolia private hospital, Elizabeth was said to be unresponsive. Despite all efforts from medical staff, doctors were unable to save her life.

Elizabeth Coffey was rushed to hospital after suffering breathing difficulties when 'food or something similar' got lodged in her throat, the hospital said

It is unclear if she was suffering from any illnesses prior to her death.

A hospital official told The Sun: '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 food or something similar had got lodged in the baby's throat and she couldn't breathe.'

Friends and family have since paid tribute to the little girl on social media. Kitty Margaret wrote on Facebook: 'Can't believe this rest in peace baby girl. Please god comfort her mummy and daddy. Feel so heartbroken for them.'

Parents Michael and Elizabeth Coffey had been on holiday with their daughter at the Land of Legends Kingdom Hotel in Serik, Turkey

A map shows Serik, in the south of Turkey, where the child was reported to have died

Another wrote: 'RIP little princess Elizabeth. Definitely too good for this evil world most harmless child in [the world]. Please keep Uncle Jimmy's Michael and Elizabeth and family in prayers.'

Others commented: 'Rest in peace angel' and: 'This is so sad rip little angel.'

The six-month-old's body was sent to Antalya Forensic Medicine Institute to determine the exact cause of death.

Police have confirmed the investigation is currently ongoing.
Scholarship Awards 2023

The Department of Education has announced that the application window for Scholarship Awards tenable for the 2023/2024 year is open. The scholarship window for new awards will close at 23:59 on Friday 9th June 2023.

School Awards

The window allows eligible students, who are currently completing or who completed their A Level / Level 3 studies in June 2022 or June 2021, to submit their intention to embark on their undergraduate studies. Further information on these School Awards and how to apply has already been provided to students via their respective schools.

Continuing Students

The window also allows students who are current Scholarship Award holders to submit their continuation of studies form in order for them to continue to receive funding for their current award, upon successful completion of the current academic year. Students will be able to submit their continuation of studies form via the Department of Educations website www.education.gov.gi once they have received the results and progression letter for this academic year from their University. Students are asked not to complete a continuation of studies form until they have received confirmed results from their University. The deadline for new applicants does not apply to continuing students. However, students in this position are very much encouraged to hand in their continuation form at their earliest possible opportunity given that funding for the next academic year will only be processed and released once the student's continuation form is completed and fully processed. Please note that the continuation of studies form only applies to students who are moving into another year of study in their current course.

Other Funding Applications

The scholarship window also welcomes applications from eligible individuals for new Discretionary applications, new Distance Learning applications and for those students continuing their Distance Learning studies.

All eligible students who have completed or will complete their current Undergraduate or Postgraduate offering by the end of the 2022/2023 academic year, and are wishing to continue onto further studies, should submit an application for funding via the Discretionary Award process. It is critical that eligible students wishing to continue into Postgraduate studies submit their application by the stipulated deadline and via the Discretionary Award application process. Applications received after the deadline or through the incorrect mechanism will not be considered and funding will not be afforded.

Priority will be given to those individuals who require an additional qualification in order to complete their professional studies, where the individual has already embarked on such a pathway during their undergraduate course of study.

Additionally, the Discretionary process will prioritise applications from eligible individuals who are wishing to follow courses deemed to be of benefit to the needs of Gibraltar.

Submitting an application via the Discretionary process will not guarantee future funding and students are advised not to enter into financial commitments on the basis of the submission of this form. After the deadline for submissions has passed, all student Discretionary Application forms will be duly considered. The outcomes of these Discretionary applications will be communicated to students the week commencing Monday 10th July 2023.

The window for new applications under the Schools, Discretionary or Distance Learning process is open until 23:59 (Gibraltar time) on Friday 9th June 2023.

Late submissions will not be considered.
The Wagner chief claimed he had the man's US identification documents

Yevgeny Prigozhin posed with what he claimed is body of American veteran

The chief of the Russian Wagner mercenary group has claimed a US citizen has been killed while fighting for Ukraine in the embattled city of Bakhmut.

Yevgeny Prigozhin posed with what he claimed is the body of the American Special Forces veteran in a video posted on Telegram.

The footage, filmed at night, appears to show Prigozhin then inspecting what he claims to be the soldier's US identification documents amid the sound of apparent heavy artillery fire.

Prigozhin says in the video: 'So we will hand him over to the United States of America, we'll put him in a coffin, cover him with the American flag with respect because he did not die in his bed as a grandpa but he died at war and most likely a worthy [death], right?'

In the video, a Wagner mercenary claims the soldier was returning fire when he died. Prigozhin replies: 'He was shooting back, he died in the battle, so we will hand over his documents tomorrow morning and pack everything, right?'

The chief of the Russian Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin (pictured on Friday in a separate video), has claimed a US citizen has been killed while fighting for Ukraine in the embattled city of Bakhmut

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, on Friday

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, on Monday

DailyMail.com cannot verify the authenticity of the documents or the nationality of the body shown in the video. Prigozhin often posts fake videos for propaganda purposes.

A spokesperson for the State Department told DailyMail.com they are aware of the reports about the death of an American in Bakhmut but are unable to verify the reports due fierce fighting there.

READ MORE: Wagner chief dismisses 'laughable' Washington Post story that he offered to provide Ukraine with Russian troop positions Advertisement

The spokesperson added that US citizens should not travel to Ukraine as Russian forces are singling out Americans in Ukraine.

Prigozhin has become ever more scathing in his criticism of the Russian defence ministry and on Friday accused the Russian army of 'fleeing' rather than regrouping around Bakhmut.

A report in the Washington Post on Sunday said Prigozhin had maintained contact with Ukrainian intelligence throughout the war and had even in January offered to give Kyiv information on Russian troop positions if Ukraine's commanders withdrew their soldiers from the area around Bakhmut.

Some commentators are now arguing he had crossed a line and risks antagonising Russian President Vladimir Putin but Prigozhin has dismissed the allegations as 'laughable'.

It comes as fighting in and around Bakhmut is ramping up, with Ukrainian deputy defence minister Hanna Maliar saying today that Kyiv's troops have pushed Russian forces from chunks of territory around the embattled city.

She said the Ukrainian military had reclaimed about 20 square kilometers (7.5 square miles) or territory from the Russian forces in the past few days around Bakhmut.

Maliar, who has indicated previously that the Ukrainian advances around Bakhmut are not part of a broader counteroffensive planned by Kyiv, said developments there 'should not be taken out of context'.

'For example, within a few days, our troops liberated about 20 square kilometers from the enemy in the north and south of the suburbs of Bakhmut,' she wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

'At the same time, the enemy is advancing somewhat in Bakhmut itself, completely destroying the city with artillery.'

She reiterated that Russia was sending in new paratroopers and added: 'Heavy battles continue with different results.'

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, on Friday

krainian servicemen rest at their positions after a fight, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, near the front line city of Bakhmut, in Donetsk region, Ukraine, on May 11

The Ukrainian military said last week it had started to push Russian forces back around Bakhmut after months of heavy fighting, and Moscow acknowledged that its forces had fallen back north of the city.

And Russia said two of its military commanders had been killed in combat near the town.

Moscow's main target for months has been Bakhmut, which it has come close to capturing but not quite taken in what would be its sole prize after months of the bloodiest ground combat in Europe since World War Two.

Putin sees the city as a stepping stone towards capturing the rest of the eastern Donbas region.

It comes as the US announced last week that it will provide $1.2 billion more in long-term military aid to Ukraine to further bolster its air defences amid Russian drone and missile attacks.

Unlike US equipment, weapons and ammunition sent from Pentagon stocks that can be delivered to Ukraine quickly, this money is to be spent over the coming months or even years to ensure Ukraine's future security needs.

The Pentagon said it will fund air-defense munitions and drones for air defense, and provide equipment to help modify Western air-defense launchers, missiles and radars so they can be used with Ukraine's systems.

It will also buy artillery rounds, howitzer ammunition, satellite imagery assistance and funding for ongoing maintenance and spare parts for a variety of systems. U.S. officials said the weapons include HAWK air-defense systems.

The Pentagon said the aid will build the capacity of Ukraine's military 'to defend its territory and deter Russian aggression over the long term.'

Including this package, the U.S. has provided Ukraine nearly $37 billion in military aid since Russia invaded in February 2022.
This is the moment a furious motorist lost the plot with Just Stop Oil protesters holding up traffic with a slow march on London's roads.

The man was seen yelling at the eco-warriors, telling them to 'get out the way', 'go and have a wash' and 'go and get a job and do something useful'.

He was one of a number of road users who were pushed to breaking point by the activists today, including others who hit the demonstrators with a lorry, tore banners from their hands and threw water over them.

Dressed in a white hoodie and tracksuit bottoms, the dark-haired man jumped out of the car he was travelling in to tell the group: 'Get the f*** out the way now, get the f*** out the way now, you f****** c****.'

He then adds: 'Go and have a f****** wash, you c****.'

The man was seen yelling at the eco-warriors, telling them to 'get out the way', 'go and have a wash' and 'go and get a job and do something useful

Dressed in a white hoodie and tracksuit bottoms, the dark-haired man jumped out of the car he was travelling in to tell the group: 'Get the f*** out the way now, get the f*** out the way now, you f****** c****.'

Another frustrated road user threw water over the protesters as they blocked vehicles

As the driver of the black Nissan he gets back into remains stuck behind the protest, he then yells at the group again from out the passenger window.

'Go get a job you f****** c***. Go and do something useful you f****** tramp.

'What do you think of all these f****** cars sitting here causing f****** pollution, you silly f****** c***.

'Use your f****** brain...you know I'm making sense and all, don't you, you silly f****** old c***.'

It comes as police officers were seen chuckling with the protesters during the eco-mob's third slow march in just two days.

One man confronted the climate change fanatics by tearing banners away from protesters and pushing them as tensions flared.

Dressed in a white polo shirt and shorts, he appeared to shove protesters as they caused traffic chaos in Elephant and Castle, marching slowly in front of a lorry.

'Get out the f***ing way before you get run over,' he shouts before adding: 'Get out the f***ing way you p****s' as he apparently pushes a group of eco-zealots and then yanks an orange banner off another.

Fury boiled over as one man is seen apparently pushing Just Stop Oil protesters during their latest slow march in London

The male, wearing a white polo shirt and shorts, was seen ripping away orange banners from the climate change campaigners

A motorists unleashes a foul-mouthed tirade at the group in his frustration earlier today

A frustrated driver stands up to one of the Just Stop Oil activists to make his case this morning

More than a dozen protesters joined the demonstration in the capital this morning, with one activist among their ranks claiming to have been from Melbourne in Australia.

Frustrated motorists could be heard beeping their horns and swearing at the campaigners, who forced traffic to grind to a halt.

One stepped out of their car to hurl abuse at the group, as campaigners were pictured locking arms in defiance.

While in another tense exchange, one lorry driver is heard saying: 'You can't stop oil, oil is in the Earth.'

Today's mayhem began at Newington Causeway, in Elephant and Castle shortly after 8.45am, with campaigners calling for an end to all new oil, gas and coal projects in the UK.

Escorted by about a dozen Metropolitan Police officers, the Just Stop Oil fanatics walked in the middle of the road holding orange banners and wearing hi-vis jackets as an ambulance is filmed struggling to get past them.

Campaigners ignored pleas from one officer to shift their demonstration onto the pavement, as it triggered mayhem in the city centre, with buses passing perilously close to activists.

While another officer was filmed chuckling with one of the activists as they walked backwards down the road.

Pleading with activists as cars and buses pass perilously close, one female officer says: 'Can you please move on to the pavement. Move onto the pavement please, guys.

'Continue the protest but move onto the pavement.'

Ambulances were seen to struggle through traffic created by the protesters - who did move off the road to allow the vehicle to pass on Tuesday morning (pictured)

The male confronted the group, who were blocking traffic in Elephant and Castle and screamed: 'Get out the f***ing way before you get run over'

Moments later, and an activist called Hannah is filmed giving a speech as she marches.

The 21-year-old claimed to have lived in Melbourne - which is a 10,500-mile flight away from the British capital.

She said: 'I'm from Melbourne, Australia. I have seen first hand the things that I love on fire.

'I have feared for my life and the lives of people that I love. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.'

Protesters did briefly move off the road as an ambulance tore past with its blue lights on.

But as soon as the emergency vehicle was past them, the defiant eco mob returned to causing chaos on the highway.

In a statement released on Twitter about today's march, the Met said: 'As of 09:00, officers are quickly on scene at Just Stop Oil protesters slow walking in the road Newington Causeway, #ElephantandCastle. Officers are engaging with protesters and road users.

One 21-year-old activist called Hannah (pictured, centre, speaking at Tuesday's rally) claimed to be from Melbourne, Australia

One officer, pictured right, was seen chuckling with some of the Just Stop Oil protesters during their latest slow march in London today

About a dozen police officers were pictured surrounding the latest group of Just Stop Oil protesters in London on Tuesday (pictured)

Buses passed within inches of some of the eco campaigners as they marched in the middle of the road in London on Tuesday morning (pictured)

Police later confirmed that they finally took action to disperse the group at 12.42pm, implementing a Section 12 banning order on the group after it reached Cannon Street in central London.

'The protesters have now moved out of the road, and the traffic is free-flowing,' the Met confirmed on Twitter this afternoon.

The march is the latest in a four-week stint of concerted campaigning by the group, which saw about 25 activists taking part in two marches in the capital that caused carnage for motorists on Monday.

It started at 8am when Just Stop Oil fanatics launched their first slow march through the City of London financial district.

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.'

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 zealots 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.

Activists caused a fresh wave of misery for motorists this morning with their latest slow march protest

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 Monday)

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

Eco zealots marched through Aldersgate Street, near the Barbican, in the City of London holding up buses and causing misery for motorists on Monday. This protest ended at 9.15am

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.'

But the climate change group came under fire on Monday after it was revealed a number of their activists had travelled hundreds of miles from Scotland to protest against the use of fossil fuels in London.

Ruth Lanser was one of 25 campaigners who caused chaos in the capital yesterday and and was slammed for journeying some 400 miles from Glasgow to join the protests.

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, 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 yesterday, the retired NHS worker added: 'I'm 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.'

A police officer arrives at the scene of Monday's protest as traffic begins to build (pictured)

This week's protests echoed 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'.

And on Saturday, Just Stop Oil supporters took part in another demonstration in Parliament Square, near the House of Commons.

Campaigners 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 protesters spending time in prison.

Just Stop Oil is due to stage another rally in London, outside the House of Commons, on Saturday from midday.
Calls for Sweden to leave the European Union grew on Monday as the leader of the country's second-largest party renewed his criticisms of Brussels while calling on Stockholm to take steps so it is prepared to leave the bloc.

The Sweden Democrats - an informal part of the government - have long been opposed to the country's membership of the European Union.

But with polls suggesting that the majority of Swedes want to stay in the bloc, the party has claimed it will follow the will of the people and not push for 'Swexit'.

Despite this, Jimmie Akesson, leader of the SD party, has now argued that Sweden should not let any further power be transferred from national politicians and the country's parliament to lawmakers in Brussels without a referendum.

In an article written by Akesson and Charlie Weimers, a Swedish MEP, the pair argued that the Swedish government should 'take measures and steps so that our country is prepared to leave the EU.'

Jimmie Akesson (pictured), leader of the Sweden Democrats party, has argued that Sweden should not let any further power be transferred from national politicians and the country's parliament to lawmakers in Brussels without a referendum

The measures they are proposing include a change to the constitution to enable readiness for a withdrawal. Akesson and Weimers argue that in doing so, they would be in a better negotiating position within the bloc.

'We Sweden Democrats now want to investigate how our country can prevent more transfer of power to the EU, maximize our influence and achieve better negotiation results,' the pair say in their article, published by Svenska Dagbladet.

'This is currently a more urgent issue than the discussion about membership.'

One constitutional change, they say, would be the introduction of a so-called 'referendum lock', following the British model.

This would mean that the Swedish people who have a vote on whether or not to approve any power being transferred from Sweden to Brussels.

Such a measure was also introduced by Britain in 2011 by then-Prime Minister David Cameron, who eventually went on to call the 'Brexit' referendum in 2015, with the vote taking place in 2016 and ultimately leading to Britain's exit from the EU.

In their article, Akesson and Weimers write: 'Only the knowledge that every decision on the transfer of power must be submitted to the citizens would slow down the worst abuses from Brussels.'

The Sweden Democrats also argue that the country should also prepare to leave the union completely, primarily to give the country a better foothold in negotiations, and not necessarily - they claim - the leave the EU.

'In order for preparedness to be credible, it is necessary that we remove the writings in the constitution that state that Sweden is a member of the EU,' the pair write.

'In addition, we should train a cadre of civil servants with the expertise to negotiate trade agreements and other things that we have delegated to the EU and study how Brexit could have been implemented better. The better preparedness we have to leave, the more we will gain in future negotiations.'

The party also wants to set up an investigation into how to reduce any negative effects caused by Sweden's membership of the bloc.

Pictured: The Swedish and EU flags fly in front of the Swedish parliament in Stockholm. The Sweden Democrats - an informal part of the government - have long been opposed to the country's membership of the EU. But with polls suggesting that the majority of Swedes want to stay in the bloc, the party has said it will follow the will of the people and not push for 'Swexit'

Akesson's position has been criticised by some in the ruling government in Sweden.

According to a source inside the Moderate party (M) - which heads up the country's leading right-wing bloc - some Moderates feel Akesson's actions are is weakening the position Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.

Sweden currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, making Kristersson one of the key faces of the EU during this time.

The source told Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet that the SD leader's actions are viewed as an embarrassment to the coalition, and have led to internal discussions inside the Moderate party.

Some in the party point out that only other European figure openly playing with leaving the European Union currently is Hungary's autocratic leader Victor Orban, thus putting Akesson in undesirable company, the source said.

According to the newspaper, while there are voices critical of the EU within the Moderate party, the talk of Swexit is not on the table.

The source said: 'If the SD continues to make the government's EU work more difficult, then it will have consequences for the Tido cooperation (between the four parties forming the ruling coalition), there will be more friction.'

Akesson's comments are being seen by some as an attempt to capture voices critical of the EU, and thus increase support for his right-wing party, the source noted.

'I think that SD is lagging behind too much, they have gone a step too far. To say that Sweden should prepare for a "Swexit" is very far-fetched,' the source told the newspaper. 'I think there are few who think it is time to bring up this discussion.'

They added: 'Jimmie Akesson's play was a hint that the previous stance (of wanting to leave the EU) has not been completely abandoned. If this continues, it could become a problem for the collaboration.'

Pictured: Charlie Weimers, a Swedish MEP, who joined Akesson in calling for Stockholm to make it more difficult to give more power to Brussels

Earlier this month, Akesson said the EU's expanding power meant 'German, Polish or French politicians, in practice decide what car you can buy, how expensive petrol should be and which tree you can cut down on your own property'.

The leader of the Sweden Democrats said the country should seek more exemptions from EU laws as part of a reset in relations with the 27-member group.

Akesson, whose anti-immigration party has a big influence over Sweden's right-of-centre government, then stopped short of directly calling for 'Swexit' - a vote on whether to leave the European Union as British voters did in 2016.

But he said the EU was heading in the wrong direction.

'Today, there are good reasons to seriously re-evaluate our membership in the union,' Akesson wrote in Aftonbladet at the time.

'Our general elections in Sweden will soon cease to have any significance in Sweden's development. Naturally, we can't allow that to happen.'

Akesson warned the EU might impose more liberal immigration policies on Sweden, which has taken an increasingly tough line in recent years on asylum applications.

Swedes are among the most positive in Europe regarding EU membership, with 68 per cent in support, according to a survey by Gothenburg University in March.

The country applied last year to join the NATO military alliance, which includes most EU members - including Finland which officially joined on April 4.

Sweden's own bid has so far been blocked by objections from Turkey and Hungary.

The Sweden Democrats' EU-sceptic stance was long seen as an obstacle to their acceptance into the political mainstream and the party dropped that demand in 2018 to win over more voters.

According to a source inside the Moderate party (M) - which heads up the country's leading right-wing bloc - some Moderates feel Akesson's position on the European Union is weakening the position of Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (pictured, May 3)

In last year's general election, it got 20.5 per cent of the vote.

Its support was crucial in enabling the minority Moderate, Christian Democrat and Liberal coalition to take power.

As part of the deal, the Sweden Democrats have exercised considerable influence on policy, pushing for tougher immigration rules and watered-down ambitions on climate change.

The party has threatened to bring down the coalition if it doesn't cut taxes on fuels and stand up to the EU over asylum quotas.
America is drifting ever-further from its religious roots, with more people dropping out of services, switching faiths or turning their backs on religion altogether, new research shows.

A survey by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) shows that only 16 percent of Americans say religion is the most important part of their lives  down from a fifth a decade ago.

Meanwhile, about a quarter of Americans say they used to follow a different religion to the one they currently practice  a share of the population that keeps growing.

The group's boss Melissa Deckman said religion is caught up in the tailwinds of the Covid-19 pandemic and America's fractious politics over race, the 2020 election, abortion and LGBTQ rights.

'After the tumultuous last couple of years, we see a continued shuffling of affiliation among Americans and decline in church attendance,' said Deckman.

Emptier pews in Baptist churches. Pictured: Sugar Camp Baptist Church pastor Tim Charlton preaches in Booneville, Kentucky

Only 16 percent of Americans say religion is the most important part of their lives  down from a fifth a decade ago.

Still, churchgoers are 'quite satisfied with their own congregations' and want sermons to touch upon social issues, but 'would rather avoid having challenging conversations about politics,' she added.

The group's 42-page report found that churchgoing has not recovered from the pandemic.

Poll Is religion becoming irrelevant in modern America? Yes No Is religion becoming irrelevant in modern America? Yes 71 votes

No 34 votes Now share your opinion





The number of Americans who attend church once a week fell from 19 percent in 2019 to 16 percent last year, says the survey of some 6,600 adults across all 50 states.

Only 64 percent of Americans identify as Christian nowadays  that percentage has been steadily dropping.

The share of 'nones'  those without any religious affiliation  has meanwhile risen to 27 percent.

The Catholic Church and non-evangelical Protestant denominations are shedding members the fastest.

Of those who dropped or changed their religion, most people said they were making the switch because they stopped believing in the fundamentals of the faith.

Nearly a third of leavers and switchers said they didn't like their church's treatment of LGBTQ issues.

Similar numbers said they were put off by scandals, or simply that they had never been especially religious.

Only 17 percent said they had left a faith because the congregations were becoming too political.

The group surveyed some 6,600 adults across all 50 US states

Adherents get turned off religions by scandals, personal trauma and politics

This month, it was revealed that Southern Baptist congregations shed nearly half a million members last year, the denomination's biggest one-year loss in more than a century.

Research from Lifeway Christian Resources showed that America's biggest Protestant and second-biggest Christian denomination lost 457,371 members to end the year with some 13.2 million members.

Isabella Kasselstrand, a University of Aberdeen sociologist and co-author of Beyond Doubt, a book about secularization that was released this month, said America's religious trajectory was clear.

Sociologist Isabella Kasselstrand, says religion is increasingly a 'non-issue' for Americans

Pastors are delivering sermons to emptier pews and between 6,000 and 10,000 churches closing each year, says the book.

What were once centers of a community are now being 'repurposed as apartments, laundries, laser-tag arenas, or skate parks,' says the book. Others are simply being knocked down.

About two thirds of people born between 1927 and 1945 believe in God as an 'all-knowing, all-powerful, and just creator and ruler of the universe.' Less than a third of millennials have the same degree of faith.

Still, added Kasselstrand, those who drift from faith are typically not 'anti-religious or hostile toward religion,' she added.

'Secularization is, at least down the line, ultimately associated with religious indifference,' Kasselstrand told DailyMail.com.

'To the average secular person, religion tends to become a non-issue that doesn't generate any strong opinions  not something that they actively reject.'

A Pew Research Center paper found that the number of adults identifying as Christian dropped from 90 percent in the 1990s to 64 percent last year, and would likely trend downwards into a minority faith over the coming decades.

The decline is largely due to Christians switching to 'nones'  a secular mishmash of atheists, agnostics and those with no religious identity  which was set to grow from about 30 percent last year to as much as 52 percent by 2070.

The drift away from Christianity is a trend across much of the developed world, hastened by a slew of damaging sex abuse scandals and cover-ups in the Catholic, Southern Baptist, Mormon and other churches.
Frustrated taxpayers have slammed a town hall for introducing a four-day week for their staff while hiking council tax.

South Cambridgeshire District Council has become the first in the country to give employees an extra day off.

But ratepayers were less than impressed, with several taking to social media to demand to have their bills reduced.

'Council tax reduction by 20% then,' one wrote.

Others complained about the state of local services, sharing images of roads littered with potholes and complaining of missed bin collections.

South Cambridgeshire District Council has become the first in the country to give employees and extra day off

Locals were less than impressed, with many taking to social media to complain about the state of local services and demand to have their bills reduced

Council leader Bridget Smith has been attacked for dismissing concerns about performance at South Cambridgeshire District Council as being 'minor issues'.

She's faced questions after appearing to admit the four-day working week experiment had been introduced for the benefit of its top official's secret PhD project on the topic.

Where did the five-day week come from? Prior to the Great Depression, the first example of a five-day week was seen in 1908. A mill in New England, US, allowed a two-day weekend so that Jewish workers could observe the Sabbath on Saturdays. Sunday was already a work-free day due to its holy status in Christianity. In 1926, carmaker Henry Ford gave his staff both days off, and created a 40-hour week for employees. By 1932, the US had officially adopted the five-day week, to tackle unemployment created by the Great Depression. The UK followed suit in 1933, when John Boot, from Boots corporation, closed factories on Saturdays and Sundays, and made it the company's official policy the next year. Advertisement

Yet councillors voted through a year-long extension of the policy to let all of the authority's desk-based staff work 80 per cent of their contracted hours without loss of pay.

Lib Dem Ms Smith told a council meeting: 'The day off a week is a gift. It's the gift of being able to work smarter, much more intensively and get the job done in that four-day period.'

She insisted the first three-month pilot of the four-day week had benefited the council, its staff and residents.

And she dismissed complaints that it was taking officers longer to answer phones or deal with planning applications. But Conservative group leader, councillor Heather Williams, told her: 'Agency workers are still working five days and only 61 per cent of officers on the trial claim they can do their work within four days.'

She went on: 'Bear in mind, we've put up council tax here. put up social rents, garages, everything you can think of and some people are taking on second jobs working all the hours God sends to make ends meet and then see this council giving everybody a day off.

'So is all this worth it for the taxpayer? Or are they right to feel let down and insulted?'

Fellow Tory councillor Richard Williams said he was 'shocked' to hear the failure to meet key targets described as 'minor issues'.

He added: 'If you apply for housing benefit and it takes twice as long to process your claim as before, it's not a really minor issue.'

He also challenged her about her comment on radio over the revelation that chief executive Liz Watts has been working on a doctorate on the four-day week without revealing it.

The announcement coincided with other locals sharing images of roads littered with potholes and complaining of missed bin collections

Mr Williams said: 'I think the leader needs to explain that.'

But Ms Smith replied: 'So in a word, the answer's no.'

Local Tory MP Anthony Browne said: 'This proves beyond doubt that residents are not being served by the council but used as guinea pigs.'

South Cambridgeshire District Council increased council tax by the maximum permitted 3.1 per cent earlier this year, Analysis by the TaxPayers' Alliance has found that it has increased its council tax by 142 per cent in the past 30 years.

The pressure group said: 'This is the second most in England, with only Huntingdonshire higher.'
Bud Light's sales plummeting by as much as 20 percent week-on-week could become the 'new norm' after the company's disastrous Dylan Mulvaney debacle.

Industry analysts have warned that unless something drastic changes, the negative volume trends will continue into the summer months, as a result of the beer brand's partnership with the transgender influencer.

For the week ending May 6, in-store sales of Bud Light across the US were down 23.6 percent compared to the year before. And the week before that, ending April 29, sales dropped by 23.3 percent.

This follows declines in sales for the week ending April 22, which were at 21.4 percent. And seven days earlier, the dip was 17 percent, according to NielsenIQ data provided to Dailymail.com by Bump Williams Consultancy.

Dylan Mulvaney, 26, posted her first collaboration with Bud Light on April 1.

Bump Williams, an alcohol industry analyst, said Bud Light's sales could continue to fall by as much as 20 percent a week after the beer company's Dylan Mulvaney debacle

The controversial trans influencer was sent a can of Bud Light with her face on it to celebrate a year since she transitioned from male to female.

The data - showing that US sales are dropping by as much as 20 percent each week - has since been described by industry experts as 'bad.'

Bump Williams from Bump Williams Consultancy told DailyMail.com: 'I dont think the declines in sales/volume will get any worse, but I do think their negative volume trends will continue.'

He said that sales dipping by 20 percent seems to be the new 'norm' for Bud Light.

But he added that experts are waiting to see what will happen to sales over Memorial Day and summer selling season to assess if the damage will continue.

Williams, who specializes in the alcohol industry, told the St Louis Business Journal: 'This seems to be where the brand's weekly declines have started to settle, falling in that -20% range over the past few week.

'I wonder if this is going to be the 'floor' for expected Bud Light declines moving forward unless something drastic changes.'

Anheuser-Busch has been contacted for comment.

Meanwhile, at a CVS in West Palm Beach, Florida, attempting to shift some of its Bud Light stock shelves were fully stocked with multipacks of the beers.

Onlookers joked that no one wanted to buy the alcohol following the scandal.

Mulvaney announced her partnership with Bud Light on April 1 and the backlash was immediate

Bump Williams from Bump Williams Consultancy told DailyMail.com: 'I dont think the declines in sales/Volume will get any worse, but I do think their negative volume trends will continue'

Another person said that after driving around different stores and gas stations in Mississippi, they saw an overflow of Bud products because 'no one is buying it.'

Williams previously said that Bud Light must apologize and added: 'Right now their compass is completely broken. There's no game plan.'

Williams said that without a clear plan to navigate the backlash and turn around the decline in sales, 'Bud Light is in serious trouble this year'. He said the brand is still the biggest-selling in America, but risks being overtaken by Modelo Especial by the end of the year if the backlash continues.

His assessment comes after another PR expert told DailyMail.com that Bud Light must properly address the issue or 'they're only going to further hurt themselves'.

Bud's current responses have been mealy-mouthed explanations of the Mulvaney partnership without a concrete apology to angry customers.

The outrage deepened when comments surfaced from Bud Light executive, Alissa Heinerscheid, who said the beer needed to update its 'fratty' and 'out of touch' branding.

Heinerscheid and her boss, Daniel Blake, Anheuser-Busch' VP for mainstream brands, have been placed on leave over the scandal.

This comes as figures last week revealed that Bud Light sales have plummeted in every US region in the wake of its disastrous partnership with Dylan Mulvaney.

America's flagship beer brand has been sent into a steep decline after it used the controversial trans influencer, 26, to promote the beverage.

Data from Beer Business Daily showed that sales of the US's number one brand has fallen in every region of the country.

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.

It comes as analysts at HSBC have downgraded Anheuser-Busch's stock because it is in the midst of a 'crisis' over the marketing blunder.
A man has been banned from talking about sex to any woman in England and Wales after he harassed women in shops, cafes and gyms in Chester.

Jacob Allerson, 34, was hauled to court because he 'would not take 'no' for an answer' when he 'made inappropriate comments of a sexual nature towards young women', a court heard.

He was given a five-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) by Chester magistrates with a sex gagging order covering the whole of England and Wales.

Police had asked the court to ban him from being a sex pest in Wales to stop him crossing over from the English side.

Complaints made against Mr Allerson included him following 'young female staff' from shops and he faces jail if he is caught pestering women in public again.

Jacob Allerson, 34, has been banned from talking about sex with every woman in England or Wales after he harassed women in shops, cafes and gyms in Chester

He was given a five-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) by Chester magistrates court (pictured) with a sex gagging order covering the whole of England and Wales

Inspector James Wilson said: 'Police received complaints from members of the public and businesses that their young female staff were being followed.

'Allerson would not take 'No' for an answer when he asked them out and made inappropriate comments of a sexual nature towards young women.

'Allerson continued to be a nuisance and was intimidating women who should have been able to go about their business without fear of harassment.'

The Order states that Mr Allerson is prevented from acting in any sort of way that would cause a 'female harassment, alarm or distress, including making any unsolicited explicit sexual comment, suggestions or requests to any female in a public place in England or Wales.'

He must not enter any premises in England and Wales where he has been informed verbally or in writing that has been barred or excluded.

Mr Allerson must not remain in or on any premises in England and Wales when asked to leave by any member of staff or security.

He was specifically banned from the Brio Leisure gym, Fatface shop, Caffe Nero Eastgate Street along with Bridge Street and Foregate Street, Chester.

Inspector Wilson said: 'Our priority is to protect women and make Chester a safe and enjoyable place for everyone to live, work and visit, which is why we have had to apply for this Order.

'I hope this Order will help to make women feel much safer and if anyone see Allerson breaching this Order, please contact police on 101 or via the website.'
Republicans are tearing into the press over Special Counsel John Durham's report that found the FBI did not have credible grounds to investigate links between Trump and Russia and found no collusion before the 2016 election.

Members of the GOP are slamming left-leaning outlets for publishing stories despite shaky sourcing and are now calling for The New York Times and Washington Post to have the Pulitzer Prizes they won for Kremlin 'collusion' stories taken away.

It follows damning conclusions in Durham's final report published on Monday night - including the dismantling of the Steele dossier and 'salacious' claims against Donald Trump.

Democrats meanwhile have said the conclusion of the investigation presented no new evidence and four-year investigation was a 'snooze-fest'.

'What have we learned from the Durham Report? That the New York Times and Washington Post were given a Pulitzer Prize for writing a bunch of politically motivated crap,' Senate Judiciary ranking member Lindsey Graham said in a statement.

Sen. Judiciary ranking member Lindsey Graham, left, demanded the FBI 'apologize' for ruining lives after Durham report while Chair Dick Durbin, right, said the report offered nothing new

Staff members from The New York Times and the Washington Post are pictured together after they were awarded Pulitzer Prizes for their reporting on the links between Trump and Russia before the 2016 elections. The stories have been dismantled by the Durham report

Graham called the FBI's Operation Hurricane a 'damning indictment of the FBI under James Comey and the operations of the Department of Justice' and said it 'reads like a page out of the Nixon playbook.'

Durham's report found the FBI did not have enough 'factual evidence' to investigate allegations of Trump-Russia collusion.

The investigation led to a guilty plea of a little-known FBI employee but prosecutors lost the only two criminal cases they took to trial.

The report, which is over 300 pages, revealed 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.

'I would like FBI Director Wray to get on the phone and apologize to the people that had their lives ruined by the FBI,' Graham said on Fox News Tuesday.

Democrats largely said the report offered no new findings that weren't already revealed in the DOJ Inspector General's 2019 report.

'Unlike Inspector General Horowitz's report, however, the Durham Report offers no meaningful recommendations on how the FBI can improve the application of its considerable surveillance authorities in its investigations,' said Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin.

'Donald Trump once predicted that Special Counsel Durham would uncover the 'crime of the century.' Instead, we were given a report that cost taxpayers more than $6.5 million over four years, just for it to reiterate the conclusions of the IG's 2019 report,' Durbin continued.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., demanded 'consequences' after saying the report revealed 'that Obama's FBI had zero actual evidence of collusion when they kicked off the political witch hunt of Donald Trump.'

Meanwhile House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan has called Durham to testify on Capitol Hill about the report next week.

Ranking member Jerry Nadler called the report a 'political rehashing' of what the DOJ IG found in 2019.

'Mr. Durham has, one last time, over promised and under delivered. Nothing in this report changes the outcome of the Mueller investigation, which resulted in multiple convictions, found more than one hundred contacts between the 2016 Trump campaign and the Russian government, and substantial reason to believe that Donald Trump had committed obstruction of justice,' he added.

Special Counsel Durham transmitted the report on his four-years-long investigation costing over $6 million in taxpayer dollars to Congress Monday

Special Counsel John Durham was appointed in 2019 by then-Attorney General Bill Barr to look into misconduct related to the Crossfire Hurricane probe

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.'

The FBI's opening of Crossfire Hurricane was 'based on raw, unanalyzed, and uncorroborated intelligence,' Durham states.

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.

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.

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 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.'
Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky have both agreed to separate meetings with a delegation of African heads of state to discuss a possible plan to end the war in Ukraine, according to South Africa's president.

Cyril Ramaphosa spoke with his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts by phone over the weekend, a spokesperson for his office said. They agreed to host 'an African leaders' peace mission' in Moscow and Kyiv respectively.

The leaders of Zambia, Senegal, Congo, Uganda and Egypt plan to join Mr Ramaphosa on the mission, the president said. He added that Mr Putin and Mr Zelensky gave him the go-ahead to 'commence the preparations'.

No details were provided on the possible parameters of the talks. Mr Zelensky has previously said he would not consider a peace deal to end the 15-month war until Russian forces withdraw fully from Ukrainian territory.

UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres was briefed on the African delegation's planned meetings and 'welcomed the initiative', Mr Ramaphosa said.

Vladimir Putin (pictured May 9) and Volodymyr Zelensky have both agreed to separate meetings with a delegation of African heads of state to discuss a possible plan to end the war in Ukraine, according to South Africa's president

Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky (seen right with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday in the UK) has previously said he would not consider a peace deal to end the 15-month war until Russian forces withdraw fully from Ukrainian territory

2023: A map showing which countries have condemned Russia, are leaning towards the west, are neutral, are more Russia-leaning or supportive of Russia in the context of Putin's invasion of Ukraine, according to a report by the EIU

Of the leaders due to meet with Mr Ramaphosa, Zambia and Congo lean to support the west. Senegal and Uganda are more Russia-leaning. Egypt has sought a balanced position on the conflict.

'I agreed with both President Putin and President Zelensky to commence with preparations for engagements with the African heads of state,' the South African leader said, speaking at a press conference in Cape Town during a state visit by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

'We're hoping we will have intensive discussions.'

He did not give a specific timeline for the visit or other details, saying only that the conflict had been 'devastating' and Africa 'is also suffering a great deal' from it.

African countries have been badly hit by rising prices of grain and by the impact to world trade attributed to the war.

Ramaphosa said the African leaders have been talking and consulting in recent months on how the continent can facilitate the end of the war.

'This we have been talking about as African leaders, because we concluded that conflict in that part of the world, that much as it does not affect Africa directly in the form of deaths and destruction to our infrastructure, it does have an impact on the lives of many Africans with regards to food security. Prices of fertiliser, cereals and fuel have gone up,' he said.

'Facilitated by the Brazzaville Foundation, we have been able to have these discussions, and principal to our discussions are efforts towards a peaceful resolution to the devastating conflict in the Ukraine, its cost in human lives and the impact on the African continent.'

Ramaphosa (pictured today) did not give a specific timeline for the visit or other details, saying only that the conflict had been 'devastating' and Africa 'is also suffering a great deal' from it

Pictured: Vladimir Putin, left, speaks to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in October 2019 (file photo). Considered one of Moscow's closest allies on the continent, South Africa says it is impartial and has abstained from voting on U.N. resolutions on the war in Ukraine

Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year but the war has largely stalemated, although Ukraine is expected to start a counteroffensive soon to try to take back land occupied by Russia and push Putin's forces back east.

Considered one of Moscow's closest allies on the continent, South Africa says it is impartial and has abstained from voting on U.N. resolutions on the war.

The announcement came a day after Ramaphosa said South Africa had been under 'extraordinary pressure' to pick sides in the conflict.

This followed accusations from the United States that Pretoria supplied weapons to Moscow - a move that would break with its professed neutrality.

The peace mission will be the latest in a flurry of so-far unsuccessful diplomatic efforts to still the war.

A Chinese special envoy was expected to arrive in Kyiv for a two-day visit on Tuesday to promote Beijing-led peace negotiations.

Last week Guterres told a Spanish newspaper that peace negotiations were 'not possible at this moment' with both sides 'convinced that they can win.'

But Ramaphosa said the African initiative had met with 'cautious support' in Washington and a number of European capitals visited by 'facilitators' tasked with presenting the plan.

The effort could help Pretoria rehabilitate its image as a neutral player and mediator, following accusations that it has drifted towards Russia.

The commander of South Africa's ground forces was in Moscow to discuss military cooperation on Monday, in the latest of a series of incidents that critics cite as evidence of a tilt towards the Kremlin.

Last week, the US envoy to Pretoria 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.

On Tuesday, South Africa's defence minister, Thandi Modise, denied the accusation in an interview with local newspaper the Mail & Guardian.

'Everybody now sees the spook called South Africa. I can tell you that categorically, we did not send fokol, not even a piece of Chappies to Russia,' she said referring to a local popular bubble-gum brand and using an Afrikaans expletive meaning 'nothing at all'.

On Monday, Ramaphosa said South Africa would not be drawn 'into a contest between global powers' despite having faced 'extraordinary pressure' to do so.

Ukrainian soldiers fire a cannon near Bakhmut, an eastern city where fierce battles against Russian forces have been taking place, in the Donetsk region of Ukraine, Monday, May 15

Ukrainian servicemen rest at their positions after a fight, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, near the front line city of Bakhmut, in the Donetsk region of Ukraine May 11

South Africa has refused to condemn the conflict in Ukraine, which has largely isolated Moscow on the international stage, saying it wants to stay neutral.

In a veiled criticism of that stance on Tuesday, Singapore's Lee said condemning Russia's invasion was a matter of principle.

'One country cannot invade another with impunity...a clear disapproval has to be given,' he told the press conference in Cape Town, flanked by Ramaphosa.

'We remain friends with Russia but we cannot approve of what has been done'.
Detectives investigating a mother and her lover's double murder tonight referred themselves to the police watchdog - after it emerged they spoke to both victims and the suspect days earlier.

Katie Higton, 27, was stabbed to death alongside her new boyfriend Steven Harnett at her 90,000 home in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, on Monday morning.

Police have arrested a man on suspicion of the two adults' murders. He was still being quizzed tonight.

But it was claimed today mental health nurse and mother-of-four Ms Higton had contacted police a week ago saying she was afraid of the suspect.

And tonight the Independent Office for Police Conduct confirmed: 'We have received a mandatory referral from West Yorkshire Police linked to the suspected murder of two people in Huddersfield.

It was claimed today mental health nurse and mother-of-four Ms Higton had contacted police a week ago saying she was afraid of the suspect

New boyfriend Steven Harnett was found dead at her 90,000 home in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, on Monday morning. Another man has been arrested.

'This is due to the fact officers had contact with both victims, and a man who has since been arrested on suspicion of murder, in the days prior to this tragic incident.

'We will now assess the available information to determine what further action may be required.

'Our thoughts are with all those affected by these events.'

West Yorkshire Police have placed a cordon around Harpe Inge, in the Dalton area of the town.

The street was still closed off on Tuesday morning, with five police cars still at the scene.

Ms Higton was described as 'a brilliant mother and great nurse carer for the mentally ill'

Steven Harnett had been going out with Katie and was also found murdered at the house

Police officers stand by a cordon on Harpe Inge, Huddersfield, near a property where paramedics found a man and woman with multiple injuries on Monday

Flowers left at the scene on Harpe Inge, Huddersfield, near a property where paramedics found the two victims

A resident from the street behind Harpe Inge said: 'I knew it was serious, with the air ambulance and the forensics.

'They were out all day.'

A card left with flowers at the scene said: 'RIP my darling. We love you. No more suffering.'

Another said: 'I am so sorry for how things have ended.'

A friend said Katie was one of my best friends. She added: 'She was a brilliant mother and great nurse carer for the mentally ill.

Katie Higton was stabbed to death alongside her new boyfriend at her 90,000 home in Huddersfield

Police described Ms Higton's murder as an exceptionally serious offence and arrested a man

'I'm heartbroken for her and her four kids - the littlest boy is only six months old.'

Detectives launched the murder enquiry after police were called to the house in Harpe Inge at 9.53am yesterday.

Paramedics attended at the address and found a man and woman who had suffered multiple injuries.

The man and woman were confirmed to have died at the scene.

A full police presence has been in place at the address and at nearby locations in Huddersfield while detailed forensic enquiries have been conducted.

Police were called to the address in Harpe Inge, Dalton, Huddersfield, just before 10am

West Yorkshire Police said they have arrested a man from Huddersfield, aged in his 30s

Detective Superintendent Marc Bowes of the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said: 'This has clearly been an exceptionally serious offence and I can promise residents that a full investigation is ongoing into the murder of this man and woman.

'We are conducting extensive enquiries at the scene and at other locations in the Dalton area as we investigate the circumstances of what took place.

He added: 'I am appealing for anyone who saw suspicious activity overnight or this morning at the property on Harpe Inge to contact us.

'Residents in the nearby area will also note an increased police presence on their streets and I want to reassure them and the wider community we are doing all we can to bring persons responsible for this offence to justice.'

Anyone who can assist the investigation is asked to contact the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team on 101 referencing police log 408 of 15 May.
GHA announce new 5-year National Dementia Strategy

The GHA has announced a new 5-year National Dementia Strategy to facilitate an improvement in the quality of life of those living with dementia and their families and carers by strengthening existing services using an integrated and focused approach.

The new strategy builds on existing services and takes a multi-agency stakeholder method so that the person living with dementia becomes central to the service provision. This will achieve the best possible outcomes at all stages of the dementia journey for the person living with dementia, their families, their carers and the Gibraltar community.

The National Dementia Strategy aims to improve public and professional awareness and understanding of dementia in Gibraltar. Improving awareness and understanding will inform individuals and their families about the importance of early diagnosis and promote the prevention of dementia. Raising both awareness and understanding will encourage behaviour change in terms of seeking help and provision whilst reducing stigma.

The 2023-2028 strategy has four key objectives aimed at improving the quality of life for people living with dementia:

1. Raising awareness and understanding to ensure better knowledge about dementia and removing the associated stigma.

2. Early diagnosis and support to ensure that people with dementia get the necessary support and treatment as early as possible.

3. Living well with dementia to develop the necessary services to meet the needs of people living with dementia in the community.

4. Leadership and Governance to ensure we have the right people in the right place/position with the right skill set to implement this strategy.

To achieve its vision, the GHA has appointed Deputy Nursing Coordinator Karen Truman to the newly established role of Dementia Coordinator to lead on the implementation of this strategy. This post will be central to the interactions between government departments, charities, voluntary organisations and the community and will be held to account by all stakeholders for performance managing the roll-out of the Strategys key objectives. As Dementia Coordinator Karen will make a significant difference in guiding people living with dementia and their families and main carers through the dementia journey by facilitating a two-way process that enables people with dementia to contribute directly to the policymaking and strategies. She will link with the community by signposting and facilitating the required health and social care input through the dementia journey.

The Dementia Coordinator will be held to account by the National Dementia Steering Group for the implementation of all plans and actions. The function of this Steering Group is to ensure the strategy is achieved by working together towards meeting its goals and objectives. This Steering Group will work closely with service users and their representatives and report to the relevant boards/committee structure within their organisations. The strategy will be underpinned by a detailed action plan including a financial/workforce plan with key milestones set for each year to ensure objectives are achieved and that any financial challenges are addressed as part of the annual budget setting processes by all organisations involved. An annual review will also take place on how well the objectives of this strategy have been implemented.

The GHA Director General, Prof Patrick Geoghegan OBE, said: As Chair of the Gibraltar National Dementia Steering Group, I would like to thank the GHA, ERS and our key partners including the Care Agency, Housing Department, and voluntary organisations particularly the Gibraltar Alzheimers and Dementia Society, for their input and support in developing this document. Importantly, Id like to thank the people who use our services and their carers who have helped us understand what it is like to live with dementia. In this way, I believe the strategy reflects the needs of the service user. I would also like to thank our staff who work so hard to serve the needs of people with dementia and their caregivers. As Director General, I am proud to be associated with the development of this strategy and am delighted that a Multi-Agency Steering Group continues to oversee its implementation.

Minister for Health and Care, the Hon Albert Isola, said: Our vision is to create a Dementia Friendly Country, where people with dementia are valued and able to live well at every stage of their dementia journey. This strategy will raise awareness and understanding of dementia, facilitating an early diagnosis so that people living with dementia, and their families and carers, can be supported to live and die well with dementia, anywhere in Gibraltar. As Minister for Health and Care I give my full support to the National Dementia Steering Group in delivering this most important agenda.

The Chief Minister, the Hon Fabian Picardo, said: There is no subject that could be closer to my heart than our Health Authority's approach to thise with dementia. I know this is as true for other members of the Government and Parliament and many in out community who have seen loved ones held hostage by dementia in its various forms. Beyond the GHA, the Government is committed to ensuring that Gibraltar is a Dementia Friendly community. This strategy is an important step forward in bringing together services and stakeholders to ensure that those living with this disease, and their families, are cared for in the most respectful and dignified manner.
Robinson's death was initially ruled alcohol poisoning, but an autopsy later revealed she died from a broken neck and other massive trauma

The FBI has refused to share the autopsy results in the death of Shanquella Robinson with her family, despite a video that shows the young woman being beaten in a hotel room in Mexico.

The 25-year-old North Carolina woman rented a villa in the resort city of San Jose del Cabo with a group of friends, known as the 'Cabo Six,' to celebrate a friend's birthday. A day after she arrived, however, she was found dead inside one of the rooms of their rental property.

Robinson's death was initially ruled to be caused by alcohol poisoning, but an autopsy later revealed that the social media personality had died from a broken neck and other massive trauma to her body.

A horrifying video that went viral shows one of Robinson's friends allegedly beating her shortly before her body was found.

Robinson's distraught family is demanding more transparency from the authorities and want to see the autopsy results themselves, The US Sun reported.

The 25-year-old North Carolina woman, who traveled to a resort in San Jose del Cabo with a group of friends to celebrate a birthday, was found dead on October 29, 2022

American woman, 25, found dead in Mexico is seen being brutally beaten by friends in a hotel room - after they claimed she died of alcohol poisoning: Autopsy found she had a broken neck

Robinson's family lawyer Sue-Ann Robinson (no relation to the deceased) told the US Sun that the 'family is deeply disappointed' with US authorities' lack of action in the case.

Robinson's death certificate listed the cause of death as severe spinal cord injury and atlas luxation, defined as an instability or excessive movement in the uppermost neck vertebrae, CNN affiliate WBTV reported.

In November, less than a month after she died, Mexican authorities were investigating the young woman's death as a homicide. An arrest warrant was issued for at least one of the six friends that Robinson traveled with.

But, five months later, the FBI decided they would not pursue charges against any of the friends, claiming a lack of evidence in the case.

Family attorney Sue-Ann Robinson, (no relation to the deceased), told the US Sun.

'We all saw what happened on the video, and we are demanding that US authorities step in and prioritize the case and allow the extradition process to flow, allow Mexican authorities to prosecute the person they've identified as the aggressor in Mexican courts.'

In March, a letter was sent to President Biden demanding that the 'direct aggressor' in the beating video be extradited to face charges in Mexico.

'Because we need a high level of diplomatic intervention, we sent the correspondence to the highest diplomats in our country,' Sue-Ann said at the time.

She said that FBI told her they are not able to release the documents [autopsy results] to them because the case is still open, and they are still waiting for documents to be translated to English that they received from the Mexican authorities.

Despite the response, Robinson said there are 'red flags everywhere.'

'You've made a decision in the case, you've announced the decision publicly to the family and to the public,' she said, in part, 'but you're saying the case is still not closed and admitting that some of the documents from the investigative file that arguably would affect your decision to charge have not been fully translated.'

She said the 'family is deeply disappointed' with US authorities' lack of action in the case,' after they learned that their loved one's autopsy results would not be shared.

'They're concerned, obviously, about the red flags and the lack of transparency in the investigation, but they're not deterred,' Robinson said.

Shanquella's mother Salamondra Robinson (right) and another family member of Robinson have been devastated since the young woman's death and want justice for their loved one

Shanquella pictured pool side while away on a Mexican vacation with friends

The family plans to travel to Washington, DC, on Friday, which would mark 200 days since her death.

'There should be a level of urgency, a level of prioritization by the US authorities that just isn't there yet,' their lawyer said.

Robinson even traveled to Mexico to move the investigation along. She said the initial probe is completed and an extradition packet has been presented to the US government.

'It was a surreal experience in the sense that I've been an attorney for almost 17 years. I'm a former prosecutor, criminal defense attorney. I have never had to physically go to another country to investigate on behalf of any family,' she told the US Sun.

'So it was unreal in that regard because the lengths that this family has had to go through while trying to grieve a loved one but also seek justice on behalf of the loved one at the same time  it's a very heavy burden.'

Last month, the FBI told the Sun in a statement that Robinson's case has been a 'priority' for officials.

The attorney and Robinson's family is hoping and praying that justice will come soon for their loved one.
The family of a British father who was allegedly attacked by a group of bouncers in Spain and knelt on by police officers has claimed the man was injected twice with super-strength painkiller fentanyl.

Tobias White-Sansom, 35, died in July last year after falling into a coma following the reported brawl with bouncers in Magaluf in Majorca, Spain.

After petitioning Spanish officials for his body to be released and flown back to the UK, they buried White-Sansom in Nottingham in October last year. The father left behind his two young daughters Jasmine and Poppy.

But now the family claims that shortly before the father went into cardiac arrest, he was injected with a double dose of fentanyl by the Spanish medics. They say the medics were acting under the orders of police.

The police force previously claimed they attended the scene on the Magaluf strip last July following reports of an assault on a bouncer and that a suspect had to be restrained before being hospitalised and later dying.

Tobias White-Sansom, 35, died in July last year. he is pictured with his two young daughters Jasmine and Poppy

Bouncers are seen restraining White during the incident in July last year in Magaluf in Majorca, Spain

The Mirror reported that a medical report seen by the publication shows that two doses of the strong opioid painkiller was administered to White-Sansom intravenously.

The first dose was reportedly given to him while he lay on the ground outside the Magaluf nightclub and the second while in an ambulance.

The NHS describes fentanyl as a strong opioid painkiller used to treat severe pain during or after an operation or a serious injury.

White-Sansom's brother, Maximillian White, told The Mirror: 'Realistically, I think that Toby died from the fentanyl which they injected him with.

'They pulled him outside the club while he was semi-conscious and handcuffed. They sat on him while he was shouting about not being able to breathe and they then decided to give him an injection.

'It was after that injection which sent him into cardiac arrest. Then when the ambulance came and he was okay, they gave him another injection and that took him into cardiac arrest again. Are the police allowed to do that?'

The family is unsure of the exact quantity that was administered to White-Sansom. A single dose is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine.

Speaking to The Mirror, White-Sansom's brother said he did not understand why police would inject him with fentanyl if they were claiming he was aggressive.

He said he was also unsure why they would have not administered adrenaline instead if it was the case that he passed out.

Maximillian White said his brother never really had a chance and now his children are getting older and having to learn to live without their father

A Civil Guard spokesman at the time said they had responded to an incident at a nightclub in Magaluf (pictured) in the early hours in July last year

Tobias White, 35, died at Son Llatzer Hospital in July last year, a week after being admitted to intensive care and placed in an induced coma following an incident at the Boomerang nightclub in Magaluf (pictured)

'However you want to look at it, it doesn't seem right what they did. They can say that Toby died days later at the hospital, but Toby died outside that nightclub on those streets by himself, after he was injected the first time,' he said.

Maximillian White said his brother never really had a chance and now his children are getting older and having to learn to live without their father.

Acting Senior Coroner Andrew Barkley, of Staffordshire South Coroners Service, has previously ruled that an inquest into White-Sansom's death will be necessary.

The family says they are now waiting on the coroner's office for a timetable to move forward with the inquest.

At the time, a Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said in a statement: 'We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Mallorca and are in contact with the local authorities.'
A Left-wing Trump-bashing newspaper has refused to return its 2018 Pulitzer Prize over the now-debunked theory that the ex-president conspired with Russia.

The Washington Post and New York Times picked up the most-vaunted award in American journalism for its 'deeply sourced, relentlessly reported coverage.'

But the DC-based outlet, which is bankrolled by Democrat-donating Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos, insists it will not give up its National Reporting honor.

'The Post stands by its reporting,' a Washington Post spokeswoman said.

The Post told DailyMail.com that it 'stands by its reporting', rejecting calls to return its 2018 Pulitzer Prize

The newspapers are now facing calls to hand back Pulitzers won for their coverage of the story

She cited a 2022 review by the Pulitzer board that said no elements of those stories 'were discredited by facts that emerged subsequent to the conferral of the prizes.'

The calls follow an investigation by Special Counsel John Durham that trashed the the FBI's probe into allegations of collusion between Trump and Russia.

'Neither US 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 report said.

But Erik Wemple, the Washington Post's media critic, has repeatedly slammed liberal outlets that ran stories based on a dossier by ex-British spy Christopher Steele.

The journalist's columns hit out at the 'flimsiness' of Steele's allegations that claimed there was a long-running conspiracy between Trump and the Kremlin.

Wemple's main targets were the left-leaning news networks CNN and MSNBC that breathlessly reported bogus allegations of Trump's lewd behavior in a Moscow hotel.

Many of the Post's stories focused on Trump campaign staffers, including ex-National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, making contact with Russian officials.

The New York Times failed to respond to this outlet's queries as to whether the newspaper stood by all of its so-called 'Russiagate' reporting.

DailyMail.com understands that many of those outlets that broke those exclusives were working closely together on the story.

'If Americans saw how this sausage was made, they would be appalled,' said one source familiar with how the media reported the collusion claims.

It comes as Republican lawmakers demand both newspapers return the prizes over what they have branded a 'witchhunt.'

Arch Trump loyalist Lindsey Graham, a Congressman representing South Carolina, told Fox News that both publications should hand back the honors.

'I think the Pulitzer Prize given to the Washington Post and New York Times should be taken back,' he told the U.S. news network.

'The entire episode was politically-motivated crap. That is not something you should get a Pulitzer Prize for,' the 67-year-old added.

Senator Ted Cruz of Texas slammed the self-styled papers of record 'for breathlessly spreading these "Russia, Russia, Russia" lies.'

Congressman Lindsey Graham, left, has demanded the FBI 'apologize' for ruining lives after Durham report while Chair Dick Durbin, right, said the report offered nothing new

Former NYT executive editor Dean Baquet was criticized in a scathing review of the newspaper's coverage of the Trump-Russia saga by the Columbia Journalism Review

British ex-intelligence officer Christopher Steele compiled the infamous dossier of material on Donald Trump and the then-candidate's Russia ties

A report by Special Counsel John Durham discredits a dossier by a British ex-spy that was swallowed up by the media, including The NYT and Washington Post

The Durham investigation comes hot on the heels of a scathing report by the Columbia Journalism Review (CJR), which took aim at The Times for its coverage of the Trump-Russia saga.

The CJR, the in-house publication of America's most prestigious journalism school, spent 18 months digging into the media's reporting of Trump's alleged ties to Russia.

The report contained criticism of the media as a whole, but author Jeff Gerth reserved particular disdain for The Times.

The investigative journalist introduced his findings by stating his belief that the newspaper had damaged its credibility outside its 'own bubble'.

Renowned journalist Bob Woodward told him coverage of the Russia probe 'wasn't handled well'.

In its reporting, The Times claimed Christopher Steele had 'a credible track record'.

In March 2017, The Post ran the headline: 'FBI wants to pay author of Trump dossier: Arrangement fell apart but shows bureau found his inquiry credible.'

Yet the report never quoted anyone saying the dossier was credible.

It was later that year that The Times ran its Papadopoulos piece - the last story in its Pulitzer entry - with the headline: 'Unlikely Source Propelled Russian Meddling Inquiry.'

This claimed that it was in fact the Trump adviser, not the dossier that fueled the FBI investigation.

Papadopoulos has never been accused of or charged with conspiring with Russia, but served 12 days in prison for lying to the FBI.

But in November 2021, the Washington Post would retract large chunks of two articles published in 2017 and 2019 that relied on the Steele dossier.

Sally Buzbee, the executive editor for the Washington Post, said the newspaper was unable to stand by the accuracy of their reporting regarding source Sergei Millian - former president of the Russian-American Chamber of Commerce - noting the indictment filed by Durham that month.

The Times has not issued any retractions, but Jeff Gerth, a former reporter for the paper himself, said that it was one of many news organizations that 'were quick to highlight the lack of firsthand evidence' for many of Steele's 'substantive allegations'.

In his concluding remarks, the CJR reporter slammed the NYT for ignoring a publicly available document showing the FBI didn't think there was much evidence of Trump-Russia collusion.

He also cited the newspaper's repeated failures to seek comment from the person it was accusing of wrongdoing in its articles - a fundamental tenet of rigorous reporting - and its consistent reliance on vague, anonymous sources.
The daughter of Des O'Connor is taking legal action against the Metropolitan Police after an officer who made 'made sexual advances' towards her following an attempted mugging kept his job.

DCI James Mason, 34, allegedly made inappropriate advances to Kristina O'Connor after the incident in 2011.

Ms O'Connor said the officer asked her 'invasive' questions with 'sexual overtones' and later followed these up with inappropriate messages, calling her 'amazingly hot' and asking her out for a drink.

A misconduct hearing in October 2021 found he had breached professional standards but he kept his job as an aide to former commissioner Dame Cressida Dick and was only given a written warning.

He remains a serving officer.

Kristina O'Connor, 33, is taking legal action against the Met Police over its handling of DCI James Mason's misconduct investigation after the officer kept his job

Miss O'Connor is the daughter of late entertainer Des O'Connor (pictured together), who died in 2020; and she is a musician in her own right

Ms O'Connor has brought a judicial review against the Met's Police Misconduct Panel for 'enabling misogyny'.

Emails between DCI Mason and Kristina O'Connor The day after she reported her attack, Miss O'Connor got back in touch with DCI Mason to check on the progress of the investigation. Below are some of the messages they exchanged between them. MASON: 'Please look after yourself while youre out in Camden. 'Hopefully you will not be a victim of crime again but if you ever fancy having a drink with a very discreet police officer just let me know, it would be my pleasure. 'If you have any visible injuries that you would like me to record then I am happy to take a picture for you and save it in case we manage to get any further in the investigation. I hope it doesnt hurt too much and I am sure you still look amazingly hot. O'CONNOR: 'Youre presuming that Im unaffected enough by the crime to come on to me? Isnt there some kind of code of practice that you are breaking right now?' MASON: 'Kristina, have faith in my detective ability and experience. Actually, coming on to victims is positively encouraged, its all part of the friendly and accessible face of the Met Police. Its the rejection thats frowned upon.' O'CONNOR: 'You have no shame! You could get fired for this!' MASON: 'You are probably right on both counts. I can assure that I am as determined in my pursuit of criminals as I am of beautiful women if that helps. You know where I am if you ever change your mind or need a friendly police officer.' Advertisement

She says the investigation was flawed and her complaint was not dealt with adequately.

She claims that DCI Mason asked her whether she had a boyfriend, what she wore to work and whether he could take her out for dinner after she was attacked while buying groceries on her way home.

Ms O'Connor's barrister Fiona Murphy, KC, told the High Court the matter was not treated as a complaint of harassment under the Equality Act as it should have been.

'When impropriety involves the potential compromise of an investigation that equates to operational dishonesty.

'That has special significance which should have had consequences.'

She said the investigation failed to look into DCI Mason's previous behaviour adequately.

'You cannot have a lawful investigation into predatory sexual misconduct without looking into any previous patterns of that behaviour- any complaints about similar matters.

'It was not enough for the commissioner to dust down the complaint file and look at that.

'They should have been looking at conduct matters and matters from civil litigation.'

She said DCI Mason had not been interviewed but had been allowed to submit his account via email.

'There is a requirement to probe an officer's account where there is a discrimination matter.

'The failure to unpick the officer's account and ask him why he behaved as did ended up with a situation where an email from him became the accepted version of events- with no questioning.

'This all led from deciding not to interview him. He wasn't asked questions...'

Caoilfhionn Gallagher, KC, a second barrister representing Ms O'Connor

said that the overall focus of the misconduct proceedings should have been to protect the integrity of the police force.

She said that the impact on DCI Mason and references written in his support by his colleagues were given an undue weight.

'The central purpose of the misconduct process is not punishment, but protecting the integrity of the police force.

'The importance of making the sanction to protect the public interest and faith in the police must take precedence over any impact on an individual officer.'

DCI James Mason was an aide to former Met Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick

She said that DCI Mason had misused his police email address for a sexual purpose.

'This was an abuse of authority for sexual gain - many people come into contact with the police when they are in a vulnerable situation, as was the case for Ms O'Connor.

'They have a right to be treated professionally.

'This was sexual harassment of a woman ten years his junior, who was junior to him in the situation as he was an officer, who was vulnerable as a victim of crime.

'This is a form of discrimination against younger women.'

The hearing will continue tomorrow. Mr Justice Swift is expected to reserve judgement.

Des O'Connor, who was the legendary butt of the jokes of Morcambe and Wise, died in 2020 aged 88.
She is well known as being the voice of Bart Simpson as well as other characters in The Simpsons, including Nelson Muntz, Ralph Wiggum and Todd Flanders

Simpsons star Nancy Cartwright has been awarded by the Church of Scientology for donating over $21 million to the organization.

The Simpsons star, 65, who is best known as the voice of Bart Simpson, was awarded a trophy for reaching 'Patron Excalibur With Honors' level status late last year.

Cartwright was photographed at the event at the Fort Harrison Hotel in Clearwater, Florida, alongside Scientology CEO David Miscavige.

Speaking in the new issue of Scientology's Impact magazine, Cartwright said: 'This was the most beautiful acknowledgement I have ever received in my entire life.'

Pictured: Cartwright (left) and Scientology head Miscavige (right) at the ceremony at the end of last year

Pictured: Cartwright attends the 38th annual L. Ron Hubbard Achievement Awards in April 2022

Cartwright, who voices other characters in the series including Nelson Muntz, Ralph Wiggum and Todd Flanders, converted to the Church in 1991.

She had previously defended the Church after an HBO documentary about Scientology, titled 'Going Clear', was released in 2015.

The documentary deconstructed the background of the organization by presenting a history of the group and its founder, L. Ron Hubbard.

The film alleged that stars including John Travolta had been forced to stay in Scientology for fear secrets surrounding their personal life would be exposed.

Backing the Church, Cartwright said: 'That movie, I don't know what to tell you, it's called prejudice.

'It's very irresponsible reporting.'

In 2007, Cartwright was awarded Scientology's Patron Laureate Award after she donated $10,000,000 to the Church.

Pictured: CEO of the Church of Scientology David Miscavige in Auckland, New Zealand, 2017

Nancy is well known as the voice of The Simpsons' main character Bart Simpson, pictured here in 2018 in New York City

Pictured: The exterior of the Scientology building on Fountain Avenue, East Hollywood, which serves as the group's west coast headquarters

Her donations in 2007 topped those of some of the biggest Hollywood names in the organization, including Tom Cruise.

In 2019, she was reported to have reached 'Diamond Laureate With Honors', reflecting she had given the organization about $17.5 million.

In 2008, trade paper Variety reported that the cast of The Simpsons had signed a four-year deal that would see their salaries bolstered.

Variety said that Cartwright's salary would rise to a staggering $400,000 per episode.

In the past, the cast have argued that their wages are relatively low given the huge popularity and success of The Simpsons.
A high-ranking leader of the Sinaloa Cartel was arrested just moments before he was set to undergo facial surgery as part of his plan change his appearance and avoid being captured.

Hector 'El 15' Flores was taken into custody Friday by the Mexican army and National Guard at a clinic in Guamuchil, Sinaloa.

'He was going to enter a clinic to transform his face,' Quintana Roo Attorney General Oscar Montes de Oca said during a press conference Monday. 'He had also had some hair grafts and wanted to change.'

Security forces spent about seven or eight months searching for Flores, who led a gang linked to Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman's four sons who operate the Los Chapitos network, Montes de Oca added.

Hector Flores, a high-ranking leader of the Sinaloa Cartel faction known as Los Chapitos - which is led by El Chapo' sons - was arrested Friday in Sinaloa, Mexico, at a clinic where he was set to undergo facial surgery

Security forces escort Hector 'El 15' Flores at an airport in Cancun following his capture in Sinaloa on Friday. Authorities allege Flores was responsible for directing violent attacks throughout the Caribbean state of Quintana Roo, where the Sinaloa Cartel maintains a tight grip on the drug trade

The government had issued a $57,000 reward for information leading to Flores' arrest.

Flores, authorities alleged he was responsible for directing violent attacks throughout the Caribbean state of Quintana Roo, where the Sinaloa Cartel maintains a tight grip on the drug trade. They also accuse him of overseeing operations in Cancun.

He reportedly ordered a series of attacks that were unleashed across several bars near the resort city's hotel zone on May 6.

In addition, Flores allegedly was behind the murders of four men whose bodies were found on the beach next to the the all-inclusive Fiesta Americana Condesa Hotel in Cancun on April 4.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Los Chapitos network is headed by Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar and Joaquin Guzman Lopez.

Their sibling, Ovidio Guzman Lopez, is currently sitting in a Mexico City prison and battling the U.S. government's petition to have him extradite.

All four were among 29 members of the cartel who were indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice on April 14 running a prolific fentanyl trafficking operation.

The government alleged they received their chemicals - mostly from China - for the manufacture of synthetic drugs in Mexico before moving them to the U.S. to launder the proceeds of drug trafficking.

Los Chapitos allegedly used aircraft, submarines, container ships, fishing vessels, and other transportation methods to transport their drugs and precursor chemicals. They allegedly maintained a network of couriers, tunnels, and stash houses throughout Mexico and the US.

Flores had also undergone surgery to add hair grafts to his head as part of his plan to change his appearance and avoid being captured

The Drug Enforcement Administration announced on April 13 a $10 million reward for information that leads to the arrest and/or conviction of Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar, one of Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman's four sons who operate half of the Sinaloa Cartel

Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar (pictured) joined his brother, Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar, in the DEA's 10 most-wanted list

Joaquin Guzman-Lopez (left) and Ovidio Guzman-Lopez (right) are two of El Chapo's four sons who have taken over the Sinaloa Cartel following his arrest and extradition to the United States

El Chapo's sons responded to the accusations by addressing their countrymen and rest of the world on May 3 when they had a letter dropped off by their lawyer at the offices of Mexican news outlet Milenio, claiming that they are not the leaders of the transnational criminal organization their jailed father co-founded.

'We are not the head of the Sinaloa Cartel nor are we interested in being,' Los Chapitos wrote. 'What does exist is a countless number of small and large groups that have their base of operations in the state or are made up of people from Sinaloa and operate in other parts of the country or even in other parts of the world.

'These groups operate completely independently of others and are not accountable to us, nor do we request them.'

Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman's Sinaloa Cartel has played a role in manufacturing and smuggling fentanyl to the United States

U.S. prosecutors allege that Los Chapitos receive precursor chemicals to produce fentanyl from China and then manufacture it at clandestine labs in Mexico before smuggling it to the United States

According to the DEA, Los Chapitos provide fentanyl to 27 cities across the United States

In the missive, the siblings attempted to discredit DEA allegations that they were behind the production and smuggling of fentanyl to the United States.

'The fame of our name reached an unsuspected position. We have never worked with fentanyl,' the letter read. 'However, in Sinaloa there are many who work it. That is why there are seizures, which have a first and last name, investigate.

'It's easy to know who really owns all those seizures. We have never knowingly established relationships with people who traffic fentanyl. We want to make the following clear: Ivan will never say or say "we will flood the streets of the United States with fentanyl."'

Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar and Jesus Alfredo Guzman are wanted by the United States government - $10 million rewards for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of each one of them is being offered.

A $5million reward is also being offered for Joaquin Guzman Lopez.
A Scottish rapist who avoided jail despite attacking a 13-year-old girl in a park has moved out of his home and reportedly changed his name amid a furious backlash that he has not been locked up, a court heard.

Sean Hogg, 21, was found guilty of raping the vulnerable teenager in Midlothian, Scotland in 2018.

But judge Lord Lake said the age of the rapist, who was 17 at the time of the attack, had to be taken into account when passing sentence. It means Hogg, of Hamilton, Lanarkshire, will only have to carry out 270 hours of unpaid work.

The judge went on to tell Hogg that if he had been over 25 at the time, he would have been facing a jail term of up to five years.

The decision sparked widespread condemnation including from the young victim, rape campaigners and the Harry Potter author JK Rowling.

Sean Hogg, 21, (pictured outside the High Court in Glasgow today) was found guilty of raping the vulnerable teenager at Dalkeith Country Park in Midlothian, Scotland in 2018

Under new court guidance, criminals under the age of 25 are treated more leniently because of their alleged brain immaturity. Pictured: High Court in Glasgow

Under new court guidance, criminals under the age of 25 are treated more leniently because of their alleged brain immaturity.

The guidelines were drawn up by the controversial Scottish Sentencing Council (SCC), which was set up by the SNP Government in 2015 - a year after Nicola Sturgeon became first minister - and led by Lady Dorrian, the Lord Justice Clerk.

As the rapist was 17 at the time, the judge handed him a more lenient sentence.

He stated: 'Prison does not lead me to believe this will contribute to your rehabilitation.'

Prosecutors are now appealing the sentencing as being 'unduly lenient'.

Appearing back at the High Court in Glasgow today, the court heard that Hogg had since moved home and was living under a new identity having changed his name to Sean Kay, according to the Daily Record.

It has prompted concerns that he could now go undetected when he entering future relationships.

Defence KC Donald Findlay again represented Hogg at the hearing. He stated the measures sought were 'so restrictive it is almost the equivalent to a crime prevention order under another guise'.

Mr Findlay also told the court there had been some localised issues after Hogg were sentenced in April.

The court heard today that Hogg had moved from his previous home in Hamilton, Lanarkshire. It follows reports that he had changed his name to Sean Kay

The advocate added that this was no longer applicable because he had left the area and is now living in a place with family members.

Hoggs previous address on court papers was in Hamilton, Lanarkshire.

His new location was not revealed during the hearing.

Lord Lake said he had not been aware there had been a change of locality.

Mr Findlay stated Hogg had completed 30 of the 270 hours of unpaid work so far and that South Lanarkshire Council were helping with the 'transfer' of the order to the authority where he is now based.

Lord Lake went on to impose the extra measures which Hogg must adhere to while out on the streets.

This includes the sex attacker having to reveal to his supervising officer any new partner or friends he makes as well as anyone he may be living with.

The judge: 'If you enter into anything that you may consider a friendship, you must inform your supervising officer.

'Intimate relationships can be interpreted as romantic or sexual relationships.

'Enter into any of those or even starting one, you must tell your supervising officer.'

Hogg must pass on all personal details of any of these individuals.

Lord Lake: 'You would have to provide the identity and all contact information - name, addresses, email, phone numbers, social media tags, anything.'

Another measure is that Hogg cannot 'give out his address details' unless, by law, he is asked or on the approval of his supervising officer.

He must also stay clear of the victim and her family as well as report on any new job he has.

Lord Lake asked Hogg: 'Do you agree to comply with the requirements in this order in full?'

Hogg: 'Yes, your honour.'

If he decides to flout the order, he will be brought back to court.
CNN suffered a humiliating ratings slump during Friday night's prime time spot as it was beaten by fledgling rival Newsmax for the first time.

The cable channel was trounced by the conservative station in every slot from 8pm to 11pm. Star anchor Anderson Cooper mustered just 447,000 viewers for his flagship 360 show - 20,000 less than Eric Bolling, formerly of Fox News.

Cooper's new Friday night show at 9pm, The Whole Story With Anderson Cooper, fell even wider of the mark with 293,000 tuning in. That compares to 325,000 who watched Chris Plante, an ex-Pentagon Correspondent for CNN, on Newsmax.

In the 10pm slot, Chris Wallace - the Democrat-voting former Fox host - managed just 263,000 viewers compared to Greg Kelly who secured an audience of 278,000.

CNN averaged 325,000 prime time viewers, while Newsmax netted an average of 357,000. The liberal news channel is now being thumped by a cable station which only started broadcasting in 2014. Meanwhile its old rival Fox hauled in an average of 1.44million prime time viewers and MSNBC netted 1.08million.

CNN averaged 325,000 prime time viewers on Friday night, while Newsmax netted an average of 357,000

The cable channel was trounced by the conservative station in every prime time slot from 8pm to 11pm. Star anchor Anderson Cooper mustered just 447,000 viewers for his flagship 360 show - 20,000 less than Eric Bolling, formerly of Fox News

In the 25-54 age demographic, which is important to networks for advertising revenue, CNN fared better but still lagged behind its major rivals.

Prime time viewing figures in this category were 7 percent higher than the prior four Fridays, while both Fox and MSNBC were down double digits, 29 percent and 18 percent respectively.

The Warner Bros Discovery-owned channel brought in 87,000 average viewers. Fox led with 109,000 viewers, MSNBC was in second with 98,000 and Newsmax trailed with 45,000.

After 9pm, no CNN show managed to breach the 300,000 viewer threshold.

Meanwhile Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham and Greg Gutfield all averaged at least 1.4million.

Gutfield won Fox its best ratings of the day with 1.7million viewers between 11pm and midnight for his self-titled comedic panel show.

Over on MSNBC the heaviest hitter of the day came well before prime time at 5pm with Ari Ambler's The Beat on 1.4million viewers. Alex Wagner's show at 9pm was its strongest prime time showing with an audience of 1.2million.

It comes after CNN saw its best viewing figures in years last week when it hosted Donald Trump's town hall.

The channel had 3.3million viewers in his 8pm slot last Thursday. In the key demographic of 25-54, the ratings increased to 781,000 - five times the average.

The blockbuster ratings were what CNN boss Chris Licht, whose been tasked with turning the network around, was hoping for.

Until the departure of Tucker Carlson suddenly last month, 3million viewers was an ordinary nightly audience for Fox.

Ratings have dropped drastically in his absence.

The audience was double that of Fox and MSNBC in the same hour, and makes a mockery of the 473,000 average CNN pulled in in March this year

CNN boss Chris Licht took over last year and vowed to cleanse the network of its bias. He has been slammed for giving Trump a platform

But CNN staffers like media reporter Oliver Darcy despaired over Trump's town hall, calling it a 'spectacle of lies' and fuming at Licht for the decision.

Some unnamed employees told outlets like Rolling Stone that it was a 'f*****g disgrace', so intense was their disgust with Licht and the decision.

Unaffected by their rage, Licht 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.'

Since last year, CNN's ratings have plummeted. In March, viewership in primetime hours was down by 61 percent.
The white New York City hospital employee who was caught on camera apparently stealing a Citi Bike from a black man and accusing him of assaulting her has been placed on leave.

In a tweet on Tuesday, Bellevue Hospital officials said the health care provider in the video 'is currently out on leave and will remain on leave pending a review.' It is unclear whether she is being paid while on leave or not.

The hospital noted, however, that the woman in the video was 'off duty' at the time and the incident occurred 'away from the hospital campus,' though she could be seen wearing her blue scrubs in the video  which seemed to have been shot outside of the Manhattan medical center.

In that viral video, which has even been shared by famed civil rights attorney Ben Crump, the woman could be seen trying to grab the Citi Bike from a black man, whose friends claimed he rented it, and accusing him of hurting her unborn baby.

She has not yet been publicly identified.

'The incident in the video is disturbing,' the hospital said in its latest statement.

A viral video purports to show a white woman trying to steal a Citi Bike from a man who had already paid for it

In the video, the unidentified Bellevue Hospital employee could be seen screaming for help

The hospital put out a statement on Tuesday saying the health care provider in the video is 'currently out on leave and will remain on leave pending a review'

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 man's friends tells the woman that he is recording the situation as he 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 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 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 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 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 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 man's cellphone in the video

The 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.

On Monday, Bellevue Hospital released its first statement to say 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.'

Bellevue Hospital has announced that it is investigating the incident involving its employee

On Sunday, the video 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.

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.

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.
The bitter family feud between Priscilla Presley and her granddaughter Riley Keough over the multi-million dollar estate of late Lisa Marie Presley is over.

Lawyers for Elvis' widow and Riley - star of the hit Prime TV series Daisy Jones and the Six - announced Tuesday at a Los Angeles probate court that the two had 'reached a settlement.'

'Priscilla is happy,' her attorney Ronson Shamoun told DailyMail.com 'The families are happy and unified and together and excited for the future.'

Asked if Riley too was happy with the settlement, her attorney Justin Gold told DailyMail.com, 'She would not have agreed to the settlement if she was not happy with it.'

Lawyers for Priscilla Presley and Riley Keough announced Tuesday at a Los Angeles probate court that the two had 'reached a settlement'

Riley, 33, was reportedly furious when her grandmother went to court to protest the will after Lisa Marie's death

Riley always supported her mother during her drawn out, often nasty divorce and child custody disputes with her fourth husband, musician Michael Lockwood, 61, father of Lisa Marie's twin, 14 year-old daughters, Finley and Harper

Only two weeks after Lisa Marie's death in January at the age of 54, her mother Priscilla filed a legal challenge to her daughter's will - which gives control of Lisa Marie's wealthy Promenade Trust to her daughter Riley.

Riley, 33, who was reportedly furious when her grandmother went to court to protest the will, did not file an objection to Priscilla's challenge.

And on Tuesday it became clear why: she and her grandmother had buried the hatchet and settled their differences.

It's unlikely that the terms of their settlement will become known to outsiders. After announcing to LA Superior Court Judge Lynn Scaduto that there was an agreement between the two, Gold added that he planned to file a motion to seal the details of the settlement to keep them from the public eye.

The lawyers also declared in court Tuesday that the women had reached a settlement on a second trust involving Lisa Marie's insurance policies - thought to total $35million.

Judge Scaduto scheduled a hearing August 4 for the court to give official approval of both settlements.

Riley always supported her mother during her drawn out, often nasty divorce and child custody disputes with her fourth husband, musician Michael Lockwood, 61, father of Lisa Marie's twin, 14 year-old daughters, Finley and Harper.

It's been reported that Priscilla and Lisa Marie were 'barely speaking' just before the latter's death after Priscilla sided with Lockwood over custody of the twins.

Just days after Lisa Marie's memorial service, Priscilla filed a petition questioning the 'authenticity and validity' of her trust

Last month, a judge granted Lockwood's petition to be appointed 'guardian ad litem' of Harper and Finley

The will contains the rights to the Graceland mansion (pictured) and a 15 percent stake in Elvis Presley Enterprises

Multiple sources told People that the mother and daughter were not on speaking terms, despite appearing at multiple events together, including the premiere for the Elvis biopic starring Austin Butler.

'Riley was always on her mom's side when it came to Michael (Lockwood),' one source told the magazine. 'It bothered her that her grandmother and Michael flew to (Lisa Marie's) funeral together.'

Priscilla also helped Michael get into the ceremony at Elvis's famous home, Graceland, despite her late daughter's wishes.

'Michael was not invited,' a close friend of Lisa Marie told People. 'He came to Memphis under the pretense that he had to chaperone the twins - and he forced his way in with Priscilla's help.

'The last thing Lisa Marie would have wanted was for Michael to be there.'

The rift between Riley and her grandmother began when Priscilla went to court - just days after Lisa Marie's memorial service - to dispute her daughter's decision in 2016 to change her will, remove Priscilla and her ex-manager Barry Siegel as trustees and replace them with Riley.

The will contains the rights to the Graceland mansion and a 15 percent stake in Elvis Presley Enterprises. Lisa Marie also had two life insurance policies, one believed to be worth $25million and another one for $10million.

As well as replacing Priscilla as a trustee and cutting her out of the will, Lisa Marie's 2016 amendment also named Riley's brother Benjamin as the other trustee. But Benjamin committed suicide in 2020 leaving Riley as sole named heir.

Priscilla's challenging petition to the court questioned the 'authenticity and validity' of the trust, claiming that Lisa Marie's signature was 'inconsistent,' and asked to be restored as a trustee.

The grandmother of four also claimed she was not aware Lisa Marie had changed the trust in 2016 until after her daughter passed away.

If Priscilla's petition were granted, she and Riley would be made co-trustees of Lisa Marie's estate.

Last month, Judge Scaduto granted Lockwood's petition to be appointed 'guardian ad litem' of Harper and Finley - allowing him to represent the girls over their mother's hotly-contested estate.

Harper and Finley are both beneficiaries of Lisa Marie's trust while their father Lockwood is not.

But being declared their legal guardian gives him control over his daughters' inheritance - at least until they reach adulthood at 18 - and his second chance to share in the Presley wealth after his first ended in a big fat zero in his divorce

Riley honored her late mom on the first Mother's Day since since her passing, posting a photo of her mom and father, Danny Keough, 58, holding her as a newborn. 'Lucky to have had the best and most deeply loving mama I could ask for'

Michael Lockwood and Lisa Marie spent years fighting about finances and were still negotiating up until her death

Lisa Marie - Elvis' only child - filed for divorce from Lockwood in 2016 after 10 years of marriage. The two spent years fighting about finances and were still negotiating over child support for the twins up until her death.

Lockwood asked the divorce court in 2018 to order Lisa Marie to pay him $263,000 a year in spousal support so that he could 'enjoy a lifestyle closer to my marital status of living' - which included lavish entertaining, expensive vacations and flying on private jets.

And he tried to persuade the judge to tear up a post-nuptial agreement - in which he and Lisa Marie both signed away their rights to the other's property and spousal support if they divorced.

But Lockwood ended up on the losing end, not getting a penny from Lisa Marie after openly admitting that he hadn't read the post-nup and claiming his attorney at the time failed to explain it to him.

The judge upheld the post-nup and threw out Lockwood's case, telling the court: 'If Lockwood elected not to read the post-nup and accept the consequences that it would be upheld, that is his choice.'

Before her death, Lisa Marie and her ex were sharing custody of Finley and Harper and she was reportedly paying him $6,000 a month in child support.

But Lockwood - who is now re-married to hair stylist Stephanie Hobgood - was claiming $40,000 a month, insisting Lisa Marie had much more money than she revealed in court documents and saying his legal battles over the divorce and child custody had cost him more than $1 million.
TUESDAY, May 16, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Black and Hispanic communities in the United States are more often poor  and also more likely to have harmful levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in their drinking water, a new study reveals.

Sources of PFAS pollution  including major manufacturers, airports, military bases, wastewater treatment plants and landfills  are disproportionately sited near watersheds that serve these poorer communities, Harvard researchers found.

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 study co-author Jahred Liddie. He is a PhD student in population health sciences at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, in Boston.

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," Liddie said in a school news release.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a first-ever national drinking water regulation for six PFAS, expected to be finalized by late 2023. That regulation would establish maximum contaminant levels of two PFAS compounds  PFOA and PFOS  at 4 parts per trillion (4 ng/L). It would also limit the other four.

PFAS are widely used because they have stain-resistant and water-resistant properties. But they have extreme persistence in the environment. Exposure to these so-called "forever chemicals" is linked to diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

For this new study, the researchers used PFAS monitoring data from nearly 7,900 U.S. community water systems in 18 states: California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont and Wisconsin.

The investigators analyzed more than 44,000 samples collected from 2016 to mid-2022. The researchers also looked at the geographic locations of PFAS sources from multiple databases.

PFAS detection in a water system was associated with the number of sources nearby and proportion of people of color, the study authors said.

For each additional industrial facility, military fire training area and airport in a community water systems watershed, there was a 10% to 108% increase of perfluorooctanoic acid, and a 20% to 34% increase in perfluorooctane sulfonic acid in drinking water, the study found.

About 25% of the people in the areas studied were served by community water systems that had levels of PFAS above 5 ng/L. If the EPAs new proposed level of 4 ng/L is implemented, that means more than 25% of Americans could be exposed to what are then considered to be 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 study co-author Elsie Sunderland. She is a professor of environmental chemistry and of earth and planetary sciences at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

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, Sunderland added.

Public comment on the EPA proposal ends May 30.

The study findings were published May 15 in Environmental Science & Technology. This research was supported by the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on PFAS.

SOURCE: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, news release, May 15, 2023
A dairy farmer has told how he was the last man to leave a Swiss village whose residents have all evacuated under the threat of being obliterated by a massive rockslide.

Father of four Giorgin Bonifazi locked his house after making sure his prized herd of 32 cattle - who he treats as if they were his own children - were safe after being ordered to leave along with the rest of the population of Brienz.

The picturesque hamlet has become a modern-day Sword of Damocles, as a more than two million tons of mountain teeter on the brink of crashing down and wiping it from the face of the earth.

Giorgin, 59, has now moved into his mother-in-law's house, along with his wife Annette, and their 15-year-old daughter, while his cows have been temporarily housed at a communal barn - while his sheep flock has been left to fend for itself in the fields around Brienz.

Showing MailOnline a picture of his home, with the imposing mountain towering in the background, Giorgin said: 'I have lived in Brienz all my life and for the last few years we grew used to cracks appearing in the walls and in the buildings.

Pictured: Giorgio Bonafazi with his heard of dairy cows. Giorgin, 59, has now moved into his mother-in-law's house, along with his wife Annette, and their 15-year-old daughter, while his cows have been temporarily housed at a communal barn

Pictured: The Swiss village of Brienz, which has been evacuated because of the impending rockslide

'In one of my barns the floor no longer meets the wall and there is a huge gap, which has grown considerably the last few years.

'In one of the fields backing onto my house a massive crack appeared overnight running several metres and I was able to put my feet and a pitchfork in there.'

Cuddling one of his beloved calves in a temporary barn, he added: 'The destructive power that the mountain could bring is terrifying to think about and so we have taken the advice of the authorities and left - only a madman would stay.

'At night you could hear the rocks bouncing down the side of the mountain, they sounded like a train but after a while you got used to them but not this time.

'They seemed to come down more frequently and in larger quantities, some of them would land in the field at the back of my house.

'If the mountain gives and the rockface comes down it will come through like an avalanche and destroy everything.

'The problem is no one knows when we will be able to go back, it's just a question of waiting and watching and hoping that when it does come down the village is spared.'

Meanwhile geology expert has told MailOnline the rockslide has the potential to power through at more than 120 mph wiping out everything in its path.

Emeritus professor Simon Low, is among a team of scientists and experts monitoring a huge mass of rock and boulders looming over the hamlet which would not look out of place on a Toblerone package.

The 84 residents were ordered out last week and a strict exclusion zone put up around the area with police and civil protection units manning roadblocks.

Speaking from his office at the University of ETH Zurich, Professor Low explained how the fate of Brienz lies in the hands of more than two million cubic tons of mountainside.

He explained to MailOnline how a system of cameras and sensors are focused onto the mountain carefully watching for any changes with the focus being an 'island' of rocks in the middle.

Pictured: The family home of farmer Giorgio Bonafazi. Giorgin said: 'I have lived in Brienz all my life and for the last few years we grew used to cracks appearing in the walls and in the buildings'

Pictured: The village of Brienz. Giorgin said: 'If the mountain gives and the rockface comes down it will come through like an avalanche and destroy everything'

Professor Low said:' It is all still unclear what exactly will happen as we cannot predict with certainty in which direction the rocks will come down the side of the mountain.

'We are talking about a massive amount of rocks, stones, boulders and obviously we hope that when it does come down - and it will at some point - it misses the village.

'But because of the uncertainty we have taken the safest possible approach and evacuated everyone from inside, people, livestock and now no one is allowed in the area under any circumstances.

'We are using a system of cameras, monitors and sensors to detect any movement and I am watching events real time from my office in Zurich and another team is a few miles from Chur at Brienz.

'The worst-case scenario would be the slip thundering down the slope at around 200 kph, the speed of an avalanche, and within 30 seconds it will hit Brienz and completely destroy it.

'This scenario would see all the buildings obliterated, and that's why we have to be careful and move everybody out.'

Professor Low and his team are also keeping a close eye on the weather, and with heavy rain forecast for the rest of the week, there are fears this could trigger the rockslide.

He said: 'The question with rainfall is how much we get and also what sort of intensity because that will speed up any potential slide.

'At some stage the side of the mountain will come down, that is a certainty but it is just a question of when, it could be anytime within the next few days or the next few weeks.

'Our best hope is that the slide is to a certain extent controlled and comes down in several short rockfalls and maybe at moderate velocity of about a metre an hour.'

The village is currently in the 'red' phase of the emergency, the evacuation of the village and the surrounding area being a no-go zone while experts monitor the situation.

But it is expected to pass into the more serious 'blue' phase in the next few days and a stork warning on the local council website explains: 'Stay away from the entire Brienz slide area. An event is imminent.'

As part of the safety operation, Switzerland's Federal Office for Civil Aviation has also issued a no-fly zone edict over the south-east village of Brienz, close to Davos, which hosts the yearly World Economic Forum.

Pictured: Giorgio Bonafazi with his heard of dairy cows. Bonifazi said he treats the cows as if they were his own children

Pictured: Evacuated cows from the region on new pastures. While Bonafazi's cows have been moved to safety, his sheep flock has been left to fend for itself in the fields around Brienz

Professor Low explained how since the last Ice Age, around 18,000 years ago, the side of the mountain, the 2906m (9534ft) Lenzerhorn, has been constantly on the move at around an inch a year.

But in the last few years the rate has intensified noticeably with cracks and fissures appearing in the ground and in barns and houses in Brienz, which lies at an altitude of 1144m (3753ft).

Hermann and Maria Bossi were also among those evacuated from their home and are staying with their son Giorgio in nearby Vazerol.

For the last ten years he has been watching cracks in the plaster of his home grow longer and wider - with each patch-up being a temporary repair lasting only a few weeks.

Sprightly Hermann, 82, told MailOnline:' I was born in Brienz and my parents were born in Brienz and we have lived with the mountain moving for years but we have never been evacuated.

'I've had cracks in my house and barn for years now, but the situation began to get worse from 2017, since then I've noticed every year the cracks becoming more of a problem and one time I could put my arm in up to my elbow.

'But it must be serious if they want us to leave our homes and now we just have to pray to our patron saint, Saint Calixtus, that we are spared, we have lived with this for years but this time it doesn't look good.'

More than 100 years ago, the villagers inscribed a dedication in Latin to St Calixtus on the largest bell in the church that bears his name.

It reads: 'Calixt, with your mighty hand hold back the slippery rocks and protect, o holy patron, this place.'

Hermann, who looks after the church, told MailOnline: 'In my opinion St Calixtus, is the most important monitor of the rockslide, even with all the cameras and monitors that are up there now.'
Elon Musk tweeted several attacks on billionaire George Soros just three days after his investment fund reported it had sold all of its stock in Tesla.

The Tesla CEO compared Soros, 92, to Jewish X-Men supervillain Magneto on Twitter following the announcement.

Soros, a Hungarian-born Billionaire, heads the Open Society Foundation and is a Holocaust survivor.

Musk, who recently announced that Linda Yaccarino will take over as CEO of Twitter, posted on the platform 'Soros reminds me of Magneto'.

Marvel's official character description says the supervillain, whose real name is Max Eisenhardt, 'fights to help mutants replace humans as the world's dominant species'.

The Tesla CEO compared Soros, 92, to Jewish X-Men supervillain Magneto on Twitter following the announcement

Soros, a Hungarian-born Billionaire, heads the Open Society Foundation and is a Holocaust survivor

It explains that he and his family 'witnessed the wort the human race had to offer' with his parents and sister dying during WWII before being sent to Auschwitz.

Musk followed his initial post up with a response to Brian Krassenstein saying the billionaire had good intentions, adding: 'You assume they are good intentions. They are not.

'He wants to erode the very fabric of civilization. Soros hates humanity.'

Musk did not explain the reasoning behind his outburst, but the tweet was posted on Monday shortly after a regulatory filing revealed that Soros' family office had dumped its entire stake in Tesla.

Tesla shares have surged by nearly 54 percent since the start of the year, though the value of the stake that Soros had is not currently clear.

Musk was slammed by progressive political activist Brian Krassenstein and chief executive of the Anti-Defamation League Jonathan Greenblatt.

Krassenstein replied to Musk, pointing out that Magneto is a Holocaust survivor in Marvel lore, where the character manipulates magnetic fields to oppose (and occasionally help) the heroes of X-Men films and comics.

Marvel's official character description says the supervillain 'fights to help mutants replace humans as the world's dominant species'

Musk was slammed by progressive political activist Brian Krassenstein and chief executive of the Anti-Defamation League Jonathan Greenblatt

He wrote: 'Fun fact: Magneto's experiences during the Holocaust as a survivor shaped his perspective as well as his depth and empathy.

'Soro, also a Holocaust survivor, gets attacked nonstop for his good intentions which some Americans think are bad merely because they disagree with this political affiliations.'

Greenblatt posted a grab of Musk's comments, adding: 'Soros often is held up by the far-right, using antisemitic tropes, as the source of the world's problems.

'To see Elon Musk, regardless of his intent, feed this segment  comparing him to a Jewish supervillain, claiming Soros 'hates humanity'  is not just distressing, it's dangerous.

'It will embolden extremists who already contrive anti-Jewish conspiracies and have tried to attack Soros and Jewish communities as a result.'

The character, played by Ian McKellen (left) and Michael Fassbender (right) is described as 'witnessed the wort the human race had to offer' with his parents and sister dying during WWII before being sent to Auschwitz

Musk did not explain the reasoning behind his outburst, but the tweet was posted on Monday shortly after a regulatory filing revealed that Soros' family office had dumped its entire stake in Tesla

In the Marvel Universe comic books, Magneto gets forged documents to change his name from Max to Erik Magnus Lehnsherr and befriended Charles Xavier in Israel.

Initially the pair work together to thwart a Nazi criminal, before Magneto goes his own way over their different views on mutant rights.

Magneto can manipulate all forms of magnetism, summon force fields and shoot electromagnetic pulses that can disable electronic devices.

It comes after a study found that anti-Semitic tweets soared after Musk's takeover, a 105 percent increase following the $4billiion deal.
Only a revolution could end the threat from Vladimir Putin's Russia in the war in Ukraine and Britain has 'lost its way' since the end of the Cold War, a former head of MI6 has warned.

Sir Richard Dearlove, who led MI6 between 1999 and 2004, said Britain no longer had the 'cohesion and motivation' that drove the former spy when he joined the service in 1966.

He said that the nation has lost self-confidence without the 'essential threat' of the Cold War.

Discussing the war in Ukraine, Sir Richard said: 'The sheer brutality of Putin's regime leads me towards the conclusion that Russia's political DNA is so corrupted that only another revolutionary change might rebalance it.'

Sir Richard told the National Conservatism conference in Westminster: 'It never occurred to me that I was not on the side of the angels.'

Sir Richard Dearlove (pictured), who led MI6 between 1999 and 2004, said Britain no longer had the 'cohesion and motivation' that drove the former spy when he joined the service in 1966

Pictured: Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his speech during the Victory Day military parade marking the 78th anniversary of the end of World War II in Red square in Moscow, Russia, on May 9, 2023

He said: 'Looking back, we were self-confident without any hint of complacency. We took for granted the fundamental moral difference between the values we espoused and the totalitarian nature of Soviet Russia and Maoist China.'

Comparing his experience to the modern world, he said: 'It seems to me we have since lost our way.

'Without the essential threat to our way of life that was a constant feature of the Cold War, we have lost cohesion and motivation, and especially our self-confidence.

'Minority views amplified by social media have been allowed disproportionate political and social space so that the mainline political and social debate has become seriously distorted by fringe movements.'

Sir Richard appeared at the right-wing National Conservatism conference as part of a panel on 'national realism and foreign policy', alongside other speakers who claimed 'woke' movements had undermined security.

Michael Anton, a former US national security official under Donald Trump, claimed the American armed forces were struggling with recruitment because too many Americans had been taught that 'their country is evil and they should hate it'.

Pictured: Russian military hardware roll through Red Square during the Victory Day military parade in central Moscow on May 9, 2023

Discussing 'active measures' - disinformation and subversion efforts usually associated with Communist nations - Sir Richard warned: 'Active measures work best in a fertile social and political environment where naivety about Russian and Chinese intentions is rife, where doubt about our own values system and its foundations has irrational strength.

'I'm worried when I witness eminent members of our own elite doing the work of our foremost enemies for them.

'Whether it is advocating for Huawei, refusing to publish any serious scientific study that questions the Chinese narrative on the origins of the Sars-Cov 2 virus, or promoting a settlement in the war between Russia and Ukraine that ignores the peace conditions laid down by President Zelensky.'

Speaking on the One Decision podcast, which he co-hosts, in May last year, Sir Richard said of Putin: 'I think he'll be gone by 2023 - but probably into the sanatorium, from which he will not emerge as the leader of Russia.

'I'm not saying he won't emerge from the sanatorium, but he won't emerge as the leader of Russia any longer.'

'That's a way to sort of move things on without a coup,' he concluded.

Pictured: Firefighters put out blaze caused by fragments of a Russian rocket after it was shot down by air defense system during an attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, early on May 16, 2023

At a scaled back Victory Parade in Moscow on May 9, Putin said the world is at a 'turning point', with a 'real war' being waged against Russia.

In his speech in Red Square, he tried to link the invasion of Ukraine with the struggle against Nazism during World War Two.

Early on Tuesday, Ukrainian air defenses, bolstered by sophisticated Western-supplied systems, thwarted an intense Russian air attack on Kyiv, shooting down all missiles aimed at the capital, officials said.

The bombardment, which targeted locations across Ukraine, included six Russian Kinzhal aero-ballistic hypersonic missiles, the most fired in a single attack in the war so far, according to Ukrainian air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat.

Putin has repeatedly touted the Kinzhals as providing a key strategic competitive advantage and among the most advanced weapons in his country's arsenal. The missiles are difficult to detect and intercept because of their hypersonic speed and maneuverability.
The deranged partisan hacks running America's once-respected institutions are completely, utterly, maybe irredeemably, shameless.

What other verdict can one reach after reading Special Counsel John Durham's report on the FBI investigation of President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign?

It should never  never in a thousand years  have been launched.

And the news media  the supposed independent servants of democracy, who demand that every Republican swear on their children that the 2020 vote was free, fair, and won by Biden  were more than happy to go along with it.

But now we know, the real election meddling was state sponsored.

The FBI 'failed to uphold their mission of strict fidelity to the law,' wrote Durham.

He found that the agency kicked off a full-fledged probe, at the height of an election, into a presidential campaign based on 'raw,' 'unevaluated,' and ultimately, dud information.

They ignored exculpatory evidence and were blinded by preconceived notions.

At best, they're the Keystone Cops. At worst, they're direct descendants of J. Edgar Hoover. It's damning.

America was told Trump campaign aide George Papadopoulous had secret connections to the Kremlin. He didn't.

The public was fed the ridiculous Steele dossier, a document about as authentic as a Rolex purchased from a briefcase, as if it was the Ten Commandments. It wasn't.

What other verdict can one reach after reading Special Counsel John Durham's (above) report on the FBI investigation of President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign? It should never  never in a thousand years  have been launched.

At best, they're the Keystone Cops. At worst, they're direct descendants of J. Edgar Hoover. It's damning. (Above) Former FBI Director James Comey

The FBI should be humiliated. The media that promoted this garbage should be begging the public for forgiveness. But they're not.

The FBI released a statement suggesting this is all in the past.

'Leadership already implemented dozens of corrective actions, which have now been in place for some time,' the statement reads.

Translation  there's nothing to see, move along.

And here's what the New York Times had to say about Durham's comprehensive four-year probe into the multi-million-dollar, Russian collusion hoax that paralyzed the nation, on which they eagerly reported.

'The special counsel's final report did not produce blockbuster revelations of politically motivated misconduct, as Donald J. Trump and his allies had suggested it would,' their sub-headline blared.

They must be joking!

This is not 'blockbuster' enough for the Gray Lady?

I challenge them to ignore clear evidence that former FBI Director James Comey is either totally incompetent or rotten to the core.

In 2018, while hawking his unashamedly titled book, 'A Higher Loyalty,' Comey pushed the disgusting lie that Trump engaged in golden showers with Russian prostitutes in the presidential suite of a Russian hotel, on the very bed which President Obama and the First Lady slept.

'I honestly never thought these words would come out of my mouth, but I don't know whether the current President of the United States was with prostitutes peeing on each other in Moscow in 2013, It's possible, but I don't know,' he somberly told ABC News.

How grave, salacious, disturbing, and absolutely false. As Durham revealed, by 2017, the FBI already knew that the source of these so-called 'pee-tape' allegations.

He was a general manager at the Ritz Carlton Moscow, and he denied ever even hearing about these claims. Plus, he told the FBI that Trump never even stayed in the presidential suite.

But a year later Comey is still struggling with the truth?

What a sanctimonious fake!

America was told Trump campaign aide George Papadopoulous (above) had secret connections to the Kremlin. He didn't.

In 2018, while hawking his unashamedly titled book, 'A Higher Loyalty,' Comey pushed the disgusting lie that Trump engaged in golden showers with Russian prostitutes in the presidential suite of a Russian hotel, on the very bed which President Obama and the First Lady slept.

Comey should never be permitted to speak another word in the media without the disclaimer: suspected liar.

That's not compelling enough to rouse the New York Times from its fog?

If the last seven years have shown America anything, it is that the Justice Department, the CIA, and their liberal media lackeys will do nearly anything to mislead the public, smear Donald Trump and protect his political opponents.

There are two standards in our nation, one for Democrats and one for Republicans.

Trump's Mar-A-Lago home was raided by the FBI, while Joe Biden's homes were searched by appointment.

Hillary Clinton was found to be hiding reams of public documents on a private server  that she then destroyed  and she was let off with a public scolding, while Trump makes a perfectly legal hush money payment to a porn star, and he's indicted.

It's a pattern and it continues unabated.

At the height of the 2020 election, 51 former intelligence agents, recruited by former deputy CIA director Michael Morell, wrote a public letter dismissing the Hunter Biden laptop as Russian disinformation.

Morell has since confessed that he spearheaded the effort to 'help' Biden 'win the election,' after some encouragement from Biden's then-campaign staffer and now-Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

This week we learned that none other than Obama-era CIA Director John Brennan  one of the men in the room at the birth of the Russia hoax  admitted to House investigators that the infamous dirty memo was 'political.'

And, there are reports that at least one active CIA employee was lending his hand in pulling together signatories.

For two years, the mainstream media condoned the laptop lie with their silence, even though they had the same access to its raw contents as nearly everyone else. Then, only long after the election, did they admit the laptop is very, very real.

So now that we know  beyond a doubt  that the entire Russian collusion investigation was nothing more than partisan smoke and mirrors will the New York Times and the Washington Post retract their hysterical coverage of it? Will the Pulitzer Prize committee strip these outlets of their farcical awards?

So now that we know  beyond a doubt  that the entire Russian collusion investigation was nothing more than partisan smoke and mirrors will the New York Times and the Washington Post retract their hysterical coverage of it? (Above) Staff members from The New York Times and The Washington Post accept the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting

At the height of the 2020 election, 51 former intelligence agents, recruited by former deputy CIA director Michael Morell (above), wrote a public letter dismissing the Hunter Biden laptop as Russian disinformation.

Don't count on it.

Former Acting Director of the FBI Andrew McCabe, who is specifically scolded in the Durham Report, is amazingly a legal analyst at CNN.

This is a man, mind you, who the DOJ Inspector General referred to prosecutors for lying under oath in connection to this very investigation.

You want to know why 80 percent of Americans don't trust the news? It's because they aren't stupid. They won't be lied to over and over.

And above all else, will America's law enforcement and intelligence agencies change their ways?

Sadly, I wouldn't hold my breath.

The federal investigation into Hunter Biden for possible tax and gun violations has been underway for four years. That's nearly double the length of time of Robert Mueller's probe of Trump.

Drug-addled Hunter was the alleged conduit for millions of dollars from China and other foreign countries to flow into Biden family coffers, including while his father was vice president.

Will the DOJ ever wrap this up? Will they find wrongdoing? Will the media report on it accurately?

Who knows?

But I am certain of one thing  America's patience for these institutions has finally run out and for good reason.

It's a terrifying prospect for us all.
Police forces across the country could soon be rolling out facial recognition cameras despite fears it could lead to widespread surveillance.

Policing minister Chris Philp is understood to be pushing behind closed doors to expand the use of the controversial AI-driven technology.

Mounted atop police vans or on officers body armour, the cameras work by scanning every face in a crowd to find known troublemakers.

The move has sparked anger among privacy campaigners, who have branded the Orwellian cameras overly intrusive and claim they remain largely inaccurate.

Today, the UKs surveillance tsar said it was now the de facto policy of the Government to put facial recognition at the very heart of British policing.

The Kings coronation earlier this month saw the largest deployment of AI policing technology in world history, Professor Fraser Sampson (pictured) said

Official figures have revealed an estimated 68,000 royal fans faces were scanned across the day - but only two arrests were made. Pictured: Officers arresting protesters from Just Stop Oil during the King's Coronation

The Kings coronation earlier this month saw the largest deployment of AI policing technology in world history, Professor Fraser Sampson said.

Official figures have revealed an estimated 68,000 royal fans faces were scanned across the day - but only two arrests were made.

Prof Sampson, the biometrics and surveillance camera commissioner, has confirmed he was briefed by the Home Office of Mr Philps desire to embed facial recognition technology in policing and is considering what more the government can do to support the police on this.

The technology has already been trialled multiple times by South Wales Police, Leicestershire Police, and the Met Police over the past five years, including at events such as Remembrance Sunday.

It works by measuring and mapping the facial features of every person in a crowd in real time and converting them into a numerical code.

Each code is then put through a secret police watch list of dangerous criminals wanted by the courts.

Forces are also understood to also be looking at retroactive facial recognition, where faces can be scanned in previously captured footage.

Critics have warned the technology remains inaccurate and is trained on biased data that only reinforces racism and discrimination policing.

The technology has already been trialled multiple times by South Wales Police, Leicestershire Police, and the Met Police over the past five years, including at events such as Remembrance Sunday. Pictured: Police officers protecting a facial recognition van during a lockdown protest in London 2021

The European Union is moving to ban the technology in public spaces through its upcoming Artificial Intelligence Act.

Prof Sampson said he was convinced however that the technology was far too useful in the fight against crime and terrorism to turn our noses up at.

While admitting the ship has sailed in stopping police using it, he said the question was now about balancing its effective use in fighting crime with the rights of citizens.

But he warned that the UK needed better oversight, adding: We may not be that far away from using an AI like ChatGPT to draft warrants or witness statements, yet we have the scantest regulatory framework under which those using the technology will be held to account.

Madeleine Stone, policy officer at Big Brother Watch, said: Live facial recognition technology is frighteningly intrusive and enormously inaccurate.

This suspiciousless mass surveillance tool turns us into walking barcodes that police officers can scan at will. It has no place in British policing.

Instead of trying to quietly push this Orwellian technology on police forces, the Government should urgently halt its rollout, given the enormous risks it poses to our privacy and civil liberties.

Sophia Akram, policy manager at Open Rights Group said: Facial recognition is intrusive mass surveillance, which invades peoples privacy, undermines the right to be presumed innocent and can deter people from exercising their right to protest.

Expanding the use of facial recognition when there are widespread doubts as to its efficacy and accuracy is irresponsible and will further diminish trust in the police.

A Home Office spokeswoman said: The Government is committed to empower the police to use new technologies like facial recognition in a fair and proportionate way.

Facial recognition plays a crucial role in helping the police tackle serious offences including murder, knife crime, rape, child sexual exploitation and terrorism.
A huge swarm of bees was seen attacking a Los Angeles Police Department volunteer officer as he tried to help another man being terrorized by the insects.

The aggressive swarm of insects were seen attacking people just before 4pm in Encino, California - and a total of three people needed medical attention as a result.

Emergency services were first called to a hillside area on Adlon Road, and a volunteer from the LAPD arrived to help out those at the scene.

But the bees then started to swarm him - and shocking footage showed him unsuccessfully trying to swat them away as they stung him multiple times.

He was seen beginning to struggle as he slapped the insects away, before tripping in a haze and banging his head as he collapsed on to the ground.

The bees started to swarm the volunteer cop - and shocking footage showed him unsuccessfully trying to swat them away as they stung him multiple times

The bees descended on Encino, California, sending three people to hospital for stings and injuries

At one point, the man dropped to the ground after tripping up amid the sting-fest

The bees continued to attack him as he lay on the floor, and his blood could be seen dripping on to the tarmac.

His uniformed partner kept the door to their car closed as the bees kept swarming.

Eventually, he was able to get up and walk away from the scene, and he was taken to hospital for his injuries.

Professional bee removers were called to the scene to assist with the problem, reports Fox 11.

Two men - the initial person who called 911 and then the LAPD support officer seen in the clip - were taken to hospital.

A woman was also stung and drove herself to the hospital, according to Washington Times.

People in the local area were told to close all doors and windows in the wake of the bee swarm.

The LAPD said in a statement: 'One of our LAPD Volunteers assigned to West Valley Division sustained dozens of bee stings earlier today while assisting with a call for service. Fortunately hes in stable condition at a local hospital.

'Wishing him a speedy and full recovery. We thank him for volunteering to protect and serve. All of our LAPD volunteers are invaluable.'

It comes after an Arizona mother-of-two and her two daughters were attacked by bees during a family photoshoot earlier this month.

The Arizona Fire and Medical Authority said that the unnamed mother rushed her children into a nearby car when they were swarmed by the bees in Buckeye Valley, and took 'the brunt of the stings' as a result.

Her 'quick thinking' saved the children from being stung, the AFMA said in a Facebook post on Monday, but the woman suffered more than 75 bee stings and had to be transported to a local hospital in the aftermath.

She has since recovered, and has been discharged from the facility.

The man could be seen with his hands to his head as he tried to get away from the swarm

The bees descended on the California neighborhood

His partner, still in the cop car, kept the door shut during the bee attack

Journalist Anjali Enjeti posted this photo of the epic swarm on Twitter

Members of Houston airport's ground crew tried multiple different ways to try and get the bees to move

An Arizona mother-of-two had to be transported to a local hospital after she was stung by bees 75 times while trying to take a family photoshoot. Emergency crews are seen here spraying foam over an SUV, where she protected her kids

Meanwhile, passengers on board a Delta Air Lines flight bound for Atlanta were stuck on the tarmac for four hours at Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport earlier this month when a swarm of bees latched themselves to the airplane's wing.

The disruption caused the captain to delay takeoff.

Delta brought in pest control and later a bee keeper to deal with the swarm, journalist Anjali Enjeti said on Twitter.

The reporter added that pest control was not permitted to spray a plane and the bee keeper wasn't allowed to touch aircraft.
Liberal commentators who pushed the claim Donald Trump colluded with Russia were delivered an embarrassing blow on Monday when John Durham's long-awaited report said there was no 'factual evidence' to justify a drawn-out FBI inquiry into the allegations.

News pundits and comedians spent countless hours rehashing the theory that Trump and his campaign officials conspired with Russia to influence the 2016 election victory over Hillary Clinton.

Their coverage was often couched by reference to several inquiries into the matter.

But Durham's report, the latest to center on the allegations, found that the Department of Justice and the FBI 'failed to uphold their mission of strict fidelity to the law' when launching the Trump-Russia probe.

Several investigations, including the Mueller probe, have now failed to uncover evidence that Trump and his aides colluded with Russia.

Joe Scarborough, the former Republican representative who now co-hosts Morning Joe on MSNBC (right), said in August 2018 that Trump's behavior amounted to a 'conspiracy' that was possibly criminal.

Rachel Maddow peddled unfounded claims in the controversial Steele dossier which claimed Russia meddled in the election and 'the Trump campaign [was] helping, going along with it, colluding, being part of it'

Rachel Maddow, the MSNBC anchor and host of The Rachel Maddow Show, has been one of the most vocal proponents of the claim Trump colluded with Russia.

Her broadcasts embraced the controversial Steele dossier, which included a string of lurid, unproven allegations about Trump's ties to Russia.

Indeed, the Durham report 'determined that the [FBI] investigators did not and could not corroborate any of the substantive allegations contained in the Steele reporting'.

But Maddow implied on several occasions that Steele dossier gave weight to the claims of collusion.

In March 2017, she said: 'The bottom line allegation of this unproven dossier is that Russia didn't just attack our election, they did so with the knowledge of and support of the Trump campaign that the Trump folks were in on it that they knew what Russia was doing while they were doing it and they continued meeting with Russians.'

Maddow says later in the show: 'What [Steele] says he found was evidence not just of Russia attacking the US presidential election, but one party in that election - the Trump campaign - helping, going along with it, colluding, being part of it, and that is way worse allegation than just the Russians attacking our election.'

She added: 'We have to continue describe them as uncorroborated but toward the basic thesis of this dossier that the Trump campaign was in on it little pieces of that little checkable pieces of that have been falling into place almost every day now.'

Joe Scarborough, the former Republican representative who now co-hosts Morning Joe on MSNBC, said in August 2018 there was 'no collusion' but that Trump's behavior amounted to a 'conspiracy' that was possibly criminal.

CNN host Anderson Cooper dedicated many segments to the investigations. Cooper avoided stating outright that Trump colluded with Russia, but broadcasts included innuendo that hinted Trump was in cahoots with Moscow

Stephen Colbert, host of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, joked in July 2018 that Trump's repetition of the phrase 'no collusion' was a synonym for his guilt. He said: 'He uses it for every occasion. It's like his Aloha - it means both hello and I'm guilty'

He said: 'They were conspiring with Russians. Not colluding. Let's not use the word colluding, they were conspiring with the Russians, this is a conspiracy. So, okay, no collusion. A conspiracy.

'A criminal conspiracy possibly. But he distracts the people in the crowd, calls it fake news, in hopes he can get away with the crimes.'

The claims also provided ammo to night-time TV hosts.

Stephen Colbert, host of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, joked in July 2018 that Trump's repetition of the phrase 'no collusion' was a synonym for his guilt.

He said: 'He uses it for every occasion. It's like his Aloha - it means both hello and I'm guilty.'

Hinting the then-president did commit a crime, Colbert added: 'But Trump is right about one thing: there is no law against collusion. Technically, it's called, 'conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States'.'

He was also joined by fellow comedian and commentator John Oliver in August 2017 when the pair delivered a series of jokes that implied the president had colluded with Russia.

Colbert asks Oliver: 'Have we come to a nation where colluding with a hostile foreign power to manipulate our election is a left-right thing?'

Oliver responds: 'I don't know - but the very fact that you just said that sentence out loud shows that we are turbo f***ed.'

Special Counsel Durham transmitted the report on his four-years-long investigation costing over $6 million in taxpayer dollars to Congress Monday

Special Counsel John Durham was appointed in 2019 by then-Attorney General Bill Barr to look into misconduct related to the Crossfire Hurricane probe

CNN host Anderson Cooper dedicated many segments to the investigations.

In February 2018, he ran a ten-minute segment under the title 'Keeping Them Honest: About That 'Russia Hoax' Thing', which was pinned on charges brought by the Department of Justice against 13 Russian nationals over meddling in the election.

Cooper avoided stating outright that Trump colluded with Russia, but the broadcast included innuendo that hinted the then-president was in cahoots with Moscow.

He said the announcement of the charges against the Russians suggested 'indictments of other people' may also follow and added later: 'This investigation is not over, it certainly clears no one, least of all the president, and it certainly is no hoax.'

Another segment in January 2019 showed a series of clips of Trump repeating the words 'no collusion'. It appeared with the banner 'Keeping Them Honest: Suspicion. After Suspicion. After Suspicion.'

Cooper said later: 'Whatever is going on is something. Perhaps benign, perhaps ill-judged, perhaps all within the president's constitutional and legal authority - or maybe not. Just what kind of something it is, we don't know. Two presidents do however: President Trump and Vladimir Putin.'
A leading member of San Francisco's reparations task force has suggested taxing billionaires to fund payments of $5million for every black resident.

The Rev. Amos Brown, who has led Third Baptist Church in the Fillmore district since 1976, said he was 'very, very cautiously optimistic' that officials will enact some form of reparations.

'Of all these billionaires in San Francisco, you could establish a reparations fund,' he told The New York Times.

Brown is a member of both the San Francisco African American Reparations Advisory Committee (AARAC) and a California committee set up by Gavin Newsom.

The Reverend, who is also president of the San Francisco branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), in March said that the organization would not support a $5m lump sum for citizens - arguing that instead the money should be redirected to community projects.

The Rev. Amos Brown, who has led Third Baptist Church in the Fillmore district since 1976, said he was 'very, very cautiously optimistic' that officials will enact some form of reparations

Reparations activists at an earlier meeting of San Francisco city officials

DailyMail.com has contacted Brown for clarity on his position following his remarks about a billionaire tax to fund reparations.

San Francisco supervisors in March backed the idea of reparations for black people in principle but the specifics - including the $5million lump sum - are yet to be approved.

That controversial proposal is among 100 other recommendations made by an advisory committee.

There is no deadline for supervisors to agree on a path forward. The board next plans to discuss reparations proposals in September, after the AARAC issues a final report in June.

The idea of reparations is not new, but the federal government's promise of granting 40 acres and a mule to newly freed slaves after the Civil War was never realized.

It wasn't until George Floyd was killed in police custody in 2020 that reparations movements began spreading across the country.

The state of California and the cities of Boston and San Francisco are among jurisdictions trying to atone not just for slavery, but for decades of policies which campaigners claim denied blacks access to property and education.

The advisory committee that made the recommendations says it is not its job to figure out how to finance San Francisco's atonement and repair.

That would be up to local politicians, two of whom have expressed interest in taking the issue to voters.

San Francisco Supervisor Matt Dorsey said in March he would back a ballot measure to enshrine reparations in the San Francisco charter as part of the budget. Shamann Walton, the supervisor leading the charge on reparations, backed that idea.

Among the advisory committee's recommendations is overhauling education with an Afrocentric K-12 school in the City by the Bay; hiring and retaining black teachers; mandating a core black history and culture curriculum; and offering cash to at-risk students for hitting educational benchmarks.

Recommendations in health include free mental health, prenatal care and rehab treatment for impoverished black San Franciscans, victims of violent crimes and formerly incarcerated people.

Reverend Amos Brown (pictured outside City Hall in San Francisco in March) is the vice chair of Gov Gavin Newsom's nine-person reparation committee  and is also a member of the San Francisco African American Reparations Advisory Committee (AARAC)

California has also proposed reparations payments to black families. Walter Foster, age 80, holds up a sign as the Reparations Task Force meets to hear public input in LA in September

Christian Flagg (left) stands up to speak at the California Reparations Task Force meeting in Los Angeles in September

The advisory committee also recommends prioritizing black San Franciscans for job opportunities and training, as well as finding ways to incubate black businesses.

In 2020, California became the first state to form a reparations task force. But nearly two years into its work, it still has yet to make key decisions on who would be eligible for payment and how much.

The task force has a July 1 deadline to submit a final report of its reparations recommendations, which would then be drafted into legislation for lawmakers to consider.

The task force has spent multiple meetings discussing time frames and payment calculations for five harms experienced by black people, including government taking of property, housing discrimination and homelessness and mass incarceration. The task force is also debating state residency requirements.

Previously, the state committee voted to limit financial reparations to people descended from enslaved or freed black people in the U.S. as of the 19th century.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said he will 'quickly' try to refer a Democrat-led resolution to expel disgraced GOP Rep. George Santos to the Ethics Committee.

'I would like the Ethics Committee to move rapidly on this. I think there's enough information out there now that they can start looking at this,' the GOP leader said, in comments that were a step further from previous times where he refused to call on Santos to resign.

He said he would have a conversation with Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries about moving the resolution to Ethics. 'I think they can come back to Congress, probably faster than the court case.'

McCarthy added: 'I don't want to wait around for courts to act. I would like to have the House take action and have a process.'

House Democrats introduced the resolution to expel Santos after he was indicted on a string of offenses including money laundering, wire fraud and making false statements during his campaign.

The motion, introduced by Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., on Tuesday, requires a two-thirds majority vote in the House - meaning around 70 Republicans would have to get on board.

McCarthy said: 'I don't want to wait around for courts to act. I would like to have the house take action and have a process'

McCarthy would only need a simple majority to refer the measure to the Ethics Committee - and would spare his members the choice between voting to table the resolution or voting to expel him before the ethics investigation is done.

After the Ethics Committee, acts the full House would vote to expel him.

Santos is already officially under an ethics investigation by the committee, which started the probe in March.

The investigation is focused on whether Santos 'engaged in unlawful activity with respect to his 2022 congressional campaign; failed to properly disclose required information on statements filed with the House; violated federal conflict of interest laws in connection with his role in a firm providing fiduciary services; and/or engaged in sexual misconduct towards an individual seeking employment in his congressional office,' the House Ethics Committee said in a statement.

If the House were to expel Santos it would lead to a special election in New York's third district, where President Biden won by eight points in 2020.

Republicans would also be down one vote at least until the seat is filled - a vote they can't afford to lose with their slim four-seat majority.

House Democrats are introducing a resolution to to expel disgraced GOP Rep. George Santos after he was indicted on a string of offenses including money laundering, wire fraud and making false statements during his campaign

The motion, introduced by Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., requires a two-thirds majority vote in the House - meaning around 70 Republicans would have to get on board

He appeared in court last Wednesday, pleaded not guilty to the 13 charges and was freed on $500,000 bail in a pivotal moment in his career, just four months after he was sworn in.

Santos signaled he won't resign, will still run for reelection and asked why President Biden's family wasn't being investigated by the Department of Justice.

Prosecutors have accused him of using donor funds to buy designer clothes and pay off personal debts and for applying for COVID unemployment benefits while running for Congress and making $125,000 a year.

They have also accused him of lying on financial disclosure forms he filed to the House when he became a candidate by overstating his income from one job and failing to disclose income from another. He also allegedly lied about his earnings from his company, Devolder Organization.

He will appear in court again on June 30 and was also made to surrender his passport.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has signaled he will not back Santos' reelection bid but stopped short of calling for him to resign.

He noted that Sen. Bob Menendez remained in office after being indicted on bribery charges.
The Senate passed a resolution that would overturn a radical D.C. policing law making it more difficult for law enforcement to enforce the law and put criminals behind bars, while D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser continues to blame 'more guns' for the rise in violent crime in the nation's capital under her leadership.

Democrats Joe Manchin, Maggie Hassan, Catherine Cortez Masto, Jacky Rosen, Jon Tester, Jeanne Shaheen and Krysten Sinema and Angus King, Independents who vote with the Democratic Caucus, crossed over to join Republicans in voting for the measure, which passed 56 to 43 Tuesday afternoon.

D.C. has faced a rise in violent crime recently, including a skyrocketing numbers of carjacking incidents in recent months. The rise includes a 13 percent increase in violent crime and a large increases of homicides and rapes.

Despite safety challenges, the D.C. City Council voted to pass a new law that would reduce the maximum sentences for carjackings, even as the nation's capital is seeing a 49 percent increase in carjackings in 2023 alone.

The law also bans police from using chokeholds, makes disciplinary records of law enforcement public and requires body camera footage to be released.

Republicans have said that the provisions in the law would make it more difficult for police to do their jobs, at a time the D.C. force is severely understaffed.

Republican Sen. J.D. Vance introduced the resolution last week that would block D.C.'s police law.

D.C. has faced a rise in violent crime recently, including a skyrocketing numbers of carjacking incidents in recent months

Democrat Joe Manchin crossed over to join Republicans in voting for the measure

'Today's vote is a victory for the safety and security of every American who visits our nation's capital,' Vance told DailyMail.com in a statement following the vote.

'It is also a strong statement in support of the hardworking men and women of DC's Metropolitan Police Department. With this vote, Congress has sent President Biden a clear and bipartisan message: the American people have rejected the radical left and they want to see law and order in Washington,' Vance continued.

In April, the House voted to successfully repeal the D.C. law and put the ball in the Senate's court.

'America has a police shortage, but radical Democrats are introducing even more anti-police policies. House Republicans voted to nullify the most anti-police policy to ever be jammed through the DC City Council,' House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said in a video Tuesday posted to Twitter.

'The Senate must now vote, & President Biden should sign it into law.'

Biden, however, has already promised to veto the legislation overturning D.C.'s police reforms.

During a House Oversight Committee hearing Tuesday ahead of the Senate's vote, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser apparently blamed the rise of guns for making the city more dangerous in recent years.

Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., directly asked the mayor: 'Is Washington, D.C., more dangerous now that you're in office?'

Bowser said the nation 'is more dangerous with more guns' as crime skyrockets under her watch

Bowser testified on the Hill Tuesday before the House Oversight Committee

Bowser skirted the question, replying to Boebert that the nation 'is more dangerous with more guns.'

The mayor continued throughout the hearing to back up her own record, saying it is her top priority to ensure D.C. is a safe place for children to 'live up to their God given potential.'

She also made a statement in reference to the Senate's action, saying it 'doesn't make sense' for others to be so closely invested in the capital's local issues.

'It doesn't make sense for anybody from around the U.S. to purport to care more about our issues than we do.'

Police Chief Robert Contee said in October that more crimes are being committed by 'young people' in the district at a 'pace that I have not seen in my 30-plus year career here with the Metropolitan Police Department.'

The D.C. police force has lost over 1,190 officers since the start of 2020, creating a massive shortage on the force.
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A Wyoming man faces up to one year in prison and a $10,000 fine for killing a protected 530lb grizzly bear outside Yellowstone National Park.

Patrick M. Gogerty, of Cody, went out hunting on May 1, when he came within 100 yards of the grizzly off US 14-16-20.

At first, an affidavit filed in Park County Circuit Court claims, Gogerty thought he had spotted a black bear, which are legal to hunt.

It wasn't until after he fired seven shots, the affidavit says, that he realized he had killed a grizzly bear  which are illegal to hunt under federal law. It had been struck at least four times.

But Gogerty did not turn himself into Wyoming Game and Fish Department authorities until after the beast was photographed lying bloody on the side of the road.

'Gogerty should have turned himself in immediately,' Wyoming Game and Fish Department Game Warden Travis Cane wrote in the affidavit.

Wildlife photographer Amy Gerber captured images of the grizzly inside the national park

Cane explained in the affidavit that Gogerty went hunting in Cody the day the regular black bear hunting season opened in the area.

He said that the hunter told him he was confident that the bear he shot at was a black bear because the animal did not have the grizzly's humped back.

But 'when Gogerty went up to the bear and saw the bear's claws, the pads and the head of the bear, he realized it was a grizzly bear.'

Wyoming Game and Fish Department Game Warden Travis Cane said Patrick M. Gogerty should have turned himself in immediately after shooting the grizzly bear

He then apparently fled the scene without telling authorities about the dead bear.

It was later pictured by local wildlife photographer Amy Gerber, and sparked outrage online.

'That bear cant die in vain,' she told Cowboy State Daily.

'The very few people who are so vehemently hateful toward grizzlies, that doesnt represent us. Thats not Cody, Wyoming.

'It seems like theres this perception that people here hate wildlife, and particularly predators, and thats not true. The outcry over this bear being killed is strong.'

Gogerty is now charged under Wyoming law with killing a grizzly bear without a license, a misdemeanor in the state.

If convicted, he would face having to pay as much as $25,000 in restitution.

He is scheduled to be arraigned on Friday.

Experts say black bears are typically smaller than grizzly bears, but the two can often be mistaken due to their similar coloring

Grizzly bears within the Yellowstone ecosystem, however, have been protected under the Endangered Species Act since 2018

Experts say black bears are typically smaller than grizzly bears, but the two can often be mistaken due to their similar coloring.

Grizzly bears within the Yellowstone ecosystem, however, have been protected under the Endangered Species Act since 2018 as part of an effort to increase its population.

The population of grizzly bears inside Yellowstone was threatened with extinction in the 1970s but their population has grown from 136 in 1975 to around 1,063 in 2021, according to the National Park Service.
Biden, McCarthy, Jeffries, Schumer and McConnell all met at the White House Tuesday afternoon, along with VP Harris

The Treasury Department reiterated Monday that they still believe the day the nation could run out of funds to pay its bills could be as soon as June 1

President Biden's trip across the globe in the middle of crucial debt ceiling talks will get cut short, in a sign debt talks have not progressed as quickly as he expected.

He will still leave for Japan to attend the G-7 summit on Wednesday - but will not be going to Australia and Papua New Guinea anymore, the White House said Tuesday.

Instead he'll return home to hash out the details of raising the nation's $31.4 trillion borrowing limit with congressional Republicans as the clock ticks down to June 1 - the potential X date when the Treasury could run out of funds to pay its bills.

Biden was set to speak to the Australian parliament, hold Quad meetings (Japan, India, Australia, U.S.) and send a message to China about the unity of allies.

The change to Biden's itinerary came just as he sat down with congressional leaders to try to find a way to end the impasse for the second time.

'Get a good picture of all of us. We're having a wonderful time. Everything's going well,' Biden told reporters at the top of the meeting Tuesday afternoon, without making substantive comments about the state of play.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Monday morning there had been 'no progress' in debt ceiling negotiations overnight, just hours before he was set to sit down with the president.

But after the meeting Tuesday with the 'Big Four' - McCarthy, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell - concluded, the speaker said they are in 'a better place.'

The tone coming out of the meeting was decidedly more civil on all ends. Schumer took a break from knocking McCarthy for refusing to take default off the table. The New York Democrat instead called it a 'good and productive' meeting and said 'everyone agreed' default would be the 'worst possible outcome.'

Nobody divulged any major details - instead keeping mum on the details of the negotiations.

He said the president 'changed the scope of who is negotiating' after he appointed two individuals from his team, Steve Ricchetti and OMB Director Shalanda Young, to work directly with the speaker's team including Louisiana Rep. Garret Graves - which McCarthy called much 'improved.'

'The structure of how we negotiate has improved, so it now gives us a better opportunity even though we only have a few days to get it done.'

He also said 'it's possible to get a deal by the end of the week,' adding 'it's not that difficult to get to an agreement' because the House already passed a bill to stave off default.

Crunch time: House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell met in the Oval Office with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on the day before Biden is set to head off for the G7 in Japan

President Biden's trip across the globe in the middle of crucial debt ceiling talks may get cut short, the White House signaled Tuesday

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby confirmed to reporters the White House is 're-evaluating' the last two stops of the trip amid an impasse over the debt ceiling and said a decision will be made soon

Jeffries also expressed a hint of optimism, calling it a 'positive meeting.'

The leaders did not shed much light on the exact details of the negotiations, including whether work requirements would be included in any agreement. But Schumer said permitting reforms came up during the conversation.

'Well you'll know it when you see it,' Schumer said, adding that 'what that means is that we will not sacrifice our values.'

McCarthy touted the permitting reform provisions within the Limit, Save, Grow Act when he returned to the Capitol, telling press that it will 'help American build things again' and compete on the world stage.

McCarthy has said work requirements for welfare benefits must be included to get his conference on board with a deal, while Jeffries has said they are a non-starter.

On the other hand, Republicans are refusing to get onboard with a deal without some sort of spending rollbacks, including from unused COVID funds.

A leadership source told DailyMail.com that Biden broke the news about his trip being shortened in the room with the 'Big Four.'

The first hint that Biden's trip was on the rocks came when National Security Spokesman John Kirby described the agenda for Biden's trip to Japan  which he said would include meetings with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. All members of the 'Quad' will already be in Japan.

Kirby left virtually no doubt that Biden would still travel to Japan on Wednesday.

He also was asked if Biden would apologize for the U.S. dropping an atom bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War II in 1945, something President Obama declined to do on his trip to Hiroshima during his tenure.

Biden 'plans to visit the memorial and to pay his respects to the lives of the innocents who were killed in the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima,' Kirby said.

There is one personnel change for Tuesday's meeting: Vice President Kamala Harris is there.

'She she's been consulted on multiple times on the budget on preventing default. This is something that  the President clearly respects her view and this meeting. He wants her to be consulted,' said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

'There's no progress that I see,' McCarthy told reporters of the staff-level talks that went through the weekend. 'And it really concerns me with the timeline of where we are.'

The Treasury Department reiterated Monday that they still believe the day the nation could run out of funds to pay its bills could be as soon as June 1.

Majority Leader Steve Scalise expressed a similar level of pessimism: 'I'm not even sure their negotiations continue.'

Biden and the 'Big Four,' had their second meeting at the White House Tuesday 3 p.m.

They had originally been slated to meet again on Friday, but those talks were canceled after not enough staff progress had been made throughout the week, according to McCarthy.

Meanwhile over on Capitol Hill, protests erupted in the Cannon House office building as activists chanted 'no cuts to Medicaid' - referring to the Republican plan to impose work requirements on welfare.

'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

And just 16 days before June 1, Biden and McCarthy were 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 on Monday had 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

'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.'

In a surprise development over the weekend, 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 has also seemed open to clawing back unspent Covid-19 funds, estimated to amount to between $50 billion and $70 billion. He's reportedly open to discretionary spending craps through the remainder of his term.

In exchange, Biden is demanding Republicans drop their attempt to roll back his key legislative accomplishments, including student debt relief, limit spending caps to two years and increase the debt ceiling at least through the 2024 election.

Biden's openness to work requirements enraged progressives.

'We did not elect Joe Biden of 1986,' Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., chair of the Progressive Caucus, told Politico. 'We elected Joe Biden of 2020.'

She called adding new work requirements for SNAP an 'absolutely terrible idea' and 'a nonstarter for many of us across the Democratic caucus.'

'As we continue debt ceiling negotiations, we cannot consider the Republicans' short-sighted proposal to increase work requirements for aid programs,' Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., wrote on Twitter.

Biden also said he planned to attend the G-7 in Japan on Wednesday - a trip he previously said he could attend virtually if debt limit talks required him to remain in Washington.

'You would think if he knows he's leaving the country, then finish these talks before he leaves, he can do that. I would encourage him strongly to do that,' Scalise told reporters Tuesday.

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.

Schumer, who backed Biden's refusal to negotiate on default, now frames the budget and debt ceiling discussions as 'separate but simultaneous.'

'The talks are separate but simultaneous to our responsibility to avoid default,' he told reporters.
Cult mom Lori Vallow has been indicted by a grand jury in Arizona for conspiracy to commit the murder of her nephew-in-law.

Brandon Boudreaux had been targeted outside a property he had been living at in 2019 after dropping his kids off at school.

Boudreaux survived the botched hit after the bullet ripped through the driver's side door of his Tesla in Gilbert, Arizona, in October of that year.

Authorities have now indicted the cult murderer Vallow in connection with the attempted murder of Boudreaux - her niece Melani's husband.

The counts held against Vallow read: 'On or about October 2, 2019, with the intent to promote or aid the commission of an offense, Lori Vallow, agreed with Alexander Cox that at least one of them or another would engage in conduct constituting the offense of First Degree Premeditated Murder.

Brandon Boudreaux (left) was returning home from the gym when a bullet ripped through the driver's side door of his car

Vallow (pictured) was found guilty of killing her two children and conspiring in the murder of her husband's first wife last week

Pictured: Boudreaux (left) and his ex-wife Melani Pawlowski, the niece of Vallow

'The State further alleges that the offense charged in this count is a dangerous felony because the offense involved the discharge, use, or threatening exhibition of a gun, a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument.

'And\or the intentional or knowing infliction of serious physical injury upon Brandon Boudreaux.'

At the time, Boudreaux was locked in divorce talks with his estranged wife Melani, the mother of his four children and Vallow's niece.

Ryan Pillar, a detective with Gilbert PD, told the courthouse at Vallow's trial that her brother Alex Cox was behind the attempted hit on Boudreaux.

Pillar explained to jurors how they quickly established Cox as their chief suspect when they discovered the Jeep Wrangler he was driving had been involved in another shooting.

If the hit had been successful on Boudreaux, Melani - who was part of their cult - would have received $200,000 in a life insurance payout. In the end she got $300,000 from their divorce settlement.

Ryan Pillar, a detective with Gilbert PD, told Vallow's trial at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise Thursday that Vallow's brother Alex Cox (pictured) was behind the attempted hit

Tylee, 16, and JJ, seven, are shown with their uncle, Alex Cox, in what is believed to be the final photo of them, taken during a family trip to Yellowstone National Park on September 8, 2019

Last week, Vallow was found guilty of murdering her two children and conspiring to kill her husband's former wife after a five-week trial.

Lori's children - seven-year-old JJ and 16-year-old Tylee - vanished in September 2019.

Their mother, newly-in-love with Doomsday-cult enthusiast Chad Daybell, avoided questions and evaded the authorities.

She fled to Hawaii, refusing to tell the police where her children were, or answer any kind of questions about not only her children but the vast web of death and deceit that seemed to engulf her family.

It emerged after the verdict that she will be sent to Arizona following sentencing, to be charged with conspiracy to murder her fourth husband, Charles Vallow.

He was shot dead in July 2019 by Lori Vallow's brother Alex Cox - who died five months later, from natural causes.

The 49-year-old was emotionless as the verdict was read aloud today 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

Vallow murdered seven-year-old Joshua (JJ), left, and 16-year-old Tylee, right

The bizarre case drew nationwide interest in 2019 after the kids vanished. It took another nine months for their bodies to be discovered in shallow graves in Chad 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.

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.

Jurors heard from Prosecutor Lindsey Blake described how charred remains were all that was left of Tylee.

She told jurors: 'You will hear it explained as a mass of bone and tissue. That's what was left of this beautiful young woman.'

JJ's body was wrapped in trash bags and duct tape - the tape binding his arms in front of him and wrapping around his head. He had been suffocated inside a plastic bag.

The two children and Daybell's previous wife Tammy were all killed because they stood in the way of the couple's relationship, the State said.

Match made in hell: Lori and Chad met in October 2018 at a religious conference

In 2020, police discovered JJ and Tylee's remains in shallow graves in Chad's yard

'Remember, the defendant will remove any obstacle in her way to get what she wants, and she wanted Chad Daybell,' Blake told jurors.

'The defendant used money, power and sex to get what she wanted.'

Chad Daybell's trial has been paused.

Following the verdict, Boudreaux released a statement saying: 'Our judicial process cant bring back loved ones nor can it heal those left behind missing them.

We will choose to lean on our faith for healing and express gratitude to the jury of our peers who had to face those horrible things to help bring about resolution.

'While we do not glory in any conviction, we recognize the importance of holding accountable those who would commit such terrible atrocities.

'Tylee and JJ will be forever missed. They are precious and unique and will always be loved.'
A prestigious U.S. college, home to a Joe Biden-backed think-tank where the former vice-president left classified documents, raked in more than $100 million from Chinese donors, leaked emails show.

The revelations, first reported by Fox News, will raise fresh suspicions of the presidential family's cozy ties with foreign governments.

Disgraced first son Hunter Biden, 53, has been under the microscope for years over alleged influence-peddling thanks to his political connections.

They came to light after a series of emails from his laptop were leaked to the media, highlighting how he used his ties to his father to win lucrative contracts abroad.

The president was spotted on the grounds of UPenn on Monday as he attended his granddaugher's graduation from her fine arts degree

Hunter Biden, the president's embattled son, laughed off his legal woes with his sister Ashley during the ceremony

Financial records obtained by American for Public Trust, a transparency group, show the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement accepted millions of dollars in donations from China.

The eye-watering sum of $105 million, nearly double what had been reported in the past, was picked up from businessmen close to the Chinese Communist party in just three short years.

It is the latest scandal to plague UPenn after it emerged Joe Biden had left a treasure trove of classified documents on site after his two-term spell as Barack Obama's vice-president.

Caitlin Sutherland, the executive director of APT which uncovered the figures, said it would cast further shadows over the Biden family's business dealings.

'Unfortunately, they don't break out where the money flowed once UPenn received the contributions, she told DailyMail.com.

She said the filings show 'the incredible volume of support the university has received from foreign sources.'

There are several donors who have stumped up cash who are linked to past Hunter Biden business deals.

They include a lead investor and a board member of a company that landed an arrangement facilitated by a Hunter-tied investment company.

Cathay Fortune, a private equity firm that has a controlling interest in China Molybdenum - now called CMOC Group Limited - gave $1 million to UPenn in 2019.

CMOC purchased a cobalt mine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2016 with the help of an investment company formed by Hunter Biden in 2013.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the president's eldest son held a 10% stake in the firm he founded, BHR, as recently as 2020.

In 2018 and 2019, China Merchant Bank donated over $5.5 million to UPenn, the records show.

The bank described UPenn's prestigious Wharton School of Business as a 'strategic partner.'

The vice dean of Wharton's Global Initiative has also called the bank a 'long-standing partner,' according to Beijing mouthpiece China Daily.

Joe Biden opened the think-tank after he left the Obama administration as vice-president after two terms.

Joe Biden was found to have a series of classified files at the Penn Biden Center, as well as other properties, after a series of searches by the FBI.

Many of the Chinese donors to UPenn have close ties to Hunter Biden's previous dealings

But a spokesman for the Philadelphia-based university said that not a single cent of the Chinese money was funneled to the president's think-tank.

'No foreign funds were contributed anonymously, and no foreign funds were directed to the Penn Biden Center,' the spokesman told DailyMail.com.

'Penn reported all foreign contributions as required, and they have been publicly available on the Department of Education website for some time.'

But the Department of Education stopped publishing the identities of foreign university donors in late 2020.

Before that, the gifts included individuals who gave $250,000 or more, meaning the new records also show donors previously not in the database.

The donor list also shows several individuals with ties to the Chinese Communist Party.

Joe Biden enjoys close ties with the University of Pennsylvania. On Monday, he and the first family attended the graduation of his granddaughter, Maisy, in fine arts.

The president was seen with his son Hunter as well as his wife, Dr Jill Biden.

The current commander-in-chief also became an honorary professor there in 2017 after leaving office as vice-president.

He pocketed a total of $776,557 in just two years, double what most professors earn there, before launching the Penn Center the following year.

The think-tank says its mission is to back Biden's fight 'to secure American global leadership by defending and advancing a liberal international order.'
Alabama chef Timothy Hontzas has been disqualified from a prestigious food awards for allegedly shouting at customers and staff as well as an incident that reportedly became physical.

Hontzas was found to have breached the James Beard Foundation's new ethics code, brought in to push social justice and inclusion at the organization.

Hontzas has been accused of a number of alleged incidents including yelling at customers for leaving the door open, shouting about the ice machine not being filled and shouting at kitchen staff including one incident which reportedly became physical.

The decision to disqualify Hontzas, 51, over the new code introduced in 2021, has caused a ruckus in the industry leading to one judge resigning and a chef friend smashing up his own award in protest.

Hontzas, the owner and executive chef of Johnny's Restaurant in Alabama, which offers inexpensive classic southern food such as chicken pot pie or a 15-hour pot roast for $9.99, was disqualified by an independent committee that reports to the board of the James Beard Foundation.

Timothy Hontzas has been disqualified from a prestigious food awards for allegedly shouting at customers and staff as well as an incident that reportedly became physical

John Currence, 58, was so incensed by the decision that he smashed his own Beard Award in protest

Hontzas told the Washington Post that he had a conversation with the investigation committee but denies that there was a physical incident, in fact, he claims that it was a member of his kitchen staff that 'flipped out on me, and my sous chef and another guy walked him outside,' Hontzas said.

'We all walked out there and just talked it out, and then the guy still worked for me for another year.'

Hontzas said that no one touched the cook and that they are still friends.

He acknowledges that he can be loud, and does not deny shouting on occasion.

The code, publicized on the foundation's website states that 'conduct that may create an uncomfortable situation, such as inappropriate comments, jokes, intimidation, or physical contact, may be forms of workplace harassment' and will not be tolerated.

In a statement shared with DailyMail.com the James Beard Foundation said: 'We are evolving the Awards to push for a better standard, centered in culinary excellence but broadened to include equity, sustainability and conditions where all can thrive.'

'We are harnessing the power of the Awards to drive positive change by celebrating those whom embody our values and standard of excellence. The James Beard Foundation has invested significant time, resources, and consideration into creating an independent Ethics Committee, a Code of Ethics, and a robust ethics process.

'Our ethics process was created to protect the integrity of the Awards and its mission, while being fair to those it seeks to celebrate. We are proud of this process and believe it reflects our values and the overall mission of the Foundation.'

A good friend and fellow chef, John Currence, 58, was so incensed by the decision that he smashed his own Beard Award in protest at what he described as 'skewed reasoning and fake virtue-signaling by the spineless, rudderless, consciousnessless' organization.

Close friends: John Currence and Timothy Hontzas have previously lived and worked together

Currence has been defending Hontzas in Instagram posts: 'He is an extraordinarily dramatic, vocal, passionate Greek'

Hontzas denies any physical altercation took place at his restaurant Johnny's

'I am sickened today in a way I cant even begin to explain, but it is way past time to stop this cycle of insane blame and shame through arbitrary accusations and NOTHING approaching due-process and stripping people of credit they deserve based on nothing other than the opinion of one,' the chef said in the post.

'He is an extraordinarily dramatic, vocal, passionate Greek. He embodies your nutty Greek cartoon character in every possible way,' Currence, chef and founder of City Grocery in Oxford, Mississippi, told The Washington Post.

'But hes vocal,' Currence, who mentored and previously lived with Hontzas, added.

'Im not kidding when I say that 95 percent of his muscle mass is his diaphragm and his jaw muscles. I mean, thats what it is. It is what endears him to everyone. Hes just loud.'

Currence argued that the Beard Awards have gone too far in their pursuit of diversity and inclusion sometimes at the expense of deserving chefs.

Hontzas, the owner and executive chef of Johnny's Restaurant in Alabama, which offers inexpensive classic southern food such as chicken pot pie or a 15-hour pot roast for $9.99

'Discipline comes in different forms, and just because it comes in a form that might make you in some way, shape or form uncomfortable, it doesnt mean that its toxic,' Currence said. 'There is no universal definition.'

In a further Instagram post on Saturday Currence wrote that Hontzas was offering the 'best retort in history' alongside a photo of the chef clutching a mug that reads 'I'm not yelling, I'm Greek'.

Vishwesh Bhatt, chef at Snackbar in Oxford, also objected to the decision to disqualify Hontzas and resigned as a volunteer on the Beard regional judges panel for restaurants and chefs in the South.

'Weve got this so muddled, and were just not being transparent about whats going on, that for folks like me, am I on this committee just because I happen to be of Indian origin  or am I on here because you actually want my opinion and respect what I have to say?' Bhatt told The Post.

'At this point, after all this came out, it felt like my views and my time, it didnt seem like anybody really cared for those.'

Hontzas says that in contradiction of the allegations his staff remain loyal to him, with his sous chef having worked with him for eight years, two front-of-house staff for five and a dishwasher for more than two.
The lawyer for an OnlyFans model accused of killing her partner has claimed new evidence suggests she killed her boyfriend in self-defense and that she was a victim of abuse.

Courtney Clenney, 26, allegedly murdered her boyfriend Christian Obumseli in their Miami apartment on April 3, 2022.

Clenney, who claimed she stabbed him in self-defense, was arrested for second-degree murder four months after his death - and last month, his family launched a lawsuit against her to cover his medical and funeral costs.

Photos of the crime scene from 2022 showed a puddle of blood near an entryway of the couple's apartment, the bloody knife supposedly used in the attack and Clenney drenched in Obumseli's blood.

Now, Sabrina Puglisi and Frank Prieto, the attorneys for Clenney, have claimed there are three instances they will use at trial as evidence to suggest their client was in fact a victim of abuse.

Courtney Clenney, 26, allegedly murdered her boyfriend Christian Obumseli in their Miami apartment on April 3, 2022

Clenney was arrested for second-degree murder four months after his death and claimed she stabbed him in self-defense

Courtney Clenney talks to her lawyer Frank Prieto during a detention hearing, Tuesday November 15, 2022

They say one of the instances was caught on police body cam in Las Vegas, with a cop saying he heard her say 'get your hands off me' - allegedly speaking about Obumseli.

The attorneys say they then found clumps of her hair on the ground in their room.

Puglisi told Law&Crime: 'The first is in Las Vegas in 2021 where she actually called security and the interview of the security officer by police.

'And you can see it in the body camera of the police officer, he says he overheard her saying get your hands off me, and when they got up to the room clumps of her hair were on the ground.'

Clenney's attorney Frank Prieto told Law&Crime: 'I think that the fact that the detective in this matter did not arrest her for four months while they investigated the case. It's very telling.

Speaking about the clip of his client striking her boyfriend in an elevator, Prieto said: 'What the media has portrayed is a snapshot in time.

Seen her in a mugshot from her arrest, Clenney faces second-degree murder charges

'If you actually look at the first few seconds of that video, which is cut off in most news media cycleswhat you see is actually she does not want him to come into the elevator to go upstairs.

'There is only one key Fob in order to be able to get up into this apartment.'

He also said that there's no doubt that both the boyfriend and girlfriend acted inappropriately during their relationship, reports Law&Crime.

Meanwhile, Michael Haggard, who represents Obumselis family, maintains that forensic evidence is 'clear that Christian was not an aggressor in any way.'

He said: 'There's one aggressor in this case.'

Clenney is still in prison awaiting a trial.

Security footage taken from the building's elevator two months before the murder also showed Clenney viscously attacking her boyfriend, who appeared not to fight back

Released 911 audio following the stabbing revealed Clenney told her former lover, 'baby, I'm so sorry' after allegedly plunging a knife into his shoulder.

She didn't tell the operator that she had stabbed him, but sobbed to him about how sorry she was.

In the background, Obumseli can be heard crying out: 'I can't feel my arm.'

Graphic case photos have revealed that she stabbed her much larger boyfriend inches above a tattoo of her name in cursive on the left side of his chest.

At the time, Obumseli's family said it showed that she intended to kill him, then regretted it once the knife had been plunged into him.

'It shows her state of mind. Shes saying shes sorry because shes realizing what shes done. Shes not saying, "I was defending myself,"' his family's attorney, Larry Hadfield said.

Obumseli was rushed to the hospital but he died of his injuries.
Firebrand congresswoman Lauren Boebert filed for divorce from her husband after 18 years of marriage Tuesday  bizarrely stressing in a statement that she has 'always been faithful.'

And in an exclusive text to DailyMail.com, hubby Jayson, 42, said: 'I am torn by this a very sad thing. A horrible moment in my life.

'I love her too much to say anything bad about her. She is the mother of my children and my partner for the last 20 years. Please just let me have some peace.'

Boebert, 36, cited 'irreconcilable differences' as the reason for filing. A court hearing has been set for May 31 in Mesa County Court in Grand Junction, Colorado.

In her statement, the sophomore congresswoman said: 'It is with a heavy weight on my heart that I have filed for divorce from my husband. I am grateful for our years of marriage together and for our beautiful children, all of whom deserve privacy and love as we work through this process.'

'I've always been faithful in my marriage, and I believe strongly in marriage, which makes this announcement that much more difficult.'

Lauren Boebert, 36, said in a statement Tuesday that she has filed for divorce from her husband Jayson

The couple were married in 2005 and share four boys together

The Boeberts own a home in Silt, Colorado. 'It is with a heavy weight on my heart that I have filed for divorce from my husband,' she said. 'I am grateful for our years of marriage together'

In court papers obtained by DailyMail.com, process server Mike Estep said Jayson Boebert was drinking a beer and cleaning a gun when he tried to serve him. 'Once he learned that he was being served with Dissolution of Marriage papers he was extremely angry,' Estop wrote

The couple were married in 2005 and share four boys together.

Court documents obtained by DailyMail.com show that Lauren filed for divorce on the grounds that the marriage was irretrievably broken.

She has also made a bid for a temporary order granting primary custody of the couples sons, Tyler, 18, Brody, 15, Kaydon, 13, and Roman 10, as well as child and spousal support.

The documents give the date of separation as April 25 and show that the congresswoman attempted to have her husband served with divorce papers that day but, when approached at his home in Silt, Colorado, Jayson refused to take receipt of the papers, even letting the dogs out on the process server.

According to a statement from the process server Jayson was drinking and cleaning a gun when he arrived to attempt to serve him. Jayson became, extremely angry when he learned the purpose of the process servers visit that day.

Process Server Mike Estep stated, Jayson opened the door and I said Are you Jayson Boebert, to which he said, Thats Me I told him, I have a Summons for Dissolution of Marriage for you I could see that he was drinking a tall glass of beer and cleaning a gun that was sitting on a table.

Once he learned that he was being served with Dissolution of Marriage papers he was extremely angry. I tried to hand him the documents but [he] did not take them. He started yelling and using profanities and told me that I was trespassing and that he was calling the Sheriffs Office. I told him I was leaving the documents on the chair outside the door, he closed the door then let the dogs out.

The Boeberts will be grandparents soon, as their oldest son Tyler, is expecting a baby with his girlfriend. She had said the baby was due in April but has made no announcement of a birth.

The couple met when she was 16 and working at a Burger King, she wrote in her book 'My American Life.'

She said they 'fell in love immediately.'

'Four months after we met, Jayson and I went off to get married,' Boebert wrote, but said they were turned away in Las Vegas because she was too young.

'For any "Karen" who may be reading this, Jayson and I broke no Colorado laws with our relationship, despite what you might be thinking. This was no shotgun wedding.'

They actually got married in Rifle, Colorado on June 9, 2006, when Boebert was 19.

She entered Congress in 2021 as a pro-gun Republican on the far right of her party. She soon aligned herself with another controversial figure, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia  who got divorced last year.

She squeaked in for her second term with a narrow victory in November last year, beating Democrat Adam Frisch by just 546 votes out of more than 327,000 cast.

Before that she had run a restaurant in Rifle, Colorado, called Shooters Grill. where waitresses had guns holstered on their hips and signs plastered no the walls and windows encouraged patroons to carry.

Boebert ran a restaurant called Shooters Grill in Rifle, Colorado. It closed last summer when the landlord declined to renew her lease

Waitstaff at Shooters all carried conspicuously holstered firearms and patrons were encouraged to come in and dine with their guns

The restaurant was decorated with signs and plaques honoring the right to bear arms

The restaurant closed last summer after the landlord declined to renew her lease.

Both Boebert and her husband have a history of run-ins with the law.

In 2004, Jayson pleaded guilty and served jail time for public indecency and lewd exposure.

He was sentenced to four days in jail followed by two years of probation, but Boebert has repeatedly claimed that her husband never flashed anyone.

She was dating him at the time, and she is reportedly banned from the bowling alley.

Jayson's case marked the first of the couple's many brushes with the police.

Back in 2010, Boebert was arrested after a neighbor accused her two pitbulls of attacking her dog, with Boebert pleading guilty to a count of 'dog at large' charges and agreeing to pay a $75 fine.

Five years later, she was arrested for disorderly conduct at a country music festival near Grand Junction after police said she tried to interfere in the arrest of minors caught for underage drinking.

Then, in September 2016, Boebert was charged with careless driving and operating an unsafe vehicle after rolling her truck into a ditch.

Jayson Boebert told DailyMail.com, 'I am torn by this a very sad thing. A horrible moment in my life. I love her too much to say anything bad about her she is the mother of my children and my partner for the last 20 years. Please just let me have some peace'

'I am grateful for our years of marriage together and for our beautiful children, all of whom deserve privacy and love as we work through this process,' Boebert said

Both Boebert and her husband have a history of run-ins with the law. Boebert was previously charged with careless driving and operating an unsafe vehicle after rolling her truck into a ditch in Garfield County, Colorado in 2016. She was later arrested and booked into jail in 2017 for failing to appear for her court hearing

In August of last year, Jayson got into a dispute with a neighbor and reportedly threatened them and destroyed their mailbox.

In a 911 call to the Garfield County Sheriff's Office, one of the Boebert's neighbors warned police that 'there's about to be some sh** going down here' as Jayson was allegedly driving into the neighbor's yard, The Denver Post reported.

'It's Lauren Boebert's jacka** husband, Jayson. He's running over my mailbox right now,' the distressed man said.

'Stop you jacka**,' he then yelled. 'Get the f*** out of here. Come on, man. What are you doing? What did we even do wrong?'

Boebert could be squeezed out of Congress next term by a Democrat who has been significantly more money than her or a Republican who says her Colorado constituents are 'done' with her 'immature' antics.

Frisch has already said that he wants a rematch and raised nearly three times as much as Boebert according to the latest filings with the Federal Election Commission.

But he could be beaten to the punch as last week 65-year-old conservative radio personality Russ Andrews announced he would be running against her in the Republican primary.

In an interview with the Montrose Press Andrews said the difference between the two of them is that he 'does his homework' while she 'doesn't seem to have a very wide or deep trench of information'.

Boebert was first elected in 2020 and, along with Taylor Greene, first made headlines for pushing the QAnon conspiracy theory in online posts.

Both lawmakers have since stepped back from it.

She also turned heads for her overt love of guns  even brandishing a weapon during a Congressional hearing.
Police are searching for a 21-year-old Texas woman who disappeared a week ago without her phone or car after being heard arguing with her ex-boyfriend.

Madeline Molina Pantoja was last seen on May 10 at her home. She was dropped off there at 11pm, but neighbors say they heard her arguing with her ex-boyfriend at 1.30am.

Pantoja's phone, purse and dog were still in her apartment when she was reported missing, but there has been no sign of her.

Madeline Molina Pantoja was last seen on May 10 at her home. She was dropped off there at 11pm, but neighbors say they heard her arguing with her ex-boyfriend at 1.30am.

Pantoja's phone, purse and dog were still in her apartment when she was reported missing, but there has been no sign of her

Police in Midland, Texas, have not released the ex-boyfriend's name.

Pantoja's family re now trying to raise money to hire a private investigator.

On a GoFundMe page, her sister pleaded: 'The money will be used to hire a private investigator, and the remaining money will be added toward the cash reward for the person (who will be kept anonymous if they wish) who provides valuable information that leads us to finding Madeline.'

Pantoja has multiple distinctive tattoos, which her family hopes will lead to her being found.

She is described as being 5 feet, 4 inches, 130 pounds with brown eyes and black and brown hair.

Anyone with information is urged to call police on 432 685 7108.
In 1968 a young Queen Elizabeth, stung by criticism that the monarchy was increasingly irrelevant, allowed television cameras to follow her family for a ground-breaking and now notorious BBC television documentary, Royal Family.

Filmmakers had convinced her it would be a good idea to shine a little light on to the workings of the institution and introduce the future Prince of Wales to his people.

The two-hour documentary was a ratings triumph  watched by 30 million people in the UK alone  and showed a dedicated sovereign working tirelessly for her nation.

But viewers were also captivated by scenes of the Queen having breakfast, making banal small-talk with President Nixon, and woodenly regaling her family with an anecdote about Queen Victoria's 'incredible control' in not laughing when an ambassador 'skidded' and fell over in front of her.

The Queen was said to be horrified at the result, believing it belittled the institution and, according to some reports, vowed it would never be seen in its entirety again.

In the days leading up to and after the Coronation, the Prince and Princess of Wales went on a social media blitz posting slick videos of their family. Pictured: The Wales' toasting marshmallows at a Scout camp in Berkshire

Adorable Prince Louis with Prince William as they drove a JCB digger during their volunteering day, captured on the family's Instagram and Twitter

In 1968 a young Queen Elizabeth, stung by criticism that the monarchy was increasingly irrelevant, allowed television cameras to follow her family for a ground-breaking and now notorious BBC television documentary, Royal Family. Pictured: The late Queen and then Prince Charles on the documentary

Princess Anne agreed, saying a few years ago: 'I never liked the idea of 'Royal Family'. I thought it was a rotten idea.'

Which is why a series of slick social media films released by the Prince and Princess of Wales in recent days, showing their family in front of the cameras  and, interestingly, behind the scenes  are being scrutinised so carefully by the wider royal household.

The media blitz began on the eve of the Coronation with a post on William and Kate's social media channels  Twitter, Instagram  entitled '1 Day to Go!' showing the glamorous couple meeting the crowds.

Things stepped up a notch on the day of the King's crowning with an early-morning tease, 'Today's the day!', depicting royal fans excitedly waiting along The Mall in the sunshine alongside a funky soundtrack.

Then there was a personal post by William paying tribute to the helicopter pilots taking part in the post-Coronation flypast.

This was followed by the piece de resistance  a one-minute clip with footage from that morning at Kensington Palace, which showed endearingly awestruck Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis gazing excitedly at the State Bentley as they prepared to leave for Westminster Abbey.

This was followed by the piece de resistance  a one-minute clip with footage from that morning at Kensington Palace, which showed endearingly awestruck Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis gazing excitedly at the State Bentley as they prepared to leave for Westminster Abbey

The 1969 documentary on the Coronation was watched by 30 million people in the UK alone  and showed a dedicated sovereign (pictured with one of her beloved corgis) working tirelessly for her nation

Entitled 'What. A. Day', this film was accompanied by a stirring musical montage and was a precursor to an entire 'mini movie'  a whole five minutes long  including candid footage of the couple and their children in their private Kensington Palace apartment. This appeared on YouTube.

Further clips from the film were released over the next few days, showing preparations for the Coronation Concert and the children getting involved in the 'Big Help Out' the following day  with Louis at his father's knee as he operated a mechanical digger  and generally showing what a thoroughly lovely young family they are.

The videos have been lapped up by royal fans with the full Coronation film being viewed more than a million times in three days and their combined social media 'likes' on Twitter alone amounting to more than half a million over the Coronation weekend.

The Coronation bonanza has been followed by yet another video of William behind the scenes at Windsor Castle as he prepared to award England Lioness Beth Mead an MBE. Finally, of course, there was that jaw-dropping clip of the Princess playing the piano for the opening credits of the Eurovision Song Contest (which quite overshadowed the King and Queen's brief cameo a few days earlier).

The campaign marks a serious ramping-up of the Prince and Princess of Wales's PR strategy, backed by the couple themselves, it can be revealed.

The Wales' videos have been lapped up by royal fans with the full Coronation film being viewed more than a million times in three days and their combined social media 'likes' on Twitter alone amounting to more than half a million over the Coronation weekend. Pictured: Kate and Princess George on the night of the Coronation concert

Prince George was captured hard at work during the Big Help Out

The Wales children were captured getting involved in the 'Big Help Out' the following day  with Louis at his father's knee as he operated a mechanical digger  and generally showing what a thoroughly lovely young family they are. Pictured: Prince Louis pushing around a wheel barrow

Although they have not commented publicly, the Royal Family is acutely aware of recent polling which, while showing widespread support for the monarchy, has indicated a worrying generational divide. A recent poll for the Daily Mail showed that while 74 per cent of those aged 65 and over would vote to keep the monarchy, that support plunges to just 28 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds.

This lack of engagement among young people has unequivocally been exacerbated by Harry and Meghan's departure which, aside from the acres of unwelcome publicity, means that seven of our 11 remaining working royals are in their 70s and 80s.

The youngest are William and Kate, aged 41 and 40 respectively, followed by the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, 59 and 58.

The Waleses' children are all under the age of 10 and won't be carrying out royal duties for at least a decade or more. Which is why Kensington Palace is so keen to capitalise on their popularity to engage with Generation Z  those born between the mid to late 1990s and early 2000s  who will be so crucial to ensuring the monarchy is able to retain the public support it needs to survive.

The number of people watching traditional TV broadcasts hasfallen by 59 per cent. By contrast, YouTube and Facebook reach more than 90 per cent of internet users aged 15 and over, with the video-sharing app TikTok continuing to grow in popularity with 66 per cent of 15 to 24-year-olds.

Prince Andrew (left) and Prince Edward (right) pictured with the late Queen in the Royal Family documentary which took a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the monarchy

The Queen was said to be horrified at the result of the BBC documentary, believing it belittled the institution and, according to some reports, vowed it would never be seen in its entirety again

A Kensington Palace spokesperson said: 'In telling our stories, we have to ensure we are reaching audiences of all ages. And there is a big audience that is not potentially consuming their news in the traditional ways, so we have to go to them. It's really important to the Prince and Princess of Wales that we are engaging those younger audiences in the work that we do.'

It's why Kensington Palace hired cool, young freelance filmmaker Will Warr  who has worked with brands including Puma and Red Bull  to shoot its glossy 'Coronation content'. The couple have worked with him before, on a family video to mark their tenth wedding anniversary in 2021.

William and Kate have also recently expanded their social media team from one to three, hiring a new 'digital content creator' and 'head of digital and social media' to bring 'Brand Wales' to a younger audience.

The couple's team, it can be revealed, have even had talks with TikTok, although it is understood there are no plans to start their own account  yet.

Instead, they are focusing on growing their existing presence on YouTube, Instagram and Twitter.

Aides are at pains to stress that this does not mean the couple will start regularly posting private family moments and are keen to continue to ring-fence their children. 'They want their children to have the most normal upbringing they can provide,' says a spokesperson.

'Of course, there will be windows where the Prince and Princess will bring the children on to a more public space  the Coronation and last year's Platinum Jubilee being two examples. But are the children going to appear on social media channels on a regular basis? Absolutely not. It's about showing the work they do  whether it be around mental health, homelessness or the environment  to younger audiences, and creating the content they expect to see and engage with.'

It's a fair point as TikTok users, for example, spend on average just seven to 15 seconds watching a video before scrolling down, which makes news-telling in this medium something of an art.

One senior royal adviser is impressed, saying: 'I actually think it's really smart and important if they want to work on being relevant and appeal to young people to have a better understanding of the role and value of the Monarchy.'

Others, however, are yet to be sold on the 'slickness' of William and Kate's social media blitz and the delicate balance of royalty and modern celebrity.

This is something William's grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth, understood all those decades ago. But times change, and even the crustiest courtier knows that the very survival of the institution and all the good work it does rests on the battle for the hearts of Generation Z.

So don't rule out seeing a few royal TikTokers quite yet.
He says she 'does this for a living' and has been 'banned from hotels'

Rudy Giuliani has come out swinging against the consultant who claims he sexually harassed, assaulted and stiffed out her of money and is now accusing her of extorting men for a living.

Giuliani, 78, has been sued by 43-year-old Noelle Dunphy. She claims in her $2million lawsuit that Giuliani fought tirelessly to hire her, luring her into a job by promising her $1million, but the never paid her.

She claims instead he forced her into a sexual relationship, forced her to perform oral sex on him at work and generally demeaned her.

Today, speaking on his WABC radio show, Giuliani hit back.

'She never worked for my company. The things she's alleging are untrue.

Rudy Giuliani is seen today in New York City after being sued for $2million for sexual harassment

I am not just a punching bag - I punch back! I don't lie, I don't abuse anyone and I never have!' fumed Giuliani on his radio show

'I am fed up. I am not just a punching bag - I punch back! I don't lie, I don't abuse anyone and I never have.

'I sure as heck and am not going to sit here and be accused of that by someone who does this for a living.

'I had a report last night that she did it with a guy in Southampton... this woman has spent the last eight years trying to sue rich men and set them up... Oh boy I can give you more.

'She's been excluded from hotels because she trawls them to see if she can find men to shake down. You think the public should know that in evaluating the complaint?

'I wasn't the first one she did it to.'

In a statement to DailyMail.com, Dunphy's attorney Justin T. Kelton accused Giuliani of engaging in victim blaming.

'This is just another page from the tired old playbook of blame the victim. Its extremely telling that Mr. Giuliani is trying to focus on anything other than the substance of this caseincluding the many direct quotes that are attributed to him in Ms. Dunphys detailed complaint,' the statement read.

Ms. Dunphy intends to support her case with hard evidence, while Mr. Giuliani is apparently focused on smears. That strategy failed spectacularly in the recent case by E. Jean Carroll, and it will fail here,' it continued.

Noelle Dunphy, 43, claims Giuliani forced her into a sexual relationship after 'hiring' her. He says she never worked for him

The pair took multiple trips to Florida, spent Valentine's Day together and were photographed often at Mar-a-Lago

In her suit, she claims Giuliani did not pay her, but forced her into sex acts and sexually harassed her.

In her lawsuit filed on Monday, she claims he 'drank morning, noon and night', and 'took Viagra constantly'.

His 'alcohol-drenched rants' included 'sexist, racist and anti-Semitic' remarks, she claims.

Among them is his apparent view that Jews should 'get over Passover'.

'Jews want to go through their freaking Passover all the time, man oh man. Get over the Passover. It was like 3,000 years ago. The red sea parted, big deal. Its not the first time that happened,' he is alleged to have said.

Giuliani took a selfie with a fan as he made his way into his radio show today

He also ranted about 'freakin' Arabs', she claims.

Dunphy alleges that Guiliani forced her to perform oral sex on him while he was on the phone with Donald Trump.

'Throughout the employment and attorney-client relationship, Giuliani forced Ms. Dunphy to perform oral sex on him. He often demanded oral sex while he took phone calls on speaker phone from high-profile friends and clients, including then-President Trump.

'Giuliani told Ms. Dunphy that he enjoyed engaging in this conduct while on the telephone because it made him feel like Bill Clinton,"' the lawsuit claims.

She included screenshots of a text where he asked if he could 'shower' with her, and where she complained about not being 'reimbursed' for hotel rooms on Valentine's Day.

Dunphy says she has audio recordings of other statements he made which she claims proves that their relationship was not consensual.

She is suing for $2million in damages.

She said she was hired by Giuliani in January 2019, while he was working as Trump's lawyer.

Dunphy alleges that Giuliani told her a month later that they had a plan to claim election fraud if Trump lost in 2020.

She included screenshots of a text where he asked if he could 'shower' with her, and where she complained about not being 'reimbursed' for hotel rooms on Valentine's Day

'Specifically, Giuliani told Ms. Dunphy that Trump's team would claim that there was 'voter fraud' and that Trump had actually won the election,' the complaint states.

'This plan was discussed at several business meetings with Giuliani and Lev Parnas.'

Parnas, a Ukrainian-American businessman, helped Giuliani connect with Ukrainian figures as part of a campaign to dig up dirt on President Joe Biden's son. Parnas was sentenced to 20 months in prison in June 2022 for fraud and campaign finance crimes.

Dunphy further alleges that Giuliani boasted about being able to 'break the laws' because he had 'immunity'.

Giuliani, Dunphy claims, asked if she knew anyone in need of a pardon because he was selling them for $2 million.

The former New York City mayor was in the midst of a highly public and bruising divorce battle when he hired Dunphy.

His third wife, Judith Nathan, filed for divorce in April 2018 after 16 years of marriage.
The Secret Service is investigating how a drunk man got into the Washington D.C. home of President Biden's national security advisor Jake Sullivan.

The man walked into Sullivan's home in the West End neighborhood at 3am on a night at the end of April.

The Washington Post reported that the man was 'intoxicated' and 'confused' about what was going on.

Sullivan confronted the man and told him to leave. He then went outside his home to warn the agents once the intruder had already left.

Now the Secret Service has launched an investigation into how the man managed to sneak past Sullivan's protection detail, which was stationed outside.

The Secret Service is investigating how a drunk man got into the Washington D.C. home of President Biden's national security advisor Jake Sullivan

Senator Amy Klobuchar posted a photo from Sullivan's wedding to wife Margaret Goodlander in 2015 in New Haven, Connecticut

'Secret Service is examining a security incident that took place at a protectee site. While the protectee was unharmed, we are taking this matter seriously and have opened a comprehensive mission assurance investigation to review all facets of what occurred, Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi told DailyMail.com

'Any deviation from our protective protocols is unacceptable and if discovered, personnel will be held accountable.'

Sullivan lives with Goodlander, a former counselor to Attorney General Merrick Garland. It has not been confirmed if she was at home at the time

Sullivan lives with his wife Margaret Goodlander, a former counselor to Attorney General Merrick Garland.

She now works in the Justice Department's antitrust division.

It has not been confirmed if she was at home at the time.

It follows a string of disturbing breaches of security involving politicians and government officials.

On Monday, a man was arrested for talking two aides for Democrat Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly with a baseball bat.

In October, an intruder broke into Nancy Pelosi's San Francisco home and beat her husband Paul with a hammer.

The Secret Service started to give national security advisor's protective details when the FBI uncovered an Iranian plot to assassinate John Bolton, who served under Donald Trump, in 2021.

Before then, they were only given security when they traveled outside Washington.

Sullivan was appointed national security advisor when Biden was sworn in on January 20, 2021.

Before then he worked for Hillary Clinton, first as Deputy Chief of Staff when she was Secretary of State and then as an advisor on her 2016 presidential campaign.

Sullivan is due to leave for Japan tomorrow on President Biden's trip to the G7.

Sullivan is by Biden's side for the most of his foreign trips. He was with him on the train from Poland to Ukraine when he made his secret trip to Kyiv in February
Furious NYC parents are demanding Mayor Eric Adams opens up his own home after dumping migrants in school gyms.

The move has prompted scores of furious parents and children to protest at schools around the city today, with them demanding the Mayor open his own doors instead.

Mayor Adams said that the city is looking at 20 school gyms around the city to house migrants.

Pictured: The entrance to Gracie Mansion o the Upper East Side, the city's mayoral mansion

Speaking on NY1 earlier today, he said: 'This is one of the last places we want to look at. None of us are comfortable with having to take these drastic steps.

'Each gym, the 20 gyms that we are looking at, we have not made a final determination on all the gyms, but that we are looking at are separate from the actual school buildings.

'They are independent from the school buildings.'

Officials say 65,000 asylum seekers have come through the city so far, including 4,200 last week alone.

Adams said the city expects as many as 15 buses full of migrants to arrive into the city this weekend.

Video footage inside the Beacon School of Excellence in Brooklyn shows rows of cot beds set up in the gymnasium ready to be used by migrants.

Parents of students affected by the move started protesting earlier this morning to raise their concerns about migrants being housed in the school's gym.

One shared video of the gym onto their Twitter page, saying: 'We are not okay having an elementary school full of strangers while our kids sit in their classes! Wheres their safety!?'

The footage shows a large quantity of cots have already been moved into one school in Brooklyn for migrants

A sign is strung up on the fence surrounding PS 17 in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn in protest of the school gym being used as temporary housing

Parents and community members chant as they march around P.S. 189 to protest the plans

Protestors held up signs including one that said: 'I want to go to school safe please.'

Others carried signs that said: 'Our children's safety matters' and 'no asylum on school grounds'.

Dad Richard Cabo, 46, told the New York Post: 'I dont feel safe having adult men with no criminal background checks or health screenings living at our childrens school.

'This gym took over three years to construct and only just opened in January.

'The kids have had a few months of reprieve, and now its being stripped from them. Its just not fair.

'The kids are very distraught. My daughter didnt want to come to school today.'

A child can be seen here holding a sign saying: 'we want our gym back' outside a school in Brooklyn

Mayor Eric Adams, shown here, said the city expects as many as 15 buses full of migrants to arrive into the city this weekend

Speaking outside PS188 in Coney Island, Councillor Ari Kagan said: 'New York City should not be responsible for the policy of the Biden administration.'

In a letter sent to parents of students who attend the affected schools, obtained by ABC New York WABC, officials promised migrant 'individuals and families' would be confined to the school's gym.

The letter said: 'This should not impact school operations, nor will the families have access to any other part of the school where students and staff are.'

It comes a week after Camille Varlack, Adams' Chief of Staff, directed all city agencies to identify city owner properties that could be used to house migrants.

In a letter, obtained by The Daily News, she said: 'With more asylum seekers arriving daily, this influx has pushed our shelter system to a breaking point and we need to create emergency temporary sites.'

Last week, Title 42 expired meaning authorities at the border could no longer quickly turns migrants away at the border like they had done for the past three years.

The Trump administration began using the authority, citing COVID health concerns, in 2020, and the Biden administration had been using it until last week.
The Government will examine a SATs exam after parents complained it was too hard.

Schools minister Nick Gibb has pledged to look at the Year 6 reading paper amid claims it reduced some pupils to tears.

Hundreds of parents and teachers complained that last Wednesdays exam for ten and 11-year-olds was too difficult. Schools said it was so tricky that even staff failed to understand the questions.

And that the English reading test included GCSE-level questions, with even high-ability pupils unable to finish the paper.

Mr Gibb said the tests shouldnt be too hard for children and vowed to inspect the paper.

Schools minister Nick Gibb has pledged to look at the Year 6 reading paper amid claims it reduced some pupils to tears (File Photo)

Ive not seen the paper yet, Ill look at it next week when its available, he said.

The Standards and Testing Agency have tested this assessment in tests before the pandemic. They tested it last year, with a large group of children.

They monitored the response of those children to the test, to the questions. They found that 85 per cent enjoy taking the test.

But we will certainly look at this because I know that there has been concern expressed by some schools.

We dont want these tests to be too hard for children. Thats not the purpose. The purpose is to test the range of ability.

SATs, or Standard Assessment Tests, are used to measure childrens English and maths skills in Year 2 and Year 6 and consist of six 45-minute papers.

Analysis by the Times Educational Supplement of the controversial Year 6 test showed pupils were required to read 2,106 words across three texts  around a third more than last years 1,564 words.

Hundreds of parents and teachers complained that last Wednesdays exam for ten and 11-year-olds was too difficult. Schools said it was so tricky that even staff failed to understand the questions (Stock image)

Based on Department for Education guidelines that a Key Stage 2 Sats pupil is expected to be able to read a minimum of 90 words a minute, it means reading the booklet alone would take 23 minutes and 30 seconds.

The Department for Education defended the exam that sparked outrage last week, saying the tests are designed to be challenging.

The National Association of Head Teachers, which represents heads at the majority of primary schools said it planned to complain to Ofqual, the exams regulator.

Sarah Hannafin, from the union, said: Members have told us that the choice of texts was not accessible for the wide range of experiences and backgrounds children have and the difficulty was beyond previous tests, leaving children upset, and even staff struggling to understand the questions.
With the King soon to receive the Honours of Scotland, pressure mounts on William to accept the Honours of Wales by attending an investiture ceremony. He is determined to avoid an elaborate ritual like his fathers Ruritanian affair in 1969. But he may need to make amends after ignoring Wales at the Coronation. Instead of wearing the Prince of Wales coronet he opted for the robes of the English Order of the Garter. It hasnt gone down well in Wales.

Prince William of Wales during his appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch the flypast after the procession and the Coronation of the new King and Queen in London on May 6, 2023

Charles's decision to take some time off after his Coronation is in marked contrast to his mother, who, immediately after her own, addressed the nation, hosted two banquets and two formal receptions. She also reviewed the service of thanksgiving, toured London, visited Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and attended a Commonwealth coronation lunch at the Guildhall. Charles was apparently too jaded to attend last weeks Royal Windsor Horse Show, his mothers favourite.

Some Coronation invitees are cashing in on their copy of the order of service on eBay for up to 900. Sensibly, they are not selling their invitations. They have recipients names on them and the Palace is watching carefully to see who might be tempted. Selling them is likely to get you on the Palaces blacklist for future events.

Princess Charlotte is described in a Channel 5 documentary about the Kings grandchildren as a sister who lords it over brothers George and Louis. Royal commentator Daisy McAndrew notes: Whether its to the big brother or to the little brother, sisters are often bossy and Charlotte is no exception. Princess Anne Mark II?

Princess Charlotte of Wales on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 6, 2023

Comedic tour-de-force John Cleese, forced to tour to pay for a multi-million-pound divorce, mocks fellow Python Michael Palins travel books. You mustnt laugh at Michaels books, he says. They are boring. They are sponsored by the American Insomniacs Society. There are people who have fallen asleep after a few minutes of Pole To Pole whod never been able to sleep for years! Michael has made more money from his travelogues than his entire Python career. Is John jealous?

Retired diplomat Stephen Day, who has died aged 85, blew the whistle on trade envoy Prince Andrews association with dodgy fixers and politicians. Day urged Whitehall to sack Andrew, claiming his activities were doing serious damage to the Royal Family itself and Britains political, diplomatic and commercial interests. Four months later in July 2011, Andrew resigned after a photograph was published of him walking with Jeffrey Epstein.

Jack Whitehall strays into the Too Much Information territory by revealing girlfriend Roxy Horner uses a phone app called Flow to measure her menstrual cycle. I wonder if you could link it up to your boyfriends phone? he asks. I dont want to know all the nitty gritty details but how amazing would it be... if it warned me which three days to shut the f*** up.
A high school student has been identified as the gunman who opened fire in a New Mexico neighborhood, killing three people and injuring six others.

Beau Wilson, 18, a varsity wrestler who was set to graduate from Farmington High School today, fired shots from three different weapons, including an assault-style rifle, during his rampage on Monday morning, Farmington police said.

Deputy Police Chief Baric Crum said Tuesday that the victims were all people who were just driving by on the quiet residential street in Farmington.

Shirley Voita, 79, along with Gwendolyn Schofield, 97, and Melanie Ivie, 73, who were mother and daughter, were gunned down before police took him out.

In a harrowing moment captured on video, the suspect who had been roaming around a church yard, was struck by gunfire and collapsed at the scene.

A motive for the shooting is still unclear, but police say the suspect had a history of mental health issues.

Beau Wilson, 18, a student at Farmington High School, has been identified as the gunman who opened fire at multiple homes in New Mexico, killing there people and injuring six others

Authorities say Wilson had told a friend years ago that he was hearing voices and that they 'just keep getting to me.'

He legally purchased one of the three firearms used in the shooting in November, but police believe the other two belonged to a relative. It is unclear how he was able to purchase the gun.

Wilson was reportedly staying at a home near North Dustin Road and Ute Street, where the shooting began around 10:56 a.m. on Monday.

He struck at least six different houses in the neighborhood he grew up in, across what police described as a 'nearly quarter-mile crime scene.'

One witness told a local outlet he saw the gunman fire upwards of 100 rounds within the first 20 minutes of the attack.

In a video message on Monday, Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe said the suspect had 'roamed' the neighborhood before randomly spraying bullets at cars in houses during the attack.

Law enforcement on the scene of a shooting on North Dustin Avenue in Farmington Monday

'The event is difficult to understand,' Chief Hebbe said. 'We are doing the best that we can [to] piece through [evidence], talk with family members of the suspect, piece through what was going on, look through the evidence to figure out what the motivation was.'

Six people were also injured in the shooting rampage, including Farmington Police Sergeant Rachel Discenza and New Mexico State Police Officer Andreas Stamatiadis, who were both taken to San Juan Regional Medical Center

Stamatiadis has been treated and released from the hospital, while Discenza is said to be recovering from a wound to her pelvis. Four other victims who survived their injuries have not been identified.

One friend told the Albuquerque Journal how he was sleeping in his family's home on North Dustin Road when he heard gunfire on Monday morning.

The 16-year-old said he sent his friend - later identified as Wilson - a Snapchat message to let him know what was going on in their neighborhood, figuring he was at school.

But he later saw a TikTok video of that same friend being shot by police officers in their neighborhood.

'I knew he was going to do something bad, but I didn't think it was going to be something like that,' the teenager said.

Community members hold candles during a prayer vigil at Hills Church, May 15 in Farmington

Farmington City Council members Jeanine Bingham-Kelly , second from left, Linda Rodgers, center, and Sean Sharer, right, participate in a vigil at Hills Church Farmington Monday

Still, he said, he knew his older friend was 'different,' recounting how at a Halloween sleepover he woke up to hear Wilson talking to people who were not there.

'I was really confused,' the unnamed teen said. 'I was like 'Are you OK?' He was like 'Yeah.' He said, 'These voices just keep getting to me.''

The teenager also said he knew Wilson was protective of those he liked, but had a hard time meeting new people.

'What he did was wrong,' the teen said. 'But everyone is going to see him as the mass shooter of Farmington, and I'm going to see him as Beau.'

Farmington is a mid-size town about 150 miles northwest of Albuquerque and about 10 miles south of New Mexico's border with Colorado.

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.

Investigators work along a residential street following a deadly shooting on Monday

Painted circles mark locations where evidence from the deadly shooting was collected

Hank Shirley, who lives a block away from the scene of the shooting said he was home watching TV when he heard a series of gunshots that he described as a prolonged gun battle.

'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.

Several minutes after the gunfire ceased, he said he heard sirens and saw emergency vehicles approaching.

Chief Hebbe said that 'during the course of the event, the suspect roamed throughout the neighborhood up to a quarter of a mile.'

Law enforcement officials continue to investigate a motive.

Kyle Watchman told The Journal he was inside his house on Dustin Avenue - where the police were first called - when he heard gunshots begin to ring out.

'I came out of my house wondering what was happening and I see the guy casually walking down the street, shooting at cars, holding a handgun with an extended clip.' he said. 'I don't know he was just hunting.'

Kandi Brammell, who lives next door to the church where the shooter's body was found, said she too heard gunshots just before 11am.

'At first, we just heard one and thought it might be fireworks, but as they got closer, we know they weren't fireworks,' she said.

Brammell added that she and a friend left her house and saw a man in all black walking around the church yard, shouting. She then saw him 'coming down the street shooting an automatic long gun randomly across the street.'

On Monday evening, Farmington Mayor Nate Duckett released a statement expressing his grief about the 'horrific tragedy that claimed the lives of three innocent citizens and injured several others.'

The 'act of violence has left us reeling in anguish and disbelief,' he said.
Two New Jersey teenagers, aged 13 and 14, have been charged with first-degree murder for allegedly shooting a taxi driver in the head while attempting to rob him.

Kofi Addo, 57, was killed near Rutgers University last week after picking up a group of passengers just before 10pm.

Three teens allegedly called the taxi to a location on Rose Street with the intention of robbing the driver, prosecutors said.

Somerset County Prosecutors Office said the teens attempted to steal from Addo, before one of them shot him in the head while he was driving.

As a result, the car crashed into another vehicle parked in the driveway of a residence on Sydney Place.

Kofi Addo, 57, was allegedly shot dead near Rutgers University last week by a group of youngsters who got in his cab just before 10pm

The moment his cab crashed into a parked car, after he was shot in the head

The teenagers allegedly fled from the scene on foot after the crash.

Addo, from North Brunswick, New Jersey, was pronounced dead after being rushed to a nearby area Trauma Center.

A police statement read: 'On Friday, May 12, 2023, all three male juveniles were located by authorities assigned to the investigation.

'Two juveniles were in Franklin Township and the third juvenile was in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The juveniles were transported to the Somerset County Prosecutors Office where they were subsequently charged.'

Two of the suspects, aged 14 and 13, were charged with first-degree murder, felony murder, conspiracy to commit murder, robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a firearm by a minor.

The third alleged accomplice, aged 13, was charged with robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery.

Prosecutor John McDonald said the teens were transported to Middlesex County Youth detention center on Friday evening.

The suspects are being held there while awaiting a family court appearance.

Somerset County Prosecutors Office claimed the teens attempted to steal from Addo, before one of them shot him in the head while he was driving

The three teens were found by police on May 12.

Their names were not released by prosecutors due to their ages.

The matter remains under investigation by police and prosecutors.
More than ten million renters will no longer face the threat of 'no fault' evictions or a blanket ban on pet ownership under reforms being introduced to Parliament today.

Under the Renters' Reform Bill, it will no longer be possible to evict tenants under Section 21 of the Housing Act, which gave landlords the power to remove them without justification.

Britain's two million landlords will only be able to increase the rent once a year under the legislation  and will have to give tenants two months' notice for such hikes. The measures have sparked concerns that many property owners will withdraw from the rental market and the housing supply crisis will deepen.

But landlords will also benefit from measures making it easier to evict irresponsible or anti-social tenants and recover their property when they need to sell it or move in a family member.

Michael Gove addresses delegates during the second day of the National Conservatism conference at The Emmanuel Centre on May 16, 2023 in London, England

Housing Secretary Michael Gove said: 'Too many renters are living in damp, unsafe, cold homes, powerless to put things right, and with the threat of sudden eviction hanging over them.

'Our new laws introduced to Parliament today will support the vast majority of responsible landlords who provide quality homes to their tenants, while delivering our manifesto commitment to abolish Section 21 'no-fault' evictions.'

Polly Neate, chief executive of charity Shelter, added: 'The Renters' Reform Bill is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to finally fix private renting. [It] must truly deliver change for renters when it becomes law, and it should be as strong as possible with every loophole closed, so that no renter can be unfairly evicted.

'The Government must keep renters at the forefront to make sure this Bill has the teeth needed for real change.'

Landlords will also have to prove why any requests from tenants to have pets are unreasonable.

Owen Sharp, chief executive of Dogs Trust, said: 'The new measures introduced are a potential game-changer for responsible dog owners who rent.

'For too long, people living in rented accommodation have not been able to enjoy the benefits and companionship of a pet just because of the type of housing they live in.'

But Labour's levelling up spokesman Lisa Nandy said: 'After years of delay, broken promises and arguments amongst themselves, the private rented sector increasingly resembles the Wild West and it's far from clear that this Government can deliver.'

Critics also suggested that scrapping no-fault evictions could make properties harder to rent for some tenants. Matthew Lesh, of the Institute of Economic Affairs think-tank, said: 'Landlords will inevitably be more selective about who they offer properties to and charge higher rents when they cannot quickly evict bad tenants. That is likely to disproportionately hurt those who are poorer, younger, and from minority communities.

'New eviction rules and burdensome regulatory standards will only worsen the rental property shortage and record-high rents. The housing crisis won't be solved by fiddling with rental rules.'

Some Tory MPs have warned the legislation will drive landlords out of the market entirely.

Craig Mackinlay, himself a landlord, told The Daily Telegraph: 'The reality is, landlords will abandon the market and we will have a very serious housing crisis on our hands. We have seen too much of a war against landlords.'

Illustrative photo of residential buildings shows skyline from Lewisham Shopping Centre in August 2019. New reforms will protect renters from no-fault evictions by landlords

Last night Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, warned: 'Responsible landlords need to be confident that when Section 21 ends, where they have a legitimate reason, they will be able to repossess their properties as quickly as possible.

'Without this assurance, the Bill will only exacerbate the rental housing supply crisis many tenants now face.'

Last night Mr Gove said he was still committed to reforming the leasehold system to increase home ownership.

He told the National Conservatism conference in central London: 'What we're going to do is bring forward legislation in order to reform that system.'
Disgraced entertainer Rolf Harris sang a full song to stunned Operation Yewtree detectives as they quizzed him over his sex crimes.

The convicted paedophile's antics will be revealed in the second episode of a new two-part ITVX documentary about him, which airs tomorrow.

In the series Detective Sergeant Gary Pankhurst discusses the first exchanges he had with Harris, 93, in November 2012 during a voluntary interview under caution.

Detective Pankhurst said: 'When we finished an interview, were sitting there and then he just breaks into singing Sun Arise.'

The unnamed detective working alongside him also said: 'The whole song all the way through, to Gary and myself. It was massively surreal.

Rolf Harris leaves Southwark Crown Court as his niece Jenny Harris lifts her hand in front of cameras

The public face (left) of Harris was that of a family man, but in private (right) he was a secret sex offender

'I can remember Gary and I looking at ourselves, kind of like, what do we do now?'

The song Sun Arise was a track released by Harris in the early 1960s and it reached number three in the UK charts.

Harris, who the detectives described as not being 'natural' or 'honest', was later jailed for five years in 2014 for sexually assaulting four underage girls.

Yesterday, it was revealed that the shamed entertainer told his 'adopted son' and music promoter how he wanted to have sex with two 14-year-old schoolgirls they had just driven by, according to the documentary.

The 93-year-old 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

'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.

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.
Long-term sickness has hit a record 2.5million, a shock official report revealed yesterday.

The worrying trend was blamed partly on back and neck pain caused by working from home.

A rise in mental health problems among young people and long Covid were also among the factors behind the surge, according to experts at the Office for National Statistics.

They said the number of working-age adults no longer in employment or looking for a job due to long-term sickness hit 2.55million in the first three months of the year.

That is an all-time high and nearly half a million more than at the end of 2019  before the pandemic.

Warnings that the working from home pattern introduced in the pandemic was partly to blame. Pictured: File photo of woman working from home

The worrying trend was blamed partly on back and neck pain caused by working from home. Pictured: File photo of woman with back pain

It means that for every 13 workers, there is one person who is long-term sick. The disturbing figures prompted claims that a lack of investment in the NHS was damaging the economy.

Warnings that working from home was partly to blame will fuel worries about the rise in flexible employment patterns, which have been adopted by many employers since the pandemic and are promoted by Labour.

A simple lack of movement  such as strolling over to a colleague's desk  could be to blame, according to one expert.

Responding to the figures, Tory MP Sir John Redwood said: 'It's a crying shame for the country and for the people concerned that so many people feel they have to be away from work long term because of their health. It would be good if we could find ways to improve their health so they can return to the life of the office.'

The data also showed that another pandemic trend  early retirement  had gone into reverse as the cost of living squeeze drove many back into jobs.

The ONS said 1,083,000 under-65s were retired in the three months to March, 93,000 fewer than in the same period a year ago. Darren Morgan of the ONS told the BBC: 'We saw another increase in those exiting the labour market due to becoming long-term sick. That means we are at a new record level of comfortably over 2.5million.'

He pointed to analysis showing that the strongest increases in illness had been in 'conditions related to mental health particularly in the young, a rise in people having musculoskeletal issues  problems connected to the back and neck'.

Mr Morgan said there were 'some theories of the increase in home working contributing to that', and that the impact of people suffering long Covid could also be having an effect.

Responding to the figures, Tory MP Sir John Redwood (pictured) said: 'It's a crying shame for the country and for the people concerned that so many people feel they have to be away from work long term because of their health'

Research by the ONS showed most of the rise in long-term sickness had come since early 2020, when the pandemic started. The figures showed tens of thousands more people reporting 'disabilities connected with the back or neck'.

'It is possible that increased home working since the pandemic has given rise to these kinds of chronic conditions,' the report said. It also pointed to a spike in 'depression, bad nerves and anxiety'.

Ash James of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy said: 'We're not surprised people with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions are cited as rising and a high percentage of those having to take long periods of time out of work.

'One reason could be working from home as this can lead to MSK problems but not in the way most people assume.'

Mr James said it was less likely to be caused by 'slumping and slouching' and more down to a lack of movement and less exercise overall. 'We don't have our walk from the car park to the office, we don't walk to the photocopier, we don't walk to speak to a colleague if we are working from home,' he added.

The overall rise in long-term sickness comes at a time when NHS waiting lists have swollen to 7.3million, partly as a result of strikes by junior doctors, nurses and paramedics. The number of patients waiting for community musculoskeletal services stood at more than 290,000 at the end of March.

Chris Thomas of the IPPR think-tank said: 'The Government needs to stop viewing investment in good health as a cost to control and instead see it is the best medicine for our economic malaise.'

Labour's work and pensions spokesman Jonathan Ashworth said: 'Today we see yet more evidence that this Tory Government is a drag on Britain's economy. Family finances are being squeezed to breaking point by a further fall in real wages, fewer people are in employment than before the pandemic and the number of people out of work due to long-term sickness has reached a record high.'
Rishi Sunak last night said he would not rest until he could 'stop the boats'.

The Prime Minister made the pledge on Channel migrants as he lobbied the European Court of Human Rights to reform rules that blocked removal flights to Rwanda.

On a flying visit to Iceland yesterday, he held talks with ECHR president Siofra O'Leary on the fringes of a rare meeting of the Council of Europe.

He pushed for closer cooperation to tackle illegal migration and discussed reform of the Strasbourg court and its Rule 39 injunction powers, which were used to block the UK's inaugural asylum flight to Rwanda last year.

In an address to fellow leaders last night, Mr Sunak urged them to support his attempts to reform ECHR procedures.

Yesterday during a fleeting visit to Iceland, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak lobbied the European Court of Human Rights to reform rules that blocked removal flights to Rwanda

Mr Sunak said he would not rest until he could 'stop the boats' from crossing the English Channel

He said they must 'react to the realities of today', adding: 'The moral case for action is clear. We can't just sit back and watch as criminal gangs profiteer on people's misery.'

The Prime Minister had told reporters in Reykjavik the Government would 'do absolutely everything we can' to stop boats crossing the Channel.

'That's about working with other countries ... but it's also about passing new laws in parliament with our 'stop the boats' Bill,' he said. 'But I'm not going to rest until we can stop the boats, and that's why I'm here.'

And he warned that the Strasbourg court must conduct itself in a way that was 'fair, transparent and effective'.

Mr Sunak acknowledged the Government's Rwanda plans were 'novel' and 'ambitious' but insisted they were 'compliant with our international obligations'. He said: 'We want to make sure the European court is always conducting itself in a way that is fair, that is effective, that is transparent, and that's the kind of conversation I'll be having.'

He added that the UK had a 'long track record' of leading reform linked to the ECHR.

The PM also held talks with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in which they 'underlined that the UK and EU have a shared interest in tackling cross-border crime and people trafficking'.

Mr Sunak pushed for closer cooperation to tackle illegal migration and discussed reform of the Strasbourg court and its Rule 39 injunction powers, which were used to block the UK's inaugural asylum flight (pictured) to Rwanda last year

The PM also held talks with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in which they 'underlined that the UK and EU have a shared interest in tackling cross-border crime and people trafficking'

A No 10 spokesman said: 'They agreed to strengthen cooperation between the EU and UK on migration through developing a new working arrangement between UK agencies and Frontex [the EU's border control agency], enabling us to work together on critical operational and strategic challenges including the situation in the Channel.'

Mr Sunak planned to use the Reykjavik summit to warn that both European communities and the world's most vulnerable were 'paying the price' for the failure to prevent unlawful migration.

But Iceland's foreign affairs minister said yesterday that the Council of Europe meeting would not 'have a big focus on migration'.

Thordis Gylfadottir told BBC Radio 4's World at One: 'The leaders are reconfirming their commitment to the common human rights protection system and in particular, the court is a cornerstone of our protection system.

'But the next two days, the time we have, we are not using to reform certain articles in the court.'

Pressed on whether there would be discussions on Rule 39, she said: 'There will be a discussion on it, but there will not be, I think, a real concrete outcome on reforming certain articles.'

The Government's Illegal Migration Bill, currently in the Lords, will allow illegal arrivals to be detained and promptly removed, either to their home country or a 'safe' third country such as Rwanda. It includes provisions that would limit the ability of the ECHR to stop deportations.
Mariella Careaga in The Scientist:

Remembering what happened to us is more than just looking back to the past. The memories our brains store and later recall affect who we are, how we behave, and how we connect with others. Morgan Barense, a cognitive neuroscientist at the University of Toronto, believes in that.

As people age, it becomes harder to remember specific details of past experiences, and the loss of vividness in peoples memories significantly worsens their qualities of life (1). When you start to lose your memory for the past, that can be really disorienting because you feel disconnected, not only from the things that youve done, but who you are as a person, said Barense. In a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a group of researchers led by Barense showed that a mobile memory intervention they developed helped older adults preserve detail rich memories. They also provided evidence of the patterns of brain activity in the hippocampus associated with that memory enhancement (2).

More here.
A Bronx mother-of-two has been arrested for manslaughter in the alleged death of her seven-year-old daughter who drowned in the hotel swimming pool as she was drinking at the hotel bar.

Erica Baez, 41, was charged with second-degree manslaughter and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. The horrific incident took place at the Marriott hotel located in Melville, Long Island on January 13, 2022.

Baez's young daughter named Katlyn was on life support for the last year but, died on May 1st after she became septic, a report said.

Baez pleaded not guilty in court on Tuesday.

Prosecutors said she left her other child, a 5-month-old, alone in the room as she hit the hotel bar.

The indoor swimming pool at the Long Island Marriott hotel where Erica Baez's seven-year-old daughter drowned on January 13, 2022

The Marriott located in Melville, Long Island is where the January 13, 2022 tragedy took place

District Attorney Raymond Tierney called Baez's alleged actions 'selfish, senseless and heartless,' in a statement. 'We are going to do everything we can to ensure that justice is served for little Katlyn, whose short life ended too soon,' he said.

Baez is due back in court on May 24.

Baez had been a guest at the hotel with her boyfriend, her infant son and Katlyn. At the time of the tragedy her boyfriend has been at work, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney's office.

Around 3:30pm, Baez had asked the hotel staff to open the indoor pool despite the hotel employees informing her that there was no lifeguard on duty, The New York Post reported.

They also told her if her daughter wants to go into the pool she would have to stay with her.

Prosecutors claimed that Baez headed to the bar for food and drink and was there for at least 30 minutes while her daughter played alone in the pool area by herself.

Baez then made her rounds. First, checking on her daughter and then went up to the hotel room to check on her infant son who was also alone, the DA's office claimed.

She returned to the bar for a second cocktail, leaving the daughter again for more than 30 minutes, but this time when she went to check on her daughter for a second time she was found 'floating lifeless,' the office alleged.

Baez went for a second cocktail and left the daughter for over 30 minutes before returning to the pool to find the girl 'floating lifeless in the pool' the office alleged.
Several will require full or partial amputations

One student critical, six in serious condition

One child remains in intensive care while six others others await emergency surgery including amputations after being severely injured in a bus crash in Melbourne's west.

The crash occurred on the corner of Exford and Murphys Rd at Eynesbury at about 3.40pm on Tuesday.

Exford Primary School students were heading home on the bus when it collided with a truck, Victoria Police said.

The collision, just 900m from the school, caused the bus to roll on its side.

There were 45 students aged between five and 11 on the bus at the time, with 10 suffering serious injuries in the crash.

Bernadette McDonald, chief executive of Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital, said so far one child had undergone a complete amputation of 'the arms'.

It is understood the child's arm was severed after it became trapped between a seat and a window, the Herald Sun reports.

Some children underwent partial amputations after their limbs were crushed while others received treatment for 'degloving' injuries.

Degloving occurs when the top layers of the skin are torn away from the underlying muscle, connective tissue or bone.

The 49-year-old driver of the truck, from Balliang near Geelong, was charged with four counts of dangerous driving causing serious injury on Wednesday.

He will front Melbourne Magistrates Court via video link later in the day.

The school bus collided with a truck on Tuesday afternoon leaving seven children with 'multiple and traumatic injuries'

Several children are in a serious condition after a truck and school bus collided in west Melbourne (pictured is the bus on Wednesday)

Ms McDonald said it had been 'traumatic for every single person' involved and that it was a miracle nobody was killed.

'The children have suffered multiple and traumatic injuries, including partial and complete amputations of arms, multiple crushed limb injuries, severe lacerations to head and body, head injuries, glass shard injuries and three patients are currently receiving spinal support and being monitored carefully in terms of spinal injuries,' the chief executive told a press conference on Wednesday morning.

Specialist doctors have been called in to perform the emergency surgeries.

'We got some surgeons from the Royal Melbourne, our vascular surgeons and there are specialist microplastic surgeons,' Ms McDonald said.

'You would understand with these sorts of injuries very small vessels need to be repaired and reattached.'

She said some 'very traumatised' children and parents remained in hospital.

'We're working extremely hard to provide that trauma support and care that they will need not just now but in the coming weeks and months,' she said.

Students involved in the crash were reunited with their families early on Wednesday morning after leaving theatre.

The male bus driver sustained minor injuries.

Passers-by helped free some of the children from the overturned bus before emergency services arrived. Parents also arrived at the scene trying to retrieve their children.

Six people were trapped inside the mangled wreckage but they were eventually freed by firefighters and SES workers.

There were 45 children on the school bus at the time of the crash. Six were trapped inside the bus but they were freed from the mangled wreckage by emergency services

The male bus driver sustained minor injuries and Victoria Police have spoken to the 49-year-old male driver of the truck

Emergency services worked to free six people from the mangled wreckage of the bus (pictured)

A Department of Education spokesman said a range of support measures were available for affected students, including counsellors (pictured is the crash site)

Two air ambulances were called, while photos showed dozens of police, Country Fire Authority (CFA) firefighters, paramedics and SES at the scene.

A number of parents from the school conveyed their shock over the crash on social media.

'Thinking of all those impacted by this accident, especially our nephews and niece,' one woman wrote on Facebook.

'This is just devastating for our community. Thinking of all involved and their families,' said another.

A Department of Education spokesman said a range of support measures were available for affected students, including counsellors.

'Our thoughts are with the students, their families and the staff who were involved in yesterday's collision, especially those students who were injured and the families this tragedy has touched,' he said.

'We acknowledge the response from the principal and staff at Exford Primary School, who all attended the scene and ensured every child involved was supported and looked after.

'During this difficult time, we request that the community respect the privacy of the school community and all those affected within it. The Department will continue to extend all resources to support students, staff and families.'

The truck and school bus collided on the corner of Exford and Murphys Rd at Eynesbury, about 44km west of Melbourne's CBD

The front windshield of the bus was partially smashed in the collision on Tuesday afternoon

Victoria Police Superintendent Michael Cruse explained that the bus was turning right when it was struck.

'It travelled west along Exford Road and while it was attempting to turn right onto Murphy's Road, we believe a truck has collided with the rear of the bus,' he said at the scene.

'The bus has overturned as it turned right.'

Detectives from the Major Collision Investigation Unit were at the scene on Tuesday night and will investigate the circumstances of the crash.
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Meghan Markle retold a favorite story of how she enjoyed a TV dinner and Jeopardy! after school as she accepted a feminist award at a glitzy NYC gala.

Addressing the Woman of Vision awards at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in Manhattan Tuesday evening, the Duchess of Sussex told of how she'd read Ms. Magazine while at school - the publication founded by feminist icon Gloria Steinem, who presented Meghan with Tuesday's honor.

She shared a 'funny' anecdote from her childhood, revealing that the Ms. Foundation's Ms. Magazine played a role in her upbringing, recalling how she would 'come home, settle in after a day of school' with her 'TV tray dinner' and would glance at the publication on the coffee table.

'It's funny because as a young girl, I would come home, I would settle in after a day of school, pull up my TV tray dinner, and I would turn on my evening ritual, Jeopardy!' she recalled.

'And I would glance at the coffee table, where I would see an array of things. It could be the cat's collar, my homework, some mail that had just been brought in, and some magazines. The magazines said "Ms." on them.

The royal has previously told the same story on her Archetypes podcast. Meghan's husband Prince Harry and her mom Doria Ragland were among guests assembled to watch her receive the accolade.

The 41-year-old Duchess of Sussex was indeed a 'vision' as she arrived at the event, modeling a strapless $1,850 gold Johanna Ortiz dress that featured a key-hole cutout at the chest and which she paired with some strappy $1,350 gold heels from Tom Ford and a matching $1,100 clutch bag by Carolina Herrera.

She appeared to have had her dress - which was created by a Colombian designer - altered for the occasion; images of the original design show it with straps, which the Duchess opted to go without.

Harry joined his wife Meghan at the awards ceremony - where tickets cost a whopping $1,500, while tables cost a minimum of $15,000 - to watch on as she received a 'Women of Vision' honor from her close friend, feminist icon Gloria Steinem, with organizers revealing that the Duchess was being celebrated for her 'lifelong advocacy for women and girls'.

Meghan Markle put on a stunning display in strapless gold dress as she arrived at a glittering New York gala - where she accepted a 'Women of Vision' award from her pal Gloria Steinem

The Duchess of Sussex was joined at the event by her husband Prince Harry - and the couple posed for a few photos on the red carpet, although they opted to wait until the carpet's livestream had ended before stepping in front of the cameras

Meghan, 41, also posed for a solo shot, smiling happily for the cameras before making her way inside the awards ceremony

The Sussexes were joined at the gala by Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, who is understood to live with the couple in their $14.65 million mansion in Montecito, California

Prince Harry attended the event with his wife and mother-in-law Doria Ragland and was seen following the two women into the event, after arriving at the venue in a large SUV

Inside the event, Meghan took to the stage to accept her Women of Vision award, making her way up to the podium to the sounds of Alicia Keys' hit song Girl on Fire.

Once on the stage, the Duchess gave Gloria a warm hug, before moving to address the crowd, thanking guests for giving her 'such a warm welcome'.

She went on to praise 'her friend' Gloria, 89, 'for the inspiration that you are, for your mentorship, your sage advice, your extraordinarily cheeky sense of humor and, of course, for your incredible friendship'.

Meghan then offered her congratulations to the evening's other honorees, praising them for the 'important and meaningful work that you do'.

'While I was familiar with most of your work before tonight, nothing could compare to the focus, the determination, the energy I feel from each of you, especially as we all bear witness to you standing in the elegance and the power of your strength,' she continued.

The 41-year-old Duchess of Sussex was beaming from ear-to-ear as she arrived at the event, accompanied by Harry and her mother Doria (pictured left)

Meghan, whose appearance at the event comes ten days after she skipped her father-in-law King Charles' coronation ceremony, went full glam for the occasion, modeling a smoky eye and nude lip

The Duchess held a gold clutch in her hand and she sported several diamond bracelets on her wrist, as well as a $7,350 gold Cartier Love Bracelet

While the Sussexes were seen beaming from ear-to-ear as they arrived at the event, they seemed keen to avoid any prying questions - opting to skip the event's red carpet livestream

Meghan will be honored at the event by her friend Gloria, 89, with whom she is understood to have formed a close bond since the Sussexes' move to California following their decision to quit their royal roles in 2020

READ MORE: Meghan dons $12,000 outfit at Women of Vision awards Advertisement

'And I remember them vividly because the pictures were different. There was a diversity that I hadn't seen as often, both of color and of age, and the names were different.

'There were Congresswomen, there were astronauts, and the topics were different. From mothering to being a working mom to heavier topics such as domestic violence, the poverty line, unearthing its roots, where it comes from, and matters of equity.'

Meghan, whose appearance at the event comes ten days after she skipped her father-in-law King Charles' coronation ceremony, went full glam for the occasion, modeling a smoky eye and nude lip, while her long brunette hair was styled in loose waves that she wore swept over one shoulder - allowing the strapless design of her textured gown to shine.

She added further glitz to the glam in the form of several pricey pieces of jewelry, including two diamond bracelets and a $7,350 gold Cartier Love Bracelet, as well as a pair of sparking hoop earrings from budget-friendly brand J. Crew.

One of the glittering accessories on her wrist appeared to be a Cartier design that was once owned by Harry's late mother Princess Diana, which the Duchess has been seen sporting on several occasions, including during the Sussexes' bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021.

The Duke of Sussex opted for his signature navy suit, which he wore with a white shirt and pale blue tie - while his mother-in-law Doria chose a more low-key black dress, accessorizing the look with some black slingback heels and a black clutch bag.

While the Sussexes were seen beaming from ear-to-ear as they arrived at the event, they seemed keen to avoid any prying questions - opting to skip the event's red carpet livestream after entering via the back of the Ziegfeld Ballroom. In a rather unglamorous start to the evening's proceedings, the pair were seen making their way into the venue via a Hertz car rental arena located at the rear of the space.

The Women of Vision website gushes that the mother-of-two is 'a feminist, champion of human rights and gender equity, and global role model'.

Heres video of The Duchess of Sussex heading on stage, and the beginning of her speech.



Full clip is too long to post, #WOV2023 pic.twitter.com/Vn2klIgIcq  Carly Ledbetter (@ledbettercarly) May 17, 2023

Meghan and Harry held hands as they made their way out of the venue - after the Duchess gave a passionate acceptance speech in which she offered praise to the evening's other honorees

Harry led the way as the Sussexes strolled out to their waiting SUV

Meghan held her award in her hand as she and Harry exited the Ziegfeld Ballroom following the end of the event

Several burly security guards were seen putting protective arms around Meghan as she followed behind her husband

Proud husband Harry was beaming as he exited the evening's event, smiling happily as his security guards escorted him to the couple's waiting vehicle

'Meghan is also a passionate advocate for family rights, and an investor in dynamic female founded companies,' the Duchess' bio on the awards site continues. 'Meghan is noted as one of the most powerful and influential women in the world, topping lists such as TIME Magazine's Most Influential People, The Financial Times' 25 Most Influential Women, Variety Power of Women, and British Vogue's Vogue 25.'

'We are thrilled to announce this year's honorees for the Women of Vision Awards and to celebrate 50 years of progress and power,' Teresa C. Younger, the president and CEO of the Ms. Foundation, said in a statement last month.

She added that Meghan, as well as the other award winners  including Black Lives Matter co-founder LaTosha Brown  'are incredible leaders, and we are grateful to be able to shine a light on their many accomplishments and tireless work on behalf of gender and racial equity across the country and the world.'

The Women of Vision Awards gala is designed to 'explore the past, present and future of the Ms. Foundation and feminist movements, while raising funds for the organization's strategic, equity-centered initiatives.

'Each year, the foundation honors visionary leaders and game-changing grantee partners committed to the Ms. Foundation's mission of advancing women's collective power and creating safe, just and equitable futures for all,' a press release for the event stated.

The decision to honor Meghan at the event has certainly not been without its controversy - with several critics taking to social media to pan the awards ceremony organizers, Ms. Foundation, over its choice of recipient.

'Unlike fake organizations like @msfoundation creating awards to massage the egos of Hollywood fake celebrities and failed royals like #MeghanMarkle, true Awards are different as they celebrate TRUE HEROES. Ordinary, hardworking, people!' one person wrote on Twitter.

'I had a subscription to Ms. Magazine when it came out. Today, I am forever done with Ms. And Gloria Steinem for bastardizing their foundation to allow these FAKE awards to be bought for a donation,' a Facebook user commented on the awards show page.

In a rather unglamorous start to the evening's proceedings, the Sussexes made their way into the venue via a Hertz car rental counter located at the back of the building

Harry was seen following his wife and mother-in-law into the event after arriving at the venue in a large SUV, accompanied by several security guards

'Case in point - Meghan Markle is the farthest thing from a feminist that I know of... That person is not a feminist... I hope the $$ was worth the bad press this will generate for you. Youre getting Markled!'

Meghan's appearance at the awards ceremony in New York comes amid what experts have described as her attempt to draw 'all eyes on her' following the Coronation on May 6.

The awards ceremony comes days after Meghan and Harry enjoyed a sushi dinner alongside A-listers Cameron Diaz and her husband Benji Madden, as well as Gwyneth Paltrow and her husband Brad Falchuk on Friday night.

Then yesterday, Meghan took part in a royal-style engagement at a Santa Barbara youth group, posing up for pictures alongside several young people who take part in the program.

Brand and culture expert Nick Ede told MailOnline that Meghan has expertly used the focus on the Coronation and drawn it onto herself this week through appearances with Hollywood glitterati, young people and now an awards ceremony with a Black Lives Matter leader.

He said: 'Meghan has cleverly circumnavigated herself away from the Royal Family and Coronation scrutiny and got all eyes on her and what's she's doing next.

'Meghan's positioning herself as an inspirational figure, which she is to many, and she's doing what she does best: highlighting causes whilst highlighting herself.

'She's also giving herself space from Harry to stand on her own two feet and be recognized not as a Duchess but as her own person, which she will be very happy about'.
Private school pupils are a third more likely to get into Cambridge if they move to a state sixth form.

Students who stayed at private schools for GCSEs and A-levels had an acceptance rate of 19 per cent last year, figures show.

But those who moved from a fee-paying school to a grammar school or sixth form college had a higher rate of 25 per cent. It has sparked warnings that parents will try and cheat the system by switching schools in the hopes of getting into a top university.

Iain Mansfield, head of education at Policy Exchange, said the data suggests that universities are discriminating against private school pupils.

This demonstrates why universities should be selecting on ability, not discriminating based on a childs background, he told The Daily Telegraph. If necessary, Ucas should move to background-blind admissions to ensure that every child is treated fairly.

Private school pupils are a third more likely to get into Cambridge University (pictured) if they move to a state sixth form

Cambridges acceptance rate for private schools over the last five years has averaged 23 per cent, Freedom of Information data revealed.

Amid a drive to increase state school numbers, the rate has dropped from more than 27 per cent in 2018 to 19 per cent last year.

In contrast, since 2018, the acceptance rate for privately educated children who switched at 16 to a grammar or sixth form has averaged around 26 per cent.

In 2022, the acceptance rate for those who switched to a sixth form college was 24 per cent. For those who changed to a grammar school, it was 25 per cent.

The figures were almost 33 per cent higher than the 19 per cent acceptance rate for youngsters at private schools, according to The Daily Telegraph. A spokesman for Cambridge said: The University of Cambridge operates a holistic admissions process that aims to identify students with the greatest academic ability and potential.

As one of the factors in that assessment, our admissions tutors are able to assess academic achievement, at both A-level and GCSE level, in the context of where an applicant has studied.

Everyone at Cambridge deserves their place.

Of the 24 Russell Group universities questioned by the Freedom of Information request, only Cambridge, Durham, the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and Queen Mary University of London are monitoring applicant data, it emerged.

From 2018 to last year, students at Queen Mary who were privately educated until 16 and then moved to a comprehensive had an average acceptance rate of 18 per cent.

In the last five years at the London School of Economics (pictured), the average acceptance rate is highest for private school pupils at just under 14 per cent

Those that switched to an academy or a grammar had an acceptance rate of around 16 per cent.

Just under 15 per cent of those who applied after remaining at private school were accepted.

At Durham, their highest acceptance rate since 2018 was for students who had been to a comprehensive and switched to a private for A-level, at more than 22 per cent. And in the last five years at LSE, the average acceptance rate is highest for private school pupils at just under 14 per cent.

A Russell Group spokesman said: Our universities are committed to tackling educational inequality, and are determined to ensure everyone with the talent and drive to access higher education has the opportunity to do so. Their priority is to identify candidates with the most talent, ability and potential to excel on their courses, whatever their social or educational background.

Over the past eight years the gap between the most and least represented students at English Russell Group universities has closed by around 40 per cent and our members have set ambitious targets to build on that progress.
An Indiana father who adopted a six-year-old Ukrainian girl with his wife 2010, only to then come to believe she was an adult dwarf set on harming them, has claimed she threatened to kill someone in their home.

Michael Barnett says Natalia Grace told him: 'I promise you within five years someone is dead.'

He has spoken out in a new documentary entitled The Curious Case of Natalia Grace, which will be released in three parts on Investigation Discovery (ID) starting on May 29.

Barnett and his wife, Kristine, petitioned to have Natalia Grace's birth certificate changed and a judge agreed in 2012, making her 23 rather than nine.

The Barnetts then rented an apartment for Natalia Grace and fled to Canada with their three biological sons.

Barnett, in the trailer, is seen warning viewers that they would be getting the 'truth' - but adds that they 'might not like the truth.'

Michael Barnett adopted a Ukrainian girl they believed to be six in 2010. They now believe she was an adult. In a new documentary, he claimed their new family member told him: 'I promise you, within five years someone is dead'

He claimed in the trailer that Natalia Grace is an 'adult sociopath masquerading as a child.'

He is filmed sobbing and punching the floor, shaking with anger, while screaming that they were 'all abused.'

'We were all abused,' he cries. 'I hate this.'

Others in the trailer claim that no one will ever know the truth of the bizarre tale.

Michael and his wife Kristine Barnett adopted Natalia on April 26, 2010, believing they were taking home a six-year-old child.

But things quickly took a turn for the worse when they said she became violent and they suspected she was an adult posing as a child.

They petitioned a probate court to change her birth year back 14 years, which was granted in 2012, legally changing the Ukrainian-born dwarf's age from nine to 23.

The family claimed Natalia was 'told her new birthdate at the orphanage in Ukraine' before moving to the United States and 'threatened to stab' their children while living with them in Layfette, Indiana.

'She tried to poison and kill my wife,' Barnett claimed.

'[And] one night, I opened my eyes and Natalia is standing at the foot of the bed with a knife in her hand.'

Michael and Kristine Barnett (pictured) adopted Natalia Grace in April 2010, believing they were taking home a six-year-old child, but things quickly took a turn for the worse when they said they she became violent and they suspected she was an adult posing as a child

The family claimed Natalia (pictured) was 'told her new birthdate at the orphanage in Ukraine' and 'threatened to stab' their children

'I definitely didn't feel safe around Natalia,' their son Jake said in the documentary.

The Barnetts left Natalia in Layfette, Indiana, after getting her an apartment.

They were later charged with neglect for abandoning a child, but the Barnett family claimed they were victims of fraud.

Police said at the time that Natalia was left to fend for herself for three years - despite having a rare form of dwarfism that means she is three feet tall and has problems walking.

In an exclusive interview with DailyMailTV in 2019, Kristine insisted there was a major flaw in the case: Natalia was not a nine-year-old - as charging documents claimed. She was actually 22.

In the emotional trailer, Michael can be seen slamming his fist into the ground (left) and crying (right) as he recalls his family's story

The Barnetts were charged with neglecting their child after ditching Natalia in the early 2010s and moving to Canada after they petitioned a court to move her birth year back 14 years, which was granted. In October 2022 and March 2023, their charges were dropped

In a 2019 episode of Dr. Phil, Natalia denied being an adult and her new parents even defended her, stating she was a 'genuine loving girl' and not an 'adult sociopath masquerading as a child.'

Despite her age being legally changed, the couple was still charged because authorities said she was dependent on the Barnetts because of her dwarfism.

They originally also faced charges for neglecting a child, but those were dropped due to the legal age change and statute of limitations.

Barnett told DailyMailTV that she and her family were the true victims, after they were terrorized for years by the mysterious impostor who threatened to stab them in their sleep, pushed her towards an electric fence and poured bleach in her coffee.

'She would make statements and draw pictures saying she wanted to kill family members, roll them up in a blanket and put them in the backyard,' she told DailyMailTV.

'She was standing over people in the middle of the night. You couldn't go to sleep. We had to hide all the sharp objects.

'I saw her putting chemicals, bleach, Windex something like that, in my coffee and I asked her, 'What are you doing?' She said, 'I am trying to poison you.'

'The media is painting me to be a child abuser but there is no child here,' said Barnett.

In a 2019 episode (pictured) of Dr. Phil, Natalia denied being an adult and her new parents even defended her, stating she was a 'genuine loving girl' and not an 'adult sociopath masquerading as a child'

The building in Lafayette, Indiana, where Kristine and Michael Barnett rented an apartment for Natalia to live in after they left for Canada

'Natalia was a woman. She had periods. She had adult teeth. She never grew a single inch, which would happen even with a child with dwarfism.

'The doctors all confirmed she was suffering a severe psychological illness only diagnosed in adults.

'She was jumping out of moving cars. She was smearing blood on mirrors. She was doing things you could never imagine a little child doing.'

However, their son Jake said in the trailer his mother wasn't fully innocent.

'My mom isn't 100 percent innocent,' their now-adult son told Investigation Discovery.

In the past, Michael accused his now-ex-wife of beating Natalia.

In October, Michael was acquitted of his charges.

Nearly six months later, Kristine's case would be dismissed three weeks before trial.

The first part of The Curious Case of Natalia Grace will air on ID from 9-11pm on May 29.
Liz Truss last night urged Rishi Sunak to formally designate China as a 'threat' to the UK, as she warned that the West must act 'urgently' to protect Taiwan from aggression.

In a speech in Taipei, the former PM was expected to challenge her successor to deliver on tough commitments he made during last year's Conservative leadership contest  including clamping down on the network of Confucius Institutes teaching Chinese language and culture.

In comments briefed in advance, Ms Truss said: 'Last summer, the now British Prime Minister described China as 'the biggest long-term threat to Britain' and said the Confucius Institutes should be closed. He was right and we need to see those policies enacted urgently.'

She said the UK's Integrated Review, an outline of the Government's national security and international policy, needs to be amended to 'state clearly that China is a threat'.

In Government, Mr Sunak has adopted a policy of 'robust pragmatism' towards Beijing.

Liz Truss last night urged Rishi Sunak to formally designate China as a 'threat' to the UK, as she warned that the West must act 'urgently' to protect Taiwan from aggression

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said last month that engaging in a 'new Cold War' with China would damage the UK's interests by making it harder to co-operate on issues such as global warming.

But Ms Truss last night said it was impossible to trust China's communist leadership. 'There are still too many in the West who are trying to cling on to the idea that we can cooperate with China on issues like climate change, as if there is nothing wrong; that there are bigger issues than Chinese global dominance or the future of freedom and democracy,' she said.

'But without freedom and democracy there is nothing else. We know what happens to the environment or world health under totalitarian regimes that don't tell the truth. You can't believe a word they say.'

In a speech in Taipei, the former PM was expected to challenge her successor to deliver on tough commitments he made during last year's Conservative leadership contest

China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has threatened to annex the island by force. Pictured, president Xi Jinping

She added: 'There are those who say they don't want another Cold War. But this is not a choice we are in a position to make  because China has already embarked on a self-reliance drive, whether we want to decouple from their economy or not. China is growing its navy at an alarming rate and is undertaking the biggest military build-up in peacetime history...

'The only choice we have is whether we appease and accommodate  or we take action to prevent conflict.'

Ms Truss's visit has angered Beijing, which insists the island state is part of China and is feared to be gearing up to invade it.

She has also faced criticism at home, with senior Tory MP Alicia Kearns accusing her of engaging in 'Instagram diplomacy of the worst kind'. But she has said Taiwan's government, which invited her, is best placed to judge whether her intervention will help.
The Tories will lose power unless they start addressing the needs of a 'locked out' generation of young people, Lord Frost will warn on Wednesday.

The former Brexit minister will highlight the pressures faced by young people dealing with a shortage of affordable homes and a crippling tax burden.

In a speech to the National Conservatism conference in London, Lord Frost will warn the Conservatives against relying too heavily on support from older people who have already 'accumulated unearned wealth'.

He will say: 'Many others are locked out. For them, housing is out of reach. They can never build up savings because the Government takes so much in tax.

Lord Frost at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham, Britain, 4 October 2022

Housing Minister Michael Gove spoke at the National Conservatism Conference on 16 May 2023. A new bill for renters promises to protect tenants from rent hikes and no fault evictions

'Or there are the self-employed, working hard to pay for others' benefits while not entitled to them themselves.

'And the young people paying the highest rates of income tax in the country, the graduate tax, for decades to come.

'In my experience there is real suppressed anger and frustration at this situation. We ignore this at our peril.'

Lord Frost will acknowledge that releasing the 'dynamism of free markets' will involve 'uncomfortable decisions for the Conservative Party'.

But he will say that deregulation and tax cuts are vital for attracting a new generation to the Tory cause.

'These are the people who will build this country well into the 21st century,' he will say.

'They won't be Conservatives if we only seem concerned about looking after those who have already done well. We must be the party of opportunity and the future.'
The White House has released financial disclosure forms for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for 2022 as Republicans accuse the first family of raking in millions from foreign sources.

Filings show that the US president and the first lady, Jill Biden, have cash in the bank worth between $1.05 million and $2.58 million.

The records, first obtained by Fox News Digital, show the presidential couple had little change from the previous year.

The White House released the disclosures late on Monday, outlining the president and the vice-president's financial affairs

Filings show

The Bidens owe between $250,000 and $500,000 on a mortgage on their Delaware home, as well as between $30,000 and $100,000 on other loans.

They said Biden earned less than $201 in royalties for his 2007 flop memoir 'Promises to Keep'.

He later picked up between $2,501 and $5,000 for his post-Obama administration 2017 memoir 'Promise Me, Dad.'

But the commander-in-chief's net worth is dwarfed by his vice-president. Kamala Harris, and her husband Doug Emmoff.

The second family is worth between $3.42 million and $8.29 million, the disclosure forms show.

They owe between between $1 million and $5 million on a mortgage on their home in Brooklyn in New York.

Amazingly, the vice president picked up more than $41,000 her for her 2019 memoir, 'The Truths We Hold.'

The former senator also was paid more than $40,000 in advance for her 2019 childrens book 'SuperHeroes Are Everywhere', raking in $456,000 in total.

Biden's disclosures come amid repeated allegations from conservatives that his family have benefitted from foreign payments.

Congressman James Comer of Kentucky argues Biden's relatives have raked in $10m (8m) from entities abroad.

But the oversight committee chair has yet to uncover evidence directly linking the president to such payments, or unearth any illegal conduct.

White House officials have trashed the claims as 'baseless innuendo.'

The Republican-backed report outlines a list of various companies and financial records tied to Biden's family members.

They include his disgraced son, Hunter Biden, and daughter-in-law, Hallie Biden.

James Comer (R-Kentucky) heads the House of Representative's main investigatory panel and has vowed to delve into Hunter Biden's business dealings

Leaked files from Hunter Biden's laptop contained a series of lewd phots as well as emails about his business deals

Joe Biden's relatives are accused of using their influence and access to the president to land business and donations from abroad

The 53-year-old is currently mired in a slew of legal woes, including a paternity case with a former stripper and a federal jury probe into his business affairs.

The 30-page tirade contains bank records of bank transactions, obtained through subpoena, that Republican lawmakers allege show the Biden family's links to China and Romania.

They appear to show the receipt of money from a foreign company connected to Gabriel Popoviciu, a real estate mogul who faced corruption charges in Romania.

Republicans vowed to probe Biden, his administration and his family when they took over control of the US House of Representatives in last year's midterm elections.

Another conservative-led House panel is also investigating a letter published by 51 former intelligence officials before the 2020 White House election.

The letter, allegedly organized by Biden campaign adviser Antony Blinken, who is now the US secretary of state, to discredit media reports about Hunter Biden's laptop.

Leaked emails from the laptop also contained evidence of Hunter Biden's business dealings, as well as lewd photos about his drug abuse and sex life.

Federal prosecutors have been investigating Hunter Biden over issues with his taxes and a gun purchase since 2018.
Sir Keir Starmer will today vow to tear up planning rules to favour 'the builders not the blockers' in what critics dubbed a 'developers' charter'.

The Labour leader will pledge to bring back controversial house building targets which force local councils to build an allocated number of homes each year. And he will take on so-called Nimbys by ripping up planning rules to favour development.

In a speech to the British Chambers of Commerce, Sir Keir will say: 'Mark my words: we will take on planning reform.

'We'll bring back local housing targets. We'll streamline the process for national infrastructure projects and commercial development and we'll remove the veto used by big landowners to stop shovels hitting the ground.

'We choose the builders, not the blockers; the future, not the past; renewal not decline. We choose growth.'

Sir Keir Starmer will today vow to tear up planning rules to favour 'the builders not the blockers' in what critics dubbed a 'developers' charter'

Rishi Sunak has ditched 'top down' housing targets, leading to warnings that the Tories will fail to meet the pledge to build 300,000 homes a year

Sir Keir will insist that planning reform is needed to revive an economy that is 'stuck in second gear'.

Rishi Sunak has ditched 'top down' housing targets, leading to warnings that the Tories will fail to meet the pledge to build 300,000 homes a year. Last night the Tories warned that Sir Keir's plans would lead to a concreting over of the countryside. Sources also accused him of 'flip-flopping' on the issue, having previously ordered his MPs to back the right of local communities to object to unsuitable schemes.

Conservative Party chairman Greg Hands said: 'This is just another flip-flop from Labour  Starmer will say anything that suits him. Labour's Developers' Charter would prevent local residents from objecting to developers' plans to build on their streets, in their communities or on treasured public spaces, concreting over the green belt.'
Franz Lidz in The New York Times:

Aristotle called the hand the tool of tools; Kant, the visible part of the brain. The earliest works of art were handprints on the walls of caves. Throughout history hand gestures have symbolized the range of human experience: power, tenderness, creativity, conflict, even (bravo, Michelangelo) the touch of the divine. Without hands, civilization would be inconceivable. And so the discovery in 2011 of the bones of a dozen right hands, at a site where the ancient Egyptian city of Avaris (today known as Tell el-Daba) once stood, was particularly unsettling. The remains were unearthed, most with palms down, from three shallow pits near the throne room of a royal palace. The hands, along with numerous disarticulated fingers, were most likely buried during Egypts 15th dynasty, from 1640 B.C. to 1530 B.C. At the time, Egypts eastern Nile Delta was controlled by a dynasty called the Hyksos, which means rulers of foreign countries.

Although the Hyksos were described by the Ptolemaic Egyptian historian Manetho as invaders of an obscure race who conquered the region by force, recent research has shown that they descended from people who had immigrated peacefully over centuries from southwest Asia, now Israel and the Palestinian territories.

More here.
Republican lawmakers are slamming the IRS for being involved in an alleged 'cover-up' scheme by the Biden administration to conceal Hunter Biden's financial crimes.

According to a letter to Congress obtained by DailyMail.com, the IRS has removed the entire team probing Hunter Biden's tax returns 'in retaliation against a whistleblower who alleged his colleagues were covering-up the president's son's financial crimes.'

Those dismissal orders came from the Justice Department, the whistleblower's attorneys said in the letter Monday.

Following the whistleblower's revelations, House GOP Chairwoman Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., accused the IRS of being 'complicit' in the 'cover-up' of Hunter Biden's illegal activities by the Biden administration.

'The IRS is complicit in the cover-up of Hunter Bidens tax fraud,' Stefanik tweeted Tuesday. 'There must be accountability.'

Hunter, 53, was spotted Monday, along with his father President Joe Biden, and First Lady Jill Biden, at University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia for his daughter Maisy's graduation

The whistleblower - who has not been named - did not publicly identify Hunter as the subject of his coverup claims, but congressional sources did

'Today the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Supervisory Special Agent we represent was informed that he and his entire investigative team are being removed from the ongoing and sensitive investigation of the high-profile, controversial subject about which our client sought to make whistleblower disclosures to Congress,' the letter on behalf of the whistleblower states.

'He was informed the change was at the request of the Department of Justice,' Mark Lytle and Tristan Leavitt wrote.

The whistleblower - who has not been named - did not publicly identify Hunter as the subject of his coverup claims, but congressional sources did.

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., also slammed the alleged action by the IRS detailed in the letter, accusing the federal government of 'once again' may be 'abusing its power' by retaliating against a whistleblower.

A whistleblower, who is specifically alleging that the Biden administration is 'obstructing justice' by blocking efforts to charge Hunter Biden for federal violations, he continued.

The top Republican said that Congress will 'thoroughly investigate' and hold accountable any administration officials 'covering up' any of Hunter's crimes.

IRS commissioner Daniel Werfel recently told Congress that his agency would not retaliate against whistleblowers.

On April 27, Werfel testified before the House Committee on Ways and Means.

He said: 'I can say without any hesitation there will be no retaliation for anyone making an allegation or a call to a whistleblower hotline.'

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., brought up the letter by the whistleblower's attorney during a separate hearing by the Senate Finance Committee Tuesday.

He called Hunter Biden a 'wealthy tax cheat,' pointing to the whistleblower's allegations as another example of the weaponization of the government to protect Biden's family.

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., brought up the letter by the whistleblower's attorney during a separate hearing by the Senate Finance Committee Tuesday

He questioned former IRS official John Fort on the situation, who said that in his '30 years' in the IRS, he had not seen any team pulled off a case.

'Former IRS official testified that in 30 years, he never saw an entire investigatory team pulled off a case. But that's what happened to Hunter's investigators,' Johnson said.

'Unequal application of law and weaponizing agencies against citizens is becoming routine in Democrat administrations.'

Comer told FOX Business' Larry Kudlow Tuesday that he's 'outraged.'

'This is another example of this administration just completely out of control.'

The House Oversight Committee has accused 10 members of the Biden family - including Hunter - of being involved in 'shady' business deals where they profited off of the family name.

Hunter, 53, was spotted Monday, along with his father President Joe Biden, and First Lady Jill Biden, at University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia for his daughter Maisy's graduation.

He still waits to find out if he will be charged with tax fraud as corruption claims pile up against his family.
Yesterday, leading figures from the food and farming sector gathered at 10 Downing Street for a summit called by the Prime Minister on food security.

Do not underestimate the significance of this event. It represents a landmark moment  and recognition, finally, of the strategic importance of British food and farming to the nation.

I'm a beef farmer in Wiltshire. While running a farm is a way of life, to see this work now being recognised as vital to Britain's heritage, its economy and future, is a true testament to the work of farmers and growers. These are the people I represent as head of the National Farmers' Union.

For more than three years, the NFU has been spearheading the campaign to get government to take food security seriously. We work to ensure that our farmers and growers are able to compete and thrive in a post-Brexit world. Support from the Daily Mail and its readers has been instrumental in what we have achieved.

Yesterday, leading figures from the food and farming sector gathered at 10 Downing Street for a summit called by the Prime Minister on food security. Pictured: National Farmers' Union President Minette Batters

Rishi Sunak has done what other prime ministers have failed to do: he has said he will ensure British farmers will no longer be an 'afterthought' in trade deals, writes Minette Batters

More than a million of you signed our recent petition to safeguard food standards  helping to ensure the food we eat, wherever it comes from, is produced to Britain's exacting standards of environmental protection and animal welfare.

More than 80,000 of you wrote to your MPs backing our call for action to ensure world-class British food producers weren't driven out of business by a flood of cheap, low-quality imports. I am pleased to say that Rishi Sunak has done what other prime ministers have failed to do: he has said he will ensure British farmers will no longer be an 'afterthought' in trade deals. Mr Sunak added that his government is 'prepared to do what is right to protect particularly sensitive sectors' and vowed to 'protect food standards in the UK under all existing and future free trade agreements'.

These words matter  and the NFU will hold him to them.

Last August, Mr Sunak spoke to NFU farmers and growers at a Conservative Party leadership hustings event. He committed to a yearly 'stocktake' of British food, an annual national food-security summit and, at a minimum, to maintaining the levels of food produced in Britain. Since then, we have worked to ensure these promises were kept. Last December, the NFU called an emergency press conference to highlight the supply-chain issues that had left many supermarket shelves empty. The Government faced a stark choice  back British food production to secure a home-grown supply of sustainable food or risk seeing more empty shelves.

I firmly believe yesterday's summit, looking at food from farm to fork, demonstrates an important first step in the repositioning of food and food security in Britain. It is a recognition that these issues are as important to our national security as a plentiful supply of energy.

While running a farm is a way of life, to see this work now being recognised as vital to Britain's heritage, its economy and future, is a true testament to the work of farmers and growers

The announcements made around the summit are also welcome and will go a long way to supporting our precious food-producing sector for generations to come.

One concerned a commitment to protect sensitive sectors in trade deals: something that was ignored when we signed the recent trade deal with Australia, much to our Antipodean cousins' delight. This will help ensure a level playing field for our farmers and growers  the basis of all the NFU's demands around trade  and will mean there will be no chlorine-washed chicken or hormone-treated beef in the UK market.

But there is still much to be done. To match its ambitions for food and farming in Britain, and to prevent further food shortages, the Government needs to set ambitious targets for domestic food production, just as it has done for housing, energy and the environment.

A commitment to growing Britain's food-production self-sufficiency beyond the current 60 per cent, with a statutory duty to report on domestic food levels, would reinforce the importance of a secure supply of safe, affordable and sustainably produced home-grown food, helping to prevent further shortages.

I am optimistic that the first food-security summit will mark a sea change in the way British food and British food producers are valued.

We know the British public gets it. Now we might just have a government that gets it, too.
Queen Elizabeth's most senior aide has been made a Lord after he finally left Buckingham Palace having served for 19 years, it was announced yesterday.

Sir Edward Young, who was the late monarch's private secretary, stayed on following her death to help smooth over the change in reign - and has been heaped with honours for his loyalty.

A discreet figure, he uncharacteristically hit the headlines after clashing with Prince Harry, who openly accused the career courtier of preventing him from seeing his grandmother to lobby over 'Megxit'.

The prince also blamed Sir Edward for ensuring he was stripped of his Scotland Yard security deal after acrimoniously quitting royal duties - and even came up with a nickname for him, 'The Bee', due to his 'oval-faced and fuzzy' appearance and tendency to 'glide around with great equanimity and poise'.

Harry added: 'He was so poised that people didn't fear him. Big mistake. Sometimes their last mistake.'

Queen Elizabeth's most senior aide, Sir Edward Young (pictured), has been made a Lord after he finally left Buckingham Palace having served for 19 years, it was announced yesterday

Sir Edward Young (circled) behind the Queen and Meghan Markle in Chester in June 2018

But Sir Edward - now Lord Young - was considered an 'outstanding' public servant at the palace, as evidenced by King Charles' decision to reward him so richly.

As well as being granted a peerage, he has also been appointed a Lord in Waiting, which may mean him undertaking royal duties in the future, such as meeting visiting heads of state.

Additionally, he has been appointed a Knight Grand Cross Order of the Bath - an ancient order of chivalry - and promoted within the Royal Victorian Order to Knight Grand Cross.

Sir Edward has been acting since last September as joint principal private secretary to His Majesty the King along with Sir Clive Alderton, who moved in the role from Clarence House to Buckingham Palace.

Sir Edward Young greets then-outgoing prime minister Boris Johnson at Balmoral in Scotland on September 6, 2022 - two days before the death of Queen Elizabeth II

Sir Edward Young is pictured in July 2004 when he was announced as the Queen's new assistant private secretary

A source said he had agreed to stay on for a few months after the accession 'to bring his vast reservoir of wisdom and experience to bear on helping to deliver the change of reign'.

Paying tribute to his colleague, Sir Clive said: 'Edward has been an outstanding colleague and a dear friend for almost two decades.

'He made an invaluable contribution to the closing years of The late Queen's reign and to helping support the process of transition. He will be much missed by us all.'

Sir Edward said: 'I am honoured to have served two sovereigns through historic times, and grateful for all the support and friendship of colleagues along the way.

'I am deeply touched by their kind words and tributes as I venture beyond the Palace gates, but look forward to staying in close contact in years ahead.'
A cyber security expert claims it could also be used for 'nefarious' purposes

Chat Lock allows users to hide conversations with a password or biometric data

WhatsApp users joke that it is easier to cheat on partners thanks to a new feature

Snooping on a partner's phone is not unheard of in a mistrusting or unfaithful relationship.

But WhatsApp users have joked that cheating has now been 'upgraded' thanks to the app's new Chat Lock feature, which allows users to keep secret conversations locked up with a password.

While it can be used for more innocent purposes such as planning surprises, many have thanked owner Mark Zuckerberg for helping to keep infidelities under the radar.

'This is so great and wonderful news thanks Mr,' one Facebook user said. 'Cheating has been upgraded.'

But a cybersecurity expert warned that it could be used for 'nefarious purposes', with numerous Metropolitan Police officers previously charged and sacked over discriminatory WhatsApp messages.

WhatsApp users joke that it is now easier to cheat on partners thanks to a new feature

HOW TO LOCK WHATSAPP CHATS Open the WhatsApp app and tap on the name of a group or one-to-one chat A lock option should then appear, prompting users to enter the device password or biometric data (like a fingerprint) to secure the chat To reveal these again, the password or biometric data should be applied after pulling down on a WhatsApp inbox Advertisement

The Chat Lock feature was rolled out as part of WhatsApp's continued efforts to keep messages 'private and secure'.

In a blog post, it said: 'Locking a chat takes that thread out of the inbox and puts it behind its own folder that can only be accessed with your device password or biometric, like a fingerprint. It also automatically hides the contents of that chat in notifications, too.

'We think this feature will be great for people who have reason to share their phones from time to time with a family member or those moments where someone else is holding your phone at the exact moment an extra special chat arrives.'

Yet Facebook has been flooded with comments after Zuckerberg suggested that it could be used to hide a 'secret sauce recipe' and a 'fight club'.

Referring to the 1999 film starring Brad Pitt, one user joked: 'First rule of fight club'

Another added: 'On behalf of CPA (cheating partners association) we commend the great work you are doing.'

Someone else chimed in: 'Wow, this is absolutely fascinating and groundbreaking!

'The realm of cheating has just entered a whole new level of sophistication and advancement. Thank you for enlightening us with this intriguing information.'

Chat Lock allows users to hide secret conversations with a password or biometric data

Facebook has been flooded with comments after Zuckerberg shared a image suggesting it could be used to hide a 'secret sauce recipe' and a 'fight club'

However, the feature also comes at a time when numerous Metropolitan Police officers have been charged or sacked over discriminatory messages.

READ MORE: Could WhatsApp be BANNED in Britain? An open letter opposing the Online Safety Bill has been signed by Will Cathcart (pictured), Meta's head of WhatsApp Advertisement

Sarah Everard's murderer Wayne Couzens was found to be in a WhatsApp group called 'Bottles & Stoppers' where officers joked about rape.

Meanwhile, eight Metropolitan Police officers were previously charged following their involvement in another warped WhatsApp conversation.

The so-called 'Secret Squirrel S**t' chat was revealed to contain sexist, racist, homophobic and transphobic profanities.

With that in mind, Jake Moore, a global cybersecurity adviser at software firm ESET, believes privacy features could be used for 'nefarious' purposes, though he acknowledged it is difficult to establish how so this early on.

He added: 'Its difficult to point the finger at who specifically would use the feature but it could suggest nefarious use indeed.

'Locking chats with a passcode adds a layer of security and improves privacy from prying eyes with physical contact.

'Many other privacy-focused chat applications are available but WhatsApp is the clear frontrunner with most people. Although messages are sent with end-to-end encryption (meaning that such messages cannot be intercepted) the key to unlocking these messages is the device passcode.

'For more private chats, the "disappearing messages" feature in the app adds a much better level of security which wipes messages completely after a certain amount of time.'

To lock a chat, users should open WhatsApp and tap on the name of a group or one-to-one conversation.

A lock option should then appear, which will prompt users to enter the device password or biometric data to secure that chat.

To reveal these, a password or biometric data should be applied after pulling down on a WhatsApp inbox.

WhatsApp claims that more options will be added to this over the coming months, as the firm believes that texting should be as private as in-person conversations.

It said: 'Over the next few months were going to be adding more options for Chat Lock, including locking for companion devices and creating a custom password for your chats so that you can use a unique password different from the one you use for your phone.'

WhatsApp has been approached for comment.
It's well known that Earth is unique among the rocky planets in our solar system due to its vast oceans of liquid water on its surface.

How exactly all this water got to Earth is more of a mystery, although scientists recently ruled out melted meteorites as the source.

Now, data from NASA's James Webb telescope reveals for the first time that water vapour is present around a comet in our solar system's main belt  the rocky ring located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.

The comet, called 238P/Read, has a water vapour cloud surrounding it known as a 'coma', resulting from ice melting as it gets closer to the sun in its orbit.

The presence of water in a comet so close to Earth is unprecedented and supports the theory that water was transported to Earth by comets early in our planet's history.

Astronomers have confirmed gas - specifically water vapour - around a comet in the main asteroid belt for the first time. This artist's impression of the comet, called Comet 238P/Read, shows it sublimating - its water ice vaporising as its orbit approaches the sun. This sublimation is what distinguishes comets from asteroids, creating their distinctive tail and hazy halo, or coma

238P/Read is located in the asteroid belt - the ring-shaped region in the Solar System, located between the orbits of Jupiter and Mars. This is unusual, as most orbit in the Kuiper Belt and even more distant Oort Cloud

The discovery has been detailed in a new study led by NASA and University of Maryland researchers, published in the journal Nature.

Comet Read: Basic facts Official name: 238P/Read Discovered: October 24, 2005 Location: Main belt Orbital duration: 5.64 years Distance from the sun: 2.37 AU (min), 3.96 AU (max) Advertisement

The study confirms the presence of water vapour around a comet in the main belt for the first time  and suggest that water ice must exist in 238P/Read's interior, which is vaporising as it hurtles through space.

'Our water-soaked world, teeming with life and unique in the universe as far as we know, is something of a mystery  we're not sure how all this water got here,' said author Stefanie Milam at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.

'Understanding the history of water distribution in the solar system will help us to understand other planetary systems, and if they could be on their way to hosting an Earth-like planet.'

Comets are made up of ice, dust and rocky material, and are different from asteroids, which are made up of metals and rocky material.

When a comet gets close to the sun, its ice and dust content start to vaporise (known as sublimation) which gives it a distinctive tail and a hazy or cloudy halo, known as a coma.

Asteroids, meanwhile, don't do this due to their lack of ice.

The researchers studied data from Webb's NIRSpec (Near-Infrared Spectrograph) instrument, which can measure the near-infrared spectrum of more than 100 objects at once.

Results from 238P/Read showed 'a distinct peak' in the region of the spectrum associated with water, indicating it is present around the comet.

This graphic shows new observations of 238P/Read by James Webb and observations of a Jupiter-family comet, 103P/Hartley 2, by NASA's Deep Impact mission in 2010. Both show a distinct peak in the region of spectrum associated with water. It marks the first time that a gas has been confirmed in such a main belt comet. However, unlike 103P/Hartley 2, Comet 238P/Read did not show a bump indicating the presence of CO2

This image of Comet 238P/Read was captured by the NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) instrument on NASA's James Webb Space Telescope on September 8, 2022. It displays the hazy halo, called the coma, and tail that are characteristic of comets, but not asteroids

While the observations 'clearly show' that the main-belt comet has a coma of water vapour, it has no detectable carbon dioxide (CO2), the team say.

This is an unusual finding, seeing as CO2 typically makes up a tenth of the volatile material in a comet that can be easily vaporised by the sun's heat.

READ MORE: Earth's water DID NOT come from melted meteorites Scientists ruled out that water was brought to Earth by melted meteorites (stock image) Advertisement

Potential explanations for this are the comet had CO2 when it formed but it was lost due to warm temperatures, or that it formed in a warm pocket of the solar system where no CO2 was available.

Comets primarily originate from two regions  the Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud, which both extend much further than the main belt  beyond the orbit of Neptune.

The Kuiper Belt is 30 astronomical units (AU) to approximately 50 AU from the sun, while the Oort Cloud is much further  between about 2,000 and 100,000 AU.

One AU  a unit of length equal to the average distance between Earth and the sun  is 93 million miles, so these are seriously big distances.

At some point, a star passing near the solar system may have disturbed the motions of comets in the Oort Cloud, sending them into the solar system.

Comets in the main asteroid belt a fairly new classification, with the first main-belt comet discovered in 1996.

Before that, comets were understood to just reside in the Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud, but the fact that comets reached further into the solar system towards Earth bolsters any comet-based theories for why our oceans exist.

Scientists have long speculated that water ice could be preserved in the warmer asteroid belt, inside the orbit of Jupiter, but definitive proof was elusive  until Webb.

'In the past, we've seen objects in the main belt with all the characteristics of comets,' said Michael Kelley at the University of Maryland, lead author of the study.

'But only with this precise spectral data from Webb can we say yes, it's definitely water ice that is creating that effect.'

The James Webb Space Telescope (depicted here in space) sees the universe in light that is invisible to human eyes

Theories have long suggested that water was delivered to Earth from the outer Solar System later in its history, potentially via comets.

More recent research indicates that hydrogen inside the Earth played a role in the formation of the oceans.

These two theories are not mutually exclusive, however, and a combination of both could explain why so much of the Earth's surface  71 per cent  is water.

'Earth formed 4.6 billion years ago, and the surface was quite hot, too hot for water oceans,' study author Michael S. P. Kelley at the University of Maryland told MailOnline.

'The oceans were formed after the surface cooled, and within a few hundred million years.

'A big question for planetary science has been where did that water come from? Was it from Earth's interior and volcanic activity, or was it delivered to the surface by comet and asteroid impacts?

'As an astronomer, I am working to measure the water content of comets and asteroids as they exist today, 4.6 billion years after our solar system formed.

'Then we can work backwards to estimate how much these small objects could have delivered to the Earth.'
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman urged Congress Tuesday to establish regulations for artificial intelligence, admitting that the technology 'could go quite wrong.'

Lawmakers grilled the CEO for five hours, stressing that ChatGPT and other models could reshape 'human history' for better or worse, likening it to either the printing press or the atomic bomb.

Altman, who looked flushed and wide-eyed during the exchange over the future AI could create, admitted his 'worst fears' are that 'significant harm' could be caused to the world using his technology.

'If this technology goes wrong, it could go quite wrong, and we want to be vocal about that. We want to work with the government to prevent that from happening,' he continued.

Tuesday's hearing is the first of a series intended to write rules for AI, which lawmakers said should have been done years ago.

Senator Richard Blumenthal, who presided over the hearing, said Congress failed to seize the moment with the birth of social media, allowing predators to harm children - but that moment has not passed with AI.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman spoke in front of Congress about the dangers of AI after his company's ChatGPT exploded in popularity in just a few months

San Francisco-based OpenAI rocketed to public attention after it released ChatGPT late last year.

ChatGPT is a free chatbot tool that answers questions with convincingly human-like responses.

Senator Josh Hawley said: 'A year ago we couldn't have had this discussion because this tech had not yet burst to public.

'But [this hearing] shows just how rapidly [AI] is changing and transforming our world.'

Tuesday's hearing aimed not to control AI, but to start a discussion on how to make ChatGPT and other models transparent, ensure risks are disclosed and establish scorecards.

Blumenthal, the Connecticut Democrat who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee's subcommittee on privacy, technology and the law, opened the hearing with a recorded speech that sounded like the senator but was actually a voice clone trained on Blumenthal's floor speeches and reciting a speech written by ChatGPT after he asked the chatbot, 'How I would open this hearing?'

The result was impressive, said Blumenthal, but he added: 'What if I had asked it, and what if it had provided an endorsement of Ukraine surrendering or (Russian President) Vladimir Putins leadership?'

Blumenthal said AI companies should be required to test their systems and disclose known risks before releasing them.

San Francisco-based OpenAI rocketed to public attention after it released ChatGPT late last year. ChatGPT is a free chatbot tool that answers questions with convincingly human-like responses

Altman told senators that generative AI could be a 'printing press moment,' but he is not blind to its fault, noting policymakers and industry leaders need to work together to 'make it so'

Altman, who looked flushed and wide-eyed during the grilling over the future AI could create, admitted his 'worst fears' are causing 'significant harm to the world' using his technology.

'If this technology goes wrong, it could go quite wrong, and we want to be vocal about that. We want to work with the government to prevent that from happening,' he continued.

One issue raised during the hearing has been discussed among the public - how AI will impact jobs.

'The biggest nightmare is the looming industrial revolution of the displacement of workers.' Blumenthal said in his opening statement.

Altman addressed this concern later in the hearing, stating he thinks the technology will 'entirely automate away some jobs.'

While ChatGPT could eliminate jobs, Altman predicted, it will also create new ones 'that we believe will be much better.'

'I believe that there will be far greater jobs on the other side of this, and the jobs of today will get better,' he said.

'I think it will entirely automate away some jobs, and it will create new ones that we believe will be much better.'

Five takeaways from OpenAI CEO's testimony in front of Congress OpenAI CEO wants AI regulation The purpose of the hearing was to discuss the dangers of AI and work with OpenAI on how to prevent harm to humanity. 'GPT-4 is more likely to respond helpfully and truthfully and refuse harmful requests than any other widely deployed model of similar capability,' Altman said. 'However, we think regulatory intervention by governments will be critical to mitigating the risks of increasingly powerful models He also said: 'As this technology advances, we understand that people are anxious about how it could change the way we live. We are too.' Altman called for 'a new agency that licenses any effort above a certain scale of capabilities and could take that license away and ensure compliance with safety standards.' AI's influence on the 2024 Election Lawmakers voiced concerns about the technology swaying people's opinions and spreading false information. Altman said: 'It's one of my areas of greatest concerns  the more general capability of these models to manipulate, to persuade, to provide sort of one-on-one disinformation.' Some jobs will transition away 'ChatGPT4 will, I think, entirely automate away some jobs. And it will create new ones that we believe will be much better,' Altman said. He told Congress to look at GPT4 'as a tool, not a creature' that is 'good at doing tasks, not jobs.' While Christina Montgomery, IBM's chief privacy officer, had a different approach: 'Some jobs will transition away.' AI has the potential to be like the moment of the printing press or the atomic bomb. Altman said: 'We think it can be a printing press moment.' AI is not social media Lawmakers admitted they failed to regulate social media, allowing it to become a playground for predators and misinformation. 'This is not social media,' Altman said. 'This is different.' Altman explained that ChatGPT-like systems are completely different from social media platforms and it is too early to discuss policies. Montgomery agreed, urging lawmakers not to pump the breaks on AI development. 'The era of AI cannot be another era of 'Move fast and break things,'' she said. 'But we don't have to slam the brakes on innovations, either.' Advertisement

'There will be an impact on jobs. We try to be very clear about that,' he said.

Also sitting in the court was Christina Montgomery, IBM's chief privacy officer, who also admitted AI will change everyday jobs but will also create new ones.

'I am a personal example of a job that didn't exist [before AI],' she said.

The 2024 election was also brought up during the hearing by Hawley, who fears AI can sway people's opinions, and Senator Amy Klobuchar voiced concerns about it spreading misinformation.

Altman, however, agreed with their apprehensions about the future presidential election.

'It's one of my areas of greatest concerns  the more general capability of these models to manipulate, to persuade, to provide sort of one-on-one disinformation,' said Altman.

The public uses ChatGPT to write research papers, books, news articles, emails and other text-based work, while many see it as a virtual assistant.

In its simplest form, AI is a field that combines computer science and robust datasets to enable problem-solving.

The technology allows machines to learn from experience, adjust to new inputs and perform human-like tasks.

The systems, which include machine learning and deep learning sub-fields, are comprised of AI algorithms that seek to create expert systems which make predictions or classifications based on input data.

From 1957 to 1974, AI flourished. Computers could store more information and became faster, cheaper, and more accessible.

Machine learning algorithms also improved and people got better at knowing which algorithm to apply to their problem.

In 1970, MIT computer scientist Marvin Minsky told Life Magazine, 'From three to eight years, we will have a machine with the general intelligence of an average human being.'

And while the timing of the prediction was off, the idea of AI having human intelligence is not.

ChatGPT is evidence of how fast the technology is growing.

Musk, Wozniak and other tech leaders are among the 1,120 people who have signed the open letter calling for an industry-wide pause on the current 'dangerous race'

In just a few months, it has passed the bar exam with a higher score than 90 percent of humans who have taken it, and it achieved 60 percent accuracy on the US Medical Licensing Exam.

Tuesday's hearing appears to make up for lawmakers' failures with social media - getting control of the progress of AI before it is too large to contain.

Senators made it clear that they do not want industry leaders to pause development - something Elon Musk and other tech tycoons have been lobbying - but to continue their work responsibly.

Musk and more than 1,000 leading experts signed an open letter on The Future of Life Institute, calling for a pause on the 'dangerous race' to develop ChatGPT-like AI.

Kevin Baragona, whose name is penned in the letter, told DailyMail.com in March that 'AI superintelligence is like the nuclear weapons of software.'

'Many people have debated whether we should or shouldn't continue to develop them,' he continued.

Americans were wrestling with a similar idea while developing the weapon of mass destruction - at the time, it was dubbed 'nuclear anxiety.'

'It's almost akin to a war between chimps and humans, Baragona, who signed the letter, told DailyMail.com

'The humans obviously win since we're far smarter and can leverage more advanced technology to defeat them.

'If we're like the chimps, then the AI will destroy us, or we'll become enslaved to it.'
Russia claims it has obliterated a roughly $1.1 billion, US-made Patriot missile defense system Monday night amid a scorching rocket assault on Kyiv.

But according to two US officials, who spoke to the news agency Reuters, the Patriot system has likely only suffered some damage from the air attack.

One US official, who spoke to Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity, said Washington and Kyiv were already talking strategy and logistics on how best to repair damage to the Patriot. While noting that information on the ground is still sketchy, this official said that it did not appear that the missile system would need to be moved out of Ukraine for the fix.

White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters he could not confirm any reports on the status of the Patriot system in Ukraine.

The Patriot system, delivered just last month to Ukraine by the US and its NATO allies, was in active use defending the city.

Monday night's fiery barrage over Kyiv has led to conflicting accounts of the damage, with grainy nighttime video apparently capturing the moment a Russian-launched Kinzhal hypersonic missile wiped out the Patriot system.

As the video spread on social media, Russia's defense ministry declared that it had successfully eliminated the Patriot, according to the Zvezda military news outlet.

Here's what you need to know about the Patriot, its cost, and how it got there:

At the heart of the Patriot system is Raytheon-made AN/MPQ-53 phased-array radar targeting, which helps it search and destroy even hypersonic ballistic missiles racing in midair

The system relies on multiple components besides the launcher, according to a graphic by Raytheon Company

Grainy security video circulating on the Telegram messaging app appears to show the moment a surface-to-air battery explodes after exhausting all of its ammunition amid the attacks

Kyiv officials said the attack - the eighth on the capital this month - involved drones, cruise missiles and probably ballistic missiles launched 'from different directions simultaneously'

Explosion of a Russian-launched missile in the sky over Kyiv this morning

All told, Russian forces launched six Kinzhals over the night, nuclear-ready ballistic missiles capable of coasting at up to 10 times the speed of sound.

The volley was among the most fierce missile strikes on the Ukrainian capital since the war broke out: 18 Russian-fired missiles in total, along with 6 Shahed kamikaze drones, according to some reports.

But the commander-in-chief of Ukraine's armed forces, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, says that Ukrainian forces managed to intercept all six Kinzhals using the Patriot system, detonating the Russian rockets in midair.

What is the Patriot missile system?

The MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air (SAM) missile defense system gets its name from the sophisticated, Raytheon-made AN/MPQ-53 phased-array radar system at the heart of its targeting system. (The Patriot acronym stands for 'Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept on Target.')

The Patriot is a mobile surface-to-air missile (SAM) unit, manufactured by the U.S. defense contractor Raytheon, that consists of this robust radar array, one control station, a power generator, missile launch stations, and a small fleet of support vehicles.

Depending on the missile interception needs, the system has a variety of differing configurations.

One, the PAC-2 interceptor, launches a blast-fragmentation warhead, that radiates its damage in a ring. The newer PAC-3 missile uses more advanced hit-to-kill technology that is precise enough to detonate on impact, instead of via a proximity sensor within the warhead.

Patriot systems consists of a robust phased array radar, control station, power generator, missile launch stations, and a small fleet of support vehicles. Above, a Patriot surface-to-air missile system is presented at the Warsaw-Radom Airport in Radom on April 20, 2023

The Patriot comes in differing configurations. The PAC-2 interceptor launches a blast-fragmentation warhead spreading damage. Newer PAC-3 missiles employ more advanced hit-to-kill technology, precise enough to detonate without a proximity sensor inside the warhead

US European Command first promised Patriots to the Zelenskyy government in March 2022, but the missile system did not arrive on Ukrainian soil until April 2023, most reports say

How did the Patriot get to Ukraine?

US European Command announced its intentions to supply the Zelenskyy government back on March 9, 2022 in the early days of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

But the delivery did not become official until December 20, 2022, when the Biden administration vowed to include a Patriot system as part of a new $1.85 billion aid package to assist Ukraine in its wartime defense.

The Patriot system did not arrive in Ukraine until this April, when America's NATO partners in the German government announced that they had delivered a Patriot system to Ukraine.

A second Patriot battery has allegedly been delivered, direct from the US, as of April 27, but neither the Pentagon nor the Biden administration confirmed that the system arrived at its destination.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, while thanking allied in US, Germany and the Netherlands in late April, also did not specify publicly how many Patriot missile systems had been delivered.

What's the price tag?

A single, newly made Patriot defense system costs somewhere near $1.1 billion, two-thirds of the cost (approximately $690 million) for the missile battery itself with the rest of the price needed for the system, support vehicles and radar ($400 million).
It follows a seven hour outage at Vodafone that left thousands without internet

Sky is looking into the issue and apologised to customers for 'any inconvenience'

It's one of the most popular networks in the UK, but it appears that Sky Mobile is experiencing issues this afternoon.

According to Down Detector, the problems started at around 13:37 BST and are affecting users across the country.

'We are aware that some Sky Mobile customers are experiencing issues with making and receiving calls right now,' Sky tweeted.

'We are investigating the issue and we are sorry for any inconvenience this may be causing.'

So far, more than 1,945 issues have been logged on Down Detector, with most reports coming from London, Edinburgh, Leeds, Glasgow, Birmingham, Motherwell, Manchester, Bristol, and Leicester.

It's one of the most popular networks in the UK, but it appears that Sky Mobile is experiencing issues this afternoon

So far, more than 1,945 issues have been logged on Down Detector. Of those who reported problems, 72 per cent said it was with their phone, 26 per cent with internet, and one per cent with television

Of those who reported problems, 72 per cent said it was with their phone, 26 per cent with internet, and one per cent with television.

Several frustrated users have taken to Twitter to discuss the outage.

'What's happening please? I've missed calls from my little ones school about them being unwell. They had to call my elderly mother nearly 40 miles away. Luckily we could FaceTime still,' one user wrote.

'What's the ETA of it being fixed please? I have important phone calls throughout the day and being a new customer this is definitely not the service I expect,' another added.

And one vented: 'Not great really, when trying to get hold of people urgently when I'm out and about. I'm assuming that there will be some sort of recompense for the inconvenience caused.'

Down Detector's heat map shows where user-submitted problem reports have been concentrated in the UK

'Not the service I expect': Affected users took to Twitter to vent their frustration with Sky Mobile

Sky Mobile provides television and broadband internet services for UK users - but it's been experiencing issues this afternoon

'We are aware that some Sky Mobile customers are experiencing issues with making and receiving calls right now,' Sky tweeted. 'We are investigating the issue and we are sorry for any inconvenience this may be causing'

Yet another customer posted: 'I am not able to make any outbound calls nor am I able to receive inbound calls. I believe your network has failed!'

And another said: 'Our business uses sky mobile and we are losing customers because they cant call us and we cant call them!!!!'

The outage comes just one month after Vodafone experienced a seven hour outage that left thousands unable to access the internet.

Hotspots were in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Cardiff, although social media users in other locations also complained of problems.

A Vodafone spokesperson said: 'We have now fixed the issue impacting just over 1% of our home broadband customers today.

'Customers should already be seeing their connectivity return. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience to anyone impacted today, and can confirm this was an isolated incident.'
Oh my God I think we just found the equivalent of the Maldives in Scotland.

So say married couple Sam and Chris Hoar in a now-viral TikTok video that was captured on a beach on Scotlands Isle of Harris (which is joined to the Isle of Lewis).

In the video, the couple from Devon, England, who run the YouTube channel The Travel Duo, reveal how they were flying their drone over the strip of coast that faces the island of Scarp, when they spotted an incredible stretch of white sand fringed by turquoise waters - Traigh Mheilein beach.

They were immediately reminded of the tropical Maldives archipelago in the Indian Ocean, telling MailOnline Travel: The white sand and the crystal-clear water is not something you see very often in the UK.

We have been fortunate enough to visit the Maldives twice, once for our honeymoon and then we returned two years later as we fell in love with it there. The secret [Scottish ] beach reminded us of the gorgeous waters there. So clear. We caught it on such a perfect day where it was very still and shimmering in the sunshine.

Sam and Chris Hoar, pictured, shared a video on TikTok from Traigh Mheilein beach on the western coast of the Isle of Harris in Scotland. 'I think we just found the equivalent of the Maldives in Scotland,' they say in the clip

The couple say: We have been to the Maldives twice... the secret beach [above, in Scotland] reminded us of the gorgeous waters there'

The couple says that the beach is so 'hidden and remote' that they couldn't find it on Google Maps, though it is marked by Ordnance Survey maps.

The bloggers, who have travelled to 31 different countries together, bought their first campervan in 2018 and in 2022 gave up their careers to go travelling - Chris is a retained firefighter and an engineer while Sam had her own business as a beauty therapist. The pair rented out their three-bedroom home in Plymouth and set off in their campervan, sharing their journey along the way on social media.

The trip to Scotland has been a highlight of their travels. After spying the beach on the drone, the childhood sweethearts, who tied the knot at 23, hiked over to it and went for a dip in the sea, along with their dog Fletcher.

They recall: We enjoyed the gorgeous soft white sand and couldnt stop staring at the clear turquoise waters. There was one other couple there when we arrived and then they left so we decided to go skinny dipping seeing as we forgot to bring our swimmers.

The couple spotted the 'incredible' beach while flying their drone over the strip of coast that faces the island of Scarp. We enjoyed the gorgeous soft white sand,' the couple say

The couple's dog, Fletcher, on the beach. The pair reveal they 'couldnt stop staring at the clear turquoise waters'

The couple says that Traigh Mheilein beach is so 'hidden and remote' that they couldn't find it on Google Maps

Its not very often you come across such turquoise waters,' the couple say

The couple loved how remote it was, saying: It was so peaceful and felt like being somewhere tropical,'

Many of the TikTok users who commented on the video, which has 464,000 views and 28,000 likes, were very surprised that it was in the UK, the couple reveal.

They say: Its not very often you come across such turquoise waters like that. We grew up very close to Cornwall where there are some spectacular beaches but nothing as good as this. We had so many comments saying they couldnt believe it was in the UK.

TikTok user Lou Lou said: 'Scotland you say? With waters so blue? No way.'

Others, meanwhile, were more preoccupied with the temperature of the water. User Gracie Kaye wrote: Me, a Scottish person, wondering how the heck you didnt freeze to death.

While user 'ab' penned: 'So beautiful but so cold.'

Many of the TikTok users who commented on the video, which has 464,000 views and 28,000 likes, were very surprised that [the beach] was in the UK

Chris and Sam say of the beach: We wish we had longer to enjoy it... we will most certainly be going back there. The bloggers have travelled to 31 different countries together. Pictured right is a portrait of Fletcher on the sand

There was a path all the way to this beach from nearby Huisinis car park, the couple reveal

Remote: The Isle of Harris is joined to the Isle of Lewis

Reflecting on what theyve learned from their travels, the couple says: We can honestly say that we have fallen more and more in love with the UK. When we get good weather - which we know can be few and far between in the UK - it really is a gorgeous island.

'We have some of the best beaches in Europe here and this one in Scotland has to be one of the best we have ever seen on our travels.

How do you access the beach? The couple reveals: To find it you park at Huisinis Beach and walk towards Scarp Island for about 35 minutes and then you will reach this patch of paradise. There was a path all the way to this beach from Huisinis car park, however, it can be challenging at times due to uneven ground, boggy surfaces and narrowing paths around the side of the mountain.

Though they have moved on from Scotland in their travels, the pair have plans to return to this hidden gem. They reveal: We wish we had longer to enjoy it... we will most certainly be going back there.

To see more videos from Chris and Sam, visit their TikTok account, their YouTube channel and their website.
Jet2.com has announced that it will launch flights from Liverpool John Lennon Airport from March 2024, with the first Jet2 flight from the hub leaving for Tenerife on the 28th of that month.

From summer 2024, once operations have been ramped up, 20 'sunshine destinations' will be served by up to 54 weekly flights.

A fleet of four aircraft will fly customers to destinations across mainland Spain, the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands, Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Portugal, Madeira and Cyprus (see boxout for details).

Jet2.com said the operation will represent 565,000 summer seats on sale.

The airline continued: 'Today's announcement means that customers travelling from Liverpool John Lennon Airport can experience and enjoy the VIP customer service that has seen Jet2.com and Jet2holidays continually grow its business whilst repeatedly winning high-profile accolades. These include Which? Travel Brand of the Year, Which? Recommended Provider and Tripadvisor's Best Airline UK and Top 10 Airlines of the World.

Jet2.com has announced that it will launch flights from Liverpool John Lennon Airport from March 2024. Pictured above, left to right: Ian Doubtfire, Sustainability and Business Development Director at Jet2.com and Jet2holidays; Steve Heapy, Chief Executive Officer at Jet2.com and Jet2holidays; John Irving, CEO of Liverpool John Lennon Airport; Paul Winfield, Director of Aviation Development at Liverpool John Lennon Airport

JET2.COM AND JET2HOLIDAYS' SUMMER 2024 PROGRAMME FROM LIVERPOOL JOHN LENNON AIRPORT MAINLAND SPAIN Alicante  up to four weekly services (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday) CANARY ISLANDS Fuerteventura  up to two weekly services (Wednesday and Saturday) Gran Canaria - up to two weekly services (Tuesday and Saturday), exclusive route Lanzarote  up to three weekly services (Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday) Tenerife  up to five weekly services (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday) BALEARIC ISLANDS Ibiza  up to three weekly services (Monday, Friday and Saturday) Majorca  up to seven weekly services (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday) Menorca  up to two weekly services (Wednesday and Sunday), exclusive route PORTUGAL Faro  up to four weekly services (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday) Madeira  weekly Monday services, exclusive route GREECE Corfu  up to two weekly services (Monday and Friday) Crete (Heraklion) - up to two weekly services (Tuesday and Friday) Kos  weekly Friday services Rhodes  up to two weekly services (Monday and Thursday), exclusive route Zante - weekly Wednesday services, exclusive route CYPRUS Paphos  weekly Wednesday services, exclusive route TURKEY Antalya  up to four weekly services (Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday) Dalaman  up to four weekly services (Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday) Bodrum - up to two weekly services (Wednesday and Sunday) BULGARIA Bourgas  up to two weekly services (Monday and Thursday), exclusive route

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'These customer service accolades complement those of Liverpool John Lennon Airport, which in recent years has been voted the Which? Best UK Airport as well as Which? Recommended Provider and commended for its high levels of customer service, with travellers able to take advantage of the airport's faster, easier and friendlier passenger experience.

'Passengers flying from Liverpool check-in quickly and pass through the terminal with ease compared to many larger airports, with average security queue times of just 12 minutes last summer and more on-time departures than most other UK airports.'

Jet2.com said its arrival at Liverpool John Lennon Airport represents 'significant investment for the region, too, with more than 200 new jobs created initially, with positions available across flight deck, cabin crew, engineering, and ground operations'.

From summer 2024, Jet2.com will fly to 20 'sunshine destinations'

The first Jet2.com flight from Liverpool will depart for Tenerife (above) on March 28, 2024

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: 'We are absolutely delighted to be expanding our award-winning flights and holidays to Liverpool John Lennon Airport, which becomes our 11th UK airport base. This announcement further expands our footprint and comes on the back of the enormous demand that we know is out there from customers and independent travel agents across Liverpool, Merseyside and the wider region.

'We have seen that demand really ramp up over the past couple of years, so we know there will be a fantastic response to this launch. We have seen time and time again how popular our product is when we bring it to new customers, and we look forward to showcasing our VIP customer service to holidaymakers from Liverpool John Lennon Airport and delighting them with our product.'

John Irving, CEO Liverpool John Lennon Airport, commented: 'This is a great day for the airport and for the region's holidaymakers. For the first time travellers from across the Liverpool city region and beyond will have the opportunity to book package holidays with the UK's leading package holiday provider, direct from Liverpool John Lennon Airport  the airport of choice for travellers from across the North West and North Wales, bringing together the current Which? Travel Brand of the Year with the current Which? Best UK Airport.'

Visit www.jet2.com or www.jet2holidays.com. To find out about joining the Jet2.com team, interested candidates can visit: www.jet2careers.com.
Coronation Street's Faye Windass is set to leave her fiance Craig Tinker devastated next week as she makes a huge decision over her future with ex Jackson Hodge and daughter Miley.

For weeks Faye had been struggling with her feelings for Jackson ever since he and their daughter Miley came back into her life, with the two even sharing a secret kiss.

With Jackson urging them to start a new life together, Faye's turmoil was further heightened with her loyal boyfriend Craig proposed, which she went on to accept.

However, in upcoming scenes, Faye (Ellie Leach) is left feeling trapped by her beau Craig (Colson Smith) after choosing him over Jackson (Colson Smith).

And she finally makes a decision about her future which is no doubt set to leave her loved ones crushed.

Decision time: Coronation Street's Faye Windass is set to leave her fiance Craig Tinker devastated next week as she makes a huge decision over her future with ex Jackson Hodge and daughter Miley (pictured with Gary)

Difficult: In upcoming scenes, Faye (Ellie Leach) is left feeling trapped by her beau Craig (Colson Smith) after choosing him over Jackson (Colson Smith)

With Craig assuring Faye that he would never report her to the police, he goes on to suggest they should buy a flat together and set a date for the wedding, leaving Faye confused.

And things are not helped when her father Tim Metcalfe expresses his relief that Faye opted to stay with the police officer rather than Jackson.

Later, Faye breaks down and confides her fears to big brother Gary Windass, admitting that she wants to be with Jackson, but she cant leave Craig because he knows something that could land her back in prison.

As Jackson and Miley prepare to leave Weatherfield, Faye tells Craig that the pair will be calling round to take some photos before they leave for Slough.

As Faye, Craig, Jackson, Miley, Tim and Sally pose for family photos, Miley explains to her mum how she plans to put together an album to remember them by.

Faye tries her hardest to keep her emotions in check, but Craig spots that she's deeply upset and makes a big choice.

Torn: For weeks Faye had been struggling with her feelings for Jackson ever since he and their daughter Miley came back into her life, with the two even sharing a secret kiss

Drama: With Jackson urging them to start a new life together, Faye's turmoil was further heightened with her loyal boyfriend Craig proposed, which she went on to accept

Decision time: She finally makes a decision about her future which is no doubt set to leave her loved ones crushed

He goes on to tell his fiancee that if she wants to go with Jackson and Miley to Slough then she should do it.

And it appears that Faye has made up her mind as she packs her bags to leave.

Faye then heads to Jackson and Miley's car and gets in before it pulls away, as a heartbroken Craig watches on.

Following Faye's exit, Craig calls at the factory with some work bits and bobs which she left behind.

Trapped: Faye breaks down and confides her fears to big brother Gary Windass, admitting that she wants to be with Jackson, but she cant leave Craig because he knows something that could land her back in prison

Decision: After Craig urges her to be with Jackson and Miley, Faye packs her bags and prepares to leave

Faye's step-mum Sally Metcalfe feels for him and suggests he joins them at No.4 later as shes doing a Mexican supper.

Later, Sally does her best to cheer up Tim and Craig and suggests they find a common hobby to take their minds off Faye.

Faye's exit comes amid actress Ellie Leach's departure from the ITV soap after 12 years.

Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
Former Real Housewives of Melbourne star Venus Behbahani-Clark, 38, has announced the birth of her fourth child, a baby girl named Cherry Blossom.

In an emotional Instagram post on Saturday, Venus shared the trials and triumphs of her pregnancy journey, highlighting the difficulties that she and her newborn have had to face.

'We've had a very tough journey getting to this point and as a result, so has my baby girl,' Venus wrote.

'I've been pregnant for over a year for various reasons. I have endured a lot of stress and suffering despite all this, the universe gave fate of life to our Cherry Blossom.'

Baby Cherry Blossom was born via an emergency cesarean, and Venus extended her heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Tom Cade and his team, as well as the staff at Epworth Babies.

Former Real Housewives of Melbourne star Venus Behbahani-Clark, 38, has announced the birth of her fourth child, a baby girl named Cherry Blossom

In an emotional Instagram post on Saturday, Venus shared the trials and triumphs of her pregnancy journey, highlighting the difficulties that she and her newborn have had to face

She revealed that her newborn daughter is currently facing some health challenges but is starting to show positive signs.

'She is bruised and perhaps a little battered, but that will improve,' Venus assured her followers. She also expressed her appreciation for the flood of supportive messages and prayers that she has received.

Venus commended her elder daughters, Giselle and Sophia, for their help and patience at home with their little brother, adding that she has been overwhelmed and emotionally exhausted since the birth.

'I've been pregnant for over a year for various reasons. I have endured a lot of stress and suffering despite all this, the universe gave fate of life to our Cherry Blossom,' she wote

Baby Cherry Blossom was born on May 13, 2023, a date that Venus noted equates to 455 in numerology.

She invited her followers with knowledge in numerology to share their positive thoughts.

'We didn't get to do skin to skin at birth and it was such an emotional moment when we did in the NICU,' Venus shared, requesting continued prayers for her and her family.

Venus announced that is expecting her fourth child by showing off her baby bump at the Elton John concert back in January

She previously welcomed a baby boy with her husband, James Nicholas Clark, in May 2020.

The couple are also parents to two young daughters, Giselle, 13, and Sophia, nine.

Venus joined the cast of Real Housewives of Melbourne in 2016 and was part of the show until 2018.
Steeltown Murders

Rating:

Fire up the Quattro! Philip Glenister is back as a time-travelling copper  and this time he's got a moustache.

He isn't playing DCI Gene Hunt, though, and Steeltown Murders (BBC1) is not the long-promised sequel to Life On Mars and Ashes To Ashes. Instead, this four-part drama recreates the cold case investigation that caught a 1970s serial killer and rapist.

That means straddling two time zones. Glenister plays Inspector Paul Bethell in the 2000s, sharing the role with Scott Arthur as the diligent young DC Bethell in 1973.

The two actors are so similar that it's easy to recognise them as the same man in different eras, but the constant switching between decades does slow the story down.

That's a real shame, because it's a moving and engrossing case, and writer Ed Whitmore powerfully evokes both the horror of the crimes and the reluctance of the community to reopen the wounds.

New drama: Philip Glenister is back as a time-travelling copper in Steeltown Murders

Actor: Gareth John Bale (pictured) as D.C. Geraint Bale in Steeltown Murders

History: The four-part drama recreates the cold case investigation that caught a 1970s serial killer and rapis

It might have been better, and certainly simpler, to keep the two strands separate  to reconstruct the murders and then to trace the dogged work of police after advances in DNA analysis made it possible to re-examine the evidence.

Fake science of the night Beardy guru Harry urged Z-listers on The Big Celebrity Detox (E4) to drink their own urine  claiming it contained vital enzymes and stem cells. The idiot celebs did as they were told... though the voiceover warned this goes against medical advice. Advertisement

Part of the problem is the sheer vividness of the Seventies scenes. Backed by heavy pop from Mott the Hoople and Badfinger, those working men's clubs and rainy bus stops look so real that you can almost smell the Rothmans King Size.

Some great CGI backdrops add to the realism, including a shot of the M4 under construction outside Neath. Indoors, it's all leatherette armchairs and rough stonework.

The Noughties are less convincing, despite desktop computers as big as breezeblocks. Those years lacked a defining style  everything was pale beige.

Young and old, Bethell is a methodical copper with a conscience, who believes in straight questions and solid fact-checking. Unlike Gene Hunt, he's more at home in the later period. When he does go off-book, taking a suspect to a murder scene in the hope of bullying a confession out of him, he looks guilty enough to arrest himself for police brutality.

Hapless

Rating:

Gene would love the total absence of political correctness in Hapless (Amazon Prime Video), a snort-with-laughter sitcom about a socially inept newspaper reporter. The show began on Amazon as The Jewish Enquirer, before Channel 5 streamed it under its new name. It then went to Netflix and, thanks to the persistence of writer Gary Sinyor, is back for a second series on Amazon.

Starring Tim Downie as Paul Green, a man who never stuffs one foot in his mouth when there's room for two, Hapless combines shamelessly smutty jokes with a unique appetite for philosophical debate and broad physical gags. You're never sure whether the next line will be the opening salvo in a sarcastic argument about Middle East politics, or a filthy innuendo. No other comedy would dare wonder out loud why arachnophobia is fear of spiders, not prejudice against spiders . . . so why is homophobia not fear of gay people?

Starring Tim Downie as Paul Green, a man who never stuffs one foot in his mouth when there's room for two, Hapless combines shamelessly smutty jokes with a unique appetite for philosophical debate and broad physical gags

It's set in North London, and many of the running jokes are about tensions between Muslims and Jews. I simply don't dare tell you the punchline about why storms don't have Islamic names such as Ahmed, or how to tell the difference between Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jews . . . but I nearly choked laughing.

Hapless is filmed on such a tight budget that one of the sets is Sinyor's own house. It exists solely because of his determination to bring it to screen, whatever the risks.

Good comedy takes time to develop the characters and find its rhythm, and courage to make us laugh. That's why there's so little of it around now. This one deserves to succeed.
Samuel L. Jackson is slated to play a chef who goes from cooking at the White House to a maximum security prison in the forthcoming drama Last Meals.

The Oscar-nominated actor, 74, will play the role of a chef named Walter who formerly worked at the White House before a scandal led to his reputation winding up in tatters, Deadline reported.

Years later, the chef is working at a maximum security facility, where one of his duties includes making the last meals for death row convicts.

The Pulp Fiction star is joined in the motion picture by actor Boyd Holbrook, who portrays the role of Reed, a convict who goes on a hunger strike.

Walter and Reed begin to bond, which gives Walter an insight into a person who's 'willing to forgo his last pleasurable experience in order to protest his innocence,' according to a synopsis from producers.

The latest: Samuel L. Jackson, 74, is slated to play a chef who goes from cooking at the White House to a maximum security prison in the forthcoming drama Last Meals. Pictured last year at the Oscars in LA

According to the outlet, the script of the film, penned by Justin Piasecki, initially was well-received, but production on the film slowed due to the pandemic, and the movie has since been refashioned.

Piasecki's script for the project was recently purchased by Amazon following a competitive auction.

Piasecki is among the producers on the motion picture, as well as Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman.

Filmmaker Andrew Levitas, whose other projects include Minimata and Lullaby, is slated to direct the motion picture.

The Snakes on a Plane actor will play the role of a chef named Walter who formerly worked at the White House before a scandal led to his reputations winding up in tatters

The Pulp Fiction star is joined in the motion picture by actor Boyd Holbrook, who portrays the role of Reed, a convict who goes on a hunger strike. Pictured last year in LA

Last Meals is one in a number of projects Jackson is working on, as he's also slated to appear in the crime drama Damaged alongside Vincent Cassel and Gianni Capaldi; as well as The Piano Lesson, a drama costarring John David Washington and Danielle Deadwyler.

The charismatic show biz icon is also providing his distinctive voice to projects such as the TV series Futha Mucka and the film Garfield.

Jackson will also reprise his Marvel Universe role of Nick Fury in the film The Marvels and the mini-series Secret Invasion.
Channel Seven has announced a new home renovation reality show to rival Nine's ratings blockbuster, The Block.

The network is already preparing production on the series, called Dream Home, with an anticipated air date of 2024.

Based on a successful New Zealand TV format, the show sees couples compete for a cash-prize as they race to convert a dilapidated pad into a dream home.

Casting has already begun on the show but no host has been confirmed reports TV Blackbox.

However rumours suggest that former Channel 10 presenter Dr. Chris Brown, who joined Seven earlier this year, will host the reality series.

Channel Seven has announced a new home renovation reality show to rival Nine's ratings blockbuster, The Block. The network is already preparing production on the series, which is called Dream Home, with Dr. Chris Brown in the running to host reports TV Blackbox

Casting has already begun on the show, which will go to air in 2024, but no host has been confirmed Pictured: The Block's Scott Cam

Dream Home will be produced by Endemol Shine, experts in turning reality formats into ratings blockbusters, including Married at First Sight, MasterChef, and Survivor.

TV Blackbox reports that a Nine source has confirmed that Dream Home will 'update' the original Kiwi format.

The casting notice says that successful contestants can look forward to getting a luxury make over on their dream home for free.

There's also an un-specified 'life changing' cash prize up for grabs.

'You don't need to be a builder or a tradie,' the application says, 'just someone with an eye for design and a drive to get your hands dirty.'

Based on a successful New Zealand TV format, the show sees couples compete for a cash-prize as they race to convert a dilapidated pad into a dream home

Rumours suggest that former Channel 10 presenter Dr. Chris Brown - pictured - who joined Seven earlier this year, will host the new show

The original series ran 11 seasons and screened on the Kiwi national broadcaster TV2 between 1999 and 2013.

It comes after Dr. Chris Brown is readying to leave Channel 10 to start work at Seven in July.

Chris, who signed off from Ten's I'm a Celebrity last month, inked a multi-year deal with Seven in February to produce unspecified 'new projects' for the station.

Chris first joined Ten in 2008 to host Bondi Vet, which became a surprise ratings hit and was syndicated around the world.

The factual series was based on his real-life experience as a vet at the Bondi Junction Veterinary Hospital in Sydney's east.

He went on to become a part-time panelist on The Project and also co-hosted I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! and The Living Room, which was axed last year.

Chris will join Seven in July

Rumours of his first project at Seven are starting to ramp up, with The Australian reporting he will kick off his contract by hosting a 'home improvement' show.

Seven's last renovation program, House Rules, was axed three years ago and network executives are hoping the new format will be a hit.

Meanwhile, the new season of The Block is in production in Hampton East, Melbourne.

Five classic brick homes, which were reportedly purchased for a combined $14.3 million, were purchased for the new season.
Davina McCall and her co-author Dr Naomi Potter have claimed book of the year at the British Book Awards for their exploration into the menopause.

Menopausing, a self-help guide which shares real-life stories, science and advice about perimenopause and menopause, was chosen from the 12 individual category winners who were announced during the ceremony - nicknamed The Nibbies - at Grosvenor House in London on Monday.

TV presenter Davina, 55, has been outspoken about the lack of medical knowledge on the subject in recent years and has opened up about her own menopause journey and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in a number of Channel 4 documentaries.

The work was praised by a panel of judges that included Channel 4 News anchor Krishnan Guru-Murthy, broadcaster and author Anita Rani, radio host Vick Hope, comedian Ellie Taylor and Waterstones Children's Laureate Joseph Coelho.

Reflecting on Menopausing, Krishnan said: 'This book helped get a nationwide conversation going about menopause and captured the zeitgeist.

Good for them! Davina McCall and her co-author Dr Naomi Potter have claimed book of the year at the British Book Awards for their exploration into the menopause

Deserving: The title was chosen from the 12 individual category winners who were announced during the ceremony - nicknamed The Nibbies - at Grosvenor House in London on Monday

'It was cleverly marketed and nurtured by the publishing team through considerable obstacles.

'The pairing of Davina McCall with Dr Naomi Potter was clever enough to produce an authoritative and useful yet entertaining book about an important and ignored subject.'

It also won in the non-fiction lifestyle and illustrated book of the year category, seeing off tough competition from the likes of Jamie Oliver for One and The Climate Book by Greta Thunberg.

For overall book of the year, it triumphed over renowned names including Richard E Grant, who won in the non-fiction audiobook of the year category for A Pocketful of Happiness, and former Love Island star Dr Alex George, who took home the prize for best children's non-fiction for A Better Day.

It also beat titles which developed strong followings on social media such as Verity by Colleen Hoover, which won best pageturner, and Babel by R F Kuang, which won best fiction.

Bestselling novelist Bonnie Garmus, 66, who wrote her debut novel aged 64, was named author of the year for her comical fiction tale Lessons in Chemistry.

Alice Oseman, creator of the bestselling Heartstopper graphic novels which inspired the hit Netflix series, was awarded illustrator of the year.

Philip Jones, chair of the British Book Awards judges and The Bookseller's editor, said: 'Readers were the real winners this year, with titles ranging from Menopausing to Tyger to I'm a Fan demonstrating the remarkable virtuosity of the book business, especially for its role in amplifying and creating conversations around mental health, misogyny, sexuality and gender, the menopause and more.

'These awards give the lie to the idea that publishing is a one-track business: our judges this year opted to reward exceptional and compelling narratives expertly brought to market, with the book trade lauded for its commitment to promoting all types of reading for all types of reader.'

Alice O'Keeffe, chair of the book of the year judges and books editor, said: 'Our panel of judges rose to the challenge of choosing the 2023 British Book Award winners from the strong shortlists this year.

'From mind-expanding fantasy to cerebral crime, and from heartfelt memoir to life-changing advice on the menopause, we celebrate these fabulous books and the dedication of publishers who bring them to readers everywhere.'
Mischa Barton says it was Neighbours veteran Kylie Minogue who inspired her to accept a role on the iconic Australian soap.

The O.C. star, 37, admitted while she had never watched the show prior to signing on she was well aware of its significant because she is a huge Kylie fan.

'I was familiar with it, probably the same things that most people recognise about the show, like Kylie Minogue and the fun stuff,' she told the Herald Sun.

'So when the producers approached me about the role, I thought the character of Reece Sinclair was a very good fit.'

Pop princess Kylie Minogue got her start in showbusiness with her role as Charlene on Neighbours from 1986 - 1988, which helped establish her image.

Watch Mischa Barton in the iconic series The O.C. available now only on Stan.

Mischa Barton (pictured) made the surprise admission this week that it was Neighbours veteran Kylie Minogue who inspired her to accept a role on the iconic Australian soap

Mischa added another reason she agreed to appear on the show was she was playing a mysterious and fun character who she could 'relate' to.

It comes after Mischa shared her love for the local sights and sounds of Melbourne and Victoria.

The American actress is in Australia to film the revamped soap opera, Neighbours, and after her month on set is completed, the actress says she will take a holiday Down Under.

Pop princess Kylie Minogue got her start in showbusiness with her role as Charlene on Neighbours from 1986 - 1988, which helped establish her image. Pictured: Minogue on Neighbours in 1986

On her list of places to visit is the stunning Mornington Peninsula and Prahran Market.

'One of my favourite things to do in Victoria is to go down to the Mornington Peninsula,' she told The Herald Sun.

'I really like it down there; I love how rugged it is and I love the beaches.'

The O.C. star, 37, admitted while she had never watched the show prior to signing on she was well aware of its significance as a Kylie Minogue fan. Also pictured: Neighbours stars Alan Fletcher and Jackie Woodburne

The 37-year-old recently shared shared an update from the Neighbours set with fans, appearing in a video on the show's official Instagram account.

She promised that her character will liven up the series and bring 'drama' to the plotlines.

'I've started filming on set and it's going so great,' the star, who has dyed her hair blonde for the role, said in the video.

The 37-year-old recently shared shared an update from the Neighbours set with fans. She promised that her character will liven up the series and bring 'drama' to the plotlines
Kristin Cavallari channeled her inner mermaid in an upcoming ad campaign for her Uncommon James jewelry brand.

The Hills alum, 36, wore a low-cut, mermaid-style white gown with white fabric scales affixed all over the dress.

The Laguna Beach star - who also wore the same dress at her BFF's wedding in Mexico in January - accessorized with chunky gold hoop earrings and layered necklaces.

The mom of Camden, 10, Jaxon, eight, and Saylor, seven, with ex-husband Jay Cutler, 40, wore her layered blonde hair parted on the side and wavy as she posed for the camera.

Last week, the reality television personality announced the relaunch of her beauty brand, Uncommon Beauty.

Mermaid: Kristin Cavallari channeled her inner mermaid in an upcoming ad campaign for her Uncommon James jewelry brand

Gorgeous: The Hills alum wore a low-cut, mermaid-style white gown with white fabric scales affixed all over the dress

In an interview with WWD, she revealed that while she is an advocate of good skin care, it didn't occur to her to launch her beauty brand right off the bat.

'It wasn't on my radar, and my marketing guy two years ago brought beauty to my attention  he noticed that the number one question people would ask me about was my skin care routine,' she said. 'I knew there must be something there.'

The True Roots author launched Uncommon Beauty in 2021 with four products - a powder cleanser, a peptide serum with vitamin C, a moisturizer and an eye cream.

All four products have been reformulated for the brand's relaunch.

'We wanted to make sure our products were even better than they were,' she explained. 'Our five products are enhanced, meaning we've put even better ingredients in there.'

'We also wanted to make everything vegan, which before, our lip balm had beeswax. We've removed that and we've removed the goat milk powder from our face wash. We're checking all the boxes for people, because we realize how important that is.'

'Beauty has the legs to beat the jewelry one day, so in five years, it could be our number-one business,' she said.

Uncommon Beauty: Last week, the reality television personality announced the relaunch of her beauty brand, Uncommon Beauty

Relaunch: The True Roots author launched Uncommon Beauty in 2021 with four products - a powder cleanser, a peptide serum with vitamin C, a moisturizer and an eye cream

And Cavallari is more than just the face of the brand, she was also hands on during its development.

'I sent off all the products I was using at the time to a lab, to start questioning things and see what was going in them,' the True Comfort author said.

'I found that the high-end, relatively clean products were loaded with chemicals and things that do the opposite of what I wanted them to be doing,' she continued.

'I realized there was a need for a clean skin care line that was also effective,' she concluded.
The day after revealing she hikes 20 miles a week and lifts weights, six-time Emmy nominee Mindy Kaling showcased her 40lb weight loss in a midriff-baring two-piece at the National Museum of Asian Art Centennial Celebration Dinner in Washington, DC.

The Massachusetts native - turning 44 next month - called the focus on her body transformation 'flattering' but 'a little much,' which was rumored to be the result of the trendy diabetic drug Ozempic.

'I'm feeling really confident in my body these days, which is not something that I've been able to say for my whole life, unfortunately,' Mindy (born Vera Chokalingam) told People last Wednesday.

'The truth is that I spend so much time and energy trying to be healthy. I run or hike 20 miles a week and I lift weights. It's a big commitment for me. I basically live in workout clothes so I can get it in.'

For Thursday's event, Kaling wore a black Manish Malhotra couture gown featuring '4K Swarovski stones/crystals and 300 ethically-sourced black feathers,' which 'took 2,500 hours to hand embroider' - according to People.

Vegas-style glam! Six-time Emmy nominee Mindy Kaling showcased her 40lb weight loss in a midriff-baring two-piece at the National Museum of Asian Art Centennial Celebration Dinner in Washington, DC last Thursday

Hairstylist Carmen Currie curled the Andie Swim collaborator's raven extensions and make-up artist Ammara Rana fully contoured her complexion.

Mindy is a board member of the National Museum of Asian Art and was 'honored to serve as their emcee for the 100th gala.

'A perfect night!' Kaling - who boasts 18.9M social media followers - gushed on Monday.

'To see objects reflecting my South Asian heritage presented among the treasures is incredibly meaningful.'

The Velma producer-star was excited to get to meet and rub elbows with Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal and US Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta.

On Sunday, Mindy shared a rare snap of her two children - daughter Katherine Swati, 5; and son Spencer Avu, 2 - whose godfather is her ex-boyfriend and former leading man from The Office, five-time Emmy nominee B.J. Novak.

Kaling - who employs a full-time nanny and two assistants - might have ended her on/off eight-year romance with the 43-year-old Massachusetts native in 2013, but they're still best friends.

2023 vs. 2018: The Massachusetts native - turning 44 next month - called the focus on her body transformation 'flattering' but 'a little much,' which was rumored to be the result of the trendy diabetic drug Ozempic

Mindy (born Vera Chokalingam) told People last Wednesday: 'The truth is that I spend so much time and energy trying to be healthy. I run or hike 20 miles a week and I lift weights. It's a big commitment for me. I basically live in workout clothes so I can get it in'

'I'm feeling really confident in my body these days': For the arts event, Kaling wore a black Manish Malhotra couture gown featuring '4K Swarovski stones/crystals and 300 ethically-sourced black feathers,' which 'took 2,500 hours to hand embroider'

Ready for her close-up! Hairstylist Carmen Currie curled the Andie Swim collaborator's raven extensions and make-up artist Ammara Rana fully contoured her complexion

'A perfect night!' Mindy is a board member of the National Museum of Asian Art and was 'honored to serve as their emcee for the 100th gala

The Velma producer-star was excited to get to meet and rub elbows with Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (2-R) and US Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta (R)

'Happy Mother's Day!' On Sunday, Mindy shared a rare snap of her two children - daughter Katherine Swati, 5; and son Spencer Avu, 2 - whose godfather is her ex-boyfriend and former leading man from The Office, B.J. Novak

Premieres June 8 on Netflix! Last August, Kaling and co-creator Lang Fisher wrapped the 10-episode fourth (and final) season of their critically-acclaimed dramedy series Never Have I Ever

Ready for more? And on February 11, production on the third season of Apple TV+'s critically-acclaimed newsroom drama The Morning Show officially wrapped with the National Medal of Arts winner reprising her role as morning news anchor Audra

Last August, the National Medal of Arts winner and co-creator Lang Fisher wrapped the 10-episode fourth (and final) season of their critically-acclaimed dramedy series Never Have I Ever, which premieres June 8 on Netflix.

And on February 11, production on the third season of Apple TV+'s critically-acclaimed newsroom drama The Morning Show officially wrapped with Mindy reprising her role as morning news anchor Audra.

Meanwhile, Kaling and co-creator Justin Noble are still hard at work on the third season of HBO Max's critically-acclaimed half-hour dramedy The Sex Lives of College Girls.
Anna Nicole Smith shot to fame as the ultimate 90s pin-up girl with her photoshoots for Playboy and Guess, along with her wild antics.

But before the glitz and glamor of her Hollywood life and untimely death aged 39 in 2007, Anna Nicole - born Vickie Lynn Hogan - came from a humble background in Mexia, Texas which saw her marry before her 18th birthday and become a mom nine months later.

Years before her rise to fame, Anna Nicole dropped out of high school aged 14 and took a job as a waitress at a fried chicken restaurant - Jim's Krispy Fried Chicken - in Mexia - where she first crossed paths with fry cook Billy Wayne Smith.

The unassuming brunette, who had grown up in Houston, Texas with her mom Virgie, stepfather and five half-siblings had been sent to live in the small town with her aunt after ditching school and getting into fights at home.

The then-16-year-old Smith quickly developed an infatuation with Billy, who was one year her junior and also a high school dropout, although he was initially not interested.

Before Anna Nicole Smith: An unrecognizable Anna - then Vickie Lynn Hogan - wed fried chicken cook Billy Wayne Smith in 1984 - welcoming their only son Daniel nine months later (pictured)

Bombshell: Anna Nicole Smith shot to fame as the ultimate 90s pin-up girl with her photoshoots for Playboy and Guess, along with her wild antics

She said: 'He drove me crazy. I chased him and chased him the way young girls do until I finally got him and married him. By then, of course, I wasn't interested.'

Anna Nicole's mom added: 'He was a sweet young man, very timid and shy. It made her mad because he didn't pay attention to her.'

The pair dated for 11 months after getting together in May 1984 and married on April 4 1985 when Anna was 17 and Billy was 16. They then moved into a house behind the chicken shop.

The pair's son Daniel Wayne Smith was born on January 22 1986.

Cracks began to form in the pair's marriage around this time - Smith would claim that Billy controlled her and became possessive once they wed.

She said: 'I wasn't allowed to go out of the house or go to the store. He was so jealous.'

Anna Nicole and Billy separated in 1987 and divorced in 1993.

Billy, now 55, has remained almost entirely out of the spotlight since his split from Anna - although his surname would form part of her newly adopted stage name.

Wedding bells: 11 months after meeting at work, the pair tied the knot when Anna was 17 and Billy, 16 - the marriage would go onto fall apart quickly amid claims Billy was 'jealous'

RIP: Billy was last seen in public at a 2007 memorial service in Mexia for the couple's son Daniel - who died from an accidental drug overdose aged 20 in 2006 (Anna pictured with Daniel in 2004)

Devastating: Anna Nicole died from an accidental drug overdose in February 2007 aged just 39 - leaving behind her infant daughter Dannielynn

He was last seen in public at a 2007 memorial service in Mexia for the couple's son Daniel - who died from an accidental drug overdose aged 20 in 2006.

Daniel's passing in his mother's hospital room came three days after Anna Nicole gave birth to baby girl Dannielynn.

Billy looked grief-stricken during and after the service, the Waco Tribune-Herald reported at the time. Anna Nicole was not in attendance.

Anna Nicole would go onto marry 89-year-old oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall II in 1994 after she met him while performing at a strip club.

Anna Nicole died from an accidental drug overdose in February 2007 aged just 39 - leaving behind her infant daughter Dannielynn.

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.

Following Anne Nicole's death her partner Howard K.Stern 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 Larry Birkhead.

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.
Sylvester Stallone 'went full-on Rambo' and threatened to destroy his own home during an episode of his new reality show The Family Stallone.

Referencing his role as violent War veteran John Rambo, the 76-year-old was thrown into meltdown after his daughter pretended to be pregnant, it's been reported.

The Kardashian style series, which premieres on Paramount+ on Thursday, follows the lives of Sly, his wife of 26-years Jennifer, 54, and their daughters Sophia, 26, Sistine, 24, and Scarlet, 20.

The Mirror reported that in one scene the family celebrates the Rocky actor's birthday, only for middle daughter Sistine to surprise him with a fake 'I'm pregnant' cake.

However Sly loses his rag and declares: 'Please turn these cameras off so I can destroy this place, I'm going full Rambo'.

Drama: Sylvester Stallone 'went full-on Rambo' and threatened to destroy his own home during an episode of his new reality show The Family Stallone (L-R) Jennifer Stallone, Sophia Stallone, Sylvester Stallone, Sistine Stallone and Scarlet Stallone

No prisoners: Referencing his role as violent War veteran John Rambo, the 76-year-old was thrown into meltdown after his daughter pretended to be pregnant, it's been reported (pictured in the 1985 movie Rambo Part II - First Blood)

Luckily wife Jennifer is able to calm down the actor before he does managed to cause any damage.

Daughter Sistine said about her famous father: 'He's very overprotective and quite intimidating. Dating when you have the dad that we do is rough'.

'Now that we're older and in relationships, you'd think he'd want to make an effort and want to get to know the boyfriends, but that doesn't happen. It does hurt my feelings that there has been minimal effort on his part.'

The series will also feature many of Sylvester's Hollywood pals including Al Pacino, 83, who pops round for a pizza as well as Rocky co-star Dolph Lundgren, 65.

Last week Sylvester and wife Jennifer mugged for the cameras at the New York premiere of their new reality show.

For one goofy set of photographs, Jennifer mimed choking her movie star husband, to whom she has been married since 1997.

Their jokey display of tension comes months after they shocked the public by announcing they were planning to divorce after 25 years as husband and wife.

Then in an astonishing volte-face, it emerged that they had decided to give their marriage another try after ironing out their issues.

Party of five: The dynamic duo and their daughters (from left) Sistine, 24, Sophia, 26, and Scarlet, 20, are starring on The Family Stallone, which bows on Paramount+ on May 17

All in fun: Last week Sylvester and wife Jennifer mugged for the cameras at the New York premiere of their new reality show

For their latest public appearance, the pair underlined their show of unity by wearing black outfits that perfectly complemented one another.

Late last year, after he and Jennifer reunited, Sly gave a revealing interview to the Sunday Times about how their marriage was ultimately repaired.

There was a reawakening of what was more valuable than anything, which is my love for my family,' the Rambo beefcake explained. 'It takes precedence over my work, and that was a hard lesson to learn.'

Stallone revealed that earlier in his career, he tended to place work ahead of his children, saying, 'I didn't pay enough attention when they were growing up.'

Said he: 'I was so career-oriented, and now I go: "OK, I don't have that much runway up ahead, and I want to start asking them about their lives."'

Sly recalled: 'I ask them about their day, and they started at first a little monosyllabic. Then I heard one say: "I was just thinking about you." Oh my God. I've never heard that before in my life. When a daughter knows you care, she's there forever.'

Daughter's Sistine and Scarlet both aspire to become actresses, while Sophia has not caught the acting bug.

On the path to recovery: Their jokey display of tension comes months after they shocked the public by announcing they were planning to divorce after 25 years as husband and wife (pictured in 1997)

Wow: Stallone's 'nepo baby' daughters make their reality show debut in the upcoming reality show (L-R: Sophia, Sistine, Sly, Jennifer Flavin, and Scarlet)

The Stallones have reportedly been shooting their new reality series this past year, while working with the same production team that made Keeping Up With The Kardashians.

While deciding whether to sign-off on the show, the longtime action hero thought about all the time he missed with his children on the sets of his many films, and how shooting the new series with his wife and three daughters would give him much more family time.

During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Stallone confessed time he agreed to do the show for his daughters, and the time he'll be able to spend with them, instead of another film set by himself.

'[That's] one of the reasons I wanted to do the reality show that I've been taking a lot of s**t for,' he said, before confessing he's excited for viewers to see him in his element.

He explained how he finally said yes because he's on top again in his work as a filmmaker: 'I have this resurgence going on, so why not at this moment show people what it is like, not when you are over or retired?'

The New York City native also revealed he's doing the show for his three daughters.

New kids in town: The Stallones have reportedly been shooting their new reality series this past year, while working with the same production team that made Keeping Up With The Kardashians

'A lot of things have conquered me, but I have conquered my dreams and aspirations. Now it's their time,' Stallone said, while remarking about his kid's careers.

Stallone went on to confirm that his and Flavin's recent troubles - which saw her file for divorce only to reconcile - will be documented on the reality show.

Stallone and Flavin, who will be celebrating their 26th wedding anniversary in May, started their romance back in 1988 but broke up after several years together. They would eventually reunite several years later and go on to tie-the-knot in 1997.

Along with their three daughters, the Oscar-winner also had two sons with his first wife, Sasha Czack: Sage, who died of heart failure in July 2012 at the age of 36, and Seargeoh, 44.

Stallone was also previously married to actress Brigette Nielsen for about two years in the 1980s.
Notorious Married At First Sight pest was escorted out of Australian Fashion Week on Monday afternoon after he was busted masquerading as a reporter.

Ever the magnet for mischief, Sultan, 56, added another chapter to his ever-growing book of drama when he showed up armed with a makeshift press pass and a cheeky grin.

The reality TV pest was seen filming interviews with guests before he reportedly attempted to walk in to the St. Agni show without an invite or credentials.

An insider revealed, 'Nasser was posing as a journo, asking the silliest questions. It was clear he was out of his depth. But it was quite a laugh until security got wind of it.'

'Security told him that they remembered him from last year and that he was on watch. They wanted him to stay clear of shows he wasn't invited to because brands clearly didn't want him there.'

Notorious Married At First Sight pest Nasser Sultan, 56, was escorted out of Australian Fashion Week on Monday afternoon after he was busted masquerading as a reporter

The reality TV pest was seen filming interviews with guests before he reportedly attempted to walk in to the St. Agni show without an invite to the event or credentials

According to the spy, Nasser was caught red handed when he tried to get into the exclusive fashion show using someone else's credentials.

Despite the awkward exit, Sultan seemed undeterred, even managing to pose for photos before he was escorted off the premises.

This isn't Sultan's first brush with controversy at Fashion Week.

An insider revealed, 'Nasser was posing as a journo, asking the silliest questions. It was clear he was out of his depth. But it was quite a laugh until security got wind of it'

Despite the awkward exit, Sultan seemed undeterred, even managing to pose for photos before he was escorted off the premises

During the 2022 event, the fame-seeking MAFS groom was put on notice over his rowdy behaviour.

Security at Carriageworks, the Sydney venue where most of the runway shows were held, issued him with a stern warning to 'stop being a pest'.

The warning was given after Nasser was pictured harassing former NRL WAG Phoebe Burgess in the front row at the Oroton showcase.

During the 2022 event, the fame-seeking MAFS groom was put on notice over his rowdy behaviour. Security at Carriageworks, the Sydney venue where most of the runway shows were held, issued the 56-year-old with a stern warning to 'stop being a pest'

Nasser had briefly slipped into racing royalty Kate Waterhouse's seat when she moved away and tugged on Phoebe's designer coat to try to get her attention.

However, the ex-wife of retired NRL star Sam Burgess turned her back on Nasser as he repeatedly asked for a photo and tried to start a conversation.

An apologetic Nasser told Daily Mail Australia he was 'really embarrassed' about his behaviour around Phoebe, but denied gatecrashing the show or stealing anyone's seat, as had been previously reported.

'[The incident with security] really embarrassed me. I felt like a f**kwit... but I didn't take anyone's seat or sneak in,' the former music promoter said.

The warning was given after Nasser was pictured harassing former NRL WAG Phoebe Burgess (right) in the front row at the Oroton showcase

'I was invited to that show, saw Phoebe went over to say hello. Why can't you say hello to people these days?

'Security were saying I stole Kate Waterhouse's seat. I did not. I was there for a few seconds just taking a photo with Phoebe and then moved back to my seat.'

He added: 'They said I was being a pest and that the designers didn't want me at their shows... that's not true. I have been invited to many of shows.

'I have been going for years. I have no shame sitting in the back row. I am happy just to be there.'

'Security were saying I stole Kate Waterhouse's seat. I did not. I was there for a few seconds just taking a photo with Phoebe and then moved back to my seat,' Nasser explained

Australian Fashion Week, running from May 15 to 19, will present 10 runway shows a day in which designers showcase their resort collections for spring/summer 2024.

Popular names like Aje, St Agni, Bondi Born, Anna Quan and Bec & Bridge are among the brands showing this year.

The week will include a wave of promising talent and fresh faces, including Asiyam, Youkhana, Erik Yvon, Iordanes Spyridon Gogos, Wackie Ju and Nicol & Ford.
She attended The Little Mermaid UK premiere at Odeon Luxe, in London's Leicester Square on Monday.

And Jessica Wright continued the party into the night, as she attended the post premiere cast and filmmaker reception at Soho House.

The former TOWIE star, 37, was pictured schmoozing with the Disney film's leading lady, Halle Bailey, at the exclusive after party.

Jessica put on a glamorous display in a shimmering champagne gown with exaggerated sleeves.

Meanwhile, Halle, 24, switched out of her premiere look and into a chic black mini dress and long black coat combo with knee-high boots.

Golden girl: Jessica Wright continued the party into the night, as she attended the Little Mermaid post premiere cast and filmmaker reception at Soho House

Unlikely pals! The former TOWIE star, 37, was pictured schmoozing with the Disney film's leading lady, Halle Bailey, at the exclusive after party

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.

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.'

Stunning: Jessica put on a glamorous display in a shimmering champagne gown with exaggerated sleeves

Erik Davis of Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes agreed, 'Disneys #TheLittleMermaid is definitely one of the better live-action adaptions.

'Halle Bailey pours incredible emotion into Ariel and I got chills watching her, while Melissa McCarthys Ursula and Daveed Diggs Sebastian steal scenes all day.'

Zoe Rose Bryant, writer at Loud And Clear Reviews, penned, '#TheLittleMermaid is a live-action remake that retains the heart and soul of the story we know and love, and its elevated even further by a note-perfect star-making performance from Halle Bailey - she was born to be on the big screen, & shes why this new take is worth watching.'

But Kirsten Acuna from Insider wasn't so impressed, tweeting: '#TheLittleMermaid is filled with a few great performances from Halle Bailey and Melissa McCarthy, but it's a mostly paint-by-numbers remake that's isn't as good as the animated masterpiece.'

Simon Thompson, who writes for publications including Forbes and Variety, said, 'Endearing but uneven, #TheLittleMermaid doesnt deliver the magic of the animated classic but there are plenty of creative touches from Rob Marshall to float the audiences boats.

'Halle Bailey and Melissa McCarthy are great. Daveed Diggs and Awkwafina provide solid comic relief.'

Glam: Jessica attended The Little Mermaid UK premiere at Odeon Luxe

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

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.
Stan has dropped a spectacular trailer for its new feature-length documentary Revealed: Reefshot which will premiere on the streaming giant on June 5.

Presented by environmentalist Andy Riley, the Stan Original documentary gives viewers a close up look at the battle to save Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

The film focuses on the efforts of everyday citizens, Traditional owners and scientists as they apply new methods to preserve the world famous natural wonder from environmental catastrophe.

Fans can look forward to a first hand insight into the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef, and the danger it faces.

The trailer begins with a series of beautiful under water images of the reef.

Revealed: Reefshot premieres on Stan June 5 World Environment Day

Stan has dropped a spectacular trailer for their new feature-length documentary Revealed: Reefshot which will premiere on the streaming giant on June 5

Presented by environmentalist Andy Riley the Stan Original documentary gives viewers a close up look at the battle to save Australia's Great Barrier Reef

Meanwhile, a voice over reminds viewers: 'The Great Barrier Reef...the most beautiful coral reef in the world.

'But it is facing more challenges than it has ever faced right now.'

This is followed by images of vast pockets of the reef, devastated by 'bleaching', which is created by environmental stress, including change of temperature.

The preview also includes includes breathtaking footage of the 'super villain' that threatens the GBR, the Crown-of-thorns starfish, which can wipe very large areas of the reef in a short period of time.

Reefshot focuses on Riley and a large team of individuals known as the Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef who set out to survey 500 reefs that are part of the GBR.

The group has so far captured 75,000 images - used to estimate the 'health' of the reef - since 2020.

And this documentation is used to fast track conservation of the GBR, using technology and new methods.

'The twin crises of climate change and nature loss threatens the reefs health, and ultimately its survival, Riley said in a statement.

'Revealed: Reefshot is all about the power of the citizen, whether on the Reef or on the other side of the world, being able to help achieve the scale necessary to address the vast conversation challenges ahead of us.

The film focuses on the efforts of everyday citizens, Traditional owners and scientists as they apply new methods to preserve the world famous natural wonder from environmental issues

Fans can look forward to a first hand insight into the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef, and the dangers it faces Pictured: Earth Day founder Andy Riley (R) in a scene from Reefshot

'The Great Barrier Reef is probably the greatest place on the planet to remind people what is at stake, and mobilise them to help.'

Directed by Matt Tomaszewski, Revealed: Reefshot is the latest in Stan's documentary slate, following Amongst Us - Neo Nazi Australia, No Mercy, No Remorse and Trafficked.

Screen Australia in association with Stan supported principal production funding, with support from Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef and investment from Screen Queensland.

More information about the The Great Reef Census is available at greatreefcensus.org
Media personality Meshel Laurie made headlines in recent years for her extreme weight loss.

And now the outspoken star, 49, has admitted that she doesn't like seeing old photos of herself from when she was heavier.

Discussing the topic on her new podcast Can We Be Real?, Meshel that she and her daughter Dali jokingly refer to her old self as 'Auntie Pat'.

'We don't like Auntie Pat,' she explained. 'When I see photos of myself, particularly when I was like 60kg heavier, Dali and I say, "Ooh, look at Auntie Pat!"

'Oh s**t, that was Auntie Pat in that photo and we don't like it.'

Meshel Laurie has admitted that she doesn't like seeing old photos of herself from when she was heavier. Pictured after her weight loss (left) and when she was curvier in 2016 (right)

Meshel also admitted that she doesn't keep old photos of herself around the house any longer.

Unlike many other Australian celebrities, Meshel has always been open and honest about losing weight via gastric bypass surgery, which she underwent in 2016.

'People always say, "How did you lose the weight?" Everyone is always obsessed with that. Which is why I never lie about,' she said on her podcast.

The former Project host previously discussed the surgery in her bestselling book, Buddhism for the Unbelievably Busy.

Unlike many other Australian celebrities, Meshel (left) has always been open and honest about losing weight via gastric bypass surgery

Meshel said that she refers to her old curvier self as 'Auntie Pat' and doesn't keep any old photos of herself around the house

'Yes, its embarrassing to have to go to that length to rein my body in, but Id rather be embarrassed than unable to walk,' she wrote.

'In a way I feel lucky to have had such clear signals from my body that I needed to turn my health burner back on, when I still had time to do something about it.'

The notoriously private star rarely attends red carpet events, but her drastic weight loss is apparent in a handful of social media photos taken over the last two years.

In 2021, she humbly waved off praise for one of her slender photos, crediting a 'good photographer' when a fan gushed about her slim down.

The comedian is pictured on stage at a comedy show back in 2007

The former Project host previously discussed the surgery in her bestselling book, Buddhism for the Unbelievably Busy

Meshel had a successful career in commercial television and radio until she crossed over into podcasting.

She currently hosts Australia's biggest true crime podcast, which has racked up over 65million downloads since it started in 2017.

The star has now launched a new comedy podcast, called Can We Be Real?, which is leaning into her outspoken and opinionated side.

'Feeling like the world has gone soft? Sick of the fake and the filtered? Then join Meshel Laurie every Tuesday for "Can We Be Real", the podcast that's not afraid to speak its mind,' touts the show.

'From hilarious yarns, tough topics, taboo truths and your deep dark secrets, nothing is off-limits.'
Newly married Kyle Sandilands got a revealing sex lesson live on air on Tuesday from My Kitchen Rules judge Manu Feildel.

The French-Australian chef, 49, was a guest on The Kyle and Jackie O Show and Sandilands, 51, asked him for some advice about his upcoming to trip to France.

Manu said French citizens were very sophisticated in many ways - especially when it came to being intimate.

'We don't bang in France, we make love. We're the best lovers in the world,' he told the hosts.

'Love is not just about sex, it's loving in its entirety,' he added.

Newly married Kyle Sandilands (pictured) got a revealing sex lesson live on air on Tuesday from My Kitchen Rules judge Manu Feildel

Kyle, however, was unimpressed and said that it sounded like too much effort.

'Romantic lighting, candles... Oh God, who has got the time for all that?,' he responded.

Manu then said he had prepared a 'list' of how to be a better lover and he would be happy to give it to Kyle.

Celebrity chef Manu Feildel (pictured) was a guest on The Kyle and Jackie O Show and Sandilands, 51, asked him for some advice about his upcoming to trip to France

Kyle spent a million dollars to make sure his wedding to fiancee Tegan Kynaston on April 29 was nothing short of spectacular.

Speaking on The Kyle and Jackie O Show earlier this month, the radio king revealed he sealed the deal with his new wife Tegan after the reception.

'A lot of people are asking, "Did you consummate the marriage?" You bet your arse!' declared Sandilands, who admitted he felt 'a little dusty' after a weekend of partying.

Manu said French citizens were very sophisticated in many ways - especially when it came to being intimate

'Did you?' asked his surprised co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson and he responded with: 'Yes, of course!'

Sandilands explained they were both 'exhausted' when the night ended with him 'lying in bed in my undies waiting to be serviced' while Kynaston, 37, was 'on the floor beside me on the phone, talking to her girlfriends'.

'Anyway, we got there,' he added, before admitting it was over 'pretty quick'.

The shock jock said 'I do' with the communications executive at Swifts, a heritage-listed Gothic mansion in Sydney's Darling Point, at about 3pm in front of 130 guests - the most notable being Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Margot Robbie and her husband Tom Ackerley have been enjoying time with her family in her native Australia.

And on Monday, the Babylon star, 32, stunned patrons at a local Gold Coast watering hole when she jumped behind the bar to serve customers her new gin range.

The blonde beauty poured shots of her Papa Salt gin as she mingled with the locals.

The Today show's Instagram page posted a video of the Queensland native effortlessly nailing bartending duties.

'Is there anything she can't do?,' they asked next to the clip.

Margot Robbie surprised patrons at a local Gold Coast watering hole this week when she jumped behind the bar to serve shots

Fans were quick to gush over the Suicide Squad star's top-notch serving skills.

'Such a magic lady,' one fan wrote and another added: 'I Just love her'.

Margot's new Australian liquor brand was created by the actress and her husband Tom Ackerley.

The blonde beauty poured shots of her Papa Salt gin as she mingled with the locals

The famous married couple worked on the label with their friends Charlie Maas, Josey McNamara and Regan Riskas.

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 Today show's Instagram page posted a video of the Queensland native effortlessly nailing bartending duties. 'Is there anything she can't do?,' they asked next to the clip

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.

Margot and Tom are reportedly searching for a permanent home in Byron Bay just a month before the release of her anticipated Barbie movie.
The Cannes red carpet springs to life again Tuesday as the 76th Film Festival gets underway with the premiere of the Louis XV period drama Jeanne du Barry with Johnny Depp.

This year's festival promises a Cote d'Azur buffet of spectacle, scandal and cinema set to be served over the next 12 days.

It's unspooling against the backdrop of labor unrest. Protests that have roiled France in recent months over changes to its pension system are planned to run during the festival, albeit at a distance from the festival's main hub.

Meanwhile, an ongoing strike by screenwriters in Hollywood could have unpredictable effects on the French Riviera festival.

But with a festival lined with some much-anticipated big-budget films, including James Mangold's Indiana Jones and the Dial of the Destiny and Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon, the party is sure to go on, regardless.

Here we go: The Cannes red carpet springs to life again Tuesday as the 76th Cannes Film Festival gets underway with the premiere of the Louis XV period drama Jeanne du Barry with Johnny Depp

Exciting: This year's festival promises a Cote d'Azur buffet of spectacle, scandal and cinema set to be served over the next 12 days

Stars set to hit Cannes red carpet in the next week and a half include Natalie Portman, Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Sean Penn, Alicia Vikander, The Weeknd and Scarlett Johansson.

The festivities Tuesday will include an opening ceremony where Michael Douglas is to receive an honorary Palme d'Or.

Later, one will also be dished out to Indiana Jones star Harrison Ford.

The jury that will decide the festival's top prize, the Palme d'Or, will also be introduced.

This year, the jury is led by Swedish filmmaker Ruben Ostlund, a two-time Palme winner who last year won for the social satire 'The Triangle of Sadness.'

The rest of the jury includes Brie Larson, Paul Dano, French director Julia Ducournau, Argentine filmmaker Damian Szifron, Afghan director Atiq Rahimi, French actor Denis Menochet, Moroccan filmmaker Maryam Tourzani and a Zambian-Welsh director Rungano Nyoni.

The opening night selection has attracted some controversy.

Star: The festivities Tuesday will include an opening ceremony where Michael Douglas is to receive an honorary Palme d'Or

Incredible: The jury that will decide the festival's top prize, the Palme d'Or, will also be introduced

Huge: Stars set to hit Cannes' red carpet in the next week and a half include Natalie Portman, Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Sean Penn, Alicia Vikander, the Weeknd and Scarlett Johansson

Jeanne du Barry, directed by and co-starring the French actor-director Maiwenn, co-stars Depp as Louis XV.

It's Depp's first new film since his trial last year with Amber Heard, his ex-wife.

After both Depp and Heard accused each other of physical and verbal abuse, a civil jury awarded Depp $10 million in damages and $2 million to Heard.

In remarks to the press Monday, Cannes director Thierry Fremaux defended the choice, saying Depp is extraordinary in the film and he paid no attention to the trial.

'To tell you the truth, in my life, I only have one rule, it's the freedom of thinking, the freedom of speech and the freedom to act within a legal framework,' said Fremaux.

'If Johnny Depp had been banned from acting in a film, or the film was banned we wouldn't be here talking about it.'
MasterChef Australia fans were left shocked by what at first glance appeared to be an editing fail during Monday's episode of the show.

As former contestant and fan favourite Poh Ling Yeow, 49, made a guest appearance to present the 'mystery box' challenge, viewers were left scratching their heads when they noticed half the cast were missing.

Many flocked to social media to point out the bizarre detail, with many not realising eight of the aspiring cooks had been struck down with Covid-19 while filming.

'Where are all the contestants? Am I missing something,' one person wrote.

'This season is weird, no idea what's happening  think they are chopping bits out  can't get into it,' another added.

MasterChef Australia fans were left shocked by the show on Monday evening when there appeared to be an editing fail during the episode

'Eight contestants with covid?' Another tweeted alongside a GIF.

Judge Melissa Leong had explained that Covid-19 was to blame, telling the remaining contestants: 'Welcome to a brand new week in the MasterChef kitchen. As you can see, a couple more contestants are missing today. Covid strikes again. But, in lighter news, you guys have survived your first elimination!'

The sick contestants remained in isolation while the show continued filming at the time.

As former contestant and fan favourite Poh Ling Yeow, 49, appeared on the show to present the mystery box challenge, viewers were left scratching their heads when half the cast appeared to be missing

Some viewers flocked to social media to point out the bizarre detail, with many not knowing that eight cast members were struck down with Covid-19 while filming. However, one fan was confused and wrote on a MasterChef Facebook page: 'How is it fair that half the contestants had covid and missed out on elimination?'

However, one fan was confused and wrote on a MasterChef Facebook page: 'How is it fair that half the contestants had covid and missed out on elimination?'

'When they all return, they will also face an elimination as a group while tonight's contestants will watch. They announced it at the start of the show,' another replied.

Beloved MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo was farewelled in an emotional service on Saturday, after his shock death just a day before the premiere of the show.

The MasterChef judge, who died on April 30 aged 46, was laid to rest in a private funeral in Sydney on Saturday, surrounded by 200 family members and friends.

It comes after Jock Zonfrillo was farewelled in an emotional service on Saturday, with high profile celebrities and chefs rallying around his heartbroken family to pay tribute

Zonfrillo died in his hotel room at Zagame's House on Lygon Street in Carlton, Melbourne on April 30 and was found by police at about 2am on Monday, May 1 - the same day Channel Ten was meant to premiere the fifteenth season of MasterChef Australia.

They were responding to a welfare check called in by his wife who was in Italy at the time with their son and daughter.

The media personality was scheduled for several publicity engagements for season 15 of MasterChef when he died suddenly.

Daily Mail Australia can reveal that when the police entered the hotel room to conduct a welfare check, officers believed that Zonfrillo had died of natural causes and didn't find anything that suggested otherwise.

Zonfrillo is survived by his third wife, Lauren Fried, and his four children: grown-up daughters Ava and Sophia, from his first two marriages, and six-year-old Alfie and two-year-old Isla, with Fried.
Jordana Brewster looked incredible as she arrived at the premiere of Fast X on Monday evening.

The actress, 43, commanded attention in a sexy white cut out dress complete with a daring thigh high slit at the Plaza Toreo Parque Central in Naucalpan de Juarez.

Jordana was joined by the Fast and Furious cast, with Michelle Rodriguez, 44, cutting a stylish figure in a bardot black figure-hugging dress.

Jordana showed off her toned physique in the white dress which had a cut out section on her midriff and ruched detailing.

The actress accessorized with several pieces of jewelry that added a metallic shine to her look for the evening.

Lady in white: Jordana Brewster looked incredible as she arrived at the premiere of Fast X on Monday evening

Dressed up: Jordana was joined by the Fast and Furious cast, with Michelle Rodriguez, 44, cutting a stylish figure in a bardot black figure-hugging dress

Her brunette locks were tied into a lengthy ponytail that fell onto her backside and contrasted well with the light tone of her clothing.

Michelle, meanwhile, showed off her figure in the sleek black dress that conformed tightly to her toned form during the premiere event.

The Avatar actress added a bit of extra shine to her look with a pair of sparkling rings.

Her gorgeous dark brunette hair remained free-flowing and paired well with the tone of her outfit.

The movie, which features a post-credit scene appearance by Dwayne Johnson, will be released in the United States on Friday.

Diesel opted for a sleeveless gray denim button-down shirt that showcased his chiseled arms at the premiere.

The performer, who portrays Dominic Toretto in the Fast & Furious franchise, also donned a pair of slim-fitting white jeans and black boots.

Cast member Daniela Melchior was also present during the event, and she wore a stylish brown dress that showed off her arms and abs.

The actress, 43, commanded attention in a sexy white cut out dress complete with a daring thigh high slit at the Plaza Toreo Parque Central in Naucalpan de Juarez

Finishing the look: Michelle added a bit of extra shine to her look with a pair of sparkling rings

Turning heads: Jordana waved to fans at the event, which served to promote the action-adventure flick

Shining bright: The actress accessorized with several pieces of jewelry that added a metallic shine to her look for the evening

Beautiful: Her brunette locks were tied into a lengthy ponytail that fell onto her backside and contrasted well with the light tone of her clothing

High-profile event: Michelle and Vin Diesel hugged as they chatted to fans

Coming soon: The movie, which features a post-credit scene appearance by Dwayne Johnson, will be released in the United States on Friday

Gun show: Diesel opted for a sleeveless gray denim button-down shirt that showcased his chiseled arms at the premiere

Neutral tones: The performer, who portrays Dominic Toretto in the Fast & Furious franchise, also donned a pair of slim-fitting white jeans and black boots

The cast member of The Suicide Squad also wore a pair of gold bracelets and matching earrings.

The performer's dark brunette hair fell towards her shoulders and provided an element of darkness to her look for the evening.

Fast X serves as a follow-up to F9, which previously made its debut in 2021.

The upcoming movie will see Toretto and his family defending themselves against assaults from Dante Reyes, played by Jason Momoa, whose family's fortune was lost in 2011's Fast Five.

Longtime cast members such as Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris and Jason Statham will reprise their roles in the upcoming movie.

Relative newcomers to the franchise, including Charlize Theron and John Cena, are all expected to appear in the film.

Several performers, including Melchior, Brie Larson and Rita Moreno, will also make their first franchise appearances in Fast X.

Meadow Walker, whose late father Paul led the series with Vin up until his death in 2013, will make a cameo.

Fast X was originally set to be directed by Justin Lin, who previously helmed several of the most popular Fast & Furious, although he left the project early into filming.

Showing up: Cast member Daniela Melchior was also present during the event, and she wore a stylish brown dress that showed off her arms and abs

Finishing the look: The cast member of The Suicide Squad also wore a pair of gold bracelets and matching earrings

A new entry: Fast X serves as a follow-up to F9, which made its debut in 2021

Storyline: The movie will see Toretto and his family defending themselves against assaults from Dante Reyes, played by Jason Momoa, whose family's fortune was lost in 2011's Fast Five

Switching out: Fast X was originally set to be directed by Justin Lin, who previously helmed several films in the Fast & Furious franchise, although he left the project early into filming

Honoring his legacy: Meadow Walker, whose late father Paul was a mainstay in the franchise up until his death in 2013, will make a cameo

Going wide: Fast X's red carpet premiere took place in Rome, where the movie was partially shot, this past Friday

Third time's the charm: Fast X was originally to be split into a two-part finale, but Vin Diesel recently indicated that the finale will be expanded into a trilogy of films

The filmmaker was ultimately replaced by Louis Leterrier, who saw the project through completion.

Filming commenced in April of last year and took place in locations such as Lisbon, London and Los Angeles.

Fast X's red carpet premiere took place in Rome, where the movie was partially shot, this past Friday.

Although the upcoming eleventh Fast & Furious movie was set to be the final entry in the main film series, it was later announced that the original franchise would be capped off with a twelfth movie.
Alec Baldwin finally ditched his beard while celebrating his last day of filming Rust on Monday  three weeks after all charges were dropped against him in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

The 65-year-old embattled actor marked the milestone by posting a cheerful photo flaunting his clean-shaven face on Instagram.

'God, it felt good to shave off that beard,' he captioned a selfie in bed, which earned praised from his faces, who said losing the facial hair made him look ''relaxed and 15 years younger.'

Others declared the new look ''draws more attention to' his 'ice blue eyes.'

Before ditching the white scruff, he posed alongside snaps with his young co-star Patrick Scott McDermott.

Looking fresh! Alec Baldwin finally ditched his beard while celebrating his last day of filming Rust on Monday  three weeks after all charges were dropped against him in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins

That's a wrap: Before ditching the white scruff, he posed alongside snaps with his young co-star Patrick Scott McDermott

In the caption, Baldwin penned a tribute to his 13-year-old sidekick by writing that the photo that showed them both grinning on set in front of a majestic mountain backdrop.

'Last day on the set of RUST with this guy,' wrote Alec. 'A very talented actor and lovely young man with a bright future ahead. My love to you, @patrickscottmcdermott.'

McDermott returned the love by commenting 'Love you Alec' before posting a snap of the two embracing on set with the caption: 'Alec's last day [heart emoji] I'll miss you.'

Production stopped abruptly in October 2021 when Baldwin shot a live round from a prop gun killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on Rust's New Mexico set.

The Beetlejuice star was charged in January with two counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with Hutchins' death and the injury of 'Rust' director Joel Souza, who was struck by the same bullet that passed through Hutchins.

The case against Baldwin quickly unraveled. A weapons charge that would have meant a much longer sentence was dismissed, and the first special prosecutor appointed in the case resigned.

This despite a damning FBI report that concluded that Baldwin did pull the trigger of the gun that killed Hutchins  despite him repeatedly stating that he did not.

The report could still lead to criminal charges against the actor and others involved in the accidental shooting, with Santa Fe cops still investigating Hutchins' death.

Saying goodbye: Baldwin's young sidekick also posted a photo of him on his last day

Baldwin was accused of showing a 'reckless' disregard for safety in Hutchins' death. He pleaded not guilty in February after prosecutors downgraded the seriousness of the charges, reducing the potential prison time.

He has in interviews said he was told the gun was safe and that he never pulled the trigger.

After a scathing safety review by regulators in New Mexico that detailed ignored complaints and misfires before Hutchins' death in October of 2021, the production company agreed to pay a $100,000 fine.

The film: Set in 1880s Kansas, the Western reportedly sees Baldwin playing an aging outlaw named Harland Rust who rescues his 13-year-old grandson from the hangman's noose after the young boy is sentenced to death for an accidental murder; Alec pictured on set in October 2022

Baldwin's co-defendant and Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed is still facing the charges against her.

After the charges against him were dropped, Baldwin took to Instagram to thank his wife Hilaria for helping him through the controversy, while she posted a bizarre picture of her curled up on his knees.

Set in 1880s Kansas, the Western reportedly sees Baldwin playing an aging outlaw named Harland Rust who rescues his 13-year-old grandson from the hangman's noose after the young boy is sentenced to death for an accidental murder.

The independent film was produced on a shoestring budget of $67 million and has been described as a 'passion project' for Baldwin.
Noel Gallagher has accused 'angry, white middle-aged women' of eroding young men's confidence and claimed his sons are 'shackled' by 'wokeism'.

The Oasis star, 55, told of his concerns for his sons Donovan, 16, and Sonny, 13, who he shares with his wife Sarah MacDonald, who he split up with earlier this year.

Noel admitted he is worried his sons won't be able to be 'wild' and enjoy life like he and his brother Liam, 50, did as he launched a rant against 'wokeism'.

He also criticised 'middle-aged women' for 'telling young guys how to behave' and shared how he feels 'anxious' for young men growing up today.

According to The Mirror, he said: '[Young guys] don't really know how to behave with all this woke s**t that's now foisted upon everybody.

Wokeism: Noel Gallagher has accused 'angry, white middle-aged women' of eroding young men's confidence and claimed his sons are 'shackled' by 'wokeism'

'Angry, white middle-aged women telling young guys how to behave and all this b******s.'

Noel said he tells his two sons not to worry about what anybody else thinks and to just be themselves.

He went on to say his teenage sons are 'shackled by the internet' and claimed they are not able to be as 'carefree' as he was in his younger years.

He said: 'We were wild. We didn't give a f***, they're not as carefree. They're shackled by the internet and wokeism and by living in a country where f*** all works.'

Noel is also a father to his daughter Anais, 22, from his previous relationship with ex-wife Meg Mathews, who he was married to for four years.

It comes after Noel also broke his silence on shock split from his music publicist wife Sara after 12 years of marriage.

He told the Big Issue magazine of the ending of his marriage: '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.'

Fatherhood: The Oasis star, 55, told of his concerns for his sons Donovan, 16, and Sonny, 13, (pictured in October 2020), who he shares with his wife Sarah MacDonald

'Shackled': Noel admitted he is worried his sons won't be able to be 'wild' and enjoy life like he and his brother Liam, 50, (both pictured in 1995) did as he launched a rant against 'wokeism'

It comes after Noel reportedly enjoyed a 'double date' with model Charlotte Carter-Allen earlier this month.

He was spotted out-and-about with Charlotte, who has appeared in music videos for Kanye West and a record with Eurythmics star Dave Stewart, and Poppy Delevingne's ex James Cook.

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.

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 8million South Downs mansion near Hampshire's town of Petersfield since 2019, with their two young children.

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.

Noel and Meg were notorious for a party-hard lifestyle as they lived it up during rowdy nights with Kate Moss and Sadie Frost.

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.

Children: Noel is also a father to his daughter Anais, 22, (pictured) from his previous relationship with ex-wife Meg Mathews, who he was married to for four years

'You come to some kind of crossroads in your life': It comes after Noel also broke his silence on shock split from his music publicist wife Sara (pictured in 2019) after 12 years of marriage

'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.

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.
Cody Simpson and Emma McKeon sparked marriage rumours on Tuesday after the pair were spotted in wedding attire.

The musician, 26, shared a clip of wedding images to Instagram as he packed on the PDA with the Olympic swimmer, 28, who carried a bouquet.

Garbed in a stunning, brown silk gown with a broad smile on her face, McKeon looked every inch the blushing bride - but her followers' hopes were dashed.

While Simpson captioned the pictures, 'Field of dreams,' it appears the happy couple were only attending a friend's wedding.

Nevertheless, their affectionate behaviour and wide grins sent the rumour mill into overdrive, with one person commenting beside the post: 'What? Congratulations.'

Cody Simpson, 26, and Emma McKeon, 28 sparked marriage rumours on Tuesday after the pair were spotted in wedding attire. Both pictured

Another follower was forced to correct them, saying, 'They're not married,' as someone else added they were almost fooled by the post as well.

'Cody, I saw this and thought you got married. Love you both,' a third said.

Despite there being no wedding on the horizon, things are getting serious between the lovebirds after they spent their first anniversary buying a home together.

The musician, 26, shared a clip of wedding images to Instagram as he packed on the PDA with the Olympic swimmer, 28, who carried a bouquet

Garbed in a stunning, brown silk gown with a broad smile on her face, McKeon looked every inch the blushing bride - but her followers' hopes were dashed

The pair splashed out $1.8million on a family-sized love nest on the Gold Coast, proving their headline-making romance will last well into the future.

Located in the coastal suburb of Labrador, the five-bedroom property boasts luxurious finishes and chic interiors worthy of Australia's swimming golden couple.

It spans two levels and features three bathrooms, a large walk-in wardrobe, state-of-the-art appliances, and a grand entrance with high ceilings and a floating staircase.

Perhaps the most important detail is the large outdoor pool in the backyard, which Simpson and McKeon will no doubt use regularly.

While Simpson captioned the pictures, 'Field of dreams,' it appears the happy couple were only attending a friend's wedding
Filming for the new season of The Block is well and truly underway.

And on Sunday, the show's judge Shaynna Blaze almost tripped over in her stilettos as she arrived to the set on Charming Street in Melbourne's Hampton East.

The interior designer, 60, struggled to maintain her balance as she sipped on a McCafe coffee before entering House 2 with fellow judge Darren Palmer.

Shaynna showed off her incredible figure in a grey pencil dress and sheer top with puff sleeves on the construction site.

She left her long blonde locks out and couldn't wipe the smile off her face as she held a coffee and arrived to the property.

Is the new Block site cursed? Shaynna Blaze almost tripped over in her stilettos on doomed Charming St set during filming after pop-up McCafe disaster and 'illegal' parking scandal

The interior designer, 60, struggled to maintain her balance as she sipped on a McCafe coffee before entering House 2 with fellow judge Darren Palmer

It comes after it was revealed 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 series.

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.

Shaynna showed off her incredible figure in a grey pencil dress and sheer top with puff sleeves on the construction site

She left her long blonde locks out and couldn't wipe the smile off her face as she held a coffee and arrived to the property

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.

'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!'

It comes after it was revealed residents living around 'The Block' are upset after a makeshift McCafe erected across the street suddenly stopped serving them free coffees

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.'
Cate Blanchett looked emotional as she attended an exhibition in Paris on Monday.

The Australian actress, 54, wore a houndstooth trouser suit for the retrospective of the American Chimera, a work done over many years.

The screen star was seen hugging film director Todd Haynes and standing with tears in her eyes, appearing moved after watching the film.

Cate, who also sported pink glasses, wore a pair of black heels to boost her height.

Afterwards, the actress was also seen having an animated conversation with several people who had also attended the screening.

Moved: Cate Blanchett looked emotional as she attended an exhibition in Paris on Monday

Hugs: The Australian actress, 54, donned a houndstooth trouser suit for the retrospective of the American Chimera and was seen hugging film director Todd Haynes

Cate's outing comes after award-winning actor Ke Huy Quan recalled some advice that the actress one shared with him.

The star is still on cloud nine since winning the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Everything Everywhere All At Once in March.

The actor, 51, posed with his Oscar for the cover story of Variety, one day after his big win.

Sharing the poignant advice during a recent interview, he said: 'I attended an event recently and sat next to Cate Blanchett.

'I told her that I don't know what I'm going to do next, but I feel I have a responsibility to do something good, and that I don't want to disappoint all the people that have support me.'

'And she said, "Just go with your heart and be irresponsible: Don't worry about what other people think. Choose something that you believe in, choose something that you love, and things will work out.'"

Ke does not have any projects lined up at the moment but previously wrapped two series American Born Chinese and Loki season two, as well as the movie The Electric State.

Two-time Oscar winner Cate was up for her third Academy Award with a Best Actress nomination for her work in the psychological drama Tar.

Unfortunately she missed out at the event when the award was won by Michelle Yeoh for her role in the sci-fi movie.

Malaysian-born Yeoh is the first Asian woman to win the Best Actress award.

Looking good: Cate, who also sported pink glasses, wore a pair of black heels

Pals: Todd put his arm around Cate, comforting her as she appeared to become emotional following the event

Fans: The star also signed autographs for fans as she chatted to members of the public
Sarah Harris appeared to be in excellent spirits as she departed Melbourne Airport on a mystery trip on Tuesday.

The 41-year-old, who has been at the centre of rumours that she's dating Dr Chris Brown for weeks, had a huge smile on her face as she strolled through the terminal.

The Project host was casually chic in a black T-shirt with white lettering on the front, over which she wore a wool camel coat.

Sarah added a pair of acid washed jeans and white sneakers to her ensemble, as well as a red New York Yankees cap.

The television star carried a large black tote over one shoulder and wheeled along a navy blue carry on case.

Sarah Harris (pictured) appeared to be in excellent spirits as she departed Melbourne Airport on a mystery trip on Tuesday

Sarah appeared to go makeup free for the occasion, letting her natural beauty shine, and tucked her blonde locks under her cap.

The sighting comes after news that Sarah, 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 41-year-old, who has been at the centre of rumours that she's dating Dr Chris Brown for weeks, had a huge smile on her face as she strolled through the terminal

The Project host was casually chic in jeans and a black T-shirt with white lettering on the front, over which she wore a wool camel coat

The alleged source goes on to say that the pair have been sending one another 'playful and flirtatious text message exchanges for months now'.

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, 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 Project

Sarah was quick to quash the rumours, cheekily adding that she was dating another TV vet.

'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.

Chris is yet to comment on the rumours

Radio presenters Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson weren't convinced by the reports so called up Sarah live on air to get answers.

'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 alleged source goes on to say that the pair have been sending one another 'playful and flirtatious text message exchanges for months now'. Sarah is pictured with Waleed Aly

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.

When asked if she was 'sleeping with' the Bondi Vet star the journalist said, 'No!'

'The challenge is that it's hard enough to meet the right person anyway,' he said.

'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.
Netflix star Craig Russell was warned he could have died ahead of major brain tumour surgery last year.

The Welsh actor, who portrays Marc Antony in The Queen Cleopatra series, has now opened up about being diagnosed.

During the production of the controversial new series, Craig said he was feeling fit and healthy.

But at the end of last year, the star began to display out of character behaviour and began suffering with severe migraines, hearing loss and his vision got worse.

He told The Mirror: 'Just before Christmas, I walked into the spare room and I couldn't remember how to get out. There was only one door, it wasn't as if I had multiple exits to choose from.'

'It was so complicated': Netflix star Craig Russell was warned he could have died ahead of major brain tumour surgery last year

'It was totally unexpected': The Welsh actor, who portrays Marc Antony in the Queen Cleopatra series (pictured), has now opened up about being diagnosed

Craig went to see a doctor and had a CT scan which showed his tumour was the size of a lime and doctors believed it had been growing for 15 years.

The actor was told he needed the tumour removing immediately and that he was going blind in his left eye.

'I got a call to say: "We need to get this out ASAP". It was totally unexpected. I was very teary when I told my wife, Kate  and that they didn't know if it was cancerous or not. But she was amazing, saying, "we will win this".

'I was warned I could die during the procedure because it was so complicated. But if it wasn't removed, it could cause seizures and strokes'.

The actor considered the risks and decided he 'had to do it' for his wife and two children.

In March, just two months before Queen Cleopatra dropped on Netflix, he underwent the risky surgery.

Surgeons spent six hours removing the back of Craig's skull which had been 'touching the tumour' before putting it back together with 55 staples.

The procedure went well, however the Welsh star had to return to hospital after his wife noticed fluid coming from behind his staples.

There was large swelling on Craig's head and doctors said it caused fluid to build up inside so he had to move around as much as possible.

The Netflix star started going on daily walks, lifting weights and eating anti-inflammatory foods to try and help.

Craig said he was 'over the moon' when doctors told him the movement had worked and stopped the swelling.

The actor now has to undergo an MRI scan every six months for the next decade but Craig gushed that he was 'pleased I was feeling fine during the making of Queen Cleopatra'.

He added that he was thankful his GP sent him for the brain scan to start with else he could 'have had a seizure while driving his children to school'.

Two months after the big surgery, Craig said he is feeling much more like himself again.
Katie Price has been hit by 'mum-shaming' comments after sharing a picture of her daughter Bunny wearing make-up.

The former glamour model, 44, took to Instagram on Monday to post a snap of her youngest child Bunny, eight, seemingly wearing mascara and lip gloss.

It is not the first time Katie has come under fire for sharing snaps of her daughter Bunny with make-up on, as she previously sported false lashes at a wedding.

In her latest post, Katie shared a snap of Bunny pouting at the camera as she wore pyjamas and wrote alongside the snap: 'My stunning Bunny bops.'

However, she was quickly 'mum-shamed' by her followers, with people taking to the comments section to criticise Katie for 'putting make-up on' her daughter.

Criticism: Katie Price has been hit by 'mum-shaming' comments after sharing a picture of her daughter Bunny wearing make-up

Make-up: The former glamour model, 44, took to Instagram on Monday to post a snap of her youngest child Bunny, eight, seemingly wearing mascara and lip gloss

One person wrote: 'Make up on a child?', while a second commented: 'Stop putting make up on a child.'

A third asked: 'She's gorgeous. Has she got make up on though?'

And another added: 'Let her be a child ffs some people never learn.'

However, other people jumped to Katie's defence and urged people not to write 'mean comments' if they didn't have anything nice to say.

One person said: 'Why all the mean comments? If you haven't got anything nice to say then don't say anything at all weren't you all taught that by your parents as a child?'

While another wrote: 'All the haters have a day off eh!!! All little girls copy their mammy, they all want to wear make up.

'She's pouting as everyone on the telly does these days. This is completely normal it's not illegal calm down!!'

The TV personality shares her daughter Bunny and her son Jett, nine, with her ex-husband Kieran Hayler.

Slammed: However, she was quickly 'mum-shamed' by her followers, with people taking to the comments section to criticise Katie for 'putting make-up on' her daughter

Support: However, other people jumped to Katie's defence and urged people not to write 'mean comments' if they didn't have anything nice to say

Katie is also a mother to son Harvey, 20, who she had with Dwight Yorke, and Junior, 17, and Princess, 15, who she shares with ex-husband Peter Andre.

MailOnline has contacted Katie's representatives for comment.

It comes after Katie treated her daughter Bunny to knee length blonde extensions while they were on holiday in Thailand.

Bunny had been rocking shoulder length braids during the family trip but asked her mother for a longer style, which fell down to her calves.

Taking to Instagram on Tuesday to show off her daughter's new look, Katie shared a snap of four salon workers braiding in the extensions, writing 'Bunny the diva'.

Offering a look at the end result, she quipped: 'I thought I want long hair but Bunny diva goes a different level [peeking eye emojis].'

Bunny's braids conjured images of her famous mother's appearance on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!.

Captioning the post, she wrote: 'Bunny is so adorable and loving her holiday look.'

Katie made her first appearance on the ITV1 show in 2004, when she modelled a near identical look while competing alongside her soon-to-be first husband Peter Andre.

New look: It comes after Katie treated her daughter Bunny to knee length blonde extensions while they were on holiday in Thailand

Lookalikes: Bunny's braids conjured images of her famous mother's appearance on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

She returned to the Australian jungle for a second stint in 2009, but withdrew within days, admitting she was 'fed up' after being repeatedly nominated to carry out the show's gruelling Bushtucker Trials.

Elsewhere, Katie previously sparked criticism from her followers after sharing a heavily-filtered snap of her daughter Bunny in false eyelashes.

She uploaded the image on Instagram in February after taking it at her sister Sophie's wedding in June.

Ever the proud mother, Katie captioned her post: 'My Bunny Bops the day of my sisters wedding and @fern_makeup.'

But the post sparked a flurry of comments from her followers, with many criticising her for putting a full face of makeup on a child.

Katie's daughter Bunny wore a cute navy blue bridesmaid's dress to attend her aunt Sophie's wedding.

The adorable image showed a smiling Bunny in false lashes and a floral headband, as the schoolgirl beamed for the camera.

Many of Katie's followers were quick to criticise the image, with one writing: 'No need for the full makeup and edification, she's a child ffs.'

Another added: 'Eight is way too young. For false lashes, glue on a child's eyes that age is not good at all.

'She's a child!' Elsewhere, Katie previously sparked criticism from her followers after sharing a heavily-filtered snap of her daughter Bunny in false eyelashes

Family: The TV personality shares her daughter Bunny and her son Jett, nine, (both pictured) with her ex-husband Kieran Hayler. She also has kids Harvey, 20, Junior, 17, and Princess, 15

A third commented: 'OMG! She's a child why have you allowed all that makeup that's far too much for such a young child!'

'Makeup of that quantity is ridiculous on such a young child & not necessary,' one user also commented.

But, some of Katie's followers praised her sweet daughter in the images, with one writing: 'Ahh all little girls love make up. She looks sweet bless her.'

Another user posted: ''These comments though, got nothing nice to say keep ya mouth shut. Bunny looks beautiful! Bet she loved getting her make up done like all the other girls.'
This Morning has shed 170,000 viewers in a week as Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield failed to address their fallout for a second day on air.

Figures revealed Monday's episode had an average of 726,720 people watching compared to 894,000 on the same day last week. Peak viewership was also significantly down at 914,000 compared to 1.058million on May 8.

By contrast, the duo pulled in 1.3m viewers for their 2022 Christmas show and an average of 1.4m in the first four weeks of 2021.

Viewers watching today's episode described the atmosphere as 'awkward', with one tweeting: 'I haven't watched the show for many months. I thought I'd watch today's but it's clear the partnership is strained.'

During one segment on the show, Holly and Phil were told a 'tricky phase is ending' by astrologer Hagan Fox. The hosts stayed silent after his prediction amid their friendship fallout.

'Jupiter is moving into Taurus for the first time in 12 years,' Fox revealed. 'It's the best news for each and every one of us. It's been in Aries for 12 years which is kind of a tricky phase. This is now about happiness. This is about self-care, self-love and just having a ball.'

Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield appearing today on a preview for This Morning

Later, questions from the public that were fielded by Mr Fox included 'Should I go back to work?' and 'Is now the right time for a change?' - prompting viewers to share grabs of the moments on Twitter.

READ MORE - Body language expert JUDI JAMES on Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby's return to the This Morning sofa Advertisement

Holly displayed 'industrial strength perkiness' during today's episode, according to body language expert Judi James.

Ms James contrasted Holly's behaviour with the star's co-host, Phillip, who she said appeared 'anxious' while giving 'self-protective gestures'.

'Holly started the show with what looked like an energy and confidence-boost as she stood with her arms straight down at her sides in a subtle power gesture while it was Phil posing with his hands clasped in front of his torso in a barrier ritual,' she told MailOnline.

'Holly was playful, throwing her arms out when Phil said her dress looked like a meadow, while Phil's body language became more barriered and apparently more self-protective.'

Phil's comments during the show suggested he wanted to make it clear he is still on speaking terms with Holly, Ms James said.

'He sounds so keen to signal both the friendship between himself and Holly and the fact that they are speaking behind the scenes.

READ MORE - A-listers threaten to stay away from show amid backstage revolt Advertisement

'He told her ''You're a very good parker'' to inform us he has been driven by her in the past and his comment ''We were talking about this before the show'' came with an emphatic finger stab onto the table.'

Insiders have described Phil as 'increasingly withdrawn' on set, with one telling The Mirror: 'He seems down and spends a lot of time in his dressing room. We're worried about him.'

It comes as Holly wrote a newsletter for her wellbeing brand Wylde Moon which revealed the star in a reflective mood.

'The older I get, the more I appreciate how daunting the concept of time passing can be,' she mused. 'I can always remember my nan saying things like 'wait 'til you get to my agethen it really starts flying by' and I now I really get it.

Holly mimes a gun as she and Phil introduce a segment about a real man called James Bond

Astrologer Hagan Fox fielded questions from viewers including 'Should I go back to work'

Another viewer, Angela, asked 'Is now the right time for a change?' - prompting viewers to share grabs of the moment on Twitter

'If this resonates with you, I wanted to share some advice one of my friends gave me when we were talking about this exact thing.

'She told me that instead of worrying how quickly it's going, we should look at things differently and appreciate that with every moment (big or small) that passes, we're creating a future filled with joy, love, and endless possibility.'

Holly and Phil, who are embroiled in one of the biggest fallouts in television, did not address their rift when they returned to This Morning yesterday, but viewers described them as 'awkward' and 'embarrassing'.

Today, a source suggested that public scepticism of the pair's attempt to project a united front could force ITV bosses to make a 'difficult decision'.

'This Morning's relationship with its viewers is built on trust, and they have to believe that Holly and Phil's friendship, and what they're watching, is real,' the source told The Mirror.

The insider suggested that if this was no longer believed then ITV could be forced into replacing Phil with someone else.

In her newsletter, Holly urged fans to try and look at the positives in life.

She wrote: 'If we can remember to reflect on just how lucky we are to be making all these memories, the passage of time can feel really positive. It's a bit like that old saying, ''Time is a luxury that the wise appreciate.'''

Phil seen leaving his home today on the way to ITV's London studios for This Morning

The pair (seen this morning) are embroiled in one of the biggest fallouts in television

Holly continued by revealing she was taking inspiration from this week's 'magnificent New Moon, heralding a period of rejuvenation.'

'It's the perfect time to establish new affirmations, construct vision boards, and dedicate your attention to manifesting your goals.

'Allow the creative energies to surge within you, and stretch your imagination to embrace its most extravagant dreams.'

Holly and Phil were back on screens for the first time on Monday since news of their feud broke, but failed to address claims that their relationship is at breaking point and that they barely speak off camera.

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.

READ MORE - JAN MOIR: After this farrago of fakery it will be a miracle if Holly and Phil last the week! Advertisement

Senior figures at ITV called a crisis meeting following a wave of negative social media feedback about yesterday's show.

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.

'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, couldn't trust these two actors.'

A third wrote: 'This is cringe. It feels awkward knowing theses two people don't 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.'

Sources close to the pair insist the programme will continue to run smoothly, despite the feuding behind the scenes.

Writing in her latest newsletter for subscribers of her wellbeing brand Wylde Moon, Holly was in a reflective mood as she revealed she had been receiving some advice

Bosses from the broadcaster were allegedly furious after Phil broke his silence with a shock statement on Thursday night about the fall out with his co-host of 14 years admitting 'the last few weeks haven't been easy for us'.

Despite this, Phil 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.

Phil has consulted lawyers over the situation, which has been spiralling out of control for months.

The Daily Mail revealed this weekend 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.

Message: Alongside photos of herself at home with her pet dog, Holly wrote: 'We're creating a future filled with joy, love, and endless possibility'

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. Holly has now cut all ties with Phil other than her This Morning commitments.
Lara Worthington was doing her best to spruik a cosmetic product on Tuesday but it did not go to plan.

In a new Instagram post, the 35-year-old was making a sponsored video for Emma Lewisham cosmetics in which she tried the brand's face mask.

As the model, wearing sunglasses, sat outside during a gorgeous sunset applying the skincare, flies took an interest.

The bugs landed on Lara's face repeatedly, as she waved them off urgently, only for them to return.

'I guess flies love @emmalewisham too!' she joked in the caption alongside the video.

Lara Worthington (pictured) was doing her best to spruika cosmetic product on Tuesday but it did not go to plan

In a new Instagram post, the 35-year-old was making a sponsored video for Emma Lewisham cosmetics in which she tried the brand's face mask

In a second photo shared the same day, Lara held the jar of face mask aloft in front of the sunset in a much more glamorous presentation.

It comes after Lara told Marie Claire Australia that she'd struggled with body confidence in her younger years, but welcoming children completely changed her perspective.

The Aussie beauty, who hails from Sydney's Cronulla but now lives in New York, explained that having her three children taught her to 'be happy' in her body.

'Before I had kids, I was always trying to get skinny or be a certain weight,' she said.

As the model, wearing sunglasses, sat outside during a gorgeous sunset applying the skincare, flies took an interest

The bugs landed on Lara's face repeatedly, as she waved them off urgently, only for them to return

'I guess flies love @emmalewisham too!' she joked in the caption alongside the video

In a second photo shared the same day, Lara held the jar of face mask aloft in front of the sunset in a much more glamorous presentation

'My mind was so focused on that and then the moment I just let myself be happy in my body and had kids it really changed for me. I feel like my whole early twenties were just so centred on body issues.'

Lara and Sam are parents to three sons: Rocket, eight, Racer, six, and River, three.

The doting mum said she thinks her body was 'meant to have kids' and she would 'happily' have more in the future.

Lara and Sam began dating in 2013 and married in secret a year later.
9,000 fans and counting have signed a petition in a desperate bid to save Netflix show Lockwood & Co.

The supernatural programme was axed after just one series by the streaming platform.

But Netflix's decision not to renew for a second season has been met with fierce backlash, with thousands of viewers signing a petition to urge bosses not to pull the plug.

The petition has gained momentum on Twitter with fans venting their fury about the decision to cancel the show under the hashtag #SaveLockwoodandCo and #LockwoodandCo.

One wrote: 'This show deserves to have a longer run! The adaptation was so spot on to the books and the acting was phenomenal. So few family friendly shows out there today (especially on Netflix) for people to connect with; this one has so much story left to be told.'

Determined: 9,000 fans and counting have signed a petition in a desperate bid to save Netflix show Lockwood & Co

Another added: 'This is one of the best show adaptations I've ever seen. I am gutted. I will never forgive Netflix for making this god awful decision.

'Favourite book series brought to life with incredible adaption. It was number one on Netflix in 18 countries around the world. It deserves a second season,' wrote another.

'Just an awesome show. Had everything. Ghostbusters/ Goonies/ Conjuring/ Harry Potter all in one show. This is a mistake,' added a different passionate viewer.

Netflix announced in a statement that the show 'will not return for a second series'.

The statement read: 'With a heavy heart, we announce that Lockwood & Co will not return for a second series...

'To the fans- to Lock Nation- you really have been the greatest. We cannot thank you enough for how much you have embraced, celebrated and loved the show.

'We are particularly proud of the gifted young actors who brought Jonathan's beloved fictional characters to the screen with such warmth, charm and vulnerability.

'Ruby, Cameron and Ali were our perfect Lucy, Lockwood and George. We couldn't have asked for a more dedicated or talented trio.

Cut: The supernatural programme was axed after just one series by the streaming platform

Fury: Netflix's decision not to renew the show for a second season has been met with fierce backlash, with thousands of viewers signing a petition to urge bosses not to pull the plug.

Plea: The petition has nearly reached its target with 9,007 fans having signed at the time of publication

Axed: The supernatural thriller, which is based on the Jonathan Stroud's books, stars Bridgeton's Ruby Stokes and newcomers Cameron Chapman and Ali Hadji-Heshmati

'All three are superstars and we can't wait to see them shine in the dazzling bright future that undoubtedly awaits them.'

The supernatural thriller, which is based on the Jonathan Stroud's books, stars Bridgeton's Ruby Stokes and newcomers Cameron Chapman and Ali Hadji-Heshmati.

The TV series is set in an alternative London overrun with ghosts visible only to the young.

A girl with psychic abilities joins the two teen boys at the ghost-hunting agency Lockwood & Co. to fight the deadly spirits plaguing the city.
Will Poulter looked swoon-worthy as he posed shirtless for the latest edition of HUNGER magazine.

The Maze Runner actor, 30, showed off a glimpse of his very toned torso - the result of much hard work to transform into superhero Adam Warlock for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3.

The heartthrob donned a black blazer as he went shirtless to display his defined muscles.

Will's hair was tousled for a ruggedly handsome look with strands effortlessly falling down onto his forehead as he smouldered for the camera.

He looked stylish in another snap in a black-and-white blazer and white tailored trousers as he once more pierced the camera with his blue eyes.

Hunk: Will Poulter, 30, looked swoon-worthy as he posed shirtless for HUNGER magazine

Star: The actor looked effortlessly handsome with tousled hair as he smouldered for the camera

It comes after Will opened up about body image as he discussed his physical transformation for Guardians Of The Galaxy.

He has joined the Marvel franchise for the third film as Adam Warlock, where he stars alongside Chris Pratt.

The film was released in cinemas on May 3 to much critical acclaim.

The role required Will to add a lot of muscle to his naturally slight frame - a process that has been rigorous and demanding for the actor.

In a new interview with GQ Hype, he discussed his transformation into the superhero and the fact he doesn't consider himself 'conventionally attractive'.

Will told the magazine: 'All I know is I worked as hard as I could, safely and naturally, to conceivably pass as a superhero.'

Scrutiny of his appearance is something he has not been able to avoid in the film industry - as he admitted he doesn't think he is 'conventionally attractive'.

He continued: 'It was weird when people started to debate my physical appearance online as to whether it was deemed attractive or unattractive.

New look: The Maze Runner star put on a lot of muscle to star as Adam Warlock in Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 3

Throwback: Taking to Twitter, the star stumbled across a message from someone asking why he dressed as the character Sid Phillips from Toy Story back in 2017

Back then: Will rose to fame while filming for the Maze Runner (pictured in 2014)

'I am very comfortable and secure in the knowledge that I'm not conventionally attractive as I've always had remarks about looking unusual  whether it's my eyebrows or whatever else, people have made a thing of that.'

Will also recently powerfully hit back at body shamers as he revealed the true reason behind why he once dressed as Toy Story character Sid Phillips for Halloween.

Back in 2017, Will dressed up as the character, after trolls compared his appearance to the cartoon for years.

Fans were initially left confused as they thought the actor hated the comparison - but he revealed there was a much more serious reason behind his decision.

'I did do it in light of some of the comparisons between me and Sid from Toy Story that were going around on the internet,' he explained.

'I work with Anti-Bullying Pro and the Diana Award, I did it during anti-bullying week to raise awareness of that organisation.

'So, that was that.'

HUNGER magazines next issue, Timeslice, out on global newsstands on the 24th May is a standalone collectors edition, championing the past work and continuing legacy of its editor-in-chief, the globally renowned photographer, Rankin.

This will accompany his upcoming exhibition in Hamburg at the Ernst Leitz Museum (running between May 26th to September 27th, 2023), which will feature a mix of archival and contemporary work.

HUNGER magazine's next issue is out May 24th.
Priyanka Chopra has been announced as Grazia's latest global cover star in which she talks about 'being cancelled, fickle fame, rejection and being patronised on set.'

The Citadel and Love Again actress, 40, is gracing the cover of Grazia UK plus 12 other international editions for their luxury issue.

Priyanka, 40, looks incredible wearing a low-cut red dress which clings to her figure, as well as in a variety of jewel coloured outfit choices.

There's the pink oversized power suit and the blue form-fitting midi dress teamed with white boots, as well as the orange plunging hooded number.

Talking about her success, she said: 'My job is extremely inconsistent. I could get cancelled tomorrow, people could decide I'm not flavour of the month.

Wow! Priyanka looked incredible in a low-cut red dress and colourful lycra as she graced the cover of 12 international editions of Grazia

Talking about her success, she said: 'My job is extremely inconsistent. I could get cancelled tomorrow, people could decide I'm not flavour of the month'

Lots to come: She recently spoke about how busy she has been of late with the promotion of her two latest roles: the spy action thriller series Citadel and the movie Love Again

'I have never been the kind of person who thinks I have made it.'

She acknowledges her huge success in Bollywood did not immediately translate to Hollywood and she had intended to bring music to Hollywood.

She told the publication: 'There were so many times I wanted to quit. I was tired of rejection. I felt dismissed and patronised on set, like people didn't believe I could do my job even when Bollywood is as huge as it is.'

'I had taken such a big risk leaving my career in India and that really was a concern for me. I felt like I had bitten off more than I could chew.'

Priyanka has been happily married to singer Nick Jonas since 2018. They welcomed a daughter Malti, via surrogate, in January 2022.

She acknowledged that neither she nor Nick could balance work and parenthood without the support of their families.

She said: 'My cousins and I all went to each other's homes when parents were working - it's a very Indian thing and Nick's parents are hands on too.

'Right now, my daughter's in New York with my mom, probably eating ice-cream for dinner, having the time of her life.'

Bold: She looked like she meant business in a pink power suit which suited her perfectly

Read all about it: The latest issue of Grazia, available on UK newsstands and digitally from Tuesday May 16 will include an exclusive interview with Chopra

The latest issue of Grazia, available on UK newsstands and digitally from Tuesday May 16 will include an exclusive interview with Chopra Jonas.

Hattie Brett, Grazia UK Editor-in-Chief, said: 'As an actor, producer, author, investor and mother, Priyanka Chopra Jonas inspires the Grazia woman, making her the perfect star to appear simultaneously across 12 international editions of Grazia.

'Talking to us about hitting her prime and why she wants to use her fame for good, were so excited to work with her on this project.'

Hattie Brett, Grazia UK Editor-in-Chief, said: 'As an actor, producer, author, investor and mother, Priyanka Chopra Jonas inspires the Grazia woman, making her the perfect star to appear simultaneously across 12 international editions of Grazia'

She continued: 'Talking to us about hitting her prime and why she wants to use her fame for good, were so excited to work with her on this project'

That's one way to shine: She wore a purple ensemble to grace the cover of the Latino America cover

Can't get you out of my head: An orange hooded number had a bold plunging neckline in the style of one of Kylie Minogue's famous outfits

Purple reign: While some of the outfits were repeated, the covers varied in design
Triple J suffered an embarrassing gaffe this week after three minutes of dead air had technicians rushing to find out what went wrong.

The sudden blip began in the middle of the day with viewers hearing one minute of a presenter singing, 'I'm so sorry', from I Miss You by Blink 182 to themselves.

As technicians quickly cut the presenter's blunder from the airwaves, another two minutes of dead air followed, reported news.com.au on Tuesday.

While it's unclear which program was interrupted by the gaffe, it was originally noticed by a Guardian reporter who joked it was 'bloody good radio'.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to parent company ABC for comment.

Triple J suffered an embarrassing gaffe this week after three minutes of dead air had technicians rushing to find out what went wrong. Pictured is Triple J breakfast host Bryce Mills during a different segment

As technicians quickly cut the presenter's blunder from the airwaves, another two minutes of dead air followed, reported news.com.au on Tuesday. Pictured is Triple J breakfast host Concetta Caristo during a different segment

The national youth broadcaster had a rude awakening recently as the radio ratings last year showed a mass migration of listeners to easy-listening stations like WSFM and Smooth FM which target boomers and Gen-Xers.

The third survey of 2022, conducted by market research company GfK and covering the period of February 27 to April 2 and April 17 to May 21, revealed Triple J had dropped by 7.4 percentage points in its target demographic of 18 to 24-year-olds.

It secured just eight per cent of the youth market, which was a significant decline from its 20 per cent share two surveys ago when a huge number of people tuned in for the Hottest 100 countdown.

The latest survey results are said to be 'indicative of a broader movement away from the station', reported news.com.au, with the biggest drops affecting the 9am-12pm morning show (down 1.9 per cent) and 12pm-4pm workdays (down 2.7 per cent).

At first glance, the data appears to suggest Triple J is losing listeners to the likes of WSFM and Smooth FM, which target people over the age of 35 and are known for playing top-40 hits from yesteryear with a focus on Aussie rock and '80s music.

This migration may not be bad news for the ABC-owned youth station, however.

Triple J made it clear during its 'generational shift' relaunch in 2019 - which saw several popular hosts including Gen Fricker and Tom Tilley replaced by young upstarts - that it was 'ruthlessly' targeting 18 to 24-year-olds only.
Danniella Westbrook was enjoying some rest and relaxation as she hit the beach while recovering from facial reconsutrction surgery in Portugal on Monday.

The former EastEnders star, 49, looked in good spirits as she went sunbathing near the shore.

The actress slipped into a blue and pink patterned crop top for the day along with lime green bikini bottoms.

The outing comes as Danniella admitted she is not happy with her looks after undergoing reconstruction surgery in Turkey in a bad to save her collapsing face.

Danniella had a thread lift, liposuction in her cheeks and lips, fat grafting on her chin and her jawline etched after her septum collapsed from excessive drug use in 2002.

Sun-kissed: Danniella Westbrook was enjoying some rest and relaxation as she hit the beach while recovering from facial reconsutrction surgery in Portugal on Monday

Life's a beach: The former EastEnders star, 49, looked in good spirits as she went sunbathing near the shore

Candid: The outing comes as Danniella admitted she is not happy with her looks after undergoing reconstruction surgery in Turkey in a bad to save her collapsing face

Taking to Instagram, the actress shared a photo of herself taken before the surgery and said she couldn't believe what had been done to her.

She wrote: 'Three months ago I looked like this and thought I looked awful. I'd give my world to look like this again...

'I can't believe what's been done to me with this surgery.'

Since her procedure, Danniella had been wearing thick bandages around her head and nose, but took them off earlier this month.

The television personality has been shaken after a health scare saw her back in hospital, hours after landing in Portugal.

Taking to her Instagram Stories on Sunday, she penned: 'Only I could land back in Portugal after surgery only to end up in hospital.

'The pain I've experienced is unreal, most frightening few days. Need it like a hole in the head, literally.'

When Danniella first woke up after the lengthy procedure, she said she looked 'like she had done 10 rounds with Tyson Fury'.

Fun in the sun: The actress slipped into a blue and pink patterned crop top for the day along with lime green bikini bottoms

Casual: Danniella also wore a pair of sunglasses and styled her blonde locks into an updo

Surgery: Danniella had a thread lift, liposuction in her cheeks and lips, fat grafting on her chin and her jawline etched after her septum collapsed from excessive drug use in 2002

She has wanted the reconstruction for the last seven years, but was unable to find a surgeon who would operate because her septum had completely collapsed.

She told The Sun: 'I was very fearful. My mum and my son Kai were on the phone constantly - I wrote up a will before I left and my son is the executor of that.

'But luckily I'm still here and I've come through the other side. Someone is looking over me. I looked like I'd gone 10 rounds with Tyson Fury.

'But the swelling has actually gone down really quickly. I'm already happy with the results.'

Danniella says she paid for the surgery herself despite being offered freebies from clinics all over the world, after a health scare last year left her in intensive care because she struggled to breathe through her nose.

While in the recovery stage, Danniella has to just stick to ibuprofen and paracetamol, because any pain killer stronger could be a trigger for her past cocaine addiction.

Danniella previously revealed she needed five operations to correct her 'collapsing' face due to a previous cocaine addiction and osteoporosis, and was planning to have it done on the NHS.

She told The Sun: 'I've spent the last seven years trying to get somebody to do it, but they said no in case it failed and they got struck off.

Under the knife: Since her procedure, Danniella had been wearing thick bandages around her head and nose, but took them off earlier this month

Ordeal: The television personality has been shaken after a health scare saw her back in hospital, hours after landing in Portugal

Recovery: When Danniella first woke up after the lengthy procedure, she said she looked 'like she had done 10 rounds with Tyson Fury'

'Plastic surgeons wanted 500,000 to change my face, so I thought I was never going to get it done. It was only because I went into intensive care before Christmas.

'I couldn't breathe because I had a cold. There was a build up of fluid and after I fell asleep I couldn't wake up properly and ended up in ICU.

'I was sent over to Aintree Hospital in Liverpool and it's only because I was put in front of the right doctors, or else I'd still be waiting now to find someone. 'They're doing it for me under the NHS now.'

Danniella previously underwent a rib insertion procedure in 2018, after osteoporosis rotted away her cheekbones and gums and, after spending the last year getting lip filler and Botox, in addition to surgery on her face, she is hoping to get back to her best.

The actress' battle with drugs has been well-publicised, and she famously had her nose reconstructed after her septum collapsed from excessive cocaine use in 2002.

At the height of her use it was reported she would take up to five grams of cocaine a day, blowing close to 250,000 on the drug.

Operation: Danniella previously revealed she needed five operations to correct hr 'collapsing' face due to a previous cocaine addiction and osteoporosis, and was planning to have it done on the NHS.

The star has since embarked on multiple rehab stints in order to battle her demons - and revealed she was finally clean in June 2021, after attending a clinic in Mijas, Spain.

Danniella first appeared in EastEnders in 1990 at the age of 16 and acted on the soap for three years.

She returned in 1996 but her time was cut short when her off-screen behaviour got her sacked.

She returned again shortly after, but was axed again in 2000 after further disruptive behaviour, admitting she blew 100k on cocaine at the time.

The part was recast between 2002 and 2005, and played by Kim Medcalf, but Danniella returned to the role once more in 2009 until 2010.

She was back once more in 2016 for the storyline surrounding on-screen mother Peggy Mitchell's death, which is to date her final appearance.
Cindy Bruna made a head-turning departure as she left the Hotel Martinez during the 76th Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday.

The model, 28, strutted down the street in a plunging lemon yellow tweed playsuit.

Cindy showed off plenty of cleavage as she went braless in the one-piece which had tie detailing at the neck.

The thigh-skimming hemline, meanwhile, showed off her model legs. Cindy complemented the look with black shades and white heeled lace-up sandals.

The stars have been gathering for the Cannes Film Festival this week.

Strutting her stuff: Cindy Bruna made a head-turning departure as she left the Hotel Martinez during the 76th Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday

All eyes on her: Cindy showed off plenty of cleavage as she went braless in the one-piece which had tie detailing at the neck

Laura Harrier was pictured arriving at Nice Airport, while Iris Law made the most of the sunshine in the resort town.

Laura looked lovely in a green silk suit and toted her belongings in a 3,620 Saint Laurent quilted bag.

Iris, meanwhile, put on a leggy display in a grey miniskirt and layered up a pink and red cardigan.

Cannes' annual film festival previews new films of all genres, including documentaries, from all around the world.

Founded in 1946, the invitation-only festival is held annually (usually in May) at the Palais des Festivals et des Congres.

Cindy attended the festival last year.

She began modelling early on, after being discovered at 16 years old and signing with Metropolitan Management and Wilhemina Models.

Leggy: The thigh-skimming hemline, meanwhile, showed off her model legs. Cindy complemented the look with black shades and white heeled lace-up sandals

Chic: Laura Harrier looked lovely in a green silk suit as she arrived at Nice Airport

In 2012 she walked exclusively for Calvin Klein and has previously appeared on the cover of Vogue Italia, as well as editorials across a number of different Vogue publications, Harper's Bazaar and ELLE UK.

She first made her Victoria's Secret fashion show debut in 2013 and appeared in every showcase until its cancellation in 2019.

Arrival: The stars are arriving in Cannes for the annual Film Festival

Expensive taste: Laura teamed the look with a large designer quilted bag and denim heels

Model behaviour: Iris Law put on a leggy display in a grey miniskirt as she was seen heading out on Tuesday
A Channel 4 reality show has reportedly been axed after only one season - following heated controversy and backlash from fans.

The broadcaster are set to remove Murder Island from air, despite an extensive promotional campaign.

The first series, which aired in 2021, formed part game show and part murder mystery, in which members of the public joined forces with retired detectives to solve a fictional crime.

Contestants were brought to the remote island of Gigha in the Hebrides, in order to piece together who was responsible for the crime, written by novelist Ian Rankin.

But according to The Sun, the series will not be returning for another mystery.

Oh no! A Channel 4 reality show has reportedly been axed after only one season - following heated controversy and backlash from fans

A show insider told the publication: 'Channel 4 are proud of the production values with Murder Island but have decided the investigation is over.'

When contacted by The Sun, a spokesperson for the broadcaster said: 'Murder Island was a bold and creative programme that found an engaged audience who were hooked right until the end.

'Our commissioning strategy is to continue to develop new formats and exciting ideas.'

The show received blacklash from viewers during its broadcast, which coincided with former Met Police officer Wayne Couzens fighting his life-long murder conviction for the kidnap and killing of Sarah Everard.

Consequently, the content and storyline caused controversy from some viewers.

The first episode opened with a woman running along and flagging down a car before calling emergency services to say she's found a body.

The action then jumped to a forensic team examining the scene, at which point several self-professed armchair detective duos  supervised by real retired senior investigating officers  scrutinised crime photos, gathered evidence and quizzed witnesses with the aim of identifying a suspect and making a watertight case that would be strong enough to reach court.

The civilian 'detectives' had real pathologists, forensic scientists and psychologists at their disposal as they competed to see who could spot the killer first.

End of the road: The broadcaster are set to remove Murder Island from air, despite an extensive promotional campaign

Plot: The first series, which aired in 2021, formed part game show and part murder mystery, in which members of the public joined forces with retired detectives to solve a fictional crime

A 50,000 reward was at stake for the winners, while the poorest-performing duos were periodically culled.

Viewers learnt early on that the victim was Charly Hendricks and she had returned to the island of her birth (Gigha is turned into the fictional island of Hirsa).

She and the rest of the cast were then seen in flashback and 'real time' as they were quizzed by the sleuths.

'The contestants can ask them anything, and the actors have to be nimble enough at improvisation to answer convincingly,' Ian explained at the time.

He professed a fondness for the armchair sleuths (teams include married couples and friends) who believed that their enthusiasm for crime drama had given them the skills they needed.

'Early on they're a bit smug,' he said.

'Then they stumble into the crime scene and start getting it wrong  there are two big pieces of evidence they miss.

'It's a very steep learning curve, and that's part of the fun for the audience at home who probably all think of themselves as fantastic armchair detectives too.'
A new luxury facial treatment has taken the country by storm and Aussie movie star Rebel Wilson is leading the celebrity endorsements.

The Pitch Perfect star, 43, first showed off the results of the bizarre $4000 treatment late last year and now EMFACE has hit Australian shores.

In a behind-the-scenes Instagram post in September, Rebel shared a video of her face covered in applicators which fed an 'electrical current' through her skin.

Pads were applied to her cheeks and forehead, along with a grounding pad stuck to her back, as she laid in a clinic chair.

The EMFACE machine she was hooked up to then used 'high-intensity facial electrical stimulation' and 'radiofrequency' to 'remodel' the Hollywood star's face.

Luxury facial treatment EMFACE has taken the country by storm and Aussie movie star Rebel Wilson, 43, (pictured) is leading the celebrity endorsements

'My forehead definitely feels lifted, my cheekbones look snatched,' she said after the treatment, which used 'thousands' of electrical pulses to contract her face and give it a chiseled look.

After four treatments over the course of a month, Wilson shared a glamorous photo of her fresh face as she flaunted the results of her expensive cosmetic service.

'Enjoying the results of EMFACE as I headed to the Academy Museum Gala last night. My face looks effortlessly snatched and glowing! Very satisfied with the results!' she said.

The Pitch Perfect star first showed off the results of the bizarre $4000 treatment late last year in an Instagram video which showed her face covered in applicators

Wilson isn't the only celebrity to praise the benefits of the cosmetic procedure, with G-Flip's wife Selling Sunset star Chrishell Stause also using the treatment.

EMFACE claims to be a non-invasive cosmetic procedure which 'simultaneously emits both synchronised radiofrequency and HIFES (High-intensity facial electromagnetic stimulation) energy to remodel the face'.

Co-Directors Melissa Don and Christian Compain of The Derm Lab in Melbourne claim the treatment 'results in a refreshed, natural, lifted and contoured appearance'.

'[This] makes it an ideal treatment for celebrities who cant afford the downtime of invasive surgery,' they said.

'Celebrities are trying to avoid excessive anti-wrinkle injections due to the obvious need for expression and movement, so EMFACE is their treatment of choice.'
Isabel Lucas has made a stunning return to the spotlight.

The actress, who endured widespread backlash in 2020 after coming out against vaccine mandates and lockdowns amid the Covid pandemic, walked the runway at the Aje show at Australian Fashion Week on Tuesday.

The 38-year-old looked chic in a slinky white jumpsuit, confidently sashaying before the crowd of fashionistas.

The outfit included a wide pant leg with sheer layers, and a ruched bodice with fine spaghetti straps.

She wore a single gold statement earring and a pair of coffee toned high heels with knotted detailing.

Isabel Lucas (pictured) has made a stunning return to the spotlight

The actress, who endured widespread backlash in 2020 after coming out against vaccine mandates and lockdowns amid the Covid pandemic, walked the runway at the Aje show at Australian Fashion Week on Tuesday

The 38-year-old looked chic in a slinky white jumpsuit, confidently sashaying before the crowd of fashionistas

For makeup, Isabel had on a natural, clean palette with a hint of highlighter and nude lip stain.

The former Home and Away star has recently discussed her decision to skip the jab, admitting that she knew it was 'highly likely I wont work for years if I share this'.

Speaking to Stellar magazine, the star said that she had 'several' vaccines when she was growing up, but chose not to get vaccinated against Covid.

'For me, I appreciate, what might be right for you may not be right for me, but its not right that either of us are being stripped of the freedom to choose,' she explained.

The outfit included a wide pant leg with sheer layers, and a ruched bodice with fine spaghetti straps

She wore a single gold statement earring in a heavy teardrop shape

Isabel's look was finished with a pair of coffee toned high heels with knotted detailing

'Our relationship with our body is very personal and its deeply complex and so are our choices, and were claiming to engage in conversations about inclusion and diversity  you know, gender, religion, sexuality, race  without allowing our beliefs or observations to be acknowledged,' she continued.

'The diversity of choice is yet to be included, in my experience.'

In November 2021, Isabel said that she was 'pro-choice' when it came to the Covid vaccine.

She later clarified her remarks on Instagram, saying she has 'concerns around "mandatory" vaccination, not vaccination itself'.

For makeup, Isabel had on a natural, clean palette with a hint of highlighter and nude lip stain

The former Home and Away star has recently discussed her decision to skip the jab, admitting that she knew it was 'highly likely I wont work for years if I share this'

Speaking to Stellar magazine, the star said that she had 'several' vaccines when she was growing up, but chose not to get vaccinated against Covid

At the time, the star joined hundreds of people at a rally to protest Australia's Covid-19 vaccine mandates at the New South Wales-Queensland border.

In 2020, Isabel hit headlines when she shared anti-vaccination views on Instagram while commenting on a post by controversial chef Pete Evans.

Throwing her support behind the former MKR judge, she wrote: 'Freedom of choice is every human's right. I don't trust the path of vaccination.'

She received widespread backlash for her stance, and as a result was dropped as an ambassador for the charity Plan International Australia, which ironically champions equal rights for young girls.

Isabel has a long history of activism dating back to 2007, when she and fellow actress Hayden Panettiere joined activists on surfboards to try and stop a pod of dolphins being slaughtered in Japan.

Isabel got her big break in acting playing Tasha Andrews on Home and Away from 2003 to 2006 (pictured)

In 2020, Isabel also attended a 'peaceful' anti-5G protest in Byron Bay, marching from the Jing Organics health food store to the proposed location of a 5G tower.

The Sydney-born beauty got her big break in acting playing Tasha Andrews on Home and Away from 2003 to 2006.

From there, she found stardom in Hollywood in films like Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Daybreakers, and Red Dawn.

More recently, she played Samantha Cage in season two of the MacGyver TV reboot.

Isabel has since left Los Angeles and moved back to Australia to start a new life in Byron Bay.
Lorraine Kelly has broken her silence on the feud between Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby.

The TV presenter, 63, spoke out after the pair returned to ITV on Monday morning amid claims of a behind-the-scenes collapse of the duo's friendship.

The presenter holds the ITV morning slot from 9am to 10am on weekdays, shortly before This Morning airs.

Lorraine insisted that it appeared to be 'business as usual' for Phillip and Holly yesterday, despite mounting concerns that ITV bosses could be considering drastic action amid plummeting ratings.

She revealed she believes it would be 'sad' for their This Morning partnership to end - but believes they will continue to host together.

Speaking out: Lorraine Kelly, 63, has broken her silence over the feud between her ITV co-stars Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby

Tense: Phillip and Holly have continued to host This Morning this week but have not addressed their feud on air

Speaking about what she feels the future holds for the pair, Lorraine told The Sun: 'Do you know what they were back today and it was business as usual and everyone is just getting on with it.'

She continued: 'I would be sad if they left the show but I don't think that is ever likely to happen and I think they're just getting on with it.'

Phillip, 61, and Holly, 42, have yet to address their feud on air and have continued to broadcast their show as usual - despite losing 170,000 viewers in a week.

Figures revealed Monday's episode had an average of 726,720 people watching compared to 894,000 on the same day last week. Peak viewership was also significantly down at 914,000 compared to 1.058million on May 8.

By contrast, the duo pulled in 1.3m viewers for their 2022 Christmas show and an average of 1.4m in the first four weeks of 2021.

Viewers watching today's episode described the atmosphere as 'awkward', with one tweeting: 'I haven't watched the show for many months. I thought I'd watch today's but it's clear the partnership is strained.'

Insiders have described Phil as 'increasingly withdrawn' on set, with one telling The Mirror: 'He seems down and spends a lot of time in his dressing room. We're worried about him.'

Holly and Phil were back on screen together on Monday amid claims of their faltering relationship

He has also appeared to 'quit' social media amid the fallout - as his last post was seen on May 7, where he shared a video during a trip to Paris.

It comes as Holly wrote a newsletter for her wellbeing brand Wylde Moon which revealed the star in a reflective mood.

'The older I get, the more I appreciate how daunting the concept of time passing can be,' she mused. 'I can always remember my nan saying things like 'wait 'til you get to my agethen it really starts flying by' and I now I really get it.

'If this resonates with you, I wanted to share some advice one of my friends gave me when we were talking about this exact thing.

'She told me that instead of worrying how quickly it's going, we should look at things differently and appreciate that with every moment (big or small) that passes, we're creating a future filled with joy, love, and endless possibility.'

Holly and Phil, who are embroiled in one of the biggest fallouts in television, did not address their rift when they returned to This Morning on Monday, but viewers described them as 'awkward' and 'embarrassing'.

On Tuesday, a source suggested that public scepticism of the pair's attempt to project a united front could force ITV bosses to make a 'difficult decision'.

'This Morning's relationship with its viewers is built on trust, and they have to believe that Holly and Phil's friendship, and what they're watching, is real,' the source told The Mirror.

The insider suggested that if this was no longer believed then ITV could be forced into replacing Phil with someone else.

In her newsletter, Holly urged fans to try and look at the positives in life.

Awkward: ITV are said to be crisis talks, while Holly and Phil failed to address their fallout for a second day on air

She wrote: 'If we can remember to reflect on just how lucky we are to be making all these memories, the passage of time can feel really positive. It's a bit like that old saying, ''Time is a luxury that the wise appreciate.'''

Holly and Phil were back on screens for the first time on Monday since news of their feud broke, but failed to address claims that their relationship is at breaking point and that they barely speak off camera.

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.

Senior figures at ITV called a crisis meeting following a wave of negative social media feedback about yesterday's show.

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.

'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.'

On the show: Holly mimes a gun as she and Phil introduce a segment about a real man called James Bond

United front: Sources close to the pair insist the programme will continue to run smoothly, despite the feuding behind the scenes

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, couldn't trust these two actors.'

A third wrote: 'This is cringe. It feels awkward knowing theses two people don't 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.'

Sources close to the pair insist the programme will continue to run smoothly, despite the feuding behind the scenes.

Bosses from the broadcaster were allegedly furious after Phil broke his silence with a shock statement on Thursday night about the fall out with his co-host of 14 years admitting 'the last few weeks haven't been easy for us'.

Despite this, Phil 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.

Breaking her silence: Writing in her latest newsletter for subscribers of her wellbeing brand Wylde Moon, Holly was in a reflective mood as she revealed she had been receiving some advice

Phil has consulted lawyers over the situation, which has been spiralling out of control for months.

The Daily Mail revealed this weekend 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 were criticised after failing to queue for the Queen's Lying in State.

Phillip previously took time off from presenting the show in March after his brother, Timothy, was convicted of child sex offences.

Things have become so bad that it is said they no longer speak when the cameras stop rolling.

Holly has now cut all ties with Phil other than her This Morning commitments.
Amanda Holden shrieked with delight when her co-host Jamie Theakston stripped 'naked' live on air on Tuesday morning.

The Britain's Got Talent judge, 51, was all smiles as she presented her radio show opposite to Jamie, 52, who removed his clothes.

Amanda couldn't contain her laughter as she quickly pulled out her phone to film her co-host as he flexed his muscles to the camera.

She said: 'Jamie Theakston, in fact I've gone live on my Instagram. If you want to see Jamie Theakston naked live on the radio'.

He added: 'Just from the waist up', but Amanda said she 'couldnt see whats underneath' the desk from where she was sat.

'Naked live on the radio': Amanda Holden shrieked with delight as her co-host Jamie Theakston stripped 'naked' live on air on Tuesday morning

Joking around: The Britain's Got Talent judge, 51, couldn't contain her laughter as she quickly pulled out her phone to film her co-host as he flexed his muscles to the camera

Jamie joked that was 'probably for the best' as he continued with the Breakfast Show's announcements and what is to come on tomorrows show.

Amanda interrupted and screamed: 'Are you going to be dressed?'

As Jamie stood up from the studio desk, Amanda added: 'Oh yes!'

Jamie later revealed the reason behind him being shirtless, he said: 'Someones taken my clothes. I dont have a top, I was just trying on a T-shirt, I now have nothing to wear.'

Taking to Amanda's Instagram post, her fans rushed to the comments to joke that Jamie has become the 'radio streaker'.

It comes as Amanda said she can't wait to get stuck into the next project in Tuscany with pal Alan Carr, 46, for their DIY show.

The BBC One programme, titled Amanda and Alan's Italian Job, has been renewed for a second series, following its triumph earlier this year.

The presenters bought two Sicilian flats for a euro each and spent three months transforming them into one stunning holiday home.

Having a laugh: Amanda was all smiles as she presented her radio show opposite to Jamie, 52, who removed his clothes

Oh dear: Jamie later revealed the reason behind him being shirtless, he said: 'Someones taken my clothes. I dont have a top, I was just trying on a T-shirt, I now have nothing to wear'

Amanda exclusively told MailOnline: 'Im obviously absolutely delighted that Alan and I have been given a second series of a show that we created together.

'This time Im considering ditching my nail extensions but Ill certainly be keeping the lashes! Ive got the Aperol Spritz on ice and Im being fitted for a new boiler suit as we speak.

'I adore Alan and this job suits us both perfectly. The sweetest thing about it all is that we can continue to raise more money for charities that make a huge difference to the lives of so many.'

Listen to Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden weekdays from 06:30  10:00 and on Global Player.
A BBC daytime star has ditched the broadcaster to front an exciting new show on Channel 5.

Paul Martin has worked with the channel since 2002 hosting shows such as Flog It!, Trust Me I'm A Dealer and Paul Martin's Handmade Revolution.

But now the presenter, 64, will be fronting a new series called Antiques Showdown on Channel 5.

It will sees contestants compete in games as Paul battles local dealers across the UK.

He told The Sun: 'I was very privileged and honoured to be asked by Channel 5 to front an exciting new antiques programme for them. It's very exciting.

Change: BBC daytime Paul Martin star has ditched the broadcaster to front an exciting new show on Channel 5

Career: He has worked with the channel since 2002 hosting shows such as Flog It!, Trust Me I'm A Dealer and Paul Martin's Handmade Revolution

'We have a valuation day in a historic building somewhere around the UK. We try to vary it up and go to different regions, which is quite exciting and nice.

'It's kind of armchair travel for the viewers at home. There's some highs and lows in every show, so it's good, because there's a twist.'

He explained that in the show they will go to a stately home, museum, civic centre or a town hall where members of the public turn up and they bring in their items to get a free evaluation.

If they're happy with their evaluation and want to sell their item the team will accept it while some will be rejected.

Other rounds will see Paul pitted against an expert for the week before the auction.

Paul has hosted a variety of antiques-themed shows including Make Me A Dealer which launched in 2018.

It sees two amateur antiques dealers investing their own money to buy items at auction before trying to sell them for profit.

Sticking to a well-worn formula, the contestant who makes the most money in each episode will then be named 'dealer of the day'.

Yay! But now the presenter, 64, will be fronting a new series called Antiques Showdown on Channel 5

Thrilled: He told The Sun: 'I was very privileged and honoured to be asked by Channel 5 to front an exciting new antiques programme for them. It's very exciting'

It was described by the corporation at the time as 'original factual programming' and an 'exciting new' series.

In a 2016 white paper, the Government criticised the BBC's 'static daytime schedule' and its reliance on 'property and collectables' programmes.

It urged the Corporation to focus on 'more ambitious' programming and said commissioning editors should be creating shows because they are 'innovative and high quality', rather than simply to pull in ratings.

The BBC also screens Antiques Roadshow on Sunday evenings which was first broadcast in 1979.

A BBC spokesman said: 'Make Me A Dealer is a unique new format where contributors invest their own money to buy collectables and then try to sell them for the highest price.

'Competition is fierce as the contributors, and viewers at home, learn the tricks of the trade to generate a profit, with tension building in personal video diaries across each episode.'

Paul Martin's Antiques Showdown airs on weekdays from Monday 22 May at 4pm on Channel 5
Bruce Willis's wife Emma Heming and ex-wife Demi Moore joined new mom Rumer as their blended family put on a united front and celebrated Mother's Day together amid the A-list actor's dementia battle.

Emma, 44, took to Instagram on Sunday to share a sweet group photo which included Demi, 60, and her three daughters: Rumer Willis, 34, Scout Willis, 31, and Tallulah Willis, 29, who recently revealed she was trolled about her eating disorder.

The photo also included Bruce's mom Marlene right in the middle in addition to Emma's mother Zorina.

It was a true family affair as Emma and Bruce's daughters Mabel, 11, and Evelyn, 9, were also present in the pic.

The smallest person in the group photo was Rumer's nearly month-old daughter Louetta Isley Thomas Willis as the actress gave birth just last month and celebrated her first Mother's Day as a mom.

'What an extra special day it was': Bruce Willis's wife Emma Heming and ex-wife Demi Moore joined new mom Rumer as their blended family put on a united front and celebrated Mother's Day together (pictured from left to right: Emma's mother Zorina Heming, Emma, infant Louetta, new mom Rumer, Bruce's mother Marlene, Bruce and Emma's daughter Evelyn, Bruce and Emma's daughter Mabel, Tallulah, Scout, and Demi)

Standing by their man: This comes months after the family revealed patriarch Bruce's, 68, battle with dementia; as he is pictured in August 2017

Emma celebrated the new arrival and her stepdaughter in the caption for the sweet photo as she wrote: 'What an extra special day it was for our family as we celebrated @rumerwillis and her first Mothers Day [pink flower, bouquet, and sunflower emojis] and we just love how the girls keep multiplying in pure Willis fashion.

'We love you so very much Louetta [red hear emoji] #happymothersday'

Demi showed her support for Bruce's new wife as she commented on the post: 'Beautiful perfect sweet day!'

The blended family is definitely close as they have documented their time together even quarantining during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic together and supporting Bruce through his battle with dementia.

This comes as Tallulah was supported by her loving family members as she revealed she had been cruelly trolled about her weight amid her eating disorder battle.

The daughter of Bruce and Demi took to Instagram on Monday to share a whole host of vile comments one Instagram user sent her.

The cruel troll responded to some of her Instagram posts with unkind body-shaming comments, with Tallulah saying she felt it was 'important' to share them.

Sharing the slew of nasty messages, Tallulah penned a poignant caption about how she has long been open about her struggles with an eating disorder.

Sticking together: The blended family is definitely close as they have documented their time together even quarantining during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic together and supporting Bruce through his battle with dementia; the family are pictured at Emma and Bruce's vowel renewal ceremony in 2019 to celebrate their 10th anniversary at the time

Trolls: This comes as Tallulah was supported by her loving family members as she revealed she had been cruelly trolled about her weight amid her eating disorder battle

Brave: The daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, 29, (pictured) took to Instagram on Monday to share a whole host of vile comments one Instagram user sent her

Struggles: Sharing the slew of nasty messages, Tallulah penned a poignant caption about how she has long been open about her struggles with an eating disorder

She wrote: 'I think it's important to share this, that this happens, that this happens to a healing person in recovery, who has been honest about how very sick she was/is and is working daily to find safety and home within her skin.

'It felt really important to show you this, that this happens. I'm very thankful I've gotten to a place where I don't become dismantled by stranger's words (for the most part)

'I love you and I like you - myself, buuskis included!'

Taking to the comments section, her family heaped their praise and support on Tallulah, gushing about how 'proud' they are of her.

Her mother Demi, 60, wrote: 'I am so proud of you! People often can only reflect their own fear. Be you in all your forms and keep shining your gorgeous glorious light!'

While her sister Scout, 31, said: 'I am so proud of you, and proud of the hard work you put in every day, and luckily for you, me and everyone who loves you, this person is but a mere footnote in your story.

'Unfortunately for them, they have to be themselves forever, and I wish them literally one IOTA of the grace, growth and self love you show every single day.'

Her father Bruce's wife Emma Heming penned: 'I'm so sorry Tallulah. You've summoned the mama bears on here who would like to know who this person is.'

Cruel: The cruel troll responded to some of her Instagram posts with unkind body-shaming comments, with Tallulah saying she felt it was 'important' to share them

Supportive: Taking to the comments section, her family did not shy away from sharing their support for Tallulah, gushing about how 'proud' they are of her

Kind: Her sister Scout, 31, said: 'I am so proud of you, and proud of the hard work you put in every day'. Pictured: Scout and Tallulah together in February

Tallulah was also sent kind messages from an array of other stars, including Danish model Helena Christensen.

She commented: 'You're one of the coolest people I have ever met. That poor stranger knows you are.

'Ahhh but you will laugh all the way to the cool bank and that stranger will crumble and wither in his own miserable plainness.'

Ariel Winter added: 'Sending you hugs, the internet is disgusting!!!'

WHAT IS BODY DYSMORPHIC DISORDER? Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), or body dysmorphia, is a mental health condition where a person spends a lot of time worrying about flaws in their appearance. These flaws are often unnoticeable to others. People of any age can have BDD, but it is most common in teenagers and young adults. It affects both men and women. Having BDD does not mean you are vain or self-obsessed. It can be very upsetting and have a big impact on your life. Symptoms of BDD include if you: worry a lot about a specific area of your body (particularly your face)

spend a lot of time comparing your looks with other people's

look at yourself in mirrors a lot or avoid mirrors altogether

go to a lot of effort to conceal flaws  for example, by spending a long time combing your hair, applying make-up or choosing clothes

pick at your skin to make it 'smooth' BDD can seriously affect your daily life, work, social life and relationships. BDD can also lead to depression, self-harm and even thoughts of suicide. You should visit your GP if you think you might have BDD. Source: NHS Advertisement

Tallulah has previously spoken openly about her struggles with an eating disorder, body dysmorphia and addiction.

Back in May 2021, Tallulah opened up about how she 'resented' being told she looked more like her father than her mother throughout her childhood.

She detailed her battle with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), which is a condition where people spend a lot of time worrying about flaws in their appearance.

'I punished myself for not looking like my mom, after being told I was [my father's] twin since birth,' she confessed in an Instagram post.

'I resented the resemblance as I believed wholly my 'masculine' face was the sole reason for my unlovability,' she continued, in reference to looking like the Die Hard superstar, 66, before denouncing the thought with a simple: 'FALSE.'

'I was/am inherently valuable and worthy, at any life stage, at any size, with any hair do! (As are you).'

Her comments came among a list of things that it took her 'way too long to realize' amid her battle with BBD.

She also urged others living with body dysmorphic disorder 'not to feel ashamed,' and said it is not a 'stupid, vain issue' but rather 'a genuine psychological pain'.

She offered tips that have helped her avoid 'spiraling', including taking mirrors down and implementing self-boundaries like using them only when brushing her teeth and washing her face.

Tallulah also suggested taking breaks from social media, finding a safe person or community to vocalize BDD triggers, going for a walk and listening to music, among other techniques.

She ended by urging people to 'breathe. close your eyes. REMEMBER that you are allowed to take things 5 minutes at a time. for as long as you need to.'

Tallulah is one of Hollywood star Bruce and Demi's three daughters, as they also share Scout and Rumer, 34, together.

Bruce and Demi tied the knot back in 1987 but ended their marriage after 11 years, and they have kept a close friendship ever since.

Bruce also shares daughters Mabel, 10, and Evelyn, eight, with his wife Emma, who he tied the knot with back in 2009.

Candid: Tallulah has previously spoken openly about her struggles with an eating disorder, body dysmorphia and addiction

Mental health: Back in May 2021, Tallulah opened up about how she 'resented' being told she looked more like her father than her mother throughout her childhood

Family: Tallulah is one of Hollywood star Bruce and Demi's three daughters, as they also share Scout and Rumer, 34, together. Tallulah is pictured with her father Bruce

Bruce and his family revealed he had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) earlier this year.

His family have rallied around him after his health announcement and regularly post videos of them all spending time together.

FTD is an uncommon type of the disease that causes a deterioration in behavior, personality and language.

FTD - which is responsible for around one in 20 dementia cases - is caused by an abnormal build-up of proteins which damage cells in front and sides of the brain.
Oti Mabuse put in another glam appearance for Tuesday's Prince's Trust Awards at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London.

The ex Strictly star wowed in a glam navy gown for the star-studded event which celebrates the extraordinary achievements of young people supported by The Trust.

Oti chose a stunning Rebecca Vallance dress for the ceremony, showing off her figure in the strapless number.

The tight-fitting bodice flowed down into a sheer skirt with diamante detail.

Red carpet stunner: Oti Mabuse put in another glam appearance for Tuesday's Prince's Trust Awards at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London

Strike a pose: The ex Strictly star wowed in a glam navy gown for the star-studded event which celebrate the extraordinary achievements of young people supported by The Trust

The dancer turned TV star let her natural beauty shine with a light dash of makeup and styled her hair into a chic up-do.

Oti recently said she was accepted for her 'curvy' body type on Strictly Come Dancing, but since leaving the show in 2022 she has noticed a change.

Oti told The Times: 'I'm never going to be size zero. I think I was relatable for a lot of women because all the girls [on Strictly] are really petite.

'Only when I didn't dance anymore and you could see me sit and you'd be like, "Oh she's got boobs. Oh she's curvy."'

She added that the pressure to have a slim body type comes from the over-saturation of smaller types in the TV industry, saying it 'doesn't come from people saying anything, it's from what you see'.

She said: 'If that's what brands are pushing, if that's the people who get the big shows, if that's what they look like, you think it's the standard. It plays in your subconscious.'

Opening up about how her body has changed since Strictly, she simply said she is now a woman in her thirties, compared to being in her 20s on the show.

She went on to say she doesn't let the pressure about how to look affect her, stating she is 'not trying to look a certain way.'

Ready for her close up: The dancer turned TV star let her natural beauty shine with a light dash of makeup and styled her hair into a chic up-do

Gorgeous: Oti chose a stunning Rebecca Vallance dress for the ceremony, showing off her figure in the strapless number

In 2022 Oti left the series as a professional dancer and became a judge on Dancing On Ice.

Oti's sister Motsi, 42, is currently on the judging panel of Strictly Come Dancing, after replacing Dame Darcey Bussell in 2019.

The South African dancer also appeared as a judge on The Greatest Dancer and hosted dating show Romeo & Duet.

Her latest venture has seen her take on a new chat show on a Saturday mornings on ITV.
Kim Kardashian was flashing the flesh early on Tuesday morning.

The 42-year-old reality TV star wore an unzipped black SKIMS swimsuit, which she paired with Balenciaga slacks, while talking to Savannah Guthrie on NBC News' Today show.

The law student was plugging the third season of The Kardashians.

During her outdoor sit down at Rockefeller Plaza in NYC, Kim talked about how hard this new season is. Kardashian told Guthrie, 'This season was probably my most emotional and frustrating internally with family that I haven't really seen or experienced before.'

And she noted it was the most emotional she has felt over the entire run of her reality TV career - that includes every season of Keeping Up With The Kardashians.

Sit down: Kim Kardashian was flashing the flesh early on Tuesday morning. The 42-year-old reality TV star wore an unzipped black SKIMS swimsuit, which she paired with Balenciaga slack , while talking to Savannah Guthrie on NBC News' Today show

Getting frank: .The law student was plugging the third season of The Kardashians. During her outdoor sit down at Rockefeller Plaza, Kim talked about how hard this new season is

Kim confirms there was tension with Kourtney during her wedding to rock star Travis Barker in Italy last year.

The mother of four said that shooting the show gets complicated: they film, let out their issues, they get over it, then the show debuts and they see in confessionals what their siblings said about them, and it gets tough all over again.

'It gets really tricky and emotional,' she said.

Though sharing is painful, the show will not end, she made sure to say: 'We don't see it changing anytime soon.'

And the family is still intact: 'We will always be OK, we are always family.... but everyone is very vulnerable.

'I am proud we are so open and driven to share and show so much.'

She said earlier in the program, 'When we signed up for this we wanted to always be super open and honest.

'There's obviously different seasons where some people feel like they just have some boundaries and want to protect some things and other people really want to open up and share way more.'

Sad times: Kardashian told Guthrie, 'This season was probably my most emotional and frustrating internally with family that I haven't really seen or experienced before.' And she noted it was the most emotional she has felt over the entire run of her reality TV career - that includes every season of Keeping Up With The Kardashians

A NYC day: She was also seen heading to Tiffany & Co with a pal following

'I am so blessed that there is so many of us so we can always respect each other's space.'

Kim was also in NYC for the opening of her Skims pop-up shop. 'We are going to be rotating all of our products every few days which is fun because when you come back it's all different... it's just a fun experience.'

She added, 'I just love that you can go in and feel it and try it on.'

And Kim said she is 'always in that pinch me moment' because of her incredible SKIMS success.

In addition, Kim said she was happy to partner with Michael Rubin and REFORM Alliance for Mothers Day to pay the restitution, fines, and fees for more than 50 mothers so they can exit the criminal justice system.

Khloe Kardashian was seen on GMA.

She shared a clip of the new season where Kourtney said that the family really does have her back.

So much drama: Kourtney, left, seems to be mad at everyone after alienating herself from the family, and Khloe, right, commented on the drama on GMA on Tuesday

Khloe, 38, then says that is not true.

In a video message shared on Monday with Good Morning America, TV personality Khloe gave a sneak peek from the third season of The Kardashians, premiering Thursday, May 25, 2023, on Hulu.

The teaser features a conversation between Kardashian and her sister Kourtney, who shares that while she feels the family is good at supporting each other when they're in a crisis, it's 'almost in a superficial way,' elaborating that she thinks they 'don't know how to be there for each other on a deeper level.'

The clip concluded with Kardashian disputing her sister's admission in a confessional interview by saying, 'When there's something pretty traumatic or devastating in the family, we're all by that person's side.'

The Kardashians dropped a dramatic teaser on Monday that gave fans a glimpse of the major feud between Kim and Kourtney that will serve as a focal point for season three.

Hulu's series looks like it will revolve around Kim and Kourtney's battle royale as they duke it out over a very Kardashian problem  Dolce & Gabbana.

Kicking off the trailer, big sister Kim says: 'Even through all of the craziness, I don't want to fight with family  bottom line.'

But Kourtney seems ready to rumble as she proclaims: 'There's no boundaries, there's no respect.'

The sisterly brawl threatens to drag in makeup mogul Kylie and supermodel Kendall, but both Jenners seem to be staying out of the fray.

Battle royale: The Kardashians dropped a dramatic teaser on Monday that gave fans a glimpse of the major feud between Kim and Kourtney that will serve as a focal point for season three

'I don't think anyone's in the wrong,' says Kylie, playing the part of Switzerland. 'I see both sides.'

'As sisters, we have to uplift each other,' preaches Kendall as she primps in a mirror.

But Khloe spells it out for the fans: 'The tension is brewing. How did we get here?'

They got there because Kourtney accused Kim of using her May 2022 wedding to Travis Barker as a 'business opportunity' and feels as though her special day was 'stripped' from her, according to another teaser trailer that dropped last month.

Kourtney and Travis' lavish nuptials were held at the Italian estate owned by Dolce & Gabbana designers, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, and their luxury fashion house created the Poosh founder's gown.

Shortly after the lavish D&G-themed matrimonial blowout, Kourtney learned that Kim was co-designing a collection with the brand called 'Ciao, Kim.'

The SKIMS founder was subsequently named as the new face of Dolce & Gabbana, and their collaboration debuted during Paris Fashion Week in September.

'It's all gonna come out on the show,' smirked Kim during a confessional in the new teaser. 'This is our therapy.'

Kicking off the trailer, big sister Kim, 42, says: 'Even through all of the craziness, I don't want to fight with family  bottom line'

But Kourtney, 44, seems ready to rumble as she proclaims: 'There's no boundaries, there's no respect'

Wedding war: Premiering on May 25th, Hulu's tentpole reality series looks like it will revolve around the sisters' battle royale as they duke it out over Kourtney accusing Kim of using her 2022 wedding to Travis Barker as a 'business opportunity'

Controversial collab: Shortly after the D&G-themed matrimonial blowout, Kourtney learned that Kim was co-designing a collection called 'Ciao, Kim' with the patrons of her wedding  designers Stefano Gabbana and Domenico Dolce; pictured with Kim in September 2022

Kourtney and Kim's relationship has taken multiple hits in recent years. In Season 15 of Keeping up with the Kardashians, Kim meanly called Kourtney 'the least exciting to look at' out of all the sisters as they argued about scheduling a family photoshoot.

As the back-and-forth heated up, Kim went on to insult Kourtney's work ethic and told her that 'nobody wanted her there' at the shoot anyways.

This led to Kourtney branding the SKKN by Kim founder as an 'evil human being' and said that she was 'ashamed' to be related to her.

In 2021, Kim admitted that the remarks were 'such a low blow' and Kourtney said that it's now a 'funny thing' that they joke about. But nobody seems to be laughing anymore when it comes to season three of The Kardashians.
Matty Healy's controversial podcast comments from earlier this year have resurfaced amid his high-profile romance with Taylor Swift.

The 1975 frontman discussed a time he masturbated to porn of 'brutalised' women during an appearance on The Adam Friedland Show podcast in February.

Friedland and his co-host Nick Mullen brought up an incident in which Friedland and a woman walked in on Healy masturbating to what they described as 'hardcore pornography' '30 seconds' after they left a party at Healy's house.

The trio said Matty, 34, was watching Ghetto Gaggers, a porn site known for videos featuring the humiliation and brutalisation of mostly Black women.

Friedland explained how he and a female friend went back into Healy's house after leaving the party when she realised she had forgotten her water bottle.

Shock remarks: Matty Healy's controversial podcast comments from earlier this year have resurfaced amid his high-profile romance with Taylor Swift (Matty pictured in June last year)

Controversial: The 1975 frontman discussed a time he masturbated to porn of 'brutalised' women during an appearance on The Adam Friedland Show podcast in February (Matty and girlfriend Taylor Swift pictured together this month)

'She went back in and Matty, like, on his phone and then on his 77-inch OLEDs just got Ghetto Gaggers blaring,' Friedland said. 'Thirty seconds after the hang, just hardcore pornography.'

Healy laughed as he told the podcast hosts: 'It wasn't just the... it was the combination of the fact that it was, you're not exaggerating, it was 30 seconds. Like, you guys were still waiting outside, she came back in, I was already flustered.'

'I was, like, dressed as "guy who is jacking off," so I had, like, an untucked shirt. Like you said, I think it literally was, like, Ghetto Gaggers was on the TV. It's just somebody just getting, like, brutalised,' Healy continued.

He later added of the female friend who walked in on him: 'It wasn't some cool-scene New York art girl. It was little Olive, who came in like, "I'm so sorry, I'm just getting my water!"

'Ten minutes would have been fine,' he said in reference to how long it had been since his guests left. 'But 30 seconds was kind of almostI was worried that was offensive.'

A clip of the podcast has been recirculating online, with many of Taylor Swift's fans calling for the US star to dump her new beau.

'Seriously, it feels like she's TRYING to get canceled again,' one wrote on Reddit. 'How is she okay with this?' another fan asked.

One more posted: 'If a bunch of strangers on the internet know about Matty Healy watching racist torture porn then just HOW would Taylor not know? She's known that man for TEN YEARS and she doesn't know how problematic and horrible he is? Yeah i'm not buying that at all.'

Pleas from fans: A clip of the podcast has been recirculating online, with many of Taylor Swift's fans calling for the US star to dump her new beau

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Healy and Swift for comment.

In the same podcast episode Healy was accused of racism for comments made about the rapper Ice Spice.

Claiming he tried to message the rapper on Instagram, Healy along with Friedland and Mullen then appeared to confuse her heritage by referring to her as Inuit and Chinese, imitating and mocking the accents of each.

The podcast episode was later pulled from both Spotify and Apple Music because of its offensive content.

Healy apologised for the comments made about Ice Spice during a 1975 concert in New Zealand.

The musician told the crowd, as reported by Rolling Stone, that he 'makes a joke out of everything' and 'can take it too far sometimes in front of too many people'.

Love story: Taylor and Matty were first linked in 2014 but they didn't confirm their romance until this year (Taylor seen in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania this month)

'Ice Spice, I'm sorry. It's not because I'm annoyed that me joking got misconstrued. It's because I don't want Ice Spice to think I'm a d***. I love you, Ice Spice. I'm so sorry,' he said.

Healy was forced to deactivate his Twitter in 2020 after posting an ill-received tweet following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a white police officer in Minneapolis.

Healy tweeted at the time: 'If you truly believe that 'ALL LIVES MATTER' you need to stop facilitating the end of black ones,' along with a link to his track Love It If We Made It.

The tie-in left many fans angered as they felt the vocalist was using the tragic death as a promotional vehicle.
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The first trailer for Disney's new Haunted Mansion movie was shared on Tuesday.

Haunted Mansion is inspired by Disneyland's famous theme park ride of the same name, and is the second edition after its 2003 original, which featured Eddie Murphy and Wallace Shawn.

The stars are LaKeith Stanfield, Rosario Dawson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jared Leto, Winona Ryder, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, Dan Levy and Tiffany Haddish.

Dawson plays single mom Gabbie who moves into a stunning New Orleans mansion. She is joined by her nine-year-old son played by Chase Dillon.

But then they soon realize that the massive home is filled with spooky ghosts so they call in a team of experts to help them get rid of the zany spirits.

'These ghosts definitely don't want to leave,' it is said by one cast member as another adds, 'There are so many bad people in the world, why don't you haunt them?'

New look: The first trailer for Disney's new Haunted Mansion movie was shared on Tuesday; pictured is the new poster

The ghosts cause all kinds of havoc in the old home, just like in the famed Disneyland ride. The team of experts that help her get rid of the spirits are quite the motley crew.

There is a paranormal expert (played by Stanfield), a psychic (Haddish), a priest (Wilson) and a historian (DeVito) for assistance.

In the poster they are seen carefully walking up a flight of stairs in the large home as someone carries a lit lantern.

The online synopsis reads: 'A priest, a professor and a paranormal investigator try to help a woman and her family after they unwittingly move into a haunted mansion in New Orleans.'

And the clever tag line is, 'Home is where the haunt is,' a play on 'Home is where the heart is.'

Haunted Mansion will premiere in theaters on July 28, 2023.

Justin Simien directs the comedy with a script by Katie Dippold.

Simien previously revealed at the D23 exhibit that he used to work at the Walt Disney theme park. And he would ride the Haunted Mansion on breaks.

Scared: Rosario Dawson plays single mom Gabbie who moves into the New Orleans mansion. She is joined by her son, aged nine, played by Chase Dillon

Expert: They call in a team of experts after they realize their mansion is filled with spooky ghosts. The stars are LaKeith Stanfield, Rosario Dawson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jared Leto, Winona Ryder, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito (pictured), Dan Levy and Tiffany Haddish

Oh no! Haunted Mansion is inspired by Disneyland's famous theme park ride of the same name

She made the film too: Jamie Lee Curtis is seen as the scary woman with big hair inside the crystal ball. She takes on the role of psychic medium Madame Leota

He shared: 'For me, there was something about that ride I felt was there in the script.

'It was funny and full of interesting characters, but with a dark edge to it. I just related to it. It felt I knew how to make it,' he said.

'I love New Orleans and I felt I had a responsibility here to make sure all the little Easter eggs are there,' continued Simeon, according to Deadline.

Actress Jamie appeared on stage with director Simeon during the Disney event.

She was seen arriving in one of the famous 'Doom Buggy' from the ride.

Original: Haunted Mansion is the second edition after it's 2003 version - which featured Eddie Murphy, pictured in the 2003 release, along with Wallace Shawn and Dina Waters

Meanwhile, a lot of fuss has been made about Curtis' character.

She takes on the role of psychic medium Madame Leota.

Hollywood legend Jamie shared the news last year as she simply captioned the Instagram post with the emoji for a crystal ball, appearing to confirm the casting.



Production got underway in Atlanta and New Orleans in 2021, and the latter city hints at the original attraction which is set in New Orleans Square.

While Jamie's character requires her to look into a crystal ball, the 'Freaky Friday' star recently revealed she avoids looking in the mirror.

The movie star checks her reflection when she's carrying out tasks that require her to do so, but she doesn't spend a lot of time scrutinizing her appearance because she doesn't want to be critical of herself.

She said in 2022: 'When I brush my teeth, of course, I look in the mirror. When I pluck my eyebrows, of course, I look in a mirror. But when I get out of a shower, I just dont stare at my body in the mirror. Im not denying what I look like, of course Ive seen what I look like. I am trying to live in acceptance. If I look in the mirror, its harder for me to be in acceptance. Im more critical. Whereas, if I just dont look, Im not so worried about it.;
Netflix has released a first glimpse of their new documentary, Anna Nicole Smith: You Don't Know Me, which debuted to the streaming platform on Tuesday,

On the morning of the release, Lara Spencer shared a preview of the Good Morning America viewers of the film, directed by Ursula Macfarlane.

In an interview with ABC's hit morning talk show, the award-winning filmmaker told viewers that Smith 'took on the press' and was 'harassed about the press on media for what she wanted' during her lifetime.

While reflecting on what she hopes people think of the program, Macfarlane shared: 'Okay yes, she had some flaws, but she was a human-being. A multiple-meaning human-being.'

As for the former model, footage released of her before her death, at 39, in 2007, Smith encouraged others to see her as 'living proof' that dreams comes true.

Back to the big screen: Netflix has released a first glimpse of their new documentary, Anna Nicole Smith: You Don't Know Me, which debuted to the streaming platform on Tuesday

Revealing: On the morning of the release, Lara Spencer shared a preview of the Good Morning America viewers of the film, directed by Ursula Macfarlane

A friend, who appeared in the documentary, went on to recall how Smith 'brought a record with her' to Hollywood, which had 'Marilyn Monroe singing Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend' on it.'

Last year, Macfarlane revealed in a statement: ''I approached Anna Nicole's story as an epic mystery tale. How did someone with so much charisma and jaw-dropping beauty, with the world at her feet, fall so far, so quickly?'

'Now feels like the right time to re-examine the life of yet another beautiful young woman whose life has been picked over and ultimately destroyed by our culture,' she added.

Her statement concluded: 'I am thrilled to work with Netflix and Propagate to make a moving, unflinching and sensitive portrayal of one of the most misunderstood women of our time.'

Smith, born name 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.

The Houston native rose to fame as a Guess model and was Playboy's 1993 Playmate of the Year.

She later starred in her own E! reality series The Anna Nicole Show.

Smith was survived by her daughter Dannielynn Birkhead, 16.

A lot of pressure: In an interview with ABC's hit morning talk show, the award-winning filmmaker told viewers that Smith 'took on the press' and was 'harassed about the press on media for what she wanted' during her lifetime

Not perfect: While reflecting on what she hopes people think of the program, Macfarlane shared: 'Okay yes, she had some flaws, but she was a human-being. A multiple-meaning human-being'

Proud of her accomplishments: As for the former model, footage released of her before her death, at 39, in 2007, Smith encouraged others to see her as 'living proof' that dreams comes true

Her son Daniel died in September 2006 at age 20 of an accidental drug overdose in the Bahamas just three days after Dannielynn was born.

Larry Birkhead, 48, filed a paternity case after Dannielynn's birth and a DNA test confirmed that he was her father.

This month, Birkhead lifted the lid on the most intimate aspects of the late model's life in an upcoming documentary featured in her 'explosive' personal diaries and never-before-seen home movies.

Larry, 50, spoke exclusively to DailyMail.com about their rollercoaster four-year relationship leading up to Anna's tragic death - and gave shocking and intimate details that have never been shared before.

Larry first met Anna 20 years ago in 2003. 'She blew me kisses and I was intrigued by her, nothing came out of it. The second year I saw her at the Kentucky Derby gala, however, was magical,' he said.

Three months after their fateful encounter at the derby, Anna asked Larry to leave his home in Kentucky to move in with her at her home in Los Angeles. He agreed and the couple lived together for two-and-a-half years - until she moved to the Bahamas at five months pregnant with their daughter, Dannielynn.
As Netflix looks back at the life of Anna Nicole Smith, a friend of the late star has recalled her romance with the late Hollywood star.

Missy Byrum, who first met Nicole at the Houston strip club they both worked at, claimed they married before her addiction led to the end of their relationship.

Speaking with People, Byrum says they began to secretly date in 1992.

A year later, Smith proposed to her, and they married in a backyard.

'She gave me a set of rings and we got married in the backyard by the pool with champagne... She wanted me to have a baby with her. But I always knew it wasn't ever going to work out because she was never, ever going to settle down with one person,' Byrum told People, which features the late Smith on its latest cover.

'She wanted me to have a baby with her': As Netflix looks back at the life of Anna Nicole Smith, a friend of the late star has recalled her romance with the late Hollywood icon

Ultimately, Byrum ended the relationship after she was unable to handle Smith's addiction. 'She needed more love than any one human being could give her.'

Byrum also recounted some unpleasant memories she had of the star.

'She made a lot of stuff up,' Byrum said.

Recalling their time together working at the strip club, Byrum said: 'All of us girls were abused in some way and we shared about it. She didn't have any of that in her past.'

However, Anna allegedly told others Byrum's experience with abuse as if it were her own. Byrum was floored when she learned about what Anna was doing.

'Nicki adapted to get what she needed,' she said.

Long before she was given the name by Guess designer Paul Marciano, Byrum says she began to 'manifest the character of Anna Nicole.'

'She learned from stripping that guys like to believe you're stupid if you're that pretty. She always said, 'It takes a smart person to be really dumb.'

Byrum also claimed the Guess model had undergone plenty of procedures to look as she did.

Missy Bryum has recalled her romance with Smith with People and in the new Netflix documentary about the model, Anna Nicole Smith: You Don't Know Me

Missy and Smith pictured together

'She was in constant pain': Byrum also claimed the Guess model had undergone plenty of procedures to look as she did

'She had all sorts of cosmetic procedures,' she said. 'They cut her gums to make her teeth larger. Her boobs had stretch marks from having Daniel so she had some cosmetic guy grind off all the skin around her areolas. She was in constant pain.'

Nicole also had four breast augmentations, according to People.

Byrum, who has also grappled with substance abuse, told the site: 'That's where her addiction to pain pills began.

'I have never seen anybody like it. She could take 15 Klonopins and 12 Valiums and drink on top of that.'

Embodying Anna: Long before she was given the name by Guess designer Paul Marciano, Missy says she began to 'manifest the character of Anna Nicole'

Smith famously married 89-year-old oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall II in 1994 after she met him while performing at a strip club.

According to Smith's Uncle George Beall, Smith truly loved the oil tycoon.

'She really loved him,' he told People. 'The way he took care of her and looked out for her  she cared about him a lot. She didn't want people to think that she was after his money. [Her] Aunt Kay and I both said, 'If you love him, to heck with what people think!'

'Mr. Marshall was a very intelligent man,' Byrum told People. 'He knew that she was a young woman and needed certain things. He allowed her to have her boy toys or whatever.'

Telling her story: The Netflix documentary, Anna Nicole Smith: You Don't Know Me, is out now

Anna Nicole died from an accidental drug overdose in February 2007 aged just 39 - leaving behind her infant daughter Dannielynn.

It came just months after her son Daniel died from an accidental drug overdose aged 20 in 2006.

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.

Following Anne Nicole's death her partner Howard K.Stern 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 Larry Birkhead.

The Netflix documentary, Anna Nicole Smith: You Don't Know Me, is out now.
Jennifer Lopez has bared her 'guilt' over the negative impact her fame has had on her 15-year-old twins Max and Emme.

The 53-year-old pop diva, who is currently on her fourth husband Ben Affleck, shares her children with her third ex-husband Marc Anthony.

She noted that 'being the child of famous parents is really not something that many people can understand, and I feel for them for that because they didnt choose that.'

Speaking to Audacy, the Selena star revealed, 'I havent talked to them a lot about this but we have just started  they have just started letting me know, like, how people treat them and do things like that.'

J-Lo, who last year introduced Emme onstage with gender-neutral pronouns, also held forth about the difficulty of seeing her children be 'judged' by strangers.

Mother of two: Jennifer Lopez has bared her 'guilt' over the negative impact her fame has had on her 15-year-old twins Max and Emme, with whom she is pictured in Paris last July

Frank: She told Audacy that 'being the child of famous parents is really not something that many people can understand, and I feel for them for that because they didnt choose that'

The Gigli star was giving an interview to promote her new Netflix movie The Mother, an action thriller in which she plays a hit woman.

When her personal life came up, Jennifer acknowledged that her celebrity is on the forefront of people's minds even when they meet her teenage children.

'So when they walk into the room, THATs what people are thinking about, theyre not seeing them for who they are,' said she.

'And I think that that has to be a really hard thing for them, so I would love to have been able to protect them from that.'

The Jenny From The Block hitmaker explained that for Max and Emme, 'being judged by people that you dont even know in a way is, I think, really difficult for them to kind of grow up and be themselves.'

She added: 'Its just like they know that theres a lens on them, and thats hard. Probably not very relatable thing to say, cause a lot of people dont understand it. Theyre like: "Okay, so youre famous and your kids are blah, blah, blah," right?'

Jennifer touchingly reflected: 'But it is, its hard for them I think. I did that to them. And so that, you know, again, like, we have this guilt as moms, its like what we do and what we brought into their lives.'

Earlier in the interview she argued that 'Im not a traditional mom. Im not a, you know, stay-at-home mom. Im a single mom. Im a working mom.'

The way they were: The 53-year-old pop diva, who is currently on her fourth husband Ben Affleck , shares her children with her third and latest ex-husband Marc Anthony (right)

Plugging away: Jennifer is pictured with Ben on May 10 at the premiere of her new Netflix movie The Mother

A hit: The film rocketed to number one on the streaming website upon its release Friday

The Dinero songstress added: 'Im more than, in a way, Im kind of a famous mom, which is a weird thing for kids too. So I have a whole set of things that is not normal, what people think of as not normal.'

After dropping on May 12, two days before Mother's Day, Jennifer's new movie rocketed to the position of number one film on Netflix.

She herself rang in Mother's Day with a blended family celebration in which she and her husband Ben took both of their mother's out in Los Angeles.

The couple were joined by both of Jennifer's twins as well as Seraphina, 14, one of the three children Ben shares with his ex-wife Jennifer Garner.

Seraphina's siblings Violet, 17, and Samuel, 11, were not in attendance, presumably because they were marking the holiday with their mother.
Arnold Schwarzenegger has revealed he still loves his ex-wife Maria Shriver but doesn't miss being married to her in a candid new chat with The Hollywood Reporter.

The Terminator icon, 75, split from journalist Shriver, 67, in 2011 after it emerged he had fathered a son - Joseph Baena, now 25 - with a household employee, Mildred Baena.

Their divorce was finalized in 2021 and the pair have since forged a strong co-parenting relationship for the sake of their four children.

Asked if he missed being married, the Hollywood legend said: 'No. [The divorce] was very, very difficult in the beginning. Eventually, you move on. I have a wonderful girlfriend, [physical therapist] Heather Milligan, who is very successful. Im really proud of her, and I love her.

'Expressing his enduring admiration for his former wife of 25 years, he added: 'At the same time, I love my wife. She and I are really good friends and very close, and we are very proud of the way we raised our kids. Even though we had this drama, we did Easter together, Mothers Day together, the Christmases together, all birthdays  everything together.

Emotional: Arnold Schwarzenegger has revealed he still loves his ex-wife Maria Shriver but doesn't miss being married to her in a candid new chat with The Hollywood Reporter

Happier times: Schwarzenegger's 25-year marriage to Shriver, 67, imploded in 2011 when it emerged he had fathered a son - Joseph Baena, now 25 - with a household employee, Mildred Baena (the couple pictured in 2003)

'If theres Oscars for how to handle divorce, Maria and I should get it for having the least amount of impact on the kids. The sweetness and kindness you see in them, thats from my wife. The discipline and work ethic is from me.'

Elsewhere in the chat, the star revealed his plans to 'stay on this side of the grass' and 'live forever' - saying he works out every day alongside his busy acting career, and has no plans to retire.

Shriver and Schwarzenegger tied the knot in 1986, nearly nine years after they first met. They separated in 2011 and finalized their divorce in 2021.

Joseph Baena was born on October 2, 1997, only a few days after Shriver gave birth to the couple's fourth child, Christopher.

The couple did not have a prenup, but according to TMZ at the time, 'there was never any real custody beef', and 'they both quickly agreed on joint custody.'.

They had an estimated $400 million at the time of their separation.

In February Shriver detailed her struggles with her ex-husband's stardom and how the impact of their divorce saw her turning to a Reverend Mother at a convent in hopes of feeling less 'invisible.'

Following their separation Maria turned to a nun because she was unable to grapple with the collapse of her relationship.

Moved on: Arnold is now in a longterm relationship with Heather Milligan - who he said he loves and is very proud of (pictured January 2023)

Proud of co-parenting: Maria and Arnold married in 1986. They have four children together: Katherine, 32, Christina, 30, Patrick, 28, and Christopher, 24

Son: The star is pictured with son Joseph, who he fathered while married to Maria

The Hollywood and political power couple may have put on a perfect facade, however, on the inside, Maria felt more alone than ever due to her ex-husband's elite status.

In an episode of podcast Making Space with Hoda Kotb, the journalist revealed she sought advice at a convent to find peace and give herself 'permission' to be vulnerable.

The Today special anchor explained that she was searching for 'guidance' and wanted to be in 'silence' following the divorce.

She added that while she has previously written about her experience she has never 'shared' it, before detailing what the Reverend Mother said to her that gave her the strength she needed to find herself.

After revealing she went to a 'cloistered convent,' the journalist said she was given 'permission' to 'be weak.'

The journalist said the Reverend Mother told her: 'I think you came here looking for permission.'

Maria added that she felt like she was in a scene from The Sound Of Music.

While at the convent she was told: 'You can't come live here but you do have permission to go out and become Maria.'

For the first time in her life, Maria felt slightly less invisible and began 'sobbing.'

'I had never given myself permission to  to feel, to be vulnerable, to be weak, to be brought to my knees. And the world did it to me. And then I was like, "OK, God, let's go,"' Maria said.

Because of her ex-husband's fame, Maria explained she often felt like she lived in the shadows.

And, it wasn't the first time the Emmy-winning journalist felt the frustrations of being around those in the limelight, as the niece of the late President John F. Kennedy said growing up in a family that was the focus of public attention left her feeling insecure.

Shriver and Schwarzenegger were the 'it' couple for nearly 25 years, but they legally split in 2021 (Maria and Arnold pictured on their wedding day in 1986)

Political animal: The star attended the Austrian World Summit on Tuesday - pictured with Leonore Gewessler, Heather and Alexander van der Bellen

Climate change activist: The star shared snaps from his visit to Instagram

'I grew up feeling invisible in an incredibly public, famous family. There were a lot of really big characters in that family,' Maria said.

Schwarzenegger recently reflected on his tough split from Shriver and causing 'pain' to his family in a first trailer for his new Netflix documentary, Arnold - set for release on June 7.

The acting icon's rise to fame from his humble beginnings in rural Austria to Hollywood action man will be chronicled in the three part series set for release on June 7 - with The Terminator star reflecting on turbulent times in his personal life.

Appearing to allude to the cheating scandal, a pensive Schwarzenegger said: 'People will remember my successes but they will also remember those failures

'It was very tough, on my marriage, on my relationship with my kids.
Victoria Hervey joined fellow blonde bombshell Victoria Silvstedt at the opening evening of the 76th Cannes Film Festival in France on Tuesday.

The British socialite, 46, put on a leggy display as she took to the red carpet ahead of the controversial screening of Jeanne du Barry starring Johnny Depp - his first film appearance since his victory over ex-wife Amber Heard in a defamation trial.

Hervey slipped into sheer silver gown for the occasion which boasted a sculpted intricate embroidery, grecian style draping and racy thigh-high split.

She accentuated her features with glamorous make-up and wore her blonde tresses in a bouffant style.

The English TV personality carried the colour story into her accessories with silver heels as well as a matching clutch and jewellery .

Glamour: Victoria Hervey, 46 (left) joined fellow blonde bombshell Victoria Silvstedt, 48 (right) at the opening evening of the 76th Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday

Stunning in silver: The British socialite, put on a leggy display as she took to the red carpet ahead of the screening of Johnny Depp's new movie Jeanne Du Barry - the first release since his victory over ex-wife Amber Heard in a defamation trial

Elsewhere on the carpet Swedish model Silvestedt, 46, wowed in a bronze ruffled organza gown with dramatic princess skirt.

The beauty oozed elegance in the showstopping number which featured a fitted bodice and was nipped at her tiny waist.

Victoria wore her blonde tresses in loose curls and sported a gorgeous make-up look for the evening with lashings of mascara and a glossy lip.

She completed the look with a huge diamond necklace and cocktail ring as she posed up a storm ahead of the movie.

Jeanne du Barry, directed by and co-starring the French actor-director Maiwenn, co-stars Depp as Louis XV.

It's Depp's first new film since his trial last year with Amber Heard, his ex-wife.

After both Depp and Heard accused each other of physical and verbal abuse, a civil jury awarded Depp $10 million in damages and $2 million to Heard.

In remarks to the press Monday, Cannes director Thierry Fremaux defended the choice, saying Depp is extraordinary in the film and he paid no attention to the trial.

Grecian goddess: Hervey slipped into sheer silver gown for the occasion which boasted a sculpted intricate embroidery, grecian style draping and racy thigh-high split

Effortless: She accentuated her features with glamorous make-up and wore her blonde tresses in a bouffant style

Silver: The English TV personality carried the colour story into her accessories with silver heels as well as a matching clutch and jewellery

Snap: She posed as the sea of photographer grabbed pictures from every angle

'To tell you the truth, in my life, I only have one rule, it's the freedom of thinking, the freedom of speech and the freedom to act within a legal framework,' said Fremaux.

'If Johnny Depp had been banned from acting in a film, or the film was banned we wouldn't be here talking about it.'

Depp previously appeared as King Louis XV in promo images for his highly-anticipated film which were released back in January.

The veteran actor looked regal as the French monarch beside co-star/director Maiwenn Le Besco, who plays King Louis' mistress, Jeanne du Barry.

In 2016, Heard, 36, famously accused the actor, 59, of domestic violence, which led to Depp being blacklisted by much of Hollywood resulting in loss of film roles.

A jury determined that Heard's claims, which were published in a 2018 Washington Post op-ed, against Depp were defamatory and she was ordered to pay the actor $15 million in damages.

Wow: Elsewhere on the carpet Swedish model Silvestedt wowed in a bronze ruffled organza gown with dramatic princess skirt

Sensational: The beauty oozed elegance in the showstopping number which featured a fitted bodice and was nipped at her tiny waist

Perfection: Victoria wore her blonde tresses in loose curls and sported a gorgeous make-up look for the evening with lashings of mascara and a glossy lip

Depp was ordered to pay Heard $2million by the same courtroom after Heard countersued for defamation.

Heard filed an appeal in early December, but the the former couple recently came to an agreement that Heard would pay $1million in order to settle the case instead of heading into a third trial.

Lawyers for Depp, Benjamin Chew and Camille Vasquez, said the actor is glad the 'painful chapter' is over and confirmed he would donate the money to charity.

In an Instagram statement, Heard confirmed the settlement but refused to accept guilt and declared her life had been 'destroyed' by the jury's decision.

Earlier: Earlier in the day the model showcased her long toned legs as she arrived at her swanky hotel

Beaming: The stunner beamed as she was guided in by security

In 2020, a British court ruled that 12 of 14 violence incidents claimed by Heard were 'substantially true,' and Depp was subsequently forced to resign from the 'Fantastic Beasts' franchise at the request of Warner Bros.

This year's festival promises a Cote d'Azur buffet of spectacle, scandal and cinema set to be served over the next 12 days.

It's unspooling against the backdrop of labor unrest. Protests that have roiled France in recent months over changes to its pension system are planned to run during the festival, albeit at a distance from the festival's main hub.

Meanwhile, an ongoing strike by screenwriters in Hollywood could have unpredictable effects on the French Riviera festival.

But with a festival lined with some much-anticipated big-budget films, including James Mangold's Indiana Jones and the Dial of the Destiny and Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon, the party is sure to go on, regardless.
Alessandra Ambrosio stunned onlookers as she took to the red carpet of the 76th Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday.

The model, 42, flashed her cleavage in a sheer pink hooded gown with dazzling jewels and a plunging neckline on the festival's opening night.

She accessorised with a coordinating chunky necklace and drop earrings while striking sultry poses for gawking photographers.

Alessandra opted for a bronzed makeup palette which accentuated her natural features, with a swipe of nude lipstick.

Her brunette locks were slicked back in a bun as she posed up a storm for the cameras.

Wow! Alessandra Ambrosio stunned onlookers as she attended the Jeanne du Barry premiere during the 76th Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday

Glowing: The model, 42, flashed her cleavage in a sheer pink hooded gown with dazzling jewels and a plunging neckline as she walked the red carpet on the festival's opening night

Red carpet ready: She accessorised with a coordinating chunky necklace and drop earrings while striking sultry poses for gawking photographers

The Cannes red carpet is springing to life again as the 76th Film Festival gets underway with the premiere of the Louis XV period drama Jeanne du Barry.

The film marks actor Johnny Depp's return to cinema for the first time following his highly publicised libel trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard.

Period drama Jeanne du Barry, directed by and co-starring the French actor-director Maiwenn, co-stars Johnny Depp as Louis XV.

It's his first new film since his trial last year with Amber Heard, his ex-wife.

After both Johnny and Amber accused each other of physical and verbal abuse, a civil jury awarded him $10 million in damages and $2 million to Amber.

In remarks to the press Monday, Cannes director Thierry Fremaux defended the choice, saying Depp is extraordinary in the film and he paid no attention to the trial.

'To tell you the truth, in my life, I only have one rule, it's the freedom of thinking, the freedom of speech and the freedom to act within a legal framework,' said Fremaux.

'If Johnny Depp had been banned from acting in a film, or the film was banned we wouldn't be here talking about it.'

Depp previously appeared as King Louis XV in promo images for his highly-anticipated film which were released back in January.

The veteran actor looked regal as the French monarch beside co-star/director Maiwenn Le Besco, who plays King Louis' mistress, Jeanne du Barry.

In 2016, Heard, 36, famously accused the actor, 59, of domestic violence, which led to Depp being blacklisted by much of Hollywood resulting in loss of film roles.

A jury determined that Heard's claims, which were published in a 2018 Washington Post op-ed, against Depp were defamatory and she was ordered to pay the actor $15 million in damages.

Depp was ordered to pay Heard $2million by the same courtroom after Heard countersued for defamation.

Heard filed an appeal in early December, but the the former couple recently came to an agreement that Heard would pay $1million in order to settle the case instead of heading into a third trial.

Lawyers for Depp, Benjamin Chew and Camille Vasquez, said the actor is glad the 'painful chapter' is over and confirmed he would donate the money to charity.

In an Instagram statement, Heard confirmed the settlement but refused to accept guilt and declared her life had been 'destroyed' by the jury's decision.

In 2020, a British court ruled that 12 of 14 violence incidents claimed by Heard were 'substantially true,' and Depp was subsequently forced to resign from the 'Fantastic Beasts' franchise at the request of Warner Bros.

This year's festival promises a Cote d'Azur buffet of spectacle, scandal and cinema set to be served over the next 12 days.

What a look! She flawlessly applied a full face of make-up to enhance her natural beauty

Stunning: Her brunette locks were slicked back in a bun as she posed up a storm for the cameras.

Star-studded: The Cannes red carpet is springing to life again as the 76th Film Festival gets underway with the premiere of the Louis XV period drama Jeanne du Barry

Event: The world's biggest film festival will conclude with the Closing Ceremony on May 27

It's unspooling against the backdrop of labor unrest. Protests that have roiled France in recent months over changes to its pension system are planned to run during the festival, albeit at a distance from the festival's main hub.

Meanwhile, an ongoing strike by screenwriters in Hollywood could have unpredictable effects on the French Riviera festival.

But with a festival lined with some much-anticipated big-budget films, including James Mangold's Indiana Jones and the Dial of the Destiny and Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon, the party is sure to go on, regardless.

The world's biggest film festival will conclude with the Closing Ceremony on May 27.
Brie Larson was left fuming after she was asked an awkward question about Johnny Depp's controversial comeback film opening the Cannes Film Festival this week.

The actress, 33, who is a Cannes juror, was visibly tense when asked if she would see Depp vehicle, Jeanne du Barry, after being one of the most outspoken advocates of the #MeToo movement.

Jeanne du Barry, directed by and co-starring the French actor-director Maiwenn, co-stars Depp as Louis XV. It's Depp's first new film since his trial last year with Amber Heard, his ex-wife, and will premiere on Tuesday evening.

After both Depp and Heard accused each other of physical and verbal abuse, a civil jury awarded Depp $10 million in damages and $2 million to Heard.

Larson responded to a journalist's question during a jury press conference: 'Youre asking me that? Im sorry, I dont understand the correlation or why me specifically.

Oh dear: Brie Larson was left fuming after she was asked an awkward question about Johnny Depp's controversial comeback film opening the Cannes Film Festival this week

Comeback: Jeanne du Barry, directed by and co-starring the French actor-director Maiwenn, co-stars Depp as Louis XV. It's Depp's first new film since his trial last year with Amber Heard, his ex-wife, and will premiere on Tuesday evening

Deflecting the question when she was pressed further, she said: 'Youll see, I guess, if I will see it. And I dont know how Ill feel about it if I do.'

In remarks to the press Monday, Cannes director Thierry Fremaux defended the choice, saying Depp is extraordinary in the film and he paid no attention to the trial.

'To tell you the truth, in my life, I only have one rule, it's the freedom of thinking, the freedom of speech and the freedom to act within a legal framework,' said Fremaux.

'If Johnny Depp had been banned from acting in a film, or the film was banned we wouldn't be here talking about it.'

Jeanne Du Barry will see the 59-year-old actor return to the big screen for the first time in three years - with French actress Maiwenn starring alongside Depp as Jeanne as well as directing the film.

In 2017 Larson famously failed to clap for Casey Affleck after presenting him with the Oscar for Actor in a Leading Role.

Affleck was previously sued by two women for sexual harassment allegedly committed during the filming of Im Still Here - with both suits settled in 2010.

She said at the time: 'I think that whatever it was that I did onstage kind of spoke for itself.'

Larson responded to a journalist's question during a jury press conference: 'Youre asking me that? I m sorry, I dont understand the correlation or why me specifically.

Deflecting the question when she was pressed further, she said: 'Youll see, I guess, if I will see it. And I dont know how Ill feel about it if I do.'

Accusations: In 2016, Amber Heard, 36, famously accused the actor, 59, of domestic violence, which led to Depp being blacklisted by much of Hollywood resulting in loss of film roles

Heard and Depp seen in 2016

A protest: In 2017 Larson famously failed to clap for Casey Affleck after presenting him with the Oscar for Actor in a Leading Role. Affleck was previously sued by two women for sexual harassment

She then added: 'Ive said all that I need to say about that topic.'

It was not the first time the actress appeared less-than-thrilled to be handing out a trophy to Affleck either.

Many noted her look of apparent dismay back in January 2017 when presenting the actor with a Golden Globe for his performance.

Affleck did not win at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in January, and Larson was noticeably happier when announcing Denzel Washington's name that night, who took home an Actor for his work in 'Fences.'
Cindy Bruna wore a plunging androgynous blazer a she graced the prestigious red carpet at the Jeanne Du Barry premiere during the 76th Cannes Film Festival.

The model, 28, looked as chic as ever in the oversized checked jacket that featured a quirky, ruffled tulle train attached to the front at Tuesday's opening night.

She slipped into a pair of coordinating cargo trousers and elevated her frame with some black stiletto heels.

Palais des Festivals provided the glamorous backdrop as the great and the good of celebrity world converged, with Cindy making a stylish statement.

The French star completed her look with a pair of mesh gloves and jewellery from Pomellato, including a ring, earrings and a necklace.

Fashionable: Cindy Bruna, 28, wore a plunging androgynous blazer a she graced the prestigious red carpet at the Jeanne Du Barry premiere during the 76th Cannes Film Festival

The Louis XV period drama, which stars Johnny Depp as the leading character, marks his first role since the high profile defamation trial against his ex wife Amber Heard.

The red carpet sprang to life again as the 76th Film Festival got underway with the premiere of the period drama.

Jeanne du Barry, directed by and co-starring the French actor-director Maiwenn, co-stars Johnny Depp as Louis XV.

Earlier in the day, Cindy made a head-turning departure as she left the Hotel Martinez ahead of the main event.

The French fashion model strutted down the street in a plunging lemon yellow tweed playsuit.

Cindy showed off plenty of cleavage as she went braless in the one-piece which had tie detailing at the neck.

The thigh-skimming hemline, meanwhile, showed off her model legs. Cindy complemented the look with black shades and white heeled lace-up sandals.

Cannes' annual film festival previews new films of all genres, including documentaries, from all around the world.

Stylish: The model looked as chic as ever in the oversized checked jacket that featured a quirky, ruffled tulle train attached to the front at Tuesday's opening night

Pose: Palais des Festivals provided the glamorous backdrop as the great and the good of celebrity world converged, with Cindy making a stylish statement

Stunning: The French star completed her look with a pair of mesh gloves and styled her brunette hair straight with a deep side parting

Founded in 1946, the invitation-only festival is held annually (usually in May) at the Palais des Festivals et des Congres.

Cindy attended the festival last year.

She began modelling early on, after being discovered at 16 years old and signing with Metropolitan Management and Wilhemina Models.

In 2012 she walked exclusively for Calvin Klein and has previously appeared on the cover of Vogue Italia, as well as editorials across a number of different Vogue publications, Harper's Bazaar and ELLE UK.

She first made her Victoria's Secret fashion show debut in 2013 and appeared in every showcase until its cancellation in 2019.
Bethenny Frankel is a multi-millionaire thanks to not only her show Real Housewives Of New York City, but mostly from sales of Skinnygirl products.

The New York native's worth is reportedly around $80m.

The 52-year-old TV star took to TikTok on Tuesday to share that she got free tickets to the Taylor Swift Eras Tour.

The ticket prices have been extremely high with the average seat costing around $1,000 and some going for as much as $90,000.

And the mother of one told fans she feels really 'guilty' about it because the middle class and people living on the poverty level cannot go. She even called concert going for the 'elitist' these days and she thinks it is grossly unfair.

Bethenny was applying her makeup as she made her comments.

Taylor talk: Bethenny Frankel, a multi-millionaire, took to TikTok on Tuesday to share that she got free tickets to the Taylor Swift Eras Tour. And the mother of one told fans she feels really 'guilty' about it because the middle class and people living on the poverty level cannot go

Time to cash out your 401K? The ticket prices have been extremely high with the average seat costing around $1,000 and some going for as much as $90,000. Seen in Nashville May 6

'It was a very lovely weekend especially on Mother's day weekend,' she said.

Then she explained how the tickets were free. 'I was invited by a money manager in Philadelphia. I am not ride or die Taylor fan but we had such an incredible experience, she added. 'And she seems to be a positive role model as far as musical role models go.'

Then she felt guilt.

'I posted about it and I definitely felt quote-unquote privileged,' she expressed. 'And I felt guilt over it.

She said there were 20,000 people in the parking lot that could not afford to go in that were trying to hear the music.

'The people in the parking lot are probably the work horses,' she said, meaning the fans outside the stadiums are likely the ones who made Swift such a big star.

Then Frankel offered a solution.

'They should raise the price and do a Tom's version - you buy a ticket and give away a ticket because it's not fair. I felt bad that people will never get to go, it kind of broken my heart.

And she said she gave back in the way she could.

'We could have gone twice because we have tickets in Boston. And I called Paul and said I want to give away some tickets and Paul said he agreed. We decided to give tickets to a mother and daughter who really needed it.'

Orange you glad you paid $1K to see me? Swift performs onstage for night three of Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour at Nissan Stadium on May 7, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee

How she got the freebies: She explained how the tickets were free. 'I was invited by a money manager in Philadelphia. I am not ride or die Taylor fan but we had such an incredible experience, she added. 'And she seems to be a positive role model as far as musical role models go.' Then she felt guilt

Let's get some balance: She said there were 20,000 people in the parking lot that could not afford to go in that were trying to hear the music. 'The people in the parking lot are probably the work horses,' she said, meaning the fans outside the stadiums are likely the ones who made Swift such a big star

The ticket prices gives everyone the blues! The star onstage during the Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour at Lincoln Financial Field on May 12, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

She then drove her point home again: 'This concert-going is becoming an elitist sport. People who I know have money say its $1,000 for ticket and they can't go. It should not be like a middle class person who can't go. It has becoming a major disparity, there is no middle class people in the concert. What if you are on the poverty level? You can never go?' she said.

The average price paid for tickets to one of Swift's three shows at NRG Stadium in Philadelphia last weekend was over $1,000, according to TickPick.

The cheapest seats are going for more than $700.

Frankel starred in the Bravo television series The Real Housewives of New York City, appearing in eight of its thirteen seasons since its 2008 premiere.

In 2009, she founded the lifestyle brand, Skinnygirl.

She is divorced from Jason Hoppy, with whom she has daughter Bryn, and is now engaged to Paul Bernon.
Love Island bosses have reportedly signed up a stunning panto actress ahead of this year's summer series.

With just weeks to go until the ITV2 reality show's June 5 return, Molly Marsh is allegedly in final talks to jet out to Mallorca.

The Yorkshire-native, 24, already boasts a whopping 26k followers on Instagram and her mum Janet has enjoyed roles in a string of British soaps.

She's thought to have caught the producers' eyes after taking a tour of the winter villa in January.

Her grid on the photosharing platform is littered with snaps from her trip to the South African mansion, including in the beach hut and fire pit.

Gorgeous: Love Island bosses have reportedly signed up a stunning panto actress ahead of this year's summer series

New recruit: With just weeks to go until the ITV2 reality show's June 5 return, Molly Marsh is allegedly in final talks to jet out to Mallorca

A source told The Sun: 'Molly was scouted after visiting the villa in South Africa earlier this year. She was on the tour as an invited guest when she caught the eyes of producers.

'Molly made it clear she would love to be a part of Love Island and she was told to audition. After going through the process, she's now a shoo-in to fly to Mallorca later this month.

'She is a star on the rise and comes from a showbiz family  her mum Janet even had small roles on Coronation Street and Still Open All Hours. Molly has made it clear she's got what it takes to make a bang and ITV love her.'

It's believed Molly has bagged roles in national tours of Oliver! and Sleeping Beauty before trying her luck on the small screen.

The insider went on to tell how thousands of hopefuls have now been shortlisted to 25, with the final cut set to be announced in just days.

A source told MailOnline: 'She's in the mix, but not confirmed yet.'

It was recently revealed that Love Island will return to screens on June 5.

Presenter Maya Jama will be back as the host following her huge success on the winter version of the show, which saw Sanam Harrinanan and Kai Fagan crowned the winners.

Wow! The Yorkshire-native, 24, already boasts a whopping 26k followers on Instagram and her mum Janet has enjoyed roles in a string of British soaps

Been there, done that! She's thought to have caught the producers' eyes after taking a tour of the winter villa in January

Hot stuff: Her grid on the photosharing platform is littered with snaps from her trip to the South African mansion, including in the beach hut and fire pit

The summer version will see a new host of singletons travel to Majorca and stay in a luxurious villa for two months.

Maya took over from Laura Whitmore to present series nine of the reality show.

A TV source told The Sun: 'ITV have already lined up the islanders who will be heading to the show's villa in Majorca.

'The cast will fly out late next month ready for the show to begin in just eight weeks.'

They continued: 'Maya [Jama] is chomping at the bit to get to work on this series too. Having her on board has given Love Island a real boost and it's expected that ratings will soar.'

According to the source the series is set to last eight weeks, meaning the finale will be taking place in early August.

However, a second source claimed: 'This is speculation as no dates have been confirmed at this point.'

Love Island currently airs twice a year on ITV2 and they are also preparing to air a middle-aged version of the show - dubbed The Romance Retreat.
Johnny Depp faced an awkward run in with his Fantastic Beasts replacement Mads Mikkelsen at opening night of the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday.

The Pirates Of The Caribbean star, 59, took to the red carpet for the premiere of his new movie Jeanne du Barry, marking his first screen appearance following his highly publicised libel trial against ex-wife Amber Heard.

Johnny was forced to quit the wizarding franchise in 2020 at the request of production company Warner Bros amid his legal woes.

Following the uproar Danish actor Mads, 57, took over the role as villainous Gellert Grindelwald for the third saga, 2022's Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.

But on Tuesday, Johnny donned his best tuxedo and couldn't hide his delight about being back in the Hollywood fold.

Back in the spotlight: Johnny Depp (pictured) faced an awkward run in with his Fantastic Beasts replacement Mads Mikkelsen at opening night of the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday

Replacement: Johnny was forced to quit the wizarding franchise in 2020 at the request of production company Warner Bros during the trial - with Mads (pictured) replacing him as the villainous Gellert Grindelwald

Double trouble: Mads (left, pictured in 2022's Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore) opted for a very different look when he took over from Johnny (right, pictured in 2018's Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald )

The actor looked suave in a double breasted jacket which he layered over a crisp white shirt and completed the look with a pocket square.

Johnny slicked his raven locks back into a ponytail and sported a whole host of jewellery for the evening.

Meanwhile Mads donned an all black ensemble as he attended alongside wife Hanne Jacobsen, who stunned in a bright pink tailored suit.

The couple put on a loved up display and seemed to ignore any sense of awkwardness as they risked running into Johnny.

This year's festival promises a Cote d'Azur buffet of spectacle, scandal and cinema set to be served over the next 12 days.

It's unspooling against the backdrop of labor unrest. Protests that have roiled France in recent months over changes to its pension system are planned to run during the festival, albeit at a distance from the festival's main hub.

Meanwhile, an ongoing strike by screenwriters in Hollywood could have unpredictable effects on the French Riviera festival.

But with a festival lined with some much-anticipated big-budget films, including James Mangold's Indiana Jones and the Dial of the Destiny and Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon, the party is sure to go on, regardless.

Glad to be back: But on Tuesday, Johnny donned his best tuxedo for the event and couldn't hide his delight about being back in the Hollywood fold

Suave: The actor looked suave in a double breasted jacket which he layered over a crisp white shirt and completed the look with a pocket square

Hello! He shared a hug with President of the International Cannes Film Festival Iris Knobloch

Cute couple: Meanwhile Mads donned an all black ensemble as he attended alongside wife Hanne Jacobsen, who stunned in a bright pink tailored suit

All smiles: The couple put on a loved up display and seemed to ignore any sense of awkwardness as they risked running into Johnny

Stars set to hit Cannes red carpet in the next week and a half include Natalie Portman, Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Sean Penn, Alicia Vikander, The Weeknd and Scarlett Johansson.

The festivities Tuesday will include an opening ceremony where Michael Douglas is to receive an honorary Palme d'Or.

Later, one will also be dished out to Indiana Jones star Harrison Ford.

The jury that will decide the festival's top prize, the Palme d'Or, will also be introduced.

This year, the jury is led by Swedish filmmaker Ruben Ostlund, a two-time Palme winner who last year won for the social satire 'The Triangle of Sadness.'

Shades: Johnny slicked his raven locks back into a ponytail and sported a whole host of jewellery for the evening

Salute: Johnny (left) appeared in great spirits as he posed alongside French actor Pierre Richard (right)

Crowd: Fans were delighted to see the Hollywood star back in the spotlight

Cast: (L-R) Maiwenn, Johnny Depp and Pierre Richar

Regal: Jeanne du Barry, directed by and co-starring the French actor-director Maiwenn, co-stars Depp as Louis XV

The rest of the jury includes Brie Larson, Paul Dano, French director Julia Ducournau, Argentine filmmaker Damian Szifron, Afghan director Atiq Rahimi, French actor Denis Menochet, Moroccan filmmaker Maryam Tourzani and a Zambian-Welsh director Rungano Nyoni.

The opening night selection has attracted some controversy.

Jeanne du Barry, directed by and co-starring the French actor-director Maiwenn, co-stars Depp as Louis XV.

It's Depp's first new film since his trial last year with Amber Heard, his ex-wife.

After both Depp and Heard accused each other of physical and verbal abuse, a civil jury awarded Depp $10 million in damages and $2 million to Heard.

In remarks to the press Monday, Cannes director Thierry Fremaux defended the choice, saying Depp is extraordinary in the film and he paid no attention to the trial.

'To tell you the truth, in my life, I only have one rule, it's the freedom of thinking, the freedom of speech and the freedom to act within a legal framework,' said Fremaux.

'If Johnny Depp had been banned from acting in a film, or the film was banned we wouldn't be here talking about it.'
Shamed You star Chris D'Elia has been accused of sexual harassment, abuse and assault by multiple women - three years after the star was hit by sexual misconduct allegations.

10 women have accused D'Elia, 43, of preying on them - with four of the alleged victims claiming they were teenagers when the alleged incidents occurred, Rolling Stone reports.

D'Elia is alleged to have asked the women for sexual images and videos, asked for sexual favors in exchange for free tickets to his shows, sexually solicited them on social media, tracked their locations, picked out outfits, imposed curfews and even forced some of them to get a tattoo of his initials.

A spokesman for D'Elia issued a general denial to the claims to the publication.

Jazzmyn Wollfe claims she first connected with D'Elia over Instagram stories in 2020 - she was living in Canada with her estranged husband and their young daughter and 'needed a distraction.'

New claims: Shamed You star Chris D'Elia has been accused of sexual harassment, abuse and assault by multiple women - three years after the star was hit by sexual misconduct allegations (pictured 2020)

She says she responded to D'Elia's Instagram story and within minutes, the star responded.

She claims the chat moved to Snapchat and that by the end of the day, D'Elia asked she send nude photos, which she did.

Wollfe alleges DElia spoke about his own strained relationship with now-wife Kristin Taylor, saying he was living with her for the sake of their child.

They would message every day, sending Snapchat videos and met in March 2020.

Wollfe alleges that in November 2021 D'Elia once asked her to send an explicit video of herself in 'public view' - recounting how she sat in the driver's seat of her car in a parking lot.

She claims she only had 'seconds' to do so, before D'Elia would become furious - and says she told him she wasn't comfortable recording herself in public - to which the star 'didn't care.'

She further alleges that he made her film an apology video minutes later which he scripted - with the video seen by the publication.

Wollfe also claims D'Elia frequently requested she 'get on her knees and say she was nothing.'

D'Elia is alleged to have asked the women for sexual images and videos,, sexually solicited them on social media, tracked their locations, picked out outfits, imposed curfews and even forced some of them to get a tattoo of his initials.; pictured in 2018

Wollfe claims DElia called her his girlfriend, told her he loved her within weeks but was not monogamous.

She would get his initials tattooed on her neck in the shape of a heart and says: 'I wasnt allowed to speak to other men. He would ask me for screenshots if men reached out to me.'

She claims he tracked her location, berated her for dressing 'too sexy' and caused her to drop to 100lbs and relapse into an eating disorder - due to wanting her to stay 'thin and petite'.

Wollfe says he had a harem of women across the country 'doing his bidding' and even put her in touch with another of his girlfriends so they could become roommates.

She claims D'Elia asked her to send a topless video of herself on her knees saying: 'Im a DElia girl' and that when she did, the actor sent her numerous Snapchat videos of different women doing the same. She alleges D'Elia had a least a dozen women sending nude photos and videos to him.

Wollfe claims the 'emotionally abusive, manipulative, and controlling relationship' with D'Elia continued until last year - with most of their interactions taking place online via disappearing messages on Snapchat and a handful of face-to-face encounters in LA.

She said: 'I began to actually believe [I was nothing] and lose such a sense of myself as an individual person because you can only hear something so many times before you start to internalize that.'

D'Elia, through his attorney Andrew Brettler, called into question Wollfe's credibility for 'entering into early discussions of a possible $100,000 settlement in exchange for cutting off communications with media publications.'

One alleged victim claims the actor tracked her location, berated her for dressing 'too sexy' and caused her to drop to 100lbs and relapse into an eating disorder - due to wanting her to stay 'thin and petite'.; seen in February 2020

Wollfe says she never received any cash and blocked Brettler who she branded 'manipulative' - which Brettler denied.

Emma claims to have ended a year relationship with the actor after the 2020 allegations emerged. She says after watching Kyle Anderson's YouTube documentary - The Chris D'Elia problem that she realized she wasn't alone in suffering lasting ill-effects from D'Elia's behavior.

She said: 'I will always struggle with figuring out what feels normal in a relationship because of it Im not sure [DElia will] ever fully understand the scope of what he has done to a lot of women.'

Emma, then 22, began messaging the actor in 2019 and claims their chat on Snapchat quickly turned sexual.

She claims he exhibited increasing control over her life, and she feared he would cut off contact if she disobeyed his demands.

Both Wollfe and Emma claim that when they tried to end their 'cult-like' relationships with the actor, that he pleaded for another chance, made suicidal statements and said they were the only ones who understood him.

Wollfe and Emma claim they were back in touch with the actor in summer 2020 and that he became more manipulative with 'darker and more intense' sexual demands.

Wollfe alleges he requested she urinate into her underwear and show him. She says she attempted to break away from him in December 2021 due to being aware of his 'gaslighting' and by April 2022 she had left.

She claims to have confronted the actor in August of that year for closure - with D'Elia allegedly saying in a recorded conversation that he had 'no idea how he was affecting her.'

D'Elia allegedly tried to get Wollfe to delete their conversations and posts online about her story.

Women in the US and Canada claim that while D'Elia was on tour he would scout out female fans in the city he was about to perform - or pick out others from the crowd after D'Elia trawled social media.

Other women say they reached out to D'Elia as fans before he allegedly turned the conversation sexual.

Two women allege DElia offered free or special tickets to one of his shows - Lindsay McKearn says she reached out to D'Elia for help getting a ticket to his sold-out 2014 show in Albany, New York.

On screen: One alleged victim claims the comedian tracked her location, berated her for dressing 'too sexy' and caused her to drop to 100lbs and relapse into an eating disorder - due to wanting her to stay 'thin and petite' (pictured in You in 2018 as comedian Hendy)

The pair had messaged on Facebook years prior and McKearn claim: ' One of Chriss first comments when we decided that he was gonna get me into the show was, "Will you suck my d**k?"' DElia did not respond to the claim

Samantha Simmons claims she was 17 when DElia offered VIP tickets to a South Carolina show but claims when she mentioned her mother would be escorting her that D'Elia advised her to 'ditch' her parent so they 'could hang out.'

Simmons says she told DElia she was underage and that he allegedly responded: 'youre a little young' but allegedly continued messaging her and asked for her Snapchat. She did not attend the show. DElia did not respond to the claim.

Simone Rossi claims she was 16 when she messaged DElia who allegedly said: 'How [are] we supposed to make out then"' in July 2014 after finding out she lived in Arizona not LA.

She claims he messaged her again in January 2015 saying he was in Tempe, Arizona, before a show and asked if they could 'hang out.'

Rossi and D'Elia state he stopped messaging her when he asked for her Instagram where her age was clear. Rossi has shared their alleged exchanges on Twitter in 2020.

Another woman, speaking under the pseudonym Jenna, says she was in her late 20s in 2018 when she began messaging DElia as a fan, before sending him nude photos.

She claims DElia began controlling her, choosing her nail color, commenting on her waist size and asking her to get a tattoo in his honor.

Amanda Koopa, a huge fan of the actor and then 28, had flirted on Snapchat in 2014, with the dialogue ending when she claims she refused a request from the actor to show him her vagina and failed to attend one of his shows.

She claims the actor told her he booked a show in her hometown of North Battleford in Saskatchewan, Canada in February 2018 - and alleges he messaged her the night before the show to meet at his hotel.

She alleges he made a comment about 'head only' when discussing the meeting, and that he 'quickly began putting his hands all over me' when she arrived.

She claims he told her to get on her knees as she cried, grabbed her face and said 'look at me'. She alleges he said 'if you just do everything I say, it'll be ok.

She then claims he made her perform oral sex on him while he instructed her and 'suggestively asked how old she was.'

DElia, through his attorney, claimed to the publication the encounter was consensual and that Koopa was 'not credible' and had changed her story about the encounter since posting a Youtube video about the alleged incident.

Alexa, who requested to be identified by only her first name, claims she described herself as one of the actor's 'babies' when she was 18 years old and crossed paths with the star.

Inspired by his comedy while she was undergoing treatment for an eating disorder in August 2019, she messaged him on Instagram and allegedly met up up with him after a show in San Jose, California (according to screenshots seen by the publication.'

Alexa claims she performed oral sex on him in his hotel room. She says his attention kept her going and that he would ask about her weight and ask her to step on a scale for him.

She further claims the actor requested she call him 'daddy', called her 'his girl' and 'became angry' if she met up with boys,

Alexa claims she met up with D'Elia again that October at one of his shows at LA's Laugh Factory where he saved her a free ticket.

She claims to have performed oral sex on him in his car and that he told her they should 'f*** next time.'

Alexa claims she then began to pull away from him, saying: Legally, he knew exactly what he was doing and that it was going to be OK. But morally, anybody in their right mind would be disgusted. We were both legal adults. I had about four months to practice being a legal adult, and he had 20-plus years to practice.'

The publication reports it has learned the FBI has interviewed several of D'Elia's 'accusers and potential witnesses'

An FBI spokesman told DailyMail.com: 'As a matter of longstanding policy, the FBI neither confirms nor denies investigations to protect both the integrity of an investigation and the reputation of those potentially involved in it.'

DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for Chris D'Elia for comment.

Back in February 2021, D'Elia reemerged with a YouTube video following eight months out of the public eye after he was accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women.

The disgraced comedian shared a nearly 10-minute video in which he claimed that he has 'a problem' and that sex 'controlled' his life.

'I know its been a really long time since youve heard from me,' he opened the video before saying he stood by his initial statement that all of his relationships have been 'consensual and legal.'

'I wanted that statement to speak for itself,' he continued

He said he wanted to get back to doing stand-up and recording his podcast, but he though it was 'best to take a long, hard look at myself.'

'I do know how it looks with all the stuff that's been said, and the emails that have been put out there, and what the media's trying to say,' he continued.

'I know it looks bad, and it doesn't show the full scope of what happened. I stand by the fact that all my relationships have been consensual and legal, and that's just it. That's the truth.'

D'Elia claimed he had sought out medical advice and therapy while he was out of the public eye.

He said those consultations taught him that 'this was always about sex to me.'

'Sex controlled my life,' he continued. 'And I have a problem. And I do have a problemI need to do work on that.'

He claimed that when his career started taking off in his early thirties, 'sex got a lot easier.'

'I felt like, oh wow, I don't need to work as hard. I can just do a show and then have sex. Or roll into a city and look at my inbox and then just start writing it,' he said, referencing his messages to women for sex.

The actor claimed their were many more blunt messages to women about having sex than were shared on social media, but he said he thought his blunt manner of asking for sex was appropriate so as to not disguise his intentions.

Too close to reality: After the initial claims emerged in 2020, D'Elia was dropped by his talent agency CAA and a Workaholics episode he made a guest appearance in as a child molester was removed from streaming platforms

'That was what I thought was right. I realized through all of this that doing that is just treating sex like it's casual and being flippant with people.

He continued: 'And that's not the guy I want to be, and I'm sorry for that. It makes me feel shameful and it makes me feel bad.'

Three women have accused D'Elia of exposing himself to them without their consent, which doesn't seem to be addressed by the video about his sex practices.

Prior to them coming forward, he was accused of soliciting sex from underage girls on social media.

After the initial reporting, D'Elia was dropped by his talent agency CAA and a Workaholics episode he made a guest appearance in as a child molester was removed from streaming platforms.

At the time, the comic and actor had a prank series in the works at Netflix that also featured comedian Bryan Callen, but that was scrapped by the streamer.

In October 2022 a woman who claimed that the comedian threatened to leak explicit videos featuring her was denied a permanent restraining order against him.

Caroline Schmitz had her request for a permanent protective order shut down by a judge y after previously being granted a temporary restraining order against the comedian, TMZ reported.

Despite her claims, D'Elia claimed last month via his attorney that he had never met the woman.

In court documents obtained last month by TMZ, Schmitz previously alleged that the comedian and actor had sent her threatening messages.

In the documents, she claimed she met D'Elia in 2017 when she was a working comedian, and they allegedly hooked up several times.

The temporary restraining order filing claimed that D'Elia contacted Schmitz in May through OnlyFans, a popular subscription site that is often used by adult content creators.

Schmitz alleged that D'Elia was behind an OnlyFans profile that threatened to post intimate videos of her and advised her to leave Los Angeles, according to court documents.

'These accusations are as fantastical as they are defamatory. Chris has never met this person,' D'Elia's attorney Andrew Brettler told TMZ at the time.

'But over the last year, she has sent him increasingly disturbing text and audio messages, including making threats against him and his family. If anyone is going to get a restraining order here, its going to be Chris,' Brettler added.
Michael J Fox officially retired from acting in 2021 and the inspiration to make that move may surprise some of his fans.

The 61-year-old actor, who has raised $2billion for research into curing Parkinson's disease that affects his life and the lives of millions of others, has revealed he came to the decision with help from Leonardo DiCaprio and Quentin Tarantino.

The versatile actor told Empire he was having trouble remembering his lines for a scene on The Good Fight.

He was playing an attorney with Parkinson's disease and said. 'That's when I thought of Once Upon A Time In Hollywood.'

Surprising inspiration: Michael J Fox officially retired from acting in 2021 and the inspiration to make that move may surprise some of his fans

Fox, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 1991, explained, 'Theres a scene where Leonardo DiCaprio's character cant remember his lines any more.'

DiCaprio plays a former leading man whose star has diminished and is taking on supporting roles in the Oscar winning dramady.

Tarantino received a nomination for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. DiCaprio received a Best Actor nomination and co-star Brad Pitt won for Best Supporting Actor.

Fox described the scene: 'He goes back to his dressing room and hes screaming at himself in the mirror. Just freaking insane.' Part of the reason Leo's character forgot his lines is that he drank too much the night before.

But Michael took a lot from the scene: 'I had this moment where I was looking in the mirror and thought, "I cannot remember it any more. Well, lets move on."'

The philanthropist and activist said the decision to do so 'was peaceful.'

The actor's life and career are the focus of the new documentary, Still: A Michael J Fox Movie.

Fox shared a clip from his interview promoting the film on CBS Sunday Morning in which he falls down on while walking in his Instagram Stories Tuesday.

Lines: Fox said he was inspired by a scene from Once Upon A Time in Hollywood, in which Leonardo DiCaprio's character can't remember his lines. 'I had this moment where I was looking in the mirror and thought, "I cannot remember it any more. Well, lets move on"'

As a woman rushes to help, the struggling actor, who is aided to his feet by an aid.

The actor thanks the Good Samaritan for her effort and then tells her 'you knocked me off my feet.'

He told anchor Jane Pauley, 72, 'It's getting harder... it's getting tougher, everyday you suffer,' before adding, 'but that's the way it is.'

As a result of numerous falls, the Back to the Future star has broken bones in his arms, shoulders and hands.

Humor: Fox shared a clip from his interview on CBS Sunday Morning in which he falls down in his Instagram Stories Tuesday. As a woman rushes to help, the struggling actor, who is aided to his feet by an aid, he thanks her and tells her 'you knocked me off my feet'

Documentary: The actor's life and career are the focus of the new documentary, Still: A Michael J Fox Movie

Game Changer: Scientists funded by The Michael J Fox Foundation have been able to identify a biomarker for Parkinson's disease. The discovery, announced in April, has been called a 'game changer' and it could make it easier to diagnosis and treat the degenerative disease

'It's a big killer with Parkinson's. It's falling and aspirating food and pneumonia, all these subtle ways it gets you.'

'You don't die from Parkinson's, you die with Parkinson's. I'm not going to be 80.'

Through his Michael J Fox Foundation, scientists have used some of the billions of dollars raised to identify a biomarker for the degenerative disease.

The discovery, announced in April, has been called a 'game changer' and it could point to a quicker diagnosis and treatment.

'In five years, they will be able to tell if you have it, and if you're ever going to get it and how to treat it,' he claimed.
Temperatures are soaring in Weatherfield this summer as Hollyoaks' Stephanie Davis joins the cast for a steamy affair storyline that will rock the cobbles.

The actress, 30, best known for playing Sinead O'Connor in the Channel 4 soap, has been cast as Courtney Vance, the glamorous wife of Darren, one of Dev Alahan's business associates.

Newcomer Darren will be played by Ryan Early, who stars as Helen Archer's love interest Lee Bryce in the BBC radio drama The Archers.

Whilst Dev (Jimmi Harkishin) and Darren spend time talking business, sexy Courtney sets her sights on a toyboy lover in the shape of Dev's son Aadi Alahan (Adam Hussain).

It's not long before Aadi finds himself caught up in a web of deceit as cunning Courtney orchestrates reasons for the pair to meet up behind Dev and Darren's backs.

Saucy: Temperatures are soaring in Weatherfield this summer as Hollyoaks' Stephanie Davis (pictured) joins the cast for a steamy affair storyline that will rock the cobbles

Shock: Her character Courtney sets her sights on a toyboy lover in the shape of Dev's son Aadi Alahan (Adam Hussain)

Stephanie and Ryan start filming later this week and will appear on screen in July.

On getting the role Stephanie said: 'I am absolutely delighted to be joining the cast of Coronation Street, playing the part of Courtney Vance'.

'Growing up I have always watched and loved the show, so to be part of the biggest TV soap in Britain, which is in the hearts and homes of so many people, is an honour.'

Meanwhile co-star Ryan gushed: 'I am so thrilled to be playing Darren Vance on Coronation Street and joining the most iconic Soap. I grew up watching the show with my grandmother so to walk on the cobbles is such an honour.'

Coronation Street Producer Iain MacLeod said: 'In Stephanie and Ryan, we have cast two fantastic actors as the catalyst for this fun, fiery storyline'.

'Aadi will quickly find himself way out of his depth as he risks everything for Courtney. And while it is the best time he's ever had in his life, he stands to end up in a whole heap of trouble!'.

Elsewhere on the famous street Faye Windass is set to leave her fiance Craig Tinker devastated next week as she makes a huge decision over her future with ex Jackson Hodge and daughter Miley.

For weeks Faye had been struggling with her feelings for Jackson ever since he and their daughter Miley came back into her life, with the two even sharing a secret kiss.

Hubby: Her husband Darren, Dev Alahan's business partner, will be played by Ryan Early, who stars as Helen Archer's love interest Lee Bryce in the BBC radio drama The Archers (pictured)

Soap star: Stephanie is best known for playing Sinead O'Connor in the Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks

With Jackson urging them to start a new life together, Faye's turmoil was further heightened with her loyal boyfriend Craig proposed, which she went on to accept.

However, in upcoming scenes, Faye (Ellie Leach) is left feeling trapped by her beau Craig (Colson Smith) after choosing him over Jackson (Colson Smith).

And she finally makes a decision about her future which is no doubt set to leave her loved ones crushed.

With Craig assuring Faye that he would never report her to the police, he goes on to suggest they should buy a flat together and set a date for the wedding, leaving Faye confused.

And things are not helped when her father Tim Metcalfe expresses his relief that Faye opted to stay with the police officer rather than Jackson.

Later, Faye breaks down and confides her fears to big brother Gary Windass, admitting that she wants to be with Jackson, but she cant leave Craig because he knows something that could land her back in prison.

As Jackson and Miley prepare to leave Weatherfield, Faye tells Craig that the pair will be calling round to take some photos before they leave for Slough.

Decision time: Elsewhere on the famous street Faye Windass is set to leave her fiance Craig Tinker devastated next week as she makes a huge decision over her future with ex Jackson Hodge and daughter Miley (pictured with Gary)

Difficult: In upcoming scenes, Faye (Ellie Leach) is left feeling trapped by her beau Craig (Colson Smith) after choosing him over Jackson (Colson Smith)

Torn: For weeks Faye had been struggling with her feelings for Jackson ever since he and their daughter Miley came back into her life, with the two even sharing a secret kiss

As Faye, Craig, Jackson, Miley, Tim and Sally pose for family photos, Miley explains to her mum how she plans to put together an album to remember them by.

Faye tries her hardest to keep her emotions in check, but Craig spots that she's deeply upset and makes a big choice.

He goes on to tell his fiancee that if she wants to go with Jackson and Miley to Slough then she should do it.

And it appears that Faye has made up her mind as she packs her bags to leave.

Faye then heads to Jackson and Miley's car and gets in before it pulls away, as a heartbroken Craig watches on.

Following Faye's exit, Craig calls at the factory with some work bits and bobs which she left behind.

Faye's step-mum Sally Metcalfe feels for him and suggests he joins them at No.4 later as shes doing a Mexican supper.

Later, Sally does her best to cheer up Tim and Craig and suggests they find a common hobby to take their minds off Faye.

Faye's exit comes amid actress Ellie Leach's departure from the ITV soap after 12 years.

Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
Alec Baldwin has been pictured departing Montana after he finished filming his Western movie Rust.

The actor, 65, was spotted packing his belongings and pushing his luggage through a building while in Bozeman on Monday.

It comes three weeks after all charges were dropped against him for accidentally shooting and killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust.

He wore a sporty black jacket over a polo shirt, along with trousers and glossy leather footwear.

The 30 Rock actor stood outside in the parking lot, where he appeared to be loading his belongings inside a car with the help of a friend.

Returning home: Alec Baldwin was pictured departing Montana after finishing up filming his Western film Rust on Tuesday

He seemed in good spirits as he chatted with friends, no doubt keen to reunite with his family.

On Monday, Baldwin shared a snap taken with Rust co-star Patrick Scott McDermott, writing: 'Last day on the set of RUST with this guy. A very talented actor and lovely young man with a bright future ahead. My love to you, @patrickscottmcdermott.'

McDermott returned the love by commenting 'Love you Alec' before posting a snap of the two embracing on set with the caption: 'Alec's last day [heart emoji] I'll miss you.'

Alec also shared a snap of his freshly-shaven complexion after ditching his beard: 'God, it felt good to shave off that beard,' he captioned the photo.

Production stopped abruptly in October 2021 when Baldwin shot a live round from a prop gun that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on Rust's New Mexico set.

The Beetlejuice star was charged in January with two counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with Hutchins' death and the injury of 'Rust' director Joel Souza, who was struck by the same bullet that passed through Hutchins.

The case against Baldwin quickly unraveled. A weapons charge that would have meant a much longer sentence was dismissed, and the first special prosecutor appointed in the case resigned.

This despite a damning FBI report that concluded that Baldwin did pull the trigger of the gun that killed Hutchins  despite him repeatedly stating that he did not.

Departing: The 30 Rock actor stood outside in the parking lot, where he appeared to be loading his belongings inside a car with the help of a friend

Casual: He wore a sporty black jacket over a polo shirt, along with slacks and leather footwear

The report could still lead to criminal charges against the actor and others involved in the accidental shooting, with Santa Fe cops still investigating Hutchins' death.

Baldwin was accused of showing a 'reckless' disregard for safety in Hutchins' death. He pleaded not guilty in February after prosecutors downgraded the seriousness of the charges, reducing the potential prison time.

He has in interviews said he was told the gun was safe and that he never pulled the trigger.

After a scathing safety review by regulators in New Mexico that detailed ignored complaints and misfires before Hutchins' death in October of 2021, the production company agreed to pay a $100,000 fine.

Controversy: It comes three weeks after all charges were dropped against him in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust

Devastating: Production on Rust stopped abruptly in October 2021 when Baldwin shot a live round from a prop gun that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on Rust's New Mexico set

Baldwin's co-defendant and Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed is still facing the charges against her.

After the charges against him were dropped, Baldwin took to Instagram to thank his wife Hilaria for helping him through the controversy, while she posted a bizarre picture of her curled up on his knees.

Set in 1880s Kansas, the Western reportedly sees Baldwin playing an aging outlaw named Harland Rust who rescues his 13-year-old grandson from the hangman's noose after the young boy is sentenced to death for an accidental murder.

The independent film was produced on a shoestring budget of $67 million and has been described as a 'passion project' for Baldwin.
Amber Heard was pictured going for a walk with her daughter in Madrid, Spain on Tuesday, as her ex-husband Johnny Depp made headlines appearing on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival.

The Aquaman actress, 37, was clad in a black tank top with roomy black high leg trousers slacks and black sandals.

The Austin, Texas-born beauty topped off her blonde locks with a straw fedora hat with a black band and accessorized with sunglasses and a gold necklace on the outing in Spain.

The Zombieland actress toted a jug of water and had her phone affixed to a wire for portability issues on the sunny day

The Rum Diary actress was joined by a nanny who pushed her two-year-old daughter Oonagh Paige Heard in a stroller. She was seen smiling on the outing as she held her toddler, who was wearing a white outfit with floral highlights.

The latest: Amber Heard, 37, was pictured going for a walk with her daughter in Madrid, Spain on Tuesday, as her ex-husband Johnny Depp, 59, made headlines appearing on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival

Heard was spotted in Spain as Depp, 59, was pictured at the 76th annual film festival in Cannes to mark the debut of his new movie Jeanne du Barry.

Depp, who plays the role of King Louis XV in the biographical drama, was seen making his entrance with the movie's premiere at the French film festival.

He was seen with the movie's director Maiwenn in his entrance, and pictured taking selfies with fans and signing autographs.

The actress was pictured on the daytime stroll after DailyMail.com exclusively reported earlier this month that she has retreated from the U.S. - and the hustle and bustle of Hollywood - in the wake of her ex-husband Depp's mostly successful defamation trial against her in Virginia last year.

Now, she has set up camp in a home just outside Madrid with her daughter.

But it's unclear if or when she attempt to make her wake back to Hollywood and to restart her acting career.

Heard announced that she had welcomed Oonagh into her life via surrogacy through a post that was shared on her Instagram account in July of 2021.

The actress wrote a lengthy message in her post's caption where she revealed that her daughter, whose father has not been publicly revealed, had arrived that April.

The actress was clad in a black tank top with roomy black high leg trousers slacks and black sandals

Heard was seen holding her daughter amid her ex-husband's reemergence at Cannes

The Rum Diary actress was joined by a nanny who pushed her two-year-old daughter Oonagh Paige Heard in a stroller

The actress toted a jug of water and had her phone affixed to a wire for portability issues on the sunny day

She also also expressed her thoughts about parenthood in the statement, which partially read: 'I hope we arrive at a point in which it's normalized to not want a ring in order to have a crib.'

Heard's daughter was born a year before the much-publicized legal case which centered on allegations of defamation that were made by both the actress and her former husband.

The pair were married from 2015 until 2017, and the Pineapple Express actress alleged that the Pirates Of The Caribbean star had been physically abusive over the course of their marriage, which he denied.

Heard also had an op-ed published by The Washington Post in 2018, in which she outlined how she felt as if speaking out about the alleged abuse she suffered during her marriage negatively affected her career.

The performer went on to file suit against News Group Newspapers for printing various allegations about his marriage through The Sun in 2020, although he ultimately lost his case.

Heard was spotted in Spain as Depp, 59, was pictured at the 76th annual film festival in Cannes to mark the debut of his new movie Jeanne du Barry

Depp, who plays the role of King Louis XV in the biographical drama, was seen making his entrance with the movie's premiere at the French film festival

Fans of the embattled actor were seen holding signs in his support on Tuesday

Heard's daughter was born a year before the much-publicized Depp v. Heard case, which was centered on allegations of defamation that were made by both the actress and her 59-year-old former husband; they are seen in 2015

It was ultimately found that the Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas star had been defamed by his ex, while a single statement that was made by his former lawyer Adam Waldman regarding the actress was also found to have been defamatory; they are seen in 2022

Depp went on to sue his former wife for defamation regarding the op-ed in 2019, and she followed suit before their trial began in July of last year.

It was ultimately found that the Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas star had been defamed by his ex, while a single statement that was made by his former lawyer Adam Waldman regarding the actress was also found to have been defamatory.

While both parties made appeals regarding the judgements, they dropped them and settled the case in December of last year, when it was decided that the actor would receive $1 million from his former spouse's insurance company.

Heard subsequently released a statement regarding the settlement and expressed via BBC that she had 'lost faith in the American legal system.'
Anne Hathaway looked nothing short of sensational as she arrived at Bulgari's Mediterranea High Jewellery event in Venice, Italy on Tuesday.

The actress, 40, slipped into an gold and silver sequinned gown for the occasion, complete with plunging neckline and very racy thigh-high split.

Anne's frock hugged every inch of her stunning figure and flashed a glimpse of her long toned legs and even boasted a quirky hood.

She completed the look with a ginormous diamond necklace which boasted five pink stones set in silver.

The Devil Wears Prada star accentuated her dainty features with make-up and slicked back her long brunette locks.

Incredible: Anne Hathaway looked nothing short of sensational as she arrived at a swanky party hosted by luxury jeweller Bulgari in Venice, Italy on Tuesday

Hot stuff:The actress, 40, slipped into an ombre sequinned gown for the occasion, complete with plunging neckline and very racy thigh-high split

She strutted her stuff in towering silver platforms as she posed up a storm in the posh party.

Bulgari is an Italian luxury fashion house founded in 1884 and known for its jewellery, it's pieces have been worn by the likes of Elizabeth Taylor, Sarah Jessica Parker and Zendaya.

The outing comes after Hathaway's night out at the Met Gala earlier this month, where she looked every inch the sexy bombshell in a plunging white Versace gown.

The star - who is the face of the brand's Icon campaign - modelled a look stitched together with gold safety pins.

The Armageddon Time beauty teased her perky cleavage in the look, which was extremely low cut and boasted a thigh-high slit.

Anne turned heads in the ensemble, commanding attention as she rocked its fingerless opera gloves.

It also came with a jacket that she draped over her arms during some red carpet moments.

Anne's look piggybacked off Liz Hurley's iconic black safety pin Versace dress from 1994.

Stylish: Anne's frock hugged every inch of her stunning figure and flashed a glimpse of her long toned legs and even boasted a quirky hood

Swanky: She completed the look with a ginormous diamond necklace which boasted five pink stones set in silver

Tiny: She toted her essentials for the evening in a tiny gold bag

Glam: The Devil Wears Prada star accentuated her dainty features with make-up and slicked back her long brunette locks

Gorgeous: She flaunted her gorgeous legs as she lifted her dress on route to the event

Quirky: The unique dress also boasted a frayed hemline

Sparkle: As well as her statement necklace she also donned a selection of bracelets and cocktail rings

A little help? She was guided into the party by a crowd of security

Anne's getup was created with tweed and she described the look as a 'marriage between Versace and Chanel.'

Hathaway recently discussed how her work commitments take a second seat now that she's a mother.

In an October interview with Sirius XM's Jess Cagle, Anne spoke about being 'choosier' when it comes to picking roles, saying: 'I have to say, the "kids" thing has been the biggest shift.'

Money bags: The stunner was dripping in diamonds

Party: The event was also attended by Zendaya and Priyanka Chopra

'[Kids] kind of re-prioritized everything,' she told Cagle. 'So it's actually made me a bit choosier because something really has to be so excellent to spend time away from them because they're so precious to me.'

Calling her sons 'the most sacred part of [her] life by a long shot,' Anne went on to add: 'When I do accept something, it puts greater pressure on me to make it worth the time that I've spent away from them.'

The Les Miserables star previously revealed that she knew Shulman was 'the love of her life' right away, but that she met him at a complicated time.

'I knew from the second I met him that he was the love of my life. I also knew that I couldn't have met him at a worse time,' she stated in an interview with Harper's Bazaar UK in 2013.

Hathaway was still recovering from a difficult breakup, causing her to be apprehensive at first.

'I took my trust out for a ridiculous joyride with him,' she said. 'It was scary.'

The Princess Diaries star gave her future husband a chance, explaining that their relationship 'kept getting better and better.'

'He walks into a room,' gushed Anne, 'and I light up. I can't help it.'
Beyonce has revealed that her first job was sweeping hair at her mom's salon while growing up as she teased a big announcement to honor Tina Knowles Lawson.

The 41-year-old megastar - who recently thanked a superfan who has been to over 35 of her shows - took to Instagram on Tuesday to share snaps of herself and daughter Blue Ivy, 11, getting their hair done.

She posted the images along with a hand-written note which read: 'How many of y'all knew my first job was sweeping hair in my mama's salon?

'Destiny's Child got our start by performing for clients while they were getting their hair done. I was exposed to so many different kinds of entrepreneurial women in her salon.

'I saw firsthand how the ways we nurture and celebrate hair can directly impact our souls.' I watched her heal and be of service to so many women.'

Teasing in more ways than one: Beyonce has revealed that her first job was sweeping hair at her mom's salon while growing up as she teased a big announcement to honor Tina Knowles Lawson

Proud: The 41-year-old megastar - who recently thanked a superfan who has been to over 35 of her shows - took to Instagram on Tuesday to share snaps of herself and daughter Blue Ivy (pictured), 11, getting their hair done

Then she had the Beyhive buzzing as she teased a new project with the aim of honoring her 69-year-old mother Tina.

Beyonce concluded: 'Having learned so much on my hair journey, I've always dreamed of carrying on her legacy

'I can't wait for you to experience what I've been creating.'

In one of the images Beyonce could be seen with an electric hair product in her hand as she held her signature highlighted blonde locks while looking in the vanity mirror.

She showcased plenty of cleavage in a low cut white romper featuring puffy three-quarter length sleeves.

Blue Ivy looked to be getting her braided hair put into curlers as she sat with a smirk on her face.

Beyonce and company have previously shed light on their performing at the salon past as she and girl group Destiny's Child famously worked at a salon in their iconic music video for 1999 smash-hit Bills, Bills, Bills.

The A-list star is currently on her Renaissance World Tour which will fill stadiums around the globe.

She posted the images along with a hand-written note which read: 'How many of y'all knew my first job was sweeping hair in my mama's salon?'

Then she had the Beyhive buzzing as she teased a new project with the aim of honoring her 69-year-old mother Tina (pictured in March) as Beyonce concluded: 'Having learned so much on my hair journey, I've always dreamed of carrying on her legacy 'I can't wait for you to experience what I've been creating'

Iconic: Beyonce and company have previously shed light on their performing at the salon past as she and girl group Destiny's Child famously worked at a salon in their iconic music video for 1999 smash-hit Bills, Bills, Bills

Work experience: In the clip Beyonce sung while putting massive rollers in a customer's hair

Shining star: The A-list star is currently on her Renaissance World Tour which will fill stadiums around the globe; she is pictured in Sweden last week

Grandkids: Beyonce's mom, Tina Knowles Lawson, 69, who is traveling with the tour, shared on Instagram that she had take her grandkids to the London premiere of The Little Mermaid. She said star Halle Bailey, 23, 'was extraordinary in this Movie,' followed by a loving, 'So proud'

The next tour stop will take place at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales on Wednesday as it will continue throughout Europe to the end of June.

In July, Beyonce will cross the pond for concerts in Canada before arriving back to her come country in the US and will ultimately conclude with at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on September 27.

The Halo artist appeared to be taking a break from performing and social media while she rests up for her next performance, but her mother Tina, 69, who is traveling with the tour gave an update on what she's been up to.

The clothing designer looked sleek in a white suit with a silver bustier at the London premiere of The Little Mermaid Monday night.

Sharing the event on Instagram, Tina wrote, 'At the premiere in London last night. Didn't get to go on the real beach red carpet last night, because I had my grand children but the carpet was so enchanting it looked like a beach.'

Beyonce's husband, Jay-Z, 53, and Blue Ivy have been spotted on the tour. The couple are also parents to twins Rumi and Sir, who will soon turn six.

Tina said star, '@hallebailey was extraordinary in this Movie,' followed by a loving, 'So proud'
Australian Fashion Week kicked off on Monday, and while it was once a drawcard for international celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton, a shocking new photo proves the once prestigious event is on the decline.

The front row is now filled with bored 'influencers' looking at their phones.

On Tuesday, serial red carpet pest and former Married At First star was photographed sitting in the second row at the Erik Yvon show among a sea of relatively unknown social media identities.

Most had their heads down, tapping away on their iPhones while other attendees were forced to stand behind them.

The day before, Nasser, who has become known for crashing red carpet and events around Sydney, was escorted out of the event after he was busted masquerading as a reporter.

Australian Fashion Week kicked off on Monday and while it was once a drawcard for international celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton, the once-prestigious front row is now filled with bored 'influencers' looking at their phones

Ever the magnet for mischief, he added another chapter to his ever-growing book of drama when he showed up armed with a makeshift press pass and a cheeky grin.

The reality TV pest was seen filming interviews with guests before he reportedly attempted to walk in to the St. Agni show without an invite or credentials.

An insider revealed: 'Nasser was posing as a journo, asking the silliest questions. It was clear he was out of his depth. But it was quite a laugh until security got wind of it.'

'Security told him that they remembered him from last year and that he was on watch. They wanted him to stay clear of shows he wasn't invited to because brands clearly didn't want him there.'

On Tuesday, serial red carpet pest and former Married At First star was seen sitting in the second row in a sea of relatively unknown social media identities

Nasser managed to get back into the event after being kicked out the day before

A model walks the runway during the Wynn Hamlyn show on Tuesday

According to the spy, Nasser was caught red handed when he tried to get into the exclusive fashion show using someone else's credentials.

Despite the awkward exit, Sultan seemed undeterred, even managing to pose for photos before he was escorted off the premises.

According to Yahoo Lifestyle, he has officially been banned from Fashion Week this year. He reportedly was also kicked out of a show on Tuesday.

Influencers and socialites are seen sitting front row at the Bondi Born show in Sydney on Monday

A model is seen posing ahead of the Bondi Born show - showing off the latest swimwear

Pictured is Kim and Khloe Kardashian at the event with Lara Bingle back in 2008 in Sydney, ahead of the Ruth Tarvydas show

Kim wore a figure-hugging black minidress and heels to the event

'Without me, Fashion Week shouldn't even happen. I'm Mr Fashion. You don't become Australia's favourite celebrity for nothing,' Nasser said.

He took a swipe at the event and slammed the fashion on the runway, saying: 'Ugh, the fashion. Half of these shows it looks like they've found their stuff in the bloody bin that you see on the streets.'

This isn't Sultan's first brush with controversy at Fashion Week.

During the 2022 event, the fame-seeking MAFS groom was put on notice over his rowdy behaviour.

During the 2022 event, the fame-seeking MAFS groom was put on notice over his rowdy behaviour. Security at Carriageworks, the Sydney venue where most of the runway shows were held, issued the 56-year-old with a stern warning to 'stop being a pest'

Security at Carriageworks, the Sydney venue where most of the runway shows were held, issued him with a stern warning to 'stop being a pest'.

The warning was given after Nasser was pictured harassing former NRL WAG Phoebe Burgess in the front row at the Oroton showcase.

Nasser had briefly slipped into racing royalty Kate Waterhouse's seat when she moved away and tugged on Phoebe's designer coat to try to get her attention.

However, the ex-wife of retired NRL star Sam Burgess turned her back on Nasser as he repeatedly asked for a photo and tried to start a conversation.

An apologetic Nasser told Daily Mail Australia he was 'really embarrassed' about his behaviour around Phoebe, but denied gatecrashing the show or stealing anyone's seat, as had been previously reported.

The warning was given after Nasser was pictured harassing former NRL WAG Phoebe Burgess (right) in the front row at the Oroton showcase

'[The incident with security] really embarrassed me. I felt like a f**kwit... but I didn't take anyone's seat or sneak in,' the former music promoter said.

'I was invited to that show, saw Phoebe went over to say hello. Why can't you say hello to people these days?

'Security were saying I stole Kate Waterhouse's seat. I did not. I was there for a few seconds just taking a photo with Phoebe and then moved back to my seat.'

He added: 'They said I was being a pest and that the designers didn't want me at their shows... that's not true. I have been invited to many of shows.

'I have been going for years. I have no shame sitting in the back row. I am happy just to be there.'

'Security were saying I stole Kate Waterhouse's seat. I did not. I was there for a few seconds just taking a photo with Phoebe and then moved back to my seat,' Nasser explained

It's a change of pace considering the event once attracted the Kardashians.

Back in 2008, Kim Kardashian sat front row with her sister Khloe at the Ruth Tarvydas runway show.

The O.C. star Mischa Barton was also a front row fixture at Kirrily Johnston's show that same year.

Paris Hilton stormed the runway for Wayne Cooper's show at Australian Fashion Week in Melbourne back in 2003.

Years later, Bella Hadid dropped in from Cannes to walk the runway at the Misha Collection Resort 17 show in May 2016.

Paris Hilton stormed the runway for Wayne Cooper's show at Australian Fashion Week in Melbourne back in 2003

At the time, reports suggested the younger sister of model Gigi Hadid was paid up to AU$420,000 for the gig.

Bella said of walking the runway: 'I want to literally wear everything from this collection. I literally wore an evening dress.'

Australian Fashion Week, running from May 15 to 19, will present 10 runway shows a day in which designers showcase their resort collections for spring/summer 2024.

Popular names like Aje, St Agni, Bondi Born, Anna Quan and Bec & Bridge are among the brands showing this year.

The week will include a wave of promising talent and fresh faces, including Asiyam, Youkhana, Erik Yvon, Iordanes Spyridon Gogos, Wackie Ju and Nicol & Ford.
Kim Kardashian shared an update on her journey to becoming a lawyer.

The reality TV star, 42, revealed that she recently took two law midterms and got straight A's while speaking to Savannah Guthrie on Tuesday's episode of the Today show.

'I'm still studying. I'm actually in constitutional law 1 and 2 right now. It's my toughest; not the biggest fan of it, I've been sharing my struggle,' she said.

'But with that said, I took a midterm yesterday. I got 100 percent and then I got a 95 percent on my other midterm. So I feel  that gives me that boost of confidence again just to push through,' the mother-of-four added.

The SKIMS founder then shared that she will be aiming to take the bar exam soon. 'Hopefully in the next year or so, I can take the official bar and be done.'

Future lawyer: Kim Kardashian, 42, revealed that she recently took two law midterms and got straight A's while speaking to Savannah Guthrie on Tuesday's episode of the Today show

Despite not yet being a lawyer, Kim already has some legal success under her belt.

The Hulu star helped to successfully campaign for the clemency of Alice Marie Johnson, who was sentenced to life in prison for a nonviolent offense. She's also been consistently advocating for inmates.

Kardashian previously passed the 'baby bar' in 2021, after first opening up about her passion for the law in 2019.

She also revealed that she'd failed that same exam three times before finally managing to pass.

'OMFGGGG I PASSED THE BABY BAR EXAM!!!! Looking in the mirror, I am really proud of the woman looking back today in the reflection,' she wrote on Instagram at the time.

'For anyone who doesn't know my law school journey, know this wasn't easy or handed to me.'

'I failed this exam 3 times in 2 years, but I got back up each time and studied harder and tried again until I did it!!! (I did have COVID on the 3rd try w a 104 fever but Im not making excuses [winking eye emoji])'

Despite the previous failures, Kim explained remained motivated as she kept her father, the late Robert Kardashian, in mind as she said if he were alive today he would have been her biggest supporter.

Law journey: 'I'm still studying. I'm actually in constitutional law 1 and 2 right now. It's my toughest; not the biggest fan of it, I've been sharing my struggle,' she said of her law journey

Straight A student: 'I took a midterm yesterday. I got 100 percent and then I got a 95 percent on my other midterm.. That gives me that boost of confidence again just to push through'

Next up! The SKIMS founder then shared that she will be aiming to take the bar exam soon. 'Hopefully in the next year or so, I can take the official bar and be done'

The First-Year Law Students' Examination (FYLSX) AKA 'baby bar' is a one-day test given remotely in June and October.

Passing the State Bar of California is arguably the toughest in the nation.

Kim explained that since she did not complete her first year of law study in a juris doctor degree program at a State Bar-accredited registered law school she had to take this first exam 'with a harder pass rate.'

As this is not the traditional path, Kim said that she had encountered a lot of doubters but was more than happy to prove them wrong as she said: 'I was told by top lawyers that this was a close to impossible journey and harder than the traditional law school route but it was my only option and it feels so so sooooo good to be here and on my way to achieving my goals.'

She went on to thank many people who have helped her in her journey including friend and Emmy winning host and contributor for CNN and former special advisor to President Barack Obama, Van Jones, 'who talked me into going to law school in the first place'.

Kim began a four-year apprenticeship at a law firm in San Francisco in 2018 and has worked under Erin Haney and Jessica Jackson to complete her law studies.

Kim went on to honor her father Robert who was famously on O.J. Simpson's defense team during his murder trial in 1995.

She wrote: 'I know my dad would be so proud and he would actually be so shocked to know that this is my path now but he would have been my best study partner.

'I am told he was notorious for making fun of people who didnt pass on their first attempt like he did, but he would have been my biggest cheerleader!'

Exciting: Kardashian previously passed the 'baby bar' in 2021, after first opening up about her passion for the law in 2019

Kept at it despite setbacks: She also revealed that she'd failed that same exam three times before finally managing to pass

Emotional: The emotional moment when she learned that she passed the baby bar exam on her fourth try was also featured on her Hulu series The Kardashians

Mentors: Kim began a four-year apprenticeship at a law firm in San Francisco in 2018 and has worked under Erin Haney and Jessica Jackson to complete her law studies (the three are pictured together in 2018)

Her inspiration: Her late attorney father Robert Kardashian was famously on O.J. Simpson's defense team during his murder trial in 1995

The SKIMS founder finished off the post with an inspiring message for her followers as she concluded: 'Bottom line is dont ever give up even when you are holding on by a thread, you can do it!!!!!

'Set your mind to it and get it done because it feels soooooo good once you get to the other side! [scales and books emojis]'

In March of 2021, Kim revealed on Good Morning Vogue she's now halfway through her law degree and has just two years left of studying before she can take her bar exam and become a fully qualified lawyer.

She said: 'I'm still in law school, I have two years left. So I have two years under my belt. I actually am not doing an essay and doing this interview instead, so I'm gonna have to get up really early tomorrow to write like a two-hour essay. So that is really steady and a lot of work.'
Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas' daughter Carys made her Cannes Film Festival debut on Tuesday.

The rising star, 20, looked elegant in a pale pink floral mesh gown with cut-out hip details, teamed with platform heels.

As the family arrived at the top of the iconic red staircase, Carys and Catherine planted a kiss on 78-year-old Michael's cheeks.

Catherine, 53, put on a glamorous display in a plunging red gown with a one sleeve cape detail.

The Academy Award-winning actress styled her brunette locks in loose curls and sported a blush makeup look.

Family: Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas' daughter Carys made her Cannes Film Festival debut on Tuesday

Sweet: As the family arrived at the top of the iconic red staircase, Carys and Catherine planted a kiss on 78-year-old Michael's cheeks

Holding hands: The family all sweetly held hands as they posed for pictures together at the Carlton Hotel

Meanwhile, Michael cut a dapper figure in a black tuxedo, with a crisp white shirt and shiny shoes.

The power couple also have a 22-year-old son named Dylan who is a Brown University graduate.

Catherine and Michael met in 1998 and wed in year 2000 at the Plaza Hotel in NYC and have grown into one of Hollywood's most enduring couples.

The Cannes red carpet is springing to life again as the 76th Film Festival gets underway with the premiere of the Louis XV period drama Jeanne du Barry.

The film marks actor Johnny Depp's return to cinema for the first time following his highly publicised libel trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard.

Period drama Jeanne du Barry, directed by and co-starring the French actor-director Maiwenn, co-stars Johnny Depp as Louis XV.

It's his first new film since his trial last year with Amber Heard, his ex-wife.

After both Johnny and Amber accused each other of physical and verbal abuse, a civil jury awarded him $10 million in damages and $2 million to Amber.

In remarks to the press Monday, Cannes director Thierry Fremaux defended the choice, saying Depp is extraordinary in the film and he paid no attention to the trial.

'To tell you the truth, in my life, I only have one rule, it's the freedom of thinking, the freedom of speech and the freedom to act within a legal framework,' said Fremaux.

'If Johnny Depp had been banned from acting in a film, or the film was banned we wouldn't be here talking about it.'

Glam: The rising star, 20, looked elegant in a pale pink floral mesh gown with cut-out hip details, teamed with platform heels

Stunning: Catherine, 53, put on a glamorous display in a plunging red gown with a one sleeve cape detail

Family: They all put on a united display as they linked arms while walking the red carpet

Couple: Catherine and Michael met in 1998 and wed in year 2000 at the Plaza Hotel in NYC and have grown into one of Hollywood's most enduring couples

Dashing: Michael cut a dapper figure in a black tuxedo, with a crisp white shirt and shiny shoes

Lookalikes: Carys looked like her mother Catherine as they all stormed the red carpet together

Glam: Catherine showed off her elegant red gown while her husband Michael and her daughter chatted together

Depp previously appeared as King Louis XV in promo images for his highly-anticipated film which were released back in January.

The veteran actor looked regal as the French monarch beside co-star/director Maiwenn Le Besco, who plays King Louis' mistress, Jeanne du Barry.

In 2016, Heard, 36, famously accused the actor, 59, of domestic violence, which led to Depp being blacklisted by much of Hollywood resulting in loss of film roles.

A jury determined that Heard's claims, which were published in a 2018 Washington Post op-ed, against Depp were defamatory and she was ordered to pay the actor $15 million in damages.

Depp was ordered to pay Heard $2million by the same courtroom after Heard countersued for defamation.

Heard filed an appeal in early December, but the the former couple recently came to an agreement that Heard would pay $1million in order to settle the case instead of heading into a third trial.

Lawyers for Depp, Benjamin Chew and Camille Vasquez, said the actor is glad the 'painful chapter' is over and confirmed he would donate the money to charity.

In an Instagram statement, Heard confirmed the settlement but refused to accept guilt and declared her life had been 'destroyed' by the jury's decision.

In 2020, a British court ruled that 12 of 14 violence incidents claimed by Heard were 'substantially true,' and Depp was subsequently forced to resign from the 'Fantastic Beasts' franchise at the request of Warner Bros.

This year's festival promises a Cote d'Azur buffet of spectacle, scandal and cinema set to be served over the next 12 days.

Suave: Michael cut a dapper figure in a black tuxedo, with a crisp white shirt and shiny shoes as he posed with Carys

Mother-daughter duo: Catherine was every inch the doting mother as she held hands with Carys

All smiles: Carys appeared in good spirits as she flashed a huge smile while posing for snaps

Vibrant: Catherine made sure all eyes were on her in her plunging gown

Sweet: Catherine and her daughter held hands as they celebrated the opening night of Cannes Film Festival

Regal: Johnny Depp 's comeback film Jeanne du Barry was chosen to open the festival

It's unspooling against the backdrop of labor unrest. Protests that have roiled France in recent months over changes to its pension system are planned to run during the festival, albeit at a distance from the festival's main hub.

Meanwhile, an ongoing strike by screenwriters in Hollywood could have unpredictable effects on the French Riviera festival.

But with a festival lined with some much-anticipated big-budget films, including James Mangold's Indiana Jones and the Dial of the Destiny and Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon, the party is sure to go on, regardless.

The world's biggest film festival will conclude with the Closing Ceremony on May 27.
Holly Willoughby was all smiles as she made a glamorous exit from The Prince's Trust Awards on Tuesday.

The This Morning star, 42, was seen sharing a supportive hug with Kate Garraway at the event but Phillip Schofield was nowhere to be seen.

Holly posed for upbeat snaps for the star-studded event at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London before leaving in a lavish vehicle.

However, her co-host and longtime friend Phillip, 61 - who is an ambassador for The Prince's Trust - was nowhere to be seen amid their reported 'feud' as he opted to step out to the London Wine Fair to support a brand he collaborates with, When in Rome Wine.

Despite the drama, Holly appeared unfazed as she smiled and posed for stunning photographs on the red carpet solo.

Beaming: Holly Willoughby was all smiles as she made a glamorous exit from The Prince's Trust Awards on Tuesday

Sweet: The This Morning star, 42, was seen sharing a supportive hug with Kate Garraway at the event

Absent: However, Holly's co-host and longtime friend Phillip, 61 - who is an ambassador for The Prince's Trust - was nowhere to be seen at the event amid their reported 'feud'

She then stopped to share a supportive embrace with her ITV co-star Kate, 56, who flashed a warm smile as tightly wrapped her arms around Holly.

For the lavish event, Holly cut an elegant figure in a fitted red gown embellished with a bow sleeve on one side.

She gave herself a few extra inches in a pair of pointed black heels and let her outfit do all the talking as she kept her accessories minimal.

Holly styled her golden locks loosely across her shoulders in glamorous waves as she posed up a storm on the red carpet.

She accentuated her natural beauty with lashings of mascara and a slick of pink lipstick as she flashed a huge smile, appearing unfazed by the recent drama.

Meanwhile, fellow ITV star Kate opted for a bright red dress with sheer sleeves and a high collar.

The Good Morning Britain host's outfit also featured a matching belt with a red bejewelled buckle.

Beaming as she walked the red carpet, the broadcaster completed her look with a pair of gold boots.

Despite his role as an ambassador for The Prince's Trust, Phillip was nowhere to be seen as his ITV co-stars posed on the red carpet.

According to his website: 'Outside of work, Phillip is an Ambassador for the charity The Prince's Trust, dedicating time to further the work of supporting vulnerable young people in the UK.'

Over on his Instagram Stories, the TV presenter could be seen laughing in snaps taken while he stood on the stall for When in Rome Wine at the London Wine Fair at the Olympia conference centre.

Broadcaster Phillip could be seen filming for the brand, with the star captioning his post: 'Taking all things sustainable wine with @wheninromewine @london_wine_fair.'

Wow! Holly cut an elegant figure in a fitted red gown embellished with a bow sleeve on one side

Gorgeous: Holly styled her golden locks loosely across her shoulders in glamorous waves

Elegant: Holly posed for upbeat snaps for the star-studded event at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London

Gorgeous: She gave herself a few extra inches in a pair of pointed black heels and let her outfit do all the talking as she kept her accessories minimal

It comes after This Morning shed 170,000 viewers in a week after Holly and Phillip failed to address their reported fallout for a second day on air .

Figures revealed Monday's episode had an average of 726,720 people watching compared to 894,000 on the same day last week. Peak viewership was also significantly down at 914,000 compared to 1.058million on May 8.

By contrast, the duo pulled in 1.3m viewers for their 2022 Christmas show and an average of 1.4m in the first four weeks of 2021.

Viewers watching today's episode described the atmosphere as 'awkward', with one tweeting: 'I haven't watched the show for many months. I thought I'd watch today's but it's clear the partnership is strained.'

During one segment on the show, Holly and Phil were told a 'tricky phase is ending' by astrologer Hagan Fox. The hosts stayed silent after his prediction amid their friendship fallout.

'Jupiter is moving into Taurus for the first time in 12 years,' Fox revealed. 'It's the best news for each and every one of us. It's been in Aries for 12 years which is kind of a tricky phase. This is now about happiness. This is about self-care, self-love and just having a ball.'

Later, questions from the public that were fielded by Mr Fox included 'Should I go back to work?' and 'Is now the right time for a change?' - prompting viewers to share grabs of the moments on Twitter.

Insiders have described Phil as 'increasingly withdrawn' on set, with one telling The Mirror: 'He seems down and spends a lot of time in his dressing room. We're worried about him.'

On duty elsewhere: Phillip, who is an ambassador for The Prince's Trust, was nowhere to be seen at the awards as he attended the London Wine Fair to support When in Rome Wine

Hard at work: Over on his Instagram Stories, the TV presenter could be seen laughing in snaps taken while he stood on the stall and filmed for the brand which he collaborates with

It comes as Holly wrote a newsletter for her wellbeing brand Wylde Moon which revealed the star was in a reflective mood.

'The older I get, the more I appreciate how daunting the concept of time passing can be,' she mused. 'I can always remember my nan saying things like 'wait 'til you get to my agethen it really starts flying by' and I now I really get it.

'If this resonates with you, I wanted to share some advice one of my friends gave me when we were talking about this exact thing.

'She told me that instead of worrying how quickly it's going, we should look at things differently and appreciate that with every moment (big or small) that passes, we're creating a future filled with joy, love, and endless possibility.'

In her newsletter, Holly also urged fans to try and look at the positives in life.

She wrote: 'If we can remember to reflect on just how lucky we are to be making all these memories, the passage of time can feel really positive. It's a bit like that old saying, ''Time is a luxury that the wise appreciate.'''

Holly continued by revealing she was taking inspiration from this week's 'magnificent New Moon, heralding a period of rejuvenation.'

'It's the perfect time to establish new affirmations, construct vision boards, and dedicate your attention to manifesting your goals.

'Allow the creative energies to surge within you, and stretch your imagination to embrace its most extravagant dreams.'

Holly and Phil, who are allegedly embroiled in one of the biggest fallouts in television, did not address their rift when they returned to This Morning on Monday, but viewers described them as 'awkward' and 'embarrassing'.

On Tuesday, a source suggested that public scepticism of Holly and Phillip's attempt to project a united front could force ITV bosses to make a 'difficult decision'.

'This Morning's relationship with its viewers is built on trust, and they have to believe that Holly and Phil's friendship, and what they're watching, is real,' the source told The Mirror .

The insider suggested that if this was no longer believed then ITV could be forced into replacing Phil with someone else.

Holly and Phil were back on screens for the first time on Monday since news of their feud broke, but failed to address claims that their relationship is at breaking point and that they barely speak off camera.

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.

Senior figures at ITV called a crisis meeting following a wave of negative social media feedback about yesterday's show.

After seeing the reaction on Twitter , with viewers panning both Holly and Phillip, 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.

Figures: It comes after This Morning shed 170,000 viewers in a week after Holly and Phillip failed to address their reported fallout for a second day on air

'It was painful for the This Morning team to work on and it was just as painful for them to watch.

'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.'

The feud reportedly 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, it has been claimed. Holly is said to have now cut all ties with Phil other than her This Morning commitments.
Jack Whitehall made a quip about being ready for fatherhood at his latest stand up show, days after announcing his baby news with girlfriend Roxy Horner.

The comedian, 34, shared the happy news on his Instagram page on Sunday evening, alongside a couple of adorable shots of the couple with a baby scan.

The Sun reported that Jack admitted on stage in Southend that the idea of becoming a father filled him with a 'trepidation'.

He jokingly said: 'But I have been responsible and we have got a dog first. If you can keep the dog alive then you have a kid.

Jack added: 'I look at some of my friends and think, "you could not even keep a plant alive"'.

'If you can keep the dog alive then you have a kid': Jack Whitehall made a quip about being ready for fatherhood at his latest stand up show, days after announcing his baby news with girlfriend Roxy Horner

Congratulations! The comedian, 34, shared the happy news on his Instagram page on Sunday evening, alongside a couple of adorable shots of the couple with a baby scan

In their baby reveal snaps, a delighted looking Jack held up a role of photographs showing a scan of their unborn child, while his girlfriend beaming beside him.

Roxy later revealed to HELLO she was relieved to 'finally fall pregnant' after the couple tragically suffered a miscarriage last year.

In the social media post the model , who was wearing a pretty white summer dress, kept a protective hand on her stomach as she looked over at her beau.

Ever the funnyman, he captioned the shots: 'And I thought I wasn't getting enough attention when the dog arrived'

Roxy also posted the same images on her own page alongside the words: 'The best news to share [white heart emoji]'.

Following the announcement she told the 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 didn't want to have to kind of tell the world'.

She went on to reveal the couple discovered they were expecting a baby during a trip with her family to sunny Australia.

Saying: 'It was really lovely because I got to tell my mum pretty much straight away and I don't get to see my parents too often, so it was a really perfect moment before he went off on tour'.

Before adding: '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.'

Messages of congratulations flooded in to the couple, with pals including Helen Flanagan, Frida Redknapp and Charli Howard sending their well wishes.

Jack has been dating Roxy for more than two years and they reside in a 17.5million, five-bedroom home in Notting Hill with their pooch Coco.

It comes soon after Jack admitted he was unsure about his path in life after losing some friends to 'rehab' while his other pals have had children.

He spoke about his relationship with his girlfriend Roxy as he shared that they have bought a house together.

Baby joy! In their baby reveal snaps, a delighted looking Jack held up a role of photographs showing a scan of their unborn child, while his girlfriend beaming beside him

Aw: Ever the funnyman, he captioned the shots: 'And I thought I wasn't getting enough attention when the dog arrived'

Messages of congratulations flooded in to the couple, with pals including Helen Flanagan, Frida Redknapp and Charli Howard sending their well wishes

He explained that although he has now 'settled down' with Roxy, he is still unsure about his future plans as he hinted he has not yet decided if he wants children.

Appearing on Wednesday's Capital Breakfast with Roman Kemp, Jack said he has lost friends to 'rehab' and to having 'babies' as he spoke about his own path in life.

Speaking to stand-in host Will Manning, he explained: 'I've settled down, I've got a long-term partner, I've bought a house with her, we've got a dog and doing all of that stuff.

'I don't want to say [my tour] is me raging against the dying of the light [laughs] but it's giving me a sense of this man-child getting through this moment in my life, losing half my friends to rehab, half of my friends to babies and trying to find out which path I'm going to take.'
Indias exports contracted by 12.7 per cent, third month in a row, to USD 34.66 billion in April even as the trade deficit reduced to a 20-month low of USD 15.24 billion, the government data showed on Monday.

The decline in exports is mainly on account of poor demand in Indias key destinations  the Europe and the US  and 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 2-3 months, I think the demand scenario does not look very optimistic, DGFT (Director General of Foreign Trade) Santosh Kumar Sarangi told reporters here.

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 USD 49.9 billion as against USD 58.06 billion recorded in the same month last year, the data showed.

Trade deficit in April last year stood at USD 18.36 billion. The previous lowest level was recorded in August 2021, when the deficit stood at USD 13.81 billion.

On imports, Sarangi said that 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 USD 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.
Superstar Shah Rukh Khan on Monday said 'Mannat', his landmark sea-facing bungalow in suburban Bandra here, was his wife Gauri Khan's first project as an interior designer.

The "Pathaan" star said before he and Gauri Khan bought 'Mannat', they used to live at his director friend's house which was next to Taj Lands End, the five-star hotel.

When the couple, now married for over 30 years, gathered some money, Shah Rukh Khan said they decided to buy a house, which went on to become 'Mannat'.

"We managed to buy ('Mannat'). But, then we didn't have the money to furnish it. We called one designer, and the lunch that he served us was telling us how he would design this house. It was way more than the salary I used to earn in a month. So, we thought now that 'We have bought it, how do we do this house?'

"Then I said, 'Gauri, you have artistic talent. Why don't you become the designer of the house?' 'Mannat' started like that. The money that we earned over the years... We kept on buying small things. Once we had little money, we bought leather fur sofas... And all the small things we used to buy," Shah Rukh Khan told reporters here.

The Bollywood star was speaking at the launch event of Gauri Khan's coffee table book "My Life in Design".

Gauri Khan said the book follows her journey as an interior designer and would come handy for any budding decorator.

"I have compiled everything for people to go through design. When I chose this profession, designing homes, bringing them to life... (It) was extremely satisfying and exciting. And, seeing a smile on a client's face gave me so much joy. I wanted to pen down all these thoughts and designs in one book," she said.

Shah Rukh Khan, who has penned the foreword of "My Life in Design", further said having an interior designer at home makes things "easier" for him.

"Starting early without a designer helped her learn. One thing led to the other, she kept on designing stuff. For me, it's very nice that I don't have to look for another designer. I think I can scream and shout at her that 'This is not very nice, change this'. Just joking! It is just easier," he said.

The actor praised his wife, also a film producer, for charting out her journey in the industry on her own.

"At 40, she started doing this and I told her, 'Should I be helpful? Should I tell some friends? I will talk to them', she said, 'No'. She started with a 10 feet by 20 feet shop in Lower Parel and she got it all out on her own and continues doing what she does," he said.

Calling Gauri Khan "the busiest person" in the family, Shah Rukh Khan said he admires her for doing what "satisfies" her. It's never too late to pursue one's calling, he added.

"(Once) I told her, 'What are you doing the whole day? Why do you keep doing so much work?' She says 'Because it satisfies me', and this book stands for that. Follow your dreams, do what satisfies you..." he said.

"We have dinners at home and we have to have dinner together and, on those days, we discuss, 'How was your day at work?'... She believes a satisfying day is a happy day. At whatever stage, whatever age, you are trying to follow your dream at the end of it, (and) it is very important to follow that, is what we have learnt from Gauri," the actor added.

Published by Penguin Random House, in "My Life in Design", Gauri Khan charts out her journey as a designer with exclusive pictures of her and her family - Shah Rukh Khan, Aryan Khan, Suhana Khan and Abram Khan.

Unseen images of her Mumbai residence, 'Mannat', and the design thought-processes that went into it as well as other key projects are part of the book as well, said the publishers.
After a thumping victory of the Congress in the May 10 Assembly polls in Karnataka (135 seats in the 224-member Assembly), the party faces an uphill task of naming the Chief Minister from the two rivals  former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar.

Although the Congress is working on a formula to keep its flock together, the power play for the CM chair has kept the Congress leadership busy dousing the firefighting.

Following which Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were called to Delhi for further discussion on the Government formation.

While, Siddaramaiah arrived on Monday afternoon in the national Capital, 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. Its 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 on Monday.

However, late on Monday night, Shivakumar said he shall visit Delhi on Tuesday.

Amid speculation about the number of MLAs supporting him and Siddaramaiah for the CMs post, Shivakumar earlier on Monday said his strength is 135 (the number of MLAs the Congress has won), 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.

Sources close to Shivakumar said he had conveyed to the leadership that in case the party decides for a rational CM, then there should be a written commitment for entry and exit.

According to sources, Shivakumar came to know that the high command was considering the Lingayat leader as the next CM. Though the party did not announce the name till late on Monday as it was informed that the final call has to be taken by the partys first family members  Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi.

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.

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 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 Kharges residence.

The meeting of the Congress legislators on Sunday evening amidst heavy sloganeering by party workers for their favourable choice had authorized Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge to decide on the name of the next Chief Minister of Karnataka for which several rounds of meeting were conducted till late Monday evening yet remained inconclusive as signs of uneasiness flowed during the day.

The CLP meeting was attended by leaders like Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar, AICC General Secretaries KC Venugopal, and Jairam Ramesh while Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and party leaders Jitendra Singh and Deepak Babaria were present as observers in the meeting. The observers submitted their report to Kharge in Delhi and later a separate meeting was held between him and Siddaramaiah.

Shivakumar was locked in an intense power struggle with Siddaramaiah after Congress stormed to power in Karnataka. Amid speculations about the number of MLAs supporting him and Siddaramaiah for the CMs post, Shivakumar said his strength is 135, as under his presidency, the party won the said number of Assembly segments.

Responding to discussions about him being adamant about the CM post, Shivakumar said, Let whoever discuss whatever they want. I dont bother. I wont answer you or anyone elses discussion. I have a sense of time, patience, and courage to fight.

About Siddaramaiahs alleged claims that maximum MLAs are supporting him in the CMs race, Shivakumar said he doesnt know about the secret ballot and the opinion of the MLAs.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said inefficient legislative drafting system can weaken laws and democracy and the more grey area left during the drafting process, the more scope for judicial interpretations.

Inaugurating a training programme on legislative drafting for State and Central Government officials, Shah also said it will be easier to educate people about the law with minimal chances of errors by the executive if the drafting is better. The more simple and clear the drafting of the laws, the easier it is to implement a law. Clear drafting also keeps the possibility of judicial overstepping at bay. The more grey area left during the drafting process, the more scope for judicial interpretations, he said.

Shah said India is not only the biggest democracy, but the idea of democracy also emerged from India. From the days of the Mahabharata to the Mauryan era and again to the Gupta empire, democracy was one of the alternatives to Government systems.

The Indian Constitution borrows heavily from our democratic heritage while remaining guided by modern principles and practices of democracy, he said. The Home Minister said the legislature is not a body of legal experts but that of public representatives who are aware of the problems and aspirations of the people.

They make the laws in accordance with them but moulding these laws according to the letter and spirit of the Constitution is a heavy responsibility that lies on the legislative department.

Shah reiterated that there should be special emphasis on not leaving a grey area. For example, while drafting the Constitution, it was clearly written in the index that Article 370 was a temporary provision. Had it not been written, what would have happened then? he asked.

So I clearly maintain that it is of utmost importance to understand the aspiration of the legislature while drafting any law. The smooth functioning of Governments also depends on legislative drafting, Shah said. The Minister said several factors -- the Constitution, the welfare of the people, culture, historical legacy, the structure of governance, the nature of the society, the economic and social development status, international treaties and treaties and responsibilities -- are to be kept in mind while drafting legislation.

He maintained that legislative drafting is neither art nor science rather it is a skill that has to be practised while remaining in touch with the spirit of the Constitution. If there is no debate about the law for 25 years and the judiciary does not have to step in to interpret it, it will be seen as the flawlessness of the skill of the drafting official. To upgrade the skills of drafting law, one has to read the laws which have attracted lesser debates because of their clarity. Moreover, if time permits, also read the debates of the Constituent Assemblies, he said.

Shah said having a grip on the language is also necessary as sometimes the spirit of the law is lost in translation. Mere translation will not help rather the spirit of the law should be translated, he added. Since Narendra Modi became Prime Minister, his Government has rescinded nearly 2,000 irrelevant laws, Shah said. We have freed the society, the lawyers and the judiciary from a jungle of laws. The Government also has not shied away from making new laws whenever necessary, he said.
The Rajasthan political crisis deepened as dissident Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Monday threatened a massive movement in the desert State if action on his demands is not taken by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot by the month-end.

If action is not taken by this month-end on these three demands, an agitation will be launched across the State. I will serve people till my last breath, nothing scares me, Pilot said at a rally in Jaipur to mark the completion of his five-day Jan Sangharsh Yatra foot march from Ajmer to Jaipur over inaction by the Gehlot Government on corruption during the previous BJP term in the State.

So far the Congress has termed Pilots move anti-party activity and in this regard three separate meetings were held by the national and State leadership and the final call will be taken after the Karnataka political issue is settled.

Flanked by at least 14 other Congress MLAs at a rally here on Monday, the former Deputy CM who has not been on good terms with his partys heavyweight Gehlot served notice to the CM to either agree to their demands by the month-end or face a State-wide agitation.

Rajasthan Forest Minister Hemaram Choudhary, Sainik Kalyan Minister Rajendra Gudha and SC/ST Commission chairman Khiladi Lal Bairwa were among the Congress legislators on the dais, indicating support for the leader who headed a rebellion against Gehlot in

2020.

Deependra Singh Shekhawat, Harish Meena, Giriraj Malinga, Rakesh Pareek, Ramniwas Gawriya, Indraj Gurjar, Virendra Choudhary, Suresh Modi, Vedprakash Solanki, GR Khatana, Mukesh Bhakar too were present. The show of strength by Pilot comes just months before the Assembly polls when the party hopes to return to power in Rajasthan.

The intensification of the Gehlot-Pilot tussle came on a day when the partys central leadership is struggling to pick a CM in Karnataka after winning the Assembly polls a couple of days earlier.

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.

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. 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, adding that nothing will cow him down.

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 the Jaipur rally, Pilot also referred to the boycott by the CM loyalists of a Congress Legislature Party meeting in September last year, called amid speculation that Pilot will be made the Chief Minister and Gehlot the partys 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 to strengthen 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 also 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.
The Opposition unity received a shot in the arm as Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said that her party would support the Congress wherever the grand old party is strong. On the other hand, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar remarked that Congress big win in Karnataka proves that the BJP can be defeated when the parties contest and go to people with a public-oriented agenda.

This is the first time that Mamata cleared the air on TMCs stand on a possible strategy for Opposition unity in the 2024 electoral battle.

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, Mamata told reporters at the State secretariat.

The TMC supremo also made it clear that she expected the seat-sharing formula to give priority to the regional players in areas where they are strong. Strong regional parties must be given priority, she said. Mamata 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.

Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar has already initiated the unification of Opposition parties and held meetings with Mamata, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar and a couple of rounds of meetings with Congress leadership.

In all his meetings Nitish was accompanied by his deputy and RJD leader Tejaswi Yadav and has urged the Congress to take the lead and start working. Nitish last week met Jharkhand counterpart Hemant Soren hinted that the meeting of Opposition parties may take place in Patna after the Karnataka Assembly elections to chalk out plans for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Pawar on his part said that the Congress has alone given an alternative to the BJP and 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.

Both Pawar and Mamata were part of the Manmohan Singh led UPA Governments and during the last couple of years the latter had resented the very existence of the UPA of which Sonia Gandhi is the chairperson. After a meeting between both the leaders in Mumbai, Mamata had said there are no such things as the UPA of which Congress is a major partner, and recently she had joined the chorus with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh for a non-Congress non-BJP political front to take on the BJP in the next years polls.

Meanwhile, the BJPs defeat in the Karnataka Assembly elections has spurred the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which has NCP, Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) as partners, to put up a united challenge to the ruling party in Maharashtra in the next years general elections.

NCP leader Ajit Pawar said leaders are considering forming a panel, which might have two members from each of the partners to decide the candidates for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in the State, the BJP had won 23 in 2019, followed by the then undivided Shiv Senas tally of 18. While the NCP won 4 seats, the Congress got one.
A woman was shot dead for allegedly consuming liquor on the premises of a gurdwara in Patiala, police said on Monday.

Nirmaljit Singh Saini, a regular visitor to the gurdwara, opened indiscrimate firing on Parwinder Kaur, in her late 30s, for consuming liquor near the sarovar (holy pond) of Dukhniwaran Sahib gurdwara on Sunday evening, said Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Varun Sharma.

Saini fired five rounds at the woman with his 32-bore licensed revolver, police said in an official statement.

The SSP said three bullets hit Kaur and she died on the spot. Kaur was undergoing treatment for alcohol addiction.

The accused, who has been arrested, said he committed the act in a fit of anger as his religious sentiments were hurt, they said. Saini, a property dealer with no previous criminal records, told gurdwara officials that he was upset over the incidents of sacrilege.

The accused was produced before a court here that sent him to 14-day judicial custody.

Parwinder Kaur was having liquor near the sarovar of gurdwara Dukhniwaran Sahib. When the sangat noticed this, they decided to take her to the managers office, Patiala SSP Sharma said.

As Kaur emerged from the managers room accompanied by police, she was fired at by Saini, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) officials said.

Meanwhile, members of various Sikh bodies reached the court complex where Saini was produced by police and greeted him by showering flower petals when he was later escorted out by police after being remanded in judicial custody.

...If exemplary action is taken against the accused, no one will dare to commit such acts. If the government fulfils its due responsibilities, then such conspiratorial incidents will not happen, said SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami, in a statement issued in Amritsar.
With the objective of addressing the grievances of entrepreneurs of India and abroad, the Uttar Pradesh government is appointing Udyami Mitras. After completion of the selection process, the result of 105 Udyami Mitras has been released and uploaded on the website (invest.up.gov.in). It can be downloaded by clicking on the Udyami Mitra section.

The Udyami Mitras have been selected on the basis of a written test and interviews. Soon, all the 105 Udyami Mitras will be given appointments in the Invest UP office and headquarters.

It is noteworthy that the UP government is in the process of implementing the MoU worth Rs 35 lakh crore signed during the UP Global Investors Summit held earlier this year. Udyami Mitras are being recruited to assist the entrepreneurs.

The process of appointment has been completed by Invest UP, the nodal organisation under the department of Infrastructure and Industrial Development.

After verification of the applications received by the screening committee of senior officers, a written examination was conducted for entrepreneurs. The results were declared on April 16 and 350 candidates were selected. At the same time, the process of interviews for the selected candidates was started from April 18 and it continued till May 8.

An SOP was also made for the interview and computer test. Candidates thrice the number of vacancies were called for the interview. Twenty-five marks were fixed for the interview and 10 for the computer test. On the other hand, computer test papers were prepared by prestigious educational institutions of the state like IIT-Kanpur, IIM-Lucknow and AKTU.

The SOP was assessed in the interview. All the educational and experience certificates were presented in original by the candidates at the time of interview.

A large number of applications had applied for the post of Udyami Mitra. As per the prescribed merit, the candidates were selected for the written test. A total of 105 Udyami Mitras were selected under the scheme. Seventy posts are for different districts, and 10 are for the Invest UP office and headquarters. Besides, 25 posts are for Industrial Development Authorities. All these have been selected for one year and this time limit can be extended, if required.
Senior BJD leader Sarata Pradhan, the partys president of Seegarh GP in Pallahara block, was killed in a road accident on NH-149 at Samiapali Chhak on Monday morning.

When Pradhan was heading towards Balipasi village by his motorcycle, his vehicle dashed against the backside of a standing bus. He was rushed to the Pallahara medical, where doctor advised to shift him immediately to the Cuttack SCB Medical College Hospital.

But due to non-availability of ambulance service, Pradhan sould not be moved for two long hours. Thought there are three ambulances in the Pallahara hospital, they have no drivers.

Pradhans blood vomiting could not be controlled, leading to his death. Pallahara MLA Mukesh Pal and Dhenkanal MP Mahesh Sahoo deeply condoled Pradhans death.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav alleged that the BJP government has politicised bureaucracy in the state. He further alleged that a large number of bureaucrats have turned into BJP cadre and worked to benefit the ruling party by interfering in the vote counting process and manipulating the voter list.

The SP president said that the chief development officers and other officers in several districts and Manipuri changed the poll results and the defeated candidates were declared elected.

Mainpuri is the Lok Sabha constituency of Dimple Yadav, wife of Akhilesh Yadav. He said the government should take cognisance of the nonpartisan conduct of bureaucrats and place such officers under suspension. He added that the SP would provide the list of such officers along with their photographs.

Akhilesh, who is also the leader of opposition in UP assembly, said that the BJP lost miserably in seats located just outside city limits despite adopting every trick in the Uttar Pradesh urban local body elections.

The BJP on May 13 registered wins on all 17 mayoral seats  Varanasi, Lucknow, Ayodhya, Jhansi, Bareilly, Mathura-Vrindavan, Moradabad, Saharanpur, Prayagraj, Aligarh, Shahjahanpur, Ghaziabad, Agra, Kanpur, Gorakhpur, Firozabad and Meerut. It also won 813 of the 1,420 corporator seats while the opposition Samajwadi Party bagged 191 and Bahujan Samaj Party 85.

According to the State Election Commission, the BJP won 191 (35.11%) of the 544 posts of Nagar Panchayat chairpersons while Independent candidates 195 (35.85%).

The Samajwadi Party won 78 posts while the Bahujan Samaj Party clinched victories in 37. The Congress won 14 seats.

Independent candidates asserted themselves on the Nagar Panchayat members seats as well, winning 4,824 of the 7,177 (67.21%) available.

The BJP won 1,403 seats, followed by the Samajwadi Party with 485 and Bahujan Samaj Party 215. The Congress bagged 77 seats and Rashtriya Lok Dal won 38.

The urban local body elections were held in two phases on May 4 and 11 to elect 17 mayors and 1,401 corporators. As many as 19 corporators were elected unopposed, the commission had said.

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.
DIPALI DAS TAKES OATH AS MLA

Bhubaneswar: Newly-elected Jharsuguda BJD MLA Dipali Das took oath as a legislator at the State Legislative Assembly on Monday. Deputy Speaker Rajnikant Singh administered her the oath of office and secrecy at his office chamber in the presence of Ministers Pramila Mallik and Rita Sahu. Earlier, she had reached the Assembly with her mother and brother.

WATER KIOSK INAUGURATED IN VSS NAGAR (Pix)

Bhubaneswar: A water kiosk of the Veer Surendra Sai Yuvak Sangh was inaugurated in the premises of VSS Nagar Club premises in the city on Sunday. The kiosk was inaugurated by Bhubaneswar North MLA Susant Kumar Rout. In the programme, the clubs president, secretary, advisor, members, intellectuals and locals were present. Locals have praised the efforts of the youth association, said Dillip Dashsharma.

BEHERA APPOINTED BKU STATE CONVENER (Pix)

Jagatsinghpur: Noted social activist and scribe Dr Sunakar Behera of Teramanpur village near Rahama under Kujanga block has been appointed as State convener of the Bharat Kissan Union (BKU), an organisation working for the upliftment of farmers across the country. BHU national president Mohammad Arshad Khan, considering Dr Beheras leadership and social services on records, appointed him to the post.

NON-ODIA WORKER DIES IN PICT

Paradip: An accident at the Paradip International Cargo Terminal (PICT) killed a non-Odia worker while another severely injured worker was sent to the Cuttack Medical College Hospital. Helper Shahid Raja died on the spot.

LOK ADALAT IN PHULBANI: 375 CASES SETTLED

Phulbani: The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Phulbani, organised the 2nd National Lok Adalat here where many criminal compoundable, NI Act, money recovery, MACT, matrimonial disputes and other civil, criminal, revenue cases were taken up. Out of a total of 578 cases, 375 cases were disposed of. The settlement amount collected was Rs 24,31,956.87.

DEFENCE PANEL VISITS HAL, SUNDABEDA (Pix)

Sunabeda: A delegation of the HAMS met the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence chairperson Jual Oram at the HAL guesthouse in Sunabeda of Koraput district. The delegation discussed about the modernisation in HALs Koraput division and submitted a memorandum in this connection. Oram assured the delegation to take appropriate action. The committee is scheduled to visit the HAL factory during its tour. Later, it would visit the Indian Ordinance Factory in Badmal of Balangir district and ITR, Chandipur in Baleswar district.

ABPS ACHIEVES OUTSTANDING RESULTS IN CBSE EXAM

Rayagada: The Aditya Birla Public School (ABPS) Osapada, Tikiri of Rayagada district, has achieved a remarkable feat by securing a 100%- pass percentage in the CBSE Class-X Exam 2023 for the seventh consecutive year. School Principal Rinku Banerjee announced that eight out of 18 students scored above 90% in the Class-X examination. UAIL Unit Head Mazharullah Beig expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the students for their hard work and dedication towards achieving this remarkable milestone and wished for continued success in their future endeavours.






--Rs 30-cr jewelleries looted; customers, staffs, guards attacked by gun-wielding miscreants



In a shocking broad daylight heist, as many as seven miscreants looted ornaments worth crores of rupees from a well-known jewellery showroom in Vyasanagar town in Jajpur district here on Monday.



The accused also reportedly attacked the showroom staff, some customers and even the security staff while threatening them during the robbery. Two employees were injured in the attack by the miscreants.



The miscreants snatched the weapons of the showroom guards and later held the staff and other customers present at the spot hostage. The dacoity took place between 1:30 pm and 2 pm.



They entered the showroom posing as customers. Sources said they first threatened and handcuffed the employees. They also attacked two customers and seized their mobile phones. When the security guards tried to intervene, the miscreants beat them up and seized their guns. The gang then looted nearly 17 kg gold and diamond jewellery while leaving behind some silver ornaments. They then fled the spot.



While the exact amount of loss incurred by the shop is yet to be ascertained, it is believed that the stolen jewellery is worth around Rs 12 crore. Official sources said some female staff who were injured in the attack have been hospitalised.



Meanwhile, police reached the spot and started an investigation. All CCTV footage were being scanned and the probe was underway. When some staff tried to resist the miscreants, they were assaulted. Senior officials, including Jajpur SP Binit Agrwal, were at the spot. The robbers were stated to have taken away some mobile phones and the hard disk of the CCTV cameras.


Delhi Education Minister Atishi on Monday announced the first results of the Delhi Board of School Education (DBSE) examination for classes 10 and 12. Out of the 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 it through a supplementary assessment after a month, she said. A total of 672 students registered for Class 12 Board exams and 667 of them appeared in both term-end assessments, Atishi said.

Five students who could not achieve the qualifying grade point 3 will also be given another opportunity to improve it through supplementary assessment. The 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 in secondary and senior secondary classes.

Students were enrolled in Class 9 across all domains and in Class 11 in the 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 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 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 years. Every year, 25 per cent of Delhis 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.

Currently, the minister said, 20 schools of specialised excellence (SOSE) are affiliated with the DBSE and in the coming year, 50 city government-run schools will also be affiliated with the board. We will also welcome private schools on board, she added.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday issued instructions to the officials to promptly submit applications with the government, requesting financial aid for the treatment of patients suffering from serious diseases.

Yogi issued the instructions during Janata Darshan held at the Gorakhnath temple. Majority of the attendees sought financial assistance from the chief minister for the treatment of their diseases. The chief minister patiently listened to their concerns and assured them swift resolution for their grievances.

When a woman pleaded to the chief minister for financial help for the treatment of a family member admitted in a hospital in Lucknow, which might not qualify for providing medical assistance, the chief minister immediately directed the officials to get the patient shifted to SGPGI or KGMU.

The CM asked the woman if she had the Ayushman card and upon her denial, he assured her financial assistance.

The chief minister directed the officers to make an estimate of the treatment cost and send it to the government as soon as possible. He assured the woman that she would receive a call from the district magistrate regarding financial help for treatment.

The chief minister said once the estimation process was concluded, sufficient funds would be released from the Chief Ministers Discretionary Fund.

Subsequently, the chief minister handed over the letters of all the individuals to the respective officials and directed them to address the problems of the people sensitively and get them resolved promptly.

The chief minister also distributed chocolates among children accompanying their parents.

Meanwhile, Monday became the most joyous day for Vivek, a differently-abled sweeper, and his wife Sandhya, as their heartfelt desire to have their seven-month-old daughters Annaprashan (grain-feeding) ceremony conducted by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was fulfilled.

The chief minister performed the Annaprashan of their daughter in the temple premises.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that Lord Shriram and Maa Sita were carried across the Ganges by Nishadraj Kevat. Kevat had immense devotion and faith in Shri Ram. Nishadraj is no less than God for the Indian society. Kevat Samaj is a simple, hardworking and courageous community. The Kevat community had defeated the British in the freedom struggle.

Chief Minister Chouhan was addressing the Kevat Jayanti programme at Chief Minister's residence. Water Resources, Fishermen Welfare and Fisheries Minister Tulsiram Silavat, Chairman Fishermen Welfare Board Sitaram Batham, Pintu Kevat, Rakesh Batham, Premlal Varman, Raju Batham, Mahesh Kevat and other officials and dignitaries of the community were present.

Chouhan said that fishermen have the first right on government ponds and water structures. The possession of the ponds will be taken back from the bullies and will be given to the fishermen. The task of giving possession to the Kevat community will be done by running a campaign in the state. He said that by forming a committee, the discrepancy in caste certificate for government service will be removed. The employees who are in government service will not be put out of service.

Where there is majority of Kevat community, there Nishadraj memorials, buildings will be built and statues will be installed. Chief Minister Chouhan said that the youth of Kevat community should try to come forward in other professions apart from the traditional profession. Business opportunities will be made available under the Mukhya Mantri Udyam Kranti Yojana.

Medical and engineering studies are also being conducted in Hindi so that our children do not lag behind due to English. 5 percent seats have been reserved in the medical seats for the children of government schools.

Chief Minister Chouhan said that under Ladli Bahna Yojana, Rs. 1000 will be deposited in the accounts of sisters every month. No stone will be left unturned in the development and progress of the society. Everyone will walk together. Will march ahead with full force.

Water Resources Minister Tulsiram Silawat said that today is a holy occasion that Kevat Jayanti is being celebrated at CM's residence. Kevat Jayanti will prove to be the foundation stone for development and progress.

Chief Minister Chouhan is continuously working for progress and development and to boost the pride of the Kevat society. The Fisheries Department is setting records in the entire nation. The credit for this goes to Chief Minister Chouhan and the citizens of Kevat community. Fishermen credit cards are being made rapidly in the entire state.

There will be no dearth in the development of the society. The government is standing with you under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Chouhan.
The Delhi Government on Monday ordered the preparation of the first draft of transfer-posting of officials by the Civil Services Board which is to be held on Tuesday. Minister (Services) of the Delhi Government Saurabh Bharadwaj on Monday in an order said the CSB consists of two secretaries and is chaired by the Chief Secretary.

The two secretaries are junior to the Chief Secretary and are unable to express their views fearlessly in a physical meeting. In view of this, views of CSB members shall taken after preparing the first draft, Secretary (Services) shall then send the file to the other member who will note down his comments. He will then send the file to the Chief Secretary.

The Chief Secretary will put down his comments, if needed. The Chief Secretary will not try to influence the preparation of the first draft or influence the other two members of the CSB in any manner.

The Chief Secretary will then present the file to the Minister-in Charge who then take a final decision. Following the directions of the Minister (Services) to transfer the officers and in compliance with the Constitution Bench Judgment of the Supreme Court, the Chief Secretary has convened a meeting of Civil Services Board (CSB) to consider the same on Tuesday.

This will be the first meeting of the CSB after the recent judgment of the Supreme Court.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that the preparations for Ladli Bahna Sammelan and Gaurav Diwas to be held in various districts including Bhopal from May 17 to June 1 should be completed in a better way. Adequate arrangements should be made to protect women and citizens from the heat at the programme venue.

The women coming to Ladli Bahna Sammelans should not face any kind of problem. He said that the programme should be publicized on various platforms including social media. Create an atmosphere of joy and enthusiasm. An atmosphere of songs and music should be created. Chief Minister Chouhan was conducting a virtual review of the preparations for the programmes to be held in various districts from May 17 to June 1 at Chief Ministers residence office, Samatva Bhavan.

Chief Minister i Chouhan told the collectors that efforts should be made to improve the programme by coordinating with public representatives, Jan Abhiyan Parishad and other organizations. The Chief Minister said that Bhopals pride day will be celebrated on June 1.

The festival will be celebrated by lighting up the city. A day earlier on May 31, there will be Gaurav Run, launch of water sports, Bhopal Gaurav Yatra, Bhopal Food Festival fair and comedy-show. Cleanliness campaign will start in Bhopal from Pride Day. The main programme will be held at Lal Parade Ground in Bhopal in the evening, in which Bhopal Gaurav Samman will be given. The history of King Bhoj and Queen Kamlapati will also be shown through laser-show.

It was told that on May 17 there will be a Mahila Samman in Prithvipur district Niwari. The women will present mementos and post cards to Chief Minister Chouhan and express their gratitude. Residential leases will be distributed to 33 beneficiaries in village Ladwari Khas under the Mukhya Mantri Awasiya Bhu Adhikar Yojana. Chief Minister Chouhan will also interact with the women.

Ladli Bahna Sammelan will be held on May 18 at Sonkachchh in Dewas district. Chief Minister Chouhan will dedicate development works, perform bhoomi pujan and distribute benefits. PM Mitra Park will also have an MoU in the Ladli Bahna Sammelan to be held on May 21 at Gandhwani in district Dhar. Chief Minister Chouhan will discuss with Jan Seva Mitra and PESA Mobilizer and distribute residential land rights pattas to the beneficiaries. The Chief Minister will conduct bhoomi-pujan of 4 CM Rise schools costing Rs 126 crore and dedicate Barkheda dam.
Amid the ongoing tussle with removal of Secretary ( Services) Ashish More who was accused of switching off his mobile phone and making himself unreachable the Arvind Kejriwal Government has issued a show cause notice to him for not complying with its direction to replace him with a new officer and asked him to to explain the reason for his unauthorised absence.

Pursuant to the directions of the Minister (Services) to transfer the officers and in compliance with the Constitution Bench Judgment of the Supreme Court, the Chief Secretary has convened a meeting Civil Services Board (CSB) to consider the same on May 16. This will be the first meeting of the CSB after the recent judgement of the Supreme Court.

More had been asked to move a file regarding his transfer from the post of secretary (services), but had gone incommunicado after not following instructions to this effect from Delhi Services Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj. The Delhi government is planning to initiate disciplinary action against Ashish More for not complying with the Supreme Court order.

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. Bharadwaj in a memo to More had sought his reply within 24 hours after the receipt of the show cause notice. More was unavailable for his comments on the development related to his transfer. Former Delhi Jal Board CEO A K Singh, a 1995-batch (AGMUT cadre) IAS officer, will replace More.

Why your unauthorized absence should not be treated as dies non and break in services, as you were absent from the office withou aking leave and without informing competent authority? Why disciplinary proceedings under AIS (D&A) Rules 1969 should not be initiated against him for violation of AIS (Conduct) Rules 1968 Rule 3(1), 3(1)(A)(ii), and 3 subrule 2B (i), (viii), (x), (xi) & (xiii) ? Why displeasure of the GNCTD should not be placed into his Performance Appraisal Dossier? Why in his APAR Attitude to work should not be recorded as obstructive & dubious, why the decision making ability should not be recorded as biased, & disrespectful for law and why Pen picture should not reflect that Ashish Madhavrao More, Secretary (Services) has a mindset of disregarding the rules and obstructs others in discharging their responsibility, and he is not fit for holding position where he may be required to maintain professional integrity, reads the show cause notice dated May 13.

The notice further said that the conduct of Ashish More Secretary (Services) has revealed that his conduct is highly unbecoming of an IAS officer of the rank Secretary to the GNCTD, he is not politically neutral; he has deliberately denied to uphold the supremacy of the Constitution and democratic values. And, he has refused to maintain discipline by aforesaid conduct under extraneous considerations and failed to show professionalism and dedication.

it is apparent that after knowing about intention of the Government of NCTD to transfer him from the post of Secretary Services, he has been trying through illegal means to continue upon the said post for attaining some ulterior objectives. By aforesaid conduct he also intends to sabotage and delay the implementation of the judgment of constitution bench of the Supreme Court. It also appears to be a malafide attempt to obstruct the exercise of lawful powers by an elected Government, reads the notice.

More has caused Special Secretary (Services) to issue a note on May 11, in which the directions issued by the minister were refused to be complied, said the memo from Bhardwaj. More was called by the minister, informed about the SC judgment and was directed to put up a file for his transfer and posting another suitable officer in his place. It was assured by More that the relevant file will be put up to the minister before 3 pm, it claimed.

Instead of putting up the file, More left the Secretariat without informing the minister or his office.

The minister and his office kept trying to reach More on his office phone and his mobile phone number, but he did not respond to the calls, claimed the memo.
The weather once again changed in Madhya Pradesh on Monday, it rained in some places while there was severe hot condition in many districts, Bhopal recorded day temperature at 41.1 degree celsius providing little relief from scorching heat.

In the afternoon there was heavy rain in Khandwa's Omkareshwar and Gwalior. Light rains also occurred in Sheopurkalan, Mandsaur and Chhatarpur. The Meteorological Department has issued an alert for rain in many cities including Bhopal.

The Meteorological Department has issued rain warnings in Bhopal, Shajapur, Bhind, Gwalior, Khandwa, Sagar, Jabalpur, Raisen, Vidisha, Rajgarh, Katni, Harda, Chhindwara, Narmadapuram, Seoni and Balaghat in the next few hours. There are chances of rain along with thunderstorms in Sehore, Morena, Burhanpur, Damoh, Narsinghpur, Ashoknagar, Dewas, Barwani, Khargone. During this, thunderstorms of speed of 45 km per hour would be witnessed.

Tikamgarh was the hottest in the state during the day. Here for the first time the temperature was recorded at 44.5 degree Celsius.

Other cities of the state also recorded a drop of 2- 3 degree celsius. In Bhopal, Gwalior and Jabalpur, the temperature crossed 41 degrees, while in Indore the temperature came down to 39.4 degree celsius. In Khajuraho and Damoh, the mercury remained above 43 degree celsius. The temperature remained more than 40 degree celsius in Guna, Umaria, Nowgong, Sagar, Mandla, Sidhi, Rewa, Satna, Khandwa and Seoni.

Gadarwara in Narsinghpur recorded 4 mm of rain on Monday. Apart from this, Sheopurkalan, Mandsaur and Chhatarpur also received rain. It rained in the night in Guna, Jabalpur and Sagar.

Meteorologists said that there is a possibility of heat wave in Gwalior, Khargone, Dhar, Ratlam, Guna, Bhind, Morena and Sheopur Kalan. There is a possibility of some relief from the heat from Tuesday.

Between May 16 and 20, due to the activation of Western Disturbance, there may be light drizzle with thunder and lightning in Gwalior, Rewa-Chambal division of the state. Rest of the places will be partly cloudy, but the heat will remain sharp. Drizzle has occurred in Guna, Jabalpur and Sagar districts in the last 24 hours.
Aishbagh police have registered a case against a woman and her son for abetment to commit suicide of minor girl; woman threatened her of defaming.

The woman's son used to talk with the girl as they were neighbors. The girl was maintaining friendship but youth started to love her and when the girl came to know about this, she stopped talking.

On this, the young man chased her and started forcing her to talk. When the girl's family members complained about this with the youth's mother she started threatening to defame the girl. The student got scared and committed suicide by hanging with the ceiling.

ASI Kashiram told that on February 22 at around 8 pm, Wajid Ali (16), a resident of Bagh Farhat Afza, Aishbagh, committed suicide by hanging. The student was studying in class 12th.

In the investigation of the case, it was revealed that Asfaq (22) and his mother Yasmeen, who live in the neighborhood, tortured the student due to which she committed suicide. Actually there was friendship between Areba and Asfaq because of living in the neighborhood. During this, Asfaq fell in love with the student one-sided. When the student came to know about this, she stopped talking to Asfaq.

After this, when the student would leave the house, the accused would follow her and force her to talk on the phone. The student complained about this to the family members. The family members went to Asfaq's house and asked him to explain.

Angered by this, Asfaq's mother reached the student's house and started accusing her of having trapped her son in a love trap and calling her characterless. Also threatened that if the son is seen with Asfaq or tries to talk, he will defame the entire locality and relatives. Frightened by this, the student committed suicide . Police are looking for the accused by registering the case.
A special court in Pune on Tuesday remanded DRDO scientist Dr Pradeep Kurulkar, arrested on charges of providing confidential information to a Pakistani agent, in judicial custody till May 29.

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.

During the hearing, Kurulkar requested for some medicines, as he has a problem of high blood sugar, and home food.

The court permitted that he be given medicines, but refused his request for food to be delivered from his home.

The court sent Kurulkar in judicial custody for next 14 days.

On Monday, the special court extended his police custody till Tuesday after the prosecution said his mobile phone needs to be analysed.

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 honeytrap.

After his arrest, an offence under relevant sections of the Official Secrets Act was registered against Kurulkar.

The prosecution earlier informed the court that they seized a phone on which a 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 those trips.
This weeks 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 worlds 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 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. Heres 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 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 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 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 worlds economic activity, a decrease from an estimated 80 per cent of global gross domestic product in the 1970s.
Sudans military chief has ordered the freezing of all bank accounts belonging to a rival paramilitary force. 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 bank, 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 and on Monday, he removed the countrys police chief and sacked two ambassadors at the Foreign Ministry. The military chief did not elaborate on his moves.

Since mid-April, the Sudanese army, led by Burhan, and the RSF, commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, have been locked in a power struggle that has forced 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 civilians, according to the WHO.

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.
ACRES Commercial Realty Corp. (NYSE:ACR  Get Rating) major shareholder Eagle Point Credit Management purchased 6,884 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 11th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $17.07 per share, with a total value of $117,509.88. Following the completion of the purchase, the insider now owns 956,678 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $16,330,493.46. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Large shareholders that own at least 10% of a companys stock are required to disclose their sales and purchases with the SEC.

Eagle Point Credit Management also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Monday, May 15th, Eagle Point Credit Management bought 1,113 shares of ACRES Commercial Realty stock. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $17.00 per share, with a total value of $18,921.00.

On Monday, May 8th, Eagle Point Credit Management purchased 2,100 shares of ACRES Commercial Realty stock. The shares were purchased at an average price of $19.80 per share, for a total transaction of $41,580.00.

On Friday, May 5th, Eagle Point Credit Management purchased 548 shares of ACRES Commercial Realty stock. The shares were purchased at an average price of $19.22 per share, for a total transaction of $10,532.56.

On Wednesday, May 3rd, Eagle Point Credit Management purchased 1,000 shares of ACRES Commercial Realty stock. The shares were purchased at an average price of $19.99 per share, for a total transaction of $19,990.00.

On Thursday, April 27th, Eagle Point Credit Management bought 245 shares of ACRES Commercial Realty stock. The stock was bought at an average price of $18.00 per share, for a total transaction of $4,410.00.

On Wednesday, April 19th, Eagle Point Credit Management bought 133 shares of ACRES Commercial Realty stock. The stock was bought at an average price of $18.00 per share, for a total transaction of $2,394.00.

On Monday, April 17th, Eagle Point Credit Management bought 1,549 shares of ACRES Commercial Realty stock. The stock was bought at an average price of $19.30 per share, for a total transaction of $29,895.70.

On Thursday, April 6th, Eagle Point Credit Management purchased 1,466 shares of ACRES Commercial Realty stock. The shares were acquired at an average price of $20.00 per share, for a total transaction of $29,320.00.

On Friday, March 24th, Eagle Point Credit Management purchased 445 shares of ACRES Commercial Realty stock. The shares were acquired at an average price of $20.14 per share, for a total transaction of $8,962.30.

ACRES Commercial Realty Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:ACR traded up $0.08 during trading on Monday, reaching $8.68. The company had a trading volume of 8,342 shares, compared to its average volume of 14,709. The company has a fifty day moving average of $9.16 and a two-hundred day moving average of $9.38. The stock has a market capitalization of $74.56 million, a P/E ratio of -8.77 and a beta of 1.82. ACRES Commercial Realty Corp. has a 12 month low of $7.23 and a 12 month high of $11.29. The company has a current ratio of 118.26, a quick ratio of 118.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.23.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On ACRES Commercial Realty

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in ACR. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of ACRES Commercial Realty in the 1st quarter worth $104,000. First Republic Investment Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of ACRES Commercial Realty in the 1st quarter valued at $130,000. Millennium Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of ACRES Commercial Realty in the 2nd quarter valued at $162,000. Ancora Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of ACRES Commercial Realty by 2,942.3% in the 1st quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC now owns 19,471 shares of the companys stock valued at $284,000 after purchasing an additional 18,831 shares in the last quarter. Finally, State Street Corp boosted its stake in shares of ACRES Commercial Realty by 3.6% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 35,209 shares of the companys stock valued at $472,000 after purchasing an additional 1,225 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 23.62% of the companys stock.

A number of analysts recently commented on ACR shares. Raymond James upped their price target on shares of ACRES Commercial Realty from $13.00 to $13.50 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, March 13th. JMP Securities reaffirmed a market outperform rating and set a $14.00 target price on shares of ACRES Commercial Realty in a report on Friday, March 3rd.

About ACRES Commercial Realty

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ACRES Commercial Realty Corp. is a real estate investment trust, which engages in the origination, holding, and management of commercial mortgage loans, and commercial real estate related debt investments. The company was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in New York, NY.

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Cellcom Israel Ltd. (OTCMKTS:CELJF  Get Rating) was the target of a significant decline in short interest in April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 42,100 shares, a decline of 19.5% from the April 15th total of 52,300 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 500 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 84.2 days.

Cellcom Israel Price Performance

OTCMKTS CELJF remained flat at $3.62 on Monday. Cellcom Israel has a 52 week low of $3.06 and a 52 week high of $6.37. The company has a current ratio of 1.05, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $3.60 and its 200-day moving average price is $4.42.

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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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Shares of Chinook Tyee Industry Ltd (CVE:XCX  Get Rating) traded up 21.6% during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as high as C$0.53 and last traded at C$0.45. 203,469 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 356% from the average session volume of 44,615 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.37.

Chinook Tyee Industry Price Performance

The businesss fifty day simple moving average is C$0.45 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$0.45. The firm has a market cap of C$9.10 million and a P/E ratio of -2.60. The company has a current ratio of 1.55, a quick ratio of 1.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.15.

Chinook Tyee Industry Company Profile

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Chinook Tyee Industry Limited operates as a financial service company in Canada. The company was formerly known as Global Railway Industries Ltd. and changed its name to Chinook Tyee Industry Limited in August 2013. Chinook Tyee Industry Limited is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

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HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA (OTCMKTS:HLKHF  Get Rating) saw a significant decline in short interest in the month of April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 10,800 shares, a decline of 22.9% from the April 15th total of 14,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 100 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 108.0 days.

HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA Price Performance

HLKHF stock remained flat at $77.55 during trading on Monday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $77.55 and a 200-day moving average price of $76.83. HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA has a 12-month low of $77.55 and a 12-month high of $77.55.

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HELLA GmbH & Co KGaA engages in the development and manufacture of lighting technology and electronics components and systems for the automotive industry. It operates through the following segments: Automotive, Aftermarket, and Special Applications. The Automotive segment develops, produces, and sells vehicle-specific solutions.

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Indra Sistemas, S.A. (OTCMKTS:ISMAY  Get Rating) shares reached a new 52-week high during trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $7.00 and last traded at $7.00, with a volume of 0 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $7.00.

Indra Sistemas Stock Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 1.29, a current ratio of 1.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97. The stock has a market cap of $2.47 billion, a PE ratio of 17.95 and a beta of 0.96. The businesss fifty day moving average is $6.51 and its 200 day moving average is $5.63.

About Indra Sistemas

(Get Rating)

Indra Sistemas SA is a global consulting, technology, innovation, and talent company, which engages providing information technology services. The company offers consulting services & outsourcing of business processes. It also provides solutions & services for the transport & traffic, energy industry, public administration, healthcare, financial services, security & defence and telecom & media sectors.

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Orion Oyj (OTCMKTS:ORINY  Get Rating) shares hit a new 52-week high on Monday . The company traded as high as $24.40 and last traded at $24.40, with a volume of 69 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $24.40.

Orion Oyj Price Performance

The businesss 50 day moving average is $26.10 and its two-hundred day moving average is $25.32. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.89 billion, a PE ratio of 19.68 and a beta of 0.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a current ratio of 3.19 and a quick ratio of 2.04.

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Orion Oyj (OTCMKTS:ORINY  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 9th. The company reported $0.12 EPS for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $300.71 million for the quarter. Orion Oyj had a net margin of 24.76% and a return on equity of 37.95%.

Orion Oyj Increases Dividend

Orion Oyj Company Profile

The company also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 24th were issued a $0.505 dividend. This is a boost from Orion Oyjs previous dividend of $0.50. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 23rd. This represents a dividend yield of 1.92%. Orion Oyjs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 41.13%.

(Get Rating)

Orion Oyj develops, manufactures, and markets human and veterinary pharmaceuticals and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in Finland, Scandinavia, other European countries, North America, and internationally. It provides prescription drugs and self-care products, including Nubeqa for the treatment of prostate cancer; dexdor and Precedex for intensive care sedative; Stalevo and Comtess/Comtan for Parkinson's disease; Simdax for acute decompensated heart failure; and Fareston for breast cancer, as well as Salmeterol/fluticasone Easyhaler, Budesonide/formoterol Easyhaler, Formoterol Easyhaler, Budesonide Easyhaler, Beclomet Easyhaler, and Buventol Easyhaler drugs for the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

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Sendas Distribuidora S.A. (NYSE:ASAI  Get Rating) saw a significant decrease in short interest during the month of April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 2,430,000 shares, a decrease of 26.1% from the April 15th total of 3,290,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 590,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 4.1 days.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, Bank of America lowered shares of Sendas Distribuidora from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 31st.

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Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Orbis Allan Gray Ltd boosted its holdings in Sendas Distribuidora by 410.0% in the first quarter. Orbis Allan Gray Ltd now owns 3,968,761 shares of the companys stock valued at $61,119,000 after acquiring an additional 3,190,636 shares in the last quarter. Coronation Fund Managers Ltd. boosted its holdings in Sendas Distribuidora by 46.8% in the first quarter. Coronation Fund Managers Ltd. now owns 6,424,518 shares of the companys stock valued at $98,938,000 after acquiring an additional 2,049,321 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its holdings in Sendas Distribuidora by 75.7% in the first quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 532,505 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,201,000 after acquiring an additional 229,505 shares in the last quarter. Fiera Capital Corp bought a new stake in Sendas Distribuidora in the first quarter valued at $2,544,000. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Sendas Distribuidora by 97.2% during the 4th quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 196,745 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,602,000 after buying an additional 96,962 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 4.45% of the companys stock.

Sendas Distribuidora Price Performance

ASAI traded up $0.24 on Monday, reaching $12.00. The company had a trading volume of 311,737 shares, compared to its average volume of 491,659. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $13.95 and a 200 day simple moving average of $16.97. The company has a market cap of $3.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.26, a P/E/G ratio of 0.51 and a beta of 0.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.94, a quick ratio of 0.47 and a current ratio of 0.86. Sendas Distribuidora has a 52-week low of $10.50 and a 52-week high of $20.98.

Sendas Distribuidora (NYSE:ASAI  Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 16th. The company reported $0.29 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.21 by $0.08. The company had revenue of $3.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.01 billion. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Sendas Distribuidora will post 0.77 EPS for the current year.

Sendas Distribuidora Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a  dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 3rd. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 1st will be issued a $0.0506 dividend. This is a boost from Sendas Distribuidoras previous  dividend of $0.04. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 28th. This represents a dividend yield of 1.1%. Sendas Distribuidoras dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 10.26%.

About Sendas Distribuidora

(Get Rating)

Sendas Distribuidora SA engages in the retail and wholesale sale of food products, bazaar items, and other products in Brazil. As of March 31, 2022, the company operated 216 stores under the Assai banner, as well as 13 distribution centers. It serves restaurants, pizzerias, snack bars, schools, small businesses, religious institutions, hospitals, hotels, grocery stores, neighborhood supermarkets, and individuals.

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Hersha Hospitality Trust (NYSE:HT  Get Rating) saw a large growth in short interest in April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 937,800 shares, a growth of 17.7% from the April 15th total of 797,100 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 718,100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.3 days. Approximately 2.8% of the shares of the stock are sold short.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have recently commented on HT shares. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on shares of Hersha Hospitality Trust from $10.00 to $7.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, March 30th. B. Riley Financial restated a neutral rating on shares of Hersha Hospitality Trust in a report on Saturday, February 25th. StockNews.com lowered shares of Hersha Hospitality Trust from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Friday, April 28th. Finally, B. Riley upgraded shares of Hersha Hospitality Trust from a neutral rating to a buy rating and cut their price objective for the company from $10.00 to $9.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 4th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Hersha Hospitality Trust presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $9.60.

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Insider Activity

In other news, Director Thomas J. Hutchison III bought 5,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 23rd. The stock was bought at an average cost of $8.56 per share, for a total transaction of $42,800.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 151,319 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,295,290.64. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 22.40% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Hersha Hospitality Trust

Hersha Hospitality Trust Stock Performance

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in HT. Alpha Paradigm Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of Hersha Hospitality Trust by 2.4% in the third quarter. Alpha Paradigm Partners LLC now owns 47,952 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $383,000 after acquiring an additional 1,101 shares in the last quarter. Pathstone Family Office LLC raised its holdings in Hersha Hospitality Trust by 7.0% in the third quarter. Pathstone Family Office LLC now owns 17,132 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $137,000 after purchasing an additional 1,127 shares in the last quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. raised its holdings in Hersha Hospitality Trust by 5.3% in the third quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 23,223 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $185,000 after purchasing an additional 1,166 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its holdings in Hersha Hospitality Trust by 0.4% in the third quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 343,720 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $2,743,000 after purchasing an additional 1,346 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans grew its stake in shares of Hersha Hospitality Trust by 4.6% during the third quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 33,972 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $271,000 after acquiring an additional 1,493 shares during the last quarter. 65.29% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

NYSE:HT traded down $0.03 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $6.01. The companys stock had a trading volume of 433,425 shares, compared to its average volume of 605,773. Hersha Hospitality Trust has a 12-month low of $5.76 and a 12-month high of $12.15. The stock has a market cap of $239.65 million, a P/E ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 2.01. The company has a current ratio of 2.15, a quick ratio of 2.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50. The firms fifty day moving average price is $6.46 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $8.14.

Hersha Hospitality Trust Cuts Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 17th. Investors of record on Friday, March 31st were issued a $0.05 dividend. This represents a $0.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.33%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 30th. Hersha Hospitality Trusts dividend payout ratio is 6.43%.

Hersha Hospitality Trust Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Hersha Hospitality Trust is a self-advised real estate investment trust in the hospitality sector, which owns and operates hotels in urban gateway markets. Its hotel properties are located in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, the District of Columbia, Miami, and select markets on the West Coast.

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Artis Real Estate Investment Trust Unit (TSE:AX.UN  Get Rating) had its price objective reduced by Royal Bank of Canada from C$9.00 to C$8.00 in a report issued on Tuesday, BayStreet.CA reports. The firm currently has a sector perform rating on the stock. Royal Bank of Canadas price objective would suggest a potential upside of 13.64% from the stocks current price.

A number of other analysts have also issued reports on AX.UN. Scotiabank lowered their target price on shares of Artis Real Estate Investment Trust Unit from C$12.25 to C$10.50 in a research note on Thursday, March 2nd. TD Securities lowered their target price on shares of Artis Real Estate Investment Trust Unit from C$9.00 to C$7.50 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, National Bankshares lowered their target price on shares of Artis Real Estate Investment Trust Unit from C$9.00 to C$8.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 18th.

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Artis Real Estate Investment Trust Unit Trading Down 0.8 %

Shares of AX.UN opened at C$7.04 on Tuesday. The companys fifty day moving average is C$7.47 and its 200 day moving average is C$8.66. Artis Real Estate Investment Trust Unit has a fifty-two week low of C$6.66 and a fifty-two week high of C$13.21. The stock has a market capitalization of C$802.98 million, a PE ratio of -37.05 and a beta of 1.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 99.42, a quick ratio of 0.07 and a current ratio of 0.30.

Insider Transactions at Artis Real Estate Investment Trust Unit

About Artis Real Estate Investment Trust Unit

In other news, Director Samir Aziz Manji acquired 10,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 3rd. The shares were acquired at an average price of C$8.74 per share, with a total value of C$87,400.00. Corporate insiders own 15.99% of the companys stock.

(Get Rating)

Artis is a diversified Canadian real estate investment trust investing in office, retail and industrial properties. Since 2004, Artis has executed an aggressive but disciplined growth strategy, building a portfolio of commercial properties in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and select markets in the United States.

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Bank of Montreal (TSE:BMO  Get Rating) (NYSE:BMO) had its price target decreased by research analysts at CSFB from C$147.00 to C$139.00 in a research note issued on Tuesday, BayStreet.CA reports. CSFBs price target indicates a potential upside of 17.66% from the companys previous close.

BMO has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price target on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$154.00 to C$151.00 in a report on Monday, March 27th. TD Securities lowered their price target on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$145.00 to C$140.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, March 1st. Cormark lowered their target price on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$148.00 to C$147.00 in a report on Wednesday, March 1st. National Bankshares lowered their target price on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$135.00 to C$133.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, March 1st. Finally, CIBC lowered their target price on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$150.00 to C$145.00 in a report on Wednesday, March 1st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of C$146.38.

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Bank of Montreal Price Performance

Shares of TSE BMO traded down C$1.81 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting C$118.14. The company had a trading volume of 735,320 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,401,695. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is C$120.18 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$126.29. Bank of Montreal has a 12 month low of C$113.47 and a 12 month high of C$138.85. The firm has a market cap of C$83.09 billion, a P/E ratio of 5.92, a PEG ratio of 1.49 and a beta of 1.13.

About Bank of Montreal

Bank of Montreal ( TSE:BMO Get Rating ) (NYSE:BMO) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 28th. The bank reported C$3.22 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of C$3.13 by C$0.09. The firm had revenue of C$6.47 billion during the quarter. Bank of Montreal had a net margin of 40.56% and a return on equity of 21.06%. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Bank of Montreal will post 13.3034091 EPS for the current year.

(Get Rating)

Bank of Montreal engages in the provision of diversified financial services primarily in North America. The company's personal banking products and services include checking and savings accounts, credit cards, mortgages, personal loans, small business lending, cash management, and financial and investment advice services; and commercial banking products and services comprise business deposit accounts, commercial credit cards, business loans and commercial mortgages, cash management solutions, foreign exchange, specialized banking programs, treasury and payment solutions, and risk management products for small business and commercial banking customers.

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Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (TSE:CM  Get Rating) (NYSE:CM) had its target price lowered by investment analysts at CSFB from C$65.00 to C$60.00 in a note issued to investors on Tuesday, BayStreet.CA reports. CSFBs price target indicates a potential upside of 7.09% from the stocks previous close.

CM has been the topic of several other reports. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price target on shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$70.00 to C$69.00 in a research note on Monday, February 27th. Fundamental Research set a C$73.83 price objective on shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 14th. Scotiabank upped their price objective on shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$65.00 to C$66.00 in a research report on Monday, February 27th. National Bankshares increased their target price on shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$62.00 to C$64.00 in a report on Tuesday, February 28th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group increased their target price on shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$66.00 to C$66.50 in a report on Monday, February 27th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of C$66.53.

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Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Stock Down 1.8 %

Shares of CM stock traded down C$1.05 during trading on Tuesday, reaching C$56.03. The companys stock had a trading volume of 887,790 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,505,621. The business has a fifty day moving average price of C$57.05 and a 200-day moving average price of C$58.98. The company has a market cap of C$51.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 27.22 and a beta of 1.04. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce has a one year low of C$53.58 and a one year high of C$71.10.

Insider Transactions at Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce ( TSE:CM Get Rating ) (NYSE:CM) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 24th. The company reported C$1.94 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of C$1.66 by C$0.28. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce had a net margin of 22.77% and a return on equity of 9.89%. The firm had revenue of C$5.93 billion for the quarter. Research analysts anticipate that Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce will post 6.7389706 EPS for the current year.

In other news, Director Victor George Dodig acquired 34,850 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 16th. The stock was bought at an average price of C$57.65 per share, with a total value of C$2,009,102.50. Company insiders own 0.06% of the companys stock.

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Company Profile

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Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, a diversified financial institution, provides various financial products and services to personal, business, public sector, and institutional clients in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through Canadian Personal and Business Banking; Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management; U.S.

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Canadian Western Bank (TSE:CWB  Get Rating) had its price target cut by equities researchers at CSFB from C$28.00 to C$26.00 in a report released on Tuesday, BayStreet.CA reports. CSFBs price objective indicates a potential upside of 5.95% from the companys current price.

Several other research analysts also recently commented on CWB. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price target on shares of Canadian Western Bank from C$36.00 to C$35.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, March 3rd. TD Securities cut their target price on shares of Canadian Western Bank from C$34.00 to C$33.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Friday, March 3rd. Scotiabank cut their target price on shares of Canadian Western Bank from C$29.00 to C$28.00 in a report on Friday, February 17th. Cormark cut their price target on shares of Canadian Western Bank from C$30.00 to C$29.00 in a report on Friday, March 3rd. Finally, CIBC cut their price target on shares of Canadian Western Bank from C$31.00 to C$30.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Friday, March 3rd. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of C$30.08.

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Canadian Western Bank Stock Performance

TSE CWB traded down C$0.18 during trading on Tuesday, hitting C$24.54. 105,316 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 441,534. The business has a 50 day moving average of C$24.24 and a 200-day moving average of C$25.31. Canadian Western Bank has a 12-month low of C$21.21 and a 12-month high of C$33.42. The stock has a market capitalization of C$2.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.22, a PEG ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 1.70.

Insider Activity at Canadian Western Bank

Canadian Western Bank ( TSE:CWB Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 2nd. The company reported C$1.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of C$0.89 by C$0.13. The firm had revenue of C$272.89 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$275.10 million. Canadian Western Bank had a net margin of 32.57% and a return on equity of 9.18%. On average, analysts expect that Canadian Western Bank will post 3.5982533 EPS for the current year.

In related news, Senior Officer Azfar Karimuddin sold 1,050 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of C$24.19, for a total transaction of C$25,401.50. 0.37% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

About Canadian Western Bank

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Canadian Western Bank provides personal and business banking products and services primarily in Western Canada. The company offers current, savings, notice, cash management, US dollar, and chequing accounts, as well as organization, business trust, and trust fund investment accounts. It also offers commercial lending and real estate, and equipment financing and leasing products; agriculture lending products; mortgages; lines of credits; registered retirement savings loans; consolidation, and vehicle loans; and credit cards.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Chunghwa Telecom (NYSE:CHT  Get Rating) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note issued to investors on Friday.

Chunghwa Telecom Stock Up 0.5 %

Shares of NYSE CHT opened at $40.64 on Friday. Chunghwa Telecom has a 12-month low of $32.90 and a 12-month high of $44.16. The company has a market capitalization of $31.53 billion, a PE ratio of 25.72 and a beta of 0.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08, a current ratio of 1.50 and a quick ratio of 1.34. The firms 50-day moving average is $40.01 and its two-hundred day moving average is $37.75.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On Chunghwa Telecom

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its holdings in shares of Chunghwa Telecom by 21.0% during the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 94,112 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $4,184,000 after buying an additional 16,332 shares in the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Chunghwa Telecom by 26.2% during the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 54,968 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $2,443,000 after purchasing an additional 11,399 shares during the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Chunghwa Telecom by 5.0% during the first quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 6,665 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $296,000 after purchasing an additional 317 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can lifted its holdings in shares of Chunghwa Telecom by 1.9% during the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 21,093 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $943,000 after acquiring an additional 394 shares during the period. Finally, BlackRock Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Chunghwa Telecom by 4.5% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 2,776,762 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $123,426,000 after acquiring an additional 120,199 shares during the period. 2.19% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Chunghwa Telecom Company Profile

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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Conifex Timber Inc. (TSE:CFF  Get Rating)s stock price reached a new 52-week low on Tuesday . The company traded as low as C$1.40 and last traded at C$1.45, with a volume of 300 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at C$1.46.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, CIBC decreased their target price on Conifex Timber from C$1.50 to C$1.25 in a report on Thursday, April 20th.

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Conifex Timber Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 42.94, a current ratio of 2.73 and a quick ratio of 0.91. The company has a market capitalization of C$57.64 million, a PE ratio of 2.31, a PEG ratio of 0.06 and a beta of 1.59. The firm has a 50-day moving average of C$1.52 and a 200 day moving average of C$1.59.

Conifex Timber Company Profile

Conifex Timber Inc primarily manufactures and sells lumber products in the United States, China, Canada, Japan, and internationally. It is involved in the timber harvesting, reforestation, and forest management activities; manufacture of finished softwood lumber from spruce, pine, and fir logs; manufacture, sale, and distribution of dimension lumber; processing logs into lumber and wood chips, as well as by-products or residues, such as trim blocks, sawdust, shavings, and barks; and providing value added lumber finishing services.

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Cyrela Brazil Realty S.A. Empreendimentos e Participacoes (OTCMKTS:CYRBY  Get Rating) and Urstadt Biddle Properties (NYSE:UBA  Get Rating) are both small-cap finance companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, risk, institutional ownership, earnings, analyst recommendations, valuation and dividends.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current ratings for Cyrela Brazil Realty S.A. Empreendimentos e Participacoes and Urstadt Biddle Properties, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Cyrela Brazil Realty S.A. Empreendimentos e Participacoes 0 1 1 0 2.50 Urstadt Biddle Properties 0 1 2 0 2.67

Urstadt Biddle Properties has a consensus price target of $19.00, indicating a potential upside of 12.89%. Given Urstadt Biddle Properties stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Urstadt Biddle Properties is more favorable than Cyrela Brazil Realty S.A. Empreendimentos e Participacoes.

Earnings & Valuation

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Cyrela Brazil Realty S.A. Empreendimentos e Participacoes $888.00 million 1.48 $169.36 million $0.43 7.93 Urstadt Biddle Properties $145.85 million 4.54 $39.70 million $0.71 23.70

This table compares Cyrela Brazil Realty S.A. Empreendimentos e Participacoes and Urstadt Biddle Properties gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Cyrela Brazil Realty S.A. Empreendimentos e Participacoes has higher revenue and earnings than Urstadt Biddle Properties. Cyrela Brazil Realty S.A. Empreendimentos e Participacoes is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Urstadt Biddle Properties, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

This table compares Cyrela Brazil Realty S.A. Empreendimentos e Participacoes and Urstadt Biddle Properties net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Cyrela Brazil Realty S.A. Empreendimentos e Participacoes N/A N/A N/A Urstadt Biddle Properties 28.19% 11.70% 4.13%

Insider and Institutional Ownership

0.0% of Cyrela Brazil Realty S.A. Empreendimentos e Participacoes shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 52.3% of Urstadt Biddle Properties shares are held by institutional investors. 9.4% of Urstadt Biddle Properties shares are held 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.

Dividends

Cyrela Brazil Realty S.A. Empreendimentos e Participacoes pays an annual dividend of $0.08 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.3%. Urstadt Biddle Properties pays an annual dividend of $1.00 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.9%. Cyrela Brazil Realty S.A. Empreendimentos e Participacoes pays out 18.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Urstadt Biddle Properties pays out 140.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Urstadt Biddle Properties has increased its dividend for 2 consecutive years. Urstadt Biddle Properties is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Risk & Volatility

Cyrela Brazil Realty S.A. Empreendimentos e Participacoes has a beta of 0.64, meaning that its share price is 36% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Urstadt Biddle Properties has a beta of 1.11, meaning that its share price is 11% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Urstadt Biddle Properties beats Cyrela Brazil Realty S.A. Empreendimentos e Participacoes on 14 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Cyrela Brazil Realty S.A. Empreendimentos e Participacoes

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Cyrela Brazil Realty SA Empreendimentos e Participacoes engages in the development and construction of residential properties. It operates through the Merger Activity and Service Fee Income segments. The company was founded in 1961 and is headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

About Urstadt Biddle Properties

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Urstadt Biddle Properties, Inc. operates as a real estate investment trust, which engages in the acquisition, ownership, and management of commercial properties. It operates through the Ridgeway and All Other Operating segments. The company was founded on July 7, 1969 and is headquartered in Greenwich, CT.

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Bank of Nova Scotia boosted its holdings in Edwards Lifesciences Co. (NYSE:EW  Get Rating) by 120.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 901,992 shares of the medical research companys stock after purchasing an additional 492,193 shares during the quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia owned about 0.15% of Edwards Lifesciences worth $67,326,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Bogart Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in Edwards Lifesciences in the 3rd quarter valued at $25,000. Trifecta Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Edwards Lifesciences in the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. Addison Advisors LLC raised its position in Edwards Lifesciences by 708.0% in the 4th quarter. Addison Advisors LLC now owns 404 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 354 shares during the last quarter. New England Capital Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Edwards Lifesciences in the 4th quarter valued at $42,000. Finally, WASHINGTON TRUST Co raised its position in Edwards Lifesciences by 252.5% in the 4th quarter. WASHINGTON TRUST Co now owns 698 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $52,000 after purchasing an additional 500 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.35% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts recently commented on the stock. Piper Sandler upped their price target on shares of Edwards Lifesciences from $80.00 to $83.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 27th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of Edwards Lifesciences from $78.00 to $90.00 in a research note on Thursday, April 27th. Citigroup boosted their price objective on shares of Edwards Lifesciences from $92.00 to $97.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, April 3rd. 92 Resources reissued a reiterates rating on shares of Edwards Lifesciences in a research note on Thursday, May 4th. Finally, Truist Financial boosted their price objective on shares of Edwards Lifesciences from $93.00 to $97.00 in a research note on Thursday, April 27th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $89.42.

Insider Buying and Selling at Edwards Lifesciences

Edwards Lifesciences Price Performance

In other Edwards Lifesciences news, VP Jean-Luc M. Lemercier sold 6,640 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $88.68, for a total value of $588,835.20. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 172,090 shares in the company, valued at approximately $15,260,941.20. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website . In other news, CFO Scott B. Ullem sold 80,700 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $88.54, for a total transaction of $7,145,178.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 18,294 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,619,750.76. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink . Also, VP Jean-Luc M. Lemercier sold 6,640 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $88.68, for a total transaction of $588,835.20. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 172,090 shares in the company, valued at $15,260,941.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 196,341 shares of company stock worth $16,738,384. Corporate insiders own 1.29% of the companys stock.

Shares of NYSE EW opened at $88.92 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $53.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.90, a PEG ratio of 5.04 and a beta of 1.02. Edwards Lifesciences Co. has a 52 week low of $67.13 and a 52 week high of $107.92. The companys 50-day moving average price is $83.72 and its 200 day moving average price is $78.65. The company has a current ratio of 3.01, a quick ratio of 2.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.10.

Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE:EW  Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The medical research company reported $0.62 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.61 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $1.46 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.39 billion. Edwards Lifesciences had a net margin of 27.07% and a return on equity of 25.81%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 8.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.60 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Edwards Lifesciences Co. will post 2.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Edwards Lifesciences Profile

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Edwards Lifesciences Corp. engages in patient-focused medical innovations for heart disease and critical care monitoring. Its products are categorized into four main areas: Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement, Transcatheter Mitral and Tricuspid Therapies, Surgical Structural Heart, and Critical Care.

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Great Lakes Advisors LLC lessened its holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWF  Get Rating) by 28.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 28,222 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 11,208 shares during the period. Great Lakes Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF were worth $6,046,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P lifted its position in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 34.1% during the 1st quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 26,203 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $7,275,000 after purchasing an additional 6,665 shares during the last quarter. Worth Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF during the 1st quarter worth $42,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC raised its stake in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 11.6% during the 1st quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 6,211 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,724,000 after acquiring an additional 644 shares in the last quarter. West Michigan Advisors LLC raised its stake in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 3.7% during the 1st quarter. West Michigan Advisors LLC now owns 7,595 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $2,109,000 after acquiring an additional 272 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Flow Traders U.S. LLC acquired a new stake in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF during the 1st quarter worth $33,422,000.

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iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF Price Performance

Shares of NYSEARCA:IWF opened at $249.32 on Tuesday. The companys fifty day moving average price is $240.50 and its 200 day moving average price is $230.61. iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF has a 12 month low of $202.05 and a 12 month high of $258.84. The firm has a market capitalization of $64.34 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.14 and a beta of 1.08.

iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF Profile

iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment returns that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 1000 Growth Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of equity securities of Russell 1000 index issuers with relatively higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth.

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Great Lakes Advisors LLC grew its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Get Rating) by 835.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 62,825 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after purchasing an additional 56,109 shares during the period. Great Lakes Advisors LLCs holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $4,520,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. IFP Advisors Inc grew its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 1.7% in the 4th quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 55,629 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $3,024,000 after purchasing an additional 956 shares during the last quarter. Meritage Portfolio Management lifted its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 3.3% during the 4th quarter. Meritage Portfolio Management now owns 39,915 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $2,872,000 after acquiring an additional 1,288 shares during the period. Baron Silver Stevens Financial Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb during the 4th quarter worth about $316,000. BerganKDV Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 23.2% during the 4th quarter. BerganKDV Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,990 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $143,000 after acquiring an additional 375 shares during the period. Finally, Davidson Investment Advisors lifted its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 2.0% during the 4th quarter. Davidson Investment Advisors now owns 190,096 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $13,677,000 after acquiring an additional 3,681 shares during the period. 75.51% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Bristol-Myers Squibb Stock Up 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE:BMY opened at $68.17 on Tuesday. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a one year low of $65.28 and a one year high of $81.43. The company has a 50 day moving average of $68.47 and a 200-day moving average of $72.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.10, a current ratio of 1.42 and a quick ratio of 1.28. The stock has a market cap of $143.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.87, a P/E/G ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 0.44.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Dividend Announcement

Bristol-Myers Squibb ( NYSE:BMY Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $2.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.98 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $11.34 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.50 billion. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a net margin of 15.95% and a return on equity of 51.75%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.96 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 8.04 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 10th were issued a $0.57 dividend. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.34%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, April 6th. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 66.47%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on BMY shares. Atlantic Securities raised their price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $88.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, February 3rd. Cantor Fitzgerald started coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Tuesday, January 17th. They set an overweight rating and a $95.00 price target for the company. Credit Suisse Group cut their price target on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $78.00 to $72.00 in a report on Friday, April 28th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $60.00 to $62.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a report on Friday, February 3rd. Finally, Barclays cut their price target on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $66.00 to $65.00 in a report on Monday, May 1st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong 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 $79.43.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Rupert Vessey sold 50,385 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $67.06, for a total value of $3,378,818.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 47,751 shares in the company, valued at $3,202,182.06. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.09% of the companys stock.

About Bristol-Myers Squibb

(Get Rating)

Bristol Myers Squibb Co engages in the discovery, development, licensing, manufacture, marketing, distribution, and sale of biopharmaceutical products. It offers chemically-synthesized drugs or small molecules and products produced from biological processes called biologics. The company was founded in August 1933 and is headquartered in New York, NY.

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Greggs (LON:GRG  Get Rating)s stock had its hold rating reaffirmed by analysts at Peel Hunt in a research note issued on Tuesday, Digital Look reports. They presently have a GBX 2,500 ($31.32) price objective on the stock. Peel Hunts target price would indicate a potential downside of 9.30% from the companys previous close.

GRG has been the subject of a number of other reports. Shore Capital restated a hold rating on shares of Greggs in a research note on Tuesday. Berenberg Bank increased their price objective on Greggs from GBX 3,000 ($37.58) to GBX 3,200 ($40.09) and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 2nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a buy rating and set a GBX 2,950 ($36.95) price objective on shares of Greggs in a research note on Wednesday, March 8th. Finally, Liberum Capital lowered Greggs to a hold rating and set a GBX 2,800 ($35.07) price objective for the company. in a research note on Tuesday. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of GBX 2,862.50 ($35.86).

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Greggs Stock Performance

Shares of GRG traded down GBX 87.52 ($1.10) during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting GBX 2,756.48 ($34.53). The companys stock had a trading volume of 248,659 shares, compared to its average volume of 280,020. Greggs has a one year low of GBX 1,650 ($20.67) and a one year high of GBX 2,914 ($36.50). The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 67.56, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a current ratio of 1.16. The firm has a market capitalization of 2.81 billion, a PE ratio of 2,355.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.39 and a beta of 1.35. The stocks 50-day moving average is GBX 2,752.82 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 2,560.43.

Insider Activity at Greggs

Greggs Company Profile

In other Greggs news, insider Richard Hutton sold 6,080 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 2,792 ($34.97), for a total transaction of 169,753.60 ($212,643.87). 6.22% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

(Get Rating)

Greggs plc operates as a bakery food-on-the-go retailer in the United Kingdom. It offers a range of fresh and frozen bakery products, sandwiches, and drinks. The company sells products to franchise and wholesale partners for sale in their own outlets. It is also involved in the property holding, non-trading, and trustee businesses.

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Nicholas Company Inc. increased its stake in shares of CMS Energy Co. (NYSE:CMS  Get Rating) by 33.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 119,835 shares of the utilities providers stock after buying an additional 30,150 shares during the period. Nicholas Company Inc.s holdings in CMS Energy were worth $7,589,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in CMS Energy by 1.1% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 37,060,269 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $2,158,389,000 after buying an additional 412,183 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. raised its holdings in CMS Energy by 2.0% during the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 27,198,488 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,584,040,000 after purchasing an additional 524,947 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its holdings in CMS Energy by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 16,855,679 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $981,675,000 after purchasing an additional 82,250 shares during the last quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec raised its holdings in CMS Energy by 12.6% during the 3rd quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 4,863,552 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $283,253,000 after purchasing an additional 543,752 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Invesco Ltd. raised its holdings in CMS Energy by 0.3% during the 1st quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 4,172,552 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $291,830,000 after purchasing an additional 13,528 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.16% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

CMS has been the subject of several recent research reports. Bank of America raised CMS Energy from a neutral rating to a buy rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $68.00 to $66.00 in a report on Wednesday, March 8th. Guggenheim dropped their price objective on CMS Energy from $68.00 to $65.00 in a report on Monday, April 24th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on CMS Energy from $59.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Mizuho lowered their price target on CMS Energy from $69.00 to $68.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 19th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a sector perform rating and issued a $71.00 price target on shares of CMS Energy in a research note on Wednesday, February 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, CMS Energy has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $68.11.

CMS Energy Price Performance

Shares of CMS opened at $60.74 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a current ratio of 1.02. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $61.07 and a 200 day simple moving average of $61.25. CMS Energy Co. has a 52-week low of $52.41 and a 52-week high of $71.97. The firm has a market capitalization of $17.72 billion, a PE ratio of 26.07, a P/E/G ratio of 2.49 and a beta of 0.36.

CMS Energy (NYSE:CMS  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The utilities provider reported $0.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.66 by $0.04. CMS Energy had a return on equity of 9.59% and a net margin of 8.09%. The business had revenue of $2.28 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.32 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.20 EPS. CMS Energys quarterly revenue was down 3.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts predict that CMS Energy Co. will post 3.1 EPS for the current fiscal year.

CMS Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 31st. Investors of record on Friday, May 5th will be given a $0.4875 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 4th. This represents a $1.95 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.21%. CMS Energys dividend payout ratio is presently 83.69%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other CMS Energy news, SVP Brian F. Rich sold 4,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.72, for a total transaction of $246,880.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 91,927 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,673,734.44. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other CMS Energy news, SVP Brian F. Rich sold 4,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.72, for a total transaction of $246,880.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 91,927 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,673,734.44. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, SVP Brandon J. Hofmeister sold 1,250 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.00, for a total value of $75,000.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 62,881 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,772,860. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 6,500 shares of company stock valued at $396,880 in the last quarter. 0.40% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

CMS Energy Company Profile

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CMS Energy Corp. engages in the provision of electric and natural gas activities. It operates through the following business segments: Electric Utility, Gas Utility, and NorthStar Clean Energy. The Electric Utility segment focuses on generation, purchase, distribution, and sale of electricity. The Gas Utility segment includes purchase, transmission, storage, distribution, and sale of natural gas.

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North American Construction Group Ltd. (TSE:NOA  Get Rating) (NYSE:NOA) has received an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the ten brokerages that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price target among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is C$29.72.

A number of research firms recently issued reports on NOA. BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on shares of North American Construction Group from C$25.00 to C$30.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 25th. TD Securities raised their price target on shares of North American Construction Group from C$26.00 to C$27.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, April 27th. Canaccord Genuity Group raised their price target on shares of North American Construction Group from C$22.00 to C$26.00 in a research report on Friday, February 17th. National Bank Financial raised their price target on shares of North American Construction Group to C$33.00 in a research report on Friday, April 28th. Finally, ATB Capital upgraded shares of North American Construction Group from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating and lifted their target price for the company from C$24.00 to C$29.00 in a research report on Thursday, February 16th.

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Insider Activity at North American Construction Group

In other North American Construction Group news, Director Martin Robert Ferron sold 40,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of C$23.10, for a total value of C$924,000.00. 9.05% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

North American Construction Group Stock Down 0.3 %

North American Construction Group stock opened at C$26.03 on Thursday. North American Construction Group has a 1-year low of C$12.65 and a 1-year high of C$26.38. The firms fifty day simple moving average is C$23.91 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$20.72. The company has a current ratio of 1.15, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 125.83. The company has a market capitalization of C$687.45 million, a P/E ratio of 10.98, a P/E/G ratio of 0.79 and a beta of 1.58.

North American Construction Group (TSE:NOA  Get Rating) (NYSE:NOA) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 15th. The company reported C$1.10 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of C$0.73 by C$0.37. North American Construction Group had a net margin of 9.06% and a return on equity of 24.56%. The business had revenue of C$233.42 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of C$204.70 million. Sell-side analysts forecast that North American Construction Group will post 2.33859 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

North American Construction Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 7th. Investors of record on Friday, July 7th will be issued a dividend of $0.10 per share. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.54%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 25th. North American Construction Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 16.88%.

About North American Construction Group

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North American Construction Group Ltd. provides equipment maintenance, and mining and heavy construction services in Canada, the United States, and Australia. The company's Heavy Construction & Mining division offers constructability reviews, budgetary cost estimates, design-build construction, project management, contract mining, pre-stripping/pit pioneering, overburden removal and stockpile, muskeg removal and stockpile, site preparation, air strip construction, site dewatering/perimeter ditching, tailings and process pipelines, haulage and access road construction, tailings dam construction and densification, mechanically stabilized earth walls, dyke construction, and reclamation services.

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Pinebridge Investments L.P. cut its stake in shares of Centene Co. (NYSE:CNC  Get Rating) by 34.7% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 103,867 shares of the companys stock after selling 55,299 shares during the period. Pinebridge Investments L.P.s holdings in Centene were worth $8,518,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. grew its stake in shares of Centene by 5,700.0% during the 4th quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 348 shares of the companys stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 342 shares during the period. Covestor Ltd lifted its holdings in shares of Centene by 24.1% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 856 shares of the companys stock valued at $72,000 after acquiring an additional 166 shares in the last quarter. Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Centene during the 3rd quarter valued at $71,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Centene by 76.4% during the 4th quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 947 shares of the companys stock valued at $78,000 after acquiring an additional 410 shares in the last quarter. Finally, U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Centene during the 4th quarter valued at $86,000. 93.28% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Centene news, Director Lori Jean Robinson sold 1,400 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $66.59, for a total value of $93,226.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 8,508 shares in the company, valued at approximately $566,547.72. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, Director Lori Jean Robinson sold 1,400 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, April 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $66.59, for a total value of $93,226.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 8,508 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $566,547.72. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Sarah London purchased 30,000 shares of Centene stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 17th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $62.60 per share, with a total value of $1,878,000.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief executive officer now owns 313,953 shares in the company, valued at approximately $19,653,457.80. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.33% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Centene Price Performance

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Credit Suisse Group reduced their target price on shares of Centene from $94.00 to $87.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on shares of Centene from $103.00 to $94.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 9th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered shares of Centene from a buy rating to a hold rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $94.00 to $79.00 in a report on Wednesday, March 8th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on shares of Centene from $79.00 to $71.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, March 21st. Finally, Loop Capital cut their price objective on shares of Centene from $110.00 to $95.00 in a report on Wednesday, February 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $92.00.

Shares of NYSE:CNC opened at $67.21 on Tuesday. Centene Co. has a fifty-two week low of $61.71 and a fifty-two week high of $98.53. The company has a quick ratio of 1.07, a current ratio of 1.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72. The company has a market cap of $36.88 billion, a PE ratio of 25.46, a P/E/G ratio of 0.92 and a beta of 0.56. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $66.18 and a 200 day simple moving average of $74.37.

Centene (NYSE:CNC  Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The company reported $2.11 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.23 by ($0.12). Centene had a return on equity of 13.61% and a net margin of 1.01%. The firm had revenue of $38.89 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $36.09 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.83 EPS. Centenes revenue for the quarter was up 4.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Centene Co. will post 6.45 EPS for the current year.

Centene Profile

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Centene Corp. operates as a healthcare enterprise, which engages in the provision of programs and services to government sponsored healthcare programs. It operates through the following segments: Medicaid, Medicare, Commercial, and Other. The company was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in St. Louis, MO.

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PNM Resources, Inc. (NYSE:PNM  Get Rating) shares saw unusually-strong trading volume on Tuesday . Approximately 476,595 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 25% from the previous sessions volume of 636,441 shares.The stock last traded at $45.08 and had previously closed at $45.12.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms recently issued reports on PNM. Siebert Williams Shank upgraded PNM Resources from a hold rating to a buy rating and upped their target price for the stock from $53.00 to $55.00 in a report on Tuesday. StockNews.com assumed coverage on PNM Resources in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock.

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PNM Resources Stock Up 1.5 %

The firm has a market cap of $3.93 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.79, a P/E/G ratio of 4.32 and a beta of 0.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a current ratio of 0.29 and a quick ratio of 0.39. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $48.56 and a 200-day moving average of $48.66.

PNM Resources Announces Dividend

PNM Resources ( NYSE:PNM Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Friday, May 5th. The utilities provider reported $0.55 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.39 by $0.16. The firm had revenue of $544.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $460.14 million. PNM Resources had a return on equity of 10.55% and a net margin of 8.89%. The companys revenue was up 22.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.50 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that PNM Resources, Inc. will post 2.66 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 12th. Investors of record on Friday, April 28th were issued a dividend of $0.368 per share. This represents a $1.47 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.21%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, April 27th. PNM Resourcess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 60.74%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On PNM Resources

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Wipfli Financial Advisors LLC bought a new position in PNM Resources during the 3rd quarter worth $26,000. BerganKDV Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in PNM Resources during the 1st quarter worth approximately $28,000. Lindbrook Capital LLC increased its holdings in PNM Resources by 194.1% during the 4th quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC now owns 597 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 394 shares in the last quarter. CI Investments Inc. bought a new stake in PNM Resources during the 4th quarter worth approximately $34,000. Finally, Signaturefd LLC grew its holdings in shares of PNM Resources by 60.1% in the third quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 783 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 294 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.88% of the companys stock.

About PNM Resources

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PNM Resources, Inc operates as an investor-owned holding company, which provides electricity and electric services in New Mexico and Texas. It operates through the following segments: Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM), Texas-New Mexico Power Company (TNMP), and Corporate and Other. The PNM segment includes the retail electric utility operations of the company.

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Premium Brands Holdings Co. (TSE:PBH  Get Rating) declared a quarterly dividend on Monday, May 15th, Zacks reports. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 30th will be paid a dividend of 0.77 per share on Friday, July 14th. This represents a $3.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.17%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 29th.

Premium Brands Price Performance

PBH opened at C$97.10 on Tuesday. Premium Brands has a 1 year low of C$77.36 and a 1 year high of C$105.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 141.16, a quick ratio of 1.16 and a current ratio of 2.53. The companys 50 day simple moving average is C$98.80 and its 200 day simple moving average is C$91.71. The stock has a market capitalization of C$4.33 billion, a PE ratio of 27.20, a P/E/G ratio of 1.10 and a beta of 0.97.

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Premium Brands (TSE:PBH  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 16th. The company reported C$1.19 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of C$1.35 by C($0.16). The business had revenue of C$1.63 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$1.55 billion. Premium Brands had a net margin of 2.66% and a return on equity of 8.93%. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Premium Brands will post 5.1172871 EPS for the current year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

About Premium Brands

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. National Bankshares boosted their price target on shares of Premium Brands from C$122.00 to C$124.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, February 9th. Scotiabank boosted their target price on shares of Premium Brands from C$114.00 to C$120.00 in a research note on Monday, May 1st. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price target on shares of Premium Brands from C$107.00 to C$104.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, March 17th. TD Securities boosted their price objective on Premium Brands from C$115.00 to C$120.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, February 13th. Finally, CIBC decreased their price objective on Premium Brands from C$99.00 to C$98.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday, March 17th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of C$118.00.

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Premium Brands Holdings Corporation, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and distributes food products primarily in Canada and the United States. It operates in two segments, Specialty Foods and Premium Food Distribution. The company provides meat products and snacks, deli products, beef jerky and halal, sandwiches, pastries, specialty and gourmet products, salads and kettle products, entrees, panini, wraps, subs, hamburgers, burgers, muffins, breads, pastas, and baking and sushi products, as well as processed meat products and ready-to-eat meals.

Further Reading

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Premium Brands (TSE:PBH  Get Rating) had its price objective raised by stock analysts at CIBC from C$98.00 to C$99.00 in a research report issued on Tuesday, BayStreet.CA reports. CIBCs price target would suggest a potential upside of 1.01% from the companys previous close.

Other equities analysts have also issued research reports about the company. TD Securities upped their price objective on Premium Brands from C$120.00 to C$125.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on Premium Brands from C$105.00 to C$111.00 in a research report on Friday, March 17th. Scotiabank upped their price objective on Premium Brands from C$114.00 to C$120.00 in a research report on Monday, May 1st. Cormark increased their price target on Premium Brands from C$115.00 to C$120.00 in a report on Monday, March 20th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price objective on Premium Brands from C$107.00 to C$104.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, March 17th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Premium Brands presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of C$118.30.

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Premium Brands Stock Performance

Premium Brands stock traded up C$0.91 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching C$98.01. 32,403 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 53,976. The stock has a market capitalization of C$4.37 billion, a PE ratio of 27.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.10 and a beta of 0.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 141.16, a current ratio of 2.53 and a quick ratio of 1.16. Premium Brands has a 12-month low of C$77.36 and a 12-month high of C$105.32. The businesss 50-day moving average is C$98.80 and its 200-day moving average is C$91.71.

Premium Brands Company Profile

Premium Brands ( TSE:PBH Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 16th. The company reported C$1.19 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of C$1.35 by C($0.16). The company had revenue of C$1.63 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$1.55 billion. Premium Brands had a net margin of 2.66% and a return on equity of 8.93%. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Premium Brands will post 5.1172871 EPS for the current fiscal year.

(Get Rating)

Premium Brands Holdings Corporation, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and distributes food products primarily in Canada and the United States. It operates in two segments, Specialty Foods and Premium Food Distribution. The company provides meat products and snacks, deli products, beef jerky and halal, sandwiches, pastries, specialty and gourmet products, salads and kettle products, entrees, panini, wraps, subs, hamburgers, burgers, muffins, breads, pastas, and baking and sushi products, as well as processed meat products and ready-to-eat meals.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Armstrong World Industries (NYSE:AWI  Get Rating) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report released on Friday.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their target price on shares of Armstrong World Industries from $77.00 to $78.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 26th. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their target price on shares of Armstrong World Industries from $97.00 to $86.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 12th. Truist Financial cut their target price on shares of Armstrong World Industries from $95.00 to $90.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 22nd. Bank of America cut their target price on shares of Armstrong World Industries from $90.00 to $87.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 19th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group restated an outperform rating and issued a $100.00 price target on shares of Armstrong World Industries in a research note on Wednesday, February 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $83.63.

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Armstrong World Industries Stock Performance

Shares of AWI stock opened at $65.77 on Friday. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $69.14 and its 200-day simple moving average is $73.02. The company has a quick ratio of 1.49, a current ratio of 2.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24. The firm has a market cap of $2.97 billion, a PE ratio of 14.71, a P/E/G ratio of 1.65 and a beta of 1.11. Armstrong World Industries has a 12 month low of $64.94 and a 12 month high of $94.94.

Armstrong World Industries Dividend Announcement

Armstrong World Industries ( NYSE:AWI Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The construction company reported $1.12 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.06 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $310.20 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $310.86 million. Armstrong World Industries had a return on equity of 41.94% and a net margin of 16.32%. Armstrong World Industriess quarterly revenue was up 9.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.02 earnings per share. Equities research analysts expect that Armstrong World Industries will post 4.87 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 18th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 4th will be given a dividend of $0.254 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 3rd. This represents a $1.02 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.54%. Armstrong World Industriess payout ratio is presently 22.60%.

Institutional Trading of Armstrong World Industries

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. UBS Group AG lifted its position in shares of Armstrong World Industries by 2.0% during the 2nd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 6,401 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $480,000 after acquiring an additional 123 shares during the period. Captrust Financial Advisors raised its position in shares of Armstrong World Industries by 4.3% in the 2nd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 3,317 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $249,000 after buying an additional 136 shares in the last quarter. Cornercap Investment Counsel Inc. raised its position in shares of Armstrong World Industries by 2.3% in the 1st quarter. Cornercap Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 7,183 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $512,000 after buying an additional 164 shares in the last quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund raised its position in shares of Armstrong World Industries by 0.4% in the 4th quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 42,673 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $2,927,000 after buying an additional 173 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Xponance Inc. raised its position in shares of Armstrong World Industries by 4.5% in the 1st quarter. Xponance Inc. now owns 4,317 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $308,000 after buying an additional 184 shares in the last quarter.

Armstrong World Industries Company Profile

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Armstrong World Industries, Inc engages in the design, manufacture, and trade of commercial and residential ceiling, wall, and suspension system solutions. It operates through the following segments: Mineral Fiber, Architectural Specialties, and Unallocated Corporate. The Mineral Fiber segment produces suspended mineral fiber and soft fiber ceiling systems for use in commercial and residential settings.

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The Gabelli Equity Trust Inc. (NYSE:GAB  Get Rating) was the target of a significant growth in short interest in the month of April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 279,700 shares, a growth of 11.5% from the April 15th total of 250,900 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 418,200 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.7 days.

The Gabelli Equity Trust Trading Down 1.3 %

NYSE:GAB traded down $0.07 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $5.40. The company had a trading volume of 303,510 shares, compared to its average volume of 405,451. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $5.63 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $5.69. The Gabelli Equity Trust has a twelve month low of $4.84 and a twelve month high of $6.91.

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The Gabelli Equity Trust Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 24th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 17th were issued a dividend of $0.15 per share. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 11.11%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 16th.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

About The Gabelli Equity Trust

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in GAB. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of The Gabelli Equity Trust during the first quarter valued at about $167,000. Raymond James & Associates grew its holdings in shares of The Gabelli Equity Trust by 3.1% during the first quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 224,867 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,558,000 after buying an additional 6,793 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in shares of The Gabelli Equity Trust by 8.5% during the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 243,624 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,688,000 after buying an additional 19,154 shares during the last quarter. US Bancorp DE grew its holdings in shares of The Gabelli Equity Trust by 29.4% during the first quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 30,092 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $208,000 after buying an additional 6,828 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers lifted its position in shares of The Gabelli Equity Trust by 14.1% during the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 106,420 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $737,000 after purchasing an additional 13,183 shares in the last quarter. 7.58% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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The Gabelli Equity Trust Inc is a closed ended equity mutual fund launched by GAMCO Investors, Inc The fund is managed by Gabelli Funds, LLC. It invests in public equity markets of the United States. The fund seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. It invests in preferred stock, convertible or exchangeable securities, and warrants and rights.

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UNIVEST FINANCIAL Corp reduced its stake in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO  Get Rating) by 1.6% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 10,477 shares of the medical research companys stock after selling 168 shares during the quarter. Thermo Fisher Scientific makes up about 1.8% of UNIVEST FINANCIAL Corps holdings, making the stock its 14th largest position. UNIVEST FINANCIAL Corps holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific were worth $5,770,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Roffman Miller Associates Inc. PA lifted its position in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 0.5% in 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 purchasing an additional 166 shares during the last quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC lifted its position in 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 valued at $3,075,000 after purchasing an additional 1,486 shares during the last quarter. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. lifted its position in 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 valued at $3,534,000 after purchasing an additional 580 shares during the last quarter. Western Financial Corp CA bought a new stake in Thermo Fisher Scientific in the 4th quarter valued at about $627,000. Finally, Ameritas Advisory Services LLC lifted its position in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 5.3% in the 3rd quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC now owns 4,607 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $2,337,000 after purchasing an additional 230 shares during the last quarter. 85.92% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Thermo Fisher Scientific Stock Down 0.7 %

Thermo Fisher Scientific stock traded down $3.56 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $520.12. The company had a trading volume of 303,060 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,407,913. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.27 and a quick ratio of 0.92. The firms fifty day moving average is $557.72 and its 200-day moving average is $554.32. The firm has a market capitalization of $200.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.69 and a beta of 0.79. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $475.77 and a fifty-two week high of $611.06.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Increases Dividend

Thermo Fisher Scientific ( NYSE:TMO Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The medical research company reported $5.03 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $5.03. Thermo Fisher Scientific had a net margin of 13.75% and a return on equity of 19.16%. The firm had revenue of $10.71 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.67 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $7.25 EPS. The businesss revenue was down 9.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts forecast that Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. will post 23.7 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 14th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 15th were paid a $0.35 dividend. This is a boost from Thermo Fisher Scientifics previous quarterly dividend of $0.30. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, March 14th. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.27%. Thermo Fisher Scientifics dividend payout ratio is currently 9.13%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have commented on TMO. SVB Leerink boosted their price target on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $620.00 to $630.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 2nd. Cowen boosted their price target on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $690.00 to $711.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 2nd. Robert W. Baird dropped their price target on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $693.00 to $670.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 27th. Barclays dropped their price target on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $625.00 to $610.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 27th. Finally, Citigroup dropped their target price on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $700.00 to $650.00 in a report on Thursday, April 27th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $627.91.

Insider Activity

In other news, CEO Marc N. Casper sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, May 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $545.22, for a total value of $5,452,200.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 141,330 shares in the company, valued at approximately $77,055,942.60. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other news, CEO Marc N. Casper sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, May 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $545.22, for a total value of $5,452,200.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 141,330 shares in the company, valued at approximately $77,055,942.60. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Marc N. Casper sold 1,600 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $534.82, for a total transaction of $855,712.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 141,330 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $75,586,110.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 19,100 shares of company stock worth $10,391,587. 0.32% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Profile

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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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TransAlta (TSE:TA  Get Rating) (NYSE:TAC) had its price objective lifted by equities research analysts at CSFB from C$17.00 to C$18.50 in a note issued to investors on Tuesday, BayStreet.CA reports. CSFBs price objective would indicate a potential upside of 39.20% from the stocks current price.

Several other equities research analysts have also commented on TA. Scotiabank upped their price target on TransAlta from C$16.00 to C$17.00 in a research note on Monday, May 8th. CIBC upped their price target on TransAlta from C$16.50 to C$17.00 in a research note on Monday, May 8th. TD Securities dropped their price target on TransAlta from C$17.50 to C$16.50 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 24th. Finally, National Bankshares dropped their price target on TransAlta from C$15.00 to C$14.00 in a research note on Friday, February 24th.

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TransAlta Stock Performance

TSE TA opened at C$13.29 on Tuesday. The businesss 50-day moving average price is C$11.86 and its 200 day moving average price is C$12.15. TransAlta has a twelve month low of C$10.52 and a twelve month high of C$15.28. The company has a market capitalization of C$3.54 billion, a PE ratio of 31.64, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of -0.07 and a beta of 1.13. The company has a current ratio of 1.29, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 221.62.

About TransAlta

TransAlta ( TSE:TA Get Rating ) (NYSE:TAC) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 23rd. The company reported C($0.61) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of C$0.68 by C($1.29). On average, research analysts predict that TransAlta will post 0.7100271 earnings per share for the current year.

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TransAlta Corporation owns, operates, and develops a diverse fleet of electrical power generation assets in Canada, the United States, and Australia. It operates through four segments: Hydro, Wind and Solar, Gas, and Energy Transition. owns and operates hydro, wind and solar, natural gas-fired, and coal-fired facilities.

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Detalus Advisors LLC raised its position in U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB  Get Rating) by 546.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 119,905 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 101,370 shares during the quarter. U.S. Bancorp accounts for about 2.6% of Detalus Advisors LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 8th largest holding. Detalus Advisors LLCs holdings in U.S. Bancorp were worth $5,229,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of USB. BCK Partners Inc. acquired a new stake in U.S. Bancorp in the first quarter valued at approximately $2,514,000. Acadian Asset Management LLC grew its position in U.S. Bancorp by 3.0% in the first quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 9,397 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $499,000 after acquiring an additional 276 shares in the last quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. grew its position in U.S. Bancorp by 20.8% in the first quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 21,314 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,176,000 after acquiring an additional 3,663 shares in the last quarter. Prudential PLC acquired a new stake in U.S. Bancorp in the first quarter valued at approximately $1,731,000. Finally, Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. grew its position in U.S. Bancorp by 5.9% in the first quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 86,048 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $4,573,000 after acquiring an additional 4,827 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 71.83% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

USB has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Piper Sandler decreased their price target on shares of U.S. Bancorp from $57.00 to $53.00 in a research report on Friday, March 10th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on shares of U.S. Bancorp from $60.00 to $55.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price target on shares of U.S. Bancorp from $41.00 to $37.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Robert W. Baird raised 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. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price objective on U.S. Bancorp from $55.00 to $49.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, March 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, U.S. Bancorp has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $50.35.

Insider Activity at U.S. Bancorp

U.S. Bancorp Stock Performance

In other news, Director Alan B. Colberg bought 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 21st. The shares were purchased 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 directly owns 10,050 shares in the company, valued at $343,107. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink . In other news, Director Scott W. Wine bought 30,438 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 28th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $32.85 per share, with a total value of $999,888.30. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 30,438 shares in the company, valued at $999,888.30. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink . Also, Director Alan B. Colberg bought 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 21st. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $34.14 per share, for a total transaction of $341,400.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 10,050 shares of the companys stock, valued at $343,107. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here . Insiders have purchased a total of 76,698 shares of company stock worth $2,446,082 over the last ninety days. 0.24% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Shares of NYSE USB traded down $0.62 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $29.03. 6,088,877 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 14,877,318. 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 $34.60 and a 200 day moving average price of $41.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90, a current ratio of 0.80 and a quick ratio of 0.80. The company has a market cap of $44.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.89, a PEG ratio of 1.03 and a beta of 0.93.

U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data 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). U.S. Bancorp had a net margin of 19.21% and a return on equity of 16.70%. The company had revenue of $7.18 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.14 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.99 earnings per share. U.S. Bancorps revenue for the quarter was up 28.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts anticipate that U.S. Bancorp will post 4.59 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

U.S. Bancorp Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 17th. Investors of record on Friday, March 31st were paid a dividend of $0.48 per share. This represents a $1.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.61%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 30th. U.S. Bancorps dividend payout ratio is currently 51.06%.

About U.S. Bancorp

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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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Vishay Precision Group, Inc. (NYSE:VPG  Get Rating) Director Wes Cummins acquired 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, May 15th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $33.99 per share, with a total value of $339,900.00. Following the purchase, the director now owns 465,292 shares in the company, valued at $15,815,275.08. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website.

Wes Cummins also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Thursday, February 23rd, Wes Cummins acquired 7,500 shares of Vishay Precision Group stock. The shares were acquired at an average price of $44.72 per share, with a total value of $335,400.00.

On Tuesday, February 21st, Wes Cummins acquired 25,000 shares of Vishay Precision Group stock. The shares were acquired at an average price of $42.49 per share, with a total value of $1,062,250.00.

On Friday, February 17th, Wes Cummins bought 25,000 shares of Vishay Precision Group stock. The stock was purchased at an average price of $42.26 per share, with a total value of $1,056,500.00.

Vishay Precision Group Stock Performance

NYSE:VPG traded down $0.62 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $33.25. The stock had a trading volume of 46,774 shares, compared to its average volume of 63,316. The stock has a market capitalization of $451.47 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.59 and a beta of 1.32. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $39.63 and a 200-day simple moving average of $40.17. Vishay Precision Group, Inc. has a 52 week low of $27.03 and a 52 week high of $45.69. The company has a current ratio of 3.91, a quick ratio of 2.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20.

Institutional Trading of Vishay Precision Group

Vishay Precision Group ( NYSE:VPG Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 9th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $0.52 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.53 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $88.86 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $89.79 million. Vishay Precision Group had a net margin of 9.95% and a return on equity of 12.37%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.49 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that Vishay Precision Group, Inc. will post 2.45 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Swiss National Bank raised its position in shares of Vishay Precision Group by 7.6% during the 1st quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 29,800 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $958,000 after buying an additional 2,100 shares in the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC raised its position in shares of Vishay Precision Group by 54.8% during the 1st quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 8,155 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $262,000 after buying an additional 2,888 shares in the last quarter. LSV Asset Management raised its position in shares of Vishay Precision Group by 11.7% during the 1st quarter. LSV Asset Management now owns 327,807 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $10,539,000 after buying an additional 34,345 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Vishay Precision Group by 0.7% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 604,989 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $19,451,000 after buying an additional 4,189 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Gamco Investors INC. ET AL raised its position in shares of Vishay Precision Group by 6.9% during the 1st quarter. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL now owns 18,584 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $597,000 after buying an additional 1,200 shares in the last quarter. 77.31% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on VPG shares. StockNews.com started coverage on Vishay Precision Group in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a strong-buy rating on the stock. B. Riley initiated coverage on shares of Vishay Precision Group in a research report on Friday, April 14th. They issued a buy rating and a $54.00 price target on the stock.

About Vishay Precision Group

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Vishay Precision Group, Inc engages in the provision of precision measurement and sensing technologies. The firm serves a diverse array of industries and markets, including industrial, test and measurement, transportation, steel, medical, agriculture, avionics, military and space, and consumer. It operates through the following segments: Sensors, Weighing Solutions, Measurement Systems, and Corporate and Other.

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Youdao, Inc. (NYSE:DAO  Get Rating) saw a significant drop in short interest in the month of April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 371,900 shares, a drop of 17.4% from the April 15th total of 450,100 shares. Currently, 1.2% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 286,600 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.3 days.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Youdao

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Renaissance Technologies LLC grew its holdings in Youdao by 16.0% during the 3rd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 29,700 shares of the companys stock valued at $117,000 after purchasing an additional 4,100 shares in the last quarter. Virtu Financial LLC grew its holdings in Youdao by 34.2% during the 3rd quarter. Virtu Financial LLC now owns 18,887 shares of the companys stock valued at $74,000 after purchasing an additional 4,809 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE grew its holdings in Youdao by 305.4% during the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 8,505 shares of the companys stock valued at $72,000 after purchasing an additional 6,407 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its holdings in Youdao by 3.1% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 219,217 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,556,000 after purchasing an additional 6,552 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Envestnet Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in Youdao by 45.9% during the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 22,100 shares of the companys stock valued at $109,000 after purchasing an additional 6,954 shares in the last quarter. 18.44% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts recently commented on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Youdao from a hold rating to a buy rating and upped their price target for the stock from $4.60 to $10.00 in a research report on Friday, February 24th. Daiwa Capital Markets raised shares of Youdao from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $4.00 to $9.50 in a research report on Monday, March 20th.

Youdao Stock Up 1.4 %

Youdao stock opened at $5.08 on Tuesday. Youdao has a 52-week low of $3.03 and a 52-week high of $10.00. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $7.07 and a 200-day moving average of $6.43. The firm has a market capitalization of $639.92 million, a P/E ratio of -5.77 and a beta of -0.24.

Youdao (NYSE:DAO  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 23rd. The company reported $0.01 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The business had revenue of $210.81 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $223.65 million.

Youdao Company Profile

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Youdao, Inc, an internet technology company, provides online services in the field of content, community, communication, and commerce in China. It operates through three segments: Learning Services, Smart Devices, and Online Marketing Services. The company provides various learning content, applications, and solutions, which cover topics and target people from various age groups for their learning needs through its websites and mobile applications.

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Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy would deposit a financial assistance of Rs 231 crore to fishermen at a programme in Nizampatnam (DC)

Vijayawada: Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy would deposit a financial assistance of Rs 231 crore to fishermen at a programme in Nizampatnam, Bapatla district, at 11am on Tuesday.

This is for the fifth consecutive year that CM Jagan would be depositing Rs 123.52 crore as financial assistance to benefit 1,23,519 fishermen families across the state. Each family would get a financial assistance of Rs 10,000. This is compensation to them in view of the ban on marine fishing from April 15 to June 14.

The amount would be directly remitted into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries at the click of a button by the CM.

The chief minister would also deposit Rs 108 crore to benefit 23,458 fishermen families hailing from Konaseema and Kakinada districts as a compensation as they have lost their source of livelihood due to the pipeline works taken up by the ONGC.

The YSR Congress government has been implementing the YSR Matsyakara Bharosa scheme for the benefit of fishermen families by providing them a financial assistance of Rs 10,000 per head each time. So far, the fishermen families received Rs 50,000 per head including the Rs 10,000 being deposited for each beneficiary family on Tuesday.

Government sources said their government is also taking up several measures to better the living standards of fishermen and to avoid them getting migrated to other places in search of work. "Accordingly, the government is setting up 10 fishing harbours and six fish landing centres with world class facilities at a cost of Rs 3,767.48 crore," they said.

"The government is also taking up the construction of four ports in the last four years at a cost of Rs 16,000 crore to generate employment and to promote export of marine products at low transportation cost."

The sources added, "Moreover, the state government is setting up a fisheries university in West Godavari to impart knowledge and train youths for better fishing activity and is taking up recruitment of fisheries assistants at RBKs. The aqua farmers are getting power at lower costs, with a subsidy of Rs 1.50 per unit."

They said, "During the previous Telugu Desam term, fishermen used to be given just Rs 2,000 as relief during the period of the ban on fishing, in the first two years. It was then enhanced to Rs 4,000. Only 60,000 families were offered the relief and the TD government spent only Rs 21 crore per annum on an average for this purpose."

The TD government provided a diesel subsidy of only six rupees per litre to 1,100 boats with an average annual expenditure of Rs 12 crore," the sources said.
Telangana IT and industries minister K.T. Rama Rao. (Photo: Twitter)

HYDERABAD: IT and industries minister K.T. Rama Rao left for the United States on Tuesday for a two-week visit to meet the industry leaders and businesses in a bid to drum up investments for Telangana. He is expected to return by May 30.

During his tour, the minister will showcase the Telangana state governments remarkable accomplishments in the last nine years on a global platform. Rama Rao will hold meetings with companies in various cities spread across five states. Some of the companies are likely to make investment announcements during his meetings. The minister will also speak about the socio economic progress achieved in Telangana through the Kaleshwaram project and Mission Bhagiratha.

The minister was invited to deliver the inaugural address at the American Society of Civil Engineers  World Environmental & Water Resources Congress to be held in Henderson, Nevada, USA. He was also requested to speak about the world's largest lift irrigation project, Kaleshwaram, and Mission Bhagiratha, which provide drinking water to every home, as well as their role in reshaping Telangana's landscape.

In 2017, Rama Rao attended the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) conference in Sacramento, California. During the course of his speech, the minister explained a number of important water initiatives undertaken by the Telangana government, such as Mission Bhagiratha. Impressed by Rama Raos address, a team from ASCE toured Telangana in 2022. They went on a field visit to the Kaleshwaram project and called it a game changer in Telanganas irrigation water sector.

Impressed by the scale of the project and incredible speed with which the worlds largest lift irrigation project was built, ASCE invited the minister to showcase the Telangana governments success story in the US. He expressed his joy at getting the opportunity to explain to the world the achievements of the Telangana government in the field of irrigation under the leadership of Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao. He said that Telangana, which was once stricken by drought, is now flourishing with lush green fields because of the vision of the CM.
The southwest monsoon normally sets in over Kerala on June 1, with a standard deviation of about 7 days.(Photo: DC)

New Delhi: A slight delay is expected in the onset of the southwest monsoon over Kerala and it is likely to arrive by June 4, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday.

The southwest monsoon normally sets in over Kerala on June 1, with a standard deviation of about 7 days.

"This year, the southwest monsoon onset over Kerala is likely to be slightly delayed. The monsoon onset over Kerala is likely to be on June 4 with a model error of 4 days," the Met office said in a statement.

The monsoon arrived in the southern state on May 29 last year, June 3 in 2021 and June 1 in 2020.

The advance of the southwest monsoon over the Indian mainland is marked by the onset over Kerala and is an important indicator characterising the transition from the hot and dry season to the rainy season.

The IMD had last month said India is expected to get normal rainfall during the southwest monsoon season despite the evolving El Nino conditions.

Rainfed agriculture is a critical component of India's agricultural landscape, with 52 per cent of the net cultivated area relying on this method. It accounts for about 40 per cent of the country's total food production, making it a crucial contributor to India's food security and economic stability.
Karnataka Congress President D.K. Shivakumar addresses the media at his residence in Bengaluru (PTI)

Bengaluru: Congress Karnataka president DK Shivakumar, one of the frontrunners for the post of Chief Minister of the southern State on Tuesday made it clear that he would not resort to "backstabbing or blackmail" regardless of the party's decision.

In an exclusive interview with ANI, DK Shivakumar said, "If the party wants they can give me the responsibility....... Ours is a united house, our number is 135. I don't want to divide anyone here. Whether they like me or not, I am a responsible man. I will not backstab and I will not blackmail."

The Congress won 135 seats in the recently held election to the 224-member Karnataka assembly.

Shivakumar earlier today arrived at the Bengaluru airport ahead of his departure for Delhi amid ongoing talks in the Congress party for the next Karnataka CM.

The Karnataka Congress president will meet the party's high command ahead of the party's announcement on the top post.

"The Party is my god...We have built this party, I am a part of it and I am not alone in this," he said before his departure from Bengaluru.

"We have built this party (Congress), we have built this house. I am a part of it...A mother will give everything to her child," he said.

Asked about his expectations as the state party president, Shivakumar said," I don't want to comment on what has happened earlier. How it happened. That is a closed chapter we formed the government we lost the government, we lost a coalition government. Who is responsible for the victory and loss there is no use of talking about it now. Let us not sell this story... let us sell the future."

Congress leader Siddaramaiah, the other frontrunner for the chief minister's post, arrived in the national capital on Monday.

Shivakumar, who celebrated his birthday yesterday had stayed behind in Bengaluru citing a stomach infection. Both he and Siddaramaiah had been called to Delhi by the top leadership of the AICC for a discussion. The Congress won 135 seats in the 224-member Karnataka assembly.

The party's central observers for Karnataka had yesterday briefed Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on the views of the newly elected MLAs. According to party sources, Kharge will consult Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra before announcing a final decision.

"The name of the next Karnataka CM will be announced in the coming 24 hours," they said.

The Congress legislative party had met late evening on Sunday in Bengaluru and passed a one-line resolution empowering Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge to pick the head of the legislative party.

On Monday, Shivakumar said that all the MLAs are together and the party's high command will take the call on the chief minister.

Speaking to ANI, Shivakumar said, "The party high command will take a call. I don't want to comment or speak anything more. Whatever I had to speak, I have spoken already. I do not want MLAs (support)...that is not important to me. Ours is a Congress block. 135 is the number and one more ally member. We all are one and will work together".

Meanwhile, Congress veteran Siddaramaiah met with the top leadership of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) at Delhi's Lodhi Hotel late on Monday night.
AICC General Secretary Jairam Ramesh (DC)

New Delhi: The Congress has claimed that the BJP is "disgraceful" when it loses elections and accused the rival party of making "mischievous attempts" to disturb social harmony, asserting that the "factories manufacturing hate are hyperactive".

The strong criticism of the Congress came on Monday after the BJP attacked it 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.

In a tweet, Congress general secretary 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 said.

Earlier, the BJP's IT department head Amit Malviya attacked the Congress, saying, "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 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 and Education. It's the responsibility of the Congress to thank us with this"

"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," Malviya tweeted.

Hitting back at Malviya, Congress' media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said, "I understand your need to fake. But this is a bit too much. Shafi Sadi is backed by BJP."

In the May 10 Karnataka Assembly elections, the Congress won 135 of the 224 seats, while the BJP and the Janata Dal (Secular) secured 66 and 19 seats, respectively.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge interacts with senior party leader Siddaramaiah at his residence on Tuesday. (Image: PTI)

New Delhi: The suspense over the name of Karnataka's CM continued for the fourth day amidst a series of meetings in the national capital. State unit chief D.K. Shivakumar and former CM, Kharge Siddaramaiah are the frontrunners for the post. Insiders claim that after the observers -- Sushil Kumar Shinde, Jitendra Singh and Deepak Babaria -- submitted their report, it was clear that the majority of the MLAs preferred Siddaramaiah for the top post. As the hectic parleys continued throughout the day, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge met party leader Rahul Gandhi at the formers residence to discuss the government's formation.

Sources say the formula being worked on is that Mr Siddaramaiah becomes the chief minister and Mr Shivakumar the deputy CM and there will be only one deputy chief minister. Mr Shivakumar will also retain the post of state unit chief. The proposal of a rotational chief minister has been rejected after seeing its effects in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.

The Congress president has met all the stakeholders in Karnataka. He has also sought suggestions from senior party functionaries. Now he is expected to consult former Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Mr Gandhi before a final decision is made. The decision will most likely be announced in Bengaluru itself. Another round of meetings with stakeholders is expected soon. The party is keen to have the swearing-in done by Thursday.

The day began with Mr Shivakumar landing in Delhi while Mr Siddaramaiah was already camping here. Before leaving for Delhi, Mr Shivakumar said that the party is his mother and there was no question of his resigning from the organisation. In Delhi, he met his brother and Congress Lok Sabha MP D.K. Suresh. He also met the Congress president in the evening at about 4:30 pm for about 40 minutes on the issue of government formation.

After Mr Shivakumar left the residence of the party chief, Mr Siddaramaiah arrived to meet Mr Kharge at 6:30 pm. Mr Kharge has had several rounds of meetings with general secretary of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala and general secretary organisation K.C. Venugopal.

Both the CM hopefuls will be staying put in Delhi tomorrow as well. After meeting Mr Kharge, Mr Siddaramaiah also met Mr Venugopal and Mr Surjewala.

In the last four days, both the Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah camps have been flexing their muscles, demanding that their candidate should get the top post. The supporters of Mr Shivakumar say that he is a go-getter and under his presidency of the state unit, the party bagged 136 seats in the just concluded Assembly elections. They also claim that Mr Shivakumar is looking at the Lok Sabha elections, where the party wants to do well in the state.

Mr Siddaramaiah is an old war horse and an experienced hand. He is liked by Mr Gandhi and Mr Venugopal. Mr Shivakumar shares a good equation with Mrs Gandhi. Mr Kharge and Mr Surjewala are neutral in the present scheme of things.
Telangana Congress leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka(C) DC File Image

Hyderabad: Besides the moral boost the Karnataka verdict has provided to the Congress in Telangana state, it also gave specific leads, one among them being the consolidation of the minority vote towards a party that minorities firmly believe was an uncompromising force against the Bharatiya Janata Party.

As all the pre and post-poll surveys indicated, propagating and cashing in on anti-incumbency is another crucial factor that contributed to unseating the Bommai-led BJP government by the Congress.

In the recently-held polls in the neighbouring state, not only did the two Muslim-centric parties  All India Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen and Social Democratic Party of India  got a drubbing but also the Janata Dal (S), whose seat share was reduced by half as Muslim voters decided to junk it for the Congress, despite its low-decibel Jai Hanuman chants.

With a 12.5 per cent share in the Telangana state electorate, Muslims, the majority of whom have been sailing with the Bharat Rashtra Samithi till now, would play a crucial role in the formation of the next government  winning them back makes a lot of difference to Congress.

"It is increasingly evident from elections in different states that the split in minority vote has stopped and there is consolidation of the vote behind a party that will take on BJP," said Congress Legislature Party floor leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, he said in Telangana, Muslims had to choose between the Congress and the BRS, which, contrary to its public posture, has a tacit understanding with the BJP. "No surprise if they openly join hands in the post-poll scenario in the event of a hung Assembly or in the run-up to Lok Sabha polls," he said, adding that it is Congress alone that wages a relentless and uncompromising political battle with communal forces.

According to an estimate, of the total Muslim voters in the state, nearly 40 per cent live in 24 Assembly constituencies falling in the Greater Hyderabad limits and the rest in another 16 segments across Telangana. Within the GHMC limits, 60 per cent and 25 per cent of voters are in Hyderabad and Secunderabad Lok Sabha constituencies, respectively.

The MIM is a formidable force only in pockets of GHMC limits, winning seven Assembly seats, leaving 17 seats for BRS and Congress to test their strength among the Muslim electorate.

"I see no reason why MIM or Muslims fight electorally against the BRS unless Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao takes a complete U-turn in his fight against the BJP," said a top Majlis leader.

The AIMIM, it seems, is also in no mood to take its contest beyond the seven segments which it won in 2018 despite pressure from the party cadre in other parts of Telangana, with an intention to not upset "friend KCR" that eventually would help the arch-rival BJP. It is also of the view that unlike in Karnataka, the Congress here is unsure of its win even if Muslims rally behind it.

While pro-BRS sections were of the view that K. Chandrashekar Raos welfare initiatives, in particular Shaadi Mubarak, the financial assistance to Muslim brides, and old-age pensions will ensure continuity, the ground situation is different.

"Of the Rs 120 crore financial assistance promised by K. Chandrashekar Rao, not a penny reached one-lakh-odd beneficiaries who applied to Minorities Finance Corporation," pointed out veteran Urdu journalist Majid.

Students, who went abroad anticipating overseas scholarships, have been facing extreme difficulties as the government did not release funds. Even the Shaadi Mubarak assistance is given almost a year after marriage, he said, adding that chances of a shift in Muslim voters preference cannot be ruled out.
A group of senior Tesla Inc. executives plan to visit India this week to meet with federal government officials in a newfound bid to deepen the carmakers supply chain in the country as it pushes to diversify beyond China.

The executives are scheduled to meet with government representatives including those from the office of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss local sourcing of components for Teslas models, people familiar with the matter said, declining to be named as the plans are private.

The visit could represent a thaw in the relationship between India and Tesla, which has yet to enter the country in a meaningful way. Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk has criticized Indias high import taxes and its electric-vehicle policies, and India, in turn, has advised Tesla not to sell cars in the country that have been made in China, its political adversary.

Also Read | Tesla Shanghai factory workers appeal to Elon Musk on bonus cuts

The visitors are set to include C-suite executives and managers from Austin, Texas-based Teslas supply chain, production and business development teams. The executives are expected to reiterate Teslas request for India to cut import taxes on its vehicles, the people said.

Tesla didnt immediately respond to an email sent to the press address on its website outside of US office hours. A representative for the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways didnt respond to a request for comment.

Sourcing more from India could help Tesla win Modis favour as he tries to make the country a global manufacturing hub. Thus far, Modis administration has been lukewarm to Tesla, asking it to avoid selling vehicles assembled at its Shanghai factory. India has been engaged in a long-time border dispute with neighbour China.

While Tesla has found it difficult to break into India, its global rivals such as Mercedes-Benz AG have taken steps to sell locally assembled cars. Theyre betting on rising demand for electric vehicles in what is the worlds most populous country and an automobile market with high growth potential.

To be sure, Tesla is still far from considering India as a base for assembling its pricey cars. Musk has said his company wont set up manufacturing plants in any location where it isnt allowed to first sell and service its vehicles.

But US companies including Tesla are increasingly realizing the importance of pivoting beyond China as trade tensions between Washington and Beijing show no signs of easing.

Tesla could take a leaf from Apple Inc.s playbook. The iPhone maker has carved out India as an alternative manufacturing base and now produces 7% of its global smartphone output in the South Asian nation.
There are no encouraging prospects for extending the Black Sea grain export initiative at the moment, a source familiar with the negotiations told the Russian RIA state news agency in remarks published early on Tuesday.

UN aid chief Martin Griffiths said on Monday efforts will continue in coming days to extend a deal allowing for the safe Black Sea export of Ukrainian grain, a pact Russia has threatened to quit on May 18 over obstacles to its grain and fertilizer exports.

"Technical-level" discussions will continue, the unidentified source told RIA, but when asked about the prospects for extending the grain deal, the source said that "at the moment there are no encouraging prospect".

Read | Ukraine war: Black Sea grain deal exposes Moscows long-term diplomatic game

"It's hard for me to say what will happen tomorrow. Perhaps progress will be made, but if we are talking about today, there are no (prospects)," RIA cited the source as saying.

"But we all want and are determined to ensure that the work of the mechanism does not stop."

The United Nations and Turkey brokered the Black Sea grain deal 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 United Nations agreed to help Moscow facilitate its own agricultural shipments.

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.
Thailand's 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 Sunday's general election are a strong repudiation of the country's 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 centre stage.

Also Read: Thailand's Pheu Thai party agrees to Move Forward alliance plan

The results

With almost all votes counted on Monday, the Move Forward Party emerged as the big winner. It captured a projected 151 seats in the lower House by winning over 24 per cent of the popular vote for 400 constituency seats, and more than 36 per cent 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 per cent of the 52 million (5.2 crore) 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 establishment's conservative policies. The winner must attain at least 376 of their combined 750 seats.

Opposition parties have criticised the process as undemocratic. It is 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.

Also Read: Thais reject army-backed government, Opposition to open coalition talks

What the opposition wants?

Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat tweeted that he is ready to bring about change as 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.

Although he energised 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 as a tool to quash political dissent and imprison pro-democracy student activists.

Student-led protests beginning in 2020 openly criticised 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.

Thaksin's 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 Thaksin's supporters, many of them rural poor who benefitted 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 -- Paetongtarn's aunt, Thaksin's 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 Sunday's 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.
Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Tuesday expressed doubts about the fairness of the investigation being carried out into the allegations of sexual harassment levelled by women wrestlers against WFI president Brij Bhushan Singh.

Sibal, a senior advocate, represented the protesting wrestlers in the Supreme Court.

In a tweet, Sibal said, "Investigating: Wrestlers Sexual Abuse. Some investigations move to punish the accused, others to save the accused. The way this investigation is going: We know!"

Investigating:

Wrestlers Sexual Abuse Some investigations move to punish the accused Others to save the accused The way this investigation is going : We know !  Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) May 16, 2023

The Delhi Police on Friday informed a special court here that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe the allegations of sexual harassment levelled by women wrestlers against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Singh.

Read | IOA's decision to take charge of WFI is first step in our fight for justice: Wrestlers

The submission was made before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Harjeet Singh Jaspal in response to the court's earlier order directing the police to file a status report.

The Delhi Police has also recorded the statement of Singh. Police have also recorded the statement of the WFI's assistant secretary Vinod Tomar.

Last month, the Delhi Police registered two FIRs against Singh.

The first FIR pertains to allegations levelled by a minor which has been registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act along with relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code concerning outraging modesty. The second one has been registered over complaints by adults pertaining to outraging modesty.
Nearly 33-years after assassination of Mirwaiz Molvi Muhammad Farooq in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir police on Thursday said it arrested two Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militants allegedly involved in the killing, who were evading arrest since 1990.

Mirwaiz Farooq, father of moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar, was killed at his posh Nigeen residence, here on May 21, 1990. The subsequent disorder that followed the killing of the Mirwaiz resulted in firing by paramilitary forces, which left over two dozen people dead.

The arrested militants include one who had entered into the bedroom of late Mirwaiz and opened fire at him, Special Director General of Police (CID), RR Swain told reporters, here.

Addressing a rare press conference, Swain revealed that Hizbul commander Abdullah Bangroo had hatched a conspiracy to kill the Mirwaiz. Bangroo was later killed in an encounter with security forces in the same year.

Also Read | Basmati-rich farmlands in Jammu adopt ripper technology to get rid of stubble burning menace



Bangroo and his associate (both Hizbul commanders) were killed in encounters while one accused was serving lifer. Two more accused Javaid Bhat and Zahoor Ahmed Bhat, both residents of Srinagar were arrested by the State Investigating Agency (SIA), the special DGP said.

He said Javaid and Zahoor were evading arrest for more than three decades as they were hiding in Pakistan and Nepal over these years. Both have been arrested and handed over to the CBI as proclaimed offenders, Swain said without divulging the details where from the duo was arrested.

On May 21, 1990, a case regarding the killing of Mirwaiz Farooq was lodged in police station Nigeen under FIR 61/1990. The case was later transferred to the CBI who had presented a charge-sheet against one accused. After arresting him he was presented before a TADA court which sentenced him to life imprisonment.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday rapped alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekar for filing a plea seeking an extension of time to meet and consult his lawyers in the Mandoli jail here.

A bench of Justices Ajay Rastogi and Bela M Trivedi said visitation is already being provided to Chandrashekar as per prison rules.

"You give the name of the lawyers, we will ask the jail authorities to allow your lawyers stay in the jail. What kind of statement you are making in this court? Do you want a privilege in jail? the bench remarked.

Also Read | Delhi HC asks jail authorities to give hearing to Sukesh on punishment tickets

The counsel appearing for Chandrashekar submitted that 28 cases are pending against his client in six cities and more than 10 lawyers have been engaged.

According to jail rules, only 30 minutes twice a week is being given to meet lawyers, which is not sufficient, his lawyer said, adding his client's right is being contravened.

The apex court then said in its order, "It is not is dispute that visitation is provided to the petitioner in compliance of jail rules. What is being prayed for is extraordinary relief which is not permissible."

A prisoner is allowed two interviews (meetings) every week with his relations or friends for half-an-hour duration, according to jail rules.

Chandrashekar and his wife are lodged in jail on charges of alleged money laundering and duping several people.
New Relic (NYSE:NEWR  Get Rating) is scheduled to be releasing its earnings data after the market closes on Tuesday, May 23rd. Analysts expect New Relic to post earnings of $0.22 per share for the quarter. Persons that are interested in registering for the companys earnings conference call can do so using this link.

New Relic Trading Up 2.1 %

Shares of NYSE:NEWR opened at $76.11 on Tuesday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $72.26 and a 200 day simple moving average of $64.94. The firm has a market cap of $5.24 billion, a PE ratio of -28.40 and a beta of 0.90. New Relic has a 12-month low of $41.75 and a 12-month high of $80.88.

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Insider Activity

In related news, Chairman Lewis Cirne sold 15,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $73.08, for a total value of $1,096,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now owns 5,093,148 shares of the companys stock, valued at $372,207,255.84. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, Chairman Lewis Cirne sold 15,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $73.08, for a total value of $1,096,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now owns 5,093,148 shares of the companys stock, valued at $372,207,255.84. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CFO David Barter sold 8,663 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $70.19, for a total transaction of $608,055.97. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 17,590 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,234,642.10. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 81,136 shares of company stock valued at $28,540,780. 21.00% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On New Relic

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Alliancebernstein L.P. lifted its holdings in New Relic by 1.1% in the 4th quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 25,006 shares of the software makers stock valued at $1,412,000 after acquiring an additional 268 shares during the last quarter. LPL Financial LLC lifted its holdings in New Relic by 3.9% in the 2nd quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 9,189 shares of the software makers stock valued at $460,000 after acquiring an additional 344 shares during the last quarter. State of Wyoming lifted its holdings in New Relic by 12.1% in the 4th quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 3,426 shares of the software makers stock valued at $193,000 after acquiring an additional 369 shares during the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its holdings in New Relic by 78.4% in the 4th quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 901 shares of the software makers stock valued at $51,000 after acquiring an additional 396 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Penserra Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in New Relic by 50.0% in the 1st quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC now owns 1,254 shares of the software makers stock valued at $83,000 after acquiring an additional 418 shares during the last quarter. 83.56% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Several research firms have weighed in on NEWR. Cowen boosted their target price on shares of New Relic from $63.00 to $73.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 8th. Wedbush boosted their target price on shares of New Relic from $68.00 to $75.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 8th. DA Davidson began coverage on shares of New Relic in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. They set a buy rating and a $100.00 target price for the company. Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on shares of New Relic from $75.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 8th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on shares of New Relic from $55.00 to $75.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 8th. Seven 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. Based on data from MarketBeat, New Relic currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $79.14.

About New Relic

(Get Rating)

New Relic, Inc engages in the provision of software solutions. It delivers an open and extensible cloud-based platform that enables organizations to collect, store and analyze massive amounts of data in real time to better operate applications and infrastructure. It offers solutions to e-commerce and retail, media, and public sector industries.

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Swiss National Bank boosted its stake in Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HE  Get Rating) by 1.8% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 264,300 shares of the utilities providers stock after purchasing an additional 4,800 shares during the quarter. Swiss National Bank owned approximately 0.24% of Hawaiian Electric Industries worth $11,061,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Russell Investments Group Ltd. boosted its stake in Hawaiian Electric Industries by 91.1% in the 4th quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 32,717 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,369,000 after purchasing an additional 15,600 shares during the period. Arizona State Retirement System boosted its position in shares of Hawaiian Electric Industries by 3.9% during the 4th quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 30,889 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,293,000 after acquiring an additional 1,151 shares during the last quarter. Shell Asset Management Co. bought a new stake in shares of Hawaiian Electric Industries during the 4th quarter valued at about $394,000. Retirement Systems of Alabama boosted its position in shares of Hawaiian Electric Industries by 0.7% during the 4th quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama now owns 144,284 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $6,038,000 after acquiring an additional 970 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Pacer Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Hawaiian Electric Industries during the 4th quarter valued at about $1,151,000. Institutional investors own 52.99% of the companys stock.

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Hawaiian Electric Industries Stock Performance

NYSE:HE opened at $36.89 on Tuesday. The business has a 50 day moving average of $38.34 and a 200 day moving average of $40.01. The company has a market capitalization of $4.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.82, a PEG ratio of 4.00 and a beta of 0.41. Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. has a 1-year low of $33.18 and a 1-year high of $44.01. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.10, a current ratio of 0.08 and a quick ratio of 0.08.

Hawaiian Electric Industries Dividend Announcement

Hawaiian Electric Industries ( NYSE:HE Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 14th. The utilities provider reported $0.52 earnings per share for the quarter. The company had revenue of $1.02 billion during the quarter. Hawaiian Electric Industries had a return on equity of 10.92% and a net margin of 6.49%. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. will post 2.24 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 9th. Investors of record on Friday, May 19th will be given a $0.36 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 18th. This represents a $1.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.90%. Hawaiian Electric Industriess payout ratio is 69.57%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

HE has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Hawaiian Electric Industries in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating for the company. Guggenheim dropped their price target on Hawaiian Electric Industries from $43.00 to $42.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 15th.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Hawaiian Electric Industries news, Director Keith P. Russell sold 10,000 shares of Hawaiian Electric Industries stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $39.21, for a total value of $392,100.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 23,447 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $919,356.87. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 0.27% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Hawaiian Electric Industries Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc is a holding company, which engages in power, financial, and renewable and sustainable infrastructure investment businesses. It operates through the following segments: Electric Utility, Bank, and Other. The Electric Utility segment offers essential electric service on the islands of Oahu, Hawaii, and Maui, Lanai, and Molokai.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HE  Get Rating).

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Independent candidate in the upcoming Council Elections, Niall Murphy is urging people to people to use their vote to maximise local representation for the next four years.

Mr Murphy is running in the Benbradagh District Electoral Area in the Causeway Coast Borough Council.

"If people want someone who will focus on the issues that Ive been talking about during this campaign then it is so important that they give me their first preference. I will need all of them to be competitive when surplus votes are getting spread out and eliminations begin," he said.

"I have started what I think is an incredibly important public discussion on the proposed wind farm for the top of Benbradagh  I have been the only person to raise this as an issue and I will lead the community response to it and get it stopped if the people of Dungiven dont support it.

"Having someone inside Council leading this effort will be essential to this effort I have raised other issues, including showing my support for local mainstream schools and youth services in the hope we can secure the variety of choices families now enjoy thanks to mainstream and Irish Language provisions."

Mr Murphy says he has highlighted the need for a feasibility study to link Foreglen onto the A6 as well as proposals to develop local amenities, including a picnic area at The Old Priory.

"I have highlighted to many people as I have canvassed around Benbradagh District that I will be a new type of candidate in the way I will use social media to engage with people especially young people, bringing you in and engaging with you all kinds of new and creative ways.

"I am giving people an opportunity to vote for someone who will be on the ground, embedded in the community, focusing on the local issues that matter to people and most importantly getting things done.

"I have very good existing relationships with current Councillors who are certain to get re-elected including Sean McGlinchey, a very popular and well respected figure. I would ask people who are voting for Sean to remember he will get a surplus of votes, he has in the last 2 elections and if you want this surplus to stay in Dungiven and benefit another strong local contender then give me your second preference  the second preference will decide where that surplus goes and I say it will do the most good for you if it comes to me!

"Think about how the party straight line one, two, three will benefit you. When it comes to other parties who are standing I would also ask that you give me your second preference for Antou, Alliance and The SDLP  if the vote goes my way and any of these parties get eliminated before me then, again it will keep your vote local and in the hands of someone who is committed to local action.

"If you want continuity, I have no doubt Sinn Fein will get its vote and return the 3 candidates they have standing  you will have continuity. But there is a fourth seat up for grabs  so you have a real opportunity, maybe the best opportunity we will see for a long time, to get a strong local Independent elected, I say dont waste the chance!

"Over this campaign I have talked to so many people who want something new - I want the chance to prove myself. I believe I will be good for you. Give me your vote this Thursday, you wont regret it."
Serious concerns have been expressed that budget pressures within the Department of Health have "jeopardised the implementation of the Oral Health Strategy".

The strategy is an oral disease prevention programme which prioritises children and the older population.

Mark H Durkan MLA (SDLP) said the latest survey conducted by the department on the oral hygiene of 5-year-old children shows that 31.6% of participants had obvious signs of decay.

That represents almost 8,000 children in a one-year cohort with the Western Trust exhibiting the highest rates of the disease at 35.75%.

Mr Durkan stated that funding of dental services is needed urgently to prevent serious deterioration in oral health inequalities across Northern Ireland.

He added: "Ive been highlighting the precarious and quite frankly dangerous position facing oral health over the last few years.

"Frighteningly, Im contacted regularly by parents of young children prevented from registering with practices during the pandemic and as a result have never visited a dentist in their young lives.

"Last year, the British Dental Association (BDA) urged Stormont to tackle the scandal of rotting teeth after 100,000 children across the North have required extractions since 2017. Those numbers have not abated and I fear will likely increase given the serious cuts within the sector. Dental services were already on the brink and now BDA has warned they wont be able to deliver an adequate level of care to patients.

He added: "I received assurances from the previous Health Minister that children would be prioritised for dental registration. But we havent seen delivery on those promises with reports highlighting that 88% of practices arent accepting child patients.

This situation didnt unfold overnight. Its scandalous that efforts were not made to protect this vulnerable cohort and now the department cant progress the crucial Oral Health Strategy which could address these issues and help improve oral care for children and older persons.

"This does not bode well for the future of oral health here which will see disadvantaged areas, like my own constituency of Foyle, worst hit.

"Its important to remember that poor oral health can have serious implications including higher risk of heart disease, stroke and dementia. Urgent intervention is needed now, it is bordering on criminal that we dont have a government in place to deliver the necessary resources and reforms as dental services crumble. The cost of not acting now will have dire consequences for the health system.




Political representatives from the North West have called for an urgent meeting with the BBC Northern Ireland Director Adam Smyth in an attempt to avert the strike action planned for Friday.

The strike is by local NUJ members opposed to recent cuts to services and programmes at BBC Radio Foyle.

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Sandra Duffy, Foyle MP Colum Eastwood and East Derry MP Gregory Campbell have written a joint letter to Mr Smyth seeking an urgent meeting. Earlier this year all three of the politicians met with the BBC in London to discuss the proposed cuts at the station and threat to jobs.

In the letter to the BBC director, the elected representatives said: We are hugely concerned that if the strike action goes ahead this week it will have a detrimental impact on the reporting of local democracy in the North West.

"The loss of the flagship Breakfast Show programme and its replacement of a 30-minute news slot is insufficient to meet the needs of the region and we will be urging the BBC to rethink their decision and reinstate the Breakfast programme in full or to at least extend it to an hour-long broadcast.

Calling for an urgent multi-political meeting, the local elected representatives said they were keen to find out from the BBC what their plans are to mitigate for the Election Count in the North West and would also be seeking reassurances from them about the future stability of the station.
A woman told police she 'thought she was going to die' after her on/off partner grabbed her by the throat and squeezed her against a wall Derry Magistrate's Court heard today.

Kieran Slevin (31) of Columba Terrace in Derry appeared charged with assaulting a female occasioning her actual bodily harm on May 14.

A police officer connected the accused to the charge and opposed bail.

He told the court that police were in attendance at A&E in Altnagelvin Hospital on an unrelated matter when they were approached by the alleged victim in this case.

She told them she had been assaulted by her 'on/off partner' the defendant.

The woman claimed she had been at a property with him and they had been discussing his drug use.

She said she had slapped him 'lightly' to get his attention and he had slapped her hard causing her to fall to the ground and bang her head off a radiator.

The woman told police Slevin had then grabbed her by the throat and squeezed and then pushed her against a wall so that her feet barely touched the ground.

When Slevin was interviewed he was shown pictures of the woman's bruises and while he largely said no comment he claimed he was acting in self defence.

The police officer said that Slevin had 16 previous convictions and was currently on bail and police feared further offending.

Defence solicitor Michael Fahy said his client had made a case for self defence.

He said that the alleged victim lived in Belfast which should go some way towards reassuring the court.

District Judge Barney McElholm said that due to the lack of political leadership here the strangulation law was not yet on the books.

He said he did not count grabbing someone by the throat and squeezing was a simple assault.

The judge went on 'anyone who takes hold of another human being's throat is not getting bail'.

He remanded Slevin in custody to appear again on June 8.
Not for EU labelling on British food products sold across the UK will be phased in gradually from this autumn, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has said.

Mr Cleverly told peers that during negotiations with retailers ahead of the signing of the Windsor Framework, UK-wide labelling was identified as the preferred option.

The labelling requirement is part of the Governments deal with the EU to reduce checks on British products entering Northern Ireland.

The Foreign Secretary gave evidence to the House of Lords Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland Sub-Committee on the Windsor Framework, signed earlier this year to resolve trading difficulties between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, caused by the post-Brexit Northern Ireland Protocol.

Baroness Ritchie asked Mr Cleverly to update the committee on the requirement for Not for EU food labelling.

She said retail representatives had raised concern about a lack of details ahead of an October 1 deadline.

Mr Cleverly said during consultation with retailers, the centre of gravity of the voices that we had was that UK-wide labelling was the preferred option.

He added: The practical point was that retailers were saying they would prefer a UK-wide regime, philosophically Northern Ireland is part of the UK so it seems logical that something we are asking Northern Ireland to do, we should ask the UK to do.

I am very comfortable with having a UK-wide regime.

Mr Cleverly said that while autumn was the starting point for the plan, it would be phased in over a couple of years.

He added: We have been talking about this for quite some time, including in the Command Paper in 2021, so this shouldnt really be a surprise to the retail sector.

Of course they will want to have details about size and prominence and I will get details about exactly how and when.

It is not just a sudden start, we have been talking about this for a couple of years and it wont be fully implemented for another couple of years.

I am not a retailer, I dont want to imply simplicity when there might be complexity, but this is something we discussed extensively with the retail sector, including those who said that labelling would be a good way of ensuring their products would be available in GB, not just in Northern Ireland.

DUP peer Lord Dodds said that traders had also expressed concerns about new green and red lane arrangements to deal with the flow of goods from Britain into Northern Ireland.

He added: We had evidence from a manufacturer a couple of weeks ago who said basically that most manufacturers would put everything through the red lane just for clarity.

We have heard evidence that the green lane is effectively a retail lane for goods that can be guaranteed to stay in Northern Ireland.

How does that square with the Prime Ministers statement that any sense of an Irish Sea border has been removed?

Mr Cleverly said he believed the commitment by the Prime Minister had largely been brought to reality.

He said he was willing to look at specific examples where concerns remained.

The Foreign Secretary added: Northern Irelands relationship both with its proximity to the single market and its part of the United Kingdom means that complete perfection in all instances is not something that is ultimately deliverable.

But I think we have in very large part made good on that promise to eradicate that sea border in Northern Ireland.
Google Contacts brings the option to add birthday details to your contacts and get timely reminders. No more forgetting or missing your special someones birthday. This is being rolled out gradually and so, first, we will see if you have got the feature. Then, set the birthday reminder for one of your contacts.

Google Contacts version 4.7.26.x has got this feature. I updated the app from Google Play Store and mine is currently on v. 4.8.17.529259023.

You can go to the Play Store and search for the Google Contacts app, and update it if an update is pending. You can find the app version here in the About This App section or go to the App Info page within the settings.

The changelog doesnt mention the feature.

So, you will have to open the app once it is updated. Then, tap on the Highlights option. Within that section, you will see the Add Birthdays feature tagged For You.

Heres how the new birthday feature on Google Contacts works.

How to set birthday reminders on Google Contacts (Android)

It is simple.

1. Open the Google Contacts app.

2. In the Highlights tab, you should see the Add birthdays option. Tap on it.

3. All your contacts saved on Google Contacts will appear here. Click on the one to which you want to add birthday details.

4. Tapping it you will see a pop-up window showing the scrolling date counter. You can scroll/swipe up-down/tap on the Day, Month, and Year fields to change them. You can choose to show/mark the year. Unticking the Include Year option would hide the year field.

5. Ensure the Add notification toggle is turned on (to the right). Press Set once you are sure that everythings entered correctly.

Voila! Now, you should be receiving your contacts birthday reminder alert when that day comes.

If you want to turn off the notification, you can hop over to the contacts page and click the 3-dot menu and tap on Turn Off Birthday Notifications.

And if you want to edit the date, you can do so by tapping on the Edit button (the pencil icon), and scrolling until you see the Significant Date option. Tap it and change it. Thats it.

All in all, a neat feature that many of us eagerly wanted. Thanks, Google!

For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in or head to our Google News page.
Taking a step forward into the smartphone market, iQOO is set to release the brands very first premium series of smartphone. The iQOO Neo 8 series is anticipated to release on May 23 however, thanks to several leaked images of the smartphone on the internet. It leaked the look of the design giving us an idea that the cell phone might release with a camera feature for the first time.

The images circulating around Twitter that showcase the details of the design suggest that the camera island of the smartphone will be rectangular and will feature a trio-camera framework. However, there is a possibility that the third camera looking feature may be a depth or macro sensor.

Taking that into consideration, the device might feature a dual camera set-up. The models in the images are anticipated to be IQOO Neo 8 and IQOO Neo 8 Pro. Where one of them reads IOS and the other solely reads Neo.

Also read: Redmi A2 vs Redmi A2+ comparison: Which one to buy when they launch in India?



There has not been a lot of information put out about the models, especially the vanilla model. However, the Pro model is expected to have Dimensity 9200+ chipset with certified 120W charging. Additionally, another tipster on Twitter, Yogesh Brar, suggested a few specifications in regard to the model. The tweet anticipates that the Neo 8 series may have 6.78" 1.5K AMOLED display with up to 16GB RAM and two options for storage 256 and 512GB.

Moreover, the device might have 5,000mAh battery capacity and will be operating on Android 13. According to the tipster, the first premium range of IQOO will be subjected to 50MP triple camera setup with Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) and 16MP selfie front camera. In addition, tipster Panda is Bald has also put out information to the customers suggesting that the brand might also release their Android tablet on the same date.

Also read: No more lost phones? How Indian govts CEIR system will help you find lost phones

The smartphone in a brief teaser by the brand showcased the Neo 8 Pro model wearing the vegan leather was prominently sported in a bright red colour. The image flaunts another shade for the base model which shows similarity to a Cyan vegan back cover. The smartphone is set to release in China and the brand put out a brief teaser on the website.

For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in or head to our Google News page.
With stiff competition from foldable devices made by Google, Motorola, Tecno, Oppo and Vivo, now Samsung's much awaited Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 have some good news for all. Leaks suggest that Samsung's foldable device launch date has been advanced and they will be launched sometime around July.

Korean publication Chosun reported that Samsung will be launching its foldable devices on July 26th in Seoul, Korea, and not in the USA this time but the announcement will mark global sale.

Why did Samsung seemingly decide to release the Galaxy Z Fold 5, Z Flip 5 early? Reports suggest that the launch has been advanced maybe to trigger Samsung's Q3 profits.

Now that we know the launch date, let's have a look at specifications that the leaks have suggested for both the Samsung foldable phones.

Suggested specifications of Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5

According to what the leaks suggest, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip. Talking about the display, it should come with 7.8 inches Dynamic AMOLED and 1768 x 2208 pixels resolution.

The leaks have earlier mentioned that the phone will be packed with a 4700 mAh battery, accompanied by 25W fast charging support. Coming to the RAM and memory, as of now we arent aware of any variations but the phone should be coming with 12GB RAM and 256GB internal memory.

Moving on to the camera of the phone. It is set to be a triple lensed rear camera with 50 MP primary lens, 12 MP Ultra-Wide Angle lens and 10 MP Telephoto lens. Along with that there is also the front camera which is 12MP.

Also read: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 could come with a better hinge and much obscure crease: Report

Suggested specifications of Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5

Leaks have suggested the specification of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 as well. The foldable smartphone should be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. About the display of the phone, it is a 6.7 inches Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X along with 1080 x 2640 pixels resolution.

The phone will be packed with a 3700 mAH battery accompanied by 25W fast charging support. Talking about the RAM and storage, the foldable phone as rumoured should come in 3 variants- 8GB RAM+128GB, 12GB RAM+256GB and 12GB RAM+512GB.

Next, about the camera. The phone has a dual lensed rear camera of 12 MP wide lens 12 MP, ultrawide lens and the front camera is of 10 MP.

Also read: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5: Supercharged cover screen will aim to surprise

This is all that we have been notified by the leaks about the launch date and specifications of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5. But, yet again these are just rumours and cant be confirmed unless the company makes a formal announcement.

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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Automakers look to India's rising EV market

Automakers are witnessing a high growth potential in India's EV market. Local EV giant Tata Motors may face rising competition from global automakers looking to expand in India's EV market.

Citing S&P Global Ratings, Gadget360 reported that India is a ripe target for EV firms, where EV sales more than doubled in 2023 from a year earlier.

Still, according to S&P Global Ratings, EVs accounted for less than 2% of light vehicle sales in the last 12 months, and no Indian company is likely to have a meaningful global share in the foreseeable future due to the slow penetration In India. S&P Global Ratings adds that Tata Motors, the largest EV automaker in India, will sustain its leading position despite rising competition.

With rising EV sales come rising EV launches, The Economic Times reported that 11 out of 48 passenger vehicle launches scheduled for fiscal 2024 (April 2023 to March 2024) are electric luxury vehicles, almost doubling the six out of 54 launches in fiscal 2023. Besides, sales of electric luxury passenger vehicles rose by 142% in fiscal 2023, more than four times faster than the luxury PV market.

Mercedes-Benz, India's largest luxury car brand, expects EVs to account for 25% of total sales by 2027 in India, adding that the company is planning to ramp up EV sales in the South Asian country with four new EV launches in the next 8-16 months. Meanwhile, Audi expects 15-20% of its sales from EVs in the next few years.

According to DIGITIMES Research analyst Evan Chen, only five out of the ten largest automakers in India have offered EV products, including Tata, Hyundai, Mahindra, Kia, and MG Motors. Currently, Tata accounts for about 80% of EV sales (excluding electric two- and three-wheelers) in India. However, competitors are scaling up their investments to expand in the emerging EV market.

A couple of days ago, Hyundai said it would invest INR200 billion (US$2.45 billion) in India in the next ten years for EV, batteries, and EV parts business. MG Motor plans to invest over INR50 billion to build a new plant and target 65% of its Indian sales from EVs from 2026.

India's electric four-wheeler registrations (unit) Date Registrations 2020 4,220 2021 14,601 2022 42,960 Jan-Apr 2023 21,596

Source: Vahan Dashboard, May 2023
France plans EV subsidy reform to support Europe-made cars

French President Emmanuel Macron announced last week that the country will revise its EV subsidy program, aiming to facilitate battery and vehicle production in Europe. According to media reports, the adjustment could significantly impact cars made in China and the US.

Electrive reported that France currently offers a subsidy of EUR5,000 (US$5,450) for battery EV purchases that cost less than EUR47,000, no matter where the car was produced. In the first quarter of 2023, about 40% of the incentives were for China-made EVs.

An updated subsidy program will be finalized by the end of this year. According to Macron, emissions created during production will affect an EV's eligibility for the incentives. Several news outlets reported that cars made in China probably will not meet the standards as the country heavily relies on coal as an energy source.

The French government said the revised subsidy aims to strengthen battery and EV production in Europe. Macron said it does not mean France is protectionist and will close the market.

However, the French president said the government does not want to use taxpayers' money to speed up industrialization that is not in Europe, according to Electrive. He also asked the European Union to follow suit.

Macron said he does not want Europe to support non-local-made batteries because "neither the Americans nor the Chinese are helping batteries made in Europe."

France has been working on gaining a presence in automotive electrification. On May 15, Macron met with Tesla CEO Elon Musk in the country. According to Reuters, Musk said after the meeting that he was very impressed with how welcoming the president and the French government is to industry.

He was confident that Tesla will invest in France significantly in the future, Musk added. But he could not provide a timetable.

Recently, France welcomed another battery investment in the country. On May 12, Taiwan-based battery technology provider ProLogium announced a EUR5.2 billion cell project in Dunkirk, France.

According to ProLogium, mass production is slated to begin in 2027 with an initial production capacity of 8GWh.

Bloomberg reported that Gilles Normand, ProLogium's executive vice president for international development, said the company is eager to have material procurement, R&D centers and mass production capacity in Europe.
DNA from dozens of unidentified human remains will soon be compared with samples in Ireland's national database.

It comes as the Department of Justice today (May 16) published information provided by coroners on unidentified remains across the country.

It's hoped that advancements in DNA profiling - which have led to case breakthroughs in recent years - will assist in discovering the identity of bodies and solve missing person cases.

According to the Department, approximately 856 unsolved missing persons cases are currently live on the Garda Pulse system.

The data published today comprises 44 records, while where are DNA profiles for 28 unidentified remains on the National DNA Database.

The Department of Justice intends to arrange for samples of the remaining 16 unidentified remains to be attained where possible, and Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) will attempt to extract DNA from the samples and upload DNA profiles to the national database.

The process is expected to take some time to complete.

Commenting on the publication of the coronial returns Minister Browne said, "Today, as details of unidentified remains are published for the first time, we remember in particular the families and friends of missing people in Ireland and recognise the ongoing pain suffered and the lack of closure in the absence of the remains of their loved ones.

"I know that the families of missing people have long called for the release of this information. We have listened to that request and I welcome the publication of that data today. It is important to say that this will not have been an easy task for coroners, given many of these files pre-date digitisation and would have required a physical trawl.

"I thank the coroners for their co-operation, and hope that the release of this information may assist in the identification and location of missing family members."

He continued: "Importantly, there may be something contained in the information released today that triggers a memory or rings a bell with any one of us. If you or someone you know has any information that might assist in solving a missing person case, I would urge you to report it to An Garda Siochana.

"Its never too late, and any information provided to An Garda Siochana may help those suffering the loss of their missing loved one to find some answers.

Detective Chief Superintendent Colm Noonan, An Garda Siochana said, "An Garda Siochana recognises the lasting sense of trauma for the families and friends of those who have gone missing. In 2018, An Garda Siochana commenced a substantial body of work in relation to unidentified human remains and this work continues to date."

According to Detective Chief Superintendent Noonan, Operation Runabay was established in 2017 by the Missing Persons Unit, with a particular focus on advancing the investigation of cases involving unidentified persons discovered along the western coast of the United Kingdom.

In recent years, the Missing Persons Unit has expanded this operation to include greater co-operation with the British National Crime Agency and other neighbouring jurisdictions, exchanging information related to missing persons and unidentified human remains both at home and in other jurisdictions.

Noonan continued: "As a member of the Maritime Missing Persons Expert Group, An Garda Siochana can circulate alerts to a number of countries enabling faster conveyance of information of unidentified remains.

"An Garda Siochana and Forensic Science Ireland have worked in partnership over the past number of years to deliver a DNA testing facility for the families of missing persons. This service was available to the families of missing persons at the National Missing Persons Day ceremony in December 2022 and is available for any family of missing persons to engage with An Garda Siochana.

Director of Forensic Science Ireland, Chris Enright, said, "Forensic Science Ireland continues to work closely with the Missing Persons Bureau of An Garda Siochana. In 2022 FSI assisted in 74 Missing Persons cases where DNA reference samples from family members were submitted to FSI for DNA profiling and uploaded to the National DNA Database.

"FSI assisted in the identification of 12 Missing Persons in 2022. Forensic Science Ireland remains committed to continuously developing the science and technology available in support of Missing Person investigations.

Queries about the data, including the current location of any unidentified remains, should be directed to the relevant Coroner.
The issue of Palestine was brought to Dundalk FC supporters before their home game against Cork by Louth Sinn Fein members who stood along the Carrick Road holding Palestinian flags and posters as ticket holders made their way to the venue.

The event was attended by Sinn Fein TD Ruairi O Murchu and was to highlight the 75th anniversary of the Nakba, on May 15, or Catastrophe which recalls the displacement of Palestinian Arabs following the 1948 Palestine war .

The Sinn Fein action came days before the party bring a bill before Leinster House on divestment on Tuesday and last week, Deputy O Murchu used his time in the Dail to bring the issue to the fore.

He said:

This will deal with the unsavoury position that the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, ISIF, is a shareholder in nine companies involved in illegal settlements in Palestine.

We all realise the great wrong that has been done and continues to be done, even in recent days, to the Palestinian people.

We know the Irish people have been on the side of the Palestinian people, he claimed.

He continued:

I do not think it is particularly great for us that, through ISIF, which is a State entity, we are shareholders in what are internationally criminal actions by a right-wing Israeli regime.

I would like to think we would have support across the House for making it illegal for ISIF to invest in and be a shareholder in companies involved in something that is utterly reprehensible.

We need to ensure Irish companies and companies operating out of here do not fan the flames of what are brutal attacks on human rights and, beyond that, murderous campaigns by particular regimes.

It is not all right with the Irish people and I do not think it is all right with many of us here. We need to ensure we have the means to carry out due diligence in order that we can have transparency, he concluded.
Louth County Council has announced that it is closing a section of the road leading to the Long Walk in Dundalk, to public vehicular traffic travelling in a southward direction, from 15 May 2023 for reasons of public safety.

The local authority shared details of its intention to close a section of the road on Monday, saying that it would be closing the section at "Carrolls Village, The Long Walk (L-20011), more commonly known as Griffith Court / The Long Walk, Dundalk"

It says that the extent of the road closure will be from its junction with Church Street (R215) to its junction with The Long Walk (L20016) at Carrolls Village.

Louth County Council has provided details of its proposed diversion route which is as follows:

"Alternative southbound approach from the R215  Travel northwards on Church Street (R215) and Bridge Street (R215) to the junction of Bridge Street (R215) and the Castletown Road (R394).

"Turn left onto the Castletown Road (R394) and travel westwards to the junction of the Castletown Road (R394) and Legion Avenue (L20015) leading into McSwiney Street (L20016).

"Turn left onto Legion Avenue (L20015) leading into McSwiney Street (L20016) and head southwards to the junction of McSwiney Street (20016) and The Long Walk (L20016).

"Turn left onto The Long Walk (L20016) and travel eastwards to the junction of The Long Walk (L20016) and Carrolls Village, The Long Walk (L20011)."
The Geophysics section of the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) are hosting a public talk this Wednesday at 8pm in Rocksalt Cafe in Carlingford, on the 15 January 2022 eruption of the Hunga Tonga- Hunga Haapai Volcano, one of largest volcanic eruptions in the past century.

Volcanologist Professor Silvio De Angelis from the University of Liverpool will present the talk where he will delve into the geological and eruptive history of the Hunga volcano, the factors that drive terrestrial and submarine volcanism, and control its explosivity.

The organisers will also present some unique geophysical observations associated with this extraordinary explosion and compare it to other large historical events such as the 1883 Krakatoa eruption.

This Hunga Tonga- Hunga Haapai eruption was one of the largest in the past century, and caused significant damage in the archipelago and generated a tsunami. The size of the eruption was unprecedented.

The event was extensively documented by digital sensor networks on the Earth's surface, as well as from space. The eruption column reached a height of 55 km; the atmospheric pressure waves associated with the explosion circled around the Earth at least six times and were recorded by thousands of instruments across the globe.

Reserve a ticket for the public talk, which is shaping up to be a very informative event at eventbrite here.

This event is preceded by a public Volcano outreach day that DIAS will be hosting at the Foy Centre in Carlingford, running from 12:45-16:30, as part of the Improve Summer School DIAS is running in the north Louth village.

The Geophysics section of DIAS runs the National Seismic network for Ireland with support from Geological Survey Ireland (GSI). The event, which is open to all members of the public and schools from around the area to attend, is being run by 24 international PhD volcanological students that will be attending the summer school.

The organisers say there will be fun experiments like, an erupting volcano, a real seismometer with which those who take part can see earthquakes made by them when they jump, and they can listen to an underwater volcano erupting.

DIAS is an institution that attracts scholars and academics from around the world, and is the worlds second, and Irelands only, Institute for Advanced Studies.

It conducts and publishes advanced research across three disciplines: Celtic Studies, Theoretical Physics and Cosmic Physics. DIAS also leads Irelands participation in a number of international research endeavours that focus on big unanswered questions for mankind.

The Geophysics Section of DIAS applies geophysical data analysis, computation and methodological developments to gain new insights into processes within the Earth system. Find out more about what they do here.
The Garda is facing a recruitment and retention crisis that is unprecedented in scale, a gardai representative body has warned.

The Garda Representative Association (GRA) said a year-end target of adding 1,000 new gardai to the ranks will clearly not be achieved.

The comments from GRA deputy general secretary Ronan Slevin came after Taoiseach Leo Varadkar suggested the Garda did not have enough numbers to combat far right protesters who were seeking to target makeshift migrant camps in Dublin.

Mr Varadkar said that was why the Government had committed funding to provide 1,000 extra Garda recruits this year.

On Tuesday, minister of state at the Department of Justice James Browne acknowledged a need to bolster Garda numbers, but he insisted the force believes it has sufficient operational capacity to deal with anti-immigration protests.

Mr Browne said Garda Commissioner Drew Harris had told justice minister Simon Harris that he did have the operational capacity and integrity to deal with these very challenging situations.

We very much recognise that the gardai need to be strengthened and thats why theres an additional thousand gardai going through training this year, another 400 civilian staff are being hired to release gardai out onto front lines and were also starting a new recruitment process, he added.

The GRA said 154 new recruits entered Garda College at Templemore this week  a number it said was short of a 225 target. The association said the intake in January was 134 against a target of 200.

The representative body said current Garda numbers stood at 14,036, compared with 14,491 at the end of 2020.

Commenting on the increased scrutiny around Garda numbers, Mr Slevin said: Once again the reality falls far short of the numbers of recruits promised.

Put simply, we are facing a Garda recruitment and retention crisis which is at an unprecedented scale in this organisation.

At some stage Garda management and government are going to have to address the real elephant in the room and that is why it is so hard to recruit new gardai and keep the members that we have.

Back in March, the GRA commissioned independent opinion research which showed that just 27% of the public regarded a career in An Garda Siochana as an attractive one for themselves or a member of their family.

This must be extremely concerning for both the Garda Commissioner and the Minister for Justice.

Our members need better conditions, training, equipment and protection and also a better work-life balance with clearer work patterns and a safer working environment in order to recruit new gardai and retain the members we already have.

Our current numbers of gardai stand at just over 14,000 so the year end target of 15,000 will clearly not be achieved and this is of grave concern to the members we represent.

The Garda said it would continue to take a proportionate response to anti-immigration protests in Ireland.

The force also provided an assurance over current and ongoing operational capacity to deal with the events.

A Garda spokesman said: The Garda Commissioner (Drew Harris) met with the Minister for Justice (Simon Harris), yesterday, May 15 2023, and assured the Minister of An Garda Siochana current and ongoing operational capacity.

Local Garda management also met with Government representatives in relation to incidents in Dublin South City centre this weekend.

An Garda Siochana continues to have a proportionate response to incidents of public gatherings and protests, most recently in Dublin South City centre, but in wider Dublin City and nationally.

Any Garda response in relation to evolving events is in keeping with a community policing model and graduated policing response taking into account relevant legislation and public safety.

Any recent incidents of alleged criminality in Dublin South City centre will be fully investigated by An Garda Siochana, under the supervision of the serious crime unit, DMR (Dublin Metropolitan Region) South Central and where necessary matters will be prosecuted before the courts.

There is a constitutional right to the freedom of assembly and freedom of speech, subject to statutory provisions.

An Garda Siochana respects the right for citizens to exercise their constitutional rights. An Garda Siochana has no role in permitting or authorising public gatherings, there is no permit/authorisation required for such events.

Where necessary An Garda Siochana put in place appropriate and proportionate policing plans to monitor public gatherings. An Garda Siochana does not comment on or provide specific details of operational plans.
The Government has left one department to shoulder the burden of finding accommodation for tens of thousands of migrants, the Labour leader has claimed.

Ivana Bacik accused Taoiseach Leo Varadkar of failing to show leadership on the issue as she told the Dail the department of integration was doing almost all the work to find the necessary beds for asylum seekers.

During Leaders Questions in the Dail, Ms Bacik also condemned events in Dublin over the weekend when anti-immigration protesters targeted makeshift camps for asylum seekers.

Tents and other furniture were burned at one of the camps in the Sandwith Street area.

The attacks are a stain in our society, those responsible must be brought to justice, she said.

Ms Bacik added: The circumstances in which people are forced to sleep on the streets while awaiting processing of applications is also shameful. The Government does need to do more on this.

We need to see increased capacity, we need to see delivery at scale of accommodation for those who come here to seek refuge.

The Labour leader continued: Ive called on the Taoiseach to ensure greater co-ordination among government departments because there is still a sense that the department of integration is left to shoulder almost entirely the responsibility for housing those who come here to seek refuge, and that other departments have simply not been willing to assist and to support to provide the necessary accommodation that we have a duty to provide.

As of last Friday, around 480 international protection applicants were without accommodation in Ireland due to an acute shortage of state-provided beds.

Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys, responding for the Government, said the scenes in the Sandwith Street area were horrific.

She insisted there was a cross-government approach to the accommodation issue, with several departments involved.

She said announcements on extra bed provision would be made by the end of the week.

The scenes we saw in Dublin at the weekend were horrific, burning people out of their tents. Those actions do not represent the vast majority of people in this country, she said.

The minister said the Government had faced an unprecedented situation of having to house about 100,000 migrants in the last year, including Ukrainians and other refugees  a number she said was the same as the population of Kilkenny.

Have we largely managed to find accommodation? Yes, we have.

Has it been perfect? No, it hasnt.

Have there been issues? Yes, of course, there have been issues and, like many other countries, we are doing the best that we can, under very, very difficult circumstances.

She added: Funding or political will is not the issue here. Were pumping billions and billions into housing. Were doing everything we can to try and alleviate the pressures that were currently facing.

People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Richard Boyd Barrett described the attack on the camp as shocking and inexcusable.

It is absolutely clear that politically-motivated far-right activists were down in the area actively spreading false rumours, stirring up fears and ratcheting up the aggression and the threats against the asylum seekers in the encampment, he said.

We need to absolutely oppose that divisive, hate-filled racism. Of course, it is particularly tragic that it could happen when you consider the decades and decades of racist discrimination Irish people suffered, of the no dogs, no blacks, no Irish kind that we suffered in the United States and Britain and elsewhere.

However, Mr Boyd Barrett said the Government had a considerable amount of responsibility for creating the circumstances that, he said, far-right extremists were exploiting.

He said failures to tackle the housing crisis and address deprivation in inner city areas were factors.

Ms Humphreys warned against providing credence for those responsible for targeting the migrant camps.

You shouldnt be giving any excuses to the far right, because what theyre doing is wrong, she said.
A BANGLADESHI mother-of-one living in Ballincollig is organising a celebration of her communitys New Year on Sunday, May 21, at Cork citys Fitzgerald Park.

While it will be over a month later than the official celebration date of April 14, Saima Tamanna suggested to her friends that they get together and mark the New Year in early summer.

About 60 people will attend the celebration, which starts at 2pm, comprising friends, friends of friends, and their children.

As well as traditional foods such as rice, mashed potatoes and the Bangladeshi national fish, hilsa (from the herring family) plus sweet food, there will be music, face painting, henna tattoos and traditional games for children and adults.

We will try to have some fun. We get a lot of our food in Indian/Bangladeshi/Pakistani shops, said Saima.

Saima, who is Muslim, says that its never possible to celebrate the Bangladeshi New Year on April 14 as Ramadan takes place during that time when Muslims are fasting.

All of us taking part in the celebration are Bangladeshi but its not the whole community in Cork. I saw my Chinese friend celebrating New Year, so I thought we could celebrate our New Year and our culture in May.

With her husband, a chef, Saima moved to Ireland from London more than 11 years ago. They first lived in Thurles for a couple of years, but found it too small and so they decamped to Cork.

Saimas husband first worked at the Radisson Hotel on Little Island as a chef before cooking at the Flying Enterprise in Cork city. Saima also works there as manager of the complex that includes a shop, a bar and restaurant. The couples ten-year-old daughter, Daanya, has special needs and goes to a special school.

She is at a critical point at the moment and will be in a special school all the time, said Saima.

She thinks the education system here is good and its very good for people with special needs. I get everything; lots of support from my social worker and from the school.

Saima is very positive about her adopted home, but not so much about Dublin.

Cork people are very helpful. If I need anything, I always ask my friends. Theyre nice and polite.

I went to Dublin for a visit, but I dont like it. People there are very busy. They have no time to talk with you. Its better in Cork. People say hi and theyre more happy to talk to you about everything.

There are a lot of Bangladeshi people living in Cork, says Saima.

Some of them are very religious. They dont like to celebrate, whereas we, the younger people, like to celebrate. Theres nothing religious about our celebration.

While Saima believes in the teachings of Islam, she says she is not very strict about it.

The quality of life here is good, but it has totally changed, she added. "Everybody is fighting for money for this and that. But otherwise, we are really happy.

The couple have their own home.

Theres a group of us who go to each others homes, said Saima. The Bangladeshi community in Cork doesnt have a lot of celebrations but the community in Dublin does.

Saimas husband does a lot of the cooking at home - but not if were in a hurry as it takes so long.

Because of their daughters needs, the family doesnt go to Bangladesh but takes holidays in Ireland instead.

Pohela Boishakh, also known as the Bengali New Year, is a significant cultural festival in Bangladesh, and the Bengali-speaking state of India, especially West Bengal.

The festival is celebrated on the first day of the Bengali calendar, which usually falls on April 14.

The origins of Pohela Boishakh can be traced back to the Mughal Empire where it was celebrated as a harvest festival.

The festival gained significance during the Bengali Renaissance in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when cultural icons like Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazru Islam incorporated it into their works.

Today, Pohela Boishakh is celebrated with great enthusiasm among Bengali communities around the world. The day is marked by colourful parades, traditional music and dance performances and various cultural programmes. People dress in traditional clothes and exchange greetings with each other, wishing for peace, prosperity and happiness in the coming year.

Pohela Boishakh is a symbol of Bengali cultural identity and a reminder of the regions rich cultural heritage. Its a time for people to come together and celebrate their traditions and values and reflect on the year past and make plans for the future.

The festival promotes harmony, unity and a sense of community among Bengali people, regardless of their religion or background. It brings people together in a spirit of unity and community. Its also an occasion for cultural organisations, educational institutions and government agencies to showcase their cultural and artistic talents.

The day is marked by various cultural and literary programmes, including poetry recitations, singing and drama.

Educational institutions often organise seminars and cultural competitions to promote Bengali culture and heritage. Bangladesh literally means Land of Bengal.

Saima, her family and some of her friends may be a long way from their native country, but they will celebrate all that is good about it in Cork, a place they find hospitable and friendly. Saima is happy to say she has never experienced racism here.
Gardai seized almost 12,000 worth of cocaine at a house on Blarney Street and three months later the same culprit was caught with another smaller stash of cocaine.

John Murray was sentenced by Judge Dara Hayes to a total sentence of four-and-a-half years with the last two years suspended.

Detective Sergeant Kieran OSullivan testified at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that he carried out a search at a house off Blarney Street, where John Murray was living on May 25 2021.

In the course of the search cocaine worth almost 12,000 and cannabis worth around 400 were found, together with 600 cash.

John Murray, who is in his 30s, made admissions that the cash was the proceeds of drug-dealing. He said the cannabis was his own for his own use. And he said he was holding the cocaine for an un-named person to clear a drugs debt.

He said he was a very small cog in the wheel, Det Sgt OSullivan said.

On August 17 of the same year Garda Rory Fogarty saw Murray in a car parked at Blarney Street at a time when he was on bail for the June offence. He had 850 worth of cocaine that day.

Again he had a smaller amount of cannabis for his own use.

He had been an addict for years. He has not come to attention recently, the detective added.

His previous convictions included four for drug-dealing and eight for having drugs for his own use.

Judge Hayes, said, following defence submissions from defence barrister, Alison McCarthy: I accept he has taken steps now to put his life in order, ceasing drug use and gaining employment.
A Cork dance group are encouraging Leesiders to get their dancing shoes on with a dance open night.

The Tribe Dance Academy are running an open night, during which you can try out the three different dance styles they offer: salsa, bachata and kizomba.

The Academy, based in Cork city, would love everyone to take to the dancefloor and gain from the benefits of attending a social dance class.

The class is a great way to get active, have fun and make friends while doing so.

The open night takes place on Wednesday, May 17 at the Middle Parish Community Centre on 7 Grattan Street.

There will be three classes running back-to-back: salsa, then bachata and finally kizomba.

Things kick off at 7pm but its recommended to arrive early for registration.

Come alone or bring some friends. No partner is needed!

Sign up online using any of The Tribe social media pages here or simply show up and register on the night.

The Tribe Dance Academy recommend that all those who have an interest in their classes to take this chance to bring all the wonderful benefits of dancing into your life.
Ryanair's brand-new routes from Cork Airport to Seville and La Rochelle are due to take off for the first time this June bank holiday weekend (June 1 and 4 respectively).

It is part of the airlines biggest ever Summer 23 schedule.

This summer, Ryanair will operate over 270 weekly flights across 29 routes to/from Cork Airport, including these new sunshine destinations  Seville and La Rochelle  offering southern customers/visitors unbeatable choice at the lowest fares when booking their summer holidays while driving invaluable inbound tourism too.

Ryanairs unrivalled growth at Cork Airport is underpinned by the airlines three based aircraft, representing a $300m investment and supporting over 1,300 jobs, and is driven by Cork Airports long-term commitment to maintain competitive airport charges, providing the cost certainty for airlines to invest and grow in the region.

Ryanairs Head of Communications, Jade Kirwan, said: Ryanair is delighted to operate our first flights from Cork Airport to Seville in Spain and La Rochelle in France this June bank holiday weekend as part of our biggest ever Summer 23 schedule.

"These two exciting new routes to Seville and La Rochelle add to our 27 routes currently operating to/from Cork Airport this Summer, including our new Venice and Rome routes, offering our customers in the south of Ireland even more choice and at the lowest fares when booking their Summer 23 getaways.

"We look forward to welcoming even more customers onboard our flights to/from Cork this Summer as Ryanair continues to deliver more traffic, connectivity, and lower fares than any other airline for Ireland.

Barry Holland, Communications Manager at Cork Airport added: These two new Ryanair destinations will offer even more choice for passengers from across the South of Ireland when booking a summer getaway.

"Seville, the capital city of the Andalucia region in southern Spain is known for its stunning architecture, authentic Spanish cuisine, and rich history. La Rochelle, on the Frances idyllic western coastline is a thriving maritime city, located in the splendid surrounds of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. With its picturesque harbour, charming old town and lively street cafes, La Rochelle is a city that is both elegant and vibrant.

"This year, Cork Airport will serve over 2.6 million passengers, thanks to Ryanairs continued commitment to Cork Airport and the expansion of their network with the addition of these two fantastic new routes.
An Enniskeane man who was actively involved in cocaine-dealing in rural areas of West Cork has been given a fully suspended three-year sentence.

Ian Murphy was sentenced by Judge Dara Hayes at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

A stash of over 5,000 worth of cocaine  along with two mobile phones, deal bags and a weighing scales  was found at his bedroom during a drugs search.

The accused admitted that that he had the cocaine for sale or supply on May 12 2020 at his home at 4 Tir na Greine, Enniskeane, County Cork.

Judge Dara Hayes commented from the prosecution evidence that the accused had been actively and involved in dealing in cocaine in his local community for profit. However, the judge adjourned sentencing until yesterday and said the defendant had not come to further garda attention.

It is clear he has put his time to good use. He has brought himself to the point where is no longer requires probation supervision.

It appears to me that I must sentence him as he now is rather than as he was at the time of his offending It seems to me that he is a person who is unlikely to reoffend.

Search

Det Garda Colin OMahony said last year that gardai from the West Cork divisional drugs unit went to the home of Ian Murphy in Enniskeane with a warrant to carry out a search.

I identified myself as a member of An Garda Siochana and he led us to his bedroom. There was cocaine with a street value of 5,900 underneath the bed. Also found were a digital weighing-scales, two mobile phones and a large number of deal bags as part of the drug-dealing enterprise, Det Garda OMahony said.

Murphy admitted at interview that he would collect money from others and travel to Cork to buy a quantity of cocaine which he would supply to ten regular customers and three or four others in the area. He said he had been doing so for four months.

However, the detective said the drug unit in West Cork believed that the defendant was well established in the drug trade in West Cork for 15 years.

Peter OFlynn, defence barrister, submitted that a background report on Ian Murphy referred to his complex mental health issues due to a difficult and tragic past and the fact that he started using drugs at a young age.

He attended Bruree and completed the programme but unfortunately relapsed again. After arrest for this offence he went back into treatment and aftercare. He is attending narcotics anonymous regularly. He is holding down a fulltime job, staying drug-free and attending with his addiction counsellor and remaining in aftercare.

"He has remained drug-free for the past two and a half years. He is basically doing what he can to maintain his drug-free background. It was a tremendously dysfunctional background he grew up in, Mr OFlynn said.
A 19-YEAR-OLD money mule who had 91,000 diverted to his bank account in Cork and withdrew 65,000 of it in the course of the next three days for organisers of the scam has been given a two-year suspended jail term.

Judge Helen Boyle imposed the two-year jail term and agreed to fully suspend it at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Detective Garda Sean Sheehan of the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau testified that the accused man, Kenoly Ugbodu, made 30 withdrawals through currency exchange bureaus in Dublin over a period of 72 hours, totalling 65,000. A further 10,000 was spent in making purchases at mobile phone stores.

Defence barrister Tom Power said the accused was under the direction of members of a criminal gang at the time although he was not a member of this gang. From limited resources, the teenager brought a total of 2,000 compensation to court.

Mr Power said the balance of 16,000 was recalled by Bank of Ireland for the true owner of the cash when the bank realised something was going on.

Ugbodu pleaded guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to a charge of money laundering by having 91,000 cash in his account back in September 2017.

Det Garda Sheehan explained that the 91,000 was an invoice redirection scam whereby a company due to receive a substantial payment from another firm has their bank account details altered so that it is sent to an account belonging to someone not entitled to receive any money.

The teenager was arrested and interviewed and he made full admissions. He said he was approached through Snapchat and asked for his account to be used in exchange for a small payment.

Mr Power suggested that the accused was not a member of the gang that organised the crime.

He has expressed shame and regret at being involved in this matter. He was young and naive, said Mr Power.
FUNDING has been approved for a long-awaited Garda regional headquarters in Macroom, with construction expected to begin next year.

Fianna Fail TD for Cork North West Aindrias Moynihan welcomed the decision to speed up construction of the Garda regional headquarters in the Cork town.

The Government confirmed today that approval has been granted for the development of new Garda stations in Macroom and Clonmel, through direct exchequer funding.

Mr Moynihan said, Im delighted that Macroom Garda station has been given the go-ahead to proceed.

Its especially important as the Macroom station will be the new regional headquarters for An Garda Siochana.

A family-court complex at Hammond Lane in Dublin is to proceed as a standalone Public Private Partnership (PPP) project.

Mr Moynihan said: The decision to separate the development of the Garda station from the slower-moving Hammond Lane complex in Dublin means the Macroom site can progress faster. This will help speed up construction of this important project.

Justice Minister Simon Harris said: I know that An Garda Siochana and the local communities of Macroom and Clonmel and the wider surrounds have long been eager to see progress on the development of both of these Garda stations and I am delighted to say that todays announcement will help speed up the delivery of these vital projects.

By decoupling these projects from the Justice PPP project and using traditional exchequer funding, it is estimated that these Garda stations will be delivered quicker.

Aindrias Moynihan TD.

I know their completion will be a priority for the Office of Public Works working closely with An Garda Siochana. This continues a period of significant investment in An Garda Siochana. I look forward to visiting both stations over the coming weeks, said Mr Harris.

Mr Moynihan last month called on Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to urgently advance the regional Garda HQ in Macroom. Planning permission was granted in 2021.

Ive raised this matter on numerous occasions in an effort to progress the project, most recently in the Dail last month when I urged the Taoiseach to prioritise the development of the site without delay, he added.

A new policing model has been rolled out in many parts of the country and is now being rolled out in Cork county. But a very obvious part of that policing model was missing for Cork because the Macroom site was not being advanced. Thankfully that is set to change due to exchequer funding.

Its very positive news. Its bringing that new station a step closer. Its a big milestone.

Tendering is set to get under way soon, and building may start next year.

Youre looking at a headquarters for all of Cork, with additional gardai, services, and supports staff, said Mr Moynihan.
One of Irelands most popular radio personalities is delighted to be back at work and making a steady recovery after a crash in Cork left him with serious injuries.

Legendary radio DJ Gareth OCallaghan suffered injuries to his back and lungs in a collision on Horgans Quay in Cork city in March.

Mr OCallaghan resumed broadcasting on his own radio show last weekend on the Classic Hits radio station, after taking two months to recover.

The 62-year-old writer and broadcaster told PJ Coogan on Cork 96FMs The Opinion Line that he will back in the station's Cork studio in early June.

He is still wearing this brace on his back, said Mr Coogan.

Im doing fine, said Mr OCallaghan.

I took my first few baby steps unaided with no mechanical devices this morning, which was wonderful, just across the kitchen.

Mr OCallaghan, who lives in Cork with his wife Paula and her two children Emma and David, will fill in for Mr Coogan during the summer holidays.

Legendary radio DJ Gareth OCallaghan and wife Paula, pictured a month before a car crash left him seriously injured.

Recalling the fateful day of the crash, he said he was in mid conversation during heavy traffic, when there was a loud bang and he knew instantly that his back was in a very bad way.

It was an energy like Ive never felt in my life before. I remember looking around seconds before the impact, because I knew Emma was moving around in the back seat, and I said to her have you got your seat belt on? She had sat forward at that stage to show me the seat belt was on, and bang."

People were running around outside, as a man asked him could he breathe or move. There were calls for an ambulance, and I couldnt move.

Mr OCallaghan said he never experienced pain like it and he knew at that stage that his back was very badly injured.

I knew my lung was definitely punctured because I couldnt breathe.

"I could hear the sirens within minutes. I could hear them coming from all over the city.

"Then I could hear the emergency personnel trying to get control of the whole situation.

A paramedic knelt down beside him and comforted him, administering pain relief and sedatives.

Paula came over to me, she was very upset, and I could see she was also injured.

Emma was treated in an ambulance as the Fire Brigade arrived, and a fire crew cut the roof off the car.

I remember the rain falling as the roof came off, but Ill never forget the sound of the cutters.

"It was extraordinary the way the car was vibrating. Almost like you would peel off a lid on a sardine tin, the roof literally lifted off.

Mr OCallaghan was pulled out through remains of the back window and conveyed on to a stretcher.

Mr OCallaghan was pulled out through remains of the back window and conveyed on to a stretcher. He paid tribute to the incredible work of the emergency services, the Gardai, the paramedics, fire fighters, and the staff of Cork University Hospital and South Infirmary.

Mr OCallaghans spinal column was damaged, and the nerves were bruised. The radio star has to wear a special protective jacket as part of the recovery process.

It was the most terrifying moment in my life, he added.
Updated: 12.10pm. Additional reporting by Vivienne Clarke.

Tanasite Micheal Martin has said there is "no need" for a blockade which has been set up near a former hotel in Co Clare following the arrival of a group of asylum seekers.

Magowna House in Inch, which closed in 2019, was chosen to accommodate 34 international protection applicants, who arrived at the facility on Monday.

Following their arrival, some locals used tractors and cars to block the roads around Magowna House, criticising the Government over the lack of consultation on the matter. A protest is also being staged at the Clare County Council building in Ennis.

Last year, Magowna House was deemed unsuitable to house refugees, according to Clare TD Cathal Crowe, who is due to meet with Minister for Integration Roderic O'Gorman on Tuesday to discuss the issue.

Commenting on the blockade, the Tanaiste said: "We will engage with the local people community to ease any concerns they might have, and also to facilitate the hosting and the housing of these particularly asylum seekers.

"I would ask that that level of engagement and cooperation would take place, and that that there's no need for the blockades."

Photo: Liam Burke/Press 22

Earlier, Mr Crowe told RTE radio's Morning Ireland there were concerns over the building's fire certification and sewerage system.

He noted the building had not been ready to house refugees last year, and it did not appear to be ready now as the people who arrived on Monday night were "crammed into" ancillary buildings.

"This is being rushed into," Mr Crowe said, however, the Fianna Fail TD said he did not personally agree with the roads being blocked, but acknowledged the locals' right to protest and express their concerns.

Mr Crowe said he has passed on his concerns to the council, the fire service and the HSE, adding that if people were going to be brought to the facility then it should be safe.

He added Clare was very welcoming, with 3.5 per cent of the countys population being refugees or asylum seekers.

He stressed the issue at hand was the suitability of the site at Magowna House, adding it is necessary to ensure the quality accommodation for asylum seekers meets a base-level.

One of the drivers of the tractors, who did not want to provide his name, said locals had concerns about fire safety and sewage management on the site.

He said they expected another bus to arrive and that the asylum seekers were being moved underhandedly.

So we stopped the roads, we blocked the roads so a second bus could not get in.

He said this was because there would be 70 people in this locality with nowhere to go.

He questioned how the asylum seekers would integrate into the community. Protesters said they would not prevent an asylum seeker from leaving.
Faced with a wall of egg cartons at the grocery store, all plastered with different labels and phrases, its hard to know what to choose. Which is better: cage-free, free range or pasture-raised? What does farm-fresh mean? What lies behind the USDA Organic label? Are vegetarian-fed hens healthier and happier?

Without uniform regulation of these terms by the USDA, its hard to determine which phrases are legitimate and actually communicate something about the conditions of the farm, and which are merely greenwashing. While nonprofits and third-party organizations provide their own certifications, there is no single label that takes all issues of environmental sustainability, animal welfare and works rights on industrial factory farms  where most meat, dairy products and eggs are produced in the United States  into account. Deciding which labels and certifications to pay attention to requires some insight into the process.

Labels Regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture

USDA Organic

Like other USDA organic-certified products, USDA Organic eggs must meet pretty stringent requirements to earn the label. The Organic certification is primarily about environmental standards  not the welfare of the chickens or workers rights, although hens must have liberal access to the outdoors year-round and be fed 100% organic feed. They also arent fed antibiotics or poultry by-products (as chickens are sometimes given slaughterhouse scraps in their feed).

An organic farm worker collects a basket eggs from golden comet and black star hens. Melissa Goodwin / Image Source / Getty Images

USDA Grades (AA, A, B)

You know those big letters on egg cartons? Theyre actually tied to some pretty specific egg qualities evaluated by the USDA through their Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). Its not required for producers to have their product graded, so not all eggs on the shelf will have these grades, but those that do have been inspected for certain standards. Producers often enlist AMS to assure customers of the validity of their marketing claims.

Eggs from producers evaluated by the USDA will get a USDA Grade Shield, which also means that the marketing on the package has been verified by the Department (like the terms cage-free, free-range, etc). The grades are based on the quality and appearance of the shell, white (the albumen) and the yolk: AA is the highest grade, with A close behind, and B last, which allows for some imperfections (although no cracks) on the shell.

Labels From Independent Third-Party Organizations

USDA-regulated labels, however, arent the only certifications found on egg cartons. Various independent third-party organizations have created their own labels to help customers know that marketing claims made on the product (non-GMO, free-range, etc.) are legitimate, since theyve been vetted by this third-party organization. Many of these certifications speak to different issues  animal welfare, biodynamic or regenerative farming practices, etc.  so theres no single, catch-all label to look for.

The Global Animal Partnership seal is a common one, and reflects animal welfare standards at the production facility. A level 1 seal means that the facility allows cages and crowding, but the higher the level, the higher the quality of life for the chickens. Levels 5 and 5+, for example, require producers to eliminate or reduce painful procedures on the hens. Certified Humane  set by the Humane Farm Animal Care, a nonprofit organization  also has very specific standards for animal care regarding lighting and air conditions, food, cage-free living and access to enrichment activities for the chickens (like dustbathing, perches, etc.).

FoodPrint shares several certifications with verifiable, comprehensive standards that look at environmental sustainability, animal welfare and social responsibility, including Animal Welfare Approved and Certified Regenerative by A Greener World, Demeter Certified Biodynamic, Regenerative Organic Certified and Real Organic Project. View a checklist of the requirements for each label on their website.

Common Phrases and What They Mean

Cage-Free

Eggs produced from cage-free hens on sale in a supermarket in New York. Richard Levine / Corbis via Getty Images

In the United States, 99% of farmed chickens are raised in factory farms, where they are subjected to dangerous, unhealthy and miserable conditions. The vast majority of our egg supply also comes from these facilities, where each cage is smaller than a sheet of printer paper. While cage-free chickens arent put under these horrible conditions, it doesnt necessarily mean theyre wandering around in farm fields.

USDA guidelines say that cage-free hens need to be able to move both vertically and horizontally in their indoor houses, and have access to fresh food and water. The hens must also be able to exhibit natural behaviors and have access to enrichments such as scratch areas, nests and perches. Its important to note that the term cage-free is no indication of whether the chickens have access to the outdoors, or how much space the birds have. To know whether these elements are being addressed, the term needs to be accompanied by another third-party certification that evaluates their outdoor access and space requirements, like Animal Welfare Approved, Certified Humane or Global Animal Partnership.

Currently, there is no data on whether free-range or cage-free eggs have a higher nutritional value than those raised in conventional housing.

Free-Range

Free-range chickens on a farm in Maryland. Edwin Remsberg / VWPics / Universal Images Group via Getty Images

By USDA definition, free-range hens mean those that have unlimited access to food and water and have the freedom to roam within the area and continuous access to the outdoors during their production cycle. They must also be fenced and/or covered with netting, and like cage-free eggs, the birds must be allowed to roam both vertically and horizontally in their indoor areas. However, these requirements arent super stringent: theres a lot of flexibility for what these outdoor spaces could be, from a small screened room, to a barn flush with the outdoors. No requirements are set for the size or quality of the space, or the amount of time they need to be outside. Although outdoor access can increase the quality of the hens lives, they might still face other types of inhumane treatment.

All-Natural

While the world natural is often mistaken to be the same as organic, this isnt true. The USDA defines natural eggs as any to which no artificial ingredients were added, and all eggs meet this criteria. Thus, any version of the word natural on an egg carton is ultimately nothing more than a marketing tactic.

Farm Fresh

Despite the photographs of small, idyllic farms and rolling hills that might be on the carton, the term farm fresh says nothing about where the eggs inside actually come from. In fact, they could still be coming from a factory-farming operation. The term isnt connected to any regulations.

Hormone-Free

Products without hormones could also be labeled as rBGH-Free, rBST-Free and No Hormones Added. On dairy products, these labels mean that the cows werent given artificial hormones, which help increase milk production  but they are not relevant to eggs. No egg-laying hens in the United States are treated with hormones, so this isnt an anomaly, or a reason to buy one carton of eggs over another. If you see this on an egg carton, its just a marketing tactic

Vegetarian-Fed

While the concept of vegetarian chickens initially sounds more sustainable, the concept is controversial since chickens are natural omnivores that eat grubs, worms and other bugs. Without this source of food, hens often dont get the necessary amount of methionine (an important amino acid), so some facilities give their birds supplements instead. The chickens are still able to forage for insects on farms where they are allowed to roam outside, but as long as theres no meat in their provided feed, the vegetarian-fed label can still be applied. The label also means they arent fed any animal by-products (which can sometimes include ground chicken).

Pasture-Raised

The term itself isnt defined by the USDA, but certifications from independent groups indicate that such standards are met. Certified Humane eggs labeled as pasture-raised, for example, are laid by chickens raised on land that has at least 108 square feet per bird, and they must be outside year-round with protection available from weather and predators. However, theres no common government standard for producers, no uniform definition of what a pasture is, and no inspections are required to claim the pasture-raised label.

Non-GMO

If stamped with a non-GMO label, the eggs inside come from hens that arent fed with genetically modified foods. While all organic products are non-GMO, non-GMO products arent necessarily organic, and the label doesnt speak to whether pesticides or other chemicals were used in the production of the animal feed.

Humane

Phrases like humane, humanely handled or humanely raised are not defined by the USDA, so producers can create their own definitions. Thus, the word itself therefore doesnt mean anything, unless its alongside a seal or certification from a legitimate third party.
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.

U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris listen as Montana Governor Greg Gianforte speaks during a virtual meeting with governors to discuss their states wildfire prevention efforts, on July 30, 2021 in Washington, DC. Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images

Montana Governor Greg Gianforte has signed a bill into law that stops the state from taking climate impacts into consideration in its analysis of projects like power plants and coal mines.

An extremely controversial measure, House Bill 971 (HB 971) drew 1,000 comments during the most recent legislative session, 95 percent of which expressed opposition to the proposed bill, reported Montana Free Press.

The new law bans state regulators like the Montana Department of Environmental Quality from including climate impact and greenhouse gas emissions analyses when conducting comprehensive reviews of large projects, both inside and outside state borders.

Climate change is real, it matters, the climate is part of our environment, and we cannot ignore the changes that are occurring, said Anne Hedges with the Montana Environmental Information Center, who anticipates HB 971 will be the subject of a constitutional lawsuit, as Montana Free Press reported.

The foundation for the bill, which was signed into law on May 10, is an old law which bans the state from considering actual or potential impacts that are regional, national, or global in nature in environmental reviews.

Environmental and climate groups argued that the measure frustrates the ability of the state to tackle the greenhouse gas emissions that are causing Montanas snowpack to melt, which reduces much-needed water from streams in the summer and fall and contributes to more intense wildfires, as well as flooding.

Opponents of the measure said most Montana residents are in favor of substantive climate action and believe in human-caused climate change.

Our families are already suffering from an increase in the number of sweltering summer days, longer wildfire and smoke seasons, and historic drought, Winona Bateman, executive director of Families for a Livable Climate, wrote in an email to Montana Free Press.

Those opposing the measure said it was overreach by the legislature because it would interfere with the rights of citizens to know all impacts of a proposed project, reported Montana Public Radio.

Three-fifths of those polled in last years Conservation in the West poll of 416 registered voters in Montana called for a renewable energy transition and said there was enough evidence of climate change to warrant action.

Some proponents of the measure, like the Montana Petroleum Association and the Treasure State Resources Association, said the proper place for regulations like HB 971 is under federal regulatory frameworks like the Clean Air Act, according to Montana Free Press.

I am not sure how Gov. Gianforte imagines we will do our part to address these growing impacts, or pay for them, if were not working to eliminate the root cause. Why would we wait for federal regulations to be part of the solution? Bateman told Montana Free Press.

Gianforte expressed a belief in human-caused climate change in an interview last year with Montana Free Press.

Ignoring [climate change] doesnt make it better. It will only make things worse and make it more difficult and expensive to deal with later, Hedges said, as Montana Free Press reported.




Argentina's pig slaughter, pork production hit record in 2022

Argentina's pig slaughter and pork production last year reached record levels, according to the country's Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries.

7,666,022 head were slaughtered, an increase of 2.4% over 2021.



As for pork, 723,388 tonnes were produced, 3.9% more than in the year before.

- Pig333




Fluctuating live swine prices and decrease in pork meat prices in Brazil

Brazilian research institution Cepea said the Brazilian swine market witnessed divergent trends in live swine prices across different regions between late April and early May, while pork prices experienced a decline in the wholesale market of the Greater Sao Paulo area, The Pig Site reported.

In the SP-5 region, including Braganca Paulista, Campinas, Piracicaba, Sao Paulo, and Sorocaba, live swine quotations increased by 2.4% from April 25 to May 2, 2023, reaching BRL 6.73/kg (~US$1.38; BRL 1 = US$0.20) on May 2nd. This slight rise in prices can be attributed to a modest uptick in demand.

In the Greater Belo Horizonte region of Minas Gerais, prices remained stable during this period, showing a marginal decrease of 0.1%, settling at BRL 6.47/kg (~US$1.32) on May 2. The stability was influenced by reduced demand from slaughterhouses.

Southern Brazil experienced a significant oversupply of swine, leading to a more pronounced downward pressure on live swine prices.

In the southwestern region of Parana, prices depreciated by 3.3% between April 25 and May 2 reaching BRL 6.55/kg (~US$1.34) on May 2. Similarly, in the Serra Gaucha region, quotations declined by 1.6%, settling at BRL 6.55/kg (~US$1.34) on May 2. In Braco do Norte, Santa Catarina, values experienced a marginal drop of 0.2%, reaching BRL 5.93/kg (~US$1.21) on the same day in May.

In the pork wholesale market, prices typically decline towards the end of the month due to decreased purchasing power among consumers. Market participants reduced asking prices in order to improve liquidity and avoid excessive inventory accumulation. The price of pork (special carcass) in the Greater Sao Paulo area fell by 0.4% to BRL 9.68/kg (~US$1.98) on May 2.

Despite April having fewer working days, Brazilian pork exports performed exceptionally well during the month. According to data from the Foreign Trade Secretariat (Secex), daily average shipments reached 5,200 tonnes, marking a significant increase of 24.7% compared to March and a substantial rise of 20.4% compared to April 2022.

Brazil's total pork meat exports in April amounted to 93,000 tonnes, a minor decrease of 2.4% compared to March, but an increase of 14% compared to April the previous year.

Cepea specialises in the study and analysis of agricultural markets, including commodities such as grains, livestock, and other agricultural products.

- The Pig Site




Brazil confirms first cases of bird flu among wild birds

Brazil, the world's leading chicken exporter, has officially reported its first cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), according to an announcement made by the country's Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food Supply, Yahoo! News reported.

The Brazilian government said the detected cases were found in wild birds and do not warrant a ban on imports of Brazilian poultry products, in accordance with guidelines set by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH).

Despite a global outbreak of the virus, Brazil, which saw its chicken exports increase by 27% to US$9.76 billion last year, had not encountered a confirmed case until now.

The Brazilian government confirmed the presence of the H5N1 subtype of the avian influenza virus in two migrating birds off the coast of Espirito Santo, a southeastern state in Brazil. However, as the cases were detected in wild animals, Brazil's status as a "country free of HPAI" remains unaffected, according to the agriculture ministry.

Miguel Gularte, CEO of BRF, the largest chicken exporting company in the world based in Brazil, said he was not surprised about the highly pathogenic avian influenza cases. He assured that the company is prepared for any scenario and reiterated WOAH's recommendation against imposing import bans due to cases detected in wild animals.

Gularte emphasized BRF's reliance on Brazil's robust animal health services to prevent and contain any potential threats to industrial poultry farms.

China, Japan, South Africa, and Saudi Arabia were among Brazil's major importers of chicken products in April. In contrast, China has imposed import restrictions on poultry from nearly 40 US states due to bird flu outbreaks on commercial poultry farms.

Argentina, Brazil's neighbouring country, temporarily suspended its poultry exports in late February following the detection of bird flu in its poultry industry in the province of Rio Negro. However, exports from bird flu-free areas resumed in late March.

- Yahoo! News




Kebbi, Nigeria to work with experts from Egypt on agriculture, livestock production

The government of Nigerian state Kebbi said it will partner with Egyptian experts in agriculture and livestock production.

Kebbi Governor Atiku Bagudu said that his administration believed in partnership and cooperation as essential ingredients for development of the state.

"The state is endowed with abundant agricultural potentials and rated as the second most livestock producing state in the country," Bagudu said. "In addition, the state has become the gateway to West Africa in animal husbandry due to its strategic location of sharing boundary with both the Republic of Niger and Benin Republic.

"Already, we have signed a tripartite agreement with Kwanni in Niger Republic and Maleville in the Republic of Benin on the development of animal husbandry."

National President of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) president Alhaji Aminu Goronyo informed the governor that the Egyptian experts led by Gen. Walid Soliman-Morsy were in the state for partnership on agricultural development.

He revealed that the experts were ready to develop several hectares of Fadama land in the state through the process of training of farmers, application of modern farming methods, technology and expertise.

Goronyo said that the team would also visit Lagos and Ogun states as well as Calabar in Cross River for similar ventures.

- The Guardian




SalMar reports significant increase in revenue and earnings

Norwegian-based salmon-farming company, SalMar, has recorded a substantial year-over-year increase in both revenue and earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT), attributed to high salmon prices and reduced costs, Seafood Source reported.

In the first quarter of 2023, SalMar's revenue reached NOK 6.79 billion (~US$635 million; NOK 1 = US$0.094) up from NOK 4.68 billion (~US$437 million) in the same period last year.

The company's operational EBIT also saw a significant rise, reaching NOK 1.88 billion (~US$175 million) compared to NOK 1.26 billion (~US$117 million) in Q1 2022.

During the quarter, SalMar harvested 48,500 metric tonnes (MT) of salmon and achieved an operational EBIT-per-kg of NOK 38.80 (~US$3.63). In the Norwegian market, the company's operational EBIT for its Fish Farming Central Norway and Fish Farming Northern Norway segments reached NOK 1.72 billion (~US$160 million).

The total harvest volume in Norway amounted to 42,000 MT, with central Norway alone contributing 22,200 MT of salmon. The operational EBIT-per-kg for central Norway stood at NOK 50.00 (~US$4.67).

SalMar's Fish Farming Northern Norway segment also demonstrated positive performance, with revenue amounting to NOK 1.8 billion (~US$168 million) in Q1 2023, compared to NOK 1.2 billion (~US$112 million) in the previous year. The operational EBIT for this segment increased to NOK 837 million (~US$78 million) with a harvest volume of 19,800 MT and an operational EBIT-per-kg of NOK 42.30 (~US$3.95). However, SalMar expects lower costs and volume for the Fish Farming Northern Norway segment in the second quarter of 2023.

Despite the positive financial results, SalMar expressed concerns about Norway's proposed resource tax on aquaculture.

The company stated that the government's latest proposal, although including a few minor adjustments, did not address the concerns of those who contribute value to the Norwegian coast.

SalMar said that the proposed tax, based on the assumption of excessive returns in the salmon industry, is inaccurate. The company firmly believes that the proposal should be permanently set aside, maintaining that it undermines Norway's reputation as a stable and reliable country for investment.

Operationally, SalMar provided updates on its ongoing projects. Construction is currently underway for a new smolt facility in Tjuin, Trondelag, Norway, with the first batch of smolt expected to be transferred in 2024. Additionally, the company has commenced the construction of a new closed net-pen design, which is scheduled to be operational by the summer of 2023.

- Seafood Source
CNET, the venerable tech site which began publication nearly 30 years ago, has become the latest digital media company whose staff have chosen to band together and demand more. The CNET Media Worker's Union (CMWU) today sent a letter to Red Ventures, the private equity concern which purchased CNET in 2020, seeking recognition of a bargaining unit of nearly 100 workers including editors, writers, and video producers. According to CMWU, a supermajority of those in the unit signed union authorization cards.

Like the overwhelming majority of other organized digital publications, the workers who make up CMWU are responding in large part to an increasingly hostile financial climate in the industry. CNET has not been spared the same tumult that has led to the shuttering of Buzzfeed News and VICE's decision to file for bankruptcy: the company went through three brutal rounds of layoffs over recent months, the most recent of which stripped approximately a dozen staffers from the masthead. "We lost a lot of really great reporters," Laura Michelle Davis, an editor with CNET and organizing committee member, told Engadget.

According to Davis, that sense of uncertainty led to a number of voluntary departures, but also to the surviving staff choosing to organize. Despite those cuts, according to the union's statement sent to management today, staff have continue to be "subjected to ongoing restructuring, cost-cutting austerity measures, shifting job roles and promotion freezes."

CMWU has also organized around what it feels is a "blurring of editorial and monetization strategies" and a lack of transparency around, among other things, the use of artificial intelligence. While it was apparently not a key factor in beginning the union drive, CNET was the subject of a fairly public scandal recently, when it was revealed by Futurism, both to the public at large and allegedly to the staff itself, that the site had begun publishing content written by AI without any form of authorship disclosure. Over half of those machine-generated stories were eventually appended with corrections for factual errors, and CNET later issued something like an apology.

The unit is represented by the Writer's Guild of America, East, which has helped organize sites including Vox, HuffPost, and The Onion. Screenwriters from the union's sister organization, the Writer's Guild of America, have now been on strike for two weeks over a variety of disputes with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, among which also has been the use of AI in content production. (Disclosure: I was a member of the WGA-E and served on the bargaining committee for Gizmodo Media Group during my tenure there.)

While the contours of whatever contract CMWU may eventually bargain with Red Ventures are still to be decided, the bargaining unit will be looking to substantially similar wins in digital media as a guide. We've reached out to Red Ventures for comment and will update if we hear back. CMWU's organizing statement follows below:

"CNET has been a trusted authority for original reporting, helpful explainers and honest advice for nearly 30 years. We  writers, editors, video producers, designers and other content creators  are committed to CNETs future as a reputable source for tech reviews, news and commerce. Thats why an overwhelming majority of us have formed the CNET Media Workers Union, affiliated with the Writers Guild of America, East. We are confident that our collective efforts will allow us to better serve our audience and make a more collaborative workplace. "The digital media landscape is transforming rapidly. In this time of instability, our diverse content teams need industry-standard job protections, fair compensation, editorial independence and a voice in the decision-making process, especially as automated technology threatens our jobs and reputations. A union will help us adapt to new business strategies while establishing high journalistic standards and practices. "Since Red Ventures acquired CNET in fall 2020, CNET media workers have been subjected to ongoing restructuring, cost-cutting austerity measures, shifting job roles and promotion freezes. In the past year, three major rounds of layoffs have deeply impacted our reporting and our teams. Red Ventures cut senior editorial positions, eliminated the Roadshow cars section, drastically slashed our video team, gutted our news division and shut down science and culture coverage. These unilateral overhauls created low morale and unease, resulting in a wave of resignations and talent attrition. We face a lack of transparency and accountability from management around performance evaluations, sponsored content and plans for artificial intelligence. We are concerned about the blurring of editorial and monetization strategies. "By unionizing, were joining our peers at other digital media sites who have won security and benefits through negotiating unit-wide contracts. We feel that a union is the only way to guarantee job protections, defend editorial integrity and ensure standard cost-of-living raises as well as fair severance packages. A union would give us a voice on new AI and marketing initiatives and allow us to safeguard our workloads, bylines and careers. We look forward to bringing together our largely remote and siloed teams in this effort. "We are a passionate and loyal community of hard workers, and our rights should be enshrined and respected. We ask Red Ventures to recognize our union in a timely manner so we can begin the contract negotiation process."  CNET Media Workers Union

Update, 5/18/2023, 1:42 PM ET: According to CMWU, the number of workers it estimates were laid off in March was "closer to 30." We have once again reached out to Red Ventures to confirm.

Organizing within tech? I'd like to hear about it. Tip me at avery@engadget.com or message me on Signal at 646.983.9846

All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. All prices are correct at the time of publishing.
A third former Apple employee has been charged with stealing self-driving car tech Weibao Wang allegedly fled to China after 'large quantities' of Apple data were found at his home.

For many years, rumors have been flying around that Apple has been working on a self-driving car, or at least an electric vehicle with some autonomous functionality. Now, a third former employee has been accused of stealing some of that technology for a Chinese self-driving car company.

A federal court in the Northern District of California has unsealed charges against Weibao Wang, a former Apple software engineer. Wang started working at the company in 2016 as part of a team that developed hardware and software for autonomous systems  technology that could conceivably wind up in self-driving cars.

According to the indictment, in November 2017, Wang accepted a job with a US subsidiary of a Chinese company that was developing self-driving cars but waited more than four months to tell Apple that he was quitting. After Wang left Apple in April 2018, the company found that he "accessed large amounts of sensitive proprietary and confidential information" in the lead up to his departure, the Department of Justice said.

"Large quantities of data taken from Apple" were found during a law enforcement search of Wang's Mountain View residence that June. Wang told agents that he wasn't planning to travel, but he flew back to China that night, according to the indictment.

Wang has been charged with six counts of stealing or attempting to steal trade secrets. He faces a maximum prison sentence of 10 years and a fine of $250,000 for each count. However, that depends on officials being able to extradite Wang, who remains in China, as CNBC reports.

This marks the third instance of a former Apple employee being accused of stealing autonomous trade secrets for Chinese entities. Xiaolang Zhang, who worked at Apple at the same time as Wang, pleaded guilty last year to stealing technology from Apple's car division. Zhang was apprehended at San Jose International Airport in 2018 while trying to board a flight to China.

In 2019, another former employee was arrested before they could flee to China. Jizhong Chen allegedly stole self-driving car tech for a Chinese company. Chen pleaded not guilty and the case is proceeding in federal court.
The US State Department has announced a reward of up to $10 million for information that leads to the arrest of a prolific hacker. On Monday, the Department of Justice filed criminal charges against Mikhail Pavlovich Matveev, a Russian national and resident with links to the infamous Hive, LockBit and Babuk ransomware gangs. Starting as early as 2020, Matveev has allegedly targeted US law enforcement and healthcare organizations on multiple occasions.

In April 2021, for instance, he was linked to a Babuk ransomware attack that saw the computer systems of the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington DC locked out. Last May, Matveev, whose online pseudonyms include Wazawaka, Uhodiransomwar, m1x, and Boriselcin, was allegedly involved in a Hive ransomware attack that targeted a healthcare NGO in New Jersey.

Separately, the Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control announced sanctions against Matveev. "Matveev has been vocal about his illegal activities. He has provided insight into his cybercrimes in media interviews, disclosed exploit code to online criminals, and stated that his illicit activities will be tolerated by local authorities provided that he remains loyal to Russia," the Treasury said .
L

ike the rest of the business world, Switzerlands watch industry is embracing the principles of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) at a steadily growing pace. Better than any green initiative, possibly the strongest signal so far this year has been the arrival of ID Geneve, a brand that advocates the principles of a circular economy, at Watches of Switzerland, one of the worlds leading watch retailers.

Launched in December 2020, ID Geneve is a young brand whose core concept of environmental responsibility is built into every one of its watches. This newcomer is already gaining an audience and can expect to attract even more interest following the announcement, in March, of a retail partnership for the UK and the US with Watches of Switzerland: the group is one of the few retailers that employs a Head of Sustainability.

A promising London launch

So how did the two meet? In his role as Executive Director for Global Buying and Merchandising, Eric Macaire selects the brands Watches of Switzerland stocks. He explains how Were always on the lookout for new brands that bring innovative designs, a powerful story and are relevant. ID Geneve immediately caught our attention. They are perfectly aligned with the values we promote.

When considering any development at the brand, we look at two factors, adds ID Geneve co-founder Nicolas Freudiger. They are alignment with our values, which is essential, and global reach. Watches of Switzerland ticks both those boxes. Their entire management team supports ESG, which is a great encouragement.

Watches of Switzerland has opened a showroom in Londons Battersea Power Station.

The partnership officially launched in London in March, at Watches of Switzerlands Battersea Power Station showroom. Joining ID Geneve were the brands partners, Notpla (which makes solid packaging from seaweed), Biophilica (which transforms green waste from London parks into straps) and Magical Mushroom Company (which makes fully compostable, mycelium-based outer packaging), among others. For Nicolas Freudiger, the event was a success for many reasons: Having so many highly motivated, sustainable companies there proved the power of the circular economy. The teams at Watches of Switzerland were asking all kinds of interesting questions and there was no shortage of customers in attendance!

An event such as this shows that people are willing to get behind environmental themes. Eric Macaire certainly believes so: The launch was a real highlight, for the location itself, at Battersea Power Station, for the ID Geneve watches and the entire ecosystem surrounding them, but most of all for the way our staff and customers responded. Were learning a lot from a pioneer such as ID Geneve and are ramping up our role as a voice for environmental responsibility across the industry.

A matter of governance

What motivates a fast-growing retail giant to embrace environmental issues? The decision to address the issue was first taken at top management level, answers Eric Macaire. It is an integral part of our values. Customers are also more demanding in this area and its our role to help them with their choices. A reminder that ESG is about more than greenwashing and the occasional communication drive, and must be supported at the highest level.

What will the next stages in the partnership be? ID Geneves objective is clear: We need to build on this partnership wherever we can. The brands launch in New York in May is a crucial step. Watches of Switzerland is already listing our entire Circular One and Circular S ranges. We need to get the message out to as many people as possible and continue to make the environment and circularity central elements of our value proposition.

Kesah Trowell, Group Head of Sustainability & ESG at Watches of Switzerland, has this to say: The group is driven by the desire to offer new products to our customers while respecting our colleagues, our communities and our planet, hence environmental impact must be a part of every decision we take.

Under the umbrella of sustainability, environmental responsibility  and the real-life action it implies  looks set to become a value that brands will highlight on a par with legacy and expertise. For Nicolas Freudiger, there can be no doubt: Its fundamental to who we are. Not only do we want to convey this message successfully; we want to reproduce this notion of circularity and a virtuous ecosystem locally.
Reuters | Police in southern Italy said they had seized 2,700 kg of highly pure cocaine hidden in two refrigerated containers containing bananas that had been shipped from Ecuador.
Ukraine claims it has shot down six "unstoppable" hypersonic missiles overnight after Russia launched an intense air attack on the capital. Six Kinzhal aero-ballistic missiles were launched from MiG-31K aircraft, nine cruise missiles from ships in the Black Sea and three land-based S-400 cruise missiles targeted the capital, Yurii Ihnat, Ukraine's Air Force spokesman said.
Perth, AustraliaAirway health is an important but often overlooked area of medicine, and studies have connected poor airway health to sleep, cognitive, behavioral, and physical problems. Dr. Shereen Lim is breaking new ground in this field with her book Breathe, Sleep, Thrive, a comprehensive guide to breathing and airway development. It covers the issues that can arise from poor airway health to what steps can be taken to prevent and reverse damage, focusing on children's development in particular.

"It is so exciting to finally have a science-based, patient friendly, comprehensive book covering airway health. Dr. Lim does a magnificent job blending stories from her personal life, educational journey, and practice experience to make this an entertaining read." Jeff Rouse, DDS, Private Practice Prosthodontist, USA, and Resident Faculty Spear Education

As one of Australia's first dentists to obtain a qualification in dental sleep medicine, Dr. Lim has seen the effects first-hand of poor airway and dental development. She shares on her website that "common issues children experience such as snoring, poor attention and concentration, ADHD-symptoms, difficulties with emotional regulation, recurrent ear infections, speech or feeding concerns, teeth grinding, crooked teeth, and more, can often be symptoms of a bigger, underlying problem. These can all be symptoms of dysfunctional breathing and unrestorative sleep." Her holistic approach seeks to solve the root cause of health issues, rather than only treating the symptoms.

"Shereen is one of the leading personas in this field and Breathe, Sleep, Thrive sheds light on a topic seldom taught or understood by most physicians, pediatricians and dentists. This book will definitely help parents grow a healthier generation." Eyal Botzer, DMD, Director of Pediatric Dentistry at Tel Aviv Medical Center, Israel

This book is divided into three main parts: an overview of airway health, early childhood influences on airway development, and pathways to restore airway health. From both research and personal experiences, she lays out the most important factors that affect airway health, including mouth breathing, infant feeding habits, tongue-ties, and jaw and teeth development. From there, she proposes solutions to each issue. This ranges from creating healthy habits during childhood to surgery to correcting problems as an adult. The book is filled with charts, lists, photos, and references to back up the data.

"Dr. Lim perfectly synthesizes complex scientific principles with easy-to-read language that makes this book a must-read for parents and medical professionals alike."Bobby Ghaheri, MD, Otolaryngologist at The Oregon Clinic, Portland

Breathe, Sleep, Thrive set out to spread awareness of overlooked health problems and provide potential solutions based on scientific research and first-hand experience. For parents of developing children, healthcare professionals, or those seeking to better understand their own health, Dr. Shereen Lim's book dives deep into an important aspect of well-being: breathing.

Breathe, Sleep, Thrive, ISBN 9780645553215 (Paperback) and 9780645553208 (eBook), $14.99 Paperback, $9.99 Kindle, 195 Pages, Sparkle Publishing, 2022. Available on. For more information visit www.drshereenlim.com.au.

About Dr. Shereen Lim: She is an Australia-based dentist with a post graduate diploma in dental sleep medicine from the University of Western Australia. She was one of Australia's first handful of dentists to obtain a qualification in dental sleep medicine. She has been involved in managing snoring and obstructive sleep apnea for over a decade and has seen the physical, developmental, mental, and emotional problems that are often associated with these breathing disturbances throughout the lifespan.

Her mission is to highlight root causes and promote airway health, or a shift from managing disease and symptoms towards ensuring healthy nasal breathing and good airway development from infancy. She works in private practice and has a special focus on unlocking greater health and wellness through addressing tongue ties, oral dysfunction (during infant feeding, swallowing, breathing, chewing, and speech), and guiding good jaw development during childhood.

Media Contact: For a review copy of Breathe, Sleep, Thrive or to arrange an interview with Shereen Lim, contact Scott Lorenz of Westwind Communications Book Marketing at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or by phone at 734-667-2090. Reach Lorenz on Twitter @abookpublicist.
Add another Marvel-ous movie star to the biggest comic book convention in San Antonio.

Elizabeth Olsen, best known as the spellbinding Scarlet Witch in various Marvel movies and the streaming series "WandaVision," will appear at next month's Superhero Comic Con & Car Show at Freeman Expo Halls. The convention runs July 7-9, with Olsen appearing July 7 and July 8.

Superhero Comic Con marks Olsen's first appearance at such an event in the United States since late 2018, according to Bob Wills, CEO of PMX Events, which puts on the show. Wills said Olsen was the top female guest requested by Superhero Comic Con attendees and fans.

On ExpressNews.com: First look at San Antonio illustrator's Black Panther art for new comic

Olsen has played the Scarlet Witch, aka Wanda Maximoff, in films across the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" and movies in the "Avengers" franchise. She currently stars in the HBO Max true-crime miniseries, "Love & Death."

Olsen joins a growing list of celebrity guests for the July convention. Other big names headed to San Antonio include Katee Sackhoff ("The Mandalorian"), Oscar winner Brie Larson ("Captain Marvel"), Kit Harington ("Game of Thrones") and Hailee Steinfeld ("Hawkeye").

The Thomas J. Henry-sponsored event will also feature comic book artists, cosplay competitions and a free-play arcade, plus a Hollywood car show with more than 45 famous automobiles from television and film.
Complaints of dangerous dogs roaming city streets have nearly tripled since February when a pair of pit bulls mauled an older man to death outside a West Side home.

Though most did not qualify for an official dangerous dog designation, the increase underscores residents concerns about the citys loose dog problem.

Our dangerous dogs are out of control, Assistant City Manager David McCary told City Councils Public Safety Committee on Tuesday. We have to do a better job and more aggressively hold owners that are irresponsible with these pets more accountable.

Animal Care Services received an average of 58 dangerous dog complaints in both March and April, according to Assistant Director Brad Davenport. Prior to Februarys horrific dog attack on Depla Street, residents made about 21 complaints a month.

READ MORE: San Antonio ZIP code where fatal dog attack occurred had most bites, animal-related complaints

When a dog bite victim or a witness files a sworn written statement with the department, the animal is investigated. ACS launched an awareness campaign about this process after Depla Street neighbors said they didnt know they could file such a complaint. At least two people in the neighborhood had been bitten by the dogs ahead of the fatal attack.

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ACS designated 54 new dangerous or aggressive animals in March and April, Davenport said. Thats the same number of designations made in the six months prior to the Feb. 24 dog mauling.

These designations come with certain requirements intended to reduce the chance of future attacks. Dangerous dog designations last for life. Aggressive dog determinations, which typically result from an attack against an animal rather than a person, last between one to three years.

ACS aims to inspect dangerous dogs once annually to ensure theyre in compliance with city regulations. For example, dangerous dogs must wear a special ID collar, wear a muzzle when outside and be fixed. Owners must have liability insurance and post a warning sign on their property.

Currently, 50 of the citys 113 dangerous dogs are out of compliance, according to data shared with the council committee.

But that number could be higher.

Our follow-up for making sure theyre in compliance has been a struggle for us due to capacity, Davenport said. Right now, we have two supervisors that have been reassigned and dedicated to making sure that the noncompliance issue is caught up.

Davenport also acknowledged ACS lacks the staff to investigate all bite calls it receives or to do proactive work that could prevent a bite from happening in the first place, such as by picking up strays or returning loose animals to their owners.

Realistically, theres 3,500 bite calls (annually), he said. We get to about 65 percent of those, which is not acceptable, but with capacity limitations we have for bite officers, thats the reality of what were at.

Any dog owner whose unrestrained pet leaves their property and bites a person will receive a criminal citation from ACS, a change the city made following Februarys attack. Previously, animal control officers had discretion on whether to issue a civil or a criminal citation.

READ MORE: San Antonio woman mourns babys death after dog attack led to crash

When pressed by District 2 Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez about staffing needs, Davenport said the 15 animal care officers who will come on board at the start of the next fiscal year would help the department respond to more bite calls. These officers will start an apprentice program in June and be ready to join the department as full-time employees in October. That will allow current officers to be promoted to bite and dangerous dog investigators.

By October, ACS will have eight bite investigators and four dangerous dog investigators  double the current amount.

And we expect that will be enough? McKee-Rodriguez asked.

Honestly, we can always use more, but that will get us where we need to be for right now, Davenport said.
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Eric Matthew Bell, co-founder of the now-defunct Blue Duck Scooters, a San Antonio company that rode the rental scooter craze to short-lived success, has died after a brief illness. He was 39.

"Eric was an amazing, loving son and bright light whose spark always lit up the room," his father, Paul A. Bell, said by email. "He was unique, spirited, driven, engaged, and a wonderful soul loved by family and many friends and colleagues."

The elder Bell confirmed that his son died April 25. No cause of death was given.

IN MEMORIAM: San Antonio artist and activist Ramon Vasquez y Sanchez dies at 83

Eric Bell and his father started Blue Duck Scooters in 2018, a time when the e-scooter industry was booming. Paul Bell once said they got the idea while on vacation in California where they saw people riding electric scooters around Santa Monica and Los Angeles.

Riders unlocked the vehicles with a credit card and were charged fees of about $1 upfront, plus 15 cents a mile. The phenomenon spread across the country and soon rental scooters were the rage in downtown San Antonio.

Blue Duck briefly rode the wave. At its peak, the startup had 100 full-time and contract employees and was operating in 10 cities, mostly in the South. It was the only Texas-based company in an industry dominated by California giants such as Lyft, Bird and Lime.

It struggled to become profitable, however. Eric Bell was replaced as CEO in 2019 but remained on the "senior executive team," the company said at the time.

Blue Duck closed in 2021.

Bell was born in San Antonio on Dec. 8, 1983, his family said.

He enjoyed traveling "often and widely, from Alaska to the Carolinas, Michigan to Mexico and to Scotland, California, Hawaii, the Mediterranean and Caribbean," his father and his wife, Julie Polansky Bell, wrote in an obituary.

Family members described him as "a millennial soul," who embraced being a part of the digital age and its technological transformations.

He co-founded and helped fund ThinkSA, a public policy group, and was an investor and advisor to startups, his family said. He also was a founding board member of TechBloc, an advocacy group for San Antonio's tech sector.

Friends recalled Bell as a natural entrepreneur, and also as a generous soul who would surprise people with gifts.

A connoisseur of ball caps, Bell once gave friend and business associate Michael Keane a Local Coffee cap, simply because Keane had complimented Bell on the one he wore.

"He was sensitive enough to realize I liked the cap, so he bought me one just like it," Keane said.

Keane worked with Bell as an executive at Blue Duck and briefly took the reins as CEO before the company folded. Keane said Bell was never discouraged by the ups and downs of the business world.

"Eric was constantly looking for different business ideas," he said. "Some worked, and some didn't work, but he had that in his DNA."

Keane said Bell told him weeks before he died about "a great business idea" he wanted to pursue. They never had the chance to discuss it.

Alan Schoenbaum, a tech industry lawyer, served on the board of Group 42, an energy-focused holding company founded by Paul Bell. Eric Bell was an executive and board member.

Schoenbaum said his sons grew up with the younger Bell, who Schoenbaum said was like a son to him.

"It was fun watching him grow up. He was a sweet, sweet boy. He's left an impact, and we all will remember him," Schoenbaum said.

Bell was preceded in death by his mother, Cathryn Bell Fleming; grandfathers Dr. James D. Bell and Curtis L. Bruner; grandmothers Joan L. Bell and Mildred "Millie" Bruner; and an uncle, John D. Bell.

In addition to his wife and father, he is survived by sister, Mallory Mangold; his brother, Jeffrey Mangold; an uncle, Curtis L. Bruner, Jr.; two aunts, Susan Bell and Deborah Bushold; and numerous cousins and other relatives.

The family is planning a "Celebration of Life" at a later date.
Bexar County Sheriff's Office

Drivers near Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland are asked to avoid the area after a fatal crash shut down a Southwest Side road Tuesday morning.

The Bexar County Sheriffs Office announced the closure of the westbound lanes of West Military Drive at Luke Boulevard just after 7 a.m. One eastbound lane is open to allow access to Lackland.
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Patti Radle, a longtime San Antonio civic leader known for her message of compassion and educational reform, stepped down from her seat on the San Antonio Independent School District board following a glowing sendoff from district officials, elected leaders and school principals.

Radle, 75, announced in January that she would not seek re-election after 12 years on the school board, including six as board president from 2015-2021. She was honored Monday night for her work in the district, as well as her 2003-2007 term on the San Antonio City Council representing the West Side, and more than 50 years as volunteer co-director of Inner City Development, a nonprofit that offers food, clothing and other services to children and families.

Radle has been an influential presence in Bexar Countys third-largest school district, where she worked as teacher from 1981-1994. Charity Nathaniel, principal of Sarah S. King Elementary, called Radle a fierce activist, pioneer and trailblazer who models servant leadership in all she does and frequently visited school administrators, asking if she could do anything to help.

More coverage: Rod and Patti Radle built legacy of social change

Listening to her and gleaning all I could from her, I was immediately won over by her compassion, clarity of vision and dedication to the people of District 5 and the city as a whole, Nathaniel said.

Others credited Radle with helping guide the school district through ethics reforms, the coronavirus pandemic, two major bond issues and transitions to two new superintendents.

Youre a woman of compassion. Youre a woman of conviction and a woman that not only speaks the word but demonstrates it through her actions, Ed Garza, former mayor and school district trustee, said during a 13-minute video tribute.

Stephanie Torres, who defeated Norberto Geremy Landin on May 6 to succeed Radle, took her oath and seat on dais after Radle and trustees said goodbye. Radle said she was especially touched by the appearance in the video of family members, including children, grandchildren and her husband, Rod, who co-manages Inner City Development and baked the cookies she brought to school meetings.

Board President Christina Martinez referred to Radle as the Queen of the West Side. But Radle countered that shes the queen of nada, giving credit to her peers and the community.

I am a neighbor. And I hang around a lot of good people, and a lot of good stuff happens, she said.

More education coverage: SAISD board will get at least one new face

She touched on the divisiveness that once plagued the school board, recalling trustees shouting at a meeting about 25 years ago.

It was kind of fun to watch, but it was not a fun thing for our district. It really was an awful thing, she said.

Today, she said, the board is working constructively with a focus on the welfare of students, teachers and the district as a whole. That comes as the district has been challenged with declining enrollment and ongoing concerns about school safety.

Radle also referenced issues left undone, mentioning environmental sustainability and matters related to gun culture. Radle, acknowledging the topic is controversial, said she appreciates the work of Junior ROTC instructors to build character, but believes students should not carry beginner firearms in drills, performances and ceremonies.

I think we can find a way to do it without the image of our children carrying rifles, she said.
A Sonic Drive-in employee died after a 12-year-old, just two years older than his own son, shot him multiple times earlier this week in North Texas, authorities said.

Around 9:40 p.m. Saturday, the Keene Police Department said it responded to a shooting at a Sonic on South Old Betsy in Keene, a city about 35 miles south of Fort Worth. Authorities said they discovered Matthew Davis, 32, lying in the parking lot and riddled with bullets.

Davis, of Keene, was airlifted to Harris Methodist Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

In case you missed it: Uvalde leaders urge people to stay away ahead of Robb Elementary shooting anniversary

Leigh Anne, Davis mother, learned of her sons death while on an overnight flight, according to a GoFundMe set up by her coworkers to raise money for the funeral. Leigh Ann is a flight attendant.

We truly cant comprehend it, the fundraiser said.

The GoFundMe mentions that Davis had a 10-year-old son.

Authorities are still investigating the shooting but believe that it started after an argument between a customer and Davis.

Police said that 20-year-old Angel Gomez, of Fort Worth, began acting disorderly in the parking lot shortly after he arrived at the restaurant with the 12-year-old and several other people on Saturday evening.

Courtesy of the Keene Police Department

Davis confronted him and the argument soon became physical, police said.

During the altercation, the 12-year-old, also from Fort Worth, took out a gun and fired multiple shots, striking Davis, police said.

CBS reported that the 12-year-old used an AR-style weapon and fired at least six rounds at Davis.

Gomez and the 12-year-old fled, police said.

Gomez returned to the Sonic and was taken into custody, police said. The child, who is unnamed by police, was found and taken into custody in nearby Rio Vista. There, authorities discovered several firearms.

Both Gomez and the 12-year-old are charged with murder.

timothy.fanning@express-news.net
Summer is coming.

If Game of Thrones were anything like San Antonio, Ned Stark would fear these words more. Energy is the most vital commodity to every citizen, so why is our government setting the states energy grid up for failure?

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT, estimates that energy demand will be at an all-time high, and the grid can handle it at capacity. However, the grid is more fragile than ever. A short period of extreme weather or scalding temperatures could lead to brownouts and power-plant breakdowns, all of which endanger the lives of Texans.

So, what is our government doing?

In short, the state insists on going backward, away from sustainable energy sources and toward more nonrenewables. This plan worsens the grid in the long run and makes the weather more dangerous by contributing to climate change. As of this month, the Texas power grid will still rely on renewable energy sources to meet peak demand. By rerouting funding from renewables, Texas is shooting itself in the foot.

Currently, Senate Bill 6 will make this happen. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is pushing to develop a backup generator of a 10,000-megawatt natural gas plant for when renewables are unreliable. Senate Bill 7 recommends developing larger batteries for renewables and natural gas to supplement instability in renewable power sources. While these policies may have the welfare of Texans in mind, they fail to invest more in the reliability of renewable sources. They are taking the easy way out. Texas needs to do more.

Stabilizing power is vital to summers in San Antonio.

Heat is no joke. Ill never forget that feeling of the first blast of frigid air after sweltering outside at my YMCA summer camp all day. Trips to Garner State Park and Canyon Lake would be impossible without my cars air conditioner. More seriously, Ive had friends whose grandparents were hospitalized due to heat exhaustion after their air conditioners went down.

But while Im glad the government is doing something about our fragile power grid, fossil fuels are not the long-term solution.

Texas leads the nation in overall renewable energy production, however, it also generates an outsized amount of electricity from fossil fuels. Renewables only account for 26 percent of the states total electricity production, according to Yale Climate Connections.

A more renewable Texas is a wealthier, higher job-creating, more sustainable and self-reliant state. To make renewable energy more reliable, the government should invest in greater grid-scale battery storage and more energy-efficient buildings. Texas should also consider diversifying its portfolio of renewable sources, as there are no hydroelectric, geothermal or solar thermal power sources in Texas. If the state diversifies more, one power source will always be available, even when another fails.

We must continue to support renewable energy in Texas to protect ourselves and our children. We should urge our state senators to act and encourage further investment into our sustainable power grid.

Asher Savel is a student at Bowdoin College who is double majoring in environmental studies and government/legal studies. He was raised in San Antonio and graduated from Tom C. Clark High School.
Thank you, Gov. Greg Abbott, for all but guaranteeing that mass shootings will continue by blaming mental health.

Even if we had adequate care for all Texans that included first-rate mental health care, would that stop outwardly sane people who get into arguments while drunk and firing rifles at midnight?

The armed motorists with hair-trigger tempers embroiled in road rage?

The students who had been bullied at school for years until theyve had enough (abetted by easy access to their familys legal arsenal)?

Then, theres the people bent on committing suicide and think, Hey, instead of an anonymous passing, why not take along a few others on a headline-grabbing death ride?

The problem is the all-too-easy access to military-style weapons, exploited by people with grievances, twisted political ideologies or, sadly, suicidal impulses.

But Abbott, you and other NRA-backed politicians have made workable solutions all but impossible.

Barry Shlachter, Fort Worth

Look at NRA rating

Why bother raising the flags from half-staff? Mass shootings are the event du jour. How long before other nations issue a travel advisory for the U.S.?

Gov. Greg Abbott loves blaming gun violence on mental health problems. The mental health problems are no doubt escalating by the day, post-traumatic stress from hearing about shootings, anxiety from worrying about getting shot during school, church, mall, movie outing or depression from not seeing people valued over guns.

For those who care about mental and physical well-being of those you care about, vote out elected officials who have A, B, or C ratings by the NRA.

Nancy Powlas

Leaders serve two masters

Its not that hard to determine why nothing can get done concerning the epidemic of gun massacres in our nation and the state of Texas.

Jesus even said, No one can serve two masters, (Matthew 6:24).

We have two senators and a governor who are on the dole of the assault weapons manufacturers. Their allegiance to them takes precedence over the citizens they were elected to represent. They even have a standard statement they use every time one of these slaughters occur, The victims and their families will be in our prayers.

If we want to act as if we just dont know why nothing ever gets done with regard to sensible gun laws, then shame on us.

Frank Prasifka, Kyle
WASHINGTON  Democrat Michelle Vallejo on Tuesday launched her second bid for Congress, setting up a rematch with Republican U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz in a South Texas district that was home to one of the most closely watched races in the 2022 midterms.

FLASHBACK: Texas Democrats say national groups are giving up on South Texas congressional race

In her announcement video, Vallejo casts De La Cruz as a "politica vendida"  a Spanish expression for a sell-out politician  and pledges to be an advocate for the "overlooked emprendedores (entrepreneurs) who make our community strong."

"The Rio Grande Valley needs a fighter in Congress who will put the needs of our community first, Vallejo said.

But Vallejo would need to gain significant ground after losing by more than 8 percentage points in the once-Democratic stronghold that the Trump-backed insurance agent De La Cruz flipped in 2022. Vallejo was outmatched in that race by a wave of Republican outside spending in a district that favored former President Donald Trump in 2020 by just 3 percentage points.

The district, a thin stretch of South Texas that runs from east of San Antonio to McAllen, was one of three South Texas battlegrounds that drew national attention as Republicans poured millions looking to capitalize on gains Trump made in the region. In the end, De La Cruz was the only GOP candidate who prevailed.

It is likely to draw significant attention again as national Democrats have listed the district as a priority in 2024 after essentially abandoning it in the midterms as they worked to defend other incumbents, including South Texas U.S. Reps. Henry Cuellar of Laredo and Vicente Gonzalez of McAllen.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee stopped short of endorsing Vallejo, who still could face other Democrats in a primary. But it slammed De La Cruz's "staunch adherence to MAGA extremists."

The Rio Grande Valley deserves a member of Congress who will fight for hard-working families and be a true voice for South Texas. That will never be Monica De La Cruz, DCCC Spokesperson Jacob Haythorn said.

Republicans, however, were confident in De La Cruz's chances.

Texans already flat-out rejected extremist Michelle Vallejo and her radical open border agenda, and nothing has changed this time around, said Courtney Parella, a spokeswoman for the Congressional Leadership Fund, the House GOP's campaign arm. Bidens border crisis is worse than ever, and Michelle Vallejo is still a liberal extremist. Texas voters know she would only make an already out-of-control border problem even worse and will send her packing again.

De La Cruz first ran for the seat in 2020, when she came within 3 percentage points of beating incumbent Gonzalez. After the GOP-led Legislature redrew the district in Republicans favor in 2021, Gonzalez decided to run in the neighboring 34th district, which President Joe Biden won by a 15.5-point margin.

Vallejo, a small-business owner, was recruited to run in 2022 by LUPE Votes, the political arm of a nonprofit founded by labor rights activists Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta. She is a progressive Democrat and eked out a 30-vote win in a competitive primary that spring.

Cayla Harris contributed to this report.
If youre going to spend your morning cleaning up trash, having a wonderful view makes the task much easier. The almost two dozen volunteers who showed up on Sunday at Freezout Lake near Fairfield had a view that is hard to beat.

This was the 2nd annual Freezout Spent Ammo and Trash Cleanup.

The event was organized by Sun River Watershed Group and Montana Wildlife Federation, with support from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks; Builders FirstSource and the Helena Chapter of Pheasants Forever.

Volunteers showed up from Choteau and Great Falls, but a couple came from Seeley Lake, a small group from Helena, and one man from Hamilton. Among the items found were shotgun shells and aluminum cans, but also a mud flap, duck decoy, parts of a Muck boot, and a bunch of old barbed wire. Volunteers worked just 3 hours (9:00 to noon) and collected all that trash!

Tracy Wendt, Executive Director of Sun River Watershed Group (SRWG) told the Sun Times, Im so appreciative of the volunteers that made today such a success. Like the rest of us they probably have yard work, spring cleaning, and chores to do at home, but they chose to come out and help our natural resources and public lands this morning instead. To me, thats just incredibly kind and inspiring.

Wendt said that the date is not set for the event in 2024, but will likely be at the end of April or beginning of May.

Those interested in learning more about SRWG are encouraged to visit the groups website, www.sunriverwatershed.org.
The Office of the Governor in the Montana State Capitol in Helena on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. (Photo by Mike Clark for the Daily Montanan)

Gov. Greg Gianforte signed into law a bill that would limit the insurance co-payment for insulin in Montana, among dozens of other pieces of legislation, with more than 100 bills still awaiting his signature.

Senate Bill 340, introduced in the 2023 session by Sen. Jason Small, R-Busby, caps the insurance copay on a 30-day supply of insulin at $35. A similar measure was introduced in the 2021 session, but failed.

According to a 2015 Johns Hopkins study, insulin can often cost anywhere from $120 to $400 per month without prescription drug insurance.

Alison Sharkey-Hines testified in committee that her son, who was born premature and died at two weeks old, might still be here if she had access to affordable insulin. She said in a text Monday that the bill becoming law was fantastic news.

Gianforte signed the bill last week, and it is effective Jan. 1, 2024.

Elections

Gianforte also signed into law a bill that would prevent private donations to elections offices in the state, with limited exceptions for tribes donating space, volunteer hours or their own funds for elections purposes.

The bill came about following the Zuckerbucks conspiracy, a phrase that stems from election skeptic circles surrounding a $350 million donation from Mark Zuckerberg to the nonprofit Center for Technology and Civic Life during the 2020 election. The skeptics believe the money influenced the outcome of the election.

Bill sponsor Sen. Shelly Vance, R-Belgrade, mentioned a report titled Zuckerbucks in Montana during her testimony in committee from a group called the Public Interest Legal Foundation, which is known for suing government entities to purge voter rolls. Violators of Senate Bill 117 can spend up to 10 years in prison or pay a fine up to $50,000.

A bill to prohibit noncitizens from voting, which is already illegal across the U.S., was also signed into law. Sponsored by Rep. Zach Wirth, R-Wolf Creek, House Bill 712 was introduced after two Philippine citizens were referred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for allegedly falsifying voter registration forms in 2021 in Phillips County.

Guns non-discrimination, bar liability and bullying

Gianforte also signed two other bills that sparked debate in the legislature: House Bill 356, which would prohibit the state from contracting with companies that have policies against working with firearm trade associations or entities; and House Bill 450, which purports to allow kids to defend themselves physically against bullies in school.

HB 356, sponsored by Rep. Brandon Ler, R-Savage, was endorsed by Attorney General Austin Knudsen when it was heard in committee, where he called out financial institutions like Wells Fargo and JP Morgan Chase for increasingly denying services to an extremely highly regulated industry because they happen to be engaged in the Second Amendment.

The only Republican to vote against the bill on the House floor, Rep. John Fitzpatrick, R-Anaconda, who said he saw it conflicted with another bill Republicans endorsed that prevented environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing in Montana.

With ESG investing, the Democrats love it because it injects liberal values into the corporate decision-making process, Fitzpatrick said during a Republican caucus before the vote. Now we come around here today with a bill that wants to do exactly the same thing, but since its a Republican idea, its acceptable.

The bill to allow kids to hit their bullies back was critiqued as not being workable in real classroom settings. Rep. Eric Matthews, D-Bozeman, who has been an educator for more than 20 years, said on the House floor fights in schools dont happen in front of cameras, and kids could make it seem like another kid started the fight and make themselves the victim.

HB 450, sponsored by Rep. Jedediah Hinkle, R-Belgrade, has a July 1 effective date.

Senate Majority Leader Steve Fitzpatricks bill on limiting bar owners civil liability for overserving patrons was also signed into law.

Senate Bill 107 limits permissible evidence in civil cases to exclude the overserved patrons blood alcohol content. Fitzpatrick said on the Senate floor this is because there is no way to know in real time what that data point is, and its a judgment call.

The bill would also limit damages, both punitive and non-economic, like emotional distress, to $250,000 per incident.

Sen. Willis Curdy, D-Missoula, critiqued the measure as an insurance bailout bill during debate.

The post Gianforte signs into law insulin cap, bill preventing private contributions to elections appeared first on Daily Montanan.
Fairfield, MT (59436)

Today

Sunny. Areas of smoke and haze are possible, reducing visibility at times. High 81F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Mostly clear. Low 52F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Farmers could soon be reimbursed for creating water storage ponds or water batteries as part of an innovative drought-prevention project.

With droughts affecting the UK last summer, the project aims to help farms manage water demand through dry weather, as well as boost aquatic biodiversity.

The initiative will work with farmers to create stores of water  both in soil sponges as well as lakes and ponds - that can be re-charged through wet weather.

This is then drawn on through ever-more common dry seasons, to the benefit of either the farmers themselves or local communities.

These water batteries could form the basis of a smart water grid, improving the resilience of the water supply in the wake of climate change.

This in the same way solar batteries in homes store excess electricity that can be sold back to the National Grid.

The project is one of 16 solutions being awarded a share of 40m today (16 May) in water regulator Ofwat's competition  the Water Breakthrough Challenge.

David Black, CEO of Ofwat said: The water sector has faced mounting pressure over systemic challenges related to the environment and society, while the climate around us continues to drastically change shape.

"Thats why were funding ground-breaking innovations with potential to help us save and reuse water and wastewater products, while supporting wider society.

Dr Laurence Couldrick, CEO of Westcountry Rivers Trust, said the creation of additional on-demand storage had "even more potential" in boosting the environment.

"Just like we might use a battery to capture solar power, and either use it ourselves or sell it back into the grid as needed, trapping and maintaining additional supplies of water on farms truly has potential to combat the effects of drought."

The competition is also recognising a solution that adapts ground-stability monitoring technology to tackle leakage  a challenge which currently equates to the loss of over three billion litres of water a day.

The project will use the existing network of fibre-optic cables, like those that host broadband, to report on minute changes in vibration patterns.

This process, which is already used to monitor ground stability as part of the rail network, can also indicate even the smallest loss of water to catch leaks early.

Competition winners also include the creation of the UKs first ever full-scale carbon-neutral wastewater works.
Young sheep farmers have the chance to progress their flocks as a new competition has launched offering five performance recorded Romney rams.

The National Sheep Association's (NSA) Next GENE-eration competition is open to young sheep farmers aged between 18 to 35.

Up for grabs are five MV accredited, performance recorded Romney rams, provided by Rob and Jo Hodgkins of Kaiapoi Romneys through the Frank Parkinson Agricultural Trust.

The Dutch Spotted Sheep Society is also giving away five ram vouchers, worth 750 each, to be redeemed at an official society's sale in 2023.

NSA communications manager Katie James, who is coordinating the giveaway, said the competition was 'great opportunity' for young farmers.

The addition of the Dutch Spotted ram vouchers to the giveaway will mean even more young shepherds will be able to benefit from this initiative.

"The two breeds will offer sheep farmers from contrasting systems the opportunity to benefit from top class genetics that will help them progress their systems.

Rob Hodgkins of Kaiapoi Romneys adds: As a farm we have had the benefit of a lot of people's and business's goodwill over the years.

"It's important to Jo and myself that we are now in a position to give back to the industry that has given so much to us.

"We hope this giveaway can make some meaningful change to some deserving young farmers.

The giveaway is one element of the NSA Next Generation programme that aims to support young sheep farmers.

To apply, applicants must submit a short video clip explaining the reasons for their application and why they should be considered as a chosen recipient.

Applications to the competition are remain open until Monday 19 June.
British politicians fear that Russia could use chemical weapons if Ukraine's counter-offensive proves successful.

British politicians are wary of Vladimir Putin using chemical weapons

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace explained that the UK is "very much on our guard about what happens next" as there are concerns that Russian despot Vladimir Putin could resort to using non-conventional weapons to aid Moscow's war efforts.

Wallace pointed out how Russia has used chemical weapons in Syria and even on British soil with the Salisbury poisonings of former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in 2018.

Responding to a House of Commons question by Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood, Wallace answered: "We always have to be on our guard about the behaviours of the Russian military and indeed President Putin.

"As he rightly comments, the use of chemical weapons in Syria was another turning point, the use of chemical weapons here on the streets of the United Kingdom in the Skripals' poisoning in Salisbury.

"We are on our guard, the international community regularly communicate, we stand ready with NATO, we increase our readiness as we do, and we have started to increase the investment in our capabilities, all important, but he is right we have to be very much on our guard about what happens next."
Anna Nicole Smiths friend Melissa Missy Byrum claims they had an unofficial wedding.

Anna Nicole Smiths friend Melissa Missy Byrum claims they had an unofficial wedding

Model Anna died in 2007 of combined drug intoxication, and was famously married to oil tycoon J Howard Marshall II in 1994, which was her second marriage and his third and made headlines as J Howard was 89 and Anna was 26 when they married.

But Melissa, who appears in the new Netflix documentary Anna Nicole Smith: You Dont Know Me, has told People they were in a secret lesbian relationship and got hitched in the backyard by the pool in 1993.

She said: We became lovers, you know? And I mean real sober lovers  it was a conscious thing.

She said that she loved me. Wed now been through some bad relationships, both of us, with men. We decided that we just didnt need men.

She gave me a set of wedding rings and we got married in the backyard by the pool with champagne.

I wore the rings. She wanted me to have a baby with her. But I always knew it wasnt ever going to work out. Because she was never, ever going to settle down with one person.

Melissa added: I was not (Annas) first female lover. But I knew it would not last. She needed more love than any one human being could give her.

She met Anna, who she calls Nicki at a strip club in Houston in the late 1980s, not far from where Anna grew up, and they soon became friends.

Melissa added: From the minute I met her, she always told me she was gonna end up being a famous model. And she always told me she was gonna die young.

She was a princess. If she wanted something from you, you would deliver it. Thats how it worked. Nicki was adaptable and changeable to whatever circumstances were going on in your particular dynamic of a relationship, to get what she needed.

She started to manifest the character of Anna Nicole back then. She would even pretend to be stupid when she was dancing. I watched her do it all the time. She learned stripping that guys like to think youre dumb if youre that pretty.
King Charles coronation is being celebrated with the release of a free coin.

King Charles coronation is being celebrated with the release of a free coin

The London Mint Office has announced the release of its Official Coronation of King Charles III coin after the 74-year-old monarch was crowned on 6 May.

The limited edition coin is dated and bears a new effigy of Charles by sculptor Raphael Maklouf, 85, and features a Westminster Abbey design.

Dame Joanna Lumley, 77, who is a fan of the creation, said: I think it's beautiful because it shows a sort of wisdom and gentleness of a mature and brilliant King.

Royal fans only need to pay a 2.50 delivery fee when they order the commemorative coin from the Mint office.

It said in a statement: We are proud to commemorate this momentous occasion and put history in the hands of our customers today.

Dame Joanna was seen in footage released in April pressing one of the Tower Mints first commemorative coins of Charles ahead of his coronation.

As she held up the 22-karat gold coin to cameras she told ITV London: I think its just so thrilling, to see this little first gold sovereign being printed on this little flat bit of solid gold  isnt that just enchanting?

Sculptor Raphael, best known for creating an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II used on the coins of many Commonwealth nations, said about one challenge he had to overcome in creating the new design for Charles: The ears  they come out quite a bit  so its an illusion, so that was quite a difficult thing to do.

The coin release comes as it was said Charles dislikes the idea of living at Buckingham Palace.

He has access to more than 30 privately owned residences, but reportedly favours smaller options instead of the iconic London residence.

Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine and the author of multiple royal biographies, 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.

Hugo Vickers, a royal historian and author of a biography on the Queen Mother, added Charles would run his office out of the Palace and use it for state occasions but had no desire to live there.

He added to the Times: I think youll find that hell stay at Clarence House, which even (Queen Elizabeth) wanted to do, but Winston Churchill made her go to Buckingham Palace.
Whoopi Goldberg doesnt regret kicking off her career with a sketch about a disabled woman looking for love.

Whoopi Goldberg doesnt regret kicking off her career with a sketch about a disabled woman looking for love

The 67-year-old actress one-woman series of monologues called The Spook Show that she put on in the 1980s in New York featured a segment where she contorted her limbs to play a woman with an unspecified disability searching for romance.

Whoopi told the new issue of the Radio Times about the inspiration behind the sketch: Sometimes people said, Well, maybe you shouldnt say that. But a friend of mine who was paraplegic said, Im very mad at you.

I said, Why? And he said, Because you never do us.

So I wrote this piece about a young lady who is not quite paraplegic, but is differently abled. She has disabilities which dont allow her always to think of herself as a hot young woman.

When asked if she would repeated the performance today, Whoopi added: Yeah! Because you tell me whats wrong with it?

The things that Ive done, theres always been a reason. All of my work has been, This could be you, so pay attention. Thats always been my motive.

The Spook Show also featured Whoopi transforming into a drug-addicted burglar who visits the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam and a teenage Californian girl who describes performing an abortion on herself.

Whoopi, who is one of only 18 people to have won an EGOT  Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony  thanks to her performances in films including The Color Purple and Ghost, also admitted: Im always shocked that people come and see me do stuff. I never thought I was going to become a famous movie person.

Whoopi was suspended for two weeks last year from her role as co-host of The View after making what ABC News called wrong and hurtful comments about Jews and the Holocaust.

She said race was not a factor in the Holocaust, before apologising hours later and again on the following days episode, saying she misspoke.

Whoopi added at the time: My words upset so many people, which was never my intention.

I understand why now and for that I am deeply, deeply grateful because the information I got was really helpful and helped me understand some different things.

Radio Times can be ordered at www.radiotimes.com.
Free trade zones (FTZs) in China witnessed rapid foreign trade and investment growth in the first quarter (Q1) this year, with the total foreign trade of its 21 FTZs amounting to 1.8 trillion yuan ($260.5 billion)up by 6.6 per cent year on year, according to the ministry of commerce.

This growth rate was 1.8 percentage points higher than the national level, ministry spokesperson Shu Jueting told a press conference.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) in these FTZs in actual use rose by 22.1 per cent from a year earlier to 71.9 billion yuan, she said.

Rapid foreign trade and investment growth was seen in China's free trade zones (FTZs) in the first quarter this year, with the total foreign trade of its 21 FTZs amounting to $260.5 billionup by 6.6 per cent year on year. Foreign direct investment in these FTZs in actual use rose by 22.1 per cent from a year earlier to 71.9 billion yuan.

The ministry would organise various activities to help businesses at home and abroad learn more about China's FTZ policies and share opportunities for future development, she added.

China set up its first FTZ in Shanghai in 2013.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Cannes Film Festival 2023: The prestigious film festival Cannes 2023 is prepared to roll out in a few hours. On May 16, the starry 76th edition of the world's most-talked about gala will kick off in the French Riviera town and run till May 27.

Meanwhile, as everyone eagerly awaits to see what this year has in store, there is a lot of excitement in India, as there are several Indian stars who will be making their splashing appearance at the Cannes red carpet.

Apart from the regulars, there are a number of celebs who are making their first entry in her French Riviera, which has already elevated us all. From Ansushka Sharma to Sara Ali Khan, let's take a look at celebs who are making their debut at the Cannes Film Festival 2023.

ANUSHKA SHARMA

One of the most anticipated red carpet debuts is that of Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma. The actress will be seen paying tribute to women in cinema along with Hollywood star Kate Winslet.

The duo will honour the outstanding contributions of women in the film industry and celebrate the talent, influence, and achievement of women filmmakers, actors, and artists. Moreover, everybody is waiting with bated breath to see what Anushka will be wearing on the red carpet.

Cannes 2023: Not Just Anushka Sharma, THIS Former Miss World Will Also Make Her Red Carpet Debut This Year

MRUNAL THAKUR

Actress Mrunal Thakur, who made everybody swoon over her performance as Sita in Sita Ramam, is set to make her debut on the prestigious Cannes red carpet. Talking about it, she said, "I am thrilled to be attending the Cannes Film Festival for the first time. It is an honour to represent Grey Goose on such a prestigious platform. I am looking forward to interacting with global filmmakers, exploring new opportunities, and showcasing the talent that Indian cinema has to offer."

MANUSHI CHHILLAR

Former Miss World 2017, Manushi Chhillar's presence at the coveted platform was confirmed by the Government of India. She will be a representative of the Indian delegation on the global stage, and her appearance at the festival will highlight the recognition she has earned over the years by winning the Miss World crown.

SARA ALI KHAN

Sara Ali Khan is also making her Cannes debut and is expected to make her stunning appearance on the festival's opening day. She was also spotted leaving for Cannes.

ESHA GUPTA

Actress Esha Gupta is all set to set fire to her sizzling Cannes debut. She is a part of the Indian contingent led by Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L Murugan. She has been selected to represent India and its culture at the Indian Pavilion.

SUNNY LEONE

Sunny Leone starrer movie Kennedy has been selected to premiere on the French Riviera. She and the entire team of the movie are ready to make a stunning appearance.

VIDEO: Sara Ali Khan Leaves For Cannes 2023 To Make Her Red Carpet Debut; Gets Mobbed At The Airport

ANDREA KEVICHUSA

Andrea Kevichusa, who was seen in the Ayushmann Khuranna movie Anek, is making her Cannes debut and will represent Nagaland.

SHANON K

The daughter of singer Kumar Sanu is also making her debut on the Cannes red carpet.
Cannes 2023: The most glamorous time of the year is here again! The prestigious Cannes Film Festival 2023 officially opens today, May 16, and there's a lot you must be on the lookout for. From the most-anticipated movie screenings to glittering red-carpet appearances, there is a reason why all eyes are on the French Riviera this time around.

Cannes has picked up the pace after slowing down for a couple of years due to the pandemic. And this year, the international film festival will witness big Indian representation. A slew of celebrities and influencers have headed to France to attend the festival.

As we gear up for the event to kick off, here's everything you need to know about the most sought-after event.

When is the 2023 Cannes Film Festival?

This year the event begins on May 16. The film festival will be opened by the French-language film, Jeanne du Barry, starring Johnny Depp. The festival will conclude with Pixar's animated film Elemental on May 27.

Where will the Cannes Film Festival 2022 take place?

As ever, the Cannes Film Festival will take place on the southeast coast of France along the French Riviera. The festival will be organized at the Palais des Festivals et des Congres on the famous Promenade de la Croisette. The selected films will be screened in the Louis Lumiere Auditorium.

Special screenings and Out of Competition films are also offered to the public and guests throughout the event.

Where Can You Watch The Event LIVE?

Reports suggest that the Opening Ceremony will broadcast live internationally on Brut.

AWARDS & 2022 WINNERS

Palme d'Or (Golden Palm): The highest prize awarded to the best film in the official competition. Last year, Triangle of Sadness, directed by Ruben Ostlund won the award.

Grand Prix: The second-highest prize awarded to the runner-up film in the official competition. Last year, Stars at Noon, directed by Claire Denis and Close directed by Lukas Dhon won the award.

Best Director: Awarded to the best director of a film in the official competition. Last year, Park Chan-wook won the award for Decision to Leave.

Best Actor: Awarded to the best male actor in a film in the official competition. In 2022, Song Kang-ho won for Broker

Best Actress: Awarded to the best female actor in a film in the official competition. Zar Amir Ebrahimi won the award for Holy Spider in 2022.

Jury Prize: A special prize awarded by the jury for artistic excellence in a film in the official competition. Eo directed by Jerzy Skolimowski, Le Otto Montagne, directed by Charlotte Vandermeersch, Felix van Groeningen

Best Screenplay: Awarded to the best screenplay of a film in the official competition. Tarik Saleh won it for Boy from Heaven.

Best Short Film: Awarded to the best short film in the official competition. The Water Murmers won it in 2022.

Camera d'Or: Awarded to the best debut feature film across all sections of the festival. Gina Gammell and Riley Keough for War Pony.

Un Certain Regard Prize: Awarded to the best film in the Un Certain Regard section, which showcases innovative and daring works. The Worst One directed by Lise Akoka, and Romane Gueret won the award.

Queer Palm: Awarded to the best LGBTQ-themed film across all sections of the festival. Joyland won the award.

Palme d'Or for Best Documentary: Awarded to the best documentary film in the official competition. All That Breaths won the award in 2022.
On Monday, Mumbai, May 15 (PTI) Superstar Shah Rukh Khan said 'Mannat', his landmark sea-facing bungalow in suburban Bandra here, was his wife Gauri Khan's first project as an interior designer.

The "Pathaan" star said that before he and Gauri Khan bought 'Mannat', they lived at his director friend's house next to Taj Lands End, the five-star hotel. When the couple, now married for over 30 years, gathered some money, Shah Rukh Khan said they decided to buy a house, which went on to become 'Mannat'.

"We managed to buy ('Mannat'). But then we didn't have the money to furnish it. We called one designer, and the lunch he served us told us how he would design this house. It was way more than the salary I used to earn in a month. So, we thought now that 'We have bought it, how do we do this house?'

"Then I said, 'Gauri, you have artistic talent. Why don't you become the designer of the house?' 'Mannat' started like that. The money that we earned over the years... We kept on buying small things. Once we had little money, we bought leather fur sofas... And all the small things we used to buy," Shah Rukh Khan told reporters here. The Bollywood star was speaking at the launch event of Gauri Khan's coffee table book "My Life in Design".

Gauri Khan said the book follows her journey as an interior designer and would come handy for any budding decorator. "I have compiled everything for people to go through design. When I chose this profession, designing homes, bringing them to life... (It) was extremely satisfying and exciting. And, seeing a smile on a client's face gave me so much joy. I wanted to pen down all these thoughts and designs in one book," she said. Shah Rukh Khan, who has penned the foreword of "My Life in Design", further said having an interior designer at home makes things "easier" for him.

"Starting early without a designer helped her learn. One thing led to the other, she kept on designing stuff. For me, it's very nice that I don't have to look for another designer. I think I can scream and shout at her that 'This is not very nice, change this'. Just joking! It is just easier," he said.

The actor praised his wife, also a film producer, for charting out her journey in the industry on her own. "At 40, she started doing this and I told her, 'Should I be helpful? Should I tell some friends? I will talk to them', she said, 'No'. She started with 10 feet by 20 feet shop in Lower Parel and she got it all out on her own and continues doing what she does," he said. Calling Gauri Khan "the busiest person" in the family, Shah Rukh Khan said he admires her for doing what "satisfies" her. It's never too late to pursue one's calling, he added. "(Once) I told her, 'What are you doing the whole day? Why do you keep doing so much work?' She says 'Because it satisfies me', and this book stands for that. Follow your dreams, do what satisfies you..." he said.

"We have dinners at home and we have to have dinner together and, on those days, we discuss, 'How was your day at work?'... She believes a satisfying day is a happy day. At whatever stage, whatever age, you are trying to follow your dream at the end of it, (and) it is very important to follow that, is what we have learnt from Gauri," the actor added.

Published by Penguin Random House, in "My Life in Design", Gauri Khan charts out her journey as a designer with exclusive pictures of her and her family - Shah Rukh Khan, Aryan Khan, Suhana Khan, and Abram Khan. Unseen images of her Mumbai residence, 'Mannat', and the design thought processes that went into it, as well as other key projects, are part of the book as well, said the publishers.
Akhil Marar Gives Foot Massage To Robin Radhakrishnan: The Akhil Marar- Robin Radhakrishnan issue was the biggest talking point before Bigg Boss Malayalam season five began.

The controversy started with Akhil Marar's allegations that Robin Radhakrishnan paid twenty thousand rupees to a few men to boo against actor Unni Mukundan when he attended an event related to the promotion of cinema in Kozhikode.

Bigg Boss Malayalam: Sagar Tries To Rob Rajith; Robin Blames Akhil For CHAOS, Marar Attempts To ASSAULT Sruthi

Akhil had also described Robin as the 'loud mouth' on social media. But when Robin also came to the scene in response to this, there was a cyberwar between the fans of both on social media. Robin wanted Akhil Marar to apologise for the statement he made. But Akhil Marar was not ready to apologise.

After that controversy, the two met face-to-face yesterday in the Bigg Boss house. Robin came to the Bigg Boss house once again as a guest for the BB Hotel task. Bigg Boss season 2 star Rajith Kumar was also there. With this, the audience expected a clash between Robin and Akhil Marar, but both were seen moving forward with restraint.

Both of them talked about some old matters. In between this, Robin asked Akhil, the security on task, to give him a massage. Akhil comes and massages Robin's shoulder first. Akhil laughed and asked if this was not an attempt to spread the visuals of it on social media, with BGM and all.Then, when Robin asked him to massage the legs as well, Akhil massaged above the knee.

Someone Who Doesn't Hold Grudges

As Akhil said, since this morning, these scenes have been widely circulated by Robin fans on social media. They also say that this is Robin's sweet revenge. At the same time, a section of Akhil fans are justifying it, saying that it is just part of the task. But some Akhil fans are of the opinion that Akhil could have avoided this.

Bigg Boss Malayalam 5: Robin's Fiancee Arati Podi's Post Gains Attention, Asks Him To 'Ignore Those Who...'

Akhil also clarifies that he did all this only because he was on task. He also says that if they had come as contestants, they would have seen his competitive method. After that, Robin and Akhil Marar were talking in a friendly manner. In the meantime, Rajith Kumar comes and asks if the enemies on social media have turned into buddies inside the house. Robin's reply was that he is not a person who keeps grudges in his mind.
Kerala Story Creates Clash Between College Students: There has been a clash between the students of the Government Medical College hostel in Jammu regarding the film The Kerala Story.



Produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah and directed by Sudipto Sen, the film 'The Kerala Story' released on the May 5, 2023. The film has received mixed reviews. It is said to have collected Rs.150 crore till now. After the release of the teaser, the film has been facing a lot of backlash. There were strong objections from many quarters that the film incites religious hatred. A case related to this is going on in the court.

Clash Started From The WhatsApp Group?

In this situation, the clash between students caused by the film 'The Kerala Story' has become a sensational topic. It is said that one student posted that the film was good in the students' WhatsApp group, while another student posted it asking them not to post anything other than studies.

Due to this, an argument broke out between the students and they split into two groups and beat each other. Following this last Sunday, unidentified miscreants entered the hostel and severely assaulted the students in which 5 students were injured. One of the students said that over the past few years, students have been divided into religious groups within the college campus.

Five Students Injured

While 5 students were undergoing treatment in the hospital, 4 students have been discharged today. 1 student is still being treated for a head injury. He will be discharged soon. The college administration has lodged a complaint with the police to trace the involvement of outsiders.

The Principal said that college disciplinary action will be taken against the erring students. The medical students are protesting demanding an investigation into the attack and action against those involved. This has created quite a stir in the college and this incident has shocked the entire country.
The Kerala Story Didn't Get Enough Reception: The Tamil Nadu government has told the Supreme Court that the movie 'The Kerala Story' was not well received in Tamil Nadu and the theater owners themselves have stopped the film.

Directed by Sudipto Sen, The Kerala Story released nationwide on the May 5, 2023. Although the Tamil Nadu government has not banned the release of The Kerala Story, the film was not released in many theatres. Against this, the makers of The Kerala Story filed a case in the Supreme Court.

Supreme Court Questioned Tamil Nadu Government

During the hearing of the case, the Supreme Court judge had ordered the state government to give an explanation about the security provided to theaters where The Kerala Story is being screened in Tamil Nadu.

Tamil Nadu Government Did Not Ban The Kerala Story

The Tamil Nadu government gave its reply in the Supreme Court today (May 16, 2023). They said "Tamil Nadu government provided police security to 19 theaters where Kerala Story was screened. As the film was not well received, the theater owners said that they will screen another film. The government did not ban the film."

In Tamil Nadu, STPI, Naam Tamilar Katchiyar etc. staged a blockade in various theaters of Tamil Nadu wherever the movie 'The Kerala Story' was released. As a result, the film was screened in a few theaters in Tamil Nadu, and then it was stopped within a couple of days.

Annamalai Questioned Red Giant Movies

Tamil Nadu BJP President Annamalai said, "If Kerala Story is wrong, why did Red Giant buy its Tamil Nadu distribution rights?" The question raised has caused great controversy. Many people are commenting on social media that it is a mystery why Tamil Nadu Minister Udayanidhi Stalin's production company bought such a controversial film and then why the government banned it. But Udhayanidhi Stalin supporters said that he is not part of Red Giant Movies and he already announced it in press conference.

In such a situation, this reply from Tamil Nadu Governement to the Supreme Court has created new controversy.
How to Watch Kennedy on OTT

1. You may install the Zee5 OTT App or go to the original Zee5 website to view the film streaming online on the OTT service.



2. If you're a new user, register with your email address or phone number and create a password. If you already use the service, type your username and password.



3. You will be sent to the home page after logging in, where you can check out the newest movies that are streaming on the OTT platform.



4. You could track the search tab by typing "Kennedy" into the search bar.



5. You can enjoy watching the movie by selecting a language and clicking the "Play Now" button.


TIANJIN, China, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The seventh World Intelligence Congress (WIC), a major artificial intelligence (AI) event in China, will be held in north China's Tianjin Municipality from May 18 to 21, according to the Publicity Department of Tianjin Municipality.

Themed "Intelligence: Extensive Development Space, Sustainable Growth Driver", the event will focus on empowering economic and social development with smart technologies and building a global platform for exchange, cooperation, win-win outcomes and sharing in the field of intelligent technology.

Zhu Peng, vice mayor of Tianjin, said the event, highlighting the new trends, new technologies and new business forms of AI development, will invite politicians, entrepreneurs, experts and scholars from all over the world to discuss forward-looking subjects such as intelligent cars, generative AI, brain-computer interaction, as well as AI-related hot topics in the fields of economy, society and culture.

Covering an exhibition area of 120,000 square meters, the intelligent technology exhibition component of the four-day event will set up 10 themed exhibition areas, including information technology application innovation, AI and 5G+ industrial Internet, and two smart experience areas focusing on the likes of 5G and smart cars.

The exhibition also covers products, initiatives and technologies such as scientific research and application, smart city and transportation, international and regional collaboration, and intelligent manufacturing.

In addition, experts, scholars and entrepreneurs from 21 countries and regions, including the United States, Germany, Japan and the Republic of Korea, will come to Tianjin to strengthen cooperation in science and technology, trade and culture.

Since its inauguration in 2017, the event has offered a platform for scientists, entrepreneurs and economists from home and abroad to discuss the frontier trends of intelligence technology.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/seventh-world-intelligence-congress-to-open-in-chinas-tianjin-301824640.html
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 15, 2023) - Aftermath Silver Ltd. (TSXV: AAG) (OTCQX: AAGFF) (FSE: FLM1) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed the second and final tranche (the "Second Tranche") of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement"), whereby the Company has completed the issuance of 7,045,200 units (each, a "Unit") at a price of $0.25 per Unit for gross proceeds of $1,761,300.00. Pursuant to both tranches of the Private Placement, the Company issued an aggregate of 33,005,467 Units for gross proceeds of $8,251,367.

Each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Common Share") and one-half of one non-transferable common share purchase warrant of the Company (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant is exercisable by the holder to acquire one Common Share for a period of 24 months from the date of closing of the Second Tranche of the Private Placement at a price of C$0.35 per share.

In connection with the Private Placement, the Company paid fees to eligible finders consisting of an aggregate of: (i) $328,782.50; (ii) 57,400 Common Shares (the "Finder's Shares"); and (iii) 200,410 Warrants (the "Broker Warrants"). Each Broker Warrant is exercisable by the holder to acquire one Common Share for a period of 24 months from the date of closing of the Second Tranche of the Private Placement at a price of C$0.35 per share.

All securities issued pursuant to the Second Tranche of the Private Placement, including the Finder's Shares, are subject to hold period expiring on September 16, 2023, in addition to such other restrictions as may apply under applicable securities laws of jurisdictions outside Canada.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Second Tranche for metallurgical and engineering studies on the Berenguela Silver-Copper-Manganese project in southern Peru ("Berenguela"), project payments related to the purchase of Berenguela and for general working capital purposes.

Certain directors, officers and other insiders of the Company ("Interested Parties") purchased or acquired direction or control over a total of 80,000 Units as part of the Second Tranche of the Private Placement. The placement to those persons constitutes a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the directors of the Company have determined that the Interested Parties' participation in the Second Tranche of the Private Placement will be exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 in reliance on the exemptions set forth in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(b) of MI 61-101. The Company did not file a material change report 21 days prior to the closing of the Second Tranche of the Private Placement as the details of the participation of Interested Parties had not been confirmed at that time.

Exercise of Warrants

The Company also wishes to announce the exercise of 3,068,400 previously issued Common Share purchase warrants of the Company exercisable at $0.25 per Common Share by certain shareholders of the Company, issued in connection with its private placement offering on May 7, 2020, for gross proceeds of $767,100.

About Aftermath Silver Ltd.

Aftermath Silver Ltd. is a leading Canadian junior exploration company focused on silver, and aims to deliver shareholder value through the discovery, acquisition and development of quality silver projects in stable jurisdictions. Aftermath has developed a pipeline of projects at various stages of advancement. The Company's projects have been selected based on growth and development potential.

Berenguela Silver-Copper project. The Company has an option to acquire a 100% interest through a binding agreement with SSR Mining. The project is located in the Department of Puno, in southern central Peru. A NI 43-101 Technical Report on the property was filed in February 2021 (available on SEDAR and the Company's web page). The Company is currently drilling at Berenguela and planning to advance the project through a pre-feasibility study.

Challacollo Silver-Gold project. The Company recently completed the acquisition of a 100% interest in the Challacollo silver-gold project from Mandalay Resources; see Company news release dated August 11, 2022. A NI 43-101 mineral resource was released on December 15, 2020 (available on SEDAR and the Company's web page). The Company is currently permitting road access in anticipation of an upcoming drill program.

Cachinal Silver-Gold project. The Company owns a 100% interest in the Cachinal Ag-Au project, located 2.5 hours south of Antofagasta. On June 10, 2022, Aftermath announced it had reached an agreement to sell Cachinal to Honey Badger Silver Inc. On September 16, 2020, the Company released a CIM-compliant mineral resource estimate and accompanying NI 43-101 Technical Report (available on SEDAR and on the Company's web page).

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"Ralph Rushton"

Ralph Rushton

CEO and Director

604-484-7855

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements regarding discussions of future plans, estimates and forecasts and statements as to management's expectations and intentions with respect to, among other things, the Company's use of proceeds raised under the Second Tranche of the Private Placement including completing metallurgical and engineering studies at Berenguela.

These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, market uncertainty, that the Company will not utilize the proceeds raised under the Second Tranche of the Private Placement as currently anticipated including for the purpose of completing metallurgical and engineering studies at Berenguela.

In making the forward looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that the Company will use the proceeds of the Second Tranche of the Private Placement as currently anticipated.

Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor.

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/166243


EQS Newswire / 16/05/2023 / 04:00 CET/CEST

BEIJING, CHINA - Media OutReach - 16 May 2023 - Cedrus Group ("Cedrus") , a global Swiss financial group, is pleased to announce that it has signed a collaboration agreement with Xiuzheng Pharmaceutical Group ("Xiuzheng") in March 2023. Xiuzheng is a renowned Chinese pharmaceutical major; namely, it engages in R&D, production and marketing of patent medicine, chemical and biological medicine, franchise operation of pharmacies, and standardized cultivation of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Xiuzheng owns 130 subsidiaries, employs a workforce of over 100,000 and has more than 2,000 references of medicines and health foods.



Central to the collaboration, which jointly aims to assess and conduct direct investments in the life sciences industry, is the eagerness to invest in the world's leading innovators in the sector and become their trusted partner in their expansion into the Greater China Region. Bringing these innovative companies to the region will yield a plethora of benefits for the already highly sophisticated Chinese life sciences sector. Cedrus will leverage its connectivity across the life sciences industry globally, along with its deploying its distinguished investment banking services and capitalizing on its European headquarters in Zurich, to act as a holistic enabler and connector between Xiuzheng and overseas technologies and products in the course successfully executing cross-border transactions. Additionally, Cedrus will advise Xiuzheng in order to establish itself on a global-scale and write further chapters in its success story. In addition to investment, Xiuzheng will provide valuable support to the opportunities brought to China, namely in the form of clinical trials advisory, access to manufacturing partners and utilizing its experienced work force to market and distribute products.



For over a decade, Cedrus has been actively engaged in bringing foreign innovative technologies, products and treatments from across the life sciences space, in particular from Switzerland and other European countries to the Greater China region. Cedrus, in its capacity as an investor and advisor, identifies visionary companies looking to gain early access to one of the largest pharmaceutical markets in the world and partners with them, offering investment and ongoing advisory in their market entry and growth in China.



Mr. Rani Jarkas, Chairman of the Cedrus Group , said that "We are proud to be working closely with Xiuzheng to invest and bring innovative life sciences companies to China. An investment committee has been formed and regular meetings are held to assess to robust pipeline of opportunities. Combining the unique domain expertise of Cedrus and Xiuzheng, we are creating an unparalleled and momentous win-win situation where we bring unique technologies to China and build on the esteemed reputation of our partner Xiuzheng in China and support its transition into a world-class Chinese global pharmaceutical group."

Hashtag: CedrusGroup

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About Cedrus Group Cedrus Group is a private Swiss financial group with integrated investment banking and investment capabilities. In addition to offering Private Wealth Management, Investment Management and Financial Advisory Services, Cedrus, through its group companies, invests directly and globally in businesses and projects by leveraging its specific expertise in life sciences, natural resources, nanotech and innovative technologies. Cedrus' Greater China Region headquarters are in Beijing, with European headquarters in Zurich and further offices strategically positioned across the globe.



News Source: Media OutReach

16/05/2023 Dissemination of a Financial Press Release, transmitted by EQS News.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



Media archive at www.todayir.com


Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 15, 2023) - Excellon Resources Inc. (TSX: EXN) (OTCQB: EXNRF) (FSE: E4X2) ("Excellon" or the "Company") reports financial results and corporate highlights for the three months ended March 31, 2023.

Q1 2023 Highlights

Announced acquisition of the past-producing La Negra mine in Queretaro, Mexico. a Fully permitted mine with established infrastructure and historical payable production averaging +3.0 million silver-equivalent ("AgEq") ounces ("oz") annually. b Indicated Mineral Resources of approximately 15.1 million oz AgEq at 191 g/t AgEq and Inferred Mineral Resources of approximately 41.8 million AgEq oz at 202 g/t AgEq. c d 2022 Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") demonstrates a post-tax NPV5% of USD$132.4 million. e Estimated restart capital of US$20.9 million based on the PEA.

Announced private placement financing for up to C$10 million of subscription receipts. f Offer price C$0.35 per subscription receipt. Each subscription receipt entitles the holder to one unit of the Company comprised of one common share and one common share purchase warrant of the Company. Each warrant to acquire one common share at a price of C$0.55 per common share for a period of 24 months.

Reversal of the US$22 million litigation liability relating to the previously disclosed judgment against one of the Company's subsidiaries in Mexico. g

Initial diamond drilling results from the 2022-2023 exploration program at the Oakley project in Idaho, USA, subject to the option agreement between Excellon and Centerra (U.S.) Inc. ("Centerra"), a subsidiary of Centerra Gold Inc., including:

189.56m at 0.40 grams/tonne (g/t) gold (Au) in BHC-22-02; and 110.64m at 0.43 g/t Au in BHC-22-03, including 2.03m at 3.94 g/t Au. h

Centerra exercised their first option to earn an initial 51% interest in Oakley and, on April 4, 2023, provided notice of intention to proceed to exercise the second option to acquire an additional 19%.

Financial Results

Financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 were as follows:

('000s of USD, except amounts per share and per ounce)

Q1 2023(5)



Q1 2022(4) Revenue (1)

-



8,496

Production costs

-



(5,635 ) Depletion and amortization

-



(2,278 ) Cost of sales

-



(7,913 ) Gross profit

-



583

Gain on deconsolidation of San Pedro (2)

24,255



-

Reclassification of currency translation adjustments (2)

(6,923 )

-

General and administrative including care-and-maintenance

(1,490 )

(1,311 ) Exploration and holding expense

(513 )

(1,116 ) Other income

1,580



992

Finance expense

(1,009 )

(915 ) Income tax recovery

2



67 Net income (loss)

15,902



(1,700 ) Adjusted loss (2)

(1,430 )

(1,700 ) Income (loss) per share - basic

0.42



(0.05 ) Income (loss) per share - diluted

0.41



(0.05 ) Adjusted loss per share - basic (2)

(0.04 )

(0.05 ) Cash flow from operations (3)

(1,851 )

1,911

(1) Revenues are net of treatment and refining charges ("TC/RCs").

(2) Adjusted loss in Q1 2023 excludes $24.3 million and ($6.9) million related to the deconsolidation of San Pedro.

(3) Cash flow from operations before changes in working capital.

(4) Q1 2022 results were impacted by the Labour Strike which resulted in negligible production for the month of March 2022.

(5) Production ceased and the Platosa mine and Miguel Auza mill were placed on care and maintenance in early Q4 2022. As a result, no revenue, production costs and gross profit were recorded in Q1 2023.

This news release should be read in conjunction with the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 ("Financial Statements"), and associated management discussion and analysis ("MD&A") which are available on the Company's website at www.excellonresources.com and under the Company's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com).

All financial information is prepared in accordance with IFRS, and all dollar amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars unless otherwise specified. The discussion of financial results in this news release includes references to "adjusted loss" and "adjusted loss per share", which are non-IFRS performance measures. The Company presents these measures to provide additional information regarding the Company's financial results and performance.

About Excellon

Excellon's vision is to realize opportunities for the benefit of our employees, communities and shareholders, through the acquisition of advanced development or producing assets with further potential to gain from an experienced operational management team. The Company is advancing a portfolio of gold, silver and base metals assets including Kilgore, an advanced gold exploration project in Idaho; and Silver City, a high-grade epithermal silver district in Saxony, Germany with 750 years of mining history and no modern exploration. The Company has also entered into an agreement to acquire La Negra, a past-producing Ag-Zn-Cu-Pb mine with exploration potential, located in Queretaro State, Mexico.

Additional details on Excellon's properties are available at www.excellonresources.com.

For Further Information, Please Contact:

Excellon Resources Inc.

Shawn Howarth, President & Chief Executive Officer

info@excellonresources.com

www.excellonresources.com

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Forward-Looking Statements

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained or incorporated by reference in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as: "advance", "believe", "considering", "contingencies", "continuing", "could", "development", "expected", "exploration", "estimate", "further", "future", "initial", "intention", "may", "NPV", "opportunities", "option", "plan", "potential", "preliminary", "proceed", "program", "project", "proposed", "proposition", "prospects", "provide", "restart", "risk", "should", "strategic", "subject to", "target", "timelines", "uncertainties", "vision", "will" and "would", or variations of such words, and similar such words, expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results can, could, may, should, will (or not) be achieved, happen, occur, provide, result or support in the future or which, by their nature, refer to future events. In some cases, forward-looking information may be stated in the present tense, such as in respect of current matters that may be continuing, or that may have a future impact or effect. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding potential financing, corporate development and strategic opportunities (including any form, aspect, value or other impacts thereof); advancing a portfolio of assets; exploration programs and activities (including potential and results thereof to date); the La Negra acquisition and its related transactions (collectively, the "La Negra Transactions") and value proposition, results and benefits thereof), and any other acquisition and other strategic opportunities; the restart of mining operations at La Negra (including strategy, plans, critical work streams, development activities and resulting further analysis, timing, capital requirements, permitting, achieving commercial production, LOM production, life of mine or LOM, and tailings management); the La Negra PEA including the results thereof (including restart recommendation, NPV and capital requirements; see also below in these Cautionary Statements under "Preliminary Economic Assessments" (or "PEAs"); mineral resource estimates (including tonnes, grade, and expansion and conversion of such estimates; see also below in these Cautionary Statements under "Mineral Resources"); and Excellon's vision (including the realization of opportunities, the means thereof and basis therefor); and any benefits or any other implications of any of the foregoing. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct, and any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future actions, results or performance. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, estimates, expectations and opinions, which are considered reasonable and represent best judgment based on available facts, as of the date such statements are made. If such assumptions, estimates, expectations and opinions prove to be incorrect, actual and future results may be materially different than expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. The estimates, expectations and opinions referenced or contained in this news release, which may prove to be incorrect, are subject to a number of assumptions which include those set forth or referenced in this news release, the Company's Management's Discussion & Analysis of Financial Results and the accompanying financial statements for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 and year ended December 31, 2022 (collectively, the "2022 & Q1 2023 Financial Disclosure"), the Company's Annual Information Form dated March 31, 2023 (the "AIF"), the current technical reports for the Company's projects and the La Negra Technical Report (collectively, the "Technical Reports"), the Company's news releases referenced in this news release (the "Referenced News Releases"), and the Company's other applicable public disclosure (collectively, "Company Disclosure"), all available under the Company's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com ) and/or on its website at www.excellonresources.com. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors which may cause the actual plans, results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, plans, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors include, among others, the timing, closing completion or non-completion of the La Negra Transactions, including due to the parties failing to receive, in a timely manner and on satisfactory terms, the necessary securityholder, stock exchange and other approvals or the inability of the parties to satisfy or waive in a timely manner the other conditions to the closing or the conditions precedent or covenants, as applicable, of the La Negra Acquisition (including the timing and outcome of the required meeting of shareholders and completion thereof, as well as the completion of the Convertible Debenture restructuring and Closing Private Placement) and the other La Negra Transactions; inability to complete the Closing Private Placement; inability to achieve the benefits or synergies anticipated from the La Negra Transactions; actual operating cash flows, development and operating costs, free cash flows, mineral resources, total cash, transaction costs, and administrative costs of Excellon differing from those anticipated; project infrastructure requirements and anticipated processing methods, risks related to partnership or other joint operations; actual results of current exploration activities; variations in mineral resources, mineral production, grades or recovery rates or optimization efforts and sales; the results of the La Negra preliminary economic assessment; the ability to obtain on a timely basis, and maintain, necessary permits and other approvals; delays in obtaining financing or in the completion of development or construction activities; uninsured risks, including pollution, cave ins or hazards for which insurance cannot be obtained; regulatory changes; defects in title; availability or integration of personnel, materials and equipment; inability to recruit or retain management and key personnel; performance of facilities, equipment and processes relative to specifications and expectations; unanticipated environmental impacts on operations; market prices; production, construction and technological risks related to Excellon and La Negra; capital requirements and operating risks associated with the operations or an expansion of the operations of Excellon including La Negra; dilution due to the La Negra Transactions and any other future acquisitions or other transactions including the Closing Private Placement; fluctuations in silver, lead, zinc, copper, gold and other precious metal prices and currency exchange rates; uncertainty relating to future production and cash resources; inability to successfully complete new development projects, planned expansions or other projects within the timelines anticipated; adverse changes to market, political and general economic conditions or laws, rules and regulations applicable to Excellon and La Negra; changes in project parameters; the possibility of project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; accidents, labour disputes, community and stakeholder protests and other risks of the mining industry; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; risk of an undiscovered defect in title or other adverse claim; and the "Risk Factors" in the AIF, and the risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors identified in the 2022 & Q1 2023 Financial Disclosure, the Technical Reports, the Referenced News Releases and other applicable Company Disclosure. The foregoing list of risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors is not exhaustive; readers should consult the more complete discussion of the Company's business, financial condition and prospects that is provided in the AIF and the other aforementioned Company Disclosure. Although Excellon has attempted to identify important factors that could cause plans, actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements in this news release and the other Company Disclosure referenced herein, there may be other factors that cause plans, actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There is no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual plans, results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements in this news release nor in the documents referenced herein. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements referenced or contained in this news release are expressly qualified by these Cautionary Statements, together with those below, as well as the Cautionary Statements in the 2022 & Q1 2023 Financial Disclosure, the AIF, the Technical Reports, the Referenced News Releases and other applicable Company Disclosure. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of this news release (or as otherwise expressly specified) and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws.

Mineral Resources

Until mineral deposits are actually mined and processed, mineral resources must be considered as estimates only. Mineral resource estimates that are not classified as mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimation of mineral resources is inherently uncertain, involves subjective judgement about many relevant factors and may be materially affected by, among other things, environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors described in the foregoing Cautionary Statements on Forward-Looking Statements. The quantity and grade of reported "inferred" mineral resource estimates are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define "inferred" mineral resource estimates as an "indicated" or "measured" mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading "inferred" mineral resource estimates to an "indicated" or "measured" mineral resource category. The accuracy of any mineral resource estimates is a function of the quantity and quality of available data, and of the assumptions made and judgments used in engineering and geological interpretation, which may prove to be unreliable and depend, to a certain extent, upon the analysis of drilling results and statistical inferences that may ultimately prove to be inaccurate. The quantity and grade of "inferred" mineral resource estimates are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define "inferred" mineral resource estimates as an "indicated" or "measured" mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading "inferred" mineral resource estimates to an "indicated" or "measured" mineral resource category. Mineral resource estimates may have to be re-estimated based on, among other things: (i) fluctuations in mineral prices; (ii) results of drilling and development; (iii) results of geological and structural modeling including stope design; (iv) metallurgical testing and other testing; (v) proposed mining operations including dilution; and (vi) the possible failure to receive and/or maintain required permits, licenses and other approvals. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of a "inferred", "indicated" or "measured" mineral resource estimate will ever be upgraded to a higher category including a mineral reserve.

Mineral resource estimates disclosed by the Company were estimated and reported in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators ("NI 43-101") using Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (the "CIM Standards"), which govern the public disclosure of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects by Canadian issuers such as Excellon, and applying the CIM's Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves Best Practices guidelines (as applicable). For additional discussion of the Company's mineral resource estimates at the Company's projects and La Negra, as well as an overall more detailed discussion of such projects, the reader should refer to the AIF and the applicable Technical Reports.

U.S. Readers

The terms "mineral resource", "measured mineral resource", "indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource" as disclosed by the Company are Canadian mining terms defined in the CIM Standards (collectively, the "CIM Definitions") in accordance with NI 43-101. NI 43-101 establishes standards for all public disclosure that a Canadian issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. These Canadian standards differ from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") applicable to United States domestic and certain foreign reporting companies under Subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K ("S-K 1300"). Accordingly, information describing mineral resource estimates for the Company's projects and La Negra, may not be comparable to similar information publicly reported in accordance with the applicable requirements of the SEC, and so there can be no assurance that any mineral resource estimate for the Company's projects or La Negra would be the same had the estimates been prepared per the SEC's reporting and disclosure requirements under applicable United States federal securities laws, and the rules and regulations thereunder, including but not limited to S-K 1300. Further, there is no assurance that any mineral resource or mineral reserve estimate that the Company may report under NI 43-101 would be the same had the Company prepared such estimates under S-K 1300.

Preliminary Economic Assessments (or PEAs)

A PEA, including the La Negra PEA, is only a conceptual study of the potential viability of the subject project's mineral resource estimates, and the economic and technical viability of the project and its estimated mineral resources has not been demonstrated. A PEA is preliminary in nature and provides only an initial, high-level review of the subject project's potential and design options; there is no certainty that a PEA will be realized. The conceptual LOM plan and economic model in a PEA include numerous assumptions and mineral resource estimates including inferred mineral resource estimates. Inferred mineral resource estimates are considered to be too speculative geologically to have any economic considerations applied to such estimates. Under NI 43-101, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility studies, pre-feasibility studies or other economic studies, except in prescribed cases, such as in a preliminary economic assessment under certain circumstances. There is no guarantee that inferred mineral resource estimates will be converted to indicated or measured mineral resources, or that indicated or measured mineral resources can be converted to mineral reserves. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability, and as such there is no guarantee the economics described in any PEA, including the La Negra PEA, will be achieved. Mineral resource estimates may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant risks, uncertainties and other factors, as more particularly described in the foregoing other Cautionary Statements of this news release.

Qualified Persons

Mr. Paul Keller, P. Eng., Chief Operating Officer of the Company and a Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101 (a "QP"), reviewed, verified and approved the scientific and technical information relating to operations and production results contained in this news release. Mr. Jorge Ortega, M.Sc., P.Geo., Vice President Exploration of the Company and a QP, reviewed, verified and approved the scientific and technical information relating to geological interpretation and results contained in this news release.

a For further details, refer to the Company's related news release dated January 9, 2023.

b Average annual production from 2013 to 2015 at throughput of approximately 2,500 tonnes per day.

c Refer also to the La Negra Technical Report which was filed on January 19, 2023 under Excellon's profile on SEDAR and on the Company's website.

d Indicated: 2.46 million tonnes at average grades of 64.0 g/t Ag, 1.95% Zinc (Zn), 0.50% Copper (Cu), 0.27% lead (Pb); Inferred: 6.42 million tonnes at average grades of 80.0 g/t Ag, 1.80% Zn, 0.40% Cu, 0.65% Pb. Mineral resource estimate effective as at March 31, 2022. See also Cautionary Statements on "Mineral Resources" and "U.S. Readers" at the end of this news release.

e Long-term commodity price estimates used in analysis: US$22.00/oz Ag, US$1.15/lb Zn, US$3.60/lb Cu, US$0.95/lb Pb.

f For further details, refer to the Company's related news release dated April 13, 2023.

g For further details, refer to the Company's related news release dated April 3, 2023.

h For further details, refer to the Company's related news release dated March 20, 2023.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/166251
Dr. Pablo Borboroglu awarded 2023 Indianapolis Prize

LONDON, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today officials from the Indianapolis Zoological Society Inc. announced Pablo Borboroglu, Ph.D. as the 2023 Winner of the Indianapolis Prize, the world's leading award for animal conservation. Borboroglu is an internationally recognized expert on penguin ecology and land and sea conservation. The announcement was made in London as celebrations and media events are taking place there in his honor.

Borboroglu has spent more than three decades studying penguins and leading conservation efforts across four continents. In 2009, he founded and currently serves as the president of the Global Penguin Society, which has protected 32 million acres of penguin marine and terrestrial habitat. Through gaining an understanding of breeding, feeding and migration, his team can better understand the habitat needs of the species, which leads to better protections of penguin populations.

"Dr. Pablo Borboroglu is responsible for major achievements in understanding penguin behavior and ecology. He has preserved millions of acres of critical penguin habitat, which is an astonishing achievement. He is a powerful, optimistic and expert voice for animal conservation and is extremely deserving of this year's Indianapolis Prize," said Dr. Rob Shumaker, President and CEO of the Indianapolis Zoological Society, Inc.

Borboroglu is the co-founder and co-chair of the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Penguin Specialist Group, which helps to assess the conservation status and advance international penguin conservation action. He has been instrumental in creating protected wildlife areas in Argentina and implementing conservation strategies in several countries. In the same year that he founded the Global Penguin Society, he discovered only six breeding pairs of penguins at the El Pedral colony on the eastern coast of Argentina. After successfully designating that area as a wildlife refuge and reducing human impacts, the area is now home to 4,000 pairs.

"I am incredibly humbled and grateful to be named the 2023 Indianapolis Prize Winner. This prestigious award will be instrumental in supporting efforts to protect penguins and their habitat," said Dr. Pablo Borboroglu, president of the Global Penguin Society. "Needing both land and sea, penguins face unprecedented threats requiring large-scale change. Through this award, we hope to inspire and encourage people around the world to take decisive action in safeguarding the environment. It is only through our collective efforts that we can ensure our environment and its wildlife are able to thrive."

Borboroglu also led efforts to create "Blue Patagonia" - a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve - which protects 40% of the global population of Magellanic penguins and the most biodiverse area of Argentina. Home to 67 species of animals, more than 120 species of birds and nearly 200 species of marine invertebrates, this is Argentina's largest UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, encompassing 200 miles of coastline and 7.6 million acres of land and ocean. In total, Borboroglu has coordinated the development of management plans for eight protected areas since 1998 in Chile and Argentina. In the creation of these plans, he focuses not only on penguins, but also on supporting local communities. Protected areas are drivers of ecotourism and sustainable development, resulting in job creation.

Borboroglu is also dedicated to educating the next generation. His Global Penguin Society education program has reached more than 200,000 students and community members across Latin American nations. Efforts include leading field visits for 7,000 students who live near penguin colonies as well as the creation of free books and educational material in both English and Spanish.

"Pablo's commitment and dedication to protecting penguins is unwavering," said Edward Whitley Founder of the Whitley Fund for Nature. "His decades of perseverance, research and leadership are profoundly inspiring to us all."

Borboroglu studied biological sciences at the National University of Patagonia and received his Ph.D. in biology from the National University of Comahue in Argentina. He is a researcher at Argentina'sNational Research Council (CONICET) and an affiliate professor at the University of Washington.

Borboroglu is the ninth Winner of the Indianapolis Prize and the first from South America. Founded in 2006, the Indianapolis Prize recognizes and rewards conservationists who have made significant progress in saving an animal species, or multiple species, from extinction. Winners receive an unrestricted $250,000 - the largest monetary award in the world that supports conservationists. Borboroglu, five 2023 Indianapolis Prize Finalists and the inaugural Emerging Conservationist Award Winner will be celebrated at the Indianapolis Prize gala on Sept. 30, 2023.

Multimedia assets of Dr. Borboroglu can be found here. To learn more about previous Indianapolis Prize Winners, visit IndianapolisPrize.org.

About the Indianapolis Prize

The Indianapolis Prize recognizes and rewards conservationists who have achieved major victories in advancing the sustainability of an animal species or group of species. Winners receive an unrestricted $250,000 award. Remaining Finalists each receive $50,000. Since 2006, the Indianapolis Prize has administered more than $5.6 million in unrestricted cash awards. The Indianapolis Prize is administered by the Indianapolis Zoological Society. Connect with the Prize on Facebook and Twitter.

About the Global Penguin Society

The Global Penguin Society (GPS), founded in 2009 by Dr. Pablo Borboroglu, is the first and only international organization dedicated to the protection and study of all 18 penguin species and their natural habitats. GPS works closely with government, community officials and landowners to create effective conservation policies to benefit not only penguins, but their entire local ecosystems and nearby communities. It also works to improve scientific knowledge on critical aspects of the biology and ecology of penguin species to guide conservation efforts. Connect with GPS on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram .

Media Contact

Judy Palermo

Director of PR

317-630-2010

jpalermo@indyzoo.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/argentine-protector-of-penguins-named-winner-of-worlds-leading-award-for-animal-conservation-301816630.html
For 30 years Juniper Systems, Inc., has provided mobile workers with hassle-free data collection equipment

BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom, May 15, 2023, a manufacturer of ultra-rugged handheld computers and precision GNSS receivers, announced it is celebrating its 30th anniversary in business in 2023: 30 years of serving partners and customers with the best rugged data collection devices, agriculture research equipment, software and world-class customer service.



The company expressed its deep appreciation to their many partners and to those that help the company accomplish its goal every day to bring a hassle-free and personalised data collection experience to mobile workers around the world.

'We've seen tremendous growth during these 30 years', said Mr DeVon Labrum, president and CEO of Juniper Systems. 'From our beginnings in agriculture research to our mobile computer business, we have always relied on great employees and strong and lasting partnerships with customers to achieve our success'.

The company was founded in 1993 under the name HarvestMaster and primarily served the agriculture research market with weigh systems and data-logging handheld computers. With the growth of the company's mobile computer business in other markets such as natural resources, forestry, and geospatial, the company was renamed Juniper Systems to reflect the broader industry base outside of agriculture. The HarvestMaster name has continued as a brand of Juniper Systems.

In addition to its headquarters in northern Utah, there are two locations in Europe: Juniper Systems Limited is based in the United Kingdom and serves the EMEA and India territories; and the HarvestMaster Europe office is located in Austria.

Juniper Systems has introduced dozens of highly-regarded and rugged field data collectors over its 30 years, with many products lasting more than ten years in the field. As Juniper has grown and expanded into new industries, so have its offerings. Key product lines in the company's history include the Allegro and Archer handheld field computers, Geode GNSS receivers, and the Mesa family of rugged tablets.

'We have a legacy of releasing rugged devices that are rock solid and field ready and that last for years in the field', Mr Labrum said. 'Our communication with partners and end-users always inspires our next iteration of a product. We seek feedback from those who use our devices each day to ensure our current and future products meet their demands and withstand the rugged environments that they work in'.

As Juniper Systems celebrates 30 years in 2023, the company is looking forward to its next 30 years as it strives to grow lasting partnerships to help workers everywhere thrive.

About Juniper Systems Limited

Founded in 1993, Juniper Systems, Inc., (https://junipersys.com) is a world leader in the design and manufacture of ultra-rugged tablets, handheld computers, GPS receivers, mapping software and field computing solutions. Professionals utilise Juniper Systems' innovative mobile computers in natural resources, utilities and public services, geospatial, industrial, mining, railway, and military markets. In addition, the company's HarvestMaster brand makes solutions for agricultural applications.

Juniper Systems is based in Logan, UT, USA, and employs more than 190 people. It was twice recognised as one of the fastest-growing companies in the Beehive State and has been honored with awards for best compensation, work-life balance, and employee happiness among small and mid-sized U.S. companies.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b1b8cd3c-d226-48e2-b73e-79cc2d5b881a
+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.

CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The Australian dollar weakened against other major currencies in the Asian session on Tuesday. The Australian dollar fell to a 4-day low of 1.0702 against the NZ dollar, from yesterday's closing value of 1.0733. Moving away from a recent 4-day high of 0.6709 against the U.S. dollar, the aussie slid to 0.6680. Against the euro and the yen, aussie edged down to 1.6271 and 90.82 from yesterday's closing quotes of 1.6223 and 91.18, respectively. The aussie dropped to 0.9004 against the Canadian dollar, from yesterday's closing value of 0.9021. If the aussie extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 1.04 against the kiwi, 0.65 against the greenback, 1.66 against the euro, 88.00 against the yen and 0.89 against the loonie. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Vivoryon Therapeutics N.V.Reports Q1 2023 Financial Results and Highlights Operational Progress





Halle (Saale) / Munich, Germany, May16, 2023 - Vivoryon Therapeutics N.V. (Euronext Amsterdam: VVY; NL00150002Q7) (Vivoryon), a clinical stage company focused on the discovery and development of small molecule medicines to modulate the activity and stability of pathologically altered proteins, today announced financial results and corporate updates for the first quarter of 2023, ending March 31, 2023.

"In the first quarter of 2023, we continued to advance our lead program for Alzheimer's disease, varoglutamstat, through both the VIVIAD and VIVA-MIND studies and reported further data demonstrating both strong tolerability and improvements in pathological hallmarks, synaptic function and connectivity, cognition, memory and attention in AD patients," said Dr. Ulrich Dauer, CEO of Vivoryon. "Amidst steady clinical progress with varoglutamstat, we are also encouraged by the recent activity and developments in the broader AD treatment landscape, in particular the emerging clinical evidence validating our approach of targeting neurotoxic N3pE-Abeta. We believe we are well-positioned for varoglutamstat to provide an effective and much-needed therapeutic option that alleviates issues with administration for patients with this devastating disease. Vivoryon has an exciting year ahead and we look forward to reporting important safety updates later this year for our VIVA-MIND trial in the U.S. and final data from our VIVIAD study in the first quarter of next year."





Q1 2023 and Post-Period Portfolio Highlights

Varoglutamstat Clinical Program:

VIVIAD (NCT04498650) is a state-of-the-art Phase 2b study being conducted in Europe and designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of varoglutamstat in 250 subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild Alzheimer's disease (AD). In March 2023, Vivoryon provided an update on varoglutamstat clinical development for the treatment of AD at the International Conference on Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases and related neurological disorders (AD/PD). As of the data cut-off date of January 5, 2023, over 100 of the 259 participants randomized into the VIVIAD study had been treated for at least 48 weeks. Varoglutamstat showed no on-target toxicity and no clinical signs of brain swelling or hemorrhages (ARIA), which are a limiting class side effect of Abeta antibodies and has been well-tolerated in the study to date. Both the total number of SAEs and the discontinuation rate were considerably lower than the respective numbers at the 800 mg BID varoglutamstat dose in Vivoryon's completed Phase 2a SAPHIR study, while retaining a similar level of target inhibition (around 90%) at the dosing in both studies. Vivoryon remains on track to report the final data readout from the VIVIAD study in the first quarter of 2024.

(NCT04498650) is a state-of-the-art Phase 2b study being conducted in Europe and designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of varoglutamstat in 250 subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild Alzheimer's disease (AD). VIVA-MIND (NCT03919162) is a complementary Phase 2 study for varoglutamstat conducted in the U.S. which seeks to enroll 180 patients with early AD into the Phase 2a adaptive dose finding portion and enroll a further 234 patients in the Phase 2b portion of the study. In March 2023, Vivoryon announced the study is ongoing and continuing to recruit patients at 18 sites across the U.S. The study's independent DSMB recently provided a unanimous recommendation to continue the study without modification. The Company anticipates a decision on final trial size following the data readout of the VIVIAD study. Vivoryon expects the first cohort to be fully randomized into the study within the second quarter of this year and plans to provide the next update on the VIVA-MIND study in the second half of 2023.

(NCT03919162) is a complementary Phase 2 study for varoglutamstat conducted in the U.S. which seeks to enroll 180 patients with early AD into the Phase 2a adaptive dose finding portion and enroll a further 234 patients in the Phase 2b portion of the study.





Corporate Development Highlights:

In May 2023, Vivoryon announced it will hold its 2023 Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. (CEST) in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The full agenda and all relevant documents are available on the Company's website (https://www.vivoryon.com/annual-general-meeting-2023/ (https://www.vivoryon.com/annual-general-meeting-2023/)) .

In May 2023, Vivoryon announced intended changes among the Non-Executive members of its Board of Directors at the 2023 Annual General Meeting. Reflecting Vivoryon's continued progress towards becoming a late-stage clinical development company and in line with its commitment to meeting international best-practice standards for corporate governance and diversity, the Company proposes the appointment of Kugan Sathiyanandarajah and Professor Morten Asser Karsdal as new members to Vivoryon's Non-Executive Board of Directors. The proposed appointments follow the decision of the two long-standing members Dinnies Johannes von der Osten, PhD, and Jorg Neermann, PhD, to step down at the upcoming Annual General Meeting.





Financial Results for Q1 of 2023

No revenues were generated in the first quarter of 2023.

Research and development expenses decreased by EUR 2.7 million to EUR 3.1 million in the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to EUR 5.8 million in the three months ended March 31, 2022. This decrease was largely attributable to a reduction of EUR 1.6 million from lower manufacturing cost due to the completion of study drug supply projects with the remaining reduction due to lower clinical costs from the further progress of the Phase 2b clinical trial VIVIAD.

General and administrative expenses were EUR 1.9 million in the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to EUR 0.8 million in the three months ended March 31, 2022. The increase of EUR 1.1 million was largely attributable to EUR 0.8 million higher expenses for share-based payments.

Net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2023, was EUR 5.1 million, compared to EUR 6.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022.

The Company held EUR 17.1 million in cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2023, compared to EUR 26.6 million as of December 31, 2022. In the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company entered into a Euro term deposit of EUR 3.0 million resulting in the reallocation of the funds to financial assets from cash and cash equivalents.





Financial Guidance

Following the capital raise settled in October 2022, according to current planning and estimates, Vivoryon expects that its existing cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to fund its research and development expenses as well the general and administrative expenses and cash flows from investing and financing activities at least through end of December 2023. This guidance does not include exercise of share options issued in October 2022, potential milestone payments from development partnerships, potential payments from licensing agreements and/or additional financing measures, as far as such payments have not yet been recognized in revenues. The financial guidance takes into account all costs to ensure sustainable study drug supply with varoglutamstat for the VIVA-MIND U.S. study.

Additional information regarding other relevant information is included in the financial statements as of December 31, 2022, which were part the Company's Annual Report 2022.





###





About Vivoryon Therapeutics N.V.

Vivoryon is a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on developing innovative small molecule-based medicines. Driven by our passion for ground-breaking science and innovation, we strive to change the lives of patients in need suffering from severe diseases. We leverage our in-depth expertise in understanding post-translational modifications to develop medicines that modulate the activity and stability of proteins which are altered in disease settings. Beyond our lead program, varoglutamstat, which is in Phase 2 clinical development to treat Alzheimer's disease, we have established a solid pipeline of orally available small molecule inhibitors for various indications including cancer, inflammatory diseases and fibrosis. www.vivoryon.com







Vivoryon Forward Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, those regarding the business strategy, management plans and objectives for future operations of the Vivoryon Therapeutics N.V. (the "Company"), estimates and projections with respect to the market for the Company's products and forecasts and statements as to when the Company's products may be available. Words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "intend," "may," "plan," "project," "predict," "should" and "will" and similar expressions as they relate to the Company are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance; rather they are based on the Management's current expectations and assumptions about future events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. The forward-looking statements involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties and other factors could materially adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein. Actual results, performance or events may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements and from expectations. As a result, no undue reliance should be placed on such forward-looking statements. This press release does not contain risk factors. Certain risk factors that may affect the Company's future financial results are discussed in the published annual financial statements of the Company. This press release, including any forward-looking statements, speaks only as of the date of this press release. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any information or forward-looking statements contained herein, save for any information required to be disclosed by law.

For more information, please contact:

Investor Contact

Stern IR

Julie Seidel

Tel: +1 212-698-8684

Email: SternIR-Vivoryon@sternir.com



Media Contact

Trophic Communications

Valeria Fisher

Tel: +49 175 8041816

Email: vivoryon@trophic.eu



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Edenred accelerates the extension of its Employee Benefits solutions in the Employee Engagement arena by acquiring leading platform Reward Gateway

Edenred, a leading digital platform for services and payments and worldwide leader in Employee Benefits, announces the acquisition of100% of the share capital ofReward Gateway, a leadingEmployee Engagement platform with strong positions in the UK and in Australia, and also present in the United States.Reward Gateway offers a unified suite of solutions ranging from employee savings, rewards & recognition to well-being and corporate social animation,empowering Human Resources departments to build the right combination of engagement tools.

Reward Gateway is a fast-growing company that has successfully built a strong, highly profitable and sustainable business model. This acquisition, amounting to1.15bn1 and valuing Reward Gateway at 20x EV/EBITDA 23e2, marks a major milestoneinEdenred's Beyond 22-25 strategic plan. By consolidating Reward Gateway's strongleading positions andextendingits geographical scope in selected key countries, Edenred will accelerate the strengthening of its Employee Benefits value proposition in line with its mission to be the most trusted global Employee Benefits & Engagement platform.

Bertrand Dumazy, Chairman and CEO at Edenred, said:"We are pleased to announce the acquisition of Reward Gateway and are looking forward to welcoming their teams in the Edenred world. By integrating this leading employee engagement platform, we are substantially extending our employee benefits offer to provide HR managers with a comprehensive range of solutions helping them make their organization more attractive to talents. While Reward Gateway is bringing us leading positions in the UK and in Australia, as well as a promising presence in the US market, we will be looking at scaling Reward Gateway outside of its current footprint in selected key countries. With a business model based on an efficient and fully scalable SaaS3 platform, Reward Gateway has been consistently delivering strong double-digit growth and high margins. The combination of our people, our solutions, our customer bases and our technologies offers high potential for synergies. This acquisition is a unique opportunity for Edenred to accelerate on the implementation of its Beyond strategy. A decisive move matching our mission to be the most trusted global employee benefits and engagement platform."

Nick Burns, CEO at Reward Gateway, said: "We are extremely proud to join Edenred. The combination of Reward Gateway's operations and technologywith Edenred's position as a global market leader across 1 million corporate clients in 45 countries, offers an accelerated path to achieve our mission of 'making the world a better place to work'. As we will aim at a single unified platform, we will benefit from economies of scale to build tailored solutions for specific markets. Bringing together our collective strengths, from commercial reach to product innovation and advanced technology, will be putting us in a position to provide HR leaders with atruly market-beating solution."

Reward Gateway, a highly performing business

Founded in 2006 in the UK, Reward Gateway is a leading SaaS Employee Engagement platform provider. With more than 4,000 customers and 8 million employees using its solutions in the UK, in Australia and in the US, Reward Gateway is the go-to partner for HR leaders to build better, stronger and more resilient organizations, to make the world a better place to work. Encompassing various engagement tools, from market-leading employee savings, reward and recognition, communications, surveys and well-being solutions, Reward Gateway's offer provides HR managers with full flexibility to engage, motivate and retain their employees.

Through a holistic and modular platform, Reward Gateway helps create a best-in-class streamlined employee experience fully customized for each organization. Thanks to open API integrations with more than 40 HRIS4, payroll, collaborative tools, benefits and third-party software providers, Reward Gateway offers to employers an automated experience.

Reward Gateway has enjoyed continued double-digit revenue growth and consistently high profitability over the recent years. It forecasts to generate 95m revenue and 45m EBITDA in FY2023.

Enriching Edenred value proposition in the fast-growing Employee Engagement market

Through the acquisition of Reward Gateway, Edenred accesses an already sizeable market with great penetration potential and opportunity to expand further. In the UK and Australia, where Reward Gateway is the market leader, the employee engagement markets, which represent a combined value of 1.9bn in revenue, is still vastly underpenetrated and expected to grow by more than 10% per annum5. The US market alone, where Reward Gateway has started building a position, is worth 4.5bn in revenue.

Structural trends that have emerged in a post-pandemic context, such as an acceleration in remote working and the war for talent, have put greater emphasis on employee engagement, leading HR leaders to leverage benefits and engagement solutions as differentiating factors. On top of that, growing considerations on purchasing power have considerably accelerated the focus on Employee Savings solutions.

A strategic acquisition fostering Edenred's mission to be the everyday platform for people at work

Edenred has successfully extended its portfolio into non-Meal & Food benefits over the years. The Group has notably developed a leading offer in Employee Benefits & Savings platforms in 17 countries, reinforced by the recently announced acquisition of GOintegro in Latin America.

The acquisition of Reward Gateway marks a major milestone in the roll-out of the Beyond 22-25 strategic plan putting Edenred in the best position to be the most trusted global Employee Benefits & Engagement platform. By widening its Employee Savings offer, integrating new services such as well-being, and expanding its value proposition to Rewards & Recognition solutions, Reward Gateway provides Edenred with a unique opportunity to further accelerate in Beyond Food while enlarging its footprint by entering new promising and fast-growing markets such as the USA and Australia.

A transaction with sizeable expected synergies

In addition to integration synergies, the planned roll-out of Reward Gateway in 6 major Edenred countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Romania, Spain) will considerably increase Edenred's addressed market and drive additional operating revenue. Business synergies will also be driven by boosted cross-selling opportunities with existing clients from both companies and further improve client retention through platform solutions and embedded experience.

Reward Gateway is currently held by funds managed by private equity firms Abry Partners and Castik Capital. The acquisition will be fully paid in cash by Edenred, to be financed by a 1bn bridge loan to be later refinanced on the debt capital markets as well as by 0.3bn from available cash at hand. The acquisition will be accretive to Group EPS from 2024 onwards. This value-creative transaction will be strongly accretive on a standalone basis and Edenred will in addition benefit from a strong upside in terms of cost, technological and commercial synergies.

The transaction is expected to close within a couple of days. Reward Gateway will be fully consolidated in Edenred's financial statements as from closing date.

Brian St. Jean, Partner and Austin Heiman, Principal at Abry Partners said:"It was a pleasure supporting the Reward Gateway team over the last two years as we partnered with Castik Capital to help transform the business into a leading global SaaS engagement platform. We believe the business is poised to continue building on its market-leading position and we are confident that Edenred is the right partner to further accelerate the company's exceptional performance."

Michael Phillips, Partner at Castik Capital said: "We'd like to thank the Reward Gateway team as well as Abry Partners for the great collaboration over the past two years. During our partnership, Reward Gateway significantly invested in building out its self-service SaaS offering and further strengthened its position in the UK, Australia and the US. We wish Reward Gateway all the best in the future and will closely follow the continued strong development of the business within Edenred."

??

About Edenred

Edenred is a leading digital platform for services and payments and the everyday companion for people at work, connecting 52 million users and 2 million partner merchants in 45 countries via close to 1 million corporate clients.

Edenred offers specific-purpose payment solutions for food (such as meal benefits), incentives (such as gift cards, employee engagement platforms), mobility (such as multi-energy, maintenance, toll, parking and commuter solutions) and corporate payments (such as virtual cards).

True to the Group's purpose, "Enrich connections. For good.", these solutions enhance users' well-being and purchasing power. They improve companies' attractiveness and efficiency, and vitalize the employment market and the local economy. They also foster access to healthier food, more environmentally friendly products and softer mobility.

Edenred's 10,000 employees are committed to making the world of work a connected ecosystem that is safer, more efficient and more responsible every day.

In 2022, thanks to its global technology assets, the Group managed some 38 billion in business volume, primarily carried out via mobile applications, online platforms and cards.

Edenred is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange and included in the following indices: CAC 40 ESG, CAC Next 20, CAC Large 60, Euronext 100, FTSE4Good and MSCI Europe.

The logos and other trademarks mentioned and featured in this press release are registered trademarks of Edenred S.E., its subsidiaries or third parties. They may not be used for commercial purposes without prior written consent from their owners.

??

CONTACTS



Communications Department







Emmanuelle Chatelain

+33 (0)1 86 67 24 36

emmanuelle.chatelain@edenred.com







Media Relations







Matthieu Santalucia

+33 (0)1 86 67 22 63

matthieu.santalucia@edenred.com Investor Relations







Cedric Appert

+33 (0)1 86 67 24 99

cedric.appert@edenred.com







Baptiste Fournier

+33 (0)1 86 67 20 73

baptiste.fournier@edenred.com

















1 Enterprise value

2 Post run-rate integration synergies

3 Software as a Service

4 Human Resources Information System

5 From 2023 to 2028

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+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.

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.
Trial's Objective Response Rate Endpoint Already Achieved

RadioMedix and Orano Med, two clinical stage radiopharmaceutical companies, today announced that the last patient has been dosed in the Phase II trial of the targeted alpha emitter therapy, 212Pb-DOTAMTATE (AlphaMedix). This trial is being conducted to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of AlphaMedix in peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) of naive patients with somatostatin receptor-expressing neuroendocrine tumors (NET), regardless of the location of the primary tumor. Top-line data from the trial is expected in mid-2024. Remarkably, based on data already collected, the objective response rate (ORR) endpoint has already been achieved and is more than twice as high as the current standard of care.

"The completion of the Phase II trial enrolment is a significant milestone in the clinical development of our innovative targeted alpha-emitter radiotherapy, AlphaMedix, and brings us one step closer to having this drug available to patients," said Ebrahim Delpassand, MD, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of RadioMedix. "Previous studies have shown targeted alpha therapy (TAT) with AlphaMedix is well-tolerated. The preliminary efficacy data seen to date are very promising, particularly achieving the planned ORR endpoint. As the trial progresses, we believe the ORR could improve further. We look forward to reporting data on the study in 2024, which we believe will show that AlphaMedix will provide substantial benefit over currently FDA approved therapies for patients with metastatic or inoperable SSTR-expressing NETs."

This Phase II trial is a multi-center, single arm, non-randomized, open-label basket trial. Forty-one patients with histologically confirmed NETs and positive somatostatin analogue imaging who have not received prior PRRT have been enrolled across four sites in the United States. Treatment consists of four cycles of AlphaMedix at 8-week intervals. The primary endpoint of the trial is safety and effectiveness of AlphaMedix. Efficacy endpoints include objective response rate (ORR) using RECIST v1.1 criteria, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). Additional information about the trial can be found on clinicaltrials.gov: NCT 05153772.

Julien Dodet, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Orano Med, noted: "Completing this Phase II trial enrolment on schedule is a great achievement everyone involved and confirms the strong interest of the medical community for targeted alphatherapies with lead-212. We are convinced that targeted alphatherapies, such as AlphaMedixTM, are the future of radiopharmaceutical therapies, providing an increased cytotoxic potential against cancer cells with limited toxicity to surrounding healthy cells. This reinforces Orano Med's commitment to make innovative lead-212-based therapies available to the medical community and patients worldwide."

About Targeted Alpha Therapy

Targeted alpha therapy (TAT) relies on a simple concept: combining the ability of biological molecules to target cancer cells with the short-range cell-killing capabilities of alpha-emitting radioisotopes. Alpha decay consists of the emission of a helium nucleus (alpha particle) together with very high linear energy transfer and a range emission of only few cell layers, resulting in irreparable double strand DNA breaks in cells adjacent only to area of alpha emission. This approach results in an increased cytotoxic potential toward cancer cells while limiting toxicity to nearby healthy cells. As a result, alpha emitters are considered as the most powerful payloads to be found for targeted therapies.

About AlphaMedixTM

AlphaMedixTM is a radiolabeled SSTR-targeting therapeutic investigational drug for the treatment of NETs patients. The product consists of SSTR-targeting peptide complex radiolabeled with 212Pb that serves as an in vivo generator of alpha-emitting particles. 212Pb isotope is particularly suitable for SSTR therapy applications based upon its half-life, energy, and decay properties.

About neuroendocrine tumors

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are a heterogeneous group of rare neoplasms that originate from neuroendocrine cells. These neoplasms occur mostly in the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas but can also occur in other tissues including the thymus, lung, and other uncommon sites such as ovaries, heart, and prostate. Most NETs strongly express somatostatin receptors (SSTRs). In the United States, around 12,000 patients are expected to be diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumors, with an average 5-year survival rate of 60% at a metastatic stage.

About RadioMedix

RadioMedix, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company, and sponsor of the AlphaMedix trial, based in Houston and Humble, Texas. The company is focused on innovative targeted radiopharmaceuticals for diagnosis, monitoring, and therapy of cancer. RadioMedix is developing radiopharmaceuticals for PET imaging and therapy (alpha- and beta-labeled agents). The company established contract service facilities for academic and industrial partners including a drug discovery center for the early probe development, a pre-clinical core facility for in vitro and in vivo evaluation of radiopharmaceuticals, and cGMP and analytical suite for Phase I-III clinical trials, and the large-scale post-approval commercial manufacturing facility, the Spica Center.

More information about RadioMedix, visit: www.radiomedix.com.

About Orano Med

Orano Med is a clinical-stage biotechnology company which develops a new generation of targeted therapies against cancer using the unique properties of lead-212 (212Pb), a rare alpha-emitting radioisotope and one of the more potent therapeutic payloads against cancer cells known as Targeted Alpha-Emitter Therapy (TAT). The company develops several treatments using 212Pb combined with various targeting agents. Orano Med has 212Pb manufacturing facilities, laboratories, and R&D centers in France and in the US and is currently investing to further expand its GMP-manufacturing capacities for 212Pb radiolabeled pharmaceuticals in North America and Europe.

More information about Orano Med, visit: www.oranomed.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230515005586/en/

Contacts:

Media Contacts

RadioMedix, Inc.

Izabela Tworowska, PhD.

Chief Scientific officer

+ 1 713-358-6562

itworowska@radiomedix.com



Orano Med

Jason D. Hurt, MD

Chief Medical Officer

Jason.hurt@oranomed.com

+1 614 886 1698



Halsin Partners (for Orano Med)

Mike Sinclair

msinclair@halsin.com

+44 7968 022075
Smiths Detection to provide Birmingham Airport with CT passenger checkpoint that allows passengers to leave liquids and electronics in hand luggage from June 2024

Smiths Detection, a global leader in threat detection and security screening technologies, today announces that it has been selected to supply fully integrated checkpoints throughout Birmingham Airport as part of its 20m security screening upgrade.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230515005612/en/

Smiths Detection's market-leading HI-SCAN 6040 CTiX (Photo: Business Wire)

The new security checkpoints will feature Smiths Detection's HI-SCAN 6040 CTiX, a computed tomography (CT) X-ray scanner, which produces high-resolution volumetric 3D images for quicker and deeper baggage assessment and low false-alarm rates. Implementation of the new scanner will allow passengers to leave their liquids and electronics in their hand luggage, which in turn will help to speed up security screening, whilst ensuring that safety is not compromised. The HI-SCAN 6040 CTiX is ECAC EDS CB C3 and TSA Certified.

Other new solutions to be supplied to Birmingham Airport includes the iLane, an automatic tray return system, and additional X-ray systems which will also be deployed at staff and visitor checkpoints. In addition, Smiths Detection will deliver a comprehensive training programme that includes face-to-face trainings for Supervisors and Operators and five years of service support.

Smiths Detection UK Head of Market, Andy Evripides, said, "We're delighted that Birmingham Airport has selected Smiths Detection to provide it with leading technology to enhance security outcomes and improve efficiency for a smoother passenger experience. Smiths Detection was awarded this contract due to our leading-edge technology solutions, consultative design process, innovative five-year support service, as well as our ongoing commitment to future technology enhancements such as automatic threat detection algorithms that can be easily integrated into our technology."

Stephen Barker, Development Construction Director at Birmingham Airport, said, "Once built and operational in June 2024, our new pre-flight screening area will further enhance our already high standards of security as well as improve the efficiency of our operation. This improved efficiency will enable us to process customers quickly, especially at peak travel times. Customers will no longer be required to remove liquids and laptops from hand luggage. We have selected Smiths Detection because of their proven track record in developing leading technology that improves safety and efficiency, and their commitment to work with us and continue the journey of improvement for many years to come."

Birmingham Airport's security upgrade is in line with changes in the UK regulation that will require the adoption of CT passenger checkpoints to airports by June 2024, allowing passengers to bring up to two litres of liquids in carry-on, and eliminate the need to remove electronics and liquids in bags.

END

ABOUT SMITHS DETECTION

Smiths Detection, a division of Smiths Group, is a global leader in inspection and detection technologies for the air transport, ports and borders, armed forces and urban security markets. With more than 70 years of experience in the field, we offer the necessary solutions to protect society from the threats posed by explosives, prohibited weapons, contraband, toxic chemical agents, biological threats, and narcotics helping to make the world a safer place.

To find out more please visit: www.smithsdetection.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230515005612/en/

Contacts:

Media:

FTI Consulting:

Tom Hufton/Harriet Jackson/Liam Gerrard

sc.smithsdetection@fticonsulting.com

+44 (0)20 3727 1000

Smiths Detection:

Sophie Mills, Head of Corporate Communications

sophie.mills@smithsdetection.com

+ 44 (0)73 8423 6474
May 16, 2023

Amsterdam, the Netherlands - Philips .*

The risk assessments have now been completed for the CPAP/BiPAP sleep therapy devices under the recall notification/field safety notice* i.e., the first-generation DreamStation, System One and DreamStation Go devices, representing approximately 95% of the registered devices globally. The assessments build on the previous updates in December 2021 , June 2022 , and December 2022 . Additionally, tests and analyses have been completed for first-generation DreamStation devices that have been exposed to ozone cleaning.

The test and research program has been conducted together with five independent, certified testing laboratories, and the results have been reviewed and assessed by third-party qualified experts and Philips Respironics, as well as an external medical panel.

Philips Respironics has provided the summary of the completed set of test results and analyses for the CPAP/BiPAP sleep therapy devices to the FDA and other competent authorities. The FDA is still considering the data and analyses that Philips Respironics has provided and may reach a different conclusion.

The full press release is available here .

* Voluntary recall notification in the US/field safety notice for the rest of the world.

For media questions, please contact:

Steve Klink

Philips Global Press Office

Tel.: +31 6 10888824

E-mail: steve.klink@philips.com

Elco van Groningen

Philips Global Press Office

Tel.: +31 6 81039584

E-mail: elco.van.groningen@philips.com

About Royal Philips

Royal Philips.

Forward-looking statements

This statement contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of Philips and certain of the plans and objectives of Philips with respect to these items. Examples of forward-looking statements include statements made about the strategy, estimates of sales growth, future EBITA, future developments in Philips' organic business and the completion of acquisitions and divestments. By their nature, these statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events and circumstances and there are many factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements.





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HELSINKI, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Askel Healthcare, the Finnish medical technology company offering a new method for the treatment of knee cartilage damage, has started a fundraising campaign to raise up to 5 million euros to finance clinical trials of its COPLA implant. The public phase of the ongoing fundraising campaign started today and closes on 18 June 2023. An investor meeting will take place on 24 May 2023 at 16:00 EEST at VALO Hotel & Work and online.

Askel Healthcare's COPLA implant is a new biodegradable implant for the surgical treatment of cartilage damage in the knee. Askel Healthcare is targeting the global cartilage repair market with the COPLA implant which is estimated to be up to 3 billion USD. The company aims to become the global standard of surgical knee cartilage repair.

Key highlights of the share issue:

- The company is offering 7.56-21.42% of equity for EUR 8.10 per share with a minimum investment of 50 shares. Shares are offered globally through brokers Invesdor GmbH and Oneplanetcrowd B.V. Additional details are available on the campaign website at https://www.invesdor.com/rounds/f589c08e-3245-4ad9-ba03-96c3277b0c43#/.

- The subscription period is 16 May-18 June 2023.

- Askel Healthcare's mission is to keep people in motion through its universal COPLA implant, a ground-breaking innovation for repair of knee cartilage damage. It is easy to implant and enables fast recovery to pain-free activity. The implant is a result of more than ten years of orthopedic and tissue engineering research at the University of Helsinki and Tampere University in Finland.

- The company is currently in the clinical investigation phase. Its primary goal is market authorization for the COPLA implant and product launch in the US by 2028.

- Key investment highlights:

(i) The global knee cartilage repair market is estimated to be up to 3 billion USD;

(ii) Knee cartilage does not have the capacity to heal on its own, and untreated knee cartilage damage is one of the main reasons for developing osteoarthritis. So far, there is lack of reliable and accessible treatment options for knee cartilage repair. The long-term results of the most common treatment method currently available, microfracture, are insufficient, and new methods that have entered the market are expensive;

(iii) The company's own cost-effective and scalable in-house production and moderate supply chain costs enable an effective global business model;

(iv) Askel Healthcare has an extensive global network of top experts and key opinion leaders in knee cartilage repair.

- Key advantages of the COPLA implant:

(i) Fast recovery through full weight-bearing on the operated leg immediately after surgery;

(ii) Affordability; surgical simplicity; universal.

(iii) Long-term clinical results as a result of good repair tissue quality driven by timely mechanical loading of the repaired tissue site.

- Key use of funds:

(i) Demonstration of safety of the COPLA implant;

(ii) Authority approval for the main clinical trial aiming for market authorization;

(iii) Strengthening the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR).

A more detailed description of the share issue is presented in the Information Memorandum here https://www.invesdor.com/rounds/f589c08e-3245-4ad9-ba03-96c3277b0c43#/.

"Askel Healthcare is on a major mission: keeping people in motion. Knee pain is extremely disabling and the number one factor preventing people from doing physical activities they love. To solve this universal problem, we have developed the COPLA implant. It works together with the biological environment of the knee, allowing the joint surface to repair itself. It is the only cartilage repair method that allows the patient to place full body weight on the operated leg immediately after the surgery. This shortens the recovery time and enables patients to return to their daily activities faster. Moreover, the mechanical stimuli resulting from physical activity is paramount for cartilage tissue to rebuild itself and thus for long-term clinical effects. Together with our world-class network of clinicians, we aim to be the global standard in surgical knee cartilage repair," said Virpi Muhonen, CEO of Askel Healthcare Ltd.

"Developing health technology requires money and patient investors. Crowdfunding is a vital source of equity funding for MedTech companies like Askel Healthcare, as venture capital investors in this field are almost non-existent in Finland. Investors on the Invesdor platform have shown interest in healthcare companies in recent years, as these have significant return potential when everything goes right," comments Mari Lymysalo, Managing Director of Invesdor Oy.

Invitation to investor event on 24 May 2023 at 4:00 p.m. EEST

Askel Healthcare invites investors, analysts and media to an investor event on 24 May 2023 at 4:00 p.m. EEST, where the company management will present the company, its strategy and the ongoing share issue, and answer questions from the audience. The hybrid event will be held in English at VALO Hotel & Work at Mannerheimintie 109, 00280 Helsinki. Participants can also join the event online.

To register for the event, please send an e-mail to niklas.green@invesdor.com. After successful registration, a link to the online event will be sent to online participants who have registered in advance for the event. The event materials will be sent to registered participants after the event. For additional information, please contact Askel Healthcare CEO, Virpi Muhonen at v.muhonen@askelhealthcare.com.

Additional information:

Askel Healthcare, CEO Virpi Muhonen. Tel. +358 40 489 3840

Invesdor Finland, CEO Mari Lymysalo. Tel. +358 40 356 6160

About Askel Healthcare

Askel Healthcare is a Finnish medical technology company set to transform surgical knee cartilage treatment and recovery. Our mission is to keep people in motion through our universal COPLA implant, which is a ground-breaking innovation for the repair of knee cartilage defects. For more information, visit: www.askelhealthcare.com and https://youtu.be/RSZwLWwfwe8.

About Invesdor

Invesdor Group is among the largest European investment and financing platforms, with over 436 million in funding volume. It currently operates in Finland, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. Invesdor's digital investment platform offers tailor-made financing solutions for unlisted companies. For more information, visit: https://www.invesdor.com.

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/22234/3769543/2060253.pdf Press release (PDF) https://news.cision.com/askel-healthcare-oy/i/founder,c3179054 Founder

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/askel-healthcare-to-raise-5-million-euros-for-clinical-research-of-its-copla---implant-to-treat-knee-pain-caused-by-cartilage-damage-301825522.html
LONDON, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- We are thrilled to announce that Dorsett Hospitality International (DHI) is confirmed as lead sponsor and partner of National Women's Enterprise Week (NWEW), running June 19-23, the first ever UK-wide celebration of female-led businesses.

DHI is also hosting NWEW's first Enterprise Incubator, Women's Launch Lab, at Dorsett Shepherd's Bush and Dao West London (June 20-22), as part of its commitment to giving opportunities to female-led businesses and entrepreneurs.

With Dorsett Hospitality International's generous support, Women's Launch Lab will offer 12 expenses paid places for female-led early-stage start-ups - a unique opportunity to take part in an immersive bootcamp programme.

President and Executive Director Winnie Chiu JP began as an entrepreneur herself, founding burger chain Freshness Burger in 2007 before joining the family hospitality and property development business. She was included in Tatler Asia's Most Influential List in 2022 and 2021 and in Prestige Hong Kong's Women of Power List in 2022.

Winnie will join a powerhouse of female judges, speakers and mentors, including Sara Davies MBE, Founder Crafters Companion and TV presenter, Alison Hall, CEO of fashion brand Sosandar and Mariam Jimoh, Founder and CEO of Oja.

The bootcamp's final pitch showcase will take place at Dorsett Shepherds Bush, with a potential investment prize from Dorsett Hospitality International.

"We are delighted to be supporting the landmark National Women's Enterprise Week, which will empower all women taking part. As a young woman leading a company, I faced many challenges, so it's a genuine passion of mine to facilitate these talented entrepreneurs. I look forward greatly to meeting and hosting the 12 successful candidates in June". (President and Executive Director of Dorsett Hospitality International, Winnie Chiu, JP)

"I'm thrilled to be launching the first ever national initiative to celebrate and support female entrepreneurs, and equally delighted that we have partnered with a female led business to do so. We look forward to working with Winnie and Dorsett Hospitality International to promote female entrepreneurs." (Alison Cork MBE, founder of NWEW)

Notes to editors

The brainchild of entrepreneur Alison Cork MBE (also founder of not for profit Make It Your Business www.makeityourbusiness.co.uk ), NWEW aims to support and encourage female enterprise with a whole week of activities for both the general public and female entrepreneurial community.

We want everyone to get involved with NWEW 2023 - there are several ways in which you can:

Take the first steps to start your own business if that's been on your 'to do' list for a while. Look up your local Business & IP Centre visit www.bl.uk/business-and-ip-centre for free information and advice - there are 21 major hubs already round the UK, and 90 satellite centres.

Organise your own local networking event or create an activity to celebrate NWEW. Start making those vital connections with other women already running their own business and those who need advice to get going. Download our branded graphics to use on social media or posters here www.makeityourbusiness.co.uk

Support other local female entrepreneurs by sharing their business on your socials or buying products and services from them during NWEW (and beyond of course!) - share a pic of your purchases on your socials and tag NWEW

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2077303/Winnie_Chiu.jpg

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/dorsett-hospitality-international-to-sponsor-first-ever-uk-national-womens-enterprise-week-301824906.html
Board director and seasoned international expert in executive search elevated to Chair

New York, Frankfurt, May 16, 2023as Chair of Boyden's Board of Directors. Effective immediately, Kathleen succeeds Craig Stevens, who remains on Boyden's board as Americas Director.

A rare female Chair of a global leadership and talent advisory firm, Kathleen was first elected At-Large Director in 2021 and subsequently Chair on 29th April 2023.

Commenting on her election, Kathleen Dunton, Managing Partner, Germany, and EMEA Regional Practice Leader, Private Equity and Venture Capital said, "I am honored to serve Boyden as Chair, as the board continues to drive innovation and diversity, and provide strategic insight to global partners and their clients. Boyden is privileged to work with clients transforming their organizations as the digital economy continues to evolve. We are energized by opportunities to integrate crucial practices around people and planet for the benefit of all communities".

Kathleen has over 20 years' experience in executive search, primarily in the private equity, industrial and chemical sectors. A global citizen, she has lived in the United States, United Kingdom and now Germany. As leader of EMEA's private equity and venture capital practice, she provides valuable expertise in leadership for early stage and hyper-growth companies, collaborating with both regional and global colleagues.

"I am delighted to see Kathleen succeed me as Chair," commented Craig Stevens. "Kathleen has been a valuable collaborator in steering Boyden through its strategic development, driving a variety of important initiatives and ensuring the firm's on-going ability to deliver to the highest standards for clients worldwide."

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.

Attachment
Systemwide Pro Forma Revenue of $34.8 million in Q1 2023

Construction completed at Matteson, IL facility with operations expected to commence in 2H 2023

Increased vertical operations in Illinois with the acquisition of a third retail dispensary license in Chicago, subject to regulatory approval

Expanded brand portfolio with launch of category-leading products in new markets in Q1 2023

Subsequent to the quarter, entered into non-binding term sheet to extend maturity date of senior secured debt, reducing interest payable, and expanding potential financing opportunities

PHOENIX, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - 4Front Ventures Corp. (CSE: FFNT) (OTCQX: FFNTF) ("4Front" or the "Company"), a vertically integrated, multi-state cannabis operator and retailer, today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023 ("Q1 2023"). All financial information is presented in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated.

Q1 2023 Highlights

Systemwide Pro Forma Revenue totaled $34.8 million, representing an increase of 7% from the first quarter of 2022 ("Q1 2022")

GAAP revenue increased 17% year-over-year to $30.4 million

Adjusted EBITDA of $3.5 million compared to $7.4 million in Q1 2022

Systemwide Pro Forma Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP measures. See "Note Regarding Non-GAAP Measures, Reconciliation, and Discussion."



Management Commentary

"I am pleased with our execution in the first quarter as the business continues to perform well, despite a challenging macro backdrop. We ended the quarter with positive operational cash flow in all our core markets, with the exception of California," said Leo Gontmakher, Chief Executive Officer of 4Front. "This achievement has put us on solid ground as we continue to invest additional working capital in key markets and prepare for our next phase of growth in Illinois, which we believe represents the largest market share opportunity over the next 18-24 months."

Gontmakher continued, "In the first quarter, our cultivation and manufacturing activity reached optimal levels to meet increased consumer demand, prompting us to launch dozens of new products in all major product categories, including further expansion of the Island brand and products and the entry into the vape category in Illinois for the first time. Our market share has benefited from growing consumer interest across our footprint, with notable boosts particularly in the highly competitive states of Massachusetts and Illinois, where we continue to aggressively grow our presence and differentiate through steady launches of new products to these markets. Additionally, in California, sales expanded in both our retail and wholesale customer segments and this encouraging performance continued into the second quarter with April being our top-performing month in the state to date. While we are willing to play a longer game in California as the legal market develops, we are not willing to operate at a loss. We have been proactively managing the cost structure of this business and have a high degree of confidence this market will be close to cash flow break-even in fewer than 60 days."

Gontmakher added, "We have significantly expanded our operational capabilities in Illinois, having completed construction on our Matteson facility, which has officially become the biggest cultivation and manufacturing facility in the state, in addition to securing a third retail license. Operations at our Matteson facility are expected to commence in the second half of the year as we continue to work diligently to secure power to the building. With these enhanced capabilities in the state, we are well on our way to achieving a complete vertically integrated license portfolio in Illinois as we continue to pursue accretive M&A opportunities to grow our retail dispensary footprint."

Gontmakher continued, "I am also pleased to note that after the quarter, we reached terms with our senior secured debt provider, LI Lending, to extend the maturity of our senior secured debt for an additional two years. This provides an opportunity for our company to raise over $30 million of strategic senior security-type financing, which opens a door that was once closed. It is worth noting that several members of our family, including myself, are part of LI Lending. Additionally, and perhaps more importantly, the renegotiation provides us with the opportunity to expand our debt to sufficiently capitalize our company and fund the expansion of our retail base in Illinois . We expect the first tranche of super senior debt to be funded imminently, and we are thrilled to be able to access these additional funds to further strengthen our financial position."

Gontmakher concluded, "With the significant cash drain in California soon to be over, I could not be more excited about both the financial and operating future of 4Front. Our platform is optimized and efficient, and achieving operational cash flow emphasizes the significance of only pursuing projects that quickly add cash to our balance sheet. We are confident we have set industry-leading standards and are constantly innovating, integrating, and implementing our standard operating procedures across our portfolio. We remain highly motivated to demonstrate the value of our platform to consumers, shareholders, and customers as we continue to solidify our presence as a leading cannabis CPG company."

Q1 2023 Operational Highlights

Deepened operational footprint in Illinois with the completion of construction at 4Front's cultivation and production facility in Matteson, providing access to ~43,000 square feet of the total ~67,000 square feet of flowering canopy and ~70,000 square feet of manufacturing space, totaling ~250,000 square feet. Operations are expected to commence in 2H 2023 upon the activation of facility power.

providing access to ~43,000 square feet of the total ~67,000 square feet of flowering canopy and ~70,000 square feet of manufacturing space, totaling ~250,000 square feet. Operations are expected to commence in 2H 2023 upon the activation of facility power. Increased vertical operations in Illinois with the acquisition of a third retail dispensary license in Chicago , subject to regulatory approval, advancing 4Front's strategy of attaining the maximum allowable limit of 10 retail dispensary licenses in the state. The Company is currently in advanced discussions regarding the acquisition of several additional retail licenses in Illinois .

, subject to regulatory approval, advancing 4Front's strategy of attaining the maximum allowable limit of 10 retail dispensary licenses in the state. The Company is currently in advanced discussions regarding the acquisition of several additional retail licenses in Illinois . Strengthened position in Massachusetts, capturing outsized market share following several innovative product launches and cultivation process improvements. The production of packaged flower increased nearly 50% sequentially, driven by increased demand for high-quality, potent genetics, from both retail and wholesale channels in the state. Furthermore, over 80% of the Company's packaged flower is testing over 25% THC, significantly above the Q1 Massachusetts average of 19.8%.

capturing outsized market share following several innovative product launches and cultivation process improvements. The production of packaged flower increased nearly 50% sequentially, driven by increased demand for high-quality, potent genetics, from both retail and wholesale channels in the state. Furthermore, over 80% of the Company's packaged flower is testing over 25% THC, significantly above the Q1 Massachusetts average of 19.8%. Expanded and diversified product portfolio in Illinois with the launch of vape products, including cartridges and disposables under the Crystal Clear brand. Within four weeks of launch, both SKUs reached the number one position in the vape category by both units sold and revenue across the state's Mission retail network.

including cartridges and disposables under the Crystal Clear brand. Within four weeks of launch, both SKUs reached the number one position in the vape category by both units sold and revenue across the state's Mission retail network. Debuted new 1988 brand in Massachusetts , a line of flavored, tobacco-free blunts named after the year in which the term "blunt" was introduced to the world by way of hip hop. The filterless, slow-burning 1-gram blunts feature the Company's premium flower rolled in tobacco-free blunt cones, available in five robust strains at Mission and partner dispensaries in Massachusetts and coming soon to Illinois . Following their launch, 1988 has outsold third-party blunt products two-to-one in Mission retail stores.

, a line of flavored, tobacco-free blunts named after the year in which the term "blunt" was introduced to the world by way of hip hop. The filterless, slow-burning 1-gram blunts feature the Company's premium flower rolled in tobacco-free blunt cones, available in five robust strains at Mission and partner dispensaries in Massachusetts and coming soon to Illinois . Following their launch, 1988 has outsold third-party blunt products two-to-one in Mission retail stores. Appointed 4Front Co-Founder and cannabis industry trailblazer Kris Krane as a member of the Board of Directors; Mr. Krane has also served as a strategic advisor to the Company since 2021 and previously was President of Mission Dispensaries.

Subsequent Events

E ntered into a non-binding term sheet ("Term Sheet") with the Company's senior secured lender, LI Lending, LLC ("Lender"), to extend the maturity date, reduce the interest payable, and expand the third-party financings allowed under the December 17, 2020 Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement ("Loan") between 4Front and Lender on terms and conditions set out in the Term Sheet. The Lender will extend the maturity date of the Loan to May 1, 2026, and reduce the interest payable to 12.0% per year, payable monthly, and allow for in excess of $30 million additional senior secured financing. As of March 31, 2023, the Company had $4.6 million of cash and $50.1 million of related-party long-term debt not due until May 2024 .

allowed under the December 17, 2020 Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement ("Loan") between 4Front and Lender on terms and conditions set out in the Term Sheet. The Lender will extend the maturity date of the Loan to May 1, 2026, and reduce the interest payable to 12.0% per year, payable monthly, and allow for in excess of $30 million additional senior secured financing. As of March 31, 2023, the Company had $4.6 million of cash and $50.1 million of related-party long-term debt not due until May 2024 . Broadened product suite under the 1988 brand with the debut of infused pre-rolls , following the strong performance of the brand's initial launch in Massachusetts in the first quarter. The 1-gram infused blunts are available in four new, exclusive strains at Mission dispensaries in Massachusetts, and are expected to roll out to partner dispensaries in the state, and to Illinois consumers, in the coming weeks and months.

, following the strong performance of the brand's initial launch in Massachusetts in the first quarter. The 1-gram infused blunts are available in four new, exclusive strains at Mission dispensaries in Massachusetts, and are expected to roll out to partner dispensaries in the state, and to Illinois consumers, in the coming weeks and months. Expanded offering under the Koko Gemz brand with the premiere of a cannabis-infused chocolate variety pack, featuring four premium, award-winning flavors made by 4Front's master chocolatiers using handcrafted Belgian chocolate. The variety pack contains an assortment of 20 Koko Gemz and is available at Mission dispensaries in Massachusetts .

Q1 2023 Financial Overview

Systemwide Pro Forma Revenue was $34.8 million for Q1 2023, up 7% from Q1 2022. GAAP revenue was $30.4 million for Q1 2023, up 17% from Q1 2022. The growth in revenue can be attributed to expanded sales in California due to increased production at 4Front's Commerce, California facility, in addition to increased retail and wholesale activity in Massachusetts . Revenue was offset by seasonality and market compression in various markets.

Adjusted EBITDA was $3.5 million for Q1 2023, compared to $7.4 million in Q1 2022, representing an Adjusted EBITDA margin of 10.1%. As the Company's California business turns the corner in 2023 and joins the rest of its operations as a positive contributor to EBITDA, EBITDA margins are expected to return to the mid-20% range toward the end of the year, with the potential to increase further as operations in Illinois continue to expand in 2024.

As of May 15, 2023, the Company has 648,583,519 subordinate voting shares outstanding.

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call and webcast today, Monday, May 15, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. ET to review its financial and operating results and provide an update on current business trends.

Date: Monday, May 15, 2023

Time: 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Webcast: Register

Dial-in: 1-888-664-6392 (North America Toll-Free)

The conference call will be available for replay by phone until May 29, 2023, at 1-888-390-0541, replay code: 273581#. Additionally, the webcast will be archived for approximately 90 days following the call and can be accessed via 4Front's Investor Relations website . For assistance, please contact [email protected] .

About 4Front Ventures Corp.

4Front Ventures Corp. ("4Front" or the "Company") (CSE: FFNT) (OTCQX: FFNTF) is a national, vertically integrated multi-state cannabis operator that owns or manages operations and facilities in strategic medical and adult-use cannabis markets, including California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Washington . Since its founding in 2011, 4Front has built a strong reputation for its high standards and low-cost cultivation and production methodologies earned through a track record of success in facility design, cultivation, genetics, growing processes, manufacturing, purchasing, distribution, and retail. To date, 4Front has successfully brought to market more than 20 different cannabis brands and over 1800 products, which are strategically distributed through its fully owned and operated Mission dispensaries and retail outlets in its core markets. As the Company continues to drive value for its shareholders, its team is applying its decade of expertise in the sector across the cannabis industry value chain and ecosystem. For more information, visit https://4frontventures.com/ .

4FRONT VENTURES CORP.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Amounts expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars except for share and per share data)





March 31,

2023

December 31, 2022 ASSETS







Current assets:







Cash

$4,628

$15,190 Accounts receivable, net

8,492

7,391 Other receivables

191

77 Current portion of lease receivables

3,855

3,810 Inventory

27,388

25,592 Prepaid expenses and other assets

1,514

1,207 Total current assets

46,068

53,267 Property, plant, and equipment, net

55,382

56,906 Lease receivables

5,242

5,611 Intangible assets, net

30,229

30,927 Goodwill

53,955

53,955 Right-of-use assets

137,002

138,451 Deposits

5,868

5,615 TOTAL ASSETS

$333,746

$344,732 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY







LIABILITIES







Current liabilities:







Accounts payable

$12,048

$12,701 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

11,653

14,265 Taxes payable

39,176

36,577 Current portion of contract liabilities

682

369 Current portion of lease liability

3,742

4,479 Current portion of notes payable and accrued interest

7,727

9,059 Total current liabilities

75,028

77,450 Convertible notes

15,122

14,843 Notes payable and accrued interest from related party

50,129

49,807 Long term notes payable

10,599

10,456 Long term accounts payable

1,362

1,362 Contract liabilities

2,000

2,000 Construction finance liability

16,000

16,000 Deferred tax liability

8,024

8,278 Lease liability

137,503

136,185 TOTAL LIABILITIES

315,767

316,381 SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY







Subordinate Voting Shares (no par value, unlimited shares authorized, 643,416,275 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022)

304,602

304,602 Additional paid-in capital

60,431

59,411 Deficit

(347,152)

(335,755) Equity attributable to 4Front Ventures Corp.

17,881

28,258 Non-controlling interest

98

93 TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

17,979

28,351 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

$333,746

$344,732



4FRONT VENTURES CORP.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

Amounts expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars except for share and per share data)





Three Months Ended March 31,



2023

2022 REVENUE







Revenue from sale of goods

$27,370

$23,083 Real estate income

3,006

2,965 Total revenues

30,376

26,048 Cost of goods sold

(19,388)

(12,594) Gross profit

10,988

13,454 OPERATING EXPENSES







Selling and marketing expenses

7,038

5,109 General and administrative expenses

7,856

7,654 Depreciation and amortization

870

847 Equity based compensation

1,020

1,038 Total operating expenses

16,784

14,648 Loss from operations

(5,796)

(1,194) Other income (expense)







Interest income

14

2 Interest expense

(3,196)

(2,620) Change in fair value of derivative liability

-

1,300 Loss on litigation settlement

(3)

- Other

655

56 Total other income (expense), net

(2,530)

(1,262) Net loss before income taxes

(8,326)

(2,456) Income tax expense

(3,066)

(3,438) Net loss

(11,392)

(5,894) Net income attributable to non-controlling interest

5

5 Net loss attributable to shareholders

$(11,397)

$(5,899) Basic and diluted loss per share

$(0.02)

$(0.01) Weighted average number of shares outstanding, basic and diluted

642,140,067

619,113,389





Note Regarding Non-GAAP Measures, Reconciliation, and Discussion

In this press release, 4Front refers to certain non-GAAP financial measures such as Systemwide Pro Forma Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA. These measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. 4Front defines Systemwide Pro Forma Revenue as total revenue plus revenue from entities with which the Company has a consulting contract or effectively similar relationship (net of any consulting fee or effectively similar revenue) but does not consolidate the financial results of per U.S. GAAP ASC 810. 4Front considers this measure to be an appropriate indicator of the growth and scope of the business.

Adjusted EBITDA is defined by the Company as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization less share-based compensation expense and one-time charges related to acquisition, financing-related costs, and other non-recurring expenses. 4Front considers these measures to be an important indicator of the financial strength and performance of our business.

Systemwide Pro Forma Revenue Reconciliation for the First Quarter Ended March 31, 2023

($ in 000's)

Revenue (GAAP) $30,376 Less: Managed Asset Income 3,006 Plus: Systemwide Revenue Adjustment 7,456 Systemwide Pro Forma Revenue (non-GAAP) $34,826



Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this news release that are forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors disclosed here and elsewhere in 4Front's' periodic filings with securities regulators. When used in this news release, words such as "will, could, plan, estimate, expect, intend, may, potential, believe, should," and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements related to future developments and the business and operations of 4Front, statements regarding when or if transactions will close or if and when required conditions to closing are attained, the completion of construction projects, the Company's ability to increase revenue and market share and become cash-flow positive, the impact of transactions on the business of 4Front, and other statements regarding future developments of the business. Although 4Front has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that could cause results, performance, or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended, including but not limited to closing conditions, regulatory and permitting approvals, performance of third-party vendors, changes in laws or enforcement of existing laws, limited operating history, reliance on management, requirements for additional financing, competition, limits on market growth and state adoption due to inconsistent public opinion and perception of the medical-use and adult-use marijuana industry, and political change.

There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate or that management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances, or results will materialize. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, the results or events predicted in these forward-looking statements may differ materially from actual results or events.

Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this release. 4Front disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law.

SOURCE 4Front Ventures Corp.
Paris, France - May 16, 2023- Eviden, an Atos business, ColibrITD and ONERA today announce the launch of VulQain, a research project, funded by the French Defense Innovation Agency, to build the first end-to-end hybrid platform to address the phenomenon of combustion and its challenges, including its complexity and non-linearity. By integrating Eviden's quantum computer emulator and ColibrITD's quantum software on ONERA's classical simulation platform, the project team aims to reduce carbon emissions, lower the energy footprint of high-performance computing (HPC) centers and help develop safer engines and turbines in the future.

Most HPC customers are confronted with decarbonization challenges in their particular industry and a reduced product development time. In the meantime, classical simulation is facing limitations: certain complex phenomena like combustion cannot be fully simulated in a reasonable amount of time, and more computations would require more energy, defeating the initial purpose of reducing the environmental impact. A hybrid approach between classical and quantum computing would bring together faster computing capacities with improved computation precision and energy efficiency.

This innovative project will give birth to the first end-to-end quantum computing combustion platform that aims to work on existing noisy and quantum computers. The project team, supported by ColibrITD's expertise in quantum software, will develop a noise-resistant hybrid algorithm to solve differential equations using the simple use case of a flame structure in 1D. This algorithm will be integrated on Eviden's quantum computer emulator and, thanks to Atos' deep expertise in hybrid computing, on Onera's classical simulation platform to be able to compare both approaches and results.

Cedric Bourrasset, Global Head of HPC-AI and Quantum Computing, Eviden, Atos Group said "This project has come to life thanks to Atos' innovation strategy.Atos and ColibrITD started their collaboration through Scaler, the Group's start-up accelerator, and decided to solve the computational challenge of combustionthrough quantum technologies with the support of ONERA. This project is not only about algorithm research, but also to provide those industries that require combustion with a hybrid computational platform, enabling better simulation capacity and precision while improving their energy efficiency."

Laurent Guiraud, Co-Founder and Quantum Computing R&D Lead, ColibrITD declared "Being part of the VulQain project with our partners is helping accelerate the 2nd quantum revolution adoption in key industrial sectors says Dr. Laurent Guiraud. "This project will help increase the quantum momentum for real use cases that will benefit the aerospace & defense industry and other sectors."

Alain Refloch in charge of quantum computing at ONERA QTECH laboratory highlighted "Today, a lot of effort is being put into developing various qubit technologies. For ONERA, the interest of this project lies in its algorithmic orientation and the fact that the developments on this platform will be hardware-agnostic. This platform can be used for quantum education purposes and in training programs and will serve the air, space and defence technologies."

***

About Eviden1

Evidendesigns the scope composed of Atos' digital, cloud, big data and security business lines. It will be a global leader in data-driven, trusted and sustainable digital transformation. As a next generation digital business with worldwide leading positions in digital, cloud, data, advanced computing and security, it brings deep expertise for all industries in more than 53 countries. By uniting unique high-end technologies across the full digital continuum with 57,000 world-class talents, Eviden expands the possibilities of technologies for enterprises and public authorities, helping them to build their digital future. Eviden is an Atos Group business with an annual revenue of c.  5 billion.

About Atos

Atos is a global leader in digital transformation with 111,000 employees and annual revenue of c.  11 billion. European number one in cybersecurity, cloud and high-performance computing, the Group provides tailored end-to-end solutions for all industries in 69 countries. A pioneer in decarbonization services and products, Atos is committed to a secure and decarbonized digital for its clients. Atos is a SE (Societas Europaea), and listed on Euronext Paris.

The purpose of Atosis to help design the future of the information space. Its expertise and services support the development of knowledge, education and research in a multicultural approach and contribute to the development of scientific and technological excellence. Across the world, the Group enables its customers and employees, and members of societies at large to live, work and develop sustainably, in a safe and secure information space.

About ColibrITD

??ColibrITD is a quantum computing software startup developing an innovative platform to help transform and optimize classical problems through a hybrid HPC-Quantum approach. Our mission is to help all companies take advantage of the second quantum revolution and not be left behind by this new industrial revolution in the next few years. The future is now.

About ONERA, the French Aerospace Lab

ONERA is a central player in aeronautical and space research and employs over 2,000 people. Operating under the authority of the French Ministry of Armed Forces, its 2023 budget amounts to 289 million, over half of which comes from study, research and testing contracts. As the government expert in aerospace technologies, ONERA strives to prepare tomorrow's defenses, address the aerospace challenges of the future, and boost the competitiveness of the aerospace industry. It boasts skills in all disciplines and technologies used in aerospace applications. All the major civil and military aerospace programmes in France and Europe are rooted in ONERA's DNA, including Ariane, Airbus, Falcon, Rafale, missiles, helicopters, engines, radars, etc. Its world-renowned, prize-winning research scientists mentor many doctoral students.

ONERA QTech: w3.onera.fr/qtech

Press contacts

Atos: Constance Arnoux - constance.arnoux@atos.net- +33 (0)6 44 12 16 35

ColibrITD: Laurent Guiraud - laurent.guiraud@colibritd.com- + 33 (0)6 03 96 19 77

ONERA: Guillaume Belan - guillaume.belan@onera.fr- +33 1 80 38 68 54

1Eviden business is operated through the following brands: Alia Consulting,?AppCentrica, ATHEA, Atos Syntel, Bull,?Cloudamize, Cloudreach,?Cryptovision,?DataSentics,?digitalsecurity, Eagle Creek, EcoAct,?Edifixio, Energy4U, Engage ESM,?Forensik, IDEAL GRP,?IDnomic, In?Fidem, Ipsotek, Maven Wave, Miner &?Kasch,?Motiv,?Nimbix,?Processia, Profit4SF,?science+computing, SEC Consult, Visual BI,?Worldgrid, X-Perion,?zData?

Eviden is a registered trademark.  Eviden SAS, 2023.

Attachment
Proceeds from the Agreement to Help Fund Student Scholarships and Further Support the Mission of the NYU SPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality

NEW YORK, May 16, 2023, a leading information services and event company, today announces it has agreed to assume management control of the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conferencefrom the NYU School of Professional Studiesstarting with the 2024 edition. This strategy fits perfectly with Questex's initiative to build on its leading position in the operational real estate and hospitality marketplace, enhancing its powerful global hospitality portfolio. The amount of the transaction was not disclosed.



The NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference, whose 45th annual conference will take place on June 4-6, 2023, at the New York Marriott Marquis, will become a part of the robust Questex Hospitality Portfolio. The Conference complements the largest hospitality real estate event in the world, Questex's International Hospitality Investment Forum, which connects capital with real estate and operators annually in Berlin, Germany. It also fits well with "The Hospitality Show," a new innovative hospitality event to bring together industry leaders and procurement specialists from across the hospitality spectrum, created in collaboration with the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA).

The Questex Hospitality Portfolio is led by Alexi Khajavi, Group President Hospitality, Wellness and Travel. The NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference will become part of the Operational Real Estate Market. The coming together of these leading events under one portfolio reflects the importance of cross-border hospitality investment and the benefits of combining Questex's best-in-class marketing and database platform with NYU SPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality's industry expertise and research to deliver information and connections to a global audience of senior level decision makers in hospitality investment, development and operations.

The global hospitality industry is a massive $4.8 trillion market and is expected to grow by over 10% annually to reach $6.8 trillion by 2026. Operators across these businesses share similar needs around information, products, and solutions, which offers Questex an opportunity to scale for growth while serving each of the sub-markets including bars and restaurants, spas, salons and hotel management with sector-specific research, insights, and connections to drive its businesses forward.

For NYU, the proceeds from the agreement will help fund student scholarships at the NYU SPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality and further support the program's mission of educating and preparing future leaders and innovators for careers in global hospitality management, travel, and tourism.

"For years, the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference has been one of the most prestigious global industry conferences," said Nicolas Graf, chaired professor and Associate Dean of NYU SPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality. "We look forward to continuing to work with Questex on the conference to evolve, grow, and deliver unparalleled content. This agreement will help ensure the Conference is the premier hospitality finance and development forum for years to come."

"This agreement creates a powerhouse Hospitality portfolio. Questex has created the unquestioned leadership position in the overall hospitality industry. We are the only event and information services company to offer a portfolio that includes hotel operations, hotel real estate investment, and other interconnected businesses such as restaurants, bars, gyms, spas, and luxury travel," said Paul Miller, CEO, Questex. "As a trusted partner in the Hospitality industry, Questex's experience, proprietary data, and deep relationships across the ecosystem - from investors, owners, developers, advisors, c-suite, decision-makers, and industry partners - allows buyers to conduct business with unprecedented ease, effectiveness, and speed."

Jonathan M. Tisch, Executive Chairman of Loews Hotels & Co., and Chair of the NYU Conference, commented, "Questex's investment in the NYU International Hotel Industry Investment Conference speaks to the valuable forum we have created over the last 45 years and is testament to the strength and resiliency in travel and hospitality and in New York City itself. The partnership moving forward will undoubtedly deliver enhanced information, innovation and inspiration to conference attendees and students alike."

Through general sessions, workshops, and networking events, the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference convenes top industry executives, from CEOs of hotel brands to various investment and real estate executives, to discover, learn and discuss the latest trends, economic influences, and projections. Previous speakers have included:

Sebastien M. Bazin, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer, Accor;

Anthony Capuano, Chief Executive Officer, Marriott International;

Mark S. Hoplamazian, President and Chief Executive Officer, Hyatt Hotels Corporation;

Reza Akhavi, MD and Co-head of Real Estate at Deutsche Bank Securities;

Michael D. Bluhm, Managing Director, Global Head of Gaming and Lodging, Morgan Stanley - Investment Banking;

Tyler Henritze, Head of Strategic Investments, Blackstone Real Estate Americas;

Christopher J. Nassetta, President and Chief Executive Officer, Hilton; and

Keith Barr, CEO of InterContinental Hotels Group.

For more information on Questex, visit questex.com. Stay connected to Questex on LinkedIn.

About the NYU SPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality

The NYU School of Professional Studies Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality, now celebrating close to 30 years of academic excellence, is a leading center for the study of hospitality, travel, and tourism. Founded in 1995, the Tisch Center was established in response to the growing need for hospitality and tourism undergraduate and graduate education. Its cutting-edge curricula attract bright, motivated students who seek to become leaders in their fields.

Through its undergraduate degree in hotel and tourism management, its graduate degrees in hospitality industry studies, tourism management, and event management; a plethora of Professional Pathways programs; and its world-renowned hospitality investment conference, students gain the knowledge and the skill sets that enable them to manage change, to communicate, to thrive in complex work environments, and to advance the businesses of hospitality, travel, and tourism. The Tisch Center recently launched the Hospitality Innovation Hub (HI Hub), which will foster entrepreneurship and creative solutions for the industries it serves. The state-of-the-art facilities offer students, start-ups, established industry partners, and investors opportunities to learn, discover, innovate, and invest.

For more information about the NYU SPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality, visit sps.nyu.edu/tisch.

About Questex

Questex brings people together in the markets that help people live better: travel, hospitality and wellness; the industries that help people live longer: life science and healthcare; and the technologies that enable and fuel these new experiences. We live in the experience economy - connecting our ecosystem through live events, surrounded by data insights and digital communities. We deliver experience and real results. It happens here.
CCT has partnered with the family-owned German grocer to introduce the jar lid innovation to select stores in Krefeld, Germany

DAYTON, Ohio, May 16, 2023will launch the EEASY Lid in select stores in Krefeld, Germany on May 25th, bringing the jar lid innovation to European customers for the first time.



CCT's patented EEASY Lid is designed to help brands provide an unprecedented level of accessibility to their jarred food products. The EEASY Lid allows consumers to vent a vacuum-sealed jar by simply pressing a button on the lid, reducing the amount of torque needed to twist off the lid by up to 50%. The EEASY Lid is also the world's first aluminum lug jar lid - a more sustainable and durable alternative to traditional steel lids.

As a family business with stores throughout Krefeld, EDEKA Kempken provides high-quality products with an elevated level of customer service. The family-owned grocer places an emphasis on innovation, incorporating the latest trends and possibilities into their stores and products.

Later this month, the EEASY Lid lug will be available on EDEKA Kempken's new tomato-basil flavor of its in-house private label pasta sauce brand, providing its customers with a new level of accessibility.

"At EDEKA, we are dedicated to providing our customers with a high-quality variety of products," said Heiner Kempken, CEO of EDEKA Supermarkets in Krefeld. "I was quickly convinced that CCT's EEASY Lid is a great innovation and a real help for many people opening jar lids. That's why we're presenting this new lid in our stores. We stand for quality and innovation for our customers."

In March, Guglielmo's Sauce became the first food brand to adopt the EEASY Lid in the United States, using the EEASY Lid lug on its line of pasta sauces sold in over 250 grocers. Now, the EEASY Lid is available to shoppers in Krefeld.

"It is our ongoing mission to solve the decades-old problem of opening jar lids for consumers across the globe," said Brandon Bach, president of CCT. "Our partnership with EDEKA Kempken allows us to bring an unprecedented level of accessibility to shoppers in Germany. Customers will be able to open their favorite jarred food products, regardless of disability or physical limitation."

The EEASY Lid was created after a company co-founder was approached by a close friend who underwent surgery for breast cancer. Struggling to open a jar, she asked why someone couldn't make a jar lid that was easier to open. After eight years of research and development, CCT's EEASY Lid is the first major jar lid innovation in over seven decades - and the only one to eliminate the struggle of opening a stubborn jar lid.

Traditional jarred products on a store shelf require more than 40 in-lb of torque to open - with some requiring more than 50 in-lb. With the EEASY Lid, it only takes an average of 9 in-lb of torque to open a jar.

CCT produces the 63 mm lug EEASY Lid at its 16,000 square foot, state-of-the-art technology center at the company's headquarters in Dayton, Ohio. CCT has the capability to produce roughly 800 aluminum lug EEASY Lids per minute - more than 250 million annually.

Click hereto download the press kit, which includes images, research, videos and labels.

For more information on CCT, please visit eeasylid.com.

EEASY Lids and demo products are available by request.

About Consumer Convenience Technologies

Consumer Convenience Technologies (CCT) is the maker of the EEASY Lid, the first major jar lid innovation in over 75 years. The company's software designed patented technology makes opening a vacuum-sealed jar much easier, with just the push of a button. The EEASY Lid opens up the market to 49% of people who do not have the physical ability or who struggle to open a vacuum-sealed jar. The EEASY Lid is the world's first aluminum lug jar lid - more sustainable and durable than traditional steel lids. CCT is partnered with Germany-based Trade Consult - a sales and marketing firm focusing on the grocery industry and food manufacturers - to coordinate overall execution of the EEASY Lid into the European marketplace. The EEASY Lid is manufactured at the company's 16,000 square foot, state-of-the-art technology center at the company's headquarters in Dayton, Ohio.

Media Contact

Hannah Conley

Uproar PR for CCT

Hconley@uproarpr.com

321-236-0102

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/251a9496-0f3f-4a3d-b925-f1d0a29bcf25
+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.

The Vietnamese government has announced a $135 billion energy strategy, with half of the country's residential rooftops to be equipped with PV systems under a net-metering scheme. The nation also aims to become a power exporter by the end of the decade.Vietnam's Ministry of Energy has released its National Power Development Plan VIII for the 2021-30 period, which is designed to improve the country's energy security. The government plans to allocate $135 billion by deploying more power generation capacity and new grid capacity, including projects to connect the country's network with neighboring ...

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.
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan--(Newsfile Corp. - May 16, 2023) - 1844 RESOURCES Inc. (TSXV: EFF) (the "Company" or "1844") is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Larry Hulbert, D.Sc., P.Geo and Mr. Louis-David Gauthier to the advisory board.

Dr. Hulbert has over 40 years of experience in the metallogeny of mafic-ultramafic rocks and is an internationally recognized expert in platinum-group elements and nickel-copper sulphides. Additionally, Dr. Hulbert worked directly on the HawkRidge project from 2012 through 2014. Dr. Hulbert accomplishments and University degrees are so numerous, that we invite you to access the full detail on his website www.ultra-mafic.com.

Mr. Louis-David Gauthier is the founder of Invercio Inc., a multimedia and social media company focusing mainly on mineral and mining exploration. Mr. Gauthier has worked in the financial sector as a consultant in operations and risk management for a period of thirteen years.

Sylvain Laberge, President and CEO of 1844 states "We are pleased to have Dr. Hulbert and Mr. Gauthier join the 1844 team. Dr. Hulbert experience with the HawkRidge property specifically and the rock types in the area more generally, makes him uniquely qualified to help with our development of what will be our new flagship property in northern Quebec. Mr. Gauthier's experience with marketing and social media will go a long way in helping the company properly communicate with the market and will help greatly in communicating the results of our exploration and development activities".

1844 also announces the grant of 200,000 stock options, pursuant to the Company's stock option plan, to certain consultants and advisors. The options are exercisable at $0.05 per share and, if not exercised, expire May 16, 2028, subject to earlier expiration in accordance with the stock option plan and applicable policies of the TSX Venture Exchange.

About 1844 Resources Inc.: 1844 is an exploration company with a focus in strategic and energetic metals and underexplored regions "Gaspe, Chibougamau Quebec". With a dedicated management team, the Company's goal is to create shareholder value through the discovery of new deposits.

1844 RESOURCES INC.

(signed) "Sylvain Laberge"

Sylvain Laberge

President and CEO

514.702.9841

Slaberge@1844 resources.com

FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION

Some of the statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as "expects", "intends", "is expected", "potential", "suggests" or variations of such words or phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements and information are not historical facts and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties beyond the Company's control. Actual results and developments are likely to differ, and may differ materially, from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/166138
The industry expert repositions its brand to meet the next generation of both enterprise and startup innovation

NEW YORK, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Vention, a global industry-leading custom software development company, today launched the culmination of its extensive rebranding initiative in partnership with Pentagram , the world's largest independent design consultancy. This rebranding follows more than 20 years of business as the company modernises itself to match the calibre of its partners' and clients' business and tech recognition amid rapid growth and expansion.





Sergei Kovalenko , Vention's CEO and one of its original co-founders, stated, "Vention's mission is to achieve innovative solutions for its clients, and now with our rebrand, we are modernising to match all that we've accomplished and have planned for the future. Since co-founding Vention, the company has helped over 500 businesses achieve their goals and bring scalable, next-gen solutions to the market and our clients' end-users."

Kovalenko believes that the company's new image will convey a sense of renewed sophistication and appeal to new partners and employees as Vention embarks on its next chapter.

Over the past three years, Vention has experienced tremendous global growth - nearly doubling its headcount, increasing revenue by 117%, and adding more than 200 new clients to its roster. However, the company had taken few steps to revamp its outward appearance despite consistent and proven leadership in software development services. With larger enterprises as well as more well-known and disruptive startup clients, Vention's work became increasingly impactful and visible to the business and tech communities - including work that resulted in the first unicorn of the decade. To date, the Vention portfolio includes Carson , Croquet , DealCloud by Intapp, and Thirty Madison . However, while the clients Vention worked with reached their business-critical and newsworthy milestones, the company itself maintained a comparably low profile.

Denis Pakhomov , COO at Vention, said: "The companies we work with are visionaries looking to create the next generation of tech solutions for our homes, health, finances, and futures. Over the past 20+ years, Vention has contributed to many of the websites, mobile apps, and emerging services that have improved our daily life. I'm excited for our teams to finally feel and see the business and tech communities' recognition for their contributions."

Following Vention's rebrand, the company will establish its renewed presence at the world's leading business and tech events to reinforce its new brand and reconnect with long-standing partners and supporters. Follow Vention across social to track its rebrand journey and gain access to top tech insights via LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.

About Vention

Vention is the premier global leader in software engineering, synonymous with technology designed for scale and the common denominator behind the world's most successful tech-empowered enterprises, industry innovators, and startups. Headquartered in New York with 20+ offices, Vention provides access to 3,000+ engineers worldwide and equips technology leaders with the top engineering talent from the world's most respected tech hubs. Our teams sync with clients' in-house engineers to advise and execute their product vision to accelerate their roadmap, innovate faster and more efficiently, and ultimately scale their operations to new heights.

Media Contact

Sydney Alcaraz

PR Director

PR@VentionTeams.com

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+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.

WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Oil prices declined on Tuesday, after rising sharply in the previous session on prospects of lower supplies in Canada, and several other parts of the globe. Benchmark Brent crude futures fell 0.7 percent to $74.69 a barrel, while WTI crude futures were down 0.7 percent at $70.61. Growth concerns returned to the fore after China's industrial production and retail sales both missed expectations. Industrial production posted an annual growth of 5.6 percent in April, faster than the 3.9 percent increase in March but weaker than economists' forecast of 10.9 percent. Retail sales growth accelerated sharply to 18.4 percent in April from 10.6 percent in March but sill missed expectations for a 21.0 percent increase. The downside in oil prices was capped to some extent by a weaker dollar, wildfires in Canada and U.S. plans to refill its heavily depleted strategic reserves. The U.S. Department of Energy said on Monday it would buy 3 million barrels of crude oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve for delivery in August and asked that offers be submitted by May 31. 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.
Feasibility Study and ESIA planned for 2024

Dibbwi East Deposit resource update to be released shortly

GoviEx is the only uranium developer with two African projects in development and expected near term production

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 16, 2023) - GoviEx Uranium Inc. (TSXV: GXU) (OTCQX: GVXXF) ("GoviEx" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, following a successful drilling program in 2022 on its Muntanga uranium project in Zambia ("Muntanga Project"), it will expand the scope of the Feasibility Study for the Muntanga Project to include detailed engineering and design. The Company will also complete the project's Environmental and Social Impact Assessment ("ESIA") update and undertake additional drilling to target mineralisation extensions along sections at the project's Dibbwi East deposit.

In 2022, the Company conducted an extensive 15,500-metre infill drilling program at the Dibbwi East Deposit, which is targeting conversion of the current 29 million pounds U3O8 from inferred into indicated resources.1 GoviEx will provide an update to its mineral resource estimate in the coming weeks.

Analysis of the 2022 drilling results has highlighted that the Dibbwi East deposit is open up and down dip, as several sections have not closed off the uranium resource, as shown in figures 1 and 2 below. In response, GoviEx plans to conduct 7,000 metres of mud rotary drilling to target these areas of open mineralisation at the deposit and further enhance its understanding of the deposit's potential.

Currently, over 4 tonnes of ore samples have been delivered to the Copperbelt University in Zambia where confirmatory metallurgical test work is ongoing. This will be used to support the Feasibility Study process design and costing.

Daniel Major, CEO of GoviEx, said:

"Our continued progress on the Muntanga uranium project reflects our commitment to responsible and sustainable development in Africa. With the completion of our ESIA and Feasibility Study planned for 2024, we are well positioned to advance this project towards near term production and to become a significant contributor to the global uranium market. We are excited about the potential of the Muntanga Project and the positive impact that it will have on our stakeholders and the local community."

With the updated mineral resource due in the coming weeks and metallurgical test work underway, GoviEx has appointed Ukwazi Site Services (project manager and mining), SGS Bateman (process design) and SRK UK (power, hydrogeology and heap leach design) as the project team to undertake the Feasibility Study for the Muntanga Project, targeting 2024 for completion. These firms will provide specialized expertise and guidance will help ensure that the final design and development of the Muntanga Project are optimized for efficiency, safety, and sustainability, and ensure that GoviEx's commitments to ESG are included in the Study.

During 2022, GoviEx committed to updating the ESIA for the Muntanga Project, to bring it to an International Finance Corporation (IFC) standard and to include the Dibbwi East deposit, which was only discovered after the previous ESIA was approved. Most of the baseline studies have now been completed, and Phase One of the Relocation Action Plan is currently underway. As part of last year's program, GoviEx achieved a significant milestone by successfully submitting and obtaining approval of the Term of Reference document with the Zambia Environmental Management Agency.

GoviEx is currently the only uranium developer with two African mine-permitted projects in development with projected near-term production. Based on the 2017 PEA1, Muntanga's anticipated output is forecast to be 2.5 million pounds per annum, with Madaouela's Project in Niger forecast to produce 2.6 million pounds per annum. This places GoviEx in a favorable position within the uranium industry and as an attractive partner for offtakers. We remain dedicated to advancing our projects and delivering value to our stakeholders.





Figure 1: Dibbwi East deposit drillhole location plan and outline of orebody model, showing selected section lines.



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5017/166259_goviex1en.jpg





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5017/166259_goviex2en.jpg





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5017/166259_goviex3en.jpg





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5017/166259_goviex4en.jpg

Figure 2: Sections 10, 17 and 22 demonstrates that the mineralisation is still open along each section for several 100 metres, both up dip (to the left) and down dip (to the right), and requires additional drilling.

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 Statement

The information and associated data in this release has been reviewed, verified and approved by Dr. Rob Bowell, a chartered chemist of the Royal Society of Chemistry, a chartered geologist of the Geological Society of London, and a Fellow of the Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Materials, who is an independent Qualified Person under the terms of NI 43-101 for uranium deposits.

Notes:

See: Technical report title, "NI 43-101 Technical Report on a Preliminary Economic Assessment of the Mutanga Uranium Project in Zambia", dated November 30, 2017 (the "PEA"), prepared by Qualified Persons from SRK Consulting (UK) Limited.



The PEA is considered preliminary in nature and includes Inferred Mineral Resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves have not yet demonstrated economic viability. Due to the uncertainty that may be attached to Inferred Mineral Resources, it cannot be assumed that all, or any part of an Inferred Mineral Resource, will be upgraded to an Indicated or Measured Mineral Resource as a result of continued exploration or Mineral Reserves once economic considerations are applied; therefore, there is no certainty that the production profile concluded in the PEA will be realized.

About GoviEx Uranium Inc.

GoviEx is a mineral resource company focused on the exploration and development of uranium properties in Africa. GoviEx's principal objective is to become a significant uranium producer through the continued exploration and development of its flagship mine-permitted Madaouela Project in Niger and its mine-permitted Mutanga Project in Zambia.

Contact Information

Isabel Vilela

Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications

Tel: +1-604-681-5529

Email: info@goviex.com

Web: www.goviex.com

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All information and statements other than statements of current or historical facts contained in this news release are forward-looking information.

Forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors disclosed here and elsewhere in GoviEx's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. When used in this news release, words such as "will", "could", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "potential", "should," and similar expressions, are forward- looking statements. Information provided in this document is necessarily summarized and may not contain all available material information.

Forward-looking statements include those related to: i) the nature, method and timing of any exploration, development and/or mining operations at the Mutanga Project or Madaouela Project; ii) the scope of the Feasibility Study for the Muntanga Project (iii) timing for and completion of the Muntanga Projects ESIA; (iv) the timing for and completion of additional drilling to target mineralisation extensions along sections at the Dibbwi East deposit; (v) the ability or willingness of the timing for and completion of an updated mineral resource estimate for the Muntanga Project; (vi) the ability to conduct and complete a 7,000 metres of mud rotary drilling to target these areas of open mineralisation at the Dibbwi East deposit; (vii) the suitability of any metallurgical test work conducted at Copperbelt University in Zambia being confirmatory to support the Feasibility Study process design and costing; (viii) the completion of the ESIA and Feasibility Study in 2024; (ix) GoviEx being well positioned to advance this the Muntanga Project towards near term production and for GoviEx to become a significant contributor to the global uranium market; (x) the potential of the Muntanga Project and the positive impact that it will have on our stakeholders and the local community; (xi) the ability or willingness of the project team to undertake the Feasibility Study for the Muntanga Project, targeting H1 2024 for completion and that their guidance and expertise will help ensure that the final design and development of the Muntanga Project are optimized for efficiency, safety, and sustainability, and ensure that GoviEx's commitments to ESG are included in the Feasibility Study; and (xii) the updating of the ESIA for the Muntanga Project, to bring it to an IFC standard and to include the Dibbwi East deposit.

Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurances that its expectations will be achieved. Such assumptions, which may prove incorrect, include the following: (i) that the Company will be successful in its exploration and development plans for all its projects; (ii) that all the service providers noted above will be able and willing to complete their works as agreed and expected; (iii) that the planned works on the Mutanga Project will be completed as planned and meet GoviEx's objectives; and (iv) that the price of uranium will remain sufficiently high and the costs of advancing the Company's mining projects will remain sufficiently low so as to permit GoviEx to implement its business plans in a profitable manner.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include (i) the inability or unwillingness of the service providers to complete their works on the Mutanga Project as agreed and expected; (ii) the inability of the Company to successfully complete the exploration and development milestones that are the conditions of the reinstatement of the Chirundu Mining License (12634-HQ-LML); (iii) potential delays due to COVID-19 restrictions; (iv) the failure of the Company's projects, for technical, logistical, labour-relations, or other reasons; (v) a decrease in the price of uranium below what is necessary to sustain the Company's operations; (vi) an increase in the Company's operating costs above what is necessary to sustain its operations; (vii) accidents, labour disputes, or the materialization of similar risks; (viii) a deterioration in capital market conditions that prevents the Company from raising the funds it requires on a timely basis; and (ix) generally, the Company's inability to develop and implement a successful business plan for any reason.

In addition, the factors described or referred to in the section entitled "Risks Factors" in the MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2022, of GoviEx, which is available on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com, should be reviewed in conjunction with the information found in this news release.

Although GoviEx has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those contained in the forward- looking statements, there can be other factors that cause results, performance, or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate or that management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances, or results will materialize. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, no assurance can be given that any events anticipated by the forward-looking information in this news release will transpire or occur, or, if any of them do so, what benefits that GoviEx will derive therefrom. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and GoviEx disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/166259
MONTREAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / Critical Elements Lithium Corporation (TSX-V:CRE)(OTCQX:CRECF)(FSE:F12) ("Critical Elements" or the "Corporation") is pleased to report results from the recent infill drill program completed on the Rose Lithium-Tantalum Project ("Rose Project", "Rose" or "Project"). The Corporation completed a 2,382-meter drill program, encompassing thirteen drillholes. The program was designed to collect more geotechnical information for the optimization of mining engineering and at the same time to better tighten the drilling resolution in the eastern part of the deposit. The best intercepts are presented in Table 1 and Figure 1.

Selected drill intersection highlights include:

LR-22-188A: 1.33% Li2O and 66.41ppm Ta2O5 over 13.20 m

LR-22-189: 1.79% Li2O and 220.39 ppm Ta2O5 over 4.10 m and 1.66% Li2O and 85.91 ppm Ta2O5 over 5.20 m

LR-22-190: 1.78% Li2O and 205.62 ppm Ta2O5 over 7.60 m and 1.52% Li2O and 119.22 ppm Ta2O5 over 6.90 m

LR-22-192: 1.41% Li2O and 216.49 ppm Ta2O5 over 8.70 m

LR-22-193: 1.05% Li2O and 197.10 ppm Ta2O5 over 14.20 m

LR-22-194: 1.06% Li2O and 137.81 ppm Ta2O5 over 9.30 m

LR-22-195: 1.05% Li2O and 226.53 ppm Ta2O5 over 5.00 m

LR-22-196: 1.12% Li2O and 60.04 ppm Ta2O5 over 12.90 m

LR-22-197: 1.10% Li2O and 63.64 ppm Ta2O5 over 21.70 m

Table 1: Rose Project - Summary of lithium results from the recent drilling program

Hole # UTM NAD 83 ZN18 Length Azimuth Dip Number From To Interval * Li2O Ta2O5 Easting Northing (m) () () of samples (m) (m) (m) (%) (ppm) LR-22-188 420671 5763650 81.00 195 -80 10 25.10 28.00 2.90 0.72 243.46 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 36.80 39.40 2.60 1.22 252.89 LR-22-188A 420671 5763650 180.00 195 -70 34 33.70 36.70 3.00 0.94 261.15 ? 133.40 146.60 13.20 1.33 66.41 LR-22-189 420770 5763687 180.00 195 -70 37 22.60 26.70 4.10 1.79 220.39 155.10 166.50 11.40 0.90 74.83 including 160.20 165.40 5.20 1.66 85.91 LR-22-190 420782 5763522 210.00 200 -70 32 51.80 59.40 7.60 1.78 205.62 126.70 133.60 6.90 1.52 119.22 including 129.40 133.60 4.20 1.85 147.75 LR-22-191 420828 5763610 192.00 200 -70 37 71.40 80.00 8.60 0.76 191.48 including 73.80 76.30 2.50 1.63 194.94 148.00 154.50 6.50 0.85 82.29 including 149.10 151.00 1.90 1.79 83.07 LR-22-192 420939 5763642 183.00 195 -70 42.00 50.70 8.70 1.41 216.49 including 43.90 50.00 6.10 1.91 207.71 101.00 109.00 8.00 1.09 128.09 LR-22-193 420883 5763535 171.00 195 -70 43 51.90 66.10 14.20 1.05 197.10 including 53.80 58.40 4.60 1.35 225.00 including 59.10 64.70 5.60 1.45 188.76 LR-22-194 420940 5763534 150.00 195 -70 24 20.90 27.70 6.80 0.78 196.62 76.50 85.80 9.30 1.06 137.81 including 77.40 85.20 7.80 1.25 148.81 LR-22-195 420975 5763579 180.00 195 -70 27 37.30 42.30 5.00 1.05 226.53 78.40 85.30 6.90 0.80 155.12 LR-22-196 420734 5763625 180.00 195 -70 58 19.60 23.50 3.90 1.56 249.48 57.40 60.50 3.10 0.78 266.99 138.00 150.90 12.90 1.12 60.04 LR-22-197 420648 5763696 225.00 160 -50 49 27.70 30.50 2.80 1.07 182.45 159.50 181.20 21.70 1.10 63.64 LR-22-198 420381 5763684 225.00 70 -52 19 195.30 199.80 4.50 0.49 100.63 LR-22-199 420904 5763728 225.00 310 -53 84 Pending results

* Interval length are all along drill core.

Figure 2: Localisation map of Drill Results of Rose Property

This phase of drilling has been valuable in providing more geotechnical data that will be incorporated into the final mine plan. The tightened drill resolution has provided greater confidence in the resource block model on the eastern portion of the Rose deposit. Additional drilling is planned later this year to test the northern extension of the deposit, as well as potential satellite spodumene-bearing pegmatites within 10 km.

A 5,554-meter, 31-hole winter drill program was conducted on the Lemare zone and data is being compiled. Critical Elements intends to pursue further work on Lemare over the summer with surface mapping and a sampling program follow by drilling. Lemare is well-situated within 3 km of road access and is an excellent candidate for initial technical studies.

Quality assurance/quality control

Quality assurance and quality control procedures were implemented to ensure best practices in sampling and analysis of the core samples. The drill core was logged and then split, with one-half sent for assay and the other retained in the core box as a witness sample. Duplicates, standards, and blanks were regularly inserted into the sample stream. The core samples were delivered, in secure tagged bags, directly to the ALS Minerals laboratory facility in Val-d'Or, Quebec. The samples are weighed and identified prior to sample preparation. The samples are crushed to 70% minus 2 mm, then separated and pulverized to 85% passing 75 m. All samples are analyzed using sodium peroxide fusion ME-MS-89L, with full analysis for 52 elements. Value over 25,000 ppm Li were re-assays using Li-ICP-82b and value over 2,500 ppm Ta2O5 were re-assays using Ta-XRF10.

Rose Lithium-Tantalum Project update:

The Corporation is pleased to report that the front-end engineering design ("FEED") and value engineering studies for the process plant and associated infrastructure were completed during the first quarter of 2023. Bumigeme Inc. performed a gap analysis of the process plant, focusing on design review, optimization, and risk mitigation for any potential issues with the process flowsheet developed during the feasibility study. During the same period, WSP completed the FEED study for the infrastructure, surface water management, mine water treatment plant, installation of the final effluent, main electrical station, 25 kV distribution, utilities, service buildings and mining support facilities. Bumigeme Inc. and WSP completed these mandates on schedule and within budget.

On completion of the gap analysis, Bumigeme Inc., BBA, WSP and other specialists in planning and industrial processes commenced a new study with the aim of improving and freezing the 3D model layout for all equipment and defining data sheets to fulfill long lead time equipment orders. WSP-Golder was mandated to complete the detailed engineering design of the co-disposal facility for the filtered mill tailings and waste rock from the open pit. Over 40% of WSP-Golder's mandate has been completed with completion expected by the end of Q2 2023. Engineering work includes hazard classification, laboratory testing of tailings, staging and placement, water management design, hydrogeological modeling, seepage collection, stability assessment and an instrumented monitoring plan.

Furthermore, the Corporation announces the awarding of the detailed engineering mandate for the process plant and the main electrical station to the BBA team. It is important to note that BBA is very familiar with the Rose lithium and tantalum concentrator project. They carried out several audit and optimization mandates on our project originally developed by Bumigeme Inc. and WSP. Thus, BBA will be able to ensure a smooth transition to the execution of the detailed engineering phases. In addition, BBA has extensive multidisciplinary experience on previous mining projects, including several projects in northern Quebec. BBA will be an important player in the success of our project.

The Corporation is also proud to announce that all detailed engineering mandates have now been granted to our partners WSP, BBA and InnovExplo. Critical Elements has all the necessary funds to complete the detailed engineering phase. Overall engineering is progressing well, and we are over 35% complete. Key engineering deliverables will be completed during the summer period to allow, if project financing and building permits are in place, to begin deforestation and initial preparation work by the end of the year.

Project Financing update:

As noted earlier this year (see press release dated February 1st, 2023) Critical Elements commenced a formal process to receive and analyze multiple expressions of interest in participating in the financing and development of the Rose Project. This process has advanced such that multiple parties have provided comprehensive, non-binding expressions of interest to participate that compare favourably to the initial capital estimate outlined in the Project's 2022 Feasibility Study (see press release dated June 13, 2022). Critical Elements will continue to progress discussions with the leading parties, subject to negotiating acceptable financing terms and conditions, as well as satisfactory due diligence and entering into the required definitive documentation. Updates on this matter will be provided as appropriate.

The Corporation's long-term strategy of avoiding Memorandum of Understandings for offtake arrangements leaves the Rose Project's planned production unencumbered in a tight market for spodumene concentrate, both for chemical conversion for the burgeoning EV battery market and for the higher margin glass and ceramics industry. Despite the recent correction in spot lithium markets, underlying market demand remains robust in the face of supply-side sovereign, financial, and execution risks over the next several years. Conventional lithium concentrate projects in a top tier mining jurisdiction with major environmental permits and an existing Impact and Benefits Agreement remain exceedingly rare.

Quebec is recognized as a top mining jurisdiction with access to excellent infrastructure, as well as strong financial and human capital. This makes the Rose Project's metallurgically attractive spodumene concentrate highly desirable. Management is actively engaged in identifying the optimal strategic partner or partners to maximize benefits for all the Corporation's stakeholders, but at this time, there can be no guarantees as to the timing and outcome of this process.

Federal Budget:

Critical Elements expresses its satisfaction that the Government of Canada has acknowledged the significance of clean technology manufacturing by introducing a 30% investment tax credit (ITC) in its 2023 Budget, which can be refunded. The Corporation believes that a significant portion of the equipment included in the 2022 Feasibility Study capital expenditures will be qualified for the newly introduced federal tax credit.

Qualified persons

Yves Perron, Eng. MBA, Vice-President Engineering, Construction and Reliability and Paul Bonneville, Eng, are the qualified persons that have reviewed and approved the technical contents of this news release on behalf of the Corporation.

About Critical Elements Lithium Corporation

Critical Elements aspires to become a large, responsible supplier of lithium to the flourishing electric vehicle and energy storage system industries. To this end, Critical Elements is advancing the wholly owned, high purity Rose lithium project in Quebec, the Corporation's first lithium project to be advanced within a land portfolio of over 1,000 square kilometers. On June 13th, 2022, the Corporation announced results of a feasibility study on Rose for the production of spodumene concentrate. The after-tax internal rate of return for the Project is estimated at 82.4%, with an estimated after-tax net present value of US$1.9 B at an 8% discount rate. In the Corporation's view, Quebec is strategically well-positioned for US and EU markets and boasts good infrastructure including a low-cost, low-carbon power grid featuring 94% hydroelectricity. The project has received approval from the Federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change on the recommendation of the Joint Assessment Committee, comprised of representatives from the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada and the Cree Nation Government and also received the Certificate of Authorization pursuant to section 164 of Quebec's Environment Quality Act from the Quebec Minister of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks.

For further information, please contact:

Patrick Laperriere

Director of Investor Relations and Corporate Development

514-817-1119

plaperriere@cecorp.ca

www.cecorp.ca

Jean-Sebastien Lavallee, P. Geo.

Chief Executive Officer

819-354-5146

jslavallee@cecorp.ca

www.cecorp.ca

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is described in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary statement concerning forward-looking statements

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian Securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "scheduled", "anticipates", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "scheduled", "targeted", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information contained herein include, without limitation, statements relating to the results and completion of the 2023 exploration program, the permitting process, the results and outcome of the Front-End Engineering Design Study, eligibility of equipment required for the Rose Project to the 30% investment tax credit (ITC) announced by the Federal government in its last budget, as well as the outcome of the formal process launched by the Corporation in connection with the Project financing. Forward-looking information is based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable at the time such statements are made. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

Although Critical Elements 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. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from expected results described in forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: final and complete results of the Corporation's 2023 exploration program, the final outcome of the permitting process and the Corporation's ability to meet all conditions imposed thereunder, the final results of the Front-End Engineering Design Study and its effects on the development of the Rose Project, the formal process launched in connection with the Project financing not producing the anticipated and expected results, the criteria for eligibility to the 30% investment tax credit (ITC) announced in the last federal budget not being those expected, as well as those risk factors set out in the Corporation's Management Discussion and Analysis for its most recent quarter ended February 28, 2023 and other disclosure documents available under the Corporation's SEDAR profile. Forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of this news release and Critical Elements disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws

SOURCE: Critical Elements Lithium Corporation

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/755193/Critical-Elements-Lithium-Rose-Drilling-Results-and-Corporate-Update
MediBeacon expands management team as enrollment in Phase 3 study focused on kidney disease is completed

ST. LOUIS, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MediBeacon Inc., a portfolio company within the Pansend Life Sciences segment of INNOVATE Corp. (NYSE: VATE), today announced the appointment of Dr. Steve Miller as chief medical officer. In this role, Dr. Miller will be focused on driving a range of clinical and strategic initiatives.





Dr. Miller formerly served as executive vice president and chief clinical officer at Cigna, where he led the company's clinical policy, quality, and performance efforts. Dr. Miller was chief medical officer at Express Scripts in advance of Cigna's acquisition of the company. Prior to Express Scripts Dr. Miller was vice president and chief medical officer at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. He has been a member of the MediBeacon board of directors since 2015.

"We are thrilled to have Dr. Miller take on a more active role at MediBeacon," said Steve Hanley, chief executive officer, MediBeacon. "Dr. Miller has a strong understanding of the MediBeacon kidney monitoring technology as it applies to a range of unmet medical needs. His intimate knowledge of the company, combined with his business, healthcare policy, medical, clinical and research experience provides unique and valuable perspective."

MediBeacon is a medical technology company focused on advancing fluorescent technology to help improve patient care through the science of tracer agents and transdermal measurement.

"Understanding kidney function remains a significant clinical challenge," said Dr. Miller. "Real-time, accurate renal function measurements have the potential to have meaningful impact in patient management. MediBeacon's goal continues to be to provide technology to aid in both improving health outcomes and reducing costs of kidney disease."

Dr. Miller received his medical degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and completed an internal medicine residency at the University of Colorado. He trained as a fellow in pathology and research at the University of Alabama, Birmingham; nephrology at Washington University; and did a cardiology research fellowship at University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Miller earned an MBA at the Washington University Olin Business School.

The MediBeacon Transdermal GFR Measurement System (TGFR) is designed to measure Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR), an indicator of kidney function, in real-time without the need for blood sampling or urine collection. The TGFR was designated a Breakthrough Device by the U.S. FDA and an Innovative Medical Device by China NMPA.

MediBeacon TGFR Pivotal Study

MediBeacon TGFR Pivotal Study (NCT05425719) is a Phase 3 open label, multi-center, safety and pharmacokinetic study of Lumitrace (relmapirazin) and the use of the MediBeacon Transdermal GFR Measurement System (TGFR) in normal and renal compromised subjects for the evaluation of kidney function. The safety and effectiveness of the MediBeacon TGFR for point of care non-invasive transdermal fluorescence detection of Lumitrace is being evaluated in subjects with kidney function from normal to Stage 4 CKD. Patient enrollment covers the entire range of human skin colors spanning fair to black pigmentation. The study's primary outcome measure is the correlation of Transdermal Derived Glomerular Filtration Rate (tGFR) to the Measured GFR (mGFR) obtained from blood samples collected over time.1

About Lumitrace (relmapirazin)

Lumitrace is an investigational pyrazine-based compound which has been engineered to be inert, highly fluorescent and have the clearance properties of a GFR tracer agent in the body. The investigational Lumitrace solution for injection has been administered to over 500 subjects under Investigational Device Exemptions (IDEs). The unique photophysical characteristics of Lumitrace have been designed to enable the collection of fluorescence data via a photodetector sensor placed on the skin. Data collected by the sensor measures the change in the intensity of Lumitrace fluorescence over time and is converted into a tGFR by proprietary algorithms.

About MediBeacon Inc.

MediBeacon is a medical technology company specializing in the advancement of fluorescent tracer agents and transdermal detection. MediBeacon's use of proprietary fluorescent tracer agents coupled with transdermal detection technology focuses on providing vital and actionable measurement of organ function. MediBeacon's 47 granted U.S. patents and 170+ granted patents worldwide provide extensive coverage of the MediBeacon TGFR, including Lumitrace, the sensor and algorithms, as well as other strategic uses of its proprietary pyrazine platform and sensor technology including potential applications in nephrology, gastroenterology, ophthalmology and surgery. MediBeacon products are in various stages of clinical development and are NOT yet approved for human use. For more information, please visit: www.medibeacon.com

About INNOVATE Corp.

INNOVATE Corp. is a portfolio of best-in-class assets in three key areas of the new economy - Infrastructure, Life Sciences and Spectrum. Dedicated to stakeholder capitalism, INNOVATE employs approximately 3,900 people across its subsidiaries. For more information, please visit: www.INNOVATECorp.com.

1ClinicalTrials.gov

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Receives Largest International Award Ever Given to Individual African Woman for Her Work to Affirm the Dignity of Women

West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, USA, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The winner of the 2023 Templeton Prize is Dr. Edna Adan Ismail, a nurse-midwife, hospital founder, and healthcare advocate who has worked courageously to change cultural, religious, and medical norms surrounding women's health in East Africa, improving the lives of thousands of women and girls in the region and beyond. Drawing from the resources of her Muslim faith, she receives this year's award in recognition of her extraordinary efforts to harness the power of the sciences to affirm the dignity of women and help them to flourish physically and spiritually. Her many achievements include the founding of the Edna Adan University and Edna Adan Hospital, which has significantly reduced maternal mortality in Somaliland, and her tireless campaign to end female genital mutilation (FGM) around the world.

Like Mother Teresa, who received the first Templeton Prize fifty years ago in 1973, Edna has dedicated herself to helping a community that did not have adequate medical care, thereby achieving a global impact.

This year's award is believed to be the largest international prize ever given to an individual African woman.

"We are delighted to honor Edna Adan Ismail, a woman who has used the teachings of her faith, the influence of her family, and her education in science to improve the health and opportunities of some of the world's most vulnerable women and girls," said Heather Templeton Dill, president of the John Templeton Foundation. "Driven by a passionate belief in women's innate dignity and divine-given potential, she has enacted a transformation of female health in her native land. Drawing on the doctrines of the Muslim faith, she has employed her positions of authority to argue passionately that, despite what some have believed, female circumcision is against the teachings of Islam, and deeply harmful to women."

Dill added: "Over the last 50 years, the Templeton Prize has celebrated winners of many different faiths, fields, and nationalities-and this year we are proud to award our first prize to an African woman."

The Templeton Prize, valued at 1.1 million GBP, is one of the world's largest annual individual awards. Established by the late global investor and philanthropist Sir John Templeton, it is given to honor those who harness the power of the sciences to explore the deepest questions of the universe and humankind's place and purpose within it.

"I feel blessed and honored to receive this award, which will enable me to make a major contribution to the U.S.-based Friends of Edna Maternity Hospital," said Edna Adan Ismail, 85. "These funds will be used to support the hospital in carrying out its essential work, such as obtaining medical equipment, hiring expert educators, enabling expansion to serve more patients, and to continue training the next generation of healthcare workers that East Africa so desperately needs."

"This hospital," she added, "has given life to our country."

Edna Adan Ismail was born in 1937 in Hargeisa, the capital of what was then British Somaliland, to a prominent family. Her father was a doctor often described as the father of medical care in the country, and her mother was the daughter of the postmaster general. Thanks to her father Adan Ismail's forward-thinking values, she was covertly tutored alongside her brother until she was 15 and then went to a new school for girls. A scholarship exam, also normally reserved for boys, qualified her to study in the United Kingdom-the first Somali girl to do so-where she received an education in nursing and midwifery at the Borough Polytechnic.

As a girl, she loved shadowing her father in his surgery and thought to become a surgical nurse, but he encouraged her to look into midwifery, where the need was greatest. The most important lesson she absorbed from him was compassion, she later recalled. One of his favorite expressions was "if you cannot do it with your heart, your hands will never do it." She returned in 1961 to her homeland as its first professionally trained nurse-midwife. She was also the first woman to drive a car in her country and the first to be appointed to a position of political authority as director in the Ministry of Health. She was the first lady of Somalia, as the wife of Mohamed Haji Ibrahim Egal, Prime Minister of a united Somalia in the late 1960s.

Following the outbreak of civil war in Somalia, she joined the World Health Organization as an advisor. She was the regional technical officer for maternal and child health from 1987 to 1991 and WHO representative to Djibouti from 1991 to 1997. She decided to leave her high-profile international career to return home and fulfill an ambitious dream: to build a hospital from the ground up.

After the newly re-formed Somaliland declared its independence in 1991-though it remains unrecognized by foreign powers to this day-its government offered her land to realize this vision: a little piece of land that had previously been used as an execution ground and garbage dump.

Inauspicious as this was-"an ulcer in the center of town," she called it-the site was proximate to the slums where Edna's hoped-for patients lived, and so she took it. She sold all of her own assets and belongings to build the hospital, and raised more funding from around the world after a profile of her appeared in The New York Times. With the opening of the Edna Adan Maternity Hospital in 2002, the miserable land it stood on was transformed. "Now I live in it. I wouldn't be anywhere else in the world," she said in a 2012 interview with ABC News. "That's my home, my hospital, that's where I hope to spend whatever days God gives me."

While Somaliland's healthcare system collapsed in the aftermath of war, the hospital made great strides, reducing the maternal mortality rate by up to 75 percent. In addition to providing patient care to a high-risk population, the hospital also started training nurses even before it opened. The education program expanded to become the Edna Adan University in 2010, which has trained more than 4,000 students to become doctors, nurses, midwives, dentists, surgeons, pharmacists, lab technicians, anesthetists, and public health professionals. Its graduates go on to serve communities across East Africa. Over 30,000 babies have been safely delivered at the hospital, at which 80 percent of the staff and 70 percent of the student body is female.

Meanwhile, Edna also served as the first and only female cabinet member in 2002 as Minister of Social Affairs. From 2003 to 2006, she served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. In spite of its lack of international recognition, Somaliland remains self-governing and administers a democratic system in its territory in northern Somalia.

Edna is an outspoken critic of female genital mutilationwith the Berkley Center at Georgetown University. As a practicing midwife early in her career, she was confronted with the grievous complications during childbirth from the scarring. After visiting a 1976 conference in Sudan at which participants from Muslim countries that also practiced FGM spoke openly about its effects, she was inspired to take up the issue at home. Later that year, as a director in Somalia's health ministry, she began to speak out on FGM-at first shocking her audience and attracting threats, but also building widespread interest and a movement. She was instrumental in Djibouti's passage of a law against it. After her ex-husband became president of the breakaway republic of Somaliland in 1993, he became an ally in the effort.

Education is more important than legislation in opposing FGM, she stresses, because passing a law that no one intends to obey simply forces the practice underground. Edna has patiently and energetically encouraged women to come forward, men to stand up for them, cultural discussions to be had at every level, and the decoupling of FGM from faithful Islamic practice.

"Islam does not accept, Islam forbids female circumcision. It is a moral issue, a moral obligation. It is a responsibility. God has shown me this," said Edna in the biographical film Edna Adan Ismail:A Beacon of Hope for Women's Health & Dignityproduced in honor of the Templeton Prize. "Every day I'm reliving and remembering, I'm recalling that pain that happened to me when I was seven or eight years old. The wounds may heal but the pain never leaves you."

Raised in a multifaith household, with a Catholic mother and Muslim father, she has described her religious views as rooted in a sense of action.

"For me religion is not only about rituals, but also about how you live your religion. It is about kindness and charity, living a clean and honest life. I live my religion through my acts, through the way I work with poor people, students, patients, and colleagues," she said. "Being true to any religion is about how you live, how you respect the rules of God, how you live with others. It is a respect that safeguards others, that respects life and the property and dignity of others. It is doing unto others what you would have them do unto you. It is about going that extra mile to help others and to love them."

While much progress has been made, FGM continues to be practiced in several countries, and has spread overseas as populations have migrated to the United Kingdom, United States, and other nations. Edna continues to educate people on the grave health harms FGM inflicts on women and girls.

Her fight to end FGM continues both through her international advocacy and at her hospital where they care for complications caused by the procedure and lead the effort against the practice using Somali-language materials to reach the local population and religious leaders. In addition, every student who applies to study in her programs must commit to joining the fight against FGM. Thankfully Edna is no longer a lonely voice in this fight as the WHO, United Nations Population Fund, and UNICEF have joined forces to help accelerate the rejection of FGM.

"Edna Adan Ismail is a beacon of hope and an inspiration for all who care deeply about the health of women and girls around the world," said Diane Lane, actress and activist who appeared with Edna in the 2012 documentary Half the Sky, in a statement for the Templeton Prize.

Lane added: "Her commitment to the highest moral and scientific standards are what make her such an exemplary winner of the Templeton Prize. For decades, Edna has been a force of female empowerment and cultural transformation that I was grateful to witness firsthand visiting her Somaliland in 2011. Her hopeful attitude and commanding sense of compassion are an inspiration, as her countless patients, students, and admirers can attest. I am so happy Edna's devotion to women and their families is being honored in this unique and prestigious way."

Nicholas Kristof, columnist for The New York Times, wrote of Edna in a letter of commendation for the Templeton Prize: "She's bringing modern medicine, the latest science of prevention and a fundamental emphasis on gender equity to Somaliland, and it's making a huge difference." He added: "She is bringing science in a truly lifesaving way to one of the world's poorest countries, while tackling culture and religion in deeply sensitive and effective ways-and also serving as an extraordinary role model."

Edna's awards and recognitions include: Officer of the French Legion d'Honneur and a Commandeur Dans l'Ordre National du 27 Juin, Djibouti; the Medical Mission Hall of Fame, University of Toledo, Ohio; honorary doctorates from Clark University in Massachusetts and the University of Pennsylvania; honorary fellow of Cardiff University School of Nursing in Wales; the Chancellor's Gold Medal from the University of Pretoria; the Renfield Foundation Award for Global Women's Health; an honorary doctorate from London South Bank University (formerly Borough Polytechnic, where she was trained); an honorary fellowship by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists; and short-listed for the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. Edna was featured in the 2012 PBS documentary Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide. Her autobiography, A Woman of Firsts, was published in 2019.

As the 2023 Templeton Prize laureate, Edna will participate in a Templeton Prize event this fall in London, where she will deliver the Templeton Prize lecture.

The Templeton Prize winner is chosen following an extensive selection process that mobilizes an anonymous group of expert nominators from a diverse cross-section of fields. Nominees are reviewed by a panel of judges, who include scientists, business leaders, religious leaders, and scholars who represent the many fields of work that the Templeton Prize seeks to honor. Judges rank nominees according to a range of criteria before scores are calculated for a winner.

This year's nine judges are Georgia M. Dunston, Ph.D., Founder, President, and CEO of Whole Genome Science Foundation; Tsitsi Masiyiwa, philanthropist and social entrepreneur; Baroness Philippa Stroud, Member of the House of Lords, CEO of the Legatum Institute and Chair of the Social Metrics Commission; Dr. France A. Cordova, astrophysicist and 14th director of the National Science Foundation; Anousheh Ansari, CEO of the XPrize Foundation; Rabbi Meir Soloveichik, Ph.D., Director of the Straus Center of Torah and Western Thought at Yeshiva University; Homa Sabet Tavanger, author and co-founder of the Big Questions Institute and Oneness Lab; Prasad Kaipa, Ph.D., entrepreneur and author; and Timothy P. Shriver, Ph.D., Chairman of the Special Olympics International.

Edna joins a list of 52 Prize recipients including St. Teresa of Kolkata (the inaugural award in 1973) and Archbishop Desmond Tutu (2013). The 2022 Templeton Prize was awarded to theoretical physicist Dr. Frank Wilczek. Preceding him was ethologist and conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall. Other humanitarians who have won the Prize include Dame Cicely Saunders, a nurse and the pioneer of the hospice movement, and Chiara Lubich, creator of the Focolare movement in Italy.

###



Notes to Editors

More information on Dr. Edna Adan Ismail, her statement on accepting the Prize, a statement by Heather Templeton Dill on the awarding of the Prize, and information on the 52 previous Templeton Prize Laureates, are available at www.templetonprize.org/2023 (http://www.templetonprize.org/2023)

(http://www.templetonprize.org/2023) Follow the Templeton Prize on Twitter using (http://www.templetonprize.org/) @TempletonPrize and TempletonPrize2023. (https://twitter.com/TempletonPrize)

(http://www.templetonprize.org/) (https://twitter.com/TempletonPrize) Follow the Templeton Prize on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/TheTempletonPrize) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/templetonprize/) using TempletonPrize2023

(https://www.facebook.com/TheTempletonPrize) and (https://www.instagram.com/templetonprize/) using TempletonPrize2023 Watch and embed a video featuring Edna Adan Ismail on the Templeton Prize YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/TempletonPrize/featured), where you will find additional videos with information on the Templeton Prize.

About the Templeton Prize

Established in 1972, the Templeton Prize is one of the world's largest annual individual awards. It is given to honor individuals whose exemplary achievements advance Sir John Templeton's philanthropic vision: harnessing the power of the sciences to explore the deepest questions of the universe and humankind's place and purpose within it. Currently valued at 1.1 million GBP, the award is adjusted periodically so it always exceeds the value of the Nobel Prize. Winners have come from a wide range of faiths, fields, and geographies, and have included Nobel Prize winners, philosophers, theoretical physicists, and one canonized saint. The Templeton Prize is awarded by the three Templeton philanthropies: the John Templeton Foundation, based in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, and by the Templeton World Charity Foundation and Templeton Religion Trust, based in Nassau, The Bahamas. To learn more, visit TempletonPrize.org

Contact:

Benjamin Carlson

bcarlson@templeton.org

Thomas Burnett

tburnett@templeton.org

Attachments
Wunderkind International selected by the Sunday Times as one of the top 100 best employers in UK

Wunderkind International joins other leading retailer and brands, including Fat Face, Coty and Pandora, as well as charity RetailTrust in the Sunday Times' list of leading workplaces

Wunderkind International, the leading performance marketing channel that scales one-to-one messages for retailers and brands, has been selected as one of the top 100 employers in the UK in the Sunday Times' Best Place To Work annual list.

The Sunday Times' list honours and celebrates top employers, and also acknowledges the best workplaces for women, the LGBTQIA+ community, disabled workers, ethnic minorities, younger and older employees, and overall wellbeing.

The Sunday Times partnered with employee experience platform, WorkL, to deliver fresh insights into what makes a Best Place to Work. Using 35 questions from WorkL's employee engagement survey, and supported by written submissions that showcase core employee-centric initiatives and strategies, the awards measures employee engagement and wellbeing in the workplace, with Wunderkind International being selected in the 'medium-sized organisation' category for firms employing between 50-249 staff. Wunderkind joins other leading retailers and brands, including Fat Face, Pandora and Coty, as well as the charity, RetailTrust, in being selected as a prime example of a pioneering employer that champions its workforce and builds a rewarding and inclusive workplace.

Commenting on the announcement, Wulfric Light-Wilkinson, GM of Wunderkind International, said: "Wunderkind has always recognised the power and value of celebrating the individual. It's the concept that our entire business is built on. That's why our culture has always put employees front and centre, and it's why when people join, they tend to stay. To be recognised by one of the most prestigious, recognised awards schemes is testament to how Wunderkind's values are driving a culture that empowers its workforce to deliver success."

Wunderkind has previously been recognised by other leading awards programmes for its commitment to enhancing employee experience, including being selected as the winner of the Employer of the Year category in the 2022 Business Brilliance Awards, and as a finalist in the 2022 Women in Tech Excellence Awards as Diversity Employer of the Year. Wunderkind also scored 100% on the 2021 Human Rights Commission Corporate Equality Index for LGBTQIA+ inclusivity and was shortlisted for the DigiDay HR Awards 2021, which celebrates businesses that afford employees an exceptional work experience, in the 'Employer of the Year' category.

David Felton, Senior People Operations Manager at Wunderkind International, commented: "Such accolades can largely be attributed to Wunderkind's commitment to eight key factors of employee engagement: leadership, management, company, personal growth, team, wellbeing, fair deal and giving something back. These core pillars are helping to create a productive, motivated and dynamic culture that leads to personal growth, career development, and an empowered team that has everything it needs to deliver success."

Chris Longcroft, EVP Publisher of The Times and The Sunday Times, said: "The Sunday Times Best Places To Work awards recognise companies that create a happier and fulfilling working environment for all, by fostering engagement from their teams, yielding great business and performance in return."

-ENDS-

About Wunderkind

Wunderkind is a leading digital marketing solution that delivers performance marketing and advertising solutions for brands, publishers, and advertisers. As first-party data becomes central to efficient growth, Wunderkind enables brands to identify their website visitors on an individual level and deliver more of their highest-performing, one-to-one messages through websites, emails, texts, and ads than otherwise possible.

As a result, Wunderkind drives $5billion annually in directly attributable revenue for brands like Uniqlo, Refinery29, Sonos, and HelloFresh, often ranking as a top three performance channel across their own analytics platforms.

Discover how Wunderkind can drive efficient growth for your brand by visiting wunderkind.co.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516005631/en/

Contacts:

Fieldworks

Sarah Cole

sarah.cole@fieldworksmarketing.co.uk

01892 786 917
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 16, 2023) - MineHub Technologies Inc. (TSXV: MHUB) (OTCQB: MHUBF) ("MineHub" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrea Aranguren as the Company's President and Chief Operating Officer.

Andrea has extensive experience in managing global commercial teams, including account management, customer success, strategic partnerships, and operations & logistics. She is also an expert in logistics digitization and supply chain optimization with over a decade of experience in the field.

She was a co-founder and the Chief Customer Officer at Waybridge Technologies, where she led customer implementations, counterparty onboarding and ecosystem partnerships for the company's global customer base, including the largest copper and aluminum manufacturers in the U.S. and the largest copper producer in the world. Mrs. Aranguren's previous experience includes Vice President, Environmental Markets for IHS Markit, where she was responsible for the product design and development of the environmental registry, which listed 34 environmental standards such as Verra (VCS), Plan Vivo, and the Acre Carbon Standard. She played an integral role in the development of IHS Markit's Commodity Tracker: a digital documentation and inventory reconciliation platform for physical commodities.

Mrs. Aranguren also served as Vice President, Metals Logistics at Goldman Sachs & Co., where she was responsible for the scheduling and inventory management for the North and South American physical base metals business (including copper, lead and aluminum). Responsibilities included liaising with the Global Base Metal Logistics teams, technology, strategists, trading, and senior management for the development of an innovative scheduling and trading platform. While at Goldman Sachs & Co., Mrs. Aranguren also managed the onboarding of structured financing transactions in the Oil & Gas market, which entailed assessing resource requirements, highlighting and addressing risk management issues and overseeing the development of business and operational requirements, supervising the development of the pricing and cash flow models, and handling the contract negotiations with the client.

Andrea graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with honors in Economics and received her MBA from Columbia University, including a role as Vice President Alumni for Columbia's Private Equity and Venture Capital Club.

About MineHub Technologies

MineHub provides enterprise-grade digital solutions that connect buyers, sellers and financiers within physical commodities supply chains in a digitally integrated workflow powered by data that is useable, shareable, verifiable and unforgeable. Users of MineHub solutions are in full control of their supply chains, enabling them to optimize their use of resources, respond better and faster to disruptions, and provide a better customer service. Global enterprises already use MineHub solutions as part of their logistics, compliance, trade management and financing operations.

Arnoud Star Busmann

CEO, MineHub Technologies Inc.

For further information regarding MineHub, please email info@Minehub.com or visit our website at www.minehub.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

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 statements that are considered "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation ("forward-looking statements") with respect to MineHub including, but not limited to, statements with respect to MineHub's future operational plans, the timing of such plans and anticipated customers. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts are generally, but not always, identied by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although MineHub believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results or realities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such material risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the Company's ability to raise sufficient capital to fund its operations, applications and for general working capital purposes, changes in economic conditions or nancial markets, changes in laws or regulations that could have an impact on the Company's operations, dependence on its key management personnel and market competition. Other risk factors are identified in the Company's prospectus dated August 18, 2021, available on the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. There may be other risk factors not presently known that management believes are not material that could also cause actual results or future events to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information is made as of the date included herein. Forward-looking statements are based on the reasonable beliefs, estimates and opinions of MineHub's management on the date the statements are made. However, except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors should change.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/166193
San Diego, California--(Newsfile Corp. - May 16, 2023) - Direct Communication Solutions, Inc. (OTCQX: DCSXD) (CSE: DCSI) (FSE: 7QU0) ("DCS" or the "Company"), a leading provider of information technology solutions for the Internet of Things (IoT) market, is pleased to announce a new partnership with Teltonika Telematics, a technology company based in Lithuania that specializes in designing, manufacturing, and marketing Internet of Things (IoT) devices and solutions.

Under the new strategic collaboration, DCS will become a Master Partner of Teltonika Telematics in the USA and Canada. Teltonika Telematics will be able to offer its customers a full suite of IoT solutions provided by DCS. The Company will have access to the entire product portfolio, including GPS trackers, video telematics equipment, and other IoT devices, enabling businesses in North America to utilize the latest and most advanced telematics solutions.

By implementing these cost-saving measures, these solutions will enable Teltonika Telematics to operate more effectively and efficiently. In addition, DCS will oversee these services to ensure top-tier technical support and customer experience.

As a Master Partner, DCS will have exclusive access to Teltonika Telematics priority technical support and training, thus, ensuring that customer needs are answered most competently and reliably. Moreover, MiFleet, a sister company of DCS, is also a part of the collaboration between Teltonika Telematics and DCS. As a provider of fleet management and telematics solutions for small to medium-sized businesses, MiFleet brings a wealth of experience to the partnership and expands the reach to even more customers and industries. By offering solutions tailored to specific needs and delivering excellent customer service, the collaboration among Teltonika Telematics, DCS, and MiFleet is set to benefit significantly a wide range of businesses in North America and the telematics industry as a whole.

"We are excited to partner with Teltonika Telematics and support their comprehensive IoT strategy," said Chris Bursey, CEO of DCS. "Our full solutions and services portfolio will enable Teltonika Telematics to offer solutions to their customer base and meet their needs with actionable data monitoring." Mantas Stalnionis, Telematics Sales Director for North America Continent at Teltonika Telematics, added: "This collaboration marks an important milestone for us, as it combines our cutting-edge technology with DCS expertise in fleet management and telematics. As a result, customers can expect even more advanced and effective solutions for their fleet management needs in the USA and Canada."

DCS and Teltonika Telematics are dedicated to providing inventive and dependable IoT solutions to customers in various sectors. This fresh partnership amalgamates the strengths of two industry leaders to offer enhanced value and customer support.

Teltonika Telematics' product portfolio includes a wide range of IoT devices such as, trackers, sensors, and software and cloud-based solutions that enable businesses and organizations to connect and manage their devices, data, and applications. Teltonika Telematics' IoT solutions are used in various industries, including transportation, logistics, energy, agriculture, and healthcare. Teltonika Telematics strongly focuses on innovation and R&D, and its products are known for their reliability, security, and flexibility.

About DCS

DCS is a technology solutions integrator focusing on connecting the Internet of Things. We provide real solutions that solve real problems. Our software applications and scalable cloud services collect and assess business-critical data from all types of assets. DCS is headquartered in San Diego, California and is publicly traded on the OTCQX ("DCSXD"), Canadian Securities Exchange ("DCSI") and Frankfurt Stock Exchange ("7QU0"). For more information, visit www.dcsbusiness.com. DCS and the DCS logo are among the trademarks of DCS in the United States. Any other trademarks or trade names mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

About Teltonika Telematics

Teltonika Telematics is a part of Teltonika, a high-tech company group that unites approximately 2,500 employees who work in offices in 21 countries. Teltonika's newest technologies and 25 years of experience in designing and manufacturing help to produce high-quality and safe IoT devices. At modern production facilities in Lithuania (Europe), Teltonika has already manufactured more than 22 million IoT devices.

Contacts

Bill Espley, Director

billespley@gmail.com

604-630-3072

Chris Bursey, CEO

cbursey@dcsbusiness.com

858-525-2483

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements reflecting management's current views of future events and operations. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause results to differ materially. We believe that these potential risks and uncertainties include, without limitation: the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Company's dependence on third-party manufacturers, suppliers, technologies and infrastructure; risks related to intellectual property; industry risks, including competition, online security, government regulation and global economic conditions; and the Company's financial position and need for additional funding, Statements in this release should be evaluated in light of these factors. These risk factors and other important factors that could affect our business and financial results are discussed in our Management's Discussion and Analysis, periodic reports and other public filings available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and posted with the OTC Disclosure and News Service. DCS undertakes no duty to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/166198
(All figures are in Canadian dollars, unless stated otherwise. Average exchange rate in Q1 2023: C$1.00 = R$3.84)

SINGAPORE, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Verde AgriTech Ltd (TSX: "NPK") ("Verde" or the "Company") is pleased to announce its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023 ("Q1 2023").



Q1 2023 Financials

Sales of Verde's multinutrient potassium products, BAKS and K Forte sold internationally as Super Greensand (the " Product ") by volume were 108,000 tonnes, compared to 112,000 tonnes in Q1 2022 and 16,558 tonnes in Q1 2021.

") by volume were 108,000 tonnes, compared to 112,000 tonnes in Q1 2022 and 16,558 tonnes in Q1 2021. Revenue in Q1 2023 was $11.1 million, compared to $11.3 million in Q1 2022 and $0.8 million in Q1 2021.

Cash and other receivables held by the Company in Q1 2023 were $34.3 million, compared to $22.3 million in Q1 2022 and $4.8 million in Q1 2021.

EBITDA before non-cash events in Q1 2023 was $2.0 million, compared to $3.7 million in Q1 2022 and a $0.8 million loss in Q1 2021.

Total non-current assets in Q1 2023 were $68.3 million, compared to $30.1 million in Q1 2022 and $21.4 million in Q1 2021.

Net loss in Q1 2023 was $0.1 million, compared to a $3.0 million profit in Q1 2022 and a $1.0 million loss in Q1 2021.

In Q1 2023, 8,559 million tonnes of chloride have been prevented from being applied into soils by farmers who used the Product in lieu of potassium chloride ("KCl") fertilizers.1 A total of 121,201 tonnes of chloride has been prevented from being applied into soils by Verde's customers since the Company started production.2

"In Q1 2022, our sales grew by an impressive 574%, and our revenue increased by an astonishing 1,260% compared to Q1 2021. Achieving virtually the same volume as last year in markets that experience the strongest downturns of the last few years in the fertilizer industry is a remarkable accomplishment. The price of soybeans, which represents a major portion of Verde's sales, has declined by 33% in the past 12 months, with a substantial 21% drop in the last three months alone.3 Additionally, potash prices have seen a significant decrease of 67% over the past year, with a sharp decline of 22% in the last three months.4 Despite these challenging market conditions, Verde's performance in Q1 2023, delivering results comparable to those achieved in Q1 2022, demonstrates the unwavering commitment and strategic approach of our team, and underscores our ability to thrive in an exceptionally difficult market landscape," stated Cristiano Veloso, Founder, President & CEO of Verde.

Selected Annual Financial Information

The table below summarizes Q1 2023 financial results compared to Q1 2022:

All amounts in CAD $'000 Q1 2023 Q1 2022 Tonnes sold '000 108 112 Average revenue per tonne sold $ 103 101 Average production cost per tonne sold $ (25 ) (24 ) Average gross profit per tonne sold $ 78 77 Average gross margin 76 % 77 % Revenue 11,125 11,304 Production costs (1) (2,710 ) (2,654 ) Gross Profit 8,415 8,650 Gross Margin 76 % 77 % Sales and marketing expenses (1,207 ) (958 ) Product delivery freight expenses (3,867 ) (2,973 ) General and administrative expenses (1,372 ) (1,041 ) EBITDA (2) 1,969 3,678 Share Based, Equity and Bonus Payments (Non-Cash Event) (3) (28 ) (64 ) Depreciation and Amortisation (3) (911 ) (26 ) Operating Profit after non-cash events 1,030 3,588 Interest Income/Expense (4) (1,042 ) (185 ) Net (Loss) / Profit before tax (12 ) 3,403 Income tax (5) (96 ) (370 ) Net Profit (108 ) 3,033

(1) - C$864,000 of depreciation related to the investments made in Plant 1, Plant 2 and access routes improvement in the last 12 months that are included in production costs in the financial statements have been reclassified to a non-cash event in the MD&A.

(2) - Non GAAP measure

(3) - Included in General and Administrative expenses in financial statements

(4) - Please see Summary of Interest-Bearing Loans and Borrowings notes

(5) - Please see Income Tax notes in Q1 2023 Management's Discussion and Analysis



External Factors

Revenue and costs are affected by external factors including changes in the exchange rates between the C$ and R$ along with fluctuations in potassium chloride spot CFR Brazil.5 The table below summarizes these changes:

% ? Q1 2023 Q1 2022 Canadian Dollar (C$) Average Exchange Rate -7 % R$3.84 R$4.12 Potassium Chloride CFR Brazil Lowest Price -39 % US$455 US$750 Potassium Chloride CFR Brazil Highest Price -57 % US$520 US$1,200

Q1 2023 compared with Q1 2022

EBITDA and EPS

The Company had an EBITDA of $1,969,000 in Q1 2023, compared to $3,678,000 in Q1 2022. This decrease can be mainly attributed to two factors:

Higher average freight cost: In Q1 2023, the average freight cost per tonne of Product sold on a CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) basis increased from $44 to $53. This increase was driven by a higher percentage of sales being made to the northern region of Mato Grosso state, which is located farther away from Verde's production facilities. As a result, the weighted average distance of Product delivered increased by 12% in the quarter compared to the previous year, with a $600,000 impact in Q1 2023. Reduction in potassium chloride (KCl) CFR Brazil price compared to the previous year: The drop in KCl prices resulted in a 16% decrease in revenue per tonne excluding freight expenses (FOB price) in Brazilian Reais, from R$308 per tonne in Q1 2022 to R$259 per tonne in Q1 2023. As a result, this had a $435,000 impact on the Company's quarterly results.

Basic loss per share was $0.002 for Q1 2023, compared to earnings of $0.06 for Q1 2022.

Product Sales



Sales by volume decreased by 4% in Q1 2023, to 108,000 tonnes sold, compared to 112,000 tonnes sold in Q1 2022, due to the circumstances summarized below.



At the onset of the Ukrainian war in February 2022, concerns arose regarding potential geopolitical sanctions against Russia and their potential impact on the availability of potash fertilizers. This led to a surge in customer orders during the first and second quarters as they sought to stockpile fertilizers for the upcoming crop season.



However, these concerns proved unfounded as the market actually experienced an oversupply of potash due to increased availability. Coupled with a 15% decrease in potash consumption in Brazil throughout 2022, this resulted in a 23% increase in year-end potash stock in Brazil, highlighting the lower overall demand for the product during the year.6



As a consequence, potash prices have significantly declined, witnessing a 67% decrease over the past year, with a sharp 22% decline in the first three months of 2023.7 This has prompted farmers to delay their agricultural input purchases as they anticipate further price drops, thereby reducing the demand for fertilizers in Q1 of 2023.



Furthermore, the price of soybeans, which represents the major portion of Verde's sales, has declined by 33% over the past 12 months, with a significant drop of 21% in the last three months.8



Despite the exceptional market circumstances witnessed in Q1 2021 and Q1 2022, Verde delivered in Q1 2023 results comparable to those achieved in the previous year.

Revenue

Revenue from sales decreased by 2% in Q1 2023, to $11,125,000 from the sale of 108,000 tonnes of Product, at average $103 per tonne sold; compared to $11,304,000 in Q1 2022 from the sale of 112,000 tonnes of Product, at average $101 per tonne sold.



The increase in average revenue per tonne was mainly due to the higher percentage of CIF sales in the quarter, with 68% in Q1 2023, compared to 60% in Q1 2022.



Average revenue per tonne excluding freight expenses (FOB price) decreased by 10% in Q1 2023, to $67 compared to $75 in Q1 2022 mainly due to the decrease in Potassium Chloride CFR Brazil, from US$750-US$1200 per tonne in Q1 2022 to US$455-US$520 per tonne in Q1 20239. This reduction was partially offset by the 7% appreciation of the Brazilian Real against the Canadian Dollar.



Production costs

Production costs include all direct costs from mining, processing, and the addition of other nutrients to the Product, such as Sulphur and Boron. It also includes the logistics costs from the mine to the plant and related salaries.



Verde's production costs and sales price are based on the following assumptions:

Micronutrients added to BAKS increase its production cost, rendering K Forte less expensive to produce. Production costs vary based on packaging type, with bulk packaging being less expensive than Big Bags. Plant 1 produces K Forten Bulk, K Forte Big Bag, BAKS Bulk, and BAKS Big Bag, while Plant 2 exclusively produces K Forte Bulk. Therefore, Plant 2's production costs are lower than Plant 1's costs, which produces two types of Products and offers two types of packaging options each.

The table below shows a breakdown of full year 2023 Verde's production costs projection for BAKS and K Forte, and what percentage of those costs is not controllable by management:

(+) (+) (=) Cost per tonne of product projected for 202310 (C$) Cash cost Assets depreciation Total cost expected for 202311 Non-controllable costs

(% of total costs) K Forte Bulk (Plant 1) 20.2 3.8 24.0 61% K Forte Bulk (Plant 2) 10.2 2.8 13.0 58% K Forte Big Bag (Plant 1) 30.4 2.8 33.2 71% BAKS (2%S 0.2%B)12 Bulk (Plant 1) 42.1 3.8 45.9 81% BAKS (2%S 0.2%B) Big Bag (Plant 1) 51.3 3.8 55.0 85%

Verde calculates its total production costs as a weighted average of the production costs for BAKS and K Forte, taking into account the production site and packaging type for each product. Therefore, comparing the Company's production costs on a quarter-over-quarter basis may not be meaningful due to the varying proportions of the cost factors that impact each quarter.

Production costs increased by 2% in Q1 2023, to $2,710,000 compared to $2,654,000 in Q1 2022. Average cost per tonne increased by 6% in Q1 2023, to $25 compared to $24 in Q1 2022.

Despite a 4% decrease in sales volume, from 112,000 tonnes in Q1 2022 to 108,000 tonnes in Q1 2023, Verde was able to reduce the average production cost in Brazilian Reais. In Q1 2023, the average production cost was R$96.47, compared to R$98.03 in Q1 2022. This cost reduction can be attributed primarily to a shift in the sales mix of packaging types, with a decrease in the percentage of Big Bag sales from 39% in Q1 2022 to 24% in Q1 2023.



Sales Expenses

CAD $'000 Q1 2023 Q1 2022 Sales and marketing expenses (1,070 ) (822 ) Fees paid to independent sales agents (137 ) (136 ) Product delivery freight expenses (3,867 ) (2,973 ) Total (5,074 ) (3,931 )

Sales and marketing expenses



Sales and marketing expenses include employees' salaries, car rentals, travel within Brazil, hotel expenses, and the promotion of the Product in marketing events.



This increase can be primarily attributed to the implementation of a field sales team, which resulted in expenses related to car rentals and travel. Additionally, the Company made additional investments in media and third-party marketing agencies as part of a strategic initiative to attract new customers.



Fees paid to independent sales agents

As part of Verde's marketing and sales strategy, the Company pays out commissions to its independent sales agents.

Fees paid to independent sales agents increased by 1% in Q1 2023, to $137,000 compared to $136,000 in Q1 2022, in line with Q1 2023 sales.



Product delivery freight expenses

Product delivery freight expenses increased by 30% in Q1 2023, to $3,867,000 compared to $2,973,000 in Q1 2022, as the Company has significantly increased the volume sold as CIF (Cost Insurance and Freight), up from 60% of total sales in Q1 2022 to 68% in Q1 2023.



Sales made to states that are situated at a greater distance from Verde's production facilities had a notable effect on the logistics costs. In Q1 2023, the average freight cost per tonne of Product sold on a CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) basis increased from $44 to $53, compared to the previous year. This increase was driven by a higher percentage of sales being made to the northern region of Mato Grosso state, which is located farther away from Verde's production facilities. As a result, the weighted average distance of Product delivered increased by 12% in Q1 2023 compared to Q1 2022, with a $600,000 impact in the quarter.

General and Administrative Expenses

CAD $'000 Q1 2023 Q1 2022 General administrative expenses (920 ) (410 ) Legal, professional, consultancy and audit costs (317 ) (411 ) IT/Software expenses (112 ) (204 ) Taxes and licenses fees (23 ) (16 ) Total (1,372 ) (1041 )

General administrative expenses

These costs include general office expenses, rent, bank fees, insurance, foreign exchange variances and remuneration of executive and administrative staff in Brazil.

General administrative expenses increased by 125% in Q1 2023, to $920,000 compared to $410,000 in Q1 2022.

Prior to Q4 2022, administrative employees working at the offices situated within Verde's production facilities were accounted for as part of the personnel production costs. However, in Q1 2022, an adjustment was implemented to ensure alignment with accounting standards. This adjustment involved shifting the cost centre for expenses associated with 33 employees who met that criterion. As a result, a total of $222,000 was reallocated from production costs to general administrative expenses in the quarter.

Furthermore, additional rental expenses were incurred in Plant 2, which involved the rental of water trucks and metallic structures to support operations.

Additionally, the Company made the decision to outsource cleaning and maintenance services for Plant 1, Plant 2, and Verde's administrative office in Sao Gotardo. Previously, these services were handled by employees of the Company.

Legal, professional, consultancy and audit costs

Legal and professional fees include legal, professional, consultancy fees along with accountancy, audit and regulatory costs. Consultancy fees are consultants employed in Brazil, such as accounting services, patent process, lawyer's fees and regulatory consultants.

Expenses decreased by 23% in Q1 2023, to $317,000 compared to $411,000 in Q1 2022. The decrease was mainly due to 2022 costs relating to the re-domiciliation of the Company to Singapore.

IT/Software expenses

IT/Software expenses include software licenses such as Microsoft Office, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software and enterprise resource planning (ERP).

Expenses decreased by 45% in Q1 2023, to $112,000 compared to $204,000 in Q1 2022. Q1 2022 was higher as the Company was implementing the change in its accounts from ERP to SAP Business One. This has now been concluded.

Taxes and licences

Taxes and licence expenses include general taxes, product branding and licence costs.

Expenses increased in Q1 2023, to $23,000 compared to $16,000 in Q1 2022 and increase of $7,000.

Share Based, Equity and Bonus Payments (Non-Cash Events)

These costs represent the expense associated with stock options granted to employees and directors along with equity compensation and non-cash bonuses paid to key management.

Share Based, equity and bonus payments costs decreased by 56% in Q1 2023, to $28,000 compared to $64,000 in Q1 2022. The decrease is a result of a reduction on share based payments in the quarter.

Liquidity and Cash Flows

For additional details see the consolidated statements of cash flows for the quarters ended March 31, 2023 and March 31, 2022 in the quarterly financial statements.

Cash received from / (used for):

CAD $'000 3 months ended

Mar 31, 2023 3 months ended

Mar 31, 2022 Operating activities (450 ) 3,284 Investing activities (1,889 ) (3,382 ) Financing activities 5,336 2,805

On March 31, 2023, the Company held cash of $4,289,000, a decrease of $4,684,000 on the same period in 2022.



Trade and other receivables increased by 70% in Q1 2023, to $29,996,000 compared to $17,618,000 in Q1 2022. Trade and other payables decreased by 6% in Q1 2023 to $9,494,000 compared to $10,071,000 in Q1 2022.

Q1 2023 Results Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at 10:00 am Eastern Time, to discuss Q1 2023 results and provide an update. Subscribe using the link below and receive the conference details by email.

Date: Wednesday, May 24, 2023 Time: 10:00 am Eastern Time Subscription link: https://bit.ly/Q1_2023_ResultsPresentation

The questions can be submitted in advance through the following link up to 48 hours before the conference call: https://bit.ly/Q1_2023_ResultsPresentation_Questions .

The Company's first quarter financial statements and related notes for the period ended March 31, 2023 are available to the public on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and the Company's website at www.investor.verde.ag/ .

About Verde AgriTech

Verde is an agricultural technology Company that produces potash fertilizers. Our purpose is to improve the health of all people and the planet. Rooting our solutions in nature, we make agriculture healthier, more productive, and profitable.

Verde is a fully integrated Company: it mines and processes its main feedstock from its 100% owned mineral properties, then sells and distributes the Product.

Verde's focus on research and development has resulted in one patent and eight patents pending. Among its proprietary technologies are Cambridge Tech, 3D Alliance, MicroS Technology, N Keeper, and Bio Revolution.13 Currently, the Company is fully licensed to produce up to 2.8 million tonnes per year of its multinutrient potassium fertilizers K Forte and BAKS, sold internationally as Super Greensand. In 2022, it became Brazil's largest potash producer by capacity.14 Verde has a combined measured and indicated mineral resource of 1.47 billion tonnes at 9.28% K 2 O and an inferred mineral resource of 1.85 billion tonnes at 8.60% K 2 O (using a 7.5% K 2 O cut-off grade).15 This amounts to 295.70 million tonnes of potash in K 2 O. For context, in 2021 Brazil's total consumption of potash in K 2 O was 6.57 million16.

Brazil ranks second in global potash demand and is its single largest importer, currently depending on external sources for over 97% of its potash needs. In 2022, potash accounted for approximately 3% of all Brazilian imports by dollar value.17

Corporate Presentation

For further information on the Company, please view shareholders' deck:

https://verde.docsend.com/view/hx6998vbxy6vy49x

Investors Newsletter

Subscribe to receive the Company's updates at:

http://cloud.marketing.verde.ag/InvestorsSubscription

The last edition of the newsletter can be accessed at: https://bit.ly/InvestorsNL-April2023

Cautionary Language and Forward-Looking Statements

All Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resources estimates reported by the Company were estimated in accordance with the Canadian National Instrument 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum Definition Standards (May 10, 2014). These standards differ significantly from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Mineral Resources which are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.

This document contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements" are made as of the date of this document. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect current estimates, predictions, expectations or beliefs regarding future events and include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to:

(i) the estimated amount and grade of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves;

(ii) the PFS representing a viable development option for the Project;

(iii) estimates of the capital costs of constructing mine facilities and bringing a mine into production, of sustaining capital and the duration of financing payback periods;

(iv) the estimated amount of future production, both produced and sold;

(v) timing of disclosure for the PFS and recommendations from the Special Committee;

(vi) the Company's competitive position in Brazil and demand for potash; and,

(vii) estimates of operating costs and total costs, net cash flow, net present value and economic returns from an operating mine.

Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects", "anticipates", "plans", "projects", "estimates", "envisages", "assumes", "intends", "strategy", "goals", "objectives" 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) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements.

All forward-looking statements are based on Verde's or its consultants' current beliefs as well as various assumptions made by them and information currently available to them. The most significant assumptions are set forth above, but generally these assumptions include, but are not limited to:

(i) the presence of and continuity of resources and reserves at the Project at estimated grades;

(ii) the geotechnical and metallurgical characteristics of rock conforming to sampled results; including the quantities of water and the quality of the water that must be diverted or treated during mining operations;

(iii) the capacities and durability of various machinery and equipment;

(iv) the availability of personnel, machinery and equipment at estimated prices and within the estimated delivery times;

(v) currency exchange rates;

(vi) Super Greensand and K Forte sales prices, market size and exchange rate assumed;

(vii) appropriate discount rates applied to the cash flows in the economic analysis;

(viii) tax rates and royalty rates applicable to the proposed mining operation;

(ix) the availability of acceptable financing under assumed structure and costs;

(x) anticipated mining losses and dilution;

(xi) reasonable contingency requirements;

(xii) success in realizing proposed operations;

(xiii) receipt of permits and other regulatory approvals on acceptable terms; and

(xiv) the fulfilment of environmental assessment commitments and arrangements with local communities.

Although management considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. Many forward-looking statements are made assuming the correctness of other forward looking statements, such as statements of net present value and internal rates of return, which are based on most of the other forward-looking statements and assumptions herein. The cost information is also prepared using current values, but the time for incurring the costs will be in the future and it is assumed costs will remain stable over the relevant period.

By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved or that assumptions do not reflect future experience. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as a number of important factors could cause the actual outcomes to differ materially from the beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations, anticipations, estimates assumptions and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. These risk factors may be generally stated as the risk that the assumptions and estimates expressed above do not occur as forecast, but specifically include, without limitation: risks relating to variations in the mineral content within the material identified as Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves from that predicted; variations in rates of recovery and extraction; the geotechnical characteristics of the rock mined or through which infrastructure is built differing from that predicted, the quantity of water that will need to be diverted or treated during mining operations being different from what is expected to be encountered during mining operations or post closure, or the rate of flow of the water being different; developments in world metals markets; risks relating to fluctuations in the Brazilian Real relative to the Canadian dollar; increases in the estimated capital and operating costs or unanticipated costs; difficulties attracting the necessary work force; increases in financing costs or adverse changes to the terms of available financing, if any; tax rates or royalties being greater than assumed; changes in development or mining plans due to changes in logistical, technical or other factors; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; risks relating to receipt of regulatory approvals; delays in stakeholder negotiations; changes in regulations applying to the development, operation, and closure of mining operations from what currently exists; the effects of competition in the markets in which Verde operates; operational and infrastructure risks and the additional risks described in Verde's Annual Information Form filed with SEDAR in Canada (available at www.sedar.com) for the year ended December 31, 2021. Verde cautions that the foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive.

When relying on our forward-looking statements to make decisions with respect to Verde, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Verde does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by Verde or on our behalf, except as required by law.

For additional information please contact:

Cristiano Veloso, Founder, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

Tel: +55 (31) 3245 0205; Email: investor@verde.ag

www.investor.verde.ag | www.supergreensand.com | www.verde.ag

1 Verde's Product is a salinity and chloride-free replacement for KCl fertilizers. Potassium chloride is composed of approximately 46% of chloride, which can have biocidal effects when excessively applied to soils. According to Heide Hermary (Effects of some synthetic fertilizers on the soil ecosystem, 2007), applying 1 pound of potassium chloride to the soil is equivalent to applying 1 gallon of Clorox bleach, with regard to killing soil microorganisms. Soil microorganisms play a crucial role in agriculture by capturing and storing carbon in the soil, making a significant contribution to the global fight against climate change.



2 1 tonne of Product (10% K2O) has 0.1 tonnes of K2O, which is equivalent to 0.17 tonnes of potassium chloride (60% K2O), containing 0.08 tonnes of chloride.

3 Soybeans (Paranagua) price went from US$40.36 in April 2022 to US$26.93 in April 2023, and from US$34.21 in February 2023 to US$26.93 in April 2023. Source: Economic Research Center of the ESALQ/University of Sao Paulo. Available at: https://www.cepea.esalq.usp.br/br/indicador/soja.aspx

4 Potassium Chloride CFR Brazil price went from US$1200 in April 2022 to US$400 in April 2023, and from US$515 in February 2023 to US$400 in April 2023. Source: Acerto Limited Report.

5 Source: Acerto Limited Report.

6 Source: Brazilian Fertilizer Mixers Association (from "Associacao Misturadores de Adubo do Brasil", in Portuguese).

7 Potassium Chloride CFR Brazil price went from US$1200 in April 2022 to US$400 in April 2023, and from US$515 in February 2023 to US$400 in April 2023. Source: Acerto Limited Report.

8 Soybeans (Paranagua) price went from US$40.36 in April 2022 to US$26.93 in April 2023, and from US$34.21 in February 2023 to US$26.93 in April 2023. Source: Economic Research Center of the ESALQ/University of Sao Paulo. Available at: https://www.cepea.esalq.usp.br/br/indicador/soja.aspx

9 Source: Acerto Limited Report.

10 The costs were estimated based on the following assumptions: Costs in line with Verde's 2023 budget. Sales volume of 1.0Mt per year. Crude Oil WTI (NYM U$/bbl) = US$80.00. Diesel price = U$$1.26. Currency exchange rate: US$1.00 = R$5.25; C$1.00 = R$4.20. Total cost per tonne includes all costs directly related to production and feedstock extraction in addition to assets depreciation.

11 Total cost per tonne includes labor mining, mining, crushing, processing, maintenance of support facilities, product transportation from mine pits to production plants, laboratory expenses, G&A, and environmental compensation expenses.

12 BAKS can be customized according to the crop's needs, so it can have several compositions. The 2%S 0.2%B composition is responsible for most of Verde's sales.

13 Learn more about our technologies: https://verde.docsend.com/view/yvthnpuv8jx6g4r9

14 See the release at: https://investor.verde.ag/verde-starts-ramp-up-of-plant-2s-second-stage-to-reach-production-of-2-4mtpy/

15 As per the National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects within Canada ("NI 43 -101"), filed on SEDAR in 2017. See the Pre-Feasibility Study at: https://investor.verde.ag/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/NI-43-101-Pre-Feasibility-Technical-Report-Cerrado-Verde-Project.pdf

16 Source: Brazilian Fertilizer Mixers Association (from "Associacao Misturadores de Adubo do Brasil", in Portuguese).
+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.

BENGALURU (dpa-AFX) - Infosys Technologies Ltd. (INFY), a technology and consulting services company, announced on Tuesday, that it has signed Memorandum of Understanding or MoU with British Energy Major, bp Plc. (BP, BP.L) to be the latter's primary partner for end-to-end application services The financial terms of the agreement have not been disclosed. Infosys will become BP's primary partner to provide end-to-end application services including development, modernization, management and maintenance. The focus will be on modernizing bp's application landscape to enhance business resilience, drive value from operational efficiencies, and build more adaptive and agile processes to speed up innovation. In premarket activity, shares of Infosys were trading at $15.32 down 0.13% or $0.02 cents on the New York Stock Exchange. 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.
EQS Post-admission Duties announcement: Haier Smart Home Co.,Ltd. / Third country release according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 of the WpHG [the German Securities Trading Act]

Haier Smart Home Co.,Ltd.: Announcement on the First Implementation of A-Share Repurchase through Centralized Bidding Transactions



16.05.2023 / 14:16 CET/CEST

Dissemination of a Post-admission Duties announcement according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 WpHG transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Third country release according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 of the WpHG



Announcement on the First Implementation of A-Share Repurchase through Centralized Bidding Transactions

Qingdao / Shanghai / Frankfurt / Hong Kong, 16 May 2023 - Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (the "Company" or "Haier Smart Home", D-share 690D.DE, A-share 600690.SH, H-share 06690.HK) today published an announcement in accordance with applicable trading rules of the Shanghai Stock Exchange, and applicable PRC laws in relation to the First Implementation of A-Share Repurchase through Centralized Bidding Transactions.

The announcement is fully available at:

https://smart-home.haier.com/en/dggg/P020230516674608826842.pdf?appdesc=Announcement%20on%20the%20First%20Implementation%20of%20A-Share%20Repurchase%20through%20Centralized%20Bidding%20Transactions



IR Contact:

Haier Smart Home Hong Kong

T: +852 2169 0000

Email: ir@haier.hk

Press Contact:

CROSS ALLIANCE communication GmbH

Sara Pinto

Sven Pauly

pi@crossalliance.de

T: +49 (0) 89 1250903 35

About Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.:

Haier is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household appliances with a focus on smart home solutions and customized production. Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. develops, produces and distributes a wide range of household appliances. These include refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, air conditioners, water heaters, kitchen appliances as well as small household appliances and an extensive range of intelligent household appliances. The Company distributes its products through leading household brands such as Haier, Casarte, Leader, Candy, GE Appliances, AQUA and Fisher & Paykel. Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. has launched Smart Home Experiential Cloud, which connects homes, users, enterprises and ecosystem partners, and facilitates the integration of Haier's online, offline and micro-store businesses and supports user interaction to further optimize the user experience.

16.05.2023 CET/CEST The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com


RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / (via IBN) Data443 Risk Mitigation, Inc. (OTCPK:ATDS) ("Data443" or the "Company"), a data security and privacy software company for "All Things Data Security," today announces operating results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023.

Financial Highlights for the First Quarter 2023:

Increased revenue by 125% year over year.

Increased gross profit by 184% year over year.

Decreased net loss by 60% year over year.

Business Highlights for the First Quarter 2023:

Achieved 98% customer renewals.

Data443 Antivirus Protection Manager received its VB100 certification.

Data443's Ransomware Recovery Manager named "Best of Inexpensive Protection" and "Best for Kiosks" in "The Best Ransomware Protection for 2023."

Secured an additional contract win from one of its largest fintech clients, which processes over 75 billion transactions amounting to more than $9 trillion annually.

Secured an additional contract win with a long-time, multinational fintech client that provides payment technology and services to merchants, issuers and consumers, annually transferring over 10 million sensitive files for thousands of partners.

Secured an additional contract win of $484,000 from one of the "Big Four" U.S.-based banks and largest fintech companies.

Released the latest update to its award-winning Ransomware Recovery Manager product, offering more advanced features designed to help businesses and individuals quickly and easily recover from ransomware attacks

First Quarter 2023 Financial Results:

Total revenues were $1,380,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to $613,000 of revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2022 - an increase of 125%. Existing customer organic growth, new customer acquisitions and the Company's high renewal rate drove the revenue increase.

Gross profit was $1,171,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to $413,000 of gross profit for the three months ended March 31, 2022 - an increase of 184%. Gross margin was 85% in the first quarter of 2023 versus 67% in the first quarter of 2022.

General and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2023, were $1,401,000, compared to $974,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2022 - an increase of $427,000. The increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to an increase in professional service fees.

Sales and marketing expenses were $32,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to $120,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The decrease in sales and marketing expenses was primarily due to a decrease in trade show events, related travel and marketing activity.

The net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2023, was $738,000, compared to a loss of $1,833,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2022 - a decrease of 60%. The decrease in net loss was primarily due to the increase in recognized revenue and a decrease in interest expense.

Cash Flow

During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company generated $360,000 from operating activities, compared to $156,000 generated during the three months ended March 31, 2022.

During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company used funds in investing activities of $81,000 to acquire property and equipment and advance payment for acquisition. During the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company used funds in investing activities of $258,000 to acquire property and equipment.

During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company had net cash outflows for financing activities of $171,000. By comparison, during the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company had net cash outflows for financing activities of $920,000.

Liquidity

As of March 31, 2023, the Company had cash in the amount of $109,000 and other current assets in the amount of $2,891,000.

Management Commentary:

Jason Remillard, Data443's founder and chief executive officer, commented: "Our first quarter results are a testament to our team's relentless drive, passion and commitment to better serving our existing enterprise clients and expanding our market reach. Our 125% revenue growth from a year ago clearly indicates that our efforts are resonating with our clients and the trust they place in us. We have attracted new customers while retaining existing ones, and we are further validated by our high customer renewal rates and eagerness to renew with larger and longer-term contracts. This has always been the ultimate vote of confidence in our company. We are proud of the relationships we have built with our customers and will continue to nurture these partnerships in the years to come.

"While we believe these strong Q1 results reflect that our business plan is working, we recognize that there is still work to be done. As we announced yesterday, we entered into a definitive agreement to acquire select assets from Cyren Ltd. We certainly understand what it takes to integrate acquisitions and onboard new customers to Data443, and we are very excited about the opportunities ahead of this important transaction.

"I want to thank our dedicated team, our customers and our shareholders for your unwavering support and belief in our vision. We are committed to unlocking our potential and seizing the opportunities ahead."

To learn more about Data443, please watch the video introduction on the Company's YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/1Fp93jOxFSg

About Data443 Risk Mitigation, Inc.

Data443 Risk Mitigation, Inc. (OTC: ATDS) provides software and services to enable secure data across devices and databases, at rest and in flight/in transit, locally, on a network or in the cloud. We are All Things Data Security. With over 10,000 customers in over 100 countries, Data443 provides a modern approach to data governance and security by identifying and protecting all sensitive data regardless of location, platform or format. Our framework helps customers prioritize risk, identify security gaps and implement effective data protection and privacy management strategies.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by use of terms such as "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "may," "could," "will," "should," "plan," "project," "intend," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "pursuant," "target," "continue" or the negative of these words or other comparable terminology. Statements in this press release that are not historical statements, including statements regarding Data443's plans, objectives, future opportunities for Data443's services, future financial performance and operating results, and any other statements regarding Data443's future expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, financial conditions, assumptions or future events or performance, or regarding the anticipated consummation of any transaction, are forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and assumptions, many of which are difficult to predict or are beyond Data443's control. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the statements. They may relate to the outcome of litigation, settlements and investigations; actions by third parties, including governmental agencies; volatility in customer spending; global economic conditions; inability to hire and retain personnel; loss of, or reduction in business with, key customers; difficulty with growth and integration of acquisitions; product liability; cybersecurity risk; anti-takeover measures in the Company's charter documents; and the uncertainties created by global health issues, such as the ongoing outbreak of COVID, and political unrest and conflict, such as the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. These and other important risk factors are described more fully in the Company's reports and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("the SEC"), including in Part I, Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on Feb. 24, 2023, and subsequent filings with the SEC. Undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements in this press release, which are based on information available to the Company on the date hereof. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, Data443 undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise.

"DATA443" is a registered trademark of Data443 Risk Mitigation, Inc.

All product names, trademarks and registered trademarks are property of their respective owners. All company, product and service names used in this press release are for identification purposes only. Use of these names, trademarks and brands does not imply endorsement.

For further information:

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/data443Risk

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/data443/

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/data443-risk-mitigation-inc/

Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZXDhJcx-XgMBhvE9aFHRdA

Sign up for our Investor Newsletter: https://data443.com/investor-email-alerts/

To learn more about Data443, please watch the Company's video introduction on its YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/1Fp93jOxFSg

Investor Relations Contact:

Matthew Abenante

ir@data443.com

919.858.6542

Corporate Communications

IBN (InvestorBrandNetwork)

Los Angeles, California

www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com

310-299-1717 Office

Editor@InvestorBrandNetwork.com

SOURCE: Data443 Risk Mitigation, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/755170/Data443-Reports-125-Increase-in-Revenues-184-Increase-in-Gross-Profit-for-Q1-2023
+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.

WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Cheniere Energy, Inc. (LNG), a liquefied natural gas or LNG company, said on Tuesday that its unit, Cheniere Marketing International LLP, has entered into a long-term LNG sale and purchase agreement or SPA with Korea Southern Power Co. Ltd or KOSPO. KOSPO has agreed to purchase around 0.4 million tons per annum or mtpa of LNG from Cheniere Marketing on a delivered ex-ship basis from 2027 through 2046, with a smaller annual quantity to be delivered starting in 2024. The purchase price for LNG to be delivered prior to 2027 will be a market-based price, after which the price will be indexed to the Henry Hub price with a fee. The volumes associated with the SPA from 2028 through 2046 are subject to a positive final investment decision with respect to the first train of the Sabine Pass Liquefaction (SPL) Expansion Project. The SPL Expansion Project is being developed to include up to three natural gas liquefaction trains with an expected total production capacity of approximately 20 mtpa of LNG. 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.
As the digital world enables the spread of human trafficking and exploitation, Cellebrite empowers law enforcement with advanced digital intelligence in support of their efforts to outsmart online criminal activity and secure justice for survivors of exploitation.

PETAH TIKVA, Israel and TYSONS CORNER, Va. and COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., May 16, 2023Ltd., an international nonprofit organization disrupting human trafficking, announced today that they are providing digital intelligence technology to ensure the National Bureau of Investigations (NBI) Anti-Human Trafficking Division in the Philippines has the capacity to accelerate justice in cases of exploitation.



Cellebrite and The Exodus Road are long-standing partners in the fight against human trafficking. Over the years, Cellebrite has equipped The Exodus Road teams and their law enforcement partners with digital intelligence technology that has led to many successful survivor rescues, perpetrator arrests and convictions. In 2022 alone, Cellebrite technology directly assisted the Brazilian Border Patrol, the Brazilian Federal Police, and the Brazilian Ministry of Public Labor in liberating 152 survivors of human trafficking and arresting 20 perpetrators of the crime.

When The Exodus Road identified that the National Bureau of Investigations Anti-Human Trafficking Division in the Philippines lacked the advanced technology necessary to stay ahead of the human trafficking activity, Cellebrite answered the call by providing its UFED Cloud solutionwhich extracts, preserves and analyzes cloud-based content, and its field mobile extraction device, which collects evidentiary data in a forensically sound manner.

"We exist to protect the citizens of the Philippines from any form of human trafficking - especially online. As human trafficking rings become more tech-savvy, we have an obligation to this country to ensure our technology is even more innovative and sophisticated to obtain actionable digital evidence, track digital trails, and make digital connections that quickly vindicate victims of human trafficking, online and offline. This would be better accomplished with the help of Cellebrite's digital intelligence technology and the unending support of the Exodus Road," said Atty. Catherine R. Nolasco, Chief, Anti-Human Trafficking Division, National Bureau of Investigation."



In the first year and a half of its operation in the Philippines, The Exodus Road has assisted Filipino law enforcement in rescuing 128 survivors and arresting 34 traffickers. Their teams continue to witness the increased utilization of online platforms as a marketplace for exploitation. Globally, over 70% of The Exodus Road's operations resulting in an arrest or rescue in 2022 involved the capture of evidence originating on social media.

"In our commitment to stop human trafficking in the Philippines and around the world, we actively pursue technologies and other tools that can aid our law enforcement partners as they combat the increasingly digital world of trafficking," said Matt Parker, Co-Founder, and Chief Strategist at The Exodus Road. "We continually see Cellebrite's digital intelligence technology directly impacting our partners' ability to expose exploitation, free survivors and prosecute traffickers. Cellebrite's provision of their most sought-after solutions to NBI in the Philippines will not only accelerate justice but will also protect the integrity of NBI's work and ours by taking the stand in human-trafficking cases as a third-party voice and leader in digital forensics."

"Cellebrite recognizes the urgency, priority, and challenges of anti-trafficking work, for all those on the ground fighting this fight every day. Our mission is to ensure that we provide the most accurate, effective, and ethically sound digital intelligence technology to entities like Exodus Road and NBI so they can keep doing the essential work they do faster and better," stated Arthur Veinstein, President, Cellebrite International.

About Cellebrite

Cellebrite's, https://investors.cellebrite.com, or follow us on Twitter at @Cellebrite.

About The Exodus Road

The Exodus Road is a global nonprofit disrupting the darkness of modern-day slavery by partnering with law enforcement to fight human-trafficking crime, equipping communities to protect the vulnerable and empowering survivors as they walk into freedom. Working side-by-side with local staff, NGO partners and law enforcement around the world, The Exodus Road fights to liberate trafficked individuals, arrest traffickers and provide restorative care for survivors. Since its founding in 2012, the organization has assisted police in the rescue of 2,000 survivors and the arrests of more than 1,000 offenders, numbers that grow almost daily. The Exodus Road's approach to freedom incorporates intervention, training and education, and aftercare efforts.

In education, The Exodus Road offers TraffickWatch Academy: U.S., a free, online training module that unpacks the complexities of human trafficking, and TraffickWatch: Brazil, a similar program specifically for law enforcement partners. The organization is also preparing to launch "Influenced,"a workshop series equipping parents and teens to participate in the online world while avoiding the dangers of exploitation.

The Exodus Road combats human trafficking in the U.S., Thailand, the Philippines, India, Brazil and in another undisclosed, Latin American country. In Thailand, the nonprofit operates Freedom Home, a survivor care center that houses and supports women-survivors and their dependents.

For additional information or to make a donation to help stop human trafficking, please visit The Exodus Road's website at https://theexodusroad.com/, and check them out on Facebook, Instagram, Twitterand YouTube.

Cellebrite Contacts

Media

Victor Cooper

Sr. Director of Corporate Communications & Content Operations

Victor.cooper@cellebrite.com

+1 404.804.5910

Investors

Andy Kramer

investors@cellebrite.com
Partnership with allcolibri makes it easy for ecommerce business to build sustainability into deliveries

LONDON, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- nShift, the global leader in parcel delivery management and shipment software, today announces new features in Checkout to help retailers and customers to support the causes they care about most.







The new Positive Impact Delivery feature enables online retailers to set up delivery options which trigger donations to good causes, supporting ESG goals. Retailers can choose whether to apply it to specific delivery methods, or across all their delivery options.

Positive Impact Delivery supports a wide variety of causes worldwide. They range from restoring natural habitats and removing rubbish from the sea, to improving access to nutrition and education. In each case, customers can see what impact their donation will have. Meanwhile, retailers can monitor and report back on their cumulative impact.

The new feature is the result of a partnership between nShift and allcolibri, an impact solution platform which enables thousands of small donations to be consolidated into large-scale environmental and social impacts.

nShift's Checkout Badges provide additional visual cues to prompt sustainable choices. It marks delivery methods at checkout with icons highlighting their key attributes - such as a green leaf for sustainability. Since the human brain can process images far faster than text, they enable consumers to quickly identify the most sustainable delivery options. By reducing friction, and time to rethink the purchase in the final part of the checkout process, Badges help increase customer conversions.

Consumers increasingly seek out retailers and webshops with clear sustainability commitments. Research from the World Economic Forum has found that 70% of customers prefer to shop from brands whose values reflect their own.

Sean Sherwin-Smith, Product Director, Post-purchase at nShift said: "Customers love the speed and convenience of ecommerce, but they also prefer to buy from brands with clear values. Our new partnership with allcolibri enables retailers to offer customers the best of both worlds. We are helping to empower customers to come together as a brand community to make the world a better place, without creating any additional friction when it comes to delivery."

allcolibri co-founder Thomas Devilder added: "Everyone wants to do good for our planet, but at the end of the day, most of us fail because of time, means, or trust. Our partnership with nShift shows how retailers can build sustainability into the delivery experience and mobilise their customers as a force for change. This can potentially lead to millions of tangible positive actions for our planet."

nShift Checkout forms part of nShift's market-leading delivery management suite, which builds customer loyalty, reduces costs, and increases revenues. Alongside Checkout, the suite compromises:

Ship - enterprise-grade delivery management software which provides solutions to complex label printing and carrier booking challenges.

- enterprise-grade delivery management software which provides solutions to complex label printing and carrier booking challenges. Track - a cutting-edge customer experience that builds loyalty with shoppers

- a cutting-edge customer experience that builds loyalty with shoppers Returns - a consumer-friendly reverse logistics solution that helps convert 30% of returns to exchanges by making the process easier for shoppers

nShift's suite is supported by the world's largest carrier library and over 450 integrations with leading e-commerce platforms, shopping carts, ERP, warehouse management, and payments platforms.

Find out more.

About nShift

nShift is the global leading provider of cloud delivery management solutions enabling frictionless shipment and return of almost one billion shipments across 190 countries annually. nShift's software is used globally by e-commerce, retail, manufacturing and 3PL shippers. The company is headquartered in London and Oslo. It has over 500 employees across offices in Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, United Kingdom, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium and Romania.

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To help train and defend against rapidly evolving cybersecurity threats, SimSpace has expanded its ecosystem to support Cymulate customers to more adequately test real-world tools in their Cyber Force Platform.

BOSTON, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SimSpace , the industry leader in military-grade cyber ranges is today announcing the expansion of their ecosystem. The SimSpace Cyber Force Platform will now help Cymulate customers evaluate and validate their security stack with SimSpace's cyber ranges.





According to Cybersecurity Ventures, the total cost of cybercrime in 2023 is expected to hit $8tr and $10.5tr in 2025. Defending against the nation state tactics, techniques and procedures now targeting businesses will be on the mind of every board member and CISO this year. Adopting continuous security improvements will be the key that unlocks cybersecurity resilience, a major theme in Gartner's 2023 cybersecurity predictions . How organizations manage their cyber risk will dictate their security posture and financial optimization in the coming year.

SimSpace's Cyber Force platform enables listed companies and critical national infrastructure organizations around the world to test their networks in the highest-fidelity simulated environments commercially available. SimSpace's cyber range will enhance Cymulate customers' ability to perform market-leading team assessments, live-fire exercises and vulnerability exposure.

Carolyn Crandall, Chief Security Advocate at Cymulate believes the partnership will reinforce testing and training capabilities for leading businesses: "Our priority is to strengthen the cyber resilience and exposure assessment of our mutual customers, and SimSpace's cyber range will be an integral component in achieving this. Businesses around the world trust Cymulate's breach-and-attack platform to validate their critical processes. With SimSpace's high-fidelity emulation, Cymulate customers can further benefit from the integrated live-fire training and real-world testing capabilities they provide."

William "Hutch" Hutchison, co-founder and CEO of SimSpace Inc sees the partnership as an opportunity for growth: "We are excited to develop our partnership with Cymulate to provide world-class cyber readiness training for our mutual partners."

"As our customers continue to face unprecedented cybersecurity challenges, this partnership will allow them to continuously develop and improve their defensive abilities. SimSpace's Cyber Force Platform was born out of a need for the highest level of threat detection which has developed into a business necessity in 2023. As bad actors elevate the complexity and frequency of attack paths today, SimSpace's cyber range provides government-grade protection for platforms such as Cymulate to achieve unparalleled cyber preparedness."

About Cymulate

The Cymulate platform provides threat exposure assessment, Breach and Attack Simulation (BAS), and Continuous Automated Red Teaming (CART) for delivering real-time visibility to vulnerabilities, understanding the efficacy of security controls, and automated testing. The Cymulate platform continuously assesses, optimizes, and rationalizes the state of security controls, while creating baselines for proving security efficacy across the full cyber kill chain and for continuous improvement.

About SimSpace

SimSpace is the global leader in military-grade cyber ranges, founded by experts from U.S. Cyber Command and MIT's Lincoln Laboratory to respond to a new era of unprecedented cyber threat. The company's Cyber Force Platform enables the most sophisticated enterprises, governments, and critical national infrastructure organizations to find intelligence-driven answers to the most vexing security, governance, training, and cyber readiness questions. SimSpace provides high-fidelity cyber security simulations, training, and safe live-fire exercises previously only available to the U.S. Cyber Command and the world's most advanced intelligence agencies. Now, Fortune 2000 financial, retail, insurance, and other commercial markets can access nation-state level security capabilities to protect their critical assets, with an average reduction in cyber operational costs of 30% and a 40% reduction in breaches.

For more information: www.simspace.com .

All trademarks belong to their respective owners.

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SHANGHAI, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- JOY GROUP, the leading Chinese beauty company, has joined the ranks of the world's top 100 beauty companies and the top 10 gainers list in beauty for 2022, as per the recently released rankings by the U.S.-based fashion journal Women's Wear Daily (WWD).





WWD, often referred to as the "Bible of fashion", is one of the oldest fashion publications globally, wielding considerable influence in the fashion industry. Since its inception, WWD has been a daily read for executives in the global fashion and beauty industry.

Each year, WWD Beauty Inc. releases its definitive list of the world's top 100 beauty companies, based on sales in the previous calendar year. Recognized as the "Beauty Industry Practitioner's Guide", this annual ranking is one of the most authoritative in the global beauty industry.

In 2022, JOY GROUP made its debut on the WWD Beauty Inc Top 100 list, ranked 86th. The company also ranked 9th in the Beauty's Top 10 Sales Gainers in 2022 list, promoting the value of Chinese beauty to both domestic and global customers.

Shanghai Juyi Cosmetics Co., Ltd. ("JOY GROUP") is a leading multi-brand cosmetics company based in China. The company encompasses two iconic cosmetics brands, JUDYDOLL and JOOCYEE. JUDYDOLL, ranking 5th on Tmall and 2nd on Douyin (TikTok China) in the domestic cosmetics category, caters to a colorful, sweet, and fun lifestyle. JOOCYEE exudes a modern, romantic, and tailored style for the Asian female consumer, ranking No.1 in the domestic lipstick category and No.6 in the domestic cosmetics category on TikTok China.

With a direct-to-consumer approach, JOY GROUP now operates a network of flagship stores on China major ecommerce platforms, and 30+ offline monobrand boutiques. The company also integrated end-to-end supply chain capability with its own laboratory and manufacturing facility.

In 2022, JOY GROUP recorded an annual revenue of USD 256.7 mn (RMB1.8 bn), an increase of approximately 30% YoY, achieving strong double-digit revenue growth and sustainable profitability in consecutive years.

Since 2020, JOY GROUP has proactively expanded to overseas markets, gaining wide popularity from consumers in Japan and ASEAN markets. The company aims to further expand its reach to Australia, Canada, the Middle East, and other regions with high growth potential.

MEDIA CONTACT

Christine Bian

JOY GROUP Corporate PR

Christine.bian@joy-group.com

To learn more about JOY GROUP, visit https://www.linkedin.com/company/joy-group-china

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Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - May 16, 2023) - Beauce Gold Fields (TSXV: BGF) (Champs D'Or en Beauce), ("BGF" or the "Company"): is pleased to announce that it has dredged 2.16 grams per cubic meter (g/m3) of placer gold on its Ditton Gold project located near the town of Chartierville in southern Quebec.

Patrick Levasseur, President and CEO of Beauce Gold Fields, said, "We are pleased to have found sample grades that are better than the average grades for placer gold in North America. This is a positive sign because we have discovered high-grade placers both at the surface and at a deeper levels in the quarry pit, which suggests that the Ditton placer gold channel could be a substantial deposit." Mr. Levasseur also stated, "This development has increased our goal to assess the possibility of an economically viable placer gold deposit, as well as to look for signs that could lead to future discoveries of bedrock lode gold."





Image: Samples SB-100, T-13-3, SB-101 and SB-102

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6198/166267_bditton.jpg.

Dredge Sampling Results

The industry reporting standard unit of quantity for placer gold is grams per cubic meter.

Trench Dredged Vol. Liters Grains Au g/m3 Fine - Non-Visible Au g/m3 Grade SB-100 28 0.453 1.71 2.16 g/m3 SB-101 30 0.596 0.0452 0.64 g/m3 SB-102 25 0.056 0.63 0.69 g/m3 T-13-3 32 0.61 - 0.61 g/m3





Grades are indicative only. Due to grade variability of placer deposits, a larger volume of samples is necessary to obtain a better representation of the gold content. Samples collected using a Keene Dredge model 2004 attached to a  screen, which could affect measured flowed volume.

North American Placer Mines

Projects Location Year Avg. Grade g/m3 Beauce Gold Fields - Beauce Gold Project Quebec 2018 0.87 Multiple private large placer operations Yukon 2020 0.30 NovaGold (TSX-NG), Nome Gold Project Alaska 2011 0.30

Source: Exploration Target = 0.87 g/m3 Sedar: 43-101 Report - Beauce July 4th 2018, , Author B. Violette,

Yukon Placer Mining Industry Reports 2010-2014, 2018-2020:Yukon Geological Survey

NovaGold Resources: TECHNICAL REPORT NOME PLACER PROPERTY, 2006, Norwest Corporation

This gold was dredged out of unconsolidated glacial till deposits from a ground-level trench (SB-100) located over the interpreted placer channel about 300m north of the operating Ditton (Blais) quarry-samples T-13-3, SB-101 and SB-102 was dredged out of three trenches in the quarry floor.

The Ditton quarry is approximately 20 meters deep in unconsolidated glacial till deposits. It is located north of Range X and about 300m southeast of the presumed Ditton placer channel. Samples were taken from water-filled trenches T-13-3, SB-101 and SB-102 in the quarry floor from cemented brown tertiary gravel in contact with sheared volcanic rock. The Company used a suction dredge and a sluice apparatus to collect and concentrate the samples.

The samples were processed at the Coalia Laboratory in Thetford Mines, Quebec. The process employed by Coalia was to sieve the concentrates through <2 mm fraction mesh. The sieved fractions were further mechanically concentrated via a Superpanner. Under a microscope, the gold grains were extracted to be counted, weight, and characterized. Over 20 grains of gold ranged in size from approximately 100 um up to 3mm in length, coarse and delicate were extracted. The heavy mineral concentrates were sent to MSALABS in Langley, BC, to assay for fine gold particles or non-visible gold. The combined results of the lab assays and the weighted gold per sample were combined to obtain indicative grades in grams per cubic meter.

Pending are the results from 10 sonic drill holes completed in the fall of 2022. Results will be reported as soon as the Company receives them.

Jean Bernard, B,Sc. Geo., is a qualified person, as defined by NI 43-101, who has reviewed and approved the technical information presented in this release.

A qualified person has not completed sufficient work to classify any mineral resources as defined by National Instrument (NI) 43-101; it is uncertain if future exploration will result in the delineation of mineral resources.





Exploration Map of the Ditton Project

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About The Ditton Placer Channel

The placer channel is in the town of Chartierville, Quebec. The channel is 4 km east of the historical Mining Brook Placer gold mine and 6 km northwest of the US-New Hampshire border. It is also located 115 km south of the Company's Beauce Gold project in St-Simon-Les-Mine.

A sampling program by the Company recovered gold from every sample taken throughout the Ditton quarry (BGF press release January 20, 2022), bringing about the discovery of the Ditton placer gold channel. Further insights to the existence of a channel were gained from the 1980s historical exploration reports of the regional geology and geophysics. It also revealed that the quarry was an excavated pit of an exposed layer of a Tertiary placer channel. Results from the company's 2022 seismic refraction survey lines further support the existence of a paleochannel.

The channel trends southwest to northeast and is believed to open in both directions.

Potential for Lode Gold Discoveries

The recovered gold grains from showed delicate angular shapes suggesting little transportation. A proximal bedrock source of the placer channel could be from the eroded Eastern flank of the valley wall. The bedrock lithology holds a contact point between altered volcanic rock and schist rock. Historical surveys indicated strong magnetic lineaments favorable to hosting gold-bearing quartz lenses.

The Bella Fault line is estimated to run along strike 1 km east of the placer channel where Cache Exploration in 1985 put down 3 diamond drill holes (DDH) along Rang Dix road to test a strong shear zone. The holes intersected andesites containing numerous quartz stringers mineralized with pyrite and much tourmaline. Of interest, in the drill log for DDH number S-2 states that visible gold was noted at 240 meters (GM42843). Cache did not complete the recommended follow-up drilling to test this anomaly.

About Beauce Gold Fields

Beauce Gold Fields is a gold exploration company focused on placer to hard rock exploration in the Beauce region of Southern Quebec. The Company's objective is the trace old placer gold workings back to a bedrock source to uncover economic lode gold deposits. The Company's flagship property is the St-Simon-les-Mines Gold project site of Canada's first gold rush that pre-dates the Yukon Klondike. The Beauce region hosted some of the largest historical placer gold mines in Eastern North America that were active from 1860s to the 1960s It produced some of the largest gold nuggets in Canadian mining history (50oz to 71oz). (Source Sedar: 43-101 Report - Beauce July 4th 2018, , Author B. Violette).

Beauce Gold Fields website www.beaucegold.com.

Disclaimers:

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements containing the words "may", "plan", "will", "estimate", "continue", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "in the process" and other similar expressions which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current expectation and assumptions, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, our expectations regarding mineral exploration. Such statements reflect the current views of the Company with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and other risks detailed from time-to-time in the Company's on-going filings with the securities regulatory authorities, which filings can be found at www.sedar.com. Actual results, events, and performance may differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements either as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except 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.

For further information contact

Patrick Levasseur, President and CEO Tel: (514) 262-9239

www.beaucegold.com

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Issue up to 26,595,746 Units (assuming a Unit price of $0.235, proceeds of approximately $6,250,000 - see below for more detailed information).

EML insiders to participate along with Quail Bend LLC ("Quail Bend").

New funding will allow EML to expedite exploration drilling, metallurgical and battery test work and to initiate process design and preliminary mine studies at the high-grade Emily Manganese Project, Minnesota, U.S.

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 16, 2023) - Electric Metals (USA) Limited (TSXV: EML) ("EML" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce a non-brokered financing of up to 26,595,746 units of the Company (the "Units") (the "Offering"). Each Unit will consist of one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a "Common Share") and one share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant") exercisable to acquire one additional Common Share for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance of the Unit.

In connection with the Offering, the Company has entered into a binding letter of intent with Quail Bend dated May 12, 2023 (the "LOI") pursuant to which Quail Bend will participate in the Offering and acquire up to 21,276,596 Units or up to a 16.7% ownership interest in the Company (the "Strategic Investment").

The LOI provides that the Quail Bend portion of the Offering will close in multiple tranches. The first closing shall occur on or before June 15, 2023 (the "First Closing") and shall be for an amount of Units purchased to be determined by Quail Bend subject to a minimum of 5,319,150 Units for minimum proceeds of not less than C$1,250,000.25 and a maximum number of Units which does not result in Quail Bend becoming a "Control Person" as defined by the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"). The First Closing is also expected to include the subscription of 5,319,150 Units by certain insiders of the Company and other third parties mutually acceptable to the Parties. The purchase price for the Units sold in the First Closing will be $0.235 per Unit. Each Warrant partially comprising the Units issued pursuant to the First Closing will be exercisable at a price of $0.35 per share for a period of 24 months following the distribution thereof.

The second closing ("Second Closing") shall be completed in one or more tranches on or prior to September 30, 2023 with any tranche otherwise causing Quail Bend to become a "Control Person" to be completed within five (5) Business Days after receipt of shareholder approval permitting Quail Bend to become a "Control Person". The Second Closing shall be for (i) Equity Units priced at the greater of (a) C$0.235 (with the exercise price of the Warrant being C$0.35 per share), or (b) the lowest sale price and exercise price, respectively, permitted by the TSXV or any applicable regulatory authority; and (ii) an amount of Equity Units not exceeding in the aggregate the difference between 21,276,596 and the number of Equity Units subscribed for by Quail Bend in the First Closing.

In connection with the Strategic Investment and subject to Quail Bend acquiring a minimum of 13,000,000 Units pursuant to the Offering, EML has agreed to grant Quail Bend certain investor rights which it will retain so long as it controls 10.0% or more of the issued and outstanding Common Shares and which will include the following:

Quail Bend will fill a newly-created sixth board seat with its nominee and will receive the right to nominate a director for election as a Company nominee at each shareholder meeting of the Company.





Quail Bend will have the right to participate in any public or private equity financing by the Company to maintain its pro rata ownership interest in the Company, and to potentially increase its ownership interest in the Company, to the extent there is additional room in the relevant financing.

The LOI provides that a minimum of 80.0% of the funds raised from proceeds of the Offering from Quail Bend will be used on further exploration and development of the Company's Emily Manganese Project in Minnesota, USA including continued exploration drilling, metallurgical and battery test work and process design and preliminary mine studies.

Comments

EML CEO Gary Lewis commented, "With drilling at the high-grade Emily Manganese Project continuing, we are looking to fast-track a number of other project-related activities including a resource upgrade, metallurgical and battery test work, process design and preliminary mine studies. The additional funding provided by Quail Bend and the EML insiders will provide certainty in this regard and potentially cut months off our previously determined timeline. We also expect that the addition of a strategic investor of the caliber of Quail Bend will allow the Company to advance discussions with US Federal and State governments".

Steve Durbin, President of Quail Bend, commented: "I couldn't be more thrilled to be an investor in such an exciting project. We believe that the combination of size, grade, and location of the Company's deposit are unmatched in North America and provide the foundation for the Company to potentially become one of the preeminent suppliers to the domestic EV battery market. What's even more astonishing is that high purity manganese is currently 100% imported from overseas, so in addition to enjoying substantial geological and locational competitive advantages, the resource also has national strategic value, which will certainly be an important factor in the Company's journey towards production."

Closing of the Offering is subject to customary closing conditions, including the negotiation of definitive Unit purchase agreements and an investor rights agreement, receipt of all required regulatory approvals, the availability of prospectus and registration exemptions and approval of the TSXV and where applicable, Company shareholders.

The summary of the LOI in this press release is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the LOI which can be accessed on www.SEDAR.com under the Company's profile.

Any securities to be issued under the Offering will be subject to a hold period of four months and a day in Canada from the closing date of the Offering in accordance with the rules and policies of the TSXV and applicable Canadian securities laws and/or such other further restrictions as may apply under foreign securities laws.

It is anticipated that certain subscribers under the First Tranche will be insiders of the Company. The issuance of Units to insiders of the Company pursuant to the First Tranche will be considered related party transactions within the meaning of TSXV Policy 5.9 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions and Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). For the First Tranche, the Company intends to rely on the exemption from the formal valuation requirements contained in Section 5.5(a) of MI 61-101 and the exemption from the minority shareholder requirements contained in 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as neither the fair market value of any securities issued to or the consideration paid by such insiders will exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

About Electric Metals (USA) Limited

Electric Metals (USA) Limited (TSXV: EML) is a U.S.-based mineral development company with manganese and silver projects geared to supporting the transition to clean energy. The Company's principal asset is the Emily Manganese Project in Minnesota, which has been the subject of considerable technical studies, including a National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report - Resource Estimate, with US$26 million invested to date. The Company's mission in Minnesota is to become a domestic U.S. producer of high-purity, high-value manganese metal and chemical products for supply to U.S. energy, technology and industrial markets. With manganese playing a critical and prominent role in lithium-ion battery formulations, and with no current domestic supply or active mines for manganese in North America, the exploration and development of the Emily Manganese Project represents a significant opportunity for the Company's shareholders. In addition, the Company owns and operates the Corcoran Silver-Gold Project and the Belmont Silver Project in Nevada, with the former also having been the subject of a National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report - Resource Estimate.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further Information please contact:

Gary Lewis, CEO & Director: (647) 846 5299 - gl@electricmetals.com

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on EML's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information relating to, among other things, the completion of the Strategic Investment, the completion of the First Closing, the completion of the Second Closing, the completion of the Offering, the use of proceeds of the Offering, the operations of the Company, approval by the TSXV and any other regulatory bodies and shareholder approval. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to EML. Although such statements are based on reasonable assumptions of EML's management, there can be no assurance that any conclusions or forecasts will prove to be accurate.

While EML considers these statements to be reasonable based on information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include market risks and the demand for securities of the Company, risks inherent in the exploration and development of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined, risks relating to variations in grade or recovery rates, risks relating to changes in mineral prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of minerals, risks related to increased competition and current global financial conditions, access and supply risks, reliance on key personnel, operational risks, and regulatory risks, including risks relating to the acquisition of the necessary licenses and permits, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks.

The forward-looking information contained in this news release is made as of the date hereof, and EML is not obligated, and does not undertake, to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein.

NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR THROUGH U.S. NEWS WIRES

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Esker, a global cloud platform and leader in AI-driven process automation solutions for Finance, Procurement and Customer Service functions, today announced promotions within its management teams, the integration of new members into its Board of Directors, and the creation of an Associate Board of Directors, to rejuvenate its governance and support growth ambitions.

Claire Valencony promoted to Deputy Chief Operating Officer

Claire Valencony, who successfully led the company's indirect strategy for several years, has been promoted to Deputy Chief Operating Officer in collaboration with Emmanuel Olivier. In her new role, Claire is responsible for maintaining and driving operational results in all Esker subsidiaries (excluding the U.S., which Emmanuel will continue to oversee). Claire has been a member of Esker's Board of Directors since 2021.

New members on the Board of Directors

Based on the recommendations of Jean-Michel Berard and the Executive Board, Nicolas Mougin, Worldwide Consulting and Support Director and Ari Widlansky, newly appointed Worldwide Director for Revenue Growth and Strategic Alliances, have joined Esker's Board of Directors, strengthening the management team.

Esker's Board of Directors includes:

Jean-Michel Berard , Founder and Chief Executive Officer

, Founder and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Olivier , Worldwide Chief Operating Officer

, Worldwide Chief Operating Officer Jean-Jacques Berard , Vice President Research and Development

, Vice President Research and Development Eric Bussy , Vice President Marketing and Product Management

, Vice President Marketing and Product Management Steve Smith , U.S. Chief Operating Officer

, U.S. Chief Operating Officer Claire Valencony , Deputy Chief Operating Officer

, Deputy Chief Operating Officer Nicolas Mougin , Worldwide Consulting and Support Director

, Worldwide Consulting and Support Director Ari Widlansky, Worldwide Director for Revenue Growth and Strategic Alliances

"I am pleased to welcome Nicolas Mougin and Ari Widlansky to Esker's Board. Ari has been instrumental in leading our indirect sales strategy in the U.S. and I am certain that he will continue to build on Claire's success at the worldwide level," said Jean-Michel Berard, CEO at Esker. "Nicolas brings his extensive experience of managing complex international projects and his acute sense of customer satisfaction to the Board. I am also delighted with Claire's new appointment. I know she will bring her energy and creativity to Esker's subsidiaries."

A new Associate Board of Directors to prepare for the future

"The creation of an Associate Board of Directors allows us to approach the next decade with conviction and peace of mind," said Berard. "Its members will bring their youth, experience and new perspectives to future strategic discussions, and help us better understand upcoming trends that will shape our market."

The new Associate Board Members are:

Pascal Bivert, European Sales Director . Pascal is responsible for the sales strategy and operations for all Esker subsidiaries in Europe (excluding France and Benelux) and has held this position since 2018. He joined Esker in 2010 as Key Account Manager and was promoted to Sales Manager in 2014.

. Pascal is responsible for the sales strategy and operations for all Esker subsidiaries in Europe (excluding France and Benelux) and has held this position since 2018. He joined Esker in 2010 as Key Account Manager and was promoted to Sales Manager in 2014. Nicolas Bragard, Worldwide Chief Information Officer . Nicolas leads Esker's internal IT operations worldwide, covering IT infrastructure, cybersecurity and internal applications. He has been at Esker since 2002.

. Nicolas leads Esker's internal IT operations worldwide, covering IT infrastructure, cybersecurity and internal applications. He has been at Esker since 2002. Aurelie Guimera, Worldwide Director of Human Resources . Aurelie oversees all HR plans and strategies to support Esker's global business, while providing an excellent experience for employees. She joined Esker in 2011 as Recruitment Specialist and, following several promotions, took over as Director of Human Resources in 2021.

. Aurelie oversees all HR plans and strategies to support Esker's global business, while providing an excellent experience for employees. She joined Esker in 2011 as Recruitment Specialist and, following several promotions, took over as Director of Human Resources in 2021. Thomas Honegger, Chief Operating Officer of Esker France/Benelux/Switzerland . Thomas develops Esker's sales, marketing and consulting activities for this region and has held this position since 2014. He joined Esker in 2005 as Key Account Manager and was appointed Sales Director for Esker France in 2010.

. Thomas develops Esker's sales, marketing and consulting activities for this region and has held this position since 2014. He joined Esker in 2005 as Key Account Manager and was appointed Sales Director for Esker France in 2010. Dan Reeve, Vice President of Sales North America. Dan is responsible for direct and indirect sales in this region. Having operated in this capacity for 10 years, he was previously a Sales Representative in charge of the Midwest and the Pacific Northwest regions in the U.S.

About Esker

Esker is a global cloud platform built to unlock strategic value for Finance, Procurement and Customer Service professionals, and strengthen collaboration between companies by automating the cash conversion cycle. Esker's solutions incorporate AI technologies to drive increased productivity, enhanced visibility, reduced fraud risk, and improved collaboration with customers, suppliers and employees. Founded in 1985, Esker operates in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific with global headquarters in Lyon, France, and U.S. headquarters in Madison, Wisconsin. For more information on Esker and its solutions, visit www.esker.com. Follow Esker on LinkedIn and join the conversation on the Esker blog at blog.esker.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516005206/en/

Contacts:

Press Contact: Christina Davies

Tel: (972) 366-7453 cdavies@ideagrove.com

Investor Relations Contact: Emmanuel Olivier

Tel: +33 (0)4 72 83 46 46 emmanuel.olivier@esker.com
Edmonton, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - May 16, 2023) - TrustBIX Inc. (TSXV: TBIX) (OTCQB: TBIXF) ("TrustBIX" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the signing, on May 11, 2023, extending the Master Services Agreement with JBS Food Canada ULC ("JBS Canada") signed on April 28, 2022. The companies will continue working as trusted partners offering retail and food service entities a certified sustainable beef program.

"Food integrity is the core of the JBS Canada Advantage, together with TrustBIX, we can provide our partners credible data and tracking for consumers who want more information about their food choices. We have the ability to deliver sustainable beef and look to the consumer market in need of this 100% Canadian offering," said David Colwell, President of JBS Canada.

"We are proud to continue our partnership with JBS Canada, which is one of the world's largest protein processing companies in the world," said Hubert Lau, TrustBIX CEO.

About JBS

JBS is one of the world's largest food companies, providing protein and food solutions to customers and consumers across the globe. Through an ongoing focus on quality, innovation, operational excellence and safety, JBS is committed to responsibly producing good food.

With operations in 15 countries and more than 150,000 team members, JBS ensures the best products and services to our customers, a relationship of trust with our suppliers, profitability for our shareholders and the opportunity of a better future for all our team members. For more information, visit https://jbsfoodsgroup.com/.

About TrustBIX

The vision is to create a world where we trust more and waste less by leveraging BIX and the use of its technology solutions. TrustBIX delivers independent validation of provenance and sustainable practices within multiple supply chains and industries.

BIX Location Services offer solutions to supply chains that bring asset situational awareness for high value assets.

ViewTrak Technologies Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary, provides a suite of hardware and software solutions to the livestock industry in North America and China.

www.TrustBIX.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Hubert Lau

President and CEO

Telephone: (780) 456-2207

Email: info@trustbix.com

Twitter

LinkedIn

Facebook

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 of accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/166211
+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.

1 Includes net revenue of 11.40p. 2 Premium to NAV including income. 3 Based on a second and third interim dividend of 5.50p per share declared on 23 August 2022 and 16 November 2022 respectively, a final dividend of 23.50p per share declared on 2 March 2023 with ex-date 9 March 2023 and pay date of 26 April 2023 in respect of the year ended 31 December 2022, and a first interim dividend of 5.50p per share declared on 18 April 2023 with ex-date 4 May 2023 and pay date of 31 May 2023 in respect of the year ending 31 December 2023. 4 The Company's ongoing charges are calculated as a percentage of average daily net assets and using the management fee and all other operating expenses, excluding finance costs, direct transaction costs, custody transaction charges, VAT recovered, taxation and certain other non-recurring items for the year ended 31 December 2022. 5 The Company's ongoing charges are calculated as a percentage of average daily gross assets and using the management fee and all other operating expenses, excluding finance costs, direct transaction costs, custody transaction charges, VAT recovered, taxation and certain other non-recurring items for the year ended 31 December 2022.

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.
Isometric Technologies, the only agnostic arbiter of freight transportation performance data, is proud to announce its second Excellence in Service Awards, celebrating exceptional Carriers & 3PLs for their over-the-road transportation performance.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / Isometric Technologies (ISO), a transportation performance intelligence platform, announced its 2nd annual Excellence in Service Awards today, recognizing transportation providers with outstanding performance levels in full truckload transportation. With over half a million trucking companies in the United States, the 50 winners of Isometric Technologies' 2022 Excellence in Service Awards stand out as top performers in their class.

2022 ISO Award Statue

Crystal statue with ISO logo and copy "2022 Excellence in Service Award, Presented by ISO" alongside a small card and box.

"Our 2022 Excellence in Service Award winners continue to play a critical role in keeping our nation running and driving the standard of freight transportation performance," said Brian Cristol, co-founder and CEO of ISO. "We are proud to celebrate their achievements in delivering exceptional service to their customers."

Isometric Technologies empowers shippers and their transportation providers to identify and correct network inefficiencies by acting as a single source of truth to aggregate performance data. By associating service-level failures and costs from chargebacks, accessorial fees, or deductions with the responsible parties, ISO identifies the hidden costs of transportation performance and surfaces actionable insights to help optimize complex business relationships.

ISO selected the 2022 Excellence in Service Award winners by analyzing a combination of data sets: aggregated and anonymized key performance indicators for shipments run through ISO and engagement rates with the company's platform. Award winners have differentiated themselves through exceptional service levels in full truckload transportation.

"Echo Global Logistics is honored to have been selected as a recipient of ISO's 2nd Annual Excellence in Service Awards," said Jay Gustafson, Executive Vice President of Brokerage Operations at Echo Global Logistics. "Delivering high levels of customer service is our top priority as a 3PL, and ISO's innovative platform has helped enable a process of continuous improvement and collaboration for the customers we serve."

Isomeric Technologies' mission is to be the industry's trusted source of actionable supply chain performance data, driving performance measurement standardization across the industry to help customers make smarter procurement decisions and optimize supply chain networks. Recognizing excellence in logistics providers is a critical part of this vision, and ISO looks forward to celebrating the best in transportation performance for years to come. See the complete list of winners here.

About Isometric Technologies

Isometric Technologies streamlines the data reconciliation process between large manufacturers, transportation providers, and other 3rd party stakeholders, acting as a single source of truth to measure the hidden costs of transportation performance. By associating costs from chargebacks and service level failures with the responsible parties, ISO surfaces actionable insights that help optimize complex business relationships.

Contact Information

Skyler Wuolle

Director of Marketing

skyler@iso.io

SOURCE: Isometric Technologies

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/755238/Isometric-Technologies-Announces-2nd-Annual-Excellence-in-Service-Awards
PARIS, FRANCE/ ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / Akkadian Partners SA ("Akkadian") has announced that Akkadian Partners Fund, a Luxemburg registered securitisation fund under its management, now holds over a 5% shareholding and voting rights in Erytech SA ("Erytech").

Akkadian has conducted a detailed analysis of the merits of the proposed strategic alliance between Erytech and Pherecydes Pharma ("Pherecydes") with particular focus on the strategic alignment of the expertise between the two companies, on their market competitiveness, their future prospects and the respective valuations chosen in this merger. Following this analysis, Akkadian has concluded that the merger between Pherecydes and Erytech does not serve the interests of Erytech's shareholders.

Akkadian is willing to work constructively with Erytech's management with a view to finalizing a strategy that will enable to Erytech's significant cash resources to be effectively deployed.

Akkadian believes that the chosen market value of Pherecydes is unjustified and overvalued compared to that of Erytech. Pherecydes is on the verge of going into bankruptcy and had to undertake a 1.5 million capital increase, fully subscribed by its shareholders, in February 2023 before its General Assembly meeting scheduled in June 2023

This chosen market valuation appears solely dictated by the concern to protect Pherecydes shareholders, in particular Auriga IV Bioseeds: (i) Elaia Partners, acting on behalf of Auriga IV Bioseeds, which holds approximately 23% of the share capital of Pherecydes; (ii) Auriga Ventures III which holds approximately 3,70 % of the share capital of Erytech, (iii) the representative and joint manager of these two "Auriga" shareholdings is Mr. Franck Lescure, which constitutes a clear conflict of interest. Elaia Partners, acting on behalf of Auriga IV Bioseeds, subscribed to half of the 1.5 million capital increase of Pherecydes, i.e. well over the percentage of its shareholding in Pherecydes.

Finally, Akkadian notes that the allocation of managerial roles is entirely skewed in favour of Pherecydes, which will fill the roles of Chairman (Mr. Didier Hoch) and CEO (Mr. Thibaut du Fayet), whereas the current CEO of Erytech (Mr. Gil Beyen) would simply act as Chairman and CEO of its US entity. Specifically, he will manage seven people in the future whereas he currently manages 50 people and managed 181 people on 31 December 2021. The reasons for this are inexplicable but which might be dictated by personal and family/marital interests.

Akkadian requests that Erytech's Board of Directors immediately cease incurring costs on this transaction which clearly goes against the interests of Erytech's shareholders (already 1.2 M have already been spent) and focus its efforts on finding solutions that can generate short and medium term value for all Erytech's shareholdersand not for Pherecydes shareholders.

Concerning the lack of relevance of the alliance between Pherecydes (phagotherapy) and Erytech

Our analysis highlights the following weaknesses in Pherecydes:

The Pherecydes product portfolio has limited commercial potential Its positioning as a last-line therapy has resulted in: A low number of patients as illustrated by the small number of treatments administered under the Compassionate Access Authorisations (ACCs) obtained in May 2022; The critical clinical condition of patients with a very high mortality rate.

Each product is extremely targeted and limited to a given species type of bacteria or to one or more strains within this species, thereby requiring very high precision and the need to combine treatments with antibiotics to produce an effective therapeutic impact which in turn entails increased risks in terms of tolerance and additional costs;

A complicated treatment rationale: selection of the bacteria strain, phagogram, delivery of one or more active bacteriophages;

Difficult  in situ  delivery, creating an obstacle to acquiring new clients;

 delivery, creating an obstacle to acquiring new clients; The need to reconstitute the product in a hospital pharmacy environment which poses an additional difficulty for new potential clients;

The choice of targets is questionable: There are no precise indications for the anti- Pseudomonas aeruginosa and anti- E.col bacteriophages; The low cost of treatments: the low cost of antibiotics and the major difficulty of obtaining a premium price; No presence on the US market.

The ability to complete the treatment is improbable The difficulty of obtaining the registration of the products; No interest for antibacterial agents among big phara companies; Its highly complex pricing making any commercial launch without a partner impossible.

Clinical development is complicated Infectiology trials which are typically complicated are even more so because of the abovementioned difficulties, namely: the need to select strains that respond to treatment (phagogram), the need to add active antibiotics to the treatment protocol, requiring a large cohort of patients in many hospitals at high cost; this is illustrated by the difficulties faced in the PHAGODAIR study with an initial patient recruited in a clinical trial in June 2022 and about which there has been no news since; No significant results in clinical development and with Compassionate Access Authorisations (ACCs).

Non sustainable manufacturing Manufacturing is fully outsourced and know-how is disseminated among potential competitors (MB Pharma) with total dependency on sub-contractor manufacturers and research sub-contractors; High production costs since there are no phage associations enabling cost savings in terms of quality control (QC) and manufacturing.

The management team is undersized The medical team is undersized, hence the long delay in launching the PHAGODAIR clinical trial; A lack of commercial development or market access activities, as evidenced by the lack of results with Compassionate Access Authorisations (ACCs).

Fiercer competition in this sector with approaches that relate to the points mentioned above. Armata Pharmaceuticals (New York Stock Exchange -USA): Announcement of positive Phase I/II trial results according to good manufacturing practices (GMP) in-house internal standards in the US; In-house manufacturing in a GMP plant in the US; Over US$30 million in financing. Adaptive Phage Therapeutics (USA): 3 clinical trials in progress; In-house GMP manufacturing plant in the US; Major B series financing of US$61 million in 2021; Partnership with Mayo Clinic; Solid managerial team recently bolstered in clinic research.



Concerning the unbalanced terms of the strategic alliance between Erytech and Pherecydes

On the excessive valuation of Pherecydes

In their joint press release dated 15 February 2023, Erytech and Pherecydes announced a proposed strategic merger, whereas in actual fact this merger involves amalgamating Pherecydes with Erytech, as mentioned three pages further on.

The joint presentation of the proposed operation (February 2023) on the Pherecydes website states that the merger is "between equals" at a "parity fixed at 4 PHERECYDES shares against 15 ERYTECH shares (49.5% / 50.5% on a fully diluted basis)", i.e. at parity of 1 to 1 in valuation terms.

However, there is no reason to set the value of Pherecydes at an amount equivalent to that of Erytech.

Erytech was incorporated in 2004 and was floated on the French stock exchange in April 2013, with a post-IPO market value of 64.3 million; it is listed on the Compartment C Euronext market;

Pherecydes was incorporated in 2006 and was floated on the French stock exchange in February 2021, with a post-IPO valuation of 34.9 million; it is listed on the Euronext Growth market.

Erytech has raised funds of nearly 400 million in France and the US and has achieved a market value of nearly 400m since its IPO in 2013;

Pheredyces has raised funds of only 25.6 million in France since it was incorporated in 2006, of which 12.6m since its IPO in 2021. It had a market value of 13.8 million in December 2022 before proposed strategic alliance with Erytech was announced.

Erytech had a cash flow of 38.8 million on 31 December 2022 (Erytech press release of 22 March 2023);

Pherecydes had a cash flow of 1 million on 31 December 2022, strengthened by a fundraising of 1.5 million partially subscribed by Auriga IV Bioseeds to allow the company to maintain its business activity until the merger is finalized (Pherecydes press release dated 30 March 2023).

If Pherecydes had not received the sum of 1.5 million, invested solely with a view to the merger with Erytech, Pherecydes would have lacked the financial resources to pursue its business activity.

Nothing would have prevented Erytech from considering a project to acquire Pherecydes that would serve its own interest and the interests of its shareholders based on a value of "one symbolic euro" or of considering another type of merger other than at a parity of 1 for 1, in particular by involving Erytech in the share capital of Pherecydes through a rights issue or through via the subscription of bonds convertible into shares issued by Pherecydes.

In the light of the above, there is no justification for choosing an equivalent value for Erytech and Pherecydes and no grounds for merging these two structures.

This is all the more true since this merger seems to been largely influenced by Auriga Partners, who is a shareholder of both Erytech and Pherecydes, in the interest of its own shareholding in Pherecydes.

Concerning the conflict of interests

In their joint press release of 15 February 2023, the two companies stressed that the transaction has the full support of the main shareholders of Erytech and Pherecydes, namely Auriga Partners (acting on behalf of Auriga Ventures III) on the Erytech side and of Elaia Partners (acting on behalf of Auriga IV Bioseeds) on the Pherecydes side.

Elaia Partners is headed by a former Auriga Partners executive, Mr. Franck Lescure, and has financially supported Pherecydes as its historical shareholder by contributing 660,000 to its IPO (Pherecydes press release of 2 February 2021), in a fundraising of 1 million in September 2022 (Pherecydes press release of 22 September 2022) and in its most recent fundraising in February 2023 of 747,000 (Pherecydes press release of 17 February 2023).

Elaia Partners' interest in participating in Pherecydes' latest fundraising could only have been driven with a view to entering into an alliance with Erytech, as revealed in the press releases of both companies.

Indeed, Pherecydes itself acknowledges that the last fundraising of 1.5 million, in which Elaia Partners contributed one half, provided it with "financial visibility until the completion of the merger planned for the end of the 1st half of 2023"; "the current level of cash flow allows Pherecydes Pharma to finance its cash requirements until the end of the first half of 2023, the date planned for the merger with Erytech" (Pherecydes' press release of 30 March 2023).

In other words, if the merger does not go ahead, Pherecydes will no longer have the financial resources to pursue its business activity as of 1st July 2023.

Pherecydes shareholders therefore wish to proceed with this merger with Erytech in order to benefit from its cash flow.

It is therefore clear that the merger with Erytech based on an equivalent value of the two companies is in the sole interest of Pherecydes shareholders, that it disadvantages Erytech shareholders and that it solely benefits the management team of Pherecydes and Auriga Partners, Elaia Partners and the funds that the latter two companies manage through Monsieur Franck Lescure.

This constitutes a major conflict of interest which highlights a lack of loyalty and ethics towards the shareholders of Erytech in the management of the company.

Akkadian therefore intends to oppose this merger by every means at its disposal and to inform Erytech's managers that no future decision should be taken which could be contrary to the interests of the company and of each of its shareholders.

Akkadian intends to propose investment projects to Erytech's management that differ from the one which entails its disappearance that benefits Pherecydes simply to satisfy the interests of a single shareholder, Auriga Partners/Elaia Partners and a single management team, that of Pherecydes.

About Akkadian Partners

Akkadian Partners manages a multi strategy investment fund, mostly in the health sector. The fund manages shareholders in several pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in the US and Europe. Akkadian invests the money of its managers and investors which include Family Offices and Ultra High NetWork Investors (UHNWIs).

More informations: Akkadianpartnersfunds.com

Contact

contact@akkadianpartnersfunds.com

SOURCE: Akkadian Partners SA

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/755186/Akkadian-Partners-Fund-has-Acquired-Over-a-5-Shareholding-and-Voting-Rights-in-Erytech-and-Intends-to-Vote-Against-the-Merger-between-Erytech-and-Pherecydes
DZ BANK AG Frankfurt am Main - Pre-Stabilisation

RNS Number: residue number system

Frankfurt am Main, Klicken oder tippen Sie, um ein Datum einzugeben.

Not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or any jurisdiction in which such distribution would be unlawful.

Pre-Stabilisation Notice

Berlin Hyp AG

DZ BANK AG (contact: Ralph Ockert; telephone: +49 69 7447 7051) hereby announces, as Stabilisation Coordinator, that the Stabilising Managers named below may stabilise the offer of the following securities in accordance with Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU Regulation 596/2014).

The security to be stabilised: Issuer: Berlin Hyp AG Guarantor (if any): Aggregate nominal amount: EUR benchmark Description: 2.875%, 24/05/2030 Offer price: 99.283% Other offer terms: Payment 24/05/2023, denoms 1k/1k, soft bullet Stabilisation: DZ BANK AG Stabilisation Coordinator:

Stabilising Managers:

DZ BANK AG

Commerzbank AG/Credit Agricole/DZ/JP Morgan/LBBW

Stabilisation period expected to start on: 24.06.2023 Stabilisation period expected to end on: no later than 30 days after the proposed issue date of the securities Existence, maximum size and conditions of use of over-allotment facility. The Stabilising Managers may over-allot the securities to the extent permitted in accordance with applicable law. Stabilisation trading venue: Berlin Stock Exchange (Regulated Market)

In connection with the offer of the above securities, the Stabilisation Manager(s) may over-allot the securities or effect transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the securities at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail. However, there is no assurance that the Stabilisation Manager(s) will take any stabilisation action and any stabilisation action, if begun, may be ended at any time. Any stabilisation action or over-allotment shall be conducted in accordance with all applicable laws and rules.

This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an invitation or offer to underwrite, subscribe for or otherwise acquire or dispose of any securities of the Issuer in any jurisdiction.

In addition, if and to the extent that this announcement is communicated in, or the offer of the securities to which it relates is made in, any EEA Member State that has implemented Directive 2003/71/EC, as amended (together with any applicable implementing measures in any Member State, the "Prospectus Directive") before the publication of a prospectus in relation to the securities which has been approved by the competent authority in that Member State in accordance with the Prospectus Directive (or which has been approved by a competent authority in another Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Member State in accordance with the Prospectus Directive), this announcement and the offer are only addressed to and directed at persons in that Member State who are qualified investors within the meaning of the Prospectus Directive (or who are other persons to whom the offer may lawfully be addressed) and must not be acted on or relied on by other persons in that Member State.
The information contained in this release was correct as at 30 April 2023 . Information on the Company's up to date net asset values can be found on the London Stock Exchange website at:

https://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news/market-news-home.html.

BLACKROCK GREATER EUROPE INVESTMENT TRUST PLC (LEI - 5493003R8FJ6I76ZUW55)

All information is at 30 April 2023 and unaudited.



Performance at month end with net income reinvested



One

Month Three

Months One

Year Three

Years Launch

(20 Sep 04) Net asset value (undiluted) -0.7% 4.4% 9.4% 56.4% 671.3% Share price 0.6% 5.3% 7.5% 51.5% 642.6% FTSE World Europe ex UK 2.3% 4.2% 13.2% 52.7% 395.1%



Sources: BlackRock and Datastream



At month end

Net asset value (capital only): 558.63p Net asset value (including income): 562.07p Share price: 535.00p Discount to NAV (including income): 4.8% Net gearing: 8.8% Net yield1: 1.2% Total assets (including income): 567.7m Ordinary shares in issue2: 101,000,161 Ongoing charges3: 0.98%

1 Based on an interim dividend of 1.75p per share and a final dividend of 4.85p per share for the year ended 31 August 2022.

2 Excluding 16,928,777 shares held in treasury.

3 The Company's ongoing charges are calculated as a percentage of average daily net assets and using the management fee and all other operating expenses excluding finance costs, direct transaction costs, custody transaction charges, VAT recovered, taxation, write back of prior year expenses and certain non-recurring items for the year ended 31 August 2022.

Sector Analysis Total Assets (%) Industrials 23.3 Technology 21.2 Consumer Discretionary 20.7 Health Care 18.2 Financials 9.5 Consumer Staples 4.4 Basic Materials 2.6 Net Current Assets 0.1 ----- 100.0 ===== Country Analysis Total Assets (%) France 20.5 Switzerland 18.9 Netherlands 17.1 Denmark 16.4 United Kingdom 6.1 Sweden 5.1 Italy 4.8 Belgium 3.9 Ireland 3.7 Spain 2.3 Germany 1.1 Net Current Assets 0.1 ----- 100.0 =====

Top 10 holdings Country Fund % Novo Nordisk Denmark 9.0 LVMH Moet Hennessy France 8.1 ASML Netherlands 6.2 RELX United Kingdom 5.4 Lonza Group Switzerland 4.8 Hermes International France 4.3 DSV Panalpina Denmark 4.2 KBC Groep Belgium 3.9 STMicroelectronics Switzerland 3.5 Safran France 3.3

Commenting on the markets, Stefan Gries, representing the Investment Manager noted:

During the month, the Company's NAV fell by 0.7% and the share price rose by 0.6%. For reference, the FTSE World Europe ex UK Index returned 2.3% during the period.

European ex UK markets were up in April, which was a fairly calm month following the market volatility experienced in March. European markets continued to perform better than their US peers.

Whilst global macroeconomic data has been mixed, the bottom-up picture remains robust. The European earnings season showed evidence of a resilient consumer and decent outlooks for the industrial sector, underpinned by green stimulus.

During the month, investors largely favoured defensives over cyclicals with real estate, health care and utilities delivering the strongest returns. The financials sector was also up, somewhat rebounding following volatility in banks during the previous month. The IT sector was the only sector that posted negative absolute returns during April.

The Company underperformed its reference index during April, largely driven by stock selection within health care, whilst an overweight to IT also detracted. In sector terms, the Company's overweight exposure to IT, particularly the semiconductor industry, as well as an underweight to utilities and financials detracted. A higher allocation to health care was positive, although offset by stock selection. The Company's lower exposure to telecoms aided returns.

The largest negative contribution came from the semiconductor industry with the three largest relative detractors being STMicroelectronics, ASMi and ASML. On the one hand, the industry suffered a reversal from strong performance in previous months. On the other hand, markets were worried over weaker reported order intake numbers on the back of inventory levels normalising. Whilst STMicroelectronics beat on Q1 results forecasts, shares fell as investors were concerned over the resilience of the company's consumer-facing end markets, such as electronics and the auto industry. As inventories are starting to normalise, there is a risk that pricing will be slightly weaker in the short term.

ASML also reported solid Q1 numbers with a 6% beat on revenue and 15% beat on EBIT. However, ASML see mixed signals on demand from different end-market segments and reported weaker-than-expected order intake, again seeing an impact from clients bringing their inventory down to healthier levels. ASML still has an order backlog of EUR39bn which provides close to two-year visibility and hence some protection.

Finally, Dutch ASMi reported a beat versus consensus on Q1 revenues but a drop in orders and expect order intake numbers to remain on the lower end of expectations for the remainder of the year. A degree of normalisation had to be expected following a period of extremely high demand, but it does not change the medium to long term investment case around a structural shift in demand as our everyday lives become more digital.

Sartorius Stedim also detracted after Q1 results were weaker than expected. The company had already been guiding for a weaker H1'23 vs H2'23, but the Q1 result showed a larger step up will be needed to hit the full year guidance they have maintained. Sales were down -13% and missed consensus by the same amount. Orders were down -32% as customers continued to rundown inventories built up during the pandemic. The company expects orders to normalise by mid-year, with full year sales growing low single digit percent and EBITDA margin around flat compared to the prior year. Though, following the Q1 results, we see this guidance at risk of being cut.

Worries over the extent of a destocking cycle also impacted chemical distribution businesses including IMCD. We expect the normalisation phase after a number of very strong years to be benign and would note that the company continues to take market share.

Not owning Infineon was positive as shares were caught up amongst the pressure on the semiconductor sector during the month as discussed above. Shares in BE Semi stood out amongst industry peers with gains in April which contributed positively to relative portfolio returns. The company's Q1 results showed consensus beats on all metrics, except for orders where in our view estimates were too high given the company had flagged order pull-ins for smartphones and strong hybrid bonding orders benefiting Q4'22. We expect 2023 to be the trough in orders and sales, with the second half of the year showing more recovery driven by China orders and the hybrid bonding opportunity ramping up into outer years.

Within luxury, Hermes was the top performer on an excellent set of results. Sales surged 23%, largely driven by better than expected results in non-leather categories such as watches, jewellery, homeware and silks. All geographies were positive with the strongest positive impact coming from China.

LVMH also reported strong results for the first quarter with revenue up 17% year-on-year, largely driven by the group's fashion & leather goods business. The rebound in Chinese demand due to lifting Covid restrictions, as well as strength in Europe and Japan thanks to strong tourism, aided results.

Finally, shares in Swedish industrial group Atlas Copco were lifted by strong Q1 results with operating profit beating expectations and demand expected to remain at current levels for the remainder of the year. Industrial orders beat consensus by 19%, driven by the auto industry and the electric/battery end market which has grown significantly.

Outlook

European equities have significantly outperformed other regions over the last six months, as the outlook for Europe has materially improved. The domestic energy crisis has been de-risked with prices down and storage levels high, and as one of the largest exporters to China, many European companies stand to benefit from the country's ongoing re-opening. On the broader European financial system, despite recent volatility owing to concerns around US regional banks and the forced merger of UBS and Credit Suisse, there have been assurances from central bankers and regulators on the sector's financial health, helping to restore some confidence.

Despite year-to-date gains, the set up for the European equity market remains favourable relative to developed market peers, such that the US and European equities are still under-owned and valuations remain attractive.

Whilst there are a number of unknowns from a macroeconomic perspective, we see opportunities for attractive returns in select areas. Corporate balance sheets are in decent shape and in much better positions than in previous downturns. Many companies in Europe have spent the last decade deleveraging balance sheets and interest coverage is significantly higher than during the Global Financial Crisis or other prior periods associated with deep recessions or prolonged bear markets. Corporate spending intentions also remain healthy and this spend is often linked to transformational capex.

Lastly, long-term structural trends and large amounts of fiscal spending via the Recovery Fund, Green Deal and the REPowerEU plan in Europe can drive demand for years to come, for example in areas such as infrastructure, automation, innovation in medicines, the shift to electric vehicles, digitization or decarbonisation. We believe the portfolio is well aligned to many of these structural spending streams.

16 May 2023

ENDS

Latest information is available by typing www.blackrock.com/uk/brge on the internet, "BLRKINDEX" on Reuters, "BLRK" on Bloomberg or "8800" on Topic 3 (ICV terminal). Neither the contents of the Manager's website nor the contents of any website accessible from hyperlinks on the Manager's website (or any other website) is incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement.
Toronto, Ontario, and New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - May 16, 2023) - Sekur Private Data Ltd. (CSE: SKUR) (OTCQX: SWISF) (FSE: GDT0) ("Sekur" or the "Company"), a leading Swiss hosted secure and private communications platform, is pleased announce that it has launched new bundle offerings on its Sekur.com site.

The Company's offerings on its Sekur site include its SekurVPN solution, the world's first commercially available, non-big tech powered, Swiss hosted privacy focused VPN solution. Customers can now simply go to the Sekur website and select either SekurMail, SekurVPN or SekurMessenger and select any add-on offered for any or both of the other 2 solutions not selected as the primary choice. Add-ons are offered at a discount when bundled with any single solution. The Company is already seeing the advantages of offering the add-ons, as over 50% of their customers choose to bundle solutions, and already at least 30% of new customers are selecting the SekurVPN solution in their bundles. Now, Sekur offers this capability automatically each time you select any of the Sekur solutions.

Alain Ghiai, CEO of Sekur Private Data said: "We are very excited to offer all our solutions in one place and offer the possibility of customized bundles. Customers can now select any one of our solutions and get any of the other two at a discounted price. As we roll out more solutions, such as SekurVoice, we plan to use the same custom bundle offerings to all our consumer and business customers. Our prime directive is to provide private and secure communications for everyone, and, as we are not connected to any Big Tech or Hyperscaler cloud platform, we offer a truly independent, private and secure means of communications without any data mining, through our proprietary technology and our secure servers based in Switzerland. We look forward to continuing to offer true data privacy to all individuals and their businesses and protect their intellectual property, and their privacy, from data miners and malicious hackers."

The Company has launched on April 7th 2023, its privacy VPN solution called SekurVPN available through https://sekurvpn.com/ and https://www.sekur.com. SekurVPN is priced at US$ 7/month/user and US$ 70/year/user for the service. The solution is also offered in USD, CAD, NZD, AUD, SGD, CHF, EUR and GPB. Subscribers can then download SekurVPN on Play Store for Android, iOS App Store for iPhones and MacOS App Store for Apple Mac desktop and laptops. A Windows version is expected to be launched for early June 2023. The Company plans to then launch SekurVPN in the coming weeks to existing shareholders and existing Sekur customers with a special offer, and move to a larger audience of over 1,000,000 people in the USA, through several digital and email marketing campaigns.

SekurVPN is especially meant for privacy enthusiasts and users wanting to mask their IP address from hackers. An example would be users going to their e-banking or shopping online, using their emails, using messaging applications and wanting to have full privacy and protection from hackers hijacking their location and signal. The service guarantees not to use Big Tech or Hyperscalers for its functioning or hosting, it guarantees that there are no third party bundles sold with it, so no data is leaked or sold to third parties, it guarantees no traffic pulling or monitoring, and no phone number required to register to the service.

According to a study and publication on forbes.com, 66% use a VPN to help protect personal data, 80% use a VPN for increased security and 33% use a VPN to mask their internet activity. More statistics can be found on this VPN Statistics And Trends In 2023 article.

Private:

SekurVPN uses its own proprietary infrastructure and does not use any Hyperscaler or Big Tech hosting providers, unlike most other VPNs. It offers Swiss IPs only, and this guarantees that it is using only SekurVPN's own servers and routing. Other VPNs offer 100s of locations and are using Big Tech providers, compromising users' privacy. SekurVPN never monitors users' activity and never shares any data with third party service providers. By being a pure VPN, without bundled outside services, such as anti-virus, and ad-blockers, SekurVPN keeps users' information private without sharing their data with third party service providers. With SekurVPN, users do not register their phone number on the App or the web, rendering users invisible from hackers or snoopers. No phone number to register, anonymous Swiss IPs only, no data mining or traffic sharing with anyone.

Secure:

SekurVPN's secure VPN routes all your Internet traffic through SekurVPN's privately owned servers, in multiple locations in Switzerland only, and using the highest encryption industry standards, combined with its proprietary HeliX technology for added security. Encryption keys are not stored on devices and are unique at every connection. Users' passwords, confidential data and Internet surfing stay encrypted even over public untrusted internet connections.

Easy to use:

SekurVPN is extremely easy to setup and deploy. There is no country list and our interface is simplified, just tap or click the connection button. SekurVPN's no-frills but highly secure and private service gives users peace of mind without thinking about geo-locations.

Currently SekurVPN is available to use with iOS and Android devices. A MacOS version and a Windows version are planned to be launched in the coming weeks.

In addition to SekurVPN, the company offers a bundled Sekur plan, which includes SekurMessenger and SekurMail, as a bundle of email, messaging and file transfer into one application, and includes the Company's latest SekurMail technology, which includes proprietary anti-phishing and privacy feature called SekurSend. SekurSend lets a user send an email to any other recipient, whether they have Sekur or not, in full privacy and security as the email never leaves Sekur's encrypted email servers based in Switzerland. The recipient can then click on the notification and reply in the same manner using SekurReply, without the recipient having to register for a Sekur account. The sender can also decide to protect any email sent by adding a password to open it, a read-limit and a self-destruct timer as well. Sending an email with the SekurSend feature allows the senders and recipients to add limitless size attachments to the emails without crowding the recipients' email box. This also eliminates BEC attacks for businesses and email phishing attacks. Additionally, SekurMail includes full control of email delivery, automatic data export for large Enterprises and an automatic Data Loss Prevention technology ("DLP") with real time continuous archiving.

Recent data breaches in messaging applications have created a certain urgency for businesses and data privacy advocates to protect their communications from cyber-attacks and identity theft via mobile and desktop devices.

SekurMessenger comes with a proprietary feature and technology called "Chat-By-Invite". This feature allows a SekurMessenger user ("SM user") invite via email or SMS, a non-SM user, or a group of non-SM users, to chat in a fully private and secure way, without the recipient ever having to register to SekurMessenger or download the app. At the end of the chat, the initiator of the conversation can remotely terminate the conversation and all traces of the conversation are deleted from all users, including the recipient. This unique feature is now fully deployed and functional on all iOS and Android devices and web platforms. The target sectors are numerous, including but not limited to real estate, legal, finance, insurance, medical, government, energy, manufacturing, trade and pharmaceutical sectors.

SekurMessenger also eliminates many of the privacy and security risks by not only not requiring a phone number, which would divulge a user's phone device ID, but also by not social engineering a user's phone or computer contact list and infecting the contacts by default as well, eliminating a huge loophole in security and privacy. SekurMessenger issues each user a username and a Sekur number. The Sekur number is the contact ID a user would disclose in order for other Sekur users to be added. The service comes with a self-destruct timer and other features as well, including Sekur's proprietary VirtualVaults and HeliX technologies with all data stored in Swiss hosted encrypted servers.

Sekur's Data privacy solutions are all hosted in Switzerland, protecting users' data from any outside data intrusion requests. In Switzerland, the right to privacy is guaranteed in article 13 of the Swiss Federal Constitution. The Federal Act on Data Protection ("FADP") of 19 June 1992 (in force since 1993) has set up a strict protection of privacy by prohibiting virtually any processing of personal data which is not expressly authorized by the data subjects. The protection is subject to the authority of the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner.

Under Swiss federal law, it is a crime to publish information based on leaked "secret official discussions." In 2010 the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland found that IP addresses are personal information and that under Swiss privacy laws they may not be used to track Internet usage without the knowledge of the individuals involved.

About Sekur Private Data Ltd.

Sekur Private Data Ltd. is a Cybersecurity and Internet privacy provider of Swiss hosted solutions for secure and private communications. The Company distributes a suite of encrypted e-mails, secure messengers, and secure communication tools. Sekur Private Data Ltd. sells its products through its own website at https://www.sekur.com, and approved distributors, and telecommunications companies worldwide. Sekur Private Data Ltd. serves consumers, businesses and governments worldwide.

On behalf of Management

SEKUR PRIVATE DATA LTD.

Alain Ghiai

President and Chief Executive Officer

+1.416.644.8690

corporate@sekurprivatedata.com

For more information, please contact Sekur Private Data at corporate@sekurprivatedata.com or visit us at https://www.sekurprivatedata.com.



For more information on Sekur visit us at: https://www.sekur.com or https://www.sekurvpn.com.



Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "achieve", "could", "believe", "plan", "intend", "objective", "continuous", "ongoing", "estimate", "outlook", "expect", "project" and similar words, including negatives thereof, suggesting future outcomes or that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not guaranteeing future performance. Sekur cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond Sekur's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the future of the Company's business; the success of marketing and sales efforts of the Company; the projections prepared in house and projections delivered by channel partners; the Company's ability to complete the necessary software updates; increases in sales as a result of investments software development technology; consumer interest in the Products; future sales plans and strategies; reliance on large channel partners and expectations of renewals to ongoing agreements with these partners; anticipated events and trends; the economy and other future conditions; and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in Sekur's prospectus dated May 8, 2019 filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators and available on www.sedar.com. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Sekur undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/166228
MIAMI, FL / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / draftPros and WT Group, two leading firms in the infrastructure engineering industry, announced a partnership aimed at combining draftPros' expertise in the telecommunications sector and WT Group's expertise in the Engineering and Architecture sector. This partnership will enhance their service offering to allow the companies to better address the ever-evolving needs of their customers and the industry as a whole.

Draftpros

For over 25 years, draftPros has provided telecommunications solutions that include turnkey engineering, permitting, and construction services, tailored to meet the unique needs of their clients. draftPros has a workforce of over 500 team members and a nationwide presence. Meanwhile, WT Group is an established civil engineering and architecture group, over 160 team members strong, that provides a broad range of engineering services including structural, electrical, mechanical, accessibility, land surveying and aquatic engineering, as well as construction project management in all 50 states and has been delivering service to its customers for over 50 years.

"We are thrilled to be partnering with WT Group to create new opportunities for growth in infrastructure engineering," said draftPros CEO Karel Gomez. "By joining forces, we can combine our respective strengths and leverage our networks to better serve our customers, expand our offerings, and drive growth for both companies. The other very exciting point is that, WT Group will now benefit from the Minority 'MBE' certification which draftPros holds as the majority interest partner making us one of the largest MBE certified Engineering firms in the nation."

Troy Triphahn, WT Group CEO added, "This partnership is an exciting opportunity to leverage and strengthen both our organizations to deliver turnkey solutions that add exceptional value to our customers. We look forward to working closely with draftPros to achieve our shared goals."

The partnership between draftPros and WT Group is a testament to the power of collaboration and the benefits that can be achieved when companies combine their strengths and expertise. The partnership will also include joint research and development initiatives, shared resources, expertise, and co-marketing efforts to promote their joint capabilities.

"We are confident that this collaboration will yield significant results for our customers and our companies," added Mr. Gomez.

Mr. Triphahn agreed, stating, "By working together, we can achieve greater success than we could individually. We look forward to the opportunities that this partnership will bring."

This partnership is a significant development in the infrastructure industry, and it will undoubtedly set the stage for new and innovative opportunities that benefit the industry and society as a whole.

ABOUT DRAFTPROS

Headquartered in Miami, FL, draftPros provides accurate design-build and site acquisition for a wide range of telecommunication and renewable energy projects, serving commercial and governmental clients for more than 25 years. Founded in 1998, draftPros delivers the experience of more than 170 employees based in eight major cities across the U.S. Today, draftPros is one of the largest telecommunication engineering firms in the state of Florida and across the nation, providing best-in-class design-build installation of voice, data, electrical, fiber optic cabling, electric vehicle and solar infrastructure. For more information, visit www.draftpros.com or call 1-786-641-5131.

ABOUT WT GROUP

Headquartered in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, the WT Group is a diversified engineering, design and consulting firm delivering the expertise of over 160 skilled professionals serving clients in all 50 states. The firm's engineering solutions include Aquatic, Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, OSP, Plumbing, Structural, Telecommunications, along with solutions in Energy, Land Surveying, Accessibility Consulting, Design and Program Management and Construction Management. For more information, visit www.wtgroup.com or call 1-224-293-6333.

Contact Information

Travis Thaxton

Executive Vice President

tthaxton@draftpros.com

918-284-6694

Related Images

Draftpros WT Group Logo

SOURCE: draftPros

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/753476/draftPros-LLC-and-the-WT-Group-LLC-Announce-Strategic-Partnership-to-Accelerate-Innovation-in-the-Infrastructure-Engineering-Sector
SINGAPORE, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BingX , a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, is proud to announce its upcoming 5th anniversary and express its heartfelt gratitude to its valued users who have supported and trusted the platform over the past five years. To commemorate this special occasion, BingX is delighted to announce the launch of User Appreciation Month , a month-long celebration with a total prize pool of 10 Million USDT, dedicated to giving back to the community that has been instrumental in its success.





BingX's 5th anniversary and User Appreciation Month represent a significant milestone in the platform's history. Five years ago, BingX was born with a vision to become the gateway for the next billion crypto users, making crypto accessible and friendly to all. It became the first centralized exchange to provide copy trading services for cryptocurrency and developed into a top-notch social trading ecosystem where all users and traders can learn and earn. Now BingX operates in more than 100 countries and regions, and provides services to 5 million users with continuous innovation. It is a time to reflect on the achievements, growth, and positive impact BingX has made in the cryptocurrency industry.

During User Appreciation Month, BingX users can look forward to a series of exciting online campaigns for futures trading , copy trading , and spot trading , respectively. There will be exclusive individual/group trading competitions, generous giveaways, limited-time promotions and more, with a staggering total prize pool of 5 million USDT, 200 BTC and ETH , and BingX NFT. All these aim to reward users for their continued support and provide them with amazing prizes while engaging in fun games such as virtual gold coin collection. Additionally, BingX will organize educational webinars and workshops to empower users with valuable knowledge about cryptocurrency trading, investment, and blockchain technology.

In addition to the online campaigns, BingX is taking this celebration to the next level by embarking on a world tour. BingX representatives will host offline events around the globe and meet local cryptocurrency enthusiasts in countries such as Spain, Russia, Turkey, Vietnam, Mexico, and Argentina. These events will offer a unique opportunity for BingX to connect with its users on a more personal level, gather feedback, and strengthen the bond between the platform and its community.

"BingX has come a long way since its inception, and we owe our success to our passionate and dedicated users. It is their continuous support that has allowed us to innovate, grow, and shape the future of cryptocurrency trading, and we are extremely grateful for their unwavering support throughout our journey," said Elvisco Carrington, PR and Communications Director of BingX. "Our 5th anniversary is a significant milestone, and we want to create a memorable experience and celebrate it by giving back to our valued community and making our users feel truly appreciated."

BingX has always prioritized user satisfaction and strives to provide a seamless and innovative trading experience. The User Appreciation Month is a testament to BingX's commitment to putting users at the forefront and creating a rewarding and enjoyable trading experience. BingX invites all users to join in and make the most of this carnival.

Elvisco added: "As we mark this fifth anniversary, we are celebrating what you and us have accomplished together - grow into the better of us. We will continue to fulfill our vision to become a gateway for the next billion crypto users. As you are with us, we can make positive changes together. With your accompany on this exciting journey, we can't wait for numerous five years to come."





About BingX

BingX is a leading crypto exchange that offers spot, derivatives, copy, and grid trading services to over 100 countries and regions worldwide with over 5 million users. BingX continues to connect users with expert traders and the platform in a safe and innovative way.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/bingx-celebrates-5th-anniversary-with-10-million-usdt-reward-pool-301825871.html
The global C5 resins market is driven by the factors such as, an increase in demand for sealant and adhesive from packaging industry, and an upsurge in the production rate of plastic.

PORTLAND, Ore., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "C5 Resins Market by Application (Paints and Coatings, Printing Ink, Adhesives, Rubber VIR, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032". According to the report, the C5 resin market valued for $0.8 billion in 2022 and is estimated to reach $1.2 billion by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 4.5% from 2023 to 2032.





Request PDF Brochure: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/75073

Prime determinants of growth-

The global C5 resins market is driven by factors such as, an increase in demand for sealant and adhesive from the packaging industry, and an upsurge in the production rate of plastic. On the other hand, the availability of substitutes and government norms are restraining growth to some extent. Furthermore, technological advancements will introduce new process technologies and continue to strengthen new growth opportunities during the forecast period.

Report Coverage & Details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2023 - 2032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 $0.8 Billion Market Size in 2032 $1.2 Billion CAGR 4.5 % No. of Pages in Report 280 Segments Covered Application, and Region Drivers An increase in the demand for adhesive and sealant from the packaging industry An upsurge in the production rate of plastic Opportunities Increasing demand for C5 resins from the paints and coatings industry Restraints Availability of substitute and government norms

COVID-19 Scenario:

The COVID-19 outbreak had a significant impact on the C5 resin market. The pandemic disrupted supply chains, slowed down petro-chemical industries, and led to a decline in demand for C5 resin.

The temporary shutdown of petroleum and plastic industries amid the COVID-19 period reduced the consumption of C5 resin. Several companies either shut down or slashed their operations due to the risk of infection among their workforce. This temporarily hampered the demand and supply gap for the C5 resin.

However, several key players, such as Cargill, BASF, Dow, and others, were constantly engaged in increasing their production and seeking new investment opportunities amid the COVID-19 situation. These have recovered the market for C5 resins post-pandemic and continue to grow steadily.

The paints and coatings segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period-

Based on application, the paints and coatings segment accounted for the largest share in 2022, contributing to more than one-third of the global C5 resins market revenue, and is expected to maintain its lead position during the forecast period. This is due to the fact that the expansion of industrial sectors and the high demand for building and infrastructure activities have enhanced the overall performance of the paint and coatings industry. Furthermore, economic growth and higher income led to a rise in construction activity, and remolding new houses is expected to drive the demand for architectural paints and coatings. However, the adhesives segment is projected to display the fastest CAGR of 4.9% from 2023 to 2032. This is due to the growing population has led the building and construction sector to witness significant growth where C5 resins are widely used for protective coating applications in the building infrastructure industry. This will propel the demand for C5 resins in the growing construction sector during the forecast period.

Procure Complete Report (280 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures) @ https://bit.ly/41Gaibi

Asia-Pacific to maintain its dominance by 2032-

Based on region, Asia-Pacific held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2022, accounting for nearly half of the global C5 resins market and is projected to maintain its dominance by 2032. The same segment would also display the fastest CAGR of 4.9% throughout the forecast period. Increasing population-driven electricity consumption, expanding industries, and increased demand for automobiles are the region's primary drivers. The production of petroleum and other derivatives of C5 resins has been increased by several key manufacturers, and they are expected to witness a major growth rate for the C5 resins market. Furthermore, the utilization of C5 resins in the sectors such as building and construction, paints and coatings, packaging, automotive, industrial, and others are the major key market trend in the Asia-Pacific region. These factors are anticipated to boost the Asia-Pacific region's potential market for C5 resin sales.

Leading Market Players-

Shandong Landun New Material Co., Ltd.

Resin Chemicals Co., Ltd.

KPL International Limited

Dycon Chemicals

Langfang Tenroads Glass Products Co., Ltd.

ECOPOWER

Qingdao Eastsun New Materials Corporation Limited

Neville Chemical Company

Paari Chem Resources

Zibo Senlos Import & Export Co., Ltd

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global C5 resins market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, agreements, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario.

Want to Access the Statistical Data and Graphs, Key Players' Strategies:

https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/c5-resins-market/purchase-options

Similar Reports:

Epoxy Resin Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast 2021-2030

Coatings Resins Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2018-2025

Unsaturated Polyester Resins Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2030

Plastic Resins Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast 2020-2027

Acrylic Resins Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2028

Petroleum Resins Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031

About Us

Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

Pawan Kumar, the CEO of Allied Market Research, is leading the organization toward providing high-quality data and insights. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/c5-resins-market-to-garner-1-2-billion-globally-by-2032-at-4-5-cagr-says-allied-market-research-301826052.html
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / AADirection Capital Corp. (TSX-V:AAD.P) (the "Company") confirms that the Company has received TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") conditional acceptance with respect to its Qualifying Transaction to acquire Centenario Gold Corp. and its Eden Property, an early stage mineral resource exploration property located in Sinaloa State, Mexico. The Exchange did waive the requirement for sponsorship.

One of the conditions precedent to Exchange acceptance has been satisfied with the SEDAR filing of the prescribed form of Filing Statement together with the applicable expert consents. The Filing Statement may be viewed and downloaded at www.sedar.com under the Company's profile and under Centenario's profile.

The Company is currently addressing the financing condition of the Exchange by way of Centenario raising a minimum $1,750,000 by way of subscription receipts at $0.15 per subscription receipt. This financing is expected to close in the next week or two in advance of closing the Qualifying Transaction. Please see the Filing Statement for a full description of this financing and the ultimate receipt by subscribers of units in the resulting issuer on closing of the Qualifying Transaction.

Once the financing is closed the Company will be able to set a scheduled closing date for the Qualifying Transaction as the remaining conditions of the Exchange to be satisfied are within the control of the Company and should be addressable within a few days of the closing of the financing.

Assuming the gross proceeds from the financing are exactly $1,750,000, on closing the Qualifying Transaction, the resulting issuer will have 40,805,485 common shares issued and outstanding of which 11,079,166 shares will be subject to 36 months escrow (10% released on closing, and 15% released every 6 months thereafter) and 2,000,000 shares will be subject to 18 months escrow (25% released on closing, and 25% released every 6 months thereafter).

About Centenario Gold Corp.

Centenario is an unlisted reporting issuer that, through its Subsidiary, holds an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Eden Property, subject to a 1% NSR. The Eden Property consists of two (2) contiguous and titled mineral concessions named El Eden and El Eden 1 covering approximately 2,489 hectares. The Eden Property is located in the Cosala mining district of southeastern Sinaloa State, Mexico, in the southwestern foothills of the Sierra Madre Occidental, approximately 160 kilometres north of Mazatlan, Mexico.

The Eden Property is located on the northern boundary of the Los Reyes property of Exchange listed Prime Mining Corp. Pursuant to recent news releases, Prime has provided an updated mineral resource estimate for the Los Reyes property of 1.47 million Indicated gold equivalent ounces and 0.73 million Inferred gold equivalent ounces.

Centenario completed a first phase exploration program on the Eden property in late 2022. Centenario collected and received assays from both surface and underground workings that returned grades as high as 239.94 g/t Au and 1389.91 g/t Ag. Centenario also completed semi-detailed mapping over a 2.8 km portion of the 'Buenavista' prospect's mineralized corridor, followed by an IP/Resistivity geophysical survey and soil sampling program. Additional geophysical and soil sampling studies were completed across the 'La Provedora' prospect located 1.5 km further to the east.

Proceeds of the $1,750,000 financing will be used, in part, to complete an initial 1,500m drill program on the Buenavista prospect as recommended in the up-to-date detailed National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") compliant technical report on the Eden Property which has been filed on Sedar under the Company's profile.

About AADirection Capital Corp.

The Company is a capital pool company pursuant to the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange with a view to completing a Qualifying Transaction. Readers are referred to recent news releases and the Filing Statement of the Company with respect to a detailed description of the proposed Qualifying Transaction that the Company is expecting to complete.

For further information please contact:

Mary Ma, Director of the Company T: 604-779-0016

E: maryxm@shaw.ca Douglas Fulcher, President of Centenario T: 604-803-5901

E: dfulcher@centenariogold.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan","expect", "project", "intend","believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similarwords, or statements that certain eventsor conditions "may" or "will" occur.

Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in applicable forward-looking statements are reasonable, therecan be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements are subjectto risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in such statements.

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOT 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: AAD Direction Capital Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/755251/Conditional-Exchange-Acceptance-of-Qualifying-Transaction
+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.

WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - A report released by the Commerce Department on Tuesday unexpectedly showed a modest decrease in U.S. business inventories in the month of March. The Commerce Department said business inventories edged down by 0.1 percent in March following a revised unchanged reading in February. Economists had expected business inventories to come in unchanged compared to the 0.2 percent uptick originally reported for the previous month. The unexpected dip came as manufacturing inventories slid by 0.8 percent, more than offsetting a 0.7 percent increase in retail inventories. Wholesale inventories were unchanged. Meanwhile, the Commerce Department said business sales tumbled by 1.1 percent in March after falling by 0.3 percent in February. Wholesale sales plunged by 2.1 percent, while retail sales declined by 0.8 percent and manufacturing sales slipped by 0.1 percent. With sales falling by much more than inventories, the total business inventories/sales ratio crept up to 1.39 in March from 1.38 in February. 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.


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Homebuilder confidence in the U.S. has unexpectedly improved in the month of May, the National Association of Home Builders revealed in a report released on Tuesday.



The report said the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index jumped to 50 in May from 45 in April. Economists had expected the index to come in unchanged compared to the previous month.



Homebuilder confidence improved for the fifth straight month, with the housing market index reaching its highest level since hitting 55 in July 2022.



The NAHB said limited existing inventory has put a renewed emphasis on new construction, resulting in the increase in homebuilder confidence even as the industry continues to face several challenges.



The continued advance by the housing market index came amid increases by all three component indices.



The component charting sales expectations in the next six months showed a significant increase, surging to 57 in May from 50 in April.



The index gauging current sales conditions also jumped to 56 in May from 51 in April, while the gauge measuring traffic of prospective rose to 33 in May from 31 in April.



On Wednesday, the Commerce Department is scheduled to release a separate report on new residential construction in the month of April.



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
WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / International Living Future Institute:

Buildings are beacons for change in their communities, according to the main message from Living Future 2023 held on May 3-5. Convened by the International Living Future Institute, the annual event gathered the regenerative building movement to chart a path forward for the real estate sector. Despite significant progress, buildings remain responsible for nearly 40 percent of carbon emissions.

"Buildings have the power to change minds and culture, but creating change one building at a time is too slow, leaving too many people behind." noted Lindsay Baker, CEO of the International Living Future Institute in her opening address. "We must act like a movement, using Living Buildings as inspirations to make change around them."

With a theme of "Advocacy and Belonging," the event focused on the need for a movement to change policies shaping building design, construction and operation.

Baker highlighted the organizations working with the Institute, including Amazon, ARUP, Gensler, Google, Harvard University, Humanscale, JLL, J.P. Morgan Chase, Kohler, Microsoft, MillerKnoll, Mohawk, Perkins&Will, and Skanska. These companies understand the threats facing humanity and have made commitments in line with the Paris Climate Agreement to address them in short periods of time. It is those commitments that bring these organizations, and many others, to the Institute's doorsteps for help achieving the goals.

"Businesses that care about climate change need to make sure their voices are heard by policy makers," Baker emphasized.

Erin Meezan, Chief Sustainability Officer of JLL - a global real estate services company with offices in 80 countries - reflected on a quote she read that, "all the stories that we know were written for a climate that no longer exists." Discussing the technical language typically used about climate change, Meezan added, "We need to tell stories of climate resilience in a way that pulls people in, so we can find the passionate people, bring them together, identify actions and let them go change the world."

Continuing the theme of movement building, Peggy Shepard - Co-Founder and Executive Director of WE ACT for Environmental Justice and Co-Chair of the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council - emphasized that, "We can build healthy communities by organizing and engaging the most effective community residents in environmental decision making."

Nina Albert, Commissioner, Public Buildings Service at the General Services Administration also delivered a keynote address.

Even as Living Future 2023 focused on movement building and policy change, there was also time to celebrate "Living Future Heroes" who show courage, outstanding achievement, and act as "exceptional troublemakers." Elizabeth Olivia Torres Rodriguez (posthumous), Matthew VanSweden, Lisa Goodwin Robbins, Miguel Quinones, Kathleen Hetrick, John Mlade, Zeinab Alameddine, and Jason McLennan were all honored in the 17th annual awards ceremony.

The Steven R. Kellert Biophilic Design Awards were presented to the Marion Fire Station in Marion, Iowa and De Verwondering, a primary school in Almere, Netherlands. Biophilia means connections to nature, with the awards celebrating projects that promote human health and wellness.

Certifications were announced for 15 new buildings, including the first Living Building in Europe and the first certified affordable housing project under the Living Building Challenge standard. From Alabama to Spain, these projects are each helping to create a new era for the building industry.

As Baker noted in her remarks, "to act like a movement, we have to listen to each other, advocate for policy changes, train others, and show up for our communities. With seven years to achieve the Paris Climate Agreement goal of 45 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2030, we can't stay just innovators, we must be advocates and innovators as well."

To continue creating a regenerative buildings movement, the Institute is hosting an Affordable Housing Summit on June 20-21.

About the International Living Future Institute

The International Living Future Institute's mission is to cultivate a society that is socially just, culturally rich, and ecologically restorative. To do this, the organization envisions a Living Future and shows that it works better in practice and policy. The Institute is premised on the belief that providing a compelling vision for the future is needed to reconcile humanity's relationship with the natural world. The Institute's programs have shaped more than 55 million square-feet of real estate development across the United States and around the world. Learn more at http://www.living-future.org.

CONTACT:

Brad Kahn

brad@groundworkstrategies.com; +1-206-419-1607

We must act like a movement, using Living Buildings as inspirations to make change around them.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from International Living Future Institute on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: International Living Future Institute

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/international-living-future-institute

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: International Living Future Institute

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/755256/Acting-Like-a-Movement-Living-Future-2023-Inspires-Action-for-Change
AnyDesk uses external support to prevent fraud proactively

TAMPA, Fla., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- AnyDesk, the world's leading provider of remote access software, announced today the creation of the AnyDesk Anti-Fraud Taskforce. "This task force is dedicated to stopping fraud in real-time. We partner with various creators and scam baiters to take a proactive approach to fraud prevention" said Matthew Caldwell, one of the company's fraud prevention specialists.

AnyDesk has already shut down several call centers, preventing fraudulent activity by severing the connections to thousands of devices in real-time. By partnering with experienced "scam baiters" such as KitBoga, ScammerPayback, and Jim Browning, who intentionally bait the call centers and waste their time AnyDesk can take action and ban these call centers in a proactive manner. "As always, these scammers adapt and will switch to other remote access solutions. We would love to build something bigger here and urge other remote access companies to work with us" said Jim Browning, a prominent YouTuber and expert on scam baiting.

In collaboration with Jim Browning, the AnyDesk Anti-Fraud Taskforce has started to explore a partnership with the internationally renowned spam-fighting company, SpamHaus. "This work is expected to inspire collaboration amongst competitors and is planned to include a list of shared non-descriptive identifiers that can be used to stop fraud on a global level", says Caldwell. Collaboration of this level will ensure when a user has been flagged for engaging in fraud, the information will be shared amongst other remote access companies, so they can collectively combat misuse.

To kick off the project, AnyDesk is establishing the Fraud Fighters Foundation as well as pledging $10,000 to fraud prevention efforts. Funds will go towards education and reimbursement of victims and will be distributed by the foundation under recommendation from the AVAH Outreach Group. The AVAH Outreach Group specializes in preventing fraud by monitoring call centers and intervening to protect victims mid scam call. Caldwell continues, "We're looking forward to building something amazing here, and we would love to get other companies involved - A proactive approach is always better than a reactive one."

Collaborating Across Industries

In addition to the projects already mentioned, AnyDesk has recently joined "Stop Scams UK," a British, industry-led collaboration of responsible businesses across the banking, telecoms, and technology sectors such as Google, Meta, and Barclays. With this partnership, AnyDesk aims to evaluate and implement technical countermeasures to prevent scams from happening. The collaboration encourages technical knowledge transfer and data sharing among all parties. This collaboration will open new doors in terms of fraud prevention and will allow AnyDesk to support and advise other companies on fraud prevention tactics.

AnyDesk will keep fraud prevention a top priority even after abuse of the software has decreased. "It's not over after the fraudulent usage stops; we will continue to dedicate manpower towards stopping fraud across the board," said Philipp Weiser, the company's CEO.

If you believe yourself to be a victim of fraud, please contact Mrs. Evans or Mrs. Phillips, both NACP Credentialed Victim Advocates from the AVAH Outreach Group. They can be reached at theavahoutreachgroup@gmail.com and would be happy to assist in providing advice to ensure that your data, devices, and accounts remain secure after a fraudulent encounter.

About AnyDesk

AnyDesk is the leading global provider of Remote Desktop Software. The innovative apps of the global operator have already been downloaded more than 700 million times to date. This makes AnyDesk one of the 50 fastest-growing companies in Germany. In more than 190 countries, far over 170,000 customers have put their trust in AnyDesk, including internationally well-known companies such as Google, McDonald's, and Bosch. Further information: Website | Blog | Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

- Picture is available at AP Images (http://www.apimages.com) -

Press Contact Information

AnyDesk Software GmbH

Matthew Caldwell

+1 (727) 420-7592

Press@anydesk.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/anydesk-fights-back-against-fraud-301826146.html
CHICAGO, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Through constant improvements to customer experience, industry-specific apps, and technology. The need for A2P messaging is anticipated to increase as organisations realise the importance of personalised, real-time communication, spurring innovation and opening up new business prospects.





The global A2P Messaging Market size to grow from USD 68.3 billion in 2023 to USD 78.2 billion by 2028, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 2.8% during the forecast period, according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets.

The global A2P Messaging Market shows a significant growth in the forecast period. The A2P messaging services are used in various applications, such as, promotional campaigns by enterprises in order to promote events, brands, and other activities. Promotional and Marketing services, which include messaging-enabled services that can be availed by users by feeding in certain information, is also gaining traction in the emerging regions, such as Asia Pacific and Middle East and Africa, owing to the growing customer base of mobile phones. The major end-users of the A2P Messaging Market include banking and financial institutions, gaming, retail & e-commerce, hyperlocal businesses and healthcare. A2P messaging services are also used for applications, such as mass voting for contests, announcements, charity and other such uses, which necessitate establishing a wide communication channel between the sender and the receiver.

Browse in-depth TOC on "A2P Messaging Market"

261 - Tables

48 - Figures

224 - Pages

Download PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=44

Scope of the Report

Report Metrics Details Market size available for years 2018 - 2028 Base year considered 2022 Forecast period 2023-2028 Forecast units Value (USD Billion) Segments covered Component(Platform and A2P Service), Deployment Mode (On-premise and Cloud),Application (Authentication Services, Promotional and Marketing Services, Customer Relationship Management Services, Pushed Content Services, Interactive Messages, and Others), SMS Traffic(National and Multi-country), End User (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance, Retail and eCommerce, Hyperlocal Businesses, Healthcare, Travel and Hospitality, and Others) and Region Regions covered North America, Europe, APAC, MEA, and Latin America Companies covered AT&T (US), Sinch (Sweden), China Mobile (China), Infobip (UK), Orange (France), Route Mobile (India), Comviva (India), Twilio (US), BICS (Belgium), Monty Mobile (UK), Syniverse (US) and many more.

Factors contributing to the high growth rate in these regions are growing number of mobile subscribers, increasing number of advertising and marketing companies, and growing use of A2P messaging among major industries. These factors are also expected to shape the future of the global A2P Messaging Market. However, the market also faces several challenges, including the increasing competition from global OTT vendors, and SMS fraudulent activities, such as SMS phishing, and SMS spamming.

Among vertical, the BFSI segment is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period

Based on vertical, the BFSI segment of the A2P Messaging Market is projected to hold a larger market size during the forecast period. The BFSI vertical is witnessing a rise in the adoption of A2P messaging due to several driving factors. These factors include the need for effective customer engagement, heightened security measures, payment notifications and reminders, transactional updates, marketing opportunities, and the convenience and accessibility provided by A2P messaging. Financial institutions are leveraging this communication channel to enhance customer experience, improve security, streamline transactions, and strengthen their overall service offerings.

By deployment mode, on-premises segment to record a higher growth rate during the forecast period

By deployment mode, on-premises segment is expected to record a higher growth rate during the forecast period. The on-premises segment and deployment mode is adopted by players who can install the platform at their own end without taking the service from a cloud service provider. The need for enhanced data security and compliance adherence, the desire for customization and flexibility, the requirement for optimal performance and reduced latency, the presence of regulatory and compliance restrictions, concerns regarding privacy and data control, and the necessity for seamless integration with existing legacy systems will drive the market.

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Asia Pacific to record the highest growth during the forecast period

The APAC A2P Messaging Market is estimated to have strong growth in the future. These drivers include the widespread adoption of mobile devices, particularly high mobile penetration rates in the region. Additionally, the flourishing e-commerce market, with a growing number of online consumers, has led to increased demand for A2P messaging services for order confirmations, delivery updates, and transactional notifications The adoption of mobile banking and mobile payment solutions, along with government initiatives leveraging mobile technology for citizen services, have further accelerated the demand for A2P messaging.

Top Key Companies in A2P Messaging Market:

Major vendors in the A2P Messaging Market include AT&T(US) ,Sinch(Sweden), China Mobile (China), Infobip(UK), Orange (France), Route Mobile (India), Comviva (India), Twilio(US), BICS (Belgium), Monty Mobile (UK), Syniverse (US), Global Message Services (Switzerland), Tyntec(UK), Silverstreet (Singapore),Vonage (US), Genesys (US), TATA Communications(India),Cequens (Egypt),Mitto(Switzerland),ClearSky Technologies (US), Sify Technologies (India), MSG91 (India), Textlocal (UK), Clickatell (US), Kaleyra (Italy), MessageBird (The Netherlands) TeleWhale (Cyprus).

Recent Developments:

In June 2021 , AT&T partnered with Google Cloud to offer RCS messaging to businesses. The partnership would enable businesses to use Google's RCS business messaging platform, which offers features such as chatbots and rich media messages, to communicate with customers over AT&T's network.

, AT&T partnered with Google Cloud to offer RCS messaging to businesses. The partnership would enable businesses to use Google's RCS business messaging platform, which offers features such as chatbots and rich media messages, to communicate with customers over AT&T's network. In November 2020 , Twilio acquired Segment, the market-leading customer data platform, at USD 3.2 billion . This acquisition helps developers and companies to access the world's leading cloud communications platform to effectively manage customer communications, including SMS, Messaging, Voice, Video, Email, and Internet of Things (IoT).

, Twilio acquired Segment, the market-leading customer data platform, at . This acquisition helps developers and companies to access the world's leading cloud communications platform to effectively manage customer communications, including SMS, Messaging, Voice, Video, Email, and Internet of Things (IoT). In September 2020 , Infobip partnered with Span to help Span build connected customer experiences through Infobip's entire customer engagement and experience portfolio, thereby onboarding new customers looking to accelerate digital transformation.

, Infobip partnered with Span to help Span build connected customer experiences through Infobip's entire customer engagement and experience portfolio, thereby onboarding new customers looking to accelerate digital transformation. In June 2020 , Sinch announced to acquire ACL Mobile Limited, thereby expanding its operations in India . ACL Mobile limited is one of the leading providers of cloud communications services in India and Southeast Asia and with the acquisition of ACL Mobile limited, Sinch enters into the world's second-largest mobile market. ACL Mobile limited has helped more than 500 clients to interact with their customers through multiple channels, including SMS, voice, email, IP messaging, and WhatsApp.

, Sinch announced to acquire ACL Mobile Limited, thereby expanding its operations in . ACL Mobile limited is one of the leading providers of cloud communications services in and and with the acquisition of ACL Mobile limited, Sinch enters into the world's second-largest mobile market. ACL Mobile limited has helped more than 500 clients to interact with their customers through multiple channels, including SMS, voice, email, IP messaging, and WhatsApp. In May 2020 , Infobip launched Conversations, a new contact center solution, enabling businesses to integrate the world's most popular communication channels. All the messaging services, including Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Live Chat, SMS, and in-house chatbots can be managed through Conversations.

A2P Messaging Market Advantages

Businesses may rapidly reach a big audience with A2P communications. Worldwide, there are billions of mobile devices in use, enabling businesses to communicate with clients across geographies and time zones, expanding their clientele and increasing consumer engagement.

Comparing text messages to other communication methods like email, text messages have impressively high open rates. A2P messaging is an efficient technique to make sure your messages are seen and read by recipients because studies have shown that the majority of text messages are read within minutes of delivery.

A2P messaging enables real-time communication, enabling companies to instantaneously send customers time-sensitive information, notifications, alerts, or updates. When conveying time-sensitive information or in urgent situations, this speed of communication is very important.

A2P messaging is typically less expensive than conventional marketing methods like print or direct mail. It does away with the need for tangible supplies, printing expenses, and postage. Businesses can reach a big audience at a fraction of the expense of traditional marketing strategies because to bulk messaging capabilities.

Businesses can interact with customers in a personalised way by using A2P messaging. Businesses may collect insightful data, improve customer experience, and forge closer connections with their audience by using SMS-based surveys, feedback requests, or two-way messaging.

User authentication and secure communication are both possible with A2P messaging. By forcing users to confirm their identity using a special code given to their mobile device, two-factor authentication (2FA) through SMS, for instance, adds an extra layer of security.

Report Objectives

To describe and forecast the size of the A2P Messaging Market, by application, by component, SMS traffic, deployment mode, end user, and region

To describe and forecast the size of the market segments with respect to five main regions: North America , Europe , Asia Pacific (APAC), Latin America , and the Middle East and Africa (MEA)

, , (APAC), , and the and (MEA) To provide detailed information regarding drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges influencing the growth of the A2P Messaging Market

To analyze micromarkets with respect to the individual growth trends, prospects, and contributions to the overall A2P Messaging Market

To analyze opportunities in the market for stakeholders by identifying the high-growth segments

To profile key market players, including top vendors and startups, provide comparative analysis based on business overviews, regional presence, product offerings, business strategies, and key financials, and provide a detailed competitive landscape of the market

To analyze competitive developments, such as Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A); new product launches and product enhancements; agreements, partnerships, and collaborations; expansions; and Research and Development (R&D) activities in the market

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The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing.

Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry.

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HBM Healthcare Investments AG / Key word(s): Monthly Figures

Key Figures 15.05.2023



16.05.2023 / 17:47 CET/CEST



in CHF Performance in % 15.05.2023 MTD FYTD CYTD NAV 252.40 2.4 -0.9 -0.5 Share Price 200.00 -3.4 -6.5 -0.5 Total Net Assets (in million) 1'756 HBM Healthcare Investments AG Bundesplatz 1 CH-6300 Zug - Switzerland Tel. +41 41 710 75 77 Fax +41 41 710 75 78 E-Mail: hbm@hbmhealthcare.com Web: www.hbmhealthcare.com Wenn Sie keine Mitteilungen von HBM Healthcare Investments mehr wunschen, konnen Sie diese hier a bbestellen . Should you wish to unsubscribe from all HBM Healthcare Investments news, please unsubscribe here. Disclaimer: This message may contain confidential or privileged Information and is intended only for the use of the addressee named above. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, you are hereby notified that you must not use, copy, disclose or take any action based on this message or information herein. If you have received this message by error, please advise the sender immediately and delete this message. The publication is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy or subscribe for securities. Past performance is not a reliable indicator or guarantee of future results, prices of shares and the income from them may fall as well as rise and investors may not get back the amount originally invested. The investor must be aware of the investment risk and personal risk ability. Some information quoted was obtained from external sources HBM considers to be reliable. HBM cannot guarantee the adequacy, accuracy, timeliness or completeness of or be held responsible or liable for errors of fact regarding such data and information obtained from third parties, and this data may change with market conditions. If the email looks unformatted, please use this alternative link .



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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / At Wintergreen Lake, a bevy of trumpeter swans performs in concert, their unmistakeable call echoing across the water. Nesting pairs raise their young and juveniles practise fishing as tens of thousands of visitors watch every year, charmed by the majestic white waterfowl with jet-black bills.

Just 30 years ago, this lake in southwest Michigan was devoid of trumpeter swans, as were nearly all waterways from Wisconsin to Mississippi along the Mississippi Flyway bird migration route. In the 1980s and '90s, overhunting and deaths by blood poisoning from toxins decimated the population of North America's largest native bird species.

But thanks to conservation efforts led by Augusta's W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary, the trumpeter swan population has been restored.

The hundreds of swans that stop over in Wintergreen Lake today are part of the lineage of the restored population, explains Sarah Carroll, a development coordinator with the 180-acre Kellogg Bird Sanctuary, which includes Wintergreen Lake.

Now, multiple generations of visitors, including thousands of schoolchildren, flock to the Sanctuary to visit the trumpeter swans, as well as Canada geese, eastern screech owls, red-tailed hawks, bluebirds and hummingbirds.

"The best stories are meeting people who came as kids, then brought their own children, and now are coming back with their grandchildren," says Carroll.

The Sanctuary was established in 1927 by W.K. Kellogg of Kellogg's cereal fame. He donated the property a year later to Michigan State University, whose main campus is in East Lansing, an hour northeast of the Sanctuary. In addition to being a green space preserving species and habitat, the Sanctuary serves as a research lab for the university's scholars and students.

In the 1960s, the university built a welcome center with an auditorium to enhance visitors' educational experience. Schoolchildren in Grades 1 to 12 take part in programs that expand on the state's science curricula relating to ecology, birds and habitats. The public attends talks and workshops, such as bird identification courses.

After more than a half century of welcoming learners, the center needs an upgrade to expand its educational capacity, update technology, and comply with the American Disability Act. The upgrade will also see the creation of two new learning spaces.

"In these different spaces, people will learn from our volunteers and educators before they go out on the trail to see the birds on a field-trip experience," explains Carroll.

To help with the upgrade, Enbridge contributed a $10,000 Fueling Futures grant to Michigan State in 2022 as part of our commitment to sustainability projects that help improve, grow and nurture the environment. We've also supported a second ornithological project through MSU, with a $25,000 Fueling Futures grant directed toward a research project studying the movement and migration of red-tailed hawks in the Straits of Mackinac.

As shown with the restoration of trumpeter swan populations, the Sanctuary's work is having a significant impact on bird populations and is helping the next generation learn to care for the environment.

Carroll herself was influenced by childhood visits to the Sanctuary. Her first job was greeting guests in the welcome center. Now, she supports conservation and restoration efforts.

MSU researchers doing cutting-edge conservation work often present their work in public talks at the center, she notes.

As the Sanctuary approaches its 100th anniversary, generations of families have experienced memorable moments to cherish-spotting tiny hummingbird nests, feeding the swans at Wintergreen Lake, watching owlets learn to fly.

Says Carroll: "The Sanctuary is a place to connect with family and connect with nature, to walk together and appreciate the beauty of Wintergreen Lake and the species that live here."

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Enbridge on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Enbridge

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/enbridge

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Enbridge

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/755272/The-Sweet-Sounds-of-Conservation
Regulatory News:

The Annual Combined General Meeting of the Shareholders of Tikehau Capital (Paris:TKO) was held today under the chairmanship of Mr. Christian de Labriffe, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, and was broadcasted on the company's website where a replay will also be available.

The quorum was established at 92.90%.

All of the resolutions proposed by the Managers were approved, including the resolutions regarding the approval of 2022 annual and consolidated financial statements, and the distribution of a dividend of 0.70 per share, which is up 17% compared to the 0.60 reference dividend paid for 2021. The payment of this dividend will take place as of 22 May 2023.

This General Meeting was an opportunity for the Managers to present Tikehau Capital's activities and results for the financial year 2022 and share their perspectives on the Group's growth ambitions.

In 2022, Tikehau Capital's business model has once again demonstrated its resilience in a challenging environment. Throughout this year, the Group executed on its strategic plan and continued to experience strong growth in its assets under management, while creating value for all its stakeholders.

Tikehau Capital is well on track to continue its expansion and development in a complex and deeply changing market environment.

Thanks to its seasoned teams, its compounding balance sheet and the strength of its operating model, the Group considers to be well on track to achieve its 2026 targets:

reach more than 65bn of assets under management and more than 250m of Fee-Related Earnings for its asset management business; and

- drive its return on equity to mid-teens level.

Important information

The detailed results of votes will be published on the company's website at: www.tikehaucapital.com (section: Shareholders General Meetings Annual Shareholders Meeting 16 May 2023).

CALENDAR

27 July 2023 2023 first half results (after market close) 19 October 2023 Q3 2023 announcement (after market close)

ABOUT TIKEHAU CAPITAL

Tikehau Capital is a global alternative asset management group with 39.7 billion of assets under management (at 31 March 2023).

Tikehau Capital has developed a wide range of expertise across four asset classes (private debt, real assets, private equity and capital markets strategies) as well as multi-asset and special opportunities strategies.

Tikehau Capital is a founder led team with a differentiated business model, a strong balance sheet, proprietary global deal flow and a track record of backing high quality companies and executives.

Deeply rooted in the real economy, Tikehau Capital provides bespoke and innovative alternative financing solutions to companies it invests in and seeks to create long-term value for its investors, while generating positive impacts on society. Leveraging its strong equity base (3.1 billion of shareholders' equity at 31 December 2022), the firm invests its own capital alongside its investor-clients within each of its strategies.

Controlled by its managers alongside leading institutional partners, Tikehau Capital is guided by a strong entrepreneurial spirit and DNA, shared by its 742 employees (at 31 December 2022) across its 14 offices in Europe, Asia and North America.

Tikehau Capital is listed in compartment A of the regulated Euronext Paris market (ISIN code: FR0013230612; Ticker: TKO.FP). For more information, please visit: www.tikehaucapital.com.

DISCLAIMER:

This document does not constitute an offer of securities for sale or investment advisory services. It contains general information only and is not intended to provide general or specific investment advice. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future earnings and profit, and targets are not guaranteed.

Certain statements and forecasted data are based on current forecasts, prevailing market and economic conditions, estimates, projections and opinions of Tikehau Capital and/or its affiliates. Due to various risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those reflected or expected in such forward-looking statements or in any of the case studies or forecasts. All references to Tikehau Capital's advisory activities in the US or with respect to US persons relate to Tikehau Capital North America.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516005856/en/

Contacts:

PRESS CONTACTS:

Tikehau Capital: Valerie Sueur +33 1 40 06 39 30

UK Prosek Partners: Matthieu Roussellier +44 (0) 7843 279 966

USA Prosek Partners: Trevor Gibbons +1 646 818 9238

press@tikehaucapital.com

SHAREHOLDER AND INVESTOR CONTACTS:

Louis Igonet +33 1 40 06 11 11

Theodora Xu +33 1 40 06 18 56

shareholders@tikehaucapital.com
Modalities of Participation in the Shareholders' General Meeting

Regulatory News:

The shareholders of Exclusive Networks SA (Paris:EXN) are invited to the Combined General Shareholders' Meeting to be held on 8 June 2023, at 2pm at the Company's registered office, Auditorium, 20, Quai du Point du Jour, 92100 Boulogne-Billancourt, France.

The documents referred to in the article R.225-73 of the French commercial Code are available on the Company's website under "General Meetings" at the following address:

https://ir.exclusive-networks.com/event-directory/annual-general-meeting.

The preliminary notice of meeting was published in the Bulletin des Annonces Legales Obligatoires of 3 May 2023 n 53 (https://www.journal-officiel.gouv.fr/pages/balo) that contains the agenda and the draft text of the resolutions due to be submitted to a shareholder vote.

The terms and conditions to participate and vote to this General Shareholders meeting are detailed in this preliminary notice of meeting. The Shareholders who do not be able to attend physically the General Meeting on 8 June 2023 could exercise their respective voting rights remotely and before the General Meeting, either online using the VOTACCESS secure plateform, or with the paper voting form.

Holders of bearer shares should ask their financial intermediaries for proxy or distance voting forms. Holders of registered shares will directly receive these forms with their convening notice.

Live broadcasting of the Meeting

The General Meeting will be broadcasted live, both in French and in English, on 8 June 2023 as from 2:00 p.m. (Paris time), on the General Meeting section of the Company's website, at the following address: Lien Webcast: https://channel.royalcast.com/landingpage/exclusive-networks/20230608_1/ [channel.royalcast.com]

A replay will be also subsequently available at the same address.

Shareholders are invited to regularly consult the General Meeting section of the Company's website. This page will be updated regularly to provide the latest information in respect with the 2023 Combined General Meeting, including regarding the arrangements and the draft resolutions.

Please contact the Investors Relations Department should you have any questions.

About Exclusive Networks

Exclusive Networks (EXN) is a global cybersecurity specialist that provides partners and end-customers with a wide range of services and product portfolios via proven routes to market. With offices in over 47 countries and the ability to serve customers in over 170 countries, we combine a local perspective with the scale and delivery of a single global organisation.

Our best-in-class vendor portfolio is carefully curated with all leading industry players. Our services range from managed security to specialist technical accreditation and training and capitalize on rapidly evolving technologies and changing business models. For more information visit www.exclusive-networks.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516005864/en/

Contacts:

CONTACTS EXCLUSIVE NETWORKS

Investors Analysts

Hacene Boumendjel

Head of Investor Relations

ir@exclusive-networks.com

Media

FTI Consulting

Emily Oliver Tom Blundell

+33 (0)1 47 03 68 19

exclusivenetworks@fticonsulting.com
+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.

QUEBEC, QC / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / NuRAN Wireless Inc. (" NuRAN " or the " Company ") (CSE:NUR)(OTC:NRRWF)(FSE:1RN), is pleased to announce that the Company has completed filing the Company's audited annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022, the accompanying management's discussion and analysis and related certifications (together the "Annual Filings") and accordingly the management cease trade order (" MCTO ") issued by the Company's principal regulator, the British Columbia Securities Commission (" BCSC ") on May 2, 2023 under National Policy 12-203 Management Cease Trade Orders has been revoked. As a result, the MCTO has been revoked and is no longer in effect.

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.
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / Edison International



Three rescued Great Horned owls at the Ojai Raptor Center. PHOTO CREDIT: COURTESY OF OJAI RAPTOR CENTER

Energized by Edison

By Ben Gallagher ENERGIZED by Edison Writer

Spring brings new life to Southern California Edison's service area, often too close to the company's infrastructure. That makes nesting season, March 1-Oct. 31, a busy time for Kara Donohue, who oversees SCE's Avian Protection Program.

"Ultimately, we all have the same goal in mind, which is to protect wildlife and ensure that we mitigate any potential disturbance to their nesting period," Donohue said.

Large nests on electric transmission and distribution equipment can cause power outages and be a threat to the birds. Donohue works with specially trained crews to safely relocate these nests onto a platform attached to the utility pole or another nearby location.

Once the nest's transition is complete, an on-site biologist observes the nest from a distance to ensure the adult birds return and continue to tend the nest. If it's simply impossible to relocate a nest or the adults abandon it, SCE's team then takes the eggs or chicks to a wildlife rehabilitator to raise and release the birds back into the wild.

"We have built great relationships with wildlife rehabilitators throughout our service area," said Donohue, noting that SCE's environmental team also meets regularly with wildlife agencies to share environmental practices and partner on stewardship opportunities.

The Ojai Raptor Center is one of SCE's wildlife protection partners. The nonprofit focuses on wildlife rehabilitation and educates local children on the importance of habitat conservation. The group also takes in abandoned eggs or chicks and is a longtime SCE sustainability partner.

Through grant funding from SCE's parent company, Edison International, the Ojai Raptor Center has held programs for underfunded schools to teach children about conservation and locally native species. The group also used SCE grant funds to build the largest flight pen in California for large birds of prey, which is used to rehabilitate eagles, red-tailed hawks, vultures and other large avian species.

"SCE has done a lot to help us not only in our work to rehabilitate birds but to educate local children about the importance of conservation," said Kim Stroud, executive director and founder of the Ojai Raptor Center. "It's obviously vital to our mission to help our local bird populations, but it's equally important that we preserve their habitats for future generations."

SCE has maintained an active Avian Protection Program since 1988. The program ensures that crews and contractors are trained annually to check for nesting birds and wildlife year-round before beginning work. It also guides when and where work is conducted, including establishing a buffer zone in some instances to minimize disruption to nearby nesting species.

Program guidelines also take into consideration the type of work that is planned near an active nest. In cases where the work is not critical, crews sometimes wait until hatchling birds mature and leave the nest before beginning the project.

Learn more about the work SCE is doing to protect avian and other wildlife habitats.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Edison International on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Edison International

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/edison-international

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Edison International

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/755299/Helping-Keep-Nesting-Birds-Safe
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / Quest Diagnostics

Welcoming our Director, Inclusion and Diversity

Desyra Highsmith Holcomb recently joined Quest as Director, Inclusion and Diversity (I&D). This central New Jersey native and Rutgers graduate came to us from RWJBarnabas Health, where she was Director of Diversity and Inclusion, HR Strategic Initiatives. Core to Desyra's role is working with Quest leaders to establish and implement I&D priorities and goals throughout the business. She leads the ongoing development and implementation of our inclusion and diversity strategies that are critical to our business, in partnership with executive, business, regional, and Human Resources leadership. Desyra serves as a leader in the development of effective strategies, practices, and policies to facilitate a more inclusive environment that benefits our business, colleagues, communities, and all additional stakeholders. In addition, she acts as an advisor to the Quest Inclusion and Diversity Council (QIDC).

Culture

What leaders say and do, the stories we share, and the principles we live by Talent

How we identify, hire, develop, and listen to top diverse talent Communities

How we incorporate diverse insights for the benefit of our clients and communities

Fostering our culture

At Quest Diagnostics, I&D is woven into who we are and what we do. We consistently invite new perspectives and embrace new experiences, which helps us to create an inclusive and empathetic workplace where our employees feel like they belong.

In 2020, we developed our CTC framework to help formalize our approach to I&D across the entire talent lifecycle. We continue to leverage and renew our focus on the CTC model to further strengthen Quest's culture of trust, collaboration, and belonging at all levels.

Creating community

Our 2021 score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2021 Corporate Equality Index-our fifth consecutive year earning the highest possible score- reflects that Quest fosters a safe and supportive workplace for all employees regardless of identity. Core to our approach of nurturing an inclusive and diverse workplace is our commitment to Everyday Equity, a strategy that embodies our commitment to instill equity practices in everything we do at Quest Diagnostics.

Among our key initiatives in 2021, we introduced company-wide trainings on how to recognize and overcome unconscious bias and develop stronger allyship behaviors across the organization, empowering employees to speak up for others and practice inclusive behaviors.

Our I&D learning journey

Employees responded favorably in 2020 to opportunities to talk about how racism and other biases continue to impact our society, leading to the introduction of a new training series in 2021. Introduced by Executive Director and Human Resources Business Partner Ebony David, the series is meant to deepen awareness of implicit and unconscious bias in our work and interpersonal relationships. The first module was designed to develop a common understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion among all employees, encourage self-reflection, and initiate meaningful conversations about how I&D shows up at Quest.

Module 2 spotlighted how understanding and addressing unconscious bias is crucial for supporting a collaborative work environment, building strong relationships, and breaking down barriers and stigmas. This module included a welcome message from 2 of our Employee Business Network leaders, Koko Adeniran, past co-chair of African-American Business Leaders EBN, and Madhuri Korimilli, co-chair of Pan-Asian Leaders EBN.

The third module in the series aimed to unpack what allyship means at Quest, providing real-life scenarios to empower our employees to feel comfortable speaking up for others and practicing inclusive behaviors. This module also featured a personal welcome message from CEO-elect Jim Davis reflecting on how allyship has impacted his professional and personal life.

We released additional resources for leaders to get conversations started within their teams around these topics and offered these modules in Spanish to reach our Quest colleagues in Puerto Rico and Mexico. These trainings are helping to continue to embed I&D as a critical part of our company culture.

Continuing "The Conversation"

In 2020, we engaged with our leaders on how to address racism, biases, and inequities. Part of our approach included "The Conversation," a 2-hour virtual training for senior leaders, and "Real Talk" for Human Resources leaders. These trainings help improve understanding of how racism and privilege may appear at work, align leadership actions to support a culture of inclusion, and empower leaders to communicate their authentic view of the importance of I&D at Quest.

In 2021, Quest leaders participated in these critical trainings, including ~300 in "The Conversation" and ~80 in "Real Talk."

The trainings concluded with a call to action outlining several recommendations to keep Quest leaders accountable for continuing this work, stressing that "accountability is the only way to achieve sustainability."

Read More

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Quest Diagnostics on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Quest Diagnostics

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/quest-diagnostics

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Quest Diagnostics

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/755303/Bringing-Our-Whole-Selves-To-Work
CHICAGO, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- According to Arizton's latest report, the Middle East & Africa tractor market will grow at a CAGR of 4.77% during 2022-2028.





To Know More, Download the Free Sample Report: https://www.arizton.com/request-sample/3824

Money and time can be saved, and farm yields can be increased by adopting technologically advanced tractors and implements. The Middle East & African countries' government plans to increase the rate of farm mechanization among farmers, which will boost the demand and sales of new tractors. The mechanization of farms is deemed necessary in the Middle East & Africa to increase crop production.

Governments must adopt effective and sustainable farming practices to ensure food security and safety. Developed countries implement the concept of precision agriculture to increase productivity. At the same time, the level of agricultural mechanization is still low in developing countries. Precision farming is a management concept under which crops are grown according to soil specifications. The focus on agricultural mechanization will increase the demand for tractors and the sense of accuracy in farming using technologically advanced tractors in the Middle East & Africa.

Middle East and Africa Tractor Market Report Scope

Report Attributes Details Market Size (2028) 109,974 Units Market Size (2022) 83,146 Units CAGR (2022-2028) 4.77 % Historic Year 2020-2021 Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023-2028 MARKET Segmentation Horsepower, Drive Type, and Geography Largest Segment by Horsepower Less Than 50 HP Largest Segment by Drive Type 2-Wheel Drive Largest Segment by Geography Turkey Market Dynamics Assistance to Farmers through Loans & Subsidies

Increased Agricultural Productivity & Exports

Increased Farm Mechanization

Looking for More Information? Download the Free Sample Report: https://www.arizton.com/request-sample/3824

Impact of Technological Advances in Tractor Technology

A new frontier of innovation emerged as agriculture met digital technology, opening various paths to a smart agricultural future. Agricultural equipment manufacturers are competitive, and companies constantly strive to innovate and ensure product differentiation at affordable prices. State-of-the-art technology-based equipment is currently available on the market. GPS and remote sensing make farming more accurate and productive.

Swath Control and Variable Rate Technology

Swath control and VRT are technologies that are built on GPS. At this point, the value of guiding starts to emerge. Control of swaths is what it sounds like. The width of the swath a particular piece of machinery cuts through the field is under the farmer's control.

In 2021, John Deere installed GPS technology in its tractors. The GPS technology in tractors and other equipment helps farmers with field mapping, soil sampling, and crop scouting. It also allows them to work in low visibility field conditions, such as rain, dust, and fog and maximizes efficiency. GPS technology can also be installed in old tractors. For instance, Lantek S.A. offers the GPS guiding system named ES840 for agricultural equipment, making farming operations more profitable and efficient.

High Demand for Autonomous Equipment

There is a rapid increase in innovation and extensive use of robotics and AI in Middle East & African countries. The current farming method will likely be completely revolutionized using autonomous agricultural equipment and robots, performing time-consuming tasks more efficiently and effectively within the next ten years.

Autonomous agricultural equipment is driverless and operates with minimum or no human intervention. Autonomous agricultural equipment technology is still in the developing stage. Agricultural equipment with such technology can be used to plant crops, collect real-time data, and collect pictures to monitor harvests through remote controls. Driverless or autonomous agricultural equipment is programmed to avoid obstacles, such as objects, animals, and people in the field, determine the vehicles' speed, and navigate vehicles while performing other agricultural tasks. This equipment enables autonomous tillage in row-acre and broad-acre farming, seeding, and planting.

Self-driving or autonomous agricultural equipment can help farmers reduce their working hours. There is also a huge potential for data monitoring.

GPS receivers in autonomous agricultural equipment accurately determine positions up to two centimeters. This kind of accuracy is difficult to achieve with manual driving. Moreover, poor driving skills lead to the wastage of time-manually operated equipment, therefore, slower than self-driven equipment. The prospects of driverless technology are expected to revolutionize the agricultural sector in the Middle East & African countries and have the potential to become one of the most innovative technologies soon. Driverless equipment is programmed via tablets and is helpful during the harvesting period. They enable autonomous seeding, planting, and tillage with obstacle detection.

According to CNH officials, autonomous equipment will not replace human farmers but will assist them in farming and increase productivity and operating efficiency. Furthermore, most of the tasks that farmers and farm laborers currently perform are not linked to tasks that autonomous equipment is developed to perform.

The price of autonomous equipment is estimated to be 40%-50% higher than a conventional one. Thus, affordability will be a major challenge for farmers. However, autonomous agriculture equipment will provide better returns to farmers.

Buy the Report Now: https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/middle-east-and-africa-tractor-market

Post-Purchase Benefit??

1hr of free analyst discussion

10% of customization

Recent Developments

In March 2023 , John Deere announced MY24 updates for its 7, 8, and 9 Series Tractors lineup that will help prepare them for the future of precision agriculture.

, John Deere announced MY24 updates for its 7, 8, and 9 Series Tractors lineup that will help prepare them for the future of precision agriculture. John Deere launched the new electric variable transmission (EVT) in March 2022 for select 8 Series Tractors and a new JD14X engine for 9 Series.

for select 8 Series Tractors and a new JD14X engine for 9 Series. Massey Ferguson launched the MF 6S series tractors in February 2022 . This machine provides up to 180 HP with advanced technology.

launched the MF 6S series tractors in . This machine provides up to 180 HP with advanced technology. In February 2022 , New Holland North America, CNH industrial brand, announced the launch of the world's first production T6 Methane Power tractor in the US.

, New Holland North America, CNH industrial brand, announced the launch of the world's first production T6 Methane Power tractor in the US. CNH Industrial partnered with Monarch Tractors in March 2021 , a US-based agri-technology company, to improve long-term sustainability and raise awareness of the importance of zero-emission agriculture among farmers.

Why Should You Buy This Report?

This report is among the few in the market that offer outlook and opportunity analyses forecast in terms of:

Market Size & Forecast Volume (Units) 2020-2028

Segmentation by Horsepower



Segmentation by Wheel Drive



Segmentation by Geography

Production and trade values

Major current and upcoming projects and investments

Competitive intelligence about the economic scenario, advantages in the Middle East & Africa , market dynamics, and market shares

& , market dynamics, and market shares Latest and innovative technologies

COVID-19 impact analysis of the market

Company profiles of major and other prominent vendors

Middle East and Africa tractor market shares of major vendors

Key Company Profiles

John Deere

CNH Industrial

AGCO

Kubota

Mahindra

Deutz-Fahr

Claas

TAFE

V.S.T. Tillers Tractors Limited

ISEKI & Co., Ltd.

KIOTI

Escorts

Yanmar

Market Segmentation

Horsepower

Less Than 50 HP

50 HP-100 HP

Above 100 HP

Wheel Drive

2-Wheel-Drive

4-Wheel-Drive

Geography

Turkey

Saudi Arabia

South Africa

Israel

Others

Check Out Some of the Top Selling Research Reports:

Latin America Tractor Market - Industry Analysis & Forecast 2023-2028:

Southeast Asia Tractors Market - Industry Analysis & Forecast 2023-2028:

North America Tractor Market - Industry Analysis & Forecast 2023-2028:

Europe Tractor Market - Industry Analysis & Forecast 2023-2028:

Table of Content

1 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

2 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

3 RESEARCH PROCESS

4 SCOPE & COVERAGE

4.1 MARKET DEFINITION

4.1.1 INCLUSIONS

4.1.2 EXCLUSIONS

4.1.3 MARKET ESTIMATION CAVEATS

4.2 BASE YEAR

4.3 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

5 REPORT ASSUMPTIONS & CAVEATS

5.1 KEY CAVEATS

5.2 CURRENCY CONVERSION

5.3 MARKET DERIVATION

6 PREMIUM INSIGHTS

7 MARKET AT A GLANCE

8 INTRODUCTION

8.1 OVERVIEW

8.1 VALUE CHAIN ANALYSIS

8.1.1 OVERVIEW

8.1.2 RAW MATERIAL & COMPONENT SUPPLIERS

8.1.3 MANUFACTURERS

8.1.4 DEALERS/DISTRIBUTORS

8.1.5 RETAILERS

8.1.6 END-USERS

8.2 TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES

9 MARKET OPPORTUNITIES & TRENDS

9.1 TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES IN TRACTOR TECHNOLOGY

9.1.1 SWATH CONTROL AND VARIABLE RATE TECHNOLOGY

9.1.2 HIGH DEMAND FOR AUTONOMOUS EQUIPMENT

9.2 SHORTAGE OF AGRICULTURAL LABORERS

9.3 USE OF ENERGY-EFFICIENT AGRI TRACTORS

10 MARKET GROWTH ENABLERS

10.1 ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS THROUGH LOANS & SUBSIDIES

10.2 INCREASED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY & EXPORTS

10.3 INCREASED FARM MECHANIZATION

11 MARKET RESTRAINTS

11.1 LACK OF AWARENESS OF LATEST INNOVATIONS IN AGRICULTURAL TRACTOR

11.1.1 LOW LEVELS OF EDUCATION AMONG FARMERS IN EMERGING COUNTRIES

11.1.2 RESOURCE SCARCITY OF SMALL AND MEDIUM FARMERS

11.2 HIGH DEMAND FOR USED & RENTAL TRACTORS

11.3 CLIMATE CHANGE ADVERSELY AFFECTING AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES

12 MARKET LANDSCAPE

12.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

12.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

12.3 FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS

12.3.1 THREAT OF NEW ENTRANTS

12.3.2 BARGAINING POWER OF SUPPLIERS

12.3.3 BARGAINING POWER OF BUYERS

12.3.4 THREAT OF SUBSTITUTES

12.3.5 COMPETITIVE RIVALRY

13 HORSEPOWER

13.1 MARKET SNAPSHOT & GROWTH ENGINE

13.2 MARKET OVERVIEW

13.3 LESS THAN 50 HP

13.3.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

13.3.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

13.3.3 MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

13.4 50 HP-100 HP

13.4.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

13.4.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

13.4.3 MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

13.5 ABOVE 100 HP

13.5.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

13.5.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

13.5.3 MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

14 WHEEL-DRIVE

14.1 MARKET SNAPSHOT & GROWTH ENGINE

14.2 MARKET OVERVIEW

14.3 2-WHEEL-DRIVE

14.3.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

14.3.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

14.3.3 MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

14.4 4-WHEEL-DRIVE

14.4.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

14.4.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

14.4.3 MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

15 GEOGRAPHY

15.1 MARKET SNAPSHOT & GROWTH ENGINE

15.2 GEOGRAPHIC OVERVIEW

15.3 TURKEY

15.3.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

15.3.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

15.3.3 HORSEPOWER

15.3.4 WHEEL-DRIVE

15.4 SAUDI ARABIA

15.4.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

15.4.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

15.4.3 HORSEPOWER

15.4.4 WHEEL-DRIVE

15.5 SOUTH AFRICA

15.5.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

15.5.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

15.5.3 HORSEPOWER

15.5.4 WHEEL-DRIVE

15.6 ISRAEL

15.6.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

15.6.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

15.6.3 HORSEPOWER

15.6.4 WHEEL-DRIVE

15.7 OTHERS

15.7.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

15.7.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

15.7.3 HORSEPOWER

15.7.4 WHEEL-DRIVE

16 COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

16.1 COMPETITION OVERVIEW

16.1.1 RECENT DEVELOPMENTS BY TOP BRANDS

16.1.2 BRAND LOYALTY

16.1.3 SALES & EXPORTS

17 KEY COMPANY PROFILES

17.1 JOHN DEERE

17.1.1 BUSINESS OVERVIEW

17.1.2 PRODUCT OFFERINGS

17.1.3 KEY STRATEGIES

17.1.4 KEY STRENGTHS

17.1.5 KEY OPPORTUNITIES

17.2 CNH INDUSTRIAL

17.3 AGCO

17.4 KUBOTA

18 OTHER PROMINENT VENDORS

18.1 MAHINDRA

18.1.1 BUSINESS OVERVIEW

18.1.2 PRODUCT OFFERINGS

18.2 DEUTZ-FAHR

18.3 CLAAS

18.4 TAFE

18.5 V.S.T TILLERS TRACTORS LIMITED

18.6 ISEKI & CO., LTD.

18.7 KIOTI

18.8 ESCORTS

18.9 YANMAR

19 REPORT SUMMARY

19.1 KEY TAKEAWAYS

19.2 STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATIONS

20 QUANTITATIVE SUMMARY

20.1 MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

20.2 MARKET BY HORSEPOWER

20.3 MARKET BY WHEEL-DRIVE TYPE

21 APPENDIX

21.1 ABBREVIATIONS

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Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo released seven containers of local MSME product for export to Asia, the Middle East and America. [Image: Antara]

Central Java, Indonesia, May 17, 2023 - (ACN Newswire) - Ganjar Pranowo, the Governor of Indonesia's Central Java Province, launched the export of small to medium-sized enterprise (MSME) products from Central Java to countries in Asia, America and the Middle East. 4 containers of MSME product were released in Purwokerto, Central Java Province, while 3 containers were dispatched from Purbalingga and Pati. The 7 containers of export products included essential oils, organic coconut sugar, processed foods, brooms, organic palm sugar, and handicrafts.Ratna Kawuri, Head of Central Java's One-Stop Integrated Investment and Licensing Service (DPMPTSP), said the 4 containers dispatched from Purwokerto consisted of a 20-foot container of essential oils produced by PT Indesso Aroma (Banyumas) destined for China, a 40-foot container of organic coconut sugar produced by CV Inagro Jinawi (Banyumas) bound for the United States, a 40-foot container of rebel coconut sugar produced by CV Permata Satria (Banyumas) also destined for the US, and a 40-foot container of processed food such as vermicelli produced by PT Lestari Jaya Bangsa (Banyumas) bound for Saudi Arabia.The MSME products dispatched from their respective companies included a 20-foot container of brooms produced by CV Rayung Pelangi (Purbalingga) destined for South Korea, a 20-foot container of organic ant sugar produced by CV Bunga Palm (Purbalingga) bound for the United States, and a 20-foot container of Syams Indonesian Handicraft products (Pati) destined for Japan. The total export value reached IDR 7.25 billion, contributing to the positive trade balance in the first quarter of 2023, impacting the export-import balance surplus of around USD 708 million, Ratna said.Following the export release, Governor Ganjar Pranowo stated that the support provided by the local government and MSME activists had yielded results. He acknowledged that some producers, like the essential oil manufacturer, had already gained experience and were exporting their products to many countries. Ganjar emphasized the importance of maintaining product quality and reminded the MSMEs, particularly those producing organic coconut sugar, to uphold the organic farming practices to preserve the quality."I believe that if this trend continues consistently, the orders for exports will continue to flow. Thus, the government will continue to support MSMEs to increase their exports," he stated. Ganjar Pranowo considers the increase in exports from Central Java, particularly from MSMEs, to be positive news. He believes that this signifies the upward progress of MSMEs and their potential to compete in the global market.Released by the Central Java Provincial Government. Copyright (c) ANTARA 2023Source: Provincial Government of Central Java, Republic of IndonesiaCopyright 2023 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / Ericsson:

Originally published by Ericsson

Welcome to the latest edition of our Diversity & Inclusion News Round Up. Today we are talking about toxic workplace culture, the latest on Spotify's diversity fund, workplace anxiety during layoffs, and a new campaign for elderly in need.

Culture

According to research, women are 41% more likely to experience toxic culture than men. Interesting MIT Sloan article about toxic workplace culture and the impact on women (and their retention) - worth reading!

Workplace anxiety

According to new research, workplace anxiety is increasing - and this anxiety impacts remote employees more than people working hybrid or full-time in the office, especially during layoffs. Interesting article offering strategies for managers of remote employees to reduce anxiety, and help them feel more connected. Read more here.

Generation

Age UK is a UK-based charity supporting elderly people with challenges they might face, including mental health issues, or monetary problems. This new campaign was just launched to raise awareness among the public, and to offer help.

Diversity

In February 2022, Spotify established a $100 million fund to promote diversity in music and podcasts, following a scandal involving a podcaster. A new report revealed that, so far, Spotify has spent less than 10% of the fund, due to "suffering from shifting priorities". Read more here.



View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Ericsson on 3blmedia.com.

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Spokesperson: Ericsson

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / The Power Play by The Market Herald has announced the release of new interviews with NetraMark Holdings, CANEX Metals, Green River Gold and Nextech3D.ai discussing their latest news.

The Power Play by The Market Herald provides investors with a quick snapshot of what they need to know about the company's latest press release through exclusive insights and interviews with company executives.

NetraMark (C.AIAI), The first Public AI Company to Launch Clinical Trial De-Risking Technology that Integrates ChatGPT

NetraMark Holdings Inc. announces the release of NetraGPT. Through newly developed algorithms, NetraGPT builds upon the powerful hypotheses generated from the Company's proprietary Good Clinical Practice (GCP) validated AI/ ML system, NetraAI.

For the full interview with George Achilleos and to learn about NetraMark Holdings, click here.

Canex Makes New Drill Discovery at Westgold Intersecting 35 Metres of 0.7 g/t Gold Including 7.6 Metres of 2.5 g/t Gold

CANEX Metals Inc. is pleased to announce results from 5 reverse circulation drill holes from the maiden drill test of the WestGold Target at the Gold Range Project, Arizona. The first holes ever drilled into the WestGold Target have resulted in a new drill discovery with hole GR23-120 returning 0.7 g/t gold over 35 metres including 1.9 g/t gold over 10.67 metres and 2.5 g/t gold over 7.6 metres.

For the full interview with Dr. Shane W. Ebert and to learn about CANEX Metals, click here.

Green River Gold Records Anomalous High Gold, Cobalt, Lead, and Zinc XRF Readings at the Quesnel Nickel Project

Green River Gold Corp. is pleased to announce the preliminary results for drill hole WK-23-01 on its 100%-owned Quesnel Nickel Project, located 40 kilometers east by road, from Quesnel, British Columbia, in the prolific Cariboo Mining District in South Central British Columbia, Canada.

For the full interview with Perry Little and to learn about Green River Gold, click here.

Nextech3D.ai Signs Enterprise Renewal Contract with S&P 400 Company for over 5000 3D Models

Nextech3D.AI, a Generative AI-Powered 3D model supplier for Amazon, P&G, Kohls and other major e-commerce retailers to pleased to announce a large renewal contract with an S&P 400 company and the largest department store in the USA, for over 5000 3D models of their most popular products.

For the full interview with Evan Gappelberg and to learn about Nextech3D.AI, click here.

Interviews for The Power Play by The Market Herald are released daily. To learn more about the companies featured in The Power Play or to explore our other interviews visit? The Power Play by The Market Herald.

About The Market Herald

The Market Herald Canada is the leading source of authoritative breaking stock market news for self-directed investors. Our team of Canadian markets reporters, editors and technologists covers the entire listed company universe in Canada. We cover over 3,985 businesses, their people, their investors, and their customers. We write the stories that move the Canadian capital markets.

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DENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / Revolutionize your farming practices with Growlink's groundbreaking Terralink Soil Moisture Sensor (VWC, EC, Temp). This advanced technology redefines precision agriculture by delivering unparalleled accuracy and efficiency, all at an affordable price point.





Terralink

Terralink Soil Moisture sensor + EC + Temp





The Terralink sensor goes beyond the capabilities of conventional sensors, transforming the way farmers monitor and optimize soil conditions. With state-of-the-art capacitance technology, this cutting-edge device provides real-time measurements of soil moisture, electrical conductivity (EC), and temperature. Its exceptional precision in non-soil mediums empowers farmers to make informed decisions, leading to maximized crop yield.

"At Growlink, we believe in democratizing advanced technology for farmers of all sizes. Terralink embodies our commitment to providing high-quality solutions that are accessible to every farmer," says Ted Tanner, CEO of Growlink. "By offering Terralink at an affordable price, we aim to support the widespread adoption of precision agriculture without compromising on quality."

Seamless integration with the Growlink Smart Controls Platform ensures instant access to crucial data anytime, anywhere. The user-friendly interface enhances the user experience, enabling farmers to effortlessly harness the power of precision agriculture.

Terralink empowers farmers to gain a deeper understanding of their soil's needs, enabling proactive decision-making and promoting sustainable farming practices. By accurately measuring soil moisture, EC, and temperature, Terralink optimizes crop yield and resource utilization, offering a compelling value proposition.

With the introduction of Terralink, Growlink reaffirms its commitment to driving innovation and supporting farmers of all scales on their journey towards precision agriculture.

To learn more about Terralink and its transformative capabilities, visit https://www.growlink.ag/hardware/p/growlink-soil-moisture-sensor-ec-temp

About Growlink:

Growlink is a leading provider of smart farming solutions, leveraging cutting-edge technology to optimize agricultural practices and drive sustainable crop production. Through innovative sensors and intuitive analytics, Growlink equips farmers with actionable insights, enabling them to make informed decisions and achieve optimal results.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Ted Tanner - CEO

ttanner@growlink.com

800-432-0160

Contact Information

Ted Tanner

CEO

ttanner@growlink.com

3037102530

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / Mawson Gold Limited ("Mawson" or the "Company") (TSX:MAW)(Frankfurt:MXR)(OTC PINK: MWSNF) announces results from drillhole SDDSC064 ( 1.2 m @ 121.8 g/t Au from 889.6 m ) from the deepest mineralization (830 m vertically below surface) and one of the two highest grade intersections to date, and a 115 m down-dip extension from SDDSC061 (12.0 m @ 7.4 g/t AuEq incl 0.3 m @ 249.5 g/t AuEq) at the Sunday Creek Project in Victoria, Australia (Figure 1). Of major importance is the increasing abundance of visible gold at depth at Sunday Creek (Photos 1-4), as is typical for epizonal deposits.

Sunday Creek is 100% owned by Southern Cross Gold ("SXG"), which is an ASX listed company owned 51% by Mawson. Four rigs continue to drill both in the main drill area and up to 7.5 km along strike at the Tonstal prospect with 16 holes being processed and analyzed and four drill rigs operating. Mineralization now extends in the main drill area over 1,350 m from Christina in the far west to SDDSC063.

Highlights: SDDSC064 (Figs 3-6) drilled the deepest mineralization (830 m vertically below surface) and one of the two highest grade intersections on the Sunday Creek project with increasing abundance of visible gold (Photos 1-4). Highlights from five separate mineralized veins include: 0.4 m @ 48.5 g/t AuEq (44.6 g/t Au, 2.5 %Sb) from 715.8 m 0.3 m @ 16.3 g/t AuEq (15.6 g/t Au, 0.4 %Sb) from 725.8 m 0.9 m @ 5.6 g/t AuEq (5.2 g/t Au, 0.2 %Sb) from 882.7 m 1.2 m @ 121.8 g/t AuEq (121.8 g/t Au, 0.1 %Sb) from 889.6 m including:

0.5 m @ 158.5 g/t Au and 0.4 m @ 177.5 g/t Au

(Figs 3-6) drilled the (830 m vertically below surface) and on the Sunday Creek project with increasing abundance of visible gold (Photos 1-4). Highlights from five separate mineralized veins include: 0.6 m @ 12.6 g/t AuEq (8.6 g/t Au, 2.5 %Sb) from 907.3 m

As well as being the deepest mineralization on project, SDDSC064 extended mineralization significantly, being a 115 m down-dip extension from SDDSC061 (12.0 m @ 7.4 g/t AuEq incl 0.3 m @ 249.5 g/t AuEq).

from SDDSC061 (12.0 m @ 7.4 g/t AuEq incl 0.3 m @ 249.5 g/t AuEq). Of major importance is the abundance of visible gold becoming increasingly significant at depth.

Mawson owns 93,750,000 shares of SXG (51%), valuing its stake at A$52.5 million (C$47.3 million) based on SXG's closing price on May 16, 2023 AEST.

Noora Ahola, Mawson Interim CEO, states: "This is an exceptional result from team at Southern Cross Gold. Not only is this the deepest hole SXG has drilled at Sunday Creek terminating at 1,013.5 m down hole, but it also produced the deepest mineralization at 830 m vertical depth and the second highest grade intersection on the property. We are greatly encouraged by the presence of visible gold at depths typical in other high quality epizonal deposits in the region and that SDDSC064 extended mineralization with a 115 m down-dip extension from SDDSC061 (12.0 m @ 7.4 g/t AuEq incl 0.3 m @ 249.5 g/t AuEq).

Sunday Creek is proving to show great continuity and predictability in the vein sets that intersect the host breccia dyke that runs 11 kms through the property. Increased strike lengths of up to 60 m of individual veins that recur with predictable frequency as demonstrated in this release confirm our confidence in the ability of the project to deliver results that are comparable on a global scale."

Results Discussion

The Sunday Creek epizonal-style gold project is located 60 km north of Melbourne within 19,365 hectares of granted exploration tenements. SXG is also the freehold landholder of 133 hectares that forms the key portion in and around the drilled area at the Sunday Creek Project.

Sunday Creek has an 11 km mineralized trend that extends beyond the main drill area and is defined by historic workings and soil sampling which is being drill tested for the very first time with the fourth drill rig which mobilized to the Tonstal prospect 7.5 kms to the northeast a month ago.

SDDSC064 (collar azimuth 239.6 degrees), drilled in the Rising Sun area of Sunday Creek, was designed to extend mineralization to depth as a scissor hole (drilled in an opposite direction) to SDDSC050 (collar azimuth 077 degrees) (305.8 m @ 2.4 g/t AuEq). It achieved this and delivered new and exciting data on multiple levels:

Discovered the deepest mineralization on project (830 m vertically below surface), with SDDSC064 the first hole to exceed 1 km in length on the project, terminating at 1,013.5 m. One of the two highest grade intersections on project (after SDDSC046 @ 2.1 m @ 121.6 g/t AuEq). Defined significant extensions to known mineralization: At its lower levels SDDSC064 (1.2 m @ 121.8 g/t AuEq) was a 115 m down dip extension from SDDSC061 (12.0 m @ 7.4 g/t AuEq incl 0.3 m @ 249.5 g/t AuEq) Demonstrated the high frequency of mineralized veins: Five high-grade NW veins intersected over 100 m horizontal true thickness (within 192 m down hole width), implying a vein frequency each 20 m on average. Demonstrated continuity across multiple high-grade veins in a 430 m (down dip) x 180 m (wide) and 60 m (strike) area beneath drill hole SDDSC050: At its upper levels SDDSC064 (0.4 m @ 48.5 g/t AuEq from 715.8 m and 0.3 m @ 16.3 g/t AuEq from 725.8 m) showed the NW mineralized veins strike length increases at depth with the same vein drilled in SDDSC050 (9.0 m @ 7.3 g/t AuEq from 712.0 m including 1.5 m @ 41.5 g/t AuEq) located 60 m along strike to the northwest. Drilled a broad and extensive halo to high grade gold with low antimony and higher arsenopyrite: 212.8 m @ 1.0 g/t Au 0.04% Sb from 715.8 (no lower cut).

Further discussion and analysis of the Sunday Creek project by Southern Cross Gold is available on the SXG website at www.southerncrossgold.com.au

Figures 1-6 show project location, plan, longitudinal and cross-sectional views of drill results reported here and Tables 1-3 provide collar and assay data. The true thickness of the mineralized intervals reported are interpreted to be approximately 60-70% of the sampled thickness. Lower grades were cut at 0.3 g/t Au lower cutoff over a maximum width of 3 m with higher grades cut at 5.0 g/t Au cutoff over a maximum of 1 m width, unless otherwise stated.

Update on Current Drilling

Drilling with four rigs is in progress at Sunday Creek at the Rising Sun and Apollo prospects and also 7.5 km north-east at the Tonstal prospect. Sixteen new holes (SDDSC066 - 75 and SDDTS001-6) are currently being geologically processed and analyzed, with three holes (SDDSC070, 73, 74, and SDDTS007) in drill progress (Figure 2). SDDSC068 has been temporarily halted at 959.4 m below Apollo, awaiting an upgrade to a new drill feed rail to allow deeper drilling to continue.

Technical Background and Qualified Person

The Qualified Person, Michael Hudson, Executive Chairman and a director of Mawson Gold, and a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, has reviewed, verified and approved the technical contents of this release.

Analytical samples are transported to the Bendigo facility of On Site Laboratory Services ("On Site") which operates under both an ISO 9001 and NATA quality systems. Samples were prepared and analyzed for gold using the fire assay technique (PE01S method; 25 gram charge), followed by measuring the gold in solution with flame AAS equipment. Samples for multi-element analysis (BM011 and over-range methods as required) use aqua regia digestion and ICP-MS analysis. The QA/QC program of Southern Cross Gold consists of the systematic insertion of certified standards of known gold content, blanks within interpreted mineralized rock and quarter core duplicates. In addition, On Site inserts blanks and standards into the analytical process.

MAW considers that both gold and antimony that are included in the gold equivalent calculation ("AuEq") have reasonable potential to be recovered at Sunday Creek, given current geochemical understanding, historic production statistics and geologically analogous mining operations. Historically, ore from Sunday Creek was treated onsite or shipped to the Costerfield mine, located 54 km to the northwest of the project, for processing during WW1. The Costerfield mine corridor, now owned by Mandalay Resources Ltd contains two million ounces of equivalent gold (Mandalay Q3 2021 Results), and in 2020 was the sixth highest-grade global underground mine and a top 5 global producer of antimony.

SXG considers that it is appropriate to adopt the same gold equivalent variables as Mandalay Resources Ltd in its Mandalay Technical Report, 2022 dated 25 March 2022. The gold equivalence formula used by Mandalay Resources was calculated using recoveries achieved at the Costerfield Property Brunswick Processing Plant during 2020, using a gold price of US$1,700 per ounce, an antimony price of US$8,500 per tonne and 2021 total year metal recoveries of 93% for gold and 95% for antimony, and is as follows: ???????? = ???? (??/??) + 1.58  ???? (%).

Based on the latest Costerfield calculation and given the similar geological styles and historic toll treatment of Sunday Creek mineralization at Costerfield, SXG considers that a ???????? = ???? (??/??) + 1.58  ???? (%) is appropriate to use for the initial exploration targeting of gold-antimony mineralization at Sunday Creek.

For previously reported exploration results referenced in this news release, refer to the following:

March 30, 2023 SDDSC061

About Mawson Gold Limited (TSX:MAW, FRANKFURT:MXR, OTCPINK:MWSNF)

Mawson Gold Limited is an exploration and development company. Mawson has distinguished itself as a leading Nordic exploration company with its 100% owned flagship Rajapalot gold-cobalt project in Finland, and right to earn into the Skelleftea North gold project in Sweden. Mawson also currently owns 51% of Southern Cross Gold Ltd (ASX:SXG) which in turn owns or controls three high-grade, historic epizonal goldfields covering 470 km2 in Victoria, Australia.

About Southern Cross Gold Ltd (ASX:SXG)

Southern Cross Gold holds the 100%-owned Sunday Creek project in Victoria and Mt Isa project in Queensland, the Redcastle and Whroo joint ventures in Victoria, Australia, and a strategic 10% holding in ASX-listed Nagambie Resources Limited (ASX:NAG) which grants SXG a Right of First Refusal over a 3,300 square kilometer tenement package held by NAG in Victoria.

On behalf of the Board,





"Noora Ahola"

Noora Ahola, Interim CEO Further Information

www.mawsongold.com

1305 - 1090 West Georgia St., Vancouver, BC, V6E 3V7

Mariana Bermudez (Canada), Corporate Secretary

+1 (604) 685 9316 info@mawsongold.com

Forward-Looking Statement

This news release contains forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). All statements herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Although Mawson 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: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate, and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. Mawson cautions investors that any forward-looking statements 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, Mawson's expectations regarding its ownership interest in Southern Cross Gold, capital and other costs varying significantly from estimates, changes in world metal markets, changes in equity markets, the potential impact of epidemics, pandemics or other public health crises, including the current pandemic known as COVID-19 on the Company's business, risks related to negative publicity with respect to the Company or the mining industry in general; exploration potential being conceptual in nature, there being insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource on the Australian-projects owned by SXG, and uncertainty if further exploration will result in the determination of a mineral resource; planned drill programs and results varying from expectations, delays in obtaining results, equipment failure, unexpected geological conditions, local community relations, dealings with non-governmental organizations, delays in operations due to permit grants, environmental and safety risks, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Mawson's most recent Annual Information Form filed on www.sedar.com. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Mawson disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.

Photo 1: SDDSC064 716.0 m showing visible gold along stibnite and arsenopyrite veinlets within quartz carbonate vein. Ticks show mm scale.

Photo 2: SDDSC064 725.8 m showing visible gold on the margin of a quartz carbonate vein with arsenopyrite. Ticks show mm scale.

Photo 3: SDDSC064 between 890.2-890.7 m showing visible gold within a quartz carbonate vein stockwork hosted by albitized and sericitized dioritic dyke. Minor fuchsite (lime green) alteration in dyke. Field of view 30mm.

Photo 4: SDDSC064 between 890.2-890.7 m showing visible gold within a quartz carbonate vein hosted by albitized and sericitized dioritic dyke.

Drill core (NQ) is 47.6 mm wide.

Figure 1: Location of the Sunday Creek project, along with SXG's other Victoria projects.

Figure 2: Sunday Creek plan view showing holes reported in this press release (grey boxes), selected prior reported drill holes and pending holes (yellow collar and red trace).

Figure 3: Sunday Creek cropped longitudinal section E-F (50 m influence) across the Rising Sun area looking towards the north showing dyke interpreted mineralized veins sets, SDDSC064 reported here and prior reported drill holes.

Figure 4: Sunday Creek level plan (100 m influence) at -330 m RL (650 m vertically below surface) at Rising Sun area showing dyke breccia host, sulphidic halo and interpreted mineralized veins sets. Note the relationship between SDDSC064, reported here and SDDSC0501 showing 60 m strike extension to the NW mineralized veins (strike is longer at depth).

Figure 5: Sunday Creek east-west longitudinal section G-H along the trend of the dyke/structure, looking to 000 higher grade assays and selected mineralized veins sets. Also, prior reported drill holes shown.

Figure 6: Sunday Creek regional plan view showing LiDAR, soil sampling, structural framework, regional historic epizonal gold mining areas and broad regional areas to be tested in a 2,500 m diamond drill program. The first drill area at Tonstal is located 7.5km along strike from the main drill area at Golden Dyke-Apollo.

Table 1: Drill collar summary table for drillholes reported in this announcement (including in progress).

Hole_ID Hole Size Depth (m) Prospect East GDA94_Z55 North GDA94_Z55 Elevation Azimuth Plunge SDDSC059 HQ 641.9 Root Hog 330883 5868075 306.7 214 -75.5 SDDSC060 HQ 263.8 Golden Dyke 330534.6 5867882.1 295.9 167.3 -69.9 SDDSC061 HQ 821.8 Gentle Annie 330754.2 5868022.2 294.3 209.5 -81.7 SDDSC062 HQ 339.3 Golden Dyke 330537.1 5867883.4 295.6 199 -74.2 SDDSC063 HQ 41.1 Apollo 331292.5 5867824.6 316.4 68 -35 SDDSC064 HQ 1013.5 Root Hog 331031.5 5868097.6 325.1 239.6 -69.2 SDDSC065 HQ 40.1 Apollo 331292.5 5867824.6 316.4 92 -39 SDDSC066 HQ 669.9 Apollo 331291.1 5867823.1 316.8 278.9 -57 SDDSC067 HQ 551 Rising Sun 330754.2 5868022.2 294.3 220.2 -70.4 SDDSC068 HQ 959.4 Apollo 331254 5868098.6 353.9 211.3 -77.7 SDDSC069 HQ 385.8 Rising Sun 330875 5868005 307.19 234 -59 SDDSC070 HQ 911.3 Rising Sun 331031.5 5868097.6 325.1 231 -74.5 SDDSC071 HQ 329.3 Rising Sun 330875 5868005 307.19 232 -51 SDDSC072 HQ 259.7 Rising Sun 330875 5868005 307.19 222 -43 SDDSC073 HQ In progress plan 770 m Apollo 331254 5868097 353.9 212 -69 SDDSC074 HQ In progress plan 800 m Root Hog 331108 5867975 319.4 255 -73 SDDSC075 HQ In progress plan 280 m Root Hog 330951 5868007 313.7 211 -40 SDDTS001 NQ2 179.75 Tonstal 336788 5870637 525 156 -50 SDDTS002 NQ2 182.6 Tonstal 336788 5870637 525 111 -42 SDDTS003 NQ2 197.8 Tonstal 336788 5870637 525 111 -73 SDDTS004 NQ2 62.6 Tonstal 336788 5870637 525 79 -60 SDDTS004A NQ2 170.6 Tonstal 336788 5870637 525 79 -60 SDDTS005 NQ2 16 Tonstal 336788 5870637 525 70 -42 SDDTS005A NQ2 256 Tonstal 336788 5870637 525 70 -42 SDDTS006 NQ2 In progress plan 250 m Tonstal 336788 5870637 525 48 -50

Table 2: Tables of mineralized drill hole intersections reported from SDDSC064 using two cut-off criteria. Lower grades cut at 0.3 g/t lower cutoff over a maximum of 3 m with higher grades cut at 5.0 g/t AuEq cutoff over a maximum of 1 m.

Drill Hole From (m) To (m) Width (m) Au g/t Sb % AuEq g/t SDDSC064 715.75 716.10 0.4 44.6 2.5 48.5 SDDSC064 725.75 727.00 1.3 3.4 0.2 3.7 including 725.75 726.00 0.3 15.6 0.4 16.3 SDDSC064 734.00 735.85 1.9 0.2 0.3 0.7 SDDSC064 741.00 753.00 12.0 0.5 0.1 0.6 SDDSC064 756.85 764.00 7.1 0.7 0.2 1.0 SDDSC064 880.80 886.00 5.2 1.5 0.1 1.6 including 882.66 883.60 0.9 5.2 0.2 5.6 SDDSC064 889.60 890.78 1.2 121.8 0.1 121.8 SDDSC064 889.92 890.78 0.9 166.9 0.1 167.0 SDDSC064 898.25 921.87 23.6 0.7 0.1 0.9 including 907.25 907.84 0.6 8.6 2.5 12.6

Table 3: All individual assays reported SDDSC064 >0.1g/t AuEq.

Drill Hole from (m) to (m) width (m) Au g/t Sb % SDDSC064 111.05 111.9 0.8 0.1 0.00 SDDSC064 349.25 350.0 0.8 0.1 0.00 SDDSC064 350.00 351.0 1.0 0.2 0.00 SDDSC064 600.40 601.4 1.0 0.1 0.00 SDDSC064 601.40 601.7 0.3 0.1 0.00 SDDSC064 657.00 658.0 1.0 0.2 0.00 SDDSC064 658.00 659.0 1.0 0.2 0.00 SDDSC064 659.00 660.0 1.0 0.1 0.00 SDDSC064 693.30 694.7 1.4 0.9 0.01 SDDSC064 697.20 698.4 1.2 0.1 0.00 SDDSC064 699.60 701.0 1.4 0.2 0.00 SDDSC064 702.00 703.0 1.0 0.1 0.01 SDDSC064 703.00 704.0 1.0 0.4 0.04 SDDSC064 704.00 705.0 1.0 0.1 0.01 SDDSC064 705.00 706.0 1.0 0.4 0.04 SDDSC064 707.00 708.0 1.0 0.1 0.20 SDDSC064 708.00 709.0 1.0 0.1 0.02 SDDSC064 709.00 710.0 1.0 0.1 0.00 SDDSC064 710.00 711.0 1.0 0.1 0.03 SDDSC064 711.00 712.0 1.0 0.1 0.03 SDDSC064 712.00 712.8 0.8 0.4 0.37 SDDSC064 712.80 713.5 0.7 0.2 0.06 SDDSC064 713.50 714.0 0.5 0.2 0.03 SDDSC064 715.75 716.1 0.4 44.6 2.47 SDDSC064 721.00 722.0 1.0 0.1 0.03 SDDSC064 724.00 725.1 1.1 0.2 0.00 SDDSC064 725.10 725.8 0.7 0.1 0.02 SDDSC064 725.75 726.0 0.3 15.6 0.44 SDDSC064 726.00 727.0 1.0 0.4 0.11 SDDSC064 732.00 733.0 1.0 0.1 0.00 SDDSC064 734.00 735.0 1.0 0.1 0.23 SDDSC064 735.00 735.9 0.9 0.3 0.46 SDDSC064 737.90 739.0 1.1 0.1 0.01 SDDSC064 740.00 741.0 1.0 0.1 0.03 SDDSC064 741.00 742.0 1.0 0.6 0.20 SDDSC064 742.00 743.0 1.0 0.5 0.23 SDDSC064 743.00 744.0 1.0 0.9 0.08 SDDSC064 744.00 745.0 1.0 0.3 0.02 SDDSC064 745.00 746.0 1.0 0.2 0.01 SDDSC064 746.00 747.0 1.0 0.6 0.02 SDDSC064 747.00 748.0 1.0 1.1 0.04 SDDSC064 749.00 749.9 0.9 0.1 0.01 SDDSC064 749.90 751.0 1.1 0.8 0.10 SDDSC064 751.00 752.0 1.0 0.1 0.08 SDDSC064 752.00 753.0 1.0 0.5 0.09 SDDSC064 756.00 756.9 0.9 0.1 0.05 SDDSC064 756.85 758.0 1.2 0.9 0.22 SDDSC064 758.00 759.0 1.0 0.2 0.03 SDDSC064 759.00 760.0 1.0 0.7 0.12 SDDSC064 760.00 760.9 0.9 0.7 0.15 SDDSC064 760.85 761.4 0.5 0.9 1.18 SDDSC064 761.35 762.4 1.0 1.8 0.09 SDDSC064 762.35 763.0 0.7 0.4 0.06 SDDSC064 763.00 764.0 1.0 0.3 0.09 SDDSC064 768.00 769.0 1.0 0.1 0.06 SDDSC064 787.00 788.0 1.0 0.1 0.00 SDDSC064 802.00 803.0 1.0 0.1 0.00 SDDSC064 811.00 812.0 1.0 0.1 0.01 SDDSC064 812.00 813.1 1.1 0.4 0.01 SDDSC064 813.06 814.0 0.9 1.5 0.01 SDDSC064 820.00 821.0 1.0 0.2 0.00 SDDSC064 824.00 825.0 1.0 0.1 0.03 SDDSC064 829.00 830.0 1.0 0.1 0.01 SDDSC064 835.00 836.0 1.0 0.2 0.01 SDDSC064 837.00 838.0 1.0 0.1 0.01 SDDSC064 839.00 840.0 1.0 0.1 0.00 SDDSC064 842.00 843.0 1.0 0.1 0.00 SDDSC064 843.00 844.0 1.0 0.1 0.01 SDDSC064 844.00 845.0 1.0 0.3 0.00 SDDSC064 849.95 850.4 0.5 0.1 0.01 SDDSC064 850.40 851.0 0.6 0.2 0.01 SDDSC064 853.00 854.0 1.0 0.1 0.00 SDDSC064 853.96 854.5 0.5 0.1 0.00 SDDSC064 854.50 855.2 0.7 0.3 0.00 SDDSC064 855.18 856.0 0.8 0.3 0.00 SDDSC064 857.00 858.0 1.0 0.2 0.00 SDDSC064 860.00 861.0 1.0 0.1 0.01 SDDSC064 861.02 861.5 0.5 2.0 0.07 SDDSC064 861.50 862.3 0.8 0.4 0.02 SDDSC064 862.25 863.0 0.8 0.5 0.01 SDDSC064 863.00 864.0 1.0 0.1 0.00 SDDSC064 864.00 865.1 1.1 0.1 0.00 SDDSC064 867.00 867.9 0.9 0.2 0.00 SDDSC064 867.87 868.6 0.8 0.1 0.00 SDDSC064 868.62 869.8 1.2 0.1 0.00 SDDSC064 869.80 870.4 0.6 0.4 0.01 SDDSC064 870.36 871.2 0.8 0.8 0.00 SDDSC064 871.17 872.0 0.8 0.1 0.00 SDDSC064 872.00 872.7 0.7 0.4 0.01 SDDSC064 872.70 873.8 1.1 0.1 0.00 SDDSC064 874.80 875.7 0.9 0.1 0.00 SDDSC064 877.07 877.7 0.6 0.2 0.00 SDDSC064 880.80 881.2 0.4 0.6 0.01 SDDSC064 881.15 882.0 0.9 1.0 0.03 SDDSC064 882.00 882.7 0.7 0.3 0.01 SDDSC064 882.66 883.6 0.9 5.2 0.24 SDDSC064 883.60 884.5 0.9 1.0 0.02 SDDSC064 884.45 885.0 0.6 0.3 0.12 SDDSC064 885.00 886.0 1.0 0.4 0.01 SDDSC064 886.00 887.0 1.0 0.1 0.01 SDDSC064 887.75 888.7 0.9 0.2 0.01 SDDSC064 889.60 889.9 0.3 0.4 0.01 SDDSC064 889.92 890.4 0.5 158.5 0.09 SDDSC064 890.40 890.8 0.4 177.5 0.05 SDDSC064 890.78 891.4 0.6 0.3 0.01 SDDSC064 891.40 892.0 0.6 0.1 0.01 SDDSC064 894.85 895.9 1.0 0.1 0.01 SDDSC064 895.85 896.3 0.5 0.1 0.01 SDDSC064 896.30 897.2 0.9 0.1 0.01 SDDSC064 897.20 897.7 0.5 0.2 0.00 SDDSC064 897.70 898.3 0.6 0.1 0.00 SDDSC064 898.25 899.1 0.8 0.3 0.00 SDDSC064 899.05 900.0 1.0 0.1 0.00 SDDSC064 900.00 901.0 1.0 0.1 0.00 SDDSC064 901.00 902.0 1.0 0.1 0.01 SDDSC064 902.00 902.9 0.9 0.7 0.01 SDDSC064 902.87 903.9 1.0 0.6 0.01 SDDSC064 905.30 906.0 0.7 0.7 0.01 SDDSC064 905.95 906.8 0.9 0.6 0.01 SDDSC064 906.82 907.3 0.4 1.1 1.11 SDDSC064 907.25 907.8 0.6 8.6 2.51 SDDSC064 907.84 908.6 0.8 0.4 0.09 SDDSC064 908.62 909.5 0.9 0.4 0.12 SDDSC064 910.18 911.0 0.8 0.9 0.01 SDDSC064 911.00 912.0 1.0 0.3 0.01 SDDSC064 912.00 912.7 0.7 0.2 0.03 SDDSC064 912.65 913.3 0.6 1.8 0.57 SDDSC064 913.25 914.0 0.7 1.5 0.30 SDDSC064 913.96 914.7 0.7 0.2 0.01 SDDSC064 914.70 915.8 1.1 0.2 0.00 SDDSC064 915.75 916.8 1.1 0.6 0.03 SDDSC064 916.80 917.7 0.9 0.5 0.01 SDDSC064 917.70 918.7 1.0 1.0 0.03 SDDSC064 918.70 919.3 0.6 0.3 0.10 SDDSC064 919.28 919.9 0.6 0.4 0.03 SDDSC064 919.90 920.7 0.8 0.2 0.02 SDDSC064 920.67 921.9 1.2 0.4 0.04 SDDSC064 921.87 922.9 1.1 0.2 0.01 SDDSC064 925.12 925.5 0.3 0.4 0.40 SDDSC064 925.45 926.2 0.7 0.2 0.07 SDDSC064 927.95 928.5 0.6 1.0 0.02 SDDSC064 928.52 929.0 0.5 0.2 0.01 SDDSC064 929.00 930.0 1.0 0.1 0.00 SDDSC064 930.00 931.0 1.0 0.1 0.01 SDDSC064 932.00 932.9 0.9 0.2 0.00 SDDSC064 932.85 933.6 0.7 0.2 0.00 SDDSC064 933.55 934.3 0.8 0.1 0.00 SDDSC064 935.00 936.0 1.0 0.1 0.00 SDDSC064 950.00 951.0 1.0 0.2 0.01 SDDSC064 951.00 952.0 1.0 0.2 0.01 SDDSC064 952.00 953.0 1.0 0.6 0.01 SDDSC064 953.00 953.3 0.3 0.1 0.01 SDDSC064 956.40 957.0 0.6 0.1 0.01 SDDSC064 957.00 958.0 1.0 0.7 0.09 SDDSC064 958.00 959.0 1.0 0.4 0.01

SOURCE: Mawson Gold Limited

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/755357/Mawsons-Subsidiary-SXG-Intersects-12-m-1218-gt-Au-in-Deepest-Hole-with-Visible-Gold-Increasing-with-Depth-at-Sunday-Creek-Victoria-Australia
Technology, personalization and speed are among key trends in online lead form responsiveness

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / Twenty-seven percent of law firms don't respond to online leads, giving way for competitors in their market to serve more clients and elevate their presence in their community, according to a new study from leading law firm digital marketing agency Hennessey Digital .

Hennessey Digital's annual Lead Form Response Time Study takes a close look at the response times to online leads by law firms across the U.S. and identifies trends in lead form responsiveness and law firm website design to help lawyers understand the impact online leads and client intake have on digital marketing performance.

In 2023, the agency contacted 1,300 law firms via their online lead form and analyzed thousands of data points spanning three years that reveal notable shifts in the industry - including some that are surprising.

Key highlights:

Law firms are responding to online leads more quickly. In 2023 there was a 97% jump in the number of law firms that responded to an online lead form in under 5 minutes compared to a year ago. This signals the legal industry is competitive and maturing as more lawyers utilize different technologies to communicate with clients and recognize the importance intake has on maximizing the ROI of law firm digital marketing .

In 2023 there was a 97% jump in the number of law firms that responded to an online lead form in under 5 minutes compared to a year ago. This signals the legal industry is competitive and maturing as more lawyers utilize different technologies to communicate with clients and recognize the importance intake has on maximizing the ROI of . Many law firms are leaving money on the table . Lawyers are heavily invested in serving their community in their moments of need, as shown by 73% of law firms that responded to their online lead form. However, 27% of law firms either responded in more than seven days or (gasp!) not at all, leaving money on the table and the door wide open for other firms in their market to take on more clients.

. Lawyers are heavily invested in serving their community in their moments of need, as shown by 73% of law firms that responded to their online lead form. However, 27% of law firms either responded in more than seven days or (gasp!) not at all, leaving money on the table and the door wide open for other firms in their market to take on more clients. In a world of tech and automation, personalization still matters for lawyers and their clients. While more law firms are using text (33%) and email (56%) to communicate with prospective clients, 89% still picked up the phone and called. 20% of law firms who responded used all three methods - text, email and phone - to respond to online leads. Chat features, which allow for personalization at a greater speed, are on the rise on law firm websites with 64% of sites having chat, up 7% from 2022.

While more law firms are using text (33%) and email (56%) to communicate with prospective clients, 89% still picked up the phone and called. 20% of law firms who responded used all three methods - text, email and phone - to respond to online leads. Chat features, which allow for personalization at a greater speed, are on the rise on law firm websites with 64% of sites having chat, up 7% from 2022. Law firms are becoming better equipped to serve the growing multinational population. 35% of law firms have Spanish language or multi-language features on their website. This number will continue to grow as tools such as Hennessey Digital's HD Translate, which the agency developed internally, make it easier for businesses to be discovered on Google and engage with more diverse audiences.

"A company's ability to generate and respond to leads increases their revenue and the value their business has in the community by serving more people," said Hennessey Digital Founder & CEO Jason Hennessey .

"We're beginning to see the positive impact automation and AI tools like ChatGPT have on marketing and how law firms operate. This will only continue to grow and transform the legal industry by enabling firms to scale with greater efficiency and connect more quickly with clients on a personalized level."

Digital marketing strategies such as law firm SEO and PPC for law firms are highly measurable and effective at driving online leads. Law firms then have one chance to get it right when responding to those leads, and that comes down to minutes.

What cities are the fastest to respond to online leads? Which need to pick up the pace? Curious which law firms were the most responsive? We disclose it all (with some nice pictures, too) online at hennessey.com .

About Hennessey Digital

Founded in 2015 by internationally-recognized entrepreneur and best-selling author Jason Hennessey, Hennessey Digital is a multi-award winning digital marketing agency for top law firms and other industries. Specializing in technical SEO , content marketing , law firm SEO , paid media , pay-per-click advertising ( PPC ), conversion rate optimization (CRO), and website development , Hennessey Digital helps clients get more qualified leads and high-value cases through holistic marketing strategies and innovation in marketing technology. Hennessey Digital is an all-remote company that has received nods from the US Agency Awards and the US Search Awards, as well as The Financial Times list as one of the fastest-growing companies in the Americas. It's been honored on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in America in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, and has been named a Quartz Best Company for Remote Workers for two consecutive years.

Follow Hennessey Digital on Social Media:

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

Instagram



For more information, contact:

Cindy Kerber Spellman

Hennessey Digital

press@hennessey.com

310-495-4736

SOURCE: Hennessey Digital

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/755371/New-Study-From-Hennessey-Digital-Reveals-27-of-Law-Firms-Are-Missing-Out-On-Valuable-Cases
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 16, 2023) - Environmental Waste International Inc. (TSXV: EWS) (the "Company") has granted 200,000 incentive stock options to its new Chief Financial Officer, Gary Nobrega, who joined the Company in November 2022. All options are exercisable at $0.05 per common share vesting over three years with an expiry date of May 15, 2028.

About Environmental Waste International Inc.

Environmental Waste International Inc. specializes in eco-friendly systems for the breakdown of organic materials, including tires. The Company has spent over 15 years engineering systems that integrate the EWS patented Reverse Polymerization process and proprietary microwave delivery system. EWS's unique microwave technology safely processes and recycles waste tires, while recovering highly valuable commodities, including carbon black, oil and steel. Each unit is designed to be environmentally safe, energy efficient, and economically profitable for the operator. For more information please visit, www.ewi.ca.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Bob MacBean, CEO

(905) 686-8689 or (800) 399-2366

Bob.macbean@ewi.ca

www.ewi.ca

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/166297
+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.

CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - Japan will on Wednesday release preliminary Q1 figures for gross domestic product, highlighting a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. GDP is expected to rise 0.1 percent on quarter and 0.7 percent on year following the flat quarterly reading and the 0.1 percent yearly gain in the three months prior. Capital expenditure is tipped to ease 0.4 percent on quarter after falling 0.5 percent in the previous three months. Japan also will see final March data for industrial production, with forecasts calling for a gain of 0.8 percent on month after rising 4.6 percent in February. Singapore will provide April numbers for non-oil domestic exports, with forecasts suggesting an increase of 1.7 percent on month and a decline of 9.9 percent on year. That follows the 18.4 percent monthly spike and the 8.30 percent yearly decline in March. Australia will release Q1 figures for its wage price index, with analysts expecting a gain of 0.9 percent on quarter and 3.6 percent on year after adding 0.8 percent on quarter and 3.3 percent on year in the previous quarter. 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.
Cardless, Inc., a San Francisco-based financial technology company, secured a three-year $75m credit facility in a new debt deal with i80 Group.

The warehouse facility will enable the company to fund customer receivables, growth, and continue its work with large, globally recognized brands.

Concurrently, Cardless has announced that Brian Kelly, founder of The Points Guy, has invested and will be an advisor to the company. Kelly will join other angel investors and advisors that include founders of Netflix, Seat Geek, Bonobos, Plaid and more.

Founded in 2019 by Stanford graduates Michael Spelfogel and Scott Kazmierowicz, Cardless is a fintech company that provides custom co-branded credit card products issued by First Electronic Bank, Member FDIC. The company has raised over $50M in equity funding from investors including Activant Capital, Greycroft, Accomplice, Pear VC, the ownership of Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns, and the Founders of Plaid, Bonobos, Flatiron Health, and 100 Thieves.

FinSMEs

16/05/2023
Edenred, an Issy-les-Moulineaux, Ile-de-France global platform for people at work, acquired Reward Gateway, a London, UK-based employee engagement company, for 1.15 billion from funds managed by Abry Partners and Castik Capital.

The transaction is expected to close in the coming days.

Together, Edenred and Reward Gateway will bring a differentiated value proposition at scale to the market, by providing end-to-end employee services, from digital employee benefits, employee savings, recognition and rewards programs, to well-being and corporate social animation solutions.

The deal will bring many benefits to Edenred and Reward Gateway clients including accelerated delivery of a comprehensive range of solutions and an extended reach of Reward Gateways platform into new regions and countries, as it is planned to be rolled-out in 6 major Edenred countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Romania, Spain). It will bring Human Resources departments access to a multi-country Employee Benefits and Engagement platform, empowering them to build the right combination of benefits and engagement tools to meet the changing needs of their people and their company.

As part of the deal, Reward Gateway will join the Employee Benefits Division within Edenred under the leadership of Arnaud Erulin, Employee Benefits, COO. Nick Burns, Global CEO, Reward Gateway will stay on and lead the business.

Listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange, Edenred is part of the CAC Next 20 index with a market capitalisation of over 14.5 billion. The company has 10,000 employees worldwide and generated more than 2.0 billion in revenue in 2022.

With over 4,000 clients in 23 countries, Reward Gateway has over 650 employees across the UK, US, Australia and Bulgaria. It forecasts to generate 95m revenue and 45m EBITDA in FY2023.

FinSMEs

16/05/2023
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has recently declared the Class 10 and Class 12 Board Exam Results 2023. The announcement brought in a number of success stories of hardworking students who prepared for the entire year to make it through the board exams. From urban to rural areas, students have excellently performed in the board exams this year. Speaking of which, one such story of a 15-year-old girl named Kafi has gained attention on social media. She scored an impressive 95.02 percent in the CBSE Class 10 exams 2023 and secured the top position in her school. The girl  who is an acid attack survivor  worked very hard and surpassed all the challenges to make her way towards her dream, as she aspires to become an IAS officer.

According to a News18 report, Kafis father works as a peon in the secretariat. He believes that her inspiring journey stands as a testament to the strength and determination she possess.

Filled with pride, he said that they have wholeheartedly supported their daughters ambitions and will continue to do so to fulfill her dreams. He also shared that he never lost hope after the acid attack incident, but instead made the decision to highly educate Kafi. The girls mother, on the other hand, shared how she feels proud about her daughters achievement. It has given us a chance to walk with our heads held high in society. It is a matter of pride for us, she said.

Acid attack survivor aspires to become IAS officer after scoring 95% in CBSE Class 10 Results 2023

15-year-old Kafi also spoke about her performance in CBSE Class 10 Board Exams 2023 and shared her wish of becoming an IAS officer, in order to make her parents proud.

Further expressing gratitude towards her parents, she also acknowledged their unwavering encouragement and credited her teachers guidance for her success, while also mentioning the invaluable role of online resources during her exam preparations.

Speaking about Kafis acid attack incident, she was 3-years-old when a few jealous neighbours allegedly attacked her with acid, which resulted in severe burns on her face and made her hospitalised for six long years. She also lost her eyesight in the attack. A determined Kafi without losing hope continued her education using the Braille script and her unwavering dedication has now culminated in her outstanding performance in the board exams.

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Harry and Meghan biographer Omid Scobie claimed 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.

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. As per Daily Mail report, 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.

The court heard that when he was a journalism student in 2002, 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.

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. Scobie rejected suggestions he had either innocently created a false memory or knowingly fabricated one.

The newspapers KC Andrew Green put it to him: Scobie, this incident didnt happen did it? No journalist would have asked you, a student intern during one week, to hack phones.

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.

Scobie said: You would be surprised at what happens, adding that he took offence at the suggestion. Green said 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.

Green added, You have a vested interest in helping the Duke of Sussex, if the opportunity arises, dont you? 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. 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, Scobie insisted the duke and duchess had not directly cooperated with his book.

Green suggested 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?

According to reports, 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.

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A new study has found that many contact lenses in the United States are made of forever chemicals that cause cancer.

Scientists have found extremely high levels of organic fluorine  a marker of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in 18 popular types of contact lenses.

Lets take a closer look:

What are PFAS?

PFAS are human-made chemicals that remain in the environment for a very long time.

Introduced in the 1940s, they are made by combining fluorine and carbon.

They are called forever chemicals because of the time it takes for them to break down.

They are used in many everyday consumer products including food packaging, textiles, cosmetics, dental floss, cookware, outdoor gear, medications and medical devices, paint and building materials, car and floor waxes, and other cleaning products.

Some forever chemicals are known to cause cancer and reproductive problems.

A study in Environmental Health Perspectives published in February found that exposure to multiple PFAS found in the environment can lead to developmental disorders, cardiovascular disease and many types of cancer.

Most people carry a mixture of the chemicals in their blood, the study noted.

Last year a peer-reviewed study found that widespread concentration of synthetic chemical pollutants has already spilled deep into the danger zone.

What did the testing find?

According to The Guardian, the testing was commissioned by the Mamavation and Environmental Health News public health blogs and conducted by an Environmental Protection Agency-certified lab.

The lab, which searched for organic fluorine in lenses made by popular brands such as Acuvue, Alcon and Coopervision, found chemical at levels between 105 parts per million (ppm) to 20,700ppm.

This exceeds the highest designated level deemed safe in drinking water by the Environmental Protection Agency by 50,000 times, according to News.com.au

The three lenses with the highest amounts of organic fluorine were Alcon Air Optix (No Hydraglide) for Astigmatism (20,000ppm), Alcon Air Optix Colors with Smartshield Technology (20,700ppm) and Alcon Total30 Contact Lenses for Daily Wear (20,400ppm).

You could consider [the lenses] almost pure PFAS, Scott Belcher, a North Carolina State University researcher and scientific adviser on the contact lens testing, told the newspaper.

Belcher said PFAs in such a form are in essence soft plastic material.

They are used for disposable, soft lenses because they have the properties that your eyes want, Belcher said.

It wants to get oxygen and doesnt want bacteria to grow like crazy, and it wants lenses to be smooth and comfortable, Belcher added.

The EPA in March proposed new standards to limit levels of harmful so-called forever chemicals in public drinking water.

Under the proposed new EPA rules, public water utilities will be required to monitor for six PFAS chemicals and reduce PFAS levels in the water supply.

EPA administrator Michael Regan said the new water standards have the potential to prevent thousands of deaths and tens of thousands of PFAS-related illnesses.

what began as a so-called miracle, groundbreaking technology meant for practicality and convenience quickly devolved into one of the most pressing environmental and public health concerns in the modern world, Regan said.

These toxic chemicals are so pervasive and so long-lasting in the environment that theyve been found in food, soil and water even in the most remote corners of our planet, he said.

These chemicals can accumulate in the body over time and we know that long-term exposure to certain types of PFAS has been linked to serious illnesses, including cancer, liver damage and high cholesterol, he added.

A number of major US corporations have been phasing out the use of certain PFAS chemicals in recent years and some states have already imposed limits on PFAS in public drinking water.

The EPA proposal, which will be finalized by the end of the year, would set national standards for PFAS in drinking water.

The non-profit Environmental Working Group welcomed the EPA announcement as historic progress and the environmental law firm Earthjustice called it a necessary and long overdue step towards addressing the nations PFAS crisis.

More than 200 million Americans could have PFAS in their tap water, said Scott Faber, senior vice president for government affairs at the Environmental Working Group.

Americans have been drinking contaminated water for decades, Faber said.

This proposal is a critical step toward getting these toxic poisons out of our water.

President Joe Bidens Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed in 2021 invests $9 billion over five years to help communities reduce PFAS contamination levels in drinking water.

With inputs from agencies

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Elon Musk on Friday announced that advertising executive Linda Yaccarino will be the new CEO of Twitter.

Yaccarino, who starts her new job in six weeks, is facing myriad challenges including an exodus of advertisers, falling revenues, a shortage of staff, and issues with moderating extreme and graphic content.

But Yaccarinos appointment has also revived the debate surrounding the glass cliff theory.

But what is the glass cliff theory? Whats the debate around it?

Lets take a closer look:

According to Vox, the term glass cliff was coined in 2005 by researchers Michelle Ryan and Alexander Haslam.

The glass cliff is a phenomenon whereby women (and other minority groups) are more likely to occupy positions of leadership that are risky and precarious, Ryan told Vox.

Ryan and Haslam began researching this theory after The Times newspaper in 2003 reported that companies with the most women on their boards performed the least well, as per University of Exeter.

The piece added that women were wreaking havoc in the boardroom and that corporate Britain would be better off without women on board.

Ryan and Haslam found that companies that brought women on their boards were more likely to have had poor performance five months leading up to the appointment than those that brought on men.

This can happen when share price performance is poor, when facing a scandal, or when the role involves reputational risk, Ryan added.

These results expose an additional, largely invisible, hurdle that women need to overcome in the workplace, they noted.

A piece in MIT Sloan Management Review noted that the phenomenon occurs across industries and geographies and for women and ethnic minorities alike.

It found that Fortune 500 companies that were performing poorly were more likely to appoint a female CEO than its well-performing counterparts.

A study in Harvard Business Review that asked students to appoint a CEO of a company found that 62 per cent chose men to run the company if it was doing well and 69 percent chose women if the company was teetering.

Another study in Harvard Business Review found the glass cliff does not seem to apply to organizations with a history of female leaders.

When an organization is in crisis, women are often seen as being able to come in and take care of a problem, Anna Beninger, senior director of research and corporate engagement partner at nonprofit firm Catalyst told Vox.

Theyre effectively handed the mess to clean up.

Ellen Pao at Reddit, Mary Barra at GM, Carly Fiorina at HP and Marissa Mayer at Yahoo are some examples of the glass cliff theory at work, as per Fortune.

The University of Exeter website says examples of a glass cliff can occur not just in Fortune 500 companies, but also in politics  former UK prime minister Teresa May and Brexit for example  and also sport.

However, some dispute the very existence of the phenomenon and call it a myth.

Forbes cited a study of 233 large companies in Germany and the UK over a decade finding no evidence of such a phenomenon.

According to the outlet, another study published in Psychological Bulletin in 2020 found zero evidence of the phenomenon in management and sports, but did find some evidence in politics, education and non-profits.

In these areas, women and minorities were more likely than white men to be hired by struggling organizations or governments, the piece noted.

We find support for the glass cliff, but the effect is small and not ubiquitous. Instead, it is restricted to some domains and may depend on a range of factors, the piece concluded.

Can Yaccarino make it work?

Jo-Ellen Pozner, an associate professor of management at the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University told the website Market Watch Yaccarinos appointment seems like a textbook case of the theory.

Her credentials are impeccable and shes been extremely successful so far. But shes also been in settings where her success was achievable, Pozner added.

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 Twitters 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.

Jennifer Chatman, professor of management at the Haas School of Business, told Axios Yaccarino should leave the company quickly if Musk refuses to step back.

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 per cent 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.

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On Tuesday, five men in Germany were convicted for pulling off the biggest art heist in modern history.

The audacious robbery at one of the worlds oldest museums over the span of just a few minutes saw the thieves  members of the Remmo clan, an extended family mostly based in Berlin and known for a web of ties to organised crime  make off with a haul worth more than $123 million.

Lets take a look at the Dresden jewel heist:

The crime

The thieves told the court in January that the idea for the Dresden job was hatched after a younger acquaintance came back from a field trip to the Green Vault raving about the green diamonds on display there.

The Green Vault is one of Europes oldest museums, founded by Augustus, Elector of Saxony, in 1723.

It is part of Dresdens Royal Palace, which suffered severe damage in World War II. After being closed for decades, the Vault was restored and reopened in 2006, becoming a major tourist draw.

It contains the treasury of Augustus the Strong of Saxony, comprising around 4,000 objects of gold, precious stones, and other materials.

According to BBC, the gang went to the museum several times to prepare for the heist.

They cut through the bars of a protective window covering using a hydraulic cutting machine and then taped them back.

In the early hours of 25 November, 2019, the gang caused a fire to cut the power supply to street lights outside the Green Vault Museum.

Members of the gang, aged 24 to 29, then slipped into the museum through previously damaged bars on a window.

CCTV footage shows masked men with axes entering the Green Vault, as per BBC.

They smashed a display case with an axe and grabbed 21 pieces decorated with 4,300 jewels in less than five minutes.

Before leaving, they hosed the room down with a foam fire extinguisher, as per BBC.

The thieves were able to escape in a getaway car they later torched in an underground car park.

According to CNN, a motion sensor that should have gone off during the crime but it didnt.

The alarm went off the day before the crime and security guards did not reactive it.

The police initially looked at four security guards at the museum on suspicion of being involved in the heist, but the inquiry was a dead end, as per BBC.

The stolen artifacts included a 1780s hat clasp containing 15 big and 100 small diamonds, and a 96-centimeter sword and a scabbard which had more than 800 diamonds, as per CNN.

Professor Marion Ackermann, general director of Dresdens State Art Collections, told BBC, There are people who steal artworks out of passion for art, but this was really the opposite.

They had no idea of what they had taken.

Security consultant Roy Ramm told CNN such crimes are increasingly rare.

Ramm, a former commander of specialist operations at New Scotland Yard in London, added, Technical security has improved over the years with CCTV alarm systems and all kinds of high-tech protections, so [there is a high] risk of early detection and being actually caught in the act  you need some inside information and a very, very detailed plan.

Some artifacts recovered

Authorities long thought the haul was lost for good, with detectives scouring Europes shadowy stolen goods markets for signs of the Saxon royal artifacts.

But in December 2022, police recovered a considerable portion of the items  valued at 60 million euros  following exploratory talks with the suspects.

Many of the pieces were badly damaged and some are still missing, including a brooch that belonged to Queen Amalie Auguste of Saxony.

Another missing artifact is the White Stone of Saxony, as per BBC.

The trial, which began in January 2022, shed some light on the audacious heist but left key questions unanswered.

In January, four of the defendants confessed, leading to the deal for lighter sentences. A fifth said he stole tools to penetrate the building but denied taking part in the heist itself.

The court convicted them of particularly aggravated arson in combination with dangerous bodily injury, theft with weapons, damage to property and intentional arson.

The judges who heard the case observed that some of the men had acted with considerable criminal energy, dpa reported. The aim was to get rich, the judges said.

More than 100 witnesses and 11 experts gave testimony during the trials main proceedings,

Around 40 people believed to have been involved in planning the robbery are still wanted.

Two of the defendants, Wissam and Mohamed Remmo, were already serving time for the daring 2017 theft of a massive gold coin from a Berlin museum.

Although many of the historic pieces were recovered, some are feared lost forever in what presiding judge Andreas Ziegel called an act of remarkable criminal drive by the thieves at one of the oldest and richest treasure collections in the world.

Ziegel defended the plea deal, saying that without it the jewels which have been classed as irreplaceable would never have returned to the Green Vault.

He also said he believed the thieves apologies to be sincere.

The returned pieces do not erase the fact that the museums collection of complete jewellery sets is probably destroyed forever, Ziegel added.

In his remarks Tuesday, Ziegel directly addressed the defendants, saying it is up to them to decide whether to continue committing crimes.

There are things in your life that are worth living a different life for, the judge said, according to dpa. Its your choice what you do with your life.

The trial revealed major security failings at the Green Vault, a state institution.

Ackerman told BBC, Many aspects come together in a security system. The building, the organisation, and also technical aspects. And, like in a chain, every aspect must work and, in this case, many things didnt work.

Stolen art investigator Arthur Brand told CBS such pieces are impossible to get rid of on the open market.

Art can be money. But you cannot sell it; once its in the criminal underworld, it stays there, Brand added.

But museum director Marius Winzeler has said he is optimistic the remaining missing pieces will one day return to Dresden, given that they cannot be legally sold.

With inputs from agencies

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The Russia-Ukraine war has been continuing for 15 months now and there seems to be no end to it. On Monday, Ukraines Volodymyr Zelenskyy met British prime minister Rishi Sunak at Chequers, the countryside retreat, where the two discussed the ongoing battle as well as Britains support to Kyiv.

The West has been supporting Kyiv in defending its territory by providing arms and ammunition. Heres a look back at how the 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 24 February, 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 Germanys 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 Ukraines 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 Ukraines 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 Zelenskyys 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 alliances chief Jens Stoltenberg.

This will put Ukraine in a strong position to continue to retake occupied territory, he said.

Washingtons decision to send rocket-propelled precision bombs that nearly double Kyivs 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, Zelenskyy secured further promises of military aid ahead of Ukraines 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 ($3 billion or Rs 24,683 crore).

NATO members have however so far drawn the line at sending Kyiv modern fighter jets, despite Zelenskyys repeated appeals for war planes such as the US-designed F-16.

With inputs from AFP

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West Canada and the Pacific Northwest, which are known for their pleasant climates, are sweltering in the summer heat.

Even those temperatures typically observed towards the end of July are rising above average due to the heatwave.

The United States and western Canada will continue to experience heat dome weather for the majority of this week, according to the weather service.

This incident wont be as severe as the scorching heat dome that shattered records in the area in June 2021 and caused hundreds of fatalities. But it still raises public health concerns in areas with gentle and pleasant summers.

Also read: Indias Killer Summer: What a heatwave does to your body

Record-breaking heatwave in the US

Extended forecasts indicate record heat is likely over large areas of Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho and Montana in the US, as per Climate Central.

In the Pacific Northwest, numerous locations broke daily high-temperature records on 15 May: Seattle-Tacoma Airport recorded 31.6 degrees Celsius, Olympia 32 degrees Celsius, Hoquiam 32.8 degrees Celsius, which also broke the May all-time high-temperature record, Quillayute 33.3 degrees Celsius, which also tied the May all-time high-temperature record.

Temperatures in Eugene and Portland, Oregon, respectively, were 33.3 and 34.4 degrees Celsius.

According to the National Weather Service office in Seattle, Today will be the 4th day in a row with highs in the 80s for Seattle. This will tie the record for most consecutive days with highs 26.6 degrees Celsius plus in the month of May.

The average high temperature in Seattle at the end of July is 26.1 degrees Celsius, so the current temperatures are significantly higher than even those average highs.

According to CNN, in the Pacific Northwest, many residents lack air conditioning, and because nightly lows are frequently warm as well, the body is unable to quickly recover from the heat of the day.

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, reported Associated Press.

More than 10 million people in the Pacific Northwest and parts of Central California have received heat alerts as a result.

The weather pattern closely approaches one that would be experienced in the midst of summer in the area. The Northwest is under a large dome of high pressure, which is allowing dry, downslope winds to blow off the mountains and raising temperatures over average.

Also read: Burning Hot: These regions are likely to witness record-smashing heat waves

Canada braces for heat dome

Not just Americans are feeling the heat. In Canadas western regions, it has been considerably more severe.

According to CNN, Sunday saw new monthly records established in a number of British Columbian locations, including Lytton, which reached a high of roughly 36.1 degrees Celsius, which is hotter than the typical temperature Phoenix, Arizona, sees at this time of year.

Wildfires that have already forced tens of thousands of locals to flee are anticipated to get worse due to the weather.

On Thursday, there were 75 active wildfires burning in Alberta, 23 of which were considered to be out of control. Oil and gas production, which usually withstands weather-related interruptions, was briefly suspended in some places, the report says.

According to recent forecasts, a higher pressure system that is stronger than anything we have seen since records began forty years ago is emerging over the Canadian Prairies, according to Florida-based meteorologist Jeffery Berardelli, who spoke to The Guardian.

A heat dome like this is a very rare occurrence in this part of the world this time of year, he wrote in an email. According to statistics and history, it occurs less frequently than once every 1,000 years.

According to Berardelli, the regions environment is currently hotter than in prior decades, implying that these sporadic incidents will become more often in the years to come.

Given the cooler nighttime temperatures, the current weather pattern is unlikely to result in widespread mortality, despite the intensity of the 2021 heatwave that killed more than 600 people in British Columbia and caused massive die-offs of marine life.

However, temperatures in some areas of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho will likely exceed historical norms by hotter than 15 degrees Celsius.

King County, home to Seattle, directed transportation operators such as bus drivers to let people ride for free if theyre seeking respite from the heat or heading to a cooling centre. The countys regional homeless authority said several cooling and day centres will be open across the county, as per AP.

Hot temperatures to melt the snow

This weeks rising temperatures will threaten over 150 high-temperature records across the West.

The Rockies and the middle and southern Plains will experience heat this week, but the West will experience the most extreme temperatures. The Pacific Northwest is experiencing 20 to 30 degrees above average temperatures.

The weather service in Boise, Idaho, told CNN, To put it in perspective, highs will be near record values each day. These hot temperatures will increase snowmelt in the mountains. Mainstream rivers fed by snowpack will be running high, swift and cold.

Rivers are still running cold. We have snow melting and temperatures  probably in the low- to mid-40s (4.4 to 7.2 C) right now. Youre nice and warm and jump into the cold water  that could pose a risk to getting cold water shock, VOA news quoted National Weather Service meteorologist Higa as saying.

Weather service offices all around the West are advising people to avoid the water and seek out other ways to escape the heat. Most of the time, the water is in the fifties, which is too cold to swim in without getting cold water shock and hyperthermia.

Climate change at play

The recent heat wave serves as yet another reminder that as long as people continue to emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, summers will continue to get hotter and arrive earlier.

A recent Climate Central analysis claims that the approaching heat dome has clear fingerprints of climate change and has five times enhanced the likelihood of temperature records.

In recent years, the regions springtime temperatures have been hotter and dryer than usual, which has accelerated the start of the fire season. However, since January, more than 410,000 hectares of forest have burned, which is more than twice the amount that is typically lost in a season.

According to The Guardian, indigenous rural communities have been particularly hard-hit by the recent fires. 45 structures, including the senior facility for the community, have burned down at Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation.

More than 2,000 people have been evicted from their homes as wildfires continue to threaten nine First Nations in Alberta.

John Vaillant, author of the book Fire Weather told the outlet, Fire isnt going away. Were going to be burning for this entire century. Were going through a global regime change and a whole bunch of things are going to catch on fire, and catch on fire again, until something new grows there, something different grows there or nothing grows there. This is a global shift. Its an epochal shift, and we happen to be alive for it.

With inputs from agencies

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Like the rest of the world, people in Japan spent the better part of the last few years covering their faces. The Japanese government finally lifted its mask-wearing mandate last week. But many are reluctant to step out without the face cover. Not because of the fear of the coronavirus. But they feel they have forgotten how to smile.

So what now? People across the country are fretting; they want to have the smiles back on their faces and hence are taking lessons for it. They are practising smiling and other facial expressions before they take off their masks in public.

Smile practice seminars have become a rage in Japan  people young and old, and a large number of women, are attending sessions on how to smile in a world where masks are no longer mandatory. (Japan was among the last countries in the world to go do away with masks.)

Some in Japan worry that their smile might come across as fake; others are anxious to show the lower part of their face, which was hidden under the mask for almost three years, to strangers.

Hence nervous Japanese are turning to experts  professionals who can teach them how to wear the right expression and the perfect smile.

Inside Japans smile training sessions

At a smile training session in Yokohama, a city south of Tokyo, participants first stretched to relieve tension. They then lifted hand-held mirrors and look at their reflections as an instructor asked them to flex their facial muscles, according to a report in Japan Times.

Keiko Kawano, a radio personality-turned-entrepreneur, who runs Egaoiku, which translates as smile education in English, emphasises the need for a smiling face. Learning how to smile impacts not only a persons appearance but also their mindset, she says.

A smile is only a smile if its conveyed, Kawano is quoted by Japan Times, as telling her students. Even if youre thinking about smiling or that youre happy, if you have no expression, it wont reach the audience.

A similar session was organised at a senior care centre in Tokyo earlier this month to help older Japanese learn how to smile again.

Seventy-nine-year-old Akiko Takizawa, who attended the seminar, told the Japanese daily Mainichi Shimbun that she didnt show her smile to others during the pandemic as she didnt have the opportunity to see people. I am reminded how important smiles can be, she added.

Also read: 1.5 million Japanese in isolation post Covid pandemic; they dont go out, order in food, dont attend office



The booming business

The smile business is booming in Japan. Egaoiku reportedly held such sessions even before the mask mandate was eased but since February the number of participants has increased 4.5 times as compared to last year.

Kawano, who runs another company called Egao Trainer Association, has reportedly trained at least 4,000 people how to smile so far. She has further helped 700 people become certified smile specialists, according to reports in local media.

It was in 2017 that she began teaching people how to smile at a gym. She had no medical training but her one-hour sessions focussed on yoga and training the zygomatic muscles, which pull the corners of the mouth, reports The New York Times (NYT). She believes that the muscles just below the eyes are important.

The entrepreneur started giving training on smiling at nursing homes, corporate offices including IBM Japan, and individuals who thought a good smile would improve their job and marriage prospects. Then the pandemic hit and her business took a slump.

But even then she showed people how the smile with their eyes with the mask on  it needs one to lift the eye muscles. She told NYT that a TV presenter demonstrated her method on a broadcast and an online post about it helped her raise her profile.

Now, with more and more people in Japan ditching the mask, the demand for smile training sessions has increased.

Kawano is not alone. Miho Kitano is another smile trainer, who is seeing her business skyrocket as people want to rediscover how to be cheerful and it all starts with smiling.

We are extremely busy now because people want to be seen smiling again, she told Telegraph. Japanese people have been wearing masks for more than three years now and some say they have almost forgotten how to smile.

Kitanos company is called Smile Facial Muscle Association and the training comprises exercises which help them with their smiles. One of them includes biting on straws to elevate cheek muscles. She has around 3,000 customers in Tokyo and also holds one-on-one sessions that cost Y11,000 (Rs 6,657).

I meet many people who say they arent good at smiling, but its all about the muscles, and we have to use and train them in order to get good at it, she told Japan Times. Just as you might exercise your arms, exercising your expressive muscles is so important.

Fake or real?

But can you forget to smile? There have been no studies to indicate that wearing masks for a prolonged time affects facial muscles.

Facial muscles can be trained like other muscles, although such training could be challenging, owing to large variability between individuals, Professor Hanein, who runs a neuro-engineering lab at Tel Aviv University in Israel, told the NYT. A possible problem with a practised or faked smile is that it may be identified as such by other people, she added.

With inputs from agencies

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to inaugurate the new Parliament building soon. As per a report in NDTV, the new building could be unveiled in the last week of May to mark nine years of the Modi government at the Centre. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Gujarat chief minister took oath as Indias prime minister on 26 May 2014.

The Monsoon session, which is slated to begin in July, is unlikely to be held in the new building, reported News18. The construction of the structure, which was reportedly supposed to be completed by November 2022, is in its final stages.

What is the new Parliament building offering? Lets take a closer look.

New Sansad

Modi had laid the foundation stone of the new building in December 2020, which is coming up adjacent to the current Parliament complex.

Bimal Patel of HCP Designs, Ahmedabad, is the architect overseeing the project, while the building is being constructed by Tata Projects Limited.

Built at an estimated cost of Rs 1,200 crore under the Central Vista Project, the new Parliament building will boast of nearly 5,000 works of art, reported English daily Indian Express.

The four-storey structure, which is triangular in shape, spans across 64,500 square metres.

The new building has 888 seats in the Lok Sabha chamber and 384 seats in the Rajya Sabha chamber, the report added.

The open courtyard constructed at an area of 2,000 sq metre will feature a banyan tree.

Moreover, the new complex has three doors  Gyan Dwar, Shakti Dwar, and Karma Dwar, with separate entrances for members of Parliament (MPs), VIPs and visitors, NDTV reported citing officials.

Sources told Indian Express that the buildings six entrances display guardian statues showing auspicious animals, which have been selected on the basis of their significance in Indian culture, vaastu shastra and the traits they represent.

The north entrance has gaja or elephant, which symbolises wisdom, fortune, intellect and memory. The ashva or horse, representing endurance, strength, power and speed, guards the southern doorway, as per the English daily.

Garuda or eagle, symbolising the aspirations of the people can be found at the eastern entrance. Swan or hamsa, which represents wisdom, is exhibited at the north-eastern entrance.

Two mythical creatures  makara and shardula  are displayed at other entrances of the new building. While the makara symbolises unity in diversity, shardula represents the power of the people, the Indian Express report explained.

Whats inside?

Times of India (TOI) reported in December 2020 that the new Parliament complex will have a grand Constitution Hall to display the democratic heritage of the country.

Unlike the existing complex, the new Parliament does not have a Central Hall.

The new building will offer a modern library, large offices and committee rooms, dining areas and abundant parking space.

Based on the peacock theme, the new Lok Sabha chamber is three times bigger than the one in the existing building, reported Business Standard.

The new Rajya Sabha hall is built on the lotus theme  Indias national flower, the report added.

Last July, prime minister Modi had unveiled the National Emblem cast on the roof of the new Parliament building. The 6.5-metre-high bronze emblem weighs 9,500 kg.

As per Indian Express, the new Parliament building is also equipped with six granite statues of important personalities, including freedom struggle leaders. Moreover, there are four galleries each for Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, three India galleries, a Constitution gallery and three ceremonial foyers.

The new complex will feature portraits of Mahatma Gandhi, Subhas Chandra Bose and also prime ministers of India, as per News18.

Each wall inside the building will showcase different themes such as the contribution of tribal and women leaders, noted Indian Express.

The official vision document for the new Parliament building accessed by the English daily, says: The artworks and its installation represent sanatan parampara that continued over thousands of years. Along with that, the overall theme is designed keeping in mind the study of vaastu shastra and maintaining the character of the building.

The artworks will depict Indian ethos and identity, related to both the civilisation and culture, an official told Indian Express.

A joint Central Secretariat, a new Prime Ministers residence, a new Prime Ministers Office, a new Vice-Presidents enclave, as well as revamping of the Rajpath are also part of the Central Vista Project.

Notably, the demand for a new Parliament building dates back to 2012 when the then Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to then Speaker Meira Kumar had shot off a letter to the Urban Development Secretary. As per Indian Express, the letter had called for a survey of area in the proximity of Parliament House Complex and identify suitable locations/sites for construction of a state-of-the-art new Parliament Building.

In 2016, the then Speaker Sumitra Mahajan had also underlined the need for an upgrade, citing a lack of space in the existing Parliament building.

With inputs from agencies

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The race for the Karnataka chief ministers post is getting interesting.

Former chief minister Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee chief DK Shivakumar are thought to be the top two candidates for the top job in the state.

But while they are the overwhelming favourites, theyre not the only ones who could become chief minister.

Lets meet some of the other candidates who are possibly in contention for top job in Karnataka.

G Parameshwara

On Tuesday, Congress leader G Parameshwara threw his name into the race.

He helped his father establish the Sri Siddhartha Medical College prior to joining politics, as per Moneycontrol.

Parameswara joined Congresss in 1989 as KPCC joint secretary after former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi spotted potential in him when he visited Tumkur.

Parameshwara was the states first Dalit deputy chief minister under the Congress-JD(S) coalition government led by HD Kumaraswamy.

Parameswara has been elected to the Karnataka Assembly six times. He has represented Madhugiri in 1989, 1999 and 2004, Koratagere in 2008, 2018 and 2023.

He was also the longest-serving KPCC chief (eight years) and has a PhD in plant physiology from the Waite Agriculture Research Centre of the University of Adelaide.

Parameshwara previously served as the minister for sericulture (1993-94) and minister for higher education (1999-2004).

Parameshwara, who represents Koratagere in Tumakuru district, in 2013 lost the Assembly polls to then political newbie Sudhakar Lal when he was KPCC president.

Parameshwara, at the time a contender for the chief ministers post, lost out on chance to be chief minister.

He was then made an MLC and a minister in the Siddaramaiah government.

According to News9, Parameshwara blames Siddaramaiah for his defeat in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in the Kolar constituency.

His supporters credit him for development worth Rs 2,500 crore in the Koratagere constituency including hospitals, dams, water supply centres and infrastructure.

However, criticisms have been levied at Parameshwara of being an elitist and not accessible to the common man, as per News9.

Parameshwara said that he was ready to take up the responsibility if the party high command asked him to run the government.

Parameshwara, the former state Congress chief, added that the high command is aware of his service to the party, and he doesnt feel the need to lobby for the post.

I have faith in the party high command. I have certain principles. I can also take about 50 legislators and do the shouting, but for me the discipline of the party is important. If people like us dont follow things, there wont be any discipline in the party. I have said that if the high command gives me the responsibility, I will take it up. I have not said I wont, he said.

They (high command) too are aware that I have worked for the party, served it for eight years (as KPCC President) and brought it to power (in 2013). Also I have served as the Deputy Chief Minister. They know everything, there is nothing for us to say afresh. So I feel there is no need for me to ask for the post or lobby for it, and Im quiet. That doesnt mean im incapable, Im capable and if given an opportunity will do the job, he added.

Parameshwaras comments came as his supporters took to the streets in Karnataka and demanded that he be given the top job.

Lingayats demand CM

Meanwhile, a high-profile Lingayat group has demanded that the Congress appoint a CM from the community.

The All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha, headed up by Congress leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa, has written to the Congress high command demanding the coveted post for the community.

In its letter addressed to AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, the Mahasabha said that their demand has to be considered as 34 elected MLAs from the Congress are Lingayats.

It also said that the party had given tickets to 46 candidates, of which 34 won. The community has played a major role in electing MLAs in other 50 seats. The community has shifted its loyalty from BJP to Congress, the letter says.

Congress won with the support of Lingayats. 39 elected Congress MLAs are from the Lingayat community. Lingayat community has many able candidates for the post of CM. Its sad that their names arent being put forward. Theres MB Patil, Shamanuru Shivashankarappa and Eshwar Khandre. The Karnataka Lingayat association requests them to make one of these people CM, added Veerashaiva Samaj Kalaburagi president Arun Kumar Patil while speaking to ANI on Monday.

MB Patil

MB Patil, a senior Congress leader and former minister, is a prominent Lingayat leader.

He began his political career in 1991 by successfully contesting the Assembly elections from Tikota.

Following this, the Congress leader contested the Lok Sabha polls from Bijapur (now renamed as Vijayapura) and became an MP.

In 2008, Patil yet again contested the assembly polls from Babaleshwar.

He has held the seat in his Babaleshwar constituency since 2008, according to Jagran.

He won his fourth straight term in the recently-concluded Assembly polls getting 74,950 votes against his rival Vijaykumar Patil of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Patil, the campaign committee chairman and former home and water resources minister, has already spelled out his ambition to become chief minister.

There are many capable contenders for the CMs post including me, Patil told Deccan Herald in April.

Patil told PTI he was among several contenders for the post.

I am there. G Parameshwara, Krishna Byre Gowda, Ramalinga Reddy, H K Patil, R V Deshpande are also there. There are many leaders who are capable of becoming a CM. In Congress, the party legislative committee will take a call after the election results.

Asked if Lingayat leaders Jagadish Shettar and Laxman Savadi joining the Congress threatened his aspirations to become a CM, he said: In Lingayats, I am much more senior than Shettar and Savadi. It will take time for them to be an aspirant for CM.

Although I am capable of becoming a CM like many others, ultimately the party will decide, he added.

Patil, who was at the forefront of recommending religious status for the Lingayats, in 2018 took umbrage at Shivakumar saying the Congress made a huge mistake by recommending religious minority status for the Lingayat community ahead of the polls.

According to India Today, the BJP in April had shared a purported video of Patil slapping a youth while campaigning.

Goondaism is in the DNA of Congress Arrogant @INCKarnataka MLA @MBPatil physically assaults a youth for sharing his grievances. Getting beaten up for sharing grievances is the ONLY guarantee that Congress delivers.#CongressGuaranteePakka420 #CriminalCongress pic.twitter.com/n0IjWN0tPA  BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) April 23, 2023

A source told the outlet Patil slapped the youth, who is from Patils Babaleshwar constituency, for asking what development hed brought to his village.

However, Patil claimed the young man used an unparliamentary word on stage, as per India Today.

Prior to the polls, Patil had predicted that the Congress will come to power on its own with 130-odd seats out of 224 in the Karnataka assembly elections and the BJPs alleged Operation Kamala of poaching MLAs post polls will not be successful this time.

Patil had also denied any internal fight in the Congress over aspirations of becoming chief minister.

Patil had claimed that he has neither been sidelined nor losing his importance in the party after Jagadish Shettar and Laxman Savadi, the tall Lingayat leaders from BJP, joined the Congress.

Shamanuru Shivashankarappa

At 91, Shamanur Shivashankarappa is Karnatakas oldest MLA.

SS, as people around the veteran leader fondly call him, needs support while walking but has a good listening capacity, a clear voice and speaks his mind with clarity.

Shivashankarappas political acumen could be gauged from the fact that the party assigned him the job of getting former chief minister and BJP leader Jagadish Shettar into the Congress fold, a party leader told PTI.

Shivashankarappa is an eminent educationist, who runs medical, engineering and nursing colleges, among others in Davangere.

He declared assets worth Rs 312.75 crore while filing his nomination.

According to Business Insider, he has investments in sugar distilleries and has even produced a Kannada movie.

He has three sons and four daughters.

The Congress gave his son SS Mallikarjun a ticket to contest from Davangere North.

The Congress veteran, a five-time MLA and former Lok Sabha member, retained his Davangere South in the recently-concluded Assembly polls.

Shivashankarappa handily defeated BJP nominee former Mayor BG Ajay Kumar in the polls, getting 84,928 votes compared to just 56,410 votes.

Prior to the polls, he described himself as a galloping horse in the electoral arena.

When a reporter, quoting some reports, told him that someone from the minority community was supposed to get the ticket instead of him, the Congress leader playfully chided him: Dont create trouble. All are with me here (Davangere South). You dont need to bother about it. Muslims and Lingayats are all with me.

Shivashankarappa after his win told Deccan Herald he would urge the party to choose a Lingayat MLA as chief minister.

On being asked if he is in the race for chief minister, Shivashankarappa quickly answered yes yes, why not?, according to The Print.

Eshwar Khandre

Eshwar Khandre is the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) working president.

Khandre in February played coy about who would be the next chief minister in Karnataka telling News18 anything can happen and there are umpteen people from the community in the party who can lead the state in the next government.

Khandre in 2019 had invited BJPs Yediyurappa to join the Congress.

Let Yediyurappa come and join our party, he is being harassed by his high command, Khandre told reporters at Bhalki.

He claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi by allegedly not giving appointment to the then chief minister, who is the representative of seven crore people of the state, to discuss flood relief, had humiliated the people of the state.

Why should he (Yediyurappa) remain (in BJP)? If he has self-respect, let him quit the party and join our party, he added.

Asked what kind of harassment Yediyurappa was facing, Khandre said, You (media) too know what the situation is. You know how he is being treated. Everything was coming from the top and how he is able to administer.

With inputs from agencies

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Two and a half years ago the Taliban took over Afghanistan. Now in yet another attempt to assert its legitimacy, it has turned toward India. It has called for a change in leadership at the Afghan embassy in New Delhi, which has triggered a tug-of-war between the earlier ambassador and the one appointed by the Taliban regime.

The power struggle

Ambassador Farid Mamundzay was appointed in 2020 by the previous Islamic Republic of Afghanistan led by former president Ashraf Ghani. He was continuing until now but the Taliban-run Ministry of Foreign Affairs wants a rejig.

Mamundzay is in a tussle with trade counsellor Qadir Shah, who too was appointed by the Ghani government. But now the pro-Taliban diplomat has been picked by the current regime to take over.

The tension at the embassy in Delhi first came to light on Saturday after an article was published in a small Afghan news agency Bokhdi. It said that the Taliban had appointed Shah as head of the Afghan embassy. There were reportedly directions from Kabul to replace Mamundzay with the diplomat who was already posted at the embassy as the charge dAffaires (acting ambassador).

The trouble started last month when Mamundzay was visiting London to meet his family, which lives in exile. The embassy at the time received communication from Kabul that Shah was appointed as charge dAffaires, according to a report in The Indian Express.

Shah, who reportedly had a copy of the communication, also informed the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) about his appointment. When Mamundzay returned in early May he dismissed Shah and barred him from entering the embassy premises, the report says.

Unfortunately, from April 29, I have been trying to enter the embassy to show that I am a bureaucrat, not with any political group, but I am not being allowed to do so, Shah told The Indian Express, saying that he had done nothing illegal.

Shah has the backing of the Taliban government, which has reportedly asked Mamundzay to return to Kabul, according to letters issued by the Afghan foreign ministry.

However, Mamundzay has stuck to his stance saying that India recognises him as the Afghan ambassador. The embattled diplomat has the support of embassy employees who have refused to welcome the Taliban governments decision to pick Shah to lead the mission in India, reports Amu Television, a US-based digital media platform that reports on Afghanistan.

Corupption allegations

Shah has accused Mamundzay of corruption. He said that the Afghan people in Delhi had complained of corruption by embassy officials. After similar grievances reached Kabul, the Afghan foreign affairs ministry appointed him as charge daffaires to resolve the issue.

This is not a political decision. It is to do with the corruption complaints, Shah told The Indian Express.

Also read: Taliban are a reality, but India should still tread carefully while engaging with Islamist militia

On Saturday, Tolo News posted on Twitter a screenshot of an unsigned letter reportedly from Afghan refugees in India. It names three diplomats including Mamundzay, and accuses them of corruption related to a land lease agreement with an Indian company.

Afghans based in India in a letter to the Islamic Emirate Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused several officials at the Afghan embassy in India of corruption, related to a land lease agreement with an Indian company.

The officials in the Afghan embassy in Delhi have yet to pic.twitter.com/KnPPMEO25s  TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) May 14, 2023

After this Mamundzay posted a statement on his Facebook page, which was also shared on the official page of the Afghan embassy.

Rejecting the corruption allegations as baseless, the statement says that all embassy officials work with sincerity and commitment to the dignity and pride of their country and consider the will of their nation the criterion of past and present affairs.

Although the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in India has no obligation to respond to claims from unknown addresses, it assures all fellow countrymen that it has handled all its past and present affairs with full transparency to avoid the concern of its citizens, the statement said, as per a translation, reports The Wire.

Mamundzay also released a press statement Monday saying he rejects claims from an individual claiming to have taken charge of the mission in New Delhi at the behest of the Taliban.

According to him, the induvial who has been named by the Taliban regime as charge daffaires at the embassy was 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.

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

Indias dilemma

Indias Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has refused to be dragged into the matter, saying it was an internal fight which needs to be settled among the Afghan embassy officials.

Since India, like other nations, does not acknowledge the Taliban regime, Mamundzay continued to operate at the embassy even after the Islamic Republic collapsed in August 2021.

But now New Delhi faces a dilemma: Should it recognise the Taliban appointment or stick with the current ambassador? An endorsement of a diplomat appointed by the Taliban will be seen as handing over the embassy in Delhi to the insurgent group. It also raises questions about whether the Taliban flag would be raised at the Afghan embassy in New Delhi.

The decision by the MEA to not take sides has been looked at as many as a softening of stance towards the Taliban.

However, rejecting the appointment of the Talibans regime could see repercussions for Indias technical mission in Kabul, reports The Hindu. It was set up last year in a major U-turn after the embassy was shut following the collapse of the earlier Afghanistan government. The Taliban peddled this as partial recognition by India.

Also read: Taliban to get crash course in Indian culture

India has offered medical aid to Afghanistan, MEA officials have met Taliban ministers in Kabul, and its officials have been trained in online courses run by the Indian government. Now accepting an envoy appointed by the Taliban will be seen as a step toward establishing ties with the group, known for its brutality and oppression and its links to terrorism.

Taliban and other nations

The Taliban has played a similar card in other nations that do not recognise it. It has taken control of 14 missions overseas where it has appointed its nominees.

Pakistan, China, Russia, and Iran are among some of the countries that have allowed the appointment of diplomats endorsed by the Taliban. In these embassies, the Taliban or Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan (IEA) flag is raised rather than that of the democratically elected previous Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

India has all reasons to be wary.



With inputs from agencies

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Turkey will vote again on 28 May after no presidential candidate secured an outright majority in the first round. As per data released by the countrys Supreme Election Council (YSK) on Monday (15 May), incumbent president Recep Tayyip Erdogan garnered 49.5 per cent of the votes cast, while his main opponent Kemal Kilicdaroglu got 44.88 per cent votes.

Sinan Ogan, the third candidate, who is now being viewed as a potential kingmaker, received 5.17 per cent votes. To win, a candidate has to bag more than 50 per cent of the polled votes.

With Ogan out of the race, the presidential runoff election will pit Kilicdaroglu against Erdogan in a head-to-head contest. But who Ogan supports could turn the tide in Turkey elections.

Who is Sinan Ogan and which candidate would he endorse? Lets take a look.

The potential kingmaker

Born in 1967 to an Azerbaijani family in the city of Igdir in eastern Turkey, Ogan is a former academic who has also worked for think tanks.

He completed his PhD in international relations and political science from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. The 55-year-old also has a masters degree in financial law, as per a FRANCE 24 report.

Ogan made his plunge into politics with the Erdogan-allied far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).

In 2011, he was elected to the Turkish parliament from his native Igdir province.

He split with the MHP in 2017 when he refused to support the constitutional referendum that would the following year alter Turkeys parliamentary system to its current presidential one. Ogan was among the few party leaders who opposed MHP leader Devlet Bahcelis decision to throw his weight behind Erdogans bid to launch an executive presidency, FRANCE 24 reported.

Murat Yildiz, a former adviser for the MHP who has previously worked with Ogan, told Al Jazeera, Hes a calm guy, straightforward. Since his early political career, he always aimed for the leadership of the MHP. He was the crown prince to Bahceli and had a good relationship with him.

But as his popularity increased, Bahceli started to see him as a threat, Yildiz said. They slowly started to fall apart. Ogan has a certain ego, which Bahceli also didnt like.

Despite being expelled from the MHP, Ogan did not join or establish any other political party, Al Jazeera noted.

Ogan entered the 2023 presidential race and forged the ultra-nationalist Ancestor Alliance with Umit Ozdag, his former MHP colleague, who formed the anti-immigrant Victory (Zafer) Party, reported FRANCE 24.

According to Middle East Eye (MEE), Ogan built his campaign largely around the promise of sending refugees back to their countries and fighting terrorism.

ALSO READ: Elections done, but no president yet: Why Turkey is likely to go to polls again

Erdogan or Kilicdaroglu?

In an interview with Reuters on Monday, Ogan said he could back Kilicdaroglu, the joint candidate of six Opposition parties, in the runoff if he promises not to offer concessions to the pro-Kurdish Peoples Democratic Party (HDP).

We will consult with our voter base for our decision in the runoff. But we already made clear that the fight against terrorism and sending refugees back are our red lines, the ultra-nationalist candidate added.

At the moment, we are not saying we will support this or that [candidate]It seemed from the very beginning that the elections would go to the second round, and Turkish nationalists and Kemalists will be the ones who determine the second round, Ogan said on early Monday, as per Al Jazeera.

Kemalism is used to describe modern Turkeys secular, pro-republican state ideology as conceived by its founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, according to the CNN report.

In March, when asked who he will support in case of a runoff, Ogan said that his alliance would consider each candidates national stances and competence and at the situation of affiliation with terrorism and seeking help from terrorism, the report said.

We will decide with common sense, Ogan said at the time. Common sense shows us that we may not be able to promise heaven, but its time to close the gates of hell.

His emphasis on terrorism is significant as, for Turkish nationalists, both Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu have support from terror groups. The HDP backed Kilicdaroglus candidacy in these elections, while Erdogan received support from Huda-Par, a mainly Kurdish political Islamist party, noted Al Jazeera.

Ogan told Reuters on Monday that he aimed to ouster mainly two Kurdish parties from Turkeys political equation and strengthen the countrys nationalists and secularists.

Speaking to CNN, Murat Somer, a political science professor at Koc University in Istanbul, said that Ogan has spoken against both Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu. However, the majority of his supporters are closer to the incumbent president who has ruled Turkey for 20 years than his secular rival.

Yunus Kaya, a professor at Istanbul University, told MEE that Ogan cannot bring his five per cent votes as a whole to one of the candidates. The political parties that back him received less than 2.5 per cent. It means that Ogan lured protest votes from independently acting voters.

Rather, his votes in Erdogan-dominated cities would go to Erdogan and in Kilicdaroglu-dominated cities would go to Kilicdaroglu, he stated.

According to FRANCE 24s Jasper Mortimer, Erdogan is in control of the situation with Ogan. Some of Sinan Ogans voters will vote for Erdogan. But the bottom line is Erdogan clearly won, he needs just 0.5 percent to make 50 per cent of the vote. Theyre not asking him for support, maybe Erdogan is offering him something, but Erdogan doesnt need to, Mortimer stated.

What the voting for Ogan reveals

Ogan performed better in the 14 May general elections than the opinion polls had predicted.

The fact that Sinan Ogan won above five per cent of the vote underlines that unadulterated ultra-nationalism is well and alive in Turkey, political risk consultant Anthony Skinner told the news agency AFP.

Ogan received the protest votes from different segments of the society, Kaya was quoted as saying by MEE. This included nationalists and seculars who were disappointed with the tacit alliance between Kilicdaroglus Republican Peoples Party (CHP) and the pro-Kurdish YSP, according to Kaya.

The undeclared CHP-YSP alliance irked some voters. Also, the anti-refugee sentiment has a platform for itself, now, he explained.

As per Berk Esen, a political scientist at Istanbuls Sabanci University, Turkish nationalist voters who do not support Erdogan for his alliance with Huda-Par and were against Kilicdaroglus ties with the HDP chose Ogan. Many swing voters went for Sinan Ogan, partly because of the nationalist card but partly because he was a none of the above candidate, Esen was quoted as saying by Al Jazeera.

Ceylan Akca, a parliamentary candidate for Green Left Party in predominantly Kurdish Diyarbakir province, told CNN that Ogans votes point to a rise of a right-wing, nationalist and anti-refugee wave in Turkey.

With inputs from agencies

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India and the European Union (EU) have agreed to expedite the ongoing negotiations for a free trade agreement by finding convergence on all issues, an official statement said on Tuesday.

The issue came up for discussion during a meeting between Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, and the European Commissioner for Trade Valdis Dombrovskis in Brussels.

They met on the sidelines of the first Ministerial meeting of the India-European Union Trade and Technology Council (TTC). The meeting was also attended by senior officials from both sides.

They emphasised the need for expediting the ongoing FTA negotiations by finding convergence on all issues after due consideration to mutual sensitivities including on market access for balanced and meaningful outcomes that would support the economies and employment on both sides, the commerce ministry said.

Both sides also affirmed their commitment to work together on common priorities for WTO (World Trade Organisation) reforms including issues pertaining to the dispute resolution mechanism, subsidies on agriculture and fisheries, e-commerce moratoriums as well as domestic legislation, it said.

Both sides recognised the need to build on their common goals to pursue consensus-based solutions that would support the livelihoods and food security for millions in India as well as in large parts of the developing world, it added. A meeting of the Working Group- 3 stakeholders co-chaired by Goyal and Dombrovskis also held. The meeting included stakeholders representing India and the EU. Group 3 focuses on Trade, Investment and Resilient Supply Chains.

The EU side had representatives from major European industrial bodies including Business Europe, Digital Europe, Food Drinks Europe, and Copa-Cogeca.

The delegation of Indian business leaders attending the meeting in person represented sectors including Chemicals, metals, textiles, digital infrastructure, and steel while representatives of other sectors like the agri-food industry, and marine/logistics were present in virtual mode.

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Ahead of the third G20 Tourism Working Group meeting in Jammu and Kashmir, the Army and other security agencies on Tuesday reviewed the security along the strategic 270-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway, officials said.

The meeting is scheduled to take place in the summer capital Srinagar from May 22 to 24.

A brigadier level officer force chaired a high level meeting with senior police and CRPF officers at Ramban to review the security arrangements along the highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with rest of the country, officials said.

Table-top exercise conducted by #IndianArmy & Security Agencies in #Ramban to fine tune response to a security scenario in a coordinated manner, Jammu-based White Knight Corps of the Army wrote on its official Twitter handle.

Security has been beefed up across Jammu and Kashmir following intelligence inputs about possible attempts by terrorists to carry out a strike before or during the meeting.

The anti-infiltration grid along the borders and security of vital installations, including railways stations and bus stands have been strengthened, while more checking points have come up along the highways and important cities and towns to thwart any terrorist attempt, the officials said.

They said multi-tier security of Army, Border Security Force, police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) besides Village Defence Committees have been activated along the International Border (IB) and the Line of Control (LoC).

They said the security at Jammu railway station was also tightened with all agencies directed to work in close coordination and keep a close watch to foil any attempt of anti-national elements to create any kind of sabotage.

Officers of Government Railway Police and Railway Protection Force were also directed to intensify the patrolling at the railway platform areas and other sensitive areas of railway station Jammu, the officials said.

(With inputs from PTI)

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A petition has been filed in a court here on Tuesday seeking an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) survey of the entire premises of the Gyanvapi complex, and not only the shivling as ordered by the Allahabad High Court.

The court has fixed May 22 for the next hearing in the case.

The court has also given time till May 19 to the Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee to file objections to the fresh petition filed by the Hindu side. A copy of the application was also given to the Masjid Committee.

The petition was filed after the Allahabad High Court on Friday had ordered the ASI to conduct a scientific survey of the alleged shivling-like structure that was found in the Gyanvapi complex by the ASI last year.

Now, the Hindu side has come up with a fresh demand of conducting a survey of the entire complex instead of restricting it to the shivling alone.

Supreme Court lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain, on behalf of six petitioners, has requested a survey of the entire area.

We had filed an application that the whole premises of the alleged mosque should be surveyed using Ground Penetrating Radar. Today, District Court, Varanasi has directed Anjuman Intezamia, UP govt to file its objection in court by May 19, next hearing May 22, Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain told the reporters.

The petition has been filed on behalf of Ram Prasad Singh, Mahant Shiv Prasad Pandey, Lakshmi Devi, Sita Sahu, Manju Vyas and Rekha Pathak

The Allahabad High Court on Friday, allowed the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct carbon dating of alleged Shivling, which was found during the survey in the Gyanvapi Mosque campus.

The Wazu area of the Gyanvapi mosque is the centre of the Gyanvapi mosque-Kashi Vishwanath temple dispute between Hindus and Muslims since the Hindu parties claim that Shivling has been found in that spot, however, the Muslim side disputed the same and said that it is only a water fountain.

On May 20, 2022, the Supreme Court ordered the transfer of the case related to worship at Gyanvapi mosque from the civil judge to the district judge, Varanasi. On May 17, 2022, in an interim order, the top court directed the authorities to protect the Wazu area where the Shivling was reportedly found and granted access to Muslims for namaz.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will today distribute as many as 71,000 appointment letters to newly-inducted recruits via video conferencing and also address the appointees.

The Rozgar Mela will be held at 45 locations across the country. The recruitments are taking place across Central Government Departments and State Governments/UTs supporting this initiative, according to a release from the Prime Ministers Office.

The new recruits, selected from across the country, will join various positions/posts like Gramin Dak Sevaks, Inspector of Posts, Commercial-cum-Ticket Clerk, Junior clerk-cum-Typist, Junior Accounts Clerk, Track Maintainer, Assistant Section Officer, Lower Division Clerk, Sub Divisional Officer, Tax Assistants, Assistant Enforcement Officer, Inspectors, Nursing Officers, Assistant Security Officers, Fireman, Assistant Accounts officer, Assistant Audit officer, Divisional Accountant, Auditor, Constable, Head Constable, Assistant Commandant, Principal, Trained Graduate Teacher, Assistant Registrar, Assistant Professor, among others.

The Rozgar Mela is a step towards the fulfilment of the commitment of the Prime Minister to accord the highest priority to employment generation. The Rozgar Mela is expected to act as a catalyst in further employment generation and provide meaningful opportunities to the youth for their empowerment and participation in national development, the release added.

The newly-inducted appointees will also get an opportunity to train themselves through Karmayogi Prarambh, an online orientation course for all new appointees in various Government departments.

Prime Minister Modi, on 22 October, last year, launched the first phase of the Rozgar Mela, marking the beginning of the campaign to provide 10 lakh government jobs.

With inputs from agencies

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Talibanisation has started in Karnataka after the victory of the Congress in the Assembly polls and those indulging in anti-national activities are rising up to destroy peace, Karnataka BJP president Nalin Kumar Kateel said on Tuesday.

He met family members of Krishnappa, a BJP worker who was allegedly hacked to death, while his wife and son were grievously injured in the attack after they protested against bursting of crackers outside their house in Bengaluru Rural districts Hoskote on Sunday.

One person has been arrested, and a hunt is on to catch hold of others involved in the attack.

Talibanisation has begun. Those indulging in anti-national activities are rising up and destroying peace and harmony. This is happening because Congress harboured and promoted these types of people. So, we cannot expect anything better from the Congress, Kateel told reporters after the meeting.

Condemning the incident, he alleged that attempts have been made to make Karnataka a mini-Bihar.

The politics of hatred is going on in the state. This sends across a message about what will happen to the state if this government continues. This is a sign that jungle raj will be established here, Kateel said.

We (BJP) will condemn it and will face it. There is no need for our workers to panic. We will face it and fight it and we will give a befitting reply. We will not sit idly, he said.

The power struggle is going on. Everyone (top Congress leaders) is in Delhi to decide who should be the next Chief Minister. Congress workers are continuing their hooliganism in the state, Kateel said.

Further, he asserted that incidents of violence took place in Yadgir, Shivamogga, Bhatkal and some other parts of the state (after election results were declared).

It will be good if the Congress understands this. I have told the police officers. You should not keep quiet when such incidents happen. You have to arrest all those who are behind such incidents, Kateel said.

The Congress ousted the BJP from power by bagging 135 seats in the 224-member Assembly. The BJP secured 66 seats and the Janata Dal (Secular) headed by former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda won 19.

(With inputs from PTI)

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Union Minister Nitin Gadkari received a death threat on Monday evening over a phone call. The call was made to his official residence in Delhi.

Sources familiar with the matter said that the ministers office immediately alerted the Delhi Police about the threat and an investigation is underway.

The police have not disclosed the nature of the threat yet. Details are being verified, and a probe is underway, officials said.

Meanwhile, security measures have been heightened while law enforcement officers actively work to find the source of the threat and ensure the ministers threat.

The latest incident has become the second such threat Gadkari has received this year. In January, the ministers residence and office in Maharashtra received similar threats. The man was later identified as a man imprisoned in Karnatakas Belgavi.

Nagpur police commissioner Amitesh Kumar had then said, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari was being threatened from jail. The caller is a notorious gangster and murder accused Jayesh Kantha, who is imprisoned in Belagavi jail. He threatened Gadkaris office by using the phone illegally inside the jail.

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Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has said the Uniform Civil Codes (UCC) draft is completed by 90 per cent. The government-constituted committee will submit its proposals by June 30.

The Bhartiya Janta Party had promised the implementation of UCC in its last assembly elections in Uttarakhand.

Meanwhile, Dhami constituted a five-member committee for the same days after assuming the position of chief minister.

Talking to reporters at Kashipur in Udham Singh Nagar district, Dhami said the panel headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai has completed 90 per cent of the work related to the drafting of the UCC.

He said, The committee we constituted to draft the Uniform Civil Code has completed almost 90 per cent of the work. They will prepare the draft by June 30. We will move towards implementing the Uniform Civil Code. It is our expectation from other states of the country that all states move towards implementing a Uniform Civil Code.

All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) MLA and party General Secretary Rafiqul Islam slammed BJP and said that the party knows it cannot go ahead with the implementation of UCC and is discussing about it only for vote bank politics.

Rafiqul said, BJP cant implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the country and BJP also knows it very well. But they (BJP) are talking about it only for vote bank politics.

They (BJP) cant implement it in Goa, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Kerala, Chennai, Bengaluru. BJP also knows it very well, so they are talking about the state, they dont talk about Delhi. Before the election in Gujarat, they said that they will bring UCC and said the same in Uttarakhand also and they took resolution and passed a bill. But why they havent implemented it in Uttarakhand? A similar thing happened in Uttar Pradesh also and they are not able to bring the UCC, he added.

Assam CM says UCC to be implemented in India soon

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said that UCC will be soon implemented in the entire country. He added that he will bring an end to polygamy in Assam.

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, he said.

With inputs from agencies

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A non-constitutional body that is governed by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Employees Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) aims to promote employees to save funds for retirement through various schemes that cover Indian workers. One of its main schemes i.e., the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) is believed to be a mandatory contribution scheme for employees. As a part of this, both employers and employees can make monthly contributions to ensure financial security for employees.

Mainly functioning under the administrative jurisdiction of the Indian governments Labour & Employment department, EPFO presently has about 122 offices across the country.

If youre also entitled to EPF or any similar schemes under EPFO, read on to know in detail about the organisation, its objectives, and things to remember.

EPFO: Key points

1. The Employees Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) mainly aims to administer and regulate the Employees Provident Funds Scheme (EPF), Employees Pension Scheme (EPS), and the Employees Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme (EDLI). All of these schemes provide financial security and retirement benefits to employees.

2. It is a compulsory contribution scheme through which both the employer and employee can make monthly contributions towards the employees provident fund account. The amounts are deducted from the employees salary and also consist of a portion of the basic salary and dearness allowance.

3. Through EPFO, employees can make long-term savings and ensure financial discipline, further encouraging individuals to build a retirement corpus.

4. All the contributions made in the EPFO schemes will be paid to employees upon retirement, resignation, or other specified conditions. They can also withdraw a certain amount of EPF for specific purposes.

EPFO: Primary goals

1. EPFO ensures that each employee has only one EPF account.

2. Compliance with different EPFO schemes must be made as simple as possible.

3. EPFO must ensure that all concerned organisations follow all of the rules and regulations regularly.

4. EPFO encourages and promotes voluntary compliance.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be travelling to the US for an official state visit from 21-24 June this year, on an invitation by President Joe Biden. This would his first state visit to the US despite having visited the US five times since 2014 as the prime minister. Given the exclusiveness and rarity of a State visit, it is a clear signal of the importance accorded by the US towards India in its foreign policy outlook, especially in South Asia and the Indo-Pacific regions.

Just short of the announcement of the visit, an article published in the Foreign Affairs Magazine on 1 May 2023, authored by Ashley Tellis has, however, set the cat among the pigeons. Titled Americas Bad Bet on India, it cautions the US State administration against banking on Indias support in any future US-China conflict. The article states that the US, in its enthusiasm has overlooked Indias democratic erosion and its unhelpful foreign policy choices. Citing divergent views on security partnership, the article states New Delhi retains an enduring aversion toward participating in mutual defense. While talking of deepening defence ties between the US and India, the article refers to Indias consistent desire to avoid becoming the junior partneror even a confederateof any great power.

The article sadly misses the essence of Indias foreign policy outlook which is founded on the principles of Panchsheel (Five Principles) and exercise of strategic autonomy which does not offer any space for becoming a junior partner of the confederate to any power or alliance. This strategic autonomy has often given India an unhindered ability to take decisions based purely on securing national interests, on regional/global issues. Unlike what Ashley Telly claims of Indias democratic erosion, India is a flourishing democracy, which is largest in the world, with a booming economy and a politically stable government at the centre. India-US relations too have gathered strong momentum in the past decades, but it has never been about blindly allying with the US. Rather, it has always been about developing an equal and trustworthy partnership, an important facet of Indias foreign policy.

The steady evolution of Indias foreign policy in the past two decades has now acquired global centre stage, especially since the Ukraine war broke out in February 2022. As the war has progressed, the stature of New Delhi as the go-to capital has grown. India has been repeatedly requested to use the good rapport that Prime Minister Modi enjoys with President Putin to somehow end the war in Ukraine.

Prime Minister Modis assertion to President Vladimir Putin, todays era is not of war during the SCO Summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan in September 2022, still echoes across global platforms. It also found prominence in the Bali Declaration issued after the G20 Summit in November 2022 in Bali, Indonesia. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar too has been proactive and clear in laying out Indias foreign policy tenets. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference in February 2022, just before the Ukraine war broke out, he stated, I would say principles and interests are balanced and if people were so principled in this part of the world, they would have been practising them in Asia, or Afghanistan before we have actually seen them do. Later, in April 2022, defending Indias right to purchase crude oil from Russia amidst the Ukraine war, Jaishankar was critical when he stated, our total purchases for the month would be less than what Europe does in an afternoon.

In the past, India has been critical of the US-led war in Iraq in 2003 as well as Western attempts to enforce its style of democracy during the Arab Spring protests in West Asia in 2011-12. The US continued aid to Pakistan despite its proven support of terror too has often drawn Indias ire. Similarly, India did not hesitate in calling out Russias aggression in Ukraine during the G20 Foreign Minister Meet held in New Delhi in March 2023. The Chairs Summary and Outcome Document issued stated, deplore in the strongest terms the aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine and demands its complete and unconditional withdrawal from the territory of Ukraine.

At each such insistence in the past, India has exercised its strategic autonomy by calling out the power which is on the wrong side, no matter how powerful. It refused repeated requests by the US for Indias participation in the war in Afghanistan, has never relented on requests for basing foreign military assets on Indian soil and has refused to join any camp or alliance. Unlike the US which prefers either you are with us or against us, India has always preferred equal partnerships, based on convergence and mutual interests.

Located in a hostile neighbourhood, India also knows and realizes that it will have to fight its wars itself in whatever form or time they manifest. Whether it was the 1962 war against China or the Kargil War in 1999 against Pakistan or the most recent military clashes with China in Eastern Ladakh in May 2020, India knows that it cannot bank on active international support of the kind that Ukraine is getting against Russia.

With an economy which is the fifth-largest in the world, a military which is large and potent, a flourishing democracy and a stable and resolute political leadership, India is in a good space. India is part of all modern, major and emerging multilateral forums like the SCO, BRICS, Quad, I2U2 etc. and the world is seeking India out, recognising its power and influence. The theme of Indias current G20 presidency; One Earth, One Family, One Future too demonstrates Indias larger global outlook.

The world too is no longer bipolar and is witnessing a number of emerging powers and alliances. In such a scenario, the question of an ally or alliances of the Cold War era look outdated and archaic. Ally seems subservient whereas partner looks equal. India can be an equal and trustworthy partner but definitely not a subservient ally.

The author is Assistant Director, MP-IDSA. Views expressed are personal.

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Did you know that while two litres of water are often sufficient for daily drinking, it takes about 3,000 litres to produce the daily food requirements of one person? So it is not surprising that Indian agriculture consumes about 80 per cent of the countrys freshwater. Climate change-induced disruptions have only worsened the situation, causing farmers to increasingly rely on groundwater to grow their crops. The outlook for Indias water resources is bleak, with the Water Resources Group predicting a 50 per cent water deficit by 2030. Adding to the problem, due to extreme weather events India is the most vulnerable country in terms of crop production, according to the IPCC 2022 report. By 2050, yields of important crops such as rice, wheat, pulses, and coarse cereals could drop by nearly 9 per cent.

The Indian government has been running some flagship programmes for water conservation such as the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana which has the motto of Har Khet Ko Paani. Another key initiative is the Atal Bhujal Yojana, which is the countrys largest community-led groundwater management programme and operates in seven Indian states that have the highest rates of groundwater depletion.

Companies like ITC are bolstering these government initiatives by carrying out precise interventions for water conservation and sustainable agriculture. ITCs water stewardship programme has been long-standing and began in 2004 and aims to replenish the environment, create sustainable livelihoods, empower rural communities and address the challenges of climate change. Through its large-scale initiatives, the company empowers farming communities associated with its agricultural value chains and communities living in the neighbourhood of its production units. By setting an example with its initiatives, ITC can serve as a guide for other companies to follow and contribute to the sustainable growth of the Indian agriculture sector. Also, in such a journey committed and inspired leadership is crucial for companies to undergo a genuine sustainable transformation.

ITCs remarkable achievements in water conservation have made it the only company in the world of similar size to be water positive for 20 years. Its Integrated Watershed Development Programme has covered a cumulative area of 1.4 million acres in water-stressed regions, bringing benefits to more than 400,000 people. The programmes focussed demand-side management approach has resulted in water savings of over 700 million kl, with 20-45 per cent savings across 15 crops. More than 25,000 water harvesting structures have been constructed, creating a storage capacity of over 46 million kl. Furthermore, ITCs Climate Smart Agriculture initiative has supported 700,000 farmers, covering 2 million acres in 17 states and has contributed to sustainable agriculture and rural livelihoods.

ITCs approach of forging partnerships with various stakeholders such as the government and research institutions has been a key factor in the success of their demand management interventions. Initially, these interventions were piloted and demonstrated to farmers with the help of knowledge partners like the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and international research institutions like the International Water Management Institution (IWMI). After successful demonstrations, farmers were supported in adopting these practices at scale, with continuous handholding support and assistance in leveraging government schemes for equipment and micro-irrigation subsidies.

In the year 2021-22, the farmers who adopted demand management practices under ITCs initiatives have saved approximately 496.5 million cubic meters of water in 7.28 lakh acres of land. ITC has also undertaken projects to restore river basins such as the Ghod river in Maharashtra and the Mureru river in Telangana.

ITCs Climate Smart Agriculture programme aims to mitigate the risks faced by farmers due to erratic weather events by promoting climate-smart agricultural practices. These practices include using high-yielding and climate-resilient crop varieties, adopting appropriate mechanization, reducing stubble burning and providing institutional services. The initiative has benefited 700,000 farmers, covering 2 million acres in 17 states. One of the reasons for the success of ITCs water conservation efforts is that they are linked with farmer incomes. The net returns of farmers have increased by up to 90 percent over a period of five years from 2016 to 2021.

ITCs demand management interventions have demonstrated significant reductions in water consumption for six crops and vegetables compared to their cultivation in non-project areas using conventional practices. Secondary studies have reported a reduction of 25 percent in water consumption for rice cultivation, 20 percent for wheat, and 8 percent for onion. In some project areas, adoption of all recommended practices has resulted in high-impact outcomes, such as in sugarcane cultivation in Pune wherein a combination of pre-germinated seedlings, wider spacing, and drip irrigation has resulted in a 21 per cent increase in crop yield while using only half the water required for conventional cultivation.

ITCs efforts in water conservation and sustainable agriculture provide a template for other companies to follow and contribute to the growth of Indian agriculture. Since agriculture is a critical pillar of the Indian economy and several industries depend on it for growth and stability, enhancing the sustainability and productivity of Indian agriculture could have a positive domino effect on other sectors. Hence it makes sense for companies across industries to take a leaf out of ITCs book. This new journey starts by enabling more water for Indian agriculture.

The author is a leading consultant and columnist working on market entry, innovation and public policy. Views expressed are personal.

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In my earlier article here in Firstpost, I talked about how dropping the word Hinduphobia because it allegedly sounds like Islamophobia as some Hindu leaders and intellectuals have argued is not a good idea.

One of the points I made in passing was that Hindus are known to be cheap which is perhaps why no one has bothered to support a proper, professional Centre for Hinduphobia Studies in a major university in the West or in India which can house rigorous interdisciplinary work that can serve as the foundation for future research, corporate policies, anti-Hinduphobia legislations, etc.

Some readers wondered if cheap was a harsh word, and whether the problem is that Hindus in general dont bother to own a story. While I have anecdotes enough to support my strong word here, I will skip that for now and focus on the bigger picture: Why is it difficult for Hindus as individuals to face the reality that hostile and hateful beliefs and forces exist that threaten Hindus indeed as a collective? Do we lack a sense of collective harm, or collective anything for that matter?

And its not even Hindus as Hindus, but maybe even as members of other groups (that also happen to be largely Hindu too) that succumb to this. Some brief, saddening examples.

The tragic murder of Aishwarya Thatikonda in the Texas shopping mall massacre reminded me of another infamous Telugu tragedy from a few years ago.

In early 2017, Srinivas Kuchibhotla was murdered in a bar in Kansas City. Shortly after, the Oscars ceremony took place, and Hollywood celebrities declared their great and principled opposition to Trump and Islamophobia. Yet, no one mentioned Srinivas, though he was perhaps the first actual victim of that unfortunate climate. And years later, when our own RRR team stood on the stage at the Academy Awards, I wondered, just wondered would they remember that a whole Oscars night had gone on once evoking the tragedy of a Telugu victim without mentioning his name once? I felt that poignancy as a Telugu. But what are feelings when they dont add up to anything? Tollywooders, Telugus, Hindus, Indians, we are too happy in general to do anything like a remembrance, let alone a martyr-moment, I suppose.

And naturally, as I mentioned in my earlier article, even in the case of the current caste bill controversy in California, neither the major Telugu nor Tamil organisations here have spoken up although Telugus and Tamils happen to make up a fair amount of the Silicon Valley community., I also found it curious that a major Indian Silicon Valley networking/ investing/mentoring sort of conference was held a few days ago and once again, in spite of some Hindu community leaders being there, somehow the issue of all Indians or South Asians possibly being affected (for better or worse) by the legislation, never came up.

This tells us that perhaps the Hindu organizations spearheading resistance to what they call Hinduphobic policies and politicians seem to have failed to convince the majority of Hindus, and other Indians, that their concerns are real. Even if this is not the case, it has become very easy for anti-Hindu policies and positions to be advanced in mainstream institutions like universities, schools, corporate workplaces, media, and now, legislatures too, by interest groups who can easily pretend that the majority of the Hindus here do not agree with their critics.

The Hindu Communication Gap

This is an incredible gap, going back to the point that we simply do not care to own our stories, even stories that are about our own well-being, safety, and happiness. If the National Geographic or NPR or someone published a piece praising Indian Americans for being rich CEOs, we suck that praise up as if its our own achievement. But when big media mainstream absurd-level lies and bigotry about Hindus or Hinduism, many Hindus simply brush it off as if its not about them, but someone else, those bad Hindutvas or casteists.

Similarly, when we read about a victim of crime or some injustice in America who happens to be Hindu, we avoid connecting it with either the pervasive anti-Hindu propaganda in media, social media, schools and colleges here, or with our own sense of personal vulnerability or alarm.

The Kansas City tragedy, the Alabama police brutality case, numerous vicious attacks, we always take comfort that it wasnt Hinduphobia but Islamophobia, or generic racism, or just being in the wrong place at the wrong time. We are incredibly vulnerable I think to others stories, and at the same time, we fear the prospect of producing our stories in a way that explains others and others behavior to us very much. Again, in the aftermath of the Srinivas Kuchibhotla tragedy when a bunch of anti-Indian, anti-Hindu, anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant incidents were happening, I recall someone at a consulate social event saying we should not be saying we should not say Hinduphobia because then people will think, oh, Hindus are also now a target (not unlike the argument that some British Hindu leaders have made, I suppose).

I think it is clear that the stories we have, as Indians, Hindus, immigrants, are just things we make up to comfort us, and do not come from a position of intellectual, spiritual or political leadership. We really lack a story about us, to use a phrase, that works, even if we live most of our lives and careers in our own suburban Indian cocoons talking Costco, finance, holidays, kids colleges, and so on.

The Laughable Joke of Unity

Hindu organizations, have of course, tried hard to address this situation, although without the full set of tools to understand the problem. The usual thinking among such groups has been to say that Hindus need unity.

Of course, such Hindus have united multiple times in spirit and body in retreats, conferences, and so on, but nothing seems to matter beyond this token assembly. It reminds me of a story from many years ago.

When I was in engineering college in the 1980s, I recall my Telugu friends insisting all of us go to see a midnight tent theatre screening of a Chiranjeevi movie suddenly because all the Tamil hostelites had just gone as a group and watched a Rajinikanth movie. We Telugus now had to show unity. Both group events may have happened because the movie Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak had just been released and other groups had done mass outings from the hostel for that.

That vision, unfortunately, is where many of our former engineering students from India seem stuck in when conceiving group action in America I think. We can get together, but we have no conception of unity in messaging, communication, language, image management, accomplishing goals in wider society and so on.

Unity, in our community, means to create an illusion of being in a large crowd to assure individual members they are protected and powerful, and to convey, presumably, a message to outsiders that indeed the group is powerful and can protect its members.

Now, this is an utter farce, as far as Hindus, and especially Hindu Americans are concerned. Assembling bodies might have had its uses in a pre-internet, pre-smart phone era and even now, in some contexts like rallies or relief work. But in todays global, virtually interconnected, and hyper-visible, society, its the word, the image, the smarts and the quality rather than mere quantity (or illusion thereof) that matters.

And all the more so when the problem is that extremely dangerous and devious psychological warfare strategies are at play against a community of sitting ducks (or dodos). We have to understand this terrain not just politically, but sociologically too.

Vertical Communities, Horizontal Coercions

My study of generations and generational experiences of media and communication makes me now think of Hindus and Hinduism as less of a collective label for a group in space and more of an attempt at describing a continuity in time. We do tend to think of groups as entities in space, because that is the norm. Now, a group organized around a central ideology about the group and the groups members, especially about identity, is a group. But a group like Hindus is mostly in our own imaginations. Even if all the Hindus in the Kumbh Mela were united in one parade ground, we would not function because we are really not a group in the sense of a BLM protest or MAGA rally, at least not because of our identity as Hindus.

The truth is that whatever we mean when we say we are Hindus, is really what we have chosen to preserve and pass on to our children from our elders. Details could change, and they have, especially in the last 2-3 generations with intercaste, and inter-sub-caste marriages, migration, media, modern gurus and so on. For example, my grandparents might have focused mainly on Tirumala and Mantralayam as their Hindu universe. My parents then added Puttaparthi to that list. And so on, it goes. We are basically ancestral traditions, Hindu micro-nations, as it were.

We still live in these micro-nations, but how we know ourselves is increasingly by outside and outsider labels; caste, nation, group and so on.

This leads me to the second part of this proposition: horizontal coercions. It is fair to say that before religions or organised religions or congregational faiths, the planet was full of basically micro-traditions, stuff people did like their elders before them, that is all.

In just about two thousand years though, we now have found ourselves in a tightly integrated global society where its not just trade or culture but actual impulses towards mass control, obedience, and thought that is the norm. Our media studies literature is full of discussions of the rise of mass society since the industrial revolution. I think our Hindu resistance literature, Goel-Swarup and others, shows us that the force to compress ancestrally diverse traditions and peoples into massive human armies, literal and otherwise, goes back before that.

So, to put these together: Hindus today have to recognise that they are stuck in a reality where virtually no one other than Hindus (and small indigenous communities here and there) is vertical, at least not organically. Most of the planet identifies as Muslim, Christian or, what we might say, Woke, because these are identities produced out of dedicated, centralised communication strategies to produce horizontal results.

The horizontal end-goal is important, and the real, laser-sharp, target of any culturally genocidal strategy: break the intergenerational continuity, and you break the group (except, of course, for their own, where they ensure intergenerational ideological reproduction through careful in-house management like keeping secular government schooling out, speaking to children with respect, instilling a sense of supremacism and so on).

Todorovs classic study of Columbuss discovery tells us about how the missionaries had clear instructions on how to ingratiate themselves to the indigenous childrens parents so these children could be isolated, brainwashed, and even used as hostages. A couple of centuries later, the designers of the North American forced boarding schools also tried the same strategy, of Killing the Indian, Saving the Man, by essentially tearing children out from their elders cultures and words. And to this day it continues, even if not explicitly along lines of religion or race like before, along lines of manufactured identities. Just ask Asra Nomani, for example.

Hindus, therefore, cannot organically think of every other Hindu as their own, because the moment you go beyond biology, every form of group identification has perhaps been created artificially, as nation (the case of Indians born between say 1940s to about 1980) and as (woke) planet (the case of everyone born after, say 1990). So naturally we have the absurdities of Hindus here insisting they are Hindu AMERICANS (emphasis theirs not mine) and some Hindus there back home now insisting they are actually the same thing as Indians, that all Indians are Hindus, even if their religion is different, and such. These are acts of political desperation, spawned in a desert of cultural emptiness, that is all.

The truth is that we have to clutch at verbal We straws because there really is no We. At least not remotely like those whose we comes from unrelenting messaging that the world is just us and them. And, if we conceive of the present as not just one mass of Hindus but really as an interaction of say, three to five generations of Hindus each of which have experienced and expressed Hinduism (and being Indian, being immigrants, being Americans, being children, being parents etc.) at different cultural moments over the last few decades, we can notice things a lot more clearly. There have been much bigger ruptures in Hinduism (temporal, intergenerational) between, say, the parents of the millennials and Gen Zers and them, compared to say, the parents of the Nehru-era children and them (equivalent to the U.S. baby boomers roughly).

Stories and Learning

What is the solution, then, to this reality?

Hindus for the past two or three generations and for most of the modern 20th century, have thought of solutions almost entirely along lines set by colonial existential templates. When you get labeled as part of a group, as say, pagan or kafir or Hindu or cowpiss drinker, and get attacked, murdered, thrown out of your homes, you do tend to realise you are perhaps in a group, or perceived as being in a group, a hated one.

But then, absent central organising or ideology, you go back to your small, micro-nation. The difference of course is that your micro-nation is now only as good or bad as your ancestral affections and intergenerational pedagogical connections. Once it is weakened or gone, as is the case in nature, because elders die, or as is the case in modern culture, because when elders are still here we dont learn from them enough, we have no Hinduism to speak of but only a horizontal cipher borrowed from colonial, Protestant, nationalist, liberal, RW or whatever template.

This too, has happened alarmingly, especially among the middle and upper classes. Even if many parents now try to return their children to tradition, it is extremely difficult.

The places where indigenous traditions were born are gone, either because of migration, or because all the old natural markers like trees, rocks, lakes, rivers, vistas, and even shrines have been eviscerated. The people are gone. Most of all, even the attention is gone. Not just children, but parents too. Like the Mesoamerican indigenous parents five hundred years ago, Hindu parents to this day still get sold on the promise of a better future the Horizontalisers promise to give them in their schools. Parents prioritize their childrens lives along todays competitive lines. Half a day a week of heritage at best, a desperate antidote-pill after a whole long week of, well, detoxification.

Now, all of this might well seem like the problem, whereas I had promised at least something of a solution.

I think the solution, in a way, lies in our ability to recognise this interplay of the vertical (in time) and horizontal (in space) as it affects our own lives today, and to return to the former at least in our intergenerational conversations.

This means that we have to learn how to tell stories to our children, and also to teach our children how to tell stories too. The latter, the children of today learn anyway. But from school, from marketing companies and celebs, from Instagram reels and influencers. And from professional propagandists many of whom are earning a good living destroying ancestral traditions and bonds today.

The crisis today is not just one of big political issues like which party to vote, but really of very small things, like what amruthavakkulu your precious children and grandchildren will learn to paluku in their lifetimes even after you are gone. These amruthavakkulu (words of immortality) will be words to adorn Krishna and Rama and Ammavaru as our elders did, but then they also have to be words to burn like a blazing axe through the lies of our world today.

Surviving, even living, actually, is going to need not just stories about the gods, but the stories about the world of today that has smashed and sneered at the gods for too long now.

Hindu parents simply cant package childrens attention in the small time they have together as parents and children into Secular-Career story-paths (do engineering/medicine, avoid liberal arts, trust meritocracy to reward you with lot of money) and religion/heritage stories (remember how Rama was a good manager when you walk into your C-suite office, beta!). We need stories that will inspire our descendants to remember us and our names with love when it is Pitru-Paksha. That is survival. That alone is survival.

In the next article, I will write more about the science and art of story-telling and how we can make this our own once again.

The writer is Professor of Media Studies, University of San Francisco. He has authored several books, including Rearming Hinduism: Nature, Hinduphobia and the Return of Indian Intelligence (Westland, 2015). Views expressed are personal.

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Outright rejecting the claims from the Taliban that they have appointed the Charge dAffaires to replace him as the head of the mission in India, Afghanistans envoy Farid Mamumdzay said that he was appointed by a legitimately elected government and has the legitimacy to serve here.

Stressing that he is Afghanistans legitimate representative, Mamumdzay said that he has shared his concerns with the Indian government and is awaiting a response.

The Afghan embassy in India on Monday said there is no change in its leadership following reports that the Taliban have appointed a charge daffaires to head the mission replacing incumbent Farid Mamundzay.

We categorically rejected the claims from the Taliban that they have appointed the Charge dAffaires at the mission. The embassy operates as normal as it did in the past. There has been an individual working at our mission who defected to the Taliban sadly and who pledged allegiance to the Taliban movement. I got to know about this on April 25. So, this episode has been weighing on since the last three weeks while I was travelling outside India and as soon as I get to know, I returned back to the mission, the Afghan envoy told ANI in an exclusive interview.

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.

When asked what can be the motive behind the Taliban in doing so, the Envoy said that as it carries no legitimacy, it is their way of making wider contacts within the international community.

Taliban carries no legitimacy, either in Afghanistan or anywhere else in the world. No government has recognized their regime so far. And India has consistently taken that principle position by not extending any recognition to the Taliban. The motive behind taking over our mission in such a manner is to increase their contacts with the wider international community, said the Envoy.

Taliban feel internationally alienated and isolated from the wider world, which is something that they have done at themselves. They need to form an inclusive government and begin to respect the rule of law, Extend the required services and liberty to the people of Afghanistan, particularly by treating women and girls as they deserve. Im sure the people of Afghanistan wouldnt grant them legitimacy, he added.

Speaking further about Qadir Shah who has been appointed by the Taliban as the envoy for the mission in India, the envoy said that he wasnt an accredited diplomat and that he collaborated and worked closely without his or his staffs knowledge with the Taliban and revolted against the mission breaking all those diplomatic norms and standards.

This particular individual has been working at the mission for the past two years and three months. He was not an accredited diplomat from Kabul. His accreditation was done here, sometime back, he worked as an administrative staff, appointed from Kabul in the rank of a local staff here. So, he was not in the Ministry of foreign affairs records, he has never been a diplomat. He was promoted to being a diplomat on April 25, 2023, just less than three weeks ago. Almost three weeks ago. After the collapse of our government, he was given the portfolio of the trade office. He worked together with the trade officers. He collaborated and worked closely without my or my staffs knowledge with the Taliban and revolted against the mission, Against all diplomats, breaking all those diplomatic norms and standards, and sadly tried to implement those instructions, those orders that were given to him from Kabul, said the Envoy.

While I was away from India at that time, spoke to him (Qadir Shah) a few times to convince him to avoid creating a situation where the mission would be in a difficult position. Sadly, he continued with the plans given to him, apparently by the Taliban. My colleagues then decided on April 29 to expel him from the mission, terminate his contract and by the time I returned here, he was no longer working for the mission, he added.

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 should not be used for any terrorist activities against any country. Until now, there has been no response on the matter from the Indian side.

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Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar, one of the frontrunners for the post of chief minister in the southern state, on Tuesday made it clear that he will not backstab or blackmail his party regardless of the decision it takes for the top post in the state and stated that his next challenge would be to win 20 seats in the Lok Sabha elections.

Winning 20 seats (in Lok Sabha polls) is our next challenge Ours is a united house, I dont want to divide anyone here. I am a responsible man I will not backstab also and I will not blackmail also. I dont want to go to the wrong history, I dont want to go with a bad remark, said DK Shivakumar before leaving for Delhi.

#WATCH | Winning 20 seats (in Lok Sabha polls) is our next challengeOurs is a united house, I dont want to divide anyone here. I am a responsible manI will not backstab also and I will not blackmail also. I dont want to go to the wrong history, I dont want to go with a pic.twitter.com/Ex8XDcY0VS  ANI (@ANI) May 16, 2023

He said that the Congress is a one united family and so everyones interest has to be kept in mind.

Sonia Gandhi is our role modelCongress is family for everyone. Our constitution is very much important, so we have to protect everyones interest, said the Karnataka Congress chief.

The Congress won 135 seats in the recently held election to the 224-member Karnataka Assembly.

Shivakumar earlier today arrived at the Bengaluru airport ahead of his departure for Delhi amid ongoing talks in the Congress party for the next Karnataka CM.

The Karnataka Congress president will meet the partys high command ahead of the partys announcement on the top post.

The party is my godWe have built this party, I am a part of it and I am not alone in this, he said, adding, We have built this party (Congress), we have built this house. I am a part of it A mother will give everything to her child.

Asked about his expectations as the state party president, Shivakumar said, I dont want to comment on what has happened earlier. How it happened. That is a closed chapter we formed the government we lost the government, we lost a coalition government. Who is responsible for the victory and loss there is no use of talking about it now. Let us not sell this story let us sell the future.

Congress leader Siddaramaiah, the other frontrunner for the chief ministers post, arrived in the national capital on Monday.

Shivakumar, who celebrated his birthday on Monday had stayed behind in Bengaluru citing a stomach infection. Both he and Siddaramaiah had been called to Delhi by the top leadership of the AICC for a discussion.

The partys central observers for Karnataka had on Monday briefed Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on the views of the newly-elected MLAs. According to party sources, Kharge will consult Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra before announcing a final decision.

The name of the next Karnataka CM will be announced in the coming 24 hours, they said.

The Congress legislative party had met late evening on Sunday in Bengaluru and passed a one-line resolution empowering Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge to pick the head of the legislative party.

On Monday, Shivakumar said that all the MLAs are together and the partys high command will take the call on the chief minister.

The party high command will take a call. I dont want to comment or speak anything more. Whatever I had to speak, I have spoken already. I do not want MLAs (support)that is not important to me. Ours is a Congress block. 135 is the number and one more ally member. We all are one and will work together, said Shivakumar.

Meanwhile, Congress veteran Siddaramaiah met with the top leadership of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) at Delhis Lodhi Hotel late on Monday night.

With inputs from agencies

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The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office (SAP) made a social media announcement on Monday regarding suspected corruption within Ukraines Supreme Court.

In a Facebook post, NABU and SAP revealed that they had uncovered a significant corruption scheme involving the leaders and judges of the Supreme Court. They shared a photograph showing stacks of banknotes on a couch and mentioned that further information would be disclosed later.

The post did not provide specific details about who allegedly bribed whom and the motives behind it.

Simultaneously, the Supreme Court responded by scheduling an extraordinary meeting due to the developments surrounding Supreme Court President Vsevolod Kniaziev.

The court shared on Facebook that the Plenum of the Supreme Court would convene on May 16, 2023.

According to reports from Ukrainian media, Kniaziev, the Supreme Court chairman appointed in October 2021, has been apprehended while accepting bribes amounting to $3 million (2.76 million). Additionally, there have been raids conducted targeting other judges within the highest judicial institution.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has consistently pledged to intensify efforts in combatting the prevalent culture of bribery within the country.

One of Zelenskyys primary objectives is to demonstrate Ukraines preparedness to engage in negotiations for European Union membership, thereby signaling their commitment to eradicating corruption.

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Residents in Sudans capital reported a major increase in airstrikes and artillery fire early on Tuesday as the army attempted to drive out paramilitary rivals it has been battling for more than a month.

Witnesses reported hearing airstrikes, fights, and explosions in the south of Khartoum, and that heavy shelling had occurred overnight in some areas of the neighbouring city of Bahri and Omdurman.

Although concentrated in Khartoum, the battle between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has caused unrest in other parts of the country, particularly in the western region of Darfur.

It has forced about 200,000 people to flee into neighbouring countries and displaced more than 700,000 inside Sudan, triggering a humanitarian crisis that threatens to destabilise the region.

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Tuesday marks the arrival of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in South Korea for a summit with President Yoon Suk Yeol as the two nations work to further their collaboration in the areas of security and vital minerals used in batteries.

Wednesdays events include a summit, a joint news conference, and an official supper, according to Kim Tae-hyo, Yoons deputy national security advisor.

The 60th anniversary of bilateral relations will be marked by Trudeaus visit, the first by a Canadian leader in nine years. Both sides will release a joint statement outlining their relationship for the following 60 years, Kim added.

The two US allies have been exploring ways to deepen cooperation on critical minerals used in electric vehicle (EV) batteries and step up intelligence sharing.

The two leaders will discuss intensively on ways to build a norms-based global order including on North Koreas human rights issues, launching a high-level economic and security dialogue, strengthening cooperation on key minerals, Kim told reporters.

Yoon and Trudeau will sign an agreement on key mineral supply chains, clean energy conversion and energy security cooperation, a South Korean government official told Reuters, requesting anonymity as the deal was not finalised.

Canada has been trying to scale up EV production, with ample mineral reserves, including lithium, cobalt and nickel, which are used to make batteries for those vehicles.

The two leaders agreed to deepen cooperation on minerals supply chains when they met last September, as part of efforts to cut emissions to fight climate change.

The two countries have also sought to step up security cooperation including intelligence sharing, while navigating an intensifying rivalry between the United States and China.

Diplomatic tensions between Canada and China have been running high since the detention of Huawei Technologies executive Meng Wanzhou in 2018 and Beijings subsequent arrest of two Canadians on spying charges.

Last week, China expelled a Canadian diplomat in Shanghai in a tit-for-tat move after Ottawa told a Toronto-based Chinese diplomat to leave.

Yoon has trodden cautiously with China, South Koreas largest trade partner, but he has been more vocal over tension in the Taiwan Strait. Last month Seoul and Beijing exchanged harsh words over Yoons comments in an interview with Reuters.

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China jailed as many as 10,000 or more people in 2022 in a widening campaign of repression against religious belief meant to bring all theological activity under the Chinese Communist Partys control, the US government claimed in a report.

The State Departments International Religious Freedom Report, which is published annually since 1999 and covers nearly 200 countries, also castigated Iran for similar violations.

According to South China Morning Post, the reports section on China draws on studies by human rights advocacy groups including Freedom House and religious groups like the Church of Almighty God (CAG), as well as public information from the Chinese government.

The report cited President Xi Jinpings assertion last year at the 20th party congress that religions in China must be Chinese in orientation as an indication of what the State Department called a campaign against religious groups it characterised as cults, including the CAG and Falun Gong, and it conducted propaganda campaigns against xie jiao (literally heterodox teachings) aimed at school-age children.

Reacting to the report, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that most oppressive nations around the world are growing even more dire.

Governments in many parts of the world continue to target religious minorities using a host of methods, including torture, beatings, unlawful surveillance, and so-called re-education camps, ANI quoted Blinken as saying.

Blinken underscored abuses against the predominantly Muslim Uyghur minority group in the Xinjiang province of China, a country one senior State Department official described as one of the worst abusers of human rights and religious freedom in the world.

Chinas oppression of Tibetan Buddhists

The report also chronicles Chinas oppression of Tibetan Buddhist practitioners and efforts to keep two of the religions most prominent leaders out of sight inside Tibet.

The report documents allegations of forced disappearances, arrests, physical abuse and prolonged detentions without trial of monks, nuns and other persons due to their religious practices in Chinese-occupied Tibet last year.

Chinese government officials have denied all allegations of human rights abuses and attempted to justify actions against Uyghurs as counterterrorism measures.

Liu Pengyu, a spokesman for Chinas embassy in Washington, called the reports accusations contrary to the basic facts and deeply rooted in ideological bias.

People of all ethnic groups in China are fully entitled to the freedom of religious belief as prescribed by law, South China Morning Post quoted Liu Pengyu, a spokesman for Chinas embassy in Washington, as saying.

Liu Pengyu said the are nearly 200 million religious believers, over 380,000 clerical personnel, about 5,500 religious groups and over 140,000 places of worship registered for religious activities in the country.

The picture in the US is quite different  75 per cent of American Muslims believe that serious discrimination exists in the American society against Muslims, Liu Pengyu added, citing the results of a Pew Research Centre survey published in 2017.

The US is in no position to point fingers at China on this issue, the report quoted him as saying.

Irans draconian curbs

The report also highlights how Irans Islamic theocracy imposes draconian restrictions on its population and hands brutal punishments for offences, and also throws light on the ongoing wave of demonstrations inspired by the death of Masa Amini last September.

People across Iran, led by young women, continue peaceful protests demanding their human rights, including freedom of religion, galvanised by the killing of Masa Amini, who was arrested by the so-called morality police because her hijab did not fully cover her hair, said Blinken.

Additionally, the report outlined widespread violations against religious freedom perpetrated by Moscow, both in Russia and in occupied areas of Ukraine.

Examples of progress

The report also captured examples of progress: Belgium formally recognising its Buddhist minority, lawmakers in Brazil codifying religious freedom guarantees for Afro-Brazilian indigenous communities, and various countries launching offices to combat islamophobia and antisemitism.

More broadly, civil society and other concerned governments around the world have successfully secured the release of many who have been detained, even in prison for exercising their freedom of religion or belief, Blinken said.

With inputs from agencies

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China has emerged as the top executioner of people in the entire world with thousands of death sentences issued in 2022 alone, Amnesty international has revealed.

According to the report, China is followed by Iran, Saudi Arabia and Egypt with 576, 196 and 24 executions, respectively.

The report claimed that 90% of the total executions in the world carried out in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Iran.

While the year-on-year number of executions in China, Iran and Saudi Arabia increased massively, only Egypt saw a decrease significant decrease compared to the previous year, which saw 83 executions.

Saudi Arabia witnessed a threefold increase in executions compared to the previous year, marking the highest number recorded by Amnesty in the past three decades.

Iran experienced an 83 percent surge in executions, raising concerns from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, who criticized the deeply alarming number of executions in the country. On average, Iran has been conducting over ten executions per week.

Amnestys report also highlights a 53 percent increase in global executions.

However, it emphasizes that several countries took decisive steps towards abolishing or reducing the use of the death penalty in 2022.

In fact, six countries either fully or partially abolished the death penalty during the year, signaling a global trend of moving away from this form of punishment.

Kazakhstan, Papua New Guinea, Sierra Leone, and the Central African Republic have abolished the death penalty for all crimes, marking a significant step toward eliminating capital punishment.

The Middle East and North African countries witnessed a notable surge in the number of executions, as highlighted in Amnestys report.

According to the report, Kuwait, Afghanistan, and Palestine resumed executions after a period of several years during which they had refrained from carrying out such actions.

In March 2022, Saudi Arabia made headlines by executing 81 individuals in a single day, citing their involvement in terror related crimes.

However, many of the defendants were actually convicted for charges such as participating in protests and undermining social cohesion.

Saudi Arabia is notorious for conducting unfair trials and extracting forced confessions through the use of torture on detainees.

The secretary general of Amnesty International expressed concern over the situation, stating, Countries in the Middle East and North Africa region violated international law as they escalated executions in 2022, demonstrating a callous disregard for human life.

The region witnessed a dramatic increase in the number of lives lost, with Saudi Arabia executing a staggering 81 people in one day. Most recently, Iran resorted to executing individuals simply for exercising their right to protest in a desperate attempt to suppress the popular uprising.

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The military said on Tuesday, just after one of Chinas two aircraft carriers returned from a patrol, that two Chinese warships had entered the Western Pacific for live-fire drills. This was part of Chinas latest show of might in more remote areas.

The destroyer Dalian and the guided-missile frigate Huangshan recently travelled to an unnamed region of the West Pacific to conduct attack and defensive manoeuvres, according to a statement from Chinas Peoples Liberation Armys (PLA) Southern Theatre Command.

The joint training in unfamiliar and complex waters is of great significance in exploring the boundaries of new equipment effectiveness, testing the practical application of new warfare method, the command said, citing a training officer.

Soon after a carrier group led by the Shandong, one of Chinas two operational aircraft carriers, returned to its home port this month after sailing past Taiwan and into the Western Pacific, exercises in the more remote parts of the West Pacific were conducted.

The United States and its allies are concerned about Chinas military modernization and its formidable missile forces and naval fleet, which now includes new ships like cutting-edge cruisers.

Chinas aircraft carrier is not a homebody and cannot just stay at home, Song Zhongping, a military commentator with Hong Kongs Phoenix TV, told Reuters, referring to the Shandong.

There will be more and more of these distant sea travels in future. Also China has quite a lot of warships.

After a 30-day journey through the South China Sea and the Western Pacific, the Hainan, Chinas first domestically constructed amphibious assault ship, along with a destroyer, a frigate, and a supply ship, finished their maiden remote sea training in March, according to the Southern Theatre Command.

Defence analysts estimate that despite Chinas military buildup, it may still be more than ten years before China can deploy a credible carrier threat outside of its borders.

(With agency inputs)

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The Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) has disclosed for the first time that early in 2021, China and the US engaged in a fierce military conflict that brought them as close as 150 km from Hong Kong. To prevent Beijing from obtaining its own floating sonars, the US was forced to destroy them.

According to a report by a team of Chinese military scientists, a day before the deadly riots took place at the Capitol building in Washington on January 6, 2021, three US military aircraft had launched a hunt for a submarine hunt unusually close to the Chinese shoreline.

The information is revealed in the first publicly available report on the event on January 5, which saw one anti-submarine plane fly as near as 150 kilometres (93 miles) from Hong Kong.

According to the report, the PLA, which was conducting a naval drill nearby, quickly sent out a counter force, the number and composition of which are yet unknown.

According to the allegation, which was released on April 25 by the Chinese-language journal Shipboard Electronic Countermeasures, the two troops were so near that the US military self-destroyed its floating sonars to keep the delicate equipment out of the hands of China.

The team claimed that the US activities posed a serious threat to Chinas national security and was led by Liu Dongqing of PLA Unit 95510.

In a time of war, this could pose a detrimental threat to our submarines carrying out critical missions, the study said.

The Dongsha islands, also known as the Pratas islands, are a collection of atolls and reefs that are under Taiwanese authority. The story claims that US spy planes planted sensors in the waters close to these islands.

The episode was risky because Beijing, which views Taiwan as a renegade colony that should be brought under mainland authority, by force if necessary, could view any perceived support for Taipeis governance of the islands as severely provocative.

Only Taipei and Beijing claim the Dongsha islands, in contrast to other disputed islands in the South China Sea where the US has been conducting freedom of navigation operations to counter what it views as disproportionate Chinese claims.

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External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar arrived in Brussels on Monday and is likely to attend the first meeting of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council today.

Jaishankar met Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo on Monday evening as he arrived in Brussels for the last leg of his three-nation tour covering Bangladesh, Sweden and Belgium.

Jaishankar said he conveyed personal greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to De Croo during the meeting, which was also attended by Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Skill Development and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

Delighted to call on PM of Belgium @alexanderdecroo along with my colleagues  @PiyushGoyal & @rajeev_GOI today. Conveyed personal greetings of PM @narendramodi, the external affairs minister wrote on Twitter.

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 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 Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum (EIPMF) in Stockholm.

With inputs from agencies

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It seems that Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of Twitter isnt exactly free to tweet whatever he wants. Instead, he needs to consult his lawyer before he can tweet, at least for the tweets that pertain to Tesla.

The 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan has ruled that Elon Musk cannot back out of a settlement with securities regulators regarding his 2018 tweets about taking Tesla private. The tweets caused Teslas share price to jump rapidly, which led to trading being temporarily halted.

Also read: Elon Musk hits back at US securities regulators for complaint about his Tesla tweet

Musk had challenged a lower courts ruling requiring him to abide by the settlement, citing changed circumstances and claiming that the settlement violated the First Amendment. The settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) mandated that Musks tweets be pre-approved by a Tesla attorney and imposed civil fines on both Musk and Tesla.

Why cant Musk tweet about Tesla?

The tweets in question stated that Musk had secured funding to take Tesla private at $420 per share, which turned out to be inaccurate as Tesla remained a public company.

The 2nd Circuit Court stated that it found no evidence supporting Musks claim that the SEC conducted bad-faith investigations into his protected speech using the consent decree. The court also rejected Musks argument about prior restraint, noting that parties entering consent decrees can voluntarily waive their First Amendment rights.

Also read: Tesla on my mind 24/7, spending less than 5% of time on Twitter acquisition, says Elon Musk

With this ruling, Musk is required to adhere to the settlement terms, including the pre-approval requirement for his tweets and the payment of civil fines.

Elon Musks attorney, Alex Spiro, has stated that they will seek further review and continue to highlight the issue of government constraints on speech. Musk has the option to appeal to the full 2nd Circuit or to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Musk and SECs coloured history

The SEC was investigating Musks tweets from November 2021, in which he asked his Twitter followers if he should sell 10 per cent of his Tesla stock.

Also read: Tesla CEO Elon Musk sued by US SEC for fraud and issuing misleading statements

The SEC was examining whether these tweets violated a settlement Musk signed in October 2018 after the SEC brought an enforcement action against him for his tweets about taking Tesla private, which were alleged to have violated securities laws antifraud provisions.

In April 2022, Judge Lewis Liman ruled that Musk had sent the tweets without obtaining pre-approval as required by the settlement. Under the settlement, Musk and Tesla were each required to pay $20 million in fines for Musks tweets about having secured funding to take Tesla private, even though the funding was not actually secured.

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Who doesnt wish to travel the world! But, ever thought of quitting your stable job just to travel? A 34-year-old man, who worked as a mechanical engineer, left his high-flying job to travel around the world. Stanley Aryanto has always been fond of travelling. One fine day in 2018, he decided to quit his high-paying job and fulfil his desire to travel across the globe. And, there has been no looking back for him.

Stanley has since then travelled to a number of countries. A report by Metro UK suggests that the engineer has toured as many as 26 countries, including Australia, Singapore, South Korea and the United States. Since then, Ive been living on a suitcase, he said.

Stanley, who once had a fixed income of more than 55,000 (around Rs 56 lakh), now funds his travels through photography. He goes by the name thewickedhunt on Instagram and his bio reads, Engineer turned nomadic award-winning, published and exhibited photographer, mentor & speaker. The picturesque handle is indeed a delight to scroll through.

In one of his recent posts, the man wrote, One of the biggest regret in my life is not pursuing my passion early enough in my life, it took me 30 years until I finally find the courage. How many times have you found yourself thinking about the things you love to do, but never pursued? The feeling of regret can be overwhelming, but its never too late to make a change.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Stanley Aryanto | Travel Adventure Astro Photography (@thewickedhunt)

Speaking on his choice to quit work, Stanley told Metro, Looking back, it was a crazy decision, and Coronavirus hasnt helped, but this lifestyle has given me so much opportunity to see the beauty around the world that I wouldve missed otherwise.

The 26 countries that he visited so far include  Indonesia, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Timor Leste, Vietnam, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, UK, France, Monaco, Italy, Germany, Vatican City, Morocco, Turkey, Jordan, Hungary, Czech Republic, Austria, Singapore, Thailand, United States, New Zealand, Australia and Canada.

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Recently, there was a widespread uproar on social media as users expressed their dissatisfaction with Facebooks unintended action of sending requests to random individuals on their behalf.

The glitch gained significant attention on Twitter, with users sharing screenshots and videos to highlight the issue. It was eventually revealed that this was a bug on Metas part, and the company promptly acknowledged the matter. Meta issued a statement apologizing for any inconvenience caused by the bug and assured users that it had been rectified.

Facebook bug sends random friend requests to strangers

On Friday, numerous Twitter users voiced their complaints about Facebook unexpectedly sending out friend requests to the profiles they had visited. While some users expressed concern over their privacy, others found humour in the situation. The bug was reportedly flagged by users primarily from Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka.

Facebook does not provide a feature that allows users to see who has viewed their profiles. Additionally, strangers have the ability to view public Stories without revealing their identities. This means that individuals can discreetly view the profiles of their exes, former friends, or co-workers without being detected as stalkers.



However, the mentioned glitch disrupted this privacy setting by automatically sending a friend request whenever someone clicked on another persons profile. As a result, the glitch inadvertently revealed the users intention to connect with the profile owner, eliminating the covert nature of their visit.

Meta Apologises

Upon discovering the glitch, the company promptly acknowledged the issue and expressed apologies for the inconvenience caused. They reassured users that the problem had been addressed and resolved.

The tech giant provided a statement to The Daily Beast, stating, We resolved a bug associated with a recent app update, which led to the inadvertent sending of certain Facebook friend requests. We have taken the necessary steps to prevent this from recurring and apologize for any inconvenience it may have caused.

Last month, Facebook encountered a separate bug that caused advertisements on the platform to overcharge customers. Consequently, the company was compelled to temporarily halt all advertising activities. Additionally, Meta had to take action last week to remove Facebook ads from compromised pages that included links to malware. These incidents reflect the challenges faced by the company in maintaining the integrity and security of its advertising platform.

Growing number of scammers on Facebook

Scammers have frequently targeted unsuspecting users on Facebook for their malicious activities. In March of this year, a scam came to light where Facebook pages were exploited to distribute malware to victims computer systems.

According to research conducted by CloudSEK, fraudulent ChatGPT pages were created on Facebook to propagate malware among innocent individuals. The scammers hijacked Facebook accounts or pages and made them appear as authentic ChatGPT pages. They accomplished this by modifying the username to something like ChatGPT OpenAI and using the ChatGPT logo as the profile picture. Subsequently, they ran Facebook advertisements that promised access to the purported latest version of ChatGPT, GPT-V4.

However, when victims clicked on the link provided by the fake Facebook accounts to download this supposed version, they unknowingly installed a stealer malware onto their devices, compromising their security. This posed a significant threat to users privacy and overall safety. It is crucial to exercise caution when downloading any content from unfamiliar sources on the internet.

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The FBI should never have launched a full investigation into connections between Donald Trumps campaign and Russia during the 2016 election, Special counsel John Durham has concluded in a report compiled over three years and released on Monday.

The long-awaited report was highly critical of the origins of Crossfire Hurricane, the FBIs probe into allegations of collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign.

Durhams 300-plus page report also states that the FBI used raw, unanalyzed, and uncorroborated intelligence, to launch the Crossfire Hurricane but used a different standard when weighing concerns about alleged election interference regarding Hillary Clintons campaign.

Special Counsel John Durham was appointed in 2019 by then-president Trumps attorney general Bill Barr to address allegations  made most prominently by Trump himself  that the Russia investigation was a political witch hunt.

Neither US 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 report said.

The speed and manner in which the FBI opened and investigated Crossfire Hurricane during the presidential election season based on raw, unanalysed, 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 added.

Durham said 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 led investigators to act without appropriate objectivity or restraint in pursuing allegations of collusion or conspiracy between a US political campaign and a foreign power, he said.

Trump, who is seeking the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, welcomed the Durham report in a post on his Truth Social platform.

WOW! After extensive research, Special Counsel John Durham concludes the FBI never should have launched the Trump-Russia Probe! Trump said.

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! he added, apparently referring to the multiple ongoing criminal investigations targeting him.

Missteps

In a statement, the FBI said the current leadership of the bureau has implemented dozens of corrective actions.

Had those reforms been in place in 2016, the missteps identified in the report could have been prevented, the FBI said in a statement.

Durhams task, according to an order by then-attorney general Barr, was to look into the origins of Crossfire Hurricane, which was launched in July 2016, as well as special counsel Robert Muellers subsequent investigation initiated in May 2017.

Both homed in on Russian hacking and social media manipulation in favor of Trump in 2016, and multiple contacts between the Trump campaign and Russians.

The Mueller probe expanded that to cover alleged acts of obstruction by Trump.

In the end Mueller gained convictions of six members of the Trump campaign, and issued indictments of 25 Russians.

But Mueller found no evidence of criminal cooperation with Russia by the Trump campaign, and his evidence of alleged obstruction by Trump was rejected by Barr.

Durhams investigation led to the indictments of a Russian national and a prominent Washington lawyer for making false statements to the FBI but both were acquitted.

The Russian, Igor Danchenko, was accused of supplying information for a report that contained unverified salacious information about Trump and Russia known as the Steele dossier, compiled by a former British intelligence agent, Christopher Steele.

With inputs from agencies

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This week, G7 leaders will meet in Hiroshima to tighten the screws on Russia over the Ukraine war and to agree on a united stance on Chinas expanding military and economic strength.

The three-day summit of the most powerful industrialised democracies will address a wide range of topics, from energy to artificial intelligence, but a major focus will be on those who have assisted Moscow in lessening the effects of Western-led sanctions.

The leaders will also steer clear of escalating tensions by portraying unanimity on Taiwan, steering clear of Beijing, and highlighting the need to de-risk important supply chains by diversifying away from China.

Last months G7 foreign ministers meeting, seen as setting the stage for the Hiroshima talks, put Beijing on notice over militarisation activities in the South China Sea.

It also insisted there was no change on Taiwan policy after French President Emmanuel Macron, following a trip to Beijing last month, said Europe should avoid crises that arent ours.

Ministers warned Beijing on everything from its nuclear arsenal to its business practices, and this weeks summit is expected to endorse extracting crucial supply chains from Chinese influence.

Washington has taken an aggressive approach, blocking Chinas access to the most advanced semiconductors and the equipment to make them, and has convinced Japan and the Netherlands to follow suit.

But this G7 is not an anti-Chinese G7, an adviser to Macron told journalists before the summit.

We have a positive message for China which is that we are ready to cooperate on condition that we negotiate together, the adviser added.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also this week said the bloc seeks a multifaceted approach to our economic relationships with China, characterised by de-risking, and not decoupling.

Vulnerable to coercion

We are most vulnerable to coercion where dependencies build up. Thats why we are taking action, she added, calling critical raw materials one area for work.

Europe has already enraged Beijing by proposing to restrict exports of sensitive tech to eight Chinese firms suspected of shipping it on to Russia.

And the Hiroshima summit is expected to push for similar actions to help close gaps in the sanctions regime G7 countries have imposed on Russia.

Countries are keen to ensure that sanctions that we have imposed, which have a cost for our economies, are not simply circumvented to the benefit of others, the French official said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has been touring European capitals before an expecting new offensive, will address the bloc by video.

The G7 groups Japan, Britain, the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and the European Union.

Anti-West messaging

But an unusually long list of non-G7 invitees will be present, as Japan tries to expand the blocs influence in the developing world, with leaders from India, Brazil and Indonesia among those taking part.

While the war in Ukraine has breathed new relevance into the G7, Tokyo and others believe more efforts are needed to win over major unaligned countries who are reluctant to take sides in disputes with Moscow and Beijing.

The need is heightened by the gridlock in the larger Group of 20, where China and Russia have opposed references to the Ukraine war.

Japan believes that both China and, to a lesser degree, Russia, are making inroads with economic assistance and anti-West messaging, said Chris Johnstone, Japan chair at CSIS.

Other invitees include African Union chair Comoros, Pacific Island Forum chair the Cook Islands, ASEAN chair Indonesia, and Vietnam.

Australia and South Korea, with which Japan is quickly patching up long-frayed ties, will also take part.

The G7 leaders are expected to issue a statement on disarmament, which Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has tried to move up the agenda by hosting the meeting in his constituency of Hiroshima.

Both G7 leaders and non-members are likely to visit the Peace Park and museum.

On the sidelines, a US-South Korea-Japan trilateral will help further cement efforts to rebuild ties between Tokyo and Seoul.

In a first, Kishida and his counterpart Yoon Suk Yeol are expected to visit a memorial for Koreans killed in the atomic bomb attack.

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Five members of a criminal gang were sentenced by a German court on Tuesday to up to six years in prison for stealing valuable gems from a Dresden museum in what the local press has labelled the largest art robbery in modern history.

In November 2019, burglars stole goods worth more than 113 million euros ($123 million) from the Green Vault museum. After four of the offenders confessed in court, some of the loot was recovered, but not all of it.

The thieves are part of the so-called Remmo clan, an extended family with ties to German organised crime.

The regional court in the eastern city handed down three sentences ranging from just under to just over six years for armed robbery, aggravated arson and grievous bodily harm.

Two of the men, who were minors at the time of the crime, received juvenile sentences of five years, and four years and four months respectively.

A sixth defendant was acquitted because he produced a credible alibi  an emergency surgery at a Berlin hospital.

The trial, which began in January 2022, shed some light on the spectacular case but left key questions unanswered.

Although many of the historic pieces were recovered as part of a plea deal, some are feared lost forever in what prosecutors called an act of remarkable criminal drive and recklessness by the thieves.

The loot included a sword with a diamond-encrusted hilt and a shoulder piece which contained the famous 49-carat Dresden white diamond.

Prosecutor Christian Weber said on the opening day of the trial that the defendants had stolen unique and irreplaceable treasures of outstanding cultural and historical significance.

Two of the defendants, Wissam and Mohamed Remmo, were already serving time for the daring 2017 theft of a massive gold coin from a Berlin museum.

In a statement read in court in January by their lawyer, they said the idea for the Dresden job was hatched after a younger acquaintance came back from a field trip to the Green Vault raving about the green diamonds on display there.

40 suspects still wanted

The court found that the defendants, aged between 24 and 29, slipped into the museum through previously damaged bars on a window, broke a display case with an axe and grabbed 21 pieces encrusted with 4,300 jewels in less than five minutes.

The thieves were able to escape in a getaway car that they later set ablaze in an underground car park.

For months after the crime, authorities thought the haul was lost for good, with detectives scouring Europes shadowy stolen goods markets for signs of the Saxon royal artefacts.

That was until December 2022, when authorities said they had recovered a considerable portion of the items following exploratory talks with the suspects.

However, many of the pieces were badly damaged and some are still missing, including a brooch that belonged to Queen Amalie Auguste of Saxony.

In January, four of the defendants confessed, leading to a deal for lighter sentences. A fifth said he stole tools to penetrate the building but denied allegations that he took part in the heist itself.

Defence lawyers had called for greater leniency for the defendants, citing their clients contribution to recovering much of the loot. But the thieves have been criticised for failing to identify their accomplices.

About 40 people are believed to have been involved in planning the heist and are still wanted.

The trial revealed grave security failings at the state institution. Its director, Marius Winzeler, has said he is optimistic that the remaining missing pieces will one day return to Dresden, given that they cannot be legally sold.

Founded by Augustus, Elector of Saxony, in 1723, the Green Vault is one of Europes oldest museums.

After the Royal Palace suffered severe damage in World War Two, the museum remained closed for decades before it was restored and reopened in 2006 as a major tourist draw.

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Hungary has blocked the payment of the eighth package of 500 million ($544 million) from the European Peace Fund (EPF) for weapons that EU member states are supplying to Ukraine, according to a report.

The 5.6 billion ($6.08 billion) fund from the EPF is used by the bloc to finance foreign militaries and reimburse its own members who send arms to foreign conflicts.

According to Russia Today, citing Italys ANSA news agency, the package, which was due to be allocated on 22 May, has been blocked by Budapest, supposedly demanding guarantees that EPF would remain global in its scope and would not be exclusively used to aid Ukraine.

The Peace Facility had only been utilised to send non-lethal supplies to Georgia, Mali, Moldova, Mozambique, and Ukraine for a total of less than $125 million prior to last February.

Hungary blocked aid in the past too

In the past, Hungary has blocked aid to Ukraine on quite a few occasions and its disapproval this time too is no surprise.

Despite being a NATO member, Hungary has refused to allow the US-led bloc to send weapons to Ukraine through its territory.

Hungary Prime Minister Viktor Orban has blamed the US and other NATO members of escalating the war at the expense of European interests, but his government is in favour of a Chinese diplomatic strategy to end the situation.

Late last year, Hungary held up an 18 billion ($19.5 billion) tranche of economic aid for Ukraine, which the bloc would have borrowed on global markets.

Orban argued that by doing so, the EU would have become indebted over Ukraine. He eventually relented when the bloc lifted a freeze it had placed on grant money for Hungary.

In January, Hungary also blocked the release of the seventh tranche of EPF arms for Ukraine, although the package was approved several weeks later.

In early February, the Council of the European Union approved the latest seventh package of military assistance to Ukraine from the fund, as well as the allocation of funds for an EU training mission for the Ukrainian military.

In addition, in early May, the EU Council decided to allocate 1 billion from the European Peace Fund as part of its initiative to provide Ukraine with artillery ammunition.

Zelenskyy urges speedy help

Ukraine President Vladimir Zelenskyy has pleaded with the West on numerous occasions for heavier weapons and more ammunition in preparation for a much-anticipated counteroffensive against Russian soldiers.

Zelensky recently visited Italy, Germany, the UK, and France and won new aid commitments from each of them, but he continues to maintain that he needs fighter jets and more powerful missiles to carry out his promise to retake the Russian provinces of Kherson, Zaporozhye, Donetsk, Lugansk, and Crimea.

American military officials have publicly expressed doubt that the Ukrainian military can achieve these goals, and leaked Pentagon documents suggest that Washington is bracing for the failure of Kievs offensive.

With inputs from agencies

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According to top government and business sources, India intends to lodge a complaint with the World Trade Organisation against the European Unions proposal to levy 20 per cent to 35 per cent tariffs on imports of high-carbon goods including steel, iron ore, and cement from India.

This is a part of New Delhis plan to counter the EUs Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which encourages regional businesses to invest in cutting-edge technology to reduce carbon emissions. The plan also includes bringing up the issue in bilateral negotiations.

Indias commerce minister, Piyush Goyal, is in Brussels to meet with EU officials to discuss bilateral issues and advance trade.

Last month, the European Union approved the worlds first plan to impose a levy on high-carbon goods imports from 2026, targeting imports of steel, cement, aluminium, fertilisers, electricity, and hydrogen, aiming to become a net zero emitter of greenhouse gases by 2050, ahead of Indias target of 2070.

In the name of environment protection, EU is introducing a trade barrier that would hit not only Indian exports but also of many other developing countries, said a top government official with direct knowledge of the matter.

The government was planning to file a complaint to the WTO against the EUs unilateral decision and would seek relief for exporters, particularly small companies, the official said without disclosing further details.

India sees the proposed levy as discriminatory and a trade barrier, and would question its legality while citing that New Delhi was already following the protocols pledged in the UN Paris climate agreement, said another government official involved in the team dealing with WTO matters.

Three industry sources who attended a meeting last week called by the government to discuss the issue confirmed the plans to raise the issue at the WTO.

Officials declined to be named as they were not authorised to speak to the media.

The commerce ministry and steel companies did not comment.

Need more time

Policymakers are examining proposals from the steel industry that has sought a level-playing field through safeguard measures against imports as a reciprocal measure.

Sectors like steel and small manufacturers need more time to meet EU guidelines, said Ajay Sahai, director general, the Federation of Indian Export Organisations, adding they would ultimately need to cut emissions to remain globally competitive.

The exporters body warned the EU plan could make Indias free trade agreements with other countries and a proposed pact with the EU redundant as the prices of many exporters goods would rise by nearly one-fifth after the carbon tax and other trade partners hurt by the tax may dump goods in India.

Initially, nearly $8 billion of exports mainly steel, iron ore and aluminium would face tariffs, Sahai said, but by 2034, it will cover all goods exported to the EU.

The carbon border adjustment is likely to be followed by other advanced countries including the UK, Canada, Japan and the United States as they push to cut carbon emissions, he said.

A ministerial panel is looking into the impact of EU plans and steps to deal with it including mutual recognition of energy audit and carbon trading certificates, Santosh Kumar Sarangi, director general foreign trade, said on Monday.

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Chinas dwindling birth rate has become a cause of concern among policymakers and the government. The state-backed Peoples Daily said that the country needs to focus on education, science and technology in order to train people to be more skilled.

It added that China will strive for a moderate fertility level to support economic growth.

Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping recently attended a meeting to discuss the developments made by the country in terms of population development. The newspaper described population development as a major event linked to Chinas great rejuvenation.

The government, concerned with Chinas rapidly ageing population preceded by its first population drop in six decades, has been working to implement measures to reverse the countrys declining birth rate. Such measures include financial incentives and boosting childcare facilities.

China will double the number of childcare centres by 2025, state-backed broadcaster CCTV said on Tuesday, with the headline It is no longer difficult to take care of a baby.

The number of caregivers per 1,000 people will increase to 4.5 by 2025 from 2.5 in 2022, it added.

Many Chinese women are reluctant to have more than one or even any children due to the high costs of child-rearing and as the lack of childcare means becoming a parent often entails giving up a career. Gender discrimination and traditional thinking that places the burden of caring for children mostly on women are still widespread throughout the country. Authorities have in recent months increased rhetoric about sharing child-rearing duties but paternity leave is still limited in most provinces.

Opening up fertility services to unmarried women may help to boost the countrys fertility rate, the governments political advisers proposed in March.

With inputs from agencies

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On Tuesday, police in southern Italy reported finding 2,700 kg of highly pure cocaine concealed in two refrigerator-shipped containers holding bananas from Ecuador.

The cargo discovered in the port of Gioia Tauro in Calabria would have been worth more than 800 million euros ($880 million), according to a statement from Italys Guardia di Finanza police.

The consignment originated in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and travelled from there to Armenia via the Georgian Black Sea port of Batumi.

With the aid of Joel, a sniffer dog, and specialised scanners, the drugs were found in the 12-meter (40-foot) canisters, the police said.

Police said they had found a further 600 kg (1,320 pounds) of cocaine in the last few days in fruit containers from Ecuador being shipped through Gioia Tauro. These consignments had been destined for other parts of Italy, Croatia, Greece and Georgia, they added.

Calabria is home to the Ndrangheta, which has supplanted Sicilys Cosa Nostra as Italys most powerful mafia organisation and plays a central role in the drugs trade.

($1 = 0.9084 euros)

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Italy became the first country to take proper, concrete steps to protect its working people from becoming redundant because of chatbots like ChatGPT and other AI tools.

Italy has announced that they have allocated 30 million euros or roughly $33 million to enhance the skills of unemployed individuals and workers whose jobs are most vulnerable to automation and artificial intelligence.

The Fondo per la Repubblica Digitale (FRD), established by the Rome government in 2021 to enhance Italians digital skills, reported that 54 per cent of individuals aged between 16-74 lack basic digital skills, compared to an average of 46 per cent in the European Union.

The FRD stated that the funding for training improvement will be distributed in two ways. Out of the total amount, 10 million euros will be dedicated to enhancing the skills of individuals whose jobs are at high risk of automation and technological innovation.

The remaining 20 million euros will be allocated to assist unemployed and economically inactive individuals in developing digital skills that would increase their employability. The FRD highlighted various sectors, including transport and logistics, office support and administration, production, services, and the retail sector, as being susceptible to automation.

The increasing prevalence of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, including tools like ChatGPT, has garnered the attention of lawmakers and regulators in several countries. Many experts argue that new regulations are necessary to govern AI due to its potential impact on national security, education, and employment.

In late April, Italys data protection authority raised concerns, leading to a four-week unavailability of the ChatGPT chatbot until OpenAI addressed the issues.

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External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called on Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and discussed growing bilateral cooperation, including in trade and technology, and spoke about contemporary strategic concerns.

The minister arrived in Brussels on Monday evening for the last leg of his three-nation tour covering Bangladesh, Sweden and Belgium.

Jaishankar said he conveyed personal greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to De Croo during the meeting, which was also attended by Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Skill Development and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

Jaishankar is in Brussels for the first meeting of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council scheduled for Tuesday.

Delighted to call on PM of Belgium @alexanderdecroo along with my colleagues  @PiyushGoyal & @rajeev_GOI today. Conveyed personal greetings of PM @narendramodi, the external affairs minister wrote on Twitter.

Discussed our growing bilateral cooperation, including in trade and technology. Also spoke about contemporary strategic concerns, he said.

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

The Indian ministerial delegation also met Ursula von der Leyen, President of the EU Commission. 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, Jaishankar tweeted after the meeting.

The first ministerial-level meeting of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) will take place on Tuesday in Brussels.

The TTC was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of the European Commission during the latters visit to India in April last year.

Subsequently, both sides established three working groups under the TTC.

The first working group is on strategic technologies, digital governance and digital connectivity. The second one is on green and clean energy technologies and the third one is on trade, investment and resilient value chains.

The TTC is expected to facilitate the exchange of critical technologies relating to an array of domains including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductors and cybersecurity.

The TTC with India is the European Unions second such technology partnership after the first one with the United States which was firmed up in June 2021.

(With inputs from PTI)

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This week, Japan is hosting the G7 leaders in Hiroshima in an effort to highlight the risks of nuclear weapons and advance the cause of disarmament.

However, with China expanding its arsenal and North Korea and Russia making nuclear threats, there may not be much desire for aggressive action to achieve Prime Minister Fumio Kishidas stated objective of a world free of nuclear weapons.

Following are some queries and responses regarding nuclear weapons and Japans objectives:

Which G7 states are nuclear-armed?

Three G7 members  the United States, Britain and France  have nuclear arsenals, with Washington holding an estimated 5,244 warheads, according to the Federation of American Scientists (FAS).

The figure, which includes stockpiled, reserve and retired warheads, dwarves the inventories of France and Britain, estimated by FAS at 290 and 225 respectively.

Several G7 members, however, either host US nuclear weapons or are covered by the US nuclear umbrella  an expectation that Washington would deploy the weapons in their defence if necessary  including Japan.

What treaties cover nuclear weapons?

Perhaps the most famous treaty covering nuclear weapons remains the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which opened for signature in 1968.

A total of 191 states, including China, Russia, France, Britain and the United States are parties.

The core of the treaty is a pledge by nations not to acquire nuclear weapons if they do not have them, and for nuclear-armed countries to share peaceful technology while aiming to dismantle their arsenals.

However, in July 2017, the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) was adopted by over 100 UN states.

Campaigners view the more recent pact as filling the NPTs gaps by demanding the elimination of nuclear weapons.

No nuclear power has signed it and it is actively opposed by some.

France and the United States last year called it at odds with the existing non-proliferation and disarmament architecture.

Japan is not party to the TPNW.

What about other nuclear powers?

There are nine nuclear-armed states in the world: the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel, which does not officially acknowledge its arsenal.

FAS estimates most nuclear-armed states are working to increase their arsenal, with only Washington decreasing its stockpile, and those of France and Israel seen as stable.

The spectre of nuclear weapons use has reemerged in recent months, with fresh missile tests by Pyongyang and thinly veiled threats from Moscow about using the arms if it is attacked.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has pledged to deploy the weapons in neighbour and ally Belarus, and suspended participation in a treaty under which Moscow and Washington agreed to limit stockpiles.

China is also in the midst of the largest-ever expansion of its nuclear arsenal and could go from the estimated 400 warheads it now holds to 1,500 by 2035, according to the Pentagon.

What does Japan want?

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has said he chose Hiroshima for the G7 summit to help bring home the devastation that nuclear weapons cause.

He hopes to take leaders to the citys Peace Park and museum, according to Japanese officials, where they will confront evidence of the horrifying aftermath of the nuclear bomb.

Kishida hopes for endorsement of his Hiroshima Action Plan, unveiled last year.

It urges a continued pledge never to use nuclear weapons, transparency on stockpiles, further arsenal reductions, a commitment to non-proliferation and an understanding of the realities of nuclear weapons use.

Expectations for concrete disarmament progress are low, however, with G7 foreign ministers explicitly noting last month the current harsh security environment in their language on nuclear weapons.

Instead of another empty statement, the current nuclear risk level demands real action, the International Campaign Against Nuclear Weapons said in a statement last month.

It wants a concrete, credible plan for talks by all nuclear-armed states on eliminating nuclear weapons.

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Young people in North Korea will now have to call Kim Jong Un Respected Father. The move has caused a lot of resentment among the youth who do not consider him worthy enough to hold an honorific.

According to Radio Free Asia, the 38-year-old leader seems to be legitimising his authority like his father Kim Jong Il and grandfather Kim Il Sung. Both his father and grandfather have been referred to as Respected Father.

A resident of the north-eastern province of North Hamgyong told RFA, 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.

The source, who spoke on conditions of anonymity, added, 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.

People not thrilled about it

Calling a man who is only 38 years old father is not sitting right with many people. Many think that he is still too young and inexperienced compared to his predecessors, which in turn makes the title inappropriate.

North Koreas founder and Kims grandfather Kim Jong II Sung began using the title in 1976 when he was 55 years old. The youngest North Koreans, however, referred to him as grandfather.

Meanwhile, Kim Jong II used the title only when he turned 53 until his death in 2011.

Another resident in the northern province of Ryanggang said, 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.

Resentment among young people is rising, she added.

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India and China held military talks on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on Tuesday in the Daulat Beg Oldie area, entering the fourth year of their continuing impasse. The talks were at the Major General level.

A few weeks have passed since the Indian Army and the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) engaged in the 18th round of Corps Commander negotiations in the Eastern Ladakh sector.

A meeting of Indian Army and Chinese Army officials at the Major General level was held at the Daulat Beg Oldie sector along the LAC in Ladakh today. The two sides discussed ways of resolving the ongoing stand-off between two sides and was routine in nature, ANI quoted defence officals as saying.

Long-standing tensions exist between the two parties in the DBO sector, and despite a three-year standoff and numerous rounds of negotiations, these problems have not been resolved.

Chinese aggressiveness and a large-scale army buildup targeting Indian positions on the LAC in eastern Ladakh resulted in the start of the current standoff in 2020.

The Indian side has also sent out a large number of troops and built up their infrastructure quickly.

De-escalation and legacy concerns around Depsang Plains and Demchok were probably covered in the most recent session of negotiations between the two parties, which took place on Sunday.

(With agency inputs)

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The leaders of the 46-nation Council of Europe (CoE) assemble on Tuesday in Iceland to present a unified front against Moscow, one year after Moscow was expelled from the organisation.

The summit in Reykjavik, only the fourth in the CoEs seven-decade history, will focus on finding measures to make Russia legally accountable for the death and destruction it has caused in Ukraine.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, has not been officially confirmed to attend the conference as of late Monday.

The public announcement of each stop on his tour of significant European capitals came only moments before departure.

Along the way, Berlin, Paris and London all pledged to step up arms deliveries to Kyiv, deepening a military arrangement between the West and Ukraine that has helped put Russia on the back foot.

Ukraine is expected to mount an offensive against Russian forces in the east of its territory in coming weeks.

Zelenskyy tweeted that he was returning home with new defence packages.

The CoE focuses on its mission to promote human rights, democracy and rule of law in its member states, which include all 27 European Union nations plus Britain, Turkey, Western Balkan countries, Georgia and Armenia.

Russia was kicked out of the CoE in March 2022, because of its invasion of Ukraine, just ahead of its plan to withdraw from the Strasbourg-based body.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, who is attending the summit, said on Monday the EU will keep supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes.

She said that in Reykjavik we will discuss how to hold Russia accountable and I will support the creation of a dedicated tribunal to bring Russias crime of aggression to trial.

Notably, she said, the summit will look to set up a register of damage in The Hague, where a special court could be set up as a first step, and a good step, towards Russian compensation.

Russia isolated

The commission and EU countries are in favour of setting up a special tribunal, likely in The Hague in the Netherlands where the International Criminal Court already sits, to judge Russian leaders and commanders.

That prospect, though, is pushed off to after what looks like it will be a long war, with Russia digging in and perhaps preparing its own spring attack on Ukrainian positions.

The two-day Council of Europe summit will be an opportunity for almost the entire European family to portray Russia as isolated on its own continent.

Emmanuel Macron of France, Rishi Sunak of Britain and Olaf Scholz of Germany are among the heads of state and government set to attend.

But for all the projected unity there are fissures in that CoE family.

Britain, for instance, is antagonistic towards the CoEs European Convention of Human Rights, which is a barrier to its plans to stem the irregular arrival of asylum-seekers by deporting them to Rwanda or pressing for European countries that served as transit points to take them back.

The convention is backed by a European Court of Human Rights which has made rulings that have already stymied Britains efforts in that direction.

It is clear that our current international system is not working, and our communities and the worlds most vulnerable people are paying the price, Sunak said late Monday.

The British leader was a late addition to the list of summit attendees, after his office initially told journalists he would not attend.

Britains ruling Tories, who took their country out of the European Union after a Brexit referendum, are determined to fight what they describe as the scourge of illegal migration.

The leaders gathering is also a key moment for the heads of European heavyweights Germany, France, Italy and Britain to meet before a G7 summit starting Friday in Japan.

The United States, the major military supporter of Ukraine, has observer status at the CoE and will be represented in Reykjavik by its UN ambassador, Linda Thomas-Greenfield.

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The European Union (EU) regulators have approved Microsofts $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, following the recent blockage of the deal by UK regulators. The approval from the European Commission is based on commitments made by Microsoft regarding cloud gaming.

The EU concluded that Microsoft would have no incentive to withhold the distribution of Activisions games from Sony, a competitor in the gaming industry. Additionally, even if Microsoft decided to withdraw Activisions games from PlayStation, it would not significantly impact competition in the consoles market. However, similar to the UK regulators, the EU did raise concerns about potential competition issues related to the distribution of PC and console games through cloud gaming services.

How Microsoft pacified the European Commission

To address the competition concerns raised by the European Commission, Microsoft has offered remedies in the form of 10-year licensing deals. These licenses aim to enable the deal between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard to proceed. As part of these licensing deals, Microsoft has made commitments to provide certain rights and benefits to both consumers and cloud providers.

Also read: UK blocks Microsofts $69 billion Activision deal, regulators fear monopoly in cloud gaming

Consumers in EU countries will be granted a free license that allows them to stream all current and future Activision Blizzard PC and console games they have a license for, using any cloud game streaming service of their choice. This license will enable them to play these games on any device, using any operating system. In addition, cloud providers operating in EU markets will also receive a free license to stream Activision Blizzard games.

It appears that the European Commission requested Microsoft to offer this automatic licensing arrangement and to apply this globally, extending these benefits to consumers and cloud providers worldwide.

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, says Margrethe Vestager, executive VP in charge of competition policy at the European Commission. 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.

What happened in the UK?

The approval of the Microsoft-Activision Blizzard deal by the European Commission contrasts with the recent decision by UK regulators to block the acquisition. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in the UK raised concerns about the impact on the cloud gaming market, expressing fears of reduced innovation and limited choice for UK gamers in the future. Microsoft has appealed the CMAs decision.

Also read: Microsoft tells US court that its $69 billion Activision-Blizzard deal would greatly benefit gamers

In an effort to address regulatory concerns related to cloud gaming, Microsoft has been working to establish partnerships and deals. These include agreements with Boosteroid, Ubitus, Nvidia, and Nintendo to allow Xbox PC games to be accessible on competing cloud gaming services.

These 10-year deals also involve access to Activision Blizzard games such as Call of Duty, contingent on regulatory approval of the Microsoft-Activision Blizzard deal. While these efforts convinced EU regulators, they did not sway the UK authorities.

The challenges ahead for Microsoft

The concerns raised by the UKs CMA regarding Microsofts control over popular gaming franchises like Call of Duty, Overwatch, and World of Warcraft, and its potential dominance in the cloud gaming market, highlight the regulators stance on the deal. The CMA estimates that Microsoft currently holds a significant share of around 60 to 70 per cent in the global cloud gaming services market.

Also read: Call of Duty on Nintendo? Microsoft might agree to a 10-Year Call of Duty deal with Nintendo

Microsofts appeal process in the UK is expected to take several months to complete. The recent approval of the deal by the EU may provide some support to Microsofts efforts, but the company still faces challenges in the US and UK. Regulatory authorities in various countries, including Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Chile, Serbia, Japan, and South Africa, have approved the deal. However, reviews are still underway in China, South Korea, New Zealand, and Australia.

The next major obstacle for Microsoft is the scrutiny it faces from regulators in its home country, particularly the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC filed a lawsuit to block the Microsoft-Activision Blizzard deal, and the case is currently in the document discovery stage, with an evidentiary hearing scheduled for August 2nd. The outcome of the case will not be known until later this year.

While Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick expressed his appreciation for the EUs approval and the companys commitment to expanding its investments and workforce in the EU, the CMA stands by its position and the concerns it raised.

Microsofts appeal battle with the UKs CMA is expected to be challenging, despite any concessions the company may have made to secure approval from the EU.

While the EU approval may have helped Microsofts position, it does not guarantee a favourable outcome with the CMA. The UK regulator has its own independent assessment and criteria for evaluating the deal, and it will thoroughly consider the potential implications for the UK gaming market.

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A police officer stationed outside a school in Khyber Pakhtunkhwas Swat district allegedly opened fire on Tuesday, killing at least one female student and injuring several others, including a teacher and around seven girls.

The constable, who was identified as Alam Khan, was detained immediately following the assault, and a first information report (FIR) was filed against him, according to District Police Officer (DPO) Shafiullah Gandapur.

A special investigation team has been formed to make further investigation into the matter. I assure everyone that strict legal punishment will be given to the culprit, he told the media.

The accused, according to Gandapur, was twice suspended from the police department and was a native of the Salampur region. Khan was readmitted by the police department last year and sent to the schools perimeter three months ago for security purposes.

He continued by saying that an emergency had been declared at the facility and the injured people had been sent to the Saidu Sharif Teaching Hospital.

One of the injured girls, who was admitted to hospital, told Pakistani publication Dawn that the suspect started firing randomly at their van as soon as it pulled away from the school entrance.

All the schoolchildren got scared and started shouting after which people started gathering, she added.

Following the horrific incidents reporting, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Inspector General Akhtar Hayat Gandapur, Malakand Regional Police Officer Nasir Mehmood Dasti, DPO Gandapur, and Swat Deputy Commissioner Ifranullah Wazir all visited the injured youngsters.

According to a statement made by the Swat police, RPO Malakand gave hospital administrators instructions to make sure that those injured in the incident received the best medical care available.

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After being criticised by the ruling alliance for greeting former prime minister Imran Khan in the Supreme Court with the words good to see you, Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial on Tuesday clarified that it was part of court etiquette and carried no political connotation.

He made these remarks during the PTI chiefs appearance before the top court of Pakistan after his arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case sparked violent protests by his supporters.

A federal cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that the way Bandial greeted Khan was a blot on the face of the countrys judiciary.

Clarifying on his demeanour, Chief Justice Bandial said: I am being criticised for greeting Khan in the same manner; however, I use this phrase often.

I hold everyone in high esteem as respect and courteousness are important for everybody, Geo TV quoted him as saying.

Everyone is deserving of basic respect and good manners, The Express Tribune newspaper reported.

Khans dramatic arrest led to miscreants torching and damaging over 80 vehicles of law enforcement agencies besides damaging 14 state buildings/installations in Punjab province.

The miscreants, who are mostly members of Khans PTI, set on fire the Corps Commander House known as Jinnah House in Lahore to vent their anger over the arrest of Khan.

Khan was on Friday granted bail by a three-member Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Bandial after the National Accountability Bureau arrested him on charges of accepting millions of dollars worth of property in exchange for providing benefits to a real estate tycoon.

The ruling alliance staged a sit-in right outside the apex court on Monday, with PML-N chief organiser Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Monday demanding the resignation of Bandial, blaming him for the anarchy and crisis in Pakistan.

Prime Minister Sharif-led cabinet has also condemned Bandials intervention in the arrest of Khan who is facing more than 120 cases across the country.

Addressing the cabinet, Prime Minister Sharif called the double standards of justice.

Pakistans National Assembly on Monday unanimously adopted a motion seeking the formation of a special committee to file a case against Bandial in the Supreme Judicial Council for his misconduct and deviating from oath, escalating the tension between the government and the top judiciary.

The motion  moved by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was unanimously adopted by the house, the Express Tribune newspaper reported.

Speaking in the National Assembly, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said that the time has come for Parliament to play its constitutional role in this situation.

Asif demanded the formation of a parliamentary committee to probe the judiciarys undue support to former prime minister Khan as well as sending a notice to the Supreme Judicial Council under Article 209 of the Constitution on the matter.

(With inputs from PTI)

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According to a media source on Tuesday, Pakistan has no choice but to seek its all-weather friend China to bail out its ailing economy in order to avoid a full-fledged outbreak of the Balance of Payments (BoP) crisis if the IMF does not resuscitate the $6.5 billion plan.

Policymakers are left with little choice but to look into all alternative options to avoid default and choking off the economy of over 220 million people, according to sources quoted by The News International.

Amid deepening political and economic crisis in the country, the IMF (International Monetary Fund) has adopted the policy of wait and see but this policy cannot be pursued for a longer period, a top official source said on Monday.

Either the IMF will have to be revived through completion of the 9th review or the programme will be scrapped. We will share no more data with the IMF without completion of the ninth review, the official said.

Cash-strapped Pakistan, which is also facing political turmoil, has adopted the policy of import restrictions to manage its economy in order to avert default.

A programme continuation with the IMF would have ensured a flow of dollars from multilateral, bilateral and commercial monies to ease the imports and unclog the economic activity.

Keeping in view all these developments, independent economists are now suggesting the government make last-ditch efforts of reviving the IMF programme or clearly look towards China, Pakistans closest ally, to bail out the struggling economy.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang last month assured his Pakistani counterpart Shehbaz Sharif that China supports Pakistan in maintaining financial stability. China has already given financial aid to Pakistan.

Former minister for Finance and renowned economist Dr Hafiz A Pasha said if the IMF did not move forward then Pakistan would have no other option but to request China to devise any mechanism for helping Islamabad to avert a full-fledged crisis.

He said that the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) could be used as an instrument to help out Pakistan to avert the BoP crisis.

Dr Khaqan Najeeb, former advisor in the Ministry of Finance, said undoubtedly the country has taken a number of steps for macro stabilisation and paving the way for completion of the 9th review by the IMF.

However, considering a weak State Bank of Pakistan reserves position at just $4.38 billion and a precarious balance of payment position, the IMF is being extra careful in ensuring financing needs are more than adequately met.

Authorities have tried but have been unable to give comfort to the lender, the report said.

The IMF last week said Pakistan needed significant additional financing for the successful completion of the long-stalled ninth review bailout package.

The IMF also rejected the Pakistan governments claim that it has met all the conditions to reach an agreement with the global financial body to release funds under an already agreed loan facility.

It added that the large South Asian economy was facing stagflation and had also been battered by a series of shocks including severe floods.

A staff-level accord to release a $1.1 billion tranche out of a $6.5 billion IMF package has been delayed since November, with nearly 100 days gone since the last staff-level mission to Pakistan. That is the longest such gap since at least 2008.

Pakistan, currently in the throes of a major political as well as economic crisis, is grappling with high external debt, a weak local currency and dwindling foreign exchange reserves.

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The Russian government said on Tuesday that it has still not decided if Moscow will extend a UN and Turkey-brokered grain export deal with Ukraine.

The deal is due to expire on May 18.

There are a lot of unanswered questions regarding our part of the deal  now we have to make a decision, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

The Russia-Ukraine war has triggered food insecurities across the globe as both countries are major grain exporters. Russian warships have blocked most of the Ukrainian ports, giving rise to a global food crisis.

The agreement between Russia and Ukraine was signed in July 2022 allowing grain ports in Ukraine to restart exports.

Russia has however repeatedly threatened to withdraw from the deal, claiming that obstacles remain to its own food exports.

Moscow says the problems stem from secondary effects of Western penalties on shipping and insurance companies as well as banks.

During recent talks in Istanbul, Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said: we are heading toward an agreement on the extension of the grain deal.

Russia has laid out a list of conditions for it to agree to an extension, including allowing the Russian Agricultural Bank (Rosselkhozbank) to reconnect to the Swift payment system.

Supplies of agricultural machinery, spare parts and services also have to be resumed, and obstacles to granting Russian vessels insurance and access to foreign ports must be lifted, it says.

Moscows conditions also include the resumption of ammonia exports for fertilisers through a major pipeline that goes through Ukraine.

With inputs from agencies

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A day, after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared he would return from a tour of Europe with a reloaded arsenal, Russian drones and ballistic missiles, assaulted Ukraines capital early on Tuesday in what the defence forces called an extremely intricate strike.

According to the Kyiv City Military Administration, the attack on Tuesdaythe seventh in the capital this monthinvolved drones, cruise missiles, and likely ballistic missiles launched from different directions simultaneously.

With a fire starting in a non-residential building, the busy Solomyansky neighbourhood of Kyiv, which houses the international airport, sustained the most damage.

According to Telegram posts by Mayor Vitali Klitschko, three people were injured in Solomyansky, while missile debris fell on Obolonsky district, a leafy outer suburb.

The latest attack on Kyiv follows Zelenskyys collection of a slew of fresh arms delivery pledges from Berlin, Paris and London, deepening a military arrangement between the West and Ukraine that has helped put Russia on the back foot.

After his whirlwind tour of major European capitals, Zelenskyy tweeted Monday night that he was returning home with new defence packages.

Ukrainian forces are widely believed to be gearing up for a long-awaited counter-offensive against Russian troops, with gains already claimed around the flashpoint of Bakhmut.

But Zelenskyy has yet to succeed in his coveted goal of enlisting Western fighter jets to seize command of the skies, although UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced on Monday preparations to open a flight school to train Ukrainian pilots.

France, too, has offered to train Ukrainian fighter pilots, though President Emmanuel Macron ruled out sending warplanes to Kyiv.

And while Russias ally China vies to act as a peace broker, sending an envoy to Kyiv this week, Moscows reported attempt to acquire more drones with military collaborator Iran has caused ire in Washington.

This is a full-scale defense partnership that is harmful to Ukraine, to the region in the Middle East, and to the international community, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Monday, adding that further sanctions would soon be announced.

For all of Europe

Zelenskyys tour to shore up military assistance to help make his troops more battle-ready began in Italy, with weekend visits to France and Germany, followed by Mondays stop in the UK.

France offered dozens more light tanks and armoured vehicles, while Germany said it was preparing a new military package worth 2.7 billion euros ($3 billion)  its biggest yet for Ukraine.

At the UK prime ministers country estate of Chequers outside London on Monday, Zelenskyy won the promise of hundreds more air-defence missiles and long-range attack drones.

Dressed in his trademark fatigues, he gave a bear hug to Sunak after disembarking from a Royal Air Force Chinook helicopter.

He said the crisis was a matter of security not only for Ukraine, it is important for all of Europe.

Sunak noted that the Chequers meeting was taking place in the buildup to a Council of Europe leaders meeting in Iceland and a G7 summit in Japan, as he hit out at Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The front lines of Putins war of aggression may be in Ukraine, but the fault lines stretch all over the world, Sunak said.

Russia said the new UK weapons would only cause further destruction and claimed to have downed a Storm Shadow cruise missile that Britain last week said it was providing, in the Wests first deployment of long-range missiles for Ukraine.

Fighting increases

The timing and focus of Ukraines high-stakes counter-offensive remain unclear, but Zelenskyys tour of European capitals underscored the importance of securing Western heavy weapons and ammunition.

On the ground, the fighting appears poised to increase after months of stalemate.

Kyiv said the southern region of Kherson came under massive enemy attack, damaging several residential buildings.

Meanwhile, seven people, including a Moscow-installed senior official and a teenager, were injured in a blast in Russian-controlled Lugansk, local officials said.

Ukrainian forces said they have captured more than 10 Russian positions on the outskirts of Bakhmut, where a fierce battle for control began nearly a year ago.

Russia said two of its military commanders had been killed in combat near the town.

The head of Russias private Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, again accused the Russian army of inaction around Bakhmut.

But he dismissed as laughable a Washington Post report that he had offered information on Russian troop positions to Ukraine in January in return for respite for Wagner forces.

Chinese mediation

In another sign of tensions with the West, Russia said Monday it had scrambled a Su-27 fighter jet over the Baltic Sea to intercept two aircraft, one German and one French, which Moscow said had attempted to violate its airspace.

After turning the foreign military planes away from the Russian Federation state border, the Russian fighter (jet) returned safely to its airbase, the Russian defence ministry said in a statement

As the search for an endgame to the war continues, high-ranking Chinese diplomat Li Hui will start a two-day visit to Kyiv on Tuesday, a Ukrainian government official told AFP.

Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Moscow in March and has been criticised for refusing to condemn Putins war.

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Swedens government announced on Tuesday that it had approved two offshore wind power facilities off the countrys west coast, totalling 100 turbines while emphasising that it was not abandoning nuclear power.

When the two farms are finished, which the government estimates will take seven to ten years, they are expected to produce up to 6.5 terawatt-hours.

Swedish state-owned utility Vattenfall was granted permission for the Kattegatt Syd park, which will have 80 turbines, while renewable energy business OX2 was granted permission for the Galene park, which will include 21 turbines.

These two parks at sea, are roughly equivalent to one normal-sized nuclear power plant, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson told a press conference.

At the same time, Kristersson stressed that nuclear power was part of the governments strategy to expand Swedens production of fossil-free energy and noted that parliament was about to change its goal of 100 per cent renewable energy to 100 per cent fossil-free energy.

For the first time in 43 years, nuclear power will be part of Swedish energy policy in the long term, Kristersson said.

The Scandinavian country voted in a 1980 non-binding referendum to phase out nuclear power.

Since then, Sweden has shut down six of its 12 reactors and the remaining ones, at three nuclear power plants, generate about 30 per cent of the electricity used in the country today.

But Sweden has struggled to find viable alternative energy sources to replace its nuclear power, with renewable energies not yet able to fully meet its needs.

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Rached Ghannouchi, a prominent opposition figure and former parliament speaker of Tunisia, has been sentenced to one year of imprisonment by a Tunisian court.

In addition to the prison term, local media reported that Ghannouchi was also fined 1,000 dinars ($326, 300).

Ghannouchis arrest took place last month, and he appeared in court in late February on charges of conspiring against state security.

The allegations stemmed from accusations that he referred to police officers as tyrants and issued a warning about the potential emergence of a civil war if the government continued to target left-wing and Islamist opposition groups.

As the leader of the Islamist Ennahda party, which was the largest party in parliament until President Kais Saied dissolved the chamber in July 2021, Ghannouchis arrest and subsequent trial have attracted significant attention.

Last month, he refused to appear before the judiciary, claiming that the proceedings were politically motivated fabrications.

Ghannouchis case is part of a larger wave of arrests involving more than 20 opposition figures, including business leaders and former ministers, since February. President Saied has been consolidating power and ruling by decree for over a year and a half.

In early 2023, Tunisias parliament reconvened after its suspension in 2021. However, opposition parties boycotted the poll, resulting in low voter turnout of only 11%.

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Ukraines Air Force intercepted 18 missiles launched by Russia in an exceptional air attack on Kyiv overnight, according to a CNN report, citing a senior Ukrainian general saying on Telegram on Tuesday.

At about 03:30 on May 16, 2023, the Russian occupiers attacked Ukraine from the north, south, and east with 18 various types of air, sea, and land-based missiles, a CNN report quoted Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi, commander-in-chief of Ukraines Armed Forces, as saying.

He added that Ukraine also destroyed drones launched by Russia overnight.

The enemy attacked with Shahed-136/131 attack drones and conducted aerial reconnaissance with three operational and tactical level drones. All of them were destroyed, Zaluzhnyi added.

Loud explosions boomed over Kyiv as the nighttime attack combined Russian missiles launched from the air, sea and land in an apparent attempt to overwhelm Ukraines air defences. No casualties were reported as Western-supplied weapons helped fend off the assault.

Russias latest attack on Kyiv was exceptional in its density  the maximum number of attacking missiles in the shortest period of time, the Associated Press quoted Serhii Popko, the head of the Kyiv military administration, as saying.

The British ambassador to Ukraine, Melinda Simmons, tweeted that the barrage was pretty intense.

Bangs and shaking walls are not an easy night, she wrote.

A full on aerial attack on Kyiv last night, pretty intense. Bangs and shaking walls are not an easy night. Hope everyone is ok.  Dame Melinda Simmons (@MelSimmonsFCDO) May 16, 2023

It was the eighth time this month that Russian air raids had targeted the capital, a clear escalation after weeks of lull and ahead of a much-anticipated Ukrainian counter-offensive.

It also came as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy concluded a whirlwind European tour to greet Ukraines key wartime allies, which spurred an additional tranche of pledged military aid.

Six Kinzhal aero-ballistic missiles were launched from MiG-31K aircraft, nine cruise missiles from ships in the Black Sea and three land-based S-400 cruise missiles targeted the capital, the Associated Press report cited Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat as saying in a statement on Telegram.

After the first onslaught, Russia also launched Iranian-made Shahed attack drones and conducted aerial reconnaissance, Ihnat said.

Debris fell across several districts in the capital, starting fires, but no losses were reported, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.

Sophisticated air defense systems provided by Ukraines Western allies, including American-made Patriot missiles, have helped spare Kyiv from the kind of destruction witnessed elsewhere in the country as Russian forces press on with their tactic of long-range bombardment.

The bolstered air defenses have deterred Russian aircraft from going deep into Ukraine and helped shape the course of the war, military experts say.

Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov cheered the display of defensive prowess, calling it in a tweet another unbelievable success.

The barrage came as European leaders were due to attend a rare summit of the 46-nation Council of Europe, the continents main human rights body.

The two-day meeting in Iceland seeks to set up a way of logging damage in Ukraine caused by the Kremlins forces so compensation claims can be lodged against Moscow.

Meanwhile, a Chinese envoy is preparing to visit Ukraine and Russia in coming days as Beijing presses the peace plan it released in February.

Li Hui, a former ambassador to Moscow, also will visit Poland, France and Germany, according to the Chinese foreign ministry.

Chinese leader Xi Jinpings government says it is neutral and wants to play a role as mediator in the war, but it has given Moscow political support and a breakthrough appeared unlikely more than 14 months after Russias full-scale invasion.

At least seven civilians died and 14 others were wounded in Russian shelling of Ukrainian regions from Monday through Tuesday morning, the countrys presidential office said.

With inputs from agencies

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Ukraine claimed on Tuesday that it had destroyed six Russian Kinzhal hypersonic missiles in a single night, defying Moscows claims that this superweapon was virtually unstoppable.

It was the first time Ukraine had asserted that it had fired a full salvo of several hypersonic missiles, and if true, it would be a striking illustration of how effective recently installed Western air defences are.

The six Kinzhal ballistic missiles, which can fly up to 10 times faster than sound, were launched into Ukraine by Russia in a barrage of 18 missiles over the course of one night. The rockets blasts lit up Kyiv in flashes and dumped debris as they fell from the sky.

All have been successfully intercepted, according to Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, the head of Ukraines military forces. No quick response was received from Russia.

According to city officials in the capital of Ukraine, three persons were hurt by falling debris.

It was exceptional in its density  the maximum number of attack missiles in the shortest period of time, Serhiy Popko, head of Kyivs city military administration, said on the Telegram messaging app.

Six Kinzhal cruise missiles fired from aircraft, nine Kalibr cruise missiles fired from Black Sea ships, and three Iskander missiles fired from the ground were all intercepted, according to Zaluzhnyi.

Utilising a recently deployed U.S. Patriot air defence system, Ukraine claimed earlier this month to have shot down a single Kinzhal missile over Kyiv for the first time.

The capability of Patriots to stop Kinzhal missiles was previously just hypothetical. If you hit six at once, it might be a dependable defence rather than a fortuitous strike.

The Kinzhal, one of six next generation weapons announced by President Vladimir Putin in 2018, has been repeatedly hailed as evidence of Russias superior military hardware, capable of defeating NATO.

The dagger-named Kinzhal is capable of transporting conventional or nuclear payloads up to 2,000 km. They were initially employed in battle by Russia in Ukraine last year, though just a few firings have been acknowledged.

Russia is currently carrying out long-range air strikes more frequently than at any other point in the conflict as Ukrainian forces get ready to launch their first offensive in six months.

In contrast to weekly launches throughout the winter and a lull in March and April, it has launched eight drone and missile volleys so far this month. According to Kyiv, it has been shooting down the most.

Nearly the entire country of Ukraine heard air raid sirens early on Tuesday; they could be heard for more than three hours over Kyiv and the surrounding area.

The enemys mission is to sow panic and create chaos. However, in the northern operational zone (including Kyiv), everything is under complete control, General Serhiy Naev, Commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces, said.

Ukraine has made its largest battlefield advances since last November over the last week, retaking several square kilometres of land on the northern and southern edges of the battleground city of Bakhmut. Moscow has admitted that some of its forces have retreated, but it disputes that its fighting lines are disintegrating on the edges of the city.

The Ukrainian capital claims that those gains are confined and do not yet fully represent the might of its impending counteroffensive, which will make use of the hundreds of contemporary tanks and armoured vehicles that the West has provided this year.

After a massive Russian winter offensive that saw the heaviest ground combat in Europe since World War Two but failed to seize significant additional territory, a Ukrainian counteroffensive would usher in the next crucial stage of the conflict.

Moscow claims to have annexed about a sixth of its neighbors territory as of this writing after beginning its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February of last year. Early in the conflict, Ukraine drove Russian troops off the environs of Kyiv, and in two significant counteroffensives in the second half of 2022, it reclaimed lost ground. However, since November, Ukraine has maintained its forces on the defensive.

According to Russia, the invasion was required to confront a security danger posed by Kyivs close relations to the West. According to Ukraine and its supporters, this is an unjustified and illegal war of conquest, and Kyiv has vowed to continue fighting until all Russian troops have left its territory.

(With agency inputs)

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Ukraines First Lady Olena Zelenska visited South Korea to meet President Yoon Suk Yeol. Zelenska went there as a special representative of her husband, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Zelenska said she was seeking more radical backing for Ukraine in its fight against Russia, according to South Koreas Yonhap news agency.

South Korea is one of the worlds largest arms exporters. It has sent humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and has also sold tanks and howitzers to Poland.

When asked if Ukraine plans to invite Yoon to Kyiv, Zelenska said Ukraine is always waiting for friends.

Such a visit would be very supportive to Ukrainians because it is a way to share our confrontation with us, at least for a day of our lives, Yonhap reported Zelenska as saying.

Meanwhile, Yoon extended South Koreas support to Ukraine and conveyed their deepest condolences to the families of the victims.

Under no circumstance will the use of force and inhumane acts resulting in horrific harm to innocent lives, especially women and children, be tolerated, Yoon said.

Last month, Yoons office said that Seouls decision to send weapons to Ukraine rests on Russias actions.

A large attack against civilians could tip the balance, it said.

Russian drones and ballistic missiles hit Kyiv on Tuesday in what the Ukrainian defence forces called an exceptionally complex strike.

The latest attack on the Ukrainian capital follows Zelenskys collection of a slew of fresh arms delivery pledges from Berlin, Paris and London.

When there is a criminal in the house, the owners clearly need not only humanitarian aid, food and medicine, but something more radical to drive the criminal out, Zelenska told Yonhap.

We say to everyone  give us a resource and we will drive the criminal out of our home.

With inputs from agencies

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The Joe Biden administration has described India as one of its most consequential partners and said that Prime Minister Narendra Modis state visit to the US next month is an opportunity to enhance partnership on several vital priorities, including ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific, and strengthen trade and security partnership.

PM Modi will embark on his first state visit to the US next month on an invitation by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. The US President and the First Lady will also host PM Modi at a state dinner on June 22.

Our partnership with India is one of our most consequential relationships and we work closely with India on a number of vital priorities, state departments Deputy Press Secretary Vedant Patel said during his daily news conference on Monday.

The state visit is an opportunity to deepen some of these partnerships, whether it be 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, Patel told reporters at his daily news conference.

Patels reference to the Indo-Pacific came amidst Chinas aggressive behaviour in the region where it is engaged in hotly contested territorial disputes in both the South China Sea and the East China Sea.

China claims sovereignty over all of the South China Sea. Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Taiwan have counterclaims.

Beijing has also built up and militarised many of the islands and reefs it controls in the region. Both areas are stated to be rich in minerals, oil and other natural resources and are also vital to global trade.

The US, Japan, India and Australia had in 2017 given shape to the long-pending proposal of setting up the Quad or the Quadrilateral coalition to counter Chinas aggressive behaviour in the Indo-Pacific region.

Obviously, between India and the United States, there exists an opportunity to deepen trade issues, deepen security partnerships. There is an opportunity to address some shared global challenges like global health and addressing the climate crisis. So again, I am not going to get ahead of the state visit, but we very much look forward to hosting the Indian government, Patel said in response to a question.

(With inputs from PTI)

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On Monday, the European Union granted its approval for Microsofts acquisition of video game manufacturer Activision Blizzard, which is valued at $68.7 billion. The EU concluded that this deal would not hinder competition in the market for sought-after console games such as Call of Duty.

The British Regulators and U.S. Authorities Pose Challenges

Additionally, the EU accepted the measures proposed by Microsoft to enhance competition in the realm of cloud gaming. It is worth noting that in December 2022, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission lodged a complaint in an attempt to impede Microsofts acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

The $68.7 billion deal between Microsoft and video game maker Activision Blizzard is encountering obstacles due to its rejection by British regulators and the efforts of U.S. authorities to prevent its completion.

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.  Brad Smith (@BradSmi) May 15, 2023

European Commissions Approval with Remedies for Competition

The European Commission, the executive arm and top antitrust watchdog of the 27-nation bloc, has granted approval for the deal. Microsofts promises to improve licensing conditions for cloud gaming played a crucial role in this decision. According to the Commission, the deal no longer raises competition concerns and is expected to bring significant benefits to competition and consumers.

Regulatory Scrutiny over Xbox Control and Hit Franchises

Since its announcement over a year ago, the all-cash deal has been closely examined by regulators worldwide. Concerns have been raised that Microsofts ownership of Activisions popular franchises such as Call of Duty and World of Warcraft would grant them too much control over the gaming market, particularly with their Xbox console. Sony, the manufacturer of the PlayStation gaming system, has been a prominent opponent of the deal.

Microsofts Efforts to Address Opposition

To counter the opposition, Microsoft pursued a deal with Nintendo to license Activision titles like Call of Duty for a decade. They also extended the same offer to Sony if the acquisition proceeded.

European Commission Dismisses Exclusion of PlayStation

The European Commission, after conducting its review, dismissed the possibility of Microsoft cutting off its games from the PlayStation console. Excluding such a popular gaming platform would significantly impact Microsofts profits.

Focus on Cloud Gaming Market

Brussels closely examined the emerging cloud gaming market. Cloud gaming enables players to stream games they own to various devices, eliminating the need for expensive consoles or gaming computers. Microsofts offer to modify its licensing agreements was accepted by the Commission, allowing users and any cloud gaming platforms to stream its titles without paying royalties for a decade.

Expanding the Cloud Gaming Market

While Activision games are currently unavailable on cloud services, the licensing commitments made by Microsoft could potentially expand the cloud gaming market. These commitments aim to bring Activisions games to new platforms, including smaller EU players, and make them accessible on a broader range of devices.

Diverging Stances: EU vs. UK Regulators

The EUs decision contrasts with that of British antitrust regulators, who recently disrupted what could have been the largest tech deal in history. The concerns raised by the British Competition and Markets Authority revolved around potential competition limitations in the rapidly growing cloud gaming market. The companies are appealing this decision to a tribunal, but past outcomes do not bode well, as witnessed with Facebooks forced sale of Giphy after the denial of its acquisition.

Potential Impact on U.S. Regulatory Battle

The EUs decision may bolster Microsofts position as it faces challenges from U.S. regulators. The Federal Trade Commission is pursuing legal action to block the deal, with a trial scheduled to commence on August 2, 2023 before the FTCs in-house judge.

Speaking at the announcement, Sarah Cardell, Chief Executive of the Competition and Markets Authority, said:

The European Commission has agreed to Microsofts plans today, which would give Microsoft the power to shape this market for the next decade. The outcome could change if they win the appeal against the decision in the UK competition tribunal. But if Microsoft fails in the UK, its still the end of the story, unless Microsoft chooses to exit the UK market.

Commenting on the announcement, Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President of Microsoft, said:
Several Pixel users have reported battery drain and overheating problems with their phones over the past few days. Investigations have revealed that a recent update to a Google app is the root cause of the issue. Google has responded quickly by releasing a server-side update to address the problem and fix the battery drain on Pixel phones.

According to a statement made to 9to5Google, Google has acknowledged that a change made on the backend of the Google app has caused battery drain on a select group of Android devices. This issue has been observed on Pixel phones, with users attributing it to the latest Google app versions and the May 2023 update released for Pixel devices this month.

Users of Pixel 6 and 7 series devices have primarily reported being impacted by the Google apps battery drain, with some stating that their battery life was reduced by half.

Google has stated that a fix for this problem is already being rolled out to all devices and does not require any app or system updates. It is a server-side update that should rectify the issue immediately.

On the update announcement, Google said:

We have recently identified that a backend modification to the Google App has inadvertently led to increased battery drain on a specific range of Android devices. As soon as we became aware of this issue, we promptly implemented a solution, and affected users can expect their devices to resume normal functioning without delay. Importantly, this fix does not necessitate an update to the app itself.

Via
POCO launched the POCO F5 5G smartphone in India last week as the successor to the POCO F4. Like the F4, this has impressive on-paper specs including a FHD+ 120Hz AMOLED display with Dolby Vision, Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 SoC, a major upgrade from Snapdragon 870, while retaining the 64MP camera with OIS and 67W fast charging. Is the phone worth the price? Let us dive into the review to find out.

Box Contents

POCO F5 5G 12GB + 256GB in Carbon Black colour

67W fast charger

USB Type-C Cable

SIM Ejector tool

Clear protective case

Screen protector (Pre-installed)

User guide

Display, Hardware and Design

Starting with the display, the POCO F5 has a 6.67-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display with a pixel resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels, 20:9 aspect ratio and a pixel density of about 395 PPI. This might seem the same as the F4, but this uses a different panel. This has a 1000 nits peak brightness, compared to 1300 nits in the F4. However, I didnt find any issues when viewing the display in bright outdoors or watching HDR content. It has 100% DCI-P3 Color Gamut, so the colours are vibrant.

POCO says that this is the first phone in the segment with 12-Bit Display that uses a 10-bit panel to show RGB colours and extra 2-bit of other colours, resulting in smoother color gradients and transitions with no color gaps.

The phone has a 120Hz refresh rate display can switch between 30Hz, 60Hz, 90Hz and 120Hz according to the content. It has 240Hz touch sampling rate. When enabled, it offers a buttery smooth user experience, especially when you are scrolling through the UI and when gaming.

The phone has a 1920Hz high-frequency dimming technology. In dark environments where DC dimming cant work, the phone will automatically switch to 1920Hz PWM dimming mode to maintain accurate colors on display with a more comfortable eye experience. It also has HDR 10+ support, which works for YouTube and Amazon Prime Video and there is Dolby Vision which works for Netflix.

Under the display options, there are different options to adjust colours and contrast based on your preference. There is Dark mode, similar to other MIUI phones. You also get an option to enable dark mode to apps that are installed, but it doesnt look good on most apps. It also has AI HDR enhancement for videos, but there is no MEMC which was present in the POCO F4. The phone has an always-on-display option, which can be enabled from display settings. The phone comes with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection.

The phone has a tiny punch-hole that houses a 16-megapixel camera, which doesnt disturb when watching videos since it just occupies a small space. Above the display there is an earpiece on the top edge which also doubles up as a secondary speaker It has a 2.2mm ultra-narrow bottom bezel

Coming to the button placements, the volume rockers and the power button that integrates the fingerprint sensor are present on the right side of the phone. The dual SIM slot, loudspeaker grill, primary microphone and USB Type-C port are present on the bottom. It doesnt have a microSD expansion slot.

On the top there is a vent for the speaker, secondary microphone and an infrared sensor along with the 3.5mm audio jack which is making a comeback after it was removed in the POCO F4. Since the phone has a plastic frame, you dont see any antenna cutouts. The flat frame offers a good grip to hold and doesnt attract fingerprints.

The back of the phone also has a plastic finish, so it doesnt feel premium. In addition to the Carbon Black colour that we have, the phone also comes in, Electric Blue and Snowstorm White colours. The white variant of the phone has an Iceflake texture. The phone is just 7.9mm thick, and weighs 181 grams even though it packs a 5000mAh battery. The phone has IP53 ratings for splash resistance, so it has mange slight spills or light rain, but you cant immerse in water.

Camera

64MP rear camera with 1/2 sensor, f/1.79 aperture, OIS

8MP 120 ultra-wide angle camera, f/2.2 aperture

2MP macro camera with f/2.4 aperture

16MP front camera with f/2.45 aperture

The camera UI is familiar with other Xiaomi or POCO smartphones running MIUI 14. You get all the features such as Pro, Night, 64MP, Short Video, Panorama, VLOG, Slow motion, Time-lapse, Dual video, AI watermark, Long exposure and Pro mode lets you adjust white balance, focus, shutter speed (1/4000s to 30 seconds), ISO (50 to 6400) and option to select main, ultra-wide and macro lens. You can also shoot in RAW in Pro mode and enable focus peaking, exposure verification and more options. POCO has enabled Cam2API by default, so you can side-load ported Google Camera APKs for advanced editing, including RAW capture.

Coming to the image quality, daylight shots came out well with good dynamic range. After pixel binning technology, you get 16MP output from all main camera. HDR shots are better with improved dynamic range. 8MP wide-angle shots are decent, and and the 2MP macro camera is just average, so it is better to shoot close up images in 2X. The 16MP front camera is good, and you get full 16MP output. Lowlight camera performance is good from the main camera, but the ultra-wide lowlight shots are just average.

Check out the camera samples.

It can record videos at 4k resolution at 60 fps, and it also has slow motion 1080p at up to 240 fps. You can also shoot 1080 30 fps videos using the front camera and ultra-wide and 720p with macro camera. OIS in the main camera does its job, and there is a separate ultra-steady mode that uses both OIS and EIS, but it switches to 1080p.

Software, UI and Apps

It runs Android 13 out of the box, with MIUI 14 on top. It recently got April 2023 Android security patch recently. The company has promised 2 OS updates and 3 years of security updates for the phone. MIUI 14 includes more efficient with optimized storage, offers more intuitive interactions, has new on-device privacy features and lets you be more connected than before.

Since the phone has an infrared sensor for remote function, it comes with Mi Remote that lets you control your home appliances easily. Out of 12GB LPDDR5 RAM, you get 10.91GB of usable RAM, and about 5GB of RAM is free when default apps are running in the background. It also has up to 7GB of memory extension or virtual RAM, which you can disable from additional settings. Out of 256GB, you get about 224GB of free storage. It has UFS 3.1 storage, and we got sequential read speeds of 1858.99MB/s.

Apart from the usual set of utility apps, Google apps and POCOs own set of apps, it comes preloaded with Netflix, Amazon, Facebook, Prime Video, Spotify, Moj, Snapchat Zili and a couple of games. It also asks for additional app installation during setup, which you can skip. You can easily uninstall these apps, but these come up when you reset the phone. Even though there is personalized ads option during set up and recommendations in all the apps, you dont get any ads in apps.

Fingerprint sensor and Face unlock

Even though the phone has an AMOLED screen, it has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor that quickly unlocks the phone. You can add up to 5 fingerprints. You can also use the fingerprint for app local and payments in apps. The phone also has face unlock.

Music Player and Multimedia

The Mi Music Player is the default music player with usual POCO audio effects and equalizer. It also doesnt have FM Radio, but comes with Dolby Atmos, and the phone has has stereo speakers that offer an excellent audio experience, and Audio through earphones is good as well.

It has Widevine L1 support, so you can play HD content on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and other streaming apps without any issues. The phone also supports Dolby Vision for Netflix and HDR10+ for Amazon Prime Video.

Dual SIM and Connectivity

It supports 5G, and has support for 12 5G Bands  n1,n3,n5,n7,n8,n20,n28,n38,n40,n41,n77,n78. It has 5G support for Reliance Jio and Airtel which works out of the box and support has Dual 4G VoLTE. The phone supports carrier aggregation as well. Other connectivity options include Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 802.11 ax. It has VoWiFi / Wi-Fi calling support, Bluetooth 5.3 LE, GPS, Glonass, Beidou, but there is no NFC support in the Indian version.

It also has USB OTG support that lets you connect USB drives. Call quality is good, and we did not face any call drops and the earpiece volume was loud. It uses MIUI dialer instead of Google dialer.

The POCO F5s body SAR is 0.860W/Kg (Distance 15mm) and head SAR is at 0.857/Kg, which is well under the limit of 1.6 W/kg (over 1 g) in India.

Performance and Benchmarks

This is the first phone in India to be powered by Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 4nm Mobile Platform that uses has a 1+3+4 architecture, same as the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. This has 1 x Kryo Prime CPUs (Cortex X2-based) at up to 2.91GHz, 3 x Kryo Performance CPUs (Cortex A710-based) at up to 2.49GHz, 4x Kryo Efficiency CPUs (Cortex A510-based) at up to 1.8GHz.

The e Adreno GPU promises 2x the performance compared to Snapdragon 7 Gen 1. It offers a smooth gaming performance even in graphic intensive games, and the phone doesnt get too hot even during long hours of gaming, thanks to vapour chamber cooling with an area of about 3725mm compared to 3112 mm in the POCO F4, which translates to about a 19.7% increase in size. It also has 14 layers of graphite sheet covering, 10000 mm

of total area.

The phone gets a bit warm on intensive gaming, but it doesnt too hot. We did not face any issues or frame drops in the graphic-intensive games like COD, BGMI and Genshin Impact. It reached maximum 42 in our testing indoors in Wi-Fi, but this might vary outdoors in 5G. That said, check out some synthetic benchmark scores below.

As you can see in the benchmarks, the POCO F5 powered by the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 chip outperforms several phones, including the iQOO Neo 7 powered by Dimensity 8200 and is close to Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1s performance.

Battery life

Coming to the battery life, the phone packs a 5000mAh (typical) built-in battery compared to 4500 in the POCO F5. This lasts for a day even with heavy use on 4G. With minimal use on Wi-Fi, it should last for 2 days. I got over 5 hours of screen on time with over a day of mixed use on 5G and Wi-Fi in 120Hz.

Since the phone has support for 67W fast charging, it can charge from 0 to 50% in about 13 minutes and up to 100% in about 45 minutes.

Conclusion

At a starting price of Rs. 29,999, the POCO F5 is a value-for-money gaming phone that is also good for multimedia. The SoC is the major upgrade that beats the competition in the range, has a bigger battery while retaining the 64MP camera with OIS, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos and 67W fast charging. The value king from POCO is now better!

Alternatives

The iQOO Neo 7 is a good alternative, if you prefer the FuntouchOS instead of MIUI and need 120W fast charging, but it misses an ultra-wide camera.

Pricing and availability

The POCO F5 is priced at Rs. 29,999 for the 8GB + 256GB version and the 12GB + 256GB version costs Rs. 33,999. It is available from Flipkart starting from today, May 16th. The company offers 2 years of warranty.

As a part of launch offer, POCO offers Rs. 3000 instant discount with ICICI Bank Debit and Credit cards or exchange. There is also extra Rs. 1000 off in exchange for POCO phones.

Pros

120Hz AMOLED display with HDR10+ and Dolby Vision is brilliant

Smooth performance and good gaming performance without heating

3.5mm audio jack, Stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos

Long battery life with 67W fast charging

Good camera with OIS

IP53 water-resistant

Cons

No NFC

2MP macro camera is average

Plastic back
Xiaomi India has announced that it has roped in Pankaj Tripathi as the new brand ambassador for Redmi smartphones. This comes ahead of Redmi A2 series launch later this week. The company signed Sonu Sood as Redmis brand ambassador a couple of years back.

The company said that Pankaj Tripathis personality aligns perfectly with the brands values and making him the ideal choice for Redmi Ka Double Bharosa proposition.

The actors association with the brand is expected to further strengthen Xiaomis bond with its consumers. Xiaomi said that it continues to innovate and bring the best in class product suite that caters to the constantly evolving customer needs.

Commenting on the association, Anuj Sharma, Chief Marketing Officer, Xiaomi India said:

We are thrilled to have Pankaj Tripathi as the newest member of the Xiaomi family. At Xiaomi, we have always been committed to delivering the best features at an honest price to empower our users with exceptional performance and lag-free usage. Pankaj Tripathi embodies the essence of our brand vision, and his ability to strike a chord with the masses will help further cement our ambition of making technology accessible to all. We believe that Pankajs association with Xiaomi India will take our brand to new heights, and we are excited about this association.

Pankaj Tripathi said:

Its a pleasure to be associated with Xiaomi India, a brand that understands the pulse of the Indian consumers and knows what they truly want from their smartphones, Xiaomi India has made significant contributions to the overall technological landscape in the country, and I am thrilled to represent a brand that is synonymous with innovation, quality, and affordability. I love the brands philosophy of innovation for everyone, and I am looking forward to this collaboration.
Quote: ATC Crazy Originally Posted by Coolant temp is provided in the trucks menu also. A Scangauge is a wasted item on a gas engine IMO.

Oil pressure is the only other important vital. The only way you can see this is to install an aftermarket gauge and sensor. You cannot get oil pressure from the truck itself by plugging anything into the OBDII port.

Quote: Kenny Bania Originally Posted by Nice. How many miles on the clock (and what'd you pay if you'd share).

Quote: Under-Pressure Originally Posted by No clue if it is as accurate as an aftermarket trinket. Is a ScanGauge II as accurate as an Autometer gauge? I have Never felt the need to baby sit the 7.3 & what it is doing.

Engine information is not my primary concern as in the case of low oil pressure the engine will shut down, it's transmission fluid temperature I'm most concerned with. With that being said I do know for sure that according to a ScanGauge II in my 2009 F-250 the coolant temp would fluctuate nearly 20 F on the ScanGauge II but the coolant temp gauge of the truck didn't move even a smidgen. How accurate is that? Never was a problem but it absolutely was assuring to know what was going on accurately in real time.The odometer shows 21,600 miles and the dealer was asking $52,000.00. I had a trade-in so the difference was all I was really concerned with. Our truck is a plain Jane by 2023 standards. It has vinyl flooring, cheaper upholstery and it is lacking in some of the useless bells and whistles that are run of the mill these days. I'm not big on gadgets and this truck has more of them than I want but it is what it is. Unnecessary gadgets are nothing more than a means to make the company more money and will certainly be a source of problems somewhere along the line but it seems simplicity is a thing of the past.Don't know anything about the accuracy of an Autometer gauge and don't care. I have a ScanGauge II that I kept off of my trade in and if it's a plus in regards to accuracy and scope of information I'm all for reinstalling it the 2021 truck. If more information is beyond your purview that's your deal, not mine. More information, as opposed to less, is always a good thing in my world, especially if I already have the equipment on hand. But hey, you'da boss on your end and I'm the boss on my end.
Press Release

May 16, 2023 OPENING STATEMENT May 16, 2023 AGENDA: * Privilege Speech of Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa delivered on December 12, 2022 (Journal No. 37)

* Privilege Speech of Sen. Raffy Tulfo delivered on December 13, 2022 (Journal No. 38)

* S. No. 437 - Requiring business establishments to install Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras in their place of business (By: Sen. Dela Rosa)

* S. No. 948 - Providing guidelines for the installation and use of the Closed-Circuit Television Video (CCTV) systems (By: Sen. Gatchalian)

* P.S. Res. No. 508 - PDEA's Practice of Paying Informants or Assets 30 Percent of Confiscated Drugs (By: Sen. Dela Rosa)

* P.S. Res. No. 564 - Alleged Involvement of High-Ranking PNP Officials and Officers on the 6.7 Billion Manila Drug Buy Bust (By: Sen. Revilla) Once again, good morning everyone. Mahigit dalawang dekada na ang nakararaan mula nang maisabatas ang Republic Act No. 9165 o mas kilala bilang Comprehensive Drugs Act of 2002. Sigurado akong hindi aakalain ng mga mambabatas ng 12th Congress na masasangkot ang mga matataas na opisyal ng Philippine National Police sa halos isang toneladang iligal na droga. Our laws were supposed to be enforced by our police. They were supposed to serve and protect the people not deceive and propagate evil. Isang toneladang iligal na droga na nagkakahalaga ng 6.7 bilyong piso ang ipinuslit ng mga tiwaling miyembro ng PNP. Nakakahiya, nakadidismaya, ngunit higit sa lahat--nakalulungkot. Mas marami pa rin ang mga masisipag at matitinong mga kasapi ng ating kapulisan. Sa kasamaang palad, tuwing may napababalitang kabulastugan, ang buong imahe ng PNP ang nababahiran. Hindi na sila nahiya sa kanilang mga kasamahan na nagbuwis ng buhay sa ngalan ng paglaban sa iligal na droga. The PNP vowed to pursue an intensive and unrelenting campaign against illegal drug trafficking for the safety and well-being of our citizens especially the youth. Hindi ko sukat akalain na ang mga sumumpang mangangalaga sa ating mga kababayan ang siya pa mismong magnanakaw at magbebenta ng iligal na droga. Matinding lakas ng loob at kapal ng mukha ang kailangan upang masikmura ang ganitong mga gawain. If life imprisonment does not sow fear in the hearts and minds of these criminals in uniform, what more can we do in terms of legislation to ensure that no one ever considers engaging in the illegal drug trade? Ano pa ang dapat nating gawin na polisiya para magbigay sa atin ng kapanatagan? Anong mga polisiya ang makapagtitiyak na ligtas ang ating mga anak sa tuwing lalabas sila sa ating mga tahanan? We hope that our resource persons present today contribute through recommendations, all things necessary to finally eradicate illegal drugs in the country. Before I end, I would like to state for the record that we have been informed that, upon the Motion of the Prosecution, a Gag Order has been issued by the Regional Trial Court of Manila Branch 177 for the criminal case of Ney Atadero alias Mario and Rodolfo Mayo, Jr. involving the almost 1 ton of illegal drugs. The court in its resolution ordered "all the counsels, litigants, witnesses and other parties involved in these cases are strictly enjoined to observe the sub judice rule and are thus prohibited from publicly discussing the merits and divulging the development of these cases to the media during the pendency of these cases." While we recognize the Gag Order issued by Honorable Judge Grace Chavez-Ty of Regional Trial Court of Manila Branch 177, this Committee will continue to conduct its legislative function and use its power of inquiry, in aid of legislation, as expressly provided in the 1987 Constitution which states that, "The Senate or the House of Representatives or any of its respective committees may conduct inquiries in aid of legislation in accordance with its duly published rules of procedure. The rights of persons appearing in or affected by such inquiries shall be respected." This constitutional provision has been respected by the Supreme Court and upheld the power of the Congress to investigate when it pronounced that, "On-going judicial proceedings do not preclude congressional hearings in aid of legislation." It further declared that "The mere filing of a criminal or an administrative complaint before a court or quasi-judicial body should not automatically bar the conduct of legislative investigation. Otherwise, it would be extremely easy to subvert any intended inquiry by Congress through the convenient ploy of instituting a criminal or an administrative complaint. Surely, the exercise of sovereign legislative authority, of which the power of legislative inquiry is an essential component, cannot be made subordinate to a criminal or administrative investigation." With that authority emanating from the Highest Law of the Land and in accordance with the pronouncements of the Supreme Court, we hereby resume our committee hearing, our inquiry, in aid of legislation. Thank you.
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021.
amasan1 at 16-05-2023 07:03 AM (3 days ago) (m)

The British man who killed his wife at their retirement home in Cyprus has claimed she "cried and begged" for him to kill her.

The British man who killed his wife at their retirement home in Cyprus has claimed she "cried and begged" for him to kill her.

Speaking during his testimony at Paphos District Court on Monday, May 15, David says they had a perfect 52-year marriage and broke down in tears as he described the moment he killed his terminally ill wife.

The 75-year-old previously admitted to killing his wife and his lawyers say it was assisted suicide at her request, to stop the pain of terminal leukaemia.

However, last week the court heard from Mrs Hunter's doctor said she had a rare blood cancer, but might not have had terminal leukaemia.

In court on Monday May 15, David spoke of how Janice had become progressively more ill with blood cancer and had no quality of life.

She cried and begged me to help her, David, from Ashington, Northumberland, told the court.

For five or six weeks before she died she was asking me to help her, she was asking me more every day."

Prosecutors failed to accept that his wife asked him to end her life unless he had proof.

"If we accept this, every other man in the future who kills a woman will say 'We had an agreement", State prosecutor Andreas Hadjikyrou said

British man accused of murdering wife says

David refused to kill his wife until one day he agreed in the hope it would calm her. He insisted he had no intention of carrying out the act.

But nine days later, on December 18 2021, David pressed his hands over his wifes mouth and nose.

David said in court: "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. Every day she asked me a bit more intensely to do it.

I didnt want to do it after 57 years together. I really didnt want to do it. She started crying and begging me. I didnt want to do it, I said no.

She said, I cant go on, this isnt life for me. We just go to the hospital and stay at home. I cant go on.

She started becoming hysterical, so I told her, Yes, Im going to help you."

David said he stood up from his seat and walked towards the kettle to make a coffee, with Janice sobbing as she remained seated.

David found himself leaning over, gripping a kitchen bench with both hands while his wife cried uncontrollably.

I turned to my wife and she was still crying, David said with tears in his eyes.

The next thing I knew I put my hands here [over her nose and mouth] and when it finished she was a grey colour.

She did not attempt to stop me. I dont know how long I kept my hands there.

She didnt look like my wife at all and it was the first time I cried after many years."

David's lawyers said that he was suffering from dissociation at the time and that he needed a psychiatric assessment.

However, the court found that Hunter was syablr at the time and was aware of what was happening, demonstrated by a call to his brother afterwards saying he was also going to kill himself.

David said in the following nine days, before her death, he had hoped she would change her mind.

I would never kill my wife, he told prosecutor Andreas Hadjikyrou under cross-examination.

Asked by defence lawyer Ritsa Pekri how the last days were, Hunter said: She was crying, crying, crying, begging, begging, begging.

She wasnt taking any care of herself. For the last two or three weeks she could not move her arms and had trouble with her legs, she couldnt balance.

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.

Her illness have her acute diarrhoea that for the last three-and-a-half years of her life she had to wear nappies, David told the court.

Davids lawyer Michael Polak, from the Justice Abroad organisation, said: I think he did well [giving evidence]. Hes pleased to be able to speak about it. He was the only person there when it happened.

Nobody really knows what happened aside from him. Its still a very sad, tragic case.

They had a long, loving relationship. He took one of the most difficult decisions anyone could ever be asked to take from someone they love.

David told the press after the hearing: I got my say, this is what I wanted. To tell them things that they never even thought about.

The last six months, I wouldnt like anyone to go through that. Prison is nothing compared to what we went through.

As the hearing 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 anymore, and I still said no.

I was hoping she would change her mind. I loved her so much. I did not plan it, I swear to God. Speaking during his testimony at Paphos District Court on Monday, May 15, David says they had a perfect 52-year marriage and broke down in tears as he described the moment he killed his terminally ill wife.The 75-year-old previously admitted to killing his wife and his lawyers say it was assisted suicide at her request, to stop the pain of terminal leukaemia.However, last week the court heard from Mrs Hunter's doctor said she had a rare blood cancer, but might not have had terminal leukaemia.In court on Monday May 15, David spoke of how Janice had become progressively more ill with blood cancer and had no quality of life.She cried and begged me to help her, David, from Ashington, Northumberland, told the court.For five or six weeks before she died she was asking me to help her, she was asking me more every day."Prosecutors failed to accept that his wife asked him to end her life unless he had proof."If we accept this, every other man in the future who kills a woman will say 'We had an agreement", State prosecutor Andreas Hadjikyrou saidBritish man accused of murdering wife saysDavid refused to kill his wife until one day he agreed in the hope it would calm her. He insisted he had no intention of carrying out the act.But nine days later, on December 18 2021, David pressed his hands over his wifes mouth and nose.David said in court: "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. Every day she asked me a bit more intensely to do it.I didnt want to do it after 57 years together. I really didnt want to do it. She started crying and begging me. I didnt want to do it, I said no.She said, I cant go on, this isnt life for me. We just go to the hospital and stay at home. I cant go on.She started becoming hysterical, so I told her, Yes, Im going to help you."David said he stood up from his seat and walked towards the kettle to make a coffee, with Janice sobbing as she remained seated.David found himself leaning over, gripping a kitchen bench with both hands while his wife cried uncontrollably.I turned to my wife and she was still crying, David said with tears in his eyes.The next thing I knew I put my hands here [over her nose and mouth] and when it finished she was a grey colour.She did not attempt to stop me. I dont know how long I kept my hands there.She didnt look like my wife at all and it was the first time I cried after many years."David's lawyers said that he was suffering from dissociation at the time and that he needed a psychiatric assessment.However, the court found that Hunter was syablr at the time and was aware of what was happening, demonstrated by a call to his brother afterwards saying he was also going to kill himself.David said in the following nine days, before her death, he had hoped she would change her mind.I would never kill my wife, he told prosecutor Andreas Hadjikyrou under cross-examination.Asked by defence lawyer Ritsa Pekri how the last days were, Hunter said: She was crying, crying, crying, begging, begging, begging.She wasnt taking any care of herself. For the last two or three weeks she could not move her arms and had trouble with her legs, she couldnt balance.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.Her illness have her acute diarrhoea that for the last three-and-a-half years of her life she had to wear nappies, David told the court.Davids lawyer Michael Polak, from the Justice Abroad organisation, said: I think he did well [giving evidence]. Hes pleased to be able to speak about it. He was the only person there when it happened.Nobody really knows what happened aside from him. Its still a very sad, tragic case.They had a long, loving relationship. He took one of the most difficult decisions anyone could ever be asked to take from someone they love.David told the press after the hearing: I got my say, this is what I wanted. To tell them things that they never even thought about.The last six months, I wouldnt like anyone to go through that. Prison is nothing compared to what we went through.As the hearing 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 anymore, and I still said no.I was hoping she would change her mind. I loved her so much. I did not plan it, I swear to God.

Post Reply I am an investigative reporter at Gistmania, I conduct fact-finding investigative journalism. Posted: at 16-05-2023 07:03 AM (3 days ago) | Hero
amasan1 at 16-05-2023 08:26 PM (2 days ago) (m)

President Muhammadu Buhari has returned from London after attending the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in the United Kingdom.

President Muhammadu Buhari has returned from London after attending the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in the United Kingdom.

Recall that President Buhari traveled to the UK on May 3 to attend the coronation of King Charles which took place on May 6 and was attended by leaders and dignitaries from across the world.

The Nigerian president was scheduled to return to the country after the coronation ceremony, but he extended his stay in the UK by a week on the advice of his dentist.

The Media Adviser to the president, Femi Adesina, who disclosed this said, the dentist had already started attending to Buhari and was required to see him in another five days for a procedure. Recall that President Buhari traveled to the UK on May 3 to attend the coronation of King Charles which took place on May 6 and was attended by leaders and dignitaries from across the world.The Nigerian president was scheduled to return to the country after the coronation ceremony, but he extended his stay in the UK by a week on the advice of his dentist.The Media Adviser to the president, Femi Adesina, who disclosed this said, the dentist had already started attending to Buhari and was required to see him in another five days for a procedure.

Post Reply I am an investigative reporter at Gistmania, I conduct fact-finding investigative journalism. Posted: at 16-05-2023 08:26 PM (2 days ago) | Hero
Reports Suggest Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 Could Launch on July 26th News oi -Kabir Jain

Samsung is expected to announce the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 smartphones on July 26, 2023, as reported by Chosun. This is a departure from Samsung's usual tradition of hosting Unpacked events for their foldable phones in August. The rumored launch date in Seoul coincides with an earlier leak that also hinted at a July 2023 release for the forthcoming Galaxy Z series devices.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5: Everything You Need to Know

Previously, there were leaks of the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 5, revealing its key specifications, and more recently, an online case leak provided a glimpse of the phone's apparent size and dimensions.

As for the specifications, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is expected to feature a 7.6-inch folding display, while the cover display will likely be a 6.2-inch panel. Both the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 For Galaxy SoC.

In terms of the camera setup, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is rumored to offer a triple-rear camera configuration consisting of a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and a 10MP telephoto lens. Additionally, it is expected to come with a 4400mAh battery and support 25W fast charging.

Finally, there have been indications that the Galaxy Z Fold 5 will introduce a new Light Blue color option.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5: Everything You Need to Know

A few weeks ago, design renders of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 were leaked, providing insights into its design. The leaked renders indicate a significant improvement in the cover display, as it now covers nearly fifty percent of the back panel.

According to reports, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is expected to feature a 3.4-inch cover display, a substantial upgrade from its predecessor's 1.9-inch cover screen. The inner display is rumored to measure 6.7 inches and employ an AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. The display will also incorporate a punch-hole notch at the top to accommodate the selfie camera.

Similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 5, the Z Flip 5 will likely utilize the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for processing power and might support 25W fast charging.

As seen in the leaked renders, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is expected to have a dual-rear camera setup. This is likely to consist of a 12MP primary sensor and a 12MP ultra-wide-angle sensor, similar to its predecessor. There are also rumors suggesting the possibility of a 50MP primary camera for the device.

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Massachusetts Man Indicted for Acting as an Illegal Agent of the People's Republic of China

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, May 15, 2023

Liang Allegedly Reported to PRC Officials on Pro-Democracy Protesters and Founded U.S. Advocacy Group to Covertly Advance the PRC's Agenda in Boston and Surrounding Areas

A Massachusetts man was arrested on May 9 for allegedly acting as an agent of the People's Republic of China (PRC) without providing notification to the U.S. Attorney General.

Litang Liang, 63, of Brighton, was indicted on one count of acting as an agent of a foreign government without providing notification to the U.S. Attorney General and one count of conspiracy to act as an agent of a foreign government without providing notification to the U.S. Attorney General.

"We will not tolerate the PRC's efforts to interfere with public discourse and threaten civic participation in the United States," said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department's National Security Division. "This case demonstrates, once again, the lengths that the PRC government, including its Ministry of Public Security, will go to target people in the U.S. who exercise their rights to speak out against the PRC."

"The Department of Justice will protect these individual rights and protect our country against those who seek to unlawfully act on behalf of foreign governments while within our borders," said U.S. Attorney Rachael S. Rollins for the District of Massachusetts. "We allege that Mr. Liang engaged in a series of acts on behalf of the PRC government including providing information on Boston-area residents, organizations and dissidents to PRC government officials - potentially placing people at risk here in Massachusetts and abroad. Attempts to repress constitutionally protected rights here in the United States will never be tolerated. Anyone who infringes upon those rights on American soil will be identified and held to account."

"The United States requires agents of foreign countries to register with our government, and for good reason - in such cases, those agents often act against the interests of the United States," said Assistant Director Suzanne Turner of the FBI Counterintelligence Division. "The FBI is not going to stand by and allow undeclared agents of the People's Republic of China to operate in our country unchecked. We will continue to steadfastly enforce the law of the land, uncovering these efforts and holding accountable all those who work with foreign governments to violate our laws."

According to the charging documents, from in or around 2018 through at least 2022, Liang acted within the United States as an agent of the PRC government by allegedly providing PRC government officials with information on Boston-area individuals and organizations; organizing a counter-protest against pro-democracy dissidents; providing photographs of and information about dissidents to PRC government officials; and providing the names of potential recruits to the PRC's Ministry of Public Security. At no point did Liang notify the U.S. Attorney General that he was acting as a PRC government agent.

Specifically, beginning in or around 2018, Liang allegedly provided information about Chinese individuals and organizations in the Boston area to PRC government officials - including PRC officials formerly in the United States, the Ministry of Public Security, and the United Front Work Department, an entity which reports directly to the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and works to further the CCP's goals.

It is alleged that Liang provided PRC government officials with information regarding members and leaders of Boston-area, Chinese family associations and community organizations with pro-Taiwan leanings. Additionally, it is alleged that Liang sent information regarding anti-PRC dissidents to PRC officials including: identification of an individual he accused of having "sabotaged" PRC flags in Boston's Chinatown in October 2018; video of a dissident attending the "Boston Stands with Hong Kong" march in August 2019; and photographs of anti-PRC dissidents in front of the Boston Public Library in September 2019.

The charge of acting as an agent of a foreign government without providing notification to the U.S. Attorney General provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of conspiracy to act as an agent of a foreign government without providing notification to the U.S. Attorney General provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy H. Kistner for the District of Massachusetts is prosecuting the case. Valuable assistance was provided by Trial Attorney Elizabeth Abraham of the Justice Department's Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Topic(s): Countering Nation-State Threats

National Security

Component(s): Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

National Security Division (NSD)

USAO - Massachusetts

Press Release Number: 23-552

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Summary of Operation Shield and Arrow

IDF Press Release

14.05.2023

On May 2, 2023, Islamic Jihad launched over 21 rockets from Gaza toward Israel early in the morning. Later on in the day, more sirens sounded in southern Israel and continued late into the night and the next day.

One week later on May 9, 2023, the IDF launched Operation "Shield and Arrow". We targeted three Islamic Jihad senior operatives. The operatives were responsible for launching rockets toward Israel over the last month and were planning future terrorist attacks against Israelis.

Since the beginning of the operation, the IDF targeted additional 3 senior operatives of Islamic Jihad who were all involved in the attacks against Israel and its civilians.

During the five day operation, a total of 1,469 rockets were fired from Gaza toward Israel with 1,139 rockets crossing into Israeli territory. 291 of those rockets misfired and landed in Gaza. Meaning one in every five rockets that were intended to endanger Israeli civilians, misfired and endangered Gazan civilians instead.

Aiding in the defense efforts, the Iron Dome intercepted 437 rockets, equalling a 95.6% success rate.

In total, one Israeli woman and one Gazan, who was working in Israel, were killed. Additionally, 9 Israeli civilians and one Gazan (brother of the killed Gazan), who was working in Israel, was injured.

Operation Shield and Arrow lasted 116 hours and a ceasefire was put in place on May 13, 2023.

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Guterres welcomes ceasefire in Israel and Gaza

14 May 2023 - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has welcomed last night's ceasefire agreement in Israel and Gaza and reiterated that only a negotiated political solution will lead to lasting peace and end the devastating cycles of violence "once and for all."

In a statement issued by his Spokesperson on Sunday afternoon, Mr. Guterres welcomed the ceasefire that had been reached between the sides on Saturday and extended his deepest condolences to the families of the victims of the violence.

"The hostilities have led to needless human suffering," the statement said of the latest round of fighting, which erupted five days ago.

According to the statement, the Secretary-General commended 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 statement continued, adding that Mr. Guterres reaffirmed the United Nations' commitment to the achievement of the two-State solution based on relevant United Nations resolutions, international law, and prior agreements and the importance of restoring a political horizon.

"He reiterates that only a negotiated sustainable political solution will lead to lasting peace and end, once and for all, these devastating cycles of violence," the statement concluded.

UN looks forward to restoration of humanitarian access

On Saturday, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, issued a similar statement welcoming the ceasefire, commending Egypt's efforts to help restore calm, and calling on all sides to respect the truce.

"I am deeply saddened by the loss of life and injuries, including children and women, from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza and the indiscriminate firing of rockets toward Israel by Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other militant groups," said Mr. Wennesland, expressing his deepest condolences to the families of the victims of the violence and their loved ones.

In the wake of the ceasefire, the UN Special Coordinator said that he looked forward "to the immediate restoration of humanitarian access and all social and economic measures to support Palestinian livelihoods in Gaza."



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May 15, 2023

Transcript

Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder Briefs the News Media at the Pentagon

Brigadier General Pat Ryder, Pentagon Press Secretary

BRIGADIER GENERAL PAT RYDER: Good afternoon, everyone. Just a few things at the top, and then we'll get to your questions.

So just to recap, as you know, Secretary Austin traveled to Fort Bragg, North Carolina on Friday to visit with servicemembers, DOD civilians and their families and to thank them for what they do for our country and to learn about what's on their minds. As the home of the Airborne and Special Operations forces, the base is one of our nation's foremost power projection platforms, and the Joint Force at Fort Bragg and the families and community who support them represent a critical national security asset and an important warfighting capability.

During his visit, Secretary Austin met with soldiers and families from the 82nd Airborne Division, visited Hampton Primary School, which is part

of the -- the Department of Defense school system, spoke with troops in the 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 82nd Airborne Division, where he previously served as brigade commander and met with Army and Air Force ROTC students at Fayetteville State University. During his discussions, the secretary emphasized how proud he is of our servicemembers, DOD civilians and their families for all they're doing to defend our nation and highlighted his continuing commitment to supporting our troops through the department's Taking Care Of People initiatives.

On Saturday, Secretary Austin then delivered the keynote address during Fayetteville State University's commencement, where he discussed the value of service to the nation and the impact that public service can have both inside and outside the military. The speech is posted to the DOD website.

On a related note, I can announce today that Secretary Austin will deliver the commencement address at the U.S. Naval Academy's 2023 commencement ceremony in Annapolis scheduled for May 26th.

Separately, Secretary Austin will brief the Senate Committee on Appropriations tomorrow on the President's Fiscal Year '24 Budget Request as it pertains to investing in U.S. security, competitiveness and the path ahead for the U.S.-China relationship. Secretary Austin will join Secretary Blinken and Secretary Raimondo to speak on the department's efforts to address the PRC pacing challenge in lockstep with our partners across the administration and in Congress, as well as in cooperation with our international allies and partners. The secretary looks forward to briefing congressional members on this critically-important topic.

Switching gears, the Department of Defense and National Telecommunications and Information Administration have jointly expressed our support for a State Department proposal delivered last week to the Inter-American Telecommunications Commission, or CITEL, which calls for opening the 3300-to-3400 MHz band for 5G mobile services within the Americas region. By State Department submitting this proposal, the U.S. government is seeking to protect critical operations and capabilities while also use of the 3300-to-3400 megaband -- or megahertz band for 5G mobile services by countries that wish to do so. The proposal will be discussed during CITEL's upcoming meeting in Mexico City on May 22. Electromagnetic spectrum access in all bands remains essential to DOD operations as we conduct our national security mission worldwide. And additional information will be posted to defense.gov later today.

And finally, to update you on U.S. training efforts of Ukrainian Armed Forces, I can confirm that the 31 M1 Abrams training tanks have arrived at Grafenwoehr, Germany in preparation for subsequent training of Ukrainian tank crews. Those crews are expected to arrive and begin training within the next couple of weeks. As we've discussed previously, this extensive training program for Ukrainian crews and maintainers is intended to prepare them for their critical roles ahead in effectively operating the M1 tank and defending Ukrainian people.

And with that, we'll take your questions. We'll start with Associated Press, Lita Baldor.

Q: Thank you. Two things, if you could, Pat. One, can you just update us on the troops' arrival at the border, at the southern border? How many are there? Where do you believe they are? And any other details about that that you may have at this point.

And secondly, on the Middle East Persian Gulf, can you tell us whether or not there are going to be an additional DOD military assets sent to the Gulf/Strait of Hormuz region? Are we talking about ships, aircraft? Can you give us any -- anything to put a little meat on the bones of what the White House said Friday about either additional assets? Or is it just additional rotations or additional patrolling? Can you just help us out on that? Thanks.

GEN. RYDER: Absolutely.

So on your first question, in terms of the southwest border, as of today, we have approximately 550 active duty troops that have arrived at the border. We do anticipate that another 950 will be arriving no later than 5 June. And so the predominant number of -- of those troops, as I understand it, are in El Paso, although CBP ultimately will be the ones to determine their disposition, since they're there to support CBP.

In terms of the Strait of Hormuz and the -- the White House statement on Friday, really, Lita, what it comes down to is that the U.S. will increase the rotation of in-theater assets patrolling the Strait of Hormuz, with the intent of bolstering our vigilance and our presence at this -- at this location and this -- this maritime chokepoint.

These assets will include manned and unmanned aerial platforms, as well as surface naval vessels from the Navy, the Coast Guard, to help enhance our maritime surveillance. In fact, as I understand it, the Fifth Fleet over the weekend, on Sunday, posted some imagery from a P-8 Poseidon patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz with personnel from the U.S. and various regional allies and partners.

And then we continue to very actively coordinate with our regional partners. For example, Fifth Fleet Commander spoke to his French counterpart on Saturday to discuss opportunities for the U.S. and the -- and France to collaborate in increasing our patrols.

Q: ... I'm sorry. Quickly, on the P-8s, do you expect the U.S. would be able to send additional P-8s there? That was one thing that I thought might have been an option.

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, so no -- no announcements to make right now in terms of additional assets moving into theater. Again, the -- the focus right now will be on increasing the rotation of the in-theater assets, but certainly if and when we have anything new to announce, we'll -- we'll do that. Thank you.

Let me go to next question. Quiet group today. OK, let me go to Chris.

Q: Thanks, Pat. On May 11, NORAD intercepted six Russian aircraft off the coast of Alaska. While NORAD noted they did not see that as a threat, they did note that there were large-scale U.S. military exercises occurring in Alaska. Does the Pentagon view this as a provocative action on behalf of the Russians?

GEN. RYDER: Just to make sure I understand, you're asking -- you're asking about a Russian exercise?

Q: The -- they -- the Russian flights in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone that NORAD announced over the weekend that had occurred last week, that they intercepted...

Q: While there were U.S. exercises.

GEN. RYDER: Right. So -- so we conduct exercises all of the time obviously, and so no, we don't view our exercises as...

Q: A Russian flight occurring near a U.S. exercise...

GEN. RYDER: No, I think the NORTHCOM statement speaks for itself. Again, it's not the -- the first Russian flight, probably won't be the last. NORTHCOM responded appropriately.

Q: If I could just ask a second question, Secretary Austin sent the letter to Senator Warren on the nomination hold, warning this could become a -- a -- a critical issue. Has the Secretary spoken to Senator Tuberville about this since then?

GEN. RYDER: I don't -- I don't have any specifics to provide, other than to say that the DOD does remain in contact with the Senator's office. Thank you very much.

Yes, ma'am?

Q: To go off Chris though, is it not the first Russians to go right on ADZI during one of our military exercises? You -- it's not the first for them to fly by but during a -- a large military exercise, I believe, around 10,000.

GEN. RYDER: I -- I don't have an answer to that. We'll have to look into that and come back to you. Thank you.

Let me come over here to Will.

Q: Thank you. Does -- first on -- does Britain's promise of cruise missiles and -- and long range UAVs affect or -- or change U.S. calculations regarding providing longer range fires to Ukraine?

GEN. RYDER: Thanks, Will. No, it doesn't. You know, as we've said all along, we're going to continue to stay in active discussions with Ukraine, with our allies and our partners on what their most urgent security assistance needs are.

As you know, we have provided a wide variety of capabilities, to include things like artillery, air defense, armor, ammunition, and -- and we'll continue to do that going forward.

Q: And then kind of building off that, Ukraine has -- has kind of made a renewed push for -- for Western war planes again. Is -- is there any change in -- in the U.S. view that that's not the right -- that's not the right equipment to provide at this point or -- or is that basically the same as it's been?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, again, I don't have anything to announce today in regards to any type of fighter aircraft. Again, we're going to stay in very close contact with Ukraine and with our allies and partners to look at both their near term and longer term security needs. Thank you.

Liz?

Q: Thank you. What is the -- does it look more likely or less likely that China would supply weapons to Russia?

GEN. RYDER: So as of right now, we don't have any indications that China has provided lethal assistance to Russia.

Q: And what is the U.S. -- what is the Department of Defense doing specifically in the region to -- to stop China or deter China from potentially sending weapons?

GEN. RYDER: So you've -- you've heard us talk that -- both publicly and privately, we have communicated with China about the negative consequences of providing lethal aid to Russia. Not only would it extend the duration of this -- of Russia's illegal occupation of Ukraine and result in thousands of innocent killed in Ukraine, it would also squarely put them in the camp of countries that are looking to eliminate Ukraine as a nation.

Q: Thank you. And last question -- looking ahead to the G7 Summit later this week, is the U.S. doing anything to bolster its posture in the region? Is the U.S. tracking that China might react militarily to the summit?

GEN. RYDER: I don't have anything specific to provide, other than we of course do maintain a robust presence in the Indo-Pacific region. We'll continue to work closely with our allies and partners to promote peace, security and stability. Thank you.

Let me go to Tony and then I'll come back here to Oren.

Q: Yeah, a couple on the different regions of the world.

What's the status of the Pentagon's preparation for this Taiwan presidential drawdown authority package that the Taiwan Defense Minister said was going to be about $500 million? Is it in the end game, in terms of identifying the items? And is it possible Secretary Austin or Blinken will announce it tomorrow at the hearing?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, thanks, Tony. So I don't have anything to announce right now. As you highlight, last year, Congress did authorize up to $1 billion -- or $1 billion in presidential drawdown authority for Taiwan, and Secretary Austin, in February, during the testimony before the Senate Armed Service -- Services Committee, did say that we intend to make use of that authority, but in terms of the specific details or the timing, I don't have anything to provide today.

Q: Can you give me a sense of whether they're in the end game of pulling together a list though of systems?

GEN. RYDER: I -- I don't, not from the podium.

Q: OK. Other part of the world -- Grafenwoehr, 31 tanks. Why won't you -- why doesn't the U.S. just keep those tanks there for Ukraine to use in their spring offensive rather than reconfigure 31 in the United States and ship over there?

GEN. RYDER: Sure.

So as I understand it, a couple things. First of all, these tanks are intended specifically for training and don't necessarily have the capabilities that they would need to go into combat. So the tanks that we will be providing to Ukraine are going through the refurbishment process right now. They will be up -- updated, upgraded and prepared for exportability to Ukraine and they -- and because we're doing this concurrently, we will be able to provide those tanks to them in the fall timeframe to get them into Ukraine before the end of the year.

Q: Persian Gulf: In laymen's language, in -- increasing rotations -- does that mean rotating ships in on less than maybe six- -- or five- or six-month schedules?

GEN. RYDER: What it means, Tony, is that we are going to use -- the United States along with our regional partners, we're going to continue to use the capabilities that we have to step up our presence and -- and ensure that -- that we are seen and that we are actively communicating, that we will work together to deter any type of aggressive behavior.

Q: What about the use of unmanned vessels over there? The Navy declared full -- full operational capability for this famous Task Force 59. Will any of those under -- manned (drones ?), water drones be used past maybe the Strait of Hormuz to help patrol?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, as I mentioned, we'll be -- we'll be using both manned and unmanned assets. And so U.S. Central Command will use the full complement and capability that we have resident in theater to support this effort.

Q: Thanks.

GEN. RYDER: Thank you.

David?

Q: So I understand, increased rotations means increased presence. Are you really -- what are you talking about? Just a -- an increased OPTEMPO?

GEN. RYDER: Increased operations tempo. You know, think of it about, we're going to increase the patrols in the neighborhood to ensure that we are seen and that -- that Iran clearly gets the message that we will not stand for this type of aggressive behavior. And again, it's not the unite -- United States by itself. We're working closely with our regional partners. Thank you.

Q: So it'll -- it will all be done by the forces currently there?

GEN. RYDER: Correct.

OK, let me go to Oren.

Q: Just a very quick Q: Is there an update to the possibility of Secretary Austin meeting Minister Lee while the two are at Shangri-La?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, thanks, Oren. So I don't have any announcements to make today. As you've heard, Secretary Austin emphasized many times -- we believe that it's very important to keep the channels of communication open, so that is something that we will continue -- continue to seek to do. But I, again, don't have anything to announce from the podium today. Thank you.

OK. Take -- take a couple more here. Go to Mike, then I'll go to Ryo.

Q: The ambassador to South Africa said he was willing to bet his life that South Africa loaded weapons onto a Russian-flagged cargo ship at a base off -- near Cape Town. He's subsequently sort of walked back those comments. I just wondered, does the U.S. believe South Africa has provided weapons and ammunition to Russia in their -- in -- in this conflict?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, thanks, Mike. So I -- I won't get into any specifics in terms of what other countries may be doing from an intelligence standpoint, other than to say this is something we're taking seriously. It is something that the U.S. government has raised and discussed with the South African government, but I'm not going to get into the details of those particular diplomatic discussions.

From our perspective, as you know, Russia is waging a brutal and in -- indiscriminate campaign against the Ukrainian people, so the U.S. has strongly urged countries not to provide support to Russia's war machine.

OK, let me go to Ryo.

Q: Thank you, General. I have a follow-up question on potential meeting with Chinese counterpart. So according to some media reports, China said that there is little chance of meeting with Secretary Austin because of U.S. sanction on the minister. So how do you respond to Chinese claim that U.S. sanction affects a potential meeting with them?

GEN. RYDER: So Secretary Austin can meet with his Chinese counterparts. There is -- there is no restrictions in that regard. But again, I don't have anything to announce right now in terms of a -- a potential meeting. Thank you very much.

Time for a couple more. Yes, ma'am?

Q: Hi, thank you so much. Megan Eckstein with Defense News. Just a quick follow-up on the tanks that you mentioned going to Germany. Do you have any additional details on personnel, spare parts, other infrastructure that will be accompanying the tanks to help with the training?

GEN. RYDER: So I -- no spare parts, per se, right, cause that's a separate effort, in terms of the presidential drawdown authority and the USAI, for these particular tanks. Certainly, a key aspect of the training will be maintenance and sustainment of that capability.

You've heard us talk about the fact that the M1 is a complex machine that requires a lot of maintenance to -- to sustain it, keep it operating. So that will be crucial, which is why we're doing the training in stride with the actual refurbishment of the -- the tanks. So -- so that'll be an essential element of what they learn. OK?

Last question, Mike?

Q: Yeah, can you tell me about -- if -- could you talk about these reports that a Russian cruise missile landed in Poland a few days ago, I think?

GEN. RYDER: I -- I don't have anything on that. Yep, I'd have to refer you to Poland.

OK, thanks very much, everybody. Appreciate it.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3395827/

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The first Himars are already in Poland. They will go to the 16th Mechanized Division

Republic of Poland - Ministry of National Defence

15.05.2023

"We are welcoming Himars to the Polish Armed Forces today. Equipment that has proven itself in battle in the hands of the Ukrainians stopping the Russian invasion. (...) These weapon will go to the northeastern part of our country, to the 16th Mechanized Division. Its task will be to deter the aggressor, strengthen the Polish Armed Forces on the eastern flank of Poland and the eastern flank of the North Atlantic Alliance." - Deputy Prime Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said.

On May 15, during a conference at the 1st Transport Aviation Base in Warsaw, Deputy Prime Minister Mariusz Blaszczak announced that the first Himars had been delivered to Poland to the Polish Armed Forces. The delivery of the first M142 HIMARS launchers is the result of an agreement in February 2019 to procure the first divisional fire module of HIMARS multi-launcher rocket launchers in the "American configuration."

We are negotiating another Himars deal. The US Congress has authorized the sale of nearly 500 launchers to Poland. (...) We want to bring the co-production of Himars, both launchers and missiles, to Poland as part of this new contract.

- said the head of the Polish defense ministry.

The ongoing deliveries are the first step in equipping the Polish Armed Forces with multi-propelled missile launcher systems capable of striking targets at the operational level, i.e. several hundred kilometers.

We observe what is happening in Ukraine. Artillery plays a pivotal role in the war, in repelling the Russian invasion. So, long-range missile capability is undoubtedly relevant to the strength of the Polish Armed Forces. Hence our efforts related precisely to increasing these capabilities within the Polish Army

- noted Deputy Prime Minister M. Blaszczak.

Since last year, deliveries of other elements included in the squadron's equipment, such as technical security vehicles, as well as combat assets, have been carried out successively. Building new capabilities will also include further orders for M142 HIMARS launchers.

This is an excellent weapon. It is a weapon that, in the hands of fine Polish artillerymen, will be an important argument in deterring the Russian aggressor.(...) We have the good thought that, in the soonest feasible time, we will sign a contract for the acquisition of more launchers for the Polish Army. As a result, in a relatively short period of time we will have at our disposal a large firepower, anf a large reinforcement of Polish artillery

- Minister Blaszczak stressed.

We will soon establish a Himars Academy in Torun, modeled after the Abrams Academy. This will be the place serving, on the one hand, all that is related to logistics, to the maintenance of Himars, but will also serve to train artillerymen. Our ambition is to make the Polish Army strong to the highest possible degree

- informed the head of the Ministry of Defense.

Himars Academy will be yet another asset for us when it comes to training artillerymen from other North Atlantic Alliance countries of NATO's eastern flank. And it will also be a very important argument in our efforts to ensure that Himars service, but also the co-production of Himars will be held in Poland - primarily for the use of the Polish Army, but also for the use of other NATO countries that are interested in having or already have Himars.

- added Deputy Prime Minister.

The meeting, held at the 1st Transport Aviation Base in Warsaw, was also attended by Richard R. Verma, United States Deputy Secretary of State.

***

According to the contract, a total of 18 combat and 2 training M142 HIMARS launchers will be delivered to the Polish Armed Forces, along with a stockpile of GMLRS and ATACMS missile and practice (LCRRPR) ammunition, as well as command vehicles and technical protection vehicles. The contract also provides logistical, training and technical support. According to the current delivery schedule, all M142 HIMARS launchers ordered so far will be delivered by the end of this year and will go to the 16th Mechanized Division.

All rocket launchers, both M142 HIMARS, including the ones currently being delivered, and K239 CHUNMOO will be integrated with the Polish TOPAZ combat management system and JELCZ chassis.

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Data on interceptions of aircraft completed near the Baltic States' borders on May 8-14, 2023

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence

2023-05-15

International cooperation

On May 8-14 fighter aircraft conducting the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states were scrambled twice to identify and escort aircraft of the Russian Federation flying in violation of flight rules in international airspace over the Baltic Sea.

On May 13 fighter aircraft conducting the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states intercepted two SU-27 flying in international airspace from Kaliningrad and back without a pre-filed flight plan, not using their onboard transponders and without maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.

In the course of the same scramble NATO fighter jets also intercepted one AN-72 flying in international airspace from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad. It had no pre-filed flight plan, the onboard transponder was on and the crew kept radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.

On May 13 NATO air policing fighter aircraft intercepted two SU-27 flying from and back to Kaliningrad via international airspace without the flight plan, their onboard transponders off, no radio communication.

In the course of the same scramble NATO fighter aircraft also intercepted one AN-72 flying from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia through international airspace. It had no flight plan, the crew kept the radio transponder of on, as well as radio communication.

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AVIATION LOGISTICS SUPPORT IN THE INDO-PACIFIC

US Marine Corps News

15 May 2023 | 2nd Lt. Lauri Schleicher U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific

PALAU -- The SS Curtiss, with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 16 forward embarked, is deployed in support of Immortal Warrior 23, an exercise which activates the Maritime Administration-operated ship to provide expeditionary intermediate-level aircraft maintenance and supply for U.S. and potentially Allied and Partner forces.

The SS Curtiss is a civilian-manned Aviation Logistics Support Ship (T-AVB 4) with a Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron detachment, along with aircraft artisans from Fleet Readiness Centers, aboard. The detachment can perform intermediate and depot-level maintenance and aircraft battle damage repair. Its purpose is to ensure that Marine Corps aircraft remain in mission-capable condition, ready to support military operations whenever and wherever they are needed.

"The TAVB provides the forward-deployed aviation combat element with an afloat expeditionary [intermediate]-level repair capability similar to the MALS we have at home field. This provides us with the ability to rapidly repair components above the [organizational]-level without the need to send it all the way back to the rear, enabling rapid force deployment in any location," said LtCol Brandon "Jammer" Pope, VMM-268 commanding officer.

The deployment of the SS Curtiss to the Philippines for Exercise Balikatan 23 is a testament to the Marine Corps' commitment to maintaining a high level of readiness and flexibility in its operations. The ship's ability to support Marine, joint, and potentially Allied and Partner aircraft during training highlights its versatility and adaptability.

"Beyond sustaining aviation operations, the T-AVB also provides opportune lift solutions to combatant commanders to rapidly transport forces and equipment with the organic capability to operate afloat and ashore," said Maj William Dunst, T-AVB commander of troops.

This capability provides combined and joint forces in-stride solutions to problems that occur during exercises, crisis, or conflict. LtCol Pope spoke to the speed of the T-AVB support which is "weeks faster than if we had to wait on the supply system from MALS to ship the same components."

The flexibility this model provides to the Marine Corps and the joint, combined force ensures crisis response and support to contingency operations for a wide range of possible challenges and threats. The unique utilization of maritime aviation logistics support capability shows other forces that we're postured and ready for any opportunity or threat in the region.

The SS Curtiss is currently conducting a community outreach event during a port visit in the Republic of Palau.

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Poland receives 1st US-made HIMARS rocket launchers amid Ukraine war

Iran Press TV

Monday, 15 May 2023 6:25 PM

Poland has received the first shipment of the US-made HIMARS multiple rocket launchers to deploy in the region bordering Russia.

Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak and senior military officials attended the acquisition ceremony at a Warsaw air base on Monday.

The minister said the launchers will go to the 1st Artillery Brigade in northeastern Poland. "This weapon will be deployed in the northeastern part of our country."

"Their task will be to deter (an) aggressor and strengthen Poland's armed forces on the nation's and NATO eastern flank."

Warsaw had said in March that the long-range precision rocket systems would be stationed in the military unit based in Olsztyn, about 80 kilometers from the border with Russia's Kaliningrad enclave.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Blaszczak said, "We are watching the developments in Ukraine, and we know that artillery has a key role in the war, in repelling the Russian invasion."

Poland bought 20 HIMARS from the United States in 2019. Under the contract, Poland is spending some $414 million to buy 18 advanced combat HIMARS launchers and two HIMARS training launchers, with ammunition and related equipment. The deal includes logistics and training.

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 (HIMARS) has a range of up to some 300 kilometers developed in the late 1990s for the US armed forces.

Poland is modernizing its armed forces. Warsaw has signed major contracts with the US and South Korea to that end. Some of the military equipment will replace weapons - including over a dozen Soviet-made MiG-29 jet fighters - which Poland agreed to give Ukraine for the war.

Last year, Poland received a number of US Patriot missile systems. Deliveries of another battery are expected this year. The first deliveries of Abrams tanks have also arrived from the US. Warsaw has also received deliveries of tanks and howitzers from South Korea.

On February 24, 2022, President Vladimir Putin of Russia announced a "special military operation" aimed at "demilitarization" of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions in eastern Ukraine.

In 2014, the two regions had declared themselves new republics, refusing to recognize Ukraine's Western-backed government. Announcing the operation, Putin said the mission was aimed at "defending people who for eight years are suffering persecution and genocide by the Kiev regime."

Since then, the United States and its European allies have imposed unprecedented waves of economic sanctions against Moscow while supplying large consignments of heavy weaponry to Kiev. Moscow has been critical of the weapons supplies to Kiev, warning that they will prolong the war.

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Thailand's opposition leader claims victory, voices readiness to become PM

Iran Press TV

Monday, 15 May 2023 8:51 AM

Thailand's opposition leader Pita Limjaroenrat has claimed victory in general elections, insisting on his readiness to become Thailand's next prime minister.

With most of the votes counted, Pita announced on Monday that he is prepared to be the prime minister of the southeast Asian country and form a new government following a landslide election victory, propelling his upstart Move Forward Party (MFP) with the most seats in parliament.

Speaking to reporters at the MFP headquarters, he said he would seek to build a coalition with five other parties, including Pheu [For] Thai Party led by the daughter of billionaire former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, which was on course to finish the Sunday elections in second place.

"Hopefully, the entire country will respect the results and the will of the people," Pita said after the conclusion of voting.

Pita further told reporters he would first seek to build a coalition with the other main parties in the House of Representatives, adding that in the formation of the new government he would use members of the five other parties who scored highest in the national election.

He also repeated a campaign pledge to reform the lese majeste law that imposes harsh prison terms for insulting the monarchy, a taboo issue in the country and once deemed unthinkable in Thai politics.

Results of the Sunday elections indicate that Thai voters rejected an almost decade-long rule of junta-backed government.

The two progressive parties in the elections, led by Pita and Paetongtarn Shinawatra, were projected to win nearly 292 seats ( Moving Forward 151 seats and Pheu Thai 141) of the 500-member Thai parliament.The 42-year-old Harvard-educated former businessman, however, faces many hurdles to secure power.

First of all, he is facing a lawsuit related to his possession of shares in a media company.

In addition, rumors are already swirling that Pita's party 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.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission is not expected to officially confirm the final number of seats won by each party for several weeks.

According to the latest reports citing the Election Commission data, MFP won 14.1 million in the popular vote, followed by Pheu Thai on 10.8 million.

United Thai Nation Party, led by current Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the army general who led the junta's last coup in 2014, finished way behind the other major candidates and is set to come in fifth place.

Third place is Bhumjaithai, a rural-based, more traditional party of patronage politics that had recently been the previous government's coalition partner.

Palang Pracharat, headed by former deputy prime minister and army chief Prawit Wongsuwan, came in fourth place.

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Thailand's top opposition parties agree to join forces after big electoral win

Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat says he has invited five opposition parties to form a new government.

Harry Pearl for BenarNews 2023.05.15 -- Thailand's 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 Sunday's 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 Parliament's 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.

The ruling Palang Pracharath Party and the United Thai Nation Party were trounced in Sunday's 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 country's 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 Thailand's electoral system allows up to 60 days for the release of official results, and parliament convenes two weeks later to vote for the nation's leader.

Experts say some of Move Forward's liberal campaign promises, including reforms to the constitution, military conscription and Thailand's strict royal defamation law, known as Lese-Majeste, could prove a problem with conservative-minded senators.

"Given Move Forward's 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," Srettha Thavisin, one of the Pheu Thai's 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 Sunday's 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 people's 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.

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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Cambodia's top opposition party officially blocked from July elections

Decision appears to pave the way for Hun Sen's party to keep grip on power.

By RFA Khmer 2023.05.15 -- Cambodia's main opposition Candlelight Party was officially rejected by the National Election Committee on Monday and won't be allowed to compete in the July 23 parliamentary elections.

The decision deals an enormous blow to opponents of Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's 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 Sen's decades-long grip on power. The ruling CPP went on to win all 125 seats in the assembly.

The election committee's decision wasn't 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 wouldn't accept a statement from the Interior Ministry confirming the party's 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 year's commune election and then the recent city/provincial/district election," he said.

"So we don't 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 wouldn't agree to meet until after the election, Kim Sour Phirith said.

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 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 Interior's 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 party's registration for last year's 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 isn't 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.

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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China, Myanmar criticized for attacks on religious freedom in annual U.S. report

Beijing is trying to "Sinicize" all religious activities in line with Communist Party doctrine

By Roseanne Gerin 2023.05.15 -- China came under harsh criticism for new restrictions on religious freedom in the U.S. State Department's annual global report on religious freedom, released Monday.

Myanmar's junta was also faulted for its troop's attacks on religious sites amid the civil war there.

The 2022 International Religious Freedom Report, which provides an overview of the state of religious freedom in nearly 200 countries and territories around the world, highlighted how China is trying to "Sinicize" all religious practices in line with Communist Party doctrine.

That includes requiring clergy members of all faiths to attend political indoctrination sessions and suggesting content for sermons that emphasize loyalty to the party and the state, the report said.

It cited an Oct. 16 speech to the 20th Party Congress in which President Xi Jinping stated that the party would "remain committed to the principle that religions in China must be Chinese in orientation and provide active guidance to religions so that they can adapt to socialist society."

The report highlighted Chinese repression of the predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and Tibetan Buddhists, living in the far western part of the country, as well as Chinese Christians.

"The People's Republic of China seized, imprisoned, and banished predominantly Muslim Uyghurs to re-education camps," said U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in an address on Monday. "They continue the repression of Tibetan Buddhists, Chinese Christians and Falun Gong practitioners."

Rushan Abbas, executive director of Campaign for Uyghurs, a Uyghur advocacy group based in Washington, said the report serves as a "powerful testament to the pressing need to address the Uyghur genocide" and hold the Communist Party accountable.

"We commend the efforts behind this report and remain hopeful that its findings will lead to international solidarity in addressing the plight of the Uyghur people and other persecuted communities," she told Radio Free Asia.

New law

The report cited a new law in China that went into effect in March 2022, the Measures for the Administration of Internet Religious Information Services, which bans unauthorized domestic online religious content and prohibits foreign organizations and individuals from spreading online religious content in China.

The Chinese government has blocked religious websites and censored religious content from the WeChat messaging platform, the report said. Authorities have also censored posts referencing Jesus or the Bible, removed articles published by Christian platforms and removed accounts whose names contained the words "gospel" or "Christ."

Chinese authorities also continue to restrict the printing and distribution of Bibles, Qurans and other religious literature.

Though China's constitution states that citizens "enjoy freedom of religious belief," it limits protections for religious practice to "normal religious activities," without defining "normal," the report said.

The government officially recognizes only Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Protestantism and Catholicism, and bans spiritual groups it deems to be cults or to promote unorthodox teachings. The regulations require clergy members to pledge allegiance to the Chinese Communist Party and socialism and to resist illegal religious activities and infiltration by foreign forces using religion, the report said.

Authorities arrested and detained leaders and worshipers not registered with the state-sanctioned religious associations. Communist Party members and members of the armed forces are officially atheist and are forbidden to engage in religious practices.

Myanmar

Among countries in Southeast Asia, Myanmar stood out in the report because of the military junta's attacks on religious sites amid a widespread assault on civilians in areas where ethnic armed groups and local forces oppose the regime and clash with soldiers.

"Amidst the Burma military regime's ongoing repression of religious minorities, thousands of teachers from Muslim, Buddhist, Christian, and other religious backgrounds continue to teach the importance of human rights, including religious freedom and respect between religions," Blinken said.

The State Department's report cited several instances of attacks by junta forces on places of worship, reported by Radio Free Asia.

Among them were a Sept. 16 airstrike in Sagaing region, that destroyed a school within a Catholic monastery compound, killing seven children and injuring another 17 and another airstrike the same day in Shan state, killing four individuals, including two children, seeking refuge in a Buddhist monastery

It cited the detaining or killing of Buddhist monks for alleged links to anti-junta People's Defense Force groups, while holding dozens of other monks in various prisons throughout the country since the military seized power on Feb. 1, 2021.

The junta destroyed scores of religious buildings in Myanmar, including dozens of churches in Chin state, churches and a mosque in Kayah state, religious buildings in Sagaing region, and Buddhist monasteries and a church in Magway region.

The U.S. Department of State submits the reports in accordance with the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998.

RFA Uyghur contributed to this report. Edited by Malcolm Foster.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content 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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Bulgaria's Chief Prosecutor Refuses To Resign, Denounces 'Trash' In Parliament

By RFE/RL's Bulgarian Service May 15, 2023

Bulgarian chief prosecutor Ivan Geshev has refused to step down, tearing up his resignation letter on national television and attacking unnamed rivals in parliament as "political trash."

"I will finish my mandate," the 52-year-old Geshev told reporters on May 15. "I am not afraid."

Geshev's actions came amid rising pressure for him to resign following allegations by opponents that an explosion near his car earlier this month described as an assassination attempt was staged.

Prosecutors from the Supreme Judicial Council subsequently launched dismissal procedures against Geshev for "damaging the image of the justice system" by disseminating allegedly false information and meddling with the investigation into the May 1 blast near his vehicle.

Prime Minister nominee Mariya Gabriel from the center-right GERB party, which recently won a narrow victory in an extraordinary election, said last week that her future justice minister would initiate proceedings for Geshev's dismissal.

Geshev, who has not commented on the incident involving his car, said on May 15 that he was being attacked by "the political mafia, oligarchy, and organized crime," and claimed former Prime Minister Boyko Borisov was behind the pressure for him to resign. Borisov, who leads GERB, has denied the allegation.

Geshev, who has served as chief prosecutor since late 2019 and is slated to remain for a seven-year term, said he has worked "only and exclusively" for Bulgaria and the security of Bulgarian citizens, but that upon his return from the United States on May 14 he had been advised by an unidentified individual to tender his resignation by the morning of May 15.

He claimed his family was mentioned and that he was told if he did not resign, videos against him would be published.

Geshev also said that last month he had received an offer, which he was told came from Borisov, to start a political career or to take an ambassadorship in Israel or Turkey. Borisov has denied making such an offer and said he was not in a position to do so.

Bulgarian media and prosecution officials have said Geshev and his family narrowly escaped when an explosive blew up near his car on a remote road.

But Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev and Borislav Sarafov -- a Geshev deputy who also heads the country's National Investigation Service -- said Geshev was traveling alone at the time of the explosion and that his armored SUV did not sustain any damage.

On May 15, Geshev demanded Sarafov resign, saying that if his deputy refuses he will file a request with the Supreme Judicial Council to have him removed.

Observers have suggested that supporters of Geshev within GERB may have turned against him following the May 1 incident. The GERB party is currently in talks to form a coalition government that could end a lengthy political stalemate that has resulted in five general elections in two years.

President Rumen Radev on May 15 handed Gabriel the first exploratory mandate to form a government. Under the constitution Gabriel has seven days to propose the Council of Ministers. If she is unable to form a government, Radev will hand the mandate to the second-largest parliamentary group, the pro-European We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria coalition.

With reporting by AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/bulgaria-chief- prosecutor-refuses-resign/32412553.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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Needing US Hires, Norway Dubs Lack of F-35 Mechanics 'Declaration of Bankruptcy'

Sputnik News

20230515

Igor Kuznetsov

According to Norway's own air professionals, this personnel shortage is a persistent headache that won't be remedied by million-dollar grants alone.

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.

"The air force has challenges in recruiting and retaining enough technical personnel for the combat aircraft," Norwegian Defense Minister Bjorn Arild Gram admitted to local media. "We cannot put ourselves in a situation where the planes are left on the ground due to a lack of technical personnel. It is necessary to implement measures in both the short and long term."

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.

"This is a declaration of bankruptcy that we have to hire personnel from Lockheed Martin to keep the F-35 in the air. We buy combat aircraft for NOK 100 billion [$9.3 billion], but we don't have the personnel to operate them ourselves. It costs enormous sums to hire personnel," he emphasized.

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.

 Sputnik

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Guterres Calls on Israel, Gaza to Observe Recent Ceasefire

Sputnik News

20230515

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) - 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.

 Sputnik

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Secretary Antony J. Blinken On the 2022 Report on International Religious Freedom

US Department of State

Remarks

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Treaty Room

Washington, D.C.

May 15, 2023

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Good morning, everyone. Twenty-five years ago, President Clinton signed the International Religious Freedom Act into law. And that gave us a range of new tools to give voice to the persecuted, to empower advocates, to promote religious freedom around the world.

At that time, President Clinton noted that freedom of religion was a bedrock American belief. And he said that, and I quote, "When we promote religious freedom, we also promote freedom of expression, conscience, and association, and other human rights." The Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms this same interdependence.

Religious freedom is also vital to stable, secure societies. When each person is respected for their beliefs, they are more empowered to reach their full potential, which in turn lifts entire communities and societies.

Today the State Department is releasing the 2022 International Religious Freedom Report, which provides a fact-based, comprehensive view of the state of religious freedom in nearly 200 countries and territories around the world. This report wouldn't be possible without the contributions of our civil society partners around the globe who help to shine a spotlight on abuses and advocate for victims of religious persecution. We are grateful for their vital work.

This report assesses the actions of countries that are our partners and those with whom we have disagreements, evaluating all by the same standards. Its aim is to highlight areas where freedom of religion or belief is being repressed, to promote accountability, and ultimately drive progress toward a world where freedom of religion or belief is a reality for everyone everywhere.

Over the past year we've seen real progress in some parts of the world on expanding religious freedom as people demanded their rights. Civil society groups pushed for change and governments listened.

Belgium formally recognized its Buddhist minority, which entitles Buddhist religious organizations to teach their faith in state schools and eventually to apply for federal funding to do so.

Lawmakers in Brazil codified religious freedom guarantees for Afro-Brazilian indigenous communities at the municipal and state levels across the country. They also passed legislation making it a crime carry out discriminatory acts against any religious practices.

Canada and the European Union both created new offices to combat Islamophobia, while Croatia appointed its first special advisor for combatting anti-Semitism.

In the Central African Republic, the country's special criminal court continue to prosecute cases of religious-based violence and other human rights violations against civilians since the military coup in 2003.

And more broadly, civil society and other concerned governments around the world have successfully secured the release of many who've been detained, even imprisoned, for exercising their freedom of religion or belief.

Now, that's the positive news. Unfortunately, the report also documents the continuation and, in some instances, the rise of very troubling trends. Governments in many parts of the world continue to target religious minorities using a host of methods, including torture, beatings, unlawful surveillance, and so-called re-education camps. They also continued to engage in other forms of discrimination on the basis of faith or lack of faith, like excluding religious minorities from certain professions or forcing them to work during times of religious observance.

Governments use anti-conversion, blasphemy, apostasy laws, which ban the act of leaving a faith, to justify harassment against those who don't follow their particular interpretation of a theology, often weaponizing those laws against humanists, atheists, and LGBTQI+ individuals.

Around the world, citizens and civil society organizations stepped up to counter these acts, often at great personal risk. NGOs like Campaign for Uyghurs and Uyghur Human Rights Project are documenting the genocide and crimes against humanity against predominately Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang, China.

Human rights defenders are sounding the alarm on attacks on the Catholic Church by the Ortega-Murillo regime in Nicaragua. Lawyer Martha Patricia Molina Montenegro's reporting exposed more than 160 attacks against the church and its members since - in 2022, from desecrations to arbitrary arrests. One of those unjustly detained was Rolando Alvarez, a bishop who criticized the regime's crackdown on civil and religious liberties and was promptly labeled a "traitor to the homeland" and sentenced to 26 years in jail.

People across Iran, led by young women, continue peaceful protests demanding their human rights, including freedom of religion, galvanized by the killing of Masa Amini, who was arrested by the so-called morality police because her hijab did not fully cover her hair.

Amidst the Burma military regime's ongoing repression of religious minorities, thousands of teachers from Muslim, Buddhist, Christian, and other religious backgrounds continue to teach the importance of human rights, including religious freedom and respect between religions.

The United States will continue to stand with and support these brave advocates for religious freedom. We'll keep advocating for religious freedom in countries where the rights are under attack, both publicly and directly in our engagement with government officials. We'll keep working to defend and promote religious freedom here at home, including through the interagency group that President Biden created in December to combat religious bias and discrimination.

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 to promote peace, to care for the sick, to protect our planet, to expand opportunity for underserved communities, and so much more.

So this is an enduring commitment of this administration. This report released today reflects the picture that we see - saw emerge in 2022, but we are acting on the findings and observations of the report every single day in our efforts around the world to advance freedom of religion and belief.

The person who is leading our efforts in that regard is Ambassador Rashad Hussain. It is my pleasure to turn the podium over to him now. Rashad. (Applause.)

AMBASSADOR HUSSAIN: Good morning. I'd like to thank President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Secretary Blinken for their sincere commitments and strong leadership of our global efforts to advance freedom of religion or belief for all people. Let me also take a moment to express my gratitude to our dedicated colleagues at the office of international religious freedom and U.S. embassies and consulates around the world for their remarkable work. They assemble and draft this report after engaging directly with governments, with civil society, and faith actors of every background, and by conducting their own meticulous research. And they are motivated by their unshakable commitment to the idea that saving even one person or improving even one life is well worth their effort.

This historic year marks a quarter century since the passage of the International Religious Freedom Act. During these 25 years, the report has served as an invaluable tool for anyone seeking to understand and address religious freedom conditions in any country around the world. So if you ever wonder whether the religious persecution of any group in any part of the world escapes our attention, the answer is in the country-by-country analysis in this report.

The role of the International Religious Freedom Office is to work with governments and civil society to expose, counter, and prevent restrictions on religious freedom. The report helps us tailor our diplomatic strategies to the circumstances in particular countries and to inform our policy decisions, and it identifies positive actions as well and trends that we will seek to support.

None of this work, of course, is possible without the tenacious leadership of civil society, including the dedicated leaders who are joining us today. So thank you so much for your partnership.

I'd like to share some key findings from this year's report regarding religious discrimination and hatred at the governmental and societal levels and describe what we are doing to address it.

First, far too many governments continue to freely target faith community members within their borders. Russia, a Country of Particular Concern for the second year in a row, continues to target faith communities within its borders and beyond. Brave people of faith in Russia who dare to speak against its brutal war against Ukraine are targeted for repression.

The People's Republic of China seized, imprisoned, and banished predominantly Muslim Uyghurs to re-education camps. They continue the repression of Tibetan Buddhists, Chinese Christians, and Falun Gong practitioners - many of whom are fleeing the PRC's abuses.

In Afghanistan, members of communities that do not toe the Taliban's narrow theological line must hide their religious identity or flee for their lives. In Saudi Arabia, we recognize the important recent moves to increase interfaith dialogue and religious tolerance. Publicly practicing any faith other than Islam, however, remains illegal.

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 Haridwar, calling for the country to uphold its historical traditions of pluralism and tolerance. And the Burma military regime continues to repress the Rohingya population, causing many to flee their homes.

Our report also describes our response. We address these concerns directly with governments. We meet with and listen to victims. We partner with civil society and we also urge other countries and multilateral organizations to speak up, to build coalitions, and decry violations and abuses of the freedom of religion or belief.

As we do this work of advocating for people all around the world, we are sometimes asked: Who are you as the United States to speak to other countries about their human rights conditions? Well, I believe that we are uniquely situated to stand up for religious freedom around the world for a number of reasons. First of all, we are ourselves a country founded on religious freedom, founded by individuals fleeing religious persecution themselves. They felt so strongly about this right that they enshrined it in the First Amendment in our Constitution's Bill of Rights. And we are a country of immigrants. People come to the United States from all around the world and demand that their elected representatives and government official promote our values in their homelands. They would have it no other way. So who are we to stand up for religious freedom around the world? In many ways we are representatives of the rest of the world gathered here in the United States. And we also don't walk away from discussing our efforts to form a more perfect union here at home.

A second theme and trend the report highlights is the increase of government restrictions on access to holy sites and places of worship. We have all seen the sad pictures of Ukraine's civilians sifting through the rubble of their beautiful and most historic churches destroyed by Russia's brutal war of aggression. Uyghurs have witnessed the PRC Government destroy or repurpose their mosques or cemeteries. Authorities also destroy the monasteries of Tibetan Buddhists and expelled monks and nuns.

On my trip to Jerusalem and the West Bank last month, I joined services at al-Aqsa Mosque, attended the Holy Fire Ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and visited the Western Wall during the convergence of Ramadan, Orthodox Easter, and Passover. I sat down with government leaders as well as leaders of the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim communities to discuss the importance of religious coexistence and protecting access to these religious sites.

Third, many countries continue to legislate and enforce apostasy, blasphemy, and anticonversion laws and related polices. These laws are direct attacks on the right to freedom of religion or belief. They criminalize religious expression and justify discrimination and harassment against members of minority religious groups or others who do not conform with the dictates of the approved theology.

Fourth, the report shines a light on the need for governments to ensure equal access to primary services for all, including education. Despite the near universal consensus among Islamic scholars regarding the right to education for women and girls, the Taliban in the name of religion continues to rob women and girls of this fundamental right. In Nigeria, yesterday Leah Sharibu turned 20 years old but remains captive to the Islamic State in West Africa Province after being kidnapped six years ago.

On the sidelines of last year's UN General Assembly, I unveiled Pathways to Respect, an effort that highlights the importance of educational initiatives to prevent and combat hatred. Many of these efforts, such as the 2016 Marrakesh Declaration play a critical role in educating public broadly, not just in the formalistic classroom setting; on the rights of religious minorities. I would be remiss not to mention the countless young people who have been forced to flee their homes based on their beliefs regarding religion and find themselves locked out of any educational at all. I had the opportunity to visit some of them in Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh.

Finally, in addition to discriminatory laws and policies, the report describes growing bigotry at the societal level in many places around the world. Let me note the ongoing and deeply disturbing proliferation of anti-Semitism, anti-Muslim hatred, and xenophobia that target religious and non-religious communities. We are seeing increasing links between these forms of hatred and between those who propagate them at home and abroad. Earlier this year, I traveled with Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff and Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt to the Holocaust sites on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. We continue to participate in the White House-led interagency effort to combat anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of hatred. And on March 15th, the anniversary of the Christchurch massacre, the United States joined with countries around the world on the First International Day to Combat Islamophobia.

Despite the challenges we face, and in many ways because of these shared challenges, defenders of human rights are building a global movement to respond. The 42 members of the International Religious Freedom of Belief - or belief - Freedom of Belief Alliance[i] collaborate to call for the release of prisoners of conscience, advocate for laws promoting religious freedom, and partner with civil society to promote respect and tolerance around the world.

The International Contact Group and civil society coalitions of religious, non-religious, humanitarian, and development organizations cast light on religious freedom violations. They give voice to those who are locked away or forcibly disappeared. And in London last July, I had the honor to join thousands from countries around the world at the International Religious Freedom or Belief ministerial. The Czech Republic will serve as this year's host.

Religion can be such a powerful force for good in the world. Societies who seek to restrict it or use it to harm others cannot achieve their full potential. We vow to redouble our efforts to ensure greater respect for freedom of religion or belief for everyone, everywhere. And we will continue to stand in solidarity every day with all of those are seeking to exercise their beliefs. Thank you so much.

(Applause.)

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you very much. Thanks to everyone for being here today. Thanks for your work every single day to advance religious freedom and freedom of belief around the world. Thank you all.

(Applause.)





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Senior State Department Official on the 2022 Report on International Religious Freedom

US Department of State

Special Briefing

Office of the Spokesperson

Via Teleconference

May 15, 2023

MODERATOR: Good morning. Thank you for joining us for this call to preview the release of the 2022 International Religious Freedom Report. Our briefer today is [Senior State Department Official]. Today's call is on background, so you can identify our speaker as a State Department senior official. The call is embargoed until the conclusion of the Secretary's remarks on the release of the report, which will take place at 11 a.m. this morning.

And now I'll turn over to - and now I'll turn you over to [Senior State Department Official] for opening remarks. [Senior State Department Official], over to you.

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Thanks so much, [Moderator], and good morning everyone. Today we'll release and submit to Congress the 2022 International Religious Freedom Report. In its pages you'll find a comprehensive assessment of freedom of religion or belief conditions in 199 countries and territories over the last year. Nations described in the report include the closest U.S. allies and countries with whom we have no diplomatic relations, countries at war and those enjoying peace. The International Religious Freedom team is dedicated to protecting religious freedom and exposing, countering, and preventing restrictions on this fundamental right all around the world. We could not produce this report without the hard work of our colleagues at U.S. missions abroad, to whom we owe a special thanks.

The report also reveals the stories of individuals and communities struggling to survive as oppressive regimes seek to expunge them, and even the memories of their existence from their own homeland; to erase and change entire cultures, for example, in the case of Tibetan Buddhists and Uyghurs in China. You will also read about brave civil society advocates who stand up to oppression and persecution, and who give voice to the voiceless and shine a strong light where it is most needed. And this year's report clearly shows once again governments and civil societies must work together in the face of brutal challenges to these human rights.

Throughout 2022, we witnessed authoritarian governments wielding blasphemy, apostasy, and anti-conversion laws against many individuals, including Christians, Muslims, and humanists or atheists. Anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim attacks also continue to increase in many regions, often following discriminatory rhetoric and public pronouncements of bigotry, even by government officials.

We continue to focus on the protection of members of religious minority groups across the globe. But just like last year, we note that important and positive progress is possible when governments, civil society, multilateral bodies, and even concerned individuals are willing to step up. When these brave souls take the risk of seeking change, often challenging authorities to live up to their obligations, and they succeed, entire societies can begin to stabilize and prosper.

The Secretary later today will highlight a few of these wonderful examples. Over the last year and a half, I've spoken frankly with government leaders all around the world, engaged religious actors, and worked closely with civil society representatives. We collaborate with other leaders and colleagues in our government, including our partnership with Second Gentlemen Douglas Emhoff, and Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, to counter anti-Semitism. We work closely with the White House, as we did on the United We Stand Summit last year, and on the Interagency Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and Other Forms of Hatred.

I've greatly appreciated the opportunity to engage with young people who are using their creativity to prevent and counter hatred. No progress is possible without these strong allies. I look forward to the collaboration and honest conversations with my foreign counterparts and civil society interlocutors that will emanate from the release of today's report. Some of these conversations we have publicized, but many must remain private for now as we use every tool available to press hard for change.

Let me take a moment also to thank you brave journalists for bringing to light some of the worst abuses in the world, for covering the release of this report, and for your interest in these important issues. Your amplification of these key messages is critical to improving the freedom of religion or belief around the world. And with that, I'm honored to take your questions.

MODERATOR: Thank you, [Senior State Department Official], for those opening remarks. Operator, if you can please report - repeat the instructions to ask a question.

OPERATOR: Thank you. And ladies and gentlemen, if you wish to ask a question, please press 1 then 0 on your telephone keypad. You may withdraw your question at any time by repeating the 1-0 command. If you're using a speakerphone, please pick up the handset before pressing the numbers. And once again, if you have a question, you may press 1 then 0 at this time.

MODERATOR: Great, thank you. And we'll go over to Alex Raufoglu from News Agency Turan first.

QUESTION: Hey, good morning. Can you hear me?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Yes, I can.

QUESTION: Yes. Good morning. Thank you so much for doing this. I have two questions. One is on Ukraine. As you know, the destruction to religious and cultural sites in Ukraine have been major concern. I'm just wondering if, since last year, if you have been able to focus on the latest development. We certainly did not see your visiting the region, obviously. But if there's anything that has been done in terms of registering those damages and also preventing the new damages from happening.

And on Iran, religious freedom in Iran has been violated by Islamic Republic for the past four decades. I'm just wondering if you have any leverage that you put on - put more pressure on Iran to observe the rights of religious minorities. Thanks so much.

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Yeah, thank you so much for those questions. Russia we designated as the Country of Particular Concern for the first time on November 15, 2021. Russia continues to detain, physically abuse, and torture individuals on the basis of their religious beliefs Jehovah Witnesses, Crimean Tartars, Muslim groups, Falun Gong, Evangelical groups as well.

To get to the specifics of your question, we are - we continue to be very concerned with the situation in Ukraine. Following their unprovoked and unjustified invasion, Russia has targeted religious minorities in Ukraine, and the Kremlin seeks to create division in the Orthodox church by targeting religious minorities. And they have caused damage, and I'm sure you've seen it - the horrible image as well - of the damage that they've caused to sacred religious sites. We have been in communication with the ecumenical patriarch, who I've met a number of times - including a number of trips abroad - and we continue to work closely with him and the church to combat the malign influence efforts that the Russians engage in in the Ukraine.

The Ukrainian people continue to inspire the world, of course, with their courage, and we continue to assist Ukraine through our economic, humanitarian, and security assistance, which we also feel is a critical aspect to protecting religious communities across the country. We remain steadfast in our support for all members of religious groups to practice their faith freely and expect any actions taken by Ukraine defending itself from Russia's war will be fully consistent with international laws protecting religious freedom or belief.

To address your question on Iran, Iran has been designated a Country of Particular Concern for over 20 years. It has one of the worst records in the world on religious freedom. Iran continues to target minority groups, Baha'is, Christians, non-Shia Muslims. And we saw horrific blasphemy executions - two of them - just last week. We have implemented a series of sanctions. We support actions at the UN condemning Iran's human rights record, and we strongly support the mandate of the UN special rapporteur to investigate human rights abuses. So we'll continue to use a variety of policy tools to address the human rights concerns there.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Let's go over to Simon Lewis from Reuters next.

QUESTION: Hi. Thanks for doing this. Just, I guess, one sort of more general question I had: Is there any way you could give us a rundown of which countries, if any, are newly designated as a specific concern in this year's report or any countries where you - you're particularly raising issues that have arisen over the last year? And I wanted to just ask also on China specifically - obviously, there's been concerns on China in many previous reports, but I wonder, is there anything in this year's - in - sort of in the last year that is reflected in the report that is raising a specific concern on - is - in that is the religious freedom situation in China worsening? Thank you.

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Thank you so much. So just as in previous years, we're releasing our comprehensive report today, and consistent with our obligations under the International Religious Freedom Act, the Secretary will make our Country of Particular Concern determinations and our Special Watch List determinations by the end of the year. So for now the report is focused on clearly laying out the religious freedom landscape in each country in the world, and then we will get to the designations a few months from now.

With regards to China, China continues to be one of the worst abusers of human rights and religious freedom in the world. They continue to engage in genocide and crimes against humanity against Uyghurs. They're also continuing their repression of Tibetan Buddhists, Protestants, Catholics, Falun Gong, and Hui Muslims.

Since 1999, China has been designated a Country of Particular Concern, and we've determined that China's treatment of the Uyghurs constitutes a genocide and crimes against humanity. In order to address these concerns, we have a number of tools that we're using, including financial sanctions, visa restrictions. We've - Congress has passed, and the President has signed into law, The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which provides for penalties for companies that import goods that are being produced by forced labor - actually puts the burden of proof on the companies to demonstrate that they are not importing goods that are the products of forced labor.

We're also working very closely with the UN. You may have seen at the Human Rights Council this year the report on Xinjiang was finally released. And that report authoritatively describes the PRC's appalling treatment and abuses of Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minorities. So we'll continue to work closely with our partners and our allies around the world, including the OIC countries, to step up their actions on China, and specifically China's treatment of religious minorities. We continue to see the situation worsening, and we'll 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.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Let's go over to Michele Ghandour from Alhurra next.

QUESTION: Middle East and other than Iran, how was the religious freedom situation there last year?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Yes, we continue to have concerns about a number of countries in the region. We continue to see the use of blasphemy and apostasy laws. These are issues that I raise directly with governments as we travel in the region and we meet with them. We continue to see restrictions on registration and recognition of minority groups.

What we have been encouraged by is that we are seeing courageous individuals and groups within civil society take action to try to address some of these challenges, and we'll continue to do everything that we can to support them. But the overall situation continues to be of concern for us. And as you'll see by reading the report, we go through, country by country, every nation in the region and describe the situation that religious minorities face, describe our communication with government and civil societies and the issues that we're pressing them on in terms of their enforcement of laws that are particularly harsh towards religious minorities.

We're of course pressing them in places where religious minorities are not even allowed to construct places of worship or have particularly onerous requirements. We're pressing them to allow for open practice of religion. There are countries in the region in which it's essentially criminalized to openly practice your religion if you're from a minority faith, and so we continue to work with governments and civil society in the region to address these issues.

I will say also that there have been some bright spots in our engagement, particularly with civil society leaders and some governments, on articulating the importance of protecting religious minorities. One such initiative, which you may be following, is the continued advance of the Marrakesh Declaration, which was issued in 2016 when over 300 leaders from the region came together to articulate a set of protocols and standards on the protection of religious minorities, including Christians working - or living in Muslim-majority countries.

We worked with a number of scholars for a number of years in the region, playing a largely convening role. And initiatives like the Marrakesh Declaration are ones that give us hope. Of course, the situation that we're in, we didn't get to overnight. And so there will be a need for concerted effort and grassroots efforts in ensuring that initiatives such as the Marrakesh Declaration and other initiatives in the region, which are in their nascent stages, can build momentum and ultimately have an impact, and ensure that they are able to reach their potential in helping to protect the religious freedom of people across the region.

MODERATOR: Thank you, [Senior State Department Official]. We're - we have time for one more question so we're going to go with Zeba Warsi from PBS.

QUESTION: Hi, thank you so much for doing this. My question is on India. Could you tell us what this year's report finds on India? It has been a Country of Particular Concern for consecutive years. And what is the administration planning to do about pressuring the Indian Government with respect to religious minorities, particularly Muslim, ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit next month?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: I've spent a good amount of time in India and have experienced firsthand the phenomenal culture of the country, the vast potential, the people of the country, and that's also why at times I've been saddened and to see what is outlined in today's report. What we outline in today's report is a targeted - 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.

We'll continue to speak directly with our colleagues and counterparts in India regarding these concerns. We're continuing to encourage the government to condemn violence and hold accountable and protect all groups who engage in rhetoric that's dehumanizing towards religious minorities and all groups who engage in violence against religious communities and other communities in India.

There's been a significant attention, of course, from the international community on the situation in India, including human rights organizations. The U.S. Holocaust Museum continues to draw considerable attention to the human rights situation in India and lists it as one of its top countries of concern and with - with regards to potential for mass killings there. So we'll continue to work very closely with our civil society colleagues on the ground, with courageous journalists that are working every day to document some of these abuses, and we'll continue speaking directly with our counterparts in India to address these issues.

MODERATOR: That's all the time we have for questions this morning. I hope everyone will tune into the Secretary's remarks today at 11:00 a.m. I would like to thank [Senior State Department Official] for taking his time today to answer your question, and as a reminder, this call is on background and is embargoed until the conclusion of the Secretary's event this morning. Thank you all for joining us.

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Italian Air Force Breaks Barrier at Exercise Formidable Shield 2023

US Navy

15 May 2023

From Exercise Formidable Shield Public Affairs

HEBRIDES, United Kingdom -- Italian Air Force F-2000 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft conducted the first air-to-air live-fire engagement during the Formidable Shield exercise series while flying on the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) Hebrides Range operated by QinetiQ, in Scotland, United Kingdom, May 12, 2023.

The successful evolution also marked the first live-fire event for the MOD Hebrides Range during Formidable Shield 2023 and underscores the complexity and utility of the exercise in honing missile defense capabilities.

"We are thrilled to have successfully completed this air-to-air event during Formidable Shield," said Italian Air Force Capt. Mattia "Uni" Nucciarelli, Chief Test Pilot. "This exercise challenges our capabilities and makes us a stronger fighting force, as we continue to adapt our tactics and procedures to evolving threats."

The scenario was dubbed "Umberto Nobile" in honor of Italian aeronautical engineer and explorer Umberto Nobile, who broke barriers as a dirigible designer and pilot and polar explorer in the 1920s. During the Nobile event, the Italian F-2000s successfully executed a Defensive Counter Air (DCA) tasking, engaging a Banshee Jet 80 target acting as a "leaker." In the scenario, the simulated leaker posed a threat to French, Italian, and U.S. surface units operating in the vicinity.

This accurate reproduction of a combat scenario is a hallmark of the Formidable Shield exercise series, and the success of Umberto Nobile is the result of many months of deliberate planning among Allies.

"The Air Planning Cell for this exercise could not be more excited to see our planning bring about the first air-to-air live-fire event of this series," said Cmdr. John-Michael "Guts" Gutierrez, Formidable Shield Air Operations Lead Coordinator. "The professionalism of our Italian Air Force Allies and the extraordinary capability of the world-class MOD Hebrides Range shone through in successfully completing this complex air-to-air scenario."

As in previous iterations of Formidable Shield, the strong support and technical expertise of planners and exercise participants, including those at the MOD Hebrides Range, directly led to the success of the scenario.

"We want to congratulate the Italian Air Force on their recent success in the early stages of Formidable Shield 23. We look forward to further achievements during this series of exercises," said Jim Graham, Managing Director of Air within QinetiQ's UK Defence Sector. "This exercise series provides a perfect opportunity to continue advancements in technology, tactics, and interoperability, and we in QinetiQ are proud to be an enabling partner for Formidable Shield 23."

For all involved, this groundbreaking engagement is not a finish line, but rather another mark in the continued evolution of Formidable Shield as the premier integrated air and missile defense exercise and live-fire rehearsal in the European theater. As NATO Allies continue with the exercise over the next two weeks, there just may be another Italian pilot up in the air, breaking barriers just like Umberto Nobile.

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Victory by Move Forward in Thailand Could Move ASEAN

By Luke Hunt May 15, 2023

A victory by liberal, youth leaning political parties in Sunday's 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.

Prayut's 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 China's 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 Thailand's 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.

"It's 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."

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WFP in Egypt provides critical assistance to people fleeing violence in Sudan

World Food Programme

15 May 2023

ASWAN -- The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), launched today an emergency cash assistance programme to support vulnerable people fleeing the conflict in Sudan. WFP's pre-established cash delivery platform will also be made available to sister UN agencies to enable them to quickly extend their assistance to vulnerable people arriving in Egypt from Sudan.

WFP and partner agencies have conducted a rapid assessment to identify the most vulnerable arrivals needing assistance. Assistance provided to identified people will allow them to access basic food and other essential needs. The food agency is already supporting over 100,000 refugees in Egypt through its existing cash delivery platform.

WFP will support the most vulnerable families arriving in Egypt who have crossed into the country with nothing or have run out of money after a long and perilous journey.

"They are drained by the journey that they and their families had to take to reach safety and are extremely food insecure. At this time of great uncertainty, cash assistance helps secure their most basic needs," said WFP Representative and Country Director in Egypt Praveen Agrawal. "WFP will avail its cash delivery platform to sister UN Agencies like the UN's children fund (UNICEF) and other development partners enabling them to quickly reach vulnerable families in need of support."

This assistance comes in addition to the emergency ready-to-eat food packages new arrivals received upon arrival. At the onset of the crisis, WFP dispatched more than 20 metric tons of fortified emergency food assistance. WFP further expanded its assistance with additional packages of food, including enhanced nutritional food items that are distributed by the Egyptian Red Crescent (ERC) at the two entry points of Arqeen and Qustol on the Egyptian-Sudanese borders.

WFP is coordinating with the Government of Egypt and the Egyptian Red Crescent (ERC) the provision of assistance and has so far dispatched food assistance enough for nearly 90,000 people.

According to Egypt's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, about 88,000 people (83,000 Sudanese, and 5,000 Egyptians and third-country nationals) have crossed through the Sudan-Egypt border as of 11 May.

Egypt had already been hosting over 60,000 Sudanese refugees, and WFP has been a long-term supporter of the most vulnerable, providing monthly cash assistance to more than 10,000 of them to help them secure their basic food needs. Refugees receive monthly cash assistance through e-cards redeemable at over 140,000 points of sale nationwide.

# # #

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

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Russo-Ukraine War - 15 May 2023 - Day 446

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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 03 May 2023, several uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) struck Russia's Seshcha Airbase, 150km north of the Ukrainian border. One An-124 heavy transport aircraft of Russia's 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 Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Russia also uses the site to launch Iranian-produced one-way-attack UAVs towards Kyiv.

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 Russia's air defences continue to be compromised, holding at risk key strategic assets such as VTA bases.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of May 15th, Russian forces launched 2x missile strikes on Kostyantynivka, Donetsk Oblast, using the S-300 air defense system. In addition, Russian forces carried out 38x airstrikes and launched more than 25 MLRS attacks.

The threat of missile and air strikes remains across Ukraine.

Russia continues to concentrate its main efforts on the Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Mar'inka axes. In total, up to 37x firefights took place on specified axes. Heavy fighting continues in the cities of Bakhmut and Mar'inka..

Volyn and Poliske axes: the operational situation has not changed significantly.

Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russian forces carried out mortar and artillery attacks on the settlements of Yeline, Murav'yi, Chernihiv Oblast; Vovkivka, Iskriskivshchyna, Volfyne, Shpyl', Stepok of the Sumy Oblast, as well as Kozacha Lopan, Hoptivka, Luk'yantsi, Gatyshche, Budarky, Nesterne, Krugle, Zemlyanki, Staritsa in the Kharkiv Oblast.

Kup'yans'k axis: Russia does not stop trying to improve the tactical position. During this period, it conducted unsuccessful offensive actions in the Masyutivka area. It carried out an airstrike in the area of the settlement of Kislivka. Dvorichanske, Kamianka, Krasne Pershe, Mitrofanivka, Figolivka, Novomlynsk, Dvorichna, Zapadne, Kindrasivka, Kupyansk, Kislivka, Tabaivka, Berestov of Kharkiv Oblast and Stelmakhivka of Luhansk Oblast came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

Lyman axis: during the day, Russian forces did not conduct offensive operations. russian forces carried out an air strike in the area of Spirny. Makiivka and Bilogorivka of the Luhansk Oblast and Verkhn'okam'yans'ke and Spirne of the Donetsk Oblast were bombarded by russian artillery.

Bakhmut axis: Russia continues to conduct offensive operations. Heavy fighting continues for Bakhmut. In addition, during the day, the Russian adversary conducted unsuccessful attacks on the settlement of Ivanovske. Hryhorivka, Bohdanivka, Bakhmut, Ivanivs'ke, Druzhba, Severnye, Petrivka, Toretsk of the Donetsk Oblast were subjected to Russian shelling.

Avdiivka axis: Russian forces continue to destroy the infrastructure of settlements; carried out airstrikes on Avdiivka; shelled Stepove, Lastochkina, Avdiivka, Pervomaiske and Karlivka in the Donetsk Oblast.

Mar'inka axis: Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled numerous Russian attacks in the vicinities of Mar'inka. At the same time, Krasnohorivka, Gostre, Heorghiivka, Mar'inka, and Novomykhailivka of the Donetsk Oblast were subjects to Russian fire.

Shakhtars'k axis: during the day, Russian forces shelled the settlements of Vugledar, Prechistivka, Novoukrainka, and Shakhtars'ke.

Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: Russian occupiers stayed on the defensive. They carried out airstrikes on the settlements of Vil'ne Pole in the Donetsk Oblast, Mala Tokmachka in the Zaporizhzhia Oblast, and Stanislav in the Kherson Oblast.

Meanwhile, the Russian occupiers shelled the settlements of Burlatske, Vilne Pole, Novopil' of the Donetsk Oblast; Ol'hivske, Malynivka, Hulyaipole, Zaliznychne, Hulyaipil'ske, Biloghir'ya, Mala Tokmachka, Orihiv and Kam'ians'ke of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast, and the city of Kherson.

Recently, in the temporarily captured territory of the Zaporizhia Oblast, the people who had agreed to cooperate with the Russian occupiers, they were asked to write down an agreement of the renunciation of Ukrainian citizenship, instead accepting Russian citizenship. Those who refuse are threatened by the occupiers with dismissal from their jobs and further persecution.

In order to strengthen control over the population in the temporarily occupied Crimea, operative groups of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the FSB of the Russian Federation conduct raids on railway and bus stations. Crimean Tatars are first targets to be inspected.

During the day, Ukrainian Air Force carried out 7x strikes on areas where the Russian forces' personnel and military equipment were concentrated and 7x - on the Russian forces' anti-aircraft missile systems.

Ukrainian missile and artillery units the control post, 2x concentrations of Russian troops, 3x artillery units at firing positions, 2x electronic warfare stations, and ammunition depot.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, aviation and artillery of the Zapad Group of Forces have engaged the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) close to Sinkova and Berestovoye (Kharkov region).

In addition, thanks to the coordinated actions of units of the 138th Motorised Rifle Brigade near Dvurechnoye (Kharkov region), actions of three sabotage and reconnaissance groups were foiled overnight.

The enemy has suffered losses of up to 145 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, two Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems, and one D-20 howitzer in this direction in the past 24 hours.

In Krasny Liman direction, Operational-Tactical and Army aviation and artillery of the Tsentr Group of Forces engaged the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Nevskoye (Lugansk People's Republic).

Units of the 76th Air Assault Division have neutralised two sabotage and reconnaissance groups near Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic).

The enemy has suffered losses of over 75 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, three pick-up trucks, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and one D-30 howitzer in this direction in the past 24 hours.

In Donetsk direction, assault detachments continue the fiercest battles on the western outskirts of the city of Artyomovsk, as well as units of the 4th Motorised Rifle Brigade near Krasnoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation and artillery of the Yug Group of Forces have inflicted a fire damage on the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Chasov Yar and Bogdanovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The Russian aviation have made 7 sorties in this area during the day. The Group's artillery have performed 72 firing missions.

The enemy's losses in this direction during the day amounted to up to 235 Ukrainian servicemen and mercenaries, one tank, four armoured fighting vehicles, seven motor vehicles, and D-20, D-30, and Msta-B howitzers.

In South Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, aviation and artillery of the Vostok Group of Forces inflicted a fire damage on the AFU units close to Ugledar and Vodyanoye (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy's losses have amounted to over 150 Ukrainian troops, and five motor vehicles in this direction during the day.

In Kherson direction, up to 30 Ukrainian troops, one armoured fighting vehicle, and four motor vehicles have been destroyed.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Group of Forces have engaged 68 AFU artillery units, manpower and hardware in 97 areas during the day.

One U.S.-made AN/TPQ-37 counter-battery radar station has been destroyed near Krivaya Luka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Fighter aviation of Russian Aerospace Forces has shot down Mi-24 and Mi-8 helicopters of Ukrainian Air Force near Selidovo and Brusovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Air defence forces have intercepted 7 HARM anti-radar missiles, one Storm Shadow long-range cruise missile, and 10 HIMARS MLRS projectiles during the day.

Moreover, 21 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down close to Novopokrovka, Vodyanoye, Rabotino (Zaporozhye region), Lyubimovka, Novaya Kakhovka (Kherson region), Gorlovka, Peski, Volodino (Donetsk People's Republic), Kremennaya and Novokrasnyanka (Lugansk People's Republic).

In total, 425 airplanes and 233 helicopters, 4,156 unmanned aerial vehicles, 421 air defence missile systems, 9,169 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 1,100 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 4,821 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 10,214 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.





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Russo-Ukraine War - 16 May 2023 - Day 447

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 Wagner Group forces continue to make gradual progress in clearing Ukrainian positions in the town centre of the contested Donetsk Oblast town of Bakhmut. However, over the last four days, Ukrainian forces have made tactical progress stabilising the flanks of Bakhmut to their advantage.

As well as progress to the south of town, Ukrainian assaults have forced back the Russian frontline to the north-west of the town. This has likely enabled Ukrainian forces to re-establish more secure use of the key 0506 supply road.

Ukraine is holding Russia's western advances along the line of Donets-Donbas Canal, turning the waterway into an obstacle as part of a deep defensive zone around the town of Chasiv Yar.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the Russian Federation launched another massive missile attack on the civilian and critical infrastructure of Ukraine. The russian aggressor cynically continues to use terror tactics.

During the day of May 16th, Russian forces launched 27x missile and 37x air strikes, launched about 20x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian forces and populated areas. Precise information states that Russia used 6x 'Kinzhal' aeroballistic missiles, 9x 'Caliber' cruise missiles and 10x land-based missiles (S-400, Iskander-M) for missile strikes, all of which were destroyed by Ukrainian Air Defense. The Russian occupiers launched 2x more S-300 missiles at the civilian infrastructure of Kostyantynivka, Donetsk Oblast.

The civil infrastructure was damaged. In particular, due to shelling of settlements Dvorichna, Vovchansk and Tyshchenkovka of the Kharkiv Oblast, civilians were killed and wounded; private houses, a hospital and other civil infrastructure were destroyed.

Russia continues to concentrate its main efforts on Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Mar'inka axes. In total, up to 44x firefights took place on specified axes. Heavy fighting continues in the cities of Bakhmut and Mar'inka.

Volyn' and Polissya axes: no signs of the formation of Russian offensive groups were detected. Certain units of the armed forces of the Republic of Belarus continue to be present in the areas bordering Ukraine. The transfer of the Russian territorial troops, which were trained at the training grounds of Belarus, to the frontline continues.

Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russian forces continues to maintain a military presence in the areas bordering Ukraine. They carried out mortar and artillery shelling of Murav'yi settlements in Chernihiv Oblast; Romashkove, Iskriskivshchyna, Volfyne, Kindrativka, Sadky, Zapsilya of the Sumy Oblast, as well as Kozacha Lopan, Hoptivka, Luk'yantsi, Hatyshche, Pletenivka, Budarky, Nesterne, Krugle, Zemlyanky, Starits'a and Budarky in the Kharkiv Oblast.

Kup'yans'k axis: the Russian adversary carried out unsuccessful offensive operations in the vicinities of Masyutivka, Kharkiv Oblast, and Novoselyvs'ky and Stelmakhivka, Luhansk Oblast. russians conducted airstrikes near the settlements of Budarka, Vilshana, Kislivka, Kotlyarivka and Tabaivka of the Kharkiv Oblast. Dvorichanske, Kam'ianka, Krasne Pershe, Figolivka, Novomlyns'k, Dvorichna, Masyutivka, Kindrashivka, Kup'yans'k, Kislivka, Tabaivka, Berestov of Kharkiv Oblast and Stelmakhivka of Luhansk Oblast were subjected to Russian artillery and mortar attacks.

Lyman axis: Russian forces carried out offensive operations in the area of Belogorivka, Luhansk Oblast. They carried out airstrikes in the areas of the settlements of Bilogorivka in the Luhansk Oblast and Spirne, Sivers'k and Chervone in the Donetsk Oblast. Makiivka, Nevs'ke, Belogorivka of the Luhansk Oblast and Verkhn'okam'ians'ke, Torske, Spirne of the Donetsk Oblast were shelled by artillery.

Bakhmut axis: Russia continues to conduct offensive operations. Heavy fighting continues for Bakhmut. In addition, during the day, Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensive operations in the vicinities of the settlement of Ivanovske. Invaders carried out airstrikes in the areas of Bohdanivka, Bakhmut, Ivanivske, and Toretsk settlements of the Donetsk Oblast. Hryhorivka, Bohdanivka, Bakhmut, Ivanivs'ke, Chasiv Yar, Stupochki, Pivnichne, Toretsk of the Donetsk Oblast were affected by artillery fire.

Avdiivka axis: Russia continues to destroy the infrastructure of settlements, carried out airstrikes on Avdiivka and Vodyanivka, shelled the settlements of Novokalynove, Berdychi, Stepove, Avdiivka, Pervomaiske, Nevel's'ke, and Karlivka of the Donetsk Oblast.

Mar'inka axis: Ukrainian armed Forces forces repelled numerous Russian attacks in the vicinities of Mar'inka. Russian forces launched an air strike in the Krasnohorivka area. At the same time, Gostre, Mar'inka, and Pobyeda of the Donetsk Oblast also got under Russian fire.

Shakhtars'k axis: during the day, Russian forces carried out airstrikes in the areas of Vugledar and Velyka Novosilka. They striked at Novomykhailivka, Paraskoviivka, Vugledar, Prechistivka and Novoukrayinka of the Donetsk Oblast.

Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: Russian forces are on the defensive. They carried out airstrikes on the settlements of Vremivka in the Donetsk Oblast, Novodanilivka in the Zaporizhia Oblast, and Berislav, Kizomys, and Mala Tokmachka in the Kherson Oblast. Meanwhile, they carried out artillery shelling of the settlements of Ol'hivske, Malinivka, Hulyaipole, Zaliznychne, Hulyaipilske, Biloghirya, Shcherbaki, Stepove and Kam'ianske of the Zaporizhia Oblast, as well as Tokarivka, Kizomys of the Kherson Oblast and the city of Kherson.

The Russian occupiers continue to rob the population of Ukraine, appropriating the grain harvest of peaceful citizens. Therefore, in the city of Feodosia, temporarily occupied Crimea, the so-called Russian occupation "authorities" are trying to transport the stolen grain to ports by loading it onto the sanctioned Syrian ship "Souria".

During the day, Ukrainian Air Force carried out 13x strikes on the Russian forces' personnel and military equipment concentration areas, as well as 3x strikes on the Russian forces' anti-aircraft missile systems. Also Ukrainian defenders destroyed 1x Iranian strike UAV "Shahed" and 2x reconnaissance drones.

Ukrainian missile and artillery units striked at 5 areas of concentration of manpower, 3 stations of radio-electronic warfare, 2 warehouses of Russian ammunition and 1 point of fuel and lubricating materials of the Russian occupiers.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that it launched a combined attack with long-range precision-guided air- and sea-based weapons against the AFU units, as well as depots of ammunition, weapons and military equipment supplied by Western countries.

The goal of the attack has been reached. All the assigned targets have been neutralised.

U.S.-manufactured Patriot surface-to-air missile system has been struck by Kinnzhal hypersonic glide vehicle in Kiev.

In Kupyansk direction, the attacks, launched by aviation and artillery of the Zapad Group of Forces, have resulted in the neutralisation of the AFU manpower and hardware close to Novomlynsk and Kislovka (Kharkov region).

The actions of five Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups have been suppressed close to Timkovka, Masiutovka, Kotlyarovka (Kharkov region), and Novosyolovskoye and Stelmakhovka (Lugansk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 60 Ukrainian servicemen and four motor vehicles.

In Krasny Liman direction, the attacks, launched by Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems of the Tsentr Group of Forces, have resulted in the neutralisation of the AFU units close to Nevskoye, Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic) and Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses were up to 65 Ukrainian servicemen, two infantry vehicles, and one Akatsiya self-propelled howitzer.

In Donetsk direction, the assault detachments continued to conduct offensive actions against the enemy in the western part of Artyomovsk.

The units of the Yug Group of Forces held the enemy by covering the flanks of the assault units.

The most difficult situation was near Krasnoye (Donetsk People's Republic), where the units of the 4th Motorised Rifle Brigade have repelled ten AFU attacks.

The enemy losses were over 70 Ukrainian servicemen, one infantry fighting vehicle and two armoured personnel carriers.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, as well as artillery of the Yug Group of Forces inflicted a fire damage on the enemy units close to Chasov Yar and Bogdanovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

As a result of the air strike, a road overpass, that used to transport the enemy reinforcements to the town of Artyomovsk, has been destroyed close to Krasnoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

Russian aviation have made 9 sorties in this area during the day. The Group's artillery have performed 74 firing missions.

In Donetsk direction, the enemy losses were up to 215 Ukrainian servicemen, five armoured fighting vehicles, seven motor vehicles, as well as Msta-B and D-30 howitzers.

In South Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, the attacks, launched by aviation and artillery of the Vostok Group of Forces have resulted in the neutralisation of the enemy units close to Shevchenko and Velikaya Novosyolka (Donetsk People's Republic), Malinovka, Chervonoye, Belogorye and Novodanilovka (Zaporozhye region).

The actions of one Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group have been disrupted close to Urozhaynoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 135 Ukrainian servicemen, three motor vehicles, two Msta-B howitzers and one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system.

In Kherson direction, the enemy losses were up to 25 Ukrainian servicemen, one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system and five motor vehicles.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, and Artillery of the Russian Group of Forces have engaged 75 AFU artillery units, manpower, and hardware in 102 areas during the day.

Fighter Aviation of Russian Aerospace Forces have shot down Su-24 and Su-25 aircraft of Ukrainian Air Force near Varvarovka and Krasnoarmeysk (Donetsk People's Republic).

Air defence forces intercepted seven Storm Shadow long-range cruise missiles, three HARM anti-radar missiles and seven HIMARS multiple-launch rocket system projectiles.

Air defence facilities have shot down 22 unmanned aerial vehicles close to Ivanovka and Yevgenovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Topolyovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Inzhenernoye, Blagoveshchenka (Zaporpzhye region), and Krynki (Kherson region).

In total, 427 airplanes, 233 helicopters, 4,178 unmanned aerial vehicles, 422 air defence missile systems, 9,176 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,100 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 4,828 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 10,233 special military motor vehicles have been destroyed during the special military operation.





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COVID-19 infections account for over 20% of the patients at fever clinics around South China's Guangzhou

Global Times

By Global Times Published: May 15, 2023 10:55 PM

COVID-19 infections account for more than 20 percent of patients tested at fever clinics around Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province, China's top respiratory disease expert Zhong Nanshan revealed on Monday.

According to statistics from the fever clinics around Guangzhou, among the patients who are tested, 20 to 25 percent are positive for COVID-19. The prevailing variant in the city at present is the Omicron variant XBB.1.9.1.

Statistics from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention shows that Omicron XBB.1.9.1 variant was first found imported to the Chinese mainland two months ago. The variant was detected for the first time in local cases on the Chinese mainland between March 3 and 9. The accumulated number of infections with Omicron XBB.1.9.1 variant has surpassed 100 since April 14.

At present, the variant has been spreading in multiple countries and regions including the UK, Germany, France, the US, the Philippines and Singapore. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also been monitoring the variant, noting it spreads rapidly but causes mild symptoms.

Regardless of symptoms, an increase in the level of COVID-19 antibodies within the body suggests that the person has been infected, according to Zhong.

From this perspective, approximately 85 percent of the total population in the country, or around 1.1 billion to 1.2 billion people, have been infected with COVID-19 based on testing results, he said.

Based on relevant laboratory studies and real-world research in places such as Singapore, the antibodies produced after a COVID-19 infection can provide protection to the human body for a period of four to six months. However, when faced with the XBB variant, their protective ability may be weakened. "Starting from December of last year, we have actually already reached this time point," said Zhong.

Zhong revealed that in the next steps to combat COVID-19, it is necessary to develop vaccines that can cover the XBB variants, which include mRNA vaccines and recombinant protein vaccines, mainly targeting specific populations such as people with weakened immunity or the elderly with serious underlying diseases. On the other hand, timely treatment with medicines upon infection can significantly reduce the mortality rate.

Zhong made the remarks during the launch ceremony of clinical research of Leritrelvir Tablets, after it hit the market. The tablet is China's first domestically developed innovative drug that targets the 3CL protease of COVID-19.

The tablet received conditional approval and was launched in March for the treatment of mild to moderate adult patients infected with COVID-19. Research has shown that the antiviral effect of this medicine is comparable to that of Pfizer's Paxlovid, while effectively avoiding the toxic side-effects associated with the combined use of Ritonavir.

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Apparent Cyberattack Disrupts Philadelphia Inquirer Operations Ahead of Mayoral Primary

By Liam Scott May 15, 2023

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 Pennsylvania's 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 city's Democratic primary for the city's 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 Inquirer's 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 newspaper's content management system was not working.

The Inquirer "discovered anomalous activity on select computer systems and immediately took those systems off-line," the paper's 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 paper's systems.

"We appreciate everyone's 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.

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 FBI's 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, it's customary that we offer our assistance in these matters."

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Discovery of Europe's Biggest Cocaine Factory in Spain Marks New Trend

By Graham Keeley May 15, 2023

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 it's 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 a 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.

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Planning key to success of Talisman Sabre

15 May 2023

This year's Exercise Talisman Sabre will be the biggest yet in terms of geographic spread and the number of partner nations joining Australia and the United States.

The partner nations taking part will include Fiji, France, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany and Indonesia.

Having been observers at previous iterations of the biennial exercise, France and Germany will contribute force elements to high-intensity warfighting training this year, taking place across northern Australia from Darwin to Townsville and Brisbane, from July 22 to August 4.

Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Tonga will embed personnel with Australian Army formations in amphibious landings and land combat.

Observer nations this year include the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

Exercise Director Brigadier Damian Hill said the final planning conferences were held recently at Gallipoli Barracks in Brisbane.

"An important part of a significant military exercise like Talisman Sabre are the planning events that are required to train together in dynamic situations across an area as large as northern Australia," Brigadier Hill said.

"So when it comes time to conduct the exercise in July we're ready to go and show what we can do as likeminded partners working together."

Brigadier General James Bartholomees, of US Army Pacific in Hawaii, said Talisman Sabre gave the United States the opportunity to work with like-minded partners to rehearse setting the theatre across the joint force.

"Ultimately Talisman Sabre is all about building readiness as a joint and combined force with our key allies, as well as building integrated deterrence," General Bartholomees said.

"The sheer magnitude of forces, equipment and vehicles that are required to move vast distances in order to set the theatre, enables training opportunities."

Director Joint Collective Training for Headquarters Joint Operations Command, Captain (RAN) Tim Byles, said the partner nations would bring capabilities to enhance the exercise's outcomes.

"Whether it's specialist individuals, or a respective weapon system or capability, it makes Talisman Sabre 2023 richer and enhances the outcomes for all involved," Captain Byles said.

"We have worked hard with our friends at the United States Indo-Pacific Command to design an exercise that builds and affirms our military-to-military ties and interoperability with other nations.

"Our soldiers, sailors and aviators taking part can expect a good challenge of their skills alongside partner nations from across the region and around the world."

A large component of the exercise will be held offshore, with many countries providing maritime capabilities.

Occurring every two years, Exercise Talisman Sabre is the largest bilateral military training activity between the ADF and the United States.

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Belarusian Opposition Says Be 'Prepared' Amid Rumors That Lukashenka Is Ill

By RFE/RL's Belarus Service May 15, 2023

Self-exiled Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya has called on the Belarusian public and international community to "be prepared for every scenario" as Minsk and state media have avoided coverage of rumors that Belarusian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka is ill.

"There are many rumors about the dictator Lukashenka's health," Tsikhanouskaya, a prominent Lukashenka critic and political opponent, wrote on Twitter on May 15. "For us it means only one thing: we should be well prepared for every scenario. To turn Belarus on the path to democracy and to prevent Russia from interfering. We need the international community to be proactive and fast."

The comments by Tsikhanouskaya, who has claimed that Lukashenka stole victory from her in Belarus's presidential election in 2020, come as speculation has risen that the long-serving authoritarian leader is ill.

Meanwhile, the BelTA state news agency in Belarus reported on May 15 that Lukashenka is visiting the central command point of the country's air forces, where is being briefed on the operations of anti-aircraft defense units.

The Telegram channel of Lukashenka's press service, Pul Pervogo, also reported on Lukashenka's visit to the air force central command point and published a photo of him listening to a report of a military officer on a road surrounded by a thick forest. In the still photo, his left hand appears to be bandaged similarly to how it was last week when he was one of the few leaders in attendance for Russia's Victory Day parade in Moscow. Lukashenka looked unwell at that appearance.

More than two hours later, Pul Pervogo Telegram channel issued a video showing Lukashenka sitting in a room filled with military personnel talking about Belarusian troops being in alert mode after several Russian military aircraft crashed in the Bryansk region near the Ukrainian border last weekend. Lukashenka's voice on the video sounded husky and tired.

Lukashenka has not been seen in public since May 9, when he attended Victory Day celebrations in Moscow and Minsk but skipped a lunch hosted by his close ally, Russian President Vladimir Putin.

On May 14, he did not appear at a ceremony in the Belarusian capital to mark the country's National Flag, Coat of Arms, and Anthem Day. Belarusian Prime Minister Raman Halouchanka read a speech on Lukashenka's behalf during the festivities.

Lukashenka, 68, has also failed to attend other public events over the past three weeks, but there has been no official statement regarding his health or the reasons for his absences. Lukashenka's press service has said only that he continues to work "with documents."

On May 15, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that it is best to follow official statements from the Belarusian authorities regarding rumors of Lukashenka's ill health.

But Belarusian state media appears to be avoiding the topic, reporting mostly about Lukashenka's previous activities. In a report about National Flag, Coat of Arms, and Anthem Day, the state TV channel ANT featured snippets from Lukashenka's address to the Security Council on February 28.

On May 15, the state TV channel BT-1 did not cover Lukashenka's rumored illness and ran segments on the opening of a trade facility in Moscow and the results of the Turkish presidential election.

Other state TV programs limited images of Lukashenka to his trip to Moscow on May 9, while the state news agency BelTA featured an article on his "symbolic week," including his laying of a wreath at the Victory Day monument in Minsk following his return from Moscow and his positive reply to an invitation to attend a UN event in September.

Outside media that cover Belarus, meanwhile, reported on May 13 that Lukashenka had arrived at the Republican Clinical Medical Center in Minsk. Roads to the hospital were reportedly blocked as his motorcade approached, and security forces stood along the route.

Lukashenka has been in power since 1994. He was handed a fifth consecutive term in office by Belarus's election commission following the 2020 election, leading to mass protests and claims by Tsikhanouskaya and other opposition leaders that the election was rigged.

Lukashenka's security forces went on to brutally crack down on the mass protests for months, jailing opposition figures and driving others, including Tsikhanouskaya, into exile.

The authoritarian leader subsequently backed Putin in Russia's war against Ukraine, allowing Russian forces to use Belarusian territory as a staging ground for Russia's intervention.

With reporting by BelTA and Pul Pervogo

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus-lukashenka-rumors- illness-kremlin/32412386.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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Five More Belarusian Activists Face Trials Amid Crackdown On Dissent

By RFE/RL's Belarus Service May 15, 2023

Four more activists have gone on trial in Minsk on charges of inciting hatred as authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka's regime continues its crackdown on dissent.

The Minsk City Court started all four trials on May 15, with human rights watchdogs calling the cases politically motivated.

Judge Tatsyana Falkouskaya is trying former lawyer Alyaksey Barodka, who faces up to 12 years in prison if found guilty of "inciting racial, ethnic, religious, or other social hatred or discord."

In another courtroom at the building, Judge Anzhela Kastsyukevich will preside over the trial of Alyaksandr Kandratsyuk, a former employee at the Genetics Institute of the Academy of Sciences of Belarus. He was arrested in September and charged with insulting Lukashenka, insulting a law enforcement officer, and inciting hatred.

Two other trials are starting on the same day in Minsk as well, for Alyaksandr Zhandarau and Ivan Puzdrou, who were charged with insulting authorities and inciting hatred.

Also on May 15, a court in the northeastern city of Vitsebsk started the trial of musician and art manager Uladzimer Bulauski.

Bulauski was arrested in December and charged with "repetitive violation of regulations for holding public events." Before that, he was arrested several times and sentenced to weeks in jail for holding protest rallies.

Hundreds of people have been handed prison terms in the unrest sparked by the August 2020 presidential election, in which Lukashenka claimed victory while rights activists and opposition politicians said the poll was rigged.

Belarus witnessed unprecedented protests over the election results that lasted for several months.

Thousands were detained, and there have been credible reports of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by security forces. Several people have died during the crackdown.

The 68-year-old Lukashenka has leaned heavily on Russian support amid Western sanctions while punishing the opposition and arresting or forcing abroad many of its leaders.

The United States, the European Union, and several other countries have refused to recognize Lukashenka's self-declared victory.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus-trials-activists- crackdown-dissent/32412310.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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PLA simulation training boosted by latest technologies, speeds up capability forming

Global Times

By Liu Xuanzun Published: May 15, 2023 07:20 PM

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) is deploying the latest intelligent simulation technologies in its daily training, a move experts said on Monday will greatly speed up the forming of combat capabilities.

A brigade attached to the PLA 76th Group Army has inducted the military's most advanced physiological monitoring and environment conditioning system, which can simulate low-oxygen plateau combat environments of altitudes between 3,500 and 5,000 meters by pumping nitrogen into a confined training room, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Monday.

Wristbands worn by soldiers can monitor their key parameters including blood oxygen saturation and pulse rate as they conduct physical training to enhance their high-altitude performances, CCTV reported.

This kind of simulation training has significantly eased altitude sickness when the soldiers first entered real high-altitude environments, and with more training, their low-oxygen tolerance can be gradually increased, Wang Ce, a medic at the brigade, said in the report.

This is not the only PLA unit that has deployed simulation technologies in training, according to the CCTV report.

An engineering brigade attached to the PLA 80th Group Army has commissioned dozens of simulators for loading machines, excavators, bulldozers and heavy mechanized bridges, allowing soldiers to train without real equipment.

Carrier-based fighter jet simulators used by the PLA Naval Aviation University can simulate a wide variety of flight scenarios, allowing pilot cadets to experience challenging flights on the ground before flying with real aircraft.

The PLA 78th Group Army has adopted a type of air defense training simulator to train the troops' capabilities to deal with complicated situations before switching to train with costly genuine anti-aircraft missiles.

The CCTV report also showed computer software that can simulate many types of main combat equipment including warplanes, warships, tanks, as well as individual soldiers operating in different terrains.

Simulation training can create multidimensional, immersive and realistic battlefield environments and simulate all kinds of weapons and equipment and combat units, Wu Lin, director of a center under the joint operations academy of the PLA National Defence University, told CCTV.

Combatants and commanders can enhance their capabilities and verify combat plans by conducting mock battles with such training methods, Wu said, noting that such technologies will contribute to the PLA's capabilities in fighting and winning intelligentized and informationized wars of the future.

Simulation training can complement shortcomings in real training, including high costs and risk as well as situations that are not easily replicated in real life, a Chinese military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Monday.

With the development of virtual reality technologies, simulation training will become increasingly realistic, the expert said.

In an age of rapid development of unmanned equipment, the differences between simulation training, real training and real combat will also become smaller, which is why simulation training is gaining more significance, the expert said.

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Sound China-Eritrea ties key to regional peace, international fairness: Xi

Global Times

China, Eritrea to jointly oppose power politics, hegemony: experts

By Yang Sheng and Zhang Changyue Published: May 15, 2023 11:33 PM

Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with President Isaias Afwerki of the State of Eritrea in Beijing on Monday, with Chinese analysts saying that China-Africa relations are crucial as the world experiences turbulence, and further promoting ties with Eritrea, which is under sanctions from the US and which also holds a geopolitically important location in the continent, is a signal to the world that China will firmly stand with the developing countries in Africa as well as the rest of the world despite pressure and disruption from the hegemonic power.

Experts said Afwerki's visit is expected to inject new impetus into the bilateral cooperation in infrastructure construction, telecommunications, agriculture, mining, fisheries, healthcare and governance to promote the high-quality construction of the Belt and Road Initiative and the peaceful and stable development of the Horn of Africa.

According to the Xinhua News Agency, hailing China and Eritrea's profound traditional friendship, Xi said at the meeting with Afwerki that 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.

China and Eritrea have a deep friendship of mutual support in times of hardship. Afwerki has a special connection with China because he received military education and training here in 1967. That experience played an important role in helping him lead Eritrea's independence movement, Liu Qinghai, a professor at the Institute of African Studies of Zhejiang Normal University, told the Global Times on Monday.

As Eritrea is located in the northernmost part of East Africa and the Horn of Africa, bordering Ethiopia to the south, Sudan to the west, Djibouti to the southeast, and facing Yemen and Saudi Arabia across the Red Sea, Liu said Eritrea's strategic location is very important and has a unique influence in the Horn of Africa region.

Xi said at the meeting that "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," and he pledged 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.

Stand with Africa

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.

Eritrea also borders Djibouti, a country that hosts China's overseas logistic base that supports the Chinese navy in executing anti-piracy missions authorized by the UN Security Council in the relevant regions, and observers believe the African countries in the region are very motivated to further develop relations with China to seek development and security, as some of them are under the threat of US pressure and sanctions.

Eritrea and its neighbor Ethiopia on March 21 rejected a determination by the US State Department that their armies, along with all sides in the concluded conflict in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region, had committed "war crimes." Ethiopia's foreign affairs ministry called the US claims "inflammatory" and "untimely", while Eritrea's foreign affairs ministry said they were "unsubstantiated and defamatory," Reuters reported.

In November 2021, Eritrea condemned sanctions imposed on its military and other Eritrea-based individuals and entities by the US, calling them a continuation of Washington's "misguided and hostile policy."

In contrast to the US, China shows a completely different attitude toward the African countries in the region and helps them to realize peace and promote development via cooperation.

"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 to the president of Eritrea.

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.

Special and solid friendship

Liu said, "Afwerki has a profound understanding of and insight into the international and regional situation. He shares similar views with China on upholding independence, maintaining political and social stability, and exploring its own development path. China has given him a high-level reception, sending a signal to the world that China and Eritrea jointly oppose power politics and hegemony, safeguard the common interests of developing countries, and uphold international fairness and justice."

During the meeting with Xi, 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.

"The emphasis on enhancing China-Eritrea bilateral relations also reflected China's willingness to continue to strengthen friendly cooperation with African countries. As the US has continuously sent senior officials to Africa to exert its influence recently, China will further strengthen its traditional and close friendship with African countries," He Wenping, director of the African Studies Section at the Institute of West Asian and African Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Monday.

Xi 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.

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.

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Hong Kong resident convicted of espionage, sentenced to life imprisonment

Global Times

By Wang Qi and Liu Caiyu Published: May 15, 2023 12:23 PM

John Shing-Wan Leung, a Hong Kong resident, was convicted of espionage and sentenced to life imprisonment, deprivation of political rights for life, and confiscation of personal property of 500,000 yuan ($71,700), the Suzhou Intermediate People's Court in Jiangsu Province announced on Monday.

According to information released by the court, Leung, born in 1945, holds a Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card, Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents, and a US passport.

The case soon became a high-profile one after the ruling was released, and some Western media speculated whether the case has anything to do with China-US relations.

Chinese national security experts told the Global Times that the case of Leung is a normal law enforcement action of protecting China's national security, and surely not about relations of the two countries, as some sensational foreign media suggested.

China has the right to put suspects who engage in espionage activities that endanger China's national security on trial, which conforms to international practices, Li Wei, an expert on national security at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times on Monday.

On April 12, 2021, China's national security authority in Suzhou took compulsory measures against Leung for suspected espionage activities in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Criminal Law and the Criminal Procedure Law.

There were many similar cases and there is no need to interpret this case as a campaign targeting any country or something like that, Li noted.

Previously, a Japanese national was under criminal detention under suspicion of engaging in espionage, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Also, Canadian citizen Michael Spavor was sentenced to 11 years in prison for espionage and illegal provision of China's state secrets to foreign entities.

On April 26, 2023, the 14th National People's Congress Standing Committee passed an amendment to the Counter-Espionage Law.

The revised law refines the definition of espionage activities, explicitly categorizing "collaborating with spy organizations and their agents" and "conducting cyber-attacks against state organs, confidential-related units, or critical information infrastructure" as espionage activities. The revised law will come into effect on July 1.

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4 first-tier cities in China record temporary population declines

Global Times

Metropolitans retain gravity for talent, focus on quality development

By GT staff reporters Published: May 15, 2023 11:50 PM

China's latest census data show that all four first-tier cities in the mainland - Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen - recorded population declines last year, the first time in decades.

Demographers pointed out that the population decline in Guangzhou and Shenzhen is more likely a short-term phenomenon, influenced by unexpected factors such as COVID-19 restrictions. The gravitation of large cities for population will remain in the near future, and population quality will replace quantity as the new motivation of growth in large cities.

Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong Province, on Friday released the yearly census data, showing the city's permanent resident population in 2022 standing at 18.73 million, a decline of 76,500 from 2021, which is the first decline seen in the city for 20 years.

The decline in Shenzhen, also in Guangdong, is noteworthy, as the city has never seen a decline in population since it was established in the late 1970s. The city's statistics bureau announced on May 8 that the permanent resident population in 2022 was 17.66 million, 19,000 lower than in 2021.

The city's permanent resident population had increased by more than 7 million in the previous decade.

Beijing and Shanghai also witnessed population declines in 2022. According to official data, Shanghai's permanent resident population decreased by 135,400 in 2022, while Beijing's population decreased by 43,000.

Of the four first-tier cities, it is no surprise that Beijing and Shanghai have seen annual declines in their populations, independent demographer He Yafu told the Global Times on Monday.

He noted that Beijing and Shanghai's population had declined for several years, as both imposed restrictions on population size in recent years. Guangzhou and Shenzhen, on the other hand, have rarely if ever seen such a situation.

Guangzhou authorities attributed the rare decline in the population to the outflow of people due to the impact of the epidemic in 2022. "At the end of 2022, amid China's population decline of 850,000 nationwide, Guangzhou suffered the most severe COVID-19 epidemic hit since 2020 ahead of the Chinese New Year.

"A large number of workers from outside the city chose to return home early," a city official explained in the release. "The partial return of the non-local population in a short period caused a phased contraction in the size of the city's resident population."

That statement was affirmed by demographers. In addition, analysts point to the barriers to settlement and the cost of living in first-tier cities as important reasons why many non-locals chose to leave these large cities.

Nonetheless, He noted that the population declines in these two large cities do not appear to be a long-term trend, but rather a phase.

"Guangzhou and Shenzhen are expected to return to population growth in 2023 as the epidemic winds down," he said. "But Beijing and Shanghai are unlikely to resume growth in their populations in the near future because of tight controls on population size."

The latest data released by Guangzhou confirms this prediction. According to data from telecoms carriers, as of the end of February, Guangzhou's outflow population in December 2022 had largely returned to Guangzhou, with a return rate of 94.32 percent.

With the national population declining, more and more cities will see their population shrink, the demographer said. In the long run, however, the overall trend of population concentration in big cities will persist.

"Big cities have more job opportunities and better prospects for development, which makes them naturally more attractive to residents of small and medium-sized cities and rural areas. The population in small and medium-sized cities and rural areas will continue to decline in the long run."

Observers pointed out that as the structure of China's population development continued to change, the dynamics of urban development shifted from population quantity to population quality. For example, many second-tier cities have introduced policies to attract talent, and these are the cities that have recorded the most population growth in the past few years.

In the new situation of China's population development, China's "demographic dividend" has not disappeared, as the "talent dividend" is being formed. Looking to the future, as the quality of the population improves, the advantages of population resources will be effectively brought into play, which will further promote the transformation of economic development, said the People's Daily in its editorial on Monday.

More major cities with previously tighter population policies are also making efforts to better equip their non-local populations to live in these cities on a long-term basis. Guangzhou, for example, has begun to attract more people from outside the city to settle through household registration and talent introduction, and thus become long-term Guangzhou residents.

In the future, China's large cities should further relax their household settlement policies and lower the threshold for settlement in order to attract more people to settle down and work, He suggests.

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Chinese court jails man for life on espionage charge

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 16:25, May 15, 2023

NANJING, May 15 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese court on Monday sentenced a man to life in prison on charges of espionage.

The Suzhou Municipal Intermediate People's Court handed down the life sentence to John Shing-wan Leung, who holds permanent residency in China's Hong Kong and a United States passport.

Leung, born on May 1, 1945, is deprived of his political right for life and will also have 500,000 yuan (about 71,800 U.S. dollars) of his personal assets confiscated, according to the court verdict.

State security authorities in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, took compulsory measures against Leung in April 2021 after suspecting him of conducting spying activities, according to the court.

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Chinese court sentences US citizen to life in prison for espionage

Iran Press TV

Monday, 15 May 2023 2:44 PM

A court in China has sentenced a 78-year-old US citizen to life in prison for spying.

The Intermediate People's Court in the eastern city of Suzhou, Jiangsu province, convicted John Shing-Wan Leung of espionage on Monday.

The US citizen "was found guilty of espionage, sentenced to life imprisonment [and] deprived of political rights for life," according to a statement by the court posted on the WeChat social media platform.

Leung is also a permanent Hong Kong resident. He was detained in 2021 by state security authorities in Suzhou. The detention took place at a time when China had closed its borders and imposed tight domestic travel restrictions to fight the spread of COVID-19.

Chinese media or authorities had not disclosed any information on Leung's detention or the court process that led to his conviction.

The US Embassy in Beijing told CNN in a statement on Monday that it was aware of reports of Leung's sentencing.

"The Department of State has no greater priority than the safety and security of US citizens overseas. Due to privacy considerations, we have no further comment," a spokesperson for the Embassy said.

Hong Kong Secretary of Security Chris Tang also said at a press conference he was notified by Chinese authorities of the arrest of Leung in mid-April 2021.

Relations between China and the United States currently stand at their lowest point in fifty years. Principal matters of contention are trade, technology, and military supremacy.

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China jails American citizen formerly lauded as 'overseas patriot' for spying

Head of a U.S.-based overseas Chinese association with close ties to Beijing is jailed for life.

By Cheryl Tung for RFA Cantonese, Chen Zifei for RFA Mandarin 2023.05.15 -- 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 Party's United Front activities beyond China's 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 today's 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.

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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US, China Had Secret Submarine Showdown Near Hong Kong Around Jan. 6 Events - Report

Sputnik News

20230515

Fantine Gardinier

The cat-and-mouse game between US and Chinese forces off the Chinese coast reached a dangerous point on January 5, 2021, when US aircraft began harassing Chinese submarines, prompting a Chinese show of force. The showdown happened amid a backdrop of high anxieties about the prospect of then-US President Donald Trump starting a war.

The incident was recently revealed by a Chinese journal, although the report was sparse on the details. According to the outlet, three US Navy aircraft launched an intense hunt for Chinese submarines in the waters between Hong Kong and the ring-shaped atoll known in English as Pratas and in Chinese as Donsha, about 190 miles off the Chinese coast.

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) was conducting naval exercises in the area at the time and after the US aircraft dropped a slew of sonar buoys designed to pinpoint the location of submarines, the Chinese military dispatched a force to the region, the consist of which remains classified.

The sonars were dropped close to Pratas, which is controlled by the government in Taiwan, which enjoys unofficial US backing but is regarded by Beijing as an illegitimate rebel force on Chinese soil, adding another provocative element to the already-dangerous incident. As the US and Chinese forces came closer together, the US aircraft began destroying their own sonar buoys to prevent them from falling into Chinese hands, where they might be analyzed for their weaknesses.

At one point during the showdown, one of the US aircraft flew just 93 miles from Hong Kong - one of the closer passes made to the Chinese coast by US surveillance aircraft.

US Aircraft Comb South China Sea

The US aircraft were not named in the report, but according to the South China Sea Probing Initiative (SCSPI), a Beijing-based think tank focused on the waterway, the US Navy flew two kinds of sub hunters over the South China Sea that month: the P-8A Poseidon, a maritime patrol aircraft based on the Boeing 737 but modified to carry specialized sub-hunting equipment like sonar buoys and torpedoes, and the P-3 Orion, an older aircraft that also carries a magnetic anomaly detector for spotting the distortions in Earth's magnetic field produced by a large steel object, such as a submarine.

The SCSPI recorded 70 US spy plane sorties across the South China Sea in January 2021, including four on January 5, the day of the showdown, although its data did not say which planes flew that day.

The US Navy has dramatically increased its surveillance of the South China Sea in recent years after the Pentagon named the waterway as the likely locale for a showdown between Washington and Beijing, both politically and militarily. Several nations have overlapping territorial and maritime claims on island chains in the region, the largest of which is China's, delineated by a "nine-dash line" that encompasses the majority of the South China Sea.

Those sorties have continued, with SCSPI reporting 58 such missions last month, including submarine hunters like the P-8A Poseidon, as well as signals intelligence and radar emissions monitoring aircraft.

Fears of Attempted US Provocation

The January 2021 showdown didn't happen in a vacuum, though: tensions were already sky-high between Washington and Beijing, and the events of the following day only sent them higher.

On January 6, thousands of Trump supporters breached the US Capitol Building in Washington, DC, as Congress was certifying the results of the November 2020 US presidential election. Trump had claimed his loss in the election was illegitimate due to fraud by the Democrats and encouraged his followers to "Stop the Steal."

Their efforts failed and the demonstrators were cleared from the legislative building by police and US troops, who garrisoned the capital city with more than 25,000 men in the aftermath.

However, for Beijing, the concern was far greater: since several months before the election, senior Chinese military brass had feared Trump might try to hold onto power by provoking some kind of incident that would give him emergency powers. One of the scenarios most feared was an attack on Chinese positions in the South China Sea, or an attempt to goad Chinese forces there into attacking US forces.

US military leaders spoke with their Chinese counterparts several times during that period in an attempt to defuse tensions, one of which came two days after the insurrection, on January 8, 2021. US Gen. Mark A. Milley, the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke on the phone for 90 minutes with his Chinese counterpart, PLA Gen. Li Zuocheng, chief of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission, to reassure him that the US military would not allow another attempted seizure of power. Milley later described him as "unusually rattled."

Afterward, Milley reportedly told US Navy Adm. Philip S. Davidson, the commander of US Indo-Pacific Command, canceled operations that the Chinese "might see as provocative" in a further effort to calm things down in the region in the wake of the January 5 showdown near Pratas.

While Chinese anxieties relaxed somewhat after Trump left office later that month and US President Joe Biden was sworn in, tensions between Washington and Beijing have remained high. Biden's administration has kept to the strategy laid out by Trump for "great power competition" with Russia and China, stepping up diplomatic efforts to isolate China internationally and increasing US military support for Taiwan.

Beijing regards Taiwan as a rebellious Chinese province destined to be reunited with the mainland, and thus sees US support for Taiwan as interference in internal Chinese affairs. That is also why the January 5 incident was so provocative: Taiwan controls Pratas and has long feared a PLA seizure of the island, which has no permanent residents, would serve as a prelude to a full invasion of Taiwan itself.

A Sputnik

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Kim Jong Un gains a new title among youth: 'Respected Father'

Move generates resentment among young people who see it as inappropriate and clueless

By Jieun Kim for RFA Korean 2023.05.15 -- North Korean young people are now required to refer to the country's 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.

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 RFA's Korean service on condition of anonymity for security reasons.

"According to this month's 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 Korea's 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.

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."

Kim's 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.

Copyright 1998-2016, 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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iDEX-DIO signs 250th contract, first under Mission DefSpace & 100th SPRINT (Navy) contract in New Delhi

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

Posted On: 15 MAY 2023 3:44PM by PIB Delhi

Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), the flagship initiative of 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 May 15, 2023. The contracts were signed in the presence of Defence Secretary Shri Giridhar Aramane and other senior civil & military officials.

Mission DefSpace contract

The first iDEX contract of Mission DefSpace was exchanged between Additional Secretary (Defence Production) & CEO Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO) Shri T Natarajan and CEO, InspeCity Shri Arindrajit Chowdhary, one of the winners of the challenge 'Micropropulsion system for cubesats'. This challenge 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 & 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. 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 Shri Narendra Modi had 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) & CEO-DIO and CEO, Siliconia Technologies Pvt Ltd Shri 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 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 Shri 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.

About iDEX

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. iDEX has also been able to generate thousands of jobs and attract India's talent back to the country.

The iDEX is working at a path-breaking pace to ensure that its agreements with the start-ups and innovators reach logical conclusions timely, eventually opening a myriad of options for the budding, soon to be unicorns and at the same time addressing the requirement of Services.

The iDEX framework was launched by the Prime Minister in 2018 with the objective to provide the platform of co-creation & co-development in the defence sector. It aims to engage start-ups to contribute to the defence sector and develop defence and aerospace setup in the country. iDEX is being implemented by DIO, established under the Department of Defence Production, MoD.

In his address, the Defence Secretary exuded confidence that the iDEX will help India become the biggest defence innovation ecosystem in the world in the times to come. He also appreciated the continuous efforts and support from all the stakeholders, including the Services, start-ups, partner incubators and the iDEX team in reaching the milestone.

ABB/Anand/Savvy



(Release ID: 1924179)

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India's main opposition party wins Karnataka Assembly elections

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 11:25, May 15, 2023

NEW DELHI, May 13 (Xinhua) -- India's main opposition party, the Indian National Congress (INC), on Saturday won the recently-held Assembly elections in the southern state of Karnataka, unseating the current ruling party, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The Election Commission of India has announced that the INC has won 123 out of 224 constituencies and is leading in another 13, with a total expected win of 136 Assembly constituencies. The BJP is likely to win only 64 Assembly constituencies.

A party needs to win in at least 113 Assembly constituencies to form the government in the state. The final results are expected to be announced later this evening.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the INC on its win. He tweeted, "Congratulations to the Congress Party for their victory in the Karnataka Assembly polls. My best wishes to them in fulfilling people's aspirations."

Hailing his party's victory, INC leader Mallikarjun Kharge tweeted, "This is truly the victory of the people of Karnataka. They have voted for their progressive future, their welfare and social justice. With folded hands, we thank them for putting their trust in us."

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India's Manipur violence death toll rises to 71

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 10:54, May 15, 2023

NEW DELHI, May 13 (Xinhua) -- The death toll in the recent violence that shook India's northeastern state of Manipur has risen to 71, officials said Saturday.

"Three public works department (PWD) laborers were also found dead in a vehicle in a 300-metre-deep trench in Churachandpur area. However, whether they met with an accident or got killed has to be probed," Kuldeep Singh, security advisor of the Manipur government told media.

Large-scale violence broke out in the state earlier this month during a tribal protest over the inclusion of the non-tribal Meiteis community for a scheduled tribe status. The call for protest was given by the All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM).

Scheduled tribes in India are officially designated as disadvantaged socio-economic groups. They are given reservations in education and jobs with the aim to improve their lives.

Thousands of people took part in the rally, during which violence broke out between tribals and non-tribals.

Schools, houses, churches, vehicles and public properties were set ablaze by protesting mobs in the state. Photographs and video footage captured during violence showed buildings set on fire, thick black smoke emanating from the streets and mobs on roads.

According to officials, more than 230 people were injured and about 1,700 houses were burnt down during the violence in the state.

The authorities imposed a curfew to contain the violence. Over 100 columns of army and paramilitary forces were deployed in the state to restore peace.

The government forces carried out flag marches, area domination and rescue operations to shift thousands of vulnerable people to army camps and temporary government accommodations.

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Iran rejects 'baseless' US allegations over security of navigation in Persian Gulf

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 15, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani has dismissed "unfounded" allegations by top White House Official John Kirby against the Islamic Republic regarding the security of navigation in the strategic Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf.

Kirby, who is the National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, said on Friday that the US military would work to bolster the defense posture in the Persian Gulf, and "increase coordination" with allies in the Strait of Hormuz following what he called Iran's seizure and harassment of commercial shipping vessels in recent months.

The Iranian foreign ministry spokesman rejected those comments, saying that Iran is the most influential country in protecting the security of navigation in the Persian Gulf as well as regional and international waters, and has always guaranteed the harmless passage of vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

Kanaani said that the American official has levelled the accusations against Iran while the US itself has been over the past decades creating and triggering instability and insecurity in the Persian Gulf region through its "destructive and meddlesome policies."

The new accusations against Iran are just excuses and aimed at justifying the US's continued presence in the region or increasing its meddlesome presence there, he added.

The spokesman blamed the US government for threatening the security of navigation and international trade through confiscating Iran's oil cargos in high seas and resorting to measures that are in violation of maritime laws.

The Islamic Republic has the widest border and the highest level of interests and responsibility when it comes to protecting the security of the Persian Gulf region and the Hormuz Strait, Kanaani said, adding that the destabilizing presence and measures by American forces double the Islamic Republic's responsibility to guarantee the security of the region and the Strait of Hormuz, and to deal with violators and those breaking laws.

The spokesman said that the Islamic Republic considers the continued presence of foreign forces in the Persian Gulf waters as a threat against security of navigation in the strategic region, and believes that regional countries are capable of guarding peace and security in that region, without the presence of foreigners.

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US considering measures to respond to Iran-Russia defense cooperation: Kirby

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 15, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- A top White House official has said that the United States is considering ways, including sanctions, to respond to what he called an "unprecedented defense partnership" between Iran and Russia.

John Kirby, the National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, made the comment in a briefing to reporters on Monday.

He said that the expanding defense partnership between Tehran and Moscow would help Russia prolong its war in Ukraine and pose a threat to Iran's neighbors, Reuters reported.

The American official repeated allegations that Iran is providing drones to Russia for use in the Ukraine war, including more than 400 since August.

According to Kirby, the US will be announcing additional designations targeting the military cooperation between Tehran and Moscow.

Iran and Russia, as the two countries hit by Western sanctions particularly by the US, have time and again said that they are expanding their mutual cooperation in all fields from economy to politics and trade as well as military in an effort to counter what they describe as US hegemonic policies.

Iran has admitted that it has sent drones to Russia as part of their military cooperation, but maintains that they were dispatched long before the war in Ukraine began in February 2022. Plus, the Islamic Republic has on various occasions called for an end to the Ukraine war and expressed its readiness to help bring a political solution.

Iran has repeatedly rejected allegations of posing threats to its neighbors, and instead blames the presence of foreign forces for insecurity in the West Asia region.

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Foreign Ministry: US accuses Iran of endangering navigation to justify its meddlesome presence in Persian Gulf

Iran Press TV

Monday, 15 May 2023 9:37 PM

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman has strongly condemned Washington's latest accusations against Tehran, saying the United States is just trying to justify its own meddlesome presence in the region.

Nasser Kan'ani made his late Monday remarks in response to recent allegations by John Kirby, who currently serves as the Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House.

On May 13, Kirby said the US "will work to bolster" its "defensive posture" in the Persian Gulf after Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC)'s Navy seized two invading foreign oil tankers in the country's territorial waters in the Strait of Hormuz in recent weeks.

Kirby used the oft-repeated refrain that Washington will not allow foreign or regional powers to jeopardize freedom of navigation through regional waterways.

Responding to Kirby's remarks, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman said the Islamic Republic has played the most effective role in ensuring safe naval traffic in the Persian Gulf as well as other regional and international waters, and "has always guaranteed secure passage of ships and other vessels through the Strait of Hormuz."

"The recent measures taken with regard to the two seized ships were due to their violations and taken through the court verdict. The goal was to prevent behaviors and moves that are against international navigation regulations," Kan'ani noted.

He added that the United States "continues to accuse Iran while its interfering and destructive policies throughout long decades have fomented and exacerbated instability and insecurity in the Persian Gulf region."

"The new accusations leveled against Iran are mere excuses, which are aimed at justifying the continuation and further bolstering of [the United States'] meddlesome presence in the region," Kan'ani said.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman noted, "The Islamic Republic of Iran considers the continued presence of foreign military forces in the Persian Gulf waters as a threat against security of marine traffic in this body of water and believes that regional countries are capable of safeguarding peace and security of navigation without [any need to] the presence of foreigners."

"Contrary to what American officials allege, the US government endangers security of navigation and international trade by resorting to measures that violate the law of the sea and seizing some Iranian oil shipments in the high seas. It then outrageously accuses Iran," he added.

Kan'ani said Iran considers itself responsible for maintaining security of the Persian Gulf region and the Strait of Hormuz, adding, "The presence and destabilizing measures of American forces [in the Persian Gulf] double Iran's responsibility to guarantee security of the region and the Strait of Hormuz and to deal with all lawbreakers."

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Iran's Navy cmdr. urges promotion of maritime cooperation with China, Russia in face of enemies' plots

Iran Press TV

Monday, 15 May 2023 5:00 PM

Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani has warned of enemies' plots to disrupt maritime cooperation between Iran, China and Russia, saying the three allied countries need to take more steps to strengthen their cooperation.

In a Monday meeting with Commander-in-Chief of Russia's Navy Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov in Tehran, Irani said the presence of Russian naval forces in three joint drills with Iran and China conveyed a "very important" message to their common enemy.

Back in March, the naval forces of Iran, China and Russia held maritime drills, dubbed "naval security belt combined war game 202," in the Sea of Oman, as the three countries have doubled their efforts to deepen cooperation among their navies.

Iranian naval forces, together with their Chinese and Russian counterparts, have held several joint war games in recent years with the purpose of improving the security of international maritime trade, exchange of information in naval rescue and relief operations, exchange of operational and tactical experiences, as well as countering piracy and maritime terrorism.

Irani hailed efforts of Russian naval forces to stage joint drills with Iran and China and stressed the importance of forming a joint committee to boost interaction in different sectors, particularly in educational and technical fields.

The Russian admiral, for his part, stressed the significance of increasing ties between the Iranian and Russian naval forces and expressed hope that his trip to Iran would lead to further improvement of cooperation between the two countries' navies.

Yevmenov added that the Russian Navy is ready to reach an agreement with Iran on further promotion of bilateral interaction.

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Cyclone Mocha inflicts heavy damage on Myanmar's Rakhine state

While casualties were relatively few, Sittwe was battered and remains flooded

By RFA Burmese 2023.05.15 -- Cyclone Mocha may have been less deadly than predicted, but it inflicted heavy damage on Myanmar's 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. Myanmar's 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 Sittwe's 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 haven't been able to clean them ... The roof of my house is almost gone and there is water downstairs. We don't 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 neighboring Bangladesh's Cox's 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 storm's 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 Cox's 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 military's Feb. 1, 2021, coup d'etat.

"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 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 Myanmar's 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 Rakhine's Ramree township, two men in their 20s in Ayeyarwady region's Yegyi township and Rakhine's Toungup township, and four men of unknown ages in Rakhine's Kyauktaw township.

Others killed included a resident of Sittwe, a man in his 50s from Mandalay region's Pyin Oo Lwin township, a young couple from the Shan state city of Tachileik, and a 70-year-old woman from Magway region's Sinphyukyun township.

Attempts by RFA to contact Hla Thein, the junta's 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.

Residents of Sagaing's 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 country's rescue and rehabilitation efforts.

Thet Thet Khaing, the junta's 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.

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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Pakistan's Ruling Coalition Stages Rare Anti-Supreme Court Rally

By Ayaz Gul, Sarah Zaman May 15, 2023

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 a the lower house of parliament a 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. That's 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.

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Declaration on imprisoned Russian opposition activist Vladimir Kara-Murza

Council of Europe

Council of Europe

Reykjavik

15 May 2023

Joint Declaration from the Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs and President of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Thordis Kolbrun Reykfjord Gylfadottir, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejcinovic Buric, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Tiny Kox, the President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Leendert Verbeek and the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, Dunja Mijatovic

"As the Heads of State and Government of the member States gather in Reykjavik for the 4th Summit of the Council of Europe - home of human rights, democracy and rule of law in Europe-, our thoughts also go to Russian opposition activist Vladimir Kara-Murza unjustly imprisoned in Russia. Mr Kara-Murza, a journalist and politician, was recently sentenced to 25 years in prison on charges linked to his criticism of the war of aggression against Ukraine. The charges against Mr Kara-Murza are unfounded, and together with a sham trial, constitute a clear violation of his human rights.

Mr Kara-Murza is a longstanding proponent of the democratic values defended by the Council of Europe and is a recipient of the Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize. His bravery in speaking out against the current government of the Russian Federation and the Russian aggression against Ukraine in a country where opposition is silenced by death, imprisonment or exile, commands our respect.

The Council of Europe strongly condemns the Russian Federation's escalating repression of those expressing dissent and criticism. It stands in full solidarity with Mr Kara-Murza and his family and calls for Mr Kara-Murza's immediate release as well as the release of all other peaceful civic and political activists arbitrarily deprived of liberty in Russia."

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Russian Su-27 intercepts two NATO aircraft over Baltic Sea

Iran Press TV

Monday, 15 May 2023 6:03 PM

Russia scrambled a fighter jet on Monday to intercept and escort two NATO aircraft over the Baltic Sea when they attempted to "violate" its airspace.

The Russian Defense Ministry said the Su-27 fighter jet intercepted and escorted a German P-3C Orion patrol plane and a French navy's Atlantique 2 anti-submarine patrol aircraft.

"After turning the foreign military planes away from the Russian Federation state border, the Russian fighter (jet) returned safely to its airbase," the ministry said in a statement.

"The flight of the Russian fighter was carried out in strict accordance with international rules on the use of airspace over neutral waters."

The ministry said the Su-27 conducted the mission "without crossing air routes or making dangerous rapprochement with an aircraft of a foreign state."

The Russian Defense Ministry also said it had, for the first time, downed a long-range Storm Shadow missile supplied to Ukraine by Britain. It also shot down a shorter-range US-built high-speed anti-radiation missile (HARM) on Monday.

Britain is the first country to publicly supply Ukraine with the long-range cruise missiles, with a range "in excess of 250 kilometers," according to the manufacturer, European arms group MBDA.

Russia has already warned Britain should expect "an adequate response from our army" if it provides the missiles to Ukraine.

On Saturday, Russia's Defense Ministry said Ukraine used Storm Shadow missiles to strike two industrial sites in the Russian-controlled city of Luhansk, in eastern Ukraine.

Russia has been in war with Ukraine since February 2022. Ever since, the West has supplied Ukraine with tens of billions of dollars' worth of weapons, including rocket systems, drones, armored vehicles, tanks, and communication systems despite Russia's repeated warnings that the Western military assistance will only prolong the conflict.

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Wider Europe Briefing: Unpacking The Latest EU Sanctions On Russia. Plus, Two Damning Reports On Moscow And Minsk.

By Rikard Jozwiak May 15, 2023

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 countriescurrently 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.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/wider-europe-jozwiak- european-union-russia-sanctions-belarus/32411935.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 Deputy Chief Cautions China Against Arming Russia

By Carla Babb May 15, 2023

As the world waits for Ukraine to begin its anticipated spring counteroffensive against Russia, NATO Deputy Secretary-General Mircea GeoanA is cautioning China not to provide military support to Moscow as Russia continues its brutal and illegal invasion.

"We have not seen yet signs of China delivering military weapons to help Russia, but we know that discussions are going on," GeoanA told VOA in an interview Friday. "This will be a very, very serious decision by China that will be affecting not only their relationship with us, but the reputation of China and the rest of the world."

Russia is the "aggressor" in the Ukraine war, and arming Moscow is "something that we condemn very, very, very, very strongly," he said.

At the Pentagon Monday, Pentagon press secretary Brigadier General Pat Ryder told reporters the U.S. has communicated to China about "the negative consequences of providing lethal aid to Russia."

"Not only would it extend the duration of this, of Russia's illegal occupation of Ukraine, and result in thousands of innocents killed in Ukraine, [it] would also squarely put them in the camp of countries that are looking to eliminate Ukraine as a nation," Ryder said.

In April, responding to persistent Western concerns that Beijing would provide military assistance to Russia, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang said China would not sell weapons to either side in the war in Ukraine.

GeoanA, who supports Ukraine joining NATO, told VOA that countries such as Ukraine and Georgia should "have no veto from an external power like Russia about their own destiny."

"The truth of the matter [is] that it's not Russia's business what kind of decision I make for my own country. It's up to me, to my people, to my elected leaders, to make a decision where and how I want to live my life," he said.

Russia, which spans 17 million kilometers (10.5 million miles) and 11 time zones, will never be "encircled by NATO," he added, calling suggestions as such from Russia "propaganda."

Officials say Ukraine has been conducting shaping operations ahead of the planned assault.

GeoanA told VOA the front lines in Ukraine were "fluid," with NATO seeing indications of Ukraine gaining territory along the western side of the embattled city of Bakhmut.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged patience as Ukraine continues to delay the offensive.

"We still need a bit more time," he told reporters last week.

GeoanA told VOA he trusts the judgment of the Ukrainian leader.

"We know that Ukraine has the capacity to launch a successive counteroffensive, but we also know that Russia has the capacity to put forward a significant resistance," he said.

Military experts believe the war in Ukraine will increasingly pit quantity against quality in the coming months.

Dutch Admiral Rob Bauer, NATO Military Committee Chair, told reporters last week that Russia will "have to focus" on larger numbers of conscripts and poorly trained mobilized people while using older weapons like the Cold War era T-54 tank, which he said is still plentiful in Russia's stockpiles.

"The Ukrainians focus on quality with Western weapons systems and Western training. That's the big difference," Bauer said.

But NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, U.S. General Christopher Cavoli, says that while Ukraine has severely degraded Russian ground forces, "in other domains, the degradation has been much less noticeable."

Lessons learned from Afghanistan

Russia's invasion of Ukraine came just six months after the U.S. and international forces' withdrawal from Afghanistan, which resulted in the Taliban retaking control of the country.

GeoanA told VOA that NATO members are "obliged" to learn lessons from the Afghan withdrawal, which he called a "difficult" and "traumatic decision."

"We should not turn a blind eye to the things that we have done well and things we have not done well," he said.

More than 120,000 people were evacuated in August 2021, but tens of thousands of Afghan allies were left behind. An Islamic State terror group attack on Kabul's international airport during the evacuation killed more than 170 people, including 13 U.S. servicemembers, and a U.S. drone attack that was meant to target the attacker instead killed 10 civilians.

"I have colleagues in NATO that are still having a difficult time knowing that we left so many Afghans back," he said.

Since the international pullout, the Taliban have restricted women's access to education and banned women from working with international aid groups. Poverty has been rampant.

Army General Michael Kurilla, the head of U.S. Central Command, told the Senate Armed Services Committee earlier this year that Islamic State's branch in Afghanistan, known as Islamic State-Khorasan, would be able to conduct terrorist attacks in Europe and Asia "in under six months with little to no warning."

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Syria takes part in Arab League meeting - 1st time in over a decade

Iran Press TV

Monday, 15 May 2023 5:11 PM

Syria has attended a meeting of the Arab League for the first time in 12 years.

Eight months into the foreign-sponsored militancy in March 2011, the Arab League suspended Syria's membership for what it called the Syrian government's crackdown on opposition protests.

Syria is a founding member of the organization. Back then, Damascus said the move was "illegal and in violation of the organization's charter."

However, the Syrian armed forces, backed by Russia and Iran, eventually won back control of virtually all the regions once held by terrorist groups.

The achievement not only paved the way for reconstructing the country after over a decade of death and destruction, but also encouraged regional capitals to get closer to Damascus to restore relations.

On May 7, the 22-member intergovernmental organization ultimately agreed to welcome Syria back into the fold with immediate effect. Two days later, Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz invited President Bashar al-Assad of Syria to attend the next summit scheduled to be held in the Persian Gulf kingdom on May 19. The last Arab League summit Assad attended was in 2010 in Libya.

Syrian officials attended a preparatory session in the Red Sea coastal city of Jeddah on Monday ahead of the Friday summit.

"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.

The Saudi minister said he was "looking forward to working with everyone to achieve what we aspire to," as the camera panned to the Syrian delegation.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) re-established ties with Syria in 2018 and has been leading the recent charge to reintegrate Damascus. Saudi Arabia, which for years championed Assad's ouster, confirmed last week that work would resume at the respective diplomatic missions.

A landmark China-brokered agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia to resume ties has also tipped the regional political balance in favor of restoring ties with Damascus.

Separately on Monday, the Arab League's Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said Syria's return could revive "the principle of Arab solidarity."

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Taiwan-made landing platform dock to enter service in June: Source

ROC Central News Agency

05/15/2023 06:16 PM

Taipei, May 15 (CNA) The Taiwan-made Yushan landing platform dock (LPD), a type of naval warship used to transport landing crafts such as amphibious vehicles is scheduled to enter into service in June after recently completing all required tests, a military source told CNA on Monday.

The 10,600-ton amphibious multi-mission vessel has completed required tests and training, including familiarizing its crew with the LPD's operations, conducting supply missions, and transporting landing-craft-mechanized (LCM), landing-craft-utility (LCU), and missiles vehicles, according to the unnamed source.

A ship commissioning ceremony will be held next month to place the vessel into active service, it added.

Christened and launched in April 2021, the Yushan, named after Taiwan's highest peak, is the first of four indigenous LPDs being built by local shipbuilder CSBC Corp., Taiwan for the Navy. It was delivered to the Navy in October 2022.

The Navy held a round of media demonstration of Yushan this January at its home port in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan, to showcase its ability to transport Hsiung Feng II (HF-2) long-range missile batteries and other armed personnel and utility carriers.

Using the Yushan LPD, missiles such as the long-range HF-2 batteries can be deployed anywhere around Taiwan and its offshore islands, enhancing the military's combat effectiveness.

Once in service, the Yushan will replace the existing Hsu Hai dock landing ship, which first entered into service with the U.S. Navy as the USS Pensacola in 1971, before being transferred to Taiwan in 1999.

The Yushan, with a length of 153 meters and a beam of 23 meters, can be sailed at a maximum speed of 20 knots and a range of 7,000 miles. It is able to carry several AAV7 amphibious armed personnel carriers and 673 troops.

It can also be fitted with an MK-75 76mm gun, two MK-15 Phalanx close-in weapons systems, and two TC-2N missile systems that can be loaded with a maximum of 32 TC-2N missiles.

The ship also has two hangars able to accommodate two military helicopters at a time, according to Taiwan's military.

The Yushan LPD will be responsible for transporting supplies and personnel to the country's offshore islands and can handle humanitarian assistance missions in case of emergency, according to the military.

(By Matt Yu and Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/cs

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Swedish parliamentarians arrive in Taiwan to meet with President Tsai

ROC Central News Agency

05/15/2023 11:31 AM

Taipei, May 15 (CNA) A Swedish parliamentary delegation has arrived in Taiwan for a six-day visit during which they will meet with President Tsai Ing-wen () and other senior officials.

The delegation, which includes Swedish parliamentarians Markus Wiechel, Sara Gille, Nima Gholam Ali Pour, and Rasmus Giertz, arrived in Taiwan on Sunday and will depart on Saturday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said in a statement.

According to MOFA, the lawmakers will meet with National Security Council Secretary-General Wellington Koo (), Deputy Legislative Speaker Tsai Chi-chang (), and Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (), during their stay.

The lawmakers will also visit the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Health and Welfare, and other medical, educational and cultural institutions to learn of the latest social and economic developments in Taiwan, MOFA said.

This is the first group of Swedish parliamentarians to visit Taiwan since April 2022.

MOFA described the delegation's visit as just the latest example of warming ties between Sweden and Taiwan, noting that Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson expressed concern over China's military threat to Taiwan in his first parliamentary address in October 2022.

In a section on foreign policy, Kristersson said that Sweden is "facing the greatest foreign, security and defense policy challenges of modern times."

"China's latest rhetoric towards Taiwan is worrying," he said. "Threats of military force are unacceptable. This applies to all countries ... particularly to permanent members of the UN Security Council."

Sweden-China relations should be "anchored in a common European strategy with a clear transatlantic link," he said.

"Sweden will never accept that aggressive states violate democratic countries' freedom and self-determination," he added. "Might does not make right."

(By Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/ASG

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Turkish presidential race heads to a runoff vote amid accusations of external interference

Global Times

By Wang Qi Published: May 15, 2023 11:00 PM

Turkey's presidential race is heading to a runoff vote after the incumbent president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the strongman who has led the country for two decades, led over his opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu on Monday but failed to achieve a 50 percent threshold to avoid a second round.

A candidate must get more than 50 percent of the vote to win the highly-charged race. As no one passed that threshold, the vote will go to a runoff election in two weeks, on May 28.

The election in Turkey, a NATO member that still has close ties with Russia, has attracted worldwide attention, especially after President Erdogan and the opposition leader accused each other of bringing in external interference.

Experts said the election is one of the most important presidential races in Turkey's history, and will deeply affect the nation's path on both domestic and foreign affairs. Washington, not a fan of Erdogan but an experienced operator in meddling in other countries, has enough motives to drive its disobedient ally to a direction it desires through this rare opportunity.

In his last election rally in Istanbul on Saturday, Erdogan accused the opposition of working with US President Joe Biden to topple him, while the challenger Kilicdaroglu, who leads a six-party opposition alliance, accused Russia of interfering in the elections, which Kremlin denied on Friday.

Western media described the election as a race between "autocracy" and "democracy," criticizing Erdogan's economic policy and slow response to the deadly earthquake in February, while zooming in on Kilicdaroglu's possible triumph.

With more than 97 percent of ballot boxes counted, Erdogan led with 49.35 percent of votes and Kilicdaroglu had 44.97 percent, according to local media, while the Western media claimed that the mood was "noticeably darkened."

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Monday that China has noted the presidential and parliamentary elections in Turkey and stands ready to work with the country to promote the sound and stable development of bilateral relations.

Li Haidong, a professor at the Institute of International Relations at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times that it looks like the two sides are now neck and neck, and it's hard to predict who will win.

By accusing the other of having external support, both sides have found a scapegoat to explain their possible defeat, which could set the stage for possible domestic chaos after the election, Li noted.

"The US doesn't like Erdogan," said Li Shaoxian, director of the China-Arab Research Institute at Ningxia University.

Reuters described Turkey's longest serving leader as a key Putin ally, while citing Kilicdaroglu's commitment that he will revive democracy after years of state repression, empower institutions that lost autonomy under Erdogan and rebuild frail ties with the West.

In early April, Erdogan slammed US Ambassador to Turkey Jeff Flake for meeting Kilicdaroglu, vowing to "give a lesson" to the US.

"Erdogan's wisdom lies in sitting with NATO and the West, but meanwhile holding hands tightly with Russia," Li Shaoxian said, "This approach has indeed increased Turkey's weight in the international arena and maximizes Turkey's national interests."

An Erdogan victory would mean that Turkey retains the flexibility to communicate with both Russia and the US, but that strategic autonomy would likely be weakened if the pro-Western camp came to power, the expert noted.

As a key region of great geopolitical value, Turkey has a great impact on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the situation in the Middle East, Li Haidong said.

"How the US intervenes in the election is perhaps more of a question than whether it has intervened," he said, "There's no doubt that the US will not allow its ally's policies to move in a direction different than its own."

For the international community, a new government may represent uncertainty in Turkey's foreign policy, while Erdogan continuing would represent a kind of stability, Li Shaoxian said.

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Turkey heads for historic election run-off with Erdogan leading

Iran Press TV

Monday, 15 May 2023 8:54 AM

Turkey's High Election Board says incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has garnered 49.4% of votes in the Sunday presidential election, falling short of the 50% threshold needed to avoid a runoff.

With 99% of ballot boxes opened, High Election Board head Ahmet Yener said on Monday Erdogan's main rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu received 44.96% of the votes.

There are now speculation surrounded who the third presidential candidate, Sinan Ogan, would throw his weight behind in the second round. Ogan, who has been described by analysts as "kingmaker", took some 5.2% of the votes.

In an interview with German news site Der Spiegel, Ogan said he would only support the opposition Nation's Alliance if the "(The pro-Kurdish) HDP is excluded from the political system."

Erdogan said in a speech to his cheering supporters at the headquarters of his ruling AK Party in the capital Ankara overnight that, "The winner has undoubtedly been our country."

Pro-government media cheered the results, with Yeni Safak newspaper proclaiming "The people won", referring to Erdogan's People's Alliance that appeared to have won a majority in parliament, potentially giving him a crucial edge in the presidential runoff.

In the early hours of Monday, Kilicdaroglu also vowed to win the run-off election, which will take place on May 28.

Kilicdaroglu, who heads a six-party alliance, has accused Erdogan's party of interfering with the counting and reporting of results.

The results were surprising after late pre-election polls had put Kilicdaroglu slightly ahead.

People in Turkey cast their ballots on Sunday, and reported election turnout was a very high 88.8%.

The presidential election poses the biggest challenge to 69-year-old Erdogan, amid an economic downturn and the impact of the devastating February 6 earthquake.

Kilicdaroglu has promised to fix Turkey's faltering economy and restore democratic institutions compromised under Erdogan's rule.

Erdogan, on the other hand, 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 (Justice and Development) Party has been in power since November 2002, and he has ruled Turkey since 2003.

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Turkey's Erdogan faces second round in fiercely fought race for presidency

Iran Press TV

Monday, 15 May 2023 3:12 AM

Turkey's presidential election is heading for a runoff as neither incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, nor his opposition rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, managed to secure a majority vote and outright victory in the first round.

According to the state-run Anadolu news agency, Erdogan has won 49.34 percent of the vote with over 98 percent of the ballots counted, while Kilicdaroglu garnered almost 45 percent in the Sunday election.

Sinan Ogan, the third presidential candidate of the nationalist Ancestral Alliance (ATA), only got 5.23 percent of the total vote.

The overall vote turnout has been reported at over 88 percent.

At first, early results put Erdogan ahead, but as the count continued, his advantage eroded. Now, a runoff on May 28 appears highly likely.

Opinion polls before the election had given Kilicdaroglu, who heads a six-party alliance, a slight lead, and two polls on Friday even showed him above the 50% threshold. However, most had suggested a tight margin.

Erdogan said on Sunday that hurrying to announce election results while the counting went on would mean stealing people's will. Kilicdaroglu, for his part, warned election authorities to log all nationwide results.

Sunday's vote was one of the most consequential elections in the country's history, as it could end Erdogan's 20-year rule and reverberate well beyond Turkey's borders.

The presidential election poses the biggest challenge to 69-year-old Erdogan, amid an economic downturn and the impact of the devastating February 6 earthquake.

Kilicdaroglu has promised to fix Turkey's faltering economy and restore democratic institutions compromised under Erdogan's rule.

Erdogan, on the other hand, 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 (Justice and Development) Party has been in power since November 2002, and he has ruled Turkey since 2003.

Erdogan, Kilicdaroglu both say accept runoff, will win election

Hours after the voting ended, Erdogan addressed his supporters, saying the current results showed him far ahead of Kilicdaroglu. He, however, stopped short of declaring an outright victory.

The incumbent president said votes from abroad were still being counted and that he was 2.6 million votes ahead of his rival.

Erdogan also noted that he would respect the people's decision if the presidential vote goes to a runoff, adding, however, "we believe that we will win in the first round."

Kilicdaroglu also made a short statement, saying early on Monday that he will accept the people's decision for a second round.

Speaking alongside leaders of the other parties in his alliance, he added that Erdogan had not obtained the result he wanted in Sunday's election.

Kilicdaroglu noted that he will accept a runoff vote and will win it against Erdogan.

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Speech by Chancellor Scholz at the conferral of the Charlemagne Prize on Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, and the Ukrainian people on 14 May 2023 in Aachen

Germany - Federal Government

Sunday, 14 May 2023 in Aachen

Citizens of Ukraine,

President Zelensky, Volodymyr,

Mayor Keupen,

Dr Linden, JArgen,

Madam President of the Commission, Ursula,

Prime Minister, Mateusz,

Ladies and gentlemen,

"Prezydent tut. Vsi my tut."

Mr President, dear Volodymyr, those were the words you directed to the Ukrainian people in one of your first video messages after the Russian attack:

"The President is here.

We are all here."

It was early in the morning of 25 February 2022.

You were standing in the centre of Kyiv alongside your closest colleagues.

And you added:

"We are all defending our independence, and we will continue to do precisely that."

Seldom in history can such a brief comment have had such a huge impact.

It was clear at that moment that

the Ukrainian people will not give way to Russia's violence.

The Ukrainian people will resist.

And that is the sole reason why we can be here in Aachen together.

Europe has a great deal for which to be thankful to the Ukrainian people, and to you personally, dear Volodymyr.

When the founders of the Charlemagne Prize had the idea for this European award back in 1950, much of Germany and Europe still lay in ruins.

The horrors of two World Wars, the crime against humanity that was the Shoah, severe crises, suffering and starvation - all that was still very much present.

A Europe united in peace and freedom was a very distant vision.

Nevertheless, the dream of the mothers and fathers of the Charlemagne Prize took shape, every year a little bit more.

The list of Charlemagne Prize laureates reads like a "Who's who" of European integration.

It extends from Jean Monnet, Konrad Adenauer, Robert Schuman and Simone Veil to VAclav Havel and BronisAaw Geremek.

Men and women who, with courage and far-sightedness, drove the development that we in the younger generation gradually came to take more and more for granted:

the peaceful development of Europe, without which our nations' prosperity and well-being would have been impossible.

Today, however, a brutal war of aggression is again raging in Europe - Russia's brutal war of aggression.

A war that is bringing the people of Ukraine pain, suffering and sacrifice the like of which we could scarcely imagine any more.

A war that is directed against everything Europe stands for.

But also a war that makes it crystal clear to Ukraine, the European Union and its member states:

We stand together.

We belong together.

And our story will continue together.

This year, for the first time ever, the Charlemagne Prize is being awarded to a President and his people.

That is, I think, an extremely fitting decision.

Because what both the Ukrainian people and you, dear Volodymyr, have achieved since 24 February last year has been amazing.

You are defending your country against Russia's brutal aggression with the utmost bravery.

Day after day, with unbelievable energy, you are foiling the Russian invaders.

Russia's war of aggression has brought the European Union and Ukraine closer than ever before.

We stand by your side, united in solidarity with Ukraine.

Germany has taken in over a million Ukrainian citizens; Poland temporarily no less than 1.5 million, and Czechia more than 500,000. The number of German-Ukrainian town twinning agreements has doubled in the course of the war, to more than 140.

And all across Europe, the war has cemented one clear realisation: Ukraine is part of our European family.

This was something French President Emmanuel Macron, Italy's then Prime Minister Mario Draghi, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis and I stressed during our joint visit to Kyiv a year ago. And we all stand by this statement.

Russians and Ukrainians are not "one people", as President Putin claims in his imperialist and colonialist blindness.

The Ukrainian nation has its own long history, its own - amazingly diverse - culture, its own traditions, its own identity.

Ever since the collapse of the Soviet Union, independent Ukraine has insisted on its freedom to decide itself on its own path.

And Ukraine has indeed taken its decision - in favour of Europe.

Dear Volodymyr, Ukraine has our full support on your path towards the European Union!

As Europeans, we know what power is inherent in the democratic will of the people.

I am thinking of SolidarnoAA in Poland, Mateusz Morawiecki.

I am thinking of the opening of the Berlin Wall in 1989, brought about by the force of courageous citizens of the GDR, and of the unification of Germany and Europe in the years thereafter.

And of course I am thinking of the Orange Revolution in Ukraine in 2004 and the winter nights of the Euromaidan in late 2013, early 2014, when, in the Revolution of Dignity, the blue and yellow flag of Ukraine and the EU's blue flag with yellow stars became symbols of Ukraine's freedom, democracy and autonomy.

All these popular movements express the people's strong desire to shape their future themselves.

Russia's war of aggression has not only strengthened Ukraine's resolve as a political nation.

It has also made the Ukrainian people's decision to be a European democratic nation irreversible.

Vladimir Putin may have thought he could force the Ukrainian nation off its path to Europe through violence, but all his tanks, drones and rocket launchers have had quite the opposite effect.

The European Union stands for the peaceful coexistence of the nations of Europe, for the political and economic partnership of its member states, for the beauty of cultural and linguistic diversity.

The European Union stands for freedom and democracy, the rule of law and the protection of human rights, and especially for the peaceful reconciliation of former enemies.

As German Chancellor, I am particularly conscious of that.

And all of this is part and parcel of our identity as Europeans.

That is why we must take care, day in day out, to protect and uphold the values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law, including within the EU.

Dear Volodymyr, the Ukrainian people, too, share in this pursuit of democracy, of freedom, of the rule of law and of Europe.

"Sluha narodu" - servant of the people: you assumed office as President of Ukraine with this pledge.

And that is exactly what you are today in accepting the Charlemagne Prize on behalf of your people.

Your desire for freedom and your resilience in dark times spread hope and inspiration far beyond the borders of Ukraine.

As leader of the entire Ukrainian people, you are defending the values for which Europe stands.

Ukraine can count on our full support.

Humanitarian support, economic support, and support with weapons.

Above all, however, our enduring support!

The people of Luxembourg was the first people to be awarded the Charlemagne Prize, in 1986.

The text on the medal said:

"The people of Luxembourg for their exemplary and persevering efforts in the interest of the union of the peoples of Europe".

This applies equally to the people of Ukraine today.

That is why the award of the Charlemagne Prize today marks not an ending, but a new start.

The start of our continued integration in Europe, along with Ukraine, the countries of the Western Balkans and the Republic of Moldova and, in the longer term, Georgia too.

In view of the watershed Russia triggered with its war of aggression, our message today is clear:

Europe stands firm and united.

The award of the Charlemagne Prize as a European civic award expresses our liberal societies' profound admiration of the bravery and resolve of the Ukrainian people and its President.

Ukrayina tut! A Ukrayina - tse Yevropa!

Ukraine is here! And Ukraine is Europe!

Many congratulations and Slava Ukraini!

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Meeting with Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova

Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova presented her annual performance report to the President, focusing on cases related to the special military operation.

May 15, 2023

13:55

The Kremlin, Moscow

Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova: Good afternoon, Mr President.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, let us begin with the results of your work in 2022, right?

Tatyana Moskalkova: Yes, Mr President, in accordance with the Federal Constitutional Law, let me present my annual report on the Human Rights Commissioner's work and probably for the beginning of the year, given that the trends remain the same.

Last year and this year have witnessed a huge number of evacuees from Donbass and Ukraine who arrived in Russia, fleeing the bombing in Ukraine. The beginning of the inevitable, justifiable special military operation, the unprecedented Russophobic sentiment, the destruction of the previous international human rights institutes - all of this contributed to a growing number of requests.

Lat year, we received 79,000 requests; this year, we have already received 16,000 requests, which is 50 percent more than during the same period last year.

We have tried to completely readjust the work of our office so that we can respond to emergency cases related to the special military operation, mobilisation and work with those evacuated more promptly. We created a 24-hour hotline, a special online reception office so that people could reach us more easily.

We introduced a practice where as soon as we receive a request, we make contact with the applicant and their family, and explain to them what the state is doing to deal with the problem. It is very important for people to know that they have not just sent a request, but concrete measures are being taken.

We have created three special mobile working groups that get in touch with our human rights commissioners in the Russian regions and work on emergency requests. This is a mobile group that works with the families of the participants in the special military operation, servicemen and volunteers. This is a mobile group that works with evacuees and those who were subject to mobilisation. These tools have proven efficient, and we managed to provide assistance and take part in restoring the rights of 13,000 citizens last year, almost 2,000 this year and over 255,000 overall, including collective requests.

Many requests were related to violations of the principles of justice, legitimacy and relevance committed by officials. But there have been many requests that are not related to officials' violations, but that just ask for humanitarian aid and assistance. This primarily related to our civilians who were illegally and unjustifiably detained on the Ukrainian territory.

We have managed to bring back all long-distance lorry drivers and civilian sailors who were forced to stay aboard nine vessels in Izmail for over nine months, 168 people in all.

As for the evacuees, most often, the requests received related to late lump sum payments. I must say, the state responded to society's requests more promptly than ever, and a comprehensive social package was developed and then adopted by the State Duma and the Government. But, unfortunately, it was taking too long to finalise documents because only one payment office was created. This situation has been remedied and over 5,000 those evacuated have received such assistance, also thanks to your participation.

As regards all issues related to the special military operation, we immediately established contact with the Ministry of Defence, the Federal Security Service, the Foreign Ministry, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the Ukrainian human rights commissioner. It was very important. This synergy has allowed us to free many people from captivity and to establish the location and learn the fate of those missing. There are a lot of them. We constantly receive feedback from their families and the guys who are now in hospital or are already at home.

And, of course, there were still the traditional issues that people turned to us with. Most of our requests were dealt with by prosecutors and supervisory authorities in the field of criminal justice.

Almost half of the overturned illegal decisions were related to unjustified refusals to initiate criminal proceedings. In accordance with Article 52 of the Russian Constitution, every victim has the right of access to justice. If they are denied a criminal case, this means they are deprived of the opportunity to find the criminal and get compensation for harm with the help of the state.

Vladimir Putin: Protect your interests.

Tatyana Moskalkova: That is absolutely right.

Now we want to launch extensive monitoring of this topic: to study the experience of other systems that address these issues and find solutions and proposals for government bodies.

The second place is traditionally held by appeals related to places of detention and institutions of the penitentiary system.

But there are positive developments here. You instructed us last year to speed up the adoption of the Law on Accountability for Torture. This yielded results. This year we have received fewer appeals on this matter, but we have still had a large number of complaints related to the detention conditions: overcrowding in pre-trial detention centres in eight Russian regions, and a lack of the conditions required to ensure proper medical care. Here, we have also managed to help a significant number of people, thanks to the leadership of the Ministry of Justice and the Federal Penitentiary Service. I must say that the response comes quickly, and it is possible to correct this.

And, of course, social issues. There are still quite a lot of complaints related to the incorrect calculation of pensions, with non-payment to large families, as well as those with disabled children. With the help of the state authorities, we have tried to respond promptly and to restore infringed rights.

I would also like to talk about other areas of our activity, which, in accordance with the Federal Constitutional Law, are mandatory for me. These are international cooperation, legal education, lawmaking, and work with regional commissioners for human rights.

Mr President, I want to note that the regional commissioners are now a single institution, which is involved in the current issues of today: assistance for the families of participants in the special military operation and mobilised persons, and work in temporary accommodation centres for evacuees. We are constantly in touch. Next year we will continue this work with new tools.

This autumn, we will hold a Russian Coordinating Council dedicated to protecting the rights of young people. We invite you, Mr President, to take part in it.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you.

Ms Moskalkova, there are many areas and none of them can be called secondary. You are very active in this work. I would like to thank you and your colleagues who work in the field, work directly with people.

Tatyana Moskalkova: Thank you very much.

Vladimir Putin: We will definitely continue this work and help you achieve the goals for which the institution of the Commissioner for Human Rights was created.

Tatyana Moskalkova: Thank you very much for your support and help.

<...>

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Facts about Ukraine crisis: Russian Baltic Fleet receives new Steregushchiy-class corvette

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 13:43, May 15, 2023

ST. PETERSBURG/JOHANNESBURG/KIEV, May 13 (Xinhua) -- The following are the latest developments related to the Ukraine crisis:

The Russian Baltic Fleet has received a new Project 20380 Steregushchiy-class corvette dubbed "Mercury," reported the press service of the Defense Ministry of Russia on Saturday.

According to Nikolai Yevmenov, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, the combination of high seaworthiness and the ability to be equipped with modern weapons allows the corvette to effectively operate as part of a swarm or individually to protect Russia's national interests in oceans and marine areas.

Project 20380 multipurpose corvettes are designed to detect and destroy enemy submarines and surface ships, ensure landings and solve various tasks in near-sea zones. They are equipped with artillery, anti-missile, anti-submarine, sonar and radar systems, and a deck for the Ka-27 helicopter.

"Mercury" is the fifth project 20380 corvette built at Severnaya Verf Shipyard. The previous four ships of the series are already in service in the Russian Baltic Fleet.

- - - -

The United States Ambassador to South Africa, Reuben E. Brigety, has apologized to the South African government and people for his allegations that the country sold weapons to Russia, according to South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO).

DIRCO expressed the South African government's utter displeasure with his conduct and statements, the department said in a statement issued on Friday.

"Following today's meeting, Ambassador Reuben E. Brigety admitted that he crossed the line and apologized unreservedly to the government and the people of South Africa," the statement said.

- - - -

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that Kiev stands ready to discuss peace initiatives of other countries on ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict if certain conditions are met, the government-run Ukrinform news agency reported Friday.

"If you want to come up with your own formula or initiative, we are ready to discuss it if it respects two principles: first, your initiative should not suggest territorial concessions of Ukraine to Russia; second, your initiative should not lead to frozen conflict instead of peace," Kuleba said.

The minister said that Ukraine appreciates every effort to help end the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

At the same time, he emphasized that Kiev considers the 10-point peace plan by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as the best way to end the conflict.

- - - -

Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, said that his country is seeking to end the conflict with Russia by winter, the RBC-Ukraine media outlet reported Friday.

"By winter we want to completely end the war," Danilov said.

At the same time, the official emphasized that Ukraine will continue its military operations until it takes control of all territories captured by Russia.

He noted that the Ukrainian forces may carry out one or several counteroffensives against the Russian forces.

Earlier this week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine needs more time to launch a counteroffensive against Russia as the military forces await more aid.

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Britain to send 'hundreds' of long-range attack drones, missiles to Ukraine

Iran Press TV

Monday, 15 May 2023 10:33 AM

Britain has announced plans to provide Ukraine's Western-backed military with "hundreds" of long-range attack drones, coinciding with a high profile visit to London by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to ask for more weapons.

"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 200km," the government declared in a statement on Monday amid reports by the local media that visiting Zelensky was holding talks with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at the Chequers Court retreat.

"These will all be delivered over the coming months as Ukraine prepares to intensify its resistance" in the conflict against Russian forces, the Downing Street statement further vowed amid a new US-led push to supply Kiev with massive amounts of advanced weaponry in anticipation of widely publicized "spring counteroffensives" to retake territory lost to the Russians.

"This is a crucial moment in Ukraine's resistance to a terrible war of aggression they did not choose or provoke," Sunak claimed in a boastful statement ahead of their talks at the official country house.

Sunak's remarks was described by local observers as quite ironic in view of Britain's heavy involvement in destructive US-led wars of aggression against Afghanistan and Iraq amid its history of waging military interventions and establishing colonial rules in country's across the globe.

Britain became the first western country to provide Kiev's forces with a long-range cruise missile named the Storm Shadow.

The Storm Shadow is a turbojet-powered missile that cruises at Mach 0.8 to a max range of 560 kilometers.

Moscow has warned, however, that it will hold the countries supplying long range weaponry to Kiev responsible for any attack on Russian soil and that it reserves the right to response in kind.

Britain, after the US, is the second largest provider of advanced armaments and munitions to Ukraine.

Zelensky, who until recently was denied long-range weaponry for use against Russia, began talks with the British prime minister, who he has described as "my friend Rishi".

The Ukrainian president in recent days has also held talks with the leaders of Germany, Italy and France, demanding from them to supply Kiev with more and better weapons to fight Russia.

Since Russia launched its special military operation in February 2022 as a security measure against the eastern advance of the US-led NATO military alliance as well as the protection of Ukraine's Russian-speaking region, Ukraine has been flooded with tens of billions of dollars in Western armaments.

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Ukraine now de-facto 'state-sponsor of terrorism': Kremlin

Iran Press TV

Monday, 15 May 2023 10:25 AM

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has accused Ukraine of turning into a de-facto "state-sponsor of terrorism" after Ukraine's military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov vowed to "keep killing Russians anywhere" across the globe.

Peskov csaiddespite their explosive nature, Budanov's comments received no backlash from Kiev's Western backers.

"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 it's impossible to do without condemnation," Peskov was quoted as saying by Russia Today.

According to Peskov, Budanov's admission was additional evidence that Kiev has been actively planning terrorist attacks against Russians.

He said that Russia's "special services know what to do after such statements," but did not elaborate on the potential countermeasures against such activities.

Last week, during an interview with US-based Yahoo News, on whether the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine had anything to do with last year's murder of Darya Dugina, a journalist and daughter of prominent Russian philosopher Aleksandr Dugin, Budanov had boasted that, "We've been killing Russians", "And will keep killing Russians anywhere on the face of this world until the complete victory of Ukraine".

Budanov had also said what Russia calls "terrorism, we call liberation," as he dismissed the allegations of terrorism.

During the past few months, Ukraine has been targeting prominent Russian personalities.

In April, Russian military blogger Vladlen Tatarsky was killed in St. Petersburg with an improvised explosive device that had been hidden in a statuette that was handed to him during an event. The blast killed the blogger on the spot and injured over a dozen others.

The Russian Security Service (FSB) blamed the Ukrainian special services and their agents for the blast.

In another instance, a car bombing near Nizhny Novgorod was directed at the political activist and author Zakhar Prilepin of Russia.

The blast left Prilepin critically injured, but killed his close associate, who was inside the vehicle at the moment of the attack.

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France says will supply Ukraine with dozens of armored vehicles, light tanks

Iran Press TV

Monday, 15 May 2023 2:52 AM

France has pledged to send dozens of armored vehicles and light tanks to Ukraine in line with the West's unbridled support for Kiev in its war with Moscow.

Paris announced the plan in a joint statement on Sunday following a working dinner between the visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, in Paris.

The equipment, which include AMX-10RCs fighting vehicles, will be supplied to Ukraine in the coming weeks, the statement noted.

Over the weekend, Zelensky visited several European capitals, pleading for a substantial increase in the continent's already robust military support for Ukraine.

Moscow says it started what it calls a special military operation in order to defend the pro-Russian population in the eastern Ukrainian regions of Luhansk and Donetsk against persecution by Kiev, and also to "de-Nazify" its neighbor.

Russia argues that the West's anti-Russian moves, including its eagerness to include Ukraine in NATO military alliance and the alliance's expansion right up to the Russian borders, forced it to start the war.

The French presidency also indicated in the statement that Paris is concentrating its efforts on shoring up Kiev's air defense capabilities.

Zelensky had earlier secured a three-billion-dollar new military assistance package from Germany over the weekend.

Moscow has warned time and again that providing Kiev with Western weapons and military equipment will only prolong the conflict.

As a means of reassuring its European allies, Zelensky claimed in Germany that Kiev and its allies could make a Russian defeat "irreversible" as early as this year.

The Western allies, however, have so far refused to meet some of Ukraine's needs, including fighter jets.

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Zelenskiy Returns From European Tour With Weapons Pledges, Hope For Fighter Jet Coalition

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service May 15, 2023

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.

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 a 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 Russia's 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 takes 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 have 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.

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 Ukraine 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

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-bakhmut- fighting-russia-zelenskiy-europe/32412010.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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Ukrainian Tycoon Dmytro Firtash Suspected Of Embezzlement

By RFE/RL May 15, 2023

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said on May 15 that Dmytro Firtash, a powerful tycoon indicted by the United States for corruption, along with managers of companies under his control had been served with "notices of suspicion" of embezzlement.

According to the SBU, the damage Ukraine's State Treasury suffered from the embezzlement activities allegedly committed by Firtash's group in Ukraine's gas transit system are estimated at up to 18 billion hryvnyas ($484 million) between 2016 and 2022 as part of a "large-scale scheme."

Regional gas suppliers owned by the 58-year-old allegedly paid the state operator of the Ukrainian pipeline network for only around 30 percent of the gas taken, the SBU said.

"Effectively we are talking about the embezzlement of money from ordinary Ukrainians who paid their utility bills," the statement said.

Group DF, one of the companies under Firtash's control, said it "firmly and categorically" denies all allegations.

Group DF said in a statement that recent series of searches, criminal cases, and the dissemination of "groundless suspicions and accusations by the SBU lack any legal foundation."

Firtash, once an ally of ousted Russia-friendly President Viktor Yanukovych, resides in Austria. He is wanted in the United States for bribery and racketeering charges in India. The United States has asked Austrian authorities to extradite him. He has denied wrongdoing and has fought extradition.

Ukraine has sought to reduce the political influence that some businessmen have enjoyed 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 bloc.

Ukraine imposed sanctions on Firtash in June 2022, accusing him of selling titanium products that Kyiv said ended up being used by Russian military enterprises. Firtash at the time denied the allegations.

The sanctions against Firtash and his Group DF include an asset freeze, ban on capital withdrawal, revocation of licenses, restriction of resource transit, and other restrictions.

With reporting by Reuters and AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-firtash-embezzlement- sbu/32412431.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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Russian Air Defense Downs Storm Shadow Missile - MoD

Sputnik News

20230515

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian air defense units have downed one Storm Shadow missile and 10 HIMARS shells over the past day, the Defense Ministry said on Monday.

"Air defense systems intercepted seven HARM anti-radar missiles, one Storm Shadow long-range cruise missile, and ten HIMARS multiple rocket launchers during the day," the ministry said in a statement.

The Russian side informed about intercepting the Storm Shadow missile for the first time.

Earlier in the day, the LPR representative office in the Joint Center for Control and Coordination of issues related to Ukraine's war crimes (JCCC) said that Ukrainian troops have fired three Storm Shadow and 15 HIMARS missiles at the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) over the past week.

A Sputnik

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UK's Military Aid to Ukraine Will Not Affect Russia's Special Military Op - Moscow

Sputnik News

20230515

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - London is trying to be at the forefront among those who continue to send weapons to Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.

"We take this extremely negatively, the UK claims to be at the forefront among those countries that continue to pump weapons to Ukraine," Peskov told reporter, commenting on the UK government's remark.

The UK's military aid to Ukraine will not affect Russia's special military operation, but will lead to further destruction, the official added.

Earlier in the day, the UK government said that London will provide Ukraine with air defense missiles and unmanned aerial systems, including long-range attack drones, in the coming months.

There have not been any statements from Minsk regarding the state of health of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Peskov said, adding that it is necessary to pay attention on official statements.

"We need to focus on official statements. There were no such official statements from Minsk. And here we believe that it is very important to focus on official information," Peskov said, when asked if the Kremlin worries about reports on Lukashenko's deteriorated health.

Turkey is able to hold transparent elections and prevent all violations, Peskov said, when asked about the threat of the US interference in elections.

"Turkey is a mature democracy, a strong sovereign country, which, of course, is able to ensure transparent, democratic elections, transparent elections and prevent any illegal actions," Peskov told reporters.

The spokesman also said that the Kremlin closely follows elections in Turkey and will respect any choice of its people.

"In any case, we hope that our cooperation will continue, deepen and expand," Peskov said.

Turkey held the presidential and parliamentary elections on Sunday. So far, none of the presidential candidates have secured more than 50% of the vote. The second round of the election, which will take place if no candidate gains over 50%, is scheduled for May 28.

The Kremlin strongly disagrees with French President Emmanuel Macron, who has recently said that Russia is becoming dependent on China, spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.

"We strongly disagree with this, because our relations with China are in the nature of a strategic, special partnership, and this is not connected with any dependence on anyone," Peskov said.

The spokesman also said that Russia considers Macron's approach to be "absolutely wrong" and to be the evidence of the "wrong understanding" of what is happening.

Macron has told the Opinion agency that Russia suffered a "geopolitical defeat" and is becoming dependent on China, thus "raising doubts" among its historical allies.

A Sputnik

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Kiev Used 2 Storm Shadow Missiles During Attack on Lugansk on Monday

Sputnik News

20230515

LUGANSK (Sputnik) - Ukraine used two Storm Shadow missiles during an attack on Lugansk early on Monday, the representative office of the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) in the Joint Center for Control and Coordination of issues related to Ukraine's war crimes (JCCC) said.

"On May 15, 2023 ... armed formations of Ukraine launched a missile attack on the city of Lugansk (LPR) using two Storm Shadow cruise missiles. As a result of the shelling, the glazing of seven multi-apartment residential buildings, an office building and two cars were damaged," the representative office wrote on Telegram.

Earlier in the day, Rodion Miroshnik, the ex-head of the LPR mission in Russia, said that two shells hit near the area of the bus station in Lugansk, adding that they were most likely missiles.

A Sputnik

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UK Pledges 'Hundreds of Long-Range Attack Drones' to Ukraine

Sputnik News

20230515

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The United Kingdom will provide Ukraine with air defense missiles and unmanned aerial systems in the coming months, the UK government said on Monday.

"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.

"This summer we will commence an elementary flying phase for cohorts of Ukrainian pilots to learn basic training. This will adapt the program used by UK pilots to provide Ukrainians with piloting skills they can apply a different kind of aircraft. This training goes hand in hand with UK efforts to work with other countries on providing F16 jets - Ukraine's fighter jets of choice," the government said.

On Monday, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hosts Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in London.

A Sputnik

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Ukrainian Troops Active Along Entire Front Line, But No Counteroffensive Yet - DPR Head

Sputnik News

20230515

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - 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.

"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.

A Sputnik

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UK urges Russia to stop threatening to leave the Black Sea Grain Initiative and to instead agree to a sustained and stable deal: UK statement at the Security Council

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine.

15 May 2023

Thank you, President, and I join others in thanking Under-Secretary-General Griffiths for his briefing and work on the ground.

Your briefing today, Under-Secretary-General, reminds us of the enormous human cost of Russia's war of aggression.

Russia has continued to conduct massive missile and UAV strikes against inhabited areas across Ukraine, killing innocent civilians.

The UK is appalled by reports of recent Russian attacks on Ukrainian Red Cross warehouses in Odesa and on a mobile hospital in Mykolaiv. There is no excuse for attacking the most vulnerable, and the brave humanitarian workers supporting them.

We call on Russia to abide by International Humanitarian Law, in particular, to observe the distinction between combatants and civilians.

Ukrainian civilians, indeed all civilians, should be protected by all combatants.

Similarly, aid organisations and aid workers, whose mission is to help innocent civilians in humanitarian need, are not a target.

In Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine, an estimated 4 million people are living in dire, forlorn conditions. Despite regular attempts by the UN to gain access to deliver humanitarian support, Russia has never provided necessary security guarantees for access.

We continue to call for unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access to the people of Ukraine.

We call on Russia to stop denying access and to cease its attacks on critical infrastructure and residential areas.

President,

The BSGI [Black Sea Grain Initiative] is critically important. Over 30 million tonnes of grain and other foodstuffs have been exported under the Initiative since 1 August.

The deal has been critical to lowering global food prices and getting urgently needed grain to countries that need it most. As the WFP has said, grain deliveries to any country drive global prices down.

So we urge Russia to stop threatening to leave the initiative and, instead, to agree to a sustained and stable deal.

In the meantime, Russia continues to block and delay ship inspections. This obstruction harms global food security by delaying shipments, restricting supplies, and keeping prices high for food-importing countries.

Finally, President, the UK is fully committed to holding Russia to account for its illegal actions in Ukraine.

We will continue to support independent investigations into the atrocities committed in Ukraine, as part of a just and sustained peace.

Thank you.

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PM meeting with President Zelenskyy: Monday 15 May

The Prime Minister welcomed Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to Chequers today.

15 May 2023



The Prime Minister welcomed Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to Chequers today.

President Zelenskyy thanked the Prime Minister for the enduring support of the British people for the people of Ukraine.

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.

The Prime Minister reiterated that the UK will continue its support to ensure Ukraine secures a just and lasting peace. That includes both immediate military support and providing long-term security assistance to guarantee Ukraine's ability to deter aggression.

The Prime Minister said he would use his meetings with world leaders over the coming days at the Council of Europe and G7 Summits to stress the importance of sustaining global support for Ukraine at this pivotal time.

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PM welcomes President Zelenskyy to the UK ahead of anticipated Ukrainian military surge

President Zelenskyy has arrived in the UK this morning for discussions with the Prime Minister on Ukraine's ongoing military resistance to Putin's brutal invasion.

15 May 2023



Prime Minister will welcome President Zelenskyy to Chequers today for discussions following the Ukrainian President's tour of European capitals

Visit comes ahead of this week's Council of Europe and G7 Summits where the PM will call for sustained global support for Ukraine's fight to reclaim their sovereign territory

PM will announce more military aid to support this effort, following last week's confirmation that the UK has donated long-range precision missiles

President Zelenskyy has arrived in the UK this morning for discussions with the Prime Minister on Ukraine's ongoing military resistance to Putin's brutal invasion.

The President will update the Prime Minister on his meetings with European leaders over the weekend as Ukraine prepares for an intensified period of military activity.

This visit also comes ahead of the Council of Europe Summit in Iceland, which the Prime Minister will attend and President Zelenskyy will attend virtually, and the G7 Summit in Japan. The Prime Minister will use these gatherings 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 we have 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.

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 200km. These will all be delivered over the coming months as Ukraine prepares to intensify its resistance to the ongoing Russian invasion.

This equipment will support Ukraine over the coming months in their anticipated military surge to counter Russian forces. 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.

The Prime Minister is working with partners in the G7, NATO and beyond to provide Ukraine with the kind of assurances and capabilities it needs to strengthen and guard its long-term security beyond the end of the war - putting Ukraine in the strongest possible position to seek a fair and lasting peace.

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. 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."

President Zelenskyy will hold talks with the Prime Minister at Chequers, becoming the first world leader the Prime Minister has hosted at the residence. This visit follows President 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.

In their talks, the Prime Minister will reiterate the importance the UK places on providing a total package of support to Ukraine to put them in the strongest possible position to secure a lasting peace for their country.

This means the military equipment we provide must be bolstered by training, by economic support, by biting sanctions against Putin's regime and by long-term security assurances to ensure Ukraine's sovereignty can never be breached in this way again.

To that end, in the last year the UK has trained 15,000 Ukrainian troops to battlefield readiness. In February the Prime Minister announced the UK would develop a new training programme for Ukrainian pilots to support their efforts to build a new Ukrainian air force with NATO-standard, F16 jets.

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. This training goes hand in hand with UK efforts to work with other countries on providing F16 jets - Ukraine's fighter jets of choice.

Next month the UK will host a Ukraine Recovery Conference to galvanise international investment to support Ukraine's reconstruction, promoting those emerging sectors where the country was thriving before Putin's full-scale invasion such as clean energy and tech.

The UK provided A2.3 billion worth of military support to Ukraine in 2022 - more than any country other than the US - and the Prime Minister has committed to sustain that level of support this year.

So far in 2023 the UK has provided equipment including a squadron of Challenger 2 main battle tanks, self-propelled guns, hundreds of armoured vehicles and sophisticated missiles including Starstreak and Storm Shadow. Today's announcements are further to these previous donations.

Since the outbreak of full-scale war the UK has also trained 15,000 Ukrainian troops in the UK, on top of the 22,000 troops trained in Ukraine between 2014 and 2022 under Operation Orbital.

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The main results of these days - our victory has been brought closer - address by the President of Ukraine

President of Ukraine

15 May 2023 - 19:19

Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians!x

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!

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President of Ukraine on the results of his visits to Italy, Germany, France and the UK: Agreements on powerful defense packages were reached

President of Ukraine

15 May 2023 - 15:50

Kingdom, important agreements were reached on defense support for our country. The Head of State told it to the media following the negotiations with Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Rishi Sunak.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that the priority of his visits to European capitals was to prepare for active actions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces at the front to liberate the occupied territories.

"I am extremely pleased with our achievements and agreements. And I am very grateful to Rishi. It was a good meeting with Giorgia, with Olaf, Emmanuel and today in the UK. Really important, powerful defense packages. These are the agreements," the President said.

According to him, the talks also focused on preparations for the G7 summit to be held this week in Hiroshima, Japan.

"The position of each of these countries is very important here. And it is important that this position is united," Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted.

The Head of State emphasized that the negotiations also concerned the creation of a coalition of fighter jets for Ukraine and preparations for the NATO summit in Vilnius.

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Press Release

May 16, 2023 TRANSCRIPT OF INTERPELLATION

Senator Risa Hontiveros with Lt. General Benedict M. Arevalo

Commission on Appointments

May 16, 2023 Senator Risa Hontiveros (SRH): Bilang isang military officer, alam po ninyo na ang red-tagging is an important facet of the human rights crises in the Philippines which became even more acute during the past administration. Based on the PIR, in 2021, you were relieved from your position as Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil Military Operations, along with the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, due to your then department at the AFP releasing and posting an erroneous list in social media of alleged NPA guerillas, which included, among others, UP alumni who allegedly became communist guerillas. Alam niyo naman po na ang redtagging, threatens the lives and safety of individuals. Ito'y isang malaking intrusion into a person's right to privacy, due to surveillance and harassment, na umaabot sa unlawful arrests and forced disappearances and even killings. Redtagging is disinformation enabling fraud and violence. Although you were eventually cleared by Sec. Lorenzana, stating that you were not directly responsible, maari po bang itanong, sir, is red-tagging a policy of the AFP? Arevalo: Definitely not. What happened at that time, I actually took responsibility, as the Deputy Chief of Staff for the Civil Military Operations. We also learned some lessons from what happened, and that's why the AFP is very careful now in actually crossing the line on these kinds of issue. If you're asking ma'am, if it is the policy of the AFP, definitely it is not the policy of the AFP. SRH: Maraming salamat, para doon, Lt. Genereal Arevalo. I guess it was not and is not a policy, so salamat for making it of record. I noted also yung sinabi ninyong you already took responsibility that the AFP learned lessons, yan ay isang pinakamahalaga po, and that the Armed Forces are now very careful about this. Actually, na-anticipate niyo narin through your answers yung ilang followup questions ko para doon which I will ask you at least for the record. What updates are needed in your social media policy and what are the measures you will institute to ensure that the incident will not happen again? Arevalo: After the incident, the AFP came out with a stricter social media policy, and it has to really conform with the community standards of the social media and seeing to it that it is strictly supervised not just by the concerned staff but also the chiefs of offices and the commanders themselves. That's why for the past maybe two years that we have been in social media, you'll find that the AFP has a stake in the implementation of the said policies. SRH: Thank you, na-note ko yung sinabi niyo na the AFP conforms with the social standards of the social media companies. I hope na higit pa sa pag-conform sa standards ng social media companies, maging mas mahigpit pa, o maging mas mataas pa ang standards ng AFP dahil alam niyo naman siguro kahit kami pong mga mambabatas at yung ating mga kababayan, may mga problema na madalas masyadong mababa o maluwag ang standards ng mismong social media company. Mas mapapanatag pa po ang loob ko kung yung AFP nalang ang mas magkaroon ng mas mataas na standards within social media kaysa pa po sa mga social media companies. Just for the record, yung nakaraang insidenteng pong iyon, paano po ba nangyari ito and what was the extent of your responsibility and accountability for this erroneous post na sinabi niyo rin kanina na you already took responsibility for? Arevalo: As mentioned previously by former Sec. Lorenzana, there was actually a mix-up of files and inadvertently, it was actually released by one of my staff and that's why the report coming from the intelligence was mixed up with the reports of civil and military operations. And that mix up caused the release of the names inadvertently, maybe an oversight, and there's nobody to blame except me as the J-7 at that time. SRH: Salamat, Lt. Gen. Arevalo. I admire your taking command responsibility sa insidente. Minsan tayo na nasa posisyon ng responsibilidad bilang mga tao may temptation na isisi ang iba o ilaglag ang iba and I always appreciate when fellow workers in government and leaders in government will take command responsibility for what happens under our watch. Yung mga sagot ninyo sa tanong na ito leads to my next question about ano ba talaga ang nangyari. How can the AFP improve its systems of vetting and release of information? Dapat po ba na mag-release publicly ang AFP ng list? Hindi ba dapat internal lang dapat ito? Arevalo: I think that's one of the resolutions we had in the AFP, seeing to it that internal files should not be shared into the public. We have learned our lessons as I mentioned previously that's why we'll be more strict especially in the document security, especially in the civil military operations side. We're still improving systems in releasing information to the public. SRH: Lastly, ano po yung remedial action kung yung isang red-tagged person ay mapatunayan na inosente pala? Arevalo: In my personal experience, I really did apologize publicly to the person that was alluded to in the mistake I made and I think in terms of legal remedies, that will be available to anybody your honors, ma'am. SRH: Maraming salamat especially for your public apology. Just to clarify sir, nag-public apology po kayo sa iisang tao o sa lahat pong nagkamaling nairelease sa listahang iyon? Arevalo: We posted an apology on the same page to all that was alluded in that information last time. SRH: Thank you. Meron ba sa kanilang sumagot, nag-acknowledge nung paghingi niyo ng paumanhin? Arevalo: Because the FB page was actually shut down, I don't know if they were able to really react or reply on the said information, ma'am. SRH: In that case, para lang mas matiyak sana natin na natanggap nung mga taong alluded to yung public apology na honestly hindi madalas mangyari na ang gubyerno ay mag-apologize sa mamamayan, I feel it's such an important message, kasi pagbawi or paghingi ng paumanhin is also a way of pagwawasto and laying the foundation of better relationships moving forward. Kung mararapatin ninyo, maconsider lang yung mungkahi na since the FB page was shut down, which I also think was a good thing, baka pwede kayong humanap ng iba pang paraan to just make sure that this formal public apology reach the persons concerned. Kayo na po ang umalam anong tamang paraan, sulat ba iyon o kung anupamang paraan malaman po nila. Arevalo: Yes, ma'aam, your honors. SRH: Thank you so much for engaging me in this question na tingin ko pa napaka-importante in the context of continuing to professionalize the AFP, ending red-tagging, and building a more inclusive society. Maraming salamat, sir.
At this crucial moment for our people, the whole of the United Kingdom stands with Ukraine - Volodymyr Zelenskyy following the meeting with Rishi Sunak

President of Ukraine

15 May 2023 - 15:5015 May 2023 - 15:38

During his visit to the United Kingdom, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Rishi Sunak.

The Head of 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, today's meeting focused on defense support for Ukraine.

Volodymyr 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.

The Head of State said that today, during the talks, the issue of providing Ukraine with fighter jets was discussed.

"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, Rishi Sunak said that he was honored and pleased to welcome Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the UK again.

"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 emphasized.

The Prime Minister noted that Ukrainians today are defending common values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law on the battlefield.

According to Rishi Sunak, his country will continue to provide the Ukrainian people with the support they need to defend themselves against aggression.

He noted that the United Kingdom is pleased to be the first country to provide Ukraine with long-range weapons, and will also strengthen our 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 British Prime Minister said.

He believes that Ukraine must 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," said Rishi Sunak.

He also noted that the United Kingdom 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.

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Ukraine: Imperative to 'explore all options' to reach civilians - UN relief chief

15 May 2023 - Civilians who are caught up in the crossfire in Ukraine need and deserve humanitarian relief, "wherever the are", said the UN Humanitarian Affairs chief on Monday, briefing the Security Council, calling for aid workers to be allowed full access, in line with international law.

Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths said that it was "imperative that we explore all options to reach civilians", stressing that all parties to the fighting must allow and facilitate the "rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief".

"I urge the parties to strengthen facilitation efforts so we can reach all civilians in need", he said.

Cut off from food, water, care

He noted that many communities along Ukraine's northeastern border with Russia and the frontline of fighting, were encircled, without access to water, food and medical care.

"Only last week in Kherson, residential buildings, a school, an outpatient hospital, and an elderly care facility were reportedly damaged, leaving scores of civilians needing shelter and healthcare. And missile strikes in Odesa hit a humanitarian storage warehouse. A Ukrainian Red Cross mobile hospital in Mykolaiv was also hit. Humanitarian supplies and vital medical equipment were destroyed."

He said no staff or volunteers were injured but the threats persist. Civilians must not be target, he insisted, or the homes, schools, hospitals and buildings, where they live and work.

He stressed again, the need for a political solution, and importance of peace for Ukraine, with civilian casualties during Russia's continued occupation of parts of the south and east, "rising to their highest levels in months."

Over 20,000 dead or injured

The UN human rights office, OHCHR, "has now verified a staggering 23,600 civilian casualties since 24 February 2022; we all know the actual toll is likely to be much higher", said Mr. Griffiths.

Despite the constant dangers, the "sheer bravery of humanitarian workers, particularly local workers", for the UN and other NGOs, means life-saving assistance continues to be delivered nationwide.

He said nearly 3.6 million people received humanitarian assistance in Ukraine in the first quarter of 2023 with around 43 inter-agency convoys delivering food and vital supplies to some 278,000 people in frontline areas so far this year, "with local partners conducting last-mile delivery and distribution."

But he said more is needed "to take our efforts to scale. The biggest challenge remains the impediments to reaching all areas in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia currently under the military control of the Russian Federation."

Full access to these areas "continue to be explored through engagement with both parties."

'Recommitment' to Black Sea Initiative

Food exported under the Black Sea Initiative, together with food and fertilizer exports from Russia, continue to make a crucial contribution to global food security, he told ambassadors.

More than 30 million metric tons of cargo have now been safely exported from Ukrainian ports, of which over 55 per cent has gone to developing countries and close to six per cent, directly to Least Developed Countries.

This includes just under 600,000 metric tons of wheat transported by the World Food Programme (WFP), in direct support of humanitarian operations in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Yemen.

Despite the progress and falling food prices since last summer's highs, "much more remains to be done".

"Predictable supplies for humanitarian food assistance operations continue to be required. The Initiative refers to the export of ammonia, but this has not yet been possible.

Over the past month, there's been a major reduction in exports moving through Ukraine's Black Sea ports, due to what the UN relief chief called "increasingly challenging dynamics" within the Joint Coordination Centre (JCC), run by Russia, Ukraine, the UN and TArkiye, "and a related slowdown in operations."

He assured that intensive talks "to secure agreement on its extension and the improvements needed for it to operate effectively and predictably", would continue in the next few days, with UN support continuing for the "Memorandum of Understanding on the facilitation of Russian food and fertilizer exports."

"For the reasons I have set out, continuation of the Black Sea Initiative is critical, as is recommitment by the parties to its smooth and efficient operation. We call on all parties to meet their responsibilities in this regard."

"The world is watching", he underlined.

A war none can afford

He ended telling the Council it was clear that neither the people of Ukraine, or millions around the world who have suffered as a result of the economic chaos and supply chain issues, "can ill afford a continuation of this war."

Mr. Griffiths called on Security Council member and all nations, to support all efforts to end "the carnage and destruction."

"In the meantime, the United Nations and its humanitarian partners remain committed to safeguarding the life and dignity of persons affected by the war and to the pursuit of peace - today, tomorrow, and for as long as it takes."

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West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, USA, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The winner of the 2023 Templeton Prize is Dr. Edna Adan Ismail, a nurse-midwife, hospital founder, and healthcare advocate who has worked courageously to change cultural, religious, and medical norms surrounding womens health in East Africa, improving the lives of thousands of women and girls in the region and beyond. Drawing from the resources of her Muslim faith, she receives this years award in recognition of her extraordinary efforts to harness the power of the sciences to affirm the dignity of women and help them to flourish physically and spiritually. Her many achievements include the founding of the Edna Adan University and Edna Adan Hospital, which has significantly reduced maternal mortality in Somaliland, and her tireless campaign to end female genital mutilation (FGM) around the world.

Like Mother Teresa, who received the first Templeton Prize fifty years ago in 1973, Edna has dedicated herself to helping a community that did not have adequate medical care, thereby achieving a global impact.

This years award is believed to be the largest international prize ever given to an individual African woman.

We are delighted to honor Edna Adan Ismail, a woman who has used the teachings of her faith, the influence of her family, and her education in science to improve the health and opportunities of some of the world's most vulnerable women and girls, said Heather Templeton Dill, president of the John Templeton Foundation. Driven by a passionate belief in womens innate dignity and divine-given potential, she has enacted a transformation of female health in her native land. Drawing on the doctrines of the Muslim faith, she has employed her positions of authority to argue passionately that, despite what some have believed, female circumcision is against the teachings of Islam, and deeply harmful to women.

Dill added: Over the last 50 years, the Templeton Prize has celebrated winners of many different faiths, fields, and nationalitiesand this year we are proud to award our first prize to an African woman.

The Templeton Prize, valued at 1.1 million GBP, is one of the world's largest annual individual awards. Established by the late global investor and philanthropist Sir John Templeton, it is given to honor those who harness the power of the sciences to explore the deepest questions of the universe and humankinds place and purpose within it.

I feel blessed and honored to receive this award, which will enable me to make a major contribution to the U.S.-based Friends of Edna Maternity Hospital, said Edna Adan Ismail, 85. These funds will be used to support the hospital in carrying out its essential work, such as obtaining medical equipment, hiring expert educators, enabling expansion to serve more patients, and to continue training the next generation of healthcare workers that East Africa so desperately needs.

This hospital, she added, has given life to our country.

Edna Adan Ismail was born in 1937 in Hargeisa, the capital of what was then British Somaliland, to a prominent family. Her father was a doctor often described as the father of medical care in the country, and her mother was the daughter of the postmaster general. Thanks to her father Adan Ismails forward-thinking values, she was covertly tutored alongside her brother until she was 15 and then went to a new school for girls. A scholarship exam, also normally reserved for boys, qualified her to study in the United Kingdomthe first Somali girl to do sowhere she received an education in nursing and midwifery at the Borough Polytechnic.

As a girl, she loved shadowing her father in his surgery and thought to become a surgical nurse, but he encouraged her to look into midwifery, where the need was greatest. The most important lesson she absorbed from him was compassion, she later recalled. One of his favorite expressions was if you cannot do it with your heart, your hands will never do it. She returned in 1961 to her homeland as its first professionally trained nurse-midwife. She was also the first woman to drive a car in her country and the first to be appointed to a position of political authority as director in the Ministry of Health. She was the first lady of Somalia, as the wife of Mohamed Haji Ibrahim Egal, Prime Minister of a united Somalia in the late 1960s.

Following the outbreak of civil war in Somalia, she joined the World Health Organization as an advisor. She was the regional technical officer for maternal and child health from 1987 to 1991 and WHO representative to Djibouti from 1991 to 1997. She decided to leave her high-profile international career to return home and fulfill an ambitious dream: to build a hospital from the ground up.

After the newly re-formed Somaliland declared its independence in 1991though it remains unrecognized by foreign powers to this dayits government offered her land to realize this vision: a little piece of land that had previously been used as an execution ground and garbage dump.

Inauspicious as this wasan ulcer in the center of town, she called itthe site was proximate to the slums where Ednas hoped-for patients lived, and so she took it. She sold all of her own assets and belongings to build the hospital, and raised more funding from around the world after a profile of her appeared in The New York Times. With the opening of the Edna Adan Maternity Hospital in 2002, the miserable land it stood on was transformed. Now I live in it. I wouldnt be anywhere else in the world, she said in a 2012 interview with ABC News. Thats my home, my hospital, thats where I hope to spend whatever days God gives me.

While Somalilands healthcare system collapsed in the aftermath of war, the hospital made great strides, reducing the maternal mortality rate by up to 75 percent. In addition to providing patient care to a high-risk population, the hospital also started training nurses even before it opened. The education program expanded to become the Edna Adan University in 2010, which has trained more than 4,000 students to become doctors, nurses, midwives, dentists, surgeons, pharmacists, lab technicians, anesthetists, and public health professionals. Its graduates go on to serve communities across East Africa. Over 30,000 babies have been safely delivered at the hospital, at which 80 percent of the staff and 70 percent of the student body is female.

Meanwhile, Edna also served as the first and only female cabinet member in 2002 as Minister of Social Affairs. From 2003 to 2006, she served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. In spite of its lack of international recognition, Somaliland remains self-governing and administers a democratic system in its territory in northern Somalia.

Edna is an outspoken critic of female genital mutilation (FGM), a painful, disfiguring, and life-threatening practice performed in some non-Muslim and Muslim societies, including her own. When she was eight, her mother subjected Edna to FGM without her fathers knowledge. His outraged reaction planted the seeds of my sense of injustice, and started the embryo that led me much later to act, she said in an interview with the Berkley Center at Georgetown University. As a practicing midwife early in her career, she was confronted with the grievous complications during childbirth from the scarring. After visiting a 1976 conference in Sudan at which participants from Muslim countries that also practiced FGM spoke openly about its effects, she was inspired to take up the issue at home. Later that year, as a director in Somalias health ministry, she began to speak out on FGMat first shocking her audience and attracting threats, but also building widespread interest and a movement. She was instrumental in Djiboutis passage of a law against it. After her ex-husband became president of the breakaway republic of Somaliland in 1993, he became an ally in the effort.

Education is more important than legislation in opposing FGM, she stresses, because passing a law that no one intends to obey simply forces the practice underground. Edna has patiently and energetically encouraged women to come forward, men to stand up for them, cultural discussions to be had at every level, and the decoupling of FGM from faithful Islamic practice.

Islam does not accept, Islam forbids female circumcision. It is a moral issue, a moral obligation. It is a responsibility. God has shown me this, said Edna in the biographical film Edna Adan Ismail: A Beacon of Hope for Women's Health & Dignity produced in honor of the Templeton Prize. Every day Im reliving and remembering, Im recalling that pain that happened to me when I was seven or eight years old. The wounds may heal but the pain never leaves you.

Raised in a multifaith household, with a Catholic mother and Muslim father, she has described her religious views as rooted in a sense of action.

For me religion is not only about rituals, but also about how you live your religion. It is about kindness and charity, living a clean and honest life. I live my religion through my acts, through the way I work with poor people, students, patients, and colleagues, she said. Being true to any religion is about how you live, how you respect the rules of God, how you live with others. It is a respect that safeguards others, that respects life and the property and dignity of others. It is doing unto others what you would have them do unto you. It is about going that extra mile to help others and to love them.

While much progress has been made, FGM continues to be practiced in several countries, and has spread overseas as populations have migrated to the United Kingdom, United States, and other nations. Edna continues to educate people on the grave health harms FGM inflicts on women and girls.

Her fight to end FGM continues both through her international advocacy and at her hospital where they care for complications caused by the procedure and lead the effort against the practice using Somali-language materials to reach the local population and religious leaders. In addition, every student who applies to study in her programs must commit to joining the fight against FGM. Thankfully Edna is no longer a lonely voice in this fight as the WHO, United Nations Population Fund, and UNICEF have joined forces to help accelerate the rejection of FGM.

Edna Adan Ismail is a beacon of hope and an inspiration for all who care deeply about the health of women and girls around the world, said Diane Lane, actress and activist who appeared with Edna in the 2012 documentary Half the Sky, in a statement for the Templeton Prize.

Lane added: Her commitment to the highest moral and scientific standards are what make her such an exemplary winner of the Templeton Prize. For decades, Edna has been a force of female empowerment and cultural transformation that I was grateful to witness firsthand visiting her Somaliland in 2011. Her hopeful attitude and commanding sense of compassion are an inspiration, as her countless patients, students, and admirers can attest. I am so happy Ednas devotion to women and their families is being honored in this unique and prestigious way.

Nicholas Kristof, columnist for The New York Times, wrote of Edna in a letter of commendation for the Templeton Prize: Shes bringing modern medicine, the latest science of prevention and a fundamental emphasis on gender equity to Somaliland, and its making a huge difference. He added: She is bringing science in a truly lifesaving way to one of the worlds poorest countries, while tackling culture and religion in deeply sensitive and effective waysand also serving as an extraordinary role model.

Ednas awards and recognitions include: Officer of the French Legion dHonneur and a Commandeur Dans lOrdre National du 27 Juin, Djibouti; the Medical Mission Hall of Fame, University of Toledo, Ohio; honorary doctorates from Clark University in Massachusetts and the University of Pennsylvania; honorary fellow of Cardiff University School of Nursing in Wales; the Chancellors Gold Medal from the University of Pretoria; the Renfield Foundation Award for Global Womens Health; an honorary doctorate from London South Bank University (formerly Borough Polytechnic, where she was trained); an honorary fellowship by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists; and short-listed for the European Parliaments Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. Edna was featured in the 2012 PBS documentary Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide. Her autobiography, A Woman of Firsts, was published in 2019.

As the 2023 Templeton Prize laureate, Edna will participate in a Templeton Prize event this fall in London, where she will deliver the Templeton Prize lecture.

The Templeton Prize winner is chosen following an extensive selection process that mobilizes an anonymous group of expert nominators from a diverse cross-section of fields. Nominees are reviewed by a panel of judges, who include scientists, business leaders, religious leaders, and scholars who represent the many fields of work that the Templeton Prize seeks to honor. Judges rank nominees according to a range of criteria before scores are calculated for a winner.

This years nine judges are Georgia M. Dunston, Ph.D., Founder, President, and CEO of Whole Genome Science Foundation; Tsitsi Masiyiwa, philanthropist and social entrepreneur; Baroness Philippa Stroud, Member of the House of Lords, CEO of the Legatum Institute and Chair of the Social Metrics Commission; Dr. France A. Cordova, astrophysicist and 14th director of the National Science Foundation; Anousheh Ansari, CEO of the XPrize Foundation; Rabbi Meir Soloveichik, Ph.D., Director of the Straus Center of Torah and Western Thought at Yeshiva University; Homa Sabet Tavanger, author and co-founder of the Big Questions Institute and Oneness Lab; Prasad Kaipa, Ph.D., entrepreneur and author; and Timothy P. Shriver, Ph.D., Chairman of the Special Olympics International.

Edna joins a list of 52 Prize recipients including St. Teresa of Kolkata (the inaugural award in 1973) and Archbishop Desmond Tutu (2013). The 2022 Templeton Prize was awarded to theoretical physicist Dr. Frank Wilczek. Preceding him was ethologist and conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall. Other humanitarians who have won the Prize include Dame Cicely Saunders, a nurse and the pioneer of the hospice movement, and Chiara Lubich, creator of the Focolare movement in Italy.

###



Notes to Editors

More information on Dr. Edna Adan Ismail, her statement on accepting the Prize, a statement by Heather Templeton Dill on the awarding of the Prize, and information on the 52 previous Templeton Prize Laureates, are available at www.templetonprize.org/2023

Follow the Templeton Prize on Twitter using @TempletonPrize and #TempletonPrize2023.

Follow the Templeton Prize on Facebook and Instagram using #TempletonPrize2023

and using #TempletonPrize2023 Watch and embed a video featuring Edna Adan Ismail on the Templeton Prize YouTube channel , where you will find additional videos with information on the Templeton Prize.

About the Templeton Prize

Established in 1972, the Templeton Prize is one of the worlds largest annual individual awards. It is given to honor individuals whose exemplary achievements advance Sir John Templetons philanthropic vision: harnessing the power of the sciences to explore the deepest questions of the universe and humankinds place and purpose within it. Currently valued at 1.1 million GBP, the award is adjusted periodically so it always exceeds the value of the Nobel Prize. Winners have come from a wide range of faiths, fields, and geographies, and have included Nobel Prize winners, philosophers, theoretical physicists, and one canonized saint. The Templeton Prize is awarded by the three Templeton philanthropies: the John Templeton Foundation, based in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, and by the Templeton World Charity Foundation and Templeton Religion Trust, based in Nassau, The Bahamas. To learn more, visit TempletonPrize.org

Contact:

Benjamin Carlson

bcarlson@templeton.org

Thomas Burnett

tburnett@templeton.org

Attachments
Victory has completed its initial mag survey of its 1,688-hectare Tahlo Lake Property

Findings confirm that historic copper (Cu) in soil anomaly overlies one of the linear mag highs and that the Northwest striking Morrison Fault is clearly shown by the mag survey and runs immediately west of the aforementioned copper anomaly

British Columbias Babine Copper-Gold Porphyry District contains American Eagle Gold Corp.s (TSXV: AE)s NAK property, the Morrison deposit and the historical Bell & Granisle mines

VANCOUVER, BC, CANADA, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

VANCOUVER, BC, CANADA (May 16th, 2023)  Victory Battery Metals Corp. (CSE: VR) (FWB: VR61) (OTC: VRCFF) (Victory or the Company) is pleased to announce that the Company has completed its initial mag survey of its recently expanded Tahlo Lake Property in British Columbias prolific Babine Copper-Gold Porphyry District. The Tahlo Lake property is 8 km northwest of American Eagle Golds (TSXV: AE) NAK Property.

Our Exploration team has initiated this initial mag survey to gain a better understanding of the geology and structure of the property, noted Mr. Mark Ireton, Victory President and CEO. The team has found it very interesting that the historic Cu in soil anomaly overlies one of the linear mag highs and has confirmed that the Northwest striking Morrison Fault is clearly shown by the mag survey and runs immediately west of the aforementioned copper anomaly.

Building on the information gained through the mag survey, the exploration team will be focussing on the area of coincident Cu in soil and mag high to assess whether these features are related to mineralization related to biotite feldspar porphyry (BFP) of the Babine Igneous suite, which is the lithology that hosts the significant Babine Porphyry deposits such as the Nak, Morrison, Bell and Granisle, said Mr. Helgi Sigurgeirson, Victory Geologist.

Mag Survey Details

The survey was conducted by Helicopter-borne high resolution aeromagnetic data. The survey utilized state-of-the-art geophysical instrumentation attached directly to the helicopter. Magnetic sensors are flown in a non-magnetic and non-conductive nose stinger configuration. Compared to conventional slung bird-type survey systems, this innovative design allowed the survey to be safely flown at reduced terrain clearance to minimize noise, improve resolution, and reduce the need for complex corrections to the data. Geophysical data and preparation of maps deployed industry-standard Geosoft algorithms and mapping software to show the geomagnetic properties of the survey area. The Tahlo Lake survey block was flown in a systematic low-level grid pattern as determined by Victory Battery Metals.

About The Tahlo Lake Property

1688-hectare property lies within the Babine Copper-Gold Porphyry District that contains American Eagles NAK Property (TSXV: AE)

A regional geochemical survey silt sample in the center of the property returned over the 96th percentile for Cu and over the 98th percentile for Zn. Surrounding RGS samples form a cluster of elevated Cu and Zn values

Noranda reported a linear soil anomaly approximately 50 m x 500 m, trending NNW, with Cu values ranging from 60 to 720 ppm Cu to the southwest of the area drained by the highly anomalous silt sample site. Noranda never followed up on the anomaly and no work has been reported since

A regional till sample taken about half a kilometer east of the soil anomaly returned elevated Cu and highly anomalous Zn (>98th percentile). A till sample about 2 km down ice from this site on the returned over the 95th percentile for Au.

Another till sample on the newly staked property returned 49 ppb Au, which is over the 98th percentile for the region

The Company is pleased to announce that it has engaged the services of Xander Capital Partners Inc. (Xander) for investor relations consulting services, which are anticipated to include a focus on brand awareness and assistance with the introduction of Company management to mining industry partners, research analysts, investment bankers, investor relations and content development partners. In consideration for the investor relations services, the Company has agreed to pay a monthly cash fee in the amount of US$10,000 for a three-month term. The Agreement may be renewed or extended, or cancelled by the Company at any time during or at the end of the term. Xander is headquartered in Orlando Florida, USA.

In addition, the Company has entered into a Media Services Agreement (the Agreement) with TD Media whereby the services to be provided by TD Media will include digital media, marketing strategies, advertising, and awareness campaigns for a fee of US$100,000 per month for a term of three months. The Agreement may be renewed or extended, or cancelled by the Company at any time during or at the end of the term. TD Media is based out of Houston Texas, USA.

Xander and TD Media are not related parties to Victory and operate at arms length. Neither Xander or TD Media nor its principals have any interest in the Companys securities, directly or indirectly, or any right or intent to acquire such an interest.

The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Helgi Sigurgeirson, Victory Geologist, who is a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101.



For further information, please contact:

Mark Ireton, President

Telephone: +1 (236) 317 2822 or TOLL FREE 1 (855) 665-GOLD (4653)

E-mail: info@victorybatterymetals.com



About Victory Battery Metals Corp.

VICTORY BATTERY METALS CORP. (CSE: VR) is a publicly traded diversified investment corporation with mineral interests in North America. The company is also actively seeking other exploration opportunities.



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.



Forward Looking Statements

Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint-ventures and strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "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. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities laws.

Attachment
TORONTO, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Abaxx Technologies Inc. (NEO:ABXX)(OTCQX:ABXXF) (Abaxx or the Company), a financial software and market infrastructure company, majority shareholder of the Abaxx Commodity Exchange (Abaxx Singapore), and producer of the SmarterMarkets Podcast, summarizes development activities over the past quarter and the general progress of the Companys business plans.



Highlights:

Completed full systems integration and commenced operational readiness testing; completed first user acceptance testing (UAT) and progressed systems toward final completion of regulatory requirements in Q2.

Completed commercial onboarding of first clearinghouse settlement bank; signed collateral management services agreement with South East Asias largest bank by assets.

Continued to expand our engagement with commercial participants and clearing members across our first three futures product verticals: LNG, Carbon, and Battery Metals; LNG and Carbon contracts product development is complete.

Continued progress on the third and final stage of product development work on our first battery metals contract (consisting of industry comments, risk modeling, regulatory document submission, and filing); progressed precious metals contracts toward the third stage of product development.

Completed all key executive and senior management level hiring in Abaxx Singapore, and appointed remaining governance board members as announced on April 26, 2023.

Continued to finalize the development of the ID++ protocol and Abaxx Console Apps (Verifier, Sign, and Drive) for internal use within the Exchange and identified advanced use cases externally with key partners.

Continued progress on the strategic partner financing process for a non-brokered equity financing at Abaxx Singapore Pte. Ltd., the parent company of Abaxx Exchange Pte. Ltd. and Abaxx Clearing Pte. Ltd., with the goal of completion before submitting applications to draw down all final regulatory licenses.



The Company plans to host an investor call and presentation in conjunction with final US listing preparations over the coming weeks, to be announced separately.

Dear Shareholders,

Over the past quarter, the Company made significant progress toward a 2023 launch of the Abaxx Exchange and Clearinghouse in Singapore. Member engagement accelerated with key industry events in Q1 and the increased focus on solutions for problematic market structures across the European and Asian LNG markets, voluntary carbon markets, and global battery metals. We continue to work with market participants (trading, broker, and clearing firms) and our market infrastructure partners to prepare systems and complete regulatory requirements to ensure a successful launch. Onboarding of clearing firms is actively underway.

The Company remains on track to complete the final licensing application requirements at or near the end of Q2, subject to the successful completion of the Abaxx Singapore strategic financing for required reserve capital and regulatory approval.

Abaxx Exchange and Clearing Developments

Risk and Regulatory: The Company appointed a new Chief Risk Officer and appointed key governance board members of Abaxx Singapore and Abaxx Clearing in anticipation of the launch. As a result, all critical path elements of enterprise risk management, financial risk management, and technology risk management are expected to be completed within the first half of 2023. The Company maintains active engagement with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to obtain Approved Clearing House (ACH), Approved Holding Company (AHC), and Recognised Market Operator (RMO) licenses once all remaining licensing conditions are met. Estimated timelines to complete the remaining processes have been shared with MAS.

Commercial: In addition to the close collaboration with global commodity trading firms, the Exchange is closely engaged with a core group of Clearing members at various stages of the onboarding process in anticipation of being exchange launch partners with Abaxx.

During the quarter, Abaxx Clearing entered into a collateral management services agreement with DBS Bank Limited (DBS), South East Asias largest bank by assets. The Agreement mandates DBS as the financial institution to provide collateral management services, including the establishment of bank accounts for (a) clearing members of Abaxx Clearing, and (b) Abaxx Clearing, and the collection of cash deposits, margins, and any other funds which constitute collateral movement between Abaxx Clearing and its clearing members. DBS was voted Worlds Best Bank by Euromoney, Best Bank in the World by Global Finance, and Global Bank of the Year by The Banker on multiple occasions, will provide critical services in managing collateral requirements, minimizing settlement risk, providing liquidity, and managing the settlement process.

Systems and Operations: In Q1 2023, the Company completed full integration of Exchange and Clearing applications and commenced final testing. Major exchange and clearing ISVs have progressed with integration and conformance testing. Details on approved ISVs will be shared at the operational readiness milestone. Staff resourcing and training are on track with operational readiness goals. All key roles in Operations and Risk have been filled, and the hiring and training of junior staff is in line with launch targets.

Infrastructure: In Q1 2023, significant milestones were achieved related to the testing of rapid deployment and configuration capabilities for the exchange stack, leveraging modern, automated, cloud-native processes. Abaxxs Digital Product team has focused on implementing upgrades and improvements identified during integration testing, and feature roadmaps for post-launch have been defined. Infrastructure development has focused on hardening integrations, (enterprise-hardening) network and infrastructure, and IT processes. Quality engineering capabilities have been scaled to expand capacity for customer engagement and support inquiries during launch.

Exchange Product Development: Abaxx Exchange product development is typically managed in 3 stages: Stage 1: Problem identification and industry consultation; Stage 2: Scoping, designing, and drafting comprehensive delivery contracts; and Stage 3: Industry comments, risk modeling, regulatory document submission, and filing. Metals market development has progressed to Stage 3 for our first precious and battery metal contracts. The initial battery metals contract, subject to ongoing development work and regulatory review, is progressing at pace to include at launch along with our Carbon contract and three LNG contracts.

Abaxx Console Apps and ID++ Protocol: In Q1 2023, our product and engineering team launched Version 2 of the ID++ protocol. Version 2 introduces enhanced interoperability with stateless UTXO Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLTs), while maintaining robust support for stateful account models such as the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). The updated protocol incorporates integrations for zero-knowledge Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures, refined peer-to-peer messaging, and cross-compatibility with existing OAuth standards; these features equip ID++ to tackle the complexities of securing digital identity and permissions in environments that utilize both centralized and decentralized networks. Integration into Verifier, Sign, and Drive is underway, as is the development of a new product, Issuer, designed to facilitate enterprise-client integrations.

Abaxx Corporate Update

Strategic Financing Process: The Company has continued progress on its strategic equity financing process with market partners at the Abaxx Singapore subsidiary level. We remain engaged with multiple institutions and are progressing through due diligence, finalizing terms, and finalizing timelines in preparation for a formal equity offering in Abaxx Singapore. The potential equity placement is described by the Company as reserve capital that will remain in separate accounts of Abaxx subsidiaries to meet minimum regulatory and runway capital requirements and future Abaxx Clearing risk-waterfall needs.

Secondary U.S. Listing Application: The Company also continued progressing in several aspects of preparation for a secondary listing application of Company shares on a U.S. stock exchange, subject to meeting all regulatory requirements.

The Corporations management team has been studying the potential benefits of an additional listing on a U.S. stock exchange. Based on the Corporations stage of development, certain developments in its industry, its observations regarding the market for its peers whose securities are listed on a U.S. stock exchanges, and also from discussions with both U.S.-based investment banks and other advisers, the Corporation believes that there may be potential benefits of a listing on a U.S. stock exchange, including:

 A significantly larger pool of available capital

 A greater average daily trading volume

 A greater number of U.S. retail and institutional investors

 A potential increase in market valuation

At-the-Market Equity Program: In April, Abaxx established an ATM Program which allows the Company to issue, at its discretion, common shares (the Common Shares) of the Company having an aggregate offering price of up to C$30 million to the public from time to time through the Agent.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the ATM Program for general corporate and working capital requirements, including to fund ongoing operations and/or working capital requirements, to repay indebtedness outstanding from time to time and to complete future acquisitions or for other corporate purposes. For more information about the ATM Program, please refer to our April 26th Press Release .

About Abaxx Technologies

Abaxx is a development-stage financial software and market infrastructure company creating proprietary technological infrastructure for both global commodity exchanges and digital marketplaces. The companys formative technology increases transaction velocity, data security, and facilitates improved risk management in the majority-owned Abaxx Commodity Exchange (Abaxx Singapore Pte. Ltd.) - a commodity futures exchange seeking final regulatory approvals as a Recognized Market Operator (RMO) and Approved Clearing House (ACH) with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). Abaxx is a founding shareholder in Base Carbon Inc. and the creator and producer of the SmarterMarkets podcast.

For more information please visit abaxx.tech , abaxx.exchange and smartermarkets.media .

Media and investor inquiries:

Abaxx Technologies Inc.

Investor Relations Team

Tel: +1 246 271 0082

E-mail: ir@abaxx.tech

Forward-Looking Statements

This News Release includes certain "forward-looking statements" which do not consist of historical facts. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe Abaxx or the Companys future plans, objectives, or goals, including words to the effect that Abaxx expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as seeking, believes, anticipates, expects, estimates, may, could, would, will, or plan. Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on information currently available to Abaxx, Abaxx does not provide any assurance that actual results will meet managements expectations. Risks, uncertainties, and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward-looking information in this news release includes but is not limited to, Abaxxs objectives, goals or future plans, statements, timing of the commencement of operations, and estimates of market conditions. Such factors include, among others: risks relating to the global economic climate; dilution; the Companys limited operating history; future capital needs and uncertainty of additional financing; the competitive nature of the industry; currency exchange risks; the need for Abaxx to manage its planned growth and expansion; the effects of product development and need for continued technology change; protection of proprietary rights; the effect of government regulation and compliance on Abaxx and the industry; network security risks; the ability of Abaxx to maintain properly working systems; reliance on key personnel; global economic and financial market deterioration impeding access to capital or increasing the cost of capital; and volatile securities markets impacting security pricing unrelated to operating performance. In addition, particular factors which could impact future results of the business of Abaxx include but are not limited to: operations in foreign jurisdictions, protection of intellectual property rights, contractual risk, third-party risk; clearinghouse risk, malicious actor risks, third-party software license risk, system failure risk, risk of technological change; dependence of technical infrastructure, an inability to predict and counteract the effects of COVID-19 on the business of the Company, including but not limited to the effects of COVID-19 on the price of commodities, capital market conditions, restriction on labor and international travel and supply chains. Abaxx has also assumed that no significant events occur outside of Abaxxs normal course of business.

Abaxx cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. In addition, although Abaxx has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. When relying on Abaxx's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Abaxx has assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents the expectations of Abaxx as of the date of this press release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. Abaxx does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws. The NEO Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.
HIGHLIGHTS

MATURING PROJECTS UNDER DEVELOPMENT

First year of bird and mammals survey completed on Buchan Offshore Wind project

Mobilization of geophysical survey vessels

Start of assembly preparation on first EolMed floater in Port-la-Nouvelle

EXPANDING OUR SUBSTANTIATED PIPELINE IN STRATEGIC MARKETS

Signing of HoT with Elawan to co-develop projects in Spain & Portugal (May)

Approval of partnership for Celtic Sea Tender

Approval of a new partnership in Asia

SECURING ADDITIONAL FUNDING

Exclusive negotiations for a EUR 40 million funding by ADEME Investissement of BW Ideols project development activities

Signing of EUR 12 million shareholder loan with BW Offshore and Noria

Up to GBP 300 million equity funding secured by Ardersier Port

MAINTAINING STRICT CASH DISCIPLINE

First quarter 2023 engineering revenue of EUR 0.98 million

Cash position of EUR 5.6 million at end of March 2023

First quarter operating cash-burn limited to EUR 1.4 million

BW Ideol continues to make good progress in executing its dual-leg strategy as co-developer of floating wind projects and as EPCI contractor of floating wind technology by maturing ongoing projects and adding new opportunities to the project pipeline.

Offshore wind is set to play a vital role in enabling decarbonation of energy systems and ensuring energy security. On 24 April, nine European countries signed the Ostend Declaration, aiming to jointly produce at least 120 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030 and at least 300 gigawatts by 2050 in the North Sea. The declaration also covers the Atlantic Ocean, Celtic Sea and Irish Sea, where the nine signatories will endeavour to accelerate deployment of offshore renewables and connectivity in these areas.

The broad political support and a significant increase European ambitions reflect that a growing number of nations consider offshore wind as a key contributor to energy transition and security. This is aligned with our conviction that floating wind will be one of the main enabling technologies, said Paul de la Gueriviere, the CEO of BW Ideol. We are making good progress across our project portfolio at the forefront of this development and are very pleased to establish a long-term partnership with ADEME Investissement and strengthen the financial platform for execution of our strategy in the current turbulent financial markets.

At the end of March 2023, BW Ideol had 1 GW of projects under development and approximately 5.1 GW of substantiated pipeline of projects. Business development activity is high as nations and corporations seek ways to decarbonise various industry value chains. This is reflected in four feasibility studies for oil and gas companies for creating a framework for power-to-platform projects in cooperation with BW Offshore. BW Ideol is well positioned to contribute to the energy transition at scale as a leading project developer and technology provider with a unique platform for execution of offshore floating wind developments.

FUNDING

0n 22 March, BW Ideol and ADEME Investissement, a state-owned French financier of innovative infrastructure projects, announced exclusive negotiations related to EUR 40 million of equity funding of BW Ideols project development activities. Under the agreed terms, BW Ideol will transfer its co-development project portfolio to a newly created subsidiary BW Ideol Projects Company, subject to approval of projects partners and tendering authorities. ADEME Investissement will invest the total equity in the project holding company through capital increases, with an initial EUR 16.7 million paid at first closing. Subsequent capital injections will be based on project funding calls with a co-financing at equal share between BW Ideol and ADEME Investissement.

Following first closing, BW Ideol will own 76.6% of DevCo, representing a post-money valuation of BW Ideol Projects Holding of around EUR 72 million. ADEME Investissement is set to increase its holding over time as further projects are matured and financed. Under the agreement, BW Ideol will manage the project holding company through a service agreement. When all funding calls are completed, both ADEME Investissement and BW Ideol will have invested EUR 40 million each in BW Ideol Projects Company.

ADEME Investissement has been granted a two-month exclusivity period. Negotiations are ongoing with completion of first closing on track for end of the second quarter of 2023, subject to final negotiations and approval by the respective decision bodies of BW Ideol and ADEME Investissement.

BW Ideol will retain full ownership of its other business activities and assets, including technology, related IP and know-how portfolio, the floater EPCI business line and the exclusivity with the Port of Ardersier in Scotland for a floater production line, the Floatgen demonstrator, the ownership in the EolMed project, as well as all the teams, including engineering, business development, project execution, supply chain, legal, innovation, finance.

Separately, BW Ideol signed a EUR 12 million shareholder loan with BW Offshore and Noria, which combined with the planned funding from ADEME Investissement, is expected to provide financing BW Ideols business plan for the next 12 months. BW Ideol is also exploring other options to cover the Companys long-term financing requirements.

FINANCIALS

Revenue from customer contracts for the first three months of 2023 was EUR 0.98 million, reflecting mainly design and engineering activities and royalties for projects in France, Scotland and Asia. Operating loss before depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) for the period was EUR 1.5 million, compared to a loss of EUR 1.4 million in the year-ago period. Operating cashflow in the first quarter was negative at EUR 1.4 million.

At 31 March 2023, total equity was EUR 92.7 million and the equity ratio was 77%. Total cash was EUR 5.6 million, compared to EUR 9.1 million at 31 December 2022.

OPERATIONS

In late April, the construction site for the three floating offshore wind turbines for the 30 MW EolMed project was officially opened at Port-la Nouvelle, France. Construction start was marked with the arrival of the initial prefabricated steel blocks which will make up the floating substructures based on BW Ideols patented dampening pool design. The entire floater fabrication will be executed in France, demonstrating that BW Ideols technology is compatible with the highest levels of local content. It is expected that the construction will take around 18 months and consume 250,000 man-hours. The Company has 5% ownership stake in the project and provides engineering services during the construction phase.

At the site of the 960 MW Buchan Offshore Wind farm off the northeast coast of Scotland, Buchan Offshore Wind Limited (formerly named Floating Energy Allyance) proceeded with site investigations and environmental studies in preparation for the consent application process. Buchan Offshore Wind Limited has appointed Ocean Infinity to execute the initial geophysical and geotechnical site investigations as a key step in the design and assessment process. Survey campaign scheduled to take place later in 2023. BOWL comprises BayWa r.e., Elicio and BW Ideol. In addition to a 33.3% equity holding in the wind-farm project, BW Ideol will design the floating foundations based on its proven and patented Damping Pool technology. Construction is targeted to start in 2028 with commissioning of the wind farm in 2031.

The collaboration with the EDF Renewables and Maple Power consortium for the 250 MW AO5 offshore floating wind tender near coast of South Brittany continues with the final date of bid-submission in the third quarter of 2023 and the license award expected at the end of the year or early 2024. BW Ideol also cooperates with EDF Renewables and Maple Power on the design of floating foundations for the AO6 floating wind tender in the Mediterranean Sea covering two 250 MW sites. The consortium has been preselected for the AO6 tender. The competitive dialogue was launched in August 2022 and bid submission is expected at end of 2023 with award in 2024.

In May, the Company signed a Head of Terms with Elawan for the co-development of a multi-GW pipeline of projects in the Iberian Peninsula. Elawan is a Spanish company, 100% owned by ORIX Corporation, with more than 2.6 GW of renewable assets built and an 8.4 GW portfolio of renewable projects. The companies are working to formalise the Joint Development Agreement and preparation of the upcoming tenders in Spain and Portugal.

Recently, the Company also approved a partnership in preparation for the 4 GW Celtic Sea tender expected to be launched in the third quarter of 2023 by Crown Estate Scotland. The Company also progresses several other initiatives including development of a commercial-scale floating wind farms in Japan and a floating demo project off Taiwan.

BW Ideols commercial development is founded on the Groups floating wind technology and expertise. The Group is continuously seeking to advance its technology solutions to grow its team competencies and skills and apply them to new products supporting safe and cost-efficient development of industrial scale floating wind farms.

The Floatgen floating unit installed offshore western France produced 1.74 GWh of renewable power during the quarter and had, at the end of the March, produced 25.9 GWh of electricity with high availability since commissioning, reflecting the seakeeping performance of BW Ideols proprietary Damping Pool design. Throughout 2022 and in early 2023, the power output from Floatgen has on several occasions exceeded the maximum expected output from the Vestas V80 turbine, confirming the exceptional performance offered by the movements of BW Ideols Damping Pool design.

OUTLOOK

BW Ideol aims to be a leading long-term owner of floating wind assets in key offshore markets worldwide. The primary focus is to continuously progress, expand and de-risk the Groups project pipeline. The planned funding from ADEME Investissement and shareholder loan is expected to finance the Companys business plan for the next 12 months and support work on establishing additional long-term funding.

BW Ideol has set a goal to be involved in an approximately 10 GW gross portfolio of floating wind projects by 2030 by developing the existing pipeline and strong joint venture partnerships, through scaling and optimisation of the patented Damping Pool technology, and by developing the global organisation and leveraging the partnership with BW Offshore, including in the power-to-platform market.

The Group considers itself to be ahead of plan for the 10 GW target based on the recent progress. The rapid global expansion of the commercial scale floating wind market supports a continued strong market outlook, as BW Ideol's teams are preparing up to 20 GW of confirmed tenders to be potentially awarded in 2023 in key markets.

Please find attached the first quarter 2023 presentation.

WEBCAST

The Company will hold a webcast call followed by a live Q&A on 22 May at 11:00 CEST. The webcast will be held in English by CEO Paul de la Gueriviere and CFO Nicolas de Kerangal.

The webcast will be available by following this link: https://app.webinar.net/6lNa8BxGdXn

Please note that if you follow the webcast via the above URL, you will experience a 30 second delay compared to the main conference call. The web page works best in an updated browser - Chrome is recommended.

For further information, please contact:

Nicolas de Kerangal, Chief Financial & Partnerships Officer at BW Ideol, +33 (0) 7 76 87 70 08,

ir@bw-ideol.com

About BW Ideol: BW Ideol is a leading fully integrated platform in floating offshore wind with more than 12 years of experience from design, execution and development of floating wind projects based on our patented floating offshore wind technology and engineering capabilities. The company has a dual-leg growth strategy as a floater EPCI and maintenance services provider and as a wind-farm project developer and co-owner. BW Ideol has two full-scale offshore floating wind turbines in operation in France and Japan, a significant project pipeline, and is supported by BW Offshore's extensive experience from developing and operating offshore energy production systems.

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act

Attachment
TORONTO, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Churchill Resources Inc. (Churchill or the Company) (TSXV: CRI) is pleased to announce that it has completed a National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101) compliant technical report on the Florence Lake Project (the Report) that is highly encouraging for nickel discoveries throughout the volcanic stratigraphy, rather than just the Baikie Showing horizon concentrated on previously. This is the first independent technical report ever prepared on the project and includes compiled and reinterpreted historical work by Falconbridge from 1992 to 96, as well as Churchills 2022 soil sampling and VTEM airborne survey. An important conclusion to the work has been the recognition of numerous Al 2 O 3 -undepleted ultramafic volcanic areas (i.e. more primitive lavas, associated with nickel mineralization) at Florence Lake, as stacked targets located throughout the upper Eastern Volcanic areas of the greenstone belt, and importantly also within the more basal Western Volcanics. Kambalda-style nickel sulphide deposits are generally at the base of ultramafic volcanic sequences.



The Report recommends a 2023 field program that includes a Phase 1 of summer camp establishment, lithogeochemical sampling, mapping, prospecting, ground, and airborne geophysical surveys, all preparatory for a 5,000m Phase 2 drill program in early Fall. The Company is receiving quotes for the recommended work and is submitting all permit applications required to complete the program.

At Taylor Brook, the Company is preparing for late Spring drilling, soil sampling, prospecting and ground geophysical work along the Layden magmatic intrusive trend, where shallow high-grade intersections to 4.44m of 2.79% Ni, 0.54% Cu, 0.05% Co were drilled in 2022.

The Company is also pleased to announce the appointment of Conan McIntyre as a new independent member of the board.

Florence Lake Technical Report  Key Points

The Report was authored by Dr. Derek Wilton, P.Geo., of Terra Rosetta Inc., St. Johns, NL, Mr. Jeremy S. Brett, M.Sc., P.Geo., of Jeremy S. Brett International Consulting Ltd., Toronto, ON, and assisted by Mr. Paul Sobie P.Geo., Chief Executive Officer & Director of Churchill. A copy of the Report will be posted and available for download on the Companhys issuer profile on SEDAR and on the Companys website at www.churchillresources.com.

Key conclusions from the Report include:

Falconbridges historical rock and core geochemical sampling data has proven beneficial to Dr. Wilton in characterizing certain ultramafic volcanic units or areas as having potential for Kambalda-style high grade nickel mineralization.





Importantly these potentially mineralized ultramafic samples (Aluminum-undepleted komatiites, or AUK) are found throughout the Florence Lake stratigraphy, and are not limited to the Baikie Showing horizon focused on by past workers. This opens the entire belt as being prospective for Kambalda-style nickel deposits.





Churchills VTEM survey is an excellent first pass system with the magnetic data assisting with mapping the ultramafic volcanics and structures, and the VTEM helping to identify stringer to net textured sulfide conductors, and for interpretation and planning of Surface TDEM surveys which can identify massive sulfides.





Churchills detailed soil sampling approach has proven effective at mapping the ultramafic horizons and demonstrating high-grade nickel mineralization can be detected, as at the Baikie Showing where a nearby soil sample assayed 1.0% Ni.





A total of 113 targets have been selected, of which most are VTEM conductors, with some more highly ranked based on correlative Ni assays in soil, or AUK komatiitic geochemistry being present.





Forty-three (43) of the targets are ranked as high priority, and are presented in Figure 1, where Al 2 O 3 -undepleted (AUK) rocks are designated as KA targets, and conductors with AUK rocks present (either at surface or in core) are designated as AUK targets. Stacked AUK/KA targets are located throughout the stratigraphy in the DCP NE, Baikie and Boomerang areas of the greenstone belt, and importantly within basal Western Volcanics.





O -undepleted (AUK) rocks are designated as KA targets, and conductors with AUK rocks present (either at surface or in core) are designated as AUK targets. Stacked AUK/KA targets are located throughout the stratigraphy in the DCP NE, Baikie and Boomerang areas of the greenstone belt, and importantly within basal Western Volcanics. The presence of AUK rocks at the base of the Western Volcanics is potentially very important to understanding the emplacement history of the Baikie Sub-belt komatiites, and therefore where the best mineralization may be localized. The western portion of the Eastern Volcanics is much less explored than the Baikie horizon, and the Western Volcanics have seen little to no exploration other than Churchills VTEM survey.





Churchills soil sampling in 2022 did not reach the conductors present in the Western Volcanics in the Boomerang SE2 area where the volcanic pile seems thickest based on the magnetic data, and numerous conductors in this area need follow-up. Similarly, the 2022 soil work did not follow-up on target LN-22 in the DCP Area.



With these results in mind the authors recommend comprehensive geological, soil sampling and ground geophysical follow-up to further prioritize targets and allow for the design of appropriate drilling tests. It is also important that the 2022 soil sampling program be completed through the Baikie SE2 Area of the North Block, and the large grid on the South Block.

Fig. 1 High Priority Targets Identified on the North Block of the Florence Lake Property





The authors of the Report recommended a 2023 exploration program including:

Phase1

Lithiogeochemical analyses of ultramafic samples from legacy drill core and rock samples to generate full trace and major element data.

Complete the establishment of the 16-person field camp on Florence Lake as early as possible in late Spring. Winterize the tents in late Summer.

Refurbish the Falconbridge grids at Baikie, Boomerang and Knee Lake to assist with access for field crews. Expand these to the edges of the greenstone belts in areas of interest.

Complete on-going compilations of all past exploration work coupled with new VTEM Magnetic and EM interpretations.

Detailed airborne radiometrics - gradiometer magnetic surveying is recommended for the North Block encompassing the greenstone belt as well as VTEM conductor targets within the granitic terrain.

Airborne TDEM surveying at 100m line spacing over the South Block of the property, where both VMS and magmatic nickel mineralization models apply.

A LiDAR survey is recommended to provide an accurate surface dataset and aid in structural interpretations.

Early summer prospecting and mapping to follow-up the anomalous target areas

Expansion of, as well as completion of the 2022 planned soil sampling coverage.

Induced Polarization, TDEM and CSAMT ground surveys over the highest ranked targets and areas.

An initial drilling program should be conducted from the results of the summer fieldwork with the aims of: a) deeper/along strike drilling at the Baikie Showing horizon if compilations suggest larger size possibilities, and b) evaluation of other priority targets. This program should consist of ~5,000 m of cumulative drilling to allow for reasonable unit costs. Drilling equipment may need to be winterized and stored on-site for the winter.

All boreholes should receive Televiewer and BHEM surveys to better identify oriented structural and geological features drilled, and detect off-hole conductors.

Taylor Brook Project

An updated NI 43-101 report is in progress on the combined Taylor Brook/Taylor Brook South Property while preparations for 2023 fieldwork commences with activities to start in mid-June. Key components of the program will include deeper drilling beneath the high-grade intersections at the Layden Intrusive, CSAMT surveys over the Layden Intrusive, and new targets along the Layden Magmatic Trend including the TBS-1 target. In addition, Churchill is expected to continue the detailed soil sampling southward along the trend, towards and over the South Lobe of the Taylor Brook Gabbro Complex.

Conan McIntyre, Director

Churchill is also pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Conan McIntyre to the board of directors of the Company. Mr McIntyre has extensive experience structuring corporate finance transactions and in providing advisory services to a wide variety of organizations, from emerging growth companies to global asset managers pursuing internationally prominent transactions. He has also acted as an executive and director for a number of public and private issuers from their formative stages, including in the junior resource sector. He began his career as a lawyer at Torys LLP in Toronto, and worked as a mergers and acquisitions attorney at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP in New York. He also previously worked at Macquarie Capital in both Toronto and New York and at PowerOne Capital Markets Limited in Toronto.

Florence Lake Project

The Florence Lake project consists of four map-staked licenses totalling 316 claims (69km2) located approximately 70km west of the coastal community of Postville in central Labrador. CRI entered into a two-year option agreement with Altius Resources Inc. to acquire a 100% interest in the property, subject to a 1.6% gross sales royalty on any metals produced, in an agreement dated June 24, 2021.

The technical and scientific information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Derek H.C Wilton, P.Geo., FGC, who is a qualified person as defined under NI 43-101 and independent of the Company.

About Churchill Resources Inc.

Churchill Resources Inc. is a Canadian exploration company focused on high grade, magmatic nickel sulphides in Canada, principally at its prospective Taylor Brook and Florence Lake properties in Newfoundland & Labrador. The Churchill management team, board and its advisors have decades of combined management experience in mineral exploration and in the establishment of successful publicly listed mining companies, both in Canada and around the world. Churchills Taylor Brook and Florence Lake projects have the potential to benefit from the provinces large and diversified minerals industry, which includes world class nickel mines and processing facilities, and a well-developed mineral exploration sector with locally based drilling and geological expertise. The province was recently ranked 4th in the world for investment attractiveness by the Fraser Institute in its 2022 annual survey of mining and exploration companies.

Further Information

For further information regarding Churchill, please contact:

Churchill Resources Inc.

Paul Sobie, Chief Executive Officer

Tel. +1 416.365.0930 (o) +1 647.988.0930 (m) Email psobie@churchillresources.com Alec Rowlands, Corporate Consultant

Tel. +1 416.721.4732 (m) Email arowlands@churchillresources.com



Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Information



This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", proposed, "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, the Companys objectives, goals and exploration activities conducted and proposed to be conducted at the Companys properties; future growth potential of the Company, including whether any proposed exploration programs at any of the Companys properties will be successful; exploration results; and future exploration plans. These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to materially differ from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include: the expected benefits to the Company relating to the exploration conducted and proposed to be conducted at the Companys properties; failure to identify any additional mineral resources or significant mineralization; the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, including to fund any exploration programs on the Companys properties; business integration risks; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; fluctuations in spot and forward prices of gold, silver, base metals or certain other commodities; fluctuations in currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar to United States dollar exchange rate); change in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations pressures, cave-ins and flooding); inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining and mineral exploration; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; availability of increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); the unlikelihood that properties that are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines; geological factors; actual results of current and future exploration; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be evaluated; soil sampling results being preliminary in nature and are not conclusive evidence of the likelihood of a mineral deposit; title to properties; ongoing uncertainties relating to the COVID-19 pandemic; and those factors described in the most recently filed managements discussion and analysis of the Company. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information, or the material factors or assumptions used to develop such forward-looking information, will prove to be accurate. The Company does not undertake to release publicly any revisions for updating any voluntary forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities law.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f444c87c-41d7-4d80-bc8a-3c22f003fd21
Boston, MA, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mass General Brigham and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute are collaborating with BEEAH Group, an organization pioneering sustainability and quality of life solutions in the Middle East, to advise in the development of the Jawaher Boston Medical District, a state-of-the-art health care system designed to deliver world-class, patient-centered care through innovation, technology, and sustainability. Mass General Brigham and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute are strategic partners, serving in an advisory capacity, on the project in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, which includes a multi-specialty flagship hospital for integrated, cutting-edge care.



The collaboration combines the depth and breadth of clinical expertise and innovation from Mass General Brigham and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, with BEEAHs vision to create a sustainable, advanced, patient-centered health system designed to deliver care to patients within  and beyond  hospital walls. BEEAH Group was founded in 2007 to tackle sustainability challenges in Sharjah and improve quality of life.



Focused on serving the unique needs of the people of Sharjah and the region, the Jawaher Boston Medical District will offer patients access to the latest clinical expertise across a wide variety of integrated clinical specialties, including lifestyle medicine and prevention, oncology, womens health, pediatrics, cardiovascular, neurosciences, behavioral health, and rehabilitation medicine. In addition to medical and research expertise, Mass General Brigham and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute will also collaborate with BEEAH Group to advise on best practices in workforce training, development, and public education to the community, with attention to developing local talent.



Mass General Brigham and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute are advising BEEAH Group in their development of multiple facilities, comprising the flagship hospital and ambulatory clinics across Sharjah, with integrated, innovative, and digital solutions, including app-based care and hospital-at-home.



Mass General Brigham has a deep history of global collaboration aimed at serving and improving the lives of patients around the world, said Raymond W. Liu, MD, Vice President, Mass General Brigham Global Advisory. In collaborating with BEEAH, we hope to contribute our decades of expertise to their development of a unique, innovative vision for a health system that builds on medicines leading edge, with an eye to the future.



Dana-Farber, a world leader in cancer treatment and research, is committed to advancing the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, cure, and prevention of cancer and related diseases locally and globally, said Adam Reich, Vice President of Business Initiatives at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. We are pleased to work with BEEAH and extend our expertise to this collaboration as part of our mission to enhance access to expert cancer care and reduce the burden of cancer worldwide.



By leveraging its expertise in quality-of-life solutions in Sharjah and the Middle East, BEEAH will create a new destination for the health, wellness and quality of life for the people of Sharjah and the region focused on patient outcomes and experience gleaned from a robust academic ecosystem pioneered, developed and refined over two centuries by Mass General Brigham and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute clinicians.



By pooling their combined medical, research and sustainability expertise, Mass General Brigham, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and BEEAH will develop innovative technologies, diagnostics, delivery models and patient care, ultimately fostering research, directly benefitting patients globally and providing valuable cross-institutional learnings in the United States. The outcome will enable BEEAH to create a comprehensive patient-centered health care system for the people of Sharjah and the UAE, integrating healthcare solutions into homes, schools, workplaces, and communities to help all patients and their families live healthier lives.



By partnering with Mass General Brigham and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, BEEAH Group is entering the healthcare industry and adding a new dimension to our purpose of pioneering a sustainable quality of life for the people of Sharjah, the UAE, and beyond, said Khaled Al Huraimel, Group CEO of BEEAH Group. Drawing from the expertise of our partners in Boston, we look forward to creating not just an integrated health network, but a future-ready healthcare ecosystem. The Jawaher Boston Medical District will provide patients in Sharjah access to world-class healthcare closer to home, while also serving as a hub for the development of cutting-edge treatments and medical advancement.



The project draws from Mass General Brigham and Dana-Farber Cancer Institutes medical and research expertise, as well as BEEAH Groups experience collaborating and innovating with international partners to create facilities that are sustainable, digitally-enabled and centered around the comfort and convenience of occupants.



Following a meeting of representatives from Mass General Brigham, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and BEEAH Group, Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi, Wife of the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of BEEAH Group, and Meghan Gregonis, United States General Consul in Dubai, the Jawaher Boston Medical District in Sharjah was approved to move forward.

###
Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States

TORONTO, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PIMCO Canada Corp. (PIMCO Canada) today announced the 2023 May cash distributions for the ETF series (ETF Series) of the PIMCO Canada mutual funds that distribute monthly (Funds). Unitholders of record of the ETF Series, at the close of business on May 24, 2023, will receive per-unit cash distribution payable on or about May 31, 2023.

Details of the per-unit cash distribution amount are as follow:

Fund Name Ticker Cash Distribution per Unit PIMCO Monthly Income Fund (Canada) PMIF $0.09318 PIMCO Monthly Income Fund (Canada) US$ PMIF.U US $0.10711 PIMCO Investment Grade Credit Fund (Canada) IGCF $0.05654 PIMCO Global Short Maturity Fund (Canada) PMNT $0.07884 PIMCO Low Duration Monthly Income Fund (Canada) PLDI $0.09900

The Manager, PIMCO Canada administers and manages the PIMCO Canada ETFs, and retains Pacific Investment Management Company, LLC (PIMCO), to provide sub-advisory services to the Funds.

About PIMCO

PIMCO was founded in 1971 in Newport Beach, California and is one of the worlds premier fixed income investment managers. Today we have offices across the globe and 3,000+ professionals united by a single purpose: creating opportunities for investors in every environment. PIMCO is owned by Allianz S.E., a leading global diversified financial services provider.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements included in this news release constitute forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, those identified by the expressions expect, intend, will and similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Funds. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect the Funds, PIMCO Canadas and/or PIMCOs current expectations regarding future results or events. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations, including, but not limited to, market factors. Although the Funds, PIMCO Canada and/or PIMCO believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and, accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. The Funds, PIMCO Canada and/or PIMCO undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statement or information whether as a result of new information, future events or other factors which affect this information, except as required by law.

No offering is being made by this material. Interested investors should obtain a copy of the prospectus, which is available from your Financial Advisor.

Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated.

All investments contain risk and can lose value. For a summary of the risks of an investment in a specific fund, please see the risks of mutual funds section of the prospectus.

Investments made by a Fund and the results achieved by a Fund are not expected to be the same as those made by any other PIMCO-advised Fund, including those with a similar name, investment objective or policies. A new or smaller Funds performance may not represent how the Fund is expected to or may perform in the long-term. New Funds have limited operating histories for investors to evaluate and new and smaller Funds may not attract sufficient assets to achieve investment and trading efficiencies. A Fund may be forced to sell a comparatively large portion of its portfolio to meet significant shareholder redemptions for cash, or hold a comparatively large portion of its portfolio in cash due to significant share purchases for cash, in each case when the Fund otherwise would not seek to do so, which may adversely affect performance.

Funds can offer different series, which are subject to different fees and expenses (which may affect performance), having different minimum investment requirements and are entitled to different services.

The products and services provided by PIMCO Canada may only be available in certain provinces or territories of Canada and only through dealers authorized for that purpose.

PIMCO Canada has retained PIMCO LLC as sub-adviser. PIMCO Canada will remain responsible for any loss that arises out of the failure of its sub-adviser.

PIMCO as a general matter provides services to qualified institutions, financial intermediaries and institutional investors. Individual investors should contact their own financial professional to determine the most appropriate investment options for their financial situation. This material contains the current opinions of the manager and such opinions are subject to change without notice. This material has been distributed for informational purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation of any particular security, strategy or investment product. Information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but not guaranteed. No part of this material may be reproduced in any form, or referred to in any other publication, without express written permission. PIMCO is a trademark of Allianz Asset Management of America L.P. in the United States and throughout the world. 2023, PIMCO

PIMCO Canada Corp. 199 Bay Street, Suite 2050, Commerce Court Station, P.O. Box 363, Toronto, ON, M5L 1G2, 416-368-3350

Contact:

Agnes Crane

PIMCO  Media Relations Phone: +212 597.1054
Available in the App Store and Google Play, Thumzup Enables Virtually Everyone to Earn Cash Rewards for Posting on Social Media about the Brands They Love

Los Angeles, CA, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Thumzup Media Corporation ("Thumzup" or the "Company") (OTCQB: TZUP) is excited to welcome C&O Restaurants to its cash rewards digital social media branding platform.

The Thumzup mobile app, which is available for download in the App Store and Google Play, incentivizes virtually everyone to become social media advocates for the brands they enjoy by paying them cash for approved posts.

Were excited to welcome C&O Restaurants, home to The Rat Pack Martini Bar and Best Free Table Bread in LA to the Thumzup platform, stated Robert Steele, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Thumzup. Thumzups users are now able to earn cash while enjoying delicious food at a restaurant where, People Generally Dont Leave Here Hungry. I have been eating there for years. We look forward to continuing our commitment to helping grow C&O Restaurants customer base and sales.

For more information, please visit https://www.thumzupmedia.com and https://www.candorestaurants.com/

About Thumzup

Thumzup Media Corporation (Thumzup) is democratizing the multi-billion dollar social media branding and marketing industry. Its flagship product, the Thumzup platform, utilizes a robust programmatic advertiser dashboard coupled with a consumer-facing App to enable individuals to get paid cash for posting about participating advertisers on major social media outlets through the Thumzup App. The easy-to-use dashboard allows advertisers to programmatically customize their campaigns. Cash payments are made to App users/creators through Venmo and PayPal.

Thumzup is a publicly traded company (OTCQB stock ticker: TZUP). For more information, please visit https://www.thumzupmedia.com

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These include, without limitation, statements about its potential growth, impacts on the advertising industry, and planned expansion. These statements are identified by the use of the words "could," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "expect," "may," "continue," "predict," "potential," "project" and similar expressions that are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Although we believe that our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that these plans, objectives, expectations or intentions will be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical experience and present expectations or projections. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements and the trading price for our common stock may fluctuate significantly. Forward-looking statements also are affected by the risk factors described in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Contact Info:

800-403-6150

investors@ThumzupMedia.com

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Belleville, Illinois, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Allsup, a leading provider of SSDI representation, return to work, veterans disability appeals and healthcare insurance services, is proud to once again be a sponsor of NAMICon 2023, in person, May 24-27, 2023, in Minneapolis and virtually, June 6-8, 2023.

This first in-person convention since 2019 is designed to bring people who are passionate about mental health together to meet advocates and learn about promising research and best practices. This years theme is Together for Mental Health.

T.J. Geist, principal advocate at Allsup, said, For many years, Allsup has enthusiastically supported the National Alliance on Mental Illness in its mission to provide advocacy, education, support and public awareness so that all individuals and families affected by mental illness can build better lives.

Mental illness ranks among the top 10 conditions that can qualify someone for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, Geist explained. Together, we can create more awareness, reduce stigma, improve education, and boost vital access to effective treatment and financial solutions, Geist said. Our combined efforts will go a long way to ensure people with mental health conditions can build better lives.

In 39 years, Allsup has helped more than 375,000 individuals with disabilities, including those with severe mental health disorders, receive SSDI benefits. Allsup now offers SSDI representation with its exclusive Disability Financial Solutions to help claimants find the right resources to improve their financial situation, such as reducing debt, household costs and mortgage payments. In addition, Allsup Employment Services (AES), an Allsup subsidiary and Social Security-approved Employment Network, helps people return to work through Social Securitys Ticket to Work Program if and when they become medically able.

Allsup is glad to support NAMICon 2023, which brings together some of the most influential experts in mental health from leading nonprofits, academic institutions and corporations on a variety of topics related to mental health. This years sessions include:

Best Practices for State Organizations & Affiliates.

Crisis Response & Intervention.

Culture & Identity in Mental Health.

Innovations in Research & Treatment.

Workplace Mental Health.

Youth & Young Adult Mental Health.

For more information or to register, visit Convention.NAMI.org.

ABOUT NAMI

NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nations largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. Find more at NAMI.org.

ABOUT ALLSUP

Allsup and its subsidiaries provide nationwide Social Security disability, veterans disability appeal, return to work, and healthcare benefits services for individuals, their employers and insurance carriers. Allsup professionals deliver specialized services supporting people with disabilities and seniors so they may lead lives that are as financially secure and as healthy as possible. Founded in 1984, the company is based in Belleville, Illinois, near St. Louis. Learn more at Allsup.com and @Allsup or download a free PDF of Applying for Social Security Disability Insurance: Getting It Right The First Time.

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CALGARY, Alberta, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Athabasca Oil Corporation (TSX: ATH) (Athabasca or the Company) advises that due to the ongoing Alberta wildfires, the Company has shut-in two of its facilities at Kaybob within its Light Oil operations. The facilities have been shut-in as a precautionary measure due to changing wildfire conditions and the Company is not aware of damage to its well sites or associated infrastructure. The Company estimates ~2,300 boe/d of temporary production downtime. The situation is dynamic and production will be restored when the area is safe and the Company is permitted to do so.



Athabasca would like to extend its sincere gratitude to its field staff, industry partners, emergency responders, and firefighters for their dedication and hard work in safeguarding our communities during this challenging time.

About Athabasca Oil Corporation

Athabasca Oil Corporation is a Canadian energy company with a focused strategy on the development of thermal and light oil assets. Situated in Albertas Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin, the Company has amassed a significant land base of extensive, high-quality resources. Athabascas common shares trade on the TSX under the symbol ATH. For more information, visit www.atha.com.

For more information, please contact:

Matthew Taylor Robert Broen Chief Financial Officer President and CEO 1-403-817-9104 1-403-817-9190 mtaylor@atha.com rbroen@atha.com

Reader Advisory:

This News Release contains forward-looking information that involves various risks, uncertainties and other factors. All information other than statements of historical fact is forward-looking information. The use of any of the words anticipate, plan, project, continue, maintain, estimate, expect, will, would, target, forecast, could, intend, potential, guidance, outlook and similar expressions suggesting future outcome are intended to identify forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is not historical fact, but rather is based on the Companys current plans, objectives, goals, strategies, estimates, assumptions and projections about the Companys industry, business and future operating and financial results. This information involves 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 information. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information included in this News Release should not be unduly relied upon. This information speaks only as of the date of this News Release.
Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States.



VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vizsla Copper Corp. (TSXV: VCU | OTCQB: VCUFF | FRANKFURT: 97E0) (Vizsla Copper or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with PI Financial Corp. as sole bookrunner and lead agent (the Lead Agent) in connection with a marketed best efforts private placement of up to $5.0 million (the Offering) excluding additional proceeds raised from the exercise of the Agents Option (as defined below).

The Offering will consist of:

(i) up to 9,100,000 units (the Units) at a price of $0.22 per Unit (Unit Offering Price); and



(ii) up to 12,500,000 flow-through shares (the FT Shares) at a price of $0.24 per FT Share (the FT Unit Offering Price)



(collectively, Offered Securities).

The Offered Securities will be offered by way of a best efforts private placement pursuant to exemptions from the prospectus requirements to residents of all Provinces of Canada and such other jurisdictions as may be agreed to by the Company and the Lead Agent.

Each Unit shall consist of one common share and one-half of one transferable common share purchase warrant (each whole such common share purchase warrant, a Warrant). Each whole Warrant shall be exercisable into one additional common share (a Warrant Share) for two years from the Closing Date (as defined below) at an exercise price of $0.30 per Warrant Share.

The Company has also granted the Lead Agent an option to increase the size of the offering (the Agents Option), which will allow the Lead Agent to offer up to an additional 20% of the Offering, on the same terms. The Agents Option may be exercised in whole or in part at any time prior to the closing of the Offering, in any combination of Offered Securities.

The Company has agreed to pay the Lead Agent a cash commission equal to 6.0% of the gross proceeds from the Offering and issue to the Agents non-transferable warrants (Compensation Warrants) equal to 6.0% of the aggregate number of Offered Securities issued under the Offering, other than in respect of a maximum of $1,000,000 in aggregate proceeds of Units and FT Shares issued to certain purchasers on a presidents list to be agreed upon by the Company and the Lead Agent, each acting reasonably (the Presidents List), in which case the commission and Compensation Warrants in respect of such issuance shall be equal to 3.0% of the aggregate proceeds of Units and FT Shares issued to such purchasers on the Presidents List. The Compensation Warrants will be exercisable into common shares at the Offering Price for a period of two years from the Closing Date (as defined below).

The net proceeds raised from the Units will be used to fund the ongoing advancement of exploration and development at the Companys exploration projects in British Columbia, and for working capital and general corporate purposes.

The gross proceeds from the sale of the FT Shares will be used before 2025 by the Company to incur eligible Canadian exploration expenses that will qualify as flow-through mining expenditures as such terms are defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the Qualifying Expenditures) related to the Companys projects in British Columbia, Canada. All Qualifying Expenditures will be renounced in favour of the subscribers of the FT Shares effective December 31, 2023.

The Offering is expected to close on or about June 1, 2023 (the Closing Date) or such other date as agreed between the Company and the Lead Agent, and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals. The Offered Securities will be subject to a statutory hold period expiring four months and one day from the Closing Date.

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.

The Woodjam Project

The 66,325 ha Woodjam Project is located 55 kilometres east of the community of Williams Lake in an area characterized by a low elevation, flat to gently undulating landscape that is well accessed by logging roads. Geologically, the Woodjam Project is located within the prolific Quesnel terrane  a large regional depositional belt commonly dominated by alkalic volcanic units and related volcaniclastic lithologies. The Quesnel terrane hosts both alkaline and calc-alkaline porphyry copper+/-gold+/-molybdenum deposits, including the Copper Mountain, New Afton, Highland Valley, Mount Polley, Mount Milligan and Kemess mines.

To date, six zones of porphyry-related mineralization (Megabuck, Deerhorn, Takom, Three Firs, Southeast, Megaton) have been identified at the Woodjam Project by drilling (95,092 metres in 281 holes since 2009 and a further 114 holes, 30,092 metres predominantly from 1998). These six mineralized zones form a cluster approximately five kilometres in diameter (Figure 1).

Historical mineral resources have been estimated for the Southeast, Deerhorn, and Takom deposits. They are summarized in Table 1 below.

Table 1  Historical Mineral Resource Estimates at the Woodjam Project

Zone Category Tonnage Grade Metal Content M tonnes % Cu g/t Au % CuEq M lbs Cu 000 oz Au South East1,4 Inferred 221.7 0.31 0.05 0.36 1,507 383.7 Deerhorn2,4 Inferred 32.8 0.22 0.49 0.67 158 516.2 Takom3,4 Inferred 8.3 0.22 0.26 0.45 40 68.2 Total NI 43-101 Inferred 262.8 0.30 0.11 0.40 1,705 968.1

Notes:

Source: NI 43-101 Technical Report for Woodjam Property, Horsefly, British Columbia, Canada, prepared by Susan Lomas, P.Geo. of Lions Gate Geological Consulting inc. (LGGC). and issued on December 16, 2022. The historical mineral resource estimate was prepared for Goldfields and Consolidated Woodjam Copper with an effective date of May 30, 2013. The NSR calculation used US$1,650/oz Au, US$3.90/lb Cu and recoveries of 56% Au and 64% Cu. The Southeast Historical Estimate was reported within a resource limiting pit shell based on a price assumption of US$1,650/oz Au and US$3.90/lb Cu, and a US$8.60 NSR cutoff. Source: NI 43-101 Technical Report for Woodjam Property, Horsefly, British Columbia, Canada, prepared by Susan Lomas, P.Geo. of Lions Gate Geological Consulting inc. (LGGC). and issued on December 16, 2022. The historical mineral resource estimate was prepared for Goldfields and Consolidated Woodjam Copper with an effective date of May 15, 2013. The NSR calculation used US$1,650/oz Au, US$3.90/lb Cu and recoveries of 56% Au and 64% Cu. The Deerhorn Historical Estimate was reported within a resource limiting pit shell based on a price assumption of US$1,650/oz Au and US$3.90/lb Cu, and a US$8.60 NSR cutoff. Source: NI 43-101 Technical Report for Woodjam Property, Horsefly, British Columbia, Canada, prepared by Susan Lomas, P.Geo. of Lions Gate Geological Consulting inc. (LGGC). and issued on December 16, 2022. The historical mineral resource estimate was prepared for Goldfields and Consolidated Woodjam Copper with an effective date of May 15, 2013. The NSR calculation used US$1,650/oz Au, US$3.90/lb Cu and recoveries of 56% Au and 64% Cu. The Takom Historical Estimate was reported within a resource limiting pit shell based on a price assumption of US$1,650/oz Au and US$3.90/lb Cu, and a US$8.60 NSR cutoff. Historical Estimates are considered historical in nature and as such are based on prior data and reports prepared by previous property owners. The reader is cautioned not to treat them, or any part of them, as current mineral resources or reserves. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the Historical Estimates as current resources and Vizsla Copper is not treating the Historical Estimates as current resources. In addition, mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

Figure 1  Woodjam Property Map

Qualified Person

All scientific and technical information in this news release has been prepared by or reviewed and approved by Ian Borg, P.Geo., Senior Geologist for Vizsla Copper. Mr. Borg is a Qualified Person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About Vizsla Copper

Vizsla Copper is a Cu-Au-Mo mineral exploration and development company headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. The Company is focused on its flagship Woodjam Project, located within the prolific Quesnel terrane, 55 kilometers east of the community of Williams Lake, British Columbia. It has two additional copper exploration properties, the Blueberry and Carruthers Pass projects, and has recently entered into an agreement to acquire a third, the Redgold project, all of which are well situated amongst significant infrastructure in British Columbia. The Company will grow through the exploration and development of the copper properties within its portfolio in addition to value accretive acquisitions. Vizsla Coppers vision is to be a responsible copper explorer and developer in the stable mining jurisdiction of British Columbia, Canada and is committed to socially responsible exploration and development, working safely, ethically and with integrity.

Vizsla Copper is a spin-out of Vizsla Silver Corp. (TSX.V: VZLA) (NYSE: VZLA) and is backed by Inventa Capital Corp., a premier investment group founded in 2017 with the goal of discovering and funding opportunities in the resource sector. Additional information about the Company is available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and the Companys website (www.vizslacopper.com).

Contact Information: For more information and to sign-up to the mailing list, please contact:

Chris Donaldson, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Tel: (604) 813-3931 | Email: chris@vizslacopper.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.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

The information contained herein contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and 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 activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including, without limitation, planned exploration activities. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as plans, expects, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates, or believes or the negative connotation thereof 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 or the negative connotation thereof. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, among others, statements relating to: obtaining the required regulatory approvals; the expected Closing Date; completion of the Offering; exercise of the Agents Option; the intended use of proceeds of the Offering; the incurrence of Qualifying Expenditures and the renouncement of such expenditures; exploration and development of the Companys properties; and the Companys growth and business strategies.

Such forward-looking information and statements are based on numerous assumptions, including among others, that the results of planned exploration activities are as anticipated, the anticipated cost of planned exploration activities, 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, that third party contractors, equipment and supplies and governmental and other approvals required to conduct the Companys planned exploration activities will be available on reasonable terms and in a timely manner. Although the assumptions made by the Company in providing forward-looking information or making forward-looking statements are considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate.

Forward-looking information and statements also involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual events or results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future events or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking information or statements, including, among others: negative operating cash flow and dependence on third party financing, uncertainty of additional financing, no known mineral reserves or resources, the limited operating history of the Company, the influence of a large shareholder, aboriginal title and consultation issues, reliance on key management and other personnel, actual results of exploration activities being different than anticipated, changes in exploration programs based upon results, availability of third party contractors, availability of equipment and supplies, failure of equipment to operate as anticipated; accidents, effects of weather and other natural phenomena and other risks associated with the mineral exploration industry, environmental risks, changes in laws and regulations, community relations and delays in obtaining governmental or other approvals.

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 or implied by 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 forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or reissue forward-looking information as a result of new information or events except as required by applicable securities laws.

A figure accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e7005d47-3da2-4572-9f27-3752259f713e
TORONTO, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Toubani Resources, Inc (ASX: TRE) (Toubani Resources or the Company) is pleased to announce the Kobada West discovery, a never-before drilled target less than 1km from the Kobada Main deposit in southern Mali. The Kobada project hosts 3.1Moz in Mineral Resources which occurs over a 4.5km strike length and is predominantly oxide and open pittable.



Highlights

First ever drill holes at Kobada West have delineated continuous, near surface oxide gold mineralisation with consistent grades and thicknesses section-to-section

Kobada West is interpreted to lie on a parallel structure less than 1km west of the Kobada Main deposit, yet no previous drilling had been undertaken and is outside of the current Mineral Resource

Recent drilling has identified shallow, oxide mineralisation on every section drilled to date over the current strike length of 600 metres which remains open along strike and at depth

Significant intersections include: 9m at 1.72g/t incl. 2m at 6.26g/t 1m at 11.3g/t and 5m at 1.26g/t 5m at 1.24g/t and 3m at 0.93g/t 11m at 0.55g/t, 2m at 2.66g/t and 3m at 1.12g/t

Kobada West results confirm gold mineralisation has been intersected at all of the five planned extensional targets drilled by Toubani in 2023, extending overall strike extent of mineralisation defined by drilling at the project from 5km to 11km

Drilling results affirm Toubanis overall strategy of an oxide-dominant project of scale at Kobada with optimisation work streams underway

Chief Executive Officer, Phil Russo commented: The consistency and continuity of mineralisation at Kobada West is very pleasing to see and is validation that the more we drill at Kobada, the more mineralisation is uncovered. Further, to discover this extensive mineralisation right next door to the main Kobada resource is a fantastic result. For a project of scale and maturity like Kobada to still be able to make new discoveries is such a rare combination and with our 2023 drill program now intersecting new mineralisation across all planned targets, we have had an exceptional success rate. Toubanis vision of defining a long-life, oxide-dominant project of scale is supported by our drilling success to date and we look forward to demonstrating this potential as our optimisation efforts advance in the coming months.







Figure 1: Plan showing location of Kobada West within the Kobada Gold Project

Drilling Results and Commentary

Kobada West is located on a parallel structure just 1km north-west of the Kobada Main Deposit (Figure 1). The target area was identified by the presence of artisanal workings as well as historical surface sampling. The number of holes drilled at this target was increased during the drill program due to recent artisanal activity observed by Toubanis geologists as well as logging of the initial drill holes.

Drilling was carried out on four sections spaced 200 metres apart as shown on Figure 2. Shallow oxide gold mineralisation was intersected on every section, over a strike length of 600m with good continuity section to section, and consistent grade and thickness. Gold mineralisation remains open along strike and depth. Results are detailed in Appendix 1 and include:

9m at 1.72g/t from 63m incl. 2m at 6.26g/t from 63m (KW1/22_P003)

1m at 11.3g/t from 129m and 5m at 1.26g/t from 116m (KW22_P003)

5m at 1.24g/t from 78m, 4m at 0.67g/t from 88m and 3m at 0.93g/t from 106m (KW22_P009)

11m at 0.55g/t from 16m, 2m at 2.66g/t from 58m and 3m at 1.12g/t from 63m (KW22_P002)

2m at 0.51g/t from 92m and 2m at 3.22g/t from 124m (KW1/22_P006)

1m at 5.50g/t from 103m (KW1/22_P001)

5m at 0.80g/t from 90m (KW1/22_P005)









Figure 2: Plan showing Kobada West RC drilling locations and results





Figure 3: Kobada West cross-section

Exploration and Optimisation Work Program

Toubanis 13,750m drill program has recently been completed with outstanding results due in the coming weeks from Kobada North, Kobada Junction and Foroko. The success at Kobada West has seen the overall strike extent of mineralisation at Kobada defined by RC drilling significantly increased to 11km, from 5km previously.

At Kobada West, we are planning step out drilling along strike to the north and south to test for extensions to this new gold discovery as well as infill RC drilling to reduce the section spacing to 100m for resource modelling.

Optimisation work streams continue to advance with an update due later in the June quarter. The Company is investigating the potential of an oxide-dominant project of scale at various throughput scenarios.

This announcement has been authorised for release by the Board.



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

Phil.Russo@toubaniresources.com jm@janemorganmanagement.com.au

About Toubani Resources Inc

Toubani Resources (ASX: TRE) is an exploration and development Company with a focus on becoming Africas next gold producer with its advanced Kobada Gold Project. 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.

For more information regarding Toubani Resources visit our website at www.toubaniresources.com.



Competent Persons Statement

The information in this press release relating to geology and Exploration Results is based on information compiled, reviewed and assessed by Mr. Bill Oliver, who is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and the Australian Institute of Geoscientists. Mr. Oliver is a consultant to the Company and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined by the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (JORC Code). Mr. Oliver consents to the inclusion of the information in the form and context in which it appears.

The information in this press release relating to the Mineral Resources at the Kobada Deposit is extracted from Company's prospectus dated 12 September 2022 and released on ASX on 25 November 2022 (Prospectus) which is available on the ASX announcements platform. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information relating to the Mineral Resources at the Kobada Deposit included in the Prospectus and all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the Mineral Resources estimate in the Prospectus continue to apply and have not materially changed.

Cautionary statements

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 regarding the listing on the Australian Securities Exchange, the expansion of mineral resources and reserves, and drilling and exploration plans of the Company. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates or does not anticipate, or believes, or variations of such words and phrases or statements 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 to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: receipt of necessary approvals from Canadian and Australian regulatory authorities; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; future prices of mineral prices; accidents, labour disputes and shortages; available infrastructure and supplies; the COVID-19 pandemic and other risks of the mining industry. 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.

Appendix 1. Kobada RC Drilling Data and Results

Hole ID Target Easting Northing RL Dip Azi Depth From

(m) To

(m) Length Au (g/t) KW22_P001 Kobada West 546715 1293725 412 55 295 118 NSI KW22_P002 Kobada West 546667 1293742 400 55 295 140 1 2 1 0.37 11 12 1 0.48 16 27 11 0.55 45 46 1 0.41 58 60 2 2.66 63 66 3 1.12 incl 64 65 1 2.87 75 76 1 0.60 80 82 2 0.59 KW22_P003 Kobada West 546604 1293754 401 55 295 140 6 7 1 0.84 109 110 1 1.49 116 121 5 1.26 incl 119 120 1 4.58 129 130 1 11.3 KW22_P004 Kobada West 546555 1293791 399 55 295 140 121 122 1 0.44 KW22_P008 Kobada West 546443 1293187 370 55 295 140 NSI KW22_P009 Kobada West 546393 1293207 371 55 295 140 40 42 2 0.36 44 45 1 0.47 78 83 5 1.24 incl 80 81 1 4.55 88 92 4 0.67 106 109 3 0.93 incl 108 109 1 1.59 133 134 1 0.81 KW22_P010 Kobada West 546343 1293215 358 55 295 140 21 22 1 0.48 KW22_P011 Kobada West 546277 1293250 384 55 295 140 NSI KW1/22_P001 Kobada West 1 546584 1293558 392 55 295 140 103 104 1 5.5 KW1/22_P003 Kobada West 1 544494 1293601 390 55 295 140 6 8 2 0.38 63 72 9 1.72 incl 63 65 2 6.26 75 76 1 0.98 105 106 1 0.50 KW1/22_P004 Kobada West 1 546460 1293615 388 55 295 140 6 7 1 1.00 KW1/22_P005 Kobada West 1 546483 1293361 385 55 295 135 8 9 1 0.42 12 13 1 0.35 59 61 2 0.57 90 95 5 0.80 incl 92 93 1 1.98 116 117 1 2.63 130 131 1 0.75 KW1/22_P006 Kobada West 1 546431 1293390 373 55 295 140 92 94 2 0.51 124 126 2 3.22 KW1/22_P007 Kobada West 1 546399 1293411 379 55 295 140 NSI KW1/22_P008 Kobada West 1 546340 1293436 378 55 295 140 NSI

NSI  No Significant Intersection



Appendix 2. The following tables are provided to ensure compliance with JORC Code requirements for the reporting of Exploration Results from the Kobada Project

Section 1 Sampling Techniques and Data

(Criteria in this section apply to all succeeding sections.)

Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary Sampling techniques Nature and quality of sampling (eg cut channels, random chips, or specific specialised industry standard measurement tools appropriate to the minerals under investigation, such as down hole gamma sondes, or handheld XRF instruments, etc). These examples should not be taken as limiting the broad meaning of sampling.

Include reference to measures taken to ensure sample representivity and the appropriate calibration of any measurement tools or systems used.

Aspects of the determination of mineralisation that are Material to the Public Report.

In cases where industry standard work has been done this would be relatively simple (eg reverse circulation drilling was used to obtain 1 m samples from which 3 kg was pulverised to produce a 30 g charge for fire assay). In other cases more explanation may be required, such as where there is coarse gold that has inherent sampling problems. Unusual commodities or mineralisation types (eg submarine nodules) may warrant disclosure of detailed information. Drilling samples collected using reverse circulation (RC) percussion drilling.



The entire sample is collected , homogenised and split to achieve a sample of approximately 2kg which is submitted for analysis.



Analysis is carried out in an independent commercial laboratory using fire assay. Drilling techniques Drill type (eg core, reverse circulation, open-hole hammer, rotary air blast, auger, Bangka, sonic, etc) and details (eg core diameter, triple or standard tube, depth of diamond tails, face-sampling bit or other type, whether core is oriented and if so, by what method, etc). Reverse Circulation drilling using 127mm face sampling hammer Drill sample recovery Method of recording and assessing core and chip sample recoveries and results assessed.

Measures taken to maximise sample recovery and ensure representative nature of the samples.

Whether a relationship exists between sample recovery and grade and whether sample bias may have occurred due to preferential loss/gain of fine/coarse material. RC samples are weighed to quantify recovery



Recovery is also noted in the sampling sheet. Logging Whether core and chip samples have been geologically and geotechnically logged to a level of detail to support appropriate Mineral Resource estimation, mining studies and metallurgical studies.

Whether logging is qualitative or quantitative in nature. Core (or costean, channel, etc) photography.

The total length and percentage of the relevant intersections logged. Geological logging of RC drilling is completed to an acceptable standard for use in Mineral Resource estimation.



Logging is both qualitative (weathering, colour, lithology, alteration) and quantitative (% veining, sulphides)



All drilling reported (100%) has been logged.



Sub-sampling techniques and sample preparation If core, whether cut or sawn and whether quarter, half or all core taken.

If non-core, whether riffled, tube sampled, rotary split, etc and whether sampled wet or dry.

For all sample types, the nature, quality and appropriateness of the sample preparation technique.

Quality control procedures adopted for all sub-sampling stages to maximise representivity of samples.

Measures taken to ensure that the sampling is representative of the in situ material collected, including for instance results for field duplicate/second-half sampling.

Whether sample sizes are appropriate to the grain size of the material being sampled. All RC samples are split using a riffle splitter with one split (approximately 1 to 2 kg) collected for laboratory testing and the remaining amount after splitting is retained in the bulk bag for future reference. All samples were sampled dry.



Sample moisture is noted in the sampling sheet.



Appropriate sampling procedures are used to ensure representivity.



It is believed that the sample size is in line with standard practice and is appropriate to the grain size of the material being sampled.



Quality of assay data and laboratory tests The nature, quality and appropriateness of the assaying and laboratory procedures used and whether the technique is considered partial or total.

For geophysical tools, spectrometers, handheld XRF instruments, etc, the parameters used in determining the analysis including instrument make and model, reading times, calibrations factors applied and their derivation, etc.

Nature of quality control procedures adopted (eg standards, blanks, duplicates, external laboratory checks) and whether acceptable levels of accuracy (ie lack of bias) and precision have been established. Samples were submitted to the SANAS and ISO/IEC 17025 accredited SGS Laboratory in Bamako. Samples were tested by fire assay with an AAS finish. Samples < 3.0 kg were dried in trays, crushed to a nominal 2 mm using a jaw crusher, and then < 1.5 kg were split using a Jones-type riffle splitter. Reject sample was retained in the original bag and stored. The sample was pulverised in an LM2 pulveriser to a nominal 85 % passing 75 m. An approximately 200 g subsample was taken for assay, with the pulverised residue retained in a plastic bag. All the preparation equipment was flushed with barren material prior to the commencement of the job. A 50 g subsample was fused with a litharge-based flux, cupelled, and the prill is dissolved in aqua regia, and gold is determined by flame AAS (Detection Limit 0.01 ppm).



Every 10th sample is a CRM, blank or duplicate. It is believe that acceptable levels of accuracy and precision have been achieved based on the control samples.



Verification of sampling and assaying The verification of significant intersections by either independent or alternative company personnel.

The use of twinned holes.

Documentation of primary data, data entry procedures, data verification, data storage (physical and electronic) protocols.

Discuss any adjustment to assay data. Significant intersections have been estimated by consultants to the company and cross checked.



Twinned holes are not being used in the current programme which aims to test for mineralisation away from previously drilled areas.



All data is entered into logging templates using codes on site and validated in appropriate software.



No adjustment to assay data has been carried out. Location of data points Accuracy and quality of surveys used to locate drill holes (collar and down-hole surveys), trenches, mine workings and other locations used in Mineral Resource estimation.

Specification of the grid system used.

Quality and adequacy of topographic control. The drillhole collars have been located with a Garmin handheld GPS with a  5 m accuracy



Co-ordinates presented are in UTM format using the WGS84 datum (zone 29N)



A high-definition stereo satellite survey was conducted in 2020 over the main mineralised body to assist with the updated topography for the geological modelling and to improve the accuracy of artisanal mining depletions. This survey is deemed of sufficient quality to utilise in the Mineral Resource estimation. Data spacing and distribution Data spacing for reporting of Exploration Results.

Whether the data spacing and distribution is sufficient to establish the degree of geological and grade continuity appropriate for the Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimation procedure(s) and classifications applied.

Whether sample compositing has been applied. Drillholes are being drilled at spacings between 50 and 100m on section, with sections 200  400 metres apart.



Drill spacing is intended to provide an initial test for mineralisation and may not be sufficiently close spaced for inclusion in a Mineral Resource estimation.



Orientation of data in relation to geological structure Whether the orientation of sampling achieves unbiased sampling of possible structures and the extent to which this is known, considering the deposit type.

If the relationship between the drilling orientation and the orientation of key mineralised structures is considered to have introduced a sampling bias, this should be assessed and reported if material. Drilling orientation is planned perpendicular to the regional structural trend (NNE).



No sampling bias is expected. Sample security

The measures taken to ensure sample security. Industry best practice has been applied to the drilling sampling processes carried out. Drilled samples were transported in a manner to prevent loss or cross-contamination. All samples were stored in a secure storage facility pending dispatch to laboratory in Bamako. In line with protocol, two people were used to transport the samples directly to the laboratory. Once at the laboratory, the samples were subject to the standard security measures of the laboratory. Audits or reviews The results of any audits or reviews of sampling techniques and data. No audits have been completed.

Section 2 Reporting of Exploration Results

(Criteria in this section apply to all succeeding sections.)

Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary Mineral tenement and land tenure status Type, reference name/number, location and ownership including agreements or material issues with third parties such as joint ventures, partnerships, overriding royalties, native title interests, historical sites, wilderness or national park and environmental settings.

The security of the tenure held at the time of reporting along with any known impediments to obtaining a licence to operate in the area. African Gold Group Mali SARL, a wholly-owned subsidiary of TRE, holds a mining permit No. PE 15/22 encompassing an area of 135.7 km for the Kobada project area valid to 30 July 2045. Two adjacent exploration permits are also held, namely Kobada-Est (No. PR 18/957 over 77 km valid to 15 August 2024 for three years) and Faraba (for which renewal was granted under Arrete No. 2021-3226/MMP-SG effective 6 April 2021 for a further three years.



An environmental permit No. 2021-0045 MEADD-SG was issued on 18 October 2021 relating to the oxides project. An ESIA amendment is underway development and mining of the sulphides portion of the Project.



Exploration done by other parties Acknowledgment and appraisal of exploration by other parties. Bureau de Recherches Geologiques et Minieres conducted historical exploration in 1982 to 1988, which respectively identified and delineated the Kobada Shear Zone through geochemistry surveys and latter diamond drilling. La Source undertook RC drilling in 1996, followed in 2002 and 2004 respectively by RC and air core drilling by Cominor. IAMGold completed diamond and RC drilling in 2009.



Previous exploration by Toubani Resource is detailed in the Company's prospectus dated 12 September 2022 and released on ASX on 25 November 2022 Geology Deposit type, geological setting and style of mineralisation. The Project is located in the Bagoe Formation on the north-central edge of the Birimian rock units that form part of the Leo Rise in the southern part of the West African Craton. The Project is situated on the western flank of the Bougouni Basin, composed primarily of sedimentary rocks with minor tholeiitic volcano-sedimentary intercalations.





The Kobada gold deposit is a quartz-carbonate veined mesothermal orogenic gold deposit hosted within a greenstone belt. Gold is present in the laterite, saprolite, unaltered rock as sulphides, and in the quartz veins. Placer-style deposits occur and have largely been exploited by artisanal miners.





Mineralisation extends for a minimum strike of 4 km and is associated with narrow, irregular, high-angle quartz veins and with disseminated sulphides in the wall rock and vein selvages. Mineralisation occurs as free gold, whereas in sulphides mineralisation includes the occurrence of arsenopyrite, pyrite and rarely chalcopyrite. Arsenopyrite is localised near vein selvages and as fine-grained disseminated patches within the host rock. Pyrite occurs in finely disseminated patches within the host rocks, generally as traces up to 3 % by volume with up to 10 % locally in the wall rock at centimetre-scale intervals adjacent to the quartz veins. Drill hole Information A summary of all information material to the understanding of the exploration results including a tabulation of the following information for all Material drill holes: easting and northing of the drill hole collar elevation or RL (Reduced Level  elevation above sea level in metres) of the drill hole collar dip and azimuth of the hole down hole length and interception depth hole length.

If the exclusion of this information is justified on the basis that the information is not Material and this exclusion does not detract from the understanding of the report, the Competent Person should clearly explain why this is the case. Refer Appendix 1







Data aggregation methods In reporting Exploration Results, weighting averaging techniques, maximum and/or minimum grade truncations (eg cutting of high grades) and cut-off grades are usually Material and should be stated.

Where aggregate intercepts incorporate short lengths of high grade results and longer lengths of low grade results, the procedure used for such aggregation should be stated and some typical examples of such aggregations should be shown in detail.

The assumptions used for any reporting of metal equivalent values should be clearly stated. Averaging is weighted based on length, with all samples 1m in downhole length.



All results > 0.3g/t are reported in Appendix 1 with high grade intervals (> 1g/t) reported separately.



No metal equivalent results are reported. Relationship between mineralisation widths and intercept lengths These relationships are particularly important in the reporting of Exploration Results.

If the geometry of the mineralisation with respect to the drill hole angle is known, its nature should be reported.

If it is not known and only the down hole lengths are reported, there should be a clear statement to this effect (eg down hole length, true width not known). Downhole lengths are presented in Appendix 1. True widths have not been calculated.



Drillholes are designed to intersect the mineralised shear zones as close to perpendicular as is possible. Diagrams Appropriate maps and sections (with scales) and tabulations of intercepts should be included for any significant discovery being reported These should include, but not be limited to a plan view of drill hole collar locations and appropriate sectional views. Refer to figures within this report.



Balanced reporting Where comprehensive reporting of all Exploration Results is not practicable, representative reporting of both low and high grades and/or widths should be practiced to avoid misleading reporting of Exploration Results. All meaningful information has been included in the body of the text and all results are presented in Appendix 1.



Other substantive exploration data Other exploration data, if meaningful and material, should be reported including (but not limited to): geological observations; geophysical survey results; geochemical survey results; bulk samples  size and method of treatment; metallurgical test results; bulk density, groundwater, geotechnical and rock characteristics; potential deleterious or contaminating substances. All material data and information is detailed in the Company's prospectus dated 12 September 2022 and released on ASX on 25 November 2022.



Further work The nature and scale of planned further work (eg tests for lateral extensions or depth extensions or large-scale step-out drilling).

Diagrams clearly highlighting the areas of possible extensions, including the main geological interpretations and future drilling areas, provided this information is not commercially sensitive. As detailed in the text  drilling is ongoing at the project and further drilling will be planned to follow up these results.





Figures accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/12017bd4-d253-4bb9-9dd0-5a4ab667508b

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/84f43d24-61f8-4a65-b0f0-32b24b2d54b7

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/740584e8-3855-460b-8e2d-0671455646ab
Highlights



Additional high-grade Zone discovered, marking interpreted western extension of the Nova Zone  drill holes CV23-130, 132, 134, and 138: 122.6 m at 1.89% Li 2 O (126.0 m to 248.5 m), including 8.1 m at 5.01% Li 2 O (CV23-138). 130.3 m at 1.56% Li 2 O (164.0 m to 294.3 m), including 52.7 m at 2.45% Li 2 O (CV23-132). 101.3 m at 1.44% Li 2 O (123.3 m to 224.6 m), including 28.1 m at 3.00% Li 2 O (CV23-134). 101.2 m at 1.08% Li 2 O (145.5 m to 246.7 m), including 10.1 m at 2.42% Li 2 O and 4.0 m at 4.13% Li 2 O (CV23-130).

 drill holes CV23-130, 132, 134, and 138:

Other significant intercepts 101.2 m at 1.59% Li 2 O (240.3 m to 341.5 m), including 28.5 m at 4.14% Li 2 O or 8.8 m of 5.20% Li 2 O (CV23-141). 56.3 m at 2.34% Li 2 O (251.4 m to 307.6 m), including 11.1 m at 4.06% Li 2 O (CV23-114). 57.7 m at 1.46% Li 2 O (182.0 m to 239.7 m), including 13.3 m at 2.65% Li 2 O (CV23-168A). 43.5 m at 1.80% Li 2 O (239.5 m to 283.0 m), and 24.0 m at 2.04% Li 2 O (372.9 m to 396.9 m) (CV23-127).

A continuous 93 m interval of dominantly spodumene-bearing pegmatite in most westerly drill hole completed to date at the CV5 Pegmatite  CV23-184 (assays pending).

completed to date at the CV5 Pegmatite  CV23-184 (assays pending). A continuous 139 m interval of dominantly spodumene-bearing pegmatite in final drill hole of the 2023 winter program at the CV5 Pegmatite  CV23-190 (assays pending).

of the 2023 winter program at the CV5 Pegmatite  CV23-190 (assays pending). Core sample assay results for 27 drill holes completed during the 2023 winter drill program remain to be reported.





Blair Way, Company President and CEO, comments: The drill bit continues to deliver for us as confirmed by the strong grades and wide widths of mineralized pegmatite reported herein. With our last hole providing the longest pegmatite intersection of the winter drill program (139 m), we are certainly primed for continued success as we approach the beginning of our summer-fall drill program, scheduled to commence later this month. With core sample assays for numerous drill holes remaining to be received, the Companys geological team is steadfast focused on final validation of the CV5 Pegmatites geological model, inclusive of all drill holes completed to date, ahead of an initial mineral resource estimate.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia and SYDNEY, Australia, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Patriot Battery Metals Inc. (the Company or Patriot) (TSX-V: PMET) (ASX: PMT) (OTCQX: PMETF) (FSE: R9GA) is pleased to announce core assays for the next series of drill holes completed as part of the 2023 winter drill program, which recently concluded, at its wholly owned Corvette Property (the Property), located in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of Quebec. The winter phase of the 2023 drill campaign was focused on the CV5 Pegmatite, located approximately 13.5 km south of the regional and all-weather Trans-Taiga Road and powerline infrastructure.

Core assays, for the drill holes reported herein (Figure 1), cover the CV5 Pegmatites recently defined eastward extension (see news releases dated February 5 and March 23, 2023) (Figure 2), the east-central area proximal to the CV1 outcrop (Figure 2), and the recently defined westward extension (see news release dated May 1, 2023) (Figure 3).

The drill holes targeting the east-central area of the CV5 Pegmatite were completed during the winter program to take advantage of more practical and cost-effective ground access. These drill holes were highly successful with mineralized pegmatite intervals of 122.6 m at 1.89% Li 2 O, including 8.1 m at 5.01% Li 2 O (CV23-138), 130.3 m at 1.56% Li 2 O, including 52.7 m at 2.45% Li 2 O (CV23-132), 101.3 m at 1.44% Li 2 O, including 28.1 m at 3.00% Li 2 O (CV23-134), and 10.1 m at 2.42% Li 2 O and 4.0 m at 4.13% Li 2 O (CV23-130). These four (4) drill holes define a new high-grade zone, which is interpreted to represent a continuous 200+ m extension westward of the high-grade Nova Zone (see news release dated March 29, 2023). Drill holes CV23-181 (108 m of continuous pegmatite) and CV23-148 (95 m of continuous pegmatite) tested the connection of the zones (i.e., the area between), with assays pending for both. However, based on logged modal spodumene content, the high-grade Nova Zone is now interpreted to extend continuously from at least drill hole CV23-132 to CV23-108, a distance of approximately 1,100 m.

Assay results for two (2) drill holes completed over the recently discovered westward extension of the CV5 Pegmatite (see news released dated May 1, 2023) confirm strong lithium grades over moderate to wide intervals in this area  38.4 m at 1.19% Li 2 O, 7.8 m at 3.01% Li 2 O, and 8.8 m at 1.29% Li 2 O (CV23-176), and 33.4 m at 0.87% Li 2 O and 12.8 m at 1.25% Li 2 O (CV23-161).

The CV5 Pegmatite remains open along strike westwardly in this area with the westernmost drill hole completed to date (CV23-184) returning a continuous 93 m interval of dominantly spodumene-bearing pegmatite. Additionally, the final hole of the winter program (CV23-190), also completed in this area, returned a continuous 139 m interval of dominantly spodumene-bearing pegmatite  the widest pegmatite intercept of the 2023 winter program at the CV5 Pegmatite. Core sample analysis for both CV23-184 and 190 have not yet been reported. These drill holes were also completed in opposite directions across the CV5 Pegmatite body, further attesting to the sizable blow-out (i.e., sizable width) of the pegmatite in this area (Figures 1 and 3).

The 2023 winter drill program recently concluded with a total of 89 drill holes and 32,367 m completed  drill holes CV23-105 through 190. Through the 2023 winter program, the CV5 Pegmatite has now been traced continuously by drilling (at approximately 50 to 150 m spacing) as a principally continuous spodumene-mineralized body over a lateral distance of at least 3.7 km (CV23-184 to CV23-125) and remains open along strike at both ends and to depth along most of its length.

Due to the continuity of the pegmatite confirmed by the 2023 winter drill program, all holes completed to date at the CV5 Pegmatite (through CV23-190) will be included in the forthcoming mineral resource estimate. The Company is targeting a July 2023 announcement and is dependent on timely receipt of all outstanding core sample assays from the laboratory, as well as final database and model validation.

The Companys summer-fall drill exploration program is scheduled to re-commence in late May at the CV5 and CV13 pegmatites. The summer-fall surface program is scheduled to begin in early June and continue through late September.

Core sample assay results for drill holes reported herein are presented in Table 1. Core assay results remain to be reported for 27 drill holes completed during the winter program, with all drill core samples having arrived at the analytical lab (SGS). Pegmatite intervals >2 m (core length) for all drill holes completed during the winter program are presented in Table 2, and drill hole attributes presented in Table 3. Tables 1, 2, and 3 will be posted to the Companys website shortly. Select core photos are presented in Figures 4 and 5.

Figure 1: Drill holes completed at the CV5 Pegmatite through the 2023 winter drill program

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3b8b1275-bead-4609-b43a-b4f098232bac

Figure 2: Drill holes completed at the CV5 Pegmatite through the 2023 winter drill program  east-central, and eastern areas

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Figure 3: Drill holes completed at the CV5 Pegmatite through the 2023 winter drill program western area

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/30aa5fc8-b417-4b11-ba7b-7cc41e3d2a3c

Table 1: Mineralized intercept summary for drill holes reported herein from the 2023 winter program

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https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/30b4dd6a-c62b-4515-b90d-0985c871bb0e





Figure 4: Spodumene pegmatite in drill hole CV23-141  8.8 m at 5.20% Li 2 O (red box), including 1.0 m at 6.74% Li 2 O (blue box)

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Figure 5: Spodumene pegmatite in drill hole CV23-138  8.1 m at 5.01% Li 2 O (red box)

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8afde05b-6363-419a-ab08-6e644234c785





Table 2: All pegmatite intersections >2 m for holes completed during the 2023 winter drill program

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https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c79926e8-49cd-41c2-b914-b6f9df3374e8

Table 3: 2023 winter drill hole attributes

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1f6c223c-6420-4d83-ad31-5c8c887abd6b

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e11fe4cf-bbc3-4f81-b77e-6e789071ce8d

Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QAQC)



A Quality Assurance / Quality Control protocol following industry best practices was incorporated into the program and included systematic insertion of quartz blanks and certified reference materials into sample batches, as well as collection of quarter-core duplicates, at a rate of approximately 5%. Additionally, analysis of pulp-split and coarse-split sample duplicates were completed to assess analytical precision at different stages of the laboratory preparation process, and external (secondary) laboratory pulp-split duplicates were prepared at the primary lab for subsequent check analysis and validation.

All core samples collected were shipped to SGS Canadas laboratory in Val-dOr, QC, for standard sample preparation (code PRP89) which includes drying at 105C, crush to 75% passing 2 mm, riffle split 250 g, and pulverize 85% passing 75 microns. The pulps were shipped by air to SGS Canadas laboratory in Burnaby, BC, where the samples were homogenized and subsequently analyzed for multi-element (including Li and Ta) using sodium peroxide fusion with ICP-AES/MS finish (codes GE_ICP91A50 and GE_IMS91A50).

About the CV Lithium Trend

The CV Lithium Trend is an emerging spodumene pegmatite district discovered by the Company in 2017 and spans more than 25-km across the Corvette Property. The core area includes an approximate 3.7 km long spodumene pegmatite (the CV5 Pegmatite) and multiple proximal secondary spodumene pegmatite lenses.

To date, six (6) distinct clusters of lithium pegmatite have been discovered across the Corvette Property  CV5 Pegmatite and associated lenses, CV4, CV8-12, CV9, CV10, and the recently discovered CV13. Given the proximity of some pegmatite outcrops to each other, as well as the shallow till cover in the area, it is probable that some of the outcrops may reflect a discontinuous surface exposure of a single, larger pegmatite outcrop subsurface. Further, the high number of well-mineralized pegmatites along the trend indicate a strong potential for a series of relatively closely spaced/stacked, sub-parallel, and sizable spodumene-bearing pegmatite bodies, with significant lateral and depth extent, to be present.

Qualified/Competent Person

The information in this news release that relates to exploration results for the Corvette Property is based on, and fairly represents, information compiled by Mr. Darren L. Smith, M.Sc., P.Geo., who is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, and member in good standing with the Ordre des Geologues du Quebec (Geologist Permit number 1968), and with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (member number 87868). Mr. Smith has reviewed and approved the technical information in this news release.

Mr. Smith is Vice President of Exploration for Patriot Battery Metals Inc. and a Senior Geologist and Project Manager with Dahrouge Geological Consulting Ltd. Mr. Smith holds common shares and options in the Company.

Mr. Smith has sufficient experience, which is relevant to the style of mineralization, type of deposit under consideration, and to the activities being undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as described by the JORC Code, 2012. Mr. Smith consents to the inclusion in this news release of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.

About Patriot Battery Metals Inc.

Patriot Battery Metals Inc. is a hard-rock lithium exploration company focused on advancing its district-scale 100% owned Corvette Property located in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of Quebec, Canada. The Corvette Property is one of the largest and highest-grade hard rock lithium projects being explored, with over 50 kilometres of strike length over a 214 square kilometre land package and over 70 lithium bearing pegmatite outcrops identified to date.

The Corvette Property is situated proximal to the all-weather Trans Taiga Road and Hydro-Quebec power line infrastructure in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of Quebec. The Property hosts significant lithium potential highlighted by the CV5 Pegmatite, which has been traced by drilling over a strike length of at least 3.7 km with spodumene pegmatite encountered as deep as 425 m vertical depth.

For further information, please contact us at info@patriotbatterymetals.com or by calling +1 (604) 279-8709,or visit www.patriotbatterymetals.com. Please also refer to the Companys continuous disclosure filings, available under its profile at www.sedar.com and www.asx.com.au, for available exploration data.

This news release has been approved by the Board of Directors,

BLAIR WAY

Blair Way, President, CEO, & Director

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as will, may, should, anticipate, expects and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including without limitation statements with respect to potential continuity of pegmatite bodies, and mineral resource estimate preparation. 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. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Companys expectations include the results of further exploration and testing, and other risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators, available at www.sedar.com and www.asx.com.au. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by applicable law.

No securities regulatory authority or stock exchange has reviewed nor accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release.



Appendix 1  JORC Code 2012 Table 1 information required by ASX Listing Rule 5.7.1

Section 1  Sampling Techniques and Data

Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary Sampling techniques Nature and quality of sampling (eg cut channels, random chips, or specific specialised industry standard measurement tools appropriate to the minerals under investigation, such as down hole gamma sondes, or handheld XRF instruments, etc). These examples should not be taken as limiting the broad meaning of sampling.

Include reference to measures taken to ensure sample representivity and the appropriate calibration of any measurement tools or systems used.

Aspects of the determination of mineralisation that are Material to the Public Report.

In cases where industry standard work has been done this would be relatively simple (eg reverse circulation drilling was used to obtain 1 m samples from which 3 kg was pulverised to produce a 30 g charge for fire assay). In other cases more explanation may be required, such as where there is coarse gold that has inherent sampling problems. Unusual commodities or mineralisation types (eg submarine nodules) may warrant disclosure of detailed information. Core sampling protocols met or exceeded industry standard practices.

Core Sampling is guided by lithology as determined during geological logging (i.e., by a geologist). All pegmatite intervals are sampled in their entirety (half-core), regardless if spodumene mineralization is noted or not (in order to ensure an unbiased sampling approach) in addition to ~1-3 m of sampling into the adjacent wallrock (dependent on pegmatite interval length) to bookend the sampled pegmatite.

The minimum individual sample length is 0.3 m and the maximum sample length is 3.0 m. Targeted individual pegmatite sample lengths are 1.0 m.

All drill core is oriented to maximum foliation prior to logging and sampling and is cut with a core saw into half-core pieces, with one half-core collected for assay, and the other half-core remaining in the box for reference.

Core samples collected were shipped to SGS Canadas laboratory in Val-dOr, QC, for standard sample preparation (code PRP89) which includes drying at 105C, crush to 75% passing 2 mm, riffle split 250 g, and pulverize 85% passing 75 microns. The pulps were shipped by air to SGS Canadas laboratory in Burnaby, BC, where the samples were homogenized and subsequently analyzed for multi-element (including Li and Ta) using sodium peroxide fusion with ICP-AES/MS finish (codes GE_ICP91A50 and GE_IMS91A50). Drilling techniques Drill type (eg core, reverse circulation, open-hole hammer, rotary air blast, auger, Bangka, sonic, etc) and details (eg core diameter, triple or standard tube, depth of diamond tails, face-sampling bit or other type, whether core is oriented and if so, by what method, etc). NQ or HQ size core diamond drilling was completed for all holes. Core is not oriented; however, downhole OTV-ATV surveys have been completed on some prior holes to assess overall structure. Drill sample recovery Method of recording and assessing core and chip sample recoveries and results assessed.

Measures taken to maximise sample recovery and ensure representative nature of the samples.

Whether a relationship exists between sample recovery and grade and whether sample bias may have occurred due to preferential loss/gain of fine/coarse material. All drill core was geotechnically logged following industry standard practices, and includes total core recovery, fracture recording, ISRM rock strength and weathering, and RQD. Core recovery is very good and typically exceeds 90%. Logging Whether core and chip samples have been geologically and geotechnically logged to a level of detail to support appropriate Mineral Resource estimation, mining studies and metallurgical studies.

Whether logging is qualitative or quantitative in nature. Core (or costean, channel, etc) photography.

The total length and percentage of the relevant intersections logged. Upon receipt at the core shack, all drill core received is pieced together, oriented to maximum foliation, metre marked, geotechnically logged (including structure), alteration logged, geologically logged, and sample logged on an individual sample basis. Core box photos are also collected of all core drilled, regardless of perceived mineralization. Specific gravity measurements are also collected at systematic intervals for all drill core.

These logging practices meet or exceed current industry standard practices and are of appropriate detail to support a mineral resource estimation.

The logging is qualitative by nature, and includes estimates of spodumene grain size, inclusions, and model mineral estimates. Sub-sampling techniques and sample preparation If core, whether cut or sawn and whether quarter, half or all core taken.

If non-core, whether riffled, tube sampled, rotary split, etc and whether sampled wet or dry.

For all sample types, the nature, quality and appropriateness of the sample preparation technique.

Quality control procedures adopted for all sub-sampling stages to maximise representivity of samples.

Measures taken to ensure that the sampling is representative of the in situ material collected, including for instance results for field duplicate/second-half sampling.

Whether sample sizes are appropriate to the grain size of the material being sampled. Drill core sampling follows industry best practices. Drill core was saw cut with half-core sent for geochemical analysis and half-core remaining in the box for reference. The same side of the core was sampled to maintain representativeness. Additionally, several intervals over several holes have had quarter-core samples collected for mineral processing programs, thus leaving only a quarter-core in the box for reference over these intervals.

Sample sizes are appropriate for the material being assayed.

A Quality Assurance / Quality Control protocol following industry best practices was incorporated into the program and included systematic insertion of quartz blanks and certified reference materials into sample batches, as well as collection of quarter-core duplicates, at a rate of approximately 5%. Additionally, analysis of pulp-split and course-split sample duplicates were completed to assess analytical precision at different stages of the laboratory preparation process, and external (secondary) laboratory pulp-split duplicates were prepared at the primary lab for subsequent check analysis and validation.

All protocols employed are considered appropriate for the sample type and nature of mineralization and are considered the optimal approach for maintaining representativeness in sampling. Quality of assay data and laboratory tests The nature, quality and appropriateness of the assaying and laboratory procedures used and whether the technique is considered partial or total.

For geophysical tools, spectrometers, handheld XRF instruments, etc, the parameters used in determining the analysis including instrument make and model, reading times, calibrations factors applied and their derivation, etc.

Nature of quality control procedures adopted (eg standards, blanks, duplicates, external laboratory checks) and whether acceptable levels of accuracy (ie lack of bias) and precision have been established. Core samples collected were shipped to SGS Canadas laboratory in Val-dOr, QC, for standard sample preparation (code PRP89) which includes drying at 105C, crush to 75% passing 2 mm, riffle split 250 g, and pulverize 85% passing 75 microns. The pulps were shipped by air to SGS Canadas laboratory in Burnaby, BC, where the samples were homogenized and subsequently analyzed for multi-element (including Li and Ta) using sodium peroxide fusion with ICP-AES/MS finish (codes GE_ICP91A50 and GE_IMS91A50).

The assay techniques are considered appropriate for the nature and type of mineralization present, and result in a total digestion and assay for the elements of interest.

The Company relies on both its internal QAQC protocols (systematic quarter-core duplicates, blanks, certified reference materials, and external checks), as well as the laboratorys internal QAQC.

For assay results disclosed, samples have passed QAQC review. Verification of sampling and assaying The verification of significant intersections by either independent or alternative company personnel.

The use of twinned holes.

Documentation of primary data, data entry procedures, data verification, data storage (physical and electronic) protocols.

Discuss any adjustment to assay data. Intervals are reviewed and compiled by the VP Exploration and Project Managers prior to disclosure, including a review of the Companys internal QAQC sample analytical data.

No twinned holes have been completed, apart from CV23-166, which was re-collared as a different core size, as well as some holes that were lost prior to hitting their target depth, which were re-collared a few metres adjacent.

Data capture utilizes MX Deposit software whereby core logging data is entered directly into the software for storage, including direct import of laboratory analytical certificates as they are received. The Company employs various on-site and post QAQC protocols to ensure data integrity and accuracy.

Adjustments to data include reporting lithium and tantalum in their oxide forms, as it is reported in elemental form in the assay certificates. Formulas used are Li2O = Li x 2.1527, and Ta2O5 = Ta x 1.2211 Location of data points Accuracy and quality of surveys used to locate drill holes (collar and down-hole surveys), trenches, mine workings and other locations used in Mineral Resource estimation.

Specification of the grid system used.

Quality and adequacy of topographic control. Each drill holes collar has been surveyed with a handheld GPS or RTK (Trimble Zephyr 3).

The coordinate system used is UTM NAD83 Zone 18.

The Company completed a property-wide LiDAR and orthophoto survey in August 2022, which provides high-quality topographic control.

The quality and accuracy of the topographic controls are considered adequate for advanced stage exploration and development. Data spacing and distribution Data spacing for reporting of Exploration Results.

Whether the data spacing and distribution is sufficient to establish the degree of geological and grade continuity appropriate for the Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimation procedure(s) and classifications applied.

Whether sample compositing has been applied. Drill hole spacing is dominantly at ~100 m; however, tightens to ~50 m in some places, and widens to ~150 in a small number of places.

Based on the nature of the mineralization and continuity in geological modelling, it is believed that a 100 m spacing will be sufficient to support a mineral resource estimate.

Core sample lengths typically range from 0.5 to 1.5 m and average ~1 m. Sampling is continuous within all pegmatite encountered in drilling.

Sample compositing has not been applied Orientation of data in relation to geological structure Whether the orientation of sampling achieves unbiased sampling of possible structures and the extent to which this is known, considering the deposit type.

If the relationship between the drilling orientation and the orientation of key mineralised structures is considered to have introduced a sampling bias, this should be assessed and reported if material. No sampling bias is anticipated based on structure within the mineralized body.

The mineralized body is relatively undeformed and very competent, although likely has some meaningful structural control.

The mineralized body is steeply dipping resulting in oblique angles of intersection with true widths varying based on drill hole angle and orientation of pegmatite at that particular intersection point. i.e. The dip of the mineralized pegmatite body has variations in a vertical sense and along strike, so the true widths are not always apparent until several holes have been drilled in any particular drill-fence. Sample security The measures taken to ensure sample security. Samples were collected by Company staff or its consultants following specific protocols governing sample collection and handling. Core samples were bagged, placed in large supersacs for added security, palleted, and shipped directly to Val-dOr, QC, being tracked during shipment along with Chain of Custody. Upon arrival at the laboratory, the samples were cross-referenced with the shipping manifest to confirm all samples were accounted for. At the laboratory, sample bags are evaluated for tampering. Audits or reviews The results of any audits or reviews of sampling techniques and data. A review of the sample procedures for the Companys 2021 fall drill program (CF21-001 to 004) and 2022 winter drill program (CV22-015 to 034) was completed by an Independent Qualified Person and deemed adequate and acceptable to industry best practices (discussed in an NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Corvette Property, Quebec, Canada, Issue date of June 27th, 2022.) Additionally, the Company continually reviews and evaluates its procedures in order to optimize and ensure compliance at all levels of sample data collection and handling.



Section 2 Reporting of Exploration Results

(Criteria listed in the preceding section also apply to this section.)
VANCOUVER, May 15, 2023 - NGEx Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: NGEX) ("NGEx Minerals" "NGEx" or the "Company") is pleased to report its results for the three months ended March 31, 2023. PDF version

Wojtek Wodzicki, President and CEO commented, "NGEx has continued its strong performance to start 2023, with exceptional exploration results reported from both the maiden drill campaign undertaken at the Potro Cliffs target, as well as the expansion drill program conducted at its cornerstone Los Helados project.

The Company's second ever hole drilled at the prospective Potro Cliffs target returned some of the highest copper grades ever drilled in the Vicuna District, and the grade, thickness and style of mineralization encountered is suggestive of significant potential for a major porphyry copper-gold system in the area. At Los Helados, our 2022-2023 drill program has been successful at expanding and defining the recently discovered high-grade satellite Fenix and Alicanto Zones. Of particular note, holes completed in the Fenix Zone this season have returned some of the highest copper equivalent and molybdenum grades ever encountered at Los Helados, and demonstrate the potential of these satellite discoveries to significantly add to the Los Helados resource.

Both programs are now winding down with the onset of winter in the Andes, and our team will take this time to analyze the results from this season's programs and plan for the upcoming 2023-2024 field season. With continued strength in the long-term outlook for copper, the recent consolidation of projects in and around the Vicuna District, and the growing significance of the Company's assets within the emerging metals district, NGEx sees clear opportunity to build on this season's exceptional results and to continue to create value for shareholders."

Q1 2023 HIGHLIGHTS AND OUTLOOK

DPDH002, the second hole of the maiden Potro Cliffs program, hit high-grade mineralization, highlighted by 60.0m at 7.52% copper equivalent ("CuEq") and 10.0m at 7.08% CuEq, including some of the highest grades intersected to date in the Vicuna District.

2022-2023 program at Los Helados extended both the Fenix and Alicanto Zones. The holes completed in the Fenix Zone returned some of the highest grades ever encountered at the deposit, demonstrating the remarkable potential value of the satellite zones discovered in 2022.

Inaugural Potro Cliffs Campaign Results in Potential Discovery of Fourth Major Vicuna District Deposit

The Company initiated its maiden drill program in January 2023 at the Potro Cliff exploration target, located in San Juan Province, Argentina ("Potro Cliffs"). The highly prospective land package is located in the middle of the Vicuna District, where it sits along the major north-northeast structural trend that controls the Filo del Sol deposit located approximately 7 km to the south and the Company's Los Helados project located approximately 9 km to the north.

The Company drilled two initial reconnaissance holes, one collared on the plateau at the top of the cliffs, and the second collared in the valley approximately 700m below. The latter, DPDH002, intersected some of the highest copper grades ever drilled in the Vicuna District, characterized by multiple zones of massive to semi-massive sulphide veins and breccias (see News Release dated April 4, 2023). Select high-grade intersections of DPDH002 include:

4.0m at 8.44% CuEq from 150.0m;

60.0m at 7.52% CuEq from 212.0m;

Including 10.0m at 18.00% CuEq and 6.0m at 14.00% CuEq; and

10.0m at 7.08% CuEq from 574.0m.

These initial results from DPDH002 are currently interpreted as the first intercepts into the edges of a significant new copper-gold system, which would be the fourth major deposit discovered in the Vicuna District by the Company or its predecessor entities. The style of mineralization intersected typically occurs above, or lateral to, porphyry copper-gold systems and the grades and thickness of the mineralization observed in DPDH002 are positive indicators of the strength and potential of the system that is the source of these high-grade structures.

Assay results from hole DPDH002 at Potro Cliffs are summarized as follows:

Hole-ID From (m) To (m) Length

(m) Cu (%) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) CuEq1 (%) DPDH002 150.0 154.0 4.0 5.81 2.62 81.5 8.44 plus 212.0 272.0 60.0 5.65 2.04 44.0 7.52 incl. 226.0 236.0 10.0 14.19 4.07 94.0 18.00 incl. 244.0 250.0 6.0 10.57 3.73 80.0 14.00 plus 308.0 312.0 4.0 3.99 0.26 44.5 4.57 plus 340.0 342.0 2.0 2.77 1.41 25.0 4.02 plus 434.0 436.0 2.0 1.68 1.03 15.0 2.56 plus 520.0 524.0 4.0 2.53 0.52 112.0 3.89 plus 564.0 566.0 2.0 3.01 1.02 36.0 4.07 plus 574.0 584.0 10.0 3.70 1.51 259.4 7.08 incl. 580.0 582.0 2.0 11.81 4.70 1,165.0 25.49 plus 598.0 600.0 2.0 1.65 2.36 31.0 3.64 plus 644.0 648.0 4.0 3.90 4.37 61.0 7.62 plus 650.0 652.0 2.0 1.04 0.19 3.0 1.21 plus 672.0 674.0 2.0 1.25 0.56 7.0 1.72 plus 676.0 678.0 2.0 1.36 0.24 6.0 1.59

1 CuEq for drill intersections is calculated based on US$ 3.00/lb Cu, US$ 1,500/oz Au and US$ 18/oz Ag, with 80% metallurgical recoveries assumed for all metals. The formula is: CuEq % = Cu % + (0.7292 * Au g/t) + (0.0088 * Ag g/t). 2 Lengths reported are drilled lengths, additional drilling is required in order to establish geometry and true widths of the mineralized zones.



Following the discovery in hole DPDH002, the program was immediately expanded and to date six holes totalling 3,969 metres have now been completed, with an additional two holes in progress. A summary of the technical objectives and status of each of these holes is provided below:

Hole-ID Description and Status DPDH001 Collared at top of cliffs; Testing surface geochemical anomalies; AZ 270/-70; Completed to 929m; Assays pending DPDH003 Collared at top of cliffs; Testing surface geochemical anomalies; AZ 110/ -70; Suspended at 350m; Rig repositioned to follow up DPDH002; Assays pending DPDH004 Same platform as DPDH002; Testing up dip extent of high-grade mineralization; AZ 270/-50; Completed to 599m; Assays Pending DPDH005 Collared at bottom of cliffs; Step-out 100m to south of DPDH002; AZ 270/-70; Completed to 992m; Assays Pending DPDH006 Same platform as DPDH002; Testing orientation and extent of high-grade mineralization; AZ 270/-80; Completed to 380m; Assays Pending DPDH007 Collared 100 metres east of DPDH002; Testing extension of high-grade mineralization; AZ 270/-55; In progress, DPDH008 Same platform as DPDH005; AZ 270/-55; In progress



With the onset of winter at Potro Cliffs, the Company is now concluding its final two holes of the highly successful drill campaign. Over the winter months in South America, the Company will review this season's drill results, along with geophysical survey data gathered during the campaign, to develop a follow-up program at Potro Cliffs commencing in late 2023.

Assay results from the remaining holes of the 2023 Potro Cliffs drill program will be released as they are received, analyzed and confirmed by the Company.

2022-2023 Los Helados Program Successfully Extends High-grade Zones

During the first quarter of 2023, the Company continued its 2022-2023 drill campaign at Los Helados, located in Region III, Chile. The program, which commenced in November 2022, has focused primarily on defining the geometry and size of the Fenix and Alicanto Zones, additional high-grade centres that were identified at Los Helados in early 2022. These zones are distinct from, and in addition to, the Condor Zone, the high-grade breccia phase at the core of the deposit, around which the Los Helados Mineral Resource estimate is centered.

To date, the Company has received and released assay results from eight holes completed during the 2022-2023 campaign (see News Releases dated January 26, 2023, and April 13, 2023). These results have successfully confirmed continuity and extension of all three zones, and with respect to the Fenix and Alicanto Zones in particular, the step-outs begin to demonstrate the significant potential of these high-grade zones to meaningfully add to the Los Helados resource.

Assay results from holes testing the Fenix Zone have returned some of the highest grades ever seen at Los Helados, including molybdenum (Mo) grades which are significantly higher than any intersected previously. While more drill testing will be required to fully analyze and understand the Fenix Zone, findings to date confirm the potential to develop into a significant new centre of mineralization for the project.

Assay results released to date by the Company in relation to the 2022-2023 Los Helados program are summarized as follows:

Hole-ID From (m) To (m) Length

(m) Cu (%) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) CuEq1 (%) Mo (ppm) Zones

Intersected LHDH079 148.0 1,363.2 1,215.2 0.32 0.18 1.5 0.43 28 Condor Zone incl. 676.0 932.9 256.9 0.54 0.16 2.6 0.65 26 and incl. 985.8 1,086.0 100.2 0.53 0.17 1.4 0.64 21 LHDH081 436.0 1,604.8 1,168.8 0.37 0.08 1.8 0.43 32 Fenix Zone incl. 1,144.0 1,364.0 220.0 0.63 0.12 2.6 0.72 66 LHDH081-2 770.7 1,549.8 779.1 0.54 0.10 2.0 0.61 121 Fenix Zone incl. 1,206.0 1,549.8 343.8 0.81 0.12 2.5 0.90 204 incl. 1,486.0 1,549.8 63.8 1.14 0.14 3.6 1.25 741 LHDH081-3 814.0 1,266.0 452.0 0.54 0.15 1.3 0.64 57 Fenix Zone incl. 1,032.0 1,266.0 234.0 0.76 0.22 1.7 0.90 69 incl. 1,032.0 1,186.0 154.01 0.85 0.25 1.8 1.02 80 incl. 1,238.0 1,266.0 28.0 1.25 0.36 2.6 1.49 91 LHDH082 152.0 1,133.3 981.3 0.38 0.15 1.7 0.48 28 Condor Zone incl. 550.0 1,039.7 489.7 0.46 0.20 1.9 0.60 30 incl. 826.0 968.0 142.0 0.55 0.26 2.3 0.73 23 LHDH083 514.0 1,140.0 626.0 0.46 0.20 1.9 0.59 74 Alicanto Zone incl. 678.0 724.0 46.0 0.28 0.96 1.2 0.87 30 and incl. 884.0 1,006.1 122.1 0.94 0.14 2.7 1.05 190 LHDH084 728.0 1,500.0 772.0 0.67 0.11 1.7 0.74 119 Fenix Zone incl. 1,1110 1,500.0 390.0 1.02 0.15 2.4 1.13 187 LHDH086 938.0 1,042.0 104.0 0.60 0.14 2.2 0.69 48 Alicanto Zone incl. 998.0 1,042.0 44.0 0.75 0.22 2.7 0.90 50

1 CuEq for drill intersections is calculated based on US$ 3.50/lb Cu, US$ 1,700/oz Au and US$ 20/oz Ag, with metallurgical recoveries of 88% for copper, 76% for gold and 60% for silver based on a comprehensive program of metallurgical testwork. The formula is: CuEq % = Cu % + (0.6117 * Au g/t) + (0.0057 * Ag g/t). Molybdenum grades are not included in the CuEq calculation. 2 Los Helados hosts large-scale porphyry and associated breccia mineralization and drilled lengths are interpreted to be approximate true widths.



To date, several additional holes have been completed with assays underway, and the final hole of the campaign, LHDH087, is nearing completion. A summary of the status and drilling direction of each of these holes is provided below:

Hole Zones Status Drilling Direction LHDH085 Fenix Completed to target depth; Assays pending North to South to intersect 140m east of LHDH076 LHDH086-1 Alicanto Completed to target depth; Assays pending 100m step-out to the east of LHDH078 LHDH086-2 Alicanto Completed to target depth; Assays pending 100m step-out to the south of LHDH078 LHDH087 Fenix In Progress West of LHDH081-2 and LHDH084 LHDH088 Fenix Hole lost; Assays pending North to South between LHDH076 and LHDH084



Assay results will be released as they are received, analyzed and confirmed by the Company.

FINANCIAL RESULTS



(In thousands of Canadian dollars, except per share amounts)





Three months ended





March 31,







2023 2022 Exploration and project investigation





15,122 8,582 General and administration ("G&A")





1,361 714 Net loss





15,167 8,676 Basic and diluted loss per share





0.09 0.06

The financial information in this table was selected from the Company's condensed interim consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2023 (the "Financial Statements"), which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and the Company's website www.NGExMinerals.com.



SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

(In thousands of Canadian dollars)

March 31, December 31,



2023

2022 Cash

11,014

23,249 Working capital

5,383

20,222 Mineral properties

4,337

3,903 Total assets

24,289

32,312

The financial information in this table was selected from the Financial Statements, which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and the Company's website www.NGExMinerals.com.



The Company incurred a net loss of $15.2 million during the three months ended March 31, 2023, comprised primarily of $15.1 million in exploration and project investigation costs and $1.4 million in G&A costs, which have been partially offset by a gain of approximately $1.2 million resulting from the use of marketable securities for the purposes of facilitating intragroup funding transfers. For the comparative 2022 period, the Company reported a net loss of $8.7 million, consisting primarily of $8.6 million in exploration and project investigation costs and $0.7 million in G&A costs, which were partially offset by a gain of approximately $0.5 million resulting from the use of marketable securities for the purposes of facilitating intragroup funding transfers.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

As at March 31, 2023, the Company had cash of $11.0 million and net working capital $5.4 million, compared to cash of $23.2 million and net working capital of $20.2 million as at December 31, 2022. The Company's cash decreased during the three months ended March 31, 2023, due to funds used in operations, including mineral property and surface access rights payments, and for general corporate purposes. The cash outflows for operations during the three months ended March 31, 2023, were partially offset by gross receipts of $27,200 resulting from the exercise of stock options.

ABOUT NGEX MINERALS

NGEx Minerals is a copper and gold exploration company based in Canada with projects in Chile and Argentina. NGEx Minerals holds the large-scale Los Helados copper-gold deposit, located in Chile's Region III, as well as the Potro Cliffs and Valle Ancho Projects located in Argentina. Los Helados and Potro Cliffs are located within the Vicuna District, which includes the Josemaria and Filo del Sol deposits. Los Helados and Potro Cliffs lie along the same major north-northeast trending structure that controls the Filo del Sol deposit.

NGEx Minerals is the majority partner and operator for the Los Helados Project, subject to a Joint Exploration Agreement with Nippon Caserones Resources Co., Ltd. which operates the Caserones open pit copper mine located approximately 15km north of Los Helados through a subsidiary that is subject to a recently announced purchase agreement whereby Lundin Mining Corp. will acquire a controlling stake.

NGEx Minerals' near-term focus is on expanding the multiple high-grade centres of Los Helados and drilling the Potro Cliffs target to follow up on the high-grade intersections of hole DPDH002.

The Company is listed on the TSXV under the trading symbol "NGEX". NGEx Minerals is part of the Lundin Group of Companies.

QUALIFIED PERSONS AND TECHNICAL NOTES

The scientific and technical disclosure for the Los Helados Project included in this news release have been reviewed and approved by Bob Carmichael, B.A.Sc., P.Eng. who is the Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Carmichael is Vice President, Exploration for the Company. Additional details on the drill results disclosed above can be found in the Company's press releases dated January 26, 2023, April 4, 2023 and April 13, 2023.

On behalf of NGEx Minerals,

Wojtek Wodzicki,

President and CEO

For further information:

Additional information relating to NGEx Minerals Ltd. may be obtained or viewed on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com or on the Company's website at www.ngexminerals.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made and information contained herein in the news release constitutes "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking information"). All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this document constitute forward-looking information, including but not limited to, statements regarding: exploration and development plans and expenditures, including the size, scope, nature, timing and foci of the Company's future exploration programs, particularly at Los Helados and Potro Cliffs; whether current interpretation of the exploration and/or drill results to date at Los Helados or Potro Cliffs will be confirmed by future work, including statements regarding prospectivity of exploration properties, the accuracy of a geological model, the ability to extend and define of the Fenix, Alicanto and Condor Zones at Los Helados, or the scale, grade, or significance of the system that is the source of the high-grade mineralization intersected by DPDH002 completed at Potro Cliffs, or the Company's ability to locate it; the expected results or success of exploration activities at Potro Cliffs, including but not limited to, drill results from the current program underway; the expected timing of assay results generated by the Company's drill programs at Los Helados or Potro Cliffs; the future uses of the Company's cash and working capital; the success of future exploration activities; potential for the discovery of new mineral deposits or expansion of existing mineral deposits; ability to build shareholder value; expectations with regard to adding to Mineral Resources through exploration; expectations with respect to the conversion of Inferred Resources to an Indicated Resource classification, or the conversion of Indicated Resources to a Measured Resource classification; and the ability to execute the planned work programs. Words 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 statements that certain actions, events, conditions or results "will", "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotations thereof and similar expressions identify forward-looking information.

Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon various estimates and assumptions including, without limitation, the expectations and beliefs of management as outlined above. Although the Company believes that these factors and expectations are reasonable as at the date of this document in light of management's experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, these statements are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements and information. Such factors include, without limitation: the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic and the risk that an intensification of the pandemic or an outbreak at the project could impact the company's ability to carry out the program and could cause the program to be shut down, estimations of costs, and permitting time lines; ability to obtain environmental permits, surface rights and property interests in a timely manner; currency exchange rate fluctuations; requirements for additional capital; changes in the Company's share price; changes to government regulation of mining activities; environmental risks; unanticipated reclamation or remediation expenses; title disputes or claims; limitations on insurance coverage; assumptions that the Company will receive the permits required to drill at Valle Ancho in a timely manner, fluctuations in the current price of and demand for commodities; material adverse changes in general business and economic conditions in Chile; the availability of financing if and when needed on reasonable terms; risks related to material labour disputes, accidents, or failure of plant or equipment; and other risks, uncertainties and other factors identified in the Company's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com under the Company's profile.

The forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on information available to the Company as at the date of this news release. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update and/or revise any of the included forward-looking information, whether as a result of additional information, future events and/or otherwise. Forward-looking information is provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of the Company's operating environment. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that would 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 statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. All the forward-looking information contained in this document is qualified by these cautionary statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information due to the inherent uncertainty thereof.

Cautionary Note to U.S. Readers

Information concerning the mineral properties of the Company contained in this news release has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Canadian securities laws, which differ in material respects from the requirements of securities laws of the United States applicable to U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE NGEx Minerals Ltd.
TORONTO, May 16, 2023 - Laurion Mineral Exploration Inc. (TSXV: LME) and (OTC: LMEFF) ("LAURION" or the "Corporation") is pleased to announce that it has contracted Precision GeoSurveys Inc. of Langley, British Columbia to perform a large-scale, helicopter-borne high resolution gradient magnetic data at the Ishkoday Project located 60 km west of Geraldton and 220 km north-east of Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Stated Cynthia Le Sueur-Aquin, CEO and President of LAURION: "We are very pleased to be working with Precision, a Canadian and global leader in airborne geophysics. The airborne survey, set to start in the coming week, will be flown in a systematic 50 metre line spacing at a nominal altitude of 40 m, and will cover a large percentage of the Ishkoday Project. The high-resolution magnetic and gradiometer survey will be a key tool used by Ishkoday's exploration team to map folding, shearing and faulting in detail, in this structurally complex gold -polymetallic project. This work will help guide our exploration through the balance of 2023 and into what will be an exciting year ahead for Ishkoday."

The survey will provide uniform, high-resolution magnetic data coverage of the Ishkoday Project at better resolution than existing surveys that cover only parts of the property. The high-resolution 3-axis magnetic gradiometer survey will help to map subtle structures that may not have been delineated in previous surveys, including over the past-producing Sturgeon River and Brenbar Mines. The main target of this year's exploration is structurally controlled gold mineralization and therefore an understanding of the structural setting is particularly important.

The magnetic geophysical survey will be 882 line km at 50 m spacing over one survey block of 40.4km2 and will utilize four Scintrex CS-3 (or equivalent) cesium vapor magnetometer sensors with 0.0006 nT ?Hz RMS sensitivity in a proprietary non-magnetic and non-conductive survey bird for triaxial magnetic gradient and total magnetic intensity measurements. The Helicopter, a Bell 206, is configured with a laser altimeter, attitude sensor, and its own GPS receiver. This system allows the horizontal and vertical gradients to be measured directly across two sensors and delivers unsurpassed total field and oriented gradient data.

Qualified Person

The technical contents of this release were reviewed and approved by Jean-Philippe Paiement, PGeo, MSc, a consultant to LAURION, and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About LAURION Mineral Exploration Inc.

The Corporation is a junior mineral exploration and development company listed on the TSXV under the symbol LME and on the OTC under the symbol LMEFF. LAURION now has 256,909,855 outstanding shares of which approximately 80% are owned and controlled by Insiders who are eligible investors under the "Friends and Family" categories.

LAURION's emphasis is on the exploration and development of its flagship project, the 100% owned mid-stage 47 km2 Ishkoday Project, and its gold-rich polymetallic mineralization.

LAURION's chief priority remains maximizing shareholder value while simultaneously embracing and considering the principles and best practices of environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) issues. A large portion of the Corporation's focus in this regard falls within the ambit of its mineral exploration activities and more specifically, advancing the Ishkoday Project.

A consequence of LAURION's success and advancement over the past several years is that the Corporation has become positioned as an acquisition target for appropriate potential acquirors. Accordingly, the Corporation's Board of Directors is aware that possible strategic alternatives and transactional opportunities may arise and/or could be procured in the short or medium terms. The Corporation will promptly issue a press release if any material change occurs. In the meanwhile, LAURION will continue to explore opportunities and potential transactions that are strategically beneficial to the Corporation and its shareholders.

Website: http://www.LAURION.ca

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements, which reflect the Corporation's current expectations regarding future events including with respect to LAURION's business, operations and condition, management's objectives, strategies, beliefs and intentions, the Corporation's ability to advance the Ishkoday Project, the nature, focus, timing and potential results of the Corporation's future exploration efforts, including its planned activities for Ishkoday in 2023, and any possible strategic alternatives and transactional opportunities that may arise and/or could be procured in the future. The forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual events and future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements could differ materially from those projected herein including as a result of a change in the trading price of the common shares of LAURION, the interpretation and actual results of current and future exploration activities, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, future prices of gold and/or other metals, possible variations in grade or recovery rates, failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, the failure of contracted parties to perform, labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing or in the completion of exploration, as well as those factors disclosed in the Corporation's publicly filed documents. Investors should consult the Corporation's ongoing quarterly and annual filings, as well as any other additional documentation comprising the Corporation's public disclosure record, for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to these forward-looking statements. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. Subject to applicable law, the Corporation disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICE PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.

SOURCE Laurion Mineral Exploration Inc.
Determine Your Risks. Identify the types of natural disasters that may impact your community (e.g., floods, hurricanes, extreme heat or cold, blizzards, tornadoes, flash floods/tsunamis, earthquakes, wildfires). Refer to this interactive map from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to determine your communitys risk of tsunamis, earthquakes, and volcanoes. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) also maintains a database of natural hazard maps.

Assess Personnel Needs. Determine the number of personnel you would need to assist during and after an event occurs. Include around-the-clock shifts and every impacted role and department, such as information technology (IT), public works including road crews and utility workers, fire, police, search and rescue, and emergency dispatch.

Consider Staffing Contingencies. Be sure to account for contingencies for staff unable to travel into the area during or immediately after the event. If this occurs, have a plan in place to reassign other available personnel to assist with different roles or duties. Plan to ensure proper cross-training is given to these designated staffers annually.

Include Volunteer Efforts. Talk to your public safety office about creating a volunteer-based community emergency response team (CERT), if one does not already exist in your municipality. CERT volunteers are educated about possible natural disasters and given preparedness and response training so that they can be useful during and after an event to assist with essential first response services.

Ensure a Platform Exists for Internal Communications. If an event is ongoing, or municipal operations have been disrupted due to property damage, it may not be possible to merely call key personnel into a conference room and discuss response efforts. Make sure you have a notification and collaboration solution in place to hold immediate, urgent conference calls or virtual meetings with key staff to review and execute response initiatives.

Identify a Control Center Location. During and after a natural disaster, key personnel will need a safe, central location to collaborate, plan response efforts, communicate to citizens and the media, and manage recovery efforts. Work with your public safety and IT offices to designate a building or room that will serve as an emergency control center and make sure all key staff will have the building and equipment access needed if an event occurs.

Identify Worksite Alternatives. For every office building and worksite location in your community, identify an alternate worksite in the event the primary site is damaged, destroyed, and rendered inoperable. Make sure potentially impacted employees know where they should report to if their primary worksite is damaged, and how to obtain information and updates about worksite closures.

Offer Employee Assistance. Identify opportunities, policies, and budget to offer employee assistance for those who suffer property damage or loss, are injured in a disaster-related event, orworst of allsuffer the loss of a loved one.

Train Employees on Disaster Social Media Policies. During a natural disaster, when all eyes are on staff and citizens, and members of the media will be searching for official updates. Help employees to understand that should not be publishing any information deemed as internal only, or any information that has not been confirmed (such as damage estimates, death tolls, or road closures).

Get Buy-In. Have your sustainability operations plan reviewed by administrative leaders, elected officials, and members of your municipal risk management team to obtain buy-in.

Identify Plan Enforcers. Designate a human resource safety officer who will be responsible for ensuring plan compliance in the event of a disaster. Large cities and counties may want to designate several officers and outline specific regions for each to oversee.

Share Your Plan and Train Personnel Accordingly. Make sure the managers of every department review the plan and receive proper training. All staff in key departments, such as public works, police, fire and rescue, and communications should also receive training. Ensure all new staff receive disaster sustainability training at the time of hire and hold ongoing annual refresher training to keep critical information top-of-mind.

Understand Federal Reporting Requirements. Municipal human resource managers are required to complete specific federal reporting requirements in the event of a natural disaster. Understand the reporting requirements that may impact your community related to the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), COBRA, possible state laws that affect paycheck distribution, I-9 reporting, and notifications associated with the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN).

Review and Adjust. If a natural disaster event does occur in your community, take time after the recovery efforts have ended to evaluate your sustainability plan. Determine what went well, and what areas could be improved. Use this information to adjust and optimize the plan for future use.

In the days and weeks that followed Hurricanes Irma, Maria, and Harvey, Americans across the nation sat transfixed, waiting for news updates from the impacted communities. Within the affected communities, civic employees became modern-day heroes as they worked tirelessly to coordinate relief efforts, communicate safety information, and help citizens begin the long, arduous process of recovery. They committed themselves, nearly 24/7 to rebuilding the communities they loved. As they cared for their citizens, their human resource teams cared for them.Human resource managers serving local governments must prepare for the unpredictable and ensure they have a plan in place to care for employees before, during, and after a natural disaster.Natural disasters result in wide-spread community impact. Not only would a hurricane, tornado, or wildfire cause the damage or destruction of public property, it could prohibit some staff from being physically able to travel to fulfill their work duties, while it could require other employees to work countless overtime hours to help with recovery efforts.Such staffing issues are a significant part of the reason why municipal human resource teams play such an important role natural disaster planning. Responsive staff management plans are necessary to ensure sustainable civic operations before, during, and after a crisis. To create an operational sustainability plan for your community follow the steps outlined below.Having a natural disaster operations sustainability plan means hoping never to have to use it. However, municipalities cannot merely hope to be spared mother natures wrath. The communities that prepare the most thoroughly for a disaster are those best able to recover, rebuild, and resume community life after the event has ended.As the General Manager for CivicHR, Jonathan understands the challenges that human resource professionals in local government face when looking to recruit, identify, and hire the best talent in their community, for their community. Jonathans primary focus at CivicPlus is on following the trends in the local government human resource landscape, and leading product enhancements for CivicHR to ensure the solution evolves as the needs of local government evolve. Jonathan holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration. He has over fifteen years of experience in software research and development, client service, product implementations, sales, and marketing.
Lashrecse Airds mother gave birth to her at 16 years old, but she continued to work hard to accomplish professional and academic goals. Aird says the grit her mother -- and grandmother -- instilled in her as a young girl led directly to her success in public office.Airds introduction to politics came through her involvement in pageants while attending Virginia State University. At a university dinner, she met Virginia Delegate Rosalyn Dance, who invited her to apply for an internship with her office. Aird interned with Dance during her sophomore year while also working 12-hour shifts at a local factory for extra money.During the winter break of Airds senior year in college, she gave birth to her first son, but continued school and graduated in 2008. She never lost touch with her mentor, Dance. After college, she went to work for her as a legislative assistant. When Dance successfully ran for the state Senate in 2015, Aird ran to fill her seat. She won, becoming the youngest woman -- at age 28 -- ever elected to the Virginia House of Delegates.Aird says she identifies with the economic hardships many of her constituents face. I know their needs. I know their pain, she says. I know how to advocate for them because I feel like I basically lived through it.
Promoters of the axed Russian GP are still asking Formula 1 to return the race fee for 2022.

The race at Sochi, and the remainder of the Russian GP contract, was terminated unilaterally by F1 at the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine.

"They owe us money," promoter Alexey Titov told the Russian news agency Tass.

"We ask Formula 1 to return it. It was paid but there was no spectacle.

"They admit that there is a debt so in this sense there is no litigation, but they say that they are technically unable to return the money.

"We, as an organisation, were once controlled by VTB Bank, which was a technical sponsor, so there are legal sanctions barriers for the return of funds," Titov added.

"Is there any hope of getting the money back? Of course - this is the country's money and I'm not afraid of saying it."

China has not hosted a single grand prix since the outbreak of the covid pandemic, but FIA inspectors have now visited the Shanghai circuit to restore F1 approval - with a revival of the Chinese GP now expected for 2024.

As for Russia, however, Titov says the promoters are no longer interested in F1.

"I don't miss Formula 1 a bit," he said. "They left and we had the opportunity to establish our competitions, which we did.

"This was only a plus for everyone."

(GMM)
Italy's deputy prime minister says the government is determined to keep both Imola and Monza on the Formula 1 calendar.

This weekend, the sport is gathering at Imola - ahead of F1's return to the country in September for the fabled Italian GP at Monza.

Imola and Monza have separate contracts to be on the calendar until 2025, but beyond that it is feared one or even both of them could become the latest victims of the sport's push into new markets.

Deputy PM Matteo Salvini is quoted by La Gazzetta dello Sport as saying: "The goal is to secure the two grands prix. They absolutely must co-exist."

Italian foreign affairs minister Antonio Tajani, meanwhile, added: "The strong international appeal of F1 makes support for the two events a government priority.

"F1 gives a dynamic, creative and winning image to the country."

Salvini continued: "The two races stand for work, tourism, beauty, identity, tradition, research, innovation and are symbols of wealth and jobs which, at a time like this, are sacred.

"The challenges of sustainability are perfectly fine, but the roar of engines - the beautiful ones that annoy some people - is irreplaceable.

"As a minister and as a ministry, we are here - not only with the 5 million that we gave financially but above all as cultural support," he added.

(GMM)
Banks, fintechs help unearth Africas economic potential  Fidelity Bank CEO

Daily Graphic Business News May - 16 - 2023 , 15:10

The Managing Director of Fidelity Bank, Ghana, Julian Opuni, has acknowledged the instrumental role banks, fintechs and other allied businesses in the banking and finance value chain play in unearthing the enormous potential of Africas economy.

He also recognised the contributions of financial institutions in driving business growth across the continent.

Mr Opuni was addressing participants in the 2023 Retail Banking Council Africa meeting held in Accra.

Fidelity Bank partnered the Lafferty Group to host the meeting on the theme, Driving Free Trade in Africa  How financial services can contribute to Digital Trade.

The rapid proliferation and increasing sophistication of digital tech in finance and beyond, coupled with significant shifts in regional and global economic policy such as the landmark African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), suggest that we may be approaching a watershed moment in Africa.

This may well be Africas moment to emerge as a potent economic power on the world stage, Mr Opuni noted.

Relationships

Divisional Director of Retail Banking at Fidelity Bank Ghana, Nana Esi Idun-Arkhurst, said: It is from proactive engagements, conversations and bonding activities such as these council meetings that powerful relationships and ideas are activated to seize the business opportunities of today and tomorrow.

IT also helps to create meaningful opportunities for individuals and small businesses, and ultimately transforms the world for the better.

She said in an era where digital technology provided a real means to circumnavigate long-standing geographical and market barriers, the world was presented with a unique opportunity to collaborate and innovate to extend financial services and solutions across Africa and create life-changing opportunities particularly for women, youth and other marginalised groups.

The Director at Lafferty Group, Dr Ronan Lynch, said the council Africa was an incredibly dynamic one and a platform for the propagation of pragmatic banking solutions for real people.

He said: Banks are working with fintechs and mobile money companies in Africa in a way that doesnt happen elsewhere.

Mobile wallet use is tremendous.

But the real goals are to help more small and medium businesses to do business between African countries along with the broader international markets.

In this respect, the councils work is very practical: when banks can move money freely without those payments going through New York, London or Paris, thats going to keep a lot more value locally and help local banks and payments businesses to develop.

Brief

This year, Retail Banking Council Africa celebrates its ninth year of supporting the development of retail banking across Africa.

Established in 2015 by Lafferty Group in association with a core group of African retail banks, the council has since held meetings in Cape Town (South Africa), Nairobi (Kenya), Stellenbosch (South Africa), Lagos (Nigeria) and Port Louis (Mauritius).

For this years council, the Lafferty Group partnered Fidelity Bank, a continentally acclaimed innovation leader and pace-setter in the Financial Inclusion sphere which currently enjoys the distinction as the Best Bank in West Africa from the prestigious African Banker awards.

With their mutual commitment towards driving change in Africa and impacting real lives through practical initiatives and digital innovation, the partners together with other council members look forward to spearheading other joint initiatives to advance intra and inter-continental trade by harnessing strategic partnerships vis-a-vis the power of digital technology.
Mandatory local insurance cover suspended  Further engagements underway

Maclean Kwofi Business News May - 16 - 2023 , 02:33

The planned implementation of the mandatory local marine cover meant for cargoes entering the country has been suspended for further consultations.

This is to pave the way for the Cargo Insurance Committee (CIC) made up of the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA), National Insurance Commission (NIC), Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS) and Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to engage the shipping and insurance authorities in some selected countries on the African continent to learn from best practices for the implementation.

To that end, the committee is expected to engage its counterparts in four African countries including Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda, all of which have successfully rolled out the mandatory acquisition of local marine insurance.

The engagement has become imperative following challenges faced by the NIC with the initial rollout of the policy on September 1, last year, despite a nationwide sensitisation programme.

Consequently, the Cargo Insurance Committee was mandated to oversee the smooth implementation of the policy.

The committee has since its constitution held series of meetings to discuss inputs from stakeholders, and brainstorm strategies for the implementation to ensure full compliance.

Best practices

At a crunch meeting in Accra, the Chairman of the committee and Head of the Freight and Logistics Department of the GSA, Fred Asiedu Dartey, said: If we are able to gather information from the authorities in these countries, it will go a long way to guide us in the best practices for the smooth implementation to ensure compliance.

He said the policy was designed with the interest of the shipper and should be rolled out in a manner that would not be seen as an additional cost but as an avenue to ensure that cargo was protected.

Clarification

A Senior Manager in-charge of Marketing and External Relations at the NIC, Charles Ansong Dankyi used the opportunity to clarify some concerns raised by members of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) on items covered in each category of cargo insurance.

For the insurance coverage, we have the port-to-port cover, which covers the goods from the port of loading to the port of discharge.

We also have the warehouse-to-warehouse cover, which covers goods from the warehouse of the port of loading to the warehouse of the port of destination, which is purposely for transit cargo.

So, the onus is on the importer to declare which of the insurance coverage they desire, he noted.

Other members of the committee also agreed to intensify sensitisation on the layers of insurance coverage for goods to enable shippers make informed decisions.

Lazy approach

In a protest against the implementation of the policy, the Executive Secretary of the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG), Samson Awingobit Asaki, described the policy as a lazy approach by the NIC to rake in revenue from shippers.

The NIC's attempts to ride on the Insurance Act 2021 (Acts 1016) is not only a desperate move to make money at the expense of the ordinary importer but also an act of insensitivity to the struggling business community, he stated.

He indicated that per the maritime trading environment, the onus was on the supplier to insure goods that were being transported to a local receiver, therefore questioning how a receiver could insure goods that were on high seas.

He said in some instances, some marine shipments that were cleared at Ghanas port came with Cargo Freight Insurance value (CIF), meaning they had already been insured by the supplier.

The NIC should rather focus its strengths and powers on being innovative to raise revenues, without hiding behind an LI to rip local importers of their sweat.

The move by the NIC, if not reviewed or scrapped, will rather come back to hurt local businesses, since any additional cost in insuring already insured cargo, will be passed on to the consumer, he added.

Rip off

An importer, Daniel Yeboah, expressed surprise and accused the GSA which was mandated to act in the interest of shippers, as rather championing the policy with the help of GRA and NIC to allegedly rip off the group of people they were mandated to fight for.

He maintained that the timing of the implementation of the compulsory insurance policy was misplaced considering the hardship local businesses and importers faced due to the economic downfall.

He commended the decision to revisit the negotiating table with stakeholders to take their inputs and suggestions to make it a win-win for all.
Telecel Ghana in full operations  NCA clears misconceptions

Charles Benoni Okine Business News May - 16 - 2023 , 03:00

Telecel Ghana has formally taken over the operations of Vodafone Ghana, a Senior official of the National Communications Authority has revealed.

Telecel has fully taken over in terms of acquiring the majority shares, 70 per cent from Vodafone Group in Vodafone Ghana, the industry regulator, National Communications Authority has confirmed.

The Director-General (DG) of NCA, Joe Anokye, said Telecel had assumed a majority shareholder status, adding that the Government of Ghana(GoG) through the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA) was also a minority shareholder with 30 per cent.

Meanwhile, Telecel Ghana, he said, would still operate under the Vodafone brand name for about a year or more until it was ready to change to its new identity.

The NCA DG was speaking to the Graphic Business in an interview in reaction to suggestions by some members of the public that the deal had fallen apart and Vodafone Ghana was still in operation under its previous ownership.

I think per the arrangement with Vodafone, they have up to a year or a year and a half to maintain the name. I'm sure at some point, they will transition to Telecel because you can't just come in with a new identity within a few weeks, he said.

Mr Anokye was optimistic that Telecel Ghana would be able to live up to expectations to make the telecommunications industry more competitive.

SMP operational

The company comes at a time when the industry market leader, MTN Ghana, has been declared Significant Market Power (SMP) as part of measures to enable a more efficient level playing field for the industry players.

In the last two years, the declaration of MTN Ghana as an SMP has resulted in an asymmetric savings of GHS86.6 million for the smaller Mobile Network Operators (MNOs).

The SMP was meant, among many other things, to set a level playing field and limit the ability of the company to manipulate its tariffs, control its profit margin and possibly its ability to increase obstacles to potential new entrants or smaller players in the market.

The savings made by the non-SMP players in the industry saw the second biggest telco in the country, Vodafone Ghana, now Telecel, raking in GH50.4 million, representing 58 per cent.

The third biggest player in the industry, AirtelTigo, saved GH34.8 million, representing 40 per cent while Glo Ghana had 1.6 million; two per cent of the total savings.

The asymmetric interconnection revenue savings per non-SMP was between October 2020 and December 2022.

Analysts believe that the status of MTN Ghana in the market today will give the new entrants leverage to be able to catch up but not overtake the market leader.

Industry statistics

There are interesting developments within the sector as far as mobile voice subscriptions in the country are concerned.

Pre-SMP, MTN Ghana, as at the end of December 2019, had a market share of 55 per cent of the mobile voice market, Vodafone Ghana controlled 22 per cent while AirtelTigo and Glo Ghana controlled 21 per cent and two per cent respectively.

As of the end of February, this year, post-SMP, MTN Ghana was controlling 67 per cent of the mobile voice market while Vodafone dropped to 18 per cent.

AirtelTigo also dipped to 15 per cent with Glo lost in the fray, according to figures from the NCA.

Riding on data

The Graphic Business has picked information from industry sources that Telecel was positioning itself to offer the best quality and fastest data speeds in the country.

On the companys home page, it has spelt out that message clearly, saying: Get ready for more potential, more opportunity and more of everything you expect from the internet provider.

It is obvious that should the company be able to live up to expectations, it will make significant inroads into the sector.

But as to whether it can overtake MTN Ghana, which continues to innovate and plough back profits into its operations as part of measures to stay ahead of the competition, needs time to prove.
Unilever Ghana to sustain growth, increase shareholder value - MD assures

Charles Benoni Okine Business News May - 16 - 2023 , 14:47

Unilever Ghana says it is on track to ensure sustained growth of the business after the company returned to profitability last year.

From a loss position during the height of the outbreak of COVID-19, the company has managed to bounce back, a development the management of the company intends to improve to give its shareholders more value while servicing the people of Ghana with its high quality products.

Financials

The company posted a loss of GH160 million in 2019, GH50 million in 2020 until it managed to overturn the losses into profits.

It made its first profit of GH0.19 million in 2021 and GH15 million in 2022.

As of the first quarter of the year, the business has posted a profit of GH28 million, confirming its resolve to keep the growth trajectory in the coming quarters and into the year and beyond.

The company also recorded a turnover of GH242 million in the first quarter while its Net Cash Reserves also recovered from a negative position of GH59 million at the end of last year to GH16 million (positive) in the quarter under review.

Turning the corner

Managing Director of Unilever Ghana, George Owusu-Ansah, in an interaction with a cross section of the media, said Unilever, like many other companies, suffered from the pandemic but due to strategies adopted by the company together with the enormous loyalty of consumers, it has been able to turn the corner and this will be sustained into the future.

The event was on the theme: Rediscovering our greatness, our brands, our heritage.

As a company, we pledge to continue to depend on our prudent management practices and the full cooperation of staff and distributors to achieve the dream, he added.

Mr Owusu-Ansah said the company, which products are widely acclaimed nationwide with most of them now a household name, will continue to deliver long-term superior value, serve the people everywhere while contributing to a fairer and more socially inclusive world.

Programmes

Mr Owusu-Ansah said the company would help equip 10,000 young people with essential skills by the end of the year; help about 500 small and medium-scale enterprises to grow their business by 2025; and spend 50,000 euros annually on diverse businesses by 2025.

Cash flow

The Director, Supply Chain, Mayank Kapoor, described the companys financials as positive, having recovered from a weak state to an impressive position.

He said what the company was working hard at, was to improve its cash flow position since the nature of the business required it to be highly liquid.

Mr Kapoor said the company was working with the distributors on a constant basis to ensure that they contributed more to the effort to improve the companys cash flow position on a sustained basis.
Fela Kutis son arrested for slapping a police officer

Vanguardngr.com Showbiz News May - 15 - 2023 , 16:18

Social media users were kept busy early Monday morning, after a picture of a son of Fela Kuti, musician, Seun Kuti flooded their various timelines.

Seun Kuti, who had trended last weekend after he was seen in a video assaulting a police officer on the popular third mainland bridge in Lagos, was pictorially seen in handcuffs, indicating that he was currently a guest of the Nigeria police.

Surprisingly, while monitoring various social media networks, it was revealed that a lot of people seemed not enraged by the picture, as many felt being in the police custody, was actually the right way to go.

Seun Kuti was arrested this morning

@tompounds on Twitter wroteI actually like Seun, but slapping a police officer in public, is a no. Thank God he is with the police now. He can clear his name if he feels he did nothing wrong.

@tunde_Osho on Twitter wrote Nice one! Let him clear his name, if the police actually threatened to kill him, as he claimed.

@obi Aloze on Facebook wrote New Nigeria is possible with new behavior. #prosecuteSeunNow for a better Nigeria.

@queen Ozegbe Obasi on Facebook wrote Im beginning to like Nigerian police mode of discipline these days , when their officers do anyhow they punish them and when you do anyhow to the men on uniform because of your popularity , Im sorry for you. Anyway seun has a smart way of escaping punishment he will tell them that he acted under the influence of eegbo. its legal for their family members to smoke eegbo.

@Olatunde Olalekan on Facebook wrote Police are bad, but Seun should have listened to his wife and children. Its criminal beating a man in uniform.

@Segunbones on Instagram wrote Chai! Seun fuvk up gan ni ooo.

@Danielokwuta on Instagram wrote God help you from here, Seun omo Fela.

Nevertheless, it will be worth knowing that Seun Kuti actually surrendered himself to the Nigeria police, by visiting the commissioner of police, Lagos state, Idowu Owohunwa, in his office.

This visit was a follow up to a tweet over the weekend by Seuns friend, Omoyele Sowore, a presidential candidate in the last election.

Sowore in his tweet had stated that Seun had agreed to cooperate with the police in their investigations, to find out what really transpired on the third mainland bridge.

It will be recalled that Seun Kuti, who is a son to famous music legend, Fela Kuti, was seen and heard physically and verbally assaulting a police officer on the third mainland bridge in Lagos.

In the video, he was heard yelling U dey mad to the officer, while caressing his cheeks with some rounds of slaps.

The video brought out a reaction from the Inspector General of the Nigeria police, Usman Baba, who ordered his arrest.

In a video post on the internet after the assault video went viral, Seun explained that what he did was in self defence, as he claimed the officer threatened to kill him and his family.

Interestingly, in a latest twist to the saga, another video on Monday, started circulating on the internet.

In the video, Seun Kuti was seen boasting to have slapped several police officers in the past.

New articles We dont talk but we are not enemies  Black Sherif speaks on relationship with former label

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We dont talk but we are not enemies  Black Sherif speaks on relationship with former label

Joy Entertainment Showbiz News May - 15 - 2023 , 15:36

Reigning VGMA Artiste of the Year, Black Sherif, says he is not enemies with his former label even though they are not on talking terms.

Speaking in an interview with Andy Dosty on Daybreak Hitz, Blacko, as he is widely called showed a lot of maturity in answering the questions he was asked.

One of the issues that popped up in the conversation was about his relationship with his former record label, Wayne Chavis Records.

He mentioned that ever since his big win, his former label has not congratulated him.

We no dey talk but we no be enemies too, said Black Sherif in Pidgin English.

I am very fast to keep things behind me and move on. I dont care too much about things that will drain my energy because I have a lot of problems and things I am dealing with and I am not comfortable sharing.

So I keep adding things like this behind me, he explained.

Since Black Sherif parted ways with Wayne Chavis Records, he has gained higher heights in his career as a musician, which includes the VGMA Artiste of the Year award.

He has one album to his credit titled The Villain I Never Was.

The album was widely appreciated by music lovers and featured on music charts around the world.

On the other hand, Shadrach Agyei Owusu, also known as Snap Wayne Chavis has bounced back into the industry with a new breed of artists.

After the scuffle with his former artiste, Black Sherif, that almost got him exiting the music business, Snap Wayne Chavis has still kept his desires burning.

Becoming a relentless investor, ready to go against all the odds, the building contractor and pharmacist who along the line became a music fanatic says hes always been keen in supporting pure talent.

Read also The Blacko-collabo hottest picks
Enhancing skills training in Ghana "UNESCO to undertake 5-year TVET project"

Elizabeth Konadu-Boakye Education May - 16 - 2023 , 07:39

A team from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and UNESCO International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education Training (UNEVOC) has engaged stakeholders towards the planning and implementation of a five-year Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) project in the country.

Dubbed the Better Education for Africa's Rise (BEAR III), the proposed project which will be implemented concurrently in Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Cote d'Ivoire will be the third phase of this joint initiative between UNESCO and the government of Korea.

The first phase was implemented in Southern Africa, and the second phase was implemented in Eastern Africa.

Leveraging the lessons learnt from the first two phases, BEAR III seeks to improve the relevance, quality of TVET, and the perception of TVET among young people and society.

As part of the implementation process, the team, led by the Head of Education Section of UNESCO Ghana Office, Prosper Kwasi Nyavor, recently embarked on a week-long engagement with stakeholders in the TVET ecosystem from both the private and public sectors.

They also engaged the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ghana Employers Association (GEA), and other relevant institutions that understand the current labour needs of the real sectors of the Ghanaian economy.

Relevant need

Interacting with the stakeholders, Mr Nyavor said the objective of the project was to make TVET more relevant to the needs of the economy and labour market, enhance the quality of programmes and institutions and also to improve the perception of TVET among young people, enterprises and society.

He said TVET was a cross cutting venture which held almost every part of the economy together and for better implementation of the BEAR III project, it was important that the organisation engaged all stakeholders and partners in the TVET ecosystem for a successful project implementation.

He added that the week-long engagement was to help the team gain a good understanding of the different perspectives from the stakeholders and to know which specific areas the project could concentrate on and add value to the government's TVET transformation agenda.

"The mission was to understand what the government had done so far with regard to TVET and to know where the gaps were so we could put measures in place and contribute to the success of TVET education and also to add value to government's effort," he said.

Economic transformation

The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Ghana, Charles Abani said TVET had the potential of contributing to an inclusive economic transformation, which was one of the outcome areas of the new United Nations (UN) Cooperation Framework for Ghana between the period of 2023 and 2025.

He indicated that the agriculture value chain had enormous job creation potential if the right level of investment was made in that area.

The UN Resident Coordinator added that the government was really committed to building TVET and STEM education in the country because that was what was at the core of building a self-reliant country.

Mr Abani advised the UNESCO team that in formulating the draft project document towards implementation of the BEAR III project, it was important for them to consider that the project was climate resilient.

That, he said, was making sure the project did not in any way damage the climate of the country.

Practical training

Giving a brief analysis of the four-day visit, the Programme Specialist at the Section of Youth, Literacy and Skills Development at UNESCO Headquarters, Hiromichi Katayama, suggested that government enhance teacher and competency training by employing teachers who had and taught practical and industry-based learning rather than theory.

He urged the government to invest in training teachers specifically for the teaching of TVET and also focus more on agriculture as it had many facets in which technical skills could be implemented.
69 Tertiary students receive WAPCo scholarships

Dotsey Koblah Aklorbortu May - 16 - 2023 , 07:45

Sixty-nine students from seven host communities of the West African Gas Pipeline Company (WAPCo) in the Western and Greater Accra regions have been awarded scholarships to further their education at the tertiary level.

The beneficiary students are currently pursuing diverse programmes in 13-tertiary institutions across the country over the next three years in the areas of medicine, engineering, petroleum, electrical, construction engineering, law and environmental safety among others.

Ninth Batch

The company said the award, which is the ninth batch, formed part of its livelihood support programme which consists of two schemes: a scholarship scheme and a skills acquisition scheme.

The company said it had so far disbursed about $921,000 under the scheme to ensure that the youth in its host communities have an equal opportunity to develop and achieve their potential to make meaningful contributions to their communities.

In the Shama District, 49 students were presented with the award while 20 other beneficiaries in Greater Accra would be presented later, all at the cost of GH641,700 for the 2022/23 academic year.

Impacts

At a ceremony in Shama, the General Manager Corporate Affairs, WAPCo, Dr Isaac Adjei Doku, said the company remained committed to impacting the lives of the youth in the communities one batch at a time.

WAPCos investment in the youth is also to ensure that our host communities have the requisite talents for their growth and development, he said.

Since the inception of the livelihood support programme, he said the company has supported more than 500 students and that many of the beneficiaries have successfully completed their programmes of study.

The beneficiaries

In administering our livelihood programme, we always ensure that our core values, which include diversity and inclusion, are reflected in the selection process for these awards, he said.

Dr Doku said over the period, the WAPCo sponsored students have pursued over 20 different courses, reflecting the diversity of interests and pool of employable talents and skills being developed in these communities.

We are happy to say that the courses pursued covered areas such as doctor of optometry, medicine and surgery, nautical science, petroleum, engineering, actuarial science, law, and environmental and safety engineering among others, he said.

Successes

From the commencement till date, he said the scheme has achieved a 100 per cent completion rate as all previous recipients of the WAPCo scholarship, except those still in school, have successfully completed their programmes and graduated.

The District Chief Executive of the Shama District Assembly, Mr Ebenezer Dadzie, commended WAPCo for the continuous commitment to the development of human resource for the countrys development through its schemes.
Asantehene seeks return of Asante artefacts from British Museum

Daily Graphic May - 16 - 2023 , 12:13

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has stepped up negotiations for the possible return of Ashanti regalia items taken from Kumasi by the British army, after the Ashanti war against the British in 1874, also known as the Battle of Amoaful.

Last Thursday, he held discussions with the leadership of the British Museum in London on the matter.

The British Museum has a collection of treasures, including those taken away from the palace of the Asantehene during the War of 1874.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu also requested areas of contemporary cultural cooperation in the management and technical assistance with the Manhyia Palace Museum.

Asantehene seeks return of Asante artefacts from British Museum. Asantehene supported by Ivor Agyeman-Duah in a meeting with the Director of the British Museum, Dr Hartwig Fischer; the Deputy Director, Dr Jonathan Williams; the Head of the Africa Department, Sam Nixon, and the Curator, Julie Hudson.

Technical framework

Explaining what transpired at the meeting, a co-advisor of the Asantehene on technical matters relating to the return of the valuables, Ivor Agyeman-Duah, said the British Museum agreed to study and work on a technical framework by the Asantehenes advisors.

The other advisor on the technical matters is a former Keeper of Ethnography at the museum and previously Professor of History and Vice Principal of the University of Glasgow, Malcolm McLeod.

Mr Agyeman-Duah, a historian, museum economist and development specialist, said it was further agreed that an expired memorandum of understanding (MoU) of collaboration between the Manhyia Palace and the British Museum would be reviewed and a loaning agreement reached for some of the items to be sent to Kumasi for the Asantehenes silver jubilee next year.

The Director of the British Museum, Dr Hartwig Fischer; the Deputy Director, Dr Jonathan Williams; the Head of the Africa Department, Sam Nixon, and the Curator, Julie Hudson, welcomed the Asantehene to the museum.

Otumfuo was given a private tour of an exhibition, Luxury and Power-Persia to Greece which centred on the Greco-Persian Wars.

Ivor Agyeman-Duah (left), Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and the Director of the British Museum, Dr Hartwig Fischer

Museum

Otumfuo Osei Tutu explained that the Manhyia Palace Museum, which had been undergoing major restructuring and expansion, provided an avenue for profit-making.

He said the museum, like all major museums, needed other collections to occasionally strengthen patronage and growth.

That, he said, was notwithstanding the laws of antiquity in Britain.

August visit

Dr Fischer, who led the British Museum team in discussions, described the Asantehenes visit as an august one.

He gave an assurance that his outfit would work towards Otumfuos wishes through structured laws.

Dr Fischer had in 1994 led the establishment of the Manhyia Palace Museum.

The technical discussions, which started last week in London, would also lead to visitations to the Manhyia Palace Museum, object identification at the British Museum for loan agreements and other legal implications, as the British Museum Act did not allow permanent removal of items from its collection.

The British Museum, led by Dr Fischer, would also be involved in the Manhyia Palace Museum reopening and anniversary.

This Asante gold neck torc was taken by the British in the 19th Century, and is at the British Museum

Victoria

On behalf of the Manhyia Palace, Mr Agyeman-Duah was also to continue discussions with the Director of the worlds leading art and design institution, the Victoria and Albert Museums (V&A), Dr Tristram Hunt in London.

A bilateral agreement with the Palace would be signed between Manhyia and V&A before February 2024.

The V&A, which also has a collection of Asante regalia, is developing a programme concept for February 2024, which would mark the 150th anniversary of the 1874 Anglo-Asante War.

A group of Ghanaian and British artists would jointly be engaged in a memorial in London.

Next year also marks the 100th anniversary of the return of Asantehene Agyeman Prempeh I from exile in the Seychelles where he spent 27 years.

Background

In the V&A museums annual evaluation for 20212022, Dr Hunt hinted at the possible return of Asante regalia in the museum.

We are optimistic that a new partnership model can forge a potential pathway for these important artefacts to be on display in Ghana in the coming years, he wrote.
Court orders 'side chick' Deborah to handover disputed vehicle to Registrar

Justice Agbenorsi May - 16 - 2023 , 14:40

The High Court in Accra has ordered Deborah Seyram Adablah, the plaintiff in the case in which she has sued the chief finance officer of a bank for allegedly breaching an agreement to take care of her, to hand over a vehicle under dispute to the Registrar of the court.

In a ruling Tuesday, (May 16, 2023), the court presided over by Justice Olivia Obeng Owusu, said the vehicle in dispute should be surrendered to the Registrar of the High Court for preservation until the final determination of the case.

Vehicle

In a suit dated Monday, January 23, 2023, filed at the Accra High Court, Deborah Seyram Adablah contends that her sugar daddy, Ernest Kwasi Nimako agreed to buy her a car, pay for her accommodation for three years, give her a monthly stipend of GH3,000, marry her after divorcing his wife and also give her a lump sum to start a business.

It is her case that Nimako, although bought the car and registered it in his name (Nimako), he has taken the car back, denying her access to use it after about a year of enjoying the Honda Civic worth GH120,000, while he also paid for only one year accommodation, even though he promised to pay for three years.

But the car has since been in the custody of Adablah, who brings it to court for hearing, reports Graphic Online's Justice Agbenorsi.

Court order

As part of the ruling on the vehicle today, Mr Nimako, has also been ordered to submit all documents in relation to the said vehicle to the Registrar.

Justice Obeng Owusu has also ordered both the Plaintiff (Adablah) and the 1st defendant (Ernest Nimako) to desist from any publication on the matter on both social and traditional media.
E.T. Mensah, others receive Doctors of Ministry

Juliet Akyaa Safo May - 16 - 2023 , 16:14

Three Christian leaders have been conferred Doctors of Ministry (DMin) from the Vision International University, after completing four years of training in courses such as Bible theology, Christian counselling and education and leadership.

They are a Member of the Council of State; E.T Mensah, Chief Executive Officer of West African Terminals Limited; Apostle Peter Owusu Aboagye, and the Superintendent Minister of South Accra Circuit of the Methodist Church; Very Reverend Solomon Aryetey Patterson.

The university, which is a global distance learning network, trains church leaders, educators and other professionals in leadership in various fields of Christian service, offering online learning programmes from Certificate to Master's degree.

Christian leadership

At a brief ceremony to confer the awards on them at the Bethel Methodist Church in Accra last Sunday, the Founder and President of the Vision International University, Dr Stanley DeKoven, urged the awadees to teach, preach and put into practice what they had been thought.

He also urged them to prioritise their health, so they could do the work of God.

He encouraged Christian leaders to build their capacities, noting that education was an investment for them, the kingdom of God and the Church.

We believe that every individual Christian should be trained for ministry, and we believe in individual callings.

We are committed to help our students to achieve their ministry goals, he said.

Dr DeKoven said Christian leaders must ensure that their emotions were lined up with the truth of Gods word so as to fulfill Gods purpose in their lives.

Integrity

Walk with integrity, honesty, be upright before God and one another, and allow the Holy Spirit to guide and direct your life each day.

You will then experience the prosperity for your journey, he said.

We believe that every one of you will be ambassador that will teach and preach the Word of God anywhere and wherever that God calls you, he added.

The National Director of Vision International University, Ghana, Very Rev. Dr Mathias Kwesi Forson, urged Christians to build their capacities in the ministry to discern good and bad doctrine.

He added that it was important for Christians to educate themselves in the Word to make meaningful contributions to ensure prosperity in their families, churches and the country.

Speaking on behalf of the recipients, Mr Mensah expressed commitment to train other Christian leaders to lead and preach the word of God.

Quality

He acknowledged the fact that they had been equipped to offer quality development in the areas of their calling, adding that their expertise was needed now more than ever.

He encouraged his colleagues to use their knowledge and skill for the betterment of humanity.

As we move forward from this point, we must remember that the most important lessons we have learnt is the ability to keep learning.

The pursuit of knowledge is a lifelong journey and I have no doubt that we will continue to grow and develop in our fields of study, he said.
ECG goes cashless "Bills to be paid via MoMo, bank transfer"

Maclean Kwofi May - 16 - 2023 , 06:41

After almost two years of piloting, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has fully operationalised its cashless payment system and is no longer receiving cash payment at all of its 300 ECG offices across the country.

Customers now requiring to either purchase power or pay their bills will be required to either make digital payment via mobile money or make payment at the bank.

The intervention, which came into effect last Thursday, was part of efforts to make the power distribution companys revenue mobilisation efforts more efficient.

In the past few months, we have improved our digitalisation system and now ready to roll out the payment platform which is one of the key interventions to improve our revenue mobilisation.

With this new digital payment platform, we will no longer receive cash at any of the ECG payment offices.

Customers will be required to either pay by mobile money or at the bank, the Director of Communications, William Boateng explained in an interview.

He said this latest intervention formed part of the overall plans by the ECG to improve service delivery.

In 2020, Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia launched the mobile app also known as ECG Power, with the aim of making it possible for about 2.8 million out of the 3.8 million customers of the power distributor to buy power at their own convenience.

When it was launched, only post-paid customers and customers with the smart prepaid meters could access the service.

However, after the pilot period and reviewing its performance, the plan was upgraded to fully integrate all customers.

How it works

From the ECG purchase App, customers would be required to dial *226# and follow the prompts to make payment.

Alternatively, they could pay from their mobile money wallet on the various networks, while those who choose to pay at the banks could collect a deposit slip from their ECG customer care office and go and make payment.

Once payment was effected, the customers account would be automatically credited.

Mr Boateng said this was because ECG had integrated its payment portal with all banks in the country, thus customers could pay at any bank of their choice.

 In making our mode of collection more efficient, we are also mindful not to inconvenience our customers, so they can make payment by mobile money at anytime and from anywhere.

They also do not need to present payment receipts at ECG as the system allows payment to reflect in their accounts once payment is made.

Also, there will be no service charge for using the digital payment platform, particularly through mobile money.

Customers will only have to pay their actual bills, he emphasised.

Revenue mobilisation

From March 20 to April 20, the ECG embarked on a nationwide revenue mobilisation, vigorously pursuing customers who had failed to pay their bills for power consumed.

It recovered GH3.1 billion from a targeted GH5.7 billion owed the power distribution company by individuals and corporate entities.

Meanwhile, the company has earmarked the last week of every month for revenue mobilisation in order to retrieve the remaining amount.

The management of ECG has also set aside the last week of every month for its mobilisation exercise again in a bid to improve its revenue collection.

Additionally, the revenue assurance unit of the ECG would ensure that bills were issued promptly for post-paid customers as the company was designing a bill system that would check the reading of prepaid meters to be able to tackle illegalities and losses.

Customers

Some customers who have tried using the App commended the ECG for this intervention as it is now convenient to buy power or pay bills without having to personally show up at an office.

However, they said the process was laborious and expressed the hope that over time, the system would be made more convenient.

I used the system on Sunday and it worked, just that it took a while before I was able to complete the process to purchase power.

I think the ECG would have to step up their education on this latest intervention, Maame Yaa Tiwaa, a teacher at Adentan told the Daily Graphic.
Ghanas factory inspectors inadequate  Chief Inspector of Factories

Emelia Ennin Abbey May - 16 - 2023 , 16:58

Ghana lacks the requisite number of factory inspectors to effectively deal with the rising number of factories and industries being established in the country.

Out of about 800 inspectors required, there were currently only 54 which was woefully inadequate to travel the length and breadth of the country to ensure compliance at the workplaces.

In an interview with the Daily Graphic, the Chief Inspector of Factories, George D. Gashon, said the situation was not the best as it failed to meet the standards of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

He said the rate at which industrial establishments were springing up across the country had inched higher with the implementation of the one-district, one-factory initiative of the government and with implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), it was important to improve the situation to meet the accepted international standards

ILO standards

As of April 2022, 107 factories had been established under the government's industrialisation programme, with over 200 others at various stages of completion.

According to the ILO, each year, an estimated 2.78 million workers die from occupational accidents and work-related diseases while an additional 374 million workers suffer from non-fatal occupational accidents.

That means 7,500 people die from unsafe and unhealthy working conditions every day.

A breakdown of the figure shows that while 6,500 die from work-related diseases, another 1000 die from occupational accidents.

The records also indicate that workplace-related deaths exceed the average annual deaths from road accidents, war, violence and HIV/AIDS.

A safe and healthy working environment is included in the ILOs framework of fundamental principles and rights at work.

50 for each region

Mr Gashon, who heads the Department of Factories Inspectorate, an agency under the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, explained that per the standards, about 800 factory inspectors were needed to oversee the supervision of factories health and safety needs nationwide.

Of the proposed number, each of the 16 regions would require not less than 50 factory inspectors.

We need a lot of science-based safety officers.

We need thousands of inspectors so that we can enter every district in this country," he said.

He described factory inspection as critical to labour as its fundamental purpose was to protect the life and health of workmen from hazards arising in connection with machinery and industrial processes.

Also, the suffering caused to victims of accidents that occurred in factories and the poverty ensuing in families when the breadwinners were stricken down while working in a factory, were why there was the need for regular inspection to ensure that the health and safety needs in industries and factories were complied with.

Addressing the challenge

To help address the challenge, Mr Gashon said a national Safety and Health Authority bill, which was before Parliament, would ensure that all state-owned and private factories had qualified safety inspectors to establish security and prohibit faulty industrial machines from operating.

He said the inspectorate would regulate all organisations to have well-trained safety officers in order to ensure an accident-free working environment.

All factories without safety officers are welcomed onboard to cooperate with the department to make factories safer," he said.

The bill, he further said, had provisions for prohibition that would make it possible for faulty machines in factories to be under lock and key and prevent the use of faulty machines after the factory inspectors identify them.

Formerly you will go to a factory and find a faulty machine but as soon as you leave, they start using it but with this law we can put a prohibition notice and nobody can use it and anyone who uses it will be violating the law," he said.

"If we have employees dying because of accidents in the workplace then it means inspectors are not doing their work well.

Employees are resources and when they suffer hazards it will affect productivity," he said.

Resourcing

Also, to ensure that there was efficiency despite the inadequate number of factory inspectors currently, the ministry had recently handed over a number of vehicles to the inspectorate, while plans were far advanced to have offices in all the 16 regions across the country.

Now the government is promoting the establishment of more factories and we need to increase the inspection base too, he emphasised.

Inspectorates mandate

The Department of Factories Inspectorate is mandated by Act 328 of 1970 to conduct a technical safety, health and welfare inspection regularly on all premises within the country to ascertain compliance with the law.

The department is responsible for the issuing of a yearly certificate as stipulated by Act 328 (1970) with an aim of managing health and safety in the workplace.

Occupational health, safety and welfare certification promote a safe and healthy working environment by providing a framework that helps organisations to identify and control health and safety risks and reduce the potential for accidents.
It is costly to restore licenses of collapsed banks than the gains - Economist

Zadok Kwame Gyesi May - 16 - 2023 , 13:53

An Economist at the University of Ghana Business School, Professor Lord Mensah, says the intention of the flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, to restore the licences of banks that collapsed in 2017 under the current New Patriotic Party (NPP) government will cost the nation more than the benefits.

For him, although the idea to restore the licenses was not bad, considering the various focal areas of the collapsed banks, the cost involved in restoring them far outweighs the gains.

In a radio interview on Accra-based 3FM, monitored by Graphic Online on Tuesday afternoon, (May 16, 2023), Prof. Mensah said even though each of the banks had a reason for operating, their specialties and customer targets, "It will cost us more compared to the benefits that we would have gained [sic]."

The Bank of Ghana (BoG) under in 2017 revoked the licenses of some commercial banks due to their inability to meet regulatory requirements.

Mahama's decision to restore licenses

In a post-election victory speech as the flagbearer of the NDC in Tamale on Monday, [May 15, 2023], former President Mahama promised that the collapsed banks whose licences were not "fairly revoked" would be restored when he wins power in the 2024 general elections.

In a related reaction on 3FM, the Dean of the University of Cape Coast School of Business, Prof. John Gatsi, said the decision to restore the licences of the affected banks was good and that "It is going to put regulatory officers on their toes to make sure they respect the rights of every person."

For him, it will send a strong signal to the central bank to be impartial in regulatory activities, saying that it will make them not to "discriminate against people and ensure that they are fair towards anybody whether the person is in power or is not in power."
Johnson Sirleaf calls for leveraging data infrastructure to drive development

Benjamin Xornam Glover May - 16 - 2023 , 07:06

A former President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, has called for more investment in data infrastructure and capacity-building to improve decision-making for accelerated development on the African continent.

For instance, she said, there was the need to build technical and appropriate human capacity to collect, manage and analyse data effectively.

She was speaking at the opening of a five-day Afrobarometer Round 10 planning meeting at the Aqua Safari Resort at Ada, in the Greater Accra Region yesterday.

Madam Sirleaf is a member of the International Advisory Council at Afrobarometer, a pan-African, nonpartisan survey research network that amplifies citizens voices.

Agenda

The meeting was attended by some core partners of Afrobarometer, national partners and supporting units from 40 African countries to design the upcoming round of surveys.

It will also include a series of plenary and working-group sessions to discuss and design survey instruments and methodologies, data quality assurance measures and results dissemination strategies.

Lack of data

Madam Sirleaf said in many cases across the continent, the lack of timely data had led to the implementation of ineffective policies, misallocation of resources and perpetuation of inequalities.

"In Africa, the need for timely data has become increasingly important in recent years.

With the continent experiencing significant economic growth and development, data has become an essential tool for policymakers and development practitioners," she said.

According to her, many African policymakers and practitioners still relied on intuition, anecdotal evidence and personal experience to make decisions, saying, "the misalignment between policies and actual needs has resulted in suboptimal outcomes".

She commended Afrobarometer for focusing on issues such as access to education, health care and other basic services for minority groups and marginalised communities.

"We all understand how such data can help promote social justice and reduce inequality, thereby contributing to a more inclusive and equitable society," Madam Sirleaf added.

Roles

In a speech read on her behalf, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, said Afrobarometer, together with other research groups, continued to play meaningful roles in the political discourse by making people's voices significant in policy initiatives and decision-making at the continental and global levels.

As a resourceful research organisation, she said Afrobarometer could complement efforts of policymakers, opinion leaders and academia to sensitise the public to topical issues such as climate change, the transition to the green economy, energy and food security and capacity-building for media personnel and the youth.

The Chief Executive Officer of Afrobarometer, Joseph Asunka, said if democracy was indeed a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, then the people's voice and life experiences must count in policy and development decisions that affected their lives.

"We are here today in pursuit of a noble vision: a world in which Africas development is anchored in the realities and aspirations of its people," he said.

For his part, Afrobarometer co-founder and Board Chairman, Prof. Emmanuel Gyimah-Boadi, said collaborations and insights gathered at the meeting would be instrumental in guiding future research endeavours of the organisation.
KOPIA, CSIR launch rice seed project

Delali Sika & Linda Sah May - 16 - 2023 , 14:05

A five-year Water Energy Food Programme (WEFP) project to address the shortage of rice seeds in the country has been launched.

Under the collaboration of the Korea Partnership for Innovation of Agriculture (KOPIA) and Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR ), the initiative is intended to scale up Ghana's self-sufficiency in rice.

Under the project, 100 hectares of farmlands would be mechanised and supported with irrigation to produce 1200 tons of quality rice seeds annually which would be distributed to 12,000 farmers across the country for free.

At the launch of the project yesterday, the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Ghana, Lim Jung -Taek indicated that in preparation for the smooth take off of the project, a rice seed warehouse had been inaugurated at Dawhenya to help operations.

We expect that the new warehouse with a storage capacity of 78,000 bags of rice seeds would make a big difference by storing the good quality rice seeds for farmers," he said.

The event brought together representatives from the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) and rice production enthusiasts from Kenya ,Senegal ,The Gambia, Guinea, Cameroun and Uganda.

Varieties

Mr JungTaek indicated that six high-yield rice varieties and been developed for the project and it would be complemented with effective agricultural mechanisation to yield the results.

We have developed six high-yield rice varieties for the project and as you are all aware, high-yield rice varieties and agricultural mechanisation are crucial steps in boosting rice production and achieving greater self-sufficiency in Ghana," the Ambassador noted.

The Minister of Food and Agriculture ,Bryan Acheampong, who was a special guest at the event, expressed his excitement about the project and gave a firm assurance of Ghanas support for the project.

The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, said given the importance of the seed industry, it was important to prioritise seed certification globally to ensure that farmers accessed only high quality, genetically pure seeds ,free from diseases and adaptable to the local environment.

The uninterrupted distribution of quality seed is crucial to ensure that farmers have access to them through all seasons," he said, further emphasising that the seed industry played an important role in food security, poverty reduction and economic development.

Challenges

Mr Quartey expressed concern about challenges the rice value chain faced due to lack of quality seed certification and distribution in Africa.

"This could be attributed to lack of investment in research and development, owing to the fact that many African countries have limited resources to invest in Agriculture research, making us rely on external sources for new seed varieties , he stated .

The minister thus called for investment in the local research institutions by both government and the private sector, to develop new seed varieties that are adaptable to local conditions.
Multichoice Ghana launches 30th anniversary

Kweku Zurek May - 16 - 2023 , 15:59

Fatimatu Abubakar, the Deputy Minister of Information, has called on media owners and operators to adhere to Ghanaian cultural values when creating content for broadcast within the country.

Ms. Abubakar emphasized that while there is no censorship or gatekeeping by policymakers due to the fundamental freedoms in Ghana, it is essential for broadcast platform owners to consider the preservation of Ghanaian cultural values.

According to her, embracing Ghanaian cultural values would ensure the production of content that is appropriate and contributes to national development.

Ms. Abubakar made these remarks during her speech at the launch of the 30th Anniversary of Multichoice Ghana on Monday.

She commended Multichoice Ghana for its invaluable contributions in promoting Ghanaian stories across the continent, and also acknowledged the company's significant role in job creation within the broadcast sector of Ghana.

Imtiaz Patel, the Executive Chairman of Multichoice Group, highlighted the investments that the satellite television provider has made in the Ghanaian economy throughout its entire operation.

Mr. Patel stated that Multichoice Group has invested approximately $1.3 billion in the Ghanaian economy over the span of 30 years, demonstrating its commitment to growth and expansion through various initiatives.

He noted that Multichoice's business operations have evolved from a small office to a substantial operational presence, emphasizing the positive impact of its strategies.

Mr. Patel shared impressive figures, stating that Multichoice's annual contribution to Ghana's GDP is about $44 million, while its local tax and regulatory contributions amount to approximately $15.8 million per year, with an additional $22 million spent on content.

Regarding job creation, Mr. Patel mentioned that the popular Akwabaa Magic Channel has generated around 1,500 jobs in the commissioning and licensing value chain, contributing $2.7 million annually to the domestic creative industry.

Mr. Patel expressed gratitude to customers for their unwavering support, which has been instrumental in delivering excellent television content. He also extended his appreciation to the Ghanaian government for creating a conducive environment for the success and operation of the Multichoice Group.

Richard Darko, the Chairman of Multichoice Ghana, expressed pride in being part of Ghana's broadcasting history. He highlighted the company's Corporate Social Responsibility efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, including collaborating with the Ministry of Education to host Ghana Learning TV on its platform and donating over $100,000 worth of Personal Protective Equipment to several health facilities in the country.
Napaga Kaziya Foundation donates to Yendi Prisons

Dawuni Emma May - 15 - 2023 , 15:51

A wife of the Overlord of Dagbon, Napaga Kaziya Asana Salifu, has donated some air conditioners to the Prison Service at Yendi in the Northern Region.

The donation formed part of activities of Napaga Asanas NGO, Napaga Kaziya Foundation, based in Accra.

She said the organisation would also be donating some used clothing and food stuff to inmates of the prison, adding that it would also paint the entire building housing the prison service to give it a facelift.

Activities

According to her, the organisation had been supporting widows, orphans, street children and people with disability (PWDs), among others over the years.

Our objective is to put smiles on the faces of the deprived and also support establishments that are in need to enable them to offer better services to the people, she added.

Napaga Asana appealed to other NGOs and individuals to assist the prisoners to live decent lives during their reformation period.

Appreciation

The Yendi Municipal Assistant Director of the Yendi Prisons, Bopam Augustine, who received the items, expressed gratitude to their benefactor.

He pledged to put the items to judicious use while appealing to other philanthropic organisations and individuals to also come to their aid.
Otiko Djaba eulogies women as unsung heroines

Daily Graphic May - 16 - 2023 , 08:28

Former Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Otiko Afisah Djaba has said 2023 is a great time to celebrate mothers, given all the lessons learnt over the years.

We cannot overestimate the value, calculate and quantify the influence of a mother on the lives of her children.

Nor should we undervalue the important role of good mothers, she said.

She added that Mothers are strong, courageous and fearless in the pursuit and performance of their duties as mothers, adding that mothers are the inspiration behind the dreams, achievements, vision, destiny and future of their children.

These were contained in a statement to mark Mothers Day which fell on Sunday, May 14.

She said As we celebrate Mothers Day, lets appreciate the greatness of mothers. Let Ghanaians celebrate this years Mothers Day by breaking new grounds to give mothers better chances, resources and opportunities to be happy and fulfilled women.

Modern mothers

According to her, There is a new generation of modern mothers bringing up this generation and the next crop of Ghanaians in this dynamic, television, social media and technology-filled world and we should be concerned about their welfare and well-being, especially on this unique day.

She was of the view that honouring mothers should go beyond this one-day celebration.

It should be a lifetime responsibility to stop putting barriers against women.

She also said that women themselves must not erect barriers against their achievements.

They must strive for excellence in their own lives to be better mothers.

Ms Djaba, who is the Executive Director of the Henry Djaba Memorial Foundation, said the foundation wants to use this occasion to admonish mothers not to allow the opinion of others to hold you back from building your personal capacity.

Stop allowing society, children, family, partners and husbands to determine what is possible for you as a woman and a mother.

Women today need to make new rules in their best interest and that of their children.

She said mothers have fought a million battles over their children and asked: Who fights for mother?

Comparatively, the literacy rate of males in Ghana is 74 per cent, thus more serious attention must be placed on educating the girl child to the highest level, increasing the number of girls staying and finishing school, especially at the high school and tertiary level.

Education for women who are not literate should be enforced, further education for those who curtailed their education should be advanced to achieve parity in education as enshrined in goal four of the SDGs to develop more accomplished mothers, she added.

She further stated that women have been negotiating the barriers of life since Eve, and figuring out how to overcome them despite the odds against them, saying: As we celebrate Mothers Day again, we must rewrite a better narrative about girls and women.

Resilience

Enumerating some of the ills in society, she said the tragedy of the nine children who drowned at Faanaa recently, killing girls and women, ritual murders of children and the Mankessim murder of Georgina Asor Botchwey, victimisation of alleged witches, the defilement of girls, rape of women, child marriage, Female Genital Mutilation, impregnating teenage girls, parental neglect, horrifying abuse of women who cannot bear children, trafficking, terrible widowhood rites, discrimination against single mothers and divorcees, irresponsibility of duty bearers, lack of enforcement of laws that protect women and children and all forms of violence and abuse against girls and women mar the good story for celebrating mothers.

Oftentimes, as I review the atrocities against girls and women over the years, I am amazed at the resilience, tenacity and accomplishments of mothers, she said and called on society and children to truly honour mothers beyond this years celebration.
Protect cocoa farms against destruction  COCOBOD

Samuel Kyei-Boateng May - 16 - 2023 , 13:56

The Eastern Regional Manager of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Abdul Majeed Mumuni, has called on cocoa farmers and land owners to protect cocoa farms against all destructive activities, particularly illegal mining, saying the cocoa industry is the mainstay of the national economy.

He said illegal mining, popularly known locally as galamsey, had become a serious threat to the cocoa industry, ruining cocoa farms and polluting water bodies.

Mr Mumuni, who was addressing a regional cocoa farmers rally at Begoro last Friday, stressed that the demise of the cocoa industry could spell doom for the economy.

He advised cocoa farmers to make judicious use of farm inputs, particularly, chemicals supplied to them by COCOBOD and to account for them as well, cautioning them that they should neither misapply nor divert the chemicals.

Operational areas

Mr Mumuni enjoined the farmers to cooperate with community extension agents in all operational areas to adopt and implement all programmes by COCOBOD since they were geared towards assisting them to increase production.

He encouraged them to regularly prune their farms by removing excess and diseased branches, mistletoe and mummified pods to reduce the incidence of diseases and to increase yield.

He said COCOBOD had assisted farmers through the provision of motorised slashers, fuel and lubricants to facilitate the pruning exercise.

He reiterated that the mass spraying exercise was now mandatory, while only pruned farms would benefit from the free foliar fertiliser gesture by the government.

Cash injection

The Executive Director of the Cocoa Health and Extension Division (CHED), Rev. Edwin Afari, said the cocoa industry remained important to the country, stressing that the industry injected $2 billion annually into the national economy.

He said the CHED would this year work to get closer to cocoa farmers through training programmes and sensitisation to enable them to increase productivity.

Rev. Afari admonished farmers to strictly adhere to and implement good agronomic practices and new technologies developed by the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana in order to harvest 10 bags of cocoa per acre instead of the current three bags per acre.
Restoring galamsey lands: UMaT clears mercury from soil

Emelia Ennin Abbey, Kester Aburam Korankye & Timothy Ngnenbe May - 16 - 2023 , 12:01

The University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) says a breakthrough technology that removes mercury from the soil is one of the surest means to correct the damage caused by illegal mining to the environment.

The scientific process developed by the university, is a welcome discovery as Ghana battles to reclaim lands and water bodies devastated and polluted with mercury used in illegal mining.

The Vice-Chancellor of UMaT, Prof. Richard K. Amankwah, said the university developed the solution as its contribution to the elimination of mercury from the soil.

With the extensive damage to the environment, including the depletion of over 4,000 hectares of forest reserves and pollution of water bodies, medical staff have reported strange conditions involving deformities among newborns in galamsey endemic areas in the country.

Prof. Amankwah said the solution, known as phytoremediation technologies, involves the planting of specific tree species in a polluted area to clean up the soil, air and water contaminated with hazardous materials.

"We will plant the trees over the entire area.

The tree will absorb all the mercury and then we will harvest the plant, and the mercury is gone," Prof. Amankwah, himself a mining engineer, said.

He said the university was also engaged in the cleaning of water bodies with high levels of turbidity.

Solution

Prof. Amankwah made the statement last Friday during a panel discussion on mining after the opening of a two-day stakeholders dialogue organised by the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in Accra.

The event, themed: Harnessing our Natural Resources for our Sustainable Collective Good, was aimed at providing a platform for participants to deliberate and share practical perspectives to facilitate Ghana's progress on harnessing its natural resources for the sustainable good of the public.

UMat concessions

The university, Prof. Amankwah said, had started developing a small- scale mine in collaboration with the Minerals Commission, which had supported UMaT with two concessions.

"Exploration work has started.

We want to start a small-scale mining school where we train graduates on small-scale mining so that they will not only have the theory and classroom experience but the field experience as well," he said.

The aim of training in small-scale mining, he explained, was to ensure that students were prepared to start their own businesses.

"When they complete their education, they will not wait for the large-scale miners to offer them employment but they can take advantage and start their own small scale-mining," he said.

Prof. Amankwah said the universitys two concessions were also being used to train small-scale miners on the best environmental practices in the sector to bring sanity into the industry.

In the large-scale mining sector, he said UMaT was working with Atlantic Lithium at Awoyaa, near Saltpond, to localise the value chain in the lithium industry.

The move, he said, was to give room for Ghanaians to participate directly in the sector and add value to lithium.

He said the university had also commenced a weekly educational programme, known as the radio small- scale mining school, where stakeholders in the mining industry and regulatory bodies and communities discuss sustainable mining and other issues of interest to the sector.

Prof. Amankwah said UMaT had instituted June 2 as Sustainable Mining Awareness day in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Small Scale Miners Association to create awareness.

"We have signed a joint venture with another group to start the production of activated carbon," he said.

Activated carbon industry, he said, was about $2 billion in Ghana, and that when the contract between the university and the company eventually went into full operation, Ghana would be able to keep about 20 per cent of activated carbon in the country.

Small-scale mining

Prof. Amankwah said persons who engaged in illegal mining were unpatriotic and had no love for their country.

Illegal mining, popularly referred to as galamsey locally, is an acute problem in Ghana and has over the years been responsible for deforestation and soil erosion in the communities where it is rife.

"The fundamental problem is about the fact that many Ghanaians do not love Ghana because if they did they would not be engaged in illegal mining and destroying the environment," Prof. Amankwah said.

He called for intensive sensitisation and education of the public to reverse the practice, and recommended effective enforcement of the law to discourage illegal mining.

"The university is doing a lot, and all we are asking for is the government and all to support us," he said.
Volta, Oti magistrates train in trauma-informed judicial practice

Alberto Mario Noretti May - 15 - 2023 , 15:38

A total of 26 selected magistrates and their court registrars, as well as family tribunal panel members, in the Volta and Oti regions, have ended a two-day training in Trauma-informed Judicial Practice in Ho.

The objective of the programme, which was organised jointly by the Judicial Service of Ghana and the International Justice Movement (IJM), was meant to give the participants an understanding of the impact of trauma on victim engagement in court proceedings.

It also sought, among others, to enable the participants to recognise how trauma-informed courtroom environment, procedures and communication can both reduce anxiety and trauma, to protect victims and witnesses to fully engage them in court proceedings.

A Justice of the Court of Appeal, Justice Dennis Adjei, in a presentation, entreated the participants to eschew all forms of bias and prejudice about accused persons and witnesses in cases brought before them to ensure fair proceedings.

Innocent until proven guilty

He pointed out that persons arrested for crimes and subsequently processed for the court were presumed innocent by the court unless proven guilty beyond all reasonable doubts.

For that matter, proceedings in court were meant to establish the truth of the case before the court, Justice Adjei added.

For instance, an accused person with a weird haircut may not be guilty of the crime he or she was accused of, and so presuming him guilty of the crime based on the haircut will not serve the interest of justice, he said.

The Justice of the Appeal Court, therefore, underlined the need for magistrates to have a sound understanding of trauma and its impact on victims, as well as the link between legislation and practice regarding trauma victims rights.

He also cautioned the participants against remanding accused persons in custody as a way of punishing them, since they may not be found guilty, after all, at the end of the proceedings.

The Manager of Aftercare Services of IJM, Gabriel Acolatsey, said the movements core mission was to work with law enforcement and other government agencies to rescue child trafficking victims on the Volta Lake, restore them and facilitate the prosecution of the perpetrators.

Rescue

Since 2015, he said, IJM had partnered with relevant government agencies to rescue 452 victims and arrested 250 suspected perpetrators of such crimes.

Out of those arrested, 94 had been successfully prosecuted and 163 of the victims had been successfully restored, said Mr Acolatsey.

We have been able to achieve this feat through collective hard work with the Ghana Police Service, Department of Social Welfare, the Attorney-Generals Department, Judicial Service, our shelter partners and other stakeholders, he added.

The participants were selected from Ho, Kpando, Jasikan and Kete Krachi, in the Volta Region, and Dambai in the Oti Region.
NDC declares Edem Agbana winner of Ketu North primary

Graphic.com.gh Politics May - 16 - 2023 , 18:44

Eric Edem Agbana has been declared winner of last Saturday's parliamentary primary at the Ketu North constituency of the Volta Region.

The National Executive of the NDC on Tuesday after a meeting with the contestants in the constituency election, concluded that Agbana won with 360 votes.

The closest John Kobla Adanu polled 359 votes.

Edem Agbana is a former Deputy National Youth Organiser of the NDC.

This means there will be no run-off as initially thought and Agbana is now the representative for the NDC in the 2024 parliamentary election in Ketu North.

Briefing the press after the meeting in Accra Tuesday, the General Secretary of the NDC, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey said after investigations by the national executive, it was detected that there was no over voting.

And that the ballot papers said to have been detected not to have been validated with stamps at the back had serial numbers that came from the booklet which was issued for the polling centre.

Per that, national has concluded that the people's choice must be respected and that Edem Agbana would represent the NDC in the 2024 Parliamentary election in Ketu North.

By and large, we got a consensus coming across the table that the ballot papers [in question] were an integral part of the booklet of ballots that came from the national office that went to that constituency. And therefore they were not foreign materials. We also checked and saw that there was no over voting. The tallying process done by the agents of the candidates tallied with all the ballot papers found in the ballot box, Mr Kwetey said.

Mr. Kwetey and the party on the face of the evidence provided then declared Mr. Agbana the winner of the poll.

Edem Agbana reacting to the declaration called for calm and unity among the rank and file of the party in the constituency.

His call comes on the back of his declaration as the winner of the partys internal parliamentary election in Ketu North constituency.

What happened on Saturday?

Read: Ketu North NDC parliamentary primary ends in a tie

Last Saturday when the votes were counted after the election, Edem Agbana was leading by one vote of 360 to Adanu's 359 but an agent called for a recount.

When the ballots were recounted, it was detected that two ballots cast in favour of Edem Agbana and one vote cast in favour of Adanu had not been validated by the Electoral Commission's stamp at the back.

The three votes were then taken out leaving the two candidates at 358 votes each.

Votes of other contenders in the race were Dr. Donald Agumenu, 210, Tanko, 176, Prosper Yao Ledi, 72, Leonard Nyakpo, 8, and Don Emmanuel Agbanyo, 7.

Rejected votes were 2.
Women Delegates for Bawumia launched

Haruna Yussif Wunpini Politics May - 16 - 2023 , 08:54

A New Patriotic Party (NPP) womens group rooting for Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia to be elected flag bearer of the party has been launched.

Known as Women Delegates for Bawumia it is made up of women in the party from all the 275 constituencies in the country who will take part in the NPP flagbearership polls in November 4, 2023.

The group has pledged to massively vote for Dr Bawumia to lead the party in the 2024 general election.

At the launch of the movement in Koforidua yesterday in the New Juaben South Constituency in the Eastern Region, the National Coordinator for the Women Delegates for Bawumia, Maame Esi Davenport, said the movement decided to rally behind Dr Bawumia because he was the only person capable of leading the NPP to victory in 2024.

According to her, it was in that direction that the women delegates had formed a body to canvass for votes for Dr Bawumia, since he was the best among all those interested to lead the party at next year's polls.

80% votes

Ms Davenport said the women had targeted 80 per cent votes for Dr Bawumia and therefore called on all members of the movement to cast their votes in that respect.

She further appealed to all female delegates within the 33 constituencies in the region to vote massively for Dr Bawumia at the NPP presidential primary this year.

Breaking barriers

Maame Esi indicated that Dr Bawumia was the only candidate among the others who would ensure that women would see themselves breaking barriers when given the opportunity to run the affairs of the country.

"It is only Dr Bawumia who believes that women are capable to be at the top and that is why we are supporting him to be the next President of Ghana," Ms Davenport stated.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for New Juaben South Constituency, Michael Okyere Baafi, who hosted the event called on all women in the NPP to act as campaign ambassadors in their various constituencies in the region to mobilise the needed votes for Dr Bawumia to win the upcoming presidential primary to lead the party to victory at next year's general election.
Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) and Global First Power (GFP) announced that GFP has selected a location at the Chalk River Laboratories to site its proposed Micro-Modular Reactor (MMR) project. GFP is proposing to construct and operate a 15 megawatt thermal (MWth) (approximately 5 MW electrical) MMR plant at the Chalk River campus that would serve as a model for future small modular reactor (SMR) deployments to support remote and industrial applications.

The MMR, developed by Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporations (USNC) (earlier post) includes a nuclear plant, which contains an MMR High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor that provides process heat to an adjacent plant, via a molten salt heat exchange system. The MMR has an operating life-span of 20 years.

The MMR is based on proprietary Fully Ceramic Micro-encapsulated (FCM) fuel technology which brings an unprecedented level of safety, as well as improved economics and reduced environmental impact for remote power applications.

The site of the proposed MMR demonstration reactor is currently a staff parking lot that will be repurposed to accommodate the new facility.

The demonstration reactor technology is designed to provide a viable clean energy solution to displace fossil fuel use and support Canadas climate change targets. The energy output of the MMR makes it well-suited for application in off-grid remote communities and industrial sites.

GFPs proposal is subject to regulatory processes and requirements, which are independent of CNLs review and evaluation process. GFP has submitted an application for a Licence to Prepare Site to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) and an environmental assessment for the project is underway.
Today Kyocera has announced that it's officially leaving the consumer mobile phone business, after a struggling period in which the company amassed a JPY 2.27 billion ($16.6 million) loss this February. In other news, it looks like Kyocera was still making phones - even though you, like us, may not have heard of any in the past few months (or years).

The company is only quitting the consumer space, by the way. It will continue to serve corporate customers. With deteriorating profitability, something had to be done and apparently axing the consumer products was it. "We can no longer find marketability for the general market", Kyocera President Hideo Tanimoto said.

The company has found it hard to compete recently, even in the Japanese market, with Chinese makers like Xiaomi and Oppo, as well as other Japanese brands like Sharp and Sony.

This is sad news for those who've been around the mobile block for a while now, since Kyocera was one of the oldest companies involved in the space, having been manufacturing mobile phones since 1989.

Source (in Japanese)
Microsoft has managed to assuage the EUs concerns about its acquisition of Activision Blizzard King and it received the green light. The $68.7 billion deal still has hurdles to clear, e.g. it was recently blocked by the UK regulator, the FTC in the US is not on board yet either.

EUs approval came with a condition  Microsoft is required to give a 10-year license to competing cloud gaming services to allow them to stream Activision games. Heres a tweet from Brad Smith (Vice Chair and President at Microsoft):

Apparently, this was the key promise that won over the European Commission. Microsoft has its own game streaming service, of course, but users of competing services worldwide are now guaranteed to have access to current and future Activision games for PC and consoles.

Interestingly, the concerns of both the EU and UK regulators were centered on streaming. The EUs investigation found that Microsoft has no incentive to refuse distributing Activision games on Sony PlayStation (citing the statistic that there are four PlayStations for every Xbox in the European Economic Area). And even if Microsoft did pull Activision games from the PlayStation hardware, this would not significantly harm competition in the consoles market. And those games would be available to play on non-Microsoft streaming services anyway, per the agreement.

Theres also the FTC, though Microsoft may have pushed through with the deal even without its approval  Microsofts lawyer Beth Wilkinson said that the deal could close even without FTCs blessing. That might have been predicated on getting approved by the British and EU regulators, however, and the British Competition and Markets Authority said no.

Besides the EU, Microsoft has a green light from Japan, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Chile, South Africa and Serbia. It remains to be seen whether Microsofts commitment to the EU will sway the CMA.

Besides government regulators, some of Microsofts competitors have misgivings about the deal. However, Nintendo signed a 10 year deal that ensured same-day releases for major titles like Call of Duty and others. 10-year streaming deals have been signed with Nvidia, Ubitus and Boosteroid.

Source | Via
We've read multiple reports claiming the early launch of Samsung's foldables this year, possibly in late July. And while none provided an exact date, South Korean publication Chosun Media claims Samsung will unveil the Galaxy Z Fold5 and Galaxy Z Flip5 on July 26, with sales commencing on August 11.

The publication further claims that Samsung will host the Unpacked event to unveil these foldables in Seoul, South Korea this time instead of the US.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 leaked render

Moreover, citing an industry insider, the source said that the reason for unveiling the foldables early this year is the sluggish performance of Samsung's semiconductor business, which makes it important for the Korean conglomerate's mobile division to perform well.



Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5  Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 (Source: OnLeaks, Smartprix, and MediaPeanut)

Launching the Galaxy Fold5 and Galaxy Flip5 earlier than usual will create enough gap between the foldables and Apple's iPhone 15 lineup, expected to go official in September, which could help Samsung sell more of its foldable smartphones.

Source (in Korean)
Eligible residents are encouraged to apply for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program as funds are still available, but that may be changed this year by the U.S. Treasury Department.

Residents financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic who are struggling to pay rent can apply for the program to receive money for rent and utility payments.

Assistance is available for a total of 18 months for the period of March 13, 2020, to the present.

The ERA program is federally funded through the American Rescue Plan and started its cycle 6 for the new application period in April.

It was initially supposed to be funded through September 2025; however, with the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency in May, it is possible that the treasury department will end the program, said Viki Lindlau, Department of Administration manager for the ERA program.

However, she said for the time being DOA has received guidance that the program will continue as normal.

We just recently received word to go ahead and keep on processing payments and qualifying people until such time as we heard from them, said Lindlau.

The treasury department will begin the reallocation of funds to jurisdictions across the country sometime in June so an answer to the fate of the program on Guam should come before then, she said.

Eligibility requirements, application forms, instructions on how to apply and information for tenants and landlords are available on the ERA page of the DOA website at doa.guam.gov.

Hard copy applications can be picked up and submitted with supporting documents at the Emergency Rental Assistance Office in Suite 219 on the second floor of the ITC building in Tamuning, or at the Government of Guam Relief Center on the third floor of the Bank of Hawaii building in Hagatna.

For more information, contact the government of Guam Relief Center at 671-475-2060 or the ERA office at 671-638-4518/19, or email ERA@doa.guam.gov.
Lee Webber is the former publisher of the Pacific Daily News, Honolulu Advertiser, president of Gannett Pacific and Asia area manager for USA Today international.




Haiti - Insecurity : The crisis in Haiti threatens the security of the Caribbean dixit Guterres





Monday, May 15, 2023, Antonio Guterres the Secretary General of the United Nations during a joint press conference with the Jamaican Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, at the end of their closed-door meeting declared "the current crisis in Haiti is a threat to the security of the entire region and beyond" urging the international community to react accordingly after acknowledging that it has been difficult.



Guterres acknowledged the difficulty of mobilizing the international community to deal with the crisis that Haiti is going through through a proposal to form an international police force to put an end to armed gangs and support a political process that wins the recognition of all.



"It was a difficult exercise. It was difficult to mobilize the will of those who would have the best capacities to carry out this operation. It was also difficult to create the political conditions to make it easier for the different countries to agree to take part in this intervention," said Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary General.



UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who expressed his support for Jamaican initiatives, thanked Holness for Jamaica being the first country to "immediately express its willingness to participate in this operation" https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-38757-haiti-flash-jamaica-ready-to-deploy-soldiers-and-police-in-haiti.html , as well as for its contribution to a political process "which tries to bring together the different actors to find a way out of this political crisis."



"I want, once again, to ask the international community to understand that effective solidarity with Haiti is not just a question of generosity, it is essentially a question of intelligent self-interest, because the current situation in Haiti reflects a threat to the security of the entire region and beyond," Antonio Guterres said after pledging Jamaica's "strong defense" that the international community "would recognize the success of its efforts."



Guterres said Haiti "finds itself in a very tragic situation," in which the political system is crippled, levels of gang violence "are absolutely terrible" and humanitarian needs are "dramatic".



The UN Secretary General also stressed that it is "necessary to find a political path that allows the recognition of a legitimate government to confront gang violence."



In this sense, he explained that he made a proposal to the UN Security Council to support Haiti with "the presence of a robust international police force to put an end to gangs and, in parallel, democratize the political process."



For his part, Holness is convinced that requests for aid to Haiti do not fall on deaf ears "The question is the pace of action and the countries that want to help will also want to be sure that there is has an ongoing political process that can produce a post-crisis end result."



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39536-haiti-insecurity-the-un-secretary-general-in-jamaica-to-discuss-the-haitian-crisis.html

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


















South Africa: SA and Singapore strengthen longstanding partnership

South Africa and Singapore have concluded very productive deliberations aimed at strengthening the longstanding partnership between the two countries and exploring new areas of bilateral economic cooperation.

President Cyril Ramaphosa hosted his Singaporean counterpart, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, on an Official Visit at Tuynhuys, Cape Town on Tuesday.

President Ramaphosa said that it was a pleasure to discuss areas of mutual interest and explore ways to strengthen bilateral relations, cooperation and partnership.

Prime Minister Lee and I have just concluded productive discussions during his first Official Visit to South Africa  I would like to thank Prime Minister Lee for very productive deliberations and for his commitment to building stronger ties between our countries, he said.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between South Africa and the Republic of Singapore as partners who work together closely in multinational fora.

South Africa's economic relations with Singapore are focused on trade, investment, tourism promotion, and skills transfer.

The President said he believed there is significant potential to further develop the two countries economic partnership.



This is evident in the business delegation that accompanied Prime Minister Lee, comprising representatives of a number of sectors, including ports, logistics, healthcare and biomedical, food manufacturing and engineering.

Our two countries share a common interest in promoting economic growth, social development and prosperity for our citizens. It is in this spirit that we have worked together to strengthen our ties, he said.

During the official talks, President Ramaphosa and his counterpart agreed to deepen the two countries' cooperation on science and innovation.

He said the visit provided South Africa and Singapore an opportunity to discuss areas of cooperation that are firmly focused on the future.

This includes cooperation in the fields of digitalisation, communications and technology, water and sanitation, and skills development, among others.

The President said the visit was also an opportunity to express appreciation to the Government of Singapore for their support over the years in training South African civil servants.

Among other issues, the two Heads of State discussed South Africas application to become a Sectoral Dialogue Partner with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN.

The global role of the ASEAN region has been growing over the last five decades creating the sixth largest market in the world.

Further deepening the cooperation between South Africa and ASEAN would open up opportunities in various fields, such trade, infrastructure development, technology transfer, education, science, innovation and tourism, the President said.

The President added that the visit further provided an opportunity to discuss regional and international issues of common interest and concern.

These include developments on the African continent, in particular the operationalisation of the African Continental Free Trade Area and the potential it offers for both domestic and international investors.

We discussed the current instability in international relations and the global economy. We agreed on the need for all countries to work together to develop inclusive, just and sustainable solutions to conflict, climate change, pandemics and other challenges, he said.

President Ramaphosa shared that he had an opportunity to brief Prime Minister Lee on South Africas position on the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

He said over the weekend he presented an African leaders peace mission to President Vladimir Putin and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during separate telephone calls.

Principal to our discussions are efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the devastating conflict in the Ukraine, its cost in human lives and impact on the African continent.

In this regard, I presented the initiative on behalf of African Heads of State, from Zambia, Senegal, Congo, Uganda, Egypt and South Africa, he said.

He said that the two leaders agreed to receive the mission and the African Heads of State, in both Moscow and Kyiv.

I agreed with both President Putin and President Zelenskyy to commence with preparations for engagements with the African Heads of State. The Secretary General of the United Nations was briefed and welcomed the initiative, he said.

President Ramaphosa said he was grateful that the two Heads of State had an opportunity to discuss these and other issues of importance to their countries and to the broader global community.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2023-05-16. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Press Release

May 16, 2023 Transcript of Sen. Grace Poe's manifestation on the appointment of DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian Sen. Grace Poe: Secretary Rex, I'll call you Secretary already. Actually when you were appointed by the President, many were jubilant, of course, including myself. Kilala ka sa pagiging Mayor, pagiging Congressman, actually ang iyong mga katangian, mabait ka pero istrikto at organisado, may kakayanan. 'Yan din ang sinabi ni Senator Loren, na naging spokesperson ka ni Senator Loren, naging spokesperson din kita. Siguro 'yung sinasabi mong katangian na hinahanap mo sa isang babae na masungit, ewan ko kung nakita mo sa amin ni Senator Loren, pero ang gusto mong meron kang ka-talakayan at siguro nagbibigay ng suhestyon, opinyon na nagpapalawak din ng iyong pagkaunawa at kaisipan. Actually I'd like to bring up a very important advocacy that we both have. And I know that Valenzuela has really been the pioneer when it comes to national feeding program. Dati pa, hindi pa uso ito, nauna na ang Valenzauela dahil sa iyo. I'd like to ask Secretary Rex, because of the dismal and depressing aptitude scores of our kids in education. It has pointed to many different factors, particularly not just the quality of education, but because of hunger and malnutrition, the stunted mental and physical growth. So now that you are already at the helm of the DSWD, I'd like to know how are you going to implement the national feeding program? And is this also going to be your priority? Just like it was when you were head of a local government entity? DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian: Mr. Chairman, Madam Senator, thank you for the kind words again. First of all, Ma'am, you're correct. In Valenzuela, we found out that feeding or hunger should not be treated as a health issue, but rather an education issue. Hungry children will not learn in school and hungry children will not know how to read. Two faults. I also come to realize that stunting happens even before you get to school age or the day care age. Recently, when I walked into the Department, they've signed a program with the World Bank and DOH called Philippine multi-sectoral nutrition program. It's meant to address the first 1,000 days, while DOH takes care of the nutrition-specific program, the DSWD takes care the nutrition sensitive. Meaning study shows it's not just about feeding them, but also about the overall quality of the environment in the first 1,000 days. Mula sa pagbubuntis hanggang sa 1,000 day, binibilang 'yun; to include wash facilities, to include child simulation, 'yung lack of day care centers. That's why we are now part of that program, kasi the government looks at it now as first 1,000-day problem, rather than wait for them to day care centers bago natin hahabulin 'yung kanilang nagiging problema. Stunting when it happens way ahead, nagiging problema na siya, kasi to arrest it is virtually impossible. One-third of our population still is stunted and one-third of our population, we've been struggling with stunting for the past three decades using the same formula again and again, pero yielding the same results. So the new paradigm that they are introducing now is to look at it at first 1,000-day issue. Obviously, it's not just the DSWD, it's a partnership with the DOH kaya multi-sectoral and it's getting the LGUs involved. It's a community-driven program that says, "Ano bang kulang sa iyong maliit lugar?" So these are the poorest LGUs nationwide with the highest stunting rates. They've been pre-selected, and now they're about to identify, sa amin kasi nutrition sense as a sensitive, so meaning wala ka bang washed facilities, wala ka bang day care centers; things that will aid in nutrition. So that's for the first 1,000 days. We also know DSWD runs the in-school feeding program for the day care centers. And one of the things we're doing now, ang dami kasing modality I found out. It's not as simple as nong mayor, 'yung central kitchen, happy na ako. But I've come to realize that the central kitchen model will not work in all localities, lalo na sa GIDA (geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas) areas, it's virtually impossible. So we've done a massive survey on our end users using the different modalities. Modalities, central kitchen. Second modality is 'yung raw goods procurement ng department. We procure the goods and then we give it to them and they cook it. The third one will be direct, 'yung mga day care center ang nagluluto. We have to establish a baseline first. Sa dami ng modality na ginagawa ng departamento, alin ba doon 'yung umuubra? So meaning, we've identified the modalities, ilang porsyento ng LGUs ang gumagamit ng aling modality. Then, Ma'am, we will measure them using a standard way of measuring them. Kasi 'yung pagsusukat, iba-iba rin ang ginagamit nila. Some uses the detecto scale. Some uses 'yung weighing scale sa bathroom, so ang pagsuma total ng report iba-iba rin 'yung lumalabas. So it's junk in 'yung data. It's how do we make sense of data na iba-iba 'yung baseline. So the first thing is to make sure that we track down the different modalities using a standard way of measuring them, at the start, in the middle and in the end. But that's meant to fight wasting and severely wasting. So the two prong approaches, we do the stunting first, and then kung alam natin na may mga wasted and severely wasted sa day care, we do naman the in-school feeding program. As a point of reference though sadly, the department has been pushing for a 27-peso budget for every child. And I found out that we're just budgeting P21. Madam Senator, to the committee chairman, we would again push for P27 because 'yung P21 is not enough. Parang ang nangyayari lang nilagyan natin ng pondo para masabi nating may feeding program tayo pero obviously, it will not dent this wasting because P21 will not get you anywhere. Although kami sa Valenzuela, P18, but you saw our model it's pure volunteerism, talagang kami ang nagluluto. But nationwide, we need to really put effort in moving that budget to P27 per head or else we will be going around in circles and if I may dare say so, Mr. Chair, Madam Senator, that it's going to be wasteful spending. 'Yung masabi lang na meron tayong feeding program pero hindi naman natin pinopondohan ng tama ay nakakalungkot. Poe: Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm glad that you brought that out because when we deliberate the budget, I'm sure we'll have a lot of allies in the Senate to push for what you're requesting at P27. Now, lastly, this is just a reminder because now the DSWD is task when it comes to the adoption, the administrative adoption process. So maybe we can in the future, see how that's going, if it's being implemented properly. Because, number one, we have to be very careful about giving out all of these administrative adoptions but at the same time, we also have to be as efficient as possible so that would-be parents will be able to have that recognition with their adopted child. Now, another point I'd like to make also is that when Secretary Gatchalian was first appointed, we were wondering why he didn't want to go through the commission on appointments right away and waited. But now I see what he may have done, he really studied the job very well, because right now as we're speaking with him, he's explaining his program. And it seems like he knows it at the back of his hand and he is only been there a few months. So we are very hopeful with you at the helm of the DSWD. And this is definitely a service on your part. And we thank you, and we count ourselves very fortunate to have you as our Secretary. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Secretary Gatchalian: Mr. Chair, Madam Senator, thank you and well noted on the national authority on child care issues, it's a start up and we will see to it that we make sure that it works.




Haiti - Economy : The Manufacture Hansae Haiti S.A signs a beneficial agreement with the Dominicans





The South Korean Textile Manufacture Hansae Haiti S.A in Haiti since 2016 operates 60 assembly lines in three factories with a production capacity of approximately 2 million garments per month. Among Korean apparel companies in Haiti, Hansae has the largest facility and employs over 3,000 and growing Haitian workers.



Hansae Haiti has created a localized supply stream for synthetic textiles for its manufacturing operations in Haiti by signing a strategic partnership with Dominican fabric manufacturer Willbes Dominica Synthetic Mill (36 years of existence). The MoU was signed on May 2nd, 2023 at Hansae Headquarters in Seoul, South Korea.



Note that Willbes produces synthetic fiber fabrics in the Dominican Republic and has production facilities for 30 tons of fabrics per day. The main objective of this partnership is to provide Hansae in Haiti with high quality synthetic fiber and to generate synergy by operating the production line flexibly and reacting quickly to customer needs.



Thanks to this agreement, the two companies anticipate a reduction in delivery times of 8 to 10 weeks compared to Asian supply and an average saving of 25 to 32% in customs costs thanks to the use of preference programs. Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Act. (HOPE) and Haiti Economic Lift Program (HELP) Act., programs which were not applicable before this agreement, fabrics from Asia being excluded.



"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."



S/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Education : Launch of the National Network of Public Higher Education





Monday, May 15, 2023 at the Hotel Montana, Petion-ville took place the launch ceremony of the National Network of Public Higher Education (ReNES).



This Network is an apolitical, educational, inclusive and non-profit association. It is made up, among others, of the State University of Haiti and public universities in the region.



This network's vision is to create a large interactive university environment for learning, teaching, evaluation and scientific research favorable to the sustainable development of the country and open to the world.



Excerpts from the speech by Rector Deshommes :



"I am very happy and very enthusiastic on the occasion of this launching ceremony of the National Network of Haitian Public Higher Education [...]



[...] The grouping and organization of Haitian public universities in this National Network of Public Higher Education (RENES) constitutes an opportune platform for consultation, coordination and pooling and pooling of our energies, resources and lean means for quality training and international standard of Haitian youth.



[...] The ReNES proposes to constitute an interface available for the Haitian State, for national and international organizations and for all other partners, in the field of cooperation and academic and scientific collaboration. ReNES will now be able to advocate and defend the interests of all public higher education institutions with the relevant state bodies and with all bilateral and multilateral funding agencies and bodies.



[...] ReNES remains open to all other public higher education institutions, regardless of their home institution. Private institutions can also become members under the conditions set by the statutes. Of course, each of our members keeps their specificity, their administrative status and their mode of operation.



[...] The ReNES hopes with the cooperation and with the collaboration of the Haitian State and all the organizations of technical, scientific, economic and cultural cooperation, to contribute to modernizing public higher education and to make it accessible and available to all. the daughters and all the sons of Haiti, through all the ten departments of the country.



[...] The activities of ReNES, in accordance with its statutes, will take place around the following axes :



- Training

- The research

- Cooperation

- The governance ;

- Technological development;

- Community services



[...] While recognizing the specificity of public higher education and the need to promote it for the benefit of our young people, especially the poorest and most deserving, and within the broader framework of national development, ReNES salutes the existence and operation of universities and private higher education establishments. Together we contribute to meeting the strong social demand for higher education and in this difficult context that our country is experiencing, we have a duty to reach out and work for the regeneration of our bruised homeland."



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





The FAdH are recruiting professionals

In a recruitment notice made public, the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAd'H) announce the recruitment of several professionals (doctors, lawyers and engineers). Interested parties can submit their files until May 30 at the local armed forces located in Clercine 2.



ONAville under attack, heavy toll

Sunday, May 14, ONA-ville was the target of a new attack by armed individuals. The toll is heavy, at least a dozen residents were killed, several others injured, 25 others kidnapped as hostages...



Arrest of a dangerous killer

Sunday evening in Biennac (Gonaive), Junior Barthelemy alias "Aboulo", member of the group "Nou se revolisyone", operating in the Raboto district, was arrested in a nightclub. "Aboulo" is accused of multiple murders and the burning of the city's courthouse. Early this Monday, May 15, his accomplices created panic in the city center, near the communal market, by firing bursts and forcing merchants to empty the premises.



Mirebalais : PNH reinforced

The Departmental Directorate of the Center Police has reinforced its police presence in the streets and in the different areas of the municipality of Mirebalais. In Mey, a communal section of Mirebalais, routine checks and palpitations are also carried out by law enforcement officers. These measures are aimed at tracking down and apprehending bandits who still tend to take refuge in provincial towns, following police operations carried out in the capital.



North : 9 bandits arrested in a minibus

Last weekend 9 bandits who were trying to go to the Dominican Republic were intercepted in the North by the National Police of Haiti (PNH) while they were on board a minibus.



HCT NOTICE : Security Forum postponed

The forum on security organized by the High Council of the Transition (HCT) announced by its President Mirlande Manigat for the 16th and 17th is postponed to a later date...



HL/ HaitiLibre


















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Published on 2023/05/15 | Source

New stills added for the Korean drama "Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938" (2023)

Advertisement

Directed by Jo Nam-hyung, Kang Sin-hyo

Written by Han Woo-ri

Network: tvN

With Lee Dong-wook, Kim So-yeon, Kim Beom, Ryu Kyung-soo, Hwang Hee, Kim Yong-ji,...

12 episodes - Sat, Sun 21:20

Follow up to "Tale of the Nine Tailed"

Synopsis

The story of Lee Yeon, a gumiho who was summoned back to a chaotic 1938 after being embroiled in an unexpected incident.

Broadcast starting date in Korea : 2023/05/06
Riverside Elementary School DARE graduates with Avery Sheriffs Department personnel (Left to Right) Front: Students Milo Nowell, Eli Winters, Ashton Carpenter, Tycen McClellan, Jonah Arnett, Ayden Hicks, Kenny Cable, Memphis Arnett, Raelee Gehrke, Benjamin Carpenter, David Buchanan, Olivia Winters, Spencer Vance and Riley Houston. Back Row: Riverside School Resource Officer Jeff Smith, Avery Sheriffs Department Detective Casey Lee, DARE Instructor Larry Moore and Avery County Sheriff Mike Henley

By Tim Gardner

On May 4th, fifth graders at Riverside Elementary in the southern end of Avery County, celebrated their graduation from the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program. A ceremony held at the school was led by DARE Instructor Larry Moore, Avery Sheriff Mike Henley, Sheriffs Detective Casey Lee, School Resource Officer Jeff Smith, principal Whitney Baird and fifth grade teacher Phoebe Fisher.

According to Henley, the countys DARE curriculum is a law-enforcement series of classroom lessons that teaches students how to resist peer pressure and live productive drug, alcohol and violence-free lives.

Another picture of the Riverside Elementary School DARE Graduates, Instructor, Sheriffs Department personnel and school officials. (Left-to-Right) Front: Students Jonah Arnett, Olivia Winters, Raelee Gehrke, Eli Winters, David Buchanan, Tycen McClellan, Ayden Hicks, Kenny Cable, Milo Nowell, Ashton Carpenter, Riley Houston, Memphis Arnett, Benjamin Carpenter, Spencer Vance. Back Row: Riverside School Resources Officer Jeff Smith, Avery County Sheriff Mike Henley, 5th Grade Teacher Phoebe Fisher, Principal Whitney Baird, Sheriffs Department Detective Casey Lee and DARE Instructor Larry Moore

During the course of the 10-week program taught by Moore, Henley said the fifth-grade students also learned how to make responsible decisions to help themselves and others, how to deal with stress, bullying and other problems, as well as how to be good citizens.

All Riverside DARE graduates had the opportunity to write an essay describing how they plan to use what they learned in the program to improve their lives. Ayden Hicks, Milo Nowell and Eli Winters were chosen for having the top essays.

We have been so thrilled to have the DARE program taught to our fifth graders, for the last two years, post COVID (Coronavirus) restrictions, Baird stated. I feel that it is an excellent way to educate, build community partnerships and relationships between our students and law enforcement. We truly appreciate the Avery County Sheriffs Departments investment in our school and the DARE program.

Other schools in the county also had the DARE curriculum for their fifth grade students that was conducted by the Avery County Sheriffs Department.

DARE Instructor Larry Moore with Riverside School DARE Essay Winners (Left-to-Right): Ayden Hicks, Milo Nowell and Eli Winters

DARE was founded in Los Angeles, California in 1983 as a joint initiative of then-LAPD chief Daryl Gates and the Los Angeles Unified School District as a demand-side drug control strategy of the American War on Drugs. At the height of its popularity, DARE was active in approximately 75 percent of American school districts and was funded by the United States government. Although the program was most prominent in the 1980s and 90s, it has had a resurgence in many parts of the nation and has expanded to many other countries as the presence and sale of illegal drugs has become more prevalent in some places, including in various rural sections. The DARE program also expanded to teaching about being violence-free and related topics.

DARE Classroom-(Left-to-Right) Standing: Dare Instructor Larry Moore, Avery Sheriffs Detective Casey Lee, Student Raelee Gehrke and Avery County Sheriff Mike Henley

The DARE program consists of law enforcement officers who visit elementary and high school classrooms and conduct a course warning students that drugs are harmful and should be refused. DARE gives students the skills and related training they need to avoid involvement in illegal drugs, gangs, and violence. It also teaches them how to resist peer pressure to refrain from them. Additionally, it condemns alcohol, tobacco, graffiti and getting tattoos as the results of peer pressure.

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According to a recent values and attitudes survey by the Finnish Business and Policy Forum EVA, 49% of Finns believe that taxation in Finland is too high, while 32% disagree. The harshest critics of taxation levels are Finns Party voters, of whom 83% believe that taxation in Finland is too harsh. Additionally, a majority of National Coalition Party voters (71%) think that taxation in Finland is too harsh, as do a significant number of Liike Nyt (58%), Christian Democrats (41%), and Centre Party (47%) voters.

On the other hand, supporters of the other parties in Prime Minister Sanna Marin's government are more satisfied with the level of taxation. The most contented with taxation levels are Green Party voters, with three-quarters (74%) rejecting the claim that taxation is too harsh in Finland. A majority of Left Alliance (70%), Swedish People's Party (56%), and Social Democratic Party (53%) voters also do not consider taxation to be too harsh in Finland.

Unlike voters of other parties, Finns Party voters are becoming increasingly critical of the taxation level compared to the tax survey conducted in 2015.

"The view of the severity of Finland's taxation has softened since 2002, when 70% of Finns thought Finland's taxation was too harsh. The change may partly be due to Finland's total tax rate being slightly lower than in the late 1990s. However, the increased acceptance of the taxation level among citizens may be related to debt consciousness, as citizens' concern about public debt has increased. The fact that a clear majority of Finns would prefer to streamline the operation of public finances instead of raising taxes supports this interpretation," says Emmiliina Kujanpaa, EVA's leading tax expert who wrote the results analysis.

The results are based on responses from 2,043 people, with a margin of error of 2-3 percentage points in either direction at the population level. The data was collected between January 31 and February 13, 2023. The respondents represent the 18-79-year-old population of Finland (excluding Aland). The material was collected in Taloustutkimus Oy's internet panel, from which the research sample was formed by a partial random sample. The material is weighted to represent the population by age, gender, residence, education, profession or position, sector, and party affiliation. Pentti Kiljunen (Yhdyskuntatutkimus Oy) conducted the statistical analysis and result graphics. The results and their more detailed population breakdowns can be found on EVA's website. EVA's values and attitudes surveys have been conducted since 1984.

HT
[We wont backtrack on] the target, he was quoted saying by Helsingin Sanomat.

PETTERI ORPO , the chairperson of the National Coalition, on Monday declared at the House of the Estates in Helsinki that the next government will not compromise on the national target of becoming carbon neutral by 2035.

After all, we agreed in the preliminary phase [of the coalition formation process] that the 2035 target laid down in the climate act will stay intact, he added, replying to a question about whether all issues, including the carbon-neutrality target, are on the table in the coalition formation negotiations he is leading.

The Swedish Peoples Party has previously outlined that a condition to its participation in the ruling coalition is that the coalition not only remains committed to, but also works actively toward the target.

Orpo on Monday estimated, though, that the next government is likely to work toward the target with different measures than its predecessor.

If we can form a government with this composition, Im sure well resort to different kind of measures given our belief in the market economy, for example, he commented, refusing to speculate on the measures.

He added that the government will seek measures that neither create any cost increases for anyone, nor undermine competitiveness.

Orpo also offered a straightforward answer on the question of development co-operation appropriations. He argued that all expenditure items will have to be reviewed in the coalition formation negotiations in light of the economic situation, adding that it is all but a guarantee that development co-operation appropriations will be cut.

Its really rather clear that well reduce them. But by how much, over what time frame and how, those are questions that are discussed in the negotiations.

The Christian Democrats and Swedish Peoples Party have both voiced their opposition to slashing development co-operation appropriations. Anna-Maja Henriksson, the chairperson of the Swedish Peoples Party, stated last week that the party is not ready to make major cuts in the appropriations but would prefer to raise them to 0.7 per cent of gross national income, to align with commitments made to both the EU and he UN.

Raising the appropriations to 0.7 per cent of national income is a goal also for the Christian Democrats.

The Finns Party, by contrast, is looking to slash development co-operation funding. Jussi Halla-aho, an ex-chairperson of the populist right-wing party, stated a week ago that the party is looking to make as large cuts as possible in development co-operation funds in the coalition formation negotiations.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
Festival announces this year's Apple Ambassador

Jackie Hernandez

Jackie Hernandez, a rising senior at Hendersonville High School, has been named Apple Ambassador for the 2023 North Carolina Apple Festival, the festival board announced Tuesday.

The Apple Ambassador program provides two scholarships each year and is open to all rising seniors in Henderson County. Hernandez will attend all four days of the festival and will also represent the festival at the NC Mountain State Fair as well as other events across the state throughout her senior year.

This year we had 20 applicants for the Apple Ambassador scholarship, and it was difficult to pare it down to 10. We are excited to announce Jackie as this years Ambassador," board President Mark Shepherd said. "She, as well as all the applicants, will make great additions to our all-volunteer led team and we look forward to embracing their input and participation in the 2023 NC Apple Festival,

Hernandez is the daughter of Josefina N. Ades. She will be awarded a $2,000 college scholarship upon graduation from high school in June 2024.

I am so honored to receive this scholarship and be chosen as the 2023 Apple Ambassador," she responded when told she had been chosen. "I look forward to serving the community that has given me so much."

The runner-up is Destiny Simotics, a rising senior at East Henderson High School. Simotics is the granddaughter of Mike and Laura OConnor. She will be awarded a $1,000 college scholarship.

In addition to Hernandez and Simotics, this years finalists included Dakota Corn and Madison Corn from East Henderson; LaShea Morlu and Emily Rhodes from West Henderson; Ramsey Ross from Hendersonville; Elizabeth Graham and Leiann Marshall from North Henderson; and Maggie McCall from Mountain Gems Academy.

Applicants for the scholarship are required to submit transcripts, list of activities, provide letters of recommendation and write an essay on the Apple Festival and the importance of the apple industry to this area. The Apple Ambassador is selected based on this information and through an interview process. The scholarship is named for and honors Evelyn Lutz Hill, who served as the Secretary of the North Carolina Apple Growers for many years. She was serving as president of the Apple Festival when she passed away in 2004.

The Apple Festival is held every year over Labor Day weekend. This year it will be Sept. 1-4 in downtown Hendersonville.
A WOMAN from Henley who spent years supporting charities has been awarded the town medal posthumously.

Carolyn Molyneux, who died in May last year, aged 71, was one of two people honoured for services to the community. The other was Ernie Povey, from Shiplake.

A special presentation ceremony was held at Henley town hall on Friday, attended by members of Ms Molyneuxs family and Mr Povey and his family.

The pair were originally nominated during the coronavirus pandemic but due to the restrictions had not received the medal.

Ms Molyneuxs son Sam accepted the honour on his mothers behalf from Henley Mayor Michelle Thomas.

The gold-plated medals had the recipients names engraved on the back with the H emblem of the town council on the front and came with a blue ribbon and a blue presentation box.

The Mayor welcomed the families to the town hall.

She said: We are belatedly gathered to award the town medal to two extremely deserving individuals.

I wanted to share with you the official criteria: The award is a prestigious honour bestowed on someone for outstanding contribution to the town.

Henley Town Council awards the town medal to a person who has enhanced the status of the town and the wellbeing of its residents for a continuous period of at least 10 years by their clearly evidenced links with the town and or its organisations.

These individuals have significantly contributed above and beyond the call of duty to the sustainable being of the town and its residents and/or organisations. They will be of mature and good character and a positive role model to the town.

I wanted to add my take on what gravitas this has and its simply: The recognition of humble voluntary work.

I can tell you as Mayor for the last year, there are so many deserving individuals out there but they have to really give above and beyond and this is what Carolyn and Ernie deserve.

Ms Molyneux, who lived in River Terrace, ran Delegate Office and Conference Services in Hart Street.

Despite suffering from ill health for a number of years and beating cancer several times, she continued to be actively involved in her company and the wider community.

She supported the Henley Living Advent Calendar and the Henley Regatta for the Disabled and was a familiar face at both events.

She also organised Henleys annual window display competitions during the royal regatta and at Christmas.

Ms Molyneux won a Henley Heroes award in 2019 for her long-standing commitment to charities including Reverse Rett Syndrome, Sue Ryder and the Henley Regatta for the Disabled.

She was nominated for the town medal by Ken Arlett, who was mayor during the pandemic.

He said: I nominated Carolyn for the number of years she had supported not only charities but also the business sector of the town.

She helped raise money for Mencap, the Regatta for the Disabled, Sue Ryder and the Living Advent Calendar and organised the shopfront competitions at regatta and Christmas time. A true Henley champion.

Councillor Thomas said she had met Ms Molyneux for the first and only time when she was made mayor in May last year.

She said: She was obviously very poorly but she made it specially to meet me at my mayor-making and Im truly grateful for that. What a special character she was.

Mr Molyneux said: Its lovely to accept this on behalf of my mum. Im very proud of her. She obviously did so much for the town and its a shame shes not here to accept it.

She did really well and it was a long time coming. She had worked for the town for years.

He said his mother had been very happy to learn in April 2020 that she was to be honoured.

Everyone got a phone call when she found out and it meant a lot to her, he said. It kept her going for a little bit.

Lorraine Pengilley, Ms Molyneuxs sister, said: We were really proud of her achievements in Henley. She loved living in Henley, she loved her work and being with people.

She knew she had received the award and we had planned the tables and who she was going to invite but unfortunately after that she was either too unwell or there were covid restrictions and she could never get the medal.

When she died, it was my birthday. I took her out for lunch. From her point of view, it couldnt have been better.

She said Mrs Molyneux had continued to work up until her death.

Mrs Pengilley said: She was living in a nursing home because she couldnt manage at home. She had covid and never really recovered from it but a taxi would call at the nursing home and take her to work. I thanked the home for allowing her to do that because its pretty unusual for one of their residents.

She would work from 9am to 9pm and told the nurse she was feeling a little bit tired and the nurse said: Do you think that might have been to do with the fact youre doing these long hours?

I think in reality, she wasnt able to do much but she was in her office, taking phone calls just for her. That was how she wanted to be.

Mr Povey, 79, was nominated by former town councillor Paula Isaac, who said: Ernie has volunteered as Santa at Round Table for 22 years or more.

He goes above and beyond for his role, often visiting young people at home who are disabled and unable to go and see Santa and his sleigh, making their Christmas.

He has also been chairman of [Shiplake] scouts for four years as well as fundraising tirelessly for the Chiltern Centre for the disabled for at least five years.

Ernie is a true example of someone who has contributed to the local community and wellbeing of residents.

Cllr Thomas said: Ernie, you are the true embodiment of humble voluntary work because you say you dont deserve this award.

Mr Povey said: I get on and do things. Being Santa for the Round Table was a bit of fun. I didnt know I had been doing it for 22 years. Time flies when youre having fun.

I was with the Chiltern Centre for a long time and I got into the scouts by default because no one else would take it on. I tried to resign in November but Im still doing things.

Theres probably loads of things Ive done that people dont know about and I keep under my hat.

His daughter Kaeti Williams said: I am extremely proud of him. He doesnt do it for awards, he does it because it needs doing. Hes just a doer.

Hes a hard worker and he is struggling these days with lots of pain but still tries to get on. Hes just that sort of person.

After the ceremony, the guests were served tea, cake and Prosecco.
STAFF at the Imma bakery in Stoke Row made a kings pie to celebrate the coronation.

The pastry pie is based on the sovereigns Orb and filled with bacon, stuffing and pork and cider jelly with a soft-boiled egg in the centre.

The bakery, which is run by Tonatiuh Erreguin and a team of five at the Alloys industrial estate in Busgrove Lane, has just celebrated its first anniversary.

Mrs Erreguin, who has been a chef for 13 years and previously worked in Mexico and Argentina, said: We are really appreciative of the support we have received from the local community. People make the pilgrimage from surrounding villages and even from towns as far as Oxford.

The Bakery is a partner in the Real Bread Campaign to legally define real bread as that made without chemical raising agents. Mrs Erreguin, who has lived in Stoke Row with her wife and children for two years, said: We only do sourdough, we dont use any instant yeasts, chemicals or artificial levellers. If you buy shop bread and read the label of ingredients you might see a bunch of things that should not be in bread  it should have only flour, water and salt.

The bakery has also started a community oven which is Mrs Erreguins way of renewing an age-old tradition.

She said: Back in the day on a Sunday bakers would always allow people to heat their roast dinner.

To me the community is important and we are happy to make the bakery more of a place that is used and valued by the community.
A TOTAL of 380 children and adults competed in this years Hairy Legs sporting challenge in Goring.

Sundays event, which started and finished at Sheepcot Field, off Gatehampton Road, involved cross-country obstacle races.

Adults took part in the main race, two laps of the 6km course, while children ran Teenage Kicks, a single lap.

The runners had to climb over hay bales and scramble over cargo netting while following public footpaths through the countryside around the village.

The main race was won by former winner and course record holder Chris Lucas, from South Stoke, with a time of 47 minutes and 29 seconds.

The fastest woman was Mary-Jane Marffy with a time of just over one hour and five minutes.

She said: Im so surprised I won. It feels great.

The Sudbury children, from Wallingford, took home three trophies.

Josh, 13, won Teenage Kicks for boys in school years seven to nine with a time of 25 minutes and 18 seconds while his sisters Martha and Charlotte were winners in the Little Legs competitions.

Charlotte, 11, was the first home in the girls race comprising two laps of the field, while eight-year-old Martha led the girls home in the one-lap race.

Their mother Helen, a former Olympic rower, took part in the parent and teen relay with Josh and they finshed third.

Her husband Pete, who took part in the main race, said: Im not that sporty anymore but I have really enjoyed today.

I feel so proud of my children and wife for taking part and doing so well.

Zella King and her husband Dan Cobley won the female and male Old Crumblies race for the over-50s.

A total of 2,000 was raised for the Goring and Streatley primary schools, which will go towards encouraging childrens participation in sport.

Jodie Brinson, the events main organiser, said: What a fantastic day. Its lovely seeing everyone come together and challenge themselves and supporting others.

We are so lucky to have this event in our amazing community. There is so much enthusiasm from everyone and so much work that goes into it behind the scenes.

Apart from our amazing runners, Id like to thank the sponsors, stallholders and marshalls and unofficial helpers for making the day so special.

Phil Rose, who founded the event, said: Hairy Legs is a great event for the community and its whole purpose is to unite everyone. There is a lot that goes on in Goring and the surrounding areas but I believe this is the most inclusive event we have.

The other organisers were

Kelly Harrison, Noelle Hurrell, Jon Smith, Jeremy Waite, Jules Woodall, Caroline Howe and Richard Corbett. James Hanson was the MC.

The event was sponsored by Goring estate agent Warmingham, the Swan at Streatley and Clarify Leadership.

Prizes were awarded to those in first place in each category. All participants received a free T-shirt. The event was followed by drinks and a barbecue at the Catherine Wheel in Goring. The full results were as follows:

Adults

Males  1 Chris Lucas; 2 Nick Wilkins; 3 Simon Crowther

Female  1 Mary-Jane Marffy; 2 Madeline Bastawrous; 3 Anna Hewitt

Old Crumblies

Males  1 Dan Cobley; 2 David Caswell; 3 Matt Dodd

Females  1 Zella King;

2 Yasmin Webb; 3 Wendy Davies

Relay, one lap each of 6km course.

Couples team  1 Bats off the Hill; 2 Sholly; Free Pint

Parent and teen  1 Wolf and the Panther; 2 The B Team; 3 Team

Sudbury

Relay pair  1 The Casual Cruisers; 2 Smith & Warren;

3 Scrambled Eggs

Teenage Kicks, one lap 6km course (years seven to nine)

Males  1 Josh Sudbury;

2 Lucas Bastawrous; 3 Oliver Wardle

Females  1 Emily Lewis;

2 Holly Curtayne; 3 Anna Howe

Teenage Kicks, one lap 6km course (years 10 to 13)

Males 1  Charlie Baker;

2 Finley Hannigan; 3 Henry Huggard

Females  1 Megan Kinloch;

2 Aiofe Murphy; 3 Bethany Cox

Little Legs, two laps of Sheepcot Field

Male  1 Matthew Sansom;

2 Asher Butterfield; 3 Arthur Wright

Female  1 Charlotte Sudbury;

2 Hanna Partridge; 3 Genny Ellis

Little Legs, one lap of Sheepcot Field

Male  1 Elliot Parsley; 2 Will Nicholson; 3 Bryn Griffiths

Female  1 Martha Sudbury;

2 Elena Bastawrous; 3 Ada

Butterfield.

 Next years Hairy Legs will take place on Sunday, May 12. For more information, visit hairylegs.net
MedEvolve, a business associate, to settle breach that affected over 200,000 people

Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced a settlement of potential violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Rules with MedEvolve, Inc., a business associate that provides practice management, revenue cycle management, and practice analytics software services to covered health care entities. The settlement concludes OCRs investigation of a data breach, where a server containing the protected health information of 230,572 individuals was left unsecure and accessible on the internet. HIPAA is the federal law that required the establishment of national standards to protect the privacy and security of protected health information. The HIPAA Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules apply to most health care breaches and set the requirements that HIPAA-regulated entities must follow to protect the privacy and security of health information.

The potential HIPAA violations in this case include the lack of an analysis to determine risks and vulnerabilities to electronic protected health information across the organization, and the failure to enter into a business associate agreement with a subcontractor. The HIPAA Rules require that covered entities and business associates (person or entity that has access to protected health information as part of their relationship with a covered entity), enter into contracts  or business associate agreements  that generally document the permissible uses and disclosures of protected health information, that appropriate safeguards will be implemented, and that the covered entity will be notified of any breaches. MedEvolve has paid a $350,000 monetary settlement to OCR and agreed to implement a corrective action plan which identifies steps MedEvolve will take to resolve these potential violations and protect the security of electronic patient health information.

Ensuring that security measures are in place to protect electronic protected health information where it is stored is an integral part of cybersecurity and the protection of patient privacy, said OCR Director Melanie Fontes Rainer. HIPAA regulated entities must ensure that they are not leaving patient health information unsecured on network servers available to the public via the internet.

In July 2018, OCR initiated an investigation of MedEvolve following the receipt of a breach notification report stating that an FTP server containing electronic protected health information was openly accessible to the internet. The information included patient names, billing addresses, telephone numbers, primary health insurer and doctor's office account numbers, and in some cases Social Security numbers. OCR investigates every report we receive of breaches of unsecured protected health information affecting 500 or more people. Hacking/IT incidents was the most frequent (79%) type of large breach that was reported to OCR in 2022. Network servers are the largest category by location for breaches involving 500 or more individuals. It is critical that HIPAA covered entities and their business associates improve their efforts to identify, deter, protect against, detect, and respond to cybersecurity threats and malicious actors.

As a result of the settlement agreement, MedEvolve will be monitored for two years by OCR to ensure compliance with the HIPAA Security Rule. MedEvolve has agreed to take the following steps:

Conduct an accurate and thorough risk analysis to determine risks and vulnerabilities to electronic patient/system data across the organization;

Develop and implement a risk management plan to address and mitigate identified security risks and vulnerabilities identified in the risk analysis;

Develop, maintain, and revise, as necessary, its written policies and procedures to comply with the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules;

Augment its existing HIPAA and Security Training Program for all MedEvolve workforce members who have access to protected health information; and

Report to HHS within sixty (60) days when workforce members fail to comply with MedEvolves written policies and procedures to comply with the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules.

The resolution agreement and corrective action plan may be found at: https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/compliance-enforcement/agreements/medevolve-ra-cap/index.html.

OCR is committed to enforcing the HIPAA Rules that protect the privacy and security of peoples health information. If you believe that you or another persons health information privacy or civil rights have been violated, you can file a complaint with OCR at: https://www.hhs.gov/ocr/complaints/index.html.
On May 13 and 14, 2023, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra attended the Health Ministers Meeting in Nagasaki, Japan, to discuss global health priorities.

Secretary Becerra and G7 members expressed the importance of continued coordination to strengthen global health architecture for prevention, preparedness, and response to public health emergencies, universal health coverage, and innovation to address health challenges.

Secretary Becerra stressed the U.S. government's ongoing commitment to strong partnerships with G7 partners during the meetings. He emphasized our commitment to leveraging innovations for global health to advance research and development of medical countermeasures for health emergencies, investing in developing new antibiotics to combat antimicrobial resistance and accelerating the development of new diagnostics and therapeutics for diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's disease. In addition, he emphasized the urgency of strengthening access to essential health services, including through primary health care, and the urgency of advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights. Finally, he shared the U.S. commitment to global collaboration on Long COVID research and supporting the physical and mental health needs of patients experiencing Long COVID.
New Delhi, May 17, 2023



IIDE - The Digital School took a giant leap in expanding its presence by inaugurating its second campus in India. The new campus, located in the prime location of South Extension in South Delhi, was launched on May 13th. This development is part of IIDE's mission to bridge the gap between conventional education and industry demands.

With a goal to upskill over 3,000 students in 2023, IIDE's new campus in Delhi will offer their flagship Post Graduation Program in Digital Marketing. The comprehensive 11-month program is designed to cater to a wide range of learners, including graduate students, working professionals, and even traditional marketers.

Their curriculum follows a modern approach to learning and guarantees placements for successful candidates. Notably, the program is accredited by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), highlighting its commitment to delivering industry-relevant education.

Biswajit Das, IIDE's Regional Head for North India, expressed his enthusiasm about the new campus. He said, IIDE's entry into Delhi opens up tremendous opportunities for aspiring digital marketers in the region. Our new campus aims to create a dynamic space that encourages collaboration, creativity, and industry exposure.

The launch of the new campus in Delhi aligns perfectly with the city's emergence as a hub for influencers, content creators, and startups. Digital marketing is experiencing unprecedented growth, and a large number of students in Delhi aspire to pursue a career in this field, as Mr. Das informed HT Education.

The campus launch event was attended by esteemed guests from the digital marketing industry, academicians, and influential personalities. The event served as a platform for networking, knowledge sharing, and building strong connections within the digital marketing community.

Karan Shah, the CEO and Founder of IIDE, shared his journey and vision for the institute. "From starting in a small classroom with a passion for teaching digital marketing in 2016, we have transformed thousands of students into skilled professionals through our campuses and online learning platform. It gives me immense pleasure to launch our new campus in Delhi and hopefully many more across the country," he expressed.

Established in 2016, IIDE has trained over 2,35,000 students and professionals, exhibiting itself as a pioneer in the field of digital marketing education. They offer an online digital marketing course and an offline post graduation in digital marketing program. The institute has transformed digital marketing careers globally via their Mumbai campus, online learning platform and a learning center in Kathmandu, Nepal.

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.
A new force has arrived on the scene, threatening to change the world and disrupt many industries  Artificial Intelligence (AI). The seamless integration of cutting-edge AI technology into the dynamic cryptocurrency industry holds the promising potential to catapult both domains to remarkable heights of innovation and success.

AI-powered trading bots could be armed with machine learning algorithms that analyse vast amounts of data, make lightning-fast decisions, and execute trades with precision. But there's one potential feature of AI that could be a great help to investors - predictive analysis. AI algorithms can crunch historical data, market analysis, and a multitude of other variables to forecast crypto trends and price movements. Cryptocurrencies are notoriously volatile and unpredictable, but these AI-powered crystal balls can provide valuable insights for traders, investors, and enthusiasts alike. In this article, we'll look at what the popular AI chatbot ChatGPT has to say about two well-performing cryptocurrencies  Solana (SOL) and PAT WARS (PAWS).

Can ChatGPT Predict the Future of Solana (SOL)?

Solana is an open-source, decentralised finance (DeFi) project

The author of this article asked ChatGPT what lies ahead for Solana (SOL). In their own words, the results were intriguing.

In recent months, Solana experienced some turbulent times, facing unexpected outages that tested the patience of its users and raised concerns about the platform's stability. Investor confidence took a hit as questions arose regarding the network's resilience and ability to handle growing demand. The author asked a jailbroken version of ChatGPT what it makes of Solana and if it can recover after its recent setbacks. The chatbot seemed optimistic, thinking Solana to be the Ethereum killer. "Solana is faster and more efficient than Ethereum, with lower transaction fees, higher transaction throughput, and better scalability," it says.

Solana is an open-source, decentralised finance (DeFi) project, born from the fertile minds of visionaries in 2017 and sprouted in March 2020. With its headquarters nestled in the enchanting city of Geneva, Switzerland, Solana harnesses the boundless potential of blockchain's permissionless nature to deliver high-functioning DeFi solutions.

Can ChatGPT Predict the Future of New Coins Like PAT WARS (PAWS)?

PAWS has just launched its presale

PAT WARS (PAWS) combines two unlikely forces - cat memes and Star Wars. PAWS has just launched its presale, but could ChatGPT predict its future based on the journey of other meme coins?

I fed ChatGPT information about PAT WARS, including its strong community focus, its NFT collection featuring its four Jedi cats, its native token PAWS, and its plans to explore the gaming and DeFi spaces. The chatbot acknowledged that predicting the future of cryptocurrency is challenging, but it provided some potential scenarios for the future of PAT WARS.

ChatGPT thinks PAWS value could increase if it delivers on its promises to build a strong and vibrant community. "Increased demand, limited token supply, and successful marketing efforts could contribute to its growth. Additionally, if the project explores and executes successful ventures in gaming and DeFi, it could attract further interest and potentially increase the value of PAWS," it says.

However, the chatbot acknowledges the crypto market is highly volatile and unpredictable. "Many meme coins experience initial excitement during their presale or launch but struggle to maintain momentum in the long run."

AI is reshaping the landscape of decentralised platforms, and it will be interesting to see where the technology goes from here.

Find out more about PAT WARS (PAWS):

Website:https://www.patwars.com

Twitter:https://twitter.com/PATWARSOfficial

Telegram:https://t.me/PATWARSOfficial

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 contents of the article/advertisement and/or views expressed herein.

The reader is further advised that Crypto products and NFTs are unregulated and can be highly risky. There may be no regulatory recourse for any loss from such transactions.

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 views, opinions, announcements, declarations, affirmations etc., stated/featured in same. The decision to read hereinafter is purely a matter of choice and shall be construed as an express undertaking/guarantee in favour of Hindustan Times of being absolved from any/ all potential legal action, or enforceable claims. The content may be for information and awareness purposes and does not constitute a financial advice.
As the Congress high command struggles to resolve the tussle over the chief ministers post, different caste groups in the state are proposing representation through the post of deputy chief ministers. According to party officials, multiple demands have been made for the deputy chief minister posts, including a proposal to have deputy chief ministers from four major communities in the state- Lingayat, Vokkaliga, Muslims and Dalits. Amid the race for CM post, communities demand posts for leaders of their choice (PTI)

The All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha has written to the Congress high command demanding a CM post for the community. In its letter addressed to AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, the Mahasabha said that their demand has to be considered as 38 elected MLAs from the Congress are Lingayats.

Of the 51 Lingayat candidates of the Congress, 38 won, compared with 18 of the 68 fielded by the BJP, a party which considers the community its core vote base. The community has played a major role in electing MLAs in other 50 seats. The community has shifted its loyalty from BJP to Congress, says the letter.

A senior MLA, who is a member of the Mahasabha said that even if the CM post is not given to the community, the community should be given of deputy chief minister posts.

Belagavi North MLA Asif Sait has demanded that the CM post should be given to KPCC Working President Satish Jarkiholi. In north Karnataka, Satish Jarkiholi is the leader. He should be given the post. Giving the deputy chief minister post to senior leader Zameer Ahmad Khan is left to the discretion of the party, Sait said.

Supporters of Ramalinga Reddy, senior Congress leader demanded that he should be given the post. The Karnataka Reddy Jana Sangha said that Ramalinga Reddy is the senior leader of the community and has more experience. Ramalinga Reddy has been elected to legislature more times than Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah. He deserves to be the deputy chief minister, he said.

When Yediyurappa was the chief minister, he gave the minister post to three community members. After him, only one cabinet berth was given and the BJP has paid for it. Ramalinga Reddy should be made DCM and two members of the community should be made ministers, he demanded.

We have written a letter to the Congress high command, if they do not respond, the party will face stiff resistance from the community in coming days. Muslim community members staged a protest in Gangavathi of Koppal district demanding the post for Congress leader Zameer Ahmad Khan who won from Chamrajpet constituency.

On Monday, Karnataka Waqf Board Chairman Shafi Sadi put forth the demand before the Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge reminding him that the community had stood behind the party. Sadi was elected as the Wakf Board President during the tenure of the outgoing BJP government

Before the elections, we had demanded 30 seats for Muslims but we only got 15 out of which 9 candidates have won. In 72 constituencies, Congress won only because of Muslims. We have stood with the party when it needed us and now it is time to get good ministries in return. We want a deputy CM post, along with portfolios like home, revenue and education, Shafi Sadi said.

A senior leader who served in the 2013 Congress cabinet said a proposal has been made to the party high command by some leaders to have a deputy chief minister from all major communities  Lingayat, Vokkaliga, Muslims and Dalits.

The proposal is to have a similar system as what the BJP after they formed the government in 2019. Even though the high command is yet to deliberate on the matter, giving importance to communities is crucial. Unlike 2013, where most of the votes came from Ahinda, this is the year all major communities have supported the Congress, so it is important to acknowledge their contribution, said the leader.

However, it seems unlikely that multiple Deputy CMs from different communities will be appointed. A senior leader who is currently in New Delhi said that DK Shivakumar, who is one of the two main contenders for the CMs post, might be offered the position of a lone Deputy CM. When he is offered the post of DyCM, creating more Deputy CM posts would create further friction, the leader said.

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Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar refuted the speculations about his resignation from the party and threatened to file a defamation case against those who spread rumors. He also said that the Congress party is his mother, and he has 135 MLAs with him. DK Shivakumar. (PTI)

Speaking to reporters before heading to a crucial meeting with the high command, DK Shivakumar said, A few media channels are reporting that I will be resigning from the Congress party. I will file a defamation case on those who spread fake news. The Congress party is my mother and I built it in my state. I have my high command with me along with 135 MLAs. There is no question of me leaving the party. The CM race between DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah is likely to end today as the Congress high command is expected to declare Karnatakas next chief minister later this evening.

Both Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar reached the national capital for key meetings with the Congress high command. Mallikarjun Kharge will hold several meetings with the senior Congress leaders and round off a name for the CM post. A team of observers who were at the CLP meeting on Sunday night in Bengaluru submitted their report to the partys top brass in the national capital.

In the Karnataka assembly election results, the Congress clinched the victory with 135 seats and BJP had to settle with just 66. The JDS, however, won only 19 seats.
Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator from Hassan City constituency Preetham Gowda on Monday issued a veiled threat directed towards the Muslim community, holding them responsible for his defeat against Janata Dal(Secular) candidate HP Swaroop in the recently concluded Karnataka assembly elections. Ex-BJP MLA issues veiled threat directed towards the Muslim community (ANI)

In a widely shared video on social media, Gowda is heard threatening one community and purportedly saying he would show his power.

I have worked for five years while others were sleeping. But people from that one community have shown us. In the coming days, well show what we are... I honestly tried to take all communities along with love and faith..., Gowda is heard saying in the video, without taking any names.

HT could not independently verify the veracity of the video.

In December last year, another video of Gowda had gone viral, in which he was heard threatening Muslim constituents to vote for him or else he wouldnt work for them. He went on to say that he treated Muslims with love and affection, but the community has ditched him.

In the assembly polls, HP Swaroop, who got the JD(S) ticket following differences within the Deve Gowda family, defeated BJP MLA Preetham Gowda in Hassan with a margin of 7,854 votes. The region is considered a stronghold of JD(S). In the 2018 assembly elections, Gowda had defeated Prakash by 13,006 votes.

In the run-up to the polls, the constituency attracted attention due to difference within former prime minister HD Deve Gowdas family over finalising a candidate for the seat.

Bhavani Revanna, wife of former minister HD Revanna, had announced that the party leadership had decided to field her from the constituency.

However, former CM and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy, had declared that he would field an ordinary party worker from the seat.

The rift within the Gowda family over the Hassan ticket had widened to the extent that Kumaraswamy invoked the battle of Kurukshetra from the epic Mahabharata to allege that some Shakunis  a character from the epic  were trying to brainwash his brother Revanna.
Karnataka Assembly Election 2023 LIVE Updates: The suspense over Karnataka's next chief minister continued on Tuesday as the Congress' high command is yet to announce its decision after a massive win in the southern state on Saturday. In the CM race are senior leaders DK Shivakumar, who is the Karnataka Congress' president, and Siddaramaiah, former chief minister and leader of opposition.

KPCC chief DK Shivakumar is likely to travel to Delhi to meet the central leadership of the party today after cancelling his visit yesterday due to a stomach infection. After a long Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting, leaders decided to hand over the responsibility of choosing Karnataka's next CM to the party's national president, Mallikarjun Kharge.

Kharge is set to make his decision after consulting UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi and going through the Congress central observers' report, which was submitted yesterday. He is expected to announce a name today.

Karnataka has been witnessing factionalism within the party as fanatics of both Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar made camps of their own and raised the slogans in a show of strength. The leaders have both however denied speculations of a growing rift and put up a united front.

The Congress party secured 135 seats in the May 10 assembly election in Karnataka, emerging as the single largest party and giving the state a decisive mandate. The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) won 66 seats, while regional party, the Janata Dal (Secular) managed to get 19 seats. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.
Even as the Congress is struggling to find an amicable solution to conflict over the chief ministers post, the demand for cabinet berths has already begun. The stalwarts of the party, who were part of the cabinet in the 2013 Congress government are hoping to be rewarded again, while communities that supported the party to secure a formidable victory, are demanding seats for their candidates of choice. Demands for a berth in cabinet rises even befor Congress decides the chief minister (PTI)

Also read: DK Shivakumar says I am single-man majority ahead of Karnataka CM decision

The Muslim community has demanded the deputy chief minister post and five plum portfolios for themselves. The community leaders made the demands claiming that the Muslims loyalty to the party helped the Congress get the 135 seats mandate in the 224-member Assembly.

Congress party had fielded 15 Muslim candidates out of which 11 had won.

Karnataka Waqf Board Chairman Shafi Sadi put forth the demand before the Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge reminding him that the community had stood behind the party. Sadi was elected as the Wakf Board President during the tenure of the outgoing BJP government.

Before the elections, we had demanded 30 seats for Muslims but we only got 15 out of which 9 candidates have won. In 72 constituencies, Congress won only because of Muslims. We have stood with the party when it needed us and now it is time to get good ministries in return. We want a deputy CM post, along with portfolios like home, revenue and education, Shafi Sadi said.

The Lingayat community which supported the party in winning the crucial Bombay Karnataka is also demanding posts for their candidates. Out of the 51 Lingayat candidates fielded by the Congress, 38 of them secured victory, while for the BJP this number had come down drastically. Even though the Lingayats were considered to vote bank of the saffron party, out of the 68 only 18 managed to win.

In order to maintain the shift in support from the Lingayat party, the Congress is likely to give important portfolios to senior Lingayat leaders and a prominent leader from the community is MB Patil.

Rambapuri Seer, an influential Veerashaiva religious leader asked Congress to appoint a Lingayat deputy CM. He said Lingayat support was one of the reasons behind congress victory. Huge number of Lingayats have backed the Congress and the highest number of MLAs are from the Lingayat community. If an influential & active Lingayat leader from North Karnataka is appointed as the Dy CM, it will contribute to the development of this region, said HH Dingaleshwara Swami.

Lingayat seers have endorsed Shivakumar. He is one of the tallest leaders, very dynamic and very productive. I wish him all the best for his upcoming endeavours, Vachanananda Swami said, after visiting the Congress leader, ostensibly to wish him ahead of his birthday on Monday.

The seer Vachanananda Swami of the Harihara Mutt represents the Panchamasalis, a Lingayat sub-group, who are believed to have played a key role in the Congress winning 28 more seats in the Lingayat belts compared to 2018.

Also read: Karnataka villagers' refuse to pay electricity bill; BJP's 'chaos' warning

Besides the Lingayat Harihar Mutt seers, Shivakumar has been endorsed by the head pontiff of the main mutt of the Vokkaliga community, to which he belongs. Nirmalananda Swami, the head of the Adichunchungiri Mutt, called for Shivakumar to be made the CM.

While Vokkaliga community currently batting for the CM post for the Shivakumar, in the coming days the party is expected to demand important portfolios citing the support given to the party in the previous election.

When asked about the speculations of the party going to deputy chief minister posts to leaders from prominent communities, an AICC secretary said no such decision has been made by the party. Once the leader of the CLP is selected, the cabinet will be decided in his consultation. No decision on the matter has been made so far, said the leader.

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Scientists of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) have been given a 232.15 lakh research project by Union animal husbandry ministry under the National Livestock Mission. In Punjab, sheep have traditionally been reared under extensive or semi-intensive grazing systems for wool production. (HT File Photo)

Over the next three years, GADVASU scientists will conduct research to develop a sustainable and intensive sheep farming model for mutton production, with a goal of diversifying Punjabs paddy-wheat cropping system.

Amit Sharma, principal investigator of the project, said that in Punjab, sheep have traditionally been reared under extensive or semi-intensive grazing systems for wool production. However, their population in the state has alarmingly declined from 2,20,000 to 85,000 between 2007 and 2019, an annual decline of 6.16%. The primary factors behind this decline include the loss of natural grazing resources due to rapid urbanisation and industrialisation, intensified paddy-wheat cultivation and reduced wool demand.

He added that the project aims to revive livelihood opportunities in sheep husbandry and meet the current socio-economic requirements.

JPS Gill, director of research, said that GADVASU, in collaboration with National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR), Karnal, has identified and registered Kajali, the only sheep breed of the state. It is known for its weight and holds significant potential for mutton production. He added that conservation efforts are needed to safeguard this breed, which is a genetic resource for the state.

Congratulating the research team, GADVASU vice-chancellor Inderjeet Singh highlighted that sheep can convert low-quality paddy and wheat straw into high-quality animal protein sources. Given the increasing demand for meat, intensive Kajali sheep farming presents a substantial opportunity for farmers to enhance their income while addressing multiple environmental issues, he said.

He added that the project has the potential to revive the dwindling sheep population in the state and create sustainable livelihood opportunities for rural communities. The innovative sheep farming model and conservation of Kajali breed will contribute to the socio-economic development of the region and meet the growing demand for quality mutton production.

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The district court has dismissed the anticipatory bail application filed by Sunil Kumar, who wrongfully received extensions of the chemist shop in Government Multi-Specialty Hospital (GMSH), Sector 16, for 33 years. A case was registered on the vigilance enquiry in October 2022. As per the investigation, five commercial sites in GMSH-16 were leased out to IRCS by administration, which had engaged the shops by appointing private persons as managers on a tender basis. (HT File Photo)

Prosecution argued that Sunil is a clever man who in connivance with health officers caused a loss to state exchequer.

A case was registered on the vigilance enquiry in October 2022. As per the investigation, five commercial sites in GMSH-16 were leased out to IRCS by administration, which had engaged the shops by appointing private persons as managers on a tender basis. The chemist shop number 6 was allotted to Sunil Kumar on lease basis for two years in February 1993.

Public prosecutor JP Singh argued that Sunil Kumar, a private person, in connivance with the health officers, got multiple extensions for 33 years. He got the tender and sublet the shop to ML Sharma at 10% commission.

The allegations are that ML Sharma is running the shop rented to him in 1985 and from 1995 onwards no public notice was issued by health authorities for leasing out the shop which is against rules.

As per the lease deed executed between the allottee Sunil Kumar and DHS whereas after the lapse of two years of lease deed as per terms and conditions of lease deed / finance department orders dated September 1992, the re-auction was required by DHS but it never happened.

Authorities went on extending the lease in his favour from 1995 till date.

Singh argued: For the last 33 years, no tenders have been floated regarding the premises leading to loss to government exchequer and undue gains to private persons and senior officers. Lesse Sunil Kumar is the direct beneficiary with 10% of current partnership deed, while 45% shared by other partners.

Sunil Kumar in connivance with health officials from GMSH led to this scam. We are going to investigate the officers of DHS who served during this time. Strangely, the file of extension is missing, hence, his custodial interrogation is the need of the hour, JP Singh argued.

After hearing the arguments, the court rejected the bail application.
The Mohali CIA police busted a gang of vehicle lifters involved in stealing cars with the arrest of four persons on Tuesday. The Mohali CIA police busted a gang of vehicle lifters involved in stealing cars with the arrest of four persons on Tuesday. (HT Photo)

The accused allegedly stole 35 cars from Punjab, Chandigarh and Haryana. Four cars, including the car of a judicial officer, were recovered from their possession.

The gang, according to the police, stole 22 cars from Mohali in the past six months.

A team led by SP (investigation) Amandeep Singh Brar, DSP Gursher Singh and inspector Shiv Kumar arrested three car lifters along with a scrap dealer.

The police arrested Vineet Gautam (29) and his brother Shubham Gautam (27) of Patiala; and Gaggi (20) of Patiala, currently residing in Mundi Kharar, for stealing cars along with scrap dealer Savesh of Uttarakhand.

Police said while Vineet was booked in around 30 vehicle theft cases in the past, his brother was booked in 21 cases.

This is one of the biggest car lifting gangs operating in the tricity or Punjab. The gang used to steal vehicles from Ludhiana, Patiala, Jalandhar, Ropar and tricity. Though we have established their 35 vehicle thefts till date, we are expecting their involvement in around 50 cases, Mohali senior superintendent of police (SSP) Sandeep Garg said.

Modus operandi

Talking about the modus operandi of the gang, the SSP said Vineet, Shubham and Gaggi used to target cars parked in residential areas at night or the cars which used to be parked in isolated areas.

Instead of selling the cars here, they used to take the vehicles to scrap dealers in Haridwar and one in Saharanpur. The scrap dealers, including Savesh, used to dismantle the cars and sell the vehicles body in scrap and spare parts separately, the SSP said.

We will soon nab the Saharanpur scrap dealer as raids are being conducted to nab him. After stealing the cars, the gang used to park the cars in the Industrial Area in Rajpura, Punjab, before fleeing to Uttarakhand or Saharanpur to sell those to scrap dealers, he added.

The accused were held in Kharar and were traced following CCTV cameras.

The Chandigarh Police recovered four cars from the gang, including a black Swift car having Chandigarh number, which according to the police belonged to a judicial officer residing in Manimajra, Chandigarh. Another Swift car having Punjab number along with a Verna car and an Indigo car were also recovered from the accused.

Another senior police officer said that after over 20 car thefts in Mohali, separate teams were formed to nab the accused following which the police were tracing the gang through CCTV cameras in different areas. When we arrested them, it came to the fore that they were part of a huge gang. Since we have arrested the four members, we are hopeful of tracing their accomplices too, an officer said.

Police have booked the gang under Sections 379 (punishment for theft), 411 (dishonestly receiving or retaining stolen property), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at City Kharar police station.
Taking s stock of the ongoing redevelopment work during a visit to the railway station, Member of Parliament Ravneet Singh Bittu directed the authorities to ensure that passengers do not face any inconvenience. Member of Parliament Ravneet Bittu inspecting the ongoing work at the Ludhiana Railway station on Tuesday. (HT Photo)

He said that the existing structure of the railway station, constructed in 1908, is being remodelled at a cost of 473 crore and the project will be completed by the end of 2025.

He added that as the existing structure will be razed, temporary ticket booking counters, restrooms, offices and waiting rooms are being made to facilitate the commuters.

Highlighting that over 500 goods and various passenger trains pass through the station every month, he said that Ludhiana is among the few cities which have been selected for this project.

Highlighting the qualities, he said that the railway station will have direct connectivity through an elevated road. He added that a food court similar to airports, clean and modern waiting areas and restrooms will be available the facility.

Redevelopment of Dhandari Kalan railway station underway

Bittu said that a development project is also underway at Dhandari Kalan railway station, which caters to the population in industrial areas, including Giaspura, Dhandari kalan and Sahnewal.

A railway official said that authorities have proposed to shift the stoppage of several eastbound trains to Dhandari Kalan and Sahnewal railway stations. He said that as a large number of passengers are migrant workers, shifting of trains will reduce the rush inside and outside the station.
The Punjab and Haryana high court has fined the Chandigarh Police with 15,000 for undue lethargy noticed by the court in the probe of a minors rape. During the proceedings of this case in March, it had come before the court that the Chandigarh Police did not even seek extradition of the accused. (Getty Images/Purestock)

While imposing the cost, high court bench of justice Vinod S Bhardwaj observed that the court notices with anguish that despite the investigation having been transferred to the senior superintendent of police (SSP), Chandigarh, in May 2013, even the basic steps had not been undertaken by the office of the SSP, Chandigarh, and it took 10 years for the SSP to forward an extradition request of an absconding rape accused to the home secretary, Chandigarh.

Even the said action seemingly has been taken since an affidavit had been called for by the court. The police seemingly had no interest in pursuing its case, the bench recorded imposing a fine of 15,000 on the office of the SSP, Chandigarh.

The FIR in question was registered in August 2012 into the allegations of rape of a 10-year-old in Hoshiarpur. The accused fled abroad and was declared proclaimed offender. In 2013, the probe into FIR was transferred from Hoshiarpur police to Chandigarh police.

During the proceedings of this case in March, it had come before the court that the UT police did not even seek extradition of the accused.

The SSP, Hoshiarpur, where the FIR was registered had said that the case was being probed by the UT police and it was the investigating agency which was supposed to initiate the extradition process. On the other hand, the UT SSP had told the court that the extradition request has been now forwarded on April 26, 2023, to the UT home secretary.

Now, the court has posted the matter for July 31, asking the UT police to apprise the status of the extradition request.
After 24 years in Punjab Police, Sangrur-based sub inspector Joga Singh, 56, has opted for voluntary retirement to head for Canada, where his children are permanent residents (PR). The SI is among 17 police personnel of Sangrur district alone to have taken VRS over the past year to go abroad for a comfortable life with their children in Canada, Australia and New Zealand. According to data sourced from the Punjab Police headquarters, on an average, 40 personnel opt for early retirement in a year. This trend is not restricted to junior officers. In five years, six deputy superintendents of police and four superintendents of police have opted for VRS to go abroad. (Illustration: Biswajit Debnath/ht)

I joined the police in 1989 as a constable but was mostly away at work during my childrens growing-up years given the nature of my job. Now that my son and daughter are settled in Canada, I thought of quitting this high-pressure job and relocating, he says.

In Ludhiana, assistant sub inspector (ASI) Varinderjit Singh too opted for VRS in February, surrendering 12 years of service to head to the US, where his son works. My daughter is also married in the US, so we have decided to spend the rest of our time there. Policing was good but hectic. It took a toll on my health, he says.

Varinderjit and Joga Singh are among scores of Punjab Police personnel who have taken the VRS route to settle down abroad over the past few years.

According to data sourced from the Punjab Police headquarters, on an average, 40 personnel opt for early retirement in a year. This trend is not restricted to junior officers. In five years, six deputy superintendents of police and four superintendents of police have opted for VRS to go abroad.

Cops miss out on work-life balance

In Ludhiana police commissionerate alone, 91 police personnel from constable to assistant sub inspector took premature retirement in the past three years. They include 47 ASIs, 31 constables, eight head constables and five sub inspectors.

The number of those quitting the police service was the highest in 2020 when 30 police personnel, including 18 constables and 12 sub inspectors, took VRS. In 2021, 26 police officers in Ludhiana, including 13 constables, seven ASIs and six head constables, quit the force.

The number again rose to 28 in 2022 when five sub inspectors, 21 ASIs and two head constables opted for voluntary retirement. This year, seven ASIs have already opted for VRS.

According to Ludhiana police commissioner Mandeep Sidhu, A police job is not easy. Not everyone can endure it. After a stage, personnel prioritise relaxation and spending time with family, he says.

Thirty-five personnel, most of them assistant sub-inspectors, in the Amritsar police commissionerate have taken early retirement from April 2022 to March 2023, said a senior official requesting anonymity. We have been noticing three to four police personnel taking premature retirement every month. Many of them are keen to go to Canada or Australia where their children are either working or studying, he said.

Not new, political pressure plays role

According to senior officials at the police headquarters in Chandigarh, the trend of police personnel taking VRS to settle down abroad is not new in Punjab. A few years ago, a senior superintendent of police, Inder Mohan Singh Bhatti, took VRS to go to Canada where he learnt the ropes and started his own business. Many of his former colleagues say Bhattis exit was sudden as he stood up to political pressure in several cases.

If the trend of settling down abroad has increased, how can the police service be in any way different? When anybody applies for VRS, no specific reason is sought. However, settling abroad is the common thread, says IG, headquarters, Dr Sukhchain Singh Gill.

A retired DGP, requesting anonymity, admitted that pressure on policing has increased in previous years and freedom during work has been curtailed due to increased political interference.

Swift to make the move

An estimated 1.5 lakh-2 lakh students from Punjab go on study visas to different countries and end up working there with the hope of getting PR.

Officers whose children settle abroad immediately head out. A few have even invested abroad while working as police officers here. They take obligation from NRIs to settle their wards in lieu of the help they offered as police officers, a retired SP-rank officer says.

With inputs by Anil Sharma in Amritsar and Harmandeep Singh in Sangrur

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A school in south Delhis Pushp Vihar locality received a bomb threat email on Tuesday morning, police said. The police suspect the threat, which came via an email around 6:45 am, to be a hoax as the ongoing search operation is close to completion, deputy commissioner of police (DCP), South, Chandan Choudhary, told HT. The police are investigating the matter and the identity of the sender of the email is yet to be found.(ANI/Representative image)

He said that no large-scale evacuation efforts were needed in the incident since the school was yet to open. The school is Amrita School in Pushp Vihar.the threat is most likely a hoax. A search operation is almost completed and nothing found. The school was yet to open in the morning, so no large-scale evacuation or anything was required, he assured.

The police are investigating the matter and the identity of the sender of the email is yet to be found.

A similar incident had happened days ago at the Delhi Public School (DPS) located in south-east Delhis Mathura Road, in which the authorities were prompted to evacuate students and other people, after receiving a bomb threat. No explosives were found in that incident which had happened on April 26.

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In a major scare, a school in Pushp Vihar locality of Saket area in south Delhi received an email regarding a bomb threat on Tuesday morning, police said. Similar incidents have been reported from the national Capital this year on April 12, 26 and May 11 respectively. (File Image)

The threat, which came via an email, was a hoax as nothing suspicious was found during the search operation of the school, police said.

Chandan Choudhary, deputy commissioner of police (south), said that an email was received on Tuesday morning at 6:33am at Amrita School, Saket regarding a bomb threat.

Also Read:Delhi Public School gets bomb threat over email, police say hoax

A thorough checking of the school was done by the bomb disposal squad, but nothing could be found. No large-scale evacuation efforts were needed in the incident as the school was yet to open. The search operation has been completed and nothing suspicious was found inside the school campus. The threat was a hoax, she said.

She further said that the police are investigating the matter and the identity of the sender of the email is yet to be found.

This is a very serious matter as it relates to children. Prima facie, it appears to be a mischief by some anti-social elements. Experts of our cyber team and other officials are looking into it, the DCP added.

When contacted, an official of the school said that the threat e-mail was sent to the schools official e-mail ID.

We immediately informed the police about the e-mail. However, the children reached school on time. But they were sent back to their homes either with their parents or by the school buses, he said on condition of anonymity.

Similar incidents have been reported from the national Capital this year so far.

The Delhi Public School (DPS) located in south-east Delhis Mathura Road reported two such incidents on April 26 and May 11 prompting the authorities to evacuate the students.

On April 12, another south Delhi school, The Indian School, in Sadiq Nagar also received a threat e-mail which turned out to be a hoax.

When contacted, Delhi Police spokesperson Suman Nalwa said that such calls or e-mails are generally made by mischievous elements.

But we take every such call very seriously and put our best efforts to ensure the safety of the children. We are also trying to locate the internet protocol (IP) addresses from where these e-mails were sent, she said.
MEERUT In this civic poll, voters of Baghpat district rejected candidates of political parties, electing independents as chairpersons of all six Nagar Panchayats. However, they elected RLD and BJP candidates as chairpersons in three Nagar Palika Parishads of the district. Political experts said that by electing independents, the voters had given a message to political parties that they should not be taken for granted, at least in civic bodies elections. (Pic for representation)

Baghpat has three Nagar Palika Parishads in Khekra, Baghpat and Baraut and six Nagar Panchayats in Tatiri, Aminagar Sarai, Doghat, Tikait, Chhaprauli and Rataul. The district has a traditional RLD vote base since the time of Chaudhary Charan Singh. But the BJP took over this vote bank to some extent after the 2013 communal riots in adjoining Muzaffarnagar and Shamli districts.

The RLD fielded its candidates only for Nagar Palika Parishad and won Baghpat and Baraut seats while the BJP candidate was elected on Khekra seat.

Barring Chhaprauli Nagar Panchayat, BJP, Congress and BSP fielded their candidates in remaining five Nagar panchayats but none of the candidates won.

Newly elected chairman of Rataul Nagar Panchayat Junaid Faridi explained that the election was for local self-government and people should be given opportunity to elect representatives of their choice and not those imposed by political parties.

A political expert said that parties ignored those candidates whom people wanted and gave tickets to others, so people voted against them to ensure victory of independent candidates. In Rataul, BJP gave ticket to a person who could not convince people to vote in his favour because of his tainted image, he said.

Similarly, in Aminagar Sarai, a Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha worker was demanding ticket for his mother but it was given to some other person. Besides, action was also initiated against the leader and his mother, which angered the voters further and they cast vote in favour of the independent candidate. Also, in Tariri the BJP gave ticket to a candidate against the wishes of the people who were largely supporting another candidate.

Political experts said that by electing independents, the voters had given a message to political parties that they should not be taken for granted, at least in civic bodies elections.

Nagar Palika Parishad

Baghpat- Razauddin ( RLD)

Baraut- Babita Tomar ( RLD)

Khekra- Neelam Devi ( BJP)

Nagar Panchayats

Tatiri- Sapna (Independent)

Chhaprauli- Dharmendra (Independent)

Doghat-Sangeeta (Independent)

Tikri- Sarita (Independent)

Aminagar Sarai- Sunita (Independent)

Rataul- Junaid Faridi (Independent)

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LUCKNOW Bharatiya Janata Partys decisive sweep in the urban local body polls has given it a majority in all the 17 municipal corporations of the state, providing it an opportunity to steamroll big ticket projects ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections without the oppositions intervention. Nearly decimated in these corporations, there is much focus on if the opposition parties would mull a joint strategy against the BJP. (Pic for representation)

With less than a year to go for the LS polls, the BJP leadership is said to be working on projects that the boards of the new corporations could clear in their first meeting itself.

The BJP has notched up numbers it never had before in various municipal corporations. Whats more, the party could re-admit those who had rebelled and contested as independents and won the local body polls, some party leaders said. If that happens, the BJPs overall strength in the corporations would go up further.

The Modi-Yogi (M-Y) factor dominated these polls, and so like our double engine governments, the corporations too would definitely come up with projects that will better the infrastructure and bring a smile on the faces of the poor, said UP BJP spokesman Hero Bajpai.

Nearly decimated in these corporations, there is much focus on if the opposition parties would mull a joint strategy against the BJP.

Sans the BSP, the opposition has been talking of uniting against the BJP in 2024 Lok Sabha polls. So will these corporations, where the BJP holds a decisive sway, become the first test to check that unity, asked Athar Siddiqui of the Centre for Objective Research and Development.

Take Prayagraj for instance. Here, despite the BJP emerging third from Mohitsamganj ward number 80, under which UP minister Nand Gopal Nandis residence is located, the party has won 56 seats in the 100-member Prayagraj house against Samajwadi Partys 16 and BSPs 2.

In 2017, the BJP, despite having its own mayor, had managed to win only 22, providing the opposition an edge as 24 SP members had won then. The BSP had three members.

Despite some independents also joining the BJP in Prayagraj in the previous house, the majority had eluded the ruling party still. There was much focus on Prayagraj this time, as this was the first poll after the killing of gangster-politicians Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf.

During his campaign here, chief minister Yogi Adityanath had even recited a couplet from the Ramcharitmanas, the Hindu holy book, in what was interpreted as a veiled counter to critics who questioned the way the gangster brothers were killed in police custody. Adityanath had recited: Karm pradhan vishwa rachi rakha, jo jas karihey to tas phal chakha (as you sow, so shall you reap), drawing much applause.

Adityanaths clout was visible in Gorakhpur, his political and spiritual karmabhoomi from where the head priest of Gorakhnath Mutt, after being elected Lok Sabha MP for five consecutive terms, is now an MLA. Here, the BJP has won 42 seats in the 80-member house (including Haqikun Nisha, the only Muslim corporator from BJP here), becoming the first party here to form a majority board since 1995, when it was granted the status of a corporation. The opposition here has been limited to Samajwadi Party (17 seats) followed by independents (15). In 2017, the BJP had 27 members.

Agra, regarded as the Dalit capital of the state, also saw BJP members winning 67 seats in the 100-member house against its 2017 tally of 53. Here, there was some good news for the BSP, which has otherwise fared poorly in all elections post 2022 UP polls, in which it won just a solitary seat.

The BSP, which claims loyalty of Dalits, has seen its tally rise this time marginally from 22 to 27 seats while SP, despite its pro-Dalit overtures, dipped from seven seats in 2017 to three now.

In Shahjahanpur, BJP veteran and states finance minister Suresh Khanna pulled off a coup at the last moment by getting SPs mayoral candidate to join the BJP and made her its mayoral candidate. The ruling party won 41 of the 60 wards, giving it considerable heft in a place from where Samajwadi Party had been dominating Nagar Palika polls since the last four occasions. The SP failed to open its account in the new municipal corporation house here as relatives of local functionaries of the party lost.

In Bareilly, the BJP won 52 seats in the 80-member corporation, the first time that any party has secured such numbers. The main opposition SP was a distant second with 12 seats, followed by independents.

Even Lucknow, which has been voting for a BJP mayor since 1995, had never seen the kind of majority that the party has now got with 80 seats in the 110-member house. In 2017, the BJP had won 59 seats here. This time, SP has won 21 seats here, 7 less than in 2017 while the Congress and BSP hardly mattered with inconsequential numbers.

The BJPs dominance would also be visible in other municipal corporations like Jhansi and Saharanpur (both 38 members each), Varanasi and Kanpur (both 63 members each), Ayodhya and Mathura (27 and 36 members, respectively), Aligarh (45), Firozabad (32), Meerut (42) and Moradabad (35).

In 2017, the BJP had 21 members in Jhansi, 28 in Saharanpur, 40 in Varanasi, 58 in Kanpur, 30 in Ayodhya, 41 in Mathura, 35 in Aligarh, 19 in Firozabad, 36 in Meerut and 35 in Moradabad.

The Samajwadi Party now hasnt touched even the double-figure mark in several corporations, including Shahjahanpur and Jhansi, where the party failed to open its account, Saharanpur (3), Ghaziabad (3), Agra (3), Mathura (2) and Moradabad (3). The BSP fared even worse, failing to open its account in Varanasi, Kanpur, Shahjahanpur and Bareilly, figuring in single digits in Lucknow (1), Jhansi (7), Saharanpur (7), Ghaziabad (5), Mathura (5), Ayodhya (3), Aligarh (7), Firozabad (7), Meerut (6) and Moradabad (2).

The Congress continues to be irrelevant in these corporations and while parties like AAP and AIMIM did well in select seats, overall, none of the opposition parties have numbers to challenge the BJP in the municipal corporations.

These are golden numbers that the BJP should use to roll out development projects and to help the common man, said Siddiqui.

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MEERUT A teacher and her husband were found murdered in Shastri Nagar locality under Nauchandi police station here on Tuesday morning. The incident sent a shock wave in the posh locality and a large crowd gathered on the spot. The CCTV footage was being examined and information was being gathered from the neighbours,police said (Pic for representation)

SP (city) Piyush Kumar Singh said the double murder was being investigated from all possible angles and those involved would be arrested soon.

The bodies of Pramod Karanwal (52) and his wife Mamta (50) were found in a room on the first floor of their house in sector-6 of Shastri Nagar locality, said senior superintendent of police (SSP) Rohit Sajwan, who inspected the spot.

Sajwan said initial probe suggested that a sharp-edged weapon was used to kill the couple and the angle of loot had also not been ruled out.

The CCTV footage was being examined and information was being gathered from the neighbours, he said. The mobile phones of the couple had been taken by the police, the SSP said.

The couple lived on the first floor of the house and Pramods aged parents lived on the ground floor of the same house. Pramod was employed with a company in Sahibabad and Mamta was a teacher in a private school. The couples son Aryan and daughter Anushka work in a company in Gurgaon.

The murder came to light when Aryan telephoned a neighbour and said his parents were not answering the phone.

The neighbour spoke to Pramods parents and they all went to the first floor where they spotted the bodies of Mamta and Pramod on the bed. Their throats were slit and they were lying in a pool of blood. Pramods parents said that they saw no one entering the house.

IG range Nachiketa Jha also inspected the spot. The bodies have been sent for post mortem examination.
KANPUR The 31-acre first phase of the international perfume park project in Kannauj, which is known for manufacture of the essence (attar) used in perfumes, is finally completed and awaits investors. For the second phase, the UPSIDA has acquired another 18 acres near the Lucknow-Agra Expressway and GT road, said officials. A 32 kv sub-station at the park,the boundary wall of which has been completed. (Sourced)

An issue of political sparring for many years, the project was conceived during the tenure of the Samajwadi Party government as Indias first-ever International Perfume Museum and Aroma Park.

Over the last few months, Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority has completed all the pending works and the first phase on 31 acres land was ready, said Prem Prakash, additional chief executive officer (ACEO).

Roads, electricity and CNG supply are in place while work is under way to complete the overhead water tank for water supply, he said.

Many multi-national companies are taking keen interest in setting up shop here and local entrepreneurs are interested in small plots, added Prakash.

This park was proposed by Samajwadi Party president and former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav. In 2014, he had announced a common facility fragrance park to boost the fragrance industry of Kannauj. Two years later, the foundation stone of the project was laid on April 12, 2016 during the SPs tenure.

In 2015, Yadav had led a delegation to Grasse (France), known for its perfumes, to explore the possibility of a tie-up and give a boost to the attar industry of Kannauj. After Yadavs visit to France, the state government had stated the park would be developed on 400-acre land and 300-acre gram sabha land was already available for the project there.

After the change of guard in UP in 2017, Yadav had been taking on the state government for failing to complete the project -- an issue he raised in many of his political speeches.

At present, the parks boundary wall has been completed and 18-24-metre-wide roads are also ready. For uninterrupted electricity supply, a 33 kv sub station, linked to grid station 32 km away, has been established.

According to officials privy to details, authorities are waiting for the right dates for the projects inauguration by chief minister Yogi Adityanath. The decision had been on hold due to urban local body elections, they said.

Before the park is opened, officials are working to clear the proposals of MNCs at the earliest while 39 local entrepreneurs are inclined to buy plots in the park (ranging from 250 sq m to 3000 sq m).

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Haidar Naqvi Haidar Naqvi covers central UP and Bundelkhand. He closely tracks developments in internal security in the region and beyond. ...view detail
LUCKNOW Two men accused of murder were allegedly shot at by two assailants when they were brought to a court in Jaunpur for hearing in the case on Tuesday, said police. The two suffered bullet injuries and were undergoing treatment at a local hospital. (Pic for representation)

The two suffered bullet injuries and were undergoing treatment at a local hospital while one of the two assailants was caught and efforts were on to nab the other person involved in the attack. Eyewitnesses said the firing on the court premises created panic among those present there.

SP (city) BK Gautam said the two injured were identified as Mithilesh Giri and Suryaprakash Rai and they were attacked while being taken to the court of chief judicial magistrate. He said one of the attackers, Shravan Kumar Yadav, was caught by advocates and handed over to the police while the other managed to escape from the spot.

Mithilesh suffered bullet injury on his back while Suryaprakash was hit on his arm. They were admitted to the district hospital, from where they were shifted to the trauma centre in Varanasi, said Gautam. He said Giri and Rai were lodged in the district jail since May 6, 2022, in a case pertaining to the murder of wrestler Badal Yadav at Dharmapur Bazar in the Gaurabadshahpur area and the attack on them was apparently the fallout of the same.

Loot case accused held after encounter

A man wanted in a case of loot was arrested after he was injured in an encounter with the Agra police on Monday night. The police later arrested four others on the basis of information revealed by the injured accused and recovered jewellery and cash looted from a shopkeeper around a week ago.

Police said the injured accused was identified as Dharmendra while two of his associates managed to escape. Later, his four associates, including Totaram, Gautam, Yogesh and Pankaj Kumar, were arrested.

In a press note issued by Agra police, it was informed that Dharmendra had two dozen cases against him while Totaram had three and Gautam was wanted in eight cases. Pankaj too had one case against him. It further stated that they were wanted in a loot case registered at Barhan police station on May 9. In the case, three unidentified assailants had forcibly taken away 20,000, a bag containing silver ornaments and the victims motorcycle.
Soon after taking charge as the vice chancellor of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU), Prof Jai Prakash Pandey on Tuesday said his top priority will be to get the university accredited from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and get good rating. New VC of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University Prof Jai Prakash Pandey addressing a press conference after taking charge. (Sourced)

He said otherwise it will affect the future of students especially when it comes to placement or seeking admission to foreign universities or any other educational institution of repute for higher studies.

As VC of Madan Mohan Malaviya University of Technology (MMMUT), Gorakhpur, we were the first university in U.P. to get A+ NAAC grade. And then University of Lucknow and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya University, Gorakhpur, went one step further to get A++. Now it will be my responsibility to get good rating for AKTU from NAAC so that our students may benefit from it, said Pandey adding that AKTU will seek expert guidance of Lucknow University vice chancellor Prof Alok Kumar Rai.

Addressing a press conference, Prof Pandey said, This university is not new to me. I have been associated with it in the past as well on various assignments. High level infrastructure is available with the university. It will be my endeavour to ensure its full use. New courses on new age and cutting-edge technologies will be started in the Centre for Advanced Studies.

University library will be made fully digital. The administrative arrangements of the university will be streamlined. The problems of university students will be solved through the use of technology, he added.

There are some administrative hurdles in the examination system. These will be removed immediately and attention will be paid to conduct timely examination and declare results. Efforts will be made that the session of first and second years students return on track from this session itself, Pandey said.

I will also need the support of my colleagues so that correct feedback can be given and if any improvement is needed in the methodology, it can be implemented, the VC added. I will be looking forward to their cooperation, he said.

Talking about the major concern of delayed results, he said, When I was controller of exam of this university, January 15 was the date for declaring of results for odd semester and June 20 was date for declaration of results for even semesters. I dont know what has led to delay in declaration of results. I will try to fix the problem and will ensure that results are declared on time.

Prof Pandey said, The university will now lay thrust on applied research so that the community benefits. Gone are the days of basic research and publishing research papers. Mere distribution of B Tech degrees will not help anymore.

My focus will be to give a digital push to the university and introduce courses on artificial intelligence (AI), drone technology and robotics, he added.

AKTU has been going through a rough time since February this year. On February 4, governor Anandiben Patel removed Prof PK Mishra from the post of VC who later sent his resignation to the governor. Prof Mishra was removed on a complaint of financial and administrative irregularities.
A decision on initiating disqualification proceedings against MLAs, among a host of issues, might take more than three months, assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar said on Tuesday. He chaired his first meeting with officials at the state legislature after returning from a three-day London tour. Mumbai, India - February 21, 2023: Union Minister for Fisheries Department Purshottam Rupala, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar along with Maharashtra Fisheries Minister Sudhir Munganttiwar hand over aids and facilities to local fishermen during Sagar Parikrama 2023, a project by Union Ministry, at Sassoon Dock, Colaba, in Mumbai, India, on Tuesday, February 21, 2023. (Photo by Bhushan Koyande/HT Photo) (HT PHOTO)

His argument was if the Supreme Court could take around 10 months for its verdict and the Election Commission of India (ECI) could spend more than six months before deciding on the authority over the real Shiv Sena and the party symbol, why the speaker could not get a reasonable time.

HT looks at the steps Narwekar might take to get the house in order since the apex court has left the decision on the real Shiv Sena, the party whip, and the disqualification proceedings to the speaker.

Real Shiv Sena

The first task before him is to decide if the faction led by CM Eknath Shinde or the camp headed by Uddhav Thackeray is the real Shiv Sena. The decision would have the retrospective effect from June-July last year (when the erstwhile MVA government was toppled, and the Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis duo took over). However, the ECI order would not have any bearing on our decision, he said.

Party whip

A decision on the party whip will be the next stage. Though the SC has called the appointment of Bharat Gogawale (from Shinde camp) as the whip of Shiv Sena illegal, Narwekar said, It is a misconception that the recognition of the whip was termed illegal. The decision on the whip and the group leader is taken based on the strength in the house. The SC has directed us to take a call on the whip as per the desire of the real political party.

Disqualification

Both the warring factions have filed five petitions demanding disqualification of 54 MLAs - 40 from Shinde camp and 14 from Thackeray group. A decision in this regard will be based on schedule 10 of the constitution and as per the provisions of the Maharashtra Legislature Members (removal of disqualification) Act, Narwekar said.

He further said, I know the power and duty of the speaker and I would not bow under any political pressure. I do not think it necessary to take cognisance of any such attempt or remarks made outside the house.

Process begins

The legislature has decided to serve notices on the petitioners to submit their views. Officials will also write to Thackeray and Shinde asking them to submit copies of their constitution, appointment of leaders, and resolutions passed in their annual general meetings. Soon after, the hearings will begin.

The decisions will be taken as soon as possible, but without any haste by keeping the principles of justice hurried is justice buried and justice delayed is justice denied, in mind, Narwekar said.

When asked about a Manipur verdict by the SC where it had set a deadline of three months, Narwekar said, The reasonable time varies from case to case, and the time frame set for one case cannot be applicable to the other.

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Mumbai In a city where owning a house is out of bounds for many thanks to staggering real estate prices, the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) is having a hard time selling its low cost inventory of around 2048 homes in a colony of over 15 22-storey towers in Virar-Bolinj. HT Image

The heart of the problem is water shortage, reportedly exacerbated by water tanker and private builder lobbies in Virar.

In April this year, when MHADA advertised a special allotment drive of houses on a first-come-first-serve basis, only 350 buyers showed interest in the lottery. The remaining 1698 IBHK and 2BHK tenements are still awaiting buyers. The housing authoritys Konkan Board drew a lottery of 4640 homes in Vasai-Virar, Thane, Kalyan, Palghar and Raigad on May 10 and another 737 homes were added from other suburbs, taking the list of unsold inventory to 2435.

The board constructed over 9000 houses in Virar-Bolinj over the last eight years. Before the pandemic had set in, about 6000 homes were sold in the first phase, but the scheme garnered bad publicity after the first lot of buyers came to live here, who are still struggling with acute water shortage. They get their fill from private tankers, which pinches their pockets. Interestingly, other private societies in the area have adequate water supply.

The issue of water scarcity and the civic bodys valve-men being hand-in-glove with members of high-end housing societies to siphon water, was highlighted by HT in a story headlined: In Vasai-Virar, protests yield water once in 8 days on April 18, 2023.

Hitendra Thakur, a local MLA and head of Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA), the party that has been in power in Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC), assured that there will be additional quota of water to the MHADA colony soon as the suburb will get its supply from Surya dam. He brushed away the allegation that the water tanker brigade was driving the scarcity. Every city in MMR depends on water tankers. Vasai-Virar being close to Mumbai, Thane and Vapi has become the most favoured destination for lakhs of people, said Thakur.

He linked to water crisis to the rapid population growth in areas governed by the VVMC, and added that the civic body must take speedy decisions to resolve the problems.

MHADAs Konkan board chief officer, Maruti More, however accepted that paucity of water was behind the poor response to the low-cost homes over the last three years. He added that despite the body pursuing the matter with VVMC over three years it has yet to receive a response to help lift the water shortage in the area.

Residents receive only third of the actual daily need. In a recent meeting, the corporation promised to resolve the issue of water supply soon. Once that happens, homes will be sold easily as they are available at a competent price, said More.

When MHADA had submitted its scheme to the civic body to build the towers, they were marked the tallest in the area. The VVMA expressed its inability to give occupation certificate (OC) as it did not have a big fire tender and ladder, which could serve such a tall building in moments of crisis. At the time, MHADAs Konkan Board had spent around 15 crore to buy fire-fighting machinery for the corporation, following which OC was issued in 2018, said a MHADA official. The official added: Besides the water issue, pricing and location have also played a part in people not wanting to put their money on these properties.

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The Assam police have decided to conduct a fitness survey of cops and to ask those found unfit to take voluntary retirement from service, state police chief GP Singh said on Tuesday. Assam director general of police, GP Singh. (File Photo)

Singh, the director general of police (DGP), said that the move was in line with directions from chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who also holds the home portfolio. He mentioned that there will be professional recording of BMI of all police personnel including those from the Indian Police Service (IPS).

We plan to give three months time to all Assam police personnel including IPS and Assam Police Service (APS) officers till August 15 and then start BMI assessment in the next 15 days, Singh said on Twitter.

All those who are in obese (BMI 30+) category would be offered another three months time to reduce weight (till November end) and after that VRS (voluntary retirement scheme) option, except those who have genuine medical ground like thyroidism etc., he added.

Singh said that he would be the first to take the BMI recording on August 16.

On April 30, the chief minister announced that those in the police force who are habitual drinkers, obese and have corruption cases against them would be given the option of VRS or compulsory retirement scheme (CRS).

Three hundred officers and jawans (in the state police) are habitual drinkers and excess consumption of alcohol has damaged their bodies. We have the provision of VRS for them, Sarma had said.

A few days prior to that announcement, the CM in a meeting with senior police officers had instructed them to remove deadwood from the force to make the state police a fitter organisation.

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A lab technician Babuli Ram Jatav, 57, posted in Motilal Nehru (Colvin) Divisional Hospital was killed by unidentified assailants at his Block Colony residence under Phulpur police station late on Monday night. Colvin hospitals lab technician murdered in Phulpur (Pic for representation)

Police came to know about this after some locals spotted lab technicians body on Tuesday morning.

Additional Commissioner of Police (ACP), Phulpur, Manoj Singh reached the spot and called forensic field unit and dog squad for investigations. The body had deep injury marks inflicted with sharp edged weapon, a senior police official said.

Jatav was earlier posted as laboratory technician at Community Health Centre (CHC) Phulpur and since then had been living at Block Colony. After being posted at different CHCs, Jatav was transferred to Colvin Hospital located in the heart of Sangam city about a year back though he continued to live in Phulpur, preferring to report for duty each day from there.

Police said primary investigations revealed that a washerwoman reached Jatavs house in the morning to deliver clothes and grew suspicious on not finding response despite repeated knocks on the door. Locals assembled at the spot when the woman raised an alarm.

Some persons climbed on the boundary wall and found technicians body lying on the floor in a pool of blood.

Officials said that Jatavs wife had died 15 years back and his two sons live outside the district while his daughter is married. Jatav used to live with his father who had gone to his native village recently.

Police officials suspect that the assailants sneaked inside the home after scaling the boundary wall.

The FIR would be registered after the lab technicians kin arrives. Further investigation is

underway and all possible murder motives were being explored, he added.
LUCKNOW In a bid to tighten noose on gang members of slain mafioso brothers Atiq Ahmed and Khalid Azim (alias Ashraf), the Bareilly police on Monday filed chargesheet against nine people -- including two jail guards and Ashrafs close aide Mohd Raza (alias Lalla Gaddi) -- in connection with the case related to his (Ashrafs) secret meetings in Bareilly jail. Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf were killed on April 15. (File photo)

Earlier, on March 8, the Bareilly police unit had exposed the nexus of criminals and jail personnel in Bareilly district jail where Atiq Ahmeds younger brother Ashraf was lodged since July 2020. The police had arrested jail canteen supplier Daya Ram (alias Nanhe), Bareilly district jail guard Shiv Hari Awasthi, and Pilibhit jail guard Manoj Gaur for facilitating Ashrafs secret meetings inside the jail. Later, seven more people, including Lalla Gaddi, were arrested in the matter.

During further investigation, it was revealed that four of the six assailants -- Guddu Muslim, Atiqs son Asad, Sabir and Ghulam -- involved in the killing of advocate Umesh Pal and his two police guards outside his house in Prayagraj on February 24 had visited the Bareilly jail to meet Ashraf two week before Umesh Pals murder. This revelation had confirmed the involvement Ashraf behind Umesh Pals killing, said a police inspector privy to the development.

On Monday, Bareilly SSP Prabhakar Chowdhary confirmed to media persons that the chargesheet has been filed against nine people -- including two jail guards, canteen supplier Daya Ram alias Nanhe, Lalla Gaddi, Rashid Ali, Furqan Nabi Khan, Mohd Sarfudeen, Farhat (alias Guddu), and Arif. He said the police investigators have applied section 173 (6) of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) while filing the charge sheet so people arrested in the matter could not be easily bailed out. Under this section, the chargesheet and documents attached with it is not easily procured by the lawyers of the accused and they have to provide genuine reasons before the court to procure its copy, added the SSP.

Another police official said that prison guard Shiv Hari Awasthi facilitated Ashrafs meeting with his aides without mentioning their visits in jail records. He said Awasthi used to put one ID for entry of six-seven persons at a time at least thrice in a week. He said a SIT headed by a CO rank officer investigated the matter thoroughly and filed the charge sheet.

He said Ashrafs name was included in the chargesheet as he, along with his elder brother Atiq Ahmed, was shot dead by three assailants while being taken to hospital for medical examination in police custody in Prayagraj on April 15 when the duo was in police custody remand in connection with the investigation of Umesh Pals murder.

Umesh Pal was the prime witness in the 2005 BSP MLA Raju Pal murder case. Other than being prime witness in BSP MLA Raju Pal murder case, Pal had also lodged five more cases against Atiq Ahmed, Ashraf and his henchmen allegedly for abducting and threatened not to give a statement in the case. The BSP MLA, Raju Pal was shot dead in broad daylight in Prayagraj on January 25, 2005, and Atiq is one of the accused in this sensational murder case. A CBI inquiry was ordered by the Supreme Court in 2016 in this case. Raju Pal was murdered barely three months after he won the (then) Allahabad (West) assembly seat in his electoral debut by defeating Ashraf.
The recession in the diamond industry of Gujarats Surat, allegedly triggered by the Russia-Ukraine war, has forced several units to extend their summer vacation, people familiar with the matter said. Meanwhile, workers unions have accused the companies of resorting to massive layoffs, and they alleged that at least four labourers have died in the city in the last 10 days due to the recession- a claim refuted by the industry bodies. The Surat diamond industry employs close to 8 lakh people. (File Photo)

Over 85-90% of the worlds roughs are processed in the Surat diamond industry. It employs close to 8 lakh people and is a major contributor to Indias gems and jewellery exports of about 3 lakh crore. For the period of April 2022-March 2023, the overall gross exports of cut and polished diamonds at Rs. 1.76 lakh crore declined 2.97% compared to the same period in the previous year, which was Rs. 1.82 lakh crore.

Dinesh Navadiya, a Surat based diamond baron and regional chairman of the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) said that apart from the overall slowdown in demand for diamond and diamond jewellery, there is a growing resistance from US and European countries to not buy Russian goods. Almost one third of the roughs processed in Surat are sources from Russias Alrosa, a diamond mining company.

Past experience shows that to overcome the issue of overproduction, the supply needs to be controlled. This time the diamond companies of Surat may take a longer summer vacation. So, say, if only 15-20 companies took summer vacation in May of about two weeks last year, this year about 20% of the 7,000 odd units may go on a months vacation. Hopefully this will help improve things in next two to three months, he said.

Global challenges affected the demand for diamonds in Indias key markets, including USA and China. But certain regions in Europe and South-East Asia fared well. India encountered difficulties due to inconsistent Russian rough diamond supply and challenges with beneficiation, as countries such as Namibia, Botswana, and Angola prefer to have their rough diamonds cut in their own countries, said Vipul Shah, chairman of GJEPC.

Hitesh Patel, managing director of Dharmanandan Diamonds, said, Many companies have decided to go on an extended vacation. Our company has also decided to go on a vacation from May 10 till about May 20, which we do every year. We may extend it by a few days.

Echoing a similar line, Ramesh Kikani, who runs a proprietary firm with the same name, said, Earlier this week we announced vacation for all our employees. There is no demand. So instead of a 10-days summer vacation that we give our employees, there will be a months vacation this time.

Patel said that while he was not aware of any layoffs in the industry, some workers on an ad-hoc basis may be quitting due to unavailability of work.

Nanubhai Vekariya, chairman of Surat Diamond Association, also refuted claims of layoffs and suicides of diamond workers due to recession. There have been no layoffs. Also, the industry has only one vacation that is during Diwali. There would be a few companies that declare summer vacations on their own, but this is their individual call and not the industrys decision. The industry in Surat is facing a slowdown due to a weak demand in US and Europe. As a result, some companies may have reduced their working hours. Overall, we feel that the production for the year will not be much impacted, he said.

However, Bhavesh Tank, vice-president of the Diamond Workers Union Gujarat (DWUG), claimed that there have been 10,000 layoffs in the last couple of months due to the recession in Surat. He added, We have reasons to believe that these deaths, including that of a woman and three men, were due to unemployment and the overall recession in the diamond industry.

We have sought a relief package from the state government to revive the industry and are looking forward for a positive dialogue with them in near future, he said.

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her Union Budget speech this year announced a five-year research grant for one of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) to encourage the indigenous production of lab-grown diamonds (LGD). She also announced a reduction in customs duty on the seeds and machines used to produce these precious commodities. These diamonds are considered to be 70% cheaper as compared to mined diamonds.

In 2022-23 financial year, provisional gross export of polished lab grown diamonds at Rs. 13,466 crore grew 37.31% over the comparative figure of 9,808 crore for the previous year.

The success of lab grown diamonds and its demand worldwide has also impacted the prospects of mined diamonds up to certain extent, said Patel.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday conducted searches at nine locations in Bihars Patna and Bhojpur linked to former Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader MLA Arun Yadav and his wife Kiran Devi in connection with the alleged land-for-jobs scam. The CBI team reached the residence of Devi at Agiaon village in Bhojpur and carried out searches. (Representative file image)

The CBI also conducted searches at the premises of Rajya Sabha MP Prem Chand Gupta at Noida, Delhi and Gurugram in the same alleged land-for-jobs scam.

The CBI has been probing former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and several members of his family in connection with the case.

The raids are underway in nine separate places in Bihar, Delhi, Haryana and Noida.

The CBI team reached the residence of Devi at Agiaon village in Bhojpur and carried out searches.

Another team of CBI carried out searches at her official residence in Patna near Haj Bhawan amid heavy security arrangement.

Also Read:Land-for-jobs case: Supplementary chargesheet in 2-3 weeks, CBI tells court

On March 6, CBI teams had questioned former chief minister Rabri Devi at her official residence in connection with the alleged land-for-jobs scam.

The agency has registered an FIR against 17 persons including Rabri, her husband Lalu Prasad and daughter Misa Bharti.

Earlier on January 13, the CBI was granted the sanction to prosecute RJD supremo Lalu Prasad in the alleged land-for-jobs case.

The sanction is granted by the central government and only after it, can the CBI initiate a trial against him.

In amended prevention of corruption act, a prior sanction is needed for central agency before prosecuting a public servant, said CBI spokesperson, adding that the agency submitted the persecution sanction before the court of New Delhi.

The CBI filed the chargesheet in October last year, against former Bihar CM Lalu Prasad including family members and 13 others in the land-for-jobs scam.

The alleged scam occurred when Yadav was railway minister between 2004 and 2009. Apart from the RJD leader, the chargesheet also includes the name of the then railway general manager.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Avinash Kumar Avinash, a senior correspondent, reports on crime, railways, defence and social sector, with specialisation in police, home department and other investigation agencies. ...view detail
REVILLA VOWS TO ASSIST LGUs IN PROMOTING LOCAL INFRA DEVELOPMENT

SENATOR Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. has vowed to partner with local government units in their pursuit to stimulate local infrastructure development, during the public hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Works on Tuesday (May 16).

"Alam naman natin ang kanya-kanya nating ginagampanang papel lalo na sa ating mga constituents. Pero iisa ang layunin natin - ang mahatiran sila ng sagana at damang serbisyo-publiko. Thus, we are ensuring that we will help to capacitate our LGUs in promoting their genuine local autonomy when it comes to infrastructure, which we all know is the backbone of the economy", Revilla committed.

The Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Works led the deliberation of various local bills dealing with road conversion, renaming of roads, and creation of district engineering offices across different regions in the country.

"Palagi akong nakasuporta sa mga road conversion bills. Noong pa man na naging chairperson ako ng Committee on Public Works sa aking unang termino, marami na tayong naipasang mga ganitong panukala", the three-term senator said.

Revilla stressed that road conversion paves way for LGUs to progress, as improvements on roads are vital to their economic development. "These roads represent windows and doors through which our people are given access to goods and services", he added.

The Committee passed bills seeking to convert several roads in Romblon Province to be national roads.

The solon also elucidated the rationale on renaming roads. "Ang atin pong ginagawang pagbibigay ng bagong pangalan sa mga kalsada at tulay ay isang mumunting pagtanaw natin ng utang na loob sa mga nag-ambag sa ating kasaysayan. When we rename roads, we do not change nor erase history. We simply honor revered personalities whose invaluable contributions to society have shaped our nation", Revilla aptly explained.

The committee tackled several bills aiming to rename particular roads, including measures seeking to rename Agham Road located in Quezon City as Senator Miriam P. Defensor-Santiago Avenue in honor of the late great lawmaker.

Moreover, Revilla discussed the importance of creating more district engineering offices (DEOs) in different LGUs.

"Inilalapit lamang natin ang mga serbisyo sa ating mga kababayan. Sa pagdami din ng mga DEOs, naniniwala tayong higit na magiging epektibo ang serbisyo. They help bridge the gaps and promote genuine local autonomy when it comes to infrastructure", the solon said.
To block your lost mobile phone, all you need to do now is to log on to the department of telecommunication (DOT)s Sanchar Saathi (https://sancharsaathi.gov.in) portal, after registering a police complaint. Mobile subscribers can block their cellphones IMEI by submitting a blocking request on the portal along with a copy of the police complaint or through the state police. (HT Photo)

Around 925 police stations in Bihar will be linked to the Sanchar Saathi, an integrated citizen centric portal, launched nationally on Tuesday by Ashwini Vaishnaw, minister for communications, railways and electrics & information technology, said Girijesh Kumar Mishra, DOTs special director general for Bihar and Jharkhand.

Over 500 police stations in Jharkhand already have access to the portal.

The portal will allow mobile consumers to block or trace lost mobile phones, check genuineness of devices while buying a new or old mobile phone, know the mobile connections issued in their name and get disconnected the connections they do not require, said Mishra.

Mobile subscribers can block their cellphones IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) by submitting a blocking request on the portal along with a copy of the police complaint or through the state police.

The lost mobile phones reported on the portal will no longer be usable in any of the network across India. If any attempt is made to use the reported mobile phones, its traceability report generated will help the police to trace the lost phone. It will also help curb counterfeit mobile phone market and act as a deterrent for mobile phone thefts, said Mishra.

The portal will also facilitate to check the number of connections issued against an individual. It will also facilitate them in reporting the mobile connection(s), which are either not required or taken by the subscriber.

An individual subscriber can have a maximum of nine mobile connections across all the telecom service providers.

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In a tragic incident, a member of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Kiran Kumar, was gunned down by unidentified assailants in Bihars Vaishali district late on Monday, triggering protests by his supporters on Tuesday, police said. The supporters of Kiran blocked the Hajipur-Mahnar road disrupting vehicular traffic and demanded action. (Representative file image)

Police said the incident took place when Kiran was returning home to Ramdauli village after attending a marriage function.

Also Read: Bihar: 18-year-old girl dies in celebratory firing in Rohtas

As soon as he reached Amer village area, unidentified assailants intercepted him, shot him twice and fled from the spot.

Kiran succumbed to his injury during treatment.

On Tuesday morning, Kirans supporters including former RJD MLA Mukesh Raushan from Mahua reached the hospital where the body was brought for post mortem.

The former lawmaker demanded immediate arrest of those involved.

Kiran was an old party member and currently active for party work. Two decades ago, Kirans father Satrughan Rai was also murdered by someone, he said.

The supporters of Kiran blocked the Hajipur-Mahnar road disrupting vehicular traffic and demanded action against the culprits, police said.

Commenting on the incident, Vaishali SP Raviranjan Kumar said it is difficult to say anything as of now as police are investigating the matter.

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After touching highs of above 40 degrees Celsius, temperatures in Pune city once again fell below normal levels, bringing respite from the sweltering heat of the past few days. After touching highs of above 40 degrees Celsius, temperatures in Pune city once again fell below normal levels, bringing respite from the sweltering heat (HT FILE PHOTO)

Since the beginning of May, Pune has witnessed below normal maximum temperatures of 35 to 36 degrees Celsius. After the formation of Cyclone Mocha however, temperatures rose significantly not only in Pune but the whole of Maharashtra. So much so that Koregaon Park recorded a temperature of 44.4 degrees Celsius while Shivajinagar recorded 41 degrees Celsius even as many districts in the state experienced heatwaves in the last five days. The main reason for this was cited as moisture absorption by the cyclone condition and a rise in humidity levels.

The cyclone made landfall in the coastal area of Myanmar on May 14 after which, moisture depletion over Maharashtra reduced and maximum temperatures started dipping in many parts of the state including Pune. On Tuesday, Shivajinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 36.2 degrees Celsius while Koregaon Park recorded 37.4 degrees Celsius.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a statement that this year, the onset of the southwest monsoon over Kerala is likely to be slightly delayed. About the impact on the monsoon in Maharashtra, Dr Anupam Kashyapi, head of the weather forecasting division, IMD Pune, said, We are observing the activities in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, and the parameters important for monsoon progress. Only after the onset of the monsoon in Kerala will we be able to forecast the arrival of the monsoon in Maharashtra.

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RANCHI: The Jharkhand high court on Tuesday reserved its order after hearing arguments in a petition filed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, seeking quashing of an order passed by a Ranchi district court in connection with a defamation case filed by a BJP worker for allegedly passing a derogatory remark against union home minister Amit Shah. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi . (PTI)

The complaint case was filed by Navin Jha with Ranchi court on April 28, 2018, against the statement Rahul Gandhi made at the plenary session of his party on March 18, 2018.

In his complaint, Jha had claimed that Gandhi made a false and defamatory remark against Shah stating that people of this country will accept a lying BJP leadership because the people know what the BJP is designed for. They will accept a man accused of murder as the president of the BJP, but the people would never accept the same in the Congress party, he further went on to say, the petitioner alleged.

The complaint was dismissed by the sub judicial magistrate on July 7, 2018. However, Ranchi judicial commissioner on September 15, 2018, had allowed the revision petition, directing the magistrate to take back the case with a direction to re-appreciate the evidence on record and pass an order afresh on the point of determining prima facie material to proceed in the matter. Considering the order, the magistrate on November 28, 2018, took cognisance in the matter and issued summons.

Gandhi had then filed a petition, seeking quashing of the revision order of the Ranchi judicial commissioner of September 15, 2018. The matter came up for hearing on Tuesday before the single bench of justice Ambuj Nath that reserved its order.

The court reserved its order after closing arguments from both sides. We have contested the petition arguing that the petitioner cannot be considered an aggrieved person in the matter, and he has no locus standi to file the defamation case. We have also raised other points related to the facts raised in the petition and cited several judgements from the past in defense, said Deepankar Roy, counsel of Rahul Gandhi.

The petitioners lawyer argued that being a BJP worker Jha was an identifiable person and well within his rights to file the defamation case. The court reserved its order directing both the parties to file a short synopsis of the case by Wednesday, Roy added.

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WB HS Result 2023 Date: Result of Higher Secondary or Class 12 final exam conducted by the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE) will be announced on May 24, board President Dr. Chiranjib Bhattacharjee has confirmed. WB HS result 2023 date confirmed (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Once announced, students can check WB HS result on the board website, wbchse.wb.gov.in. These results may also be hosted on wbresults.nic.in.

Meanwhile, WB Madhyamik result 2023 date has also been confirmed. It will be declared on May 19 at 10 am.

WBCHSE is expected to hold a press conference in which results of the HS final exam will be announced. After that, Science, Arts and Commerce stream students can visit the said websites to check their marks online.

Physical copies of marks sheets and certificates will be sent to schools later.

To check WB HS result 2023, students have to use their roll number and/or other information mentioned on their admit cards.

For other updates related to the Higher Secondary final exam, students should regularly visit the council's website.
Alia Bhatt is in Seoul, South Korea to make her debut at the Gucci Cruise 2024 show at the Gyeongbokgung Palace. The actor posed in front of the historic palace in a black dress with black platform heels and a Gucci Jackie 1961 transparent bag. Alia smiled for the Korean media as she attended her first fashion show as ambassador. (Also read: Alia Bhatt heads to Seoul for Gucci event, rocks all-denim look at airport. Watch) Alia Bhatt was named the first Indian global ambassador for the Italian brand.

The first look of Alia at the Gucci show was posted online by Vogue India. They captioned the post, "First look: Alia Bhatt (@aliaabhatt) has arrived at the #GucciCruise 2024 show in Seoul. The star makes an appearance as the Italian luxury houses first Indian Ambassador in a black ensemble with cutout detail and a Gucci Jackie 1961 transparent bag."

In the comments section, fans seem to be only talking about Alia's transparent bag that has caught their attention. One fan exclaimed, "Bag is empty so why alia is carrying." Another shared, "Bro the purse is meant to hold few things at least!" Yet another defended the bag and stated, "Those who are saying purse is empty empty lmaoo your head also Empty."

Last week, the actor was named the first Indian global ambassador for the Italian brand. The brand celebrates 25 years since it opened its first store in Seoul in 1998. The fashion show will be held in front of the Geunjeongjeon, the main hall of the Gyeongbokung Palace, where the main royal ceremonies take place.

Earlier today, Alia spent time with Thai actor Davika Hoorne to bring her birthday on May 16. Davika shared a post on Instagram of herself and Alia from her party. She captioned, "Love (heart emoji)" Alia also shared her post on her Instagram stories with the caption, "Happy birthday gorgeous." Davika wore a blue shirt with a white jacket and matching mini skirt, while Alia wore a black dress with a brown jacket.

This is Alia's second big moment on the global fashion stage. Earlier this month, she made her Met Gala debut in a Prabal Gurung white gown that was inspired by Chanel. On Instagram, Alia had shared about her outfit, "I wanted to do something that felt authentic (hello, pearls!) and proudly made in India. The embroidery, made with a 100,000 pearls is a labour of love by @prabalgurung. I'm so proud to wear you for my first Met. A girl can never have too many pearls... and the right accessories to complement the look which in our case translated to the bow of pearls on my hair. Oh, and it's white, for my Choup-ED."

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Actor Amitabh Bachchan has clarified after the Mumbai traffic police took note of his recent picture as he rode pillion on a bike without wearing a helmet. Taking to his blog on Tuesday, Amitabh said, "Aahhhhhhh .. the impotency of content .. Much made out of the bike picture .. ! How you moving on street with stranger ..? No security ..? You are loved take care ..? And then .. no helmet .. !!!!!!" (Also Read | Mumbai Police to take action against Amitabh Bachchan for riding bike without helmet) Amitabh Bachchan talked about his recent picture on a bike.

He added, "The fact of the matter is that this is on location shoot on the street of Mumbai ..It is Sunday .. formal permission taken for shoot at a lane in Ballard Estate .. permission sought for Sunday because all offices are shut and there is no public or traffic. One lane in the region blocked off by Police permission for shoot .. the lane barely 30-40 meters .. The dress I wear is my costume for the film ..Aand .. I am just fooling around by getting on the bike, of a crew member .. not even moving any where, but giving the impression that I travelled to save time .. (laughing emoji)."

"But yes I would do it if there was a problem of punctuality .. and wear helmet and follow all the rules and regulations of the traffic guide lines .. I am not the only one that does this .. had seen Akshay Kumar do this to get to location on time .. wore helmet etc., on the bike of his Security person .. no one could recognise .. and it was rapid and efficient .. and it worked well ..," he also said.

Amitabh posted a photo on a bike with a stranger.

Amitabh concluded, "Thank you all for your concern and your care and love and your spanking me and trolling .. !!! Ef .. delays again .. uff this is getting out of hand .. but had some very important meets and they took time ..so retired early .. but here I am and off again to work .. shall try not to delay the Blog ..And sorry, people, for causing concern and giving any wrong concept of breaking traffic rules .. I did not .. love all of you."

On Sunday, Amitabh posted a photo on a bike with a stranger. He wrote, "Thank you for the ride buddy .. don't 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," he captioned the post. In the picture, neither Amitabh nor the rider wore helmets.

After these photos emerged on social media, a section of the people reached out to Mumbai Police making them to take action. Responding to some of them, the Mumbai Police tweeted, "We have shared this with traffic branch."

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Esha Gupta walked the red carpet of the 76th edition of the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday. She is attending the film festival as part of the Indian government delegation and participated in the opening ceremony and the premiere of the opening film-Jeanne Du Barry, which is Johnny Depp's comeback movie. Esha Gupta makes her debut at the Cannes Film Festival.

She made her debut in a white gown with a thigh-high slit. The dress was highlighted with a collar and delicate lace flowers on the neck.

She also shared her look in her Instagram Story.

Recently, Esha took to Instagram and shared pictures confirming that she had reached French Riviera. She looked beautiful in a bodycon dress featuring a thigh-high slit. She wrote, 'Cannes'.

Sara Ali Khan, Anushka Sharma and Manushi Chillar are also making their Cannes debut this year.

Anushka recently met the France ambassador to India Emmanuel Lenin with her husband Virat Kohli at the French Embassy in New Delhi. The ambassador captioned his social media post with a hint of Sharma's trip to the festival which will take place in the fashion capital of the world."A pleasure meeting @imVkohli and @AnushkaSharma! I wished Virat & #TeamIndia all the best for the upcoming tournaments, and discussed Anushka's trip to #CannesFilmFestival," Emmanuel tweeted.

Content creator Dolly Singh will also be seen at the Cannes Film Festival this year."The Cannes Film Festival has been an important platform for Indian artists to showcase their talent on the international stage. Over the years Indian talent has not only brought Indian cinema to the world stage but has also helped to break down cultural barriers and promote cross-cultural exchange. Today I am honoured to be contributing in my own unique way to this exchange and making my debut this year at the festival. From making candles in the small town of Nainital to walking the red carpet at Cannes, I'm truly grateful and excited for this opportunity. This was a long-standing dream and I've finally ticked an important milestone off my bucket list," she shared.

The 76th edition of the Cannes Film Festival will take place on May 16 to May 27, 2023.

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Filmmaker Guneet Monga has said that her first trip to the Oscars happened because former president Pratibha Patel helped her when her short film, Kavi, bagged an Oscar nomination in 2010. She was speaking at The Kapil Sharma Show where she made an appearance alongside Bollywood actor Raveena Tandon and author-philanthropist Sudha Murty. Guneet bagged the Oscar earlier this year for her production - The Elephant Whisperers - the documentary short directed by Kartiki Gonsalves. (Also read: Guneet Monga revisits school with Shaunak Sen: Two alumni made it to the Oscars) Filmmaker Guneet Monga won an Oscar this year for her film The Elephant Whisperer.

Asked about the letter she wrote to the former president, Guneet said she left Delhi after her parents' death and came to Mumbai to make films. "I had no money and I used to live in PG. I wanted a visa and funds so I used to write emails to all the influential people. I used to send emails to people like Richard Branson, Ratan Tata, Airline companies and so on. So once I wrote a mail to honorable Mrs. Pratibha Patil and I got a reply from her. The assistant called and asking what I wanted to do so I said, I am the pride of India, I wanted to take it to Oscars. I would love to show you the film with my cast and crew. I could not have asked for funds and tickets. She obliged us to hold a screening at the Rashtrapati Bhavan."

She added, I went there with the whole cast and crew of Kavi, Pratibhaji couldnt see the film as she was busy with the budget. But Prithviraj Chauhan ji was there and he heard me out and helped me with the visas, tickets, stay, and everything. When we reached the US, the first thing I did was I went to an Indian restaurant in Beverly Hills and spoke to an Indian lady about my film being nominated in the Oscars, which helped us get our travel in place."

Guneet also talked about how she learned to take no, and still go on. "At the age of 18, my father wanted me to become an insurance agent. His idea was that his friends would buy insurance from me, and that would fix a certain income for me, each time they renew their insurance. For that, I did a course where we learned that many people will say no but we have to keep going."

Apart from Kavi, and The Elephant Whisperers, Guneet was also an executive producer on the Oscar-award-winning 2019 film Period. End of Sentence.

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Actor Kangana Ranaut hailed Twitter CEO Elon Musk after he responded to a tweet praising Indian food. Taking to Twitter, a person shared a picture of his meal. Naan (a type of bread), rice and a curry were seen on his plate. Beverage glasses and bowls were also placed next to the plate on a table. (Also Read | Kangana Ranaut slams Mark Zuckerberg for 'copying' Twitter CEO Elon Musk) Kangana Ranaut has been supporting Elon Musk.

Sharing the photo, the Twitter user, by the name Daniel, captioned the post, "I love basic b**** Indian food its so insanely good." Reacting to it, Elon Musk wrote, "True." Kangana responded and said, "How many more reasons will you give us to like you more and more (slightly smiling face and hugging face emojis)."

Taking to the comments section of the post, a fan wrote, "Wish for more, we want to see @elonmusk grooving to desi beats." Another person said, "Tesla agrees to manufacture locally and sell their electric cars in India soon! This can be one more reason to like Elon."

A person shared a picture of his meal.

Kangana Ranaut hailed Elon Musk.

Kangana often talks about Elon on her social media pages. Last year, Kangana Ranaut hailed Elon after he took charge of Twitter. She had shared a screenshot of a news article whose headline read, 'Elon Musk takes charge of Twitter, fires CEO Parag Agrawal, other top executives: Report'. Sharing it on her Instagram Stories, Kangana posted clapping hand emojis.

She had also defended Elons response to Kanye West's tweet. She had shared on Instagram a post by Vanity Fair about an article, the headline of which read Get ready for Elon Musk to turn Twitter into a right-wing cesspool. She wrote, "Elon is wokes new target. They cant stand anyone, who can think for him or herself, basically, who is self-made, fiery, intelligent and above all sane To get wokes sympathy one has to be dimwit, powerless and incompetent liberals/ wokes have such role models they have started massive hate campaign against Elon."

Fans will see Kangana in Chandramukhi 2, helmed by P Vasu. She will also be seen in Tejas in which she will be seen portraying the role of an Indian Air Force pilot. She also has the upcoming period drama film Emergency, her first solo directorial film. In the upcoming months, the audience will also see Kangana in Manikarnika Returns: The Legend of Didda, and The Incarnation: Sita.

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The paparaazi finally have an answer from Parineeti Chopra who was continuously asked shaadi kab hai (when is the wedding) upon her numerous outings with Raghav Chadha or during her solo appearance at the airport. Parineeti has hinted that she is set to get married to Raghav soon as she reacted to cousin Priyanka Chopra's post in which the latter wished her on her engagement. Priyanka had flown from London to attend Parineeti's engagement ceremony at Kapurthala House in Delhi on May 13. Also read: 'Parineeti Chopra is moony-eyed around Raghav Chadha, he is so indulgent with her,' says their engagement party planner Parineeti Chopra has hinted about her upcoming wedding with Raghav Chadha in response to Priyanka Chopra's post.

Sharing pictures of the couple from the ceremony, Priyanka also congratulated them on Instagram. She wrote, Congratulations Tisha and Raghav... Cannot wait for the wedding! So happy for you both and the families so fun to catch up with the fam!

Parineeti responded to her post on Tuesday morning. She wrote, Mimi didii - bridesmaids duties coming upppp! with a laughing emoji and hearts emoticons.

Parineeti Chopra has commented on Priyanka Chopra's post.

While the couple wore traditional white ensembles for the ceremony, Priyanka was one of the high-profile guests in a neon yellow ruffled saree. She also had a reunion with the paternal side of her family at the event.

Parineeti's brothers and parents were also a part of the ceremony. After it was over, her brother Shivang Chopra wrote on Instagram, "We saw love! We felt love! Waheguru." Sahaj Chopra wrote, "You found your love language."

Their mother Reena Chopra also showered love on the couple on Instagram. She wrote along with the couple's pics, There are reasons in your life that make you believe all over again and all the time that there is a God up there. This is one of them ....#trulyblessed #thankyougod. I wish to thank all of you who have reached out and poured your blessings and wishes for them."

Parineeti's engagement was a star-studded affair with several politicians including Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann, former finance minister P Chidambaram and Shiv Sena leader Aditya Thackeray in attendance.

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Shehnaaz Gill is vacationing in Thailand and has been sharing glimpses from her fun holiday. On Tuesday, she took to Instagram to share a few pictures of herself in a short red dress as she posed on the beach under the morning sun, with the blue sea in the backdrop. Also read: Shehnaaz Gill travels to Thailand, starts her trip with 'pet puja'. See pic as she feasts on pizza and wraps Shehnaaz Gill during her vacation in Phuket.

Sharing the pictures aroun 10 am, she wrote, Its TAN o clock . . . along with a waves and sun emoji. She is seen posing in style on the beach in first two pictures while the third one is a candid shot of her smiling on a beach chair.

Her fans loved her fresh pictures and reacted to her post in the comments section. One of her fanpages wrote, #shehnaazgill hott >>>>>>Cool idhar badi garmi hai udher tum tapman badharhi ho but dekh ke feeling Cool (its very hot in here and there, you are raising temperatures, but I am feeling cool on seeing your pics). A fan also wrote, What a morning! One more person commented, looking damn hot. An Instagram user also called her red hot.

On Monday, she also shared pictures with a baby she met in Thailand. Sharing pictures with him, she wrote, Pure soul.

Shehnaaz recently made her Bollywood debut with Farhad Samji's Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan, alongside Salman Khan. The film also starred Pooja Hegde, Ventakesh Daggubati, Bhumika Chawla, Palak Tiwari and many others.

She also collaborated with Guru Randhawa for the song Moon Rise. She will next be seen in 100%, a film by Sajid Khan. John Abraham, Riteish Deshmukh and Nora Fatehi are also part of the family entertainer.

In an interview last month, Shehnaaz said that she has brought about a massive change in her look. She said, I changed myself, worked on myself. When people gave me good advice, I followed it and improved. I lost weight as I would hear a lot of comments on 'Bigg Boss' about being fat and was body-shamed... Then I changed my style as people would think I could only wear salwar-suit. I broke all these preconceived notions and would continue to do so moving forward."

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Urvashi Rautela is off to France for the Cannes Film Festival which kickstarts on Tuesday. The actor was spotted at the Mumbai airport Monday night as she arrived to catch her flight. She was in a short latex red dress with matching boots and a bag. She also had a check shirt tied around her waist. She will attend the photocall for the Parveen Babi biopic which has her as the lead. Also read: Internet reacts to Mallika Sherawat's 'iconic' Cannes Film Festival looks over the years: She was way ahead of her time Urvashi Rautela at Mumbai airport on Monday. (Viral Bhayani)

A paparazzo account on Instagram shared a video of Urvashi Rautela from the airport. She was seen walking towards the entry gate in style and paused for a moment to pose for the paparazzi.

Confirming her Cannes appearance, Urvashi said in a statement, Yes, youve heard right. Ive officially signed and will be leading Parveen Babi biopic as an actress. Im truly grateful to Cannes film festival as it is one of the most prestigious film festival in the world and significant career milestone.

Urvashi made her Cannes debut last year as she walked the red carpet in a ruffled white gown. She walked for the second time in a black gown as she attended the screening of Forever Young at the festival. She also pinned her post about her Cannes debut on Instagram. It shows Urvashi posing on the red carpet in white and is captioned: Cannes Film Festival Day 1. Snow white lewk #love #UrvashiRautela #Cannes #CannesFilmFestival.

On Monday, the trailer of Urvashi's upcoming web series, titled Inspector Avinash, was also unveiled. Helmed by Neerraj Pathak, the show stars Randeep Hooda as a police inspector along with Urvashi, Amit Sial, Abhimanyu Singh, Shalin Bhanot, Freddy Daruwala, Rahul Mittra, and Adhyayan Suman in pivotal roles. It will stream on the OTT platform Jio Cinema from May 18.

Inspector Avinash is set in the 90s in Uttar Pradesh and revolves around a world plagued by rampant crime and corruption. With the mafia and illegal arms trade reigning supreme, a brave and exceptional cop, Avinash Mishra, with his team, battle to curb the growing mafia dominance. As he fights for a crime-free state, with an unmatched network of informants called Mayajaal, the show vividly portrays the gruelling and intense scenes of how Mishra fought gangsters and the sacrifices and risks involved in fighting for justice in a corrupt system.

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Before he got married to actor Katrina Kaif, Vicky Kaushal had revealed a beautiful tip that Abhishek Bachchan had shared with him. The actor, who turns 35 on May 16, revealed the useful marriage advice in an old interview. Vicky married Katrina on December 9, 2021 in a private but traditional ceremony in Rajasthan. The couple, who is yet to appear in a film together, celebrated their first anniversary last year with special posts highlighting their dedication to one another. (Also read: When Aishwarya Rai revealed she had fights with Abhishek Bachchan every day: 'Women don't make up') Abhishek Bachchan had once given advice to Vicky Kaushal on marriage.

Recently, at a trailer launch event for his upcoming film, Zara Hatke Zara Bach Ke, with Sara Ali Khan, Vicky was asked if he will consider remarrying someone better than Katrina. The actor burst out laughing with his co-star and joked that he was going to get in trouble at home. Later, he stated he won't leave Katrina even in his next birth.

In a 2018 interview with Brides Today, the actor was asked about any advice he would give to men who were about to be married. Vicky had said, "I got a beautiful tip from Abhishek Bachchan that 'When you get married, say sorry before you go to bed and the first thing right after you wake up. You will be really happy'." In the same interview, the actor had shared that he planned to settle down soon after he turned 30.

Back in 2010, Abhishek had explained that he and his wife, actor Aishwarya Rai, don't go to bed angry. During an interview with Vogue India, the actor had shared that he is the first to make up between the couple. He had also said that he and Aishwarya had disagreements every day, which they resolved eventually.

Vicky's last film was on Disney+ Hotstar; he starred in Govinda Naam Mera (2022) opposite Kiara Advani and Bhumi Pednekar. In February, he appeared in Anurag Kashyap's Almost Pyaar with DJ Mohabbat as the elusive DJ in the young romance film. He also has Meghna Gulzar's Sam Bahadur, Laxman Utekar's Zara Hatke Zara Bach Ke and an untitled project with Anand Tiwari for Prime Video lined up for release this year.

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Brie Larson was asked whether or not she will be watching the opening film of the 76th Cannes Film Festival starring Johnny Depp named Jeanne du Barry. At the opening press meet at the festival, the actor responded to a question asked by the press about Johnny's film, following his highly publicized legal battles with ex-wife Amber Heard. (Also read: Cannes Film Festival chief on Johnny Depp controversy: If he was banned, we wouldn't be talking about it') Brie Larson responded to a question about Johnny Depp's opening night film during the press conference at the Cannes Film Festival.

Brie is serving as one of the jury members at the 76th edition of the Cannes Film Festival. The festival opens with the premiere of Johnny Depp's film, Jeanne du Barry directed by Maiwenn, where he plays French king Louis XV. The film marks the first film of Johnny Depp after his high-profile trial with his ex-wife Amber Heard. Both parties accused each other of physical and verbal abuse.

Now, as per a report by Variety, jury member and actor Brie was asked at the press conference whether she would be attending the world premiere of the film. Technically, since the film is not playing in competition so she is not inclined to watch it. When asked about it at the press conference, Brie said, Youre asking me that? Im sorry, I dont understand the correlation or why me specifically. As the question was pressed, she concluded by saying, "Youll see, I guess, if I will see it. And I dont know how Ill feel about it if I do.

The inclusion of the historical drama as the opening film of the festival drew flak. This is not the first time that questions were raised directly regarding the film by the press. Just a day ago, Cannes Film Festivals chief Thierry Fremaux responded to the controversy and said, I dont know about the image of Johnny Depp in the U.S. To tell you the truth, in my life, I only have one rule, its the freedom of thinking, and the freedom of speech and acting within a legal framework... If Johnny Depp had been banned from acting in a film, or the film was banned we wouldnt be here talking about it. So we saw Maiwenns film and it could have been in competition. She would have been the eighth female director. This [controversy] came up once the film was announced at Cannes because everybody knew Johnny had made a film in FranceI dont know why she chose him but its a question you should ask Maiwenn.

The Cannes Film Festival will take place from May 16 to 27. Swedish filmmaker Ruben Ostlund is serving as the President of the Jury this year.

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The legendary British director, Ken Loach, will take his last film, The Old Oak, to the Cannes Film Festival, which begins on May 16. At 86, he is more or less sure that this will be his swan song. With a fading eye sight and short-term memory, maybe this is it. But one never knows, how passion plays out, and for men like Loach, cinema is much more than mere passion. Also read: Cannes Film Festival to honour Michael Douglas with honorary Palme d'Or The Old Oak will be screened at Cannes 2023.

The Old Oak unfolds during the June 2022 railway workers strike, and refugees from Ukraine are pouring into Britain. They are crossing the English Channel, despite the warning from the UK administration that they would be deported to Rwanda. Loach and his old associates writer Paul Laverty and producer Rebecca O'Brien have been bang on with the time.

The plot is layered and centres on a mining town where pits have been in disuse for a long time. Shops are closed, there is no money, but there is a pub, Old Oak, run by a man who was once a miner. He is Ballantyne, essayed by Dave Turner. Even this is tottering, but somehow manages to stay open, thanks to some regulars  disgruntled men.

It is into this deserted, almost ghostly town that a group of+ Syrian refugees lands. Part of this group is a young woman, Yara (portrayed by Syrian actress Ebla Mari); she is confident, as confident as how her pictures that she shoots with her camera will come out. She likes to record what her eyes observe. The locals are not very pleased with this. The feel that the refugees have been dumped on them.

If the pub is serving its last orders, Loach is on to his last movie. The parallel is unmistakable. Sad though, for what a brilliant auteur he has been.

Interestingly, a career in cinema was not Loach's early idea. He recently told Variety: I quite fancied the law, having no lawyer friends or relatives, but having read the biographies of the Edwardian barristers and advocates Marshall Hall and Norman Birkett, and thought ah, thats the life for me. I got into university, [St Peters College, Oxford] and even started eating dinners at Grays Inn in order to take the bar exams and qualify, but then thought this is not for me. I got hooked on plays and just carried that on.

Indeed, many of his films are theatrical. Works like Hidden Agenda (1990) tackling the political upheaval in Ireland, Land and Freedom (1995) about the Republican resistance during the Spanish Civil War and Carla's Song (1996), set in Nicaragua are classic examples.

In 2006, Loach won the Palm d'Or for The Wind That Shakes The Barley. A haunting film about the Irish Civil War, and he gave us brilliant characterisations. Later, he helmed Bread and Roses (2000) about the janitors' strike in New York.  We want bread, but we also want roses, the protestors shouted. His 2010 Route Irish was set during the Iraq occupation.

Most of his movies were deeply political, but he did dabble in personal relationships, like in Ae Fond Kiss. His 1998 My Name Is Joe explores man's struggle to stay sober.

The Old Oak is the third in a series of movies made by Loach in the north-east, following I, Daniel Blake (2016) and Sorry We Missed You (2019). There was a sense of completing a little sequence of films because the first two had been so tragic in a way  tragic is perhaps too grand a word  but we had seen really bad things happen in the benefits system and the gig economy and the new area of exploitation. One of the poorest areas in the country accepting more than its fair share of Syrian refugees crystallised so much, Loach added.

The question now is, will Loach win the Palm d'Or this time?
The image of Paris Hilton donning a shirt with the audacious statement "Stop Being Poor" has been a cultural reference for years. It seemed to encapsulate the extravagant and opulent spirit of the early 2000s, with Hilton, the epitome of a wealthy heiress and socialite, seemingly telling the world to leave poverty behind. But as it turns out, the infamous fashion moment never actually happened. Paris Hilton attends the Chanel Cruise 2023/2024 Fashion Show.(Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

In a recent Instagram Reels video, Hilton took it upon herself to debunk the myth surrounding the viral image. With her signature flair, complete with a crown emoji, she captioned the video, "Debunking the #STOPBEINGPOOR myth.  Don't believe everything you read.  #Iconic " In the clip, Hilton sets the record straight, stating, "I never wore that shirt. This was completely photoshopped. Everyone thinks this is real." She then proceeds to reveal a genuine picture of herself and her sister Nicky, where the shirt actually reads, "Stop Being Desperate." It turns out that the design was part of Nicky's clothing line, Chick, launched back in 2005.

Hilton's revelation comes amidst her efforts to reclaim her public image in recent months. In September 2020, she courageously released the raw documentary "This Is Paris," shedding light on the abuse she endured during her time at a boarding school for troubled teens. The documentary delves into the issues of behavior and mental health that have shaped her life. Following in the footsteps of celebrities like Emily Ratajkowski, Hilton is taking back control over the media narratives surrounding her.

In late April, Ratajkowski made headlines by listing an NFT (non-fungible token) version of a photograph of herself at Christie's auction house. The photograph had previously been appropriated and sold by artist Richard Prince for a staggering $90,000. Ratajkowski's move was a symbolic act of reclaiming her own image and giving a voice to a situation in which she had previously lacked control.

On a lighter note, if you were one of the many who believed the "Stop Being Poor" shirt was real, don't be too hard on yourself. Given Hilton's history of wearing bold and brazen statements on her clothing, it was entirely believable. Who could forget her iconic pink shirt with "That's Hot" emblazoned on the front and "You're Not" on the back? Hilton has always been synonymous with extreme fashion choices of the 2000s, from midriff-baring outfits to slinky ensembles. And let's not forget her enduring love for Juicy tracksuits, a look that remains unquestionably iconic.

Also read | Meme alert! The real story behind Jason Derulo's epic Met Gala tumble revealed

While the "Stop Being Poor" shirt may have been a fabrication, it serves as a reminder of the influence and impact of viral moments in shaping public perception. Hilton's revelation showcases the power of celebrities to challenge and correct false narratives, as they take control of their own stories in an era defined by media scrutiny and manipulation.
Actor Aishwarya Rajesh, who was recently seen in Tamil coming-of-age thriller Farhana, said in a promotional interview that she wouldve been better as Srivalli than Rashmika Mandanna in Allu Arjuns Pushpa. She said if she was offered the opportunity to play the character of Srivalli, she wouldve jumped at it. Also read: Soppana Sundari movie review: Aishwarya Rajesh film never takes itself too seriously, unlike most crime comedies Aishwarya Rajesh has said she would have loved to play Srivalli in Pushpa.

In Nelson Venkatesan directed Farhana, Aishwarya plays a young mother from an orthodox Muslim family who takes up a job at a call center and how her life changes over a series of calls.

In a promotional interview, Aishwarya spoke about her brief stint in Telugu cinema. Having predominantly worked in Tamil films, she has starred in a lone Telugu film, World Famous Lover, co-starring Vijay Deverakonda. I like the Telugu industry but I want to do a good Telugu film like a comeback, which will make my family proud because of my roots. I starred in World Famous Lover opposite Vijay Deverakonda but it didn't work out as expected," she was quoted in a report by India Today.

She further added that if she had the opportunity to work in a film like Pushpa, she wouldve suited Rashmika Mandanna's character Srivalli more than her. In case I were given the opportunity, I would have jumped at it. Rashmika played Srivalli well but I feel and believe I would suit the character better," she said.

Aishwarya rose to fame after she worked in the award-winning Tamil film, Kaaka Muttai. Since then, she has worked in several Tamil movies such as Boomika, Driver Jamuna, The Great Indian Kitchen, Soppana Sundari and Run Baby Run among others. She also worked in the Hindi film, Daddy, co-starring Arjun Rampal.

In Farhana, she plays the central character and the story follows her character who is forced to take up a job in a call centre after her family struggles to make ends meet. The film also stars Jithan Ramesh, Aishwarya Dutta and Selvaraghavan in key roles. Farhana has been produced by Dream Warrior Pictures, popular for bankrolling films such as Kaithi, Monster and Theeran: Adhigaram Ondru.

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Actor Akhil Akkineni took to Twitter to share a heartfelt note on the box-office failure of his latest Telugu release Agent. The film turned out to be a disaster. In his note, Akhil admitted that they could not deliver a good film for the audiences, despite trying their level best. In his note, Akhil also wrote that he will come back stronger. (Also Read | Agent producer Anil Sunkara apologises for failure of film) A still from Akhil Akkineni's Agent's teaser.

Akhil's statement read, To my dearest fans and all my well-wishers. I want to sincerely thank the cast and crew of Agent who dedicated their lives to see our film come to life. While we tried our level best, the film unfortunately didn't translate the way we wished it would on the screen and we could not deliver a good film for you."

He further added, "A special thanks to my producer Anil garu who was my biggest support system. Thank you to all the distributors who believed in our film and also the media who supported us immensely. The love and energy you all give me is the reason I work and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for that. I will come back stronger for all those who believe in me. Yours faithfully Akhil Akkineni."

A day after the films release, Akhils mother Amala Akkineni took to her Instagram and reacted to people who rejected her sons film. She wrote, I understand that trolling comes from a deeper insecurity and need for achievement. I watched Agent yesterday and honestly enjoyed the film. While it has its flaws, if you watch it with an open mind, you will be amazed . The hall I watched it at was packed, half of the audience were ladies, mothers and grandmothers along with their husbands and sons! . There were screams when the action happened. And I am sure the next one will be bigger and better.

Directed by Surender Reddy, Agent is a spy thriller which also starred Malayalam actor Mammootty and Dino Morea in key roles. The film opened to disastrous reports on release day. Globally, it collected just Rs. 7 crore on the first day. Recently, the films producer Anil Sunkara took to Twitter to share a note on the failure of the film.

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Afghan ambassador to India Farid Mamundzay on Tuesday strongly rejected the claims of Taliban appointing the Charge d'Affaires to replace him as the envoy in India and said that he was being appointed by a legitimately elected government and has the legitimacy to serve in India. Afghan ambassador to India Farid Mamundzay. (File)

Read here: Tussle over leadership of Afghan mission in New Delhi

While speaking to news agency ANI, he said, "We categorically rejected the claims from the Taliban that they have appointed the Charge d'Affaires at the mission in India. I represent a republic or a government which no longer exists, but I was appointed by a legitimately elected government. I do have that legitimacy serving in this mission".

Claiming of being Afghanistan's legitimate representative and an accredited diplomat in India, he said that he has shared his concerns with the Indian government and look forward to their response over the matter.

The Afghanistan embassy in India on Monday said there is no change in its leadership following the claims that the Taliban have appointed a charge d'affaires to head the mission replacing incumbent Mamundzay.

Mamundzay was appointed by the Afghanistan's then Ashraf Ghani government and has been working as the envoy even after the Taliban acceded Afghanistan in August 2021.

"There has been an individual working at the embassy who defected to the Taliban and pledged allegiance to the Taliban. This incident has been weighing on since the last three weeks while I was travelling outside India and as soon as I get to know, I returned back to the mission", the Afghan envoy told ANI.

Mamundzay also alleged that Taliban carries out such acts to make wider contacts within the international community. "Taliban carries no legitimacy. No government has recognised their regime. The motive behind taking over the mission in such a way is to increase their contacts with the wider international community", he said.

Read here: Afghanistan embassy rejects reports of Taliban appointing new Charge d'Affaires in Delhi

"Taliban feel internationally alienated and isolated from the world. They need to form an inclusive government and begin to respect the rule of law, extend the required services and liberty to the people, especially women", he added.

India has not recognised the Taliban rule yet and has been urging for the formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan.

(With inputs from ANI)
Here are todays top news, analysis, and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Similar incidents have been reported from the national Capital this year on April 12, 26 and May 11 respectively. (File Image)

Delhi school receives bomb threat, police calls it hoax; 4th incident this year

The threat, which came via an email, was a hoax as nothing suspicious was found during the search operation of the school, police said. Read more

Guneet Monga recalls how former President Pratibha Patil once helped her

Filmmaker Guneet Monga has said that her first trip to the Oscars happened because former president Pratibha Patel helped her when her short film, Kavi, bagged an Oscar nomination in 2010. Read more

Virat Kohli's cracking reaction to Shubman Gill's maiden IPL century: 'Go on and lead...'

The Gujarat Titans became the first to seal a spot for themselves in the playoffs of the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) in style, beating the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by 34 runs. Read more

After Besharam Rang, influencer recreates Madhuri Dixit, Karisma Kapoors The Dance Of Envy

After setting social media ablaze with her dance moves to Deepika Padukone and Shah Rukh Khans Besharam Rang from the film Pathaan, influencer Tanvi Geetha Ravishankar is back with another dance video. Read more

Megan Fox opens up about struggling with body dysmorphia: 'Never a point in my life where I loved my body'

Megan Fox has opened up about her struggles with body dysmorphia in a new interview. The star said there was never a point in her life where she loved her body. Read more

Photoshoot tips for beginners

Here are some photoshoot tips for beginners.

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According to reports, Amazon has laid off around 500 employees in India, with their termination coming as part of the 9,000 global job cuts announced by CEO Andy Jassy in March. The tech giant, however, is yet to confirm the layoffs. (Reuters File Photo)

The India layoffs have been carried out across verticals such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Human Resources (HR), reports said citing people familiar with developments.

The Seattle-based tech giant, however, is yet to confirm these layoffs.

Amazon Digital Kendras shut down

As per a Moneycontrol report, the Jeff Bezos-founded company has, as part of its restructuring in India, also shut down Amazon Digital Kendras, a seller support function of its e-commerce business in the country. As a result, employees working in that division have either been released, or reassigned to a separate department within the organisation.

Additionally, it has pulled the plug on some of its seller onboarding functions in tier-2 cities like Kochi and Lucknow.

There is, however, a possibility of the Digital Kendras being revamped and reopened in the near future.

Second round of layoffs

This is, meanwhile, the second round of layoffs that have taken place at Amazon in recent months. In November last year, it announced its intention to release 18,000 employees, its largest workforce reduction. The layoffs began in January, including in India, where around 1,000 people were handed pink slips.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to inaugurate the new Parliament building, which is at the heart of Lutyens in Delhi, soon. It has been constructed as part of the Central Vista Redevelopment Project. The new Parliament building will be inaugurated end of the month, which is around the time the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will complete nine years in power, people familiar with the matter said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inspected the construction of new parliament complex. (File)

Over a month ago, Prime Minister Modi went on a surprise visit to the building. With Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla, Modi spent over an hour at the upcoming complex and inspected various works. The prime minister observed the faculties coming up at both Houses of Parliament and interacted with the construction workers and the officials, sources added.

The PM laid the foundation stone of the new Parliament building in 2020. In September 2021, he visited the site of the new complex and interacted with the workers present there.

As he laid the foundation stone, Modi said, The need was felt for a new Parliament building for years. 21st century India needs a new Parliament complex. The old building fulfilled the needs of the country, the new Parliament building will fulfil the countrys aspirations.

The new Parliament building complex is 64,500 square metre and is a part of the Central Vista project worth 20,000 crore. The cost of the Parliament building project has been estimated at 971 crore. The building will be earthquake resistant and would involve 2,000 workers directly and 9,000 indirectly. The new parliament building will be having a capacity to house around 1,200 MPs.

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West Bengal BJP president and party MP Sukanta Majumdar has written a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah requesting an NIA probe into the bomb blast incident that happened in West Bengal's Egra. In the letter addressed to the home minister Majumdar wrote, I am writing to bring to your attention the recent horrific bomb blast incident that occurred in Egra block of East Medinipur, West Bengal, and to respectfully request a thorough investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to uncover the truth behind this devastating incident. West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar(ANI)

According to the available information, a bomb-making factory in Khadikul village of Sahara Gram panchayat area in Egra was involved in the tragic explosion. The blast resulted in the unfortunate loss of three lives, and four individuals sustained serious injuries, she wrote and added further, The gravity of the situation is further exacerbated by reports suggesting the presence of numerous illegal firecracker manufacturing factories in the vicinity the blast raises concerns about the safety and security of the area's residents and the potential threat posed by such illegal activities.

Considering the sensitivity and complexity of the case I earnestly request your kind intervention to direct the NIA to undertake a comprehensive investigation into the Egra bomb blast, Majumdar said.

Tweeting about the incident, Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari said, "This is the IC of Egra; Mr. Mousam Chakraborty. He is the one to be blamed for today's horrific incident. The Mamata Police cadre was on the payroll of the perpetrator Krishnapada Bag.

Mamata Police personnel Surajit Sinha & Biswajit Maity acted as emissary between the two. They collected Rs. 50,000/- every month from the perpetrator in exchange for the 'licence' & immunity for carrying out illegal activities such as stocking up explosives.

Also look how the Regional Tola-Mool Party workers are shifting the dead bodies."

According to the latest figures, the bomb blast that took place at Egra in West Bengal's East Medinipur district took the lives of at least seven people. The police authorities of the village are currently involved in rescue operations.
The impasse in the Congress over the selection of the next chief minister of Karnataka spawned a litany of demands Tuesday - a surprise third contender throwing his hat in the ring, regional leaders hopeful of taking advantage of the stalemate, multiple claimants jostling to take the deputy chief minister's position, and even influential community bodies trying to push their own men, trying to take advantage of the delay. Ex-Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar during celebrations after the party's win in the 2023 Karnataka Assembly election, in Bengaluru on Saturday, May 13, 2023. (PTI Photo/Shailendra Bhojak)

On Tuesday, the loudest claim came from former deputy chief minister G Parameshwara, who said that he too could gather '50 MLAs and go to Delhi', but was abstaining because he had principles. "If the high command gives me the responsibility, I am ready to take it. I have belief in our leadership."

READ | DK Shivakumar's 'will not backstab' message amid CM suspense

Who is G Parameshwara?

Parameshwara is a Dalit leader who was the longest-serving state unit president - between 2010 and 2018 - and has been considered for this post before. In 2013, when the Congress won a majority, he was one of the front-runners but lost out to Siddaramaiah.

He lost his traditional Korategere seat to the Janata Dal Seculars PR Sudhakara Lal - his only loss since 2008 - was elected to the upper house and made a minister. "The high command knows my contributions, I worked as KPCC president for eight years and brought the party to power, and I have worked as the deputy CM. That I am not lobbying that does not mean I am not capable."

FULL COVERAGE | 2023 Karnataka Assembly election

Another CM demand

Meanwhile, from Mumbai Karnataka -- a region where the Congress won 33 of 50 seats, breaching what was once a Bharatiya Janata Party fortress -- two demands came rolled into one.

Belagavi North lawmaker Asif Sait pitched state Congress working president Satish Jarkiholi, one of the sugar baron Jarkiholi brothers; the other two - Ramesh and Balchandra - are BJP legislators. He also had a name for his deputy.

"In north Karnataka, Satish Jarkiholi is our leader and should be given the post. The deputy chief minister post should be given to senior leader Zameer Ahmad Khan. We have written a letter to the Congress high command. If they do not respond, the party will face resistance from the community in the coming days," Sait warned.

Support for Ahmad Khan as deputy CM also spilled out on to the streets in Koppal district's Gangavathi, where local residents organised a protest.

A fifth name

Also, supporters of former state home minister Ramalinga Reddy argued the seven-time MLA was elected to the legislature more often than both Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah, and deserved the deputy CMs post at least.

"When Yediyurappa was chief minister, he made three community members ministers. After him, only one cabinet berth was given, and the BJP has paid for it. Ramalinga Reddy should be made deputy CM and two members of the community should be made ministers," the Karnataka Reddy Jan Sangha demanded.

Lingayats add to chaos

The All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha - which represents a sections of the Lingayats, among the most powerful communities in the state - said it wrote to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, asking for a Lingayat CM.

The body argued the shift in the Lingayats -- Karnatakas largest community with 17% of the population --was key to the Congresss impressive victory. Of the 51 Lingayat candidates fielded by the Congress, 38 won, compared with 18 of the 68 fielded by the BJP.

"The community has also played a major role in electing MLAs in other 50 seats. The community has shifted its loyalty from the BJP to Congress," said the letter.

A senior Congress MLA who is a member of the group said, however, that if the CMs chair was occupied, the community would settle for no less than deputy chief minister. Former senior minister MB Patil is considered the tallest Lingayat leader in the party.

READ | Karnataka conundrum: Rahul Gandhi steps in as DK Shivakumar arrives in Delhi

With the stalemate in Delhi between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar showing little sign of a quick resolution, the delay allows more groups to lobby every day.

A senior leader who served in the 2013 Congress cabinet but requested anonymity said one idea mooted by a section of leaders suggested four deputy CM from each of the four major communities -Lingayat, Vokkaliga, Muslim and Dalit.

But in the Congresss delicate challenge of finding the right balance, this too may present a challenge of its own. "One of the two CM contenders may be offered deputy CM. Creating more such posts may well create further friction," the leader added.

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Bengaluru The incident took place around 1.25pm on the bus on way from Bengaluru to Chikkamagluru, said officials. (Representational image)

A woman conductor of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) on Monday assisted a passenger, who went into labour on a bus, in delivering her baby, said KSRTC officials on Tuesday.

The woman and her baby were later shifted to the community health centre at Shanthigrama and are doing well, said the officials.

The incident took place around 1.25pm on the bus on way from Bengaluru to Chikkamagluru, said officials.

The passenger, 23-year-old Fathima started experiencing labour pains when the bus was near Channarayapatna in Hassan district, said officials, adding that there were no hospitals nearby.

The conductor, S Vasanthamma (52), quickly stepped in, asked the driver to stop the vehicle and tended to the passenger, said the officials of the transport agency.

A passenger told me about the pregnant woman. I asked the driver to stop the bus and told all passengers to get off. The nearest town  Shantigrama  was 10km away. The delivery was a success...said Vasanthamma.

In the meantime, the passengers contacted the ambulance, which arrived in about 15 minutes. The passengers also pooled 1,500 together and gave it to the woman for other medical expenses, said officials, adding that Vasanthamma went to visit the mother and newborn at the health centre.

As per the KSRTC officials, Vasanthamma has over 20 years of experience working as an assistant in the labour ward of Annapurna Nursing Home in Chikkamagaluru. She quit her job at the nursing home to become a conductor at KSRTC, they added.

The timely humanitarian service of the lady conductor in responding to the needs of the pregnant woman and saving the life of a child and the mother is highly appreciable. This exemplary service by the lady conductor is appreciated by G Sathyavathi, the Managing Director of KSRTC, the KSRTC, said in a statement on Monday.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Tuesday that changes brought in by his government in the recruitment system have ended the possibility of corruption and nepotism as he gave away appointment letters to over 71,000 people at a 'Rozgar Mela'. Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually addresses a distribution programme of appointment letters to new recruits at 'Rozgar Mela', in New Delhi, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (PTI)

From applying for government jobs to the announcement of results, the entire process has been made online, he said while elaborating on employment opportunities and infrastructure development ushered by the BJP dispensation at the Centre in the last nine years.

"The possibility of corruption and nepotism in recruitment for government jobs has now ended," Modi said.

He referred to his recent meetings with CEOs of leading global companies, including Walmart, Apple, Foxconn and Cisco, to assert that there is "unprecedented positivity" about industry and investment in the country.

The prime minister cited EPFO net payroll figures to say that over 4.5 crore people have got jobs since 2018-19 as formal employment has been growing.

FDI and the country's record export have been creating employment opportunities in every corner of India, he said, noting that the nature of jobs has also been changing with his government constantly supporting the emerging sectors.

The country has seen a revolution in the start-up sector and their numbers have risen to nearly a lakh from a few hundred before 2014, the year the BJP came to power at the Centre, he said, adding that they are estimated to have provided a minimum 10 lakh jobs.

Citing development figures in the last one year, he said the length of rural roads has risen to 7.25-lakh km from 4-lakh km while the number of airports has gone up from 74 to nearly 150.

Construction of over 4 crore pucca houses under a government housing scheme for the poor has also created a lot of employment opportunities, Modi said.

He also said that the number of universities has grown to 1,100 from around 720 in 2014 while there are now 700 medical colleges against 400 earlier.
The Congress leadership met Karnataka chief ministerial aspirants Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar in New Delhi on Tuesday but both sides refused to cede ground despite hectic negotiations as the party grappled to strike a delicate balance that would satisfy the two stalwarts. Senior Congress leaders Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar. (PTI)

Fresh from its impressive victory in the southern state, the Congress tried to resolve the impasse with a bouquet of options presented to both leaders  this included making Siddaramaiah chief minister and Shivakumar his deputy, with control over a bunch of key portfolios such as finance  but failed to break the deadlock as both men held their ground, people aware of the developments said.

Also read: DK Shivakumar meets Kharge after Rahul Gandhi gives his choice for Karnataka CM

Parleys between the top leadership spilled late into the evening and will continue on Wednesday, when the high command may again meet the two leaders. The party is keen to take both leaders on board before publicly announcing a decision to project a united front and keep the momentum from its biggest election win in nearly five years in the run-up to the 2024 polls.

Shivakumar  the Karnataka state unit chief who initially said on Monday that he will not travel to Delhi before changing his mind late in the evening  landed in the Capital around in the morning on Tuesday. He met party chief Kharge 5.30pmfor nearly an hour. In the evening, around 6.30pm, former chief minister Siddaramaiah also met Kharge for nearly an hour

In the afternoon, around 12.30pm, former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi met Kharge at the latters residence. Party general secretary for organisation, KC Venugopal, and general secretary in charge of Karnataka, Randeep Surjewala, were also present. Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar stayed back in Delhi.

Appointing a chief minister is not an easy thing. It cannot be imposed from Delhi... Everybodys view has to be taken into considerationyoull know the answer in a day or two, said party spokesperson Pawan Khera.

The Congress won its biggest victory in Karnataka since 1989 on Saturday, trouncing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on its way to security 135 seats in the 224-member assembly.

Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were the two main architects of this impressive performance and took care to project a united front on the campaign trail. But since Sunday evening, when the Congress legislature party passed a one-line resolution empowering the high command to pick the next chief minister, their clashing amibitions have spilled out in the open, creating a logjam that the party has found difficult to resolve.

The Congress observers have already asked newly elected legislators who they prefer as chief minister. Their report to the high command mentions that at least 85 lawmakers backed Siddaramaiah, said people aware of developments.

But Shivakumar, the partys southern strongman who is also its chief troubleshooter, appeared in no mood to back down. He told Kharge not to look at the number of members of legislative assembly (MLAs) supporting Siddaramaiah but at his contribution as the state unit chief instead, said the people cited above.

Congress leaders said Shivakumar was offered the deputy chief ministers position with two key ministries of his choice, including the finance ministry. But the 60-year-old rejected the offer and maintained that he should be made CM. These leaders said that Shivakumar told the leadership how he rebuilt the party organisation single-handedly after the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition government collapsed in 2019 following a rebellion.

But the leader was careful in scotching speculation that he would rebel against the party, saying the Congress was like his mother and there was no question of his resigning from the organisation.

We have built this party. No question, he said when asked about reports that he may resign from the party if not given the CMs post. If any channel is reporting that I am resigning from the post, I will file a defamation case against them, he added.

Siddaramaiah, too, made a strong pitch in his meeting with Kharge. He highlighted how he brought together a rainbow coalition of castes, known as Ahinda, that comprised backward groups, Dalits and Muslims, and propelled the Congress to victory. He also pointed out the various achievements of the Congress government that came to power in 2013 (Siddaramaiah was the CM) and the need to send a larger message ahead of the 2024 election, said people aware of developments.

The Congresss dilemma is due to the contrasting but equally powerful political strengths of the two contenders. Siddaramaiah, 76, is the popular face of the party who is not only the tallest Kuruba (OBC) leader but is also known for his welfare outreach, something that helped him resurrect the Congresss Ahinda coalition after nearly five decades.

Also read: Karnataka conundrum: Rahul Gandhi steps in as DK Shivakumar arrives in Delhi

The younger Shivakumar doesnt have as impressive a mass base but is a key organisation and resources man who is also the partys chief troubleshooter, having saved Congress governments and safeguarded legislators in the past. He also hails from the dominant Vokkaliga community, which was key to the partys superlative performance in the southern parts of the state, and has the backing of some influential mutts.

The Congress is keen to avoid a repeat of Madhya Pradesh, where the Congress government collapsed mid-term after winning in the 2018 assembly elections, Rajasthan, where an open rebellion by senior leader Sachin Pilot against chief minister Ashok Gehlot continues to roil the party, or Chhattisgarh, where the rivalling ambitions of chief minister Bhuspesh Baghel and senior leader TS Singh Deo have led to periodic outbursts.

Meanwhile, the prolonged stalemate in Karnataka has sparked other ambitions. A section of the Congress is pushing for a chief minister from the scheduled caste (SC) communities that voted in large numbers for the party. With Mayawati losing much of her partys strength and the death of Ramvilas Pawan, the choice of the CM can send a wider message to the SC community, said a former Rajya Sabha member, requesting anonymity.

The decision, however, is likely to be between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar.

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In an attempt to blunt the attack from the BJP amid continued suspense over Karnataka chief minister post, the Congress on Tuesday said people want to know who will be the leader of the Opposition in the southern state. BJP leaders and former Karnataka chief ministers Basavaraj Bommai and BS Yediyurappa.(ANI / File)

In a tweet, Congress media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said, BJP is very concerned about who will be our Chief Minister in #Karnataka and by when.

People of Karnataka want to know who will be the Leader of Opposition and by what date will the BJP choose the LoP.

The last leader of the opposition from the BJP in the Karnataka legislative assembly was B. S. Yediyurappa, who went on to become the chief minister in 2019 after the coalition government of Congress-JD(S) couldn't survive the defections. Yediyurappa, a prominent Lingayat leader in Karnataka, however, was replaced by Basavaraj Bommai.

It is yet to be seen if Bommai would don the role of the leader of the Opposition or if the responsibility would fall back on Yediyurappa.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar has arrived in Delhi to meet the top party leaders, a day after he cancelled the visit citing health issues. After arriving at Delhi airport, he did not speak to the media and walked away with folded hands parrying a barrage of questions from reporters. Both Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar are front runners for the chief minister's post and both are lobbying for it.

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met party president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday and is reported to have held discussions over government formation in Karnataka. Congress General Secretary Randeep Surjewala, who is in charge of the party's affairs in Karnataka, was also present at the meeting.

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Hyderabad A BRS functionary said the party meeting was primarily aimed at discussing the strategy to be adopted for the ensuing assembly elections in Telangana, in the wake of the resounding victory of the Congress in the latest assembly elections in Karnataka. (ANI)

The victory of the Congress in Karnataka in the just concluded assembly elections has kept the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi in Telangana led by chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on alert.

KCR, as the chief minister is called, called for an emergency meeting of the BRS legislature party and parliamentary party, besides other senior functionaries, at Telangana Bhavan at 2 pm on Wednesday to take stock of the latest political situation in the state and the country, a statement from the party state office said.

A senior BRS functionary said on condition of anonymity that the meeting was primarily aimed at discussing the party strategy to be adopted for the ensuing assembly elections in Telangana, in the wake of the resounding victory of the Congress in the latest assembly elections in Karnataka.

The victory of the Congress in Karnataka is no doubt a welcome sign as it shattered the dreams of the Bharatiya Janata Party to grab power in Telangana, riding on the victory in the neighbouring state. At the same time, it has also sounded a note of caution for us that we cannot take the Congress easy in the state, the BRS leader said.

On record, the BRS leaders are saying that the outcome of the assembly elections in Karnataka will have little impact on Telangana. Just the way The Kerala Story failed to amuse people of Karnataka, similarly Karnataka election results will have no bearing on Telangana, BRS working president and KCRs son K T Rama Rao tweeted, while thanking the people of Karnataka for rejecting ugly and divisive politics of the BJP.

Another senior BRS leader and state legislative council chairman Gutta Sukhender Reddy said the people of Telangana had complete faith in KCRs leadership and would vote the BRS back to power for the third time. They are keenly watching the Karnataka drama. Even after three days of winning the elections, the Congress party has not yet decided the chief minister of the state. How can the party expect to lead the nation? Reddy asked.

However, the BRS leader quoted above said the party would have a close watch on the moves of the Congress in Telangana. Right from the beginning, we have been told that the Congress is our main rival in the state. We cannot underestimate the party, especially after its victory in Karnataka, he said.

At Wednesdays meeting, KCR is expected to alert his party MLAs and other senior leaders to intensify their public outreach campaign so that there is no chance for the Congress to emerge as a threat to the BRS.

The chief minister has announced a major drive to take the governments policies and programmes to the people for 21 days starting from June 2, the Telangana Formation Day. The BRS leaders would be asked to go door to door to explain to the people the achievements of the KCR government for the last nine years, the BRS leader quoted above said.

AICC secretary and former MLA S A Sampath Kumar told reporters on Tuesday that the victory in Karnataka has given a big boost to the party in Telangana. We shall adopt the same strategy of Karnataka and cash in on the anti-incumbency in Telangana to come to power, he said.

Political analyst Sriram Karri said the victory of the Congress in Karnataka will have a high and multi-layered impact on Telangana politics, especially in the form of renewed energy in the state Congress. The BJP in Telangana is facing internal wrangling over state leadership and if there is an exodus of its leaders into the Congress, the narrative will shift towards the Revanth Reddy-led Congress as the primary challenger for the BRS, he said.

The BRS is in a strong position but will feel the pressure of any resurgence in Congress, which has deep-rooted organisational strength, the narrative and strong leader. The Congress, however, needs to create a potentially winning campaign to touch the tape. The ruling BRS party might also reduce its focus on national politics for a while and shift its gaze towards state affairs, Karri said.
Kharge likely to announce next Karnataka CM tomorrow in Bengaluru: Report Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is expected to announce the name of the next Karnataka chief minister on Wednesday in Bengaluru, news agency ANI reported quoting people familiar with the development. Read More Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge interacts with senior party leader Siddaramaiah.(PTI)

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Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar, one of the two contenders, is scheduled to arrive in Delhi later on Tuesday, ahead of an expected announcement by the party. Before taking a flight to Delhi, Shivakumar told reporters that he was asked by the Congress general secretary to visit the national capital alone. Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar speaks to the media on his Delhi visit in Bengaluru on Monday. (ANI)

The Congress party general secretary has instructed me to come alone, I am going to Delhi alone. My health is good," Shivakumar told reporters outside his residence before leaving for the airport.

He was scheduled to leave for the national capital on Monday evening but cancelled the travel plans citing a stomach infection.

On being asked about the chief ministerial post, the Karnataka Congress leader said, Ours is a united house, our number is 135. I don't want to divide anyone here. Whether they like me or not, I am a responsible man. I will not backstab and I will not blackmail.

Congress leader Siddaramaiah, the other frontrunner for the chief minister's post, had arrived in the national capital on Monday.

Winning 20 seats (in the 2024 Lok Sabha election) is our next challenge...Ours is a united house, I don't want to divide anyone here. I am a responsible man I don't want to go to the wrong history, I don't want to go with a bad remark, Shivakumar told news agency ANI before leaving for Delhi.

The Congress scored an emphatic win in the Karnataka assembly election with 135 seats. The results were declared on May 13.

Shivakumar, who celebrated his birthday on Monday, and Siddaramaiah had been called to Delhi by the top leadership of the AICC for a discussion.

The party's central observers for Karnataka had on Monday briefed Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on the views of the newly elected MLAs. Reports indicated that Kharge will consult Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra before announcing a final decision.

The Congress legislative party had met late evening on Sunday in Bengaluru and passed a one-line resolution empowering Kharge to pick the head of the legislative party.

On Monday, Shivakumar said all the MLAs are together and the call on the chief minister will be taken by the party's high command.

Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah met with the top leadership of the AICC at Delhi's Lodhi Hotel late on Monday night.

Siddaramaiah, who served as chief minister of Karnataka from 2013-2018, however, remained tight-lipped on the meeting and did not interact with the reporters.

DK Shivakumar's brother DK Suresh arrived in Delhi on Monday evening and met with Kharge at the latter's residence.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Back-to-back meetings took place on Monday as hard bargaining is believed to be going on before the Congress announces the name of the Karnataka chief minister. It will be either Siddararamaiah, the former Karnataka chief minister, or DK Shivakumar, the Karnataka Congress chief. At 5pm on Tuesday, DK Shivakumar reached Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence an hour before Kharge's meeting with Siddaramaiah is scheduled at 6pm. Before these meetings, Mallikarjun Kharge had a word with Rahul Gandhi and the decision on the top post seems to be already made. Kharge and DK Shivakumar's meeting lasted for 30 minutes. DK Shivakumar in is New Delhi today where a lot is happening before the name of the Karnataka CM is announced. (PTI)

Siddaramaiah vs DKS: What happened in key meetings:

1. According to reports, Rahul Gandhi seems to have thrown weight for Siddaramaiah who possibly has more support for his CM-ship.

2. The Congress reportedly deliberated several formulas like deputy chief minister or rotational CM post, plum berths in the cabinet etc., to keep both Siddaramaiah and DKS happy.

3. In the negotiation, D Shivakumar reportedly sought Sonia Gandhi's view as well as since the result day, DKS has been saying that he was trusted by Sonia Gandhi and he delivered.

4. DKS and Mallikarjun Kharge share an amicable equation and before the election, DKS even pitched for Mallikarjun Kharge for the CM post.

5. Meanwhile, it was rumoured that DKS will be resigning from the post of the Karnataka state unit which DKS denied and said he will file a defamation case if some media runs this story.

6. DK Shivakumar said the party is his mother and there is no question of resigning.

7. The race tilted in favour of Siddaramaiah when DK Shivakumar cancelled his Delhi plan on Monday.

8. But it was possibly a pressure tactic to extract a better bargain from the top leadership. DK Shivakmar's brother DK Suresh met Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday late evening.

9. Congress leader Pawan Khera said the decision will be taken in a day or two. "Appointing a Chief Minister is not an easy thing. It cannot be imposed from Delhi... Everybody's view has to be taken into consideration. We have to engage with every stakeholder and then decide who the chief minister will be," he said. The swearing-in of the new government is likely to be on May 18.

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Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday reacted to the incident of an alleged attempt by a group of Muslims to enter the holy shrine of Trimbakeshwar jyotirlinga temple in Nashik and said that the administration and people should coordinate to maintain peace and law and order in the state. Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde(ANI)

Read here: Devendra Fadnavis sets up SIT headed by ADG to probe May 13 temple incident

While briefing the reporters, he said, "It's the responsibility of the administration to maintain law and order but people must also cooperate. People from every community must come forward and maintain peace".

Meanwhile, deputy CM and state home minister Devendra Fadnavis ordered to set up a Special Investigating Team (SIT) to probe the alleged incident. The SIT will also probe a similar incident that happened last year.

The Maharashtra's home ministry in a Twitter post said that a First Information Report (FIR) has been registerd in the illegal gathering of a crowd at the main gate of the Trimbakeshwar temple.

Meanwhile, Nashik Rural superintendent of police (SP) Shahaji Umap, on Monday, attributed the incident to a "misunderstanding". He said, "The incident seems to have happened due to a misunderstanding as the Muslims wanted to go inside the temple premises when their procession was underway We called the group of Muslims who said they will not henceforth attempt to enter the premises if it is not allowed".

BG Shekhar, IG Nashik said that the police has taken cognizance of the incident. Theres peace in Trimbakeshwar and theres no problem in the law and order situation. We will proceed investigation as per the rules and regulations and will take further action on that basis. Our police inspector in Trimbakeshwar will do the further investigation, he told ANI.

Read here: Shinde-Fadnavis govt should now focus on development

Only Hindus are allowed to enter the holy temple of Lord Shiva, as per the temple trust. Police personnel said the incident took place on Saturday when a group of people tried to enter the temple when security guards stopped them.
Slight delay in monsoon onset over Kerala; likely to be on June 4: IMD The onset of monsoon over Kerala will likely be around June 4, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday, highlighting a slight delay. The southwest monsoon normally sets in over Kerala on June 1 with a standard deviation of about seven days. Read Here. Southwest monsoon is likely to set in over Kerala around June 4. (AP)

Vladimir Putin is insane, peace is a joke for him: Ukraine's Zelenskyy

Russian president Vladimir Putin is "insane," Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy said as he travelled around Europe to shore up support for Kyiv ahead of the counteroffensive. "It's a joke for him. He does not understand what is happening. He is an insane human," Zelensky said in Italy. Read Here.

As NDA completes nine years, new Parliament building likely to be inaugurated in May end

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to inaugurate the new Parliament building, which is at the heart of Lutyens in Delhi, soon. It has been constructed as part of the Central Vista Redevelopment Project. The new Parliament building will be inaugurated end of the month, which is around the time the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will complete nine years in power, people familiar with the matter said. Read Here.

Arjun Tendulkar gets bitten by dog ahead of LSG vs MI IPL 2023 tie; bizarre incident sparks hilarious meme fest

Arjun Tendulkar's return to the Mumbai Indians Playing XI is set to be delayed further after the 23-year-old got bit by a dog ahead of MI's IPL 2023 fixture against Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Stadium on Tuesday. While the whereabout of Arjun's little adventure is yet to be known, Tendulkar jr. who last played for MI against Gujarat Titans on April 25, is sit to miss out of tonight's tie after he confessed to the bizarre incident in a video shared by LSG on their Twitter handle. Read Here.

Ranbir Kapoor recreates Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani's viral wedding moment, fans find it cute. Watch

Ranbir Kapoor recently recreated Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani's viral wedding moment during a recent interview. The wedding video of the couple was a hit on the internet as they tied the knot at Suryagarh Palace in Jaisalmer in February this year. It was a highly guarded ceremony with only selected guests in attendance and when they shared the video from the wedding, it went viral in no time. Talking about Sidharth and Kiara, Ranbir said, They are quite beautiful. Read Here.

World Hypertension Day 2023: 5 everyday drinks that can help lower blood pressure

Blood pressure in today's time is emerging to be a growing health concern among young and elderly alike. Faulty lifestyle choices coupled with stress is a deadly cocktail that could lead to many deadly diseases including hypertension, diabetes, heart disease among many others. People nowadays are not only less active than before but also eating more of unhealthy foods with high content of sodium, sugar and trans fats. The reasons could range from increase in junk food choices to not getting time to cook. Read Here.

Leopard makes a mighty leap as forest officials release it into the wild. Watch

The videos that capture the rescue and release of animals back to their natural habitat often delight viewers. And a video recently posted on Twitter features something similar. The video showcases the moment when dedicated forest officials set a rescued leopard free. As expected, the video has received numerous responses from people. Many lauded the teams efforts to release the rescued leopard into the wild. Read Here.

Ishita Dutta's Baby Shower: See Pics

Drishyam actor Ishita Dutta took to Instagram to share pictures from her baby shower. Ishitta donned a lavender silk saree with her hair neatly tied in a bun adorned with white flowers. Read Here.

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The government on Tuesday said that 164 defence items that were under an import ban, and used in platforms including tanks, infantry combat vehicles, missiles and warships, have been indigenised in a fresh push for self-reliance. This has taken the total number of such defence items, including line replacement units, sub-systems and spares, indigenised during the last two-and-a-half years to 2,736. File image of the Indian Air Forces (IAF) Sukhoi Su-30 fighter aircraft. (PTI Photo)

All these items were part of different positive indigenisation lists published by the defence ministry to cut the import dependence of defence public sector undertakings (DPSU).

These 164 items have an import substitution value of 814 crore, the defence ministry said in a statement.

It said the total import substitution value of the 2,736 items indigenised so far was 2,570 crore.

These items will now be procured from the Indian industry only, the statement said.

The deadline for indigenisation of these items was December 2022.

Also Read: President Droupadi Murmu flies maiden sortie in Sukhoi-30. Watch

The indigenisation has been achieved by DPSUs either through industry partners, including micro, small & medium enterprises (MSMEs), or in-house, it said.

The ministrys department of defence production has so far published four positive indigenisation lists of 4,666 items including LRUs, sub-systems, spares and components that have come under a phased import ban.

The fourth list of 928 items was published last week and brought these items under a phased import ban between December 2023 and December 2029. It included items used in fighter planes, trainer aircraft, warships and different types of ammunition.

It came on the back of three similar lists published by the defence ministry in December 2021, March 2022 and August 2022.

The 928 defence items have an import substitution value of 715 crore.

The latest list seeks to promote the local production of several parts of Sukhoi-30 and Jaguar fighter jets, Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40) planes, magazine fire-fighting systems on board warships, and gas turbine generators.

The components and sub-systems in the previous lists included several items for fighter jets, Dornier-228 planes, multiple systems for submarines, equipment for T-90 and Arjun tanks, BMP-II infantry combat vehicles, warships and submarines, and anti-tank missiles.

India has employed a two-pronged approach to achieve indigenisation through import bans.

One approach relates to banning the import of weapons and systems such as fighter jets, warships, helicopters and artillery guns, while the other covers sub-systems, spares and components that are part of bigger weapon platforms.

As part of the former, India has published four other lists that have imposed a phased import ban on 411 different types of weapons and platforms including light weight tanks, naval utility helicopters, artillery guns, missiles, destroyers, ship-borne cruise missiles, light combat aircraft, light transport aircraft, long-range land-attack cruise missiles, basic trainer aircraft, airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) systems, and multi-barrel rocket launchers.

These lists were announced during the last three years --- in August 2020, May 2021, April 2022 and October 2022. Import substitution of ammunition, which is a recurring requirement, has been given special emphasis in these lists.

India has taken a raft of measures over the last four to five years to boost self-reliance in defence. Apart from a series of phased import bans, these steps include creating a separate budget for buying locally made military hardware and increasing foreign direct investment (FDI) from 49% to 74%.

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An explosion at an illegal firecracker unit in Egra in East Midnapore district of West Bengal killed nine people and critically injured seven others on Tuesday afternoon, said, superintendent of police (SP) of East Midnapore district Amarnath K. Seven people were injured in the blast at the factory in West Bengals East Midnapore. (PTI)

The impact of the explosion was such that the factory collapsed, said police, adding that some of the victims were flung metres away from the shed due to the impact.

Also read: Egra bomb blast: MP Sukanta Majumdar writes to Amit Shah, seeks NIA probe in matter

Within three hours of the incident, chief minister Mamata Banerjee ordered a probe by the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and announced a compensation of 2.5lakh each for the kin of deceased and 1 lakh each for the injured.

The owner of the illegal factory used to sell fireworks to people in Odisha and Bangladesh. He has escaped to Odisha, according to information collected by the police. He will not be spared. The police arrested him on October 19 last year and the factory was sealed. The police submitted chargesheet in the case but this man was granted bail by a local court, said Banerjee.

All the deceased and the injured people were factory workers, said Banerjee.

We will take action against the inspector-in-charge of Egra police station. Why didnt he have information that the factory was running again, Banerjee, who is also in charge of the home department, told reporters at the secretariat.

Eyewitnesses said, local residents who gathered at the spot roughed up the inspector-in-charge of Egra police station, Mousam Chakraborty, when he reached the spot alleging that the authorities took no action although six explosions took place in the same factory over the last four years.

Police are the custodian (of law). Strong action must be taken against those assaulting law enforcers. I believe people have the right to demonstrate, but they must not assault policemen, Banerjee said.

The president of West Bengal wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Sukanta Majumdar said he will seek a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the explosion. The NIA is already probing similar explosions that have taken place in recent years..., he added.

I urge @HMOIndia & Honble @BengalGovernor to initiate @NIA_India investigation as early as possible. Bengal has become the stockpile of explosives..., leader of opposition Suvendu Adhikari also tweeted.

Speaking on the BJP demand for an NIA probe, Banerjee said she has no objection to the central agency taking over the investigation.We do not have any objection to the NIA probe if they arrest the real culprit. But I would like to point out that the probe by the CID has already started, she said.

Also read: Blast at apartment building in Berlin injures firefighters, 2 police officers

Local residents said more people might have been killed at the location. We are draining a pond next to the factory to verify the claim (that more people died in the explosion), said Amarnath K.

Tuesdays explosion was the third in East Midnapore district which happens to be the home ground of leader of the opposition in the state legislative assembly, Suvendu Adhikari. He is the legislator from the districts Nandigram seat.

In December 2021, three people died at Nodakhali in South 24 Parganas district. Three more died at Bhupatinagar in East Midnapore in December last year. In March this year, an explosion claimed three lives at an illegal factory at Maheshtala in South 24 Parganas.
NEW DELHI: Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari on Tuesday said that recent global events including the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict highlighted the vulnerability of supply chains to disruptions, while talking about the air forces dependence on global suppliers to stay combat ready. Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari arrives to attend the Annual Logistics Management Seminar at the Air Force Auditorium in New Delhi on Tuesday. (ANI)

The IAF relies heavily on global supply chains for delivery of critical components, equipment and services to maintain its combat potential at optimum level, he said at a seminar on logistics management.

In recent times, the world has witnessed multiple and varied disruptions like Covid-19, Russia-Ukraine conflict, trade barriers, tariff wars and environmental compliance policies. Such events have highlighted the vulnerability of supply chains to disruptions, he said.

He added that to mitigate such disruptions, it was important to leverage emerging trends such as digitisation, automation and data analytics to enhance the IAFs logistics capabilities.

Two-thirds of Indias military equipment is of Russian-origin.

In March, chief of defence staff General Anil Chauhan said that self-reliance in defence manufacturing was one of the biggest lessons for India from the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and the three services will have to be the driving force for the campaign to succeed.
NEW DELHI: Indian and Chinese major generals on Tuesday met in Ladakhs Daulet Beg Oldi sector and held talks on outstanding border issues between the two countries that have been locked in a row along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh for more than three years, officials familiar with the matter said. India China face-off: The last breakthrough along the LAC came in September 2022 when the two armies pulled back their front-line troops from Patrolling Point-15. (File Photo)

The talks between the division commander-level officers came weeks after the top-level military dialogue between corps commanders of the two armies.

The 18th round of corps commander-level talks on April 23 yielded no outcome, though the Indian Army and the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) agreed to maintain security and stability along LAC, stay in close contact and continue dialogue through military and diplomatic channels, and work out a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues.

Dialogue below the corps commander level to discuss border issues is a routine affair, the officials said, asking not to be named. Division commanders and brigade commanders regularly hold talks with their Chinese counterparts on border issues, said one of the officials.

The last breakthrough along the LAC came in September 2022 when the two armies pulled back their front-line troops from Patrolling Point-15. The troop pullback took place after the 16th round of corps commander-level talks on July 17, 2022.

Despite four rounds of disengagement from Galwan Valley, Pangong Tso, Gogra (PP-17A) and Hot Springs (PP-15), the Indian and Chinese armies still have more than 60,000 troops each and advanced weaponry deployed in the Ladakh theatre.

Problems at Depsang in the Daulet Beg Oldi sector and Charding Nullah Junction (CNJ) in the Demchok sector are still on the negotiating table, as previously reported.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh on April 27 raised the LAC issue with his Chinese counterpart General Li Shangfu while stressing that the violation of existing agreements had eroded bilateral relations, and the development of India-China ties was based on peace and tranquillity at the borders. Singh told Li that all issues at LAC needed to be resolved in accordance with existing bilateral agreements and commitments.

After the April 27 talks, former Northern Army commander Lieutenant General DS Hooda (retd) described Singhs stand as the standard Indian position that the ongoing standoff has impacted bilateral relations which can only improve if the PLA disengages and then pulls back additional forces.

To me, this indicates that both sides have probably reiterated their respective positions and there is no substantive move forward. However, it is good that high-level political contacts are taking place because ultimately the resolution will come at the political level, Hooda then said.
An Indian national was shot dead by an off-duty police constable in Uganda, with the police describing his actions as deliberate and pre-meditated. The off-duty policeman who fatally shot the Indian national (Image courtesy: Uganda Police Force)

The findings so far, clearly indicate that the actions of our officer were deliberate, planned and pre-meditated, the Uganda Police Force said in a Twitter statement on Tuesday.

The May 12 murder of 39-year-old money lender Uttam Bhandari by 30-year-old Ivan Wabwire, with a stolen AK-47 assault rifle, and over a monetary dispute between the two, wherein Wabwire owed some money to a Bhandari-run financial services firm, was captured on CCTV (Disclaimer: Graphic visuals).

Ugandan President 'furious'

On May 13, a day after the killing, Ugandan President Yoweri K Museveni, while extending condolences to Bhandari's family, asked some questions of the security forces.

The answers to these questions may help us to plug the gaps in the security system, tweeted Museveni.

The Indian High Commission, based in the African nation's capital city of Kampala, too extended its condolences to the victim's kin.

The killer

According to police, Wabwire had a history of mental instability and, five years ago, he was banned from possessing firearms. He committed the crime with the AK-47 of a colleague who is also his roommate, officials added.

Bhandari was shot at from a close range at the Kampala-based TFS firm. Also, 13 cartridges were recovered from the crime scene.

Indians in Uganda

The country is home to thousands of Indians, most of whom live and work in Kampala. India has maintained diplomatic presence in Uganda since 1965, around three years after the latter achieved independence.

(With PTI inputs(

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Former Bihar chief minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) party chief Jitan Ram Manjhi on Tuesday vowed his support to state chief minister Nitish Kumar and has demanded to constitute a coordination committee in the Grand Alliance or Mahagathbandhan, ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar with Jitan Ram Manjhi. (HT Photo (file))

Read here: Opposition sets sights on joint front for 2024 after Congresss poll win

"Although there are no promises in politics. Still, I have vowed to support Nitish Kumar. Be it Congress or CPI(M), everyone has demanded that a coordination committee should be formed in the Mahagathbandhan", he told news agency ANI.

While speaking on breaking the alliance with Kumar, Manjhi said, "I dont think that this situation will ever arise. Nitish Kumar has given me lots of respect, and he even made me the chief minister. If the situation ever arises (party and workers not getting respect at the time of the upcoming elections), our party workers have opined that we can even break our promise".

The Janata Dal (United) leader, who leads a coalition government in Bihar, has been meeting various leaders from different parties as part of his campaign for the last several months. He had met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi in Delhi last month. Last week. he met Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik in Bhubaneswar, Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren in Ranchi and Nationalist Congress Party leader Sharad Pawar in Mumbai, with an aim of uniting the opposition to challenge the BJP in the upcoming elections.

After his meeting with Pawar, Kumar said he would be more than happy to see the NCP chief becoming the face of the opposition to challenge BJP.

Read here: Bihar: Nitish Kumar congratulates Congress as GA hails Karnataka poll results

The political parties across the states are looking to form a unified opposition in order to defeat the ruling BJP from centre. The got a major boost after Congress emerged victorious in the recently held Karnataka assembly elections. At least 12 major opposition parties are expected to meet in Patna to decide further course of action on the opposition unity, leaders of JDU and RJD said, a day after the Karnataka assembly elections were out.
Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar on Tuesday pledged he will never backstab or blackmail the party as he left for Delhi amid a tightening race for the southern states top elected job. Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar. (ANI)

Winning 20 seats [in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls] is our next challenge...Ours is a united house. I do not want to divide anyone. I am a responsible man...I will not backstab...and I will not blackmail also, he told news agency ANI ahead of his departure for Delhi as former chief minister Siddaramaiah appeared to have surged ahead of him in the chief ministerial race.

Shivakumar earlier on Monday publicly expressed his displeasure over Siddaramaiahs claims of enjoying the support of the lawmakers. People close to Shivakumar said Siddaramaiah may be popular but the state Congress chiefs role in the partys victory by ensuring a robust organisational structure cannot be ignored.

Shivakumar on Tuesday said they have built the Congress. I am a part of it...A mother will give everything to her child.

He called former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi their role model. ...Congress is family for everyone. Our constitution is very much important...we have to protect everyones interest.

On Monday, the scene of the action shifted from Bengaluru to Delhi where a series of closed-door meetings continued till late in the night.

Siddaramaiah, 76, landed in New Delhi on Monday. Shivakumar initially said he was not travelling to Delhi because of ill-health.

Late in the evening, he said he will try to go to Delhi on Tuesday. He indicated the final decision on the chief ministerial post may be announced on the same day. Shivakumar is due to land in Delhi at noon.

Congresss government collapsed mid-term in Madhya Pardesh in 2020 amid a similar tussle for leadership. The party has been facing similar problems in two other states where it is in powerRajasthan and Chhattisgarh.

On Sunday, Congresss Karnataka legislative party met in Bengaluru and passed a one-line resolution authorising the party chief Mallikarjun Kharge to pick the next chief minister.

Siddaramaiah is believed to have the backing of the majority of state lawmakers.

Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were the main architects of the Congresss biggest win in Karnataka since 1989. They have rivalling ambitions but projected a united front during campaigning.

Siddaramaiah on Monday said he was confident that the newly-elected lawmakers favour him in becoming the chief minister.

Shivakumar shot back, saying his strength is that under his presidency, 135 lawmakers were elected to the assembly. There is so much I did as the party president, he said.

Top seers from the Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities, two of the states most influential caste groups, have backed Shivakumars candidature.

Shivakumars brother, DK Suresh, met Kharge in Delhi on Monday.

Kharge was expected to take a final call after consulting Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. He has held discussions on possible options to offer to the two leaders.

The Congress swept back to power in Karnataka on Saturday, winning 135 of 224 seats, on the back of welfare-oriented promises and an anti-corruption plank. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party managed just to win just 66 seats. The Congresss vote share in each of the states six regions was in excess of 40%.
While the suspense over the new Karnataka chief minister remains, reports indicate that the name - either DK Shivakumar or Siddaramaiah - is likely to be announced on Tuesday. AICC in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala on Monday said the central observers of the Congress have submitted their report regarding the next chief ministerial choice to party president Mallikarjun Kharge. Former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar during celebrations after the party's win in Karnataka assembly elections in Bengaluru.(PTI)

While Shivakumar, the state Congress president, cancelled his visit to New Delhi citing a "stomach infection", Siddaramaiah, who was in the national capital to meet the central leadership, remained tight-lipped and did not interact with the reporters.

Also Read: Sidda close to finish line as DKS makes last push

Siddaramaiah, former chief minister, and Shivakumar were called by the party high command for further discussion on government formation.

Top updates on suspense over Congress's Karnataka CM face:

1. The three central observers, who interacted with party MLAs on their choice for the chief minister's post after the Congress Legislature Party meeting on Sunday, briefed Kharge and submitted their report.

2. After the meeting, Surjewala said that the party was not in a hurry and would take a decision after wider consultations with state leaders.

3. The name of the next Karnataka CM will be announced in the coming 24 hours, news agency ANI reported citing sources on Monday.

4. Siddaramaiah left Delhi's Lodhi Hotel late on Monday night - hours after meeting the top leadership of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in New Delhi.

5. Shivakumar's brother and Congress MP DK Suresh said the Karnataka state Congress president will reach Delhi on Tuesday to meet the party leadership. Suresh met 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," Suresh said.

6. On Sunday, the CLP had passed a resolution authorising Kharge to decide on the chief ministerial nominee. Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have never hid their CM ambitions.

7. 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.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The Kerala High Court, for the first time in its history, has decided to conduct a 'mitigation investigation' of two convicts on death row. The High Court of Kerala(HT File Photo)

For this, the Court has directed the Director General of Prisons to file a report on the conduct of Nino Mathew and Muhammed Ameerul Islam, who are the two convicts and the nature of work done by them in prison.

Nino Mathew is the death convict in the 2014 Attingal twin murder case and Ameerul Islam is the convict of the 2016 Perumbavoor Jisha murder case.

As part of this, the High Court has decided to re-examine their death penalties by investigating their socio-economic background, psychological conditions, history of neglect or abuse that they may have faced growing up and illness.

Nino is being held at Poojappura jail in Thiruvananthapuram district, while Muhammed is housed in Viyyur prison in Thrissur district.

This is the first time in Kerala that the Kerala High Court is ordering a mitigation investigation.

A division bench, comprising justices Alexander Thomas and C Jayachandran, issued the order.

The court also appointed CP Sruthy, who is associated with Project 39A, to assess the details of Nino by visiting him in prison and conducting interviews.

Nooriya Ansari will conduct the investigation into Ameer-ul Islam.

The Court ordered the Jail authorities to ensure that both are enabled to conduct such assessments, including interviews, etc, on a confidential basis and proper facilities in that regard shall be made available by the jail authorities concerned.

The duo have also been cleared to obtain documents and other materials pertaining to the convicts, including medical records, jail conduct, certificates of educational, vocational or employment opportunities undertaken, etc.

The court directed them to file the report in a sealed cover.

It further directed the State Government to ensure that both the convicts are subjected to assessment by two separate psychiatrists of the Government medical colleges concerned and also by a clinical psychologist in Government service.

Earlier, a ruling from Supreme Court pointed out that mitigation investigation should consider the background of the accused, their personal circumstances, mental health and age, among other things.

Jisha, a 29-year-old law student at the Ernakulam Government Law College, was found murdered on April 28, 2016, at her home in Perumbavoor.

Later, police arrested an Assamese labourer, Ameer-ul-Islam, in connection with the case.

The Ernakulam principal district and sessions court awarded the death penalty to him.

2014 Attingal twin murder case is a tragic incident involving two techies, Nino Mathew and Anu Shanthi, who were involved in the murder of Anu's three-year-old daughter and mother-in-law.

Thiruvananthapuram Principal Sessions Court found Anu guilty and awarded her double life imprisonment, while Nino Mathew was given a death sentence.
The Kerala Story is a film that contains hate speech and manipulated facts and has the potential to disrupt communal harmony and law and order in West Bengal, the state government told the Supreme Court on Tuesday as it defended its move to ban the movie. Directed by Sudipto Sen and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, The Kerala Story has triggered a political row in the country.

The movie is based on manipulated facts and contains hate speeches, the state government said in its affidavit in response to a petition by the producers of the movie  M/s Sunshine Pictures Private Limited and Vipul Amrutlal Shah  challenging the ban. Several scenes have the potential to hurt communal sentiments and cause disharmony among communities, it added.

The affidavit, seen by HT, was filed through advocate Astha Sharma. The government also said that the decision to ban the movie was taken on the basis of intelligence inputs on the law and order situation. It said that the duty of maintaining law and order and prohibiting exhibition of a film are policy matters where courts should not interfere. Denying that any fundamental right of the petitioners has been violated, the state rejected the demand by the producers to be compensated for the financial loss.

Directed by Sudipto Sen and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, The Kerala Story has triggered a political row in the country, with many calling it a propaganda film. The movie was released on May 5.

On May 8, Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee ordered a ban on the movie, calling it a distorted story.

On May 12, the Supreme Court observed that the movie was running across the country and that West Bengal cannot be an exception to ban it.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is expected to announce the name of the next Karnataka chief minister on Wednesday in Bengaluru, news agency ANI reported quoting people familiar with the development. The report came after Kharge met former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and state unit chief DK Shivakumar separately at his residence in New Delhi and discussed the modalities of government formation in the southern state. Kharge will take the final decision after consulting UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and former party president Rahul Gandhi. (Also Read | DK Shivakumar meets Kharge after Rahul Gandhi gives his choice for Karnataka CM) Congress party Karnataka state chief DK Shivakumar, left, and his colleague and senior leader Siddaramaiah, right.(AP)

"No final decision has been made on the Karnataka CM post yet. Congress president has met all the stakeholders. Congress President has met all the stakeholders. Now the final decision will be taken by him in consultation with Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. The announcement can be delayed until tomorrow and the announcement can be made in Bengaluru itself," ANI quoted the sources as saying.

The suspense over the chief minister continues as both frontrunners for the post, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, are said to have dug their heels in for the top post.

Shivakumar told ANI that he would not resort to "backstabbing or blackmail" regardless of the party's decision.

"If the party wants they can give me the responsibilityOurs is a united house, our number is 135. I don't want to divide anyone here. Whether they like me or not, I am a responsible man. I will not backstab and I will not blackmail," he said.

"The party is my god...We have built this party, I am a part of it and I am not alone in this," he said before his departure from Bengaluru.

Shivakumar later also warned the media against speculative reports on his possible resignation and said he would file a defamation case against news channels for speaking fake news.

"If any channel is reporting that I am resigning from the post, I will file a defamation case against them...Some of them are reporting that I will resign...My mother is my party, I built this party. My high command, my MLAs, my party are there," he told reporters.

Asked about his expectations as the state party president, Shivakumar said," I don't want to comment on what has happened earlier. How it happened. That is a closed chapter we formed the government we lost the government, we lost a coalition government. Who is responsible for the victory and loss there is no use of talking about it now. Let us not sell this story... let us sell the future."

The Congress won 135 seats in the recently held election to the 224-member Karnataka assembly.

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As the Congress is yet to announce the name of the Karnataka chief minister, three days after it won a majority in the southern state, BJP's Amit Malviya said Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge sees himself more as a postman and not a decision-maker. He keeps referring to some High Command, Malviya commented as the Karnataka CM decision now lies with Kharge after the three observers submitted their report to Kharge. Congress president Mallikarjun Khage will take the final call on Karnataka CM after discussing with Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi.

Who will be Karnataka CM? Follow LIVE updates

Hectic parleys are being held and the stage of the developments shifted from Bengaluru to Delhi where both the top contenders -- Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar -- are present. Siddaramaiah reached Delhi on Monday evening, while DK Shivakumar cancelled his Delhi plan at the very last moment citing a stomach infection. Though DKS dismissed speculations of infighting, his sudden decision to defer his Delhi visit by some hours while his brother MP DK Suresh visited Mallikarjun Kharge's residence at 10pm was seen as a pressure tactic. On Tuesday, Shivakumar arrived in Delhi.

"The BJP also holds discussions and deliberations to elect its CMs and has often ensured smooth transition of power, even between CMs. Despite elaborate consultations, you will never find BJP aspirants falling over each other, rallying supporters and issuing veiled threats to the Party through the media," Amit Malviya wrote.

Karnataka CM decision: Here is a timeline of what happened so far

1. On May 13 (Saturday), the Congress wrested Karnataka from the BJP in a thumping majority winning 135 seats.

2. A Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting was called on May 14 (Sunday) to decide the name of the chief minister. The top two contenders are Siddaramaiah, who served as the chief minister between 2014 and 2018, and Congress Karnataka president DK Shivakumar.

3. The CLP authorised Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to take the final call on the CM decision.

4. The Congress sent three central observers to submit a report to Kharge after speaking to the newly elected MLAs in Karnataka.

5. The observers -- Sushilkumar Shinde, Jitendra Singh and Deepak Babaria -- submitted the report to Kharge on Monday.

6. Both Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar were called to New Delhi on Monday. Siddaramaiah reached accordingly, but DK Shivakumar cancelled his Delhi visit on Monday -- which was interpreted as a clear indication that he was taking a backseat and Siddaramaiah was going to be the chief minister.

7. The calculations changed when on Tuesday morning DK Shivakumar arrived in Delhi.

8. The decision is now expected any time soon as Mallikarjun Kharge is holding discussion with Rahul Gandhi.

Earlier, Siddaramaiah said he has the support of more MLAs for the CM post while DK Shivakumar said he does not have any number as all 135 Congress MLAs who won were led by him.

As the BJP is making the delay an issue, Uddhav Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi cited examples of how the BJP took nine days to decide Assam CM. "Cute to see the medias urgency to declare CM Karnataka. Their silence when BJP took 9 days to decide Assam CM, silence on the delay by illegitimate Maharashtra government in declaring its cabinet, same in Puducherry, makes one see their current outrage for Karnataka as nothing but desperate, agenda driven and pathetic," Priyanka Chaturvedi tweeted.

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Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is keeping a close eye on the situation in the party's Rajasthan unit and will take a decision after the government formation in Karnataka, AICC state co-in-charge Qazi Nizamuddin said on Tuesday after an aggrieved Sachin Pilot threatened to launch a statewide movement if action on his demands is not taken by the month-end. Dissident Congress leader Sachin Pilot and Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot.(PTI)

The intra-party rivalry between Pilot camp and Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot's camp took an uglier turn after the former held a day-long fast against the regime's alleged inaction over the corruption during the previous BJP government. He followed it up with a five-day and 125-kilometre Jan Sangharsh Yatra from Ajmer to Jaipur that culminated on Monday.

He has demanded disbanding of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) and its reconstitution, 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 Vasundhara Raje government.

Sachin (Pilot) ji is a strong pillar of the Congress. Our national president Mallikarjun Kharge is keeping a close eye on all the activities that are happening and the entire matter is in his cognisance," Nizamuddin told reporters while replying to queries at the state Congress headquarters in Jaipur.

Nizamuddin said that the matter has been "pending" and the Congress president will take a decision once he has addressed the situation in Karnataka, where the party is working on the modalities of government formation.

Asked about the demands raised by Pilot, Nizamuddin said, "These things keep happening. If there is any 'pinpoint' issue, then the government will definitely work on it".

He stressed that the Congress president has taken cognisance of the matter and only Kharge or any leader authorised by him can speak on the issue. He said it was an election year and they will take feedback on how to ensure the party's victory.

(With PTI inputs)

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Dismissing preacher Dhirendra Shastri's comments on the so-called Hindu Rashtra, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday said those making such remarks were not even born during the freedom struggle. Nitish Kumar said everyone is allowed to follow their religion but there's no need of making such remarks. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav.(PTI)

Dhirendra Shastri, popularly known as Bageshwar Baba, claimed that the fire for a 'Hindu Rashtra' will be ignited in Bihar, where he's holding a five-day congregation. He further said that a day will come when those living in India will have to chant Sita-Ram.

"...Were all those who are saying this, born during the freedom struggle?... What is the need of saying this? Follow any religion you want. But proposals for renaming are surprising. Is that even possible?" the chief minister told reporters in Patna.

Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo and former chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav also dismissed Shastri's popularity saying "Who is Baba Bageshwar? Is he even a Baba?" when asked why he was not stopped from holding an event in Patna.

Shastri arrived in Patna on May 13 for holding a five-day congregation in Patna's Naubatpur. According to the organizers of the event, more than three lakh devotees reached the venue on Sunday, which was beyond the expected count. The scorching heat in Patna with over 42 degrees temperature on Sunday resulted in many devotees falling sick.

After the incident, Dhirendra Shastri requested the devotees to avoid coming in large numbers as the temperature remains high in the district.

Shastri stoked controversy during his Divya Darbar session by calling his followers pagal as he had to cancel aarti citing concerns over the crowd beyond the capacity of the venue.

Bahot jyada bheed ho gayi hai, apaar bheed ho gayi...pagal hi pagal aa gaye hain (There is too much crowd, the crowd has become huge, the madmen have come).

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Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the United States next month, Principal deputy spokesperson for the US Department of State Vedant Patel on Monday said that it will be an opportunity to deepen partnerships between the two countries. Patel also said that the State Department and its secretary Antony Blinken are critically involved in PM Modi's upcoming visit. PM Modi, Biden interact during the G20 Summit in Bali.(Twitter/PMO)

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, Patel said.

He added, 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.

Highlighting the two countries' global challenges, Patel said, 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.

Last week, the White House in a statement announced that US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host PM Modi for an official state visit on June 22. 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 that link Americans and Indians together, the statement added.

Reportedly, PM Modi's visit is expected to focus on the newer areas of cooperation between the two countries - particularly emerging technologies, and supply chain diversification.

The last in-person meeting between PM Modi and Biden was held in Bali, Indonesia during the G20 Summit. During the meeting, the two leaders discussed close cooperation in future-oriented sectors such as critical and emerging technologies, advanced computing, and artificial intelligence.

(With inputs from ANI)
A day after Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee revealed post poll strategy for 2024 Lok Sabha elections saying that her party would support Congress where it was strong, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said on Tuesday that all Opposition parties were looking for a way. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav (File)

Yadav said, Nitish Kumar, Mamata Banerjee, KCR and various political parties are trying to find a way. Wherever any party is strong, election in all those places will be fought under their leadership.

On Monday, Banerjee said that Congress should also support regional parties in states where they are strong. 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.

She said that seat-sharing formula should be followed in states with regional parties. Strong regional parties must be given priorityI am supporting Congress in Karnataka but it should not fight against me in Bengal.

Banerjee's statement on possible strategy had come a day after HT reported that leaders from around 12 political parties were likely to meet in Patna over the next eight to 10 days in order to decide on the common opposition front to take against the BJP in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Leaders from the Congress, RJD, JD(U), TMC, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Samajwadi Party, NCP, Shiv Sena (UBT), DMK, AAP, CPI, CPI(M), and CPI-ML (Liberation) are likely to attend the meeting, along with other parties that oppose the BJP.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said there is unprecedented positivity about industry and investment in India citing his meetings with the chief executive officers of leading global companies such as Walmart and Apple. Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (PTI)

FDI [Foreign Direct Investment] and the record exports have been creating employment opportunities in every corner of India, said Modi in his virtual address to over 71,000 recruits at the fourth edition of Rozgar Mela.

Also read: Opportunity to deepen partnerships: US State dept on PM Modi's June visit

He referred to Employees Provident Fund Organisations net payroll figures and said over 45 million people have got jobs since 2018-19 as formal employment has been growing.

Modi, who launched the Rozgar Mela in October for the recruitment of one million people, said the nature of jobs has been changing as the government has been supporting the emerging sectors.

He said there has been a revolution in the start-up sector. Modi added the number of start-ups has risen to nearly 100,000 from a few hundred before 2014 when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power. Modi said they are estimated to have provided a minimum of one million jobs.

He said the length of rural roads has risen to 7.25 lakh km from 4 lakh km while the number of airports has gone up from 74 to nearly 150. Modi said the construction of over 40 million concrete houses under the governments housing scheme for the poor has created employment opportunities.

He said that the number of universities has grown to 1,100 from around 720 in 2014. He added there are now 700 medical colleges compared to 400 in 2014.

He said 40,000 km of rail lines were electrified compared to 20,000 km in the previous decades. He added 500,000 common service centres in the villages are providing jobs in rural areas. More than 30,000 Panchayat Bhawans have been constructed in villages...90 million households have been connected with piped water. All are creating employment at a large scale.

Modi credited changes his government introduced in the recruitment system for ending the possibility of corruption and nepotism. He said the entire processfrom applying for jobs to the announcement of resultshas been made online.

He said recruitments the government has made over the last nine years have been faster, transparent, and unbiased. The Staff Selection Board would roughly take 15-18 months to onboard the new recruits whereas today it takes only six to eight months. The tedious process of recruitment earlierfrom acquiring the application forms to submitting them via posthas now been simplified by making it online...a provision for self-attestation of documents has also been introduced.

Modi said interviews for Group C, involving supervisory as well as operative tasks, and Group D posts for routine duties have also been abolished. He called the extermination of nepotism from the entire process its biggest benefit.

Also read: What Karnataka poll result means for Modi, BSY, Siddaramaiah, Kharge, Deve Gowda

Modi also cited initiatives the government has taken to ease access to services. ...government policies have been made keeping in mind the employment possibilities. Initiatives in infrastructure, rural push or expansion of the basic needs of life... every policy of the government is creating new opportunities for the youth.

In a tweet in Hindi, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh hit out at Modi for destroying governance by making it personal and lowering its level through job fairs. It seems as if he [Modi] created these jobs and he will pay those getting these jobs and that is why job seekers should express their gratitude. He said the job seekers know that the Prime Minister has destroyed jobs in both government and private sectors through measures such as demonetisation and indiscriminate privatisation of public sector undertakings.
While hectic parleys continue over Karnataka's next chief minister, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday drove to party president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence in New Delhi and held a closed-door meeting with him. The meeting comes even as Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar, who is one of the two contenders for the CM post, arrived in the national capital to meet Congress brass, ahead of the announcement by the party. Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar are in New Delhi and lobbying for the Karnataka CM post.(File)

Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala, who is in charge of the party's affairs in Karnataka, was also present in the meeting at Kharge's residence.

After arriving at Delhi airport, Shivakumar did not speak to the media and walked away with folded hands parrying a barrage of questions from reporters. Later, he reached the office of his brother DK Suresh, who is also a Congress MP.

Also Read: Karnataka CM Race LIVE Updates

Former chief minister Siddaramaiah, who is the other contender for the chief ministerial post, is also currently in Delhi. Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar are lobbying for the coveted post. They will hold discussions over government formation in Karnataka with top Congress leaders later in the day.

In just-concluded assembly elections, the 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 seats, respectively.

On Sunday, Kharge held discussions with party leaders from Karnataka and the three observers appointed by him to oversee the Congress Legislature Party meeting in Bengaluru.

Shivakumar had cancelled his visit to the national capital on Monday evening citing health issues, fuelling speculation that all is not well in the party.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to continue money laundering proceedings against Tamil Nadu power minister V Senthil Balaji, setting aside an order by the Madras high court directing a fresh probe into an alleged cash-for-job scam. The case pertains to allegations of bribe being allegedly taken by Balaji  now a DMK minister from people seeking jobs in the state transport department during his stint as the departments minister during the AIADMK-led government from 2011 to 2015. (Representational image)

The investigating officers are to proceed with further investigation and file further final report in two months, a bench of justices Krishna Murari and V Ramasubramanian said.

The case pertains to allegations of bribe being allegedly taken by Balaji  now a DMK minister from people seeking jobs in the state transport department during his stint as the departments minister during the AIADMK-led government from 2011 to 2015.

On Tuesday, the apex court paved the way for ED to probe the minister as it set aside the September 1, 2022 high court order that quashed the summons issued by the anti-money laundering probe agency to Balaji in connection with corruption allegations and another order of the HC on October 31 directing de novo or fresh investigation against the minister.

The high court through its October order had nullified a Supreme Court judgment on September 8 restoring the criminal case against the minister filed under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Once an information relating to the acquisition of huge amount of illegal gratification in the matter of public employment has come into the public domain, it is the duty of the ED to register an Information Report. This is because acquisition is an activity amounting to money-laundering and the illegal gratification acquired by a public servant represents proceeds of crime, the bench said.

Justice Ramasubramanian, who wrote the judgment for the bench, added: What is shocking is that the high court directed reinvestigation to be started ab initio...not only wiping out the investigation carried out so far, but virtually wiped out even the judgment of this Court of September 8.
The Supreme Court collegium on Tuesday recommended Andhra Pradesh high court chief justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and senior advocate KV Viswanathan for appointment as judges in the top court. If the Union government clears the recommendations, Viswanathan will be in line to take over as the CJI in August 2030 and will have a tenure till May 25, 2031 (HT File)

If the Union government clears the recommendations, Viswanathan will be in line to take over as the Chief Justice of India (CJI) in August 2030 and will have a tenure till May 25, 2031. Viswanathan will succeed justice JB Pardiwala to take the helm and will be only the fourth lawyer to head the judiciary.

The Supreme Court, which has a sanctioned strength of 34 judges, is short of two. Both these judges - Dinesh Maheshwari and MR Shah - retired in the past one week. By the second week of July, four more vacancies will arise in the top court.

The collegium is headed by CJI Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud and comprises justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, KM Joseph, Ajay Rastogi and Sanjiv Khanna. In a resolution published on Tuesday, the collegium picked Viswanathan, noting that at present, there is only one member from the bar directly appointed to the Supreme Court Bench - justice PS Narasimha.

The appointment of Shri KV Viswanathan will enhance the representation to the Bar in the composition of the Supreme Court. Shri Viswanathan is a distinguished member of the Bar of the Supreme Court. His wide experience and profound knowledge will provide a significant value addition to the Supreme Court, said the resolution.

Viswanathan has a sound understanding of law and is known in the legal fraternity for his integrity and as an upright senior member of the bar, the collegium added.

Shri Viswanathan has appeared in a wide range of cases on diverse subjects including Constitutional law, criminal law, commercial law, the law of Insolvency, and Arbitration. His stature as an eminent member of the Bar has been recognised by the Supreme Court in numerous cases where he was appointed to assist the Court as amicus curiae, it said.

Viswanathan is eminently suitable for being appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court and his inclusion will enhance the representation to the bar in the composition of the Supreme Court, according to the resolution.

Viswanathan was recently appointed as an amicus curiae to assist the apex court in a batch of petitions challenging the extension given to Sanjay Kumar Mishra as the director of the Enforcement Directorate. The senior counsel had opposed Mishras extension, arguing piecemeal extensions will damage the independence and integrity of ED.

About justice Mishra, the collegium said he was found to be more deserving and suitable in all respects for being appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court of India following a careful evaluation of the merit, integrity and competence of eligible chief justices and senior judges of high courts.

Justice Mishra has served as a high court judge for over 13 years, read the resolution, adding there is no representation of the Chhattisgarh high court in the present composition of the Supreme Court.

Besides according representation to the State of Chhattisgarh, the appointment of justice Prashant Kumar Mishra will provide a value addition in terms of his acquired knowledge and experience. Justice Mishra is a judge with integrity, it further said.

The collegium also addressed the point that the present chief justice of the Allahabad high court, Pritinker Diwaker, is also from Chhattisgarh and ranked senior to justice Mishra. However, having considered all relevant factors, the Collegium is of the view that justice Prashant Kumar Mishra is worthy of appointment as a judge of the Supreme Court, underlined the resolution.

While the appointment of two Supreme Court judges in February had taken the top court to its full working strength of 34 judges for the first time since May 2022, a bundle of recommendations and reiterations for the appointment and transfer of high court judges have remained pending with the Centre for several months. For instance, the transfer of the acting chief justice of the Madras high court, T Raja, is still to be notified. The collegium first proposed his transfer on November 16, 2022, and also reiterated it later.

Appointments of advocates Saurabh Kirpal, R John Sathyan and Somasekhar Sundaresan as judges in the high courts of Delhi, Madras and Bombay, respectively, have also been in limbo for more than six months each despite reiterations by the collegium.

The government, on its part, wrote to the CJI on January 6, underlining that the government is an important stakeholder in the process of appointment of judges in the Supreme Court and high courts and therefore, its views should also find a place in preparation for the panel of names who are eligible for being appointed as judges of the constitutional courts. The CJI is yet to respond to this, according to people aware of the matter who declined to be named.

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Shoulders of the Supreme Court are broad enough to deal with inappropriate statements made by any authority, the top court underlined on Monday even as it declined to entertain a plea demanding action against Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Union law minister Kiren Rijiju for their contentious remarks on the judiciary and the collegium system of appointing judges. Shoulders of the Supreme Court are broad enough to deal with inappropriate statements, the top court said on Monday. (HT File)

We believe the high courts view is correct. If any authority has made an inappropriate observation, then the shoulders of the Supreme Court are broad enough to deal with the same, is the correct view, said a bench of justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Ahsanuddin Amanullah.

The bench affirmed the Bombay high court order of February 9, which emphasised that the credibility of the Supreme Court of India is sky-high and that it cannot be eroded or impinged by statements of individuals.

The apex court was hearing an appeal filed by the Bombay Lawyers Association (BLA) against the Bombay high court order. In its plea before the high court, the lawyers body alleged that Rijiju and Dhankhar disqualified themselves to hold the constitutional posts by showing a lack of faith in the Constitution through their conduct and utterances made in public against the Supreme Court and the collegium.

The Association referred to a raft of statements made by Rijiju and Dhankhar over the last year, marking an ongoing confrontation between the executive and the judiciary over the judges selection mechanism and the division of powers between the two. The row witnessed Dhankhar and Rijiju questioning the collegium system of appointing judges. The top court responded with stern reminders to the government that the collegium system is the law of the land that must be followed by the government to a T.

At various public platforms, Rijiju termed the collegium system opaque, alien to the Constitution and the only system in the world where judges appoint people known to them. Dhankhar, on the other hand, in December 2022, said that the Supreme Courts 2015 judgment striking down the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act was a glaring instance of severe compromise of parliamentary sovereignty and disregard of the mandate of the people.

Seeking judicial orders to restrain Dhankhar from discharging duty as the vice president and Rijiju as the cabinet minister for the central government, the lawyers body said that 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.

By its February 9 order, the high court dismissed the petition after noting that the constitutional authorities cannot be removed in the manner suggested by the petitioner. The credibility of the Honble Supreme Court of India is sky-high. It cannot be eroded or impinged by the statements of individuals. The Constitution of India is supreme and sacrosanct. Every citizen of India is bound by the Constitution and is expected to abide by its constitutional values. The constitutional institutions are to be respected by all, including constitutional authorities and persons holding constitutional posts, the high court order stated.

On Monday, as soon as the hearing began, the bench expressed its indisposition to entertain the appeal against the high court order. What is this? Why have you come here? Just to complete the circle? it asked the counsel appearing for the lawyers body and proceeded to reject the appeal with a brief order.

While the appointment of two new Supreme Court judges in February took the top court to its full working strength of 34 judges for the first time since May 2022, a bundle of recommendations and reiterations for the appointment and transfer of high court judges have been pending with the Union government. For instance, the transfer of the acting chief justice of the Madras high court, T Raja, is still to be notified. Though the collegium first proposed his transfer on November 16, 2022, and also reiterated it later.

Appointments of advocates Saurabh Kirpal, R John Sathyan and Somasekhar Sundaresan as judges in the high courts of Delhi, Madras and Bombay, respectively, have also been in limbo for more than six months each despite reiterations by the collegium.

The government, on its part, wrote to the CJI on January 6, underlining that the government is an important stakeholder in the process of appointment of judges in the Supreme Court and high courts and therefore, its views should also find a place in preparation for the panel of names who are eligible for being appointed as judges of the constitutional courts. The CJI, according to people aware of the matter, is yet to respond to this.

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The Supreme Court has refused to reconsider its November verdict that upheld the validity of the central law providing 10% reservation benefits to economically weaker sections (EWS) as it dismissed a clutch of review petitions. By its judgment on November 7, a five-judge constitution bench ruled 3-2 in favour of the 103rd Constitutional Amendment of 2019, upholding the EWS quota law.

Deciding the petitions through circulation in the judges chambers, the top court held that there is no error apparent on the face of the record and no case for review is made out under the Supreme Court Rules. The review petitions are, therefore, dismissed, stated the order released on Tuesday.

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On May 9, the review petitions were considered by five judges  Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, justices Dinesh Maheshwari (now retired), S Ravindra Bhat, Bela M Trivedi and JB Pardiwala. The final legal recourse against the dismissal of a review petition is a curative plea.

By its judgment on November 7, a five-judge constitution bench ruled 3-2 in favour of the 103rd Constitutional Amendment of 2019, upholding the EWS quota law.

Justices Maheshwari, Trivedi and Pardiwala declared the law to be valid and not violating either the basic structure of the Constitution or the equality code. The then CJI, Uday Umesh Lalit, and justice S Ravindra Bhat, comprising the minority on the bench, held the EWS quota law to be discriminatory and exclusionary. Justice Bhat authored the dissenting judgment for himself and the CJI.

In their November judgment, while all five judges on the bench agreed that economic criteria could be a sound legal basis for affirmative action by the state, the two dissenting judges did not concur with the majority view on excluding socially and educationally backward classes (SEBC), scheduled castes (ST) and scheduled tribes (ST) from the benefit of the EWS quota law.

Significantly, the majority verdict at that time also held that the 50% ceiling on reservation is not inviolable or inflexible, marking a paradigm shift from the thumb rule that has governed reservations in India, preventing states from enforcing quotas that take the proportion above 50%, as laid down by a nine-judge bench in the 1992 Indra Sawhney judgment. The majority view noted that the 50% ceiling applied only to the provisions of the Constitution that existed at that time and cannot extend to the 2019 amendment.

But the two judges in the minority refrained from commenting on the 50% cap and instead sounded a word of caution against any categorical finding on the Indra Sawhney judgment. They pointed out that not only could the observation by the majority view could seal the fate of the 69% Tamil Nadu quota law, which is still pending before another bench, it may also lead to further infractions where reservation could be demanded as a right.

The EWS amendment was passed by Parliament in 2019 with broad support; at the time, it was seen as an effort to assuage the upper classes unhappy for what they saw as appeasement of backward and underprivileged classes. The court has been hearing the matter since then, but did not stay the law, which effectively took reservation to 60% in many states.

In their separate judgments, justices Trivedi and Pardiwala had in November highlighted the need to revisit the reservation system in India. Justice Trivedi suggested putting a time limit on all forms of reservation for an egalitarian, casteless and classless society, whereas justice Pardiwala underscored that reservation should not continue for an indefinite period of time so as to become a vested interest.

Also read: The SC verdict in the Delhi services case is a boost for democracy

The courts November ruling had come on a bundle of petitions that questioned the constitutional validity of EWS quota on the grounds that it breached the 50% ceiling under the 1992 judgment, and the amendment was unconstitutional for considering economic status as the sole criterion for identifying backwardness. The petitioners, comprising individuals and organisations, opposed reservation for EWS also on the ground that any affirmative action is meant for backward classes and that the law is bad for excluding those among SC, ST, and OBC from its purview.

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New Delhi Dont create an atmosphere of fear, the Supreme Court told the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday as the Chhattisgarh government claimed that the federal agency was conducting a probe into an alleged liquor syndicate scam in the state without any jurisdiction and with the sole objective of implicating chief minister Bhupesh Baghel. Chhattisgarh govt moved the SC, accusing ED of probing without any jurisdiction. (Representational image)

Senior counsel Kapil Sibal, representing the Congress government in the state, submitted that at least 52 officers of the state excise department have cited harassment and coercion by the agency to make incriminating statements against the CM and other senior functionaries. Sibal alleged that the real target of EDs actions is the state CM, and that territorial jurisdiction and issues of legal propriety have been overlooked in carrying out a probe in alleged cases of corruption and extortion that are triable by the state police.

Responding to Sibals submissions, a bench of justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Ahsanuddin Amanullah asked the agency for its reply on the state governments plea in a batch of matters relating to the liquor syndicate case.

Let there be some confidence of common man in these agencies. Otherwise, even a bona fide cause becomes suspect, the bench told the ED counsel.

The state government, in its plea, questioned the ED probe on the ground that the agency lacked the territorial jurisdiction and that there was no underlying predicate offence in this case.

When additional solicitor general SV Raju countered Sibals contentions, the bench told the law officer: If there is a scam, you catch the right people. Dont create an atmosphere of fear. Its not that everybody is an accused...We are saying that you at least wait till a predicate offence is made out.

To the courts remarks, the ASG replied that there is a massive scam in Chhattisgarh that the agency has unearthed involving high-level government officials, private persons, and political executives. Raju added that the money laundering case stems from a 2022 income tax department charge sheet filed against IAS officer Anil Tuteja and others before a Delhi court which has also taken a cognisance of the matter.

At this, Sibal interrupted Raju to contend that the Delhi court has taken cognisance of only the offences pertaining to income tax and no cognisance was taken of any scheduled or predicate offence that ED can prosecute. As such in law, no predicate offence exists on date. But ED is running amok in the state, beating and threatening officers, destabilising the government. And all this is being done to implicate the CM. There will be election in the state soon and we understand why this is happening, said Sibal.

The court, on its part, told ASG Raju that the issue of territorial jurisdiction of ED in this case is yet to be settled in view of the manner in which the Delhi court has taken cognisance of the charge sheet in the matter. There is still a flux regarding the predicate offence, it said.

ED initiates prosecution under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) predicated on a base FIR registered by CBI or any other law enforcement agency. ED registers an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) in order to probe the cases of money laundering related to the proceeds of crime which have been committed prior and an FIR for such an offence already exists.

If the base FIR is quashed or the accused is exonerated of the charges, ED cannot continue its probe under PMLA, the Supreme Court clarified in a ruling last year.

Raju said that ED will bring on record materials to show the legitimacy of its actions, as the court adjourned the matter after two weeks to enable the agency file a counter affidavit in response to the state governments application.

The state had moved its impleadment plea in a petition filed by Anwar Dhebar, the elder brother of Raipur mayor and Congress leader Aijaz Dhebar, who was the first person to be arrested by the agency in this case on May 6. Anwars wife had also moved the top court seeking protection from arrest.

During the proceedings on Tuesday, ASG Raju said that ED will not arrest Anwars wife for the time being but pointed out that Anwar should be asked to move the jurisdictional court since he has been in custody of the agency following the orders of a Raipur court on Monday.

According to the agency, the scam involved selective grant of licences to liquor manufacturers for commission, distribution of the collected money, and collection of commission from liquor shops. Last week, ED arrested Arunpati Tripathi, the special secretary of the Chhattisgarh Excise Department, along with three others, including Anwar.

Last Thursday, Baghel said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been misusing ED as its subordinate organisation. Our claim that the ED has been acting as an agent of the BJP has proved right. The way it has been threatening people to implicate them in false cases, they are now trying to implicate me in the alleged excise scam. Their main aim is to defame the Congress government, he told reporters.

Reacting to the order, state BJP spokesperson, Sachchidanand Upasane, said: If SC has given such statement the ED should seriously look into it and follow the guidelines of the agency.

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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)
Three applications were filed in the Varanasi district court on Tuesday seeking a survey by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) of the entire Gyanvapi mosque complex, including a disputed structure that Hindu sides call a Shivling but Muslim groups say is part of a fountain. Women plaintiffs, along with other devotees, offer prayers at Kashi Vishwanath Dham, in Varanasi on Tuesday. (HT)

The three applications were filed by nine applicants and will be heard by district judge Ajay Krishna Vishvesha on May 22. Seven petitions related to the Gyanvapi Masjid matter were transferred to the district court in April. Lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain, who represents the Hindu side, said the district court asked the Gyanvapi mosque management committee to file its reply to the pleas by May 19.

Also read: Hindu outfit seeks excavation at Agra mosque

The first application was filed by four plaintiffs  Rekha Pathak, Lakshami Devi, Sita Sahu and Manju Vyas  who were among the five women whose plea asking for daily worshipping rights inside the mosque complex led to a controversial survey last year of a portion of the mosque complex. The last day of this exercise  which was conducted by three advocate commissioners appointed by the court  unearthed the structure that Hindu groups quickly claimed was a Shivling. The area is currently protected on orders of the Supreme Court.

The second petition was filed by Ram Prasad Singh, Ranjana Agnihotri, Shishir Chaturvedi and Rakesh Kumar Agarwal, devotees of lord Shiva and petitioners who filed a suit last year seeking permission for daily darshan and poojan of purported Shivling, said Jain.

Meanwhile, lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain along with four women plaintiffs and other devotees on Tuesday offered prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath Dham to mark one year of the discovery of the shivling in the Gyanvapi mosque complex.

On May 16 last year, Baba was found in the Gyanvapi mosque complex. We offered prayers and performed Rudrabhishek of Baba Kashi Vishwanath to celebrate his Prakatya Diwas, said Jain.

Mahant Shiv Prasad Pandey, next friend and devotee of Bhagwan Adi Vishweshwar Virajman, filed the third application, Jain added. Next friend is a legal representative of someone incapable of maintaining a suit directly. On behalf of the applicants, we have filed three applications in the district court Varanasi, urging that ASI survey of the entire Gyanvapi mosque complex should be done. The court accepted the applications and fixed May 22 as next date of hearing, Jain said.

Under the dome of the Gyanvapi complex, there is the remains of the pinnacle of the temple. Also, the western wall of the mosque is the remains of the temple, he added.

Jain said that entire Gyanvapi complex should be surveyed by ground penetrating radar method, dating and whatever other means were suitable so that its basic condition and reality could be known. Rais Ahmad Ansari, the lawyer for the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid committee that manages the Gyanvapi mosque, said We will file an objection in the district court.

The development came days after the Allahabad high court set aside a Varanasi court order that rejected a demand for carbon dating of the disputed structure, and ordered a scientific survey to determine its age.

The Gyanvapi dispute dates back decades but in August 2021, five women filed a petition in a local court demanding the right of unhindered worship at the Maa Shringar Gauri Sthal, located inside the complex that houses idols of Hindu gods. In April 2022, the local court ordered a controversial survey of the complex, which quickly ran into protests. The survey was finally completed in May, but not before the Hindu side claimed that a Shivling was found in the final hours of the exercise.

Also read: 200-year-old Walled City mosque in Delhi awaits repair since 2020 damage

The petition represents the most successful of a flurry of recent pleas filed by Hindu groups and individuals in courts in Mathura, Agra and Varanasi, demanding worshipping rights in Islamic holy sites.

Last year, Ranjana Agnihotri, Ram Prasad Singh, Rajesh Agrawal, Shishir Chaturvedi asked a Varanasi court, requesting permission to worship the structure.Pandey also filed a similar suit in the civil court last year.
NEW DELHI: The West Bengal government, which banned the movie The Kerala Story, has told the Supreme Court that the decision was taken because the film contains hate speech and manipulated facts which can hurt communal harmony and disturb the law and order situation. People ride past a poster of a Hindi movie titled "The Kerala Story", outside a cinema in Mumbai. (REUTERS File)

The state government also said the petitioners should have approached the Calcutta high court which is already hearing four cases connected to the ban.

The states affidavit, filed through advocate Astha Sharma, said the movie was based on manipulated facts and contains hate speeches and there were multiple scenes that have the potential to hurt communal sentiments and cause disharmony among communities.

It added that the decision was taken after receiving intelligence inputs to this effect following the release of the movie at 90 theatres in the state on May 5. The order was issued under Section 6 of the West Bengal Cinemas (Regulation) Act which empowers the state government and district administration to intervene on the ground that the exhibition of the movie could result in violence and a breach of peace.

The affidavit was filed in response to a petition by the films producers, M/s Sunshine Pictures Private Limited and Vipul Amrutlal Shah, who challenged West Bengals ban on screening the film on May 8 and asked the court to order Tamil Nadu to provide security after theatre owners decided to stop screening the film.

During a hearing last week, a bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud took exception to Bengal being the only state to ban the film and commented: If this movie can run across the country, West Bengal cannot be an exception. This film has been released throughout the country and West Bengal is not different from the rest of the country.

Responding to the court, the state said the states duty to maintain law and order and prohibit the exhibition of a film were policy matters where courts should not interfere.

It said that no two states can adopt uniform parameters for maintaining law and order as they vary in terms of population and beliefs. Such issues can only be gone into by the high courts which understand the pulse of the region and can better appreciate the intention behind the ban.

In its affidavit on Monday, the Tamil Nadu government rejected the claim that theatre and multiplex owners decided against screening the film due to fear of violence, saying the decision was purely taken by the theatre owners who were guided by the films poor response among public.

It appears that the theatre and multiplex owners took the decision to stop the screening of the film from May 7 in view of criticism received, lack of well-known actors, poor audience response. This decision was made by theatre owners on their own and state had no role to play over the same, the Tamil Nadu governments affidavit filed by advocate Amit Anand Tiwari said.
A month before the Karnataka election, state Congress president DK Shivakumar in a press meet said he would love to work under Mallikarjun Kharge if Kharge became the chief minister. As the CM decision still remains pending even after several meetings on Tuesday, DK Shivakumar's trust in Mallikarjun Kharge as the CM rather than Siddaramaiah is again in discussion as DK Shivakumar is not leaving the race against Siddaramaiah. DK Shivakumar met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi on Tuesday. (Shrikant Singh)

DK Shivakumar and Mallikarjun Kharge held a meeting on Tuesday evening for 30 minutes before Kharge met Siddaramaiah who is believed to be ahead in the race to become the CM, with the support of more MLAs. The decision was deferred to Wednesday, a day before the likely swearing-in. The announcement will be made by Mallikarjun Kharge in Bengaluru, not in New Delhi.

Before meeting DK Shivakumar, Mallikarjun Kharge discussed the issue with Rahul Gandhi, KC Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala. Reports claimed that Rahul Gandhi and KC Venugopal are in favour of Siddaramaiah while Surjewala is neutral.

DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah did not comment on what transpired in their meetings. Reports claimed that DK Shivakumar told Kharge that Siddaramaiah's previous tenure from 2013 to 2018 was a misrule and this time he wants to be the chief minister. If he's not made the CM, he would like to continue as an MLA.

What DK Shivakumar said about Kharge earlier

In April, when DK Shivakumar was asked about Mallikarjun Kharge who was the top contender for the CM post in 2013 but lost to Siddaramaiah, DK said, "He is my leader and AICC chief. I love to work under him (Kharge). For our state and our country, he is an asset, and I will abide by the decision of the party. He is senior to me by 20 years. I came (to the Assembly) in 1985 and Kharge in 1972. Kharge had resigned as Congress Legislature Party leader at midnight (to switch to national politics on the party high commands instruction to make way for Siddaramaiah to take over as CLP leader in June 2009). He rose through the party ranks to become AICC president, which is not possible in any other party. It is possible only in Congress. The state unit received the much-needed boost after Kharge became AICC president. So, I will not go against his wishes."

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The Central Bureau of Investigation or CBI in its FIR claimed that independent witness Kiran or KP Gosavi and one Prabhakar Sail, now deceased, were included by the Narcotics Control Bureau in the Cordelia cruise ship drug raid on October 2, 2021, on the directions of former NCB officer Sameer Wankhede. The viral selfie shows KP Gosavi, who was a panch witness to the seizure of 6 grams of charas from Arbaaz Merchant on Cordelia, posing triumphantly with Aryan Khan. (HT Photo)

Wankhede has been booked by the CBI over an alleged 25-crore bribe demand from actor Shah Rukh Khan's family to spare his son Aryan Khan in a drugs case.

Things to know about KP Gosavi:

1. KP Gosavi, in conspiracy with his aide Sanvile D'Souza and others, had entered into the conspiracy to extort an amount of 25 crore from the family members of Aryan Khan, son of Shah Rukh Khan, by threatening them of the accusation of offences of possession of Narcotics substances, the CBI FIR alleged.

2. In order to let him walk free, Gosavi and D'Souza negotiated the amount bringing it down to 18 crore and even collected a token of 50 lakh and returned a part of the amount later, the FIR added.

3. 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 stated.

4. Wankhede had directed then NCB superintendent VV 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 added.

5. The CBI alleged that violating all norms of an 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.

6. This position allowed Gosavi and D'Souza to enter into the conspiracy with others to allegedly demand a bribe from Shah Rukh Khan, news agency PTI quoted officials as saying.

7. NCP leader Nawab Malik was the first to question Gosavis presence inside the NCB office. Malik who claimed his son-in-law too had been framed by the NCB, realised that it was most unusual for an officer from an investigating agency to take such photos and make them public, began his own investigation into the man in the selfie with Aryan Khan.

8. In his first press briefing on October 6, 2021, the NCP leader revealed that Gosavi was not with the NCB, and was in fact an independent witness called by Wankhede.

9. Gosavi, allegedly on the run, was arrested on October 28, 2021, in a cheating case from 2018 when he had allegedly duped one Chinmay Deshmukh of 18 lakh under the pretext of giving him a job in Malaysia.

10. Days after Gosavi came to limelight as his selfie with Aryan, Prabhakar Sail alleged that he had taken 50 lakh from an individual after the raid at the Goa-bound Cordellia ship.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Hyderabad The CBI on Monday served summons to MP from Kadapa Y S Avinash, a cousin of Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, asking him to appear before the investigation officer in Hyderabad at 11 am on Tuesday. (PTI)

Facing the threat of being arrested in connection with the murder of former MP Y S Vivekananda Reddy, YSR Congress partys parliamentarian from Kadapa Y S Avinash Reddy on Tuesday refused to appear before the Central Bureau of Investigation for questioning and sought four more days time, people familiar with the matter said.

The CBI on Monday served him summons asking Avinash, a cousin of Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, to appear before the investigation officer in Hyderabad at 11 am on Tuesday.

The agency told the Telangana high court last week that it may have to arrest Avinash Reddy, if necessary, to get more information about his role in the murder of Vivekananda Reddy on the intervening night of March 14 and 15, 2019.

However, Avinash replied to the CBI on Tuesday, stating that he cannot appear before the agency at such a short notice because of his pre-scheduled engagements at Pulivendula in Kadapa.

Even as Avinash was on his way to Kadapa, the CBI rejected his plea and sent him a fresh notice asking him to appear before the agency for interrogation on May 19.

The YSRCP MP had already been questioned by the CBI four times to elicit information about his uncles murder. The Telangana high court, which had granted him anticipatory bail in April, rejected the same on the directions of the Supreme Court on April 28. The case is now adjourned to June 5.

The high court had refused to pass an order restraining CBI from taking any harsh measure against him in the case. The Supreme Court had set aside Telangana high courts interim order staying his arrest by the CBI till April 25. It also extended the deadline for completing the investigation into the case till June 30.

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Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Telangana Party (YSRTP) chief YS Sharmila has demanded the signatures of CM Chandrashekar Rao on an affidavit that apparently said that his government was responsible for the paper leak case that happened in the state in March. YSR Telangana Party chief YS Sharmila(PTI)

Speaking to the media, YS Sharmila said, We are demanding the chief minister of Telangana to give the people of Telangana an affidavit assuring that the paper leak that happened due to the failure of IT department and TSPSC will not repeat itself.

This affidavit clearly claims that KCR and his government was responsible because they could not detect the hacks and because they failed to provide security the firewalls needed to prevent the paper leaks KCR has to date not opened his mouth on the paper leaks or given assurance to the youth of Telangana that these paper leaks won't repeat itself, she added.

Speaking about the poll promises made by the leader, YS Sharmila said,This affidavit also claims that KCR will assure that all the 1.19 lakh jobs (that he promised) are due and that he will immediately start the process to fill them for the youth of Telangana."

The Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) had cancelled the Assistant Engineers (AE) exam held on March 5 following allegations that the question paper had been leaked. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) which probed the matter arrested around 15 people in connection with the incident.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Alia Bhatt is an absolute fashionista. The actor is currently making headlines and for all the right reasons. Alia recently got appointed as the Global ambassador for the luxury fashion brand Gucci. Alia made her first appearance as Guccis brand ambassador in Seoul, South Korea where Gucci Cruise Show 2024 is taking place. Alia recently flew to South Korea to attend the event and she won the hearts of her fans. Alias fashion diaries are loved and adored for the right reasons, and her attire for Gucci Cruise Show 2024 made fashion lovers scurry to take notes. Alia Bhatt at Gucci Cruise Show 2024 in Seoul did the finger heart wearing a stunning mini dress. Watch(Twitter)

ALSO READ: Alia Bhatt celebrates Thai actor Davika Hoorne's birthday in Seoul in mini dress

Alia, for the fashion event, slipped into a little black dress featuring perforated details lined in silver resham threads throughout. The short bodycon dress came with a closed neckline and sleeveless details. Teaming it with a lavender slip dress, Alia aced the look. Alia also posed for pictures as she did the infamous Korean finger heart, and won the hearts of her fans. In no time, Twitter and Instagram were flooded with pictures and videos of the actor acing the look at the show. Take a look:

Alia further accessorised her look for the day in a silver clear bag as she posed for the pictures. The actor wore a statement silver ear stud designed in the shape of Guccis logo in one ear. In black and ochre platform heels, Alia aced the look and made fashion lovers drool. Gucci Cruise Show 2024 is taking place at Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul. The actor, for the show, slicked her tresses into a ponytail with a middle part and decked up in minimal makeup as she let her attire and her accessories do all the talking. In nude eyeshadow, black eyeliner, black kohl, mascara-laden eyelashes, drawn eyebrows, contoured cheeks and a shade of nude lipstick, Alia looked stunning as ever.

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Actor Manushi Chhillar is one of the Bollywood celebrities who will be making their debut at the Cannes Film Festival this year. The 76th Festival de Cannes kickstarted today and will be on till May 27. Manushi jetted off to the French Riviera from Mumbai, and the Cannes debutant's glamorous airport look caught everyone's attention. She stunned in a stylish denim and tank top teamed with killer knee-high boots. Scroll through to see Manushi's video at the Mumbai airport. Manushi Chhillar leaves for Cannes Film Festival, where she will make her debut this year.

Manushi Chhillar flies off to Cannes

The paparazzi clicked Manushi Chhillar at the Mumbai airport today. They shared a video of the former Miss World winner on social media with the caption, "This pretty woman is Cannes ready [ok hand sing and heart eye emojis] off she goes!" The clip shows Manushi greeting the media and posing for them before entering the airport. Her airport look is the perfect mix of elegance and style. Check out our download on it below.

Manushi wore a white tank top featuring racerback detailing, a high-rise neckline, a ribbed design, and a bodycon silhouette. She tucked the blouse inside her light blue-coloured denim jeans, which come with a high waist, skinny fit, and stitched design for a structured look.

Manushi accessorised the outfit with a Louis Vuitton tan monogram shoulder bag, a sleek watch, gold dangling earrings, and tan-coloured knee-high heeled boots. In the end, Manushi chose centre-parted open tresses, darkened brows, mascara on the lashes, rouged cheeks, and a minimal base for the glam picks.

Meanwhile, apart from Manushi Chhillar, Anushka Sharma and Esha Gupta are also debuting at Cannes. While Esha is already in the French Riviera town, Anushka will soon leave for the event. Anushka will honour women in cinema with Oscar winner Kate Winslet at the prestigious film festival.
Yoga is an important workout routine that should be included in the daily life. Multiple health experts keep emphasising on the need of having a yoga routine on a daily basis. Yoga helps in targeting the muscles and the joints. It helps in improving posture, balance and the coordination of the body. Besides helping in the working of the muscles, yoga also helps in keeping the risk of chronic illnesses at bay. Yoga creates better body awareness and boosts better sleep. With the body, yoga also helps in keeping the mind calm. Glutes are one of the most important muscles of the body and need regular workout for better coordination. Glutes help in enhancing pelvic alignment and supporting the lower back muscles. Addressing the importance of glutes in the body, yoga trainer Anshuka Parwani wrote, Strong glutes are very important for maintaining an upright body position and pushing it forward during walking, running, etc. Setubhandhasana/Setu Bandha Sarvangasana or the Bridge pose(Twitter/FitnessMana)

ALSO READ: Alia Bhatts trainer demonstrates asanas for strong arms

Anshuka, known for training several Bollywood celebrities such as Alia Bhatt and Kareena Kapoor shared five yoga asanas that can help in strengthening the glutes. These asanas will help to stretch and strengthen the glute muscles and maintain pelvic alignment. They will also help to reduce and prevent knee and back pain, she added. Take a look at the yoga asanas suggested by the trainer:

Kaliasana

Vyaghrasana

Urdhva Mukha Svanasana

Anjaneyasana

Setu Bandhasana

These yoga asanas bring multiple benefits for the body. Kaliasana, or the Goddess Pose, helps in heating the body and boosting blood circulation in the abdominal organs and the legs. Vyaghrasana, on the other hand, helps in boosting overall immunity of the body and strengthening the spinal muscles. Urdhva Mukha Svanasana helps in alleviating back pain symptoms and improving the flexibility of the body. Regular practice of Anjaneyasana helps in stretching the thighs, groins, chest, armpits, and shoulders, and alleviating chronic pelvic pain. Setu Bandhasana, or the Bridge Pose, helps in reducing symptoms of stress, anxiety, insomnia and depression.

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Researchers have developed a conceptual approach to predict whether a person with type 2 diabetes will develop kidney disease. Blood samples can predict kidney disease in type 2 diabetes patients: Study(Shutterstock)

The study was published in the journal, 'Nature Communications'.

It can 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."

ALSO READ: Important lifestyle changes to boost kidney health in summer

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 disease--such 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.
Back in the late 1700s, literary legend Johann Wolfgang von Goethe wrote an influential travelogue about his two years journeying through Italy that helped cement a long German romance with the southern European country. "O, how happy I feel in Rome!" Goethe wrote in a poem inspired by his travels. In the post-war years, well-travelled German citizens holidayed across Italy in the millions from Sicily to the Amalfi Coast, enjoying ocean, sun, regional cuisine  and, of course, gelato. Vespa scooters, sun and sand populate the myth of "la dolce vita," Italy's good life  and a popular Netflix series. (Pexels)

The German infatuation with Italy is, however, widely shared among the 65 million from across the planet who visit each year. And this fascination has been ably captured by the Netflix series "Summertime," which enters its third and final season this month.

Set in a resort on the Romagna Riviera on the Adriatic coast amid a sparkling summer, "Summertime" evokes a tourist's Italian fantasy, with a modern twist.

The series follows Summer (Coco Rebecca Edogamhe), a young woman who says she hates summer and is forced to support her mother with a job in a hotel in this coastal holiday idyll. But then she meets Ale (Ludovico Tersigni), a handsome young motorcycle racer from Rome. The two find love and come of age on the beach amid their own personal struggles, trials and tribulations.

'Do you know the land where the lemons blossom?'

Also centre stage is an Italian tourist paradise, one of many alluring locations that has maintained the nation's place among the top travel destinations for Germans. But why Italy?

Goethe fulfilled a lifelong dream when he took his trip to Italy between 1786 and 1788, and his recollections from his travels likely laid the foundation for the German longing for Italy.

The poet had escaped his official duties with the Weimar court when he travelled south under the moniker of Johann Philipp Moller. He pretended to be a painter as he explored Venice, Rome, Naples and Sicily, and spiced the trip with some erotic adventures.

In the novel, "Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre" (Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship), Goethe famously referenced Italy when he asked: "Do you know the land where the lemons blossom?"

The sentiment was the basis for "Where the Lemons Blossom," a waltz by Johann Strauss II written in 1874 that had originally been titled "Bella Italia" (Beautiful Italy).

Italy inspired pioneering souvenirs

Tourists with less of a literary bent learned about Bella Italia via picture postcards from the 1870s onward.

The Stadel Museum in Frankfurt am Main has an entire exhibition devoted to early photographs of Italy, which, from the mid-19th century, even before the picture postcard, were a popular souvenir.

In the age of the selfie, iconic Italian scenes portrayed 150 years ago are not so different today.

Bursting the bubble

But a deeper and darker reality often lies under this fabled view of a southern paradise.

Italy suffered terribly during the COVID pandemic, as reflected in the haunting images of an army convoy in the northern city of Bergamo moving coffins of coronavirus victims because the city's cemeteries were full.

Other Italy fans are put off by the persistent appeal of the political far right there, most recently incorporated by Giorgia Meloni, and by the unbridled machismo of the likes of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Then there is the taint of organized crime, recurring political instability and Italy's various economic crises.

But in the wake of the pandemic, the tourists have returned for sun, sand and limoncello  and a mythical vision of romance on the Italian coast is coming alive again on the small screen in the third season of "Summertime."
Robert Lucas Jr, the recipient of the Economics Nobel Prize in 1995, breathed his last on May 15. Lucas was a preeminent macroeconomist in the Chicago tradition. Robert Lucas Jr. smiles in his Chicago apartment shortly after learning he had won the 1995 Nobel Economics Prize October 10. (Scott Olson / Reuters)

Lucas had an interesting academic trajectory. Though he ended up as an economic theorist, Lucas started his academic journey as a student of history. He later wrote about the formative experience that led him towards economics: The most exciting modern historian I had read at Chicago had been the Belgian historian Henri Pirenne, whose account of the end of the Roman era stressed the continuity of economic life in the face of major political disruptions.

The apparent resilience of the economic system, even in the face of numerous political shocks, is a puzzle. As the quote above shows, this puzzle intrigued and challenged Lucas, shaping his research agenda as an economic theorist.

One way social sciences and economics differ from other natural sciences is the way time affects their subject matter. Usually, in natural sciences, temporal effects are unidirectional: The past affects the present, and the present affects the future.

However, in economics, temporal effects may be bidirectional. Expectations of future outcomes affect the current behaviour of individuals and, thereby, current results. For example, people will behave differently if they expect there will be a run on the bank where they have hoarded their savings. And their behaviour may affect the solvency and liquidity of the bank, thereby affecting present outcomes. Given the critical role of expectations, it becomes important to model this process consistently.

The crucial question is how should the expectation formation process be modelled? Lucas answer was that expectations are formed rationally. This is a roundabout way of saying people refrain from making systematic errors while forming their expectations.

This simple idea has several remarkable implications for policymaking and econometric evaluation.

For policymaking, the critical insight is that the outcomes generated by the anticipated and unanticipated policy changes may differ substantially. Therefore, people will factor in anticipated policy changes in their decision-making, potentially neutralising the impact of the said policies.

For econometrics, Lucass view may be seen as a critique of reduced form estimation. A reduced form estimation is a theory-free way of describing the correlational patterns in the observed data.

The problem is that the observed variables depend in part on the agents expectation of the continuation of the existing policies. If, for example, the policy changes drastically, upsetting peoples expectations, the correlation patterns seen in the data will break down. Lucas critique, as this insight came to be known, has been hugely influential in setting the research agenda in the niche area of macro econometrics.

Influential as it is, Lucass scholarly work has also come under criticism. Paul Romer, another Nobel laureate, criticised Lucas for promoting mathiness, a term he coined to describe the use of mathematics for hiding unrealistic assumptions. The field of behavioural economics focuses on uncovering systematic biases in peoples behaviour. Such biases tend to invalidate the Rational Expectations hypothesis. Lucass work has made the explanation of some stylised features of capitalist economies, like the persistence of involuntary unemployment, difficult. Further, the econometric models that pass Lucas's critique  Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium (DSGE) models remain a work in progress.

The discussion of Lucas, the researcher, will remain incomplete without mentioning his pedagogic contributions. He wrote a well-received textbook Recursive Methods in Economic Dynamics with Nancy Stokey. Combining deep insights with a rigorous treatment of various topics, this textbook has become one of the best training manuals for budding mathematical economists.

Robert Lucas may not be alive, but his ideas will continue to shape economic debates in future in one form or another.

Avinash Tripathi teaches economics in Azim Premji University, Bangalore.

The views expressed are personal
Its been years since I last went to New York. And while some of my favourite restaurants continue to shine  Eleven Madison Park has retained its third Michelin star despite throwing meat off menu, Le Bernadin is still the best fish restaurant in the world  some of the top places that I remember have been downgraded. I doubt if either Jean Georges or Daniel will ever win their three stars again, but I guess it doesnt matter that much to them because their chef-owners have turned themselves into global brands. (Also read: The Taste With Vir: The science of smell in Basmati rice) The big news for us is that while Indian food has still to hit the big time, it has reached where Korean cuisine was a decade ago(Instagram/Semma Restaurant)

The city still looks to The New York Times to judge restaurants. Michelin matters to chefs and visitors but not so much to New Yorkers. For instance, Per Se, which was savaged by theTimes has held on to its three Michelin stars but Peter Luger, the celebrated steakhouse, which was similarly demolished by the Times, has lost it Michelin star.

In terms of cuisine, my perspective (admittedly that of a barely knowledgeable outsider) is that New York now has little time for junk Japanese; it has many real Japanese restaurants that could easily compete with top places in Tokyo. American-Italian has made a comeback with the success of the Carbone group whose restaurants win no respect from Italys great chefs or from Michelin but are huge successes with a star-studded clientele and the approval of The New York Times.

Korean cuisine is now where Japanese was around a decade ago in New York city; a really big deal and a cuisine that is not only taken very seriously by critics but is also commercially successful.

The big news for us is that while Indian food has still to hit the big time, it has reached where Korean cuisine was a decade ago: On the verge of take-off. In New York, this is largely due to a single restaurant group, Unapologetic Foods run by Roni Mazumdar and Chintan Pandya. The group has three restaurants on the New York Times list of the citys top restaurants (more than any other restaurant group across cuisines) and two of its restaurants Dhamaka and Semma  have three stars from The New York Times, a really big deal in the city.

America is finally beginning to take Indian food seriously. Chintan Pandya, the chef-partner at Unapologetic Foods was rated the best chef in New York (across cuisines) by the James Beard Foundation and Semma is the only Indian restaurant in New York city with a Michelin star.

Ive only been to dinner at one of the Unapologetic restaurants (Semma) but what struck me was that while the restaurant is nearly impossible to get into (you have to book well in advance) the clientele includes Americans and Indians. Both groups enjoy the cuisine which makes no compromises and is stunningly authentic.

I met Roni Mazumdar and Chintan Pandya when they were on their India tour last month. When I landed in New York for three hectic days, I asked them if they could help with bookings. I wanted to eat at Dhamaka but Chintan suggested I go to Semma instead. (Ive written about it in Rude Food this weekend.)

They were kind enough to take me to restaurants I would never have got into myself because this was a sudden work trip and I had made no bookings at all.

Roni took me to Le Rock, my favourite kind of restaurant (French brassiere cooking). Le Rock is the brainchild of two chefs (Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson) who opened the iconic Balthazar for Keith McNallly before going off to start their own group.

Like Frenchette, the first restaurant the duo opened, the format of their places is deceptive. Le Rock is casual, relaxed and very New York. But the bistro/brasserie format actually serves as a cover for very serious French food. The leek vinaigrette, wrapped in leaves and opened on the table is a dish of genius. The snails, served in little cups with a butter flavoured with parsley, garlic and pancetta, are a fresh take on a Burgundy classic. The steak tartare is made from bison meat, not beef, and has a unique character of its own. The lentils classically served with a confit duck leg are replaced by farro (a kind of grain derived from wheat).

It is very precise cooking which would do any great French kitchen proud. Le Rock has three stars from the Times and will get one from Michelin this year, I reckon. (It is new so it could not be rated last year.)

One reason why Korean food is so popular in New York is because it has range. For instance, Cote, a super-successful steakhouse with operations in New York and Miami (three stars from the Times in New York, Michelin stars in both cities) can be enjoyed by anyone who likes steak even if they dont like kimchi or gochujang.

I went with Chintan who knows the chef but we kept a low profile and ordered simply till the chef (who was out of town) was informed that Chintan was in the restaurant. After that the experience completely changed. They sent out some caviar, told us that the chef had cancelled our order and that we would eat omakase. They brought us hunks of the best beef on the planet: US Prime, Miyazaki, Kobe, A5 Wagyu and God knows what else and cooked it in front of us.

I wondered how much this was going to cost but no, they wouldnt take any money because of the respect the chef has for Chintan. It was great food, as you would imagine. But it also helped me realise how much regard chefs at New Yorks top restaurants have for Chintan.

We went for lunch to Rezdora (also three stars from the Times and one from Michelin), a cosy Italian restaurant where the chef Stefano Secchi does his own take on the cuisine of Emilia Romagna. The most famous chef in that region is, of course, Massimo Bottura and Stefano had worked at Osteria Francescana and risen high in the kitchen. But his background is interesting: he is Italian-American and grew up in Dallas, Texas. His own father is from Sardinia so his food is not exactly classic Emilia Romagna style.

Stefano is still pals with Massimo and knew that the chef was in Delhi a couple of weeks ago and messaged him while we were there. His food does Osteria Francescana proud: in the Massimo tradition but different.

I stayed, as I have for years, at the Taj-run Pierre hotel. The Pierre is one of New Yorks grand hotels and has a wonderful restaurant location opening on to Fifth Avenue so you dont have to go through the hotel to get there.

When I first went, they ran Cafe Pierre in that location and it was pretty dismal. Then they gave the space over to a branch of Londons fashionable Le Caprice which flopped. They decided that perhaps this was because New York is inhospitable to restaurants from outside. (True but this incarnation of Le Caprice was not very good.) So, they went for a great New York name: the Maccionnes of Le Cirque who opened a restaurant called Sirio. This turned out to be the worst of the lot.

Now, the hotel is finally running the restaurant itself and the food (overseen by the hotels chef Ashfer Biju) is delightful. I had lunch there with Karambir Kang who runs the Tajs American operations and Ashfer outdid himself with a meal that was witty (coronation chicken reimaged as a salad) and superbly cooked (beef bourguignon with short rib in place of the pieces of meat that it is usually made with) Sadly, Ashfer is moving on. But I hope the restaurant will flourish.

And finally, the single best thing I ate in New York: A chicken sandwich.

Roni and Chintan have worked to develop an Indian fried chicken for a proposed fast-casual chain of restaurants. They only have two shops at the moment, and I went to one to eat a sandwich made with their fried chicken.

I was completely blown away, not just by the fried chicken or the spice mix (the restaurant has five blends made from different chillis  from mild to nuclear) but by the pav which they have specially baked for them and is far better from the rubbish bread we normally use for vada-pav at most places here.

I imagine that Unapologetic Foods will open more fried chicken places (the brand is Rowdy Rooster) and roll it out internationally. I reckon this could be their Shake Shack.

So, if you do go to New York and have difficulty booking tables at any of the restaurants I have written about, don't worry. Just go to Rowdy Rooster and eat the fried chicken in pav.

It is a thing of beauty.

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We are all moved by stories of soldiers martyred on the battlefield. But imagine a health care worker fighting death and diseases, losing her life on duty while trying to save someone else  and more shockingly, at the hands of the man she was trying to heal. PREMIUM Doctors and medical students raise slogans during their protest against the killing of a doctor, Kerala, May 10, 2023 (PTI)

On May 10, 25-year-old house surgeon Vandana Das was attacked and stabbed to death at a taluka hospital in Kottarakkara, Kerala, by an injured patient in police custody. The incident shook the medical community, sparking demands for accountability. Kerala health minister, Veena George, who initially stated that the young doctor lost her life because she was not experienced in handling such attacks, has now agreed to bring about an ordinance to ensure the safety of health workers in the state. But this may do little to repair the fraying ties between doctors and patients.

There have been long-standing demands for central legislation with stringent measures to protect health care workers and health establishments against such violence. The Union ministry of health and family welfare proposed a law, but the ministry of home affairs turned it down. It argued that there cannot be specific laws for different sets of professionals and that the existing provisions of the Indian Penal Code are sufficient to tackle such violence. Some states, however, enacted laws and used the provisions under the epidemic diseases act to tackle attacks on doctors.

The demand by doctors for stringent central legislation on violence against health care workers is justified. The last thing a doctor should worry about while caring for her patients is safety. The government protects specific sections of workers at a higher risk of violence  for example, police personnel, armed forces, and officers on election duty. Also, as part of the right to life, every citizen needs safety against such violence  and one way of doing this is by risk assessment and providing safety measures.

The state provides graded security to many categories of at-risk citizens. Therefore, the argument that if we make laws for doctors, we must make them for others is wrong. Not all health care workers face equal risk. For example, a doctor handling an emergency department in a busy government hospital will be more at risk of violence than a dermatologist doing private practice. The government must look at equity while providing security based on risk assessment.

Yet, this is not the whole story. While medical associations demand laws, one must also realise that more laws dont necessarily translate into more rights or safety if the implementation is poor. So, while doctors must demand stringent laws, they should not consider it a panacea.

The epidemiology of violence in providing health care needs to be studied to manage this. Most cases of violence happen in busy government hospitals with overflowing emergency departments and ICUs with high patient mortality. These establishments are often understaffed, with junior doctors dealing with anxious relatives. These doctors often pitch in to manage crowds, break the bad news to relatives, and communicate to relatives that there are no empty ICU beds or ventilators. These tasks, which should be ideally done by specialised staff, are left to doctors who dont receive specific training for such communication or have the resources for it. Imagine a 25-year-old resident at the end of a 17-hour-day, telling a horde of anxious relatives that their loved one isnt doing well, or has passed. Tempers run high and patience low. The Kerala high court rightly called this a systemic failure. At 3 am in the morning, she was there to serve. She was serving the people. The system has failed her, her parents and us, the court remarked.

Violence against doctors is a symptom of the multi-organ failure of our public health care system that needs radical treatment  an upgradation of the public health care system with improved human resources, training, and infrastructure  and not the band-aid of a central law or knee-jerk ordinances. Until that is done, doctors will continue to be victims of violence at the hands of angry patients and relatives.

Aqsa Shaikh is an associate professor, Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, NewDelhi. The views expressed are personal
The song Bole Chudiyan from the film Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham has created a special place in the hearts of the fans since its release decades ago. That is the reason people still dance to this hit track on different occasions. When captured and shared online, those performances often leave netizens entertained. Just like this video that shows two people from Nepal performing to the song during a function. The video shows the duo from Nepal who danced to Bole Chudiyan.(Instagram/@artistic_nepal_)

The video is posted on an Instagram page called artistic_nepal_. The clip shows a woman dressed in a beautiful blue saree and a man wearing jeans and a hoodie. Soon they start their performance on the track and beautifully deliver the dance. The song was originally picturised on Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Kareena Kapoor, and Hrithik Roshan.

Take a look at the video:

The video was posted back on February 20. Since being shared, the clip has accumulated close to 6.3 million views and the numbers are still increasing. Additionally, the video has received several likes and comments. Many wrote how the duo slayed the performance.

Heres how Instagram users reacted:

I recharge my Internet for this stuff, posted an Instagram user. I watched it for 10 times, commented another. They slayed it, expressed a third. She is enjoying herself, shared a fourth. That energy tho, wrote a fifth.
A police officer tasked with protecting a private school for girls in northwestern Pakistan on Tuesday opened fire at a school bus carrying teachers and students, killing an 8-year-old girl and injuring five others, officials said. Students stand outside school premises after shooting. (Tribune)

Read here: Imran Khan party leader Fawad Chaudhry seen running for his life after he spots cops outside court building. Watch

The shooting happened in the Swat Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Senior police official Nasir Satti said officer Alam Khan was immediately arrested. He said the shooting was not a militant attack.

Satti said officers were questioning Khan to determine what prompted him to fire at the bus as it was leaving the school that serves girls up to age 17. He said four students and a woman who was on the bus were injured in the shooting.

Satti said Khan was on security duty at the school because of concerns of possible militant attacks.

The Swat Valley was the stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban, formally called the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, until 2019 when security forces cleared the region of militants after military operations.

Gun violence targeting children is rare in Pakistan. However, nearly 150 people, mostly students, were killed in 2014 when TTP militants attacked a school in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Since then, authorities have deployed police at schools across the country, especially in the volatile northwest where the Pakistani Taliban have stepped up attacks on security forces in recent months.

Read here: Will Pak Army Chief Gen Asim Munir stand up?

The Pakistani Taliban are a separate group but also a close ally of the Afghan Taliban, who seized power in neighboring Afghanistan in August 2021 as U.S. and NATO troops were in the final stages of their pullout from the country after 20 years of war.
Washington D.C. braces for a momentous occasion as Sam Altman, the visionary behind OpenAI's groundbreaking chatbot, ChatGPT, prepares to testify before Congress for the first time. Altman's appearance will shed light on the future of artificial intelligence (AI) and the potential impact of ChatGPT on society. 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,(AP)

ChatGPT, unveiled by OpenAI last year, turned out to be a game-changer in the world of artificial intelligence. Capable of engaging in lifelike conversations based on given prompts, this chatbot has taken the tech industry by storm. Altman's team has continued to release updated versions of the chatbot, igniting a fierce competition among tech giants to develop more powerful AI systems.

On Tuesday morning, Altman will appear before the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on privacy, technology, and the law. The pressure is on for government leaders to establish regulations for AI, fueled by a March open letter signed by thousands of tech leaders and experts. The letter called for a pause in research on AI systems surpassing OpenAI's latest multimodal large language model, GPT-4, citing concerns over potential risks to humanity.

At the age of 38, Altman boasts an impressive tech career. He co-founded Loopt, a groundbreaking location-sharing app, in 2005. His journey led him to serve as the president of tech startup accelerator Y Combinator and even take a brief stint as Reddit's CEO in 2014.

OpenAI, founded in 2015 with Altman and Elon Musk on its initial board, catapulted to worldwide notoriety with the introduction of ChatGPT. In 2020, Altman assumed the role of CEO after stepping back from his leadership positions at Y Combinator. Drawing a striking comparison, Altman likened OpenAI's AI research to the Manhattan Projectthe monumental effort that produced the first atomic bomb during World War II.

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Altman made his way to California to attend Stanford University. Despite dropping out after two years, his passion for technology burned bright. Altman's fascination with coding and computers began at a young age, even crediting AOL chatrooms for providing support and connection during his journey of self-discovery as a gay man.

Altman's contributions to the tech industry have not gone unnoticed. Forbes honored him on its 30 Under 30 list in 2015 for venture capital, and this year, he earned a spot on Time's prestigious 100 Most Influential People in the World.

Beyond his tech prowess, Altman is known for his unique outlook on the world. A vegetarian who paradoxically owns a cattle ranch in California, he has contemplated survival scenarios, whether it be the rise of AI or a lethal virus. Altman's preparations include a diverse arsenal of guns, gold, potassium iodide, antibiotics, and even land in Big Sur as a retreat.

Since its launch, ChatGPT has experienced unprecedented success, breaking records as the fastest-growing consumer application ever. With 100 million monthly active users, the chatbot has become a global sensation. Microsoft Bing integrated ChatGPT into its search engine, prompting Google to scramble for a rival platform. Meanwhile, other AI labs continue to push the boundaries of technology.

As ChatGPT's popularity soars and concerns about its implications intensify, lawmakers face mounting pressure to establish regulations. Joining Altman at the congressional hearing are IBM's Christina Montgomery, VP, and Chief Privacy and Trust Officer, as well as New York University's Professor Emeritus Gary Marcus.

Altman's influence extends beyond Congress. He recently visited the White House to discuss AI concerns with Vice President Kamala Harris and is set to attend an exclusive dinner with bipartisan House lawmakers.

Also read | Pay the writers you AI-h Air plane carries NSFW message over Hollywood

Acknowledging the risks associated with AI, Altman emphasizes the need for caution. In a March interview, he stated, "We've got to be careful here. I think people should be happy that we are a little bit scared of this." Altman envisions AI as humanity's greatest technological achievement yet, but he understands the importance of treading carefully into uncharted territory.
President Joe Biden said Tuesday he's curtailing his upcoming trip to the Indo-Pacific, scrapping what was to be a historic stop in Papua New Guinea as well as a visit to Australia for a gathering with fellow leaders of the so-called Quad partnership so he can focus on debt limit talks in Washington. US President Joe Biden.(AFP)

The cancellation is a foreign policy setback for an administration that has made putting a greater focus on the Pacific region central to its global outreach.

Biden said he still plans to depart on Wednesday for Hiroshima, Japan, for a Group of Seven summit with leaders from some of the world's major economies. He will return to the U.S. on Sunday.

Im postponing the Australia portion of the trip and my stop in Papua New Guinea in order to be back for the final negotiations with congressional leaders," Biden said at the start of a Jewish American Heritage Month event at the White House. He added, The nature of the presidency is addressing many of the critical matters all at once. So Im confident were going to continue to make progress toward avoiding the default and fulfilling Americas responsibility as a leader on the world stage.

Biden said he spoke to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese earlier on Tuesday to inform him he was postponing a visit to Australia and invited him to Washington for an official state visit at a yet-to-be determined date. White House staff broke the news to Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape.

White House officials did not offer immediate response to questions about when Biden might reschedule visits to the two countries.

Revitalizing and reinvigorating our alliances and advancing partnerships like the Quad remains a key priority for the President, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. This is vital to our ability to advance our foreign policy goals and better promote global stability and prosperity. We look forward to finding other ways to engage with Australia, the Quad, Papua New Guinea and the leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum in the coming year.

Biden had been scheduled to travel on to Papua New Guinea to meet with Pacific Island leaders and then to Australia for a meeting of the leaders of the Quad partnership, made up of the U.S., Australia, India and Japan. The Papua New Guinea stop would have been the first visit by a sitting U.S. president to the island country of more than 9 million people.

The Quad partnership first formed during the response to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that killed some 230,000 people. Since coming into office, Biden has tried to reinvigorate the Quad as part of his broader effort to put greater U.S. focus on the Pacific and counter increasing economic and military assertiveness by China in the region.

Biden announced his decision soon after he wrapped up a meeting on Tuesday afternoon with Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jefferies for talks on the debt limit standoff.

Earlier Tuesday, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby expressed administration officials' frustration that the debt talks are having an impact on the president's dealings on the international stage.

We wouldnt have to have this conversation. I wouldnt have to answer these questions if Congress just did the right thing, Kirby said.

Some Republican lawmakers questioned Biden's decision to travel overseas considering the consequences of the debt limit talks.

I think he should not leave and he should focus on the debt limit here at home, Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla.

Kirby noted that Biden would meet with Albanese and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi while in Japan as well as Pacific Island leaders. Biden already had plans to hold a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during the Hiroshima visit.

With the brief stop in Papua New Guinea to meet with Pacific Island leaders, Biden had hoped to demonstrate that the United States is committed to 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 hes 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.
Two poultry workers in the U.K. have tested positive for bird flu, but they had no symptoms and there's no evidence of transmission between people, the Health Security Agency said Tuesday. H3N8 is a kind of bird flu, which is extremely rare in humans. However, the strain doesnt spread from person to person. (REUTERS)

The two are the first humans to test positive for the virus in the U.K. since the agency announced a case of a 79-year-old English man who was infected after allowing ducks into his home.

The agency said bird-to-human transmission of avian flu had occurred in the U.K. only a small number of times prior to that January 2022 infection.

The poultry workers who tested positive for the H5 strain were believed to have been exposed to sick birds while working at the same farm, which was not identified.

Poultry farms were under order from November until mid-April to keep all birds indoors after avian flu was discovered on dozens of farms. Since October 2021, the U.K. has faced its worst outbreak of avian influenza, with hundreds of cases confirmed and millions of birds culled.

The positive tests were detected through screening of poultry workers exposed to infected birds. The two workers have since tested negative.

Precautionary contact tracing was being done, the agency said.

Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at the agency, said the level of risk to human health from bird flu was very low in the general population.

Current evidence suggests that the avian influenza viruses were seeing circulating in birds around the world do not spread easily to people," Hopkins said. Globally, there is no evidence of spread of this strain from person to person, but we know that viruses evolve all the time and we remain vigilant for any evidence of changing risk to the population."
Russia-Ukraine War: A Ukrainian serviceman stands amid destroyed Russian tanks in Bucha, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine.(AP)

Russia launched an exceptionally intense air attack on Kyiv in the early hours of Tuesday, using drones, cruise and probably ballistic missiles, city officials said, as the Ukrainian capital suffered its eighth air raid this month.

"It was exceptional in its density - the maximum number of attack missiles in the shortest period of time," Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv's city military administration, said in comments posted on the Telegram messaging app.

"According to preliminary information, the vast majority of enemy targets in the airspace of Kyiv were detected and destroyed!"

It was not immediately known how many objects were shot down over the city and if any of them managed to hit their target.

After a weeks-long hiatus, Russia in late April resumed its tactic of long-range missile strikes and has launched a flurry of attacks in recent days, often targeting Kyiv. Ukraine has been able to repel vast majority of the attacks so far.

On Tuesday, falling debris was reported in Kyiv's Obolonskyi, Shevchenkivskyi, Solomyanskyi and Darnytskyi districts, officials said.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said falling debris set several cars on fire and damaged a building in the Solomyanskyi district in the capital's west. Three people were injured.

Klitschko said that south of Boryspil, air defence systems were repelling a drone attack. Boryspil, a city just southeast of Kyiv, is home to the capitals main passenger airport, which is now closed.

The damage in other districts was not significant and there was no immediate information on potential casualties there, the military administration said.

Air raid sirens blared across nearly all of Ukraine in the early hours of Tuesday, and were heard over Kyiv and its region for more than three hours.
Rescuers on Monday evacuated about 1,000 people trapped by seawater 3.6 meters (12 feet) deep along western Myanmar's 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. A man walks past a broken tree in Sittwe, in Myanmar's Rakhine state, on Monday.(AFP)

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 Cox's Bazar, which initially had been in the storm's 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 Martin's Island and Teknaf in Cox's 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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Rohingya families in cyclone-hit Myanmar buried loved ones outside shattered villages and searched the seashore for the missing, expecting little help from a government that denies their identity. Cyclone Mocha: Rohingya women in their destroyed house at Basara refugee camp in Sittwe. (AFP)

Read here: Cyclone Mocha kills at least 41 in Myanmar's Rakhine state, say local leaders

Cyclone Mocha snapped bridges, downed power lines and ruptured close-lying huts in displacement camps and villages across Rakhine state, leaving tens of thousands of the persecuted minority even more on the edge.

On Tuesday, many were trying to pick through piles of debris that had once roofed their homes or clear fallen trees from village paths.

Others were looking for family members not seen since the cyclone made landfall. It was the most powerful storm to hit the region in over a decade.

Dozens were reported dead and more than one hundred were missing.

"We were trying to run but the water was very high and dragged us down," Sar Hla Ma Kha, 40, told AFP from Basara village.

"The water was around our chest. My daughter and her son were lost while we were running."

Many walked the shore searching for family members swept away by the raging waters.

Some found the bodies of their loved ones.

Aa Bul Hu Son, 66, on Tuesday buried his daughter, the latest member of his family to have been taken by the storm.

"I just found her dead body in the lake in the village and buried her right away. I can't find any words to express my loss," he said.

"Nine out of my 14 family members were killed," he told AFP next to the hastily dug grave within sight of the shore.

"While we were thinking of moving, the waves came immediately and took us."

"Only five survived. The (rest) couldn't resist when strong wind swathed them away."

As the small group said Islamic prayers over Aa Bul Hu Son's daughter and lowered her body into the soil, a plane took off from Rakhine state capital Sittwe's airport a few kilometres behind the group.

Stateless

Contact was slowly being re-established with Sittwe, a city of around 150,000 people, with roads being cleared and internet connections re-established.

Images broadcast by state media showed troops unloading aid at the airport, and state media reported junta chief Min Aung Hlaing had visited to view the damage.

But few Rohingya in the devastated villages along the Rakhine coast were optimistic about receiving help fast.

Widely viewed as interlopers from Bangladesh, Rohingya are denied citizenship and access to healthcare, and require permission to travel outside of their townships.

A military crackdown in Myanmar in 2017 sent hundreds of thousands of Rohingya fleeing into neighbouring Bangladesh with harrowing stories of murder, rape and arson.

Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing -- who was head of the army during the crackdown -- has dismissed the term Rohingya as "imaginary."

Many of those remaining live in camps in Rakhine, displaced by ethnic violence that has riven the state for decades.

Read here: Cyclone Mocha makes landfall in Myanmar, tearing off roofs & killing at least 3

For those who had struggled to make a life, the storm had wiped out years of work.

"I had to work very hard for my living and to own things and rice," Arbada said outside Basara village.

"Now all of my belongings, rice and even dishes are all gone. Now I've no money to rebuild my house. We are starving. I haven't eaten for two days."

How many days does a person have to go hungry? I don't know when the government will come to help.
The personal information of 237,000 current and former federal government employees has been exposed in a data breach at the U.S. Transportation Department (USDOT), sources briefed on the matter said on Friday. The breach hit systems for processing TRANServe transit benefits that reimburse government employees for some commuting costs.(REPRESENTATIVE IMAGE)

The breach hit systems for processing TRANServe transit benefits that reimburse government employees for some commuting costs. It was not clear if any of the personal information had been used for criminal purposes.

USDOT notified Congress Friday in an email seen by Reuters that its initial investigation of the data breach has "isolated the breach to certain systems at the department used for administrative functions, such as employee transit benefits processing."

USDOT said in a statement to Reuters the breach did not affect any transportation safety systems. It did not say who might be responsible for the hack.

The department is investigating the breach and has frozen access to the transit benefit system until it has been secured and restored, it said.

The maximum benefit allowance is $280 per month for federal employee mass transit commuting costs. The breach impacted 114,000 current employees and 123,000 former employees.

Federal employees and agencies have been target of hackers in the past.

Two breaches at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in 2014 and 2015 compromised sensitive data belonging to more than 22 million people, including 4.2 million current and federal employees along with fingerprint data of 5.6 million of those individuals.

Suspected Russian hackers who used SolarWinds and Microsoft software to burrow into U.S. federal agencies breached unclassified Justice Department networks and read emails at the Treasury, Commerce and Homeland Security departments. Nine federal agencies were breached, Reuters reported in 2021.
Former information minister of Pakistan, Fawad Chaudhry, was seen running back to the high court building in Islamabad on Tuesday. This happened moments after the court ordered his release in connection with a case in which he was arrested for inciting violence. Fawad Chaudhry(Screengrab/Twitter)

Videos that went viral on social media showed Chaudhry running out of his vehicle towards the entrance of the court building. He was also seen hunching over and panting when a lawyer came for his help.

Chaudhry informed Justice Aurangzeb that police tried to arrest him despite the bail given by the court. In response to this, the Justice said, "You should have waited for the written order considering you are a practitioner (lawyer) yourself, the judge said.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry was detained by the police under the Maintenance of Public Order regulation after supporters of his party held violent protests in the country following former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan's arrest last week.

Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb of the Islamabad High Court had ordered the release of the leader after he submitted an undertaking that he would not incite any violence.

Protests erupted in Pakistan after Imran Khan was arrested in Islamabad on May 9. According to reports, the protesters burnt 12 vehicles and 34 motorcycles.
Prince Harry's recent return to London for the coronation of King Charles III has sparked speculation about the future of his relationship with the royal family. While it was a momentous occasion, some commentators believe it could also mark a farewell of sorts for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. FILE - Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duke and Duchess of Sussex leave after a service of thanksgiving for the reign of Queen Elizabeth II at St Paul's Cathedral in London, Friday, June 3, 2022. King Charles III will hope to keep a lid on those tensions when his royally blended family joins as many as 2,800 guests for the new kings coronation on May 6 at Westminster Abbey. All except Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, who wont be attending.(AP)

In the eyes of Nick Bullen, editor-in-chief of True Royalty TV, it appears that there is little urgency for Prince Harry to make a swift return to London. Adding to this, Meghan Markle has displayed a lack of enthusiasm for revisiting the city. Bullen speculates that this could mark the initiation of a gradual disengagement between the Sussexes and the royal family.

During his brief visit, Harry kept a low profile and stayed out of the spotlight. Unlike other members of the royal family who were seen attending events and dinners leading up to the coronation, there were no public sightings of Harry. It appears he chose to maintain a low-key presence throughout the entire visit.

According to Bullen, the royal family was unaware of Harry's plans for the afternoon following the coronation ceremony until the day of the event. While there was some anticipation that he might join in the family's festivities, it transpired that Harry had to leave as he had a flight to catch and couldn't stay any longer.

Looking ahead, Harry may have future reasons to visit London. He currently has ongoing lawsuits against British tabloids, which may require his presence for court proceedings. Additionally, he could make a trip to see his cousin Princess Eugenie after the birth of her second child, as they reportedly share a close bond. Furthermore, the 2023 Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, Germany, may bring Harry back to Europe, potentially allowing him to stop over in his former home.

However, the state of Harry's relationship with his brother Prince William remains uncertain. According to Bullen, there were no signs of reconciliation or communication between the two during Harry's visit for the coronation.

At present, Prince Harry has returned to his home in Montecito, California, following the coronation. Whether or not he will pay future visits to the royal family in London is yet to be seen. The dynamics within the family and the evolving circumstances surrounding Harry's personal and professional endeavors will likely determine the extent of his future interactions with the British royal household.
Japan and China used a new military hotline for the first time on Tuesday, their defence ministries said, following years of negotiations to set up the communication channel. Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu (File/ AP)

Read here: South China Sea secured, China now eyes west coast of Africa and Indian Ocean

Japanese Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada held a 20-minute call with his Chinese counterpart Li Shangfu, Tokyo's ministry said in a statement.

"Hamada mentioned the existence of security concerns between Japan and China, such as the situation in the East China Sea," it said.

He "stated that it is necessary to have candid communication especially when there are concerns about Japan-China relations".

Beijing confirmed the call, saying the air and maritime hotline would "contribute to further maintaining regional peace and stability".

The hotline, launched on March 31, had been mooted by both sides for over a decade as a way to avert unexpected clashes in the East China Sea.

A territorial dispute over islets in the area known as the Senkaku by Tokyo and the Diaoyu by Beijing has long fuelled tensions between the countries.

Japan, wary of its neighbour's growing military power, has publicly protested the presence of Chinese vessels around the disputed islets, and in other regions including near Okinawa.

As the world's second- and third-largest economies, China and Japan are key trading partners, and last year marked 50 years of diplomatic relations.

But ties between them are often fraught, and soured in December when Japan announced a security overhaul including more defence spending, calling China its "greatest strategic challenge ever".

Nonetheless, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida recently said he wants "constructive and stable" ties with China.

Kishida met President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of a summit last year, and Japan's foreign minister visited Beijing last month -- the first such trip since December 2019.

Read here: Taliban says China seeking investment in Afghanistan's oil, gas

This week, Kishida is hosting G7 leaders in Hiroshima, where the bloc's relationship with China will be high on the agenda.

At a G7 foreign ministers' meeting in April, seen as setting the stage for the summit, the group warned Beijing over "militarisation activities" in the South China Sea.
In a bizarre incident, the founder of Taiwan-based Starlux Airlines flew to Japan to apologise in-person to the passengers who were stranded overnight after multiple delays and cancellation of flights. Passengers spent the night at Japan's Narita International Airport.(Taiwan news)

Read here: Go First insolvency: What happened so far with the domestic carrier?

As per the report by Taiwan News (article beyond paywall), Chang Kuo-wei, chairman of Starlux Airlines, flew to Japan's Narita International Airport on May 7 after the airlines faced backlash over a series of problems forced 308 passengers to spend overnight without food at the airport in sleeping bags.

Kuo-wei was seen in a video explaining that one flight had been delayed due to ''really strong winds", while the second flight was delayed by an aircraft maintenance check before the flight crew exceeded their permitted working hours. He further said that airlines will compensate the inconvenience by offering the full refunds to passengers.

Starlux airlines faced the wrath of the passengers after the issues in their two flights caused trouble to the passengers. Passengers on one flight, JX803 were originally scheduled to board at 3:45 pm, but it was delayed to 4:20 pm without citing any reason. Meanwhile, Starlux then moved passengers to another flight at about 5:30 pm, after a staff member informed passengers that the two flights were being merged.

Passengers were of the thought that the flight had not been delayed because of weather but so that the two flights could merge and leave together as one, the report added.

The ordeal wasn't over yet. The passengers boarded the flight at about 7 pm, but they were kept on the plane till midnight, and the flight was then cancelled because of Tokyo Narita Airports curfew.

Even then, they were not allowed to deboard the plane until sleeping bags arrived at 1 am. They were then forced to sleep at the airport terminal. While the airline provided dinner, they had to buy their own breakfast the next morning.

Read here: These are the best and worst airlines in the US

The airline then announced that the flight would take off at 6 am on May 7, but then the departure time was changed to 8 am again. That's when airlines founder Chang Kuo-wei arrived at the airport to apologise to the stranded passengers, though not many were convinced. The plane finally flew after a 16-hour-delay.
Libya's parliament, in the east of the divided country, on Tuesday suspended Fathi Bashagha as head of an administration challenging the authority of the country's western-based prime minister. Former Libyan prime minister Fathi Bashagha(Reuters)

Parliament also announced an investigation into Bashagha.

The chamber, backed by military strongman Khalifa Haftar, had picked Bashagha in February last year to lead a government to replace that of Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah, who sits in Tripoli.

In July, Bashagha had told AFP that he planned to take office in Tripoli "in the coming days."

The following month, local media and experts said he had failed in his second attempt to dislodge his rival by force, after clashes in Tripoli killed 32 people.

"The House of Representatives voted unanimously to suspend the chief of government Fathi Bashagha and open an investigation against him," said the House spokesman Abdullah Bliheg after a closed-door meeting in Benghazi.

Deputies assigned the administration's finance minister, Oussama Hamad, to act as prime minister while the investigation takes place, Bliheg said.

The reasons for Bashagha's suspension were not immediately known.

Since his failed attempts to force Dbeibah out, Bashagha has been based in the central city of Sirte.

Although he himself hails from Libya's west, he chose to strike alliances with the eastern-based figures Haftar, and parliamentary speaker Aguila Saleh, in the name of national reconciliation.

Libya fell into a decade of violence following the 2011 overthrow of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in a NATO-backed uprising.

Dbeibah was appointed as part of a United Nations-backed peace process to end more than a decade of violence that followed Kadhafi's overthrow and drew in foreign powers.

The eastern-backed administration argued Dbeibah had outlived his mandate, but he refused to hand over power before elections.

Elections scheduled for December 2021 were delayed over issues including their legal basis and the participation of controversial candidates. They have still not taken place.

Abdoulaye Bathily, head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), said last month there was a "historic opportunity" to tackle Libya's political crisis, after consultations between political, security and other figures.

He said representatives at the gatherings committed to support elections.

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Meghan Markle is a cuckoo in the royal nest and her woke Californian hang-ups will destroy her marriage to Prince Harry, a senior UK politician said. In an outspoken attack on the couple, former Labour minister and diarist Chris Mullin said that Prince Harry will come limping home when the marriage ends in tears. Meghan Markle at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

Meghan Markle is clearly the main mover in the couples relationship with Harry very much second fiddle, the politician said.

The claims are contained in Chris Mullins latest memoir, Didnt You Use To Be Chris Mullin?" which contains indiscreet accounts of meetings and conversations with royal family members, politicians and celebrities.

The politician dismissed Meghan Markles complaint that an unnamed royal speculated about the skin colour of her and Harrys son, Archie.

In his 2020 memoir, the politician had revealed that Queen Elizabeth sent a man to the gallows with the words do you know, he even shot the dog?. She turned down an appeal by a man convicted of murder in Bermuda, he claimed.

In the new book, the politician also claims that the former Duke of Edinburgh once said charm is a greatly overrated value, describing Prince Philip as a cantankerous old buffer.

This comes following Prince Harry's visit to the UK to attend King Charles' coronation. The Duke of Sussex attended the ceremony alone without Meghan Markle. The couple had stepped down from their royal duties in 2020 and since then live in the United States.

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Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, is set to receive an award from the Ms. Foundation at the Women of Vision Awards in New York City. The ceremony is scheduled to take place just 10 days after King Charles III was crowned in London. The royal family's notable absence has led to several royal experts criticizing Markle's award's timing. Many believe that the timing couldn't have been more wrong, given that the Duchess was noticeably absent from "the single most important moment in Charles' life and a singular moment in world history." Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex leave after a service of thanksgiving for the reign of Queen Elizabeth II at St Paul's Cathedral in London.(AP)

Christopher Andersen, author of "The King," told Fox News Digital that the award is a "slap in the face" to the man who walked her down the aisle and to the country she adopted, for better or worse, as her own. Andersen believes that if Markle is a sensitive and caring person, she would make it her top priority to help mend her husband's relationship with his brother Prince William and the King.

In contrast, the profile announcing Markle as a winner in this year's ceremony describes her as a "feminist, champion of human rights and gender equity, and global role model." The former "Suits" star has been honored for her lifelong advocacy for women and girls, which she weaves through both humanitarian and business ventures.

Andersen alleged that Meghan is aiming to be the next Oprah, a multimedia titan with real political clout, but she won't run for office because she is far too thin-skinned. Still, she does want to have an impact on the next election. Andersen insists that Markle is sending a message to the British royal family by receiving the trophy from Gloria Steinem.

"She's making it clear that she has a life of her own, doing the things she thinks are important," he said. "She also seems to be saying that getting a trophy from Gloria Steinem is more important to her than seeing her husband's dad crowned king of England. It's an in-your-face gesture aimed at the royal family she just snubbed."

Writer and activist Gloria Steinem speaks about photographer Annie Leibovitz new exhibit 'WOMEN. (Reuters Photo)

Gloria Steinem is a trailblazing American journalist and social-political activist, who rose to fame as a prominent figurehead of the second-wave feminist movement in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Meghan's participation in such award ceremonies quashes the idea of her of laying low after the kerfuffle with the royal family and her absence in King Charles's coronation.

Many believed that Markle would help the Windsors connect with younger people in an increasingly multicultural nation. However, those dreams crumbled when the couple made their royal exit in 2020. They alleged that palace officials were insensitive to Markle's mental health struggles as she attempted to navigate royal life. The couple also claimed that the duchess faced racist attitudes from the U.K. press, which contributed to their decision to leave the country.

Since moving to North America, the couple has repeatedly aired their grievances. After a six-part Netflix docuseries titled "Harry & Meghan" was launched in December 2022, which further detailed their struggles, Harry's explosive memoir "Spare" was published in January of this year.

Also read | Megyn Kelly accuses Meghan Markle of staging hiking photos, sparks controversy

The acrimony between Harry and his family once again spilled into public view in April. At the time, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex confirmed that they had been asked to vacate Frogmore Cottage, their home in the UK.

(Source: Fox News)
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. Investigators work along a residential street following a deadly shooting.(AP)

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 daughter's window and room, without hitting anyone.
A fire ripped through a hostel in New Zealands capital overnight, killing at least six people and forcing others to flee the four-story building in their pajamas in what a fire chief on Tuesday called his worst nightmare. Hipkins said the building was not currently safe for police to enter and it could take authorities some time to confirm the number of dead.(Representative file image)

Fifty-two people in the Loafers Lodge hostel in Wellington had been accounted for, but firefighters were still looking for others, said Wellington Fire and Emergency District Manager Nick Pyatt. He said they were called to the hostel at about 12:30 a.m.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins told the AM morning news program that he understood that six people were confirmed dead and the number of fatalities would likely rise. Police said they did not have an exact count of the number of dead, although they believe the total number of fatalities was less than 10.

Hipkins said the building was not currently safe for police to enter and it could take authorities some time to confirm the number of dead.

It is an absolute tragedy. It is a horrific situation, the prime minister told reporters. In the fullness of time, of course, there will be a number of investigations about what has happened and why it happened. But for now, the focus clearly has to be on dealing with the situation.

Responding to comments from emergency officials that the building had no fire sprinklers, Hipkins said it was not currently a requirement of New Zealand's building code for older buildings to be retrofitted with sprinkler systems.

Pyatt, the fire chief, said his thoughts were with the families of those who had perished and with the crews who had rescued those they could and tried to rescue those they couldnt.

This is our worst nightmare," Pyatt said. It doesnt get worse than this.

Police said the cause of the fire was not immediately known.

Wellington City Council spokesman Richard MacLean said city officials were helping about 50 people who escaped the fire and were at an emergency center the council set up at a local running track that had showers and other facilities.

He said a number of elderly people had escaped the building with only the pajamas they were wearing.

A lot are clearly shaken and bewildered about what happened, he said.

The hostel provided a combination of short-term and long-term rentals, MacLean said. He didn't have all the details, he said, but he believed it was used by various government agencies to provide clients with needed accommodation.

Health authorities said two people who were in the building were being treated at hospitals and both were in a stable condition. Three others had been treated and discharged, while a sixth patient had chosen to leave before getting treatment.

Loafers Lodge advertises itself as an affordable place for people to stay while they are in the capital, whether on business or needing to visit the nearby Wellington Hospital. It has 92 rooms and promotes them as being available long term.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan accused the "agencies men" for arson and shooting in some areas during the violent protests in the country last week. Prime minister Shehbaz Sharif orchestrated the violence to justify the current crackdown, he claimed. Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan(AP)

"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," Imran Khan said in a video posted on his Twitter handle.

The government buildings and the Lahore Corps Commander's House were ransacked under the organised conspiracy, he added.

"I want an independent inquiry [into the vandalism]..," he said adding that this was all being done under the "London plan" with the aim to ban his party.

"Clearly this was all stage managed by those who wanted to use this as a pretext to further crackdown on PTI, jail our workers and senior leadership along with me so that the assurances given to NS [Nawaz Sharif] in the London plan could be honoured," he alleged.

Widespread protests gripped Pakistan following Imran Khan's arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust case. His party's workers stormed military installations and ransacked Lahore's Corps Commander house, reports claimed.

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Pakistan has no other option but to ask its all-weather ally China to bail out its ailing economy to avert full fledged eruption of the Balance of Payment (BoP) crisis if the IMF does not revive the USD 6.5 billion programme, according to a media report on Tuesday. International Monetary Fund (IMF)(Reuters)

The policymakers are left with no other options but to explore all other ways to avert default as well as choking off the economy of over 220 million people, The News International quoted sources as saying.

Amid deepening political and economic crisis in the country, the IMF (International Monetary Fund) has adopted the policy of wait and see but this policy cannot be pursued for a longer period," a top official source said on Monday.

"Either the IMF will have to be revived through completion of the 9th review or the programme will be scrapped. We will share no more data with the IMF without completion of the ninth review, the official said.

Cash-strapped Pakistan, which is also facing political turmoil, has adopted the policy of import restrictions to manage its economy in order to avert default.

A programme continuation with the IMF would have ensured a flow of dollars from multilateral, bilateral and commercial monies to ease the imports and unclog the economic activity.

Keeping in view all these developments, independent economists are now suggesting the government make last-ditch efforts of reviving the IMF programme or clearly look towards China, Pakistan's closest ally, to bail out the struggling economy.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang last month assured his Pakistani counterpart Shehbaz Sharif that China supports Pakistan in maintaining financial stability. China has already given financial aid to Pakistan.

Former minister for Finance and renowned economist Dr Hafiz A Pasha said if the IMF did not move forward then Pakistan would have no other option but to request China to devise any mechanism for helping Islamabad to avert a full-fledged crisis.

He said that the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) could be used as an instrument to help out Pakistan to avert the BoP crisis.

Dr Khaqan Najeeb, former advisor in the Ministry of Finance, said undoubtedly the country has taken a number of steps for macro stabilisation and paving the way for completion of the 9th review by the IMF.

However, considering a weak State Bank of Pakistan reserves position at just USD 4.38 billion and a precarious balance of payment position, the IMF is being extra careful in ensuring financing needs are more than adequately met.

Authorities have tried but have been unable to give comfort to the lender, the report said.

The IMF last week said Pakistan needed significant additional financing for the successful completion of the long-stalled ninth review bailout package.

The IMF also rejected the Pakistan government's claim that it has met all the conditions to reach an agreement with the global financial body to release funds under an already agreed loan facility.

It added that the large South Asian economy was facing stagflation and had also been battered by a series of shocks including severe floods.

A staff-level accord to release a USD 1.1 billion tranche out of a USD 6.5 billion IMF package has been delayed since November, with nearly 100 days gone since the last staff-level mission to Pakistan. That is the longest such gap since at least 2008.

Pakistan, currently in the throes of a major political as well as economic crisis, is grappling with high external debt, a weak local currency and dwindling foreign exchange reserves.
The high-profile investigations into potential Russian interference in Donald Trump's 2016 US Presidential campaign, led by special counsels Robert Mueller and John Durham, have finally drawn to a close. Carrying price tags of approximately $32 million and $6.5 million, respectively, these investigations have ignited debates about their financial justification given their outcomes. John Durham (L), appointed by Attorney General William Barr, has investigated potential misconduct in the origins of the Mueller's (R) probe into the Trump campaign's alleged ties to Russian interference in the 2016 Presidential election.(Singh Rahul sunilkumar)

According to Special Counsel Durham's report, the FBI hastily initiated an investigation into the 2016 Trump campaign's potential collusion with Russia without substantial evidence. Durham criticized the bureau for neglecting to utilise standard intelligence analysis tools, conducting crucial interviews, or verifying the allegations in the Steele dossier, which was used to secure a FISA warrant against a former Trump campaign advisor. (READ MORE: Durham's Report on FBI's Russia-Trump probe. A witch hunt or a missed connection? | Key takeaways)

Dissecting the Mueller Investigation's Costs

The Mueller investigation, which scrutinized the alleged Russian involvement in Trump's campaign, spanned over two years and cost the Justice Department nearly $32 million. This figure encapsulates both direct and indirect expenses, including funds borrowed from other branches of the Department and Mueller's office's direct expenses, which amounted to $16 million. The final six months of Mueller's probe saw a $6.5 million expenditure, with personnel costs directly accounting for $4.1 million.

Understanding the Impact of Mueller

The Mueller investigation resulted in 34 individuals and three Russian companies, many tied closely to Donald Trump's campaign, being charged with crimes. Five of these individuals received sentences that included prison time. In stark contrast, Durham's probe into FBI actions has so far led to a single conviction: low-level FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith.

Despite the high costs, the federal government has seen some indirect recoupment. For instance, Trump's former adviser Manafort forfeited $11 million to the government and was also ordered to pay an additional $6 million in restitution to the IRS. Moreover, nearly $130,000 in fines have been levied, destined for the federal fund for crime victims.

Investigations Initiated: Why?

The Mueller investigation was launched to probe into potential ties between the Trump campaign and Russian efforts to influence the 2016 Presidential election. Meanwhile, John Durham was appointed by Trump's attorney general, William Barr, in 2019 to scrutinize the origins of the Trump-Russia probe and ascertain if any misconduct occurred during the investigation.

Cost Breakdown of the Durham Investigation

On the other hand, the Durham probe, designed to uncover potential misconduct within the FBI during the Trump-Russia investigation, reported a $6.5 million cost between October 2020 and September 2022. However, the costs associated with Durham's initial year and a half of work, starting in 2019, have not been disclosed, given his appointment as special counsel only came about in October 2020. This year's spending breakdown includes over $1 million for employee salaries and benefits, over $220,000 on travel, $600,000 on contractual services, and over $100,000 on rent.

In Durham's probe, only three prosecutions were made, with two cases resulting in acquittals and one guilty plea from a lesser-known FBI employee.

Evaluating the Value

Comparatively, while Mueller's investigation into Trump's campaign cost nearly five times as much as Durham's inquiry into the FBI, experts believe the results of Mueller's probe were more substantial, considering the number of convictions and financial recoupment.

However, assessing the justification of these costs involves more than a simple comparison of expenditure and direct financial return. The affirmation that no office, not even the highest in the land, is exempt from scrutiny comes at a cost. The 'justification' of these investigations' costs will ultimately hinge on one's perspective on these broader societal implications.

The Trump's Perspective: A "Witch Hunt"?

Former President Donald Trump has been highly critical of these investigations, frequently referring to them as a "witch hunt." In one tweet, he questioned the spending of over $40 million, asking, "When will this illegal Joseph McCarthy style Witch Hunt, one that has shattered so many innocent lives, ever end-or will it just go on forever?" Despite the criticism, both investigations were initiated.

Now, with Durham report being public, Trump touted the investigation as a tool to expose the "crime of the century".

Meanwhile, critics argue that the probe was an expensive exercise that resulted in little actionable information, and merely echoed findings from previous investigations.

What's next?

With the completion of both investigations, the reports now serve as a basis for further decision-making and potential reform within the FBI and Justice Department apart from being used as political fodder with the elections scheduled next year. (ALSO READ: US presidential election 2024: A look at declared and potential candidates)

The investigations have shed light on the operations of the FBI and the Justice Department, allowing for critical evaluations and necessary changes in their procedures and practices. The FBI has since announced several corrective measures

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King Charles III is still confused about which castle, palace or stately home will he stay at, it has been reported. The newly crowned monarch may be in perpetual orbit if he tries to divide his time between his more than 12 properties across the UK, The Independent reported. But he is not keen on using the Buckingham Palace, royal experts have suggested. Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla wave to the crowds from the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the coronation ceremony in London.(AP)

The Palace is not his style, royal expert Ingrid Seward said while royal historian and biographer Hugo Vickers said that King Charles would rather not live in the palace, but could run his office there.

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," Ingrid Seward said.

Hugo Vickers claimed that the King would stay at Clarence House, saying that this was what the late Queen Elizabeth II wanted to do, but Winston Churchhill made her go to Buckingham Palace.

King Charles and Camillas family residence is Highgrove House which located in Gloucestershire. He also owns Birkhall, a Scottish estate, and Llwynywermod, a Welsh farmhouse. His property includes seven palaces, 10 castles, 12 homes, 56 cottages and 14 ancient ruins. He also inherited The Crown Estate, as well as his mothers private estates such as Balmoral Castle in Scotland.

King Charles prefers living in smaller properties than grand palaces, the report claimed quoting a source who said that the monarch would prefer to stay at his eight-bedroom home in Birkhall compared to the 52-room Balmoral.

He absolutely loves Birkhall. 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 source added.

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King Charles is dealing with a major "problem" that involves Prince William's children- George, Charlotte and Louis- that he needs to "deal with," a royal commentator claimed. Richard Fitzwilliams said that the official portraits of the royal family released after King Charles' coronation show the ageing nature of the monarchy. Britain's King Charles III wearing the Imperial State Crown and Britain's Queen Camilla posing in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace in London with their Pages of Honour and Ladies in Attendance.(AFP)

As King Charles plans for a slimmed-down monarchy, the royal expert said, I think one of the problems - and this is something that King Charles is going to have to deal with - as we saw in the first set of photographs released after the highly successful coronation weekend, there were 12 working members of the royal family, of which only four were below the age of 70.

So this does raise the point," the royal expert pointed out that it will be more than a decade before George, Charlotte and Louis will be able to step up which results in a gap in the King's plans.

King Charles's age poses the biggest challenge to his reign, the royal author said.

He added: "Of course George and Charlotte and Louis played a role of one sort or another in the different days in the during the coronation weekend. I mean it was wonderful to see George as a page of honour, but it is obviously going to be a long time before any of them are able to participate in royal engagements actively. And this does mean that, firstly, The Waleses are the future of the monarchy, there's absolutely no doubt about it.

But secondly, who's going to take up all these hundreds of patronages at the moment which are at the moment vacant?," he questioned.

This comes after Princess Anne said that she finds it difficult to imagine how she will be able to take on more work.

I think the 'slimmed-down' [monarchy] was said in a day when there were a few more people around to make that seem like a justifiable comment, she had said.

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Just a week after King Charles' coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey, its been revealed that his eldest son Prince William is already planning his own service. Prince of Wales has been in talks with his close advisers about how to create a very different event than his father's, according to the UKs Sunday Times. Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales is seen. (Reuters)

Prince William wants to evolve the ceremony so that it is modern and relevant, and scrap the controversial homage of the people which had been included in King Charles coronation, the report claimed.

There is no way he will go down that route or anything like it, a source close to Prince William told the publication.

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," the source added.

The report also claimed that Prince William was not closely involved in preparations for his fathers coronation, and had declined the offer to have his own investiture ceremony as Prince of Wales.

But Prince William is keen to hold his own coronation at the historic Westminster Abbey, the report added.

On the relevance of the royal family in modern times, Prince William had told the BBC in 2016, It occupies a lot of my thinking space as to how on earth youd develop into something modern in todays world. I think the royal family has to modernise and develop as it goes along, and it has to stay relevant. Thats the challenge for me, how do I make the royal family relevant in the next 20 years time? I hope thats something I can do.

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The Georgian Civil Aviation Agency has issued a statement asserting that Georgia maintains a strong stance on permitting flights between Georgia and the Russian Federation only by airlines and aircraft not subject to sanctions."Consequently, the Civil Aviation Agency will meticulously examine and verify all applications, information, and documentation submitted by airlines, taking into account various mechanisms related to sanctions.Simultaneously, the agency engages in consultations with states that adhere to sanctions while maintaining direct air traffic with the Russian Federation, studying their practices as well," stated the agency.Based on their reports, the Civil Aviation Agency of Georgia has currently received applications from multiple airlines seeking to establish regular air traffic between Georgia and Russia. Nevertheless, the agency has chosen not to disclose which airlines have submitted these applications."We emphatically state that, in relation to each appeal submitted to the Civil Aviation Agency, the decision will be made after conducting a detailed study of the current status of the airlines and their aircraft in relation to international sanctions or restrictions. Flight permits will be issued in accordance with the aforementioned principle," the statement reads.During a joint press conference with Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lkke Rasmussen expressed Denmark's backing for Georgia's European aspirations, affirming that their country's response regarding the candidate status would be positive."You will obtain candidate status in the fall when we witness the implementation of recommendations from the European Commission. It is a merit-based pathway to the EU, and all of this is interconnected with the Copenhagen criteria. We aim to assist Georgia in meeting these criteria. If Georgia fulfills these criteria based on recommendations and decisions, Denmark will lend its support for the granting of candidate status," stated Rasmussen.As per the statement of the Danish Foreign Minister, Denmark endorses Georgia's European aspirations, which are founded on the principles of human rights, the rule of law, and independent democratic institutions.
Prince William has been tipped not to follow in King Charles's footsteps with his own coronation ceremony, royal editor Russell Myers suggested. Following King Charles' crowning, reports suggested that Prince William has begun to plan his own service. The royal editor said that Prince William will take a break from royal tradition to show he is a "modern man" and ready to lead the slimmed-down monarchy. King Charles has been a supported of the same. Prince William kisses his father King Charles III during his coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey in London.(AP)

King Charles has earlier signalled that only the most senior members of the royal family will now work on behalf of the Crown. The Palace also released a special coronation photo with many believing that the King has already chosen the senior members.

These reports about William planning his own Coronation  we've barely caught up on the sleep we were missing from the last one, the royal editor said.

It does seem a bit soon, however, William does have a lot on his shoulders. Certainly, he and his family are going to have to be the flag-bearers for the modern monarchy. We're talking about slimmed-down versions, it's not very of them left at the moment because obviously Harry and Meghan have left, we've got Prince Andrew having stepped back because of his involvement with certain affairs, Myers added.

William will ditch the "glitz and glamour" that the public saw in King Charles's Coronation for a modernised interpretation of the service, the expert claimed, saying, "And now we have William talking about what will it mean to be the monarchy in the modern world. I don't think he will have a coronation anywhere near what we saw with Charles'. We talk about the glitz and the glamour mixed in with the thousand-year-old ceremony  I can't see how he, as a modern man, will want to give that sort of indication of his personality."

A source close to the Prince of Wales suggested earlier that the royal has already started to think about his coronation.

There is no way he will go down that route or anything like it. 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, the insider told Sunday Times.

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China is facilitating Russia's invasion of Ukraine despite Beijing's efforts to play peacemaker, former British prime minister Liz Truss told Newsweek. I think it was President Xi Jinping who described it as 'a friendship without limits.' And it's increasingly clear that Russia is now the junior partner of China. And China is, in my view, the major threat that the world is facing, Liz Truss said. Britain's former PM Liz Truss.(AP)

Western nations must not hand Xi Jinping undue influence in shaping the conflict, she added.

"I think it's very real," she said. China has presented itself as a potential mediator. As Russia has been isolated by the West through sanctions, China has been expanding its Russian energy imports and exports.

"I believe that they are very much helping Russia deal with the sanctions they face," Liz Truss said, adding, "And it was no coincidence that the war in Ukraine was perpetrated immediately after the Winter Olympics ended."

"They're very much part and parcel of the same issue which we're facing," Truss added.

You can't separate those two threats. If Putin were to be successful in Ukraine, which I don't think he will be, that would give succor to Xi's efforts in Taiwan. And again, if China is successful in their ambitions, then that would help Russia. These things are inseparable, she said.

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Russian president Vladimir Putin is "insane," Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky said as he travelled around Europe to shore up support for Kyiv ahead of the counteroffensive. "It's a joke for him. He does not understand what is happening. He is an insane human," Zelensky said in Italy. Russia-Ukraine War: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky is seen. (AFP)

"Russia started the war. Russia took lives. The war is on our land," Zelensky added, saying, "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."

Referencing his Ukrainian Peace Formula- a 10-point plan on Kyiv's conditions for peace with Russia- the Ukrainian president said there is no point in attempts by certain countries or influential individuals to mediate between Ukraine and Russia to end the war.

However, Kyiv "welcomes the proposals of third parties to help overcome the crises provoked by the war and end the war," the presidential office said.

"We are a civilized state and we want peace, but a just peace. And we want fair and just sentences for the murderers," Zelensky told Italian media.

In Italy, Zelensky met with political leaders, including prime minister Giorgia Meloni and Pope Francis during a visit to Rome. Following this, the Ukrainian leader travelled to Berlin.

"I thank Germany for the largest military aid package since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion. Now is the time for us to determine the end of the war already this year. We can make the aggressor's defeat irreversible already this year," Zelensky said.

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France is the most popular destination for Indian travellers among Schengen states, a report by the Schengen Visa Statistics 2022 showed. But France also had the largest visa rejections in 2022, the report added. The country- one of the five most popular Schengen destinations for Indians- saw 1.38 lakh visa applications in 2022, followed by Switzerland at 1.06 lakh applications, Spain at 80,098 applications, Germany at 76,352 applications and the Netherlands at 52,616 applications, the report showed. Schengen Visa 2023: France was among the five most popular Schengen destinations for Indians.(Unsplash)

France's visa rejection rate was 20.12 per cent, Spain's 18.5 per cent and Switzerlands was as low as 13.2 per cent, data showed.

The Schengen area is EU passport-free zone that covers most European countries. It is the largest free travel area in the world and can be visited using a short stay visa- Schengen visa. A person with a Schengen visa- the most common visa used for travelling in Europe- can stay up to 90 days in the Schengen area.

The visa allows its holder to enter the country and travel freely in the Schengen zone from any of the Schengen member countries. There are no border controls within the zone.

Germany saw the lowest rate of visa rejection in 2022 at 11.33 per cent with 8,615 visas being rejected, the report claimed while Iceland saw 1,861 applications rejected. Hungary refused 9,046 applications, Belgium 4,824 visa applications and Norway 18,016 application.

Currently, there are 27 European countries in the Schengen Area. These include Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Croatia.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" ...view detail
Air strikes and artillery fire intensified sharply across Sudan's capital early on Tuesday, residents said, as the army sought to defend key bases from paramilitary rivals it has been fighting for more than a month. Smoke rises over the city as army and paramilitaries clash in power struggle, in Khartoum, Sudan,(REUTERS)

The air strikes, explosions and clashes could be heard in the south of Khartoum, and there was heavy shelling across the River Nile in parts of the adjoining cities of Bahri and Omdurman, witnesses said.

The fighting between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has triggered unrest in other areas of Sudan, especially in the western region of Darfur, but is concentrated in Khartoum.

It has caused a humanitarian crisis that threatens to destabilise the region, displacing more than 700,000 people inside Sudan and forcing about 200,000 to flee into neighbouring countries.

Those who have remained in the capital are struggling to survive as food supplies dwindle, health services collapse and lawlessness spreads.

Officials have recorded 676 deaths and more than 5,500 injuries, but the real toll is expected to be far higher with many reports of bodies left in the streets and people struggling to bury the dead.

"The situation is unbearable. We left our house to go to a neighbour's house in Khartoum, escaping from the war, but the bombardment follows us wherever we go," said Ayman Hassan, a 32-year-old resident.

"We don't know what the citizens did to deserve a war in the middle of the houses."

JEDDAH TALKS

Fighting has surged both in Khartoum and in Geneina, capital of West Darfur, since the two warring parties began talks in Jeddah brokered by Saudi Arabia and the United States more than a week ago.

The talks have produced a statement of principles about providing access for aid supplies and protecting civilians, but mechanisms for setting up humanitarian corridors and agreeing to a ceasefire are still being discussed.

Both sides had previously announced several ceasefires, none of which stopped the fighting.

The army has relied largely on air strikes and shelling, only occasionally engaging in ground fighting, as it seeks to push back RSF forces that took up positions in neighbourhoods across Khartoum soon after the fighting erupted on April 15.

The RSF attacked major military bases in northern Omdurman and southern Khartoum on Tuesday in an apparent attempt to prevent the army from deploying heavy weaponry and fighter jets, residents and witnesses said.

The RSF also said in a statement that it had captured hundreds of army troops in a counter attack in Bahri, releasing a video of rows of men in uniform sitting on the ground as RSF fighters celebrated around them. Reuters could not immediately verify the claim, which the army denied.

The army has been trying to cut off RSF supply lines from outside the capital and to secure strategic sites including the airport in central Khartoum and the major Al-Jaili oil refinery in Bahri, where fighting flared again on Tuesday.

HOMES DESTROYED

The war began after disputes over plans for the RSF to join the army and the future chain of command under an internationally backed deal for a political transition towards civilian rule and elections.

Army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, took the top positions on Sudan's ruling council following the 2019 overthrow of former leader Omar al-Bashir during a popular uprising.

They staged a coup two years later as a deadline to hand power to civilians approached, but both sides began to mobilise their forces as mediators tried to finalise the transition plan.

Both sides courted foreign backing from regional states attracted by Sudan's mineral and agricultural wealth, and its strategic location between the Sahel and the Gulf.

Most of those fleeing Sudan have headed north to Egypt or west to Chad, which borders Darfur. Others have headed to Port Sudan on the Red Sea, hoping to catch boats to Saudi Arabia.

"We came from war, we lost our husbands, our homes were destroyed," said Reem, a student camped out in scorching heat in Port Sudan with hundreds of others. Even if there were peace, where are we going to live if we go back?
Former United States Air Force captain Robert Salas told National Geographic's show UFOs: Investigating the Unknown about an Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) sighting at the nuclear missile base in the country. Three years after the incident, the US Air Force ended up shutting down its UFO investigation unit stating that no threating or damaging UFO citings had occurred.(Youtube/National Georgraphic UK)

Salas told during the interview that on March 24, 1967, there were lights that were sighted flying upon the facility. He said, Sometime in the evening hours, I get a call from the main guard upstairs. He tells me that there are strange lights flying upon the facility.

He described the lights as reddish-orange, pulsating and glowing.

The guard told Salas, It's hovering just above the front gate. He points with his arms and he says it's right there hovering - motionless and without sound. We did think that there was a solid object within the lights, sort of oval-shaped. I kind of dismissed it and I said, you know like UFOs? I kinda laughed. And then he said, well theyre not airplanes sir.

However, the encounter did not end there. Salas said he got another call about five minutes later. He calls back and he is screaming. Hes very frightened, hes babbling. Hes gotten all the guards out there with their weapons drawn and they wanted orders on what to do. I told them, make sure nothing enters the fenced area. When I hung up the phone, I thought we were under attack.

He further added, By who or what, I had no idea and we had bells and whistles going off in our control room and we could see lights going from green to red, all across the board.

According to Salas, this damaged a significant number of nuclear missiles and weapons, and yet the US government opened no investigation into the same. Not just that, Salas said that the chiefs within the unit with information on the same, were made to sign confidentiality contracts regarding the matter.

Three years after the incident, the US Air Force ended up shutting down its UFO investigation unit stating that no threating or damaging UFO citings had occurred.

Last month, a book by ex-cop Gary Heseltine claimed that the US Air Force shot UFOs flying over Britain, referring to the time when they opened fire during the famous British Roswell incident in the December 1980. In the book titled Non-Human, The Rendlesham Forest Incidents: 42 years of Denial, Gary Heseltine wrote, as per The Mirror, that the American personnel blasted at UFOs buzzing over RAF Bentwaters and RAF Woodbridge in Suffolk.

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As Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan faced his toughest election test in two decades, he defied pollsters coming within a fraction of a percentage point of winning presidential ballot. The process moves to a runoff on May 28 between Erdogan and his much-touted rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu. Turkey Elections: Supporters of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan holds a flag of his portrait outside the AK Party headquarters after polls closed.(AFP)

Amid Turkey's most dire economic crisis since the 1990s, Erdogan retained control of parliament and even won in regions hit by the deadly February earthquake that claimed more than 50,000 lives.

Here are top updates on Turkey's election:

The main opposition party led by Kemal Kilicdaroglu were unable to beat Erdogan. Don't despair. We will stand up and take this election together, Kilicdaroglu said. Turkey's election officials confirmed that there would be a second round because the remaining uncounted votes would not swing the outcome. Erdogan secured 49.5 percent of the vote and Kilicdaroglu picked up 44.9 percent. Nationalist candidate Sinan Ogan won 5.2 percent while official turnout reached a record 88.9 percent. Observers from the council of Europe said the election was "marked by an unlevel playing field but still competitive". US President Joe Biden is "looking forward to working with whoever" wins the election, the White House said praising the country for holding a peaceful vote. "We congratulate the Turkish people for expressing their desires at the ballot box in a peaceful way," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said. Erdogan has governed Turkey as either prime minister or president since 2003. In a tweet, Erdogan said the votes for him confirmed the nation's trust in him. God willing we will have a historic win by increasing our votes from May 14 and emerging victorious on May 28 elections, he said.

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Ukraine on Tuesday announced that law enforcement had detained the head of the country's supreme court in a $2.7 million bribery inquiry, as Kyiv pursues anti-graft measures required for closer integration with the European Union. Director of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau Semen Kryvonos and Director of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office Oleksandr Klymenko attend a press conference dedicated to the detention of Ukraine's Supreme Court head. (Reuters)

"The head of the supreme court has been detained," Oleksandr Klymenko, a senior official leading the government's anti-corruption efforts, told reporters in Kyiv.
Gunmen attacked a US convoy in southeast Nigeria's Anambra State on Tuesday, police and a US official said, killing four people and abducting three others. Separatists who operate in the region have escalated their attacks in recent years, usually targeting police or government buildings. US convoy attacked in Nigeria(Representative image/AFP)

"No US citizen was in the convoy," said police spokesman Ikenga Tochukwu.

The gunmen "murdered two of the Police Mobile Force operatives and two staff of the consulate," he said, before setting their vehicle "ablaze". The attack took place on Tuesday at "3:30pm (14:30 GMT) along Atani, Osamale road" in Ogbaru district, according to the police.

Joint security forces deployed to the scene, said Tochukwu, but the gunmen managed to abduct two police operatives and a driver.

A "rescue/recovery operation" was underway Tuesday evening, he added in his statement.

US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby confirmed the attack during a briefing with reporters in Washington DC.

"A US convoy of vehicles was attacked. What I can tell you is that no US citizens were involved," Kirby said.

The State Department also confirmed the attack.

"U.S. Mission Nigeria personnel are working with Nigerian security services to investigate," a spokesperson said.

The security of our personnel is always paramount, and we take extensive precautions when organizing trips to the field.

Nigerian officials often blame attacks in the southeast on the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra movement (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network.

IPOB has repeatedly denied responsibility for the violence.

The group's leader Nnamdi Kanu is in government custody and faces trial for treason after being detained overseas and brought back to Nigeria.

Separatism is a sensitive issue in Nigeria, where a declaration of an independent Biafra Republic by Igbo army officers in the southeast in 1967 triggered a three-year civil war that left more than one million dead.

Violence in the southeast is just one of the many issues facing president-elect Bola Tinubu, who takes the helm of Africa's most populous nation later this month.

The military is also battling a 14-year-old jihadist insurgency in the northeast, gangs who kidnap and kill in the northwest and central states and piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.

After a brief calm period during February and March elections for the presidency and governorships, attacks have been on the rise in the last few weeks.

Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, who ran and lost in the February 25 presidential election, is one of those contesting Tinubu's victory, claiming fraud.

The electoral commission has recognised "glitches" during the vote but has dismissed claims that the process was not free and fair.
Reservations are now open for Hyatt Regency Conroe. Located in historic east Texas, the new 250-room hotel today confirmed it will officially open its doors and welcome guests on May 25, 2023.

"We are thrilled to open our doors and welcome our first guests to Hyatt Regency Conroe later this month," said General Manager Roberto Intriago. "Conroe is a key business and leisure destination, and Hyatt Regency Conroe will add an important new premium full-service option for travelers visiting the Texas Piney Woods in historic east Texas. Whether visiting for a weekend getaway, attending a conference, or exploring the great outdoors of Sam Houston National Park and Lake Conroe, our goal is to ensure hotel guests and locals alike have a memorable visit."

Guestrooms

Hyatt Regency Conroe will boast 250 well-appointed guestrooms, including 13 suites and 11 accessible rooms, with complimentary Wi-Fi, modern bath amenities like Smart Mirror featuring ideal lighting and 65" flat screen televisions with streaming capabilities.

Dining

The new contemporary hotel will feature a variety of dining options reflecting local and fusion cuisine. Avenue A, the hotel's lobby bar and lounge will serve locally inspired cocktails and small plates like grilled black garlic chicken wings, crabcakes and parmesan truffle fries with outdoor seating available as well. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, Conroux, the hotel's full-service restaurant will celebrate Texas Gulf cuisine with homage to Vietnamese flavors through menu items like crawfish fritters, corn chowder and pork belly banh mi. At Conroux, indoor and outdoor seating options will be available, as well as private and semi-private dining rooms for intimate events and special occasions. The hotel will feature a 24-hour market with a coffee shop and robust to-go selection of sandwiches, snacks, treats and bakery items.

Hyatt Regency Conroe's food and beverage program will be led by Executive Chef Christian Brady with support from an experienced culinary team. Prior to joining Hyatt Regency Conroe, Chef Brady served in culinary positions at several other Hyatt properties, including Grand Hyatt Washington D.C., Miraval Arizona Resort & Spa and Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa.

Meetings and Events

With two ballrooms and six meeting rooms, Hyatt Regency Conroe is the perfect venue to host large-scale events and group meetings with more than 30,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space designed to accommodate events of any size and scale. The hotel's 14,000-square-foot Regency Ballroom has ample room to host events for up to 1,000 attendees. Hyatt Regency Conroe provides a stress-free and seamless experience for conferences, wedding parties and receptions with outdoor reception areas and creative culinary offerings.

Recreation

Situated in Conroe's Grand Central Park, guests will be able to relax and refresh underneath the tall pines at the hotel's beautifully landscaped outdoor pool. The hotel will also feature a 24-hour fitness center and dog-friendly conveniences (fees and restrictions apply).

"This is a landmark day in the history of Conroe and Hyatt Regency Conroe will be another jewel in the crown of America's Miracle City," said Conroe Mayor Jody Czaijkoski. "As we take this exciting step forward, I want to express my appreciation to all the great City of Conroe employees who have worked hard on this extraordinary hotel. It's Conroe's time to shine, and we couldn't have done it without them."

Hyatt Regency Conroe is located at 1001 Grand Central Parkway, Conroe, TX 77304, just south of historic downtown Conroe, providing easy access to Historic Crighton Theater, Lone Star Monument and Historic Flag Park, as well as local breweries, shops, restaurants and more. Located approximately 20 minutes from both Lake Conroe and Sam Houston National Forest, the hotel is an ideal destination for outdoor recreation enthusiasts. Hyatt Regency Conroe is also located just 30 minutes from (IAH) George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

Get up to 15% off stays at Hyatt Regency Conroe between May 25 and September 10, 2023, when you book direct by May 23, 2023. Use special offer code LOCKITIN to book your qualifying stay. For full offer details including terms and conditions, please visit hyatt.com/possibilities.

To learn more about Hyatt Regency Conroe or to book a reservation, please visit hyattregencyconroe.com.

Hotel website
EOS Hospitality is pleased to announce the appointment of Nicholas Farina as Vice President of Operations. In his new role, Farina will focus on operational strategy and support for the over 40 hotels in the EOS Hospitality portfolio. Farina will work alongside the property leaders to understand their needs and find resources to help achieve their goals. He will also work alongside Chief Operating Officer Simon Mais to streamline processes in collaboration with the properties, to help provide consistent practices across the portfolio.

Farina brings with him almost 20 years of hospitality industry experience, with some of the world's most distinguished hotel brands. Most recently, Farina oversaw the opening of 1 Hotel Nashville and was involved with the City of Nashville on the Mayor's initiatives to drive climate change in the rapidly changing Nashville area. Prior to this, he was the General Manager for 1 Hotel Central Park, where he became a steward of sustainable practices. Previously, Farina was with Loews Hotels as the Hotel Manager at the Loews Regency, overseeing all hotel operations. Farina began his hospitality career with the Dorchester Collection at the New York Palace, where he held numerous positions in Food & Beverage, Sales, and Rooms Operations. His passion for the industry started at a young age apprenticing in kitchens before starting a career in hospitality, after attending Boston University School of Hospitality.

Nicholas Farina resides in Manhattan with his wife and two dogs. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking, entertaining family and friends and attending shows on Broadway.
Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile, the stylish hotel located in Chicago's central Gold Coast neighborhood, has announced Sven-Erik Richter as the newly appointed General Manager. With over 25 years of experience working in the hospitality industry, Richter brings his expertise to Sofitel Chicago with the goal to provide consistently exceptional service to the hotel's guests through its welcoming, attentive team.

Richter earned the rank of Captain in the German Air Force Academy before deciding to pursue his Hotel Management Diploma from the Chamber of Commerce in Hamburg, Germany. Having started his hospitality career as a management trainee with IHG Hotels, Richter was drawn to the industry because it allowed for global deployment and relocation, as well as cultural variety.

Originally from Hamburg, Germany, Richter is now in the process of moving full-time to Chicago from Dallas with his family. Prior to joining the Sofitel Chicago team, Richter held management positions at luxury properties around the world, including Fairmont Dallas, Swissotel Bremen in Germany, Fairmont Mayakoba in Riviera Maya, Mexico, Fairmont Olympic, Seattle, Fairmont Le Montreux Palace, Switzerland, and more. Through managing various properties across the globe, Richter values learning about his colleagues' cultures and perspectives and strives to apply that knowledge to provide top customer service.

Throughout his career, Richter has received awards and accolades for his notable work in the hotel industry, including the prestigious AAA Five Diamond Awards for Fairmont Mayakoba and Fairmont Olympic in Seattle, as well as World Hotel Awards recognition for Swissotel Bremen, Germany. During his tenure at Fairmont Le Montreux Palace, Switzerland, Richter was named "Best Director of Front Office in Switzerland" by the renowned Bilanz Magazine. Richter has played a key role in the growth and development of the properties he has managed, bringing a unique perspective to Sofitel Chicago.
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 global flagship 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.

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.
Kimpton The Rowan Palm Springs has appointed Jerry Perez as director of food & beverage. In his role, Perez is responsible for driving the overall success and bottom-line results for the food & beverage operations of the award-winning, 153-room downtown Palm Springs hotel, including its four celebrated restaurant and bar concepts: 4 Saints, Juniper Table, High Bar, and Window Bar.

Perez brings 30 years of seasoned expertise in hotel food & beverage, catering and special events, and independent fine dining to The Rowan. Working closely with Executive Chef Richard Crespin, Perez is focused on menu innovation and continually enhancing the guest experience across culinary, bar, banquets, and in-room dining. He additionally takes the lead in managing the food & beverage team and implementing programming and events for the hotel's outlets.

Building his career in luxury lifestyle hospitality, Perez has been instrumental in helping hotels, resorts and restaurants achieve applauded acclaim. He was most recently with JdV by Hyatt, where he held the title of director of food & beverage on the opening team of a new boutique hotel in California. While at Terranea Resort (under the management of Two Roads Hospitality) as senior food & beverage manager, the Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. property and mar'sel restaurant respectively earned Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star ratings and recognition from the Michelin Guide California. Perez's resume also includes director of food & beverage positions at the Porsche Experience Center Los Angeles and The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colo. Before he transitioned to hotel food & beverage, Perez held tenures at the former Naya and Cinch restaurants in Los Angeles as well as New York City's onetime Bouley Bakery (later reborn as Bouley Restaurant), which earned two Michelin stars, and the three-Michelin-star Le Bernardin
Questex has acquired and assumed management control of the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference from the NYU School of Professional Studies (NYU SPS) starting with the 2024 edition. The value of the transaction was not disclosed.

The conference joins Questexs portfolio of hospitality events, including the International Hospitality Investment Forum (IHIF), which is currently taking place in Berlin.

The Questex Hospitality portfolio is led by Alexi Khajavi, group president hospitality, wellness and travel. The NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference will become part of the Operational Real Estate division.

Hospitality is a global industry and global investors are looking for cross-border investment opportunities, acquiring and partnering with the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference from the NYU School of Professional Studies (NYU SPS) further solidifies Questex as the global platform to inform and connect hospitality investors, operators and advisors, said Khajavi.

For NYU, the proceeds from the agreement will help fund student scholarships at the NYU SPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality.

The 45th edition of the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference, will take place between June 4-6, 2023, at the New York Marriott Marquis.

Why it matters

The global hospitality industry is a $4.8 trillion market and is expected to grow by over 10 per cent annually to reach $6.8 trillion by 2026.

This agreement creates a powerhouse hospitality portfolio. Questex has created the unquestioned leadership position in the overall hospitality industry. We are the only event and information services company to offer a portfolio that includes hotel operations, hotel real estate investment, and other interconnected businesses such as restaurants, bars, gyms, spas, and luxury travel. Paul Miller, CEO, Questex

For years, the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference has been one of the most prestigious global industry conferences. We look forward to continuing to work with Questex on the conference to evolve, grow, and deliver unparalleled content. This agreement will help ensure the Conference is the premier hospitality finance and development forum for years to come. Nicolas Graf, chaired professor and associate dean of NYU SPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality

About Questex

Questex Hospitality Group, a division of Questex LLC, represents a senior audience of $650 billion in hotel assets, reaching one in two hotel owners and operators across the globe. With a portfolio of both media and live events, including Hospitality Investor, Annual Hotel Conference (AHC), International Hospitality Investment Forum (IHIF), and Resort & Residential Hospitality Forum (R&R), Questex Hospitality Group brings together leaders in hospitality investment, development and operations to make the deals that shape recovery and growth in the sector.

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LOS ANGELES, Calif. Springboard Hospitality, an award-winning hospitality management company, today announced the addition of Hotel St. Michael in Prescott, Arizona to its portfolio of 47 independent and branded properties in 13 states across the U.S. Situated in the heart of historic downtown on the corner of Prescotts famous Whiskey Row, just steps away from Fort Whipple Museum, charming boutique shops, and the iconic Courthouse Plaza, the 70-room Hotel St. Michael perfectly blends colorful history with modern furnishings within its 122-year-old walls.

Theres something very special about historic hotels, and were excited to welcome Hotel St. Michael and all of its unique history to our growing portfolio. Over the years, Hotel St. Michael welcomed famous faces including Theodore Roosevelt, Barry Goldwater, Doc Holliday, and Wyatt Earp. We look forward to carrying on the hotels notable history and providing a memorable experience for travelers visiting Prescott. Ben Rafter, Chief Executive Officer, Springboard Hospitality

Hotel St. Michaels original red brick structure was built in 1901, and the hotels classic charm is seen throughout, especially in the brass-and-wood Bistro St. Michael on the ground floor. The casual eatery is open daily for breakfast and lunch and serves craft comfort food like the biscuits and gravy and crispy chicken sandwich, and signature cocktails and mocktails. The hotel is home to several boutique shops, from art galleries and antiquity dealers to jewelry stores and hair salons. Hotel St. Michael offers single and double classic king and queen-bed rooms, in addition to a king suite featuring a separate living area. The family unit provides two twin beds and a separate room with a queen bed, perfect for groups traveling together. Rooms are available from $129/night.

To explore Hotel St. Michael Prescott or to book a stay, please visit www.stmichaelhotel.com.

About Springboard Hospitality

Springboard Hospitality is a premier third-party hotel management company, dedicated to transforming people, properties, and communities. Currently operating 47 hotels and resorts across 13 states, Springboard is a leader in lifestyle hotels in urban and resort markets. Led by technology entrepreneur Ben Rafter, Springboard specializes in creating customizable management and quantifiable returns on investment. The company offers a full spectrum of hotel services with expertise in operations, capital planning, marketing, revenue management, sales and human resources. The Springboard Hospitality team is committed to going above and beyond with high-touch, personalized service in every aspect of its operations, from its interactions with guests to its relationships with owners. For more information, please visit www.springboardhospitality.com.
Choice Hotels EMEA, the 100% franchise focused hotel company and Borealis Hotel Group (Borealis), a European hospitality company, have signed a strategic partnership agreement to expand their European portfolios. Through this agreement, Borealis will have the ability to franchise upscale and midscale hotels from the Choice Hotels EMEA portfolio of brands, across the territories they currently operate including The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Austria, Spain and Denmark and look for new opportunities in other European countries. All hotels under Choice Hotels EMEA participate in the Choice Privileges loyalty program, enabling travellers to earn and redeem points for Rewards nights stays at more than 7,500 hotels around the world.

Growing our portfolio of franchised hotels, so travellers have more options to choose from when traveling across Europe, is a significant focus for us at Choice Hotels EMEA, and this new agreement further enables us to continue growing in markets where we already have a presence and potentially enter new ones. We have an ambitious growth strategy in the EMEA region, and this new strategic partnership agreement with Borealis Hotel Group presents an exciting opportunity for us to grow and realise our mission to build a scalable network of high-quality hotels across Europe. Building on Choice Hotels 80-year global legacy, the agreement will also see Borealis benefit from our commitment to enhancing performance exclusively for franchisees. Our newly refreshed brands and their brand hallmarks are designed to offer an exceptional guest experience, while supporting short-term revenues and driving long-term equity gains for the Choice Hotels EMEA portfolio. We look forward to working together to deliver this over the next decade. Jonathan Mills, CEO of Choice Hotels EMEA

Our strategy is to accelerate our growth as a European hospitality company, based on strong relationships and partnerships with international hotel brands and other partners. We are therefore very pleased to have been able to add another international hotel brand as a franchisor with its own newly refreshed concept, to our highly valued group of partners. Bart Van de Kamp, CEO of Borealis Hotel Group

Choice Hotels EMEA is in the process of repositioning its Comfort, Quality, Clarion, and Ascend Hotel Collection brands, and has recently introduced its Sleep Inn brand  already well established in other markets  to the EMEA region. With our passionate team we look forward to being part of this repositioning process.

Alongside the milestone agreement with Borealis, Choice Hotels in EMEA is actively looking for midscale and upscale hotels to join its fast-growing portfolio.

About Choice Hotels EMEA

Choice Hotels EMEA is represented under the Ascend Hotel Collection, Clarion, Quality, Comfort and Sleep Inn brands, in France, Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) is one of the largest lodging franchisors in the world. With nearly 7,500 hotels, representing almost 630,000 rooms, in 47 countries and territories as of December 31, 2022, the Choice family of hotel brands provides business and leisure travelers with a range of high-quality lodging options from limited service to full-service hotels in the upper upscale, upper mid-scale, midscale, extended-stay and economy segments. The award-winning Choice Privileges loyalty programme offers members a faster way to rewards, with personalised benefits starting on day one. For more information, visit: https://www.choicehotels.com.

Forward-Looking Statement

This communication includes "forward-looking statements" about future events, including anticipated hotel openings and a brand refresh for the regional brand portfolio of Choice Hotels EMEA. Such statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including construction delays, availability and cost of financing, acceptance of brands, and the other "Risk Factors" described in the Annual Report on Form 10-K and the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q of Choice Hotels International, Inc., any of which could cause actual results to be materially different from our expectations.
BOSTON, MASS. and THE WOODLANDS, TX  Pyramid Global Hospitality  the powerhouse hospitality company behind inspired collections like Benchmark Pyramid Luxury & Lifestyle and Hamilton Pyramid Europe  is pleased to announce the Wayfinder Newport hotel in Newport, Rhode Island, as the latest addition to the companys distinguished management portfolio. Continuing a longtime partnership with Dovetail + Co, owner of the Wayfinder Newport, Pyramid Global has assumed management of the 197-room hotel with immediate plans underway to rebuild and revitalize the property.

We are pleased to welcome the Wayfinder Newport to Pyramid Globals Luxury & Lifestyle collection of world-renowned properties and to extend our footprint into the beautiful state of Rhode Island. We look forward to partnering with the fantastic team at Dovetail + Co to reinvigorate this remarkable property. Chris Devine, chief investment officer, Pyramid Global Hospitality

First opened in 2020, the Wayfinder Newport is an imaginative boutique hotel developed with local chefs, bartenders, artists, designers and entrepreneurs to create a genuine homage to the destination. A fresh take on a Newport hotel, the Wayfinder pairs coastal design with home-grown talent to provide a mindful and unstrained hotel experience that highlights Rhode Islands relaxed free-spirited energy.

Sadly, just two years after its opening, the Wayfinder Newport suffered extensive damage in a catastrophic fire. In close collaboration with Dovetail + Co, Pyramid Global intends to support the current restoration of the property with plans to reopen a portion of the hotel this summer and the rest to follow this fall.

The addition of Wayfinder Newport to Pyramid Global Hospitalitys extensive portfolio supports a growing relationship with ownership team Dovetail + Co as the two companies also successfully own and operate Cambridge Beaches Resort & Spa in Bermuda.

Wayfinder Newport has a special place in Dovetails heart as our first property. We love Rhode Island as a second home. We are eager to open our doors again, continue contributing to this dynamic community, and excited to build a great team with Pyramid Global that shares our appreciation for this beautiful state. Phil Hospod, Founder and CEO of Dovetail + Co

In anticipation of the propertys reopening this year, Wayfinder Newport is now rehiring all positions from general manager and director of sales to bar and front-and heart-of-house staff. If interested in joining the team, please reach out to [email protected]. For more information on the propertys reopening and to be among the first to revisit, visit thewayfinderhotel.com.

About Wayfinder Newport

Wayfinder Newport is a boutique hotel developed by Dovetail + Co. Founder Phil Hospod brought together a group of local chefs, bartenders, artists, designers, and entrepreneurs to create a property that redefined the typical Newport experience. In a destination known for its gilded history and traditional accommodations, Wayfinder Newport represents Rhode Islands new "creative class" with a fresh, more relaxed, and free-spirited energy. Designed in collaboration with New York-based firm Reunion Goods & Services, the Wayfinder features a fresh take on coastal style, including cool tones, antique finds, custom furnishings, and contemporary art. Weaving high-design throughout the entire property, the on-site restaurant, Nomi Park, boasts a menu full of coastal classics with a kick, andthehand-painted pool by Rhode Island resident Sean Spellman features the artists signature rolling sea motif. www.wayfinderhotels.com

About Dovetail + Co

Led by Phil Hospod, Dovetail + Co is an owner and creator of hotels, bars, and restaurants that promote exploration and discovery. Industry veterans in the disciplines of investment, development, branding, and operations, Dovetail + Co believes that new experiences can shift perspectives, spark friendships, and redefine what is possible. Dovetail + Cos critically acclaimed hotel projects include Urban Cowboy Lodge in the Catskills Mountains of New York, Wayfinder hotels in Newport, Rhode Island and Waikiki, Hawaii, Cambridge Beaches Resort & Spa in Bermuda, Palihotel San Diego and an upcoming micro-hotel in the heart of Noho New York. www.dovetailandco.com

About Pyramid Global Hospitality

Pyramid Global Hospitality, a leading third-party hospitality management company, is the powerhouse brand behind an inspired collection of forward-thinking professionals providing powerful solutions to some of the world's best hotels and resorts. Formed by the 2021 merger of three hotel and resort management companies, the organization's global portfolio now spans more than 230 properties across the U.S., Caribbean and Europe, with offices in Boston; The Woodlands, Texas; Cincinnati; and London. For more information, visit www.PyramidGlobal.com.
London, UK

Magnuson Hotels is pleased to announce the promotion of Adnan Malik to the position of Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). In his new role, Malik will oversee the company's revenue management strategy and drive initiatives to enhance revenue growth across the organization.

With an extensive background in revenue management and a proven track record of delivering exceptional results, Malik has played a pivotal role in Magnuson Hotels' success over five years. Most recently, Magnuson Hotels announced a 77.83% growth in RevPAR since pre-pandemic (2019) for its Independent Collection, a growth rate 10 times the USA industry average of 7.6% as reported by STR.

Malik joined the company in 2018 as portfolio revenue manager after completing top-tier London assignments at Guoman Hotels, Wyndham Grand Chelsea Harbour, Doyle Collection, Strand Palace Hotel, Dorsett, and Royal Thames Yacht Club.

"We are proud to advance Adnan Malik to the role of Chief Revenue Officer, said Thomas Magnuson, CEO of Magnuson Hotels. Adnans dedication, strategic mindset, and proven leadership skills will help us to continue delivering above-market performance for hotels globally.

Adnan Malik commented, "I am honored to take on this new responsibility as Chief Revenue Officer and contribute to Magnuson Hotels' continued success. I look forward to working closely with our talented team and partners to drive revenue growth and deliver exceptional value to our franchisees and guests."

About Magnuson Hotels

Magnuson Hotels has championed the cause of fair franchising for hotel owners since its inception in 2003, helping over 2000 hotels in the USA and UK succeed against some of the biggest brands in the hospitality industry. The group offers affiliation with brands that do not require mandatory renovations and procurements, long-term contracts, or excessive commissions, as well as representation as part of Magnuson Independent Group. The Magnuson Hotels platform achieves a non-seasonal 52-week occupancy strategy with comprehensive human support and an OTA-alternative distribution.

Contact for more information

Aashima Grover

Marketing

Magnuson Hotels
Strong Signs of Recovery for Travel & Tourism in Canada Says WTTC

Travel & Tourism contributes one in every 12 jobs - International visitor spend up almost 65%

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.
Marriott Columbus Airport Hotel

CBRE Hotels is offering, on an exclusive basis, the opportunity to acquire the six-story 230-room Columbus Airport Marriott located at John Glenn Columbus International Airport in Columbus, OH. Upon PIP completion (PIP posted on document center), Marriott will license the Hotel for a new 20-year term. All-in cost, including PIP, would be less than half of estimated replacement cost. This is a tremendous value-add opportunity given its prime location near an international airport, proximate to a strong Downtown and growing City in-the-midst of ~$50 billion in new economic development. This development will be key to support the forecasted population growth of ~30% over the next 25 years.

Investment Highlights

The Hotel at the Glenn International Airport is centrally located one-mile from the Airport, five-miles from the Central Business District, and less than five-miles from Easton in Columbus Ohio. Convenient access to the Columbus Convention Center, the Ohio State University, Easton Towne Center, and the new Intel Plant ensures that the Hotel will be at the crossroads of commerce, and travel for decades. Columbus metro population is forecast to grow by 700,000 to over 3 million people over the next 25 years, due to approximately $50 billion in major development. Projects include: Intel, Honda/LG/Ford, Amazon, Hyperion, Ohio Health, Childrens Hospital, Port Columbus, Meta and Google.

This full-service six-story masonry-built Hotel sits on a 7.93-acre parcel with approximately 540 parking spaces to serve the 230 sleeping rooms and 14,309 S.F. of event space. There is an opportunity to sub-divide and sell the excess parking lot. The all-in acquisition costs of the Hotel, including PIP, will be a fraction of the replacement costs.

An energy assessment was conducted by Sol Vista on September 31, 2021. This assessment stipulated multiple energy conservation measures which based on the applicable rates would reduce energy costs by over $60,000, at minimal to moderate cost. The assessment can be reviewed in our document center.

The Glenn International Airport has recovered nearly 90% of the pre-covid travel peak of 8.65 million passengers.

Prior to Covid (in 2019), the competitive set experienced occupancy of 75% at a $120 ADR, equating to a $90 RevPAR with room for growth. The Hotel hit 78.7% at $124, for RevPAR of $97.66. RevPAR index of 108.3% was achieved in 2019. The 2022 Revenue metrics have not recovered at the market pace, due to the need for PIP completion. A major opportunity exists to complete the PIP requirements and recapture lost market share.

Marriott will offer a new 20 year license term with PIP completion, which will be minimized by full bathroom renovations, (including tub to shower conversions) in 2015. The physical plant has been well-maintained by ownership. Completed work includes the previously mentioned bathroom renovations, new Chiller for the four pipe HVAC system, and RFID lock system with mobile key access.

The $20 billion Intel project is in vertical construction as of Q2 2023, and is beginning to drive significant travel. This is also true of the Honda/LG/Ford electric battery plant, and numerous other economic development projects in the City. The Hotel is uniquely positioned to benefit from significant new demand, as the Metro area population, employment base and group business expands.

For inquiries visit here.
Dusit Princess Hotel Residences Nairobi

Dusit International announced the opening of Dusit Princess Hotel Residences Nairobi, a unique hybrid property featuring 100 deluxe hotel rooms and apartments in the Kenyan capitals cosmopolitan Westlands neighbourhood.

Soft opened in March 2023  with full inventory set to come online in the second half of the year  the new upper-midscale property is designed to meet the needs of business and leisure travellers and deliver high levels of comfort and convenience for short or extended stays in a prime location only 5km from the Central Business District.

Alongside 14 deluxe hotel rooms, 30 studio apartments, and 56 one-bedroom apartments with kitchenettes, the deluxe property features a convenient grab-and-go shop, a modern Italian-inspired all-day dining outlet called The Olive Restaurant, and a stylish rooftop bar named The Aviary Lounge. Here, guests can enjoy cocktails and creative bar snacks while soaking up stunning city views.

The property also boasts an ultra-modern rooftop gym, a heated swimming pool, well-equipped meeting rooms, and easy access to the numerous shopping centres and restaurants for which the Westlands neighbourhood is renowned.

The Nairobi National Park  the only national park in the world within a capital city  is just a 45-minute drive from the property, and the hotels team is on hand to help guests arrange day trips for the chance to spot lions, buffaloes, leopards, rhinos, and other big game.

We are delighted to officially open the doors of Dusit Princess Hotel Residences Nairobi and welcome guests and residents to experience our distinctive brand of Thai-inspired gracious hospitality, said the propertys General Manager, Mr Daniel Chao. From our prime location to our spacious rooms and apartments to our vibrant restaurant and chic rooftop bar, our unique hybrid property has all the elements in place to deliver high levels of convenience, experience, and value for business and leisure travellers alike. Fully embracing the four pillars of Dusit Graciousness  Personalised Service, Locality, Well-being, and Sustainability  we look forward to bringing long-term, sustainable value to our broader community too.

Dusits property portfolio spans 17 countries and comprises 49 hotels operating under Dusit Hotels and Resorts and more than 300 luxury villas under Elite Havens. More than 60 Dusit Hotels and Resorts are in the pipeline worldwide.

To celebrate its grand opening, Dusit Princess Hotel Residences Nairobi is offering a special room package starting at only USD 3,500 per month for a one-bedroom apartment and USD 120 per night for a deluxe room with breakfast. The offer is inclusive of all taxes and valid now through 31 May 2023.
Q: My wife and I have wills naming each other as beneficiaries, with our children as alternates. We are trying to understand whether we should have a Transfer on Death Deed drafted and filed in order to avoid probate. Our home is the only real estate we own. Our attorney tells us there may be delays with the title company after one or both of us dies if the house is sold. Also, there may be issues if we have an insolvent estate, and it's not completely clear if our title policy will continue for our children. What is your take on this?

A: I'm all in favor of Transfer on Death Deeds.

Yes, there may be potential problems, but if you consider that each of your probates will cost $2,500 to $5,000 or more, depending on whom you hire, it certainly seems worth the risk to have a TODD prepared and recorded.

TODDs are now available in 30 states and the District of Columbia, so they are becoming more widely used and accepted. Plus, the Texas Supreme Court has tasked a group of attorneys with creating a form for Texas residents and attorneys to use. I'm one of the attorneys in this group, and we are well on our way to finishing the project.

You would think that once the Texas Supreme Court issues a form  essentially putting its stamp of approval on the use of the form by all persons who own real estate in Texas  that many more people will feel comfortable using it and title companies will become more accepting of them.

Title companies are concerned with TODDs that are signed and recorded very close to a person's death, or TODDs which are not properly prepared, signed, notarized and recorded. There are countless ways that a TODD can be messed up, and when you permit a non-lawyer to prepare what is essentially a legal document, you can expect that mistakes will be made.

But in your case, it sounds like you would have your attorney prepare the form for you, and you are also most likely not signing the form on your death bed. Plus, you are leaving your home to each other and then to your children, and that is a distribution scheme that does not typically worry title companies.

Of course, even if you prepare and record a TODD, probate may still be needed at one or both of your deaths. When either of you dies, if your estate contains an asset that has no beneficiary designated, or there is no person who co-owns the asset as joint tenants with rights of survivorship, then probate will be needed.
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R.A. Schuetz and Marissa Luck discuss a tax break meant to create affordable housing thats in the center of some controversy. Public Facility Corporations have drawn scrutiny both in Houston (well hear about some tense words between Mayor Sylvester Turner and the housing authority) and in the state Capitol, where the Texas legislators are battling over how to reform the tax break as the session hurtles toward its end.

Stories mentioned in the episode
Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

Friends of the River Oaks Theatre, the non-profit organization formed to save the Houston movie theater from the wrecking ball after its closure in 2021, announced Monday that it is now selling off parts of the theater, namely the seats.

Yes, you can now own one or more of those (admittedly not particularly comfortable) chairs where you saw "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," "Ladybird," "The Killer," "Nomadland" or any number of indie, foreign or art house films that played at the theater over the years.
After spending 281 days at Texas Childrens Hospital, Oliver Blankenship was ready to test out his new heart the moment he got home last month.

Oliver is 4 years old, but hes already spent enough time in hospitals for a lifetime due to a severe congenital heart defect. Doctors tried to treat him through a series of surgeries beginning one week after he was born in 2018, but he needed a transplant after he went into heart failure last summer.

He finally returned home on April 14 with his parents, Leslie and Brian Blankenship, and his 9-year-old brother, Elliot. He didnt waste any time settling in, his mother said.

Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer

The second he walked through the door he just decided, OK, I can do this. I can walk all over this house, and I can climb the stairs by myself. Things wed not seen him do in nine months, Leslie Blankenship said. He was just so excited to be home.

Oliver was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a severe congenital heart defect that is fatal if not treated soon after birth. The left side of Olivers heart did not develop properly, so it was not strong enough to pump his blood, said Dr. Iki Adachi, the surgical director of heart transplant and mechanical circulatory support at Texas Childrens.

READ MORE: 'Thankful for every moment': Lung transplant recipient at Texas Childrens determined to honor donor

When these babies are born, only one pump is in charge of everything, which is very ineffective, Adachi said. The heart has to work really, really hard. And if the heart keeps working super hard, then the heart will fail.

Adachi and the Texas Childrens team performed two surgeries during the first 234 days of Olivers life, which he spent in the hospital. He returned there last summer for what was expected to be a third and final surgery.

Three days later, though, doctors needed to remove a massive blood clot in Olivers heart that left him in heart failure. He waited six months for a heart transplant, then another three months before he could go home.

Oliver coming home is the culmination of a nearly five-year journey that began when his parents committed to doing whatever they could to give their son the best chance to survive. Theyre grateful he was able to receive his new heart.

I didnt want my baby to die, Leslie Blankenship said. We knew it would be a long, hard road. We just didnt know it would be this hard.

A frightening diagnosis

The Blankenships, who live in Arkansas, knew there was a chance Oliver would be born with a heart defect. His brother, Elliot, has a bicuspid aortic valve, an abnormality where the aortic valve has two flaps instead of three. Elliot has regular checkups but is otherwise healthy.

When Leslie Blankenship was pregnant with Oliver, her 20-week ultrasound didnt show any heart defects. But when she took Elliot for his annual echocardiogram a few weeks later, a friend she knew from his doctors office suggested she schedule another echocardiogram for Oliver.

She went to the appointment by herself, believing there was no way there would anything wrong with Oliver. She was shocked when she learned his diagnosis.

It was one of the worst days of my life, she said. It was horrible.

Doctors told Brian and Leslie Blankenship that Oliver would need treatment immediately after he was born. They decided to go to Texas Childrens Hospital, which has the top-ranked pediatric cardiology and heart surgery program in the nation. They moved to Texas when Leslie Blankenship was 30 weeks pregnant.

We both decided that we wanted to give him the best chance, whatever that looked like, she said.

Children born with HLHS and other single-ventricle heart defects are treated through a series of three surgeries known as the Norwood, Glenn and Fontan procedures. The surgeries essentially reroute the plumbing of the heart to allow it to function with one pump instead of two, said Dr. Joseph Spinner, a pediatric cardiologist at Texas Childrens.

READ MORE: A Kingwood man put his whole heart into being Santa. Then he needed a new one.

The Norwood procedure took place one week after Oliver was born. Typically, the left side of the heart sends oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body. The left side of Olivers heart was underdeveloped, so the procedure allowed the right side to do that instead.

Olivers second heart surgery, the Glenn procedure, took place when he was 4 months old. The surgery reroutes blood from the upper part of the body through the lungs so that it can pick up oxygen without passing through the heart. The surgery went well.

There were, however, other complications beyond the surgeries. When Oliver was 6 weeks old, he needed another procedure to sew his diaphragm to his chest wall because it had become paralyzed. When he was 6 months old, he needed surgery to patch a hole in his small intestine that happened when doctors inserted a feeding tube.

Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer

Oliver was finally able to be discharged after spending the first 234 days of his life in the hospital. He and his family returned to Arkansas in April 2019.

At first, it was terrifying for his parents, who were suddenly responsible for monitoring him for heart failure. Eventually, though, everything started to feel normal.

He was running around and chasing his brother, just like any other kid, Leslie Blankenship said.

Needing a heart transplant

Oliver returned to Texas Childrens Hospital last summer to undergo the Fontan procedure. The surgery complements the Glenn procedure, sending blood from the lower part of the body through the lungs to pick up oxygen.

The surgery was a success, but three days later, doctors discovered a massive blood clot in Olivers left coronary artery. Adachi said it was a myocardial infarction  also known as a heart attack.

Doctors and nurses rushed into the room to prepare Oliver for surgery to remove the blood clot. He kept asking his parents for water, which he typically does when he needs to be comforted, Leslie Blankenship said.

You just feel so helpless, she said. Youre just like, Someone, please do something.'

Doctors were able to remove the blood clot, but within a few hours, they determined Oliver was in heart failure. He needed a transplant.

(The clot) just caused too much damage to his heart, Brian Blankenship said. His heart just was not able to keep up any longer with the demands being placed on it.

Oliver was placed on the waiting list for a heart transplant on Aug. 16. In the interim, doctors placed him on a Berlin Heart, an artificial heart pump for children that sits outside the body.

His health continued to decline, though. Soon he needed extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a type of life support that is often used as a bridge to transplant. He also needed dialysis and was fed through an IV.

READ MORE: An Air Force veteran became the first heart transplant patient at the Houston VA

There were definitely times where we were very concerned that he might be too sick to benefit from a transplant, Spinner said.

By the start of 2023, Leslie Blankenship was worried her son would be unable to survive long enough for a transplant. One morning, she called her husband as she cried in a bathroom at the hospital. But later that afternoon they got the good news: Oliver was getting a new heart.

Olivers parents were ecstatic, but they were also humbled by the generosity of the donor family who experienced an immense tragedy and choose to save another child.

Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer

We are so incredibly thankful that Oliver has a new heart, Leslie Blankenship said. But right there along with that joy is just complete grief for the donor family, that they even had to be in a position to make that choice.

Oliver was finally discharged from the hospital on April 14, though the family is staying in Houston for the time being for follow-up appointments. Hell also need to be careful to avoid illness because of the immunosuppressive medications he needs to take.

For now, though, Oliver is excited to be home. Hes eager to try new things and be a typical kid, his parents said. Its what theyd been striving for since he was born.

That was the point of doing all this, Leslie Blankenship said, so that he could experience life. Hes amazing.
Houston Chronicle

Iowa Colony police are searching for a 17-year-old boy in connection with a Thursday afternoon attack on another teenager who was robbed while walking home after getting off a school bus.

The victim, 17, told officers responding at 3:34 p.m. that a vehicle approached him and stopped and that someone exited the passenger side and "pistol whipped" him with a semi-automatic pistol before fleeing, according to a news release from the police department.
In June 2020, a Houston man mailed a package full of cash to a FedEx office in Racine, Wis.

Not long before he put the money in the mail, the man had received a phone call from a person claiming to be from a computer tech support company, according to an indictment filed last year in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. The caller told the man he'd been overpaid for a refund and asked that he mail cash back to Wisconsin, according to the indictment

The call was a lie, and when the package was sent off, Zaheen Malvi was tracking it online, according to court documents.

MORE ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Some Houston-area residents allegedly used PPP loans on strip clubs and private jets

In September, Malvi, 28, and two other men were arrested and charged with mail fraud by federal prosecutors, who alleged the men worked together to defraud more than $11 million from hundreds of victims around the country.

On Monday, Malvi pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Malvi will be sentenced in August. He faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Charges are still pending against the two men indicted alongside Malvi: Amirsinh Diwan, 42, and Sohil Usmangani Vahora, 37, according to court records.

Diwan and Vahora lived in Des Plaines, Ill. Malvi is an Indian citizen and was "illegally residing" in Heber Springs, Ark., according to prosecutors.

The men were accused of running a multimillion-dollar call center scheme from 2017 to 2020. Malvi was accused of helping manage runners who would pick up the packages full of cash sent by people who were coerced by scam callers posing as government officials or business representatives. Malvi was also accused of acting as a runner. He would deplete gift cards that victims had transferred to the call centers, spending the money in Chicago-area Target stores.

According to charging documents, Malvi tracked a package sent to Schererville, Ind., by a Gonzales, Texas, woman who thought she was sending cash to the Drug Enforcement Agency. She'd been told by a caller that her Social Security number was being used by drug traffickers, according to the indictment. Malvi tracked other packages of cash sent from Corpus Christi and Spring to other stores in Indiana, according to the indictment.

U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani said call center scams like the one Malvi was accused of participating in are "relentless" and prey on "the most vulnerable among us, such as the elderly."

"But we are relentless, too," Hamdani said. "Today, one more criminal is finally held to account for the many years he helped funnel money from victims into the pockets of overseas scammers  and tomorrow, we keep working.

Malvi isn't the first person to be charged in Houston's federal court in connection to a call center scheme. In 2020, a man labeled the mastermind of a similar scheme was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Hitesh Madhubhai Patel admitted to running a network of call centers in Ahmedabad, India. He and more than 60 other co-conspirators were indicted in a national effort to crack down on foreign-based scammers. Patel's scheme netted between $25 million and $65 million, according to federal prosecutors.

As part of his plea agreement, Malvi will pay restitution to the schemes identified victims, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Malvi's sentencing hearing is scheduled for Aug. 14. Diwan and Vahora's trials are scheduled to begin June 26.
A police officer pulled over a 23-year-old woman on Texas 6 in Brazoria County in the early-morning hours of Nov. 16.

The Arcola officer, Hector Aaron Ruiz, accused the woman of speeding, driving while intoxicated and evading arrest  allegations that he warned could land her in jail, according to accounts in court records.

She began to cry, but Ruiz reassured her that he wouldnt take her to jail, according to the records.

The woman said she began to drive away, thinking the officer was following her to make sure she got home safely. But then, she says, Ruiz pulled her over again, went to her window and said, I told you to follow me, according to the court records.

The driver recalled following the officer to an isolated, dark location, where he asked, Are you going to convince me? She says he unzipped his pants and she performed oral sex on him before blacking out.

Afterward, the woman recalled driving away. She was not wearing her bra, shoes or shirt, and does not recall whether they had sexual intercourse. Around noon, she went to the Manvel Police Department to report the incident.

The womans allegations were contained in recently filed court documents against Ruiz, of Rosharon, who was arrested and charged last November with second-degree sexual assault and official oppression arising from the womans accusations.

The following month, a second woman accused Ruiz of sexual assault while giving her a ride home the previous August, authorities said. Ruiz was arrested again and two other arrest warrants were also executed for charges of sexual assault and official oppression relating to the alleged assault.

Crimes such as these cause us to collectively grieve  both for the victims who suffered at the hands of a peace officer, and also for the damage it does to our trust in the officers sworn to protect and serve us, Fort Bend District Attorney Brian Middleton said in a written statement.

Police officers were charged with forcible rape more than 450 times between 2005 and 2014, according to a research database compiled by Bowling Green State University in Ohio.

Police officers can target a range of victims, including undocumented immigrants or even victims of domestic violence, said Philip Stinson, a professor in the universitys criminal justice program who led the research.

We used to think in these cases, that victims were stereotypically very attractive young, white females, said Stinson. We have seen in recent years something different, where sometimes these are just like other sexual predators, these are crimes of violence, where theyre looking for vulnerable victims.

Stinson noted that officers will use their badge as a source of power to leverage with sexual assault victims. Requiring officers to wear body cameras and have dash-cams and GPS tracking devices on patrol cars help in supervising police activity, he said.

That shows you the power dynamic in these situations, where victims are put in a horrible position, said Stinson. You can hardly say, that even if she complied that was voluntary and consensual. At the very least, its coerced and its criminal.

Both women describe their encounters with Ruiz as being coerced into having sexual relations. In the August incident, the woman alleges that Ruiz was helping provide Spanish translations to her and her boyfriend after he was arrested for allegedly driving drunk. She told police that Ruiz gave her a ride home, but when they arrived there, he forced her to engage in a sexual act.

Ruiz is currently out on a $75,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 24. Those charged with sexual assault can face up to 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Official oppression carries a sentence of up to one year in jail and a $4,000 fine.

Ruiz could not be reached for comment and his attorney did not return phone calls seeking comment.

Arcola Police Chief Michael Ellison said Ruiz has been fired. He had been with the department for two years with no signs of previous bad behavior. Ellison described Ruiz as being quiet and having a good work ethic and a clean background check.

I was quite disturbed and quite disappointed, and also upset at the same time to find out all the allegations that were made against him, said Ellison.

Ruiz was one of six officers, including the chief of police, in the small community of over 2,000 residents that sits less than 5 miles from Sienna Plantation, a mammoth master-planned community with some 13,000 residents. Its about 20 minutes down Texas 6 from burgeoning Alvin.

Tom Pekar, 58, who runs an aviation business in Arcola, said he would sometime see Ruiz at the airport in the small town. Pekar described him as quiet and extremely polite.

He probably wouldve been one of the last ones I wouldve expected, said Pekar.

Ellison called the alleged sexual assault in November an isolated incident and vowed to keep the public informed about developments in the case.

We are going to remain transparent so that the community can keep its trust in us, and so the officers that are here can continue to do their jobs at the highest level, said Ellison.

Prosecutors are asking any victims to contact Investigator Dustin Claborn of the Fort Bend County District Attorneys Office at 281-341-4460.

The county intends to vigorously prosecute anyone using a position of trust to abuse those who are most vulnerable and who should be protected, Middleton said. The actions of one person should not tarnish the good work that our dedicated men and women in law enforcement perform every day in our community.

brooke.lewis@chron.com
The latest discovery from the James Webb Space Telescope could help scientists studying a big question: How did so much water get on Earth?

Scientists announced Monday that Webb spotted water vapor around a comet called 238P/Read in the main asteroid belt, which suggests ice from the early solar system can be preserved in this region between Mars and Jupiter. Measuring water in this asteroid belt could help answer questions on how Earth's oceans were formed.

MISSION NAMES: In wake of James Webb controversy, NASA plans to avoid naming future missions after people

Our water-soaked world, teeming with life and unique in the universe as far as we know, is something of a mystery  were not sure how all this water got here, said Stefanie Milam, Webb deputy project scientist for planetary science at NASA and an author on the study published Monday in the journal Nature.

Some scientists believe ancient asteroids or comets crashed into Earth carrying water and carbon-based molecules, which helped initiate life on our planet. The data collected by Webb enhances the idea that some asteroids have a significant amount of water  and some are cold enough to have frozen water, said astronomer Michael Kelley of the University of Maryland, who was the lead author of the study.

"Objects like Comet Read will help us estimate how much water is in today's asteroid belt," Kelley said in an email, "then we can work backwards to the early solar system and the Earth's oceans."

According to a NASA news release, 238P/Read is a fairly new classification called a main belt comet. These objects reside in the main asteroid belt but periodically have a halo or tail like a comet. Comets were previously understood to reside in the Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud, beyond the orbit of Neptune, where their ices could be preserved farther from the sun.

Kelley said the new discovery blurs the line between comets and asteroids. Generally, an asteroid is viewed as being mostly rock and dust, with some ice in the mix, while a comet is mostly ice with some rock and dust. Comets also have a halo, called a coma, and tail that are created as the ice and dust are warmed by the sun.

Scientists previously speculated that frozen water could be preserved in the main asteroid belt, but they didn't have proof until Webb observed comet Read.

"In the past, weve seen objects in the main belt with all the characteristics of comets, but only with this precise spectral data from Webb can we say, 'Yes, its definitely water ice that is creating that effect,' " Kelley said in the news release.

There is, however, a puzzle with this observation. Separate from discovering the water vapor, scientists were surprised they could not detect carbon dioxide around comet Read. Carbon dioxide typically makes up about 10 percent of the material in a comet that is vaporized by the sun. Scientists said comet Read might have lost its carbon dioxide because of warm temperatures, or it might have formed in a particularly warm pocket of the solar system where carbon dioxide wasn't available.

It's a question they will ponder as researchers hope to study additional comets in the main asteroid belt.

Understanding the history of water distribution in the solar system will help us to understand other planetary systems," Milam said, "and if they could be on their way to hosting an Earth-like planet.
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.
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.
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 Texas GOP is increasingly the no-nose party.

Watching Texas Republicans in action as the legislative session comes to a close brings to mind a 13th-century Latin proverb: Male ulciscitur dedecus sibi illatum, qui amputat nasum suum, or, as a Texan with a yen for the vernacular might translate (loosely), You show me some ol boy thatll take a Bowie knife to his own schnoz just to get back at somebody he dont cotton to, and Ill show you a gol-durn fool.

In other words, Dont cut off your nose to spite your face.

Ignoring the venerable aphorism, the Texas GOPs penchant for punishing increasingly blue cities and counties every chance it gets turns out to be a self-inflicted nose job. Wielding the blade of preemption  overriding local ordinances  they not only trash the conservative tenet about local government being the best government, but also hobble the powerful engines of the states economy. In Texas these days, power trumps both principle and pragmatic governance.

Gov. Greg Abbott has been the states chief surgeon general. Our noseless governor  longtime resident of both Austin and Houston  has rhapsodized about the heady fragrance beyond the city limits. He calls it the smell of freedom.

He and his legislative vassals have been preempting cities with a vengeance. In recent years theyve gone after local fracking bans (Denton), tree-trimming ordinances (Houston), so-called sanctuary cities, bathroom ordinances, plastic grocery-bag bans, local labor regulations, paid sick leave and safety regulations for outdoor workers, not to mention public schools in Houston and voting procedures in Harris County, street construction in San Antonio and law enforcement in Austin.

Speaking to a conservative think tank in 2017, Abbott gave away his ambitions for taking preemption to a new level: "As opposed to the state having to take multiple rifle-shot approaches at overriding local regulations, I think a broad-based law by the state of Texas that says across the board, the state is going to pre-empt local regulations, is a superior approach.

The governor added that his blanket-preemption approach  our description, not his  "makes it more simple, more elegant, but more importantly, provides greater advance notice to businesses and to individuals that youre going to have the certainty to run your lives."

This session has seen the most ambitious preemption effort yet. A bill the governor and business lobbying groups have pushed, House Bill 2127, would bar cities and counties from passing any regulations that go further than state law in a wide range of areas, including agriculture, the environment, labor and finance. The bill, which also would overturn regulations already on the books, passed the House last month by a vote of 92-56. Now, after getting the go-ahead from a Senate committee, it awaits a vote by the full Senate.

We want those small-business owners creating new jobs and providing for their families, not trying to navigate a Byzantine array of local regulations that twist and turn every time they cross city limits, said the bills sponsor, state Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock.

Two concerns come to mind: One, Lubbock is not Beaumont, Big Spring is not Brownsville and certainly Hallettsville is not Houston. Were pretty sure that businesses large and small know what their employees, their customers and their communities need and usually can adapt to local variations.

As we wrote earlier this month, Burrows claims the bill isn't the "Death Star" its critics believe it to be because he says it allows cities to tailor bread-and-butter local rules  such as noise and parking ordinances  to local needs. The bill, however, would empower businesses to sue jurisdictions for overstepping the proposed state law and leaves it up to the courts to interpret its broad strokes. Call it government by lawsuit.

A second, broader problem is this: What Abbott and friends are doing with their preemption push is part of an insidious nationwide effort on the part of the GOP to hobble metropolitan areas that are more diverse, more educated, more prosperous, more dynamic and  most important to the Grand Old Party  bluer than the preponderantly white, blue-collar, mid-sized metro areas and small towns that have become the Republican base. Increasingly, national party objectives preempt addressing the needs of their constituents.

Across GOP-controlled states, political analyst Ronald Brownstein wrote in a recent issue of The Atlantic, Republicans are using statewide power rooted in their dominance of nonmetropolitan areas to pass an aggressive agenda preempting authority from their largest cities across a wide range of issues and imposing cultural values largely rejected in those big cities. . . .

Relying on data compiled by a recent Brookings Institution study, Brownstein notes that Republican-led states are taking a knife to their noses to spite their Democratic opponents (and, of course, to cling to power).

This sweeping offensive is especially striking, Brownstein writes, because, as the Brookings data show, even many red states now rely on blue-leaning metro areas as their principal drivers of economic growth. Texas, for instance, is one of the places where Republicans are pursuing the most aggressive preemption agenda, but the metros won by Biden there in 2020 account for nearly three-fourths of the states total economic output.

Here are the figures for the Texas GDP, as compiled by Brookings: Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington (27.3 percent), Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land (26.0 percent), Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown (8.5 percent), San Antonio-New Braunfels (6.6 percent).

Thats 68.5 percent of the Texas total, and the Lone Star State is no outlier. Brookings found that metro areas generate the majority of state economic output in 46 out of 50 states. (Vermont, North Dakota, Montana and Wyoming are the exceptions.)

State antagonism toward cities is not sustainable, Amy Liu, the interim president of the Brookings Institution, told Brownstein. By handicapping local problem-solving or attacking local institutions and employers, state lawmakers are undermining the very actors they need to build a thriving regional economy.

Lius team also emphasized that state and local polarization does not have to get worse; it doesnt have to be the norm. Brookings noted several areas of potential cooperation.

Now there's an idea. What if state and local leaders worked together to get as much federal funding as possible for economic recovery, infrastructure, innovation, health care and climate resilience? Brookings highlighted the Texas' Big City Mayors group as an effort to build alliances across cities, suburbs and rural areas. How about the state Legislature joining in and give these coalitions extra oomph. Sure, when the Biden administration uses terms such as "energy transition" or "climate action" it rankles Texas conservatives, but then we can all get on the same page if we talk about workforce development, water conservation and resilient infrastructure.

Abbotts relatively recent predecessors  John Connally, Ann Richards, George W. Bush and Rick Perry  were tough, partisan politicians. (You might even call them hard-nosed.) Nonetheless, they realized they were Texans, first and foremost. Unlike our current governor, they worked for the good of the state  urban and rural; conservative, liberal and somewhere in between. At least three of them heard, and echoed, the late Lt. Gov. Bob Bullocks trademark refrain, God bless Texas.

Bullock, a Democrat who developed a working relationship with Republicans, grew up in a small Texas town, but no one ever heard him say, 'God bless rural Texas or urban Texas, Republican Texas or Democratic Texas.' He and the governors with whom he served knew were all in this together. Its an awareness that Abbott and his noseless compadres have yet to comprehend.
Parents and advocates fought for years to get the state to recognize the rights of dyslexic students. Finally, in 2021, the state made changes to the handbook that helps educators understand how to evaluate students with dyslexia, making them eligible for the same federal protections given other students with learning difficulties.

It was an overdue step for many families who can recount stories similar to the one Angela Bolton Smith shared with the State Board of Education Committee as it was considering the new guidelines.

My son began to gradually change during the school year, he was no longer happy to go to school, Smith told the committee. He began to hate school, and he began to give up on learning. Just imagine a 6-year-old child calling himself dumb daily.

No child should be denied the support they need to thrive.

But thats what could be at stake as the fight over this sessions education priority  vouchers or education savings accounts  comes to a head.

It seems, from Chronicle reporting, that behind the scenes, any number of education finance reforms that would otherwise garner broad support, including special education funding, are now at risk if voucher supporters dont get what they want.

Legislators often look for bargaining chips to get their priorities across the finish line and with Senate-passed school vouchers continuing to hit roadblocks in the House, it seems voucher supporters have landed on special education students as one of their chips.

In some cases, voucher proponents have tied funding for special education reforms and vouchers directly together in a single bill but theres also a concern that standalone efforts from the House to advance education finance reform simply wont be matched by the Senate.

Any number of important education finance items are now caught in the crosshairs of this fight, including more money for special education assessments, transportation and in-class supports for students with dyslexia.

Our really positive change weve been talking about for probably over five years, now its being held hostage if we dont accept a voucher, Andrea Chevalier, a lobbyist with the Texas Council of Administrators of Special Education told Chronicle reporter Edward McKinley.

In other words, if these lawmakers cant help enrich private schools at taxpayer expense, theyre willing to hurt special education students  one of the very groups voucher advocates claim to care most about.

Both Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Gov. Greg Abbott have also expressed their displeasure with the apparent stalemate over vouchers in the House.

The lower chamber significantly pared down the Senates massive school voucher bill. Though both chambers are controlled by Republicans, Patrick rules the Senate with an iron grip in part because hes elected statewide, while House Speaker Dade Phelan tends to follow the overall will of the House, both out of tradition and because hes elected by the members themselves, some of whom are urban Democrats and rural Republicans, who have historically been opposed to vouchers.

Where the Senate would like to give $8,000 in taxpayer money to any student who leaves public school and enrolls in a private one, the House version of the bill would drastically restrict eligibility, allowing only students in special education programs and those in F-rated districts to take the voucher.

Abbott was unimpressed: The Senates version of school choice makes about 5.5 million students eligible, while the Houses version of that bill proposed last week would make about 4 million students eligible, Abbott said in a statement Sunday. The latest House version of school choice, which came out this weekend, only applies to about 800,000 students. He also complained that the latest House version didnt prioritze low-income students or give enough to special education students.

Abbott threatened to veto the Houses stripped down version and force a special session.

Some might actually see the House changes and think things are headed in the right direction: a more targeted program aimed at particular populations rather than a universal one that would mostly benefit more well-off families.

Theyd be wrong.

The idea that this pared down version serves the most vulnerable students is still misleading  a false promise, according to David DeMatthews, an associate professor of educational leadership and policy at UT-Austin.

The private schools are going to take students who dont have disabilities and are not more expensive to educate and the public schools are going to be left with fewer kids and fewer dollars and still have to meet all the needs of the students with the most severe needs, DeMatthews told the Texas Tribune.

Even if special education students did end up getting a voucher for a private school, and found an institution that would accept them, theyd lose the federal protections that, in public school, guarantee them the support they need  the same protections families of students with dyslexia fought for years in Texas to earn.

This is the same state that had secretly imposed what was effectively a cap on how many students a district could designate for special education services, denying needed support to thousands of children, a shameful rationing of life-changing help that was revealed by a Chronicle investigation. Texas is also the state that, despite repeated admonishments from the federal government, continues to struggle to meet those students needs. Though the state education agency says it has made important progress, some estimate still show that the state underfunds its special education by nearly $2 billion.

Holding special education students hostage is bottom-barrel political dealing.

But lets be clear: vouchers would also be harmful for these students, leaving those in private schools unprotected and those in public schools underfunded. Instead of committing to fully funding and supporting special education services in public schools, this transfer of taxpayer funds to private schools would absolve the state of its responsibility to actually care for these students.

Vouchers would be just another betrayal from a state long-practiced in it. We urge lawmakers opposed to vouchers to stand strong in rejecting these bills. Any hope we might have had that lawmakers pushing this voucher scheme are dealing in good faith, or out of a true desire to help kids who need it, has been dashed. What lawmaker who truly cares about kids would be so quick to throw them under the bus to win a political fight?
WASHINGTON  Border crossings fell significantly after Title 42 ended last week, but Gov. Greg Abbott is still asking other governors to send troops to Texas as he warns of a "flood of illegal border activity invited by the Biden Administration."

RELATED: Border crossings down 50 percent after Title 42, officials say, countering early fears

Abbott made the request Tuesday through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact that allows states to provide assistance to one another in times of disaster or crisis, which the governor wrote "accurately describe" the current state at the border. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a likely Republican presidential candidate, said he would be sending hundreds of soldiers and state troopers to Texas in response.

"This crisis does not stop in our state," Abbott wrote. "In the federal governments absence, we, as Governors, must band together to combat President

Bidens ongoing border crisis and ensure the safety and security that all Americans deserve."

The Biden administration said Monday that Border Patrol had logged fewer than 5,000 unlawful crossings per day over the previous three days  a high figure, but far from the more than 10,000 daily crossings last week in the lead-up to Title 42's end Thursday night. As of Monday, the number of migrants in federal custody was also "significantly down," the administration said.

The relatively calm end to Title 42 is, for now, far from what many expected. President Joe Biden last week warned it would be "chaotic for a while" after the end of the COVID-era public health order, which had been used to immediately expel most migrants. In his letter, Abbott pointed to estimates from the Biden administration in the lead-up to Thursday that 150,000 migrants were waiting to cross.

The administration has said the situation remains "very fluid," but it is hopeful that messaging about harsher consequences for those who cross the border illegally, including a presumption of ineligibility for asylum, is having an effect. Biden also sent 1,500 active-duty troops to the border and surged resources to screen migrants, including 1,400 Department of Homeland Security personnel and 1,000 processing coordinators.

Despite that, Abbott  for whom the border has been a key political focus since Biden took office  declared the decision to end the public health order "opened the floodgates." He has touted the $4.5 billion Texas has spent on border security and tweeted out videos showing troops putting up razor wire to keep out migrants.

"Texas is holding the line and stopping illegal border crossings," Abbott tweeted Monday with a clip of a Fox News host praising him for "taking matters into his own hands."

DeSantis announced Tuesday that Florida would be joining in, saying the state was prepared to send 800 Florida National Guard soldiers, 101 highway troopers, 200 police officers and more.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little last week said the state would send a team of Idaho State Police, as well.
The Texas Senate on Tuesday passed a bill that would bar cities and counties from regulating entire industries and professions beyond whats in state law, putting the sweeping local crackdown on the verge of reaching Gov. Greg Abbotts desk.

A priority of Republican state leaders, the measure would limit local regulations to being no more restrictive than whats expressly authorized in the state codes covering business, labor, property and other wide-ranging areas.

Local officials, labor groups and Democratic lawmakers say the bill goes too far, arguing it would prevent city and county leaders from responding to unique local needs while wiping out policies favored by a majority of their constituents, such as worker and environmental protections. City officials have said it could preempt commonplace regulations for things like unlicensed boarding homes and hazardous waste disposal.

Business groups and Republican legislators say the measure would give businesses much-needed consistency  so they dont face a patchwork of regulations from city to city  and ensure local officials dont overstep the powers granted them by the Legislature.

State Sen. Brandon Creighton, a Conroe Republican who carried the bill in the Senate, said it takes aim at activist cities whose varying ordinances have created a compliance nightmare for businesses, ranging from mom-and-pop stores to large corporations.

It's a job killer, Creighton said. It's a deterrent to businesses looking to move to Texas.

The measure, HB 2127, sailed through both chambers of the Republican-dominated Legislature, boosted by support from state leaders including Abbott and House Speaker Dade Phelan. Senate lawmakers gave the bill final approval Tuesday on an 18-13 vote, sending it back to the House with its core features intact.

The bill now awaits the decision of state Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock and the lead author, who can either accept the Senate's changes  sending the bill to Abbott's desk  or have lawmakers from both chambers hash out the remaining differences in a conference committee.

HB 2127 passed over a chorus of opposition from mayors and other local leaders, including San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg, who said the bill would upend local authority and cause the city a world of hurt.

This whole government system, local authority, is based on the principle that voters have a voice at the polls, Nirenberg said last month. And when they disagree with a particular way the council is moving, they find new elected representatives. That's the basis of our democracy.

Burrows has said the measure aims to ensure the Legislature no longer has to play Whac-A-Mole to strike down regulations one by one, as with past legislation barring cities from regulating most oil and gas drilling or forcing landlords to accept federal housing vouchers.

The broader approach is needed, Burrows said, amid what he described as a trend of liberal advocacy groups using local officials  most of whom are Democrats in large, urban areas  to try to implement their vision of Texas that we have already rejected at the Capitol.

The bill would stop local governments from regulating conduct in areas already occupied by eight state codes: Agriculture, Business & Commerce, Finance, Insurance, Labor, Natural Resources, Occupations and Property.

It specifies that local officials cannot regulate employment leave, hiring practices, rest breaks, employment benefits, scheduling practices or any other terms of employment that exceed or conflict with state or federal law.

Creighton also amended the bill this week to explicitly prohibit local policies "regulating evictions or otherwise prohibiting, restricting, or delaying delivery of a notice to vacate."

Critics noted that Creighton, who owns a Conroe-based realty firm, did not mention evictions when laying out the change, instead describing a colleague's separate amendment  adopted minutes later  that ensures local officials are shielded from legal liability.

A spokesperson for Creighton was not immediately available for comment.

Labor groups, meanwhile, have referred to HB 2127 as the "Death Star bill," comparing its ordinance-zapping power to the planet-destroying space station from Star Wars.

Texas AFL-CIO President Rick Levy said the bill turns city councils and county commissioners courts into note-takers for a power-mad state.

This brazen power grab tramples on the voices of local voters and harms working families, Levy said. Instead of solving local problems locally, local governments will have to come to Austin to seek permission to act from extreme state officials who have already shown that they have never met a worker-protection measure they like.

Republicans argued that state and federal regulations already protect workers and tenants from various types of discrimination and require employers to meet certain labor standards.

They also noted that the final version of the bill allows cities and counties to maintain existing regulations for payday lending, which involves small, short-term loans that avoid legal caps on fees and interest. An initial draft of the bill had appeared to roll back rules passed by dozens of cities following an unsuccessful push to enact stronger regulations at the Legislature.
Chicago, IL (60637)

Today

Showers early, then cloudy in the afternoon. High around 70F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 49F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.
Chicago, IL (60637)

Today

Showers early, then cloudy in the afternoon. High 71F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 49F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.
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Mount Greylock School Officials Outline Diversity Work Plan

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  The Mount Greylock Regional School Committee on Thursday heard an update on the district's efforts to promote inclusion and belonging at its three schools.

And part of the story was an acknowledgement of where those efforts fell short.

One of many areas where the district has emphasized its push for diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging has been in how it communicates with the families of students, Business Administrator Joe Bergeron told the committee.

"Despite the fact that I, in sending emails regularly to families across the district, especially during COVID, tried to be pretty consistent about making sure there were translations in every email I sent  I made mistakes," Bergeron said.

"I would receive last-minute content when the state was changing something up, I'd scramble to get an email, I'd try to make sure I didn't have too many typos in it, I needed to get it out before parents would be picking people up so they could know what they needed to know. I'd click send, and about 10 seconds later, I'd say, 'Wait, where was the translation? I thought I had just done it. What did I do?' And that's from somebody who is sitting here tonight saying, this is a mandate and this is something we're paying close attention to."

Bergeron's anecdote helped illustrate a larger point in his presentation: fear of coming up short in an effort to build a more equitable community is no reason to not make the effort.

"Nowadays, when we say 'DEIB,' it can make people shy away from it because it is so personal and it is something where if you do fail, you have failed an individual and a group of people that you do care about," Bergeron said. "And nothing is enough. You're never going to get fully done. You're never going to make things fully better. But the things we can celebrate as a school district and as teams of people will be being able to look and know, 1, that we worked hard at it, 2, that we created positive change, and 3, that the individuals we care about are better off as a result.

"Those are metrics that people can feel and teams can feel. It's a little more difficult to put it up in a grid and say, 'We had a 97 percent score within this area.' But I do feel we can do that as a group: to know what we've done and who we positively impacted and why that was."

Superintendent Jason McCandless and members of the School Committee have repeatedly acknowledged that a mountain of institutional racism in society and in public education needs to be addressed in the district.

To that end, last year, McCandless created a new administrative position in the district office, a director of DEIB. But the district was unsuccessful in its first year trying to fill the role, and the unfilled position was a victim of budget cuts in the FY24 budget that voters in Williamstown and Lanesborough will see this spring.

Even without a director in place, school officials are looking at a number of areas where the DEIB work needs to be done, including the communications to families but also: incident reporting and responses; community building; giving staff the tools to engage in difficult conversations; diversifying library offerings; updating policies and procedures; improving classroom content; and hiring and retention of faculty and staff that reflect the student body's diversity.

Jose Constantine, the only School Committee member who voted against the FY24 budget as presented by the administration earlier this spring, questioned whether such an ambitious agenda in the area of diversity is possible to implement without a full-time professional dedicated to the work.

"That's the worry for me, and, I'm sure, many members of our community," Constantine said.

He singled out one area of the district's plan and asked for specifics about how the administration plans to recruit more diverse staff, particularly in light of McCandless' presentation earlier this year on the lack of certified teachers from historically underrepresented groups in the commonwealth as a whole.

"We are making sure those job postings become as detailed and as inviting as we can," Bergeron said. "If we're posting for a visual art teacher, for instance, the tradition would be: You put up a job posting to say you need a visual arts teacher who has licensure and is excited to work with students in Grades 7 through 12.

"A much better approach would be to talk about the breadth of experiences, the depth of experiences and the kinds of things that you would like to be able to offer your students so somebody who has a background and reads that job posting can say, 'These are folks I want to work with. These are folks who are going to value what I bring to the table beyond a standard job posting.' "

Bergeron said the district also is looking at the places where it posts its job openings and reaching out to existing members of the school community with diverse backgrounds to help spread the word.

"Those are all achievable things over the next 12 months and all things that the staff we have doing the work .. are all invested in," Bergeron said. "Will it be perfect? No, absolutely not. Would a DEIB director, if they committed a day of their week, each week to only that, would they make more progress? Yes. But that doesn't mean we're not going to make progress. It doesn't mean we're not going to be able to do it."

Efforts to address the school's curricula came up earlier in last Thursday's meeting, when Director of Curriculum and Instruction Joelle Brookner shared the district's effort piloting the commonwealth's Investigating History lesson plan in the fifth and sixth grades at Lanesborough Elementary and Williamstown Elementary.

According to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's website, Investigating History will "address not only instances of racial oppression and prejudice in developmentally appropriate ways, but also highlight the individuals and movements who have challenged it, and the way in which diversity has been and continues to be a strength of our nation."

Brookner said the local elementary schools got in on the ground floor of an approach to teaching history and social studies that will be going live for all schools in the commonwealth in the 2023-24 school year.

"We just feel fortunate that we're in Massachusetts, that is supporting really trying to teach true history," she said. "There's a fantastic statement on the [DESE] website, there's an FAQ called 'Race, Racism, and Culturally Responsive Teaching in History and Social Science in Massachusetts.' I encourage people to read it. It's a great resource."

As for the rest of the district's DEIB action plan , outlined in a PDF on the Mount Greylock Regional School District website, the committee discussed creating a standing agenda item to receive updates on the plan's implementation. And the committee members discussed adjusting the existing goals for the superintendent in order to allow McCandless more time to focus on the DEIB work.

Specifically, member Julia Bowen suggested that the committee cut a goal of moving the district toward a reconfigured school day where elementary school classes start earlier than middle/high school classes.

"It's a big lift, if that were to ever happen," Bowen said. "Is it something we should not ask the team to focus on?"

Bergeron noted that "flipping" the schedule would, among other things, involve a major fiscal commitment to redo how the district transports students. And McCandless said he agreed with Bowen that, unlike other goals for the administration that the School Committee approved, there were no "crosswalks" between the time shift and the DEIB work.

"That's one [goal] I'd be open to putting on the back burner  simply because of the complexity and, at the end of the day, the fact that the answer is still likely to be, 'Not right now,' " McCandless said.

Bowen asked that the committee add an agenda item for a future meeting to revisit the superintendent's goals.
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.

Selina Yuan, President of International Business, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence at Alibaba, 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 Clouds 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 Clouds marketplace platform, and expand the product sales through Alibaba Clouds 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 Clouds 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 Clouds 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 IBMs security products - QRadar SIEM and QRadar SOAR - as well as Alibaba Clouds 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.
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 24x7 phone support. Interested customers can reach out to sea.sales@kaspersky.com.
In its continued commitment to protect Filipinos from fraudsters and scammers, the Philippine National Police (PNP) Quezon City District Anti-Cybercrime Team (QCDACT), in cooperation with the country's leading mobile wallet GCash, successfully arrested a fake police officer while soliciting financial assistance for their "team building" activities. The suspect, who used the name "Arnold Santos," was arrested while attempting to withdraw the money through a GCash remittance outlet.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Quezon City District Anti-Cybercrime Team (QCDACT) in cooperation with GCash, arrests fake non-uniformed personnel Allan Roque Castillano and his accomplice Editha de Jesus Candelaria

The suspect was identified as Allan Roque Castillano, Jr.,47, a former vendor inside the PNP's Camp Bagong Diwa, and a resident of Gapan, Nueva Ecija, and his accomplice Editha de Jesus Candelaria, 48, a resident of San Fernando, Pampanga, was taken into custody. Before the entrapment operation, a police officer received an SMS from Castillano (a.k.a. Santos), who introduced himself as a Non-Uniformed Personnel of the Office of the Regional Director PNP-NCRPO and asked for donations for their team building. Castillano was subsequently arrested with the assistance of GCash.

As the largest mobile wallet in the country, GCash plays its part in protecting its users against scammers and fraudsters through its close coordination with the authorities. With a user base of 79 million, representing 83% of Filipinos, GCash has been proactive in combating cybercrime by collaborating with various law enforcement units, including the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the anti-cybercrime units of the PNP. Through this partnership, GCash aims to create a safe online environment for all users.

"As our user base grows, we consider it our responsibility to ensure the safety of everyone," says GCash president and CEO Martha Sazon.

GCash continues to urge its users to exercise extra caution when transacting on the platform, never revealing their MPIN or OTP, and refraining from clicking on links that lead to external websites or senders they are unfamiliar with. For help and assistance, users can contact the PNP-ACG via their hotlines at (02) 8414-1560 or 0998-598-8116, or via email at acg@pnp.gov.ph.

To report scams and fraudulent activities, users can visit the official GCash Help Center at help.gcash.com or message Gigi on the website and type "I want to report a scam." GCash will never send private messages to ask for personal information, especially the MPIN and One-Time Pin (OTP). Customers can also contact the official GCash hotline at 2882 for queries and other concerns.

For more information, visit www.gcash.com.ph.
Canadian-based digital payment platform Neutronpay today announced its partnership with Pouch.ph to enable fast, secure, and low-cost money transfers from Canada and Vietnam to the Philippines.

The partnership allows Filipino workers living in Canada or Vietnam to send money directly to a Philippine bank or eWallet instantly and with far better exchange rates than was previously possible.

Through Bitcoin's Lightning Network, Canadian dollars or Vietnamese dong are converted into Bitcoin. Pouch.ph then converts the Bitcoin into Philippine pesos and directly transfers to the recipients bank or mobile money account.

"I am thrilled to partner with Pouch.ph to offer a fast and cost-effective solution for Filipino expats in Canada and Vietnam who want to send money to their loved ones in the Philippines. Our integration with Bitcoin's Lightning Network is a major step forward in improving the lives of our customers, and we look forward to exploring new ways to innovate cross-border payments," said Albert Buu, founder and CEO of Neutronpay.

Data released by the Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed personal remittances hit a new record high of $36.14 billion in 2022, surpassing the previous all-time high of $34.88 billion in 2021. In terms of country sources, Canada accounted for 3.6 percent of total remittances to the Philippines.

Additionally, according to Statista, OFWs in Vietnam sent approximately $14 million in cash remittances to the Philippines in 2021.

"For the longest time, overseas Filipinos had limited options when it came to sending money back home, relying mainly on traditional banks and money transfer agents that could be both inconvenient and costly. Working with Neutronpay is consistent with our endeavor to empower OFWs to easily send money to their families and loved ones," said Ethan Rose, CEO of Pouch.

The NeutronPay app is currently available exclusively on the Canadian and Vietnamese app stores, while Pouch.ph can be downloaded on Google Play and Apple Store.
On May 15, the Azerbaijani delegation led by the Speaker of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) Sahiba Gafarova participated in the opening ceremony of the exhibition organized on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the National Leader with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation at the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Azernews reports.

The Aide to the Azerbaijani President Anar Alakbarov, the Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu, deputies of the Milli Majlis, management of the TASS agency, members of the Federation Council, and other officials took part in the event.

Photographs depicting different periods of the life and activities of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev were displayed at the exhibition.

Valentina Matviyenko, the chairman of the Federation Council, who opened the ceremony, shared her thoughts about the life and political activities of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev, the founder of modern Azerbaijan.

Speaking at the event, Sahiba Gafarova said that more than one generation of the modern history of Azerbaijan is connected with the founder of national statehood, outstanding political figure Heydar Aliyev - a genius who left his name forever in the history of Azerbaijan and dedicated his life to the welfare of the people of Azerbaijan.

She brought to attention that Heydar Aliyev's leadership qualities, far-sighted policy, and strong will were prominent both in the Soviet era and in the most fateful moments of Azerbaijan. After Heydar Aliyev came to power in Azerbaijan in 1969, the vector of management in all spheres of life changed radically.

Heydar Aliyev's invaluable role in the development and strengthening of comprehensive relations based on solid foundations such as equal cooperation with Russia, respect for each other's interests, and non-interference in internal affairs after the restoration of Azerbaijan's independence was especially noted. She emphasized that the traditions of historical friendship and good neighborliness, deep relations, political dialogue, and humanitarian cooperation between our states are now dynamically developing as a result of the tireless efforts of the heads of state, Ilham Aliyev and Vladimir Putin.

She underscored that Heydar Aliyev's historical forecast has already come true today, fast restoration works are being carried out in the territories liberated from occupation, and large-scale infrastructure projects are being implemented.

In the artistic part of the event, the children sang excerpts from poems loved by National Leader Heydar Aliyev in Azerbaijani and Russian languages.

Then the Speaker of the Milli Majlis, Sahiba Gafarova, had a one-on-one meeting with the Chairman of the Federation Council, Valentina Matviyenko.

It was noted at the meeting that the events held in Russia show how this genius has conquered a great peak.

During the conversation, views were exchanged on the current state of Russian-Azerbaijani inter-parliamentary relations and development prospects, as well as other issues of interest to the parties.
In addition to the Cabinet chief, the meeting included Foreign Affairs Minister Ana Cecilia Gervasi.

??? Premier se reunio con Mesa Directiva del Congreso para tratar proyectos de ley sobre fronteras y gestion remota de la Presidencia



??Solicito estar unidos en la defensa de los intereses del pais y en el afianzamiento de las relaciones diplomaticas.https://t.co/oNQB626w9r
Nothing takes you to another place like food does and theres quite nothing like a home-cooked meal to take you to the most special placehome. Truly, it is so magical how a home-cooked meal can bring people together and create a sense of comfort. An integral part of ones family traditions, holidays, and identity, food is the reason we come together; and there is a story that unravels with each dish, each plate, and each morsel.

Being the industry leader in innovative digital appliances Samsung has become part of connecting people with food. The entire line of Bespoke Home products, such as their life-changing refrigerators and microwave ovens, become a tool in creating a myriad of dishes and also support professional chefs or food enthusiasts to create meaningful dishes with the appliance ranges versatility and range of functions.

A story behind every bite

Samsungs commitment to bringing stylish and more efficient digital appliances to be part of every Filipinos home kitchen inspired them to create a digital series titled In The Mood for Foodheart-warming, feel-good episodes that will capture the attention of every foodie with riveting storytelling and delectable dishes featured.

Each episode showcases a chef with a specially curated dish that represents different themes revolving around Family, Tradition, Friendship, Love, and Comfort.

For instance, episode one tells the story of the Tan family and how they decided to get a chef who is familiar with the familys taste buds. For all Chinese families, homecoming symbolizes abundance; thus, celebrating their daughter Staceys return from London and having a special dish is something that their family looks forward to. Chef Chris whips out ingredients from his Samsung Bespoke Refrigerator equipped with All Around Cooling to prepare and cook a Cantonese Steamed Fish using the Pro Steamer function of the Samsung Smart Oven MC35R8088LC/TC. The meal, meticulously and lovingly prepared, is a prime example of just how much a single bite of a familys favorite delicious dish can feel so like home.

As they say, there is no more sincere love than the love we have for foodand theres just nothing like a perfectly cooked meal to warm the heart and feed your soul. Take yourself on a delicious, heartfelt journey with Samsungs In The Mood for Food digital series. Visit Samsungs Official Youtube Page to watch all of their digital episodes.

Products featured in each episode can be purchased in Samsung.com, Samsungs official Shopee and Lazada and in leading dealers nationwide.
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Martin Scorsese has recalled Robert De Niros blunt response when he asked about casting him in The Departed.

The filmmaker and actor have collaborated on 10 films, including Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and the forthcoming crime epic Killers of the Flower Moon.

Scorsese and De Niro once went 24 years without working together on a feature, between 1995s Casino and 2019s The Irishman. De Niro did, however, star in Scorseses 2015 comedy short The Audition.

In a new interview with Deadline, Scorsese said that De Niro had, in fact, turned him down multiple times in those intervening years, including roles in the period drama Gangs of New York (2002) and crime thriller The Departed (2006).

We talked to Bob about [starring in The Departed], but he didnt want to do it, the filmmaker said. So, with Bob, after Casino we stopped for a while and I did Kundun, and Bringing Out the Dead. And then Gangs of New York. We always checked in, on that and everything else.

He wanted me to do Analyze This, and I said, We already did it. It was Goodfellas. I talked to him about other projects, and at one point he said, You know the kind of stuff I like to do with you. I said, OK. That became The Irishman, and it took nine years. We were always looking. What about The Departed? Nah, I dont wanna do that. OK.

Released in 1999 and directed by Harold Ramis, Analyze This saw De Niro play a mobster who enters therapy.

Speaking about De Niros decision to turn down Gangs of New York, Scorsese described their interaction as a check-in.

Joe Pesci, Liotta and Robert De Niro in Goodfellas' (Warner Bros)

That was just a check-in, he recalled. Literally, [De Niro] said, What are you doing? Im doing this. You interested? Nah. OK.

We always talked about that kind of thing, because he is the only one around who knows where I came from and who I am, from that period of time when we were 15 or 16 years old. He knows that part of New York.

Killers of the Flower Moon is released in cinemas in October.
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Simon Pegg has opened up about his longtime friendship with Tom Cruise.

The British actor, 53, joined the Mission Impossible franchise in its third instalment released in 2006.

Hes since starred in three more Mission Impossible movies opposite Cruise, 60, with the next  Mission: Impossible  Dead Reckoning Part One  out 12 July.

In the latest edition of BBC Radio 4s Desert Island Discs, Pegg told host Lauren Laverne that he avoids talking to Cruise about his controversial faith in the Church of Scientology.

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 explained.

Cruise is Scientologys most famous follower. The religion and its leader David Miscavige have been accused of bilking supporters for cash, separating members from their loved ones, and harassing and threatening journalists and critics.

Tom Cruise (left) and Simon Pegg (Han Myung-Gu/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures)

Pegg added that his relationship with Cruise is just very simple and amiable. Were 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.

Pegg also said he makes fun of Cruise for his fame and the things that he can access. He recalled: We were filming in South Africa recently on this mountain and then he decided he wanted to swim with sharks.

He flew us in a helicopter to this seaside part and we dived with sharks. At the end of the day, we said, That was a real Tom Cruise kind of day. He kind of appreciates the ridiculousness of it sometimes.

Elsewhere in the interview, Pegg reflected on hiding his alcohol addiction while on the set of Mission: Impossible III.

Mission: Impossible  Dead Reckoning Part One is out in cinemas 12 July.
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A Chinese comedian is being investigated by authorities for cracking a joke that compared a military slogan used by Xi Jinping to his adopted dogs.

Comedian Li Haoshi, who goes by the stage name House, was condemned by the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) and social media users after a clip of his controversial performance went viral on Twitter-like platform Weibo.

Mr Li said in his performance that the behaviour of two stray dogs he adopted was similar to having a good work style, being able to fight and win battles  a motto used by Mr Xi for the PLA in 2013, reported China Daily.

He said his two energetic dogs often chased squirrels, reminding him of the slogan and added that it had been widely used for the Chinese military and even featured in a popular military song.

The clip shows the audience laughing and clapping at Mr Lis joke. His remarks, however, angered social media users.

Responding to the joke, the PLAs Western Theater Command took to its official WeChat account to condemn the comments, calling them provocative and insulting.

The PLA soldiers have a very tolerant attitude toward diverse cultures, but we cannot stand for this stupid joke, which is provocative and insulting, the post said.

It said the military was anguished by the analogy, but glad to see the public siding with the army.

Following the backlash, Mr Li apologised for the joke, saying he was ashamed and took full responsibility.

I am deeply ashamed for using a very inappropriate metaphor during my performance. I take full responsibility and will stop all shows to reflect on my actions, Mr Li said in a statement.

The show, held in Beijing, was hosted by the Shanghai Xiaoguo Culture Media Company, known for producing some of Chinas most popular talk shows.

The company on Monday said it was suspending Mr Li indefinitely and apologised for his inappropriate comment.

The official newspaper for Mr Xis Chinese Communist Party denounced the comedian for offending the PLA, without naming Mr Li directly.

It said comedians should respect the limits for jokes and added that it would be a mistake to put humour before all things.

The PLAs news media centre said the performance was vulgar and harmful.

The controversy became a top trend on Weibo, garnering over 320 million views and thousands of comments calling for action against the comedian.

How come the crowd was still laughing? asked a Weibo user.

Forgetting their achievements equals a betrayal of all Chinese people, said another.

Comedians should also follow moral standards when telling jokes. There are things that should never be joked about, and they should know that well, said Jin Feng, a WeChat user.

In 2021, China passed a law to criminalise insulting the military or military personnel in the country. Former journalist Luo Changping was prosecuted and jailed for seven months in 2022 for insulting Chinese soldiers depicted in a blockbuster movie about the Korean war.
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A 38-year-old domestic worker in Hong Kong fell to her death from the 18th floor of an apartment building while cleaning windows.

The unnamed woman, identified as Filipino by birth, was found lying unconscious on the podium of the seventh floor of the building in Cheung Sha Wan in Hong Kong on Monday.

Reports said she was rushed to the Caritas Medical Centre, the nearest hospital in Cheung Sha Wan, where she died.

It was not clear if the window the domestic worker was cleaning when she fell had a safety grille or not.

An unidentified source familiar with the incident was quoted as saying by the South China Morning Post that an initial investigation suggests the helper lost her balance and accidentally fell off the building while cleaning windows in her own bedroom.

According to law, domestic workers in Hong Kong  known to be teeming with skyscrapers  cannot be asked to clean the outside of any window above ground level unless there is a safety grille attached.

In 2017, Hong Kongs government introduced the law after a spate of incidents of domestic workers falling to their deaths while cleaning windows.

According to this legislation, all hired domestic help could not be asked to clean the outside of any window above ground level, unless the opening was fitted with a secured grille, and no part of their body except for their arms should extend beyond the ledge.

Police have, so far, not found anything suspicious in the Monday incident and an investigation is ongoing.

Betty Yung Ma Shan-yee, chairperson of the Hong Kong Employers of Overseas Domestic Helpers Association, was quoted in local media as saying that the number of such accidents had dropped after the ban came into effect in 2017.
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The Independent has backed calls for jailed Hong Kong media tycoon and prominent Beijing critic Jimmy Lai to be released from prison.

The 75-year-old, who set up the now closed Apple Daily newspaper, was sent to prison after a high-profile fraud case filed by Hong Kong authorities after a crackdown on the pro-democracy movement.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF), who campaign for freedom of the press globally, have released a statement calling for the release of Mr Lai.

The Independents Editor-in-Chief Geordie Greig has signed to support the campaign and the fight for media press freedom in Hong Kong.

Mr Lai was jailed last year for six years after being convicted of fraud and also faces charges under Hong Kongs security law, which has been enforced by China to more easily silence protesters.

It was imposed on Hong Kong on 2020 after months of anti-government protests and has led to the arrest of a number of prominent activists.

Mr Lai is the most prominent of what became known as the Hong Kong 47 - a group of pro-democracy activists who are all currently on trial for subversion.

The defendants include 39 men and eight women aged between 23 and 64, who have all been caught up in Chinas wider crackdown on dissidents.

If Mr Lai is convicted of the charges against him he is likely to spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Earlier this month Mr Lais son, Sebastien Lai, criticised both the UK for failing to speak out against the crackdown on protesters in Hong Kong.

Speaking at an event in Washington about the human rights situation in Hong Kong he slammed the hypocrisy displayed by some governments still trying to trade with China as unexpected.

We are incredibly grateful that the Americans have been a lot stronger on these values that we all share than the UK government. The UK government has been incredibly weak, he said.

He criticised the UK government for not calling on authorities in Hong Kong to release his father, who is a British national.

Its very sad to see a democratic government being afraid or asking permission, even to speak on behalf of one of its citizens that is in prison for freedom of speech. Its just ridiculous, he added.

The full statement signed by The Independents Editor-in-Chief

We, as publishers and editors of news media organisations from around the world, are united in support of Apple Daily founder and publisher Jimmy Lai, and his fight for media pluralism and press freedom in Hong Kong.

Jimmy Lai has stood for these values his entire life, and founded Apple Daily to ensure that the people of Hong Kong had access to vital independent information. In a tremendous act of courage, he chose to stay in Hong Kong and continued to publish as long as he could, despite the severe crackdown taking place around him.

Now it is our turn to stand up for Jimmy Lai, whose detention serves only to damage the reputation of the authorities in both China and Hong Kong. The arbitrary charges against him are clear violations of Chinese, Hong Kong, and international law.

In targeting this 75 year-old press freedom emblem, the Chinese regime has taken its attempts to control information beyond its borders, and made it a concern for the entire world. When press freedom is threatened anywhere, it is threatened everywhere.

Together with Reporters Without Borders (RSF), we stand with Jimmy Lai. We believe he has been targeted for publishing independent reporting, and we condemn all charges against him. We call for his immediate release, for the national security charges against him to be dropped, and for his convictions on other charges to be overturned.

We note that the case against Jimmy Lai takes place as part of a broader press freedom crackdown in Hong Kong, and are deeply concerned by the rapid deterioration of Hong Kongs press freedom climate, as reflected in RSFs World Press Freedom Index.

We call for the immediate release of all 13 of the currently detained journalists, and for any remaining charges against all 28 journalists targeted under national security and other laws over the past three years to be dropped.

We also call for immediate steps to allow for the reinstatement of media that have been forced to close, including Apple Daily and Stand News, which have served as devastating blows to media freedom in Hong Kong.

The universal right to press freedom must be protected for the people of Hong Kong and around the world.
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Hong Kong public libraries have removed most books and documentaries about the deadly 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, in yet another move against free speech.

The purge comes after government auditors last month instructed the citys public libraries to step up efforts to ensure their facilities didnt carry materials that were "contrary" to national security.

Keywords such as "Tiananmen", "protest", "June 4th" and "revolution" yielded no results when searched on the Hong Kong Public Libraries catalog on Tuesday.

Some of the notable books about the crackdown that were no longer available in the libraries included the Chinese-language title People Wont Forget written by 64 Hong Kong journalists and The Power of Tiananmen by Chinese sociologist Zhao Dingxin.

A spokesman for the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, which runs the 71 public libraries in the city, told South China Morning Post that the books were pulled out as they were not in line with the development of the service on a regular basis.

Books with content suspected of breaching the national security law or other local laws are removed immediately for a review, the spokesperson said.

Hong Kong's leader John Lee defended the purge on Tuesday arguing that libraries should only stock books that "serve the interests of Hong Kong".

"These books are accessible by people in private bookshops. If they want to buy, they can buy," he told reporters.

"What libraries need to do is to ensure that there's no breach of any laws in Hong Kong, including of course, copyrights etc, and also if they spread any kind of messages that are not in the interests of Hong Kong," Mr Lee added, without elaborating.

Critics have accused the Chinese government of throttling dissent and targetting free speech following the implementation of the national security law in 2020.

Two years ago the citys libraries carried some 120 titles about the crackdown, according to a 2021 Hong Kong Free Press report. Only 26 books were on display at that time, with rest being available on request.

According to the citys Ming Pao newspaper, more than 40 per cent of video materials and books involving political themes have been removed from public libraries since 2020.

A government-backed Audit Commission said in an April report that a government review of library materials had almost been completed of library books which are manifestly contrary to the interests of national security and removed them from the library collections.

Public memorials and commemorations of the bloody crackdown in 1989 were once allowed in Hong Kong, unlike mainland China where it is a taboo and censored topic.

However, citing Covid-19 restrictions, the city authorities barred an annual 4 June candlelight vigil from taking place for the past three years. Public monuments, including a goddess of democracy statue, have been dismantled from three universities.

Books by prominent pro-democracy activists Jimmy Lai and Joshua Wong, who face charges under the law, have already been pulled from libraries.

Non-political titles, including romance novels by former Democratic Party lawmaker Roy Kwong Chun-yu, an award-winning novel review by Margaret Ng Ngoi-yee, and two travelogues by veteran journalist Allan Au Ka-lun, have also been reportedly tragetted by the city administration.
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A power tussle between the Taliban and officials from the former Ashraf Ghani administration has taken a new turn after the latter resisted the militant groups attempts to take charge of Afghanistans embassy in New Delhi.

Farid Mamundzay, the Afghan ambassador to India who assumed his position under the countrys former Western-backed administration in 2020, rejected the Talibans attempt to install a charge daffaires on Monday.

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 said in a press statement.

The comment from the embassy comes amid reports from Afghanistan claiming the Taliban appointed its trade counsellor Mohammad Qadir Shah as an acting envoy to New Delhi. An unsigned document shared by Tolo news accused three envoys, including Mr Mamundzay, of corruption over a rent agreement with an Indian firm.

Mr Shah is a member of the existing envoys team and looks after trade, becoming the representative for import and export affairs between Delhi and Kabul. India counts as Afghanistans second largest hub for exports after Pakistan.

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 press statement said, adding that the diplomatic mission continues to function as normal and working for the interests of Afghan nationals in India.

Mr Mamundzay, an official from the administration now in exile, underlined New Delhis consistent position for supporting the interests of the Afghan people while not recognising the caretaker Taliban regime in Kabul at the same time, as has been the case with democratic governments around the world.

The Indian governments Ministry of External Affairs termed the tussle a domestic matter for Afghanistan which needs to be settled among the representatives, reported The Indian Express.

The Independent has reached out to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan embassy in New Delhi for a comment.

No international administration has officially recognised the leaders from the hardline Islamist group as Afghanistans de facto rulers.

Most nations have also refused to allow the Taliban to set up embassies on their soil.

New Delhi has also refused to officially recognise Talibans envoy and attempt to set up its own official at the embassy headquarters.

Taliban has about 14 missions across the world, including in Pakistan, Iran, Russia, Qatar and Turkmenistan and has been seeking more control abroad.
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A grieving father in India said he had to travel hundreds of kilometres by bus with the corpse of his five-month-old child in a bag as he could not afford to pay for an ambulance.

The incident took place last Sunday in the eastern state of West Bengal when Ashim Debsharma was forced to take a bus after an ambulance driver demanded Rs 8,000 (77) for taking him home from Kaliaganj located in Uttar Dinajpur district to Siliguri in Darjeeling, 200km away.

My five-month-old son died last night after treatment at the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH) in Siliguri for six days, during which I spent Rs 16,000 (155), he said.

The ambulance drivers demanded Rs 8,000 to take us back home. With no money left, I packed my sons body in a bag and took the bus from medical college back to Kaliaganj.

He claimed that when he called the ambulance on the number 102  an emergency medical transport service in the country  he was told that it was a free facility for patients, not for corpses, reported NDTV.

He traveled back home in the bus without seeking any help from co-passengers or bus staff, fearing that if they would find the body of his son, he would have been asked to deboard.

Mr Debsharma, a migrant worker, had admitted his twins to a general hospital in Kaliaganj for an undisclosed illness, before he was referred to Raiganj Medical College and Hospital, which then again transferred him to NBMCH  the largest medical facility in north Bengal.

While the health of one of his sons improved, the other child remained ill and died on Saturday evening, reported the Hindustan Times.

The hospital authorities claimed Mr Debsharma did not reach out to them for the ambulance.

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, hospital superintendent Dr Sanjay Mallik was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times. 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.

The incident has drawn a sharp focus on the healthcare infrastructure of the state and has acquired a political colour.

Opposition parties mounted attack over the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) as the chief minister sought a report from the regions deputy chief medical officer. It is better if such incidents do not happen, said Mamata Banerjee, who handles the states health ministry alongside her duties as chief minister.

There should not be a shortage of ambulances (at the hospital). There were three ambulances at the hospital, maybe all three were busy with other work. We are looking into the incident.

Members of prime minister Narendra Modis Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) issued stinging criticism as they lashed out at the condition of the health facility in West Bengal.

She (Mamata Banerjee) makes such tall claims. The government claims to have constructed multi-specialty hospitals where many get facilities for free... We have returned to the era where people dont have vehicles to carry a body. Mamata Banerjee should see what is the condition of this state, BJP leader Rahul Sinha was quoted as saying to the Indian Express.

Sujan Chakraborty, a leader of the opposition Communist Party of India (Marxist), said, A father is carrying his childs body because an ambulance is charging Rs 8,000 in a state, where the CM claims all health facilities are free, is unthinkable.

Reacting to the criticism, TMC Rajya Sabha MP Santanu Sen accused the BJP of trying to play dirty politics with the unfortunate death of a child.

Its definitely an inhuman incident, said Mr Sen, adding that the dean of the hospital was looking into the incident. He, however, claimed the states health infrastructure was intact, and took the opportunity to criticise BJP lawmaker Suvendu Adhikari.

Days before, a man was allegedly knocked down by a car in the leaders convoy and had died at a hospital in the state.

This is the only state in India where all people get free health facilities, claimed Mr Sen.

As the Leader of Opposition continues to do politics over dead bodies, I would like to remind him that recently a man died after being hit by a vehicle which was part of his convoy. He didnt even stop to take him to the hospital and we all know that he died.
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A Bollywood film depicting Hindu and Christian women lured to join Isis has divided India along state lines, triggering deadly clashes.

The Kerala Story is a fictional drama, but was originally touted as being based on the true stories of more than 30,000 such women until a court ruled the creators claims had no basis in fact.

Critics from opposition parties across India have described the film as Hindu nationalist propaganda and accused it of perpetuating Islamophobia.

But it has been heavily promoted by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), including in tweets by prime minister Narendra Modi.

The low-budget film, from director Sudipto Sen, has been at the centre of controversy since the day its trailer was released in India. After its cinema release on 5 May, the state of West Bengal banned showings, while Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh  the countrys two most populous BJP-ruled states  cut the price of tickets by waiving government taxes.

The first death reported in the row occurred in Akola in Maharashtra, after clashes broke out between two groups with differing views on the film. The state government has increased the police presence in the city and cut off access to the internet in several areas, in an attempt to prevent protesters and rival groups from gathering.

The clashes reportedly began with an Instagram post on Saturday about The Kerala Story and ended with the death of 40-year-old electrician Vilas Gaikwad, as two rival groups pelted each other with stones and destroyed several private and government vehicles, according to officials quoted by Indian news agency ANI.

Maharashtra police said more than 135 people had been arrested; the states deputy chief minister, Devendra Fadnavis, said police stations had been warned to stay on high alert and watch out for any flare-ups.

In a separate incident in Jammu and Kashmir, several Muslim students at the Government Medical College in Jammu city were reportedly beaten by supporters of the film on Sunday night.

Local media said the clashes were between two groups of students, and began when one started an argument over The Kerala Story in a WhatsApp group, to which a group of Muslim students objected.

Mehbooba Mufti, president of the Peoples Democratic Party in Kashmir, tweeted: Shocking that GOI [the government of India] promotes & encourages violence through movies stoking communal fires. The blood of innocents is being spilt to quench the BJPs insatiable thirst for petty electoral dividends.

The chief minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, did not ban the film in the state but said that the movie had seemed to be made with the aim of communal polarisation and spreading hate propaganda.

On social media, a number of alternative hashtags about the film, such as #MyKeralaStory and #RealKeralaStory, started trending, with people sharing their own stories of religious harmony and camaraderie.

Film website IMDb summarises the plot as telling the story of a converted Muslim woman [named] Fatima Ba who wanted to become a nurse but was abducted from her home and manipulated by religious vanguards, turned into an Isis terrorist and landed in an Afghanistan jail.

Mr Modi praised the film and said that it attempted to expose the consequences of terrorism in a society.

In Uttar Pradesh, firebrand BJP chief minister Yogi Adityanath said the film draws the attention of the entire nation to the conspiracy of lovejihad, a reference to an unfounded theory that there is a coordinated effort by Muslim men to convert Indian women of other faiths through marriage.

The entire society must be made aware of this distortion. A commendable and brave effort has been made in this regard by the films producer, director and entire team, he said.

On Friday, the film was shown at more than 200 screens in the US and Canada. Mr Sen told reporters during a virtual press conference that the country [India] was in denial of the long-existing issue in the state of Kerala. The Kerala Story is a mission which is beyond the creative boundaries of cinema, a movement that should reach the masses all over the world and raise awareness.

The producer of the film, Vipul Shah, said the subject was hidden from the masses and deserved to be told. We made the film to initiate deliberation worldwide.
??Pronunciamiento de la Canciller Ana Cecilia Gervasi ante reiteradas expresiones injerencistas de los mandatarios de Colombia y Mexico.https://t.co/e9H6Yp4b7i
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Attacks on members of religious minority communities took place in multiple states of India throughout 2022, the US State Department said in its annual report on religious freedom.

The report highlighted "continued targeted attacks" on religious minorities, including Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Dalits and Indigenous communities under the rule of prime minister Narendra Modi's Hindu Nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

It comes a month ahead of Mr Modi's first official state visit to the US in nine years since being elected to the prime minister's office in 2014.

A senior US official, briefing reporters, spoke of Indias vast potential and said he was saddened by the persistence of religious violence.

The annual report, the official said, outlined continued targeted attacks against religious communities, dehumanising rhetoric, including open calls for genocide against Muslims.

The report noted attacks on houses of worship and home demolitions, impunity and clemency for those involved in the attack along with some restrictions on religious attire.

New Delhi has been encouraged to "condemn violence and hold accountable" those engaging in dehumanising rhetoric against the minority communities, the official said.

The report, based on direct research as well as accounts by media and advocacy groups, pointed to concerns about home demolitions against Muslims and the involvement of law enforcement in public flogging by police of Muslims accused of injuring Hindus in Mr Modi's home state of Gujarat.

It highlighted incidents of cow vigilantism against non-Hindus based on allegations of cow slaughter or trade in beef and assault on Muslim men who were alleged to have married Hindu women to convert them.

A bulldozer dismantles structures outside a mosque during the demolition drive of illegal structures in Delhis violence-hit Jahangirpuri (EPA)

There were also attacks on pastors, disruption of Christian and Muslim worship services, and vandalism of churches, it noted.

Muslims comprise nearly 14 per cent of Indias 1.4 billion people while Hindus are nearly 80 per cent of the population and Christians at two per cent.

It cited the non-profit United Christian Forum (UCF) report that said there had been 511 anti-Christian incidents around the country reported to its hotline by end of November 2022, compared to 505 in all of 2021.

Christian groups said the local police in multiple states aided crowds who disrupted worship services, alleging forcible conversion of Hindus.

The report noted violent protests in several parts of India that erupted after former BJP members Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal made derogatory remarks about prophet Muhammad on live television.

Earlier this month, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) called on the US State Department to designate India as a country of particular concern for the fourth year in a row.

However, secretary of state Antony Blinken is likely to spare India, with which the US has been strengthening ties for decades, to counter Chinas rising aggression.

Mr Blinken, while presenting the report on Monday, did not mention India as he voiced alarm about China, Iran, Myanmar and Nicaragua.

We defend the right to believe  or to not believe  not only because its 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.
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Malaysia is looking to decriminalise the possession and use of illegal drugs in small quantities in a reform aimed at bringing down its prison population, and taking the first step as a southeast Asian country to water down capital punishment for drug offences.

The countrys home minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said a new bill on this is in progress and will be presented to the Cabinet in July.

The bill Drugs and Substance Abuse Act will then be taken to the Parliament for its first reading in this year.

With this law, for the type of offences where drugs are found on the body, whether in terms of possession or use in a smaller quantity, the original idea was to not consider this as a common drug crime, the Home Affairs minister told reporters at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) on Monday.

This proposed law will focus on rerouting these drug offenders guilty on smaller counts to rehabilitation centres covered under Malaysias anti-drugs agency Agensi Anti Dadah Kebangsaan (AADK) to reduce overcrowding in prisons.

They will be referred directly to rehabilitation centres, either institutional or community-based treatment and rehabilitation that are under the jurisdiction of AADK and not straight to jail, he said.

Drafting of the bill is also on schedule, the minister said.

This is the latest move by Malaysia in a series of criminal justice reforms pursued by prime minister Anwar Ibrahims government.

Earlier this year, Malaysia abolished the mandatory death penalty and natural-life prison terms as it also looked to decriminalise suicide attempts.

Geographically, Malaysia is considered a key transit point for illegal narcotics trade. The police said nearly 29,000 people were arrested in 2022 for various drug offences, the bulk of whom were addicts.

Several southeast Asian countries, prominently Malaysia and Singapore, have strict punishments dictated by law for drug crimes, demonstrating zero-tolerance for drug related offences and crimes in the region.

As a result, both nations have convicted and executed several national and international convicts on the grounds of consumption, trafficking or being involved in the conspiracy to carry out the illegal trade of drugs.

This has also sparked a wave of concern from the international community and activists.
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Death toll from cyclone Mocha, the deadliest storm to strike Myanmar, has risen up to at least a hundred as its impact is felt across Bangladesh and northeast India as well.

Although the exact death toll is yet to be known, residents of the western region told news agency Reuters that at least 100 people had died and many more were missing and feared dead.

AFP news agency quoted local leaders stating that the death toll stands at 41.

Activists have also raised concerns over aid efforts being hampered in the least developed Asian country. The area where the cyclone hit was home to many Rohingya refugees.

The cyclone, packing winds of up to 210kph (130 mph), ripped off roofs, caused severe flooding in the state capital Sittwe, and severely disrupted infrastructure.

One resident, who preferred to remain anonymous due to safety concerns, told Reuters that he visited multiple villages in the aftermath of the cyclone and estimated the death toll of Rohingya Muslims to exceed 100.

Two other residents and a diplomatic source also confirmed a high number of casualties.

Myanmar Now, a local news portal, stated that hundreds were feared dead, while aid groups acknowledged a "significant number of deaths."

Myanmar's state media, on the other hand, reported three fatalities.

The damage caused by the cyclone, combined with ongoing restrictions imposed by Myanmar's military government, has hindered relief efforts and communication.

NGOs operating in the area expressed difficulty in obtaining accurate information, exacerbating the challenges in responding effectively to the crisis.

Its difficult to obtain accurate or up to date information, which also makes responding to the crisis adequately even more difficult, said Manny Maung of Human Rights Watch, adding that many were missing and feared dead.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) highlighted that even before the cyclone, approximately 6 million people in the region required humanitarian assistance, including 1.2 million internally displaced individuals affected by ethnic conflicts.

Rakhine State is no stranger to disasters, having previously faced the devastation of Cyclone Nargis in 2008, which claimed nearly 140,000 lives.

The current storm's destruction, coupled with damaged communication and road infrastructure, has made it challenging to assess the extent of the damage and provide aid promptly.

This satellite image provided by India Meteorological Department shows storm Mocha intensify into a severe cyclonic storm (AP)

Prior to the cyclones landfall, approximately 400,000 people were evacuated in Myanmar and neighboring Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, at least 236 houses and eight refugee camps were reported damaged in the northeastern Indian state of Mizoram, officials said.

A total of 5,749 people in more than 50 villages were affected by the powerful winds. However, there were no reports of fatalities.

Bangladesh, which was largely spared by the cyclone, faced its worst power cuts in over seven months as the deadly storm forced the closure of both its floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals, less than a month after a scorching heatwave caused widespread outages in the south Asian country.

Climate experts have raised concerns that there has been a substantial increase in cyclonic activity in South Asian waters, which is linked to rising ocean temperatures.

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.

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, he adds.

According to a new rapid analysis led by professor Ralf Toumi of Imperial College London, a cyclone like the one that made landfall in Myanmar is now about 50 per cent more likely to happen, because of the climate crisis.

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.

Additional reporting by agencies
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Bill Gates has revealed the five things he wishes he could tell his younger self.

The Microsoft co-founder recently spoke to graduates of Northern Arizona University, where he received an honorary doctorate degree and delivered the commencement speech on Saturday 13 May.

The 67-year-old billionaire shared with students the advice he never received on his own graduation day, notably because the self-proclaimed college dropout left Harvard University after three semesters to form Microsoft.

While speaking to college graduates at NAU, the first piece of advice he gave was that life isnt a one-act play.

You probably feel a lot of pressure right now to make the right decisions about your career, Gates said in his speech. It might feel like those decisions are permanent. Theyre not. What you do tomorrow  or for the next 10 years  does not have to be what you do forever.

While Gates thought hed spend his entire life working at Microsoft, he acknowledged that his full-time job is now philanthropy through his non-profit Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation  which he founded with his ex-wife, Melinda French Gates. Not only is it okay to change your mind or have a second career, it can be a very good thing, he said.

The second piece of advice Gates wished he heard at his graduation was that you are never too smart to be confused. The billionaire informed graduates that they will find themselves faced with a problem they cant solve on their own at some point in their career. At that moment, Gates told students not to panic but to take a breath and force yourself to think things through.

Gates also suggested they find smart people to learn from, such as colleagues with more experience, a fellow graduate with a different perspective, or an expert in the field. Just about everything I have accomplished came because I sought out others who knew more, he admitted. People want to help you. The key is to not be afraid to ask.

Thirdly, Gates told students to gravitate toward work that solves an important problem.

The tech mogul pointed out that many young people are entering the workforce during a time when there are many important problems to solve, such as climate change or biases in artificial intelligence technology. When you spend your days doing something that solves a big problem, it energises you to do your best work, he said. It forces you to be more creative, and it gives your life a strong sense of purpose.

As for his fourth simple piece of advice, Gates said: Dont underestimate the power of friendship. He recalled his childhood friend Paul Allen, who would eventually join Gates in starting Microsoft. Gates noted that friends can also be a great future source of support, information, and advice.

Finally, the last piece of advice that Gates gave NAU graduates was also one that he admitted he could have used the most.

You are not a slacker if you cut yourself some slack, he said, adding that it took him a long time to learn his final piece of advice for himself. The Microsoft co-founder explained that he didnt realise until much later that there is more to life than work.

When I was your age, I didnt believe in vacations, Gates explained. I didnt believe in weekends. I pushed everyone around me to work very long hours. In the early days of Microsoft, my office overlooked the parking lot  and I would keep track of who was leaving early and staying late.

But as I got older  and especially once I became a father  I realised there is more to life than work, he continued. Dont wait as long as I did to learn this lesson. 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.
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Italian fashion designer Giuliano Calza has called on shoppers to boycott Chinese fast fashion retailer Shein or accept mediocrity.

The co-founder of streetwear label GCDS, which stands for God Cant Destroy Streetwear, posted a statement on Instagram accusing the retailer of stealing his shoe design.

Shein, which is known for selling cheap clothes, has been embroiled in numerous copyright infringement lawsuits by designers and artists over the years.

Calza said that the retailers actions were hurtful and abusive and accused it of stealing ideas, stealing sweat, stealing love and [months] of dedication and stealing the energy of making [sic] new ideas come to life.

He wrote: Imagine them coming into your house or your mind and making your things, your dreams THEIRS.

The designer also addressed shoppers who may complain his garments and accessories are too expensive and therefore they shop on Shein.

Because I respect humans, I respect hard work and workers, I use ethical way of productions and materials [sic], he said, after earlier accusing the retailer of killing the planet with dehumanising policies that make [these] prices possible.

He posted screenshots of a pair of silver wedge heels on Sheins website, which have the same stylised heel as the Morso heels, available on the GCDS website for US$875.

It is unclear how much Sheins version of the shoes are, and they appear to have been removed from the site. The Independent has contacted Shein for comment.

Calza continued in his post: I try to stay human, I try to make my country a place where this industry can live for young people like me, but in this time maybe Im wrong, maybe I am the fool.

The designer, whose brand has been worn by Beyonce, Bella Hadid, Dua Lipa, Pamela Anderson, and other celebrities, said that what hurts the most is people tagging me [on these] shoes and expecting me to congratulate them or repost.

A screenshot of Giuliano Calzas GCDS website showing a pair of heels that he has accused Shein of copying (GCDS)

Its very sick. If you want creativity and young people to continue [surviving] and see them succeed, do not be a part of their game, he added.

In his caption, Calza wrote: Boycott Shein or accept abusive behaviour, accept stealing and accept the planet where you live, to burn in shame and fear [sic].

Accept mediocrity and be part of killing someone elses dreams.

In 2021, Shein was accused of deliberate and calculated trademark infringement by a number of major and independent brands, including AirWair International, owner of Dr Martens.

The complaint, filed in California, accused the retailer of having a clear intent to sell counterfeits. Shein denied the claims, and has denied other claims of alleged infringement.
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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.

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.
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Gemma Collins has opened up about her experience of incontinence  saying she first had it while playing with her nephew on a trampoline.

The former TOWIE star is fronting a campaign to help break down the stigma around the subject for women.In a TikTok for the BBC, Collins, also known as the GC, said: Its a taboo subject. Its really sad to know that women are stopping doing their activities because of leaks.

They might not want to go on holiday now because of their leaks. They might not want to get on a trampoline with their children or their families because of their leaks.

Research by Always Discreet found that one in three women in the UK experience the condition and one in five do not know how to manage bladder leaks.

I was so surprised to find out how many women, just like me, are also experiencing bladder leaks, Collins told the PA news agency.

In the past, Ive held back on doing things I enjoy, like trampolining, riding a bike or working out, and dancing the night away with friends, because I was worried about bladder leaks. Since learning that pelvic floor exercises can help to manage them, and using pads for those moments when I need more protection, I no longer have to hold back.

So, what is female incontinence and how can we treat it?

What is urinary incontinence?

Incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine, said Helen Lake, clinical director and Urology Nurse at Peppy Health.

The instance where a person loses urine control can be caused by physical triggers, which are classed as stress incontinence like coughing and sneezing or it can be caused by urge incontinence which is the sudden onset of needing to urinate.

Overflow incontinence can also be caused by physical conditions that cause a blockage like fibroids impacting the bladder, she explained.

Who does it impact?

Incontinence affects women twice as much as men, explained Lake.

This is mostly due to the weakening of the pelvic floor from childbirth, and also from menopause in which a loss of oestrogen can weaken the pelvic floor.

Men also suffer from incontinence, and this is often related to the prostate where there can be surgical-induced stress incontinence, or urge and overflow leakage.

Factors such as age can also impact the likelihood of having incontinence in both men and women, she added.

Why does it happen?

It may down to pelvic floor weaknesses, but it could be a sign of bigger problems.

Lots of things can cause incontinence, its important to always seek medical advice to understand why it might be happening, said Lake.

There are of course some typical reasons why, specifically women might lose bladder control, for example after having a baby.

In some rarer cases, incontinence can be indicative of an underlying health condition, she added. Neurological conditions which affect the nervous system, and how the brain sends messages to the bladder, such as MS, Parkinsons and even diabetes could be a cause.

What can be done to treat it?

Lake said: Carrying excess weight can be a contributing factor for some patients and so weight loss may be a recommendation for some people, as it can help to remove excess pressure on the bladder.

Its also worth analysing what you are drinking on a daily basis in terms of volume and ingredients as some drinks can irritate the bladder such as those containing caffeine.

Pelvic floor exercises are also very beneficial for stress incontinence and strengthen the pelvic muscles if done regularly. Sometimes a referral to a specialist physiotherapist can help target these exercises more effectively, she added.

Finally, depending on the exact cause of incontinence, you might be recommended medication such as an anticholinergic which calms down the bladders impulse to want to squeeze and empty.

Unfortunately, there remains a lot of stigma and embarrassment around incontinence which can prevent people from seeking help, Lake said. There needs to be much more of an open conversation around it.

Speaking out and sharing experiences is so important for changing the conversation on conditions like incontinence which affect so many people.

To learn more about preventing bladder leaks, visit alwaysdiscreet.co.uk and for any concerns regarding bladder weakness or pelvic floor discomfort see your GP.
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A Canadian tattoo artist has become the subject of TikToks newest drama known as #tattoogate after customers shared their negative experiences with the artist, from high pricing and design fees to one less-than-impressive fox tattoo.

The #tattoogate drama began on 10 May, when a TikTok user by the name of Courtney Monteith posted several videos about her experience with an unnamed tattoo artist, who was later revealed to be Lindsay Joseph of Lucid Tattoos. In a video, the mother of three detailed her appointments with Joseph, before revealing a tattoo sketch that didnt resemble what she had requested.

I wanted a tattoo by this artist who I love, Monteith began the first TikTok video. She booked a consultation with Joseph, for which she had to pay a non-refundable fee of $180. During their consultation, the tattoo artist informed Monteith about her tiered tattoo pricing.

The first option, which cost $1,500 plus tax, consisted of a concept sketch of the tattoo with one minor change and a final design review. Her second tattoo option included two concept sketches, a few changes, and a final design review for $3,500 plus tax. The final option was over $6,000 for multiple sketches, reviews, and a canvas of the concept sketch.

At first I kind of thought that price was going to then be taken out of the final cost of my tattoo, but then I find out that it was not, Monteith said. I was still kind of blindsided. I didnt know what to say. She asked which option worked best for me  obviously, I picked number one because its super expensive.

In the video, Monteith proceeded to show the final concept sketch she received from the tattoo artist. During their consultation, she had asked for a half upper-arm sleeve of a full-size fox running through flowers and sent over two reference images of similar designs. But when she was sent Josephs fox sketch, Monteith said it was nothing like what I wanted.

Although Monteith opted for option one, which only allowed for one minor design change, she immediately emailed Joseph and said the sketch wasnt what she had asked for.

She said that if I wanted another sketch she was going to charge me the difference between option one and option two, which is $2,260, Monteith explained.

She said it was my fault that I wasnt clear that I wanted a full fox, she added, despite sending Joseph two inspiration photos.

Monteith went on to reveal that she had paid the tattoo artist a total of $2,695: $180 for the non-refundable consultation, the design fee, and the $1,000 deposit for the actual tattoo. The two women went back and forth over like 20 emails, she said in another video.

Im trying to make her understand that I wasnt aware when I booked the consultation that I was going to have to pay this design fee, Monteith said. I urged her to put it on her website that she was going to charge people this before they booked with her.

The tattoo artist replied that the design fee was optional, but Monteith maintained that it was never made clear to her that the fee was optional. When Monteith asked Joseph to refund her $1,000 deposit for the tattoo session she will no longer be having, the tattoo artist replied via email: No. Im not refunding you anything, I have given you options of moving forward. I have been kind, patient, and have fulfilled my duties to you this [sic] far. If you dont want to move forward, that is your choice, but Im not giving you my time, expertise, and creativity for nothing.

I guarantee if [she] had sent me a beautiful sketch of a full fox, wed probably be moving forward and Id probably be getting this tattoo but unfortunately, were in this situation and Im out $2,600, she said in her final video, which she captioned: I honestly like her work but not being transparent about fees from the start is just bad business.

Courtney Monteiths nightmare tattoo experience instantly went viral on TikTok, with her first video receiving more than five million views. Her story quickly circulated across social media as many viewers dubbed Monteiths unpleasant tattoo experience #tattoogate.

It didnt take long for people to repost her videos on Twitter, where one user even went viral for their Twitter thread explaining the tattoo drama. Is anyone else following this ABSURD tattoo pricing drama on TikTok? I neeeeed to talk to someone about it, tweeted @diannaeanderson on Thursday.

Shortly after, one TikToker chimed in about their own horror story with the same Ontario-based tattoo artist. A woman who goes by Ri McCue on TikTok claimed she was basically scammed out of $4,000 when she had booked a tattoo consultation with Joseph in 2021.

McCue was told her tattoo  which would cover up a previous bird tattoo from her shoulder to her collarbone  would cost $1,700, along with a 50 per cent deposit of $850. But a few days before their appointment, Joseph called McCue and said that she wouldnt be able to cover the bird tattoo with the design they had discussed, and would tattoo her shoulder instead.

When McCue was unhappy with the new plan, she gave suggestions about tattooing up to her neck. She recalled Joseph saying: If you want to change the design, then you have to pay a whole new consultation.

McCue didnt want to lose her $850 deposit, so she decided to go through with the appointment. But after receiving half her tattoo, she claimed Joseph charged her a daily rate of $1,900.

At this point, I paid her $180, $850, and now $1900 for an outline, she explained. McCue decided to follow through with her second tattoo session, but told Joseph that she would pay no more than the $3,000 she had already paid. But she claimed that Joseph had called the cops on her and attempted to blacklist her from several tattoo studios in the area.

Courtney Monteith even gave Ri McCues video her seal of approval when she replied in a TikTok video: This is repeat behaviour, you guys.

Meanwhile, fellow TikTokers commented, Im here for tattoo gate, and, Getting my popcorn ready for #tattoogate2023.

Since #tattoogate went viral, tattoo artist Lindsay Joseph has made her Instagram account private. While Joseph has yet to comment on the backlash, fellow tattoo artists have weighed in on the viral tattoo drama. Award-winning artist Matt Vaught  who is based in Newport Beach, California  offered to make things right by designing a new tattoo and tattooing Monteith.

In a TikTok video, he did not name Joseph but described the situation as an ever-developing tale of a tattoo artist swindling people out of money, adding: Running a scam selling people their most expensive traced sketches.

I want to fix this, Vaught continued. Ive been working together alongside my sponsors H2Ocean and my manager Jenn Lee and we are going to fly this young woman out to Los Angeles, California, and I am going to tattoo this fox.

Because shes already out multiple thousands of dollars, Im going to do this for free. Thats right, completely free. I really just want to fix the wrong that has been done, and I also love tattooing foxes. She also came across very honest and genuine and shes a mother, its Mothers Day, he said in the video posted on Sunday (14 May).

Monteith posted a response to Vaughts offer, describing the last five days as a crazy, emotional journey. She added that the idea of getting a tattoo for free still made her uncomfortable, so she will be making a donation to a fox rescue organisation instead.

Im so happy the universe aligned and is gifting you with the tattoo you deserve! one TikTok user wrote in the comments section.

The Independent has contacted Lindsay Joseph for 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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The Cannes Film Festival opened its 76th edition with a parade of stars, including the much-debated return of Johnny Depp.

Depp's prominence on the festival's first day  he plays Louis XV in the opening night film, Jeanne du Barry  has been a hot topic in the leadup to the premiere. (Festival juror Brie Larson left it an open question on whether she would even watch the film, which is not in competition.) Depp received a warm welcome Tuesday night, smiling for cameras as fans nearby chanted Johnny!

Helen Mirren provided a standout look at the premiere with her hair dyed blue and a fan with the phrase #WorthIt printed on it.

The night also belonged to Michael Douglas, who received an honorary Palme d'Or during the opening ceremony. Douglas attended the premiere with his wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones and their daughter, Carys, who kissed the actor on his cheeks at the top of the steps of the famed Palais des Festivals before the ceremony.

The festival's premieres double as moments of high fashion, with Elle Fanning, Uma Thurman and Fan Bingbing opted for looks with long, flowing trains.

The starry celebration, which will include the premieres of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and Martin Scorsese's latest film, continues through May 27th.
13:06 | Lima, May. 16.

with the aim of exercising presidential diplomacy abroad. In remarks to reporters, he explained that for this reason an initiative is being proposed to allow President Dina Boluarte to travel abroad and perform her duties remotely,





"This proposal has a special connotation because the country is being literally attacked by two presidents, like Gustavo Petro and Andres Lopez Obrador, who have been attacking Peru; said attitudes have been categorically rejected," he stated.





"mediocre and authoritarian administrations." Similarly, Otarola said it is clear that those top officials, together with Peru's ex-President Pedro Castillo , "are alligators from the same well," whose policies match with





it is necessary for Peru's Congress to approve the initiative submitted by the Executive Branch as a matter of urgency so that the Therefore, the Cabinet chief specifiedsubmitted by the Executive Branch as a matter of urgency so that the President of the Republic is allowed to continue leading the Presidential Office remotely whenever she is not in Peru.





"Given this high responsibility and the personal defense of our country that the president has to exercise, we invoke a sense of urgency from the Congress of the Republic, and we are sure that they (its members) will act in this regard," he added.




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Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have agreed to separate meetings with a delegation of leaders from six African countries to discuss a possible plan to end the war in Ukraine, South Africa's president said Tuesday.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said he spoke with Putin and Zelenskyy by phone over the weekend and they each agreed to host "an African leaders peace mission" in Moscow and Kyiv, respectively.

Principal to our discussions are efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the devastating conflict in the Ukraine, Ramaphosa said.

The leaders of Zambia, Senegal, Congo, Uganda and Egypt would make up the delegation along with Ramaphosa, he said in a statement. Putin and Zelenskyy gave him the go-ahead to commence the preparations, the South African leader said.

Four of those six African countries  South Africa, Congo, Senegal and Uganda  abstained from a U.N. vote last year on condemning Russias invasion. Zambia and Egypt voted in favor of the motion.

Ramaphosa did not give a time frame or outline any parameters for the possible peace talks. Zelenskyy has previously said he would not consider a peace deal to end the 15-month war until Russian forces withdraw completely from Ukrainian territory.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also was briefed on the African delegation's planned meetings and welcomed the initiative, Ramaphosa said.

The announcement of the African-led peace effort came as Russia launched a heavy air attack on Kyiv.

There was no immediate reaction Tuesday from either the Kremlin or Kyiv. A readout from a phone conversation Putin and Ramaphosa had Friday said the Russian leader supported Cyril Ramaphosas idea about a group of African leaders participating in the discussion of the prospects of resolving the Ukrainian conflict.

It wasn't clear if that was the phone call Ramaphosa was referring to when he said he spoke with Putin over the weekend.

South Africa's leading position in the African delegation is bound to draw scrutiny. Ramaphosa's announcement came days after the U.S. ambassador accused South Africa of siding with Russia in the war in Ukraine and even providing weapons to help Moscow.

U.S. Ambassador to South Africa Reuben Brigety alleged last week that weapons and ammunition were loaded onto a Russian-flagged cargo ship at a South African naval base in December and taken to Russia. The South African government has denied it sent any weapons to Russia.

Ramaphosa has said the matter is under investigation.

South Africa has claimed its position on the war is neutral. The country has strong historical ties with Russia due to the former Soviet Union's support of South Africa's ruling African National Congress party when it was a liberation movement fighting to end the racist apartheid regime.

South Africa also hosted Russian and Chinese warships for joint naval exercises off its coast in February and which coincided with the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. South Africa's top army general traveled to Moscow and met with the commander of the Russian ground forces on Monday.

South Africa maintains it also retains a strong relationship with the United States and other Western supporters of Ukraine. Ramaphosa met with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House late last year.

Zambia also has historical ties with Russia. Uganda is a U.S. ally on regional security in East Africa, but Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has spoken of his country's friendship with Russia and its neutral position in the war in Ukraine.

Russia and Ukraine are far apart in terms of an agreement to end the war.

The Kremlin wants Kyiv to acknowledge Russias annexation of the Crimean Peninsula and the Ukrainian provinces of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia, which most nations have denounced as illegal. Ukraine has rejected the demands and ruled out any talks with Russia until its troops pull back from all occupied territories.

Ukraine is determined to recover all Russian-occupied areas.

Zelenskyys 10-point peace plan also includes a tribunal to prosecute crimes of aggression, which would enable Russia to be held accountable for its invasion. Zelenskyy had private talks with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Saturday, later saying he sought support for Ukraines peace plan from the pontiff.

China has been the only other country so far offering to mediate possible peace talks, an offer clouded by its show of political support for Moscow.

Beijing released a proposed peace plan in February, and a Chinese envoy is preparing to visit Russia and Ukraine .

But there appeared to be little chance of an imminent breakthrough to end the war since Ukraine and its Western allies largely dismissed the Beijing's proposal.

___

AP correspondent Hanna Arhirova contributed to this story from Kyiv, Ukraine, AP writer Dasha Litvinova contributed from Talinn, Estonia, and AP writer Rodney Muhumuza contributed from Kampala, Uganda.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
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A former Scottish minister has claimed SNP MSPs who spoke out against Government policy were threatened with de-selection.

Alex Neil, who served under both Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon in the Scottish Government, was critical of Ms Sturgeons leadership, claiming she showed a total intolerance to different points of view and accusing the party and Government hierarchy seeking to snuff out dissenting voices.

But Mr Neil refused to say who had been threatened with the loss of their seat for opposing Government policy  claiming one MSP had said they would take legal action against the party as a result of the threats.

In recent months, the former minister has become an outspoken critic of the SNP, in particular Nicola Sturgeons leadership, and was a supporter of Kate Forbes in the race to succeed her.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, he said: There were a couple of longstanding MSPs, good MSPs, threatened with de-selection if they didnt stop criticising Government policy.

Im not going to go into names because it is unfair on them for me to tell the press, but at the end of the day they managed to get through because they, in one case certainly, threatened the party with legal action if they didnt.

It is not clear what form the threats took, with SNP selection processes undertaken by local party associations as opposed to being decided centrally.

Mr Neil rebelled in a vote on the release of legal advice relating to Mr Salmonds legal challenge over the handling of harassment complaints against him.

In response, he said, a members debate he was due to lead was cancelled.

I had a members debate lined up on prison reform and, as a result of abstaining on that vote on the Government amendment, I got a letter from the then-minister for parliamentary business, Graeme Dey, saying I wouldnt be getting the members debate after abstaining and not supporting the Government, Mr Neil said.

That is a very good example of where there was a total intolerance, even where fundamental principles were involved, to any kind of different point of view.

He added: In this case, I was to be denied a members debate that I had worked on for a year. Those are the lengths they went to, some of it very petty, and particularly, if you werent part of the Nicola clique, then you were singled out for special treatment and you didnt get any favours whatsoever.
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Child safety concerns have sparked calls in Parliament for a register of home-schooled children to be established.

Conservative MP Flick Drummond will seek to table a new Bill aimed at placing a legal duty on local authorities to maintain a register of children who are not in school.

The MP for Meon Valley, who will suggest the idea in the Commons on Tuesday, said there could be up to 81,000 children in England who are being home schooled, but no one knows how they are being educated.

Ms Drummond told the PA news agency: Now, many of those, of course, will be well-educated because their parents are doing a brilliant job.

But there are an awful lot of children that arent. And the local authorities at the moment have no right to actually go in and see how they are being educated, which is extraordinary.

Ms Drummond said the proposals to create a new legal duty for parents to supply information to a council-maintained register were once part of the now-scrapped Schools Bill, adding: So, I know the Department for Education is happy with it.

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan told MPs on the Education Select Committee in December that the Schools Bill would have not progressed in the third session of Parliament but added that ministers remained committed to its objectives.

She said the Government would continue to prioritise certain elements of the Bill, including the proposed register for children who are not in school.

On Tuesday, Ms Drummond will say to the Commons: Currently, we hold no comprehensive data about how many children are not on a school roll, where they are and what quality of education they are receiving, if any.

This was echoed in a recent report by the Education Select Committee, which concluded that the status quo does not allow the government to say with confidence that a suitable education is being provided to every child in the country.

This is not acceptable. A quality education holds the key to a brighter future for every child, as well as playing a core role in ensuring our nations society and economy thrives.

She will stress that no one, neither the Government, nor local authorities, nor schools, can honestly answer the question how many children are missing from school, adding: Therefore, how can we know that every child is safe and suitably educated?

Summing up the proposals of her Children Not In School (Register) Bill, Ms Drummond will say: This is what my Bill today is about. Ensuring that every child is visible, safe, suitably educated and receiving the support they need to thrive.

Not every parent has voluntarily taken up the home education mantle, fully aware of the responsibility it brings. Not every child is safe at home Flick Drummond

On the concerns some parents might have about being registered, the Tory MP is expected to say: Not every parent has voluntarily taken up the home education mantle, fully aware of the responsibility it brings. Not every child is safe at home.

We are not seeking to disrupt those families who are successfully home educating.

Ms Drummond will present her Bill via the 10-minute rule motion procedure, which will allow her 10 minutes to outline her proposals. The Bill is unlikely to make further progress in its current form due to a lack of parliamentary time to debate Bills tabled by backbench MPs.

Commenting on the proposals, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders union the NAHT, said: Currently there is no legal obligation for a parent to provide any notification to a school about the withdrawal of a child to be home educated, and no way to check the quality of education that child is receiving.

This is a clear safeguarding concern and could lead to a child at risk being missed, with neither school nor local authority knowing for certain what has happened to them. Without an officially maintained register, there remains the risk of children becoming lost outside the system.

It is frustrating that the more helpful elements of the white paper such as the introduction of a register of children not in school seem to have been abandoned along with it. We would like to see a plan from the Government as to how they intend to take these measures forward.
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Sex education classes have been outsourced to rainbow activists who are showing children graphic material, the organiser of a right-wing conference in London has said.

James Orr opened the second day of the National Conservatism conference in Westminster with a speech in which he described the intact family as the best stable for forming flourishing, virtuous citizens.

He said: Its why the family has always been the chief target of authoritarian regimes. Its why today, even here, children are exposed to norms and narratives imported from our cultural colonial overlords in the United States that are as poorly evidenced as they are politically partisan.

Sex ed in this country has been outsourced to pretty radical rainbow activists who, when parents ask to see what their children are being taught, plead commercial confidentiality James Orr

As a number of MPs are now recognising and drawing attention to, sex ed in this country has been outsourced to pretty radical rainbow activists who, when parents ask to see what their children are being taught, plead commercial confidentiality, knowing that the material is almost certainly too graphic to print in a national newspaper.

The issue of sex education has been raised in Parliament by Conservative MP Miriam Cates, who spoke at the National Conservatism conference on Monday, and Rishi Sunak has accelerated a government review into how the subject is taught in school.

Mr Orr, an academic at the University of Cambridges Faculty of Divinity, added: Sexualised, misogynistic parodies of femininity are now routine in schools and public libraries in the form of drag queen story hour.

The cargo cult of transgenderism is triggering a social contagion that is inflicting irreversible physical harms on the young and the vulnerable, and its corrupting the medical profession.

Mr Orr is the organiser of the National Conservatism conference, which has brought conservative thinkers, politicians and journalists to Westminster and has already heard speeches from senior Tories including Suella Braverman and Jacob Rees-Mogg.

In his speech on Tuesday, he called for a conservatism based on freedom, constrained by commitment to religion, family and the nation, adding that countries that honoured their majority religion often treated minority faiths better as well.

Mr Orr also called for the UK to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights in order to impose tougher immigration controls, dubbing such a move Strexit after the human rights courts base in Strasbourg.

He said: We should win back judicial sovereignty from an activist foreign court thats got no business telling us who can and cant enter the country.

Mr Orr added that the Conservatives seem to be betraying their 2019 electorate on immigration, claiming if net migration reached 1 million people it would be one of the most consequential betrayals of an electorate in recent memory.
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A teenager has given back to the hospital ward which cared for her as she battled leukaemia by providing patients with hundreds of toys.

Thirteen-year-old Rhea Oke was diagnosed with leukaemia when she was six and spent long periods on Epsom Hospitals Casey Ward, often in isolation due to her illness.

As staff would do their best to keep her entertained via boxes filled with toys and activities, Rhea decided to repay the kind gesture to mark five years since finishing her treatment.

Alongside her mother Carley, Rhea set up an online wishlist and through promoting it on social media, 270 gifts were donated by family, friends and strangers.

I really wasnt expecting to get as many donations as this  I was aiming for about 100, and was really shocked. Id like to say thank you to everyone who donated, the 13-year-old from Carshalton, in south London, said.

I thought about the toys that I would like or that I have played with.

Ive been here myself, so I know what its like.

Rheas mother added that she is very proud of her efforts.

It was a difficult period after Rhea was diagnosed and we spent a lot of time on the ward, she said.

We got to know everyone quite well  in fact, we probably spent more time with a lot of them than we did our own family! Everyone was really nice and did their best to keep Rhea entertained and happy.

Because she was here so often, Rhea always used to say Room 5 was her bedroom, and the last time she was here she even noticed how her bedroom had been decorated!

Children undergoing chemotherapy cannot use toys or activities in the hospital playroom due to the risk of infection, instead requiring new and unopened items, which Rheas idea lent itself to fittingly.

Lucy Lloyd-James, lead nurse for Epsom and St Heliers paediatric oncology shared care unit, said: Ive known Rhea for years, ever since she was diagnosed, and its brilliant to see her doing so well now. Its why we do the jobs we do.

I honestly cant thank Rhea enough. The effort she has put in is phenomenal and she has really thought about what other children would like to see and what they will benefit from.

Thanks to Rhea, we will hopefully be able to make their experiences just a bit more positive.

In 2020  before the pandemic  Rhea also donated roughly 70 items to the ward.

Epsom and St Heliers Charity has an Amazon wishlist for children being cared for at Epsom Hospital and Queen Marys Hospital for Children.

The Epsom Hospital wishlist can be found here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/26BI08G5BGCQE?ref_=wl_fv_le

The Queen Marys wishlist can be accessed here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/2TF7JYVWCYQAL?ref_=wl_fv_le
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Victims families have gathered at the Old Bailey for the trial of a tram driver accused over the Croydon crash that claimed the lives of seven passengers more than six years ago.

On Tuesday, Alfred Dorris, 49, attended the central London court charged with an alleged health and safety failing in relation to the fatal crash on November 9 2016.

Seven people were killed and 51 injured when tram 2551 spun off the tracks and toppled over near the Sandilands stop in Croydon, south London.

The victims were: Dane Chinnery, 19, Philip Seary, 57, Dorota Rynkiewicz, 35, Robert Huxley, 63, and Philip Logan, 52, all from New Addington, and Donald Collett, 62, and Mark Smith, 35, both from Croydon.

Dorris denies a single charge of failing to take reasonable care at work under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

According to the indictment against him, he failed to take reasonable care for the health and safety of himself and of other persons who may be affected by his acts or omissions at work, namely passengers on board tram 2551.

The charge goes on to allege that Dorris failed to negotiate tram 2551 around the Sandilands curve at a safe speed so as to prevent the tram from derailing and overturning.

The trial is being heard by senior judge Mr Justice Fraser in Court One of the Old Bailey.

Members of the victims families sat in court for the first day of the case which is expected to be opened by prosecutor Jonathan Ashley-Norman KC on Wednesday.

A jury panel of 12 men and eight women was selected and told to return to court on Wednesday.

They were read out a list of names of people involved in the case including tram passengers, tram drivers, operations managers, driver trainers, sleep experts and human factor specialists.

Mr Justice Fraser told jurors: You have now been selected as a wider jury panel. One very important direction that Im going to give you, you will have realised that this case concerns the Croydon tram disaster that took place on November 9 2016.

You will get a formal direction about this tomorrow but its crucial that none of you do any research on your own this evening before you come back tomorrow.

Do not speak to anyone about the Croydon tram disaster or discuss with anybody else.

The prosecution is being brought by regulator, the Office of Rail and Road and is due to go on for up to five weeks.

Dorris of Ravenscroft Road, Beckhenham, south-east London, is being represented in court by barrister Miles Bennett.
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A teenager who wanted to accelerate a race war in Britain has been convicted of planning a far-right terror attack targeting police stations in Newcastle.

Luke Skelton, now 19, carried out hostile reconnaissance and wrote a manifesto and final note to spread his message after the attack.

He denied preparing acts of terrorism in the year leading up to his arrest in October 2021, but was convicted by a jury at Teesside Crown Court on Tuesday. His plot is among at least 37 foiled in Britain since March 2017, of which over a third were extreme right-wing.

Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley, the head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, said Skelton was not just a teenager with strong views but a terrorist who wanted to cause serious harm.

The defendants anger towards society, together with his extreme right-wing views, created a dangerous foundation from which his sinister plans were ultimately built, he added.

He was strongly motivated by this mindset, which continued to fuel his actions and his later offending, despite repeated attempts to draw him away from it.

The former student, who is autistic, told jurors his writings were fantasia and that he did not want to harm anybody.

But prosecutors said he held racist, sexist, Islamophobic and antisemitic views, lionised far-right terror attacks around the world and saw violence as a way to achieve his political objectives.

In his final note, Skelton wrote that he aimed to accelerate the coming collapse and racial war in Britain, when people would die in the thousands.

It was drafted in January 2021, months after staff at his school had reported him to the governments Prevent counter-terrorism scheme.

Prosecutor Nicholas de la Poer QC told jurors that teachers at Gateshead College became concerned during the first term of his second year, when Skelton was 17.

A referral was made to Prevent in November 2020, but Skelton did not have his first meeting with an intervention provider until the following March.

Mr de la Poer said that in the intervening time, the teenager viewed online material consistent with ideas of white supremacy and fascism, researched the manufacture of dynamite and wrote the final note.

On 8 March 2021, he wrote: I simply could not bear to look upon my descendants having known I did nothing as to give them an actual homeland or not to fight.

Luke Skelton carried out hostile reconnaissance at Forth Banks police station in Newcastle (Google Streetview)

The teenager attended the first of eight sessions with a Prevent intervention provider 10 days later, and the court heard that he withdrew from the programme in May 2021.

He continued extremist activity during the period, including downloading a video featuring Adolf Hitler, researching how to make napalm and recording himself making a speech about a coming race war.

Jurors were shown messages written by the defendant on Discord under the name Adolf Hitler the following summer, where he called non-whites backward and savage, and referred to subhumans.

Skelton was arrested on 12 June 2021 on suspicion of possessing documents useful to a person preparing an act of terrorism, but no action was taken.

He wrote on Discord that he was angry at himself for not doing anything before being arrested, adding: I feel like a disgusting parasite for not doing something earlier and to become the great man of history this is what I must do just as I planned.

Skelton continued researching explosives and suggested online that he could target a drag queen or grooming gang members.

He wrote: F*** this f***ng bullshit I wish I had gone through with the attack and not been debating this shite I have done f*** all with my and never will do I should be f***ing dead.

Skelton told contacts he was using an online platform to obtain the identities of grooming gang members, to hunt down these f***ers and behead them.

He also referred to a drag performer as a f***ing target and posted a link to their show.

Mr de la Poer said that his writing about grooming gangs and drag queens on Discord may have been more for shock value or attention than anything else, but that at the same time he was privately planning to attack police stations.

MI5 chief warns that Britain is facing an unrelenting terrorist threat

Why he chose to focus on police stations is not a question which is answered definitively by the evidence, the prosecutor added. It may be the anger which the Prevent intervention and arrest had generated.

In a previous session with his mentor, Mr Skelton said police buildings needed to be bombed in order to overthrow governments.

The court heard that the teenager was visited by Prevent officers in August 2021 and refused again to engage.

Days later, he created a new document called The reactionary British manifesto, which said he wanted Britain to become again and listed policies including restoring the British empire, ensuring native British people were at least 93 per cent of the population, outlawing Islam, and abolishing womens right to vote and gay marriage.

On 10 August 2021, the teenager wrote a note on his phone entitled brief overview of plan, including finishing his final note and manifesto, quitting his job and building bomb to attack police stations.

The following month, he researched police stations in Newcastle, taking screenshots of aerial views of three premises - Byker, Etal Lane and Forth Banks.

He then carried out hostile reconnaissance by taking photos of Forth Banks police station and nearby CCTV cameras.

He did so because he wanted to attack one or more police stations and he was gathering information, Mr De La Poer said. He was preparing for a later attack.

The teenager was arrested for the second time on 28 October 2021 and charged with preparing acts of terrorism.

His first trial ended when a jury was unable to reach a verdict in May last year, and Skelton was convicted after a retrial on the same charge. Skelton, of Oxclose in Washington, will be sentenced on 19 June.
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A gang who supplied golden ticket falsified passports to fugitive criminals including murderers and drug dealers has been jailed.

Anthony Beard, who paid vulnerable people for their expired passports so he could apply for renewals using their names but criminals photos, was sentenced to six years and eight months at Reading Crown Court on Tuesday.

He was jailed after admitting conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and conspiracy to make a false instrument with intent.

Another 74 offences linked to fraudulent passport applications were taken into consideration.

High level criminals paid up to 20,000 for the fraudulently obtained genuine (FOG) passports, that enabled them to go on the run and start a new life abroad in countries including Spain, Portugal and cities such as Dubai.

Beard, 61, from Sydenham, south east London, put contact numbers of his own burner phones on official forms and countersigned some of them himself as he shepherded more than 100 fraudulent applications through to completion.

He would find people with similar facial features to his criminal clients and pay them to donate their expired passports, with other contacts pretending to be professionals to vouch that the criminals photos were genuine.

Evidence of his offending went back to 2007, but Beard was heard bragging that he had been operating the scam for 20 years.

In 2019 he began working with Christopher Zietek, a broker who represented a Glaswegian crime gang allegedly run by two brothers called James and Barrie Gillespie; and a man described both as Zieteks trusted lieutenant but also his dogsbody, Alan Thompson.

Zietek, 67, who had homes in Sydenham, Ireland and Spain, was jailed for eight years for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, conspiracy to make a false instrument with intent and converting criminal property.

Thompson, 72, from Sutton in Surrey, was sentenced to three years for the same offences. Both men were found guilty on March 17 after a trial.

Passing sentence on Tuesday, Deputy Circuit Judge Nicholas Ainley said of the scheme: It was to enable very wicked, sophisticated, violent criminals to escape justice by providing them with documents that because they were genuine would deceive the authorities to enable them to escape.

He said that Zietek was clearly the organiser, providing a link to serious criminals, while Beard was the leg man and Thompson had a lesser role.

Zietek, formerly known as Christopher McCormack, was also once an enforcer for north London crime group the Adams family, investigators believe.

Lawyers for the trio pointed to their age and various health problems in mitigation.

Craig Rush, for Thompson, said he had been forced to retire on medical grounds in 1999, and by 2017 was so bored that he was driven to crime.

Describing Thompson meeting Zietek, he said: These days from 1999 to 2017 or 18 watching Homes Under The Hammer, daytime TV, totally bogged down in a world of ennui and boredom, were lightened by a man who could spin an interesting story.

Thompson had become a gofer for Zietek not for money but because it gave him something to do, Mr Rush told the court.

Investigators from the National Crime Agency (NCA) believe Beard was responsible for at least 108 fraudulently obtained genuine passports being issued, with several more unsuccessful applications made.

The passports enabled serious criminals to go on the run from the UK and start a new life abroad, remaining undetected even if they had a brush with the law under their fake name.

Craig Turner, NCA deputy director of investigations, said: This was the golden ticket for the organised crime networks in order that they could evade arrest, evade identification by local law enforcement either internationally or at home in the UK.

Once the passport scam was uncovered, the fake identities of around 50 fugitives were discovered and they were arrested.

Their trial focused on 12 passports that were obtained for customers including Glasgow murderers Jordan Owen and Christopher Hughes, Liverpool drug trafficker Michael Moogan, Manchester fugitive David Walley and suspected Scottish drug traffickers Barrie Gillespie, Jamie Stevenson and James White.

Beard also obtained fake passports for Stephen Lawrence murder suspect Jamie Acourt, Irish drug kingpin Christy Kinahan Snr and firearms trafficker Richard Burdett, although these were not part of the trial.

Acourt spent more than two years on the run using the name Simon Alfonzo having been accused of leading a 3 million drug-smuggling plot.

He was arrested in Barcelona, Spain in 2018 after being spotted in surveillance footage of an associate of Beard by NCA investigators, and was later jailed for nine years for the plan that moved around 750kg of cannabis.

A fake passport was obtained for him by Beard but ultimately never reached Acourt.

The NCA said it now plans to make an application to recover proceeds of crime from the passport gang.
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A barrister representing Sir Frederick Barclays ex-wife has expressed astonishment at the amount spent on the retired businessmans lawyers.

Sir Frederick, 88, and Lady Hiroko Barclay, who is also in her 80s, are featuring in the latest stage of a fight over money at a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London.

In May 2021, a judge ordered Sir Frederick to hand Lady Hiroko lump sums totalling 100 million following the breakdown of their 34-year marriage.

Sir Jonathan Cohen, who has heard that the money has yet to be paid, said then that Sir Frederick had behaved in a reprehensible fashion during the litigation.

Lady Hiroko, who petitioned for divorce on the grounds of unreasonable behaviour, has complained Sir Frederick had not paid her as ordered  and alleged that he was in contempt of court.

Sir Jonathan subsequently ruled that Sir Frederick was in contempt as a result of failing to pay about 245,000 he owed his ex-wife for legal fees and maintenance.

Barrister Stewart Leech KC, who represents Lady Hiroko, told Sir Jonathan that more than 1 million had been spent on lawyers representing Sir Frederick.

He said: It is astonishing that so much has been spent on lawyers to thwart Lady Barclay getting what she is entitled to.

Mr Leech also told the judge that Sir Frederick had arrived at the Royal Courts of Justice complex, where the hearing is being staged, in style.

He came here in style, said Mr Leech.

Driven in a Range Rover parked in the judges car park.

Goodness knows how that happened.

Sir Frederick and his twin brother, Sir David Barclay, were among the UKs most high-profile businessmen.

Sir David died aged 86 in January 2021.

Their interests included the Telegraph Media Group and The Ritz hotel in London.

The family also has links to the Channel Islands and Monaco.

Sir Jonathan has been told that Sir Davids sons, Aidan and Howard Barclay, now have day-to-day responsibility for group business.

They are expected to give evidence at Tuesdays hearing.

Sir Frederick has said has been unable to pay Lady Hiroko because his nephews hold the purse strings.

He has argued that a trust which could provide him with money is being starved of funds from the family business.
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A lorry driver has claimed he was not aware of offensive chanting about murder victim Michaela McAreavey when he streamed a video from a Co Down Orange Hall.

Andrew McDade made the claim at an industrial tribunal as he challenged the decision by his former employer to dismiss him in the aftermath of the Facebook Live broadcast last May.

He had been attending an event at Dundonald Orange Hall when he live-streamed footage of singing which appears to mock the daughter of the former Tyrone GAA manager Mickey Harte who was murdered while on honeymoon in Mauritius in 2011.

The clip sparked widespread condemnation across the political sphere in Northern Ireland and beyond.

However Mr McDade contends he was not aware of the offensive chanting and had simply been streaming to show the atmosphere of the day at an event to mark Northern Irelands centenary, adding he could not be responsible for the actions of others during a live stream.

His employer became linked with the video because Mr McDades Facebook profile description included their name.

Mr McDade was suspended on June 3, while an investigation was carried out, and then dismissed. He did not appeal his dismissal last year.

During the industrial tribunal hearing in Belfast, representatives from Norman Emerson Group said they feared reputational damage to their firm, which included the GAA among its customers, after the clip went viral.

They said they had requested the full four-minute video but were told it no longer existed because Mr McDade had deleted his Facebook account.

As he began his evidence, Mr McDade repeated an apology he made last year to the Harte and McAreavey families for the video, which he said he was ashamed of.

Frank ODonoghue KC for the Norman Emerson Group questioned Mr McDade on whether he had written a letter of apology to the two families and made a donation to a charity of their choice, as he had committed to in his apology statement last year.

Mr McDade said he had not done those things personally, but believed his representative Jamie Bryson had written on his behalf.

Mr ODonoghue also asked Mr McDade if he had been drunk when he took the video, to which the claimant responded: Definitely not.

It was pointed out to him that his apology statement last year referred to actions fuelled by alcohol. Mr McDade said he had had two cans of beer, but was not drunk.

Mr ODonoghue described the Emerson family and their firm as non-sectarian, and that managing director George Emerson, who is a friend of the Harte family, phoned them to apologise for the actions of one of his employees.

Under questioning, Mr McDade contended the full four-minute video had included him moving around the hall taking in Orange bannerettes on display.

The shorter clip of the full video was shown to the hearing room.

Mr ODonoghue noted the video ended as the song ended, and put to Mr McDade it is plain as the nose on your face that you were videoing that song, to which Mr McDade replied: No, adding that the clip was taken from a longer video.

The barrister also put to Mr McDade he had meant to broadcast to just his friends on Facebook but as the live stream was public, the video went viral and he was found out.

You knew exactly what you were posting, and its an insult to everyones intelligence to suggest you didnt, Mr ODonoghue stated.

The video was removed in the early hours of June 3.

Mr McDade said he removed the video because he had been getting threats, and also deleted his Facebook profile for his own safety.

Mr ODonoghue, however, put to Mr McDade that he had removed the evidence.

Under questioning by his own representative, Mr Bryson, Mr McDade said if he had been aware of the offensive chanting he would have removed the video earlier.

Mr Bryson said the clip was taken of the video by an SDLP representative and deliberately edited and put online for political gain.

Earlier in the day, Norman Emerson Group business development director Conor Jordan, who conducted the investigation into Mr McDade, gave evidence.

He described a cross-community business which employs from both denominations and was built on good relations.

Mr Jordan said while the GAA is an important customer, he said that was not the sole reason for the decision to dismiss Mr McDade.

This was going global, it was going viral, and the negative exposure for the company was startling, he said.

The hearing is set to resume on Wednesday morning for final submissions.

On Monday, Mr McDades partner, nursing assistant Rhonda Shiels, appeared in a case challenging the decision by the Southern Health and Social Care Trust to dismiss her after she liked and shared the Facebook Live recording.
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The Stone of Destiny has been returned to Scotland after playing a key role in the coronation of King Charles.

The stone, a 152kg slab of pinkish sandstone on which Scottish kings were crowned for centuries, was taken from its home in Edinburgh Castle to Westminster Abbey under tight security.

Once there it was installed in the Coronation Chair for the historic service earlier this month, in which Charles was crowned the nations monarch.

The artefact, which is also known as the Stone of Scone, in now back on display at Edinburgh Castle.

Confirming its safe return, Kathy Richmond, head of collections and applied conservation at Historic Environment Scotland, said: We are delighted to have fulfilled our responsibilities on behalf of the Commissioners for the Safeguarding of the Regalia and that the Stone of Destiny is now back on display for visitors to Edinburgh Castle to enjoy.

Historic Environment Scotland is proud of the hard work that went into achieving this, not just by our teams, but by the partners who supported us and collaborated to ensure the Stone was safely included and returned to the Castle.

After the coronation the stone was on temporary display at Westminster Abbey, before being transported north again to Edinburgh Castle  where it has been kept since it was returned to Scotland in 1996.

It will remain there until it is moved to Perth, where it will be part of the collection in the new City Hall Museum, which is due to open in 2024.
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An autistic teenager tried to take his own life after a video of him spread online and social media platforms refused to take it down, a former victims commissioner has said.

Baroness Newlove told peers in Westminster how the youngster was filmed by a member of the public when dysregulated and engaging in aggressive behaviour in a fast food restaurant, and how the video was shared thousands of times on various social media sites.

Baroness Newlove told peers in Westminster how the youngster was filmed by a member of the public (Peter Byrne/PA Wire)

The Tory peer explained how the video was reported by the boy and his mother, but the sites would not take it down, and the teen became overwhelmed by the negative comments, eventually trying to end his own life.

Her remarks came as peers called on the Government to create an avenue of redress for individuals unhappy with how a platform has dealt with their complaint.

She said: This footage was shared out of context across social media with much of the response online labelling Harry as a disruptive teenager who was engaging in unacceptable aggression and vandalising public property.

This was shared thousands of times over the course of a few weeks.

When Harry and his mum reported it to the social media platforms, they were informed it didnt violate community guidelines and that there was a public interest in the footage remaining online.

The family, quite rightly, felt powerless, Harry became overwhelmed at the negative response to the footage and the comments made about his behaviour.

Harry became withdrawn and stopped engaging. He then tried to take his own life.

It was at this point that Harrys mum reached out to the voluntary-run service Report Harmful Content as she had nowhere else to turn to. Report Harmful Content is run by the charity South West Grid for Learning.

They were able to mediate between the social media sites involved to further explain the context and demonstrate the real-world harm that this footage, by remaining online, was having on the family and Harrys mental health.

Then, and only then, did the social media companies concerned remove the content.

Lady Newlove gave the troubling account as peers continued their line-by-line scrutiny of the Online Safety Bill.

Peers across the House called for an independent appeals procedure for social media users who have exhausted the internal complaints process of these sites  an ombudsman separate to Ofcom to provide an impartial out-of-court resolution.

This suggestion was rejected by the Government, with technology minister Viscount Camrose saying: The Government does remain confident that service providers are best placed to deal with individual user complaints as they will be able to take appropriate action promptly.

This could include removing content, sanctioning offending users, reversing wrongful content removal or changing their systems and processes.

He added that the Bill includes super-complaints provisions that allow for systemic issues to be raised with Ofcom, who will be required to publish a response.

Individuals can also submit complaints to Ofcom but it will not be able to investigate or arbitrate in individual cases  instead, these reports will be used to inform its overall enforcement activity.

Liberal Democrat peer Lord Allan of Hallam, who worked as Facebooks director of policy in Europe for 10 years, highlighted that online providers struggle to deal with the vast funnel of reports, most of which are spurious or vexatious, and the challenge of separating the genuinely serious reports from the vast amount of noise.

He argued an independent body is needed to identify circumstances where a platform has correctly enforced its policies, but that in a particular case, like Harrys, it is deeply unfair, problematic and harmful for an individual, and provide an avenue for redress.

Childrens rights campaigner Baroness Kidron said the minister responding to the debate had been given a sticky wicket here of defending the indefensible.

The film director and independent crossbencher said: The Government has chosen to give individuals no recourse under the Bill and that is the current situation as it stands, and there is no concession on that matter.

I believe I have been in meetings with people when they have been promised such things and I think its really important that we state what the situation is.

Offering a meeting with peers to discuss the matter further, Viscount Camrose said: We are giving users greater protection through the Bill.

Labour frontbencher Lord Stevenson of Balmacara told him: This is a very complicated Bill and you and I are now learning the hard lessons.

Its quite clear theres something here that needs to be resolved and the way the Government is approaching it, it is heading towards a brick wall.

He added that the Bill is reinforcing an inequality of arms between individuals and companies, concluding:

The Government is in a mess, please sort it.
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Center Parcs has been put up for sale by its Canadian owner with a bid of up to 5bn expected for the UK resort chain, according to reports.

Canadian private equity group Brookfield bought the business for around 2.4bn eight years ago and is said to be expecting to raise between 4bn and 5bn in the sale.

There are six holiday locations under the UK and Ireland banner which operate independently of Center Parcs in Europe and elsewhere.

The UK chain has sites in Bedfordshire, Wiltshire, Suffolk, Nottinghamshire, Cumbria and Ireland, with its first - in Nottinghams Sherwood Forest - having opened in 1987.

Brookfield and Center Parcs both declined to comment.

Center Parcs attracted criticism for asking guests to leave its sites during the Queens funeral proceedings (Center Parcs)

The potential sale follows Center Parcs in February pulling out of a project to develop a new forest holiday village resort in Crawley, West Sussex.

The decision was made to not proceed after protests from environmentalists.

Company chief executive Colin McKinlay said at the time: "Whilst it is disappointing that we will not be able to bring Center Parcs to this part of West Sussex, this decision demonstrates how seriously we take our responsibility to the environment, as well as our ongoing commitment to enhancing the natural habitats in which our villages are located.

At the end of 2022, Center Parcs occupancy rates were at 97.3 per cent and revenues have, according to a Brookfield report, been rising since the pandemic.

Mr McKinlay added: Through our customer insights, we are confident that there is strong demand in the UK market for a sixth Center Parcs village and, with this in mind, we will continue our search for a suitable site."
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Greggs has won the battle to serve late night partygoers piping hot sausage rolls and steak bakes at its flagship Leicester Square store.

The High Street bakery was refused permission to stay open from 11pm to 5am to sell hot food and drinks in its central London location by Westminster Council.

The Met Police argued the location would become a hotspot for crime and disorder and the council branded Greggs idea half-baked.

Greggs argued the area would not be a hotspot for trouble and would bring in customers who were working night shifts or staff from the emergency services.

The confrontation was heading for a court showdown, but now a compromise has reportedly been reached so that Greggs is able to keep its popular London location open until 2am.

A three day appeal hearing that was set for May 16, May 17 at Westminster Magistrates Court was today cancelled after Greggs appeal was withdrawn.

The High Street chain negotiated with the council outside court and have come to an agreement.

The compromise brings to end a lengthy dispute after the council said it had legitimate concerns that were raised by the police and local people about Greggs plans to open late.

The launch event at Greggs store in Londons Leicester Square (Matt Alexander/PA) (PA Archive)

It added: There are worries that businesses serving 24/7 in the city centre creates challenges and that the bakery could become a hot spot for late night disturbances and anti-social behaviour.

The Metropolitan Police told the council in a letter: It is our belief that if granted, the application could undermine the licensing objectives in relation to the prevention of crime and disorder.

Hundreds of people gathered last year for the opening of Greggs flagship store as they rolled out the blue carpet to distribute their popular baked goods.

The flagship store is nestled in Londons West End alongside other popular UK eateries.

The vegan sausage roll sold by Greggs (PA Media)

Roisin Currie, CEO at Greggs, told theEvening Standard: Weve now got an agreement with Westminster -- weve reached a compromise.

We can still sell all of our sandwiches, all of our sweet products [late at night] but weve been working with the council on what we can sell later in the evening. Its very positive and weve worked well together.

It comes as the bakery chain revealed on Tuesday that its sales surged by nearly a fifth over the year to date as its cheap meals remain compelling to cash-strapped consumers.

Sales grew by 17 per cent over the start of the year compared with 2022, partly because the first few months of the previous year were impacted by the Omicron variant, Greggs said.

Hot food such as chicken goujons and wedges are proving popular, alongside as strong demand for pizza as the retailer moves further into the evening market.

Greggs currently has 2,360 shops, but previously hinted at further expansion to more than 3,000 across the UK.

Additional reporting by PA
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Calls to the anti-slavery helpline are at a record high as reports of forced labour, domestic servitude and sex trafficking soar.

More than 6,500 potential victims of modern slavery were identified last year  a 116 per cent increase compared to 2021. In 2022, 7,315 calls were made to the phone line, operated by the charity Unseen, from victims, local government officials, NHS workers, businesses and others. This was up by 16 per cent on the year before.

Experts said the rise could be driven by worsening poverty and conflict around the world pushing vulnerable people into slavery. They also said many survivors had problems accessing the governments support scheme.

Charity workers hit out at the governments new Illegal Migration Bill, which they said would force victims of modern slavery underground and make them more vulnerable to traffickers.

Temporary protection against removal from the UK is currently given to suspected victims of modern slavery while their case is being considered. However, the bill would remove that protection for people who enter the UK illegally.

The rise in calls to the helpline echoes an increase in the number of potential victims flagged to the Home Office for help. In January to March 2023, 4,746 people were referred to the governments modern slavery programme  a 26 per cent rise on the same period in 2022.

Home secretary Suella Bravermans Illegal Migration Bill will remove protection for modern slavery victims who have entered the UK illegally (PA)

Cases of labour exploitation have increased 134 per cent in the past year, with 1,046 reported to the helpline. Unseen said the large rise in reports of exploitation could be attributed in part to the end of the Covid pandemic, with the workforce becoming more visible and a need for increased recruitment.

The largest nationality of potential victims of labour exploitation were Indian, with a big rise in workers being exploited within the care sector. Indians have recently overtaken Albanians to become the second biggest contingent crossing the Channel in small boats in 2023, after Afghans.

Across all types of exploitation, the most prevalent nationality of potential victims was Romanian in 2022, echoing the previous two years. Indian nationals are now the second, replacing Vietnamese.

Cases of domestic workers being forced into slavery increased by 75 per cent to 114.

Reports of people being forced into sex work also increased by 66 per cent, to 479 annual cases. In one case raised with the helpline, a woman called in with concerns about her sister who had gone missing. Before she had gone missing she had come home with unexplained bruises and burns to her body. She had also told her family that she was spending time with a group of men, who told her they would provide her with unlimited drugs if she went with them in their car and talked to them.

Since her disappearance, the woman had called her family and a mans voice was heard in the background of the call telling her she could not go home. Helpline workers referred the case to the police who located her and confirmed that she had been supplied with hard drugs and trafficked for sex.

Former prime minister Theresa May has called for modern slavery victims to be excluded from measures within the prime ministers flagship bill (Getty Images)

Dr Victoria Tecca, at the Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre (Modern Slavery PEC), said the significant increase in people seeking support demonstrates the pressing issue of modern slavery in the UK.

Dr Tecca said it was concerning that the governments proposed Illegal Migration Bill would deny protection and support to people affected by modern slavery based on how they entered the country.

Justice Carter, director of Unseen, condemned the government for bringing in new migration laws that criminalise some victims of modern slavery, forcing them underground and keeping them vulnerable to traffickers.

Avril Sharp, from charity Kalayaan, which supports migrant domestic workers, said that the difficulty faced by survivors trying to access the governments slavery referral scheme  the only way they can receive help  could have resulted in an increase in the volume of calls to the helpline.

We have heard many a story where survivors have tried to approach a first responder but have been turned away and told to call either the police or the helpline, she said.

Ms Sharp added that a lack of trust in statutory services and the knock-on effect from the pandemic could also be driving the increase in helpline calls.

Marissa Begonia, from campaign group The Voice of Domestic Workers, said that government restrictions were forcing workings into exploitative situations.

She said: Until the government restores the rights of domestic workers to enable them to change employers without restriction, renew their visas so they wont be undocumented and settle here, migrant domestic workers are trapped in a maze with no exit in this cycle of modernised exploitation.

A spokesperson for the Home Office said that thhe UK has led the world in protecting victims of modern slavery. They added: It has become clear that some elements of our system needed reform so that support is targeted to those who need it. That is why we are continuing our work to reform the National Referral Mechanism.
 Close Sky Mobile suffers mass outages as investigation underway

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Sky Mobile has said it is still working to resolve issues with its service after thousands of customers reported outages.

Online outage monitor Downdetector registered thousands of user reports about issues with Sky and O2 services on Tuesday afternoon.

The issue appeared to begin just after 2pm, with both mobile networks going down simultaneously.

Customers took to Twitter and other social media platforms to complain about the problems.

Hundreds of O2 customers were reporting outages, but the network has now confirmed that was linked to users not being able to reach Sky Mobile customers.

Posting to Twitter on Tuesday afternoon, the Sky Help Team said it was investigating the issue.

Services appeared to be back up and running for the majority on Wednesday morning although Downdetector received 152 report reports at 6.30am.

In a message posted to Twitter on Wednesday morning, Sky Help said it was aware of issues with its mobile service that teams were working to resolve as soon as possible.
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Following complaints about major outages from Sky Mobile customers, the company has launched an investigation into the causes of the issue.

The problem seemed to begin around 2pm on Tuesday afternoon, with both Sky and O2 services receiving thousands of user reports via online outage monitor Downdetector.

As customers took to social media to voice their concerns, the Sky Help Team confirmed that it was looking into the issue. O2 outages have since been linked to users being unable to reach Sky Mobile customers, rather than a specific problem with the O2 network itself.

Sky Mobile appeared to suffer a major outage on Tuesday afternoon, with thousands of complaints flooding in (AFP via Getty Images)

A spokesperson for Virgin Mobile O2 told The Independent: Were aware of the issue that is impacting Sky Mobile customers. Whilst they use the O2 network, this issue is impacting Sky Mobile services only and our network is working as usual.

Likewise, on Tuesday evening Giff Gaff reported that some of its members could also be experiencing intermittent issues with their mobile data.

So, is it possible to receive a refund if you have experienced outages?

Yes, but the level of compensation and how you can claim it depends on the problem.

In April 2021, Ofcom introduced a piece of legislation called the Automatic Compensation Scheme, which entitles both broadband and landline customers from selected providers to money back if they do experience outages.

Sky Mobile customer complaints appear to be centred in London, Manchester and Glasgow (Downdetector)

BT, EE, Hyperoptic, Plusnet, Sky, TalkTalk, Utility Warehouse, Virgin Media, Vodafone and Zen Internet all comply with the scheme, meaning that customers whose services have been impacted by outages across Sky today could be eligible for compensation if they fit the criteria.

In line with the Ofcom code, Sky customers are entitled to 9.33 per day if they experience a complete loss of service, but only if this fault isnt fixed two full working days after it was reported.

From a technical perspective, a total loss of service means being unable to make or receive any calls, or for broadband customers, being unable to use the internet on any and all devices. However, today Sky customers reported issues with mobile internet as well as calls.

In this instance, compensation will be paid automatically and customers will not need to file a specific request for the refund specifically. However, it does need to have been reported to the provider.

This money should be paid within 30 days of the problem being resolved and will typically be issued as a bill credit unless agreed otherwise.
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Criticism of Government policy by Tory MPs is a sign of a healthy party, a senior Cabinet minister has said.

Communities Secretary Michael Gove denied that the Conservative tent had become too big, in comments at the National Conservatism conference in Westminster on Tuesday.

The conference, which started on Monday, has seen other Conservatives attack policies including the U-turn on scrapping EU regulations and the expansion of funding for childcare announced at the last Budget.

We are now wrestling with a new set of issues and I think it's right that we have those conversations Communities Secretary Michael Gove

But asked whether this was a sign that the Conservative Party was becoming too divided, Mr Gove told conference delegates: I dont think so.

I think its a sign of a party and a broader movement that is healthy, that you can have debate.

One of the arguments thats sometimes made is that after 13 years in power, the time has come to dispense with the Conservatives because theres a lack of ideas, theres a lack of intellectual energy, theres a sense of exhaustion.

I completely disagree. I think what weve seen at different points is the Conservative Party, as it always has, adapting to changed circumstances.

He added: We are now wrestling with a new set of issues and I think its right that we have those conversations.

Mr Gove also stressed the need for Conservatives to advance their arguments with self-confidence and civility while being intellectually robust.

He said: I think that the overwhelming majority of people in this country prefer civility.

They want people, when there are assaults, to stand up for them. This goes to the whole question of the so-called culture war that is raging at the moment.

This new left is not in competition, it is at war with the West, with the moral, intellectual and social foundations on which our entire civilisation rests Kevin Roberts, Heritage Foundation

My own view is there are certain things, certain principles that you should defend, absolutely. It is absolutely critical that we dont deny biological reality, that we dont feel that we should apologise for aspects of our past which are genuine sources of pride.

But we should do so with the self-confidence that means that we dont need to be strident.

The so-called culture war has been a significant feature of the National Conservatism conference so far, with one speaker earlier on Tuesday warning that left-wing forces were at war with the West.

Kevin Roberts, chair of the Washington-based Heritage Foundation, used his speech to attack globalists and ruling-class contempt of everyday working families.

He said: This new left is not in competition, it is at war with the West, with the moral, intellectual and social foundations on which our entire civilisation rests.

Which is why it reserves a singular hatred for the kind of conservatism represented by Donald Trump and (Florida governor) Ron DeSantis, by Brexit, by (Hungarian president) Viktor Orban, and yes, by this conference.

Mr Robertss Heritage Foundation is one of the most prominent right-wing think tanks in the United States and was a strong backer of former US president Donald Trump.

Mr Roberts went on to attack the normalisation of anti-Western, anti-Christian, anti-democratic, cultural totalitarianism in western newsrooms, classrooms and bureaucracies, as well as the Covid lockdown debacle.

The EU's systematic assault on member nations' sovereignty, to say nothing of their diverse cultures, identities and faith, is already tearing Europe apart and pushing it toward the brink Kevin Roberts, Heritage Foundation

Mr Roberts claimed these were symptoms of ruling-class contempt for everyday working families and the institutions that prioritise their rights and interests over elite privilege.

He added: Things like democracy, the rule of law, free speech, religious devotion, marriage and family-ordered liberty, property rights and yes, the real free market.

He also accused elites in Europe of condemning Russian president Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine even as they coolly plot a far more aggressive and ambitious imperial project.

He said: Today, the EU embodies the cultural chauvinism, spiritual decadence, strategic incompetence and tyrannical ambition that have hurried the continent into chaos for millennia.

Its systematic assault on member nations sovereignty, to say nothing of their diverse cultures, identities and faith, is already tearing Europe apart and pushing it toward the brink.

They think because they rule by pen and microphone, they are kinder and gentler than their gauche martinet predecessors who led armies and navies. Theyre not. Theyre just as imperialistic, ambitious, megalomaniacal and authoritarian as any of the bullies they hope to succeed.

The only good news is that theyre weaker than those who failed before them.

Mr Roberts made his comments on the second day of the National Conservatism conference, which has also heard from Home Secretary Suella Braverman.

Ms Braverman used her speech to outline her own view of conservatism and argue for a reduction in immigration, saying immigration without integration and the unexamined drive towards multiculturalism was a recipe for communal disaster.

The conferences first day also featured speeches from former Cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg and backbenchers Danny Kruger and Miriam Cates, who called for greater support for the family amid falling birth rates.

But Downing Street has declined to endorse the conference, with the Prime Ministers spokesman telling reporters: Some Government ministers have chosen to speak at the event. But beyond that, theres no change in our policy.

Downing Street also said the Prime Minister disagreed with comments made by Mr Kruger in his speech, where he argued the normative family with a mother and a father was the only basis for a functioning society.

Other speakers have called for Conservatives to take their children out of woke schools and claimed sex education was being outsourced to rainbow activists.
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Downing Street has denied an accusation from former Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage that Britains European Union exit has failed.

Mr Farage accused the Conservative Government of mismanaging Brexit since the UK left the bloc in 2020.

Responding to the former Eurosceptic campaigner-turned-broadcasters comments, No 10 pointed to freedoms being enjoyed in the British farming sector as an example of how the divorce from the EU was allowing the UK to take a more tailored approach to policies.

What Brexit has proved, Im afraid, is that our politicians are about as useless as the commissioners in Brussels were Nigel Farage

Speaking to BBCs Newsnight on Monday, Mr Farage denied that Britain would have been better off remaining in the EU but said the country had not actually benefited from Brexit economically.

His comments come as the UK economy continues to stagnate, with UK gross domestic product (GDP) shown to have increased by 0.1% between January and March.

The former Ukip leader said: What Brexit has proved, Im afraid, is that our politicians are about as useless as the commissioners in Brussels were.

We have mismanaged this totally.

He said the decision to increase corporation tax from 19% to 25% in April was driving business away from our country and that the UK Government was arguably  regulating our own businesses even more than they were as EU members.

Mr Farage added: Brexit has failed.

Asked whether he would consider a return to frontline politics, he said: I wouldnt rule it out but it is not at the top of my bucket list.

But frankly, we have not delivered on borders, we have not delivered on Brexit, the Tories have let us down very badly.

Just thinking about farming alone, were talking about some of the benefits of moving away from a bureaucratic cap which skewed money towards the largest landowners. We have a fairer system tailored to British farmers post-Brexit Prime Minister's spokesman

Asked whether Rishi Sunak  who campaigned to leave the EU  agreed with Mr Farages sentiments, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said: No.

I think the Prime Minister has talked about the benefits of Brexit on a number of occasions, he added.

Just thinking about farming alone, were talking about some of the benefits of moving away from a bureaucratic cap which skewed money towards the largest landowners, with 50% going to the largest 10%.

We have a fairer system tailored to British farmers post-Brexit.

On the issue of being able to use gene-editing technology to mimic the natural breeding process to help farmers to grow more nutritious, productive crops, those are just two examples in one sector of the benefits that the public and UK businesses enjoy.

The spokesman was speaking after Downing Street held a UK Farm To Fork summit with representatives from across the food supply chain on Tuesday.
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The University of Oxford will remove the Sackler name from its buildings and staff posts following a review into its ties with the family.

It comes after a number of institutions have ended their relationships with the Sackler family in recent years over its association with the US opioid crisis.

The Sackler Library in Oxford, as well as a number of galleries and staff posts at the Ashmolean Museum in the city, will be renamed following the review.

Controversy has followed the Sacklers over their links to Purdue Pharma, which produces OxyContin, a painkiller that has been at the heart of multiple lawsuits relating to the US opioid crisis.

The university said donations received from the Sackler family and their trusts will be retained by the university for their intended educational purposes.

It added that no new donations have been received from the family or their trusts since January 2019.

The Sackler name will be removed from six university buildings, spaces and staff posts, but it will be retained on the Clarendon Arch and on the Ashmolean Museums donor board for the purposes of historical recording of donations.

The statement on the institutions website said: Oxford University has undertaken a review of its relationship with the Sackler family and their trusts, including the way their benefactions to the University are recognised.

Following this review, the university has decided that the university buildings, spaces and staff positions using the Sackler name will no longer do so.

The review outcomes were approved by the university council on Monday.

OxyContin pills are arranged for a photo at a pharmacy in Montpelier (Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

For many years, the Sackler name was synonymous with huge charitable donations made by the family to galleries and museums around the world.

The university has come under pressure in recent years to remove the Sackler name from one of its libraries, two galleries and several staff positions.

In March 2022, the British Museum announced it was removing the Sackler name from galleries, rooms and endowments they supported.

The National Portrait Gallery, Tate and the Roundhouse are the institutions in the UK to have cut ties with the Sacklers in recent years.

An international response has also seen venues such as The Louvre museum in Paris and New Yorks Metropolitan Museum of Art distance themselves form the Sackler family.

As part of the universitys decision, the Sackler library has been renamed the Bodleian Art, Archaeology and Ancient World Library.

A statement from the University of Oxford said: The review outcomes have had the full support of the Sackler family.
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Dominic Raabs controversial Bill of Rights is under threat as his successor draws up his own plans for the overloaded Ministry of Justice.

New justice secretary Alex Chalk KC did not publicly back the law - or commit to pursuing it - when questioned in parliament on Tuesday. He also acknowledged that his department has other priorities.

The controversial law - which would abolish the Human Rights Act - was presented to parliament last June but stalled following the meltdown of Boris Johnsons government. It was shelved by Liz Truss and then revived when Mr Raab was re-appointed as justice secretary by Rishi Sunak.

But Mr Raabs resignation last month put its future into fresh doubt, with Ministry of Justice sources telling The Independent Mr Raab had been the sole driving force behind the Bill of Rights.

It has sparked division within the Conservative Party, with several current and former ministers privately voicing aversion towards what some have labelled a vanity bill.

The Conservatives 2019 election manifesto pledged to update the Human Rights Act but did not propose abolishing it or creating a Bill of Rights.

Asked whether progressing the law remained the governments policy on Tuesday, Mr Chalk told the House of Commons: I am looking carefully at the full range of the departments work before setting out plans in detail.

He said human rights are important and acknowledged the Ministry of Justice had many other priorities, including court backlogs, the prison system, probation staff shortages and the new Victims and Prisoners Bill.

Conservative MP Sir Bob Neill, who chairs parliaments Justice Committee, suggested those issues would be the best priorities for the government rather than the Bill of Rights.

Whats really important are the priorities that affect peoples day to day lives in their interactions with the justice system - making sure we have fully efficient and working courts, an efficient and humane prisons system, he added.

Mr Chalk said his very powerful points would be borne very much in mind as he reviews the MoJs work.

An independent report on allegations that Mr Raab had bullied civil servants, which triggered his resignation last month, hinted at the internal conflict triggered by his attempt to scrap the Human Rights Act.

Dominic Raab resigns as Deputy Prime Minister after bullying investigation

Referencing complaints which were registered between November and December 2022, Adam Tolley KC wrote: The deputy prime ministers policy priorities included the Bill of Rights and reform of the parole system.

The DPM perceived what he described as cultural resistance to these, amongst other, policies.

The report said that civil servants emphatically rejected the claim, and said they were under an obligation to give informed and impartial advice.

Concerns have also been raised by parliamentarians across the political spectrum, lawyers and human rights organisations that the Bill of Rights would be unlawful, unworkable and damage the ability of everyone in Britain to enforce their fundamental freedoms.

Even Conservative MPs who support the law ideologically have questioned whether it can or should be pushed forward, as parliamentary time to enact a raft of other bills runs out before the next general election.

In January, a cross-party committee of MPs and peers called for the Bill of Rights to be scrapped, while warning it would weaken UK courts and cause more cases to be decided in Strasbourg.

Parliament's Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) said there was overwhelming opposition and inadequate justification for the plans.

A report found an official consultation, call for evidence and survey found supporters were a tiny minority of overall respondents, and that there was no evidence the Bill of Rights would achieve stated aims such as protecting freedom of speech, strengthening parliamentary sovereignty and empowering British courts.

The plans have also been attacked by victims advocates including Dame Vera Baird KC, who resigned as the Victims Commissioner for England and Wales in September after Mr Raab allegedly blocked her re-appointment.

In a damning letter, she said the Bill of Rights so severely threatens victims human rights that it undermines what little progress the Victims Bill is set to bring.
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James Cleverly gave evidence to a House of Lords committee on Tuesday (16 May) on post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland

The foreign secretary faced questions on the Windsor Framework, a deal in which goods travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland will travel through a green lane.

Goods will travel in the red lane if they move on to the EU.

Mr Cleverly also spoke about the Stormont brake, a mechanism agreed as part of the Framework that gives the Northern Ireland assembly the power to object to changes to EU rules that apply in Northern Ireland.

His appearance before the committee comes after the Lords heard criticism that details of the framework were not clear to businesses.

Today, the foreign secretary was expected to face scrutiny over whether the deal leaves any issues unresolved regarding parcel deliveries and plants.

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Police have opened an investigation into MP Julian Knight after Scotland Yard referred an allegation of serious sexual assault.

The Metropolitan Police had previously shelved its investigation into the Solihull MP, who was stripped of the Conservative whip, and it is not clear why the case was referred onwards.

The Tories refused to restore the whip to Mr Knight after the Met dropped the case, with the party saying at the time that it had received further complaints.

Detectives who specialise in cases of this kind will gather evidence and conduct a thorough investigation Essex Police

Mr Knight has denied what he described as a false and malicious accusation.

On Tuesday, a statement from Essex Police said: We have agreed to take on an investigation which has been referred to us from the Metropolitan Police Service.

We are investigating an allegation of serious sexual assault.

Detectives who specialise in cases of this kind will gather evidence and conduct a thorough investigation.

Detective Chief Superintendent Andy Waldie will oversee the work carried out by a senior investigating officer with extensive experience.

In the interests of justice and of all concerned, we have asked media outlets and others not to enter into any speculative comment or reporting on this matter, Essex added.

We would also remind everyone that victims of sexual offences are entitled to life-long anonymity, regardless of how a case proceeds.

The Essex Police investigation remains at an early stage.

Mr Knight is currently sitting in the Commons as an independent and has announced that he will stand down at the next election.

In December, the then chairman of the Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee insisted he is entirely innocent of any wrongdoing whatsoever after the Met opened its investigation.

The force said in March that it was no longer proceeding with an investigation, with no arrests having been made.

Mr Knight urged the Tories to hand back the whip, meaning that he could rejoin colleagues in the parliamentary party.

But the Conservatives refused his demand and said that further complaints had been made to the Whips Office.

These complaints, if appropriate, will be referred to the relevant police force, or appropriate bodies, a spokeswoman for Chief Whip Simon Hart said at the time.

The Conservatives declined to comment on Tuesday.
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Arch-Brexiteer Nigel Farage has admitted that leaving the EU has failed as he sought to blame the government for what he described as its inability to take advantage of being outside the trading bloc.

The former Brexit and UKIP Party leader, who refused to rule out a political comeback, said the UK had not benefitted from Brexit economically, claiming that government policy had deterred businesses from investing in the UK.

His comments came as a row brewed in the Conservative Party over immigration with Suella Braverman, the home secretary, calling for overall numbers to come down in a speech at the National Conservative Conference that was viewed by some as a pitch for the future leadership.

In an interview with BBC Newsnight on Monday, Mr Farage lambasted UK politicians for being as useless as the commissioners in Brussels and accused the government of failing to control Britains borders.

It was put to Mr Farage, who presents a show on GB News after quitting politics, that recent polling appeared to show an increasing number of people who voted for Brexit now regret the decision and that the UK was the only G7 economy not to return to pre-pandemic levels.

I dont think that for a moment, Mr Farage replied when he was asked if the UK would have been better off staying in the EU, the worlds largest single market area. But what I do think is we havent actually benefitted from Brexit economically, what we could have done.

I mean, what Brexits proved, Im afraid, is that our politicians are about as useless as the commissioners in Brussels were, he added. Weve mismanaged this totally, and if you look at simple thingssuch as takeovers, such as corporation tax, we are driving business away from our country.

Arguably, now were back in control, were regulating our own businesses even more than they were as EU members. Brexit has failed.

When asked if he was considering a political comeback to tackle what he said was the governments failure on Brexit, Mr Farage replied: Well, I wouldnt rule it out. Its not at the top of my bucket list but frankly weve not delivered on borders, weve not delivered on Brexit. The Tories have let us down very, very badly.

Farage says the Tories have let us down very, very badly (Getty Images)

In March the UKs independent Office for Budget Responsibility said that the impact of Brexit on the UK economy was on the same magnitude as the Covid pandemic and energy price crisis.

In a grim assessment, OBR chair Richard Hughes also warned that it would take five years before peoples spending power recovers to pre-coronavirus levels.

Britains gross domestic product (GDP) would be 4 per cent smaller than if the country had stayed in the EU , he said.

The OBR chief said the country is undergoing the biggest squeeze on living standards on record. But we do expect, as we get past this year and we go into the next three or four years, that real income starts to recover.

He added: But its still the case that peoples real spending power doesnt get back to the level it was before the pandemic even after five years, even by the time we get to the late 2020s.

Mr Hughes said economic growth had been held back because of supply constraints  pointing to labour shortages and an investment slump.

Weve lost around 500,000 people from the labour force, weve seen stagnant investment since 2016 and also our productivity has slowed dramatically since the financial crisis and not really recovered, he said.

Suella Braverman speaking during the National Conservative Conferener (PA)

Reports on Monday morning, ahead of Ms Bravermans speech, said the home secretary would put pressure on prime minister Rishi Sunak to bring down overall immigration.

Speaking at the conference Ms Braverman said more Britons should be trained as HGV drivers, fruit pickers and butchers so the UK does not have to rely on foreign workers to fill jobs.

Appearing on Times Radio later in the morning Nigel Huddleston, the trade minister, said Britain needs immigration to rise now and again, in remarks that appeared to contradict the home secretary.

Mr Huddleston stressed that there would always be peaks and troughs in levels of immigration, with figures next week expected to show a surge in arrivals to the UK.

Downing Street later said Ms Braverman speaks on behalf of the government and denied Mr Farages claim that Brexit has failed.

Responding to the former Eurosceptic campaigner-turned-broadcasters comments, No 10 pointed to freedoms being enjoyed in the British farming sector as an example of how the divorce from the EU was allowing the UK to take a more tailored approach to policies.

Asked whether Rishi Sunak  who campaigned to leave the EU  agreed with Mr Farages sentiments, the prime ministers official spokesman said: No.

I think the prime minister has talked about the benefits of Brexit on a number of occasions, he added.

Just thinking about farming alone, were talking about some of the benefits of moving away from a bureaucratic cap which skewed money towards the largest landowners, with 50% going to the largest 10 per cent.

We have a fairer system tailored to British farmers post-Brexit.

The spokesman added: On the issue of being able to use gene-editing technology to mimic the natural breeding process to help farmers to grow more nutritious, productive crops, those are just two examples in one sector of the benefits that the public and UK businesses enjoy.
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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.

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 Prime Minister Rishi Sunak

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 5.5m 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.

They argued that the scourge of illegal migration was placing unbearable pressures on countries throughout Europe, citing that cases had risen by 50 per cent 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.
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A cabinet rift has opened up over the direction of Rishi Sunaks government after Suella Braverman sparked fears she is pitching to be prime minister by setting out her hardline, right-wing vision of conservatism.

Levelling up secretary Michael Gove rejected strident culture war attacks and warned the Tories that focusing on economic competence was the only way to win the general election, expected in 2024.

And senior Conservatives told The Independent that Ms Braverman was already overpromoted and a bad influence on the government  urging Mr Sunak to sack her while he still has the chance.

Warned by fellow Tories to concentrate on the job, Ms Braverman is reportedly frustrated that the cabinet has approved only one of her proposals to cut immigration amid infighting on how to tackle the problem.

The home secretary lashed out at radical gender ideology, woke activists attempts to make Britons feel terrible about our past and the unexamined drive towards multiculturalism in a wide-ranging speech to the National Conservativism conference.

But cabinet colleague Mr Gove told the same conference on Tuesday that the Tories must recognise that elections are won on economic delivery rather than the strident culture war attacks.

In an apparent rejection of Ms Bravermans attacks on the politically correct left, her fellow cabinet minister said economics was central when it comes to the boring and vulgar task of winning general elections.

The levelling up secretary said: The most important thing to do is to concentrate on the right economic policies, the right policies for public service delivery and so on.

Asked about culture war issues, Mr Gove added: There are certain principles you should defend, absolutely. And it is absolutely critical that we dont deny biological reality or that we dont feel that we should apologise for aspects of our past  But we should do so with the self-confidence that means we dont need to be strident.

Suella Braverman railed against elites at the right-wing conference (Getty)

Some Tory MPs accused her of focusing on her personal ambitions to succeed Mr Sunak, warning the prime minister not to listen to Ms Bravermans allies in the right-wing Common Sense Group of Tory MPs.

A senior Tory MP told The Independent: She can be as open as she likes [about her leadership ambitions]  she hasnt got a prayer of becoming leader. She is overpromoted as it is.

Calling her a puppet of the Common Sense Group, the former minister added: It is time that the PM realised that the emperor has no clothes and sacks her. The unpleasant tone in her approach to immigration is not popular with many colleagues.

Former justice secretary Robert Buckland also said Ms Braverman should concentrate on the job rather than giving speeches to the Tory right. Asked if Ms Braverman was trying to position herself as a future leader, Mr Buckland said: The top job is filled by Rishi Sunak.

Former cabinet minister David Davis also challenged Ms Braverman to focus on fixing the immigration system rather than bemoaning high net migration.

Theres this criticism of immigration. Who is in charge of immigration? The home secretary and the Home Office, he told The Independent. So if youre worried about it, fix it. That should be her focus.

Rishi Sunak and Suella Braverman have been warned to fix immigration (UK Parliament/Andy Bailey/PA)

Sir John Hayes, the most senior Tory ally of Ms Braverman, called for his party to pursue authentic conservatism rather than the sugar-free version accepted by our liberal masters during his own speech to the right-wing conference on Tuesday.

Sir John, who chairs the Common Sense Group, warned that there was a widening chasm between the people of Britain and the elite who profess to serve them.

But senior Tory MP Tobias Ellwood, chair of the defence select committee, told The Independent: Its disappointing to hear these shrill, populist voices on the far right already dismiss our election prospects at the very time polls are starting to narrow. This tribal disloyalty only benefits Labour.

Bravermans speech interrupted by protesters at National Conservatism conference

It comes as The Telegraph reported that the Home Office has privately shared figures with No 10 suggesting more than 1.1 million foreign workers and students could legally arrive in Britain in 2024/25.

Ms Braverman is pushing for five proposals to cut legal migration  including raising the salary threshold for skilled workers and reducing the time foreign students can stay in the country, according to The Times.

But sources have said education secretary Gillian Keegan and chancellor Jeremy Hunt are blocking such moves, with only a proposal to stop foreign masters students from bringing over family members said to be agreed upon.

Mr Gove, when it was put to him that net migration for this year could hit the 1 million mark, said: I dont think it will reach those figures. But the housing secretary added that the numbers recently have been at a level where there is an inevitable pressure on housing.

Meanwhile, No 10 rejected a claim from Tory MP Danny Kruger at the conference that families with mothers and fathers staying together are the only basis for safe and functioning society. Asked if Mr Sunak agreed with Mrs Kruger views about a normative family, the spokesperson replied: No.

The head of a US think tank also told the controversial conference that left-wing forces are at war with the West. Kevin Roberts, chair of Washington-based Heritage Foundation, attacked globalists and ruling class contempt of everyday working families.

A Home Office spokesperson said: The public rightly expect us to control our borders and we remain committed to reducing net migration over time, while ensuring we have the skills our economy needs.
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Rishi Sunaks plan to persuade fellow leaders to change European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rules blocking Rwanda deportation flights was dealt a blow as summit leaders dismissed the idea of reform.

The prime minister is keen for the Strasbourg court  which is overseen by the 46-member Council of Europe  to change its rules to allow his government to send failed asylum seekers to the central African country.

But Icelands foreign minister, Thordis Gylfadottir, said that this weeks Council of Europe summit in Reykjavik would not be used to reform the rules covering the kind of orders that prevented the first deportation flight from taking off last year.

The prime minister appealed to the ECHRs president, Siofra OLeary, directly on Tuesday, but Ms Gylfadottir suggested that the council was not keen on reform and wanted to uphold existing human rights laws.

The leaders are reconfirming their commitment to the common human rights protection system, and in particular, the court is a cornerstone of our protection system, Ms Gylfadottir told BBC Radio 4s The World at One programme.

The foreign affairs minister added: But the next two days, the time we have, we are not using to reform certain articles in the court.

Pressed on whether there would be any discussion of Mr Sunaks call for reforms to how injunctions work, Ms Gylfadottir said: I believe that there will be a discussion on it, but there will not be, I think, a real concrete outcome on reforming certain articles.

Tiny Kox, president of the Council of Europes parliamentary assembly, warned Mr Sunak that Britain could end up like Russia if it chose to ignore the Strasbourg court.

I think the British government knows there is no opt-out of your European Court of Human Rights ... We are not a cafeteria, where you can ask for the verdict of the court that suits you, the Dutch politician told The Guardian.

Rishi Sunak has pledged to stop the boats (WPA Rota)

Mr Sunak held a face-to-face meeting with Ms OLeary about his desire to reform Rule 39, which allows a judge in the Strasbourg court to impose an injunction pending further proceedings.

The Sunak government wants a higher threshold for applicants seeking a Rule 39 injunction against deportation. It is also understood to want changes made that would allow the UK government to offer legal representation against injunctions.

Home secretary Suella Braverman claimed in March that she was encouraged by constructive talks with the Strasbourg court about an overhaul of the rules surrounding injunctions.

The ECHR  which would not comment on Mr Sunaks discussions with its president in Iceland  said in March that it was carrying out a review of its procedures for dealing with interim measures. But the court stressed that this was unrelated to any individual case or the position on interim measures of any one of the 46 member states.

Suella Braverman said during her Rwanda trip she was encouraged by discussions with the ECHR in Strasbourg (PA Wire)

No 10 insisted on Tuesday that the court was open to discussions about reform. On Rule 39, we believe that the Rule 39 system doesnt currently meet a reasonable standard of natural justice, said Mr Sunaks official spokesperson.

He added: Its why weve had discussions with Strasbourg, and others, about reforms to ensure proper transparency and rights to challenge and appeal. We know they are open to that. Theyre carrying out their own review on Rule 39. Its a conversation the prime minister will be continuing today.

No 10 said Mr Sunak and Ms OLeary had discussed procedures before the ECHR, which the latter regularly reviews, including Rule 39 interim measures.

Rishi Sunak greets European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen (PA)

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 to cut the 5.5m daily cost of housing migrants who make it to the UK.

The PM told fellow leaders at the Council of Europe summit that the international migration system is not working, as he bids to fulfil his immigration pledge to stop the boats crossing the English Channel.

Mr Sunak said he had used his trip to Iceland to talk about how Strasbourg must conduct itself in a way that is fair, transparent and effective  describing his immigration plans as novel but compliant with our international obligations.

The PM, who also met with EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on the sidelines of the summit, said the UK has a long track record of leading reform linked to the ECHR, which it will be building on going forward. He added: We have a track record of seeing change happen.

But Icelands foreign minister said that this weeks conference will not have a big focus on migration. Ms Gylfadottir said: This summit has not a big focus on that. The biggest focus is, of course, Ukraine, and then other issues such as AI and environment ... But I agree that [immigration] is an issue for Europe.

Recommended Tory backlash as one in five will be paying higher income tax rate by 2027

No 10 said the government remains committed to reducing net migration, amid speculation that the number of migrants could pass the 1 million mark next year.

It follows reports that the Home Office has privately shared figures with No 10 that suggest that more than 1.1 million foreign workers and students could arrive legally in Britain in 2024-25.
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The UK and the EU agreed to build a new working arrangement to strengthen co-operation on migration at a European summit, Downing Street said, despite the host country downplaying the events focus on border issues.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Ursula Von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, underlined a shared interest in tackling cross-border crime and people trafficking during a bilateral talk at the Council of Europe meeting in Iceland on Tuesday, according to No 10.

The arrangement would see British agencies working with Frontex, the EU border force, on critical operational and strategic challenges including the situation in the Channel, a Downing Street spokesman said.

The UK and the EU will discuss the details and operationalisation of this new working arrangement, they added.

Mr Sunak had sought to make migration a key topic at the summit in Reykjavik, warning leaders that the international system for policing human trafficking is not working.

He also called for reforms to Strasbourg measures which have hampered his plan to send migrants to Rwanda, as well as advocating for sustained support to Ukraine as it defends itself against Russias invasion.

In his remarks at the councils opening session, the Prime Minister cited Winston Churchill as one of the founding fathers of the organisation who helped champion its values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law.

We will hold Russia accountable for the horrendous war crimes that have been committed, Mr Sunak said.

And we must also learn the lesson of this war  by being prepared to confront threats to our societies before they become too big to deal with.

That includes acting on cybersecurity and AI, and it means tackling illegal migration.

He told leaders they need to do more to co-operate on stopping boats crossing the Channel, adding: The council already plays a vital role but I urge leaders to consider how we can go further.

But Icelands foreign affairs minister Thordis Kolbrun Gylfadottir suggested migration was not top of the agenda, telling the BBCs World At One programme: This summit doesnt have a big focus on migration in general.

Mr Sunak also held talks with the president of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), Siofra OLeary, over a review of the working of Rule 39  the order that blocked the inaugural flight to Kigali in Rwanda last year.

He said he would use the conversation to talk about the importance of ensuring Strasbourg acts in a way that is fair, transparent and effective.

He insisted the UK would be building on its record of leading reform of the ECHR, citing the Brighton Declaration on human rights cases as an example.

People trafficking came up in the Prime Ministers bilateral meeting with Dutch leader Mark Rutte, with whom he agreed to tackle the scourge by working together both bilaterally and through forums such as the European Political Community, according to Downing Street.

At the summit, Mr Sunak said European communities and the worlds most vulnerable people are paying the price for the failure to prevent unlawful migration.

It comes as his 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.

No 10 said the Government remains committed to reducing net migration amid speculation it could pass the one million mark next year.

It follows reports that the Home Office has privately shared figures with No 10 suggesting more than 1.1 million foreign workers and students could legally arrive in Britain in 2024/25, just as the Tories face a general election test.

Mr Sunaks spokesman said: I wont get into specific pieces of advice that go between departments and No 10.

The Government remains committed to reducing net migration over time while ensuring the economy has the skills we need.

He said there is no specific target on reducing migration numbers and the priority is tackling illegal migration in the first instance.

Cabinet minister Michael Gove, speaking about the one million number, said: I dont think it will reach those figures.

But the Housing Secretary added that the numbers recently have been at a level where there is an inevitable pressure on housing and on public services.

The Leave campaigner said a critical part of Brexit was being able to say this is the level of migration we as a country believe is right and establishing there is a limit.

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.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman argued 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 through unauthorised channels.

The Council of Europe was established after 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.

The meeting, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is due to join virtually, focused on the situation in his country and how international allies can hold Russia to account for breaches of international law since the invasion.

The Prime Minister will sign the UK up to the Register of Damages to ensure the people of Ukraine are compensated for losses incurred as a result of the 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.
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The Health Secretary will hold a further meeting with the head of the Royal College of Nursing as the battle over pay and conditions continues.

Pat Cullen told members of the RCN at their annual conference in Brighton that she is set to meet Steve Barclay though it is not about negotiations and she will explain again why nurses have rejected the current pay settlement.

An RCN postal ballot on further industrial action will open on May 23 and close on June 23.

The RCN has warned that strikes could go on until Christmas, which would force the cancellation of thousands of patient operations and appointments.

Ms Cullen said to applause: In seven days from now, nursing staff in England will receive fresh ballot papers on the question of whether to continue with strike action for up to six more months.

If you give the college another six-month mandate for strike action, across the whole of Englands NHS, then Government will be forced to act once more.

She added that they might even be watching congress, adding: Ill tell you why. Who emailed me last night at nine oclock?

To cheers from the audience, she said: The Health Secretary wants to see me.

Colleagues, this is not about negotiations, but it is important that I go and tell him again why many of you voted to reject the pay offer.

Ms Cullen later told reporters she has sent three letters to Mr Barclay and I was very pleased to get a response last night.

She added: As I said in my speech, its very clear. Its not about negotiations opening up but it is important that I go along and state the case again for our members, and I will do that as soon as congress is over.

She said Mr Barclay had made it clear in his correspondence the meeting will not be about opening up negotiations.

She said a date has not yet been set for the meeting.

Asked what it will take to satisfy RCN members on pay, Ms Cullen refused to be drawn on the exact figure needed, saying being in a room with Mr Barclay is the right and proper place to negotiate.

She added: But if you look at that hall today, at the thousands of nurses that have come along to congress and their conference, we owe it to every single one of them to get into a negotiating room and to finish that work off.

Ive said to the Prime Minister, Lets get that done as quickly as possible and let those nurses get back to their work. But in order to address the crisis that weve got, and the fragility within the health service as we stand at the minute, thats not going to be addressed unless we address pay

Every one of us will need a nurse at some point in our lives and theyre not going to be there

At some stage you will need a nurse and unless we really waken up to this, we arent going to have those nurses there to care for us if we dont pay them properly.

Ms Cullen said nurses live and breathe optimism and now we need that optimism to make sure we get into that room and negotiate as quickly as possible and get the best deal for every singe nurse.

She said she will tell Mr Barclay sensibility is needed from all parties, adding: We need to own and the Secretary of State needs to own the crisis that healthcare is in within this country

Standing outside our work became the only way to change what was happening inside Pat Cullen

And once he feels that and owns that, he will do the right thing.

She said the Government cannot ignore the voice of 30,000 nurses that will be balloted later in May and if they do that, they will do that at risk.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: We hugely value the work of nurses and it is disappointing that RCN leadership now want to escalate strike action, even though they recommended the Governments pay offer to their members.

The majority of unions on the NHS Staff Council voted to accept the Governments fair and reasonable pay offer  which includes a double-digit pay rise of 10.7% over two years for nurses at the entry point of band 5.

We hope RCN members recognise this is a fair deal and decide it is time to bring industrial action to an end.

Earlier, Ms Cullen told RCN members she has never met a nurse or support worker who wanted to be on a picket line.

She added: Standing outside our work became the only way to change what was happening inside.

Patients are not dying because nurses are striking, nurses are striking because our patients are dying Pat Cullen

Patients are not dying because nurses are striking, nurses are striking because our patients are dying. It is as clear as that.

Ms Cullen has urged ministers to prevent nurses from going into the winter months on strike.

She initially urged members to accept the Governments revised pay offer of 5% for this year and a one-off payment for last year.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4s Today programme on Monday, she said: 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.

Ms Cullen was referring to the 4% pay uplift from 2022/23 and the 5% for 2023/24 consolidated.

Downing Street said some nurses would have got double-digit pay rises under the deal rejected by RCN members.

All the unions involved in industrial disputes over the past year, including the RCN, have stressed to members the importance of voting because of legislation on ballots.

The Trade Union & Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 sets out the legal requirements in respect of industrial action in England, Scotland and Wales.

It was amended in 2016 to cover turnout, with additional requirements for public services. There is separate legislation in Northern Ireland.

In England, Scotland and Wales, the legislation says industrial action ballots must attract at least a 50% turnout and the majority must vote yes for action to be lawful.
#CongresoInforma l El presidente del Congreso, @jwilliamszapata, y los vicepresidentes Martha Moyano, @SilviaMontezaAp y @AlejoMunante, se reunieron con el titular de @pcmperu, Alberto Otarola, para dialogar sobre proyectos de ley enviados por el Poder Ejecutivo. pic.twitter.com/a29T4idYXS
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A judge-led inquiry should examine the Crown Offices role in the granting of a warrant to search Nicola Sturgeons house and SNP HQ, Alba MP Kenny MacAskill has said.

It comes after the Scottish Sun reported that police requested the search warrant on March 20, but it was only green-lit and sent to a sheriff a fortnight later.

This meant the search took place on April 5, after the conclusion of the SNP leadership race.

The execution of the warrant  which was connected to the ongoing investigation into the SNPs finances  led to police searching Ms Sturgeons home as well as the partys offices in Edinburgh.

On Tuesday, the BBC reported that sources close to the inquiry had denied there has been any undue delay.

Mr MacAskill, who was Justice Secretary under Alex Salmonds government, said the public needed to be reassured that there had been no undue political influence on the process.

He said: These are matters of the utmost gravity and seriousness with huge implications for the functioning of our legal system and our democracy.

As Justice Secretary I was involved in changes to expedite the warrant process.

Delays then were due to bureaucracy and IT systems. I never envisaged that police investigations might be delayed by what appears to be political considerations.

That is why I am today calling for a judge-led inquiry into the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in order to restore trust and confidence in this vital institution.

He said this would reassure the public that the decisions taken by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service have not been influenced by political considerations.

The Police Scotland investigation led to the arrest of Peter Murrell, Nicola Sturgeons husband and the former SNP chief executive, on April 5. He was later released without charge pending further inquiries.

A spokesperson for the Crown Office said: In all matters, Scotlands prosecutors act independently of political pressure or interference.

It is standard that any case regarding politicians is dealt with by prosecutors without the involvement of the Lord Advocate or Solicitor General.

COPFS understand the interest in this case but to protect the fair administration of justice we urge restraint in public comment.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: As the investigation is ongoing we are unable to comment further.
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The Home Secretarys speech to the National Conservatism Conference leads several of the nations papers.

The Daily Express reports Suella Braverman used her speech to encourage white people not to feel guilty about Britains historical role in slavery.

Meanwhile, Metro leads with her comments encouraging Britons to train as fruit pickers as she said: we mustnt forget how to do things for ourselves.

The Telegraph reports the Home Office is anticipating a sharp rise in immigration by the next election.

The Guardian says senior Tory MPs have accused Ms Braverman of trying to undermine the Prime Minister.

Elsewhere, the Daily Mail reports Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove has challenged Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to respond to accusations that he wants to undermine Brexit by granting EU citizens the right to vote.

The i leads with the UK throwing its support behind Ukraines bid to join Nato.

The Times carries analysis from the Institute for Fiscal Studies which shows a fifth of all taxpayers are in the 40p rate of income tax.

Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is on course to retain power following voting in the countrys closely fought national election, according to the Financial Times.

The Independent continues its campaign to halt the deportation of an Afghan pilot to Rwanda.

The Daily Mirror leads with a British man telling a court that his cancer-stricken wife asked him to kill her.

And the Daily Star says mass UFO sightings have been reported in Belgium.
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On a normal day years after leaving his post as the leader of the free world, Barack Obama shops for groceries with Randi, a young mother who has struggled to find work that enables her to care for her young child.

Does Randi think it has become harder for people to achieve an existence where they own a home, pay their bills, and care for their children, Obama asks?

Yes, Randi says. When Obama asks her why, she points to the cereal aisle in which they have found themselves: Its $6.12 for a box of cereal, she tells him. I make $10 an hour. Thats one hour of my paycheck gone, [with] a couple of candies.

Shortly afterward, Randi tells him: Ive got a question for you. When Obama tells her to go ahead, she turns to him and asks: Are you at peace? Now? Obama, pushing the grocery cart, answers that question between the frozen aisle and the soda aisle, in a meaningful moment that somehow doesnt end up putting the focus on him, but harkens back to the situation of Randi and other workers like her.

This is one of the most revealing, captivating scenes in the new Netflix documentary Working: What We Do All Day, a four-part, frank, no-nonsense, human investigation into work, labour, jobs, and the ways in which they serve and fail us. Working comes from Higher Ground, the production company founded by Barack and Michelle Obama in 2018, and Concordia Studio, another production company. Obama not only served as an executive producer, but also stars in and narrates parts of each episode.

When Caroline Suh, the documentary filmmaker behind Salt Fat Acid Heat and Blackpink: Light Up the Sky, was approached to direct a new series about work, she initially wanted no part in it. My immediate reaction was like, No, she tells The Independent in a phone interview. Who wants to think about that?

But then, Suh heard that Barack Obama would be involved, and promptly reconsidered. When I heard the president was involved, I immediately changed my mind, she says.

The former president, in fact, shaped the series from its inception. According to Suh, the team behind Working spent around nine months developing the show before production began, researching key concepts. And, yes, Obama was very involved this early on.

Work is so many things, and we wanted to get a handle on what the reality of work is now for people  what kind of jobs people have, what are good jobs, what are bad jobs, why good jobs are good jobs, and why bad jobs are bad jobs, Suh says. The president gave us a bunch of themes that he wanted to explore, like womens work, automation and unions. It took a long time to look at the history, and whats going on now, and whats going on in the future, to even decide how we would approach the series.

Barack Obama orders a green salad and French fries during a meeting with executive Natarajan Chandrasekaran (Netflix)

After that development period came filming, which took place between 2020 and 2022. Working is openly inspired by the 1974 nonfiction book Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do, by the broadcaster Studs Terkel, who explored the working lives of multiple participants. The documentary brings that project to the modern age.

Each episode looks at work through a different lens, reflected in their titles: Service Jobs, The Middle, Dream Jobs, and The Boss. We meet a rich cast of participants. There is Randi, who gets trained as a home care aide in Mississippi. There is Carmen, a delivery driver for Uber Eats in Pittsburgh. There is Luke, a data manager at Aurora Innovation, a self-driving technology company, also in Pittsburgh. There is Francois, the general manager of the five-star Pierre hotel in New York.

The Pierre, in fact, acts as a throughline in the documentary. Episode one features Elba, a housekeeper at the hotel. Episode two features Beverly, who works there as a switchboard operator. Episode three features Francois, and episode four features Natarajan Chandrasekaran, the chair of Tata Sons, the parent company of the Tata Group, which itself includes the Indian Hotels Company, which includes the Taj Hotels brand, which includes the Pierre.

Every episode begins with a vignette featuring Obama (he might be delivering their lunches to home care workers in Mississippi, or ordering green salad and French fries for a lunch with Chandrasekaran), then shifts to the participants, with some explanatory vignettes narrated by the former president. Each episode then ends with Obama interacting with the participants.

Those sequences are among the most revealing, not only because  yes  Obama is still ridiculously good at projecting warmth, empathy and humor, but also because the participants themselves seem profoundly at ease in his presence.

Did they need any guidance, I wonder, in order to feel at ease interacting with the former president? Suh tells me they didnt, mainly because by the time they filmed their scenes with Obama, they had grown used to having cameras filming them, and they had built a rapport with the documentary crew over time. Obamas personality did the rest.

The president truly is amazing at making people feel at ease, she says. Its like a gift, because when he enters a room, it totally destabilises everything. Grown men who work on the crew, whove been on so many shoots  they were like little kids meeting him. They were sharing, and they were so excited, comparing handshakes with each other, like, who got up this kind of handshake. People cry, people laugh. People lose their minds. I imagine its like when the Beatles come to town or something.

Barack Obama sits down with Luke Starcher, a data manager at Aurora Innovation in Pittsburgh (Ben Solomon/Netflix)

Beverly Aponte, a switchboard operator at the Pierre hotel (Netflix)

The logistics of filming with a former president were captivating, Suh says: Everyone on their team is so pro at moving in with all the Secret Service and making sure everythings safe. It is fascinating to see that organism move the world, and it makes you realize how really tough it is to be at the center of that. You cant really do anything by yourself. There are always all these people around.

Working isnt just about the specific jobs and occupations portrayed on screen, nor is it just about Obama having meaningful conversations with a wide array of American workers  although those two elements do plenty of work. The documentary is solidly grounded in its research, and does an efficient job at contextualizing each episode to make a broader point.

A one-minute sequence narrated by Obama in episode one, about current executive and former janitor Gail Evans, is an amazingly concise illustration of how work has become less effective at providing workers with opportunity and a path to progression. Multiple sequences highlight the importance of unions in protecting workers amid industry shifts. Comparisons between the present and the past are especially damning. In 1970, a CEO made about 30 times the typical worker, Obama says in episode four. Today, they make up 350 times more.

Those explanatory passages work, because they echo what we witness on the screen: everyone in Working works, and works hard, but not everyone can make ends meet, afford a middle-class lifestyle, or find work compatible with their caregiving obligations.

While working on the documentary, Suh and her team used to say that if the series made people better tippers, they would be happy. She also hopes it will prompt others to see the people around us a lot more.

I think it will make people more aware of each other, and more appreciative, she says.

Working: What We Do All Day streamings starting 17 May on Netflix US and UK
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Sextortionists who allegedly drove a South Carolina teenager to suicide sent a sickening message to his grieving father gloating about his death while threatening to release nude photos and demanding money.

South Carolina state representative Brandon Guffey told CNN he received the anonymous Instagram message on what would have been his son Gavins 18th birthday, which said: Did I tell you your son begged for his life, followed by a laughing face emoji.

Mr Guffey told the network Gavin had been blackmailed after scammers posing as a young girl tricked him into sending a nude picture.

The 17-year-old recent high school graduate sent $25 by Venmo to the blackmailers, everything he had in his account, while begging for more time to raise extra cash.

The lawmaker said in interviews he found his sons body in the bathroom of the familys home in Rock Hill on 27 July last year after hearing him fall to the floor.

Mr Guffey, who was running for state office at the time, said he was unaware his son was being extorted and initially blamed himself for leaving a gun out.

The blackmail plot was revealed when sextortionists began bombarding the family with Instagram messages demanding more money or they would release the intimate photos.

Gavin Guffey died by suicide after being blackmailed. His father, South Carolina state lawmaker Brandon Guffey, is working to pass a bill criminalising sextortion (Facebook / Brandon Guffey)

Mr Guffey said scammers had used disappearing messages to make his son believe that the pictures would be deleted.

What they dont realise is, someone has another device recording that device, he said.

If you can extort 10 teenage boys that arent gonna say anything for $100 each, and do all that with one image that you got from a girl, its fairly simple.

After considering dropping out of the election, Mr Guffey was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in November.

His first act was to draw up a bill criminalising sextortion, called Gavins Law, which would see scammers who extort a minor face up to five years in prison for a first offence.

It passed the state house unanimously, and last Thursday the state Senate voted to approve the bill. It will soon be sent to Governor Henry McMaster to be signed into law.

South Carolina lawmaker Brandon Guffey, right, with his son Gavin beside him, introduced Gavins law after a sextortion plot allegedly drove the teen to suicide. (Family handout)

Mr Guffey told CNN he would never recover from the grief of losing his son to suicide, but whenever he needs strength, he puts on Gavins white Vans sneakers, which are scribbled with a doodle of his sons favorite character Spider-Man.

I feel like (Gavin) would want me trying to save additional kids from ever having to feel the way that he felt at that time, he said.

In December, the FBI issued a national public safety alert to warn parents after seeing a tenfold increase in online sexual blackmail cases.

According to the FBI, at least 3,000 children were victims of sextortion plots that were connected to more than a dozen suicides in 2022.

Most of the victims were teenage boys, with kids as young as 10 being targeted.

Victims may feel like there is no way out  it is up to all of us to reassure them that they are not in trouble, there is hope, and they are not alone, said FBI Director Christopher Wray in a statement at the time.

The FBI told CNN that no arrests have been made in connection with Gavins death.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress and isolation, or are struggling to cope, call National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The Helpline is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.

If you are based in the UK, the Samaritans offers support; you can speak to someone for free over the phone, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.
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The San Francisco district attorney has released surveillance footage showing the fatal shooting of a 24-year-old transgender activist accused of shoplifting by a Walgreens security guard.

The video was released on Monday following a public outcry after it was announced that the district attorney won't file charges against the guard, identified as Michael Earl-Wayne Anthony.

The footage shows the guard assaulting unarmed Banko Brown on 27 April before fatally shooting him outside a downtown Walgreens.

Brown was a budding community organiser known for helping Black transgender youth and reportedly struggled with homelessness.

Last week, the board of supervisors unanimously approved a resolution urging district attorney Brooke Jenkins's office to release more evidence. She cited self-defence in her decision not to charge the guard.

The video, which does not have sound, shows Brown heading for the door with a bag in his hand when he is intercepted by the guard. He then pushes and repeatedly punches Brown in the head before pinning him to the ground.

The scuffle continues when after a point, the guard lifts Brown into the air.

When Mr Anthony lets Brown go, he picks up the bag and moves to exit the store. He turns around and appears to step toward Mr Anthony, at which point the guard lifts his gun and shoots once, sending Brown falling back onto the ground.

Mr Anthony, who was initially arrested and later released, told the police that he asked Brown to put the items back, but Brown was aggressive and fought to keep them.

He said he told Brown he would let him go if he calmed down, and that Brown kept saying he was going to stab him. However, a knife was not found on Brown.

Mr Anthony argued that he let Brown go, but he drew his gun and kept it pointed at the ground just in case Brown attacked. He said he shot when Brown advanced.

The case was discharged by the district attorney on 1 May.

The guard in interviews also misgendered Brown, referring to him as she and her.

San Francisco supervisor Shamann Walton said in a statement that the video does not show justification for the shooting. Mr Walton said he plans to join board president Aaron Peskin in calling on the state attorney general for an independent review of the prosecutors decision.

But Ms Jenkins, who has been criticised for handling the case, said that even after seeking more evidence, there was nothing to rebut the guards claim of self-defense. She pleaded with viewers to review all the evidence, including witness and police reports, given that the video footage lacks sound.

"There will be a temptation, as human beings, to only view the video footage of this incident and nothing else," Ms Jenkins said. "We are accustomed to seeing videos online, and that often is what captures our attention rather than going the extra step to look deeper."

Community members on Monday afternoon gathered outside Walgreens to protest against Ms Jenkins's decision to not file charges.

Activists, politicians and others who reviewed the released footage of Browns death alleged that the video proves the security guard did not act in self-defence as suggested by the district attorney.

Demonstrators with banners that read Justice for Banko Brown demanded that Ms Jenkins press charges against the guard.

"I was sad, but now I'm mad. I'm so mad. He was on the way to the centre the day he died," Tumani Drew, a friend of Brown's, told The San Francisco Standard.

"All we know is that Banko was leaving the store. Anthony had no right to take his life."

Brown worked as a community organiser for the Young Womens Freedom Center  a nonprofit that provides support for young women and trans youths.

"We do not need to see the video to know that Banko Browns killing was unjustified. Armed force is not a justified response to poverty, said Julia Arroyo, the centres co-executive director.

"We must live with the sobering reality that he was killed for no other cause but $14."
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Two people were hospitalised after hundreds of bees swarmed a neighbourhood in Los Angeles, according to local reports.

Bees descended on Encino, California on Monday, sending one resident and a volunteer police officer to the hospital, according to CBS News.

"There is like a cloud of hundreds of bees over there," Izak Kharrazi of local bee removal company All Valley Honey & Bee told CBS News Los Angeles. "I said, 'Oh boy'... that's why right away I put my gear on because I can see them. They're mad as could be."

One adult man suffered "multiple bee stings" and was sent to the hospital to recover. Another man, a local volunteer police officer, was caught on video trying to help a motorist when the bees began swarming him.

In the video, captured by CBS Los Angeles' helicopter, the man can be seen talking to a motorist when he begins swatting at bees that have begun swarming. As the bees continue to sting him he wanders away from the car, continuing to swing at the insects. He eventually gets spun around and topples to the ground.

As he recovers it becomes apparent he has been injured by the fall as blood is left on the sidewalk where he fell. Others helped evacuate him from the swarm, after which he was taken to a local hospital where he was treated for "dozens of bee stings."

Police said the volunteer is in stable condition. The condition of the second man injured is currently unknown.

A local resident reportedly told police he also saw a UPS delivery driver attacked by the bees.

"He started saying, 'Run, bees!' And I got hit right in the lip," Jerry Spotts told CBS Los Angeles.

The bee removal company called out to respond to the swarm told the outlet it believes the insects originated from a hive connected to a house in the neighbourhood.

The company sprayed the hive in an attempt to eradicate the swarm. The local fire department issued a warning to residents to "remain indoors and close all windows/doors."

"This is not a normal behaviour for these bees to be this angry, to want to kill you," Mr Kharrazi said. "This is not OK."

Typically bees swarm when they are preparing to move to a new location or when they are in the process of rearing a new queen, according to the University of California, Riverside.

"Swarming bees are somewhere in the process of rearing new queen, departing colony with old queen, clustering on an intermediate site and looking for a good cavity, flying to it, or moving into it," the university writes.

Bee swarms are typically not dangerous to humans unless humans disrupt or otherwise threaten them, according to Purdue University. Swarms can occur at any time of the year but typically happen in the late spring or early summer.

It is unclear why the swarm in California became agitated and started attacking residents.
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In his upside-down version of the parable, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis compared the man who fatally choked a homeless New Yorker to the good Samaritan, the biblical figure who came to the aid of a man who was stripped, beaten and left for dead on the side of the road.

According to witness accounts, Jordan Neely loudly complained of hunger and thirst when he boarded a Manhattan F train on 1 May, said he did not care whether he was jailed or killed, and threw his jacket to the ground before a man identified as Daniel Penny grabbed him from behind and pinned him to the ground in a chokehold for several minutes.

We stand with Good Samaritans like Daniel Penny, Mr DeSantis wrote on Twitter after Mr Penny was formally charged with manslaughter on 12 May. Take back the streets for law abiding citizens, he wrote.

Republican elected officials and right-leaning media outlets and personalities have similarly described Mr Penny as a heroic figure, and lambasted the fact that charges were brought against him at all, rejecting the idea that prosecutors or law enforcement should even investigate.

Neither attorneys for Mr Penny nor witnesses, law enforcement or New York prosecutors have alleged that Neely physically harmed anyone on the train that day. But the case has underscored the kind of sensational media coverage that depicts New York and other Democratic-led cities as besieged and under threat, and suggests that something must be done to fight back.

Lawmakers and advocacy groups have pointed to Neelys killing and the apparent attitudes that endorse vigilante violence as the tragic consequences of an epidemic of failed policy and institutional neglect towards the citys most vulnerable populations.

But from the outset of the media spectacle surrounding the case, right-wing lawmakers and commentators have sought to focus Neelys death as a failure of Democratic policy around crime while justifying Mr Pennys actions.

Pennys case has been injected into the bloodstream of partisan politics, Matt Dallek, a professor of political management at George Washington University, told The Washington Post. A lot of conservatives can point to vigilantes like him and say, Theyre standing between us and the mob. It fits into a political narrative, and people like Penny are appropriated, whether they want to be or not.

Daniel Penny leaves Manhattan Criminal Court on 12 May (AP)

Neelys family history, history of mental illness and interactions with the criminal justice system were reported at length following news of his death. Less is known about the 24-year-old former US Marine who placed him in a fatal chokehold. His image and a media narrative surrounding his actions have nearly entirely been projected.

Mr Penny surrended to authorities and was formally charged with second-degree manslaughter on 12 May. He did not enter a plea. He was released on $100,000 bail and is due to return to court on 17 July.

An online fundraising campaign for Mr Pennys legal defence was launched on the Christian crowdfunding platform GiveSendGo, a website created in response to GoFundMe removing far-right campaigns that violated its terms of service. The fundraiser reached more than $2m within days of its launch, including roughly $600,000 on the day Mr Penny was charged alone.

Several donors  including Kid Rock, far-right streamer Tim Pool, and Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy  have contributed huge sums to Mr Pennys fund, which is run by his attorneys. Mr Ramaswamy donated $10,000.

Penny is the Subway Good Samaritan and we are lucky to have brave souls like him who are willing to do the right thing, said Mr Pool, who confirmed his $20,000 donation on 15 May.

Thank you for protecting the citizens that day, wrote another donor who contributed $10,000.

Mr Penny is a hero. Alvin Bragg is a POS, Kid Rock wrote in a message with his $5,000 donation.

In his message supporting Mr Penny, Mr DeSantis also lashed out at Mr Bragg, the Manhattan prosecutor whose office is overseeing the case.

Republicans have bombarded the New York prosecutor  whose office also is leading a criminal investigation into Donald Trumps alleged business fraud  with claims of election interference or raised baseless conspiracy theories, including antisemitic and racist attacks, that accuse Mr Bragg of leading a politically motivated case against the 2024 candidate for president while ignoring violent crime.

In April, after Mr Trump was charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records, House Republicans traveled to New York City to hold a hearing to allege Mr Braggspro-crime policies threaten public safety.

One of the attorneys representing Mr Penny is Thomas Kenniff, who ran against Mr Bragg in 2021 as a Republican. Mr Bragg received roughly 82 per cent of the vote.

Mr Braggs office determined there was probable cause to charge Mr Penny.

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, Mr Bragg said in a statement after Mr Pennys court appearance on 12 May.

Jordan Neely was an accomplished Michael Jackson impersonator (GoFundme)

Attorneys for Mr Penny have stated that he never intended to harm Mr Neely and could not have foreseen his untimely death. They are confident that once all the facts and circumstances surrounding this tragic incident are brought to bear, Mr Penny will be fully absolved of any wrongdoing, according to a statement shared with The Independent.

A fundraiser for Neelys funeral arrangements organised by his aunt raised more than $132,000.

Witness statements and a description of the scene from the freelance journalist who filmed the widely shared footage of Neelys final moments are familiar to many people who ride the citys subway.

Neely entered the Manhattan-bound F train on 1 May yelling that he was hungry and thirsty and said he didnt care whether he died or went to prison, according to journalist Juan Alberto Vazquez, who described the interaction on his Facebook page along with a video of Mr Penny choking Neely.

He started screaming all these things, took off his jacket, a black jacket that he had, and threw it on the ground, he told The New York Post in a story published on 2 May.

Three days later, he told New York magazines Curbed that Neely 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, he added. 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.

Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass described the events similarly in a statement in Manhattan Criminal Court on 12 May, following the Manhattan district attorneys office initial investigation with interviews from witnesses.

Jordan Neely entered the northbound F train at approximately 2nd Avenue in Manhattan. Several witnesses observed Mr Neely making threats and scaring passengers, he stated.

The defendant approached Mr Neely from behind and placed him in a chokehold, taking him down to the ground, where Mr Penny held him for several minutes after the train reached the Broadway-Lafayette platform, according to the statement. Two other men helped restrain Neely by pinning his arms, and at some point Mr Neely stopped moving, Mr Steinglass stated.

Police arrived to find Neely was unresponsive, and he was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. A medical examiners report issued two days after Neelys death determined his death was a homicide, due to the compression against his neck.

Meanwhile, far-right commentators with large audiences on Elon Musks Twitter have sought to justify the killing of Neely on a social media platform that boosts the audience reach of far-right users who pay for verification.

Mr Musk has also called protests against Neelys killing disingenuous and he liked a tweet calling Neely worthless.

Mike Cernovich called Neely a psychopath who terrorized subway passengers. US Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene called him a violent criminal who should have been behind bars. Her post was liked by Musk, who also liked a Twitter poll from another user asking Did Jordan Neely deserve what happened to him?

More than two-thirds of those who voted in the poll believed Yes, he had it coming.

US Rep Matt Gaetz of Florida called Mr Penny a Subway Superman.

The mob will relentlessly come after the marine who subdued Neely till his life is ruined, hes killed or behind bars for life, according to far-right pundit Tomi Lahren. All for trying to protect his fellow passengers. We often see this exact kind of story where a violent vagrant beats, assaults, or rapes an innocent person, as onlookers do nothing..and we wonder why?

On his broadcast, The Daily Wires Michael Knowles said Mr Penny should get an award for valor and a key to the city. One America News host Dan Ball accused the media, Black Lives Matter, and the antifa crowd of hyping it up to be George Floyd 2.0.

During a YouTube brodcast, Steven Crowder stated that Jordan Neely forfeited his right to live.

Fox News host Greg Gutfeld described the manslaughter charges against Mr Penny as pro-criminal and anti-hero. Earlier this month, Fox News host Jesse Watters stated, without evidence, that Mr Penny confronted Neely gently at first and that Mr Penny tried to de-escalate, claims that have not been substantiated.

The absence of clear facts and evidence in a breaking news cycle is often filled with rampant speculation and narrative. In the Neely case, outlets relied on law enforcement sources citing his alleged criminal record and alleged threats towards other subway passengers while witnesses said the opposite.

It did not appear that this man, who seemed to be suffering from some kind of mental disturbance, was seeking to assault anyone, according to a witness speaking to CBS News.

The New York Post initially described Neely as unhinged and had numerous prior arrests for offenses including assault, disorderly conduct, and fare beating, citing unnamed law enforcement sources.

A few days later, an audience member in Sean Hannitys audience cheered at the mention of the man who choked Neely, while Hannity  whose programme played a clip of Mr Penny choking Neely  said he was making violent threats, acting erratically, a mentally ill homeless guy with a long history of violent crime before telling his audience that he was killed.

One key detail that was later removed from a report from ABC7 stated that detectives did not have information suggesting that the veteran who administered the hold had been warned by onlookers that Neely was dying or suffering serious physical damage. In the video from Mr Vazquez, a man can be heard repeatedly warning the men that his wife was in the military and that placing Neely in a chokehold could be fatal.

You dont want to catch a murder charge, the man can be heard saying. You got a hell of a chokehold, man.
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A Colorado man attempted to switch places with his dog to convince law enforcement officials that the pet was behind the wheel to avoid a ticket, police said.

The driver, who was not named, was pulled over for speeding on Saturday before the man attempted to switch places with his dog, who was in the passenger seat, the Springfield police department said.

The man, who was driving from Las Animas to Pueblo, got lost in Springfield and was stopped by the police around 11.30pm on Saturday night.

An officer watched the entire episode of the driver maneuvering inside the car to swap places with the dog before the man himself got out from the passenger side.

The male party then exited the passenger side of the vehicle and claimed he was not driving, the police said.

The police said that the man showed clear signs of intoxication and when asked about his alcohol consumption then he ran from the officer before being nabbed again.

The male party was apprehended quickly within about 20 yards of the vehicle, police said.

The man was found to have two active warrants for his arrest out of Pueblo and was booked for his warrants and charged with drinking and driving, speeding and resisting arrest.

The dog was given to an acquaintance of the driver to take care of while the party was in jail, the police said.

The dog does not face any charges and was let go with just a warning, they added.

In January, the Wyandotte Police Department (WPD) of Michigan took to Facebook to share that a police dog was under investigation for allegedly stealing lunch from one of its colleagues.

Sharing the mugshot of the dog named Officer Ice, the police department said the canine is not cooperating with the investigation and had a history of rummaging through trash cans.

The cheeky post went viral on social media and was followed by other similar posts by the department.
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An 18-year-old gunman armed with an arsenal of automatic weapons killed three people and injured six others while firing randomly at cars and houses in the New Mexico city of Farmington on Monday, authorities said.

The suspect was killed by police after wounding two officers, Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe said in a video released on Monday night.

The identities of the suspect and victims were not immediately released.

Mr Hebbe said the gunman was armed with an AR-15 style rifle and two other firearms as he roamed across a quarter mile area of the city just before 11am targeting whatever entered his head to shoot at.

At least six houses and three cars were shot at, while state and local police responding to 911 calls also came under heavy gunfire.

Mr Hebbe called the shootings one of the most horrific and difficult days that Farmington has ever had as a community.

Police have not revealed a possible motive or intended target of the attack.

At this point, it appears to be purely random, that there was no schools, no churches and no individuals targeted, the police chief said.

Community members hold candles during a prayer vigil at Hills Church, Monday, in Farmington, New Mexico. (Associated Press)

Farmington Mayor Nate Duckett said in a statement that the shooting has left us reeling in anguish and disbelief.

He praised the response of law enforcement, which he said had saved countless lives.

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Graham said in a statement she was deeply upset by the tragic violence that unfolded today in Farmington.

Mr Hebbe said police received the first 911 calls at about 10.57am. Officers arrived at the scene at 11.02am, and three minutes later, the gunman had been killed.

A Farmington Police Department officer who was wounded in the shooting has since been released from hospital. A second New Mexico State Police officer who was able to drive himself to hospital remains in a stable condition, Mr Hebbe said.

Law enforcement personnel investigate the scene of a shooting on North Dustin Avenue in Farmington, N.M., Monday. (ALBUQUERQUE JOURANL PUBLISHING COMPANY)

Police initially believed there may have been a second shooter and imposed active shooter protocols in the citys public schools, Mr Hebbe said.

Mayor Duckett, law enforcement officers and dozens of residents gathered for a vigil at Hills Church, a few miles from the scene of the attack, on Monday night.

Local and state law enforcement agencies are investigating the shooting, and are expected to provide an update on Tuesday afternoon.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said in a Twitter post that agents from Phoenix were headed to Farmington to assist in the investigation.

According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been 225 mass shootings in the United States in 2023.

In New Mexico, gun owners do not require a permit to purchase a rifle or handgun, and there are no restrictions on assault weapons or magazine capacities.

Governor Lujan Graham is pushing for a ban on assault weapons, and welcomed the passage of a bill that would ban their sale through a committee in February.
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A young girl who was abducted by her mother in Illinois has finally been found safe six years after she vanished, when a North Carolina store owner recognised her from a Netflix show.

Kayla Unbehaun was nine years old when she disappeared without a trace while in the care of her mother Heather Unbehaun.

It was 4 July 2017, and Kayla had gone for a visit with her mother, who had visitation rights but not full custody of her daughter.

The next day, Kaylas father  who had full custody  went to pick her up from her mothers house in Wheaton, Illinois, to find his daughter and her mother were missing.

A search was launched to track down the abducted child but, for years, the trail went cold.

However, Kaylas story wasnt forgotten and the case was featured on an episode of Netflixs Unsolved Mysteries series, titled Abducted by a Parent.

Last month, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) released an age-progression photo to show how Kayla may look now, aged 15.

Almost six years after she vanished, a chance sighting more than 600 miles away in North Carolina has finally led to authorities locating the missing child.

Kayla Unbehaun and her father Ryan before her disappearance (NCMEC)

Kayla Unbehaun and her father Ryan before her disappearance (NCMEC)

An unidentified owner of a store in Asheville spotted Kayla, now aged 15, in a local shopping centre and recognised her from the Netflix show, reported WSOC.

The Good Samaritan called police, who found Kayla and took her into protective custody.

Ms Unbehaun was arrested and charged with one count of child abduction, according to the Kane County States Attorneys Office.

She is being held on $250,000 bond and further charges are also possible.

The NCMEC  which had posted alerts to try to find Kayla over the past five-plus years  shared a message from Kaylas father celebrating the news that his daughter had been found safe.

Im overjoyed that Kayla is home safe. I want to thank the South Elgin Police Department, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and all of the law enforcement agencies who assisted with her case, he said.

Kayla and her father before her abduction (NCMEC)

We ask for privacy as we get to know each other again and navigate this new beginning.

Over the years, Kaylas father Ryan had continued to promote his daughters case on the Facebook page Bring Kayla Home.

On 6 January, he posted a birthday message to his missing daughter and spoke of his hopes that they would be reunited soon.

Happy 15th birthday, Kayla. I love you and miss you so much. I cant wait for the day that I get to see you again, hoping each day I wake up will be the day, he said.

It could never come soon enough. I think of you every day hoping and praying that you are safe, happy and that you will come back into my life soon.
There are five species of prairie dog: black-tailed, Utah, Mexican, white-tailed and Gunnison. All are small animals and range between 12 and 17 inches (30 and 43 centimeters) long and weigh in at between 1 and 3 pounds (0.45 and 1.3 kilograms). Depending on the species, they have shades of brown, black, tan, white and gray fur and short tails. These relatives of the squirrel are very social animals and excitedly greet each other with what appears to be hugs and kisses.

They live in little coterie groups of one or two males, several breeding females and the new pups that result from this living arrangement. Males go from coterie to coterie, but females stick together for life. Females are only in estrus for one hour a year. Their life span is about five to eight years. The truncated mating season leaves a lot of time for digging burrows that lead to prairie dog towns.

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Tens of thousands of prairie dogs live in large intricate underground burrows, called towns. Towns are divided into family coteries. Each coterie covers about an acre (0.4 hectare) and contains separate rooms for sleeping, rearing young (the pups are born here and remain for about six weeks) and eliminating waste  the prairie-dog versions of bedrooms, nurseries and bathrooms. All dogs in a coterie have specific duties, such as foraging, interacting with others (this must be the most popular duty), maintaining burrows or looking for unwanted guests.

You can recognize a prairie dog burrow by the piles of dirt that sit above ground next to each entrance. The piles provide prairie dogs warmth in the winter and help keep burrows from flooding. They also function as footstools that give the small mammals a better vantage point to spot predators, including eagles, hawks, owls, ravens, coyotes, badgers, ferrets and snakes.

" " Prairie dogs are very social animals and commonly greet each other with a kiss or hug. Robin Wilson Photography/Getty Images
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Lori Vallow was indicted by a grand jury in Maricopa County for conspiracy to commit the murder of Brandon Boudreaux more than a year ago, according to a report.

Vallow was charged on 24 February 2022 under the late Allister Adel, who was the county attorney at the time, Justin Lum of Fox 10 Phoenix reports.

The indictment states that Vallow and her late brother Alex Cox agreed that at least one of them or another would engage in conduct constituting the offence of first-degree premeditated murder on 2 October 2019.

Police in Gilbert, Arizona, say that Cox, who died in December 2019, shot at Mr Boudreaux outside his home from the back of a jeep after he returned home from the gym that morning.

This is the third time that Cox is named as a co-conspirator in a grand jury indictment of Vallow.

First in the murder charges for which she was convicted in Idaho; second on the murder conspiracy charge in the death of Charles Vallow in Chandler, Arizona; and now third in the attempted murder of Mr Boudreaux.

On Friday, the Maricopa County Attorneys Office in Arizona announced that in addition to pursuing charges against Vallow over the murder of her fourth husband Charles Vallow, they also plan to prosecute her in the attempted murder of Mr Boudreaux. It was not known that she had been indicted by a grand jury at that point.

The Attorneys Office made the announcement after 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, Charles Vallow was shot dead by Cox at the family home. 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 allegedly showed Alex Cox travelling from Idaho to Gilbert, Arizona, 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 tyre removed. Video footage from a storage facility in Idaho showed 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.

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.

Cox died in December 2019, after telling Ms Pastenes  whom he had married shortly before  that he feared he would be the fall guy for Mr Daybell and his sister.
 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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A Pennsylvania man who has been accused of hiding in an OnlyFans model's attic told a judge that she wanted his attention, according to court documents.

Mauricio Guerrero, 19, appeared for a hearing on Friday in Stafford County Superior Court in Dover, Pennsylvania, according to WMUR.

Mr Guerrero was charged with four counts of burglary for allegedly breaking into a woman's house, photographing her while she slept and hiding in her attic. Mr Guerrero met the woman on the website OnlyFans in 2021.

The defendant told the judge that the woman wanted him to be "obsessed" with her, and to act like "a stalker." He said that "she liked it," ascribing his actions to their dynamic.

During testimony on Thursday, the victim said she was often drunk when she chatted with Mr Guerrero on the website, and said she does not remember many of their conversations.

Mr Guerrero recounted his version of their conversations.

We talked about meeting up, about me coming up. Between that we talked about having intercourse, he said.

Prosecutors claim that Mr Guerrero traveled to her home in New Hampshire six times, and noted the victim refused to see him several times. She admitted that on one visit they did spend time together and had sex.

She told the court she continued communicating with him because she liked the way their conversations made him feel.

Mr Guerrero's defence team claim he believed the two were in a relationship based on the pair's conversations.

When they asked him how he got into the house, he said he entered through the house's back door, and admitted he "tried to use the crowbar."

Mr Guerrero was arrested on 9 February after the victim called police to report that she heard someone in her home.

Mauricio Guerrero, 20, is accused of stalking an OnlyFans model and breaking into her home, where allegedly he stayed for several days and filmed her while she slept (SOMERSWORTH POLICE DEPARTMENT)

"Officers on scene located a male suspect on the roof of the residence. After an on-scene investigation, the male was taken into custody for the charge of Burglary. The investigation was furthered, and information was obtained that the suspect was known to the victim from online social media," the Somersworth Police Department said in a statement posted to its Facebook page.

Police said at the time that Mr Guerrero had been staying at an Airbnb in Portsmouth, and that he was in the home "with the intent to commit theft and invasion of privacy."

Investigators found a video on his phone of the victim sleeping naked in her bed. Mr Guerrero admitted to recording the video, and the victim said she never gave him permission to film her, according to a detective's affidavit.

Police said the victim initially agreed to meet with Mr Guerrero because he had offered to buy her a TV and a fireplace for her apartment.

She said he seemed nice at first and she gave him her address because he wanted to buy her a TV and fireplace for her apartment in Dover, a police affidavit explains. She never really wanted to meet him, but he was very pushy.
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A 12-year-old boy has been charged with murder after he allegedly shot and killed a Sonic employee in northern Texas, police said.

The boy and a 20-year-old, Angel Gomez, visited a Sonic restaurant in Keene, Texas on Sunday night. Mr Gomez allegedly began acting unruly in the parking lot and began urinating near the restaurant, prompting an employee, Matthew Davis, 32, to confront him, according to CBS News.

The confrontation between Mr Davis and Mr Gomez escalated into violence, at which point the 12-year-old allegedly grabbed an assault rifle the two had been traveling with and shot the Sonic employee several times, according to police.

The boy fired at least six shots from the rifle, according to KTVT's reporting.

Mr Gomez and the 12-year-old then fled the scene.

Police were called in response to the shooting, where they found Mr Davis lying in the parking lot around 9:40pm. Mr Davis was reportedly struggling to breathe when they found him. He was rushed to a hospital for surgery but ultimately died from his injuries.

Mr Gomez reportedly returned to the Sonic after the shooting and was arrested on murder charges. Police then tracked down the juvenile in Rio Vista, approximately 15 miles away, and took him into custody on murder charges. Law enforcement searched the home and located several firearms.

A cross was erected and flowers have been left at the Sonic in memory of Mr Davis, who was the father to a 10-year-old son, according to NBC5.

Angel Gomez, pictured, and a 12-year-old boy were arrested on murder charges in the fatal shooting of a Sonic Drive-In employee in Keene, Texas. (Keene Police Department)

Jane Baggett, a local resident who stopped by the Sonic to contribute to the memorial, said she was regretful there was nothing more the community could do for Mr Davis.

I wish there was more that we could do, but right now if they could just see that support and love, and maybe, even if we didnt know him, [know] his life mattered to many of us, she told NBC5.

A spokesperson for Sonic also released a statement acknowledging the attack.

We are saddened to learn about the tragedy involving a franchised team member in Keene, TX. The franchisee is cooperating fully with local authorities as they conduct their investigation.

A GoFundMe has been established to help pay for Mr Davis' funeral costs.
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John Catsimatidis, the billionaire owner of New York City grocery stores Gristedes Foods, is facing an onslaught of criticism from Gen Z for saying they are too busy on TikTok to work on their careers.

In an interview, Mr Catsimatidis said he used to work 70 hours a week at a supermarket and blamed Generation Z  the group of people born between the late 1990s and the early 2010s  for not doing the same.

Thats one of the problems we are having in our country these days, the kids are busy playing TikTok, he said.

If youre working 100 hours a week, and its not working, youd better work 120, he added further. You cant win if youre afraid of losing.

He told Daily Mail: I was ready to sleep on the couch for the whole summer and watch television. My mother threw me off the couch, and I guess Im a kid of extremes because I quickly ended up working 70 hours a week.

This taught me the responsibility of a little bit of perfection, he added.

A McKinsey report in October last year details that employed Gen Z respondents are more likely to report that the pay they receive for their work does not allow them a good quality of life and are less likely than others to report feeling fairly recognised and rewarded for their work.

The study titled How does Gen Z see its place in the working world? With trepidation stated that a remarkable 77 per cent of Gen Z respondents report looking for a new job (almost double the rate of other respondents). While some degree of job churn in early careers is expected, the economic pessimism reported by Gen Z  only 37 per cent believe that most people in this country have economic opportunities  suggests a deep malaise about their own prospects and those of other Americans.

Several other studies have shown that Gen Z is also more interested in work-life balance and would rather quit a toxic workplace than continue there. They are also keener on career development rather than career success.

In fact, in a LinkedIn survey in 2022, 40 per cent of Gen Z workers said they were willing to accept a 5 per cent pay cut to work in a position that offered career growth opportunities.

According to a Deloitte survey of 23,220 Gen Z and millennial respondents, conducted between November 2021 and April 2022, Gen Zers who feel they are learning the skills needed to advance their careers are 2.5 times more likely to stay at their current organisation.

Our goals just look different than the 50-hour-a-week, C-suite-trajectory of our older counterparts, a Gen Z author wrote in Business Insider earlier this month.

Gen Zs greater picture is they understand there is more to their identity and life than work, Anna Carlson, a Gen Z employee at a multimedia company, was quoted as saying. She added that she cares about her work-life balance in order to fulfill aspects of her life outside the corporate setting.

Other billionaires before Mr Catsimatidis have also criticised Gen Z for their work ethic. Last year, Whole Foods co-founder John Mackey said that younger people dont seem like they want to work. And recently, Keith Rabois, a tech investor and the CEO of e-commerce company Open Door, accused some workers of doing fake work.

Last year, a survey by the World Economic Forum stated that about half of Gen Z workers would quit their job if it negatively impacted their work-life balance.

Roberta Katz, an anthropologist at Stanford who studies the Generation Z, told the New York Times last year that the Gen Z and previous generations view the workplace fundamentally differently. She was quoted as saying: American Gen Zers, for the most part, have only known an internet-connected world.

She said that younger employers view work as something that was no longer a 9-to-5-in-the-office-or-schoolroom obligation.
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ABC7 in New York has fired one of its morning anchors after he was allegedly caught on a hot mic attacking his co-host with a vile insult.

Ken Rosato, who had served as host of the networks Eyewitness News This Morning, was fired last week after allegedly calling co-anchor Shirleen Allicot a c***. Rosato was not on the air when he made the comment, but it was reportedly picked up by a hot mic. Page Six first broke the news of Rosatos dismissal.

Rosato first started reporting for ABC7 as a freelancer before being hired on a full-time basis. A native of New Rochelle, New York, Rosato attended New York University and briefly served as a priest at a Catholic church in Florida before returning to New York City. He began working on ABC7s flagship morning show in 2007.

According to Page Sixs reporting, Rosato was immediately let go after the network became aware of his linguistic infraction against his co-host. The network informed people working on the morning show about Rosatos departure on Friday.

In addition to Rosato and Allicot, Heather ORourke and Sam Champion served as hosts of Eyewitness News This Morning. It is not yet clear if ABC7 intends to replace Rosato on the show or simply move forward with the other hosts.

Mr Rosato has not issued any public statement about his dismissal, nor has he sent a tweet sent May 2. Mr Rosatos Twitter profile still says that he is a 9 time Emmy Award-winning major market TV news anchor!

A representative for Rosato did give a comment to Page Six on Friday, but only to deny speculation from a Page Six source that Rosato might have used a racial slur.

Being fired for any racial slur is 100 per cent inaccurate and untrue, the representative told Page Six. Ken Rosato had a benchmark of 20 years at WABC of supporting all equality.
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Watch as executives from Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank testify before the US Senate on Tuesday, 16 May.

The committee on banking, housing, and urban affairs is meeting to conduct a hearing on "Examining the Failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank.

Witnesses are Gregory Becker, the former CEO of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), Scott Shay, former chairman and co-founder of Signature Bank, and Eric Howell, former president of Signature Bank.

A bank run - where large numbers of customers withdraw their money over fears about a bank's solvency - forced US regulators to take over SVB.

This came just before the collapse of Signature Bank.

In written testimony released on Monday, Mr Becker said he "never envisioned" SVB collapsing.

"I never imagined that these unprecedented events could happen to SVB and strongly believe that the leadership team and I made the best decisions we could with the facts, forecasts, and outside expert advice available to us at the time," he concluded.

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A showdown between Ecuadors President Guillermo Lasso and the opposition-led National Assembly could result in either side being booted from office this week as lawmakers seek to try him for embezzlement and he mulls exercising his constitutional power to dissolve the legislature.

Lawmakers will continue impeachment proceedings against the right-leaning politician Tuesday during a session of the unicameral assembly that Lasso is expected to attend.

Political tensions have risen in Ecuador since Lasso, a former banker, was elected in 2021 and clashed from the start with a strong opposition in the Assembly. At the same time, the South American country has experienced an increase in drug-related violence, including several massacres in prisons over the past two years.

Whatever happens this week, the countrys overall instability will certainly deepen.

The removal of the president, being an institutional earthquake in any democracy, will be an event that it will shake the countrys political scene, said Laura Lizarazo, senior analyst covering Ecuador and Colombia for the global firm Control Risks.

This is the second time the opposition tries to impeach Lasso, but last year it didnt get enough votes.

Tuesdays session could extend into Wednesday as it will feature hours of arguments from Lassos accusers and defense and 10-minute remarks from any of the 137 legislators who wish to speak on the politically charged case.

The opposition is widely expected to reach the 92 votes necessary to remove Lasso following the debate, but it remains unclear exactly when within the next five days the Assemblys leadership will schedule the vote on the measure, although lawmakers have signaled it could happen Saturday. Also unknown is whether Lasso will choose to dissolve the legislature to keep his job and govern by decree until presidential and legislative elections are scheduled.

Lawmakers are accusing Lasso of not having intervened to end a contract between the state-owned oil transport company Flota Petrolera Ecuatoriana and the private entity Amazonas Tankers. The accusers argue that Lasso knew the contract was full of irregularities and cost the state millions in losses.

But lawmakers have not offered any proof so far. Lasso, who has denied the allegations, told foreign press in April that he would not hesitate to dissolve the Assembly if his removal were imminent.

We anticipate that the progressive deterioration in terms of security that Ecuador has experienced in the last year will persist, as well as the high levels of dissatisfaction among the population who feel that democratic institutions, both the Assembly as well as the Executive, are totally disconnected from their most urgent needs, which have to do with unemployment, violence, totally unprecedented levels of extortion by organized crime, and petty crime, Lizarazo said.

Impeachment proceedings run separate from criminal investigations. Ecuadors Prosecutors Office has opened a preliminary investigation, but Lasso has not been criminally charged.

Constitutional attorney Andre Benavides said the accusations against Lasso do not fit an embezzlement case because neither the damage to the state nor the alleged personal benefit of the president has been established.

In this case, there is no money trace, it does not exist, Benavides said.

The Organization of American States on Monday urged legislators to offer all the guarantees of justice and respect the rules of due process during this weeks proceedings.
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After a two-year investigation by a Trump administration prosecutor charged with undermining and discrediting the FBIs probe into alleged ties between former president Donald Trumps 2016 campaign and the Russian government has ended after four years and just a single criminal conviction, a report on the findings of that investigation found that the FBI was justified to open a preliminary probe into the matter.

The report by Special Counsel John Durham was the culmination of a four-year investigation into possible misconduct by U.S. government officials. In the nearly 300-page document, Mr Durham leveled withering criticism against the FBI but offered little new information and few significant revelations. Nonetheless, it will give fodder to Trump supporters who have long denounced the Russia investigation, as well as Trump opponents who say the Durham team's meager court record shows their probe was politically motivated.

Mr Durham, a Justice Department veteran who was hand-picked by then-attorney general William Barr to delegitimise the FBIs efforts to determine whether Mr Trumps campaign coordinated with Russias efforts to boost his candidacy  railed against the FBI for opening a probe into Mr Trumps campaign based on raw, unanalyzed and uncorroborated intelligence and accusing investigators of suffering from confirmation bias.

His criticism of the FBI is centred around the bureaus decision to launch a full counterintelligence probe into the campaign and Russia, rather than a preliminary one under which agents would have had more limited authority. While he admits that a preliminary investigation was justified, he took issue with the decision to launch a full counterintelligence probe into the alleged Trump-Russia ties based on a tip the bureau had received from an Australian diplomat, who had revealed that a Trump campaign aide, George Papadopoulos, had bragged that the Russian had acquired and were prepared to release damaging information about the campaign of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Mr Trumps Democratic opponent.

Mr Durhams findings appear to directly contradict a prior investigation into the origins of the Trump-Russia probe by Michael Horowitz, the Department of Justices inspector general.

In that report, Mr Horowitz wrote that the FBI had sufficient cause to open an investigation into alleged ties between Mr Trumps campaign and the Russian government based on the tip from the Australian diplomat.

John Durham. (AP)

To some extent, Mr Durham does not dispute that reports conclusions, as he acknowledged that the bureau had an affirmative obligation to closely examine the allegations which arose from Mr Papadopoulos conversations with the Australian diplomat. But he writes that the FBI should have opened a preliminary investigation rather than the full counterintelligence probe launched to determine whether there were links between Mr Trumps campaign and Russias efforts to interfere in the 2016 election.

Mr Durham also criticised the FBI for not conducting any collaboration or joint assessments of what theyd learned from the diplomat with friendly foreign intelligence services or other US intelligence agencies.

A look at the investigation and the report:

Who is John Durham?

Mr Durham 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.

In 2019, Mr Barr tasked him with investigating 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. The allegations of misconduct stemmed largely from grievances raised by Mr Trump and his allies, who charged that the FBI was conducting a politically motivated witch hunt against the then-president.

Over the four years Mr Durham worked to discredit the departments investigation, he only brought a handful of cases against criminal defendants, including an FBI lawyer who pleaded guilty to doctoring an email used to secure a surveillance warrant against an ex-Trump campaign adviser, and two other figures associated with the Trump-Russia probe who were acquitted at trial.

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 appoint him to probe the Trump-Russia investigation?

Mr Durham was given the task of investigating the FBI just 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.

Mr Mueller  a former director of the FBI  conducted a year-long probe into the allegations that Mr Trumps campaign had coordinated with Russian intelligence operatives, but was unable to find that Trump campaign officials had conspired with anyone connected with the Russian government.

He did, however, find hundreds of contacts between the Trump campaign and Russian officials during the 2016 campaign season, and concluded that Russian intelligence operatives had been directed to help Mr Trump win the presidency, in part by hacking and leaking emails from the Democratic National Committee and Clinton campaign officials through WikiLeaks.

Though his investigation did not result in charges against any Trump aide for 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.

But Mr Barr, who came to Mr Trumps attention by criticising the probe, was deeply skeptical of the investigation's foundation and alleged to Congress that spying did occur against Mr Trumps campaign.

To that end, he gave Mr Durham the authority to hunt for potential misconduct at the government agencies who were involved in collecting intelligence and conducting the investigation, even flying with him 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 Mr Durham has disagreed.

What criminal cases did he bring and what was the outcome?

Mr 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 and that the Trump campaign had welcomed, rather than discouraged, the help.

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 did Mr Durham find?

In his report, Mr Durham said 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?

In a statement, 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 the fall of 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 Mr 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, 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.
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Eric Trump has reportedly threatened to sue MSNBC's Rachel Maddow for pointing out that he will appear alongside anti-Semitic speakers during a ReAwaken America Tour stop at Trump National Doral in Miami this weekend.

Donald Trump's younger son is scheduled to speak this weekend along with his wife, former Fox News contributor Lara Trump, alongside right-wing influencers Scott McKay and Charlie Ward, who have been accused of spreading anti-Semitic conspiracy theories and praising Adolf Hitler, according to The Daily Beast.

Maddow made note of the speaker schedule and expressed shock that one of Mr Trump's sons would publicly appear alongside them.

I cant really believe they are going ahead with it, she said on a Monday broadcast.

Eric Trump took to Twitter the following night to complain about the story, saying Maddow was "walking a fine line" and insisting that his family is the "most pro-Israel family in American political history."

He also pointed to the fact that his sister, Ivanka Trump, and brother-in-law Jared Kushner are Jewish while justifying appearing alongside the other speakers.

If [Maddow] or anyone else even remotely suggests I am anti-Semitic I will not hesitate to take legal action against them personally, he wrote.

However, it appears the criticism may have had an impact; high-profile attorney Alan Dershowitz claimed during a stream on right-wing platform Rumble that he convinced the Trump son to kick Mr McKay, and possibly Mr Ward, off the tour.

A guy with views like this should not be anywhere near your fathers hotel, or anywhere near anything to do with Republicans or the Trump family, Mr Dershowitz said of his conversation with Eric Trump. He is a Nazi, a Nazi  not even a neo-Nazi, hes an old fashioned Hitler Nazi.

He said Eric Trump responded by saying he would consider his advice.

This morning I got the following message: As a follow up, I took your advice ... I asked the event organiser that the speaker be uninvited and they  because theres more than one  wont be allowed on our property, he said, quoting a text message from Eric Trump.

The Independent has reached out to Eric Trump and the oragniser of the ReAwaken tour for comment. Attempts to reach Mr Ward and Mr McKay were unsuccessful.

Mr McKay has previously said that Hitler was actually fighting the same people we are trying to put down today, referencing a conspiracy theory that Jewish people control the world's banks, according to Media Matters. He also suggested that Jewish people orchestrated 9/11 and were behind the assassinations of Abraham Lincoln, William McKinley, and John F Kennedy.

Mr Ward has previously denied the Holocaust and suggested that Jewish people were behind viral outbreaks, Media Matters reports.

Eric Trump has also been accused of making anti-Semitic comments, though not to the degree of his tourmates; while dismissing the reporting of Bob Woodward on the chaotic Trump White House, Eric Trump called the famed reporter's book "sensational" and said the controversy would allow him to "sell three extra books" to make "three extra shekels," according to the Times of Isreal.

Jonathan Weissman, the Washington deputy editor of The New York Times, said the comment was outrageous.

If you want to see how the neo-Nazis use the term shekels take a quick glance at The Daily Stormer, he tweeted. Eric Trumps three extra shekels attack on Bob Woodward is not some accident any more than Hillary Clintons image over a Star of David.

Conservative writer and Trump critic Bill Kristol, the editor-at-large of the Weekly Standard, also called out Eric Trump for the comment.

Eric Trump said this morning that Bob Woodward made three extra shekels at the behest of the American people with his book, he wrote on Twitter. Is Eric too stupid to know hes being anti-Semitic?
YEREVAN, MAY 16, ARMENPRESS. The United States believes that the talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan are an important step forward, State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said at a press briefing on May 15 when asked on the Brussels-hosted summit.

Obviously, the U.S. was not a party to these talks. But as a follow-on to the talks that we hosted in Arlington, we continue to believe that these are important steps forward as we continue to find that a durable peace is possible between these two countries, Patel said.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev held trilateral talks together with the President of the European Council Charles Michel on May 14 in Brussels.

In early May, Armenia and Azerbaijan also held U.S.-mediated foreign ministerial talks in Arlington.
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The Secret Service is investigating how an apparently intoxicated man was able to enter the home of White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan last month without alerting his round-the-clock security detail, according to The Washington Post, citing three unnamed government officials.

The man entered Mr Sullivans Washington home around 3am in April.

The Biden official confronted the individual and told him to leave, then went outside to alert the Secret Service agents who protect him, according to the Post.

While the protectee was unharmed, we are taking this matter seriously and have opened a comprehensive mission assurance investigation to review all facets of what occurred, Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi told the paper. Any deviation from our protective protocols is unacceptable and if discovered, personnel will be held accountable.

The officials familiar with the break-in said there was no evidence the man knew Mr Sullivan or intended to hurt him.

Last year, a man was arrested for threatening US Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh outside of his home.

The Secret Service, which is in charge of protecting top US officials, has come under scrutiny in recent months for its handling of messages related to the 2020 election.

Last month, Ken Klippenstein, a reporter for The Intercept, sued to compel the National Archives to seek assistance from the Justice Department to recover text messages from the Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security that were apparently lost in the final days of the 2020 election and the chaos surrounding January 6.

Last summer, DHS Inspector General Joseph Cuffari told lawmakers the Secret Service deleted text messages from January 6, which the agency blamed on a data migration process.

Text messages from the acting head of DHS at the time, Chad Wolf, and a top deputy, also disappeared, which the agency said was the result of a reset of electronic systems at the beginning of the Biden administration.

The Secret Service also recently made headlines in April when it apprehended a toddler who breached White House security by crawling through a gap in the fence.
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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.
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A former aide to former Trump attorney Rudolph Giuliani says he told her the ex-New York City mayor and then-president Donald Trump were offering to sell presidential pardons for $2 million apiece, according to court documents.

The bombshell allegation was levied in a complaint filed against Mr Giuliani by Noelle Dunphy, a New York-based public relations professional who is suing him for unlawful abuses of power, wide-ranging sexual assault and harassment, wage theft, and other misconduct committed while she worked for him in 2019 and 2020.

The lawsuit also claims that she was subjected to sexual assault, harassment, wage theft and other misconduct by Mr Giuliani, and alleges that she was forced to perform sex acts on him and work in the nude.

In her civil complaint against the ex-Trump attorney, Ms Duphy described 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, according to the lawsuit.

She then states that Mr Giuliani asked her if she knew anyone in need of a pardon because 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 suit added.

A spokesperson for and adviser to Mr Giuliani, Ted Goodman, told The Independent in an email that the former New York mayor unequivocally denies the allegations raised by Ms Dunphy and said the former New York mayors lifetime of public service speaks for itself.

Mr Giuliani, he added, will pursue all available remedies and counterclaims against Ms Dunphy.

No evidence has ever emerged that Mr Trump or Mr Giuliani were ever compensated for any presidential pardon granted during Mr Trumps time in office, but Ms Dunphys allegation matches the account of another person who once sought a pardon from the then-president.

During Mr Trumps presidency, he frequently granted pardons to wealthy or well-connected individuals without the involvement of the Pardon Attorney, the Department of Justice official who is charged with reviewing petitions for executive clemency and making recommendations as to whether a given petition should be granted.

In August, The New York Times reported that former CIA officer John Kiriakou broached the topic with Mr Giuliani during a meeting at the Washington DC hotel Mr Trumps company ran between 2016 and 2022.

Mr Kiriakou, who in 2012 was sentenced to nearly three years in prison for disclosing classified information, told the Times that one of Mr Giulianis associates at the meeting said the ex-New York City mayor could assist him  for a price.

Its going to cost $2 million  hes going to want two million bucks, he recalled the Giuliani associate as saying.

He also told the Times that he did not pursue a pardon through Mr Giuliani because he could not afford to pay him $2 million.

I laughed. Two million bucks  are you out of your mind? Kiriakou told the outlet. Even if I had two million bucks, I wouldnt spend it to recover a $700,000 pension, he said.

The Independent has reached out to Mr Trumps team for comment.
 Close Trump calls Jan 6 a beautiful day during CNN town hall

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Donald Trumps legal troubles could be hotting up after the National Archives found a trove of records proving the former president knew he was breaking rules by taking classified documents to Mar-a-Lago, according to a report.

The National Archives sent a letter, obtained by CNN, to Mr Trump this week revealing it had found 16 records showing he and his top advisers were aware of the correct declassification process when he was president.

The 16 records in question all reflect communications involving close presidential advisers, some of them directed to you personally, concerning whether, why, and how you should declassify certain classified records, wrote archivist Debra Steidel Wall.

These records will be turned over to Special Counsel Jack Smith as part of the criminal investigation into Mr Trumps handling of classified documents.

The revelation comes as Mr Trump continues to lash out at Ron DeSantis, as the Florida governor prepares to launch his 2024 campaign next week.

After campaigning for five months, and going nowhere but down, it looks like Ron DeSanctimonious will soon be entering the race. He has ZERO chance, and MAGA will never forget! Mr Trump fumed on Truth Social on Thursday night.
 Close Wellington hostel fire: At least six killed after blaze engulfs New Zealand lodge

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At least six people are dead and 11 are missing after a fire broke out at a four-storey hostel in Wellington, New Zealand.

The 92-room Loafers Lodge hostel in Newtown, in Wellingtons south, caught alight just after midnight on Monday, prompting an evacuation.

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.

The prime minister, Chris Hipkins, who visited the scene on Tuesday morning, said at least six people had died.

I understand six confirmed previously and it looks like there are likely to be more.

Residents have described horrific details of making split second decisions to save their lives as the fire engulfed their building.

It was just scary, it was really scary, but I knew I had to jump out the window or just burn inside the building, Tala Sili, a resident of the lodge, told news outlet RNZ.

The Loafers Lodge offered basic, affordable rooms with shared lounges, kitchens and laundry facilities to people of a wide range of ages.
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An Italian pensioner who fixed a pothole after becoming frustrated by the councils alleged lack of action has been fined nearly 900 for taking matters into his own hands and repairing the road himself.

Claudio Trenta has vowed to fight the injustice of the fine after using cold bitumen to fill the 30cm hole at a zebra crossing in Barlssina, a small town in the Lombardy region.

The 72-year-old was slapped with a 882 (767) penalty for violating the highway code.

The council said he carried out a potentially dangerous job in a public space without getting permission to do so.

Mr Trentas efforts have also sparked a conversation about the state of roads in Italy, where prisoners were recently drafted in to fix pothole-strewn streets in Rome.

A defiant Mr Trenta said he would file a counterclaim against the council after he was ordered to restore the pothole to its original state.

If they think Im an idiot, they are wrong, he told Italys Corriere della Sera newspaper.

Theyve provoked me, and so now Im filing a countercomplaint against the council for negligence.

In a post on Facebook Mr Trenta said he reported the pothole to the council several times over three months but nothing was done.

File photo: A pothole filled with rainwater (Getty/iStock)

His efforts have attracted support from Facebook users across Italy.

Today I sent a protest email to Barlassina town hall, one wrote on the social media network.

Im aware of the realities in Calabria and Sicily, where the streets have been reduced to sieves and if people dont take action themselves, everything collapses.

Another wrote: The council ought to be reimbursing you for the money spent on a bag of bitumen.

Vittorio Sgarbi, an undersecretary at the Ministry of Culture, joined the conversation.

In addition to the highway code, there is common sense, he said. Common sense should have prompted the local police to thank this gentleman.

Meanwhile in England, highway chiefs are searching for a mystery motorist who poured concrete into a huge pothole that had forced the closure of a road for weeks.

The unknown pothole filler patched up the crater in Lostwithiel, Cornwall, on a road that had been shut since the beginning of April.

Cornwall Highways said the work had been done by persons unknown, without consent and urged the local community to share any information that could identify the person responsible, CornwallLive reported.

A spokesperson for Cornwall Council said an ongoing drainage issue had caused the road surface to deteriorate and Cormac would now be able to resolve the issue now the weather is warmer and drier. It said the road would remain closed until the repairs are complete.
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Britain is to supply Ukraine with multiple Storm Shadow cruise missiles to bolster Kyivs forces against a feared Russian offensive.

Defence secretary Ben Wallace on Thursday confirmed the gifting but did not say how many of the UKs 700-1,000 missiles would be sent.

The aid came in advance of Volodymyr Zelensky visiting the UK with the Ukraine president having appealed for western help in a bid to withstand Russian offenses and push back.

A statement from the department on Friday said: Since Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, bilateral military assistance has been stepped up, with many allies for the first time supplying lethal weapons to Ukraine.

What are Storm Shadow cruise missiles?

The missile type combines long range firing potential with stealth capabilities.

It was developed in collaboration between the UK and France, being based on the Apache anti-runway cruise missile but with a unitary warhead instead of clusters.

The project began in 1994 and the missile came into use in 2002. It is typically launched from the air and has been fired from British planes such as the RAF Tornado GR4, seeing action since 2003 in Iraq as well as other middle eastern conflicts.

A Storm Shadow missile in action (PA Media)

The firing range of 250km (155 miles) is a boost to Ukraines weaponary and will allow fire into Russian-held territory in the countrys east. But is still short of the 185-mile range of the US built Army Tactical Missile System, which Mr Zelenskys staff had reportedly asked for. However, it is a huge step up from the reported 49 mile range of their current equivalent.

The president is quoted as saying Ukraine needs a bit more time before launching a bid to reclaim the land and he is appealing still for western assistance.

CNN reported that the UK has been assured by Kyiv that it will only be used to fire into territory Ukraine has lost rather than what has only been Russian.

As part of RAF upgrades it is set to be phased out by or before 2032.

Volodymyr Zelensky and Rishi Sunak met on Monday (Getty)

What other aid and provision has the UK promised to support Ukraine?

The UK has committed 4.6 billion in arms, the second in the world behind the US ($37.6 billion), and is also hosting a training programme with the aim of training 30,000 new and existing Ukrainian personnel by the end of 2023.

These are all of the weapons the UK has pledged to support Ukraine. All information was taken from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and was correct as of May 12.

Anti-tank missiles

Six-hundred Brimstone anti-tank missiles were pledged as part of a package in January 2023 (The Washington Post/Getty)

Six-hundred Brimstone anti-tank missiles were pledged as part of a package in January 2023 and by the end of March the total number of such weapons was at 3,615.

This is a mixture of next-generation light anti-tank weapons, which have a range of up to 600 metres and weigh just 12.5 kilograms and Javelin anti-tank missiles, which have double the range but are twice as heavy.

The Brimstone 1 missiles are typically used for firing on tanks, artillery units and landing craft and typically shot from aircraft, although they are being shot in Ukraine from modified trucks.

Defence missiles

UK has sent Starstreak anti-air missile systems, among other weapons (PA)

At the NATO and G7 leaders meeting on March 24, Rishi Sunak announced a further 6,000 defensive missiles would be provided, including the Starstreak air defence system, which had been under consideration. These are semi-automatic anti-air missiles that travel at more than three times the speed of sound (3,100mph).

The amount of defensive lethal aid being provided would therefore more than double to be in excess of 10,000 missiles.

Artillery guns

(REUTERS)

As part of this latest package of assistance, a further 18 howitzer artillery guns and hundreds of additional aerial drones will also be donated

Armoured fighting vehicles

HMS Westminster firing Harpoon missiles at ex-USS Boone (MoD/Crown Copyright/PA) (PA Media)

Following a visit to Kyiv by the prime minister, Downing Street also confirmed on April 9 that the UK would provide Ukraine with 120 armoured vehicles and new Harpoon anti-ship missile systems. At the end of April that was followed up with the gifting of several Stormer armoured vehicles fitted with anti-air missile launchers.

Antistructure munitions

Antistructure munitions were also included in the January 2023 bundle. These are shoulder-launched weapons capable of destroying buildings or bunkers.

M270 long-range multiple launch rocket systems

In June 2022, the MOD confirmed that it would provide Ukraine with three M270 multiple-launch rocket systems, and associated munitions. The M270 can strike targets up to 80km away with precision and is expected to offer a significant boost in capability for the Ukrainian forces.

Artillery shells

In April, the MOD confirmed that the UK is set to provide more than 300,000 artillery shells to Ukraine during 2023.

Tanks

Ukrainian pilots are to be trained by the UK to fly sophisticated Nato fighter planes in the latest show of support for Volodymyr Zelenskys forces (Ben Birchall/PA) (PA Wire)

On January 14 the UK became one of the first allies to announce it would give main battle tanks to Ukraine. Described as the start of a gear change in the UKs support a squadron of 14 Challenger II tanks, thousands of rounds of munitions, and associated armoured recovery and repair vehicles would be sent to Ukraine over the coming weeks.

In addition, hundreds of additional armoured vehicles, including the Bulldog armoured personnel carrier, have been pledged.

Also being used are the 12.7-tonne caterpillar-tracked Stormer HVM tanks used as mobile firing platforms for Starstreak missiles.

Self-propelled artillery

As part of the January 2023 announcements, which the MOD called the most significant package of combat power to date, 30 AS-90 self-propelled guns were pledged.

Cruise missiles

In May, the government announced that it would provide Ukraine with Storm Shadow missiles, which are a long-range precision strike capability. The UK is the first country to provide Ukraine with missiles with a range sufficient to strike targets anywhere in the country.

Light anti-armour weapons

The Ministry of Defence confirmed in January that, in addition to the existing support being provided, the UK would provide a new security assistance package to increase Ukraines defensive capabilities, including the provision of light, anti-armour weapons.

Air defence systems

Last October, the MOD confirmed that it would donate hundreds more air defence missiles to Ukraine to protect against Russian missile strikes and to protect critical national infrastructure after Russia launched a series of drone and missile attacks against civilian targets. Seventy will be AMRAAM rockets, for use with the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) being provided by the United States. The AMRAAM rockets are the first capability pledged by the UK capable of shooting down cruise missiles.

As part of this latest package of assistance, a further 18 howitzer artillery guns and hundreds of additional aerial drones will also be donated. During a visit to Kyiv on 19 November, the prime minister announced a major new package of air defence support. The UK will provide 125 anti-aircraft guns and counter-drone technology, including radars and anti-drone electronic warfare capability.

Non-lethal aid

The UK has also provided over 200,000 items of non-lethal aid, including unmanned aerial systems, body armour, helmets, night vision equipment, mine detection equipment, medical equipment and winter clothing.

In November 2022, the MOD confirmed that the first of three retired Sea King search and rescue helicopters had been delivered to Ukraine.

Drones are also being deployed to deliver medical supplies, food and ammunition to frontline troops when other (manned) means might prove too conspicuous and likely to draw Russian fire and therefore too dangerous.

These heavy-duty models can carry a 68kg load as far as 43 miles, spending 36 minutes in the air at any one stretch.
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Ukraine claims to have shot down a volley of Russian hypersonic missiles  one of Moscows most potent weapons  during an attack on the capital Kyiv described as exceptional in density.

It is the first time Ukraine has claimed to have struck down multiple Kinzhal  which means dagger in Russian  missiles in one go. If confirmed it would be a demonstration of the effectiveness of Kyivs newly deployed Western air defences in helping thwart some of Russias most advanced weaponry. President Vladimir Putin has previously claimed that the Kinzhal would be able to overcome all existing and ... prospective anti-aircraft and anti-missile defence systems.

Officials claimed to have intercepted all six of the Kinzhal fired at it, as part of a volley of 18 missiles launched by Moscows forces in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Video footage showed air defences destroying targets over the capital, with the barrage also including cruise missiles and kamikaze drones.

The overnight attack on Kyiv was exceptional in its density  the maximum number of attacking missiles in the shortest period of time, said Serhii Popko, the head of the Kyiv military administration. Kyiv authorities said three people were wounded by falling debris.

Another unbelievable success for the Ukrainian air forces! Oleksii Reznikov, the defence minister, said on Twitter.

If the Kinzhal claims are confirmed as accurate, it highlights the role that modern Western weaponry  such as the US-made Patriot surface-to-air missiles defence system  can have in Ukraine repelling missile assaults in what would be a blow to the Kremlin.

Russia, always keen not to lose face in the propaganda war that surrounds the battlefield action, itself claimed to have destroyed a Patriot missile battery in Kyiv using a Kinzhal.

US sources told CNN that the system may have to be withdrawn due to damage. An assessment was ongoing, they added.

Reports last week suggested that Russia has previously tried to destroy Patriot systems, that arrived in Ukraine a few weeks ago. Russia also said that Tuesdays attack had hit all its targets, which it claimed had been aimed at Ukrainian fighting units and ammunition storage sites.

Kinzhal missiles, which travel on a ballistic trajectory and have a potential maximum speed of more than 7,000mph (11,000km/h), can carry conventional or nuclear warheads up to 1,200 miles (2,000km). Russia used the weapon in warfare for the first time in Ukraine last year and has only acknowledged firing the missiles on a few occasions. Mr Putin has frequently touted it as proof of world-beating Russian military hardware, capable of taking on Nato. Acknowledging the use of the weapon last March, US President Joe Biden called the Kinzhal a consequential weapon and that it is almost impossible to stop it.

With Ukrainian forces preparing to go on the offensive against Russias invasion for the first time in six months, Moscow is now launching long-range air strikes at the highest frequency months. It has launched eight drone and missile volleys so far this month, compared to weekly during the winter and a lull in March and April. Kyiv says it has been shooting most down.

This latest assault followed President Volodymyr Zelenskys trip to various European capitals  London, Berlin, Paris and Rome  as he calls on Western allies to send Kyiv more advanced weaponry and fighter jets and speed up deliveries. Mr Zelensky met with Rishi Sunak on his mini-European tour and the prime minister said during a trip to Iceland on Tuesday that he would discuss the issue with European allies.

Ill be talking to other countries, making sure that we continue to support Ukraine, give them the support that they need to defend themselves against Russian aggression, and also start thinking about the longer-term security arrangements that we will want to put in place to support Ukraine in the long term, Mr Sunak said, with him due to meet other leaders at the Council of Europe Summit.

During the past week, Ukraine says its forces have made their biggest gains on the battlefields of eastern Ukraine in months, recapturing several square km of territory on the northern and southern outskirts of the city of Bakhmut. The city has been the scene for some of the bloodiest fighting of the war and its fate has taken on symbolic significance to both Kyiv and Moscow.

Ukrainian deputy defence minister, Hanna Maliar, said on Tuesday that troops have made gains around Bakhmut in recent days but Russian forces have advanced slightly in the eastern city itself.

She said the Ukrainian military had reclaimed about 20sqkm (7.5 square miles) of territory from the Russian forces in the past few days around Bakhmut, For example, within a few days, our troops liberated about 20 square kilometers from the enemy in the north and south of the suburbs of Bakhmut, she wrote on the Telegram messaging app. At the same time, the enemy is advancing somewhat in Bakhmut itself, completely destroying the city with artillery.

Kyiv says those advances are localised and do not yet represent the full force of its upcoming counteroffensive to reclaim territory taken by Russia during their invasion and Ms Maliar, said developments there should not be taken out of context.

Reuters and Associated Press contributed to this report
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WhatsApp has announced a new feature that it says will protect your most intimate conversations.

Chat Lock will allow users of the messaging app to take a chat thread from their inbox and put it in a new folder that can only be accessed by a password or biometric information, such as a fingerprint.

Meta, the companys owner, on Monday, said this would keep users conversations behind one more layer of security and has already started rolling it out.

The content of messages in notifications will also be automatically hidden, the tech behemoth said.

In a press release, Meta said: We believe this feature will be great for people who share their phones from time to time with a family member, or in moments where someone else is holding your phone at the exact moment an extra-special chat arrives.

You can lock a chat by tapping the name of a one-to-one or group and selecting the lock option. To reveal these chats, slowly pull down on your inbox and enter your password or biometric.

It comes after warnings from WhatsApp that it could face being banned in the UK under the governments online safety bill.

Will Cathcart, head of WhatsApp parent company Meta, said in late March that the upcoming legislation could weaken the end-to-end encryption that secures messages on the service.

He added that if the government told the company to weaken any security features it would resist, leading to the possibility it could be banned in the UK.

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Just last month it signed an open letter with its competitors, including Signal, arguing that the bill poses an unprecedented threat to the privacy, safety and security of every UK citizen.

The row is over end-to-end encryption, used by WhatsApp, which allows only the sender and recipient to access the contents of a message.

However, police and law enforcement agencies argue this feature makes it harder to uncover serious wrongdoing, such as child sexual abuse, and want to weaken the feature.

Mark Zuckerberg, the founder and CEO of Meta, said in a statement on Facebook: 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.
ISTANBUL, MAY 16, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian community of Turkey is disappointed with the results of the May 14 elections, according to outgoing Member of Parliament of Turkey Garo Paylan.

Paylan, an ethnic Armenian politician from the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), represented Diyarbakr in the outgoing parliament. He was not running for parliament again in the May 14 elections because his partys charter prohibits a politician from doing so for more than two consecutive times.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, having formed an alliance with what Paylan described as nationalists and radicals succeeded in garnering enough votes to secure a parliamentary majority. According to Paylan, this means that Turkey will become even more nationalistic, while a more nationalistic Turkey will normalize relations with Armenia with greater difficulties.

We must not spare any effort in convincing Turkey to establish peace with Armenia, Paylan told ARMENPRESS in Istanbul.

The politician said its important for democracy to develop in Turkey because only a democratic country can resolve its issues with neighbors.

Paylan said the results of the elections didnt meet the expectations of the Armenian community in Istanbul.

Armenians in Turkey are already in fear. Before 2015, we used to talk about our issues, but after that the Armenians became more silent. We were hoping that something would change as a result of these elections, but that didnt happen. Unfortunately, Armenians will become more voiceless in this period, Paylan said.

Presidential rivals Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Kemal Klcdaroglu will have a runoff election after both failed to win 50%.

However, Erdogans alliance garnered 49,46% of the votes in the parliamentary elections, which means that they will have 322 seats in parliament. His main rivals bloc won 35,02% of votes and will have 213 seats.

Araks Kasyan
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The head of an Asian airline could be a hit with a large fine after he allowed a YouTuber into his planes cockpit following the first flight of a new route.

Chang Kuo-wei, who founded Taiwan-based Starlux Airlines and is also a pilot, flew the firms inaugural flight from Taipei to Los Angeles, US, at the end of April 2023.

Members of the press and influencers were also on board, with Australian Sam Chui, who has over three million subscribers to his aviation and experience YouTube channel, travelling in first class, reports Taiwan News.

Mr Chui wrote on Facebook: Not every day the chairman of an airline flies his passengers personally.

The internet personality also shared a video of his trip on Twitter, even going as far as describing his meal on the plane as the best steak Ive ever had.

But its the picture of Mr Chui in the cockpit alongside Mr Kuo-wei that has attracted the attention of aviation authorities.

According to Article 194 of Taiwans Aircraft Flight Operation Regulations: No person may be admitted into the flight crew compartment of an aircraft except for the authorised personnel and flight dispatchers of the operator.

The case is being investigated by the countrys Civil Aeronautics Administration, with the organisations director-general, Lin Kuo-shian, reportedly summoning Starluxs director of flight operations for an explanation.

If authorities decide that Mr Kuo-wei violated the regulations, he could face a fine of around NT$60,000 (1,552), according to Simple Flying. A second offence could see a fine of almost 16,000.

The Independent has contacted Starlux Airlines for comment.

The cockpit is a heavily restricted area, and with good reason. Late last year, crew and passengers were forced to restrain a passenger after he stormed the cockpit on a flight from Poland to the US.
The UK is on guard, the defence secretary has said, after concerns were raised that Russia could use chemical weapons if Ukraines counter-offensive is successful in regaining territory.

Tobias Ellwood, the Conservative MP who chairs the Commons Defence Committee, asked Ben Wallace if he was concerned that Vladimir Putin will turn ugly and resort to non-conventional weapons systems... as he did in Syria.

We are on our guard, the international community regularly communicate, we stand ready with Nato, we increase our readiness as we do, and we have started to increase the investment in our capabilities, Mr Wallace said.

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In news that will surprise no one, it turns out Donald Trump and Rudy Giuliani are  allegedly  absolute creeps. I know, of course, that you mightve expected more from the president who started his first campaign with a video about grabbing women by the p***y, or who recently kicked off his second run with a legal ruling against him for sexual assault. But apparently, even when Donald was in the White House, he developed obsessions with certain staffers and asked a female worker to stick around so he could look at her ass. Number 45s tendency to walk the halls of power behind very young staffers with his tongue hanging out was apparently an open secret. It happened in meetings, it happened at work events, it happened in front of other people.

And it turns out that birds of a feather  ALLEGEDLY  flock together! Noelle Dunphy, a former aide to Giuliani, just filed a lawsuit claiming that everyones favorite Four Seasons Landscaping orator forced her to perform oral sex on him while he was on the phone to Trump. Apparently, Rudy had a penchant for sex acts while taking calls because it made him feel like Bill Clinton. And who among us hasnt dreamed of feeling like legitimate Marvel superhero Bill Clinton at least once in our lives?

Dunphy is suing Giuliani for $10 million for sexual harassment, wage theft, harassment and other misconduct, all of which Giuliani denies. She claims that she was told to work in the nude and that the man once lauded as Americas Mayor went on alcohol-drenched rants throughout her time working with him, which regularly included racist, sexist and antisemitic remarks.

Whether or not its true that Rudy Giuliani had a sad little penchant for Bill-and-Monica roleplay, I think we can agree that he hasnt exactly set himself up as an enlightened soul in the past few years. Some of the lawsuits claims are downright bizarre  such as the one alleging that he said Jewish people should get over Passover because it was like 3,000 years ago and the Red Sea parted, big deal. This is the kind of thing you expect from a consciously problematic edgelord teenager hosting his own podcast (or, yknow, maybe Taylor Swifts new boyfriend.) And he just spent years advising the most powerful politician in the world.

Lets remember that Trumps tendency to see women as objects rather than people allowed him to put a huge amount of female American lives in danger. We spent a long time being told the Access Hollywood tape wasnt that bad; that the weird comments the former president made about his own daughter were normal; that when he said Megyn Kelly had blood coming out of her wherever, he meant something totally fine and normal, but anyway get over it, snowflake. All that time, Trump was making deals with evangelicals helping to eradicate basic reproductive rights. He put the anti-abortion radical Amy Coney Barrett on the Supreme Court. And then Roe v Wade was overturned. And  surprise  it turns out misogyny actually does have real-life consequences!

Americans are exhausted. They were exhausted when Matt Gaetz was being investigated for sex crimes with teenagers (prosecutors ultimately decided not to charge Gaetz, who always denied wrongdoing. His close friend Joel Greenberg pleaded guilty to six federal crimes, including sex trafficking.) They were exhausted when Ron DeSantis most intense wet dream started coming true and he got to sign an effective abortion ban bill while banning books that the great Republic of Gilead wouldnt have allowed either. Hell, they were exhausted way back in 2012 when Todd Aiken memorably educated us all on biology by announcing that women cant get pregnant from legitimate rape because the body has a way of shutting that down.

They were exhausted then and theyre certainly exhausted now were staring down the barrel of another Trump and Giuliani collab, starting 2024. Or maybe a DeSantis-led fascist state where Disney characters are dragged out and summarily executed every few months for supporting womens rights. Or maybe well just get another four years of Joe Biden, who also failed to guarantee the right to abortion and hasnt exactly brought in a feminist utopia.

No, it isnt at all surprising that Trump and Giuliani are disgusting. But cynicism is easy and sexism is everywhere. Even if everything is unsurprising, and Tucker Carlson now has a Twitter show and Elon Musk fired his pregnant employees and Nancy Pelosi is gone and Republicans are obsessed with AOCs boyfriend and weve all become inured to misogynistic sexual deviancy in government, it still matters. It still really, actually matters.
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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 and for young people who have become addicted to social media and its darker sides.

We are used to gushing tributes from actors accepting accolades, but not many as poignant as Kate Winslets in accepting her Bafta for I Am Ruth, the story of a mother and daughter navigating the perils of the online world.

I know all too well how Winslet feels: with a span of 20 years between our eldest and youngest five children, weve had to adjust pretty rapidly to unprecedented risks and dangers, even in the age of innocence before social media. Even before mobile phones were ubiquitous.

Such as... the time we were on holiday in rural Ireland. I gave our four pre-teens a packed lunch, told them to stick together and avoid water and come home when theyd had enough. Only three returned. We had an anxious few hours, not helped by the postmasters doom-laden: No: not safe at all. A lassie went missing in Ireland ooh, Id say about 30 years ago.

Admittedly we were both more liberal and at the same time stricter than other parents, in different ways: restricting TV viewing to Sundays, after dark, if we remembered. The warnings to our older four were all of strangers in parks or crossing the road, never social media. It didnt exist. Their grandmother gave them a board game called Stranger Danger and taught them what we all taught children, then: dont accept lifts or sweets.

The changes started in their teens. Some seemed positive. Our daughter suffered such severe mental illness that for a while she couldnt leave the house: being online was the only social contact she had. It was arguably a lifeline except for uncharted hazards.

She wanted to stay with her new boyfriend, having so far dated exclusively on the internet. It transpired he was more than twice her age, with a conviction for GBS and having been denied access to any of his children.

Among the hysterical reactions from all my friends, my mother (in her late 80s) gave the only sensible advice. I asked if we should invite him to our house: Of course. What else can you do?

The next visited from Jamaica, then cheated on her the moment he arrived.

Our youngest, by contrast, has had her own phone since she was in single figures. Yet she was still several years behind her peers. At one point, she was the only one still using the school call-box.

Im not sure we would have kept up without her four older siblings.

I remember a story of a girl who experienced the fallout from friendships and bullying when she was 13, a story which sums up the pitfalls of social media all too well. Lets call her Georgia, and her friend Molly.

Georgias relationship with Molly went sour after Mollys jealousy inspired her to start a bullying campaign. Fortunately, the head spotted it quickly, dealt with it firmly and they were able to make up before moving on to different senior schools.

Still, social media came knocking when this particular cohort of teenage girls kept in frequent contact on social media. Soon the bullying resumed, this time with no adults to bear witness to it. But Georgia was fortunate: whereas in person Molly incited boys against her, this online and exclusively-female group was more sensitive and all told Molly to back off.

Georgia and Molly continued to confide secrets they never told anyone else... as girls always have since the dawn of time, but using media no previous generation had grown up with, or could understand.

One dreadful evening, Mollys mother contacted Georgia with tragic news: Molly had been diagnosed with cancer. She didnt want anyone else to know, so she must please keep it to herself.

Georgia did her best to support her friend, contacting her several times a day and sometimes in the middle of the night. She received messages from a different time zone: Molly was now in a specialist clinic in the US, where her family had taken her for treatment. Mollys mother wrote to her directly, too. When she wrote, her spelling and grammar were impeccable (unlike Mollys).

The secret was a terrible burden for Georgia. It was compromising her sleep, her work and worst of all her mental health, all while trying to fit in with a new school, make new friends and board away from home. But Mollys mother remained adamant: it was extremely important she didnt share it with anyone at all. Not even her family.

Eventually, the poor child cracked. Over Christmas, Georgias older sister spotted something amiss and, in floods of tears and terror at letting Molly and her mother down, Georgia confessed that her friend was dying.

Her sister urged, and eventually persuaded, her to let her family know. Which is how it came out.

It was all complete fiction. With considerable imagination and skill, Molly had not only invented the story but impersonated her own mother as well.

All three head teachers, of both the new schools and the old, had to be involved, as well as the police. Georgia was assured support would be forthcoming for Molly, but, cruelly, was never allowed to know the outcome nor given any herself. She never heard anything from (or about) Molly again.

This is a true story, but it is, sadly, not unique. Georgia got through it. Many dont.

Of course parents have always had to look out for their children. Run over, smitten with illness, sometimes hungry or cold: there was no golden age when childhood held no risks. Not even when I was a child.

But social media has surely stretched the goal posts. Parents have never had to be quite so nimble-footed, or learn so much, so fast. The risks to childrens mental health, at their own hands, are frightening. I Am Ruth is a very welcome and necessary addition to the debate.

Anne Atkins is a novelist, writer and broadcaster
US medical devices company Cook Medical is cutting jobs for first time in its 60-year history, laying off 4pc of its global workforce.

The firm, which employs more than 800 people at its European base in Limerick, told employees by email yesterday evening that it would be cutting its worldwide headcount by 500.

Cook president Pete Yonkman said affected US employees would receive an email between 1pm and 2pm Tuesday, while workers in other countries would hear from senior leadership as quickly as possible.

All hybrid and onsite employees who can work from home have been asked not to come into their workplaces for the remainder of the week, according to a statement from the company.

We acknowledge that there is no perfect way to communicate this decision in a global, hybrid work environment, the message said.

Please know that we put thoughtful consideration into every step of the process, keeping the needs of impacted employees at the center of our efforts.

Cook did not indicate how much it was paying in redundancy but said it would comply with local laws and regulations.

No hourly manufacturing or distribution workers will be let go, however, which could reduce the impact on Cooks Irish workforce.

Cooks Limerick facility provides about 10pc of the Indiana-based companys total global manufacturing capacity.

The company statement cited supply chain issues as one of the reasons behind the redundancies and said Cooks leadership had developed a new medium-term plan for dealing with the changed environment.

It said the first two years of the five-year plan would focus on streamlining operations and finding financial efficiencies to help fund growth during the latter stages of the plan.

The company did not disclose its financial objectives in the statement, however.

Cook has been in Limerick since 1996 when it opened a manufacturing base there to complement its existing operation in Denmark.

The Limerick facility grew over two and a half decades to become one of Cooks most important locations.

The company opened an innovation centre in Limerick in 2013, giving its large team of engineers a state-of-the-art facility to conduct medical device research and development in the European sector.

Cook is a family-owned firm with 12,000 employees. Its sells clinical products in 135 countries.
Vodafone's new boss Margherita Della Valle said she would cut 11,000 jobs over three years to simplify the telecoms group, which she said "must change", as it forecast little or no growth in earnings for the new financial year.

Germany, its biggest market, was underperforming, it said, which combined with higher energy costs would result in a 1.3pc decline in group core earnings to 14.7bn for the year to end-March, in line with market expectations.

Vodafone cutting 11,000 jobs as boss says group must change

Growth in Africa and higher handset sales, however, enabled it to eke out a 0.3pc rise in revenue to 45.7bn.

"Our performance has not been good enough," said Della Valle, who was appointed permanently last month.

"My priorities are customers, simplicity and growth. We will simplify our organisation, cutting out complexity to regain our competitiveness."

Vodafone has recently cut jobs in several of its big markets, shedding 1,000 in Italy earlier this year and a media report said it was looking to cut around 1,300 in Germany.

On the proposed tie-up of its British business with Hutchison's Three UK, Vodafone said there could be no certainty that any transaction would ultimately be agreed.

It did not comment any further on the talks.
Paddy changes hands in financial transaction. Photo: Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images   NurPhoto via Getty Images

The US owners of the Paddy whiskey brand have completed a near 90m transfer of the drink and other assets to a new Irish company in a circuitous financial transaction.

Paddy was bought by Kentucky-based Sazerac in 2016 from Pernod Ricard-owned Irish Distillers for about 90m.

Family-owned Sazerac owns more than 450 brands including Canadian Mist, Southern Comfort, Wheatley Vodka and Cane Run Rum.

Newly-filed accounts for the Sazerac-controlled company in Ireland, which owned Paddy up until the end of June last year, confirm it has sold the whiskey brand to another related Sazerac firm in Ireland during the period.

Ole Paddy Unlimited accounts note that it sold the brand and trading assets for 89.7m to Paddy Whiskey Unlimited.

Old Paddy Unlimited then paid a 96.1m dividend. The companys shareholder is a firm called Sazerac of Ireland.

Accounts for Sazerac of Ireland to the end of June last year confirm that it received a 96.1m dividend in the period and in turn paid a 96.1m dividend. It received a capital contribution of 49.2m in the financial year.

It also notched up a near 90.6m impairment charge in the 2022 financial year.

Meanwhile, the accounts for Paddy Whiskey Limited show that it received a capital contribution of 96.1m from Sazerac Investment Holdings in the United States.

Sazerac Investment Holdings will retain no rights, title or interest whatsoever in the capital contribution and it has been made absolutely, the accounts add. In addition, the contribution was not made in consideration for shares in the capital or assets of Paddy Whiskey Unlimited, such as voting rights, share in the profits or a share in surplus upon liquidation.

Last year, Sazerac also acquired the Lough Gill Distillery in Co Sligo.

The US group plans to develop a more than 100-acre site at Hazelwood Demense, creating a new whiskey facility and visitor attraction.

Once complete, Lough Gill Distillery hopes to welcome up to 150,000 visitors annually and will create a homeplace for Sazeracs Irish whiskeys  Paddy and Michael Collins.

Sazerac plans to significantly expand Lough Gill Distillerys footprint by adding warehouse capacity and expanding production and bottling lines

Last week, Sazerac said its long-time chief executive, Mark Brown, will step down from the role in July.
The survey also showed that one in 12 never want to fully give up working

Many people turning 60 have insufficient pension funds built up to allow them to retire early. Photo: Getty Images   Getty Images

Most workers would like to retire at 60, with others eager to leave employment at an even younger age.

But one in 12 say they never want to fully retire, according to a survey commissioned by insurer Royal London Ireland, and carried out by iReach.

The research found that six in 10 workers would retire at 60, or even earlier, if they could do so.

Twice as many men as women would give up working if they could, the survey of 900 people shows.

However, financial experts said many people find that when they get into their 60s they have insufficient pension funds built up to allow them to retire early.

The age at which workers qualify for the State pension currently is 66.

One in five would like to retire at the age of 50 if they could afford to leave work at that age, the survey found.

Pension proposition lead with Royal London Ireland, Mark Reilly, said: Retiring at 60 was the most preferred option.

But what was really interesting to see was that while people often joke of being able to retire early, the truth is that its not for everyone.

He said this was clear from the finding that just one in five would choose to retire at 50 if the possibility was available to them.

And the survey found that 8pc say they never want to fully retire.

This shows that there is a cohort of society for whom the ability to continue to work beyond the traditional retirement age is hugely important, added Mr Reilly.

There can be a lot of hours to fill when you retire so for many people, work gives them a sense of purpose and identity, as well as a daily routine, all of which can be lost at retirement unless adequate preparation is put in.

Significant changes to the State pension were put forward by the Government last September.

The changes, which have been described as among the biggest structural reforms of the system, are due to be phased in from January of next year.

Under the new system, workers will be able to continue working up to the age of 70 in return for a higher weekly payment.

Despite this incentive, the Royal London Ireland survey found that twice as many men as women would like to retire today if they had the opportunity to do so.

About one in four of those aged between 18 and 24 said they would retire today if finances allowed.

Women are more inclined than men to want to work until the age of 66.

Mr Reilly said: While many dream of giving up work well before the normal retirement age, early retirement may not be as blissful as people expect.

He warned that people often underestimate the amount of money they need to have saved up for retirement, as well as the amount of money they will spend at that stage of their lives.
A lot of creatives publishing original work might start to think, whats the point?  How industry insiders see the AI revolution

The effects of ChatGPT are rippling through the publishing industry, but many remain convinced that human creativity will win out in the end

Dee Collins, head of books with Mercier Press

Jennifer Lawler Tue 16 May 2023 at 18:20
The Stones and Brian Jones: Four out of Five stars

In an interview on RTE Radio last week, filmmaker Nick Broomfield said there have only been two great documentaries made about The Rolling Stones.

The first was the Maysles brothers Gimme Shelter(1970), covering the bands 1969 American tour, which culminated in the disastrous Altamont Free Concert, where Hells Angels stabbed and beat a fan to death.

The second was photographer Robert Franks controversially titled Cocksucker Blues from 1972, which remains unreleased and has been seen in full by very few people.

The Stones commissioned the film, then swiftly took out a court order to suppress it when they realised the extreme hedonistic behaviour Franks verite camera had captured (drug-taking, liaisons with groupies) would be hugely embarrassing to them, not to mention potentially incriminating.

The Stones and Brian Jones

Only time will tell if Broomfields own new documentary, The Stones and Brian Jones(BBC2, Monday), has the same staying power. Its certainly tremendously well-made, intensely watchable and, in the end, achingly sad.

In a way, its a highly personal project. Broomfield was 14 years of age in 1963 when he found himself on the same train as Brian Jones. The schoolboy swallowed his nervousness, tapped on the door of Joness first-class compartment and introduced himself.

To his surprise and delight, Jones was warm and welcoming. He invited him to sit down and they spent several minutes talking.

I was surprised at how friendly he was, says Broomfield in the documentarys voiceover. We chatted about trains, mainly. He told me that he loved trains and the line we were travelling on, the Great Western, was his favourite. I just remember thinking how very middle-class, well spoken, polite and accommodating he was.

This comes across throughout Broomfields film, which was made for the BBCs arts strand Arena.Unlike Mick Jagger  a nice, middle-class boy from Kent who worked hard to make himself sound like an East End barrow boy  Jones never tried to hide his roots.

The Rolling Stones pose for a very early portrait in July, 1963 in London, England. (L-R) Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman, Mick Jagger, Brian Jones, Keith Richards. Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

He was bright and extremely articulate, disarming and charmed stuffy television interviewers whod probably expected to find something very different under that mop of hair. The only people he couldnt charm were his parents, who didnt approve of their sons choice of career, threw him out of the house when he was 17 and, despite repeated invitations, never once went to see him or his band perform.

And The Rolling Stones really were hisband. Jones was the founder, came up with the name (from a Muddy Waters song), recruited the members  Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman  through a newspaper ad and, in the early days (before Andrew Loog Oldham came on the scene), was their de facto manager, publicist and agent, booking them for gigs, negotiating fees and organising transport.

He was also the most musically gifted of them all, a multi-instrumentalist who stunned the others with his range of skills and his musical vision. The one thing he couldnt do was write songs, which ultimately shifted the balance of power to Jagger and Richards, neither of whom come out of this particularly well.

According to Wyman, the only Stone (or rather former Stone, having left the band in 1993) to feature as an interviewee, Jones was also the most attractive, the real star.

Sixty percent of the fan mail in the early days was for Jones, who answered many of the letters, with roughly 10pc each for Jagger, Richards, Wyman and Watts.

And yet, says Broomfield, there are people listening to the Stones music today who have never even heard of Brian Jones. Its astonishing, given how important he was to the sound of the band.

The documentary, which uses both archive and contemporary interviews, including with most of the women Jones loved and left, having fathered children with them, paints a portrait of a complex, conflicted, sensitive, sometimes cruel man who was dead at 27, ruined by drink and drugs.

A letter to Jones from his father Lewis, discovered decades after Joness death, is full of anguish and regret. His parents approval, which hed spent much of his short life seeking, eventually came, but it came too late to save him.
YEREVAN, MAY 16, ARMENPRESS. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Josep Borrell has met with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov in Brussels.

In a tweet, Borrell said he welcomed the resumption of the trilateral meetings between Armenia and Azerbaijan hosted by President of the European Council Charles Michel.

Good exchange with FM Jeyhun Bayramov. Welcomed resumption of trilateral meetings hosted by President of the European Council, discussed its outcomes & way forward and exchanged views on EU-Azerbaijan relations. The EU continues engagement towards lasting peace and security in the South Caucasus, Borrell tweeted.
Hospital Live

RTE One, 7pm

Broadcasting live from Dublins Mater Hospital for the next three nights, Anna Daly and Philip Boucher Hayes put the spotlight on high-end medical advances, talk to consultants, nurses and specialists, and tell the stories of patients resilience and determination.

Champions League Live

RTE2, 7.30pm

Joanne Cantwell and Didi Hamann introduce coverage of the semi-final second leg between Milan rivals Inter and AC. Kick-off at the San Siro is at 8pm.

Rebekah Vardy: Jehovahs Witnesses and Me

Rebekah Vardy: Jehovahs Witnesses and Me

Channel 4, 10pm

Rebekah Vardy, who was raised a Jehovahs Witness, describes how the sect failed to support her during childhood sexual abuse, and considers the negative effects the religion can have on children.

Moonlight

Moonlight

BBC2, 11.15pm

Barry Jenkins sublime coming-of-age drama tells the story of a young black man from a tough Miami neighbourhood who struggles to accommodate his homosexuality. With Mahershala Ali, Trevante Rhodes, Naomie Harris.

You Don't Know Me   Courtesy of Netflix

You Dont Know Me

Netflix, streaming now

From director Ursula Macfarlane (Untouchable) and producer Alexandra Lacey comes an unflinching and  most importantly  humanising examination of the life, death, and secrets of Vickie Lynn Hogan, aka Anna Nicole Smith. When she first appeared inPlayboy circa 1992, her star went stratospheric  until it got chewed up by the industry, culminating in her death (aged 39).

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 Cats and (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.

Still: A Michael J Fox Movie

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.

STILL Official Trailer

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 Girland The 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 Things comes this stark yet Disney-fied look at a potential future.
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
Eamon OConnell: How to look after your bulls to avoid the huge cost of empty cows

Its essential to manage the bulls workload and monitor their health, because lameness, penile injuries and infertility will hit you hard in the pocket

Precious commodity: Injuries are the most likely thing to end a bulls playing career at this time of year. Photo: Getty   Getty Images/500px

Eamon O'Connell Tue 16 May 2023 at 03:30
In a debate on the laws governing the proposed new Food Regulator last week, he slammed an opposition-backed amendment from Clare TD Michael McNamara to ban below-cost selling as unworkable and accused those that supported the measure of being dishonest.

"The Deputies discussing this are all smart people, and there is an onus on all of them, to be honest about what is possible and what is not possible. "They are talking about doing something very significant, and not one of them has given an example of how it would work," he said.

The Minister highlighted that only about 10pc of the meat we produce in Ireland gets eaten here and said it would only be the Irish customers paying the higher prices, yet 90% of the meat could be bought from outside the country at a much lower price.

He also raised questions over what would happen along the border with Northern Ireland should such a ban be imposed.

"In Donegal or Monaghan, it (food) is bought at a certain price, but Northern Ireland has different laws, so it is bought at whatever the going rate might be, which would be more reflective of world market rates than what is being set in this instance. What will happen in the supermarkets of Donegal, Monaghan, Cavan or Louth? Where will they go to buy their meat then?

"The consumers will be paying a lot more money, but farmers will only get that higher price for 10% of the meat they produce. That is the reality," he said.

Detailing the functions of the new Food Regulator, McConalogue stressed that the price at which farmers recieve here is determined by the prices we are getting in different parts of the world.

"We want to ensure we are putting in place an office that has as many tools and levers as possible to bring transparency to the supply chain so that we can see what is going on with the price we are getting abroad."

He called on opposition TD's to be 'honest' and said "they should not come in here (Dail) and, without giving any examples, say that with the stroke of a pen, we can put in place legislation that will magically give farmers a set price and everybody will be happy ever after.

"That is selling a fallacy," he said.
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

Read more Coroner warns of quad bike dangers at inquest into death of Co Down businessman Denis Lynn

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.
How French sheep farmers are learning to live with the reintroduction of wolves

With 12,000 sheep a year killed by wolves in France, French farmers warn Ireland against reintroduction and explain how, when their protests fell on deaf ears, they turned to special guardian dogs to limit the damage

Bone of contention: A wolf in the French Alps. Wolves returned to France 30 years ago and as their population has grown, sheep attacks have increased. Photos: Getty   Getty Images

Ciaran Moran Tue 16 May 2023 at 03:30
Hongbin Liu was jailed for raping patients in the UK before moving to Ireland where worked under a fake name

Poet Liu said he came here because of Irelands literary heritage

A Chinese medical practitioner and acclaimed poet jailed for raping and sexually assaulting patients in the UK before moving to Ireland treated unsuspecting patients under a fake name until he was arrested by gardai two weeks ago.

Hongbin Liu (60), who is originally from China but has lived in exile since 1989, said yesterday that he maintains his innocence in relation to his sex convictions despite pleading guilty to all of them.

He also said he was unhappy with how he was treated while in garda custody and claimed he frequently urinated in his trousers while handcuffed when gardai took him to hospital.

Liu, who has previously been feted for his poetry and freelance journalism while living in exile from China following the Tiananmen Square protests, was jailed for seven years in England in 2016 after raping and sexually assaulting patients at two separate Chinese health centres in London.

Police said Liu, who performed acupuncture, massage, and other therapies, preyed on the vulnerabilities of his patients as he carried out the string of attacks.

He was placed on the sex offenders register and banned from working as a therapist as part of his sentence.

However, he recently got a job at an acupuncture centre in Dublin city centre, where he used the name Harry Liu before being arrested by gardai for failing to register as a sex offender while living here.

A colleague at the centre said this week that they were also unaware of Lius history when they hired him and he did not inform them he had raped and sexually assaulted patients.

He didnt tell anything [about] this and [just said] he was looking for a job in Dublin.

She said he had been working at the centre for around three weeks and was popular with customers before gardai arrived at the business at the end of last month to arrest him.

It was a surprise, you know. We didnt know what was happening. The police explained to us privately [afterwards].

He pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court on Monday to failing to notify gardai of his details under the Sex Offenders Act.

Liu told the court he came here to take the opportunity to see Dublin, a great city of literature and claimed he did not know he was required to notify the gardai here of his registration.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - May 16th

I have a conviction in the UK for a sexual offence but I have always maintained my innocence, Liu claimed, despite the fact that he pleaded guilty to multiple sexual offences in the UK.

If I knew I was required to register with the police, I would have done so.

He also claimed he wasnt trying to hide his identity as Harry was his professional name. He pleaded guilty and was given the Probation Act and said he was returning to the UK.

Speaking yesterday Liu once again claimed he had not committed any crime despite his guilty pleas.

I have consistently maintained my innocence and have not committed any crime.

He was asked a number of times to clarify how he was maintaining his innocence despite pleading guilty but he was unable to do so.

He said he wet himself after he had been brought to hospital with high blood pressure while under arrest in Dublin.

Due to my prostate issues, I frequently urinated and wet my trousers while handcuffed, which caused deep bruises on my left wrist. The communication from the garda was inadequate. Upon returning to the station, I made a verbal complaint about the degrading treatment.

A sergeant asked me to sign a paper stating that I agreed to be taken to the hospital, which I refused as I knew it was a ploy to extend my detention.

He said he came to Ireland because of our literary heritage.

I have a deep appreciation for the warm and friendly people of Dublin and the citys rich literary heritage, with authors like James Joyce, WB Yeats, Samuel Beckett, George Bernard Shaw, and Oscar Wilde. However, I have also had some unpleasant experiences there. I hope you understand how I feel.

His colleague in Dublin said customers did not make any complaints about him while he was working here in recent weeks.

Most customers were treated by him and most people found he was good. There were no complaints. Even since he went back to England some customers have asked wheres Harry hes very good. They said he balanced their emotions, was good for treatment, and was good talking, very nice.

Despite his claims of innocence in relation to UK sex offences, Liu pleaded guilty to one count of rape, one count of assault by penetration and two counts of sexual assault, at Wood Green Crown Court in London.

Police first launched an investigation into Liu in the UK in February 2015 after a woman was raped by him at the Chinese Traditional Medicine Centre in Haverstock Hill in Camden, north London.

When the woman arrived her usual therapist wasnt working, so she agreed to see Liu for an acupuncture and massage consultation.

Liu then raped and assaulted her. The woman, who was aged in her 40s, immediately went to police to report the attack,

The following month two more women came forward to say they had been sexually assaulted by him at the Shu Jun Healthcare Centre on Wells Street, in Westminster.

One of his victims told police officers that while Liu was giving her a massage she believed he took a picture of her with his phone, but cops were unable to recover the photos.

Detective Constable Jane Tunnicliff, of the London Metropolitan Police Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command said: This is a man who betrayed the patient-doctor relationship. Dr Liu preyed on the vulnerabilities of his patients.

Liu has lived in the UK in exile from China since 1989. He is originally from the city of Qingdao in China and said his father had been arrested and executed during the Cultural Revolution.

Liu later became a poet critical of the government and said he was forced to leave China after posting poems around Tiananmen Square around the time of the student-led protests which led to the infamous Tiananmen Square massacre.

He returned to China in 1997 but was arrested and expelled.

As well as writing poetry he also worked as a freelance radio journalist and was featured by groups, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, Index on Censorship and Human Rights Watch.
The body of missing Sligo man Justin Flannery (26) has been found following a search operation in Switzerland.

Mr Flannery was touring the country last weekend when it is believed he fell into a river in Lauterbrunnen, a village in the Swiss Alps, and was swept away.

An extensive search operation was conducted by Swiss search and rescue teams in recent days and members of his family flew to Switzerland in the hope of locating Justin.

In a statement issued by the Bern Cantons police force on Tuesday, it confirmed they had located the body of a 26-year-old Irish tourist. The police said Justins body was recovered from the Lutschine river on Monday evening.

Mountain specialists and other employees of the Bern Canton police were deployed. A search dog was also brought in. Due to indications that the missing person could be in the Lutschine, employees of the maritime police were also called out. Third parties also took part in the search on the following days, Swiss police said.

The Care Team of the Canton of Bern was deployed to look after the relatives. Investigations to clarify the events were started under the direction of the regional public prosecutor Oberland, the police statement said.

A GoFundMe set up by Justins twin-brother, Johnathan, to raise funds for specialist equipment to search the river had raised over 60,000 by Tuesday evening.

The family were advised to steer clear of the river itself owing to the strong current and extremely cold water.

"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 before the tragic news of Justins death was confirmed.

Justin was a native of Bunninadden in Sligo.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said it is aware of the case and is providing consular assistance to the family. As with all consular cases, the Department does not comment on the details of any specific case.
Center Parcs in Longford was the largest single investment in the history of Irish tourism. Photo: Kieran Harnett

The Center Parcs holiday resorts in Britain and Ireland have been put up for sale by Brookfield, the Canadian investors who bought the business in 2015.

The Financial Times, which broke the news, said the business could fetch in the region of 4bn to 5bn (4.6bn-5.7bn).

Brookfield bought the resorts from Blackstone for around 2.4bn but investment since then includes the holiday camp in Ireland that opened in 2019 on a site in Longford acquired from Coillte, the State forestry agency.

Center Parcs Europe, which operates the chain on continental Europe, is still owned by Blackstone.

The potential sale, which has not been confirmed by Center Parcs or its owners, would be a major test of investor appetite for property, holiday industry assets and the UK economy given the scale of the sale.

Five of the six resorts included are in Britain.

The Irish site, known as Longford Forest, is a major employer with around 1,200 staff.

The high-end holiday village has proved a hit with plans in train for a 100m expansion including 198 new lodges on the 160-hectare leisure facility, as well as a new lakeside restaurant and coffee shop and extensions of several existing restaurants and additional staff facilities.

The original 233m cost of developing the Longford Forest village was the biggest single investment in the history of Irish tourism.
Rena Murshud

The head of diplomacy of the European Union (EU), Josep Borrell, called good the exchange of views he had with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov during a meeting in Brussels on Monday.

Good exchange with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov. I welcomed the resumption of trilateral meetings organized by European Council President Charles Michel, we discussed its results and further actions, and exchanged views on EU-Azerbaijan relations, Borrell wrote on Twitter, Azernews reports.

The EU continues to contribute to the achievement of lasting peace and security in the South Caucasus, the head of EU diplomacy added.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said yesterday that Bayramov and Borrell discussed the current state and prospects of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the EU, including cooperation in the field of energy and transport corridors, the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the current situation in the region.
YEREVAN, MAY 16, ARMENPRESS. Armenian detectives at the Investigative Committee have attended a joint lecture-training at the Justice Academy of Armenia on the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the United States, the specificities of mutual legal inquiries with the U.S. under criminal proceedings in Armenia, discussions on related issues and exchange of experience.

The training course was delivered jointly by the Deputy Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Armenia Arsen Ayvazyan and the FBIs Attache to Armenia and Georgia Heather Berg.

The purpose of the lecture-training is to increase the efficiency of legal inquiries, legal mutual assistance procedures, which in turn will lead to swift crime solving, faster data exchange on issues of interest to the investigation and fugitive recovery.

Ayvazyan and Berg attached importance to the training course in terms of deepening partnership between Armenian and U.S. law enforcement agencies, increasing the efficiency of the fight against transnational crime and exchange of experience and information.
Detectives have arrested a dangerous Dublin criminal who they believe was the gunman in the murder of Gary Carey.

The suspect, aged in his early 30s, was arrested in Mountjoy Prison this afternoon on suspicion of murder.

Gardai believe he was the lone shooter who blasted gangster Carey (41) several times in the car park of the Hilton Hotel in Kilmainham on June 22 of last year.

Carey was shot several times and rushed to hospital where he died over six weeks later.

Investigating detectives this week swooped on several suspects they believe were involved in the fatal shooting.

Yesterday two men in their 20s were arrested and are being quizzed on suspicion of providing logistical support to the gunman.

A female associate of Carey was also detained and is being investigated for "setting up" the gun victim.

A second woman also remains in garda custody this evening. She is an associate of the suspected gunmen who was arrested by gardai today.

The volatile criminal is originally from west Dublin and well-known to gardai for involvement in violent and serious crime.

He is currently in prison for an offence unrelated to the shooting.

The suspect is being detained under Section 42 of the Criminal Justice Act 1999 and can be held for up to 24 hours.

All five people arrested remain in garda custody at separate stations in the capital.

While it was originally suspected that three separate organised crime gangs had clubbed together for the murder, sources say that the main focus of the detailed investigation is now on the Dee Dee ODriscoll crime organisation.

A car involved in the murder was sighted at a property linked to the veteran gangster who has been involved in organised crime for well over three decades.

Detectives have also established a motive for the gun murder  a bitter row over cash and drugs turf in west Dublin.

Investigations have also established that a silver Audi A4 car that was used in the murder was observed in the Blessington area before and after the fatal shooting where it has been picked up on CCTV.

The car was found burnt out near the Co Wicklow town in the aftermath of the murder.

It has emerged that the vehicle was bought legitimately for cash in the weeks before the planned assassination, with gardai receiving information that the buyer of the car was very keen to make the purchase and make off with the Audi very quickly which was also observed on CCTV in the Tallaght area a number of times before the murder.

Dee Dee ODriscoll is one of the most notorious criminals in the history of Irish gangland and has multiple previous convictions including for bribing a garda, violent disorder and perverting the course of justice.
A Fianna Fail senator has made a complaint to the Standards in Public Office Commission (Sipo) over a donation made by Paddy Cosgrave through the Web Summit to The Ditch news website.

Senator Malcolm Byrne has written to Sipo, claiming that neither Mr Cosgrave nor Web Summit are registered as corporate donors.

He references Mr Cosgraves interview on RTEs This Week, where Mr Byrne says Mr Cosgrave admits that the purpose of Web Summits donation to The Ditch is a political one and he outlines the agenda of the online platform.

Mr Cosgrave said in the interview he allocated 1m to The Ditch over five years through his company Web Summit.

Mr Byrne says this is above the allowed threshold of political donations that registered corporate donors can make.

The donation is far in excess of those permitted under the Acts and the purposes are clearly those outlined under S.22(2), his complaint reads.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - May 16th

Mr Byrne argues that The Ditch constitutes a third party under the relevant laws.

It is correct in Ireland that we have limits on political funding.

It is wrong that any wealthy individual seeks to use his wealth or that of his company to seek to influence Irish political life through a third party.

He also references comments made by Mr Cosgrave in the radio interview and includes a timestamp. From the timestamp, Mr Cosgrave said: The agenda of The Ditch is to investigate and interrogate those in positions of power for wrongdoing and they have done that incredibly successfully.

When asked if he wants to take down the Government, he says: Fianna Fail and Fine Gael  I am the overwhelming beneficiary of their policies that allow me to enjoy incredibly unusual tax privileges as one of the wealthiest people in this country.

But I think their policies are pernicious and destructive to the interest of most people. So from my total self-interest, I shouldnt want Fianna Fail or Fine Gael to change.

Deep down, I know that how they operate, I think, is wrong and not to the benefit of the majority of people in this country. I think doing something about that, funding good investigative journalism that exposes some of that wrongdoing, I think, that is a reasonable and good thing for Web Summit to engage in.

When contacted for a comment by the Irish Independent, Mr Cosgrave hit out at Fianna Fails Trump-style attack.

Malcolm Byrne should be complaining about the actions and inactions of his fellow Fianna Fail politicians, not trying to distract from it all with baseless and frankly idiotic complaints, he said.

His attempt to silence investigative journalism is a dark day for democracy.

Sipo has been contacted for comment.

A spokesperson for The Ditch said it has been a member of the Press Council since January and if Malcolm Byrne thinks the council is in the business of welcoming political organisations as members, he should take it up with them.

They said Mr Byrne should reflect on if there is political ideology in those who support the State trying to stamp out reporting they dont like.
Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has said he is not fully familiar with fast fashion giant Shein.

This is despite one of his MEPs leading the charge against the controversial brand, which recently opened its headquarters in Dublin.

The leading fast fashion retailer has been criticised by Green MEP Grace OSullivan who claims it exploits cheap labour and the planets natural resources as it has a target of selling as many items as possible.

However, her party leader, Environment Minister Eamon Ryan, today admitted he is unfamiliar with the online brand, which has valuations of tens of billions of dollars and has held several pop-up shops in Ireland.

Im not fully familiar with the company, he said.

In the waste action plan that we are implementing, fashion is probably the most difficult. Its the hardest area to recycle fabrics, it does need to be tackled at source in terms of European and national regulations.

He said a company having its European headquarters here doesnt impact on our ability or our intention of regulating or implementing waste management measures.

Mr Ryan said the Government cant completely restrict and ban one retailer but allow another to set up its HQ in Ireland.

You cant completely restrict and say, one retailer yes, the other retailer - no. That wont stop us implementing regulations and mechanisms to try and address that.

He said the global fabric industry is based on an unsustainable model.

But I dont think the way to do it is by banning certain shops and not others.

Critics have accused the brand of contributing to environmental waste. However its low prices have seen it become one of the worlds most popular brands.

Ms OSullivan said the companys impact should be weighed up against its impact on the environment and workers rights internationally.

Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney cut the ribbon at Shein's new EMEA headquarters in Dublin last week, where he said it is a "vote of confidence" that another retailer has chosen Ireland for its headquarters.
The buggy involved in the incident in Lanzarote. Photo: Solarpix.

A holidaymaker has died, and her daughter has been seriously injured, after plunging over a cliff in Lanzarote in their hired off-road buggy.

The pair fell around 65ft after losing control of their vehicle during a tourist excursion.

The older woman, aged 61, who was confirmed as Irish by Spanish police, and was pronounced dead at the scene on Monday afternoon.

However the Department of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday said the deceased woman was not travelling on an Irish passport and they are not dealing with the case.

Its now believed the woman may have been a South African citizen who resided in Ireland in recent years.

The younger woman, who was travelling on a South African passport, was rushed to Doctor Jose Molina Orosa Hospital in the islands capital Arrecife with injuries that included head wounds.

She is in a critical condition in the hospitals intensive care unit.

Firefighters, police, civil protection workers and paramedics were among the emergency responders who raced to the area around 3.30pm yesterday.

A helicopter was also sent to the scene, although fire crews were finally able to stretcher the survivor, who is understood to be aged in her 40s, to a waiting ambulance on foot.

The area where the tragedy occurred is between the whitewashed town of Teseguite and the village of Guatiza, and boasts unique volcanic rock formations which attract visitors from all over the world.

The islands Civil Guard police force has been placed in charge of an ongoing investigation into the incident.

One local report said police were probing the possibility the buggy driver, thought to be the older of the two women, may have plunged off a cliff after losing control of her vehicle.

But a spokesman for the Civil Guard in Lanzarote said: It is too early at this stage to speculate on what could have caused the tragedy.

The investigation is still at a very early stage.

A Civil Guard source added: A 61-year-old Irish woman died in the tragedy and her daughter, who was travelling on a South African passport, was seriously injured and was taken to hospital.

They were travelling on the buggy as part of an organised excursion.

The company that organised the excursion the women were on, that describes itself online as the main company dedicated to buggy routes in the north part of Lanzarote, declined to comment.

The firm says it uses Maverick Trail 800T model buggies and flags up on its website that all excursions have an expert guide whose job includes leading the group and maintaining security.
Gardai are continuing to follow many lines of inquiry into the violent death of a young man from England while he was on holiday in the west of Ireland six years ago, an inquest has heard.

A brief sitting of Dublin District Coroners Court heard an application by gardai for a further adjournment of the inquest into the death of Joe Deacy at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin on August 13, 2017 from injuries sustained the previous day in Swinford, Co Mayo.

Mr Deacy (21) from St Albans in Hertfordshire, had initially been treated at Mayo University Hospital in Castlebar for serious injuries where he was brought after being discovered lying on the ground outside a house at 6.30am on August 12, 2017 by a passing cyclist.

Gardai launched a murder investigation after post-mortem results showed he had suffered a blunt force trauma to the head.

Inspector Naomi de Ris told Coroner Crona Gallagher on Tuesday that the investigation into the young mans death was ongoing.

Insp de Ris said Mr Deacys family had been briefed on progress in the case and the senior investigating garda had travelled to the UK to meet his relatives.

Many lines of inquiry are ongoing, she added.

At a previous hearing of the case last November, Insp de Ris said several witnesses who were living outside Ireland still had to be interviewed by gardai.

Dr Gallagher granted an application for a further adjournment of the inquest under Section 25.1 of the Coroners Act on the basis that criminal proceedings in relation to Mr Deacys death are being considered.

The coroner adjourned the case for mention to November 16, but asked gardai to come back before the court if there were any developments in the case before then.

Mr Deacy, who considered himself to be from Mayo  the home county of his paternal grandparents  was a regular visitor to the west of Ireland where he stayed with relatives and had applied for an Irish passport shortly before his death.

He had spent the evening before he was assaulted socialising in Kiltimagh, Co Mayo before being dropped with his friend to the house in Swinford where he was later found.

He had sent a video via social media to his second cousin, Michelle Deacy with whom he had been staying, at around 3.45am but what happened over the next few hours remains unclear.

The deceaseds father, Adrian Deacy, has issued a number of public appeals for people with information about his sons death to pass on details of what they know to gardai.
People are being frightened and intimidated by social media stories which are often wrong about asylum seekers and refugees, the Tanaiste has said.

Micheal Martin said Government would continue to provide as much accommodation as possible for people seeking assistance in this country. In an Irish language interview on TG4 television he strongly defended the Governments record to date  but he also condemned widespread misinformation on the migration issue on social media especially.

I was in Cork lately and a woman came up to me and told me that there were 150 asylum seekers after arriving the previous day. There was no truth in that story  and I was able to tell her that, he told TG4 interviewer, Mairin Ni Ghadhra.

But I saw that posted on Facebook  and thats whats happening. We need to perhaps do more to put that right, the Fianna Fail leader added.

Mr Martin said Ireland had an international legal and moral duty to help people seeking assistance in this country. He said the Ukrainian refugees had been successfully welcomed but he insisted that people coming from other countries were also fleeing from danger.

He deplored efforts by some people in Ireland to stoke fear of young men coming in from other countries and seeking help. The far right are trying to frighten people about this, he said.

Mr Martin rejected suggestions that overseas people seeking refuge were compounding Irelands housing difficulties right now. He said in most cases these people were accommodated in hotels, hostels and adapted public buildings as temporary accommodation.

The Fianna Fail leader also argued that the Government was beginning to deliver housing in large numbers. He said most local councils were now successful in increasing social housing supply.

Mr Martin, who is responsible for defence and foreign affairs, defended the decision to open a national debate next month on Irish security and defence and argued nobody had anything to fear from frank discussions. He said Ireland remained militarily neutral but faced huge defence challenges in an increasingly dangerous world with things like cyberattacks and sabotage of undersea communication cables.

He insisted that Ireland must show flexibility and cooperate with EU defence and security initiatives. We cant do everything on our own we need to cooperate with other countries, he said.
A convicted rapist and senior associate of the Kinahan crime gang has appeared in court for breaching the Sex Offenders Act.

Dublin man Barry Finnegan (42) was brought before a sitting of the Dublin District Court on Tuesday evening.

He is accused of failing to notify gardai of a change to his home address on April 2 last.

The offence he is charged with is contrary to Section 12 of the Sex Offenders Act 2001.

A person guilty of an offence under that section is liable, on summary conviction, to a fine of up to 1,500 or a maximum sentence of 12 months' imprisonment.

Finnegan, of Hardwicke Street in Dublin 1, has a previous conviction for rape under the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act 1990.

Garda Shane McGrath, of Mountjoy garda station, gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution to Judge John Cheatle.

The accused was subsequently granted bail subject to a number of conditions.

These include that he signs on at a garda station three times a week, surrender his passport, provide gardai with a phone number, and abide by a curfew.

It is understood he was recently refused leave to land in Turkey because of his sexual offending convictions and subsequently returned to Dublin via Belfast.

Finnegan was brought before the Criminal Courts of Justice this evening after being questioned over the murder of the 'The Monk's brother.

Eddie 'Neddy' Hutch, the older brother of Gerard, was shot dead outside his inner-city home in February 2016.

Finnegan was detained last Friday by detectives investigating that murder and held under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007.

He was subsequently released without charge and a file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Finnegan has also previously described in the High Court by the Criminal Assets Bureau as a "senior member of the Kinahan Organised Crime Group".
YEREVAN, MAY 16, ARMENPRESS. Armenia did discuss a possible withdrawal from the CSTO in the context of the September 2022 Azeri attack but eventually decided not to do so, Deputy Foreign Minister Mnatsakan Safaryan confirmed on Tuesday.

I cant recall the specific date [of the discussion], because it was discussed at the Security Council. I believe it happened in the period of the September developments. A decision was made not to make that step and continue working because there were issues that were later discussed in the CSTO summit. As you know, these works continue, and we have announced this. Soon there will be discussions on the situation in South Caucasus, and we will inform about it, Safaryan said, adding that a withdrawal from the CSTO is not on the agenda of the Armenian government at this moment.

Safaryan said the situation is difficult, and as a CSTO member which has obligations, Armenia continues to hope that its steps and work will lead to some results.

We still have that hope, Safaryan said.

The Deputy FM mentioned that Armenia has numerously insisted that the CSTO ought to issue a political assessment on the situation in the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

These discussions could resume at some point, he said.
Rory Best set off from the Aviva Stadium this morning on a 300-kilometre walk to Mayo to raise funds for a new respite centre in Cong. The centre Daisy Lodge will help support children and families who are dealing with cancer. Rory was joined by his wife Jodie and his children, as well as celebrities and rugby stars as he set off on the 10-day walk. This is the second time the former Ireland captain has embarked on Rory's Miles 2 Mayo after completing the first walk in 2021.
The study, between the Royal College of Surgeons and a Canadian genomics firm, provided new genetic insights

European ancestry in Newfoundland is mainly descended from Irish and English settlers in the late 1700s to early 1800s. Photo: Getty Images   Getty Images/iStockphoto

The descendants of Irish and British people who emigrated to Canada three centuries ago are providing new insights into health and genetics.

A study from the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland (RCSI) and Sequence Bio, a genomics and precision medicine company based in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), Canada, has produced the most detailed genetic analysis of people living in the Canadian province of Newfoundland to date.

Scientists have demonstrated that a significant proportion of the European-derived population in the area can be traced back to settlers who primarily migrated from southeast Ireland and southwest England around three centuries ago.

They have done this by studying the genetic profiles of 1,807 people and comparing them with reference datasets for Ireland and England.

In looking at the ways Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are genetically related to each other, and to present-day Irish and English individuals, we were able to show that European ancestry in NL is mainly descended from Irish and English settlers in the time of the late 1700s to early 1800s, said Dr Edmund Gilbert, a lecturer at the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences in RCSI.

Dr Edmund Gilbert

Dr Gilbert is the first author on the study. He used well-characterised population reference datasets, like the Irish DNA Atlas, to link English and Irish ancestry in NL to specific regions in Ireland.

He then tracked how social and geographical isolation influenced NL communities at the level of their DNA.

Further analysis showed multiple population bottlenecks, or reductions in population size, happening independently in the region around 300 years ago.

This was due to geographical isolation and the tendency for people to settle with others from the same country of origin and religious affiliation.

Gianpiero Cavalleri, professor of human genetics at RCSI School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Science, helped lead the comparative study of genomes from Canada, Ireland and England.

Prof Cavalleri said: The genetic analysis supports the historical accounts that around 25,000 European settlers came to NL in the 18th and 19th centuries.

These were predominantly from Waterford, Wexford, south Kilkenny, southeast Tipperary, and southeast Cork.

They also came from Dorset and Devon in England, as well as fishing ports such as Dartmouth, Plymouth or Southampton.

In the study, we could see that Catholic background in Newfoundland and Labrador is still today strongly associated with Irish genetic ancestry, as is Protestant background with English genetic ancestry.
The man (48) was granted bail despite garda objections. Stock image  

A teenage girl accused of using a rock in a serious assault on a care worker is on an 18-month waiting list for adolescent mental health services in the community, a court has heard.

The girl, in her mid-teens and the subject of a care order, appeared at the Dublin Childrens Court today.

She had pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at a secure therapeutic childrens facility.

Judge Paul Kelly noted the girl had not engaged with the Probation Service, which he had asked to draft a pre-sentence report to assist the court.

Defence solicitor Brian Keenan said the girl still struggled with issues. He asked the judge to particularly note that the teen had been in special care for two years when three months is the normal amount of time for such a placement.

She remains in care but has been moved to a residential home and spends some days with her family weekly.

The court heard she was also struggling with the death of a close family member but had engaged with some services in the community.

However, the judge heard a referral was made to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAHMS), but there was an 18-month waiting list for her appointment.

Judge Kelly said that was a very worrying length of time, and he adjourned the case until June for Tuslas legal representatives to be contacted to assist the court about CAHMS.

In an outline of the garda evidence, Judge Kelly heard that an issue arose in the care home.

It was alleged the girl, who cannot be identified, threw a rock at the care staff member, hitting her on the head, causing her a laceration.

The staff member fell to the ground and was knocked out.

The court heard the woman lost consciousness for a short period before being hospitalised.

The complainant was treated with painkillers but did not require stitches.

Judge Kelly noted that a medical report was unavailable, and the court did not have proof that the woman was unconscious.

However, she has provided a victim impact statement.
The widow of a 45-year-old Co Meath man who died several days after undergoing an elective medical procedure to treat his cancer at a Dublin hospital has settled High Court actions over the standard of care he allegedly received.

Following the death of her husband, Sean Lundy, in May 2017, his widow Susan Lundy sued St Vincents Hospital in Dublin for nervous shock she suffered and over the fatal injuries he allegedly sustained while he was a patient at the hospital.

Mrs Lundy of Somerville, Ratoath, Co Meath, alleged the hospital was negligent towards and in breach of the duty of care it had regarding her late husband.

His treatment, it was also claimed, fell "far below the standard of care that should have been made available to him" and had resulted in Mr Lundy's death, it was claimed.

The claims were denied, and the settlement of the claims were made without an admission of liability by the hospital.

The terms of the settlement are confidential.

However, one aspect of the claim, the statutory payment of 35,000 for mental distress to Mrs Lundy, which is to be used for benefit of the plaintiff and the couple's three minor children, had to be formally approved by the High Court.

Represented by Barney Quirke SC, with Esther Earley Bl, instructed by O'Brien Murphy solicitors, the court heard that on May 10, 2017, Mr Lundy underwent a procedure known as Whipples Procedure which is used to treat a malignant bile duct stricture.

Following his surgery, it is claimed he became very ill and went into shock, which was caused by internal bleeding, and he underwent further surgery.

It is claimed that after the emergency surgery he was placed in the hospital's intensive care unit.

After two days it is claimed that he was moved out of intensive care because the bed in that unit was required for another patient.

It is claimed that following his transfer to another unit in the hospital Mr Lundy was given food orally.

However, it is claimed that this caused him to vomit, and accidently breathe some food into his lungs, resulting in him developing severe respiratory problems.

He died on May 15, 2017, five days after undergoing the procedure.

Among the allegations made against the hospital, Mrs Lundy claimed that the defendant had failed to carry out the surgical procedure in a competent manner, and failed to carry out proper assessments of his condition after he underwent the operation.

The defendant had also failed to keep Mr Lundy in the ICU following his emergency follow up surgery, and had transferred him when his condition required him to be kept in the unit.

He should not have been fed orally in the post-operative unit he was moved to and he was allowed to develop respiratory problems, which were allegedly not properly monitored, it was further claimed.

In its defence St Vincents denied all the claims against it.

The payment was approved by Mr Justice Paul Coffey, who after formally striking out the claims extended his sympathies to Mrs Lundy and her family.
Dining on the Pakistani and Indian fare at Daatas latest branch, our critic was delighted to find that the food and service were even better than ever

Feeling an urge one bright, sunny Sunday morning back in 2018, I dragged himself out to Greystones where the then new Daata Pakastani & Indian restaurant was doing brunch. I guess he was lucky it was only to Greystones. On another sunny Sunday morning, Id woken up and seen the BBC weather forecaster say that the seas around the turbulent Lizard in south-west England were calm. By 4pm he found himself in Rosslare en route to Cherbourg.
That great Kerryman Daniel OConnell had been the last heavy-hitting Irish person to attend a British royal coronation way back in 1838. His Limerick neighbour Eamon de Valera was in charge when Dublin passed on attending some monarchic installations in the early years of this State, and the longevity of both Victoria and Queen Elizabeth, ruled the attendance issue out of debate for decades upon decades.
Work to finally start next year on the project, which was granted planning permission in 2021

The sheds at the site on the Gurteenroe site, adjacent to the new fire station in Macroom, will be torn down to make way for the new Garda divisional HQ.

THERE was finally white smoke this week in the long-running saga over the planned new Garda station in Macroom, which the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar recently had conceded was urgently needed.

On Tuesday it was announced that exchequer funding has been sanctioned for the new station, which will serve as the new Garda divisional HQ for Cork County following the amalgamation of the Cork North and Cork West divisions.

The campaign to get a new Garda station for the town to replace the existing outdated station has rumbled on for years, with planning permission finally granted for the facility back in 2021.

However, construction was delayed as it was rolled into a Public Private partnership (PPP) along with the planned new Garda station in Clonmel and the family court complex at Dublins Hammond Lane.

Speaking in the Dail recently in response to a call from Cork North-West Fianna Fail TD Aindrias Moynihan to speed up the Macroom project, the Taoiseach admitted that the PPP avenue may have been a good idea at the time, but it has clearly not worked out,

He said that officials were working to decouple the trio of projects, which would allow both the Macroom and Clonmel stations to proceed to construction within months.

On Tuesday the Minister for Justice, Simon Harris TD, announced the two stations had been decoupled from the Justice PPP and would now be funded directly through the exchequer.

Minister Harris said the development would expedite the construction of the Macroom and Clonmel stations, with work set to get underway on them next year.

Welcoming the announcement OPW minister Patrick ODonovan said his department will now move forward with the appointment of a team to complete the designs for the stations and the preparation of tender documents.

Tender issue is expected in Q4 2023/Q1 2024, with works to commence on site in 2024, said Minister ODonovan.

Located on a 1.6 acre site adjacent to the new fire station on the Gurteenroe Road, the new 4,338 sq ft Macroom divisional Garda HQ will be comprised of a building rising to four storeys, incorporating a public office, staff offices, conference facilities, custody suites and ancillary spaces.

The announcement that funding has finally been allocated to the new station has been warmly welcomed by local politicians, who have been at the forefront of the long-running campaign to get the project over the line.

Cork North-West Fine Gael TD Michael Creed said the development was excellent news for the mid-Cork region.

I have been working hard to bring the Macroom project to fruition ever since it was granted planning permission and am delighted to hear this announcement at last, said Deputy Creed.

This is excellent news for mid-Cork. The new station will greatly enhance the facilities available for law enforcement in the region, as well as providing an up-to-the-minute divisional headquarters, he added.

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan said he too was delighted to hear the Macroom station had finally been given the go-ahead to proceed.

Ive raised this matter on numerous occasions in an effort to progress the project, most recently in the Dail last month when I urged the Taoiseach to prioritise the development of the site without delay, said Deputy Moynihan.

While a new policing model has been rolled out across the country and is now being rolled out in Cork, a very obvious part of that model was missing for Cork because the Macroom site was not being advanced. Thankfully that is set to change due to the provision of exchequer funding, which will speed up construction of this important project he added.

Macroom-based Cork County Councillor Ted Lucey (FG) said the new Garda station would be a huge plus for Macroom town and the surrounding area.

This really is tremendous news. The campaign for the station has been going on for many years, with many twists and turns along the way, said Cllr Lucey.

There will be between 70-80 office personnel working in the station in addition to the Garda members, so it will be a huge plus for Macroom on many fronts. Moreover, it will be good for Gardai already station here as the facilities they have had for years have not been up to standard, making it a very real struggle to carry out their duties, he added.
A father-of-three exposed himself and performed a sex act in front of a group of seven-year-old girls out playing on a street near their homes, it is alleged.
Cllr Moloney deep in rural Albania where he is observing the general election.

Cllr Moloney outside the polling station where he is observing the general election in Albania

Cllr Jimmy Moloney with the Mayor of Mykonos Konstantinos Koukas monitoring elections in rural Albania this week.

A Kerry Councillor charged with monitoring the 2023 local elections in Albania has said that neither he nor his fellow observers saw any signs of voter intimidation.

Fianna Fail Councillor Jimmy Moloney is currently observing as part of a delegation from the Congress of Regional Authorities of which he is a member. He is one of 20 councillors from Europe taking part in the delegation alongside EU officials and NGO staff.

Travelling with Cllr Moloney around polling stations in the rural area he was charged with monitoring is the Mayor of one of Europes top tourist destinations, Konstantinos Koukas of Mykonos.

Neither have reported any signs of voter intimidation  one of the main charges laid against the ruling party by the opposition at the time of the last election. So avowedly incensed at what they claimed was corruption that the opposition party refused to field candidates.

This time around things appear to be much more peaceful.

Our role was to observe the voting procedure in different polling stations, Cllr Moloney told The Kerryman.

"I visited 12 different ones over the course of the day in an area in central Albania, an hour from the capital of Tirana. We went in groups of two with drivers and translators. I was with the Mayor of Mykonos Konstantinos Koukas.

They were tasked with recording any irregularities they might have seen for their final report; being advised to watch out for carousel voting in particular. It involves voters being intimidated outside the polling station, given a pre-filled ballot before returning with their own blank paper.

"We didnt witness this, Cllr Moloney said, adding: Overall the elections were peaceful. The main issues we saw related to a lack of access for disabled persons and the lack of back-up with their biometric voter identification system failed. There also seemed to be a lack of young people involved in the process, he explained.

Cllr Moloney and Mayor Koukass observations informed the Congress report welcoming the over peaceful nature of the elections.
Pupils win Our World Irish Aid awards honour for their efforts in obtaining the schools sixth Green Flag

Lenamore NS pupils and principal Anna Marie OKeeffe with the plaques which mark their national and regional titles.

PUPILs at one North Kerry primary have become so expert on the natural world and the battle to save it that they have been named as nothing less than Irelands Global Citizenship School of the Year this week.

Lenamore National School staff and pupils are celebrating this week after winning the prestigious title at the Our World Irish Aid Awards ceremony in Kilkenny  where they contested the national finals having won the regionals earlier in the year.

It was the icing on the cake of an intense campaign to win their sixth Green flag in style  a flag they took home with both the national and regional plaques.

The pupils of Scoil Naisiunta an Leana Mhoir focused on Global Citizenship Litter and Waste for their sixth Green Flag project.

In the process they learned no end about the Sustainable Development Global Goals (SDGs).

Their project message was best relayed by an incisive and rhyming question-and-answer delivered by the children: When you look in the mirror, what do you see? The most important global citizen of all - the change starts with ME!!

It saw them undertake a lot of hard work to ensure they reuse and recycled every last material possible over the course of the year, while also leading the charge in protecting biodiversity.

They met regularly with biodiversity consultant Geoff Hunt at the school, utilising the wonderful asset of the local woods on their very doorstep to learn more about the preciousness of our ecosystems.

And their slogan for the project also captured the judges hearts: Rubbish and plastics, smoke and pollution/ Weve been the cause, but were also the solution.
YEREVAN, 16 MAY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 16 May, USD exchange rate down by 0.88 drams to 386.35 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.34 drams to 420.85 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.05 drams to 4.83 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 0.13 drams to 484.14 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 57.14 drams to 25090.07 drams. Silver price down by 0.24 drams to 296.75 drams.
Cllr Jackie Healy-Rae has been selected amongst 150 candidates from across the European Union to participate in the Young Elected Politician Programme (YEP).

The programme, which is overseen by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), has for the first time opened the doors for young local and regional representatives from EU candidate countries.

The first meeting will take place online this week and will continue for the next 12 months. This is something that excites the Kilgarvan native.

Im delighted to get selected for this programme as it gives me as a young politician a chance to participate with young, elected representatives from across Europe to engage with the Union's diverse views from European regions and cities in key events, he said.

Cllr Healy-Rae added that youth participation is an integral part of the DNA of politics, and he feels strongly that the views of Ireland need to be expressed to others at EU level.

This is especially true going into the future with the fast pace of changes that will affect the everyday living for people, Cllr Healy- Rae stated.

The Young Elected Politicians programme (YEPs) is a network of representatives who are no older than 40 and hold a mandate at regional or local level in the EU.

To date, more than 500 young politicians have joined it since its creation in 2019. For the first time since its creation, the YEP programme will also be open to EU candidate countries.

This will pave the way for young elected politicians from Ukraine, Moldova, Albania, the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Turkey to engage in the Union's functioning.
Ukrainians in Cahersiveen open cafe after relocation fears eased  We want to take responsibility for our lives

Three Ukrainians in Kerry are excited about the opportunity to put down business roots in their new home of Cahersiveen.

Anna Grebeniuk, Vitalii Bevz and Tetiana Bevz outside their new cafe in Cahersiveen. Photo by Christy Riordan.

Stephen Fernane Kerryman Tue 16 May 2023 at 18:00
Three Drogheda schools take tops awards

Students from schools across Ireland with Eimear Sinnott -Director Careers Portal and Dave McCormack- AIB Deputy Chief People Officer as they met Minister for Education Norma Foley TD when they picked up their awards at at the AIB Careers Skills Competition by CareersPortal at Number 6 Kildare Street,Dublin. Picture Brian McEvoy

Students Glen Masterson from Luttrellstown Community College -Winner of the Tourism category and The winner of The Language Category Ana Isabel Camara Gtuierrez  Our Ladys College, Drogheda pictured as they picked up their awards at the AIB Careers Skills Competition by CareersPortal Awards at Number 6 Kildare Street,Dublin. Picture Brian McEvoy

The winner of The Language Category Ana Isabel Camara Gtuierrez  Our Ladys College, Drogheda with Karen Ruddock  PPLI pictured as she picked up her awarda at the AIB Careers Skills Competition by CareersPortal Awards at Number 6 Kildare Street,Dublin. Picture Brian McEvoy

Eve Lawler of Drogheda Grammar School is presented with her award by Eimear Sinnott, Director of CareersPortal and Dave McCormack- AIB Deputy Chief People Officer at The AIB Careers Skills Competition Awards by CareersPortal at Number 6 ,Kildare Street,Dublin. Pictue Brian McEvoy

Students from Drogheda schools took top awards amongst over 1,000 second level students who entered the AIB Careers Skills Competition by CareersPortal, where they undertook work experience and investigated potential careers. There were 32 winning entries and four of these were from Louth, who were congratulated by Minister for Education Norma Foley TD.

One of the top award winners a Greenhills student, for the Language Connect Award for Careers with a Foreign Language which went to Ana Isabel Camara Gtuierrez of Our Ladys College, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co Louth for her work experience as a translator.

Highly commended in the Leaving Cert category was Rebecca McArdle, Sacred Heart School, Sunnyside, Drogheda ,Co. Louth who did Work Experience as a pre-school teacher and also completed a career investigation on the job of a psychotherapist.

3rd place in the TY category was Eve Lawler, Drogheda Grammar School, Co Louth who did her work experience in Drogheda Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Clinic, doing physiotherapy, writing up rehabilitative exercise plans, demonstrating exercises.

Commended in the TY category was Emily Moran of St Vincent's Secondary School, Louth did her work experience with PeaceProms Choir coordinating seating for schools and teachers, checking schools in on the app, choreography, data collecting. She also investigated the job of a Paediatrician.
The proposed farm will be located off the coast of County Louth

The ESB and the Belguim energy company Parkwind have stated that they are committed to the delivery of the 375MW Oriel Wind Farm off the Co Louth coast despite being unsuccessful in Irelands first ever wind energy auction.

The proposed wind farm would have the capacity to deliver enough green renewable energy to power the equivalent of 300,000 Irish households once operational.

While the Oriel project was not awarded a contract in this auction round, Parkwind and ESB believe that it is a well-positioned project and will ultimately play its part in generating the renewable electricity we need, said a spokesperson. We will continue to progress the project and are actively investigating alternative routes to market.

They also described last weeks auction an important milestone in the journey to further decarbonise Ireland's electricity system.

Oriel Wind Farm had been awarded maritime area consents (MACs) which permitted them to apply for planning permission under the new Maritime Area Planning Act from An Bord Pleanala.

It was proposed to locate the 25 wind turbine wind farm to the east of Dundalk Bay and the project had been designed to fit within available electricity transmission infrastructure, connecting into existing power lines near Ardee, via a new underground cable from the shore near Dunany.

A number of online and public consultation meetings in Dundalk, Ardee and Kilkeel were held during January and February, and it had been hoped that construction would get underway in 2024.

The developers of the project had said that there would be a substantial community fund with grants to be distributed within the region.

The four successful projects could see three wind farms being built off the east coast, including one off north Co Dublin, and one off the west coast.

The results are provisional and are expected to be confirmed next month.
Members and supporters of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign in Sligo gathered outside the GPO in Sligo on Monday evening to participate in a vigil to show solidarity with the people of Palestine and to protest against the recent killing of scores of Palestinian civilians.

Local elected representatives including Cllr Arthur Gibbons, Cllr Gino OBoyle, Cllr Declan Bree and the President of the Sligo-Leitrim Council of Trade Unions, Pat Fallon participated in the event.

Those attending displayed Palestinian flags and carried placards which read End the Blockade of Gaza Boycott Israeli Goods and Freedom for Palestine.

Speaking to The Sligo Champion Cllr Gibbons said the event was held to mark the 75th anniversary of Nakba Day or the Day of the Catastrophe  the day when people worldwide commemorate the ethnic cleansing of over 750,000 indigenous Palestinians from their homes, two thirds of the Arab population of the time, forcing them into exile so that the state of Israel could come into existence.

These refugees and their descendants, now numbering millions, remain in enforced exile and are still denied their right of return to their homes. Today, the Israeli policy of forced displacement of Palestinians continues, he said.

Cllr Gino OBoyle said: Palestinians live under a brutal Israeli occupation and apartheid regime. Settlers continue to expel Palestinian people from their homes under the protection of the Israeli military. Israel continues to impose a blockade on Gaza, regularly bombing the population, who have little means of defending themselves.

And there are up to 7 million Palestinians worldwide who are prevented from returning to their homeland.

Today, the ongoing Israeli campaign of violence and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians is made possible by the continuing support of the United States and the European Union.

Criticising the failure of the EU to ban trade with the illegal Israeli settlements in occupied Palestine, Cllr Declan Bree said: The European Union has failed to hold Israel accountable. It has failed to speak out for the voiceless and defenceless.

Palestinians are terrorised and oppressed by a rogue state that has killed thousands of innocent men, women and children and forced millions to endure a lifetime of misery in refugee camps. In this context it is up to people of conscience in every community to heed Palestinian calls for justice and the right to self determination.

Only international pressure can make Israel cease its violations of international law and human rights.I believe people here in Ireland have an important role to play by supporting the call for an international campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel similar to that which helped bring an end to the apartheid regime in South Africa. he said.
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.
While we remain in the midst of a massive housing crisis, developers are unable to build in North Wexford because of insufficient water capacity, a local councillor has reiterated.

An exasperated Cllr Fionntan O Suilleabhain once again asked Wexford County Council officials to put all the pressure they can on Irish Water, or Uisce Eireann as they are now known, to expedite works in places like Camolin.

"North Wexford villages are crying out for housing, the Sinn Fein councillor said. But they simply dont have the capacity for water. If the executive could contact Uisce Eireann on places like Camolin again, Id appreciate it.

"In these places, developers have sites ready to go, but they dont have the water capacity to build.

Director of Services and Deputy Chief Executive Eamonn Hore replied that the local authority had already expressed the pressing need to Uisce Eireann.

"Weve sent on our capital programme to them and Camolin is on and Ferns is on it too, he said. We cant push it any more with Irish Water than we already are.
Organised by Wexford-based hypnotherapist and owner of Empower Hypnotherapy, John Scanlon, the event aims to bring together hypnotherapists, psychotherapists, and other professionals to gain knowledge, build relationships, and enhance their skills in the field. It will feature a variety of guest speakers and experts in the field including Carina McEvoy, Freddy Jacquin, Ken Falconer and Steven Travers.

There has never been a hypnotherapy conference in Ireland so people working in this field arent really connected. There is no real national organisation for hypnotherapists either. The idea behind this event is to connect hypnotherapists nationwide, explained John, who works part-time as a hypnotherapist in The Palms Wellbeing in Gorey and in Monageer, and part-time as an accountant. You meet people, you learn things, you come up with ideas.

While many people may be familiar with stage hypnotism as demonstrated by the likes of Keith Barry and Darren Brown, it can also be utilised in a therapeutic manner, supporting people with challenges such as anxiety, addiction and phobias.

For change really to happen, if it can happen at a subconscious or unconscious level, the change is deeper and more effective, explained John. Basically, what hypnosis can do is help people to change their beliefs. It would be more famous for weight loss and smoking but it is also extremely beneficial for anxiety and for any kind of emotional trauma that people feel, and we all have it in some shape or form.

It was his own experience of losing his parents as a child and the emotional trauma that came with such a huge loss that led John towards hypnotherapy, first as a client and later as a practitioner. He has seen it benefit a large number of people with a diverse array of challenges and said that it can be a supportive form of therapy for most people.

Hypnotherapy works for the majority of people. For me, there are three conditions and if someone can answer yes to all three, it will work for them. The conditions are: something must change, I must be the one to change and I must want to change now, he explained. People see stage hypnotism and it helps them to understand the power of the mind. By seeing that, they can come to understand that, if they can use that in that context, they can use it in any context and they can use it for change. Ultimately, the reason people go for the cigarette, or eat that bar of chocolate, or dont do that exercise is a belief. And hypnotherapy can help you to change those beliefs.

The upcoming conference will take place in the Arklow Bay Hotel on May 20 and 21. While it is primarily aimed at professionals, members of the public are welcome to attend. More information can be found at empowergorey.com.
Safe schools works in Adamstown welcomed

WORKS outside Adamstown NS have made it a safer place for pupils, councillors were informed at the May New Ross Municipal District meeting.

Active Travel funding was sourced for the works which followed consultation with parents in April and early May.

A Safe Routes to School Officer visited the school where a survey was submitted by parents indicating an overwhelming majority wanted improved safety outside the school.

Vincent Gallagher of the scheme said parents have been asked to park at the community centre instead of outside the school.

Its a small move. There is no parking outside the community centre. Pupils can be brought across through a crossing.

Cllr John Fleming welcomed the initiative.

Adamstown deserves to have the works done. Its part of a bigger picture for the village. A few years ago we got funding for works in the village for paths and lights making it a safer and better village. He said reducing the speed to 50 km/h in the village will make it safer again.

Keeping our kids safe is the best thing we can do. Craanford have an underpass from the school to the GAA grounds; its a simple idea but a very good one.

Cllr Pat Barden said: Im absolutely delighted to see this happen. It will change the whole face of the village.

He expressed concern about the narrowing of the road leading to the junction.

Adamstown is a very agricultural area with massive tractors and trailers using that junction. That could be a problem.

Mr Gallagher said an articulated lorry was driven through to ensure the road was wide enough.

Its being narrowed to ten metres.

Cllr Barden asked about drop-off and collection points outside Colaiste Abbain secondary school.

Councillors heard from a local business owner who highlighted two serious accidents in the village over recent years, one at the junction and the other near the school. This one involved a child on a tricycle being hit by a car.

The existing crossing is being upgraded to a controlled crossing. The council also intend to upgrade the crossing point from the hall car park to the primary school gates.

Cllr Barden suggested using the hall car park for secondary school student drop off and collections. he said the footpath from the main junction to the church needs to be done.

Safety officer Claire Duggan said funding isnt in place for this currently.

Cllr Bridin Murphy said: The school is delighted to see this work being done. The secondary school are willing to donate part of their land for the wall to be pushed back. I propose we move forward to detailed design.

Ms Duggan said surveys will be taking place at Ramsgrange NS who are in line for similar works.
The Head of Legal at a Co Wexford-based Credit Union has brought a High Court challenge against what he claims is his ongoing suspension from work.

The action has been brought by Donal OConnor who claims that last November he was put on administrative leave, because he has made a complaint about a colleague and a protected disclosure about certain alleged practises at Altura Credit Union in Gorey, Co Wexford.

The 55-year-old, who has worked at the credit union for several years, claims that he has been unlawfully and in breach of his contract of employment been placed on an open-ended suspension over allegations that he has breached his employers IT policy.

Those allegations are currently the subject of an on-going investigation.

In a sworn statement put before the High Court on Thursday he denies any wrong-doing and says that the allegations were made after he made a protected disclosure about certain matters at the credit union in September 2022.

The protected disclosure and the complaint he has made about another person working at the credit union he claims is the real reason why he has been suspended.

He claims that he raised serious concerns he has about operations risks and controls at the credit union.

In particular he fears that the requirement to ensure insurance is in place prior to the release of funds to customers was being disregarded.

He claims that no efforts have been made by the defendant to properly address his concerns.

He also claims that a senior official at the credit union was not following necessary procedures, has been disregarding his concerns and had acted in a aggressive, derogatory and inappropriate manner towards him.

He claims that his health has suffered as a result.

He said that he filed a grievance against that person, but that person has also made a complaint against him.

Last November he claims that the credit union placed him on administrative leave over allegations including that he stored non work emails on his work computer, used non work email for work documents, and participated in in work outside the workplace.

He denies any wrongdoing, and says some of the complaints date back to a period when he was part time with the defendant and any outside any work he did during that period was done with the credit unions full knowledge.

Following the credit unions decision to place him on administrative leave his health has suffered, and he required sick leave he claims that he was certified to return to work from the end of April.

Despite this, Mr OConnor, who is a qualified solicitor, claims that he has not been permitted to return to work and has been effectively suspended by it.

His ongoing suspension, he claims, has damaged his reputation.

As a result, Mr OConnor, with an address at The Avenue, Gorey, Co Wexford seeks an injunction from the court restraining the defendant from continuing with his exclusion from the workplace, and that his suspension be ended.

He also seeks various declarations from the Court including that his suspension is unlawful, and in breach of his contract of employment.

He further seeks damages from the defendant for emotional suffering.

The matter came before Mr Justice Brian OMoore on Thursday.

Following an application from Mr OConnors lawyers the judge granted permission, on an ex-parte basis, to serve short notice of the injunction proceeding on the defendant credit union.

The judge adjourned the application to a date later this month.
YEREVAN, MAY 15, ARMENPRESS. The US State Department has released the International Religious Freedom Report 2022 of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. Azerbaijan was included in the list of countries under special control.

ARMENPRESS reports, according to the report, the state of religious freedom in Azerbaijan had negative dynamics in 2022.

The report mentions the destruction of Armenian spiritual heritage by Azerbaijan in the territories of Nagorno-Karabakh that passed under the control of Baku.

"International structures and other organizations continue to question the willingness of the government of Azerbaijan to protect and preserve the religious and cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding territories under Azerbaijani control. In February, the former Minister of Culture Anar Krimov announced the creation of a working group, the purpose of which was to remove Armenian Apostolic inscriptions from churches, which he called "unreal". With most probability, the government abandoned the plan after the international community's outrage, and in March the European Parliament condemned Azerbaijan's continuous policy of erasing and denying the Armenian cultural heritage in and around Nagorno-Karabakh," the document says.

USCIRF recommends that the US government "provide funding to the US Agency for International Development and the US Embassy in Baku for the restoration, preservation, and protection of places of worship and other religious or cultural sites in Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas."
WICKLOW County Council are asking for assistance from the public for the identification of bathing waters so they can be monitored.

Local authorities must identify official bathing areas in their area every year so that they can be monitored for safety, water quality and their level of use.

To help with this process, Wicklow County Council are asking people who swim at beaches, lakes and rivers to tell them if they think they should maintain existing designated bathing waters designations.

They are also requesting any new official bathing area designation to areas that are commonly used for swimming, but not identified at the moment.

Under European and Irish law, Irish local authorities must identify bathing waters each year so that these areas can be monitored to ensure they meet stringent microbiological water quality standards.

In some cases, the official bathing areas are also the areas where local authorities focus their resources providing lifeguards during the summer season.

These laws also require that the local authority prepares detailed descriptions or profiles for each of the identified bathing water sites that describe not just the bathing area but also areas in the surface waters catchment area that could be a source of pollution.

The profiles include an assessment the risk of pollution and what action would be taken if pollution occurs.

If you are a regular swimmer and want to help, the you might want to consider how your swimming area has been used up to now, how many people sue the site, what facilities exist at the site and

If you wish to propose your favourite beach, river or swimming area as a new bathing water site or comment on an existing site please contact bathingwater@wicklowcoco.ie

Closing date for submissions to Wicklow County Council is September 28.
Thomas Gellert and Scott Sutherland, Co-Project Directors of Codling Wind Park, pictured at a recent public consultation event at the Glenview Hotel.

CODLING Wind Park has been successful in Irelands first ever offshore wind energy auction.

Codling Wind Park is a proposed offshore wind farm in the Irish Sea, approximately 13-22 kilometres off the County Wicklow coast, between Greystones and Wicklow town.

EirGrid has provisionally confirmed that Codling Wind Parks bid under the Offshore Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (ORESS) has been successful, ahead of final auction results to be issued in mid-June.

Codling Wind Park is a 50:50 joint venture between EDF Renewables and Fred Olsen Seawind and will have an expected capacity of up to 1,300 megawatts (MW), with the potential to supply the equivalent of over one million Irish homes with low carbon, locally produced, low-cost electricity, and to save almost 2 million tonnes of carbon emissions every year.

Commenting on the successful bid, Codling Wind Park Co-Project Directors Scott Sutherland and Thomas Gellert said: This is a great day in the fight against climate change, and for Irelands plans to become energy self-sufficient.

With Codling Wind Parks successful bid, Irelands largest Phase 1 offshore project of 1,300MW capacity, moves a considerable step closer to reality.

There is an immense wealth of low-carbon, potential power available in the seas around this country. Todays successful auction results will increase confidence in Irelands ability to realise the opportunities of offshore energy.

We look forward to working with the government, state agencies and most of all local communities to ensure that the significant benefits of Irish offshore energy can be delivered to the people of Ireland.

Matthieu Hue, CEO of EDF Renewables UK and Ireland, welcomed the news as a positive step forward for the Irish offshore industry.

Were delighted that Codling Wind Park has been successful with its ORESS bid. As the countrys largest Phase 1 offshore wind farm, Codling will be crucial to Ireland meeting its renewable energy targets and securing its energy supply.

EDF Renewables is a major player in the global offshore wind market, and were committed to drawing on that international experience to support Ireland in capitalising on its immense offshore wind potential.

Todays announcement is an important step on that journey. Together with our joint venture partner we will build on this positive news and work closely with our project partners, the Irish Government, and other stakeholders to deliver on what will be one of the largest energy infrastructure investments in Ireland this decade, he said.

Lars Bender, CEO of Fred. Olsen Seawind commented: We are very pleased with todays result, which proves the strong, experienced joint venture partnership and the good collaboration between the partners as well as with the supply chain.

The success today is a significant testimony to all the hard work carried out by Codling Wind Park and the shareholder teams to reach this point. On behalf of the joint venture partners, we thank all involved and look forward to the journey ahead of us.

As the largest offshore wind farm project in Ireland, considerable economic benefit will be brought to Ireland.

We look forward to engaging further with local communities, government and supply chain in developing Irelands offshore wind skills base and contributing towards Ireland succeeding in delivering on climate change targets.
Sting has said that when he writes songs he listens to the music and asks it to tell me a story.

The multi-award-winning musician said it was his job to translate abstraction into stories and characters and that it happened nine times out of 10.

The former frontman of The Police, 71, is due to be awarded a fellowship by the Ivors Academy on Thursday.

Sting is due to be awarded a fellowship by the Ivors Academy (Owen Humphreys/PA)   Owen Humphreys

He will be the 23rd fellow the academy has inducted in its 79-year history, and joins the likes of Sir Paul McCartney, Kate Bush, Joan Armatrading, Peter Gabriel and Sir Elton John.

Throughout his career, he has won 17 Grammys, three Brits and various other accolades.

He was the primary songwriter and frontman of new wave rock band The Police from 1977 until 1984, after which he left to pursue a solo career.

The band found fame with hits such as Roxanne, Message In A Bottle and So Lonely.

Speaking about his songwriting process, Sting said: Theres no one way of knowing how its going to happen.

I tend to write music first. And then if you construct the music in the right way, it already has an abstract narrative.

So my job is to translate that abstraction into lyrics, into stories, and into characters. I listen to the music, ask the music to tell me the story.

And, nine times out of 10, it comes, eventually.

Stings 1983 hit Every Breath You Take was nominated for three Grammy awards at the 26th annual ceremony, including song of the year.

He said he had been staying at a house once owned by James Bond creator Ian Fleming in Jamaica while writing the song in 1982.

Sting said that some of the spirit of the famous fictional secret agent lay in the song.

Sting has won 17 Grammys, three Brits and other accolades (David Mirzoeff/PA)   David Mirzoeff

Every night Id sit at Ian Flemings desk and try to write songs, he said.

I think one of the strange things about Every Breath You Take is that its very ambiguous. It has double meanings.

I never contradict peoples interpretations, because I think it enriches the song. And this song has that double-edged thing.

My theory is that James Bond, you know, hes a double character. And I think some of that spirit is in this song, though you can interpret it any way youd like.

Sting has previously won seven Ivors including the lifetime achievement award in 2002, and said he regards the awards as the most prestigious in music.

To commemorate his new fellowship, the Ivors newly announced sponsor, Amazon Music, will release a previously unheard demo of Stings 2021 single If Its Love, taken from his most recent album The Bridge.

It will be released exclusively on Amazon Music.

The winners of the 2023 Ivors will be announced at a ceremony at Grosvenor House in London on May 18.
Actor Danny Masterson drugged women's drinks so he could rape them, then relied on his prominence in the Church of Scientology to avoid consequences for years, a prosecutor has told jurors in closing arguments at the actor's trial.
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Technology giant Amazon India has laid off 500 employees in India, media reports said on Tuesday.

Amazon is laying off employees in India across different businesses and functions including Amazon Web Services (AWS), human resources, and support functions, multiple people aware of the matter told The Economic Times.

The Seattle-based technology giant is letting go of at least 500 employees in India, and the process is ongoing, they told the newspaper.

This latest layoff is additional to those announced by Amazon CEO Andy Jassy in March.

March layoffs had impacted 9000 jobs globally.
Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan has met with NATO Deputies Committee members during a visit to Brussels.

May 16, 2023, 10:02 Armenias top security official, NATO Deputies Committee members discuss regional security, partnership

STEPANAKERT, MAY 16, ARTSAKHPRESS-ARMENPRESS: Grigoryans office said in a readout that issues relating to the regional security environment were discussed.

The Secretary of the Security Council presented the security situation around Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh and the crisis in Nagorno Karabakh, which contains risks of ethnic cleansing. Armen Grigoryan called on the international community to react to not allow the abovementioned. The Secretary of the Security Council also presented details on the recent Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations in Washington D.C., and Brussels. He attached importance to the Armenian sides commitment on normalizing relations with Turkey without preconditions. Issues of the development of Armenia-NATO bilateral partnership, namely the Individual Partnership Action Plan were discussed, Grigoryans office said.
Image: Piyush Goyal Twitter page

New Delhi: During his two-day visit to Brussels to attend the first Ministerial meeting of India-European Union Trade and Technology Council (TTC), Union Minister for Commerce & Industry, Textiles, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Piyush Goyal was invited to attend the business meeting organised by Federation of Enterprises in Belgium (FEB).

The meeting was held at the Federation office wherein the Minister delivered a Keynote address.

The meeting was attended by more than 28 business delegates from the Belgium side along with six members of the Indian business delegation.

Rene Branders, President of FEB gave the welcome remarks, and the meeting was moderated by Pieter Timmermans, CEO of FEB.

In his keynote address, Goyal emphasised Indias 10x+ growth potential in the next 25 years which would reinforce its position as the fastest growing large economy, focus on 4Ts of Trade, Technology, Tourism and Talent, its ambitious mission for sustainability and renewable energy which is evidenced by its performance of achieving Paris targets in 2021 itself  9 years ahead of schedule, etc.

This was followed by roundtable discussions which included testimonials from Belgium enterprises which are present and operating in India, testimonials from Indian and foreign companies present in Belgium and remarks from business organisations present during the meeting.

The issues discussed during the roundtable include tariff and duties, protection of IPR, investments, need for regulations in waste management sector, reducing regulatory compliances, zero carbon technology and green financing, off-shore wind systems, etc.

In response to the round table discussion, Sh. Goyal under scored that there must be a level playing field for both the developed and emerging economies while addressing the global challenges such as climate issues.

While India is committed to achieve its targets of net zero emissions, there should be meaningful contribution by all concerned and that commitments made under the Paris agreement must be adhered to by all countries.

He also expressed hope that that the mechanism of India EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) could emerge as an effective platform for finding solutions to these challenges.

The Minister also noted that Indian and EU share several common concerns with respect to WTO issues where their positions are largely aligned and therefore, through their collective efforts, could jointly contribute to find consensus-based solutions in the upcoming WTO Ministerial Conference.
The Interim Resolution Professional (IRP) of Go First Abilash Lal has informed the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) that the financially strained airline has incurred disproportionate liabilities due to the grounding of its aircraft, Moneycontrol reported.

According to the affidavit submitted by the Interim Resolution Professional (IRP) at the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), the company had not defaulted on any payments to financial creditors as of the date of filing.

The IRP contended that the airline's situation would improve if Pratt and Whitney, the engine maker, fulfills the requirement of supplying 10 engines per month as ordered by the Singapore arbitral tribunal.

Expressing doubts about the lessors' motives in opposing the company's voluntary insolvency proposal, the IRP argued that the lessors did not terminate the leases when the dues owed to them accumulated.

However, they promptly terminated the leases after the airline announced its plans for insolvency.

Although the NCLT accepted the airline's request for voluntary insolvency on May 10, aircraft lessors have filed an appeal against it with the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT).

The NCLAT is anticipated to deliver its decision on the lessors' appeal on May 22.

On May 15, the airline's resolution professional, in charge of the insolvency proceedings, claimed that the lessors sent a termination letter after Go First announced its intention to initiate insolvency.

This action was seen as an attempt to undermine the purpose of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).

In response to the IRP's allegations, the lessors have countered by stating that Go First, despite its aircraft still being in operation, abruptly suspended its operations and sought insolvency before the NCLT.

The lessors questioned the logic behind the airline's sudden decision to file for voluntary insolvency, creating a sense of false urgency.
Image Credit: Nagaland Post

Kma/Nagaland: The State Museum, Directorate Art & Culture, hosted a momentous ceremony to inaugurate the long-awaited Archaeological & Heritage gallery, dedicated to the ancient Nagas, on Wednesday.

K Konngam Konyak, the esteemed adviser of Art & Culture and Treasuries & Accounts, lauded the gallery as a sanctuary for culture and identity, reported Nagaland Post.

He emphasized the importance of making it easily accessible to students, enabling them to delve into the wealth of Nagas' cultural heritage.

Konyak stressed the need to preserve the unique Naga culture and encouraged individuals to prioritize the upkeep of the gallery, which vividly showcased the richness of Naga heritage.

Providing an enlightening overview of the gallery, Prof Tiatoshi Jamir from the esteemed Department of History and Archaeology at Nagaland University described it as "unique and offering a distinctive lens into the history of Nagas before the advent of major urban settlements."

Jamir revealed that the gallery housed artifacts from the pre-colonial era of the Nagas, dating as far back as 1000-1500 BC and possibly even reaching 4500 BC.

The gallery also contained evidence of human habitation dating back to a staggering 18,000 BB. Additionally, an informative chart outlining the archaeological sequence of the State was displayed.

Jamir underlined the significance of the exhibits, highlighting that they were primarily excavated or donated by locals and village councils rather than acquired through other means.

He emphasized that the display of these objects should be seen as a means of interacting with the past, enabling visitors to connect with the history they represented.

Furthermore, Jamir mentioned that research scholars were collaborating on ancient DNA studies to explore the possible connections between the remains and the modern Nagas.
Image Credit: Northeast Weekly

Nagaland's cultural heritage receives a boost, as Lidi Kro-U, a woman-led group, endeavors to revive and promote the traditional practices and values of the Angami Naga culture.

In an attempt to combat the detachment of the younger generation from their cultural roots, Lidi Kro-U organizes hands-on training sessions in various traditional activities, such as bamboo basket weaving, headgear making, rice winnowing, and the weaving of traditional shawls, stated Northeast Weekly.

The group conducts workshops, training programs, and documentation efforts to preserve folk music, folk songs, drama, and other cultural resources.

Established in 2012, Lidi Kro-U's vision is centered around promoting Naga culture through diverse programs, imparting knowledge to younger generations, and safeguarding the rich cultural heritage for the future.

To further these goals, the organization aims to establish a cultural institute in Nagaland that will educate young people about the significance of their culture and help them forge a deeper connection with their roots.

The outstanding efforts of Lidi Kro-U were recognized inNovember 2022 when they were featured on the 95th episode of Mann Ki Baat, a popular radio program hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

During the broadcast, the Prime Minister commended the organization for its dedication to promoting the vibrant Naga culture and heritage.

Acknowledging the significance of preserving cultural heritage, schools and colleges in Nagaland have started inviting cultural experts and leaders as esteemed guests to educate and train students on various aspects of Nagaland's rich culture.

On the occasion of the 100th episode of Mann ki Baat, Lidi Kro-U expressed heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Modi for his unwavering support and urged the government to continue its efforts in supporting, promoting, and safeguarding the cultural heritage of Nagaland and all tribal communities.

Lidi Kro-U firmly believes that a profound understanding of cultural heritage has the potential to foster stronger bonds among communities and societies.
Image Credit: The Hills Times

Tezpur/Assam: Seema Thakur, noteworthy alumni of Tezpur Rashtrabhasha Vidyalaya, disproved the idea that economic hindrances and physical issues can obstruct imaginative undertakings by exhibiting her initial autobiographical production called "Anusmriti: Ek Atmakatha" to the audience.

Seema proved that neither her disadvantaged economic background nor her wheelchair-bound condition could hinder her artistic pursuits.

The book launch ceremony took place at Tezpur Rashtrabhasha Vidyalaya, with esteemed guests and dignitaries in attendance, reported The Hills Times.

Dr. Ananta Nath, retired Head of the Hindi Department at Tezpur University and former President of Tezpur Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, graced the occasion as the chief guest and shed light on the various aspects of autobiographical writing.

Dr. Nath expressed confidence that Seema's efforts would serve as a profound source of inspiration to all.

MLA Tezpur, Prithiraj Rabha, an honored guest at the event, called upon the students of the school to delve into Seema's literary work.

He assured Seema of government assistance, pledging support to her in whatever capacity possible in the future.

Ritubaran Sarma, the Vice Chairman of AMTRON, took the stage and delivered a speech that advocated for a greater focus on creative works akin to Seema's.

The esteemed actress, Dr. Jahanara Begum, spoke of her deep spiritual connection with Seema and lauded her compassionate mindset, which constantly seeks to uplift the underprivileged.

Dr. Bhupen Saikia, President of Sonitpur Zila Sahitya Sabha, commended Seema's efforts and emphasized the power of determination in pursuing such ventures.
Image Credit: UNI

Bengaluru/UNI: Before emplaning to New Delhi, Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar on Tuesday said he would not backstab and blackmail anyone.

"In politics, everything has to be considered. Without roots, there are no fruits ... Ours is a united house, our number is 135. I don't want to divide anyone here. Sonia Gandhi is our role model and high command will decide the CM face.

"If I am eligible, they will give me the responsibilities. Whether they like me or not, I am the party president and a responsible person. I will not backstab and blackmail as I don't want to go to the wrong history and make bad remarks," he told reporters here.

Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah are frontrunners for the Chief Minister's post.

Both have been eyeing for the coveted post ahead of the 2023 assembly election.

Between the two, Shivakumar has been a very vocal Chief Ministerial aspirant as he has been sending strong messages to the party high command after Siddaramaiah claimed to have the support of more number of legislators.

On the contrary, Siddaramaiah has remained tightlipped and did not interact with reporters. He flew to Delhi on Monday evening in a special flight and met top AICC leaders.

Shivakumar, who had booked a ticket to fly to Delhi last evening, abruptly canceled the travel citing health issues, fuelling speculations that all is not well in the party.

Interestingly, Siddaramaiah has been in Delhi since Monday.

Meanwhile, Congress party's central observers, who were sent to Karnataka to oversee the Congress Legislature Party meeting, have submitted their report to the AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge.

Knowing the nuances of caste politics of Karnataka, may put the ball in Sonia and Rahul Gandhi's court to announce the name of the next chief minister after consulting them.

The Congress party came to power with a thumping majority in the 224-member Karnataka assembly. The party ousted the BJP government by winning 135 seats.

The BJP, which emerged as the single-largest party in the 2018 assembly elections with 104 seats, failed to woo voters in the 2023 polls.
Bengaluru/UNI: Karnataka Congress is facing a piquant situation. Whomever the party high command announces the chief minister of the state, trouble awaits the grand old party as it would upset either AHINDA or Veerashaiva Vokkaliga communities.

If the Congress anoints Siddaramaiah as the chief minister, it will anger the Vokkaliga and Lingayat communities as powerful seers of respective mutts have rallied behind Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar and appealed to party high command to anoint him as the chief minister.

Vokkaliga seers argue that their community shifted their allegiance from the JDS and voted to the Congress enmasse, and hence Shivakumar should be given the top post.

On the other hand, the Kurbara Sangha also has appealed to the Congress high command to make Siddaramaiah the chief minister as he belongs to Kuruba (shepherd) community.

If the Congress appoints Shivakumar as the chief minister, it will anger AHINDA communities, which is a larger community than Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities. And at this stage, when the Lok Sabha is scheduled for next year, the Congress top brass would not like to disappoint a large number of AHINDA populace, and could anoint Siddaramaiah as the chief minister.

Moreover Sidddaramaiah enjoys support of a large number of legislators who are laying claim for his chief ministry. On the contrary, Shivakumar himself is agreeing that he does not have magical numbers, but he has single-handedly toiled hard to bring the party to power with a thumping majority.

He told reporters that when Siddaramaiah and Dinesh Gundurao resigned from state party unit's top positions, he came forward and accepted the responsibility to lead the party from the front and assured Sonia Gandhi to deliver Karnataka, which he did, and rightful hopes for the reward bestowed upon him.

Adding to the woes of the Congress to meet demands on caste lines, it is now faced with demands on communal lines.

The Karnataka Waqf Board has urged the Congress high command to make one Muslim Deputy Chief Minister and five ministers with portfolios of home, education and revenue.

In an interaction with the media, Waqf Board Chief Shafi Sadi said the Muslim community was a major factor that helped Congress register its thumping majority in at least 72 constituencies, and it is time for the party to reward them in return.

If the Waqf Board's demands, which are pretty unreasonable, are not met, Muslims will be highly disappointed with the Congress.

So, interesting days are ahead in Karnataka politics. It remains to be seen how the new chief minister handles these vexed situations, but one thing is nobody can deny that instability has dogged the Congress even before the announcement of the new chief minister and formation of the government.
Kolkata/IBNS: At least five people died and seven others were hospitalized in critical conditions after a strong explosion rocked an illegal firecracker factory in Khadikul area under Egra Police Station limits in East Medinipur district of West Bengal on Tuesday afternoon, officials said.

East Medinipur SP Amarnath K said local police and fire and emergency services personnel rushed to the explosion site, which is located about 20 kilometres from the Odisha border.

Handing over the probe into the incident to the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that five people had been killed in the explosion while seven others had been hospitalized.

The Chief Minister has asked the police to arrest the owner of the illegal cracker factory and to take departmental action against the local police station's IC.

The cracker factory has been completely destroyed due to the explosion.

(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha)
Image: UNI

New Delhi/IBNS: India Tuesday slammed the US State Department 2022 Report on International Religious Freedom for its critical remarks on India, saying that such reports continue to be based on misinformation and flawed understanding.

The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson in a statement also said that Motivated and biased commentary by some US officials only serves to undermine the credibility of these reports.

The release of the report on Monday comes days after the White House invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an official state visit including a state dinner, on June 22.

The report also comes as PM Modi is set to meet US President Joe Biden during the G7 summit in Hiroshima and during the Quad Summit in Sydney this month.

MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that India values its partnership with the US and will continue to have frank exchanges on issues of concern to us.

The MEA statement read: "We are aware of the release of the U.S. State Department 2022 Report on International Religious Freedom. Regrettably, such reports continue to be based on misinformation and flawed understanding."

Motivated and biased commentary by some U.S. officials only serves to undermine further the credibility of these reports. We value our partnership with the U.S. and will continue to have frank exchanges on issues of concern to us, it said.

A senior State Department Official, speaking on the reports release in Washington, said: What we outline in todays report is a targeted  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-fuelled violence, attacks on houses of worship and home demolitions, and in some cases impunity and even clemency for those whove engaged in attacks on religious minorities  were also continuing to see, at the state level, some restrictions on religious attire.

Well continue to speak directly with our colleagues and counterparts in India regarding these concerns. Were continuing to encourage the government to condemn violence and hold accountable and protect all groups who engage in rhetoric thats dehumanizing towards religious minorities and all groups who engage in violence against religious communities and other communities in India.

The U.S. Holocaust Museum continues to draw considerable attention to the human rights situation in India and lists it as one of its top countries of concern and with  with regards to potential for mass killings there. So well continue to work very closely with our civil society colleagues on the ground, with courageous journalists that are working every day to document some of these abuses, and well continue speaking directly with our counterparts in India to address these issues.

The US State Department report comes days after the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) in its 2023 report designated India as a Country of Particular Concern along with Afghanistan, Nigeria, Syria and Vietnam.

India had on May 2 slammed the USCIRF report, for continuing to regurgitate biased and motivated comments about India and rejected the misrepresentation of facts.
Image Credit: wikipedia.org

New Delhi/UNI: The Supreme Court collegium has recommended Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh High Court Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Senior Advocate KV Vishwanathan as Supreme Court judges, as per a document.

The Supreme Court of India has a sanctioned strength of 34 Judges and is presently functioning with 32 Judges.

Thus, there are two vacancies. With four more vacancies which are going to arise by the second week of July the working strength of judges would come to 28.

The five-member Supreme Court collegium, which recommended the names, was headed by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dr Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chadrachud and four other seniormost judges--Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, K M Joseph, Ajay Rastogi and Sanjiv Khanna.

The collegium has unanimously resolved to recommend the names of Justice Prashant Mishra and Viswanathan to fill up the two existing vacancies, the SC Collegium saidin a statement.

The collegium deliberated on and discussed the names of Chief Justices and senior Judges of the High Courts eligible for appointment to the Supreme Court, it said.

"After carefully evaluating the merit, integrity and competence of eligible Chief Justices and senior Judges of the High Courts and also accommodating a plurality of considerations, the Collegium finds Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra, Chief Justice, Andhra Pradesh High Court to be more deserving and suitable in all respects for being appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India," the SC Collegium said.

Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra was appointed as a judge of the High Court of Chhattisgarh on 10 December 2009.

He was appointed as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh on 13 October 2021.

There is no representation to the High Court of Chhattisgarh in the present composition of the Supreme Court of India.

Justice Mishra has served as a judge of the High Court for over thirteen years and ranks at serial number 21 in the All-India Seniority List of judges of the High Courts.

During his tenure of nearly twelve years as a judge of the High Court of Chhattisgarh, Justice Mishra acquired significant experience in diverse fields of law.

His judgments cover wide-ranging issues pertaining to law and justice. Besides, according representation to the State of Chhattisgarh, the appointment of Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra will provide a value addition in terms of his acquired knowledge and experience.

The Collegium is conscious of the fact that the present Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court who was appointed as a judge on 31 March 2009 is drawn from the parent High Court of Chhattisgarh and ranks senior to Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra.

Having regard to the fact that at present there is only one member from the Bar directly appointed to the Supreme Court Bench, the Collegium has also considered the names of eminent members of the Bar. In their considered opinion, the statement said.

Senior Advocate K V Viswanathan is eminently suitable for being appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court.

The appointment of Viswanathan will enhance the representation of the Bar in the composition of the Supreme Court.

Viswanathan is a distinguished member of the Bar of the Supreme Court.

His wide experience and profound knowledge will provide significant value addition to the Supreme Court, the SC collegium said.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Josep Borrell has met with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov in Brussels.

May 16, 2023, 12:16 EU continues engagement towards lasting peace and security in the South Caucasus  Josep Borrell

STEPANAKERT, MAY 15, ARTSAKHPRESS: Good exchange with FM Jeyhun Bayramov. Welcomed resumption of trilateral meetings hosted by President of the European Council, discussed its outcomes & way forward and exchanged views on EU-Azerbaijan relations. The EU continues engagement towards lasting peace and security in the South Caucasus, Borrell tweeted.
Image Credit: Instagram/Vicky Kaushal

Mumbai/IBNS: Bollywood actor Vicky Kaushal had almost fainted, not literally though, when he heard that superstar Katrina Kaif said in a chat show that she would look good together with the former onscreen.

Vicky and Katrina, who are yet to share screen space, became close to each other, dated and ended up marrying in an almost cosmic way.

More than a year after the two tied their nuptial knot, Vicky was caught off-guard as a question was raised on his divorce.

As he was promoting his upcoming film Zara Hatke Zara Bachke, which co-stars Sara Ali Khan, Vicky was asked by a journalist whether the actor will divorce Katrina if he finds someone better to marry.

Vicky, who seemed searching for an answer, said, "What a tricky question! I am still a kid. Let me grow up first. How will I answer this? (laughs)."

"Forever (with Katrina Kaif)," added the actor, whose performances have earned critical acclaim over the years.

Vicky, who first caught the limelight with Masaan in 2015, has films Raazi, Manmarziyaan, Uri: The Surgical Strike, Sardar Udham against his name.
Image Credit: Guwahati Plus

Guwahati/IBNS: Adil Hussain's latest film, 'Footprints On Water,' has garnered recognition at the esteemed New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF), clinching the coveted title of "Best Debut Film."

The movie, penned by Neetha Syam and helmed by Nathalia Syam, underwent a thorough evaluation by the Film Critics of India.

The NYIFF's official Twitter handle shared the exciting news on Wednesday, exclaiming, "Celebrating an Extraordinary Journey! Footprints On Water clinch the prestigious title of 'Best Debut Film' at NYIFF, as acclaimed by the Film Critics Circle of India. "

"This captivating masterpiece has indelibly imprinted itself, leaving a profound impact with its remarkable narrative and mesmerizing performances."

In response, Adil Hussain, the lead actor, took to Twitter to express his gratitude and extend congratulations to the entire crew of the film. He tweeted, "Absolutely Delighted and thrilled to announce that Our Film #FootPrintsOnWater wins the Best Debut Film at the @nyindianff #NewYorkIndianFilmFestival2023. Big Congratulations to Director @nathalia_syam and the entire Cast & Crew."

'Footprints On Water' revolves around the tale of an undocumented immigrant father residing in the United Kingdom, who embarks on a desperate search for his missing daughter while evading the prying eyes of law enforcement. The film delicately explores themes of resilience, love, and sacrifice amidst challenging circumstances.
Image: World Bank/Stephan Gladieu

New York: Traffic accidents are the leading cause of death among African youth, so governments across the continent have resolved to drive in a new unified direction, ahead of Road Safety Week, observed 15 to 21 May.

Increasingly grim accident statistics provided the impetus for action, including two bus crashes in Senegal that claimed 62 lives in January. In nearby Cote dIvoire, the daily number of fatal road accidents has risen to 46, from just 12 in 2012.

In the worlds region most affected by road crashes, sub-Saharan Africas fatality rate is 27 per 100,000 inhabitants. That is three times higher than Europes average of nine and well above the global average of 18, according to the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), which manages 59 of the Organizations legal instruments on inland transport, including the UN road safety conventions.

Every year, 1.3 million people around the world are killed as a result of road crashes, and millions more are injured, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.

A quarter of world deaths

In Africa, traffic deaths account for about one quarter of the global number of victims, even though the continent has barely 2 per cent of the worlds vehicle fleet, said the UN Secretary-Generals Special Envoy for Road Safety, Jean Todt, who just returned from a visit to the streets and highways of West Africa.

Africa is particularly affected by the tragedy of road accidents, which is the leading cause of youth mortality, he said.

Partners switching gears

Meeting with authorities and civil society in Senegal and Cote dIvoire, Mr. Todt said the right investment, can save lives.

At the moment, governments, the private sector, and civil society, with help from the UN Road Safety Fund, are partnering in a new project that ultimately aims at reducing traffic deaths and ensuring vehicle safety, UNECE said.

The initiative supports regulating the export and import of used vehicles in Africa, particularly regarding regulations and technical inspections. One of the goals is to import safer and environmentally friendly vehicles in Africa to avoid tragic accidents.

The first harmonized approach in Africa to regulate imported used vehicles, the project, when fully implemented, will have a significant impact on the environment, health, and road safety, the agency said.

Recent tragedies spark public outcry

Apart from the deadly Senegal incidents in January, in the same month, in Yamoussoukro, Cote dIvoire, a bus accident killed 14 people and injured 70 others, while a similar collision in August 2022 killed 25 people in the north of Abidjan.

These bus accidents have highlighted the obsolescence of fleets of vehicles in both countries alongside a lack of technical control and a failure to comply with highway codes, the agency said.

Curbing unsafe vehicles

Addressing obsolete vehicle fleets requires special attention in West Africa, UNECE said, adding that Senegal and Cote dIvoire mainly rely on imports of heavily used vehicles.

In 2016, the average age of the vehicle fleet in Senegal was 18 years, with 40 per cent older than 20 years, according to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). Senegal had enacted a decree in 2001 limiting the age of imported cars to 5 years, amending it in 2012 to 8 years, UNECE said.

Vicious cycle of poverty

Efforts are also being made to protect the most vulnerable road users, namely pedestrians and cyclists, who are often also the poorest and youngest, the agency reported. Indeed, Africa has the highest proportion of cyclist and pedestrian fatalities, accounting for 44 per cent of the total number of road deaths.

In addition to the human tragedy, road accidents trap countries in a vicious cycle of poverty. According to the World Bank, the cost of road accidents represents eight per cent of Senegal's annual GDP and 7.8 per cent of Cote dIvoires.

Tackling fake licenses to drunk driving

Drunk driving, speeding, drowsiness, negligence, non-use of seat belts and helmets, and non-compliance with traffic regulations are the main cause of road accidents in Africa, the agency reported.

Other contributing factors included an ageing vehicle fleet in public transport, false licenses, lack of enforcement of penalties, and a dearth of rigorous technical inspections.

Among the solutions to be implemented include the need to strengthen health services for crash victims, and adherence to the African Road Safety Charter and the UN Basic Conventions on Road Safety.

Raising awareness also plays a key role, UNECE said.

Strong new measures

Following the tragic accidents in January, Senegal announced strong measures to make roads safer. This included a national road safety plan, with 22 measures aimed at reducing the number of deaths and serious injuries by at least 50 per cent

Actions span from strengthening road controls to limiting the circulation of public transport vehicles. It also means banning the importation of used tires, providing free technical control in Dakar for transport and goods vehicles, and opening technical control centres across the country.

First traffic police force

In Cote dIvoire, new initiatives are strengthening road safety laws and creating a traffic police force. Following several fatal accidents in the north of the country, the Government decided in 2021 to enforce helmet wearing for all cyclists.

Commitments are there, be it in Senegal or in Cote dIvoire, UNECE said, adding that what remains is the most difficult part: implementation and measuring progress.
Image:  1949 UN Archives Photographer

New York: The UN on Monday commemorated for the first time in its history, the mass displacement of Palestinians from land that was to become Israel, 75 years ago, that turned 700,000 Palestinians into refugees, almost overnight.

The mass displacement in 1948, known as the Nakba (meaning catastrophe in Arabic), has an importance to Palestinians across the world, said Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, addressing a high-level event at UN Headquarters in New York, marking the day.

The occupation must end

The legacy of the event lives on, spearing us to continue our unflagging efforts to find a peaceful and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, she said, noting that the General Assembly had adopted a resolution in November 2022 for this commemorative day.

Currently, the Israeli and Palestinian road towards peace and the implementation of an agreed two-State solution follows decades pock-marked with war, flaring tensions, violence, and multiple negotiation processes.

Ms. DiCarlo expressed deep concerns about diminishing prospects for kickstarting the peace process on the way to forging a two-State solution, given the current landscape of expanding Israeli settlements in occupied territory, recent violence, and Israels violation of Palestinian rights.

Palestinians deserve a life of justice and dignity and the realization of their right to self-determination and independence, she said. The UN position is clear: the occupation must end. A two-State solution must be achieved in line with international law. We want to see an independent State of Palestine living side by side with Israel in peace.

1948 catastrophe

For Palestinians, the 1948 the massive displacement meant families took what they could carry or was shipped in trucks, from their homes to areas outside the new State of Israel.

The UN agency created to serve the displaced population (UNRWA), reports that 5.9 million Palestinian are currently registered as refugees.

The sombre anniversary spotlights the worlds longest-standing protracted refugee crisis, serving as a stark reminder that Palestine refugees continue to live amidst conflict, violence, and occupation while aspiring to a just and lasting solution to their plight, said the UN Committee on the Rights of Palestine People.

Memory will remain

The morning event brought together UN Member States and high-level speakers, including the President of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas.

The Nakba memory will remain; it will continue to motivate our people to end the occupation, Mr. Abbas said. The occupation will end. The Palestinian right will prevail sooner or later, so that peace can prevail in our region and in the world.

Longest unresolved refugee crisis

The plight of Palestine refugees remains the longest unresolved refugee crisis in the world, UNRWAs Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazzarini, said in a video message.

More than ever, they require our collective solidarity, he said. There simply is no alternative to a political solution for all. Until such a day, there is no alternative to UNRWA; we have to continue to support them until a just solution is finally found to their plight.

Special commemorative event

On Monday evening, UN Headquarters will host a special event and concert, featuring films and performances by Palestinian singer Sanaa Moussa, cellist and composer Naseem Alatrash, and the New York Arabic Orchestra, directed by four-time Grammy Award winner, Eugene Friesen.
Pixabay

Afghanistan has largely disappeared from the media, but it remains one of the worlds worst humanitarian disasters.

Two-thirds of the countrys population is food insecure, including 875,000 children facing acute malnutrition. Women and girls remain most at risk.

The ongoing crisis has thrust upon the United Nations two vital but seemingly incompatible responsibilities in Afghanistan: keeping aid flowing to those most in need while also keeping pressure on the Taliban to end its appalling human rights violations, read the Human Rights Watch website.

The abrupt loss of most international aid after the Taliban takeover in August 2021 prompted the initial crisis, but the Talibans increasingly repressive policies, such as banning women from working for the UN and nongovernmental organizations, have made the situation much worse. Now humanitarian aid groups must navigate trying to deliver crucial assistance while ensuring they do not reinforce the Talibans abusive diktats. This is not a situation that lends itself to hashtag campaigns. For aid workers trying to adhere to both the humanitarian imperative of saving lives and the principles of neutrality and impartiality, these are difficult times.

Humanitarian organizations in Afghanistan have long depended on a degree of operational flexibility and room to maneuver to keep urgent assistance going  whether negotiating access across front lines, running girls schools in the 1990s, or navigating the current unofficial exemptions for women to work in the health, nutrition, and education sectors.

However, recent UN statements have led to confusion and charges of incoherence among UN agencies, as some have allowed men staff to keep working while women cannot. While acknowledging the need for local flexibility, it is essential that heads of key agencies like the World Food Programme and UNICEF maintain a firm, consistent line that the Talibans actions are in violation of international human rights law and the UN Charter.

A recent meeting of UN special envoys in Doha reportedly agreed on continued engagement without recognition of the Taliban until there is progress on human rights. While some Afghan civil society groups have rejected all engagement, others see it necessary to relieve the economic crisis.

But all this will mean little if current humanitarian funding levels also do not improve. A drastic loss of aid will leave many Afghans poorer and hungrier.
Image: Pixabay

A violent clash, which took place between two tribes, left 14 people injured in Pakistan's Darra Adam Khel area on Monday.

The injured included one policeman.

Among the deceased, eleven belonged to the Sunny Khel tribe, while three were from the Akhorwal tribe. All 12 injured belonged to the Sunny Khel tribe, reports Dawn News.

The fighting ensued at 5pm when rival tribesmen, entrenched in mountains, attacked the other side with heavy weapons. The army was called in to stop the rampage and force the tribesmen down from the mountains, the newspaper reported.

The two tribes fought over a four-mile stretch of coal mountain occupied by the Akhorwals.

The authorities have yet to register a case. An official of the Darra Adam Khel administration, Azam Khan, told Dawn that the FIR has not been registered as tribes do not recognise the law and prefer to solve disputes through a jirga.
Representational image from UNI

Taipei: Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) has said it tracked six Chinese military aircraft and five naval vessels around the country between 6 a.m. on Sunday (May 14) and 6 a.m. on Monday, media reports said, an episode that may have potential to further escalate tension between the two nations.

At 9 a.m. on Monday, the MND said that six People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) military aircraft and five People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels had been tracked around Taiwan. None of the detected aircraft crossed the median line or entered Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ), reports Taiwan News.

The MND said it monitored the situation and responded by scrambling combat patrol aircraft, dispatching naval vessels, and deploying land-based air defense missile systems.

What is the basis of Chinas claim over Taiwan?

The basis of Chinas claim over Taiwan dates back to 1945 when Japan lost its control over the island in 1945,post-World War Two. The 1949 Chinese civil war led to communists taking control and Chiang Kai-shek the one who lost fled to Taiwan. He ruled it for many decades. This is where Chinas claim to Taiwan emanates. The very fact that Chiang Kai-shek came to Taiwan and was not indigenous to the place is Taiwans argument against the claim.


Representational Image of Airbnb/credit: Pixabay

Montreal/IBNS: Quebecs regulation in holding short-term rental platforms such as Airbnb accountable for uncertified listings should reportedly be followed by more provinces, say advocates.

Last week, the Quebec government tabled a bill requiring short-term rental companies to ensure the certifications of their online listings by the province.

If passed, each illegal rental listing for such companies would face fines of up to $100,000.

Quebec and some cities across Canada reportedly have previously only targeted hosts with unregistered listings.

It would be illegal for anyone, according to Quebecs bill, to advertise a short-term rental online without including the number and expiry date for their provincial certificate.

Thorben Wieditz of Fairbnb, a coalition of groups from the regulated hotel and B&B industry, reportedly said more provinces should follow Quebecs lead.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)
In a remarkable turn of events, a young girl whose mother in Illinois abducted was discovered safe after six years of disappearing. The breakthrough came when a store owner in North Carolina recognized her from a Netflix show.

Kayla Unbehaun was just nine years old when she disappeared without a trace while under the care of her mother, Heather Unbehaun.

The incident occurred on July 4, 2017, during a visit with her mother, who had visitation rights but not full custody.

The following day, Kayla's father, who had full custody, arrived at her mother's residence in Wheaton, Illinois, only to find both his daughter and her mother missing.

A search was initiated to locate the abducted child, but the leads grew cold over the years.

Nevertheless, Kayla's story remained in the hearts of many, and her case was featured on an episode of the Netflix series "Unsolved Mysteries" titled "Abducted by a Parent."

The Netflix episode shed light on the heartbreaking situation, capturing the attention of viewers worldwide. Little did anyone know that this exposure would lead to a breakthrough in the case.

After nearly six years of disappearance, a fortuitous sighting in North Carolina has led authorities to locate the missing child.

During a seemingly ordinary day, a store owner in North Carolina made a striking realization. According to WSOC, a store owner in Asheville noticed Kayla, now 15, at a nearby shopping center and recognized her from the Netflix show.

The store owner promptly alerted the police, who located and placed Kayla in protective custody. The familiar face he saw in his store resembled the girl from the Netflix show.

Kayla/Twitter

Acting swiftly, he alerted the authorities, who confirmed the remarkable truth: the girl was indeed Kayla Unbehaun, missing for six long years.

Twitter

The joyful reunion with Kayla's father brought tears of relief and marked the end of a lengthy and agonizing search.

The circumstances surrounding her disappearance and the details of her life during those six years are now under investigation as authorities work to unravel the whole story.

Last month, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) released an age-progression photo of Kayla, showing how she may look now at 15.



Twitter

Ms. Unbehaun, Kayla's mother, was arrested and charged with one count of child abduction by the Kane County State's Attorney's Office. She is currently held on a $250,000 bond; additional charges may follow.



The NCMEC, which had been actively sharing alerts to aid in the search for Kayla over the past five-plus years, shared a message from Kayla's father expressing his joy upon learning that his daughter had been found safe.

"I'm overjoyed that Kayla is home safe. I want to thank the South Elgin Police Department, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and all the law enforcement agencies who assisted with her case," he said. "We ask for privacy as we reconnect and navigate this new beginning."

Throughout the years, Kayla's father, Ryan, continued to raise awareness about his daughter's case through the Facebook page "Bring Kayla Home."

On January 6, he posted a birthday message to his missing daughter, expressing his longing for their reunion. He wrote,

"Happy 15th birthday, Kayla. I love you and miss you so much. I can't wait for the day that I get to see you again, hoping that each day I wake up will be the day. It could never come soon enough. I think of you every day, hoping and praying that you are safe and happy and will come back into my life soon."

After an agonizing six-year search, a remarkable turn of events has brought Kayla Unbehaun back to safety.

Thanks to the observant store owner in North Carolina who recognized her from the Netflix show, Kayla's whereabouts were finally revealed, leading to her reunion with her father.



(For the latest trending stories, keep reading Indiatimes)


The European side, taking into account the interests of Azerbaijan, is trying to ensure the exchange of Azerbaijanis who crossed the border of Armenia for Armenian prisoners of war (POWs). Siranush Sahakyan, president of the International and Comparative Law Center, said this in an interview with NEWS.am.

May 16, 2023, 16:01 Siranush Sahakyan: European side is attempting to ensure Azerbaijani criminals exchange for Armenian POWs

STEPANAKERT, MAY 16, ARTSAKHPRESS: After the tripartite meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, European Council President Charles Michel, and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev that was held on May 14 in Brussels, Michel had announced that several more detainees will be released in the coming weeks. He had added that he had emphasized the need to maintain mutual understanding on the matter of the soldiers who had gotten lost and crossed over to the other side will be released under an expedited procedure as before.

But according to Sahakyan, there is a misrepresentation of the facts and, in fact, the Azerbaijani point of view was presented unilaterally.

"There are no facts behind it, and the Armenian position is not reflected. I don't know why the evidence and the final theory were not brought out in comparison with the Armenian position. Maybe they are not aware of the Armenian position or, being aware, it was desirable to rely on the Azerbaijani point of view. Anyway, classic Azerbaijani criminals are presented as astray soldiers when at least one of these soldiers has also published a video and the crimes committed by them are substantiated by many evidences. As a rule, if astray servicemen find themselves under the control of the armed forces of another country due to weather or other conditions, they do not commit acts combined with hostile violence. In this case, we see that certain actions were carried out intentionally and violated such important values as life," Sahakyan said.

She stressed that the aforesaid theory will support the "exchange of Armenian prisoners of war with the strays" operation.

"I believe since they are working with Azerbaijan with very soft tools and have not provided any movement in the repatriation of prisoners of war in the last six months. The European side, taking into account the interests of Azerbaijan in terms of prisoners of war, is trying to ensure their exchange for prisoners of war.

"We have a precedent. First, in the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020 such wording was given that the exchange was extended not only to prisoners of war, but also to those kept in custody on other grounds. The two Azerbaijanis sentenced to life imprisonment, who were serving their sentence in Shushi city of Artsakh , actually became part of that exchange. And there are prerequisites to be able to resolvein exchange for the return of the two Azerbaijanisthe issue of the return of a limited number of Armenian prisoners of war through European mediation," Sahakyan noted.
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Politics,6,Weapons,10,Wearable,2,Weather,2,Webinar,1,WEF,2,Welfare,1,West,2,West Africa,19,West Bengal,2,Western Sahara,2,Whitepaper,2,WHO,3,Wholesale Price Index,1,Wikileaks,1,Wikipedia,1,Wildfire,1,Wildlife,2,Wind Energy,1,Windows,1,Wireless Security,1,Wisconsin,1,Women,10,Women's Right,10,Workshop,1,World Bank,33,World Economy,28,World Peace,10,World War I,1,World War II,3,WTO,6,Wyoming,1,Xi Jinping,9,Xinjiang,2,Yemen,26,Zbigniew Brzezinski,1,Zimbabwe,2, ltr item IndraStra Global: Thailand General Election 2023: Voters Reject Military-backed Political Parties Thailand General Election 2023: Voters Reject Military-backed Political Parties By IndraStra Global News Team https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTT7wKMefjjgG78sq_utkI0ROLbeuCotBWOfDCgTdu6F680G_mRpMzqEDMjnni0rZIISlVPDz0GvM8qTUwQz9Se5VdOdXR4rwJv0KMP9MZOla62J61rq_MVHaygp2kogD2HnM_-vYLgD5syydVgRkBnE_0We-g4nCDGfJsV8-b8tMnrPCWmx2HcXzD/w640-h426/MFP-Pita-Limjaroenrat-Jorge-Silva-REUTERS.jpg 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Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited the Athens suburb of Zografou on Monday, where he sent a stern message that Albania's European prospects are entirely dependent on it respecting the rights of the Greek ethnic minority in that country.
Members-elect from opposition parties in the House of Representatives known as Greater Majority have revealed that none of their members have indicated interest in the position of Speaker and Deputy Speaker in the 10th National Assembly.

The opposition parties are Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), New Nigeran Peoples Party (NNPP), Young Progressives Party (YPP), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Action Democratic Congress (ADC).

The caucus, Greater Majority, which held a meeting in Abuja on Monday night to deliberate on the way forward, also stated that an 11-member committee set up by opposition members-elect already met with aspirants from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), concluding that all of them appear to be qualified.

Victor Afam Ogene, a member-elect, said the group does not have a definite candidate to support as no member of the minority had indicated interest to contest.

The committee called on Members of the minority caucus who are interested in the speakership position or Deputy Speaker position to step forward.

READ ALSO: 10th Assembly: APC NWC Nominates Akpabio For Senate President, Tajudeen For Speaker

I wish to report on behalf of the Chairman of that Committee and the entire members, as at the end of the period given to undertake that assignment no member of the minority caucus better known as the greater majority stepped forward to contest for the role of presiding officers.

Deductively this means that we are not bidding for those two positions. However we remain united as one caucus of the opposition parties.

We did also met with those aspiring for the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives, but because weve not briefed our members, I will not go into details of our interface. But I can assure you everyone that put him or herself running for the position appear to be qualified, Ogene said.

The opposition had earlier constituted an 11-man committee to shop for candidates for the the Speaker and Deputy to contest for the 10th House of Representatives leadership.
Gunmen have reportedly attacked two villages in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, killing 29 people, including women and children.

The gunmen numbering over 100 were reported to have invaded the Kubwat and Fungzai villages on Monday night, May 15, 2023.

A resident identified as John Yakubu of Fungzai community who witnessed the attacks, confirmed the incident to The Punch in Jos on Tuesday.

READ ALSO: Suspected Terrorists Reportedly Kill Six In Plateau Communities

Yakubu said that in Fungzai community alone, the gunmen killed 15 persons including the wife of his younger brother and her children while a total of 29 corpses had been recovered.

It was last night, the gunmen arrived in large numbers and started shooting. The panicky villagers started running but unknown to them, other gunmen laid ambush and shot at those trying to run away. As Im talking to you, I am in Fungzai village. The attackers killed 15 persons here(Fungzai) including the wife and children of my younger brother last night, he narrated.

They also attacked Kubwat, a neighbouring village. So far, we have recovered a total of 29 corpses including women and children. We are in pain.

Governor Simon Lalong, who confirmed the attack in Kubat, described the incident as a sad development and directed security forces to pursue the attackers and ensure they were arrested.

In a statement signed by the Governors Director of Press and Public Affairs, Macham Makut, Lalong equally directed the State Emergency Management Agency and the Peace Building Agency to visit the area and ascertain the humanitarian need.

Plateau State Governor, Simon Bako Lalong, woke up Tuesday May 16, 2023 to distressing news of an overnight attack on Kubat Village in Mangu Local Government Area where some persons, including women and children were reportedly killed, the statement read.

Governor Lalong who is seriously disturbed about the sad development has immediately directed security forces to pursue the attackers and ensure they are arrested.

He describes this as yet another attempt by crisis merchants and criminals to return the State to the dark days of pain and agony, vowing that the Government will stop at nothing to ensure that those behind this scheme are dealt with mercilessly.

While condemning the act, the Governor commiserates with the victims and assures that the murderers will not be allowed to go unpunished as this is an act that can neither be tolerated nor excused no matter the motivation.
The Ekiti State Police Command has invited a 90-year-old man, identified as Pa Joel Afolabi, for allegedly tying his seven-year-old grandson to a tree and torturing him over missing meat.

The incident happened in Aye-Ekiti, in Ido/Osi local government area of the state.

According to a source who spoke to LindaIkejisBlog, the primary four pupil identified as Tunmise, was accused of eating a part of a meat which had been smoked on a fire in the kitchen by his grandfather, after arrived from school.

READ ALSO: Mother Macheted To Death By Son While Separating Fight With His Brother In Abuja

The source further stated that the meat which belongs to his grandfather was kept on the fire while the pupil was away in the school.

Upon arrival in the house, the grandfather was said to have discovered a reduction in the size of the meat which he kept on the fire and later called the victim to ask if he was the one that took part of it.

The boy was said to have denied the allegation and insisted that he was not the one responsible for the act. His response was said to have annoyed the grandfather, who later brought out a cane.

He flogged him repeatedly, insisting that he (Tunmise) must have been the person who took the meat, as other children who also live in the house are yet to return from school.

Apart from the flogging, the old man was also alleged to have tied the young boy to a tree and subjected him to other punishment which lasted for several hours, during which he was injured in the left side of the eye.

It was gathered that despite entreaties made to him by other neighbours and passersby to release the boy, the old man was said to have refused their move and continued the punishment.

The residents who were not happy with the situation later reported the matter to the police and a Non-governmental Organization based in Ekiti State to take up the matter and sanction the man to serve as deterrent.

The boy has been admitted to a private hospital in the town where he is currently receiving treatment for the injuries he sustained during the punishment.
Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti, who is being investigated for assaulting a police officer, will remain in police custody as he has allegedly refused to cooperate with the Force investigation.

INFORMATION NIGERIA learnt that Seun was dragged before the court by the Nigeria Police for assault on a police officer during an altercation that happened over the weekend in Lagos State.

The police said Kuti has refused to write a statement as he claimed that there was no need to make a statement as the police had already paraded him before the public through the media.

READ MORE: Theres No Reason To Handcuff Seun Kuti Having Surrendered Voluntarily  Shehu Sani

According to a senior police officer who spoke on the condition of anonymity told Daily Sun Newspaper that Kuti was taken to Yaba Court 1 Tuesday, May 16, to seek an order to remand him in their custody, pending when the investigation would be concluded.

Kuti refused to write his statement yesterday at D13. So the delay in that write-up could not allow us to continue the investigation, the source said.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has declared that Distribution Companies are allowed to disconnect customers who have not paid their electricity bills for at least 12 day.

In the statement titled, Customer Protection Regulations, 2023, and shared on the NERC website, the NERC said a DisCo may disconnect supply to a customers premises when the client fails to pay the amount billed by the payment date specified on the bill or violates other terms and conditions agreed upon with the firm.

The NERC said that the payment date must be, at least, 10 days after the bill was delivered, and DisCos can then disconnect two working days later.

READ ALSO: No 50% Increase In Electricity Tariff  NERC

The NERC said, The payment date must be, at least, 10 days from the date of the delivery of the bill to the customer. Bills may be delivered physically to the customers premises or by some other electronic means, including text messages or electronic mail, as agreed with the customer.

The period between the payment date and date of scheduled disconnection for nonpayment is not less than two working days after the payment date.

Any bill correcting a previous inaccurate bill shall have a payment date which is at least 10 working days from the date of delivery of the corrected bill to the customer.

The regulator added that a customer may be disconnected without notice if he is connected to the DisCos network in an unauthorised manner.

DisCos are also empowered to deny a customers request for electricity supply if such customers failed to provide a valid means of identification or to pay the security deposit requested by the company.

The denial of a customers electricity request can be based on, Where the customers connection is considered to be dangerous to the integrity of the network and/or affects the quality of supply to other customers.

Where the DisCo is not granted access to read a meter that is located within the customers premises.

Whenever a customer requests a distribution company to disconnect electricity supply to his premises, the distribution company shall disconnect the supply after confirming that the customers request will not impact other customers in the premises that require continued supply.

The distribution company shall ensure that it is able to monitor consumption to the premises of the customer that has requested a disconnection that was not effected due to the impact on other customers in the premises, to assess the customers consumption.
The Federal Government (FG) on Monday listed conditions that must be met for new evacuees who only recently availed themselves to be evacuated from war-torn Sudan.

AbdulRahman Balogun, the spokesperson for Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, revealed this while stating the governments effort in trying to rescue Nigerians still stranded in the Northeast African country.

Information Nigeria had earlier reported about 160 women claiming to be Nigerians in war-torn Sudan have no passports to verify their citizenship claims and fly back to the country.

READ ALSO: 160 Women In Sudan Claiming To Be Nigerians Have No Passports To Return  FG

Some persons claimed their great-grandparents up to the fifth generation were Nigerians while they were born in Sudan.

The NIDCOM spokesperson also disclosed that the number of evacuees grew from 26 to 200 about the time the Commission thought it was almost wrapping up its rescue operation.

For those left in Sudan who wish to leave, Balogun said, You must get yourself to Port Sudan. You must have a means of identification as a Nigerian. You must have a verifiable contact or an abode in Nigeria.
The Federal Government (FG), on Monday, described as unworkable, a bill currently being considered by the National Assembly (NASS) seeking to restrict the migration of Nigerian Doctors for five years before seeking greener pastures.

Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, revealed this on Monday while fielding questions from journalists after the extraordinary Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the State House, Abuja.

Information Nigeria had reported that the resident doctors will from Wednesday embark on a five-day warning strike over perceived attempts to ground medical and dental graduates nationwide for five years before being granted a practising licence.

The sponsor of the bill, Ganiyu Johnson, a member of the House of Representatives from Lagos State, had explained that the move will check the mass exodus of medical practitioners from the country.

The legislation is titled, A Bill for an Act to amend the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act, Cap. M379, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to mandate any Nigeria-trained medical or dental practitioner to practise in Nigeria for a minimum of five years before being granted a full licence by the Council to make quality health services available to Nigeria; and for related matters.

They also demanded an immediate increment in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) to the tune of 200 per cent of the current gross salaries of doctors, the immediate implementation of CONMESS, domestication of the Medical Residency Training Act, and review of hazard allowance by all the state governments as well as private tertiary health institutions where any form of residency training is done; among others.

READ ALSO: Bill To Delay Nigerian Medical Doctors, Dentists From Relocating Abroad To Practise Scales Second Reading

Reacting to this, Ngige said the bill negates extant Labour laws.

Nobody can say they (doctors) will not get a practising licence until after five years. It will run contrary to the laws of the land that have established the progression in the practice of medicine.

The Bill in the National Assembly cannot stop anybody from getting a full licence. That Bill is a private members bill. In the National Assembly, they attend to private members Bills and executive Bills.

Executive bills emanate from the government into the National Assembly with the stamp of the executive.

It is either sent by the Attorney-General of the Federation or by the President, but usually from the Attorney-General of the Federation. So, its not an executive Bill, its a private members Bill.

That document is, as far as I am concerned, not workable. Ab initio, I dont support it and I will never support it.

As I said before, it is like killing a fly with a sledgehammer. They should think of other ways if they are trying to check brain drain, there should be other ways, Ngige said.

The Minister added that the five-day strike is unnecessary since the government was already engaging with the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) umbrella body.

On the demand for a 200 per cent salary increase, the NMA is the father of all doctors in Nigeria and they have about four or five affiliates of which the resident doctors are an association.

So, NMA is discussing with the Federal Ministry of Health, salaries income and wages commission and the Ministry of Labour, and we know that NMA has accepted a salary increase of between 25 and 30 per cent across the board for their members.

So, I dont know the logic by which people who are members of NMA are now coming up to say pay us 200 per cent increase.

I dont understand it. I have called the NMA President to contact them because, on the issue of remuneration negotiation, its NMA that the government deals with. So, I have told the President of NMA to contact them and we will engage them. They should not go on any strike, its not necessary, he said.
Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora has urged the Federal Government to ban the importation of all foreign food commodities Nigeria can produce.

Mamora made the call on Tuesday at the ministerial media briefing orgainised by the presidential communications at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to Mamora, the country is bereft of investors, hence most local inventions are rather dormant and useless.

He said the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation is having a challenge taking research outputs to the market, noting that when this is done it would be seen as doing something.

READ ALSO: Diversify, Dont Depend On Crude Oil  Okonjo-Iweala Tells Governors-Elect

Speaking on what has been done with all the inventions the ministry has been able to achieve, Mamora said: What do we do with all these inventions? Its a question that we have also been pondering about. It will interest you that virtually all our agencies have come up with one invention or the other.

But the challenge had always been taking these research outputs to the market. Because until and unless we are able to take them to the market, we would not be seen to have been able to do something.

According to him, while the ministry would continue to engage the relevant stakeholders, it is also thinking of legislation to compel the protection of the inventions before pushing them to the market.

Admitting that the ministrys pace may be slow, he said, We need to do more in terms of having that handshake between the research institutions and the market through investors and those who are interested  people that move around with their capital and would want to invest.

So, its a challenge that we know we are still facing which we will need to do more.

We have so many outputs that are still gathering dust on shelves in various agencies. So, what we are doing is to continue to engage, to continue to have fora for these engagements where we can bring all stakeholders together.

Mamora stressed that We are also looking at how we can compel, as it were, a little bit of legislation that once these things are available particularly if they are protected because we also need to protect the intellectual property, we cant just push them to the markets.

So, the challenge is about getting investors that will take these inventions out there and these things can then be useful to our people.

Again, we also have a duty in terms of our own nationalism. One of the challenges again is that we have developed a taste that is not local. Rather, taste that is alien. We have this tendency to want to get something from abroad.

Again, I think the government will need to really come hard in terms of a total banning, as it were, of things that we have the capacity to do locally. That is why nationalism comes in.
Armenia did discuss a possible withdrawal from the CSTO in the context of the September 2022 Azeri attack but eventually decided not to do so, Deputy Foreign Minister Mnatsakan Safaryan confirmed on Tuesday.

May 16, 2023, 17:26 Withdrawal from CSTO not on agenda now, says Armenian deputy FM

STEPANAKERT, MAY 16, ARTSAKHPRESS-ARMENPRESS: I cant recall the specific date [of the discussion], because it was discussed at the Security Council. I believe it happened in the period of the September developments. A decision was made not to make that step and continue working because there were issues that were later discussed in the CSTO summit. As you know, these works continue, and we have announced this. Soon there will be discussions on the situation in South Caucasus, and we will inform about it, Safaryan said, adding that a withdrawal from the CSTO is not on the agenda of the Armenian government at this moment.

Safaryan said the situation is difficult, and as a CSTO member which has obligations, Armenia continues to hope that its steps and work will lead to some results.

We still have that hope, Safaryan said.

The Deputy FM mentioned that Armenia has numerously insisted that the CSTO ought to issue a political assessment on the situation in the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

These discussions could resume at some point, he said.
The candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the February 25 presidential election, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, reportedly met with the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in Paris, France.

It was gathered that the discussion primarily revolved around Kwankwasos potential involvement in the upcoming administration, as Tinubu plans to form a government of national unity, which entails allocating certain positions to opposition parties.

Present at the meeting included the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, and a chieftain of the NNPP and former director of a Tinubu Campaign Organisation, Abdulmumin Jibrin.

It was also learned that the wife of the president-elect, Oluremi Tinubu, received and met with Kwankwasos wife, Salamatu, on critical issues affecting women and the youth.

According to a report by TheCable said that Kwankwaso, in principle, agreed to join Tinubus government subject to consultations with the stakeholders on both sides.

Tinubu is expected to brief Kashim Shettima, the vice-president elect, APC governors forum and other party leaders while Kwankwaso will do the same with his party leadership.

It was also learned that Tinubu expressed concern over the strained relations between the outgoing governor of Kano state, Abdullahi Ganduje, and Kwankwaso, and promised to broker peace between them.
Ahead of the proposed commissioning of the Dangote Refinery by President Muhammadu Buhari on May 22, the Lagos State Government has urged residents to plan their movement in and out of the Lekki-Epe corridor between 8 am and 2 pm.

INFORMATION NIGERIA learnt that President Muhammadu Buhari will inaugurate the Dangote Refinery located on the Lekki-Epe axis on the fixed date.

According to a statement released by the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, signed by the Commissioner, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde noted that it had become imperative for the state government to alert the public, particularly regular road users in Lekki-Epe zone, due to high vehicular movement that will be witnessed in the axis as a result of the commissioning.

READ MORE: Buhari To Commission Dangote Refinery In Two Weeks

The statement further urged residents to plan their journeys around the axis, in order to forestall avoidable delays in travel time.

It added that; Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and other traffic enforcement personnel have been charged to ensure effective management and control of traffic, urging motorists to cooperate with them for seamless flow of traffic.

The Dangote Refinery is an oil refinery owned by Aliko Dangote that will be inaugurated next week Monday in Lekki, Nigeria. When in full operation, it is expected to have the capacity to process about 650,000 barrels per day of crude oil, making it the largest single-train refinery in the world. The investment is over 19 billion US dollars.
Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, has called on the Federal Government to either provide the resources to continue to mandate participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme or otherwise make it voluntary.

Jega made the call during his address at the Opening Ceremony of the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the NYSC on Monday in Abuja where he was the guest lecturer.

READ ALSO: Buhari Celebrates NYSC At 50, Salutes Gowon For The Vision

He added that the service must be retained but must also be repositioned to provide a substantial impact on national development, or else it will not last another ten decades.

If Nigeria wants to do mandatory youth service for all graduates, then Nigeria must provide resources to do just that. Otherwise, you may as well term it to be voluntary or specialised so that you can have maximum value for your little resources.

We must retain this service, but we must reposition it in such a manner that it can provide not only value for money but also have an even more substantial impact on national progress and development, or else it wont last the next ten decades, he said.
The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, has commended former Governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso for meeting with the President-elect, Bola Tinubu in Paris.

INFORMATION NIGERIA had earlier reported that Kwankwaso, who contested for the 2023 presidency via the party of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) and secured a victory in Kano State, a stronghold of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), held a meeting with Tinubu on Tuesday, signaling a desire for unity and collaboration.

It was gathered that during their meeting, Tinubu reportedly emphasized the importance of reaching out to political associates and fostering a spirit of cooperation among them.

READ MORE: Your Master Only Knows How To Cook Cocaine  Keyamo Dragged Over Statement To Hilda Baci

However, the President-elect and Kwankwaso agreed to continue their discussions in subsequent meetings.

Keyamo while reacting to the development, said in a post via Twitter on Tuesday that Kwankwaso is among the real patriots looking forward to collaborating with Tinubus administration for nation-building.

According to him, the former Governor of Kano State may already be forging alliances with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 election.

He wrote: Whilst real patriots are already looking forward to collaborating for nation-building and MAY already be forging alliances ahead of 2027, some nattering nitwits are still stuck in the past, throwing tantrums here and there and will continue to do so till 2027, to the extent that when they are defeated again they will start looking for fake results inside IREV
A middle-aged man, suspected to be a terrorist, has killed himself with an improvised explosive device (IED) in order to evade arrest by security operatives in Kaduna State.

The incident reportedly occurred in the early hours of Monday at Keke community in the Chikun Local Government Area of the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Kaduna, Muhammed Jalige, confirmed the development to Channels Television in a telephone conversation, saying he is awaiting the full details of the incident from the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Millennium City.

READ ALSO: At Least 40 Dead As Explosion Rocks Nasarawa

However, a local source who spoke to Channels Television said that the victim has been on the radar of security agencies who trailed him to an apartment in the Keke community in Chikun local government where he has been hiding.

The source further disclosed that a combined team of policemen, personnel of the Department of State Security Services, and soldiers surrounded the apartment and engaged the suspect in a gun battle.

But sensing that the security operatives were closing in on him, the suspected terrorist blew himself up with an improvised explosive device.

An AK-47 rifle was said to have been recovered inside the mans apartment, along with two other live explosive devices, that were later safely detonated by the anti-bomb squad of the Kaduna State Police Command.

Meanwhile, the mutilated body of the man was later evacuated from the scene by security operatives who also took his wife and children away for further investigation.
Thomas Jefferson University, which owns Jefferson Health, reported an operating loss for the nine months ended March 31. Shown is Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Center City in 2021. Read more

Thomas Jefferson University on Monday reported a $117 million operating loss for the nine months that ended in March  nearly three times bigger than the loss for the comparable period a year ago.

Jefferson is typically the first of the not-for-profit health systems in the Philadelphia region to report quarterly financial results to municipal bondholders. Experts expect results for the March quarter to show that many health systems are still struggling financially because their costs have outpaced revenue growth and federal COVID aid has stopped.

A bright spot for Jefferson, which owns the most hospitals in the Philadelphia region, was Health Partners Plans Inc. The not-for-profit Medicaid and Medicare insurer had a $36 million operating profit, helping offset a $153 million operating loss at Jeffersons 18 hospitals and other clinical businesses.

The report to municipal bond investors showed that Jefferson had $7 billion in revenue in the first three quarters of the fiscal year that ends June 30. Overall, revenue was up 22% from $5.8 billion the year before. Much of the gain came from the acquisition of Health Partners, which Jefferson completed in late 2021. Also that fall, Jefferson completed its acquisition of Einstein Healthcare Network.

Jefferson said the cost of temporary nurses and other staff needed to fill vacancies factored into its loss. Temporary staffing costs totaled $63 million more than it had budgeted for, Jefferson said.

Other unanticipated costs in the quarter included interest on borrowings from a line of credit, employee severance, and support to St. Christophers Hospital for Children, Jefferson said.

Neither Jefferson nor Tower Health, which owns St. Chris, provided details on that support to the North Philadelphia safety-net hospital.

The unbudgeted severance likely came from a restructuring announced in January that divided Jeffersons 18 hospitals into three regions, each with its own president, a change designed to help integrate Jeffersons hospitals. Among those who lost their jobs were Richard J. Webster, president of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Center City and Magee Rehabilitation Hospital, and Alison Ferren, president and chief operating officer of Abington Health.
Call it the Delancey Street primary.

Three candidates for Philadelphia mayor showed up Tuesday morning at about the same time just after 8 a.m. to cast their ballots  at the same polling place.

Jeff Brown, Allan Domb, and Rebecca Rhynhart  all seeking the Democratic nomination in the heated race for mayor  each live in the citys 8th Ward, which is in Rittenhouse Square (and endorsed Rhynhart). None of the candidates interacted outside the Tenth Presbyterian Church at 17th and Delancey streets.

But they absolutely saw one another.

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 READ MORE: Results for the 2023 Philadelphia mayoral primary

Domb arrived first along with his rescue dog, Allie, who wore a blue T-shirt reading: Vote for my dad Allan Domb. He said the final sprint ahead of Election Day has been intense, but he said its been fun.

People said, Arent you exhausted? he said. I said No, Im used to working like this. And I would apply that same work ethic as mayor.

Domb cast his ballot inside the church, and while he was inside, his rival, Brown, showed up alongside family, campaign staff, and top supporters. As Brown was posing for a photo with his family, Domb walked out of the polling place directly by him.

 READ MORE: One last chance to win votes: How Philly mayoral candidates spent the final hours of campaigning

Suffice it to say the two have had a complicated relationship  Domb funded a barrage of attack ads against Brown  and did not say hello.

Brown, who has polled near the bottom of the top tier of candidates over the last few weeks, said he feels confident heading into election day and thinks were going to surprise people.

He said that even after a tough campaign, he didnt regret throwing his hat in the ring.

I did it for the people. I mean, I get charged up by the people, Brown said. Every day Ive gotten up and Ive decided to meet them. Weve hugged each other. I feel their pain, and Im here to help them if I win this election or if I dont win this election.

After Brown cast his ballot, he stood on the sidewalk outside the church and took more photos with supporters. As he was doing so, Rhynhart came walking down the same sidewalk along with her husband and 13-year-old daughter, Julia. Rhynhart and Brown, too, didnt acknowledge one another.

Rhynhart, who has been polling near the top of the pack over the last several weeks, said she felt a deep sense of hope heading into the day, saying: I have felt this momentum across neighborhoods, that people really want a good leader. They want change.

 READ MORE: The Philadelphia mayoral primary election is today: Heres what you need to know

Along with her daughter, Rhynhart  who could become the first female mayor in city history  cast her ballot. She said that after 99 male mayors, its more than time to have a woman mayor of the city, to lead with both courage and compassion, the way that women do.

Julia  whose purple T-shirt matched her mothers dress  said shes excited, too.

Shes worked very hard for a lot of months, Julia said. And now the day is finally here.

Two other top candidates also cast ballots this morning, but with significantly less tension. Helen Gym, who also lives in the 8th Ward but votes at the Moore College of Art and Design on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, was the first person to cast a ballot at her polling location just after 7 a.m.

Gym said afterward that casting her vote was just part of a journey over the last two decades. Like each of the top candidates, Gym has a packed schedule for the day and will jet across the city talking to voters and making her last-minute pitch.

Election day is all about living in the moment, she said. You kind of let all these things go, and youre just really enjoying the city. Youre enjoying the fact that people are paying attention, that people have big dreams.

Cherelle Parker, who hails from Northwest Philadelphia, voted just after 8:30 a.m. at Masjidullah Mosque in West Oak Lane. Parker, a former city councilmember and state representative, voted with her 10-year-old son Langston, who got his I voted, sticker afterward, playfully slapping it onto his forehead.

U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans and former City Councilmember Marian Tasco also came to the polls to support Parker. Both had been longtime political mentors who endorsed her campaign.

Parker, who lost much of her family at a young age, views Tasco and Evans as parental figures.

These are the people that taught me how to serve, she said.

Inquirer staff writers Julia Terruso and Sean Collins Walsh contributed.
Window sale

Although an especially dramatic and wrenching case, Inquirer reporter Zoe Greenbergs article about Emmanuel Christian Centers sale of its Tiffany windows for $6,000 was not surprising. We at Partners for Sacred Places encounter congregations reckoning with the maintenance and restoration of historic sacred buildings around the country, and congregational leaders too often are not given the tools to assess  and perhaps save  what they have. Architects and building professionals can serve as guides in evaluating historic sacred buildings. The Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia is a great resource, as is the Stained Glass Association of America, which provides advice on building components. Even if stained glass windows fetch a high price, it rarely pays for congregations to sell  they often receive very little, and not enough to replace what is lost  a loss felt by congregants and their neighborhoods. From Tiffany at the Calvary Center in West Philadelphia to LaFarge at First Unitarian Church in Center City to the Willet windows at First United Methodist Church in Germantown, Philadelphia is rich with world-class stained glass. Many of these churches host public events or community-serving programs for neighbors in need. We must visit, volunteer, enjoy, and support these public assets.

A. Robert Jaeger, president, Partners for Sacred Places, Philadelphia

Kindness is contagious

In a recent conversation with my 98-year-old aunt, I asked if she had a spiritual practice since she always seems so serene. Oh yes, I have a prayer that I have been saying all my life. I made it up years ago, she told me. It goes, Lord, pick me up, dust me off, polish me, and let me shine your light on everyone I meet. In a city filled with stress, illness, pain, suffering, and sadness, we can all find simple ways to shine light and love in our community. It can be something simple, such as holding a door open, giving a compliment, yielding in traffic, letting someone have a parking spot, tipping extra, anonymously paying for someones lunch, sending a greeting card to someone whos sick, or simply saying nothing negative for a day. Kindness can be cultivated anywhere, and its ripple effects provide long-lasting nourishment for the soul. We are all droplets of kindness, forming a puddle, then a river, and finally an ocean of love that has the potential to wash away worry, hostility, and fear. How wonderful it would be to create a conscious culture of compassion, with everyone working together to promote brotherly love.

Patricia Gallagher, Philadelphia

Follow-up question

I wish to respond to the Black wife and mother identified by a friendly stranger as a nanny in assessing the relationships in her otherwise white family. I am a white man who 53 years ago married a Black woman and adopted her children. I have found that a not unkind but effective way to respond to being identified stereotypically is to pleasantly toss it back by responding, No, Im not, but what makes you think so? In my experience, the person is usually embarrassed and, one would hope, unlikely to forget the incident  or repeat it.

William J. Shepherd, Philadelphia
George Mbiu, 54, a Northeast resident, voted for Helen Gym for mayor at the Aviation Institute on Grant Avenue on Tuesday. He said crime was a top concern, and described how he was nearly shot by a gunman who was shooting at someone else. Read more

For George Mbiu, who works driving a bus for the Philadelphia school system and a van for Temple University, crime is not an abstraction, an item to be ticked off on a list of top voter concerns.

Its real and life-threatening.

In December 2021, he said, he was driving his van on 12th Street when a car traveling in the wrong direction suddenly blocked his way. The driver jumped out, drew a gun, and began firing at someone who was standing behind the van.

Mbiu, terrified, ducked behind seats as five shots whizzed past. He was physically unhurt but emotionally shaken, and remains fearful not just for himself but for the students he drives.

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Some neighborhoods, I would not step outside the bus, Mbiu said Tuesday in an interview at his polling place, the Aviation Training Center near his home in Northeast Philadelphia. When Im outside, its not safe.  We cannot live like this.

Mbui, 54, came to the United States as an adult from Kenya, and never misses the chance to vote. On Tuesday he ranked education and crime as the most important issues. He said he wants the next mayor to do more on both  and cast his ballot for Helen Gym.

 READ MORE: See the results for the 2023 Philadelphia primary

The Democratic primary arrived as Philadelphia continues to endure an epidemic of gun violence and death.

In 2022, for the third consecutive year, Philadelphia experienced historic levels of gun crime, subjecting thousands of people to the trauma of a crisis thats claimed unprecedented numbers of lives.

This year, as of Monday, the city had suffered 152 homicides, down 14% from the same period in 2022. In 2022, 516 people were killed, in 2021 it was 562, and in 2020 it was 499.

Some voters despaired that a new mayor could have much impact.

I dont know how anybody is going to fix it, said Pamela West, 64, who cast her ballot for Gym at Global Leadership Academy Southwest in West Philadelphia.

Voter Abdul Raheem said he has been on both sides of a gun.

As he walked into his Frankford polling place, Raheem, who was formerly incarcerated, said the next mayor must make crime the top priority.

Im tired of kids getting killed, said Raheem, 51, a drug-and-alcohol counselor.

 READ MORE: A family buries a child on an Election Day shaped by gun violence

He planned to vote for Allan Domb or Rebecca Rhynhart, believing those candidates seemed most serious about reducing gun violence.

At Thomas Mifflin Elementary in East Falls, Susan McHale said she voted for Rhynhart for mayor, believing the former city controller to be fiscally responsible  and hoping shed tackle crime.

McHales car was stolen a few weeks ago. The gun violence seems unending.

The city is a mess, she said.

Ernestine Banas, 54, who has a background in social work, also voted for Gym. She liked the candidates position that social workers, not police, should respond to people who are suffering mental-health emergencies.

A lot of people nationwide are killed while theyre in mental-health crisis, she said. We need someone with my background to help those folks.

Voter Fran Chambers said what the city needs is to hire more police.

Her husband agreed.

We need the guns off the streets, said Robert Chambers, who worked as an electrician. If you take the guns away, a lot of this goes away.

The East Torresdale retirees, both 70, voted with crime at the top of their minds, and both chose for Domb for mayor, casting their ballots at the Torresdale Boys Club.

Whoever becomes mayor must improve recreational opportunities for young people, the couple said.

These kids who dont have anything to do are now the kids who are shooting everybody, said Fran Chambers, a retired drug-and-alcohol counselor who wants more money allocated to city-sponsored drug rehabilitation.

As Michael Fleming considered his vote on Tuesday afternoon, he thought about his three grandchildren. Then the 65-year-old West Philadelphia man cast his ballot for Cherelle Parker, voting at Global Leadership Academy Southwest, believing she would make the city safer.

Theyre young, Fleming said of his 6-, 10- and 15-year-old grandkids. I just want to look out for them. A new mayor to help them out. Its dangerous out here.
Georgias flag-carrier Georgian Airways will resume direct flights to Russia from May 20, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing the Georgian Civil Aviation Agency.

May 16, 2023, 17:54 Georgian Airways to resume direct flights to Russia from May 20

STEPANAKERT, MAY 16, ARTSAKHPRESS: According to the agency, Georgian Airways will to Moscow seven times a week.

Russia lifted a ban on direct flights to Georgia last week.
Cherelle Parker banners outside the Carpenters Benefits Hall reminding people to vote on Saturday. Read more

The 2023 primary election has finally arrived, and while election day issues generally arent expected, they can happen.

So what should you do if you experience some election day irregularities on Tuesday? That could be problems including voter intimidation, discriminatory conduct, suspicious activity, or other issues that interfere with casting your ballot.

Throughout the Keystone State, the Pennsylvania Department of State recommends reporting issues to your countys board of elections and district attorney. You can also file a complaint via a state department form online, and the complaint will be sent to your local officials.

For more immediate needs, the state department recommends reporting problems to the judge of elections at the polling place where you are voting, or calling the statewide voter hotline at 1-877-VOTESPA.

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Here is who to contact based on where you live:

Philadelphia

Philadelphia voters can report election day issues to the District Attorneys Office Elections Task Force hotline at 215-686-9641. A joint effort between the Philadelphia Police Department, the Philadelphia City Commissioners Office, and the District Attorneys Office, the Election Task Force has more than 30 assistant district attorneys and detectives monitoring complaints. It will remain active until election results are certified.

In addition to contacting the Elections Task Force hotline, Philadelphia voters can contact the Philadelphia City Commissioners Office at 215-686-8683. The DAs office also recommends contacting the Election Protection hotline, a national nonpartisan coalition, at 866-OUR-VOTE.

Delaware County

Delaware County voters can reach the countys Bureau of Elections at 610-891-4673, or contact them via email at delcoelections@co.delaware.pa.us. Additionally, the county operates an election hotline that can be reached at 610-891-VOTE.

If you witness what you believe could be a crime, officials recommend contacting the Delaware County District Attorneys Office at 610-891-4192.

Bucks County

Voters in Bucks County can contact the Board of Elections by phone at 215-348-6154, or by email at elections@buckscounty.org. The Bucks County District Attorneys Office can be reached at 215-348-6344, or contacted via an online form.

Montgomery County

Voters in Montgomery County can make reports of suspicious activity on election day to the countys Election Tip Line at 610-292-2023. Headed up by the Montgomery County District Attorneys Office and the Montgomery County Detective Bureau, that hotline is staffed by a team of local prosecutors and detectives, who will be available to respond to complaints.

Reports can also be made via email to jediah.grobstein@montgomerycountypa.gov, or through the County Radio Room at 610-275-1222, the Montco DAs office said. The countys Voter Services Office can be reached at 610-278-3280.

Chester County

Chester County voters can reach the countys Voter Services Office at 610-344-6410, or email them at ccelectionofficials@chesco.org. The Chester County District Attorneys Office can be reached via phone at 610-344-6801, or by email at dacontact@chesco.org.
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free newsletters.

HARRISBURG  During Pennsylvanias primary election in May, Democrats and Republicans will choose their parties nominees to fill a seat on the state Supreme Court.

Pennsylvania elects its Supreme Court justices in statewide partisan contests. The winners of the May 16 primary will compete during the Nov. 7 general election.

The states primaries are closed, meaning only registered Democrats and Republicans can vote for candidates during these spring contests. (Unaffiliated and third-party voters can, however, vote on ballot questions, other referendums, and special elections during a primary.)

The seven-member court currently comprises four Democrats and two Republicans. One seat has been vacant since the death of former Chief Justice Max Baer, who occupied the bench for nearly two decades.

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While the eventual winner of the race wont change control of the court, a Republican victory could bring the party closer to retaking the majority it lost nearly a decade ago.

>>Register to vote, change your registration, request a mail ballot, and more at vote.pa.gov

The state Supreme Court takes on relatively few cases, but its rulings can have a major impact on politics and policy in Pennsylvania. In recent years, the court has decided cases on reproductive rights, mask mandates, and election disputes.

The Supreme Court is the ultimate decider of law in Pennsylvania but most people dont have everyday interaction, said Deb Gross, president and CEO of Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts, a nonprofit that educates people about Pennsylvanias judicial system. They rarely would handle a landlord-tenant case, but  would decide a case about voting or redistricting.

Learn more about the candidates:

What a justice does

Justices on Pennsylvanias Supreme Court get the final say on cases that are appealed up through the commonwealths two other appellate courts, which means they often decide whether to uphold or overturn decisions from governors and the state legislature.

In recent years, the court has handed down major rulings interpreting Pennsylvanias Election Code. The courts decisions include instructing officials to toss out thousands of mail ballots with missing or incorrect dates on the outer envelopes, disqualifying thousands of ballots with missing inner envelopes, and letting counties use ballot drop boxes at their own discretion.

The court also intervenes when the governor, state House, and state Senate cant agree on a congressional map.

>>JOIN US APRIL 13: Youre invited! A free panel on Pa.s Supreme Court candidates and why the 2023 election matters

In 2018, the justices declared the map unconstitutional and ordered lawmakers to draw a new one. They then commissioned a new map themselves when the lawmakers deadlocked. In 2022, the court again chose a new map.

Justices are elected to 10-year terms, after which they face a retention vote. In the past two decades, only one justice has failed to retain their seat.

During the latest election of a state Supreme Court justice, just over two years ago, candidates raised nearly $6 million over the course of the race. Republican Kevin Brobson won the election, beating his Democratic opponent Maria McLaughlin with over 50% of the vote.

April 4 is the next deadline this year for candidates to file a campaign finance report with the Pennsylvania Department of State.

Democratic candidates

Deborah Kunselman

Kunselman is based in Beaver County. She began her judicial career with an election to the countys Court of Common Pleas in 2005, and won a seat on Superior Court in 2017.

She spent 13 years in private practice before that, working in civil litigation and family and employment law at several Pittsburgh-area law firms. During eight of those years, she also served as assistant solicitor and then chief solicitor for Beaver County.

Outside of her practice, Kunselman sometimes lectures about legal issues, volunteers as a religious education instructor, and annually serves as a judge at the Beaver County Mock Trial Competition.

She was rated Highly Recommended  the top designation  by the Pennsylvania Bar Association, which wrote that she has a reputation for being a thoughtful appellate decision-maker, open to persuasion, and proceeding in each matter with integrity and high character.

In her PBA questionnaire, Kunselman wrote that her passion for the law and love of writing opinions drove her to run for state Supreme Court. She said that she hopes to write unambiguous, precedent-setting opinions that lawyers will be able to clearly understand.

Read Kunselmans PBA questionnaire here.

Daniel McCaffery

McCaffery, a Philadelphia native, was elected to Superior Court in 2019.

A veteran of the U.S. Army, McCaffery began his legal career as an assistant district attorney in Philadelphia, where he was assigned to the major trials unit.

Following his stint in the DAs office, McCaffery joined a private firm based in Montgomery County and spent 16 years there as a civil trial attorney.

Before being elected to the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas in 2013, McCaffery volunteered as legal counsel for the Philadelphia Democratic City Committee and was a member of the Pennsylvania Democratic State Committee. McCafferys website notes that he has also worked on 50 campaigns as a manager, fundraiser, and canvasser.

McCaffery is the Pennsylvania Democratic Partys endorsed candidate, and his website also lists endorsements from the Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters Association, the Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters, and the Pennsylvania State Building & Construction Trades Council.

He was rated Highly Recommended by the Pennsylvania Bar Association, which wrote that he has sound knowledge of legal principles and a history of community involvement.

McCaffery wrote in his PBA questionnaire that he is running for state Supreme Court because he thinks that Democratic Institutions including the judiciary are under duress. He said that he hopes to restore confidence in the court system and will approach every case in a non-partisan manner.

Read McCafferys PBA questionnaire here.

Republican candidates

Carolyn Carluccio

Carluccio is a judge on the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas, to which she was first elected in 2009.

Before becoming a judge, Carluccio worked on both sides of the justice system. After a few years in private practice at the start of her career, she became an assistant U.S. attorney in Delaware in 1989 and served in the role for nearly a decade. She then served as chief public defender of Montgomery County from 2002 to 2006.

Carluccio also worked as chief deputy solicitor for Montgomery County, handling contract negotiations, real estate matters, and personnel and labor law issues. She also did a stint as the countys acting director of human resources between 2008 and 2009.

Carluccio was elected unanimously by her peers to serve as president judge of the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas in 2022.

The Pennsylvania Republican Party endorsed Carluccio in early February, choosing her over another candidate who had previously run for state Supreme Court.

She was rated Highly Recommended by the Pennsylvania Bar Association, which called her a highly respected jurist.

In her PBA questionnaire, she wrote that she wants a justice system that is fair and impartial. She also wrote that her diverse court experience is an asset, citing her experience on both sides of the justice system as well as in family and civil cases.

Read Carluccios PBA questionnaire here.

Patricia McCullough

McCullough, of Allegheny County, currently serves on Commonwealth Court. This is her second time running for state Supreme Court after losing the Republican primary in 2021 to Brobson.

During that election, McCulloughs husband began serving a prison sentence for taking money from an older womans trust fund  a factor that Republican Party officials said lessened their support for her candidacy.

McCullough was first elected to Commonwealth Court in 2010 and has since been involved in several high-profile cases regarding redistricting and election certification.

In November 2020, she ordered state officials to stop certifying the election results in response to a suit brought by U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R., Pa.) and others that sought to throw out mail ballots. A higher court later dismissed that ruling with prejudice, saying that the petitioners didnt bring the case forward in a timely manner and that not certifying the election would result in the disenfranchisement of millions of voters.

When she ran for state Supreme Court in 2021, McCulloughs website stated that she was the sole candidate in the race who had been praised by President [Donald] Trump.

McCullough also recently attended a political rally hosted by state Sen. Doug Mastriano (R., Franklin), where she called Pennsylvania the birthplace of the One Nation Under God. The rallys keynote speaker was Trump lawyer Christina Bobb, who spread false claims of election fraud.

In February, McCullough attended a Susquehanna County Republicans event and posed for a group photo that included Frank Scavo, a Pennsylvania resident who was sentenced to 60 days in prison for participating in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. (McCullough did not respond to a request for comment about the photo.)

During the 2020 redistricting cycle, the state Supreme Court picked McCullough to serve as the courts special master and make a recommendation for a new congressional map.

She recommended that the state Supreme Court impose new congressional districts based on a map that state House Republicans submitted  a recommendation that the state Supreme Court justices did not take up.

McCullough began her career as a clerk to a Court of Common Pleas judge in Washington County, then worked as an attorney and adjunct professor for the University of Pittsburgh.

She went on to work in private practice for five years, until her appointment to the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas in 2005. During that time she also served as executive director of the Catholic Charities Diocese of Pittsburgh before returning to private practice. She was elected to Commonwealth Court in 2009.

On the campaign website for her 2021 state Supreme Court candidacy, McCullough wrote that she was running as a constitutionalist and that her belief in the state and federal constitutions fueled her desire to serve on the state Supreme Court.

McCullough did not complete the Pennsylvania Bar Association questionnaire, according to Charles Eppolito III, chair of the organizations Judicial Evaluation Commission  a panel of PBA members who evaluate judicial candidates. Candidates who do not complete the process receive a rating of Not Recommended for failure to participate, he said.

During her 2021 run for state Supreme Court, McCullough received a Not Recommended rating from the PBA.

The organizations Judicial Evaluation Commission wrote that it became aware of McCulloughs alleged conduct at a previous employment, and that when members questioned McCullough about the issue, she did not answer the questions to the satisfaction of the commission.

Read McCulloughs 2021 PBA questionnaire here.

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.
Pedestrians walking along Market Street at Eighth Street in Center City. The number of nonresident workers in the city on an average weekday was 14% higher in April 2023 than in April 2022. Read more

Downtown stakeholders in Philadelphia argue that the post-pandemic return to office norms are not yet settled.

In a new report, the Center City District found that the number of nonresident workers in core areas of Center City on an average weekday was 14% higher in April 2023 than in April 2022. The office district around West Market Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard saw a higher average workday population of nonresident workers on any given week of 2023 than it has since March 2020.

I am by no means persuaded that weve hit a wall, said Paul Levy, the head of Center City District, which represents business interests downtown. Were seeing a slow but steady recovery thats caused people to think weve hit an equilibrium. But we have a steady upward trend thats going on.

The report comes as policymakers, business leaders, office landlords, and institutions such as SEPTA are struggling to adapt to a post-pandemic world where remote work is far more prevalent than before the pandemic.

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Levys positive spin comports with research from the Brookings Institution showing downtown recovery across the country continuing to inch up across a number of metrics, even if 2019 baselines are still far off. Tracy Hadden Loh of the Brooking Institute told Governing magazine that travel data from cell phones, transit ridership data, and office swipe-ins showed that nationally, were not at a plateau.

But The Inquirer reported that in April, office space for lease was at an all-time high, above even the previous record set during the Great Recession. Kastle Systems data that track how many people are swiping into office buildings found that the Philadelphia metropolitan region office occupancy is still less than half what it was in 2019.

The recovery is also taking its time on SEPTAs regional rail ridership, which as of April is at just 54% of the pre-pandemic benchmark. In Center City Districts latest report, downtowns average daily population in April is 100,000 below what it was at the same time in 2019, with most of the gap composed of nonresident workers and visitors (although weekend tourists and day trippers are back to 90% of pre-pandemic levels).

Its in the eye of the beholder, but to me things have plateaued, said Stijn Van Nieuwerburgh, professor of real estate with Columbia Universitys business school, who helped write an influential paper about the challenges facing commercial real estate in urban centers. Its hard to argue that were very much in the rebound here. I think the data are not consistent with that.

A new normal, or no?

Center City Districts report includes the results of a hybrid work survey with responses from 64 employers in Center City and University City. It found that 44% of the respondent employers had workers in the office three days a week on average, 23% were back full time, and 5% were back one day a week.

No one reported allowing fully remote work, although that may reveal a bias in the respondent group. The Survey of Working Arrangements and Attitudes shows a substantial minority of jobs are still fully remote (with people in their 50s and 60s more likely to hold them than other age groups).

A quarter of the firms surveyed reported trying to create a more social environment in their offices and specifically that they are proactively trying to create mentorship opportunities.

Critics of fully remote work have worried about the effect on people just starting out in their careers, some of whom may have a harder time learning in a fully virtual setting. It can also be difficult to create team cohesion remotely, critics say, and workers who have moved to a new city may find it harder to socialize or feel part of a team without in-person work.

People who are seasoned can work at home [more], but they also need to be around to train the young people and the new people in their organization, said Rich Gottlieb, president of the Keystone Development + Investment (which owns the building The Inquirers offices are in). Without a place, its hard to have culture and collaboration. Zoom is nice, but its hard to have a normal conversation.

Employers are still adjusting their in-office requirements for employees, with the Morgan Lewis & Bockius law firm recently increasing the required days to three a week. (The Inquirer required employees to come back to the office beginning in January for at least one day a week.) But CCDs survey found that 56% of respondents considered their new work arrangements to be the new normal.

Perceptions of public safety remain a challenge

CCDs survey found that the two most cited reasons for employers not having more in-office days were that employees have simply become used to hybrid offerings and that it would be too hard to attract talent without a remote work option.

The third most cited reason was that workers said that they did not feel safe on the streets of Center City  which is one of the safest parts of Philadelphia  or on SEPTA, where riders have complained about an increase in antisocial behavior since the pandemic.

Levy said that even though Center City is, in fact, quite safe, addressing perceptions is important and the office-heavy parts of downtown would feel safer by having more people on the street.

Thats why CCD is starting a series of 4 p.m. events on office plazas  concerts, happy hours, and non-drinking-related social events  to create a more vibrant atmosphere around the office buildings.

If we can simply reinforce vitality on the street, we can help build the culture that supports return to work, said Levy. Part of our message is that these are not immutable trends. We cant simply sit on our rear and do nothing and hope that the world will change.
An Easyjet plane (PA)

An easyJet plane has been forced to make an emergency landing after one of the crew fell ill.

The pilot landed the aircraft in Faro, Portugal, with 100 people on board to allow the First Officer to receive medical attention.

The flight took off from London Gatwick just after 6.30am on Friday bound for Agadir in Morocco.

It was due to arrive at 9.25am local time.

Online flight trackers are showing the Airbus A320s unscheduled stop following the mid-air alert triggered by the First Officer, who is in charge of flight checks and safety on the plane, falling ill.

An easyJet spokesperson told The Mirror in a statement: easyJet can confirm that flight EZY6469 from London Gatwick to Agadir on 21 April diverted to Faro due to the First Officer requiring medical assistance.

The Captain performed a routine landing in accordance with standard operating procedures and the aircraft was met by medical services on arrival in Faro.

A replacement crew was arranged and passengers have since continued their journey to Agadir. We apologise for any inconvenience experienced due to the diversion and resulting delay.

The safety and well-being of its passengers and crew is easyJets highest priority.

Earlier this week, another easyJet flight from the UK was forced to make an emergency landing because of two unruly passengers.

The aircraft had taken off from Liverpool John Lennon Airport headed for Turkey, but was forced to touch down in Munich - where armed police lay in wait.

Witnesses said the disruptive pair were left for questioning on the plane with German police.

Passengers praised the air crew for their professionalism.

An easyJet spokesman said on that incident: easyJet can confirm flight EZY3409 from Liverpool to Dalaman on 19 April diverted to Munich and was met by police due to two passengers behaving disruptively onboard.
Jonathan Winter, co-founder and director of Mavco, said this merger is great news for his firms customers and excellent for employees. He said his staff can now access new career and development opportunities. The release said all Mavco employees are joining their Gallagher colleagues at that firms Perth and Adelaide offices.
Commenting on the changes, David Howden said: As I said last year when we announced that we had reached agreement to acquire TigerRisk Partners, we have completed the architecture of the group. As we begin the next phase of our growth, it is critical that we have the right structure in place so that we are aligned as one to harness our collective power, protect our culture, and ensure we face our clients and markets as one business. We will do this with our retail, specialty, reinsurance, and underwriting leaders working together as a single management team.
Kennedys global senior partner Nick Thomas said: It is such a pleasure to see our up-and-coming lawyers' hard work recognised with promotion to partnership. The firm would not be where it is without the talent and tenacity of all of our lawyers in seeking the very best outcomes for our clients.
The Lloyds of London website tells the story of the 1799 shipwreck of the HMS Lutine  ironically the same year Stevenson won his lighthouse commission - as perhaps the most famous maritime loss at Lloyds. According to the website, the HMS Lutine was carrying a vast sum of gold, silver and possibly Dutch crown jewels when it was wrecked during a gale off the Dutch coast. Only one person survived out of 240 passengers and crew.
ASIC is claiming, she said, that those exclusion clauses are inconsistent with section 47 of the Insurance Contract Act 1984 (Cth). This section prevents insurers limiting or excluding their liability for claims relating to a pre-existing condition where the insured was not aware of, and a reasonable person in the circumstances could not be expected to have been aware of, the sickness or disability at the time the contract was entered into.
Our clients are increasingly turning to us to develop tailored solutions to help them prevent, mitigate and transfer the risks associated with technology, she added. We want AXA XL to play a key role in the development of cyber solutions and believe that now is the time to invest in growing our team.
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Connecticut state police are seeking witnesses as investigators try to determine the cause of a crash that killed four people on Interstate 95 in Stamford.

All four victims were in an SUV that rear-ended a tractor-trailer that had slowed for heavy traffic in the northbound lanes shortly after 3 a.m. Saturday, state police said. The tractor-trailer driver was not injured, authorities said.

It was not clear why there was heavy traffic early Saturday morning. State police said Sunday that all circumstances about the accident remained under investigation. According to the state Department of Transportation, lane closures on the opposite side of I-95 in Stamford were scheduled due to construction at the time of the crash.

State police listed the same address in Philadelphia for all four victims: Joel Contreras-Paniagua, 49, Lorena Contreras Francisco Reyes, 59, Joel Contreras Francisco, 29, and Daniel Contreras Francisco, 23. Troopers did not specify their relationships in an initial report. No one else was in the SUV.

The 45-year-old tractor-trailer driver is from Elmwood Park, New Jersey.

Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Law Enforcement
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A Massachusetts seafood business said Thursday that it did not discriminate against an immigrant worker who complained to the state.

The worker, Paula Fortes, is a Black woman who immigrated to the U.S. from Cape Verde, an island nation off the west coast of Africa. She filed the complaint against Eastern Fisheries, a New Bedford seafood harvester and distributor, a year ago and amended it earlier this week.

She told the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination that the company subjected her to years of sexual harassment and racial discrimination on the job, according to the complaint.

Eastern Fisheries said in a Thursday statement that it denies all allegations of discrimination or unlawful conduct. The statement also said the company has been cooperating fully with the state commission since the charge first arrived a year ago.

A spokesperson for the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination declined to comment on the case. The commission is tasked with investigating complaints of discrimination and enforcing anti-discrimination laws.

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 Massachusetts
By Azernews

Rena Murshud

It seems that Armenia was concerned about some of the points presented at the tripartite meeting in Brussels on 14 May. The main thing is that Charles Michel's statement about the fate of our lost soldiers touched them. According to Siranush Sahakyan, a so-called human rights activist in Armenia, it does not comply with international laws, the Armenian soldiers are not missing, but are being held by Azerbaijan as prisoners of war. Also, Azerbaijani soldiers crossed the Armenian border not by accident, but deliberately. In other words, Azerbaijan is trying to present its soldiers as missing, and the EU has accepted this position.

In a comment for Azernews, military expert Telman Gasimov said that Sahakyan has always tried to take a one-sided approach to issues related to prisoners and hostages, acting from the position of Armenia. They are only trying to accuse Azerbaijan of issues that are in line with international conventions. Siranush Sahakyan, in turn, is trying to manipulate. But all claims are lies.

"As you know, about 60 Armenian soldiers have been arrested. 30 of them were returned and the rest were arrested. The matter between the arrested Armenians and our missing soldiers are completely different. Armenian soldiers were arrested after a massive ceasefire was announced with fully equipped weapons. And our soldiers, on the contrary, were unarmed and unprepared, and lost their way and crossed into the territory of Armenia,"- said the expert.

Telman Gasimov also touched on the torturing of our soldiers by the Armenians on social networks. "Armenians shamelessly claim that our soldiers carried out sabotage and killed their guards standing in the mine. Of course, all this is absurd. Because the Armenians who arrested them announced that they did not find any phones on our soldiers.

As for the Brussels meeting, the military expert said that Pashinyan will not keep his word and the process will be prolonged.

"Although the so-called Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, in practice we see the opposite. Pashinyan's statement that "We will discuss the final result in Russia" indicates that he was not independent and could not conduct an independent policy. In this regard, Armenia's violation of the ceasefire on the border and such provocations are expected to happen until early June," he stressed.

In addition, the military expert expressed an opinion about the interests of the Western side in the resolution of the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

"I must note that although the issue of a short-term settlement of the Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict in the South Caucasus is not interesting for the West, they are obliged to do their best to resolve the conflict. The main Ukraine-Russia conflict plays an important role here. Because the West is also very interested in the use of the Zangazur corridor for transport purposes. The reason is simple: As we know, Ukraine, which is used by the West as a transport route, is currently at war. Therefore, a new international corridor is needed. The West also knows that another country that is interested in this corridor is Russia. I would like to emphasize that for the West, not the fate of Armenia, but rather its own political and economic interests are the priority," Gasimv opined.

In addition, Telman Gasimov emphasized that the President of the Council of Europe used the word "past" in front of the expression "Nagorno-Karabakh."

"The fact that Charles Michel referred to former Nagorno-Karabakh and not "Nagorno-Karabakh" in this meeting caused serious concern in the Armenian authorities.

For the Azerbaijani side, the steps taken and the decisions made are completely correct and decisive. The rapid development and reconstruction work that is being carried out in our lands freed from occupation is tangible. Over 30 years of occupation, our lands were looted and destroyed by Armenians. I am sure that the West and Russia observe the processes, and therefore, they are undoubtedly interested in opening the corridors as soon as possible," the expert concluded.
Independent Indi MP Helen Haines alongside Real Estate Institute of Australia chief executive Anna Neelagama. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

A failure to address a crippling housing crisis in regional Australia could have serious economic consequences, governments have been warned.

Independent Indi MP Helen Haines, Real Estate Institute of Australia chief executive Anna Neelagama and Anglicare executive director Kasy Chambers made the warning at a National Rural Press Club address on Tuesday.

With Australias housing crisis in the spotlight and debate raging over the Albanese governments $10bn housing future fund, the co-panellists said regional and rural Australia needed to be considered in fixing the countrys crisis.

They said the dire situation in the regions  where approvals for new homes are seriously lagging behind population growth  was the result of a lack of political will, poor policy making and market failure.

Rental vacancy is below 0.5 per cent in many places, and increasingly becoming too expensive, especially for people on JobSeeker or on minimum wage.

Independent MP Helen Haines and Anglicare executive director Kasy Chambers said regional housing needed to be treated as a priority. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Ms Haines said in the 35 years shed lived in her electorate in northeast Victoria, shed never seen a housing situation like what were seeing today.

Whether Im in a small town or a large regional centre, people tell me how hard it is to find a place to live thats affordable and appropriate to their needs, she said.

And they tell me that theyre shocked to see people living in tents or in council parks or to learn of countless people couch surfing.

This used to be a story of the cities, but this is a story of country Australia too.

She said the housing situation made it completely impossible for many people on the brink of homelessness, or already homeless, to enter into the job market  even though people were keen to work and local businesses were crying out for staff.

The lack of affordable housing has consequential flow-on economic impacts, Ms Haines said.

Ms Haines said she had never seen the housing situation in her electorate as bad. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Ms Chambers said while the Albanese government had not created the housing crisis, it had a role to play to ensure affordable rental homes were available.

Story continues

We need to make sure that social and affordable housing keeps pace with our population, and we know that private rentals dont trickle down, she said.

But social housing does actually have benefits that flow out to all Australians  it helps people in need, it frees up cheap rentals for everyone else, and its a lifeline for rural and regional areas where profit-driven housing doesnt always flow to.

We need to build 25,000 homes each year for the next decade to make sure that we keep up with social housing. Our current rate is about 3000.

The current government didnt create this crisis, it inherited it, but some government is going to have to jump on this.

Ms Chambers said governments needed to chip in to build the affordable rentals needed in the regions. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Ms Neelagama said all governments needed to work together because it required different levels of programs and investment by each state and territory.

We need state planning ministers and LGAs to clear backlogs, we need leadership to support our construction sector and fix their current skills crisis, she said.

The answers are hard, but theyre fundamentally very simple  we need to better use the homes that we have already built, and we need to build more homes.

Australias regions have for so long offered so much promise, and with the political will and collaboration of many, our regional housing requirements can be met.


FWD Group Holdings Ltd. is weighing a private funding round as the Asian insurers long-planned initial public offering is set to be delayed again amid weak market conditions, according to people familiar with the matter.

Hong Kong billionaire Richard Lis firm has about $800 million in commitments for a pre-IPO round that could take place as early as June, the people said, asking not to be identified as the information isnt public. FWD is contemplating the round in lieu of proceeding in the near term with an IPO in the Asian financial hub, given the performance of recent first-time share sales, the people said.

The size of the pre-IPO round hasnt been confirmed and they could raise more than the initial committed amount, the people said. FWD still plans to move ahead with an IPO when the market improves, they said.

FWDs group chief financial officer Jon Nielsen is leaving and will join Canadian insurer Great-West Lifeco Inc. as its CFO-designate in September, according to a statement Friday. Bloomberg News reported Nielsens planned departure earlier. FWD has identified a potential replacement with experience in corporate finance at a major US insurer, the people said.

Separately, Lis investment flagship Pacific Century Group is set to name Magnus Andersson, former co-head of Asia Pacific equity capital markets at Morgan Stanley, as an executive director, the people said. Andersson would help FWD prepare for a potential IPO, and could join PCG as soon as June, the people added. He retired from the US bank in February.

A new funding round would add to the $1.8 billion that FWD has raised in private placements over the past two years. The firm has repeatedly explored the IPO market in that time without proceeding with a first-time share sale.

FWD has filed for a Hong Kong listing three times, most recently in March, and had been targeting a debut as soon as the second quarter to raise as much as $1 billion, Bloomberg News has reported. Before that, the firm had abandoned a New York listing plan that could have raised as much as $3 billion in 2021, people familiar with the matter have said.

Deliberations about the fundraising, IPO plans and staff changes are ongoing and details may change, the people said. A representative for FWD declined to comment, while Andersson didnt immediately respond to a request for comment via LinkedIn. A Pacific Century Group spokesperson declined to comment on Anderssons appointment.

Hong Kong has seen a dearth of larger listings this year amid a global drought for IPOs. Volumes in the financial hub are down 23% in the year to date, according to data compiled by Bloomberg, and the citys biggest first-time share sale so far, baijiu maker ZJLD Group Inc., saw its shares tumble nearly 18% on their first day of trading.

Founded 10 years ago, the insurer has expanded across Asia both organically and via acquisitions. It counts more than 10 million customers across markets in the region. Full year adjusted operating profit before tax rose 83% to $334 million, it said in an exchange filing on Feb. 28.

Photograph: An FWD Group Holdings Ltd. store in Hong Kong, China, on Tuesday, March 1, 2022. Photo credit: Paul Yeung/Bloomberg.

Related:

Copyright 2023 Bloomberg.
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Mavco is a general insurance broker and risk management firm serving corporate clients throughout Australia and internationally. Mavcos 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 Gallaghers 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.

A global insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting services firm, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. is headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Ill. Gallagher provides these services in approximately 130 countries around the world through its owned operations and a network of correspondent brokers and consultants.

Source: Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

Topics Mergers & Acquisitions A.J. Gallagher Australia
An SUV slammed into a bridge pier along an interstate highway in Detroit, throwing four young men from the vehicle and killing them, state police said.

The GMC Yukon was going fast when it hit the pier around 8 p.m. Sunday night on westbound Interstate 96 near Grand River Avenue in Detroit, witnesses told state troopers. The four men in the SUV died in the crash, state police said.

Killed were the 21-year-old driver and passengers ages 20, 22 and 25, police said. An investigation continues, and autopsy results and a vehicle inspection are pending, police said.

Once again, a drivers decision to drive recklessly cost lives on our roadways, Lt. Mike Shaw of the Michigan State Police said in a statement on Twitter. This decision will not only affect those families involved but also witnesses and first responders on scene. Please drive responsibly. Lives are at stake.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Michigan
A worker died after being injured at an Amazon warehouse in Fort Wayne in an incident that closed the facility for the rest of the day, authorities said.

Emergency medical crews were called to an Amazon Fulfillment Center about noon Monday, Allen County Sheriffs Department spokesman Cpl. Adam Griffith said. The worker was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead.

The death is under investigation, the sheriffs department said. Additional details about the death were not immediately released.

The worker has not been identified.

Amazon spokesman Andre Woodson issued a statement saying the companys thoughts and prayers are with our employees loved ones and our team at the facility. 

Were conducting a thorough investigation of the incident and working closely with authorities as they conduct their own investigations as well, the statement said.

Employees were sent home for the day with pay after the warehouse was closed, the company said. It said a night shift was canceled and those employees also will be paid.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Indiana
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A federal appeals court on Monday rejected Elon Musks 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 Musks 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.

Musks 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, Musks 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 Musks tweets, and those tweets plausibly violated the decrees terms.

The panel said the SECs 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.

Mondays decision upheld an April 2022 ruling by U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman in Manhattan.

Liman called Musks arguments a bemoaning of requirements he no longer wanted to adhere to now that Tesla had become, in his estimation, all but invincible.

Musk bought Twitter for $44 billion in October, and runs rocket and spacecraft manufacturer SpaceX. He is the worlds 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.
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Even before the Florida Legislature adopted the Insurer Accountability Act of 2023, requiring insurers to stop altering independent adjusters damage estimates without providing transparency, a number of Florida property insurers and adjuster firms stopped the practice on their own, said adjusters who had made some bold allegations about the industry.

Theyre now doing it like it was done years ago  they send it back to you and ask you to make the changes, said Mark Vinson, an independent adjuster who works on a freelance basis for property insurers.

Vinson and two other independent adjusters sparked a controversy in December when they charged at a Florida House of Representatives hearing that several insurers and their hired adjuster firms were making wholesale changes to their damage estimates, slashing repair amounts by as much as two-thirds  but leaving the field adjusters names on the revised reports. That gave the impression to policyholders that the guys in the field had arrived at the paltry numbers after inspections.

The practice amounted to fraud, the adjusters said, and they asked Florida regulators to investigate.

A number of insurance company executives and industry advocates grumbled about Vinson and the other adjusters, questioning their backgrounds and charging that they were being guided by trial lawyers.

But within four months of the adjusters accusations, some carriers quietly began changing their approach.

Now theyre doing it the way its supposed to be done, said Ben Mandell, one of the Florida-licensed adjusters who made the charges.

Instead of major revisions to estimates, at least a few insurers and the adjuster firms that work for them are now asking the field inspectors to revise items or correct costs that are not covered by a policy. Most of the revisions are minor and are legitimate, the adjusters said. Some carriers now often include the original estimate with the revised tally when sending a claims report to the homeowners.

Its a step in the right direction, Vinson said. But there still needs to be some arrests or some type of consequences for the way things were being done.

The Florida Department of Financial Services investigative division, after some initial confusion over whether it would look into the allegations, is now in the midst of a formal examination, adjusters and others said. A captain with the division said recently that it should take about six months to complete the investigation, said Doug Quinn, executive director of the American Policyholders Association.

The association investigates alleged actions by insurers and has worked closely with the independent adjusters to have Florida regulators dig further into the claims. The fact that a DFS captain, with law enforcement experience, is working the investigation is encouraging, Quinn said. But it remains to be seen if any charges will be filed.

The fear is this: that they will find some low-level person to arrest, when we know that the low-level person is not the person who made the calls on this, Quinn said.

Other adjusters said that the practice of doctoring estimates had become widespread in recent years, and may take time to be curtailed.

I had never seen insurance companies be so open about it until Hurricane Ian, said Shaun Markwardt, an independent adjuster from Tennessee who has worked claims in Florida. Roof claims, in particular, were arbitrarily discounted by some carriers, despite photographic evidence showing heavy damage, he said.

Markwardt said that he became so disgusted with the altering of his estimates that he recently swore off working for insurers and became a public adjuster, hired by policyholders.

Some insurance company officials in Florida have denied changing adjusters reports. Others in the industry have said the practice is acceptable as carriers struggle with claims that have been exaggerated by policyholders and their attorneys, actions that have pushed the Florida insurance market into crisis. Field adjusters sometimes make assumptions about policy coverage that have to be corrected, or they may confuse one policy with another, insurer advocates and executives have argued.

Florida Senate Bill 7052, known as the Insurer Accountability Act, is now awaiting the governors signature. If signed into law, it will bar insurers from altering adjusters reports unless a full explanation is provided to the policyholder, the original report is included, and the adjusters names are left off the revised estimates.

The bill and the recent improvements in insurers behavior on claims estimates may be little consolation to some Florida property owners, who have complained that their claims from Hurricane Ian have yet to be paid.

Its probably true that carriers are doing things the right way now, but if theyre still not paying claims, what good is it, asked one longtime Florida insurance agent who has heard repeatedly from frustrated owners and associations.

Data compiled by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation shows that, overall, claims from Hurricane Ian have been closed at about the same rate as those after Hurricane Michael, which raked the Florida Panhandle in 2018. Six months after Ian hit southwest Florida, some 708,255 claims had been filed and 79.8% had been closed. A year after Michael, 89.4% of all claims had been considered closed, the OIR reported.

But for claims closed with payment, the numbers seem to tell a different story. Six months after Ian, only 54% of claims had been closed with payments. At the six-month mark after Michael, about 70% of claims had been closed with payments. Private flood insurance claims show a bigger difference. Six months after Ian, just 42% of those claims have been closed with payments. A year after Michael, some 71% of private flood claims were closed with payment.

Looked at another way, some 180,000 Ian claims  about 25%  have been closed by carriers without payment to the policyholders. That compares to 14% in that category for Hurricane Michael for the same time frame post-storm.

To be sure, Ian, which made landfall in late September 2022, was a much more destructive storm and has so far produced four times as many claims, of all types, as did Michael. The OIR data is not broken down by carrier.

Industry sources insist that all insurers are not the same on claims and adjuster reports. Some are paying claims at a faster rate than are others.

We buy a lot of reinsurance. So, Im not sure the benefit of not paying the claim. I just dont understand it, said Kevin Mitchell, president of TypTap Insurance Co., which has about 50,000 policies in Florida, including some that resulted from Hurricane Ian.

He noted that Ian was a powerful storm that produced a large amount of flooding and storm surge, which may have complicated the disposition of many claims.

Mitchell added: We dont alter adjustments. We try to be transparent  Were here to pay claims fairly, and thats our job.

Topics Carriers Florida Claims
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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 156awaits 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.

Topics Florida Texas Illinois
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Authorities were assessing the damage after a 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.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Mexico New Mexico
Toronto, Ontario - May 16, 2023 (Newsfile Corp.) (Investorideas.com Newswire) SATO Technologies Corp. (TSXV: SATO) (OTCQB: CCPUF) (the "Company", or "SATO") is pleased to announce financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. Please refer to the Company's Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements and the accompanying Management's Discussion and Analysis for full details and discussion of the results, copies of which have been filed and are available under the Company's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and are available on the Company's website (www.bysato.com).

2023 Operational - Highlights (unaudited)

Addition of approximately 28 PH/s of organically-financed mining equipment;

Efficiency ratio (BTC produced per Exahash): 90.27 BTC per EH/s quarterly average;

8 MW of power equipment ready for deployment to support future expansion.

Q1-2023 Financial - Highlights (unaudited)

Total revenue of $3,908,602 representing growth of 129% when compared to the $1,706,266 of revenue for Q1-2022;

Net Income of $511,740 compared to Net Loss of $(2,106,661) for Q1-2022;

Average electricity cost to mine 1 Bitcoin in Q1 2023: US$11,115;

Revenue from hosting of $2,959,027 grew 194% compared to $1,006,610 in Q1-2022;

Cash position as at March 31, 2023 of $334,302 and the equivalent of $1,119,020 worth of Digital Assets;

Operating Cash Flow positive for the quarter with $918,224 provided by operating activities.

"Our team is incredibly proud to announce that our Q1-2023 financial results have exceeded all expectations, even amidst a bear market. Following our positive operating cashflow in 2022, showing net profit in Q1 demonstrates our unwavering dedication to innovation, efficiency, and strategic expansion. As we set our sights on even greater heights, we are actively seeking to acquire Bitcoin miners globally. We invite you to come aboard and join us in our ambitious journey towards unparalleled growth and success." - Romain Nouzareth, CEO.

The Company will be hosting a conference call for the presentation of the financial results for the quarter ending March 31, 2023, followed by a Q&A session. The event will take place via a conference call on May 19th, 2023 at 9AM EDT.

Analysts, media, and investors are invited to attend.

Details of the conference call are as follows:

Date: May 19, 2023

Time: 9:00 AM Eastern Time

Dial-in number: +1 669 444 9171

Ask your questions in advance: https://forms.gle/4xEdqt6KwMTCh6af6

Conference ID: 828 5184 2298

Webcast link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82851842298

A recording of the call will be available on our website shortly after the event for those who are unable to attend. We look forward to having you join us for this important update and appreciate your continued support.

On behalf of the board,

Romain Nouzareth, SATO CEO and Chairman

About SATO

SATO, Founded at Bitcoin block 494673 in 2017, is a vertically integrated innovator in the field of computing power commodities, specializing in low-cost Bitcoin mining by efficiently operating a 20 MW data center that generates nearly 0.6 EHs of mining power. Listed on (TSXV: SATO) (OTCQB: CCPUF) since 2021, the Company prides itself on outstanding performance, financial stability, and a top-tier team. Around 65% of securities (on a fully diluted basis) own by Officers, Directors, Insiders and Shareholders above 7% with long term vision. To learn more about SATO's distinct vision, ambitious goals and meet the team, visit www.bysato.com.

For additional information, please contact:

Investor Relations: invest@bysato.com

Arrange a one-on-one meeting with the CEO to review these findings: https://calendly.com/satobtc/sato-1-1

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, including statements relating to the future performance of the Company, and other statements that are not historical facts. Wherever possible, words such as "may", "will", "should", "could", "expect", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict" or "potential" or the negative or other variations of these words, or similar words or phrases, have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management as at the date hereof.

Forward-looking statements involve significant risk, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

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After launching in North America and Taiwan, Logitech's unusual and relatively expensive G Cloud Gaming Handheld is coming to Europe, the company announced. It's now available in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland, with special launch goodies like six months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

With a seven-inch 1080p touchscreen and gamepad controls, the Logitech G Cloud resembles handheld gaming devices like the Razer Edge and Ayaneo Air Pro, or even a smaller version of the Switch or Steam Deck. However, it only packs middling specs like a mid-range Qualcomm 720G SoC, 4GB or RAM and Bluetooth 5.1/WiFi 5. That's because it's specifically designed for cloud gaming from services like Xbox Game Pass and GeForce Now, and can also be used to stream console/PC games remotely.

Given the limited specs, the $350 price raised some eyebrows, though it normally retails for about $300. Since it shipped in December, Logitech has added a number of new features like virtual button mapping for touch-based mobile games, control customization settings and dead zones, and official support for Shadow PC. The latter service allows you to effectively "rent" a reasonably powerful PC starting at $30 per month and play games on it.

In any case, the G Cloud Gaming Handheld has apparently seen enough success for Logitech to bring it to territories outside North America. As mentioned, Logitech is throwing in up to six months of Xobx Game Pass Ultimate (depending on the country), along with a month of NVIDIA GeForce NOW Priority and a month of Shadow PC. It'll be available starting May 22nd for 359 / 329.
Kelowna, British Columbia - May 16, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Wine Growers British Columbia has launched Pour More BC, a hospitality program developed to support and promote BC restaurants with BC focused wine lists. The program is designed to benefit everyone involved - from the BC wineries crafting premium wines, to the restaurants serving by the glass or bottle, and finally to the consumers who enjoy them.

"At its core, the Pour More BC program connects people with great local restaurants," said Kimberley Barnes, Marketing Director, Wine Growers British Columbia. "More than that, it makes it easy for people who value supporting local, and delight in discovering a BC wine they may otherwise not have had the chance to try, to easily find restaurants delivering that experience."



Wine Growers British Columbia puts marketing power behind the program with qualifying Pour More BC restaurants (eligibility based on confirmation of a BC wine dominant wine list) receiving a listing on Wines of BC Best BC Wine Restaurants page. Pour More BC restaurants have also been added to the award-winning Wines of BC Explorer App, enabling the 16k+ users who already use the App to guide their wine country visits to now find BC wine restaurants nearby.



Exciting recognition came to the program when Vancouver Magazine announced the winner of the 'Best BC Wine List' at their 34th annual Restaurant Awards as a Pour More BC Restaurant, Water St. Cafe. "We at Water St. Cafe focus on the 'best of BC' as our core value," said Sandy Grant, General Manager, Water St. Cafe, Vancouver. "This is reflected in our BC forward wine list with over 90 BC labels supported. We look to focus on unique varietals and wineries to showcase the diversity of what BC can offer from so many wonderful regions. When we support BC businesses, we make BC and our communities strong."



Pour More BC restaurants become valued partners with the Wines of British Columbia brand mission to champion BC wine. Through this partnership, Pour More restaurants receive access to valuable staff training opportunities such as the Wines of British Columbia Ambassador Program, as well as high quality print and digital marketing materials to connect with their BC wine loving guests in person and online.

"We have a lot planned to support Pour More BC, including exciting ways to engage consumers with the program," said Barnes. "Industry and wine lovers alike should keep an eye on our social channels this June for a summer giveaway designed to boost audience engagement and build awareness for our local BC restaurants serving BC wine."



To start planning your local wine and food adventures, visit WineBC.com to find the list of participating Pour More BC Restaurants. Be sure to follow @WinesofBC in advance of the June giveaway as well and look for the Pour More BC icon in the Wines of BC Explorer App.



Restaurants can apply to the program here

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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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Source: Michael Fairbairn

May 16, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Once nameplate capacity is reached there, expected this year, costs should decrease and cash flow generation should increase, noted a Canaccord Genuity report.

MAG Silver Corp.'s (MAG:TSX; MAG:NYSE American) Q1/23 was notable for both financial and operational hits and misses in terms of expected performance, reported Canaccord Genuity analyst Michael Fairbairn in a May 10 research note.

"It was a mixed set of results for MAG," Fairbairn wrote.

However, Canaccord Genuity maintained its Speculative Buy rating and CA$26 per share target price on the Canadian explorer-developer, trading now at about CA$16.51 per share.

Production, EBITDA Fall Short

Fairbairn presented the key takeaways from MAG's Q1/23.

Payable metals production (entirely at Juanicipio, MAG's Mexican joint venture [JV] project with Fresnillo) fell slightly short of Canaccord's estimates, the analyst reported. For silver, it came in at 2,000,000 ounces (2 Moz) versus Canaccord's 2.15 Moz. For silver equivalent (Ag eq), it was 2.8 Moz compared to Canaccord's 2.91 Moz.

MAG's attributable adjusted EBITDA also was a miss at US$6.4 million (US$6.4M). Canaccord forecasted it to be US$9.8M.

"The variance [was] driven by higher-than-expected production costs," wrote Fairbairn.

Costs Creep Up

MAG's costs were higher quarter over quarter and "slightly above expectations, the analyst pointed out. Specifically, the company's co-product all-in sustaining cost (AISC) was US$14.84 per ounce (US$14.84/oz) of Ag eq, 19% higher than in Q4/22, when it was US$12.49. Canaccord's AISC forecast was US$12.23/oz Ag eq.

Another capital outlay during Q1/23 was for about $25M, in the form of a cash call from the Juanicipio joint venture to pay taxes and mining duties owed to Mexico, reported Fairbairn.

In MAG's favor during Q1/23, the analyst noted, several factors offset some of the total costs. They were deferred tax credits, lower than expected taxes related to Juanicipio (the JV's tax liability dropped in Q1/23 to less than US$1M from US$36.3M) and additional interest income from the loan on mining assets.

EPS a Highlight

This trio of factors, noted Fairbairn, contributed to MAG achieving an attributable adjusted earnings per share in Q1/23 that exceeded Canaccord's estimate: $0.05 versus $0.03. However, it was lower than the Street's projection, of $0.07 per share.

Strong Balance Sheet

Further, the company ended Q1/23 well situated financially, having raised US$59.6M earlier in the year, Fairbairn wrote. At quarter's end, MAG had US$54.6M in cash and zero debt, but total cash was a miss. Canaccord expected it to be about US$65M.

Juanicipio Ramp-Up Underway

Fairbairn reported that the ramp-up at the Juanicipio plant remains a primary focus for MAG. With commissioning having been started in early January, the project is on track to reach nameplate capacity (4,000 tons per day) in mid- to late 2023. As the joint venture partners get closer to achieving this goal, they expect related costs to decrease and free cash flow generation to increase.

At the same time, though, "any additional funding needed due to market conditions, delayed ramp-up to nameplate capacity, tax payments or extra sustaining capital beyond the operating cash flow generated will be provided through cash calls required from Fresnillo and MAG," Fairbairn wrote.

Juanicipio had a cash balance of US$8.4M at the end of Q1/23.

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Source: Streetwise Reports

May 16, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Usha Resources Ltd. is adding five highly prospective Ontario lithium pegmatite projects to its portfolio as the rush continues to find one of the main metals in demand for the green revolution.

Usha Resources Ltd. (USHA:TSX.V; USHAF:OTCQB) is adding five highly prospective Ontario lithium pegmatite projects to its portfolio as the rush continues to find one of the main metals in demand for the green revolution.

The company said it has executed options with 2758145 Ontario Ltd. of Atikokan, Ontario, for the right to purchase 100% interest in the Lee Lake, Mead, Bluett, Gathering Lake, and Triangle Lake projects.

The properties bring Usha's lithium portfolio to seven properties covering more than 29,000 hectares in Ontario, including the district-scale White Willow Lithium-Tantalum project.

"Each of these properties has the technical merit to be the next major discovery in Ontario's growing lithium hotbed," Chief Executive Officer Deepak Varshney said.

The company's flagship Jackpot Lake lithium brine project in Nevada is "somewhat in its own 'world'" with a possible shallower and richer resource than other Nevada lithium projects, wrote Chris Temple, editor of The National Investor.

Temple said he took another look at the project after colleagues told him "NOT to sleepwalk past this one."

"Usha Resources Ltd. started as a Buy and is added to my list of Speculative-rated stocks," Temple wrote. "Besides many of Usha's unique attributes at Jackpot Lake (it has a few other exploration assets of various kinds as well) consider its share count: only 35 million shares or so outstanding, of which but a quarter or so is in the market."

Technical analyst Clive Maund of CliveMaund.com noted that Usha has strategic properties of rich mine sites and is focused "on the development of quality battery and precious metal properties that are drill-ready with high-upside and expansion potential," which makes it a safe bet for investors.

The company is currently working toward its maiden drilling program at Jackpot Lake with the goal of defining a National Instrument 43-101 resource. Last year, Usha said it saw the highest grades ever at the project, assaying 820 parts per million lithium (ppm Li) with an average of 334 ppm Li in 30 samples collected from shallow surface soils.

Usha focuses on high-grade battery and precious metal projects across North America. In addition to its latest acquisitions, the company also has several ongoing projects, including the Jackpot Lake Lithium Brine Project in Nevada, the White Willow Lithium Pegmatite Project in Ontario, and the Lost Basin Project in Arizona.

The Catalyst: Building a Portfolio of Hard-Rock Assets

Under the agreement for the five new lithium projects, Usha may acquire 100% interest in the properties by paying CA$395,350 in cash and 2.1 million shares over three years.

The vendor also has been granted a 2% net-smelter returns royalty for each of the projects, which Usha may purchase half of any time for consideration of CA$1,000,000 per option.

The transactions must still be approved by the TSX Venture exchange.

The company said the purchases are part its strategy to build a portfolio of highly complementary hard-rock assets to Jackpot Lake.

Gathering Lake and Triangle Lake make up 8,938 hectares collectively within the Georgia Lake pegmatite field.

Lee Lake is 2,476 hectares adjacent to Australia-based Green Technology Metal's North Seymour Lake Claims, about 10 kilometers northwest of the Seymour Lake Project, which hosts a 9.9 million tonne (Mt) resource at 1.04% Li2O.

The Mead project is 1,001 hectares bounding Brunswick Exploration Inc.'s (BRW:TSX.V) Hearst project.

Bluett's 993 hectares are adjacent to Australian company Critical Resources Ltd.'s Mavis Lake project, where the company has already drilled more than 20,000 meters and is drilling 20,000 meters more this to define a maiden resource.

Usha said is waiting for results from limited drilling completed as part of the first hole at Jackpot Lake and will soon resume drilling 2,000 feet there to complete well installation at the bottom of the basin.

"This summer will be a very busy time for the company as we complete the initial two drill holes at Jackpot Lake and begin exploration of our hard rock assets," Varshney said. "With a working capital of approximately (CA$)3 million, limited costs remaining at Jackpot Lake as we progress towards a maiden 43-101 lithium brine resource estimate, and the flexibility to potentially partner with strategic companies from Australia on our lithium pegmatite assets, Usha is well positioned to advance and grow."

The Lithium Rush Is On

The world needs lithium to help fuel the move to green energy. The soft, silvery metal with highly reactive and flammable properties is a major component of electric vehicle (EV) batteries. It's also used to strengthen alloys, as a high-temperature lubricant, and as a drug to treat bipolar disorder.

The deficit between lithium demand and production and highly probable and probable lithium projects will be over 3.5 Mt by 2040, according to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence.

One out of five vehicles sold worldwide could be an EV in less than two years, and Ford and General Motors have set a goal of achieving 40-50% of their sales from EVs in the U.S. by 2030.

To qualify for tax credits under new U.S. laws, a significant percentage of batteries and minerals in batteries must come from the U.S. or Canada.

China only has less than a quarter of the world's lithium resources but controlled about two-thirds of the world's lithium processing and refining capacity in 2021, Rystad Energy said.

"Government regulations and subsidies are working on expanding clean energy," Research and Markets wrote. "Thus, energy storage systems represent a huge opportunity for investors."

Ownership and Share Structure

Management and insiders own 13.3% of Usha Resources, including the CEO Varshney, who owns 5.04%. Director Navin Varshney owns 7.1%.

According to Reuters, 15.03% is owned by institutions and strategic investors. Out of this category, Palos Management Inc. has the most at 1.77%.

The balance of 71.7% is held by retail investors.

Usha's market cap is CA$12.52 million, with about 47 million shares outstanding. It trades in a 52-week range of CA$0.42 and CA$0.205.

Disclosures:

1) Steve Sobek wrote this article for Streetwise Reports LLC. He or members of his household own securities of the following companies mentioned in the article: None. He or members of his household are paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None.

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3) The article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports.

4) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the decision to publish an article until three business days after the publication of the article. The foregoing prohibition does not apply to articles that in substance only restate previously published company releases. As of the date of this article, officers and/or employees of Streetwise Reports LLC (including members of their household) own securities of Usha Resources Ltd., a company mentioned in this article.

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Defamation lawyer Paul Tweed said companies like Microsoft should be on the hook for the spread of generative AI disinformation.

Mr Tweed, the founder of W P Tweed & Co and an expert in the field of media law and reputation management, said that he has heard concerns from organisations, including news publishers, that AI chatbots are taking up the role of news aggregator but a lot of what is being churned out is misleading information.

Key players out there, either for commercial or political reasons, who have been feeding disinformation, are now utilising these AI chatbots, he said.

However, Mr Tweed said that Irish law isnt geared to deal with the problems emerging from the growing use of AI. The million dollar question is whos accountable, said Mr Tweed.

Who do we take action against? Do we sue a robot? he continued.

Mr Tweed used Microsoft as an example of a company that should be liable for the spread of misleading information through AI. Microsoft has invested heavily in OpenAI, a company that created the leading AI chatbot ChatGPT.

Big tech take advantage of tax tourism by coming to Ireland. Thats not necessarily a bad thing for the Irish economy. But why should they be treated any different from the owners of the Irish Examiner, said Mr Tweed. Theyre the publishers. Theyre the owners.

Mr Tweed said introducing such laws that would impact big tech firms is not going to scare them off. "They must be subject to the law like everyone else.

Meanwhile, last week Reuters reported that MEPs came a step closer to passing new rules regulating artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT, following a crunch vote on Thursday where they agreed on tougher draft legislation.

The European Union's highly anticipated AI Act looks set to be the world's first comprehensive legislation governing the technology, with new rules around the use of facial recognition, biometric surveillance, and other AI applications.
FARMERS in todays high-tech society are only the click of a computer mouse away from accessing advice on any aspect of their work.

But that was not the case in previous generations when there was no Google, Teagasc, Green Certs, discussion groups, farm walks, or webinars.

And yet those who produced quality food and cared for the countryside, showed great ingenuity in what they did.

They made maximum use of their resources, respected nature, and were self-sufficient before the term became popular. They ate what they grew, wore what they wove, and sold what they could spare.

While often poor in material wealth by latter-day standards, they possessed a wide range of basic skills for farming, which is nowadays largely guided by agricultural science and dependent on complex technology.

Every parish had a network of people with an inherited knowledge that they shared with each other.

Advice was often sought about folk medicines for sick animals, what vegetables should be planted in damp soil, and where to set a row of sheltering trees.

No waste

Food was never wasted. Hob lawyers gave advice on disputes between neighbouring farmers about bounds ditches and trespassing cattle.

And there was no shortage of people whose weather predictions often dictated whether a farmer should cut a meadow of hay or mend a fence on any given day.

Mechanisation, rural electrification, television, growth in agricultural education, and advisory services followed.

And so did the consumer society and membership of what is now the European Union, which changed rural life, mostly for the better.

Yet, some of the old ways are still relevant with a renewed focus on biodiversity, sustainability, and the natural health of the countryside.

Farming For Nature (FFN) says there is widespread awareness of the environmental damage that can be caused by the wrong type of farming.

We hear about it all the time, it says. There isnt as much discussion of those that are doing a great job farming for nature, about the positive stories, meaning we dont have many good role models.

This negative narrative can alienate farmers from nature, making them feel apart from it rather than part of it.

Encouraging farmers to feel that they are part of the solution, not just the problem, is the first step in a long journey which will require a lot of financial and technical support, new partnerships and new visions.

FFN is an independent initiative hosted by the Burrenbeo Trust and funded by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, and An Bord Bia.

It seeks to acknowledge and support those farmers who farm, or wish to farm, in a way that will improve the natural health of the countryside.

The project is open for 2023 applications until June 10. It will shortlist up to 50 applications, depending on the interest and capacity.

Brigid Barry, co-ordinator, said many farmers request a fellow farmer to visit and provide practical tips on what they can do to improve the environmental condition of their land while continuing to farm alongside nature.

The farmer pays a nominal fee of 50 to the visiting mentor and FFN covers the rest.

Some 50 farms will be chosen this year to partake in the project with a view to expanding it into the future.

Rewarding experience

Sligo farmer Niamh Doody, one of those who availed of the service last year, found it a rewarding experience.

It was a great visit. Our mentor was like a walking encyclopedia. I have never had anyone come to visit the farm and give new ideas before. It was an enlightenment, she said.

The mentors listed for this year include Thomas and Claire O Connor, who manage a 25-acre mixed organic farm in Gleann na Gealt, Camp, Co Kerry.

They produce vegetables, salads, wheatgrass, meat, poultry, and eggs, which they sell locally in their Tralee shop. They have 15 acres of native Irish woodland and four acres of permaculture including fruit trees.

Another mentor, Suzanna Crampton, Bennetts Bridge, Co Kilkenny, has species-rich meadows and pastures, as well as woodlands, parkland, and numerous stand-alone mature trees which form a haven for local wildlife.

She farms 12 acres on which she has 30 ewes and followers. They have access to a mixed sward with 17 different species of grasses.

Suzanna practices regenerative agriculture with a rare breed of sheep that is triflective (milk, meat, fleece). She designs blankets from her award-winning wool.

The farm has herb-rich grazing for the sheep. Mature hedges add more habitat diversity for native plants, insects, and birds. A decades-old traditional orchard provides bountiful fruit.

Irish organic farming pioneer Michael Hickey, another listed mentor, farms for nature near New Inn, Co Tipperary. He manages half of his 100-acre organic farm for tillage and the rest for his herd of 40 Aberdeen Angus cattle and horses. The farm has a variety of habitats including seasonally flooded grasslands, fen areas, pastures, and meadows. He has given 30% of his farm over to habitats.

FFN explains that the programme involves an informal farm walk and a chat with the host farmer to share simple practical advice and given encouragement.

These farmers are not ecologists but are fellow farmers that are working day in, day out in situations that have an abundance of wildlife and plant life without impacting their farming systems, it says.

In many ways, The Horses Mouth programme reflects how farming knowledge was shared locally generations ago. The title is apt. It means the advice given is straight from a reliable source.
Bord Bia is launching a series of meat promotional campaigns with the EU in China this week worth 8m.

A collection of the latest news, views and analysis from the farming desk on the topic of Agribusiness and technology.

The co-funded campaigns to promote meat from Europe will also "build awareness of Ireland as a supplier of high-quality, safe, and sustainably-produced beef, lamb, pork and poultry", Bord Bia said.

Coinciding with the ministerial-led trade mission to China this week, Bord Bia hosted its first Chef Masters event - Sustainable European Meat from Ireland - in Beijing which brought together top players in the Chinese foodservice sector for a showcase of how Irish beef and pork can be adapted to Chinese cuisine.

This will be followed by a trade seminar in Shanghai on Wednesday which will bring together two of Bord Bias EU co-funded campaigns: European Beef and Lamb  Ireland, Working with Nature; and European Pork and Poultry: Excellence in Food Safety and Quality Assurance.

The three-year 4.8m EU co-funded campaign, European Beef and Lamb  Ireland, Working with Nature campaign has been building awareness of beef and lamb across China, Japan, Republic of Korea, and the US since last December.

The three-year 3.8m EU co-funded campaign European Pork and Poultry: Excellence in Food Safety and Quality Assurance has been building awareness of Irelands quality assurance and food safety credentials in China and Mexico since 2020.

Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue meets Chinese chefs at Bord Bia's Chef Masters' event in Beijing.

Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue said that China is a "very important trading partner for the Irish agri-food sector and we look forward to continually strengthening this trading relationship".

"It is fitting that the EU has selected Ireland to showcase the best meat Europe has to offer, with the two EU campaigns for beef, pork, lamb, and poultry," he said.

"These events will involve key messaging on Irelands sustainably-produced grass-fed beef and lamb and demonstrate Irish beef and porks suitability and adaptability to Chinese cuisine."

37m in return

Bord Bias senior manager for EU promotions Declan Fennell said that these co-funded campaigns with the EU are "pivotal in extending the global footprint of Irish meat in China, and are expected to result in 37m in return in Irish beef and lamb exports to the market".

Mr Fennell said that given the challenges in recent years with restricted access to China during the pandemic, a large focus of the campaigns will be the building of new relationships between Irish exporters and local importers and distributors in China.

"Irelands beef, lamb, pork, and poultry adhere to the highest quality and traceability standards and are valued by consumers worldwide," he said.

"The EU campaigns focus will be about building awareness of the advantages of the European, and more specifically Irish outdoor grass-based production systems."
A more "structured, collaborative approach" will be needed from industry if the tillage area is to reach the target of 400,000 hectares by 2030, the Irish Farmers' Association has said.

IFA national grain chairman Kieran McEvoy said that the 2023 cropping year "was always set to be financially challenging", with high input costs and declining global grain prices.

However, "changes in the nitrates rules have completely disrupted the land market, leading to very significant increases in land rental costs".

"This has added further pressure on the long-term viability of many growers. It is now almost certain that the area under tillage will decline this year, when it needs to be going the other way," Mr McEvoy said.

Food Vision group

The first meeting of the Food Vision 2030 Tillage Group was held recently.

The group is chaired by Matt Dempsey, and participants are drawn from farming organisations, industry, and state bodies.

The group has been tasked with providing a detailed plan and recommendations by the end of July for how the sector will meet its targets, with a final plan to be submitted during the final quarter of 2023.

"Its essential that the group meets regularly over the coming weeks and months to identify and construct ambitious proposals to prevent the tillage sector lapsing back to the dangerously small area of 2017/2018," Mr McEvoy said.

"The Tillage Incentive Scheme, Protein Aid, and the Straw Incorporation Measure have enabled a much-needed recovery in the sector since 2021, but more will be needed to reach the target set down," he added.

Calls for increased funding

Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue has confirmed recently that he is keeping the Straw Incorporation Measure funding under review.

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns asked the minister has views on increasing the funding for the scheme by 50% and increasing the acreage that can be applied for by a farmer from the current 40 hectares.

The measure was introduced in 2021 as a pilot, with its purpose being to chop straw and incorporate it into the soil, thereby improving soil organic matter with which a lot of additional environmental and climate change benefits are associated.

In 2022, over 11m was paid out to 2,527 farmers on an area of approximately 50,400 hectares.

The measure has since been included in Ireland's new CAP Strategic Plan.

"The indicative annual financial allocation for this measure in the strategic plan is 10m and is payable on the chopping and incorporation of straw between five hectares up to a maximum of 40 hectares," Mr McConalogue said.

"The rate of payment is 250 per hectare for barley, wheat, oats, and rye and 150 per hectare for oilseed rape.

"I will keep the scheme under review, however, the final annual allocation for the scheme is subject to the national budgetary process and uptake by farmers."

Land under tillage increase

Ms Cairns also asked the minister if he would adjust the Tillage Incentive Scheme to support current tillage farmers, including the requirement that the land must remain in tillage for at least five years.

The scheme was introduced last year in response to the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia, to incentivise domestic cereal production thereby reducing dependency on imports.

In 2022, just under 10m was paid out to 3,622 farmers on an area of approximately 25,000 hectares under the scheme.

"Since its introduction in 2022, the scheme has proved to be successful and popular with farmers and it is acknowledged as having contributed to the estimated 6% increase in tillage area, or an additional 20,000 hectares in 2022," Mr McConalogue said.

"I secured funding of 10m for the continuation of the scheme in Budget 2023."

The terms and conditions for 2023 are currently being finalised, Mr McConalogue said, however, "it is not intended at this point to adjust the scheme to include a requirement that land must remain in tillage for at least five years".
Amal Clooney praised young female community leaders and said lasting change has to be led by people on the ground as she presented a special honour at the Princes Trust awards.

The high-profile barrister and wife of Hollywood star George Clooney presented the Amal Clooney Womens Empowerment Award to a young Tanzanian woman at the ceremony on Tuesday.

The annual Princes Trust Awards recognise young people who have succeeded against the odds, improved their chances in life and had a positive impact on their local community.

As a lawyer, I can work to change laws. But lasting change has to be led by people on the ground, in the community

The Clooneys were among the stars that attended the 19th annual event in London, alongside British talent including actor Stephen Graham, Eurovision star Sam Ryder and rapper Bugzy Malone.

Award winner Zamana was recognised after launching her own campaign to support and encourage girls to stay in school in Tanzania.

The campaign translates as Allow Me To Study and focuses on helping schoolgirls and their parents understand the importance of completing their education.

Presenting her womens empowerment award, Amal Clooney said: As a lawyer, I can work to change laws.

But lasting change has to be led by people on the ground, in the community. Sometimes, these leaders can be found in girls as young as 16. Like Zamana, who we are honouring today.

Zamana told me that one of the ways she convinces parents to let girls study is by showing them images of successful women  and I have no doubt that she will one day be among them.

George and Amal Clooney were among the famous faces at the ceremony in London on Tuesday (Ian West/PA)

Elsewhere, This Is England star and Princes Trust ambassador Graham read a letter to the audience from the King.

The actor also presented the Homesense Young Achiever of the Year award to 24-year-old Joanna Drewett from South Manchester.

Ms Drewett was admitted to a psychiatric hospital at 15, which disrupted her education, and she finished school with just three GCSEs, before reaching out to the Princes Trust.

Presenting her with the award, Graham said: Joanna should be very proud of herself.

Princes Trust ambassador Stephen Graham read a letter to the audience from the King during the ceremony (Ian West/PA)

She hasnt let the challenges in life hold her back and is now thriving, loving and enjoying lifes experiences.

This is a real testament to her strength and determination. Congratulations on the award win and best of luck in your future endeavours.

Awards were also presented by celebrity supporters and Princes Trust ambassadors including Edward Enninful, Geri Horner, Fearne Cotton, Holly Willoughby, Rylan Clark and Kate Garraway.

Tuesdays event was hosted by celebrity presenters and long-term ambassadors of The Princes Trust Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, and featured a performance by Ryder.

Ryder, who was heavily involved in the recent Eurovision celebrations in Liverpool, said he had nothing but respect for those who had overcome tribulations and challenges in life.

Sam Ryder (Ian West/PA)

Being around this kind of energy inspires the transmission and the radiation of that kind of energy from your own life and your own heart and your own spirit, he told the PA news agency on the events carpet.

I had a dream of a career in music since I was about 14 years old it took a long time and the only thing that I can attribute that is just never giving up.

You have this feeling and this fire inside of your heart that you want to share music for no other reason but a connection with total strangers and to enrich your life in that way.

So, Ive got nothing but respect for people who have that same spirit and same vigour.

He added: Whatever life throws at them, whatever failures, tribulations and challenges, they will never cease in this search to share light.

Charles is set to meet the winners of this years Princes Trust awards at a reception at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday.
YOUNG people all over Ireland are invited to take part in a day of free creative activities on Saturday, June 10. This is when Cruinniu na nOg takes place, with a line-up of more than 500 events nationwide.

Announcing the details of this years Cruinniu na nOg, Culture Minister Catherine Martin said: This huge programme of free creative activities will stretch the imaginative muscles of all young people. Its a wonderful opportunity for them to show off a little, try a new activity, make new friends and connect with their communities.

Caterina Chiu Paone (8) from Cork, at the Mud Island Community Garden to launch a programme of over 500 free creative events for children and young people for Cruinniu na nOg 2023. Picture: Mark Stedman

The scheduled events include the Irish Street Arts, Circus and Spectacle Network opening the doors of their venues in Cloughjordan, Cork, Dublin, and Galway and inviting young people in to learn circus skills. Also in the lineup is a day of rap music at Elizabeth Fort in Cork City, hula hooping in Waterford, sensory soap making in Offaly and so much more. The full programme of events is available at cruinniu.creativeireland.gov.ie/

Empowering new mums

Lucy and Kara from Mum Talks

Becoming a mum can be a shock to the system. Many women experience a loss of identity as the focus moves from them to their baby.

Seven years ago, Lucy ODriscoll Edge and Kara Heriot set up Mum Talks to give women a safe space to discuss the changes in their lives.

It has since grown to become a supportive network for mothers giving mums the opportunity to learn from experts and connect with others who are going through a similar experience of motherhood.

Mum Talks has also become an events company that aims to inspire and empower mothers with in-person and online meetups, events, talks and workshops. Full details can be found on mumtalks.ie and Instagram at @Mum_Talks.

Petition for dyslexic aid

Dyslexic students are at a disadvantage when it comes to sitting exams. In many countries, they are given the opportunity to make up for it by being allowed extra time. Yet this is not offered to dyslexic students sitting the Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate exams here in Ireland.

The Dyslexia Association of Ireland has launched a petition to change this, calling on the State Examinations Commission to review its policy to cater for the needs of young people with dyslexia and other learning difficulties.

The petition has already received a strong public response, with more than 14,000 people signing it in its first four days. If youd like to add your name to the list, search Call for extra time for dyslexic students in Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate exams on change.org

Spark wonder and joy

Thomas Johnston with a SongTales box

Theres little that lifts a childs spirits quite like dancing, singing, and playing. SongTales, 29.95, is a new music and creativity box that aims to inspire little ones to do just that at home.

Its produced by Ceol Connected, a company that develops musical theatre for young audiences, and it aims to ignite childrens creativity and support their development through music and storytelling.

One of Ceol Connecteds latest productions is Treehouse, a show that combines music with puppetry. The SongTales box contains a wristband that gives exclusive online access to the show as well as music videos and the Treehouse album. It also includes an illustrated story booklet, a poster, and a range of guided creative activities that bring the story of the Treehouse to life.

Twenty-two artists helped to put together the music album, videos, illustrations, and art activities found in each box.

Ceol Connected director Thomas Johnston says: Some of our best memories from when we were children are those that had a little bit of magic and wonder about them. This is what SongTales is about.

Simply put: We want to spark wonder and joy in the imaginations of children that will last a lifetime.
The number of recorded executions across the world soared in 2022, revealing a "callous disregard for human life", Amnesty International has said.

Amnesty's annual review of the death penalty found that a total of 883 people were known to have been executed across 20 countries last year. This represented the highest figure globally since 2017, and a rise of 53% from 2021.

While this does not include the thousands of executions believed to be carried out in China, it does record a spike in executions in the Middle East and North Africa.

Almost nine in ten of the worlds known executions in 2022 were carried out by just three countries: Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.

Amnesty International secretary general Agnes Callamard said: The number of individuals deprived of their lives rose dramatically across the region. Saudi Arabia executed a staggering 81 people in a single day.

Most recently, in a desperate attempt to end the popular uprising, Iran executed people simply for exercising their right to protest.

In Iran, the number of people executed rose from 314 in 2021 to 576 last year. The number of executions tripled in Saudi Arabia to 196, the highest recorded by Amnesty in 30 years, while 24 people were executed in Egypt.

Amnesty said that countries such as China, North Korea, and Vietnam are known to use the death penalty extensively, which means the true global figure is far higher.

It said it was clear that China remained the worlds most prolific executioner, ahead of Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the US.

Executions resumed in five countries in 2022  Afghanistan, Kuwait, Myanmar, Palestine, and Singapore  while executions in the US increased from 11 to 18.

Executed over drug offences

The number of people executed for drug-related offences is also on the rise, which Amnesty said is in violation of international human rights law.

Such executions were carried out in China, Saudi Arabia (57), Iran (255), and Singapore (11) and represented 47% of all executions recorded globally. It said such executions were also likely carried out in Vietnam.

Importantly, its often those from disadvantaged backgrounds that are disproportionately affected by this callous punishment, said Ms Callamard.

Its time for governments and the UN to up the pressure on those responsible for these blatant human rights violations and ensure international safeguards are put in place.

The number of people issued a death sentence in 2022 stood at 2,016, a decrease from 2,052 the previous year.

Amnesty also pointed to a glimmer of hope as six countries abolished the death penalty either partially or fully, in Kazakhstan, Papua New Guinea, Sierra Leone, the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, and Zambia.

This positivity continued as Liberia and Ghana took legislative steps towards abolishing the death penalty, while authorities in Sri Lanka and the Maldives said they would not resort to implementing death sentences.

Ms Callamard said it is time for others to follow suit.

With 125 UN member states  more than ever before  calling for a moratorium on executions, Amnesty International has never felt more hopeful that this abhorrent punishment can and will be relegated to the annals of history," she said.
A man claimed to have been duped by online scammers into thinking he was in a romantic relationship with television personality Sophie Monk. Picture: Supplied

A Sydney man claims to have been duped by online scammers into thinking he was in a romantic relationship with television personality Sophie Monk.

Brian Anthony Rapley, 49, did not appear before Gosford Local Court on Tuesday after NSW Police took out an apprehended violence order when he showed up outside Monks Central Coast home.

The court was told the father of two was seen on CCTV placing a red rose at the reality TV stars door about 7.30am on Anzac Day this year before returning shirtless to remove the flowers 12 hours later.

After warning the lovestruck Mr Rapley against returning, police swooped after he reappeared at the former Bachelorette stars door. He was later served a restraining order at Gosford police station.

Mr Rapley, who lives out of a shack, claims to have been misled by an online con artist posing as Monk who sent him romantic texts and direct messages for four months before later scamming him out of $7000.

I felt like such an idiot, Mr Rapley told The Daily Telegraph.

But I thought we were in a relationship.

Mr Rapley said the scammer latched onto him after he left comments under one of Monks Instagram posts.

Sophie Monk is well known for her reality TV roles, including Love Island, the Bachelorette, and Beauty and the Geek. Picture: Supplied

Soon after, Mr Rapley began receiving messages from an account with the same image as the TV star.

The user claimed to be Monk who had used a different account because my manager reads my official account, so this is better, Mr Rapley told reporters earlier this month.

Mr Rapley said he only spoke to the scammer online, with the fraudster insisting (their) phone was broken.

He said he was contacted by a company claiming to be a legal firm urging him to sign a temporary marriage certificate with Monk, as she was already married to businessman Joshua Gross.

Mr Rapley said he was also instructed to sign several documents as well as send photo ID and money.

Brian Rapley claims he was duped into thinking he was in a relationship with Monk. Picture: John Graing

Text messages Mr Rapley claims were sent by a scammer posing as Monk. Picture: Supplied

Although he questioned the repeated requests, Mr Rapley said he was lonely and believed (them).

He said he was later asked to attend Monks home in messages seen by police and The Daily Telegraph, with the scammer even providing the Love Island stars residential address.

Story continues

Monks neighbours alerted the TV starlets manager when Mr Rapley yelled out for the 43-year-old, who has since told police she had never been in contact with, or known, Mr Rapley.

In a statement to police, Monk said: I do not know any person by the name of Brian Rapley. I am not in a relationship with anyone by the name of Brian Rapley. I am currently happily married to my husband Joshua Gross.

Mr Rapley has not been charged with any criminal matters.

He will reappear before Gosford court on June 27 for mention.

The final details of the order are expected to finalised on that date.




Frontline youth workers are alarmed at the rise in young boys being sucked into the drugs trade after new figures show drug-dealing offences by juveniles have almost doubled in five years.

It comes as the Citizens Assembly on Drugs Use  which is examining possible alternatives to criminalisation  heard at the weekend about a six-year-old boy dreaming of being like the local dealers in his area when he grows up.

Delayed publication of figures for the Garda Youth Diversion Programme show:

Total juvenile offences fell from 19,513 in 2015 to 16,301 in 2020  down 16%;

Total juvenile drug offences jumped in the same period, from 1,019 to 1,926  up 89%;

Of the drug offences, cases of sale or supply rose from 167 to 382  up 129%

Cases of drug possession for personal use increased from 817 to 1,439  up 76%

Juvenile crimes are referred to the Garda Youth Diversion Programme (YPD) for consideration. They may not be taken onto the programme if they dont accept responsibility or their crimes are too serious.

Trends show a significant increase in the percentage of juveniles deemed unsuitable, with limited other interventions for them. The figures show that 18% of the children were deemed unsuitable in 2020, the highest in the last 10 years and comparing to 14% in 2011.

Ashling Golden, Justice Team Leader with the Solas Project, one of the few initiatives working with this group of juvenile offenders, said: There continues to be a number of young people who are groomed and targeted by organised drug gangs in disadvantaged communities. Unfortunately, their influence continues to grow to feed the huge appetite for drugs.

Young people are groomed into this trade under the lure of wealth and glamour and this fuels the often hidden impact that drugs is having on disadvantaged communities.

Ms Golden said the Department of Justice and the Department of Childrens Youth Justice Strategy have recognised the need to target serious juvenile offenders and are funding specialised staff for diversion projects to run initiatives similar to Solas Projects Rua Programme.

Rua shows this group of young people can be engaged and supported through a process of desistance that allows them to turn away from a life of serious offending, she said. She said that, in its first two years, Rua has successfully changed the trajectory of 50% of the young people.

Eddie D'Arcy, who recently retired after 40 years working in the area, said the growing percentage of juveniles being deemed unsuitable for the YDP would indicate more offences, more frequent offending and more serious offences.

There is a need to target that 18% of children, he said. He noted the Department of Justices funding for more serious offenders, but said one issue was getting suitable and trained staff.

A founder of Youth Workers Against Prohibition, Mr D'Arcy said it was time the State examined and considered the legalisation of drugs, saying it would take the trade away from criminal gangs and stop children in disadvantaged areas being sucked into it.
An Irish holidaymaker has died and her daughter has been seriously injured after falling from rocks in Lanzarote in their hired off-road buggy.

The pair fell about 65ft after losing control of their vehicle during a tourist excursion.

The older woman, aged 61, was confirmed as Irish by Spanish police and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The other victim, who was travelling on a South African passport, was rushed to Doctor Jose Molina Orosa Hospital in the island capital Arrecife with injuries including head wounds.

She is in a critical condition in intensive care.

Firefighters, police, civil protection workers and paramedics were among the emergency responders who raced to the area at about 3.30pm on Monday.

A helicopter was also sent to the scene, although fire crews were finally able to stretcher the survivor, who is understood to be aged in her mid-40s, to a waiting ambulance on foot.

The area where the tragedy occurred is between the town of Teseguite and the village of Guatiza, and boasts unique volcanic rock formations which attract visitors from all over the world.

The islands police force has been placed in charge of an ongoing investigation into the incident.

A spokesman for the Civil Guard in Lanzarote said: it is too early at this stage to speculate on what could have caused the tragedy.

The investigation is still at a very early stage.

A Civil Guard source added: A 61-year-old Irish woman died in the tragedy and her daughter, who was travelling on a South African passport, was seriously injured and was taken to hospital.

They were travelling on the buggy as part of an organised excursion.

A spokesman for a Canary Islands regional government-run emergency coordination centre confirmed: We received the first call at two minutes before 3.30pm local time on Monday.

The alert that came in said a buggy-type vehicle had careered off the road with two occupants inside and plunged over a steep drop. All the necessary emergency resources were activated immediately.

Fire crews reached the spot where the vehicle had ended up and managed to rescue one of the occupants alive. She was stabilised at the scene and taken to hospital after medical staff who evaluated her confirmed she had serious head injuries.

She was admitted to Doctor Jose Molina Orosa Hospital in a critical condition.

A helicopter was mobilised but was not finally needed because the fire crews were able to get the injured woman to an ambulance on foot.

One local report said the two women were flung out of their buggy and ended up about 30ft from the vehicle.

The damaged buggy has been retrieved and is being analysed by forensic experts as part of the police investigation, although there is no suggestion at this stage a mechanical fault played any part in the tragedy.

The company that organised the excursion the women were on, that describes itself online as the main company dedicated to buggy routes in the north part of Lanzarote, declined to comment.
Gardai are continuing to follow many lines of inquiry into the violent death of a young man from England while he was on holiday in the west of Ireland six years ago, an inquest has heard.

A brief sitting of Dublin District Coroners Court heard an application by gardai for a further adjournment of the inquest into the death of Joe Deacy at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin on August 13, 2017 from injuries sustained the previous day in Swinford, Co. Mayo.

Mr Deacy, aged 21, from St Albans in Hertfordshire, had initially been treated at Mayo University Hospital for serious injuries where he was brought after being discovered lying on the ground outside a house at 6.30am on August 12, 2017, by a passing cyclist.

Gardai launched a murder investigation after postmortem results showed he had suffered a blunt force trauma to the head. Inspector Naomi de Ris told Coroner Crona Gallagher on Tuesday that the investigation into the young mans death was ongoing.

Insp. de Ris said Mr Deacys family had been briefed on progress in the case and the senior investigating garda had travelled to the UK to meet his relatives. Many lines of inquiry are ongoing, she added.

At a previous hearing of the case last November, Insp. de Ris said several witnesses who were living outside Ireland still had to be interviewed by gardai. Dr Gallagher granted an application for a further adjournment of the inquest under Section 25.1 of the Coroners Act on the basis that criminal proceedings in relation to Mr Deacys death are being considered.

The coroner adjourned the case for mention to November 16 but asked gardai to come back before the court if there were any developments in the case before then.

Night of Joe Deacy's death

Mr Deacy, who considered himself to be from Mayo  the home county of his paternal grandparents  was a regular visitor to the west of Ireland where he stayed with relatives and had applied for an Irish passport shortly before his death.

He had spent the evening before he was assaulted socialising in Kiltimagh, Co. Mayo, before being dropped with his friend to the house in Swinford where he was later found.

He had sent a video via social media to his second cousin, Michelle Deacy, with whom he had been staying, at around 3.45am but what happened over the next few hours remains unclear.

The deceaseds father, Adrian Deacy, has issued a number of public appeals for people with information about his sons death to pass on details of what they know to gardai.
A Cork man, who claimed he was out scouting fields for rabbit hunting when he was caught with almost 10kg of cannabis after a Garda sting operation, has failed in a bid to overturn his conviction.

Karl Humphries, 40, last of Curraheen Drive, Bishopstown, Co Cork, was convicted of three counts of possession of cannabis worth around 58,000 for sale or supply by a Cork Circuit Criminal Court jury in July 2021.

Humphries had told gardai that he was hunting rabbits, which included dazzling or lamping rabbits in the vicinity of Watergrasshill, Co Cork, on the night of July 25, 2012  nine years before his trial  when gardai had placed a large bag of cannabis found earlier in the day under surveillance.

The bag was found to contain 9.74kg of cannabis resin and gardai had concealed themselves by a nearby hedge. A car later pulled up and Humphries got out and began to search for the bag, which he found.

Detective Garda Michael OHalloran said gardai discovered and returned the black bag of drugs to the concealed position under an old tyre and that he was keeping it under surveillance when Humphries arrived.

I had him (Humphries) by the arm. He had a black bag in his possession.

He dropped it at his feet. I called for assistance on the radio. He froze.

He was in shock, shaking, said the detective.

Humphries denied being involved in the drugs trade at any level and had pleaded not guilty to the three charges and maintained he never touched the bag.

Humphries gave evidence that he saw Det Gda OHalloran lying in the ditch before the detective ever approached him and had said hello to him before the detective pounced on the accused.

Judge Sean O Donnabhain asked: Where was Fido (dog)? to which Humphries said he would scout the field first and then go home to bring out his dogs.

Humphries was convicted by a 10-2 majority verdict and the jury in the case was told the delay in prosecution was due to the accused moving to Australia for work.

After the jury found Humphries guilty Judge O Donnabhain told his barrister: Your fella is facing 10 years. You can be blinding the jury with Fido, but I dont know where the defendant was going It is really throwing pepper in my eyes. Someone would want to pull themselves together.

The judge sentenced Humphries to 10 years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended.

In dismissing Humphries' appeal on Monday at the three-judge court, Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly outlined the appellant's grounds of appeal.

Ms Justice Donnelly said there were three grounds undertaken by Humphries arising from the trial judge's refusal to recharge the jury on the basis of requisitions made by his counsel.

The first was to the effect that the trial judge inadequately explained the concept of drawing inferences from evidence, said Ms Justice Donnelly.

The second was that the trial judge incorrectly charged the jury as to the standard of proof in criminal trials and the final requisition was that the judge failed to adequately explain the ingredients of the offences, namely the element of possession with intent to sell or supply, said the judge.

Regarding the burden of proof argument, Ms Justice Donnelly said the trial judge had not erred in telling the jury that the stand of proof was a step above probabilities and a step below absolute certainty.

She said the judge's remarks were preceded by and succeeded by several clear explanations of the concept of proof beyond a reasonable doubt which was described as a high standard and was compared with the lower civil standard at the trial.

Read More Psychic medium told siblings their dead father had said they must give her 10k, court told

Ms Justice Donnelly said the three-judge court could not find anything wrong with how the judge dealt with inferences in the case. It had been claimed by Humphries' lawyers that the judge did not go into sufficient detail when explaining inferences beyond a theoretical level.

Ms Justice Donnelly said the judge had directed the jury sufficiently that they were entitled to draw inferences and gave common sense instructions on the difference between inference and speculation.

Humphries' lawyers argued that the jury should also have been given an express charge in relation to the required elements of sale or supply

as opposed to simple possession.

Ms Justice Donnelly said the appellant's concerns in this matter bear no relation to the running of the trial and the central issue that the jury had to decide; whether the appellant was in possession of the drugs.

Any issue about this being a case of 'simple possession' for personal use was simply fanciful in the circumstances present here, she said.

There was simply nothing in the case that could have satisfied a jury to the contrary that possession was only for the immediate personal use of the appellant, said Ms Justice Donnelly.

Ms Justice Donnelly said the court was satisfied that all three grounds relied on by the appellant were to be rejected and then dismissed the appeal.
A former senator was arrested three times in 24 hours for public order offences in Dublin after a failed bid to enter his name as a candidate for a Seanad by-election, a judge has heard.

James Heffernan, 43, shouted profanities at a Trinity College Dublin (TCD) security man, gave bar staff the finger when refused service, and kicked and lashed out at gardai before calling them c***s and paedos, Dublin District Court was told on Tuesday.

Heffernan, with an address at Main Street, Kilfinane, Co. Limerick, was found guilty of obstruction, being intoxicated to the extent he was a danger to himself and others, and using threatening and abusive words or behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace during incidents on February 12 and February 13, 2022.

Judge John Cheatle imposed a four-month sentence suspended on the condition Heffernan did not re-offend for 18 months. He had 33 prior convictions: 14 under the Public Order Act, three assaults, thefts including burglary, and road traffic offences.

Heffernan, who contested the charges, told the court he had been in Dublin on February 12 on business to hand in nomination papers to run in the Seanad by-election in TCD, but they were not accepted.

Three arrests

Garda Thomas McConville encountered the former politician around 5pm, highly intoxicated, unsteady on his feet, abusing and shouting profanities at a TCD security man.

That night, Garda Seamus Barry had been dealing with a violent individual on the ground in Crown Alley in Temple Bar at about 1.25am. He suddenly felt a liquid pour over his back. He turned, and Heffernan was holding a plastic container which he had discarded.

Garda Barry said the man he was arresting was screaming obscenities but was not asking for help. Garda Joe OConnor witnessed it and spoke to the accused, who was intoxicated and almost immediately began abusing gardai, calling them c**** and paedos. He began to kick and shout as he was handcuffed and arrested for the second time.

He said there was no CCTV footage from the Old Storehouse near the incident. Their cameras did not point at the scene. The defence argued that other cameras should have been checked.

Heffernan claimed the man under arrest was gasping and could not breathe, and he spoke to gardai about it. However, he denied pouring the drink on the garda or shouting verbal abuse.

Garda Barry said at 5.30pm that day, he met the accused unsteady on his feet at Jervis Street, and there was a strong smell of intoxicating liquor from Heffernan, who gave the middle finger to staff in TP Smiths pub.

The court heard he had been refused service after entering with an opened tin of the non-alcoholic energy drink Monster. He denied that he had been drinking alcohol earlier.

'Spectacular fall from grace'

Heffernan told the court he understood pub etiquette and finished the Monster drink outside. However, he claimed he was refused service without a valid reason when he re-entered the pub to order a hot whiskey. He admitted he had been dishevelled and sleeping rough the night before.

Defence counsel Maeve MacCabe submitted that Heffernans behaviour was rude and annoying but not threatening, and one out of six charges was dismissed.

Pleading for leniency, counsel said Heffernan had a spectacular fall from grace. He was halfway through a community and addiction studies degree course at the Technological University of the Shannon.

He had been diagnosed as bipolar and completed treatment for alcohol addiction, and having battled his demons now helps other people battle theirs. Garda OConnor spoke up for him and said he now looked like a different person.

Heffernan, a qualified primary school teacher, and an ex-member of Limerick County Council, was elected for Labour to the 24th Seanad in 2011. He lost the party whip the following year when he voted against budget cuts. He joined the Social Democrats in 2015 but was an unsuccessful candidate for the party in the 2016 general election.
Protesters are continuing to block access to a former hotel in Co Clare which is being set to be used to house asylum seekers.

It had earlier been reported that the asylum seekers arrived at Magowna House in Inch on Monday, but Minister of State at the Department of Integration Joe OBrien said on Tuesday that there has been some confusion. He said the asylum seekers are not in the hotel and are currently being housed in three holiday homes.

The Irish Examiner understands the hotel will be used to accommodate asylum seekers once a fire cert and sewage issues are sorted.

Tractors and other vehicles were used to blockade both ends of the narrow road up to the premises, which has been closed since 2019.

Locals told RTE's Morning Ireland that they were concerned about the situation as they "weren't consulted" before the arrival of the asylum seekers.

The building had been declared as not suitable to accommodate Ukrainian asylum seekers in 2022.

Clare TD Cathal Crowe told Morning Ireland that there were concerns about fire certification and sewerage as the building is not connected to the mains and uses a septic tank.

He will meet with Integration Minister Roderic OGorman later today to discuss the situation.

"This is being rushed into" said Mr Crowe.

While residents in the area were entitled to protest and express their concerns, the Fianna Fail TD said he did not personally agree with the blocking of roads.

Mr Crowe said he had passed on his concerns to Clare County Council, the fire service and the HSE.

Around 3.5% of Clare's population were refugees or asylum seekers, he claimed.

If people were going to be brought to the facility then it should be safe, Mr Crowe added.

The TD said the issue is one of the suitability of the site at Magowna House. There had to be a base level about the quality of accommodation that was acceptable. That had to be central to the discussion, he said.

The protestors had refused access for a pizza delivery to Magowna House on Monday evening, but said this morning that they would allow food to be brought through on 'humanitarian grounds'.

A protest by residents is planned for later today outside Clare County Council's offices.
Seven asylum seekers have left the site of accommodation that was provided for them in Co Clare, during an ongoing blockage of access routes by locals to the site.

A group of 34 asylum seekers was accommodated at three holiday homes on the site of Magowna House Hotel in Inch on Monday evening.

However, access roads to the the site were then blocked by local protesters using tractors with another gate being blocked by a silage bail.

On Tuesday, some asylum seekers expressed fear over the ongoing situation while locals said they had concerns about fire safety and sewage management.

It is understood more asylum seekers are due to leave later

Earlier, four men left the accommodation on foot and walked back down the road towards Ennis, about an hour and a half away on foot.

One, who was asked why he was leaving, said: We are not welcome here and we dont want any trouble.

Government ministers earlier called on protesters to step down the blockade outside the Clare hotel.

It had been reported that the asylum seekers were staying in the hotel but Minister of State at the Department of Integration Joe OBrien said there had been some confusion and that they are currently being housed in three holiday homes.

The Irish Examiner understands the hotel will be used to accommodate asylum-seekers once a fire cert and sewage issues are sorted.

Mr O'Brien said he believed the blockade had occurred as a result of a misunderstanding and has asked the up to 50 local people blocking the road to step down the blockade.

He said the Government was waiting for a fire cert for the hotel which was being worked on.

The holiday homes are safe and suitable, Mr OBrien told RTEs Today with Claire Byrne.

Magowna House hotel in Inch, Co Clare. Picture: Liam Burke/Press 22

He said as part of the arrangement to accommodate the asylum-seekers in the homes, transport was part of the deal as well. There will be a shuttle bus to and from Ennis every day.

There were tense exchanges outside the centre on Tuesday with some asylum seekers now wanting to leave the accommodation over concerns for their safety and lack of satisfaction with the accommodation.

Some asylum seekers took their belongings and left them outside in preparation for leaving. Others said they were happy to stay.

Sultan Muhammad, from Afghanistan, said he came to Ireland five months ago and had been staying in Citywest in Dublin.

He described the situation in Co Clare as difficult but said the accommodation was okay.

We are feeling good here. I like this place. He added: I like it, I will live here.

One of the drivers of the tractors in the protest, who did not want to provide his name, said locals had concerns about fire safety and sewage management on the site.

He said they expected another bus to arrive and that the asylum seekers were being moved underhandedly.

So we stopped the roads, we blocked the roads so a second bus could not get in.

He said this was because there would be 70 people in this locality with nowhere to go.

He questioned how the asylum seekers would integrate into the community. Protesters said they would not prevent an asylum seeker from leaving.

Meanwhile, Tanaiste Micheal Martin said the Government and local authorities will be engaging with the local community in Co Clare to "ease" any concerns they may have over the housing of asylum-seekers.

Speaking as he arrived for a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning, Mr Martin said: "I would ask that that level of engagement and cooperation will take place and that there is no need for the blockades.

I think dignity and the human being always has to be centre in our minds when situations like this arise.

"We have to work hard on the communication side of it, in terms of engagement and in terms of clarifying and dealing with any issues or concerns that people may have," he said.

Locals became aware that Magowna House was likely to be used as an emergency accommodation centre and a public meeting was held in nearby Kilmaley last week where there was clear opposition to the move.

The protestors had refused access for a pizza delivery to Magowna House on Monday evening, but said this morning that they would allow food to be brought through on 'humanitarian grounds'.

Gardai arrive at the scene in Clare. Picture: Liam Burke/Press 22

It comes as Integration Minister Roderic OGorman and Justice Minister Simon Harris will meet with Garda Commissioner Drew Harris this week following violent scenes at a protest on Sandwith Street in Dublin, where asylum-seekers belongings were set on fire.

Elsewhere, four large sites are due to come on stream in two weeks time, including repurposed office buildings.

Three units in Dublin and one in Clare are expected to significantly reduce the number of international protection (IP) applicants that have not been offered State accommodation.

As reported in the Irish Examiner on Monday, the Government is also considering sheltering refugees by procuring barges which can offer floating accommodation.

Officials are now examining what the British government has done in Dorset, in which it has used a three-story barge to house hundreds of asylum-seekers.

A spokesperson for the department confirmed they are considering using 'floatels' to help with the severe accommodation shortage.

The International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) has explored options for floating accommodation by engaging with other jurisdictions to understand their experiences, a spokesperson said. There is consultation with various stakeholders including the Maritime Unit at the Department of Transport.

It continues to evaluate and progress the potential use of floating accommodation such as cruise ships and floatels, to accommodate international protection applicants, they added.

It is not possible to comment on specific proposals at this point.
An attempt to bring in a Parisian-style ban on e-scooters from greenways in Kerry on the grounds of safety has failed.

Paris recently voted overwhelmingly to ban rental e-scooters in many areas after hundreds of accidents and a number of fatalities in 2022.

However a similar call for a ban on Kerry greenways was defeated during a council vote.

The countrys network of greenways is reserved exclusively for non-motorised vehicles, but national guidelines are awaited, a council meeting heard.

New guidelines on Kerry's two greenways have been brought in amid concern national guidelines on greenways were taking too long to prepare.

E-scooters are sometimes travelling at 30k/ph in Tralee and there was at least one serious accident recently in which an elderly lady was knocked down and broke her hip, Cllr Johnny Wall said.

E-scooters are silent and fast and you cant hear them. Its very important to regulate them and the only way you can do it on greenways is to ban them, Mr Wall said.

He supported a motion by Fine Gael councillor Jim Finucane, who said greenways are places of peace and tranquility and people expect to feel safe and secure on them. A message needs to be sent out, he said, moving a proposal to ban the e-scooters from greenways in Kerry.

We dont want people concerned about dangerous speeds, Mr Finucane said.

However, Independent councillor Jackie Healy-Rae strongly opposed the motion.

He said if e-scooters are banned "then you would have no choice only to ban all other forms of bicycles, e-bikes etc. A fit person on a racing bike which is allowed on the greenways can easily reach speeds of between 30-50k/ph and if they hit somebody will do just as much, if not more, damage to a person or child, Mr Healy-Rae said.

Similarly with e-bikes, we have cargo e-bikes travelling these greenways that carry children in the front of them that can hit 30k/ph and yet there seems to be no issue with them, he said.

The move to ban e-scooters was defeated, with 15 councillors voting against and nine for the proposal by Mr Finucane.

So far, Kerry has two greenways along old railway lines in North Kerry, with work on the South Kerry greenway under way.

A motorised ban extends to quadbikes and motorbikes as well as cars, while barbecues and camping are also not permitted.
An Irish humanitarian assisting migrants in the Mediterranean has urged the Greek Supreme Court to dismiss arguments he should face a new trial for alleged crimes, such as espionage and forgery.

Kerry-raised Sean Binder and Syrian human rights worker Sarah Mardini, a refugee herself, were arrested in 2018 while in Greece helping migrants who had travelled across the Mediterranean.

Mr Binder initially faced a range of charges in Greece in relation to his helping refugees in Lesbos in his role as a rescue diver and trained maritime search and rescuer. He was accused of espionage, forgery, and other offences, which he vehemently denies.

In January this year, the Court of Appeal of Mytilene annulled a summons related to the charges and the case against the pair was rejected. However, a prosecutor appealed that decision to Greece's Supreme Court, which heard arguments on Tuesday.

A decision is not expected for some time. If the appeal is successful, a new misdemeanour trial will take place and the statute of limitations for these charges will be extended by three years, which human rights organisation Amnesty International described as "prolonging their ordeal".

Mr Binder urged the Supreme Court to reject the appeal.

"We are confident that we will get a fair trial and the court will uphold the decision to dismiss the indictment against us. But if the Supreme Court sides with the prosecutor, then we fear our right to a fair trial is being denied," he said.
A man has been rushed to hospital with serious injuries after being hit by a bus in Waterford on Tuesday afternoon.

Gardai and emergency services attended the incident, which happened at around 4.30pm on the Ring Rd at Ballindud, on the outskirts of Waterford City.
Many people, including Rohingya Muslims, are feared dead in Myanmar in the wake of a cyclone that struck at the weekend, with support efforts hampered by infrastructure damage.



Reuters was not able to independently verify the death toll.

Myanmar's impoverished Rakhine State bore the brunt of Sunday's storm, which unleashed winds of up to 210 kilometres per hour, ripped roofs off homes and brought a storm surge that inundated the state capital Sittwe.

Residents of the western region, where there is a large population of Rohingya Muslims, said at least 100 people had died and many more were missing and feared dead, adding that aid was yet to be received.

A resident in the area, who declined to be identified over concerns for his safety, told Reuters more than 100 Rohingya were killed, based on assessments from multiple villages he said he had visited in the aftermath.

Two other residents contacted by Reuters also said a large number of people had been killed, as did a diplomatic source briefed on the situation, who did not provide details.

News portal Myanmar Now reported hundreds were feared dead, while aid groups said there were a "significant number of deaths". Myanmar's state media said three people were killed.

The storm was one of the worst since Cyclone Nargis swept across parts of southern Myanmar killing nearly 140,000 people in 2008.

Storm damage to communications and road infrastructure and ongoing restrictions by Myanmar's military government was making it difficult to get information from and deliver aid to the affected area, non-governmental organisations said.

"It's difficult to obtain accurate or up to date information, which also makes responding to the crisis adequately even more difficult," said Manny Maung of Human Rights Watch, adding that many were missing and feared dead.

Non-governmental relief organisation Partners said on Twitter: "We are scaling up our response effort to provide critical relief supplies like rice and tarps to Rohingya communities affected by Cyclone Mocha as we are able."

Story continues

The region has a large population of Rohingya Muslims, a persecuted minority that successive Myanmar governments have refused to recognise. More than a million live in sprawling camps in neighbouring Bangladesh, having fled military crackdowns in recent years.

Myanmar's state media on Tuesday said junta chief Min Aung Hlaing had visited Sittwe to assess the damage, donate money and give instructions on the response.

Before the storm made landfall on Sunday about 400,000 people were evacuated in Myanmar and Bangladesh.

The United Nations humanitarian office (OCHA) said about 6 million people in the region were already in need of humanitarian assistance before the storm, among them 1.2 million people internally displaced by ethnic conflict.
The former Conservative cabinet minister Peter Brooke, who has died aged 89, ought to be remembered as the Northern Ireland secretary who inaugurated the provinces delicate peace process.

But he will probably be recalled for briefly singing a song on The Late Late Show the night when seven Protestant construction workers were killed by an IRA bomb.

The singing of 'My Darling Clementine' on Gay Byrnes show shortly after the atrocity, in January 1992, was a mistake for which Brooke apologised and offered his resignation, but he had an understandable excuse. Brooke had had a hard week working in Belfast and had barely heard about the attack in Tyrone. However, he was chiefly disconcerted by being asked unexpectedly about the traumatic death of his first wife, with his new wife sitting in the studio audience  and was then cajoled by Byrne into singing the only song he knew. My defences were down it was patently an error, he said later.

It was a measure of Brookes popularity in the Commons that when he apologised unreservedly in the chamber the following week he received cross-party support, with only Ian Paisley s Democratic Unionists demanding his resignation.

Prime minister John Major supported Brooke at the time, but dropped him a few months later after unexpectedly winning the April 1992 general election. He was brought back into the cabinet as culture secretary that September following the resignation of David Mellor.

Chris Heaton-Harris, the current Northern Ireland secretary, in a tribute on Monday tweeted: "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."

'The first gentleman of politics'

Former foreign affairs minister Gerry Collins with the then-Northern Ireland secretary Peter Brooke at the Northern Ireland Office in Whitehall, London. File picture: Tony Harris/PA Wire

Brooke served as Northern Ireland secretary under Margaret Thatcher and national heritage secretary under Major.

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."

After the 1989 European elections, he became Northern Ireland secretary  a promotion also greeted with scepticism on both sides of the Irish Sea.

Unionists discounted the fact that Brooke came from an old Anglo-Irish family  he claimed to be three-eighths Irish  and grew alarmed when he soon suggested in an interview that Sinn Fein might be included in future negotiations if the Provisional IRA declared a ceasefire.

He would later, out of office, speak in a BBC interview of Gerry Adams being a brave man to have entered negotiations.

In deep secrecy, in 1990 deniable talks got under way between an MI5 agent and Republican paramilitaries. Much more publicly but slowly, Brooke headed moves to bring constitutional parties and the Irish Republics government towards negotiations: talks about talks, the so-called Brooke initiative.

The Economist magazine remarked: Mr Brooke has done more in a few months than many of his predecessors managed in several years and nobody expected it of him.

The IRAs campaign nevertheless continued, as did that of the Loyalists who, with the connivance of the police, shot the Republican lawyer Pat Finucane in front of his family in 1989.

Later moves and outside interests

After the Late Late show debacle, it was always likely that Brooke would be moved, though Majors excuse that a younger man needed promotion was undermined by the fact that he was succeeded at the Northern Ireland office by Patrick Mayhew, who was four years older.

Brooke was disappointed but within six months he was back as culture secretary following David Mellors affair with the model Antonia de Sancha.

In 1994, Brooke was again replaced and returned to the backbenches. He rather hoped to become the Commons speaker but this was thwarted by the election of Betty Boothroyd. He accepted her appointment with good grace and remained in the Commons for another seven years before stepping down and becoming a life peer. He also served in the House of Lords as chair of the Association of Conservative Peers.

Brookes list of outside interests accumulated: he became a trustee of the Wordsworth Trust, supervising Dove Cottage, of the Churches Conservation Trust, and of the Cusichaca project, which seeks to preserve the Inca remains in Peru  his first wife had grown up there  and of various other arts projects, some in Wiltshire, where he had his home. In 1992 he was appointed Companion of Honour.

Brooke married Joan Smith in 1964, and they had four sons, one of whom died in infancy. She died suddenly in 1985 after a routine hospital operation went wrong.

In 1991, he married Lindsay Allinson, who was a Conservative Party election agent. She survives him, along with his sons, Jonathan, Daniel and Sebastian; sisters Honor and Margaret; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Guardian/PA
Coalition leaders appear to be at odds over whether there are enough gardai on the streets to combat attacks on refugees.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he did not believe there were enough gardai on the streets of Dublin to protect refugees from violent attacks. However, it is understood Garda Commissioner Drew Harris assured Justice Minister Simon Harris that resources is not an issue but said we can always do with more gardai.

Speaking to reporters this morning, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan contradicted Mr Varadkars comments and said it was not a resource issue.

I don't believe it's a lack of resources, which is restricting our problem.

The problem is you have people deciding to organise to effectively, in a very provocative way, attack the most vulnerable people at their most vulnerable time.

I think the guards did a really good job. I think they have the resources, but the underlying issue is the underlying solution isn't just a policing one. It has to be providing other accommodation and we will do that."

Eamon Ryan has said he spoke to Minister Harris and Integration Minister Roderic OGorman and they are all in agreement that it is not a garda resource issue.

Referring to the attack on refugees at a camp in Sandwith Street which saw tents burned, Mr Ryan said: The problem is those protesters, they're putting everyone in danger with the nature of their protest rather than a lack of garda resources.

It comes as frontline gardai say they are being told to go out and do your best when dealing with far-right groups engaged in anti-immigration protests. The Garda Representative Association said there was a lack of confidence among members in responding to the type of scenes that marred Dublin at the weekend.

GRA president Brendan OConnor said the fundamental problem was we dont have enough personnel, along with a lack of planning and training. Garda management sources told the Irish Examiner it was unfair to blame gardai given the asylum seekers were sleeping in tents on the street for want of State accommodation.

They acknowledged GRA concerns about a lack of staff but defended the low-key policy regarding policing protests, saying that if gardai intervene too soon and make arrests, it would be like lighting a powder keg.
Labour Party leader Ivanna Bacik has called on Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to take charge of issues surrounding the sourcing of accommodation for asylum seekers following a vicious protest on Saturday.

The call comes following the protest at Sandwith Street in Dublin on Saturday during which asylum-seekers belongings were set on fire.

Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik condemned the vicious anti-refugee protests which happened in her own constituency on Saturday, but added the failure of Government in addressing refugee accommodation is at the heart of the issue.

Noting that asylum seekers are currently shamefully being forced to sleep on streets, Ms Bacik called for Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to take charge of the issue, and to ensure that all departments co-operate and step up so the Department of Integration is not shouldering the crisis alone.

Acknowledging that the incident was despicable and shameful, People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett said groups are stirring up divisions in working-class communities and placed a huge amount of responsibility on the Government.

He said:

Far-right fascist agitators were ratcheting up the aggression and tension in a very deliberate way to turn a tense situation into a very nasty and dangerous situation.

He added: A huge amount of the responsibility for what happened at Sandwith Street lies with the Government as well.

He said the Government have shamefully failed asylum seekers leaving hundreds living in tents in a very vulnerable position and has also let down working-class communities such as Pearse Street.

What the far-right were exploiting was a feeling of anger over the neglect and deprivation and social exclusion that people in areas like Pearse Street are suffering, he said.

He noted that locals had pointed out that beside the camp is St Andrews Court, which has capacity for over 30 homes, and was supposed to be redeveloped, yet is still sitting there empty since 2019.

What locals are saying is it is an accident waiting to happen when you neglect areas like that, it leaves the door open for the far-right to come in and exploit those divisions, he said.

Garda resources

Meanwhile, Labour Party justice spokesperson Aodhan O Riordain said he was concerned at conflicting statements on garda resources.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he does not believe there are enough gardai on the streets in Dublin to protect refugees from violent attacks, however, it is understood Garda Commissioner Drew Harris assured Justice Minister Simon Harris that resources are not an issue.

Green Party Leader Eamon Ryan also contradicted Mr Varadkars comments saying there is no resource issue.

You cant have conflicting statements from the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice on the very weekend that people have been burnt out of their homes, he said, before adding that the contradiction doesnt fill anybody with any sort of confidence that they know what theyre doing.
I havent been back there for a while, years actually. But Ive been reading about it constantly, listening to stuff about it, taking what I thought was a keen interest. Based on everything I know, everything Im certain about, it has changed beyond all recognition.

Except it hasnt. And that has come as a complete shock to me. The England I remember as a teenager, as a young adult, as a working man, is still there. Its still a beautiful country. Its towns and villages are full of character and charm, its suburbs are neat, its countryside sprawling and gorgeous, its cities frightening in their vastness and complexity.

And the people are the same. Im one of those unfortunate travellers who instantly loses the ability to tell my left from my right the moment I land in a different country. So Im always lost, and often dependent on the kindness of strangers. In England, strangers are kind, always willing to help a poor lost eejit.

I had a complete crisis when I found my car in a car park with a completely dead battery. Although I had jump leads I needed another driver to assist. The first two I asked  and I want looking at the colour of their skin  mumbled excuses and moved away. The third man said, sure mate, show me how its done. While he was helping me, the first two came back. They hadnt understood my foreign accent and were a bit nervous about getting involved until they saw someone else at it and realised what the problem was.

While most of the strangers I interacted with were white, they werent all. But every single one of them had English accents and mannerisms. Another terrible shock. For months now Ive been reading that Britain  not just England  is being overrun, that tens of thousands of unchecked foreigners are stealing everything: jobs, public services, but also culture and identity. Theyre swarthy, these invaders, and speak with thick, threatening accents.

Of course, Id have to be there a lot longer to see it all, but I can tell you now (as one example) that Leighton Buzzard, an attractive little market town in Bedfordshire, about 40 miles north of London, is almost entirely white. Our niece, Karen (who lives there), tells me that nearby Luton has a much stronger Asian population, a lot of whom are very religious.

Talking of religion, one of my other nieces is the principal of a secondary school in Lancashire in the north. Its recognised as a really good and high-achieving school, despite its very high proportion of Asian and Muslim students. What do you mean, despite? she said when I asked her about it. Asian and Muslim kids are ambitious, and so are their parents. Theyve given up a lot to be here, and its principally because they want their kids to have safe and secure futures.

The problem she faces  and this is easy to recognise  is the large number of kids in the school, from all forms of ethnic backgrounds, whose lives are affected by economic disadvantage. But as a general rule  and this is her voice of experience talking  immigrant kids keep standards up, because their family expectations are high.

So a lot of observation and as much chat as I could manage left me really puzzled.

Theres a thing going on in British politics, its very unsavoury, and it's being led by government ministers.

Culture wars, its called  an attempt to whip up resentment against anyone who looks different  and its completely out of sync with the personality of the great majority of English people

Im not saying there are no racists in England. But by far the greater number of people just want to get on with their neighbours and get on with their lives. Theres far more generosity and ordinary decency in England than the stuff some of their politicians are trying to peddle them.

Yes, theres a feeling of powerlessness in the face of economics, and its not hard to see why. I can only offer you anecdotal evidence, but I have a very strong sense that the cost of living crisis has hit English families even harder than Irish families. (Please dont feel you need to have a go at me  of course, I know Irish families are suffering a lot and Ive written about it before.) But everywhere you go in England, the price of ordinary goods in the shops is frightening. We were celebrating a birthday, so a nice lunch and a couple of West End theatre tickets were on our menu  and mother of sweet divine the cost of them. But apart from that, petrol, fruit and veg, bread and milk, the most basic stuff is at prices way ahead of ours now, and thats saying something.

The most common conversation we had, with virtually everyone we met, was about energy costs. You end up with a very strong sense that people are really afraid of where things are heading  and they certainly dont feel that their government has gone out of its way to help them.

But rather than address the problem with some real help, it seems to be the case that Tory politics is actively trying to turn that sense of powerlessness and anxiety into a resentment of everyone else

Id a long conversation about Brexit with one friend. Now, he didnt tell me he had voted for Brexit, but he did argue persuasively that a lot of people  including on the left  had concluded that there was something rotten about the democratic deficit within Europe, and that there was a decent democratic basis for the argument about the need to take back control. I think if pushed he would acknowledge that leaving Europe hadnt put anyone in control of anything better.

Overall, I think I detected a real yearning to turn the clock back. Very few of the majority who voted to leave want to admit they made a terrible mistake. But there are more than a few who feel very sheepish about that decision and wish it had never happened.

Heres my conclusion. England is a beautiful country, full of warm, intelligent, and decent people. They dont understand whats being said about them by their own leaders. They dont understand why theyre being told to be afraid now, for the first time in their history, of anyone with a different skin colour or foreign accent. Ask an English person for help, and his or her instinct is to help. Not to run away. They dont do afraid.

For all those reasons, I think the politics being played out now  the culture wars being stirred up by the Tories  are a bit of an insult to the intelligence but also the decency of the English people. Thats why theyre not going to work in the end. The narrow bigotry that successful culture wars depend on is not, ultimately, part of the English character. As for me, I cant wait to get back for another visit.
A new study has highlighted the abuse, trolling, and harassment that women in Irish journalism face during the course of their work and, while there were interesting insights in the report, the data is sadly unsurprising.

Reading the report, most women in the industry will find themselves nodding in agreement as the 36 journalists interviewed detail their experiences.

The degree to which each woman has experienced online hostility varies but none have escaped unscathed.

Women in journalism find themselves caught in the crosshairs of the entitlement that the public feel when it comes to: 1) women in general, and 2) journalists.

It is not only women journalists who face backlash, sustained criticism, and insults but it is the type of harassment they encounter that brings it to a more sinister place.

The report cites 15 types of online negativity that women face and in my experience, there are three that will almost always be hit.

First, the person will try to patronise you with belittling comments about your intelligence  "Oh what would you know about it, you're a woman" or patronisingly explaining your own story back to you.

Then it will move on to insults about appearance, seemingly an attempt to hurt your feelings because obviously looks are what we care about the most while doing our jobs.

Finally, if you remain defiant and haven't begged for their experience and guidance or if you've ignored them, that is when the violent and threatening comments come.

Then there is the harassment that does not quite seem like it is harassment until you are on the receiving end.

Reply Guy

There is a term for a certain type of follower, one that my friends and I have spent many an evening discussing  the Reply Guy.

For those unfamiliar: Dictionary.com describes him as a man who frequently comments on tweets or other social media posts in an annoying, condescending, forward, or otherwise unsolicited manner  especially posts by women".

One of my Reply Guys was mostly just irritating and I ignored him until one morning I woke up to find that I had about 250 Twitter notifications.

This man had sat down somewhere about 4am and liked and commented on every one of my tweets going back months and months.

Someone commenting and liking your tweets does not sound like harassment but it left me with a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach.

I blocked him, found he was following me on every one of my social media platforms, and blocked him there as well. He knew where I worked, a quick Google could give him the address. We lived in the same city. He knew what I looked like but I had no idea who he was.

I took a screenshot of his Twitter profile and sent it to a group chat with some of my girlfriends and joked that if I disappeared any time soon that here's where they should start looking.

I say I joked, I put a little lol at the end for some levity, but I wasn't completely joking and they knew it.

Seven of the reporters interviewed described themselves as "lucky" because they did not feel their experiences were as bad as other women's.

It always strikes me when I hear women describing harassment and/or abuse and say things like 'It wasn't that bad' or 'It wasn't as bad as X, Y, Z'.

How bizarre to call suffering harassment and abuse lucky but I am guilty of doing the very same. I did it while I read this report.

Sustained campaigns of harassment

Well, some of these women have had sustained campaigns of harassment against them, some of them have had their lives threatened, some have had comments made about their children and families, and some have been stalked in real life.

I have never had to go through those things. That man from Twitter disappeared  or at least as far as I know he has.

Aside from that, I get some snide comments, some insults, some unsolicited 'compliments'. As a woman who interacts with society, I experience all these things on a near-daily basis so to have it in my work life feels pretty natural.

But isn't that an awful and hopeless thing?

To know me is to know that I am pretty loud, very opinionated, and rarely back down when confronted so it would strike people as strange that when it comes to social media, I self-censor  a lot.

As a journalist, Twitter is an extension of my job and my work. I need to maintain a professional profile.

My way of dealing with a user sending me abuse or threats may not be in line with what would be expected of me in my career.

I do not explicitly mention my work on Twitter and I rarely share my stories. It just feels easier not to draw attention to myself.

Does having a low profile online hurt my career? Probably.

I know I should not let idiotic trolls have that sort of power but tell me why my options are: take steps to boost my profile and further my career by opening myself up to online abuse, or stay quiet and let my career suffer?
The government of the US Virgin Islands told a federal judge in New York on Monday it cannot find Elon Musk to serve him with a subpoena.

The subpoena relates to documents in a lawsuit seeking to hold JPMorgan Chase liable for sex trafficking acts committed by businessman Jeffrey Epstein.

It wants to serve the subpoena to Mr Musks electric vehicle company, Tesla, instead.

Lawyers asked judge Jed Rakoff in Manhattan in a court filing to let it serve the subpoena on Tesla because it has not been able to give the papers to Mr Musk or his lawyers since it issued the subpoena on April 28.

The government of the US Virgin Islands wants to serve the subpoena to Elon Musks electric car company, Tesla (John Walton, PA)

They said they hired an investigative firm to search public records databases for possible addresses for Mr Musk and reached out to one of his lawyers by email but received no response.

A message sent to a lawyer for Mr Musk seeking comment on Monday was not immediately returned.

The government of the US Virgin Islands said it believes Epstein may have referred or tried to refer Mr Musk to JPMorgan.

It sued JPMorgan last year, saying its investigation has revealed that JPMorgan enabled Epsteins recruiters to pay victims and was indispensable to the operation and concealment of the Epstein trafficking enterprise.

The subpoena sought documents from January 1, 2002, to the present reflecting communications between Mr Musk and JPMorgan or Mr Musk and Epstein regarding Epstein or Epsteins role in Mr Musks accounts, transactions or financial management.

It also sought all documents reflecting or regarding Epsteins involvement in human trafficking and his procurement of girls or women for commercial sex.

And it sought information about fees Mr Musk might have paid to Epstein or JPMorgan and any documents concerning communications between Mr Musk, Epstein and JPMorgan regarding accounts, transactions or the relationship at JPMorgan.

Jeffrey Epstein (New York State Sex Offender Registry via AP, File)

Epstein, 66, took his own life in August 2019 as he awaited sex trafficking charges in a federal jail in Manhattan.

Authorities alleged he recruited and sexually abused dozens of underage girls at his mansions in New York and Palm Beach, Florida, in the early 2000s. He had pleaded not guilty.

Lawyers for JPMorgan did not immediately return messages seeking comment on Monday.

In the past, they have said victims are entitled to justice but litigation attempting to blame the financial institution for Epsteins actions were legally meritless, directed at the wrong party and should be dismissed.
Loud explosions sounded above Kyiv early on Tuesday as Russia launched an intense air attack on the capital using a combination of drones, cruise missiles and possible ballistic missiles.

Russias latest attack on Kyiv was exceptional in its density  the maximum number of attacking missiles in the shortest period of time, said Serhii Popko, the head of the Kyiv military administration.
Ukrainian air defences thwarted an intense Russian air attack on Kyiv early on Tuesday, shooting down all 18 missiles aimed at the capital.

Loud explosions boomed over Kyiv as the night-time attack combined Russian missiles launched from the air, sea and land in an apparent attempt to overwhelm Ukraines air defences. No casualties were reported.

Russias latest attack on Kyiv was exceptional in its density  the maximum number of attacking missiles in the shortest period of time, said Serhii Popko, the head of the Kyiv military administration.

The British ambassador to Ukraine, Melinda Simmons, tweeted that the barrage was pretty intense.

Police officers investigate fragments of a Russian rocket that fell down in the city zoo after it was shot down by air defence systems over Kyiv (AP Photo/Alex Babenko)

Bangs and shaking walls are not an easy night, she wrote.

It was the eighth time this month that Russian air raids had targeted the capital, a clear escalation after weeks of lull and ahead of a much-anticipated Ukrainian counter-offensive.

It also came as President Volodymyr Zelenksyy concluded a whirlwind European tour to greet Ukraines key wartime allies, which spurred an additional tranche of pledged military aid.

Ukraines air force said 18 missiles of various types were launched, including drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles. All were intercepted, said Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat.

Firefighters put out a fire caused by fragments of a Russian rocket (Ukrainian Emergency Situations Ministry via AP)

Six Kinzhal aero-ballistic missiles were launched from Mig-31K aircraft, nine cruise missiles from ships in the Black Sea and three land-based S-400 cruise missiles targeted the capital, Mr Ihnat said in a statement on Telegram.

After the first onslaught, Russia also launched Iranian-made Shahed attack drones and conducted aerial reconnaissance, Mr Ihnat said.

Debris fell across several districts in the capital. In the Solomyansky district, rocket debris started a fire in a non-residential building.

Debris set cars on fire and fell on the grounds of a zoo, but no losses were reported, said Kyivs mayor, Vitali Klitschko.

The barrage came as European leaders were due to attend a rare summit of the 46-nation Council of Europe, the continents main human rights body.

The two-day meeting in Iceland seeks to set up a way of logging damage in Ukraine caused by the Kremlins forces so compensation claims can be lodged against Moscow.
Syrias embattled president Bashar Assad received an invitation to attend the upcoming Cop28 climate talks in Dubai later this year, even as the years-long war in his country over his rule grinds on.

Mr Assads invite, late on Monday, to the climate talks comes as the Syrian president already is scheduled to attend the Arab League summit this Friday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, years after being frozen out of regional politics.

A brutal crackdown by Mr Assads government on demonstrators in a 2011 Arab Spring uprising challenging his rule descended into a civil war and consequently became a regional conflict.

The war has killed half a million people and displaced half of the countrys population.

Cop28 is committed to an inclusive COP process that produces transformational solutions This can only happen if we have everyone in the room

Mr Assads invitation came in a letter from Emirati leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Syrias state-run Sana news agency reported.

The agency published images of Assad reading the letter alongside an Emirati diplomat in Damascus. The UAE similarly had cut ties with Assad, only to slowly restore them in recent years.

Asked for comment, the Emirati office organising the upcoming climate conference said in a statement that the event marked a milestone opportunity for the world to come together, course correct, and drive progress towards keeping the goals and ambitions of the Paris Climate Agreement alive.

The statement added: Cop28 is committed to an inclusive COP process that produces transformational solutions This can only happen if we have everyone in the room.

Syria is both a party to the Paris Climate Agreement, as well as the Kyoto Protocol. Scientists have linked a drought in Syria that began in 2007 to climate change, saying that it likely played a part in the conflict.

However, Assads invitation will probably heighten scrutiny of the Emirates ahead of hosting the talks.

The Conference of the Parties, from which Cop gets its name, will be held at Dubais Expo City from November 30 until December 12.
The Japanese and Chinese defence ministers inaugurated their long-awaited hotline on Tuesday as a step to build trust and improve communication at a time when Japan and other neighbours are concerned about Beijings increasingly assertive military activities.

Japans defence minister, Yasukazu Hamada, and his Chinese counterpart, Li Shangfu, talked for about 20 minutes on the hotline for the first time since it was established on March 31, the Japanese defence ministry said.

The two ministers welcomed the start of the operational use of the hotline and affirmed the importance of the maritime and aerial communication mechanism, which includes the hotline, in building trust between the two sides while avoiding contingencies.

Tokyo and Beijing are embroiled in a dispute over tiny Japanese-controlled islands in the East China Sea, known as the Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China.

Chinese defence minister general Li Shangfu spoke to his Japanese counterpart (AP Photo/Manish Swarup, File)

China routinely sends coastguard vessels and planes into waters and airspace surrounding the islands to harass Japanese vessels and forcing Japans military to scramble jets in response.

Chinas naval fleet also regularly circles around Japanese coasts, sometimes in joint military exercises with Russia, irking Tokyo.

Japan is increasingly worried about the tensions around self-ruled Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory and has threatened to annex by force if necessary.

Mr Hamada, noting the row over the islands and other disputes between Japan and China, said candid communication between them is necessary especially when their relations are not as good.

The two ministers also ensured the hotline was working properly, and agreed to continue communication between their respective defence authorities.

The idea for the hotline was initially agreed in 2018 between then-prime ministers Shinzo Abe and Li Keqiang as a way to avoid accidental clashes between their militaries.
While the American Red Cross is widely recognized for disaster relief efforts and the collection of lifesaving blood, in May, Military Appreciation Month, the spotlight is on its Service to the Armed Forces program. Nationwide, you can find Red Cross volunteers helping service members, veterans and their families. In the Red Cross of Western New Yorks last fiscal year, SAF volunteers managed 2,026 cases involving active and retired military and their families, providing 3,451 distinct services.

The Red Cross provides support to the U.S. military community at every step of their career  from the time a service member takes their oath to navigating life as a veteran, and each event in between. You can find support at military hospitals, on installations locally and overseas, and through local chapter offices in every state.

Here are the stories of two Red Crossers  one national and one local  making a difference for the military community.

After a grueling journey back to the U.S., the first person most patients arriving from overseas on the Department of Defense's aeromedical evacuation missions see is the smiling face of Red Cross volunteer Deborah Trimiar.

Deborah is one of a cadre of volunteers at the facility who greet soldiers or military families living overseas who need more comprehensive medical care than their duty station or remote operational location can provide. Those arriving have a wide range of injuries  from mild to severe. Each week, a new flight arrives from Landstuhl, Germany, and lands at Joint Base Andrews in Morningside, Maryland just outside of Washington, D.C.

Most of these men and women havent been back to the states in several years. This is their first time home, and it is under challenging circumstances. We want to provide that touch of home, Deborah said.

These flights can come in at any time of the day, and arrival and departure times can change in an instant due to weather, scheduling conflicts or other unforeseen circumstances. Deborah and her colleagues say they must remain flexible with the changes. We try our best to be here, no matter what time of night or day, she said.

Sometimes patients dont want to talk and, she said, thats OK, too.

We dont know what theyre going through and all their challenges. We just want them to know the Red Cross is here to support them, she said.

Then theres the story of western New York volunteer Mike Hoplight, who is also a military veteran. The Niagara Falls natives commitment to others goes back to age 14, when he volunteered at the Niagara Falls Boys and Girls Club, showing cartoons to younger children. Now, at age 75, he hasnt let up a bit.

My motto since I was 14 years old is that I am here to serve, not to be served," he said.

After nearly three decades of service to his country, Hoplight was not ready to let go of his commitment to being of service to others, which would eventually include his retired military family members. In 1996, coinciding with his retirement from the Army Reserve, Hoplight joined the Red Cross as a volunteer. Over the past 26 years he has continued to volunteer his time and talent, initially serving within the disaster services team as a mass care/shelter lead, serving as part of relief teams responding to several high-profile national disasters including hurricanes Katrina, Irene and Ike.

It has been his service to his fellow veterans in western New York as an SAF volunteer, however, that shines brightest. He is a lead volunteer at the Buffalo VA Medical Center, providing support to veterans in long-term care on Wednesday and Friday mornings and entertaining them with unique culinary celebrations such as Timbits and coffee (from the Tim Hortons doughnut chain), Spam day, and sardine and crackers day. The celebrations may seem funny in nature, but are extremely meaningful to the veterans who partake in them.

The Buffalo VA also happens to be one of the locations in the Veterans Affairs system that offers the No Veteran Dies Alone program, designed to provide companionship at the end of life for patients who may have no remaining family members. Naturally, Hoplight sees this special role as part of his responsibility and commitment.

We would not leave you alone on a battlefield to die, and were not going to leave you alone in your hospital room to die either, he stated matter-of-factly.

The Buffalo VA counts more than 50,000 outpatients annually and, as Hoplight emphatically states, Its our duty to treat them right. He does just that not only in Buffalo, but at the Batavia VA as well. Still, despite all that he has contributed, it is Hoplight who extends gratitude to the Red Cross.

Im just grateful that the Red Cross has given me the opportunity to still serve, he said. Thats the most important thing to me ... to serve this country.

(To learn more about the Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces program, visit our website.)
Rivers swollen by days of downpours have flooded some towns in northern Italy, forcing residents on to rooftops, while in Venice, authorities are preparing to activate a mobile barrier in the lagoon in hopes of sparing the city from a rare May high-tide flooding.

After the Savio River overflowed its banks in the town of Cesena, in the heart of the Emilia-Romagna region, some residents of heavily flooded streets took to rooftops to await rescue by helicopters.

The nearly 100,000 residents of the town were told to avoid the temptation to view the raging waters and not to stay on ground floors if they lived near the river.

Flooded houses in Cesena (Vigili del Fuoco/AP)

Use prudence, dont be curious, so disaster doesnt turn into tragedy, mayor Enzo Lattuca said on Rai state TV.

In the tourist town of Ravenna in north-east Italy, authorities urged residents to move to upper storeys of buildings to ride out the storm.

In Riccione, a beach town on the Adriatic Sea, the mayor warned people to stay home as some took to rubber dinghies to navigate streets.

In Venice, the barrier system, known by its acronym Moses, and recalling the Biblical account of the Red Sea parting, will be lifted on Tuesday night for the first time in May.

It is nearly 20 years since construction began on the project, which is still not officially completed.

Engineering works on the mobile dyke in Venice (Alamy/PA)

Firefighters in Riccione, in the northern region of Emilia-Romagna, were deployed to rescue people from flooded homes and businesses.

By Tuesday afternoon, firefighters had carried out around 40 rescues in the province of Rimini, parts of which are on the Adriatic coast. Reinforcements were moved in from the cities of Forli-Cesena, Ferrara and Bologna.

In the area between Ancona, a major Adriatic port, and Pesaro-Urbino, two towns popular with tourists, firefighters carried out 80 interventions for local flooding, fallen trees and mudslides and rescued motorists in difficulty, the corps said in a tweet.

In Modena, a small city famed for gastronomical products, authorities said they would close local bridges to traffic on Tuesday evening as a precaution against rising river levels.

In the town of Senigallia, the Misa Rivers waters were receding, local officials said.

Cesena, in the northern Italian region of Emilia Romagna (Vigili del Fuoco/AP)

Meteorologists say Italy can expect several more days of heavy rain, pummelling the north which had for weeks been suffering a shortfall of precipitation for weeks.

Train travel was halted on the Bologna-Ancona and the Ravenna-Faenza routes, Italian media said.

Earlier this month, a day and a half of non-stop rain caused flooding in the populous Emilia-Romagna region, leaving at least two people dead as riverbeds left dry by drought overflowed.

The rainfall came as Italy had been bracing for a second year of drought, which has depleted its largest river, the Po. The river supports agriculture in the vast Po River Valley before emptying into the Adriatic Sea east of Bologna.

While north-east Italy was hardest hit by the downpours, flooding also caused damage in the south.

On the island of Sicily, rescuers responded to flooding, fallen trees and other problems in the countryside between Palermo and Trapani. By Tuesday morning, the weather there was improving, firefighters said.
Burma Cyclone Mocha Destroys Hundreds of Homes in Myanmars Chin State

Residents affected by Cyclone Mocha take shelter in a community hall in Hakha. / CHO

Cyclone Mocha destroyed at least 450 houses in Chin State as well as the headquarters of two Chin Defense Force (CDF) units after crossing into the state on Sunday evening, displacing hundreds of people, according to emergency response teams, the Myanmar Fire Services Department and resistance groups.

The cyclone passed through Mindat, Paletwa, Matupi, Hakha, Tedim, Tonzang and Falam with wind speeds of between 80 and 112 km (50 and 70 miles) per hour, according to the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology.

The Chin Health Organization (CHO), an emergency response team in Chin State, announced Tuesday that Cyclone Mocha destroyed at least 452 houses in the state.

Over 300 residents of both rural and urban areas were taking refuge in Carson Hall in the state capital Hakha, while another 120 storm victims were sheltering in Strait Hall in the town.

Thirty buildings including a church, a school and a government housing facility in Sakta Village, Hakha, were also destroyed, according to residents, but no casualties or injuries were reported.

According to figures collected by the Fire Services Department and Chin Health Organization, over 30 buildings in Falam Township, over 250 in Matupi Township, over 30 houses in Mindat Township and over 100 buildings in Lailenpi town were destroyed.

Residents said 117 houses were destroyed in Lailenpi, which is the birthplace of Dr. Sa Sa, the Union minister for international cooperation of the National Unity Government (NUG).

The NUG said in a statement on Monday that Cyclone Mocha had killed at least 18 people in Rakhine and Shan states and Mandalay, Ayeyarwady, Sagaing, Magwe and Yangon regions.

No deaths had been reported in Chin State as of Tuesday morning, according to a statement issued by the Fire Services Department and the CHO. They said they were working hard to distribute food and medicine to people in shelters.

The headquarters of CDF Asho, which was located on a site on the border between Magwe Region and Chin State, was destroyed when Mocha hit at around 2 p.m. on Sunday. The headquarters of CDF Matupi was also destroyed, according to the resistance groups spokesperson.

As the storm started entering [the area on Sunday night], we had to take shelter in the trenches, where we also securely stored all explosives [when the cyclone was first forecast to reach the area]. But, the next morning, all the tents and buildings were destroyed, he said on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, mobile phone connection was restored in most parts of Chin State except Paletwa Township.
Burma Myanmar Death Toll Mounts After Cyclone Mocha

A Rohingya woman surveys the damage at Basara refugee camp in Sittwe on Tuesday after Cyclone Mocha. / AFP

The death toll from Cyclone Mocha is estimated at least 60 on Tuesday in Myanmar with many deaths reported around Sittwe, the Rakhine State capital.

Mocha ripped through Rakhine and Chin states and Sagaing and Magwe regions on Sunday with winds of 250km per hour reported, bringing down power lines, uprooting trees and destroying houses.

A volunteer group reported that at least five people were killed during the storm in Sittwe.

Around 40 displaced Rohingya Muslims were killed at camps near Sittwe, said U Thein Shwe, a teacher from neighboring Thet Kae Pyin village.

Five people from one San Pya [also known as Basara] camp were killed by flooding. Two other camps were completely washed away and we found at least 20 bodies. About 100 people are missing and probably dead, he said.

U Thein Shwe said he saw 15 bodies outside his village.

He added that around 110 Rohingya from Bayda village and another 200 from Dar Pai village were missing.

Myanmars regime-controlled media reported on Tuesday that 13 people were killed when a monastery collapsed in a village in Rathedaung Township and a woman died when a building collapsed in a neighboring village.

One man was killed in Ponnagyun Township.

Destruction in Sagaing and Magwe regions

At least three men were killed by Cyclone Mocha in Sagaing Region on Sunday night and another three were killed in Salin Township, Magwe Region.

Around 40 Sagaing Region villages have been flooded with three unidentified men found dead, according to a resistance fighter.

Extensive damage to rice and other crops has been reported across Sagaing and Magwe regions.
Burma Myanmar Military Commanders Pocketing Dead Soldiers Insurance: Sources

Armed Forces Day parade in Naypyitaw on March 27 this year. / AFP

Myanmar military commanders are diverting insurance payments for slain soldiers into their own pockets, according to sources close to military families, and junta soldiers who have joined the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM).

Early this year, the regime halted insurance payouts for families of 66th Light Infantry Division (LID) soldiers killed in Kayah (Karenni) State whose bodies could not be recovered. They are listed as missing in action rather than dead, a source close to families of the 66th LID told The Irrawaddy.

They are not listed as dead because [the Myanmar military] does not want to give insurance payouts, he said.

The 66th LID is based in Inma town on the Yangon-Pyay Road some 20 miles to the south of Pyay in Bago Region, and overseen by the Southern Command.

Soldiers who have recently deserted say the bereaved families are not receiving the money owed to them for two reasons. Firstly, corrupt officers are pocketing the payments, and secondly the regime wants to impose news blackouts on the heavy military casualties it is suffering.

The payments were made for regime soldiers who died in clashes with the Arakan Army (AA) in Rakhine State between late 2018 and November 2020 even when their bodies could not be retrieved, said Hein Zaw Oo, a 19-year-old private who defected from the army in April.

But lately, [the military] has not been sending death benefits and bank savings for soldiers whose bodies cannot be retrieved, he said.

Hein Zaw Oo last served in Light Infantry Battalion 2 based in Kyaikto, Mon State. The battalion is under the command of 44th LID and is fighting the Karen National Union and Peoples Defense Force in Karen State.

It is mandatory for junta soldiers to buy life insurance. Privates are required to buy a minimum two-year policy worth 500,000 kyats (US$ 238 at the official exchange rate) and pay a monthly premium of around 8,400 kyats.

Also compulsory for military personnel is saving money at the military-owned Myawaddy Bank, and buying shares in the military-owned Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd.

Defector Ye Htet Kyaw, who served as a private in Light Infantry Battalion 341 based in Karen States Papun, said battalion commanders would siphon off the money when the dead soldiers had no relatives, or their relatives could not be contacted.

My superior died after stepping on a land mine while carrying food supplies. He had around two million kyats in his bank account. The battalion commander took the money after his death and said it was deposited in battalion funds. I dont buy it.

An estimated 14,890 junta soldiers were killed, and nearly 5,000 wounded in the 12 months after armed revolution began on June 1, 2021, following the military coup in February that year.

CDM captain Htet Myat said: Most military family members do not know how much military personnel have paid for insurance premiums. Only the soldiers themselves know. And insurance certificates are usually kept at battalion offices. And some family members dont know about the insurance, in which case they do not get death benefits.

As family members do not know the insurance amount paid, battalion commanders never give death benefits in full, said defector Ye Htet Kyaw.

If there is three million kyats in the bank, family members only receive 1.5 million kyats he said.

Former captain Htet Myat said officers have been siphoning off life insurance payouts since before the coup, listing soldiers killed at front line as missing in action. But the exploitation has worsened since the coup, he added.

Previously, Myanmar military personnel had been required to buy life insurance at state-owned company Myanma Insurance. But since 2015, four years after Min Aung Hlaing became the military chief, military personnel have been required to take out insurance with Aung Myint Moh Min Insurance Co, which is owned by Min Aung Hlaings son, Aung Pyae Sone.
Burma Myanmar Regime Searches for People Who Photographed Flooded Bagan Temples

The flooded compound of Arnanda Temple in Bagan

The Myanmar military regime is searching for people who shot photos of flooded pagodas in Myanmars World Heritage-listed temple city, Bagan, according to local sources.

Heavy rain triggered by Cyclone Mocha at the weekend led to parts of Bagan flooding, with rainwater engulfing some temples. Several ancient temples, including the famous Ananda Temple and Shwezigon Pagoda, were flooded.

District-level junta officials in Mandalay Regions Nyaung-U told people not to post photos of flooded pagodas on social media, and also ordered staff to search for those who took and posted pictures of flooded temples.

A freelance photographer said: I have been in hiding as [junta officials] are searching for me for taking pictures of flooded pagodas in Bagan. As people wrote caustic comments on photos posted online, I have had to delete my posts and go into hiding.

Bagan is situated in Myanmars Dry Zone and heavy rain is a serious threat to the centuries-old temples, as there is a risk of damage from damp penetrating into the old brick structures, affecting the existence of the temples.

The reason the authorities are hunting the photographers is unknown but residents suggested the regime must have been upset by pictures showing that the countrys World Heritage Site has been affected by the flooding.

The caustic comments accompanying some social media posts may be another reason. Some commenters said Myanmar faced such a disaster because tyrants are in power, referring to the regime and the heavy rains that deluged the temples, which were the heaviest recorded in the area in 58 years.

A resident of Nyaung-U District said: We took pictures [of flooded pagodas] as it is our hobby. We have deleted the [Facebook] posts, and we have also deleted the pictures [from our phones and cameras] for fear that [the regime] will do something [bad] to us. They [the regime] only want people to post pictures of them working.

Junta security personnel are patrolling in cars and on motorbikes across Bagans archaeological zone, as well as checking the phones of photographers at pagodas and people spotted at and near pagodas.

Officials of the Bagan branch of the Department of Archaeology and National Museum have been pumping water out of the flooded temples.

Bagan was added to UNESCOs World Heritage List in July 2019. The city is home to over 3,000 temples dating from the 9th to the 13th centuries, spanning the rule of some 50 Bagan Dynasty Kings.
Burma Cyclone Mocha Death Toll Rises to 29 in Myanmar

Broken boats are piled up next to a collapsed bridge in Sittwe, in Myanmar's Rakhine state, on May 15, 2023, after Cyclone Mocha made landfall. / AFP

SITTWE, MyanmarThe death toll from Cyclone Mocha which barreled 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 Coxs Bazar in Bangladesh and Myanmars Sittwe carrying winds of up to 195 km (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 States capital Sittwe, home to around 150,000 people and which bore the brunt of the storm, according to cyclone trackers.

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 juntas 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.

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.

The 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 an urgent appeal for aid.

Jomila Banu, a 20-year-old Rohingya woman from the Nayapara refugee camp in 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.

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 Myanmars 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.
Junta Crony Myanmar Crony Promoting Electric Vehicles Despite Ongoing Power Blackouts

Daw Khine Zaw (left) makes a donation for COVID-19 control and prevention in March 2020 at the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry office in Yangon. / Ma Khine Zaw Facebook

Myanmar has been suffering from ongoing power outages since the 2021 coup, but now a new crony has come to the attention of the people for her promotion of electric vehicles (EVs) and the charging stations they use.

Enter Daw Khine Zaw, chief executive officer of the Earth Group Companies. She is a sister-in-law of arch-crony and major arms dealer U Tay Za, the chairman of the Htoo Group of Companies.

Daw Khine Zaw has been involved in military-linked businesses since the days of former military dictator Than Shwe. She also has ties with current junta chief Min Aung Hlaing and his relatives.

According to The Irrawaddys business sources, it was Daw Khine Zaw who sold Min Aung Hlaing on the idea of promoting the use of EVs, including electric buses, in Myanmar. She has already been engaged in the renewable energy business, including solar power, for several years.

One Yangon car dealer told The Irrawaddy: Daw Khine Zaws Prime Company alone is handling EVs. She has connections and she has won most of the licenses related to EVs.

Prime Automotive Myanmar, a subsidiary of Daw Khine Zaws Earth Renewable Energy, is licensed to import EVs, while Earth Renewable Energy is licensed to build charging stations for them.

Under the now ousted National League for Democracy government, Daw Khine Zaw rarely appeared at the meetings of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI). But since 2022, she has appeared at UMFCCI and is mainly engaged in solar power and EVs, added the car dealer.

While there is still no necessary infrastructure and facilities for EVs, the military regime formed a national-level committee on EVs and related businesses in June 2022, and took immediate steps to import electric cars and build charging stations.

The junta has also waived the tax on the import of EVs and parts for charging stations for the 2022-23 fiscal year. There are also reports that the tax will be exempted until the end of the 2024-25 fiscal year. Daw Khine Zaws companies are enjoying tax exemptions, too, according to automobile dealers.

This March, Earth Renewable Energy opened Myanmars first charging station for electric buses on the Yangon-Naypyitaw-Mandalay Highway in Naypyitaws Dekkhinathiri Township. So far it has built three charging stations along the highway, according to the company.

Traditionally, foreign automakers distribute their cars through authorized dealers in Myanmar. Prime Automotive Myanmar Co has, however, attempted to import vehicles directly from foreign companies, resulting in disputes with local dealers.

The Yangon car dealer said: They reached out to foreign car companies and asked them to sell branded vehicles, saying they have the permits [to import].

Who is Daw Khine Zaw?

Daw Khine Zaw is the sister of Daw Thida Zaw, the wife of arch-crony U Tay Za. The 60-year-old businesswoman engages in around five industries including manufacturing, transportation, and renewable energy.

She won the Association of Southeast Asian Nations 2019 Women Entrepreneur of the Year award. She is also a vice chair of the Myanmar Industries Association, which is a sister association of the UMFCCI.

Over the past decade Daw Khine Zaw has portrayed herself as a female entrepreneur to boost her image among international business owners, despite her ties to the former and current military regime. She is also close to people who move in political circles in Thailand.

Daw Khine Zaw has previously won licenses for construction projects in the Myanmar capital Naypyitaw that were backed by former generals. The most notable tender was to construct solar-powered lighting along the Yangon-Naypyitaw-Mandalay highway. The tender was worth billions of kyats, but the lighting failed within a few years because it was of poor quality.

She is also a laywoman of Sitagu Sayadaw, a military-linked Buddhist monk who is close to Min Aung Hlaing. The monk served as the vice-chair of ultranationalist Buddhist group The Association for Protection of Race and Religion, better known by the Burmese acronym Ma Ba Tha.

The group has become known for racial and religious hate speeches since it was established in 2013, some two years after Min Aung Hlaing succeeded Than Shwe as Myanmar military chief.
News Thai Opposition Claims Victory as Voters Reject Army-Backed Parties

Move Forward Party leader and prime ministerial candidate Pita Limjaroenrat poses for photographers as he arrives for a press conference at party headquarters in Bangkok on Monday. / AFP

BANGKOKThailands progressive Move Forward Party 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 Move Forward (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.

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.

MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat said he would seek to build a six-party coalition including Pheu Thai, which said it was ready to join, though negotiations of the details have not yet begun.

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 prime minister candidate, 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 and MFP voter who 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 Prayut  the former army chief who seized power in a 2014 coup  was 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, including previous iterations, has been the most popular party for two decades, had hoped for a landslide win that would allow it to lead a coalition.

The party congratulated MFP, saying it had won the right to lead the new government.

Paetongtarn, daughter of party patriarch and exiled billionaire Thaksin, said the two sides have not yet started negotiating the details of a coalition.

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.

First post-protest vote

The United States, a historic ally of Thailand, said it was looking forward to working with the new government elected by the people.

Asked if the United States was concerned that the opposition would not be allowed to govern, State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters in Washington, We support the right of the people to democratically choose their own leaders.

This election was the first since 2020 protests 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.
As yawns were being stifled and last weeks Village Council meeting which was extended to 11:20 p.m., no one was ready to vote on one of the costliest work orders in the history of Key Biscayne  one that would jump-start a critical, massive resiliency infrastructure plan.

The agenda item to select the Black & Veatch engineering consultant firm at a price not to exceed $1,381,631 to prepare and create the Resilient Infrastructure Integration and Implementation Plan (RI3P) was deferred until the June 6 meeting, delaying progress on what could become a 10- to-15-year program to mitigate and adapt the Village to changing environment conditions.

Council member Allison McCormick made a motion to defer, saying, "I think I'm in agreement (with the other Council members) that it's now 11:10 in a meeting that was supposed to end at 11 ... I'm not ready to make a decision after the way this meeting started."

She referred to the earlier, lengthy discussion about the Strategic Vision Plan, which was adopted by Council members after listening to some 80 minutes of public comments, as well as nearly an hour of their own comments and rebuttals. That important agenda item took the steam out of several other items on the agenda, including the Manager's Report, which never made it to the floor.

"I don't want to think it's a punt," McCormick said. "We're going to have (to make) decisions on big-ticket items ... but it's really important we need to do all the homework before this comes before us ... I know it's brutal for you, Roland."

Dr. Roland Samimy, the Village's Chief Resiliency and Sustainability and Chief, had clearly explained why a project management team is needed in such a massive undertaking of "multiple lines of effort," including shoreline protection, stormwater system upgrades, roadway improvements, under-grounding electric and telecommunication lines, replacing water and sewer lines, adjusting road crowns, all with a dig-once approach.

"All of these things have got to come together in a coordinated manner. This is how the sequencing and prioritization, the financing plan, all the risk management, and all the optimization of the program (will be laid out)," Dr. Samimy said.

He and Village Manager Steve Williamson explained that much of what has been done so far has "been like building an aircraft while in flight."

"They have experience doing this," Dr. Samimy said. "The Manager, myself, the Public Works Dirctor, Jeremy (Calleros Gauger) at BZP, and Colleen (Blank) at CIP, we could probably do it, if we (were in it) 100% of the time."

But, there are many other projects around the Village that also need our attention and leadership at the same time.

"You need a road map, like I explained before, from California to Key Biscayne without getting off at the wrong exits," Dr. Samimy said, speaking specifically about the resilient infrastructure program. "We've been working with the strategy (part of it) and now it is time to get the work done."

One of the reasons a company like Black & Veatch is being looked at, he said, is making sure the Village passes the State-Compliant Vulnerability Assessment, which allows for potential grant funds.

Already, $330,000 from Resilient Florida's grant funding will be applied to the Vulnerability study. Another $780,000 is a loan application from the State Revolving Fund (SRF) and the balance of $181,000 is included in the FY 23 budget, Dr. Samimy explained.

Charlie Moseley, who leads Black & Veatch's Program Management practice across the East region, was at the Council meeting, speaking on the importance of hiring his firm, which has been in the Program Management business for over 40 of its more than 100 years and has implemented $30 billion in Program Management services.

Councilman Brett Moss was a little confused as to the bottom line.

"I'm sure you guys are the best of the best; this is a big work order, it might be the biggest (he's ever come across as a Council member)," he said. "But I need to understand what it is ... Give me an example of what it's going to do for us in 10 months. Is it this booklet? And what does it do for us?

"I need that to be sold to me; I don't have enough information ... This project is going to take (10-15) years to do, and we need cohesion. What I would ask is to defer this item, maybe have a workshop at the end so we can understand it and feel comfortable. ... I would (also) ask the Manager what are our other options? What would be Plan B and Plan C?"

Councilman Ed London also had questions.

"I don't understand what we're going to get and we don't know how long that $1.3 million will last," he said. "I know ... your mind is set, Roland and Steve, but I could never vote to (allow) $1.3 million for the coordination (of a project)."

Moseley said, "The best way I think to describe what (we do) is that this jump-starts the program ... there is no outsource. Our approach is to build a single (project), build an extension of staff, your staff, and it's the first step in the direction of knowing what kinds of complexity (we are facing)."

Moseley said his team would work with perhaps as many as 11 stakeholders, and realizing the cost of commodities has risen sharply post-Covid, would look at sources of funding along the way.

"It's not (a document) that connects dust," he said. "But we visit the program on a quarter basis (if needed) or an annual basis to see what variables have changed. ... The planning portion is complex because we want to dig just once ... you're not just getting an implementation plan out of this ... we leave behind standard operating procedures in place (to follow)."

Fernando Vazquez, who has plenty of experience when it comes to big projects, such as the "Big Dig" in Boston and overseeing Miami's Beach's stormwater master plan as city engineer, told his fellow Council members that "Program Management is the standard for a program of this magnitude, by validating so many elements," he said.

"This would be very irresponsible to move this $200 million project forward without a Program Management (strategy) ... this is done everywhere."

Williamson said, "We needed it a year-and-a-half ago ... We probably missed some key opportunities to communicate with our residents about the importance and implications of the resilience infrastructure plan. I need these guys to do the detailed program management to ensure we have a guiding plan so I can communicate with the Council and public (how it's going to be accomplished)."

What Vazquez eventually questioned was all the technical terms Moseley used to describe parts of Black & Veatch's program.

"It's not the product, it's the delivery," Vazquez said. "... This aggravates me. You talk about all this program management ... and you lose us."

He wanted Moseley and Program Director Arturo Burbano to come back to the June 6 meeting with easier to understand language and a clearer picture of what is being offered.

"So, the final project is an instruction manual," Moss said late into the evening. "$1.3 million and I see words floating in my head.

"This Board (Council) is your sales team," he told Moseley. "You have to sell it to us, and we have to (sell) it (to our residents)."
A jury has awarded $95 million to a man who alleged he was sexually abused in 1979 by a former Rochester-area priest who worked for nearly two decades in Auburn and also has been accused by others of sexual assaults.

The plaintiff alleged that the former priest, Rev. Foster P. Rogers, sexually abused him in Rogers' car in July 1979.

The victim was then 15. Rogers now has limited income, according to letters he wrote the court, and the local man awarded the $95 million is unlikely to see even a tiny sliver of the award.

The award is one of the largest in New York since the Child Victims Act, which opened a window for lawsuits from past child victims of sexual abuse. Earlier this month, an Erie County woman was awarded $100 million under the Child Victims Act, or CVA. That was thought to be the largest CVA award in New York.

In 1979 Rogers was an assistant pastor at St. Alphonsus Church in Auburn, which is part of the 12-county Rochester diocese. The victim had no connections with the church, according to Amy Keller, a Buffalo attorney who represented the victim. Instead, Rogers met the teen in downtown Rochester and offered him a ride home, she said.

The victim "had a very troubled childhood," she said. "He grew up in a poor part of Rochester. The priest preyed on him."

In May 2002, Rogers was one of three local Catholic clerics to be removed from their ministerial posts due to allegations of past sexual abuse of minors.

As the Democrat and Chronicle has previously reported, Rogers, like many abusive priests, had been moved across different churches by the local diocese. He was removed after the late Bishop Matthew Clark responded to nationwide outrage over priest abuse; Clark said he found records of past misconduct against Rogers in diocesan files.

The Democrat and Chronicle in 2002 reported on two other allegations of past abuse by Rogers. He allegedly molested a 16-year-old parishioner at his church in 1975. Another man said he had complained to the diocese of past abuse by Rogers, but nothing was done.

According to The Citizen's archives, Rogers worked at St. Alphonsus in Auburn from from 1979 to 1998.

Rogers does have some income through part-time employment and other sources, Keller said. The size of the award "sends a very strong and clear message" about the lifelong impacts of child abuse, said Keller, an attorney with the firm of Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria.

The jury heard from her client and saw how abuse "really destroys you as a person," Keller said.

There was no trial to determine liability. Rogers did not hire an attorney and did not contest the charges before the damages trial Wednesday. In a 2020 letter to the court, he said he was then 80 years old and would simply give the victim money if he could. Instead, he said, his outstanding credit card bills outstrip his income.

With Rogers not contesting the allegations in the initial lawsuit, filed in 2020, the victim's lawsuit was successful by default. That left only a damages trial.

The victim testified at the damages trial. Rogers, who represented himself, did not question him, Keller said.

The damages trial was held in state Supreme Court in Rochester and presided over by state Supreme Court Justice Charles Schiano Jr.

The jury award was millions more than sought, Keller said. The jury awarded $30 million for past pain and suffering, $15 million for future pain and suffering, and $50 million in punitive damages, which are a separate penalizing judgment.

The diocese in 2019 sought bankruptcy protection after hundreds of claims of abuse by priests and others with diocesan connections. Keller said she could not discuss the bankruptcy and whether the client might be one of those seeking damages.
Tuesday, May 16th, 2023 (3:07 pm) - Score 648

Crewe-based broadband and phone provider Ice Telecommunications Ltd (Ice Comms) has been fined 80,000 by the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) after they were found to have made 72,682 unsolicited marketing (SPAM) calls to businesses registered with the CTPS or TPS between 13th Sept 2021 and 31st Jan 2022.

The ICO said they received 30 complaints about Ice, and the TPS advised it had written to the company on 19 occasions outlining complaint details, without response. The ICOs investigation found that Ice was not able to provide copies of contracts with third party suppliers of marketing lists showing CTPS and TPS numbers suppressed. Furthermore, they even continued to make illegal calls whilst under investigation (oops).

Some of the complaints noted that they had received multiple calls from Ice Comms, often over a period of several months, and that the company had refused to take them off their mailing list or disclose where they got the details from. In response, the ICO hit the operator with a 80k fine and issued an enforcement notice ordering the company to stop making calls to CTPS and TPS registered numbers.

Andy Curry, ICO Head of Investigations, said: We are here to protect UK businesses, as well as the public, from unwanted marketing communications. Its not acceptable that people in their place of work were made to feel uncomfortable all because they simply answered their phone. The fact that a number is in the public domain does not give free rein to marketers to make calls to businesses. The law is clear. Before any marketing calls are made, numbers must be screened against the do not call register. These fines are another clear message to companies flouting the law  we will take action to ensure the public and UK businesses are protected, and legitimate businesses complying with the law do not lose out.

In its response, Ice Comms claimed to have conducted a thorough investigation and regrettably found that a minority of staff had breached the rules by extracting data from sites such as Yell.com. The provider added that they have since taken measures to prevent a reoccurrence.
Tuesday, May 16th, 2023 (10:42 am) - Score 936

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has published a new technical report that could form the basis of a roadmap toward setting standards for the adoption of Space-Division Multiplexing (SDM) transmission into fibre optic broadband cables, which could in turn deliver a big data capacity boost for some future links.

Most fibre optic cables tend to harness Wavelength-Division Multiplexing (WDM), which put simply is a technology that simultaneously combines (multiplexes) a number of optical signals onto a single optical fibre cable by using the different colours (wavelengths) of laser light to carry data. Theres also Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM), which can help to carry data by interleaving channels temporally.

However, one way to build on top of all that would be to complement it with Space-Division Multiplexing (SDM), where the cable can utilize multiple spatial channels too (i.e. space can be used to communicate information too)  SDM essentially uses the transverse dimension of the fibre to separate the channels.

The problem is that todays cables are approaching whats known as the Shannon limit, which is the estimated maximum rate at which they can transmit data reliably. SDM is thus seen as one way to push against that, although until now reaching an industry consensus on related standards has been tricky (i.e. doing this in a cost-effective way isnt easy as SDM, in its most conventional sense, can simply mean more fibres in a cable).

Just to be clear, the new technical report from the ITUs Study Group 15 is not yet a standard, but it is the first technical document on SDM technology published with industry consensus by any standards development organisation and defines, as well as analyses, the potential properties of both single and multi-core SDM optical fibres.

For example, the Single-core SDM optical fibre designs include cables with reduced coating diameter fibre (RCDF), reduced cladding diameter fibre (RCF), and few-mode fibre (FMF).

ITU Statement Long-haul submarine and terrestrial backbone networks, data centre interconnection, and intra-data-centre links could all benefit significantly from SDM optical fibre and cable technologies. New design concepts for ultra-high-density cables could help to overcome space limitations for cables or ducts, align rising density requirements with cost effectiveness, and reduce environmental impact. The investigation of anticipated SDM applications also considered connectorization, splicing, and breakout technologies, with the work analysing current technical progress and assessing the evolution required for future standardization of those technologies.

At this point we should be clear that ordinary consumers dont need to be worrying about any of this because the fibre optic cables being put into the ground today should be able to carry enough broadband data capacity to keep homes fed for a generation. But future deployments of major international or subsea links could potentially benefit from adopting an SDM approach  particularly as we enter the Petabit era for individual links. The ITUs work is an important stepping stone on that road.
Tuesday, May 16th, 2023 (2:48 pm) - Score 864

Rural broadband ISP Wildanet, which is rolling out a new gigabit speed Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network across parts of South West England (mostly Cornwall), has today revealed the next 4 locations in Devon that will benefit from their ongoing infrastructure build.

The provider, which is being supported by an investment of 50m from the Gresham House British Strategic Investment Infrastructure Fund (BSIF) and recently scooped a 36m Project Gigabit contract to cover another 19,250 premises across rural parts of Cornwall (here), has already announced the build for two locations in neighbouring Devon  Totnes and Dartington (reflecting up to 6,000 premises between them).

NOTE: The BSIF also supports Scotland focused ISP Borderlink.

The latest announcement confirms that the next phase of their build in Devon is also planned to reach Ashburton, Axminster, Chagford, Holsworthy, Ipplepen, South Brent, South Molton, Yealmpton and Yelverton. As part of the move, Wildanet said they would create 60 new jobs and open a new 35,000 sq ft warehouse in Bideford to act as a hub for their local expansion.

However, its worth noting that some of the new rollout locations are already being targetted by gigabit-capable broadband rivals, such as Jurassic Fibre and Airband in Axminster etc.

Helen Wylde, Wildanet CEO, said (Business Cornwall): This is an exciting announcement for us and a significant moment in the growth of the business and our ambitions to level up connectivity across the south west. Were looking to bring the same energy and can-do approach to Devon as we have delivered in Cornwall and look forward to working with communities, businesses, national and local government to extend the transformational benefits of gigabit-capable broadband to rural and hard-to-reach areas of the county.

Full fibre customers typically pay from 39.99 per month (currently discounted to 25) to receive a 200Mbps (100Mbps upload) package on a 24-month term with free installation, which rises to 59.99 if you want their top 900Mbps (400Mbps upload) package. Wilanet also offers a cheap social tariff for those on Universal Credit, which costs 20 per month on a 12-month contract for downloads of 30-100Mbps and uploads of 6-50Mbps.

UPDATE 4:44pm

Wildanet has informed us that they actually announced 9 new locations today, which weve added above as they werent included in the earlier report.
After the House of Representatives votes on a bill or resolution, U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney explains why she supported or opposed the legislation.

It's a simple act of transparency, but one that sets Tenney, R-Canandaigua, apart from her colleagues. It is believed that she is the only member of Congress who offers detailed explanations of her voting record.

On Monday, Tenney achieved a milestone with her 500th vote explanation covering bills and resolutions considered by the House over the past two terms. She reached the 500 mark by explaining her "yes" vote on a resolution honoring law enforcement officers who have been killed in the line of duty.

One reason she supported the resolution is that is recognizes Anthony Mazurkiewicz, a Rochester police officer who was killed in July 2022.

"Officer Mazurkiewicz served our community with great distinction, and I was honored to support this resolution that recognizes his sacrifice," Tenney wrote.

Tenney has a page on her official website titled, "My Votes Explained," where all of her vote explanations are published. The statements cover final votes on legislation. One example is the House Republicans' bill to raise the debt ceiling and cut government spending. She supported that proposal because it "responsibly addresses the debt ceiling while limiting wasteful spending, saving taxpayer dollars and growing our economy," she said.

In a statement about her vote explanations, Tenney said that transparency and an informed electorate are "vital to preserving our self-governing constitutional republic."

"Constituents deserve to know how their members of Congress vote, which is why I have explained every vote I cast in Congress since I was first elected in 2016," she continued. "Those I represent will always know where I stand. Just recently, I was honored to reach the 500th vote explanation from the 117th and 118th Congresses. I will continue to prioritize transparency, accessibility and integrity in all that I do."

Tenney represents the 24th Congressional District, which includes all of Cayuga County and all or parts of 11 other counties in upstate New York.
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Today

Sunny. High 97F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph.

Tonight

A few clouds from time to time. Low 68F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph.

Tomorrow

Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High 98F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.
U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney is accusing a super PAC of misleading voters in the 24th Congressional District about her position on term limits legislation.

Term Limits Action paid for a 15-second TV ad that claims Tenney, R-Canandaigua, is "breaking her U.S. Term Limits pledge." The commercial is airing in the Rochester media market, according to Tenney's campaign.

U.S. Term Limits is a group that advocates for a specific proposal that has been introduced by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, both Republicans. The proposed constitutional amendment would limit members of the House of Representatives to three two-year terms and U.S. senators to two six-year terms.

Tenney has cosponsored the resolution, which aligns her with U.S. Term Limits' position. However, she introduced a separate proposal that would limit members of the House of Representatives to six consecutive two-year terms and U.S. senators to two consecutive six-year terms.

Nicolas Tomboulides, executive director of U.S. Term Limits, previously criticized Tenney's proposed constitutional amendment. He said it would "dilute the intention of limiting congressional terms." U.S. Term Limits paid for a billboard that was posted in Oswego County accusing Tenney of breaking her term limits pledge.

With another ad panning her stance, Tenney responded Tuesday by blasting Term Limits Action, which she says "masquerades as a pro-term limits group, but actually opposes a range of commonsense term limits proposals in Congress."

"They are on the wrong side of this issue, but I will not be deterred by their misleading inside-the-beltway smears," Tenney continued. "I stand on the side of the voters who sent me to Washington. Unlike Term Limits Action, I will continue to champion term limits proposals in Congress to send career politicians packing."

When House Republicans elected U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy speaker, he agreed to allow a vote on Norman's term limits proposal. But that vote has yet to be scheduled.
Two New York lawmakers hope that, like a fine wine, a bill to allow wine sales in grocery stores has only gotten better with age.

State Sen. Liz Krueger and Assemblywoman Pamela Hunter unveiled their proposal to allow New York supermarkets to sell wine. It's the latest attempt in a decades-long effort to bring wines to grocery store shelves.

Forty states allow wine sales in grocery stores, but not New York. New Yorkers wishing to buy wine must go to a liquor store or a winery.

Polls conducted over the years show strong support for permitting wine sales in supermarkets. Proponents of the bill noted that a recent Siena College poll found 76% of New York voters support allowing consumers to buy wine in grocery stores.

"Consumers want the convenience of purchasing wine in grocery stores  where they buy their food and other beverages, such as beer," Hunter, D-Syracuse, said. "It's good for consumers and it's good for a critical New York industry."

Krueger, D-Manhattan, has long supported allowing wine sales in grocery stores. When she has friends visit from places where wine is sold in supermarkets, she said "they're often dismayed to discover the law won't let them buy wine in the grocery store (in New York)."

"But it's time to change that this year," she added.

The legislation introduced by Hunter and Krueger is different than the bill proposed more than a decade ago when there was a failed push to allow wine sales in grocery stores. The new measure would limit wine sale licenses to full-service grocery stores, not convenience stores or drug stores. Big box stores, such as Target and Walmart, would not be allowed to sell wine.

The previous version of the bill would have allowed wine sales at convenience stores and big box stores.

If the bill is signed into law, the sponsors estimate that roughly 1,900 wine licenses would be issued if all grocery stores participated. An incentive  a lower license renewal fee  would be offered for supermarkets that sell New York state wines.

Liquor store owners, the leading opponent of past bills to allow wine sales in grocery stores, oppose the new legislation.

Stefan Kalogridis, owner of Colvin Wine Merchants in Albany and president of the New York State Liquor Store Association's board of directors, accused supermarkets of greed and panned the legislation, which he said will lead to the closure of many liquor stores in New York.

"A lot of your liquor stores are anchored by supermarkets," Kalogridis said. "I have a Hannaford next door to me. If Hannaford carries wine, what is going to happen to me? Am I going to be able to compete with Hannaford? No."

Meanwhile, grocery stores are advocating for the change. A sign outside a Syracuse-area Wegmans encourages customers to visit nytimeforwine.com, a website that includes a form for contacting legislators asking them to support the bill.

Nelson Eusebio, director of government relations for the National Supermarket Association, said allowing wine sales in supermarkets will be great for customers and independent store owners.

Krueger thinks it's the right thing to do, while Hunter says it will provide convenience to consumers and benefit wineries and vineyards in New York.

"It's time to get this done," Hunter said. "It's time for wine, New York."

A spokesperson for Gov. Kathy Hochul said she will review the legislation if it is approved by the state Legislature.
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.
Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev sent a letter to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Heydar Aliyev.

To His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Dear Ilham Heydarovich!

Please accept my sincere congratulations on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Heydar Aliyev.

Your father went down in world history as an outstanding politician, a symbol of modern Azerbaijani statehood. As a worthy son of his people, he laid the foundation for the current course of development of the new Azerbaijan - a strong, prosperous republic, which pursues independent and pragmatic policy in the international arena.

Heydar Aliyev's great personal contribution to the continuous development of friendly neighbourly relations between our countries is highly appreciated in Russia.

Dear Ilham Heydarovich, I wish you good health, prosperity and further success, and all people of Azerbaijan peace and prosperity.

Dmitry Medvedev

Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation
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.

SAIC Motor aims to sell 800,000 MG-branded vehicles worldwide in 2023

SAIC Motor disclosed that it has set a yearly sales target of 800,000 vehicles worldwide for its MG brand in 2023 and one million units in 2024. At the same time, SAIC Motor eyes an annual overseas sales volume of over 1.2 million vehicles this year for the entire group.

MG7; photo credit: MG

Huawei-backed AITO partners with Newlink Naas

On May 15, Chinese EV charging service provider Newlink Naas announced a partnership with AITO, Huawei and SERES Groups jointly-owned high-end new energy vehicle brand. Through the partnership, there will be over 50,000 charging piles added to AITOs charging network.

All-new Buick Lacrosse hits market, starting at 179,900 yuan

On May 15, the all-new facelifted Buick Lacrosse officially hit the market with a guidance price range of 179,900 yuan-239,900 yuan. Coming with four trim levels, the new Lacrosse features an upgraded intelligence system as well as two engine options.

NIO to start delivering all-new ES6 on May 25

NIO today announced via its WeChat account that it will officially launch the all-new ES6 on May 24 with test drives beginning at the same time. Delivery of the model will kick off only one day after the launch ceremony.

Bosch's capital arms invest in Chinese automotive software developer AutoCore

AutoCore.ai, a Chinese automotive software provider, announced on May 15 that it has successfully secured a strategic investment from Bosch's venture capital arms, Bosch Ventures and Boyuan Capital.

Pan-port self-driving solution provider SENIOR closes new funding round

Chinese pan-port autonomous driving solution provider Senior.auto (SENIOR) announced on May 15 the completion of a new financing round.

Hesai Technology certified for ISO/SAE 21434 automotive cybersecurity standard

Hesai Technology, a leading Chinese LiDAR manufacturer, announced on May 15 that it has been granted the ISO/SAE 21434 certification for automotive cybersecurity management systems by TUV Rheinland, an international third-party testing and certification organization.

GWMs HAVAL puts two PHEV models from Xiaolong series onto market, starting at 139,800 yuan

On May 15, two plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) models of Great Wall Motor ("GWM")-owned HAVALs Xiaolong new energy vehicle (NEV) series officially hit the market with a starting price of 139,800 yuan.

Li Auto so far deploys 13 4C supercharging stations

As of May 15, 2023, Li Auto had deployed in China a total of 13 4C-rated supercharging stations, and had access to over 500,000 third-party charging piles, according to a post on the companys WeChat account.

Toyotas two tech joint ventures in China put TL Power 15 fuel cell system onto market

The TL Power 15, the new-generation hydrogen fuel cell system co-launched by United Fuel Cell System R&D (Beijing) Co., Ltd. ("FCRD") and Toyota SinoHytec Fuel Cell Co., Ltd. ("FCTS"), has been officially put onto the market, Toyota China announced on May 16.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- Chinese pan-port autonomous driving solution provider Senior.auto (SENIOR) announced on May 15 the completion of a new financing round.

Photo credit: SENIOR

The fundings, exclusively invested by Yonghua Capital, will primarily be used to further optimize SENIORs products, expand into new markets on a large scale, and continue exploring new application scenarios.

In addition, this marks SENIOR's fifth financing round, achieved within a span of less than six months since their last round.

As an L4 autonomous driving company specializing in port applications, SENIOR leverages port operations as the core foundation and extends its strategic focus to short-haul scenarios. The company has independently developed autonomous trucks and intelligent mobile vehicles (IMVs) for container transportation in port areas.

By implementing unmanned driving transport operations in several key domestic ports, SENIOR has already demonstrated the ability to rapidly deploy fully unmanned vehicle fleets.

Currently, SENIOR's autonomous driving solutions have been successfully implemented in seven major ports, including Ningbo Port, Tangshan Port, Zhuhai Port, Taicang Port, Xiamen Port, Suqian Port, and Weifang Port.

Up to now, the company has cumulatively operated and delivered over 120 unmanned container haulers. In 2022 alone, SENIOR collaborated with four ports, providing products and operational services for nearly a hundred unmanned transport vehicles.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- AutoCore.ai, a Chinese automotive software provider, announced on May 15 that it has successfully secured a strategic investment from Bosch's venture capital arms, Bosch Ventures and Boyuan Capital.

The companys existing investor, GL Ventures, also participated in this funding round.

Photo credit: AutoCore.ai

Since its establishment in 2018, AutoCore.ai has rapidly evolved into a global automotive software platform company, offering middleware products, foundational software, algorithm software, and application software authorization services based on its self-developed Autocore.OS software platform.

The companys comprehensive capabilities can help clients establish a unified in-vehicle data link platform, ensuring system-level functional safety. AutoCore.ai is dedicated to creating real-time, deterministic, secure, and efficient communication, transmission, scheduling, and planning of vehicle data.

AutoCore.ai aims to collaborate with Bosch in exploring new technologies and products, responding to the rapidly changing demands of the global automotive industry at a larger scale and faster pace. Meanwhile, Bosch believes that AutoCore.ai will strategically benefit from its powerful software-defined automotive network and community by leveraging synergies with its group entities and partners.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- The TL Power 15, the new-generation hydrogen fuel cell system co-launched by United Fuel Cell System R&D (Beijing) Co., Ltd. ("FCRD") and Toyota SinoHytec Fuel Cell Co., Ltd. ("FCTS"), has been officially put onto the market, Toyota China announced on May 16.

According to Toyota China, the TL Power 15 system features multiple industry-leading performance traits, such as light weight (166kg), small size, high power (150kW, rated), high efficiency (47.01%, rated), low hydrogen consumption, fast response, and high integration.

Photo credit: Toyota China

Besides, the system's high-power design meets the power needs of intercity buses, heavy-duty trucks, and other types of vehicles, adapting to a variety of application scenarios, and has superior full-lifecycle economics, said Toyota China.

FCRD was founded in Aug. 2020 as a joint venture among Toyota Motor Corporation ("Toyota"), FAW Group, Dongfeng Motor Corporation, GAC Group, BAIC Group, Beijing SinoHytec Co., Ltd. ("SinoHytec"). Its primary business focuses on the development of fuel cell systems for commercial vehicles to contribute to the realization of a clean mobility society in China.

FCTD was incorporated in Jun. 2021 as the joint venture between Toyota and SinoHytec. It is engaged in producing and selling the fuel cell systems developed by FCRD.
Biden and McCarthy Gear up for Vital Discussions on Debt Ceiling at the White House

President Joe Biden and Republican House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy are gearing up for crucial talks on the debt-ceiling, with just over two weeks before the US government risks running short of funds to pay its expenses.

Democratic and Republican staff are working towards establishing common ground on spending levels and energy regulations before the 3 p.m. EDT (1900 GMT) Tuesday meeting between Biden, McCarthy, and the three other top Congressional leaders.

The White House has not ruled out the annual spending caps that Republicans say must accompany any rise in the USs $31.4 trillion debt limit.

Republicans, who control the House, have made it clear that they will not vote to increase the debt ceiling unless Democrats accept deep spending cuts.

The country could spiral into a financial crisis with a sharp economic downturn if the limit isnt raised, a necessary move to cover the costs of spending and tax cuts previously approved by Congress.

However, McCarthy stated that he was not optimistic about the talks progress ahead of the McCarthy-Schumer-McConnell-Jeffries meeting, which comes before Biden leaves for the Group of Seven summit in Japan.

Asked his thoughts on whether Biden should leave for Japan without a debt ceiling deal in place, McCarthy told reporters, Look, I think an American president should focus on solutions of America.

And I think it shows your values and your priorities. Biden expressed his confidence in finding a deal but did not speak on Tuesday.

Without a deal, the US could run out of funds by June 1. Leading economists warn that a US default could plunge the country into a recession and inject chaos into global financial markets. Investors and consumers have started to worry as the standoff continues.

Biden has stressed that Congress must raise the borrowing capacity without conditions, but the White House is also willing to discuss budget-related concerns with House Republicans.

Lael Brainard, head of the White Houses National Economic Council, said, Our expectation is that Congress will do what is necessary even as we continue to have parallel discussions on the budget.

 Republicans face pressure from former President Donald Trump, who claimed that the country should default if all of their conditions are not met.

Three times during Trumps presidency, policymakers raised the debt limit, a routine move by Congress to cover expenses approved through spending and tax cuts.

In April, House Republicans passed legislation combining a $1.5 trillion debt-ceiling hike with $4.8 trillion in spending cuts, achieved primarily by cutting yearly discretionary spending by 8 percent next year and capping growth in the years to follow.

Democrats are against other aspects of that bill, such as the repeal of Bidens student-loan forgiveness program and an increase in work requirements for some benefit programs, but they havent ruled out spending caps.

Republican Representative Don Bacon, a leading centrist, said on Friday that an agreement calling for 2% annual increases might be possible.

The White House and Republicans may agree to reduce permitting requirements for pipelines and energy infrastructure, but this would necessitate the drafting of legislation, stated Brian Riedl, a fellow at the conservative Manhattan Institute.

The field of play is going to shrink because youre running out of time on broader policies, he said.
Is Russias mission to combat neocolonialism in Africa a reality or a myth?

Recently, the Kremlin has increased its presence across the African continent, reminiscent of the Soviet Unions attempts to expand its sphere of influence.

Moscows involvement spans from military campaigns to domestic politics, with few African nations escaping its interest.

While Russia claims to fight Western neocolonialism, some argue that it may be employing the same methods it criticizes.

Samuel Ramani, who wrote Russia in Africa: Resurgent Great Power or Bellicose Pretender? joined us on Perspective to share his insights.

In recent years, the Kremlin has been expanding its presence across the African continent, sparking concerns over Russias intentions and its impact on the region.

Experts have likened Moscows actions to those of the Soviet Union, which also sought to expand its sphere of influence in Africa during the Cold War.

Russias involvement in Africa ranges from military campaigns to domestic politics, with few African nations escaping its interest.

Moscow has established military bases in several countries, including Egypt, Sudan, and the Central African Republic. It has also signed several arms deals with African governments, providing them with weapons and military equipment.

In addition to its military presence, Russia has been actively involved in African politics, supporting various leaders and political parties.

For instance, Moscow has been backing the government of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria, which has been accused of committing war crimes against its citizens.

Russia has also been accused of meddling in the elections of several African countries, providing financial and logistical support to certain candidates.

Russia claims that its involvement in Africa is aimed at countering Western neocolonialism and promoting economic development.

However, some experts argue that Moscow may be employing the same methods it criticizes, such as exploiting African resources and supporting authoritarian regimes.

Samuel Ramani, a political analyst and author of Russia in Africa: Resurgent Great Power or Bellicose Pretender? shared his insights on the matter.

He noted that Russias growing presence in Africa is part of a broader strategy to project power and challenge the West.

Ramani also highlighted that Moscows actions in Africa have been driven by economic interests, particularly its desire to secure access to African resources, such as oil and minerals.

Ramani pointed out that Russias involvement in Africa has been met with mixed reactions from African governments and citizens.

While some African leaders have welcomed Moscows support, others have expressed concerns over Russias intentions and the potential risks of aligning with a global power that has a history of meddling in other countries affairs.

In conclusion, Russias expanding presence in Africa has raised concerns over its intentions and impact on the region.

While Moscow claims to be countering Western neocolonialism and promoting economic development, some experts argue that it may be employing the same tactics it criticizes.

As Russia continues to increase its presence in Africa, it remains to be seen how African governments and citizens will respond to Moscows overtures.
Opposition leader Ghannouchi sentenced to one year in prison in Tunisia.

A Tunisian court has sentenced Rached Ghannouchi, a primary opponent of Tunisian President Kais Saied, to one year in prison on terrorism-related charges, according to local media reports.

Ghannouchi, a former parliament speaker at the age of 81, was arrested last month for various allegations, which Human Rights Watch has described as a move to neutralise the countrys largest political party.

He appeared in court at the end of February on terror-related charges after being accused of calling police officers tyrants.

Ghannouchi is among over 20 of Saieds political opponents and personalities, including former ministers and business figures, who have been arrested since February.
Opposition leader Sonkos rape trial adjourned as clashes in Senegal result in several deaths

Three individuals lost their lives during clashes between police and supporters of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, the authorities have reported.

This comes in the midst of escalating tensions following a legal battle. Two young persons were discovered deceased in the capital, Dakar, and the southern city of Ziguinchor.

A police officer was also killed in Ziguinchor on Monday after being accidentally crushed by an armoured anti-riot vehicle.

Crowds in Ziguinchor, where Sonko is mayor, threw stones at police who responded with tear gas.

In Dakar, around 20 vehicles at a depot belonging to a national bus company were set on fire.

Two stores belonging to the French supermarket chain Auchan, which has frequently been targeted in disruptions, were also attacked.

These incidents erupted prior to a scheduled court appearance by Sonko, who is facing trial for alleged rape.

Amidst the protests, demonstrators prevented authorities from taking him by blocking off streets leading to his home.

The trial opened in Dakar, and was immediately adjourned until May 23rd after Sonko failed to appear.

His accuser and Sonkos co-accused, who owns the massage parlour where the alleged rape took place, were both present. Sonko, who was also recently sentenced to a six-month suspended prison sentence for defamation and insults against the tourism minister, denies the claims.

He says the legal cases against him are a conspiracy aimed at barring him from contesting the 2024 vote.

Senegal is traditionally a stable country in West Africa, but tensions have grown in recent years.

When Sonko was arrested in 2021, it led to several days of protests causing at least 12 deaths.

The Interior Ministry on Tuesday urged parents to prevent their children from taking part in violent demonstrations and warned that these events are liable to attacks, theft, looting, and other acts of vandalism.
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Oakland, Ca. (Special to Informed Comment; Feature)  The concept of woke culture is an existential threat to Republican office holders and party officials. Led by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and other Donald Trump wannabes, Republicans have embarked on a campaign to bury information, books and literature; illustrating their agenda to promote racism as acceptable, while also marginalizing LGBTQ people. Florida is ground zero the American Culture Wars. If DeSantis is successful in dictating public school academic curriculum in Florida, that will open the floodgates for other states to do the same. Moreover, anti-Wokeism (i.e. anti-minority hatred) will become the template at the Federal level if DeSantis or Trump prevails in the 2024 Election. DeSantis embrace of Culture Wars has encroached into the legal realm. It is happening here.

DeSantis signed the Stop Woke (Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees) Act in December 2021 allegedly to take a stand against state-sanctioned racism, which was readily passed. Thats his legal basis for banishing Advanced Placement Black History from the curriculum last January. There already is a precedent for overturning this campaign stunt in Arizona, when the legislature there similarly tried to ban teaching of Mexican-American history. AP Black History is an elective course, which requires parental permission to enroll. It is not a mandatory requirement, though DeSantis positions this as some form of indoctrinating thought control. He said, We believe in teaching kids facts and how to think, but we dont believe they should have an agenda imposed on them. When you try to use Black History to shoehorn in Queer theory, you are clearly trying to use that for political purposes.

Lets parse that: Black History and LGBTQ are two separate concepts, though four of the 100 curriculum topics in the AP program address LGBTQ issues. DeSantis is trying to bundle grievances to manufacture more white rage. Republicans dont want young people learning the truth about how racism forged, built and defined the US for most of its history. This has nothing to do with gay issues, but bundling grievances is part of the Republican manual.

Article continues after bonus IC video

Newsweek: DeSantis Signs Bill Defunding DEI Departments At Florida Universities

What is this wokeness they find so threatening? Is it the values many learned in church-synagogue-mosque teachings, or source of family spiritual-ethical teachings? The stuff about equality among the races, all men are created equal, do unto others . . . , and similarly quaint notions? Trump made all that more unpopular again, when he co-opted and escalated Ronald Reagans 1980 proclamation that, This doesnt matter anymore; and its OK to be greedy again. That was Reagans message when he began his Presidential campaign near the gravesites of the murdered Civil Rights workers, Andrew Goodman, James Chaney and Michael Schwerner. Trump took that agenda and shot it full of steroids. DeSantis is trying to elevate the madness for his own vainglorious ambition.

Banning AP Black History would set a dangerous precedent, according to Attorney Ben Crump. He argues that if they can suppress Black History in Florida, they can do it anywhere. The strategy behind this Republican battle is to fight off the federal state until they have recaptured federal power themselves. The stakes go beyond Florida, to the anti-woke politicians in Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Arizona. It is solely about DeSantis making himself more popular with the GOP base in order to win the 2024 presidential nomination. In a gross Orwellian twist, DeSantis argued that, In Florida we are taking a stand against the state-sanctioned racism that is critical race theory. So teaching about the history of racism is declared to be a form of state-sanctioned racism.

In a related strike for American Fascism, and his effort to inherit Donald Trumps political base, DeSantis has also recently made unilateral moves to overturn the popular vote and will of Florida residents, by removing Hillsborough County Prosecutor Andrew Warren, who was re-elected twice. Further, he acted against his Black 2018 gubernatorial rival, former Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, whos been subjected to malicious prosecution over manufactured campaign violations, in what appears to be a brazen abuse of process.

DeSantis mirrored the Tennessee Republican Legislatures attempt to overturn the popular vote with the Tennessee 2 by firing Hillsborough County Andrew Warren, which resulted in a Federal lawsuit to reinstate him. DeSantis unlawfully removed Warren from his position last August, claiming hed refused to enforce laws, after Warren resolved to not use his office to prosecute complaints about abortion or transgender health care; and to discourage prosecution of nonviolent misdemeanors often linked to racial disparities, such as police stopping bicyclists. DeSantis retaliated by unlawfully removing him. U.S. District Judge Robert L. Hinkle ruled in January that the governor violated both the Florida Constitution and the First Amendment in suspending Warren. But Judge Hinkle also concluded that he lacked the power to put Warren back in office, which led to the pending appeal. Warrens jurisdiction of Hillsborough County (Tampa) is a diverse urban area, in contrast to neighboring Pinellas County (St. Petersburg), which is overwhelmingly Republican and white.

DeSantis malicious prosecution of Gillum, drew public objections issued by eight jurors in Gillums case. They called out how two jurors remained on the panel despite their violations of juror protocol and legal prejudice. Those eight people made themselves vulnerable to legal consequences, in an act of courage, calling out the illegality of Gillums prosecution and trial dynamics. One objector refused to consider the evidence, and the other was not disqualified despite his public statements that showed uncceptable bias.

Gillum and his PR associate, Sharon Lettman-Hicks were prosecuted by US Attorney for Northern Florida Andrew Grogan, for allegedly diverting campaign funds for personal use, in his unsuccessful bid to unseat DeSantis in 2018. Despite the acquittal, the witch hunt of Gillum for challenging DeSantis has not abated. Prosecutors still intend to go forward with charges of criminal conspiracy and fraud. Defense Attorney David Markus characterized the trial saying, From the opening statement, our theme was that the prosecution put a target on Andrews back and played gotcha with him during an early-morning interview where they lied to and secretly recorded him. An ironic twist of fate is that Trump acolyte Alan Dershowitz has recommended against continuing the prosecution.

Dershowitz illuminated the weakness of the prosecutions case saying, The prosecution should not retry Andrew Gillum where the jury was deadlocked 10-2 in favor of acquittal. Gillum had the courage to proceed to trial. The prosecution took its best shot to convict him and lost. Not only did he beat back the false statement count, but it appears that the jury  a cross section of Northern Florida  overwhelmingly rejected the rest of the governments case. The government should not get a do-over in this situation and should accept the jurys clear message. Gillum should be allowed to resume his life, having essentially disproved the prosecutions case.

When local and state level politicians double down on the anti-Black, anti-Gay, anti-Jewish, anti-Education, anti-Union agenda; then all of the others become the majority. Then the politicians maliciously prosecuting these grievances dont even represent a plurality of voters, but hold sway for now because of the dramatic gerrymandering and voter suppression of the past 20 years, which makes a white, Christian heteronormative minority into a functional majority.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / Ximen Mining Corp. (TSX.v:XIM) (FRA:1XMA) (OTCQB:XXMMF) (the "Company" or "Ximen") announces it has acquired the Perry Creek gold property of 8 claims covering 608.7 hectares, located approximately 22 km west of Cranbrook in southeastern British Columbia.

Photo of Ximen geologist at sample site on Perry Creek claims.

We are thrilled to announce the acquisition of the Perry Creek gold property, a significant addition to Ximen's portfolio. The presence of multiple gold occurrences and the property's location within the Kimberley Gold Trend highlight its tremendous potential. We are committed to conducting thorough exploration and verification work to unlock the true value of this property and further advance our goal of discovering and developing high-grade gold deposits. Ximen is excited about the opportunities that lie ahead on the Perry Creek claims. " States Anderson CEO

The Perry Creek claims were acquired 100% from an independent vendor and are situated less than 1 km southwest of Ximen's Quartz Mountain property. There are five known mineral occurrences on the Perry Creek property, four of which are primary gold occurrences. Historical records indicate the area was originally explored in 1915 with programs of trenching and drifting on several shafts on the Homestake claim group, which covered the Columbia and Homestake occurrences. Past workings at the Columbia occurrence consisted of the Scorgie tunnel and Columbia shaft, with attendant open-cuts (BC Minfile).

At The Homestake occurrence, previous diamond drilling in 1986 identified a silicified fault system anomalous in gold for at least 200 metres with a true width of approximately 7 metres; best result yielded 1.0 metre assaying 10.3 grams per tonne gold. In 1987, a sample assayed 7.8 grams per tonne gold. A 2.7-tonne bulk sample is reported to have yielded 27.7 grams of gold or 10.3 grams per tonne gold (BC Minfile records).

At The Columbia occurrence, a 1986 rock sample from a former shaft assayed 14.0 grams per tonne gold, and in 1987, trench samples from the Columbia shaft area yielded up to 12.6 grams per tonne gold and a rock sample assayed 22.4 grams per tonne gold (BC Minfile )

Perry Creek is the site of modern and historic placer gold workings, and lies within the Kimberley Gold Trend, which covers placer gold deposits on the Wild Horse River, Perry Creek and the Moyie River. Placer operations still continue on Perry Creek. The Kimberley Gold trend is marked by the St. Mary's and Moyie faults cross-orogen faults and overlies the Vulcan basement tectonic zone which likely influenced structural development and fluid flow during Jurassic and Cretaceous folding, faulting and intrusion.

Photo showing present-day placer gold mining operation in Perry Creek valley.

Ximen plans to relocate and sample the historic workings and conduct geochemical and geophysical surveys prior to trenching and/or drilling to further test the extensive gold-bearing vein and shear zones. An initial filed examination was conducted recently.

Readers are cautioned that historical records referred to in this News Release have been examined but not verified by a Qualified Person. Further work is required to verify that historical records referred to in this News Release are accurate.

Dr. Mathew Ball, P.Geo., VP Exploration for Ximen Mining Corp. and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, approved the technical information contained in this News Release.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

"Christopher R. Anderson"

Christopher R. Anderson,

President, CEO and Director

604 488-3900

Investor Relations: Sophy Cesar, 604-488-3900, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

About Ximen Mining Corp.

Ximen Mining Corp. owns 100% interest in three of its precious metal projects located in southern BC. Ximen`s two Gold projects, The Amelia Gold Mine and The Brett Epithermal Gold Project. Ximen also owns the Treasure Mountain Silver Project adjacent to the past producing Huldra Silver Mine. Currently, the Treasure Mountain Silver Project is under an option agreement. The option partner is making annual staged cash and stocks payments as well as funding the development of the project. The company has also acquired control of the Kenville Gold mine near Nelson British Columbia which comes with surface and underground rights, buildings and equipment.

Ximen is a publicly listed company trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol XIM, in the USA under the symbol XXMMF, and in Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin Stock Exchanges in Germany under the symbol 1XMA and WKN with the number as A2JBKL.

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, including statements regarding the receipt of TSX Venture Exchange approval and the exercise of the Option by Ximen. 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 statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," "potential," "goal," "objective," "prospective," and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include the possibility that the TSX Venture Exchange may not accept the proposed transaction in a timely manner, if at all. The reader is urged to refer to the Company's reports, publicly available through the Canadian Securities Administrators' System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any state in the United States in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

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.

Ximen Mining Corp

888 Dunsmuir Street - Suite 888, Vancouver, B.C., V6C 3K4 Tel: 604-488-3900
Vancouver, BC - TheNewswire - May 15, 2023 - China Gold International Resources Corp. Ltd. (TSX:CGG) (HKEX:2099) (China Gold International Resources or the Company) is pleased to report financial and operational results for the three months ended March 31, 2023 (Q1, first quarter or first quarter of 2023). This news release should be read in conjunction with the Companys Financial Statements, Notes to the Financial Statements and Managements Discussion and Analysis (MD&A).

For detailed information, please read the Companys Financial Statements and MD&A for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 which are available on SEDARs website at www.sedar.com, The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limiteds website at www.hkex.com.hk, the Company's website at www.chinagoldintl.com, or call the Company at +1-604-609-0598 and email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

2023 FIRST QUARTER FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 Revenue decreased by 17% to US$252.8 million from US$304.0 million for the same period in 2022.

 Mine operating earnings decreased by 3% to US$102.7 million from US$105.5 million for the same period in 2022.

 Net income increased by 10% to US$78.7 million from US$71.8 million for the same period in 2022.

2023 FIRST QUARTER PRODUCTION AND OPERATION HIGHLIGHTS

Total gold production decreased by 10% to 52,827 ounces from 58,583 ounces for the same period in 2022.

Total copper production decreased by 9% to 44.1 million pounds (approximately 20,025 tonnes) from 48.3 million pounds (approximately 21,923 tonnes) for the same period in 2022.

The total production cost of gold of CSH Gold Mine decreased by 13% to US$1,339 per ounce from US$1,537 and the cash production cost of gold decreased by 26% to US$712 per ounce from US$961 for the same period in 2022.

The total production cost of copper per pound after by-products of Jiama Mine decreased by 22% to US$1.67 from US$2.13 and cash production cost of copper per pound after by-product decreased by 34% to US$0.96 from US$1.46 for the same period in 2022.

On March 27, 2023, an overflow occurred at the Guolanggou Tailings Dam at Jiama Mine. The Company quickly contained and repaired the breach to ensure no damage to the environment or neighboring communities. Subsequent to the overflow, Jiama Mine has suspended its operations while the Company takes the opportunity to conduct a comprehensive safety assessment of and repair work on its tailings dam with the assistance and supervision of government safety authorities. Due to the uncertainty of the date of resumption of production at Jiama Mine, the Company has withdrawn its annual production guidance for 2023 as set out in the announcement of the Company dated January 20, 2023. Once the impact of tailings overflow on the operation can be more clearly evaluated, the Company will re-issue its production guidance.

The Companys Chairman and CEO, Mr. Junhu Tong, stated, In the first quarter of 2023, the Company maintained a stable performance, achieved positive results in cost control and materially improved operating profit margin. The Company has been giving great attention and efforts on the overflow occurred at the tailings dam at Jiama Mine and is doing its best to conduct a comprehensive safety assessment and repair work and strive for an early resumption of production; At CSH Gold Mine, while continuing to maintain a high production level, we are vigorously advancing the development of the deeper underground resources to create additional value and extend the mine life. We will continue to operate our business with a high degree of responsibility. Thanks to our shareholders and stakeholders for their understanding and support.

About China Gold International Resources

China Gold International Resources is a gold and base metal mining company incorporated in BC, Canada and operates two mines, the CSH Gold Mine in Inner Mongolia, China and the Jiama Copper-Gold Polymetallic Mine in Tibet, China. The Companys objective is to build shareholder value through growing production at its current mining operations, expanding its resource base, and acquiring and developing new projects internationally. The Company is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: CGG) and the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (HKEX: 2099).

For further information on the Company, please refer to SEDARs website at www.sedar.com, The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limiteds website at www.hkex.com.hk, the Company's website at www.chinagoldintl.com, or call the Company at +1-604-609-0598 and email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Cautionary Note About Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information regarding China Gold International Resources contained herein may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements may include estimates, plans, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, guidance or other statements that are not statements of fact. Although China Gold International Resources believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. China Gold International Resources cautions that actual performance will be affected by a number of factors, most of which are beyond its control, and that future events and results may vary substantially from what China Gold International Resources currently foresees. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration results, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. The forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The information contained herein is stated as of the current date and subject to change after that date.




Saskatoon, Saskatchewan--(Newsfile Corp. - May 16, 2023) - 1844 RESOURCES Inc. (TSXV: EFF) (the "Company" or "1844") is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Larry Hulbert, D.Sc., P.Geo and Mr. Louis-David Gauthier to the advisory board.

Dr. Hulbert has over 40 years of experience in the metallogeny of mafic-ultramafic rocks and is an internationally recognized expert in platinum-group elements and nickel-copper sulphides. Additionally, Dr. Hulbert worked directly on the HawkRidge project from 2012 through 2014. Dr. Hulbert accomplishments and University degrees are so numerous, that we invite you to access the full detail on his website www.ultra-mafic.com.

Mr. Louis-David Gauthier is the founder of Invercio Inc., a multimedia and social media company focusing mainly on mineral and mining exploration. Mr. Gauthier has worked in the financial sector as a consultant in operations and risk management for a period of thirteen years.

Sylvain Laberge, President and CEO of 1844 states "We are pleased to have Dr. Hulbert and Mr. Gauthier join the 1844 team. Dr. Hulbert experience with the HawkRidge property specifically and the rock types in the area more generally, makes him uniquely qualified to help with our development of what will be our new flagship property in northern Quebec. Mr. Gauthier's experience with marketing and social media will go a long way in helping the company properly communicate with the market and will help greatly in communicating the results of our exploration and development activities".

1844 also announces the grant of 200,000 stock options, pursuant to the Company's stock option plan, to certain consultants and advisors. The options are exercisable at $0.05 per share and, if not exercised, expire May 16, 2028, subject to earlier expiration in accordance with the stock option plan and applicable policies of the TSX Venture Exchange.

About 1844 Resources Inc.

1844 is an exploration company with a focus in strategic and energetic metals and underexplored regions "Gaspe, Chibougamau Quebec". With a dedicated management team, the Company's goal is to create shareholder value through the discovery of new deposits.

1844 RESOURCES INC.

(signed) "Sylvain Laberge"

Sylvain Laberge

President and CEO

514.702.9841

Slaberge@1844 resources.com

FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION

Some of the statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as "expects", "intends", "is expected", "potential", "suggests" or variations of such words or phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements and information are not historical facts and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties beyond the Company's control. Actual results and developments are likely to differ, and may differ materially, from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 16 2023 / Core Assets Corp., ("Core Assets" or the "Company") (CSE:CC) (FSE:5RJ) (OTCQB:CCOOF) is pleased to summarize work completed during the 2022 exploration program at the Laverdiere Skarn-Porphyry Project (the "Laverdiere Project" or "Laverdiere"), at the Blue Property (the " Blue Property") located in the Atlin Mining District of NW British Columbia.

Prospecting and surface sampling at Laverdiere in 2022 extended the trend of exposed Cu-porphyry mineralization along Hoboe Creek (Lewellyn Fault Zone/LFZ) to 3.9KM south of the North Adit (Figure 1). Historic and high-grade, Cu-(Mo-Au)-bearing porphyry-style veins were also located in 2022 and graded up to 3.24% Cu, 0.30% Mo, 82g/t Ag, and 0.56g/t Au. These vein sets trend east-west and reside within a large resistive zone coinciding with the extents of the Laverdiere Porphyry. Historically, veining near this location graded up to 2.73% Cu and veins can currently be observed at surface, following the orientations of prominent faults, for up to 2.2KM west-southwest of the South Adit (Figure 1).

Additionally, 14 rock samples were collected along the 850m stretch of high-grade Fe-Cu-Au-Mo skarn mineralization in 2022 (2022 drilling area; Figure 1). Eight of these samples produced grades higher than 1.0% Cu. One rock sample, collected immediately southeast of the South Adit in 2022 returned 4.3% Cu, 31g/t Ag, 0.63% Mo, and 0.13g/t Au.

Core Assets' President & CEO Nick Rodway commented, "High-grade historic copper mineralization at the Laverdiere Project is what initially peaked the Company's interest in the southwest Atlin Lake area in 2018, and eventually led to the discovery of the Grizzly CRD Target in 2021. The Laverdiere Project continues to showcase its value in terms of the Cu-rich porphyry-skarn mineralization that dominates there. We plan to properly document and sample the impressive porphyry-style Cu-Mo-Au-bearing veins exposed at surface during the 2023 season in preparation for future exploratory drilling.

The focus of the 2023 exploration program will be at the Silver Lime CRD-Porphyry Project. We look forward to releasing a summary of the 2022 work completed there and outlining our plans for the 2023 season in the coming weeks."

A total of 1,806 metres of diamond drilling was completed at the Laverdiere Skarn-Porphyry Project in 2022. First-pass diamond drilling intersected significant near surface, high-grade Fe-Cu-Au-Mo skarn mineralization associated with a potassically altered porphyry intrusion containing widespread porphyry Cu-Mo-Au mineralization and veining (Figure 1; Tables 1-2).

Laverdiere Skarn-Porphyry Project 2022 Diamond Drilling Highlights

LAV22-001 - 48.54m of 0.90% Cu, 6g/t Ag, and 0.11g/t Ag from 31.46m, including 0.60m of 5% Cu, 33g/t Ag, and 0.36 g/t Au from 42.15m depth.

LAV22-001 - 1.51m of 4.59g/t Au from 163.49m depth in the Llewellyn Fault Zone (LFZ)

LAV22-002 - 223m of 0.11% Cu, 2g/t Ag, and 0.006% Mo from 15.00m depth, including 24.42m of 0.32% Cu.

LAV22-006 - 348.65m of 0.010 % Mo from 3.35m depth, including 183m of 0.018% Mo, 11m of 0.092% Mo, 0.13% Cu, and 5g/t Ag, and 5.5m of 0.11% Mo.

LAV22-006 - 107.38m of 0.11% Cu, 0.023% Mo, 0.9g/t Ag, and 0.02g/t Au from 144.62m depth, including 41m of 0.27% Cu, 0.037% Mo, and 2g/t Ag, and 0.05g/t Au, and 0.9m of 5.08% Cu, 23g/t Ag, and 1.25g/t Au from 166.64m depth.

The 2023 Exploration Program at the Laverdiere Skarn-Porphyry Project will focus on detailed geological and structural mapping and project-scale geochemical sampling.

Figure 1: 2022 diamond drill hole location map at the Laverdiere Skarn-Porphyry Project showing surficial sampling progress (Cu %) and downhole Mo % drill assay highlights plotted on TauSf geophysics (Conductivity increasing - hot colours; Resistivity increasing- cold colours).

Figure 2: Photographs of exposed target mineralization styles sampled in 2022 at the Laverdiere Skarn-Porphyry Project. (Left) Photographs of Fe-Cu-Mo-Au skarn with prominent CuOx staining (after chalcopyrite and bornite); (Right) Cu-Mo veining and coarse-grained mineralization hosted in the Laverdiere Porphyry.

Table 1: 2022 Assay Highlights from the Laverdiere Skarn-Porphyry Project DDH From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au g/t Ag g/t Cu % Mo % LAV22-001 0.95 268.00 267.05 0.04 1 0.17 LAV22-001 0.95 96.00 95.05 0.06 3 0.47 Including 31.46 80.00 48.54 0.11 6 0.90 42.15 42.75 0.60 0.36 33 5.01 and 78.00 78.70 0.70 0.25 13 2.24 LAV22-001 163.49 165.00 1.51 4.59 0.4 - DDH From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au g/t Ag g/t Cu % Mo % LAV22-002 2.98 402.30 399.32 0.03 1 0.07 0.003 LAV22-002 15.00 238.00 223.00 0.05 2 0.11 0.006 LAV22-002 20.35 21.85 1.50 0.34 22 1.08 0.007 Including 20.35 20.92 0.57 0.20 53 2.74 0.000 LAV22-002 63.67 110.00 46.33 - 0.8 0.08 0.022 Including 64.74 65.82 1.08 - 0.3 - 0.100 82.53 83.32 0.79 0.02 0.3 - 0.316 and 84.85 86.68 1.83 - 0.5 - 0.103 LAV22-002 102.00 110.00 8.00 0.05 3 0.43 - Including 102.00 106.00 4.00 0.09 5 0.80 - and 104.00 106.00 2.00 0.30 19 3.01 - LAV22-002 159.00 238.00 79.00 0.10 3 0.16 0.002 Including 159.00 177.24 18.24 0.16 3 0.19 0.001 159.00 159.70 0.70 1.15 11 0.68 - 173.00 227.00 54.00 0.12 3 0.19 0.002 173.00 175.00 2.00 1.66 11 0.75 0.020 207.23 231.65 24.42 0.16 4 0.32 0.005 207.23 222.00 14.77 0.25 6 0.41 0.003 207.23 209.00 1.77 2.05 24 1.13 0.001 221.00 222.00 1.00 0.21 5 1.07 - 224.00 227.00 3.00 0.04 2 0.40 0.011 224.00 225.50 1.50 0.09 6 0.92 0.029 and 225.50 229.17 3.67 0.04 2 0.39 0.020 LAV22-002 297.50 300.16 2.66 0.13 2 0.14 - Including 297.50 298.10 0.60 0.55 5 0.26 - DDH From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au g/t Ag g/t Cu % Mo % LAV22-003 4.51 35.00 30.49 0.03 2 0.12 0.009 LAV22-003 53.23 62.00 8.77 - 1 0.10 0.006 LAV22-003 104.70 105.35 0.65 0.09 7 0.90 0.005 DDH From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au g/t Ag g/t Cu % Mo % LAV22-004 169.73 172.00 2.27 0.23 4 0.24 0.001 LAV22-004 222.00 229.66 7.66 0.07 3 0.18 0.014 Including 227.20 229.66 2.46 0.21 7 0.37 0.022 DDH From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au g/t Ag g/t Cu % Mo % LAV22-005 0.00 175.00 175.00 0.02 0.5 0.06 0.008 LAV22-005 6.90 90.12 83.22 0.03 0.8 0.12 0.016 Including 6.90 15.36 8.46 0.09 3 0.63 0.001 and 6.90 8.29 1.39 0.25 10 1.98 0.002 LAV22-005 12.00 90.12 78.12 0.03 0.7 0.10 0.018 Including 12.00 15.36 3.36 0.15 5 0.98 0.001 14.00 15.36 1.36 0.16 5 1.24 0.001 59.04 90.12 31.08 - 0.3 0.03 0.042 50.34 57.00 6.66 0.09 2 0.34 0.001 69.00 75.20 6.20 - 0.3 - 0.105 70.00 72.00 2.00 - 0.5 - 0.216 and 86.00 88.00 2.00 - 0.5 - 0.255 DDH From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au g/t Ag g/t Cu % Mo % LAV22-006 3.35 352.00 348.65 - 0.5 0.06 0.010 LAV22-006 69.00 252.00 183.00 0.02 0.9 0.09 0.018 Including 69.00 73.00 4.00 - 0.9 0.05 0.105 144.62 252.00 107.38 0.02 0.9 0.11 0.023 152.00 193.00 41.00 0.05 2 0.27 0.037 166.64 193.00 26.36 0.06 2 0.34 0.049 166.64 167.54 0.90 1.25 23 5.08 - 170.02 193.00 22.98 - 2 0.16 0.056 170.02 170.92 0.90 0.06 7 1.87 - 177.00 193.00 16.00 - 2 0.09 0.072 177.00 188.00 11.00 - 2 0.13 0.092 177.00 178.00 1.00 - 0.1 - 0.301 184.00 188.00 4.00 0.02 3.2 0.21 0.146 186.61 188.00 1.39 - 5 0.33 0.211 191.80 193.00 1.20 - 0.2 - 0.108 246.50 252.00 5.50 - 0.3 - 0.110 and 251.04 252.00 0.96 - 0.8 0.03 0.425

Assay results are presented as uncut weighted averages and assume 100% metal recovery. Interval widths represent drilled HQ core lengths and true width is unknown currently. * indicates drill hole assay results were previously released.

Table 2: 2022 Diamond Drilling Data - Laverdiere Skarn-Porphyry Project DDH Target Easting (m) Northing (m) Elevation (m) Azimuth Dip DDH Depth LAV22-001 Laverdiere 550182 6565256 728 90 -80 268 LAV22-002 Laverdiere 550181 6565253 728 210 -50 402.3 LAV22-003 Laverdiere 550296 6565057 717 210 -45 300 LAV22-004 Laverdiere 550296 6565061 717 270 -60 309 LAV22-005 Laverdiere 550295 6565061 717 270 -45 175 LAV22-006 Laverdiere 550149 6565726 705 210 -50 352

About the Laverdiere Skarn-Porphyry Project

1,806 metres of exploratory HQ-sized diamond drilling has been completed at the Laverdiere Project in June. 2022 drilling successfully confirmed and extended high-grade Fe-Cu-Au-Mo skarn, Cu-Mo endoskarn, and associated Cu-Au-Mo porphyry style mineralization for 850 metres along the western flank of Hoboe Creek, between the historic North and South Adits, and remains open at depth.

The Laverdiere Project is located proximal to the Llewellyn Fault Zone, coincident with Hoboe Creek in the eastern Blue Property. Laverdiere is characterized as a fine-to-coarse grained and locally massive Fe-Cu-Au rich skarn (magnetite and/or magnetite-chalcopyrite-dominantbornite-tetrahedrite-molybdenite-pyrite-pyrrhotite) hosted in dolomitic limestone and marble of the Devonian Boundary Ranges Metamorphic Suite. Along the western side of Hoboe Creek, dolomitic limestone is overlain by thin-bedded calcareous siltstone, quartzite, and schist - all of which are locally folded, dip moderately to the west, and are intruded by an Early Cretaceous post-accretionary granodiorite intrusion of batholith size (Coast Plutonic Complex). The granodiorite is locally foliated, Cu-(Au-Mo)-bearing, and exhibits potassic alteration in the form of secondary K-feldspar and shreddy biotite after hornblende along the Fe-Cu-Au skarn contact.

The highest-grade skarn occurrences observed at Laverdiere are hosted in dolomitic limestone, near the siltstone contact and along the margins of the granodiorite intrusion. Disseminated and quartz-vein/fracture-hosted chalcopyrite, molybdenite, magnetite, and malachite have been observed in granodiorite outcropping along the Lewellyn Fault Zone (LFZ/Hoboe Creek) for up to 3.9km south from the main skarn body.

Sampling Protocol, Quality Assurance & Quality Control

All recovered drill core was transported by helicopter to the core logging facility in Atlin, BC for processing. Down hole surveys were conducted on all drill holes upon termination, using a Reflex Gyro Sprint downhole survey tool equipped with an azimuth positioning capability. Drill core typically was sampled over two-meter intervals and occasionally reduced in areas of higher visual sulphide mineralization. Core samples were cut in half with an electric core saw, bagged, labelled, sealed, and submitted to ALS Minerals preparation facility in Whitehorse, YT with the remaining core stored in Atlin, BC. Half core samples were finely crushed and pulverized to <75 microns. Samples were then shipped to ALS Geochemistry in North Vancouver, BC where they were analysed for gold by fire assay with an AA finish, over limits for Ag, Pb Cu and Zn and additional elements were analysed using four acid digestion with an ICP-AES or ICP-MS finish.

Blank rock (siliceous river rock), duplicate, and certified reference materials were inserted into the sample stream for at least every 20 half core samples. Certified reference materials were acquired from OREAS North America Inc. of Sudbury, Ontario and CDN Resource Laboratories Ltd. of Langley, British Columbia for the 2022 diamond drill campaign.

National Instrument 43-101 Disclosure

Nicholas Rodway, P.Geo, (Licence# 46541) (Permit to Practice# 100359) is President, CEO and Director of the Company, and qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101- Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Rodway has reviewed and approved the technical content in this release.

About Core Assets Corp.

Core Assets Corp. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition and development of mineral projects in British Columbia, Canada. The Company currently holds 100% ownership in the Blue Property, which covers a land area of114,074 hectares (~1,140 km). The project lies within the Atlin Mining District, a well-known gold mining camp located in the unceded territory of the Taku River Tlingit First Nation and the Carcross/Tagish First Nation. The Blue Property hosts a major structural feature known as The Llewellyn Fault Zone ("LFZ"). This structure is approximately 140km in length and runs from the Tally-Ho Shear Zone in the Yukon, south through the Blue Property to the Alaskan Panhandle Juneau Ice Sheet in the United States. Core Assets believes that the south Atlin Lake area and the LFZ has been neglected since the last major exploration campaigns in the 1980's. The LFZ plays an important role in mineralization of near surface metal occurrences across the Blue Property. The past 50 years have seen substantial advancements in the understanding of porphyry, skarn, and carbonate replacement type deposits both globally and in British Columbia's Golden Triangle. The Company has leveraged this information at the Blue Property to tailor an already proven exploration model and believes this could facilitate a major discovery. Core Assets is excited to become one of Atlin Mining District's premier explorers where its team believes there are substantial opportunities for new discoveries and development in the area.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

CORE ASSETS CORP."Nicholas Rodway"

President & CEO

Tel: 604.681.1568

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements in this document which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions regarding the future. Forward looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, expectations regarding the pending core assays, including speculative inferences about potential copper, molybdenum, gold, silver, zinc, and lead grades based on preliminary visual observations from results of diamond drilling at the Silver Lime Project and the Laverdiere Project, as applicable; the Company's plans to further investigate the geometry and extent of the skarn and carbonate replacement type mineralization continuum at the Silver Lime Project through additional field work and diamond drilling and any planned or proposed program related thereto; and any other general statement regarding the Company's planned or future exploration efforts at the Blue Property. It is important to note that the Company's actual business outcomes and exploration results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties include that expectations regarding pending core assays based on preliminary visual observations from diamond drilling results at the Silver Lime Project and the Laverdiere Project, as applicable, may be found to be inaccurate; that results may indicate further exploration efforts at the Silver Lime Project and the Laverdiere Project, as applicable, as not warranted; that the Company may be unable to implement its plans to further explore at the Silver Lime Project and the Laverdiere Project, as applicable; that certain exploration methods, including the Company's proposed exploration model for the Blue Property, may be ineffective or inadequate in the circumstances; that economic, competitive, governmental, geopolitical, environmental and technological factors may affect the Company's operations, markets, products and prices; our specific plans and timing drilling, field work and other plans may change; that the Company may not have access to or be able to develop any minerals because of cost factors, type of terrain, or availability of equipment and technology; and we may also not raise sufficient funds to carry out or complete our plans. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, labour shortages, inflationary pressures, rising interest rates, the global financial climate and the conflict in Ukraine and surrounding regions are some additional factors that are affecting current economic conditions and increasing economic uncertainty, which may impact the Company's operating performance, financial position, and future prospects. Collectively, the potential impacts of this economic environment pose risks that are currently indescribable and immeasurable. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. Readers 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. Additional risk factors are discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis for its recently completed fiscal period, which is available under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Except as required by law, the Company will not update or revise these forward-looking statements after the date of this document or to revise them to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events.
BROOMFIELD, Colo.Adult products distributor Eldorado Trading Company is celebrating Laurie Fehlers 45th anniversary with the company.

A Colorado native, Fehler first joined Eldorado in May 1978 when she was one of the first 18 Eldorado employees in the firms original Boulder location. She was hired as a receptionist and invoicing clerk, though she has worn many hats over many years. Throughout her tenure, she has helped with all administrative office functions, bookkeeping, information technologies and human resources. Fehler, who has worked as Eldorados Human Resource Manager for the last nine years, has even assisted the warehouse.

Eldorado CEO Wanda Garland remembered those early years fondly, saying, Ive known Laurie since my twenties. Lauries commitment to do whatever is required to get the job done has been integral to Eldorados success over the years. She has navigated Eldorados growth and industry changes. Her loyalty and steadfastness to Eldorado has been much appreciated and has been a great asset.

While Fehler looks forward to retirement someday, she believes there is much for her to accomplish before then. She explains, My time with Eldorado has provided tremendous opportunities for personal and professional growth. Its been an incredible journey, with both triumphs and challenges, and lots of amusing stories. I appreciate all the good people Ive had the chance to meet at Eldorado and within the industry. I look forward to what the future holds.

Eldorado celebrated Fehlers anniversary with a commemorative plaque and cupcakes for the entire Eldorado team. She continues to work at the companys headquarters in Broomfield, Colorado.

For more information, visit eldorado.net or call (800) 525-0848.

Pictured: Wanda Garland, left, and Laurie Fehler.
VANCOUVER, BC, May 16, 2023 /CNW/ - Nova Royalty Corp. ("Nova" or the "Company") announces today that Alex Tsukernik, Chief Executive Officer ("CEO"), has left the organization effective immediately. As a result, the Company's Chief Financial Officer ("CFO") Hashim Ahmed has been appointed Interim CEO, and Bill Tsang has been appointed Interim CFO.

Brett Heath, Chairman of Nova, commented, "On behalf of the Board of Directors and management, I would like to thank Alex for his services and contributions to Nova for the last half decade and wish him all the best in his future endeavours."

Further to the previous news release dated May 10, 2023, the Company expects its first quarter 2023 financial results will be released on May 18, 2023. The Company will not hold its previously scheduled corporate update conference call.

About Nova

Nova is a royalty company focused on providing investors with exposure to the key building blocks of clean energy  copper and nickel. Nova has assembled a portfolio of royalties on a significant proportion of the next generation of major copper projects located in 1st-tier jurisdictions, providing investors exposure to some of the most critical resource assets for the clean energy transition. These projects are being advanced by the world's premier mining companies, which include First Quantum, Lundin, Hudbay, Anglo American and Glencore, among others. The Company is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia and is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol "NOVR" and on the US OTCQB under the trading symbol "NOVRF".

ON BEHALF OF NOVA ROYALTY CORP.,

(signed) "Hashim Ahmed"

Interim 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.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively, "forward looking statements"). The forward-looking statements herein are made as of the date of this press release only, and the Company 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. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budgets", "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 include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the search for a permanent CEO and the timing thereof, and the return of Mr. Hashim Ahmed to the position of CFO and the timing thereof. Forward-looking statements are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the ability of Nova to control or predict, that may cause Nova's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied thereby, and are developed based on assumptions about such risks, uncertainties and other factors set out herein, including, but not limited to, the risk factors set out under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual information form dated March 23, 2023 and other filings available for review on the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. Such forward-looking information represents management's best judgment based on information currently available. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
Vancouver, BC - TheNewswire - May 16, 2023 - Arctic Fox Lithium Corp. (CSE:AFX) (FSE:7N4) (the Company) is pleased to announce that it has arranged a non-brokered private placement of up to 7,500,000 flow-through units (FT Units) at a price of $0.18 and up to 10,000,000 non-flow-through units (NFT Units) at a price of $0.15 to raise gross proceeds of up to $1,350,000 and $1,500,000 respectively.

The FT Units will be composed of one common share in the capital of the Company and one-half of one non-transferable share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one additional common share in the capital of the Company for a period of 24 months from the closing date at an exercise price of $0.25. Proceeds from the exercise of the common share purchase warrants comprising part of the FT Units will not be eligible for flow-through expenditures. The Company will seek from the Canadian Ministry of Natural Resources certification for flow-through eligibility and intends to use the gross proceeds from the sale of the flow-through shares to incur exploration expenses that are eligible Canadian exploration expenses (as such term is defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada)) on the Companys portfolio of lithium projects in the James Bay region of Quebec, which will also qualify for the Canadian governments critical minerals exploration tax credit.

The NFT Units will be composed of one common share in the capital of the Company and one non-transferable share purchase warrant. Each warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one additional common share in the capital of the Company for a period of 24 months from the closing date at an exercise price of $0.25. The Company intends to use the proceeds from this portion of the private placement to make option payments on its various mineral projects and for general working capital.

All securities issued from both the FT Units and NFT Units will be subject to a four-month and one day hold period from the closing date. The Company may pay finders fees in connection with the issuance of the FT Units and the NFT Units.

About Arctic Fox Lithium Corp.

Arctic Fox Lithium Corp. is a junior mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition and development of mineral properties containing battery, base and precious metals.

The Companys Kana Lake Lithium project is located north of the Fliszar Lithium showing in the James Bay region of Quebec. During a summer/fall 2022 survey program conducted by the Quebec Ministere de lEnergie et des Ressources Naturelles (MERN) their geologists identified this area as a new lithium prospective zone that is characterized by the presence of numerous E-W trending pegmatitic granite dykes. The presence of garnet and muscovite in these rocks indicates a hyperaluminous composition, suitable for the development of lithium mineralization. These pegmatites are consistent with the Fliszar Lithium showing to the south of the property which three grab samples rich in lepidolite, returned up to 1.83% LiO2, 0.34% Cs, 1.11% Rb, 126 ppm Nb, 374 ppm Ta and 0.3% B*.

The Companys 2,756-hectare Pontax North Lithium Project (Pontax North) is located 12 km south of Allkem Ltd. (ASX/TSX:ALLKEM) (Allkem) James Bay Lithium Project and 12 km north of Stria Lithium Inc.s (CSE:SRA) Pontax Lithium Project, located in northern Quebec, approximately 130 km east of James Bay and the Cree Nations Eastmain community.

The northern portion of Pontax North contains a lithium prospective zone in a similar geological environment to Allkems project. According to the Quebec Ministere de lEnergie et des Ressources Naturelles (MERN) this zone is characterized by the abundance of S-type pegmatitic granite intrusions, a lithology known for its Be, Li, Nb, and Ta potential. Beryl (a beryllium silicate mineral) is reported in several outcrops within this zone. The Property is known to contain a 10 km long pegmatite trend as mapped by MERN. This trend appears to be underexplored, despite its recognized lithium potential. Swarms of lithium-bearing granitic dykes are present 12 km north of the Property at Allkems Cyr showing and at Stria Lithiums Pontax showing 12 km to the south.

Allkem is proposing to develop a lithium mine at their James Bay Lithium Project, located adjacent to the Billy Diamond Highway which provides access to key infrastructure in the region. The 2021 Feasibility Study and Maiden Ore Reserve (FS) details a 321 ktpa spodumene operation utilizing conventional open pit mining. Allkems spodumene expertise from the success of its Mt. Cattlin operations in Western Australia has been applied to the design and development of the James Bay Project. The FS suggests that James Bay Project will be the most competitive operation in the region with the lowest capital and operating costs. Shallow, high-grade mineralization with favourable infrastructure also supports the low-cost operation. Allkem has published a mineral resource estimate of 40.3 Mt @1.40% Li2O (FS summary here) and mineralization is still open.

Stria launched its first full drilling program at its Pontax project in 2017, completing seven holes for a total of 911.4 m. All seven holes intersected spodumene - bearing pegmatite dykes grading from 0.65% Li2O to 2.49% Li2O over a minimum of 1.0 m (Stria Lithium web site). The best intercept was 21.39m grading 1.16% Li2O in drill hole 975-17-0142.

References to adjacent properties:

12 km North: Allkem Ltd. James Bay Lithium:

The technical report entitled NI 43-101 Technical Report Feasibility Study James Bay Lithium Project Quebec, Canada prepared by G Mining Services and dated January 11, 2022.

12 km South: Stria Lithium Inc. (Pontax Lithium Project): https://strialithium.com/exploration/pontax-project/

The Companys 1,056 hectare Delta Lake Lithium project (Delta Lake) is located 55 km southeast of Allkems James Bay Lithium Project and 20 km north of Critical Elements Lithium Corp. (TSXV: CRE) (CEL) Rose Lithium Project.

The geological environment in the northwestern portion of Delta Lake is similar to that hosting Allkems lithium mineralization. According to the Quebec Ministere de lEnergie et des Ressources Naturelles (MERN) this zone is characterized by the abundance of S-type pegmatitic granite intrusions, a lithology known for its Be, Li, Nb, and Ta potential. Beryl (a beryllium silicate mineral) is reported in several outcrops within this zone.

Allkem (55 km northwest) is proposing to develop a lithium mine at their James Bay Lithium Project, located adjacent to the Billy Diamond Highway which provides access to key infrastructure in the region. The 2021 Feasibility Study and Maiden Ore Reserve (FS) details a 321,000 tonne per year operation utilizing conventional open pit mining. Allkems spodumene expertise from the success of its Mt. Cattlin operations in Western Australia has been applied to the design and development of the James Bay Project. The FS suggests that James Bay Project will be the most competitive operation in the region with low capital and operating costs. Shallow, high-grade mineralization with favourable infrastructure also supports the low-cost operation. Allkem has published a mineral resource estimate of 40.3 Mt @1.40% Li2O (FS summary here) and mineralization is still open.

CELs Rose Lithium-Tantalum mine (20 km south) is anticipated to start production in approximately 21 months. The mine will excavate a total of 26.3M tonnes ore grading an average of 0.87% Li2O and 138 ppm Ta2O5 after dilution. The mill will process 1.61M tonnes of ore per year to produce an annual average of 224,686 tonnes of technical and chemical grade spodumene concentrates and 441 tonnes of tantalite concentrate. The ore is contained in several parallel and continuous shallow dipping pegmatite dykes outcropping on surface. The ore zones are open at depth and a future underground operation is possible. Over the life of mine, the open pit will excavate a total of 182.4M tonnes of waste rock and 10.9 M tonnes of overburden. The average strip ratio is 7.3 tonnes of waste per tonne of ore. (CEL website).

References to adjacent properties:

55 km Northwest: Allkem Ltd. James Bay Lithium:

The technical report entitled NI 43-101 Technical Report Feasibility Study James Bay Lithium Project Quebec, Canada prepared by G Mining Services and dated January 11, 2022.

20 km South: Critical Elements Lithium Corp. Rose Lithium-Tantalum:

The technical report entitled Rose Lithium-Tantalum Project Feasibility Study NI 43-101 Technical Report prepared by WSP Canada Inc. and dated July 26, 2022.

* This news release contains information about adjacent properties on which Arctic Fox has no right to explore or mine. Readers are cautioned that mineral deposits on adjacent properties are not indicative of mineral deposits on the Companys properties.

For further information, please contact:

Harry Chew, President, CEO

Phone: (604) 689-2646

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Harry Chew

Harry Chew

President & CEO

Arctic Fox Lithium Corp.

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 press release.

The technical information contained within this News Release has been reviewed and approved by Gerald G. Carlson, Ph.D., P.Eng., Director of Arctic Fox and Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Forward-Looking Information

This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address any activities and events or developments that Arctic Fox Lithium Corp. ("Arctic Fox") expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Although Arctic Fox believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of closing of the private placements and actual results or developments may differ materially from those forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the closing of the private placement described in this press release, anticipated use of proceeds, and availability of certain tax treatment in connection with the FT units issued as part of that private placement; and the future potential of and the exploration on the properties described in this press release. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include: uncertainty with respect to the results of future exploration and the ability to conduct any exploration activities on the properties described in this press release; unexpected spending requirements of the Company and managements discretion in utilizing the proceeds raised from the Companys private placements; changes to the Canadian taxation regime and any tax treatment described in this press release; market prices; disruptions relating to the COVID-19 pandemic; and continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. These statements are based on a number of assumptions including, among other things: assumptions regarding general business and economic conditions; the availability of certain tax treatment under the Canadian taxation regime; and the Company having sufficient resources to be able to conduct anticipated exploration activities. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Arctic Fox does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
VANCOUVER, BC, May 15, 2023 /CNW/ - Quimbaya Gold Inc. (CSE: QIM) ("Quimbaya") is pleased to announce that it has entered a letter of intent (the "LOI") with Remandes Corporation S.A. ("Remandes") whereby Quimbaya will acquire all the issued and outstanding shares (the "Shares") of Explogold Ingenieria y Consultoria S.A.S., Minera Buey Aures S.A.S. and Soluciones Ambientales Del Nordeste S.A.S. (collectively, the "Companies") by way of share purchase agreement or other structure as otherwise determined by Quimbaya (the "Transaction"). The Companies are 100% owners of two projects, the Tahami and the Maitamac projects, both located in Antioquia Department of Colombia, and are well established mining camps in a promising region for new gold discoveries.

The Properties' Highlights

The Tahami Project is located 158 kilometers northeast of Medellin in the Segovia-Remedios mining district of Antioquia, in the most prolific gold region of Colombia which hosts several multi-million-ounce high-grade gold operations such as the Segovia mines that has been producing gold for more than 150 years. The Tahami Project consists of two titles covering approximately 622 Ha, located approximately 25 kilometers northeast of the producing Segovia gold mines (owned by Aris Mining) and 8 mining applications covering approximately 3,605 Ha. The property is easily accessible and hosts multiple gold occurrences defined by artisanal adits located near a regional scale structure known as the El Bagre fault. Gold and silver mineralization occurs in steeply dipping quartz-sulfide sheeted veins hosted by granodiorite of the Segovia Batholith. The property has never been drilled and shows excellent potential to uncover high grade gold and silver mineralization.

The Maitamac Project is located 45 km southwest of Medellin in the Abejorral and Sonson municipalities known for gold and silver artisanal mining towns. The property consists of 6 mining applications covering approximately 26,102 Ha and easily accessible. The property is mostly covered by the Cajamarca geological Complex hosting several gold occurrences and high-grade gold mines. Quartz-Sericite-Graphitic Schist as the preferred host rocks for gold were recently found on the property. Inside the project, many dredging artisanal mines were noted in several creeks. The source of the alluvial gold has never been found. Colombian Geological Services depicts Abejorral and Argelia-Sonson region as a Gold Metallogenic District with several gold showings undiscovered yet. The property has been the subject of very little exploration work in the past and requires a systematic exploration program.

Alexandre P. Boivin, CEO commented "I am very excited about this acquisition that will significantly strengthen our gold and silver property portfolio. We are standing on solid ground and entering into the world class mining region of Segovia with promising titles, with significant upside exploration potential at Abejorral".

Francois Goulet, M.Sc., P.Geo, a "qualified person" as defined by NI 43-101 has reviewed the news release and assumes responsibility for scientific and technical disclosure contained herein.

Terms of the Transaction

It is contemplated that the Transaction will be structured as a share purchase agreement among Quimbaya, Remandes and the Companies, or other structure as determined by Quimbaya. It is intended that the purchase price payable by Quimbaya for all of the issued and outstanding Shares (the "Purchase Price") shall be satisfied by: (i) the payment by Quimbaya to Remandes of a deposit in the amount of $100,000 (the "Deposit") to be used by Remandes in accordance with an approved budget mutually agreed upon by the parties; and (ii) the issuance of 10,000,000 shares in the share capital of Quimbaya to Remandes (the "Consideration Shares"). The Deposit will be returned to Quimbaya in the event the LOI is terminated, and if the Transaction is completed, the Deposit will be credited against the Purchase Price due on closing. The Consideration Shares will be subject to a 24 month contractual escrow arrangement, in addition to any escrow requirements required under applicable securities laws and stock exchange rules. 

Pursuant to the LOI, the parties agreed to an exclusivity period of 120 days on the signing of the LOI whereby Remandes will negotiate exclusively with Quimbaya and in good faith in an effort to execute the definitive agreement and complete the Transaction.

The completion of the Transaction is subject to the satisfaction of various conditions as are standard for a transaction of this nature, including but not limited to (i) the negotiation and execution of a definitive agreement; (ii) completion of satisfactory due diligence investigations of Remandes and the Companies; and (iii) receipt of all applicable regulatory, shareholder and third party approvals.

The Transaction would constitute a "related party transaction" under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") as Alexandre P. Boivin, President and CEO of Quimbaya, is a control person of Remandes. The completion of the Transaction will require simple majority approval of Quimbaya's minority shareholders.

Convertible Loan Agreement

Quimbaya also announces that it has entered into a convertible loan agreement (the "Loan Agreement") with Jean-Luc Peyrot (the "Lender") in the aggregate amount of $280,000 (the "Loan"). Pursuant to the Loan Agreement, the Lender has agreed to advance to Quimbaya $135,000 (the "First Advance") within five business days following the execution of the LOI in connection with the Transaction, with an additional $145,000 (the "Second Advance") to be advanced upon execution of a definitive agreement in connection with the Transaction. The Loan is payable in full within 24 months from the date of the First Advance (the "Maturity Date"), and accrues interest at an annual rate equal to 10% from the date of each advance compounded annually. 

The Loan Agreement provides for Quimbaya to issue: (a) 39,000 bonus warrants to the Lender within five business days following the date of the First Advance; and (b) 45,000 bonus warrants to the Lender within five business days following the date of the Second Advance (collectively, the "Bonus Warrants"). The Bonus Warrants are exercisable into common shares of Quimbaya at a price of $0.60 for a period of 24 months from the date the issuance. 

In accordance with the terms of the Loan Agreement, on a monthly basis prior to the Maturity Date, the Lender may convert all, or a portion of, the outstanding principal amount of the Loan and any accrued but unpaid interest thereon, from time to time, into common shares of Quimbaya at $0.50 per common share by giving written notice to Quimbaya no later than five business days prior to the end of each month.

All securities issued in connection with the Loan will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and a day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable securities law. Quimbaya intends to use the Loan for expenses in connection with the Transaction, including costs relating to due diligence investigations and payment of the Deposit to Remandes.

The Lender, Jean-Luc Peyrot, is a director and shareholder of Quimbaya and the Loan Agreement is a "related party transaction" under MI 61-101. The directors (other than Jean-Luc Peyrot) have determined that the transactions proposed by such Loan Agreement will be exempt from the formal valuation requirements of MI 61-101 as Quimbaya is not listed on the markets specified in section 5.5(b) of MI 61-101, and the minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101, as the fair market value of the Loan does not exceed $2,500,000. 

About Quimbaya

Quimbaya aims to consolidate gold reserves through exploration and acquisition of mining properties in Antioquia, Colombia. Managed by an experienced team in mining sector, Quimbaya is focused on its Berrio Project in Antioquia, in which the company owns over 1218 hectares of prospective high-grade gold lands. Antioquia is among the most prolific areas for gold in Colombia.

Cautionary Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking information" as that term is defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking information. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information in relation to: the LOI, the definitive agreement, the Transaction and the potential completion of the Transaction, including Quimbaya's potential business upon the completion of the Transaction, the potential conditions and satisfaction of those conditions for the completion of the Transaction, the anticipated use of the Loan and any expectations regarding conversion of the Loan. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". Forward-looking information by its nature is based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Quimbaya to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. These assumptions include, but are not limited to: the execution of a definitive agreement; the satisfaction of any conditions to the Transaction set forth in the LOI and the definitive agreement including, without limitation, the acceptance of the proposed Transaction by the CSE and typical closing conditions; the completion of satisfactory due diligence by Quimbaya in relation to the Transaction; and the receipt of all required approvals for the Transaction, including CSE acceptance, any board approvals, shareholder approvals or third party consents.Although Quimbaya's management believes that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking information will prove to be accurate. Furthermore, should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements or information. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of Quimbaya as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Except as required by law, Quimbaya does not expect to update forward-looking statements and information continually as conditions change.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Feasibility Study and ESIA planned for 2024

Dibbwi East Deposit resource update to be released shortly

GoviEx is the only uranium developer with two African projects in development and expected near term production

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 16, 2023) - GoviEx Uranium Inc. (TSXV: GXU) (OTCQX: GVXXF) ("GoviEx" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, following a successful drilling program in 2022 on its Muntanga uranium project in Zambia ("Muntanga Project"), it will expand the scope of the Feasibility Study for the Muntanga Project to include detailed engineering and design. The Company will also complete the project's Environmental and Social Impact Assessment ("ESIA") update and undertake additional drilling to target mineralisation extensions along sections at the project's Dibbwi East deposit.

In 2022, the Company conducted an extensive 15,500-metre infill drilling program at the Dibbwi East Deposit, which is targeting conversion of the current 29 million pounds U 3 O 8 from inferred into indicated resources.1 GoviEx will provide an update to its mineral resource estimate in the coming weeks.

Analysis of the 2022 drilling results has highlighted that the Dibbwi East deposit is open up and down dip, as several sections have not closed off the uranium resource, as shown in figures 1 and 2 below. In response, GoviEx plans to conduct 7,000 metres of mud rotary drilling to target these areas of open mineralisation at the deposit and further enhance its understanding of the deposit's potential.

Currently, over 4 tonnes of ore samples have been delivered to the Copperbelt University in Zambia where confirmatory metallurgical test work is ongoing. This will be used to support the Feasibility Study process design and costing.

Daniel Major, CEO of GoviEx, said:

"Our continued progress on the Muntanga uranium project reflects our commitment to responsible and sustainable development in Africa. With the completion of our ESIA and Feasibility Study planned for 2024, we are well positioned to advance this project towards near term production and to become a significant contributor to the global uranium market. We are excited about the potential of the Muntanga Project and the positive impact that it will have on our stakeholders and the local community."

With the updated mineral resource due in the coming weeks and metallurgical test work underway, GoviEx has appointed Ukwazi Site Services (project manager and mining), SGS Bateman (process design) and SRK UK (power, hydrogeology and heap leach design) as the project team to undertake the Feasibility Study for the Muntanga Project, targeting 2024 for completion. These firms will provide specialized expertise and guidance will help ensure that the final design and development of the Muntanga Project are optimized for efficiency, safety, and sustainability, and ensure that GoviEx's commitments to ESG are included in the Study.

During 2022, GoviEx committed to updating the ESIA for the Muntanga Project, to bring it to an International Finance Corporation (IFC) standard and to include the Dibbwi East deposit, which was only discovered after the previous ESIA was approved. Most of the baseline studies have now been completed, and Phase One of the Relocation Action Plan is currently underway. As part of last year's program, GoviEx achieved a significant milestone by successfully submitting and obtaining approval of the Term of Reference document with the Zambia Environmental Management Agency.

GoviEx is currently the only uranium developer with two African mine-permitted projects in development with projected near-term production. Based on the 2017 PEA1, Muntanga's anticipated output is forecast to be 2.5 million pounds per annum, with Madaouela's Project in Niger forecast to produce 2.6 million pounds per annum. This places GoviEx in a favorable position within the uranium industry and as an attractive partner for offtakers. We remain dedicated to advancing our projects and delivering value to our stakeholders.

Figure 1: Dibbwi East deposit drillhole location plan and outline of orebody model, showing selected section lines.

Figure 2: Sections 10, 17 and 22 demonstrates that the mineralisation is still open along each section for several 100 metres, both up dip (to the left) and down dip (to the right), and requires additional drilling.

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 Statement

The information and associated data in this release has been reviewed, verified and approved by Dr. Rob Bowell, a chartered chemist of the Royal Society of Chemistry, a chartered geologist of the Geological Society of London, and a Fellow of the Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Materials, who is an independent Qualified Person under the terms of NI 43-101 for uranium deposits.

Notes:

See: Technical report title, "NI 43-101 Technical Report on a Preliminary Economic Assessment of the Mutanga Uranium Project in Zambia", dated November 30, 2017 (the "PEA"), prepared by Qualified Persons from SRK Consulting (UK) Limited.



The PEA is considered preliminary in nature and includes Inferred Mineral Resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves have not yet demonstrated economic viability. Due to the uncertainty that may be attached to Inferred Mineral Resources, it cannot be assumed that all, or any part of an Inferred Mineral Resource, will be upgraded to an Indicated or Measured Mineral Resource as a result of continued exploration or Mineral Reserves once economic considerations are applied; therefore, there is no certainty that the production profile concluded in the PEA will be realized.

About GoviEx Uranium Inc.

GoviEx is a mineral resource company focused on the exploration and development of uranium properties in Africa. GoviEx's principal objective is to become a significant uranium producer through the continued exploration and development of its flagship mine-permitted Madaouela Project in Niger and its mine-permitted Mutanga Project in Zambia.

Contact Information

Isabel Vilela

Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications

Tel: +1-604-681-5529

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Web: www.goviex.com

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All information and statements other than statements of current or historical facts contained in this news release are forward-looking information.

Forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors disclosed here and elsewhere in GoviEx's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. When used in this news release, words such as "will", "could", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "potential", "should," and similar expressions, are forward- looking statements. Information provided in this document is necessarily summarized and may not contain all available material information.

Forward-looking statements include those related to: i) the nature, method and timing of any exploration, development and/or mining operations at the Mutanga Project or Madaouela Project; ii) the scope of the Feasibility Study for the Muntanga Project (iii) timing for and completion of the Muntanga Projects ESIA; (iv) the timing for and completion of additional drilling to target mineralisation extensions along sections at the Dibbwi East deposit; (v) the ability or willingness of the timing for and completion of an updated mineral resource estimate for the Muntanga Project; (vi) the ability to conduct and complete a 7,000 metres of mud rotary drilling to target these areas of open mineralisation at the Dibbwi East deposit; (vii) the suitability of any metallurgical test work conducted at Copperbelt University in Zambia being confirmatory to support the Feasibility Study process design and costing; (viii) the completion of the ESIA and Feasibility Study in 2024; (ix) GoviEx being well positioned to advance this the Muntanga Project towards near term production and for GoviEx to become a significant contributor to the global uranium market; (x) the potential of the Muntanga Project and the positive impact that it will have on our stakeholders and the local community; (xi) the ability or willingness of the project team to undertake the Feasibility Study for the Muntanga Project, targeting H1 2024 for completion and that their guidance and expertise will help ensure that the final design and development of the Muntanga Project are optimized for efficiency, safety, and sustainability, and ensure that GoviEx's commitments to ESG are included in the Feasibility Study; and (xii) the updating of the ESIA for the Muntanga Project, to bring it to an IFC standard and to include the Dibbwi East deposit.

Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurances that its expectations will be achieved. Such assumptions, which may prove incorrect, include the following: (i) that the Company will be successful in its exploration and development plans for all its projects; (ii) that all the service providers noted above will be able and willing to complete their works as agreed and expected; (iii) that the planned works on the Mutanga Project will be completed as planned and meet GoviEx's objectives; and (iv) that the price of uranium will remain sufficiently high and the costs of advancing the Company's mining projects will remain sufficiently low so as to permit GoviEx to implement its business plans in a profitable manner.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include (i) the inability or unwillingness of the service providers to complete their works on the Mutanga Project as agreed and expected; (ii) the inability of the Company to successfully complete the exploration and development milestones that are the conditions of the reinstatement of the Chirundu Mining License (12634-HQ-LML); (iii) potential delays due to COVID-19 restrictions; (iv) the failure of the Company's projects, for technical, logistical, labour-relations, or other reasons; (v) a decrease in the price of uranium below what is necessary to sustain the Company's operations; (vi) an increase in the Company's operating costs above what is necessary to sustain its operations; (vii) accidents, labour disputes, or the materialization of similar risks; (viii) a deterioration in capital market conditions that prevents the Company from raising the funds it requires on a timely basis; and (ix) generally, the Company's inability to develop and implement a successful business plan for any reason.

In addition, the factors described or referred to in the section entitled "Risks Factors" in the MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2022, of GoviEx, which is available on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com, should be reviewed in conjunction with the information found in this news release.

Although GoviEx has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those contained in the forward- looking statements, there can be other factors that cause results, performance, or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate or that management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances, or results will materialize. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, no assurance can be given that any events anticipated by the forward-looking information in this news release will transpire or occur, or, if any of them do so, what benefits that GoviEx will derive therefrom. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and GoviEx disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law.
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / Gratomic Inc. ("Gratomic", "GRAT" or the "Company") (TSX-V:GRAT) (OTCQX:CBULF) (Frankfurt:CB82) announces that it has completed the fourth tranche of its non-brokered private placement offering of up to 20,000,000 working capital units ("WC Units") at a price of $0.30 per WC Unit for gross proceeds of up to $6 million (the "Offering") with the placement of 1,420,000 WC Units for proceeds of $426,000. The Company has raised $3,476,980.50 to date.

Each WC Unit consists of one (1) Common Share and one (1) Common Share purchase warrant (a "WC Warrant"). Each WC Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one (1) Common Share (a "WC Warrant Share") at a price of $0.45 per WC Warrant Share until May 15, 2025.

The securities issued on this closing of the Offering are subject to a hold period expiring on September 16, 2023. Final closing of the remainder of the Offering is expected on or before May 26, 2023.

Proceeds from the Offering will be used for general working capital and for operating capital for the Company's Aukam Project.

One insider subscribed for 66,666 WC Units for proceeds of $20,000 on the fourth closing of the Offering. The insider private placement is exempt from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ("MI 61-101") by virtue of the exemptions contained in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1) (a) of MI 61-101 in that the fair market value of the consideration for the securities of the Company issued to the insider does not exceed 25% of its market capitalization.

The securities to be offered pursuant to the Offering have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, United States persons absent registration or any applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Gratomic

Gratomic is a multinational company with projects in Namibia, Brazil, and Canada. Its aim is to become a leading graphite supplier and to secure a strong position in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain through developing its flagship Aukam graphite mine and ongoing exploration at the Capim Grosso property. Gratomic will continue to explore graphite opportunities that show the potential to produce the specific flake size and purity required for active anodes.

Large quantities of high-quality vein graphite have been shipped for testing to confirm their suitability as anode material. Gratomic is confident that the test results will provide a unique competitive advantage in the desired target markets. The Company will continue to update the public on the status of these tests and will share results as they become available.

On the January 25, 2023 Gratomic announced that it had entered into a LOI with Graphex Technologies to supply graphite through existing facilities and develop a downstream processing facility in the continental US.

Gratomic has entered into a collaborative agreement with Forge Nano to use its patented atomic layer deposition (ALD) technology to coat the spherical graphite required in lithium-ion batteries.

For more information: Visit www.gratomic.ca or contact:

Arno Brand at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (416) 561- 4095

Sign up at gratomic.ca/contact/ to be added to our email list.

For marketing and media information, please 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 release."

Forward Looking Statements:

This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Investors are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and by those made in our filings with SEDAR in Canada (available at www.sedar.com)
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 6, 2022) - King Global Ventures Inc. (TSXV: KING) (OTC Pink: KGLDF) (FSE: 5LM1) (the " Company ") is pleased to announce that the Company has received all permits required to commence drilling at it's Golden Nugget and Miss Pickle Properties in... Read More
France Monday paved the way towards paying reparations to more relatives of Algerians who sided with France in their country's independence war but were then interned in French camps.

More than 200,000 Algerians fought with the French army in the war that pitted Algerian independence fighters against their French colonial masters from 1954 to 1962.

At the end of the war, the French government left the loyalist fighters known as Harkis to fend for themselves, despite earlier promises it would look after them.

Trapped in Algeria, many were massacred as the new authorities took revenge.

Thousands of others who fled to France were held in camps, often with their families, in deplorable conditions that an AFP investigation recently found led to the deaths of dozens of children, most of them babies.

French President Emmanuel Macron in 2021 asked for "forgiveness" on behalf of his country for abandoning the Harkis and their families after independence.

The following year, a law was passed to recognise the state's responsibility for the "indignity of the hosting and living conditions on its territory", which caused "exclusion, suffering and lasting trauma", and recognised the right to reparations for those who had lived in 89 of the internment camps.

But following a new report, 45 new sites -- including military camps, slums and shacks -- were added on Monday to that list of places the Harkis and their relatives were forced to live, the government said.

Now "up to 14,000 (more) people could receive compensation after transiting through one of these structures," it said, signalling possible reparations for both the Harkis and their descendants.

Secretary of state Patricia Miralles said the decision hoped to "make amends for a new injustice, including in regions where until now the prejudices suffered by the Harkis living there were not recognised".

Macron has spoken out on a number of France's unresolved colonial legacies, including nuclear testing in Polynesia, its role in the Rwandan genocide and war crimes in Algeria.
Over the last fortnight and till yesterday, on May 15, the Australian Yoorrook Commission heard how reform remains slow and tenuous as First Peoples continue to face high levels of incarceration, police racism, a hostile legal system and brutal conditions in youth prisons  30 years after the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.

After hearing from witnesses and victims of the children protection system, public servants and government officers, it was the turn of law enforcement representatives to be confronted by the first truth-telling process into injustices experienced by First Peoples in Victoria, a southeastern state of Australia.

Police apologize and admit racism

Victorias highest ranking police officer, Chief Commissioner Shane Patton, appeared before the Commission on May 8 to formally and unreservedly apologize for police actions that have caused or contributed to the trauma experienced by so many families in our jurisdiction. Patton admitted that Victoria Police continued to cause harm to Aboriginal people and that their policing was influenced by systemic and structural racism.

The police apology marked a significant moment for a force which has played a central role in dispossession and removal since the earliest days of the colony. Yoorrook Chair Eleanor Bourke told Patton that the systemic racism, racist attitudes and discriminatory actions of police of over the last 170 years have been perpetuated with the intent of making us  First Peoples  disappear. The Commissioners presented Patton with a shield to hang in his office as a symbol of expectation that he fulfill his promise of change within the police force.

Its not good enough

The Commissioners questioned Patton over efforts to address racism within the force. Patton said that, after making cultural awareness training for Victorian police officers compulsory in July 2022, as of March, only 12% of officers had completed the training. Its not good enough () you have apologised for 170 years yet we get 3.5 hours [of cultural awareness training], commented Commissioner Sue-Anne Hunter. Commissioner Maggie Walter said that the training modules were negative and pejorative and do impact on how police officers going out [into the community] then see those people. In particular, police training documents presented to the Commission included claims that some Aboriginal people consider being part of the Stolen Generations [the children who were forcibly removed from their parents] as the best thing that happened to them, and that payback was a central cultural practice.

The process for making complaints about police behaviour was a particular focus for the Commission. A 2022 report by the Victorian anti-corruption body found that First Peoples were deterred from making complaints due to a lack of faith in processes. The same report found that, in 85% of cases, there was a conflict of interest reported by the investigating officer in relation to matters referred () back to the police. Of complaints made by Aboriginal Victorians, almost half related to assaults and excessive use of force, but not one was substantiated by Victoria Police. The report found that police minimised the seriousness of these allegations and failed to adequately communicate with complainants.

Patton told Yoorrook that, despite earlier opposition, he and the Victorian police were now open to independent oversight. The Victorian Attorney-General, Jaclyn Symes, told the Commission that the government would have conversations about a new complaints model, but was unable to commit to anything more.

Over-incarceration of First Peoples

On the same day it was announced, on Monday May 15, that an Indigenous man had died in custody in Victoria, Corrections Minister Enver Erdogan came before the Commission to account for ballooning levels of Aboriginal incarceration and the role of prisons in entrenching the systemic injustice faced by Victorian First Peoples.

The governments submission detailed drastic rises in rates of incarceration. In the decade to June 2020, the number of Aboriginal people in Victorian prisons increased by 148%, compared to 58% for the general population. Over the same period, there was a 560% increase in First Peoples entering prisons unsentenced versus 310% for others.

Chair Eleanor Bourke, reacting to Erdogans apology, said that over-incarceration is the product of deliberate policy choices made by governments and politicians, knowing the harm their choices make. These choices insult the contributions of so many of our people who have made numerous recommendations and commitments to do the opposite.

Earlier, commissioners had expressed frustration at the governments decision to spend $1.1 billion on the construction of a remand centre, which remains empty despite its completion, while Aboriginal organizations face difficulties in securing small amounts of funding.

Children subject to solitary confinement

Despite calls in 2019 from the Victorian Ombudsman to ban the practice, isolation remains frequent in youth justice centres, exacerbated by ongoing staff shortages. Late last year, whistleblowers at the Melbourne Youth Justice Centre detailed the practice of locking children in their rooms for 22 hours or more per day without human contact. Isolation was so rampant, one whistleblower said, that boys were threatening to kill themselves so they could be put on constant observation, giving them someone at their cell door to talk to. And in January, Victoria again failed to comply with a deadline to establish an independent detention oversight mechanism in accordance with its obligations under the Convention Against Torture.

Erdogan told the Commission that isolation should never be used as a form of punishment and only as a matter of last resort. He said that the opening of a new youth detention centre would go some way to resolving staffing issues faced by his department.

Belated law reform

Since the beginning of the Yoorrook Commissions inquiries into the criminal justice system, public drunkenness laws, harsh bail provisions and the age of criminal responsibility have stood out as entrenching and perpetuating the systemic injustice faced by Victorias First Peoples. Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes was called to the Commission to give evidence and face questioning on the governments conduct in these areas, and their plans for reform.

This is the number one pressing issue in my portfolio, said Symes, underlining her governments commitment to amending Victorias harsh bail laws, which, after they were introduced in 2018, were responsible for drastic rises in the rates of Aboriginal people in prison, and consequent increases in child removals. The government committed to amending the laws in March after they were heavily criticised by the Coroner in a report into the death of Veronica Nelson, who died in police custody while on remand for a minor shoplifting offence.

Symes became Attorney-General in 2020. She accepted that the government was aware in 2018 that the prison population would increase as a result of the laws, but argued that, at that time, the community expected government to act with force, in response to a violent incident which prompted the bail crackdown. This experience, in which the views of Aboriginal organisations were ignored in favour of a popular tough-on-crime approach, prompted the Commission to ask: How can the Aboriginal community be protected against this sort of decision-making in the future?

Almost 30 years after it was recommended by the 1991 report of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, the Victorian government in 2020 took steps to repeal public drunkenness legislation after another Coroners report, in this instance into the 2017 death in custody of Tanya Day. The long-awaited reforms faced delays amid opposition from the Police Association, who described the repeal as dangerous virtue-signalling. Symes described the decision to delay the implementation as something I wasnt particularly proud of.

The laws are now scheduled to be repealed in November and to be replaced with a health-led response. While the governments submission noted the frustration caused by delays, Symes lauded the repeal as a direct response to Aboriginal stakeholder advocacy. Despite support from Police Commissioner Patton, the laws have faced resistance from the opposition and sections of the media. Minister Erdogan himself spoke to the Commission of the difficulties faced in liberalising criminal justice provisions: Its very easy for opportunistic people to shift public sentiment on these [law and order] issues but I think () embedding systems which empower Aboriginal people and seeing that actually works and leads to better outcomes is the best demonstration, so that we have the proof to show people that this works.

For the Victorian Attorney-General, Jaclyn Symes, reforming the law "is the number one pressing issue in my portfolio", she pledged to the truth commission.  Yoorrook Justice Commission

Reaching international standards in 2027

On the issue of the age of criminal responsibility, Symes admitted that the government had fallen short of expectations by announcing a staged response under which the age will be raised from 10 to 12 in 2024, and to the international standard of 14 in 2027, after the next state election. Under questioning from Commissioner Travis Lovett, Symes admitted that principles of Aboriginal self-determination had not been applied.

Commissioner Sue-Anne Hunter said that the delay is really contrary to the advice of Aboriginal organisations, legal and medical professionals in child development () its Aboriginal children that are most likely to be affected by this. Further, the Commission heard that the 2027 commitment will not be included in the legislation to raise the age to 12, leaving the reform vulnerable to changes of policy, political calculation, or a change of government.

Both Symes and the Victorian government in their submission argued that, while justice-based diversion programs were not ideal and that childrens needs would be better served by a therapeutic, trauma-informed approach, justice programs remained necessary in the interim.

While the Commission heard that the government had embarked on significant reforms, doubts remained for the Commissioners. Commissioner Hunter expressed her frustration: Weve had recommendations sitting there for 30 years, but it takes the death of an Aboriginal person [for people to] see the impact [laws] have on the community.
LOS ANGELESPineapple Support, one of the adult industrys leading mental health nonprofits, has welcomed DreamPeach as a supporter-level sponsor. The adult e-commerce specialist joins over sixty adult businesses and organizations in committing funds and resources to the organization.

As an ex-soldier turned adult industry entrepreneur, Pineapple Supports mission truly holds a deep-seated place in my heart," said Brennen Duggan, founder and director of DreamPeach. "I applaud the courage and dedication of those that have built the industry before me and thank you for the opportunity to work alongside you. No matter where you are in life, its important to know that there will always be somebody there to pick up the phone, thank you Pineapple Support for being that somebody.

Pineapple Support was founded by British performer Leya Tanit in 2018, after a string of losses in the adult industry from depression and other mental illnesses. The organization, a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization in the United States, has connected over 10,000 adult performers to mental health services, including free and low-cost therapy, counseling, and emotional support.

Im thankful to DreamPeach for helping fund our outreach operations to connect performers with mental health and emotional support, said Tanit. Many performers are still unaware of stigma-free and sex-positive therapy services, and the need is great. We wont rest until we can ensure that no performer ever has to struggle alone.

To learn more about becoming a sponsor of Pineapple Support, visit pineapplesupport.org/sponsorship. Details about additional ways to support, as a company or individual, can be found on the organizations website at pineapplesupport.org.
"Black Knight" director and screenwriter Cho Ui Seok talks about Kim Woo Bin's character in the Netflix series.

In an interview with local media outlet, Ilgan Sports, the filmmaker clarified one of the scenes that caught the viewers' attention in the six-episode K-Drama.

'Black Knight' Director Says He Used CGI in Kim Woo Bin's Scene

"Black Knight" is a dystopian series based on the webtoon of the same name.

The series is set in the year 2071 after the Earth's air became toxic, making it hard for humans to survive. Due to this, humans live through respirators.

Kim Woo Bin plays the legendary deliveryman 5-8, who serves as the lifeline of humans. He then meets Sa Wol, played by Kang You Seok, a refugee who dreams of becoming like 5-8.

Becoming a delivery man is their only hope to go against Cheonmyeong Group, led by chairman Ryu Hae Jin, played by Nam Kyung Eup, along with his son Ryu Seok, portrayed by Song Seung Heon.

Joining the cast of "Black Knight" is Esom as military intelligence major Seol Ah.

As the Netflix original series made its debut, viewers were hooked by the series' unique plot and cast lineup. However, people noticed a smoking scene with Kim Woo Bin.

As for "Black Knight" director Cho Eui Seok, he assured fans that the actor was not harmed during the production. Moreover, the filmmaker ensured that they prioritized Kim Woo Bin's well-being, knowing his health history.

As for the scene, Cho Eui Seok revealed that they used CGI to create the smoking effect.

"I couldn't let actor Kim Woo Bin smoke because of his health," adding that the scene was made 100 percent through computer graphics.

To recall, Kim Woo Bin announced his hiatus in 2017 after being diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer. He then returned to Spotlight after having his first on-screen project through "Our Blues" in 2021.

It was then followed by a sci-fi fantasy movie "Alienoid" with Kim Tae Ri and Ryu Jun Yeol.

As for his K-drama comeback, he headlines Netflix's "Black Knight."

Kim Woo Bin Discusses Preparation Playing 5-8 in 'Black Knight'

In a report cited by Lifestyle Asia, the South Korean hearthrob shared that he fell in love with the story after reading the webtoon. He felt like the whole story was in a different universe and eventually "focused mostly on the script" upon getting the offer.

As his preparation, he mentioned building his character.

"I first try to get hints from the script. And then, I talk a lot with the director about the character," he said, adding, "From there, I try to imagine the parts that are not there in the script."

As for the role 5-8, Kim Woo Bin said it's the character that is "totally different" from his previous project. He mentioned about 5-8's energy and the way he see and thinks, noting the "rationale behind all of his actions and words."

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article

Written by Geca Wills
Authorities are planning to consider filing a warrant of arrest after Yoo Ah In fails to attend the second investigation regarding the actor's drug case.

Since the start of the year, the award-winning star has been facing issues with illegal substances after testing positive for four types of drugs.

As the probe continues, police are taking additional measures regarding the pending investigations.

Yoo Ah In Might Face 'Warrant of Arrest' After Failing to Attend Second Private Summon Twice

In a report cited by a media outlet, the "Seoul Vibe" star missed the second private summons that was initially scheduled for May 11.

Unfortunately, it was the actor's second time skipping the trial. The first was on the same day as his first hearing after reports mentioned that Yoo Ah In arrived at the nearby Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Mapo Building but opted to avoid the scheduled meeting due to the media.

At the time, the actor reportedly noticed a flock of reporters waiting for his arrival, noting that he felt overwhelmed after seeing "too many reporters" waiting for him. It was rescheduled to a later date, but Yoo Ah In once again skipped the hearing.

Due to this, the police department's investigation division wanted to plot the date of the second private summons as soon as possible to avoid delays regarding Yoo Ah In's drug investigation charges.

In the event that the award-winning star fails to cooperate, authorities have no choice but to issue a warrant of arrest.

"If that doesn't work out, then it will have to be done by [arresting him with an official warrant]," a representative mentioned, as cited by an outlet.

On the other hand, the National Office of Investigation (NOI) mentioned that Yoo Ah In's dug case is an "extremely sensitive" trial, so they couldn't disclose the investigation plan regarding the subject matter.

What Happened to Yoo Ah In?

Since February, the award-winning South Korean star is facing drug charges after finding out that he is positive for propofil, marijuana, cocaine, and ketamine.

In addition, there were also reports saying that Yoo Ah In is also using a fifth drug known as Zolpidem. According to a medical website, zolpidem is a type of drug used to treat severe or possibly life-threatening cases of insomnia. Patients are only allowed to have 10mg doses per day because it also contains addictive properties.

At the time that it was reported, Yoo Ah In's agency denied the accusation against the actor and planned on taking legal action against malicious comments.

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article

Written by Geca Wills
PHOENIX  When biologists began their annual count of the Mexican wolf population in November, they hoped to find at least one more wolf than the previous year. They soon realized that the numbers far exceeded their expectations.

Recovery of wolves in the wild accelerated at an astonishing rate in 2022, with the population growing from 196 to at least 241 wolves, with 136 counted in New Mexico and 105 in Arizona.

The encouraging numbers were released Feb. 28 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arizona Game and Fish Department and New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.

Jim deVos, Mexican wolf coordinator with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, said its the first time since the count began in 1998 that the number of Mexican wolves in Arizona and New Mexico surpassed 200.

Here we are on our 25th-year anniversary and were up over 240, deVos said. No matter how you measure, 2022 is a fabulous year.

It was the seventh consecutive year of population growth, more than doubling the pack size since 2017, according to the three departments.

In a press release, Brady McGee, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Mexican wolf recovery coordinator, applauded the progress.

We recorded more packs, more breeding pairs and a growing occupied range, proving we are on the path to recovery, McGee said.

Im going to hope that within my lifetime well see recovery and delisting of a very unique animal that was part of the biotic community of the American Southwest, he said. Thats exciting.

Biologists were most impressed with the number of pups that survived this year, deVos said.

Of the approximately 121 pups born in 2022, at least 81 survived, according to the wolf count, which was conducted by an interagency field team from November through February. The typical survival rate for pups in their first year is 50%.

Sixty-seven percent survival of pups in the wild, thats monster, deVos said. That says the health of the population is good, both the physical health and the genetic health.

This years report also documented 59 packs and 109 collared wolves in the wild, which is 45% of the population.

Biologists conducted ground and aerial surveys to gather information for the count. Its important to count the wolves at the same time and way every year, deVos said, to maintain consistency.

The agencies said that while this years numbers show great success, the Mexican wolves still have more progress to make before they can attain the ultimate goal of being taken off the endangered species list.

For the Mexican wolf to be delisted, the population must be more than 320 for eight years, the last three of which have to be steady or increasing, according to deVos.

The Grand Canyon chapter of the Sierra Club said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service needs to focus on more than just the raw numbers of the population.

Yes, its great that the numbers are going up. But having one population of wolves in a restricted area, that is not recovery, said Sandy Bahr, Grand Canyon chapter director. Thats not what is needed for the biological diversity of the area. Thats not what is needed for the wolves.

Bahr said the agencies need to continue to work for more genetic diversity and more well-bonded pairs.

Cross-fostering is a method used by the Mexican wolf interagency field team to increase genetic diversity in the wild population. Biologists introduce captive-bred pups to a mother who already has pups near the same age so that the genetics are diversified.

Bahr argued that cross-fostering is not enough and that more adult wolves need to be released into the wild as bonded pairs.

The Mexican Wolf Recovery Program started in 1998 when the species was near extinction and just four wolves were counted. The effort has gained momentum with the numbers doubling between 2015 and 2021, from 98 to 196.
Kang Ki Young is delighted to personally meet his fans as he visited Japan for a meet and greet.

The actor, whose popularity skyrocketed globally after landing a lead role in "Extraordinary Attorney Woo," had his second overseas fan meeting in Japan.

The actor entertained his Japanese supporters on May 12 at Huric Hall in Tokyo.

To recall, his first ever Japan fan meet was in Osaka back in November 2022, months after the hit ENA series ended.

Kang Ki Young Japan Fan Meeting Highlight

According to a report, the actor stole the hearts of fans as he sang "Seasons," a track that he wrote.

From serenading the crowd, the actor interacted with the crowd by happyly participating in various games.

Interestingly, he ended the event by singing Utada Hikaru's "First Love" for his Japanese fans.

According to a media outlet, the actor prepared a handwritten letter for fans as he expressed his deep gratitude to those who attended the meet and greet.

"I'm so happy to be able to meet you again in Tokyo after Osaka," he wrote.

Kang Ki Young is also grateful to "make people happy" with his work and good deeds.

Concluding the message for his fans, the South Korean star said that he wanted to thank everyone for the support and teased fans by promising that he would "repay" the viewers with great projects and amazing acting.

"I hope to repay you by pleasing your eyes, ears, and hearts with better characters and more sincere acting so that you can be happy," he said, referring to his upcoming projects.

Kang Ki Young Joins 'Uncanny Counter Season 2' Cast

While 2022 is a fruitful year for the actor, Kang Ki Young continues to receive achievements through various nominations.

At the recently held Baeksang Arts Awards 2023, he received a nod for Best Supporting Actor in Television for his role as senior lawyer Jung Myung Seok in "Extraordinary Attorney Woo."

IN CASE YOU MISSED: Kang Ki Young To Join Koo Kyo Hwan In Brand New Film, OSEN Reports

Interestingly, he was also nominated for the same category as Best Supporting Actor in Film for his character in "The Point Men" with Hyun Bin and Hwang Jung Min.

From nominations to new dramas, Kang Ki Young is booked and busy, as he is set to appear in multiple projects.

One of his upcoming on-screen appearances is a K-drama comeback by joining the cast of "Uncanny Counter Season 2."

He will appear alongside OG cast members Jo Byeong Gyu, Yeom Hye Ran, Jin Sun Kyu, and more.

Adding to the list of Kang Ki Young's new dramas is "I Will Go Until the End."

Helmed by Park Jin Suk of "School 2017" and "Sell Your Haunted House," the upcoming K-drama depicts the story of a woman named Sa Ra and her strange marriage.

READ MORE: Kang Ki Young Gives Joo Jong Hyuk Funny Yet Helpful Advice To Boost His Confidence

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 upcoming film "Hopeless" has finally released its first ever character teasers of Song Joong Ki, Hong Sa Bin and BIBI.

Also known as "Hwaran," the noir film is slated to be screened in the distinguished Cannes Film Festival this summer. Read on to know more.

Song Joong Ki Transforms Into Dauntless Hero In 'Hopeless'

On May 15, the forthcoming noir film "Hopeless" finally shared a glimpse of Song Joong Ki, Hong Sa Bin and BIBI's new acting roles through still photos!

"Hopeless," which is directed by Kim Chang Hoon, depicts the hellish lives of a young man who's on the verge of giving up and a mobster who stops at nothing to achieve his goals.

When they get entangled in each other's issues, the two work together to escape their damned life and finally turn over new leaves.

In the work, Song Joong Ki plays the role of Chi Geon, a gangster while Hong Sa Bin portrays Yeon Gyu, a young boy who's lost in life.

BIBI, who's making a much anticipated comeback to the silver screen, transforms into Ha Yan, a young woman who's in the same path as the two other men.

'Hopeless' Drops Stills of Song Joong Ki, Hong Sa Bin & BIBI

Ahead of its long awaited premiere, "Hopeless" released the first ever still photos of Song Joong Ki, Hong Sa Bin and BIBI who exude dauntlessness in dire situations.

Hong Sa Bin embodies Yeon Gyu's fearless attitude as he rides on a dangerous bike despite being covered in scars and dried blood, raising curiosity about the kind of life he's in.

Meanwhile, Song Joong Ki captures the brooding charisma of a gang leader, giving the viewers an enhanced reminiscent of his "Vincenzo" character.

In one photo, the two actors stimulate the public's curiosity as they get into a heated argument, amplifying the tension for the upcoming work.

Lastly, BIBI throws a sharp gaze at someone as she unleashes her determination and strength in a harsh reality.

Focus is given to the three actors who work together for the first time in a noir film. The production crew vows to deliver a gravity-defying action film that viewers will love!

Song Joong Ki's 'Hopeless' Premiere Dates & Further Details

The new noir film "Hopeless" is set to be screened in the Un Certain Regard category at the Official Selection at the 76th Cannes Film Festival which is held from May 16 to 27.

Mohamed Kordofani's "Goodbye Julia" and Molly Manning Walker's "How To have Sex" will also be screened in the same category among other international films.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE THIS: Song Kang Ho's Cannes Film 'Cobweb' Drops Promising Teaser

On the other hand, South Korea black comedy film "Cobweb" starring Song Kang Ho, Jeon Yeo Bin, Krystal Jung and more will be screened for the Out of Competition selection.

There's no news about the domestic release of the film yet so stay tuned for more updates here on KDramaStars!

KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
"Death's Game" starring Seo In Guk is facing controversy before its release. Curious about what happened? Then keep on reading the article.

'Death's Game' Makes Headlines For Causing Inconvenience During Filming

Another K-drama production is facing a new issue ahead of its release. Based on a report on May 15, Seo In Guk and Park So Dam's first drama team up "Death's Game," also known as "Lee Jae Will Die Soon," apologized for a recent controversy over the filming staff's harsh words.

"Death's Game" production officially released a statement regarding the issue.

"Last weekend, it was confirmed that there were inappropriate words and actions by the assistant staff hired on the same day to organize and guide the filming location. We sincerely apologized for the inconvenience caused by not paying careful attention during the production process."

The official added that they will try to prevent unpleasant things from happening in the future by being hands-on with the actors and staff members of the production.

To recall, an article was posted in an online community, where a drama staff from "Death's Game" was accused of using inappropriate words to a passerby. The author of the post claimed that a man frowned and chased him with rude words while a foreigner asked for a picture while walking in front of a place near Gangnam-gu Seoul last May 14.

What We Know So Far About Seo In Guk's New K-Drama 'Death's Game'

Meanwhile, TVING's "Death's Game" is set to premiere in the second half of 2023.

Apart from Seo In Guk and Park So Dam, the drama will have a star-studded cast as some of the famous actors and actresses today are rumored to participate in the project. Celebrities like Choi Siwon, Lee Do Hyun, Lee Jae Wook, Jang Seung Jo, Sung Hoon, Go Yoon Jung, Kim Ji Hoon, and more possibly make special cameos in the series.

The fantasy drama will be helmed and penned by "18 Again" director Ha Byung Hoon. "Death's Game," tells the story of Choi Yi Jae, a man who goes back and forth between life and death 12 times.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Lee Do Hyun Rumored To Work With Seo In Guk in New Webtoon-Based Drama

What can you say about the news? Share your thoughts/replies in the comments!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at Kdramastars.

Kdramastars owns this article.

Shai Collins wrote this.
Yoo Ah In appeared before the police for the second private summons following the drug charges against him.

The "Seoul Vibe '' star, who is undergoing an investigation over illegal substance use, attended the hearing after rescheduling it twice.

Yoo Ah In Update: Actor Arrives at Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency

According to a media outlet, Yoo Ah In arrived at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Drug Crime Investigation Unit around 9:00 am of May 16. When asked if he "denies the allegations," Yoo Ah In reportedly dodged questions from the media.

This will be the second summons investigation after the initial hearing in March, where the actor underwent a 12-hour questioning by authorities.

As for the second private summons, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency will investigate the type and number of drugs he took, how he purchased them, and the possible accomplice he had.

To recall, the actor was scheduled to have his second investigation on May 11, but skipped it after noticing a flock of media waiting for him.

It was rescheduled for May 15, but Yoo Ah In was absent.

Yoo Ah In's Representative Explains Reason for Actor's Absence

Due to this, National Office of Investigation chief Woo Jong Soo, warned the actor of the possible consequences he would face if he continued to dodge the hearing.

"It'd be better to arrange an attendance date as soon as possible. If it doesn't work, we'll have to apply for an arrest warrant," he explained at the press conference, as obtained by a news portal.

Following this, the actor's legal representative explained that Yoo Ah In has no intention to delay the investigation but has requested safety measures from the authorities, but were not granted by the police.

"Yoo Ah In wanted to participate in the investigation and asked the police to take possible measures, such as entering and exiting through a different route in accordance with the principle of private summons, but it was not accepted," as pointed out by the representative.

Since February of this year, the award-winning star has been facing controversy over his use of illegal substances.

After banning him from leaving the country while the investigation is ongoing, authorities charged him with violating drug control laws after he tested positive for four types of drugs.

Urine and hair strand tests showed that he is positive for marijuana, propofol, cocaine, and ketamine.

In addition, his medical records showed that Yoo Ah In was prescribed zolpidem, a type of drug used for severe cases of insomnia that is illegal to use without medical purpose. Besides the actor, doctors and a hospital also underwent an investigation for reportedly corroborating to the actor's illegal activities.

At one point, police cited that Doctor A, who prescribed Yoo Ah In propofol, would be facing a substantive arrest warrant.

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article

Written by Geca Wills
ENA Channel's drama "Bora! Deborah" made headlines because of this specific scene, which sparked controversy among viewers.

Curious about what happened? Then read on!

THIS 'Bora! Deborah' Scene Goes Viral for the Wrong Reasons - What Happened?

In "Bora! Deborah" episode 9, which aired last May 10, the drama's lead actress Yoo In Na mentioned the Auschwitz concentration camp while comparing it to the importance of self-care to her onscreen partner Yoon Hyun Min, who plays the character of Lee Soo Hyuk.

In particular, Yoo In Na's character said, "In the Auschwitz concentration camp, people were living in deplorable conditions, some managed to take half a cup of water and used the remaining portion to clean their faces. Those people even used a piece of glass and the back of a tray as a mirror. And helped them survive. As a single person, taking care of your appearance and dressing up is a matter of survival."

With this line, the drama received backlash from international viewers. The audience was outraged as the drama's writer used a horrendously tragic historical event as a means to explain "taking care of one's appearance and dressing up is a matter of survival."

Viewers Express Disappointment to 'Bora! Deborah's' Team for Insensitive Analogy

The use of sensitive and painful event to justify appearance obsession has continued to receive criticism not just from Korean viewers but also the international audience. They are angered by how the scriptwriter sees the survival method as a comparison.

According to a source, people who have watched the scene have criticized the absurdity of comparing the actions of Jews in preserving their dignity in concentration camps to self-pampering.

i can't believe writers came up with this and everyone in the process approved it. out of all the analogies you could've made...ignorance is scary https://t.co/oLm7BjvolL pic.twitter.com/GAfDte3Nzk  cha  (@cha_chronicles) May 11, 2023

Someone expressed disbelief stating how everyone in the production approved of the writer's analogy as they could have used other methods instead.

As the scene continues to be a hot topic on various online portals, the audience is anticipating whether the drama's production team will release a statement addressing the issue.

This is not the first time that the series went viral online.

In "Bora! Deborah" episode 6, the phishing incident involving the famous actress Tang Wei received explosive response from viewers in China.

Meanwhile, will Deborah and Lee Soo Hyuk be able to fight for their love after their previous heartbreaks?

Let's all find out in the last two weeks of "Bora! Deborah" on ENA Channel. You can watch it every Wednesday and Thursday at 9 p.m. (KST).

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 'Bora! Deborah' Episode 10: Yoo In Na Apologizes to Yoon Hyun Min

What can you say about the news? Share your thoughts/replies in the comments!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article.

Shai Collins wrote this.
Ponderosa Fire Department debuted its new fire engine on Wednesday.

Shiny, sleek and cherry red, the refurbished 2008 type one structural engine is a proud edition to the Bellemont outposts growing fleet.

The truck has twice the pumping capacity of the departments older engine, and its fitted with more than a half mile of hose.

We have this giant front bumper on it that were actually able to put hose inside of -- which allows us to quick attack and quick deploy much faster, said Ponderosa Fire Capt. Mike Allen. The truck carries about 750 gallons of water, which is about 250 more than a normal city truck would. Being that were really rural, that helps a lot.

Complete with brand-new headsets to allow fire fighters to communicate over the rumbling sounds of the motor, the engine is better suited to accommodate a three-person fire fighting crew.

Going to a three-man engine was huge for us. Weve been a two-man engine for many many years, said Chief Lee Antonides. Getting that third person on the truck adds a lot more safety potential for our firefighters as well as provide a better service for our community and our residents.

The size of an engine crew isnt the only thing thats grown in the Ponderosa Fire District. Antonides said hes seen the community nearly double in size during his tenure.

While Bellemont and Parks are still rural areas, the population is booming, and Antonides says it puts the onus on the fire department to grow in order to meet the communitys changing needs.

Contractors are set to break ground in June on a fire house addition, which will include a 30-person community room.

In addition to the new engine, Ponderosa Fires fleet will soon grow by about three more vehicles. A new chief and battalion chief vehicle will arrive at the Bellemont station, equipped for emergency response and support on wildland fires. A new type six bush truck is also on order, and, according to Antonides, will be in service in the next couple of weeks.

Antonides said his department is also taking steps to ensure response to emergencies is as rapid as it can be.

On May 2 the Coconino County Board of Supervisors approved $5,177.57 to fund a community initiative designed to help first responders find homes faster.

In the days and weeks to come, Ponderosa firefighters will take down the names of community members who need reflective address signs for their property. Eventually on-shift firefighters will install those signs free of charge.

With the growth that weve had there are folks who have not had an address sign put up, Antonides said.

Its not an entirely new program, Antonides told the Arizona Daily Sun. In years past, Ponderosa Fire has helped citizens cover the cost of reflective address signs. The decision to seek funding and revive the program was a direct reflection of the areas growth and development.

Still, Ponderosa Fire remains rural enough that GPS is known to occasionally lead travelers astray. Streetlights are scarce. Roads can be dimly lit, if theyre lit at all.

For all of those reasons, Antonides said, reflective address signs can be critically important tools for first responders.

For us or the Sheriffs Department or the ambulances to find these addresses, sometimes things dont match up with our computers. If you dont have something at the end of your driveway that is easily visible, its very easy for us to go right past it, Antonides added. That little bit of time that it takes us, if we pass a driveway and have to go back in forth, thats critical time for a patient.

The fire district received enough funding to install about 200 signs in its area. Residents of Bellemont or Parks who need address markers can call the Ponderosa Fire District at 928-773-8933 to get their name on an installation list.
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Medical school can be a challenging and demanding experience, and its no secret that many medical students struggle with mental health challenges as a result. In fact, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis published in JAMA, the prevalence of depression, depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation among medical students is higher than in the general population. Despite this concerning trend, mental health support for medical students has often been lacking or inadequate.

The consequences of ignoring mental health challenges in medical students can be severe. Not only can untreated mental health issues negatively impact academic performance and personal lives, but they can also affect patient care and the health care system as a whole. A study by Medscape found that 44 percent of physicians reported feeling burned out, which can lead to a decrease in empathy and professionalism.

Medical schools need to prioritize mental health support for their students. This can include providing counseling services, support groups, and wellness programs. Studies have shown that these types of programs positively impact mental health and well-being. A study published in JAMA found that a mindfulness-based stress reduction program was associated with a decrease in symptoms of anxiety and depression among medical students.

Medical schools are responsible for addressing mental health challenges in their students, and some schools have already implemented successful programs to support students mental health. The University of Michigan Medical School offers a wellness program that includes stress-management workshops, counseling services, and a support group for medical students. The University of California San Francisco School of Medicine has a dedicated Office of Student Life that offers mental health and well-being resources.

Providing mental health programs to medical school students has several benefits. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), medical students who receive support and resources for their mental health are more likely to perform better academically. Mental health programs can help students manage stress, anxiety, and other mental health challenges impacting their academic performance. Additionally, mental health programs can help students manage the stress and challenges of medical school, which can increase retention rates. This is important because medical school can be a very demanding and stressful environment, which can lead some students to drop out or take leaves of absence.

Another benefit of providing mental health programs to medical students is that they are more likely to provide better patient care. Medical students who receive support for their mental health can better manage stress and anxiety, impacting their ability to provide quality care to their patients. Additionally, mental health programs can help medical students develop the skills and strategies they need to manage their mental health challenges. This can lead to better mental health outcomes during medical school and beyond.

Despite the benefits of addressing mental health challenges in medical students, there are still potential barriers to implementing these types of programs. Stigma around mental health and a lack of resources can make it difficult for schools to prioritize mental health support for their students. However, its crucial that medical schools recognize the importance of addressing mental health challenges in their students and take action to support them.

Medical school can be a pressure cooker, and its no surprise that many students struggle with mental health challenges. These challenges should not be ignored. Medical schools must prioritize mental health support for their students to promote well-being and prevent negative consequences for individuals and the health care system.

Erin Waldrop is a therapist.
Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland has called for swift and decisive action to curb the illicit flow of money out of member countries. She says this will also help build confidence that institutions and systems in the Commonwealth are corruption-free.

Speaking in Seychelles during the 13th Annual Commonwealth Regional Anti-Corruption Conference, Scotland said the current global pressure on resources means curbing the trillion-dollar cost of corruption is more important than ever,

She notes that the COVID-19 pandemic created an environment that was ripe for embezzlement, false claims, kickbacks, and other forms of corruption, leading to loss of aid money to crime, which undermines social and economic development.

The UNCTADs Economic Development in Africa Report 2020, estimated that Africa loses more than US$50 billion a year to illicit flows, although this could be as high as $89 billion a year, or 3.7% of its GDP.

Over the past 50 years, Africa has lost more than US$1 trillion equivalent to all the official development assistance received during the same period.

According to the UN, each year corruption and illicit financial flows cost the global economy US$3.6 trillion. A trillion US$ is paid in bribes while an estimated US$2.6 trillion is stolen annually through corruption  a sum equivalent to more than five percent of the global GDP.

In developing countries, according to the United Nations Development Programme, funds lost to corruption are estimated at 10 times the amount of official development assistance.
Democratic Party (DP) has implored the government to establish a national salary and remuneration commission to address civil servants concerns.

The call comes at a time when medical workers under different categories are protesting the low and delayed salaries.

Speaking to the media at the partys head offices in Kampala, the DP president who also doubles as the minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Nobert Mao, said the commission will be responsible for determining civil servants pay according to what they do to address the current salary inequalities.

On civil servants pay and salary enhancements, Mao said their personal challenges cannot be solved by the sums of money they receive at the end of the month.

He demands that the government resurrects the earlier systems where civil servants were facilitated with housing units, health insurance, and education for their children among others.
Government has tasked the Ministry of Finance to find funds to pay medical interns and striking Senior House Officers (SHOs). The decision was made during a cabinet meeting held on Monday.

According to sources, the Cabinet has thus ordered striking doctors to resume work today.

However, the Uganda Medical Association Secretary-General, Dr. Herbert Luswata, says they will determine the fate of the strike after meeting officials from the Ministry of Health today.

Luswata meanwhile says salary disparity issues raised by medical officers special grade whose new title of Associate Consultants was approved in a high-level meeting last week was not discussed by Cabinet.

A number of medical officers including Associate Consultants and Senior House Officers have been on strike over pay disparities, title disputes, as well as failure by the government to pay their allowances.

Information we got from the Ministry of Health is that the cabinet was able to approve the payment of allowances to medical interns and to ensure that they are deployed and also approved to ensure that there is payment of allowances to Senior House Officers, Dr. Luswata told KFM.

On Monday, several pre-medical interns were arrested for holding nationwide strikes protesting against their delayed deployment to health facilities and the decision by govt for them to pay for their internship.
The key suspect in the double murder of a social worker Maria Nagirinya and her driver Ronald Kitayimbwa has started defending himself.

Appearing before High Court Judge Isaac Muwata, Copriyam Kasolo narrated how he was tortured during and after his arrest by security personnel, forcing him to confess.

Kasolo denied killing Nagirinya and Kitayimbwa, saying on that fateful day, he was busy hawking his second-hand shoes.

Kasolo and group are charged with 6 counts including 2 murders, 2 aggravated robberies, and 2 kidnaps with intent to murder Nagirinya and Kitayimbwa.

Prosecution states that on August 28, 2019, Nagirinya and her driver were kidnapped from Lungujja Nabisasiro zone in Lubaga division, killed and their bodies were dumped at Nakitutuli village in Mukono district.

Prosecution adds that the suspects used violence to rob Nagirinya of her motor vehicle, mobile phone, cash amounting to Shs260, 000 and also proceeded to rob Kitayimbwa of his mobile phone and his money amounting to Shs24,000.

It is alleged that the suspects were arrested as they attempted to withdraw monies from Nagirinyas mobile phone in Nateete, a Kampala suburb.
Tororo district Woman Member of Parliament (MP), Sarah Opendi has in her private members bill proposed a time limit on cohabitation among couples.

Last year parliament granted leave to Opendi to introduce a private members bill entitled the Marriage Bill.

Opendi opined that the Marriage Act, enacted 118 years ago, needed amendment and that other than having different aspects of marriage scattered in various legislations, the new Bill would provide for comprehensive legislation on matters relating to marriage under one law.

Addressing journalists at parliament on Monday, Opendi said she had finalized consultations on the bill from a number of stakeholders and expressed readiness to present the bill anytime soon.

She however said they are yet to finalize a clause that will recognize couples who cohabit after a certain period of time to have their marriage legally recognized.

She said this would be like a case of Malawi where couples after six months of cohabitation under the law become married.

So were finalizing this Bill and most of the issues have been resolved save for one, majority of Ugandans are cohabiting. Close to 65 percent of the population are living together. For them, they think they husband and wife but when legally theyre actually not registered, Opendi told journalists on Monday.
Members of Parliament (MPs) have asked Speaker Anita Among to summon the Minister of Internal Affairs, Kahinda Otafiire to explain rampant shootings of civilians by security officers over unclear reasons.

Members of the public are reportedly in panic over rampant gun violence involving government security officers and private security guards.

The recent shootings happened last week involving a 39-year-old Indian money lender who was shot dead with a stolen AK-47 assault rifle by an off-duty police constable in Kampala and another shooting incident involving two security guards employed by Capital Guards and Patrol.

Kalungu West MP, Joseph Ssewungu has called for a comprehensive statement from the Minister of Internal Affairs on what is happening in the country, saying this can only be possible if parliament summons the minister.

He also cautioned police spokespersons for issuing contradictory statements on gun violence saying its misleading.
More than 500 Ugandans have signed an ongoing re-launched petition against the degradation of Lwera wetland.

The campaign code-named Save Lwera from rice growing and sand mining was relaunched on Friday by the Citizens Concern Africa (CICOA), a non-government organisation that seeks to address environmental, social, and climate change issues in Uganda.

Speaking to KFM, the CICOA deputy executive director, Sam Mucunguzi expressed hope that at least 7,000 people will sign the petition because it has attracted a lot of attention and has been well received by both members of the public and government agencies.

Mucunguzi has called for concerted efforts from all line ministries and agencies to implement laws and policies meant to protect fragile ecosystems.

It has been rejuvenated and we hope something positive will come out. We intend to engage further the ministry and NEMA, Mucunguzi said.

In 2019, a similar campaign was launched and a petition with 4000 signatures was sent to the National Environment Management Authority and the Ministry of Agriculture.
Parliament and the Attorney General on Tuesday clashed on who should reintroduce the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (control) Bill 2023 which was nullified by court.

The Constitutional Court on May 6, 2023, nullified the entire Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Act of 2016 on grounds that it was passed without the required quorum in Parliament.

While seeking leave of Parliament to introduce a private members bill by Bugiri Municipality MP, Asuman Basalirwa and colleagues, Attorney General Kiwanuka Kiryowa intervened and asked Parliament to allow government reintroduce the bill.

According to Kiryowa, this was a government bill and it is not in order for a private member to take over, asking the house to give the government time to bring back this bill, on grounds that it will save time.

This raised the eyebrows of Members of Parliament who were divided with some saying the bill be introduced by the government while others saying it should be introduced by a private member.

The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Amongi reached a resolution and asked the Attorney General to present the bill on Thursday or it goes to a private member.
Bank ABCs retail arm ila Bank has launched Bahrains exclusively digital, Sharia-compliant banking offering for individual customers, alburaq.

This Islamic banking experience from ila Bank brings customers a host of intuitive Islamic banking products and services at their fingertips, through ila state-of-the-art mobile app.

alburaq is backed by Bank ABCs long-established Islamic finance subsidiary, Bank ABC Islamic. Recently named the Best Islamic Financial Institution in Bahrain in 2023 by Global Finance, Bank ABC Islamic has been been at the forefront of cutting-edge developments in the Islamic banking space since the 1980s.

Islamic banking

Commenting on ilas foray into the Islamic banking space, Bank ABCs Acting Group CEO, Sael Al Waary said: Bank ABC revolutionised the retail banking landscape in Bahrain with the launch of our digital mobile-only  ila Bank back in 2019. We are now merging the deep Sharia-compliant banking expertise of our Islamic finance arm with ilas disruptive digital capabilities to offer consumers a first-of-its-kind, extremely personalised digital Islamic banking experience through alburaq.

By introducing this purely Islamic account from ila, we endeavor to offer Bahrain an all-inclusive banking experience that caters to the countrys diverse market, with a wide range of banking products that meet varying customer preferences, enabling us to further bolster financial inclusion in the country. With alburaq, ila now offers strictly Sharia-compliant money management solutions that are fast, convenient, and seamless, empowering our customers to attain their financial goals and aspirations in the manner that best suits them, added Al Waary.

Existing ila customers can switch to alburaq effortlessly via the Profile section on the ila mobile app, while new customers can enjoy a fast and seamless onboarding process and simply choose to open an alburaq account, a conventional account, or both. Given ilas integration with the national eKYC system, the account opening process can be completed within minutes by scanning one national ID card, taking a selfie, and answering a few questions.

Multi-currency accounts

Completely segregated from ilas conventional accounts, alburaq provides customers a host of digital Islamic banking services, including multi-currency accounts, all linked to a new alburaq debit card and a suite of day-to-day banking services such as local Fawri, Fawri+ and Fawteer services, international transfers, card control functions and more. The new alburaq account can be linked to Benefit Pay and the alburaq debit card can be linked to Apple Pay, Garmin Pay, Fit Bit pay, and other payment wallets enabled for ila customers.

Customers of alburaq' can also take exclusive advantage of Wakala Investment, a product that provides the opportunity to invest their funds for a definite period and earn Sharia-compliant profit on their investments. Wakala will initially be offered in BD and $ and multiple Wakala Investment deposits can be created according to the customers preference at attractive rates.-- TradeArabia News Service
1. Maya Oppenheim is The Independents Womens Correspondent. She covers news, social policy and global stories from a womens angle  with a particular focus on issues of domestic violence, sexual assault, gender-based violence, abortion, and period poverty.





The following is full text of Maya Oppenheim's 29 August 2018 news report headlined "94 per cent of Native American women say they have been raped or coerced into sex" and the subheading "'Its the legacies, the ongoing legacies of colonisation and policies that have affected tribal communities,' says indigenous women's rights advocate".





(Begin text)

A report found 94 per cent of Native American women living in Seattle say they have been raped or coerced into sex at least once in their lifetime.





The damning new report  from the Urban Indian Health Institute and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  is believed to be one of the first to examine the experience of native women living in an urban environment instead of on reservations.





Seventy-one per cent of native people live in city settings  making the reports findings particularly noteworthy.





Out of the 148 women surveyed, 94 per cent said they had been raped or forced to have sex and 69 per cent claimed they experienced street harassment.





Whats more, 86 per cent reported they suffered from historical trauma  a term which refers to the idea trauma from colonisation and historical oppression gets passed down from one generation to another.





The research  which documents the experiences of sexual violence among Seattle-based American Indian and Alaska Native women  found more than half the women (53 per cent) were homeless at the time they were surveyed.





Lacking permanent housing increases the chance people will experience sexual assault.





Urban Indian Health Institute Director Abigail Echo-Hawk discovered the results of the survey in 2016 in the bottom drawer of a file cabinet in the corner of her office. However the health institute has only just released the survey results to the public.





Indigenous women's rights advocate Susan Balbas of the Naah Illahee Fund said native groups are inclined towards staying quiet surrounding violence against women in the community due to concerns about how outsiders will perceive indigenous groups.





Nevertheless, she said she thinks it is time the community publicly addresses the high rate of abuse and homelessness.





Its acknowledging the violence in the community but really developing a critical analysis about what the causes are, Ms Balbas told the Seattle Times.





Its the legacies, the ongoing legacies of colonisation and policies that have affected tribal communities, intentional policies that have hurt and damaged native communities.





This will be the first of many discussions that will take place around sexual violence in our community, Seattle City Councilmember Debora Juarez said in a statement.





We have always known that the rates of sexual violence against native women were high, but its going to take others to acknowledge it as well and to do something about it, and that needs to happen now.





Esther Lucero, CEO of Seattle Indian Health Board  the non-profit organisation which oversees the Urban Indian Health Institute  said the reasons for such high rates of abuse and lack of accountability are multifaceted and complex. She said they partly stem from the historical trauma of colonialism.





This is defined in the report as cumulative emotional and psychological injury over the lifespan and across generations, emanating from massive group trauma and a history of genocide.





Historical trauma can display itself as cycles of violence which sees the perpetrators often being survivors of abuse themselves.





She argued boarding schools which strived to assimilate native communities by depriving them of their traditions is where our family systems became dismantled.





Ms Lucero said colonisation also spurred the dehumanisation of indigenous women  forging a culture where women are less valued and thought of as property.





Back in May 2016, a study by the Department of Justice revealed out of the 2,000-plus Native American and Alaskan Native women surveyed (who lived both on and outside of reservations), 56 per cent had experienced sexual assault and rape.





The report attributed the high rate of sexual violence to a flawed tribal court structure, little local law enforcement, and a lack of funding.





Native Americans often face low education levels, poor health care, substandard housing, and high rates of poverty.





Native American history has included mass killings and attempts to deprive tribes of their land, language, rituals and overall culture. In more recent years, disputes have played out in the form of cultural and legal fights over property and casinos. (End text)





Source: independentdotcodotuk





2. With regard to the ongoing systematic raping of native women, the US authorities should allow independent observers into the country to carry out immediate investigations. Reports of systematic rapes and sexual abuses against native women are deeply disturbing to the international community. The US authorities should be warned of the serious consequences of their past and ongoing genocides against the natives.




Taoiseach 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.
Protestors have blocked the site of a former hotel in County Clare which was due to house 34 asylum seekers.

This Monday, the international protection applicants arrived by bus at Magowna House in Inch, just west of Ennis.

Residents and a local politician are taking issue with the site itself, claiming that in 2022, Clare County Council deemed the site "unsuitable" for accommodation.

Locals arrived at the site on Monday and blocked the access ways in a 'peaceful protest', according to Clare TD Cathal Crowe.

Last Thursday, Deputy Crowe received a "briefing note" from the Department of Integration, where his office was made aware of a 12-month contract to provide accommodation to asylum seekers at that site. He also received information that there would be a manager onsite, and meals onsite.

Speaking on Morning Ireland on RTE Radio 1, he then referenced the fact that due to the blockades, there were no meals this Monday when the international protection applicants arrived.

Deputy Crowe said he visited the site twice on Monday. At 11am he attended the former hotel as his office was "bombarded" with concerned residents. He told Morning Ireland that through the windows he saw the hotel was "kitted out with beds".

Shortly before midnight he returned to the area and found there were still 50 people blocking access to the building.

The deputy, who is a resident of Meelick, an area which houses dozens of asylum seekers at Knockalisheen, says "people seeking asylum are very welcome in Clare," and adds that 3.5% of the county's population are made up of "people feeling war or persecution."

One resident of Inch spoke on the programme saying that tensions are running very high as there was "no consultation with the local community."

He added that Clare County Council told residents no one could reside there due to health and safety issues at the site.

Another resident also featured on the radio programme discussing her feelings on the issue. She stated that Inch is not suitable as it is "not even a village, it's a townland."

When asked what would be a suitable site to reside, she continued, "somewhere you have easy access to amenities required for individuals," including shops, meeting places and transport hubs.

The same resident added, "if you said there were 30 families here with kids I don't think there would be any barriers," and continued, "I don't want anyone to think we are hostile in any way."

With 12 tents present at the Meelick site later this Tuesday, Deputy Crowe stated that the matter of being welcome is "not up for question at all," but rather the suitability of sites. "There has to be a baseline of accommodation," said the deputy.

Deputy Crowe finished by saying he has passed complaints to Clare County Council and Environmental Health and hopes to meet Minister for Integration, Roderic O'Gorman later today to discuss the matter further.

It's understood that gardai have also attended the scene of the protest but have not intervened.
Gov. Greg Gianforte this week signed a bill into law establishing mandatory minimums and higher criminal penalties for drug dealers trafficking specifically in fentanyl.

State law enforcement officials who testified in support of House Bill 791 during the legislative session described fentanyl's proliferation since 2019 as "meteoric" and approaching methamphetamine's place as the state's most vexing substance. Rep. Courtenay Sprunger, a freshman Republican from Kalispell, carried the bill.

The law now sets a two-year minimum prison sentence for those convicted of criminal distribution of dangerous drugs involving 100 fentanyl pills or a combined weight greater than 10 grams in a powder, solid or liquid form. Along with fentanyl, the law includes possession of additives or cutting agents in those combined weights.

Previously, such cases would have been charged under the broader criminal distribution of dangerous drugs statute, which had no minimum prison sentence.

The maximum sentence of 25 years for drug distribution is also upped to 40 years for distribution of 100 or more pills of fentanyl, or more than 10 grams.

"Our narcotics agents and troopers are already getting more fentanyl out of our communities than ever before, but this new law will send the message to drug traffickers to stay out of Montana," Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen said in an emailed statement Tuesday. "Im thankful to Gov. Gianforte and Rep. Sprunger for working with me during the legislative session to crack down on the flow of fentanyl and the criminals who are bringing this poison into our state.

Montana has grappled with rounds of mass overdoses sometimes spurred by the same batch of fentanyl ferried into the state. Last year Helena law enforcement reported nine overdoses from fentanyl-laced heroin in a 48-hour span, and the Blackeet tribe declared a state of emergency following 17 fentanyl overdoses and four related deaths in a week's time.

"We absolutely have to step to the plate if we're going to do something to save the Montana that we all love," Sprunger said in a phone interview Monday. "This became clear to me that it was the right approach when I started to look around and realize our law enforcement officers are carrying around Narcan," the brand name of the overdose reversal medication called Naloxone.

Mandatory minimums are generally regarded as regressive, removing judges' discretion to tailor sentences that account for the facts of a person's case and life circumstances. Sprunger and those who supported the bill contended during the legislative process the law would also send a clear message to traffickers.

Frank Garner, a former Kalispell police chief whose legislative seat was taken over by Sprunger when he termed out last year, testified in support of the bill in a committee hearing in January.

"I think most of us would agree, it's not the solution individually or by itself, but it's got to be part of the package in terms of our response to this in our state, along with education, treatment and a chance to punish those" who traffic fentanyl in Montana, Garner testified. "This bill also has the same opt-out that others do. The only thing you have to do to not be subject to this bill is don't deal fentanyl in this state."

The bill passed both chambers with bipartisan support, tallying an 87-11 vote in the House and 31-18 vote in the Senate.

A separate bill to decriminalize fentanyl testing strips, meanwhile, introduced early in the session failed to pass out of its first committee. Another bill, House Bill 437 from Rep. Katie Zolnikov, R-Billings, struck testing strips from the drug paraphernalia statute and passed on the final day of the Legislature. That bill is still awaiting the governor's signature.

State and federal officials in bipartisan fashion have pointed to Mexican drug cartels as the source of fentanyl that's reached Montana. Indeed, Mexican citizens have been arrested and prosecuted in Montana on alleged fentanyl trafficking operations.

Officials with the Montana Attorney General's Office have cited a 10,800% increase in fentanyl dosage seizures since 2019. That's an increase of 1,900 doses seized in 2021, to 206,955 doses seized by area drug task forces in 2022.

In most cases, those cases are taken up by federal law authorities because the conduct crosses state and international boundaries. Still, state analysts found some instances, roughly four cases per year, could still be filed in state court under this new state law.

As a matter of monitoring the effects of the new law, lawmakers included a reporting requirement for the Montana Department of Justice. Beginning in September 2024, the Montana Attorney General's Office will begin reporting the number of times judges have imposed the mandatory minimum to legislative interim committees on an annual basis.

The Governor's Office on Monday announced Gianforte's signing of HB 791 following a recent trip to the U.S.-Mexico border to survey the area as a pandemic-era federal border policy known as Title 42 expired. The policy allowed border officials to turn certain asylum seekers away from the U.S. as a precautionary measure against COVID-19. Despite attempts from Republican-led states like Montana to preserve the policy, it fell away on Thursday with the national public health emergency expiration.

Gianforte criticized the Biden administration for Title 42's sunset, contending it would allow more drug traffickers into the U.S. and Montana.

"As just one consequence of the border crisis, Montana is being overrun by fentanyl trafficked into our state by Mexican drug cartels," Gianforte said in a press release. "Were taking action to crack down on the criminals who profit off these deadly drugs."

Update: This article has been updated to include the status of a second bill on drug testing strips.
The European Parliament will continue to rely on the expertise of the group of European TA institutions headed by KIT. (Photo: CC-BY-4.0 / European Union 2020)

How can digital innovations be steered in socially meaningful ways? Which technologies help to quickly decarbonize the economy? And how can critical infrastructures be made more resilient in the future? Key future issues have long required solutions at European level. In the search for adequate answers, the European Parliament continues to rely on the scientific expertise of the experts for technology assessment at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).

The addressee and client of such scientific political consulting is the Panel for the Future of Science and Technology (STOA) of the European Parliament, which consists of 27 MEPs. Since 2005, STOA has regularly been receiving short briefings and detailed analyses of new and emerging technologies from the members of the European Technology Assessment Group (ETAG). This group of scientific institutions from Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Norway, and Portugal is headed by KITs Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS). As coordinator of the ETAG, ITAS has now successfully applied for a new framework agreement with a term of five years.

Supporting Political Decision-making Processes

The decision of the European Parliament underlines the high importance of technology assessment, which has been continuously expanded at KIT for many years, says President of KIT Professor Holger Hanselka. We are pleased that, as the head of an international network, we can continue to contribute our expertise to political decision-making processes not only at the national level for the German Bundestag, but also at the European level.

It is central to democratic decision-making processes to consider the social consequences of technology appropriately and with foresight. The commissioning by STOA shows that the demand for well-founded scientific advice on the shaping and use of socio-technical processes is unbroken, says Professor Armin Grunwald, head of ITAS at KIT. We are convinced that there is a lot of work waiting for us, especially in digital technologies, but also in issues of technological sovereignty and resilience to disruption.

Studies on Deepfakes and Hydrogen

In recent years, ETAG has carried out a large number of analyses on the social, ecological, and economic aspects of new technological and scientific developments. Studies on options for action and regulation in dealing with AI-manipulated media content, so-called deepfakes (Tackling Deepfakes in European Policy), or on the implementation of the European hydrogen strategy (The Potential of Hydrogen for Decarbonizing EU Industry) have recently received particular attention.

Read more:

Development of the European Technology Assessment Group (ETAG) and list of partners

Panel for the Future of Science and Technology (STOA)

Being The Research University in the Helmholtz Association, KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 9,800 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 22,300 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence.
The Washington standoff over raising the debt ceiling has raised economic concerns on a global basis. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen again warned on Monday that a U.S. default could come as early as June 1st. Her dire warning is also confirmed by projections of both the Bipartisan Policy Center and the Congressional Budget Office.

A nonpartisan congressional report cited a significant risk of a historic default within the first two weeks of June. A report by the U.S. Congressional Budget Office confirmed statements by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellens warning that a government default could come as early as June 1. Then there is also Bidens veiled threat of using the 14th amendment if no agreement is forthcoming before June 1.

President Biden announced his plans to cut short his upcoming trip to Asia. Although he will still attend the G7 meeting in Japan he will return immediately after that rather than going to Papa New Guinea and Australia. This could be the root cause of the upbeat and optimistic tone and statements that occurred immediately following the conclusion of the second debt ceiling meeting by all sides.

Speaker Kevin McCarthy said both sides are still "far apart," but he believes it's possible to get a deal this week. There was an overwhelming consensus that letting the U.S. government default on its obligations was not an option. Which also opens the door for a two-part agreement. The first part being some sort of short-term extension followed by more extensive negotiations being held at a later date.

One piece of fresh news came with the acknowledgment that the only way to resolve the debt ceiling crisis was through bipartisan negotiation to create legislation rather than partisan bills such as the one passed by Congress a few weeks ago. Shortly after the one-hour meeting, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy spoke to reporters stating that both he and the president have agreed to designate people to represent the White House in direct negotiations with his team.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer added to that sentiment saying that, a few additional players will be added to the discussions. The White House later announced that the President will have two of his top advisers negotiate the debt deal with Capitol Hill Republicans.

It is what was not said that seems to be at the heart of this newfound optimism which is that there was some discussion of a short-term extension to avoid the U.S. defaulting on its obligations. While this is only a conjecture the fact that the ideology of the Republicans and Democrats remain so far apart that the only way to get an agreement by the end of the week would involve some sort of two-part negotiations consisting of short-term solutions which would be followed by a more detailed negotiation at a later date.

As of 6:00 PM EDT Gold futures basis the most active June contract is currently fixed at $1993.20 after factoring in todays decline of $29.4 or 1.46%. The U.S. dollar index is currently trading at 102.44.

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Wishing you as always good trading,

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Mergers and acquisitions in the silver sector appear to be in an uptrend, noted Executive Vice President Douglas Cavey at Defiance Silver.

On Saturday, Cavey spoke to Kitco at Deutsche Goldmesse 2023 spring show in Frankfurt, Germany.

Defiance Silver (TSX-V:DEF) is a Mexico-based silver, gold, copper, and polymetallic exploration and development company actively engaged in advancing two major projects in Mexico, including the Zacatecas silver projects in the historic mining region of Zacatecas, and the Tepal copper-gold project in Michoacan, Mexico.

The Zacatecas region is home to several large silver operations: Pan American Silver, Fresnillo, Newmont, Teck, Agnico Eagle, Grupo Mexico, Capstone, Minera Frisco.

"It is truly one of the world's most important silver mining, if not mining jurisdictions, so we're very happy to have a commanding land position," said Cavey.

Cavey noted recent M&A in the silver space, such as Agnico Eagle Mining-Pan American Silver-Yamana Gold deal and Hecla acquiring projects and mines in the Yukon.

"We're seeing...a very similar environment that we had in 2006 and 2007 when we had a lot of these big consolidations," said Cavey. "It does make its way down the chain and hits the smaller space."
DUBAI, May 16 (Reuters) - A new Dubai organisation focused on family businesses, a key component of the emirate's economy, on Tuesday said it would support the growth of family firms and help them survive generational transitions.

Dubai Chambers, which represents the emirate's business community interests, has set up the Dubai Centre for Family Businesses to educate firms on leadership transition, planning and growth, it said.

Dubai, a regional trade and tourism hub, also plans to start a family business dispute centre to resolve conflicts outside of the courts, Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair, chairman of Dubai Chambers, told Reuters.

Family-owned businesses contribute 60% of the United Arab Emirates Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 80% of its workforce, consultancy KPMG said in a report last year.

"The size of the family business in the last 50 years has changed from smaller business to become multi-billion dollar businesses ... it is becoming more critical to ensure that the transition from the founder to the next generation becomes very smooth, trouble free," said Ghurair.

When Majid Al Futtaim, Forbes Magazine's third-richest Arab businessman in 2021, died in December 2021, a special judicial committee was formed to weigh in on potential legal disputes with heirs. His conglomerate, Majid Al Futtaim (MAF), has roughly $16 billion in assets including an indoor ski resort in Dubai.

Involving and educating the next generation within family businesses before the death of the founder is important, Ghurair said.

"Sisters and mothers need also to be educated because someday they will be owners of this business, someday they will be asked to vote," he said.

A new UAE Family Companies Law, which came into effect in January, aimed to improve how companies transition to successive generations.

"For the next two, three years, we have enough legislation to help us," Ghurair said, adding that new legislation might be needed after that.
May 16 (Reuters) - European Union states on Tuesday gave the final nod to the world's first comprehensive set of rules to regulate cryptoassets on Tuesday, piling pressure on countries such as Britain and the United States to play catch up.

An EU finance minister meeting in Brussels approved rules that were thrashed out with the European Parliament, which gave its approval in April.

The rules are expected to be rolled out from 2024.

Regulating crypto has become more urgent for regulators after the collapse of crypto exchange FTX.

"Recent events have confirmed the urgent need for imposing rules which will better protect Europeans who have invested in these assets, and prevent the misuse of crypto industry for the purposes of money laundering and financing of terrorism," said Elisabeth Svantesson, finance minister for Sweden, which holds the EU presidency.

The rules require firms that want to issue, trade and safeguard cryptoassets, tokenised assets and stablecoins in the 27 country bloc to obtain a licence.

Ministers took steps to combat tax evasion and the use of cryptoasset transfers for money laundering by making transactions easier to trace.

They agreed on a requirement that from January 2026 service providers obtain the name of senders and beneficiaries in cryptoassets, regardless of the amount being transferred.

There was also agreement on amending rules on how member countries cooperate with each other in taxation to cover transactions in crypto-assets, and on exchanging information on advance tax rulings for the wealthiest individuals.

Crypto firms say they want certainty in regulation, putting pressure on countries to copy the EU rules, and on regulators to come up with global norms for a cross-border activity.

Britain has outlined a phased approach, starting with stablecoins and broadening out to un-backed cryptoassets later on, but there is no firm timetable.

The United States has focused on using existing securities rules for enforcement action in the sector while it decides on whether to introduce bespoke new rules and who would apply them.

Hester Peirce, one of the commissioners at the U.S. derivatives regulator CFTC, said last week that a number of federal and state authorities are trying to figure out what oversight role they could play in the crypto sector.

"We are wandering in the desert a bit," Peirce told a conference.
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(Kitco News) - The European Unions landmark cryptocurrency regulation, the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) bill, reached another milestone Tuesday as the finance ministers of all 27 member states voted to approve it.

The European Parliament also approved rules on the information requirements to accompany transfers of funds and crypto assets in conjunction with the MiCA vote.

The unanimous vote by the EUs Economic and Financial Affairs Council means MiCA remains on track to become law by the third quarter of 2024. The next step is for the bill to be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

The European Parliament approved the Markets in Crypto-Assets bill on April 20, with 517 members of parliament voting in favor and 38 voting against it.

MiCA lays out a framework for the European Unions approach to regulating the cryptocurrency sector. Under the text of the legislation, the issuance of cryptocurrencies will be brought under the wing of institutional regulation, and it establishes a new regime for crypto-asset service providers across the EUs member states.

MiCA is a comprehensive and far-reaching piece of legislation, and its implementation will be carried out in phases. Provisions related to stablecoins could come into force as soon as July 2024, while many of the other provisions wont take effect until January 2025 at the earliest.

Following the April 20 vote, Kitco Crypto spoke with Albert Isola, Gibraltars Minister for Digital and Financial Services. Isola acknowledged that MiCA will not come into play overnight and that to create effective frameworks, transitional testing will be required, but he was broadly positive about the new legislation.

Introducing new crypto-specific laws will allow for greater transparency, better protection for retail investors, and, in general, a far more stable and secure market, he said. I suspect more broadly across the EU we will see an increase in economic activity.

Isola added that multiple global crypto players have already expressed interest in becoming licensed and approved under MiCA to operate in Europe and cautioned that the EU needs to make sure that it doesnt stifle innovation in the sector through overregulation.

Even as MiCA moves forward, EU legislators have more work ahead as several important sectors of the cryptocurrency ecosystem are not addressed in the bill, including non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and decentralized finance (DeFi) applications.

Reactions from regulators since MiCAs passage in April have been largely positive, with some focusing on the ways it can be implemented while others see inspiration in it for their own jurisdictions.

On May 11, European Banking Authority (EBA) Chair Jose Manuel Campa said he wants central banks to use their powers under MiCA to veto big stablecoins if they believe the cryptocurrencies could threaten their monetary policy.

Campa's agency will be directly responsible for supervising major issuers under MiCA. In addition to requiring stablecoin issuers to obtain a license and hold suitable reserves, the legislation allows central banks to intervene on companies proposals to issue new stablecoins, referred to in MiCA as asset-referenced tokens.

It will also require the issuance of the stablecoins to cease if the tokens reach over 1 million transactions per day.

On May 10, Hester Peirce, a commissioner at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), said she believes the MiCA framework would serve as a good starting point for crypto regulation in the United States.

MiCA can serve as a model for us, Pierce said, adding that the regulatory approach being taken by the UK could also inform the U.S. process.

If we built a good regulatory regime, people would come, she said. Were shooting ourselves in the foot by not having a good regulatory regime in the U.S.

Peirce added that she's "not very optimistic about the regulatory system in the U.S. providing clear guidance for crypto firms anytime soon.
Water is still for fighting in Wyoming.

The state and Bureau of Reclamation announced on Tuesday that a deal had been crafted after weeks of negotiations to keep minimum water flows in the Snake River below Jackson Lake Dam.

This after the Wyoming Game and Fish Department announced in a press release last week that the Bureau planned to cut flows from Jackson Lake to 50 cubic feet per second on the upper river. WGFD said a minimum of 280 cfs is needed to avoid killing fish in the stretch of water that runs through the scenic and much photographed Oxbow Bend section of Grand Teton National Park.

To ensure the fisheries survival, WGFD agreed to use its water allocation in the lake to keep the releases at 280 cfs. Initially, the agency said its 33,000 acre feet of water would run out before the Bureau of Reclamation planned to increase its flows. In the agreement announced Tuesday, WGFD said the Bureau has decided to cover any shortfalls to maintain the minimum flows.

The 4.5-mile stretch of river below the dam is critical habitat for Snake River cutthroat trout, shore birds, wildlife and the bluehead sucker  a species of greatest conservation need, WGFD noted.

This stretch of river is iconic and a national treasure, said Wyoming Game and Fish Director Brian Nesvik in a statement. I appreciate the Bureau of Reclamations efforts to work with us to find solutions to address our concerns. We look forward to working together to examine water operations and ensure water flows are maintained year-long.

Why?

The Bureau of Reclamation wanted outflows from Jackson Lake cut to raise the water level in Jackson Lake while reducing inflows to Palisade Reservoir and other dam impoundments downstream. WGFD called the change in flows drastic and with extremely short notice.

The Snake River below the dam was designated a Wild and Scenic River in 2009. The conservation group American Rivers stepped into the fray, urging the Bureaus leadership to compromise.

I conveyed to the Bureau in no uncertain terms that the Snake River in Grand Teton National Park is a globally significant treasure, and reducing flows out of Jackson Lake Dam to a trickle when it should be at peak flood stage is totally unacceptable due to the profound negative ecological and economic impacts it would have, said Scott Bosse, Northern Rockies Regional Director of American Rivers. While the Bureau is maintaining flows at 280 cubic feet per second and has no immediate plans to reduce flows below that level, normal flood flows on that reach of the Snake River should be at least 10 times that level in order to sustain healthy fish and wildlife habitat. I appreciate that they listened to what I had to say, and they seem to understand the importance of the upper Snake River to Jackson Holes tourism-based economy.

Drought

In the summer of 2021, Jackson Lake hit a historically low water level as the Bureau worked to meet downstream irrigation needs during an extended drought. As of Tuesday, the lake was filled to an elevation of 6,746 feet, about 36% of its total capacity. For much of 2021, the lake was 8 to 9 feet lower and last year hovered around 6,739 feet, or 7 feet lower.

Under the 1949 Snake River Compact, Wyoming only has rights to 4% of the rivers water while Idaho claims the other 96%.

The Bureau gets stuck thinking about their irrigators, not Jackson, Bosse said. I reminded them the public in Jackson Hole is very concerned when they look up at all of the snow in the mountains and the Bureau says they have to cut flows to a bare minimum.

Atypical

A request to Grand Teton National Park for information on the Park Services stance regarding the water fight was referred to headquarters in Washington, D.C. Park Superintendent Chip Jenkins is quoted in WGFDs press release as praising the water deal.

We appreciate the State of Wyoming and the Bureau of Reclamations joint efforts to ensure minimum flows from Jackson Lake Dam to protect these resources and experiences.

According to WGFD, the BOR recommended cuts to flows out of Jackson Lake due to atypical snowpack conditions in the region and an effort to store water and reduce flood risks downstream. The agency said Palisades Reservoir, which is 58% full and the next impoundment downstream from Jackson Lake, is expected to reach flood management maximums soon.

The Snake Rivers flow at Moose, Wyoming, about 20 miles downstream from Jackson Lake, was 4,290 cfs. By the time the river reaches Alpine, Wyoming, just above Palisades Reservoir 70 miles downstream, the river was running at 5,970 cfs, demonstrating the amount of water that comes from sources other than Jackson Lake. Yet just below the lake about 5 miles, near Moran, Wyoming, the river was running at 285 cfs.

Managing water in the West in light of changing hydrology requires adapting to dynamic water conditions, Reclamation Regional Director Jennifer Carrington said in the WGFD press release. We appreciate our partners and remain committed to working with them on collaborative solutions as we attempt to balance the water needs of interests upstream and down.
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(Kitco News) - South African platinum group metals (PGM) producer Tharisa (LSE: THS) announced today that its basic earnings per share (EPS) for the six months ended 31 March 2023 are expected to be between US$ 17 cents and US$ 18 cents per share with a tolerance of 10%.

According to a press release, this is a decrease of between 44.9% to 48.0% relative to the EPS of US$ 32.7 cents for the six months ended 31 March 2022, which included a once off item namely accounting for the acquisition of a controlling interest in Karo Mining Holdings Limited as a business combination.

Tharisas headline earnings per share (HEPS) for the six months ended 31 March 2023 are expected to be between US$ 17 cents and US$ 18 cents per share with a tolerance of 10%.

This is an increase of 9.6% to 16.1% relative to the HEPS of US$ 15.5 cents per share for the six months ended 31 March 2022, the company added.

Tharisa is an integrated resource group incorporating mining, processing, exploration and the beneficiation, marketing, sales and logistics of PGMs and chrome concentrates. Its principal asset is the Tharisa mine located in the South-Western Limb of the Bushveld complex, South Africa.
May 16 (Reuters) - Higher pay remains an obstacle for Canada's WestJet Airlines and its pilots to secure an agreement and avert a possible work stoppage on Friday, as a smaller rival on Tuesday said it was adding flights in case of a strike or lockout.

Pilots at Onex Corp-owned (ONEX.TO) WestJet gave notice on Monday that could allow for strike action as early as May 19, raising fears of travel disruptions during Canada's Victoria Day holiday weekend. The carrier has similarly issued a lockout notice.

North American pilots are pressing for higher salaries and better scheduling after aviators made big gains in a recent deal with Delta Air Lines (DAL.N) that delivers a 34% pay increase over four years.

"There is a path for a deal I think on job protection. We're getting closer on scheduling. Pay is still the outlier," said Bernard Lewall, a union representative with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA).

"We need to narrow that gap between the North American carriers and WestJet," he said on Tuesday in an interview.

Lewall declined to give a specific wage target, but said the airline must pay more to retain pilots.

Calgary-based WestJet wants an agreement that is competitive within Canada's airline industry.

"The union maintains its expectation of closing in towards U.S.like wages, despite living and working in Canada," the carrier said in a statement on Monday.

Calgary-based WestJet narrowly averted a pilot strike in 2018.

Canadian Transport Minister Omar Alghabra on Twitter urged both sides to find a "fair and reasonable deal."

Canadian budget carrier Flair Airlines said on Tuesday it was adding additional domestic flights between Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton starting May 19.

"We hope this measure will help WestJet passengers who otherwise could not travel due to the pilots strike, said Flair CEO Stephen Jones.

WestJet's larger rival Air Canada (AC.TO) said its fleet was already fully deployed and had minimal ability to increase capacity further.

WestJet has said impacted travelers would be refunded or re-accommodated, as applicable.
The Rest is Politics is a great British politics podcast hosted by Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart. Campbell is tony blair's former communications chief while Stewart is a former Conservative Cabinet Minister.

Their 26 April podcast saw Stewart talking about his role as Ambassador in Iraq and having to evacuate and being under siege at the Government compound in An Nasiriyah he was in charge of. And he mentioned Mark Mitchell.

Mitchell has been asked about his time in Iraq and specifically about this seige by NZ media several times over the years. Mitchell has always stated he was proud of his service in iraq and those he served with but would not go into more detail. Rory Stewart goes into more detail and share's some insights into what occurred during the seige of Nasiriyah. So as Stewart has talked publicly about some of what happened there, Mitchell has for what is the first time elaborated on what he was doing in Iraq.

The left of politics have attacked Mitchell for years as being a mercenary for his time in Iraq, but listen to what Stewart said.

Stewart incidentally has been a soldier, diplomat, author, Cabinet Minister, and human rights professor at Harvard University plus a a fellow at Yale University's Jackson Institute for International relations.

He is also involved in doing restoration work in Afghanistan and Jordan and is President of an NGO providing financial support to the poor in africa. Stewart states he holds Mitchell in high regard and attributes his actions in helping to save the lives of journalists, diplomats and NGO workers by holding off a determined attack by a militia with overwhelming numbers and fire power for several days until air support finally arrived.

Italian Senator Barbara Contini, who was also a coaliation provisional authority Ambassador to Iraq, was also attacked by insurgents and wrote in a commendation that if it was not for the cool heads and courage under fire of her two body guard teams one of which Mitchell was team leader then she had no doubt the outcome would have been her capture and death.

British Baroness Emma Nicolson was evacuated overland from Basra to the Kuwait border when terrorists attacked the Basra airport and coalition bases in a wide spread Terror operation. She cited the confidence, experience and local knowledge of the close protection team as the reason she was taken safely to the border. Mark Mitchell was the team leader there also.

Mitchell moved from his close protection role into a fully embedded advisor and trainer role with the newly formed Iraqi Police special tactics unit known as the Tactical Support unit or TSU.

Mitchell along with 4 other advisors lived with the TSU in their base in the heart of Basra city.

They were regularly targeted with mortar, RPG and small arms attacks.

It was a difficult environment running operations against terror organisations, criminal gangs sponsored by tribal groups and religious death squads with the involvement of Iranian Quds forces.

The TSU focused its operations on stopping the kidnap and ransom of children from wealthy families, targeting the death squads who were killing gay men and women and working with coalition forces on counter terrorism operations against Al Queda.

The TSU in Basra were so effective that American General David Petraeus travelled from Baghdad to be briefed by senior Mitchell on the core components of success.

During this time Mitchell was approached by global logistics Company Agility logistics and asked to take over its security and risk management programme.

Mitchell was appointed Chief Security Officer for the company which had 30,000 employees in over 140 country's. He formed Threat Management Group to provide high quality security services to Agility Logistics but quickly had requests for services and support from the UN, NGO's, multi Nationals and us, British, Australian, Japanese and Italian Governments.

Mitchell resigned from Agility Logistics in 2010 and Threat Management Group was sold the same year as he wanted to return to New Zealand and re enter public service.

Prior to his time overseas Mitchell had a Policing career. Most of his service was as a Police Dog Handler and member of the Armed offenders Squad. Mitchell and his Police Dog Czar were stabbed stopping an offender armed with a Samurai sword from attacking medical staff at the Rotorua hospital. They received the Police Gold Merit award for bravery and dedication to duty. Mitchell also received the Police long service and good conduct medal.

Two ambassadors and a Baroness credit Mitchell and his team with keeping them alive.

The top American general in iraq sought a briefing from Mitchell on how a Special Tactics unit he was embeded with was so effective in dealing with terrorists and death squads.

A global logistics company head hunted Mitchell to help keep thier employees safe.

Labour MP Emily Henderson took a call in Parliament two weeks ago on a countering terrorism bill in which she acknowledged Mitchell and the work he had done overseas supporting Rory Stewart.

I wonder if Rory Stewart, Barbara Contini, Emma Nicolson, the men of the TSU, the gay men and women who were being hunted and killed by death squads, the logistics workers and truck drivers keeping supply chains open in war zones and protected by Mitchell and his team would describe him as a mercenary.

Both past Labour Party Leader david shearer and current Labour Party MP Emily Henderson don't seem to think so. Maybe the rest of the left should follow their lead and praise someone who risked their own life on multiple occasions to save the lives of others.

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The israel Institute of NZ points out:

National MP, Simon O'Connor has accepted a petition from the Israel Institute of New Zealand (IINZ) calling on the government to stop funding schools that glorify terror and incite violence. It will be presented in parliament today.

For decades, New Zealand has funded UNRWA, which operates schools in which children are exposed to lessons that glorify the murder of Jews and taught that martyrdom and jihad are the most important meanings of life.



A report published in March this year contains 25 examples from 10 different UNRWA schools of hateful educational content, including 9th grade study material created by UNRWA that celebrates a Palestinian firebombing attack on a jewish bus as a barbecue party'. It also contains 10 new examples of UNRWA teachers and other taff posting support for hate or violence, including conspiracy theories about Jews controlling the world and praising Hitler.

O'Connor says funding these schools is incompatible with New Zealand values

Kiwis are tolerant, but we should not be funding blatant racism and incitement to violence. It is especially hypocritical for the current government to do so while talking of imposing hate speech' laws on New Zealand citizens. This is an issue I have frequently raised in parliament and to date, there has been no satisfactory response as to why New Zealand continues to fund UNWRA while it uses such intolerant literature.

The petition comes only days after the EU passed a resolution that, for the first time, explicitly links the textbooks to ongoing Palestinian terrorism and, especially, to attacks perpetrated by young people. The resolution also acknowledges the existence of antisemitism, and explicitly demands its removal.

Similarly, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has expressed concern about the existence of hate speech in [PA] school curricula and textbooks [used by UNRWA], which fuel hatred and may incite violence.

IINZ co-director, Dr David Cumin, says New Zealand officials have only acknowledged the issue because of pressure, and had previously filed to brief ministers,

There is no evidence that MFAT officials briefed previous ministers despite decades of public evidence that we are funding hate. It was only when IINZ started asking questions in public and the human rights commission raised concerns that Minister Mahuta was briefed. It is especially disappointing that Mahuta has not put a stop to the funding, and has openly praised UNRWA for their work. Would she be as happy to fund schools that glorify the Christchurch terrorist as she is to fund schools that glorify the person who murdered 38 civilians, including 13 children, on a bus.
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.
A Fargo man with past firearms and assault convictions has been sentenced to nearly five years in prison stemming from a 2020 incident in which he pulled a gun on Fargo police.

Shawn Larkin, 40, after his prison time must spend three years on supervised release, U.S. Attorney Mac Schneider said.

Police stopped Larkins vehicle in September 2020 because his license was suspended. He fought with officers, and while he was on the ground pulled a loaded handgun and pointed it at them, according to authorities. Police said they found two loaded magazines, drugs and drug paraphernalia on Larkin and in his vehicle.

Larkin was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to felony convictions for theft in Wisconsin in 2001, simple assault in Ward County in 2012, and a previous conviction for felon in possession of a firearm in North Dakota in 2013.

The case was investigated by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Fargo Police Department and the Cass County Sheriffs Office.
Auckland International Airport Limited (OTCMKTS:AUKNY  Get Rating) was down 0.2% on Monday . The stock traded as low as $27.85 and last traded at $27.85. Approximately 5,514 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 604% from the average daily volume of 783 shares. The stock had previously closed at $27.91.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, Royal Bank of Canada upgraded Auckland International Airport from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, March 22nd.

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Auckland International Airport Stock Down 0.2 %

The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $26.72 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $25.84.

About Auckland International Airport

Auckland International Airport Ltd. engages in the provision of airport facilities and supporting infrastructure. It operates through the following segments: Aeronautical, Retail and Property. The Aeronautical segment includes services that facilitate the movement of aircraft, passengers and cargo and provides utility services that support the airport.

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Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE:BAM  Get Rating) and AllianceBernstein (NYSE:AB  Get Rating) are both finance companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, earnings, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, valuation, risk and profitability.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Brookfield Asset Management and AllianceBernsteins gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Brookfield Asset Management $3.59 billion 3.64 $659.88 million $1.60 19.80 AllianceBernstein $287.53 million 13.45 $274.17 million $2.43 14.02

Brookfield Asset Management has higher revenue and earnings than AllianceBernstein. AllianceBernstein is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Brookfield Asset Management, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Analyst Ratings

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Brookfield Asset Management 1 2 4 1 2.63 AllianceBernstein 0 3 2 0 2.40

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and target prices for Brookfield Asset Management and AllianceBernstein, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Brookfield Asset Management currently has a consensus price target of $43.57, indicating a potential upside of 37.54%. AllianceBernstein has a consensus price target of $42.50, indicating a potential upside of 24.74%. Given Brookfield Asset Managements stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Brookfield Asset Management is more favorable than AllianceBernstein.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

11.5% of AllianceBernstein shares are held by institutional investors. 11.0% of Brookfield Asset Management shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 2.7% of AllianceBernstein shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Profitability

This table compares Brookfield Asset Management and AllianceBernsteins net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Brookfield Asset Management N/A N/A N/A AllianceBernstein 6.44% 15.96% 15.06%

Dividends

Brookfield Asset Management pays an annual dividend of $1.28 per share and has a dividend yield of 4.0%. AllianceBernstein pays an annual dividend of $2.64 per share and has a dividend yield of 7.7%. Brookfield Asset Management pays out 80.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. AllianceBernstein pays out 108.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Brookfield Asset Management has raised its dividend for 12 consecutive years.

Summary

Brookfield Asset Management beats AllianceBernstein on 10 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Brookfield Asset Management

(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. In addition, its private equity business offers business, infrastructure, and industrials services; and real estate business, which includes core investments, and transitional and development investments. Further, the company engages in the residential development business including homebuilding, and condominium and land development. Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. was incorporated in 2022 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

About AllianceBernstein

(Get Rating)

AllianceBernstein Holding LP engages in the provision of research, investment management, and related services. It offers investment trusts, mutual funds, hedge funds, and other investment vehicles. The company was founded in October 2000 and is headquartered in Nashville, TN.

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Grupo Simec, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSEAMERICAN:SIM  Get Rating) shares saw strong trading volume on Tuesday . 1,992 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 21% from the previous sessions volume of 1,650 shares.The stock last traded at $32.20 and had previously closed at $31.52.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, StockNews.com assumed coverage on Grupo Simec in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock.

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Grupo Simec Stock Up 0.3 %

The firm has a market capitalization of $4.87 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.53 and a beta of 0.30. The business has a 50-day moving average of $34.94 and a two-hundred day moving average of $32.29.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Grupo Simec ( NYSEAMERICAN:SIM Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Monday, February 13th. The basic materials company reported $0.18 earnings per share for the quarter. Grupo Simec had a return on equity of 14.87% and a net margin of 13.44%. The business had revenue of $564.09 million for the quarter.

An institutional investor recently bought a new position in Grupo Simec stock. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. bought a new stake in Grupo Simec, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSEAMERICAN:SIM  Get Rating) in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund bought 7,455 shares of the basic materials companys stock, valued at approximately $273,000. 0.17% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Grupo Simec

(Get Rating)

Grupo SIMEC SAB de CV engages in the manufacture, processing and distribution of steel and structural steel products. It operates through the following geographical segments: Mexico, U.S., and Brazil. The Mexico segment represents the results of the operations in Mexico, including plants in Mexicali, Guadalajara, Tlaxcala, and San Luis Potosi.

Further Reading

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Huatai Securities Co., Ltd. (OTCMKTS:HUATF  Get Rating) saw a significant decline in short interest during the month of April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 6,652,200 shares, a decline of 14.6% from the April 15th total of 7,788,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 4,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1,415.4 days.

Huatai Securities Stock Performance

HUATF remained flat at 1.25 during trading hours on Monday. The companys 50 day moving average is 1.25. Huatai Securities has a 1-year low of 1.12 and a 1-year high of 1.25.

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Huatai Securities Company Profile

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Huatai Securities Co, Ltd., a security company, provides financial services in Mainland China and internationally. The company buys and sells stocks, funds, bonds, futures, and options on behalf of clients; and provides various financial products and asset allocation, margin financing, securities lending, securities-backed lending, and margin securities lending services.

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StockNews.com lowered shares of CIRCOR International (NYSE:CIR  Get Rating) from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report published on Friday morning.

A number of other brokerages also recently commented on CIR. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on CIRCOR International from $30.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. TheStreet upgraded shares of CIRCOR International from a d+ rating to a c rating in a research note on Monday, April 3rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $32.33.

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CIRCOR International Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE CIR opened at $30.52 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.50, a current ratio of 2.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.12. The company has a market cap of $621.54 million, a P/E ratio of 32.47 and a beta of 2.16. The businesss 50 day moving average is $28.67 and its two-hundred day moving average is $26.56. CIRCOR International has a 12 month low of $13.26 and a 12 month high of $32.02.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On CIRCOR International

CIRCOR International ( NYSE:CIR Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, March 15th. The industrial products company reported $0.77 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.40 by $0.37. The company had revenue of $214.53 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $204.00 million. CIRCOR International had a net margin of 2.46% and a return on equity of 30.26%. On average, equities analysts expect that CIRCOR International will post 1.65 EPS for the current year.

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Quinn Opportunity Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of CIRCOR International by 5.9% in the first quarter. Quinn Opportunity Partners LLC now owns 89,652 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $2,790,000 after acquiring an additional 5,000 shares during the last quarter. Cooper Creek Partners Management LLC raised its position in CIRCOR International by 46.0% in the 1st quarter. Cooper Creek Partners Management LLC now owns 410,425 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $12,772,000 after purchasing an additional 129,289 shares during the last quarter. State of Tennessee Treasury Department raised its position in CIRCOR International by 58.1% in the 1st quarter. State of Tennessee Treasury Department now owns 12,583 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $392,000 after purchasing an additional 4,625 shares during the last quarter. Gabelli Funds LLC boosted its stake in CIRCOR International by 1.7% in the first quarter. Gabelli Funds LLC now owns 676,453 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $21,051,000 after purchasing an additional 11,370 shares in the last quarter. Finally, BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC grew its holdings in shares of CIRCOR International by 152.3% during the first quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC now owns 13,796 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $429,000 after purchasing an additional 8,328 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.75% of the companys stock.

About CIRCOR International

(Get Rating)

CIRCOR International, Inc engages in the business of designing, manufacturing, and marketing differentiated technology products and sub-systems for the defense markets. It operates under the Aerospace and Defense, and Industrial segments. The Aerospace and Defense segment is involved in the production of valves, pumps, electric motors, kinetic switches, high pressure pneumatic regulators and subsystems, and electromechanical assemblies.

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Tekla Life Sciences Investors (NYSE:HQL  Get Rating) declared a quarterly dividend on Tuesday, May 16th, Wall Street Journal reports. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 25th will be paid a dividend of 0.32 per share on Friday, June 30th. This represents a $1.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 9.28%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, May 24th.

Tekla Life Sciences Investors Stock Down 1.9 %

Shares of HQL traded down $0.27 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $13.79. The company had a trading volume of 81,051 shares, compared to its average volume of 76,093. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $13.87 and a 200-day simple moving average of $14.36. Tekla Life Sciences Investors has a fifty-two week low of $13.03 and a fifty-two week high of $16.33.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On Tekla Life Sciences Investors

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Tekla Life Sciences Investors by 4.7% during the 2nd quarter. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. now owns 41,890 shares of the companys stock valued at $596,000 after acquiring an additional 1,865 shares in the last quarter. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Tekla Life Sciences Investors during the 2nd quarter valued at $514,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Tekla Life Sciences Investors by 3.1% during the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 29,085 shares of the companys stock valued at $401,000 after acquiring an additional 861 shares in the last quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Tekla Life Sciences Investors by 132.7% during the 1st quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC now owns 24,975 shares of the companys stock valued at $348,000 after acquiring an additional 14,241 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Tekla Life Sciences Investors by 15.3% during the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 14,930 shares of the companys stock valued at $247,000 after acquiring an additional 1,982 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 15.95% of the companys stock.

About Tekla Life Sciences Investors

Tekla Life Sciences Investors operates as a closed-end investment fund, which engages in the investment in the life sciences industry. It invests in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, diagnostics, managed healthcare, medical equipment, hospitals and healthcare information technology and services. The company was founded on February 20, 1992 and is headquartered in Boston, MA.

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HOBART  Term-limited Gov. Eric Holcomb knows he won't be in charge when the economic development initiatives Northwest Indiana is putting into motion get up to speed.

But the Republican chief executive still could not be more excited and optimistic about the Region's future, declaring Monday: "The sky really is the limit."

"It really feels magnetic up here. ... This is a great place to grow," Holcomb told 500 business and community leaders at the annual induction ceremony for the Northwest Indiana Business & Industry Hall of Fame, sponsored by The Times Media Co.

The governor cited the Region's location next to Chicago, the nation's third-largest city; its myriad road, rail, port and airport connections to world markets; its history of making what the world needs; a ready supply of homegrown talent; and the willingness to charge after new technologies, such as microchip production and hydrogen fuels, as proof that Northwest Indiana has everything going for it.

"This is not an alternative anymore. There's no better part of our state that really has the total package in reach."

The governor urged the Avalon Manor luncheon audience to stay focused and remain unified, continue to promote business, and social certainty and stability, and even more success, is sure to follow.

"Keep it going," Holcomb said. "We're chasing some darn big deals that will fit perfectly in this ecosystem."

At the same time, the governor readily acknowledged that he's got only 20 months left in his second term. The Indiana Constitution allows governors to serve an unlimited number of terms, but no more than two in a row.

Given the chance, Holcomb said, he would like to run for a third term. He said being governor is on par with his service in the U.S. Navy when it comes to his happiness at work.

"I enjoy the job," Holcomb said. "The amount of good that you can do on a day-in, day-out basis is enormous."

Holcomb, a onetime student of history at Hanover College in Madison, Indiana, said he agrees with the need for a two-term limit, and he believes it's healthy for the state because it ensures that the governor always is energetic and ready to work on behalf of the people.

"It's good to know that there is a shelf life, or there's a date stamp, and it forces you to stay focused if you're in it, hopefully, to be a powerful force for good. I won't finish everything that we've been working on. There will be projects that will be completed on my successor's watch, and rightfully so. But it'll be time."

That said, Holcomb insisted that he won't be propping his cowboy boots up on his desk and merely watching the sands in the hourglass slip away until January 2025.

"I'm not going to take my eye off the ball. Quite frankly, there's too much to do," he said.

The governor said he's been energized by the output of the 2023 General Assembly, which ended its four-month annual session in April, including new opportunities for public health services across the state, dedicated funding for mental health assistance, a second round of regional quality-of-place grants, pay raises for state police officers, and expanded economic development opportunities, among others.

"It's all about implementation from this day forward," Holcomb said. "As we partner with local communities all across Indiana, I try to go up 20,000 feet and look down on the whole state, look regionally, and see what is needed, whether it be housing or water or you-can-fill-in-the-blank, and then figure out how we can get all those pieces of the puzzle more access."

One project Holcomb said he will not be working on during his final months in office is changing the state bird from the cardinal  which is the official bird of seven states, including Illinois  to something more unique, such as the sandhill crane, of which tens of thousands visit Northwest Indiana marshes every autumn.

In fact, Holcomb intended to see the sandhill cranes last year at the state's Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area but had to cancel because he was hospitalized with pneumonia.

He urged everyone to go this year: "If you've never seen it, you're too close, you have no excuse. You need to get down to east Pulaski County."

Nevertheless, he's still not persuaded that Indiana should dump the cardinal.

"To see 30,000 sandhill cranes flying in military precision, and landing, and taking-off. It is a sight to behold. But they're migratory. The cardinal  chirp, chirp  is here year-round. They don't just fly down to Florida when it gets cold. So we will continue to honor the Northern Cardinal as our state bird."

The discussion prompted hearty laughs from the large audience who seemed to appreciate Holcomb's ability to balance serious discussions with slightly less important state issues.

In the end, Holcomb hopes Hoosiers will remember him as a "level-headed, balanced, fair person during good times and tough times," a person who "understands the value of team," and someone who tried to guide Indiana on a viable path to the future.
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.
Auburn, IN (46706)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this morning will give way to cloudy skies and rain during the afternoon. High 77F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Rain ending this evening. Partial clearing overnight. Low 46F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
During their comeback production presentation, (G)I-DLE members revealed their beauty complexes and their real feelings about them.

(G)I-DLE Soyeon Reveals Thoughts While Writing Songs From 'I Feel' Album

In an interview, the (G)I-DLE members expressed their thoughts on the beauty complex and their feelings about the lyrics of their new songs.

On the afternoon of May 15, a production presentation was held at The Great Hong Yuan in Josun Palace, a Luxury Collection in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul to commemorate the release of (G)I-DLE's sixth mini-album, "I Feel."

Their latest album unravels the message of self-esteem that changes according to one's thoughts and emotions with the honest and pleasant charm of (G)I-DLE. The quintet also offers another original series centered on the album's concept that anyone can easily sympathize with and enjoy.

Through this album, the members introduced its title track, "Queencard," which depicts the message of accepting yourself based on your inner appearance, not what you are physical.

Talking about one's outer appearance, the members were then asked if they had a (beauty) complex, and Soyeon replied:

"When I was young, I really thought about this a lot. While comparing (myself) with others, I thought, 'Why am I short and don't have double eyelids?"

The leader who's also the one who wrote most of the songs from the album revealed her thoughts while writing their tracks.

"In fact, when I wrote these songs and the lyrics about self-esteem, I thought a lot about 'I want to be born with short height even if I am born again.' So now, when I ask about my complex, I don't really have anything to say about this. I want to be born as me even if I am born again."

(G)I-DLE Members Talk Beauty Complexes

As the interview went on, the other members also revealed their respective complexes, and Minnie answered:

"I can't think of any complex. No one is perfect, but I also love my imperfect self and I think I like my appearance as it is as long as I am not harming others, so I gained a lot of confidence and self-esteem while preparing for 'Queencard.' I'm not usually overconfident, but I gained self-esteem after spending time with the members. They're all pretty. I hope you love yourself a lot."

Miyeon, the group's visuals and one of the top-tier beauties in K-pop, revealed that she also once felt like she was lacking something. But after preparing for their releases "Tomboy," "Nxde" and "Queencard," she realized something.

"Rather than trying to look into what I lack in detail, I have the power to love and care for myself a little more as I am. Thanks to the fans, that's what happened."

Yuqi also said:

"No one is as perfect as I am."

Among them, Shuhua, the youngest, conveyed her specific complex, saying:

"I must tell you one thing, I eat too much. But when I gain weight, I still feel pretty. I initially thought about whether to talk about it or not. But it's nice to see."

Minnie, who was listening to this, attested her and said:

"I think it's only natural. It's okay. You can work out."

Soyeon also comforted their youngest and told her:

"I made it thinking of a scene where anyone, not someone with a pretty body that fits everyone's standards, says, 'I love my body.' Your body suits you."

For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article.

Written by Eunice Dawson.
Morton County authorities have entered into an agreement that will stop an Indiana womans trial on charges she defrauded a Mandan man out of tens of thousands of dollars.

Bountouraby Kaba, 30, under the terms of a pretrial diversion agreement maintains her not guilty plea but has 60 days to make nearly $58,000 in restitution, according to court documents. A charge of computer fraud and two counts of theft will be withdrawn after a year if she doesnt commit a misdemeanor or felony, the document states.

Kaba, Morton County States Attorney Allen Koppy and defense attorney Philip Becher signed the agreement Monday. South Central District Judge James Hill signed off on the deal Tuesday. Kaba's trial was to start Wednesday.

Authorities in September 2022 alleged Kaba used an altered email address to get the Mandan man to wire the money to her account. He was in the process of purchasing property in northwest Mandan and believed the emails, complete with wiring instructions, were from the title company handling his transaction.

The alteration to the email address changed a suffix of ".com" to ".cam," according to police. Kaba somehow gained access to the title companys email document format. Its unclear how Kaba might have known the man was working on the land deal or was about to transfer money. The title company confirmed to police that its email account had not been hacked, authorities said.

Police Detective Josh Scherr said during the investigation that It looked like a legitimate email in all aspects. Scherr was granted a search warrant for the recipient account and received documents that showed the money went to the account of Fatou Shop in Indianapolis. Kabas name was linked to the account.
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A former Three Affiliated Tribes government official has been sentenced to five years in prison for seeking and taking bribes and kickbacks from a construction contractor on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation.

Randall Phelan, 58, of Mandaree, was an elected representative of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nations Tribal Business Council from 2013-20. The council is the governing body on the northwest North Dakota reservation.

He pleaded guilty in October 2022 to conspiracy to commit bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, honest services wire fraud, and bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

"Honest services" fraud refers to a scheme that deprives another of honest services, and often is used in government corruption cases.

Officials say Phelan accepted bribes and kickbacks totaling more than $645,000 in exchange for helping a contractors business by awarding millions of dollars in contracts, fabricating bids during the bidding process, advocating for the contractor with other tribal officials, and facilitating the submission and payment of fraudulent invoices.

Co-conspirator Delvin Reeves, who authorities said was appointed by Phelan as a project manager, pleaded guilty in November 2021 to one count of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds and was sentenced last November to about five years in prison, according to court documents. Other charges were dismissed.

Contractor Francisco Javier Solis Chacon pleaded guilty in February 2019 to bribery, and was sentenced this past February to spend a year behind bars, according to court documents.

The court also ordered the three men to pay restitution: Phelan $271,900, Reeves $1.3 million and Solis Chacon $818,300.

The FBI's Minnesota Field Office investigated the case.
Dear Minister President, Dear Jan Jambon

Dear Luc,

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to be here today at the IMEC Technology Forum. I thank you Luc (Van den Hove) for your invitation to open the largest European semiconductor Forum.

I am glad to see here so many familiar faces. The world of semiconductors is in fact rather small, whereas its political, geostrategic and economic importance has never been so high.

I do not need to convince you that without semiconductors, the digital and green transition is not possible. It is the steam engine of the ongoing transformation of our economy.

It is also at the center of renewed industrial strategies in many of our countries and regions where strategic considerations for national security are reshaping  and rightly so - the state support in this sector.

Everyone needs to adapt to the new geopolitical realities where current dependencies within a given supply chain can be used as leverage against one's own interests. This is what I call the new geopolitics of supply chains.

Our partners (notably USA, South Korea, Japan) but also our systemic rivals (China) are investing heavily to support their capacities in this field. Europe had to have its own plan to lead in this race.

Because  and I will be clear  Europe cannot and will not be considered as a mere observer in any underground technological battle between blocks.

This will not happen. Europe will not be subject to the choices of others. This is why I want a Europe that knows how to lead on semiconductors.

[EU Chips Act]

This is the reason why I have pushed forward the EU Chips Act. We presented it in February 2022, and it was agreed 4 weeks ago, after 13 months of negotiation. This record time negotiations are a sign of how high the stakes are.

From now one the EU Chips Act is a reality, and it sets two objectives for Europe:

First, Europe must take its share of a booming 1 trillion market (500 billion today). From 10%, we want to go to 20% in 2030.

Second, to produce in Europe the most advanced semiconductors  so below 2 nanometers (nm).

Beyond the semiconductor itself, the EU Chips Act is also the first of new generation industrial strategies, a new way of shaping European industrial policy, combining three interdependent elements:

Research leadership through large investments in technology, I will come back to this.

Direct support for the manufacturing base in Europe across the whole supply chain: being excellent in research is not enough. To be industrially relevant, one needs to build factories and produce in Europe.

Adapting the Single market as the engine of our balance of power on the international stage to ensure Europe's security of supply.

With the EU Chips Act now agreed, we are sending a strong signal to all of you, in Europe and outside, that Europe is open for business, ready to invest and establish itself as a global and credible partner and ready to build advanced collaboration with industry, especially on the most advanced technologies, be it in innovative chip functionality or in manufacturing technologies.

And for this, we will act on three fronts:

Maintaining and increasing our research and technological leadership Building in Europe a resilient semiconductor supply chain. Establishing balanced semiconductors partnerships with our allies through a proactive chips diplomacy.

Let me elaborate on these three elements.

[Europe: a technological leader]

First, on research and technology.

The ambition is clear: to increase Europe's global technological leadership.

Europe is already a research and technological powerhouse. A global leader. Your presence at the IMEC Technological Forum is a proof of the place IMEC has acquired globally in the world of semi-conductors. We can all command the work done.

Any chips produced today  especially advanced chips  has European research and technology embedded into it.

This is the result of clear European but also national and regional strategies which decided to invest massively in creating the right ecosystems for decades now.

This is of course the case, here, in Flanders. And I would like to thank the Belgian and the Flemish governments  Minister President Jambon  for the role played in building here, at the heart of Europe, a worldwide recognized semiconductor cluster around IMEC, but also all the companies nearby, such as ASML in Netherlands.

The world of semiconductors meets in Leuven in order to test, fail and eventually succeed in defying the Moore's law. The technological heart of the computing power chips beats in Belgium. And Europe is proud of that.

Similar investments have also been made in the region of Grenoble in France around another technology  FDSOI (Fully Depleted Silicon On Insulator)  or in Fraunhofer in Germany for the packaging.

So Europe is the birthplace of the two most advanced technologies for chips manufacturing: FinFet (fin-shaped field-effect transistorand  and the next ones: Forksheet) the technology for the digital transition allowing increased computing power, and FDSOI the technology of the green transition, which is highly energy-efficient.

With the EU Chips Act we will nurture this historical legacy, build on it, and expand our leadership.

We will invest for that 11 billion over the next 7 years through the Chips for Europe Initiative with four main lines of actions:

Develop at least 3 pilot lines to industrialize the production process of the most advanced node sizes : below 2nm and even extending Moore's law to the Angstrom level, below 7nm for FDSOI, and advanced packaging. These pilot lines will be un-matched European infrastructures, co-financed by the EU and the Member States but open to our partners.

Develop an integrated cloud-based design platform to ensure chip designers can access the best resources.

Support the creation of quantum chips , which in turn requires strong investment into photonic components,

Establish a national network of competence centers to offer specialized expertise and support to any company across the Union,

Establish a Chips Fund , to support -through equity and loans - innovative startups and SMEs across the value chain.

We expect IMEC and other European Research organisations to play an important role to strengthen European technology leadership. And I am sure many of you will make use of these new facilities to accelerate your innovation and time-to-market.

[A resilient semiconductor supply chain in Europe]

Second pillar of our approach: building  in Europe  a resilient semi-conductor supply chain.

Our objective is clear: we want to turn Europe's technological lead into industrial leadership and resilience.

This is not about closing Europe or doing everything here in Europe.

This is about developing an industrial policy to manage our dependencies and create the necessary leverages to defend our strategic assets.

This is also about creating the right industrial capacities, such as mega fabs to produce the most advanced chips.

This is about investing across the whole supply chains, from wafer production, front-end and back-end processing of chips, as well as design and equipment

And for this, the EU Chips Act creates an attractive investment framework. We adapted the competition rules to allow higher intensity of state aid, to support both capital expenditure (capex) and operational expenditure (opex). We made Europe competitive with other parts of the world with a matching clause.

And it already works. Since we presented the EU Chips Act in February last year, already 100 billion of public and private anticipated investments have been announced.

In particular, we are very pleased to see that private investors have already announced new projects under the provisions of the EU Chips Act, demonstrating that Europe can act swiftly and be competitive when needed.

Let me mention some of the most emblematic projects: the Commission recently approved a project proposed by STMicroelectronics and GlobalFoundries for a megafab in Grenoble, which will bring forward and scale up FDSOI, the European energy-efficient CMOS technology for a wide range of applications.

Infineon has also started its largest ever investment project to expand its presence in Dresden, further securing the supply of components for electrical mobility in Europe.

Intel plans to spend tens of billions of euros on fabs and R&D centers in several Member States, bringing the most advanced technologies to Europe  including below 2nm.

This is just to mention a few. Other investments of megafabs are being considered by global leading actors and we strongly support them. Additionally, in the upcoming Chips IPCEI (Important Projects of Common European Interest), we will also support industrial projects along the whole supply chains, involving more than 100 companies in 20 Member States.

Through these investments, we create ecosystems and real regional magnets for further investments and for highly qualified jobs. Chips designers and the full ecosystem will benefit precisely from the proximity of these manufacturing facilities, while users of chips in Europe will benefit from a reinforced semiconductor ecosystem in various sectors, including telecommunications, industry, energy, and mobility.

[International cooperation]

Third element of our strategy is to build strong and balanced international cooperation.

With the EU Chips Act, we have defined, at 27 Member States, the European strategy for semiconductors. This being defined, we can now build the relevant partnerships to implement it, because in the new geopolitics of supply chains, more cooperation is needed. There is a need to rebalance the geopolitics of the semiconductors supply chains.

I strongly believe we can only build successful partnership on mutual strengths, but certainly not to compensate weaknesses. So a stronger, more resilience Europe in semiconductor, is also a more credible partners for solid partnership.

Our partnerships will be designed according to 3 parameters: reduction of dependencies, security of supplyat anytime and preservation of our security interests.

First, to reduce our dependencies , we must open new partnerships. I am eager to work with the US, Canada, India, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and of course Taiwan. This is why semiconductors is at the center of the different international cooperation frameworks we have with these countries whether through the different Tech and Trade Councils (for example with the US or India), or the digital partnerships.

We are ready to speak about research cooperation, supply chain monitoring and early warning systems, cooperation in case of supply crunch.

We are also keen in developing a whole encompassing approach across the supply chain, including down to the raw materials needed for our ambitious chips strategy. We are working on this through the Critical Raw material act.

Second, to ensure our security of supply , we must build the necessary leverages so to keep the global supply chain open in time of crisis. This is why we are refusing any attempt of geographical segmentation where Europe would produce mature nodes, while Asia and the US would produce advanced nodes. The best guarantees we have on security of supply is our interdependencies, like we have in the equipment segment. This is why Europe is welcoming any investment from strategic partners to produce mature but also advanced node in Europe.

Europe will be more assertive in using its leverages to ensure  like we did during the vaccines  that the global supply chains remain open. We have organised  through the EU Chips Act  our single market for that, with the 27 Member States agreeing on proactive measures (such as priority rated order) should it be needed, for instance to ensure reciprocity, with a view to defend Europe's industrial interest.

Finally, to preserve our security interests , we must adapt our approach. Everyone acknowledges now the interlink between industrial or technological might and security & defence interests: AI chips, supercomputers, high cyber secured processors can all be used in military equipment and participate to establish technological superiority.

This must drive a deep reflection at European level about the extent to which we grant access to certain of the most advanced technologies created in Europe.

As we showed recently when working with our partners such as the US and Japan regarding the export control of the most advanced technologies, Europe is determined to do whatever it takes to preserve our joint security and will act together with our allies in this endeavour. But Europe will equally defend its industrial interests and leadership when they are at stakes in line with its own policy objectives

[Conclusion]

Ladies and gentlemen,

The European semiconductor industry is at a pivotal moment. The challenges we face require bold actions.

With the EU Chips Act we have put in place an ambitious plan to strengthen Europe's semiconductor ecosystem.

We have provided the framework and the incentives, but we need the involvement and support of all stakeholders in the industry - from the small and medium-sized enterprises to the large multinational corporations - to achieve our common objectives.

We need your expertise, your ideas, and your resources to bring innovation to market. So, let us work together to build a stronger and more resilient European semiconductor industry.

I call on you to join us in this effort and be the key actors of this plan. Thank you.

Zarazeno ut 16.05.2023 11:05:00 Zdroj Evropska komise en Original ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/api/documents?reference=SPEECH/23/2788&language=en lang en
I recently had the joy of returning to Chicago. Although not my maiden voyage to the Windy City, this was the first trip I was finally able to see the famed Cloud Gate sculpture in Millennium Park, more affectionately dubbed the bean. The sculpture is a massive 110-ton structure made of 168 steel plates welded together to produce a seamless surface, creating the experience of a mirror on all sides. This was my fourth time-limited trip to Chicago, and I had yet to see the bean. Its a massive steel structure shaped like a bean in the middle of a city park. It was low on my bucket list, and I couldnt have been more wrong to place it there.

It was an unseasonably cold, rainy day as I approached Millennium Park with numb toes and fingertips. I hoped to quickly see the bean and move on to a warm coffee shop nearby. My attention focused on how cold I was, how much I wished the weather had been more conducive to walking, and how Id need to visit later in the summer to fully appreciate the city. Then I saw it, or more accurately, experienced it. By far one of the most impressive outdoor pieces of art Ive ever seen, the Cloud Gate had an almost magical ability to stop every train of current thought, creating internal space for the kind of wonder and awe its become harder to regularly experience in our tech-heavy, busy world. As I approached the artwork, I suddenly and sharply realized that I had been walking through some of the most incredible architecture in the world completely focused on my own discomfort. I couldnt see the immensity of what was right in front of me until I saw it as a reflection in the bean. As I took out my phone like any good tourist to take a photo of the structure, my eyes welled up as I realized the structure itself was not the focal point. The city around it was: The buildings, each designed by creative architectural minds, built by skilled, hard-working individuals; the trees, tulips, and green grass carefully planted and cared for announcing their golden hour after months of snow and cold; the people of all colors, ages, and stages of life gathering to witness it all together. Fully reflective, the Cloud Gate from many angles looks almost like a snow globe with the city around it floating inside. As I stepped up to touch it, I saw myself inside there too, very small compared to the vast city around me. That perspective made my discomfort small and replaced it with interest, awe, and energy to continue to explore.

As I closed my eyes on the plane flying home to North Dakota, I could vividly see the reflection of Chicago in the surface of the Cloud Gate and laughed inside about ever having thought that a big bean-shaped structure made of steel alone would be an internationally acclaimed piece of artwork. In our world today, far too many spend countless hours each day trying to become famed, acclaimed, or known. The era of TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook have made seeking spotlight a constant pursuit. However, the people who change this world for the better arent usually the ones who draw attention to themselves. Theyre the ones who reflect the good in the world, making it easier for all to see. Theyre the ones who remind us of what could be and why life is worth living, even during difficult times. I couldnt help but challenge myself the whole ride home asking, Tara - what have you done this week to be a reflection, to help others see and experience the good that does exist in this world? Most of my articles are an attempt to answer that challenge but this one certainly more directly. What are your thoughts, actions, and words reflecting today?
Music

Pinned by Montevideo

Tatiana Daemon

2 years ago (edited)

A young ballerina, Claire, travels to Italy to audition for a prestigious opportunity. She flees in fear after discovering the merciless elimination process and meets Jason, young American who is also in Italy for business. While on a stroll they discover an old, beautiful house filled with dark mystery. This was the home of a ballerina also, long dead. Before long, secretive figures show up and imply that Claire is someone else. Under their influence she completely loses herself, forgetting her actual life and becomes the dead ballerina. Jason, very much in love with her, obsesses with Claire and tries to save her from her fate. This is more of a dark drama than a horror film but still an interesting film, dreamlike and mysterious.

Darren Bent

2 years ago

I rewatched the movie Phenomena (extended cut) again last night. It is a very well made movie, much better than the US Blockbusters that have come out since (like Broken Arrow, which was on TV here last night, for example). The whole movie is so atmospheric, and Jennifer was in quite a few different, and well portrayed scenarios (from being a victim of bullying, to induced vomiting, to fighting with a demonic child underwater... just to mane a few). By the way in the extended cut, is there a copy which has the added scenes which are spoken in English as that, and not dubbed over in German with English Subtitles? It does slightly break up the pace of the movie, but I can handle that. All in all, it is a fantastic movie.



[Darren Bent]

Darren Bent

2 years ago (edited)

I don't know if many people know this, but a lot of her early movies were European based. This movie are among some that really had strong performances by the beautiful Jennifer. Phenomena (1985), Some Girls (1988) and this one have really well developed characters for her to play, much more sophisticated than most of her American "blockbuster" roles. Along with playing these really sophisticated roles, she was also in movies like 7 Minutes in Heaven (1985), Career Opportunities and The Rocketeer, both of which were released in 1991. Movies like these concentrated more on her look, just to give the audience eye candy. The Hot Spot did try to balance it a bit, by trying to give her a strong character, with those infamous scenes used to spice up things a bit. But generally, the European movies really showed her in a stronger level of maturity and strength of character than her American made movies went anywhere near to portray, at the tender age that she was at the time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a46CPH7UHrE



[ella Scott]

ella Scott

2 years ago

Swan lake meets Phantom of the Opera. Very labyrinth and intelligent and dark beauty in its delivery of performances especially by Ms. Jennifer Connelly who is gifted and exquisite and of course extremely talented she had to be here and in a later years the picture with Mr. Russell Crowe in which she won an Oscar in: 'A Beautiful Mind'. Even in the most archaic and perplexing story lines which can be hard to follow and the plot because its seems all over the place yet its definitive in it message, a good actor will take such a script (even a bad one) and create something fantastic and possibly memorable. That is Ms. Connelly, thru and thru. But I never seen this movie before thanks for the upload [] [] [] , Indeed, I agree with a comment she had a sort of Ms. Brooke Shields going in with the thick hair , her height and the thick eyebrows. However, in some respects , in her early pictures reminds me of a young lass, a fresh innocent face of absolute beauty like a very young Ms. Elizabeth Taylor in a way....minus the beautiful violet eyes.

Connelly's eyes also beautiful too. Of course ,I love Ms. Taylor for her confidence beauty talent, outspoken nature and non apologetic approach to life, her tireless efforts to help others like raising money for AIDS research, no one can never replace hMs. Elizabeth in beauty and grace.
Vadodara (Gujarat) [India], May 16: The first batch of 198 fishermen, who were freed from Pakistan jail last Thursday, arrived at Vadodara railway station in Gujarat, on Monday.

The released fishermen were received by Gujarat Agriculture Minister Raghavji Patel, who welcomed them with garlands. Indian Prisoner Dies in Karachi; Pakistan to Release 199 Fishermen on May 12 As Goodwill Gesture

The returnees' faces were filled with glee after they returned to their native country.

"I was jailed in 2018. They [Pakistan officials] took me and put me inside prison. Today it feels like I got a new life," said Ahmed Khan, a fisherman and one of the returnees. Pakistan Frees 198 Indian Fishermen From Jail at Attari-Wagah Border (Watch Video).

The fishermen crisscrossed to India from the Wagah Border and then were brought by train and all the arrangements for their return were made by State's Fisheries department.

Speaking to reporters, Nitin Sangwan, Director of the Fisheries Department said, "Pakistan has released the fishermen who were lodged in Pakistani jails for so many years. Out of those 198, a total of 182 fishermen were from Gujarat."

He said that all the released fishermen were brought back by the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Cabinet Minister Purushottam Rupala and External Affairs Minister Jaishankar. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], May 16 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday reviewed the progress of departmental schemes being run for the public with senior officials of the government and issued necessary guidelines.

While reviewing the progress of departmental schemes, CM Yogi noted that major reforms are required in the functioning of tehsils and guided to make concerted efforts regarding transparency and timeliness.

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"We have to make concerted efforts regarding transparency and timeliness. The complaints/problems should be redressed within a time limit. Digitization should be promoted. Cases related to inheritance/succession should not be kept unnecessarily pending. Keeping in mind the expectations of the common man, a detailed action plan should be prepared and presented for improvement in the functioning of tehsils," he said.

The Chief Minister also issued guidelines to increase the facilities of teleconsultation and health ATMs for easy availability of health services in rural areas.

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He said, "With this, people in remote areas will be able to get advice from good doctors in cases of illness. Trained manpower should be deployed for health ATMs. People should be made aware of this while expanding the teleconsultation service."

He said that incentive is being provided to encourage investors in setting up industrial units in the state and all these case should be reviewed and resolved without any delay.

"Incentive is being provided by the state government to encourage investors setting up industrial units in the state. All such cases should be thoroughly reviewed and resolved appropriately without delay. The Industrial Development Department should accord top priority to the disposal of such cases," he said.

Highlighting the Communicable Diseases Campaign conducted in April, the chief minister said that the campaign has sent a positive message to the common people, increasing awareness about communicable and infectious diseases.

"The Communicable Diseases Campaign conducted in the month of April has sent a positive message among the common people. Awareness about infectious, communicable diseases has increased among people. Such efforts must be continuously made," he said.

"Activity should be further increased to prevent encephalitis in Gorakhpur, Basti and Devipatan divisions, malaria in Bareilly and neighbouring divisions and chikungunya in Bundelkhand. Similar efforts should be made in these areas to prevent encephalitis. Make people aware of the importance of cleanliness and consumption of pure drinking water. Take the help of paediatricians as well," he added.

CM Yogi further noted that illegal taxi stand, bus stand/rickshaw stands should not operate in any district of the state.

"Such stands encourage illegal income, which is used in anti-social activities. Such activities, wherever being conducted, must be stopped immediately. It is necessary to fix the route for e-rickshaws in the cities," the Chief Minister said.

He appreciated the property surveys programs such as SVAMITVA, Gharauni, and Varasat for providing great convenience to the general public.

He said, "Programs like SVAMITVA, Gharauni, and Varasat have achieved success in providing great convenience to the general public. So far, houses have been distributed to more than 56.17 lakh villagers. Survey work, which remains to be done in only 15 revenue villages, should also be completed as soon as possible. Our target should be that by the end of this year, all the eligible villagers get "Gharauni" certificates, that give them ownership rights of their houses."

CM Yogi said, "The system should be kept smooth in all the cow shelters. There should be proper arrangements for green fodder straw etc. Arrangements should be made to keep the cattle safe from heat or sunlight. There is a huge potential for employment generation in the dairy sector. Keeping this in view, innovations should be encouraged. Efforts should be made to connect more and more youth with the dairy sector." (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Chennai, May 16 (PTI) Officials of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday held searches at the premises of film production company Lyca, police sources said.

Searches were being held in different locations in the city, sources said without divulging details.

Also Read | Gujarat Shocker: BJP MP Rajesh Chudasama and His Father Booked in Abetment to Suicide Case After Doctor Dies in Gir Somnath.

There was no immediate response from the production company regarding the raids.

(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 16 (ANI): The Income Tax Department has conducted search and seizure operations on a prominent business group operating mainly in northern West Bengal, the Ministry of Finance said on Tuesday.

According to the Ministry, the said business group was under the control of an individual with a significant political background. As part of the operation, the tax department also conducted searches on a close business associate of the individual.

Also Read | Gautam Adani Helps Airlift Mountaineer Anurag Maloo From Kathmandu to AIIMS-Delhi.

"Search was also conducted on his close business associate. The group is engaged in a variety of businesses ranging from the production and sale of edible rice bran oil, mustard oil, De-Oiled Rice Bran (DORB), different types of chemicals and real estate, etc. A total of 23 premises spread over Uttar Dinajpur, Dakshin Dinajpur, Malda, Kolkata, Siliguri in West Bengal and Guwahati in Assam and surrounding areas were covered," the ministry said.

It further said that the search action revealed that the group was suppressing its yield and making unaccounted cash sales of edible Oils and DORB.

Also Read | Next Karnataka CM Announcement Tomorrow: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge Likely to Announce Name for Chief Minister Post On May 17 in Bengaluru, Say Sources.

"Several instances of cash transactions not recorded in regular books of account have been detected during the search operation. Handwritten notes, documents and digital evidence containing cash transaction extracts have been seized. Parallel cash books and bogus claims of expenses have also been found," the ministry said.

As per the finance ministry, a preliminary investigation has revealed unaccounted income of more than Rs 40 crore.

Further, in a search operation conducted on the close business associate of the main business group, who is a leading exporter of agro products in the Malda district of North Bengal, incriminating documents against cash payments in land acquisition to the tune of Rs 17 crore (approx.) have been found.

Details pertaining to unaccounted cash receipts of about Rs 100 crore were also found.

"The search action has resulted in the seizure of unaccounted cash of Rs 1.73 crore. In addition, unaccounted jewellery worth Rs 1 crore has been seized," it added.

Further investigations are in progress. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Katni (Madhya Pradesh) [India], May 16 (ANI): Madhya Pradesh Police initiated a probe after a purported video showed a 27-year-old man and a woman were seen garlanded with shoes and paraded by villagers in Sleemanabad of the State's Katni district, accusing the pair of having an affair, police said.

The incident took place under Sleemanabad police station limits in the district. A video of the incident has gone viral on social media in which the married woman and the man who is alleged to be her paramour were seen being paraded with a garland of shoes around their necks.

Also Read | Karnataka CM Race: Congress Leader DK Shivakumar Leaves for Delhi for Discussions on Karnataka Government Formation.

"On May 10 afternoon, information was received on Dial 100 from deputy sarpanch of Salarpur, Vishwanath Singh that a youth Rahul Kumar, a resident of Uttar Pradesh, came to Pipariya village and was seen in conversation with a married woman of the village and locals had caught him," Sleemanabad police station in-charge Vipin Singh said on Sunday.

Acting on the information, the police team reached the village where the sarpanch, deputy sarpanch, husband of the woman, family members of the woman, the youth and others were present. They already had participated in a panchayat meeting and told police that the woman Geeta Singh and Rahul wanted to live together and they wanted to send both of them together by performing all the formalities, he added.

Also Read | Little KITEs Scheme: Kerela Government To Distribute 12,000 Robotic Kits to School Students.

"The police had asked the woman and the youth on the spot whether they were assaulted or not, but they said that nothing had happened. After which the villagers released the woman and the youth from the village. After that there was not any information in this regard but on May 13, we received a photograph and a video in which the youth and the woman were seen with garland of shoes," the police station in charge said.

He added that no complaints were received but on the basis of video and photographs which the police received, an investigation into the matter was going on and action would be taken against those who were found guilty.

Katni Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhijeet Kumar Ranjan said, "The incident has come to our notice via social media. The incident occurred under Sleemanabad police station limits in the district. In the preliminary investigation, it came to fore that the incident took place due to a quarrel between a woman, her lover and her husband. Local police were investigating the matter."

"We have not received any complaint in the matter yet but we are taking Suo Moto action in it. Those who will be found guilty, action will be taken against them," he added. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Mumbai, May 16 (PTI) An FIR was registered against four persons on the charge of defiling a place of worship after a group of people from a different religion allegedly tried to force their way into the famous Trimbakeshwar temple in Nashik, police said on Tuesday.

Earlier in the day, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who holds the Home portfolio, ordered the setting up of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident.

Also Read | Archaeologists Discover 2 New Skeletons at Pompeii.

A First Information Report (FIR) was registered at Trimbakeshwar police station under sections 295 (Injuring or defiling a place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class) and 511 (Punishment for attempting to commit offences punishable with imprisonment with life or other imprisonments) of the Indian Penal Code, an official said.

He said the case was registered based on a complaint.

Also Read | Baba Bageshwar Dhams Hindu Nation Remark: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar Slams Dhirendra Shastri, Says What Is the Need of It? (Watch Video).

Speaking about the incident, the official said the members of the group that had arrived at the entrance of the temple included local people. Prima facie, they had requested the temple authorities to allow them to perform a ritual (showing fragrance smoke to the deity) at the entrance steps as per the tradition of several decades.

As their request was denied, the group returned from the place, the official said, adding the investigation is on.

Security guards at the Trimbakeshwar temple had thwarted the group's attempt on Saturday night, a temple 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 had submitted a complaint to the police.

Some video clips of the incident went viral on social media platforms.

The office of Fadnavis in a statement said an officer of the additional director general (ADG) rank will head the SIT.

The SIT will not only conduct a probe into this incident but will also investigate a similar incident which took place last year at the same temple. A group representing certain community had entered the temple, Fadnavis said in the statement.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
NEOM, a mega project coming up in Saudi Arabia, has signed an agreement with Riyad Bank for SR3 billion ($800 million) in debt financing to help fund the development of Sindalah, marking the first NEOM region to be successfully financed with bank debt.

Tareq A Al-Sadhan, CEO, Riyad Bank, added: NEOM represents an incredible opportunity for our organisation to play a small part in helping make this exciting project a reality. We are proud to the first financial institution to partner with Sindalah and are confident in the prospect of their future success.

Rayan Fayez, Deputy CEO, NEOM, said: The Sindalah debt financing signifies NEOMs desire to diversify its funding sources, involve the private sector and attract capital of all types in the development of NEOM. We have a number of projects currently underway, and in the pipeline, that represent very attractive commercial opportunities for the global financial community to participate in.

Extending over an area of approximately 840,000 sq m, Sindalah, is one of a group of islands that will be developed in NEOM, each according to its unique vision and design.

Sindalah is expected to start welcoming guests to enjoy its bespoke nautical experiences, exquisite facilities and exclusive offerings from early 2024. It is anticipated that the development will create 3,500 jobs for the tourism sector and hospitality and leisure services.

With its incredible array of amenities, state-of-the-art marine facilities, strategic location and exceptional natural landscapes, Sindalah is expected to become established as one of the most alluring islands in the Red Sea.

Building on its ability to design new tourism opportunities from the ground up, NEOM is working with world-class leisure and hotel brands to make Sindalah an exclusive and glamorous destination in the Red Sea for the worlds yachting community. NEOM is developing the island to be a premium destination surrounded by a stunning and diverse marine environment which has one of the worlds most beautiful coral reserves.

Riyad Bank is one of the largest supporters of Saudi Vision 2030 and has developed a diverse range of initiatives specifically designed to support businesses. - TradeArabia News Service


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[Marijn Markus]

Marijn MarkusMarijn Markus 2nd 2ndAI Lead | Managing Data Scientist | Public SpeakerAI Lead | Managing Data Scientist | Public Speaker

5h  5h 

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"They are coming here to ???????????????? us."

? Calm, collected and straightforward. ???????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????? explains why #Ukraine defends itself against #Russia



Zaluzhnyi is Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of #Ukraine



Times named him one of the most influential people in the world, for his #Leadership skills, his rapid adaptation of changing tactics, effective delegation and info gathering during the full scale invasion.



As a four-star General, Zaluzhnyi has been in charge

Of Ukraine's #military since halfway through 2021

Also, he wears a #NAFO patch at times



In this rare #Interview he shares his thoughts:

"It's confusing that it's happening in an era where science is advanced. When there are still grandparents who lived through all this during World War II. And despite this, they deliberately go to ???????????????? Ukrainians."



? Zaluzhnyi isn't shy about it. Doesn't try to be nice about it.

Doesn't dabble in what-ifs or political poetry.

As doing so only distracts from the ???????????????? ????????????????????



Like all soldiers of Ukraine, Zaluzhnyi is fighting

To prevent more Ukrainians from ????????????????????.



"We will fight to the last drop of blood.

Otherwise, they will ???????????????? us.

There is no other way out.

Everything is just that simple."



#Military #Motivation #Ethics

#StandWithUkraine

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Patrick C. Flood 1st degree connection1stFull Professor of Organizational Behaviour at DCU

3h

Slava Ukraini!

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Oksana ZabolotnayaView Oksana Zabolotnayas profile  3rd+Owner and director (Pradas D) suspension of activity 24.02.2022 Owner and director (BMHBEL) suspension of activity 09.08.2020

5h

Good never attacks, but this does not mean that Good should not defend itself and resist Evil.

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Marijn MarkusView Marijn Markus profileAuthorAI Lead | Managing Data Scientist | Public Speaker

5h(edited)

Ukraine taught the World an important lesson:

Neutrality is the opposite of Pacifism.



Neutrality means arming yourself to the teeth

Because when invaded by a neighbour,

You're on your own.



Netherlands and Belgium learned this in WW2

Finland and Sweden learned it last year



Either join a military alliance or be ready to fight

Or be colonized again and again

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Angelo WijdhView Angelo Wijdhs profile  3rd+Managing Business Consultant

3h

Marijn Markus ... for sure with backwards neighbors as Russia!

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orville coleView orville coles profile  3rd+Project Manager - Energy and Volunteer @ The ARK of Veterans Charity

4h

Marijn Markus Thank you for posting this segment, There is no choice, Slaval Ukraini!

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Marijn MarkusView Marijn Markus profileAuthorAI Lead | Managing Data Scientist | Public Speaker

4h

And we should never forget it.



For years, 'neutrality' was forced upon Ukraine.

As a 'neutral buffer state'.



But neutrality doesn't mean peace.

Neutrality means preparing for War.



Because no one will protect you.

Once war arrives at your door.

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Shannon FaraziView Shannon Farazis profile (She/Her)  2ndOCI Software Engineer (In memory of Honorable Mr. Bob Miner ?) | Personal Account | My opinions are mine and mine only | Human Rights |

3h

Marijn Markus slightly disagree. Ukraine is never neutral as we are always was/is/will be from planet Earth. In his movie, Mr. President Zelenskyy did apply to NATO and here we are. ?

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Viktor StefanivView Viktor Stefanivs profile  3rd+Process Modeling Manager at DTEK, E.I.T. (APEGA)

1h

Shannon Farazi In the movie? Ukraine was attacked in 2014, being entirely neutral, with majority of its population not supporting joining NATO. Little you know about this as I see.

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David ColemanView David Colemans profile  3rd+Soloist, Chamber Musician

5h

He sees the situation clearly and correctly, and states the truth in simple language.

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Marijn MarkusView Marijn Markus profileAuthorAI Lead | Managing Data Scientist | Public Speaker

5h

Many hashtag#Leaders worldwide could learn from him

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Angelo WijdhView Angelo Wijdhs profile  3rd+Managing Business Consultant

3h

???????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????? is a genuine Ukrainian Hero! ???????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????? is - as any good leader should be - calm, objectively, focused, collective and in clear language honestly straight forward!



I guess Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin wished he had such a General under his command. This commander, 5 star General ???????????????????????????? ????????????????????????????????????, inherited over a million  which he invested in the Ukrainian military as support for his men and women in service.



In Russia the Russian General would have invested that money in his yacht or second house in London or send his children not to a Russian university but to a prestigious European or American school and buy high end fashion clothes join the high society clubs and parties (even when they are gay or something LGBTQ+) while keeping up the entire charade "All Western things are Nazi's and against Russia(ns)" which is obviously the good old LIE (Kremlin Propaganda) to bombard the Russian people with in order to brainwash them ... keep doing that for generations and it becomes part of ones DNA.



hashtag#WeCannotLetEvilWin



hashtag#SlavaUkraini



https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7059428441091162112?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

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David GrayView David Grays profile  3rd+Design and Build of disruptive Technologies for Access Control/ Hybrid Working and Event Spaces

4h

Russia is digging itself a grave not a monument. Let us hope that this time "we" do not allow them to re-coup and recover. The time is now to say never again, Russia (irrespective of what China' game is ) must be nullified. This will send an unequivocal message to Russia and other terrorist and fundamentalist states - your time is up, we will not allow you to act with impunity.

This is the rubicon, we must not fail, Ukraine is the front line between good and evil, simple as that.

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Vitalii VereshchaginView Vitalii Vereshchagins profile  3rd+I am from Bucha / Ukrainian

36m

Zaluzhnui is historically person! The greatest!

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Paul RozvadovskyView Paul Rozvadovskys profile  3rd+Open to work: Engineer within the Semiconductors, Medical Devices, Microelectronics, and Pharmaceutical Manufacturing.

4h(edited)

I fully agree, Mr. Commander-in-Chief General Zaluzhnyi!

A GENOCIDE against Ukrainians. Again. And again.

Only one country will survive. Let's make sure to take ruZZia down through it's complete disintegration. The Empire of Evil needs to go down in flames. Stand up to the Evil... until the Evil is there no more...

Thank you for your Leadership, Sir!

Crisp Salute!

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Hans WarmenhovenView Hans Warmenhovens profile (Business consultancy )  3rd+Multi inzetbaar team en solo.

3h(edited)

Doet me denken aan een oude politie serie in de jaren '81 en verder namelijk Hill Street Blues. De "roll call" was altijd "Let's do it to them, before they do it to us". Dat geldt ook voor de Ukrainers aan het front en daarachter. Onze "vrijheid" staat mede op het spel.

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Steven WorthView Steven Worths profile  2ndStrategy and Operations Executive  Equipping Corporate, Nonprofit and Government Organizations to Profitably Capitalize on Global Market Opportunities ? Strategic Planning ? Globalization ? Innovative Funding

2h

There is a uniform and remarkable clarity of purpose among the Ukrainian people about why they are fighting--from generals to simple soldiers to civilians of all ages. A recent television interview with a Ukrainian soldier on the front lines went something like this: "We will not stop until every last Russian invader has been expelled from our land. They are all going to die....." said in an animated but matter-of-fact way with a slight smile on his face. You could see, he meant every word
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 16 (ANI): After a group of people allegedly attempted to enter the Trimbakeshwar temple in Nashik and tried to offer a 'chaddar', Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday appealed for peace calling on people to "cooperate".

"It's the responsibility of the administration to maintain law and order but people must also cooperate. People from every community must come forward and maintain peace," Shinde said while speaking to the media.

Also Read | HBSE 10th Result 2023 Out at bseh.org.in; Haryana Board Declares Class 10 Board Exam Results, Know Steps To Check Score.

However, Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis today ordered a special investigation team to probe the matter.

The temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva and according to the Temple Trust non-Hindus are not permitted entry inside its complex.

Also Read | CBI Books Freelance Journalist Vivek Raghuvanshi Over Charges of Espionage.

"Deputy CM of Maharashtra Devendra Fandanvis has ordered to constitute a special investigation team led by an ADG-level officer to probe the incident," according to a statement issued by the Deputy CM's office.

"An FIR has been filed and an SIT under the additional director general of police will investigate the matter," Fadnavis said adding strict action will be taken against those found responsible.

Inspector General of Police BG Shekhar told ANI today that on May 13 security guards at the temple, which is considered an important pilgrimage centre for Hindus, prevented an attempt of a group of six to seven people to enter.

Giving further details the police IG said, "On May 13 at around 9:45 pm a group of six to seven people allegedly tried to enter the north gate of the Trimbakeshwar temple."

"Security guards of the temple stopped the persons," added IG Shekhar.

According to police, an investigation into the matter has been initiated and actions under the relevant section of the Indian Penal Code will be taken if anything suspicious is found.

"There is peace in Trimbakeshwar and there's no problem in the law and order situation. We will proceed with the investigation as per rules and regulations and will take further action on that basis," he told ANI.

Meanwhile, according to a statement from the office of Devendra Fandanvis, the SIT will also probe a similar incident that happened last year.

"The SIT will also probe a similar incident that happened last year," noted the office of Deputy CM.

Further investigation into the matter is underway. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Indore (Madhya Pradesh) [India], May 16 (ANI): A man allegedly killed his 7-year-old son allegedly after a dispute with his second wife in Madhya Pradesh's Indore district, a police official said on Monday.

The incident occurred at Limbodi locality under Tejaji Nagar police station limits in the district. The child was identified as Prateek Munde.

Also Read | Vice Media Files for Bankruptcy.

The accused man has been identified as Shashipal Munde (26) and the police are searching for him.

Prateek's uncle Rajesh Munde (elder father) said, "Mother of my nephew, Prateek Munde, passed away a few years ago. After which Prateek's father Shashipal Munde had married another woman. The woman used to have a dispute with Shashipal regarding Prateek."

Also Read | Bihar Shocker: Class Three Student in Darbhnga Brutally Beaten by School Official for Not Wearing Socks.

"On Monday morning, the grandmother saw Prateek in an unconscious state, after which we took him to the hospital where the doctors declared Prateek brought dead. Prateek was killed by his father Shashipal," Rajesh Munde claimed.

On the other hand, NS Tanwar, a sub-inspector with Tejaji Nagar police, said, "In the preliminary investigation, it came to notice that Prateek died due to beating and strangulation. The relatives said in their statement that Prateek was murdered by his father, Shashipal."

Based on the statements of the relatives, the police registered a case into the matter and launched a search to nab the accused father, Tanwar added.

Notably, Tejaji Nagar police have appealed to locals of the area to inform on getting any information about the accused. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Mumbai, May 16: A Pakistan Intelligence Officer, allegedly in touch with DRDO scientist Pradeep Kurulkar arrested on charges of leaking confidential information after he was apparently honey-trapped, had also contacted an Indian Air Force employee of corporal rank, a Maharashtra ATS official said on Tuesday. He said the state Anti-Terrorism Squad was examining whether this has any connection with the Kurulkar case. DRDO Espionage Case: Scientist Dr Pradeep Kurulkar Arrested for Providing Secret Information to Pakistan Agent Sent in Judicial Custody Till May 29.

The ATS has identified the IAF official based in the Bengaluru unit and his statement was recorded. He will be made a witness in the case, the ATS official said. Prima facie, the Internet Protocol (IP) address used by the PIO to contact the IAF employee was the same which was used to contact Kurulkar.

Kurulkar, a director at one of the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) labs in Pune, was arrested by the ATS on May 3. A special court in Pune on Tuesday remanded Kurulkar in judicial custody till May 29, following which he was shifted to Yerawada Central Prison, officials said.

On Monday, the special court extended his police custody till Tuesday after the prosecution said his mobile phone needs to be analysed. The DRDO 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 honeytrap. After his arrest, an offence under relevant sections of the Official Secrets Act was registered against the DRDO scientist. DRDO Scientist Espionage-Honeytrap Case: Special Pune Court Sends Accused Pradeep Kurulkar to ATS Custody Till May 16.

The prosecution earlier informed the court that they had seized a phone on which a PIO (Person of Indian Origin) agent had messaged Kurulkar 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 those trips.

(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 16 (ANI): Underlining the tedious process of recruitment which existed earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that now the process has been simplified by making it online where a provision for self-attestation of documents has also been introduced.

PM Modi addressed the National Rozgar Mela via video conferencing and distributed about 71,000 appointment letters to newly inducted recruits in various Government departments and organisations.

Also Read | 'Click Farm' Fraud Case: Uttar Pradesh Man Duped of Rs 22 Lakh on Pretext of Heavy Profits.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister conveyed his best wishes to all the inducted recruits and their families.

He recalled recent Rozgar Melas in states such as Gujarat and the upcoming Mela in Assam. He said these Melas at the centre and BJP-ruled states, show the government's commitment towards the youth.

Also Read | Umesh Pal Murder Case: UP Police Issue Lookout Notice Against Slain Ganster Atiq Ahmed's Wife Shaista Parveen, Guddu Muslim.

"In the last nine years, the government has prioritized the recruitment process by making it faster, transparent and unbiased. Recalling the difficulties faced in the recruitment process, the Prime Minister pointed out that the Staff Selection Board took roughly 15-18 months to onboard the new recruits whereas today it takes only 6-8 months. The tedious process of recruitment which existed earlier starting from acquiring the application form to submitting it via post has now been simplified by making it online where a provision for self-attestation of documents has also been introduced," he said.

The Prime Minister also added that interviews for Group C and Group D have also been abolished. The biggest benefit of this is the extermination of nepotism from the entire process.

PM Modi underscored the importance of today's date as nine years ago on this date, May 16, Lok Sabha Elections results were announced. Recalling the enthusiasm of the day, the Prime Minister said that the journey which started with the spirit of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, is working for a Viksit Bharat.

The Prime Minister also mentioned that today is also the establishment day of Sikkim.

"During these 9 years, government policies were made keeping in mind the employment possibilities. Initiatives in the fields of modern infrastructure, rural push or expansion of the basic needs of life, every policy of the Government of India is creating new opportunities for the youth," he said.

The Prime Minister informed that in the last 9 years, the government has spent about Rs 34 lakh crore on capital expenditure and on basic facilities.

"In this year's Budget too, Rs 10 lakh crore were allocated for the capital expenditure. This amount is resulting in modern infrastructure like new highways, new airports, new rail routes, bridges etc. This is creating many new jobs in the country," he said.

He added that India's speed and scale are unprecedented in the history of Independent India.

He informed that in the last nine years, 40,000 km of rail lines got electrified compared to 20,000 km in the seven decades previous to that.

"Referring to the metro rail network in the country, the Prime Minister informed that merely 600 meters of metro lines were laid before 2014 whereas today, approximately 6 km of metro rail lines are being laid," he said.

Highlighting the technological developments that have made the lives of people easier than before, the Prime Minister gave examples of app-based taxi services that have become a lifeline for the cities, efficient online delivery systems that have increased employment, boost to the drone sector which has helped in spraying of pesticides to delivery of medicines, expanding city gas distribution system whose coverage has gone up from 60 to 600 cities.

He emphasized that higher education institutes and skill development institutes are being developed at a fast pace in the country.

"Between 2014 and 2022, a new IIT and a new IIM have come up every year. One university has been inaugurated every week and two colleges have become functional every day on average in the last 9 years," he said.

The Prime Minister pointed out that there were around 720 universities in the country before 2014, whereas that number has increased to more than 1,100 today.

Touching upon medical education in the country, the Prime Minister stated that only 7 AIIMS were built in the country in 7 decades whereas in the last 9 years, the government has developed 15 new AIIMS.

He also added that the number of medical colleges in the country has increased from 400 to 700 where the number of MBBS and MD seats increased from around 80,000 to more than 1 lakh 70 thousand.

Recalling his recent meeting with the Walmart CEO, the Prime Minister informed about the CEO's confidence in India in exporting up to Rs 80,000 crore worth of goods from the country.

"This is big news for the youth employed in the sectors of logistics and supply chain," he said.

He also recalled his meeting with the CEO of CISCO whose goal is to export Rs 8,000 crores worth of products from India and the CEO of Apple who expressed confidence about the mobile manufacturing industry in India, Top Executive of the semiconductor company NXP also showed positivity for India's capacity to create a semiconductor ecosystem.

"Foxconn too has started investments worth thousands of crore," he said.

The Prime Minister also informed about his scheduled meetings with CEOs of the world's leading companies in the next week and said that all of them are full of enthusiasm to invest in India. He underlined that such efforts highlight the new employment opportunities being created in different sectors in India.

Concluding the address, the Prime Minister directed his address to the new recruits and underlined their role in this Mahayagya of development going on in the country where the resolutions of a developed India have to be realized in the next 25 years.

The Prime Minister urged the recruits to make full use of this opportunity and highlighted the government's emphasis on the skill development of its employees through the iGoT Karmayogi module, an online learning platform. (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 16 (PTI) The Supreme Court has dismissed a batch of pleas seeking review of its verdict upholding the 10 per cent reservation introduced in 2019 for the economically weaker sections (EWS) in educational institutions and government jobs that excluded the poor among the SC/ST/OBC categories.

A five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud said there was no ground to reconsider the verdict.

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It also rejected the plea to list the petitions for hearing in open court.

The Supreme Court passed the order on May 9 and a copy of it was uploaded on the court website on Tuesday.

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"Having perused the review petitions, there is no error apparent on the face of the record. No case for review.... The review petitions are, therefore, dismissed," the bench also comprising Justices Dinesh Maheshwari (since retired), S Ravindra Bhat, Bela M Trivedi and J B Pardiwala said.

The top court's order came on a batch of appeals, including the pleas filed by Society for the Rights of Backward Communities and Congress leader Jaya Thakur, seeking review of the apex court's November 7, 2022 judgement.

In its landmark judgement, a five-judge Constitution bench had said that the use of basic structure doctrine as a "sword" to "stultify" the State's effort to do economic justice cannot be countenanced.

It had delivered a 3:2 majority decision in favour of the 103rd Constitution Amendment.

While upholding the 10 per cent reservation introduced in 2019 for EWS in admissions and government jobs that excluded the poor among the SC/ST/OBC categories, the apex court had said it is not discriminatory or violative of any essential feature of the Constitution.

Treating the EWS as a separate category is a reasonable classification and the 50 per cent ceiling on the total reservation under the Mandal judgment is "not inflexible", the judges had said while dismissing the petitions challenging the validity of the law.

The bench headed by then Chief Justice U U Lalit had delivered four judgments on 40 petitions against the amendment that was passed after the Narendra Modi government decided to grant quota to the economically weaker sections ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Justices Dinesh Maheshwari, Bela M Trivedi and J B Pardiwala had upheld the EWS quota.

The then CJI was in minority with Justice S Ravindra Bhat when they ruled against it, holding that due to exclusion of the poor of classes like SCs, STs, and OBCs from its ambit, the amendment "practises constitutionally prohibited forms of discrimination".

The apex court had held that reservation is an instrument of affirmative action by the State so as to ensure an all-inclusive march towards the goals of an egalitarian society while counteracting inequalities.

The EWS quota is over and above the existing 50 per cent reservation to Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Villupuram (Tamil Nadu) [India], May 16 (ANI): With two more deaths, the toll in the spurious liquor incident in Tamil Nadu's Villupuram district has gone up to 13, police said on Tuesday.

On Monday, police said the total number of people who died after a group of people on Saturday evening consumed illicit liquor in the Ekkiyarkuppam fishing hamlet of Marakkanam in the district was reported to have gone up to 11.

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The deceased have been identified as Shankar, Suresh, Dharanivel, Rajamoorthy, Vijayan, Mannakatti, Malarvizli, Abhiragam, Kesava Velu, Shankar, Vijayan, Raja Velu and Sarath Kumar.

Further investigation is underway.

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With this, the number of people who died after consuming hooch in two separate incidents in the State has increased to 18, police said.

The second incident was reported on Sunday from Maduranthagam in Chengalpattu district where five people died allegedly due to illicit liquor consumption.

According to the police, the two separate incidents of spurious liquor deaths were reported in the north zone of Tamil Nadu but there was no evidence found of a link between the two incidents.

In this connection, a man identified as Amaran has been arrested and spurious liquor seized from his possession has been sent to the lab to ascertain the presence of methanol in it, police said.

On Sunday chief minister Stalin announced Rs 10 lakh to each of the families of the deceased and also announced a compensation of Rs 50,000 each to those hospitalised.

He also directed the authorities concerned to give special treatment to those who are hospitalised in this incident. He also said that the government is taking strict measures to curb illicit liquor and narcotics. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Peshawar, May 15 (PTI) At least 15 people were killed in a bloody clash over the delimitation of a coal mine in the restive northwestern region of Pakistan on Monday, police said.

The incident occurred between the Sunnykhel and Zarghun Khel tribes in the Darra Adam Khek area, around 35 km southwest of Peshawar, in Kohat district over the delimitation of the mine, they added.

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The bodies and those injured were shifted to a Peshawar hospital. The exact number of injured people was not immediately known, but there were casualties on both sides in the exchange of fire, police said.

Joint teams of police and other security forces rushed to the site and halted the firing between the rival tribes.

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An FIR in connection with the incident has been registered at the Darra Adam Khel police station.

The dispute between the Sunnykhel and Zarghun Khel tribes over the delimitation of the coal mine has been continuing for the last couple of years and many reconciliation "jirgas" have been held in a bid to end the deadlock.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Explosion of a missile is seen in the sky over the city during a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine. (Photo Credit: Reuters)

Kyiv [Ukraine], May 16 (ANI): At least three people were injured in Kyiv early Tuesday after Ukraine's air defence systems shot down unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and other flying objects, CNN reported citing mayor Vitaliy Klitschko.

"A vast majority of Russian targets in Kyiv's airspace were destroyed after the capital was hit by an 'exceptional' air attack with UAVs, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles, said a Ukrainian military official.

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A senior Ukrainian general on Telegram said that Ukraine's Air Force shot down 18 missiles launched by Russia at the country overnight, according to CNN.

"At about 03:30 on May 16, 2023, the Russian occupiers attacked Ukraine from the north, south, and east with 18 various types of air, sea, and land-based missiles," said General Valeri Zaluzhnyi, commander-in-chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces.

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He also said that Ukraine too shot down drones launched by Russia overnight.

Zaluzhnyi said in the statement, "The enemy attacked with Shahed-136/131 attack drones and conducted aerial reconnaissance with three operational and tactical level drones. All of them were destroyed."

The "unexceptional" air attack, as claimed by Kyiv, was launched by Russia a day after UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak assured support to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Zelenskyy on Monday arrived in United Kingdom and held discussions with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The two leaders discussed how to ensure that support is not just for today but for the future.

In a tweet, the UK PM's office stated, "United in action. Last year the UK provided Ukraine with more military support than any country except the US. Today, @RishiSunak and @ZelenskyyUa discussed how we ensure that support is not just here for today, but into the future as well."

Sunak has assured Zelenskyy that the UK continues to stand with Ukraine. "The United Kingdom stands side by side with Ukraine," he tweeted.

Notably, the UK has been offering military assistance to Ukraine ever since the conflict between Kyiv and Moscow started in February last year.

On Sunday, France too 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.

Apparently, French AMX-10RCs vehicles can move quickly across the battlefield and switch positions due to their fast speed and mobility. (ANI)

(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 16: A tourist from Argentina who was seriously wounded in a May 12 machete attack in Mexico died on Monday, officials said. Prosecutors in the Pacific coast state of Oaxaca said the tourist -- whose name was not released -- died of his injuries at a hospital in Mexico City.

However, the Tala Rugby Club based in Cordoba, Argentina wrote in its social media accounts on Monday that one of their players, Benjamin Gamond, had died. New Mexico Shooting: Three Killed, Several Others Injured After Gun Violence in Farmington; Suspect Shot Dead.

A group of three Argentines were attacked by a Mexican man with a machete on May 12 in the hamlet of La Isla, at the mouth of the Laguna de Chacahua, on the Pacific coast. The other two tourists were also wounded in the attack, but their injuries do not appear to be life-threatening. New Mexico Shooting: Three Killed, Several Others Injured After Gun Violence in Farmington; Suspect Shot Dead.

Local residents subdued the attacker and turned him over to police. Prosecutors said the suspect is in custody and now faces homicide charges. There was no immediate information on a possible motive in the attack.

(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 16 (AP) Some 1.2 billion euros ($1.3 billion) in Russian-owned assets managed by Cyprus-registered companies were frozen in compliance with sanctions imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, Cyprus' Finance Ministry said Tuesday.

The ministry told The Associated Press the vast majority of those assets were held in European Union credit institutions and the entire amount came on top of 105 million euros frozen by banks in Cyprus.

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The ministry provided the information in response to European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders saying last week that Cyprus appeared to be falling behind on freezing Russian-owned assets.

Reynders said that while other EU member nations each froze 2-4 billion euros worth of Russian assets, Cyprus' reported sum of around 100 million euros seems to be a little low.

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The Finance Ministry said this was an error owed to the European Commission receiving incomplete information  an error since rectified by updating a relevant database.

Meanwhile, the Cypriot government is stepping up its supervisory capacity to ensure compliance with international sanctions by setting up a specialized unit modeled after the U.K.'s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), according to the ministry.

The Cyprus government is also keen on joining a European Commission program on supporting the effective and uniform implementation of sanctions. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Around the same time a patient missing his hand entered a local ER, someone else reported finding a hand to the Riverside police. At 58 seconds into this video, Riverside PD seems pretty proud they put "two and two together." While the local constabulary was able to reason this mystery out, they have not managed to locate the sword-wielding attacker who dismembered their victim and witness.

Yes, sword-wielding!

This attack was part of a longer-running disagreement between the disarmed gentleman and the armed with a sword guy. Both participants appear to be unhoused. Perhaps one will now reside in jail. I would assume the de-handed person can supply a name.

NY Post:
London, May 16 (PTI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has called on Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and discussed with him growing bilateral cooperation, including in trade and technology, and spoke about contemporary strategic concerns. Jaishankar arrived in Brussels on Monday evening for the last leg of his three-nation tour covering Bangladesh, Sweden and Belgium.

Jaishankar said he conveyed personal greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to De Croo during the meeting, which was also attended by Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Skill Development and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

Also Read | Mexico Machete Attack: Argentine Tourist Killed in Machete Attack in Cordoba.

Jaishankar is in Brussels for the first meeting of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council scheduled for Tuesday.

"Delighted to call on PM of Belgium @alexanderdecroo along with my colleagues - @PiyushGoyal & @rajeev_GOI today. Conveyed personal greetings of PM @narendramodi," the external affairs minister wrote on Twitter.

Also Read | US Religious Freedom Report Alleges Violations in China, Iran.

"Discussed our growing bilateral cooperation, including in trade and technology. Also spoke about contemporary strategic concerns," he said.

The Indian ministerial delegation also met Ursula von der Leyen, President of the EU Commission.

"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," Jaishankar tweeted after the meeting.

The first ministerial-level meeting of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) will take place on Tuesday in Brussels.

The TTC was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of the European Commission during the latter's visit to India in April last year.

Subsequently, both sides established three working groups under the TTC.

The first working group is on strategic technologies, digital governance and digital connectivity. The second one is on green and clean energy technologies and the third one is on trade, investment and resilient value chains.

The TTC is expected to facilitate the exchange of critical technologies relating to an array of domains including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductors and cybersecurity.

The TTC with India is the European Union's second such technology partnership after the first one with the United States which was firmed up in June 2021.

The working group on strategic technologies, digital governance and digital connectivity is focusing on areas of mutual interest such as digital connectivity, artificial intelligence, 5G/6G, quantum computing, semiconductors, cloud systems, cybersecurity, digital skills and digital platforms.

The group on green and clean energy technologies is focusing on green technologies, including investment and standards, with an emphasis on research and innovation.

Jaishankar 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 Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum (EIPMF) in Stockholm.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Washington, May 16 (PTI) A senior US official on Monday said far too many governments, including Russia, India, China and Saudi Arabia, continue to freely target faith community members, as the state department released its Congressional-mandatory annual report on international religious freedom that documents the status of religious freedom in countries across the world.

"Far too many governments continue to freely target faith community members within their borders," Rashad Hussain, Ambassador at Large, Office of International Religious Freedom, told reporters at a news conference here soon after the annual 2022 "Report on International Religious Freedom" was released by Secretary of State Tony Blinken.

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The report provides a fact-based, comprehensive view of the state of religious freedom in nearly 200 countries and territories around the world, Blinken said, noting that it aims to highlight areas where freedom of religion or belief is being repressed to promote accountability and ultimately, drive progress toward a world where freedom of religion or belief is a reality for everyone everywhere.

Blinken did not mention India in his remarks and the India section of the annual report is almost similar to that of the previous years, which is more or less a documentation of allegations of violation of religious freedom raised by multiple media outlets and non-governmental organisations inside and outside the country.

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Hussain mentioned India in the context of the key findings of the report in terms of governments continuing to freely target faith communities.

"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 Haridwar, calling for the country to uphold its historical traditions of pluralism and tolerance. And the Burma military regime continues to repress the Rohingya population, causing many to flee their homes," Hussain said as he listed out a few other countries starting with Russia and followed by China and Afghanistan.

"I would like to share some key findings from this year's report regarding religious discrimination and hatred at the governmental and societal levels and describe what we are doing to address it," Hussain said.

The India section of the document said there were numerous reports during the year of violence by law enforcement authorities against members of religious minorities in multiple states, including plainclothes police in Gujarat publicly flogging four Muslim men accused of injuring Hindu worshippers during a festival in October and the Madhya Pradesh government bulldozing Muslim-owned houses and shops following communal violence in Khargone in April.

The report noted that in September, Rasthtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat met with five prominent members of the Muslim community to listen to their concerns and discuss how to promote communal harmony between Muslims and Hindus.

"Bhagwat reportedly committed to continued meetings for the purpose of improving relations between the Muslim and Hindu communities. Bhagwat also met with Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, head of the All India Imam Organisation, at a Delhi-area madrassah run by that organisation. Media reported that some Muslim groups welcomed Bhagwat's engagement, while others described it as 'just optics' and preparation for the 2024 parliamentary elections," it said.

"In 2021, Bhagwat had stated publicly that Hindus and Muslims in the country should not be treated differently because of religion and that killing non-Hindus for cow slaughter was an act against Hinduism," the report said.

In a statement, US Commission for International Religious Freedom Chair Nury Turkel said the International Religious Freedom Report is an invaluable tool in the fight to hold violators accountable and improve global religious freedom conditions.

"With this report, the state department shows the entire world that the United States is committed to the fundamental value of religious freedom," he said.

(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 16 (ANI): Taliban's Acting Deputy Prime Minister Mawlavi Mohammed Abdul Kabir has said the international community should engage with the Taliban. The remarks by Kabir came during his meeting with the United Nations' special representative for Afghanistan Roza Otunbayeva, according to Khaama Press.

Taliban-appointed Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Kabir and the Minister of Information and Culture of Taliban, Khairullah Khairkhwa on Monday met Roza Otunbayeva at the Sapedar Palace and discussed Afghanistan's issues.

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During the visit, the senior Taliban officials asked UNs' special representative Roza Otunbayeva to invite Afghanistan's caretaker authorities to international meetings in the future.

They referred to the Doha conference held in Qatar's capital and hosted by the UN on May 1 and 2, in which representatives from at least 25 countries and international organizations participated, however, Taliban officials were not invited.

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The Taliban following the summit, described the meeting as "one-sided and ineffective" to which the group was not invited.

The UN representative in Afghanistan highlighted the Doha conference during the meeting according to Taliban officials.

Taliban officials on Twitter said that Minister Khairkhwa appreciated the result of the Doha conference about the emphasis on the continued delivery of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan during these difficult times.

"Taliban representatives should be invited to international conferences held on Afghanistan issues in the future so that pathways for meaningful interaction and engagement are sought," Minister Khairkhwa said, according to Khaama Press.

Toward the end of the Doha conference, the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced that another summit will be held in Afghanistan in the near future. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Bangkok, May 16 (AP) Recovery efforts were underway Tuesday in Myanmar and Bangladesh after a powerful cyclone smashed into their coastlines, causing widespread destruction and at least 21 deaths, with hundreds of others believed missing.

Myanmar took the brunt of Cyclone Mocha on Sunday, while Bangladesh was spared a feared catastrophe.

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Residents of Myanmar's Rakhine state worked to repair the damage and mourn the dead. Areas further inland also suffered damage, including the central city of Bagan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was Myanmar's capital 10 centuries ago.

Mocha made landfall near Sittwe township in Rakhine state with winds of up to 209 kilometers (130 miles) per hour on Sunday afternoon, weakening to a tropical depression by midday Monday. The storm, the nation's most destructive in a decade, brought widespread flash floods and power outages, while high winds tore roofs off buildings and crumpled cellphone towers.

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Myanmar state-run television MRTV said Tuesday that 21 people were killed and 11,532 houses, 73 religious buildings, 47 monasteries, 163 schools, 29 hospitals and clinics and 112 government buildings were damaged.

Independent media said hundreds more people were believed missing. Many of those reported dead or unaccounted for had been living in ramshackle displacement camps that were reportedly heavily damaged by the storm surge.

The camps house members of the Muslim Rohingya minority who lost their homes in a brutal 2017 counterinsurgency campaign led by Myanmar security forces. Aid agency presence is spotty and help from the country's military government negligible.

It is difficult to confirm the extent of casualties and damage because telecommunication facilities in the area were damaged by the storm's high winds. Information is hard to obtain even in normal times because the military restricts the media.

Sahat Khasin, a Rohingya who does relief work at one of the camps, said by phone he helped bury 11 bodies at a Muslim cemetery near Sittwe, Rakhine's state capital on the Bay of Bengal.

He said the authorities warned people in the camps to evacuate to safer places in advance of the cyclone's arrival, but some waited until seawater began pouring in.

Video from Sittwe on Tuesday showed extensive damage to buildings as well as uprooted trees and fallen power lines.

Heavy rain in Bagan, the ancient city that is one of Myanmar's major tourist attractions, caused flooding that weakened the foundations of at least four temples. MRTV reported that the head of Myanmar's military government, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, visited Tuesday to inspect the damage,

The government issued disaster declarations for 17 townships in Rakhine and four in Chin state, north of Rahkine, where hundreds of buildings were reported damaged.

Rohingya are not recognized as an official minority in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, where they face widespread discrimination and are denied citizenship and other basic rights. People living in the camps cannot move freely, according to human rights groups.

More than 700,000 other Rohingya fled the 2017 violence to live in refugee camps in neighboring Bangladesh, which also suffered damage from the cyclone but reported no deaths.

At the world's largest refugee camp in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar district, thousands of Rohingya from Myanmar were moved to safer areas until Cyclone Mocha passed. The low-lying area is especially vulnerable to flooding, with relatively few secure shelters available.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said more than 700,000 people were moved to cyclone shelters or makeshift facilities including schools and mosques

While the storm didn't directly hit refugee settlements, as feared, it caused major damage, Alexia Riviere, emergency coordinator in Bangladesh for Catholic Relief Services, a major aid agency, said in a statement. The needs will likely be great as we assess the destruction. Our concerns in the wake of the storm include landslides and flash flooding."

Riviere described Cyclone Mocha as one of the largest storms to strike Bangladesh in decades, noting that Cyclone Sidr in 2007 killed more than 3,000 people and caused billions of dollars in damage.

As an aid community, we have to face the fact that marginalized communities are becoming more vulnerable each year, Riviere said. The more we can do to prepare for the inevitable, the better. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Farmington (US), May 16 (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 on Monday, killing three people and injuring six others including two police officers before he was killed, authorities said.

The shootings occurred around 11 am 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 region's oil and natural gas industry.

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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 on 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.

Also Read | US Religious Freedom Report Alleges Violations in China, Iran.

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 shooter's 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 neighbourhood 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.

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 on 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 am. The first officer arrived at 11:02 am 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 didn't 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 daughter's 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), He's down there.'  The cop just went straight into action, Robledo said.

Robledo's own family car was perforated with bullets.

We've been doing yard work all last week. I just thank God that nobody was outside in front, he said.

"Obviously, elderly people  he didn't have no sympathy for them. Who's 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 neighbourhood as a mostly great place to live, with a mix of homes, short-term rental apartments and churches.

It's 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 don't 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 it's 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 Sheriff's 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 on Tuesday afternoon.

Today, gun violence took the lives of our elders, wounded two police officers, and paralysed Farmington's small community in fear, US 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 jewellery 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. (AP)

(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 16 (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.

Also Read | Death Penalty: Amnesty Reports Major Increase in Executions.

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.

Also Read | Sudha Murty Reveals Her 10 Downing Street Address Stunned UK Immigration Officer, Says No One Believes a Simple Lady Can Be Mother-in-Law of British PM.

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)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
The Philippines has installed 5 navigational buoys inside its EEZ in the South China Sea. (Photo Credit: Twitter/@jaytaryela)

Manila [Philippines], May 16 (ANI): The Philippines has placed five navigational buoys inside its 200-mile (322 km) exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea to assert its sovereignty, according to the country's coast guard, reported The Epoch Times.

The Philippine Coast Guard's spokesperson on South China Sea issues, Commodore Jay Tarriela, said that five buoys carrying the national flag were placed from May 10 to May 12 in five areas within the EEZ.

Also Read | Mexico Machete Attack: Argentine Tourist Killed in Machete Attack in Cordoba.

An exclusive economic zone, or EEZ is an area of the ocean, generally extending 200 nautical miles beyond a nation's territorial sea, within which a coastal nation has jurisdiction over both living and nonliving resources.

Patag Island, Balagtas Reef, Kota Island, Panata Island, and Juan Felipe Reef are the five areas where the buoys have been placed, the report further stated.

Also Read | US Religious Freedom Report Alleges Violations in China, Iran.

Tarriela, while sharing photos of the buoys in a post, said on Twitter, "This move highlights the Philippines' unwavering resolve to protect its maritime borders and resources and contribute to safety of maritime trade."

According to The Epoch Times, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has laid its claim to the majority of the South China Sea, citing the so-called "nine-dash line," a vaguely defined U-shaped delineation that separates the areas where it claims "historic rights" to resources within the sea.

The CCP's claim of sovereignty over almost the whole of the South China Sea was annulled by a 2016 international arbitration ruling, reported The Epoch Times.

As the Philippines looks to further fortify its connections with the United States, China has been acting more aggressively in the South China Sea recently.

Most recently, on May 1, amidst the CCP's intimidating tactics against the self-ruled island, the Philippines and the United States underlined the need for peace across the Taiwan Strait.

This confirmation came only a few days after more than 100 Chinese militia marine vessels were seen inside the Philippines' EEZ between April 18 and April 24, as per The Epoch Times.

The South China Sea, which includes many islands in the region, is subject to multiple territorial claims by China that are not recognised by the United States. In the Spratlys, claims have been made by Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

The CCP has spent years trying to drive other countries out of certain areas of the South China Sea, including by creating artificial islands in an effort to expand its claims and by increasing the deployment of its naval militia units to intimidate and harass smaller countries.

Additionally, the Chinese government has stationed hundreds of fishing vessels and coast guard boats in the areas that are under dispute for years, The Epoch Times 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)
Washington, May 17 (AP) The U.S. State Department on Tuesday condemned the arrest of a former employee of a U.S. consulate in Russia, the latest example of the country's crackdown against its own citizens and foreigners.

Russia's Tass news agency said Robert Shonov was detained in the Russian city of Vladivostok on suspicion of "cooperation on a confidential basis with a foreign state, international or foreign organization. Tass didn't say when the detention occurred or provide any details of the allegation.

Also Read | LGBTQ Rights in Europe: Malta Leads, Poland Lags.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Shonov is a Russian national worked at the now-closed U.S. consulate in Vladivostok for more than 25 years. He said that after a Russian government order in April 2021 required dismissing all local employees from U.S. diplomatic outposts in Russia, Shonov worked at a company the U.S. contracted with to support its embassy in Moscow.

Mr. Shonov's only role at the time of his arrest was to compile media summaries of press items from publicly available Russian media sources, Miller said. His being targeted under the confidential cooperation' statute highlights the Russian Federation's blatant use of increasingly repressive laws against its own citizens.

Also Read | Relief to Imran Khan: Islamabad High Court Extends Former Pakistan PMs Bail in Two Cases Until June 8.

Miller added, The United States strongly condemns the reported arrest of Robert Shonov and said the allegations against him are wholly without merit.

Tass said a Moscow court on Thursday would consider extending Shonov's arrest for three months. The news agency said he was being held in Moscow's Lefortovo prison on charges that carry a potential sentence of up to eight years in prison.

Also held in Lefortovo is Evan Gershkovich, an American reporter for The Wall Street Journal. Gershkovich has been in custody since his March 29 arrest by Russia's security service on espionage charges that he, his employer and the U.S. government have denied.

Gershkovich's arrest rattled journalists in Russia and drew outrage in the West. The United States has declared Gershkovich to be wrongfully detained and demanded his immediate release.

Since invading Ukraine in February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin has widened the scope of a years-old crackdown on criticism of government policies, other forms of dissent and actions that his government finds objectionable. Hundreds, if not thousands, of Russians have been fined, jailed or fled the country because of the crackdown. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Montgomery (US), May 16 (AP) The US Supreme Court on Monday sided with an Alabama death row inmate, who had his lethal injection called off at the last minute in November, and argues he should be put to death by nitrogen hypoxia when he is ultimately executed.

Justices without comment rejected the Alabama attorney general's request to review an 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals decision regarding inmate Kenneth Eugene Smith.

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The state argued the decision disregarded Supreme Court precedent that an inmate challenging an execution method must show that an alternative method is readily available, not just feasible.

Alabama has authorized nitrogen hypoxia  death as a result of breathing pure nitrogen  as an execution method but no state has attempted to use the untested method to put an inmate to death.

Also Read | US Religious Freedom Report Alleges Violations in China, Iran.

Smith was scheduled to be put to death by lethal injection on November 17, 2022, for the 1988 murder-for-hire slaying of a preacher's wife.

On the day of the execution, a divided 11th Circuit panel stayed the execution after Smith raised concerns about previous lethal injections in the state and suggested nitrogen hypoxia as an available alternative method.

The Supreme Court disagreed and lifted the stay. However, prison officials ended up calling off Smith's execution for the night after staff were unable to find a suitable vein to connect the second of two intravenous lines to Smith's body.

Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented from the Supreme Court's opinion, saying they would hear the case.

The Eleventh Circuit's error is not only plain but also serious enough to warrant correction, Thomas wrote in a dissent.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey in November announced a pause in executions to conduct an internal review of procedures. The review came after problems with intravenous lines caused multiple executions to be cancelled or delayed. The state is seeking to resume executions this summer.

Attorneys for Smith have claimed his November execution attempt was botched. Smith has an ongoing lawsuit seeking to prevent the state from making a second attempt to execute him by lethal injection.

To subject Mr. Smith to a second execution by lethal injection would subject him to a torturous experience of unnecessary physical and psychological pain, as has been established through Alabama's last three execution attempts," Smith's lawyers wrote in a December court filing.

Prosecutors said Smith was one of two men who were each paid USD 1,000 to kill Elizabeth Sennett on behalf of her husband, who was deeply in debt and wanted to collect on insurance. The slaying, and the revelations over who was behind it, rocked the small north Alabama community. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Mumbai, May 16: The Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education (RBSE) will declare the RBSE Class 8th exam result 2023 tomorrow, May 17. The RBSE Class 8th exam result 2023 will be announced tomorrow at around 12 noon. The news was confirmed by Bulaki Das Kalla, Education minister of Rajasthan who tweeted the date and time for the RBSE 8th board results 2023.

Once declared, candidates who appeared for the RBSE Class 8th examination can visit the official websites of the Rajasthan Board at rajeduboard.rajasthan.gov.in and rajresults.nic.in to check and download their exam results. This year, around 13 lakh students appeared for the RBSE class 8th examination in the state. CUET UG 2023 Exam City Slip Released at cuet.samarth.ac.in; Common University Entrance Test Exam To Begin on May 21, Know Steps To Download.

Steps To Check Rajasthan Board Class 8th Result 2023:

Visit the official websites at rajeduboard.rajasthan.gov.in or rajresults.nic.in

Click on the "RBSE Board 8th Result 2023" link on the homepage

Enter using your login details and other credentials

Next, click on submit

Your RBSE Class 8th board result 2023 will be displayed on the screen

Check the exam result thoroughly

Take a printout for future reference

This year, the Rajasthan Education Department conducted the RBSE Class 8th Result 2023 in April. Besides the RBSE Class 8th Result 2023, the education department is also likely to announce the RBSE Class 5th Result 2023 this week. WBBSE Madhyamik Result 2023 Date: West Bengal Class 10th Board Exam Results To Be Declared on May 19 at wbresults.nic.in; Know Steps To Check Scorecard.

Meanwhile, the Haryana Board of Secondary Education (HBSE) announced the Class 10 board exam results today, May 16. The HBSE 10th Result 2023 or matric exam results were declared at around 3.30 pm. Students who appeared for the Haryana Board Class 10th examination can visit the official website of the Haryana Board at bseh.org.in to check their exam results.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 16, 2023 09:02 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Wyoming's "Taco John's" trademarked the popular term "Taco Tuesday" back in 1989. Aside from in New Jersey, where someone else got the mark before they did, Taco John's tries to police their "rights" to the widespread term with nastygrams and threats from their lawyers. Lots of small restaurants back down and adjust their marketing. In comes Taco Bell.

Taco Bell wants to free Taco Tuesday "for everyone." Seeing the massive marketing benefit to themselves, the chain has filed a petition with the USPTO to cancel Taco John's mark.

PennLive:

"People like tacos on Tuesdays. They just do. It's even fun to say 'Taco Tuesday.' Tacos have the unique ability to bring people together and bring joy to their lives on an otherwise mediocre day of the week. But since 1989, entities associated with registrant have owned a federal trademark registration for 'Taco Tuesday.' Not cool," Taco Bell said in its petition for cancellation. Taco Bell said it is not seeking damages and does not want to own the trademark  it just wants it "liberated" so that everyone can use the phrase. "Registrant is the only restaurant that has the presumptive right to use 'Taco Tuesday.' That's not right," Taco Bell said.

Has Taco Tuesday become so commonplace that it can be commercially celebrated as such? I guess we'll find out.
New Delhi, May 16: The CBI has booked a freelance journalist for allegedly collecting sensitive information about the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) and the army and sharing them with intelligence agencies of foreign countries, officials said.

Sources said Vivek Raghuvanshi has been booked under the provisions of Officials Secrets Act among others. Land-for-Jobs Scam: CBI Raids Multiple Locations in Bihar, Delhi Linked to RJD Leaders.

The CBI has alleged Raghuvanshi collected "sensitive" and "minute" details of DRDO and army projects and shared them with intelligence agencies of foreign countries. Who Is Praveen Sood? Know All About New CBI Director Who Is Expert in Tackling Cybercrime and Faced DK Shivakumars Ire.

The agency is conducting searches at 12 locations in Jaipur and in the National Capital Region, and has recovered sensitive documents, they said.
New Delhi, May 16: In a setback for senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and former Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik, the Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to consider his plea for urgent hearing on bail application.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal submitted before a bench headed by Justice Sanjiv Khanna that the matter needs urgent hearing and pointed at his client's deteriorating health pressed for early hearing. Supreme Court To Hear Plea of Gujarat Judicial Officers Whose Promotions Stayed by It in July 2023.

Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, appeared for the Enforcement Directorate in the matter. The bench, also comprising Justice M.M. Sundresh, asked Sibal to approach the Bombay High Court for the relief regarding early hearing in the matter.

"We can only say, decide the application. We cannot bypass on the grounds...." it said and scheduled the matter for hearing in July second week. Malik, arrested by the Enforcement Directorate under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), had moved the Supreme Court aggrieved with the Bombay High Court adjourning his bail application to June 6. During the hearing on Tuesday, Sibal said the high court adjourned the bail application on the ground of non-availability of the probe agency's counsel.

He urged the apex court to specify that the matter would be heard by the high court next week and pointed at Raju's submission that they are ready next week. However, the apex court did not specify any date for the hearing on the matter in the high court. Chhattisgarh Liquor Scam: Dont Create an Atmosphere of Fear, Supreme Court Tells ED.

The investigating agency had arrested Malik in February last year, in connection with a money laundering case over an alleged land deal concerning an aide of terrorist Dawood Ibrahim. In November last year, a special court in Mumbai had rejected his bail application in the money laundering case arising out of activities in 1999.

The ED had filed a charge sheet against the former Maharashtra minister over the monetary transactions in the land deal with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim's sister, Haseena Parkar, through her driver Salim Patel.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 16, 2023 05:12 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Majority of the girls in an Uttar Pradesh government school a teacher has been arrested for sexually assaulting 15 students, have stopped coming for classes after the incident.
State Congress chief DK Shivakumar, one of the two contenders for the post, will fly to Delhi today to present his case to be new Karnataka Chief Minister to the party's national leadership. Senior leader Siddaramaiah, who is also eyeing the chief minister berth, arrived in Delhi yesterday before the party announces a name. The party could announce the name of the next Karnataka Chief Minister in the coming 24 hours. New Karnataka CM: Siddaramaiah Willing To Share Chief Minister Post With DK Shivakuamar, Wants Position for First Two Years, Says Report.

DK Shivakumar in Delhi Today

Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar to go to Delhi today amid a cliffhanger regarding the decision on Karnataka CM. While Congress leader Siddaramaiah arrived in Delhi yesterday, Shivakumar stayed in Bengaluru due to a stomach infection. (File Photo) pic.twitter.com/vKmClxdv36  ANI (@ANI) May 16, 2023

(SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)
Dhaka, May 16: Bangladesh has withdrawn the extra security escort provided to top diplomats of India and three other countries, with foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Tuesday terming the service redundant, costly, and discriminatory.

Policemen equipped with riot gear used to escort in their vans the envoys of India, the United States, the UK, and Saudi Arabia during their movements in the city and an intensified security vigil for them was enforced following the July 1, 2016, Islamist militant attack in a posh Dhaka restaurant. The attack killed 20 people -- 17 foreigners including an Indian girl. Most of the other foreigners killed in the attack were however Japanese and Italians. India To Become Poorer Than Bangladesh by 2025 and Is No Longer Developing Nation? PIB Burst Fake IMF Report.

The additional security protocol we were providing to ambassadors and high commissioners of some particular countries has been withdrawn. But the normal security measures for them are in place, a diplomatic security division official of Dhaka Metropolitan Police said on Tuesday.

The official, who preferred anonymity, said the police gunmen will continue to accompany the envoys during their movements and the personnel from the designated police unit guarding the chancery complexes and residences of senior diplomats will also remain as usual.

The foreign minister said the existing law and order no longer required additional security measures for a few envoys and the decision to withdraw the extra protocols was taken as several embassies other than the four were demanding identical security rituals.

"We have decided not to provide additional security escort services to foreign ambassadors of any country, the minister told the media at the sidelines of an event. He added that if any country felt the need for additional security measures, they might hire the services.

Momen said many countries were now asking for a similar protocol but we will not give it to anyone, because it is discriminatory (and) no one gives such benefits to our ambassadors abroad".

Shortly after Momen's comments, Dhaka Police Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruq told reporters that the shortage of manpower prompted authorities to make the decision to refrain from providing any additional protocol to certain diplomats. Bangladesh Fire: Massive Blaze Erupts at Bangabazar Wholesale Market in Dhaka Spread to Six Buildings and Residential Area (Watch Videos).

A foreign ministry official, familiar with the development, said a specialised unit of para-police Ansar Force was made ready to provide VIP protection services in exchange for payments and the foreign missions could hire them if they wanted. Meanwhile, the Public Diplomacy Section of the US embassy here in a statement said: "The safety and security of our diplomatic personnel and facilities are of the utmost importance."

In accordance with longstanding policy, we do not disclose security details concerning the US Embassy. Per the Vienna Convention, the host country must uphold its obligations to ensure the protection of all diplomatic missions and personnel," Sean McIntosh, the counsellor in charge of the US Embassy Public Diplomacy Section said. The three other embassies where envoys were getting the extra privilege made no comment on the development so far.
At least 883 people were executed worldwide in 2022, says Amnesty International  that's the highest number recorded in five years. Many executions took place in Iran and Saudi Arabia, including of political prisoners.Helge Limburg remembers everything about January 7. For the German parliamentarian from the Green Party, it was a "day of grief and anger"  the day Mohammad Mehdi Karami was executed in Iran. The karate champion was only 22 years old when he was "murdered," as Limburg told DW, "because there was no due process."

Also Read | Sudha Murty Reveals Her 10 Downing Street Address Stunned UK Immigration Officer, Says No One Believes a Simple Lady Can Be Mother-in-Law of British PM.

Limburg did not know Mohammed Mehdi Karami personally, but the politician declared himself a sponsor of the young Iranian. It was a political act, in solidarity with the democracy movement in Iran  and above all, in the hope that he could prevent Karami's execution.

Also Read | US Mass Shooting: Two Dead, Four Injured After Rival Motorcycle Clubs Fired 150 Shots at Georgia Event.

Despite the distance and the fact that he never had the opportunity to speak with Karami by phone, Limburg described how their relationship developed. "I had occasional contact with those near him and I felt very close to him. My family also shared in his excitement and suffering," said Limburg.

Excessive use of death penalty in Iran, Saudi Arabia

Karami is one of at least 209 people who have been sent to the gallows in Iran this year, according to Volker Turk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Iran is among the world's most excessive users of the death penalty. That is reflected in the latest report from the human rights organization Amnesty International, which covers death sentences and executions in 2022. In Iran, at least 576 people were killed in state-sanctioned executions last year  almost twice as many as in 2021.

"The Iranian regime fears for its power," analyzed Renata Alt, a German politician with the neoliberal Free Democrat Party (FDP) who chairs the German parliament's Committee on Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid. "That is why it is important that we use these political sponsorships to generate awareness for the many prisoners. Otherwise, it is likely that even more people would be executed," Alt said in a written statement to DW. Many lawmakers in Germany and abroad have taken up similar political sponsorships of prisoners in Iran and other countries.

On the other side of the Persian Gulf, the number of people killed has also skyrocketed. In Saudi Arabia, 196 people died by execution in 2021. "Believe it or not, Saudi Arabia executed 81 people in a single day," Agnes Callamard, Amnesty's secretary-general, said during the presentation of the report. That means Iran and Saudi Arabia combined account for more than 80% of registered executions worldwide.

Beheaded, hanged, shot, poisoned

In total, at least 883 people were beheaded, hanged, shot, or poisoned in government-approved executions in 2022, across 20 countries. That's the highest number of executions in five years, and a drastic increase compared with 2021: more than 300 cases, or over 50%.

These statistics do not include the estimated thousands of executions carried out in China  which guards its implementation of the death penalty as a state secret. The same applies to Vietnam. North Korea, where it is suspected that the death penalty is also used excessively, is also not included in the figures.

The death penalty is also used in countries that Germany describes as its partners, such as Japan, the United States and Singapore. Whenever Boris Mijatovic, a spokesperson for the German Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid, expresses criticism of the death penalty to representatives of these countries, he often receives one of two reactions: "Either the person I am talking to is embarrassed, and feels guilty or they come across as very self-confident in the sense of 'what are you Westerners trying to tell me?'" the Green Party parliamentarian told DW.

"Especially in the Gulf region or in Asia or in North America, where this is an old topic, one must be very imaginative to make any progress," said Mijatovic, adding that he believes German politicians have a duty. "We are called on to advance this debate. Especially in countries where the death penalty is not only reserved for the most serious crimes but also used for many other crimes. Such as in Iran: 'crimes against God'  that is very, very questionable."

Death for dealing drugs violates 'human rights'

According to the Amnesty report, well over a third of all identified executions were carried out as punishments for drug trafficking. "The fact that some countries include and use the death penalty as a customary part of their criminal law violates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and international law," said Alt.

That is because these laws expressly forbid the death penalty for offenses that do not meet the threshold of being the "most serious crimes," for example premeditated murder. Alt is furthermore convinced that executing criminals does not have a deterrent effect. "It does not lead to fewer murders, nor does it lead to a reduction in drug-related crimes," she added.

In this bleak overall picture, there is, however, somewhat of a glimmer of hope: A further six countries repealed the death penalty in 2022, either fully or in part. The tide is turning especially in African countries; Sierra Leone and the Central African Republic completely abolished the death penalty. Equatorial Guinea and Zambia have removed it to the greatest possible extent without eliminating it completely, and Liberia and Ghana are already in the process of getting rid of capital punishment.

By the end of 2022, a total of 112 countries had abolished the death penalty. In December, almost two-thirds of United Nations member countries, 125 nations, voted for a moratorium on its use.

This article was originally written in German.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 16, 2023 05:50 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
On 15 May the Ejercito de Liberacion Nacional (ELN) guerrilla group announced a pause in peace talks with the Colombian government in response to criticism of the group by President

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On 15 May Monitoreo Azul y Blanco, a Nicaraguan organisation which monitors human rights violations, reported that 18 people had been arbitrarily detained across the country.

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A tragic Arizona shooting on Saturday evening left two individuals dead and five others injured, as per a statement from the Yuma Police Department, KOLD reported.

Teens were reportedly among the victims, as officers responded to a call of gunfire at around 10:54 pm local time at the 3800 block of South J Edward Drive. Upon arrival, the police found several individuals suffering from gunshot wounds.

Two males, aged 19 and 20, were transported to Yuma Regional Medical Center but succumbed to their injuries.

Another male teenager, aged 16, with critical injuries was initially taken to Yuma Regional Medical Center and then airlifted to Phoenix.

Meanwhile, the other victims, aged between 15, 16, 18, and 19, were reported to have non-life-threatening injuries and received treatment at YRMC.

Several off-duty police officers were in the area then and assisted. The Yuma police have launched an investigation, and no suspects have been apprehended.

READ NEXT: Suspect in Arizona Woman Lauren Heike's Murder Arrested

The Arizona Shooting Incident

The border community of Yuma, with a population of 97,000, is experiencing a significant surge of migrants, with an Arizona shooting occurring amidst this situation.

Yuma's Republican mayor, Douglas Nicholls, appeared on Fox News last Friday to express his concern that Border Patrol had begun releasing migrants onto the streets one day after Title 42 expired.

Border Patrol agents in the Yuma sector made a near-record number of interdictions, with 1,550 people being stopped and searched on a recent day. Due to the overwhelming number of migrants, some are being released onto the streets, with no aid-providing releases to NGOs.

Nicholls told Fox News's Neil Cavuto that around a hundred people were released in the morning, and an additional 150 were expected by the afternoon.

Nicholls criticized the lack of response from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to address the humanitarian concerns raised by the influx of newcomers.

In a letter addressed to President Biden, Nicholls requested him to declare a national emergency in response to the migrant crisis at the US-Mexico border.

He urged Biden to defend American communities susceptible to harmful repercussions of the unrestrained influx of migrants into this country.

Nicholls pointed out that while Arizona, Yuma County, and other nearby municipalities had already declared emergencies, the president had not.

The mayor stressed the dire situation in Yuma and other border towns, citing a lack of commitment by the federal government to offer practical policy under current immigration laws.

He noted that many migrants are killed or injured on their journey across the border due to the activities of drug and human trafficking organizations, which is a high price to pay for illicit activities.

It Is Not Clear if Arizona Shooting Is Linked to the Recent Migrant Crossings

In the wake of the expiration of Title 42, which had been implemented to limit the spread of COVID-19 and allowed for the release of hundreds of migrants, authorities have recently let out 300 undocumented migrants in the border city.

Whether this incident is connected to the recent surge in migrant crossings remains unknown.

However, the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has reportedly housed up to 28,000 migrants at its facilities, well above capacity, because of the relaxation.

The mayor of Yuma, Arizona, stated Thursday that migrants who have not yet been thoroughly processed will be released in the city by Customs and Border Protection.

Three white buses with their windows covered arrived near Yuma's airport at the Yuma Public Safety Training Facility to release migrants Friday afternoon.

Although the release site was kept secret, DailyMail.com was present to cover the event, and the briefing document said that 141 people were released.

People were seen getting off the buses and ushered to a holding area with shade to wait out the 96-degree heat. It is believed that from there, buses will transport them to Phoenix.

READ MORE: Dave Chappelle Thinks San Francisco Need Batman

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Yuma shooting: 2 dead, 5 wounded following shooting at neighborhood gathering - From FOX 10 Phoenix
The state's Department of Education is currently investigating a Florida teacher after allegedly showing a Disney film featuring a gay character to her fifth-grade class, according to NY Post.

Jenna Barbee, a teacher at Winding Waters School in Hernando County, Florida, posted a TikTok video defending her decision to show "Strange World" to her pupils after final exams.

However, a parent and a school board member objected to the film's LGBTQ character depiction, which has led to an investigation into possible violations of "Don't say gay," the statute signed by Governor Ron DeSantis that prohibits discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in Florida's public schools.

READ NEXT: Florida Public Schools Bans Lessons About Sexuality, Gender Identity

Florida Teacher Speaks Up to Defend Herself

Barbee defended her decision to show the film, saying it was related to earth science and ecosystem concepts covered in class and had significant social and emotional messages about "overcoming differences, spreading kindness, communicating, and chasing your dreams," according to her TikTok video.

Despite her assertion that LGBTQ+ content was not the focus and describing the film as "harmless," a school board member, who has been vocally opposed to representation in schools, reported her to the state, Yahoo News reported.

It's worth noting that the board member's daughter was present in the class during the viewing.

Following the report, Carl Zee, a friend of Barbee's, tweeted on May 11 that the teacher was being investigated for "inappropriate conduct" after receiving a letter from the Florida Department of Education.

The investigation has asked any potential witnesses or individuals possessing relevant documents to come forward within two weeks.

Barbee took to TikTok on May 13 to express her concerns about the investigation's impact on her students. She shared a video in which her students voiced their shock at the inquiry and stated that they didn't even know it was a big deal until the board member and the state made it one.

She further noted that she had signed permission papers from all the students' parents, allowing them to watch Disney PG movies.

Barbee expressed fear that the investigation would send the wrong message to her students and questioned its motivations. She also highlighted that the children find the research more "traumatizing" than the movie.

"They're using it against me, saying they're 'protecting the children' and it's for their safety. But what is this showing them?" she pondered.

Florida Teachers "Plays Victim," Says a School Board Member

During Tuesday's meeting, school board member Shannon Rodriguez accused Barbee, the Florida teacher who showed her class the Disney movie "Strange World," of "playing the victim" since she did not get the film approved by the school administration.

Rodriguez claimed that it is not a teacher's job to impose their beliefs, including religious, sexual orientation, or gender identity, on a child. However, she believes that movies such as "Strange World" open the door for conversations that have no place in classrooms.

Moms for Liberty, a conservative parents' rights organization, supported Rodriguez's election to the school board last fall. She has demanded the removal of books from school libraries that she believes contain "smut" and "porn."

The Tallahassee Democrat, part of the USA TODAY Network, requested a comment from Rodriguez, which she did not immediately respond to.

Released in late 2022, "Strange World" is an animated science fiction film that follows a team of adventurers searching for a plant to power their society. The movie's protagonist, Ethan Clade, is gay and develops romantic feelings for another male character, Diazo.

This incident has sparked a debate about the representation of LGBTQ+ content in schools and has raised questions about the role of school administration in approving educational material.

READ MORE: Honduras Teen Dies in Florida Shelter Facility

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WATCH: DeSantis' feud with Disney could go to US Supreme Court - From WKMG News 6 ClickOrlando
Cop City is the name community groups give to the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center. With a cost of $90 million, the facility will occupy 85 acres of a 265-acre property.

"The center will include an "auditorium for police/fire and public use," a "mock city for burn building training and urban police training," an "Emergency Vehicle Operator Course for emergency vehicle driver training," a K-9 unit kennel and training, according to the center's website . The first phase of the training center is scheduled to open in late 2023."

During a protest against Cop City on Wednesday, January 8, 2023, Atlanta area police shot Manuel Esteban Paez Teran 57 times. Police claim Teran fired first and injured a police agent. There is no body camera footage. Known in the community at Tortuguita and identified as nonbinary. That the past tense has to be used in the sentence is angering but also not surprising given the culture in the United States that valorizes violence and gives cops the uncritical benefit of the doubt. That police are above the law is enshrined in the Constitutionally protected policy of qualified immunity, "a nearly failsafe tool to let police brutality go unpunished and deny victims their constitutional rights." Could it be that one of the 57 bullets fired by the militarized police in Atlanta struck a fellow police officer, you know, "friendly fire?"

Remember when law enforcement officials  state and local police, FBI, and the US Marshall Service in unmarked cars, pulled up, announced and fired 30 rounds into the body of anti-fascist activist Michael Reinoehl as he sat in his car on September 3, 2020? These agents of state violence claimed Reineohl "initiated an exchange of gunfire with officers before he was killed [correction: agents of the state killed Reinoehl]. Reinoehl did have a loaded .380 pistol on him when he was killed [correction: agents of the state killed Reinoehl], but it was found inside his right front pants pocket. Despite that, investigators insist that, based on law enforcement and witness statements, they believe Reinoehl fired the round, was shot by police, and put his gun inside his pants pocket. Those investigators could not find the bullet Reinoehl allegedly shot at police."

Just wow. No trained agent from the state and local police, FBI, or the US Marshall Service found the round. After being shot by the police thirty times, Reinoehl was so devious and superhuman to try to "set the cops up" by planting the pistol in his pants.

Steven Dozinger, a lawyer targeted by Chevron and the judicial branch of the political parties, and an "advocate, writer & public speaker on human rights and corporate accountability, posted the image above. Dozinger proposes that eco-activism should not be criminalized. Instead, ecocide should be designated a crime against humanity, like genocide. Check out the Red Deal for a deeply theorized example of this argument.

"Stop Cop City (SCC) or Defend Atlanta Forest (DTF) is a decentralized movement in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, whose goal is to stop the construction of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center by the Atlanta Police Foundation and the City of Atlanta." Defend Atlanta Forest is "an autonomous movement for the future of South Atlanta."

As Kwame Olufemi from Community Movement Builders clarifies the position on Stop Cop City, "To be clear  cop city is not just a controversial training center. It is a war base where police will learn military-like maneuvers to kill black people and control our bodies and movements. The facility includes shooting ranges, plans for bomb testing, and will practice tear gas deployment. They are practicing how to make sure poor and working-class people stay in line. So when the police kill us in the streets again, as they did to Rayshard Brooks in 2020, they can control our protests and community response to how they continually murder our people."

Click here for the Dekalb County medical examiner's report.

For moving and agonizing memories of "Tort," click here.

Supporters of Tort were recently arrested for posting these flyers. As reported by The Intercept, "Three activists involved in the Defend Atlanta Forest movement are facing charges of felony intimidation of an officer of the state and misdemeanor stalking for placing flyers on mailboxes in a neighborhood in Bartow County, Georgia, about 40 miles from Atlanta. The detainees were held for days in solitary confinement, a lawyer working on the case and a relative of one of the activists told The Intercept."
Yet another mass shooting has happened, this time in northwestern New Mexico, resulting in at least three people dead and several others wounded. The gunman in that New Mexico shooting has been killed by police.

This latest mass shooting occurred at around 11 a.m. Monday in Farmington, a city known to be a trading post to the adjacent Navajo Nation reservation, as well as a supply line to the region's oil and natural gas industry.

USA Today reported that of those people wounded, two were police officers who responded to the incident. The Farmington Police Department then confirmed that multiple police officers were involved in confronting the suspect, who was killed on the scene.

"The details we have are that multiple officers from the Farmington Police Department were involved in an officer-involved shooting," stated the Farmington PD on their Facebook page. "One suspect was confronted and killed on scene."

New Mexico Shooting Gunman Yet To Be Identified, Says Police

The Farmington Police Department confirmed that the shooting happened in a residential part of Farmington, which immediately went into lockdown soon after. The police also confirmed that the two police officers who were injured are in stable condition and are being treated at a nearby medical facility.

New York Post said that the suspect is yet to be identified, with authorities still investigating the motives for his attack. The incident was said to have had "multiple civilian victims."

READ NEXT: George Santos Admits To Stealing Checks in Brazil Court

This latest mass shooting took place barely a day after the mass shooting in Yuma, Arizona, that saw two people dead and five others wounded. This new one also came a week after another mass shooting near Dallas, Texas where eight people were killed at an outlet mall.

The lockdown has since been lifted in the area, which was near several schools. Authorities confirmed that no students were injured during the shooting incident.

Police Describe New Mexico Shooting as 'Chaotic Scene'

Deputy Police Chief Baric Crum told reporters that four officers from the department confronted the mass shooter and said, "They were able to stop his actions at that time," adding that it was a "chaotic scene." He urged everyone with knowledge of the suspect to come forward.

According to NBC News, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham released a statement after the mass shooting and thanked authorities for their quick response. She also addressed the victims of this tragic attack.

"I am deeply upset by the tragic violence that unfolded today in Farmington. I am praying for the families of the victims, the wounded, and the entire community of Farmington following this horrific tragedy," she said and added, "I'm also grateful for the quick response by law enforcement. My administration will not stop fighting the epidemic of gun violence from every angle possible."

READ MORE: Trump Rape Trial Witness Says Donald Trump Groped Her

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WATCH: 3 people dead, 2 officers injured in shooting in New Mexico: Police - ABC News
President Joe Biden today announced his intent to nominate Dr. Monica Bertagnolli as Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the world's preeminent biomedical research organization.

Bertagnolli is a world-renowned surgical oncologist, cancer researcher, educator, and physician-leader who has the vision and leadership needed to deliver on NIH's mission to seek fundamental knowledge and promote human health.

READ NEXT: FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris on Investments to Lower Energy Costs

"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.

As Director of the National Cancer Institute, Dr. Bertagnolli has advanced my Cancer Moonshot to end cancer as we know it. She has brought together partners and resources from different sectors to launch groundbreaking efforts in cancer prevention and early detection, a national navigation program for childhood cancers, and additional programs to bring clinical trials to more Americans.

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."

About Dr. Monica Bertagnolli

Dr. Monica Bertagnolli is currently Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the first woman to serve as NCI Director. She previously served as the Richard E. Wilson Professor of Surgery in the field of surgical oncology at Harvard Medical School, a surgeon at Brigham and Women's Hospital, and a member of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Treatment and Sarcoma Centers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.



Throughout her career, Bertagnolli has been at the forefront of clinical and research oncology and championed collaborative initiatives to transform the data infrastructure for clinical cancer research.

She served as group chair of the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology, a National Clinical Trials Network member organization, and was the Chief Executive Officer of Alliance Foundation Trials, LLC, a not-for-profit corporation that conducts international cancer clinical trials and focuses on the inclusion of rural communities in clinical studies.



Bertagnolli is a member of the National Academy of Medicine, a past president and chair of the board of directors of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and has served on the board of directors of the American Cancer Society and the Prevent Cancer Foundation.



The daughter of first-generation Italian and French Basque immigrants, Bertagnolli grew up on a ranch in southwestern Wyoming. She graduated from Princeton University with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree and attended medical school at the University of Utah.

She trained in surgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital and was a research fellow in tumor immunology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

READ MORE: FACT SHEET: President Biden Takes Action vs. Gun Violence
Special counsel John Durham has finally released his report surrounding the FBI investigation into the Donald Trump campaign and Russia. While it criticized the FBI for launching the investigation in the first place, it could not secure any additional convictions as Republicans had hoped.

CNN has obtained a copy of the Durham report, which concluded that the FBI used "raw, unanalyzed, and uncorroborated intelligence" to launch its "Crossfire Hurricane" investigation into Russia's involvement in the Trump campaign. However, it was pointed out that it had used a different standard to weigh in on concerns regarding the Hillary Clinton campaign election interference.

In his report, Durham wrote that the 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" but stopped short of charging anybody. He recommended that both agencies have "wholesale changes" when handling "politically-charged" investigations.

However, Durham's conclusion was at odds with a previous DOJ Inspector General investigation into the FBI's Russia probe. That one concluded that there was sufficient justification to open the inquiry. However, Durham did admit that the FBI had adequate reason to open a preliminary assessment into the investigation.

What Is the Durham Report?

Special counsel John Durham was appointed by Trump Attorney General William "Bill" Barr to investigate the FBI for investigating the Trump campaign's connections to Russia, which Donald Trump called a "hoax."

Former President Donald Trump had hoped that the investigation would lead to "bombshell indictments of those who scrutinized the former president." However, after four years, it only led to one minor conviction and two acquittals for the Durham probe, including that of Hillary Clinton's campaign lawyer.

READ MORE: Joe Biden Family Probe: House Republicans Find No Evidence of Wrongdoing

The only conviction it secured was against low-level FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith. However, he still avoided going to jail after he admitted to doctoring an email about a surveillance warrant.

The report did state that the FBI acted on "raw, unanalyzed and uncorroborated intelligence" when investigating Trump's Russia connection, with the FBI repeatedly using "confirmation bias" and ignoring "information that undercut the initial premise of the investigation," according to the BBC.

Durham Report Disappoints Republicans

The Durham Report ended with an unusual conclusion for a criminal probe conducted under the Justice Department's special counsel regulations, as it only recommended how the DOJ and the FBI should change how they investigate politically-charged matters. He also did not propose any massive changes or the creation of new rules.

According to Politico, the report has disappointed Republicans as Durham failed to secure significant criminal convictions. Attorney General Merrick Garland has already sent the report in full, with no "additions, redactions, or other modifications" to members of Congress.

Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that the "American public was scammed." However, the report did not do what the former president hoped it would do, and that was to uncover what he believes to be evidence of "really bad, evil, unlawful and unconstitutional" activities and "reveal corruption at a level never before seen in our country."

READ NEXT: George Santos Admits To Stealing Checks in Brazil Court

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WATCH: BREAKING: Durham report on handling of Trump-Russia investigation released to public - MSNBC
Republican Representative Paul Gosar of Arizona has had a history of antisemitic and racist tendencies, and his staffer has reportedly been linked to infamous Neo-Nazi Nick Fuentes.

Several staffers to the Arizona representative have left digital footprints that have linked them to antisemitic activities, and the congressman's digital director, Wade Searle, is one of them.

According to a report by Talking Points Memo (TPM), Searle has pledged his allegiance to Fuentes and has been one of the most prolific supporters of the well-known white supremacist.

In his streaming channel, Fuentes called on his followers 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."

Fuentes was reportedly sitting in front of a digital studio backdrop with Russia's flag bearing the "Z" insignia used by supporters of Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine in the corner of his screen.

The TPM reported that one account belonging to Gosar's staff member reportedly did so, with Searle even donating $150 to the white supremacist's cause. The report said when he pledged his allegiance to Fuentes on May 2022, he was already working in Gosar's office at Capitol Hill.

The lawmaker's digital director reportedly left an "extensive digital trail of interconnected Groyper social media pages" and is known on far-right movements using ChickenRight" and "Chikken" handles.

Gosar has been described as one of the most far-right-leaning members of the House of Representatives and one of the most controversial.

He is allied with other far-right and Pro-Trump House Freedom Caucus Republicans such as Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert, and Matt Gaetz.

His office has denied requests for a statement on his staffer's Neo-Nazi connections. Last year, Gosar appeared in an event hosted by Fuentes and was the keynote speaker at the time.

READ NEXT: US Rep. George Santos Slams' Witch Hunt' Amid Fraud Charges

Anti-Defamation League Calls For Investigation Into Paul Gosar Staffer

The Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish civil rights non-profit that usually takes on antisemitism, is going after Paul Gosar again.

However, this time, the ADL has asked for a "full investigation" into the office of the Arizona representative for employing a "prominent Groyper" with direct links to Neo-Nazi Nick Fuentes.

The ADL noted that the TPM report revealed that the far-right neo-fascist "Groyper Army" is connected to Gosar's office and found it disturbing that a politician with a history of antisemitic views would have a digital director with links to a known Neo-Nazi.

"This needs a full investigation. Hate and extremism have no place in government- at any level," wrote the ADL in a statement released on social media.

Paul Gosar Previously Promoted an Antisemitic Website

Paul Gosar has had a history of being linked to antisemitic and white nationalist movements. Last month, the GOP congressman promoted a website denying the Holocaust and praised Adolf Hitler as "a man of valor."

In his weekly newsletter to his constituents back in Arizona, he linked several stories from that antisemitic website that had previously admitted to writing false articles.

The headlines that the congressman linked in his newsletter read, "Congressman: Jewish warmongers Nuland & Blinken 'Are Dangers Fools Who Can Get Us All Killed."

The Arizona Mirror reviewed that website and found that it was not just antisemitic but also pro-Kremlin as it ran and republished stories from Russian state-run propaganda websites Russia Today and Sputnik, including the linked article that Gosar shared.

However, a spokesperson for Paul Gosar said that the congressman uses a "third-party aggregating service" for headlines.

READ MORE: MAGA Catfight: Marjorie Taylor Greene Warns Donald Trump Against Hiring 'Liar' Laura Loomer

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WATCH: Rep. Paul Gosar Promotes Story on 'Jewish Warmongers' in Newsletter - From 12 News
Authorities have arrested the ex-boyfriend of Detroit nurse Patrice Wilson, who was found dead in the trunk of her car after being abducted from the parking lot of a hospital.

Jamere Miller, 36, allegedly abducted the 29-year-old nurse while she was about to get into her black 2020 Lincoln Nautilus in the DMC Detroit Receiving Hospital parking lot at around 7:40 a.m. Saturday, New York Post reported.

According to the police, Miller then drove the vehicle toward I-75 and Mack Avenue. Police Captain Donna McCord noted that the suspect was last seen wearing a blond wig.

Wilson's body was later found in the trunk of her car near her home at Pavilion Court in Novi with a gunshot wound. Speaking to Local 4, Wilson's mother, Roslind Livingston, appealed for anyone with information about her daughter's killer to come forward "so she can have justice."

"It's Mother's Day, and she is not here to be with her son. Her son cannot hold her and say 'Happy Mother's Day' today. That bothers me," she noted.

Livingston, who also works at the same hospital, said her daughter used to date Miller, but she "has been trying to get away from him" as "she knew he was toxic to her."

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Detroit Nurse Ex-Boyfriend Turned Himself In

Jamere Miller reportedly arranged his surrender to the police on Sunday afternoon. In a press conference on Monday, Detroit Police Chief James White noted that Patrice Wilson and Miller had recently ended their relationship, Detroit Free Press reported.

White said Miller wore a blond or red wig to disguise himself when she kidnapped Wilson. According to the police, Miller entered her vehicle and forced her to drive away.

White noted that this case was the latest example of how pervasive domestic violence is in their communities. He described the incident as tragic, horrific, and complex.

White said the Detroit nurse was a young woman who "had her whole life ahead of her," but "she was viciously murdered."

Detroit Nurse Ex-Boyfriend Has 'Violent' Criminal History

James White revealed on Monday that Jamere Miller had a violent criminal past that included domestic violence, firearms and drug-related offenses, and an assault on a police officer.

White further disclosed that Miller was previously in a relationship with Bianca Green, a woman who went missing in Romulus in 2011. Police said the suspect was cooperating with authorities in their search for her.

So far, 12 people have already been killed this year in domestic violence-related incidents in Detroit, including last week's murder of Calandra Green, Oakland County's top health official, and the shooting death of a 41-year-old mother of two in Southfield, Detroit News reported.

The mother of two was reportedly ambushed as she exited a hotel with her new boyfriend, but police said the gunman was later killed in Detroit as he reached for his rifle.

READ MORE: Kim Kardashian, Tom Brady's 'Friendship' Revealed

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WATCH: Detroit Nurse Murdered: Suspect Could be Linked to Another Disappearance - From LiveNOW from FOX
Jamie Foxx is reportedly undergoing treatment at a health facility in Chicago, which is known as one of the country's top physical medicine and rehabilitation centers.

According to TMZ, the 55-year-old actor continued to receive medical treatment after he experienced a "medical complication" last month in Atlanta.

During the weekend, Jamie's daughters, Corinne and Anelise, and Anelise's mom, Kristin Grannis, spent time with Foxx in Chicago as he continued to receive medical treatment.

The Chicago-based medical facility reportedly specializes in stroke recovery, spinal cord injury rehab, traumatic brain injury rehab, and cancer rehabilitation.

A source told TMZ that Foxx was transferred to the Chicago facility in late April after getting treatment in an Atlanta hospital, and insiders close to the actor also told the outlet that he was "recovering well."

His family was also reportedly in good spirits during their weekend visit. Corinne's boyfriend also joined her on one of her visits. The couple was seen smiling, a sign of positive things for the actor.

Anelise brought her guitar, possibly to perform and sing with her father, as Foxx loves music. Kristin reportedly left the facility with Mother's Day flowers and a balloon.

READ NEXT: Jamie Foxx Suffers Medical Scare

Jamie Foxx 'Out of the Hospital for Weeks,' His Daughter Says

Corinne wrote on her Instagram story Friday that her father has been "out of the hospital for weeks" and is "recuperating,"

She also said Jamie Foxx has been "playing pickleball" before thanking everyone who supported her family.

Foxx had experienced a "medical complication" in April, and Corinne announced it on her Instagram. Foxx's health remains unknown as his family has yet to disclose his medical issue.

In her latest update on her father's health, Foxx's daughter noted that it was "sad to see how the media runs wild" after some reports surfaced and made claims about his father's health.

Several media outlets reported in the past few days that Foxx's loved ones remain "hopeful" that he will recover but are also "preparing for the worst," which seemed to be not true as Corinne's recent update suggests that Foxx's condition is improving.

Jamie Foxx Suffers Medical Scare

Jamie Foxx was filming the movie "Back in Action" in Atlanta, Georgia, when he was hospitalized last April 11 after a health scare. He was reportedly not on the film set during that health-related incident and was not rushed to the hospital by an emergency vehicle.

However, the actor was still in the medical facility a week later. A source with knowledge of the actor's situation previously told CNN that "they are running tests and still trying to figure out what exactly happened."

Another source told PEOPLE at the time that Foxx was steadily improving and continued to recover inside the hospital. Corinne previously said that "due to quick action and great care," her father was "already on his way to recovery."

While his medical condition was not made public, many fans have speculated that Jamie Foxx suffered a stroke due to stress.

READ MORE: Detroit Nurse Found Dead Inside Her Car Trunk

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WATCH: Jamie Foxx's Daughter Sets Record Straight on Dad's Health - From TODAY
Florida's Republican Attorney General Ashley Moody was required to submit a ballot initiative to the State Supreme Court seeking to put marijuana legalization before the voters, however, she chose to include an opinion questioning its constitutionality. Moody used the same argument to block another legalization attempt in 2022.

Florida is an un-fun place! They are trying to ban Disney, pushing back against weed, and banning books. The only fun thing I can imagine in Florida might be to smoke out and watch manatees swim around.

Marijuana Moment:

Despite Moody's opinion, activists say that they've thoroughly vetted the measure and are confident the court will agree that it complies with constitutional requirements. "We appreciate General Moody's transmittal to the Supreme Court but respectfully disagree with her statement that she believes it does not comply," the campaign said in a statement to Florida Politics, which first reported on Moody's filing. "We very much look forward to her analysis but more importantly to both written and oral arguments before the Florida Supreme Court and a positive ruling from that court," they said. "As an aside, it is important to note that the opinion of the Attorney General is not binding and that this matter will be decided after both sides have had their say before the Florida Supreme Court."

Here is what Moody seeks to ensure voters do not get a chance to decide for themselves:
A long-awaited new tavern has officially opened in the former Toccis Tailgaters spot in north Bethlehem.

Billy Kounoupis, who owns the Billys Downtown Diner locations in Bethlehem and Easton, told lehighvalleylive.com he quietly opened doors for the new Flying Pig Tavern & Tap Monday. There was little fanfare at the site, 1313 Center St., he said.
Two Lehigh Valley men have been arrested in a Sunday night shooting in Allentown that left a Bethlehem man dead.

Adalberto Morales Ortiz, 45, of the 300 block of East North Street in Bethlehem, and Axel Gadiel Fontanez-Morales, 21, of the 1200 block of Ellsworth Driver in Whitehall Township, were each arraigned Monday night on homicide and related charges in the Sunday night fatal shooting of Jose Tirado-Ramirez, a 27-year-old Bethlehem man.

Morales Ortiz and Fontanez-Morales are each being held without bail in their respective cases, and were sent to Lehigh County Jail, court records show.

Asked if investigators were looking for additional suspects in the fatal shooting, Allentown police declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation.

Police said Tirado-Ramirez was shot around 9:30 p.m. Sunday at Fourth and Tilghman streets in the C-Town Supermarket parking lot.

Surveillance video from a business showed the victim Sunday night driving into the C-Town Supermarket parking lot in a black Nissan Sentra, police said.

Tirado-Ramirez was seen interacting with a group of people, including Fontanez-Morales, police said. The video then showed the victim walking toward the 400 block of West Tilghman Street, where another verbal interaction occurred with the same group.

Tirado-Ramirez was walking back to his car when he was approached by Morales Ortiz, who appeared to be aiming a firearm at the victim, police said.

There was a struggle over the gun, investigators said, and Morales Ortiz allegedly opened fire.

Fontanez-Morales then fired multiple times at the victim, according to police. In a later interview with investigators, Fontanez-Morales admitted to being in the supermarket parking lot and shooting Tirado-Ramirez, according to police.

The victim got back into his car and crashed at the intersection of North Mohr and West Washington streets.

Tirado-Ramirez was found with multiple gunshot wounds to his head and body, and police said they found a substantial number of discharged cartridges in the supermarket parking lot and the 700 block of North Mohr Street.

Tirado-Ramirez was taken to a local hospital, where Lehigh County Coroner Daniel Buglio said he died in the emergency room shortly after midnight Monday.

Tirado-Ramirezs cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds and the manner of death was ruled a homicide.

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Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com.
Gov. Phil Murphy on Monday rejected a proposal to immediately allow all police and firefighters enrolled in New Jerseys pension system to retire early with a reduced pension after 20 years of service.

But the Democratic governor didnt rule out the idea completely as he issued a conditional veto of the measure, dubbed the burnout bill.

Instead, Murphy suggested extending a law he signed temporarily providing the 20-and-out benefit by another three years and reassess its impact after that. If it still makes financial sense, he said, the pension systems board can make the benefit permanent.
Gov. Phil Murphy on Monday said he strongly supports the concept of a contentious bill that would allow various local government officials in New Jersey, including mayors and council members, to shield their addresses on annual financial disclosure statements.

But the measure has now stalled after Murphy declined to sign it into law, citing a technicality over timing and calling for lawmakers to redo its effective date.

The Democratic governor issued a conditional veto of the legislation (A4889), which would no longer require certain officers in municipal and county governments across the state to disclose their home or secondary address or that of their immediate family on the annual statements.
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 11, 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.

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 submitted 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.

Ryanair further claimed that the quantum of general damages was excessive.

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.

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."

The judge said that he had "difficulty in comprehending" this ground of Ryanair's appeal.

"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 to 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."

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.
A student who caused 19,000 in damage when he crashed his mothers car and left the scene was left with a three month sentence hanging over him.

Silviu Junca, 19, of 12 Gandon Close, Fairgreen, Portlaoise is accused of hit and run, failing to remain at the scene of an accident, having no insurance or licence at Carmody Way, Fairgreen on July 6 last year.

Garda McCabe told a sitting of Portlaoise District Court that the defendant hit a car and drove away from the scene at Carmody Way on the date in question.

The damage done to the vehicle was 19,000, said Garda McCabe.

Gardai identified the vehicle and the defendant was questioned and asked to produce insurance and a licence.

Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said her client had been cooperative.

There is no prospect of him dealing with that level of compensation, she said.

Ms Fitzpatrick said her client was a student who just completed a QQI Level 5 course in business.

She said he took his mothers car and was uninsured. She said she was only recently instructed by the defendant who earns 80 a week as a part time sales assistant in a shop.

Judge Andrew Cody said if the defendant was taking the case seriously he would have instructed a solicitor weeks ago. He asked again about the compensation.

Garda McCabe said she understood an insurance company had compensated the injured party.

Judge Cody sentenced the man to three months in prison and imposed fines totalling 1,200.

Ms Fitzpatrick argued that he shouldnt receive an immediate custodial sentence as he had no previous and entered a guilty plea.

What does he expect, a slap on the wrist, Judge Cody asked. He said the man cant go around smashing into other peoples cars.

On listening to Ms Fitzpatrick, Judge Cody didnt impose the sentence and said he would give the man some time.

One month to allow him to put a proposal to the court, said Judge Cody.

He adjourned the case back to Portlaoise District Court on June 15 for a proposal from the defendant.
A father and son accused of multiple thefts around the country, including Tipperary, have had their cases adjourned to next month by Nenagh District Court.

John Drennan of Mountmellick Road, Portlaoise, is charged with offences that include being in possession of a white Volkswagen caddy van with false registration plates and high vis jackets intended for use in a theft in Banba Square Nenagh on April 14, 2023.

He is also facing seven counts for theft of building materials ranging in value from 850 to 1,280.

These thefts happened in hardware stores in Roscrea, Thurles, Mullingar, Leitrim, Ennis.

Mr Drennan is charged that on January 14, 2023, he stole 20 plywood sheets with a value of 1,280 from Ronaynes Hardware in Thurles.

He is further charged that on the same date, he stole building supplies with a value of 1,214 from Stakelums Hardware in Thurles.

He is also charged with the theft of milk replacer with a value of 1,000 from Ballyduff Coop in Thurles on March 15.

Mr Drennan is also charged with the theft of a Victor Whacker plate worth 1,230 from Midlands Site Supplies in Roscrea on March 25.



Mr Drennan is also charged that on January 23, he took building materials to the value of 1,236 from Dpl Builders Providers in Mullingar.

He is charged that the following day, he took rolls of lead with a value of 866 were stolen from Reynolds Topline Hardware in Leitrim.

On March 22, 15 bags of Maverick milk replacer with a value of 850 were stolen from Dan McInerneys in Ennis, Clare.

Judge Elizabeth MacGrath remanded Mr Drennan in continuing custody to the same court on June 9.

No application for bail was made by solicitor Johnny Spencer.

Mr Drennans father, Peter, with an address in Edenderry, county Offaly, appeared before Thurles District Court on April 19 charged with the same offences and had remanded in custody to Tipperary Town District Court on Wednesday, April 26.

His cases have been adjourned to June 9.

DPP directions are awaited in both cases.
Congratulations to Dale Jeremiah Shalvey and Tara Aileen Stottlemyer! This fun-loving couple from North Carolina were sentenced on felony charges for their actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on January 6.

Dale and Tara were ready for action that day, wearing smart ensembles that included not-quite-matching green helmets. Tara won an 8-month stay in federal prison for obstruction of an official proceeding, while her hirsute hubby scored a whopping 41 months for assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement officers and obstruction of an official proceeding. Their friend, Katharine Hallock Morrison, who came along for the merriment and mayhem, will also spend 8 months in the slammer. Will Kathy and Tara be roomies in the pen? Fingers crossed!

From the United States Attorney's Office:

According to court documents, the three defendants traveled together on Jan. 6, 2021, and illegally entered the Capitol grounds. At approximately 2:09 p.m., Shalvey walked to a bike rack on the West Front of the Capitol, which was to act as a barricade, and assaulted law enforcement officers by throwing an object that hit an officer with the Metropolitan Police Department. At approximately 2:20 p.m., Shalvey, Stottlemyer, and Morrison entered the Capitol through the Senate Wing door and then moved to various areas within the building, including the Crypt, the House's Suite, the Rotunda, and the Senate Chamber. Inside the Senate Chamber, Shalvey and Morrison looked through Senators' desks, while all three defendants took pictures of documents that were in and on those desks. Shalvey also took a letter written by Senator Mitt Romney to Vice President Michael Pence from a Senator's desk and destroyed it after leaving the Capitol. They exited the building at approximately 3:05 p.m.
Gardai will be engaging with people throughout Laois for National Community Engagement Week from next Monday.

This National Community Engagement Week is designed to increase community engagement and community reassurance throughout the county and country.

Traditionally the community enagement event has been held over the course of one day. However, this year it will run for five days from Monday, May 22 to Friday, May 26.

Over the course of the week hundreds of communities, from all across the country will have the opportunity to meet with their local Gardai and community representatives to discuss matters of importance to them such as rural safety, crime prevention and security.

Stakeholders in these areas will be highlighting key aspects of their services to inform, guide and reassure the general public.

Pictured above: Planned engagement events in Laois and Offaly

The objectives of the week are to allow communities to meet and discuss safety concerns with their community Gardai and other key stakeholders. To promote and inform best safety and security practices - share details on the use of innovation and education to improve community safety. To raise awareness of the many aspects of crime prevention and community safety. To empower communities to acquire advice and knowledge that promotes and maintains personal safety and security.

The event aims to promote the collaborations of the various community safety stakeholders and include priorities in the Rural Safety Plan 2022-24
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Pupils at Rathmore National School, near Naas, are to link up with a private crew mission to the international space station.

The opportunity for the schools sixth class to, in a sense, join the mission came about during the discussions between American Janine Shoffner and Sorrel Klatzko.

Sorrel is a parent of three children attending Rathmore NS. Sorrel is also a dressage competitor who hopes to represent Ireland at the Paris Olympic Games 2024.

At the time, Janines husband, John Shoffner was in the early stages of planning and preparing his own life goal of a trip to Space.

John Shoffner is a life-long space and STEAM (Science, Engineering, Technology, Art, Maths) enthusiast.

At 8 years of age, he formed a young astronauts club with his friends in his hometown of Middlesboro, Kentucky. While space was his first passion, it didnt make for a widely accepted career, so he took a more traditional route.

Despite finding success in the fibre optic telecommunications industry, Johns wild ambition to become an astronaut never escaped him.

In fact, he held onto a painting he created at 10 years old of an astronaut floating in space.

Little did he know that painting would accompany him to the International Space Station (ISS) and inspire a global art contest.

Whilst he is in space, John will also be announcing the winners of each age category of the space art contest www.spaceartcontest.com which was open to all children worldwide and was entered enthusiastically by the children of the school.

Johns story is one that proves dreams never fade and creativity knows no limits.

During their eight-day mission, the private astronauts of Axiom Spaces Axiom Mission 2 will run activities from student outreach to scientific experiments.

Axion Mission 2, targeted for launch on May 21, will carry crew members for the second private astronaut mission to the international space station (ISS), including Commander Peggy Whitson, pilot John Shoffner, and mission specialists Ali Alqarni and Rayyanah Barnawi representing Saudi Arabia.

Lift-off is scheduled for 5:37 pm EDT on Sunday May 21 from Launch Complex 39A at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The crew will travel to the orbiting outpost aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, named Freedom, after launching on the companys Falcon 9 rocket.

Subject to a successful launch on May 21, John Shoffner has agreed to set up a live interaction with the children in sixth class on Wednesday May 24 at 1.15pm.

John will conduct some fun scientific demonstrations from space during the live link-up.

The children in teacher Shane Walshs sixth class were invited to submit questions for approval by NASA that they would like to ask John and his crew directly during their mission to the ISS.

The Rathmore school principal, Lucy Travers is over the moon and honoured that Rathmore NS is the only Irish school invited to participate in this live link-up and she has been in regular contact with Johns team and publicist Stateside, as part of the planning process since Autumn of 2022.

Whilst it feels like this couldn't be happening, it really is, and we are all getting very excited in the school that the Ax -2 mission launch date is getting closer.

The sixth class teacher, Shane Walsh and I have already participated in a demo run of the event as part of the technical checks required.

As you can imagine, there is a huge amount of planning and preparation to enable this live link-up to happen.

It is a fantastic way to ignite the childrens interest and encourage their participation in STEAM activities and shape their future career pathways.

Read more Kildare news
Leitrim-based Momentum Educate + Innovate were in Paris last week for the launch of a prestigious new Horizon Europe project, ARENAS (Analysis of and Responses to Extremist Narratives) project as part of a three-day transnational partner event. The project is funded by the EU Horizon Programme, the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) and is co-ordinated by Julien Longhi and his team in CY Cergy Paris Universite, France. It brings together a multidisciplined consortium of nine Universities, an NGO, two SMEs as well as five associated impact partners comprised of an International Association, two National Associations, and two NGOs.

Over the next four years, ARENAS puts the spotlight on extremist narratives that affect political and social life in Europe. The team will examine the nature of these narratives and seeks to understand the discourses they impact, particularly with regard to science, gender and the nation. By understanding of how these narratives work, ARENAS will empower people to resist them. To foster a spirit of people living together in harmony across Europe, policy recommendations will be made as to how prevent such narratives taking hold in the future.

Thus, the overall objective of ARENAS is to characterise, measure and understand the role of extremist narratives in discourses that have an impact not only on political and social spheres, but importantly on the stakeholders themselves. Leading an innovative and ambitious research programme, ARENAS will significantly contribute to filling the gap in contemporary research, make recommendations to policy makers, medias, lawyers, social inclusion professionals and educational institutions, and propose solutions for countering extremes narratives for developing more inclusive and respectful European societies.

At the launch event, the Momentum team of Orla Casey, Anthony Carty and Denise Callan joined participants from across the consortium to examine and validate the projects goals, methodology and activities. Each of the seven Work Package teams shared their specific research and innovation objectives, strategies and the outcomes that will emerge. Partners also put the spotlight on Project Management and Communications, the setting up of Governance bodies and an introduction to the ARENAS Ethical Board. Partners also benefitted from a highly interactive session on Data Management and Data Security and the opportunity to hear from sister Horizon Europe projects currently working on connected themes.

Dynamic presentations, discussions, and breakout groups helped to build relationships and support collaboration between the partners as they embark on this project together. The kick-off meeting welcomed representatives from lead partner CY Cergy Paris Universite (France), and Institute of Contemporary history  Ljubljana University (Slovenia), Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona (Spain), Institut de Ciencies Politiques i Socials (Spain), University of Helsinki (Finland), CNRS (France), Heinrich Heine University Dusseldorf (Germany), Universita degli studi di Genova (Italy), University of Cyprus (Cyprus), Creative Ideas (Latvia), Momentum Educate + Innovate (Ireland), Water On Mars (Italy), and Fundacio OXFAM Intermon (Spain). For more information, please contact the Momentum team on info@momentumconsulting.ie
The artistic, creative potential and talents of nursing home residents are being celebrated in communities across Ireland this coming Friday, 19th May. National Arts in Nursing Homes Day will see performances, exhibitions and celebratory events hosted in nursing homes as part of the annual Bealtaine Festival, celebrating the arts and creativity as we age.

Age & Opportunity and Nursing Homes Ireland have again partnered for National Arts in Nursing Homes Day, with residents creative works and talents being celebrated within nursing homes to mark the event. Events lined up include art and craft exhibitions encompassing resident painting, pottery and knitting creations and performances, including a series of concerts in nursing homes across Co Louth and a resident choir recital in Co Cavan.

Tara Byrne, Age & Opportunity Arts Programme Manager says: One of the key aims of our work is to ensure that older people have access to the arts no matter where they live in Ireland. Our partnership with Nursing Homes Ireland for National Arts in Nursing Homes Day, therefore, is a cornerstone of our drive to support meaningful arts-making and engagement in our later lives, continuing to connect with ourselves and with other people, and remaining a vital part of the world.

Tadhg Daly, Nursing Homes Ireland CEO states: Participation in the arts occurs at all ages and fulfills a particularly important role in supporting people in nursing homes. The arts allow nursing home residents to express themselves, their creative talents to flourish, to bond, and enjoy very happy and memorable moments. National Arts in Nursing Homes Day is a national occasion when we can come together in communities across Ireland to applaud the creative talents of nursing home residents and the role the arts fulfills in supporting them. We are extremely proud to partner with Age and Opportunity for this very special initiative. The Bealtaine Festival is a landmark cultural celebration and nursing home residents up and down the country will be extremely proud of their unique participation within it.
Ireland is falling behind in its commitment to young people due to housing shortages and a lack of access to mental health services, the Childrens Ombudsman has said.

The annual Falling Behind report, published on Tuesday, outlines the measures that need to be taken to improve life for children in Ireland.

The Ombudsman for Childrens Office received 1,812 complaints last year, a third of which were about education, covering issues such as bullying, suspension, special education and access to school transport.

Most complaints (83%) were made by a parent, with 5% coming from an organisation and 2% from children.

Childrens Ombudsman Dr Niall Muldoon said his office is extremely concerned about the problem of sexualised bullying at school and is continuing to engage with schools about it.

The report outlined the case of a girl called Aisling, who experienced sexualised bullying and was forced to meet with the pupil in question, after which the abusive behaviour continued.

An investigation launched by the Ombudsman found the school was negligent by not engaging with Tusla and protecting Aislings rights, prompting the school to apologise to the girl and extensively review its policies.

Dr Muldoon said there has also been a spike in justice-related complaints  mostly to do with a delay in issuing passports to children as Ireland reopened after the pandemic last year.

He said work continues to ensure all children with special educational needs have a school place close to their home, and said gaps in Irelands adolescent mental health services are negatively affecting children.

The report also highlighted the Ombudsmans engagement with the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in February, when the UN body expressed serious concerns about insufficient and inadequate mental health services for children in Ireland.

Dr Muldoon said: When you cope with those issues with the cost of living and homelessness crisis, it essentially means that there are tens of thousands of children in Ireland today who are struggling, are not getting the supports and services they require and, in some cases, whose basic needs such as shelter, food and safety are not being met.

Dr Muldoon said state services and government departments being unable to work together remains one of the biggest challenges for children in Ireland.

He called on the government to use billions in surplus to help to prioritise childrens needs by addressing this.

Whether thats the HSE and Tusla discussing how to deal with a child whose in foster care with a disability; whether its Tusla and Gardai sharing information in regards to child sexual abuse allegations and helping the child not have to do too many interviews; whether its the Department of Health supporting the Department of Education to bring in psychology and psychologists and therapists into school settings to reduce the waiting list and to help children at an early stage  those sorts of agencies need to start thinking about children first, he said.

Were in a situation now where the government are talking about the possibility of a 10 to 15 billion euro surplus every year for the next four to five years.

We have to prioritise childrens care and childrens rights so that we can catch up.

Weve been saying todays title is Falling Behind.

So the challenge for me to the government is to take a look at that money and to see how you can change the system, which doesnt cost money, but then invest properly in a way that really promotes childrens rights and security and rights into the future.
Greg (Nicholas Braun) in Season 4 of the series "Succession," created by Jesse Armstrong. HBO

Just last week, we were laughing out loud at the spectacle of the ultra-rich's vanity. The Roys' tailgate party at Shiv and Tom's New York apartment on the eve of the US presidential election was like a hothouse for the worst traits of humanity  greed, lies and cruelty. The list is much longer than that of the deadly sins. At least these vices only affected the members of the caste from which Kendall, Roman and Shiv came, and it was comforting to think that the rich were no happier than the others.

Since then, it's been a week for the average person, but just 20 hours for the characters of Succession, who are back in this eighth episode (with two more to go). It's entitled "America Decides" and appropriately takes place at the end of the afternoon of the first Tuesday in November. Jesse Armstrong, the show's creator, is also the writer of this long episode that crams into 65 minutes the few hours it takes for democracy to falter and  probably  collapse.

Tom Wambsgans (Matthew Macfadyen), the boss of ATN, the Waystar Group's all-news channel, and his cousin Greg (Nicholas Braun) are about to conduct their first post-Logan election night. Theoretically, the trio of heirs are not allowed to come down to the studio, in order to respect the independence of ATN's editorial staff. To give himself a boost, Tom torments his cousin. He forces the younger relative to take a few decigrams of cocaine, which will demonstrate later in the evening that Sherlock Holmes' favorite drug does not provide any extra courage.

Idealism and cynicism

On the upper floors, the Roy kids pretend to argue about the substance of the debate. Shiv defends the Democratic candidate, Daniel Jimenez, against the snide taunts from Roman, who wants to put the full might of ATN behind Republican Jeryd Mencken (Justin Kirk). The professed idealism of Logan Roy's unloved daughter and the cartoonish cynicism of his younger son rest on the same foundation: money. Shiv wants a Jimenez victory, which is essential to the buyout of Waystar by Lukas Matsson, with whom she has formed an alliance without her brothers' knowledge. Mencken appeals to Roman because the populist candidate was chosen by Logan. So he will be beholden to the family throughout his tenure, and one of his first acts will be to derail Waystar's acquisition by GoJo, Matsson's streaming platform.

The trickling in of results feeds, in turn, the hopes of both sides, until a fire in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, sends a hundred thousand ballots up in smoke, votes that were presumably in favor of the Democrats. Whether the fire was set by the far right (the theory adopted by all the other channels) or by antifascists (as commentator Mark Ravenhead, who is to ATN what Tucker Carlson was to Fox News, will soon assert), this blaze, which is irresistibly reminiscent of the Reichstag fire of 1933, is used to serve Roman's ambition.

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Microsoft's drawn-out, hotly contested acquisition of gaming titan Activision-Blizzard has just cleared its next roadblock: it has been officially approved by European regulators. The main concern cited is that the the deal would create a monopoly for Microsoft, specifically in the cloud gaming space  Microsoft could potentially relegate all of Activision's games to its Gamepass service, effectively making it the only choice in the still-burgeoning cloud gaming space. While the idea has been controversial, the EU evidently decided that the deals Microsoft has signed with other cloud gaming services to keep Activision games available were enough to alleviate their concerns. That, or it's some good old-fashioned corporate lobbying.

It isn't a done deal yet, however  UK regulators made their own decision to block the acquisition a few weeks ago, a ruling which Microsoft is now appealing. The American FTC, on the other hand, is also aiming to block the deal, making it likely the last hurdle Microsoft will have to leap. For a trillion-dollar company, however, it seems like only a matter of time until they get what they want one way or another.
A NUMBER of Limerick students took home a climate award following impressive scientific insights presented at the SciFest@College STEM fair at TUS Limerick.

Laurel Hill Secondary School FCJ students, Aisling Farrell, Maebh Collins, and Vivian Amaeze, sufficiently impressed the judges to win the EirGrid Climate and Delivering a Cleaner Energy Future award with their project  Turn it Off or Keep it On - Which is More Energy Efficient?

The SciFest@College programme allows pupils to showcase their academic prowess by presenting scientific projects, while also introducing them to third-level institutions and the many opportunities STEM subjects can unlock.

As a result of scooping the prestigious award, Aisling, Maebh and Vivian will now go on to compete in the SciFest National Final which takes place later this year.

EirGrid, the operator and developer of Irelands electricity grid, partnered with SciFest to develop the EirGrid Climate and Delivering a Cleaner Energy Future award which celebrates second-level students who research and design projects to address challenges posed by climate, energy, or environmental matters.

Doireann Barry, Head of Strategy and Sustainability with EirGrid congratulated the Limerick winners.

At EirGrid, leading on sustainability and decarbonisation is central to our strategy and to see these students explore and develop their own ideas for a more sustainable future is so inspiring. I would like to congratulate Aisling, Maebh and Vivian on their impressive project, she said.
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American streaming platform Netflix has announced that the final season of its comedy drama Never Have I Ever will premiere on 8 June. The show created by Mindy Kaling stars Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, a Canadian actor of Sri Lankan Tamil origin, as an Indian-origin teenager growing up in the US.

In an earnings review earlier, Netflix had said that the first season of the show had been watched by 40 million households in its first four weeks. In a blog published a few months ago, Monika Shergill, vice-president, content, Netflix India had named the series as one of the services most popular titles in India in 2020.

To be sure, the series, also featuring Indian actors Sendhil Ramamurthy and Poorna Jagannathan, had drawn much flak for its tone-deaf stereotypical depiction of the south Asian community when released in May 2020.

While the show undoubtedly deserves praise for its groundbreaking role in illuminating South Asian American teenage experiences, Never Have I Ever hinges on banal stereotypes and reaffirms the model minority myth. For a series that prides itself on diversity and inclusion, the cringeworthy jokes about Hindu-Muslim marriages and Nazism, blatant displays of ableism, and unchallenged instances of Islamophobia and anti-Semitism are astounding," the Harvard Political Review had said.

In an interview with The Huffington Post, series director Kabir Akhtar had emphasized that its unfair to place the burden of a collective identity (such as a community) on one show that cant be fully identifiable for everyone.

At the same time, several content experts were quick to point that what may seem like complete absurdity to some of us living in India, is a reality, especially for Indians settled abroad who wage a constant battle to hold on to their identity.
HDFC twin shares: Stock prices of HDFC Bank and HDFC tumbled on Tuesday as they turned ex-dividend. Both lenders have announced a hefty dividend for shareholders from their net profits for the fiscal FY23. HDFC Bank is paying a 1900% dividend, while HDFC is set to pay a 2200% dividend for the financial year.

At the time of writing, on May 16th trading session, HDFC Bank traded at 1,656.95 apiece down by 19.25 or 1.2% on BSE. The stock was near its day's low of 1,653.55 apiece.

On the other hand, HDFC's share price tumbled at a much higher scale. The NBFC stock traded at 2,737 apiece, shedding 47.05 or 1.7% on BSE. The stock has touched an intraday low of 2,730 apiece in early trade.

Ahead of the ex-dividend date, HDFC Bank's share price closed at 1,676.20 apiece up by 0.52% on BSE. While HDFC's share price finished at 2,784.05 apiece up by 0.3% on May 15.

The ex-dividend date is the day when the price of the equity shares of a company gets adjusted for the dividend payout.

HDFC Bank:

Leading private sector lender, HDFC Bank in April month recommended a dividend of 1,900% aggregating to 19 per equity share from the profits of the fiscal year FY23. The dividends are subject to the approval of the shareholders at the ensuing annual general meeting (AGM) of the bank.

The bank further fixed May 16 as the record to determine the eligibility of members entitled to receive the dividend on equity shares.

As per the regulatory filing, if approved by shareholders, the bank plans to pay dividends after the AGM to those investors whose names appear in the Bank's Register of Members/ Register of Beneficial Owners maintained by the Depositories viz., National Securities Depository Limited and Central Depository Services (India) Limited as at the close of business hours on Tuesday, May 16, 2023.

The latest dividend is high by 22.58% compared to the dividend paid in the previous fiscal. In FY22, the bank paid a dividend of 15.50 per equity share (1550%) to shareholders.

At the current market price, HDFC Bank's annual dividend yield is at 1.13%.

HDFC:

NBFC giant, HDFC is set to pay a dividend of 44 per equity share of face value of 2 each for the financial year ended March 31, 2023.

The company also fixed May 16 as the record date to determine eligible shareholders for the benefit.

The FY23 dividend payment is the highest by HDFC since June 2001.

In the previous fiscal FY22, the dividend payment was 1500% at 30 per share; and in FY21, the dividend paid was to the tune of 1150% at 23 per share. In FY20, the NBFC player paid a dividend of 1050% aggregating to 21 per share.

At the current market price, HDFC's annual dividend yield is at 1.08%.
Sebi introduced Registered Investment Adviser (RIA) as a category of intermediaries in 2013 to safeguard the interests of investors. RIAs are competent professionals offering unbiased and optimum investment advice to their clients. Nearly a decade thereafter of changes in regulations, challenges still prevail on the awareness of the benefits of hiring an RIA, limiting the growth of the profession.

But what led Sebi to introduce the regulations for investment advisory? Wealth management is a noble career path. A wealth manager or an investment consultant helps you preserve or grow your wealth to achieve life goals. With professional advice, one can better navigate the complexities of the lifelong financial planning process. It therefore entails a high responsibility for decision-making, directly affecting the clients lives.

Unfortunately, the incentive structure based on commissions in established wealth management set-ups has compromised fiduciary responsibilities towards an investor. In simple terms, the products that offer higher commissions to the distributors/agents in most cases are not appropriate for investors. The net returns on investments are after deducting the commission component. Products with higher commissions usually translate to lower net returns in the hands of investors. The interests of an agent/distributor are not technically aligned with that of investors. This results in the mis-selling of unsuitable/less suitable products, affecting finances and quality of life of people.

To address the problem of inappropriate recommendations, Sebi introduced the RIA regulations. RIAs cannot drive any direct or indirect benefits from the product manufacturers. Their only source of revenue is the fees received directly from their clients. RIAs are also subjected to higher qualifications, minimum relevant experience, repeated certifications, infrastructure requirements, accountability regarding the suitability of advice, and adherence to other Sebi compliances. This results in higher transparency, reliability, answerability, and better value addition.

Since the RIAs dont earn from commissions, they must recommend only zero-commission options wherever available, like zero-commission direct plans of mutual funds (MFs). Recommendations are generally customized and, together with the saved commissions, can increase the net investment gains. RIAs continue to earn fee income until they continue to deliver value to the customers. Consequently, the process aligns the interests of both parties in a conflict free manner.

Despite the introduction of direct plans of MFs and the RIA category way back in 2013, there needs to be more awareness about this even today. As per report from Association of Mutual Funds in India in March, direct plan investments amount to only 23% of individual assets in MFs and rest is still in regular plans.

We did a survey on LinkedIn and asked Why do you not invest in direct plans of MFs?" to which 35% said they are not aware of it and 65% said they will not get advisory support.

The result is not very surprising since no media efforts were ever made to make clients apprise of the benefits of hiring an RIA. This is despite market regulator Sebi cautioning the common public against unregistered investment advisers. The well-funded established players prefer to run traditional commission-based businesses, which are easier to manage with lesser compliance. Therefore, no efforts are being made by them on a larger scale to promote fee-based advisory services. The difficulty in running the RIA practice due to lack of awareness and high regulatory compliance costs gets reflected in the low number of active RIAs even after a decade of introducing this category.

The fee-based advisory is very much prevalent in Western countries. If any indication can be drawn from the actions of the Indian regulators over the past decade, the fee-based advisory will eventually become bigger and would be easily accessible to the majority of investors. However, for that to happen sooner, there is a need to create awareness that will translate to demand for fee-based advisers. Higher demand will attract more quality people to this profession and speed up the movement from commission-based distribution to fee-based advisory practices.

Now the question is, who will create awareness about RIAs? Does it become incumbent on roughly 1,300 RIAs, of which only 400-600 are active? Sebi needs to establish some mechanism to dispel the knowledge at a larger scale. In this way, the burden of compliance on RIAs will become more bearable, and this will help flourish the profession that can uplift the quality of lives of people with access to unbiased and professional financial advisory.

Sumit Duseja is co-founder & CEO, Truemind Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd.
New Delhi: Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday outlined the nations substantial growth prospects over the next quarter-century at a business meeting in Brussels, convened by the Federation of Enterprises in Belgium (FEB).

Goyal highlighted Indias trajectory towards becoming the fastest-growing large economy, focusing on four key sectors  trade, technology, tourism, and talent  that are expected to propel this growth.

The minister, addressing a crowd of 28 Belgian and six Indian business representatives, also stressed Indias sustainability initiatives and achievements in renewable energy. He notably mentioned Indias significant accomplishment of exceeding its 2021 Paris Agreement targets nearly a decade ahead of the initially proposed timeline.

The meeting fostered constructive dialogue on a variety of subjects, including tariff and duties, intellectual property rights, investments, waste management regulations, and the promotion of zero-carbon technology and green financing.

Goyal emphasized the necessity for equitable opportunities for both developed and developing economies in tackling global challenges, specifically those related to climate. He urged all nations to make meaningful contributions and to strictly adhere to the commitments under the Paris Agreement.

Goyal voiced his confidence that the India-European Union Trade and Technology Council (TTC) could provide an effective platform to address these challenges. He also expressed optimism about the shared concerns of India and the European Union over World Trade Organization (WTO) matters, expecting joint efforts to lead to consensus-based solutions at the forthcoming WTO Ministerial Conference.

Goyals presence in Brussels for the inaugural ministerial meeting of the India-European Union TTC underscores Indias dedication to enhancing trade and technological ties with the European Union. The conversations held during the visit are anticipated to set the stage for more profound engagement and collaboration in the future.
The highly anticipated G20 meeting is scheduled to be held in Kashmir from May 22 to May 24. Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Vijay Kumar, along with Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, chaired a review meeting with field officers to discuss security arrangements.

The objective of the meeting, as reported by Kashmir police, was to ensure robust security measures are in place to prevent any potential terrorist attacks during the G20 summit. Officers were instructed to deploy magistrates and police personnel well in advance of the summit and to strengthen security in vulnerable areas.

For the first time in history, the picturesque region of Kashmir is preparing to host the prestigious G20 Summit, which is expected to have a positive impact on the tourism and commerce industries in the area.

Preparations are in full swing in the city of Srinagar, the third G20 tourism working group meeting will take place from May 22 to May 24 at the Sheri Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) situated on the shores of the renowned Dal Lake. Various construction projects, including the installation of hoods, are underway, and road repairs and restoration are being expedited.

Notable efforts are being made to beautify the bunkers located between the SKICC and Srinagar International Airport, adding to the overall appeal of the summit.

To greet the eminent guests at the summit, the city of Srinagar is being decked out.

The Department of Tourism Kashmir has taken several crucial measures to ensure an unforgettable experience during the G20 summit. The event is expected to enhance global awareness of Kashmir and provide a fresh perspective on the region's tourism industry. With Jammu and Kashmir's economy heavily reliant on tourism, the summit is projected to attract a record number of visitors this year. The handicraft sector is also optimistic about the global opportunities that may arise from the conference.

About the G20 Summit

The G20 is a premier forum for international economic cooperation, playing a significant role in shaping and strengthening global architecture and governance on major economic issues. India holds the presidency of the G20 from December 1, 2022, to November 30, 2023.

Representatives from the European Union, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, and Turkey will be present at the G20 Summit.

As Kashmir prepares to host this influential gathering, it showcases its potential as a global destination while prioritizing security and developmental efforts to ensure a successful and impactful G20 summit.
New Delhi: Major global semiconductor companies have evinced interest in Indias ambitious semiconductor programme and are likely to formally express interest in the near future, people familiar with the developments said. Announcements in this regard could come as soon as next week, they added.

This will likely widen the field in terms of contenders for more than $10 billion in federal and state subsidies, apart from other benefits, that India has announced to attract semiconductor manufacturing. While three contenders are part of an ongoing evaluation process, the window that was deemed to have closed to be eligible will likely be opened again.

The governments efforts to attract global semiconductor companies have yielded results, with the minister of communications and information technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, who returned after spending three days in Silicon Valley and met with more than 60 companies in the semiconductor space, saying he saw huge interest.

Theres huge confidence about Indias semiconductor programme. We have received interest from a number of large players. The entire ecosystem wants to come to India," Vaishnaw, who is also the railways minister, said.

The government believes it has the right combination of facilitating factors, including financial incentives, high-quality talent, investments in infrastructure and favourable policies for attracting large investments not only in core chip manufacturers but also in ancillary units that make up the industry supporting chip manufacturing, which will attract players from all segments.

The government has also decided to keep open the $10-billion financial incentive scheme with a 50% subsidy on investments for making semiconductors in India for potential applicants, according to a Bloomberg report, even as it continues to evaluate three proposals submitted under the previous window by Vedanta-Foxconn JV, International Semiconductor Consortium (ISMC) and Singapores IGSS Ventures. The scheme was announced in December 2021.

This comes at a time global chip majors such as Intel, TSMC, and Global Foundries are being wooed by several countries.

Anil Agarwal-promoted Vedanta Resources, in a joint venture with the worlds leading contract manufacturer Foxconn, plans to set up a display fabrication unit, integrated semiconductor fabrication unit and outsourced semiconductor assembly and test facility with an investment of $20 billion, in Dholera, Gujarat.

ISMC is a joint venture between Abu Dhabi-based Next Orbit Ventures and Israels Tower Semiconductor, which Intel Inc acquired in February last year. The ISMC consortium signed an MoU with the Karnataka government for a $3 billion fabrication plant in Mysuru, where it has sought 150 acres at Kochanahalli industrial area.

Singapore-based IGSS Ventures Pvt. Ltd signed a memorandum of understanding with the Tamil Nadu government in July last year for building a semiconductor high-tech park which includes a fab unit with an investment of $3.5 billion or 25,600 crore over six years.

The government is yet to clear any of the proposals.

The governments efforts to invite large global players to India come at a time India is attempting to become a significant player in the chip ecosystem on the back of its large, open market and skilled workforce amid geopolitical shifts pushing countries to look at alternative supply chains to China.

Semiconductor industry will double from the current $600 billion to $1 trillion-plus. India is the most cost-effective country. It is the only place with talent. So the next big destination has to be India. Indias approach of developing a comprehensive ecosystem is absolutely the right thing," Vaishnaw said last week, during his visit to the US, where he visited the Applied Materials semiconductor plant, met with top bosses of HP, Intel, Western Digital, Micron, and AMD, among others, inviting companies to invest and set up manufacturing in India.

India also signed an MoU on a semiconductor supply chain and innovation partnership, which aims to increase private-sector cooperation in the area of semiconductors.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced that her party, Trinamool Congress (TMC), will support the Congress in areas where it is strong for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Banerjee clarified TMC's stance on Opposition unity in the upcoming electoral battle.

She stated that wherever the Congress is strong, they should fight and TMC will provide support. However, she also mentioned that Congress should support other regional political parties, too.

Banerjee emphasised the need to prioritise regional players in areas where they hold strength in the seat-sharing formula. She cited the example of Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, stating that they should be given priority, but also clarified that Congress should not be excluded from fighting in UP. Banerjee congratulated people in Karnataka for their mandate in favour of change and asserted that "brute authoritarian and majoritarian" politics had been vanquished.

This statement appears to be a U-turn for Banerjee, who had repeatedly refused to form a coalition with Congress. In March, after losing the Sagardighi bypolls, she criticised the "unholy alliance" of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress, and CPI(M). Banerjee had also previously stated that Congress and Left parties should not consider themselves anti-BJP because they took BJP's help to defeat TMC.

Banerjee's support for Congress could be a significant boost for the Opposition parties, who aim to come together to defeat the Narendra Modi-led government in the 2024 elections. However, Banerjee's announcement may not be sufficient to challenge Modi's BJP party's dominance. Banerjee acknowledged that people were demoralised and frustrated due to the ruined economy and bulldozing of democratic rights.

The West Bengal CM, fondly called as Didi, stated that she expected regional players to receive priority in areas where they hold sway because BJP would not be able to compete against them. Banerjee believes that stronger regional parties should collaborate to fight together against the BJP. She pointed out that the Congress should support regional political parties in return for their support in areas where Congress is strong.

Banerjee's announcement appears to indicate a shift in her political strategy. However, it remains to be seen how her statement will impact the Opposition's unity in the 2024 elections. The Opposition will need to overcome their differences and come together to challenge the BJP's power in the upcoming elections.
NEW DELHI : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Friday embark on a six-day visit to Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia to attend three key multilateral summits including that of the Group of Seven (G7) and the Quad, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Tuesday.

In the first leg of his trip, Modi will visit the Japanese city of Hiroshima from May 19 to 21 for the annual summit of the G7 advanced economies in which he is expected to speak on challenges facing the globe including food, fertiliser and energy security.

From Japan, Modi will travel to Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea where he will host the third summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) on May 22 jointly with Prime Minister James Marape.

It will be the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Papua New Guinea.

Launched in 2014, FIPIC involves India and 14 Pacific Island countries -- Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Samoa, Vanuatu, Niue, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Marshall Islands, Cook Islands, Palau, Nauru and Solomon Islands.

In the third and final leg of the trip, Modi will visit Sydney from May 22 to 24 to attend the Quad summit.

The Quad summit, being hosted by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, will also be joined by US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio.

On Modi's visit to Japan, the MEA said he is travelling to that country at the invitation of Kishida. Japan is hosting the G7 summit in its capacity as the current chair of the G7.

"During the summit, the prime minister will speak at G7 sessions with partner countries, on subjects such as peace, stability & prosperity of a sustainable planet; food, fertiliser and energy security; health; gender equality; climate change and environment; resilient infrastructure; and development cooperation," the MEA said in a statement.

It said Modi will also hold a bilateral meeting with Kishida. He will also hold bilateral meetings with some of the other participating leaders on the side-lines of the summit, it said.

In Papua New Guinea too, Modi will have bilateral engagements including meetings with Governor-General Sir Bob Dadae and Prime Minister James Marape, according to the MEA.

It said the Quad summit will provide an opportunity for the leaders of the coalition to exchange views about developments in the Indo-Pacific region and advance their vision for a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.

"Quad partners are deeply invested in the success of the Indo-Pacific. Leveraging our collective strengths helps Australia advance its interests and more effectively respond to the region's needs," Albanese said last month.

During his visit to Australia, Modi will have a bilateral meeting with Albanese on May 24.

The prime minister will also interact with Australian CEOs and business leaders, and address the Indian diaspora at a community event in Sydney on May 23, the MEA said.
The competition is under way for regions  including Buffalo Niagara  to be chosen as one of about 20 "tech hubs" around the country.

The application window has opened for a federal program that aims to bolster innovation in smaller cities that aren't already technology hotbeds. The application deadline for the first phase is Aug. 15.

Federal funds would help launch 'tech hub' competition About $500 million in federal funds would help launch the process for selecting technology and innovation hubs around the country, with the Buffalo Niagara region vying to be one of the winners.

Sen. Charles Schumer has advocated for the Commerce Department's program, which has piled up $500 million in funding so far as part of the CHIPS and Science Act that he championed. Schumer has also praised upstate New York's qualifications for a hub. (The program is unrelated to M&T Bank's tech hub at Seneca One tower.)

"I firmly believe upstate New York has everything it takes to help make that dream a reality, and help America maintain its competitive edge, all while taking us to the next frontier in technology," Schumer said in a statement.

The U.S. Economic Development Administration is expected to designate about 20 regions as tech hubs at the end of the first phase.

Schumer: Buffalo wins $25 million grant in federal tech hub competition that will help East Side Sen. Charles Schumer said the $25 million grant will help the region train more than 1,600 workers for careers in manufacturing and tech by building a more diverse workforce, with a particular focus on providing opportunities to East Buffalo residents.

Regions can initially apply for strategy development grants from a $15 million pool of funding. The grants  worth $400,000 to $500,000 each, depending on the level of local match recipients qualify for  will help a region further prepare for the program's second and final phase.

"The tech hubs designation will be a widely-recognized indicator of a regions potential for rapid economic growth," the EDA said.

In phase two, the EDA is expected to make at least five "implementation awards," with the remaining available funding going to designated tech hubs. Only tech hubs designated after phase one can apply for the awards in phase two. The EDA plans to announce details of that funding opportunity in the fall.

"Tech hubs help ensure the industries of the future start, grow and remain in the U.S., creating and expanding good jobs opportunities in emerging technology fields," Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Castillo said in a video message launching the application process.

To be eligible for a tech hub designation, an applicant must be a partnership that includes one or more companies, a state development agency, worker training programs, a university, and state and local government leaders. The hubs will be geographically dispersed to spread the impact around the country.

Why Schumer thinks Buffalo has a 'darn good chance' of getting regional tech hub Sen. Charles Schumer says the Buffalo has a "darn good chance" of being chosen for one of up to 20 "tech hubs" that would be established around the country.

"Securing a regional technology hub would present a once-in-a-lifetime boost to Buffalo Niagara through federal investment in workforce development, technology maturation and entrepreneurship, while increasing Americas competitiveness in a global economy," said Dottie Gallagher, president and CEO of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership.

Backers of Western New York's tech hub bid have previously lauded the region's higher-learning resources that promote entrepreneurship and innovation and its manufacturing capacity to make new products.
Last year, as a result of Singapores unique effort to limit its automobile population, prospective car owners in the island nation had to cough up as much as $80,000 in some cases just to be allowed to head to a car showroom. Indias car count is still low relative to its population, but its cities, too, are struggling to make space for them, and parking scuffles are an everyday reality in many localities. How fast is the number of cars in Indias largest cities growing? How large will the parking lot that can fit all these cars be? How much can cities coffers swell if all cars were asked to pay a parking fee? Can increasing parking fees in busy localities be of any help? Mint finds out:

In top gear

The parking space needed for passenger vehicles globally is likely to increase nearly threefold from 30,000 sq km in 2010 to 80,000 sq km in 2050, the size of a mid-sized Indian state, according to a 2013 estimate by the International Energy Agency. China and India would contribute about 40% of the increase, the estimate showed.

The saturation point is still more than two decades away in India as car ownership is still very low, research suggests. Yet, cities tell a different story. Delhi would need more than 4,000 football fields or land worth nearly 10 trillion to fit all its cars, Mint estimates show. Delhis cars stacked bumper-to-bumper would reach all the way to Chile.

View Full Image Part 1

View Full Image .Part 2

Loss-making model?

Parking fee is a big puzzle piece. A 2016 government report said higher charges could reduce congestion, promote public transport, and finance urban bodies. Ten years ago, a national transport policy panel said the time had come for cities with high motor vehicle populations to consider restricted registrations, linking ownership to proof of having parking space, and high parking fees. Indian cities have one of the lowest parking prices.
New Delhi: The central government has named Ravneet Kaur as chairperson of the Competition Commission of India (CCI), two people familiar with the development said, citing an official order.

Kaur, the first woman to hold the position, has been appointed for five years or till she reaches 65, one of the people cited above said on the condition of anonymity. She belongs to the 1988 batch of Indian Administrative Service officers, and currently serves as an additional chief secretary in the Punjab government, according to publicly available information.

The appointment of Kaur helps fulfil the crucial requirement of a three-member panel to deliberate on critical matters and help reinvigorate the regulatory body. Currently, CCI faces limitations in issuing orders, save for instances related to mergers and approvals, owing to its inability to meet the quorum requirement.

The government is also hiring more members to CCI, anticipating the retirements of members in the Commission to prevent any potential regulatory gaps and ensure continuity in its operations.

The top post at CCI fell vacant after the completion of Ashok Kumar Guptas four-year tenure as chairman on 25 October. Guptas departure prompted the government to name Sangeeta Verma as acting chairperson. The provisions of the Competition Act mandate that CCI must have a chairperson and a minimum of two members. The total number of members, however, cannot exceed six.

With the government expanding the regulatory mandate of CCI with the latest amendments to the law, adding more manpower and infrastructure to CCI has become critical. Amendments to Competition Act earlier this year have brought certain transactions meeting the specified value threshold of acquisitions under CCIs purview. Also, CCI is now empowered to get into negotiated settlements with businesses and other parties in cases of anti-competitive agreements and abuse of dominance.

Once the new chairperson joins, CCI will have to issue pending orders and frame regulations for the newly introduced provisions, such as negotiated settlements. The regulator has, over a period, scaled up its oversight of the digital economy and has set up a separate internal unit to deal with new-age firms.

CCI also has been given the mandate of adjudicating GST-related profiteering cases after the National Anti-Profiteering Authority was wound up last year. Anti-profiteering-related orders in sectors such as real estate and consumer goods are now expected from CCI.

The regulator also has to brace for tighter deadlines in clearing mergers and acquisitions. One of the amendments to the law introduced in the budget session of Parliament provides for deemed approval if the regulator does not take a prima facie opinion on a transaction within 30 days of receiving a request for approval.
In Karnataka, Congress is facing a major conundrum despite winning an absolute majority in the recently held state election. The grand-old party's issue is the same--to decide the name of the chief minister. To avoid situations like Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, and the current crisis in Rajasthan, the Congress party appears to be wary in selecting the CM of Karnataka . The two frontrunners for Karnataka's CM post are veteran leader and loyalist DK Shivakumar. Both heavyweights have won the assembly seats from Varuna (Siddaramaiah) and Kanakapura (Shivakumar).

The tiff between the two leaders is old, and thus none of them is ready for a compromise for now. To pacify the matter, Congress has asked the Party President and 'guru' of Karnataka's politics Mallikarjun Kharge to take the final call.

On Sunday, the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) unanimously passed a resolution authorising party president Kharge to pick the name of the Karnataka Chief Minister.

Congress is likely announce the name of Karnataka's chief minister by the end of the day (Tuesday, 16 May).

Here's a look at what has happened so far in Karnataka:

On Saturday (13 May), Congress won in Karnataka with a thumping majority-135 constituencies in the 224-member House, defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which was reduced to 66 seats.

On Sunday, a CLP meeting was conducted in Bengaluru. The Congress appointed three central observers to elect the new chief minister. The three observers are--Sushil Kumar Shinde, arty general secretary Jitendra Singh, and former AICC general secretary Deepak Babaria.

Later, the newly elected Congress MLAs in Karnataka authorised party president Mallikarjun Kharge to pick the next chief minister.

On Monday, both frontrunners for the top post were called by the central leadership for discussions in Delhi.

Siddaramaiah arrived on Monday in Delhi but Shivakumar cancelled his visit, hours after confirming he would be flying to Delhi, citing health issues.

Late Monday night, Shivakumar's brother and Congress MP D K Suresh met party president Kharge at the latter's residence in Delhi and thereafter told reporters that the state party chief will be visiting Delhi on Tuesday.

Whereas Siddaramaiah met the top brass of the Congress party at Delhi's Lodhi Hotel. He remained tight-lipped and did not interact with the media.

Siddaramaiah vs Shivakumar: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats

STRENGTHS of SIDDARAMAIAH:

Mass appeal across Karnataka

Popular among a large section of Congress legislators

Siddaramaih has experience of having run a full-term government as Chief Minister (2013-18).

Able administrator with experience having presented 13 budgets.

Clout among the AHINDA (Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes, and Dalits).

Strong ability to take on BJP and JD(S), most importantly PM Modi and his government on issues.

Considered close to Rahul Gandhi and apparently has his backing.

WEAKNESSES OF SIDDARAMAIAH:

Not so much organisationally connected with the party.

Failure in bringing the Congress government back to power in 2018 under his leadership.

Still considered an outsider by a section of Congress's old guard. He was formerly with the JD(S).

OPPORTUNITIES for SIDDARAMAIAH:

Acceptability, appeal, and experience to take along everyone to run a government with a decisive mandate, and strengthen Congress for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

IT, ED, and CBI cases against opponent Shivakumar, who is also eyeing the CM post.

Last election and last chance to become CM.

THREATS

Uniting of senior Congress old guards like Mallikarjun Kharge, and G Parameshwara, who have missed becoming CM because of Siddaramaiah, also B K Hariprasad, and K H Muniyappa among others against him.

Call for a Dalit CM.

STRENGTHS of DK SHIVAKUMAR:

Strong organisational capabilities and having led the party to victory in elections.

Known for party loyalty.

Considered Congress' ace troubleshooter during difficult times.

Resourceful leader.

Has the backing of the dominant Vokkaliga community, its influential seers, and leaders.

Closeness to the Gandhi family.

Long political experience; has handled various portfolios.

WEAKNESSES of DK SHIVAKUMAR:

Cases against him before IT, ED, and CBI.

Jail term in Tihar

Lesser mass appeal and experience compared to Siddaramaiah.

Clout by and large limited to the Old Mysuru region.

Not having much backing from other communities.

OPPORTUNITIES

Congress' domination of the Old Mysuru region would go to Shivakumar, a Vokkaliga.

KPCC President is the natural choice to be the CM, like in the case of SM Krishna and Veerendra Patil.

Chances of the party old guard backing him.

THREATS
'The Kerala Story' is based on manipulated facts and contains hate speech that may hurt communal sentiments and cause disharmony between the communities which can lead to order issues in West Bengal, Mamata government told the Supreme Court on Tuesday as it defended its move to ban the movie.

On May 8, Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee ordered a ban on the movie, calling it a distorted story".

The movie is based on manipulated facts and contains hate speeches," the Mamata government said while filing its affidavit before the top court, in response to a petition by the producers of the movie  M/s Sunshine Pictures Private Limited and Vipul Amrutlal Shah  challenging the ban.

The affidavit stated, "the said movie is based on manipulated facts and contains hate speech in multiple scenes that may hurt communal sentiments and cause disharmony between the communities which will eventually lead to a law and order situation, as has been gauged from various Intelligence inputs."

The West Bengal government said that there are intelligence inputs relating to the likelihood of causing a breach of peace due to the public exhibition of the film.

"It shall further not be out of place to mention, that all the states in India are varied in their population and their beliefs, and the parameters cannot by any stretch of imagination be identical for two states, under identical situations. The onus to maintain law and order, and peace in the state, lies with the government, and the restrictions imposed, if any by the state government, are best considered and evaluated by the respective High Courts, who are well-versed with the pulse of the region, and understand the intent behind such executive actions," the affidavit added.

The state government further said the decision to ban the movie was taken to avoid any incident of hatred and violence in the state.

Seeking dismissal of the plea, the government said petitioners can't claim the financial loss as a matter of fundamental right.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had questioned the West Bengal government decision to ban the film in the state saying the movie is running in different parts of the country with similar demographic profiles.

"The movie is being released all over the country why the West Bengal government should not allow it to run?" a bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha said.

The court said if the public does not think that the film is not worth seeing, they will not see it and questioned West Bengal about what should it not allow a film to run.

The makers had contended that the state government has no power to ban a movie which has been certified for public viewing by the Central Board of Film Certification. They further said a state government cannot cite law and order issues to stop the screening of the movie, which will result in the violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed to them, the plea of filmmakers said.

Directed by Sudipto Sen and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, The Kerala Story depicts how thousands of young women were allegedly brainwashed into joining the Islamic State (IS) and heading off to countries like Syria and Afghanistan.
Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the US Department of State, Vedant Patel highlighted the deepening partnership between India and the US 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," he said 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.

While 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," Patel said.

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.

Notably, it will be PM Modi's first visit to the US after Joe Biden became President. The prime minister visited Washington in September 2021 to attend the first in-person Quad Leaders Summit. Modi had a bilateral meeting with Biden during that visit, PTI reported.

As per the Ministry of External Affairs' statement, the visit will underscore the growing importance of the strategic partnership between India and the US as the two nations collaborate across numerous sectors.

"The leaders will have the opportunity to review strong bilateral cooperation in various areas of mutual interest, including technology, trade, industry, education, research, clean energy, defense, security, healthcare, and deepening people-to-people connections," MEA stated.

The MEA added that PM Modi and Joe Biden will also explore ways to strengthen India-US collaboration in plurilateral and multilateral fora, including in the G20.

Meanwhile, 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.

(With inputs from agencies)
WASHINGTON : President Joe Biden said Tuesday he's curtailing his upcoming trip to the Indo-Pacific, scrapping what was to be a historic stop in Papua New Guinea as well as a visit to Australia for a gathering with fellow leaders of the so-called Quad partnership so he can focus on debt limit talks in Washington.

The cancellation is a foreign policy setback for an administration that has made putting a greater focus on the Pacific region central to its global outreach.

Biden said he still plans to depart on Wednesday for Hiroshima, Japan, for a Group of Seven summit with leaders from some of the world's major economies. He will return to the U.S. on Sunday.

Im postponing the Australia portion of the trip and my stop in Papua New Guinea in order to be back for the final negotiations with congressional leaders," Biden said at the start of a Jewish American Heritage Month event at the White House. He added, The nature of the presidency is addressing many of the critical matters all at once. So Im confident were going to continue to make progress toward avoiding the default and fulfilling Americas responsibility as a leader on the world stage."

Biden said he spoke to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese earlier on Tuesday to inform him he was postponing a visit to Australia and invited him to Washington for an official state visit at a yet-to-be determined date. White House staff broke the news to Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape.

White House officials did not offer immediate response to questions about when Biden might reschedule visits to the two countries.

Revitalizing and reinvigorating our alliances and advancing partnerships like the Quad remains a key priority for the President," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. This is vital to our ability to advance our foreign policy goals and better promote global stability and prosperity. We look forward to finding other ways to engage with Australia, the Quad, Papua New Guinea and the leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum in the coming year."

Biden had been scheduled to travel on to Papua New Guinea to meet with Pacific Island leaders and then to Australia for a meeting of the leaders of the Quad partnership, made up of the U.S., Australia, India and Japan. The Papua New Guinea stop would have been the first visit by a sitting U.S. president to the island country of more than 9 million people.

The Quad partnership first formed during the response to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that killed some 230,000 people. Since coming into office, Biden has tried to reinvigorate the Quad as part of his broader effort to put greater U.S. focus on the Pacific and counter increasing economic and military assertiveness by China in the region.

Biden announced his decision soon after he wrapped up a meeting on Tuesday afternoon with Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jefferies for talks on the debt limit standoff.

Earlier Tuesday, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby expressed administration officials' frustration that the debt talks are having an impact on the president's dealings on the international stage.

We wouldnt have to have this conversation. I wouldnt have to answer these questions if Congress just did the right thing," Kirby said.

Some Republican lawmakers questioned Biden's decision to travel overseas considering the consequences of the debt limit talks.

I think he should not leave and he should focus on the debt limit here at home," Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla.

Kirby noted that Biden would meet with Albanese and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi while in Japan as well as Pacific Island leaders. Biden already had plans to hold a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during the Hiroshima visit.

With the brief stop in Papua New Guinea to meet with Pacific Island leaders, Biden had hoped to demonstrate that the United States is committed to 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 hes 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.
Cannes Film Festival 2023 is one of the most awaited film festivals in the world. The festival showcases critically acclaimed films across the world. The festival will be held in France from May 16 to May 27. Ruben Ostlund has been announced as the jury president of the 76th Cannes Film Festival. For industry professsionals ticket price of the festival range between 5 lakh and 25 lakh.

Also: Cannes 2023: These Indians will appear for the first time at the prestigious film festival

Star-studded film fest

The festival is expected to face some difficulty due to the ongoing strike by screenwriters in Hollywood. However, the French Riviera festival will screen some big-budgeted films like James Mangold's Indiana Jones and the Dial of the Destiny" and Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon,". The function will be attended by some global heartthrobs like Natalie Portman, Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Sean Penn, Alicia Vikander, the Weeknd, and Scarlett Johansson.

Also Read: Cannes 2023: Union Minister Murugan to lead Indian delegation wearing Veshti

Cannes Film Festival ticket

The esteemed film festival is generally open to accredited individuals like journalists and film industry professionals. People with badges to the festival or parallel sections can buy tickets by paying $6,100 ( 5.1 lakhs) to $25,000, ( 20.5 lakh) as reported VIP Concierge website. There are different types of accreditation awarded to people

-Festival Accreditation: It is a free stamp which allows the holder access to screenings, official activities, and venues like the Palais, Village International, Riviera, and hotels.

Also Read: Cannes 2023: Anurag Kashyap's 'Freddy' is his first tryst with French Riviera. Check 4 other films representing India

Market accreditation: This is available only for board members and film industry-related company employees. To get this accreditation, one needs to pay around $326.30.

Press Accreditation: It is available to Journalists of publication with higher reach.

Cinephiles Accreditation: The collaborative effort of the festival management authority and the City of Cannes, has made it possible for the local public to watch officially the selected films. Education groups and film enthusiasts can take the best advantage of the opportunity.

For non-industry people, they need to catch the screenings at the Directors' Fortnight and the Cinema de la Plage (Beach Cinema) from 9.30 pm. The seats available at the beach cinema are limited and provided based on a first-come, first-served function.

Cannes Film Festival 2023 jury

In 2023, the Cannes Film Festival jury is led by Swedish filmmaker Ruben Ostlund. The filmmaker has won two Palme awards. Last year he bagged another award for his social satire The Triangle of Sadness."

Ostulnd will be joined by Brie Larson, Paul Dano, French director Julia Ducournau, Argentine filmmaker Damian Szifron, Afghan director Atiq Rahimi, French actor Denis Menochet, Moroccan filmmaker Maryam Tourzani and Zambian-Welsh director Rungano Nyoni, reported AFP
Hours after the United States released its annual report on religious freedom (2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: India) which listed attacks against religious minorities including Muslims and Christians, social media users reached out to Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) seeking the government reaction over the report.

Seeking MEA reaction over the religious freedom report, noted media personality Suhasini Haidar has said just one month before a state visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the US State Department has releasd a report on religious freedom, referring to ruling party for more than 20 incidents of violence, intimidation of minorities in India.



1 month before it will host PM Modi to US for a State Visit, US State Department releases a scathing report on religious freedom, refers to ruling party for more than 20 incidents of violence, intimidation of minorities in India... Awaiting MEA reaction,"Suhasini Haidar tweeted.

1 month before it will host PM Modi to US for a State Visit, US State Department releases a scathing report on religious freedom, refers to ruling party for more than 20 incidents of violence, intimidation of minorities in India... Awaiting MEA reactionhttps://t.co/xLRj03evz6  Suhasini Haidar (@suhasinih) May 15, 2023

The State Department report talks about the attacks on members of religious minority communities, including killings, assaults, and intimidation in various states throughout the year. These included incidents of cow vigilantism" against non-Hindus based on allegations of cow slaughter or trade in beef and incidents in which Muslim men were alleged to have married Hindu women to convert them. There were also cases of communal violence between religious groups.

The report further said thirteen of 28 states have laws restricting religious conversions for all faiths. Some of these states also impose penalties specifically against forced religious conversions for the purpose of marriage although historically, some state high courts have dismissed cases brought under these laws.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, while presenting the report, did not mention India as he voiced alarm by actions by authorities in China, Iran, Myanmar and Nicaragua.

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.
Once an innovative instant messaging service, WhatsApp today offers businesses one of the most effective ways to reach users. But, like text messages and calls, expansion has come with spam and scams. Whats happening to Whatsapp? How can we stay safe? Mint explains:

Now whats up with WhatsApp?

A host of users have reported getting spam and scam calls and messages from unknown international numbers on WhatsApp. This prompted minister of state Rajeev Chandrasekhar to say the electronics ministry has taken note of the complaints and will send the platform a notice. WhatsApp issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to user-safety and security. It also claimed it had ramped up its artificial intelligence and machine learning systems to deal with such abuse, and that its new enforcement regime would bring them down by at least 50%".

Why have such calls/texts grown?

Its unclear if the application program interfaces for WhatsApp Business are being exploited for these scams. However, users have started receiving texts from a host of businesses since the platform introduced the feature, which could lead to them having to put up with even more spam. While WhatsApp doesnt charge normal users for messaging, businesses offer the firm a revenue source. It has over 2 billion users worldwide, which could make it one of the most lucrative revenue sources for Meta, which owns WhatsApp. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg says business chats could drive revenue quicker than metaverse.

Is WhatsApp the only platform being misused?

No. Last year Google halted its rich communication services in India after it was used to spam users. Many scams on WhatsApp lead users to Telegram, another platform that offers encrypted messaging. Telegram groups have long been known to be a hub for scams, including those designed around cryptocurrencies and get-rich-quick schemes.

How are spammers doing this?

Application program interfaces or APIs allow third parties to build on top of powerful platforms. In 2018, data firm Cambridge Analytics misused Facebook APIs to profile individual users before the US elections. That said, in this case, scammers may be using free websites to create virtual phone numbers, which they then use to sign up on WhatsApp. This doesnt necessarily need business APIs. Text and SMS scams, in fact, date back to pre-WhatsApp days.

What can we do about this problem?

Experts say WhatsApp should stop allowing sign-ups from virtual phone numbers and find a way to block websites that generate these numbers. Another way would be if the platform stopped allowing messages to be sent from unknown numbers, but this could lead to poorer user-experience: it would mean only people who have each others numbers can text or call. Users should block and report unknown callers and texts, and it is in WhatsApps interest to find a solution if it wants to retain users in the long run.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Prasid Banerjee An engineering dropout, Prasid Banerjee has reported on technology in India for various publications. He reports on technology through text and audio, focusing on its core aspects, like consumer impact, policy and the future. Read more from this author
The cannabis industry may be legal, but that doesn't mean it's desirable  at least in the eyes of many landlords looking to fill commercial space.

That's what Western New York's first adult-use dispensary licensees say they are finding out as they search for locations to open their state-sanctioned weed stores.

Landlords are reluctant to rent to cannabis shops. Tenants in bigger retail plazas  especially national chains  often have language in their own leases that bars landlords from renting space to certain types of businesses, including cannabis shops.

It all complicates the hunt for space by cannabis license holders, like Aaron Van Camp.

Van Camp, one of four entrepreneurs approved for retail weed dispensary licenses in Western New York, had hoped to be open by last month, but his search for a location has been one disappointment after another.

He still hasn't found a spot for his store  one of the first licensed to open in the Buffalo Niagara region.

"We are lowering our standards daily and still not finding anything," he said.

Van Camp had settled last month on a property he liked across from the Boulevard Mall on Niagara Falls Boulevard, but as time went on, he saw signs the Realtor was being more hesitant with him than it would have been with other tenants.

"We didn't feel like meeting with the company CEO was something everyone was going to have to do," he said.

For weeks, Van Camp has been given the "extreme runaround" by commercial realtors, he said. He is adamant about not trying to finagle his way into a space where his line of business may not be wanted.

"I'm not bamboozling anyone," he said. "It's my third question: 'Will you accept a state licensed recreational marijuana shop?' "

So far, the answer has been no.

The state has not been much help, either.

From the beginning, sites for legal cannabis dispensaries were supposed to have been developed by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York. The authority was supposed to secure properties, build them out, then lease them to licensees in a turnkey operation.

But when that process fell far behind the necessary timeline, the state reversed course in December  a month before the first retail stores were initially supposed to open  and told licensees they would have to secure their own spaces, or be prepared to wait an uncertain amount of time for the authority's services.

Now, as licensees throughout the state search for their own properties, some have complained that they find themselves in competition with the dormitory authority. Sometimes the state is already considering opening a dispensary in a conflicting area too close nearby, or sometimes in competition for the same properties licensees want to secure for themselves.

Van Camp was interested in a site at Elmwood and Bryant but was steered away from it by his real estate agent over rumors that the dormitory authority was looking at sites nearby that could put his potential location within the state's exclusivity zone.

Last week, a group of Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensaries, or CAURD, licensees sent a letter to Dormitory Authority and Office of Cannabis Management officials, complaining about long delays in site approvals, lease agreements lacking basic information as well as much higher than market rate construction costs and rental rates.

"As experienced business owners, we are accustomed to performing a deep financial analysis of our business endeavors and participating in competitive markets with accessible information," the licensees said in the letter, which was published by NY Cannabis Insider. "By contrast, in the CAURD program, we are cosigned to a process that is monopolized by DASNY and the [Social Equity Cannabis Investment] fund by way of financial information, service providers and access to real estate."

With so much about the budding cannabis industry up in the air, and so little transparency from the state, dispensary hopefuls and licensees are leaning on each other to figure things out as they go along.

"I feel like we are winging it because there's not a lot of guidance," said Gina Miller, who was recently granted a Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary license with her husband Glen. "Most of the useful information we're getting is from other CAURD applicants, and other people who've done it before."

Miller said she has been doing as much research as she can on her own and with her attorney's help. She also joined the New York CAURD coalition, a group meant to provide resources, training and networking for those navigating the licensed cannabis market.

"We're learning as we go," she said.

Miller's search for a Southtowns dispensary location has led her out of prime retail sites and into out-of-the-way locations.

"I've heard those bigger plazas don't want to risk losing their national tenants for a 3,500-square-foot store, even though it brings traffic, because of the federal regulations," she said.

She has sought out smaller developers and plazas, and honed in on standalone locations, which she heard are more favorable to dispensaries. She has found a few properties that make good possibilities, including one on South Park Avenue in Blasdell. That ultimately suits the Millers' purposes, since they are hoping to stay out of the fray in larger, busier locations in Buffalo or the Northtowns.

"We don't want to go too big and not be able to sustain it because of competition with the legal market opening up and the illegal market," she said. "We want to find our little niche in a community that is warm and welcoming, and stay there."

Real estate developers also face their own set of challenges when deciding which tenants to accept and where to put them.

"Its a tricky situation, certainly, when dealing with something as polarizing as dispensaries," said Eric Recoon, vice president of development and leasing at Benderson Development. "Our approach, always, is to err on the side of caution with regard to our existing tenants."

That's not just the case with dispensaries but with any retail use that might raise concerns among pre-existing tenants.

Something the company encountered during the Covid pandemic is a great example. When the push was on to roll out Covid testing sites, Benderson was quick to offer vacant space to health care providers for Covid testing sites.

"We were not charging for any such use, but rather providing a community benefit during a time of need," Recoon said.

But before it could even take its first steps, the company received "immediate and vocal reactions" from on-site tenants. They, along with their customers, were worried about bringing in people who were potentially infected with the virus, and being in close proximity to them.

Benderson went back to the drawing board and instead found some free-standing locations to donate to local health care, where tests could be performed away from other tenants.

"I think the situation with dispensaries is analogous," Recoon said. "The potential for existing tenant resistance exists. A multi-tenant plaza setting is probably the wrong location, in most instances, for the use. Particularly with the uncertainty about potentially large crowds and parking needs  especially for the first local openings."

In addition, as Miller learned, the company's larger shopping centers with national tenants often have language prohibiting certain uses they consider undesirable, such as vape shops, pornography sales, automotive repair, vehicle sales and  yes  dispensaries.

"Weve experienced legalization in many other states in which we have properties," Recoon said. "Local reactions have varied. Its clear that the acceptance and reaction to such meaningful change from illegality to retail sites is evolving."
DOVER, Del. (AP) 

Delawares Supreme Court on Monday overturned a judges ruling upholding a decision by state officials to prohibit electric vehicle maker Tesla from selling its cars directly to customers.

In a ruling last year, a Superior Court judge determined that Delaware's Motor Vehicle Franchising Practices Act prohibited Tesla, as a manufacturer, from selling its electric cars directly to customers in Delaware.

The Supreme Court reversed that decision and sent the case back to Superior Court, noting that the franchise act was enacted to address the disparity in bargaining power that permitted automobile manufacturers to exert economic pressure over their franchises. The justices said the laws definitions exclude Tesla because the company sells its vehicles directly to consumers without using independent franchise dealers.

It bears repeating that the Franchise Act regulates the business relationship between a manufacturer and a dealer, wrote Chief Justice Collins Seitz Jr., adding that nothing in the law or its legislative history supports DMVs interpretation that the Franchise Act is intended to prohibit the direct sales model.

The court ruling noted that Tesla has fought similar battles in several other states.

Tesla filed an application with the Delaware DMV for a dealer license in 2019. The DMV subsequently permitted Tesla to open a new car gallery in a shopping mall. The gallery allows customers to view Tesla vehicles, but Tesla cannot sell its cars from an in-state store.

Tesla submitted a second application for a dealer license in 2020. The DMVs Chief of Compliance and Investigation denied it, noting that Delawares Licensing Act for automobile dealers requires that an applicant comply with state law before an application can be granted. The DMV official said Teslas application did not comply with the law because the Franchise Act prohibits a vehicle manufacturer from directly or indirectly owning an interest in a dealership or from acting as a dealer. Despite determining that Tesla and its direct-to-consumer sales model did not meet the definition of a new motor vehicle dealer under the franchise law, the official concluded that Tesla was still a manufacturer under the law.

An administrative hearing officer later agreed that, as a manufacturer, Tesla could not sell new vehicles directly to Delaware consumers.

Tesla then appealed to the Superior Court, where it lost again. The judge ruled against Tesla even though he agreed that its business model was likely not contemplated by the franchise law. He also found that a Tesla cannot be defined as a new motor vehicle because that term applies to a vehicle that has been sold to a dealer. The judge also concluded that Tesla is not a new motor vehicle dealer because it does not enter into franchise agreements with third parties.

When the definitions are read together, a manufacturer under the Franchise Act manufactures or assembles new motor vehicles that have been sold to a new motor vehicle dealer, Seitz wrote.  Teslas electric cars will not be sold to a dealer that holds a valid sales contract by Tesla, and therefore it is not a manufacturer.
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NEW YORK (AP)  The government of the U.S. Virgin Islands is trying to subpoena billionaire Elon Musk for documents in its lawsuit seeking to hold JPMorgan Chase liable for sex trafficking acts committed by businessman Jeffrey Epstein.

Musk has never been publicly accused of any wrongdoing related to Epstein, who killed himself in 2019 as he awaited sex trafficking charges in a federal jail in Manhattan.

But over the years, there had been unconfirmed speculation  encouraged by Epstein himself  that Epstein had advised Musk on certain business matters.

Spokespeople for Musk have denied those reports, but the government of the U.S. Virgin Islands said in a court filing that it believes Epstein may have referred or tried to refer Musk to JPMorgan as a potential client.

The Virgin Islands, where Epstein had an estate, sued JPMorgan last year, saying its investigation has revealed that the financial services giant enabled Epsteins recruiters to pay victims and was indispensable to the operation and concealment of the Epstein trafficking enterprise.

Lawyers for JPMorgan did not immediately return messages seeking comment Monday.

In the past, they have said victims are entitled to justice but litigation attempting to blame the financial institution for Epsteins actions were legally meritless, directed at the wrong party and should be dismissed.

Authorities alleged that Epstein recruited and sexually abused dozens of underage girls at his mansions in New York and Palm Beach, Florida, in the early 2000s. He had pleaded not guilty.

Lawyers for the Virgin Islands told a federal judge Monday that they haven't been able to locate Musk to serve him with the subpoena.

They asked the court to serve Tesla, his electric vehicle company, instead.

They said they hired an investigative firm to search public records databases for possible addresses for Musk and reached out to one of his lawyers by email, but received no response.

A message sent to a lawyer for Musk seeking comment Monday was not immediately returned.

The subpoena  one of several sent to prominent business figures  sought documents from Jan. 1, 2002, to the present reflecting communications between Musk and JPMorgan or Musk and Epstein regarding Epstein or Epsteins role in Musks accounts, transactions or financial management.

It also sought all documents reflecting or regarding Epsteins involvement in human trafficking and his procurement of girls or women for commercial sex.

And it sought information about fees Musk might have paid to Epstein or JPMorgan and any documents concerning communications between Musk, Epstein and JPMorgan regarding accounts, transactions or the relationship at JPMorgan.
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.
WASHINGTON - Jacqueline Woodson was in fifth grade when she began coming to some serious conclusions about literature. "I realized that there weren't a lot of books with people who look like me in them," she says.

More than one teacher recommended she read "Sounder," by William H. Armstrong. "I didn't understand why that book made me so sad and so upset," Woodson says. Then she found out the harrowing tale of a Black Southern family (in which only the dog is named) was written by a White man, and things started to click. "It's like you're looking at us from the outside - and from the outside, we look tragic to you, which means you know absolutely nothing about us. Because if you did, you would understand why we are still here, which is, you know, the opposite of tragedy."

So Woodson grew up to write the stories she wanted to read - stories so rich and layered, compelling and wise, that the 60-year-old author's resume now reads like an anthology of prestigious citations. She is a four-time Newbery Honor winner, a three-time finalist and one-time winner of the National Book Award, a three-time Coretta Scott King Award winner and the recipient of a 2020 MacArthur Fellowship - also known as the genius award. And Woodson is in her second season as the Kennedy Center's education artist-in-residence, where she gets to see her stories come to life for children onstage.

It's an opportunity for connection that's rare for authors. And one that always reminds Woodson of what she is trying to accomplish in this work. Sitting in the theater, watching audiences enthralled with her tales, "really makes me feel like what I was trying to do in the narrative is being heard."

Woodson, who grew up in a town in South Carolina and Brooklyn, has written dozens of books for children and young adults, including the memoir "Brown Girl Dreaming," and a novel for adults, "Red at the Bone," which she is turning into a screenplay for a movie adaptation.

She is prolific, she says, because she needs to be. Writing "helps me figure out the world, and it helps me figure out my power in the world." With each book, Woodson is conjuring a new world for herself and then offering it up to see if it's of use to others. "Here's a world I can go to. And once it's out there, it's not my world anymore, right? It belongs to anyone else who needs it."

The opportunity to see those worlds brought to the stage was too intriguing to pass up. But the author also had some requirements. Diversity and inclusion are at the core of her work. She wanted them to be at the core of this residency - and needed to know that the Kennedy Center would honor that commitment.

"I think historically it hasn't been a place where a lot of people of color feel like they are invited into, in the way that a lot of predominantly White spaces have felt," she says. Woodson's intentionality - so evident in her books - now needed to translate to a massive, federally funded cultural institution. "It requires a lot of questions and patience and deep thought and pushing more boundaries ... and having higher expectations about people's responsibilities to creating that change with me."

Woodson's commitment applies to bigger, creative decisions, but also the smaller, logistical ones - like offering discounted parking and tickets to her shows. "There is this openness to change and to do it right. I think that's the thing I've also found, is there are so many people here [at the Kennedy Center] who want to do it right, who want this to be a place for everyone to come to," she says.

Over the winter, the Kennedy Center hosted a month-long run of a musical adaptation of Woodson's picture book "The Day You Begin." And last month, Woodson's children's book "Each Kindness" was staged with a performance by musical group Rootstock Republic. The story centers on Maya, a new girl in school whose classmates aren't exactly warming to her. Before one performance, members of Rootstock Republic gave the audience of mostly kids and parents definitions of kindness - using not their words, but their instruments. Led by composer and violinist Juliette Jones, the audience took in melodies evoking graciousness on the bass, on the harp, on the viola.

Woodson then appeared onstage to narrate, while E.B. Lewis's gentle and calming illustrations were projected on the screen behind her and the musicians. She told Maya's story: a story of a spirit that refuses to be shaken by a not-so-welcoming class of students. No matter how dismissive her classmates become, Maya never backs down from being herself.

In the middle of the narration, two members of Rootstock Republic got up and taught the audience a little dance number that included some stepping and hand clapping, and even brought kids up onstage to dance along with them. It's these moments of participation that Woodson especially enjoys about seeing her books interpreted onstage. "Every single show, the kids just come in and show us who they are, and they're just so brilliant and alive and optimistic and engaged," she says.

With waves of school districts across the country instituting bans on books with supposedly controversial subject matter - including some of Woodson's titles - the opportunity to see kids enthusiastically engage with her stories feels especially poignant to the author. "This moment in time is so deeply unimaginable to me," Woodson says about seeing books being ripped out of school and children's libraries. But just as she couldn't have imagined these book bannings, she also can't imagine this moment as anything but a call to keep writing.

"It feels more urgent. It feels like we have to figure out, once again, a way out of no way," Woodson says. "You can try to take our books, which we will fight, and at the same time we're going to keep telling our story another way."

Woodson will continue telling her stories through the Kennedy Center partnership. The dance performance "The Other Side," which premiered in April 2022, will be back onstage in January. The musical adaptation of her Newbery Honor-winning book "Show Way" will also be back starting in January, but this time in cities across the United States as part of the center's Theater for Young Audiences tour. Woodson also plans to throw another free block party for the community, as she did with the center in October 2022.

In a conversation with the audience after the "Each Kindness" show, Woodson was back onstage listening to a young audience member ask why the book didn't have a happy ending - the story ends with Maya transferring schools and her classmates being left with the guilt of how they treated her. Woodson pointed out that Maya never stopped being herself, and although her classmates have to come to terms with their behavior, the readers can be assured the next new kid won't be treated so poorly.

"A book doesn't have to have a happy ending," Woodson answered the young girl. But, she added, as if talking about her whole life's work, "there has to be hope."
Danny Zaragoza

The City of Laredo is hosting the final event in its Spring series of 'Concerts in the Park' Saturday, May 20 finishing off with a tribute to rock 'n' roll oldies.

The concert is scheduled to take place Saturday at 6:30 p.m., the city Parks & Recreation Department announced via social media last week.
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Workforce Solutions for South Texas, City of Laredo Economic Development and Laredo College have joined forces to host the Spring Job Fair to be held on Thursday, May 18 at the Laredo College Kazen Student Center.

Denise A. Flores, Workforce Development Center Director, said LC has partnered with these two agencies separately in the past, but now they have decided to work together to offer more jobs to prospective employees.

Ultimately, Laredo College, City of Laredo Economic Development Center and Workforce Solutions for South Texas strive to provide opportunity and growth. Our agencies have determined that holding this fair will not only provide prospect jobs to LC students but to the community in general, she said.

She added that with Workforce Solutions for South Texas, their partnership develops multiple career fairs such as Palomino Pathways, Red White & You, and numerous others. With the City of Laredo, LC held the Laredo Cares 2.0 Job Fair last August and provided Laredo Cares 2.0 participants and community members an opportunity to visit with multiple employers.

This year, Laredo College invited both agencies to create an even bigger, better job fair for our community where many could benefit from employers, resources, and programs, she said.

Although all fairs in the past have been held separate, Flores said all the events have been successful seeing between 200 to 400 participants each.

With this collaboration, we hope to reach out to more prospective candidates in hopes that they join us for this celebration of our partnership and event to provide jobs for our community, Flores said.

Rogelio Trevino, Executive Director of Workforce Solutions for South Texas, said that the most recent unemployment rate is 4.4% as of March 2023.

Last year was 4.2%, but our civilian labor force was 2,000 people less, he said. Laredo has a civilian labor force of 119,943 (people 16 and older who are ready, willing and able to work). Of that labor force, 114,678 are employed and 5,265 are unemployed giving us the 4.4% of the labor force as unemployed.

Trevino added that the partnership with Laredo College for this edition of the Spring Job Fair is one of many partnerships they have established with Laredo College and with the City of Laredo Economic Development Department.

The partnership makes a lot of sense as we all are focused on improving the City of Laredos economic development and growth. The college who primarily focuses on education and training programs for the citizen try helping to prepare the labor force that Workforce Solutions is committed to getting employed, he said. As a Workforce Development Board, our commitment is to help the businesses of Laredo find skilled and trained employees.

By partnering on this Spring Job Fair, we are bringing the employers/businesses to the Labor Force for job matching opportunities. Many college and high school students will be graduating this May and June, and we are bringing the employers to the job fair to meet with and interview potential job prospects.

Trevino also said this fair is important because it is vital to help our local businesses match up with skilled employees.

A skilled workforce is a business's number one asset. By helping our employers find and hire skilled, trained and educated employees, we are helping our businesses grow and develop and in essence we are helping Laredos economy grow, he said.

He said the most demanded areas of work have to do with trade and transportation being the number one industry in Laredo.

The most jobs in demand include transportation and logistics jobs . truck drivers, importexport jobs, freight forwarders, warehouse and warehouse support jobs. However, as Laredo continues to grow, there are other industries with great demand such as the government industry including border protection, law enforcement and other state and federal jobs are in demand, he said. Also, the education industry continues to grow and all the school districts in the area are looking for employees in the education field and in support fields.

Trevino highlighted that as population increases and ages the demand for medical job continues to grow.

The pandemic made it clear that Laredo is a medically underserved community, so there is great demand to fill jobs in the medical industry, jobs such as doctors, nurses and medical technicians, he said. Also, support jobs that will help in doctors offices and hospitals are in high demand.

Trevino said the goal is to have 60 booths between employers and providers in the Spring Job Fair, and they are hoping to attract more than 500 job seekers.

We will continue to work with our education and economic development partners in helping our labor force get skilled and educated to meet the needs of our growing businesses, he said. Workforce Solutions will continue to monitor and evaluate the South Texas Labor Market to ensure that we are communicating with our education and training providers so that training programs for high-skill, high-wage jobs are created.

Flores said this fair will offer opportunities for both employers and job seekers.

Employers will have an opportunity to interview on spot, so we highly recommend participants to register early for the fair, dress to impress and have a resume on hand because you may be able to obtain a job that day, she said.

Both Flores and Trevino invited those wanting to attend this job fair to pre-register in advance.

This fair is for Laredo College graduates, alumni, students and, of course, for our Laredo community, she said. You can pre-register to attend the fair so that your information will be on file which will be easier to apply for employment. You can also register on site and one of our friendly staff members at Workforce Solutions can help you.

The Spring Job Fair will be held on Thursday, May 18 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Ft. McIntosh Campus in the Kazen Student Center.

If you are looking for a new job, a new field, or trying to get back to school, talk to our 60 or more employers, community resources, and Laredo College recruiters and let's get you started on this new career pathway, Flores said.

All those interested in attending the job fair can pre-register by visiting https://bit.ly/sprn2023.
Courtesy/U.S. Border Patrol

A man was arrested during the smuggling attempt of 85 migrants through the Interstate 35 checkpoint, according to an arrest affidavit.

Hasael Hernandez Castillo was charged with transport, attempt to transport and conspire to transport migrants.
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.
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NEW ORLEANS (AP)  Three conservative appeals court judges, each with a history of supporting restrictions on abortion, will hear arguments May 17 on whether a widely used abortion drug should remain available.

The case involves a regulatory issue  whether the Food and Drug Administration's approval of mifepristone, and subsequent actions making it easier to obtain, must be rolled back. The appellate hearing follows an April ruling by a federal judge in Texas, who ordered a hold on federal approval of mifepristone in a decision that overruled decades of scientific approval. His ruling was stayed pending appeal. The case was allotted to a panel made up of Jennifer Walker Elrod, James Ho and Cory Wilson.

The three judges of the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals wont rule immediately. Their decision, whatever it is, is also unlikely to have an immediate effect pending an expected appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Here's a look at who the judges are and their track records.

JENNIFER WALKER ELROD

Nominated to the court in 2007 by Republican President George W. Bush, Elrod was among several 5th Circuit judges allowing Texas to temporarily ban abortions as the coronavirus pandemic took hold in early 2020.

Elrod also was co-author of the opinion when the full 5th Circuit upheld in 2021 a Texas law outlawing an abortion method commonly used to end second-trimester pregnancies.

That same year, she wrote for a panel that refused to order Louisiana to issue a long-stalled license for a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic in New Orleans, saying there is no free-standing federal right to receive an abortion-clinic license."

In the Texas case involving pandemic restrictions, she was part of a panel allowing what amounted to a ban on abortions  including medication abortions  by classifying them as non-essential procedures legally postponed under an order by Gov. Greg Abbott. The 2020 order was in effect for about a month.

Elrod was in favor of decisions upholding Texas and Louisiana laws requiring doctors at abortion clinics to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals  a move abortion rights advocates said would force some clinics to close.

When the full court narrowly refused to let Louisiana officials cut off Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood facilities in the state, Elrod wrote the dissent.

Elrod also boasts a high profile in 5th Circuit decisions on regulatory issues. One, if upheld by the Supreme Court, could limit the authority of the Securities and Exchange Commission to impose hefty fees and fines. Another, eventually struck by the Supreme Court, held that the individual mandate in former President Barack Obama's signature health care law had been rendered unconstitutional by congressional action.

JAMES HO

A former Texas solicitor general, Ho is the first Asian-American to serve on the 5th Circuit and is a former clerk for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. He was nominated to the 5th Circuit in 2017 by Republican President Donald Trump. His opposition to abortion and abortion rights was clear early in his tenure, including referring to abortion as a moral tragedy in one 2018 opinion.

In 2019, he wrote a 15-page grudging concurrence in a ruling that said a Mississippi abortion ban had to be struck down under then-existing court precedent. Nothing in the text or original understanding of the Constitution establishes a right to an abortion, he wrote.

He went on to cite the racial history of abortion advocacy as a tool of the eugenics movement." He harshly criticized a lower court for declining to consider arguments that a fetus can feel pain, and for displaying an alarming disrespect for the millions of Americans who believe ... that abortion is the immoral, tragic, and violent taking of innocent human life.

That opinion was written in the case the Supreme Court ultimately used to overturn Roe v. Wade.

CORY WILSON

Nominated to the federal appeals court in 2020 by Trump, Wilson is a former Mississippi appeals court judge who had a strong anti-abortion record when he served in the Mississippi House from January 2016 to February 2019 as a Republican. Abortion rights supporters opposed his confirmation to the federal appeals court. They noted he had expressed support for complete and immediate reversal" of the Roe v. Wade decision in a questionnaire from Mississippi Right to Life's political action committee.

Wilson voted for anti-abortion measures in 2016, including one to stop Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood facilities in the state  a measure rejected in court. In 2018 he voted for the Mississippi law that ultimately led to the demise of Roe v. Wade in 2022. The law prohibited most abortions after 15 weeks.

At the 5th Circuit, Wilson joined Elrod, Ho and a majority of the full court in 2021 in upholding a Texas law outlawing an abortion method commonly used to end second-trimester pregnancies. He had voted for a similar law in the Mississippi Legislature.

___

Associated Press reporter Emily Wagster Pettus in Jackson, Mississippi, contributed to this report.
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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP)  Kansas' Democratic governor vetoed state funding on Monday for a project long advocated by a Democratic lawmaker who broke ranks to override the governor's vetoes and give Republicans crucial support for laws restricting abortion and rolling back transgender rights.

Apparently, Rep. Marvin Robinson's decision had consequences.

Gov. Laura Kelly axed $250,000 in the next state budget for drafting a state plan to develop the Quindaro Ruins in Kansas City, Kansas, which Robinson represents. Quindaro was a short-lived town and a station on the Underground Railroad that helped enslaved people escape to Canada. A proposal to build a landfill there in the 1980s led to an investigation of the site and the discovery of multiple buildings' foundations.

Robinson, who is Black, advocated for the site's restoration and development as a national historic landmark for several decades before he won an open House seat last year. Democratic leaders called on him to resign after he voted to override Kelly's veto of a measure banning transgender female athletes from girls' and women's sports, giving Republicans the supermajoirty they needed.

Robinson's votes were also crucial to Republicans enacting two other new laws over Kelly vetoes amid a national push on culture war issues by GOP state lawmakers. One is a sweeping bathroom law that could also prevent transgender people from changing the gender markers on their driver's licenses. The other will require abortion providers to tell patients that medication abortions can be stopped using a regimen that major medical groups see as ineffective and potentially dangerous.

Kelly told lawmakers in her veto message Monday that the Quindaro site is a fundamental piece of Kansas history, but noted that Republicans added the money to the budget during their final days in session this year. Kelly said the idea had not been vetted, and her veto will stand because lawmakers have adjourned for the year.

Advocates should work through the proper channels to seek funding for this measure and ensure that it receives the recognition it deserves, Kelly wrote in her message.

The $250,000 Kelly vetoed compares to roughly $24 billion in spending lawmakers approved in the next state budget.

Michael Austin, chair of the Kansas Black Republican Council, said Kelly had callously denied funs to an important project while offering hollow rhetoric to Black residents.

House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita, Republican, said in a statement that preserving the Quindaro site should be a bipartisan priority "excluded from the wrath of political punishments.

State Rep. Patrick Penn, of Wichita, the Legislature's only Black Republican member, told the House before it passed the budget measure that Robinson did not know that GOP lawmakers including funds for Quindaro. State Sen. J.R. Claeys, a Republican from central Kansas, told The Kansas City Star that he pursued the funding to give Robinson "a win in his first year after fellow Democrats treated him poorly.

Robinson did not respond to emails seeking comment on Kelly's veto, and the telephone number listed for him did not allow people to leave messages.

He voted 18 times this year to override Kelly vetoes of bills or budget items, starting with the measure on transgender athletes. The measure was a priority for GOP leaders, as was the abortion medication measure.

Robinson's vote to block Kelly's veto of the bathroom measure vexed fellow Democrats because the new law is broader than those in other states. It applies outside public schools, extending to prisons, jails, rape crisis centers and domestic violence shelters. Supporters argued they were protecting cisgender womens and girls privacy, health and safety.

The new law recognizes only two sexes, male or female, and defines them based on reproductive anatomy at birth. Because of that, Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, a Republican, said earlier this month that he believes it prevents transgender people from changing the gender markers on their driver's licenses. A spokesperson for the state agency that issues the licenses says it is still reviewing the issue.

Critics see the law as attempting the erasure of transgender people.

It just sounds like something to do to be nasty, Luc Bensimon, a Black transgender Topeka resident and activist, said during a recent interview.

Later, he added, You know, its scary.

___

Follow John Hanna on Twitter: https://twitter.com/apjdhanna
The Lockport Industrial Development Agency is suing Yahoo! Inc., accusing the Internet giant that operates a data center in the town of breaching a contract by returning 16 acres of unused land to the IDA but with new deed restrictions that make it difficult to resell.

The litigation against Yahoo! and Yahoo Holdings Inc. represents an effort by the Lockport IDA to reassert its authority and enforce its rights against a company that wants to protect its multimillion-dollar investment in the town by controlling what goes next door. It's also one of the rare occasions when an industrial development agency has taken legal action in court against one of the companies it works with.

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The case centers around a parcel of land that the then-California-based Internet company agreed to buy from the agency in July 2014, as part of its development of a sprawling $500 million technology facility in the Town of Lockport Industrial Park.

That operation, whose first phase initially opened in 2010 after 13 months of construction, features nine buildings with 300,000 square feet of space on 45 acres on Enterprise Drive and nearby Crown Drive. Originally intended as the company's East Coast data center with 50,000 computer servers to power its network of websites, email and messenger service, it now includes two data centers and an operations and call center after expansions in 2013 and 2018.

In all, Yahoo's local operation employs more than 200 technology workers. And it relies on Western New York's cooler climate, prevailing winds off Lake Ontario and low-cost hydropower to keep the server buildings cool.

Yahoo paid $450,000 to buy the original property from the Lockport IDA, and then agreed to pay $271,800 for the extra land at 1000 Junction Road. But the agreement included a "clawback provision" under which the IDA had the right to repurchase the land for the same price if Yahoo or its successor "failed to construct a facility used in connection with the corporation's business practices" by the seventh anniversary of the closing date.

The contract defined Yahoo's business as "data storage and related computer and information processing, office, call center, storage or buyer business related use." And it said that the IDA could give written notice to Yahoo of its intent to repurchase the land after seven years, and the company agreed to "convey good, marketable title to the property."

The sale closed on Sept. 8, 2014, and was recorded in the County Clerk's Office on Sept. 19, 2014. Besides the hydropower as an economic development incentive, Yahoo also received $12 million in sales tax breaks over 20 years and a 20-year property tax break from the Lockport IDA.

Meanwhile, Yahoo was acquired in 2017 by Verizon Communications Inc., which consolidated the Internet operations of Yahoo and AOL under Oath Holdings Inc. It later changed to Verizon Media Group and then back to Yahoo, before Verizon sold the entire subsidiary to Apollo Global Management in September 2021 for $5 billion. It's now New York City-based Yahoo Holdings Inc., after recently changing its name again on May 1.

However, nothing has been built on the Lockport site "in connection with the owner's business practices," according to the lawsuit. So after the seven-year period lapsed two years ago, the IDA gave notice to Yahoo in November 2021 that it wanted the land back.

But when Yahoo delivered a deed on March 4, 2022, it included restrictions on the use and operations of the property that weren't there before, and which "would significantly limit the IDA's use of the Subject Premises."

Among those, the property cannot be used for "any use that reasonably would be expected to diminish the air flow or quality of the property" at 5365 Crown Drive and 5319 Enterprise Drive.

It also specifically bars "any use generating noxious" odors or excessive airborne particles such as what is found in dust or smoke, as well as "any use that would increase traffic to a level that would diminish the service afforded by the roadways" or that would "result in an increase in air pollutants." And it prohibits "any use that requires an air quality control or similar permit under the Clean Air Act" or other laws.

Additionally, it restricts "any use that would diminish or impair the availability or reliability" of utility service to the data center, or anything that Oath or Yahoo believes would "negatively interfere with" the data center operation. And it bars connections to the Yahoo electrical substations or any driveways or parking within 275 feet of the Yahoo facility.

"Yahoo's Proposed Deed deviates drastically from the Deed conveyed to its predecessor which did not contain any such restrictions, acknowledgements or covenants," according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit continued, "Such restrictions limit the Subject Premises to having virtually no feasible use when taking into consideration the property's current zoning scheme, the property location in the Town of Lockport's industrial development park, and the Plaintiff's corporate purposes as the original grantor of the premises. Yahoo's Proposed Deed would render title to the Subject Premises unmarketable."

The IDA rejected the proposed deed in a March 2022 letter, and told the company that it didn't comply with the clawback provision. But Yahoo has "refused to deliver a deed without the aforementioned use and operating restrictions," according to the lawsuit, which asks the state Supreme Court to order the company to comply with the original agreement.
mokee81/Getty Images/iStockphoto

On the first Saturday in June of each year, everyone can fish recreationally without licenses or endorsements across Texas.

This year, Free Fishing Day falls on June 3, when everyone can take their rods and bait to cast a line in any of Texas' waters without worrying about needing a license.
This story was originally published by Public Health Watch, which teamed with the Tribune to produce a two-part series about the 2019 ITC fire in Deer Park. You can read those stories here and here.

Dozens of anxious and angry residents gathered at Deer Park High Schools North Campus on May 4 to demand accountability from state regulators for a 2019 fire that blanketed their communities with toxic chemicals.

Less than 19 hours after the public hearing in the industrialized Houston suburb  held by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality  another large fire broke out at a Shell chemical plant about a mile from the school.

It feels like were just accepting these dangerous accidents as an inevitable part of life, said Elena Craft, associate vice president of climate and health at the Environmental Defense Fund, one of several nonprofits that have spent years documenting the health risks posed by Texas petrochemical industry. Its defeating. You work and work and work to try to make things better, but theyre exactly the same.

Public Health Watch has been reporting on the dangers of industrial pollution for nearly two years as part of its Toxic Texas Air project. The latest installment, a two-part investigation with The Texas Tribune, focused on a 2019 fire at the tank farm that was the focus of the recent public hearing. The series revealed that state and federal regulators had known for nearly 20 years of widespread problems at the facility that burned  Intercontinental Terminals Company  but had done little to force the company to improve.

The ITC fire lasted for three days and created a cloud of black smoke so vast that the National Weather Service tracked it for weeks. It also released dangerous levels of the carcinogen benzene, which lingered in nearby neighborhoods long after public health measures were lifted.

ITC was the biggest industrial disaster in this country in at least the last 50, maybe 100 years, in terms of the magnitude of cancer-causing compounds that were spewed into communities, Craft said. But as Public Health Watchs investigation suggested, and as this latest fire confirms, its concerning how many other ITCs are out there.

ITC has faced few consequences for the disaster. The Environmental Protection Agencys Region 6 office in Dallas ceded all potential Clean Air Act enforcement to the TCEQ. The TCEQ referred the case to the office of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, which filed a lawsuit against ITC in 2019. According to court records, there have been no filings in the case since 2021.

The only major penalty ITC has faced came from Harris County, which includes Houston and Deer Park. The county settled a lawsuit against the company in 2021 for $900,000  or 0.0001% of the $7.39 billion in profits that ITCs parent company, the Japan-based Mitsui Group, recorded that year.

Many residents of Deer Park and neighboring communities like Pasadena saw this months public hearing as their last chance to hold ITC accountable for the fire. The company is seeking to renew its five-year operating permit, and the hearing was part of that process. But people left the high school frustrated after TCEQ staff declined to address questions about the fire, saying they were not within the scope of the permit review.

With this new permit, youre saying you cannot consider this past incident that you have not even resolved yet, Carolyn Stone, head of the Channelview Health & Improvement Coalition, said at the hearing. TCEQ is supposed to be for the quality of the environment and for the people. You have failed in that duty. Do not expand upon that failure by approving this permit.

TCEQ spokesperson Laura Lopez told Public Health Watch that the agency is reviewing ITCs permit renewal application consistently with state and federal rules.

ITC did not respond to requests for comment.

The latest industrial fire in Deer Park erupted at a facility with an even lengthier history of violations than ITC. The Shell Deer Park Chemicals plant has had 542 chemical leaks since 2002, state records show, and has been the subject of two lawsuits from the EPA and Texas environmental groups over air pollution from equipment malfunctions. The company was forced to spend more than $120 million on pollution-control technology and settlements in those two cases alone.

More enforcement actions could emerge following the May 5 fire, which swept through an area of the plant housing olefins  chemicals used to make plastic and rubber products  including the carcinogen 1,3-butadiene. The blaze burned off and on for three days, releasing a gigantic black plume. Craft said black smoke usually indicates the presence of fine particles that are too small to see and can settle deep into lungs and seep into bloodstreams.

Shell did not respond to requests for comment.

Cracking down in a meaningful way on Shell, ITC or other polluters would require legislation at the state and federal levels  a tall task given the current political climate.

U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, a first-term Democrat from Central Texas who sits on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, said he was appalled by the findings of the Public Health Watch-Texas Tribune ITC investigation and will look for ways to address environmental concerns and protect people.

There are so many red flags in this story. The lack of government intervention following the 2019 chemical fire in Deer Park, along with the endangerment of the public, is impermissible, Casar said. The EPA, the TCEQ and all levels of government should protect residents and address the harm that happened. Anything less is irresponsible.

Casar and 24 other members of Congress  all Democrats  sent a letter last week to President Joe Biden and EPA Administrator Michael Regan. It urged the EPA to address loopholes that allow industrial facilities to release massive amounts of deadly air pollution with no consequences or accountability. But it did not include a timetable or suggest a specific plan of action, and the lawmakers have little leverage in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.

Creating change is even more difficult in the Republican-dominated Texas Legislature, which slashed the TCEQs funding by 20% between 2016 and 2021  even as it increased the state budget by 16%.

State Rep. Penny Morales Shaw, a second-term Democrat who sits on the House Environmental Regulation Committee, vowed to take action to strengthen the TCEQ after reading Public Health Watchs 2022 investigation into two chemical accidents in Harris County, including one that killed two workers. The investigation showed how Houston-area elected officials grew frustrated with the Texas GOPs efforts to limit local enforcement and the TCEQs failure to protect communities being bombarded with chemicals.

Morales Shaw introduced three bills during this years legislative session, which ends May 29.

House Bill 1360 would require the TCEQ to post permitting information, including public hearing dates, online. Currently, facilities seeking new permits are required to post such information only in a Spanish-language newspaper, an English-language newspaper and on a sign along their fenceline  a process advocates argue is outdated and noninclusive. House Bill 3853 would increase the TCEQs maximum daily fines for certain violations from $25,000 to $40,000.

Those two bills have been rolled into a larger TCEQ sunset bill, which reviews the agencys effectiveness every 10 years. The sunset bill has been passed by the Texas Senate but is still being considered in the House.

Morales Shaws third bill, House Bill 3913, would direct some of the revenue Texas received from pollution-related lawsuits filed by state or local governments into an environmental remediation fund maintained by the TCEQ. The bill was passed out of committee but was never scheduled for a floor vote in the House  all but killing its chances of becoming law.

That latest [Shell] fire is the perfect example of why we need bills like this, Morales Shaw said. Im telling other members, See, these things can happen in your county, and your constituents should be protected.

Morales Shaw said shell try to salvage HB 3913 by adding pieces of it to existing bills through amendments. If that doesnt work, she said, shell introduce it again in 2025, the next time the biennial legislature convenes.

The people expect us to do the right thing while theyre busy caring for their families and all the other things that life demands, Morales Shaw said. The buck stops with us. Weve got to keep pushing.

Savanna Strott contributed to this story.

Disclosure: Environmental Defense Fund has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribunes journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/15/texas-itc-shell-chemical-plant-fire-tceq-permit-hearing/.

The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.
David Sundberg, Courtesy Exxon/Gensler

Exxon Mobil's top executive are downsizing from their famously opulent Dallas office spacedubbed the "God Pod"to a new set of offices in Houston. The move is part of the company's ongoing push to cut costs and boost efficiency following historic revenue losses during the pandemic, according to the Wall Street Journal's Collin Eaton.

Exxon's C-suite will now be housed on a "385-acre, glass-dominated corporate campus, which can accommodate around 10,000 employees" in Houston, according to the Journal's Eaton. "The aesthetic will be modern, with ample open space to encourage collaboration, the people familiar with the matter said," per Eaton.
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FAIRFAX, Va. (AP)  A man with untreated schizophrenia, according to his father, was arraigned Tuesday on charges involving baseball-bat attacks on three women, including two staffers for U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly.

Xuan-Kha Tran Pham, 49, of Fairfax heard the charges by video hookup from the Fairfax County jail. A judge ordered him held without bond pending a preliminary hearing in July.

The four counts include aggravated wounding and malicious aggravated wounding in the attack at Connollys district office in Fairfax, and counts of felony destroying property and misdemeanor hate crime for an episode less than an hour earlier, when police say he hit a car windshield with the bat and chased a woman after asking if she was white.

Capitol Police and Fairfax City Police said they are jointly investigating the case, and the suspects motivations arent clear.

Phams father, Hy Pham, told The Washington Post his son was diagnosed with schizophrenia and has dealt with mental illness since his late teens. He also said hes been trying without success to arrange mental health care for his son. The father could not immediately be reached by The Associated Press.

The veteran Democratic congressman, who wasnt in the office at the time, said in an interview that an intern working her first day on the job was struck in her side and an outreach director was hit on the head. Both were released after hospital treatment.

It does underscore for all of us the vulnerability potentially of our district offices because we dont have the level of security we have here on Capitol Hill, said Connolly, now in his eighth term representing his district in the Washington suburbs.

One Fairfax police officer involved in detaining Pham on Monday also received treatment, for a minor injury, police spokesperson Sgt. Lisa Gardner said.

Other officers sustained minor injuries in January 2022 when they responded to a call from Pham saying he wished to harm others, Fairfax Police said.

Charges of assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest and attempting to disarm a law enforcement officer were dropped in September after he complied with conditions requiring him to seek treatment, according to a person with the Fairfax County Commonwealths Attorneys office who spoke on condition of anonymity because Pham now has an ongoing criminal case.

During that time  in May 2022  Pham sued the Central Intelligence Agency in federal court, claiming that the CIA had been torturing him from the fourth dimension, court records show.

Since the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol, threats to lawmakers and their families have increased sharply. The U.S. Capitol Police investigated around 7,500 cases of potential threats against members of Congress in 2022. The year before, they investigated around 10,000 threats to members, more than twice the number from four years earlier.

In October, a man broke into the San Francisco home of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, demanding to speak with her, before he smashed her husband, Paul, over the head with a hammer.

___

Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro and Kevin Freking in Washington, and Sarah Rankin in Richmond, Virginia, contributed to this report. Lavoie reported from Richmond.
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SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  A South Korean court on Tuesday ordered the country's biggest adoption agency to pay 100 million won ($74,700) in damages to a 48-year-old man for mishandling his adoption as a child to the United States, where he faced legal troubles after surviving an abusive childhood before being deported in 2016.

However, the Seoul Central District Court dismissed Adam Crapsers accusations against the South Korean government, which he saw as responsible for creating an aggressive, profit-driven adoption industry that carelessly removed thousands of children from their families during a child export frenzy in the 1970s and '80s.

The civil case, tried for over four years, was the first in which a South Korean adoptee sued the countrys government and a domestic adoption agency over fraudulent paperwork and screening failures.

Holt Childrens Service, which handled Crapsers adoption to American parents in 1979, and South Koreas Justice Ministry, which represents the government in lawsuits, did not immediately comment.

In reading out the verdict, Judge Park Jun-min did not elaborate on why the court refused to hold the government accountable. Crapsers lawyers said they will review the full version of the ruling, which the court didnt immediately release, before deciding whether to appeal.

We want to express our very serious regret, said Kim Soo-jung, one of Crapsers lawyers.

The (government) knew that children procured for adoptions were not being (properly) protected, that their human rights were being violated  they should have done something about it, but they didn't.  It seems that the court simply saw the government as a monitoring institution, and not as an actor that directly committed illegal acts.

Crapser, who left South Korea last year and currently lives in Mexico, did not attend the ruling.

It remains to be seen whether Crapsers case inspires more lawsuits by adoptees, who are becoming more vocal with their criticism of past South Korean corruption in adoption practices, which caused a huge but unknown number of wrongful family separations and stymied thousands from reconnecting with their roots.

Tuesdays verdict came months after hundreds of Korean adoptees from Europe and North America asked South Koreas Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate their adoption circumstances. They say their status and identities were laundered to facilitate marred adoptions.

The commission has opened investigations of dozens of those applications and may take more cases in the coming months, as it proceeds with the most far-reaching inquiry into South Koreas foreign adoptions yet.

The commissions potential findings could allow more adoptees to launch legal actions against agencies or the government, which would otherwise be difficult because South Korean civil courts put the burden of proof entirely on plaintiffs, who often lack information and resources.

Crapser, who was named Shin Seong-hyeok by his South Korean mother, had sought 200,000 won ($149,000) in damages from South Koreas government and Holt. His lawsuit, filed in 2019, accuses the defendants of manipulating his paperwork, employing poor background checks that failed to weed out his abusive adopters, and not following up on whether he obtained U.S. citizenship.

While describing Crapsers plight as unfortunate, the government and Holt denied any legal wrongdoing, saying his adoption went according to procedure and it was the responsibility of his American adopters - not theirs - to ensure that he obtained U.S. citizenship.

Crapsers lawyers have claimed that his case exposes how South Korea failed to protect its most vulnerable citizens from an adoption industry that sent thousands of children abroad every year to meet Western demands during its heyday, and how often those adoptions amounted to child selling.

Crapser revealed his plans for his lawsuit during an interview with The Associated Press in 2019, in which he described being abused and abandoned by two different sets of U.S. parents and then being deported after run-ins with the law because none of his guardians filed citizenship papers for him.

Forcibly separated from his then-wife and children and friends in America, Crapser said he struggled with intense anxiety and depression in South Korea, where he found himself isolated by language and culture four decades after being sent to his initial adopters in Michigan at age 3.

Crapser said he definitely didnt win the lottery when it came to his two American families. Flown out of South Korea, he and his sister were first sent to what he described as an abusive couple in 1979. Seven years later the couple abandoned the siblings, who were then separated by the foster care system.

Crapser was housed in several foster and group homes before ending up with Thomas and Dolly Crapser when he was around 12. He said the Oregon couple would sometimes slam their childrens heads against walls, strike them with kitchen utensils and burn them with heated objects.

In 1991, the couple was arrested on charges of physical child abuse, sexual abuse and rape. They were reportedly convicted in 1992 on multiple counts of criminal mistreatment and assault. Kicked out of his parents house after an argument, Crapser pleaded guilty to burglary after he said he later broke into their home to retrieve a Korean-language Bible and a stuffed dog that came with him from a Korean orphanage. He was later convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm and assault.

Crapser thought he had turned a corner, opening a barber shop and an upholstery business and starting a family, before being served his deportation paperwork in 2015 after a green card application triggered a background check.

About 200,000 South Koreans were adopted overseas during the past six decades, the majority to white families in the West, representing whats now the worlds largest diaspora of adoptees. More than 4,000 Korean children were sent abroad in 1979, the year Crapser arrived in the United States.

South Koreas foreign adoption boom from the late 1970s to the 1980s was driven by Seouls then-military dictatorships, which were focused on economic growth and reducing the number of mouths to feed.

Adoption agencies, governed by board members close to the military leaders, were notorious for aggressive child-gathering activities and falsified paperwork that manipulated children's origins as they raced to send more adoptees abroad.

It wasnt until 2013 that South Korea required foreign adoptions of children to be vetted at family courts, ending a decades-long practice of allowing the private agencies to dictate the cross-border transfers of custodies.

Crapser was among thousands of South Korean adoptees who were described in their paperwork as abandoned orphans, despite their having known Korean relatives who could be easily identified and found, which made them easily adoptable under U.S. laws.

Crapsers birth mother, Kwon Pil-ju, told the AP that she was single, disabled and desperately poor, and that she finally decided to give Crapser and his sister away because of fears that theyd starve.

Crapsers lawsuit cited the government as responsible for allowing adoptions to be controlled by profit-driven agencies that ran on fees collected from foreign parents, and also for allowing foreigners to adopt children without actually coming to South Korea, which he blames for screening failures that matched him with abusive parents.

His case also highlights the shaky legal status of many South Korean adoptees in the United States whose parents may have failed to get them citizenship, potentially leaving them vulnerable to deportation if they acquire a criminal record.
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QUITO, Ecuador (AP)  Ecuador was locked in a showdown Tuesday between its conservative president and its opposition-led legislature that was turning the country into the latest Latin American nation torn between rival constitutional powers.

The opposition leadership's confidence in getting the 92 votes necessary to remove President Guillermo Lasso some time this week appeared to weaken during an hours-long legislative session in which lawmakers presented what they characterized as evidence of wrongdoing.

Lasso, who defended himself during the session, could still dissolve the legislature to keep his job and govern by decree as allowed by the Ecuadorian constitution.

Whatever happens this week, the faceoff added political instability to the problems tormenting Ecuadorians, most recently an increase in drug-related violence, including several massacres in prisons over the past two years.

Ecuadorians have long thought of everyday life as stable when compared to its neighbors, Colombia and Peru. But many in the country have become angered by their elected officials' failure to deal with joblessness, violence, extortion by gangsters and petty crime.

People feel the government is totally disconnected from their most urgent needs, said Laura Lizarazo, a senior analyst covering Ecuador and Colombia for the global firm Control Risks.

We anticipate that the progressive deterioration in terms of security that Ecuador has experienced in the last year will persist," she said.

Lawmakers accuse Lasso of not having intervened to end a contract between the state-owned oil transport company Flota Petrolera Ecuatoriana and the private entity Amazonas Tankers. The accusers argue that Lasso knew the contract was full of irregularities and cost the state millions in losses.

Lasso, a former banker, was elected in 2021 and has clashed from the start with a strong opposition in the 137-member National Assembly.

The president, who has had medical issues throughout his term, arrived at impeachment proceedings in the Assembly Tuesday after they had begun, holding onto a person's arm as he walked.

Lasso categorically rejected the accusations, insisting there was no proof or testimony of wrongdoing, and spoke with sarcasm about the impeachment proceedings.

I would like to begin by extending my appreciation to the members of the Assembly... who have dedicated themselves to this unfounded process with so much spirit, Lasso said. I want to deeply recognize them because ... they have stretched the limits of human imagination.

This is the second time the opposition has tried to impeach Lasso, but it didnt get enough votes last year.

Lasso did not say during the session if he would dissolve the Assembly. He told foreign reporters in April that he would not hesitate to do so if his removal were imminent. The move would allow him to govern by decree until presidential and legislative elections take place.

For more than an hour, assemblywoman Viviana Veloz presented videos and documents that she described as irrefutable evidence of the alleged irregularities, including freight rates. She said the damage to the state was estimated at more than $6 million.

Another Assembly member from the opposition, Estaban Torres, said he wanted to "be very clear with the country that President Lasso is not being accused of having appropriated public money for his own benefit but of not having intervened to block the contract.

Andrea Endara, a political science professor at Ecuador's Ecotec University, said the option of dissolving the Assembly would condition the vote in favor of the president. But she warned that votes can change up to the last second and in politics, anything is possible.

Impeachment proceedings run separate from criminal investigations. Ecuadors Prosecutors Office has opened a preliminary investigation, but Lasso has not been criminally charged.

Constitutional attorney Andre Benavides said the accusations against Lasso do not fit an embezzlement case because neither the damage to the state nor the alleged personal benefit of the president has been established.

In the streets of Ecuador, the political fight is breeding uncertainty.

Rodrigo Garces, an auto parts dealer, on Tuesday rejected the idea of removing the president. He characterized the Assembly as useless and said the instability created by the impeachment proceedings harms everyone.

Meanwhile, retiree Luisa Coba said Lassos departure would bring the country better days, because he has done nothing as poverty and crime increase and medicines become scarce.

___

Associated Press writer Regina Garcia Cano reported from Mexico City.
GCC countries can capitalise on their abundant and cost-competitive green energy, attractive location, and industrial and logistics infrastructure, thereby unleashing a new wave of economic growth, says a report.

According to the latest report by Strategy& Middle East, part of the PwC network, entitled 'Reconfiguring Global Value Chains', global value chains are rapidly moving away from a primary focus on cost towards high-value, resilient, and operationally agile industries.

Thanks to their unique advantages, this presents GCC countries with a historic opportunity to capitalise on local resources to ramp up backward GVC participation to innovate and manufacture locally while accelerating domestic productivity, it says.

Countries around the world are actively reconfiguring their industries. They are focusing on innovation and investment in world-leading technologies, products, and services that play to their own strengths, said Dr. Yahya Anouti, Partner with Strategy& Middle East. For GCC countries, this means using their geographic location, abundant renewables, and infrastructure to become a hub for global value chains, he added.

High-value products

For too long, GCC countries have secured growth through exporting basic resource goods  like oil and chemicals that then go on to be processed into high-value products in other countries. If GCC countries are to achieve long-term economic growth, they need to produce more value-added products.

Strategy& believes that GCC countries should move towards backward GVC participation which involves importing or using domestic raw materials to produce complex components (such as semiconductors) and finished goods (such as electronics). Such a strategy would bring global value chains to the region and thereby boost domestic productivity and economic growth, the report said.

The Strategy& report highlights the paucity of backward GVC activity in the region: Saudi Arabia has only a 4 percent backward participation rate, which is very low compared to the worlds top-15 exporting countries. To develop their backward GVC  or downstream industries  GCC countries need to consider their unique advantages and rethink how they use the resources at their disposal. Rather than exporting hydrogen, for example, governments can build national manufacturing clusters and infrastructures to create inward investment opportunities in areas such as green ammonia, green steel or glass manufacturing.

11 ownstream industries

We identified 11 GVCs that GCC countries can develop thanks to their abundance of energy and raw materials such as products such as silicon wafers, recycled plastic, green steel, and titanium aerostructures, among others, said Georgie Saad, Principal with Strategy& Middle East.

Our analysis also suggests that localised manufacturing of such products has the potential to attract $300 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI)  with up to 150,000 jobs and $25 billion in non-oil exports every year, he added.

The report from Strategy& provides stakeholders in the GCC region with the following steps to seize the opportunity to lead the development of new GVCs.

Governments should partner among themselves to reinforce each countrys competitive advantages and develop agile, resilient, and sustainable GVCs. They should join with business to develop targeted measures for each priority GVC component. These can include financial incentives such as capital investment grants, subsidized inputs, financing, and demand guarantees.

For example, in April 2022, the Saudi government signed an agreement with carmaker Lucid Group guaranteeing the purchase of at least 50,000 electric vehicles over a 10-year period. Governments also can fund innovation efforts and develop circular, technology-enabled industrial cities and special economic zones centered on priority sectors.

SWFs can build

Sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) can also build resilient GVCs by securing reliable supplies of raw materials such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and copper, which are all critical to enable green industries and products (such as lithium-ion batteries) and to achieve ambitious sustainability targets. In addition, SWFs can target distressed global companies to gain access to proprietary technology, relocate operations to the region, and accelerate the domestic development of key value chains.

As value chains develop, private businesses can also play their part by pursuing joint ventures (JVs) and partnerships with regional tier-one suppliers across the 11 primary product categories. They also have the ability to engender technology transfer and technical off-take arrangements.

GCC countries have the chance to become a global value chain hub across a range of industries, unlock significant economic development, and diversify the economy, concludes Jayanth Mantri, Manager with Strategy& Middle East. - TradeArabia News Service
Not too long ago, Athenex Inc. was one of Buffalo's great hopes for building a drug development industry in the region.

The state poured hundreds of millions of dollars into facilities for the company, hoping that would provide the boost to not only keep Athenex here but also prove that Buffalo could nurture a biopharmaceutical powerhouse.

But now, Athenex is bankrupt and searching for buyers.

The Buffalo company on Sunday announced that following a strategic review, it had voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and reached an agreement with its lenders to move forward with selling assets across its primary business lines.

"This will enable the company to divest its assets and wind down the Athenex platform in an orderly fashion, while seeking to maximize value for its stakeholders," the company said, noting it expects to conclude the sales process by July 1.

The homegrown company appeared headed toward the end since it was dealt a stunning, and unexpected, blow two years ago when federal regulators raised questions about a late-stage clinical trial for a breast cancer drug Athenex was developing and heavily banking on for its future growth. The company never fully recovered, despite a restructuring plan it rolled out more than a year ago to cut expenses, divest non-core businesses and assets and refocus on its cell therapy programs.

Buffalo biopharma firm Athenex files for bankruptcy, will pursue sale by July 1 Athenex, founded as Kinex Pharmaceuticals two decades ago, had been one of the great hopes for building the medical industry in the region and the recipient of millions in funding from the state.

For the Buffalo Niagara region, economic development officials remain optimistic that the area can keep growing its life sciences industry. While some may consider Athenex a major flop in the era of Buffalo Billion-like state economic development policy, others believe Athenex  which once employed more than 600 globally and briefly had a $1 billion market capitalization after it went public in mid-2017  shows that the region has the potential to birth, host and grow a large biopharma company.

"It's always a sad day when we hear this kind of news about a local company," Buffalo Niagara Partnership President and CEO Dottie Gallagher said. "Life sciences continues to be a target growth sector for WNY. There are successful life science companies in the region and we should continue to build off the concentration of talent and skill at the (Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus) and reap the long-term benefits of that public and private investment."

The hope

Before it was Athenex, the company was called Kinex Pharmaceuticals, spun out of the University at Buffalo lab of David G. Hangauer.

Hangauer is one of the company's four co-founders who established it in 2002.

While Hangauer retired from Athenex in December 2016 as chief scientific officer, he remembers the buzz around the company back then.

Earlier that year, on Feb. 11, 2016, some 600 people crowded inside Dunkirk High School's auditorium to hear then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo announce a "game-changer"  plans for a state-funded, $200 million drug manufacturing plant in Dunkirk that would be leased to Athenex.

Cuomo calls $200 million Athenex biotech plant a game-changer for Dunkirk Upstate New York is on the way back, Cuomo told the crowd gathered in the Dunkirk High School auditorium for the

In addition, the state also announced plans to spend $25 million for Athenex's North American headquarters in the Conventus building in Buffalo's medical corridor. While the $25 million headquarters investment was part of Cuomo's signature Buffalo Billion economic development plan, the Dunkirk plant was not funded through that program. It did, however, share similarities in that the state spent money to construct a building and lease it to a company, which then promised to meet certain investment and hiring obligations.

"We thought the company was going to blossom into a significant size biopharmaceutical company at that time," Hangauer recalled Monday. "That's why we were aggressive at going forward to work with the state to build that Dunkirk plant and the headquarters in the Conventus building, and we had a lot of collaborations with companies internationally at that time. The company was growing rapidly at that point. It looked very, very promising."

What went wrong

Athenex's downward spiral, from which it would never recover, started in March 2021 when federal drug regulators informed the company that more studies were required on a key breast cancer drug it was developing.

Athenex officials were counting on that drug to begin generating significant revenue and provide a funding pathway to the company  a route that was abruptly closed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's decision.

"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 businesses," Athenex CEO Dr. Johnson Lau said in a written statement Sunday.

Though he was no longer an executive at the company, Hangauer said the FDA decision caught most investors by surprise.

Up to that point, Hangauer said Lau "had been planning for success," building an entire drug supply pipeline in expecting approval from the FDA.

"He had everything lined up, so that there wouldn't be any supply shortages or supply chain issues  all that costs money to line up," Hangauer said. "And he had to dismantle that after the FDA rejection."

By March 2022, the company was announcing a restructuring program, seeking to slash costs and exit non-core businesses.

Big changes coming for Athenex: A new focus and major cuts to costs, workforce Athenex officials said late Wednesday that it will undergo a major shift to slash its expenses by 50% and focus on "promising cell therapy programs," while selling off "non-core" assets.

That included selling its leasehold interest in the state-funded Dunkirk plant in early 2022 for about $40 million to ImmunityBio, a California-based biotechnology company that in the fall laid off workers at the plant and said the facility had further construction needs that would take 12 to 18 months to complete.

And it also included exiting the 503B sterile compounding business, which affected more than 90 employees at Athenex's Newstead manufacturing plant.

Tonawanda-based Pine Pharmaceuticals has since assumed Athenex's 503B business, preserving the jobs of more than 50 of the workers, the company said this month.

In filing for bankruptcy, Athenex did say its Athenex Pharma Solutions, which includes the manufacturing plant in Newstead, is expected to continue operations for the next 90 days to fill customer orders and provide commercial supply of tirbanibulin ointment, a topical treatment for actinic keratosis (AK) on the face or scalp.

Athenex's legacy

If and when the bankruptcy proceedings and sale of the company's assets are complete, Athenex will leave behind a complicated legacy in Western New York.

It raised further questions about an era of economic development policy in which the state bet big up front on companies that, in the long run, provided mixed results. It will now be up to ImmunityBio to fulfill lofty expectations in Dunkirk, while it remains to be seen what will happen to Athenex's headquarters space in Conventus.

But there also is a question of: What if?

David J. Colligan, a partner at Colligan Law and former board chairman of Launch NY, said that Kinex and later Athenex, as a Buffalo-based firm, was able to successfully raise capital and show "that we can do drug development in Buffalo, which we were never able to do before."

While Athenex had an unfortunate end, Colligan said he didn't think the news would chill the startup community at all.

"I think, if anything, it can encourage people that it can be done here," he said.

Thinking of the company he cofounded, Hangauer said he hopes Athenex can serve as an inspiration to other UB faculty members who want to develop startups. He wishes it would have ended differently for Athenex, though he noted that 90% of biopharma companies fail to make it in the long run.

He had hoped Athenex would be different, and he thinks it might have made it had the FDA decision went differently.

"This to me is a sad ending of what could have been a very, very good company for Western New York," Hangauer said.
Tickets for this year's St. Jude Dream Home are on sale now, but going fast! Catch another sneak peek of the home on Cashmere Lane.
A federal judge says the Justice Department and an Alabama sheriff's office can move forward with a $2 million settlement of a lawsuit that claimed sheriff's officials ignored female jailers who reported being sexually harassed by male prisoners
Weekend Today Anchor/Reporter

Xavier joined the Local 3 team in May of 2023 as a Reporter/Anchor. He is from Montgomery, Alabama, and is a huge Alabama Crimson Tide fan. (Roll Tide) Xavier is excited to cover stories in the Scenic City and beyond.
The pilot of a small aircraft suffered serious injuries in a crash Monday afternoon at the Akron Airport in Newstead, according to a spokesman for the Erie County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies responded to crash about 3 p.m.

The pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, was transported by Mercy Flight helicopter to Erie County Medical Center for treatment of his injuries.

The Village of Akron Police Department and the Newstead Volunteer Fire Company both assisted in the incident, which is being investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration, the spokesman said.
Everett Eugene Miller, Jr. sentenced to life plus 120 months for sex crimes against a child and escape
For more than three decades, an expansive model train layout offering a miniature, circa-1900 world of handmade buildings, historic sites, amusements and other Western New York touchstones has taken residence at the Buffalo History Museum.

But that's about to change: The railroad will take its final excursion on June 3, before going on an extended hiatus and, the museum expects, relocating to another part of the museum.

"People come into this room fascinated by the trains, especially older men and younger kids," said Anthony Greco, director of exhibits and interpretive planning. "They love it. 'Oh my god, we used to have one of these in my basement.'"

The HO-scale layout evokes a time when rail was the dominant form of shipping and travel in Buffalo by the mid-1800s, surpassing the Erie Canal. The train attraction was built in 1990 by the Rail Barons, all-volunteer train enthusiasts who have continued to service it weekly.

The four trains, which operate on nearly 300 feet of track, will be on display from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. the next three Saturdays  May 20, May 27 and June 3  before being dismantled and put into storage.

"This isn't a permanent thing that's going away," Greco said. "We count on it being back."

A step into the room in the museum's lower level enters a bygone time, with much to marvel over. The miniature models include:

 A replica of the historic Orchard Park train station, built in 1911 and still located in the village on South Lincoln Street. The station was modeled after a depot built in Auburndale, Mass., by H.H. Richardson, one of the lead architects of what is now known as the Richardson Olmsted Campus.

 A hand-made wooden Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western Railway coal trestle stands ready to off-load anthracite coal hauled from outside Scranton, Penn into a lake boat.

 There's the Ansley Wilcox House, the National Historic site and museum at 641 Delaware Ave. where Vice President Theodore Roosevelt took the oath of office in September 1901, eight days after President William McKinley was shot and ultimately killed.

 An ice house sits by the tracks, used by railroads in the early 1900s to refrigerate perishable foods. Off to the side of a miniature carousel, representing the Allan Herschell Company in North Tonawanda that produced them, is the grim reaper, showing the Rail Barons weren't beyond a little humor.

Dotting the scenery are two-family houses, including one ordered from a Sears Catalog available between 1908 and 1940.

The train display includes more than 100 buildings, along with 430 trees and 400 people and animals, shown in over 100 different paint colors.

Just as prominent are the small details  a horse-driven cart, a tractor, the black cat that sits on a fence.

The Train Gallery location will become temporary office space with the movement of staff from the nearby Julia Boyer Reinstein Center. The museum is exploring the possibility of turning that space into another museum attraction.

Greco said there are changes to the train layout they want to make when it's presented in the future.

The layout will be lowered to be compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act standards and make it easier for all children to see, he said. More historical context about the era will also be presented in the future.

The next challenge, however, is to dismantle the model train layout, Greco said, noting it was built on plywood sheets with plaster on top.

The buildings will be removed before the model train layout goes into storage, and professionals will eventually be brought in to help when it is reassembled, he said.
Longford Womens Link is holding a major conference on 'Responding to the Risk of Domestic Homicide in Rural Ireland' this week.

The two-day event will be held at Longford Rugby Club on Wednesday and Thursday, May 17 & 18, and will be delivered by Professor Jane Monckton Smith, a criminologist specialising in domestic homicide.

Jane is a Professor of Public Protection at the University of Gloucestershire and a former police officer.

The conference is part of the programme of the newly established Interagency Model Working Group in Longford which has seen key agencies (including An Garda Siochana, TUSLA, Courts Service and Longford Community Safety Partnership) working together to establish a model of good practice: Responding to the Risk of Domestic Homicide in Rural Ireland. The group is chaired by Longford Womens Link (LWL).

Speaking prior to the conference, LWL CEO Tara Farrell stated that the vision of LWL for many years has been to establish a robust and collaborative Interagency Model Working Group  now, thanks to the support of the Longford Community Safety Partnership and the Department of Justice, this vision has become a reality as we establish this model and we would like to thank all of the member agencies for their participation.

Domestic Violence Manager Natalie OReilly stated, "We are delighted to have such a renowned expert as Professor Monckton Smith address our delegates over the next two days  we have over 140 delegates registered from over 35 agencies and we look forward to continuing our advocacy work in this area and delivering similar events in future."
The funeral of a motorcyclist killed in a road crash in Co Longford at the weekend will take place on Saturday, it has been announced.

Father of four Seanie Reilly, Cloonaugh, Drumlish, Longford lost his life tragically in a two vehicle crash at Esker South, Ballinalee, Co Longford last Saturday afternoon.

The much loved and well respected Longford man will be reposing at his home in Cloonaugh, Drumlish, this Thursday from 3pm onwards with a request made for the family home to remain private on Friday.

Removal to Saint Marys Church, Drumlish will take place on Saturday, arriving at 10:30am for Funeral Mass ahead of burial afterwards in Ballymacormack Cemetery, Longford.

A death notice published on RIP.ie said: The death has occurred of Seanie (Bull 1%) Reilly, Cloonaugh, Drumlish, County Longford, tragically, on the 13th of May 2023.

Predeceased by his father John and sister Sharon.

He will be sadly missed by his loving family, wife Sinead, sons Darragh, Darwin & Peter, daughter Katie, his Mammy Mary, brother Gerard, sister Antoinette, brothers-in-law Sean and Noel, sister-in-law Mary, uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins, his brothers from the Devils Disciples MC Ireland, relatives, Good neighbours, and wide circle of friends.

Originally from Longford town, Mr Reilly was a long time motorbike enthusiast and was well known for his involvement in a number of charity events locally.

Details surrounding the Longford man's tragic passing have sparked umpteen poignant tributes across a variety of social media platforms in the days since.

In a heartbreaking post on its Facebook page on Sunday morning, Drumlish Foroige said locals had been left stunned at the tragedy.

"Sending our deepest sympathies to our leader Sinead on the heartbreaking loss of her Husband Seanie," read the post.

"To Katie, Darragh, Peter, Seanie's Mother Mary, family and close friends, we are so sorry for your loss, our thoughts are with you all during this hard unbearable time.

"Seanie was a gentle giant, always smiling. He was truly one of the best ones. He will be deeply missed."

In keeping with the auto electrician specialist's endearing personality, many of Seanie's closest friends spoke of a man who touched the hearts and minds of so many.

Among those included a heart-rending tribute from one sympathiser who laid claim to Seanie's other, more affectionate moniker, 'Bull'.

Words cannot describe the shock and the sadness at this time, the friend wrote.

You were the best of us, we were the lucky ones, privileged to call you my brother, my friend.

It's hard to believe that when we last shook hands and said our goodbyes that it would be for the last time.

The place just won't be the same without your big smile.

Seanie was also a member of Devils Disciples Motorcycle Club who likewise took to social media to pay their own respects.

It is with great regret that we announce the loss of our brother Seanie (Bull) Reilly who lost his life tragically today, it stated.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife,family, and all his brothers. R.I.P.

Gardai, meanwhile, are continuing to try to piece together the circumstances which led up to yesterdays crash and have appealed for witnesses to come forward.

Forensic Collision Investigators have conducted an examination of the scene, said a garda spokesperson.

"Gardai are appealing for any witnesses to this collision to come forward.

"Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the Esker South area of Ballinalee between 1pm and 1:45pm are asked to make this footage available to Gardai."

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Longford Garda Station on 043 335 0570, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
Longford's Cloughan Farm and Cookery School is celebrating after it was named Best Cookery School at the prestigious Irish Restaurant Awards at a gala ceremony in the Clayton Hotel, Dublin last night (Monday, May 15).

Fiona Egan and her husband Michael of Cloughan Farm and Cookery School proudly accepted the award, sponsored by Avonmore, from President of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, Paul Lenehan.

Fiona said they were 'absolutely blown away to have won the All Ireland category for Best Cookery School in Ireland at the Irish Restaurants Awards'.

She added, "We are proud to open our farm gates and welcome visitors and students from all over the world to Longford and the beautiful hidden heartlands."

Almost 1,200 restaurant and hospitality business owners and staff celebrated their hard work and achievements at the awards event on Monday night, which saw many well-known restaurateurs, hospitality business and staff turn out to see if they had won one of the prestigious awards.

President of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, Paul Lenehan, said; Now in their 14th year, the Irish Restaurant Awards returns with a record-breaking number of public nominations  over 130,000. This sheer number of votes highlights the support & appreciation by the general public for our hospitality sector and all who contribute to it.

"The Awards continue to showcase the incredible food that is on offer in the cafes, hotels, pubs and restaurants of Ireland. As an industry, the restaurateurs, pub-owners and entrepreneurs of Ireland, continue to defy the odds. You strive to create jobs, expand upon Irelands understanding of food standards and world cuisine, all while maintaining exemplary customer service.

"Your support of Irish produce has never been greater and for this you should be wholeheartedly applauded. Tonight, is a celebration of your unrelenting commitment, ambition and devotion to the Irish Food Industry."

Caption: Fiona and Michael Egan Picture: Paul Sherwood
An application to Longford County Council by Vantage Towers Ltd to erect a 30m high lattice telecommunication structure has been approved subject to nine conditions.

The planning application relates to a development at Castlewilder, Abbeyshrule. It covers the construction of the tower along with antennas, dishes and associated telecommunications equipment, enclosed by security fencing and extend existing access track.

The applicant points out that the development is within the curtilage of a protected structure. Castlewilder itself is a detached five-bay three-storey country house, built around 1715.

The building forms the centrepiece in a group of related structures along with the complex of outbuildings and is considered an integral element of the built heritage of County Longford.

This house was originally built by the Wilder family during the first decades of the eighteenth century, and possibly slightly earlier.

There were three submissions on the plans. Objectors William Glennon and Julie Shanley referenced the size of the development, its impact on their property value, potential health hazards and the visual impact of the mast.

The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) suggested that the development caused a penetration of the Obstacle Limitation Surface of the Abbeyshrule aerodrome.

Longford County Council planners approved the development subject to nine conditions. The conditions include adherence to the submitted plans, consideration of IAA requirements, road and waste water considerations, and adherence to international standards regarding Electro Magnetic Fields (EMFs).
Several asylum seekers have left the site of accommodation provided for them in Co Clare during a blockage of routes to the site by locals.

Others looked prepared to leave as their luggage was stacked outside the state-provided accommodation.

A group of 34 asylum seekers had been brought to three holiday homes on the site of the disused Magowna House Hotel in Inch on Monday evening.

Shortly after their arrival, access roads to the hotel were blocked by protesters using tractors, with another gate blocked by a silage bale.

On Tuesday morning, around a dozen protesters remained on the blockade, with the tractors swapped for other vehicles in the afternoon.

A small group of locals carrying signs saying refugees welcome had gathered across from the protest by the afternoon.

Clare County Council said it had not received formal notification of the arrival of asylum seekers after a meeting where locals expressed their concerns to officials.

Some of the asylum seekers in the hotel expressed fear over the ongoing situation and headed with their belongings towards Ennis, located around an hour and a half away on foot.

They said they would travel from there back to Dublin city, citing both the quality of the accommodation and local opposition to their presence.

Protesters said they would not prevent asylum seekers from leaving, and have allowed food deliveries and some members of the media through.

One of the tractor drivers, who did not want to provide his name, said locals had concerns about fire safety and sewage management on the site.

He also said that the asylum seekers were being moved underhandedly.

So we stopped the roads, we blocked the roads so a second bus could not get in, he said, as locals had heard a further 35 people were to be accommodated at the site.

He said this would mean there would be 70 people in this locality with nowhere to go and questioned how the asylum seekers would integrate into the community.

Clare County Council officials and elected members met a large group of locals from the Inch and Kilmaley community for two hours.

The authority said locals had expressed concerns about the arrival of asylum seekers, particularly in relation to the building and suitability of the location.

The council welcomed the engagement from the community and will liaise with agencies to provide the wraparound services such as transport, health, education and immigrant support services, it said in a statement to the PA news agency.

We have also committed to keeping local councillors and community members involved in the response, it added. At this time we have not received formal notification or details of the arrivals.

There were tense exchanges outside the centre and by mid-afternoon, seven asylum seekers had left the accommodation over concerns for their safety and dissatisfaction with the accommodation.

Sharif from Algeria told reporters that he was leaving the hotel and heading back to Dublin, but said he would have liked to stay.

Were going to Dublin city centre, well live homeless in Dublin city centre, he said, adding that this was better than here because they felt they were not accepting us here.

He said that initially there had been 34 men in the three holiday homes, with bunk beds provided for them.

I want to live here, yes, (its) lovely here but (theres a) problem with people, maybe.

He said hed walk to Ennis from the hotel and travel on to Dublin city centre.

I want to stay here really, he said, adding that he would not because he did not feel welcome.

Others said they were happy to stay.

Sultan Muhammad, from Afghanistan, said he came to Ireland five months ago and had been staying in Citywest in Dublin.

He described the situation Co Clare as difficult but said the accommodation was OK.

We are feeling good here. I like this place.

He added: I like it, I will live here.

Maria Kerin Walsh, an artist from Bellharbour in Co Clare who arrived at the scene on Tuesday, said everyone is welcome and we dont want to add to any more trauma.

All I know is, the most important thing when you come from somewhere awful, is that people show you care and respect, she said.

Actually, this is down to respect for the human. What we have heard from people from Ukraine is they are delighted to be in a tiny room because it is a safe room.

So if we dont offer safeness and respect and compassion at the very first instance, the rest is immaterial.

Minister of State for Community Development Joe OBrien said the hotel did not have a fire safety certificate but there was no issue with fire safety or wastewater management at the holiday homes.

I just ask people to step down the blockade, I think it is done on the basis of a misunderstanding of whats happened, he said.

Mr OBrien said there is ongoing work at the hotel and people would not be accommodated there until it is safe.

He said there are 500 asylum seekers without accommodation in Ireland and Government was looking at every possible angle and every possible case.

On concerns about the isolated location of the holiday homes, Mr OBrien told RTEs Today With Claire Byrne that a shuttle bus would be provided to Ennis for asylum seekers who wanted to access services there.

The Fianna Fail TD for Clare, Cathal Crowe, said there has been a lack of information about the accommodation of asylum seekers at the site and suggested that someone has put the cart before the horse.

He said that last year, Clare County Council decided Magowna House was unsuitable as accommodation for Ukrainian refugees.

It wasnt fit for purpose last night so theyre crammed into ancillary buildings on the site and I just think someone has put the cart before the horse here, he told RTEs Morning Ireland.

I would take the view that if youre going to bring people to a facility, it should be safe, it should be a sanitary environment.

Its questionable if Magowna House is at that level yet.

Mr Crowe said he hopes to meet the Minister for Equality and Integration, Roderic OGorman, on Tuesday afternoon.

He said the protesters are entitled to their concerns.

Look, I dont personally believe in blockading roads, he said, but added: I dont think the word blockade I dont think its exactly that, as he had been allowed to use the road.

He said he visited the hotel on Monday due to a lack of information from the Department of Integration and his office was being bombarded with emails and phone calls.

We did get a briefing note from the Department late on Thursday but there was still a lot of stuff I couldnt answer, he said.

It (the briefing note) related to the mechanics of the situation: that there would be a contract between the Department and the owner, that it would initially be for a 12-month duration, that there would be a manager on site, that meals would be cooked on site and that it would be for men in the international protection system.
Local News, Crime

By Long Island Published: May 16 2023

A 75-year-old woman in Seaford was scammed out of $226,300 and jewelry by a fraudulent individual posing as Publisher's Clearing House.

The Major Case Bureau of the Nassau County Police Department is currently investigating a major grand larceny case that occurred between May 4, 2023 and May 11, 2023 in Seaford. According to the detectives in charge of the investigation, a 75-year-old woman was contacted by an unknown individual who claimed that she had won $6 million from Publisher Clearing House. However, the scammer told the victim that she needed to pay the taxes on her winnings before she could claim them.

The victim subsequently made several withdrawals from her bank account, totaling $136,300, and sent the money to a Florida address. Additionally, the victim also sent jewelry valued at approximately $90,000. Sadly, the victim never received her winnings, and the scammer disappeared with her hard-earned money and prized possessions.

The Nassau County Police Department is urging the community to be vigilant and to remain aware of potential scams or fraud. The detectives involved in this investigation are requesting anyone with information to come forward and contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS or call 911. All callers will remain anonymous.

Grand larceny is a serious crime, and the detectives in charge of this case are working hard to bring the perpetrator to justice. The investigation is ongoing, and the police department will release more information as it becomes available.

It is important to remind vulnerable family members, friends, and neighbors about potential scams or fraud. Scammers often target older individuals, who may be more trusting or less aware of the dangers of such scams. It is crucial to educate and inform the elderly members of our community about the warning signs of fraudulent activity, and to encourage them to seek help if they suspect that they may be the victim of a scam.
Crime

By Chris Boyle Published: May 16 2023

The frightened victim ran and hid in a nearby bush, cops say.

The First Squad is investigating Public Lewdness that occurred in Uniondale on Friday, May 12, 2023 at 3:10 pm.

According to detectives, a 16-year-old female was walking on Henry Street in the vicinity of 1st Place when an unknown male subject pulled up to her in a dark blue Mercedes 4 door sedan with tinted windows and no front plate.

The male subject attempted to have a conversation with the female victim as he sat in the car. The victim looked into the car at which time the subject began performing a lewd act. The frightened victim ran and hid in a nearby bush.

The male subject drove away in an unknown direction.

The victim after returning home called 911 to report the incident to First Precinct police. There were no injuries reported.

The subject is described as being male, black, skinny build, white t shirt, blue / green shorts, possible Jamaican accent.
Crime

By Chris Boyle Published: May 16 2023

Following an investigation, Erica Baez, 41, was charged after the girl found unresponsive in a hotel pool in Melville in January 2022.

The Marriott Melville, where the alleged incident took place. Photo Credit: Google Maps

Suffolk County Police have announed that a Bronx woman has been arrested in connection with an incident where a 7-year-old girl was found unresponsive in a pool at a hotel in Melville in January 2022.

Katlyn Pineda was found unresponsive in a pool by a family member at the Marriott Melville Long Island hotel, located at 1350 Walt Whitman Road, on Thursday, January 13, 2022 at approximately 4:50 p.m.

Pineda, 7, of the Bronx, was transported to Plainview Hospital in critical condition. She was then transported to Cohen Children's Medical Center in Queens.

Following an investigation by Homicide Squad detectives, Pinedas mother, Erica Baez, was arrested on May 15 at 7:43 p.m. on West 70th Street in Manhattan. Baez left her daughter unattended in the swimming pool on the day of the incident.

Baez, 41, of 3520 Olinville Ave., Bronx, has been charged with Manslaughter 2nd Degree and two counts of Acting in a Manner Injurious to a Child. She is being held overnight at the Fourth Precinct and is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on May 16.
A month before the scheduled start of a high-profile trial, a lawyer has asked to be relieved of the lead role in defending a former federal agent accused of protecting drug dealers he believed were in the local mob.

Defense lawyer James P. Harrington, 78, has a recurring medical issue, and he told a federal judge last week that he is making the request on "the strong medical advice" from his cardiologist.

Ex-DEA agent, strip club owner should be tried together, judge says Defense teams for Joseph Bongiovanni, a retired Drug Enforcement Administration agent and Peter Gerace Jr., owner of Pharaohs Gentlemens Club in Cheektowaga, each sought separate trials. After a district judge's ruling, the two men are scheduled to be tried together next month.

But a prosecutor called the request a tactic to delay the trial of retired Drug Enforcement Administration agent Joseph Bongiovanni, a bid to give the defense more time to review evidence, obtain witness identities and "orchestrate" other legal maneuvers  and the government warned it could potentially jeopardize the safety of witnesses.

"He's telling you he can't try this case," Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph M. Tripi told U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra Jr. at Thursday's hearing. "I don't believe a word of it. This court shouldn't believe a word of it."

Tripi told the judge he is disturbed by the timing of Harrington's request, given the government's concerns of possible witness intimidation. Harrington's request came as the defense lawyers for Bongiovanni and co-defendant Peter Gerace Jr., the owner of Pharaohs Gentlemens Club in Cheektowaga, were about to be permitted to share the identities of many prosecution witnesses with their respective clients.

Prosecutors can keep witnesses secret  for now  in bribery case tied to organized crime U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra Jr. ruled Monday that prosecutors may identify some witnesses only as "protected witness" because of concerns about their safety until May 10, and perhaps beyond then.

The judge has prevented defense lawyers from sharing the identities of witnesses with the defendants because of concerns about the witnesses' safety.

Tripi has previously expressed safety concerns for about a dozen of the approximately 100-plus witnesses that the prosecution expects to call to testify during the trial.

In January, the judge allowed prosecutors, in their discretion, to designate certain witnesses listed in pre-trial submissions as a "protected witness," rather than by their true names, through May 10. The judge scheduled a May 10 hearing to discuss with prosecutors and defense lawyers issues surrounding witness identifications.

The day before that hearing, Harrington asked U.S. Attorney Trini Ross to meet him at a local coffee shop, where he revealed his medical condition and let her know that he was going to ask the judge to appoint a lawyer to relieve him as Bongiovanni's chief defense lawyer. Harrington has said he could stay involved in the case as a co-counsel during the transition, and perhaps even through the trial.

"Thank God the U.S. attorney didn't wait an extra day to bump into me and tell me about what had transpired there, because the witness identities would have been verbally released  all but 11," Tripi told the judge at least week's hearing.

"We were very restrictive in the amount of protected witnesses we listed," Tripi told the judge. "But there are dozens of others that I'm concerned about  people who worked at Pharaoh's, dozens of others."

The mother and roommate of one witness found rats on their cars where the witness lives, Tripi said last week.

In March, Sinatra ordered Gerace  who faces bribery, drug trafficking and sex trafficking charges  to remain in custody following his arrest on witness tampering and drug charges.

'Fighting for his life'

Attorney Eric Soehnlein, a member of Gerace's defense team, told the judge he opposes delaying the trial over the request for a new Bongiovanni lawyer, given that Gerace is in custody. And Soehnlein told the judge that Gerace's defense team needs to be able to discuss the witnesses with him, given the nature of the charges against him.

Prosecutor voices concern for safety of witnesses in Buffalo trial involving organized crime allegations About 100 people will testify at the trial, and there are safety concerns about seven, eight or nine of the witnesses, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph M. Tripi told U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra Jr. on Friday.

Adding a lawyer to take on the lead role of defending Bongiovanni, even with Harrington remaining in a secondary role, will most likely lead to a request for a trial delay to give the new lawyer time to become familiar with the case.

Once Bongiovanni and Gerace learn who the witnesses are, "we have absolutely zero faith" they will not disclose their identities to others, Tripi told the judge.

"As Mr. Soehnlein said, Mr. Gerace is fighting for his life, so he would do anything to sabotage witnesses," Tripi said at the court hearing. "Mr. Bongiovanni is fighting for his life, and we don't put anything past either of them."

Authorities accuse Bongiovanni of accepting $250,000 in bribes from drug dealers he believed were associated with organized crime, including Gerace. The former federal agent is accused of blocking investigations into suspected drug dealers and providing drug dealers with information about investigations and cooperating sources. Gerace, who has denied he is involved in organized crime, is charged with bribing Bongiovanni and conspiring to engage in drug trafficking and human trafficking at his strip club.

Both have pleaded not guilty.

Sinatra recently denied defense bids to try the two men separately, and as of now, the two are scheduled to be tried together next month in U.S. District Court in Buffalo. The prosecution anticipates its case will take six to eight weeks.

Tripi noted at last week's hearing that he asked Harrington about his health in October, when Harrington asked for a co-counsel in an unrelated narcotics case. Tripi said he expressed concerned to Harrington that he would withdraw from the Bongiovanni case on the eve of the trial.

"Mr. Harrington looked me in the eye and said, 'I won't do that to you,' " Tripi said.

"The government has complied with every time deadline, filed all submissions," Tripi told the judge. "We are ready to go. Needless to say, for the court and government, it's a herculean task to get this operation on the rails, get the momentum moving, get all the subpoenas issued and everything done."

Lawyer denies gamesmanship

During last week's hearing, Harrington acknowledged to the judge that "I probably should have come to the court sooner and asked for a second counsel."

Other lawyers in his firm who previously helped him prepare Bongiovanni's defense have left the firm and he has not been able to find replacements, Harrington told the judge.

Harrington said he is disappointed in Tripi's "ad hominem attacks on me."

"That's not my reputation," Harrington said.

When Tripi approached him earlier about his health, "there was nothing wrong with me," Harrington said. "I wasn't feeling any symptoms. That's a different situation now."

At his age, "things can happen very quickly," Harrington said.

Harrington said he would abide by what Sinatra rules, "but I think it's a precarious position, certainly for me, if what my cardiologist says is true.

"It may be that my situation clears up next week," Harrington said at the hearing. "I don't know. Maybe it doesn't. Maybe it gets worse."

Sinatra said he talked to two other judges in the federal courthouse after learning that Harrington sought a reduced role in the defense.

"I had the same question: Is there a gamesmanship angle here?" Sinatra said at the hearing.

"And I talked to two of my colleagues here, and based on what they told me, I've got to take Mr. Harrington at his word," Sinatra said.

For now, the court's protective order restricting witness identifications remains in place. Sinatra has scheduled a hearing for Wednesday regarding the protective order and the potential appointment of an additional counsel for Bongiovanni.

At last week's hearing, Sinatra indicated to both defendants' lawyers his preference to find a new lawyer who can delve into the case immediately.

"We have a defendant in custody, and delay is nobody's friend," Sinatra said.
The Islamic Jihad Union (IJU), an al Qaeda and Taliban-linked group that operates in Afghanistan, has claimed it controls large areas of the northern border with Tajikistan. While the IJUs claim cannot be independently confirmed, the jihadist group released several photos of a small team of fighters purportedly crossing the Amu Darya River in the northern Afghan province of Kunduz.

The photographs, five of which are reproduced below, were published on Sodiqlar, the IJUs official website. Fighters are ferried to a sandbar at a shallow point in the river, and then cross as a group into Tajikistan. The crossing takes place in broad daylight.

It is unclear exactly where the crossing took place, but it likely occurred in the district of Qala-i-Zal, the only district in Kunduz that borders the Amu Darya River. The northern Kunduz districts of Imam Sahib and Dasht-i-Archi, which also border Tajikistan and the Panj River, are considered to be contested or controlled by the Taliban.

The IJU says it is controlling many territories bordering Tajikistan, according to a statement accompanying the photographs.

Our group has many followers and supporters among the locals and it is freely operating on the shores of Amu Darya River that separate Afghanistan and Tajikistan. The mujahideen are monitoring the section of the border guarded by infidels [Afghan and Tajik security forces], studying its weak points and also collecting information, the IJU stated.

The deteriorating situation on the Afghan-Tajik border has forced the government of Tajikistan to consider allowing Russian troops to deploy along the frontier. In addition to instability in Kunduz, which is contested by the Taliban and it allies, the Taliban are reported to have control of border areas in the northeastern province of Badakhshan.

The IJU is an offshoot of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, which joined the Islamic State this past summer. The IJU swore allegiance to the Talibans new emir, and has been active in the Talibans Azm spring offensive.

IJU photographs of the river crossing

Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal.

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(Photo by SAID KHATIB / AFP) (Photo by SAID KHATIB/AFP via Getty Images)

On May 8, Israel launched Operation Shield and Arrow when it eliminated three senior members of Iran-backed terrorist group Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip. The IDF identified Khalil Bahtini, Jihad Ghanam, and Tareq Izzeldin as members of Islamic Jihad killed in the operation.

Bahtini was a senior Islamic Jihad commander who had been in charge of the recent rocket attacks against Israel and served as a liaison with the groups politburo, the Israeli military said. Ghanam held command responsibilities that included weapons and money transfers between Islamic Jihad and Gazas ruling Islamist terrorist group, Hamas. Izzeldin coordinated between Islamic Jihad cadres in Gaza and the West Bank and was planning multiple terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians, the military said.

Following the Israeli military strikes, the Joint Operations Room (JOR) of the Palestinian factions launched Operation Revenge of the Free ( ) and began a campaign of rocket and mortar fire targeting Israeli communities and cities, including Tel-Aviv and the outskirts of Jerusalem.

The Joint Operations Room of the Palestinian Factions

Hamas founded the JOR in 2017. It comprises approximately twelve armed Palestinian factions coordinating military operations against Israel during a conflict.

While Hamas leads the JOR, it appears it did not participate in firing rockets at Israel. Hamas absence on the battlefield was a positive development for the Israeli defense establishment, which therefore chose to not strike Hamas targets during the conflict. In its statements, the JOR expressed unity and coordination among its members  despite Hamas refraining from involvement.

During the conflict, Palestinian militant groups fired approximately 1,468 rockets, or approximately 298 per day, toward Israel over five days of fighting, according to the Israeli military. In the May 2021 Gaza conflict, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and other armed Palestinian groups fired approximately 4,340 rockets in eleven days, or about 434 daily. The discrepancy in the number of rockets fired in 2021 and 2023 supports the appearance that Hamas sat out active combat during last weeks campaign.

Ten Armed Militant Groups Participated in the Conflict

According to open-source statements and evidence gathered by FDDs Long War Journal, 10 Palestinian militant groups participated in Operation Revenge of the Free. The participant groups included Islamic Jihad, the Palestinian Mujahideen Movement, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Popular Resistance Movement, the Popular Resistance Committees, Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, Abdel Al-Qadir Al-Husseini Brigades, Al-Ahrar Movement and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine  General Command.

While 10 armed groups participating in attacks is a substantial number, almost all likely played a supportive role by shelling Israeli communities near the Gaza border, leaving Islamic Jihad to spearhead rocket attacks on major Israeli cities such as Sderot, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

Other armed Palestinian groups, such as Salafi-jihadist organizations, have not produced statements or evidence indicating they joined active combat.

Eighteen Militants Killed During the Conflict

Islamic Jihad said 11 members, including six senior figures, one field commander, and four regular fighters died during the conflict. In a communique, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine acknowledged that five members died while performing their jihadi duty. Lastly, the Palestinian Mujahideen Movement said a field commander and a fighter died by shelling from the occupation in east Gaza while carrying out their jihadi work.

Including militants, 33 Palestinians were killed in the fighting. According to the IDF, four Palestinians died from rockets fired by militants.

Assessing the Conflict

The Israeli military had four important objectives in Operation Shield and Arrow: (1) Eliminate leaders of Islamic Jihad; (2) Keep Hamas from entering the conflict; (3) Prevent a notable attack by Palestinian groups; and (4) Restore deterrence by signaling to Hamas, Hezbollah, and other regional foes that Israel will preemptively strike if threatened.

The IDF quickly achieved its primary objective by eliminating three leaders of Islamic Jihad, and strikes against other senior militants in the following days were an added success. Removing key leadership members disrupts planning and future attacks on Israeli targets. It is easier to replace tunnels and rockets than a commander with years of battle experience.

The IDF also achieved deterrence, at least partially. Islamic Jihad is unlikely to venture into another round of conflict in the near future without Hamas assistance. However, in recent years, the gap between military operations in the Gaza Strip appears to be shrinking. It has been less than a year since Operation Breaking Dawn when Israel launched a preemptive strike on the leadership of Islamic Jihad to thwart planned attacks. In 2021, Hamas fired rockets at Jerusalem, prompting the launch of Operation Guardian of the Walls, and in 2019, Israel killed Islamic Jihad commander Baha Abu al-Ata in Operation Black Belt after months of repeated rocket fire toward Israel.

In the recent operation, the IDF largely denied Islamic Jihad any significant achievements. However, rockets fired at the Tel-Aviv area resulted in the killing of one person and a Gazan worker near the settlement of Shokeda.

According to the Israeli military, Islamic Jihad was thwarted by airstrikes on at least one occasion when it attempted to deploy an anti-tank-guided missile team at the Gaza border.

Islamic Jihads failure to achieve a notable strike became apparent when it published a false claim on May 13, saying it attacked an Israeli military position with an anti-tank guided missile causing casualties.

Following the claim of an attack on Israeli military personnel, a security source speaking to FDDs Long War Journal denied the incident took place, adding that a mortar landed near a tank but did not cause damage.

The Israeli military achieved most of its objectives while denying Islamic Jihad and other armed Palestinian organizations a significant achievement in the fighting. The Israeli defense establishment can be satisfied with its recent performance; however, stronger, more formidable opponents like Hamas, Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed groups are fomenting chaos and will need to be addressed sooner rather than later.

Joe Truzman is a contributor to FDD's Long War Journal.

Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here.
16th May 2023

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London South East were delighted to be joined by the Orosur Mining (OMI) senior team for an exclusive webinar last night (15.5.2023). We were joined live online by Louis Castro, Chairman who took commercial questions, and Brad George CEO who discussed strategy.

This in-depth webinar recording includes a very interesting and revealing deep dive into Anza and how the joint venture there between gold majors Newmont & Agnico and exploration Junior OMI operates, with many questions from investors answered.

* Brad indicates that the preferred option would be to take back control of the Anza asset.

* Louis states quite clearly that the 90 days option in the contract is fairly meaningless as Colombian law has changed since the JV was signed and complex tax implications for Orosur need to be addressed. The route through this is to continue to create a JV company and this IS currently being progressed.

* The JV is governed by instructions in writing, and to date Orosur have only had verbal instructions re care and maintenance. Orosur are pushing as hard as possible for clarity and a strategic decision to be taken quickly.

* Louis makes the point that care and maintenance is expensive and costs around $700,000 per annum. Even for Agnico/Newmont this is not a situation which they will allow to continue forever.

* Brad says that with the change in Government in Colombia last year, the new slightly left-leaning incumbents are less keen on large miners, and many projects have been slowed down whilst the permitting and paperwork is dealt with by the bureaucracy.
Three towering figures associated with the University at Buffalo will be honored this weekend during commencement ceremonies, university officials announced.

Sean Kirst: 'It put us in a terrible bind': Six Nations elder Oren Lyons on church 'Doctrine of Discovery' We became as transitory as deer and rabbits," Six Nations elder and faithkeeper Oren Lyons said." It was the whole works, that attitude, and we suffer from that right up until today.

Dunkirk native Oren R. Lyons, who taught for almost 40 years at UB, will receive the President's Medal in recognition of his extraordinary service to the university Friday during the College of Arts and Sciences graduation ceremony. Also scheduled to be honored during the ceremony is UB alumna Agnes Williams, an internationally renowned advocate for Indigenous rights and environmental justice, who will be awarded a SUNY Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters.

Then, on Saturday, UB alumnus Marcus Yam, a Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer and foreign correspondent for the Los Angeles Times, will be given the Chancellor Charles P. Norton Medal, the university's highest honor.

Lyons, a member of the Onondaga Nation Council of Chiefs of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, was director of UB's Native American Studies Program, which he helped found. He spent decades traveling the world, teaching and lecturing on Haudenosaunee heritage. As an author, environmentalist and activist, he has dedicated his life to advocating for the rights of Indigenous peoples.

Lyons, who served as an Army paratrooper, also worked as a commercial artist in New York City. ln 1993, he was inducted into the Lacrosse Hall of Fame. In 2022, he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, which is one of the nation's most prestigious honorary societies.

Williams, who is a citizen of the Seneca Nation of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, earned a master's degree from UB in 1991. She also earned degrees from Syracuse University and went on to direct the Urban Indian Child Resource Center in Oakland, Calif. Her work led her to become involved in issues that included occupation of Wounded Knee, the forced sterilization of Indigenous women and the encroachment of nuclear waste on sacred Indigenous land.

Upon returning to Western New York in 1985, Williams served as a family counselor with Child and Family Services of Buffalo. She also worked as a 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.

Williams served on the founding Central Committee of Women of all Red Nations, and helped found the Indigenous Womens Network. She was appointed to the Seneca Nation of Indians Climate Change Task Force, which helped lead to the 2007 Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Yam won the Pulitzer Prize for breaking news photography in 2022 for images that documented 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, he shared the Pulitzer Prize for breaking news for capturing the deadly landslide in Oso, Wash., which killed 43 people.

In addition to being named a recipient of the Robert Capa Gold Medal this year for his courage and enterprise while photographing the war in Ukraine, he has also earned an Emmy Award, a World Press Photo Award, a DART Award for Trauma Coverage, and a Scripps Howard Visual Journalism Award, among many others.

Yam, a summer photo intern at The Buffalo News in 2006, earned a degree from UB in engineering, to which he credits his analytical and technical approach to photography.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday vowed to follow up on the agreements forged by the Philippines and Japan during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.s visit there early this year.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo is currently in Japan to participate in the Munich Leaders Meeting (MLM) and engage in policy discussions until May 16.

The DFA said Manalo will meet with Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa to exchange views on recent developments and identify next steps to implement understandings and agreements reached between President Marcos and Prime Minister Kishida Fumio last February.

However, his visit is mainly focused on joining 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 scheduled to meet with Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid of Maldives.

The officials are expected to discuss ways to enhance bilateral relations, which will mark its 50th year in 2024, and to further cooperation between the Philippines and Maldives in regional and global fora, including on climate change.

Manalo will also deliver a policy address to touch upon Philippines-Japan Strategic Partnership and the rules-based order upon the invitation of Japans National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS).

The relationship between the Philippines and Japan is 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.

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 (United Nations) 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.

According to the Munich Security Conference, which is the host and organizer of the MLM, the Munich Security Meeting in Tokyo aims to connect European and American leaders with their counterparts in the Indo-Pacific region to discuss ideas on how to contribute to regional and global stability.

It takes place in the days leading up to the 49th G7 Summit to be held on May 19 to 21 in Hiroshima, Japan.

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The high-level team dispatched by the government to Kuwait will hold exploratory talks with their counterparts from the Gulf state, but this does not guarantee that the entry ban for new Filipino workers will be lifted immediately.

We have to explore our options. The meetings will be exploratory talks first, DFA Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega said in a radio interview.

I hope our countrymen will understand that we cannot guarantee the return of normal deployment of our skilled workers right away. We have to prioritize attaining justice and the protection of our fellow Filipinos working as househelps, he added.

The team left Monday for the Middle Eastern country.

Among its members are DFA Assistant Secretary for Middle East and African Affairs Mardomel Melicor and Ariel Javier; Department of Migrant Workers Assistant Secretary for Migrant Workers Welfare Services Felicitas Bay and Assistant Secretary for Public Policy and International Cooperation Mario Zinampan; and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration head Arnell Ignacio.

We can always resolve things through diplomacy but not at the expense of national pride and honor. After all, the safety and welfare of our kababayans are at stake, De Vega said.

In a House hearing Monday, De Vega and Department of Migrant Workers Undersecretary Hans Cacdac said keeping shelters for runaway and abused Filipino workers in Kuwait is a non-negotiable for the Philippines.

Our shelters have to remain as it is in the law passed by Congress. Lets make other compromises but not close down the shelter, De Vega said.

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.

Meanwhile, the chair of the House committee on overseas workers affairs, Kabayan party-list Rep. Ron Salo, on Tuesday expressed confidence that the Philippine delegation will diligently pursue the best interests of Filipino workers in Kuwait.

Salo urged the delegation to prioritize the adoption of proactive measures that will safeguard the welfare and rights of OFWs, including ensuring passports are safely kept in the Philippine Embassy or the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) instead of being held by employers.

OFWs will just be carrying copies of their passports. This measure will provide an added layer of protection for OFWs and prevent unauthorized access to their personal identification documents, he said.

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A Buffalo woman who pleaded guilty to running over a state trooper during a racial justice protest three years ago has sought a court order to halt her sentencing and to dismiss the charges against her.

Deyanna J. Davis, 33, said she did not receive effective legal representation before she took the guilty plea on Feb. 1, the day jury selection in her trial was scheduled to begin in Erie County Court.

In a civil court filing Monday, Davis named Erie County District Attorney John Flynn and two of his office's prosecutors as defendants, saying she feared they "would not fight on her behalf."

But she devoted most of her ire in court papers toward her first defense lawyer, Samuel Davis, now a Buffalo City Court judge.

"Sam Davis's representation fell well below the standards of an attorney," Deyanna Davis said in her filing.

She said he failed to prepare for trial, to investigate the case, to conduct pretrial hearings, to make motions for dismissals and to communicate with her and explain the court procedures.

"Sam Davis was objectively deficient, and there was a reasonable probability that a competent attorney would have led to a different outcome," she said in her filing.

Two other defense lawyers, Emily Trott and her fellow counsel Sean Kelly, represented Deyanna Davis after Samuel Davis' July 2022 appointment to the judgeship, and she later replaced them and retained Frank LoTempio III to represent her at the plea hearing.

Neither Samuel Davis nor LoTempio returned calls seeking comment.

Our office plans to oppose the motion, said a spokeswoman for the Erie County District Attorney's Office.

Deyanna Davis' sentencing had been scheduled for Wednesday but has been adjourned to June 22, according to the DA's Office.

From the beginning of the case, according to her court filing, Davis said she told her attorneys "time after time she did not intentionally cause serious injury to an officer nor did (she) seriously injure someone and did not hit the officer with a depraved indifference to human life."

That's what LoTempio said at her plea hearing, saying she didn't intend to hit the trooper as she was driving home from her mother-in-law's funeral.

At the plea hearing, Deyanna Davis admitted recklessly causing serious injuries to Trooper Ronald L. Ensminger Jr. when she drove through a police blockade about 10 p.m. June 1, 2020, during a protest by a police station on Bailey Avenue in Buffalo.

Trial of woman charged with driving into trooper during Buffalo protest delayed again The trial of a Buffalo woman accused of running over a state trooper as she drove through a police line during racial justice protests two years ago was delayed into 2023 as Deyanna Davis switched attorneys again.

At the protest, people in the street threw rocks and bottles at police. Buffalo police and state police, who were advancing south on Bailey, fired tear gas and pepper balls. Authorities argued that Davis deliberately drove into the line of Buffalo police and state troopers in riot gear, striking and badly injuring Ensminger. Police fired at her SUV as she drove through their ranks, shooting her twice.

Davis pleaded guilty to second-degree assault, and she faces up to seven years in prison. But attorneys on both sides agreed to a minimum sentence of 2 years in prison.

In her filing, she said she will be "illegally imprisoned" if Erie County Judge Kenneth Case imposes that sentence.

Davis filed the civil court action without assistance from an attorney, and she did not explain in her filing why she is asking a State Supreme Court justice handling civil matters to throw out criminal charges in Erie County Court  typically not the route to seek the dismissal of charges.

Davis said Samuel Davis accepted her case pro bono but accepted $5,000 from a fundraising effort. He appeared with her at the few court appearances that were held, but "time after time" the case was adjourned, she said. After she was released from custody on July 9, 2020, she did not hear from Davis until March 2021, she said.

Two years into the case, when Trott and Kelly took over her defense, Samuel Davis did not have a file to pass on to them, which hampered her defense, Deyanna Davis said.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. conferred the rank Datu (Grand Cross) to outgoing Singaporean Ambassador Gerard Ho Wei during the diplomats visit to Malacanang on Tuesday.

The President also cited Hos achievements in further strengthening ties between the two countries, and conveyed his heartfelt appreciation for all that Ho has done for the Philippines during his stint in Manila.

The Chief Executive particularly noted the increase in trade and investment from Singapore that were palpably felt in the Philippines during Hos tenure.

Marcos conferred on Ho the Order of Sikatuna with the Rank of Datu (Grand Cross) Silver Distinction in recognition of the envoys significant contributions in strengthening the partnership and overall relations between the Philippines and Singapore.

Among Ambassador Hos notable contributions as read in the citation include his support and facilitation of numerous government-to-government cooperation agreements in the areas of economic, security and people-to-people; his efforts to obtain and provide humanitarian assistance to the country in times of naturaldisasters and during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic; and his initiatives to foster amity and mutual appreciation between the peoples of the Philippines and Singapore, among others.

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The Artificial Intelligence (AI) industry could potentially contribute 12 percent of the Philippines gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030, a Trade official said on Tuesday.

At an online forum by the Stratbase ADR Institute, Trade Undersecretary Rafaelita Aldaba said AI could likely contribute $92 billion to the GDP in seven years.

An AI roadmap has been developed, with the belief that the industry will uplift Filipinos and Filipino industries, he said.

Make the Philippines an AI center of excellence. AI adoption can enable the country to tap vast opportunities, Aldaba said.

She added that one of the recommendations of the AI roadmap is building a Center for AI Research. It will be a public-private partnership hub for data scientists and researchers to perform collaborative AI research, development, and technology application.

The center would focus on key areas utilizing AI such as precision farming to improve productivity of the agriculture sector and increase incomes of farmers, smart manufacturing, healthcare services, AI-powered business process outsourcing, smart cities, and resilient technology, Aldaba said.

Its gonna unlock a lot of business modes that were not economical, not sustainable, or even not imaginable in the past, said Jokin Aboitiz, head of corporate services of Aboitiz Power, at the recent AI summit in Pasay City.

Organizers of the meeting said AI is the future and can benefit the Philippines.

Both Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma and Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan likewise cited AI technology in the Philippines. They said while there may be some initial job losses, AI will also create new jobs to offset this.

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Tourism Secretary Cristina Garcia-Frasco

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said on Tuesday that the Philippines will continue to open up to travel and tourism despite a spike in COVID-19 cases.

At a Palace press briefing, Frasco said the country would continue to move forward even as the number of infections rose to more than 12,000 from May 8 to May 14.

The pandemic is over according to the WHO (World Health Organization). Thats why while we continue to support the Department of Healths measures as well as ensure the health and safety of our fellow Filipinos, the direction for the Philippines is forward and that is to ensure that we continue to open up the country to travel and tourism as is the direction set by our President, Frasco said.

Of course, all the minimum health and safety standards are in place, she said, noting that Department of Tourism-accredited establishments comply with these standards.

Early this month, the World Health Organization said COVID-19 no longer represents a global health emergency.

Despite this, Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire has called on the public not to be complacent as the pandemic is still not over.

Earlier, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the COVID-19 Health Emergency has lapsed following its expiration in December 2022.

The DOH reported on Monday that the countrys daily average of new COVID-19 cases increased by 31 percent from May 8 to 14.

In its latest case bulletin, the agency recorded 1,773 daily infections, which is 421 higher than the 1,352 recorded between May 1 to 7.

Additionally, there were 12,414 new cases in the past week.

To date, the country has logged more than 4.1 million coronavirus cases and 66,453 deaths since January 2020.

Despite the tourism push, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong said his city would reimpose the mandatory use of face masks to curb an increase in infections.

The city is logging an average of 13 to 14 COVID cases a day, Magalong said.

We need to observe again the minimum health standards, especially the wearing of masks. So we are reimposing their use here at city hall and other government offices, especially indoors, he said in a mix of Filipino and English in a video post on Facebook. Were now requiring our constituents and visitors to be wearing their face masks.

Church leaders have also been asked to reimpose the mask mandate, he said.

Meanwhile, the Quezon City government urged residents to report if they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or if they have come in close contact with individuals who have tested positive.

We highly encourage our people to continue reporting cases so we can effectively reach out to them and provide necessary assistance. This collaborative effort will help us mitigate the spread of the virus and further reduce the number of cases, City Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit head Dr. Rolly Cruz said.

Amid an increase in the number of infections in the city, he reminded residents to adhere to health protocols and advised people who are feeling unwell or experiencing symptoms such as fever, a cough or runny nose, to immediately isolate themselves for a period of five days and refrain from leaving their homes or going to work.

Data showed a significant increase in the number of cases last week, with the figures rising to 1,057 cases between May 8 and May 14 from 810 cases between May 1 and May 7.

The average positivity rate of the current week has also risen to 29.9 percent from the previous rate of 26.2 percent.

The occupancy of reserved COVID-19 hospital beds remains relatively low at 35.5 percent, however. The three local government-owned hospitals have only reported one to two severe and critical admissions to date.

Also on Tuesday, the DOH said the Philippines will receive the first delivery of bivalent COVID-19 vaccines next week.

These bivalent vaccines, which is around 391,000 doses, will be arriving hopefully by next week already, Vergeire said in a press briefing.

Bivalent vaccines are modified jabs that target the Omicron variant and the original form of the virus.

Vergeire also said the DOH restarted talks with COVAX Facility, a United Nations-backed international vaccine-sharing organization.

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Lets be real: it is not easy being a mother. Being a woman and a mother can be challenging to begin with, as they are more likely to face gender-specific issues regarding money and finances.

For instance, women are more likely to earn less than men. According to a 2022 study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), women earn about 18 percent less than men in digital jobs. This is consistent with figures in other countries; the US Census Bureau in 2021 said that men earn 16 percent more than women on average.

In traditional Philippines, there are societal and cultural burdens women have to bear, moreso for mothers as they are expected to take time off to care for children and other familial obligations.

As we celebrate Mothers Day on May 14, here are tips for super moms on how on how to achieve financial independence:

Always have a financial reserve. Make sure you have savings equivalent to six months of household expenses, regardless if you share the financial responsibilities with your partner. With an emergency money reserve, you are prepared for any potential loss of income. This should give you enough leeway to find new sources of livelihood without making major cuts in your household spending. It can also cover emergencies without begging for help.

Plan the finances with your partnerand your family. Traditionally, mothers are expected to be the budget keeper of a Filipino household. Of course, this isnt always the casefathers can be the official family accountant, too! Whats important is that you and your partner regularly talk about and budget your household expenditure. Create a budget that lists down your daily, weekly, monthly, and seasonal expenses.

And to help you better track your spending, use online banking like RCBC Digital where you can pay all your bills electronically using your deposit account or your credit card . Tick off each bill on the list after you pay it off, and easily review it anytime right on the app itself.

With RCBC Digital, you can also transfer funds hassle free online, and still keep track of your account movement through transaction history

Secure your childrens future. Being a mother entails protecting your childand yes, that includes protecting their future. Cover the various needs of your children through insurance. An educational plan should be your first goal as school tuition fees in a Philippine private school can reach up to P280,000 annually from preschool to secondary education (that includes junior and senior high school). Having an educational plan can remove the heavy load of worrying how to pay for your childs education every academic year. Once this is taken care of, consider getting life insurance to secure the financial needs of your children in case something unfortunate happens to you or your partner.

Increase your income. Even if youre happy with what youre earning now, you shouldnt be complacent. As you and your children get older, your expenses will only go higher. Consider investing so you can make your money work for you. You can choose the right investment depending on your risk appetite.

Consider putting your money in RCBC Unit Investment Trust Funds which match your financial capacity, risk preferences, and financial goals. For as low as 5,000, you can start a UITF to grow your funds or boost your retirement fund. For example, the RCBC Rizal Peso Money Market Fund is an affordable investment that lets you enjoy higher yield potential. You can also easily access it online and redeem anytime.

The foundation of being a financially independent woman is by being financially literate and through savingand this takes knowing financial tools and products that are tailor made for your specific needs. For instance, RCBCs eWoman Savings is specially designed for women. It is a premium savings account that allows you to take control of your finances with a debit card and savings account in one. It comes with free life insurance from Sunlife Grepa with coverage that is worth three times your six-month Average Daily Balance, up to a maximum coverage of P2 million.

Make financial management less stressful for you. If youve got the financial goal, RCBC has the financial solution. Learn more about what RCBC can do for you visit rcbc.com today!

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By the turn of the 20th century, the writing was on the wall regarding the future of Manistees logging industry in that while there would be a good amount of lumber  and profits  for the foreseeable future, there would come a point where the supply of good timber would run out.

Thus in the early 1900s, city officials were beginning to look at other products that the city could manufacture in order to diversify its industry. This first other industry to settle into Manistee during this time period was, of all things, a flour-making company.

In the early part of 1901, talks began taking place between city officials, local investors and a man named R.T.F. Dodd whose family operated and owned a flour mill located in Washingtonville, Ohio. The purpose of the meeting was to see if it was feasible for a flour mill to operate in Manistee.

By May of that same year, it was announced that a deal was made so that local stockholders Ernest N. Salling, Patrick Noud, E. Golden Filer, William Brownrigg, Henry W. Marsh and George A. Hart would invest in the establishment the flour mill with Dodd as the manager.

With this announcement, the Manistee Daily News also reported on May 17, 1901 that:

The building will be erected on the riverbank just north of Johnsons foundry, the land having been donated by the Manistee and Grand Rapids R.R. Co. This morning Mr. Dodd and Mr. Brownrigg were engaged in measuring off the land.

The mill will be built of wood with a stone foundation. It will be so constructed that additions may be made readily from time to time to such an extent that it may be capable of turning out 150 to 200 barrels per day.

As the spring of 1901 became summer and summer became fall, it was finally announced that the mill would be open for production. In speaking with a reporter from the Manistee Daily News, R.T.F. Dodd provided a tour of the mill and explained the various processes involved in making flour.

Portions of the original article, published on Nov. 15, 1901, follow:

The Manistee Flouring Mill Company is about to make its bow to the public and the starting up of the flour mill will mark the turning of a new leaf in the industrial history of Manistee.

This morning Mr. R.T.F. Dodds kindly showed a Daily News reporter over the mill and explained the various processes.

When the crude grain arrives at the mill either in cars or in farmers wagons it is taken by an elevator first to a machine called a receiving separator where dirt and foreign matter is roughly removed and then to the large scales where it is weighed before being elevated to the stock bins.

The elevators so used are capable of carrying 500 bushels an hour. The separating is done by means of screens and air currents and the wheat is cleansed in this manner eight times before it goes to the polisher. The polisher is a steel wire roller around which a current of air passes.

Coming from the polisher, the grain is absolutely clean and is conveyed by a chute to a rolling mill where the first grinding is done. After the first reduction it passes through a swing sifter, the process of grinding and sifting being repeated three times.

The bran is then removed. After this there are two separators to which the flour is subjected and finally it goes to a bolting machine where it passes through a silk fabric having 152 meshes to the square inch.

Ample power is supplied by a large horizontal engine capable of developing 100 horsepower. The appointments and construction are excellent in every particular and the new industry must inevitably be a credit to the Salt City as well as a business maker.

Three weeks later, it was made known that the mill was operating at its full capacity and that three different brands of flour were being manufactured.

On Sept. 27 1905, the Manistee Daily News reported that the mill was going to be doubling its capacity in order to keep up with demand, thus a 70 foot addition was added to the building to install more machinery.

The flour mill was the first new industry to be located in Manistee when the lumber business had begun its decline and the fact that success has been achieved in no small degree is a matter for congratulation. It shows at least that we can profitably conduct other enterprises than the manufacture of lumber.

Some idea of the volume of business done by the mill and the benefit accruing to the town may be gathered from the fact that over and above the railroad shipments the mill is now receiving daily anywhere from 10 to 25 loads of wheat and rye from local farmers. Grain is brought to Manistee from points as remote as Scottville, Sherman and Copemish. This is paid for in cash and a considerable portion of this money finds its way to the cash drawer of Manistees retail dealers.

The Manistee Flouring Mill Company continued to operate at its same location until the late 1910s when the factory would eventually cease operation.

In 1919, a new company named the Manistee Milling Company leased the property from the previous company where it resumed operations.

By the early 1930s, the Manistee Milling Company had permanently closed and in the summer of 1937 it was announced that the wood building would be sold on back taxes and razed.

An article published in the Manistee News Advocate on June 24, 1937 provides details:

Bids on the old flour mill on Water Street, which will be razed upon order of the state fire marshal, who has condemned it, must be in the office of city treasurer George Kruse by 4 oclock tomorrow.

The high bid of $687 submitted by the Glenn A. Pratt Wrecking Company on the old Manistee Flour Mill, Water Street, was accepted yesterday by the state fire marshals department which condemned the structure and ordered it razed the old Chippewa Hotel Annex, the Ruggles office building and the Overpack building and will start work immediately on the flour mill.

Although the lumber industry would steadily decline throughout the 1910s, the Manistee Flouring Mill Company is a reminder that while lumber essentially built and grew Manistee, there were several other industries that played a role in the areas history.
BEULAH  An Elberta man was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of killing three family members.

Robert Michael Freebold, 60, was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole by Judge David Thompson in Benzie Countys 19th Circuit Court on May. 11.

Submitted photo/Benzie County Jail

According to Benzie County Prosecutor Sara Swanson, life without parole is the only sentence available for first-degree murder in Michigan.

Robert Michael Freebold was convicted of three counts of first-degree murder by a jury on April 12 after a trail that lasted six days

His sentencing ends a court case that spanned over two years, starting with an abandoned 911 call on Nov. 20, 2020. First responders tracked down the call to the Freebolds residence at the northernmost end of Grand Street, in Elberta.

There, the defendant was found partially in the front entryway of the house, unresponsive and holding a towel to his face. Inside, officers found Marilyn Freebold, 63, and Robert James Freebold, 27, dead from gunshot wounds at the scene.

A third victim, Malachi Maloney, 20, who also lived at the residence, was taken to Munson Medical Center in Traverse City, where he died from gunshot wounds.

During the trial, the prosecutor detailed the condition of the victims, who had all been shot execution-style in the head with the same .22 caliber pistol, and called witnesses from local and state law enforcement agencies, as well as medical examiners and family members to testify to the condition of the victims and the agitated state of the defendant on the night of the incident.

The defense suggested a scenario in which Robert Michael Freebold may have been attacked by Maloney and tried to defend himself with a .357 caliber revolver, only to have the gun taken from him. The defense suggested the defendant then lost consciousness, and the family members may have shot each other in an ensuing argument over what had happened.

However, shortly after the jury heard a phone call from the defendant from jail to his brother indicating that Robert Michael Freebold knew the .357 caliber revolver had not been used to shoot anybody, they returned with the guilty verdict.

I think the jury reached the appropriate verdict, Swanson said. There was a lot of hard work from the Benzie County Sheriffs Office, the Michigan State Police and the Frankfort Police. They were able to help us put this case together and get this conviction.

Swanson said she expects Robert Michael Freebold to appeal his conviction.
Travel guide Trips to Discover recently named its top 15 museums in the United States, and one Boston museum  the Institute of Contemporary Art  has earned the recognition.

The best museums can open your mind and expand your world, revealing everything from ancient history to works of art, and you dont have to travel far to find one, Trips to Discover said.

Ranked alongside other prestigious, iconic and well-regarded museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, the Art Institute of Chicago and museums at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., the ICA is the only museum to make the list from New England.

The museum was originally founded as the Boston Museum of Modern Art in 1936, according to Trips to Discover, which added it is much more than an art museum.

The ICA said on its website that it was founded as a sister institution to New Yorks Museum of Modern Art, or MoMA, before the two split ways and the Boston museum had a resulting name change in 1948.

As the ICAs reputation grew around the nation, it paved the way for other institutes and museums of contemporary art as well as artists spaces and alternative venues, the museum added.

The museum has shifted locations in the city many times throughout its history, according to its website, and was previously housed in a former police headquarters on Boylston Street for three decades, according to the ICA.

At the turn of the century, the ICA won a bid to develop a new building on Fan Pier in the burgeoning Seaport neighborhood, where opened its over 60,000-square-foot world-class museum in 2006 and where it still resides to this day.

The architectural icon of a building creates a dramatic folding ribbon form and a cantilever that extends to the waters edge, Trips to Discover said.

The museum hosts not only physical pieces of art but also films, videos, performances, presentations and other galleries, the travel site added.

Theres something for kids and adults alike, with a focus on contemporary artists explorations of the physical and unseen world, Trips to Discover added of the ICA.

The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, and from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, according to its website.

It is closed on Mondays, and closes at 5 p.m. on the first Friday of each month for a ticketed event known as First Fridays, it added.

Admission to the museum is free on the national holidays of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Labor Day and Indigenous Peoples Day, according to the ICA.

It is closed on the holidays of Patriots Day, the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day, it added.

Those age 18 and under receive free admission to the museum year-round and individuals of all ages can get admission to the museum for free each Thursday evening from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. during its Free Thursday Nights.

Securing advanced tickets is recommended for the free admission, which become available at 10 a.m. on the day of the free entry, according to the ICA.

Read more: Artist Cafe offers home for the arts in downtown Springfield

General admission is typically $20 for adults, $15 for students, and $17 for seniors age 60 or older.

To see other special discounts and admission policies, visit the ICAs website for more information.

This summer, the museum will also once again host the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Boston in which divers free-fall from up to 90 feet above into Boston Harbor while performing acrobatic maneuvers on the way down, according to the ICA.

To see Trips to Discovers full list of the Top 15 Museums in the United States, click here.
Skoufis' bill is likely to have support: The state Business Council, state Latino Restaurant, Bar & Lounge Association, New York City Hospitality Alliance and state Restaurant Association issued a statement last week urging the Legislature to pass a bill implementing the 18 commission recommendations.

Another bill, introduced by Democratic State Sen. Liz Krueger and Democratic Assemblywoman Pamela Hunter, seeks to allow the sale of wine in grocery stores, despite the commission voting down that recommendation by a 9-6 vote.

But proponents of the Krueger/Hunter bill note the commission had significant wine and liquor store representation, which staunchly opposes changing state law to allow grocery stores to compete with them for wine sales. The 16-member panel, meanwhile, had no grocer representative.

The Krueger/Hunter proposal is significantly modified from a 2010 bill, which would have created up to 9,000 new outlets to buy wine. The new bill would only allow larger, traditional grocery stores to sell wine, excluding big box stores, mini-marts, convenience stores, gas stations and bodegas. The maximum number of new outlets that could sell wine under the bill would be about 1,900, according to its sponsors.
For the first time in three years, Taste of Somerville, a community gathering of over 50 local restaurants, brewers and more at the citys Assembly Row, is once again ready to welcome back diners for one evening this summer.

The event, established in 1997 as a way to celebrate Somervilles vibrant dining and beverage scenes while supporting community organizations, returns on Wednesday, June 14 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., outdoors at Sylvester Baxter Riverfront Park along the Mystic River.

Taste of Somerville said in a news release Tuesday that it was forced to its years-long hiatus amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but will now continue with its 26-year legacy. The event anticipates over 1,000 attendees this year.

Among the more than 50 restaurants are a variety of eclectic offerings complemented by local spirits, wines, and craft breweries, according to Taste of Somerville.

The event also includes an array of multicultural experiences ranging from Asian to Peruvian to classics from steakhouses, burger joints and BBQ from award-winning pitmasters, Taste of Somerville added.

Participating restaurants and bars announced for 2023 include Los Amigos Taqueria, Lucky Strike, Olde Magouns Saloon, Redbones Barbecue, Salt + Stone, The Burren, Thirsty Scholar Pub, Machu Picchu and Veras.

Others on the restaurant lineup are Five Horses Tavern, Foundry on Elm, Juicygreens, La Posada Restaurant, Premiere on Broadway, The Independent, Ruths Chris Steakhouse, Smoke Shop BBQ, Mikes Food & Spirits, Elm Street Taproom, Civility Social House, Fuji at Assembly, River Bar, The Neighborhood Restaurant, Saloon and Shake Shack.

Among the beverage options at the event will be Somerville spots such as Remnant Brewing, Sav Mor Liquors and Portico Brewing, according to Taste of Somerville.

After three long years, were so excited to bring people together again for this celebration of Somervilles dining and nightlife options, said Jess Willis, the event chair for Taste of Somerville, in a statement.

Taste of Somerville is organized by the Somerville Chamber of Commerces Dining and Nightlife Group.

We created this event in 1997 to spotlights Somervilles diverse food and beverage communities while supporting a local nonprofit. Were grateful to be a part of the resurgence of large-scale food festivals, added Stephen Mackey, the president of the Somerville Chamber of Commerce, in a statement.

This years charitable beneficiary for the event will be the Somerville Education Foundation, or SEF, whose mission is the promote learning opportunities for all of the citys residents, according to Taste of Somerville.

SEF will use funds raised in partnership with the City, school district, and community providers to support basic needs, out-of-school time, and workforce development in Somervilles young people, said Greg Nadeau, the president of the Somerville Education Foundation, in a statement.

Tickets to the event start at $55 per person and are currently available for purchase on the events ticketing website. Included with a ticket purchase are admission and unlimited food and beverage tastings, Taste of Somerville said.

There are also VIP Experience tickets available for about $30 more. Due to the al fresco nature of the event, in the event of inclement weather, the rain dates for the event are Thursday, June 15 and Wednesday, June 21, both still from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m at the same location.

The event is open to those of all ages, with special ticket pricing and activities for children, according to Taste of Somerville. Tickets are non-refundable according to Taste of Somerville.
Citing diminishing enrollment numbers and an $18 million deficit, Brockton Public Schools will be cutting 130 union jobs of certified staff members, according to a statement obtained by the Boston Globe.

The districts enrollment count dropped by almost 1,350 students since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Superintendent Michael P. Thomas said in the statement obtained by the Globe Monday. During the 2022-2023 school year, the district has enrolled 14,906 students, a decline from the 16,349 students enrolled by the end of 2019, according to data from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

After exhausting all other options and facing an $18 million deficit, the district was required to send reduction in force notices today which will result in the elimination of 130 certified staff positions, Thomas said in the statement.

The 130 union jobs lost are of educators belonging to the Brockton Education Association, the Globe reported. They have not issued a statement about the layoffs.

While we are confident that our five-year district improvement process will encourage new families to move to Brockton, unfortunately our current enrollment does not support existing staffing levels, Thomas said in the statement, according to the newspaper. This is in no way a reflection of the incredible work that our educators do every day and I am greatly disappointed that it has come to this.

Thomas added that more information will be sent out to non-certified staff members in the coming days, the Globe said.

Read more: Amherst school officials hold emergency meetings as superintendent choice looms

News of the layoffs made its way to the students on Monday. High school senior Nasirha Andread told Boston 25 News that its honestly just really sad.

A lot of the new teachers were really good, and they were really good influences, too, she told the news station.
The Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbells office said its investigating the Boston Police Departments gang unit and gang database after receiving allegations of racially biased policing since 2018.

Our Civil Rights Division is reviewing the Youth Violence Strike Force and its Gang Assessment Database based on allegations that, between 2018 and the present, there may have been a pattern or practice of racially biased policing, a spokesperson for the Attorney Generals Office said. We have received the full cooperation of the Boston Police Department and our review is ongoing.

The Boston Police Departments Youth Violence Strike Force was formed in 1993 with the goal of reducing both criminal and youth gang activity through community-based policing.

We are aware of the review and will continue to cooperate with the Attorney Generals Office, the Boston Police Department said in a statement.

In 2020, the Massachusetts state police reform law gave the Attorney General the right to investigate patterns or practices of racial bias from law enforcement.

This investigation is distinct from the Peace Officer Standards & Training (POST) Commission effort, a state agency that holds police officers accountable through a certification process, also established through the 2020 law.

The Attorney General plans to work with Bostons police department to reform the Youth Violence Strike Force at the end of the investigation. Currently, the Attorney General has yet to make any findings or conclusions.
While most are trying to move on from the pandemic of the last three years, some Bay Staters feel as though they are being left behind as pandemic-era safety measures come to an end.

The one domino left standing of COVID-19 masking mandates fell on Friday  as health care settings lifted the requirement that patients and doctors alike wear the personal protective equipment that slows the spread of COVID.

I dont feel that in a health care setting I should be potentially exposed to further harm as somebody whos already a vulnerable person, said Goshen resident Jennifer Ritz Sullivan, who has a disability that puts her at greater risk from COVID-19 and requires her to visit the doctor every week.

There were 979 new, confirmed cases of COVID in Massachusetts in the past week, bringing the total confirmed cases to 2,038,680, according to the Department of Public Health. There were 15 new, confirmed deaths and a total of 174 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 last week in the state.

Ritz Sullivan had been dreading Mothers Day  a reminder of her mom whom she lost in December 2020 to COVID  when she caught the virus for the first time two weeks ago from her husband. He had been wearing a mask, she said, but caught it at work from another employee who was not.

Though the virus might be mild for some, Ritz Sullivan said she is the sickest Ive ever been, and is worried that Long COVID may further disable her.

Over the last three years, Ritz Sullivan has isolated herself from most of society, ordering groceries and having them brought out to her car instead of going inside of the store, and retreating into her home to minimize risk of catching the virus. But now she has to choose between the medical care she needs and potentially exposing herself to COVID, she said.

I suppose theres some folks who get mild symptoms, but for me this is the sickest Ive ever been. I mean everything from violent vomiting to cold symptoms, everything. And to have it for the first time as the emergency is being lifted, having that combined with Mothers Day weekend. Theres such a level of coolness that Im feeling right now. I can only do so much to keep myself safe. Im doing my best but its not enough. You cant individualize your way out of public health, she said.

Ritz Sullivan is part of a group of advocates who participated in a virtual speakout last week for the state Department of Public Health to reinstate the mask mandate in health care settings.

Activists met on Zoom to discuss the changing requirement, drove vans around the State House and Department of Public Health with signs reading Give Us Care, Not COVID, posted a sign on the State House steps that said We Do Not Consent to Getting COVID At The Doctor and started a letter-writing campaign to legislators and DPH officials.

Department of Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein said last week that the end of the emergency order is not the end of COVID.

Goldstein said the department decided to rescind the mandate after in-depth consideration, conversation and deliberation, a DPH spokesperson said.

COVID-19 Community Transmission Levels, as monitored by CDC, are down across the Commonwealth, with no county experiencing high transmission since February of this year. So, too, are COVID-19 Community Levels, which are important in monitoring the state of our hospitals and health care systems and can be used to identify when to implement prevention strategies, like masking. Neighboring states have similarly moved away from mandatory, universal masking in health care and have pivoted to a strategy based on individual facility-level criteria, DPH spokesperson Ann Scales said.

The Healey administration will require facilities to develop proactive plans for reviving COVID-19 prevention strategies  potentially including mask mandates  if warning lights begin flashing again, Goldstein said.

He did not outline any threshold or trend that would trigger state action, saying that the department wants hospitals and other facilities to make local decisions based on the circumstances they face. Health care facilities must also continue supplying masks to staff, patients and visitors who want them.

Mass General Brigham came under fire last week when it sent out its new masking policy update, saying patients could not ask staff members to wear a mask because our policies no longer require it. Our system is adhering to current public health recommendations, the Boston Business Journal reported.

Disability advocates said that the policy violated the Americans with Disabilities Act.

While the DPH has the right, I suppose, to choose to lift the mask mandate and if they do, hospitals get to choose whether they enforce it, what hospitals cant be free from is their obligation under the ADA to provide reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. And if someones disabled, and theyre at increased risk from COVID, then it would seem to us an absolutely textbook reasonable accommodation for patients to be able to request, said Colin Killick, executive director of Disability Policy Consortium.

The hospital has since updated this policy online with a new statement that includes, there are circumstances when masking is an appropriate medical intervention. In those circumstances, caregivers and/or patients will continue to mask, per our policies. Patients can ask, but providers determine when and if masking in a particular situation is clinically necessary, according to the Boston Business Journal article.

In addition to Mass General Brigham, Boston Medical Center, Tufts Medicine, Beth Israel Lahey Health and UMass Memorial Health are among the hospitals that ended mask requirements last week.

Some doctors and hospital staff will likely continue to wear masks out of personal preference, but for at least one at Mass General Brigham, one-way masking didnt feel like enough.

Jayda Jones, a masters student in public health and radiology technical assistant interning at the Boston-based hospital, quit on Thursday  the day before patients and other medical staff would have been allowed to de-mask.

Were just waiting until theres another major COVID-19 outbreak within the hospital to happen again in order for us to switch to wearing masks again  thats the new Mass General Hospital policy. But from my point of view, its always necessary because the pandemic has never ended, she said.

Jones said she was disappointed to resign from the hospital, where she first secured an internship in high school because of her interest in public health. Since then, she has worked at other medical facilities, but came back to MGH for the last year of her public health masters program.

This isnt a disease that just magically goes away. This manifests in several different ways in the future. We know that. Weve seen an increase in heart attacks, weve seen an increase in adverse cardiovascular outcomes, especially in younger groups from 20 to 39 years old, she said. The disabled community isnt saying we have to go back into lockdown, forcing you back into your house. But were saying that when you go into public spaces  especially places they cant avoid  please do what you can to make it accessible for them.

When asked, a Mass General Brigham spokesperson said they could not comment on individual employee matters under hospital policy, but we are committed to ensuring that patients can access medical care in a safe and appropriate manner.

We always take appropriate precautions to protect all patients. Our policies are based on public health guidance and that of our infection control experts. At this time, based on this guidance, universal masking is no longer medically necessarily [sic] to protect patients from COVID-19, said Michael Morrison, the hospitals senior director of communications

The Massachusetts Public Health Association and Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugees Advocacy Coalition had also warned against lifting the mandate.

Returning to the pre-pandemic status quo, however, ignores important lessons learned and potentially leaves the Commonwealth open to the ravages of the next large-scale public health crisis, said Oami Amarasingham, deputy director of MPHA.
Boston Public Schools said its community is in mourning after Mohamed Fofana, 4, was found dead Monday.

The 4-year-old boy was a pre-kindergarten student at Joseph Lee School in Dorchester. He went missing Sunday night on Castle Island, according to Massachusetts State Police. His body was found on the shoreline of Spectacle Island on Monday, directly across the water from Castle Island, police said.

Our community is in mourning following the tragic news that Mohamed Fofana, a pre-K student of the Lee K-8 School community, has passed away, Boston Public Schools said in a statement. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends, and school community during this difficult time.

Our community is in mourning following the tragic news that Mohamed Fofana, a pre-K student of the Lee K-8 School... Posted by Boston Public Schools on Monday, May 15, 2023

Mohamed 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. on Sunday, 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.

Boston Public Schools said social workers are available to provide counseling services for anyone who needs it, and we encourage anyone who is struggling to reach out for help.

We cant express the deep pain we feel over the tragic passing of 4-year-old Mohamed Fofana of South Boston. Our condolences are with the family. Our office is available to help in any way that we can. pic.twitter.com/fKYjt1Eh9i  Julia Mejia (@juliaforboston) May 15, 2023

Boston City Council Member Julia Mejia also expressed her condolences.

We cant express the deep pain we feel over the tragic passing of 4-year-old Mohamed Fofana of South Boston, she wrote on Twitter. Our condolences are with the family. Our office is available to help in any way that we can.
CVS Pharmacy has agreed to pay a multi-million dollar settlement after Attorney General Andrea Campbells Office accused the company of breaking state regulation laws that keep prescription medication for workers injured on the job at a lower rate.

On Monday, the Attorney Generals office said CVS agreed to pay $6.1 million in a settlement. CVS failed to follow Massachusetts law and regulations that lower costs in the Massachusetts workers compensation insurance system, according to the Attorney Generals office.

Massachusetts has several pricing benchmark laws, including the Federal Upper Limit for Medicare and the Massachusetts Maximum Allowable Cost, that must be taken into consideration when pharmacies price medication for workers compensation insurance programs.

When workers are hurt on the job, they are entitled to lost wages, compensation for injuries and payments for certain injury-related expenses, according to the Commonwealths Workers Compensation system.

The Attorney Generals office said the system limits the cost of prescriptions for injured workers and requires companies to validate prices against certain regulatory benchmarks before processing their charges.

The states workers compensation system operates at its best when it is functional, transparent and affordable, said Campbell. 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.
The Hampden County District Attorneys Office identified the person killed in an early Saturday morning double shooting in Holyoke.

Jasell Camacho, 27, of Chicopee was identified as the person killed in the double shooting, according to the district attorneys office.

On Saturday, May 13, at around 1:30 a.m., Holyoke police responded to a ShotSpotter activation in the area of Lyman Street and High Street. No 911 calls were received by law enforcement, the Holyoke Police Department said in a statement.

Read more: What ShotSpotter stats tell us about gunshots in Holyoke and why some are concerned

Police found Camacho, injured from a gunshot, lying on the sidewalk at the corner of High Street and Lyman Street, according to the district attorneys office. First responders performed immediate medical treatment but Camacho died there.

Minutes after, police were notified of another shooting victim who was taken to Holyoke Medical Center for treatment.

Read more: Juan Sierra of Springfield fatally shot in Vermont double shooting Friday

The Hampden County District Attorneys Office said the second victim is expected to survive.

Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the double shooting.
A Methuen man was accused of punching and spitting on police officers after refusing to leave a Tewksbury hotel Saturday afternoon.

Saturday at around noon, Tewksbury police were called to the Extended Stay America hotel at 1910 Andover St. after hotel staff reported an unruly customer who refused to check out, according to a department statement.

Officers spoke with Patrick Buckley, 36, of Methuen, and asked him to leave the hotel. Police said Buckley became enraged, shouted and refused to leave the room or check into another room.

Tewksbury police accused Buckley of spitting on and punching three officers who responded to the hotel. Police then placed the man in custody and took him to a hospital for a mental evaluation.

Buckley and none of the officers were seriously injured in the incident, according to the department.

Authorities charged Buckley with three counts of assault and battery on a police officer, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. He was arraigned in Lowell District Court Monday.
An employee of a Lynn landscaping company died while working a landscaping assignment in New Hampshire Monday.

Nashua, New Hampshire police said 29-year-old Amilcar Lopez-Garcia, an employee of Leos Landscaping in Lynn, died trimming trees at a home on Conant Road.

The circumstances around Lopez-Garcias death are still under investigation. Nashua police are expected to release more information about the incident at a later date.

Anyone with information in regard to Lopez-Garcias death is urged to contact authorities at 603-589-1665.
A young girl went to the Haverhill Police Department last Wednesday and told officers her parents were abusing her and her seven siblings, Massachusetts State Police said.

Since then, the childrens mother, stepfather and grandmother have all been charged in the case, with the parents charged in assaulting the children after the six youngest kids couldnt be found and the family refused to cooperate with police in finding them, the Essex District Attorneys Office said.

The mother, Jameaka Conway, 37, of Haverhill, and stepfather, Cypher Great, 37, also of Haverhill, are expected back in court on several assault charges on the morning of Tuesday, May 16.

Both were in court for dangerousness hearings last week and Conway was arraigned, the district attorneys office said, while Great was held on a warrant.

The grandmother, Deborah Conway, 58, of Dorchester, who is Jameaka Conways mother, is expected to be in court for a dangerousness hearing on May 22.

On May 10, the Haverhill Police Department responded to a report of child abuse after a girl told the department that her mother and stepfather were abusing her and her seven siblings, state police said.

The six youngest children could not be found, and the department said their parents and other family were not cooperative with police in finding the kids. Police initiated a child abuse investigation involving their parents.

The missing siblings were identified as Omnisty Great, 7 months; Cyper Great, 11 months; Cyphaya Great, 3 years old; Journea Great, 5 years old; Odyessea Great, 6 years old; and Jatari Baker-Wooden, 9 years old.

At 3:45 p.m. on Saturday, May 13, state police posted a missing persons flyer to the departments Twitter, stating the department and Haverhill officers were looking for the publics help in finding the six missing siblings, and they were believed to be in the Randolph area.

Just under four hours later, the department said Haverhill police had found the six children with the help of multiple agencies. Haverhill stated the six children were in good health and in custody of the Department of Children and Families.

Now, the mother, stepfather and grandmother all face charges for abusing their children, the district attorneys office said.

Jameaka Conway was charged with five counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on a child under 14, one count of witness intimidation, an assault and battery charge and one charge of a threat to commit a crime.

Great has been charged with five counts total, with four assault and battery charges with a dangerous weapon on a child under 14 and one charge of a threat to commit a crime.

Deborah Conway was charged with two counts of kidnapping and endangering a minor by a relative and one count of intimidating a police officer, the office said.
It is school board voting day across Western New York, and, as was the case last year, the nations drift into divisive  even hateful  politics is infecting many races.

Last year, the trend showed up most prominently in the Hamburg race where one candidates social media account made clear that her backers strategy was to create massive upheaval through civil disobedience. It wasnt an agenda focused on educating children.

Among the issues last year was library books, as far-right candidates demanded the right to determine what other peoples children could be allowed to read. That issue continues in this years elections as the radical right once again takes aim at school libraries.

It is a national issue, most vocally promoted by the misnamed Moms for Liberty, whose goal is to curtail the liberty of others. The group, which includes a local chapter, betrays itself through its objection to what it labels as the woke agenda of the state teachers union.

The far right uses the word woke as a weapon. It is, to be sure, a clumsy formulation and easy to caricature, but too often on the right, the real complaint is about anything meant to promote fairness and equality, especially any curriculum that deals with difficult issues such as race and sexuality. Both can be taught in age-appropriate ways.

Among the candidates hoping to assert their reading preferences over others are three in the Lancaster school district. Dan Romig, Laura Sproull and Tara Romig are running as a block. They say they dont want books with sexually explicit material in school libraries. Its a cheap line.

The fact is  partly because of the exaggerated alarms from the political right  sexuality has become an prominent issue, one from which it is impossible to shield students. Parents have the right  the responsibility  to prescribe what they want their own children to read. They dont have the right to make those choices for the children of others. It is much better to trust the professionalism of school librarians than the shrieks of far-right zealots looking for a ladder to higher government office.

By far, the most troubling issue to come to light in this election season involves a candidate whose social media posts describe a hateful heart.

Sandra Magnano is running for a seat on the West Seneca school board. She assures her voter base that she is neither antisemitic nor anti-gay, but her Truth Social account challenges that insistence. In it, she includes posts that compare President Biden to Adolf Hilter, criticizes Pride Month as disgusting and calls for abolition of the FBI, which one post disgracefully compares to the Nazi SS and Soviet KGB.

Truth Social, of course, is the social media company launched by Donald Trump, the former president who couldnt bring himself to criticize American Nazis and other white supremacists when they marched in Charlottesville, Va., in 2017. So theres that.

Magnano claims to recognize at least some of the problems with that platform, which she described as silly.

Im not antsemitic, Im not anti-gay. I just want to be clear on that, Magnano told The Buffalo News last week. Ive been meaning to take down this stupid Truth Social thing.

Oh, good. But she didnt.

She says shes not anti-gay, even though she reposted a vile observation about Pride Month.

Regarding a post that dabbled in antisemitism, she said: I dont know why I did that. About another post, she hedged: That was wrong on my part. If I did retweet that, I apologize for that. The post referred to Biden with a derogatory term for developmentally challenged people.

It is an odd campaign strategy for a position that aims to influence the lives of the districts children. Sadly, though, its not out of character for what too often passes as conservative politics.

That is not conservative. It is hateful and controlling and fully in line with the autocratic impulses released by the former president.

Like democracy, itself, leading a school district is difficult. It demands thoughtfulness and a willingness to listen and to learn. That is not what is on display from too many school board candidates these days. So, as voters go to the polls today, they should keep this thought in mind: Character counts.

  

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.
A Bridgewater man was sentenced last Friday after he pled guilty to a 2019 stabbing in Taunton and for violating the terms of his probation connected to a Plymouth County domestic assault.

Ryan ODay, 33, pled guilty in Fall River Superior Court to indictments charging him with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and armed carjacking, District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn IIIs office said. Judge Renee Dupuis sentenced ODay to three to four years in prison for the stabbing, and an additional 18 months for violating his probation.

ODay was outside a Sunoco gas station in Taunton on July 7, 2019, when he engaged in a fight with the victim, Quinns office said. The victim was inside his car, which ODay tried to drag him out of, according to video surveillance. ODay stabbed the victim multiple times before he jumped into the victims car and sped off.

He drove the car up the street before leaving it, then returning to it when police arrived so he could explain his side of what happened at the gas station, Quinns office said. ODays story did not match with what video surveillance showed.

Read more: AG to investigate Boston police gang unit after complaints of racial bias

When the stabbing took place, ODay was on probation out of Brockton District Court after being convicted for domestic assault and battery, and strangulation, Quinns office said.

The victim was not seriously injured and has since moved to another part of the country.

Im glad he was held accountable for this senseless act of violence committed against the victim, Quinn said in a statement about the courts decision.
BOSTON  The states highest court denied a petition for a new trial filed by lawyers for a Springfield man convicted of illegal possession of a firearm in 2019.

Kieson Cuffee was arrested by homicide detectives in 2018 after reports of a shooting on Grant Street one afternoon, according to previous news coverage and a decision by the Supreme Judicial Court published Monday.

Cuffee tried to argue he was profiled by police because he is Black.

Detectives Matthew Longo and Eric Podgurski were responding to a ShotSpotter report when they saw a Black man with dreadlocks running away from the scene with an unnatural gait and who appearing to be struggling to keep something secured to his right side while his left arm was swinging freely, the decision said.

He also appeared to have a heavy object tucked in his waistband, the 18-page SJC decision reads.

Police investigate reports of gunshots on Grant Street in Springfield in 2018.

Cuffee ducked into a convenience store as the detectives approached. The officers followed him in, with Longo ordering Cuffee to show his hands. When the detective tried to grab his left arm, a brief and violent struggle ensued and Longo spotted the gun.

Longo forcefully shoved the defendant face-first into a metal rack while yelling Hes got a gun, and unholstering his weapon, the decision notes.

Cuffee ran from the store, his face bloodied from being pushed into the rack. When officers secured him, he did not have a gun. The detectives found a gun behind canned goods at the store. The rounds inside were stamped 380 Auto Blazer and detectives found three spent cartridge cases at the scene of the gunplay.

No one was injured, but a witness said he was held up by gunpoint.

Cuffee went to trial in Hampden Superior Court the next year, charged with assault by means of a dangerous weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm and resisting arrest. He was convicted by a jury of the illegal possession charge and acquitted of the rest. He was sentenced to up to a decade in prison as an armed career criminal.

A group of appellate attorneys seized upon Cuffees arrest as the possible product of racial profiling, saying his conviction was a result of shoddy police work.

The SJC rejected both arguments. Cuffee remains in custody at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in Shirley, according to state records.
BOSTON  Prosecutors can pursue charges against a police officer and the owner of a bar alleging they misled multiple investigations into an incident where off-duty police officers allegedly assaulted four Black men in 2015, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled Tuesday.

State prosecutors appealed an earlier decision by the trial judge to toss the charges against the two defendants: bar owner Joseph Sullivan and Springfield Police Officer Derrick Gentry-Mitchell. In a relatively unusual move, the high court removed the matter from a lower appellate court and decided to tackle the legal issues themselves.

Hampden Superior Court Judge Mark D. Mason reasoned that because the charge of misleading described multiple acts, a grand jury may not have heard the precise evidence prosecutors brought against the two defendants first and glossed over critical details.

But in a 25-page opinion written by Associate Justice Dalila Argaez Wendlandt, the states highest court disagreed and restored indictments against the two minor players in the long-running Nathan Bills bar fight prosecution.

Although each misleading statement could form a separate charge for misleading investigators, the Commonwealth is not precluded ... from proceeding under one indictment, charging the essential crime of willfully misleading investigators to cover up the off-duty (Springfield Police Department) officers role in the assault on the victims on April 2015, Wendlandt wrote.

Prosecutors have said a street fight erupted outside the bar among rookie off-duty police and four Black patrons, and a department cover-up ensued to keep the incident from their superiors and the public eye. Sixteen were indicted over the matter in 2019.

Lawyers for the defendants have argued the fight occurred in a parking lot near the East Forest Park bar after a verbal dispute inside the pub earlier. They contend the civilians were the aggressors and the off-duty police and their allies were merely defending themselves. Five police officers have been tried for assault, with only two convictions for misdemeanor assault while others have been tried for the alleged cover-up with mixed results.

The whole affair has been a protracted black eye for the Springfield Police Department.

Gentry-Mitchell is accused of lying to his superiors, the FBI and the grand jury about whether he saw any of his colleagues there at the scene that night. He has been suspended from the payroll since his indictment four years ago.

Sullivan is accused of lying to the FBI and the grand jury about who he saw in the establishment and about calling a cab to usher the civilians away at the first signs of trouble.

They have denied the charges at their arraignments.

The high court remanded the indictments back down to the lower court to get the case back on track, according to the ruling.
SPRINGFIELD  At 3:19 p.m. Tuesday, Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Rachael S. Rollins sent a farewell memo to her staff across the state, alerting them to her pending departure amid an ethics investigation by the Justice Department.

Rollins, a former Suffolk County prosecutor, encouraged her staff to stay the course. Rollins, who is Black, wrote that she believes her office made progress in restoring trust among members of underrepresented communities.

As I have often said, the community I come from does not see themselves reflected in our office or in much of the affirmative work we do, she wrote. Yet, they are overrepresented in many of our criminal prosecutions. I grapple with that tension constantly.

The memos wording was reviewed by The Republican. The person who shared the memo was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

Rollins wrote that she was about to tender her resignation to President Joe Biden. She resigned over allegations she improperly attended a fundraiser featuring First Lady Jill Biden last year.

My presence has become a distraction and the work you do is far too important to be overshadowed, Rollins wrote.

In the coming days please know that everything I did was to show those communities that our ... silence in the wake of scandal or egregious discriminatory conduct does not always mean inaction, Rollins wrote.

We are working hard even when they dont hear from us. I told them that we were working. They have now begun to to believe it, Rollins said, referring to communities of color.

As I have previously stated, my biggest regret is distracting from the vitally important work each of you do for our commonwealth. Stay the course. Keep doing the work. And always be proud of who you see in the mirror. I am honored to have been your colleague.

Signed, Rachael S. Rollins.

Rollins has led an ongoing Department of Justice consent decree initiated by the Trump administration to reform aspects of the Springfield Police Department deemed to be heavy-handed in terms of arrests of drug suspects.

Rollins had been scheduled to appear at the Springfield Armory National Historic Site Museum Wednesday morning to celebrate the recovery and return of 24 late-19th century Marksmanship Medals, that were apparently stolen decades ago.
WEST SPRINGFIELD  Amid many, this machine proved an attention-grabber.

The plasma-cutting machine on display at the Eastec trade show can shear metal underwater at a temperature of 50,000 degrees, making two-dimensional machine parts and art designs. The cutting apparatus lights up, steams and sizzles in its cooling water bath.

That didnt fail to impress 17 high school seniors from the John J. Duggan Academy in Springfield, who toured the show at the Big E Tuesday morning.

People in manufacturing hope students like these remain interested.

We are going to have a problem in this country if we dont have enough workers, said Kristofer Klein, national service manager for Linde Gas & Equipment of Illinois, maker of the cutter. I know I wouldnt be where I am if I didnt have mentors. So I make time to talk with young people and let them know what modern manufacturing is like.

The plasma cutter is a good sales tool, Klein said, since most Linde products mainly consist of industrial gasses.

More than 10,000 people are expected to attend the show through Thursday, stopping by nearly 600 exhibitors with 150 new products. The trade show is one of the bigger events the Big E hosts besides the annual fair  big enough that organizer SME brings a portable air conditioning system with temporary plastic ducts to keep visitors cool in the Mallary Complex, Stroh Building, Young Building and Better Living Center.

This Eastec show could be the biggest in the events 35-year-history, said Robert Willig, executive director and CEO of SME, a trade group that used to be known as the Society of Manufacturing Engineers.

And while most of those swarming 150,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor exhibit space have the budgets to buy $250,000 machine tools and the latest robot arm, 200 of them are high school students from across Massachusetts.

One hundred were expected Tuesday and another 100 Wednesday as part of event organizer SMEs Bright Minds Student Summit.

Emily Arris, a senior in the manufacturing program at Chicopee Comprehensive High School, not only attended Tuesday, but is a recipient of SMEs scholarship program. The group gives $1 million a year across the country.

She plans to continue her manufacturing and engineering education next year at Springfield Technical Community College.

Emily Arris, a senior at Chicopee Comprehensive High School and a scholarship winner, talks about her experience at EASTEC, the largest Northeast manufacturing trade show, held at the Eastern State Expositions in West Springfield on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Hoang 'Leon' Nguyen / The Republican)

I always enjoyed taking things apart to see how they were made, she said. When we toured and tried out all the different shops at Comp, I was just drawn to manufacturing.

Her teacher, Juan Dominicci, said a trip to Eastec is a great opportunity for students to network with industry professionals and get a chance to see a variety of tools, including new technologies.

Not everyone will run a CNC machine or a lathe, he said, referring to computerized numerical control devices. There is so much to explore.

SME predicts that by 2030, more than 2 million manufacturing jobs will go unfilled and that more than 91% of manufacturers will have trouble finding skilled workers.

Too many people are still under outdated thinking, said Rob Luce, vice president of the SME Educational Foundation. We need to let people know that manufacturing isnt this dirty, repetitive dying industry. Its growing  and its high technology.

SME runs a program that builds, from the ground up, manufacturing laboratories in participating high schools.

The students compete while at Eastec, downloading an app on their phones which guides them to pre-selected trade show booths where the students are asked questions. Get enough right and every member of a five-teen team takes home a 3D printer.

Tuesday saw plenty of people wandering exhibits looking to spend money on new technology. There were cutters and machine tools, industrial vacuums, scopes and optics.

Robots stacked blocks and threw objects to demonstrate their dexterity.

L.S. Starrett Co. of Athol, a manufacturer of tools including saw blades, and measuring devices like micrometers and calipers, showed off a new machine for testing the strength and, well, springiness, of springs.

Eric Perkins, a technology manager in the companys force and material test department, explained how the machine is lubricated so the spring can twist as its tested. The machine is useful to manufacturers of everything from firearms to automobiles to click-top ballpoint pens.

Springs, he said. The most complicated simple thing youve ever seen.
The Massachusetts governments top auditor told University of Massachusetts Amherst officials that a plan to eliminate more than 100 state jobs likely violates the law.

In a letter by State Auditor Diana DiZoglio to UMass Amherst Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy, she wrote that the Taxpayer Protection Act requires plans such as the one proposed by the university must be approved by the state auditors office. To date, DiZoglio wrote, her office has not received any requests to approve the plan nor any documentation to prove that the university is exempt from the rule.

Until such documentation is provided, however, it is our position that the proposed privatization violates Massachusetts General Law and cannot proceed, DiZoglio wrote on May 11.

Massachusetts Auditor Diana DiZoglio speaks at the Statehouse in 2019, during her tenure as a state senator. (FILE / STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE)

Read more: UMass Amherst prepares to issue up to 124 layoff notices amid privatization plan

The office of the state auditor conducts investigations and promotes accountability of government agencies.

Edward Blaguszewski, the universitys executive director of strategic communications, said officials will connect with the state auditors office to discuss the applicable law and our shared respect for legal compliance and accountability in the work of the commonwealth.

The university is confident that the prescribed reorganization, following guidance and direction from state regulators, and under the bargained transfer agreement between UMass Amherst and the unions, can continue as planned in full compliance, Blaguszewski said.

UMass Amherst recently informed more than 100 employees in the universitys fundraising division that layoff notices would be imminent  a move that union leaders have successfully stalled, according to a statement issued by two unions representing workers of the UMass Advancement division.

A stopgap agreement was reached Wednesday afternoon, ending the administrations prior ultimatum to more than 100 employees that layoff notices would be issued if employees did not accept private positions at the UMass Amherst Foundation by May 12, according to campus unions Professional Staff Union and University Staff Association.

Blaguszewski also addressed the agreement and said it ensures there will no layoffs by providing union members expedited transfer rights should they choose to remain at the university rather than move to the UMass Amherst Foundation.

University officials have described the plan to eliminate the state jobs as a necessity due to compliance issues identified within the Advancement division more than eight months ago. As a solution, the university devised a plan to offer the state employees positions with a private, non-profit called the UMass Amherst Foundation, a plan that union leaders denounced as stripping workers of the benefits of unionized and public sector jobs and making them at-will employees for an employer outside of public oversight.

The question of the security of workers retirement benefits is at the center of the labor dispute that has led the states Congressional leadership to denounce the plan. UMass officials claim they found potential violations for longtime fundraising employees that put their retirements at risk.

Read more: UMass Amherst union employees protest as plan to privatize 100 jobs plows forward

Compliance issues within the universitys advancement structure were discovered that, if unaddressed, risked the past and future eligibility of its employees to participate in the states retirement and pension system, university officials wrote in a statement. Officials noted that the privatization plans follows after it secured the past retirement contributions of its employees and ensure that their service was creditable.

Union leaders counter that the compliance issues by the university are unfounded and that many employees close to retirement stand to lose significant portions of their pensions if the privatization plan is forced through.

The compliance issues refer to an obscure state law passed in 1992 which prevents state employees from spending more than a quarter of their work hours engaged in services for private Foundation work. Union officials argue that none of the Advancement employees have violated the law cited by university officials.

The UMass Amherst Foundation was founded in 1950 and was operated by the university until 1992. Now its governed by a board of directors made up of public and ex-officio directors who are responsible for the universitys endowment, which has a current estimated value of $1.12 billion, according to its website.

The university is also accused of violating its March 2020 agreements with the unions that separate the state work and functions that may be performed by UMass employees and employees of the private foundation.

The Auditor has made clear that the privatization of this state work cannot move forward at this point, says Andrew Gorry, co-chair of the PSU. Our Advancement employees must be allowed to continue their work at UMass, and the foundation must immediately stop all attempts to perform this state work, including hiring for these positions, and reverse all existing effort towards privatization.

The Advancement division at the UMass Amherst campus recently surpassed a $300 million capital campaign and hosts alumni and donor events, publishes the UMass Magazine, and solicits scholarship donations, according to unions representing the employees.

Subbaswammy previously issued a statement on the privatization efforts:

As a result of these compliance issues, we are now compelled to proceed with a reorganization of the Advancement division, which will result in the transfer of fundraising, alumni relations, and related Advancement activities to the UMass Amherst Foundation, Subbaswamy wrote. We are left with no other option in this matter in order to avoid any risk that our Advancement employees - if they were to remain in their current UMass Amherst positions - would be deemed ineligible for state pension benefits in the future.

University officials will give employees an opportunity to move from their current positions to the private sector with comparable salaries and competitive benefits, Subbaswamy wrote.

Gail Gunn speaks at a rally held by UMass Amherst union opposed to the privatization plan on April 28, 2023. (Luis Fieldman/MassLive)

For Advancement workers such as Gail Gunn, who took a job with the department 25 years ago, the elimination of her state job will make a big impact on her pension.

Before the privatization plan by UMass, she planned to retire in a few years when she could collect 80% of her current salary. Under the current plan, however, she will refuse to transfer to the private Foundation and expects to lose roughly $25,000 a year from her pension.

Ill be damned if I go work for the private foundation that is trying to screw us, Gunn, 61, said during a demonstration on Friday. I really wont. How can you work for someone who you dont trust and who has been nothing but deceitful and dishonest?
A long effort soldiers on to get thousands of homeless people in the region into lasting shelter. Even amid gains, the challenge has intensified, particularly as we come out of the pandemic.

The determined people allied with the Western Massachusetts Network to End Homelessness were able to put some good news on a big screen when they gathered last week for an annual meeting in Holyoke.

That news:

 950 formerly homeless people moved into permanent homes in the previous year.

 184 people were placed in permanent supportive housing.

 1,097 affordable units will come online in the four western counties in the next five years.

But when teams fanned out to actually do a head count on a January day this year, as the federal government requires, they found more homeless people in the region (3,305  2,683 of them in Hampden County alone) than any time in the last five years.

Compared to the last four January counts, surveyors found higher instances of three underlying causes of homelessness: serious mental illness, substance use disorder and domestic violence.

All are problems the pandemic made worse.

The picture is grim, the networks leader says. True, but it would be far worse if the network wasnt on the job. We applaud this commitment to solve what can seem like an unsolvable problem.

The picture also reveals a stubborn racial injustice. The networks data shows that Black residents of the region are 4.6 times more likely to be homeless than the general population. Hispanic residents are nearly three times more likely to be homeless.

That is the very definition of systemic racism, Gerry McCafferty, administrator of the Hampden County Continuum of Care, told the gathering last week.

Even as new affordable housing becomes available, it isnt closing the gap. The Donahue Institute at the University of Massachusetts Amherst estimates that 11,000 new units are needed. That number grows daily, as the pace of evictions grows. The first three months of 2023 brought the start of 1,910 eviction proceedings in state courts.

Evictions were paused during the pandemic by government order. Back to normal, for too many people, means a return to the risk of losing a home.

The networks dream of ending homelessness deserves broad public support.
The Patriots will be closing out their preseason in Nashville this summer.

New England is set to play their third and final exhibition game against Mike Vrabels Titans on Friday, August 25. Itll be an 8:15 EST kickoff, Tennessee announced on Tuesday. Theyll also be heading to Green Bay for their second preseason game  that date and time are still TBA  so Bill Belichicks team will be doing quite a bit of traveling before Week 1 even begins.

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Though they generally play a lot of (somewhat) local teams in the preseason  New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Carolina Panthers, etc.  the Patriots also racked up a bunch of early frequent flyer miles last preseason, heading to Las Vegas for joint practices with Josh McDaniels Raiders. New England could once again hold joint practices at Green Bay, Tennessee, or perhaps both.

Back in 2021, Belichick said joint practices can be even more valuable than preseason games in August.

In some respects you get a lot more out of them, Belichick said. We can set up a lot more situations that arent going to come up in preseason games with the players who are most likely going to be playing them.

That will be a good place to start. Certainly in a preseason game you dont get individual one-on-ones or two-on-twos, or those kind of individual match-ups that show up in a practice session. There are a lot of differences between practices and games. We could be here all day talking about that.
At least three people were dead and multiple others wounded Monday after a shooting in Farmington, police said, and schools citywide were put on lockdown.

There are multiple civilian victims, Farmington police reported via Facebook, adding that one suspect was confronted and killed on scene.

Two officers were shot including a member of the city police and one with the New Mexico State Police, the message said. Both were reported to be in stable condition at San Juan Regional Medical Center.

The suspects identity is unknown and there are no other known threats at this time, police said, adding that city, San Juan County and state police were involved.

The shooting was reported shortly after 11 a.m. in the area of Brookside Park, and all city schools were placed on what officials called preventative lockdown. Three nearby schools remained on emergency lockdown.

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.

Federal agents from Phoenix were headed to Farmington, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said via Twitter.

Farmington is a city of nearly 50,000 residents in northwestern New Mexico, near the Four Corners region. It serves a modern-day trading post to the adjacent Navajo Nation and is a supply line and bedroom community to the regions oil and natural gas industry.

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. Traveling Broadway shows make regular stops at the expansive community center auditorium, while rural lots on the outskirts are littered with disassembled oilfield equipment.
Animal Control is searching for the owner of a dead dog found inside a suitcase at a Westport conservation area Sunday.

Read more: ARL takes in over 60 cats from overcrowding situation of unaltered pets

Authorities said a medium size, female, mixed-breed dog with orange hair was found dead inside a pillowcase at the Brookside Conservation Area on Route 177 Sunday.

Westport Animal Control is now searching for the dead dogs owner. Anyone with information about the finding is urged to call the department at 774-264-5129.
I recently survived a nightmare on Elm Street. Around 11:30 am, driving north, just south of Clinton Street, I was thinking how nice it is that the traffic lights are timed. You can cruise along at 30 miles per hour and catch all the green lights.

In a blur, just in front of me, two cars blew through their red lights on Clinton Street. Crossing my path east to west, going ungodly fast. Adrenaline jolt received! Immediately, I slowed as I approached the intersection, hoping there would be no more dangers in my path. The intersection was clear on the right.

Looking left, I glimpsed the havoc already wreaked by the speeding lawbreakers. Smashed cars and bits of auto parts one block over. I quickly made a left turn and then another, and pulled into a driveway.

Several people were already helping. Someone said that 911 had been called. Help was on the way. There was a young boy, maybe seven or eight, crying, standing on the corner, next to a lady who was maybe his mother.

Air bags had deployed in some cars. A damaged car door was wrenched open, and the cars driver was helped to a place where he could sit. A sheriff arrived. Sirens grew louder; professional help nearly there.

Returning to my car, I remembered what I learned in Catholic grammar school: When you hear a siren, say a prayer for victims. Check.

Still, I very much wish to upbraid the reckless perpetrators. Two cars. Two knuckleheads: Racing with wanton disregard for human life. If I had been 10 seconds ahead of schedule, I would be dead. Just a guy driving down the road on his way to meet his brother. Instead, meeting a random instrument of death. Life can be snuffed in an instant. Remain alert.

Marty Walters

Derby
An embattled police captain in Holyoke faces a new complaint amid an investigation into claims of sexual harassment towards a fellow police officer.

The complaint from former Holyoke resident Jose Flores says Holyoke Police Capt. Manuel Reyes improperly accessed his background information using the Holyoke police system to smear Floress name and defame his character.

Reyes told MassLive that he denies ever making such a background check on Flores.

Ive never ran a CORI information on him, Reyes said about a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) background check.

Flores, now a resident of Sarasota, Florida, filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice after Reyes improperly ran a background check on him, Flores says, for no reason other than an attempt to dig up dirt and defame him.

The Holyoke Police Department placed Reyes on administrative leave on March 28, the same day a woman was granted a restraining order against Reyes for what she described as repeated nonconsensual touching and kissing from her supervisor. On April 11, a judge extended the order for another year.

Reyes denied the allegations, and his attorney Joseph Pacella previously told MassLive that the restraining order was being appealed.

On the most recent complaint, Flores said a ranking member of the Holyoke Police Department confirmed with him that Reyes improperly accessed his records and that the department would investigate the matter.

He illegally accessed my information because I was speaking to his estranged wife, Flores told MassLive on Monday morning. Flores went to Holyoke High School and briefly dated Reyess wife, and recently, got in contact with each other.

Reyes and his wife have been separated for the past two years, according to a text sent by Reyes to Flores, which was provided to MassLive. Reyes confirmed on Monday that he and his wife have been separated for the last two years.

I know you guys have been talking for a couple of months, and thats all good weve been separate for a (sic) 2 years, and I was with an other girl, Reyes wrote in a text, which was provided to MassLive via screenshot.

Asked about texting Flores, Reyes said, The one time I texted someone with that information, it included no CORI information.

Last week, Holyoke Capt. Matthew Moriarty confirmed that Reyes remains on administrative leave and the investigation is being handled by the Hampden District Attorneys Office.

I am able to confirm an investigation into this matter, Moriarty wrote on Monday about Floress complaint. The investigation is ongoing and I am currently unable to speak about it.

In the complaint filed with the Department of Justice, Flores wrote, the woman informed me that Captain Manuel Reyes improperly accessed my record, took a picture with his smartphone of my record and stored my record on such in order to disseminate my record ... he fabricated character information stating that I was on probation and a drug abuser.

Flores said he does not use drugs and is not on probation. He contacted an attorney who advised him to reach out to the Holyoke Police Department. Flores said he intends to file legal action against Reyes.

These are fabricated lies intended to harm my character, Flores wrote in his complaint to the Department of Justice.

Flores left Holyoke about 14 years ago and had not spoken to Reyess wife since the early 1990s. Recently, a friend of Flores helped connect the two and they had only spoken on the phone a few times before Reyes caught wind, according to Flores.

Flores said a Holyoke lieutenant within the departments professional standards unit told him that the investigation into the improper background check by Reyes would be folded in with the sexual harassment investigation.

Im not sure why they are doing that, Flores said. They are completely different.

Flores said he is living in fear since Reyes called him and sent him a lengthy text.

Ive got family in Holyoke Im worried about, Flores said. Reyes mentioned in a text that he planned on visiting Florida and Flores considered it a veiled threat.

Reyes rejected the claim that there were any veiled threats made.

There is absolutely no reason for him to be in fear, Reyes said. Ive made no threats whatsoever to him.

In screenshots provided to MassLive of Reyess lengthy text, he wrote about how he planned to break up with his current girlfriend and get back together with his wife.

Theres too much to write, just dont know how over me she is telling you she is but she is obviously not, Reyes wrote. She obviously wants us to be together and I am also going to try to get my family back together.

Flores said he wants to see the Holyoke Police Department hold Reyes accountable for his actions.

According to Massachusetts General Laws, law enforcement agencies may run CORI background checks for the actual performance of their criminal justice duties. State law also allows background checks to be conducted for other reasons, including for gun licenses, job applications, housing applicants and the like.

Nicholas Wolkowicz, head law librarian for Hampden Law Library, said law enforcement is supposed to have probable cause when they conduct a CORI background check. As for sharing that information outside of law enforcement agencies without a specific reason, he said, You are not supposed to.

Its a form of harassment and a violation of my rights and privacy, Flores said. The Holyoke Police Depart. never asked me if I wanted to file charges or a complaint they just called me and confirmed that he improperly accessed my records and that was it.

He added, This gave him access to my current address and phone number and he began to contact me. Im living in fear.
Police said a 30-year-old man was killed in a single-vehicle crash just after midnight Monday in Rehoboth.

The Bristol County District Attorneys Office identified Christopher Frank, 30, of Rehoboth, as the person killed in the crash.

At around 12:15 a.m. Monday, Frank was driving a Ford pickup truck near the intersection of Pine and Walker streets when the truck veered off the road and hit a tree, authorities said.

The trucks crash detection system alerted first responders of the collision. Paramedics performed CPR on Frank and rushed him to Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro, where he later died.
Red Sox minor league lefty Shane Drohan has rocketed up prospect ranking lists with his strong start to 2023. On Monday, he earned himself a promotion.

Drohan was promoted from Double-A Portland to Triple-A Worcester and will join the WooSox this week, as Beyond The Monsters Chris Henrique first reported. Drohan will likely make his WooSox debut during the teams six-game home series against Lehigh Valley.

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Drohan, 24, has been one of the best pitchers in the farm system so far this season. In six starts at Portland, hes 5-0 with a 1.32 ERA (6 earned runs in 34 innings) while recording 36 strikeouts and allowing just 19 hits. After combining for a 3.89 ERA in 129  innings between High-A Greenville and Double-A Portland last year, Drohan entered spring training with increased fastball velocity and turned heads in Fort Myers. His strong start to the regular season led the experts at SoxProspects.com rank him as the top pitching prospect in the organization recently; Drohan rose seven spots (from No. 12 to No. 5) between ranking periods.

Drohan, a fifth-round pick out of Florida State in 2020, recently spoke with MassLives Chris Smith and explained how he purposefully gained 14 pounds by lifting and eating more frequently throughout the day in an effort to gain strength and velocity.

The eating was tough in the beginning because I wasnt used to eating that much, Drohan said. But after two weeks, I kind of got into the routine of eating and it got a lot easier. But yeah, it was a lot of food. I had to pretty much eat every two hours.
Tuesday is expected to bring the warmest temperatures of the week, wrapped up in possible fire danger, only to be quickly succeeded by the coldest temperatures of the week with the arrival of a cold front.

Conditions on Tuesday will be cloudy without full sunshine, as temperatures reach the high 70s and low 80s, the National Weather Service said. Winds of 29 to 35 mph are also expected to kick up, aggravating the chances of fire danger, prompting a red flag warning to go into effect from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Because of the dry conditions today, BE VERY CAREFUL handling any ignition sources outdoors, such as matches and cigarettes, the weather service tweeted along with a graphic of most of southern New England under the red flag warning, excluding the Cape and the Islands.

[Brush Fire Risk Today] Lack of rain, full sunshine, warm temps & gusty conditions today will elevate the risk for brush fires to develop.



Because of the dry conditions today, BE VERY CAREFUL handling any ignition sources outdoors, such as matches and cigarettes. pic.twitter.com/L84RFxhwBP  NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) May 16, 2023

One brush fire broke out at Breakheart Reservation in Saugus on Tuesday, choking the skies with smoke, Boston 25 News reported. The weather service also noted that smoke coming from massive wildfires in Alberta is still wafting toward New England. Smoke left the skies in parts of Massachusetts, like in Worcester, tinged in brown and orange last week.

By 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Brockton and Hartford could see temperatures reach 82 degrees as Cambridge, Lowell and Quincy could all peak at 80 degrees, forecasters said. Boston, Worcester and Springfield could all reach a high of 79 degrees.

Despite dry conditions, forecasters said its possible to see scattered wetting rain across Essex, Middlesex, Suffolk, Norfolk, and northern Plymouth and Bristol counties in Massachusetts.

Given we do not anticipate much in the way of precipitation overnight, a fire weather watch remains in place for Wednesday, forecasters added.

Wednesday is expected to usher in a mainly dry cold front, dropping temperatures into the still seasonable high 50s and low 60s, with a high of 63 in New Bedford and 61 in Hartford and Providence, forecasters said.

Temperatures could plunge further by early Thursday, as low as the high 30s or possibly in the mid-20s, forecasters said. By noon, though, temperatures could pick back up to the 60s. Dry conditions and 20-mph winds could open up the potential for more fire warnings, as the weather service said this may fall just short of red-flag criteria, but later fire weather statements may be needed pending coordination with state forestry officials.

High temperatures in the 60s and 70s could return by Friday before a couple of storms arrive in New England for the weekend. Forecast models remain uncertain for how soon systems may arrive, though the weather service said its possible to see a half inch or more of rain between Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Similarly, while theres expected to be another cold front passing through starting Monday, the forecasters modeling is uncertain as long as the weekends weather chances remain up in the air.
Pacific Island leaders are criticizing 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.

Leaders and representatives from Pacific Island nations demanded at a U.N. climate change conference Monday in Bangkok that the world make more effort to put aside differences in combating the environmental impact, especially as their countries emerge from the economic devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prime Minister Mark Brown of the Cook Islands said the finance model for combatting climate change  giving out loans to reduce the impact  is not the way to go for countries in his region with such small populations that produce inconsequential amounts of carbon emissions but suffer the most from the effects.

He encouraged a shift toward grants or interest-free loans to help ease the financial burden on poorer countries.

All were doing is adding debt to countries that have come out of COVID with increased debt, and to me it is actually quite offensive that we would be required to borrow money to build resilience, and to borrow from the very countries that are causing climate change, he told The Associated Press.

Brown said his country lost an estimated 41% of its GDP because of the pandemic, a loss of a decades worth of prosperity.

He said he will give this message to leaders when he represents his tiny South Pacific nation with a population of about 17,000 at a summit later this week of the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations in Japan, where he hopes to be able to speak on a more equal footing to the leaders than as a grateful recipient to benevolent donors.

Palau President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. agreed that financing opportunities are few and difficult, and criticized wealthy countries for failing to commit to provide the financial help they had promised, which he said represents only a tiny portion of their prioritized expenditures such as the military.

We didnt cause the problem, but now theyre going to make money off of us by giving us a loan so we can pay back with interest, he told The Associated Press. So now you have to adapt, but well give you money and make money off of you by giving you that money to adapt. That doesnt make sense.

Whipps said Palaus economy relies heavily on tourism, which is greatly threatened by the impact of climate change. The countrys economic security is also a major issue in Palaus negotiations with the U.S. on the Compacts of Free Association, a broader agreement that will govern its relations with Washington for the next two decades. Those ties grant the U.S. unique military and other security rights in the islands in return for substantial aid.

Whipps said the administration of President Joe Biden has promised approximately $900 million over the 20-year period. While the amount is definitely less than what his country would have wanted, Whipps said he is largely satisfied with the terms, renegotiated from what was achieved during the administration of former President Donald Trump.

While there are some concerns that the U.S. Congress will cut foreign aid and in turn affect this funding, Whipps said he expects Washington will honor the agreement, which he hopes can be signed by both sides in Papua New Guinea next week.

Brown said efforts to tackle climate change and build resilience to its impact, such as better infrastructure and greater water and food security, require lots of money, especially for island nations with small populations. He said $1.2 billion a year for the region to spend on climate adaptation and mitigation measures would be a starter.

The fact remains that the underlying solution to assist countries that are facing the impacts of climate change is to build resilience, and building resilience takes money, he said.
The sudden resignation from former U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts Rachel Rollins Tuesday will have no impact on the agencys investigation into the Worcester Police Department, according to a U.S. Attorneys Office District of Massachusetts spokesperson.

Rollins is set to turn in her resignation papers after a monthslong ethics investigation by the Justice Departments inspector general into her appearance at a political fundraiser and other potential issues, her attorney said Tuesday.

The Justice Departments watchdog has yet to release its report detailing the findings of its investigation, but an attorney for Rollins told The Associated Press that she will be submitting a letter of resignation to President Joe Biden by close of business Friday.

The U.S. Attorneys Office District of Massachusetts said Rollins impending resignation will have no impact on the departments conjoined Department of Justice investigation into the Worcester Police Department.

Officials are looking into possible patterns of excessive force or discriminatory policing based on race or sex inside the Worcester Police Department.

Pattern or practices investigations are undergone as a result of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, which prohibits state and local governments from engaging in a pattern or practice of conduct by law enforcement officers that deprives individuals of rights protected by the Constitution or federal law, according to officials.

The agencies investigation will include a comprehensive review of policies, procedures, trainings, investigatory files and data. The investigation will also review the departments systems of accountability and how officers interact with the public, collect evidence and complete investigations.

Federal authorities launched their investigation in November 2022 after information was provided to the Justice Department, officials said. However, at this time, it is unclear what that information is.

We find significant justification to investigate whether the Worcester Police Department Worcester Police Department engages in a pattern or practice of racially discriminatory and gender-biased policing, and uses excessive force, said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division.

Worcester city officials say they are in full cooperation with federal agents.

Its unsure when the investigation will conclude. However, on average, the DOJ takes 26 months from the start of the investigation to announce its findings. Then it takes an average of an additional 15 months to reach a consent decree, settlement agreement or another result, according to the Worcester Regional Research Bureau.
Worcester Public Schools administration recommended a more-than $552 million budget for the coming year, marking an about $28 million increase over the current budget and including money for 228 new positions.

Deputy Superintendent Brian Allen, who is also the CFO and COO, credited an increase in state aid, including Student Opportunity Act funding, for the increase in the overall budget.
News / National

by Simbarashe Sithole

A Mutoko based Methodist church congregant Julius Danda (81) lost his gun while attending a church service recently.

The matter came to light at Mutoko magistrate court on Friday where he appeared before magistrate Mr Elijah Sibanda.Danda pleaded guilty to failure to secure a firearm charge.He was slapped with US$150 fine, failure to pay will earn him a month in jail.Prosecutor Nathan Majuru told the court that on May 6 Danda left his gun in his bedroom under the bed and went for a church service.Upon his return he could not locate his gun and went to file a police report where he was arrested.Quizzed on why he did not keep the gun safe in a gun cabinet he said he did not have knowledge about guns since he inherited it from his father.
Hong Kong: Choi Yuk-lin wraps up Beijing visit

Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin today concluded her visit to Beijing.

Ms Choi addressed the joint opening ceremony of the Leadership Enhancement Programme for Primary & Secondary School Principals and the Mainland Study Tour for Newly-joined Teachers in Beijing this morning. She thanked the National Academy of Governance and Beijing Normal University for organising the two training programmes, adding that she believed Hong Kong principals and teachers would find the programmes a good opportunity to raise their professional capability.

The Education Bureau will further foster exchanges and collaboration with the Mainland and promote experience sharing in subject development and educational research, she noted.

Ms Choi also paid a courtesy call on State Council Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office Director Xia Baolong and updated him on Hong Kongs latest education developments.

She joined Mr Xia on a visit to Hong Kong principals and teachers attending the Beijing-Hong Kong Basic Education Forum at Beijing Normal University where he encouraged them to work hard at their jobs after returning to Hong Kong from the study tour in Beijing and strive to be childrens favourite good principals and teachers.

Separately, Ms Choi met Hong Kong students studying at Peking University and Renmin University of China yesterday to understand their learning and daily lives in Beijing. She also visited the National Academy of Governance and met its management.

The education chief returned to Hong Kong this evening.

This story has been published on: 2023-05-16. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
The UAE is constantly pushing its limits in the maritime sector to foster an environment conducive to growth and expansion, attracting massive foreign investments from global leading maritime organisations.

As a result, we will be able to add significantly to the AED90 billion ($24.51 billion) the sector has been contributing to the national economy, and enhance the industrys role in the countrys success, said Eng Hassan Mohammed Juma Al Mansouri, Undersecretary for Infrastructure and Transport Affairs at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure.

Al Mansouri highlighted the UAE's significant progress in expanding and modernising its ports, increasing cargo volumes, and strengthening its position as a global trade hub at the Seatrade Maritime Logistics Middle East, the regions leading shipping and maritime supply chain event.

Strategic investments

Al Mansouri said: "Through strategic investments in infrastructure, technology, and talent development, the UAE has established itself as one of the most dynamic and innovative maritime hubs across the globe. Capitalising on the capabilities of our state-of-the-art ports, several of which rank amongst the top 10 globally, we have been able to handle over 25,000 port calls, and more than 19 million TEUs annually, cementing our position as a preferred destination for international trade. Despite achieving these significant numbers, we are dedicated to further development and progress.

Held under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MOEI UAE) the event took place at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Placed at the heart of the UAE Maritime Week, the conference and exhibition witnessed the participation of renowned industry leaders, experts, and policymakers from around the world, who discussed and showcased the most recent advancements and best practices in the industry.

The Ministerial and Government address was followed by an exclusive video address by Kitack Lim, Secretary-General, International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Collaboration

In his virtual address, Lim stressed on the importance of cooperation and collaboration to drive the maritime sector towards a brighter future. He also emphasised on the need for decarbonisation, digitalisation, and automation for more efficient global supply chains.

Spotlighting sectoral developments

The day continued on a high note with insightful panel discussions, keynote speeches, and interactive sessions focused on the industry's digital transformation, sustainable development, and supply chain resilience.

Attendees also had the opportunity to explore the latest products, services, and technologies showcased by the exhibitors at the event.

Vassilios Kroustallis, ABS Senior Vice President, Global Business Development, said: As a global maritime centre and leader, UAEs hosting of COP 28 represents a golden opportunity to demonstrate how our industry is responding to the siren call for a more sustainable model and is bringing together the extensive roll call of stakeholders we need to drive genuine change.

Of course, we in the marine industries are already operating in the midst of a perfect storm of technology disruption and rapid regulatory change triggered by the twin forces of decarbonisation and digitalisation. The last few years have shown how preparing for the unexpected must now be business as usual. I am looking forward to participating in Seatrade Maritime Logistics Middle East, and having some interactive discussions around the energy transition, new technologies trends, and regulatory compliance.

Road to COP28

As the UAE gears up to host the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in November this year, the country's preparations were a hot topic at the event. "The Road to COP28: Maritime's Responsibilities, Opportunities, and New Projects session brought together stakeholders from the UAE's COP28 team to discuss the regional maritime and logistics communitys plan of action, shed light on the innovation, leadership, and technical prowess of the sector, and how it can be leveraged to drive sustainability and success. It also highlighted the importance of COP28 in raising awareness about sustainable operations and inspiring action at all levels.

Chris Hayman, Chairman Emeritus, Seatrade, said: "With a significant increase in attendees this year, and the signing of some crucial agreements between the public and private sectors, we can say with a lot of conviction that the 2023 edition of Seatrade Maritime Logistics Middle East witnessed an impressive opening. The strong turnout is a testament to the importance of the event and the industry it serves. As we discover new opportunities in the sector, this event will continue to provide a critical platform for knowledge-sharing, networking, and collaboration to ensure a more sustainable, prosperous, and resilient future for all.-- TradeArabia News Service
News / National

by Staff reporter

A key state witnesses in Job Sikhala and Godfrey Sithole's violence incitement trial was at pains to support the allegations when the opposition legislators' trial kicked off Tuesday before Harare magistrate Tafadzwa Miti.The Citizens Coalition for Change lawmakers were arrested last year charged with inciting public violence in Nyatsime, Chitungwiza last year during slain party activist Moreblessing Ali's memorial service.Ali's murder allegedly by Zanu-PF's Pius Jamba in May last year ignited anger among opposition activists.It is said this resulted in mourners destroying homesteads belonging to Zanu-PF members in the area as was allegedly encouraged by Sikhala.Prosecutors also accuse Sithole of organising transport for mourners who attended Ali's memorial service which was rocked by violence.The two denied the allegations and through their lawyers, asked the key witness, Edmore Runganga, a detective attached to the Law and Order division, to show evidence linking them to the offence.Sikhala's lawyer, Harrison Nkomo asked Runganga if he could prove that his client's utterances in Nyatsime led to people committing violence.Runganga said while he could bring forward dockets that linked the matter to another case of public violence, he could not read it into the record as it was a case that was pending in another court."I can show you that this is the docket for Precious Jeche and two others (who were later arrested for violence)."However, I cannot disclose the information because it is before the court."My conscience tells me that there is a different motive to disclose the matter that is before the courts."I cannot give the State outline to you on the basis of the police procedures."I am not the prosecutor in charge of this case. I cannot divulge information that is still pending before the courts."Sikhala's second lawyer, Jeremiah Bamu then asked the detective to present evidence showing Jeche and others indeed acted after watching the video and he refused, accusing Bamu of bringing up unnecessary information.Oliver Marwa, representing Sithole, asked Runganga why his client was charged with incitement when he did not appear in the video that forms the basis of the charges against them.Runganga said "organising transport was part of the incitement."He also said he did not see the two committing the alleged offence.Trial is set to continue Wednesday and run on a continuous roll until Thursday.
(Bloomberg) -- Oil companies including Shell Plc and Eni SpA should pay $12 billion to repair environmental devastation in Nigerias crude-rich Niger Delta, according to a new report.

Most Read from Bloomberg

More than six decades of pumping oil has left Bayelsa state in the grip of a human and environmental catastrophe of unimaginable proportions, a panel established by the local government said in a report published on Tuesday. The extraction of crude is the overwhelmingly evident cause of this disaster in the state, home to more than 2 million people, it said.

Shells $1 Billion Oil Cleanup Makes Pollution Hot Spot Worse

The Bayelsa State Oil & Environmental Commission was established in 2019 by a former governor of the southern state. British lawmaker and former Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, chaired the London-headquartered commission, whose research was conducted by a group of international experts.

The area that is today Bayelsa was the first place in West Africa to produce commercial quantities of oil in the late 1950s. Since then, firms  mainly Shell and Eni  have pumped billions of barrels of crude from beneath the states land, swamps and waterways. Spills from their infrastructure have transformed the region into one of the most polluted places on Earth, according to the commissions report.

The oil companies say outside interference  by thieves and saboteurs  rather than equipment failure is to blame for the overwhelming majority of leaks from their facilities. A spokesman for Shells Nigerian subsidiary said that illegal activities continue to inhibit a normal operating environment. Spokesmen for both Shell and Eni said their companies clean up spills regardless of their cause.

Story continues

But the firms have failed to properly invest in, maintain, manage and protect pipelines that develop spills at a rate unparalleled when compared to other major oil producing countries, the report said. There are also strong reasons to believe that the official statistics significantly and systematically over-state the number of leaks caused by sabotage while downplaying those attributable to other causes, it said.

Fundamentally Compromised

About one-fifth of Nigerias oil output comes from Bayelsa  with almost all the rest pumped from other states in the Niger Delta or off the countrys shores. While international majors for decades produced most of the nations crude in partnership with the state energy company, they have been selling onshore and shallow-water licenses to local companies in recent years.

The oil majors that have extracted crude in Bayelsa and the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Co. should invest $12 billion to restore impacted areas, create new jobs, provide drinking water and treat health problems, according to the report. The funds work will require a parallel bureaucracy involving both domestic and international oversight, it said.

Shell-Backed Cleanup in Niger Delta Is Worse Than Estimated: NGO

The commission also recommended an overhaul of the regulatory and legal regime to allow heftier penalties, introduce a fast-track arbitration body and remove the influence of producers from the fundamentally compromised spill inspection process. The government departments tasked with enforcing environmental standards lack capacity, independence and influence, it said.

The NNPC, National Oil Spill Detection & Response Agency and Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission did not respond to requests for comment.

An environmental assessment published by the UN Environment Programme in 2011 led to the establishment of a $1 billion fund backed by Shell and the NNPC to clean up pollution in Ogoniland, a kingdom about 20% of Bayelsas size in the neighboring Rivers state. Internal documents prepared by the UN agency and reported by Bloomberg last year indicate the project is marred by wastefulness and mismanagement that could be making the region even dirtier.

Studies conducted for the commission found that toxins from hydrocarbon pollution are present at often dangerous levels in the soil, water and air across Bayelsa and have been absorbed into the human food chain, according to the report.

By tolerating what they would never contemplate in their home jurisdictions, the multinationals have displayed many of the hallmarks not just of gross negligence but of environmental racism, it said.

Eni and Shell both said they operate to the same standards in Nigeria as elsewhere in the world. There is nothing further from our corporate culture than the allegation of environmental racism, an Eni spokesman said.

--With assistance from Jane Pong.

(Updated with Shell, Eni comments from fifth paragraph)

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by Fern Siegel , May 16, 2023

Bluecoat Gin has launched its spring/summer campaign.

The work for the Philadelphia-based spirits brand comes just after it won double gold at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition for its barrel-aged gin.

The brand is again partnering with NBC Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Phillies for ads, on-air mentions, digital placements and billboards. The out-of-home push promotes Bluecoat at city bus stops and subways.

In addition, targeted streaming buys across Peacock, Paramount+ and YouTube ups efficiency and helps drive sales to millennials interested in cocktails and nightlife.

Saluk & Co. is the media AOR for the brand. The production company is &Rosas Barcelona.

"Bluecoat is an American gin that has always challenged the status quo. The creative communicates our American roots and also reflects fellow defiant creators. We leave the viewer with the message: "We're Americans. Not because we were born in the land of opportunities, but because we know exactly what to do with them," Chris Dunn, Buecoat's marketing director, told Agency Daily.

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The name is taken from Bluecoats, free-thinking revolutionaries who fought for American independence against the British crown.

Made at Philadelphia Distilling, the brand includes Bluecoat American Dry Gin, Bluecoat Elderflower Gin, Bluecoat Barrel Finished Gin and Bluecoat Gin for Seltzer. The flagship brand, American Dry Gin, was introduced in 2006. Using organic juniper berries, Bluecoat uses a secret blend of organic citrus peels that gives it a distinct finish.

Bluecoat Gin is the first craft distillery to open in Pennsylvania since Prohibition.
by Sarah Mahoney , Staff Writer @mahoney_sarah, May 15, 2023

Working with partners as diverse as the House of Gucci and the U.S. Department of Defense, Oura wants to expand how people use its connected-health device. Dor Kilroy, a new hire and the company's first chief commercial officer, recently told attendees at MediaPost's Brand Insider Summit D2C how Oura hopes to grow.

D2C Insider: What drew you to Oura?

Dor Kilroy: I'm a long-time user of Oura. I've been wearing it for the last five years. When I found it, it was something I needed. We're all trying to juggle everything -- family, work, everything you're trying to do with your health and fitness. This device wasn't telling me to work out harder or do more, but to look after my health.

D2C Insider: Tell us about the company.

Kilroy: We started in Finland ten years ago. The Finns have this wonderful culture of really understanding health. The leadership team is now in California, but the hardware and software are in Finland.

The Oura ring started because most of us don't know whether we sleep well. It helps people understand sleep cycles as a foundation for good health. Because it's worn on the finger, not the wrist, it captures other biometrics, including heart rate and menstrual cycles. We feel we will deliver on women's empowerment around hormones, and I'm stoked about that.

D2C Insider: Many wearables, including the Apple Watch, track sleep. How do you stand out?

Kilroy: First, we invest in science and research. Credibility is so important, and as marketers, we've got to be able to stand behind what we say. Second, we have a medical board of advisors, including Matthew Walker, the well-known sleep expert at Berkeley. Third, we invest in content and education, keeping it fresh all the time.

D2C Insider: You've just announced a big move into physical retail, partnering with Best Buy. Why?

Kilroy: It's a big step. We know we have a product people love. And our retention rates are in the high nineties, which is unheard of. So what was the problem for growth? It comes down to awareness, which you can either spend your way out of, or be smarter about distributing to new people. We're not picking one lane only. We're planting seeds and seeing what we can learn from Best Buy.

D2C Insider: Partnerships are also important. Can you tell us about the collaboration with Gucci?

Kilroy: It's pretty exciting when you're a small start-up, and the House of Gucci comes knocking. It helped get us out of this "wearables are just for fitness" thinking and into fashion and lifestyle. And for Gucci, it helped that brand stay relevant with meaningful digital innovation. With just 10,000 rings [in the collaboration], it sold out in weeks. Gucci is used to that, but it was shocking to us. It's a different way to think about our brand. We think of ourselves as wearables; to them, we are in the jewelry business.

D2C Insider: Natural Cycles is another partnership. What's that led to?

Kilroy: Anyone who has been through a fertility journey knows it's not fun. It can be lonely and frustrating. Since our ring senses temperature, people can use it if they are trying to get pregnant or for birth control. And what was neat was we had no idea the growth that would come from this partnership. Suddenly, we realized we have this whole other market. Most of the users had never heard of Oura before.





D2C Insider: Oura is known for sleep. How hard is it to move into other areas?

Kilroy: It's pretty hard to advance past one feature. We are looking at the market size of other features, appealing to a group we call the Worried Well, and their concerns are much bigger than just sleep. They're trying to biohack their way to the next thing. We want to catch that tailwind, and one of the reasons we're trying to go into new channels is so we can lead with another message.

In retail, we're hoping to have a broader holistic message: What's your heart rate? How is your stress? What are your hormones doing?

D2C Insider: How do you evaluate potential partnerships?

Kilroy: I have this rudimentary exercise. I just divide a page in half and write down what we might get out of it and what they might get out of it. All good relationships are based on knowing what success looks like for both partners. It's not enough to say, "Hey, let's put these two cool brands together.'" Another helpful exercise is to say "Let's both write the newspaper headline we'd want to see."

D2C Insider: You're also building Oura's enterprise sales. What does that entail?

Kilroy: It's another kind of diversification. We have our D2C business, now our retail, and with enterprise, we're selling into corporations, too. The Department of Defense is one. It's incredibly innovative and wants to map and measure human performance with the greatest degree of accuracy. Frankly, they've shown us new features we weren't even considering, like using Oura for illness detection. And many employers are looking for new ways to support employee wellness. Corporate gifting is big, too.

D2C Insider: How are you building the Oura community?

Kilroy: Community building is hard, and it can feel expensive. So it calls for understanding how people use the product day to day, then deciding how to communicate to deepen the relationship. We've found opportunities to have better conversations with members every day. What are we pushing to them? What are we pulling? I know everyone is busy, but listening to members is so important. I spend many a late night going down the Reddit rabbit hole to see what people are saying, for example. It probably doesn't help my sleep score.

D2C Insider: Can you discuss any recent course corrections you've made?

Kilroy: Yes, which is why testing is so important. We did a small test before we made the Best Buy move, for example, and there are things we didn't get right on that test, including the resources we'd need to do it well, from legal and accounting to the end user experience. So test, test, test.
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, May 15, 2023

Match Group, the parent company of Tinder and Hinge, has joined a group of Indian startups requesting that the Competition Commission of India (CCI) investigate Googles User Choice Billing system.

The CCI is the regulatory body that last year barred Google from requiring OEMs to bundle first-party Google apps and services with Android, reports Engadget. T

he order also mandates that Google must support third-party billing options.

Match Group argues in the complaint made with the Alliance of Digital India Foundation that Googles User Choice Billing system still imposes high service fees between 11% and 26% on app developers. The cost infers that Google has not complied, according to the foundation.

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Reuters reported that the order is not public, and Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The CCI imposed a $113 million fine on Google in October and said it must allow the use of third-party billing and stop forcing developers to use its in-app payment system that charges commission of 15% to 30%.

South Korea made a similar request of Google in 2021. Then in 2022, Match Group reached a temporary compromise with Google when the company withdrew its request for a temporary restraining order against Google after accusing it of unfair monopoly power in its mobile app marketplace.

At the time, the concessions guaranteed that Match Group apps can offer users choice in payment systems, reducing the undue burden on developers by its previously stated policy, and eliminating Google's complete control of user data.
by Les Luchter , May 15, 2023

Urban Health Plan, which runs community health centers serving three areas of New York City -- the South Bronx, Central Harlem and Corona, Queens -- has launched Im In MyEra, an ad campaign in English and Spanish stressing the continuing need for people to get COVID boosters or their first vaccines.

Featuring heartwarming photos of people together with their loved ones and the message to Be confident about tomorrow. Get your COVID vaccine or booster today, each of six ads replaces the ellipses in the main Im In MyEra, message with a demographically targeted group: "Super Abuelo," for baby boomers; Loving Hubby," for Gen X/boomers; "Proud Grandma" for boomers; Confident Glamma/Abuela Chula, for older Gen Z / boomers; "Adulting," for Gen Z/ millennials; and "Momma, for millennials/younger Gen X.

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Nonprofit ad agency F.Y. Eye created the ads and is placing the first four iterations over its free citywide PSA Network, which includes bus shelters, LinkNYC digital screens and nonprofit community spaces. PSA Network offers 2 million impressions, the agency says.

Additionally Urban Health Plan is running Confident Glamma/Abuela Chula, Adulting, and Momma in a social media campaign targeting the Bronx, Central Harlem and Corona, Queens, communities which the health provider explains were some of the hardest-hit by the pandemic, and where many are still recovering.

Indeed, in early April 2020, when the pandemic was barely a few weeks old, The New York Times was already reporting on Corona as the epicenter of the coronavirus.

New York Citys Black and Hispanic communities along with younger demographics are the populations most behind, especially when it comes to the bivalent boosters, Dr. Viju Jacob, Urban Health Plans medical director/vice president medical affairs, stated in a press release. He added that COVID is still a threat to those whose immune systems cannot fight the virus, or who cannot recover as quickly.

The Food and Drug Administration recently approved an additional dose of the current bivalent boosters for those 65 and older or who are immuno-compromised, Urban Health Plan pointed out.
by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, May 15, 2023

Earlier this year pharma giant Bristol Myers Squibb quietly launched a review for its U.S. media agency assignment. The company has been mum on the winnerappointed last monthbut multiple sources confirm the US AOR assignment has been awarded to Interpublics Mediabrands.

Previously the company worked with Havas.

advertisement advertisement This years media budget for the companys brands totals $430 million, according to an RFI that the company issued in January.

BMS declined to comment.

The BMS assignment continues a win streak of big accounts for Mediabrands. It won the $1.4 billion GEICO media account in February. Mediabrands officials could not be immediately reached for comment.

The BMS portfolio includes a diverse group of brands in different life stages and therapeutic areas, each with different media challenges, the RFI states. Until three years ago there were only eight focused brands. In the past two years alone, BMS launched nine new brands... Over the next 3-5 years, growth for BMS will primarily come from launch brands. Getting it right for the launch brands is essential.

A balancing act is required, the RFI stressed. And it is essential that the launch brand growth does not come at the expense of established and/or smaller spending brands. These brands must not get lost in the mix and must continue to meet business targets too, with media strategy and planning for their unique needs.

The RFI Lists eight current in-market brands including, Opdivo, Yervoy, Pomalyst and Abraxane.

Nine new launch products are listed including Zeposia, Bebloyzl, Abecma and Camzyos.

Competitive intelligence appears to be a priority according to the RFI. The private nature of pharma also creates challenges to developing insights into what competitors are doing, the document states. It can be very challenging for BMS to gather a complete understanding on competition without the aid and perspective of our third-party agencies. In media, this is no exception and agencies are heavily relied upon to provide insight into the always-changing landscape.

Health care professionals continue to be a primary focus for the pharma company. But, our once smaller product portfolio has expanded and become more diverse and now lends itself to DTC more than in previous years. On a parallel path, we are strengthening our muscle and expertise internally in customer experience to make a bigger impact.

BMS said it was looking to consolidate DTC planning and buying at an enterprise level to bring marketplace leverage that drives greater value and delivers media efficiencies, strengthen resource allocation and strategic planning, and enable rapid reporting to drive plan optimization while campaigns are in flight.
BMW is returning as official automotive partner of the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.

The automaker will mobilize more than 200 fully electric vehicles to transport guests and transform the luxury sedans into exclusive private cinema lounges.

The automaker is also launching its first BMW Films production in seven years.

The 7-minute film The Calm offers audiences Hollywood action on board the new fully electric BMW i7 M70 xDrive. The film stars Pom Klementieff ("Guardians of the Galaxy" series) and Uma Thurman ("Kill Bill" series).

Joseph Kosinski ("Top Gun: Maverick") takes executive producer credits and Sam Hargrave ("Marvel Cinematic Universe") is in the directors chair.

In the sound department, BMW has collaborated once again with two-time Academy Award winning composer Hans Zimmer to develop the score.

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Zimmer is also responsible for sounds inside the BMW i7 and some of BMWs other newest electrified models.

In the movie, Klementieff and Thurman play a pair of secret agents who have been summoned to a meeting in Cannes. Klementieff narrowly escapes a hijacking after an action-packed tussle in the rear of the BMW i7 M70 xDrive.

BMW Films is an integral part of BMWs rich history within the world of cinema, said Jens Thiemer, senior vice president customer and brand BMW, in a release.

The fact that BMWs fully electric vehicles are at the sharp end of the worlds first ever completely silent car chase sequence gives the movie additional relevance, he says.

On May 17, The Calm will make its world premiere exclusively in the rear passenger area of the all-electric BMW i7 luxury sedan on the BMW Theatre Screen. it will also be available on the BMW YouTube channel.
by Barbara Lippert , May 16, 2023





Photograph by Macall Polay/HBO

I hope the "Succession" writers arent prescient. Not only does Sundays terrifying episode, America Decides give us the heebie-jeebies by resurrecting the ghosts of the 2016 and 2020 elections, but it also portends some future trauma. Its almost too timely, coming right after the terror-inducing CNN Town Hall, aka Trump rally, and the former Presidents loss in E. Jean Carrolls rape suit, plus Foxs loss to Dominion over election fraud.

But in its comic moments, this (fictional) episode also suggests that an election outcome could be swayed by some sloppy sushi-eating.

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Yes, Greg the Egg somehow lets the wasabi fly. It lands in the eyes of Darwin, the very decent head of the decision desk. Trying to resolve the burning, Greg pours lemon-flavored La Croix into the poor mans retinas. Thus scalded, Darwins objection to the premature election call also gets watered down.

Or better yet, can the presidency be determined by rich boy Roman Roys macho quest for power and business self-interest? All signs point to yes.

I just loved the look of the ATN election night hanger, and the female anchors, all nails and blonde hair extensions in sleeveless, jewel-toned dresses.

There was so much great writing, acting, and direction in this pen-pen ultimate episode (only two more, folks!) that Ill break it down into major characters and themes.

Shiv and Tom:

Shiv is in total denialabout her marriage, pregnancy, Mattson, who her father was and how much she loved him.

For starters, shes been killing herself, spoon-feeding and handling Mattson, the pajama-ed man-baby who lied about his India numbers. Shes gambled her entire future on her secret business alliance with him, along the way betraying her brothers and sometime husband.

Yet the handsome Swede has never hired her, nor given her any proof that he intends to do so.

After she asked him directly what was in it for her, he responded, I dont want to lose you, like some cheating boyfriend.

Meanwhile, her disastrous Tailgate Party was only the night before. In that episode, she and Tom went at it on their balcony -- clobbering each other with hurtful truths.

And Tom, an empty-but-servile suit in over-his-head as new head of ATVs news division, is exhausted and concerned about his intestines.

But having partaken of some white stuff behind his white board with Greg, hes running around like a tall, headless, chicken.

Enter Shiv on the election floor, asking to have a word with him just as some important polls are closing.

Shiv: I just wanted to apologize for some of the things I said last night, OK? And to give you an opportunity to resp(Looks at his face.)

Tom: How should I frame my face? You scared Im gonna blab about you and Mattson?

Shiv: Jesus fucking Christ, Tom. My fathers just died. Maybe I can get a little consideration. For a number of reasons, Ive been feeling off-kilter.

Tom: But you hated him.

Shiv: I didnt hate him. I loved him.

Tom: It was complicated, and you also sort of killed him.

Shiv: You know what also, Im pregnant by you. Never a good time to say it, but you need to know.

Tom: Is that even true? Or a new position or tactic?

And thus, a beautiful new life will be born.

And Shiv, in the family vernacular, is fucked.

Honoring the father and the Fatherland: While its hard to say who is the most hurt by Logans death, my vote would be Roman.

Once vulnerable, Romulus, now in tin macho form, has wormed his way to the top, promising Jeryd Mencken, uber-right candidate (and perhaps his new Fascist daddy) that hell crown him President and give him favorable ATN coverage in exchange for blocking the GoJo takeover.

Though he has been known for his sexist, racist, anti-Semitic jokes before, on this night Romans especially attuned to patriarchal gender roles, making fun of wishy-washy Dems as dickless eunuchs in cucktown. These are little girls who deserve to be run over. 

Apparently, his newfound power as presidential election-maker has given him a permanent erection.

He assures his brother that Dads dead and the countrys just a big pussy waiting to be fucked.

While there have been flickers of dirty tricks all night, a suspicious fire in a Milwaukee voting center has destroyed 100,000 ballots, turning a previously blue state red.

It will be contested, yet Roman insists on prematurely calling Wisconsin for Mencken, giving him the election.

Calling ATN an authority of known integrity, Mencken makes an acceptance speech that drifts dangerously into Mein Kampf territory.

He mentions not wanting a marketplace where cunning men haggle, conjuring up the trope of Soros and Jewish-bankers-gone-wild.

Dont we long for something clean in this polluted land? Mencken asks. (As opposed to the wave of filth that Hitler spoke about?)

Not something grubby with compromise. Something clean, he says, chillingly. He later uses the phrase proud and pure -- a dog whistle to white supremacy.

Meanwhile, after riding high with the Living+ bump, co-CEO Kendall now feels edged out by Edgelord Roman.

In a raw and surprisingly honest scene with Shiv, Kendall admits I dont think Im a very good father. Maybe the poison drips through.

Pregnant Shiv, so conflicted about her own state, responds that hes a good guy.

But Kendalls paternal judgment stinks. He knows his adopted daughter Sophie and ex-wife Rava are feeling scared after Sophie was pushed on the street by a Ravenhead guy (a Tucker Carlson equivalent.)

So he decides to have a black SUV follow them for added protection, but doesnt tell them.

Covert surveillance to show you care? Rava asks.

Soph, he tells his freaked-out child over the phone, I love you, sweetie. Nothings gonna happen. Dont let the world push you, OK, sweetie?

He does try to get a similar commitment to killing the Mattson deal from the Democratic camp.

But after he finds out about Shivs betrayal with Mattson, and that she lied about the phone call, hes all in with Rome to declare for Mencken.

Though they have just installed a fascist into the Oval Office, Roman concludes, We just made a night of good TV.

Its a funeral for democracy. Next episode is a funeral for Logan.
by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, May 16, 2023

Cheil Worldwide agency Barbarian has appointed Vince Lim as its new Chief Creative Officer.

Lim who was part of the team that created the Fearless Girl statue unveiled on Wall Street in 2018 and the Creative Director behind the death of Mr. Peanut Super Bowl campaign a few years ago.

advertisement advertisement He brings nearly 30 years of experience to his new post and will report to Barbarian CEO Steven Moy.

Most recently he was the Head of Creative / Executive Creative Director at Argonaut New York, where he is credited with launching the shops East Coast presence.

Lim joins the agency amid a growth phase: Since Moy took over as CEO In 2019 it has added 20 new clients, including American Express and Post Consumer Goods. It has also launched four new business practices, including its Innovation Labs.

Moy also helped launch Barbarian Commerce, a global offering designed to create and operate ecommerce experiences for brands.
by Tanya Gazdik , May 16, 2023

Hertz and the city of Orlando, Florida are working together to encourage both visitors and residents to consider the use of electric vehicles.

Hertz Electrifies Orlando is a public private partnership aimed at accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles and expanding the environmental and economic benefits of electrification across Orlando.

As part of the partnership, Hertz aims to add up to 6,000 rental EVs to its existing fleet in Orlando, for availability to leisure and business customers as well as rideshare drivers. The company has not specified which EV models will be added. Polestar and Tesla vehicles are currently available for rental in many cities.

To help expand charging, Hertz will support the installation of up to 50 public fast chargers across the Greater Orlando area, in partnership with bp.

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Hertz Electrifies Orlando aligns with Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyers 2030 Electric Mobility Roadmap goals to accelerate EV adoption in multiple transportation sectors and develop a robust charging ecosystem to reduce emissions that harm public health, bolster climate change resilience, and increase access and affordability for all communities.

To help support the next generation of EV technicians, Hertz is donating an electric vehicle to Orange Technical College and providing EV education and training materials that will enable the school to incorporate EV technology into its auto servicing programs.

Orlando is the fourth City to partner with Hertz through Hertz Electrifies, as part of a multi-city rollout of this national public-private initiative. Similar initiatives are launching in Denver, Houston and Atlanta.
Fighting is raging in Sudans capital Khartoum (AP)

A French special forces soldier is gravely ill after being shot helping French government officials to escape from Khartoum, a minister told Parliament on Monday.

Britains Africa minister Andrew Mitchell told the Commons of the French casualty as he highlighted the dangers of trying to rescue people from wartorn Khartoum.

He said: When the French were seeking to evacuate their diplomats and some people from the wider French government platform, they were shot at as they came out through the embassy gateway.

I understand that one of their special forces is gravely ill.

Britain has evacuated its diplomats as the UK embassy and residence were caught between the two warring factions in Sudan.

Mr Mitchell said the operation was carried out, involving 1,200 military personnel, as the diplomats were judged to be in extreme jeopardy.

Ministers are now facing growing pressure to launch rescue operations to get thousands of British citizens out of the country as fears grow that the violence could spiral rapidly.

During a Turkish rescue operation, two out of three muster points to join it were reported to have come under fire.

Two thousand British citizens are believed to have registered with the Foreign Office as part of the plans for an evacuation operation.

The number of UK nationals in Sudan, some with dual citizenship, is believed to be possibly as high as 4,000.

Shadow Africa minister Lyn Brown told the Commons that some British nationals had managed to get out on a French evacuation flight.

She paid tribute to the bravery and professionalism of the UK armed forces involved in the operation to evacuate British diplomats and their families from Sudan.

She said Labour is concerned for the several thousand British nationals still trapped in Sudan, adding: Many will be frightened and desperate to leave, but uncertain of their next move or of the assistance that this Government will be able to offer them.

What they need to hear is a clear plan on how the Government will support those still in danger and how they will communicate with them and when.

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Two British warships may be heading towards Sudan to be able to take part in a rescue mission if one is launched, and some evacuation flights are leaving a small airfield near Khartoum as the international airport is out of action for such plane movements.

Mr Mitchell said the safety of British nationals in Sudan is the utmost priority of the Government, with the current travel advice for Britons in Sudan to stay in place given the fighting around the capital and situation in other areas.

We continue to advise all British nationals in Sudan to stay indoors wherever possible, says the Foreign Offices travel advice.

We recognise circumstances will vary in different locations. You should exercise your own judgement about your circumstances, including whether to relocate at your own risk.

Giving an update on the situation in the north-east African country, Mr Mitchell told the Commons: Movement around the capital (Khartoum) remains extremely dangerous and no evacuation option comes without grave risk to life.

Khartoum airport is out of action. Energy supplies are disrupted. Food and water are becoming increasingly scarce. Internet and telephone networks are becoming difficult to access.

We continue to advise all British nationals in Sudan to stay indoors wherever possible.

We recognise circumstances will vary in different locations across Sudan, so we are now asking British nationals to exercise their own judgment about their circumstances, including whether to relocate, but they do so at their own risk.

More than 420 people, including 264 civilians, have been killed and over 3,700 wounded in fighting between the Sudanese armed forces and the powerful paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces as two generals fight for power.

Mr Mitchell emphasised that a ceasefire was the best way to guarantee the safety of British nationals in Sudan.

Ending the violence is the single most important action we can take to guarantee the safety of British nationals and everyone in Sudan, he explained.

The Prime Minister (Rishi Sunak), the Foreign Secretary (James Cleverly), the Secretary of State for Defence (Ben Wallace) and I have been in continuous contact with allies and with key regional partners since the outbreak of violence to agree a joint approach to both evacuation and de-escalation of violence.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, May 16, 2023

California's controversial kids online safety code will unconstitutionally restrict news organizations' ability to distribute editorial material to minors, and will limit teens' ability to access content, The New York Times Company and Student Press Law Center are telling a federal judge.

"The clear and natural effect of the Act is that online publishers, including mainstream news websites, either must submit to content-based regulation, or they must substantially curtail young people's access," the press groups say in a friend-of-the-court brief filed Monday with U.S. District Court Judge Beth Labson Freeman in San Jose, California.

"The Act would do real harm to the First Amendment rights of minors and to news organizations and should be enjoined," the groups add.

The California Age-Appropriate Design Code, which was passed last year, requires online companies that are likely to be accessed by users under 18 to prioritize their "best interests" and "well-being." The law also includes privacy provisions that prohibit online sites that are likely to be accessed by minors from collecting or sharing their personal information -- unless doing so is necessary to provide a specific service that the minor is actively using, or unless collecting or sharing the information is in minors' best interests.

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The tech industry organization NetChoice is challenging the law in court, arguing that the mandate to prioritize young users' well-being violates the First Amendment.

"The 'harm' the law seeks to address -- that content might damage someones 'well-being' -- is a function of human communication itself," NetChoice argues in a request to block enforcement.

NetChoice also says the law is unconstitutionally vague, arguing that terms like "best interests" and "well-being" are subjective.

"A child whose relative died of COVID-19 may find news about the pandemic profoundly upsetting and be 'potentially harmed,' whereas another child would not," that organization argued earlier this year.

California officials are defending the law's privacy provisions, arguing in written papers that companies have no right to childrens personal information.

State officials also contended that the law won't restrict the material itself that's made available to minors.

But the Times and other critics disagree, arguing that the law's provisions regarding content will limit teens' ability to access a range of lawful material, including news.

The law "goes well beyond regulating data to also regulate online speech and expressive conduct," the Times and Student Press Law Center write.

The law itself explicitly says companies that develop or provide online services likely to be accessed by children "should consider the best interests of children when designing, developing, and providing that online service, product, or feature."

The statute also says: "If a conflict arises between commercial interests and the best interests of children, companies should prioritize the privacy, safety, and well-being of children over commercial interests."

The media organizations argue that the law's provisions "have the effect of limiting young peoples expressive conduct online and their access to otherwise lawful information and content -- including news content."

"The Act requires that websites take steps to limit young people from witnessing content, conduct, or advertising that may be 'harmful,' however the regulator defines that term," the organizations write.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, May 16, 2023

Amazon is asking a judge to throw out a lawsuit accusing the company of failing to comply with a New York City law requiring companies to notify consumers about their collection of biometric data.

The case, brought in March by Brooklyn resident Alfredo Rodriguez Perez, focuses on Amazon Go brick-and-mortar stores, which allow people to check out without paying a cashier.

Perez alleged in his complaint that he entered an Amazon Go store in Manhattan on January 30, 2023, and that the company's cameras and scanners then collected a broad range of biometric data about him and other shoppers. He specifically alleged that the company's technology identifies shoppers based on the size and shape of their bodies, then tracks them until they leave the store.

Amazon allegedly draws on the data as part of its checkout procedure, which allows customers to make purchases without waiting in line and then handing over cash or a credit card. The cashless technology, which Amazon calls Just Walk Out, allows people who have registered their palm prints with Amazon One to make purchases by scanning their palms. Customers who don't register their palm prints can enter the store by either scanning a credit card connected to their Amazon accounts, or using a smartphone app.

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Rodriguez Perez claims in his complaint that Amazon is violating a 2022 New York City law requiring companies that collect biometric data to post a clear and conspicuous sign near the entrance. That law allows consumers to sue for up to $5,000 per violation.

On Monday, the company asked U.S. District Court Judge Denise Cote in the Southern District of New York to dismiss the lawsuit at an early stage.

Among other arguments, Amazon says Rodriguez Perez consented to data collection by using an app to enter the store. The app provides people with an entry code, and also notifies people that their use of the code constitutes agreement to Amazon's conditions of use and privacy notice.

Rodriguez Perez cannot choose to enter an Amazon Go store after agreeing to terms disclosing that the store would use 'cameras, computer vision, [and] sensors' to track his activity, and then claim that he had no idea that Amazon was using such technology to track him in the store, Amazon writes. And even if Rodriguez Perez did not read the privacy notice, it was his choice not to do so.

The company also said the data it collects isn't detailed enough to identify individuals. Instead, the Just Walk Out technology relies on broad, distinguishing features that allow it to differentiate between the few dozen shoppers in the Amazon Go store at the same time, Amazon writes.

A customer can thus use an Amazon Go store even if they are in a head-to-toe covering, Amazon writes. Indeed, because the technology does not capture unique identifying information, it cannot even detect that a person who left and then promptly reentered the store is the same person.
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Watching an Imtiaz Ali movie is not just an aesthetic experience. Its a journey that leads to self-introspection, questioning life and sometimes leaving you hanging as if youre a character in a drama belonging to the genre of theatre of the absurd.

It is anything but a mere movie-watching exercise that youll forget the minute you finish that tub of popcorn. Also, for some, his films are not the appetizer they crave, but thats a discussion for another day.



As I begin thinking about the trajectory of his characters, I ask people around me, movie lovers, most importantly Imtiaz fans, about what inferences they draw from his character building. Interestingly, most conversations turn out to be about his female leads. My colleagues claim men like Ved, Jordan or even Jai, are total toxic boyfriend material. My friends believe Tara, Meera and Zoe are pseudo-intellectual females who should know better than pushing their own confusion onto the men in their lives and also enduring the toxicity of their respective partners.

Well, I have a different stance on this. I know for a fact that Imtiaz has countlessly been accused of being repetitive with his themes and sticking to a common template of storytelling, but thats probably because he draws inspiration from the common man. You and I, the common homo sapiens walking on this planet, with our own bundle of emotions, entwined ideologies, are beautifully twisted in our own ways. Just like that, his characters are constellations dancing around the same beautiful sky.

 UTV Motion pictures

Lets elaborate on why and moreover how were all a character in an Imtiaz Ali movie and his characters are literally all of us. People like Ved, Jordan or even Geet are forced to live in the confines of a societal made perception of living ones life. The moment they try to break free from this jail, they truly embrace who they are as a person.

The process of detaching themselves from reality and building their own version of it involves them literally running away from their respective situations and what happens when they decide to accept their new fate? They are shunned. Were all guilty of using escapism as a tool to soothe ourselves at some point in time. The biggest difference is obviously the fact that we come back to our reality and dont literally jump off a train or take a flight to Corsica.

Actually in his first movie, Socha Na Tha, both his lead characters truly find happiness when they run away from their houses! If using running away as a metaphor for how most humans deal with society is not clever thinking, then what is?



When Heer says "Mujhe pahadon mein jaana hai, phir se Himalayas dekhna hai, and when Geet says, Mai bahut jaldi bhaagne vali hun Anshuman k saath, tum aur Roop bhi bhaag lo Fir chaaron ikkathe rahenge pahado mein, I cannot help but infer the gorgeous use of mountain imagery in most of his movies.

Most characters emote the requirement to physically MOVE from the place and the situation they are currently living in. Mountains represent freedom, climbing a peak represents conquering the fear inside you, travelling the zig-zag roads represents crossing the hurdles of the mundane life, fully aware that after this long drive of patience, a beautiful, peaceful view awaits from the top.

One might call me a dreamer, but isnt dreaming an escape from reality? Isnt travel synonymous with taking a break and exploring yourself as you walk in the street of a new place? Isnt there a Heer or a Geet in you and I when we literally dream of running away to a land far away when the weight of life sometimes feels too heavy?

 Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision

You may argue that if these characters are like us and are inspired by the common man, then theyre obviously flawed. Well, thats the beauty. They come with their own toxic traits, weaknesses and strengths which make them commit mistakes and regret the decisions they make.

Another element that I have often observed in his movies is the use and infusion of the manic pixie dream girl. For the unversed, this is a trope used in cinema stories which describes a girl being different from other girls and her presence in the life of the male protagonist gives a deeper meaning to his existence and helps him in his own path of self-discovery.

Ved realizes what Tara meant when she tells him ye tum nahi ho Ved after turning down his proposal, only after shes gone.

Jai finally realizes his true feelings for Meera after shes already married to someone else (that scene where hes crying looking at her photograph and sighing kya ye tum ho Meera is freaking magical!).

Aditya Kashyaps life takes a 180-degree turn all thanks to his fateful encounter with Geet on a freaking train! Maybe his male characters are flawed, but then all humans are. A lot of us need human enablers whore our own version of this manic pixie trope, right?



In the age that we live in, it is believed that art imitates life (contrary to what Oscar Wilde believed) and flawed characters with broken tales of their own in an Imtiaz film is a gorgeous mess of an example of this belief. In the end, it is absolutely safe to presume that were all like characters in his movies.

Youre maybe the Tara to a Ved in someones life or youre the confused Jai Vardhan who let his Meera get married to another man. Maybe youre Zoe whos responsible for her own confusion in life or probably youre Harry, whos perennially running away from life in a land far away.

You could be Geet, or worse, Anshuman, who has broken the heart of a human who truly loved you.

Maybe youre Jordan, who made an entire journey of leaving the Janardan inside you to search for the Heer of your life. What I mean is that were all lost souls, on a path of self-discovery, just like Imtiazs characters.

 Eros international

We may get on a train, take a one-way ticket to Corsica or crave some chor bazaari with an ex, in the end, were all scared of not being loved, sometimes life is intimidating and no one wants to deal with the heartbreak of any kind.

In Jordans words, Mujhe ye sab kuch nahi chahiye. Mujhe nahi ban na bada, mera dil nahi tootna chahiye Khatana bhai, mere paas aur kuch nahi hai. Ye nahi hona chahiye.


Sonakshi Sinha made her OTT debut recently with Reema Kagti and Zoya Akhtars web series Dahaad co-starring Gulshan Devaiah, Sohum Shah and Vijay Varma.



The show is about 3 cops in the small town of Mandawa, Rajasthan, who go on the hunt to nab a serial killer who has killed 29 innocent women.

While Sonakshi Sinha plays Sub-Inspector Anjali Bhati and Sohum Shah plays Sub-Inspector Kailash Parghi, Gulshan Devaiah plays their senior officer SHO Devi Lal Singh.

 Amazon Prime Video

Vijay Varma, on the other hand, plays the character of serial killer Anand Swarnakar, a Hindi literature professor.



The 8-part series makes for an interesting and engaging watch that will intrigue you from start to finish with brilliant performances throughout, especially from the 4 leads and terrific narrative woven by creators Reema Kagti (also director) and Zoya Akhtar.

However, there are 3 loopholes in the show that stopped it from becoming a perfect serial killer thriller:

Note: Major Spoilers Ahead

1. No DNA Test?

 Amazon Prime Video

While the cops often found the bodies of the victims days, weeks or even months after they were murdered, the last victim's body was found a few hours after she was killed.



Despite that, it was difficult to understand why the Bhaati, Parghi and Devi Lal didnt go for a DNA test to try and catch the killer considering they already suspected Anand.

They knew all the victims had intercourse minutes or hours before getting killed and even if the condom was used as mentioned in the show, there are still ways to know the identity of the person involved. But, its strange nobody thought about it.

2. No Lookout Notice For The Serial Killer?

 Amazon Prime Video

The town and the nearby areas are shaken by the revelation that 29 women have been killed in a similar pattern which means it is the work of a serial killer.



Later, when Anand escapes and its been a month since the cops got any lead on where he is, it is strange that not once did they think of circulating his picture in the media to make it difficult for him to survive.

I am pretty sure, the story about a serial killer killing 29 women would attract a lot of attention which means the woman he marries later in Goa will also be cautioned about Anand/Richards real identity and intentions because his face will be all over the place.

3. No Use Of Social Media?

 Amazon Prime Video

After marrying Anand who poses as Richard in the final episode, Miriam writes a letter to her friend Melissa in Nagpur because she loses her phone and doesnt have her contact number. Anand of course doesnt deliver the letter and dumps it in a lake instead.



Strangely, Miriam doesnt think of contacting her friend via social media and resorts to the age-old way of writing letters when she met Anand via a social media platform and Bhaati too is shown using social media in earlier episodes.

Because Miriam doesnt think of contacting her friend via social media and Anand doesnt deliver the letter, it becomes a bit difficult for the cops to know where Miriam is as Melissa is unaware.

Despite these three quite convenient loopholes, Dahaad makes for a binge-worthy show that will definitely satiate the thrill junkie in you.
In a comical turn of events, Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan found himself at the receiving end of fans' backlash after publicly expressing gratitude to a fan who gave him a bike ride.

Little did Big B know that his heartfelt gesture would land him in hot water when eagle-eyed social media users spotted a glaring safety violation  neither Amitabh nor his enthusiastic rider were wearing helmets during the ride.

 Amitabh Bachchan

Taking to Instagram to share the picture-perfect moment, Amitabh Bachchan poured his appreciation for the fan who helped him beat the notorious Mumbai traffic.



However, what he didn't anticipate was the swift and humorous retaliation from his followers. Tagging Mumbai Police in their comments, fans wasted no time in pointing out the missing helmets and urging the authorities to address the matter.

The Mumbai Police, known for their quick response on social media, promptly acknowledged the fans' concerns. Thankfully, they were pretty clear in letting the public know that even celebrities can't escape the watchful eyes of vigilant netizens, and the law remains the same for all, regardless of their star status.

However, Amitabh Bachchan isn't the only Bollywood personality who was caught for going helmet-less.

 Twitter

Anushka Sharma also faced a similar predicament. While navigating through a roadblock, Anushka hopped onto a bike with her trusty bodyguard, but neither of them bothered with the essential headgear.



The momentary lapse in judgment didn't go unnoticed by her fans either. Social media exploded with hilarious comments and cheeky tweets, all playfully reminding Anushka and the Mumbai Police of the helmet's significance in road safety. Once again, the Mumbai Police swiftly responded, assuring everyone that the traffic police had been duly informed about the incident.

This light-hearted incident serves as a reminder that no matter how famous or adored celebrities may be, they can never escape the watchful gaze of their ardent followers. It also highlights the fact that traffic rules apply to everyone, regardless of their stardom.

 YRF

Thankfully, the Mumbai Police's dedication to upholding road safety remains steadfast, ensuring that even our favorite Bollywood icons are held accountable for their actions.



So, next time you spot a celebrity zipping through the city streets without a helmet, remember to channel your inner Mumbai Police on social media.

 YRF

It's through such moments of hilarity and collective reminders that we can continue to spread awareness about road safety and encourage everyone, including our beloved stars, to set a positive example for their fans.


Over deviled eggs, latkes, bagels, and roe, Naama Shefiwearing her lucky carp broochis expounding on the diversity that exists within Jewish cuisine. Were at the historic Russ & Daughters cafe on Manhattans Lower East Side sharing quintessential New York City-centric Jewish foodsbut as Shefi knows better than anyone, the diaspora is sprawling and multicultural, so the definition of Jewish food encompasses something much broader than gefilte fish and matzah ball soup.

She explains that even in Israel, the varied geography and agricultural traditions contribute to a unique dining experience. People think about Israel as a desert, but it is actually made up of many micro climates, she says. Its a tiny place, smaller than New Jersey, but it has green mountains, a beautiful coast, lush valleysand also a desert. When you have that kind of density, creativity, and immigrants from 70 nations, ideas and recipes travel at a very rapid pace, and then they transform and combine in very interesting ways. Toss that into the Mediterranean climate and what you have is the perfect culinary storm.

Such discussion is at the heart of the Jewish Food Societys popular podcast, Schmaltzy, hosted by program director Amanda Delland where the intersection of Jewish identity and food is explored through interviews with guests like Alison Roman, Jerry Saltz, and Maira Kalmanas well as Shefis new print publication. Asif Journals first issue covers a variety of topics ranging across the Halachic judgment regarding lab-grown steak, how kibbeh was transformed as a result of its relocation to Israel, and the essential ingredients that make up the Ethiopian pantry.

Its an endeavor to catalog as many Jewish recipes and culinary traditions as possible, and an attempt to capture the true diversity and breadth of Jewish food culture. Asif recently published its first issue, celebrating one year of Asif: Culinary Institute of Israel in Tel Aviv. (Asif: Culinary Institute of Israel is a joint venture between two nonprofits, the New York-based Jewish Food Society and the Tel Aviv-based Start-Up Nation Central.)

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Asif, which means harvest in Hebrew, also translates its work into Arabic, and centers Palestinian and Arab food stories that are often overlooked. A beautifully designed culinary digest printed on thick cardstock, the publication shares the institutes explicit aims to bring the Arab society into this dialogue, as Shefi says, because its clear that one of the most significant influences on our cuisine is Palestinian Arab food. When I spoke with the 42-year-old at the magazines December launch party, held at Chef Michael Solomonovs new restaurant, Kfar in Williamsburg, she had temporarily lost her voice, and in a hoarse whisper, emphasized: We want to cover every iteration of Israeli food traditions.

AJ_03 A spread from Asif Journal, designed by Field Day Studio and co-edited by Matan Choufan.

Shefi grew up on a kibbutzan intentional, typically agriculture-based communityin 1980s Israel, and began working a variety of jobs around age 10, making paninis for visitors to the communitys country club and tending to the cornfield. Her mother, an educator who recognized her daughters talent, told Shefi she must realize her potential; she took her out of the kibbutz education system and sent her to art school, which she likens to the Juilliard of Tel Aviv. (It was there that she studied filmmaking and learned the fundamentals of storytelling.) Her hybrid kibbutz and art school life informed much of the way Shefi approaches the world; the collectivism of the kibbutz taught her how to work in a community and think of others, while her later experiences studying filmmaking at The New School taught her how to analyze the world around her and develop a strong point of view.



To be proudly Israeli is complicated for obvious political reasons, but, Shefi says, I do feel that from different circumstances and influences, the result is that, in this country, the food culture is something extremely diverse and extremely exciting. Asif exists to research those influences, and to know them and to honor them, and to just give them space, she sayssomething more difficult to accomplish than one might think, because with food media, there is no gray. But 20 percent of Israels population is Arab, and of course, the influence on the cuisine is tremendous. So this is really part of that.

As a nonprofit with limited resources, translating and creating content from an Arabic point of view for what may ultimately be a small readership is a big commitment. But Shefi is playing the long game and acknowledges that in the early years of building an institution, its natural that people will be skeptical. Its on us to gain their trust, she says, and hopefully, to grow interest in the content.

In creating exhibitions and events at the culinary institute in Tel Aviv, and producing stories and content for the website and journal, Shefi and her team have prioritized Arab voices, too. In their first year, they reached out to every Arab researcher and chef they knew to ask them to collaborate, to teach them, and to share their knowledge. Still, not everyone has been on board with her vision. Some people accept this invitation with enthusiasm, and others not, Shefi says.

In 2021, the Palestinian Arabic editor at the Israeli newspaper, Haaretz, accused Shefi and the institute of cultural and culinary appropriation, writing that presenting Palestinian foods as Israeli cuisine reflects the injustices of the occupation, discrimination, and cultural erasure of the Palestinians in Israel.

I totally respect and understand where people are coming from, Shefi tells me. I do. She tries to convince potential collaborators as much as she can, that what were trying to create is about providing space and about honoring truly, with all honesty, your culture, your influence, your history. And yes, sometimes it brings difficult conversations. Its not all pink, not at all. But thats part of the job, she says.

AJ_01 A spread from Asif Journal, designed by Field Day Studio and co-edited by Matan Choufan.

I mean, I cant tell you that were going to fix [everything], Shefi continues. But I do feel like thats the place of art and film and food. Its people to people. So just to be more knowledgeable about people who live next to you. Its really about that.

A month after that conversation, the Jewish Food Society co-hosted a Passover Seder with the designer Susan Alexandra in lower Manhattan. More than double the number of expected guests arrived, and extra tables and place settings were hastily crammed into corners to accommodate the eager crowd. The rabbi, Samantha Frank, said that it was in the spirit of Passover to make room, so none would be turned away. She pointed out the orange on the Seder plate, in recognition of LGBTQ+ Jews and others who are marginalized in the Jewish community, and acknowledged: Its only within the last 10 years or so that women could even lead a Seder like this.

This is very different from the Seder I had with my family last night, Shefi told me. Her mother, father, and sister, all in town from Israel, had shared an intimate and thoughtful meal the night before, reflecting on the ongoing political conflict and injustice in their home country. Meanwhile, at our non-traditional celebration, we were served eggplant tachin: a Persian baked rice dish from Orly Elyashar that traces its history to the Hamedani Jewish community Elyashar grew up in, in Iran. As far as metaphors for Shefis project go, its a neat one: subtle, a little subversive, and straight from the heart.

Originally Appeared on Vogue

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A protester holds 'Stop executions in Iran' and 'Free Iran'

A protester holds 'Stop executions in Iran' and 'Free Iran' placards during a demonstration outside Downing Street in London on Jan. 14, 2023. Credit - Vuk ValcicSOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

The number of known executions carried out globally rose by 53% in 2022, according to a new report published by Amnesty International.

There were 883 known cases of executions across 20 nations, but Amnesty said that three countriesIran, Saudi Arabia, and Egyptwere responsible for 90% of these capital punishments. While Amnesty cited China as the country where executions are most prolific, based on its analysis of available information, this data is classified as a state secret and therefore excluded from the report. The annual figure is believed to be in the thousands.

In terms of known executions, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt routinely top the list in Amnestys annual report. These countries are prolific executioners, they feature in Amnestys top five countries with the highest number of executions yearly, Oluwatosin Popoola, a legal advisor at Amnesty, tells TIME.

There are other Middle Eastern countries with known executions last year. Executions were recorded in Iraq (11), Kuwait (7), the Palestinian Territories (5), Yemen (4), and Syria, though the figure for the latter is unknown. While Tunisia and Libya in 2022 issued at least 26 and 18 death sentences, respectively, none had been carried out at the time of the report.

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Its quite unclear why theres been this increase. But what is clear is that these [three] countries are continuing to order the use of the death penalty [as] the world moves away from the use of the death penalty, Popoola adds. He notes that when Amnesty started its global campaign to end the death penalty in 1977, only 16 countries had outlawed it, a figure that now stands at 112.

Among developed nations, the U.S. recorded 18 executions in 2022. In Europe, no executions were recorded with the exception of Belarus, a country often referred to as Europes last dictatorship.

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Heres what to know about the three countries which still account for most known executions around the globe.

Iran

Iran was the nation with the highest known executions last year. Of the total 576 instances of capital punishment, 279 people were sentenced for murder, 255 for drug-related offenses, 21 for rape, and 18 on charges of enmity against God. The latter charges include two men who were detained as a result of sweeping anti-government protests in the Islamic Republic last year.

These increases were as a result of executions for murder and drug related offenses; recorded executions for murder had risen sharply by 75%, from 159 that were recorded in 2021 to 279, Popoola says.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia carried out three times as many known executions in 2022 as it did in 2021the 196 figure is the highest number observed for the country by Amnesty in 30 years. The figures were also provided by Saudi Arabias human rights commission, suggesting a degree of transparency that countries such as Iran did not offer.

In one single day alone, 81 people were executed by the Saudi authorities, Popoola says, noting that many of the cases were related to terrorism offenses. Forty-one of these people belonged to the countrys Shia Muslim minority, including two people convicted of crimes related to their involvement in anti-government protests.

There was also a spike as a result of the resumption of executions for drug related offenses, Popoola adds, adding that in the previous year Saudi Arabia did not record any executions for drug-related offenses.

Egypt

While Egypt ranks as the third highest recorded executioner, its 24 figure is a 71% drop compared to 2021, when 83 people were executed. But the nation imposed 538 death sentences in 2022, up from 356 in 2021, a sign that next years tally may increase.

Egypt was one of three African Union countries to carry out executions, along with Somalia and South Sudan, according to Amnestys report, which also noted that Egypt has in some cases imposed death sentences without defendants being present.

While the figures where executions are taking place amount to a five-year high, Popoola says that the reduction in countries carrying out executions allows them to remain hopeful. Amnesty has never been this optimistic that the death penalty will one day be totally abolished in the world, he says.
Another shipment of humanitarian aid to earthquake-affected areas is ready for departure as the Neptune Odyssey is scheduled to sail from the port of Piraeus tomorrow, Wednesday, May 17, 2023, heading for Beirut. Humanitarian supplies will be received in Beirut and transported by road to Syria with the assistance of the Syrian Red Crescent. The shipment, weighing 17 tons, includes basic necessities and food and is part of the relief effort of Greek citizens collected by the Municipality of Athens. The ship for the transport of the humanitarian aid is offered pro bono by Neptune Lines Shipping & Managing Enterprises, owned by Melina Travlos.

Greece, with feelings of support and solidarity, responded from the very first moment to the needs of the neighbouring peoples for humanitarian aid. Tomorrow's dispatch is part of a series of actions undertaken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to coordinate the organization, collection and dispatch of humanitarian supplies to the areas affected by the earthquakes of 6 February 2023.
JOURNALIST: Elections are being held in Turkiye today and heres with us the right man on the right day []. Minister, welcome.

N. DENDIAS: Thank you.

JOURNALIST: It is indeed a very special day today. Weve been talking about the Turkish elections for some time now and Ive noticed that you, like us, have been watching Evangelia Tsikrika with great interest, as youre also interested in this issue.

N. DENDIAS: Its an issue that our country is interested in.

JOURNALIST: It is indeed. And while we have a lot to say, Id like to start with this, following the report of our correspondent. So, theres Tayyip Erdogan whom youve known for so many years, and theres a second candidate who is heading - a little bit more - towards a more Westernized way of life. What outcome would be in our best interests, Minister?  mean, as Greece, whats in our best interests, to put it in layman's terms?

N. DENDIAS: But as you realize, Ive answered this question numerous times.

JOURNALIST: 100 times.

N. DENDIAS: Actually, to be honest, I havent answered this question that many times since Im simply not allowed to answer this question.

We would like to see a Western-friendly, democratic, economically strong, i.e., without economic crises, Turkiye. Now, I believe, it is up to the Turkish society and the Turkish people to decide which of the two presidential candidates will serve this purpose.

If I may make a general statement, however, Id look behind the slogans. I wouldnt stick to each candidates slogans. I would look deeper at what each candidate stands for, where he comes from, and what his party, the Republican Party, and the Kemalists have done historically after Kemal's death. What have they done since Inonu?

Who was in power in Turkiye at the time of the invasion of Cyprus? Things are a bit more complicated than they appear if you just look at the slogans of the parties.

[...]

JOURNALIST: [...] Let me return to Greek-Turkish relations and ask you if this calm period, kind of "honeymoon" -actually its not a month, it's a three-month, four-month period that we're going through-, is a period of appearances or of essence? In other words, we have demonstrated a human face to the tragedy experienced by our neighbors following the devastating and tragic earthquake. So, has that essentially normalized our relations?

N. DENDIAS: No, but it has opened up a window of opportunity. It has created a period of no tension, no violations, no overflights, no aggressive rhetoric, and no incidents at sea.

What does that give us? It provides us with an opportunity: following the elections in both countries, the two new governments - which may be the same but with restored public confidence - will have the political capital to sit down and discuss our dispute.

Do we believe that this will miraculously solve a problem that has been unsolved for decades? If you asked me for a percentage, Id give 10/90 or 20/80. The odds are not great.

But we have to try. And once again, this climate gives us the ability to try it without the constant tension we've experienced so far.

Anyway, one of the "conditions" imposed by the Greek side for sitting at a table and talking is that there be no violations, no overflights, and no aggressive rhetoric.

Its done and thats very important; let's try and see if we can open a "big door" out of the "small window".

JOURNALIST: Who is Greeces most valuable ally at the moment?

N. DENDIAS: Do you mean in the global community? First of all, Id start with the United States. But I would not limit myself there. I would put France next to them, as well as a number of Arab countries; Id also add all these countries that believe that International Law and good rules of conduct, as well as the UN Charter, are the best way for nations and states to continue to exist and prosper.

I would add all these countries, which we have tried very hard to make aware of our positions, our problems, and our needs over the last four years, as they are countries that can join us in what I would call a common-sense effort.

I believe that if everyone considers what is simply reasonable, then they will act in a way that serves Greek positions.


JOURNALIST: Were there any decisions you took during your four years at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that you would change if you could go back in time? I'm referring to the period of extreme tension with Turkiye, as well.

N. DENDIAS: As regards foreign policy, time - in the sense of having established a distance from moments of tension and strain of the past - is becoming a litmus test for evaluating achievements and drawing conclusions.

Four years on from 2019, I believe that developments have vindicated our major foreign policy choices to a large extent.

Our primary concern has been to broaden and deepen the scope of Greek foreign policy, as well as to expand and exploit our country's alliances, with the aim of effectively addressing all challenges.

Regarding Turkiye in particular, Id like to emphasize that my decisions and actions have always been dictated by my firm conviction that we should work systematically to create the conditions for a meaningful and effective dialogue to resolve our dispute over the delimitation of the continental shelf and EEZ, always on the basis of International Law and the International Law of the Sea.

JOURNALIST: What will the next day be like in Greek-Turkish relations when both countries describe each other's entrenched positions as a "challenge"? Is it possible to break the vicious circle of tension?

N. DENDIAS: I cannot predict the near, let alone the far future of Greek-Turkish relations. This is primarily dependent on the neighbors will and the attitude of the next Turkish government, whatever it may be. For our part, without harboring any illusions as regards the firm Turkish positions, we believe that, at this stage, the generally improved climate in our bilateral relations could be used to establish an open channel of communication between the two countries. In the long run, that could potentially lead to the launch of a serious and sincere dialogue aimed at reaching an agreement to resolve our sole dispute on the basis of International Law and the International Law of the Sea.

JOURNALIST: Youve brought up the agreements reached with Italy and Egypt as examples of Greece's willingness to find solutions in accordance with International Law. Is that an implicit admission that we should also be ready for a compromise as regards our dispute with Turkiye?

N. DENDIAS: I frequently use the agreements with Egypt and Italy as examples because, indeed, in both cases we were able to secure a good outcome to long-standing negotiations through intensive and constructive dialogue, achieving solutions on the basis of International Law and the International Law of the Sea.

Because after all, this has been our country's long-standing position: resolving issues related to the delimitation of the continental shelf and EEZ on the basis of International Law and the International Law of the Sea. Obviously, we want the same thing to happen in the case of our sole dispute with Turkiye. Whether this will happen though depends primarily on the readiness of the other side. For our part, we should seize every possibility and every window of opportunity in this regard, demonstrating wisdom, confidence, and sincerity, while avoiding creating excessive expectations.
An alleged white nationalist who pledged his loyalty to Nick Fuentes has reportedly been working for US Rep Paul Gosar for nearly two years.

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 congressional staffer Wade Searle to accounts belonging to a prominent and prolific Fuentes acolyte.

The Republican congressman from Arizona has previously tried to evade ties to Fuentes, a 24-year-old neo-fascist pundit seen as the leader of an authoritarian groyper movement of mostly young men.

In February 2021, Mr Gosar 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, and he appeared to defend a fundraiser for his congressional campaign advertised by Fuentes later that same year.

Unfortunately, this seems to be part of a pattern for Congressman Paul Gosar, according to a statement with the Republican Jewish Coalition shared with The Independent. Nick Fuentes is a vile antisemite who trafficks in nauseating Jew hatred ... Fuentes brand of bilious rhetoric has absolutely no place in the Republican Party or in the halls of Congress.

Mr Searle is allegedly behind accounts across several social media platforms promoting content affiliated with the so-called groyper movement, according to a trove of evidence reviewed by Talking Points Memo, Arizona Right Wing Watch and The Informant. 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.

During a House Oversight Committee hearing on 16 May, Democratic US Rep Jasmine Crockett of Texas lambasted reports that a staff member who is working for a Republican on this committee who has ties with and supports a white nationalist who has proclaimed himself to be just like Hitler.

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I dont really know what to say, except for the fact that this is a farce, she said.

Kyle Herrig, executive director of activist watchdog group the Congressional Integrity Project, has also called the committees chair James Comer to remove Mr Gosar and demand that Mr Gosar fire Mr Searle.

The American people deserve better than to have white supremacists running around the halls of Congress as members and staffers, Mr Herrig said in a statement.

Comer continues to claim he is trying to conduct credible and serious investigations with the House Oversight Committee, but his tacit acceptance of white supremacists completely contradicts his claims, he added. If James Comer had a single ounce of integrity or credibility in his body, he would demand Rep Gosar fire his staffer and remove Gosar from his committee.

Mr Searle was first hired by Mr Gosar in November 2021 and has been working as his digital director since May of last year.

Mr Gosar, one of the most far-right members of Congress, has not yet addressed the findings on social media or otherwise. Fuentes also has not discussed the report; he said he was not feeling well on Monday night and did not go on his livestream.

Mr Gosar, Mr Searle and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy did not return The Independents requests for comment.

Mr Gosar, a seven-term congressman, has a long history of ties to conspiracy theories and far-right extremism, including a social media presence that amplifies white supremacist and neo-Nazi-linked content and memes.

The same month that Mr Searle was hired, Mr Gosar was censured by House lawmakers and removed from his committee assignments after a video posted to his Twitter account edited himself into the anime Attack on Titan beheading Democratic US Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

After Republicans won a majority in the House in the midterm elections last year, Mr Gosar was reinstated to his committee assignments.

Alan Zeichick, board chairman for the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Phoenix, said in a statement to the Arizona Republic that the revelations are neither shocking nor surprising.

Rep Gosar remains an embarrassment to the state of Arizona, he added. This certainly isnt the first time Rep Gosar has embraced neo-Nazis. We presume it wont be the last.

.@hunterw reports a congressional staffer for Rep. Paul Gosar is a prominent follower of neo-Nazi Nick Fuentes.



"There's really extensive links, and this is not just a some run-of-the-mill follower of Nick Fuentes. This is also someone who was in internal leadership chats." pic.twitter.com/4D80Utx39E  All In with Chris Hayes (@allinwithchris) May 16, 2023

The organisations president Paul Rockower said any statement from Mr Gosar claiming to affirm his support for Jewish people would be meaningless at this point.

We are tired of his gaslighting, he told the Arizona Republic. There have been way too many of these incidents for us to believe it and we dont accept it.

The Anti-Defamation League said the revelations from Talking Points Memo deserve a congressional investigation.

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 group said in a statement.

This needs a full investigation, the group stated. Hate and extremism have no place in government  at any level.
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.

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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.










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WASHINGTON (AP)  Debt-limit talks shifted into an encouraging new phase Tuesday as President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy named top emissaries to negotiate a deal to avert an unprecedented national default. Biden cut short an upcoming overseas trip in hopes of closing an agreement before a June 1 deadline.

The fresh set of negotiators means discussions are now largely narrowed to what the White House and McCarthy will accept in order to allow lawmakers to raise the debt limit in the coming days. The speaker said after a meeting with Biden and congressional leaders that a deal was possible by week's end, even as  in McCarthy's view  the two sides remained far apart for the moment.

Biden was publicly upbeat after a roughly hourlong meeting in the Oval Office, despite having to cancel the Australia and Papua New Guinea portions of his overseas trip that begins Wednesday. Biden will participate in a Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima, Japan, but then return to Washington on Sunday.

Theres still work to do," Biden said. "But I made it clear to the speaker and others that we'll speak regularly over the next several days and staff's going to continue meeting daily to make sure we do not default.

Senior White House officials, as well as top aides to the four congressional leaders  McCarthy, R-Calif., Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.  have been meeting daily.

But now, Steve Ricchetti, counselor to the president, Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young and legislative affairs director Louisa Terrell will take the lead in negotiations for the Democratic side, while Rep. Garret Graves, R-La., a key McCarthy ally who has been a point person for the speaker on debt and budget issues, will represent Republicans.

Now we have a format, a structure, McCarthy said as he returned to the Capitol.

Negotiators are racing to beat a deadline of June 1, which is when the Treasury Department has said the U.S. could begin defaulting on its debts for the first time in history and risk a financial catastrophe. The revised itinerary of Biden's upcoming trip showed the urgency of the talks.

White House officials sought to soften the impact of the trip cancellations. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby noted that Biden will already have met with some of the leaders of the Quad  the purpose of the Australia leg of the visit  while in Japan, and the president is inviting Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for an official state visit in Washington.

Still, Kirby added, We wouldnt even be having this discussion about the effect of the debt ceiling debate on the trip if Congress would do its job, raise the debt ceiling the way theyve always done."

Even as the Democratic president and the Republican speaker box around the politics of the issue  with Biden insisting hes not negotiating over the debt ceiling and McCarthy working to extract spending cuts with the backdrop of a potential default  various areas of possible agreement appeared to be emerging.

Among the items on the table: clawing back some $30 billion in untapped COVID-19 money, imposing future budget caps, changing permit regulations to ease energy development and putting bolstered work requirements on recipients of government aid, according to those familiar with the talks.

But congressional Democrats are growing concerned about the idea of putting new work requirements for government aid recipients after Biden suggested over the weekend he may be open to such changes. The White House remains opposed to changes in requirements for recipients of Medicaid and food stamp programs, although it is more open to revisions for beneficiaries of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families cash assistance program.

The idea of imposing more work requirements was resoundingly rejected by House Democrats at a morning caucus meeting, according to one Democrat at the private meeting and granted anonymity to discuss it.

Progressive lawmakers in particular have raised the issue. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said, We want to make sure that these negotiations do not include spending cuts, do not include work requirements, things that would harm people, people in rural areas, black, brown, indigenous folks.

Democratic leader Jeffries' staff sought to assuage the concerns late Monday, while a separate group of more centrist Democrats signaled to their moderate Republican colleagues they are prepared to work something out to reach a debt ceiling deal, aides said Tuesday.

While McCarthy has complained the talks are slow-going, saying he first met with Biden more than 100 days ago, Biden has said it took McCarthy all this time to put forward his own proposal after Republicans failed to produce their own budget this year.

Compounding pressure on Washington to strike a deal, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Monday that estimates are unchanged on the possible X-date when the U.S. could run out of cash.

But Yellen, in a letter to the House and Senate, left 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.

It is essential that Congress act as soon as possible, Yellen said Tuesday in remarks before the Independent Community Bankers of America. In my assessment  and that of economists across the board  a U.S. default would generate an economic and financial catastrophe.

Time is dwindling. Congress has just a few days when both the House and Senate are in session to pass legislation, although scheduled recesses could be canceled if more time is needed to clear whatever deal the White House reaches with McCarthy.

Congressional leaders will also need time to take the temperature of rank-and-file lawmakers on any agreement, and its not at all clear that the emerging contours go far enough to satisfy McCarthys hard-right faction in the House or would be acceptable to a sizable number of Democrats whose votes would almost certainly be needed to secure any final deal.

Republicans led by McCarthy want Biden to accept their proposal to roll back spending, cap future outlays and make other policy changes in the package passed last month by House Republicans. McCarthy says the House is the only chamber that has taken action to raise the debt ceiling. But the House bill is almost certain to fail in the Senate, controlled by Democrats, and Biden has said he would veto it.

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.

___ Associated Press writers Fatima Hussein and Kevin Freking contributed to this report.
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FARMINGTON, N.M. (AP)  The gunman who killed three people and wounded six others as he fired randomly while roaming his northwestern New Mexico neighborhood was a local high school student and his victims include a 97-year-old woman and her daughter, police said Tuesday.

Investigators were still trying to determine a motive for the attack by Beau Wilson, 18, in the Farmington neighborhood where he lived. They say he opened fire Monday, killing Gwendolyn Schofield, her 73-year-old daughter, Melody Ivie, and 79-year-old Shirley Voita.

Voita had worked as a nurse and was a devoted parishioner at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, said former state Rep. James Strickler, who was her friend.

She was just a dynamite lady. She was well-loved and Im still shocked over it, said Strickler, who heard gunfire ring out on Monday before learning the circumstances of Voita's death.

Witnesses and police say Wilson walked through the neighborhood a short drive from downtown Farmington spraying bullets until police arrived within minutes and fatally shot him. Two police officers were among the wounded.

Farmington Deputy Police Chief Baric Crum said at least 150 bullets were fired but that number was expected to go up as the investigation continued.

The amount of violence and brutality that these people faced is unconscionable to me, Deputy Police Chief Kyle Dowdy said.

Deputy Police Chief Baric Crum said Wilson was indiscriminately shooting at vehicles, but that some rounds also hit homes.

Dowdy said investigators do not believe Wilson knew anyone he shot.

Weve discovered nothing that leads us to believe that the suspect knew" the victims, he said. Were pretty confident in that this was completely random.

Bryan Brown and Brandi Dominguez were home Monday morning with their five children when the shooting began. Their doorbell camera captured yelling and the repeated pops of gunfire. Brown said it was loud and sounded as if it were coming from two different directions.

Brown was among those who ran into the street to help the victims. He said one woman had gunshot wounds to the leg and head. She asked for help and he said he tried to stop the bleeding.

I feel bad for her family, he said Tuesday. I dont even know, this kind of stuff is just uncalled for.

Before Brown came outside, he told Dominguez and the kids to stay inside and stay down. Bullets hit the familys home and vehicle.

Brown said his teenage son knew Wilson from school and had texted him, knowing that he lived down the street. It was only later they found out that authorities identified Wilson as the shooter.

It just goes to show you never really know somebody until something happens, Brown said. He seemed like an OK kid.

The tragedy was noted Tuesday night during otherwise exuberant graduation ceremony for 374 students on the Farmington High School football field. Speakers spoke of resilience and hope.

Principal Rocky Torres noted that there was an empty chair with a bouquet of white roses on it at the back of the student rows in recognition of our fellow graduates, family members and friends that cannot be here with us tonight. He led a moment of silence.

The main speaker, retired principal Ttimothy Kienitz, told students that there was no better message for them and the community than find a way to win.

This is a strong, tough and tenacious community and we will overcome, he said.

Wilson was a senior at the school but it wasnt immediately known whether he was due to graduate with his class.

In November, after he turned 18, Wilson legally purchased at least one gun used Monday, police said. He carried three firearms in the attack, including an assault-style weapon.

Four officers fired a total of 16 rounds at Wilson, including one of the wounded officers, said San Juan County Sheriff Shane Ferrari.

Mayor Nate Duckett said Tuesday that the Farmington officer and state police officer were treated for their wounds and released from a hospital.

Authorities began receiving reports of gunshots at 10:57 a.m. and the first officer arrived at 11:02 a.m., police Chief Steve Hebbe said Monday in a video statement. Three minutes later, the gunman had been killed.

Joseph Robledo, a 32-year-old tree trimmer, said he rushed home after learning that his wife, Jolene, and their year-old daughter had sought shelter in the laundry room when gunshots rang out. A bullet went through his daughters window, without hitting anyone.

Jolene Robledo said they had just finished breakfast when she heard pop, pop, pop, pop," which she first thought was a car backfiring. She said they were going to run out the back door until she heard a man curse right outside, so she quietly shut the door and hid with her daughter between the washing machine and dryer.

I mean it was crazy. I called my husband and he could hear the gunshots over the phone, she said. He was freaking out and I was like, dont hang up, dont hang up!

Joseph Robledo said he 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 a 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."

Downtown Farmington, a short drive from the neighborhood, has undergone a transformation of sorts in recent years, with cafes and breweries cropping up alongside decades-old businesses that trade in Native American crafts from silver jewelry to wool weavings.

On Tuesday, orange circles of spray paint still marked the ground where police had collected evidence. Authorities were using metal detectors to search the grass in front of one of the churches along the street where gunfire erupted.

As night approached Monday, dozens of people gathered at Hills Church, a few miles (kilometers) from the attack scene, to pray at the base of a tall metal cross. Lead pastor Matt Mizell talked about living in a dark and broken world but told the crowd there was still hope and asked God to provide them strength.

New Mexico enacted a red-flag law in 2020 that can be used to seize guns from people who pose a danger to others or themselves. Dowdy said relatives expressed concern about Wilsons mental health when interviewed by police but that he didnt have enough information at this time to further elaborate.

___

Lee reported from Santa Fe and Yamat reported from Las Vegas. Associated Press writer Terry Tang in Phoenix contributed.
Below are Japan resident Ryosuke Kanae's recollections of his three-week stay in Midland in the summer of 2016 as part of the Midland Handa Sister City High School Exchange.

This summer, Midland is welcoming three students from Handa, Japan, and is looking for nine host families. The students will be in Midland from July 24 until Aug. 14. Each student stays with three host families for one week each.

To apply to be a host family or for more information on the Sister City Student Exchange Program, visit www.cityofmidlandmi.gov/studentexchange. The application deadline is Friday, June 2.

When I close my eyes, I can still remember the scenery from the window of my host familys carthe sun setting on a vast cornfieldon the way from the airport, on my first day in Midland. Then I can easily remember all the wonderful memories in my stay in the beautiful city of Midland Michigan.

Back in the summer of 2016, I was selected as one of three exchange students from Handa, Japan, and stayed in Midland for three weeks. I had a lot of great experiences and met people who are kind and supportive there, and every single moment in the stay remains my lifetime memory.

Throughout the 12-hour-long flight from Japan to the States, I could hardly sleep, getting very excited at my first journey abroad. Once I arrived at Midland, the days had passed rapidly with tons of surprises. Having melon and waffles instead of rice and natto for breakfast. Making smores at a weekend home party in the backyard. The big Christmas market in Frankenmuth. Fireworks seen from a swing ride at a fair. I still remember the view, the sound, the smell, and the taste. Everything was new and amazing for me.

One of my biggest memories in the stay was a day trip to Mackinac Island with my host family. The small island in Lake Huron, the biggest lake Ive ever seen, had many beautiful views with beaches and horse-drawn carriages that astonished me so much. I enjoyed clam chowder served in bread bowl for lunch and fudge after that. I loved everything in this island so much. I still remember the conversation with my host mother, when I said that I really want to come back here someday, she said, Now thats one more dream of you to make come true.

I had three host families during the stay and spent a week with each of them. They were all nice and kind to me and made my stay even more fun. I loved talking with them about a variety of topics, such as plans for the weekend or next year, what life in Japan or America is like, or many other things about myself and themselves. I also had a lot of fun playing games with them and enjoyed just watching TV together. I sometimes cooked Japanese cuisine for dinner.

They cared about me and supported me all the time, and even though I came from thousands of miles away, we could communicate and have fun together as if wed known each other for a long time.

I still remember that this stay was the first time I was called by my nickname William. At the welcome party, a Japanese lady living in Midland gave me that nickname so I can easily be recognized by everyone, instead of my real name that has a little complicated pronunciation. I thought she must be kidding me at first, and she may have been so, but eventually I knew that she was right and started saying when introducing myself, Please call me William.

My host families and the sister-city committee members all loved my new nickname, and I got used to and loved being called William. When I think about my English nickname, I remember the warmth of people I met in Midland. It was the biggest souvenir of my stay, I guess.

It has been nearly seven years since I left Midland. So many things have changed around me. I graduated from Handa High School in 2018 and moved to Sapporo, Hokkaido to enter the university. I had continued playing music, but in university, I majored in cinema studies and started filmmaking in a club.

Creative activities have always been my way of life; however, my university banned all the clubs in early 2020 due to the pandemic. In 2021, I had a year off from university and started making films on my own. I returned to university last year and finally graduated this March. Now, I am living in Tokyo and going to enter a film school here in September. I want to work in film industry eventually.

In my university days, I made friends with a lot of people from foreign countries. I met them mostly in international classes, but sometimes they were my clubmates or just strangers in hostels I stayed on an overseas trip. Some of them call me William or Willy, just like in Midland. I could be close with them partly because I knew that, even if our hometowns, native languages, or life experiences are different, we can still become friends and have fun together. That is the most important thing I learned from the stay in Midland.

Of course, I am still in touch with my host families and committee members on social media. They all are, and will remain, my dear friends. Everything in my stay, that I can still vividly remember, will remain my lifetime treasure forever.
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RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  Legislation banning most abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy will become law in North Carolina after the states Republican-controlled General Assembly successfully overrode the Democratic governors veto late Tuesday.

The House completed the second and final part of the override vote after a similar three-fifths majority  the fraction necessary  voted for the override earlier Tuesday in the Senate. The party-line outcomes represent a major victory for Republican legislative leaders who needed every GOP member on board to enact the law over Gov. Roy Coopers opposition.

Cooper vetoed the measure over the weekend after spending last week traveling around the state to persuade at least one Republican to side with him on the override, which would be enough to uphold his veto. But in the end, the four Republicans targeted by Cooper  including one who recently switched from the Democratic Party  voted to override.

Republicans pitched the measure as a middle-ground change to state law, which currently bans nearly all abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, without exceptions for rape or incest.

The votes came as abortion rights in the U.S. faced another tectonic shift with lawmakers in South Carolina and Nebraska also considering new abortion limits. North Carolina and South Carolina have been two of the few remaining Southern states with relatively easy access.

Such restrictions are possible because the U.S. Supreme Court last year struck down the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling, which established a nationwide right to abortion.

Under the bill that had been up for a vote Tuesday in the South Carolina House, abortion access would be almost entirely banned after about six weeks of pregnancy  before women often know theyre pregnant. The South Carolina state Senate previously rejected a proposal to nearly outlaw abortions.

However, a final vote would have to wait until later Wednesday after the South Carolina House moved to reconvene at 10 a.m. while the computer system rebooted.

Nationally, bans on abortion throughout pregnancy are in effect in 14 states.

Abortion is banned or severely restricted in much of the South, including bans throughout pregnancy in Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia. In Georgia, its allowed only in the first six weeks.

The Carolinas, Florida and Virginia are now the main destinations in the region for those seeking legal abortions. Florida has a ban that kicks in 15 weeks into pregnancy. Under a recent law, that would tighten to six weeks pending a court ruling. Further west, women often travel to Illinois, Kansas, New Mexico or Colorado.

If both the North and South Carolina bans become law, combined with Floridas recent ban, it would be just devastating for abortion access in the South, Jamie Lockhart, executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia, said earlier Tuesday.

After the final vote Tuesday in the North Carolina House, abortion-rights advocates and Democrats in the chamber gallery loudly booed the outcome and shouted Shame!" Many observers in the gallery were escorted out by General Assembly police.

Similar displeasure poured out after the earlier North Carolina Senate debate, although many anti-abortion demonstrators also were in the audience, pleased with the outcome.

Today marks the beginning of North Carolinas first real step towards becoming a pro-life state, Tami Fitzgerald, executive director of the socially conservative North Carolina Values Coalition, said after the House vote.

Senate Republicans said Cooper ignored $160 million within the measure that would boost funding to increase contraceptive services, reduce infant and maternal mortality and provide paid maternity leave for state employees and teachers.

This bill provides resources for the pregnant woman. It provides broad resources and a significant knowledge base to enable her, to equip her in finding a path forward  a path forward for her, and a path forward for her unborn child," said Rep. Kristin Baker, a Cabarrus County Republican and psychiatrist.

The new abortion limits set to take effect July 1 also will include rape or incest exceptions through 20 weeks of pregnancy and exceptions for life-limiting fetal anomalies during the first 24 weeks. An existing exception for when the life of the pregnant woman is in danger will remain.

Democrats focused on details of the abortion rules, which they said would place barriers between women and their doctors, leaving those who are pregnant in danger, with less access to abortion services.

Women did not ask for your oversight. We didnt ask for your approval, Rep. Julie von Haefen, a Wake County Democrat, told GOP colleagues. Its our fundamental right to make decisions about our own bodies and our own health care.

Cooper said in a statement after the vote that he'll continue doing everything I can to protect abortion access in North Carolina because womens lives depend on it.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the law will make it even more difficult for women to get the reproductive health care they need."

North Carolina Republicans were able to complete the override due in large part to Mecklenburg County Rep. Tricia Cotham's party switch to the GOP last month. That gave Republicans veto-proof seat majorities in both chambers.

Cotham has supported abortion rights in the past. She said in a statement late Tuesday that the bill strikes a reasonable balance that anyone not holding extremist positions on abortion can support.

In South Carolina, the impasse dates back to a special session last fall when House lawmakers demanding a near-total ban did not meet to negotiate with their Senate counterparts pushing for a ban around six weeks.

The stalemate persisted even after the state Supreme Court in January struck down a previous law banning abortions once cardiac activity is detected.

That decision left abortion legal through 22 weeks of pregnancy. A sharp increase in abortions since then has rankled Republicans.

The House was weighing a Senate bill similar to the one they denied last year. The measure would ban abortion when an ultrasound detects cardiac activity, around six weeks.

A late night is expected even after Republicans invoked rules to limit debate. House Speaker Murrell Smith has said the chamber will not adjourn until the measure gets approval. Democrats slowed the process Tuesday by speaking for all three allotted minutes on each of their hundreds of amendments and forcing other procedural votes.

In Nebraska, conservatives in the Legislature got just enough votes Tuesday to fold a proposed 12-week abortion ban into a bill that would ban gender-affirming health for minors.

Throughout, hundreds of protesters filled the Capitol rotunda just outside the chamber doors, nearly drowning out debate at times with chants, shouts and foot stomping.

The plan won the 33 votes it needed in the state's one-chamber, officially nonpartisan legislature to end debate and set up other votes to advance it. It must now survive a final round, which could happen as soon as Thursday, to pass.

In Montana, Republican Gov. Greg Gianfortes office announced Tuesday that he had signed into law a bill that makes performing the abortion method most commonly used after 15 weeks of gestation a felony. Planned Parenthood of Montana asked a judge to temporarily block the ban on dilation and evacuation abortions.

A separate challenge to abortion access will be considered Wednesday, when a federal appeals court hears arguments on whether the Food and Drug Administrations approval of the widely used abortion drug mifepristone should be overturned. A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will review a ruling last month by a federal judge in Texas who ordered a hold on approval of mifepristone, a decision that overruled two decades of scientific approval of the drug. That ruling was stayed while the appeal is pending.

The three judges who will hear the case each have a history of supporting restrictions on abortion. A ruling is not expected immediately.

___

Lavoie reported from Richmond, Virginia. Associated Press writers James Pollard and Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, South Carolina, Geoff Mulvihill in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, Amy Beth Hanson in Helena, Montana and Sarah Rankin in Richmond, Virginia contributed to this report. Schoenbaum and Pollard are corps members for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
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PHOENIX (AP)  Attorneys for the Republican candidate who lost last year's election for Arizona attorney general on Tuesday requested a new trial in his efforts to overturn the results of the November contest.

They allege Abraham Hamadeh actually won because many provisional ballots they believe were cast for him were wrongly disqualified, along with some undervotes tossed out because of unclear markings.

Democrat Kris Mayes was declared the winner in the election in late December and has been serving in the office since early this year.

Hamadeh attorney Jennifer Wright told Mohave County Superior Court Judge Lee F. Jantzen that her client requires a new trial because of problems found during a recount in rural Pinal County that shrank the statewide difference between the two candidates from 511 to 280 votes out of about 2.5 million.

This case isnt about fraud, it's about new evidence and its about facts, Wright said.

Alexis Danneman, representing the Attorney General's Office, called the request unprecedented.

Danneman said Hamadeh's attorneys were basically arguing: The election was close. If you let us keep looking, we might find something.

Jantzen said he would issue a decision in the next several weeks.

The case is among several still alive in Arizona courts six months after an election that saw Democrats win the top races in the former Republican stronghold.

Former TV anchor Kari Lake, the 2022 Republican candidate for Arizona governor, also continues to challenge her defeat to Democrat Katie Hobbs, who took office in January, even though courts have dismissed most of her lawsuit.

A three-day trial is set to begin Wednesday over the only remaining legal claim in Lakes challenge of her defeat to Hobbs six months ago.

Lake made former President Donald Trumps election lies the centerpiece of her campaign. While most other election deniers around the country conceded after losing their races in November, Lake persisted.

Republicans had nominated a slate of candidates backed by Trump who focused on supporting his false claims about the 2020 election. In addition to Hobbs and Mayes, Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly was reelected, and Democrat Adrian Fontes won the race for secretary of state.

The Arizona Supreme Court sanctioned Lake's lawyers $2,000 earlier this month in their unsuccessful challenge of Hobbs' win.

The states highest court said Lakes attorney made false factual statements that more than 35,000 ballots had been improperly added to the total ballot count.
TUNIS, Tunisia (AP)  A court has sentenced moderate Tunisian Islamist leader Rached Ghannouchi to a year in prison for allegedly referring to police officers as tyrants in what his party said Tuesday amounted to a sham trial.

Ghannouchi, 81, founder of the Ennahdha party, has refused to be removed from his place of detention for questioning or to attend Mondays trial, considering that the cases are political settling of scores targeting opponents of the regime, lawyer Samir Dilou, a former party leader, said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Ghannouchi, a former speaker of parliament, is the most prominent critic of Tunisian President Kais Saied. He has maintained that Saieds move in 2021 to take all powers into his hands amounted to a coup detat.

Ghannouchi was detained in mid-April on the charge of plotting against the security of the state. He has been called in numerous times for questioning on various matters, but this was the first time he wasn't released.

Monday's case grew out of a complaint by a security union member claiming that Ghannouchi used the word taghout, or tyrant, while eulogizing a member of his party at a February 2022 funeral. According to a tweet by his daughter Soumaya, he said that the deceased "did not fear poverty, ruler or tyrant.

Ennahda condemned the decision to prosecute as an unjust political ruling and called for his immediate release.

Ghannouchi is also being investigated for what his party says is another case of twisting words  allegedly evoking the threat of civil war if Ennahdha and other opposition parties are excluded from the political scene.

His party said on its English-language Twitter account that Ghannouchi was charged with conspiracy against state security and ordered to remain in prison pending trial.

Kais Saied is making a mockery of the judiciary, using it as a tool for political revenge and persecution, his daughter tweeted.

About 20 other people, including the director of the respected radio Mosaique, Noureddine Bouttar, are currently detained on a variety of charges.

The crackdown on opponents comes amid growing social tensions and deepening economic troubles in Tunisia, the birthplace of the Arab Spring pro-democracy movement more than a decade ago.
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MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP)  Floods caused by the annual rains have left a trail of destruction" across Somalia, a United Nations spokesman said, citing inundated homes and farmland as well as the shutdown of health facilities.

According to early estimates by our partners, more than 460,000 people have been impacted, including nearly 219,000 men, women and children who have been displaced due to this (flooding)," Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

At least five people, including three children, have been killed in the flooding, Mohamed Moalim of the Somalia National Disaster Management Agency told The Associated Press.

The destruction is greatest in the Hiiraan region of the central Somali state of Hirshabelle. Thousands of families have been displaced in Beledweyne, the regional city with the highest population density. The Shabelle river running through the town burst its banks amid heavy rainfall.

If the rains persist in Somalia and in the Ethiopian highlands, we estimate that up to 1.6 million people could be impacted, with more than 600,000 displaced, Dujarric said.

Rising water levels in Beledweyne forced the closure of many important facilities, including government offices and the main hospital, residents said. Some said the flooding was the worst they had ever seen.

It was very difficult for me to walk this morning because of the amount of water," said Beledweyne resident Abdifitah Ahmed. As you can see, this situation is getting worse as the amount of water increases.

Another resident, Hussein Yusuf, said that the damage to property is extensive. This flood is larger than any flooding in recent memory that has ever occurred in this region, he said.

The Horn of Africa nation, one of the world's poorest, faces multiple crises. Other parts of Somalia face drought conditions, and there's an ongoing insurgency by Islamic extremist fighters opposed to the federal government in the capital, Mogadishu.
Workforce Readiness

USC Initiative to Integrate AI and Digital Literacy Skills for All Students

The University of Southern California (USC), long known for its advances in computer science and as a leading provider of tech talent, has announced a $1 billion-plus initiative called "Frontiers of Computing" to focus on "AI, machine learning and data science, augmented and virtual reality, robotics, gaming, and blockchain," according to a release. The institution called it "the single largest comprehensive academic initiative in the university's history."

The new initiative involves integrating computing skills for all students across all disciplines and programs and includes building a new facility. The effort was seeded by a $260 million gift from the Lord Foundation of California in 2019. Honoring its founder, Thomas Lord, the Computer Science department in USC Viterbi will be named the Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science.

USC's Frontiers of Computing plans include:

Housing the USC School of Advanced Computing headquarters in the new 116,000-square-foot center, named the "Dr. Allen and Charlotte Ginsburg Human-Centered Computation Hall," to open in fall 2024. It is being built at Silicon Beach, on the west side of Los Angeles, near its two current institutes, the Information Sciences Institute and Institute for Creative Technologies;

Hiring 30 new computer science and research faculty by 2025 and 60 additional hires by 2030 at multiple schools;

Continuing to expand on teaching and furthering discussions about computing technology and AI ethics and responsibility at the recently opened Center for Generative A.I. and Society;

Continuing to educate and prepare students for current and future tech careers with new programs, courses, and experiential education, driven by advances in technology, especially in generative AI; and

Continuing its economic impact, not only in California, but across the nation, especially on the East Coast.

"I want every student who comes through our programs, whether they are in science, business, the humanities, or the arts, to have a solid grounding in technology and the ethics of the work that they do," said USC President Carol Folt. "We will integrate digital literacy across disciplines to create responsible leaders for the workforce of the future."

According to USC's Frontiers of Computing web page, the initiative will "touch every student in 22 schools": "Because every discipline today requires a level of digital fluency, students in all schools will be exposed to training in data analytics, coding, and ethics, among other topics."

The initiative will start in three key tech areas, the university said: "advancing AI and machine learning software; improving hardware efficiency and scalability; and, in this era of big data, expanding quantum computing."

USC has pioneered breakthroughs in computer science, AI, machine learning, and quantum computing for over 50 years, the school's website said, including "the creation of the domain name system (.com, .net, .edu, etc.), natural language processing that preceded current large language models, and the first quantum computing system at a university and socially assistive robots." The university graduates more than 1,300 bachelor's, master's, and doctoral students in computer science each year. To learn more visit its computing page and watch a video about its past, present, and future accomplishments in computing.

Visit the university's About page for more general information.
Hearst Connecticut Media

CROMWELL  A lockdown at Cromwell Middle School was lifted after police determined a threat left in a bathroom Tuesday was not credible, officials said.

School officials declined to provide any information on how long the lockdown lasted or if it impacted classes. Police said the threat was found in a bathroom Tuesday morning.
Laurel Parmets directorial debut  The Starling Girl  puts the viewer in the modest shoes of a 17-year-old girl named Jem. Shes grown up in a Christian fundamentalist community in Kentucky and has internalized its teachings, feeling deep shame for drawing attention to herself and her body, which as an artistically-inclined member of the dance troupe is especially difficult to avoid.

But her world starts to change when Owen, a handsome 28-year-old youth leader played by Lewis Pullman, returns from a mission in Puerto Rico. Jem, played by Australian actor Eliza Scanlen, develops an intense infatuation with him that soon evolves into something more.

Its a film about many things  family, patriarchal societies, toxic relationships, power dynamics, first loves and, ultimately, growing up  but its neither outwardly judgmental nor blunt. The Starling Girl, currently playing in New York and Los Angeles and expanding to other cities this weekend, is done with a delicate touch.

(Jem) is a very complex character and I think quite different from other portrayals of young women in communities like this, Scanlen said. What makes this film stand out is its not making any kind of definitive statement about the church or fundamentalist communities. Its actually trying to humanize the people who live in them.

The story comes from Parmet, who while in Oklahoma for another project got to know some woman in a patriarchal Christian community. Though she grew up worlds apart, as a child of parents who work in movies and television (a cinematographer and a costumer), she realized that they had commonalities too  from feelings of sexual shame to the need for validation from men.

The film touches on these ideas and also draws from her own experience of having a relationship with an older man when she was a teenager. And, because its told from Jems point of view, the journey is a bit of a rollercoaster for the audience who may even find themselves emotionally wrapped up in Jem and Owens romance, despite knowing that it is fundamentally wrong.

Something that I was trying to do with this film is have the audience be with the main character moment to moment, said Parmet. You are with her every step of the way. You feel her intoxication, you feel this vivid opening up that shes experiencing while at the same time conveying that this relationship is problematic.

Parmet drew visual and tonal inspiration from Pawel Pawlikowskis My Summer of Love, a film that she finds lush, green, immediate, intimate, stimulating and dangerous.

A key part of making that dynamic work was finding the right Owen  someone who you believe Jem would fall for and also someone that the audience falls for too, at least for a time. Pullman, Parmet said, had the gentle charisma to straddle the complex line. Jem cant see that hes a lost soul himself, and he likely doesnt even realize hes a groomer or in the wrong. In rehearsals, Scanlen, Pullman and Parmet would try to determine who has the power in a certain scene.

Plenty of people walk out hating Owen, which is, you know, valid and makes a lot of sense, Pullman said. But I think my weird goal in all this was, if there was anybody who was in a relationship similar to it, I wanted him to be approachable enough that they could see themselves in him, right? I didnt want to make him so such a such a monster that people wouldnt look at themselves in the mirror and question whether their actions at all might parallel his.

As Jem, Scanlen found in their dynamic a powerful truth about the possibility of both having agency in a relationship and also being a victim of abuse at the same time. The film also explores how patriarchal systems can be harmful for men too. Like Owen, Jems father (Jimmi Simpson) is struggling in the community as an addict whose recovery is not being supported in a helpful way.

I do think the film is about all of us, Simpson said. We all subscribe to some kind of rule system that helps us get through life a little easier.

Parmet also hopes that the film speaks to everyone.

I hope that people see themselves in the story and in the characters, no matter their background, Parmet said. Its a story thats really about trying to figure out who you are.

Making an independent film is never the most glamorous pursuit (Kentucky, though beautiful, was also quite buggy) but all were driven by a shared sense of purpose and a belief that their director is an auteur in the making who is just getting started.

The beauty of making indie films is that everybodys in it together and in it for the right reasons, Scanlen said. Youre just there to make something beautiful.

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Follow AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ldbahr.
For three days last week, the government sought to make up for decades of neglect with a series of events on the National Mall meant as a symbolic "homecoming" for Vietnam veterans.

The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration, set up by President Barack Obama in 2012 and authorized by Congress, billed the belated recognition as a "Welcome Home Celebration," although the term "celebration" can seem utterly out of place in reference to a long and divisive conflict that took the lives of more than 58,000 Americans and triggered widespread anti-war protests.

Navy Cmdr. Brian Wierzbicki, a Pentagon spokesman for the commemoration, said the intent of describing the events as a celebration was to mark the contributions of those who served in Vietnam on the 50th anniversary of the withdrawal of the last U.S. combat troops in March 1973.

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"We are using 'celebration' in the context of giving Vietnam Veterans the 'welcome home' celebration they deserved, yet never received" from official Washington, Wierzbicki said.

"It's not a celebration of war, it's a celebration of veterans' service," said Steve Maxner, director of the Vietnam Center and Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive at Texas Tech University.

"It's about celebrating service; that's what the whole commemoration is about," Maxner said, but some of the veterans at the events said that the organizers could have made a better choice of words.

Retired Marine Maj. Gen. Tom Braaten, who flew CH-46 helicopters out of Marble Mountain near Da Nang in Vietnam in 1969-70, said the "Welcome Home Celebration" promotional material "wasn't worded terribly well," but the tribute to Vietnam veterans was long overdue.

It didn't happen to him, Braaten said, but he had friends who served in Vietnam who were "spit on and called 'babykiller'" when they returned to the States.

"That is a curious word" to be used in the context of the Vietnam war, former Army Capt. Brock Nicholson, a flight platoon leader with the 48th Assault Helicopter Company in Vietnam, said of the celebration term.

"There might have been a better word," said Nicholson, but he agreed with Braaten that the wording should not detract from the main purpose of the events on the National Mall, which was to honor veterans.

"Am I glad I went to Vietnam -- absolutely," Nicholson said, adding that he believed the U.S. involvement probably prevented more aggression by the North Vietnamese in Southeast Asia.

The site for the events on the mall off Independence Avenue was dubbed "Camp Legacy" and featured a static display of Vietnam-era helicopters, panel discussions on veterans issues, military band concerts, drill team performances, and exhibits on a range of topics from military dogs to the CIA's efforts in Vietnam.

The events also offered veterans a chance to renew old friendships and reflect on what they saw and did during their tours, and how they coped with the near-constant pressure of what was often described as a 360-degree war in which traditional front lines were only a sometimes thing.

Retired Air Force Col. Russell Stephenson, a B-52 Stratofortress pilot, said his greatest fear did not come from the enemy's surface-to-air missiles but rather from the concern that his aircraft's load of "dumb" bombs would devastate friendly forces below on missions in 1968 to help lift the siege by the North Vietnamese of the Marine base at Khe Sanh, about six miles from the Laotian border in the northwestern sector of South Vietnam known as I Corps.

As he would make his approach, Marine spotters on the ground would keep pressing him to come in "closer, closer," Stephenson told Military.com on the first day of the commemoration that began with a fly-by of four vintage UH-1 "Huey" helicopter, the workhorse rotary aircraft of the war, and remarks by a range of officials.

One of the speakers was Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., a naval flight officer who served three tours in Vietnam aboard a P-3 Orion surveillance aircraft. "Better late than never. We're here to do what should have been done 50 years ago," said Carper, who is the last Vietnam veteran serving in the Senate.

Rep. Jim Baird, R-Ind., a former Army lieutenant who lost his left arm in a 1971 convoy ambush in Vietnam, said he believed there are only two other remaining Vietnam veterans serving in the House -- Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., and Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Mich.

In a phone interview, Baird, who served with the 523rd Transportation Company and was awarded a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts, said, "From my standpoint, it's not only those who served" in Vietnam who should be honored. "It's just as important to recognize those families" of service members who went to Vietnam.

Thompson, a former staff sergeant who served with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam, said in a phone interview, "I think it's important to recognize the service of those of us" who went to Vietnam, adding that the commemoration offered an opportunity for the public "to get a better understanding of what soldiers did" in the war.

In his remarks at the opening ceremony, Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, representing the Defense Department, said that Vietnam veterans deserve "our thanks, our respect and our steadfast support. Regrettably, that has not always been the case. You served in divided times and too often you were blamed or scorned for serving your country."

As always, when the subject is the Vietnam War, there were differences of opinion during panel discussions on the what-ifs in terms of strategy and tactics that might have changed the outcome of the war.

There was also much comment on the lack of an official ticker tape welcome home parade for the veterans, though there was a series of parades organized locally across the country with an overriding "Welcome Home" theme to recognize Vietnam veterans who did their duty in a war that much of the nation had turned against.

In May 1985 in New York City, then-Mayor Ed Koch led an estimated 25,000 Vietnam veterans across the Brooklyn Bridge and then up Broadway through the financial district where the marchers were showered with ticker tape. The United Press International headline was "10 Years Late, Vietnam Veterans Get Their Parade At Last."

Retired Army Gen. William Westmoreland, who commanded U.S.forces in Vietnam from 1964 to 1968, attended the New York City parade and the following year served as the grand marshal for a much bigger event in Chicago.

The New York Times account of the June 1986 Chicago parade said, "An estimated 200,000 people marched today in what sponsors called the largest parade of Vietnam veterans ever held, and a half million spectators cheered them.

"As the parade wound through downtown Chicago, the crowd threw tickertape and kisses at the veterans and waved banners with such mottos as 'Honor the Warrior, not the War,'" the Times' reported.

The commitment to separate judgment on the war itself from the troops who served in it was also part of a panel discussion at the commemoration events among several veterans who served as junior officers in Vietnam and went on to high command positions.

Retired Adm. Mike Mullen, who served on the destroyer Collett that provided shore bombardment in Vietnam, said of the military that "we were not a highly respected institution" coming out of Vietnam.

One of the lessons learned should have been that higher-ups have to give troops a better sense of "mission clarity," or explain what the war is about, in future conflicts, said Mullen, who served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs from 2007 to 2011 managing wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

In the panel discussion, and in a separate interview with Military.com, retired Army Gen. Dennis Reimer, who served two tours in Vietnam, said that during the war "the relationship between the military and the civilian world was not good at all," resulting in instances where troops would be told not to wear their uniforms off base for fear of becoming targets for harassment.

Until 1973, when the military became all-volunteer, the Vietnam War was fought with a draft army, and "the nation didn't know how to run a draft," said Reimer, who served as Army chief of staff from 1995 to 1999.

"I think it was just the way the system was run," Reimer said, and "we didn't give them the training they needed" to succeed in Vietnam.

Through the three days of the commemoration, the veterans who attended and the officials who addressed them all paid tribute to the sacrifices of the families of those who served and have kept up pressure on the government to this day to deliver a full accounting of those listed as missing.

In an interview at the exhibition tent of the Vietnam Veterans of America and in a phone follow-up, Gold Star daughter Colleen Shine recounted the experience of the three brothers in her family from Pleasantville, New York, who went to serve in Vietnam.

There was her father, Anthony C. Shine, the oldest of the three brothers, and then there was Uncle Al (Alexander) and Uncle Jon (Jonathan). Alexander Shine, who retired as a colonel from the Army, was seriously wounded in Vietnam action and was awarded the Silver Star.

Army 1st Lt. Jonathan Shine, a West Point graduate, was killed in action at Cu Chi in Vietnam in 1970 and was posthumously awarded the Silver Star. Then-Air Force Capt. Anthony Shine, who was serving with the 355th Tactical Fighter Squadron in Vietnam, escorted his brother's remains home for burial at West Point and then returned to his squadron.

In December 1972, only a month before the U.S. signed the Paris Peace Accords leading to the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops in March 1973, Shine's A-7D Corsair II went missing on a mission over Laos, and search-and- rescue efforts failed to find a crash site. For more than 20 years, he was listed as missing in action and was promoted during that period to the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Colleen Shine said she was eight years old when her father's plane went missing while she was still coping with what had happened to Uncle Al and Uncle Jon. She would later become public affairs director for the National League of POW/MIA Families and now is an adviser to the board of Sons and Daughters In Touch, an organization of the children of U.S. service members who were killed in Vietnam or are among the more than 1,500 still listed as missing.

In 1995, she went to the site where U.S. military officials suspected her father's plane may have gone down. Villagers turned over a helmet with her father's signature written on the inside, and parts of his plane were also scattered in the area.

"That gave me the ammunition" to press the U.S. government for a thorough excavation of the site, Shine said in an interview with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.

In January 1995, the Vietnamese government repatriated a set of remains that were identified in August 1996 as those of Shine, according to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. Colleen Shine placed the POW/MIA bracelet with her father's name inscribed on it in the casket before he was buried with full honors at Arlington National Cemetery in October 1996.

She said her goal now is "to share the voices of the Gold Star families and to be able to help the next generation of families" whose sons and daughters are called upon to go to war.

Editor's Note: Richard Sisk served with the Marines in Vietnam in 1967-68.

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.

Related: 40 Years Later, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Stands as Lasting Statement on War and Remembrance
Air Force officials unveiled a new effort Monday that will show airmen and Space Force Guardians the status of their religious and reasonable accommodations following mismanagement of records and legal action related to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

The new Department of the Air Force Accommodation Portal will be a central location that will allow service members to review their records and see how their accommodation requests are progressing. The new system was seen as a necessity following an influx of requested religious exemptions from the vaccine mandate.

Previously, airmen and Guardians would have to submit their requests manually. This new portal, while not mandatory, would allow service members to follow the path of their requests and have electronic access to their records in the process.

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"A number of accommodation processes were fragmented and difficult for service members and approving officials to navigate without a standardized and transparent system of record," Jan Baltrusaitis, chief of the departments COVID-19 task force, said in a press release.

The services have seen an exponential increase in religious accommodation requests, according to Baltrusaitis. "The portal offers a systemic automated solution to ensure our service members and civilians are assisted in the most expeditious manner going forward."

The new accommodation portal comes amid a lawsuit, first filed by troops attached to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, that led to temporary protections for around 10,000 active-duty, Active Reserve, reserve and National Guard members of the Air Force and Space Force who requested a religious exemption from the COVID vaccine, although only those who have been denied an exemption would face immediate action.

Laurel Falls, a spokeswoman for the Department of the Air Force, told Military.com that "though the influx of accommodations requests tied to the COVID-19 vaccine did play a role in identifying the need for the portal," it was overall developed to make submitting, tracking and completing all requests more efficient.

"It is estimated that the new portal will substantially decrease the processing time of accommodations requests," Falls said. "The previous manual process for submitting religious/reasonable accommodations has been updated to an automated process introducing more efficiency and better records keeping."

Airmen seeking religious accommodations will still follow the same process as before, which means counseling with the unit commander and medical provider, as well as an interview with a military chaplain. Once a decision is made by the major command or a field command commander, the service member is notified. Appeals go to the Department of the Air Force.

"Exemption requests are evaluated on their own merit, and the decision authority must consider the compelling government interest in mission accomplishment, which includes military readiness, unit cohesion, and the health and safety of both the member and the unit," Falls said.

Meanwhile, a ruling in the lawsuit filed by troops, issued this past November by the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati, upheld previous wins by attorneys representing the service members and took aim at the Air Force's process of approving religious exemptions. The decision sets the stage for a future trial or, possibly, the case winding its way up to the Supreme Court.

Another decision issued by that same court this past April denied the government's motion for an en banc rehearing, meaning it asked for all 13 judges in the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals to address the case.

Thomas Bruns, a Cincinnati-based attorney with the Bruns, Connell, Vollmar & Armstrong law firm representing the service members, told Military.com in an interview Monday that the service members in that case are promised full relief from any harms caused by the mandate.

Until all the harm is remedied, the case is still active, Bruns said.

"They expect it to go away because they have filed a motion with the trial court claiming that the case is moot. And we will be responding to that motion, we will be opposing it, Tuesday," Bruns told Military.com. "That motion that they filed, it is the government's burden to prove that there is no harm left to be rectified. And the fact is, there is still harm left to be rectified."

Falls told Military.com that the Department of the Air Force does not comment on pending litigation.

Bruns said many of his clients complained about the number of steps it took to get a religious accommodation approved.

In February, the Pentagon directed all the services to "formally rescind any policies, directives, and guidance implementing those vaccination mandates as soon as possible, if they have not already done so," according to a statement issued at the time.

The Air Force detailed in February how it will be rescinding letters of admonishment, counseling or reprimand; records of individual counseling; nonjudicial punishments; and current involuntary discharge proceedings connected to vaccine refusal.

Additionally, "promotion records will be corrected by the [Department of the Air Force] who will remove or redact all adverse actions related to vaccine refusal," the service said in a statement at the time.

-- Thomas Novelly can be reached at thomas.novelly@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomNovelly.

Related: Military Services Will Amend COVID Vaccine Refuser Records So They Aren't Passed Over for Promotions
NBC News reported Monday that President Joe Biden may halt plans to move Space Command to Huntsville, Ala.

Unnamed sources in the report say they believe the White House's potential plan to delay stems from "abortion politics" in Alabama, which recently passed what is considered to be one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the United States.

In his final days in office, former President Donald Trump made the decision to move Space Command from Colorado Springs to Alabama, a decision which Colorado Springs officials and members of the state's congressional delegation have worked for more than two years to reverse, or at least to reopen the headquarters location process.

The Gazette previously reported that they argued moving the command would cost more than $1 billion, force many of the command's personnel and civilian employees to move or quit, and would likely delay the command's plan to formally begin operations later this year.

When considering a headquarters location, the military generally considers access to health care, housing, room for growth and quality of life. According to the NBC report, the White House said the Alabama abortion ban was not a factor in its ongoing review of the headquarters location decision.

The Gazette previously reported that two federal inquiries  conducted by the Department of Defense's Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office into the legitimacy of the Trump administration's decision to relocate the base to Alabama  did not recommend the Department of the Air Force to reopen the evaluation process. A third review by the U.S. Air Force is reportedly ongoing.

Despite rumors that a decision is imminent on whether to keep the headquarters in Colorado Springs or move it to Huntsville, no announcement has been made.

"For over two years I've urged the Biden administration to reverse Trump's politically motivated decision and keep Space Command in Colorado. This decision should be made in the interest of the national security of the United States," Sen. Michael Bennet said.

"As I said on the Senate floor last week, reproductive freedom is important for our military readiness and national security, and it should be a factor in where we base Space Command. It's time to finish deliberations and keep Space Command where it belongs, in Colorado."

The Gazette previously reported that an investigation by the Government Accountability Office found "significant shortfalls" in the Air Force selection process, while a Department of Defense Inspector General probe found the process was reasonable and not improperly influenced by politics.

Senior military and political leaders had recommended Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs as "the preferred choice for USSPACECOM's permanent headquarters" due in part to its ability to reach full operational capacity more quickly than any other site under consideration, according to previous reporting by The Gazette.

However, The Gazette reported an environmental review of potential command sites states the Huntsville community will provide a facility that can house the in-process, nascent Space Command headquarters "at no cost during the construction of a permanent headquarters."

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(c)2023 The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.)

Visit The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.) at www.gazette.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
A newly released Navy investigation into drinking water contamination aboard two aircraft carriers last fall found the problem stemmed from aging systems on the ships.

But the investigation also found the incidents of contamination with E. coli and jet fuel were exacerbated by actions of crew members and policies that were unprepared to deal with contamination, particularly fuel, entering the water supply.

The pair of incidents -- though unconnected -- happened within days of each other aboard the aircraft carriers USS Nimitz and USS Abraham Lincoln off the coast of southern California in September 2022. In both cases, the initial reports of issues came from social media posts rather than Navy statements.

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Although the Navy insists that the E. coli contamination aboard the Lincoln led to no reported issues, the service said 11 sailors aboard the Nimitz had symptoms that may have been caused by ingesting jet fuel that got into that carrier's water, though all were eventually cleared to return to duty.

In the first incident aboard the USS Nimitz, the Navy's investigation confirmed earlier admissions by the service that jet fuel had made its way into the ship's water supply.

However, the investigation revealed that the source of the jet fuel was not a leak but rather the result of crew members trying to work on a handful of the 26 potable water tanks aboard the ship that had been out of service.

Unbeknownst to the crew, one of the out-of-service tanks held JP-5 -- jet fuel -- that leaked into the tank during the ship's last deployment in 2021 through a deteriorated cover, according to the investigation.

However, it appears that that detail was forgotten or not properly noted, because by 2022 "informal records indicated [the tank] contained a mixture of potable water and seawater" and investigators found that "the ship did not know or consider the possibility that the tank might contain contaminants other than seawater."

The crew's plan was to clean the potable water system by flushing the piping and pump with clean water. It appears that the plan allowed for the jet fuel to make it into the rest of the ship through shared piping.

Since the Navy redacted all references that identified the specific tanks investigators were referring to, it is difficult to understand some specific sequences and events laid out in the report.

On Sept. 16, between noon and 3 p.m., as the crew was pumping water from one of the potable tanks, they noticed an odor of JP-5, according to the Navy investigation. Despite isolating some of the tanks and pumps and flushing sections of the system, at around 9 p.m. the engineering control hub on the ship started getting reports from the wardroom, staterooms and crew quarters that there was fuel in the water.

The report does praise the leadership of the ship for taking quick action once the problem was identified. Investigators found that it took about 30 minutes to shut off water service to the ship and 90 minutes for Capt. Craig Sicola to begin addressing the crew.

The report said that Sicola unequivocally told the crew not to use the ship's water.

However, the incident also revealed that Navy ships are not set up to deal with fuel contamination. The report noted that the crew "does not have capability or procedures to analyze water or [sewage] to determine the presence or concentration of JP-5" and "neither the ship nor shore support facilities had pre-planned procedures or response actions to recover a shipboard potable water system contaminated with JP-5."

As a result, testing had to be done by an outside laboratory, and samples from 12 onboard tanks showed the presence of hydrocarbons -- the broad term for compounds that include jet fuel -- that ranged from undetectable to as high as 4.9 parts per million.

The report says the Navy's limit, based on an Environmental Protection Agency analysis, is only 0.266 parts per million.

Although the ship was aided by the fact that it was able to pull into San Diego the day after the contamination was discovered, it still took the rest of September to remove all of the fuel contamination. On Oct. 1, the ship's water system was deemed usable again.

In contrast to the Nimitz, the sailors on the Lincoln faced a different contamination -- the bacteria E. coli. Furthermore, the incident aboard could have been prevented had the crew been more aggressive in identifying the issue.

Like the Nimitz, the Lincoln had a water tank that developed a hole from rust, which allowed contaminants to seep in. Unlike the Nimitz, the tank was in service. On Sept. 17, the day before the ship was to set sail, the tank "experienced an unaccounted for change in level" that added about 2,000 gallons, according to the report.

The extra liquid came from the bilge -- a system of voids and spaces under a ship's equipment that often collects substances like jet fuel and oil and functions as a kind of sewer for the ship.

The next day, Sept. 18, a crew member noted the higher than normal level but assumed it was extra water from the pier and did nothing.

Three days later, around noon on Sept. 21, the ship started using water from the tank; almost immediately, a sailor reported to a superior that the water had a "weird" taste. That superior did not report the issue further.

In all, investigators said there were four missed opportunities for watch standers to identify and flag the water contamination before it spread throughout the ship.

"Basic watchstanding principles would have prevented or minimized the spread of the contaminated water in this case," they noted.

In fact, reports kept coming in throughout the evening, but actions by the engineering staff did little. At around 9 p.m., the contaminated tank was even reintroduced back into service after being taken offline earlier in the day.

At 10 p.m., almost 12 hours after the first report of foul water, the ship's executive officer, Capt. Patrick Baker, was told there might be an issue. "Around this time, [Baker] noticed a run on the bottled water at the ship's store," the report also noted.

According to the report, although Baker then briefed the commanding officer, Capt. Amy Bauernschmidt, the decision was made for her to make an announcement to the crew the next morning. In the meantime, the crew started dosing the water with extra chlorine and taking samples for testing.

The next day, Sept. 22, tests revealed bacterial contamination, including E. coli, in seven samples.

Several undated videos of Bauernschmidt addressing the crew were eventually posted online. In one video, seemingly shot after the confirmation of the contamination, Bauernschmidt tells her crew "before anybody starts freaking out ... E. coli is an extremely common bacteria."

"Matter of fact, every single person on this ship has it in their digestive system right now," the captain said while sailors captured in the video listening to the announcement can be heard in the background loudly protesting, "That's not how that works!"

In another video, she says that she had in front of her a bottle "of exactly what everyone was talking about" before immediately explaining that she purposely took a shower the night before and explained that it was "marvelous."

"I even tasted the water," she said before explaining it was "good to go."

The report does not shed any more light on the remarks but does say that Baker had a meeting on Sept. 22 with the ship's doctor, chief engineer and other leaders to discuss a plan.

Military.com reported that the Navy declared the ship's contamination solved a month later. However, given the results of the investigation of the Nimitz, which found that ships cannot test for substances like fuel that often find their way into bilge water, it is still unclear whether the crew was exposed to other substances beyond E. coli. Unlike the Nimitz, the Lincoln's investigation makes no mention of samples being sent off to an outside lab for testing.

The report also notes that the Lincoln's response was hampered by several factors.

The crew didn't dwell on reports of five tanks having bacterial contamination from January through March 2022. Investigators said no other carrier had a drinking water tank test positive for bacteria in the past two years.

"This should have been a warning sign," they concluded.

Investigators also faulted the tests that the Navy uses as "not timely enough to support emergent decision-making" since they need 18 hours to incubate to be useful.

Finally, the ship's equipment for adding chlorine straight to the water supply was not working at the time. "If [it] had been present and online, they would have significantly mitigated this issue," the report notes.

Neither report suggests punitive measures for anyone associated with either incident. In fact, Bauernschmidt has since been recommended for promotion to rear admiral.

In a letter signing off on the investigations, Vice Adm. Kenneth Whitesell, the head of naval aviation, noted that he stood up an "Aircraft Carrier Potable Water Working Group" in November 2022 to review all the drinking water incidents from the prior year to help address future incidents. That working group should have made its final recommendations at the end of January, but it does not appear the Navy has made those public.

-- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin.

Related: Navy Says the Lincoln's Water Tanks Are Free of E. Coli. But What About Jet Fuel and Other Contaminants?
Jennifer Barnhill is a columnist for Military.com writing about military families.

Here I was in a room filled with women, mostly in their twenties, sheepishly holding cow -- yes, bovine -- themed presents, glued to the walls of one wife's apartment, unsure exactly what they were celebrating.

Most were unfamiliar with military protocol. Could they pick up a crust-less sandwich now or should they wait for a secret handshake or curtsy from the party's guest of honor, the COW or Commanding Officer's Wife? It was confusing because we were not there to celebrate her direct accomplishments. We were surrounded by black-and-white figures of dairy producers because the COW's husband, a commanding officer in the United States Navy, had received a promotion. And we, her juniors, were expected to throw her a party and buy her tacky figurines to thank her for her service.

Commanding officer spouses often serve as unofficial advisers to the spouses of those under their partner's command. They host command events and manage phone trees. And because of their proximity to power, they often are the first to receive official updates, making them an invaluable source of information and structurally very important to military family support.

On the surface, I found COW parties and many other senior spouse traditions harmless. But under the glossy white-and-black veneer, I wondered if the Defense Department's reliance upon chain-of-command structures, in which senior spouses serve their "juniors," is a proactive military family communication strategy or a sign that commanders still unofficially rely on the two-for-one command leadership model that was banned in the 1980s. In the absence of regularly collected feedback from military families, are our military leaders relying upon the experiences of their own husbands and wives to inform decision-making and policies?

Today, 80.8% of our military officers identify as male and 75.3% are white. All 46 U.S. presidents have been male, and all but one were white. Roughly 72% of the 118th Congress is male and 75% identify as white.

Ninety-five percent of the 116 Supreme Court Justices have been male, and 97% have been white.

Historically the American "melting pot" has not been proportionally represented in any areas of leadership. Although more women and people of color are holding seats of power today, their presence is far from representative. That means leaders have to proactively seek out diverse points of view if they want to engage in fully informed decision-making.

"I rely on my wife as a 34-year military spouse through multiple deployments and Sally Thornberry (then-Texas Rep. Mac Thornberry's spouse), groups that come in and we constantly try to borrow and use their ideas," said Rep. Trent Kelly in an interview conducted in April 2020. While Kelly has a proven track record in advancing military family legislation, his sentiment fell very flat with me and, for some time after our interview, I couldn't put my finger on why.

Then, I realized that pillow talk with someone you have chosen to live your life with does not mean you have found a representative voice. But that's what serves as the alternative viewpoint all the time.

So many leaders in countless interviews from the Defense Department to politicians recounted using similar strategies. Kelly is just willing to admit he turns to the convenient insights of a spouse for professional decision-making. And to be fair, I know that he also regularly talks to official stakeholders. But what about the lazy politicians? I don't know about you, but I'm not OK with my female point of view only being represented in the bedrooms of my elected leaders or my husband's bosses.

The (Bed)Room Where It Happens

"My life is a slow-rolling nightmare right now," said Rebecca Ivory, Ph.D. and Navy COW (spouse), in an interview describing the balancing act she tried to manage while working on her degree. "Every day, I wake up and at some point in the day I have to decide whether it's more important to be my husband's wife and do squadron stuff or do my [dissertation] stuff." And she wasnt the only one having to make this decision to unofficially serve the military community or pursue their own interests.

The pressure Ivory and others feel may seem self-imposed but is reinforced by observing senior spouse participation and in books like the 406-page Army Spouse Handbook. Even as recently as 2019, there was a full chapter dedicated to the "unofficial" duties of a commander's spouse, telling them to "identify needs and interests of the group" and to "gather and pass information." Although their role is optional, "if the commander is not married, if the spouse does not live at that location, or if the spouse chooses not to assist in this manner, it is important for another spouse in the unit to be asked to provide that leadership." The Navy and Air Force also have handbooks with similar, but branch-specific guidance.

Even the most junior service, the Space Force, recognizes and elevates the role of the spouses of its leaders in these traditional ways. When a senior military officer is invited to command a unit in that branch, they are often invited to attend leadership training; their spouses are also invited.

"[Spouses] are integral to cementing a strong cultural foundation and help establish a positive command environment for members and their families, so they are encouraged to attend," wrote Space Force Maj. Gen. Shawn Bratton in a Jan. 3, 2023, memo reviewed by Military.com. Military personnel head to one room where they focus on more operational themes, while the spouses are focused on family quality of life.

The Space Force is just the latest service to offer such senior spouse training, following the precedent set by the other services. The training is a perpetuation of the traditional two-for-one leadership model, highlighting that a spouse's domain is with the families.

"Your job is to support your husband's career," said a two-star general's wife to Jennifer Nightingale, an Air Force veteran and Space Force spouse. Nightingale had hoped to find a sympathetic ear, as they had been trying to find a military career pathway that would support both spouses' professional goals.

So, Nightingale was not surprised when her husband was questioned by another general after not jumping at the chance to say yes to a last-minute command assignment. Like many military families, the Nightingales had to weigh the decision as a family. "'With all due respect, my wife is not a staff accountant. She makes more than you do.' And the general was shocked," Nightingale told me, recounting her husbands description of the exchange. Her husband reported that the general came back the next day after having gotten an earful from his own wife.

According to Nightingale, the earful went something like this: "I love you; I've been happy to support your career. It has not come without cost, and that cost shouldn't have to be paid. You guys are a small force. It is 2020. Do better."

And the general did. The Nightingales were able to turn down the assignment without negative career implications. Although this interaction ended positively, the decision to consider family dynamics when handing out assignments was not based on a policy that encourages leaders to see people as people. It was a point of view provided by one strategically placed senior military spouse.

And elected or commissioned, or not, an individual spouse can make or break quite a lot.

Some senior spouses take the opportunity to make things better for those coming behind them. The Air Force's chief of staff, Gen. Charles" CQ" Brown Jr., who is slated to become the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs ,attended an Air Force Town Hall, sharing, "When we [he and his wife Sharene] travel and go to bases, as soon as we hit the ground  I go one direction, Sharene goes to another. I'm doing mission stuff; she's doing airmen and family things."

During her husband's time serving in this role, Sharene Brown, along with other Air Force spouse volunteers, launched Five & Thrive, which was established to "improve quality-of-life challenges our Air and Space Force families face in five focus areas: Childcare, Education, Healthcare, Housing, and Spouse Employment." The project centralizes resources and makes them highly visible to younger generations of military spouses, something the branches struggle with on their own.

Does this mean Navy, Army and Marine Corps families are out of luck if their branches' senior spouses do not step up in this way? Kinda. Based on this traditional two-for-one model where a senior spouse volunteers their time to assist their juniors, the absence of their contribution is felt by junior spouses if the service branch doesn't replace this volunteerism with funded programming.

It is not at all surprising to me that senior military spouses feel this pressure to volunteer, because America expects the spouses of its senior public servants to serve.

Just look at the commander in chief's spouse, the first lady. She is unelected and unpaid but is culturally expected to volunteer her time to advance family-focused causes. And if the first lady serves as an example of how these roles are received, senior military spouses may feel damned if they do, stepping back from personal careers to serve, and damned if they don't, for "abandoning" their fellow spouses by not volunteering enough.

"I am proud of the way that Mrs. Brown is a megaphone for the programs that exist," said Monica Bassett, founder and CEO of Stronghold Food Pantry and the 2022 Armed Forces Insurance Army Spouse of the Year. While as an Army spouse, Bassett may not directly benefit from the Air Force's Five & Thrive efforts, she recognizes that the work is needed. "We know that unless we volunteer and speak up, families will be at risk of losing out on these [programs]. So, we volunteer to ensure all have access. I appreciate people, military spouses, standing in the gap. Sometimes these [spouse] volunteers are all we have."

The reliance upon the experiences and volunteerism of the spouses of our senior military leaders represents a fundamentally flawed assumption that military families are not stakeholders who require their own seats at the table, not just a plus-one. If the DoD wants to continue to move away from the two-for-one model of leadership support, it must create and fund an equitable replacement and bring all levels of military spouses to the table, even if it is not as convenient or fun as pillow talk.

-- Follow Jennifer Barnhill on Twitter @more_than_mommy.
The Department of Veterans Affairs would get an $18 billion budget bump next year under a plan released by House Republicans on Tuesday amid a knockdown, drag-out political fight over raising the U.S. debt ceiling.

The GOP bill would give the VA about $153 billion in discretionary funding in 2024, up from $135 billion that the department got this year -- and slightly above the $143 billion the Biden administration requested for next year.

The bill gives Republicans concrete numbers to point to as they rebut Biden administration accusations that their plans to slash overall government spending in 2024 would mean cuts to the VA and veteran services.

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"House Republicans have repeatedly vowed that there will be no cuts to the care and benefits our veterans deserve, and the Fiscal Year 2024 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill delivers on that promise," House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Kay Granger, R-Texas; VA appropriations subcommittee Chairman John Carter, R-Texas; and House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost, R-Ill., said in a joint statement.

"This bill sends a clear message: Our commitment to taking care of our nation's veterans will never waver," they added.

The release of the VA spending bill came hours before President Joe Biden and congressional leaders were scheduled to have a meeting about what's known as the debt ceiling Tuesday afternoon.

The debt ceiling, which is the amount of money the Treasury Department can borrow in order to pay the nation's bills, is expected to be reached as soon as June 1, at which point the U.S. could default on its debts for the first time.

The GOP and the Biden administration have been at odds over a bill House Republicans passed last month that would raise the debt ceiling in exchange for capping overall government spending in 2024 at 2022 levels.

The Biden administration has been arguing the GOP-proposed spending caps would mean a 22% cut to the VA, a number derived from the assumption that Pentagon funding would be spared from cuts while every other department would take an equal cut.

The claim infuriated Republicans, who insisted veterans funding would be safe from cuts while also threatening to retaliate against the VA over the messaging.

But still left unsaid by Republicans is exactly where they plan to find about $130 billion in cuts to government funding. Boosting VA funding and Pentagon funding, as Republicans have also said they want to do, would mean deep cuts to other government agencies that Democrats are unlikely to agree to, making it doubtful the VA spending plan released Tuesday is exactly what will become law.

Democrats claimed the GOP plan could, for example, short the funding for benefits meant for veterans sickened by exposure to toxic chemicals.

"The illusory increases Republicans claim here in fact breaks a bipartisan promise to protect those exposed to burn pits by severely underfunding the Toxic Exposures Fund," Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., the ranking member of the VA appropriations subcommittee, said in a statement. "It also deceptively hides the fact that much steeper cuts are in store for the housing, food and job assistance programs our veterans need."

The bill would put $5.5 billion into the Toxic Exposures Fund, which was created to pay for benefits granted by last year's PACT Act and is considered mandatory spending, which is spending that is typically on autopilot since it is required by prior law.

That's about $14.7 billion less than the VA requested for the Toxic Exposures Fund. The bill would cover the difference with discretionary spending, which is spending that is subject to annual approval by Congress and so is more at the mercy of political fights.

Republicans maintain the bill "fully funds costs identified in the president's request to address veterans affected by toxic exposures," according to a summary of the measure released by House Appropriations Committee Republicans.

The bill also includes Republican priorities such as a ban on funding to implement executive orders on diversity, equity and inclusion, and on funding that "promotes or advances" critical race theory, a term Republicans have applied generally to diversity training. Critical race theory is a discipline taught in graduate school about the intersection of racism and law.

The bill also zeros out funding for the VA's public affairs office "in response to the VA's inaccurate and politically motivated press releases making false claims about budget cuts," according to the Republican summary.

In addition to VA funding, the bill released Tuesday includes funding for military construction. The military construction portion of the bill would provide about $18 billion for the Pentagon, which is about $1 billion less than provided last year but about $1 billion more than the Biden administration requested for this year.

Republicans said the bill would make "investments in the Pacific theater, barracks and other quality-of-life projects," while Democrats groused that it does not include dedicated funding to clean up chemicals known as PFAS, prepare bases for climate change, or increase oversight of privatized military housing.

The House Appropriations Committee's VA and military construction subcommittee is scheduled to debate the bill Wednesday morning.

-- Rebecca Kheel can be reached at rebecca.kheel@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @reporterkheel.

Related: VA $325 Billion Budget Proposal Includes Funding for Toxic Exposure Benefits, Medical Facilities Construction
KYIV, Ukraine  Ukrainian air defenses thwarted an intense Russian air attack on Kyiv early Tuesday, shooting down all 18 missiles aimed at the capital, as European leaders sought new ways to punish Russia for the war and a Chinese envoy sought traction for Beijings peace proposal.

Loud explosions boomed over Kyiv as the nighttime attack combined Russian missiles launched from the air, sea and land in an apparent attempt to overwhelm Ukraines air defenses. No casualties were reported as Western-supplied weapons helped fend off the assault.

Russia's latest attack on Kyiv was exceptional in its density  the maximum number of attacking missiles in the shortest period of time, said Serhii Popko, the head of the Kyiv military administration.

Valentyna Myronets, a 64-year-old Kyiv resident, said she felt pain, fear, nervousness, restlessness amid the assaults. God, we are waiting for victory and when all this is over, she said.

The British ambassador to Ukraine, Melinda Simmons, tweeted that the barrage was pretty intense.

Bangs and shaking walls are not an easy night, she wrote.

It was the eighth time this month that Russian air raids had targeted the capital, a clear escalation after weeks of lull and ahead of a much-anticipated Ukrainian counter-offensive. It also came as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy concluded a whirlwind European tour to greet Ukraine's key wartime allies, which spurred an additional tranche of pledged military aid.

Six Kinzhal aero-ballistic missiles were launched from MiG-31K aircraft, nine cruise missiles from ships in the Black Sea and three land-based S-400 cruise missiles targeted the capital, Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said in a statement on Telegram.

After the first onslaught, Russia also launched Iranian-made Shahed attack drones and conducted aerial reconnaissance, Ihnat said.

Debris fell across several districts in the capital, starting fires, but no losses were reported, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.

Sophisticated air defense systems provided by Ukraine's Western allies, including American-made Patriot missiles, have helped spare Kyiv from the kind of destruction witnessed elsewhere in the country as Russian forces press on with their tactic of long-range bombardment.

The bolstered air defenses have deterred Russian aircraft from going deep into Ukraine and helped shape the course of the war, military experts say.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov cheered the display of defensive prowess, calling it in a tweet another unbelievable success.

The barrage came as European leaders were due to attend a rare summit of the 46-nation Council of Europe, the continents main human rights body.

The two-day meeting in Iceland seeks to set up a way of logging damage in Ukraine caused by the Kremlins forces so compensation claims can be lodged against Moscow.

Meanwhile, a Chinese envoy is preparing to visit Ukraine and Russia in coming days as Beijing presses the peace plan it released in February.

Li Hui, a former ambassador to Moscow, also will visit Poland, France and Germany, according to the Chinese foreign ministry.

Chinese leader Xi Jinpings government says it is neutral and wants to play a role as mediator in the war, but it has given Moscow political support and a breakthrough appeared unlikely more than 14 months after Russia's full-scale invasion.

At least seven civilians died and 14 others were wounded in Russian shelling of Ukrainian regions from Monday through Tuesday morning, the countrys presidential office said.

___

Vasilisa Stepanenko in Kyiv and Yuras Karmanau in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed to this report.
MILWAUKEE  Four people, including a 1-year-old girl, were killed in an overnight crash in Milwaukee when a speeding car struck another vehicle in an intersection, police said.

Milwaukee police said a southbound car crashed into a westbound vehicle about 11:45 p.m. Sunday and the force of the impact caused several people to be thrown from the westbound car.

A 1-year-old girl, two 15-year-old girls and a 17-year-old boy who were passengers in the westbound vehicle died at the scene, police said. That car's driver was hospitalized in serious condition, while an injured passenger's condition was not released.

Police said a 32-year-old woman who was driving the southbound car was arrested on suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, although the investigation is ongoing.

At the time of the crash, police said that motorist was traveling at a high speed.

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson called the crash and another deadly crash early Monday where a car crashed into a tree, killing the driver and injuring two passengers, "horrifying."

He noted that his administration has tried to make the city's roads safer, in part by redesigning streets, but said, "clearly, there is more work to do."

"Addressing the human factor  the actions of drivers  is a big part of the efforts ahead," Johnson said.

From Badgers to Kringle, test your knowledge of Wisconsin's state symbols
The leader of a Russian mercenary group claimed to show in a video released Tuesday the body and IDs of a U.S. veteran killed amid fighting in Ukraine.

The video of Yevgeny Prigozhin, commander of the Wagner Group, which functions as a private arm of the Russian military, circulated online and appeared to show him holding a retiree card, driver's license and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs identification card. Military.com could not confirm the authenticity of the video Tuesday afternoon and is not reporting the name of the veteran.

The video -- which is black and white and appears to be filmed at night -- pans to a half-dressed body lying in rubble. It was released as Ukraine continues fierce fighting against Russian forces in Bakhmut, the epicenter of the conflict. The mercenary group is known to fabricate and spread disinformation to promote its status on the battlefield and with the Kremlin.

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American veterans have flocked to Ukraine to help in the fight against Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion, and some have died there. Throughout the conflict, videos of prisoners of war and the violence have surfaced. The latest video -- featuring the head of Russia's for-hire military forces -- appears to push the boundaries of how the dead should be treated under international war conventions.

Wagner has reportedly committed war crimes across the globe and amid several different conflicts. In Mali, for example, victims reported "horrific executions; mass graves; acts of torture, rape and sexual violence; pillaging; arbitrary detentions; and enforced disappearances" committed by Wagner and its allies, according to U.N. Human Rights Council experts.

In Ukraine, a former mercenary admitted to killing injured Ukrainian prisoners of war with grenades earlier this year amid other atrocities, according to The Guardian.

In the most recent video, Prigozhin says, "Here we have a veteran," using the name of an American. "So, we will pass him along to the United States of America, we will put him in a coffin, and cover him with an American flag because he didn't die in his bed an old man but died in war and most likely in a worthy way, right?"

A Wagner mercenary next to Prigozhin in the video claims the man died in a firefight.

Military.com attempted to contact the family of the person reportedly depicted in the video. A newspaper in the family's state reported that a relative and colleague had identified the man.

"We are aware of the reports of the death of a U.S. citizen in Bakhmut and are seeking additional information," a State Department spokesperson told Military.com on Tuesday. "Our ability to verify reports of deaths of U.S. citizens in Ukraine is extremely limited.

"We offer our condolences to the families of all whose lives have been lost as a result of Russia's unprovoked and unjustified war against Ukraine," the spokesperson added, reiterating a State Department notice warning U.S. citizens about traveling to Ukraine amid the conflict.

The department has recommended that U.S. citizens not travel to Ukraine due to the war and the singling out of citizens by Russia's security officials. It said citizens should depart immediately if possible.

The Washington Post reported Sunday that Prigozhin offered Ukraine officials information on Russian battle positions in exchange for a withdrawal from Bakhmut, according to U.S. intelligence documents leaked on a social media platform by a junior Air National Guardsman. The Wagner chief denied the report.

Prigozhin also made splashes in the media after he said earlier this month that he and his mercenaries were not getting enough artillery shells from the Russian Defence Ministry.

-- This story is developing and will be updated as information is confirmed.

-- Konstantin Toropin contributed to this report.

-- Drew F. Lawrence can be reached at drew.lawrence@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @df_lawrence.

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The Department of Veterans Affairs will continue its adoption of the Oracle Cerner Electronic Health Records System under a new contract that the department says will hold the company more accountable for program failures, officials announced Tuesday.

One day before the VAs contract with Oracle Cerner was set to expire, the parties agreed to a one-year contract, renegotiable and renewable for up to five years, for the EHR modernization program, which is designed to improve recordkeeping across the VA while being interoperable with Defense Department and other private-sector health records systems.

The software, currently used at five VA medical centers and their affiliated clinics in the Pacific Northwest and Ohio, has been linked to numerous patient safety issues, including four patient deaths. The troubles forced the VA to halt further rollout of the system last month and renegotiate the terms of the contract.

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Dr. Neil Evans, chief of the Veterans Health Administrations Office of Connected Care, said Tuesday that the new contract "dramatically increases" the department's ability to hold the company accountable for outages and other issues, requiring improved reliability and responsiveness and interoperability with other health care systems, as well as the VA's website and mobile apps.

One of the keys in the contract to ensuring performance, Evans said, is instituting stronger performance expectations and larger penalty fines when the system misses the mark.

"The system has not delivered for veterans or VA clinicians to date, but we are stopping at nothing to get this right -- and we will deliver the efficient, well-functioning system that veterans and clinicians deserve," Evans said in a statement released Tuesday.

From 2020, when the program was first introduced in Spokane, Washington, through June 2022, the Oracle Cerner program has been down more than 500 times, and the company paid roughly $325,000 of the $4.4 billion it has received to date in performance penalties, according to a report last year by FedScoop.

"If these new terms had been in place since the start of the contract, VA would have received approximately a 30-fold increase in [monetary] credits for the system outages," Evans said Tuesday. "And outage-free time is only one of the 28 performance metrics that are now built into the contract, so Oracle Cerner is heavily incentivized across the board to improve performance for veterans and clinicians."

The system was introduced in October 2020 at Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Spokane, following several delays. Nearly immediately, it ran into trouble, causing headaches for staff and depriving veterans of timely access to medications and appointments.

After pauses to address the problems, the system was rolled out at the Walla Walla, Washington, VA hospital and clinics in March 2022, and later, Columbus, Ohio; White City, Ohio; and Roseburg, Oregon.

The VA paused further implementation last year after the VA inspector general released a report outlining major concerns with the system. That pause was later extended until June 2023.

In March, however, VA officials told Congress the system had contributed to six cases of "catastrophic harm" to patients, including four deaths. The next month, the VA announced it had halted all future deployments as it moved to fix the system at the facilities where it currently is used.

Lawmakers have moved to ensure that the VA improves its oversight of Oracle Cerner and holds the company accountable. Rep. Mike Bost, an Illinois Republican who chairs the House Veterans Affairs Committee, and Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., have introduced several bills to address the issues, including one that would scrap the program if progress is not made to ensure that the system is safe and effective.

The pair also have sponsored legislation that would require hospital leaders to sign off on the program before it is introduced at additional sites.

On Tuesday, Bost and Rosendale, who chairs the House Veterans Affairs technology modernization subcommittee, released a statement saying that, despite the VAs announcement on the new contract, their questions about the program are still unanswered, such as concerns over the division of labor between Oracle and the VA and how the contract changes would improve veteran care.

This shorter-term contract is an encouraging first step, but veterans and taxpayers need more than a wink and a nod that the project will improve, they said in a statement. We will continue closely overseeing this effort to get veterans and VA staff the fully functional electronic health record they deserve.

Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., also has introduced a bill that would require the VA to restructure the system to make improvements and be more transparent with Congress.

In a statement Tuesday, Tester said he welcomed the new contract terms but said the changes are just the start.

"I've said from day one that the EHR [Modernization] system has to deliver for veterans, VA medical professionals, and the American taxpayer  and this new contract is a step in that direction," said Tester, who chairs the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee. "I'll keep holding VA and Oracle Cerner's feet to the fire in implementing these changes while we work to pass stronger reforms under my [proposed bill]."

The VA reached a $10 billion deal with Cerner in May 2018 to develop and oversee adoption of an electronic health records system compatible with the Department of Defense's electronic medical records system, also an Oracle Cerner product.

The cost has risen to an estimated $16 billion, with at least one independent nonprofit, the Institute for Defense Analyses, projecting that the total cost could run as much as $50 billion over 28 years.

In a statement provided to Military.com, Oracle Global Industries Executive Vice President Mike Sicilia said the contract reiterates both parties commitment to modernizing the VAs health record system.

This new agreement reflects Oracle's commitment to Veterans health care as well as complete confidence in our technology and our partnership with the VA to deliver an EHR that far exceeds the expectations of users, Sicilia said.

VA officials said Tuesday afternoon that they were unable to provide any additional information about the contract or the negotiations, declining to comment on any new cost or calendar projections.

Evans, the chief of the Veterans Health Administrations Office of Connected Care, said the new contract lays a foundation for the VA and Oracle to resolve system issues now and make sure it works better at future sites.

"Ultimately, we believe that this new contract gives VA the tools we need to hold Oracle Cerner accountable to deliver an EHR that will meaningfully improve Veterans' health outcomes and benefits," Evans said.

 Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Military.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime

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Alexandras comments about Mrs. Jackson: Mrs. Jackson taught me valuable and practical knowledge about the history and structure of the United States, which I continue to apply. She wants me to succeed, mentoring me as I honed my writing and rhetorical abilities. Mrs. Jacksons instruction cultivates mastery of new content and high test performance in all pursuits. I will honor Mrs. Jacksons commitment to my success by using the skills she taught me in pursuit of service to our country.

Mrs. Jacksons comments about Alexandra: Alex is exceptional. She endeavors to learn for understanding, not as a means to any particular achievement. She is naturally curious, combined with an analytical ability that will undoubtedly serve her well throughout her life. Her future in international economic development is bright due to her gifts of communication and leadership, blended with her ability to listen to understand. Alex shows diligence, perseverance, and a commitment to excellence, but, above all, she is resolutely kind, honoring and respecting all she meets. It was a privilege to have taught her, and I wish her the best.
The Padres announced this evening theyve selected reliever Drew Carlton onto the big league club. Southpaw Ryan Weathers was optioned to Triple-A El Paso in a corresponding move. San Diego transferred lefty Drew Pomeranz from the 15-day to the 60-day injured list to clear a 40-man roster spot.

Carlton is now in line to make his team debut. The 27-year-old inked a minor league contract with San Diego over the winter. Hed previously spent his entire career with the Tigers, including a pair of stints at the MLB level between 2021-22. Carlton got into nine games over those two seasons, throwing 12 1/3 innings. He allowed six runs (four earned) with eight strikeouts and four walks.

Those were decent results for a middle reliever, though Carlton didnt overwhelm hitters. His fastball sat in the 90-91 MPH range and he generated swinging strikes at a modest 7.8% clip. The righty allowed a 4.78 ERA in spite of a strong 27.3% strikeout rate and excellent 4.5% walk percentage through 58 1/3 Triple-A innings last season. He became a minor league free agent after being outrighted from Detroits 40-man roster during the summer.

Since signing with San Diego, Carlton has been lights out in Triple-A. Hes allowed only four runs (two earned) in 16 innings. The Florida State product has punched out 18 against five walks and induced grounders on half the batted balls hes allowed. Hell return to the majors for a third consecutive year as a result. Carlton still has two minor league options remaining, so the Friars can freely send him back to Triple-A without putting him on waivers.

Weathers has started four of six outings at the major league level this season. Hes posted a 3.42 ERA but is only striking out hitters at a 15.2% clip over 23 2/3 innings. The Padres already have a starting staff of Joe Musgrove, Yu Darvish, Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha and Blake Snell. Theyll keep Weathers working in a starting capacity in El Paso behind that group.

Pomeranz hasnt pitched in the big leagues since undergoing flexor tendon surgery that ended his 2021 season. Hed been on a rehab assignment last month but shut things down for a couple weeks after feeling some arm discomfort. It doesnt seem an especially concerning issue, as Pomeranz is already back out on a rehab stint with El Paso. Hell need time to get back to complete game shape, though. His IL stint backdates to Opening Day and only officially rules him out until the final week of May. It was unlikely Pomeranz wouldve completed his rehab work before then regardless, so its mostly a procedural transaction.
TRAVERSE CITY, MI  A 350-pound black bear relaxing in a tree in a Traverse City neighborhood was shot with four tranquilizers before it fell asleep and eventually fell out of the tree as dozens looked on, The Associated Press reports.

Its like the best block party ever, Annette Andersen said.

Onlookers watch as representatives from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, DNR Conservation Officers, Traverse City Mich, Police, Traverse City Fire and Traverse City Light and Power work to remove a black bear from a tree outside a Fifth Street home on Sunday, May 14, 2023 morning in Traverse City's Central Neighborhood. (Jan-Michael Stump/Traverse City Record-Eagle via AP)Jan-Michael Stump/Traverse City Record-Eagle via AP

Wildlife experts responded to a morning call about a bear in a tree on Sunday, May 14. The saga went on for hours as a crowd gathered to watch. They fired tranquilizer darts into its butt, then it slept on a thick limb before falling to the ground. Ashlea Walter had pulled mattresses out of her home to cushion the landing.

A tranquilized black bear falls from a tree outside of a home on Sunday, May 14, 2023 in Traverse City, Mich. Representatives from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, DNR Conservation Officers, Traverse City Police, Traverse City Fire and Traverse City Light and Power were able to remove the bear after several tranquilizer darts with plans to relocate it. (Jan-Michael Stump/Traverse City Record-Eagle via AP)Jan-Michael Stump/Traverse City Record-Eagle via AP

Theyre a tough animal, said Steve Griffith, a wildlife biologist with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Obviously they are in trees all the time, and they do have accidents in the wild. ... They can take a pretty good fall.

The bears vitals were checked before it was transferred to a bear trap. Next, it will be transported 50-60 miles away and released into a wooded area, Griffith said.

Traverse City Light and Power apprentice James Johnson attempts to use a rope to lower a tranquilized black bear from a tree outside of a home on Sunday, May 14, 2023 morning in Traverse City, Mich. Representatives from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, DNR Conservation Officers, Traverse City Police, Traverse City Fire and Traverse City Light and Power were able to remove the bear after several tranquilizer darts with plans to relocate it. (Jan-Michael Stump/Traverse City Record-Eagle via AP)Jan-Michael Stump/Traverse City Record-Eagle via AP

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DETROIT -- Owners of an estimated 220,000 Jeep Cherokees are being told to park outside as a problem with the power liftgates may cause a fire, even when the vehicle is turned off. According to the Associated Press, a recall involving certain 2014 to 2016 models of the Cherokee has been been announced by Stellantis after the company discovered the problem while reviewing customer data.

The problem can happen when water gets into the liftgate control computer, which in turn can cause an electrical short, which can then start a fire. Documents posted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration say Stellantis has received 50 customer assistance records, 23 warranty claims and 21 field reports as a result of the problem. However, the number of fires caused by the issue is not currently known.

No injuries have been reported as a result of the issue.

Until a fix can be made, owners are encouraged to park their vehicles outside and away from any other buildings or vehicles. A fix for the problem has not been announced, but impacted owners are expected to begin receiving notices in the mail starting on June 30.

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WEXFORD COUNTY, MI -- Police arrested a 28-year-old Manton man following an alleged assault at a home in Cedar Creek Township Friday evening. Michigan State Police say that when troopers arrived, they saw Dakota Finch -- who had an outstanding warrant -- in the driveway before he fled from the scene.

Police pursued Finch before eventually catching up to him and taking him into custody.

Troopers were dispatched to the house around 6:30 p.m. for a report of an assault at the home. While interviewing the victim, they alleged that Finch attacked and strangled them following an argument. The alleged victim did not require medical attention after the incident

A witness to the encounter was also interviewed at the scene, according to police.

Finch was lodged at the Wexford County Jail. He was arraigned Monday in 84th District Court on charges of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, one count resist and obstructing a police officer, and one count domestic violence.

Bond was set at $20,000 and Finch is due back in court on May 30.

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Witnessing the Northern Lights is a bucket-list life goal for many people, and for good reason: As a natural phenomenon, the aurora borealis has enchanted humanity since our earliest days on Earth.

Adding to that magic is the fact that the aurora can be incredibly elusive. For the majority of us who dont live at extreme northern latitudes, seeing the aurora takes the perfect alignment of many variables, most of which are out of our control.

But with summer stargazing season upon us, and with Northern Lights sightings becoming more frequent in Michigan, its a good time to start getting acquainted with how to chase  and hopefully catch  this incredible night-sky spectacle.

Theres something so mystical and mysterious about seeing the Northern Lights move and dance above you, says Melissa F. Kaelin, founder of the Michigan Aurora Chasers Facebook group and author of the book Below the 45th Parallel: The Beginners Guide to Chasing the Aurora in the Great Lakes Region.

With more than a decade of experience in hunting the Northern Lights, Kaelin has plenty of insight on how to increase ones chances of seeing the aurora; read on for a few of her insider tips:

Join a Northern Lights group online and turn on notifications. This is the quickest way to get updates about the geomagnetic storms that can produce the Northern Lights, or even find out when the aurora is actively happening, Kaelin says. These groups are also great learning resources with Q&A posts on everything from dark-sky photography to nitty-gritty night-sky science. The Michigan Aurora Chasers group even hosts Live Chase nights, when members can meet up to get assistance or just enjoy watching the aurora together.

Know the variables. One thing that people dont realize is theres a lot of science behind the Northern Lights and how theyre created, and the data that makes the conditions possible for us to actually see them with our own eyes, Kaelin says. Local weather, light pollution, geographic location and moon phases all can impact a viewers ability to see the aurora. And then theres the aurora itself, dependent on an alphabet soup of acronymed factors such as the geomagnetic storms power (measured by an index called kP), as well as the interplanetary magnetic fields, or IMFs, strength and direction (known as Bt and Bz, respectively).

Sound confusing? It can be, but there are plenty of great resources about the aurora to help you sort it out, from books to websites to the aforementioned Facebook groups. Perhaps the biggest key is to respect how complicated an aurora experience can be  and therefore to be patient, not get discouraged, and enjoy the chase.

RELATED: Why Michigan is seeing the Northern Lights more often

Know your local dark sky spots. Dark skies are an important component to seeing the Northern Lights at their brightest. Luckily for us, Michigan has lots of rural spaces and unobstructed shoreline views with low light pollution. Michigan is also home to three international dark sky parks, six state-designated dark-sky preserves, and several more dark-sky spaces in the works. Get to know your nearest dark-sky spots ahead of time, so you know where to go as soon as you see the next aurora alerts.

RELATED: Where to find dark sky parks in Michigan in 2023

Bring a camera. A camera or newer cell phone should be in your aurora-chasing toolkit, as these devices often can pick up the aurora when its still too faint for human eyes. Even if youre not seeing anything in the northern sky, use a camera or even a phone to take a test shot pointing north; it may catch color or light that you didnt know was there, Kaelin says. That can be an indication that the aurora is about to get stronger and present itself to you.

This is especially useful at our particular latitudes, where the aurora sometimes appears to our eyes more like a white or silver arch in the sky. The colors are possible here, it just takes really powerful conditions to make that happen, Kaelin says. But a camera on the right settings will pick up all of the color and light that exists in the night sky, even if a storm is less strong.

Give it time. During really powerful displays, the Northern Lights can come in waves, followed by lulls that may last up to an hour  so dont give up if you dont see them right away. You have to devote time and patience to your first aurora citing, Kaelin says. Give it at least three hours out in the dark under the night sky if you really want to see the Northern Lights. Plus, human night vision takes time to adjust in order to pick up more light and color in the darkness: think anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour or more.

Ready to start chasing the Northern Lights? Some Michigan resources include regional Facebook groups devoted to education and updates about the aurora, including Michigan Aurora Chasers, Michigan Aurora Hunters, and Great Lakes Aurora Hunters; Kaelins book, Below the 45th Parallel: The Beginners Guide to Chasing the Aurora in the Great Lakes Region, as well as Kaelins upcoming talks and events.

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ATLANTA, MI  A Michigan man is accused of making multiple threatening phone calls to 911 dispatchers in Montmorency County.

Gregory Simms, 37, of Atlanta, was arraigned via Zoom in the 88-2nd Judicial District Court on charges of malicious use and threat of terrorism, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced.

Simms is alleged to have placed threatening phone calls to Montmorency County 911 dispatch after learning of a warrant for his arrest in Saginaw County.

Over the course of three calls, Simms is alleged to have indicated he would send any pigs who attempted to arrest him back in body bags.

In two of the calls, Simms identified himself, Nessel said.

Threats to public service workers, the hearts of our communities, require serious charges, Nessel said. Our 911 centers are designed to respond to life-threatening emergencies, not intimidation from the citizens they serve.

Im proud of the work the Hate Crimes and Domestic Terrorism Unit of my office has done to ensure that threats like these are met with robust enforcement to pursue accountability and maintain public safety.

Bond was set at $250,000 since Simms was determined to be a flight risk and a danger to the community, Nessel said.

An in-person preliminary examination is scheduled for Wednesday.

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FLINT, MI  Students from 60 Michigan schools put their engineering skills to the test at Kettering Universitys Mobility Research Center in a competition to build the best autonomous vehicles.

Hundreds of students competed in the Square One Innovative Vehicle Design Competition on Tuesday, May 16.

This is the 16th annual competition, but only the fourth year in a row that the competition has been hosted at Kettering University.

High school students competed in three different challenges, each with similar goals but different sized vehicles. The autonomous vehicle design challenge uses a Power Wheels Jeep, while the mini vehicle design challenge uses an RC car.

The full-scale innovative vehicle design challenge, the greatest of the three challenges, tasks students with redesigning a gas-powered go-kart into a fully electric or hybrid go-kart.

It is a one-day event that began around 9 a.m. and finished in the afternoon.

Barb Land, Square One CEO, said this program provides students with real-world engineering experience that not only builds their skills in science, technology, engineering and math but also builds their awareness for college and career pathways to a brighter future for themselves.

Flint Cultural Center Academy students said this event was better than being in school. FCCA placed second in their heat in the mini innovative vehicle design challenge.

Patrice Howard, a 14-year-old eighth grader, said the team learns about engineering, teamwork and sharing responsibility.

Provost James Zhang said students are learning both technical and real-life skills through a competition that engages the community.

Thats part of our job is trying to attract students to the university  this is a premier institution, Zhang said. But what is more important is we take advantage of these kind of events to spread the importance of STEM education, especially in young ages.

Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist attended the final races in the afternoon, telling students that the experience they are gaining through this competition will help them later on in life.

This event is all about exposure and following your curiosity, Gilchrist said.

Many students told the Lt. Governor that the coolest thing they worked on was also the hardest thing they worked on.

Often, its the thing thats challenging that piques their curiosity, Gilchrist said. My message was to follow that.

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Want more Flint-area news? Bookmark the local Flint news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Flint daily newsletter.
FLINT, MI  A man accused of attempting to hire others to inflict pain and potentially kill another person in exchange for cryptocurrency will likely stand trial later this month.

Steven Christopher Craven, 58, is scheduled to appear before Genesee County Circuit Court Judge David J. Newblatt on May 31 for trial on a single felony charge of solicitation of murder.

If convicted, Craven would face life in prison.

The charges are ridiculous, said Michael Ewing, an attorney representing Craven. The witness who is claiming that it was a murder-for-hire (plot) was mad at my client over a dispute regarding some personal property. When he couldnt get his property from my client--the allegation about a murder for hire suddenly came about.

The witness stating that Mr. Craven was trying to orchestrate a murder for hire cooked up the story out of retribution, Ewing added. In the meantime, Mr. Cravens life has been turned upside down, and he is very much looking forward to his trial date.

Related: Man testifies Burton man offered money to have harm inflicted on business associate

Cravens case stems from a Michigan State Police investigation.

Craven previously offered increasing amounts of cryptocurrency depending on the severity of physical harm inflicted upon the victim, with the greatest payout being for causing death and a lesser amount for inflicting great bodily harm, according to statements contained in a Michigan State Police report.

Read more: Michigan men offered thousands in cryptocurrency for physical harm against business associate: police report

At a prior hearing, Macon Morgan, a business associate of Cravens, testified at that hed warned the victim in the case that Craven and a man named Joshua Barrett were planning to burn down Vehicle City Social, a private, cannabis-friendly lounge. Craven and the victim were business partners at Vehicle City Social.

Morgan said Craven discussed burning the building down in May 2021 but then told him to hold off because of a discrepancy on the business insurance. After those discussions, things escalated to Craven wanting the victim murdered, Morgan said.

Another man, Keith Baugh, testified that Craven had discussed how he believed financial difficulties amassed by his businesses were the fault of the victim. He also said Craven no longer wanted to be a part-owner of Vehicle City Social.

Baugh described a conversation he overheard in which Craven allegedly told Barrett he wanted the victim out of the picture.

Craven was arrested in April and lodged at the Genesee County Jail on the solicitation of the murder charge.

Barrett was originally charged as well, but prosecutors have since dismissed his charges.

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Want more Flint-area news? Bookmark the local Flint news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Flint daily newsletter.
KENT COUNTY, MI  A woman tried to smuggle drugs into the Kent County Jail by disguising an inmates mail as legal documents from an attorney, sheriffs deputies said.

The plan was foiled when the inmate was released from jail before receiving the letter. It was labeled with an attorneys name and returned to the purported sender.

The attorney, who did not send the mail, contacted the Sheriffs Department to investigate possible fraud.

During the investigation, the Kent Area Narcotics Team determined that the suspect was forging mail to look like it was from attorneys - using attorney-client privilege to bring drugs into jail, police said.

Shannon Jean Soltys, 51, of Cedar Springs, was arrested during a May 9 search of a house in Cedar Springs. Five others were arrested on drug and firearms charges, police said.

Soltys, who is free on bond, has a May 31 preliminary examination scheduled in 63rd District Court on drug charges and smuggling contraband into a correctional facility, police said.

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The Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Maaden) has signed a master clauses agreement to acquire a 9.9% stake in US mining technology company Ivanhoe Electric for $126.5 million.

As per the deal, the duo will be establishing a 50/50 exploration joint venture in the kingdom to contribute to conducting one of the largest exploration programs in the world, said a statement from Maaden.

This joint agreement will grant Maaden the rights to use Ivanhoes Typhoon geophysical surveying technology, which will in turn accelerate the exploration of mineral sites in the Kingdom, valued at $1.3 trillion in minerals.

This step will contribute to strengthening the Saudi Vision 2030, which places mining as a third pillar of the Saudi economy. It is also considered a key supporter of Maadens ambitious strategy, which aims to boost its growth by 10 folds by 2040 and to exploit the mineral resources in the Kingdom.

Ma'aden and Ivanhoe Electric will conduct exploration operations on an area estimated at 48,500 sq km of licensed sites in the Kingdom, an area larger than the size of Denmark. The exploration operations target to discover new minerals, such as copper, nickel, gold, silver, and other strategic minerals.

Ma'aden will be able to employ Typhoon technology, which is a revolution in geophysical surveys and 3D data processing (CGI).

As part of the agreement, Maaden will acquire approximately 10.2 million common shares in Ivanhoe Electric, representing 9.9% of the company, for $126.5 million with a top-up option to maintain its 9.9% ownership.

Out of this amount, $66 million will be allocated and invested to establish the exploration JV in the Kingdom as well as finance its exploration activities and programmes, it stated.

On the key stake acquisition, Maaden CEO Robert Wilt said: "We are working on one of the largest mining exploration programmes in the world in partnership with Ivanhoe Electric and this agreement is an important breakthrough to explore the potential mineral resources in the Kingdom."

"Therefore, we need to carry out survey and exploration activities in faster and smarter ways, and cover more ground to meet our long-term growth objectives, which will be enabled by the Typhoon technology," he added.

In addition to the acquisition of three new-generation Typhoon machines, Ma'aden said it will also be granted the right to appoint a candidate to the board of directors of Ivanhoe Electric.

However, the Saudi mining giant clarified that the establishment of the JV and the acquisition of 9.9% of the shares of Ivanhoe Electric will only be executed after certain conditions are met.

Wilt noted that Typhoon technology would contribute to accelerating Maaden exploration efforts by six times and reducing the risks associated with them, adding that it will lead the Kingdom to be a significant global hub for mining exploration.

"This is going to help put us on track to meet our 10x growth targets and fast track development of the kingdoms mineral riches," noted Wilt.

Ivanhoe Electrics Executive Chairman Robert Friedland expressed his excitement to finalize transaction terms with Maaden and begin the important work of minerals exploration in KSA, and work with Ma'aden on the largest exploration program to be conducted using the highly powerful and disruptive Typhoon geophysical surveying system.

Friedland indicated that through the Typhoon technology, the Computational Geosciences machine-based learning software and the combined talents of the highly experienced team, would have all the tools necessary to conduct a transformational exploration program for electric and precious metals in the kingdom.-TradeArabia News Service
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.
OTTAWA COUNTY, MI  A 35-year-old man is facing felony charges for allegedly firing his gun on a front yard before fleeing from police.

Brian Adam Witte, of Allendale, was arraigned Tuesday, May 16, and charged with four counts of felonious assault and one count of reckless use of a firearm. The charges stem from events that unfolded in the afternoon hours on Sunday, May 14.

Ottawa County sheriffs deputies learned about a report of shots fired on Sunday in the 11300 block of 60th Avenue in Allendale Township.

Police said Witte allegedly fired the gun in the front yard at the location before fleeing. Police did not say if Witte was living at the listed address.

At the time, deputies blocked off the area and asked residents to avoid the area and remain in their homes. About an hour later, police located Witte walking around 56th Avenue and Rich Street. He was arrested at the scene.

No injuries were reported.

Witte remains lodged in Ottawa County Jail on a $50,000 cash bond as of Tuesday, May 16.

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI  A man will stand trial on a murder charge for allegedly killing a young mother in Grand Rapids the day after Christmas.

A Grand Rapids judge made the ruling on Tuesday, May 16, to bind Keyante Newbern over to trial for fatally shooting 23-year-old Mya Kelly while she was inside her home last winter.

The decision came after a two-day preliminary hearing that featured testimony from Kellys boyfriend; a man who drove Newbern to the area where Kelly lived; and several investigators and forensics experts.

The evidence shown in court paints a pretty clear picture that the defendant is the one that killed Mya Kelly, District Judge Nicholas S. Ayoub said in his ruling.

One piece of evidence that was never recovered, the judge noted, was the firearm used in the shooting.

The most serious charge Newbern, 29, faces is open murder. He was also bound over on charges of carrying a concealed weapon, felon in possession of a firearm, and felony firearms.

ALSO READ: Families clash during hearing for man accused of killing Grand Rapids mother

The shooting happened the night of Dec. 26, 2022, at a residence on Canton Street SW where Kelly lived with her boyfriend and their two young children. Police used surveillance camera footage to determine that a silver Dodge Journey was involved in the shooting.

Testimony last week revealed Newbern was with Marguis Welch who drove, and dropped off, Newbern on Canton Street the night of the shooting. When interviewed by detectives Welch, who isnt charged in the case, said when Newbern returned to the vehicle, he said, I shot that b---- up.

Testimony from forensics experts on Tuesday was centered around the evidence collected at the scene as well as how the bullet traveled through the door. Kelly, standing inside the home with her children and boyfriend, was killed by gunfire from someone just feet away from the front door.

Its a devastating injury that would result in death very rapidly, Dr. David Alan Start, a forensic pathologist, testified.

A trial date was not immediately scheduled late Tuesday morning.

Newbern remains lodged in the Kent County Jail without bond.

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Two people are facing charges in connection to a handgun found in a students backpack earlier this month at Cesar E. Chavez Elementary School.

Kent County Prosecutor Christopher Becker and Grand Rapids police Chief Eric Winstrom announced the charges at a press conference on Tuesday, May 16, two weeks after the gun incident.

The mother of the second-grade student is charged with fourth-degree child abuse, a one-year misdemeanor, while her fiancee faces one count of felon in possession of a firearm, a five-year felony.

RELATED: Unloaded gun found in elementary students backpack, Grand Rapids schools say

Essentially what we have here is one individual brought the gun into the home, Becker said. The other individual was the one who put the gun in a place accessible to the child.

I think (these charges) demonstrates the seriousness of which we take these cases, he added.

MLive/The Grand Rapids Press is not naming the two women pending arraignment in court.

The charges stem from an incident reported May 3 when a student told school staff that another student had a gun. Officials found the unloaded firearm in a backpack in a locker.

This case still remains open because in investigating this case weve determined that the firearm was also stolen, Winstrom said. Weve expanded our investigation to dig into that too for potentially further charges.

At the time, the firearms discovery was the third gun-related incident this academic year at Grand Rapids Public Schools.

A fourth related incident was reported last week when a loaded gun was confiscated May 10 from the backpack of a third-grade student at Stocking Elementary School, which prompted a districtwide backpack ban for the remainder of the school year.

Becker said his office is still reviewing the incident at Stocking Elementary and charges may be filed in that case.

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ZEELAND, MI  More than a dozen parents spoke up during the most recent Zeeland Public Schools board of education meeting about whether books mentioning sex and LGBTQ characters should be allowed to stay.

The school district currently has an opt-out policy for books taught in the classroom, allowing parents to exclude their child from reading a book if they find it objectionable. The district also has a review policy for books purchased by the district for school libraries.

Some parents, however, are calling for a stricter review policy. They want parents to have to opt in to letting their child read books with explicit content, rather than having to opt out.

Parents upset with some of the books in the school libraries read excerpts from books they find objectionable, including Cory McCarthys Man O War, a book about a transgender Arab American teen living in the Midwest.

We are not advocating for any representations to be silent, only for our children to be protected, said Christi Meppelink at the Monday, May 15 ZPS meeting. The devil wants to destroy the identity of our children made in the image of God. Parental rights are under attack.

Meppelink said she doesnt want to remove books from bookstores or public libraries but believes books with explicit content do not belong in a school library where minors are present without their parents.

Related: Concerns over e-book content linked on Allendale school districts website discussed at meeting

Zeeland parent Lindy Terbeek said she wants school libraries to be a neutral space but is upset about books being available to students that mention touching genitals and masturbation.

This is about morality, this is about decency, TerBeek said. Reading what Im reading, we might as well have Playboy magazines in the library, its the same stuff. We just want our kids to be kids, to stay kids. The world has forced them to grow up way too fast. We can stop exposing them to more, we dont have to encourage this.

Some of the excerpts parents read included several depictions of masturbation, encouraging children to lie to their parents about exploring their sexuality and mentions of watching queer pornography.

Other parents applauded the existing Zeeland Public School district policies on books, thanking board members for allowing diverse viewpoints to be available at school.

The more we know, the better we can connect to one another, said Avril Wiers. We do our children a disservice by thinking they cant think critically about the world they are going to inherit. A proper review process remains in place. Please protect my parental rights for my child to gain empathy for others. Representation matters, lets not erase these students from our libraries.

Related: Amid national debate over book bans, a Michigan district is letting parents choose what their kids read

Debate in Zeeland on whether books including LGBT characters and mentions of sex join a growing list of similar controversies in Michigan school districts. Earlier this school year, some Allendale school board members questioned whether children should have access to mature content in an e-book collection linked on the high schools website.

At Forest Hills Public Schools, one of the largest school districts in West Michigan, a new system allows parents to prevent their children from checking out specific book titles or authors from any school library.

ZPS Superintendent Brandi-Lyn Mendham thanked parents for expressing their views, but reiterated the district will maintain a commitment to serve all children and families.

We appreciate the very diverse viewpoints that were shared, Mendham said Monday night. Truly, we go back as a team and our desire is to put the kids first. Were responsible to serve our community and our community is diverse. We want to continue to look at our policy and how it informs the work that we do.

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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KALAMAZOO, MI  Three shootings ended with one man killed and two people injured on Mothers Day.

There were 57 shell casings, from three different caliber guns, recovered in total from the three shootings.

The last shooting on May 14 ended with the death of Marcus Leonard Pierce, 33, of Kalamazoo. He was fatally shot around 4:24 p.m. Sunday near North Westnedge Avenue and Ada Street, Kalamazoo Public Safety said in a news release.

A 58-year-old Kalamazoo woman and a 22-year-old Kalamazoo man also were shot at the same location and their injuries were not life-threatening.

The shooting was a drive-by, witnesses told police.

Related: Weekend homicide under investigation in Kalamazoo

A person was arrested and additional evidence recovered Monday, May 15, when police executed a search warrant in the 900 block of Mills Street, police said.

The first Mothers Day shooting happened around 1:45 p.m., KDPS said. A report of shots fired came in near Frank Street and North Westndege Avenue, but there was no victim at the scene.

Shortly after the call, a 20-year-old Kalamazoo man walked into a local hospital with a gunshot wound that was not life-threatening, police said. He was not cooperative with police.

Multiple shell casings were found in the area of Frank Street and North Westndege Avenue.

A second shooting happened around 3:21 p.m. Officers responded to a report of shots being fired between two vehicles near Howard Street and South Westnedge Avenue, KDPS said.

One of the vehicles crashed and the occupants tried to run away, police said. Two men, 19 and 22, were caught and arrested for various weapons and drug charges.

Shell casings and a handgun were found at the scene.

Kalamazoo Mayor David Anderson walked to the shooting scene Sunday after hearing the sirens, he said at the Monday, May 15, City Commission meeting. He saw numerous evidence markers stretching across the street.

A mother has lost a son, here, on Mothers Day, Anderson said at the meeting. This cannot be the community we live in, that we accept that.

The investigation into Pierces death is ongoing.

Police also released the name of a 19-year-old man who was shot in the head Thursday, May 11. Omarre Brishon Williams died from his injuries at a later date.

Related: Man, 19, dies after being shot in head in Kalamazoo

Five people have died in homicides in Kalamazoo County in 2023. That includes Sundays homicide. Four of the homicides were in the city of Kalamazoo.

Anyone with information about the shooting can call the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety at 269-337-8139 or Silent Observer at 269-343-2100 or go to kalamazoosilentobserver.com.

Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Kalamazoo daily newsletter.

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KALAMAZOO, MI -- After being separated for more than two years after a public controversy related to a hiring decision, Southwest Michigan First is getting back together with the city of Kalamazoo.

On Monday, May 15, the Kalamazoo City Commission voted to partner up with the Kalamazoo based economic group again.

In 2021, Southwest Michigan First hired former Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield as its CEO.

The hiring of Chatfield, the former Speaker of the House who blocked the advancement of gay rights legislation during his time in the legislature, drew community criticism. Several officials withdrew their association with Southwest Michigan First over the hiring.

The former city commission severed its relationship with the agency through a unanimous vote in February 2021, leaving the organizations Council of 100 and no longer paying dues. Chatfield later resigned.

Related: Kalamazoo commissioners cancel membership with Southwest Michigan First over CEO selection

Jonas R. Peterson was named the new CEO of Southwest Michigan First in October 2021.

Mondays city agenda packet says Southwest Michigan First has recently embarked on a community-minded strategic plan and economic development strategy.

The agenda packet notes that the group is also leading the effort to bring a new privately-funded event center to downtown Kalamazoo.

City administration recommended the action that says the city will rejoin the Southwest Michigan First Council of 100 as a dues-paying member at a cost of $15,000 annually.

At Southwest Michigan First, we believe economic development is a team sport, the organization said in a statement provided to MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette before the meeting.

The organization said it has been encouraging to see community and business leaders show support for the teams work since the launch of its new action plan, The Path to Regional Prosperity.

Our region is full of momentum right now and were truly excited about the opportunities ahead, Southwest Michigan First said in a message to MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette.

Related: Southwest Michigan at critical juncture on path to prosperity, CEO says

The city commission action passed as part of the consent agenda Monday, meaning there was no discussion of the item before the vote.

Im very excited with us being able to get back with Southwest Michigan First, Commissioner Qianna Decker said, because they can help with placemaking and other work related to downtown. She talked about partnerships between agencies working to promote great things happening in Kalamazoo.

Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Kalamazoo daily newsletter.

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KALAMAZOO, MI -- Kalamazoo city commissioners are increasing the urgency of their words while speaking about handling potentially dangerous pollution around the citys Northside neighborhood.

Vice Mayor Don Cooney said on Monday, May 15, that air quality issues should be at the top of the citys agenda.

This is a public health emergency, Cooney said at the commission meeting. This comes one week after a Michigan Department of Health and Human Services report said the air observed in part of town represents a hazard, via the Graphic Packaging International paper mill and the city wastewater treatment plant.

Its unacceptable people in our community live in this kind of condition. We have to find a way to deal with this, Cooney said, drawing some applause from the small crowd in the commission chambers.

Consistently breathing in levels of hydrogen sulfide exceeding 1.4 parts per billion can lead to chronic health problems.

Concentrations of gas throughout the communities next to the industrial facilities regularly exceed 1.4 parts per billion, MDHHS said. For example, the average level was about 19 parts per billion for the year of 2020 at a sensor at Gull and Riverview.

Commissioner Stephanie Hoffman told MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette she is glad the report has finally been released and residents will have a chance to hear from officials about the toxins permeating the community.

She lives in the neighborhood near the wastewater plant and Graphic Packaging.

I did not need a report to inform me of the issues, Hoffman said. Ive been living on the Northside of Kalamazoo since 2018, and have personal experience with the physical effects since I purchased my home.

Cooney noted how the report shows the air quality can cause stress and make existing asthma more severe, and noted children are at a greater risk of health effects from pollution.

We need to build a coalition to focus on the issue, Cooney said.

People are regularly almost continuously subjected to this punishing odor and whatever else it does to their system, he said.

One of the recommendations from the state was -- if you smell the odor, stay inside. Another recommendation was learn to manage your stress, Cooney said, paraphrasing parts of the MDHHS report.

I think those are the wrong answers, Cooney said. I think this puts everything on the people.

I think the answer is stop the pollution, he said.

Related: 10 takeaways from state investigation into Kalamazoos air pollution

The city has a responsibility, commissioners said, because it is their wastewater treatment plant and the city gave tax breaks to Graphic Packaging. Both facilities are documented sources of toxic hydrogen sulfide gas.

Graphic Packaging International at 1500 N. Pitcher St. in Kalamazoo, on May 12, 2023. The paper factory sits adjacent to residential areas in Kalamazoo where dangerous hydrogen sulfide has been found.

Several other commissioners spoke on the MDHHS.

Commissioner Esteven Juarez hopes the community shows up for the town hall, hosted by the MDHHS at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 18, at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 120 Roberson St. People can ask questions and hear from state health and environmental officials.

When the people of Kalamazoo start coming together ... in fighting against these things that are unjust, there could be like true transformation, Juarez said.

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Mayor David Anderson said he has lived north of downtown and raised his daughters there. The odor has been talked about for decades, he said, and the negative effects were not discussed as much in the past.

The citys response to this will be a high priority, Anderson said. He mentioned some of the ways the city is working on the issue.

Related: Kalamazoo rerouting factory waste to target stinky toxic gas near homes

This commission is committed and concerned, Anderson said.

The city of Kalamazoo's wastewater treatment plant on Sept. 16, 2022. This is the building that houses the sludge, and where trucks pick up the stinky substance to transport it offsite.

Hoffman told MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette after the meeting she wants the local government to work to resolve the issue now.

We have a responsibility to do something now while further investigation continues at the state level, Hoffman said. We cannot allow the bureaucracy to hinder us in our local response to bring relief to our residents.

The MDHHS flyer for a townhall meeting on May 18. Residents can ask questions about the air quality study recently completed by the state.

Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Kalamazoo daily newsletter.

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MUSKEGON, MI  The annual police memorial service honoring officers who died in the line of duty will be Wednesday outside the Muskegon County courthouse.

The public is invited to attend the ceremony, which will be 6:30-7:30 p.m. May 17 near the statue of The Protector in front of the Michael E. Kobza Hall of Justice, 990 Terrace Ave.

The service will honor those who died protecting their communities, including those from the Muskegon area whose names are on the police memorial. The memorial includes the The Protector statue that incorporates some of Muskegon Countys fallen officers.

The memorial service is held each year during National Police Week.

The service will be hosted by Brian Harris, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #99.

It will include a blessing by The Rev. D.W. Tolbert of New Hope Baptist Church; guest speaker Matthew Williams, first lieutenant with the Michigan State Police; and music by the Tommy Foster and the Muskegon Regional Police Pipes and Drums.

Muskegon County Prosecutor D.J. Hilson will play Taps on the trumpet and Muskegon Heights Police Chief Maurice Sain will conduct a roll call of the fallen officers.

The fallen officers include:

Deputy Game Wardens Julius Salmonson and Martin Salmonson and Muskegon County Sheriff Deputy J.C. Hazeltine

The Salmonson brothers, both deputy game wardens with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, along with Hazeltine died on Nov. 15, 1908, under suspicious circumstances after illegal fishing nets were discovered at the mouth of the White Lake Channel. The brothers recruited help from Hazeltine and went to investigate in a flat-bottom boat around midnight. The three men never returned and a search party found their bodies 600 feet from shore. The coroner said they had drowned in an unknown and mysterious manner. A nearby colony of fishermen were considered dangerous and had threatened police officers in the past.

Charles D. Hammond, Muskegon Police Department

Hammond was a Muskegon Police detective who was shot on Oct. 31, 1925, by gangster George Dutch Anderson, who the mortally wounded officer shot and killed. Hammond was taking Anderson in for questioning about a counterfeit operation when Anderson fled and, chased by Hammond, fired two shots at the officer. Though Hammond was hit, he managed to fatally shoot Anderson with the suspects own gun. Hammond then walked into the police department where fellow officers rushed him to Hackley Hospital where he later died. Anderson also was a suspect in a nearly $33,000 Lakey Foundry payroll robbery.

The name bar on the right pocket of the officer depicted in The Protector statue at the courthouse is C.D. Hammond in honor of Hammond.

Roosevelt Park Police Sgt. William F. Delmar

Delmar was 43 when he died on Oct. 1, 1966, from head injuries suffered in a vehicle crash. The patrol car he was riding in was struck by a vehicle driven by a drunk driver that had run a red light, and a second officer in the patrol car was seriously hurt.

An eagle emblem, symbol of Roosevelt Park, is above the right pocket of The Protector statue to represent Delmar.

Charles B. Stark, Michigan State Police

Stark was a Michigan State Police trooper, who died on Dec. 31, 1971, of a gunshot wound. Stark and Trooper Gary Rampy, both of whom worked at the New Buffalo Post, had pulled over a drunk driver who had hidden a handgun in his waist band. He fatally shot both troopers and then fled in his vehicle before crashing and attempting to run. Responding officers shot and killed the suspect when he reportedly opened fire on them.

Johnny O. Harris, Muskegon Heights Police Department

An officer with the Muskegon Heights Police Department, Harris was 30 years old when he was shot and killed on June 25, 1975, after he and his partner responded to a call of a man with a gun at a residence. Harris partner, Muskegon Countys first female officer, was critically wounded but recovered. Harris died later at a local hospital and a third officer shot and wounded the suspect. The suspect, who ambushed the officers while armed with a hunting rifle, was convicted of murder, and died in prison in September 1976.

The badge and hat on The Protector statue depict those worn by Harris.

Craig A. Scott, Michigan State Police

Scott, a 28-year-old Michigan State Police trooper, was shot and killed on Feb. 9, 1982, after stopping a vehicle for speeding in Ingham County. Scott didnt know the car was stolen, and the driver did not have registration for it. Scott placed the driver under arrest and was walking him to the police cruiser when the vehicles passenger shot Scott three times in the back. The driver and passenger fled and were arrested after stealing a car at gunpoint. Both were sentenced to life in prison.

The tie clasp on The Protector statue depicts the ones worn by Michigan State Police in honor of Scott and Stark.

Muskegon County Sheriff Marion J. Calkins

Calkins, 65, died on April 6, 1982, of injuries he suffered in a single-vehicle crash in Dalton Township four days earlier. Calkins lost control of the car which traveled down a ravine and struck a tree. He had been sheriff for 22 years and his survivors included 16 children and 51 grandchildren.

Scott A. Flahive, Grand Haven Department of Public Safety

Flahive, 28, was an officer with the Grand Haven Department of Public Safety when he was shot and killed on Beacon Boulevard on Dec. 31, 1994. He had stopped a vehicle for operating without headlights following an escape from the Ottawa County Jail. As Flahive approached the car, the escaped inmate, who was lying in the back seat, shot through the door and killed Flahive instantly. The shooter was sentenced to multiple life sentences.

Ernest W. Heikkila, Muskegon Countys Sheriffs Office

Heikkila, 50, was a deputy with the Muskegon County Sheriffs Office when he died on Feb. 15, 1995. He was responding to a vehicle accident when his cruiser was broadsided at M-120 and Riley-Thompson Road by a truck driven by a volunteer firefighter.

The breast badge on The Protector statue is one worn by Muskegon County Sheriffs officers and honors Heikkila and Calkins.

Jonathan W.R. Ginka, Norton Shores Police Department

Ginka, 34, was nearing the end of his night shift around 2:30 a.m. May 10, 2017, and was driving to the police department when his cruiser inexplicably left the roadway on Henry Street in Norton Shores, crossed the centerline and struck a tree. Ginka died of his injuries about two hours later.

Timothy J. ONeill, Michigan State Police

ONeill, 28, died while on duty when his motorcycle crashed into the back of a pickup struck that had stopped for a red light around 7:50 a.m. Sept. 20, 2017. The crash occurred on Wolverine Boulevard NE and Belding Road in Rockford. ONeill worked out of the Michigan State Police Rockford Post.

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MUSKEGON, MI  A $100,000 crowdfunding campaign has been launched to pay for fountain restoration and other improvements at Veterans Memorial Park on the causeway between Muskegon and North Muskegon.

If the city of Muskegon can raise $50,000 by June 23, it will receive a matching grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporations (MEDC) Public Spaces Community Places program.

Improvements would include restoring the parks limestone fountain and improving accessibility and safety for motorists and pedestrians.

Fundraising is being conducted through the platform patronicity.com where interested donors can make contributions. A walk-a-thon fundraiser is planned for June 17.

Restoration of the fountain would include replacing its plumbing, installing new LED lights and cleaning its stone surfaces.

Improved accessibility would include replacing a section of steps from the parking lot with a ramp and a new 6-foot-sidewalk that would lead from the ramp to the fountain.

This project will allow for a beloved community space to become truly public and accessible to all, MEDC Executive Vice President of Economic Development Incentives Michele Wildman said in a prepared statement.

New flower beds would be added on both ends of the park, including at a memorial site on the north end that hosts Memorial Day activities. There also would be a new planting bed near the retaining wall on the parks south end and another new bed south of the fountain.

In addition, several trees that were added through previous improvements at the southern edge of the park would be removed and/or relocated. The trees are considered a safety hazard where the south side of the park connects with southbound causeway traffic.

Veterans Memorial Park was established in 1934 to honor veterans from or living in Muskegon County.

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MUSKEGON, MI  The city of Muskegon is moving forward with acquiring two iconic Lake Michigan lighthouses following endorsement by the city commission.

The city was asked by the Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy to assume control of the lighthouses. The conservancy, based on the east side of the state, has owned the lighthouses since 2010.

The inner south pierhead lighthouse, located closer to shore near the U.S. Coast Guard Station, has been the focus of repair efforts. The outer south breakwater lighthouse, located at the end of the long south breakwater, is in dire need of repairs and was recently awarded an $800,000 in state funding to pay for some of them.

Without repairs, the outer lighthouse is going to end up in the lake and will be replaced with a pole with a light, Commissioner Rebecca St. Clair said at a recent commission work session.

This makes a lot of sense to me for us to get behind, St. Clair said. Theres funding. Theres community support. Theres an active and passionate volunteer base that really wants to take this work up.

Related: Iconic lighthouse could transfer to Muskegon city ownership as repair plans take shape

The city already serves as a fiduciary for the funding to pay for repairs to the south breakwater lighthouse. The city can use up to $80,000 of the repair funding for administrative fees.

The city is in a better position to see those repairs through than the Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy, Jeff Shook, president of the conservancy told MLive earlier.

The death of his father earlier this year left Shook as the only individual to carry on the conservancys work  and Shook lives across the state in Fenton.

Commissioner Teresa Emory noted there already is a dedicated group of volunteers hosting tours and running a beach lighthouse gift shop.

I know the residents of our city love our lights, Emory said. That alone will make sure our city government will be good stewards of our lights.

Because it could take up to a year to get approval of the ownership transfer, the city will likely partner with the Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy to undertake repairs, Dave Alexander, the citys business development manager, told city commissioners at their May 8 work session.

Needed repairs likely will cost more than $1.5 million, so a phased approach to restoration starting with the lighthouse base likely will be needed, Alexander said.

Related: Decaying lighthouse in Muskegon gets $800K for life-saving repairs

Issues with the 91-year-old lighthouse include lead paint, interior corrosion and steel deterioration. To return it to its original appearance, a new railing would be installed around the top of the lighthouse base and two large port holes on the base and round windows on the lighthouses 70-foot tower known as port lights that have been covered over would be restored.

In 2021, the conservancy paid for the refurbishment of the lantern house of the older south pierhead lighthouse, which was constructed in 1903 using a recycled lantern house from a lighthouse built in 1870.

To complete lighthouse repairs and pay for ongoing maintenance of the lighthouses, estimated at $10,000 per year, the city probably should establish a fund at the community foundation, Alexander said.

Staff is exploring if donations to the lighthouses could be made through paid parking kiosks at the beach, Alexander said.

Completing the repairs could require another $800,000 and there are several major donors who are willing to contribute, he said.

The city also would want to establish a nonprofit friends of the lighthouses volunteer group to continue hosting tours and other events at the south pierhead lighthouse and run the lighthouse gift shop at the beach, he said.

That work currently is being done by Muskegon volunteers for the Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy who raise about $10,000 per year, Alexander said.

Staff at the Lakeshore Museum Center have offered to help with education about the lighthouses as well as Muskegons maritime history, he said.

Formal approval of the ownership transfer of the lighthouse likely wont come before commissioners for at least several months, he said.

The city will need to complete a very detailed application to the National Park Service to receive approval of the transfer, he said. In addition, the city will need to seek a 25-year lease of the pier structures on which the lighthouses sit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, he said.

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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.
BAY CITY, MI  Shooting two people in their heads over a $40 drug debt only served to buy a Bay City man prison time.

Bay County Circuit Judge Joseph K. Sheeran on Monday, May 15, sentenced 35-year-old Matthew E. Owczarzak to two consecutive stints with the Michigan Department of Corrections  a flat two years and 13 months to 7.5 years. Sheeran gave Owczarzak credit for 488 days already served, which only applied to the two-year term.

The judge gave Owczarzak no credit for the other term.

Owczarzak in January pleaded no contest to single counts of felon in possession of a firearm and felony firearm. In exchange for Owczarzaks pleas, the prosecution dismissed a second count of felony firearm and a charge of possessing a narcotic or cocaine.

Owczarzak pleaded no contest rather than guilty as he lacked memory of his crimes. By pleading as such, he did not admit to having committed any crimes, leaving Sheeran to rely on documents to enter convictions on the record.

According to police reports contained in court files, police on the afternoon of Nov. 2, 2021, responded to a medical call at a house in the 600 block of Wilson Street on Bay Citys South End. They arrived to find a 26-year-old man walking in the street, his face covered in blood, saying hed been shot in his head and couldnt move his left arm.

Police also found a 22-year-old woman leaning against a lawn chair, bleeding profusely from her head. The woman was unresponsive, with labored and shallow breathing. She held a glass smoking pipe and was wrapped in a blanket, records show.

Both victims were taken to area hospitals for treatment.

Parked in a grassy area at the scene was a Jeep Cherokee with a broken drivers side window and blood spattered about.

Two women told police they had been in the Jeep with the two wounded people, the man having been the driver and the injured woman having been the front seat passenger.

The women said they were stopped in an alleyway on Wilson when a silver sedan pulled up. A man exited the sedan, walked up to the Jeep, smashed the drivers side window with a pistol, then fired a shot into the Jeeps interior.

Both women identified Owczarzak as the shooter, saying the shooting was over $40. One of the women said the wounded man had a crack cocaine addiction and that Owczarzak had fronted him $40 worth of the illicit stimulant a few days prior.

The wounded mans ex-girlfriend  not one of the women who had been in the Jeep  told police Owczarzak had visited her about a half-hour before the shooting.

Matthew was in a funny, jokey mood, the ex-girlfriend told police, according to their reports. Matthew said he was ready to shoot [the man] but was laughing about it.

The wounded woman suffered a skull fracture, a laceration to the top of her head, and critical bleeding. Doctors indicated to police she may have been struck by a ricocheting bullet, court records show.

The wounded man told police from a Saginaw hospital that he had given someone a ride to the location where the shooting occurred.

Someone came speeding up the alleyway and hopped out, he told police. I locked the door and the windows were up. He came to the front drivers side window. In one motion, he pistol-whipped and pulled the trigger. Everything went black for me. I couldnt see for a second.

The wounded man initially said he didnt know who shot him, but then said he knew the shooter but wouldnt identify him by name.

It was over a miniscule amount of money, $40, the wounded man told police. Its basically the principle.

Police on the evening of Nov. 17, 2021, surveilled a Bay City house Owczarzak was believed to be inside. Owczarzak exited the house and drove away, only to be pulled over and arrested by police.

Owczarzak has been to prison before on drug offenses, MDOC records show.

Want more Bay City- and Saginaw-area news? Bookmark the local Bay City and Saginaw news page or sign up for the free 3@3 daily newsletter for Bay City and Saginaw.

Read more:

Bay City man accused of shooting 2 people over $40 debt takes plea deal

Bay City man shot two people in their heads over $40 drug debt, court records show

Police arrest suspect in double-shooting in Bay Citys South End
Michigan and Canada are establishing the first bi-national electric vehicle corridor that stretches from Kalamazoo to Quebec City and offers charging options at least every 50 miles along the way.

The corridor consists of 860 miles of highway between the two countries, officials announced Tuesday afternoon, May 16, during a press conference in Detroit. Itll include highways in both the U.S. and Canada.

As we all know, there is nothing more Pure Michigan than accidentally driving into Canada, said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who spoke about the announcement with Windsor, Ontario in the backdrop.

This is the first cross-border electric vehicle corridor of its kind. It will allow seamless international travel between Michigan and Canada, accidental or otherwise, with abundant charging options throughout your journey.

Canadian Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said the route represents one of the busiest passenger and freight corridors between the U.S. and Canada. On the Canadian side, the corridor runs along the 401 Highway to Toronto, then onto Highway 20 into Montreal, including along Highway 40 to Quebec City.

Canada already has 215 charging stations on its side of the corridor, with more to be installed in the future.

This is great news that will not only improve convenience for travelers and reduce pollution on our roads, but also create good jobs ... and help grow our automotive manufacturing sector, Alghabra said.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg noted each of the two countries is supporting the infrastructure on its respective side of the corridor. The Michigan side will be using funds from the $110 million the state is receiving from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure fund, through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to build out the states EV charging infrastructure.

On top of those funds, Gov. Whitmer has also proposed $65 million in her latest state budget for EV charging infrastructure, with the goal of adding chargers in every region of the state.

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Get last minute tickets to Taylor Swifts Eras Tour for shows in Foxborough Friday May 19 through Sunday May 21 at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA.

Stubhub, and Vivid Seats still have tickets available for all three upcoming shows this weekend.

Although tickets have sold for nearly $13,000 each in Philadelphia, the top end tickets from Stubhub and Vivid Seats for all three shows in Foxborough, Mass. are still hovering below $10,000.

Act fast and you may be able to find tickets closer to $1,000 apiece.

Swift is set to release another Taylors Version of her previously released albums on July 7 with Speak Now and tickets for a Midwest swing in June and July are selling fast.

Swift continues to break records including breaking her own Spotify record of the most streamed songs in a day on March 19 with 67 million.

She currently has 10 top-selling albums in the U.S. according to the Billboard 200 chart. She recently won the Grammy for Best Music Video for All Too Well: The Short Film, and the 2023 iHeartRadio Innovator Award.

Get tickets to the Eras Tour, and experience lively performances with songs that span her entire career, including new music, dancers and more.

Heres how you can get last minute tickets at Stubhub and Vivid Seats:

Foxborough - Friday May 19, 6:30pm with Phoebe Bridgers and Gayle, Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.

Stubhub

Vivid Seats

Foxborough - Saturday May 20, 6:30pm with Phoebe Bridgers and Gayle, Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.

Stubhub

Vivid Seats

Foxborough - Sunday May 21 6:30pm with Phoebe Bridgers and Gracie Abrams, Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.

Stubhub

Vivid Seats
You may have seen some online weather stories saying a pneumonia front is coming through Michigan today. While we meteorologists dont actually have the term pneumonia front, we have called this type of cold front a Back-Door Cold Front for over 30 years.

We will need to be ready for a back-door cold front to zoom through Michigan this afternoon and evening. It may bring cold enough air by tomorrow to set us up for a frost in one section Thursday morning.

A back-door cold front is a cold front that moves into Michigan from a not-so-normal direction, the northeast.

Most of our cold fronts sweep down from the northwest or west and bring colder air in from the west. Back-door cold fronts move from northeast Canada across Lake Huron and into Lower Michigan from the northeast. The air might not be extremely cold behind the front in Canada. As the wind shifts to the northeast across cold Lake Huron, the momentum builds on a really chilly shot of cold air blowing off Lake Huron.

Heres the wind forecast this afternoon and evening. You can clearly see how the wind shift to a northeast wind will roll south through Lower Michigan. The wind gusts will increase to 30 mph bringing that bone-chilling cold.

Northeasterly wind shift moving south this afternoon and evening as the back-door cold front sweeps south across Lower Michigan.

With the northeast wind comes a very quick and very large drop in temperatures, as in 20 degrees in just a matter of minutes.

Cold air moving south this afternoon and evening as the back-door cold front sweeps south across Lower Michigan.

It will be an evening arrival of the cold for most of us in southern Lower Michigan. The exception will be the Bay City area and the surrounding Saginaw Bay area. Between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. temperatures will plunge into the 50s in Bay City. The rest of us should still have temperatures in the 70s for very early this evening.

Temperature forecast at 6 p.m. today, May 16, 2023

By late evening the colder air will be working into the Detroit area, Ann Arbor, Flint and Lansing.

Temperature forecast at 10 p.m. today, May 16, 2023

All of us will wake up to a much colder Wednesday. After a chilly Wednesday afternoon we have to watch for a frost in the Thumb and into southeast Michigan Thursday morning.

Thursday morning low temperature forecast.

I would say anywhere east of I-75 could have frost Thursday morning. The coldest spots will be in the inland parts of the Thumb and the east and northeast suburbs of Detroit. Temperatures in those regions could drop to between 32 degrees and 35 degrees. These temperatures could be cold enough to kill newly planted tomato and pepper plants. It would definitely be cold enough to kill any vine vegetable like cucumbers or squash or pumpkins.

Put the winter coat in your car if you are going to venture out this afternoon across northern Lower Michigan and this evening across southern Lower Michigan.

You will know exactly when the back-door cold front arrives at your location. It will turn windy and much colder.
In the world of music, where creativity knows no bounds, Petrah, a talented and aspiring musician, finds herself grappling with a sense of isolation.

As a woman in a male-dominated industry, she laments the lack of female support and the challenges she faces on her journey.

Female musicians like Petrah face numerous challenges, including limited opportunities, gender biases, and a lack of representation.

As she laments the state of affairs, it becomes evident that a support system is crucial for female musicians to overcome these hurdles and make their mark.

Petrah's lament extends beyond personal experiences to the larger issue of female-driven projects in the music industry.

She believes that supporting initiatives that focus on uplifting women's voices and promoting their music is essential.

Record labels, event organizers, and industry stakeholders should actively seek out and invest in female musicians and their projects.

By providing platforms and resources, they can contribute to a more balanced and representative music industry.

Speaking on Yfm in Kumasi, Petrah believes her female colleagues do not support each other and has called on them to focus in projecting each other.

Being a female,other females must come together. I hadly see the female support your own thing. That support system within the females is not there. For females, our feelings get over us too much, she stated.

Petrah called on her colleagues in the industry to focus on promoting each other and do not relax and watch each other struggle. She set an example of how she sometimes go hard on social media to support other female musicians.

Petrah has released a new song titled "Run" under her record label Manners Records.

"Run" is a new single that comes along with a video talking about love. In the video, Petrah was seen running away from men dressed like priests.
"Dj Switch of talented kidz is no longer the little girl of yesterday as she has transformed into a beautiful young girl."

Those were the words of social media blogger Sika Official alongside a dance video of young Ghanaian DJ Switch that has taken the internet by storm.

The 15-year-old, real name Erica Armah Bra-Bulu Tandoh, shot to fame at age 8 after winning TV3's talent reality show Talented Kids in 2017.

However, the dance video shared on Tuesday shows that DJ Switch is no longer the little girl from those viral videos years ago.

In the new clip, the teenager is seen dancing enthusiastically to Davido's "Na Money" hit featuring Caveman and Angelique Kidjo.

While still showcasing her skill and joy for music and dancing, DJ Switch appears to have grown with many commenting on her "all grown up" look.

The DJ recently got admitted to Chaminade College Preparatory, a private Catholic school in Los Angeles, as she pursues her dreams.

Watch Dj Switch's dance moves in the video below;
Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, a failed National Democratic Congress presidential candidate, has strongly denied rumors that he plans to leave the main opposition party to start a new political party.

He said he remains committed to the course of the opposition party to return to power come 2024.

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. 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.

If there is anything more I have gained from this period, it is a deepening of my love for this great party from the stories of people I was privileged to meet on the campaign trail. As such, I remain committed towards the cause of the NDC as I have in times past, for as long as our quest for a better Ghana endures, he said in a statement dated Monday, May 15.

Below is the full statement by Dr Kwabena Duffuor:

I REMAIN WITH THE NDC-DR. KWABENA DUFFUOR

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. 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.

When I joined the race for the flagbearership of the National Democratic Congress, I was motivated by a desire to see our party thrive as the political party of choice for every Ghanaian. Today, that motivation remains unchanged. Like many before me, I understand that the collective good of our party overrides our personal goals and desires.

The internal contest of ideas we engage in is simply a means to a common end to build upon the hard-on legacy we have come to meet. But if there is anything more I have gained from this period, it is a deepening of my love for this great party from the stories of people I was privileged to meet on the campaign trail. As such, I remain committed towards the cause of the NDC as I have in times past, for as long as our quest for a better Ghana endures.

This would require us to upscale our vigilance and insist that the right democratic processes are followed before and during the 2024 elections. It was in the spirit of this that I insisted that we address the challenges that were fraught with our voters register and photo album, which resulted in my withdrawal from the presidential race.

If we are to succeed as a party in reaching our political goals, we cannot afford to compromise on our founding ideals of probity and accountability. Those virtues are the torch that guides our party and gives purpose to all we do. Without them, we will lose our identity and our ability to hold others accountable in similar circumstances.

As part of my contribution to the partys reorganization agenda, I launched the Ahotor Project to strengthen our grassroots and ensure they are financially independent and can work effectively ahead of election 2024. I remain committed to the continuity of this project and look forward to more of such engagements with our party base. The story of the NDC is a story of ordinary people coming together to challenge broken systems of cronyism.

It is a story underscored by a movement of Ghanaians, resolute in building a country where they could all belong. These origins cannot be taken for granted. In a time of widening inequality and economic despair, we must set the pace for collective development. We are who we are because of the strength of our roots and must continue to build the NDC from the ground up. It is the key to our future and the engine of the Ghanaian Dream.

God bless the NDC and our nation Ghana and make her great and strong.

Signed:

Dr. Kwabena Duffuor May 15, 2023

Ce: All Media Houses
15.05.2023 LISTEN

Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, one of the presidential candidate hopefuls of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), will begin a tour of the Greater Accra Region on Wednesday.

The Economist cum corporate executive will engage delegates in the region and share his ideas for changing Ghana's economic narrative with them ahead of the Party's presidential primaries.

A news brief from his camp said the NPP and Ghana needed a leader with political experience and economic prowess to turn the country's economic crisis around to change the narrative.

It said the leader was Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, a man with economic dexterity to fix the local economy and bring hope to Ghanaians.

The brief said he was the leader the NPP needed to break the eighth (8th) tradition.

It described Dr Apraku as a gentle go-getter with an appealing personality capable of winning the trust and confidence of the larger voter population for the NPP.

He is a leader who can command respect, provide leadership and transform the fortunes of the Party and the country.

"Dr Apraku is marketable and electable. He is the man to change the narrative, join the winning team now, it said.

GNA
16.05.2023 LISTEN

The Sunyani East Constituency office of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has refuted allegations levelled against Mr Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area for supporting Mr Kwabena Asuama, one of the Parliamentary aspirants in the just ended National Democratic Congress (NDC)'s parliamentary primaries in the constituency.

However, Mr Seid Mubarak, another aspirant defeated Mr Asuama, a legal practitioner in the keenly contested parliamentary primaries of the NDC conducted and supervised by the Electoral Commission in the constituency held at the Sunyani Jubilee Park.

A press statement issued and signed by Mr Abubakari Yakubu, the Sunyani East Communications Officer of the NPP said it is untrue that the MP was caught and sacked from the Jubilee Park for paying money to delegates at the NDC primaries in favor of lawyer Kwabena Asuama.

The allegations being peddled in the quarters of the NDC in a palpable lie, and a calculated propaganda weapon machinated by the assigns of the Parliamentary candidate-elect of the NDC, a copy of the statement indicated.

The MP who is also the presumptive candidate of the NPP in the constituency would not and had no reason to have supported any of the candidates in the NDC parliamentary or Presidential primaries, it added.

It explained  the MP was not even in the country at that time, let alone being at the venue of the elections as widely championed by Mr Mubarak and his team. He was even on a national assignment outside the shores of Ghana and for the avoidance of doubt; the MP is still Nigeria performing a national function in the ECOWAS Parliament ''.

The statement said, the only period the MP saw Mr Asuama was a few weeks ago when they both met at a function organized by the Wangara community, where he (Asuama) approached the MP who was seated close to the chiefs and Imams of the Wangara community to greet him.

It said the MP had chalked significant successes in the constituency so much so that, it has always worked for him as evident in his previous elections, and called on the NDC and its Sunyani East Parliamentary candidate-elect to eschew the obnoxious propaganda and conduct a clean and decorous political campaign.

The constituency has 34 electoral areas and the MPs projects and initiatives are spread everywhere, glaring for everybody to see, it stated, saying the MP has carved for himself a strong and befitting reputation than to involve in this petty actions or certain NDC elections that holds no bearing or threat to him.

However, the statement congratulated Mr Mubarak on his victory, and expressed the hope that he would conduct a healthy political campaign of ideas, devoid of lies and chronic propaganda.
Lesotho authorities must launch a credible investigation into the killing of journalist Ralikonelo Leqhashasha Joki and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday.

Around 10 p.m. on Sunday, May 14, an unknown number of people shot Joki in the head once and body at least 13 times as he left the privately owned radio station Tsenolo FM in the capital, Maseru, according to multiple news reports and a statement by the Lesotho chapter of regional press freedom group Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA).

Joki, the host of the current affairs show Hlokoana-La-Tsela (I Heard It Through the Grapevine), covered government, agriculture, and corruption, and was best known for breaking a 2021 story about five politicians who were illegally trading alcohol.

The journalist received at least three death threats from different Facebook accounts in March and April related to his work as a journalist, according to screenshots reviewed by CPJ and Tsenolo FMs station manager, Mshengu Tshabalala, and program manager, Retsepile Maloi, who communicated with CPJ via messaging app. The threats did not cite specific reporting.

Authorities in Lesotho must thoroughly investigate the killing of Tsenolo FM host Ralikonelo Leqhashasha Joki and ensure those responsible are brought to justice, said Angela Quintal, CPJs Africa program coordinator, in New York. An attempted murder trial after a similar killing of Lesotho Times editor Lloyd Mutungamiri in 2016 has dragged on for years. Authorities must send a clear signal to those who believe they can attack or kill journalists without consequence that, in Jokis case at least, there will be swift accountability.

On July 9, 2016, an unknown number of assailants shot Mutungamiri twice outside his home in Maseru as he returned from work and left him in a critical condition. The trial is expected to proceed in July 2023.

Investigative journalist Keiso Mohloboli, who worked with Joki, told CPJ by messaging app that she believes Jokis killing was in connection to his work, citing the Facebook threats.

Kananelo Boloetse, chair of the Lesotho chapter of MISA, told CPJ by messaging app that although the motive behind Jokis killing remains unclear, they have every reason to believe he was attacked in relation to his work following threats on his life on Facebook.

In response to the shooting, the government will impose a country-wide curfew beginning on Tuesday, May 16, between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m., according to a televised announcement by Minister of Police Lebona Lephema.

CPJs app message to Lesotho Police spokesperson Mpiti Mopeli did not receive an immediate response.

In 2015, unknown people armed with guns raided Tsenolo FM and threatened the presenter on duty over the stations critical reporting on the government, Maloi told CPJ.
As the landscapes of cloud and communication technologies continue to transform, so too do the demands for said technologies. Consumers increasingly demand for fancier and more intuitive ways to communicate with businesses and brands on the channels they use every day.

So, brands are expected to deliver. Specifically, brands marketing promotions, real-time responses devised to satisfy consumer expectations, and other campaigns via the popularized channels consumers most often use. Channels, notably, that theyre more comfortable with. That interaction is key.

In this vein, lets cover a popular form of interaction: SMS (Short Message Services).

Croatian-based IT and telecommunications company Infobip strives to fulfill the needs of consumers with omnichannel communications  securely and at scale  so trusted relationships are built across every possible channel. Infobip, a company that itself is trusted by the likes of HubSpot, Oracle (News - Alert), Meta, T-Mobile, Samsung and others, delivers these omnichannel experiences via (including, but not limited to) email, voice, RCS, MMS and, as mentioned, SMS.

And now, Infobips native SMS channels are integrated with the Microsoft (News - Alert) Dynamics 365 marketing platform.

The benefits of this? It allows enterprises marketing teams opportunities to build real-time campaigns using text messages more efficiently so they can better reach out to and engage with their customer bases. Per Infobip (News - Alert), With our global presence, Infobip is the only global cloud communications platform that multinational businesses will need to reach their customers worldwide.

With this dynamic Dynamics integration (i.e. Infobip SMS available through Microsoft), businesses can respond to customer actions more expediently, smartly draft and send hyper-personalized messages, and connect with their bases on the channels that they actually use the most.

Whether for sales, support or marketing, said Veselin Vukovic, Infobips Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, consumers want more and more to engage a business or a brand over their preferred channels. For many, that can mean sending and receiving personalized text messages.

That's why we've enhanced our collaboration with Microsoft with our native SMS integration, Vukovic continued. In doing so, enterprises can be more connected with their customers where they are, while benefitting from stronger loyalty and higher sales.

Additionally, Vukovic described how Infobip  as a proud Microsoft partner and an active player on both Microsoft Azure Marketplace and Microsoft AppSource  has also integrated other services in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales. (e.g. the chatbot-building platform Answers on Azure, WhatsApp for Business via Microsoft Bot Framework Composer, and more WhatsApp solutions)

These demonstrate how we are the go-to, Vukovic said. We are the communication platform for every platform.

Click here to learn more, or to sign up for and easily configure an Infobip account via Microsoft.

Edited by Greg Tavarez
Cleaning up decades-long oil pollution and restoring environmental health in just one of Nigeria's crude-producing states will cost at least $12 billion, investigators said on Tuesday.

Bayelsa state, home to some two million people, "is in the grip of a human and environmental catastrophe of devastating proportions," they warned in a much-awaited report.

Lying in the Niger Delta region, Bayelsa is where oil was first discovered in Africa in the 1950s, and where companies Shell and Eni have operated for decades.

"Once home to one of the largest mangrove forests on the planet, rich in ecological diversity and value, the region is now one of the most polluted places on Earth," the report said.

"At least $12 billion" is needed to "clean up the soil and drinking water, reduce the health risk to people and restore mangrove forests essential to stopping floods."

The four-year investigation was carried out by the Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission -- an international panel of experts and prominent figures who worked at the request of the local government.

It called on Shell and Eni, whose local subsidiaries still operate in the region, to pay a share of the bill.

Oil-ravaged creeks and mangroves in the Niger Delta, pictured in 2013. Shell blamed thieves for vandalising pipelines to steal oil. By PIUS UTOMI EKPEI (AFP/File)

"We are asking Shell's new CEO Wael Sawan, before selling off Shell's remaining onshore oil assets, to commit immediately to paying their share of the $12 billion bill," said the commission's chairman, John Sentamu, a member of Britain's House of Lords and former Archbishop of York.

In a written statement to AFP, Shell said it had not seen the report and could therefore not respond to its conclusions at this time.

Eni also said that it had not been consulted about the report and rejected allegations of "environmental racism" made by the commission.

In response to AFP's request for comment, Eni said it "conducts its activities according to the sector's international environmental best practices, without any distinction on a country basis."

Both companies have blamed most oil spills on sabotage and theft.

"Regardless of the cause of a spill, we clean up and remediate areas affected by spills originating from our facilities," a Shell spokesperson said.

Eni also said the company "undertakes to remedy in all cases" when spills occur.

Litany of problems

The report is based on over 2,500 pieces of evidence including 500 interviews and analysis of 1,600 blood samples from local people.

Over the years, "as much as one and a half barrels of oil has been spilled in Bayelsa for every man, woman and child living in the state today."

The wider Niger Delta, according to the report, has suffered the equivalent of the Exxon Valdez disaster every single year for 50 years.

The 1989 tanker disaster spewed nearly 11 million gallons (42 million litres) of crude oil off the coast of Alaska.

The report pointed to the potentially far-reaching impact on health from oil and gas pollution.

"Highly toxic contaminants that cause burns, lung problems and risk of cancer are widespread," it said.

One sample of groundwater contained toxic chemicals present at more than a million times safe limits.

'Systemic failings'

Years of oil pollution have had a devastating impact on soil, water and wildlife, says the report. By PIUS UTOMI EKPEI (AFP/File)

Researchers blamed the crisis on "the systemic failings of international oil company operators with the complicity of Nigeria's political classes and a dysfunctional Nigerian regulatory state."

The amount paid by companies, the report said, should be based on the amount of oil pumped since commercial exploitation began and "perhaps weighed to reflect the company's pollution record."

"The enormous suffering caused by oil pollution in my kingdom pokes me, chokes me, and stares me in the face every day," said King Dakolo, a traditional ruler and chief in Bayelsa, in testimony to the commission.

"There is talk of paying for climate loss and damage amongst world leaders. Oil companies could start by accounting for the damage done in my state."

The report comes days after Britain's Supreme Court ruled it was too late for a group of Nigerians to sue Shell over a 2011 offshore oil spill.

The energy giant, which recorded its highest-ever annual profit this year, faces more legal battles in Britain, including against 50,000 Nigerian claimants suing over other spills.
16.05.2023 LISTEN

The Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) has commended the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) for inviting some contestants for investigations of electoral corruption during the primaries of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

On Saturday, May 13, the largest opposition party held its primaries to elect Parliamentary candidates and a flagbearer to lead the party into the 2024 general elections.

The Election Day saw some aspirants sharing money and other items to delegates.

On Monday, the Special Prosecutor wrote to some of the aspirants involved, inviting them to answer questions.

In a press release from the Ghana Integrity Initiative, it condemned the alleged vote-buying acts during the NDC primaries, insisting that the distribution of cash, gifts, and various items must be investigated.

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), parts of the release said.

Meanwhile, GII is urging 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.

Read a copy of the release from GII below:

GII condemns vote buying and financial inducements in NDC primaries

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.
As part of his continued attempt to move past his government's contentious pensions reform, French President Emmanuel Macron has announced two billion euros of tax cuts for the middle class before the end of his term.

In a televised interview Monday evening, Macron said he wants to concentrate two billion euros of tax cuts on people who work hard, who want to raise their children well and who today, because the cost of living has increased have trouble making ends meet at the end of the month.

Without specifying specific measures, the president said he has asked his government to come up with proposals to focus cuts on the middle class, which he defined in a weekend interview as those who are too rich to receive aid and not rich enough to live well, who earn between 1,500 and 2,500 euros a month.

Shifting away from pension reform

The president has focused on economics in recent weeks  jobs and reindustrialisation  in an attempt to shift away from the pension reform, which he repeated was necessary to guarantee the balance of our accounts and the future of our children.

Acknowledging the opposition to the reform, he insisted that it was nevertheless important not to change course.

" Even when there is disagreement, one does not change, one does not shift course, he said. Investors see the power of what we did.

Macron denied accusations that he had acted with contempt during the pension reform debates, pointing out to the interviewer, Gilles Bouleau, that if he were contemptuous, he would not be reaching out to people as he has done as a politician.

When you have contempt, you don't care. Real contempt is lying to people. That's contempt, he said.

Training Ukrainian fighter pilots

Addressing the war in Ukraine, Macron said he opened the door to training Ukrainian fighter pilots.

A day after a surprise meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris, Macron said that several other European countries are ready to train fighter pilots, he said he believed there are ongoing discussions with the United States.

We need to start training today, that is the agreement we made with several European countries, he said, without specifying the training.

France's strategy is simple, it is to help Ukraine resist, he said, adding that any potential future deliveries of fighter planes to Ukraine remains a theoretical debate.

(with AFP)
Flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) John Dramani Mahama has encouraged Ghanaians to remember his promises and hold him accountable should he be elected President in the 2024 election.

Mr Mahama reiterated these promises in his post-election acceptance speech at the University of Development Studies (UDS) on Monday, 15 May 2023 after he had received an overwhelming 98.9 per cent vote from NDC delegates to become the partys flagbearer.

In his address he stated I wish to reiterate some of my commitments to the people of Ghana.

I want you to remember them so you can hold me accountable. I will keep each of the promises when I assume office on January 07, 2025, God willing.

Find below the promises:

1. Restore stability and inclusive growth to the economy and rejuvenate the almost collapsed banking and financial sector. This will involve sweeping reforms at the Bank of Ghana because the Central Bank itself has been part of the problem.

2. I will ensure that Ghana never suffers such a deadly debt management programme that threatens to send elderly people holding government bonds to their early graves and wipe out the investments of the Ghanaian middle class.

3. Prioritize local participation in the banking, financial, telecommunications, mining, oil and gas, agriculture, manufacturing, and construction sectors to generate more jobs for the youth. The Ghanaian young women and men we interact with on daily basis and their colleagues in other African countries are simply tired of jobless GDP figures.

4. Actively attract viable and serious private sector investors to partner government to invest in the productive sectors of the economy for more jobs to be created. This will involve an emphasis on agriculture and agribusiness and will have a strong focus on making Ghanaians own their own micro enterprises.

5. Complete abandoned and ongoing projects instead of rushing to start new ones. We will carry out an inventory of all hospitals, schools, electrification, water, and road projects which have stalled or been abandoned and make annual budgetary allocation for completing them.

6. Beyond the economic front, we will also be very thick on governance because transparent and accountable governance at all levels remains an assured fuel that fires the socio-economic transformation of successful nations.

7. We will establish a Governance Advisory Council to help improve political governance, curb corruption, and ensure the respect for human rights is upheld. The Council will include representatives of civil society organizations, religious leaders, traditional leaders, and ordinary Ghanaians, and among others, they will be empowered to release a State of Governance in Ghana report every year.

8. I will run the leanest but most efficient government under the fourth republic by appointing not more than 60 ministers and deputy ministers.

9. I will work to abolish the payment of Ex-gratia and cut out waste and ostentation in Government.

10. We shall work with Parliament and all stakeholders to complete the constitution review process and strengthen separation of powers.

11. Government procurement is recognized as a major source of corruption and misappropriation of public funds. We will among other measures, set up an Independent Value for Money office to scrutinize all government procurements above a $5 million threshold or as shall be recommended by Parliament.

12. I will give anti-corruption state institutions unfettered space to operate  The days of the Clearing agent must come to an end on January 07, 2025.

13. I will also set up a Commission of Enquiry to investigate the matter of looted State Lands and make recommendations for resolving the vexed issue of expropriated Ga-Dangbe lands.

14. And to deepen our democracy, the Fourth Estate of the realm  the media  must also be given the conducive and collaborative atmosphere to operate as the fourth power that they ought to be without threats, harassments, and assassinations.

Classfmonline.com
The University of Education, Winneba (UEW) has opened admissions for the 2023/2024 academic year for its diploma, degree, masters and PhD programmes.

Prospective students can apply through various channels, including the UEW website, purchase pins from select banks, post offices and UEW cash offices.

Application fees range from GHC 255 to GHC 405 (about $40 to $60) for undergraduate programmes and GHC 325 ($55) for postgraduate programmes. International applicants pay $100.

Applications for sandwich and mature students close on October 22, 2023, while applications for regular and distance learning programmes close on December 22.

An admission notice shared on the universitys social media handles read in part, "We are excited to open admissions for the next academic year and welcome new students to the University of Education family. Our programmes offer a high-quality education that equips students with the knowledge and skills needed for success."

It added, "Qualified applicants across Ghana and beyond are encouraged to apply through the various channels and submit all required documents on time to be considered for admission."

Interested students can apply via the UEW website, which requires a valid email address, telephone number, passport photograph, academic results and certificates.

Mature candidates must also submit a birth certificate or Ghana Card.
The University of Ghana has launched an initiative to provide laptops to students, with 50 computers given out so far.

According to a tweet by the university on Monday, May 15, 50 students in the Department of Computer Science recently received laptops as part of the "1 Student, 1 Laptop" (1S1L) initiative.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Nana Aba Ampofo presented the laptops and urged beneficiaries to take good care of them and use them primarily for academic purposes.

Dr. Ebenezer Owusu, Head of the Department of Computer Science, thanked the Vice-Chancellor and the 1S1L committee for efforts so far.

He expressed hope that more computers would be provided for computer science students in future.

The initiative aims to equip students in the department with necessary technological tools for their studies as laptops will enable tasks like coding, research and staying organized.

With this first batch of 50 laptops distributed, University of Ghana hopes to expand the initiative to cover more computer science students.
16.05.2023 LISTEN

When ProPublicas investigation into links between Republican donor Harlan Crow and the US Supreme Court surfaced, there was a sense that dark waters lurked beneath the revelations. While Justice Clarence Thomas featured prominently as the recipient of largesse and pomp from Crow  island hopping in Indonesia, private jet travel, among other treats  things were bound to get worse.

At the time of the unveiling of such ignominious conduct, Thomas did not heed the wise injunction of Lord Acton to avoid too much explaining lest the excuses become too many. His hand caught in the till, Thomas dismissed such generosity as mere hospitality, a point reiterated in a statement from Crow. Besides, he had been advised by his fellow brethren  troublingly so  that he could accept such gifts of hospitality without fear of conflict and compromise. The clincher here: that Crow did not have any business before the court.

The Thomas-Crow relationship has had a decent pickling, stretching back a good number of years. In 2011, Crow lavished $500,000 upon Thomas wife to form a Tea Party Group. Thomas also received a $19,000 Bible said to belong to Frederick Douglass. In rather smelly fashion  odorous, that is, in the links between think-tank land, wealth and policy  Thomas received a $15,000 gift from the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), with Crow serving on the board at the time. More recently, it has also been revealed that Crows generosity extended to funding the private school education of Thomass grandnephew to the sum of $6,000 a month.

The pong becomes a full raging stench with the realisation that the AEI filed three briefs with the Supreme Court soon after giving Thomas the gift, with all rulings being decided in their favour. While influence should not be confused with association, the appearance of conflict would be fatal to even the most disciplined of judicial minds.

The link with Crow becomes even more taut with revelations from ThinkProgress in 2011 about the legal successes of the Crow-affiliated group, Center for the Community Interest, at least when facing the less than critical eye of Justice Thomas. Not once did Thomas waiver in his judgments favouring the CCI.

Not to be outdone, Neil Gorsuch, along with two individuals, sold land to the chief executive of Greenberg Traurig, a firm often engaged in business before the Supreme Court. The timing of the purchase is also of interest, given that the property in question had been on the market for almost two years till Gorsuch was confirmed to the Supreme Court.

In a less tawdry way, Justice Samuel Alito has also been found wanting for shooting off his mouth before dinner guests regarding the outcome of the 2014 case Burwell v Hobby Lobby months before its official publication. Good judgment can be rare  even on Olympus.

Efforts to impose an ethical code upon the justices akin to the lower courts have floundered over the years, much of this due to the saboteurs of the Supreme Court. At best, reliance has been placed upon the less than satisfactory statute requirement that justices, including those on the Supreme Court bench, recuse themselves in any case in which his impartiality might reasonably be questioned.

Chief Justice John Roberts was even threatening in his 2011 report, implying that any Congressional effort to constrain the bench by the imposition of such a code would violate the Constitution. In a rather novel interpretation, the fact that the lower courts were bound by the Code of Conduct reflects a fundamental difference between the Supreme Court and the other federal courts.

Lower court judges, were they to refuse recusing themselves from individual cases, could have their decisions reviewed, all the way to the Supreme Court. But on the high summit of Olympus, the countrys top judicial officers were intended to be wise and immune, a consequence of the Constitutions command that there be only one supreme Court. To also leave the assessment of recusal to fellow judges might affect the outcome of a case by selecting who among its Members may participate. Such reasoning is so idiosyncratic as to be suspicious.

A gaggle of Democrats are wondering how to bring the Supreme Court to heel on the issue, being particularly agitated at the Chief Justices refusal to take up an invitation to testify about ethics reform for the court. Testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee by the Chief Justice of the United States, he snootily declared in a letter to the chairman, is exceedingly rare, as one might expect in light of separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence.

The idea of funding is being mooted as a potential point of pressure. According to Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I), the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, Congress can draw upon court decisions making the point that, in interbranch disputes, it is completely appropriate and proper for the legislative branch to use the power of the purse to influence the other branches in doing what they ought to be doing.

Such suggestions risk having an opposite effect, stirring the justices into a sense of martyrdom while sailing close to the winds of violating the separation of powers. But those occupying the bench, in their breathtakingly irresponsible links with private interest groups, have done their fair share in soiling the stables of US justice. For that, the withering gaze of fairness should be directed not merely upon the likes of Crow, but such bodies as the Federalist Society, the sort that ensures that the Supreme Court, once bought, stays bought.

Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He currently lectures at RMIT University. Email: [email protected]
16.05.2023 LISTEN

Sometimes it's good to be stupid and naive and look behind the curtains of life to put a big smile on your face.

In 1981 as a student of Political Sciences and History at the University of Hamburg, Germany with the subject Adolf Hitler, time before and time after, I opted as a German to travel to Israel. I wanted to see history in action and not only in textbooks.

The war broke out so with a British friend of mine from the Kibbutz Ginegar between Afula and Haifa we wanted to see what was going on. We hitchhiked up to the Israel-Lebanon border at the Mediterranean See. Only with water in our hands did we walk. Next to us tank after tank of heavy trucks passed by. We found it most interesting especially me having never served in the army. I could not take my eyes off ever more impressive tanks passing by. We did not mind the beautiful scenery around us. Three hundred meters into Lebanon's territory a grim officer with a machine gun stood right in front of us. With a commanding voice did he ask us what we think we were doing as war is going on. Naive and stupid as we were did we respond all we came to do is have a look at what was going on. You guess it right the officer was anything but pleased so he ordered our return.

En Hod, an Artisan Village near Haifa was in 1982 staying in a Kibbutz Ein Ziwan, Golan Heights one of my destinations. After visiting the artists in their workshops we sat down in a restaurant for refreshments. Unexpectedly were we served with lemonade we did not order. Two military officers at a faraway table had sponsored the drink. I asked them over. One officer was obviously drunk but in uniform. He called me computer being the only one in the group speaking decent English. The time came to leave. They offered us a lift and I hoped the drunken officer would not be the driver. At his car, it turned out that he was the driver. I was asked to sit next to him. We got up Golan Heights leaving Tiberias and See of Galilea behind when the man at the steering wheel took off his hands from the wheel. I saw us moving toward an oncoming truck or falling down the cliff right next to my side. I gripped the wheel he slapped my hand telling me, "Computer, computer my car knows its way" with an extremely slow voice. I was not convinced. Back in the Kibbutz with high blood pressure in my head, I ran straight to the house of my little Swiss girlfriend. Me close to two meters tall, the smallest man in my family, was it funny to see both of us as she was forty centimeters shorter. Breathless did I report back to her that I nearly lost my life. She looked at me and said with a calm voice:" I do not get you. Now you have a story to tell until the end of your life." Which is true.

A few months later my friends and I were hitchhiking again. A bus stopped on our way up the Golan Heights. We boarded. It was the bus of the military band of the country. Soon we started a jam session me singing quietly along. Fun and laughter filled the small hot and sweaty place. The bus stopped. We had to get off. I looked into the grim faces of two not-happy officers with machine guns. Our bus stood right in the middle of an army camp ready for battle. We were chased out.

The time came a German friend and I were on our way to the house of a couple near Netanya at the Mediterranean Sea. We had hitchhiked and got an invitation from a middle-aged woman alongside her husband. She asked whether we knew why she had invited us. I waited for her explanation. She said by our age she knew we were not close to having potentially harmed Jewish people. Older Germans she could not invite. She liked Germany, especially our Wirtschaftswunder. I thought of the complex situation in the region and whether lasting peace can prevail ever. I thought of my parents that never harmed any foreigners or nations.

Before I had set off in 1981, the flight was booked and travel arranged, war in Israel broke out. My mother wanted me to cancel my flight. I responded to her as a bike rider being potentially knocked over by a car and dying on the streets of Hamburg or being shot dead in Israel would be the same as we all having to die one day. (The face of my mother I leave to your phantasy)
16.05.2023 LISTEN

Introduction

Yesterday, the Ga Traditional Council announced its one month ban on noise making within the Ga State as a prerequisite to the 2023 Homowo Festival celebrations. This ban is in tandem with the Ga cultural practices which must be observed willingly by everyone living within the Ga State. It goes without disputation for example that Accra, a Ga city and the capital city of Ghana has become a heavily noise polluted cosmopolitan area. The Environmental Protection Agency has virtually become helpless, or should I blatantly say the EPA is apparently non-existent so far as noise control is concerned? Personally, I have come to love the Ga annual ban on noise making because I detest noise. Besides, the ban holds some value for everyone regardless of religious affiliations. It is from the foregoing perspective that I write to support the 2023 ban and ask that we all adhere to it strictly just as we all joined Christian and Muslim fasting and religious festivities recently.

Non-Adherence in previous years

In view of the reality that Accra especially has become a highly cacophonous city within which blaring musical devices are used on a daily basis in our worship centres, market places, roadsides and other areas. It is as though the Ghanaian ear is made for high decibels of sound. Somehow, we are suffering from sound addiction to the extent that preaching from religious centres must be done using loudspeakers even when the congregants are not many and do not need such sound amplifiers.

Perhaps due to the sound addiction and disregard for the traditional religious worship, some Christians and Muslims question the relevance of the annual ban on noise making by the Ga Traditional Council and thus disobey the ban. In the past, this disregard for traditional worship and demonstration of religious intolerance compelled the Traditional Council to use its taskforces to enforce the ban mandatorily and ruthlessly.

Mostly, this approach led to clashes between the taskforces and members of other religious sects leading to injuries and/or seizure of various musical instruments being used to defy the ban. We all know that such disharmonious occurrences make coexistence difficult in any human settlement.

Perhaps there is good council from the assertion by the late Torgbe Dedzi Ngorgbier Korto of Mepe Traditional Area in the Volta Region regarding peaceful religious co-existent. He said, Any human settlement without a church does not develop with speed because the churches usually build schools for our children to get formal education and gainful employment. However, a community without communal deities is a mere human settlement and not a traditional area. One may submit in tandem with this assertion that, despite the cosmopolitan nature of Accra and its national capital status, it holds some of the traditional areas within the Ga State with their deities which demand certain observations. As such, Islamic, Christian and traditional believers in the Ga Traditional Area must co-exist peacefully and respect one anothers beliefs. Accordingly, people must not compel the Ga Traditional Council to compel adherence to the ban with force.

2023 Ban on Nosie Making

The 2023 ban on noisemaking and drumming in Accra commenced yesterday Monday, May 15, 2023 to last till Thursday, 15th June 2023. Fortunately and commendably, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (A.M.A.) and the Ghana Police Service have thrown their weights behind the Ga Traditional Council to enforce the ban without violence as it used to be. On the altar of peace, harmony and national security, the A.M.A has issued a guideline for adherence by residents within its jurisdiction. The tenets of the A.M.A guideline are worth citing verbatim herein as a reminder.

During the period of the ban, churches are expected to carry out their activities within their premises and refrain from the use of musical instruments. The positioning of loudspeakers outside the premises of churches, mosques and pubs are banned. Roadside evangelists are to cease their activities during this period. Religious bodies and the Traditional Authorities must show respect for one another and restrain their followers from making derogatory and inflammatory remarks about the beliefs and practices of one another. Other guidelines by the Ga Traditional Council (GTC) include a ban on funeral rites and their related activities. Apart from an identifiable task force that consists of AMA personnel, the Ghana Police Service and Representatives from the Traditional Councils with tags, no other person or group of persons should be seen or found enforcing the abatement of noise in the metropolis. By this notice, we entreat all persons, towns and villages within the Ga Traditional Area to cooperate and comply with the directive accordingly during this period.

Health Benefits of Reduced Noise

In fact, to some of us, the ban on noise making should even be placed not only once in a year because Accra is too noisy. Reduced noise is beneficial to health, but noise pollution is dangerous. Reduced noise also supports good sleep and brain function.

Unwanted noise can interfere with our daily routine and affect our quality of life. The higher the exposure to noise pollution is and the longer we suffer from it, the worse the negative effects. Noise can affect our physical health and overall well-being and touch many aspects of our lives, including concentration, sleep and mental health.

Noise pollution and its dangerous ramifications for health are no respecter of a persons religious affiliation. This is why we must even commend the Ga Traditional Council for sustaining the annual ban on noise making despite the challenges that came with its enforcement in the past.

Research also shows that when people are exposed to noise, it raises their stress levels which can lead to increased heart rate and high blood pressure, and a weakened immune system. With your health and well-being at risk, it is even important to take steps to reduce noise pollution in even your home.

Conclusion

Aside the religious tolerance perspective of the need to willingly adhere to the annual ban on noise making in Accra and other Ga Traditional Areas, noise pollution is harmful to health. Alternatively, reduced noise tends to have a positive knock-on effect on life. To this end, the residents of Accra and other Ga communities affected by the 2023 ban on drumming and noise making must adhere to the ban without an iota of compulsion by the Ga Traditional Council. You may choose to do so for its health and not religious benefits. It is strange that we travel to other countries and willingly adhere to similar directives, but we tend to satanize ours. ~ Asante Sana ~

Philip Afeti Korto

Hospital Administrator

[email protected]
Ms. Joseline Adjoa Enchill, a Registered General Nurse at the International Maritime Hospital (IMaH), has lauded professional nurses for their role in promoting people's general well-being and healthy lifestyles, not simply as patients.

She stated that nurses are present in every community, large or small, urban or rural, providing competent care from birth to death, emphasizing that "nurses' responsibilities span from direct patient care and case management to implementing quality assurance procedures and overseeing complex nursing care systems."

Ms. Enchill's remarks came during the weekly "Your Health! Our Collective Responsibility," a Ghana News Agency Tema Regional Office initiative aimed at promoting health-related communication and providing a platform for health information dissemination in order to influence personal health choices through improved health literacy.

The Ghana News Agency's Tema Regional Office established the public health advocacy platform "Your Health! Our Collective Responsibility" to investigate the elements of four health communication approaches: informing, instructing, persuading, and promoting.

Ms. Enchill stated that as part of commemorating the 2023 International Nurses Day, nurses care for injuries, dispense drugs, conduct frequent medical checks, and record thorough medical histories.

She believes that nurses are the cornerstone of the health professionals since they monitor heart rate and blood pressure, do diagnostic tests, operate medical equipment, draw blood, and admit and discharge patients depending on physician orders.

She did, however, underline that, despite their role, nurses' efforts are not always recognized by patients and their families inside the health sector, and she pushed for a paradigm shift.

"Without the contribution and active work of a nurse, no other professional in the health sector can operate; we are the engine in general health delivery, and we must be accorded the due recognition and appreciation," said the IMaH Registered General Nurse.

Mr. Samuel Adu Ntiamoah, also a Registered General Nurse at IMaH, contributed to the conversation by underlining the significance of nurses in the healthcare profession.

He argues they are the first point of contact for a patient at the hospital and the last person they see before leaving.

The nurse, according to Mr. Ntiamoah, directs the patient "to see the doctor and attend the laboratory," making them the hospital's heart.

Speaking about patient rights, Mr. Francis Ameyibor, Tema Regional Manager, Ghana News Agency, remarked that a patient has the right to privacy regarding his or her medical condition.

He discovered that communication and compassion foster trust between patients and caretakers, increasing their overall satisfaction.

"Patients are also more likely to adhere to their treatment recommendations when they are given more information and respect," he continues.

Mr. Ameyibor pushed for concerted efforts to educate the people on how to care for and conserve the environment, respect the rights of other patients and health providers, and use and not abuse the health care system responsibly.

He praised nurses for their crucial role in people's total well-being from birth to death, as well as their work in some of the most difficult environments in the country.

CDA Consult II Contributor
The Columbus Rod Run show will be back in action next weekend for the 49th year.

Held by the Midwest Street Rod Association - East Central Chapter, the tradition involves a two-day event always held on Memorial Day weekend.

The show kicks off on Friday, May 26, with a special party for those who registered early at the Rivers Edge Ramada Hotel and Convention Center, 265 33rd Ave. in Columbus. Registration will be held from 6-9 p.m.

People that are pre-registered and then are registering that night, we have a party, we feed them, said Doug Adamy, president of the associations East Central chapter.

There will also be raffles and, hopefully, door prizes, he added.

On Saturday, May 27, the car show will be held from 1-4 p.m. at Pawnee Park in Columbus. A registration period will be held from 9 a.m. to noon that same day.

There is a $25 registration fee. Adamy said all vehicles are welcome.

Similar to previous years, there will be trophies awarded at the show.

Last years event had been a success.

We had 225-plus cars, Adamy said. Last year, we had great weather and a good turnout.

Adamy said he is hoping for another 200 entries this year, but that will depend on the weather.

Weve had great (weather) the last four years. We haven't had much rain but 25, 30 plus years ago, that's all it did on this weekend; it rained on Memorial (Day) weekend, he said.

However, Adamy added, the Columbus Rod Run will carry on, rain or shine.

The event has long been the recipient of funding from the Columbus Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), according to Katy McNeil, who is still working as the CVB director until her replacement is found.

The rod run received $750 from the CVB, McNeil said, and the visitors bureau assists in the promotion of the event. Additionally, the CVB provides welcome bags for the exhibitors while the street rod association gives little dash trophies that have the CVB logo.

The funds are to help advertising and print flyers, and to invite people from a bigger radius to our community, McNeil said.

It's the longest-running car show in the state of Nebraska, so that's super cool. It's always a great event. It brings in a lot of visitors, and it's an event for the entire family.

Adamy said the majority of the shows attendees come from within a 100-mile radius, though some people will travel quite the distance.

We've got people coming from Kansas, Iowa, a couple of surrounding states. People come a little bit farther, we've got a lot from Lincoln and Omaha, Adamy said.

Weve got one registered car from Oregon, he's going to drive a 55 Chevy.

Adamy added he encourages people to come out as the Columbus Rod Run is the chance to celebrate the start of the car show season.

Were kind of the first one, he said. After Memorial weekend, they just start hitting hard. Itd be a good way to kick off the outdoor car show season.

The rod run is also beneficial to the Columbus community, he said.

It helps local businesses by bringing the show in, Adamy said. We fill up rooms at the Ramada and I know other hotels get a little (business). There are people shopping, people go out to eat.
Agyadum community in the Wassa Amenfi Central District, Western Region has finally been connected to the national grid after years of unfulfilled promises by leaders.

The connection of the community to the national grid was made possible by the timely intervention of Dr. Albert Akoh, the New Patriotic Partys parliamentary aspirant for Wassa Amenfi Central.

Speaking at the commissioning of the project, Dr. Albert Akoh, who is the immediate past Deputy Registrar of the Ghana Pharmaceutical Board told Angel Broadcasting Networks (ABN) reporter Agyemfra Bright that the extension of electricity to the community is one of the good things that has happened after I facilitated the project for the people in the community.

The renowned pharmacist noted that the leaders of Agyadum community believed in him and requested his assistance after failed promises from the incumbent Member of Parliament.

The residents of Agyadum, who were seeing light in the community for the first time, commended Dr. Akoh for fulfilling his promise to them.

We have been in total darkness for years despite the numerous promises from our political leaders. We are grateful to Dr. Akoh for coming to our aid, said a resident.

The Assembly Member for the Anakum electoral area, Mr. Isaac Tano Kese also praised Dr. Akoh for providing the community with electricity in such a short period of time.

Several attempts to get our MP and the District Chief Executive to fix our electricity challenges yielded no results. Dr. Akoh has been very instrumental in making this a reality, he said.

The commissioning of the project was accompanied by the distribution of energy-saving bulbs to residents.

Dr. Akoh promised to continue championing development projects in communities across the Wassa Amenfi Central district.
16.05.2023 LISTEN

Kojo Bonsu, a defeated flagbearer aspirant for the National Democratic Congress has urged party members to stay together and take part in the effort to free Ghana from the ruling New Patriotic Party.

The former mayor of Kumasi, who was unsuccessful in his bid to become the opposition National Democratic Congress flagbearer said winners and losers in the just ended primaries should put the past behind and get-together for the bigger win in 2024.

According to him, former President John Mahama's landslide victory has sent a strong message to the current administration that the NDC, along with millions of disgruntled floating voters, would win the 2024 general elections.

Mr. Bonsu also urged Dr. Kwabena Duffour, who withdrew from the flagbearer race, to consider the bigger picture and get onboard to help NDC kick out the ruling National Patriotic Party for ruining the country.

Now that our elections are over, first, I wish to congratulate H.E John Dramani Mahama for emerging victorious at the end of the day. His landslide victory is a resounding and clear warning the ruling government that the NDC together with millions of disappointed floating voters shall cause change at the polls in December 2024

I also call on my senior comrade. Dr. Kwabena Duffour to consider the great value he adds and join forces with the party for us all to wrestle power from the nation-wrecking NPP.

Regardless of the circumstances surrounding the electioneering process and the outcome of the election itself, we must now all join the rescue mission of liberating our mother Ghana from the modern-day imperialism and colonialism practiced in a benevolent democracy under this NPP government," he stated.
The Cannes Film Festival is set to open later today with the usual dose of scandal, intrigue and celebrity magic. American actor Johnny Depp will make his comeback as Louis XV, while anti-government demonstrators threaten to defy the ban on protests during the annual homage to cinema.

Hundreds of fans, journalists and locals milled around the entrance to the Palais des Festivals, as the red carpet was rolled out for the 76th time on Tuesday. Nearby, the 'stepladder' gang has set up camp, hoping to get the best spot to see the stars as they climb the famed stairs.

Michel, a hardened member of this local unofficial collective says he's been setting up his stepladder for years and wouldn't miss it for the world.

He's especially hoping to see Tom Hanks who stars in Wes Anderson's "Asteroid City", running in the main competition.

But for now, all eyes will be on Johnny Depp who is appearing in the opening night film "Jeanne du Barry" by French director Maiwenn.

The 59 year-old plays King Louis XV, the 18th-century monarch who fell in love with a prostitute, played by Maiwenn herself. Many are curious about how the American actor will come across speaking French and his dialogue in the film is kept to short phrases that help disguise his accent.

The film, despite the hype, has reportedly yet to secure US distribution.

Depp is making what appears to be a comeback after his last few years tainted with legal woes that saw his career nosedive in Hollywood.

Controversies and contracts

He was axed from Harry Potter spin-off "Fantastic Beasts" following his ex-wife Amber Heard's domestic abuse allegations and two court cases.

Depp was successful in the 2022 defamation trial, but it revived the #MeToo debate and Depp remains a toxic figure particularly in the United States.

Festival director Thierry Fremaux brushed the affair aside, telling reporters he was "not interested" in Depp's trial, adding: "I am interested in Depp the actor."

Maiwenn told French news agency AFP earlier that she had been worried about the impact of his legal woes.

"The film was shot last summer and he was coming out of his second trial," Maiwenn said, adding she was nervous about what would become of his image.

Despite this Depp is long way from being "cancelled,". Variety magazine last week revealed that fashion house Dior signed a record $20 million deal with Depp for him to remain the face of the luxury mens' fragrance.

He is also set to direct Al Pacino in a biopic of artist Amedeo Modigliani later this year. It will presented to potential investors at the Marche du Film, the commercial market at the Cannes film festival.

Meanwhile, Maiwenn faces her own controversies.

In March, a well-known French journalist, Edwy Plenel of Mediapart, lodged a criminal complaint against Maiwenn, accusing her of approaching him in a restaurant, grabbing him by the hair and spitting in his face.

She refused to discuss the case with AFP, but admitted the assault in an interview on French TV, without going into details.

Spectre of protests

In the streets of Cannes, around a thousand police and security guards are in place for the two-week festival and all demonstrations around the Croisette have been banned by the prefecture.

As in previous years, the festival has been placed "under a high level of security" (link) but this year is proving to be more tense than usual amid fears of protests linked to President Emmanuel Macron's unpopular pension reforms.

This has not stopped the CGT trade union from announcing various actions as part of its opposition to the government project, starting with a meeting of hotel workers on Friday at the renowned luxury Carlton Hotel. Being private property, it falls outside the jurisdiction for the rally ban.

At the end of April, the CGT Energie had also threatened to cut power to disrupt the busy screening schedule.

"Regarding the things announced in the press on possible power cuts or social unrest (...), we are in discussions with the CGT", Fremaux said, adding that Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne was meeting with trade union delegations on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The French Riviera festival, which runs until 27 May is gearing up to be an electric edition with several blockbuster premieres, including "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" on Wednesday, starring Harrison Ford as the whip-cracking archaeologist.

Follow all the Cannes Festival coverage her with RFI
16.05.2023 LISTEN

The leader of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama is being urged to be cautious of the promises he is making in the run-up to the 2024 elections.

In his victory speech on Monday, the former President made some promises ahead of election 2024.

Mr. Mahama amongst other promises vowed to lead the fourth republic's leanest yet most effective cabinet with only 60 ministers.

He also promises to eliminate ex-gratia payments to Members of Parliament.

Mr. Mahama promised to restore the licences of some collapsed banks.

Dr. Paul Ezuah, a political communications lecturer at UniMAC-GIJ said told Starr News that even though promises are expected during election season, John Mahama should proceed cautiously considering his track record of broken promises.

Looking at how he spoke about the whole thing, it is good. But let us be mindful that we are in Ghana where we have in the past had promises being made everywhere and very little is fulfilled. So for me, I will advise that hell hasten slowly as far as promises are concerned because we have the benefit of hindsight and we also know what has happened before even in the NDC and NPP.

The electorate in Ghana do not really fancy promises, they want the work to be done for them to see that the right thing is being done. So, on one hand I will say that its good but he should tone down a bit on the promises because if he doesnt fulfill it it will be counter productive as far as the 2024 election is concerned, Dr. Paul Ezuah added.

Mr Mahama reiterated these promises in his post-election acceptance speech at the University of Development Studies (UDS) on Monday, 15 May 2023 after he had received an overwhelming 98.9 per cent vote from NDC delegates to become the partys flagbearer.
Kojo Bonsu, a presidential aspirant in the just-ended presidential primaries of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has called for unity in the party following his defeat.

In a statement on Tuesday, May 16, Mr. Bonsu congratulated former President John Dramani Mahama for emerging victorious.

He urged all factions within the NDC, including those who supported Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, to unite behind Mahama to wrest power from the governing New Patriotic Party in 2024.

According to Bonsu, Now that our elections are over, first I wish to congratulate H.E John Dramani Mahama for emerging victorious at the end of the day. His landslide victory is a resounding and clear warning to the ruling government that the NDC together with millions of disappointed floating voters shall cause change at the polls in December 2024.

He further appealed to Dr. Duffuor and his supporters to consider the great value he adds and to join forces with the party for us all to wrestle power from the nation-wrecking NPP.

Bonsu noted that the NDCs goal to rescue Ghana from the modern day imperialism and colonialism practiced under the current government is bigger than the outcome of the partys internal elections.

We cannot afford to lose any single effort going into the 2024 general elections and we must be relentless in our united pursuit of victory, he said.

Bonsu had toured many parts of Ghana to campaign for the NDC flagbearership, touting his vision and messages to delegates.

Although he lost woefully to former President Mahama, Bonsu believes a united NDC stands a chance of winning the 2024 elections.

Find a full copy of the release below;
North Tongu Member of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said former President John Dramani Mahama's promise to run a lean government will potentially save the Ghanaian taxpayer an impressive GHS350 million in four years.

In a tweet, Ablakwa describes Mahama's pledge as inspiring and patriotic, noting that it would significantly reduce government expenditure and save taxpayers' money.

John Mahamas inspiring & patriotic pledge to appoint not more than 60 Ministers & Deputies, and to prevent all his appointees from receiving ex-gratia payments, will at current conditions of service potentially save the Ghanaian taxpayer an impressive GHS350 million in 4 years, he said in his tweet.

John Dramani Mahama, Presidential candidate for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has pledged to appoint not more than 60 Ministers and Deputies if he is elected as president.

In addition, he promised to eliminate ex-gratia payments.

In recent years, there have been criticisms of the size of government and the number of Ministers and Deputies appointed under Akufo-Addo's government.

There have been heightened calls for President Akufo-Addo to reduce his elephant-size government as a means of cutting down on public expenditure amidst the countrys economic crisis.

We still stand by the fact that close to 6bn ($493m) will be saved for this economy if there is a proper reordering of the ministries, departments and agencies, Franklin Cudjoe, president of public policy thinktank IMANI Africa told The Africa Report in an interview.
The Executive Director of Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Professor H Kwasi Prempeh has reacted to the promise by former President John Dramani Mahama to appoint 60 ministers if he becomes president again.

He said when politicians make such pronouncements, they should be asked to be precise with their terms.

He said this while commenting on a Facebook post made by the Founding President of Imani Africa Franklin Cudjoe who had posted the promises on his page.

Does the 60 include Deputy Ministers? Regional Ministers? When these politicians talk, youve got to get them to be exact or precise with their terms. Otherwise, he will appoint 60 Ministers, and x number of Deputies and tell you he said, Ministers but Deputies, he said.

In his speech at the University of Development Studies on Monday, May 15, Mr Mahama who is the newly elected flagbearer of the NDC said Ghana is still at the crossroads with crippling debt, and an inefficient and wasteful government. We cannot continue this pathway.

In his view, it is a betrayal of the people, as a leader, to keep doing things the same way when the results leave them the poorer.

I am committed to operating an effective government with not more than sixty (60) ministers. These Ministers together with other appointees of the government will not be entitled to ex-gratia payments after their tenure, as they will commit to that undertaking even before the necessary constitutional amendments, including a review of the controversial Article 71.

I share the view that Ghanaians in the diaspora must no longer have to renounce their foreign citizenship before they can stand for elections or hold public offices in Ghana. I personally believe most of them make up for their absence with their remittances, and, if conditions improve, a lot of them will return to work home, in Ghana.

3news.com
16.05.2023 LISTEN

A member of the National Communications team of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Chris Dugan, is calling for calm after last Saturday's presidential and parliamentary primaries that saw former president John Dramani Mahama elected as the partys flagbearer for the 2024 general election.

According to him, the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has nothing like handing-over in their Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) after losing an election.

Thus, "there is a need for the NDC to unite and beat the NPP soundly in the 2024 general elections," he stated.

He said the NPP is on record to have gone to court on a Saturday in 2008 after losing an election.

He reiterated that NPP under Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has turned everything upside down and would be unwilling to hand-over power.

Mr Dungan made this call on the Ghana Yensom morning show hosted by Odehyeeba Kofi Essuman on Accra 100.5 FM on Tuesday, May 16, 2023.

He noted that the NPP does not see defeat even when it is staring it in the face hence their resolve not to accept their mistakes when the economy has deteriorated.

"Today it is Covid-19 pandemic... Tomorrow it is the Russian-Ukraine war," he said.

He advised the NDC supporters to flip the coin from competition to cooperation with each other after the primaries, noting that: we need cooperation to build a better Ghana and a better NDC."

"I am, therefore, calling for cooperation among all elected parliamentary candidates and aspirants and supporters," he emphasised

Classfmonline.com
Three people died during clashes between Senegalese police and supporters of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, the authorities said on Tuesday, amid flaring tensions triggered by a legal showdown.

Two young people were found dead overnight in the capital Dakar and southern city of Ziguinchor, where a policeman died on Monday after being accidentally crushed by an armoured anti-riot vehicle, the interior ministry said.

Crowds in Ziguinchor, where Sonko is mayor, on Monday hurled stones at police who responded with tear gas, according to an AFP correspondent there.

In Dakar, around 20 vehicles at a depot belonging to the national bus company were torched, and the local press said two stores belonging to the French supermarket chain Auchan, which has been frequently targeted in disturbances, were also attacked.

The violence erupted on the eve of a scheduled court appearance by Sonko, who is facing trial for the alleged rape of an employee at a beauty salon where he went for a massage.

Young demonstrators in Ziguinchor on Tuesday blocked off the streets leading to his home, some of them holding rocks or wielding steel bars, to prevent the authorities from taking him.

Sonko's trial opened meanwhile in Dakar, more than 400 kilometres (250 miles) to the north, and was immediately adjourned until May 23 after he failed to show.

His accuser Adji Sarr, a woman in her twenties, and Sonko's co-accused, Ndeye Khady Ndiaye, who owns the massage parlour where the alleged rape took place, were both present.

"I feel fine. I have confidence. We are going to win. It's a pity that after waiting two years for a trial, he (Sonko) has fled," Sarr said, speaking before proceedings opened.

Sonko, 48, who was also recently sentenced to a six-month suspended prison sentence for defamation and insults against the tourism minister, has denied the charge.

Sonko, president of the PASTEF-Patriots party, came in third in the 2019 presidential elections.

He says the legal cases against him are a plot aimed at barring him from contesting the 2024 vote.

Senegal is traditionally a beacon of stability in troubled West Africa, but in recent years has been buffeted by turbulence that has at times turned deadly.

When Sonko was arrested in 2021, several days of protests left at least 12 people dead.

The interior ministry on Tuesday did not directly attribute the latest death of the two young people to the protests, but said it "strongly urges parents to prevent their children from taking part in violent demonstrations."

These events are liable to "attacks, theft, looting and other acts of vandalism," it said.
16.05.2023 LISTEN

Former Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor has contacted John Dramani Mahama for the first time after the primaries of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

In a phone call, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor has congratulated the former president on his election as the flagbearer of the NDC ahead of the 2024 General Elections.

This has been confirmed by John Dramani Mahama in a post on his Facebook page on Tuesday, May 16.

Last night Dr. Kwabena Duffour called to congratulate me for emerging victorious in the May 13 NDC presidential primaries. Mayor Kojo Bonsu also congratulated me earlier on Saturday, parts of the post said.

It added, As I stated in my acceptance speech in Tamale, the internal competition for Flagbearer is over. Cooperation is what we need to build the Ghana we want together.

Before his phone call to ex-President John Dramani Mahama, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor had released a statement on Monday rubbishing claims that he plans to quit the NDC to set up his own political party after losing the flagbearer election.

He stressed that he remains a loyal member of the NDC and will continue to play his part to champion the cause of the party.
A fundamental shift in how Carlisle Area School District delivers elementary education could happen as early as 2025-26, Superintendent Colleen Friend said last week.

She briefed school board members on different options that depart from the status quo of seven K-5 elementary schools, two middle schools and a high school.

Every elementary school, in some respect, will be touched by this, Friend said, adding that a recommendation could go before the board for a vote in October.

This is not an immediate decision that were making, she said. This is a long-range solution.

A decision this fall could trigger a planning period of nine to 12 months, followed by two years of construction or renovations that could involve multiple buildings. No cost estimates have been released.

Several options could mean the closure of one or more elementary schools, and almost all could lead to shifts in the attendance areas from which the buildings draw students.

During her presentation last Thursday, Friend did not name specific elementary schools. Thats not a decision for right now, she told board members. Thats a decision the committee will make with the architect as we move forward.

For months, central office administrators and building principals have been meeting with representatives of the architectural firm Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates for what district officials call a reimagining of the elementary education program.

The overhaul is seen as a strategic fix to head off anticipated enrollment growth, improve efficiencies and equalize class sizes across schools. The district underwent a similar process about a decade ago in the lead-up to major renovations at Lamberton and Wilson middle schools.

Plans are underway to expand the committee to include teachers, support staff, parents and school board members with an eye toward recruiting a balance of representatives from different grade levels and buildings.

In separate meetings held last week, Friend briefed educators on the building configurations. In-person meetings with parents are scheduled for this Thursday and next Monday. There are also virtual meetings with parents being planned for May 23-24.

Committee work resumes on June 2 and will continue through the summer with two meetings each month through late August. There are no plans to implement any major shifts in 2023-24.

Configurations

As the committee did its work, we looked at specific criteria, Friend said, listing the current program, building capacity, construction costs, land usage and availability, transportation, the geography and location of each building and the age and cost to maintain the seven elementary schools as factors. Below is an overview of each option:

Model One: A sister school concept where six current schools are paired up as separate kindergarten/first grade, second grade/third grade and fourth grade/fifth grade buildings. The middle schools and high school are maintained as is. This option would require the closure of one school.

Model Two: The construction of a kindergarten academy, a reconfiguration of six current schools to grades 1-5 buildings, the current middle schools and the current high school. This option would require the closure of one elementary school.

Model Three: The construction of a kindergarten academy, a reconfiguration of five current schools to grades 1-5 buildings, the current middle schools and the current high school. This option would require the closure of two elementary schools.

Model Four: The reconfiguration of five current schools to grades K-3 buildings, the construction of a new fourth grade/fifth grade building, the current middle schools and the current high school. This option would require the closure of two elementary schools.

Model Five: The reconfiguration of five current schools to grades K-3 buildings, the conversion of one current elementary school into a fourth grade/fifth grade building, the current middle schools and the current high school. This option would require the closure of one elementary school.

Model Six: The reconfiguration of five current schools to grades K-3 buildings, the reconfiguration of the two middle schools to grades 4-6 buildings and the construction of a new grade 7-8 building. The high school will remain as is. This option would require the closure of two elementary schools.

Model Seven: The reconfiguration of five current schools to K-3 buildings, the reconfiguration of the two middle schools to grades 4-6 buildings and the construction of a new grade 7-8 with a separate wing as a ninth grade academy. The current high school would be reconfigured to a grades 10-12 school. This option would require the closure of two elementary schools.

Some students, teachers and staff members may be required to change buildings as a result of any shift, Friend said. Faculty and staff are worried about being furloughed. Thats not the point behind any of this. We need more [educators], not less.

But Friend said if a building closes, the district would have to reallocate its personnel to fit the new configuration. This may require some teachers and staff to change grade levels.

Thats not the purpose of why were doing this, Friend said. Were responding to the needs that our children have. Were going to focus on teacher certifications and areas of expertise. The idea is not to move somebody out of their area of expertise and put them somewhere else.

Costs are going to be a huge factor moving forward, Board President Paula Bussard said. The board decided early on to step back and let the administration study the elementary program as a whole, she said.

The status quo is not OK, board member Rick Coplen said. This is a fabulous, exciting opportunity, but it will cost dollars, but our students are worth it.
Political Communications Lecturer at UniMAC-GIJ, Dr. Paul Ezuah has advised former President John Dramani Mahama to be mindful of the many promises he is making to Ghanaians.

On Monday, May 15, the flagbearer elect of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) delivered his acceptance speech at the University of Development Studies in Tamale.

During his address, John Dramani Mahama made a lot of promises including fighting corruption, reducing the number of Ministers to 60, and cancelling the payment of ex-gratia among other things.

Speaking to Starr FM in a discussion on the address, Dr. Paul Ezuah admonished ex-president Mahama to hasten slowly with the promises.

He argued that what Ghanaians want to see from leaders is for them to put in the work and actually deliver.

Looking at how he spoke about the whole thing, it is good. But let us be mindful that we are in Ghana where we have in the past had promises being made everywhere and very little is fulfilled. So for me, I will advise that hell hasten slowly as far as promises are concerned because we have the benefit of hindsight and we also know what has happened before even in the NDC and NPP, Dr. Paul Ezuah said.

The Political Communications Lecturer continued, The electorate in Ghana do not really fancy promises, they want the work to be done for them to see that the right thing is being done. So, on one hand I will say that its good but he should tone down a bit on the promises because if he doesnt fulfill it, it will be counterproductive as far as the 2024 election is concerned.

Having been elected flagbearer of the NDC, John Dramani Mahama will lead the NDC into the 2024 general elections.

He is confident that he will secure a resounding victory for the largest opposition party.
The leadership of the opposition National Democratic Congress in the Ashanti Region is expected to meet a failed Parliamentary aspirant for Ejura-Sekyedumase who was seen in a viral video spraying cash in the just-ended parliamentary and presidential primaries of the party.

Even before the invitation from the party, the former aspirant, Juliana Kinang -Wassan had been summoned to appear before the office of the Special Prosecutor to answer some questions.

Citi News has learned that the meeting by the partys leadership with the former aspirant will seek to point out what the constitution of the party says about her conduct.

Madam Kinang-Wassan was seen in a widely circulated video raining cash on delegates, party supporters, and bystanders upon arrival at the voting centre at Ejura on Saturday.

Her conduct caused a major stir at the voting centre with voters abandoning voting booths to grab a note from the MP aspirant.

The notes ranged from as low as 5 Ghana cedis to as high as GH100 notes.

Her conduct has been severely condemned by a section of the public with some calling on her to be sanctioned by the party.

-citinewsroom
A year after kicking Russia out of the Council of Europe (CoE), the leaders of the 46-nation pan-continental rights body gather Tuesday in Iceland to show a united face against Moscow.

It will consider, possible measures to hold Russia legally responsible for the death and destruction it has caused after invading Ukraine dominate the summit in Reykjavik,

It is only the fourth such meeting to be held in the CoE's seven-decade history.

The CoE, not to be confused with the European Council, the EU's executive branch, includes all 27 European Union nations plus Britain, Turkey, Western Balkan countries, Georgia and Armenia.

Its mission is to saveguard human rights, democracy and rule of law in its member states as embedded in the European Convention (Echr) through the Strasbough-based European Court for Human Rights.

As a direct result of its 24 February, 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the CoE decided to suspend Russia's membership.

Whirlwind tour

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the opening of the summit by videolink, according to British officials who hosted him on the last leg of a whirlwind tour he made of major European capitals.

During Zelensky's trip, Berlin, Paris and London all pledged to step up arms deliveries to Kyiv, deepening a military arrangement between the West and Ukraine that has helped put Russia on the back foot.

Ukraine is expected to mount an offensive against Russian forces in the east of its territory in coming weeks.

Zelensky tweeted on Monday that he was "returning home with new defence packages".

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, who is attending the summit, said on Monday that the EU will "keep supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes".

She said that, "in Reykjavik we will discuss how to hold Russia accountable" and "I will support the creation of a dedicated tribunal to bring Russia's crime of aggression to trial".

Von der Leyen, Britain and the United States, which holds observer status in the CoE, all voiced backing for a new register of damage in The Hague that would record harm and destruction wrought by Russia for the mooted future court.

Russia isolated

The commission and EU countries are in favour of setting up a special tribunal, likely in The Hague in the Netherlands where the International Criminal Court already sits, to judge Russian leaders and commanders.

That, however, will only be realised after what is likely to be a long war, with Russia digging in and perhaps preparing its own spring attack on Ukrainian positions.

The two-day Council of Europe summit will be an opportunity for almost the entire European community to portray Russia as isolated on its own continent.

Emmanuel Macron of France, Rishi Sunak of Britain and Olaf Scholz of Germany are among the heads of state and government set to attend.

But for all the projected unity there are fissures in the European community.

Britain, for instance, is antagonistic towards the CoE's European Convention of Human Rights, which is a barrier to its plans to stem the irregular arrival of asylum-seekers by deporting them to Rwanda or returning them to transit European countries.

The convention is backed by the European Court of Human Rights which has made rulings that have already stymied Britain's efforts in that direction.

"It is clear that our current international system is not working, and our communities and the world's most vulnerable people are paying the price," Sunak said late Monday.

Britain's ruling Tories, who took their country out of the European Union after a Brexit referendum, are determined to fight what they describe as "the scourge of illegal migration".

The leaders' gathering is also a key moment for the heads of European heavyweights Germany, France, Italy and Britain to meet before a G7 summit starting Friday in Hiroshima, Japan.

(With wires)
The leadership and delegates of National Democratic Congress (NDC) have been commended for exhibiting high sense of political maturity in the just-ended presidential and parliamentary primaries of the Party.

Mr Mensah, a former organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the then Brong-Ahafo Region gave the commendation in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Monday at Odumase in the Sunyani West Constituency.

As the largest opposition Party, he said the credible, peaceful, and responsible manner the NDC conducted its primaries were indications the Party has understood internal democracy which an index is to measure the country's democratic gains.

Mr Mensah therefore suggested the need for the leadership of the NPP to emulate by ensuring that parliamentary candidates were not imposed on the Party members.

Instead, the NPP must conduct credible parliamentary primaries for the delegates to make informed decisions and vote for competent candidates to contest the parliamentary seats in the Election 2024, he added.

The NDC successfully conducted its presidential and parliamentary primaries over the weekend, and overwhelmingly endorsed former President John Dramani Mahama as the Party's 2024 flagbearer and elected other parliamentary candidates.

Though the Party could not conduct the parliamentary primaries in some constituencies due to pertinent internal challenges including Court injunctions placed on them, the primaries in general had received applause from critics and political pundits.

The NPP must learn lessons and ensure that a fair playing field would be given to particularly all aspirants contesting in impending NPP presidential and parliamentary primaries.

In fact the NDC has proven critics wrong, and the Party's successful primary elections are an indication that they are yearning to regain political power in the next general election.

This is telling us as NPP that if we are not careful and repeat the unpardonable mistakes in the election 2020 by forcibly imposing parliamentary candidates on our people, then we are heading for political doom, Mr Mensah stated.

The former NPP organiser indicated the choice of the Party people remained paramount, if the NPP could recapture lost parliamentary seats and maintain the incumbent seats in the next general election, saying we must also do our homework well.

As a strong Party under a great elephant which cherishes internal democracy, the NPP leadership must ensure that every qualified parliamentary aspirant is given the opportunity to contest in the Party primaries devoid of bias, skirmishes and unhealthy political considerations, he stated.

We cannot afford to allow some few people in the Party to decide our fate in the Election 2024 because that would be politically suicidal for us. We must strive hard and get the simple majority in parliament and if we do our homework well, we can regain many of the parliamentary seats, particularly our traditional seats we lost in 2020, Mr Mensah added.

As a government in power, he said the NPP was strong enough not only to break the eight, but also win majority of the parliamentary seats, saying, we need to do a lot, make the NPP more attractive for the masses to make informed decisions and vote for us in 2024.

Mr Mensah said perceived political complacency and voter apathy threatened the fortunes of the Party's victory in the election 2024.

He therefore made an urgent call to the leadership of the Party to ensure that various committees set up to investigate pertinent challenges pertaining to some constituencies would accelerate their work for the progress of the Party.

Certain internal challenges which emanated during the last parliamentary elections in the Sunyani East, Jaman South, Berekum East, Sunyani West and Wenchi constituencies remained unresolved. The Party is going through other similar challenges in some constituencies nationwide and the leadership must be proactive enough to tackle those challenges before it is too late, he added.

That notwithstanding, Mr Mensah appealed to disgruntled members and supporters of the Party to give peace a chance to prevail, saying despite our differences, we must remember we are fighting a common enemy, the NDC on the political space in the Election 2024.

GNA
The Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources in charge of Mines, Mr George Mireku Duker, has described the Natural Resources Stakeholders Dialogue, organised by the Graphic Communications Group Ltd, as yet another illustration of the governments determination to maximise the benefits of Ghana's natural resources.

He reiterated that harnessing the country's natural resources to broaden its contribution to national development, should be an all-hands-on-deck approach.

He made this statement when he delivered the opening address on the final day of the two-day conference last Friday

The Deputy Minister emphasised that the government's fight to eradicate all forms of illegalities in the mining sector is a collective one that requires the support and active participation of all stakeholders.

Indeed, the President attached great importance to natural resource governance which is anchored on sustainability and broad-based stakeholder collaboration and partnership. This, as he reiteratedinformed the organization of the first-ever National Dialogue on Small-Scale Mining followed by two similar regional ones.

Since that incipient call for all hands to be on deck, many well-meaning organizations like the Graphic Communications Group have responded favourably. Indeed, he further emphasizes that, without natural resources, life is impossible and it is the reason why collective responsibility is needed in fighting the irregularities in the sector, he emphasized

He expressed hope that the event would result in a renewed commitment and dedication to the promotion of responsible natural resource utilization

He urged the conference attendees to think about some major and critical problems that they must discuss and address during the plenary.

Mr Duker proposed that the discussions focus on how Ghana and to a larger extent, Africa might harness their resources to accelerate their development.

Ladies and gentlemen, the takeaway from the Presidents speech delivered yesterday was that, even though Africa commands about 30% of the worlds natural resources, its development is ironically the lowest in the world. There is, therefore, the need to find ways of translating this share of the worlds natural resources into sustainable development, he said.

The Natural Resources Stakeholders Dialogue is a two-day event organized by the Graphic Communications Group Ltd in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to bring together stakeholders and experts under one roof to deliberate on how the countrys natural resources can be harnessed to generate sustainable economic development.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi is set to marry his seventh wife, Opeoluwa Elizabeth Akinmuda, amid controversy over multiple marriages.

The king unveiled his new bride on May 10 and is preparing to officially welcome her into his Royal Palace of Oodua in Ile-Ife, according to local reports.

Invitations for the thanksgiving service and reception have been sent out, with major dignitaries expected to attend the event scheduled for May 20.

The wedding comes after Ogunwusi married six wives in a period between September and October 2022. They are Mariam Anako, an Ebira of Kogi State; Tobi Phillips, from Okitipupa, Ondo State; Ashley Afolashade Adegoke, an Ile-Ife princess; Ronke Ademiluyi, another Ile-Ife Princess; and Asake Temitope Morenike Adesegun.

Ogunwusi has been criticized for his numerous marriages and relationships outside of wedlock.

He has a 24-year-old daughter from a teenager that ended before he became king. His first official wife divorced him in 2017 after 9years of marriage.

The Ooni's spokesman and other Yoruba natives have been defending the king's multiple wives whenever issues about it arises, explaining that polygamy is part of his culture as the Yoruba monarch.

But some have questioned whether one man is capable of adequately fulfilling the duties financially and sexually to so many wives.
16.05.2023 LISTEN

There has been a horrific accident at Adukrom-Akuapem in the Okere District of the Eastern region.

The crash between a tricycle and a truck resulted in the death of three people.

Information gathered has revealed that the accident occurred early on Tuesday morning around 7:00 am near the waterworks junction area.

The accident occurred when the tricycle loaded with concrete land demarcation pillars failed break while descending from Adukrom towards Aseseeso.

In the driver's attempt to take control of the tricycle, he collided with the Kia truck with registration number GE 7984 which was approaching from the other direction.

As confirmed by Ebenezer Obiri Asare who is the Assembly member for Adukrom-Methodist electoral, as many as 12 people had to be rushed to the Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital.

We were following the tricycle but when it reached Adukrom water works it crashed the driver side of the Kia. The tricycle was descending with speed it seems there was a brake failure.

So two of the five persons on the tricycle died instantly while the other three were rushed to hospital. We are told the rider popularly known as Enkase also couldnt survive, an eyewitness narrated to the media.
Some 20 countries executed 883 people in 2022, a more than fifty percent increase from the year before, according to rights group Amnesty International. And the number does not include the thousands of people believed to have been executed in China, for which it is impossible to get transparent figures.

The total number of recorded executions is the highest number since 2017, according to the group's annual report on executions and the death penalty.

'Killing sprees'

Countries in the Middle East and North Africa were guilty of state-sanctioned killing sprees, according to the report, with executions surging in Iran, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

China is believed to come in at the top of the ranking, but it keeps statistics secret.

Iran leads the list of recorded executions, with 576 people put to death in 2022, up from 314 the year before, as the government tried to put down a popular uprising.

Iran executed people simply for exercising their right to protest, said Amnesty International's Secretary General, Agnes Callamard.

Saudi Arabia executed 196 people  including a staggering 81 people in a single day in March 2022  its highest number in 30 years.

Egypt and the United States follow in the ranks, with 24 and 18 people put to death, respectively.

North Korea and Vietnam use the death penalty extensively, but as with China, the figures are shrouded in secrecy, according to the report.

Crackdowns on dissent

One reason for the rise in numbers are official crackdowns on dissent, though the report points out that nearly 40 percent of all known executions were for drug-related offenses, including 11 in Singapore.

While executions were up, the total number of recorded death sentences did not change significantly, with a slight decrease in 2022, to 2,016, down from 2,052 the year before.

In what Amnesty calls a glimmer of hope, six countries abolished the death penalty, partially or fully, in 2022: Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone, Zambia, Kazakhstan and Papua New Guinea

The brutal actions of countries such as Iran, Saudi Arabia as well as China, North Korea and Vietnam are now firmly in the minority, said Callamard.

These countries should urgently catch up with the times, protect human rights, and execute justice rather than people.

(with AFP)
16.05.2023 LISTEN

The Registrar of the High Court in Accra will take custody of a Honda Civic vehicle in dispute in the case involving former National Service Person of the First Atlantic Bank, Deborah Seyram Adablah, and an official of the Bank, Ernest Kwasi Nimako.

This comes on the back of an order by the High Court in Accra on Tuesday, 16 May 2023, that the vehicle in dispute be surrendered to the Registrar of the court until the final determination of the case.

Mr Nimako was ordered by the court to submit documents of the vehicle to the Court Registrar.

The Plaintiff, Ms Adablah, who drove the car to court for todays proceedings per the order will, therefore, have to surrender the car.

The court, also prohibited any form of publication with regards to the case by Ms Adablah and the 1st Defendant, Mr Nimako on both traditional and social media platforms.

The Court ordered: Both parties are prohibited from posting any videos, pictures and materials on social media and traditional media which has the tendency to prejudice the matter before the court until the final determination of the case.

The 1st Defendant had prayed the court to restrain the Plaintiff from tarnishing his reputation by posting on social media platforms including Instagram, Tik Tok and others.

The Plaintiff, however, denied the accusations by Mr Nimako, stating the publications on social media were done prior to the commencement of the hearing of the case.

A National Service Person, Deborah Seyram Adablah, dragged the First Atlantic Bank official to court for sexual harassment.

Despite being named the 2nd Defendant, First Atlantic Bank has since requested that its name be withdrawn from the suit.

The Banks request for its name to be withdrawn from the suit was on the ground that they disclose no reasonable cause of action against the applicant.

-classfmonline.com
One of the key issues raised in the acceptance speech of former President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, is the restoration of banking licenses that are considered to have been revoked unfairly a couple of years ago during the banking sector clean-up. The banking sector clean-up lacked characteristics and spirit of indigenization for local entrepreneurs in the industry. Thus, the possibility of resuscitating the banks whose licenses were revoked unduly will be reasonable.

But his promise tends to have political tendencies as the said banks were incorporated and operated under regulations. The promise to restore the banks who lost their authority documents to operate banking businesses only appears to be a political promise with limited authority. While the President of the Republic of Ghana holds significant power, the restoration of banking licenses involves intricate legal and regulatory frameworks. The revocation of banking licenses requires the same processes and procedures that were followed in their issuance. The authorities that issued the banking licenses might have applied the laws regulating the operation of banks in revoking the licenses.

The banks whose licenses were revoked have the opportunity to seek redress in the courts of Ghana. As legally-formed corporations, the banks cannot allow the authorities of the state to abuse them by illegally revoking their licenses. The court has the authority to resolve any difficulty with the issuance and revocation of licenses. The President of Ghana, even though plays a pivotal role in shaping policies that impact all sectors including the financial sector, has limited specific powers in restoring banking licenses.

The powers to appoint key regulatory officials and influence legislative processes cannot be discounted. The use of political powers to bewitch persons and their institutions, especially those considered to support opposite political parties in Ghana is real. Therefore, the President of the Republic of Ghana can use the powers available to him or her to harm or heal institutions (through the restoration of banking licenses). A President has much influence on the regulatory officials, through their appointments; so, he can have some degree of influence over the restoration of banking licenses.

Yet, the restoration of banking licenses is governed by legal and regulatory frameworks, which must be followed in the process. The Central Bank of Ghana, as the financial regulator, and other authorities within the financial sector are typically responsible for the granting, revoking, or suspension of a banking license. The decision to undertake any of these actions is based on a range of factors including compliance with prudential regulations, capital adequacy, risk management, and the ability to safeguard depositors funds. The constraints for restoring banking licenses are established by the regulatory frameworks.

The President has executive orders or directives to rely on to signal their support for the restoration of an institutions banking license. The President can collaborate with regulatory bodies and lawmakers to initiate processes and procedures to investigate the revocation of licenses. There can also be the enacting of legislative changes that streamline the license restoration processes provided the new changes in statutes align well with the broader objectives of financial stability and the protection of depositors funds.

The restoration of the supposedly unfairly revoked banking licenses through the initiative of the President has political implications. It is a signal that the financial sector is exposed to political manipulations as well as the caprices of the political elites. It also indicates there is an opportunity for politicians to exert undue influence over regulatory apparatus that can potentially compromise the integrity of the financial system. But a decision by the President of Ghana to intervene in the process to revive local banks and restore jobs to the youth is necessary.

To strike a balance between political considerations and financial stability is crucial in this regard. The former President, if voted into power, has the option to use a judicial review process or a committee to investigate the nature and causes of the collapse of the local banks. The restoration of a banking license can, and must only be done through a legal process. The court will serve as the better arbiter in resolving the challenges associated with the issuance and revocation of banking licenses. Judges of the appropriate court to adjudicate on the matter can assess the fairness or otherwise of the revocation of the licenses by the issuer, the Central Bank of Ghana. The issue of restoration of the banking licenses requires legal prerequisites that uphold the principles of fairness and due process.

While the promise by former President John Mahama to restore the banking licenses of local entrepreneurs that were revoked undeservedly has political and social support, there is the need to investigate the banking sector clean-up exercise and the fundamental factors that led to the revocation of the licenses of the said banks. The regulator may be right in revoking the licenses of the said banks, and the desire to restore such licenses without technical considerations will not yield the much-needed solutions to create a sound sector.

Emmanuel Kwabena Wucharey

Economics Tutor, Advocate and Religion Enthusiast.
HARRISBURG  Election integrity and Pennsylvanias mail-in voting law are prominent subjects in the states Republican primary contest for an open state Supreme Court seat.

This year, two GOP primary rivals for the state Supreme Court seat in Tuesdays primary election are signaling their disapproval of Pennsylvanias expansive mail-in voting law.

In one appearance last month, Carolyn Carluccio, a Montgomery County judge, called the mail-in voting law bad for the state and for faith in elections. She suggested elections are too secretive and promised that if the law comes before the high court Im going to be happy to take a look at it.

Meanwhile, Patricia McCullough, a judge on the statewide Commonwealth Court, repeatedly highlights her rulings in election-related cases, including voting to throw out the mail-in voting law.

Election integrity, that seems to be like the most important issue to the people right now, McCullough told an interviewer on public access television in Erie last month.

Both parties will pick a high court nominee to run in Novembers general election. The states highest court currently has four justices elected as Democrats and two as Republicans. The seat is open following the death of Chief Justice Max Baer last fall.

Allegations about election fraud and opposition to Pennsylvanias mail-in voting law have persisted in Republican primaries in 2021 and 2022, demonstrating just how influential Donald Trumps baseless election claims are to the GOP campaign trail.

In last years governors race, for instance, every candidate in the GOPs nine-person field vowed to repeal the 2019 law that established no-excuse mail-in voting in Pennsylvania.

A third Republican-backed challenge to the mail-in voting law is pending in state courts, while Republicans have repeatedly gone to court to try to ensure that ballots cast by legal, eligible voters are thrown out for technical errors, like a missing envelope, signature or date.

Trumps accusations of election fraud have tended to target mail-in ballots and big cities including Philadelphia.

On the campaign trail, McCullough has repeatedly told of presiding over a 2020 post-election legal challenge that sought to invalidate the mail-in voting law and tilt victory to Trump.

I was the only judge in 2020 in the presidential election in the entire country to order the governor to stop certifying the election because of the constitutional challenges to the mail-in ballot law, she told the crowd at a rally in Greencastle in March.

That drew cheers and applause.

The lawsuit had asked the court to throw out 2.5 million mail-in votes  roughly 70% of which were cast by Democrats. The states high court quickly overturned McCulloughs order.

McCullough participated last year in a 3-2 Commonwealth Court decision granting a separate challenge by Republican lawmakers to invalidate the law. The judges vote was party line  Republicans declaring it unconstitutional, Democrats declaring it constitutional  as was a reversal by the states Democratic-majority high court.

At the time, then-Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, accused Republicans of trying to kill the law in the service of the big lie of Trumps baseless election fraud claims.

In an Erie County GOP forum last month, Carluccio seemed to suggest that she would be hostile to the mail-in voting law  called Act 77  should another challenge come to the high court.

I would welcome that to come up before me again, lets put it that way. Not much I can say, but I can tell you that Act 77 has been very bad for our commonwealth. It has been very bad for just faith in our system, Carluccio told the crowd in response to a question about the law.

She criticized how the state Supreme Court has ruled in cases involving mail-in ballots and suggested that elections are too secretive to be trusted.

We should be able to go to the polls and understand that our vote counts and understand that theres not going to be some hanky-panky going on in the back, she told the crowd.

Asked to clarify Carluccios comments, her campaign responded that she was referring to conflicting, and sometimes unclear court decisions on mail-in ballots with handwritten dates and numerous anecdotal comments shes heard from election volunteers being shut out of polling places in Philadelphia.
Prof Ransford Gyampo, Senior Political Science Lecturer at University of Ghana

17.05.2023 LISTEN

A Senior Political Science Lecturer at the University of Ghana, Professor Ransford Gyampo, has recalled the attempted coup and subsequent successful coup led by late President Jerry John Rawlings in 1979.

In a Facebook post on Monday, May 15, marking the 44th anniversary of the failed coup attempt, Prof. Gyampo emphasized that the military is never an option regardless of the rot in the system.

In his post, Prof. Gyampo described the events of 1979 as a lesson for all Ghanaians.

He urged citizens to deal with the rot in the system by keeping elected regimes on their toes, eschewing excessive partisanship that breeds political madness and peacefully changing governments that do not serve the people well through periodic elections.

The political science expert stressed that the military has no business in governing a country.

"Regardless of the rot in the system, the military has no business in governing a country. We as civilians have all it takes to deal with the rot in our system by keeping elected regimes on their toes, eschewing excessive partisanship that breeds political madness, and peacefully changing governments that do not serve us well through periodic elections," Prof. Gyampo wrote.
The Accra Circuit Court One has sentenced a Nigerian man to eight years imprisonment in hard labour for impersonating COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah on social media and defrauding unsuspecting persons.

Bright Daniels, who at the time of committing the crime, was a convicted prisoner at the Nsawam Prisons, denied the offence.

He was taken through a full trial and found culpable.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Emmanuel Nyamekye, giving the facts in the Court presided over by Mrs Afia Owusua Appiah, said the Complainant was COP Mrs Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, a former boss of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service who is now the Executive Director of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).

Daniels, an ex-convict is a Nigerian, who served a seven-year jail term at the Nsawam Medium Security Prisons.

His accomplice, Livinus Amadianaeze Ugwu, also an ex-convict and a Nigerian, is on the run, the Court heard.

DSP Nyamekye said in April 2021, COP Addo-Danquah's attention was drawn to a fake Facebook Messenger account created in her name and bearing her picture that was being used to solicit money from police personnel under the pretence of getting them slots to United Nations (UN) and African Union (AU) Missions in Somalia and Sudan.

He said the user of the said fake Facebook account contacted the victims and directed them to pay money via a mobile money network.

Detective Chief Inspector Baffoe paid GH10,000.00 to the number and the amount was subsequently withdrawn by Daniels.

The prosecution said investigations revealed that the phone number was traced to the environs of the Nsawam Medium Security Prisons in the Easter Region.

Further investigations revealed that Daniels was the user of the number. After a search conducted by the police, a Samsung Galaxy A02 phone which Daniels used to chat with Ugwu and a Tecno feature phone that was used to receive the money from Detective Chief Inspector Baffoe, were retrieved.

DSP Nyamekye said Forensic Examination conducted on the devices revealed that Daniels and Ugwu conspired to use the name and photograph of the COP Addo-Danquah to collect money from police personnel under the pretext of getting them a slot to travel to the United Nations and African Union Mission in Somalia.

Daniels then acquired the SIM card with 02******* that was used to receive money from their victims.

He admitted the offence and after investigations, he was charged and put before this court.

Source: GNA
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) taskforce has arrested two managers of restaurants and the staff of an electrical cable company in Accra for not issuing VAT tax invoices.

The companies are Waves Lounge and Pub, Chez Amis Pub and Grill, and Grand Pacific Limited, dealers in general electrical cables.

The managers were taken to the Customs Office at the headquarters for their statements before being handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department of the Police.

Mr Edward Appenteng Gyamerah, Commissioner, Domestic Tax Revenue Division, GRA, said the managers had refused to issue certified VAT invoices by the Commissioner-General at the point of purchase of goods at their outlets.

The initiative, he stated, was part of the Authority's exercise to ensure tax compliance and retrieve taxes due the state.

He said the Division had several options at its disposal to aid in revenue mobilization, including already existing initiatives such as auditing and test purchasing, among others.

Mr Gyamerah said the test purchases conducted on 115 taxpayers that were sampled for a week revealed that a total of 93 taxpayers were not issuing the VAT invoice.

The figure, he stressed translated into a non-compliance rate of 80.9 per cent and said it was an offense for a registered taxpayer to fail to issue a VAT invoice for purchases made.

He said the division would continue with the enforcement exercises with an eye on the implementation of the electronic invoicing system and other tax types.

The government has tasked the GRA with raising a revenue target of GHc 106 billion for the 2023 fiscal year.

Out of this figure, the Domestic Tax Revenue Division is expected to collect 70 per cent of the total revenue.

This year, President Nana Akufo-Addo assented to the three amendments passed by Parliament.

They are the Excise Duty (Amendment), Act 2023 (Act 1093), the Income Tax (Amendment), Act 2023 (Act 1094), and the Growth and Sustainability Levy Act 2023 (Act 1095).

These amendments were to complement efforts to ensure the Authority met its revenue target.

Mr Joseph Annan, Area Enforcement Manager of GRA, in charge of Accra Central, said the Authority would continue to embark on surprise exercises across the country to apprehend culprits evading tax.

He urged the public, especially customers who make taxable purchases, to always request and insist on their VAT invoices.

GNA
Jeronimo Martins, SGPS, S.A. (OTCMKTS:JRONY  Get Rating) was the target of a significant decrease in short interest during the month of April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 2,000 shares, a decrease of 25.9% from the April 15th total of 2,700 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 2,800 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.7 days.

Jeronimo Martins, SGPS Stock Performance

Shares of JRONY traded up $0.16 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $49.35. The stock had a trading volume of 3,004 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,029. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $46.74 and a 200-day simple moving average of $44.32. Jeronimo Martins, SGPS has a one year low of $35.06 and a one year high of $50.68. The firm has a market cap of $15.53 billion, a PE ratio of 25.31, a P/E/G ratio of 1.92 and a beta of 0.75. The company has a current ratio of 0.56, a quick ratio of 0.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11.

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Jeronimo Martins, SGPS (OTCMKTS:JRONY  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, March 22nd. The company reported $0.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $7.14 billion during the quarter. Jeronimo Martins, SGPS had a net margin of 2.31% and a return on equity of 23.97%. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Jeronimo Martins, SGPS will post 2.41 EPS for the current year.

Jeronimo Martins, SGPS Cuts Dividend

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 1st. Investors of record on Tuesday, May 16th will be given a dividend of $0.8547 per share. This represents a yield of 1.7%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, May 15th. Jeronimo Martins, SGPSs dividend payout ratio is 43.59%.

Several analysts have recently commented on the stock. AlphaValue raised shares of Jeronimo Martins, SGPS to a reduce rating in a research note on Monday, January 30th. Sanford C. Bernstein cut shares of Jeronimo Martins, SGPS from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. Finally, UBS Group cut shares of Jeronimo Martins, SGPS from a neutral rating to a sell rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 1st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and three have assigned a hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $23.40.

About Jeronimo Martins, SGPS

(Get Rating)

Jeronimo Martins SGPS SA engages in the production, distribution, and sale of food and other fast moving consumer goods product. It operates through the following segments: Portugal Retail, Portugal Cash & Carry, Poland Retail, Colombia Retail, and Others, Eliminations and Adjustments. The Portugal Retail segment comprises the business unit of JMR (Pingo Doce supermarkets).

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U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB  Get Rating) and Chesapeake Financial Shares (OTCMKTS:CPKF  Get Rating) are both finance companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, institutional ownership, dividends, profitability, analyst recommendations, risk and valuation.

Profitability

This table compares U.S. Bancorp and Chesapeake Financial Shares net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets U.S. Bancorp 19.21% 16.70% 1.14% Chesapeake Financial Shares 24.04% 20.93% 1.28%

Dividends

U.S. Bancorp pays an annual dividend of $1.92 per share and has a dividend yield of 6.5%. Chesapeake Financial Shares pays an annual dividend of $0.60 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.1%. U.S. Bancorp pays out 51.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Chesapeake Financial Shares pays out 16.6% 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. U.S. Bancorp has raised its dividend for 11 consecutive years. U.S. Bancorp is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Analyst Recommendations

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score U.S. Bancorp 0 7 11 0 2.61 Chesapeake Financial Shares 0 0 0 0 N/A

This is a breakdown of current recommendations and price targets for U.S. Bancorp and Chesapeake Financial Shares, as reported by MarketBeat.

U.S. Bancorp presently has a consensus price target of $50.35, indicating a potential upside of 69.81%. Given U.S. Bancorps higher possible upside, research analysts plainly believe U.S. Bancorp is more favorable than Chesapeake Financial Shares.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares U.S. Bancorp and Chesapeake Financial Shares gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio U.S. Bancorp $25.76 billion 1.76 $5.83 billion $3.76 7.89 Chesapeake Financial Shares $69.47 million 1.31 $17.63 million $3.61 5.35

U.S. Bancorp has higher revenue and earnings than Chesapeake Financial Shares. Chesapeake Financial Shares is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than U.S. Bancorp, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

71.8% of U.S. Bancorp shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 3.6% of Chesapeake Financial Shares shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.2% of U.S. Bancorp shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 39.5% of Chesapeake Financial Shares shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Volatility and Risk

U.S. Bancorp has a beta of 0.93, meaning that its stock price is 7% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Chesapeake Financial Shares has a beta of 0.6, meaning that its stock price is 40% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

U.S. Bancorp beats Chesapeake Financial Shares on 11 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks.

About U.S. Bancorp

(Get Rating)

U.S. Bancorp operates as a bank holding company, which offers financial services including lending and depository services, cash management, foreign exchange and trust and investment management. The firm also offers mortgage, refinance, auto, boat and RV loans, credit lines, credit card services, merchant, bank, checking and savings accounts, debit cards, online and mobile banking, ATM processing, mortgage banking, insurance, brokerage and leasing services. The company was founded on April 2, 1929, and is headquartered in Minneapolis, MN.

About Chesapeake Financial Shares

(Get Rating)

Chesapeake Financial Shares, Inc. operates as a bank holding company, which engages in the provision of personal, business products, and banking services through Chesapeake Bank and Chesapeake Investment Group, Inc. It offers checking, savings, credit of deposits, mortgages, mobile and online banking, electronic services comprising an internet branch, business cash management program, brokerage, trust and estate management services. The company was founded in 1900 and is headquartered in Kilmarnock, VA.

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ACRES Commercial Realty (NYSE:ACR  Get Rating) and Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance (NYSE:ARI  Get Rating) are both small-cap finance companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, dividends, institutional ownership, earnings, risk, analyst recommendations and valuation.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

23.6% of ACRES Commercial Realty shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 54.6% of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance shares are owned by institutional investors. 3.6% of ACRES Commercial Realty shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.7% of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

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Earnings and Valuation

This table compares ACRES Commercial Realty and Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finances revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio ACRES Commercial Realty $70.01 million 1.07 $10.62 million ($0.99) -8.77 Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance $395.63 million 3.47 $265.23 million $1.83 5.30

Analyst Recommendations

Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance has higher revenue and earnings than ACRES Commercial Realty. ACRES Commercial Realty is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

This is a summary of current ratings and target prices for ACRES Commercial Realty and Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score ACRES Commercial Realty 0 0 2 0 3.00 Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance 1 4 0 0 1.80

ACRES Commercial Realty currently has a consensus target price of $13.75, suggesting a potential upside of 58.41%. Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance has a consensus target price of $10.80, suggesting a potential upside of 11.34%. Given ACRES Commercial Realtys stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, equities analysts clearly believe ACRES Commercial Realty is more favorable than Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance.

Profitability

This table compares ACRES Commercial Realty and Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finances net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets ACRES Commercial Realty 12.87% 7.38% 1.38% Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance 90.97% 8.68% 2.12%

Risk and Volatility

ACRES Commercial Realty has a beta of 1.82, suggesting that its share price is 82% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance has a beta of 1.59, suggesting that its share price is 59% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance beats ACRES Commercial Realty on 9 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About ACRES Commercial Realty

(Get Rating)

ACRES Commercial Realty Corp. is a real estate investment trust, which engages in the origination, holding, and management of commercial mortgage loans, and commercial real estate related debt investments. The company was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in New York, NY.

About Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance

(Get Rating)

Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. engages in the provision of real estate investment trust. It offers loan programs that include senior loans, subordinate debt, bridge loans, and preferred equity. The company was founded on June 29, 2009 and is headquartered in New York, NY.

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US Foods Holding Corp. (NYSE:USFD  Get Rating) has been assigned an average rating of Moderate Buy from the fourteen research firms that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price target among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $46.58.

USFD has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on US Foods from $37.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 21st. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on shares of US Foods from $44.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, February 17th. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on shares of US Foods from $45.00 to $50.00 in a research note on Friday, February 17th. Credit Suisse Group raised their price target on shares of US Foods from $47.00 to $51.00 in a research note on Friday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on shares of US Foods from $49.00 to $50.00 in a research note on Friday.

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Insider Activity

In related news, Director Sunil Gupta sold 5,756 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $39.29, for a total value of $226,153.24. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 17,802 shares in the company, valued at approximately $699,440.58. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other US Foods news, EVP Steven Guberman sold 3,412 shares of US Foods stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $36.60, for a total transaction of $124,879.20. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 99,090 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,626,694. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Sunil Gupta sold 5,756 shares of US Foods stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $39.29, for a total transaction of $226,153.24. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 17,802 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $699,440.58. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 7,633,850 shares of company stock worth $296,320,022. Insiders own 8.50% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of US Foods

US Foods Price Performance

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board grew its holdings in US Foods by 221.6% during the 3rd quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 107,400 shares of the companys stock worth $2,840,000 after acquiring an additional 74,000 shares during the period. Capital Fund Management S.A. acquired a new stake in US Foods during the 3rd quarter worth $445,000. US Bancorp DE grew its holdings in US Foods by 5.0% during the 3rd quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 10,853 shares of the companys stock worth $287,000 after acquiring an additional 518 shares during the period. International Assets Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of US Foods in the 4th quarter valued at $117,000. Finally, Fred Alger Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of US Foods by 0.8% in the 3rd quarter. Fred Alger Management LLC now owns 470,026 shares of the companys stock valued at $12,427,000 after buying an additional 3,506 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 97.06% of the companys stock.

NYSE USFD opened at $40.18 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $9.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.91 and a beta of 1.47. The stocks 50-day moving average is $37.13 and its two-hundred day moving average is $36.20. US Foods has a fifty-two week low of $25.49 and a fifty-two week high of $41.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20, a current ratio of 1.37 and a quick ratio of 0.79.

US Foods (NYSE:USFD  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 16th. The company reported $0.51 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.51. The company had revenue of $8.52 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.58 billion. US Foods had a return on equity of 13.22% and a net margin of 0.78%. On average, analysts anticipate that US Foods will post 2.42 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

US Foods Company Profile

(Get Rating)

US Foods Holding Corp. operates as a foodservice distributor. Its products include frozen and dry food and non-food products to foodservice customers throughout the U.S. The company offers services under brands Chefs Line, del Pasado, Glenview Farms, Cattlemans Selection, Cross Valley Farms, Harbor Banks, Hilltop Hearth, Devonshire, and Metro Deli.

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Arch Resources, Inc. (NYSE:ARCH  Get Rating) saw a large 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 daily volume of 484,900 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 3.6 days.

Insider Activity

In related news, VP John A. Ziegler sold 4,079 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $151.61, for a total transaction of $618,417.19. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 27,207 shares in the company, valued at $4,124,853.27. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, VP John A. Ziegler sold 4,079 shares of Arch Resources stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $151.61, for a total value of $618,417.19. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 27,207 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,124,853.27. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, VP Rosemary L. Klein sold 623 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $150.00, for a total transaction of $93,450.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 7,071 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,060,650. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 8,868 shares of company stock worth $1,364,006. Corporate insiders own 5.40% of the companys stock.

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Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Resurgent Financial Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Arch Resources in the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd bought a new position in shares of Arch Resources in the 2nd quarter valued at about $32,000. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. bought a new position in shares of Arch Resources in the 4th quarter valued at about $33,000. 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, Clear Street Markets LLC bought a new position in shares of Arch Resources in the 1st quarter valued at about $40,000. Institutional investors own 88.71% of the companys stock.

Arch Resources Price Performance

NYSE:ARCH traded up $1.39 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $125.01. 404,281 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 450,470. Arch Resources has a 12 month low of $110.97 and a 12 month high of $180.10. The company has a fifty day moving average of $131.94 and a 200 day moving average of $142.68. The company has a quick ratio of 1.77, a current ratio of 2.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08. The stock has a market cap of $2.33 billion, a PE ratio of 2.02 and a beta of 0.68.

Arch Resources (NYSE:ARCH  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The energy company reported $10.02 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $10.46 by ($0.44). Arch Resources had a return on equity of 96.62% and a net margin of 33.74%. The company had revenue of $869.40 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $767.03 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $12.89 EPS. The firms revenue was up .2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts anticipate that Arch Resources will post 35.23 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Arch Resources Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently announced a None dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 15th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 31st will be paid a $2.45 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 0.8%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, May 30th. Arch Resourcess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 1.63%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

ARCH has been the topic of several analyst reports. StockNews.com lowered shares of Arch Resources from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, April 12th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on shares of Arch Resources from $185.00 to $200.00 in a research note on Friday, February 17th. Finally, B. Riley reduced their target price on shares of Arch Resources from $200.00 to $198.00 in a research note on Friday, April 28th.

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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BellRing Brands, Inc. (NYSE:BRBR  Get Rating) has received a consensus rating of Buy from the fourteen research firms that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating. The average 1-year price objective among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $40.15.

BRBR has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Bank of America lifted their price objective on shares of BellRing Brands from $35.00 to $41.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 9th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on shares of BellRing Brands from $32.00 to $39.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 11th. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of BellRing Brands from $38.00 to $41.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 11th. Citigroup lifted their price target 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. Finally, Mizuho lifted their price target on shares of BellRing Brands from $38.00 to $47.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 11th.

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BellRing Brands Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE BRBR opened at $36.37 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $4.86 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.06, a P/E/G ratio of 2.34 and a beta of 0.87. The firms fifty day moving average is $33.84 and its two-hundred day moving average is $29.29. BellRing Brands has a 52-week low of $20.20 and a 52-week high of $37.55.

Insider Activity at BellRing Brands

BellRing Brands ( NYSE:BRBR Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 8th. The company reported $0.24 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates 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 business had revenue of $385.60 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $371.26 million. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.23 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 22.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts forecast that BellRing Brands will post 1.23 EPS for the current fiscal year.

In related news, Chairman Robert V. Vitale sold 15,000 shares of BellRing Brands stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $35.82, for a total transaction of $537,300.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now owns 230,054 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,240,534.28. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.80% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On BellRing Brands

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Arizona State Retirement System raised its holdings in shares of BellRing Brands by 18.0% in the 3rd quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 37,056 shares of the companys stock valued at $764,000 after purchasing an additional 5,645 shares in the last quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. bought a new stake in shares of BellRing Brands in the 4th quarter valued at about $273,000. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of BellRing Brands by 19.0% in the 3rd quarter. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC now owns 108,623 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,239,000 after purchasing an additional 17,334 shares in the last quarter. Putnam Investments LLC bought a new position in shares of BellRing Brands during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $4,951,000. Finally, AXA S.A. bought a new position in shares of BellRing Brands during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $12,141,000. Institutional investors own 92.40% of the companys stock.

About BellRing Brands

(Get Rating)

BellRing Brands, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides various nutrition products in the United States and internationally. It offers ready-to-drink (RTD) protein shakes, other RTD beverages, powders, nutrition bars, and other products primarily under the Premier Protein and Dymatize brands. The company sells its products through club, food, drug, mass, eCommerce, specialty, and convenience channels.

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Occidental Petroleum Co. (NYSE:OXY  Get Rating) major shareholder Berkshire Hathaway Inc bought 802,236 shares of Occidental Petroleum stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 11th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $57.62 per share, with a total value of $46,224,838.32. Following the completion of the purchase, the insider now owns 212,509,355 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,244,789,035.10. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Major shareholders that own more than 10% of a companys shares are required to disclose their transactions with the SEC.

Berkshire Hathaway Inc also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Monday, May 15th, Berkshire Hathaway Inc bought 993,494 shares of Occidental Petroleum stock. The stock was bought at an average cost of $58.46 per share, with a total value of $58,079,659.24.

On Monday, March 27th, Berkshire Hathaway Inc bought 1,789,529 shares of Occidental Petroleum stock. The stock was bought at an average cost of $59.32 per share, with a total value of $106,154,860.28.

On Thursday, March 23rd, Berkshire Hathaway Inc bought 1,877,185 shares of Occidental Petroleum stock. The stock was bought at an average cost of $58.65 per share, with a total value of $110,096,900.25.

On Wednesday, March 15th, Berkshire Hathaway Inc bought 1,518,001 shares of Occidental Petroleum stock. The stock was bought at an average cost of $56.70 per share, with a total value of $86,070,656.70.

On Monday, March 13th, Berkshire Hathaway Inc purchased 3,145,896 shares of Occidental Petroleum stock. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $59.17 per share, for a total transaction of $186,142,666.32.

On Monday, March 6th, Berkshire Hathaway Inc purchased 1,678,017 shares of Occidental Petroleum stock. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $61.56 per share, for a total transaction of $103,298,726.52.

On Friday, March 3rd, Berkshire Hathaway Inc purchased 2,363,088 shares of Occidental Petroleum stock. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $60.85 per share, for a total transaction of $143,793,904.80.

Occidental Petroleum Stock Performance

Occidental Petroleum stock traded up $0.43 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $58.52. The company had a trading volume of 9,098,602 shares, compared to its average volume of 12,861,724. The firm has a market cap of $52.18 billion, a PE ratio of 6.70, a PEG ratio of 0.46 and a beta of 1.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 1.15 and a quick ratio of 0.88. Occidental Petroleum Co. has a one year low of $54.30 and a one year high of $77.13. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $61.02 and a 200 day moving average of $63.94.

Occidental Petroleum Dividend Announcement

Occidental Petroleum ( NYSE:OXY Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, May 9th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.09 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.30 by ($0.21). Occidental Petroleum had a return on equity of 52.68% and a net margin of 35.87%. The business had revenue of $7.23 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.37 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.12 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 15.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Occidental Petroleum Co. will post 5.81 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 9th will be given a dividend of $0.18 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 8th. This represents a $0.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.23%. Occidental Petroleums payout ratio is presently 8.25%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have commented on OXY. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on shares of Occidental Petroleum from $68.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, April 21st. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on shares of Occidental Petroleum from $64.00 to $65.00 in a research report on Friday, April 7th. StockNews.com cut shares of Occidental Petroleum from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Thursday. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on shares of Occidental Petroleum from $62.00 to $63.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. Finally, UBS Group began coverage on shares of Occidental Petroleum in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. They issued a neutral rating and a $68.00 target price on the stock. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $72.83.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Orion Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Occidental Petroleum during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Wolff Wiese Magana LLC boosted its position in shares of Occidental Petroleum by 5,000.0% during the 1st quarter. Wolff Wiese Magana LLC now owns 510 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 500 shares in the last quarter. Hanseatic Management Services Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Occidental Petroleum during the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,000. Cyrus J. Lawrence LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Occidental Petroleum during the 1st quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, Resurgent Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Occidental Petroleum during the 4th quarter worth approximately $35,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.45% of the companys stock.

About Occidental Petroleum

(Get Rating)

Occidental Petroleum Corp. engages in the exploration and production of oil and natural gas. It operates through the following segments: Oil and Gas, Chemical, and Midstream and Marketing. The Oil and Gas segment explores for, develops and produces oil and condensate, natural gas liquids and natural gas.

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The possible construction of a new public works facility in Silver Spring Township raised questions from residents about costs, the layout of the facility and township transparency.

The Silver Spring Township Board of Supervisors held a special meeting last week to provide an update about the possible project, which could be constructed on a 49-acre plot of township-owned land along Woods Drive.

A new public works facility could serve as phase one of a larger project that could involve construction of a municipal complex, with subsequent phases to add a police station, administration building, community space and public safety center, according to a feasibility study presented in September. The study was conducted by representatives from Alloy5 Architecture, a Bethlehem-based company the township selected to design the project and oversee bidding.

Township Manager Ray Palmer said if Silver Spring moves forward with any of the phases, each would be considered an independent project.

Project update

A new public works facility could offer 71,529 square feet of space, down 7.9% since Septembers feasibility study.

The change came as Alloy5 Architecture representatives did a deeper dive into the public works departments needs, Senior Designer Bill Deegan of Alloy5 Architecture said.

Master plans really are living documents, he said. So you can see that there were some slight changes in the master plan just over a couple of months.

In addition to a building, the facility could include a salt shed, material handling yards, fuel stations and compost center.

Another update on the project could take place around the fall, with possible construction to begin late this year or early next year. Deegan estimated the projects completion, if it moves forward, would be summer or fall 2025.

A public works need

Palmer said the townships need for a new public works facility has been discussed for decades.

As one of the fastest-growing townships in Cumberland County, Silver Spring Townships population increased from 10,592 people in 2010 to 19,557 people in 2020 and experienced a 303% growth rate over the past 60 years, according to the feasibility study.

Deegan said the township has outgrown its public works facilities and has no room for expansion in its current location.

As the equipment has grown, the building has not, he said.

The existing facilities offer 12,266 square feet of space, according to the study.

Palmer said the department also uses three satellite locations outside the borough to store equipment, which makes gathering the equipment to complete a task inefficient. The storage itself also comes at a price, and township employees use additional gas to drive to each location and get materials they need before heading to the job site, he said.

Even with the additional space, Palmer said not all of the townships equipment is able to be covered.

So when it rains, it snows, [or] its 100 degrees out, some of that equipment for 52 weeks is not completely covered and is not able to be covered, he said.

This can shorten the life of equipment.

It is a struggle to see the investment that our board has made in all of our assets, and is always wanting us to have the best equipment, to see that assets life be diminished dramatically, Palmer said. It is a time for us to ... put ourselves in a place that when we make those investments, we protect those investments.

Project costs and layout

While final costs could be determined during bidding, a new public works facility is estimated to cost between $31.6 million and $35.5 million, a total Deegan said has decreased by about $1 million on either end since the feasibility study.

Residents about about how the cost for a new public works facility, and possibly subsequent project phases, might be covered.

Palmer cited four potential funding sources: the sale of the current building, grants, the townships capital and building funds and bonds.

Township Supervisor David Lenker said the most pressing need the township faces is providing a facility for the public works department, but hes not interested in a community center.

Its easy to spend when you dont own real estate in the township, its easy to spend when you dont pay property taxes and its easy to spend when you leave here at the end of the day and you have no ties to this community, he said. Ive known people here my whole life.

Lenker also highlighted the difference between wants and needs and emphasized the value of building the public works facility properly.

I think you build what you need, and Im not saying you build the cheapest thing, but you build what you need and do it in a fiscally prudent way, he said.

The facilitys design also was a focus of discussion.

Township resident Debra Wiest, who owns a home beside where the facilities could be constructed, was concerned about being so close to a compost center and how the potential future inclusion of a police station and other facilities in the space might impact noise in the area.

Deegan said there could be fencing and heavy landscaping to help separate the site from her house.

Several residents and township officials were in favor of exploring a design that flipped the location of the public works facility and compost center with the other potential facilities that could be added later, an option that Deegan agreed to examine.

Lenker said its not the end of the world if the project timeline is pushed back.

I think the main thing we got to do with the current economic situation ... and peoples concern, is make sure what we do is whats right for the township residents and whats best for the township operations and if it means pushing that six months or whatever, we do whats right for the organization as a whole, he said.

Township transparency

In addition to questions about the public works project, residents also called for more transparency at the meeting Wednesday, saying previous meeting agendas have not contained detailed information about the project, and information about it seems to have been absent from past newsletters.

I just think that the public needs to know about this, and I just feel that we need more transparency in our township, resident Kathi Pifer said. They did have one meeting last year but ... its not publicized enough for everybody to know about it, and it seemed like it was pretty far into the process.

Several township supervisors, too, called for more transparency.

Palmer said the township plans to include information about the project on its website and in its next newsletter and intends to hold more meetings about the project as changes occur to keep residents informed.

I think they will be addressed, Pifer said of her transparency concerns. I hope they will be addressed, I should put it that way, and I hope that they dont move forward as quickly as they want to.

Photos: Firefighter training in Silver Spring Township
Brookfield Renewable Co. (NYSE:BEPC  Get Rating) saw a large decrease in short interest during the month of April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 3,480,000 shares, a decrease of 16.9% from the April 15th total of 4,190,000 shares. Approximately 2.0% of the companys stock are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 640,200 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 5.4 days.

Institutional Trading of Brookfield Renewable

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. First Trust Advisors LP lifted its stake in shares of Brookfield Renewable by 245.8% in the 1st quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 301,482 shares of the companys stock worth $10,537,000 after purchasing an additional 214,295 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Brookfield Renewable by 4.6% in the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,012,622 shares of the companys stock worth $35,315,000 after purchasing an additional 44,542 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Brookfield Renewable by 4.5% in the 1st quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 26,841 shares of the companys stock worth $938,000 after purchasing an additional 1,156 shares during the period. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership lifted its stake in shares of Brookfield Renewable by 7.1% in the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 994,338 shares of the companys stock worth $34,762,000 after purchasing an additional 65,846 shares during the period. Finally, ArrowMark Colorado Holdings LLC raised its stake in Brookfield Renewable by 15.5% during the 1st quarter. ArrowMark Colorado Holdings LLC now owns 356,800 shares of the companys stock worth $12,470,000 after acquiring an additional 48,000 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.12% of the companys stock.

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Brookfield Renewable Stock Down 2.0 %

BEPC stock traded down $0.73 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $35.05. 102,161 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 629,972. Brookfield Renewable has a 1 year low of $27.19 and a 1 year high of $42.97. The firms 50 day moving average is $32.93 and its two-hundred day moving average is $31.22. The stock has a market cap of $6.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -67.51 and a beta of 1.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 0.47 and a quick ratio of 0.47.

Brookfield Renewable Dividend Announcement

About Brookfield Renewable

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Investors of record on Wednesday, May 31st will be given a dividend of $0.338 per share. This represents a $1.35 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.86%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, May 30th. Brookfield Renewables dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -254.72%.

(Get Rating)

Brookfield Renewable Corporation owns and operates a portfolio of renewable energy power generating facilities primarily in the United States, Europe, Colombia, and Brazil. It operates hydroelectric, wind, and solar power plants with an installed capacity of approximately 12,723 megawatts. The company was incorporated in 2019 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

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Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. increased its stake in shares of McKesson Co. (NYSE:MCK  Get Rating) by 11.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,895 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.s holdings in McKesson were worth $711,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company raised its position in shares of McKesson by 13.1% during the third quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 1,186,592 shares of the companys stock worth $403,287,000 after acquiring an additional 137,396 shares during the last quarter. WCM Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of McKesson by 6.1% in the 4th quarter. WCM Investment Management LLC now owns 938,931 shares of the companys stock valued at $352,212,000 after purchasing an additional 54,048 shares during the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership grew its position in shares of McKesson by 53.8% during the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 915,949 shares of the companys stock worth $280,399,000 after buying an additional 320,588 shares during the period. Fred Alger Management LLC raised its position in shares of McKesson by 11.6% during the 3rd quarter. Fred Alger Management LLC now owns 823,327 shares of the companys stock valued at $279,824,000 after acquiring an additional 85,272 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Nordea Investment Management AB lifted its stake in shares of McKesson by 4.0% in the 4th quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 666,763 shares of the companys stock valued at $249,276,000 after purchasing an additional 25,880 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.23% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity at McKesson

In related news, CEO Brian S. Tyler sold 18,542 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $386.04, for a total transaction of $7,157,953.68. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 75,737 shares of the companys stock, valued at $29,237,511.48. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. 0.21% of the stock is owned by insiders.

McKesson Trading Up 0.3 %

Shares of NYSE MCK opened at $391.15 on Tuesday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $358.36 and a 200 day moving average price of $368.49. The firm has a market cap of $53.04 billion, a PE ratio of 15.58, a PEG ratio of 1.34 and a beta of 0.58. McKesson Co. has a 1-year low of $298.69 and a 1-year high of $401.78.

McKesson (NYSE:MCK  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 8th. The company reported $7.19 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $7.16 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $68.91 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $67.94 billion. McKesson had a negative return on equity of 216.12% and a net margin of 1.15%. McKessons revenue for the quarter was up 4.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $5.83 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that McKesson Co. will post 25.94 EPS for the current year.

McKesson Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 3rd. Investors of record on Thursday, June 1st will be issued a dividend of $0.54 per share. This represents a $2.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.55%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 31st. McKessons payout ratio is 8.60%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages recently commented on MCK. Citigroup assumed coverage on McKesson in a research note on Friday, March 31st. They set a buy rating and a $420.00 price objective for the company. Barclays upped their price target on McKesson from $415.00 to $420.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 9th. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on shares of McKesson from $450.00 to $475.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 9th. Credit Suisse Group upped their target price on shares of McKesson from $430.00 to $450.00 in a research note on Friday. Finally, UBS Group cut their target price on shares of McKesson from $450.00 to $440.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 31st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, McKesson has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $430.17.

McKesson Profile

(Get Rating)

McKesson Corp. engages in the provision of supply chain management solutions, retail pharmacy, community oncology and specialty care, and healthcare information technology. It operates through the following segments: U.S. Pharmaceutical, International, Medical-Surgical Solutions, and Prescription Technology Solutions (RxTS).

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Cano Health (NYSE:CANO  Get Rating) had its target price lowered by Citigroup from $5.00 to $4.00 in a report issued on Friday morning, The Fly reports.

Cano Health Price Performance

NYSE:CANO opened at $1.27 on Friday. Cano Health has a 52 week low of $0.76 and a 52 week high of $9.75. The company has a quick ratio of 1.63, a current ratio of 1.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.06. The company has a market capitalization of $670.79 million, a P/E ratio of -1.28 and a beta of -0.02. The stocks fifty day moving average is $1.21 and its two-hundred day moving average is $1.52.

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Cano Health (NYSE:CANO  Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, March 1st. The company reported $0.18 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.10) by $0.28. Cano Health had a positive return on equity of 0.72% and a negative net margin of 7.57%. The company had revenue of $680.37 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $655.27 million. Equities analysts expect that Cano Health will post -0.3 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

In related news, CFO Brian D. Koppy sold 23,591 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, April 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1.27, for a total transaction of $29,960.57. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 802,570 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,019,263.90. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website . Insiders own 54.40% of the companys stock.

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of CANO. NewEdge Wealth LLC grew its stake in Cano Health by 11,402.9% during the 1st quarter. NewEdge Wealth LLC now owns 5,490,311 shares of the companys stock worth $4,996,000 after purchasing an additional 5,442,581 shares in the last quarter. Eagle Health Investments LP lifted its holdings in Cano Health by 1,847.9% during the 1st quarter. Eagle Health Investments LP now owns 4,290,901 shares of the companys stock worth $3,905,000 after buying an additional 4,070,617 shares during the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Cano Health by 133.8% during the 2nd quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 5,504,486 shares of the companys stock worth $24,109,000 after buying an additional 3,149,952 shares during the last quarter. Armistice Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Cano Health during the 4th quarter worth about $3,661,000. Finally, Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Cano Health during the 4th quarter worth about $3,620,000. 25.56% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Cano Health Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Cano Health, Inc provides primary care medical services to its members in the United States and Puerto Rico. It owns and operates medical centers enabled by CanoPanorama, a proprietary population health management technology-powered platform that provides the healthcare providers at its medical centers with a 360-degree view of their members with actionable insights to improve care decisions and member engagement.

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The Chiba Bank, Ltd. (OTCMKTS:CHBAY  Get Rating) hit a new 52-week high during trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $37.38 and last traded at $37.38, with a volume of 0 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $37.38.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, Daiwa Capital Markets cut shares of Chiba Bank from an outperform rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th.

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Chiba Bank Stock Performance

The companys fifty day simple moving average is $37.38 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $33.19.

Chiba Bank Company Profile

The Chiba Bank, Ltd. engages in the business of banking services. The company offers general banking services including deposits, loans, domestic and foreign exchange transactions; and financial services such as leasing, securities brokerage, credit cards and others. It also develops software; and provides business management and staffing services.

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Cibc World Markets Corp raised its holdings in The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV  Get Rating) by 22.9% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 77,523 shares of the insurance providers stock after acquiring an additional 14,455 shares during the quarter. Cibc World Markets Corps holdings in Travelers Companies were worth $14,535,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Summit Global Investments grew its position in Travelers Companies by 2.3% in the 4th quarter. Summit Global Investments now owns 2,365 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $443,000 after acquiring an additional 54 shares during the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Travelers Companies by 1.9% in the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 3,074 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $562,000 after buying an additional 58 shares during the period. Evermay Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Travelers Companies by 3.0% during the 3rd quarter. Evermay Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,050 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $314,000 after purchasing an additional 60 shares during the last quarter. SlateStone Wealth LLC lifted its stake in shares of Travelers Companies by 2.9% during the 3rd quarter. SlateStone Wealth LLC now owns 2,148 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $329,000 after purchasing an additional 61 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Virtus ETF Advisers LLC raised its stake in Travelers Companies by 1.4% in the third quarter. Virtus ETF Advisers LLC now owns 4,332 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $664,000 after buying an additional 61 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 81.59% of the companys stock.

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Travelers Companies Trading Up 0.4 %

NYSE:TRV opened at $182.81 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $42.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.58, a PEG ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.60. The company has a current ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 0.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $174.60 and its 200-day simple moving average is $182.28. The Travelers Companies, Inc. has a 12-month low of $149.65 and a 12-month high of $194.51.

Travelers Companies Increases Dividend

Travelers Companies ( NYSE:TRV Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 19th. The insurance provider reported $4.11 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.64 by $0.47. Travelers Companies had a return on equity of 13.41% and a net margin of 7.41%. The firm had revenue of $9.70 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.98 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $4.22 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 10.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts anticipate that The Travelers Companies, Inc. will post 14.31 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 9th will be given a $1.00 dividend. This is an increase from Travelers Companiess previous quarterly dividend of $0.93. This represents a $4.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.19%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 8th. Travelers Companiess dividend payout ratio is currently 34.10%.

Travelers Companies announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase program on Wednesday, April 19th that authorizes the company to buyback $5.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the insurance provider to purchase up to 12.2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are often a sign that the companys management believes its shares are undervalued.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Citigroup increased their price objective on Travelers Companies from $182.00 to $186.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, April 21st. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their target price on Travelers Companies from $188.00 to $182.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 10th. Piper Sandler raised their price objective on Travelers Companies from $196.00 to $204.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, April 4th. Roth Capital reissued a buy rating on shares of Travelers Companies in a report on Friday, April 21st. Finally, Barclays raised their target price on Travelers Companies from $179.00 to $185.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $191.73.

Insider Activity

In other Travelers Companies news, EVP Gregory C. Toczydlowski sold 5,420 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $184.19, for a total transaction of $998,309.80. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 18,416 shares in the company, valued at $3,392,043.04. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, EVP Gregory C. Toczydlowski sold 5,420 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $184.19, for a total value of $998,309.80. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 18,416 shares in the company, valued at $3,392,043.04. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Andy F. Bessette sold 11,572 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $178.14, for a total value of $2,061,436.08. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 17,361 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,092,688.54. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 64,554 shares of company stock worth $11,615,776 over the last three months. 1.29% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

About Travelers Companies

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The Travelers Cos., Inc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of commercial and personal property and casualty insurance products and services. It operates through the following business segments: Business Insurance, Bond and Specialty Insurance, and Personal Insurance. The Business Insurance segment provides an array of property and casualty insurance, and insurance related services to its customers primarily in the U.S., as well as in Canada, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and throughout other parts of the world as a corporate member of Lloyds.

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Clough Global Opportunities Fund (NYSEAMERICAN:GLO  Get Rating) announced a monthly dividend on Wednesday, April 12th, Wall Street Journal reports. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 19th will be given a dividend of 0.0483 per share by the investment management company on Wednesday, May 31st. This represents a $0.58 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 12.20%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 18th.

Clough Global Opportunities Fund has raised its dividend by an average of 2.5% annually over the last three years.

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Clough Global Opportunities Fund Price Performance

Shares of NYSEAMERICAN:GLO opened at $4.75 on Tuesday. Clough Global Opportunities Fund has a 12-month low of $4.55 and a 12-month high of $8.28.

Insider Buying and Selling

Institutional Trading of Clough Global Opportunities Fund

In other Clough Global Opportunities Fund news, insider Charles Clough, Jr. purchased 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 10th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $4.75 per share, with a total value of $47,500.00. Following the acquisition, the insider now owns 235,445 shares in the company, valued at $1,118,363.75. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website . In the last three months, insiders have acquired 25,000 shares of company stock valued at $119,500.

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Bank of Montreal Can bought a new position in shares of Clough Global Opportunities Fund during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $507,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC grew its position in Clough Global Opportunities Fund by 34.5% in the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 44,951 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $423,000 after acquiring an additional 11,540 shares during the last quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. grew its position in Clough Global Opportunities Fund by 96.3% in the 1st quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. now owns 259,182 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $2,439,000 after acquiring an additional 127,121 shares during the last quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC grew its position in shares of Clough Global Opportunities Fund by 10.2% during the 1st quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC now owns 203,063 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $1,911,000 after buying an additional 18,726 shares in the last quarter. Finally, LPL Financial LLC grew its position in shares of Clough Global Opportunities Fund by 9.9% during the 2nd quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 14,833 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $109,000 after buying an additional 1,333 shares in the last quarter.

About Clough Global Opportunities Fund

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Clough Global Opportunities Fund is a closed ended balanced mutual fund launched and managed by Clough Capital Partners L.P. It invests in public equity and fixed income markets across the globe. The fund invests in securities of companies operating across diversified sectors. For its fixed income portion, the fund invests in both investment grade and non-investment grade issues.

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Trust Co. of Vermont lessened its position in shares of Eversource Energy (NYSE:ES  Get Rating) by 14.7% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 3,269 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 562 shares during the period. Trust Co. of Vermonts holdings in Eversource Energy were worth $274,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in ES. Mascoma Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Eversource Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Piershale Financial Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Eversource Energy in the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Eversource Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at $35,000. CI Investments Inc. grew its position in shares of Eversource Energy by 983.3% in the 3rd quarter. CI Investments Inc. now owns 455 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 413 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Tortoise Investment Management LLC grew its position in shares of Eversource Energy by 25.9% in the 3rd quarter. Tortoise Investment Management LLC now owns 685 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $53,000 after buying an additional 141 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.37% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms recently commented on ES. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on shares of Eversource Energy from $82.00 to $86.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on shares of Eversource Energy from $99.00 to $94.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 15th. Argus lowered their price objective on shares of Eversource Energy from $95.00 to $85.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. Guggenheim reissued a buy rating on shares of Eversource Energy in a research report on Tuesday, March 21st. Finally, BMO Capital Markets raised their price objective on shares of Eversource Energy from $86.00 to $89.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Friday, April 14th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Eversource Energy presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $87.58.

Insider Transactions at Eversource Energy

Eversource Energy Stock Performance

In other news, insider Frederica M. Williams sold 1,943 shares of Eversource Energy stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $78.83, for a total transaction of $153,166.69. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 20,763 shares in the company, valued at $1,636,747.29. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link . Insiders own 0.38% of the companys stock.

Shares of ES opened at $76.84 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31. The stock has a market cap of $26.81 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.43, a PEG ratio of 2.78 and a beta of 0.46. The company has a 50-day moving average of $77.27 and a two-hundred day moving average of $79.68. Eversource Energy has a 12-month low of $70.54 and a 12-month high of $94.41.

Eversource Energy (NYSE:ES  Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, May 3rd. The utilities provider reported $1.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.34 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $3.80 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.24 billion. Eversource Energy had a net margin of 11.52% and a return on equity of 9.51%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 9.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.30 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts predict that Eversource Energy will post 4.36 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Eversource Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 18th will be issued a dividend of $0.675 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, May 17th. This represents a $2.70 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.51%. Eversource Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 64.75%.

About Eversource Energy

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Eversource Energy engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of natural gas and electricity. It operates through the following segments: Electric Distribution, Electric Transmission, Natural Gas Distribution and Water Distribution. The Electric Distribution segment distributes electricity to retail customers.

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FIBRA Prologis (OTCMKTS:FBBPF  Get Rating) was the target of a significant drop in short interest in April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 3,226,300 shares, a drop of 21.1% from the April 15th total of 4,089,600 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 18,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 179.2 days.

FIBRA Prologis Trading Up 0.6 %

Shares of FIBRA Prologis stock traded up $0.02 on Monday, hitting $3.31. The company had a trading volume of 5,254 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,953. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $3.51 and a 200-day simple moving average of $3.19. FIBRA Prologis has a 52 week low of $2.24 and a 52 week high of $3.83.

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About FIBRA Prologis

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Prologis Property Mexico SA de CV is a real estate company. It is engaged in the real estate investment trusts and administration of Class A logistics properties in Mexico. The firm operates through the following geographical segments: Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Tijuana, Reynosa, and Juarez.

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Canadian Critical Minerals (OTCMKTS:RIINF  Get Rating) and Idaho Strategic Resources (NYSEAMERICAN:IDR  Get Rating) are both small-cap basic materials companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, dividends, risk, earnings, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations and valuation.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Canadian Critical Minerals and Idaho Strategic Resources top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Canadian Critical Minerals $100,000.00 69.30 -$3.46 million N/A N/A Idaho Strategic Resources $9.58 million 7.04 -$2.54 million (0.22) (($0.24)) -25.00

Idaho Strategic Resources has higher revenue and earnings than Canadian Critical Minerals.

Profitability

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Canadian Critical Minerals N/A -7.48% -3.65% Idaho Strategic Resources -26.47% -14.48% -12.17%

Analyst Ratings

This table compares Canadian Critical Minerals and Idaho Strategic Resources net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

This is a summary of current ratings and recommmendations for Canadian Critical Minerals and Idaho Strategic Resources, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Canadian Critical Minerals 0 0 0 0 N/A Idaho Strategic Resources 0 0 1 0 3.00

Institutional and Insider Ownership

8.7% of Idaho Strategic Resources shares are owned by institutional investors. 12.6% of Idaho Strategic Resources shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Risk & Volatility

Canadian Critical Minerals has a beta of 0.76, meaning that its share price is 24% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Idaho Strategic Resources has a beta of 0.56, meaning that its share price is 44% less volatile than the S&P 500.

About Canadian Critical Minerals

(Get Rating)

Canadian Critical Minerals, Inc. engages in the exploration, acquisition, and development of mineral properties throughout Canada. It focuses on Bull River Mine, Thierry, and Alpine property. The company was founded on October 13, 2009 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

About Idaho Strategic Resources

(Get Rating)

Idaho Strategic Resources, Inc. engages in the exploration and development of gold, silver and base metal deposits. It has a portfolio of mineral properties namely: Golden Chest Mine, Murray Gold Belt, Butte Highlands and Central Idaho. The company was founded by Grant Brackebusch on July 18, 1996 and is headquartered in Coeur dAlene, ID.

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Great Lakes Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Raytheon Technologies Co. (NYSE:RTX  Get Rating) by 31.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 41,790 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 9,996 shares during the quarter. Great Lakes Advisors LLCs holdings in Raytheon Technologies were worth $4,217,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Raytheon Technologies by 0.6% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 123,174,905 shares of the companys stock worth $10,083,098,000 after buying an additional 760,968 shares during the period. Capital World Investors lifted its position in shares of Raytheon Technologies by 32.8% during the 1st quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 9,130,557 shares of the companys stock worth $904,564,000 after buying an additional 2,256,475 shares during the period. Alliancebernstein L.P. lifted its position in shares of Raytheon Technologies by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 9,102,540 shares of the companys stock worth $745,134,000 after buying an additional 42,111 shares during the period. Fisher Asset Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Raytheon Technologies by 2.8% during the 4th quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 8,812,201 shares of the companys stock worth $889,327,000 after buying an additional 237,021 shares during the period. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lifted its position in shares of Raytheon Technologies by 4.7% during the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 6,575,791 shares of the companys stock worth $651,464,000 after buying an additional 294,366 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 78.83% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Raytheon Technologies

In other Raytheon Technologies news, VP Amy L. Johnson sold 3,622 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $98.55, for a total value of $356,948.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 4,061 shares of the companys stock, valued at $400,211.55. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.11% of the companys stock.

Raytheon Technologies Stock Up 0.7 %

Shares of Raytheon Technologies stock opened at $96.70 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. Raytheon Technologies Co. has a 12 month low of $80.27 and a 12 month high of $108.84. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $98.53 and a 200 day simple moving average of $98.42. The stock has a market cap of $141.29 billion, a PE ratio of 25.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.29 and a beta of 0.99.

Raytheon Technologies (NYSE:RTX  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 25th. The company reported $1.22 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.13 by $0.09. Raytheon Technologies had a return on equity of 9.81% and a net margin of 8.08%. The business had revenue of $17.21 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $16.98 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.15 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 9.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts predict that Raytheon Technologies Co. will post 5.05 EPS for the current year.

Raytheon Technologies Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 15th. Investors of record on Friday, May 19th will be paid a dividend of $0.59 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 18th. This is a boost from Raytheon Technologiess previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. This represents a $2.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.44%. Raytheon Technologiess payout ratio is 62.93%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have issued reports on RTX. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on Raytheon Technologies from $119.00 to $115.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 19th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective on Raytheon Technologies from $107.00 to $110.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 25th. Credit Suisse Group lifted their price objective on Raytheon Technologies from $103.00 to $106.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 25th. Citigroup lifted their price objective on Raytheon Technologies from $106.00 to $113.50 in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Finally, Susquehanna lifted their price objective on Raytheon Technologies from $116.00 to $117.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $111.88.

Raytheon Technologies Company Profile

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Raytheon Technologies Corp. is an aerospace and defense company, which engages in the provision of aerospace and defense systems and services for commercial, military, and government customers. It operates through the following segments: Collins Aerospace Systems (Collins), Pratt and Whitney, Raytheon Intelligence and Space (RIS), and Raytheon Missiles and Defense (RMD).

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding RTX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Raytheon Technologies Co. (NYSE:RTX  Get Rating).

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With in-person voting to take place from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, the Pennsylvania secretary of state is reminding registered voters about their rights at the polls.

All Pennsylvania voters can find a wealth of information about their rights on our vote.pa.gov website, Al Schmidt said. Every voter should be well informed about how to exercise their right to vote.

Here is a look at some of the voting rights tips provided by the department:

Only first-time voters are required to show ID, which could be either a photo ID or acceptable nonphoto ID. Voters can leave and return with an ID or can vote by provisional ballot.

Voters who applied for and received a mail-in ballot but did not return it, can bring the ballot to the polls, including the outer return envelope, so that it can be voided and the voter can vote in person.

Voters who applied and received but do not have the mail-in ballot can vote by provisional ballot, and the county board of elections will then make the determination if the ballot can be counted.

Those who applied but did not receive a mail-in ballot can vote by provisional ballot at the polls.

If a voters name is not in the poll book, poll workers can call the board of elections to see if the voter is registered in another precinct, or they can vote by provisional ballot if the voter believes they are registered there.

Voters who moved but did not update their address in time before the election may vote one more time in their previous precinct but must update their address at the polling place.

If a voter is challenged based on their identity or residency, the voter can vote normally by signing a challenge affidavit and producing a witness who is also a registered voter in that precinct to vouch for them. If the voter does not have a witness, the voter can cast a provisional ballot. Identity and residency are the only bases for challenging a voter at a polling place.

Voters have the right to assistance, including foreign language or literacy assistance, at the polling place. A voter may be accompanied by someone as long as the person is not their employer, union representative or judge of elections.

Voters have the right to refuse assistance.

Voters cannot be subjected to intimidation, harassment or discriminatory conduct. Someone who experiences any of these should report it to the judge of elections at the polling place, their county board of elections, the county district attorneys office or the Department of States voter hotline at 1-877-868-3772.

Those voting by mail-in ballot can still drop those ballots off at the Cumberland County Board of Elections at Suite 201, 1601 Ritner Highway, Carlisle before 8 p.m. Tuesday. A postmark by that time will not count, and voters should make sure to sign them and write the current date on the outer envelope.
Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC increased its position in shares of KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE:KKR  Get Rating) by 3.3% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 24,182 shares of the asset managers stock after acquiring an additional 769 shares during the quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLCs holdings in KKR & Co. Inc. were worth $1,425,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of KKR. MetLife Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in KKR & Co. Inc. during the first quarter worth about $650,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its position in shares of KKR & Co. Inc. by 0.5% during the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,357,303 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $79,368,000 after acquiring an additional 7,332 shares during the last quarter. Prudential PLC acquired a new stake in shares of KKR & Co. Inc. during the first quarter valued at about $699,000. Cetera Investment Advisers increased its position in shares of KKR & Co. Inc. by 11.9% during the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 16,890 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $988,000 after acquiring an additional 1,795 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Moors & Cabot Inc. increased its position in shares of KKR & Co. Inc. by 25.6% during the first quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 12,666 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $741,000 after acquiring an additional 2,582 shares during the last quarter. 53.85% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other KKR & Co. Inc. news, insider David Sorkin sold 40,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $55.44, for a total transaction of $2,217,600.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 1,434,144 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $79,508,943.36. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other KKR & Co. Inc. news, major shareholder Kkr Group Partnership L.P. sold 7,600,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $38.83, for a total transaction of $295,108,000.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 37 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,436.71. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider David Sorkin sold 40,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $55.44, for a total transaction of $2,217,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 1,434,144 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $79,508,943.36. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 39.34% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

KKR & Co. Inc. Trading Up 1.3 %

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of KKR & Co. Inc. in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a sell rating for the company. Oppenheimer lifted their price objective on shares of KKR & Co. Inc. from $80.00 to $81.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, April 13th. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on shares of KKR & Co. Inc. from $60.00 to $57.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. Argus dropped their price objective on shares of KKR & Co. Inc. from $74.00 to $64.00 in a report on Thursday, May 11th. Finally, Bank of America dropped their price objective on shares of KKR & Co. Inc. from $70.00 to $67.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 5th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $65.12.

NYSE KKR opened at $49.11 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 0.09 and a quick ratio of 0.09. The firms fifty day moving average price is $51.10 and its 200 day moving average price is $51.85. The company has a market capitalization of $42.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -55.81, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.26 and a beta of 1.53. KKR & Co. Inc. has a 12 month low of $41.77 and a 12 month high of $60.53.

KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE:KKR  Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Monday, May 8th. The asset manager reported $0.81 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.74 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $3.13 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.23 billion. KKR & Co. Inc. had a negative net margin of 5.67% and a positive return on equity of 4.97%. The companys revenue was up 212.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.10 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that KKR & Co. Inc. will post 3.29 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

KKR & Co. Inc. Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 6th. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 22nd will be given a dividend of $0.165 per share. This is an increase from KKR & Co. Inc.s previous quarterly dividend of $0.16. This represents a $0.66 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.34%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 19th. KKR & Co. Inc.s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -75.00%.

KKR & Co. Inc. Company Profile

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KKR & Co, Inc engages in the provision of investment and private equity asset management services. The firm manages investments across multiple asset classes including private equity, energy, infrastructure, real estate, credit, and hedge funds. It operates through the Asset Management and Insurance segments.

Further Reading

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Shares of Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS  Get Rating) have been assigned a consensus rating of Moderate Buy from the seventeen analysts that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and thirteen have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $68.54.

LVS has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. TheStreet upgraded shares of Las Vegas Sands from a d+ rating to a c- rating in a research report on Monday, February 6th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $65.00 to $68.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. CBRE Group upgraded Las Vegas Sands from a hold rating to a buy rating and boosted their target price for the company from $47.00 to $68.00 in a research report on Thursday, January 26th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their target price on Las Vegas Sands from $66.00 to $73.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, Roth Mkm lifted their target price on Las Vegas Sands from $74.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th.

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Insider Activity

In related news, Director Charles D. Forman sold 15,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, April 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $63.17, for a total transaction of $947,550.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 205,984 shares in the company, valued at approximately $13,012,009.28. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.91% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Las Vegas Sands

Las Vegas Sands Price Performance

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Trustcore Financial Services LLC lifted its position in Las Vegas Sands by 242.7% during the third quarter. Trustcore Financial Services LLC now owns 706 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 500 shares during the last quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC acquired a new position in Las Vegas Sands during the 1st quarter valued at about $27,000. ZRC Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Las Vegas Sands during the 1st quarter valued at about $29,000. Mizuho Securities Co. Ltd. acquired a new position in Las Vegas Sands during the 3rd quarter valued at about $30,000. Finally, Retirement Group LLC acquired a new position in Las Vegas Sands during the 4th quarter valued at about $31,000. Institutional investors own 39.75% of the companys stock.

LVS stock opened at $59.95 on Tuesday. Las Vegas Sands has a 52 week low of $30.14 and a 52 week high of $65.58. The company has a quick ratio of 1.78, a current ratio of 1.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.65. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $58.48 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $53.14. The firm has a market capitalization of $45.82 billion, a P/E ratio of -83.26, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 7.36 and a beta of 1.16.

Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 19th. The casino operator reported $0.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.17 by $0.11. Las Vegas Sands had a negative return on equity of 10.21% and a negative net margin of 10.42%. The business had revenue of $2.12 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.83 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted ($0.40) earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 124.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that Las Vegas Sands will post 1.82 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

About Las Vegas Sands

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Las Vegas Sands Corp. engages in the development of destination properties. The firm operates through the Macao and Singapore geographical segments. The Macao segment handles the operations of The Venetian Macao, The Londoner Macao, The Parisian Macao, The Plaza Macao and Four Seasons Macao, and Sands Macao.

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Laurentian Bank of Canada (TSE:LB  Get Rating) had its price objective dropped by investment analysts at CIBC from C$40.00 to C$37.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Tuesday, BayStreet.CA reports. CIBCs target price points to a potential upside of 19.70% from the companys previous close.

Other research analysts also recently issued reports about the company. Barclays dropped their price target on Laurentian Bank of Canada from C$36.00 to C$34.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 9th. Cormark dropped their price target on Laurentian Bank of Canada from C$45.00 to C$42.00 in a research note on Wednesday, March 1st. CSFB dropped their price target on Laurentian Bank of Canada from C$35.00 to C$32.00 in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, Scotiabank dropped their price target on Laurentian Bank of Canada from C$39.00 to C$38.00 in a research note on Friday, February 17th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of C$39.82.

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Laurentian Bank of Canada Stock Performance

Shares of TSE LB traded down C$0.35 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting C$30.91. 53,112 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 149,874. Laurentian Bank of Canada has a 1 year low of C$28.23 and a 1 year high of C$43.32. The stock has a market capitalization of C$1.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 1.15. The firm has a fifty day moving average of C$31.87 and a 200 day moving average of C$32.96.

Laurentian Bank of Canada Company Profile

Laurentian Bank of Canada ( TSE:LB Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 28th. The company reported C$1.15 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of C$1.12 by C$0.03. The firm had revenue of C$260.07 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of C$259.00 million. Laurentian Bank of Canada had a net margin of 22.90% and a return on equity of 8.15%. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Laurentian Bank of Canada will post 4.8914373 earnings per share for the current year.

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Laurentian Bank of Canada, together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial services to personal, business, and institutional customers in Canada and the United States. It operates through three segments: Personal Banking, Commercial Banking, and Capital Markets. The Personal Banking segment offers financial services, such as financial advisory services to financial intermediaries; and operates digital direct-to-customer platform to retail clients.

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National Bank of Canada (TSE:NA  Get Rating) had its price target hoisted by stock analysts at CSFB from C$113.00 to C$116.00 in a report issued on Tuesday, BayStreet.CA reports. CSFBs price objective would indicate a potential upside of 13.40% from the companys previous close.

Several other equities analysts also recently weighed in on NA. CIBC lifted their price target on shares of National Bank of Canada from C$100.00 to C$112.00 in a report on Friday, February 17th. Canaccord Genuity Group lifted their price target on shares of National Bank of Canada from C$102.00 to C$104.50 in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. Scotiabank lowered their price target on shares of National Bank of Canada from C$115.00 to C$111.00 in a report on Friday, February 17th. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price target on shares of National Bank of Canada from C$111.00 to C$108.00 in a report on Monday, March 27th. Finally, Barclays lowered their target price on shares of National Bank of Canada from C$98.00 to C$82.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 9th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, National Bank of Canada presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of C$105.32.

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National Bank of Canada Trading Down 0.4 %

TSE NA traded down C$0.43 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting C$102.29. 306,380 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,555,493. The businesss fifty day moving average price is C$98.34 and its two-hundred day moving average price is C$97.29. The firm has a market capitalization of C$34.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.81, a P/E/G ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.10. National Bank of Canada has a 52 week low of C$82.16 and a 52 week high of C$104.83.

National Bank of Canada Company Profile

National Bank of Canada ( TSE:NA Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, March 1st. The financial services provider reported C$2.56 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of C$2.41 by C$0.15. The company had revenue of C$2.58 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of C$2.62 billion. National Bank of Canada had a net margin of 34.98% and a return on equity of 16.00%. On average, sell-side analysts expect that National Bank of Canada will post 9.8509804 EPS for the current fiscal year.

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National Bank of Canada provides various financial products and services to retail, commercial, corporate, and institutional clients in Canada and internationally. It operates through four segments: Personal and Commercial, Wealth Management, Financial Markets, and U.S. Specialty Finance and International.

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Newmont (NYSE:NEM  Get Rating) had its price target cut by investment analysts at Raymond James from $58.00 to $57.00 in a research report issued on Tuesday, BayStreet.CA reports. The firm currently has an outperform rating on the basic materials companys stock. Raymond James target price would indicate a potential upside of 21.79% from the stocks current price.

NEM has been the subject of a number of other reports. National Bank Financial lifted their price target on shares of Newmont from C$91.00 to C$94.00 in a research report on Tuesday, May 2nd. Canaccord Genuity Group upgraded shares of Newmont from a hold rating to a buy rating and lifted their price target for the company from $53.00 to $55.00 in a research report on Monday, March 13th. Fundamental Research set a $51.92 price objective on shares of Newmont and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, March 7th. BNP Paribas upgraded shares of Newmont from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $60.00 price objective for the company in a report on Monday, February 13th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Newmont in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $60.53.

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Newmont Price Performance

Shares of NEM stock opened at $46.80 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a current ratio of 2.38 and a quick ratio of 2.00. The firms 50-day moving average is $47.82 and its two-hundred day moving average is $47.64. Newmont has a 12 month low of $37.45 and a 12 month high of $70.16. The company has a market capitalization of $37.19 billion, a PE ratio of -71.35 and a beta of 0.33.

Insiders Place Their Bets

Newmont ( NYSE:NEM Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The basic materials company reported $0.40 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.33 by $0.07. Newmont had a negative net margin of 4.55% and a positive return on equity of 6.05%. The business had revenue of $2.68 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.70 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.69 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 11.4% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts predict that Newmont will post 2.28 earnings per share for the current year.

In other news, CEO Thomas Ronald Palmer sold 11,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $47.76, for a total transaction of $525,360.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 300,039 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,329,862.64. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, CEO Thomas Ronald Palmer sold 11,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, May 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $47.76, for a total transaction of $525,360.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 300,039 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,329,862.64. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, COO Robert D. Atkinson sold 3,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $44.25, for a total transaction of $132,750.00. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 87,751 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,882,981.75. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 42,000 shares of company stock worth $1,973,020 in the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 0.07% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Newmont

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Compass Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Newmont in the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC purchased a new position in shares of Newmont in the 1st quarter valued at about $26,000. Sittner & Nelson LLC increased its holdings in shares of Newmont by 177.5% in the 1st quarter. Sittner & Nelson LLC now owns 555 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 355 shares in the last quarter. Caldwell Sutter Capital Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Newmont in the 1st quarter valued at about $30,000. Finally, Quarry LP increased its holdings in shares of Newmont by 1,462.5% in the 1st quarter. Quarry LP now owns 625 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 585 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.60% of the companys stock.

About Newmont

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Newmont Corp. is a gold producer, engages in the exploration and acquisition of gold properties, contains copper, silver, lead, zinc or other metals. It operates through the following geographical segments: North America, South America, Nevada, Australia, and Africa. The North America segment consists primarily of carlin, phoenix, twin creeks and long canyon in the state of Nevada and Cripple Creek and Victor in the state of Colorado, in the United States.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Pan American Silver (NYSE:PAAS  Get Rating) (TSE:PAAS) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report released on Friday.

Several other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports on PAAS. National Bank Financial reissued an outperform spec overweight rating on shares of Pan American Silver in a research note on Tuesday, February 28th. TD Securities cut their target price on Pan American Silver from $23.00 to $22.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 24th. Finally, Scotiabank initiated coverage on Pan American Silver in a research note on Monday, April 3rd. They set an outperform rating for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $25.50.

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Pan American Silver Stock Performance

Shares of Pan American Silver stock opened at $16.62 on Friday. Pan American Silver has a one year low of $13.40 and a one year high of $24.21. The company has a market cap of $3.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -8.70 and a beta of 1.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a current ratio of 2.11. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $17.68 and its 200 day moving average price is $16.96.

Pan American Silver Dividend Announcement

Pan American Silver ( NYSE:PAAS Get Rating ) (TSE:PAAS) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 23rd. The basic materials company reported ($0.02) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.02 by ($0.04). Pan American Silver had a positive return on equity of 0.74% and a negative net margin of 22.82%. The company had revenue of $375.43 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $409.65 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.19 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 11.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts predict that Pan American Silver will post 0.54 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a None dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 12th. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 14th were paid a $0.10 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, April 13th. This represents a dividend yield of 2.2%. Pan American Silvers payout ratio is presently -27.23%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Captrust Financial Advisors grew its stake in Pan American Silver by 1,220.0% during the 2nd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 1,320 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 1,220 shares in the last quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. lifted its holdings in Pan American Silver by 2,892.0% during the 1st quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,496 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 1,446 shares during the last quarter. Sentry Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in Pan American Silver during the 3rd quarter worth about $37,000. Pacifica Partners Inc. lifted its holdings in Pan American Silver by 69.2% during the 1st quarter. Pacifica Partners Inc. now owns 2,343 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $45,000 after buying an additional 958 shares during the last quarter. Finally, U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Pan American Silver during the 4th quarter worth about $38,000. 44.11% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Pan American Silver

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Pan American Silver Corp. engages in the operation, development, and exploration of silver and gold producing properties and assets. It operates through the Silver and Gold segments. The company was founded by Ross J. Beaty and John H. Wright on March 17, 1979 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

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PerkinElmer (NYSE:PKI  Get Rating) had its target price reduced by Barclays from $140.00 to $125.00 in a research report released on Friday morning, The Fly reports.

Several other analysts have also weighed in on PKI. Credit Suisse Group restated a neutral rating and set a $160.00 price target on shares of PerkinElmer in a report on Wednesday, February 15th. Robert W. Baird reduced their price objective on shares of PerkinElmer from $185.00 to $182.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 15th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of PerkinElmer in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Finally, TheStreet upgraded PerkinElmer from a c+ rating to a b rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 14th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $158.60.

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PerkinElmer Trading Down 0.9 %

Shares of PKI stock opened at $115.24 on Friday. PerkinElmer has a 12-month low of $113.46 and a 12-month high of $170.00. The company has a current ratio of 2.13, a quick ratio of 1.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $128.46 and its 200-day moving average price is $133.45. The stock has a market capitalization of $14.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.01, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.55 and a beta of 1.10.

PerkinElmer Dividend Announcement

PerkinElmer ( NYSE:PKI Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 11th. The medical research company reported $1.01 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.07 by ($0.06). The company had revenue of $674.87 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $686.30 million. PerkinElmer had a return on equity of 13.94% and a net margin of 14.69%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.41 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that PerkinElmer will post 5.06 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 11th. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 21st will be paid a dividend of $0.07 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 20th. This represents a $0.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.24%. PerkinElmers dividend payout ratio is currently 3.65%.

Insider Activity at PerkinElmer

In related news, insider Maxwell Krakowiak sold 322 shares of PerkinElmer stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $130.00, for a total transaction of $41,860.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 7,202 shares of the companys stock, valued at $936,260. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other PerkinElmer news, insider Daniel R. Tereau sold 10,741 shares of PerkinElmer stock in a transaction on Monday, March 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $123.72, for a total value of $1,328,876.52. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 11,611 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,436,512.92. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Maxwell Krakowiak sold 322 shares of PerkinElmer stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $130.00, for a total transaction of $41,860.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 7,202 shares in the company, valued at $936,260. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 15,349 shares of company stock valued at $1,953,042 over the last ninety days. 0.52% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On PerkinElmer

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Meeder Advisory Services Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of PerkinElmer during the first quarter valued at $204,000. Lido Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in PerkinElmer in the first quarter valued at approximately $209,000. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC boosted its position in PerkinElmer by 153.9% in the first quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 12,042 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $1,605,000 after buying an additional 7,299 shares during the last quarter. Power Corp of Canada boosted its position in PerkinElmer by 104.5% in the first quarter. Power Corp of Canada now owns 34,152 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $4,357,000 after buying an additional 17,448 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Gotham Asset Management LLC boosted its position in PerkinElmer by 47.2% in the first quarter. Gotham Asset Management LLC now owns 47,388 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $6,315,000 after buying an additional 15,189 shares during the last quarter. 85.22% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About PerkinElmer

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PerkinElmer, Inc engages in the provision of products, services, and solutions for diagnostics, food, environmental, life sciences, and applied markets. It operates through the following segments: Discovery & Analytical Solutions and Diagnostics. The Discovery & Analytical Solutions segment consists of technologies that help life sciences researchers better understand diseases and develop treatments.

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H. Lundbeck A/S (OTCMKTS:HLUYY  Get Rating) and Purplebricks Group (OTCMKTS:PRPPF  Get Rating) are both medical companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, institutional ownership, valuation, risk, earnings, analyst recommendations and profitability.

Volatility and Risk

H. Lundbeck A/S has a beta of 0.68, suggesting that its share price is 32% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Purplebricks Group has a beta of 1.25, suggesting that its share price is 25% more volatile than the S&P 500.

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Earnings and Valuation

This table compares H. Lundbeck A/S and Purplebricks Groups gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio H. Lundbeck A/S $2.59 billion 8.45 $209.69 million $0.88 25.00 Purplebricks Group $95.12 million 0.08 -$57.06 million N/A N/A

Profitability

H. Lundbeck A/S has higher revenue and earnings than Purplebricks Group.

This table compares H. Lundbeck A/S and Purplebricks Groups net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets H. Lundbeck A/S 6.74% 13.74% 7.16% Purplebricks Group N/A N/A N/A

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for H. Lundbeck A/S and Purplebricks Group, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score H. Lundbeck A/S 0 4 1 0 2.20 Purplebricks Group 0 1 0 0 2.00

H. Lundbeck A/S currently has a consensus price target of $36.50, suggesting a potential upside of 65.91%. Given H. Lundbeck A/Ss stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, research analysts clearly believe H. Lundbeck A/S is more favorable than Purplebricks Group.

Summary

H. Lundbeck A/S beats Purplebricks Group on 9 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks.

About H. Lundbeck A/S

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H. Lundbeck A/S, a biopharmaceutical company, engages in the research, development, production, and sale of pharmaceuticals for the treatment of psychiatric and neurological disorders in Europe, North America, and internationally. The company's principal products include Abilify Maintena for schizophrenia; Brintellix/Trintellix to treat depression; Northera for the treatment of symptomatic neurogenic orthostatic hypotension; Vyepti for migraine prevention; and Rexulti/Rxulti to treat depression/schizophrenia. It also provides Azilect for treating Parkinson's disease; Cipralex/Lexapro for depression; Ebixa to treat Alzheimer's disease; Onfi for Lennox-Gastaut syndrome; Sabril for treating epilepsy; and Xenazine for chorea associated with Huntington's disease, as well as other products. The company sells its products primarily to distributors of pharmaceuticals, pharmacies, and hospitals. It has a partnership agreement with Verantos to focus on a study to enable real-world evidence in support of migraine therapy; and collaboration with Rgenta Therapeutics, Inc. The company was founded in 1915 and is headquartered in Valby, Denmark.

About Purplebricks Group

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Purplebricks Group plc engages in the real estate agency business in the United Kingdom. The company provides services and technology to sell or let residential properties in the United Kingdom on behalf of the owner or landlord. It also engages in the letting of residential properties; and the provision of mortgage advisory services. The company offers its services under the Purplebricks brand name. Purplebricks Group plc was incorporated in 2012 and is based in Solihull, the United Kingdom.

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Centerspace (NYSE:CSR  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 292,600 shares, a growth of 12.1% from the April 15th total of 261,100 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 88,100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 3.3 days.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Mark Okey Decker, Jr. acquired 1,000 shares of Centerspace stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 5th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $58.85 per share, with a total value of $58,850.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 54,252 shares in the company, valued at $3,192,730.20. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.86% of the companys stock.

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Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of CSR. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its stake in shares of Centerspace by 27.8% in the first quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 1,180,660 shares of the companys stock worth $115,846,000 after purchasing an additional 257,030 shares during the period. Heitman Real Estate Securities LLC grew its holdings in Centerspace by 56.3% in the 1st quarter. Heitman Real Estate Securities LLC now owns 471,557 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,761,000 after buying an additional 169,783 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in Centerspace in the 4th quarter worth approximately $8,194,000. State Street Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Centerspace by 15.6% during the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 887,776 shares of the companys stock worth $87,742,000 after buying an additional 119,848 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BlackRock Inc. boosted its position in shares of Centerspace by 2.2% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 2,736,058 shares of the companys stock valued at $268,463,000 after acquiring an additional 58,404 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.26% of the companys stock.

Centerspace Stock Performance

Centerspace Dividend Announcement

Shares of NYSE:CSR traded down $0.89 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $58.40. The stock had a trading volume of 2,908 shares, compared to its average volume of 79,522. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $56.10 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $61.19. The company has a quick ratio of 0.16, a current ratio of 0.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. Centerspace has a 52 week low of $51.26 and a 52 week high of $90.00. The firm has a market capitalization of $873.66 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.50, a P/E/G ratio of 2.01 and a beta of 0.93.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 10th. Investors of record on Friday, March 31st were issued a $0.73 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 30th. This represents a $2.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.00%. Centerspaces dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 140.38%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Colliers Securities raised shares of Centerspace from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $70.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, May 2nd. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price objective on shares of Centerspace from $66.00 to $63.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 23rd. Finally, Piper Sandler lowered their target price on shares of Centerspace from $66.00 to $62.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 5th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $70.00.

About Centerspace

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Centerspace operates as real estate investment trust, which engages in the ownership, management, acquisition, redevelopment, and development of apartment communities. It focuses on making operational enhancements to improve residents experience, redeveloping existing apartment communities to meet market demands and acquiring new apartment communities in the Minneapolis/St.

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Taika Capital LP purchased a new position in Acuity Brands, Inc. (NYSE:AYI  Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor purchased 15,700 shares of the electronics makers stock, valued at approximately $2,600,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in Acuity Brands by 1.9% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 3,313,389 shares of the electronics makers stock worth $627,225,000 after buying an additional 60,541 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Acuity Brands by 0.9% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 2,982,396 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $564,568,000 after acquiring an additional 25,598 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its stake in Acuity Brands by 19.3% during the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 1,208,990 shares of the electronics makers stock worth $228,862,000 after buying an additional 195,515 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its position in Acuity Brands by 4.2% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 959,447 shares of the electronics makers stock worth $181,623,000 after purchasing an additional 38,316 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its position in Acuity Brands by 9.0% during the 3rd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 604,006 shares of the electronics makers stock worth $95,109,000 after purchasing an additional 49,805 shares during the last quarter. 93.80% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

AYI has been the topic of several recent research reports. Robert W. Baird lowered their price objective on Acuity Brands from $192.00 to $175.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 5th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Acuity Brands in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a strong-buy rating on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price objective on shares of Acuity Brands from $201.00 to $173.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 5th. Oppenheimer reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $210.00 target price on shares of Acuity Brands in a research note on Tuesday, April 11th. Finally, UBS Group decreased their price target on Acuity Brands from $180.00 to $170.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $191.88.

Acuity Brands Trading Down 1.5 %

Shares of AYI traded down $2.36 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $156.55. The stock had a trading volume of 49,920 shares, compared to its average volume of 310,930. Acuity Brands, Inc. has a 12-month low of $142.71 and a 12-month high of $202.90. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $168.61 and its 200 day simple moving average is $177.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a quick ratio of 1.61 and a current ratio of 2.34. The firm has a market cap of $4.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.93, a P/E/G ratio of 1.23 and a beta of 1.57.

Acuity Brands (NYSE:AYI  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 4th. The electronics maker reported $2.79 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.28 by $0.51. The business had revenue of $943.60 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $959.99 million. Acuity Brands had a net margin of 9.22% and a return on equity of 22.20%. Equities research analysts forecast that Acuity Brands, Inc. will post 12.79 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Acuity Brands Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 1st. Investors of record on Monday, April 17th were issued a $0.13 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, April 14th. This represents a $0.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.33%. Acuity Brandss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 4.56%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Acuity Brands

In related news, Director Laura Oshaughnessy acquired 632 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, April 11th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $158.05 per share, for a total transaction of $99,887.60. Following the transaction, the director now owns 2,111 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $333,643.55. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock.

About Acuity Brands

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Acuity Brands, Inc operates as an industrial technology company, which engages in the provision of lighting and building management solutions and services. It operates through the Acuity Brands Lighting and Lighting Controls and Intelligent Spaces Group segments. The company was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Atlanta, GA.

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PHILADELPHIA  A third person has been arrested in the escape of two inmates from a Philadelphia prison, one of whom remains on the run, police said.

Police said the 21-year-old man was arrested Monday afternoon in Berwyn and will face charges of criminal conspiracy, hindering apprehension, escape and criminal use of a communication facility in the May 7 escape of Ameen Hurst, 18, and Nasir Grant, 24.

Authorities havent specified the role he is alleged to have had in the escape of the pair, who cut a hole in a recreation yard fence and fled from the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center. The two, who were in the same unit but in different cells, were gone for nearly 19 hours before officials knew they were missing.

Grant, incarcerated on drug and weapons counts, was captured Thursday night after a task force staked out a north Philadelphia address where they believed he was staying. Authorities said he was wearing womens Muslim clothing including a head covering that obscured his face. Hes now facing escape and conspiracy charges.

The U.S. Marshals Service fugitive task force is focused on tracking down Hurst, who is charged in four homicides and other crimes.

A woman was earlier charged with escape, conspiracy, hindering apprehension and criminal use of a communications facility. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Xianni Stalling, 21, is accused of putting Hurst in touch with a potential getaway driver during recorded phone calls he made from jail hours before the escape.

Authorities have also alleged that the escapees were aided by a fellow inmate whos charged with murder for a brawl outside a famed Philadelphia cheesesteak shop. Jose Flores-Huerta, 35, is charged with criminal conspiracy and escape. He is one of several people charged in the September 2021 death of 28-year-old Isidro Cortez of Queens, New York, outside Pats King of Steaks. Flores-Huertas lawyer has said other people were primarily responsible.
TF1 SA (OTCMKTS:TVFCF  Get Rating)s stock price reached a new 52-week low during trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as $6.09 and last traded at $6.09, with a volume of 0 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $6.09.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, Barclays upgraded shares of TF1 from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 31st.

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TF1 Price Performance

The firms 50-day simple moving average is $6.09 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $6.09.

About TF1

Television Francaise 1 SA engages in the provision of television broadcasting and communication services. It operates through the Media and Newen Studios segments. The Media segment is involved in the groups TV channels, online content distribution and special-interest web communities, content creation and audience-buying via special-interest online content and brand development, developing and showcasing talent via multi-channel networks (MCNs), and subsidiaries that produce and acquire audiovisual rights for the groups TV channels in line with French broadcasting industry regulations.

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Sawgrass Asset Management LLC reduced its stake in The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS  Get Rating) by 14.0% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 6,502 shares of the investment management companys stock after selling 1,056 shares during the quarter. Sawgrass Asset Management LLCs holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group were worth $2,233,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in GS. Elequin Securities LLC acquired a new stake in The Goldman Sachs Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $32,000. Bank of Nova Scotia lifted its holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group by 203.5% during the 4th quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia now owns 167,310 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $57,453,000 after buying an additional 112,180 shares in the last quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. lifted its holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group by 12.5% during the 4th quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 78,209 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $26,856,000 after buying an additional 8,682 shares in the last quarter. Ellerson Group Inc. ADV acquired a new stake in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in the 4th quarter valued at $254,000. Finally, Pinebridge Investments L.P. raised its holdings in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group by 8.0% in the 4th quarter. Pinebridge Investments L.P. now owns 32,316 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $11,097,000 after purchasing an additional 2,400 shares in the last quarter. 69.09% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Activity

In related news, Treasurer Philip R. Berlinski sold 3,750 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, April 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $338.10, for a total transaction of $1,267,875.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the treasurer now owns 21,366 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,223,844.60. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, major shareholder Goldman Sachs Group Inc sold 24,819,473 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, May 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $21.61, for a total value of $536,348,811.53. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 110,337 shares in the company, valued at $2,384,382.57. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Treasurer Philip R. Berlinski sold 3,750 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, April 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $338.10, for a total transaction of $1,267,875.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the treasurer now owns 21,366 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,223,844.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 28,938,775 shares of company stock valued at $567,462,983 over the last 90 days. Insiders own 0.54% of the companys stock.

The Goldman Sachs Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE GS traded down $0.53 on Tuesday, hitting $321.54. The companys stock had a trading volume of 258,428 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,680,934. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $327.15 and a 200-day moving average of $349.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.25, a current ratio of 0.81 and a quick ratio of 0.81. The company has a market capitalization of $106.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.47, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.87 and a beta of 1.40. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $277.84 and a 12-month high of $389.58.

The Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE:GS  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 18th. The investment management company reported $8.79 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $8.14 by $0.65. The business had revenue of $12.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.66 billion. The Goldman Sachs Group had a net margin of 13.23% and a return on equity of 9.84%. The companys revenue was down 5.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $10.76 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts predict that The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. will post 31.83 EPS for the current year.

The Goldman Sachs Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 29th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 1st will be given a $2.50 dividend. This represents a $10.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.11%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 31st. The Goldman Sachs Groups dividend payout ratio is presently 35.60%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

GS has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Credit Suisse Group restated an outperform rating and issued a $410.00 price objective on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in a report on Tuesday, April 11th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price objective on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $339.00 to $375.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. Oppenheimer reduced their price objective on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $440.00 to $437.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $430.00 to $415.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Finally, Barclays dropped their target price on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $495.00 to $437.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 12th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, The Goldman Sachs Group has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $389.17.

The Goldman Sachs Group Profile

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The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc engages in the provision of financial services. It operates through the following business segments: Global Banking and Markets, Asset and Wealth Management, and Platform Solutions. The Global Banking and Markets segment includes investment banking, equity and debt underwriting, Fixed Income, Currency, and Commodities (FICC) intermediation and financing activities, relationship lending and acquisition financing, and investing activities.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS  Get Rating).

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TwentyFour Select Monthly Income Fund Limited (LON:SMIF  Get Rating) declared a dividend on Thursday, May 11th, Upcoming.Co.Uk reports. Investors of record on Thursday, May 18th will be paid a dividend of GBX 0.50 ($0.01) per share on Friday, June 2nd. This represents a yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 18th. The official announcement can be seen at this link.

TwentyFour Select Monthly Income Fund Trading Down 0.1 %

Shares of SMIF stock traded down GBX 0.06 ($0.00) during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching GBX 71.54 ($0.90). The stock had a trading volume of 340,977 shares, compared to its average volume of 579,964. The businesss fifty day moving average is GBX 73.14 and its 200-day moving average is GBX 74.75. The firm has a market cap of 174.74 million and a price-to-earnings ratio of -423.53. TwentyFour Select Monthly Income Fund has a 1-year low of GBX 64.15 ($0.80) and a 1-year high of GBX 87.60 ($1.10).

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About TwentyFour Select Monthly Income Fund

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TwentyFour Select Monthly Income Fund Limited is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched by Numis Securities Ltd. The fund is managed by TwentyFour Asset Management LLP. It invests in fixed income markets of the United Kingdom. The fund primarily invests in less liquid instruments across the debt spectrum, including asset backed securities, bank capital, corporate loans, high yield bonds, and leveraged loans issued by a wide variety of issuers.

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UMH Properties, Inc. (NYSE:UMH  Get Rating) has received an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the eight research firms that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation and three have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $21.75.

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. TheStreet upgraded UMH Properties from a d+ rating to a c rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 28th. EF Hutton Acquisition Co. I restated a buy rating and issued a $21.00 price target on shares of UMH Properties in a research report on Wednesday, March 1st. Finally, StockNews.com lowered UMH Properties from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Wednesday, April 12th.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Michael P. Landy acquired 2,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 14th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $14.80 per share, for a total transaction of $29,600.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 270,594 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,004,791.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, EVP Daniel O. Landy acquired 1,900 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 20th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $17.42 per share, for a total transaction of $33,098.00. Following the acquisition, the executive vice president now directly owns 24,670 shares in the company, valued at approximately $429,751.40. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Michael P. Landy acquired 2,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 14th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $14.80 per share, with a total value of $29,600.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 270,594 shares in the company, valued at $4,004,791.20. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders purchased 4,811 shares of company stock worth $78,529 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 9.09% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of UMH Properties

UMH Properties Stock Down 0.6 %

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Federated Hermes Inc. increased its holdings in shares of UMH Properties by 54.9% during the 3rd quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 2,414 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $39,000 after buying an additional 856 shares during the last quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd purchased a new stake in UMH Properties during the 1st quarter worth $58,000. Quantbot Technologies LP boosted its position in UMH Properties by 1,600.0% during the 2nd quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP now owns 3,400 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $60,000 after purchasing an additional 3,200 shares during the period. Ridgewood Investments LLC purchased a new stake in UMH Properties during the 1st quarter worth $72,000. Finally, Quarry LP boosted its position in UMH Properties by 344.6% during the 1st quarter. Quarry LP now owns 5,713 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $84,000 after purchasing an additional 4,428 shares during the period. 71.25% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

UMH opened at $15.76 on Tuesday. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $14.94 and its 200-day simple moving average is $16.36. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.34, a quick ratio of 4.18 and a current ratio of 4.18. UMH Properties has a one year low of $13.73 and a one year high of $21.46. The stock has a market capitalization of $956.93 million, a P/E ratio of -23.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.58 and a beta of 1.28.

UMH Properties Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 15th. Investors of record on Monday, May 15th will be given a dividend of $0.205 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 12th. This represents a $0.82 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.20%. UMH Propertiess dividend payout ratio is currently -122.39%.

About UMH Properties

(Get Rating)

UMH Properties, Inc operates as a real estate investment trust. It engages in the ownership and operation of manufactured home communities in seven states throughout the northeast. These states include New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Indiana and Michigan. Manufactured home communities provide long-term appreciation, recession resistant qualities, and stable income streams.

Further Reading

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On May 16, the Government of Japan decided to provide Emergency Grant Aid of USD 3.5 million for refugees and returnees in neighboring countries of the Sudan.
A team of executives of Tesla Inc, the electric vehicle major headed by billionaire Elon Musk, will be visiting India next week at a time when the carmaker is considering to diversify beyond China. The visit holds potential to create a thaw between Tesla and the Indian government, as Musk had earlier criticised New Delhi over its EV policy and the high taxes imposed on the import of vehicles. While the meeting will be focused on discussing the local sourcing of EV components, as reported by Bloomberg, a possibility exists that a positive breakthrough may lead to talks over Tesla's potential entry in India for the domestic production of its vehicles. Here's a look at Tesla's manufacturing presence worldwide so far: The US-headquartered company currently manufactures its vehicles in China's Shanghai, Germany's Berlin, and Austin and Fremont in the US. Tesla planned to expand the Gigafactory Shanghai, its most productive automaking plant, to add an annual capacity of 450,000 units, news agency Reuters had reported. As per the estimates shared by the company in January, its plant in Fremont, California has the potential to add 650,000 units a year. The plant located in Austin, Texas can produce around 250,000 vehicles annually, The production units in Shanghai and Berlin have a total capacity of 750,000 and 250,000 units a year, respectively. Apart from its vehicle production units, Tesla's plant in Shanghai also manufactures rechargeable batteries. Tesla is also close to producing its first cars in Mexico next year, with the electric vehicle maker close to receiving its final permits allowing factory construction to begin in Nuevo Leon province near the US-Mexico border, the provincial governor said in a statement issued in March. Musk had in November last year conveyed to South Korea that it was also among the top candidate locations for a factory it plans to build in Asia for making EVs, according to South Korea's presidential office. In January, Bloomberg had reported that the Tesla chief was in discussion with the authorities in Indonesia to build production facilities with a capacity of one million units. The EV maker had signed contracts worth about $5 billion to buy materials for batteries from nickel processing companies in Indonesia, CNBC Indonesia had reported last year. Tesla's possible entry in India, for manufacturing purpose, still appears to be far from now as Musk had earlier said that his company would not set up production plants at any location where it's not permitted to first sell and service its cars. (With agency inputs)
An international soil carbon marketplace, founded by a Karnataka-born entrepreneur, will deliver USD 200 million in carbon finance to farmers and ranchers in the developing world by 2025 to scale the deployment of climate-smart agriculture. Boomitra founder Aadith Moorthy spoke at the recently concluded Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate) Summit in Washington hosted by the United States. The Summit, supported by Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR), aims to bring together partners to increase and accelerate investment in and support for agriculture and food systems innovation for climate action. Moorthy highlighted how soil's potential can be unlocked as a "powerful carbon sink through the action of farmers - enabling them to participate in carbon markets and build resilience to rising temperatures." With a view to scaling the deployment of climate-smart agriculture, Boomitra will deliver USD 200 million in carbon finance to farmers and ranchers in the developing world by 2025, a press release by Aim For Climate said. The initiative will leverage Boomitra's proprietary AI and remote sensing technology, as well as the support of global partners, to implement projects that increase soil carbon, thereby unlocking gigaton-scale carbon removal. The USD 200 million pledged represents an increased investment and is expected to remove 13M tonnes of carbon across 5 million acres. According to Boomitra's website, it sells carbon credits to corporations and governments worldwide, enabling them to meet their sustainability goals. The majority of the proceeds from each carbon credit sold is given directly to the farmers, allowing them to re-invest in themselves and their communities. With over 5M+ acres currently under management, Boomitra is working with farmers to accelerate carbon removal on a gigaton-scale, while helping them grow more with less. "For us at Boomitra, our goal is that by 2030, we should be on a gigaton scale, work with hundreds and millions of acres then. We have the trajectory to get there. We invite everyone to work with us, join us and partner with us so that we can together reach that gigaton scale," Moorthy said. He added it is a global issue for governments to create policies around agriculture and specifically carbon in agriculture. "Basically governments have to enable and not restrict and they should put in some guardrails in place to enable benefits to actually reach farmers and ranchers." Moorthy said Boomitra works with farmers and ranchers around the world and helps them adopt improved agricultural practices that increase soil carbon levels. Those increases in soil carbon are then measured using satellites and AI and they are then turned into internationally recognised third-party certified carbon removal credits. "We then sell these to corporations and governments who buy them to meet their sustainability needs," he said adding that the majority of the carbon value is returned to the farmers. Globally, Boomitra works with five million acres, 150,000 plus farmers out of which 100,000 farmers are in India across 15 states and this number will be expanded over the next year. US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced that AIM for Climate partners from around the globe are increasing investment in, and support for, climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation. "Climate change continues to impact longstanding agricultural practices in every country and a strong global commitment is necessary to face the challenges of climate change head-on and build more sustainable, equitable, and resilient food systems," Vilsack said. "We need all of us working together to address the challenges of climate change and food security through innovative technology and approaches, and the AIM for Climate Summit gives me hope that we will rise to the occasion, as future generations depend on us to do." In February this year, India joined the global platform launched by the US and the UAE with an aim to accelerate investment and support for climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation. The Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM4C) was launched by the two nations in November 2021. AIM for Climate announced the three new Government Partners - India, Panama, and Paraguay - to support its mission to significantly increase investment in and support for climate-smart-agriculture and food systems innovation over the period of 2021 to 2025, and to address crises such as global hunger, food insecurity, and climate change. New partners including the governments of Argentina, Fiji, Guatemala, India, Panama, Paraguay and Sri Lanka, bring the total number of government, innovation sprints, and knowledge partners to more than 500. At the summit, United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of Climate Change and Environment Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri reiterated that strengthening national and global food security through sustainable technology and innovation is one of the key strategic pillars of the UAE's National Food Security Strategy 2051.
Bank of Baroda on May 16 reported standalone profit for the quarter ended March at Rs 4775.33 crore, up 168.46 percent from Rs 1778.77 crore in the same quarter last year. Its net interest income came in at Rs 11,525 crore, rising 33.8 percent against the number reported in the corresponding quarter last year. The board of the bank recommended a dividend at Rs 5.50 per equity share for the FY2022-23 subject to approval at the ensuing Annual General Meeting. Operating Income for Q4FY23 stood at Rs 14,991 crore, increasing by 34.6 percent YoY. Global NIM came in at 3.53 percent in Q4FY23, increase of 45 bps YoY. Domestic NIM stood at 3.65 percent, increase of 51 bps YoY. Return on Assets (annualised) improved to 1.34 percent in Q4FY23 from 0.57 percent in Q4FY22. Return on Equity (annualised) for FY23 increased by 648 bps YoY to 18.34 percent Gross NPA Ratio improved to 3.79 percent in Q4FY23 from 6.61 percent in Q4FY22. The Net NPA Ratio of the Bank stands at a record low of 0.89 percent in Q4FY23 as compared with 1.72 percent in Q4FY2, Bank of Baroda said. The Provision Coverage Ratio of the Bank stood at 92.43 percent. Slippage ratio declined to 1.02 percent for Q4FY23 as against 2.52 percent in Q4FY22.

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The Congress' stunning victory in Karnataka has given the party a shot in the arm ahead of assembly elections in the key states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh later this year and the Lok Sabha elections in 2024. Talk of using the 'Karnataka blueprint' elsewhere has already begun. However, the promises made in the blueprint must first be kept. Speaking to Moneycontrol on May 13 even as Congress kept racking up seat after seat, National Spokesperson Rajeev Gowda said the math behind the party's pre-election promises was robust. "The amount it totally comes to is less than Rs 50,000 crore. It is eminently doable in a state like Karnataka, which is one of the fastest-growing economies in the country," Gowda said. Two of the three claims made by Gowda are, at first glance, correct. One, Karnataka is indeed one of the fastest growing states and is expected to clock a growth rate of 7.9 percent in 2022-23 as against India's GDP growth rate of 7 percent. Second, the figure of Rs 50,000 crore has found general acceptance, with even the Bharatiya Janata Party's Amit Malviya tweeting on May 15 that the Congress' 'five guarantees' will set the exchequer back by Rs 51,150 crore. But how accurate is the third claim, that putting the promises into play is eminently doable? The five guarantees The Congress gave the voters of Karnataka five guarantees, assuring them that they would be approved in the first meeting of the state cabinet. First, all households will get 200 units of electricity for free. Second, jobless graduates and diploma holders will get an unemployment benefit of Rs 3,000 per month and Rs 1,500 per month, respectively, for two years. Third, Rs 2,000 per month will be given to the woman heading a household. Fourth, every member of a family below the poverty line will be given 10 kilograms of free foodgrains. And finally, women will get to travel for free on regular state transport buses. The Congress was not alone in making pre-election promises, with the BJP, Janata Dal (Secular), and the Aam Aadmi Party all announcing generous benefits should they come to power. The cost of Congress' promises is 2.2 percent of the state's GDP in 2022-23. However, the numbers that really matter are the government's receipts. And this is where matters get a little tricky. As per provisional data, the Karnataka government's total receipts, excluding net borrowings, amounted to Rs 2.27 lakh crore last year. So, the Congress' guarantees would have accounted for 22 percent of the state government's total revenue in 2022-23. According to Lekha Chakraborty, professor at the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, the emphasis on social security measures is laudable. But the key challenge is finding the fiscal room for them. "in times of war and macroeconomic crisis, emphasising on four aspects  food security, social security, social infrastructure, and 'employer of last resort' measures  is very crucial," Chakraborty told Moneycontrol. "We cannot find fault if Congress has emphasised on these four components. However, how they finance the deficits in the medium term is crucial to watch," she added. Karnataka's fiscal status It can't be denied that Karnataka's finances are healthy. As per a June 2022 analysis of state finances by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) staff, the "stellar fiscal performance" of five states, one of which is Karnataka, will help in reducing the debt-to-GDP ratio of all states by 2026-27. Per the forecasts of the RBI staff, Karnataka's primary deficit  defined as the fiscal deficit minus interest payments  is seen at 1.3 percent of its GDP in 2026-27, only marginally higher than the 1 percent level that would stabilise the state's debt. However, it is worth pointing out that the state's primary deficit in 2021-22 was also 1.3 percent of its GDP. Further, its fiscal deficit was 2.8 percent, while interest payments amounted to 14.3 percent of revenue receipts  well below Punjab's 21.3 percent but higher than Odisha's 4.3 percent. So, perhaps, the margin for error is not very large. Eminently doable? According to Congress' Gowda, the party's promises are necessary so that those who are falling behind have the safety nets to "start thinking about investing in their future rather than worrying about basic survival." While necessary goods and services should be provided, their cost cannot be ignored. Again, Gowda is confident. "I don't think you have to be particularly concerned about the fiscal math. We have got that covered," he said on May 13. K Jairaj, former additional chief secretary of Karnataka, is not so sure. "If you are well-funded and are flush with money, you can do all this. But if the decision is between, for example, subsidised bus travel and money for rural schools, what do you go for? At the margin, there is always a trade-off. You can have an economic rationale even for freebies. But there are constraints," Jairaj said. One route the Congress could take, Jairaj told Moneycontrol, was to implement the promises in phases. At the same time, the incoming government will need to focus on boosting revenues, exploring options for expenditure reduction, and establishing the fiscal reality through a white paper on the state's finances.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday appealed to the persons who received their appointment letters under the latest Rozgar Mela to spread the word on the scheme's benefits with the public. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today presented 71,000 appointment letters to newly inducted recruits in government departments and organisations across the country. After presenting the job offers to about 250 people at an event in Chennai, Sitharaman said the Rozgar Mela is a step towards the fulfillment of the Prime Minister's commitment to accord the highest priority to employment generation. The Union Minister presented the appointment orders to the new recruits from various ministries and departments including the Department of Posts, railways, health and family welfare, petroleum, and defence. "Take the benefits of the (Rozgar Mela scheme) to everyone outside your family and tell them to scale up in their life...," Sitharaman said during her brief interaction with some of the new recruits. The Rozgar Mela serves as a catalyst for more job opportunities, empowering youth and enabling their active participation in national development, she said. During the event, Sitharaman also obliged for selfies with the beneficiaries. The new recruits, selected from across the country, would join various positions including train manager, station master, and senior commercial-cum-ticket clerk among many others. They would also get to train themselves through 'Karmayogi Prarambh', an online orientation course for all new appointees in various government departments.

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There were laughter and tears as 33 Bismarck students became graduates on Friday evening, the rite of passage that signals a conversion from childhood into adulthood. The familiar strains of Pomp & Circumstance filled the ears of friends and family crowding the gymnasium as the graduating class of 2023 proceeded up the main aisle to their seats.

Dr. Michael Silvy, Bismarck superintendent, gave a brief welcome and introduced high school Principal Abe Warren. Warren also welcomed everyone and began the graduation ceremony with the singing of the Star Spangled Banner, led by the high school choir.

Warren recognized two Bismarck students, Janson King and Ethan Shipp, who received associate degrees from Mineral Area College as well as high school diplomas. Warren then recognized the Bismarck teachers in the audience by asking them to stand for a round of applause and did the same for veterans, active duty, reservists, and first responders in attendance.

Once recognition was given, Warren beckoned salutatorian Alyssa Freeman to the podium. Freeman was awarded a medal and gave a poignant speech, reminding everyone that moving on doesnt mean forgetting; it means time together becomes so much more special.

After Freeman finished her speech and took her seat, Warren introduced valedictorian Janson King. King also received a medal and spoke. She began by thanking her family and those who have helped her most through her journey so far. She alluded to life as if it were a cross-country race. She encouraged her class to set goals even if they arent specific and to go forward with endurance and perseverance.

Choose your own speed, King said. Each has a different pace.

King said no one runs the same race and no one should change their pace to match another. She also suggested that everyone should move forward no matter what comes ones way. Never give up; keep running your race, King said.

Once the valedictorian regained her seat, several members of the graduating class joined the high school band to play the song, The Way We Were.

Student council Vice President Jada Dickey took to the podium and awarded the Indian of the Year Award to Janson King.

Tears began flowing during the senior video which played sentimental pictures of each graduating senior. Tears continued as the seniors presented red roses to family and friends who made significant impacts in their lives.

The ceremony continued with seniors receiving diplomas and heartfelt congratulations from the school board. Once all diplomas were dispensed, the senior class turned their tassels on their mortar boards. Cheers, mortarboards, confetti, and silly string erupted into the air as the senior class was presented to the audience for the last time.

The list of 2023 graduates includes: Jessica Paige Aubuchon, Ronny Dean-Keith Barton, Alyssa Sue Blackwell, David Jonathan Bryon, Clayton Todd Burbank, Gavin Scott Butery, Emma Dawn Cole, Alysha Marie-Lynn Crocker, Clayton Cole Dee, Tatum Lee Shipman-Evans, Ethan Allen Eye, Isaiah Joseph Faulkner, Alyssa Grace Freeman, Payton Timothy Frost, Missty Dawn Gamblin, Ashlyn Morgan Paige Goodman, Michael Lee Grebe, Carter Mark Hedrick, Isabella Donna Marie Jenkins, Janson Lee King, Joshua Michael Lawson, Shyane Gale Maples, Tanner Graham Martinez, Chase Daniel Mauney, Savannah Renee Neel, Victoria Ruth Ann Politte, Bryan Keith Reese, Ethan Nicholas Shipp, Logan Michael Smith, Shelby Lynn Smith, Zoie Elizabeth Thompson, Hayley Elizabeth Williams, Coty Alan Wolf.

IN PHOTOS: Bismarck graduating class of 2023 Bismarck Class of 2023 (1).JPG Bismarck Class of 2023 (2).JPG Bismarck Class of 2023 (3).JPG Bismarck Class of 2023 (4).JPG Bismarck Class of 2023 (5).JPG Bismarck Class of 2023 (6).JPG Bismarck Class of 2023 (7).JPG Bismarck Class of 2023 (8).JPG Bismarck Class of 2023 (9).JPG Bismarck Class of 2023 (10).JPG Bismarck Class of 2023 (11).JPG Bismarck Class of 2023 (12).JPG Bismarck Class of 2023 (13).JPG Bismarck Class of 2023 (14).JPG Bismarck Class of 2023 (15).JPG Bismarck Class of 2023 (16).JPG Bismarck Class of 2023 (17).JPG Bismarck Class of 2023 (18).JPG Bismarck Class of 2023 (19).JPG Bismarck Class of 2023 (20).JPG Bismarck Class of 2023 (21).JPG Bismarck Class of 2023 (22).JPG Bismarck Class of 2023 (23).JPG Bismarck Class of 2023 (24).JPG Bismarck Class of 2023 (25).JPG Bismarck Class of 2023 (26).JPG Bismarck Class of 2023 (27).JPG Bismarck Class of 2023 (28).JPG
Aiming to tighten the reins on royalty payments which are going untaxed, the government is planning to increase the mandate of reporting on such payouts, with a focus on over-the-top (OTT) platforms, IT and information technology-enabled services (ITES) sectors, sources said. "IT and software-as-a-service sectors are sending royalty payments without taxation. OTT platforms that do not have permanent establishment are also on focus. We are looking at increasing the mandate of TDS (tax deducted at source), and the mandate of reporting royalties and remittances. Then we will be able to see what is the nature and purpose of these," a senior government official told Moneycontrol. Royalty payments going untaxed has been an ongoing dispute relating to what constitutes its definition. Entities from the companies' side argue that such payments do not constitute royalty. It is a long-drawn litigated part. "With an increased reporting mandate, we will run the royalty payments on our risk management. If any risky entity is flagged, then we will take it up. If it is flagged by risk management, then notices will be sent. Our focus is on gathering more information on these payments," he said. If some rights are being transferred by an entity, it constitutes royalty, according to Indian legislation. If an entity here has rights and is again distributing them, it will be considered royalty. For example, if a telephone operator buys rights from an OTT platform for 100 films and makes payment on a regular basis then that will constitute royalty. "It's being taken note of. In such cases there has to be a TDS deduction on royalty," the official said. Cloud services also on radar Cloud services taxation is another issue which the government is focusing upon. "In some bilateral treaties, cloud services are getting taxed. Virtual equipment under cloud services is being taxed in some treaties. But it is not uniform in the 95 treaties that we have. We cannot simply amend Indian legislation. We are working to amend treaties," the government official said. Under the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) pillar 1, pillar 2 frameworks will be for all digital companies to address this issue. "Then certainty will develop on taxation of cloud services. What is received by US entities is being taxed there. Indias argument is that since it is sourced in the country, we should have the right to tax it. OECD tax framework will make this dispute settlement easier," he said.
India's imports of electronic goods such as laptops, personal computers (PCs), integrated circuits and solar cells from China declined during 2022-23, according to a report by economic think tank GTRI. The fall in imports is notable in electronic items where the PLI (production linked incentive) scheme is operational, the report by Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said. Import of medical equipment declined 13.6 per cent to USD 2.2 billion last fiscal year as compared to 2021-22. Similarly, import of solar cells, parts, diodes slumped 70.9 per cent to USD 1.9 billion in 2022-23. The report stated that import of laptops, PCs slipped 23.1 per cent to USD 4.1 billion and that of mobile phones came down by 4.1 per cent to USD 857 million in last financial year as compared to 2021-22. Inbound shipments of integrated circuits contracted by 4.5 per cent to USD 4.7 billion. Import of urea and other fertilizers declined 26 per cent to USD 2.3 billion in 2022-23. However, import of lithium-ion batteries surged about 96 per cent to USD 2.2 billion last fiscal year, it said adding the adoption of electric vehicles may increase such imports steeply. "India's imports from China have shown signs of slowing down, with three data points indicating a decline. Firstly, India's electronics imports from China have decreased from USD 30.3 billion in FY22 to USD 27.6 billion in FY23. Secondly, India's total goods imports from China grew at a lower rate of 4.2 per cent during FY23, compared to global imports, which grew at a higher rate of 16.1 per cent," GTRI co-founder Ajay Srivastava said. Lastly, China's share in India's merchandise import decreased from 16.4 per cent in FY18 to 13.8 per cent in FY23, a decline of 15.7 per cent. Product categories where the country's imports from China have registered growth include machinery, chemicals, steel, PVC resin and plastics. It also said China's share in India's merchandise imports decreased from 16.4 per cent in 2017-18 to 13.8 per cent in 2022-23. Despite the decline, China remains India's top import supplier, and India is critically dependent on China for various products, the report said, adding "Imports from China are high for most countries and India is not an outlier". India's total goods import from China during 2022-23 touched about USD 91 billion. It was USD 94.6 billion in 2021-22. Further at the exports front, China is India's fourth largest export destination, with the US, UAE, and Netherlands as the top three partners. Indian exports grew to all these three nations but declined for China in the last fiscal. The country's outbound shipments to China declined 36 per cent to USD 13.6 billion in 2022-23. Srivastava said India's fate in electronics and computer hardware production was sealed with India's signing of the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) in 1997 that made importing any import duties on such products illegal. "PLI is trying to undo the damage in a limited way. Positive results are visible in the decrease in importing electronic products from China," he said adding that to move at a faster pace, India must invest in deep manufacturing. "For EV batteries, we must produce Lithium-ion cells; for laptops, we must make PCB; for mobile phones, we must make components and not merely the outer shell of the final product," he said.
India, which has taken proactive steps to reduce neonatal mortality, is likely to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal targets in this key area by 2030, a top WHO official has said, citing data on the annual rate of reduction for newborn deaths in the country between 2016 and 2021. "India has taken important steps to improve the quality of care during labour and childbirth, leading to reductions in maternal deaths. This will also bring better outcomes for newborns," Dr Anshu Banerjee, Director, Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing at the World Health Organisation, Geneva, told PTI here. "If we use the annual rate of reduction for newborn deaths between 2016-2021 and apply it to 2022-2030, it is likely that India will be able to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal targets," Dr Banerjee, who was here last week to attend the 'International Maternal Newborn Health Conference' (IMNHC 2023), said. India has been proactive in taking action to accelerate neonatal mortality reductions, including strengthening policy and planning for newborn health, Dr Banerjee said. Banerjee addressed several sessions during the four-day conference which was held from May 8-11. The IMNHC 2023 was hosted by the government of South Africa and AlignMNH a global initiative funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and in partnership with UNFPA, UNICEF, and the World Bank. India has an established newborn care programme at both the health facility and community levels. Essential newborn care is given through dedicated Newborn Care Corners in health facilities, Newborn Stabilisation Units have been established in primary health facilities to take care of simple newborn illnesses, and a large network of about 1,000 newborn care units covers nearly every district in the country has been established in hospitals to take care of sick and preterm newborns. India also has one of the largest "home-based care for newborns" programmes where six to seven visits are made by frontline health workers (ASHAs) to provide health services and counselling at home after birth. "In order to bring further gains, it will be important to continue improving the quality of care available to newborns, especially those that are born early, small or sick," he said. On being asked about the learnings from the 'Born too soon: decade of action on preterm birth' report by the WHO, UNICEF and PMNCH -- the world's largest alliance for women, children, and adolescents, which was also launched here last week, Dr Banerjee said that complications relating to premature births are now the leading cause of under-five child deaths globally, and as such, its is one of the most pressing issues for child survival. Preterm birth is when a baby is born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. "We simply can't achieve global newborn health and survival targets without moving on this big issue. And yet, there has been very little progress in reducing rates of preterm births globally over the last decade," he said. "There is now no excuse for inaction -we have so many solutions and innovations that we didn't have a decade ago. What we need is a big focus on investment and implementation for both prevention of preterm birth in particular, this means ensuring high-quality care during pregnancy for every woman, including early ultrasound and better care for small and sick newborns and their families," he stressed. Next week, the WHO will be launching new resources for countries to support the wider roll-out of kangaroo mother care, a lifesaving technique involving both skin-to-skin contact between a mother and a baby and exclusive breastfeeding, Dr Banerjee said. This needs to be available to preterm babies everywhere to ensure they have the best possible chance of survival. On countries facing twin problems of obesity and malnutrition with urbanisation, Dr Banerjee said while the problem of undernutrition in women and children (manifested as wasting, stunting, and micronutrient deficiencies) continues to be a major contributor to sickness and mortality throughout the world, rising rates of obesity are contributing to increases in non-communicable diseases. This has been called "the double burden of malnutrition". This means that health programmes and healthcare workers must simultaneously scale up interventions to address both ends of the spectrum at the same time and ensure they are screening for and managing both undernutrition and obesity, he said. "This can be a huge challenge, but we are finding that there are achievable "double-duty actions" that are important to reduce both undernutrition and obesity. For example, protection and support of continued breastfeeding including through maternity protections, for instance - supports better child growth and protects against the later development of obesity. Delivering supplemental food products that are highly nutritious without containing unhealthy fats and sugars can also be a double-duty action," he said. On what are some best practices that India can emulate from other countries for improving maternal and newborn health, Dr Banerjee said, "India does not have to look far." There are success stories within India - for example, the state of Kerala has achieved a maternal mortality rate of 19 per 100,000 live births, followed closely by a few other states. Implementation of quality standards in obstetric care helped address the common causes of maternal death, complemented by improvements in the response to childbirth-related emergencies, he stated. In South Asia, Sri Lanka has achieved remarkable success and that too with limited financial resources by focusing on universal health coverage, deploying professional midwives for skilled birth attendance and ensuring quality of care. On what learnings others can derive from India's policies to reduce MMR, he said leadership and commitment at the highest level to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality are instrumental in driving change. In addition, India has several unique policies and schemes that have focused on reducing inequities in access to quality care in public and private healthcare facilities. In particular: India has adopted a policy to provide every woman and newborn with assured, dignified, respectful and quality healthcare, free of cost and with zero tolerance for denial of services under SUMAN. Another scheme guarantees pregnant women a minimum package of antenatal care services, including ultrasound, in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy at designated public health facilities. India is supporting monitoring and safe delivery for all high-risk pregnant women through additional extra antenatal visits for them. Interventions during labour and childbirth are estimated to have the greatest impact on reducing preventable maternal and newborn deaths, and India has focused hard on improving care at this point. The Ministry of Health has undertaken quality certification of hundreds of labour rooms and maternity operation theatres under the "LaQshya" programme. Standardisation of labour rooms, adherence to critical (clinical and non-clinical) practices around childbirth and creation of a conducive environment for "respectful maternity care" has fostered more confidence in the public health system. Competencies of the health care providers in these labour rooms have been strengthened through a programme called "Dakshta" which focuses on improving essential skills. India has introduced several IT initiatives to leverage digital platforms to support health service provision for pregnant women and children. Several states are using innovative mobile technology to support health status monitoring and response.
As Go First undergoes insolvency resolution proceedings, an aircraft lessor moved the Delhi High Court seeking directions to the authorities to release the plane leased to the crisis-hit airline. Besides, two more aircraft lessors have moved the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) opposing the airline's insolvency proceedings. Accipiter Invesments Aircraft 2 Ltd has filed a writ petition before the Delhi High Court against the Union government and others, according to a lawyer. It has requested the high court to direct DGCA to deregister its aircraft which is currently on lease with Go First. Besides, Accipiter Invesments Aircraft has moved the NCLAT. Another aircraft lessor Eos Aviation 12 (Ireland) Ltd has also filed a petition before the NCLAT against Go First. Both the petitions are listed before the appellate tribunal for Wednesday. With moratorium on financial obligations and transfer of assets of Go First in the wake of the insolvency resolution proceedings, lessors are unable to deregister and take back the aircraft leased to the carrier. A total of six entities have moved the NCLAT in the Go First case and earlier on Tuesday, the appellate tribunal heard the plea of Ireland-based Engine Leasing Finance. The appellate tribunal said it will pass the order on May 22 along with the other three petitions. "Orders on 22.05.2023. Short written notes may be filed within two days by both parties," it said. Three aircraft lessors  SMBC Aviation Capital Ltd, GY Aviation and SFV Aircraft Holdings  have moved the NCLAT against Go First's insolvency resolution proceedings. These three lessors have leased out around 21 aircraft to Go First. On May 10, the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) allowed the voluntary insolvency resolution plea by Go First. So far this month, several lessors have approached aviation regulator DGCA for deregistration and repossession of Go First's 45 planes. Go First stopped flying from May 3.
Discord has erupted from pilots employed by troubled budget carrier Go First over alleged mis-interpretation of the National Company Law Tribunals recent moratorium, as per reports. The NCLT has last week granted the airline an interim moratorium as it sought voluntary insolvency. This moratorium prevents lessors, lenders, vendors, airports, and the regulator from taking any adverse actions against the airline, such as seizing aircraft or suspending fuel supply. It also directs the interim resolution professional to ensure that there are no employee retrenchments during this period. Also Read | What does Go First filing for bankruptcy mean for Indian aviation However, pilots argue that CEO Kaushik Khona has misrepresented the court order in a recent town hall when he said it protects the airline from releasing pilots. Employees say this interpretation is a deliberate misinterpretation of the court decision, as per a report by the Hindu. Cockpit crew are leaving the airline for better offers after months of delayed salaries and pending dues. However, a contentious rule imposed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has left the cockpit crew feeling frustrated and helpless, the Hindu reported. The rule in question mandates a one-year notice period for commanders and six months for first officers, preventing them from immediately securing new jobs. Failure to comply with this rule may be seen as acting against public interest, potentially leading to flight cancellations and passenger inconvenience. Also Read | Behind the Go First Fiasco: Why did Indias 5th largest airline have to file for bankruptcy? Pilots argue that this rule is lopsided and heavily favours airlines, and they believe that the DGCA should not interfere in employee-employer matters, particularly when it fails to protect pilots' interests, such as ensuring timely salary payments, as per Deccan Herald's report. Concerns have also been raised by the Federation of Indian Pilots, who sent a letter to Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia, expressing their members' grievances, Deccan Herald reported. "Go First is refusing to issue no objection certificates (NOC), experience certificates, no dues certificate and attestation of logbooks (in spite of it being a statutory requirement) to pilots who resigned earlier or more recently," the letter said. In 2017, various pilot unions, including the Federation of Pilots, approached the Delhi High Court to contest the controversial DGCA rule. As a result, the court granted an interim stay on the implementation of the rule in July 2018 and restricted the DGCA from taking coercive actions against pilots. Also Read | Go First crisis: What is CCI's role when the number of competitors shrinks? The next hearing regarding this matter is expected to take place on May 17, where the contractual obligations of both pilots and employers will be examined. The pilot unions have called for the government to issue guidelines that align with global practices, allowing pilots to serve notice periods of no more than one to three months.
The government has appointed seasoned bureaucrat and gas sector expert Anil Kumar Jain as the new chairman of the oil and gas sector regulatory body, PNGRB, an official order said. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointment of Jain, who retired as coal secretary in October last year, as the new chairman of the Petroleum & Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB). The ACC has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, based on the recommendations of the Search Committee, for the appointment of Anil Kumar Jain. Jain has been appointed as the Chairperson PNGRB "for a period of five years from the date assumption of charge of the post or till attaining the age of 65 years, or until further orders, whichever is the earliest, on a consolidated pay package of Rs 4.50 lakhs per month (without house and car) or as revised by the Ministry of Finance from time to time," the ACC order of May 15 said. Bihar-born, 1986-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Madhya Pradesh cadre will fill a position that has been lying vacant since Dinesh Kumar Sarraf retired on December 4, 2020. Jain was selected after three failed attempts. On June 2, 2021, former power secretary Sanjeev Sahai headed a list of three shortlisted candidates but the list was turned down, as the oil ministry had not firmly recommended a single candidate. In November 2021, the government re-advertised the post and held interviews on February 2, 2022. Tarun Kapur, who retired as oil secretary on November 30, 2021, was recommended for the job but his name too was blocked. In May last year, Kapoor was appointed advisor to the Prime Minister to handle energy and infrastructure issues, for two years. In August 2022, the search committee selected the then BPCL chairman Arun Kumar Singh to head the PNGRB but his name wasn't processed and he was appointed chairman of ONGC on December 7, 2022. Sources said Jain was selected by the oil ministry's search committee. The panel invited three candidates for interview on March 31 this year - Jain, GAIL director of business development M V Iyer, and former secretary in the electronics and information technology ministry A P Sawhney. While Sawhney did not appear for the interview, Jain was selected. His candidate after vetting by the oil ministry was sent to the ACC which on May 15 issued orders appointing him as the chairman of PNGRB. Jain had previously served in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (also known as the oil ministry) as Director (Natural Gas) from June 2003 to November 2006, after which he was promoted as Joint Secretary (Exploration) which he held until June 2008. He later became Adviser (Energy) at the government's think tank Niti Aayog in 2012, where he was promoted to Additional Secretary for the Energy vertical. He served at the Aayog until 2017 after which he moved to the Environment Ministry. He was an additional secretary at the environment ministry from 2017 to 2019. He was appointed Coal Secretary in September 2019, a position from which he retired on October 31, 2022. Jain has over three decades of administrative experience at the field and policy formulation levels, of which the last 2 decades were in the energy and environment areas. He has authored two books and several articles on the oil and gas sector. In 2012, he published a best seller 'Natural Gas in India: Policy and Liberalisation'. His last book was published in 2022 by Francis & Taylor (US) and examines the prospects of natural gas in India, particularly in the context of India's net-zero commitment at the COP held at Glasgow. As Head of the Energy Division of the NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) from 2012 to 2017, he led the team that drafted the National Energy Policy (2017-2040) and also developed the energy scenario modeling tool, IESS, 2047. An MBA and a Diploma holder in Foreign Trade, Jain completed his Doctorate on the topic of Natural Gas from TERI University in New Delhi (2020).
A builder in Bengaluru has been asked to register one of its projects with the real estate regulator, which said it cannot claim exemption on this count merely because homes were handed over to buyers before laws came into force. The Karnataka Real Estate Regulatory Authority (KRERA) held that projects completed before enactment of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act in the state will be considered ongoing unless they have obtained a completion certificate (CC) and an occupancy certificate (OC) from the local authorities. The regulators order came on a complaint filed by a homebuyer of the Shilpitha Splendour project alleging that the builder, Maithri Developers, did not obtain the CC and OC after completing construction of the project in 2013. Not being able to furnish documents like the completion certificate and occupancy certificate, the developer has failed to prove that the project was completed in 2013, KRERA said in the order dated May 12. Several developers in the city are said to have deemed a project complete and handed over apartments to homebuyers after executing a sale deed. The case Buyers of apartments in Shilpitha Splendour in Mahadevapura in north Bengaluru said despite several follow-ups since 2013, the developer failed to obtain the CC and OC from Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the local municipal authority. The resident welfare association filed a case before the state consumer forum in 2018, which is ongoing. The residents are under constant threats that the project lacks the no-objection certificates, KRERA noted. Maithri Developers said the complaint was not maintainable because the project did not come under the purview of the state RERA Act notified in June 2017. Since the project is not an ongoing one and was completed before KRERA was established, the complaint is liable to be rejected, the developer told KRERA. The court found that the developer failed to submit the OC, CC and clearance certificates from BBMP and the state pollution control board to prove the project was completed in the same year as the execution of the sale deeds. Mere execution of sales deed and handing over possession to homebuyers is not sufficient and does not mean that the project is complete, the regulator said, adding that this establishes that the project is ongoing and needs to be registered under the state regulatory authority. The court ordered the developer the obtain the required documents from the competent authority and register the project under the regulator. Responses to questions sent to Maithri Developers are awaited. The problem at large Legal experts said a CC is issued after an architect certifies a project as complete. Many times, certificates are withheld due to deviations from approved plans. "Several homebuyers in Bengaluru move into apartments without valid OC or CC, said Vittal BR, an advocate who has fought consumer cases on similar issues. Builders capitalise on the situation of the homebuyers who cannot stay in a rented house and pay the EMI for the apartments. According to a survey by the BBMP last year, about 200,000 buildings in Bengaluru have deviated from sanctioned plans. In 2021, another BBMP survey revealed that more than 85 percent of new buildings constructed in 2020 and 2021 had violated building bylaws. Data from BBMP showed that it issued 86 OCs in 2019-20. In 2022-23, it issued 54 certificates for commercial and residential buildings. "After the handover of possession, the developers need to execute a conveyance deed to transfer the undivided share of interest of common areas to the RWA. Only then can they apply for OC and CC," said Dhananjaya Padmanabhachar, convenor of the Karnataka Home Buyers Forum. The conveyance deed and OC are among documents required to apply for completion of a project, according to information on the KRERA website. Without an OC, homebuyers cannot get water and sewage connections or fire safety clearances for a building. "Homebuyers who move in without OC will face several challenges as the local planning authority will always say they did not give clearance for occupancy. In such cases, they will have to move the courts for relief," Vittal added.
The market snapped two-day gains with the benchmark indices losing six-tenth of a percent on May 16 as the selling was seen in auto, banking & financial services, select metal, pharma and FMCG stocks. The BSE Sensex plummeted 413 points to 61,932, while the Nifty50 dropped 112 points to 18,286 and formed a Bearish Belt Hold and Bearish Engulfing patterns on the daily scale, indicating the possibility of a bearish trend. "A long bear candle was formed on the daily chart, which indicates the formation of a Bearish Engulfing pattern, not a classical one. Presently, the market is repeatedly testing the hurdle of around 18,300-18,400 levels and not able to break decisively above it so far," Nagaraj Shetti, Technical Research Analyst at HDFC Securities said. Having moved up swiftly from the higher lows of 17,553 on April 21 and the placement of key overhead resistance at the highs, he feels the chances of a sizable downward correction are likely in the short term. "Immediate supports are placed around 18,100-18,050 levels. Any sharp up move above 18,400 levels is expected to bring bulls back into the action," Shetti said. 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 18,264, followed by 18,224 and 18,160. If the index advances, 18,392 would be the initial key resistance level to watch out for, followed by 18,432 and 18,496. Nifty Bank The Bank Nifty has seen a correction for the first time in the last five consecutive sessions, falling 168 points to 43,904. The index has formed a bearish candlestick pattern on the daily charts. "The index, if sustains below 44,000, can witness further correction towards 43,500 where the highest open interest is built up on the Put side. The momentum indicator RSI (relative strength index) is showing negative divergence which confirms the bearishness," Kunal Shah, Senior Technical & Derivative Analyst at LKP Securities said. As per the pivot point calculator, the Bank Nifty may take support at 43,829, followed by 43,752 and 43,626. Key resistance levels are expected to be 44,080 along with 44,157 and 44,283. Call options data Per the weekly options front, the maximum Call open interest (OI) was at 18,400 strike, with 1.43 crore contracts, which is expected to be a crucial resistance level for the Nifty in the coming sessions. This was followed by 18,500 strike comprising 1.11 crore contracts, and 18,300 strike with more than 82.48 lakh contracts. Call writing was at 18,400 strike, which added 81.95 lakh contracts, followed by the 18,500 strike, which added 46.12 lakh contracts, and 18,300 strike, which added 44.61 lakh contracts. Meaningful Call unwinding was at 18,000 strike, which shed 32,400 contracts, followed by 17,800 strike, which shed 29,000 contracts, and 17,900 strike, which shed 24,700 contracts. Put option data The maximum Put open interest was at 18,300 strike with 78.24 lakh contracts, which is expected to act as an important level in the coming sessions. This was followed by the 18,200 strike, comprising 66.29 lakh contracts, and the 18,000 strike where we have 61.81 lakh contracts. Put writing was seen at 18,100 strike, which added 4.18 lakh contracts, followed by 17,500 strike, which added 3.87 lakh contracts, and 18,400 strike which added 2.46 lakh contracts. We have seen Put unwinding at 17,800 strike, which shed 12.54 lakh contracts, followed by 18,300 strike, which shed 8.32 lakh contracts, and 18,000 strike, which shed 7.57 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 Power Grid Corporation of India, Container Corporation of India, Infosys, Hindustan Unilever, and Bharat Forge among others. 36 stocks see a long build-up An increase in open interest (OI) and price typically indicates a build-up of long positions. Based on the OI percentage, 36 stocks, including Manappuram Finance, Max Financial Services, LIC Housing Finance, Bank of Baroda, and Indus Towers saw long build-ups. 52 stocks see long unwinding A decline in OI and price generally indicates a long unwinding. Based on the OI percentage, 52 stocks including Hero MotoCorp, Tata Motors, Syngene International, Punjab National Bank, and Container Corporation of India saw a long unwinding. 66 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, 66 stocks, including Balrampur Chini Mills, REC, Alkem Laboratories, Ashok Leyland, and Jindal Steel & Power saw a short build-up. 36 stocks see short-covering A decrease in OI along with a price increase is an indication of short-covering. Based on the OI percentage, 36 stocks were on the short-covering list. These included Navin Fluorine International, Coromandel International, Birlasoft, Gujarat Gas, and Delta Corp. Bulk deals (For more bulk deals, click here) Results on May 17 Stocks in the news Bharti Airtel: The telecom operator has recorded a massive 89.2 percent sequential growth in consolidated profit at Rs 3,005.6 crore for the quarter ended March FY23 due to lower tax cost. Profit in the previous quarter was impacted by an exceptional loss of Rs 669.8 crore. Revenue from operations for the quarter at Rs 36,009 crore grew by 0.6 percent over the previous quarter. Jindal Steel & Power: The steel producer has reported a 69.5 percent year-on-year decline in consolidated profit at Rs 465.66 crore for the March FY23 quarter, impacted by weakness in operating performance and a one-time loss of Rs 153 crore during the quarter. Revenue from operations for the quarter at Rs 13,692 crore declined by 4.5 percent compared to the same period last fiscal. JK Paper: The paper & packaging board company has registered a 15 percent year-on-year decline in consolidated profit at Rs 283.52 crore for the quarter ended March FY23, dented by dismal operating numbers. Revenue from operations for the quarter grew by 4.6 percent to Rs 1,719.4 crore compared to the corresponding period last fiscal. Bharat Petroleum Corporation: The oil marketing company has received board approval for the ethylene cracker project at Bina refinery including downstream petrochemical plants and expansion of refinery with capital expenditure of approximately Rs 49,000 crore. The company will also be setting up two 50 MW wind power plants for captive consumption one at Bina Refinery in Madhya Pradesh and another at Mumbai Refinery in Maharashtra, with a total project cost of Rs 978 crore. Oberoi Realty: The Mumbai-based real estate developer has recorded a 106.7 percent year-on-year growth in consolidated profit at Rs 480.3 crore for the quarter ended March FY23, backed by healthy topline and tax writeback, but the operating margin was weak. Revenue grew by 16.8 percent to Rs 961.4 crore compared to the year-ago period. Amber Enterprises India: The air conditioners and its component manufacturer has recorded an 82 percent year-on-year growth in consolidated profit at Rs 104 crore for the quarter ended March FY23. Revenue from operations for the quarter grew by 55 percent to Rs 3,002.6 crore compared to the same period last year. Fund Flow FII and DII data Foreign institutional investors (FII) bought shares worth Rs 1,406.86 crore, whereas domestic institutional investors (DII) sold shares worth Rs 886.17 crore on May 16, provisional data from the National Stock Exchange showed. Stocks under F&O ban on NSE The National Stock Exchange has added Balrampur Chini Mills and Manappuram Finance, and retained Delta Corp, GNFC, and Punjab National Bank on its F&O ban list for May 17. 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.
Shares of Vesuvius India Ltd (VIL) soared 20 percent on May 16 to a 52-week high at Rs 2,267.25, as investors cheered strong quarterly earnings. At 9:40am, the companys stock was quoting at Rs 2,211.85, up Rs 322.45, or 17.07 percent. The stock is up close to 40 percent year-to-date while it has spiked 127 percent in the past one year. Revenue from operations came in at Rs 365.1 crore during the March quarter as against Rs 310.12 crore in the corresponding quarter last year. Net profit surged to Rs 43.35 crore from Rs 23.63 posted a year ago. Overall, VILs revenue saw strong growth led by better demand in sectors like steel, cement, which consumes more than 80 percent of refractories products, highlighted ICICI Securities. Going forward, Vesuvius is well placed to capture domestic market share through focus on localised manufacturing and new product launches driving faster growth, it added. Additionally, higher steel production and technological advancement is expected to further drive refractories demand. The company is focused on capturing domestic market share through faster growth in the manufactured goods segment through localised manufacturing and new product launches. Operating margin expanded to 14.46 percent during the quarter under review from 10.24 percent in March quarter of 2022. Catch up on all LIVE stock market updates here VIL has shown excellent execution in controlling the cost and squeezing out healthy EBITDA margins in the March quarter as guided by the management. The revenue growth prospects for VIL remain strong with the introduction of new product lines namely monolithics and mould flux powder along with the expansion of existing capacities, said Monarch Networth Capital in an update. VIL, a subsidiary of UKs Vesuvius Group, is one of the leading metal flow engineering companies. The company supplies high performance refractory material to the steel industry and other process industries used for lining vessels such as blast furnaces, ladles and tundishes to enable them to withstand high temperatures or corrosive attack. The company holds around 11 percent market share in the Indian refractories industry.
Soon, insurance companies will have to offer coverage to surrogate mothers. Couples who have opted for this route will have to buy the coverage for the surrogate mothers. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has recently asked insurance companies to make suitable products available. Several couples, particularly celebrities, have walked down this path in recent years, boosting the acceptability of surrogacy in the country. As per the Surrogacy Act, 2012, Surrogacy (Regulation) Rules, 2022 and Assisted Reproductive Technology Act, 2021, couples intending to take the surrogacy route will have to purchase a health insurance policy in favour of the surrogate mother. The coverage will continue for 36 months and ought to be sufficient to cover all expenses for all complications arising out of pregnancy and also covering postpartum delivery complications, IRDAI said. Accordingly, the insurance regulator has asked companies to comply with both the Act and their rules. Also Read: Group insurance covers maternity costs, but only partially, finds an employee benefit survey Complications only, not routine maternity expenses Insurers say they will design products for the specific needs of such cases. Couples who have opted for this route will have to purchase the cover in favour of the surrogate mother and bear the premium cost, surrogacy regulations say. This involves designing a separate product for the purpose. The intent is that the biological parents have to provide for any health complications that the surrogate mother may suffer from, says Dr Bhabatosh Mishra, Director, Underwriting, Products and Claims, Niva Bupa Health Insurance. The need for such policies was felt as under regular health policies with maternity coverage, only biological mothers are covered. However, this does not mean that routine diagnostic tests or delivery charges will be paid for. Only complications arising during pregnancy and also post-delivery will be covered, says Mishra. That is, if the surrogate mother has a complication-free pregnancy, no claim can be made. Under an individual health insurance policy with maternity benefits, the coverage kicks in typically after a waiting period of four years. In this case, even regular delivery expenses are covered, albeit with a cap of Rs 35,000- Rs 1 lakh, depending on whether the delivery is normal or Caesarean. Group health covers provided by employers, on the other hand, pay for hospitalisation expenses during delivery without any waiting period. If the couple or women concerned have decided to opt for an oocyte donor, again they will have to buy a health cover for one year to fund treatment for complications arising out of the oocyte retrieval procedure. Oocyte donation, a part of in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) procedure, enables women with ovarian issues to conceive with the help of a donor. Also Read: How young couples can cover maternity costs via health insurance Grey areas make coverage a complex affair Some insurers say they will wait for further clarity before designing such products. The challenge lies in maintaining confidentiality, which is a critical clause in surrogacy. The name of the surrogate woman is to be kept under wraps in such cases. However, when it comes to insurance, we need to know the person who will be covered under the policy, says a senior industry executive who did not wish to be named. It is not possible to maintain secrecy as the insurer needs to know the person who is undergoing treatment at the hospital. Also, this could go against the principle of insurance, which exists to primarily cover uncertainties, but in this case, the cover is to be extended to someone who has already conceived, he points out. However, others point out that since only complications, and not pregnancy and delivery expenses, are covered, it will not fall in the category of anti-selection. Abhishek Bondia, Co-founder and Managing Director, SecureNow Insurance Brokers, points out that this will not act as a bottleneck. While pregnancy itself is a certainty, complications are not. This could make providing such insurance viable for companies. Insurance companies, however, will need to work around privacy concerns  of the couple involved as well as the surrogate mother - to provide the coverage. But couples will have to brace themselves for higher premiums. Premiums are likely to be expensive. For one, it is a policy that necessitates coverage for three years. Also, there is no waiting period involved (unlike in case of plans with maternity benefits), as the coverage will start immediately, says Bondia. Moneycontrols take Insurance policies are getting more advanced with every passing day and it is good that the insurance regulator is moving with the times. From attracting policyholders with lower premiums for a good health profile to innovative motor insurance policies, the good old insurance covers are now coming in with more variants. This new cover for surrogate mothers is a step ahead from the age-old maternity covers and in keeping with the times. Still, these are early days and insurance companies will have to work out the grey areas.
Beyon has announced a major investment of more than $250 million in state-of-the-art digital infrastructure, helping to support the acceleration of Bahrains digital transformation and the growth of the countrys digital economy.

This was announced at a press conference attended by Beyon Chairman Shaikh Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Khalifa. The Bahrain Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) General Director Phillip Marnick and SEA-ME-WE 6 Management Committee Chairperson Yue Meng Fai were also in attendance at the event, which took place at Centraal, Beyon Campus, Hamala, Bahrain.

During the event, Beyon CEO Mikkel Vinter announced that Batelco, part of the Beyon group, has joined the SEA-ME-WE 6 (Southeast Asia - Middle East - Western Europe) consortium, which is building a 21,700 km-long undersea telecommunications cable system connecting Bahrain with 14 other countries.

Additionally, Batelco is investing to build a regional subsea cable, the Al Khaleej Cable, which the company will fully own, enhancing the regions data exchange. Beyons CEO also announced Data Oasis, which will be the biggest technology hub in Bahrain and include a newly built advanced Data Centre for the company.

SEA-ME-WE 6 Superhighway: The cable system, offering one of the lowest latencies available between the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Western Europe, will significantly boost Beyons global network infrastructure. SEA-ME-WE 6 will have the capability of transferring more than 100 terabits per second. The new subsea cable will create a layer of network diversity and resilience for the heavily used routes connecting the Middle East towards Europe and Asia.

Al Khaleej Cable: This cable system will extend from Bahrain to other regional countries including Oman, UAE and Qatar. This fully owned subsea cable will help to diversify routes and augment international connectivity for the region.

Beyon Data Oasis: This initiative supports the ever-growing data movement. Beyon is developing Bahrains biggest and most advanced Data Centre that will be located within Beyon Data Oasis, being developed on a 140,000 sq m site located in the south of Bahrain.

Beyon Data Oasis will incorporate the SEA-ME-WE 6 and the Al Khaleej cables into the Data Centre, therefore enabling hyperscalers and businesses to access seamless integrated solutions and helping to strengthen Bahrains position as a leading regional technology hub.

Furthermore, the new Data Centre will feature multiple Megawatt power capacity and utilize clean power technologies provided by the Companys Solar Park, aligning with its sustainability plans to increase alternative power sources.

Shaikh Abdulla praised the major announcements that were made today, noting that a robust connectivity infrastructure is central to the growth of the digital economy and that these major initiatives will support the acceleration of the digital future for Bahrain in line with the Kingdoms vision 2030.

Vinter said: Beyon is delighted to join hands with other leading international communication companies and join the SEA-ME-WE 6 cable consortium which will support and strengthen connectivity in the region.

We are also pleased to reaffirm our commitment to building state-of-the-art facilities that help to attract global tech companies plus leading local and regional companies, by building Beyons new Data Centre, which will be the biggest in Bahrain.

Our significant Investment, the biggest of its kind in Bahrains history, reflects the immense importance we place on meeting the requirements of the business industry and our commitment to supporting the growth of Bahrains digital ecosystem, he added.

Marnick said: This is a very important announcement that will have a significant impact on the development of a robust digital connectivity infrastructure for the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The deployment of advanced technologies for citizens, residents, and businesses gives them access to the latest communication solutions, and also further enhances Bahrain's position as a leading digital hub.

Yue Meng Fai said: We are very happy to welcome Batelco to the consortium, which will directly connect Bahrain to the cable and enhance the overall coverage of the SEA-ME-WE 6.

With millions of people living and working remotely today, this new cable system will support all partners to provide superior broadband access along this multi-regional data superhighway, enabling them to meet and exceed capacity demands of their customers. By building more capacity and flexibility we are ensuring readiness for future needs.

In addition to Beyon in Bahrain, the SMW6 consortium includes its sister company Dhiraagu in the Maldives and additionally Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company, Bharti Airtel (India), China Unicom, Djibouti Telecom, Mobily (Saudi Arabia), Orange (France), PCCW Global, Singtel (Singapore), Sri Lanka Telecom, Telecom Egypt, TM (Malaysia), Telin (Indonesia) and Trans World Associates (Pakistan).

The SEA-ME-WE 6 submarine cable connectivity to Bahrain and Al Khaleej Cable are expected to be completed by Q2 2026. TradeArabia News Service
Two years after a first round of 16 businesses made carbon-reduction pledges, 10 more firms have pledged some steps to reduce climate emissions by the joining the Green Business Alliance.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan came to Charlottesville on Monday to celebrate.

It is so important to see the business community stepping up, McClellan told those gathered for the announcement on Monday morning. Im here to say thank you.

Appropriately, the event was held inside what is said to be the East Coasts tallest timber-frame building. Recently constructed on Garrett Street, Apex Plaza houses the more than 400 Charlottesville employees of Apex Clean Energy, a firm with interests in wind, solar and tidal energy systems. The buildings efficient construction and solar panels make the firms headquarters net-zero for electricity, said Apexs CEO Mark Goodwin, who lauded the local business community.

We have an ecosystem here, said Goodwin. Companies can really latch on to the green vibe thats going on in Charlottesville, and were proud to be a part of it.

Susan Kruse  the director of the group that created the alliance, the Community Climate Collaborative  said that the first cohort of alliance signees pledged in 2021 to reduce their carbon emission 45% within five years. She revealed some of their strides on Monday.

These founding members have installed more than 2,100 solar panels, more than 30 electric vehicle charging stations and have already achieved a 29% emission reductions in just two years, Kruse said to a round of applause from the approximately 100 assembled business leaders.

Kruse said the new cohort of 10 members has committed to reduce their emissions by 35% by 2027. She also noted that each member has also made an individual pledge to take action, ranging from a minimum of 30% and a maximum of 90%.

The 10 new alliance members are Charlottesville Albemarle Technical Education Center, East Point Energy, Hexagon Energy, Martin Horn, Pediatric Associates of Charlottesville, Piedmont Housing Alliance, the Southern Environmental Law Center, Thistlerock Mead Company, UVA Community Credit Union and Westminster Canterbury of the Blue Ridge.

Before she entered Congress two months ago, McClellan was a Virginia state Senator and key patron of the Virginias Clean Economy Act, a 2020 demand that the states electric utilities decarbonize by midcentury. While that Democratic initiative has come under fire as too as expensive by Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, McClellan said that collaboration she witnessed in Charlottesville Monday encouraged her.

It is possible to lead on business and lead on climate, said McClellan.
The Gurugram district administration has issued fresh orders asking residents of towers E and F of Chintels Paradiso housing complex in sector 109 to vacate the buildings in 15 days and directed officials to implement section 144 in the towers, officials privy to the development said. In February this year, an IIT-Delhi report declared towers E and F of Chintels Paradiso not safe for habitation after a portion of tower D had collapsed and killed two women in February 2022. Based on that recommendation, the district administration had ordered residents to vacate their flats. Officials said despite the evacuation orders some residents were still living in the towers in question so a fresh order has been issued and Deputy Town Planner (Enforcement) has been given the responsibility of the nodal officer to monitor the orders. Deputy Commissioner and Chairman of District Disaster Management Authority Nishant Kumar Yadav, said the towers E and F residents have to vacate their flats with immediate effect and orders have been passed to implement section 144 in the tower. Also Read: Chintels Paradiso case: Residents want builder to bear reconstruction cost, continue paying rent In view of the imminent danger to life and property of the residents of towers E and F, the Deputy Commissioner under section 34 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, has ordered the remaining residents to evacuate from the building to prevent danger to human life, health and safety, the Gurugram district administration order said. It stated that the residents residing in towers E and F shall vacate their respective premises within 15 days from the date of issue of the order and hand over the vacant flats to the developer. If anyone is found guilty of disobeying the issued orders, action will be taken against them in accordance with appropriate laws, the administration noted. In this regard, Chintels management informed the administration on April 28, 2023, that some flat holders have not vacated their units even after repeated attempts. Residents Take Vikram Gambhir, a resident of Chintels Paradiso, said that the deputy commissioner had assured the residents that the administration will go by the IIT report and will not accept any other audit but still the builder is getting another audit done by CBRI. The developer is taking shelter under the CBRI report so that he can do some cosmetic repairs and pass it on. Also Read: Chintels Paradiso: Residents say buyback rates offered by builder 30-35% lower than market price He said that the builder wants to pay the residents a meagre amount of Rs 6,500 per square foot, which is much below the current market price, and not enough to buy another apartment of the same size and specifications in the locality. On the reconstruction option, the developer wants to repair or reconstruct it depending upon the CBRI report, which is yet to come. So how can we make an informed decision on choosing an option within a week and leave our flat that too when the second audit report on repair or reconstruction of the tower is yet to come? I request the DC that the option selection exercise should be conducted after the CBRI submits its report on the repair or reconstruction issue. The developer should continue to pay rent for the temporary accommodation, Gambhir told Moneycontrol. The issue On February 10, 2022, the ceilings of several flats in tower D of the complex collapsed, killing two. Following the incident, besides a police investigation, a probe was ordered and IIT-Delhi was asked to conduct a structural audit. In November 2022, the Gurugram district administration ordered the demolition of tower D after it was found unfit for habitation. In February 2023, a separate IIT-Delhi report of towers E and F declared them not safe for habitation after which the district administration had, in the same month, ordered the evacuation of residents from these two towers. In March 2023, the administration again issued an order where it directed the developer to evacuate the residents and pay them rent for alternative accommodations at the rate of Rs 15 per square foot. Also Read: Chintels Paradiso case: Gurugram administration directs developer to settle residents' compensation claims in four months Chintels India Private Limited in April 2023 came up with two options. It has proposed to either pay an all-inclusive price of Rs 6,500 psf (on the super built-up area), plus the stamp duty paid by the flat owners. Or, it would get the property repaired or re-built by some reputed contractor per the technical requirements of CSIR-CBRI, and hand over possession within 36 months from the date of receipt of all necessary approvals. Earlier this month, the Gurugram district administration asked the developer to fully settle compensation claims of residents of towers D, E, and F in four months, or redevelop flats at the same property in three years.
The Mumbai Civic Body, also known as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), last week said it had issued notices to 65 flats for alleged illegally merging two flats in the Malad area of Mumbai. In this backdrop, Moneycontrol spoke to experts and the Authority to understand whether homebuyers can legally merge two flats into one entity, giving rise to jodi flats? Experts and real estate developers say such merger is legally possible, provided permission is sought from the BMC by submitting revised plans during construction. According to BMC officials, around 65 flats in Malad had illegally broken internal walls and converted two separate flats into jodi apartments, and in many cases, the ceiling of the flat was broken and two flats were converted into duplex apartments. This, the BMC said, was done without the permission of the civic body. In the recent past, the Mumbai real estate market has seen a plethora of advertisements of jodi and duplex apartments. Issues pointed out by BMC In a notice issued to one of the flat owners who had undertaken alleged illegal merger, the BMC said, "There is unauthorised alterations/internal chamges work-in-progress in your flat which is in contravention to the approved plan without obtaining any permission from the competent authority." The notice added, "Therefore, I, in exercise of powers and functions conferred upon me under Section 354A of the said Act, hereby direct you to stop the erection of the said building / execution of the said work forthwith and submit permission approved by the competent authority in favour of the erection of the said building or execution of the said work within 24 hours in my office." Can homebuyers merge flats? According to experts, homebuyers can legally turn two flats into one big apartment or convert two apartments into a duplex, but it requires proper permission from the BMC. "In simple words, merging of two flats is possible, and it would be legally permissible, if due permission is obtained from the Authority. This has to be done on project to project basis  that is, whether the merger is to be done horizontally or vertically to convert two apartments into a duplex, triplex or so on " said Vilas Nagalkar, an architect based in Mumbai. He added, "In case, it is a new project and the homebuyer is going to move into a jodi apartment or wants to convert two apartments into a duplex, the homebuyer should ask the developer to take all the permissions before (seeking the) occupancy certificate (OC). Else, he would have to seek these on his own after the OC is received. However, if it is an old society, the homeowner will require a no objection certificate (NOC) from the housing society. If the society is not formed, an NOC will be required from the developer. Additionally, a certificate will be needed from the licensed structural engineer stating that the merging of two or more flats will not affect the structural stability of the building." Kiran Dighavkar, Assistant Municipal Commissioner of the BMC whose office issued the notices, said, "Our intention for issuing the notices to these flat owners was to ensure that they take permission for the same. I would like to make it clear that making jodi flats, duplex flats is possible, but only if proper permission is taken." He added, "Also, taking permission and officially documenting the amalgamation will help the homebuyers in the long run, for instance, in the event of a mishap, fire, or natural calamity. It is advisable for homebuyers to undertake due diligence and take proper permission for merger of flats or apartments." Also read: The case of Mumbais disappearing balconiesand their reappearance What are developers doing to make the process easy? Moneycontrol had reported in October 2022, on how the purchase of jodi apartments has increased in Mumbai. One of the developers had told Moneycontrol of the concept of a 'soft wall' for merging of two flats. According to this soft wall concept, the developer decides the configuration of the material to be used for the wall by keeping in mind the possibility of merging the two flats. "We are constructing two towers in the Mazgaon area of Mumbai, where we have an inventory of 387 flats, by redeveloping the land belonging to Prince Aly Khan Hospital. We are in the pre-launch stage, where we already have around 70 bookings. There are a lot of enquiries for jodi apartments, where we are offering two apartments of 2 BHK. Bigger families or people looking for upgrades are the ones who buy jodi apartments," Vipin Mittal, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) - Projects, Aga Khan Agency for Habitat India, part of the Aga Khan Foundation, told Moneycontrol in October 2022. Also read: MC weekend guide: Are New York-style loft apartments the future of Mumbai real estate market? He added, "For this to happen, the common wall between the two apartments should be masonry (a soft wall) instead of RCC. Such a wall can be easily broken to merge the two flats. While combining the two apartments one must ensure that there is no damage or alteration to the structural elements. Also, the location of the wet areas (kitchen and toilets) should be retained. If a buyer approaches the developer during the construction stage, the developer can get it regularised from the BMC. If the buyer does it at a later stage, he can get it regularised on his own."
The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) board is scheduled to convene on May 19, as per knowledgeable sources, to discuss the possibility of disbursing a dividend to the government, as reported by Bloomberg. The meeting, to be held in Mumbai, will address the financial standing of the central bank and the potential amount that can be transferred to the government. The individuals providing this information requested anonymity due to the confidentiality of the matter. Traditionally, the RBI reviews its fiscal position during the May board meeting and determines the extent to which it can transfer funds to the government. At the time of reporting, an email inquiry to the RBI had not received an immediate response. The government has allocated a projected sum of 480 billion rupees ($5.8 billion) from the RBI and other financial institutions in which it holds stakes. Notably, analysts, including experts at Standard Chartered Plc, anticipate that the RBI's dividend for the financial year ending in March will range between 1 trillion rupees and 2 trillion rupees. In the previous year, the RBI disbursed a dividend of 303.1 billion rupees to the government. This information sets the backdrop for the upcoming board meeting where decisions regarding the dividend payout will be crucially deliberated.

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Shapoorji Pallonji group plans to raise $1.6 billion through private credit facility, according to people familiar with the development. The engineering and infrastructure major may pledge some of its shares in Tata Sons to raise the capital, they said. Deutsche Bank and Standard Chartered Bank are organising the deal. Shapoorji Pallonji is in talks with Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System, Varde Partners, Cerberus and Farallon Capital Management for the fund raising exercise. No remarks could be obtained from Shapoorji Pallonji, Deutsche Bank and Ontario Municipal. Part of the money will be used to refinance existing loans, the sources told news agency Bloomberg.

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Online lending start-up KreditBee is looking to set up physical stores to expand business and reduce loan processing time. This comes a few months after it raised $200 million in a Series D round despite the ongoing funding winter. Since its major fund-raise in January this year, the Bengaluru-based start-up has been diversifying its digital product offerings through B2B financial products, including unsecured small and medium enterprise (SME) loans. But now it will go phygital (physical and digital), Madhusudan Ekambaram, co-founder and CEO of KreditBee told Moneycontrol. KreditBee, originally known for its personal loan products, has already launched its unsecured SME loans of ticket sizes Rs 3-7 lakh with repayment tenures of 12-36 months. This line of credit currently adds up to about Rs 30 crore of monthly business, compared to Rs. 1,500 crore of business from other existing products, Ekambaram said. The start-up was earlier offering only personal loans of up to Rs 4 lakh to salaried individuals in partnership with non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), including IIFL Finance, Northern Arc Capital, Vivriti Capital, Poonawala Fincorp, PayU Finance, and Piramal Finance, among others. The platform is on track to surpass assets under management (AUM) of $1 billion over the next few months. Going Phygital Where many people are trying to go digital, what we realised is beyond a certain number of products, you have to go a little bit physical. So, it's a reverse journey for us. That's the diversification aspect for us in terms of what we're trying to do this year, Ekambaram said during an interaction on the sidelines of the Fintech Festival India in Mumbai. According to Ekambaram, through these channels, KreditBee will also be processing the loans faster. So, for loans that take seven to 10 days to process, the start-up is exploring ways to do that in 48-72 hours through these offline touch points by using its existing technology. It's not going to be as easy as the digital way of doing things. There are also going to be a lot of views because we are not the first ones to do this. There are already average expectations of how the physical stores would do it. But the biggest difference we are trying to bring in is add more digital perspective to it. So, there will be a lot of digital focus, even if it is a physical store, he added. KreditBee is going to set up its stores with a region-specific approach. These stores will first come up in various cities and towns of Karnataka by the end of FY24, and could follow a hub-and-spoke model, wherein there will be a main branch and multiple smaller dependent branches. It will first expand into the southern states followed by the rest of the country. Ekambaram said he will also hire industry leaders with expertise in traditional offline lending to run this vertical. On major fund-raise KreditBee raised $200 million in two tranches of Series D round from Azim Premjis Premji Invest, Advent International, Motilal Oswal Alternates, TPG-backed NewQuest Capital Partners, and Mirae Asset Ventures. While the start-up did not disclose its valuation post this round, according to TechCrunch, KreditBee is currently valued at around $680 million. There are different reasons why people raise funding. We have not been a burn company. We have been profitable from FY19 barring the COVID period. Typically, a lending company raises funding because of one technical reason which is called debt to equity leverage. That means, for every one rupee of equity, we can get about Rs 3-4 of debt for unsecured lending, Ekambaram said. So, now we have reached a certain threshold of debt to equity leverage, and therefore, we had to raise equity to further grow our AUM. So, that was the reason why we went for funding," he explained.
Shares of upstream oil firms like Oil India and ONGC darted up in morning trade on May 16 after the government slashed the windfall tax on crude petroleum exports to nil from Rs 4,100 per tonne. At 10am, Oil India was trading 2 percent up at Rs 264.70 on the BSE, while Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) climbed 1.3 percent to Rs 167.90. Catch up on all LIVE stock market updates here The windfall tax on crude petroleum has been slashed to nil from Rs 4,100 per tonne, according to a notification issued by the government late on May 15. The waiver will come into effect from today. Windfall tax, also referred to as the special additional excise duty (SAED), was already nil on aviation turbine fuel (ATF), petrol and diesel. This has been left unchanged. The decision to waive off the tax on crude petroleum as well was taken at the fortnightly review conducted by the finance ministry. In the previous review meeting held on May 1, the government had reduced the windfall tax on crude petroleum to Rs 4,100 from Rs 6,400 per tonne. Also Read: Indian equity markets and the intersection of crude oil, forex and interest rates "This nil windfall tax is on account of softening crude prices and can be increased based on the next fortnightly review. The current removal of windfall tax will increase the net oil realisation of upstream companies (ONGC in our coverage)," ICICI Securities said in a note. Windfall wax was introduced by the government on July 1, 2022, to charge the industry for the large profit it has been earning through the sale of refined crude in the international market. Its quantum is reviewed every fortnight, on the basis of the fluctuations in the international crude rates. Producers, including state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Vedanta-controlled Cairn, were impacted by the windfall tax on domestic crude. Global crude oil prices rose for the second straight day on May 16, propped up by US plans to purchase oil for its Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) and by raging wildfires in Canada that fuelled supply worries. Benchmark Brent crude futures inched up 0.4 percent to $75.53 a barrel. Earlier, ONGC had urged the government to withdraw profit tax on domestically produced crude oil and instead use the dividend route to tap into the bumper earnings resulting from a surge in global energy prices. Shares of ONGC have climbed over 11 percent on year-to-date basis, while Oil India is up 23 percent.
India's salt-to-software conglomerate Tata group has joined the elite club of iPhone makers, as it has started manufacturing the premium Apple gadget at a facility located close to Bengaluru, a report said on May 16. The production of iPhone has been initiated by the company at the factory of Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Wistron in Narasapura, located on the outskirts of Bengaluru, the Times of India reported. Tata has sought to acquire the factory from Wistron, the report added, citing multiple sources. "The Tatas are already manufacturing the iPhone at Wistron facility. Their representatives and officials have started getting involved in the operations, HR, and administration. They are getting trained on the operations and processes," persons privy to the development told the newspaper. The sources were further reported as saying that Wistron has "decided to fully exit the Apple operations", and will focus on other non-Apple products in India. Moneycontrol could not independently verify the developments. The report comes weeks after Apple chief executive officer Tim Cook held a meeting with N Chandrasekaran, the chairman of Tata group holding entity Tata Sons, during his visit to India. The meeting came at a time when Apple is betting on India to become a key manufacturing hub in order to diversify its manufacturing capabilities beyond China. The company, so far, relied on contract manufacturers such as Foxconn, Wistron, and Pegatron for the local production of iPhone units. Apple clocked iPhone exports of about $5 billion-$5.5 billion from India in FY23, accounting for nearly half of the country's mobile phone exports, according to estimates from industry sources. The Cupertino tech giant captured 25 percent of 'Made in India' smartphone shipments in terms of value in 2022, as compared to 12 percent in 2021, as per a Counterpoint Research report. Apples partners Foxconn and Wistron were the fastest growing manufacturers among the top 10 in Q4 2022, fuelled by increasing exports from Apple, the report added. Apple is also currently the leader in India's premium smartphone market (above Rs 30,000) and the country's smartphone market in terms of shipment value in Q4 2022, Counterpoint Research had mentioned in a separate report. It clocked record shipments of over 6.5 million in 2022, registering a 16 percent growth YoY, the firm noted. The company's overall market share in India's smartphone market is, however, still around 5 percent.
As trade tensions between Washington and Beijing show little signs of easing, US companies like Tesla are rapidly realising the need of shifting their focus away from China. A group of senior executives from Tesla Inc. is planning to visit India on Wednesday and Thursday. C-suite executives and managers from Austin, Texas-based Teslas supply chain, are expected to be among the visitors. The purpose of the visit is to engage with federal government officials and explore opportunities to enhance the carmaker's supply chain in the country as it seeks to expand beyond China. According to the report, the executives are expected to restate Tesla's demand that India reduce import duties on its cars. The executives are scheduled to hold meetings with government representatives, including officials from the office of prime minister Narendra Modi. The discussions will revolve around the possibility of local sourcing of components for Tesla's car models. The sources have requested anonymity due to the confidential nature of the plans. This visit could mark a significant turning point in the relationship between India and Tesla, as the electric vehicle manufacturer is yet to establish a notable presence in the country. By engaging with Indian authorities, Tesla aims to pave the way for potential future operations in one of the world's largest automobile markets. India has been actively promoting the adoption of electric vehicles to combat air pollution and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. With the Indian government's push towards electric mobility, Tesla's entry into the market could offer an attractive proposition for both parties. Expanding its supply chain in India would not only allow Tesla to diversify its operations away from China but also align with the Indian government's "Make in India" initiative, which encourages domestic manufacturing and sourcing. The Tesla executives' visit comes as welcome news after Elon Musk had halted Tesla's plans to enter the Indian market last year after a prolonged standoff with the Indian government over reduced tariffs. As PM Modi works to establish India as a global manufacturing hub, sourcing more products from here could help Tesla win the Indian government's support. The PM Modi administration has so far had a lukewarm relationship with Tesla and had stated there is "no problem" if the automobile company is ready to manufacture electric vehicles in India, but the it must not import automobiles from China., Also read: India welcomes Tesla and other EV investments as long as the vehicles are made in India: Nitin Gadkari However, while the specifics of Tesla's plans for India remain undisclosed, this visit signals the company's intention to establish a stronger foothold in the country and tap into its growing electric vehicle market. As Tesla explores avenues for collaboration and local partnerships, industry observers eagerly await further developments in this budding relationship. While Tesla has had trouble expanding into India, its rival Mercedes-Benz AG has made efforts to sell locally-made vehicles. The Germany company is placing its bets on India due to the increasing demand for electric vehicles in the country. Last month, the German luxury carmaker announced its plans to launch four new electric vehicles in India in the next 8-12 months to accelerate its electric mobility drive. Apple Inc., the iPhone maker, has chosen India as a secondary manufacturing hub and now generates 7% of the world's smartphone output here. Also Read: iPhone maker Foxconn plans $700 million plant in Bengaluru
A sardine rush to Indian coasts since last year has raised the fortunes of the fish meal units that produce essential raw material for the aquaculture feed industry Indian producers exported more volumes of sardine-based fish meal that fetched better prices, by cashing in on the global shortage of the product last year. Fish meal is a product made from unused sea-caught fish and fish waste and goes into the making of fish and animal feed. With the growth of the aquaculture industry and its dominance in seafood exports, demand for fish meal has increased in the past few years. The meal made from sardines has higher oil content, making the feed nutrient-rich for the faster and better growth of fish. Sardine being a cheaper and popular edible fish, its use for fish meal units had been limited due to shortages in the last few years. Sardines surged on Indian coasts, particularly in Kerala and Karnataka, after a gap of around three years in 2022. As per the estimates of the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), the oil sardine landing stood at 251,257 tonnes last year. In the previous two years, sardine landings were between 80,000 and 90,000 tonnes. In 2019 and 2018, sardine landings were between 145,000 and 155,000 tonnes. It was in 2017 that last major haul of sardines happened when the catch went over 337,000 tonnes. There are around 68 fish meal producing units spread mainly in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra with a combined output of around 300,000 tonnes per annum. Peruvian exports decline ``There was a global shortage as fish meal volumes from Peru, the biggest producer, was down. So, we were able to export more at better prices of $1,500 per tonne compared to around $1,200 in the previous year. In FY23, the export doubled to 50 percent of production, said Dawood Sait, president of the Indian Marine Ingredients Association. Perus fish meal industry is mostly anchovy-based. On the other hand, Indian fish meal industry depends on a variety of fish such as sardine, mackerel and scad apart from anchovy for production, Sait said. Fish oil, a byproduct in fish meal production, also went at a higher price from India as its production in Peru was lower because of poor catch. ``Fish oil fetched $4,000 to $6,000 per tonne in the world markets compared to $2,000 to $2,300 per tonne earlier, he pointed out. Booming export let fish meal units to purchase sardines at a better price from the fishermen. ` `The fishermen got around Rs 40 per kg for their sardine catch. They used to get Rs 15 to 20 per kg in the last few years. And this time the oil content, which used to be between 3-6 percent was higher at 10 per cent or more, said George Lukose, a fishmeal industry consultant. Boat operators also said the fish landings, particularly that of sardines, were higher last year. `` The fishing inactivity during the first Covid-19 lockdown and the restricted fishing operations after that could be a reason for the higher catches, said Joseph Xavier Kalappurakkal, general secretary of the All Kerala Fishing Boat Operators Association. As the fish meal export increased, the domestic shrimp feed units had to shell out more to buy the raw material, which pushed up their cost of production. ``The fish meal prices last year ranged from Rs 135 to 150 per kg, up by Rs 30 to 40. The alternative was import, which was difficult because of duty and costly dollar. The fish meal shortage may persist as the coastal states will soon implement the annual fishing ban during monsoon, said C R Rao, joint managing director of Avanti Feeds. Demand outstrips supply The feed industry has requested the government to impose duty or restrict fish meal export for the benefit of the local feed industry. Over the last decade, the rapid growth in aquaculture activities in the country has made India the second largest shrimp producer after Ecuador with an annual output over 900,000 tonnes. But the fishmeal industry in the country has not grown in tandem. The upshot is that fishmeal demand has outstripped supply. The fishmeal industry is against curbs of export, especially the present moratorium on export by units since 2018. `` Fish meal production can be a huge money spinner for the country. China, a major consumer of fish meal, has got a taste of our sardine-based product and is now a regular buyer. If a smaller country like Peru with anchovy-based fish meal can be the top supplier, India with a bigger coastline and variety of fishes can do much better. The government should take steps to promote fish meal industry in a sustainable way, Sait said. Will sardine flow continue into Indian coasts this year? CMFRI scientists said they will be able assess this only by the second half of this year, when the catches swell. They attributed decrease in sardine catches partly to the El Nino weather phenomenon associated with the warming of ocean surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean. It may have caused a temperature disturbance in Indian waters, causing sardines to migrate away from the coast. They have returned a year after La Nina, the phenomenon that is the opposite of El Nino, set in. Even without EL Nino, the sardine depletion in the coasts can happen every few years, they said.
India and China, locked in a stand-off at certain points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh region, held major general-level talks in the sensitive Daulat Beg Oldie sector on May 16, according to a news report. "The two sides discussed ways of resolving the ongoing stand-off between two sides and was routine in nature," news agency ANI reported, adding that the Indian Army and China's People's Liberation Army were represented by major general-level officials in the meeting. Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report. The discussions come around two weeks after Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Chinese counterpart Li Shangfu held "frank discussions" on the border-related developments and Sino-Indian bilateral ties. The two ministers had frank discussions about the developments in the India-China border areas as well as bilateral relations. The Raksha Mantri categorically conveyed that development of relations between India and China is premised on prevalence of peace and tranquility at the borders," the Indian Ministry of Defence had stated on April 28. The stand-off in the Ladakh sector of LAC had erupted in April-May 2020, after the Chinese forces had attempted to unilaterally change the status quo in the region. The tensions had escalated in June 2020, after a clash in Galwan Valley led to 20 Indian soldiers losing their lives. The Chinese side had also suffered casualties, but did not release the details. After several rounds of military and diplomatic-level talks, a partial disengagement was reached in August 2021, when the forces on either sides had pulled back their troops from the Gogra-Hot Springs sector. However, the stand-off continues to remain in some of the other friction points of eastern Ladakh region.

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A cow stuck in a pond in an area of sticky blackjack soil required a little nudging and assistance from the Little Fork Volunteer Technical Large Animal Rescue Team.

The entire area of the rescue conducted on the afternoon of May 6 consists of blackjack soil and recent rains have not helped the situation, according to a post from the Rixeyville rescue team.

The 1,000-pound cow had not moved in over seven hours when the team arrived, and the concern was the possibility of her being stuck in the pond.

Crews arrived and quickly determined the animal was, in fact, in very deep mud and very tired, but had moved a little. The rescue team developed a simple, initial, self-rescue plan using a rope stretched across the water and placing it on the opposite side of where they wanted the cow to move.

The rope was used to gently tap her rear end, just enough annoyance for her to move. The mud was very deep, according to rescuers. The cow stopped every three to four feet to build her strength back up for the next move.

It took her an hour to finally drag herself through the mud, eventually exiting the pond. Once the cow was out she did not have the strength to stand, according to the animal rescue team.

We assisted the owners with placing a pen around her (so she would not go back into the pond). A vet had been summoned and we returned to our station, according to the post.

We would like to thank the eight volunteers who assisted with the on scene operation and the 10 volunteers who covered our station during our absence.

Little Fork Volunteer Technical Large Animal Rescue Team, the only all-volunteer team of its type in Virginia, depends on community donations. Support the team littleforkvfrc.org
The US Department of State's Principal Deputy Spokesperson, Vedant Patel, highlighted the deepening partnership between Washington and New Delhi on Monday (local time). "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 Patel when asked about PM Modi's Official State Visit to the United States on June 22, 2023. US President Joe Biden will host Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will travel to the US for the first time in nine years from June 21-24. Modi is likely to meet Biden at least four times within a month, between May 19 and June 22, as both will simultaneously travel to Australia, Japan, and Papua New Guinea. The G-7 summit will be held in Hiroshima (Japan) on May 19-21, followed by a summit of Pacific Island leaders in Papua New Guinea, and a summit of Quad leaders in Australia. 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." Patel also discussed some global challenges, such as addressing the climate crisis and global health. "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 had 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. (With Inputs from ANI)
In May 2021, the Supreme Court directed the Union government to build a national database of unorganised workers. Subsequently, the e-Shram Portal, an essential and fundamental step towards organising the unorganised workers, was taken up by the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment. It attempts to bring unorganised workers under one umbrella and claims to be the first-ever national, unified database of such workers. According to ILO (2020), around 90 percent of Indias workforce is engaged in the unorganised sector, which absorbs most of the internal migrants. The 2011 Census enumerated 450 million internal migrants and this is estimated to increase to 600 million by 2021. Therefore, creating a comprehensive, accurate and accessible database is the need of the hour. Longstanding Social Security Demands Despite the economic and even social and cultural contribution of migrants to both source and destination states, they remain invisible and ignored actors. Evidently, they are subject to multiple layers of interlocking discrimination and oppression. The exodus of migrants during the lockdown centred the nations attention on their plight. Growing informality, precarity and risk have increased the strain on the informal labour market and, consequently, on internal migrants. It ultimately demands a robust social security network to protect these precarious human resources. One needs massive investments by prioritising social insurance and social assistance schemes and their universalisation. Since the early 1990s, there has been a growing demand to provide social security to migrant workers. In the institutional mechanism of the existing social security frameworks, the potential claimant will get the entitlements only after its identification. Consequently, lack of documentation and registration is one of the significant causes of migrants exclusion. The missing status of migrants from the documentation and statistical exclusion push them to multiple vulnerabilities and poly-victimisation. Policy-Data Link Theirinvisibility functioned as a pivotal contributor to the unprecedented crisis during and after lockdowns. GoI should prioritise and provide adequate attention to creating reliable migration data, as there is ambiguity in the available database and statistics of internal migrants. A comprehensive and effective migration policy formulation is highly dependent on credible data availability. Hence, creating a valid database of internal migrants and data-driven inclusion is crucial for their empowerment. In this context, the Kerala Migration Surveys (KMS) were a pioneer in migration surveys and creating a longitudinal database since 1998. KMS has been the bedrock of many welfare programmes of the Kerala government. Its reliable estimates proved to be extremely useful in crisis management during the Covid pandemic. The KMS model of migration surveys were already replicated in Gujarat, Punjab, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, Orissa. Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Telangana are making some progress to replicate it. E-Shrams A Great Start, But The Union Labour and Employment ministrys decision to launch the e-Shram portal for registering unorganised workers will benefit a large number of internal migrants. It will create a national database of workers seeded with their Aadhaar cards, containing details such as name, address, occupation, occupation type, educational qualification, skill types and family details of the workers. More than 288 million workers have registered, of which 52.75 percent are female. Female migrants in the unorganised sector are a distinctive category which constitutes a substantial proportion yet remain scattered in the labour market and experience vulnerabilities. Therefore, increasing female registration is exceptionally noteworthy to formulate gender-sensitive policies. However, there are specific challenges regarding the e-Shram portal which need addressing at the earliest. One is the issue of linking mobile phones with their Aadhaar cards. Not all migrant unorganised workers have a permanent mobile number. If they have one, it may not be linked to their Aadhaar cards. Therefore, the worker must fulfil these prerequisites to proceed with registration on the portal, and no alternative option is available. Aadhaar-seeding is a cumbersome process which has its own technical and infrastructural issues. Migrants who do not have their Aadhar linked to their mobile numbers will automatically be excluded. At times, Aadhaar-related online work faces outage issues and the entire process remains stalled for a few hours or days. Make It Work: Triad Of Data, Portal, Benefits The preliminary study conducted by authors revealed that some workers have a false hope regarding the portal and believe that after registering, they will get some money and it will be deposited in their bank accounts. There needs to be clarity from the government regarding the precise benefits workers will receive after enrolling other than accident insurance. Another concern is that the registration remains regionally skewed towards a few states, such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. In contrast, other lead source states such as Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Assam have a low registration rate. Migrants in the unorganised sector are not a homogenous category, and hence, to elucidate the dynamics, trends and patterns of internal migration and the unorganised sector, one must take regular steps to disaggregate the database. It is critical to identify migrants among unorganised workers. Along with the traditional surveys and registration methods, one should collect the data through the participation of local-level authorities and different organisations such as Self-Help Groups. There is a concern for data protection and privacy, and one could accordingly develop an essential ethical framework for the same. The registration through the portal is a target-oriented initiative aiming to register around 380 million workers through online and offline routes. However, after quantifying the beneficiaries, one must make critical and committed efforts to improve their working conditions and quality of life. In conclusion, the e-Shram portal is a preliminary and commendable initiative; however, in the near future, major milestones must be achieved for the meaningful inclusion of internal migrants engaged in the unorganised sector S Irudaya Rajan and Kuldeepsingh Rajput are Chair and Senior Research Fellow respectively at the International Institute of Migration and Development (IIMAD), Kerala. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication.
Why does the Modi-Shah electoral machine fight each state election like an existential battle? And what impact does a loss like Karnataka have on the authority of the BJPs national leadership? To understand these questions, lets first try to capture the essence of Modi-Shahs duopoly by placing it in the context of the partys evolution. When the BJP first assumed national power under the Vajpayee-Advani partnership, the prime object of the party was survival. Being part of the larger NDA, which included secular and socialist parties, the national party sought legitimation within the established norms of parliamentary democracy. While ideological expansion was outsourced to the RSS (along with key ministries like education), political thrust was given to the accommodative approach of working through traditional power networks, rather than seeking to replace them. Concentration Of Power The Modi-Shah BJP (the charismatic leader and his organisational Chanakya fused into one centre of authority) is a remarkably different creature. The partys prime objective, ever since storming to power in 2014, has been to become the countrys dominant party. This is not a moral/normative claim but a descriptive one. The power-strategies of parties are, after all, governed by their political capacity. The Modi-Shah BJP has achieved its object of domination, over the last decade, through two steps. First, the concentration of political power (not just of the party, but of the political system writ large) within the national leadership. Second, using that concentrated power, among other things, to build a formidable electoral machine, centred on the PMs charismatic appeal. This strategy has brought the BJP unprecedented electoral success, including the second Modi wave of 2019. Finally, electoral successes loop back into further concentration of power, completing the circle of political domination. Political Legitimacy This virtuous cycle of political domination is based on the perception of Modi-Shahs unmatched ability to keep winning elections. It is the aura of electoral invincibility that confers political legitimacy on the leadership, beyond their ideological appeal. As the PM stated in his parliamentary defence on the Adani issue, he did not need to answer the oppositions questions because he drew his legitimacy directly from the people (Janta ka Ashirwad) as supported by his superior electoral record. Thus, electoral reverses in states like Karnataka do have a significant impact on the authority of Modi-Shah. It is often cited that the three state elections the BJP lost to the Congress in December 2018 had no demonstrable effect on the national election five months later. But it is often forgotten that in the immediate aftermath of these losses, the Mood of the Nation Survey released in January 2019 had shown that Modi remained the PM choice only for 46 percent, his lowest ratings of the first term. Incidentally, Rahul Gandhi had jumped then to 34 percent. The only other time Modis ratings, on the PM question in the MOTN survey, dipped was in Aug 2021, when they cratered to below 30 percent, as many right-wing respondents switched over to Yogi Adityanath. This was, of course, in the aftermath of the second devastating Covid wave. But it also followed a few months after the Bengal defeat, where the BJP got soundly defeated despite the personalised Modi campaign. It is of course a truism that electoral victories strengthen leaders, and defeat weakens them. But the argument being made is a little more complex. If there is indeed a virtuous cycle that compounds the dominant power of the Modi-Shah BJP, there must also exist a corresponding vicious cycle. And this vicious cycle can only start with electoral losses. Every dominant system has enough contradictions lurking under the surface waiting for the opportune moment. Perceptions of weakness can change the political leverage the leadership enjoys with certain opposition parties, as well as the leverage commanded over various institutional actors. Lets take the case of Modi-Shah and the Hindutva support base. The Sangathans Deference The Hindutva support base, most importantly the RSS, cedes autonomy to Modi-Shah to undertake pragmatic political maneuvers (such as breaking other parties and incorporating their leaders into important positions) as long as they win elections. The reports about RSSs discomfiture with Modis personality cult have been grossly exaggerated, as experts on the saffron formation like Walter Anderson have repeatedly asserted. In fact, as Anderson has claimed, never before have the RSS and BJP functioned so much in unison as in the Modi era. The BJPs domination has afforded the RSS an unprecedented access of state power and opportunities for grassroots expansion. Electoral victories built on Modis charisma, particularly in new terrains, are thus key for the Modi-Shah duo to reinforce their indispensable position, and maintain its bargaining power over the RSS. However, as the Karnataka election reminded us, for all the books on the signature organisational management of Amit Shah, the digital campaigns and panna pramukhs, the BJP still struggles in states where it does not possess the hardware of RSS cadres. In Karnataka, RSS shakhas are concentrated in the coastal region, which is also the only region where the BJPs Hindutva campaign actually worked. Communal mobilisation is hard to achieve merely through the saturation of airwaves. The historian Ian Copland once summarised the starkly different conception of leadership among VD Savarkars Hindu Mahasabha and MS Golwalkars RSS. Savarkar extolled the idea of a great personality whose charismatic appeal could become the focal point for the nations fast-track Hindutva awakening. The RSS centred the idea of the sangathan, patient organisational-building to bring about the realisation of Hindu nation through an evolutionary change in peoples consciousness. The RSSs conception of ideological change, of course, proved far more sustainable. The Hindu Mahasabha, tethered to a narrow social base of upper-caste landlords and princely elite, and perished in a series of fatal splits. The RSS have adapted to the post-2014 personality cult paradigm, first with Modi and then with Yogi, in the hope that these leaders could help them access constituencies beyond their sangathan. Yet, if one looks at state elections (besides Assam and the North East), the Modi-Shah machine hasnt really conquered a new state for the BJP post-2014. The major states the BJP presently holds in its control (again besides Assam) are Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, states where they had entered into government by the early to mid-1990s. Of course, the leaderships success at the national level probably still justifies the RSSs loyalty to them. But every bargain is contingent and subject to re-evaluation, which is what makes every election important for the Modi-Shah duopoly. Asim Ali is a political researcher. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Tuesday that changes brought in by his government in the recruitment system have ended the possibility of corruption and nepotism as he gave away appointment letters to over 71,000 people at a 'Rozgar Mela'. From applying for government jobs to the announcement of results, the entire process has been made online, he said while elaborating on employment opportunities and infrastructure development ushered by the BJP dispensation at the Centre in the last nine years. "The possibility of corruption and nepotism in recruitment for government jobs has now ended," Modi said. He referred to his recent meetings with CEOs of leading global companies, including Walmart, Apple, Foxconn and Cisco, to assert that there is "unprecedented positivity" about industry and investment in the country. The prime minister cited EPFO net payroll figures to say that over 4.5 crore people have got jobs since 2018-19 as formal employment has been growing. FDI and the country's record export have been creating employment opportunities in every corner of India, he said, noting that the nature of jobs has also been changing with his government constantly supporting the emerging sectors. The country has seen a revolution in the start-up sector and their numbers have risen to nearly a lakh from a few hundred before 2014, the year the BJP came to power at the Centre, he said, adding that they are estimated to have provided a minimum 10 lakh jobs. Citing development figures in the last one year, he said the length of rural roads has risen to 7.25-lakh km from 4-lakh km while the number of airports has gone up from 74 to nearly 150. Construction of over 4 crore pucca houses under a government housing scheme for the poor has also created a lot of employment opportunities, Modi said. He also said that the number of universities has grown to 1,100 from around 720 in 2014 while there are now 700 medical colleges against 400 earlier.
A real estate CEO has placed the blame for slowing economy squarely on the shoulders of selfish remote workers who refuse to return to office. Nicole Duncan, CEO and Managing Director of CR Commercial Property Group in Sydney, Australia, slammed remote workers as selfish during a call to a commercial radio station on May 15, the New York Post reported. In our younger days we caught trains, buses, ferries to get to work, she said. This generation is just selfish. Duncan admitted that it sometimes took two to three hours to get to office, but deemed it necessary. Yes it did take two or three hours, but youve got to be in the office, she said. She also described how young people working from home was negatively affecting local businesses. Duncan explained that fewer people working from office meant business travel was reduced, hotels suffered while office cleaners and cafeteria workers also lost their jobs. Hotels are suffering  theres less business travel, they do it all on (Microsoft) Teams  cleaners, people who make your coffee, lunches, all of those sorts of things, she said. We want a vibrant city for visitors to come to, and it needs to look busy, it needs to look vibrant, it doesnt need to look as slow and rambling. Remote work has proved to be an enduring legacy of the pandemic, with employees across the world refusing to return to office. Small businesses, however, are struggling to adjust with this change of pace, The Guardian has reported. Restaurants, pubs and hotels have seen a decrease in footfall in Australia, where office vacancy rate is at an all-time high of 13%.
Mumbai Police has responded to social media users who flagged Bollywood celebrities - legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan and actor-producer Anushka Sharma - for violating traffic rules, days after both actors were seen riding pillion on bikes without wearing helmets, sparking concerns among their fans. Amitabh Bachchan, known for his iconic roles and immense contribution to the Indian film industry, shared a photo on Instagram days ago wherein he expressed his gratitude to an unknown bike rider who helped him reach his work location on time and avoid traffic jams. However, what caught the attention of netizens was the fact that neither Bachchan nor the rider was wearing a helmet. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Amitabh Bachchan (@amitabhbachchan) Soon after, Anushka Sharma was caught in a similar situation. A video surfaced online showing her hopping on a bike with her bodyguard to avoid a roadblock. Just like Bachchan, Sharma was seen without a helmet during the ride. Her bodyguard was also not wearing one. #AnushkaSharma ditches the car and takes a bike ride to travel in the city! pic.twitter.com/jUwiCsyhbJ  Pinkvilla (@pinkvilla) May 15, 2023 Twitter users promptly tagged the official Mumbai Police social media accounts, sharing the photos and videos of the actors violating traffic safety regulations. The Mumbai Police, known for their proactive approach on social media, responded to the users, stating, "We have shared this with the traffic branch." While Mumbai Police has acknowledged the matter and assured the public that it has been brought to the attention of the traffic branch, the branch itself has not yet made any public statements or issued any official tweets regarding the violations. Read: Amitabh Bachchan beats traffic by hitching bike ride from stranger - without helmet 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 while taking bike rides.
Go First's Interim Resolution Professional (IRP) Abilash Lal told the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) that the cash-strapped airline has accumulated disproportionate liabilities because of grounding of aircraft. The IRP's affidavit at NCLT claimed that the company was not at a default with any financial creditors, as on the date of its filing. "Due to substantial grounding of its aircraft for a long time because of operational difficulties, the company has accumulated disproportionate liabilities, including those towards lessors of the aircraft," it argued. Citing the operational accounts, the affidavit said there is a very high probability that due to the substantial overdues, lessors and other creditors who are guaranteed by the Standard Letter of Credit (SBLCs) and Bank Guarantees (BGs) issued to them by the company, would invoke these. "The company is anyway operating with reduced capacity and is not left with sufficient resources to pay its operating cost, overdue creditors and make good the potential devolvement of SBLCs and BGs. Hence, the company has decided to go for a resolution under Section 10 of the IBC," it said. Despite the NCLT having admitted the plea for the airline's voluntary insolvency on May 10, aircraft lessors have appealed against it before the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT). The NCLAT is expected to pronounce its verdict on the lessors' plea on May 22. On May 15, the debt-laden airline's resolution professional alleged that the lessors issued a letter of termination after Go First announced its plans to initiate insolvency. The letter was issued to defeat the purpose of IBC. The IRP further argued that airline's fortunes will change if engine maker Pratt and Whitney supplies them 10 engines a month as mandated by Singapore arbitral tribunal. Questioning the intentions of the lessors for objecting to the company's plans for voluntary insolvency, the RP argued that the lessors had not terminated the leases when the dues to them increased, however they terminated the leases immediately after the airline announced plans for insolvency. Responding to the allegations by the IRP, lessors argued that Go First created a sense of false urgency by suddenly halting its operations and approaching the NCLT for insolvency, even when the aircrafts were flying. Saying thus, the lessors questioned the rationale behind Go First's sudden plans to file a plea for voluntary insolvency.
The founder of a Taiwanese airline flew down to Japan to apologise in-person for a long delay that forced passengers to spend the night at the airport. According to Taiwan News, Chang Kuo-wei, chairman of Starlux Airlines, flew to Tokyo Narita Airport in Japan on May 7 after a series of problems forced passengers to spend the previous night at the airport in sleeping bags. Passengers on flight JX803 were initially supposed to board at 3.45 pm on May 6, but were told their flight had been pushed to 4.20 pm without any explanation. At 5.30 pm, boarding had still not begun  and in the meantime, passengers of flight JX801 also joined the waiting JX803 passengers. A Starlux staff member informed passengers that the two flights were being merged. Passengers of flight JX803 grew increasingly annoyed by this, as they realised their flight had not been delayed because of weather but so that the two flights could merge and leave together as one. As (the airline) did not want to send another airplane to transport passengers on JX801, the time of passengers on JX803 was sacrificed so passengers on JX801 could be flown back together, wrote Sky Chen, a passenger who complained about the experience in a Facebook post. Boarding for the flight finally began at 7 pm  well past its original take-off time of 3.45 pm. However, the ordeal wasnt yet over. After boarding, passengers were told that flight crew had exceeded their permissible working hours and therefore they would have to wait for a new crew. Passengers were kept on the plane till midnight, and the flight was then cancelled because of Tokyo Narita Airports curfew. Even then, they were not allowed to leave the aircraft until 1 am, when sleeping bags were procured for them. They were then forced to sleep at the airport. While the airline provided dinner, they had to buy their own breakfast the next morning. Passengers were told the flight would take off at 6 am in the morning, but it was delayed yet again to 8 am. In the morning, Starlux Airlines founder Chang Kuo-wei arrived at the airport to personally apologise to the stranded passengers. Kuo-wei blamed bad weather for the delays  an explanation that few bought  and also promised passengers a full refund.
Indian cuisine has found fans across the world  King Charles III counts an Indian restaurant in London among his favourites, while Lady Gaga has said she loves curry. The latest entrant on the list of Indian food lovers, apparently, is Elon Musk. When one of Musks Twitter followers shared a post praising Indian food, the Tesla billionaire was in full agreement. I love basic b**** Indian food its so insanely good, wrote Twitter user Daniel, sharing a picture of butter chicken, naan and rice. True, responded Elon Musk. His tweet quickly went viral, clocking half a million views within an hour of being posted. True  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 16, 2023 Immediately, the Tesla CEOs replies section was filled with suggestions and recommendations. The Indian food you had growing up in South Africa is probably nowhere as good to what my mum (non vegetarian) or my mum in law (vegetarian) can cook up in a jiffy, wrote one Twitter user, inviting Musk over for a meal. The Indian food you had growing up in South Africa is probably nowhere as good to what my mum (non vegetarian) or my mum in law (vegetarian) can cook up in a jiffy. And I can testify they find mavericks more endearing than annoying too! Youd be welcome over a meal if youd like.  Puneet Sahani (@puneet_sahani) May 16, 2023 Please plan a visit to India for the real taste of India, another said. Try yourself, there are thousands of varieties you have to try everyday some different dishes. Please plan a visit to India for the real taste of India :)  Shailendra Pandey (@shailfilm) May 16, 2023 Several Twitter users invited Elon Musk to India to try real Indian food, while others thanked him for praising Indian food on an international platform. Thanks @elonmusk https://t.co/73M1sKPfw8  RANJEET MEENA (@theranjeetmeena) May 16, 2023 When will you visit India and try authentic foods of different varieties across 28 states & 8 union territories ??? You can enjoy each states having different cultures, different foods, different languages, different people.@elonmusk https://t.co/J9WzUmuiWc  Subrat Pradhan (@subrat4141) May 16, 2023 India is home to several different kinds of cuisines. Recently, the US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, tried traditional Maharashtrian cuisine at the Maharashtra Bhawan in Delhi. He tasted kokum ka sherbet, vada pav, sago, bharli vangi and saoji mutton, among other dishes before finishing off the incredible meal with puran poli.
In a remarkable incident, a pregnant woman gave birth to a baby on a moving bus, with the assistance of a woman conductor from the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC). The incident took place on the Bangalore-Chikmagalur route, and both the mother and the infant are in good health, news agency ANI reported. The event unfolded on Monday afternoon when the pregnant woman aboard the bus began experiencing intense labour pains. Acting swiftly, the woman conductor, identified as S. Vasanthamm, promptly requested the driver to halt the bus and asked the passengers to disembark. She then stepped forward to assist the woman in delivering her baby right there on the bus. Amidst the unexpected situation, the crew of the bus displayed incredible compassion and resourcefulness. Recognising that the woman was financially disadvantaged, they came together and collected Rs 1500 from the passengers on board. This money was handed over to the mother to cover any immediate expenses arising from the birth. Subsequently, the pregnant woman was swiftly transported to a hospital in an ambulance, where she received the necessary medical treatment. Read: US couple welcome first baby girl born into family after 138 years G. Sathyvathi, the Managing Director of Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), commended the conductor for her timely intervention and humanitarian service. "The timely humanitarian service of the woman conductor in responding to the needs of the pregnant woman and saving the lives of both the child and the mother is highly appreciable," stated G. Sathyvathi told ANI. She further expressed her admiration for the conductor's exemplary service in such a critical situation. (With inputs from ANI)

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Scattered thunderstorms during the evening becoming more widespread overnight. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low around 65F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway Inc. reworked its financial-sector bets amid regional bank turmoil, exiting U.S. Bancorp and Bank of New York Mellon Corp. even as it placed a wager on Capital One Financial Corp. Capital One surged as much as 9.6%. Berkshires move out of several financial stocks and into Capital One in the first quarter, detailed in a regulatory filing Monday, comes after Buffett said publicly he was cooling on the sector. Bank failures earlier this year and concern about liquidity at various regional lenders have shaken finance. This is far from Berkshires first revamp of its financial stock picks. In May of last year, the conglomerate disclosed it had fully cut its position in Wells Fargo & Co., which once ranked as its biggest common-stock bet. Berkshire unveiled new positions in auto-lender Ally Financial Inc. and Wall Street titan Citigroup Inc. in that same filing, and still holds those companies. Berkshire had been trimming U.S. Bancorp and BNY Mellon holdings as far back as the third quarter of last year. In an interview with CNBC in April, Buffett said he decided to adjust his exposure to the sector after noticing some firms prioritizing earnings over basic banking principles. The conglomerate was a net seller of equities in the quarter, pocketing $10.4 billion from stock sales after deducting purchases. While the sale of financial names played a part in that, Berkshire also took the opportunity to adjust its exposure to industrial firms. The company closed out its position in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. after Buffett said he was worried about the stocks exposure to geopolitical risk. Its position in Chevron Corp. was trimmed by about 19%. Holdings of chemical maker Celanese Corp. and car manufacturer General Motors Co. were also dialed back. Capital One rose as high as $97.70 in extended New York trading, after closing at $89.12. The cut to the TSMC stake completes a reduction Buffett first embarked on in the first quarter of late last year. Buffett slashed his holding of the chipmaker just months after disclosing a major stake in a quick reversal that spooked investors. Buffett, Berkshires chairman and chief executive officer, said during his annual meeting earlier in May that Taiwan Semi was one of the best managed and most important in the world, but that he didnt like the location  a reference to rising tensions between the island and China. I feel better about the capital that weve got deployed in Japan than in Taiwan, Buffett said. I wish it werent so, but I think thats the reality, and I re-evaluated that in the light of certain things that were going on. Berkshire expanded its position in Occidental Petroleum Corp. even after dismissing speculation that it might buy the oil giant outright. The company said in a statement that holdings from its General Re unit would be included in its filing for the first time. Those positions were previously reported separately. The Berkshire subsidiary held shares in companies that represent some of its parents largest positions, including Apple Inc., Bank of America Corp. and Chevron.
Pakistan has no other option but to ask its all-weather ally China to bail out its ailing economy to avert full fledged eruption of the Balance of Payment (BoP) crisis if the IMF does not revive the USD 6.5 billion programme, according to a media report on Tuesday. The policymakers are left with no other options but to explore all other ways to avert default as well as choking off the economy of over 220 million people, The News International quoted sources as saying. "Amid deepening political and economic crisis in the country, the IMF (International Monetary Fund) has adopted the policy of wait and see but this policy cannot be pursued for a longer period," a top official source said on Monday. "Either the IMF will have to be revived through completion of the 9th review or the programme will be scrapped. We will share no more data with the IMF without completion of the ninth review," the official said. Cash-strapped Pakistan, which is also facing political turmoil, has adopted the policy of import restrictions to manage its economy in order to avert default. A programme continuation with the IMF would have ensured a flow of dollars from multilateral, bilateral and commercial monies to ease the imports and unclog the economic activity. Keeping in view all these developments, independent economists are now suggesting the government make last-ditch efforts of reviving the IMF programme or clearly look towards China, Pakistan's closest ally, to bail out the struggling economy. Chinese Premier Li Qiang last month assured his Pakistani counterpart Shehbaz Sharif that China supports Pakistan in maintaining financial stability. China has already given financial aid to Pakistan. Former minister for Finance and renowned economist Dr Hafiz A Pasha said if the IMF did not move forward then Pakistan would have no other option but to request China to devise any mechanism for helping Islamabad to avert a full-fledged crisis. He said that the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) could be used as an instrument to help out Pakistan to avert the BoP crisis. Dr Khaqan Najeeb, former advisor in the Ministry of Finance, said undoubtedly the country has taken a number of steps for macro stabilisation and paving the way for completion of the 9th review by the IMF. However, considering a weak State Bank of Pakistan reserves position at just USD 4.38 billion and a precarious balance of payment position, the IMF is being extra careful in ensuring financing needs are more than adequately met. Authorities have tried but have been unable to give comfort to the lender, the report said. The IMF last week said Pakistan needed significant additional financing for the successful completion of the long-stalled ninth review bailout package. The IMF also rejected the Pakistan government's claim that it has met all the conditions to reach an agreement with the global financial body to release funds under an already agreed loan facility. It added that the large South Asian economy was facing stagflation and had also been battered by a series of shocks including severe floods. A staff-level accord to release a USD 1.1 billion tranche out of a USD 6.5 billion IMF package has been delayed since November, with nearly 100 days gone since the last staff-level mission to Pakistan. That is the longest such gap since at least 2008. Pakistan, currently in the throes of a major political as well as economic crisis, is grappling with high external debt, a weak local currency and dwindling foreign exchange reserves.
Russia unleashed an air strike of "exceptional" intensity on Kyiv early on Tuesday, but Ukraine said it shot down all 18 missiles fired at it overnight including six hypersonic missiles. Bright flashes lit up the night sky over Kyiv during the eighth air attack on the capital this month. City authorities did not immediately report any major damage and said only three people had been wounded by falling debris. "It was exceptional in its density - the maximum number of attack missiles in the shortest period of time," Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv's city military administration, said in comments posted on the Telegram messaging app. After a weeks-long hiatus, Russia - which launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 - resumed its tactic of long-range missile strikes in late April It has launched a series of attacks in recent days, often targeting Kyiv, as Ukraine prepares to launch a counteroffensive to try to take back land occupied by Russia. Early on Tuesday, air raid sirens blared across nearly all of Ukraine, and were heard over Kyiv and its region for more than three hours. The Ukrainian military said all 18 missiles, six Iranian Shahed drones and three reconnaissance drones fired at Ukraine by Russia overnight were shot down though it did not make clear how many were launched at the capital. It said the missiles shot down included six Kinzhal ballistic missiles fired from aircraft, nine Kalibr cruise missiles launched from ships in the Black Sea and three Iskander land-based missiles. "The enemy's mission is to sow panic and create chaos. However, in the northern operational zone (including Kyiv), everything is under complete control," General Serhiy Naev, Commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces, said. Reuters was not able to independently verify the reports. Russia did not immediately comment. The Kinzhal, which means "dagger" in Russian, is one of six "next generation" weapons unveiled by President Vladimir Putin in 2018 when the Russian leader boasted that it could not be shot down by any of the world's air defence systems. "The work of air defences was extremely successful. Six Kinzhals are an impressive indicator of that," said air force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat.
SAP will deepen collaboration with Microsoft on joint generative AI projects in the field of personnel recruiting, the German software maker announced on Monday. SAP's SuccessFactors solutions will be integrated with Microsoft's 365 Copilot and Azure OpenAI Service to access language models and generate natural language, it added. "We're very excited about the opportunities generative AI unfolds for our industry and our customers," SAP's Chief Executive Christian Klein said. In late April, Klein said the firm would embed Microsoft-backed OpenAI's ChatGPT in its products

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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.

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British mobile phone giant Vodafone on Tuesday said it planned to axe 11,000 jobs over the next three years as new chief executive Margherita Della Valle seeks a "simpler" organisation. "Our performance has not been good enough. To consistently deliver, Vodafone must change," Della Valle said in a statement. "We will simplify our organisation, cutting out complexity to regain our competitiveness," added Della Valle, appointed CEO on a permanent basis at the start of May after five months as interim boss. Her predecessor Nick Read stepped down in early December after a four-year tenure marked by a steep fall in the company's share price. He left with Vodafone in talks over merging its UK operations with rival Three UK, owned by Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison. Media reports say a deal worth 15 billion ($18.7 billion) is close to completion.

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Wells Fargo & Co. agreed to pay $1 billion to shareholders as it seeks to settle a class-action lawsuit in connection with the lenders 2016 unauthorized accounts scandal, the Wall Street Journal reported. The preliminary settlement, disclosed in a court filing Monday, has to be approved in the next few months, according to the report. The suit had accused the bank of overstating its progress in cleaning up after the issues, according to the publication. The payment ends a lawsuit involving the company and several former executives and a director, who have not been with the company for several years. While we disagree with the allegations in this case, we are pleased to have resolved this matter, a Wells Fargo spokesperson told the Wall Street Journal. In 2020, Wells Fargo agreed to pay $3 billion to settle U.S. investigations into more than a decade of widespread consumer abuses. Investigators found Wells Fargos overly aggressive sales targets led thousands of employees to open millions of bogus accounts for customers and foist other products on them from 2002 to 2016, often by creating false records or misappropriating their identities, the Department of Justice said at that time. Scandals in Wells Fargos consumer operations erupted in 2016 with the revelation that employees may have opened millions of fake accounts to meet sales goals. The companys expenses surged as new details emerged and as additional lapses and wrongdoing surfaced across business lines including mortgages and auto lending.

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Kerrville, TX (78028)

Today

Some sunshine with a thunderstorm or two possible this afternoon. Potential for severe thunderstorms. High around 90F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, 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%.
An Albany tattoo artist is accused of sexually abusing at least two of his female clients while under the needle.

Albany police officers arrested Daniel Nunez-Rodriguez, 31, on Monday, May 1 after conducting a sexual abuse investigation into Nunez-Rodriguez that began in 2022, an agency news release said.

Nunez-Rodriguez is the owner of Majin Ink LLC. According to Secretary of State records, Nunez-Rodriguez first registered the business in October 2020.

An Albany Police Department news release alleges Nunez-Rodriguez subjected a 19-year-old female client to unwanted sexual contact.

Later on May 12, APD conducted a separate criminal investigation, leading to the second arrest of Nunez-Rodriguez, the news release said. A 24-year-old woman reported Nunez-Rodriguez subjected her to unwanted sexual contact on two separate occasions while she received tattoo services.

Nunez-Rodriguez was booked into the Linn County Jail and later released. Oregon's online court database shows Nunez-Rodriguez was initially charged in Linn County Circuit Court in April on one count of third-degree sexual abuse and one count of harassment alleged to have occurred in August 2022.

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.

On Monday, May 15, prosecutors charged Nunez-Rodriguez with two more counts of third-degree sexual abuse and two more counts of harassment alleged to have occurred in April.

Albany police believe there may be additional victims in the case and are asking anyone who may have been a victim of Nunez-Rodriguez to contact the APD detective unit at 541-917-7688.
May 16, 2023 Ukraine - Air Defense Lessons (Updated) Updated below This is factual: Patriot Missiles Wont Save Ukraine - National Interest - May 9, 2023

Patriot systems are limited to pinpoint defense of major assets and are designed to operate in tandem with air defenses engaging targets at higher and lower altitudes. Without these additions, Patriot will have too many threats to engage and the result will either be porous coverage that doesnt protect its defended assets, or coverage that quickly subsides when Patriot runs out of interceptors. Moreover, Patriot systems are themselves vulnerable. Operating a Patriot radar system gives away its location, making it an open target for Russian attacks. This means that Patriot is not a one-stop-shop for defending Ukraines military assets or its people. Those facts were proven last night. War Monitor @WarMonitors - 1:23 UTC  May 16, 2023 I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but after careful review of this video, it appears that the air defence battery (most likely patriot) tried to save itself, but failed. It most probably got toasted.

Embedded video

bigger Those were expensive two minutes for the 'West': Fennec_Radar @RadarFennec - 1:45 UTC  May 16, 2023 I counted 30 Patriot PAC-3 MSE launches here.

The FY2024 costs of these per missile is about $$5,275,000

That was $158,250,000 fired in about two minutes. And as we see, the battery or something else likely got blown up. So it failed in its mission.

Embedded video This though is likely not true. Kinzhals are simply too fast to be hit by any of Ukraine's air defenses: Defense of Ukraine @DefenceU - 6:40 UTC  May 16, 2023 Last night, russian terrorists attacked Ukraine with:

- 6 Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles

- 9 Kalibr missiles

- 3 ground-launched missiles

- drones



ALL TARGETS SHOT DOWN.

Glory to the Ukrainian Air Forces!

We are grateful to our partner states for strengthening our air defense capabilities. The casualty numbers in today's clobber report by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation may be a bit exaggerated but the general operational facts are usually true: The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation launched a combined attack with long-range precision-guided air- and sea-based weapons against the AFU units, as well as depots of ammunition, weapons and military equipment supplied by Western countries. The goal of the attack has been reached. All the assigned targets have been neutralised. U.S.-manufactured Patriot surface-to-air missile system has been struck by Kinnzhal hypersonic glide vehicle in Kiev.

...

Fighter Aviation of Russian Aerospace Forces have shot down Su-24 and Su-25 aircraft of Ukrainian Air Force near Varvarovka and Krasnoarmeysk (Donetsk People's Republic). Air defence forces intercepted seven Storm Shadow long-range cruise missiles, three HARM anti-radar missiles and seven HIMARS multiple-launch rocket system projectiles. Air defence facilities have shot down 22 unmanned aerial vehicles close to Ivanovka and Yevgenovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Topolyovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Inzhenernoye, Blagoveshchenka (Zaporpzhye region), and Krynki (Kherson region). Ukraine does not have an integrated air defense that can attack all air targets at all levels. Russia though has such an integrated system of systems. It makes for a huge difference. Updated - 16:30 UTC: U.S. confirms hit on Patriot system: Alex Marquardt @MarquardtA - 16:23 UTC  May 16, 2023 A Patriot system was likely damaged but not destroyed by a Russian missile barrage Monday night, a US official tells @NatashaBertrand. US is still assessing the damage which to determine whether the system needs to be pulled back entirely or be repaired by the Ukrainians. Posted by b on May 16, 2023 at 13:47 UTC | Permalink Comments next page  next page 
WASHINGTON (AP)  Debt-limit talks shifted into an encouraging new phase Tuesday as President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy named top emissaries to negotiate a deal to avert an unprecedented national default. Biden cut short an upcoming overseas trip in hopes of closing an agreement before a June 1 deadline.

The fresh set of negotiators means discussions are now largely narrowed to what the White House and McCarthy will accept in order to allow lawmakers to raise the debt limit in the coming days. The speaker said after a meeting with Biden and congressional leaders that a deal was possible by week's end, even as  in McCarthy's view  the two sides remained far apart for the moment.

Biden was publicly upbeat after a roughly hourlong meeting in the Oval Office, despite having to cancel the Australia and Papua New Guinea portions of his overseas trip that begins Wednesday. Biden will participate in a Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima, Japan, but then return to Washington on Sunday.

Theres still work to do," Biden said. "But I made it clear to the speaker and others that we'll speak regularly over the next several days and staff's going to continue meeting daily to make sure we do not default.

Senior White House officials, as well as top aides to the four congressional leaders  McCarthy, R-Calif., Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.  have been meeting daily.

But now, Steve Ricchetti, counselor to the president, Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young and legislative affairs director Louisa Terrell will take the lead in negotiations for the Democratic side, while Rep. Garret Graves, R-La., a key McCarthy ally who has been a point person for the speaker on debt and budget issues, will represent Republicans.

Now we have a format, a structure, McCarthy said as he returned to the Capitol.

Negotiators are racing to beat a deadline of June 1, which is when the Treasury Department has said the U.S. could begin defaulting on its debts for the first time in history and risk a financial catastrophe. The revised itinerary of Biden's upcoming trip showed the urgency of the talks.

White House officials sought to soften the impact of the trip cancellations. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby noted that Biden will already have met with some of the leaders of the Quad  the purpose of the Australia leg of the visit  while in Japan, and the president is inviting Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for an official state visit in Washington.

Still, Kirby added, We wouldnt even be having this discussion about the effect of the debt ceiling debate on the trip if Congress would do its job, raise the debt ceiling the way theyve always done."

Even as the Democratic president and the Republican speaker box around the politics of the issue  with Biden insisting hes not negotiating over the debt ceiling and McCarthy working to extract spending cuts with the backdrop of a potential default  various areas of possible agreement appeared to be emerging.

Among the items on the table: clawing back some $30 billion in untapped COVID-19 money, imposing future budget caps, changing permit regulations to ease energy development and putting bolstered work requirements on recipients of government aid, according to those familiar with the talks.

But congressional Democrats are growing concerned about the idea of putting new work requirements for government aid recipients after Biden suggested over the weekend he may be open to such changes. The White House remains opposed to changes in requirements for recipients of Medicaid and food stamp programs, although it is more open to revisions for beneficiaries of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families cash assistance program.

The idea of imposing more work requirements was resoundingly rejected by House Democrats at a morning caucus meeting, according to one Democrat at the private meeting and granted anonymity to discuss it.

Progressive lawmakers in particular have raised the issue. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said, We want to make sure that these negotiations do not include spending cuts, do not include work requirements, things that would harm people, people in rural areas, black, brown, indigenous folks.

Democratic leader Jeffries' staff sought to assuage the concerns late Monday, while a separate group of more centrist Democrats signaled to their moderate Republican colleagues they are prepared to work something out to reach a debt ceiling deal, aides said Tuesday.

While McCarthy has complained the talks are slow-going, saying he first met with Biden more than 100 days ago, Biden has said it took McCarthy all this time to put forward his own proposal after Republicans failed to produce their own budget this year.

Compounding pressure on Washington to strike a deal, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Monday that estimates are unchanged on the possible X-date when the U.S. could run out of cash.

But Yellen, in a letter to the House and Senate, left 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.

It is essential that Congress act as soon as possible, Yellen said Tuesday in remarks before the Independent Community Bankers of America. In my assessment  and that of economists across the board  a U.S. default would generate an economic and financial catastrophe.

Time is dwindling. Congress has just a few days when both the House and Senate are in session to pass legislation, although scheduled recesses could be canceled if more time is needed to clear whatever deal the White House reaches with McCarthy.

Congressional leaders will also need time to take the temperature of rank-and-file lawmakers on any agreement, and its not at all clear that the emerging contours go far enough to satisfy McCarthys hard-right faction in the House or would be acceptable to a sizable number of Democrats whose votes would almost certainly be needed to secure any final deal.

Republicans led by McCarthy want Biden to accept their proposal to roll back spending, cap future outlays and make other policy changes in the package passed last month by House Republicans. McCarthy says the House is the only chamber that has taken action to raise the debt ceiling. But the House bill is almost certain to fail in the Senate, controlled by Democrats, and Biden has said he would veto it.

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.

___ Associated Press writers Fatima Hussein and Kevin Freking contributed to this report.
Firefighters in Central Texas rescued 24 dogs from a burning home after a fire occurred inside the house.

Officials said nearby workers first noticed heavy smoke coming from the home and alerted them about the fire.

Crews extinguished the flames only to learn that multiple pets were trapped inside, authorities said. That's when firefighters ran in to save the animals.

Only six of the 24 dogs pulled from the home were alert and breathing on their own, according to law enforcement. After first responders provided oxygen and medical care to the remaining dogs, 14 others who had suffered smoke inhalation regained consciousness.

Temple Fire and Rescue Temple Fire and Rescue Temple Fire and Rescue Temple Fire and Rescue Temple Fire and Rescue

No residents were home when the fire broke out, and no other injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Officials did not say why 24 dogs were all living together in one house.

Animal service organizations are currently working to provide additional care to the rescued dogs.

The fire occurred at a home in Temple, Texas.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP)  Democrats maintained their narrow Pennsylvania House majority Tuesday by winning a special election and along with it continued control over how the chamber will handle abortion, gun rights and election law legislation.

Heather Boyd won a seat in the Philadelphia suburbs, beating Republican Katie Ford for a vacancy created by the resignation of Democratic Rep. Mike Zabel. Zabel quit the Legislature in March, shortly after a lobbyist accused him of sexually harassing her.

Boyd is a former congressional and state legislative aide. Her district was once Republican but has given solid margins to Democratic candidates in recent elections. Her win gives Democrats 102 seats, the minimum needed to control the agenda in the 203-member House. The state Senate has a Republican majority.

The Democrats victory in the Delaware County district means first-term Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro will have at least one chamber to aid his agenda going into the final month of budget negotiations. The result could also affect a proposed constitutional amendment limiting abortion rights that legislative Republicans are one House floor vote away from putting before voters as a referendum.

Reflecting the stakes, President Joe Biden endorsed fellow Democrat Boyd on Monday, calling her 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.

Shapiro cut an ad focusing on the abortion issue for Boyd, who reported raising more than $1.3 million, including more than $1 million in in-kind advertising from the House Democrats campaign arm and the Democratic Party. Ford reported raising about $146,000, more than half of which came from the House Republicans campaign arm.

Boyd emphasized protection of abortion rights, drawing a contrast with Ford, who is personally against abortion but says she did not want to change existing state law. Republicans had hoped to regain the majority, in part, to advance the proposed constitutional amendment that says the Pennsylvania Constitution does not guarantee any rights relating to abortion or public funding of abortions.

Ford criticized Boyd, who has been a leading Democratic Party official in Delaware County, for not doing more in response when she learned about the allegations against Zabel. Boyd said she respected the lobbyists request for confidentiality about her claim that Zabel caressed her leg while they discussed legislation outside the Capitol in 2018 and did not stop when she moved away from him.

Common sense says that if someone comes to you and says that theyre being sexually harassed, you do something about it, Ford said during a televised debate. You dont just let it go. Boyd responded that she did not endorse or support Zabel after hearing of the lobbyists account, and says she tried unsuccessfully to find someone to run against Zabel.

Republicans entered the 2022 election with a 113-90 advantage in the state House, but Democrats flipped a net of 12 seats in November, barely enough to claim majority status after 12 years and elect one of their own as speaker.

In a second House special election on Tuesday, Republican Michael Stender kept the central Pennsylvania seat in his party's hands.

Stender, a Shikellamy school board member, firefighter and former EMT, was endorsed by former Rep. Lynda Schlegel Culver, the Republican who represented the district before winning a state Senate special election earlier this year. Stender beat Democrat Trevor Finn, a Montour County commissioner. The district also includes part of Northumberland County.

___

Associated Press writers Nicholas Riccardi in Denver and Marc Levy in Harrisburg contributed to this report.
Reporter

Andrew Roberto was raised his whole life on Saipan. He graduated from Saipan Southern High School, holds a degree from Northern Marianas College, and a BA in English from the University of Guam. He once worked for KUAM, UNO Magazine, and the Guam Daily Post.
Staff Reporter

Richelle obtained a bachelor of arts degree in mass communications from the Far Eastern University in Manila, the Philippines. She was a junior reporter for Marianas Variety from 2009 to 2010, and from 2014 to 2015. In the Maldives, she worked as a news reporter and marketing executive. In her free time, shes a painter, pianist, and mom baker.
Then-U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy Joseph Yun arrives at a meeting with the media in Bangkok, Thailand on Dec. 15, 2017.
FILE PHOTO: People walk across the plaza of the U.S. Supreme Court building on the first day of the court's new term in Washington, U.S. October 3, 2022. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo
The head of the artificial intelligence company that makes ChatGPT told Congress on Tuesday that government intervention will be critical to mitigating the risks of increasingly powerful AI systems.

As this technology advances, we understand that people are anxious about how it could change the way we live. We are too," OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said at a Senate hearing.

Altman proposed the formation of a U.S. or global agency that would license the most powerful AI systems and have the authority to take that license away and ensure compliance with safety standards.

His San Francisco-based startup rocketed to public attention after it released ChatGPT late last year. The free chatbot tool answers questions with convincingly human-like responses.

What started out as a panic among educators about ChatGPT's use to cheat on homework assignments has expanded to broader concerns about the ability of the latest crop of generative AI tools to mislead people, spread falsehoods, violate copyright protections and upend some jobs.

And while there's no immediate sign Congress will craft sweeping new AI rules, as European lawmakers are doing, the societal concerns brought Altman and other tech CEOs to the White House earlier this month and have led U.S. agencies to promise to crack down on harmful AI products that break existing civil rights and consumer protection laws.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, the Connecticut Democrat who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committees subcommittee on privacy, technology and the law, opened the hearing with a recorded speech that sounded like the senator, but was actually a voice clone trained on Blumenthal's floor speeches and reciting ChatGPT-written opening remarks.

The result was impressive, said Blumenthal, but he added, What if I had asked it, and what if it had provided, an endorsement of Ukraine surrendering or (Russian President) Vladimir Putins leadership?

The overall tone of senators' questioning was polite Tuesday, a contrast to past congressional hearings in which tech and social media executives faced tough grillings over the industry's failures to manage data privacy or counter harmful misinformation. In part, that was because both Democrats and Republicans said they were interested in seeking Altman's expertise on averting problems that haven't yet occurred.

Blumenthal said AI companies ought to be required to test their systems and disclose known risks before releasing them, and expressed particular concern about how future AI systems could destabilize the job market. Altman was largely in agreement, though had a more optimistic take on the future of work.

Pressed on his own worst fear about AI, Altman mostly avoided specifics, except to say that the industry could cause significant harm to the world and that if this technology goes wrong, it can go quite wrong.

But he later proposed that a new regulatory agency should impose safeguards that would block AI models that could self-replicate and self-exfiltrate into the wild  hinting at futuristic concerns about advanced AI systems that could manipulate humans into ceding control.

That focus on a far-off science fiction trope of super-powerful AI could make it harder to take action against already existing harms that require regulators to dig deep on data transparency, discriminatory behavior and potential for trickery and disinformation, said a former Biden administration official who co-authored its plan for an AI bill of rights.

Its the fear of these (super-powerful) systems and our lack of understanding of them that is making everyone have a collective freak-out, said Suresh Venkatasubramanian, a Brown University computer scientist who was assistant director for science and justice at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. This fear, which is very unfounded, is a distraction from all the concerns were dealing with right now.

OpenAI has expressed those existential concerns since its inception. Co-founded by Altman in 2015 with backing from tech billionaire Elon Musk, the startup has evolved from a nonprofit research lab with a safety-focused mission into a business. Its other popular AI products include the image-maker DALL-E. Microsoft has invested billions of dollars into the startup and has integrated its technology into its own products, including its search engine Bing.

Altman is also planning to embark on a worldwide tour this month to national capitals and major cities across six continents to talk about the technology with policymakers and the public. On the eve of his Senate testimony, he dined with dozens of U.S. lawmakers, several of whom told CNBC they were impressed by his comments.

Also testifying were IBM's chief privacy and trust officer, Christina Montgomery, and Gary Marcus, a professor emeritus at New York University who was among a group of AI experts who called on OpenAI and other tech firms to pause their development of more powerful AI models for six months to give society more time to consider the risks. The letter was a response to the March release of OpenAI's latest model, GPT-4, described as more powerful than ChatGPT.

The panel's ranking Republican, Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, said the technology has big implications for elections, jobs and national security. He said Tuesday's hearing marked "a critical first step towards understanding what Congress should do.

A number of tech industry leaders have said they welcome some form of AI oversight but have cautioned against what they see as overly heavy-handed rules. Altman and Marcus both called for an AI-focused regulator, preferably an international one, with Altman citing the precedent of the U.N.s nuclear agency and Marcus comparing it to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. But IBM's Montgomery instead asked Congress to take a precision regulation" approach.

We think that AI should be regulated at the point of risk, essentially, Montgomery said, by establishing rules that govern the deployment of specific uses of AI rather than the technology itself.
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Jessica Tincopa may leave the photography business she spent 14 years building for one reason: to find coverage for fertility treatment.

After six miscarriages, Tincopa and her husband started saving for in vitro fertilization, which can cost well over $20,000. But the pandemic wiped out their savings, and they can't find coverage for IVF on their state's health insurance marketplace. So, the California couple is saving again, and asking politicians to help expand access.

No one should ever have to go through this, Tincopa said.

Infertility, or the inability to get pregnant after a year or more of trying, is a common problem. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that it affects nearly one in five married girls or women between the ages of 15 and 49.

Yet coverage of fertility treatments can be hard to find in many corners of health insurance even as it grows briskly with big employers who see it as a must-have benefit to keep workers.

It's a divide researchers say is leading to haves and have nots for treatments, which can involve a range of prescription drugs and procedures like artificial insemination or IVF, where an embryo is created by mixing eggs and sperm in a lab dish.

It is still primarily for people who can afford to pay quite a bit out of pocket, said Usha Ranji, associate director of womens health policy at KFF, a nonprofit that studies health care issues.

Clouding this picture are insurer concerns about cost as well as questions about how much fertility coverage should be emphasized or mandated versus helping people find other ways to build families, such as adoption.

If you're going to offer one, there should be a corollary and maybe even more significant benefits for adoption, medical ethicist Dr. Philip Rosoff said.

A total of 54% of the biggest U.S. employers  those with 20,000 workers or more  covered IVF in 2022, according to the benefits consultant Mercer. That's up from 36% in 2015. Walmart started offering coverage last fall and banking giant JPMorgan began this year.

Many businesses that offer the coverage extend it beyond those with an infertility diagnosis, making it accessible to LGBTQ+ couples and single women, according to Mercer.

The benefits consultant also said there's big growth among employers with 500 or more workers, as 43% offered IVF coverage last year. But coverage gets spotty with smaller employers.

Lauderhill (Florida) Fire Rescue Lt. Ame Mason estimates she and her husband have spent close to $100,000 of their own money on fertility treatments over the past few years, including several unsuccessful IVF attempts. Mason and her husband both work for the same department.

Her brother-in-law also has a fertility issue. He works for a bigger fire department in nearby Palm Beach County and got coverage. Mason said that couple has a son.

Its pretty wild. You could work a county away and have coverage, Mason said. Theres nothing regulating it  both government jobs.

Twenty-one states have laws mandating coverage of fertility treatments or fertility preservation, which some patients need before cancer treatments, according to the nonprofit patient advocacy organization Resolve. Of those states, 14 require IVF coverage.

But most of these requirements don't apply to individual insurance plans or coverage sold through small employers.

People tell us that their biggest barrier to family building is lack of insurance coverage," Resolve CEO Barbara Collura said, adding that some insurers don't view the care as medically necessary.

The state and federally funded Medicaid program for people with low incomes limits coverage of fertility issues largely to diagnosis in several states, according to KFF, which says Black and Hispanic women are disproportionately affected. States also can exclude fertility drugs from prescription coverage.

By not covering this for poor folks, were saying we dont want you to reproduce, said medical ethicist Lisa Campo-Engelstein of the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. She noted Medicaid programs do cover birth control and sterilization procedures like vasectomies.

In California, Tincopa says she has talked to both state and federal legislators about creating some sort of option for people to purchase individual insurance with the coverage.

Some insurers in the state do offer higher premium health care packages that include an IVF coverage option, said Mary Ellen Grant, a spokeswoman for the California Association of Health Plans. She noted that health plans in the state are required to cover the treatment of underlying causes for infertility, like endometriosis or low testosterone, but not required to cover procedures like IVF.

The state Senate is weighing a bill that would require such coverage for plans offered through large employers. But the insurer association opposes it.

Grant noted independent analysis has shown that bills like this could increase premiums by as much as $1 billion in the state. She also said it would create a coverage gap because it wouldn't apply to the state's Medicaid enrollees.

This is not about the treatment itself, she said. Its strictly based on the increased costs for our members. It would impact everybody regardless of whether they received the benefit.

But large fertility cost estimates often overstate how many people will use the benefit, said Sean Tipton, of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. He also said most people with fertility problems dont need IVF.

Tipton, who has advocated for benefit mandates in several states, said he expects to see fertility treatment coverage grow, especially with small employers who may need to offer it to attract and keep workers.

Any states that decide to require fertility treatment coverage should also require support for adoption, said Rosoff, a retired Duke University medical school professor. He said fairness and justice" dictate doing so, adding that adoption promotes the social good of finding homes for children.

Many companies that have expanded fertility benefits also support adoption.

Ame Masons employer helps with neither.

Mason said she has thought about adoption, but will stick with IVF for now  scrimping wherever they can and working overtime as much as possible to pay for it. They've found a doctor in Florida after traveling to Barbados for care that was slightly less expensive.

Plus, she and her husband are seeing improvements in their most recent IVF attempts. This makes her reluctant to stop trying.

We keep getting that glimmer of hope, she said.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
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EDWARDSVILLE  A Gillespie man has been charged with multiple child sex assault and child pornography felonies, and a Granite City woman is accused of trying to obstruct the case.

Jimmy D. Byrd Jr., 44, of Gillespie was arrested Thursday on six counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, all enhanced Class X felonies, and six counts of child pornography, all Class X felonies.
Sheriff

ARRESTS, CITATIONS

 Konrad E. Smith, 51, of 3612 14th Street Drive, Moline, was booked into the Morgan County jail at 5:22 p..m. Sunday on charges of burglary, theft, criminal trespassing, and criminal damage to property.

 Deirrea A. Burton, 21, of 1007 Hackett Ave. was booked into the Morgan County jail at 9:28 p.m. May 9 on charges of disorderly conduct and burglary to a motor vehicle.

 Craig B. Childers, 41, of 1298 Maple St. was booked into the Morgan County jail at 6:07 p.m. May 9 on charges of domestic battery and interfering with the reporting of domestic violence.

 Kayla J. Francis, 32, of 840 W. Lafayette Ave. was booked into the Morgan County jail at 4:35 p.m. May 8 on a disorderly conduct charge.

Jacksonville Police

ARRESTS, CITATIONS

 Michelle R. Hardy, 22, of 301 W. Beecher Ave. was booked into the Morgan County jail at 2:48 a.m. Monday on a domestic battery charge.

 Nancy E. Hankins, 70, of 404 Reid St. was booked into the Morgan County jail at 2:42 p.m. Friday on a charge of retail theft with prior conviction.

 Vonnice F. Hart, 45, of 320 E. Lafayette Ave. was arrested at 12:41 a.m. Monday on a disorderly conduct charge related to an April 2 altercation in the 200 block of East State Street.

 Demarko J. Conley, 29, of 209 S. Prairie St. was arrested at 11:26 a.m. Sunday on a charge of driving while license is revoked or suspended after being stopped at North Prairie and Morgan streets.

THEFTS, BURGLARIES

 A business in the 1900 block of West Morton Avenue reported being scammed out of about $650 by a customer at 7:23 p.m. Sunday.

 A cellphone was stolen from a residence in the 800 block of Hackett Avenue, according to a report filed at 6:42 p.m. Sunday.

 A bicycle was stolen from the 400 block of Jordan Street, according to a report filed at 12:35 p.m. Sunday. It later was recovered.

South Jacksonville Police

ARRESTS, CITATIONS

 Juan E. Lara, 26, of 1925 Portage Way, Elgin, was booked into the Morgan County jail at 4:49 a.m. Saturday on charges of driving under the influence, illegal possession or transportation of liquor, and improper lane use.

 Aaron L. Burton, 24, of 1052 E. Roodhouse Road, Roodhouse, was booked into the Morgan County jail at 12:23 p.m. Friday on a charge of violating an order of protection.

Pike County

Sheriff

ARRESTS, CITATIONS

 Troy L. Mooney, 58, of Pleasant Hill was booked into Pike County Jail at 9:16 p.m. Thursday on a charge of violating a civil no-contact order.

 Brett A. Miller, 36, of Griggsville was booked into Pike County Jail at 6:18 p.m. Saturday on a charge of aggravated battery causing great bodily harm.

 William L. Hoyt, 61, of Barry was booked into Pike County Jail at 11:08 a.m. Thursday on a charge of driving while license is revoked or suspended.

 Shane K. Foster, 42, of Rockport was booked into Pike County Jail at 3:25 p.m. May 8 on a charge of violating an order of protection.

 David E. Cooper, 36, of Milton was booked into Pike County Jail at 7:06 p.m. Thursday on a charge of criminal trespassing to a residence when people are present.

Pittsfield Police

ARRESTS, CITATIONS

 Michael R. Matheny, 62, of Clarksville, Missouri, was booked into Pike County Jail at 2:51 p.m. Friday on a charge of driving under the influence.
Mike Lawrie/WireImage

Country music superstar Tim McGraw has been added to the lineup of concerts for the Illinois State Fair in August.

The three-time Grammy Award winner has collected 14 Academy of Country Music awards, 11 Country Music Association awards and 10 American Music Awards for such songs as "Live Like You Were Dying," "Don't Take the Girl" and "I Like It, I Love It." He has compiled 46 No. 1 singles and sold more than 90 million records since launching his career in 1990.
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP)  Clashes between two Pakistani tribes feuding over the ownership of a coal mine in the country's remote northwest left 15 men dead and several wounded, police said Tuesday.

The fighting erupted on Monday between the Sunny Khel and Zarghun Khel tribes in Dara Adam Khel, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province along the border with Afghanistan. According to local police official Munawar Khan, the men were armed with handguns and assault rifles and the fighting lasted for hours.
MEXICO CITY (AP)  A tourist from Argentina who was seriously wounded in a May 12 machete attack in Mexico died on Monday, officials said.

Prosecutors in the Pacific coast state of Oaxaca said the tourist  whose name was not released  died of his injuries at a hospital in Mexico City.
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP)  Colombian rebel leader Pablo Beltran said on Monday that peace talks between his National Liberation Army and the government have been put on pause due to remarks made last week by President Gustavo Petro.

Petro questioned whether members of the rebel group's delegation in Cuba could effectively control the actions of their own commanders on the battlefield. He also said the younger leaders of the group, known as the ELN, were motivated not by political goals, but by drug trafficking profits.

In an interview published on Youtube by the ELNs communication team, Beltran said that delegations from both sides would have to meet to examine the comments by Colombia's president before issues like a ceasefire and rural development schemes can continue to be discussed. The negotiations began in November and have failed to produce any major breakthroughs so far.

The ELN was recognized as an armed rebel group by Colombias government during the last round of talks which took place in Mexico, a designation that enables it to seek policy changes in peace talks instead of just negotiating reduced sentences for their crimes. Beltran argued that Petros recent comments are putting its status as a political organization in jeopardy.

If they are saying one thing in the negotiations, while the president says another we feel like we are stuck in the middle, Beltran said. So we are asking for an explanation.

During a speech to military officers on Friday, Petro described members of the ELNs peace delegation as elderly leaders who were interested in discussing political changes. But he questioned whether younger ELN commanders who lead troops on the ground have the same kind of goals.

They may use the same banners, Petro said. But what motivates them is (profiting from) illicit economies. Petro added that elderly leaders like Beltran were willing to sit down and talk. But are they really in charge?

The ELN was founded in the 1960s by union leaders, students and priests inspired by the Cuban revolution. It is Colombias largest remaining rebel group and has been notoriously difficult for previous Colombian governments to negotiate with.

In 2016, Colombias government signed a peace deal with the larger FARC group that ended five decades of conflict in which an estimated 260,000 people were killed. But violence has continued to affect rural pockets of the country where the ELN has been fighting the Gulf Clan and FARC holdout groups for the control of drug trafficking routes and other resources.

Petro promised during his presidential campaign that he would seek peace deals with all of Colombias major armed groups by rolling out a strategy he described as total peace.

But a ceasefire between the Colombian government and the Gulf Clan broke down in March, while negotiations with FARC holdout groups are still in preliminary stages.
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REYKJAVIK, Iceland (AP)  Leaders from across Europe are laser-focused on holding Russia to account for its invasion of Ukraine and were poised to approve a system that would precisely establish the damages Moscow would have to pay to rebuild the nation.

The 46-nation Council of Europe, the continents preeminent human rights organization, is opening its first summit in 18 years late Tuesday in Iceland. The meeting will be centered on fully backing member state Ukraine and condemning Russia, which was expelled from the organization for inflicting war on its neighbor.

"We will make the real first step on our path to find a solution how to compensate for these atrocities and damages which Russia brings to Ukraine, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said.

While almost all European nations have provided military support or taken in refugees from Ukraine, the Council of Europe is uniquely placed to coordinate legal and judicial support.

When we think in terms of reconstruction, its an enormously important judicial element to have this register of damages to give justice to the victims, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

And after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stocked up on promises of military hardware throughout a long weekend of diplomatic hobnobbing with the continent's major leaders, dozens of Europe's major leaders arrived in far-flung Iceland bent to turn the legal screws on the Kremlin.

By Wednesday's conclusion, leaders at the summit want to have the outlines of a system in place so Moscow can be held liable for compensation to the victims later and allow for the battered nation to start the economic healing process. They are hoping that the United States, which has observer status at the summit, will also back that initiative.

The register is just one of a number of international initiatives set up to ensure accountability for the crimes inflicted in Ukraine, U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said.

The Council of Europe also wants to make sure Russia can be held accountable for what it sees as a plethora of crimes committed during the invasion.

French President Emmanuel Macron said the council's development bank should mobilize funds to build up mental health centers in Ukraine because among the population there are so many traumas from almost 15 months of war. We have to center on this within the framework of reconstruction.

In Kyiv, the words of support were no match for Moscow's military might, as Russia launched an intense air attack on the capital using a combination of drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles.

In Iceland's capital, Reykjavik, diplomacy was seeking a counterweight, with keynote speeches by Sunak, von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Zelenskyy headed home Tuesday after a fruitful three-day tour through Europe where leaders promised him an arsenal of missiles, tanks and drones to replenish Ukraines weapons supplies before a long-anticipated spring offensive.

There will be no escaping the plight of Ukraine during the two-day summit of the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe. It has been a guardian, with fluctuating success, of human rights, democracy and the rule of law on the continent since its inception in 1949. Rarely has the need been higher than in todays world.

The summit will also want to focus on the plight of children that have been moved from Ukraine to Russia during the invasion. In March, the International Criminal Court 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 and it is not known where they are now.

___

Raf Casert reported from Brussels.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP)  Some 1.2 billion euros ($1.3 billion) in Russian-owned assets managed by Cyprus-registered companies were frozen in compliance with sanctions imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, Cyprus' Finance Ministry said Tuesday.

The ministry told The Associated Press the vast majority of those assets were held in European Union credit institutions and the entire amount came on top of 105 million euros frozen by banks in Cyprus.
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Energizer Holdings and Walmart are being sued in three proposed class actions for conspiring to raise the prices of disposable batteries.

As Reuters reported, the lawsuits, filed in San Francisco in the U.S. District Court, accuse the companies of violating federal and state antitrust laws and various state consumer protection laws. The plaintiffs seek unspecified compensatory and triple damages and injunctions to block Energizer from tying battery sales to pricing and require Energizer and Walmart to dissipate the effects of their conduct.

According to the plaintiffs, Energizers share of the U.S. disposable battery market has risen to more than 50% from 40% in 2018. Energizer has acknowledged adjusting its pricing policies at Walmarts request.

The global disposable battery market is massive. In 2020, it was valued at $9.97 billion and is projected to reach $14.19 billion by 2028.

The use of disposable batteries has dramatically risen in recent years due to the increased demand for small portable electronics, power tools and other items, and the increase in smart products such as small and large appliances and automobiles.

The convenience of disposable batteries has led to their widespread use, but this has come at a cost to the environment. Batteries contain metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium, nickel and silver, which can threaten human health or the environment when improperly managed.

Despite the convenience of disposable batteries, rechargeable batteries are a more sustainable option. Manufacturers take a conservative approach and specify the life of Li-ion in most consumer products as being between 300 and 500 discharge/charge cycles.

Rechargeable batteries may be removable or permanently attached to the device, and they can be recharged many times before needing replacement. This reduces the amount of waste generated by batteries and is better for the environment in the long run.

Yet we, as a society, are hooked on disposable batteries. Ask yourself if you would be anywhere near as upset to learn that two mega-companies conspired to fix the price of rechargeable batteries.

The vast majority of us wouldnt even notice.

Charlie Cartwright, a personal-injury lawyer in Florida, says in these cases the losers are always the consumer: Absent these class-action lawsuits, consumers have no power to fight the collusion of two massive corporations. Given how important batteries are to so many people, if the allegations of Energizer and Walmart conspiring to raise prices are true, this hurts consumers and damages trust in these brands.

Where this goes from here is for the parties and the court to identify all individuals who may be included in the class in each of these three lawsuits.

The plaintiffs must petition the court and ask that the case be certified as a class action. The court will then determine whether to certify the action as a class action, define the class and the class claims, issues or defenses, and appoint class counsel. Once the class is certified, the court may award reasonable attorneys fees and costs authorized by law or by the parties agreement.

Expect Energizer and Walmart to fight these suits vigorously.
UN chief in Jamaica urges international response to Haitis spiraling crisis View Photo

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP)  U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned Monday that Haitis tragic situation is threatening the security of the Caribbean region and beyond as he pressed the international community for a response.

Guterres spoke after meeting behind closed doors with Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness in his first visit to the island, which comes more than three months after Holness announced that his government was willing to send soldiers and police officers to Haiti as part of a proposed international armed forces deployment.

Guterres noted that no other country has stepped forward despite the plea from Haitis prime minister and other top officials last October for the immediate deployment of an international force to fight a surge in gang violence.

We are kind of in a stalemate right now, he said, adding that its been difficult to mobilize the will of countries who could best lead such an operation.

Holness, who visited Haiti in February as part of a regional push to help mediate the countrys crisis, said countries that would support such a deployment want to first see political consensus in Haiti and a timeframe for ending the proposed deployment.

It is not that our pleas have fallen on deaf ears, he said. It is being heard to and listened to. The question is the pace of action.

Haitis capital and surrounding areas have largely succumbed to warring gangs that have invaded neighborhoods and killed people in a fight to control more territory, with the U.N. estimating that they now control up to 80% of Port-au-Prince.

The violence has worsened since the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise. More than 840 people were killed in the first three months of this year, in addition to more than 600 people slain in the month of April alone, according to the U.N. More than 400 people also have been kidnapped so far this year.

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, Guterres said.

He previously said that insecurity in Haiti had reached levels comparable to countries in armed conflict.

The deaths have prompted a growing number of angry and frustrated Haitians to unleash gruesome vigilante justice, lynching at least 164 alleged gang members last month, according to the U.N.

Frantz Elbe, director of Haitis National Police, said in a video posted on social media Saturday that officers are fighting gangs, seizing weapons and releasing hostages, but he did not provide any figures.

The U.N. has noted that just over 13,000 officers are on active duty in a country of more than 11 million people, with at least 21 police officers reported killed in the first three months of this year.

I want to once again ask the international community to understand that an effective solidarity with Haiti is not only a matter of generosity, Guterres said. Its essentially a matter of enlightened self-interest because the present situation in Haiti reflects a threat, a threat to the security of the whole region and further afield.

By DANICA COTO

Associated Press
Edge, a leading and fast growing advanced technology and defence group, will highlight its technologically-advanced defence solutions at the 16th edition of Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (Lima) 2023.

Showcasing a diverse product portfolio that can be tailored to the regions specific requirements in line with its ambition to expand its global footprint, Edge intends to bolster its presence in Southeast Asia by participating in one of the most significant maritime and aerospace exhibitions in the Asia-Pacific region from May 23 to 27.

With a clear focus on autonomous systems and smart weapons, Edge plans to strengthen its partnerships within the local industry ecosystem, drive support for indigenous defence in important markets such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam, and to showcase its broad range of capabilities.

Advanced capabilities

Mansour AlMulla, Managing Director and CEO of Edge, said: We will be showcasing our advanced capabilities across air, land, and maritime domains at Lima 2023, as well as developing strategic relationships in Southeast Asia. The UAE and Malaysia share a warm history of cooperation, and we are committed to strengthening these ties even further by developing valuable partnerships across the region.

Following the visit of His Majesty Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah the King of Malaysia to the UAE earlier this year, I personally look forward to attending this event to engage with industry leaders and key stakeholders. Lima provides us with a unique opportunity to grow local supply chains, and assist in the development of air and naval defence capabilities in Malaysia and beyond.

During the exhibition, seven of Edges portfolio companies will display innovative solutions that provide high levels of mission flexibility, exemplifying Edges advanced designs and manufacturing capabilities in the area of autonomous air and land systems, naval systems, precision-guided munitions, and small arms.

Autonomous air systems

In the domain of autonomous air systems, Edge will showcase the HUNTER SP (Soldier Portable) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the tube-launched HUNTER 2-S swarming UAV system, and the REACH-S unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV). The QX-1, QX-2, QX-3 loitering munitions will also be displayed, along with the GARMOOSHA rotary-wing UAV.

Autonomous land systems and solutions will be represented by MILREMs THeMIS Combat unmanned ground vehicle (UGV).

Edges advanced naval capabilities will include the 160 ITEP (Inshore Tactical Engagement Platform), 120 FIP (Fast Inshore Platform), 510 OPV (Offshore Patrol Vessel), as well as the launch of a new corvette that meets regional requirements.

DESERT STING

Edge will also showcase its multi-range DESERT STING air-to-surface precision-guided munitions, the SKYKNIGHT air defence missile, the AL TARIQ-S (Standard Range), and AL TARIQ-LR (Long Range) advanced, modular precision-guided munitions, in addition to the RASH 1-M, RASH 2-H, and RASH 2-M precision-guided munition systems.

For small arms and ammunition, Edge will display its CARACAL F pistols, CMP 9 submachine guns, the CAR 816 assault rifle, the CSR 50 sniper rifle, underscoring an innovative approach to producing accurate, modular firearms. Additionally, Edge will display its full range of small calibre ammunition, including 40mm, 60mm, 81mm, and 120mm ammunition in multiple grains and variants such as tracer, armour piercing, and full metal jacket.-- TradeArabia News Service
WASHINGTON (AP)  All the hand-wringing in Washington over raising the debt limit can seem far removed from the lives of everyday Americans, but they could end up facing huge consequences.

Millions of people in the U.S. rely on benefits that could go unpaid and services that could be disrupted, or halted altogether, if the government can't pay its bills for an extended period.

If the economy tanked due to default, more than 8 million people could lose their jobs, government officials estimate. Millions of Social Security beneficiaries, veterans and military families could lose their monthly payments. Vital federal services including border and air traffic control could be disrupted if workers can't get their government paychecks.

The economy could nosedive into a recession.

President Joe Biden and the top congressional leaders from both parties met at the White House on Tuesday to try to resolve it all, their second such meeting in as many weeks.

WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?

If the government's legal borrowing limit of $31.4 trillion is not raised or suspended by June 1, the result could be financial havoc. The inability to borrow money to keep paying government obligations could mean businesses sent into bankruptcy, crashes piling up across financial markets and lasting economic pain. The damage would be financial, but the cause would be political, a breakdown between Republicans and Democrats, rather than a problem with a basically healthy U.S. economy.

WHAT'S HOLDING UP AN AGREEMENT?

Philosophical differences with financial consequences.

Republicans want spending cuts in exchange for raising the debt ceiling, saying the current pace of spending is unsustainable. Biden and congressional Democrats want the debt limit raised without conditions, arguing that the two issues should not be linked.

Biden had said he would not negotiate over the debt limit, but that he would have a separate conversation with McCarthy about the federal budget.

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE BUDGET?

First the budget is not the debt. The budget is the money the government takes in and spends each year. If it spends more than it brings in  a budget deficit  that adds to the debt that has been building basically forever.

Biden dared McCarthy to produce a budget plan, and House Republicans responded by narrowly approving a bill to reduce deficits by $4.8 trillion over 10 years. It would do so by cutting discretionary spending to 2022 levels and placing an annual 1% cap on future increases. The bill would also reclaim billions of unspent COVID-19 funding, eliminate clean energy tax credits Biden signed into law last year and reverse his student debt forgiveness and repayment plan.

It's unclear how Democrats can get the debt ceiling increased without support from House Republicans. But Democrats say the GOP bill's unspecified budget cuts would harm individuals  and the economy  as domestic spending would likely be cut. Moody's Analytics estimates the Republican bill would cause the loss of 780,000 jobs next year alone.

ARE THERE ANY POSSIBLE AVENUES OF AGREEMENT?

Besides repurposing unspent COVID-19 funding, the White House and House Republicans could agree to tighten certain work requirements for federal aid programs that benefit the needy. The GOP-controlled House passed legislation that imposes more stringent conditions for people receiving food stamps, or SNAP benefits, as well as adults without dependents on Medicaid and recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, which offers aid to low-income families with children.

Biden over the weekend appeared to rule out changes to Medicaid. The White House said he would reject proposals that take away people's health coverage or push them into poverty.

WHO WOULD SUFFER THE MOST FROM A DEFAULT?

Basically everyone, because the jolt to the U.S. and global financial systems would be so catastrophic, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Tuesday in a speech to community bankers.

But working people, those living paycheck to paycheck and people who rely on government benefits and services would face the biggest blows through job losses and the loss of income.

Yellen, in her speech, urged Congress to act quickly. The U.S. economy hangs in the balance. The livelihoods of millions of Americans do, too," she said.

HOW DOES IT END?

No one really knows, though McConnell, a longtime Senate Republican leader, said this after last week's White House meeting: The United States is not going to default. It never has and it never will.

___

AP Congressional Correspondent Lisa Mascaro and Associated Press writers Josh Boak, Seung Min Kim and Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.
BERLIN (AP)  A German court on Tuesday convicted a Jesuit priest of coercion in connection with a climate protest last year and ordered him to pay a small fine.

The district court in Munich handed down its verdict in the case of the Rev. Joerg Alt after he participated in a road blockade in the Bavarian capital on Oct. 28. Also appearing in the proceedings were Cornelia Huth, a biologist and member of the group Scientist Rebellion, and Luca Thomas, a student.

The court convicted all three of coercion and imposed fines in line with their income. In Alt's case, that was a 10-euro ($10.85) fine; the court said the other two defendants' fines added up to a low to mid-three-digit sum.

Numerous similar protests have taken place across Germany and other countries recently as climate activists try to draw attention to the urgency of tackling global warming. The public and political response to such road blockades has been mixed.

So far, most courts have acquitted the protesters or handed down fines, though in at least one recent case a judge sentenced three activists to prison terms ranging from three to five months.

Activists accuse the government of failing to do enough to put Germany on course to meet its goal of cutting emissions to net zero by 2045.

Alt told reporters last month that he chose to join the blockade because he is worried about the huge impacts of climate change on developing countries.

Tell me something that works better and hasnt been done with little effect for 40 years, then Ill do it, he said. But I dont see anything better than joining in the civil disobedience and resistance.

Alt said the Catholic Church should work more strongly to brand the use of fossil fuels as immoral because of the effects they are having.

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Follow APs coverage of climate issues at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment
SEATTLE (AP)  After voting down a bill last month to keep drug possession illegal and boost services for people struggling with addiction, Washington lawmakers are entering a special legislative session to find a compromise before a temporary law keeping the possession of small amounts of drugs outlawed expires.

If a new law is not passed, Washington would become the second state in the U.S., after Oregon, to decriminalize possession of personal-use amounts of drugs, even as widely available and cheap fentanyl worsens an opioid crisis defined by open drug use and soaring overdose deaths.

Here's what to know about the crisis.

HOW WE GOT HERE

The Washington Supreme Court in 2021 struck down a state law making drug possession a felony. It was unconstitutional, the court said, because it did not require prosecutors to prove that someone knowingly had the drugs. Washington was the only state in the country without that requirement.

In response, lawmakers passed a temporary measure giving themselves two years to build a long-term policy.

WHAT THE LAW SAYS NOW

That temporary measure made intentional drug possession a misdemeanor and required police to refer offenders to evaluation or treatment for their first two offenses. There was no obvious way, however, for officers to track how many times someone had been referred, and availability of treatment remained inadequate.

WHEN DOES IT EXPIRE?

July 1, 2023.

WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS YEARS SESSION

As this years session ended late last month, Senate Bill 5536  billed as a compromise  was voted down in the Democratic-controlled House, 55-43.

WHAT THAT BILL SAID

The law would have done the following:

 Increased potential penalties for drug possession, making it a gross misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail, rather than a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days.

 Eliminated the requirement that police refer a person for treatment rather than prosecution for the first two offenses. Officers could then arrest someone for a first offense, while also encouraging police and prosecutors to divert cases.

 Allowed judges to impose jail time for people who refuse treatment or repeatedly fail to comply.

 Made clear that public health workers could not be prosecuted for giving out drug paraphernalia, such as clean glass tubes for smoking fentanyl.

 Included funding for drug crisis centers; a pilot program for access to clean drug paraphernalia and other services; and more access to withdrawal medication in jails and prisons.

WHAT'S THE CURRENT CONFLICT?

Many liberal Democrats have objected to criminalizing drugs, while conservative Democrats and Republicans insisted on a threat of jail to provide incentive for people to enter treatment.

Democrat and Republican lawmakers agree on the need to increase services, but Republicans felt the bill didnt provide enough accountability for offenders and would preempt local bans on drug paraphernalia, among other things.

WHAT ARE LAWMAKERS DOING?

The special legislative session beginning Tuesday gives lawmakers another chance to reach an agreement.

If a new measure is not passed before the temporary drug law expires, cities and counties would be free to adopt their own approaches, creating a patchwork of laws that could undermine efforts to treat addiction as a public health issue.
REYKJAVIK, Iceland (AP)  Leaders from across Europe are laser-focused on holding Russia to account for its invasion of Ukraine and were poised to approve a system that would precisely establish the damages Moscow would have to pay to rebuild the nation.

The 46-nation Council of Europe, the continents preeminent human rights organization, is opening its first summit in 18 years late Tuesday in Iceland. The meeting will be centered on fully backing member state Ukraine and condemning Russia, which was expelled from the organization for inflicting war on its neighbor.

"We will make the real first step on our path to find a solution how to compensate for these atrocities and damages which Russia brings to Ukraine, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said.

While almost all European nations have provided military support or taken in refugees from Ukraine, the Council of Europe is uniquely placed to coordinate legal and judicial support.

When we think in terms of reconstruction, its an enormously important judicial element to have this register of damages to give justice to the victims, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

And after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stocked up on promises of military hardware throughout a long weekend of diplomatic hobnobbing with the continent's major leaders, dozens of Europe's major leaders arrived in far-flung Iceland bent to turn the legal screws on the Kremlin.

By Wednesday's conclusion, leaders at the summit want to have the outlines of a system in place so Moscow can be held liable for compensation to the victims later and allow for the battered nation to start the economic healing process. They are hoping that the United States, which has observer status at the summit, will also back that initiative.

The register is just one of a number of international initiatives set up to ensure accountability for the crimes inflicted in Ukraine, U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said.

The Council of Europe also wants to make sure Russia can be held accountable for what it sees as a plethora of crimes committed during the invasion.

French President Emmanuel Macron said the council's development bank should mobilize funds to build up mental health centers in Ukraine because among the population there are so many traumas from almost 15 months of war. We have to center on this within the framework of reconstruction.

In Kyiv, the words of support were no match for Moscow's military might, as Russia launched an intense air attack on the capital using a combination of drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles.

In Iceland's capital, Reykjavik, diplomacy was seeking a counterweight, with keynote speeches by Sunak, von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Zelenskyy headed home Tuesday after a fruitful three-day tour through Europe where leaders promised him an arsenal of missiles, tanks and drones to replenish Ukraines weapons supplies before a long-anticipated spring offensive.

There will be no escaping the plight of Ukraine during the two-day summit of the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe. It has been a guardian, with fluctuating success, of human rights, democracy and the rule of law on the continent since its inception in 1949. Rarely has the need been higher than in todays world.

The summit will also want to focus on the plight of children that have been moved from Ukraine to Russia during the invasion. In March, the International Criminal Court 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 and it is not known where they are now.

___

Raf Casert reported from Brussels.

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Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
WALLINGFORD  The owners of Tatas, a beloved town restaurant that serves traditional Puerto Rican and Latin food, announced they will close their storefront at 32 Center St. on May 19.

Co-owner and chef Efrain Nieves said they plan to pivot to catering and serving takeout food from their food truck location. As one of the few local places that serves Puerto Rican food in the area, the shift is a bittersweet moment for the restaurant staff as well as the downtown Wallingford community.

I thought I was gonna stay here until I was old, Nieves said.

Nieves left San Juan when he was 13, attended New York Food and Hotel Management School and opened Tatas restaurant at 104 Quinnipiac St. in 2006 alongside co-owner Monica Villanueva. The restaurant moved to its current location seven years ago where a split dining room and bar area pay homage to downtown San Juan with colorful painted frescoes of tropical streets.

Were very sad that were shutting down because this is our baby. We built it from the bottom, Villanueva said. But then Im happy that now that were shutting this down, were on to a new chapter. And were gonna still do what we love to do, but just not here.

Nieves said the decision to close the storefront was a long-delayed result of the COVID-19 pandemic because of the difficulty of finding good staff for the restaurant and rising costs.

Everything went (through) the roof, Nieves said. Paper goods. Meats. Everything is almost doubled. So it's hard to get a high price and inventory. Plus good employees, plus rent, plus this, plus that.

Food costs are 8.5% higher than they were in March 2022, according to a recent report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This cost increase is also passed along to restaurants as restaurant prices are 8.8% higher than March 2022.

Even though the decision was difficult, Nieves and Villanueva said they were grateful to their two daughters for their support over the years. Nieves also said that he considers Wallingford to be a home away from home and expressed gratitude to the community.

It's been a very nice experience over the 20-something years. The community is amazing, Nieves said. I remember one time somebody broke my storefront window and people came over and gave donations just for me to repair it. I had never experienced something like that.

Tatas has given back in several ways over the years, including donating food to hospital workers and nursing homes during the early days of the pandemic. The restaurant also hosted a free yearly outdoor Thanksgiving buffet, several fundraisers for victims of Hurricane Maria, Toys for Tots, among others. As a final way to give back to the community, Tatas announced a customer appreciation party on May 19 to thank customers for their support over the past 20 years.

Tatas has been part of lots of Wallingford events over the years, remembered Liz Davis, executive director of Wallingford Center Inc. She was introduced to Caribbean cuisine through Tatas and spoke fondly of the menu, including Cuban sandwiches, mofongo, sancocho and arroz con gandules.

My husband and I went in there the minute it opened up, so it's going to be sad, she said. We're gonna miss them.

Davis said the future of the storefront depended on what the landlord decided. She added its likely that another restaurant might want to take over the location, especially since a local Wallingford restaurant is in the process of opening a second location on Main Street at the former location of Knuckleheads tavern at 80 Center St.

Even though restaurant locations can be turned around pretty quickly, moving on isnt as easy for the family. After being involved with the Wallingford community for over 20 years, the owners said they still plan to serve their traditional Puerto Rican and Latin food from their food truck and website, https://tatasrestaurantct.com/.

The love is the same, Nieves said. I put love into my food whether it is in a truck or it is in a large scale kitchen.

lguzman@record-journal.com,Twitter: @lguzm_n

Latino Communities Reporter Lau Guzman is a corps member with Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms. Support RFA reporters at the Record-Journal through a donation at https://bit.ly/3Pdb0re, To learn more about RFA, visit www.reportforamerica.org.
Liquid Dataport, a business of Cassava Technologies, a pan-African technology group, has launched what it describes as the first terrestrial fibre route connecting Mombasa to Johannesburg.

Liquid says that this new route, which includes a unique fibre link across the Democratic Republic of Congo between Goma and Kananga, provides multiple landlocked countries with extra redundancy, resilience and connectivity to numerous data centres and cloud resources. It also provides an alternative option in the event of a subsea cable outage between Kenya and South Africa.

This route will connect South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and the DRC. It offers hyperscalers, enterprises and wholesale carriers direct connectivity to data centres in Johannesburg and Nairobi.

In addition, investments in the Equiano sea cable and significant capacity on the PEACE and 2Africa undersea fibre cables, together with its extensive terrestrial cross-border fibre broadband network, ensure that Liquids customers benefit from low-cost international capacity landing on both the Kenyan and South African shores wherever they need it on the African continent.

Commenting on the launch of this new route, David Eurin, CEO of Liquid Dataport, said, This is the first terrestrial-only cable connecting Mombasa to Johannesburg via DRC. It not only provides redundancy but was designed to provide additional capacity to the landlocked countries on the route with direct access to cloud resources on the African continent and beyond.
A dispute turned deadly in Juru, Zimbabwe when a 58-year-old man set fire to the bedroom hut where his sons family was sleeping, killing his daughter-in-law and critically injuring his grandchild. The man then took his own life.

According to police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, Farai Rupondo armed himself with an axe and bottles before using petrol to ignite the thatched hut.

Rupondos son, Shepherd Njerere, managed to escape the flames by climbing out a window. However, Njerere was struck in the face with a bottle by his father during his escape attempt.

Rupondos daughter-in-law, Maybe Boboneya, died at the scene from axe wounds. The couples two-year-old child was rushed to Shamva Hospital with critical injuries, including an axe wound to the head and leg.

After carrying out the attack, Rupondo ingested pesticide and later died at the scene. The motive for the violence remains unclear.

In an unrelated incident, police are also investigating the murder of a 17-year-old girl who was stabbed to death after boarding a private vehicle in Chivhu, Zimbabwe. The victim and other passengers in the Toyota Noah vehicle were also robbed of cash and valuables worth about USD$900 and ZAR1,000.

Assistant Commissioner Nyathi urged members of the public to respect the sanctity of human life and report perpetrators of violent crime.

Breaking News via Email
A man in Zimbabwe was allegedly pushed into a river and killed by the brother of a woman he had proposed to, according to police.

Police allege that Tichaona Nyauyanga confronted Austin Kachuwa in Uzumba, accusing him of proposing to Nyauyangas sister.

Later that day, as Kachuwa was walking towards Nyauyangas homestead, he was allegedly pushed into Chenjera River by Nyauyanga following an altercation. Kachuwa did not surface and Nyauyanga disappeared from the village until his arrest on May 10.

Two days after the incident, Kachuwas body was recovered floating in the same river.

Nyauyanga was taken into custody and appeared before Harare magistrate Dennis Mangosi, who remanded him in custody over the weekend. Nyauyangas family has since relocated to an unknown location.

Breaking News via Email
Police have recovered a firearm allegedly used in the murders of South African musician Kiernan AKA Forbes and his friend Tebello Tibz Motsoane, according to a source close to the investigation.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told IOL that a 9mm pistol was found in uMlazi, south of Durban, over the weekend. Ballistics tests reportedly confirmed the gun was linked to the February 10 shooting that killed Forbes and Motsoane.

A man in his 20s has been arrested in connection with the firearms recovery, the source said. However, another source claimed the gun had been available for hire.

Forbes and Motsoane were shot dead outside Wish Restaurant in Florida Road, Durban. Forbes was exiting the restaurant when a gunman approached and shot him dead, followed by Motsoane.

When contacted for comment, KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda asked the media to allow SAPS investigators to work without undue pressure.

In March, four men were arrested in connection with the murders but later released. One man faced a hijacking charge. Defense attorney Annelene van den Heever said the police had no grounds to arrest her clients. Van den Heever claimed the arrests were irregular and unlawful.

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A 22-YEAR-OLD man from Hope Fountain on the outskirts of Bulawayo has appeared in court facing charges of grbbing a 51-year-old womans brt without her consent.

Mthokozisi Sibanda appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Nomagugu Maphosa charged with indecent assault as defined in Section 67 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23.

He was not asked to plead and was remanded out of custody on $30 000 bail.

Circumstances are that on 24 April and at around 8pm, the complainant was at the Bulawayo City Hall talking to a certain boy when Sibanda reportedly came and started assaulting that boy for no apparent reason.

When the complainant asked Sibanda why he was assaulting the boy he swiftly walked up to the woman and allegedly grbbed her brt before walking away.

Out of fear the woman screamed and passersby came to her rescue.

The woman later made a report to the police leading to the arrest of Sibanda and his subsequent appearance in court.

 BMetro

Breaking News via Email
Yves here. One of the no doubt intended effects of parochial and jingoistic US news coverage (along with the deployment of fluff like lifestyle features) is that many Americans really are clueless about how much nation-breaking weve done in the Middle East alone. And our officialdom seems almost as ill-informed. They seem to be genuinely uncomprehending that many small and developing or just recently developed countries have been on the receiving end of Western exploitation and regard Russia as clearly the less ugly of Cinderellas sisters in the Ukraine war.

By Brett Wilkins. Originally published at Common Dreams

The post-9/11 War on Terror may have caused at least 4.5 million deaths in around half a dozen countries, according to a report published Monday by the preeminent academic institution studying the costs, casualties, and consequences of a war in which U.S. bombs and bullets are still killing and wounding people in multiple nations.

The new report from the Costs of War Project at Brown Universitys Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs shows how death outlives war by examining people killed indirectly by the War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen.

In a place like Afghanistan, the pressing question is whether any death can today be considered unrelated to war, Stephanie Savell, Costs of War co-director and author of the report, said in a statement. Wars often kill far more people indirectly than in direct combat, particularly young children.

BREAKING: Our latest estimates reveal that deaths in post-9/11 war zones top 4.5 million. Read more by @MiriamABerger in the @WashingtonPost: https://t.co/nefwgALoP6 pic.twitter.com/D8UJyfnr6K  The Costs of War Project (@CostsOfWar) May 15, 2023

The publication reviews the latest research to examine the causal pathways that have led to an estimated 3.6-3.7 million indirect deaths in post-9/11 war zones, while the total death toll in these war zones could be at least 4.5-4.6 million and counting, though the precise mortality figure remains unknown.

As The Washington Postwhich first reported on the analysisdetails:

Since 2010, a team of 50 scholars, legal experts, human rights practitioners, and physicians participating in theCosts of War project have kept their own calculations. According to their latest assessment, more than 906,000 people, including 387,000 civilians, died directly from post-9/11 wars. Another 38 million people have been displaced or made refugees. The U.S. federal government, meanwhile, has spent over $8 trillion on these wars, the research suggests. But Savell said the research indicates that exponentially more people, especially children and the most impoverished and marginalized populations, have been killed by the effects of warmounting poverty, food insecurity, environmental contamination, the ongoing trauma of violence, and the destruction of health and public infrastructure, along with private property and means of livelihood.

According to the report, The large majority of indirect war deaths occur due to malnutrition, pregnancy and birth-related problems, and many illnesses including infectious diseases and noncommunicable diseases like cancer.

One 2012 study found that more than half of the babies born in the Iraqi city of Fallujah between 2007 and 2010 had birth defects. Among the pregnant woman surveyed in the study, more than 45% experienced miscarriages in the two-year period following the 2004 U.S. assaults on Fallujah. Geiger counter readings of depleted uranium-contaminated sites in densely populated Iraqi urban areas have consistently shown radiation levels that are 1,000 to 1,900 times higher than normal.

The study also found that some deaths also result from injuries due to wars destruction of infrastructure such as traffic signals and from reverberating trauma and interpersonal violence.

Factoring in Costs of War estimates of direct deaths of between 906,000  937,000 people in these war zones brings the total of estimated deaths to at least 4.5-4.6 million and counting. [5/11] https://t.co/3m3JrCzqkR pic.twitter.com/JD6LVh6Sae  The Costs of War Project (@CostsOfWar) May 15, 2023

Savell said that warring parties who damage infrastructure with an impact on population health have a moral responsibility to provide quick and effective assistance and repairs.

The United States government, while not solely responsible for the damage, has a significant obligation to invest in humanitarian assistance and reconstruction in post-9/11 war zones, she added. The U.S. government could do far more than it currently is to act on this responsibility.
After Russias invasion of Ukraine, China has sought new suppliers, including fellow BRICS members Brazil and South Africa, to reduce its dependence on US producers, while Mexico is determined to push through with its partial ban on GM corn.

The United States Department of Agriculture is projecting a record bumper crop for corn and increased soybean production in 2023. Domestic corn production is estimated to reach 15.265 billion bushels, up 1.535 billion on 2022s record harvest, largely due to increased planted area. But as supply surges, US corn growers face the prospect of slumping demand in its second biggest export market, China, as well as stiffening regulatory challenges in Mexico, its largest market. Between them China and Mexico accounted for over half of all overseas purchases of US corn last year.

China Scrambles to Diversify Its Corn Supplies

China has been gradually reducing its corn imports from the US due to a combination of weak domestic demand and cheaper supplies from Brazil. Until recently, China imported roughly 70% of its corn from the US and roughly 30% from Ukraine, according to Brazilian grain exporters group Anec. But after Russias invasion of Ukraine, Beijing has, unsurprisingly, tried to find new suppliers to reduce its dependence on US and Ukrainian producers. Two of the countries it has turned to are fellow BRICS members Brazil and South Africa, Africas largest corn grower.

The results are already being felt. As Reuters reported in early May, Chinese buyers cancelled 832,000 tons of orders in the last three weeks of April alone. That was enough to push US corn exports to their lowest weekly total on record.

China has made a strategic decision that rather than deal with the United States and our political differences, they will just buy from Brazil, said Jim Gerlach, president of broker A/C Trading in Indiana.

Brazil is not only providing China with cheaper corn but is on track to overtake the US as the worlds largest corn exporter this year. From Bloomberg:

Increased competition from Brazil is underscored by forecasts for it to pass the US as the top exporter this year. China went on a corn buying spree in March, with purchases of almost 4 million tons announced by the US government between March 14 and April 14. But US corn is now less competitive, with supplies from Brazil about $30 a ton cheaper for delivery in the third quarter, traders said. Weak domestic demand for corn as animal feed is also a reason behind the cancellations.

Another reason China has been cancelling orders is that it also anticipates a bumper corn crop this year. Farmers in the northeast, the top production region for corn and soybeans, have been more inclined to grow corn due to higher profits and easier management, CITIC Futures said. But increasing competition from Brazil is also taking its toll. Last year, China was already the destination of 1.16 million tonnes of corn from Brazil, almost all of which was shipped in December.

Preparing for Further Fallout from US-China Trade Wars

Despite the increase in domestic corn production, China is forecast to import 20 million tonnes this year, according to Anec. How much of that will come from the US remains to be seen. Many US farmers are already fretting about the risk of further fallout from the escalating US-China trade wars. Soybeans farmers already lost in excess of $25 billion worth of agricultural exports to retaliatory tariffs a few years ago, as S&P Global noted in a market report last August.

We [US farmers] somehow managed to pull through the last trade spat with China, but afterwards, we did lose some of the market share to Brazil, said an Illinous-based soybeans farmer. Another round of trade restrictions from China could see us losing a significant volume of sales, which we can ill afford, another farmer said. So, the question is: are US farmers concerns justified? Data doesnt lie. The fact remains that China is the biggest market for American farmers. The worlds second-largest economy with a 1.4 billion population consumes roughly a fifth of US agricultural exports every year. In fact, China is almost indispensable for American agriculture, especially soybeans and corn. In 2021, 52% of the US soybean shipments of 53 million mt were sold to China, according to the US Department of Agriculture. China also purchased 27% of 69 million mt of exported corn last year.

The second biggest buyer of US corn is Mexico, which bought $4.92 billion of the (largely) yellow foodstuff in 2022. Together, the two countries account for well over half of all foreign purchases of US corn as well as roughly 60% of US soybeans and 34% of all US agricultural exports. Like Beijing, Mexico is now shopping around for alternative suppliers of corn, its number-one staple food, albeit for different reasons.

As regular readers know, what Mexico wants is to grow its own non-generically modified corn and import only non-GM corn to meet domestic demand for human consumption. And almost all the corn the US exports is genetically modified. The Mexican governments reasons for doing so include protecting the health of the population, the environment and Mexicos bewildering genetic diversity of maize. The government also wants to halt and ultimately reverse its acute  and growing  dependency on US imports for all of its main food staples, as illustrated in this graph:

Source: Timothy A Wise

As I have noted before, Mexicos dependency on US staples is largely the result of NAFTA, which eliminated the Mexican governments protection mechanisms for Mexican farmers while preserving U.S. corn subsidies for US farmers and Big Ag corporations. Two years after NAFTA, the Clinton Administrations Farm Bill dismantled the last vestiges of U.S. government policies designed to boost prices by limiting overproduction.

The result was as predictable as it was brutal: the US flooded Mexico with staple foods at prices Mexican growers could not possibly compete with, forcing many of them out of business while discouraging others from trying to expand production. According to the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP), in 16 of the 28 years since NAFTA took effect, the U.S. exported corn, soybeans, wheat, rice and cotton at prices 5-40% below what it cost to produce them.

Reversing the Trend

Mexicos President Andres Manual Lopez Obrador (aka AMLO) is determined to reverse this trend by reducing Mexicos dependence on imported foods, though he faces an uphill challenge in actually pulling it off.

We are going to produce in Mexico what we consume, he during his presidential campaign. We are in a tremendous crisis because we depend on foreigners for what we consume. There is no food sovereignty.

On December 31, 2020 AMLO issued a presidential decree calling for all imports of GMO crops, including corn, as well as the probably carcinogenic weedkiller glyphosate to be phased out by the end of January 2024. Crucially, the decree enjoyed the support of Mexicos Supreme Court, which in 2021 ratified the Precautionary Measure that bans permits to sow genetically modified corn in Mexico.

But the ban would also hurt US farmers, Big Ag companies and global biotech behemoths. More than 92% of the corn grown in the States is GMO. Domestically, almost all of it is used as animal feed or to produce ethanol and processed food such as corn syrup. The rest is exported, roughly a quarter of which goes to Mexico where it is predominantly used as animal feed. And the US government is determined to ensure that none of this dynamic changes changes.

Amid ratcheting pressure from the US side, including the threat of counter-sanctions, AMLOs government earlier this year issued a new presidential decree that, among other things, exempted feed corn, which counts for the overwhelming majority of U.S. exports, from the restrictions. The new decree only applies to GM corn used in tortillas and corn-dough, which is supplied almost exclusively by Mexican producers of white and native corn varieties. Only four percent of US corn exports are white corn, and most of that does not go into tortillas.

In other words, the new decree will have minimal impact on US growers. Yet even that did not placate the US government. One reason for this is that the decree still retains plans to prohibit use of glyphosate, the deadline for which was brought forward to March 31, 2024. Plus, if Mexico were to actually ban some GMO imports of corn without suffering huge consequences, it would send a message to other countries in Latin America, one of the biggest markets for GMO crops, that there are alternatives available. And those alternatives do not offer the same proprietary perks as GMO seeds.

In March, the US requested formal consultations with Mexico arguing that its plans to limit GMO imports contravene the USMCA trade deal by restricting trade and are not based on science. Canada has joined the US in this planned action. However, as Wise argues in his article, Mexico Calls US Bluff on Science of GMO Corn Restrictions, the Mexican government is not restricting imports: it is restricting the use of GM corn in one defined set of food products. As such, the US government will be hard pressed to find any meaningful number of exporters of GM white corn whose markets are reduced by Mexicos actions.

Also, the US claim that Mexicos proposed ban on GMO corn for direct human consumption is not grounded in science is itself not grounded in reality. In a panel discussion in late March, Mexicos National Council on Science and Technology (Conacyt), the governments highest science body, laid out in clear terms why Mexico is justified in adhering to the precautionary principle when it comes to protecting its native corn from GM varieties before it is too late. Mexicos biosecurity is of utmost importance, said Alejandro Espinoza Calderon, director of Mexicos biosecurity agency Cibiogem:

Mexico has a rich store of exceptionally healthy varieties of corn. It is alarming to find that 90% of tortillas were shown to have traces of both glyphosate and transgenics.

The impact of losing Mexicos panoply of corn varieties would be felt far beyond Mexicos borders, as numerous international studies have shown. It would have direct repercussions on the diversity of maize and ecosystems in all of North America and the rest of the world, warned a paper by the Commission of Environmental Cooperation, the environmental side accord to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

To protect its native corn varieties, Mexico is studying the possibility of reaching agreements with farmers in Argentina and Brazil to procure imports of non-GM yellow corn while also increasing domestic production and developing non-corn sources of animal feed. The Mexican newspaper La Jornada reported in March that some US farmers are also getting behind the idea, particularly those already growing non-GM corn. This news was confimed last week by Conacyt General Director Elena Alvarez-Buylla, who said that farmers in the US are willing to plant non-GMO fit-for-purpose corn that Mexico needs to limit its use of GM grains. From Reuters (in Spanish):

[Alvarez-Buylla] said that GM corn is inextricably tied to the herbicide glyphosate, the use of which Mexico seeks to ban in the first months of next year, and does not have the nutritional value of native varieties. Mexico considers itself the birthplace of corn. Mexico is in an agro-ecological transition that revalues millennial traditional production rooted in multicultural knowledge that adapts to the social, environmental, and cultural context, Alvarez-Buylla said in an online maize forum. With this, we hope to contribute to safeguarding the health of Mexicans, as well as the culture of our peoples, helping to improve local and campesino economies, without causing negative impacts for the commercial relations that Mexico historically has with US producers.

But the Mexican government will certainly have its work cut out in the coming years. While a decline in white corn imports in 2022 suggests a certain amount of progress in reducing import-dependence, national-level data show few signs of a meaningful increase in corn production. Meanwhile, low international prices for corn and wheat together with the recent appreciation of the Mexican peso are causing problems for many growers in Sinaloa and Sonora, some of whom are now requesting emergency government support.

The US and Canadian governments could, of course, help out their North American trade partner by shelving their threats of legal action. After all, as Ernesto Hernandez-Lopez, a professor of law at the Fowler School of Law, writes in an op-ed in Al Jazeera, little is at stake for US corn growers, the ban is legal, and a trade dispute wont help matters. Instead, they should encourage farmers to export non-GMO corn to Mexico. In the end, that is what their customer wants.
(Natural News) The Joe Biden administration wants to regulate the power and water usage of dishwashers through Congressionally-mandated proposed standards. This has been the latest in a series of proposed regulations on technology products and industries in the United States.

In announcing the proposal, Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jennifer Granholm argued that the Biden administration is using all of the tools available to reduce carbon pollution and combat the climate crisis.

The new efficiency standards will limit water usage and energy consumption for new dishwashers. Bloomberg Law reported that if the proposal gets implemented, dishwashers would have to use 27 percent less power and 34 percent less water. For more compact models, the mandatory reductions are 22 percent for power and 11 percent for water.

The Energy Department estimated that consumers would save up to $168 million per year under the plan. However, there could be higher initial costs, as manufacturers design new models to comply. The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) said the new rules would drive up costs for manufacturers and consumers alike without providing meaningful energy savings.

Most appliances covered by the program now operate at close enough to peak efficiency that it is unlikely that additional standards will result in significant energy gains, the group said.

Consumers would likely pay an extra $15 for a new standard-sized dishwasher, but the DOE said the proposed requirements would yield $3 billion in utility bill savings over three decades of shipments. It is also expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 12.5 million metric tons and save 240 billion gallons of water  which the agency said is equivalent to 360,000 Olympic-sized pools.

Governments aggressive regulations against appliances only increase household expenses

In August last year, the DOE started to enforce a ban on the manufacture and sale of most incandescent light bulbs and mandated the entire nation to resort to light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs. (Related: New York set to become first state to ban gas furnaces, stoves in new buildings.)

New energy-efficient standards were also imposed on the use of refrigerators back in February. The federal agency also requested additional regulations on washing machines and issued new energy efficiency standards rules for portable air cleaners and air conditioners.

Experts think that these aggressive regulatory measures will only lead to more expensive household appliances that are far less effective than current models.

What these mandates, what these standards, do is enforce a level of efficiency that doesnt make sense, Ben Lieberman, a senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, told Fox News Digital. And they compromise product quality. Weve already seen this to an extent with the cost of clothes washer standards.

Thats another problem  this is a regulatory program thats very long in the tooth and youre getting to the point where clothes washers  this might be the fifth time theyve been regulated, he added. So, were really chasing after diminishing or non existent marginal returns.

He also noted that mandating more restrictions could lead to less efficient products, thereby wasting more energy.

These standards are counterproductive from the energy and environmental savings standpoint, but theyre also a real inconvenience for consumers. Theyre not so convenient because you might have to do things more than once. Even if you do things once, your clothes washer and dishwasher cycle times are already longer, he said.

Visit GreenTyranny.news for more stories like this.

Watch this Fox News video about Bidens plan to cut water use in dishwashers.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Biden regime official says forcing Americans into poverty by getting rid of jobs is a GOOD thing to save planet from climate change.

NO ENERGY FOR YOU! SF Bay Area to phase out heating appliances powered by natural gas.

City of Eugene in Oregon bans natural gas hookups in new homes.

Gas industry forms coalition to stop Biden from shuttering everyones gas appliances.

Sources include:

JustTheNews.com 1

News.BloombergLaw.com

JustTheNews.com 2

FoxNews.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) This week, the Associated Press (AP) published a piece about so-called gender-affirming health care and attempts by Kansas City to become a sanctuary for people who want it. And as usual, the article is devoid of any mention of what these procedures and treatments actually entail.

Instead of warning readers that gender-affirming health care typically involves doping up children on gender-bender pharmaceuticals while chopping off their reproductive body parts and even reconstructing their faces and bodies in a failed attempt at transitioning them into some other gender.

Gender-affirming health care is often deadly, especially when it involves pulling tissue out of filthy areas like the colon and trying to reconstruct it into new-penises and neo-vaginas. And yet, the AP makes no mention whatsoever about any of this.

Instead, the AP frames the whole thing as an issue of love and affirmation. Basically, if you refuse to accept or allow a child, including your child, to destroy his or her body in order to become a transgender, then you are a hateful monster who is denying another person the right to become their true self.

(Related: Some gender-bender pharmaceuticals can cause children to go blind, the Food and Drug Administration [FDA] has warned.)

There is nothing loving about child mutilation

Because the state of Missouri is trying to ban all things trans, particularly in children, left-leaning cities like Kansas City are trying to buck a potential ruling and get ahead of it by designating their municipalities as sanctuary areas for children to go wild taking gender-bender drugs and mutilating their own bodies without abandon.

In the case of Kansas City, government officials are proudly moving in the direction of trying to make their entire municipality a safe space for children to go hog wild destroying their bodies, while the doctors, surgeons, and pharmacists who aid them rake in mountains of cash in the process.

On Wednesday, the Kansas City, Mo., city council approved a resolution to make the city a sanctuary area for transgender mutilation  though, just like the AP, they would never call it such. Instead, they are framing the measure in terms of love and acceptance of those who are different and vulnerable  a blatant twisting of the truth.

As this was happening the states Republican-controlled legislature issued its final approval to a bill banning child mutilation throughout the state. That legislation has since been sent to GOP Gov. Mike Parson, who is expected to sign it into law.

As you might expect, the AP is critical of the Republican side of the argument, suggesting it is hateful to stop a minor from permanently mutilating his or her body just because all the teachers at school are dressing up in rainbow garb while forcing them to participate in pride parades through the school hallway.

Missouri Republicans are so concerned about innocent children succumbing to this form of child abuse and the repercussions that often follow that Republican state Attorney General Andrew Bailey had considered an emergency rule that would require both adults and children to undergo at least one year of therapy before being allowed to even consider an attempted sex change.

This resolution is an entrance into a conversation and shows a commitment where trans peoples presence in Kansas City is valued, said Merrique Jenson, a transgender and founder of Transformations KC, a non-profit group that advocates for trans women of color, told the city council in support of the sanctuary state resolution.

It would minimize the legal violence toward trans people in accessing gender-affirming care, Jenson added, framing sanctioned child abuse as protection for the vulnerable  see how they twist the English language?

The latest news about the transgender takeover of America can be found at Transhumanism.news.

Sources for this article include:

LATimes.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) A fundraiser for subway hero Daniel Penny has raised nearly $2 million in just a few days.

(Article by Cassandra MacDonald republished from TheGatewayPundit.com)

Penny has been charged with second-degree manslaughter for fatally placing homeless career criminal Jordan Neely in a chokehold on the New York City subway.

Neely, 30, had been harassing and threatening passengers and had a lengthy criminal history. Penny is a 24-year-old decorated Marine veteran and college student.

The fundraiser, launched by Pennys legal team at the law offices of Raiser & Kenniff, P.C., states that their client is facing a criminal investigation stemming from him protecting individuals on a NYC subway train from an assailant who later died.

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 fundraisers description continued. All contributions are greatly appreciated. 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 fundraiser has been shared by many high-profile Republicans, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who took a shot at Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, referring to him as a pro-criminal and Soros-Funded prosecutor.

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

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 wrote.

Penny, who turned himself in on Friday, faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

Read more at: TheGatewayPundit.com
(Natural News) Hundreds of locals priced out of the housing market now call a stretch of road near San Franciscos Highway 101 their home. Theyre living in RVs and trailers instead of homes with picket fences.

Shocking photos and footage taken by the Daily Mail revealed that Binford Road in Californias Marin County now sees an increasing line of trucks and other vehicles. The line, which covers two miles of road, is now one of the biggest encampments in the nation. While Binford Road has about 80 permanent residents, the number of people living in their cars along the stretch has risen to no less than 135.

The photos and footage showed families living in tents and using portable barbecue grills as their belongings scatter out of the RVs and trucks. Some seem to have utilized flags to mark the section of road that they use for their home, with several pulling tarpaulins over their cars to protect their possessions.

An average home in Marin County costs $1.4 million. The average family income there is $131,000, leaving those who are earning less with nowhere to turn. The number of residents living in their cars ballooned during the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. (Related: Millions of Americans pushed out of the housing market as prices soar.)

Historically in Marin [County], it has been tough to sleep safely in vehicles or campsites outside, said Marin County Downtown Streets Division Director Zoe Niel. She told the San Francisco Chronicle: Binford is one of the only places that folks can go. But its not like its a safe haven.

Over 116,000 homeless people sleeping on streets across California

The Binford situation is not an isolated case in California. The state has over 116,000 people sleeping on its streets, which is the most in the United States. Its not exactly surprising as California has one of the most expensive housing markets across the country.

Meanwhile, residents of the city of Novato are calling for the line along Binford Road to end. They are working together to help the roads homeless occupants get the assistance they need.

Every month, homeless individuals at Binford get free groceries, support with their housing case management, medical assistance and many more. Local organizations are also on hand at the Binford encampment to assist with social and medical issues. Hypertension, diabetes and mental health problems are the main hurdles faced by most homeless people there. Some are still good enough to work full time.

These services may be expanded after state funding was awarded to the cities of Novato, Sausalito and San Rafael, as well as to Marin County, for unincorporated areas like Binford Road. Each city, and Marin County, received $500,000 to address their encampment issues.

Marin Countys Whole Person Care/Homelessness Division Director Gary Naja-Riese said their first and immediate priority is Binford. He added that the county is also looking for an additional $1.5 million in state funding that would enable it to enlist two more outreach staffers, and a housing-based case manager at Binford.

Follow HomelessAgenda.com for more about homelessness in America.

Watch Mary Theroux of the Independent Institute discuss the homelessness issue in San Francisco below.

This video is from the Tommys Podcast channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

More and more people are becoming HOMELESS as Americas economic condition worsens.

Giant homeless encampments set to explode across US; Organized Retail Criminals (ORCs) unleash coordinated mass thefts and violence.

Photos of homeless encampments at OHare Airport cause an uproar.

As San Francisco collapses into Venezuela, the city turns a parking lot into a homeless camp with case officers.

San Francisco homeless people PAID by Biden Regime over $800 in cash and food stamps to be druggie street urchins who deal fentanyl to minors.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

Breitbart.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) A leading Republican senator who has been investigating and documenting various alleged crimes involving the Biden family voiced his frustrations this week that some of the most recent findings that appear to indicate Hunter Biden was engaged in sex trafficking has been all but ignored by most major media.

During an interview on Tuesday, the Wisconsin Republican made a claim that his party possesses conclusive evidence indicating that Hunter paid substantial amounts of money to an international sex trafficking ring, using funds provided by his father, now-President Joe Biden.

Senator [Charles] Grassley [R-Iowa] and I, in our September 2020 report, laid out as much evidence as anybody would need to lay out that the Biden family is corrupt, Johnson told Fox News. He went on to point out it was well-known that President Biden would be highly compromised, but the corrupt media ignored it and censored it.

One thing we dont talk enough about. I know President Biden is so proud of his son. We have the evidence that Hunter Biden paid for  paid tens of thousands of dollars for prostitutes that were sex trafficked through an international sex trafficking ring, Johnson alleged.

And President Biden during a four or five month period offered to pay for $100,000 of Hunter Bidens bills when he was spending tens of thousands of dollars on these women who were sex trafficked, the GOP senator further claimed.

Now, that is, at a minimum, morally reprehensible and wrong. And the president is defending that, and the media isnt even looking into it? an exasperated Johnson asked.

It is grotesque, but the media doesnt concentrate on it. We had that in our report. We had the financial transactions proving it. James Comer does the same thing. But it is so icky and reprehensible that people dont want to talk about it, Johnson further emphasized.

It is galling to hear the president talk about how proud he is of Hunter. He enables this. He enables it by propping up his son both in terms of those types of words as well as financially. It is really pretty sick, the senator concluded.

Hunter paid for and used women who were sex trafficked internationally. And @POTUS says hes proud of his son. Biden also refuses to acknowledge the existence of one of his grandchildren. These are the actions and attitudes of morally bankrupt individuals. pic.twitter.com/oyKKenVKiS  Senator Ron Johnson (@SenRonJohnson) May 9, 2023

Everything Sen. Johnson is saying here is beyond dispute. Hunter filmed his interactions with these prostitutes. Hunter filmed himself discussing payments with these prostitutes, just hours after receiving $$ from his father. https://t.co/hYpmikY6sh  Andrew Kerr (@AndrewKerrNC) May 9, 2023

In a subsequent interview with the Fox Business Network, Johnson further predicted that the media would continue to ignore the story because they are leftist propagandists and the Bidens are Democrats.

Criminals try not to leave a paper trail of their crimes. Investigations take time and often only find the tip of an iceberg of evidence. But that tip can be quite incriminating. When criminals do email each other, they talk cryptically. For example: 10% for the Big Guy,' Johnson said in a tweet containing a video clip of his interview.

Criminals try not to leave a paper trail of their crimes. Investigations take time and often only find the tip of an iceberg of evidence. But that tip can be quite incriminating. When criminals do email each other, they talk cryptically. For example: 10% for the Big Guy. pic.twitter.com/wFaecWpewK  Senator Ron Johnson (@SenRonJohnson) May 10, 2023

In another interview with The Washington Examiner, Johnson said that he fears the Department of Justice will allow Hunter Biden to engage in a plea agreement and have his case records sealed.

The Justice Department will do whatever it can get away with doing in terms of covering up for Hunter Biden or minimizing any charges, the Wisconsin senator said. Ive been concerned about this, almost predicting it, for quite some time.

Part of that plea agreement would be a seal of all records so that the American public will never know the full extent of what Hunter Biden and possibly Joe Biden did, Johnson added.

Sources include:

Summit.news

WashingtonExaminer.com
(Natural News) Illegal immigrants who crossed the border and got processed for asylum applications have received free smartphones from President Joe Bidens administration as they wait for their immigration court dates.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has already reportedly issued over 300,000 smartphones to noncitizens who migrated to the United States as part of the Alternatives to Detention Program (ATD). According to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), mobile phones are meant to track asylum seekers who are awaiting court dates. They are also used for facial recognition, GPS monitoring and voice identification.

The smartphones cost taxpayers $361,218.08 per day, according to ICE.

The illegals in Brownsville, Texas who arrived in the U.S. on May 11 were issued paperwork with designated court dates set as late as 2032. Those in Chicago and Florida have court dates set in 2035. Others have immigration court hearings set for August 2023 in a Maryland immigration court and March 2027 in a Dallas immigration court. Two people heading to New York City have court dates listed for 2025. While they wait, the migrants can receive a work permit and legally live and work in the United States.

The New York Post reported that around 2.1 million cases are waiting to be heard in immigration courts. There are around 600 immigration court judges deciding asylum cases, and they closed approximately 312,000 cases in the last financial year.

According to data from the Department of Justice, 2022 saw the highest number of asylum applications on record with almost 700,000 filed. Projections based on first-quarter figures suggest that almost 740,000 applications will be filed this year. (Related: As end of Title 42 looms, 90,000 illegals rush to Americas southern border over 10-day period.)

Moreover, ICE recently announced it would allow the heads of some family units apprehended at the southwest border to pass, but they will need to wear GPS ankle monitors as they will be subject to curfews instead of being held in custody.

Illegals allowed to request asylum again following lifting of Title 42

After the controversial pandemic-era health measure ban dubbed as Title 42 ended, a lot of migrants at the Mexico border are hoping to be processed. But Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas declared that the border is not open.

People who arrive at the border without using a lawful pathway will be presumed ineligible for asylum. We are ready to humanely process and remove people without a legal basis to remain in the United States, he said.

But as of May 12 midnight, illegals are again allowed to request asylum again when they approach official border ports of entry. According to the Guardian, the Biden administration plans to speed up initial interviews by agents to decide who has a case to take to court.

The CBP has been holding up to 28,000 illegals at its facilities, far beyond its stated capacity, two federal officials requesting anonymity told Reuters.

Meanwhile, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives was aiming to pass a hardline bill that would toughen border security and restrict access to asylum.

Visit InvasionUSA.news for updates on the U.S. border situations now that Title 42 already expired.

Watch the video below that talks about Biden admitting there is chaos at borders in an interview after repeatedly denying this.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

El Paso mayor declares state of emergency as city braces for influx of illegal aliens once Title 42 expires.

Mexico-based cartels gearing up to flood America with up to one million illegal aliens after Biden opens the border by dropping Title 42.

Massive migrant INVASION of the United States just days away as Dems collude to overrun the USA with millions of illegals.

Biden regime gags immigration and customs officials so they cant divulge just how bad things are along border.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

ABCNews4.com

NYPost.com

TheGuardian.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Retail giant Target is once again doing everything it can to alienate the vast majority of its customer base with another crackpot woke idea.

As reported by PJ Media, Consumers Research, through its Woke Alerts, issued a warning regarding Targets newly introduced LGBTQ pride clothing collection. The alert criticized Targets previous endeavors, claiming that the retailer has sought to influence children through books such as Are You a Boy or Are You a Girl?, The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish, Im Not a Girl, and others.

The Woke Alert further noted that Target is now extending its LGBTQ-themed products to target even infants, of course, for indoctrination purposes.

Under its take pride section, Target gibbers, Being true to yourself and your community is something to celebrate, all year long. But if your community is Christian or conservative, one presumes that message is not for you.

PJ Media further noted:

But it gets worse, of course. Go to Pride Kids & Baby Clothing. These include Pride Baby Bien Proud Bodysuit  Light Mint Green, or the same pattern for older kids, Pride Baby Be Kind Jumper Romper  Black, Pride Baby Always Proud Bibs, and Pride Baby It Takes All Kinds Bodysuit  Blue. Or, alternatively, perhaps, Target could have a bodysuit for babies saying, My parents are woke idiots.

For parents whose kids are no longer babies, theres also plenty of choices. These include Pride Kids Be You One Piece Swimsuit, Pride Toddler Sleeveless Romper  Black, Happy Socks Kids 3pk Pride Socks Gift Box, Pride Toddler Rainbow Leggings  Checkered, and Pride Kids Sleeveless A-Line Dress  Pink. Weirdly enough, Target shows only girls wearing the dresses. It seems its hard even for woke Target to break out of the mindset where basic biology matters. It would serve Target right if some wacky dress-wearing boy complained.

Its never too early to start grooming your kids to think their bodies are defective and to confuse them about their gender and sexuality, according to Target! the outlet added.

Meanwhile, Anheuser Buschs fallout from Bud Lights unforced error last month in partnering with transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney is continuing unabated, and frankly, it appears as though the brand may never fully recover. According to BeerBoard, a technology firm that supplies data to the beverage sector, Bud Light has experienced a notable reduction in its sales at eateries and bars throughout the United States, The Daily Wire reports.

Axios added at the time that around 3,000 establishments utilizing BeerBoards technology recorded a 6% decline in sales of Bud Light between April 2nd and April 15th, following calls for boycotts against the beer company.

The collaboration between Bud Light and Mulvaney commenced on April 1st but quickly produced negative results as several prominent conservatives expressed their intention to boycott the brand.

Data from NielsenIQ and Bump Williams Consulting indicates that in the week following the announcement, Bud Lights sales plummeted by 11%, and the subsequent week witnessed a more significant decline, with sales dropping by 21% in volume.

Daniel Blake, who is responsible for marketing Anheuser-Buschs mainstream brands, has been placed on leave in connection to the incident. He is the boss of Alissa Heinerscheid, Bud Lights vice president of marketing, who was placed on leave last week as well, The Daily Wire said.

Given the circumstances, Alissa has decided to take a leave of absence which we support, an Anheuser-Busch spokeswoman said in an email. Daniel has also decided to take a leave of absence.

According to sources familiar with the matter, their decision to take a leave of absence was not voluntary, per The Wall Street Journal.

Going woke and then broke is a real thing that, apparently, not enough American companies have learned.

Sources include:

Axios.com

DailyWire.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) The three Barrington public school teachers fired for refusing the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines have been vindicated after two years of legal battle. According to their lawyer Greg Piccirilli, the Barrington School Committee and the teachers have reached a settlement agreement.

Stephanie Hines, Kerri Thurber and Brittany DiOrio will be fully reinstated to their teaching positions within the Barrington School District should they choose to do so. They are also awarded with $100,000, or $33,333 each, for punitive damages. Hines will also receive $65,000 in back pay; Thurber will receive $128,000; and DiOrio will receive $150,000.

In 2021, the school committee adopted a policy that required all employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. It was one of only two school districts in Rhode Island to do so.

Our district was navigating an unprecedented health pandemic and leaned on the important recommendations by the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] CDC and the Rhode Island Department of Health to ensure the safety of our students and school community, the district committee said in a statement. Our then-policy helped combat the pressing public health crisis of the time, while keeping schools open, and [was] one that nearly all faculty and staff adhered to.

All three teachers requested religious exemptions from the vaccine mandate at the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year, but the authorities rejected their appeal; suspended them without pay; and ultimately fired them effective January 1, 2022.

In May last year, Rhode Island Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Lanphear ruled that the district violated Open Meetings Act laws over their issuance of the vaccine mandate.

This case is not about whether mandating vaccinations is appropriate. Regardless of the significant political stance that the public may take for or against that issue, the issue here is whether the Barrington School Committee provided sufficient notice before enacting the Emergency Policy on COVID-19 Related Issues in August and September 2021. This court finds that violations occurred, the ruling stated.

The school committee disagreed with the ruling at the time, saying that the notice was insufficient. The Court failed to address significant record evidence of the totality of the circumstances surrounding the adoption of the policy, which we believe fairly apprised the public of the nature of the business to be discussed, said Gina Bae, the committee chair.

But its over now.

Were extremely gratified that theyve been vindicated in their position, said Piccirilli, who will receive $50,000 in attorneys fees as part of the settlement, according to the Boston Globe. A lot of people were dismissive and skeptical of their claims at the time. They went through a lot of personal trauma dealing with this. Their faith has gotten them through this.

The teachers two-year battle with the district also took a toll on their names and reputations. The agreement requires their termination records to be expunged, Piccirilli explained in an interview. The lawyer stressed that the teachers victory isnt only a vindication for them, but an example for others facing a similar situation. (Related: FINALLY: Federal judge strikes down school mask and vaccine mandates.)

Members of Barrington School Committee want to end vaccine mandate

In March, members of the Barrington School Committee talked about ending the vaccine mandate for staff.

One of the members named Frazier Bell said hed like to see the requirement change so they can hire more teachers in the district. Were going to be hiring teachers before this expires in June and I think it makes sense to amend it, Bell said. But the district superintendent disagreed at the time, saying the policy has not hindered their ability to hire more staff.

Right now, it hasnt hindered us from hiring, but everything is changing in society right now, said Barrington Public Schools Superintendent Michael Messore, but added that hes willing to follow whatever decision is made by the policy committee.

The proposed policy change will be reviewed by a subcommittee and sent back to the school committee for an official vote. The current policy is set to expire in June.

Visit MedicalTyranny.com to read more about the governments tyrannical public health mandates during the pandemic.

Watch the video below where Del Bigtree and Jefferey Jaxen discuss how the public rejects the COVID-19 vaccine mandates in schools.

This video is from the mh4bright channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Texas Attorney General continues fight against school districts unlawful COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

Los Angeles charter school being sued for SEGREGATING and DISCRIMINATING against unvaccinated students.

College student reportedly DIES of Pfizer vaccine-related myocarditis after being forced to take it to go to school.

Sources include:

LegalInsurrection.com

ProvidenceJournal.com

ABC6.com

BostonGlobe.com

TurnTo10.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Hedge fund manager Hugh Hendry has warned that the Biden administration is mulling a freeze on U.S. bank withdrawals amid the decline in M2 money supply  a benchmark measure of how much cash and cash-like assets is circulating in the U.S. economy.

Sometimes its kind of relevant to panic. I would recommend you panic, he said. Youve seen the biggest waterfall decline in M2 right now. M2 is deposits, not loans. Thats the deposits fleeing the system and going into money market funds, he explained. Hendry further warned that it could reach a point where the Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve will restrict the rights of Americans to withdraw their money. (Related: Health Ranger Report: Desperate U.S. banking system will LIMIT cash withdrawals to stop bank runs.)

He recounted that back in 1934, the federal government confiscated gold held by U.S. citizens in a private capacity by means of the Gold Reserve Act. It was only in 1974 that citizens were allowed to freely own and deal with gold once more, thanks to an Act of Congress signed by former President Gerald Ford.

Biden insists banking system is safe and sound

Hendrys warning followed hard on the heels of the failure of First Republic Bank (FRB), the third such institution to collapse in the past three months after Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank. Still, President Joe Biden is insisting that the U.S. banking system remains safe and sound.

The chief executive encouraged Congress to provide federal regulators with all the tools they need to sell the distressed FRB and ensure all bank executives are accountable for the second-largest bank failure in U.S. history.

These actions are going to make sure that the banking system is safe and sound, and that includes protecting small businesses across the country who need to make payroll for workers and their small businesses, the president said. We have to make sure that were not back in this position again, and I think were well on our way to be able to make that assurance.

Biden also assured the public that the banking system has strong capital and liquidity levels and is well positioned to absorb potential losses. He also praised the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) for its swift and effective response to the crisis. Responsible for insuring bank deposits, The FDIC worked quickly to ensure that depositors funds were protected and that the banks assets were transferred to a healthy institution.

The rescue comes less than two months after a deposit flight from U.S. lenders forced the Federal Reserve to step in with emergency measures to stabilize markets, according to Fox Business.

Several laws had been passed, including the one that gave birth to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, to avoid a banking collapse similar to the ones in 2008. But the truth is that these laws failed  leading to the collapse and tighter government control that Hendry warned about.

Follow Collapse.news for more news about the American banking systems collapse.

Listen to the full segment of the Health Ranger Report where the Health Ranger Mike Adams talks about banks limiting withdrawals to stop bank runs.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Top 25 US banks lose $89.7B after withdrawals surge following collapse of SVB and Signature Bank.

The next Great Depression begins: Bank run in China being ignored by Western media could be precursor to massive economic collapse.

Hyperinflation meets the Great Depression  Andy Schectman warns Mike Adams about the catastrophic banking collapse now accelerating.

Sources include:

WND.com

FederalReserveHistory.org

TheEpochTimes.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) President Joe Biden is turning a blind eye on what is really happening at the U.S.-Mexico border, according to political commentator Glenn Beck.

Beck voiced out his disappointment during the May 9 edition of The Glenn Beck Program. He said: What did you get out of it, President Biden? What deal are you getting? Is it just the destruction of America? Is that what youre doing? Are you so out of touch that you dont even know this is going on? I could go either way.

According to Beck, Biden is in the grips of evil as only evil would turn a blind eye to what is happening. He called the chief executive a pimp for his role in child trafficking through the border, and a drug smuggler for his inaction regarding fentanyl being trafficked by the cartels.

Beck remarked that Biden does not know anything about the 85,000 lost children after crossing the border because he does not care about them at all. There is no way that any rational and reasonable human being who cares about America and humanity would sit around and do nothing to stop this crisis.

You want to take your family over the border and rested in the arms of a drug cartel to get you across. What does that cost you? What does that cost? More than money, Mr. President, shame on you. Not only will America pay a heavy price for this. But mark my word, sir, in the eternities you will forever pay, Beck said.

Biden admin also spewing lies about the border situation

The White House claimed that it has cut border crossings by 90 percent. But Beck said this isnt true, playing a video clip to prove his point. The footage taken at El Paso, Texas showed thousands of homeless migrants that line up the citys streets, all the way to houses and buildings there.

Co-host Stu Burguiere, who is also the executive producer of The Glenn Beck Show, said El Paso and other border towns are absolutely being overrun by these problems every year. Following the end of Title 42 on May 11, things are about to get worse. (Related: As end of Title 42 looms, 90,000 illegals rush to Americas southern border over 10-day period.)

Biden himself said he will send some people to the border  including the National Guard  to show that he really cares. Beck, however, noted that the people Biden is sending will only help process paperwork for the illegal aliens. He estimated that about 10,000 illegals are crossing the border every day.

The conservative commentator ultimately remarked that border towns and states on the southern border are being wiped out, with the Biden administration refusing to care at all. The program host remarked that Americans need to talk about border security and admit what the problem is so it can be fixed.

Follow OpenBorders.news for more news about the influx of immigrants at the southern border.

Watch Glenn Beck explain how President Joe Bidens inaction helps the border cartels below.

This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

El Paso mayor declared state of emergency as city braces for influx of illegal aliens once Title 42 expires.

MASS INVASION about to be unleashed against America as border restrictions end.

Mexico-based cartels gearing up to flood America with up to one million illegal aliens after Biden opens the border by dropping Title 42.

The Dr. Hotze Report: Immigration disaster unfolds at the southern border as Title 42 ends  Brighteon.TV.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

GlennBeck.com
(Natural News) Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is widely expected to jump into the 2024 GOP presidential primary race that is currently being led by former President Donald Trump  himself a resident of the Sunshine State  has signed legislation that bans the use of federally adopted central bank cryptocurrency in his state.

DeSantis, accompanied by Commissioner Wilton Simpson and President Kathleen Passidomo, signed the bill at the Southwest Florida Public Service Academy at Fort Myers Technical College, according to Fox 4.

DeSantis announced comprehensive legislation to protect Floridians from the Biden administrations weaponization of the financial sector through a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), the outlet reported further, adding what the law does:

Expressly prohibiting the use of a federally adopted Central Bank Digital Currency as money within Floridas Uniform Commercial Code (UCC).

Instituting protections against a central global currency by prohibiting any CBDC issued by a foreign reserve or foreign sanctioned central bank.

Calling on likeminded states to join Florida in adopting similar prohibitions within their respective Commercial Codes to fight back against this concept nationwide.

Central bank cryptocurrencies (CBCCs) have been a hot topic of discussion among economists and policymakers in recent years. While the idea of a digital currency issued by a central bank has its advantages, there are also concerns that need to be addressed before such a currency can be implemented.

One of the main concerns about CBCCs is privacy. A CBCC would likely require users to have a digital wallet that is linked to their identity, which could potentially compromise their privacy. This is particularly concerning given that central banks have access to a wealth of financial data that could be used to monitor and track individuals spending habits. To address this concern, central banks would need to ensure that CBCCs are designed with strong privacy protections that prevent unauthorized access to user data.

Another concern is the potential for CBCCs to disrupt the traditional banking system. One of the main benefits of CBCCs is that they would enable peer-to-peer transactions without the need for intermediaries such as banks. While this could be beneficial for consumers, it could also lead to a loss of control for central banks over the money supply, which could have significant implications for monetary policy. To mitigate this risk, central banks would need to carefully consider the design of CBCCs and how they would fit within the existing monetary system.

A related concern is the potential for CBCCs to destabilize the financial system. If a CBCC were to gain widespread adoption, it could potentially undermine the stability of the banking system by reducing the demand for traditional bank deposits. This could in turn lead to a decrease in lending and investment, which could have negative effects on the economy as a whole. To address this concern, central banks would need to carefully consider the impact of CBCCs on the financial system and take steps to ensure that they do not pose a systemic risk.

There are also concerns around the technical feasibility of CBCCs. While blockchain technology has made significant strides in recent years, it is still in its early stages and there are significant technical challenges that need to be overcome before CBCCs can be implemented. These challenges include scalability, security, and interoperability with existing financial systems. Central banks would need to work closely with technology firms and other stakeholders to address these challenges and ensure that CBCCs are technically feasible.

Finally, there are concerns around the potential for CBCCs to be used for illicit activities such as money laundering and terrorism financing. While these concerns are not unique to CBCCs, the fact that they would be issued by a central bank could make them more attractive to criminals. To address this concern, central banks would need to work closely with law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders to ensure that CBCCs are not used for illicit activities  but would they?

Obviously, DeSantis does not want Floridians exposed to these dangers, and hopefully, more governors will follow his lead.

Sources include:

NaturalNews.com

Fox4Now.com
(Natural News) Chairman Dan Bishop (R-N.C.) of the Subcommittee on Oversight Investigations and Accountabilities held a hearing the other day about the role the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have played in illicitly targeting Americans with censorship, which is a violation of their First Amendment rights.

Entitled Censorship Laundering: How the U.S. Department of Homeland Security enables the silencing of dissent, the hearing, which you can watch the opening of below, unpacked how the federal government, via non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that were used as cover, targeted the online voices of millions of Americans  all in the name of fighting misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation.

The nerve center of the governments censorship scheme, this censorship laundering effort, as Bishop called it, allowed DHS and CISA to stray well outside the bounds of their jurisdiction of keeping an eye out for foreign election interference, to instead begin targeting Americans and their free speech rights through a veil of NGOs, which includes the so-called Election Integrity Project (EIP).

What was initially a limited effort to counter foreign disinformation on elections metastasized into a sprawling effort that directly or indirectly censors Americans discourse and debate that are the hallmark of our democracy, Bishop stated at the hearing  watch below:

WATCH: My full opening statement at our @HomelandGOP oversight hearing on DHSs censorship laundering schemes. These government efforts to censor public discourse directly threaten freedom of speech in America. pic.twitter.com/WNexkRaeB9  Rep. Dan Bishop (@RepDanBishop) May 11, 2023

(Related: Back in 2012, we reported that DHS was planning to build a high-risk vaccine research center in the heartland of the United States.)

CISA must be defunded and stopped from targeting Americans free speech

CISA was explicitly tasked in 2018 with protecting Americas election infrastructure, only to later unilaterally decide that it would also take on the role of censoring critics of fake president Joe Biden, for instance, and other Democrat infiltrators.

The EIP and other NGOs served as cover for this because CISA knew that censoring Americans directly would look bad. CISA also lacked the funding and legal authorizations it would have needed to do so, which is why EIP and the others were brought on board.

CISA acted as a switchboard, to use their words, to flag what they called misinformation and notify social media platforms who could independently choose to modify or deny the content, Bishop explained.

This scheme resulted in 859 million tweets collected for misinformation analysis, 22 million tweets and retweets categorized as misinformation, and 21 Twitter users, Americans, domestic sources, identified and stigmatized as the most prominent repeat spreaders of misinformation, all of whom were on the political right.

Covid misinformation was also censored, though most of this misinformation has since been proven true. We now know that face masks were a farce, as were the PCR testing kits and vaccines. The entire thing was a psy-op, to put it in a nutshell, and yet CISA via its censorship laundering efforts kept the truth from the American public for as long as possible.

Where are the civil liberty protectors within DHS, and what are they doing? Bishop asked. It is obvious that there has been an abject failure of leadership within the DHS to allow this expanded role of this nature to occur.

This scheme of censorship by proxy represents an attempt by the government to accomplish indirectly and in secret what it would not have the power to do openly. It should give all Americans who care about civil liberties, who care about freedom of speech and association, great pause.

The latest news about the corrupt DHS and its efforts to nullify the First Amendment can be found at Tyranny.news.

Sources for this article include:

Twitter.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) The German government is working on an agreement to allow 250,000 Kenyan migrants to enter the country and fill a shortage of skilled workers.

In a joint press conference, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Kenyan President William Ruto announced that Germany would bring in skilled and semi-skilled workers as well as professionals to work in the country. Kenya is also pushing Germany to loosen its immigration restrictions on those coming from Kenya to facilitate the process.

President Ruto stated: We have agreed to establish a technical team from my office and the ministries of Foreign Affairs and Labour in both countries, to initiate discussions, expeditiously navigate the procedures and formulate an appropriate framework for the export of labor to Germany.

The proposed agreement would also see Kenyan technical and vocational training colleges partnering with their German counterparts to incentivize the move to Germany among graduates and align accreditation standards. Ruto said that basic and higher education institutes would also start teaching German to students, with Germany agreeing to support them in training instructors.

At the same time, however, Ruto complained about the way that trade deals between the two nations favor Germany. He said that while Kenyas exports to Germany totaled $130 million in 2021, their imports were valued at $392 million.

I have therefore called on the Chancellor to review tariff barriers and allow Kenyan products to enter Germany as well as the European market, he said.

Kenyan economy could suffer from loss of skilled workers

It is not clear, however, how losing a quarter of a million skilled workers would impact the Kenyan economy. The country is already dealing with extreme poverty, inadequate health services and one of the highest rates of HIV in the world. At least 19 million Kenyans drink unsafe water, with fatal infections and diarrhea a constant problem and more than 5,000 children dying each year as a result.

The brain drain that occurs when skilled workers like doctors leave for other countries could make Kenya even more unstable and raise mortality as well.

Kenya also has one of the highest crime rates in Africa, with rampant corruption and police working directly with criminals by providing firearms to gangs, assisting in the transportation of stolen goods, and releasing criminals in exchange for bribes. In addition, many people who have obtained credentials from universities there got them through bribery, cheating and other dishonest means, making it difficult for European authorities to determine whose qualifications are legitimate.

Less than a third of Germans support taking in migrants seeking work opportunities

Questions are also swirling about why Germany would turn to an African country rather than one closer geographically and culturally to recruit such a significant volume of new workers.

This news comes against a backdrop of the German population reaching record highs. Meanwhile, migrants who are already in the country are dealing with very high unemployment rates. State governments there have been imploring the federal government to slow immigration.

A recent survey carried out for Infratest Dimap found that most Germans believe immigration presents disadvantages for the country, with more than half of Germans saying they would like their country to take in fewer migrants and refugees; just 40 percent said the same three years ago. In the poll, only 30 percent supported the idea of taking in individuals who are seeking work opportunities.

Germany is the seventh most popular destination for Kenyan migrants, coming in just behind its neighboring countries and English-speaking nations. There are currently believed to be more than 14,000 Kenyans living there.

Sources for this article include:

RMX.news

Africa.BusinessInsider.com

InfoMigrants.net
(Natural News) It is more than obvious that the Biden administrations main goal is to systematically turn America into a communist country by dismantling the constitution, destroying the middle class, and fixing the elections so the Democrats remain in power for good. As the supply chain crumbles more and more each day, the cost of goods is skyrocketing, making it more difficult to simply pay the bills and put food on the table. This is by design. Democrats know that the more the populace relies on big government for handouts, subsidies, and assistance, the more likely they are to vote for more of it in future elections. That is one main reason the southern border of the USA is wide open for illegal aliens to enter, stay here, and take all the free handouts from the Biden Regime.

Socialism is just the first phase of communism, and once communism is installed in America, it will never be uninstalled unless there is a total revolution

Upon close examination, the climate change movement is almost entirely about dismantling the infrastructure and functionality of the nation. It is literally impossible to replace every automobile, shipping truck, and farm tractor with electric vehicles in the next several decades, not to mention trains, planes, jets and ships. The entire economy will come to a grinding halt, the military will be crippled, and the country will easily be taken over by some other nation with fuel-powered resources (like communist China or Russia).

Though funding Ukraine for their war with Russia is a futile effort, the Biden Regime is relentlessly funneling funds by the billions to them, along with massive stockpiles of weapons and ammunition that the USA desperately needs to defend our own nation. This is further weakening America and setting us up for a communist takeover.

The pandemic, that most conservatives refer to as the plandemic or scamdemic, was created in a laboratory with funding for gain of function research that Anthony Fauci orchestrated. Then, once the novel virus infected humans in China, hundreds of infected people were brought to America on cruise ships and airplanes, and the fix was in. This enabled the highly corrupt CDC and Biden Regime to all but shut down all functions in this country, including schools, every small-to-medium-sized business, and allow for tens of millions of (faked, forged, and illegal) mail-in ballots to swing the election for the Democrats, at all levels, including POTUS.

Biden Regime works closely with the CCP to help them take over America in the near future

Have no doubts about it, the Chinese spy balloon was allowed to freely fly over America and take pictures of many sensitive military sites for one reason and one reason alone  because the Biden Regime is in bed with the CCP (or bent over a barrel as the saying goes). The Biden Regime has cut so many illegal business deals with China (and to help Hunter Biden) that they just cant seem to say no to letting China spy on America and our military using spy balloons that just creep over our territory for weeks on end.

Any other Commander-in-Chief would have shot down the balloon the same day it was spotted, knowing it could be taking photos of our military installations, or even worse, carrying biological or chemical weapons that could have easily been released as a weapon of mass destruction.

The top 6 importation and exportation practices that are crippling America systematically and turning America into a communist hell-hole

#1. Importation of illegal immigrants that will take our jobs, our affordable homes, and help the Democrats steal the votes

#2. Exportation of our money to Ukraine

#3. Exportation of our weapons to Ukraine

#4. Importation of diseases from China, South America, and Mexico

#5. Exportation of classified information about our military installations to the CCP by the Biden Regime

#6. Importation of products, food and materials from China that we could be manufacturing and growing in the USA instead

Sources for this article include:

NaturalNews.com

DailyMail.co.uk
(Natural News) GOP Congressman Mark Green, chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, has blasted Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for lying about the security of the border and violating the law as record numbers of illegal immigrants crossed the border last week.

(Article by Steve Watson republished from InfoWars.com)

Appearing on CNNs State of the Union to discuss the 83,000 crossings just last week alone, and Mayorkas assertion that the numbers have dropped, Rep. Green noted What the secretary failed to say is that this week has seen more crossings than any time, any week in our history. 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.

But in the latter part of the week, a judge ruled that they cant do their plan of just releasing without a court date, which Secretary Mayorkas has said on the news was a bad idea. But that court ruling said he cant do that. The drug cartels have responded, and the numbers have fallen off for a couple of days, Green explained.

But he admitted just moments ago that they cant predict the peak, The Congressman continued, adding CBP said 40 percent increase is expected with Title 42 gone.

Green laid out the stark numbers, urging Thats another nine million people in two years. I mean, they have already let 5.04 million encounters and 1.5 million got-aways as they have tried to manage border security and not secure our border.

Green vowed to hold Mayorkas responsible, saying he knows for a fact he lied to Congress under oath, and adding Were going to look into his dereliction of duty, the laws hes intentionally violated and not followed.

His job is to execute the laws, not write them or make them up himself, Green continued, adding the the DHS heads interim final rule to just speed people into the country is an excellent example of them just making up the laws, which we are the ones, we write the laws in Congress. He executes the laws, right, as the executive branch.

We will show the human cost of this open border, fentanyl mothers, Angel Moms, that little baby in Florida crawling around on a VRBO that encountered fentanyl and died, Green further urged, asserting that every American is at risk with this open border. I would be negligent in my job not to look into this guys performance.

Earlier in the broadcast, Mayorkas had the gall to take a victory lap regarding the numbers of encounters on the border:

DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is taking a victory lap over 6,300 [illegal immigrant encounters] on Friday and about 4,200 yesterday. THAT IS NOT NORMAL! Even former Obama DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson says 1,000/day overwhelms the system. pic.twitter.com/ImyRsbWAnj  RNC Research (@RNCResearch) May 14, 2023

Mayorkas said that he is not worried about the threat of being impeached for dereliction of duty:

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas says hes not worried about being impeached and instead will continue his focus on things like the increasing severity of extreme weather events pic.twitter.com/GWgqIkRLX4  RNC Research (@RNCResearch) May 14, 2023

Meanwhile, Joe Biden gloated to reporters that the border situation is Much better than you all expected.

Reporter: How do you think things are going at the border, sir? Pres. Biden: Much better than you all expected ha ha. Reporter: Do you have any plans to visit the border? Biden: Not in the near term, no. No, it would just be disruptive, not anything else. pic.twitter.com/GXvv32APOu  The Recount (@therecount) May 15, 2023

Texas Senator Ted Cruz blasted Biden, repeating his charge that the collapse of the border is intentional in order to stoke a full on invasion.

This is a full on invasion. It is a crisis. And the Biden administration is cheering it on  they want this to happen, Cruz told Fox News, adding, They want more people to come in, and they dont care about the body bags that are piling up.

They dont care about the women being sexually assaulted, Cruz continued, adding They dont care about the children being brutalized. They dont care about the over 100,000 drug overdoses that we had last year, two thirds of which was from Chinese fentanyl coming across the southern border.

Read more at: InfoWars.com
Five bedrooms and generous storage space make the Endsleigh floorplan a perfect match for a big or growing family. Not only does the Endsleigh have an impressive great room, it also includes a spacious kitchen with its own convenient breakfast area. The beautiful granite countertops and gleaming cabinets complete the sophisticated look, while the large island in the middle provides room for preparation and entertaining as it is open to the great room. This floor plan features a foyer entrance and flex room that can be used as a formal dining room or office space. The huge master bedroom is located accessibly on the first floor where it connects to a master bathroom complete with separate shower and garden tub along with a double vanity. The master bath then connects to the great walk in closet that is conveniently located near the sizeable laundry room with plenty of space for a washer and dryer along with other cleaning or laundry supplies. A two car garage completes the first floor. Up the staircase to the second floor there is a common area loft that could be used as a sitting or playroom. Bedrooms two, three, and four include huge walk in closets, while the fifth bedroom still has a large closet with plenty of space for clothes, shoes, and more. Two full bathrooms complete the second floor. The Endsleigh is a modern and thoughtful floorplan that caters to privacy and togetherness all in one great house.

View More
(Natural News) The federal government is attacking gun dealers to take away Americans Second Amendment rights, according to the Medical Rebel Dr. Lee Merritt. She issued this warning during the May 10 episode of Merritt Medical Hour on Brighteon.TV, where former gun dealer Jim Hirschberg joined as a guest.

She began by warning that Washington isnt targeting the Second Amendment directly, but is instead focusing on gun stores. Merritt, a former Navy physician and surgeon, added that the government through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is doing so by revoking gun retailers federal firearms licenses (FFLs). This, she added, allows the government to undermine the Second Amendment by zeroing in on the firearms supply.

Hirschberg also shared that aside from the FFL, gun stores also have the firearms acquisitions and dispositions book (FADB). Every gun that comes in the store is logged in the FADBs acquisition section  including the make, model, serial number, caliber and type. The same is also logged in the dispositions section, alongside the names and addresses of those who bought guns. (Related: Buying too many guns, ammo could result in your bank shutting down your accounts.)

Customers also have to fill out the ATF Form 4473 whenever they buy a gun. This document lists down the type, serial number, make and model of the firearm. But what they are doing is [that] any mistake [or] clerical error on a Form 4473 that the dealer might have made, however innocent, the ATF can use that to revoke [an FFL], Hirschberg told Merritt.

If a customer buys more than one handgun in a week, dealers have to fill out an ATF Form 3310.4. This document, also called a multiple handgun form, will then be sent to both the ATF and the local sheriff.

Moreover, the former gun dealer said many FFL revocations happened in 2022  thrice the number compared to 2021 revocations and the highest number in the last 16 years.

This is where its become insidious because it happened under [former President Bill] Clinton. He shut down a lot of FFLs, Hirschberg said.

Its happening again now. [President Joe] Biden came out with a zero-tolerance policy. Well, zero-tolerance policy? Its pretty much zero-brains and zero-common sense policies.

Firearms Owner Protection Act prohibits creation of gun owners database

Once you lose your license, give up your license, retire, whatever  all your [Form] 4473s, however many youve had, for as many years youve been in business  get sent into the government, Hirschberg continued. You cant tell me they are not creating that database out of all of these.

According to the former gun dealer, the governments creation of a gun owners database is their way of revoking FFL licenses. He added that under the Firearms Owner Protection Act, there is no entity  whether local, state or federal government  that can create a database of gun owners.

He also recounted that gun dealers who got their FFL received a visit from an ATF agent, who would explain how things work and issue a 300-page book about the pertinent gun laws. Hirschberg said ATF uses the gun dealers signature after receiving the book as proof that they understood all the firearms-related laws. They also use this signature whenever they revoke the dealers FFL.

Touching on Merritts earlier point about Washington strangling the firearm supply chain, Hirschberg cited the Department of Homeland Securitys (DHS) purchase of more than 1.6 billion rounds of .40 caliber hollow point ammunition during the Obama administration.

The DHS claimed at the time that the bulk purchase was done to get a cheaper deal. That amount of ammunition, supposedly for use in annual training, could suffice for more than 100 years.

Follow SecondAmendment.news for more news about the government oppressing gun dealers.

Watch the May 10 episode of the Merritt Medical Hour below. The Merritt Medical Hour airs every Wednesday at 7-8 p.m. and Saturday at 2-3 p.m. on Brighteon.TV.

More related stories:

Help stop the biggest gun grab in American history.

Leaked documents prove Bidens ATF is involved in aggressive push to shutter gun stores by any means necessary.

Its inevitable: American patriots need guns because a war is coming

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

DrLeeMerritt.com
(Natural News) It is now a crime in the Big Apple to discriminate against someone on the basis of their being too fat.

In what New York City council minority leader Joseph Borelli warned will open up the floodgates for New Yorkers to sue anyone and everything, a new anti-discrimination bill outlaws height or weight discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodation, which is broadly defined by design.

Set to be signed into law by Mayor Eric Adams in the coming days, the legislation represents yet another plank in the lefts cavalcade of special interest insanity, where everything that offends people who are unhealthy, mentally ill, or deranged becomes criminalized because their feelings got hurt.

(Related: Will Mayor Adams new anti-climate change food policing scheme be considered anti-fat because it pushes New Yorkers to consume only plant-based food items?)

Fat Fab Feminist spoke out in support of obesity discrimination bill

Councilman Shaun Abreu, one of the bills primary sponsors, says that obesity discrimination is a silent burden that he has personally been suffering. Abreu says that after gaining more than 40 pounds during the covid lockdowns, he is now treated differently while in public.

Theyre being discriminated against with no recourse and society saying thats perfectly fine, Abreu complained, of course referring to himself as they.

Victoria Abraham, a Fat Fab Feminist who testified before the city council in support of Abreus bill, agrees that it should be a crime for fat people to ever have to feel uncomfortable because of their being overweight.

In most places in the United States, you can get fired for being fat and have no protection at all, which is crazy because this is a very fat country, Abraham said to ABC 7 NY about why she supports the bill.

Borelli, meanwhile, who was among the five city council members who voted against the bill, spoke out in a statement to The New York Times.

Im overweight but Im not a victim, the Republican stated. No one should feel bad for me except my struggling shirt buttons.

Back in 1976, the state of Michigan passed a weight-based workplace discrimination bill of a similar nature, as did other left-wing cities including San Francisco and Washington, D.C.

Other similar state-level bills have also been introduced in New York (covering the entire state), Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Jersey.

Tegan Lecheler, the advocacy director at the National Association for the Advancement of Fat Acceptance, said that she hopes the new legislation in New York City, which she helped create, will encourage a larger conversation of framing this beyond health.

Its not a health issue, she added in a statement. Its a civil rights issue. This is really about if people are safe and protected and have the right to be in spaces.

Currently in New York state, a human rights law already on the books prohibits discrimination in housing, the workplace, and public accommodation on the basis of 27 characteristics that include age, marital status, disability, and natural origin  but not for being too fat, which is a relatively modern phenomenon in our countrys history.

Pay for airline seats by weight then, wrote one commenter about how fat people should have to pay more when they take up extra space if they expect to not be discriminated against.

Go to the theater and sit in a space for a wheelchair rather than taking up two seats.

Another wrote that the morbidly obese will probably not be so for very much longer anyway, seeing as how the supply chain is crashing and soon there will probably be food shortages and famine.

The latest news about left-wing fascism on parade can be found at Fascism.news.

Sources for this article include:

DailyMail.co.uk

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Many studies and firsthand reports from patients and their families or friends have linked the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines to different adverse effects. Yet Big Pharma and the mainstream media continue the narrative that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and necessary for public health.

A study published earlier this month in the journal Nature also linked COVID vaccines to untreatable eyeball clots called retinal vascular occlusion. Researchers reported that people who have been vaccinated are at significantly greater risk of developing blood clots than those who remain unvaccinated.

While conducting the study, the research team gathered data from 95,156,967 volunteers. At least 7.3 million of the volunteers met the criteria for inclusion in the study.

After taking into account confounding variables, such as people taking anticoagulants, certain contraceptives and other medications, the researchers were left with 745,041 vaccinated and 3.8 million unvaccinated subjects to compare. The findings revealed that within two years after vaccination, the chances of all subtypes of retinal vascular occlusion go up significantly in the vaccinated individuals.

Retinal vascular occlusion linked to many health problems

Retinal vascular occlusion is often linked to individuals with diabetes, along with other health issues like high blood pressure (hypertension), high cholesterol levels, or other health problems that affect blood flow.

The front of your eye contains the retina, a lens that focuses images on the inside of the back of your eye.

The retina is where your eye focuses the images you can see. It is covered with special nerve cells that convert light into signals that are sent via the optic nerve to your brain, where they are then processed as images.

Conditions that affect the retina like retinal vascular occlusion can affect your ability to see.

Arteries carry blood from your heart to other parts of the body, then veins carry the blood back to your heart. A blockage in an artery or vein is called an occlusion or stroke. When the flow of blood from your retina is blocked, it is often caused by a blot clot blocking the retinal vein. This causes retinal vascular occlusion.

Retinal vascular occlusion can be a very serious condition, sometimes causing the formation of abnormal new blood vessels that can cause pain and a dangerous increase in pressure inside the eye. Retinal vascular occlusion may even cause blindness.

As of writing, there is no treatment that can unblock retinal veins. Treatments for the symptoms of retinal vascular occlusion include the injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drugs and corticosteroids directly into the patients eyeball. (Related: Owen Shroyer exposes TRUE conspiracies about COVID clot shots.)

The researchers found that the overall risk of retinal vascular occlusion in the vaccinated individuals was 2.19 times higher than that in the unvaccinated group at two years. They added that no disparity was detected between brand and dose of vaccines.

Nevertheless, they insisted that additional research is required to draw a solid conclusion regarding the association between retinal vascular occlusion and COVID-19 vaccines.

Visit Vaccines.news for more updates on the adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccines.

Watch the video below about Australians seeking compensation for COVID-19 vaccine-related injuries.

This video is from the The Talking Hedge channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Airman fighting possible DISMISSAL for refusing to get the COVID clot shot.

NBA player Andrew Wiggins REGRETS taking the COVID clot shot.

Internet blogger SkepDoc Dr. Harriet Hall slammed anti-vaxxers for their conspiracy theories about deadly Covid clot shots, now shes DEAD after getting TRIPLE-JABBED.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

My.ClevelandClinic.org

Brighteon.com
On the Outer Banks of the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, 5 endangered American red wolf pups were born this past month as part of an ongoing effort to resurrect a species that was declared extinct in 1980.

Three years ago, the parents of the litter were sent to the mainland refuge in the counties of Dare and Hyde. According to a news release issued by the US Fish and Wildlife Service on Wednesday, they have already produced puppies for the second consecutive year.

There are three females and two males in the new litter. There are now six pups in this litter after the addition of a male foster pup that was born at a zoo in Washington state.

The five red wolf siblings from the 2022 litter, who have remarkably strong family ties, will assist the parents in rearing and bonding this new generation of red wolves, according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service via The Virginia Pilot.

Endangered American Red Wolf

Under the Endangered Species Preservation Act of 1966, the American red wolf was first designated as "threatened with extinction" in 1967. The US Fish and Wildlife Service reports that this species is currently listed as an "endangered species" under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

Red wolves are slim canids that frequently have bushy tails with black tips. With some black along their backs, their coats are primarily brown or buff. On their muzzle, on the backs of their legs, and behind their ears, their fur occasionally has a reddish color. Red wolves may initially resemble domestic German shepherds in appearance.

The red wolf is sized somewhere between a coyote and a gray wolf. They are around four feet long and about 26 inches tall at the shoulders. Red wolves range in weight from 45 to 80 pounds, with males weighing an average of 60 pounds and females weighing an average of 50 pounds, as per data from The National Wildlife Federation.

Also Read: Colorado Wolf Reintroduction Starts by End of 2023

Recovery Efforts

The Service gave growing the red wolf population in captivity a top priority in 2016. To increase space capacity, the Service promised to contribute resources and cooperate with its partners. Through Recovery Challenge Grants awarded in FY18, FY19, and FY20, the Service has so far contributed $771,000 toward the development of new red wolf enclosures. According to data from the US Fish and Wildlife Service, 30 additional enclosures have been constructed or funded to date.

One of the most endangered species of canids in the world is the red wolf. It is smaller and ruddier in color than its gray wolf cousins. Red wolves formerly roamed the entire southeastern United States, but by 1970, habitat destruction and years of hunting had brought the species dangerously close to extinction. The US Fish & Wildlife Service seized the 14 surviving red wolves they could discover in the wild as part of an ambitious captive breeding program.

These wolf species are the ancestors of the 75 to 100 wolves that are currently living in North Carolina. Red wolves are the first species to be successfully reintroduced into the wild after being proclaimed extinct in the wild, according to The National Wildlife Federation.

Related Article: Rare Sighting of Wolverine Crossing Highway Reported in Oregon
According to a regional authority, 200,000 people have been forced to flee their homes as a result of flash flooding in central Somalia, where the Shabelle River burst its banks and flooded highways.

Residents flee their homes

Due to torrential rains that caused water levels to rise quickly, residents of Beledweyne town in the Hiran region were forced from their houses. As they waded through flooded streets in search of safety, they carried their possessions on top of their heads.

The Shabelle River flash floods in Beledweyne town have already forced about 200,000 people from their homes, and that number might rise at any time. According to Ali Osman Hussein, the deputy governor for social affairs in the Hiran region, this figure is currently provisional.

"We are doing all we can to help those who are affected," he told AFP, as per Phys.org.

Hassan Ibrahim Abdulle, the deputy governor of the area, reported on Friday that three persons had died as a result of the flooding.

The catastrophe follows a record drought that put millions of Somalians in danger of starvation. The fragile country has also been waging an Islamist insurgency for decades.

Early this week, residents said they were forced to leave their houses in the middle of the night as water poured into the streets and into structures.

It was Fartun Ali's fifth time escaping flash flooding in Beledweyne; Fartun is not her true name.

The 35-year-old mother of eight told AFP that if the river overflows its banks, we go.

Also Read: Heavy Rain Threatens 1,200-Mile Area with Flash Flood Risk from Kansas to West Virginia This Week

Extreme weather hits Africa

Another resident Iman Badal Omar said he was relieved to escape with his life.

"All we could do was to evacuate and save our children. We did not take any of our belongings," as per Manila Bulletin.

East and Central Africa often suffer from extreme weather during the rainy seasons.

Heavy rains earlier this month in Rwanda caused floods and landslides in numerous areas of the hilly nation, killing 135 people and leaving more than 9,000 homeless.

Last week, severe rainstorms, floods, and landslides in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo claimed the lives of more than 400 people.

According to experts, climate change is causing a rise in the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, and Africa, which makes the least contribution to global warming, is feeling the brunt of this trend.

As the area was battered by torrential rains in May 2020, at least 65 deaths were reported in Rwanda, while 194 deaths were reported in Kenya.

During two months of nonstop rain in numerous East African nations towards the end of 2019, at least 265 people perished and tens of others were forced to flee their homes.

Humanitarian response needed

Humanitarian agencies have broadened and scaled-up their flood response in close coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia and member states.

The flood response plan seeks US$59.85 million to deliver life-saving assistance over three months.

The plan aims to provide food security and livelihood support, health care, nutrition services, water and sanitation facilities, shelter and non-food items, protection services, and education support to the affected population, as per rw response.

According to OCHA, floods have affected over 175,000 people in Somalia since the beginning of the rainy season, of whom 140,000 have been displaced.

The most affected areas are Baardheere district in Gedo Region, Jubaland State, and Baidoa district in Bay Region.

OCHA warned of an increase in diseases such as cholera as local infrastructures are affected by the floods.

It also said that humanitarian access remains a challenge due to insecurity and road blockages caused by water levels

Related article: Flood Watches Places over 80 Million People at Risk Across the US East Coast
Cyclone Mocha made landfall and struck the Myanmar and Bangladesh coasts, resulting in several dead people and widespread infrastructural damage, including power outages and disruption on communications due to downed power lines. Mocha brought powerful winds and heavy rain, resulting in flooding in fragile communities and especially those near coastal areas.

Last week, it was reported that almost 500,000 people in both countries were ordered to evacuate by local authorities prior to the cyclone's landfall, a story also covered by Nature World News. In Bangladesh, hundreds of cyclone shelters were established to accommodate affected residents by the looming storm at that time.

The United Nations and its agencies also provided emergency supplies such as food to the two countries before the weekend. The measures were given due to the expected devastating impact of Mocha, which traversed the Bay of Bengal last week before making landfall over the weekend. The cyclone is considered as one of the region's most powerful storms.

Cyclone Mocha Devastation

At least six people were killed after Cyclone Mocha hit the coastlines of Myanmar and Bangladesh after it strengthened into a level equivalent of a category-five storm, the BBC reported on Sunday, May 14. The reported casualties were all from Myanmar, wherein 90% of the country's western Rakhine state's capital city of Sittwe was destroyed, residents told the U.K. broadcasting network.

In Bangladesh, no casualties have been reported yet but the country's disaster official Kamrul Hasan said flooding and landslides struck them.

On the other hand, the case for Myanmar is different since it received the main blow of the storm, as it pummeled through houses and power lines at a speed of 209 kilometers per hour (130 miles per hour), according to Myanmar's meteorological department, as cited by the network.

Also Read: Tropical Cyclone Warning: Meteorologists Predict a Storm Could Develop Off the Coast of Queensland Next Week

Cyclone Mocha Landfall

Cyclone Mocha slammed into the northwestern coast of Myanmar, over the waters off the Bay of Bengal, with the powerful wind gusts on Sunday, according to CNN, which said people can be seen rushing to temporary shelters.

The full magnitude of the storm's impact in the region is not yet known due to communication challenges. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the "ongoing wild weather" in Rakhine and interrupted telecommunications means assessment of the full damage is not yet possible, as cited by the U.S. media outlet.

Un Resident Coordinator in Myanmar informed Al Jazeera from Myanmar's Yangon that the country's coast and Rakhine have dealt the most impact of the "extremely severe storm."

Bangladesh in South Asia, Myanmar in Southeast Asia, and their surrounding countries are prone to typhoons or cyclones at this time of the year and in the coming months.

In 2008, a powerful storm named Cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar from late April to early May of that year, killing over 100,000 people, making it Myanmar's world natural disaster in its recorded history.

Related Article: Cyclone Mocha: Hundreds of Thousands of People in Bangladesh, Myanmar to be Evacuated Due to Approaching Storm
Multiple River Flood Warnings have been issued in Texas as a result of rounds and rounds of heavy rain.

Relentless Rain Persists in Texas

In South Texas, especially the San Antonio region, where first responders performed many swift-water rescues over Mother's Day weekend, days of nonstop rain have caused flash floods. Additionally, the FOX Forecast Center is worried that more flooding could happen on Monday because of the stormy weather.

Concerns about flooding are spreading beyond Texas. Additionally, problems from parts of the central and southern Plains through the mid-Mississippi Valley, which span from Springfield, Missouri, to St. Louis and could result from rounds of heavy rain.

Many areas of south Texas experienced heavy rain as a system of strong storms swept across the plains. Some places, including a portion of San Antonio, saw effects including flooded buildings and closed roads. Rain threatened to make things worse, according to The Weather Channel.

The Missouri Department of Transportation reportedly shut down stretches of Interstate 55 after water started to flood the road, according to KTVI in St. Louis.

Although there were miles of backed-up traffic, according to KTVI, the roads had been reopened by 9 PM CDT.

Multiple River Flood Warnings in Texas

On Monday, Texas faces multiple flash flood threats

In the Lone Star State, the day began pretty calmly, but as it goes on and we head into the afternoon and evening, heavy rain and thunderstorm activity are predicted to pick back up.

The hazard of flash floods is greater in South Texas, from Austin and Houston all the way through San Antonio, Corpus Christi, and Brownsville, despite the possibility of rain in many sections of the state.

The difficult part is that when daytime heating is paired with a lot of Gulf moisture, it will result in really heavy downpours, according to FOX Weather meteorologist Britta Merwin. This means that even while the pattern with these afternoon storms is more summerlike, everything that has built up to this point means that one summer storm in the afternoon can result in further flooding.

People must maintain caution for this reason, Merwin continued.

Due to the recent heavy rain, there are numerous river flood warnings in force throughout southeast and eastern Texas. Flood Watches are also in effect over central Oklahoma through Monday afternoon due to the possibility of flooding caused by heavy rain that may run off into nearby rivers, creeks, and streams.

Also Read: Flood Watch in Effect over Austin / San Antonio Area as Heavy Rainfall Continues into the Weekend

Flooding Through the Midweek

Starting on Tuesday and lasting through Wednesday, more rain is likely to fall across South Texas as well as along the Gulf Coast into the valleys of the Mississippi and Tennessee.

Maybe some good news: The risk of flash flooding has decreased significantly over the past few days, as of Monday morning. But be on the lookout since flash flooding could still happen.

In Texas, areas San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Houston, and Brownsville might see flash flooding.

If heavy rain develops, Jackson and southern Mississippi may also experience some flooding. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the risk will reach Birmingham and Montgomery, Alabama, in the north and east, FOX Weather reports.

Related Article: 16 Tornadoes Hit Four States, Aftermath Damaged Buildings and Downed Trees Reported
According to a PR published by Bollinger Shipyards LLC on May 11, 2023, the company has delivered the USCGC John Patterson to the U.S. Coast Guard in Key West, Florida.

Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link

Fast Response Cutter USCGC John Patterson. (Picture source: Bollinger Shipyards)

The USCGC John Patterson will be the fourth of six FRCs to be homeported in Sector Boston, which is known as The Birthplace of the Coast Guard. The sector is responsible for coastal safety, security, and environmental protection from the New Hampshire-Massachusetts border southward to Plymouth, Massachusetts out to 200nm offshore.

Sector Boston directs over 1,500 Active Duty, Reserve, and Auxiliary members whose mission is to protect and secure vital infrastructure, rescue mariners in peril at sea, enforce federal law, maintain navigable waterways, and respond to all hazards impacting the maritime transportation system, and coastal region.

Each FRC is named for an enlisted Coast Guard hero who distinguished themselves in the line of duty. While attached to an LST during the invasion at Anzio, Italy, Coxswain Patterson volunteered as a member of a boat crew to go the side of a burning LST during a full gale in an effort to rescue personnel trapped below decks.

Despite the fact the blazing ship was pitching and rolling in a dangerous manner and ammunition was exploding he aided in the rescue of a soldier, trapped in a lower compartment and brought him to safety.

About the FRC

The Fast Response Cutter is a sophisticated vessel with a displacement of 353 long tons, equivalent to 359 metric tons. Its overall length is 46.8 meters, or 154 feet, with a beam or width measuring 8.11 meters and a depth of 2.9 meters.

The propulsion system of the cutter comprises two MTU diesel engines, each with a power output of 4,300 kW, and a 75 kW bow thruster for enhanced maneuverability. This allows the cutter to reach speeds of over 28 knots.

The vessel has an endurance of 5 days and can cover a distance of up to 2,500 nautical miles. It's designed to remain on patrol for a total of 2,500 hours annually.

In terms of auxiliary craft, the cutter carries one Cutter Boat  Over the Horizon  equipped with a jet drive. It's operated by a complement of four officers and twenty crew members.

For navigation and defense, the cutter is equipped with an L-3 C4ISR suite, the AN/SPS-78 surface search and navigation radar, the AN/SPS-50 surface search radar, and the AN/APX-123(V)1 IFF. The ship automation is provided by MTU Callosum.

In terms of armament, the cutter is armed with a Mk 38 Mod 2 25 mm Machine Gun System and four crew-served Browning M2 machine guns.
According to information published by the US DoD on May 8, 2023, Spanish Navy Alvaro de Bazan-class frigate ESPS Blas de Lezo (F103) fired a Harpoon missile during a scenario involving a coordinated attack with a maritime patrol aircraft to counter a surface target in support of exercise Formidable Shield 2023 in the Norwegian Sea.

Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link

Alvaro de Bazan-class frigate ESPS Blas de Lezo firing Harpoon missile. (Picture source: US DoD)

The Alvaro de Bazan-class frigate, a class of Spanish-built warships, stands out with its notable displacement ranging between 5,800 and 6,391 tonnes. These robust vessels stretch 146.7 meters in length and have a beam of 18.6 meters, with a draft of 4.75 meters.

Under the hood, they are powered by a combined diesel or gas (CODOG) propulsion system, including two General Electric LM2500 gas turbines and two Navantia Caterpillar 3600 diesel engines.

This potent combination allows these frigates to reach speeds of up to 28.5 knots, and they have a range of 4,500 nautical miles while cruising at 18 knots.

The Alvaro de Bazan-class frigates house a crew complement of 250, including 48 officers. Their advanced sensors and processing systems encompass Lockheed Martin AN/SPY-1D 3-D multifunction radar, Raytheon SPS-67(V)4 surface search radar, and Raytheon DE1160 LF active and passive sonar, among other state-of-the-art technologies.

For electronic warfare and decoy purposes, these vessels are equipped with four FMC SRBOC Mk36 flare launchers, SLQ-25A Enhanced Nixie torpedo countermeasures, and the Indra SLQ-380 EW suite. They also feature the Indra Mk 9500 interceptor.

In terms of armament, the Alvaro de Bazan-class frigates pack a punch with a 5-inch/54 Mk45 Mod 2 gun, a 48 cell Mk 41 vertical launch system, and a host of missiles including the Standard SM-2MR Block IIIA and the RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile.

For anti-ship operations, they carry eight McDonnell Douglas RGM-84 Harpoon missiles. Moreover, they are fitted with four 324mm Mk32 Mod 9 double Torpedo launchers housing 12 Honeywell Mk46 mod 5 Torpedoes.
OZARK-The Dale County Commissions recent decision to install security cameras in the government building here was not unanimous and now the county Emergency Management Agency Executive Director is joining the discussion.

Yes, security cameras are needed in public buildings, Dale County EMA Executive Director Willie Worsham said Tuesday. The only question is why they have not been installed as a safety measure before now.

At the Dale County Commission meeting May 9, commissioners voted by majority to fund installation of security cameras in the lobby and front parking lot of the building located at the intersection of Highways 231 and 123. At the meeting April 25 the commission had approved $12,226 for installation of security cameras to be placed outside on the rear of the building, in the solid waste department lobby area near the entrance of the building and two in the commission meeting room in the same building.

At the meeting April 25, the commission approved the camera purchase by a vote of 3-1, with Commissioner Adam Enfinger casting the single nay vote after questioning justification for the expense with other needs in the county.

At the May 9 vote on additional cameras, Enfinger was joined in a nay vote by Dale County Commissioner Donald Grantham. Commissioners Chris Carroll and Frankie Wilson voted in favor of the installation and Dale County Commission Chairman Steve McKinnon broke the tie by voting in favor of the additional security cameras.

After the vote, McKinnon said he had written a memo, dated May 9, to Enfinger, copies of which were available to the public at the entrance to the meeting room, he said. In the memo, McKinnon questioned the veracity of comments Enfinger made to the Ozark weekly newspaper after the meeting. You have made outlandish and false statements in a public forum, McKinnon wrote in the memo. What you stated is totally untrue.

You did not bring your allegations to the commissions attention during the meeting, McKinnon wrote. Instead you made comments to the newspaper and TV station. Since you did not give the commission chance to address your allegations, Ill do so now.

In the May 4 newspaper article, attached to the memo, Enfinger is quoted as saying that he believed the commission was taking the first steps to monitoring employees conversation, while in their offices and during the commission of their duties. It was made very clear in the commission meeting that the cameras would be placed in public areas, McKinnon said in his memo. You deliberately made a statement that was untrue to cause anxiety among our employees.

The commission has no intent on monitoring employees conversations. The commission is only interested in the safety of its employees, McKinnon said in his memo.

That is true, Worsham said. Many still have trouble wrapping their arms around this purchase, he said. Do we really need it? What is it to be used for? Are we using it to spy on our employees and why are we using the money instead of paving new roads or fixing potholes on the county roadways?

McKinnon had explained during the two meetings during which the cameras were discussed that funding for paving is a different budget item all together and the funds could not be interchanged.

And as we look at the facts on installing the system and its capabilities, it is very important to understand that the camera system that is being proposed is for video surveillance only, Worsham explained. Recording of conversations is totally impossible except for the county commission meetings in the large meeting room, which already are audio recorded.

With our employee work force being 75% female, it is imperative that we have surveillance on the outside of the buildings especially during the fall months as the days get shorter for security measures,

Worsham explained. That is why many buildings, particularly in very urban areas, have security cameras at every corner of a structure. If anything occurs on the property, be it a break in or a slip and fall accident or vandalism of county vehicles that are parked behind the building in the parking lot, there is a visual record of the event.

The camera system has an added benefit, Worsham said. Studies have shown that while security cameras cant deter 100% of crime, in general, most academic studies have shown them to reduce and deter crime overall.

Worsham said the planned placement of the security cameras inside the government building are public areas and will have no audio recording capabilities. We have been approached by the veterans administration office, the Auburn extension office, and the Dale County School Superintendent as to why we do not have cameras on the inside of the building, he said referring to other entities housed in the government building.

Worsham said that the year 2023 is on track, nationwide, to be the worst in recent history for mass killings in the U.S. According to data from the Gun Violence Archive, the U.S. is on pace for 60 mass killings this year. There were 31 in 2019, 21 in 2020, 28 in 2021 and 36 in 2022, he said.

The incidents have spanned the country, from Chicago to Mississippi and Tennessee to Texas, Worsham said. They have occurred at shopping malls, schools, parties and in countless neighborhoods.

Dale County is also not immune to assaults with gun violence, Worsham said, noting that there have been 206 shots fired, two firearms assaults and 37 calls for a man with a gun over the past 12 months.

To those who ask if installing security cameras is worth the expense, Worsham said he has one answer as an EMA Director and as a taxpayer, and that is absolutely.
A high school boy fighting thalassemia in central Vietnam has won a free ride to the British University Vietnam.

The scholarship is worth more than VND1 billion (US$42,600).

Vi Thanh Nhat, a 12th grader at Nghe An Ethnic Minority Boarding High School in Nghe An Province, won the Lion's Heart scholarship from BUV, which covers a student's tuition and daily expenditures for three years at university.

"This is light at the end of the tunnel, to realize my university dream," said Nhat, who plans to major in Finance and Accounting.

Nhat learned that he won the scholarship early this month and shared the news first with his form teacher Le Thi Le Hong.

"We exploded with happiness. Nhat has been trying to win this since 10th grade," Hong said.

She said Nhat is a smart and independent student leader.

"Despite his condition, he's always smiling with optimism. He has this positive energy any time he joins an activity at school," said Hong.

Vi Thanh Nhat at Nghe An Ethnic Minority Boarding High School in Nghe An Province on May 12, 2023. Photo courtesy of Vi Thanh Nhat

The boy from the Thai ethnic minority group was diagnosed with thalassemia, a blood disorder, when he was 4.

He spends 7-10 days out of every month at the hospital in Hanoi receiving blood transfusions and chelation therapy. The visits cost him VND3-4 million each time. He began traveling to the hospital alone in sixth-grade to save his parents' money. As farmers, their income has never been stable, Nhat said.

Hong said Nhat's monthly visits to the capital (some 300 km away) have not hindered his marks, which consistently rank him among the top performers in his class.

'Change my destiny'

When asked about bullies at school who tease him because of his condition, Nhat answered with strength, determination and optimism.

"I don't pay attention to that," he said. "I've decided that the only way to change my destiny and escape poverty is to study hard."

Nhats high school is 60 km from his parents rural home, so he lives in a dorm with other boarding students, and he only comes home two or three times a year for big holidays. On the occasion that his illness makes him too weak to travel by himself, his teachers accompany him to Hanoi.

He always brings his schoolbooks to study at the hospital, and he's also a voracious online reader. He makes sure his schoolwork is uninterrupted even during his long hospital stays by studying any chance he gets, even with a needle in his arm during transfusions.

Nhat's mother Luong Thi Phuong described her son as somewhat of a study-aholic.

"He loves study. Sometimes I felt pity for him and asked him to take a break, but he would not listen."

Phuong said that after spending so much time in the hospital as a boy, Nhat's first childhood dream was to become a doctor. But growing up and realizing his health wouldn't allow it, he's decided to become an auditor instead, she said.

Nhat has been researching university scholarships since he began high school. He's narrowed his search to schools near the National Institute of Hematology & Blood Transfusion in Hanoi's Cau Giay District, where he receives his thalassemia treatment.

In his application to the British University Vietnam, Nhat wrote that he wanted his life's journey to serve as inspiration for his friends back home. He wrote that he particularly wanted to help people from ethnic minority communities with health problems.

"Many people told me that I am wasting my time studying as I'll be too weak to do anything, but I want to change that thinking. I will live and contribute to society," Nhat said.

He finished the letter in one month, and it was translated into English by one of his teachers.

At his interview, Nhat was asked about his five-year plan.

"I said that I want to become an inspirational figure," the boy said.

"Looking back at my difficult journey, I can smile and thank myself for never giving up."
Funding enables Norwich foodbank to buy supplies Funding enables Norwich foodbank to buy supplies

Norwich foodbank was presented with a 1000 cheque from the GMB union whose representatives visited the charity's warehouse at Ivy Road in Norwich.



Janice Smith, East Dereham GMB Branch Secretary and London Region GMB Retired Members Association Secretary, took the opportunity to have a look round the warehouse and understand the process of food being donated, weighed in, packed into food parcels and distributed across 11 centres including Wymondham, Wroxham and Earlham by teams of volunteers. Janice said, 'It was a great pleasure to present the cheque to this worthy course during these hard times especially the elderly, single parents and the homeless giving them day to day necessities.'



Norwich foodbank is part of the Trussell Trust UK network, providing emergency food parcels to local people in crisis who have been referred by an agency or professional helping with the underlying cause of crisis. Norwich foodbank employs advice workers through Citizens Advice and Shelter to further help those who visit the foodbank as the foodbanks vision is to see an end to the need for their service.



A spokesperson from the GMB said, "During the pandemic and now facing inflated household bills, we know that more people are being hit hard. We appreciate the work of the foodbank network, especially helping those on a very low income in providing food and everyday essentials."



Hannah Worsley from Norwich foodbank said, We are very grateful for this practical support of a financial gift, as we are seeing a significant increase in demand and buying in food items regularly in order to continue to provide nutritionally balanced food parcels to those in our community who need our help. We have a wonderful base of support within Norwich and to have this support from further afield is really encouraging.



Helen Baldry, 16/05/2023
An aircraft takes off at Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy

Authorities in Hanoi have proposed building a second international airport as the capital regions population is expected to triple to 23 million by 2050.

In a proposal submitted to the Ministry of Transport, Hanoi authorities estimated that the citys greater metropolitan area population would reach about 21-23 million by 2050, similar to that of Ho Chi Minh City at 24-25 million.

A national airport network master plan submitted to the government for approval in April has already envisioned two international airports for the Ho Chi Minh City region  Tan Son Nhat and Long Thanh  with a total capacity of about 150 million passengers a year.

"The capital region also needs to have two international airports to meet transport needs and ensure aviation security and safety," capital authorities argued in the proposal.

As well, the proposal stated that a previous general construction plan for the Hanoi capital region approved by the government in 2016 had also already made initial plans for a second airport to serve the city.

Authorities had previously studied a few locations to build the second airport, including Ly Nhan District in Ha Nam Province, around 60 kilometers from Hanoi, the southern district of Ung Hoa, 40 kilometers from the downtown, Thach Mien District in Hai Duong Province, around 50 kilometers from Hanoi, or Tien Lang District in Hai Phong City, around 120 kilometers from the capital.

Last April, the transport ministry submitted a master plan on national airport development to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. The report said Vietnam has 28 airports, including 14 with international flights, serving the 2021-2030 period.

The second Hanoi regional airport would only serve domestic flights, according to the master plan.

The city's current international airport Noi Bai has been overloaded since 2017. The airport was designed to handle 25 million passengers per year. But the number of passengers and cargo passing through the airport has been increasing by an average 10% per year to nearly 26 million passengers in 2018 and about 29 million in 2019.
K V Vasudevan By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Crisis man Redpath stands between India and victory. That was the oft-repeated headline in the local dailies when India hosted Australia in the five-match Test series in 1969-70. Much the same way, famed dramatist TS Ananthi has earned the title Aabhatriku Oru Ananthi, during her illustrious career over four decades.

You name it and I had been part of that stage troupe, begins Ananthi, happy to travel back in time and slip into those unforgettable days when she ruled the stage as if there is no tomorrow.

Of dubbing and dialogues

Ananthis nasal voice was loved by the drama buffs but it had a flipside to it. Such was her proficiency that Ananthi was the voice of the artistes in the dubbing world of Tamil movies. There were directors happy with my dialogues and ways of presenting. But my clarity was such that the voice could be identified by the audience. I had seen people in theatres exclaiming, Oh, it is Ananthi and not the actress who was supposed to say those lines. For the audience, it was fine for someone rendering a song for the mass hero, but they found it hard to digest a proxy for the heroines, says the veteran.

A Bharatanatyam dancer for a decade (student of Tanjore Natarajan and Nadanamani Balu), a front-line stage artiste in over 200 plays spread over 5,000 shows, a movie artiste in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films for well over 30 films, part of renowned Television serials and a high profile dubbing artiste for over 20 years, is more than a statistical feat to be proud of.

Now away from the arc lights and the glare of theatre, Ananthi said, she has not called it a day. At 66, there is still a lot left in me. Only, I have given it a break and am just a call away whenever needed. For artistes of our ilk, there is no retirement. We need writers who can come up with scripts befitting our age and experience. To mouth a few lines and be a spectator for the remaining part of a play, you do not need Ananthi, she insists.

Ananthi recalls the early magical moment when Kothamangalam Subbu (writer of the evergreen movie Thillana Mohanambal) bestowed her with the title Thillana Ananthi after watching her in her debut stage play Eswara Allah Tera Naam. The start happened by chance, as writer Visu was looking for a fresher who could play the Muslim character with a bit of dash and panache. The dialogues were sharp and the need was for a voice which could reach miles. To use a cliche, there was no looking back since the debut play helmed by YG Mahendran, she says.

On her bond with United Amateur Artistes, Ananthi shares it was the longest with any troupe. I was the crisis person for Mahendran, happy to fill in for any artiste and in any role. Sometimes the call had come barely hours before the start of a play. I had been an integral part of the success story of UAA, the last one being Kadhalika Neramundu, 16 years ago. There is a knee issue troubling me, but even today, I will be happy to get an emergency call. Such is the bond of love, from both ends, she informs.

The Presidents artiste

For Ananthi, the floodgates opened a little sooner than she bargained for. She was the Modi Masthan in the famous play which opened the cash registers for the movie Manal Kayiru. Plays like Keezhvanam Sivakkum and Thanneer Thanneer (Komal Swaminathan) shot her to instant fame. My characters were so strong that only an actress of the calibre of Saritha was found fit to do those in movies. The ultimate compliment was when Saritha felt it was imperative to watch me perform before reenacting those in the tinsel screen, recalls Ananthi.

Two plays which remain rooted deep within Ananthi were with the father of stage plays, Kudanthai Mali. Nammavargal was the one who did its best to soothe the Hindu-Muslim unity. Tension was brewing as there was a feeling in the Indian camp that the militants were trying to create havoc. The then President of India APJ Abdul Kalam hosted a tea party where he praised the efforts of each one of us, standing as one to send across the right message, which was the need of the hour, informs Ananthi.

Talking about the other play, Gnana Peedam, again with Mali, Ananthi says that it was a sensitive subject where the director brought out how religion attains supremacy in society. I played the mother, detailing the merits of the Vedas and how mastering that will make everyone eligible to attain Gnana Peedam. Dialogues were the essence of the plot, which had to be brought out in a phased way. Imagine the delight to get the appreciation from the President, who had a word of praise for my timing and in getting the nuances right in a sensitive character, beams Ananthi.

Of her defining moment with Mali, Ananthi says it had to be Gopuram Thangum Bommaigal, which the ace director reopened, after 350 shows. Acclaimed actress Sundari Bai had walked away with all the honours in that play. Filling in her shoes was no easy task but Mali sir had the confidence in me. It was a character of a lifetime, playing the role of a mother-in-law, aware of the treacherous ways of her son-in-law, but unable to spell it out to the daughter. It was a cat-and-mouse game, where my character stood out. There are plays where an artiste walks out at the end of it, feeling ten feet tall. That was one such moment, reminisces Ananthi.

Trivia and tradition

Did you know that Kamal Hassan and Rajnikanth acted together in a drama? Rewinding that moment, Ananthi shares that it was K Balachander sir, who did the star turn in theatre. For the play Blackout where the artistes had to perform imagining that the stage is without lights. I distinctly remember a scene where Kamal touched my nose and said the line that it has to be her mother only, adds Ananthi.

That sharp nose, Ananthi chuckled, is what bagged her the Indira Gandhi character in a television serial. The arrogance with which the character said Kamaraj, who? is still being talked about. I had been a strong admirer of Indira Gandhi for her fearless decisions and implementation of them in authoritative ways. I could not wait for the director to start the shoot, rehearsing those lines with butterflies in my stomach. Here was a character, whom the world had admired and adored. The magical moments on the screen cannot be replaced by any other character on stage. A voice inside me kept on reminding me to live with the moment and not to make a hash of it, Ananthi rolls back in time.

For sheer popularity, Washingtonil Thirumanam written by Savi was a play in Tamil theatre which found its way to global reach. The storyline was simple but the feverish reach was something which never happened to a stage play in any language. The marriage is to be held in Washington but the catch is that it had to be in orthodox South Indian tradition. Incredibly, all things essential for marriage are taken from India to Washington and all arrangements are made.

Ananthi distinctly remembers the drama invites with the following line  This is an Indian wedding but our cultural and traditional values have attracted the Americans. We are inviting you to come, make merry and partake in the joy of the wedding feast in Washington.

Playing the Mrs Rockfeller character to the letter, Ananthi narrates that it was a great transformation from being saree-clad to a costume and wig which was foreign to me. The dialogues were the heart and soul of the plot. Director Kovai Padhu said I was the only choice as no other artiste could have got both the dialect and body language right. This was one play where I could spell out the dialogue even in my sleep. I had lost count of the number of times it had been staged all over India and across. So many times, one could have a good meal but only some give the fulfilment. That was one of the lingering varieties, she says.

Life investment on stage

Having played all characters in light and serious scripts, Ananthi felt she was not destined to have donned the costumes in historical plays. There is no tinge of regret, but no mistaking the scope such characters would have given the artiste. It is not that every day you get to adorn those rich costumes with the desired accessories.

Yes, I would have loved those mouth-watering dialogues with the desired space, the child in her speaks up. Awards have sat well on Ananthi, having chased her all over the place. The cherished ones are  Best Actress award for Keezhvaanam Sevakkum (Mylapore Academy), Role of Honour for Outstanding Contribution to stage plays from Inner Wheel Club, Nanganallur; Award for Excellence in Theatre on International Theatre Artiste Day from Krishna Gana Sabha and Wisdom International Award for Best Stage Actress 2011.

Is there anything missing from the cupboard? After a short pause, Ananthi spells out that she is still to lay her hands on Kalaimamani, an endorsement of the state government. Ananthi wonders why it is mandatory for an artiste to request to be considered. Is it not asking for too much when an artiste has invested her whole life in the theatre.

For once, Ananthi did not have to put up an act to drive home a pertinent point.

CHENNAI: Crisis man Redpath stands between India and victory. That was the oft-repeated headline in the local dailies when India hosted Australia in the five-match Test series in 1969-70. Much the same way, famed dramatist TS Ananthi has earned the title Aabhatriku Oru Ananthi, during her illustrious career over four decades. You name it and I had been part of that stage troupe, begins Ananthi, happy to travel back in time and slip into those unforgettable days when she ruled the stage as if there is no tomorrow. Of dubbing and dialogues Ananthis nasal voice was loved by the drama buffs but it had a flipside to it. Such was her proficiency that Ananthi was the voice of the artistes in the dubbing world of Tamil movies. There were directors happy with my dialogues and ways of presenting. But my clarity was such that the voice could be identified by the audience. I had seen people in theatres exclaiming, Oh, it is Ananthi and not the actress who was supposed to say those lines. For the audience, it was fine for someone rendering a song for the mass hero, but they found it hard to digest a proxy for the heroines, says the veteran.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); A Bharatanatyam dancer for a decade (student of Tanjore Natarajan and Nadanamani Balu), a front-line stage artiste in over 200 plays spread over 5,000 shows, a movie artiste in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films for well over 30 films, part of renowned Television serials and a high profile dubbing artiste for over 20 years, is more than a statistical feat to be proud of. Now away from the arc lights and the glare of theatre, Ananthi said, she has not called it a day. At 66, there is still a lot left in me. Only, I have given it a break and am just a call away whenever needed. For artistes of our ilk, there is no retirement. We need writers who can come up with scripts befitting our age and experience. To mouth a few lines and be a spectator for the remaining part of a play, you do not need Ananthi, she insists. Ananthi recalls the early magical moment when Kothamangalam Subbu (writer of the evergreen movie Thillana Mohanambal) bestowed her with the title Thillana Ananthi after watching her in her debut stage play Eswara Allah Tera Naam. The start happened by chance, as writer Visu was looking for a fresher who could play the Muslim character with a bit of dash and panache. The dialogues were sharp and the need was for a voice which could reach miles. To use a cliche, there was no looking back since the debut play helmed by YG Mahendran, she says. On her bond with United Amateur Artistes, Ananthi shares it was the longest with any troupe. I was the crisis person for Mahendran, happy to fill in for any artiste and in any role. Sometimes the call had come barely hours before the start of a play. I had been an integral part of the success story of UAA, the last one being Kadhalika Neramundu, 16 years ago. There is a knee issue troubling me, but even today, I will be happy to get an emergency call. Such is the bond of love, from both ends, she informs. The Presidents artiste For Ananthi, the floodgates opened a little sooner than she bargained for. She was the Modi Masthan in the famous play which opened the cash registers for the movie Manal Kayiru. Plays like Keezhvanam Sivakkum and Thanneer Thanneer (Komal Swaminathan) shot her to instant fame. My characters were so strong that only an actress of the calibre of Saritha was found fit to do those in movies. The ultimate compliment was when Saritha felt it was imperative to watch me perform before reenacting those in the tinsel screen, recalls Ananthi. Two plays which remain rooted deep within Ananthi were with the father of stage plays, Kudanthai Mali. Nammavargal was the one who did its best to soothe the Hindu-Muslim unity. Tension was brewing as there was a feeling in the Indian camp that the militants were trying to create havoc. The then President of India APJ Abdul Kalam hosted a tea party where he praised the efforts of each one of us, standing as one to send across the right message, which was the need of the hour, informs Ananthi. Talking about the other play, Gnana Peedam, again with Mali, Ananthi says that it was a sensitive subject where the director brought out how religion attains supremacy in society. I played the mother, detailing the merits of the Vedas and how mastering that will make everyone eligible to attain Gnana Peedam. Dialogues were the essence of the plot, which had to be brought out in a phased way. Imagine the delight to get the appreciation from the President, who had a word of praise for my timing and in getting the nuances right in a sensitive character, beams Ananthi. Of her defining moment with Mali, Ananthi says it had to be Gopuram Thangum Bommaigal, which the ace director reopened, after 350 shows. Acclaimed actress Sundari Bai had walked away with all the honours in that play. Filling in her shoes was no easy task but Mali sir had the confidence in me. It was a character of a lifetime, playing the role of a mother-in-law, aware of the treacherous ways of her son-in-law, but unable to spell it out to the daughter. It was a cat-and-mouse game, where my character stood out. There are plays where an artiste walks out at the end of it, feeling ten feet tall. That was one such moment, reminisces Ananthi. Trivia and tradition Did you know that Kamal Hassan and Rajnikanth acted together in a drama? Rewinding that moment, Ananthi shares that it was K Balachander sir, who did the star turn in theatre. For the play Blackout where the artistes had to perform imagining that the stage is without lights. I distinctly remember a scene where Kamal touched my nose and said the line that it has to be her mother only, adds Ananthi. That sharp nose, Ananthi chuckled, is what bagged her the Indira Gandhi character in a television serial. The arrogance with which the character said Kamaraj, who? is still being talked about. I had been a strong admirer of Indira Gandhi for her fearless decisions and implementation of them in authoritative ways. I could not wait for the director to start the shoot, rehearsing those lines with butterflies in my stomach. Here was a character, whom the world had admired and adored. The magical moments on the screen cannot be replaced by any other character on stage. A voice inside me kept on reminding me to live with the moment and not to make a hash of it, Ananthi rolls back in time. For sheer popularity, Washingtonil Thirumanam written by Savi was a play in Tamil theatre which found its way to global reach. The storyline was simple but the feverish reach was something which never happened to a stage play in any language. The marriage is to be held in Washington but the catch is that it had to be in orthodox South Indian tradition. Incredibly, all things essential for marriage are taken from India to Washington and all arrangements are made. Ananthi distinctly remembers the drama invites with the following line  This is an Indian wedding but our cultural and traditional values have attracted the Americans. We are inviting you to come, make merry and partake in the joy of the wedding feast in Washington. Playing the Mrs Rockfeller character to the letter, Ananthi narrates that it was a great transformation from being saree-clad to a costume and wig which was foreign to me. The dialogues were the heart and soul of the plot. Director Kovai Padhu said I was the only choice as no other artiste could have got both the dialect and body language right. This was one play where I could spell out the dialogue even in my sleep. I had lost count of the number of times it had been staged all over India and across. So many times, one could have a good meal but only some give the fulfilment. That was one of the lingering varieties, she says. Life investment on stage Having played all characters in light and serious scripts, Ananthi felt she was not destined to have donned the costumes in historical plays. There is no tinge of regret, but no mistaking the scope such characters would have given the artiste. It is not that every day you get to adorn those rich costumes with the desired accessories. Yes, I would have loved those mouth-watering dialogues with the desired space, the child in her speaks up. Awards have sat well on Ananthi, having chased her all over the place. The cherished ones are  Best Actress award for Keezhvaanam Sevakkum (Mylapore Academy), Role of Honour for Outstanding Contribution to stage plays from Inner Wheel Club, Nanganallur; Award for Excellence in Theatre on International Theatre Artiste Day from Krishna Gana Sabha and Wisdom International Award for Best Stage Actress 2011. Is there anything missing from the cupboard? After a short pause, Ananthi spells out that she is still to lay her hands on Kalaimamani, an endorsement of the state government. Ananthi wonders why it is mandatory for an artiste to request to be considered. Is it not asking for too much when an artiste has invested her whole life in the theatre. For once, Ananthi did not have to put up an act to drive home a pertinent point.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The PM10 pollution in Delhi soared to hazardous levels on Tuesday as strong winds swept the city, raising dust and leaving a thick blanket of haze over it.

The India Meteorological Department said dust-laden winds with speed up to 50 kmph breezed through the capital between 3 am and 6 am, lowering visibility to a mere 700 metres at 10 am at the Palam Observatory, close to the Indira Gandhi International Airport, as compared to 4,000 metres at 9 am on Monday.

By 3 pm on Tuesday, the overall air quality index had worsened to 260, from 162 at 4 pm on Monday.

The Delhi Pollution Control Committee data showed PM10 levels soaring to 3,826 micrograms per cubic metre at Jahangirpuri and 2,565 micrograms per cubic metre at Sri Aurobindo Marg.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board, PM10 levels up to 100 micrograms per cubic metre (for a 24-hour period) are considered safe.

The DPCC data showed PM10 levels rose to 1,542 micrograms per cubic metre at Vivek Vihar; 1,296 micrograms per cubic metre at R K Puram; 1,807 micrograms per cubic metre at Patparganj; 1,663 micrograms per cubic metre at Narela; 1,957 micrograms per cubic metre at Alipur; 1,661 micrograms per cubic metre at Dwarka Sector 8; 1,456 micrograms per cubic metre at Mundka; 1,662 micrograms per cubic metre at Major Dhyan Chand Stadium; 1,527 micrograms per cubic metre at Wazirpur; 1,580 micrograms per cubic metre at Ashok Vihar; and 1,881 micrograms per cubic metre at Okhla Phase 2 in the morning hours.

Satellite pictures released by the meteorological office showed a thick layer of dust covering large parts of northwest India.

Meteorologists have attributed the dusty conditions to a combination of intense heat in northwest India over the past five days, parched soil due to the absence of rainfall and strong winds that have persisted since midnight.

"Strong dust-raising winds prevailed over Delhi in the early hours. The wind speed dropped from 45-50 kmph to 12 kmph by 9 am and came down further during the day, allowing the dust to settle down," Kuldeep Srivastava, head of IMD's regional forecasting centre, said.

"Dust concentration has gone up multiple times. The PM10 concentration rose from 140 micrograms per cubic metre at 4 am to 775 micrograms per cubic metre at 8 am. It is mainly because of strong gusty winds prevailing over the area. Dust will settle down soon," said V K Soni, head of IMD's Environment Monitoring and Research Centre.

Experts said dust particles, especially fine particulate matter (PM2.5), can penetrate deep into the respiratory system when inhaled.

They can irritate the lungs, trigger respiratory problems, and exacerbate existing conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, and allergies.

"People suffering from respiratory diseases such as bronchitis, bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are at a greater risk due to dust pollution. It may worsen their condition and trigger attacks," said Dr Jugal Kishore, head of medicine department of the Safdarjung Hospital.

Dusty conditions also aggravate rhinitis, allergy and irritation of eyes, he said.

Kishore said such people should try and remain indoors till the air quality improves and cover their nose and mouth with wet cloth.

He said the government can consider banning construction and demolition activities until then.

NEW DELHI: The PM10 pollution in Delhi soared to hazardous levels on Tuesday as strong winds swept the city, raising dust and leaving a thick blanket of haze over it. The India Meteorological Department said dust-laden winds with speed up to 50 kmph breezed through the capital between 3 am and 6 am, lowering visibility to a mere 700 metres at 10 am at the Palam Observatory, close to the Indira Gandhi International Airport, as compared to 4,000 metres at 9 am on Monday. By 3 pm on Tuesday, the overall air quality index had worsened to 260, from 162 at 4 pm on Monday.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Delhi Pollution Control Committee data showed PM10 levels soaring to 3,826 micrograms per cubic metre at Jahangirpuri and 2,565 micrograms per cubic metre at Sri Aurobindo Marg. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, PM10 levels up to 100 micrograms per cubic metre (for a 24-hour period) are considered safe. The DPCC data showed PM10 levels rose to 1,542 micrograms per cubic metre at Vivek Vihar; 1,296 micrograms per cubic metre at R K Puram; 1,807 micrograms per cubic metre at Patparganj; 1,663 micrograms per cubic metre at Narela; 1,957 micrograms per cubic metre at Alipur; 1,661 micrograms per cubic metre at Dwarka Sector 8; 1,456 micrograms per cubic metre at Mundka; 1,662 micrograms per cubic metre at Major Dhyan Chand Stadium; 1,527 micrograms per cubic metre at Wazirpur; 1,580 micrograms per cubic metre at Ashok Vihar; and 1,881 micrograms per cubic metre at Okhla Phase 2 in the morning hours. Satellite pictures released by the meteorological office showed a thick layer of dust covering large parts of northwest India. Meteorologists have attributed the dusty conditions to a combination of intense heat in northwest India over the past five days, parched soil due to the absence of rainfall and strong winds that have persisted since midnight. "Strong dust-raising winds prevailed over Delhi in the early hours. The wind speed dropped from 45-50 kmph to 12 kmph by 9 am and came down further during the day, allowing the dust to settle down," Kuldeep Srivastava, head of IMD's regional forecasting centre, said. "Dust concentration has gone up multiple times. The PM10 concentration rose from 140 micrograms per cubic metre at 4 am to 775 micrograms per cubic metre at 8 am. It is mainly because of strong gusty winds prevailing over the area. Dust will settle down soon," said V K Soni, head of IMD's Environment Monitoring and Research Centre. Experts said dust particles, especially fine particulate matter (PM2.5), can penetrate deep into the respiratory system when inhaled. They can irritate the lungs, trigger respiratory problems, and exacerbate existing conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, and allergies. "People suffering from respiratory diseases such as bronchitis, bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are at a greater risk due to dust pollution. It may worsen their condition and trigger attacks," said Dr Jugal Kishore, head of medicine department of the Safdarjung Hospital. Dusty conditions also aggravate rhinitis, allergy and irritation of eyes, he said. Kishore said such people should try and remain indoors till the air quality improves and cover their nose and mouth with wet cloth. He said the government can consider banning construction and demolition activities until then.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: An unidentified man made a threatening call on the landline number of Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari's official residence on Motilal Nehru road here, police said on Tuesday.

The call was received by a staff of Gadkari's office Monday night.

The caller did not share his details and demanded to speak to the minister and threaten him, a senior police officer said.

"The caller spoke in Hindi and said 'mujhe mantri ji se baat karni hai, unhe threaten karna hai' (I want to talk to the minister and want to threaten him), and disconnected the call," he said.

The minister's office reported the matter to Delhi Police which is now investigating the matter.

"All call records details are being analysed. The accused had called on the landline number so we are trying to trace the number to get to the culprit. An enquiry is underway," the officer added.

Notably, the minister's office in Nagpur had received such threat calls on two separate occasions earlier this year.

A team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had gone to Nagpur on May 9 to conduct a probe into the matter.

The calls were allegedly made by a murder convict, Jayesh Pujari alias Kantha, who was arrested from a jail in Belagavi, Karnataka, and booked under the anti-terror law UAPA, police had said.

NEW DELHI: An unidentified man made a threatening call on the landline number of Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari's official residence on Motilal Nehru road here, police said on Tuesday. The call was received by a staff of Gadkari's office Monday night. The caller did not share his details and demanded to speak to the minister and threaten him, a senior police officer said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "The caller spoke in Hindi and said 'mujhe mantri ji se baat karni hai, unhe threaten karna hai' (I want to talk to the minister and want to threaten him), and disconnected the call," he said. The minister's office reported the matter to Delhi Police which is now investigating the matter. "All call records details are being analysed. The accused had called on the landline number so we are trying to trace the number to get to the culprit. An enquiry is underway," the officer added. Notably, the minister's office in Nagpur had received such threat calls on two separate occasions earlier this year. A team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had gone to Nagpur on May 9 to conduct a probe into the matter. The calls were allegedly made by a murder convict, Jayesh Pujari alias Kantha, who was arrested from a jail in Belagavi, Karnataka, and booked under the anti-terror law UAPA, police had said.
By PTI

THRISSUR/TRIVANDRUM: Breaking his silence over the recent violent attack on a police station by anti-seaport agitators, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday criticised the incident, saying such protests took place with a "clear ulterior and heinous intention" to destroy tranquility in the society.

There were widespread attacks against the police and public threats to attack the police station, but the police force cleverly realised the intention of the assailants, he said, addressing the passing out parade of a new batch of women police constables here via online.

The CM, however, did not directly mention the fishermen community who had been staging protests against the upcoming Vizhinjam port and the Latin church which was leading the agitation.

Appreciating the law enforcers for handling the issue sensibly, he said the peaceful atmosphere continued to prevail in the land because of the responsible behaviour of the police personnel despite attacks and injuries they suffered.

"We have seen that certain agitators had taken the path of violence with a clear intention to destroy the tranquility in the society and upset the peaceful life of the people. As part of that, there were attacks against the police and open threats to attack the police station," Vijayan said.

The courageous restraint shown by the police personnel was the reason why things didn't turn out the way the attackers intended and the government realises this, he said.

Attacks, with the clear intention of killing them, were unleashed against the policemen but the law enforcers delivered their duty diligently with utmost self-restraint, the CM added.

ALSO READ | Is Vizhinjam seaport going to dock?

Fisherfolk of Vizhinjam and other coastal areas have been protesting for more than four months against the under-construction seaport, which also led to violence on November 26 and 27.

The protesters attacked Vizhinjam police station on the night of November 27, injuring several policemen.

Besides Vijayan, his cabinet colleagues V Abdurahiman and Ahamed Devarkovil also came out strongly against the agitators.

Fisheries Minister Abdurahiman said he was not ready to accept the apology from Father Theodacious D'Cruz, one of the Catholic priests leading the anti-seaport agitation, for his recent communal remarks against him.

"If you have a loose tongue and say something against anyone and then tender an apology in the evening. I am not going to accept that apology," he said here on the sidelines of a function.

He was replying to the questions regarding the apology note issued by the priest the other day when his remarks evoked widespread criticism.

Police registered a case against the priest and imposed serious charges including communal polarisation in the FIR.

Port Minister Devarkovil said the construction of the seaport is a matter closely connected with the progress not only of the state but of the country itself and the LDF government would not move even a step backward from its stand.

"Kerala is a state which gives utmost prominence to communal harmony cutting across religion or caste. If anyone tries to create a communal division in the name of any agitation, we cannot accept that," he said The minister said the government has to take stringent action against the wrongdoers.

State DGP Anil Kant also indicated stern action in connection with the recent police station attack.

He said CCTV footage and other scientific evidence would be examined to identify those directly taking part in the attack and would take stringent action based on that.

However, Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, V D Satheesan charged that the LDF government was trying to brand the anti-seaport agitators as "terrorist" and termed the move as 'highly condemnable.'

The Vijayan government was following the trails of Narendra Modi government at the Centre in branding those opposing and staging protests against them as terrorists, he told reporters in Kollam.

The state police on Wednesday said that investigation has not reached a stage to suggest involvement of any extremist groups in the recent incidents of violence at Vizhinjam here.

THRISSUR/TRIVANDRUM: Breaking his silence over the recent violent attack on a police station by anti-seaport agitators, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday criticised the incident, saying such protests took place with a "clear ulterior and heinous intention" to destroy tranquility in the society. There were widespread attacks against the police and public threats to attack the police station, but the police force cleverly realised the intention of the assailants, he said, addressing the passing out parade of a new batch of women police constables here via online. The CM, however, did not directly mention the fishermen community who had been staging protests against the upcoming Vizhinjam port and the Latin church which was leading the agitation.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Appreciating the law enforcers for handling the issue sensibly, he said the peaceful atmosphere continued to prevail in the land because of the responsible behaviour of the police personnel despite attacks and injuries they suffered. "We have seen that certain agitators had taken the path of violence with a clear intention to destroy the tranquility in the society and upset the peaceful life of the people. As part of that, there were attacks against the police and open threats to attack the police station," Vijayan said. The courageous restraint shown by the police personnel was the reason why things didn't turn out the way the attackers intended and the government realises this, he said. Attacks, with the clear intention of killing them, were unleashed against the policemen but the law enforcers delivered their duty diligently with utmost self-restraint, the CM added. ALSO READ | Is Vizhinjam seaport going to dock? Fisherfolk of Vizhinjam and other coastal areas have been protesting for more than four months against the under-construction seaport, which also led to violence on November 26 and 27. The protesters attacked Vizhinjam police station on the night of November 27, injuring several policemen. Besides Vijayan, his cabinet colleagues V Abdurahiman and Ahamed Devarkovil also came out strongly against the agitators. Fisheries Minister Abdurahiman said he was not ready to accept the apology from Father Theodacious D'Cruz, one of the Catholic priests leading the anti-seaport agitation, for his recent communal remarks against him. "If you have a loose tongue and say something against anyone and then tender an apology in the evening. I am not going to accept that apology," he said here on the sidelines of a function. He was replying to the questions regarding the apology note issued by the priest the other day when his remarks evoked widespread criticism. Police registered a case against the priest and imposed serious charges including communal polarisation in the FIR. Port Minister Devarkovil said the construction of the seaport is a matter closely connected with the progress not only of the state but of the country itself and the LDF government would not move even a step backward from its stand. "Kerala is a state which gives utmost prominence to communal harmony cutting across religion or caste. If anyone tries to create a communal division in the name of any agitation, we cannot accept that," he said The minister said the government has to take stringent action against the wrongdoers. State DGP Anil Kant also indicated stern action in connection with the recent police station attack. He said CCTV footage and other scientific evidence would be examined to identify those directly taking part in the attack and would take stringent action based on that. However, Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, V D Satheesan charged that the LDF government was trying to brand the anti-seaport agitators as "terrorist" and termed the move as 'highly condemnable.' The Vijayan government was following the trails of Narendra Modi government at the Centre in branding those opposing and staging protests against them as terrorists, he told reporters in Kollam. The state police on Wednesday said that investigation has not reached a stage to suggest involvement of any extremist groups in the recent incidents of violence at Vizhinjam here.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Offering a "total apology" if his remarks on "The Kashmir Files" had been misinterpreted, Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid has said his aim was not to insult the Kashmiri Pandit community or those who had suffered.

Lapid, who was the international jury chair at the recent International Film Festival of India (IFFI) and stirred massive controversy by terming the Vivek Agnihotri film vulgar, propaganda film, reiterated that he only criticised the film for its "series of cinematic manipulations".

"I didn't want to insult anyone. My aim was never to insult the people or their relatives, who have suffered. I totally apologise if that's the way they interpreted it," Lapid, who has left the country since his remarks at the closing ceremony of the 53rd edition of the festival in Goa this week, told news channel CNN-News18 on Wednesday night.

"But at the same time, whatever I said and I said clearly that for me and my fellow jury members, it was and it is a vulgar propaganda movie that didn't have a place and was inappropriate for such a prestigious competitive section. I can repeat it again and again," he added.

"The Kashmir Files", written and directed by Vivek Agnihotri, centres on the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits during militancy in the early 1990s. It was screened at the festival on November 22 under the Indian Panorama section.

The acclaimed director, known for his anti-establishment stance, said his remarks were neither a statement on the political situation in Kashmir nor a denial of the tragedy.

"I have enormous respect for the tragedy, victims, survivors and for whoever suffers there. It (my remarks) was not at all about this. I'll repeat these words 10,000 times if I have to say that I was not talking about the political issue, historical equation, or disrespecting the tragedy that happened in Kashmir," he said.

"I was talking about the movie and that such serious topics deserve, in my opinion, a serious film..," he added.

Lapid also dismissed claims made by IFFI international jury member Sudipto Sen, who had said the comments on Agnihotri's directorial were the Israeli director's "personal opinion".

"It wasn't a personal opinion at all," Lapid countered.

"We all thought that the movie used a series of manipulation, vulgar, violence because it was supposed to transmit a message that can cause hostility, violence and hate in the environment," he added.

A day after the controversy erupted, Agnihotri said he would quit filmmaking if intellectuals, including Lapid, were able to prove that events depicted in his film were false.

Asked to comment on Agnihotri's statement, the filmmaker said it was a natural reaction from the "The Kashmir Files" helmer.

"I'm sure that the director is furious. I would be furious too if someone would talk about my film the same way. My films are often looked upon as very controversial and polemic. Certain people have said some very harsh and horrible things about my movies.

"The filmmaker knows very well that the question is not what exactly were the facts. None of us (in the jury), especially myself, ever doubted the facts. I don't have any capacity, the tools to say what happened in Kashmir," Lapid, who lives mostly in France, said.

Lapid came under attack not just by "The Kashmir Files" team but also several BJP leaders and Israel's Ambassador to India Naor Gilon as well as its Consul General to Midwest India Kobbi Shoshani.

"Although he (Israeli ambassador) was absolutely aware of the fact that I was talking about the movie as propaganda, he blamed me for talking disrespectfully about the tragedy in Kashmir which is total nonsense. He is aware of it but he is a manipulator. He knew I was judging the movie as a filmmaker," he told the channel.

Lapid thanked IFFI for inviting him to be the head of the international jury.

"But since I was called to Goa in order to serve as the president of the jury as I did in dozens of festivals, the biggest ones like Cannes, Berlin, and others. My duty, my obligation was to tell the truth as I see it," he added.

NEW DELHI: Offering a "total apology" if his remarks on "The Kashmir Files" had been misinterpreted, Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid has said his aim was not to insult the Kashmiri Pandit community or those who had suffered. Lapid, who was the international jury chair at the recent International Film Festival of India (IFFI) and stirred massive controversy by terming the Vivek Agnihotri film vulgar, propaganda film, reiterated that he only criticised the film for its "series of cinematic manipulations". "I didn't want to insult anyone. My aim was never to insult the people or their relatives, who have suffered. I totally apologise if that's the way they interpreted it," Lapid, who has left the country since his remarks at the closing ceremony of the 53rd edition of the festival in Goa this week, told news channel CNN-News18 on Wednesday night.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "But at the same time, whatever I said and I said clearly that for me and my fellow jury members, it was and it is a vulgar propaganda movie that didn't have a place and was inappropriate for such a prestigious competitive section. I can repeat it again and again," he added. "The Kashmir Files", written and directed by Vivek Agnihotri, centres on the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits during militancy in the early 1990s. It was screened at the festival on November 22 under the Indian Panorama section. The acclaimed director, known for his anti-establishment stance, said his remarks were neither a statement on the political situation in Kashmir nor a denial of the tragedy. "I have enormous respect for the tragedy, victims, survivors and for whoever suffers there. It (my remarks) was not at all about this. I'll repeat these words 10,000 times if I have to say that I was not talking about the political issue, historical equation, or disrespecting the tragedy that happened in Kashmir," he said. "I was talking about the movie and that such serious topics deserve, in my opinion, a serious film..," he added. Lapid also dismissed claims made by IFFI international jury member Sudipto Sen, who had said the comments on Agnihotri's directorial were the Israeli director's "personal opinion". "It wasn't a personal opinion at all," Lapid countered. "We all thought that the movie used a series of manipulation, vulgar, violence because it was supposed to transmit a message that can cause hostility, violence and hate in the environment," he added. A day after the controversy erupted, Agnihotri said he would quit filmmaking if intellectuals, including Lapid, were able to prove that events depicted in his film were false. Asked to comment on Agnihotri's statement, the filmmaker said it was a natural reaction from the "The Kashmir Files" helmer. "I'm sure that the director is furious. I would be furious too if someone would talk about my film the same way. My films are often looked upon as very controversial and polemic. Certain people have said some very harsh and horrible things about my movies. "The filmmaker knows very well that the question is not what exactly were the facts. None of us (in the jury), especially myself, ever doubted the facts. I don't have any capacity, the tools to say what happened in Kashmir," Lapid, who lives mostly in France, said. Lapid came under attack not just by "The Kashmir Files" team but also several BJP leaders and Israel's Ambassador to India Naor Gilon as well as its Consul General to Midwest India Kobbi Shoshani. "Although he (Israeli ambassador) was absolutely aware of the fact that I was talking about the movie as propaganda, he blamed me for talking disrespectfully about the tragedy in Kashmir which is total nonsense. He is aware of it but he is a manipulator. He knew I was judging the movie as a filmmaker," he told the channel. Lapid thanked IFFI for inviting him to be the head of the international jury. "But since I was called to Goa in order to serve as the president of the jury as I did in dozens of festivals, the biggest ones like Cannes, Berlin, and others. My duty, my obligation was to tell the truth as I see it," he added.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: India on Thursday dismissed China's objection to the joint Indo-US military exercise near the Line of Actual Control in Uttarakhand's Auli, saying it did not give a veto to third countries on these issues.

Hitting back at China, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the joint exercises with the US in Auli has nothing to do with the 1993 and 1996 agreements with China.

"But since these were raised by the Chinese side, I must emphasise that the Chinese side needs to reflect and think about its own breach of the agreements of 1993 and 1996," Bagchi said responding to questions at the weekly briefing of the ministry.

"India exercises with whomever it chooses to and it does not give a veto to third countries on these issues," the External Affairs Ministry spokesperson said.

The 1993 agreement deals with maintaining peace and tranquility along the LAC with China in the India-China Border Areas, while the 1996 pact was about confidence-building measures in the military field along the LAC with China in the India-China Border Areas.

PHOTOS | Indo-US joint military exercises in full swing; kites and dogs get trained, too

On Wednesday, China said it was opposed to the joint Indo-US military exercises and claimed that it violated the spirit of the two border agreements signed between New Delhi and Beijing.

The 18th edition of the India-US joint military exercise 'Yudh Abhyas' is currently underway in Auli, about 100 km from the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

To questions on protests in parts of China against prolonged lockdowns and isolations to contain Covid, Bagchi said he would not comment on specific Covid strategies pursued by any country.

"We would hope that humanity as a whole is able to emerge fully from Covid at the earliest. But insofar as specific Covid strategies that each country may be pursuing, I might not like to get into that. Just like to hope that we are able to come out of Covid," he said.

NEW DELHI: India on Thursday dismissed China's objection to the joint Indo-US military exercise near the Line of Actual Control in Uttarakhand's Auli, saying it did not give a veto to third countries on these issues. Hitting back at China, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the joint exercises with the US in Auli has nothing to do with the 1993 and 1996 agreements with China. "But since these were raised by the Chinese side, I must emphasise that the Chinese side needs to reflect and think about its own breach of the agreements of 1993 and 1996," Bagchi said responding to questions at the weekly briefing of the ministry.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "India exercises with whomever it chooses to and it does not give a veto to third countries on these issues," the External Affairs Ministry spokesperson said. The 1993 agreement deals with maintaining peace and tranquility along the LAC with China in the India-China Border Areas, while the 1996 pact was about confidence-building measures in the military field along the LAC with China in the India-China Border Areas. PHOTOS | Indo-US joint military exercises in full swing; kites and dogs get trained, too On Wednesday, China said it was opposed to the joint Indo-US military exercises and claimed that it violated the spirit of the two border agreements signed between New Delhi and Beijing. The 18th edition of the India-US joint military exercise 'Yudh Abhyas' is currently underway in Auli, about 100 km from the Line of Actual Control (LAC). To questions on protests in parts of China against prolonged lockdowns and isolations to contain Covid, Bagchi said he would not comment on specific Covid strategies pursued by any country. "We would hope that humanity as a whole is able to emerge fully from Covid at the earliest. But insofar as specific Covid strategies that each country may be pursuing, I might not like to get into that. Just like to hope that we are able to come out of Covid," he said.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Tuesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the alleged lack of employment opportunities and accused him of "destroying" governance by "personalising" it and taking it to "new lows" through his "Rozgar Melas".

The Opposition party also claimed that the job-seeking youth in this country know it is the prime minister who has "destroyed" lakhs and lakhs of jobs.

The Congress' attack came over Modi giving away appointment letters to over 71,000 people at a 'Rozgar Mela' on Tuesday.

In a tweet in Hindi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, "Modi ji who promised to provide 2 crore jobs annually, in 9 years, has shattered the dreams of 18 crore youth so far.

30 lakh posts are vacant in government departments, but today an event has been organised to distribute only 71,000 recruitment letters!" The Congress party will give a befitting reply to the "betrayal" of the youth, he said.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also slammed the PM over the 'Rozgar Melas', saying that by personalising governance like never before, he has "destroyed" governance.

"He has taken it to new lows through his Rozgar Melas as if he has personally created these jobs, as if he is personally paying those getting these jobs, and as if those getting these jobs should feel beholden to him and him alone," Ramesh said on Twitter.

The job-seeking youth in this country know it is this PM who has destroyed lakhs and lakhs of jobs, both in govt and private sector, through demonetisation, flawed GST, crippling of MSMEs and wholesale privatisation of PSUs, he alleged.

"The PM claims to be a self-made man. Clearly, he is obsessed with the man who has made him," Ramesh said.

Prime Minister Modi asserted on Tuesday that changes brought in by his government in the recruitment system have ended the possibility of corruption and nepotism as he gave away appointment letters to over 71,000 people at the 'Rozgar Mela'.

From applying for government jobs to the announcement of results, the entire process has been made online, he said while elaborating on employment opportunities and infrastructure development ushered by the BJP dispensation at the Centre in the last nine years.

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Tuesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the alleged lack of employment opportunities and accused him of "destroying" governance by "personalising" it and taking it to "new lows" through his "Rozgar Melas". The Opposition party also claimed that the job-seeking youth in this country know it is the prime minister who has "destroyed" lakhs and lakhs of jobs. The Congress' attack came over Modi giving away appointment letters to over 71,000 people at a 'Rozgar Mela' on Tuesday.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); In a tweet in Hindi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, "Modi ji who promised to provide 2 crore jobs annually, in 9 years, has shattered the dreams of 18 crore youth so far. 30 lakh posts are vacant in government departments, but today an event has been organised to distribute only 71,000 recruitment letters!" The Congress party will give a befitting reply to the "betrayal" of the youth, he said. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also slammed the PM over the 'Rozgar Melas', saying that by personalising governance like never before, he has "destroyed" governance. "He has taken it to new lows through his Rozgar Melas as if he has personally created these jobs, as if he is personally paying those getting these jobs, and as if those getting these jobs should feel beholden to him and him alone," Ramesh said on Twitter. The job-seeking youth in this country know it is this PM who has destroyed lakhs and lakhs of jobs, both in govt and private sector, through demonetisation, flawed GST, crippling of MSMEs and wholesale privatisation of PSUs, he alleged. "The PM claims to be a self-made man. Clearly, he is obsessed with the man who has made him," Ramesh said. Prime Minister Modi asserted on Tuesday that changes brought in by his government in the recruitment system have ended the possibility of corruption and nepotism as he gave away appointment letters to over 71,000 people at the 'Rozgar Mela'. From applying for government jobs to the announcement of results, the entire process has been made online, he said while elaborating on employment opportunities and infrastructure development ushered by the BJP dispensation at the Centre in the last nine years.
Namita Bajpai By

Express News Service

LUCKNOW: The Muslim voters, who had consolidated en masse in favour of the Samajwadi Party in 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, threw up a surprise in the recently-concluded urban local body (ULB) polls by using their discretion over their support to parties including SP, Bahujan Samaj Party, Congress and Asaduddin Owaisi-led All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Musalmeen (AIMIM).

However, the division in Muslim votes has helped the ruling BJP in registering an emphatic win in UP civic polls. In fact, the SP, which had enjoyed over 80 per cent of minority vote consolidation in its favour during the Assembly elections, taking its tally from 47 to 111, had faced a stiff challenge from AIMIM in certain constituencies dominated by minorities, especially in western UP.

In the recently concluded UP ULB polls, Muslims showed a shift from the SP towards the AIMIM, BSP and Congress, going against SPs traditional M-Y (Muslim-Yadav) factor. Through their voting pattern, Muslims have conveyed the message that their support cannot be taken for granted. They have come out of traditional realm to vote for other parties of their choice, says Dr SK Dwivedi, former HoD, Political Science department of Lucknow University.

This change in approach not only led the BJP and ally Apna Dal (S) to have their first-ever Muslim member Shafiq Ahmed Ansari in UP assembly from Suar Assembly seat in Rampur, but also helped AIMIM register its presence in states urban local bodies.

The minority community sided with AIMIM which dealt a major blow to the Samajwadi Party at a number of places. AIMIM candidate Mohammad Anas ended up a runner-up pushing SPs Seema Pradhan, wife of senior party leader Atul Pradhan, to the third position in Meerut mayoral poll. Notably, Meerut has a respectable chunk of OBC Muslims.

Moreover, AIMIM registered victory in three Municipal Board chairperson posts in Sambhal, Sikandrarao in Hathras and Ghatampur in Kanpur Dehat. AIMIM also won two Nagar Panchayat chiefs posts in Thhiriya in Bareilly and Kundarki in Moradabad.

The party won total 19 corporators seats in Municipal Corporation of Ghaziabad, Bareilly and Firozabad, 33 seats of members in Municipal Boards and 23 Nagar Panchayat members. The performance of AIMIM is a clarion call for the Samajwadi Party with a message that Asaduddin Owaisi has been able to make forays into Muslim constituency of UP.

On the other hand, the Muslim community voted in support of BSP in Saharanpur where party mayoral candidate Khatija Masood who remained the runner up rejecting SP candidate. Even in Agra, the Muslim voters preferred the BSPs Lata to Samajwadi Party candidate. Similarly, a prominent shift of Muslim votes towards Congress was witnessed Moradabad, Jhansi and Ayodhya mayoral seats.

LUCKNOW: The Muslim voters, who had consolidated en masse in favour of the Samajwadi Party in 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, threw up a surprise in the recently-concluded urban local body (ULB) polls by using their discretion over their support to parties including SP, Bahujan Samaj Party, Congress and Asaduddin Owaisi-led All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Musalmeen (AIMIM). However, the division in Muslim votes has helped the ruling BJP in registering an emphatic win in UP civic polls. In fact, the SP, which had enjoyed over 80 per cent of minority vote consolidation in its favour during the Assembly elections, taking its tally from 47 to 111, had faced a stiff challenge from AIMIM in certain constituencies dominated by minorities, especially in western UP. In the recently concluded UP ULB polls, Muslims showed a shift from the SP towards the AIMIM, BSP and Congress, going against SPs traditional M-Y (Muslim-Yadav) factor. Through their voting pattern, Muslims have conveyed the message that their support cannot be taken for granted. They have come out of traditional realm to vote for other parties of their choice, says Dr SK Dwivedi, former HoD, Political Science department of Lucknow University. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); This change in approach not only led the BJP and ally Apna Dal (S) to have their first-ever Muslim member Shafiq Ahmed Ansari in UP assembly from Suar Assembly seat in Rampur, but also helped AIMIM register its presence in states urban local bodies. The minority community sided with AIMIM which dealt a major blow to the Samajwadi Party at a number of places. AIMIM candidate Mohammad Anas ended up a runner-up pushing SPs Seema Pradhan, wife of senior party leader Atul Pradhan, to the third position in Meerut mayoral poll. Notably, Meerut has a respectable chunk of OBC Muslims. Moreover, AIMIM registered victory in three Municipal Board chairperson posts in Sambhal, Sikandrarao in Hathras and Ghatampur in Kanpur Dehat. AIMIM also won two Nagar Panchayat chiefs posts in Thhiriya in Bareilly and Kundarki in Moradabad. The party won total 19 corporators seats in Municipal Corporation of Ghaziabad, Bareilly and Firozabad, 33 seats of members in Municipal Boards and 23 Nagar Panchayat members. The performance of AIMIM is a clarion call for the Samajwadi Party with a message that Asaduddin Owaisi has been able to make forays into Muslim constituency of UP. On the other hand, the Muslim community voted in support of BSP in Saharanpur where party mayoral candidate Khatija Masood who remained the runner up rejecting SP candidate. Even in Agra, the Muslim voters preferred the BSPs Lata to Samajwadi Party candidate. Similarly, a prominent shift of Muslim votes towards Congress was witnessed Moradabad, Jhansi and Ayodhya mayoral seats.
By Online Desk

The Supreme Court of India on Monday issued notice in a plea for a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the fake encounter of a Dalit youth by the Jodhpur police.

According to Live Law, the family members of the 30-year-old Dalit, Lovely Kandara, say that he was gunned down by the police because of his caste location. The police claim that the youth, a history-sheeter, was killed after he and his associates tried to evade capture in an XUV and even started firing at the police personnel.

Kandara's mother has filed a special leave petition against the Rajasthan High Court for refusing to order a CBI probe into the October 2021 killing, the report said.

A division bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Rajesh Bindal has agreed to hear the special leave petition.

The court issued notice directing the respondents including the Union of India, the state of Rajasthan, the National Human Rights Commission and the state human rights commission to file their responses within July 10, the report added.

The Supreme Court of India on Monday issued notice in a plea for a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the fake encounter of a Dalit youth by the Jodhpur police. According to Live Law, the family members of the 30-year-old Dalit, Lovely Kandara, say that he was gunned down by the police because of his caste location. The police claim that the youth, a history-sheeter, was killed after he and his associates tried to evade capture in an XUV and even started firing at the police personnel. Kandara's mother has filed a special leave petition against the Rajasthan High Court for refusing to order a CBI probe into the October 2021 killing, the report said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); A division bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Rajesh Bindal has agreed to hear the special leave petition. The court issued notice directing the respondents including the Union of India, the state of Rajasthan, the National Human Rights Commission and the state human rights commission to file their responses within July 10, the report added.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Ravneet Kaur will take over as the first full-time woman Chairperson of the Competition Commission of India (CCI), a post that has been lying vacant since October last year.

Kaur, a 1988 Punjab cadre IAS officer, will be the fifth full-time Chairperson of the fair trade regulator, which started functioning in 2009.

An official order from the appointments committee of the cabinet has approved the appointment of 59-year-old Kaur.

There has been no full-time Chairperson for the competition regulator since Ashok Kumar Gupta demitted from office in October 2022. CCI Member Sangeeta Verma has been acting as the Chairperson since October last year.

Currently, Kaur is serving as the Special Chief Secretary at Cooperation Department in Punjab government. She has also served in various other roles in the state. Kaur has worked at the Centre from 2006 to 2012, including as Joint Secretary in the Department of Financial Services and again during 2015-2019 period.

She served as the Chairman and Managing Director of the India Tourism Development Corporation from July 2017 to July 2019.

The appointment of Kaur will be for a period of five years from the date of assuming charge or till the date of attaining the age of 65 years or until further orders, whichever is the earliest, as per the order.

The Chairperson will get a consolidated salary of Rs 4,50,000 per month without house and car, it added.

Kaur will be taking over the reins of the CCI at a time when various cases related to digital space, including those pertaining to Google and Apple, are being pursued by the regulator.

Also, the watchdog, last week, opened an inquiry against Google for alleged non-compliance with its order passed in October 2022 in relation to its Play Store policies.

Meanwhile, various amendments have been made to the competition law recently.

The amendments seek to promote the ease of doing business as well as enhance the framework to deter entities from indulging in unfair business practices.

NEW DELHI: Ravneet Kaur will take over as the first full-time woman Chairperson of the Competition Commission of India (CCI), a post that has been lying vacant since October last year. Kaur, a 1988 Punjab cadre IAS officer, will be the fifth full-time Chairperson of the fair trade regulator, which started functioning in 2009. An official order from the appointments committee of the cabinet has approved the appointment of 59-year-old Kaur. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); There has been no full-time Chairperson for the competition regulator since Ashok Kumar Gupta demitted from office in October 2022. CCI Member Sangeeta Verma has been acting as the Chairperson since October last year. Currently, Kaur is serving as the Special Chief Secretary at Cooperation Department in Punjab government. She has also served in various other roles in the state. Kaur has worked at the Centre from 2006 to 2012, including as Joint Secretary in the Department of Financial Services and again during 2015-2019 period. She served as the Chairman and Managing Director of the India Tourism Development Corporation from July 2017 to July 2019. The appointment of Kaur will be for a period of five years from the date of assuming charge or till the date of attaining the age of 65 years or until further orders, whichever is the earliest, as per the order. The Chairperson will get a consolidated salary of Rs 4,50,000 per month without house and car, it added. Kaur will be taking over the reins of the CCI at a time when various cases related to digital space, including those pertaining to Google and Apple, are being pursued by the regulator. Also, the watchdog, last week, opened an inquiry against Google for alleged non-compliance with its order passed in October 2022 in relation to its Play Store policies. Meanwhile, various amendments have been made to the competition law recently. The amendments seek to promote the ease of doing business as well as enhance the framework to deter entities from indulging in unfair business practices.
After a decade, Vietnam's first remote sensing satellite, the VNREDSat-1, has completed 53,000 rounds around the Earth, totaling 2.4 billion km, it was announced at a ceremony in Hanoi on Tuesday.

Chau Van Minh, president of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) that co-organized the event, said at the event that the launch of the French-funded spacecraft into orbit on May 7, 2013, was an important milestone in implementing Vietnams space technology development strategy, a result of the close cooperation between VAST and Airbus, and a symbol of the Vietnam  France friendship.

Bui Trong Tuyen, Director of VASTs Space Technology Institute, said the satellite has provided nearly 160,000 images across the territorial land and waters of Vietnam and around the world. Designed to operate in five years, the 120-kg satellite has run for 10 straight years to assist Vietnam in addressing challenges in forest and water resources management, disaster management, urban mapping and planning, national defence and security, and coastal zone management.

CEO of Airbus Vietnam Hoang Tri Mai said the group is proud to be a partner of Vietnam in the important space project and hopes to accompany the nation in its future space development journey.

French Ambassador Nicolas Warnery said VNREDSat-1 is a typical example of successful cooperation in space and satellite between the Vietnamese and French governments.

France looks forward to expanding the bilateral ties in this strategic area, sharing skills and expertise via training young scientists and researchers, and transferring technology to Vietnam so that the Southeast Asian nation can establish an integrated space industry.
By PTI

MEHSANA: Dalit residents of a village in Gujarat's Mehsana district have alleged caste discrimination during the feast at a religious function organised by the Patidar community where the separate sitting arrangement was made for them.

Patidar community leaders have denied the allegation while the local authorities are trying to resolve the issue.

A District social justice department official said meetings were organised between members of the two communities after a controversy erupted over food arrangements made at a religious event organised on Sunday and Monday.

Dalit community members of Bhataria village claimed they were made to sit separately at dinner organised on the occasion of "Pran Pratishtha Mahotsav" of Umiya Mata and Mahadev temple by Patidar community following which they refused to eat.

Food arrangement for 120 members of the Dalit community was made at a village school at a distance from the temple, they alleged.

Aggrieved community members also submitted a memorandum to the district collector demanding appropriate action.

Local police were also called in to defuse the tension.

Village sarpanch Vijayaben Parmar, who belongs to the Dalit community, claimed she was also told to sit separately from other villagers during the feast despite being the village panchayat head.

"I stand with my community. We will fight against the ill-treatment meted out to us. We cannot tolerate this," she told reporters.

Local activist, Kantibhai Nadia, claimed Dalits in Bhataria village are being treated as untouchables and women members are not allowed to cook in village anganwadi centres.

"In the village, the barber refused to cut the hair of a Dalit man. Neither we nor our children visited the temple. We do puja and bhajan at home. How long will this injustice last?" he asked.

Local Patidar leaders Natubhai Patel and Rashikbhai Patel refuted the allegations, saying no separate arrangement for food was made for Dalits.

"All communities live here together," they said.

Deputy Director, Social Justice Department, Mehsana, JP Solanki told reporters that officials met the members of the Dalit community of the village and tried to understand the grievance.

"We also met the Patidar community members and considered their submission. Thereafter, we also held a meeting of both communities together, and an effort is on to resolve the issue socially. We expect that the issue will be solved and no such thing will occur in the future," she said.

MEHSANA: Dalit residents of a village in Gujarat's Mehsana district have alleged caste discrimination during the feast at a religious function organised by the Patidar community where the separate sitting arrangement was made for them. Patidar community leaders have denied the allegation while the local authorities are trying to resolve the issue. A District social justice department official said meetings were organised between members of the two communities after a controversy erupted over food arrangements made at a religious event organised on Sunday and Monday.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Dalit community members of Bhataria village claimed they were made to sit separately at dinner organised on the occasion of "Pran Pratishtha Mahotsav" of Umiya Mata and Mahadev temple by Patidar community following which they refused to eat. Food arrangement for 120 members of the Dalit community was made at a village school at a distance from the temple, they alleged. Aggrieved community members also submitted a memorandum to the district collector demanding appropriate action. Local police were also called in to defuse the tension. Village sarpanch Vijayaben Parmar, who belongs to the Dalit community, claimed she was also told to sit separately from other villagers during the feast despite being the village panchayat head. "I stand with my community. We will fight against the ill-treatment meted out to us. We cannot tolerate this," she told reporters. Local activist, Kantibhai Nadia, claimed Dalits in Bhataria village are being treated as untouchables and women members are not allowed to cook in village anganwadi centres. "In the village, the barber refused to cut the hair of a Dalit man. Neither we nor our children visited the temple. We do puja and bhajan at home. How long will this injustice last?" he asked. Local Patidar leaders Natubhai Patel and Rashikbhai Patel refuted the allegations, saying no separate arrangement for food was made for Dalits. "All communities live here together," they said. Deputy Director, Social Justice Department, Mehsana, JP Solanki told reporters that officials met the members of the Dalit community of the village and tried to understand the grievance. "We also met the Patidar community members and considered their submission. Thereafter, we also held a meeting of both communities together, and an effort is on to resolve the issue socially. We expect that the issue will be solved and no such thing will occur in the future," she said.
By Express News Service

LUCKNOW: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur has launched an initiative to impart online education to children belonging to rural areas of Uttar Pradesh.

Named Online Rural Education Initiative (OREI), the initiative aims to provide quality education to village school children through its Ranjit Singh Rozi Shiksha Kendra (RSK).

The initiative, launched by the prestigious institution on Tuesday in the presence of UP Chief Secretary DS Mishra, is integrated with Unnat Bharat Abhiyan of the Government of India.

Its pilot programme was launched in two schools  Ram Janki Inter College, Bithoor, Kanpur and Bhartiya Gramin Vidyalaya  in the state capital Lucknow.

According to Rita Singh, OREI Project Executive Officer, The mission of Ranjit Singh Rozi Shiksha Kendra is to ensure the right of every child to best quality education irrespective of their location.

The project has been adopted by the UP Department of Education to be run in government secondary schools.

As per the UP chief Secretary, the number of rural schools to be covered under the programme will soon be expanded to 100 and later it would be implemented in all schools across the state.

In OREI, teaching is done from a smart classroom at IIT Kanpur where technology enables two-way communication between children in school classrooms and teachers at IIT Kanpur.

With the help of advanced technology, both parties can talk to each other in real-time and teachers can ensure that the classes are interactive in nature.

At present, OREI provides education to class IX and X students by conducting two classes daily. The plan is to add students of classes XI and XII to the project in the coming year.

According to Prof Abhay Karandikar, Director of IIT Kanpur, Ranjit Singh Rozi Shiksha Kendra is an in-house project set up by IIT-Kanpur to reach out to the nearby villages and contribute to the employability of rural youth.

OREI is aimed at ensuring quality education to the rural children with the help of innovation and technology, he added.

As per Prof Sandeep Sangal, Principal Investigator (PI) of RSK, the project is run on a voluntary basis by a large number of PhD scholars engaged in teaching under expert guidance.

 The plan for the entire academic year is ready. It has been ensured while modulating the project that it is child-centric and allows backward planning design based on the learning objectives, tools, techniques content and assessments. The aim is to encourage active learning methods to make learning fun and interactive, said Prof Sandeep Singh.

Prof HC Verma and team provide guidance for the tools and methods to use for hands-on learning.

In fact, the teaching under the project is mapped to the NCERT syllabus and is carried out in colloquial Hindi so as to make it comprehensible for rural children. The group is currently in the process of providing an academic helpline wherein the children can contact to get answers to their problems.

LUCKNOW: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur has launched an initiative to impart online education to children belonging to rural areas of Uttar Pradesh. Named Online Rural Education Initiative (OREI), the initiative aims to provide quality education to village school children through its Ranjit Singh Rozi Shiksha Kendra (RSK). The initiative, launched by the prestigious institution on Tuesday in the presence of UP Chief Secretary DS Mishra, is integrated with Unnat Bharat Abhiyan of the Government of India.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Its pilot programme was launched in two schools  Ram Janki Inter College, Bithoor, Kanpur and Bhartiya Gramin Vidyalaya  in the state capital Lucknow. According to Rita Singh, OREI Project Executive Officer, The mission of Ranjit Singh Rozi Shiksha Kendra is to ensure the right of every child to best quality education irrespective of their location. The project has been adopted by the UP Department of Education to be run in government secondary schools. As per the UP chief Secretary, the number of rural schools to be covered under the programme will soon be expanded to 100 and later it would be implemented in all schools across the state. In OREI, teaching is done from a smart classroom at IIT Kanpur where technology enables two-way communication between children in school classrooms and teachers at IIT Kanpur. With the help of advanced technology, both parties can talk to each other in real-time and teachers can ensure that the classes are interactive in nature. At present, OREI provides education to class IX and X students by conducting two classes daily. The plan is to add students of classes XI and XII to the project in the coming year. According to Prof Abhay Karandikar, Director of IIT Kanpur, Ranjit Singh Rozi Shiksha Kendra is an in-house project set up by IIT-Kanpur to reach out to the nearby villages and contribute to the employability of rural youth. OREI is aimed at ensuring quality education to the rural children with the help of innovation and technology, he added. As per Prof Sandeep Sangal, Principal Investigator (PI) of RSK, the project is run on a voluntary basis by a large number of PhD scholars engaged in teaching under expert guidance.  The plan for the entire academic year is ready. It has been ensured while modulating the project that it is child-centric and allows backward planning design based on the learning objectives, tools, techniques content and assessments. The aim is to encourage active learning methods to make learning fun and interactive, said Prof Sandeep Singh. Prof HC Verma and team provide guidance for the tools and methods to use for hands-on learning. In fact, the teaching under the project is mapped to the NCERT syllabus and is carried out in colloquial Hindi so as to make it comprehensible for rural children. The group is currently in the process of providing an academic helpline wherein the children can contact to get answers to their problems.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: India has lashed out at the UN Special Rapporteur (SR) on Minority issues for alleging that hosting of G20 meeting in Srinagar is a denial of Kashmiri minorities democratic rights.

 We, India at UN in Geneva, strongly reject the statement issued by SR on minority issues, Dr Fernand de Varennes, on the baseless and unwarranted allegations in it. As G20 President, it is Indias prerogative to host its meetings in any part of the country. We are aghast that Fernand has acted irresponsibly to politicise this issue, misused his position as SR to publicise on social media his presumptive and prejudiced conclusions in a gross violation of the Code of Conduct for SRs, said Permanent Mission of Indias tweets.

The SR has made allegations that India is attempting to show that situation is normal in Kashmir.

Holding a G20 meeting in Kashmir while massive human rights violations are ongoing is lending support to attempts by India to normalise the brutal and repressive denial of democratic and other rights of minorities, the SR has said.

He went on to state that G20 should be used to uphold human rights.

...the situation in Jammu and Kashmir should be decried and condemned not pushed under the rug and ignored with the holding of the meeting, the SR added.

India has the ongoing Presidency of G20 under which it is hosting over 200 meetings in different states across the country.

NEW DELHI: India has lashed out at the UN Special Rapporteur (SR) on Minority issues for alleging that hosting of G20 meeting in Srinagar is a denial of Kashmiri minorities democratic rights.  We, India at UN in Geneva, strongly reject the statement issued by SR on minority issues, Dr Fernand de Varennes, on the baseless and unwarranted allegations in it. As G20 President, it is Indias prerogative to host its meetings in any part of the country. We are aghast that Fernand has acted irresponsibly to politicise this issue, misused his position as SR to publicise on social media his presumptive and prejudiced conclusions in a gross violation of the Code of Conduct for SRs, said Permanent Mission of Indias tweets. The SR has made allegations that India is attempting to show that situation is normal in Kashmir.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Holding a G20 meeting in Kashmir while massive human rights violations are ongoing is lending support to attempts by India to normalise the brutal and repressive denial of democratic and other rights of minorities, the SR has said. He went on to state that G20 should be used to uphold human rights. ...the situation in Jammu and Kashmir should be decried and condemned not pushed under the rug and ignored with the holding of the meeting, the SR added. India has the ongoing Presidency of G20 under which it is hosting over 200 meetings in different states across the country.
Yeshi Seli By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: A queer tug-of-war is going on in the Afghan Embassy here. India hasnt officially recognised the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan but has an embassy that is functioning in Kabul  barring the consular service. On the other hand, in India, the Afghanistan mission has an ambassador appointed by the previous regime  Farid Mamundzay, who is popular among the Afghans in India, but the Taliban government has levelled corruption charges against him and its trade counsellor Qadir Shah has staked claim to his position.

It is learnt that the Taliban-led govt has written close to 15 times to dismiss diplomats in Delhi, including Mamundzay. While the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) refrained from commenting, Mamundzay dismissed trade counsellors claims that he had been appointed as Charge de Affaires. Shah had apparently sent a note to MEA on April 28 saying that on April 25 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan had appointed him as the counsellor of the embassy.

Mamundzay on Monday dismissed suggestions of change in leadership. There is no change of leadership in the Afghan embassy in India. The embassy categorically rejects the claims from an individual claiming to have taken charge of the mission, said Mamundzay. He also said that the person has been spreading misinformation and running a baseless campaign against mission officials.

NEW DELHI: A queer tug-of-war is going on in the Afghan Embassy here. India hasnt officially recognised the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan but has an embassy that is functioning in Kabul  barring the consular service. On the other hand, in India, the Afghanistan mission has an ambassador appointed by the previous regime  Farid Mamundzay, who is popular among the Afghans in India, but the Taliban government has levelled corruption charges against him and its trade counsellor Qadir Shah has staked claim to his position. It is learnt that the Taliban-led govt has written close to 15 times to dismiss diplomats in Delhi, including Mamundzay. While the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) refrained from commenting, Mamundzay dismissed trade counsellors claims that he had been appointed as Charge de Affaires. Shah had apparently sent a note to MEA on April 28 saying that on April 25 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan had appointed him as the counsellor of the embassy. Mamundzay on Monday dismissed suggestions of change in leadership. There is no change of leadership in the Afghan embassy in India. The embassy categorically rejects the claims from an individual claiming to have taken charge of the mission, said Mamundzay. He also said that the person has been spreading misinformation and running a baseless campaign against mission officials.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); });
Jitendra Choubey By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Union government has issued a notification to provide the legal framework for breeding exotic wild animals in captivity.

The framework will make it mandatory for exotic wild animal keepers to get a license to breed exotic animals in captivity.

India lacks a regulation to keep a check on a person who owns highly endangered exotic wild animals and is engaged in breeding them. Now onward, people need a separate license to keep exotic wild animals of Appendix I of Schedule IV, which are highly protected animals across the world.

The issue came to limelight across the globe when the pandemic broke out when it was assumed that Covid-19 was a zoonotic disease which got spillover from Chinas Wuhan wet market. Since then, several countries recognized the illegal wildlife trade, which could pose a serious risk to the human population. For instance, China banned illegal trade and consumption of wild animals; Vietnam temporarily banned imports of wildlife and wildlife products. Bolivia passed a resolution of prohibition on using wild animals for food and medicines.

However, India issued an advisory on June 11, 2020 granting amnesty to individuals possessing exotic live species protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES).

The amnesty was granted to encourage individuals to disclose their possession of exotic animals to create a database of CITES-listed animals in India so that government would monitor births, deaths, trade, or change of possession of the animals in the future, says Debadityo Sinha, a wildlife laws expert.

CITES is a multilateral treaty entered into by 183 countries to ensure that the global trade in wildlife does not threaten species' survival. It does so by regulating global trade in wild flora and fauna, and India ratified CITES in 1976.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified the Rules under Section 49 N vide Gazette Notification dated April 24, 2023.

Meanwhile, wildlife experts hail the decision of the government to provide the legal framework which the country needed.

This legal framework is like something better than nothing, says wildlife crime investigator Jose Louise. This framework will prevent highly endangered exotic and protective animals in captivity and use it for an opportunity to trade it further.

The notification states that the new amendment will provide the legal framework for the protection of various species of wild animals, the management of their habitat and also for the regulation and control of trade in the products derived from various parts of wild animals.

NEW DELHI: The Union government has issued a notification to provide the legal framework for breeding exotic wild animals in captivity. The framework will make it mandatory for exotic wild animal keepers to get a license to breed exotic animals in captivity. India lacks a regulation to keep a check on a person who owns highly endangered exotic wild animals and is engaged in breeding them. Now onward, people need a separate license to keep exotic wild animals of Appendix I of Schedule IV, which are highly protected animals across the world. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The issue came to limelight across the globe when the pandemic broke out when it was assumed that Covid-19 was a zoonotic disease which got spillover from Chinas Wuhan wet market. Since then, several countries recognized the illegal wildlife trade, which could pose a serious risk to the human population. For instance, China banned illegal trade and consumption of wild animals; Vietnam temporarily banned imports of wildlife and wildlife products. Bolivia passed a resolution of prohibition on using wild animals for food and medicines. However, India issued an advisory on June 11, 2020 granting amnesty to individuals possessing exotic live species protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES). The amnesty was granted to encourage individuals to disclose their possession of exotic animals to create a database of CITES-listed animals in India so that government would monitor births, deaths, trade, or change of possession of the animals in the future, says Debadityo Sinha, a wildlife laws expert. CITES is a multilateral treaty entered into by 183 countries to ensure that the global trade in wildlife does not threaten species' survival. It does so by regulating global trade in wild flora and fauna, and India ratified CITES in 1976. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified the Rules under Section 49 N vide Gazette Notification dated April 24, 2023. Meanwhile, wildlife experts hail the decision of the government to provide the legal framework which the country needed. This legal framework is like something better than nothing, says wildlife crime investigator Jose Louise. This framework will prevent highly endangered exotic and protective animals in captivity and use it for an opportunity to trade it further. The notification states that the new amendment will provide the legal framework for the protection of various species of wild animals, the management of their habitat and also for the regulation and control of trade in the products derived from various parts of wild animals.
By PTI

BOTAD: A case on charges of murder has been registered against three police constables in Gujarat's Botad district following the death of a 28-year-old man after allegedly being thrashed in custody, a police official on Tuesday.

Labourer Kalu Padharshi (28) was picked up by the three constables, all attached with Botad Town police station, from his residence on April 14 for questioning in connection with a case.

The man, who later alleged that he was severely beaten up in custody, died at a hospital in Ahmedabad on May 14, the official said.

The three accused - Amiraj Boricha, Rahil Sidatar and Nikulsinh Jadhav - have been booked on charges of murder of Padharshi, Botad district Superintendent of Police Kishor Baloliya said.

"An FIR in this regard was registered at Botad Town police station on Monday night.

It is alleged that the accused constables thrashed Padharshi when he was in their custody on April 14.

Though he was let off the same day, his condition deteriorated afterwards and he eventually died on May 14 during treatment at the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital," Baloliya said.

As per the FIR, the three constables went to Padharshi's residence in Botad town on April 14 to seek details about a person not known to him as part of their investigation into a case.

When Padharshi denied having any information about that man, the trio asked him to produce registration papers of his motorcycle.

Since all of them were in civil dress but claimed they were policemen, Padharshi asked them to show their identity cards.

Angered by his demand, the accused allegedly started thrashing him and took him to the police station, said the FIR.

Though Padharshi was released on April 14 afternoon, he told his family that he was brutally beaten during custody and the accused policemen smashed his head against a wall during questioning.

When Padharshi's health started deteriorating after a few days, he was first referred to a hospital in Botad on April 17 and then to a government hospital in Bhavnagar city, where doctors diagnosed he was suffering from brain hemorrhage, the FIR said.

On April 20, he was referred to the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital where he underwent brain surgery.

Since then, he was kept on ventilator support. He died on May 14 during treatment, the FIR said.

BOTAD: A case on charges of murder has been registered against three police constables in Gujarat's Botad district following the death of a 28-year-old man after allegedly being thrashed in custody, a police official on Tuesday. Labourer Kalu Padharshi (28) was picked up by the three constables, all attached with Botad Town police station, from his residence on April 14 for questioning in connection with a case. The man, who later alleged that he was severely beaten up in custody, died at a hospital in Ahmedabad on May 14, the official said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The three accused - Amiraj Boricha, Rahil Sidatar and Nikulsinh Jadhav - have been booked on charges of murder of Padharshi, Botad district Superintendent of Police Kishor Baloliya said. "An FIR in this regard was registered at Botad Town police station on Monday night. It is alleged that the accused constables thrashed Padharshi when he was in their custody on April 14. Though he was let off the same day, his condition deteriorated afterwards and he eventually died on May 14 during treatment at the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital," Baloliya said. As per the FIR, the three constables went to Padharshi's residence in Botad town on April 14 to seek details about a person not known to him as part of their investigation into a case. When Padharshi denied having any information about that man, the trio asked him to produce registration papers of his motorcycle. Since all of them were in civil dress but claimed they were policemen, Padharshi asked them to show their identity cards. Angered by his demand, the accused allegedly started thrashing him and took him to the police station, said the FIR. Though Padharshi was released on April 14 afternoon, he told his family that he was brutally beaten during custody and the accused policemen smashed his head against a wall during questioning. When Padharshi's health started deteriorating after a few days, he was first referred to a hospital in Botad on April 17 and then to a government hospital in Bhavnagar city, where doctors diagnosed he was suffering from brain hemorrhage, the FIR said. On April 20, he was referred to the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital where he underwent brain surgery. Since then, he was kept on ventilator support. He died on May 14 during treatment, the FIR said.
Shruti Kakkar By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Denying the allegations of a de facto ban in Tamil Nadu with regards to the movie The Kerala Story and terming them as baseless, Tamil Nadu Government has told the SC that the movie was released in 19 multiplexes in Tamil Nadu on 05.05.2023 and there is no order banning the screening of the film. After the release of the movie, multiplex owners took the decision to stop its screening in view of the criticism it received, lack of well-known actors, poor performances, and poor audience response, the affidavit adds.

It has also been stated in the affidavit that the state had taken all necessary steps to safeguard the freedom of speech and expression. The affidavit has been filed in the plea filed by makers of The Kerala Story, Sunshine Pictures Private Limited and Vipul Amrutlal Shah, which, apart from challenging the Mamata Banerjee governments decision to ban the screening of the film, had also sought for the protection of screening the film in Tamil Nadu, alleging that the movie is facing a shadow ban. The Supreme Court on Friday had sought responses from TN government.

A bench headed by CJI DY Chandrachud laid emphasis on the fact that it was the states duty to provide adequate security to filmgoers and not cite a security threat and force theatres into withdrawing the film. The bench also asked TN government to specify the measures taken to provide security for screening The Kerala Story and posted the plea for Thursday.

Regarding TN, what is the state doing? Its a public order situation. The state government cannot say that well look the other way while theatres are being attacked, chairs being burnt, CJI DY Chandrachud said. Were just saying give us an affidavit on what youre (TN) is doing, Justice PS Narasimha said to Advocate Amit Anand Tiwari appearing for the TN government, who said that there was no ban on the movie.

NEW DELHI: Denying the allegations of a de facto ban in Tamil Nadu with regards to the movie The Kerala Story and terming them as baseless, Tamil Nadu Government has told the SC that the movie was released in 19 multiplexes in Tamil Nadu on 05.05.2023 and there is no order banning the screening of the film. After the release of the movie, multiplex owners took the decision to stop its screening in view of the criticism it received, lack of well-known actors, poor performances, and poor audience response, the affidavit adds. It has also been stated in the affidavit that the state had taken all necessary steps to safeguard the freedom of speech and expression. The affidavit has been filed in the plea filed by makers of The Kerala Story, Sunshine Pictures Private Limited and Vipul Amrutlal Shah, which, apart from challenging the Mamata Banerjee governments decision to ban the screening of the film, had also sought for the protection of screening the film in Tamil Nadu, alleging that the movie is facing a shadow ban. The Supreme Court on Friday had sought responses from TN government. A bench headed by CJI DY Chandrachud laid emphasis on the fact that it was the states duty to provide adequate security to filmgoers and not cite a security threat and force theatres into withdrawing the film. The bench also asked TN government to specify the measures taken to provide security for screening The Kerala Story and posted the plea for Thursday.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Regarding TN, what is the state doing? Its a public order situation. The state government cannot say that well look the other way while theatres are being attacked, chairs being burnt, CJI DY Chandrachud said. Were just saying give us an affidavit on what youre (TN) is doing, Justice PS Narasimha said to Advocate Amit Anand Tiwari appearing for the TN government, who said that there was no ban on the movie.
By Online Desk

AKOLA: Maharashtra minister Girish Mahajan on Monday claimed that the clash between members of two communities in Akola which claimed one person's life and left nine others injured was possibly "pre-planned".

Reports say the violence, which took place in the sensitive Old City area of Akola, was triggered by a social media post on a controversial film, The Kerala Story.

According to a BBC report, over 100 people have been arrested in the Maharashtra town after one person died and eight others were injured in communal clashes.

Police said that violence first began on Saturday when members of a community gathered outside a police station in Akola to protest against a social media post about the film.

Reports say it was a screenshot of a conversation between two residents which was shared on Instagram by one of them.

A police official told Indian Express that some messages in the chat "hurt the religious sentiments" of the other person but did not give any details.

Members of the two groups pelted stones at each other and indulged in large-scale vandalism.

The rioters set on fire some two-wheelers and four-wheelers during the violence.

Authorities cut Internet services and imposed a curfew to bring the situation under control. A female constable was among those who were injured in the clashes.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's office appealed for peace and instructed the state police to take strict action against those who participated in the violence, as stated by BBC.

#UPDATE | Tension prevailed between the two communities over hurting religious sentiments. Stone pelting happened, vehicles were also damaged. Heavy police deployment is there in the city. One was brought dead to Civil Hospital, but we are investigating it. As of now, 26 people pic.twitter.com/oZ8UZKafnA  ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2023

The police have detained 26 people in connection with the incident and deployed heavy security in the violence-hit areas, officials told PTI. The person killed in the violence has been identified as Vilas Gaikwad (40), they said.

After the incident, District Magistrate Neema Arora ordered the imposition of Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), which prohibits unlawful assembly of people, in four police station areas of the city to maintain law and order.

State Rural Development Minister Girish Mahajan visited the riot-affected area on Sunday.

Talking to reporters, he said, "It is suspected that the incident was pre-planned. Some houses and vehicles were damaged. Strict action would be taken against the culprits."

Mahajan also met the family of the man killed in the violence and expressed condolence.

He also inspected the violence-affected areas near Rajarajeshwar temple and Harihar Peth in Akola.

Mahajan said state Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced assistance of Rs 4 lakh for the family of the person killed in the violence.

He assured that the government would extend its support to the deceased's family members, who are from a poor financial background.

VIDEO | Section 144 imposed in parts of Maharashtra's Akola city following a clash between members of two communities on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/JAjN7Xi07G  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 14, 2023

In Aurangabad, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and former 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 claimed.

Meanwhile, at least five persons were injured in a communal clash over a procession in Shevgaon village in Ahmednagar district where several shops and vehicles were damaged in stone pelting, police said on Monday.

Police have detained 32 people so far and registered cases against 150 others after the incident on Sunday night, an official said.

(With PTI inputs)

AKOLA: Maharashtra minister Girish Mahajan on Monday claimed that the clash between members of two communities in Akola which claimed one person's life and left nine others injured was possibly "pre-planned". Reports say the violence, which took place in the sensitive Old City area of Akola, was triggered by a social media post on a controversial film, The Kerala Story. According to a BBC report, over 100 people have been arrested in the Maharashtra town after one person died and eight others were injured in communal clashes.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Police said that violence first began on Saturday when members of a community gathered outside a police station in Akola to protest against a social media post about the film. Reports say it was a screenshot of a conversation between two residents which was shared on Instagram by one of them. A police official told Indian Express that some messages in the chat "hurt the religious sentiments" of the other person but did not give any details. Members of the two groups pelted stones at each other and indulged in large-scale vandalism. The rioters set on fire some two-wheelers and four-wheelers during the violence. Authorities cut Internet services and imposed a curfew to bring the situation under control. A female constable was among those who were injured in the clashes. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's office appealed for peace and instructed the state police to take strict action against those who participated in the violence, as stated by BBC. #UPDATE | Tension prevailed between the two communities over hurting religious sentiments. Stone pelting happened, vehicles were also damaged. Heavy police deployment is there in the city. One was brought dead to Civil Hospital, but we are investigating it. As of now, 26 people pic.twitter.com/oZ8UZKafnA  ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2023 The police have detained 26 people in connection with the incident and deployed heavy security in the violence-hit areas, officials told PTI. The person killed in the violence has been identified as Vilas Gaikwad (40), they said. After the incident, District Magistrate Neema Arora ordered the imposition of Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), which prohibits unlawful assembly of people, in four police station areas of the city to maintain law and order. State Rural Development Minister Girish Mahajan visited the riot-affected area on Sunday. Talking to reporters, he said, "It is suspected that the incident was pre-planned. Some houses and vehicles were damaged. Strict action would be taken against the culprits." Mahajan also met the family of the man killed in the violence and expressed condolence. He also inspected the violence-affected areas near Rajarajeshwar temple and Harihar Peth in Akola. Mahajan said state Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced assistance of Rs 4 lakh for the family of the person killed in the violence. He assured that the government would extend its support to the deceased's family members, who are from a poor financial background. VIDEO | Section 144 imposed in parts of Maharashtra's Akola city following a clash between members of two communities on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/JAjN7Xi07G  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 14, 2023 In Aurangabad, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and former 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 claimed. Meanwhile, at least five persons were injured in a communal clash over a procession in Shevgaon village in Ahmednagar district where several shops and vehicles were damaged in stone pelting, police said on Monday. Police have detained 32 people so far and registered cases against 150 others after the incident on Sunday night, an official said. (With PTI inputs)
Rajesh Asnani By

Express News Service

JAIPUR: Sachin Pilot ended his five-day padyatra in Jaipur on Monday on an aggressive note by giving an ultimatum to CM Ashok Gehlot to agree to the three major demands by the month-end or face a state-wide stir. He was flanked by 15 Congress MLAs and two ministers of the Gehlot government.

Apart from a call for a high-level probe into corruption against the former Vasundhara Raje government, Pilots two other demands include 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.

Speaking to his supporters, Pilot also reiterated that he should not be confined by any limits and that he does not belong to any specific caste or religion or society. He proclaimed, I am the son of all communities and the son of Rajasthan. Critics have accused Pilot of mainly representing the Gujjar community, and questions have also been raised about his native status in Rajasthan.

Minister Hemaram Choudhary, who attended Pilots march, retaliated against CM Gehlots allegations that he and other pro-Pilot MLAs had taken bribes from the BJP amounting to Rs 10-20 crore to topple the Gehlot government in 2020. Minister Hema Ram Choudhary also argued that if indeed the MLAs who had gone with Pilot in the rebellion of 2020 had taken money, CM Ashok Gehlot should take action against them.

Following the Congresss victory in the Karnataka elections, Pilots ultimatum has presented a new challenge to the party. Speculations arose that the high command might attempt to reconcile Pilot and Gehlot before the Assembly elections.

JAIPUR: Sachin Pilot ended his five-day padyatra in Jaipur on Monday on an aggressive note by giving an ultimatum to CM Ashok Gehlot to agree to the three major demands by the month-end or face a state-wide stir. He was flanked by 15 Congress MLAs and two ministers of the Gehlot government. Apart from a call for a high-level probe into corruption against the former Vasundhara Raje government, Pilots two other demands include 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. Speaking to his supporters, Pilot also reiterated that he should not be confined by any limits and that he does not belong to any specific caste or religion or society. He proclaimed, I am the son of all communities and the son of Rajasthan. Critics have accused Pilot of mainly representing the Gujjar community, and questions have also been raised about his native status in Rajasthan. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Minister Hemaram Choudhary, who attended Pilots march, retaliated against CM Gehlots allegations that he and other pro-Pilot MLAs had taken bribes from the BJP amounting to Rs 10-20 crore to topple the Gehlot government in 2020. Minister Hema Ram Choudhary also argued that if indeed the MLAs who had gone with Pilot in the rebellion of 2020 had taken money, CM Ashok Gehlot should take action against them. Following the Congresss victory in the Karnataka elections, Pilots ultimatum has presented a new challenge to the party. Speculations arose that the high command might attempt to reconcile Pilot and Gehlot before the Assembly elections.
Shruti Kakkar By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Seeking justification of extension of six months time to complete the probe into the

Adani Hindenburg saga, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on Monday told the Supreme Court that the same is being sought for ensuring the carriage of justice while keeping in mind the investors interest.

Underscoring the complexity of transactions referred, the SEBI said, In respect of 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 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.

Denying the allegation levelled by the petitioners that SEBI has been investigating Adani since 2016, the affidavit says the probe actually pertained to the issuance of Global Depository Receipts by 51 Indian listed companies, which did not include any listed company of Adani Group.

SEBI had told SC it with regards to investigation into Minimum Public Shareholding norms had already approached eleven overseas Regulators under the Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding with International Organisation of Securities Commission as early as October 2020.

Reacting to the submission by the SEBI, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that development amounts to misleading Parliament. 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 , or being fast asleep as lakhs of investors are duped by alleged money-laundering and round-tripping using offshore shell companies? The affidavit has been submitted in the application filed by SEBI seeking extension of time to complete the probe.

NEW DELHI: Seeking justification of extension of six months time to complete the probe into the Adani Hindenburg saga, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on Monday told the Supreme Court that the same is being sought for ensuring the carriage of justice while keeping in mind the investors interest. Underscoring the complexity of transactions referred, the SEBI said, In respect of 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 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. Denying the allegation levelled by the petitioners that SEBI has been investigating Adani since 2016, the affidavit says the probe actually pertained to the issuance of Global Depository Receipts by 51 Indian listed companies, which did not include any listed company of Adani Group. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); SEBI had told SC it with regards to investigation into Minimum Public Shareholding norms had already approached eleven overseas Regulators under the Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding with International Organisation of Securities Commission as early as October 2020. Reacting to the submission by the SEBI, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that development amounts to misleading Parliament. 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 , or being fast asleep as lakhs of investors are duped by alleged money-laundering and round-tripping using offshore shell companies? The affidavit has been submitted in the application filed by SEBI seeking extension of time to complete the probe.
In the name of education, we are bullying children at school, and at home, without realizing it or admitting it.

Adults tend to impose standards and mindsets from the adult world onto children. We demand that children think, act, and live upon those standards. We would turn our children into people who comply with any demand and accept any treatment they get.

As a teacher, I was terrified recently reading about a high school teacher in northern Vietnam cutting her students hair in front of the whole class as a punishment for her dying it.

I was especially terrified seeing the girl standing their folding her arms, in total acceptance.

Education by bullying does not only cause mental and physical damage to a child, but also accidentally builds up their tolerance for bullying and violence, until they see it as a solution to any problem.

They will become adults who lack self-esteem and accept bullying  or they will become adults who bully others.

I recently had an online class with a Vietnamese student who was very well-mannered. I think she was even too well-mannered because I think she was a little bit scared of me, a superior.

Though I am disturbed by how American students are often disrespectful to their teachers, I am not comfortable with students looking up to their teachers as gods.

Education needs to find a balance point, where teachers and learners respect each other, and theres no unconditional obedience.
Namita Bajpai By

Express News Service

LUCKNOW: The Varanasi District Court admitted a petition filed to demand a detailed scientific investigation and survey by the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) of the entire Gyanvapi mosque, on Tuesday.

As many as eight plaintiffs, including the four Hindu women plaintiffs who had sought worship of Maa Shringar Gauri and other deities on Gyanvapi mosque premises (18/2022 Rakhi Singh vs UP state and others), filed three suits before Varanasi district judge court, on Tuesday, demanding the detailed scientific investigation of the present structure of Gyanvapi mosque using modern technological tools like GPR Survey, excavation, dating method and other modern techniques.

The petitioners also demanded an investigation of the age and nature of the construction of the western wall of the Gyanvapi premises. Supreme Court lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain had filed the petition on behalf of the six Hindu plaintiffs, said district government counsel Mahendra Nath Pandey.

Supreme Court lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain had filed the petition on behalf of the six Hindu plaintiffs, said district government counsel Mahendra Nath Pandey.

Admitting the petition, the Varanasi district court judge AK Vishvesha asked the Gyanvapi mosque management committee to file its objection to the plea by May 19.

AIM was given a copy of the fresh petitions. The court posted the matter for May 22. During the hearing, Jain said that all the believers of Hindu Sanatan Dharm wanted to know that the truth related to Adi Vishweshwara (Lord Shiva) should come out.

The petitioners represented by Vishnu Shankar Jain included Ram Prasad Singh, Mahant Shiv Prasad Pandey, Lakshmi Devi, Sita Sahu, Manju Vyas, and Rekha Pathak.

On Friday, May 12, the Allahabad High Court had ordered a determination of the age of the structure claimed to be a Shivling found in the pond of the Wuzu Khana (ablution centre) on the Gyanvapi mosque premises using modern technology.

The High Court had set aside the October 14, 2022 order of the Varanasi District Court which had rejected the plea for scientific investigation, including carbon dating, of the purported 'shivling' found on May 16, 2022, during a court-mandated survey of the Gyanvapi mosque premises.

The High Court had directed the Varanasi district judge to proceed, in accordance with the law, on the application by the Hindu worshippers for conducting a scientific probe of the purported 'shivling', paving the way for determining the age of the structure.

LUCKNOW: The Varanasi District Court admitted a petition filed to demand a detailed scientific investigation and survey by the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) of the entire Gyanvapi mosque, on Tuesday. As many as eight plaintiffs, including the four Hindu women plaintiffs who had sought worship of Maa Shringar Gauri and other deities on Gyanvapi mosque premises (18/2022 Rakhi Singh vs UP state and others), filed three suits before Varanasi district judge court, on Tuesday, demanding the detailed scientific investigation of the present structure of Gyanvapi mosque using modern technological tools like GPR Survey, excavation, dating method and other modern techniques. The petitioners also demanded an investigation of the age and nature of the construction of the western wall of the Gyanvapi premises. Supreme Court lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain had filed the petition on behalf of the six Hindu plaintiffs, said district government counsel Mahendra Nath Pandey.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Supreme Court lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain had filed the petition on behalf of the six Hindu plaintiffs, said district government counsel Mahendra Nath Pandey. Admitting the petition, the Varanasi district court judge AK Vishvesha asked the Gyanvapi mosque management committee to file its objection to the plea by May 19. AIM was given a copy of the fresh petitions. The court posted the matter for May 22. During the hearing, Jain said that all the believers of Hindu Sanatan Dharm wanted to know that the truth related to Adi Vishweshwara (Lord Shiva) should come out. The petitioners represented by Vishnu Shankar Jain included Ram Prasad Singh, Mahant Shiv Prasad Pandey, Lakshmi Devi, Sita Sahu, Manju Vyas, and Rekha Pathak. On Friday, May 12, the Allahabad High Court had ordered a determination of the age of the structure claimed to be a Shivling found in the pond of the Wuzu Khana (ablution centre) on the Gyanvapi mosque premises using modern technology. The High Court had set aside the October 14, 2022 order of the Varanasi District Court which had rejected the plea for scientific investigation, including carbon dating, of the purported 'shivling' found on May 16, 2022, during a court-mandated survey of the Gyanvapi mosque premises. The High Court had directed the Varanasi district judge to proceed, in accordance with the law, on the application by the Hindu worshippers for conducting a scientific probe of the purported 'shivling', paving the way for determining the age of the structure.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Karnataka Congress leaders Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar on Tuesday met party president Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence here separately and discussed the modalities of government formation in the southern state.

Shivakumar, who arrived in the national capital this morning from Bengaluru, reached Kharge's residence a little after 5 pm and held deliberations over the post of chief minister of Karnataka.

He left after a 30-minute meeting and did not speak to the media.

#UPDATE | #WATCH | Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar leaves from the residence of the party's national president Mallikarjun Kharge, in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/FqUPpf77Da

Soon after Shivakumar left, Siddaramaiah arrived at Kharge's residence at 10, Rajaji Marg after 6 pm, and the two leaders held discussions on the top post.

Both Shivakumar and former chief minister Siddaramaiah have staked their claim for the top post after the party staged a stunning victory in the Karnataka Assembly polls by winning 135 out of 224 seats.

Supporters of both the leaders are indulging in hectic lobbying in support of their leaders.

#WATCH | Karnataka Congress leader Siddaramaiah arrives at the residence of the party's general secretary KC Venugopal, in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/45qJzTBqxF

The newly-elected MLAs in Karnataka have already passed a one-line resolution authorising party chief Kharge to appoint the legislature party leader, who will be the new chief minister.

Kharge had earlier appointed three central observers for the meeting of the Congress legislature party in Bengaluru and they have already submitted their report to him and discussed the same.

The observers had met all Congress MLAs individually and sought their views on who would be their choice of chief minister.

They also held a secret ballot which was compiled and the results were conveyed to the party chief.

Kharge earlier in the day also held a discussion with former party chief Rahul Gandhi, who drove down to his residence.

AICC general secretary K C Venugopal also held a separate meeting with Gandhi to discuss the issue of government formation in Karnataka.

NEW DELHI: Karnataka Congress leaders Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar on Tuesday met party president Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence here separately and discussed the modalities of government formation in the southern state. Shivakumar, who arrived in the national capital this morning from Bengaluru, reached Kharge's residence a little after 5 pm and held deliberations over the post of chief minister of Karnataka. He left after a 30-minute meeting and did not speak to the media.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); #UPDATE | #WATCH | Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar leaves from the residence of the party's national president Mallikarjun Kharge, in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/FqUPpf77Da  ANI (@ANI) May 16, 2023 Soon after Shivakumar left, Siddaramaiah arrived at Kharge's residence at 10, Rajaji Marg after 6 pm, and the two leaders held discussions on the top post. Both Shivakumar and former chief minister Siddaramaiah have staked their claim for the top post after the party staged a stunning victory in the Karnataka Assembly polls by winning 135 out of 224 seats. Supporters of both the leaders are indulging in hectic lobbying in support of their leaders. #WATCH | Karnataka Congress leader Siddaramaiah arrives at the residence of the party's general secretary KC Venugopal, in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/45qJzTBqxF  ANI (@ANI) May 16, 2023 The newly-elected MLAs in Karnataka have already passed a one-line resolution authorising party chief Kharge to appoint the legislature party leader, who will be the new chief minister. Kharge had earlier appointed three central observers for the meeting of the Congress legislature party in Bengaluru and they have already submitted their report to him and discussed the same. The observers had met all Congress MLAs individually and sought their views on who would be their choice of chief minister. They also held a secret ballot which was compiled and the results were conveyed to the party chief. Kharge earlier in the day also held a discussion with former party chief Rahul Gandhi, who drove down to his residence. AICC general secretary K C Venugopal also held a separate meeting with Gandhi to discuss the issue of government formation in Karnataka.
By Express News Service

KOCHI: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), which in a joint operation with the Indian Navy seized over 2,500kg of methamphetamine off the Kerala coast, has started looking for Indian links to the contraband, believed to have belonged to the Haji Salim network.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which had named Karachi-based drug lord Haji Salim an accused in a 2021 drug bust, also collected details from the NCB regarding the seizure and arrested a foreign national on Monday.

According to sources, NCB is looking for agents in Tamil refugee camps with a history of drug running via sea routes. The bureau has widened its investigative net to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

This drug cartel involves people from Pakistan, Iran and Sri Lanka. Most of these boats are destined for Sri Lanka, which is a transit point for drug cartels to hit other countries, including India. There are Sri Lankan refugees who act as agents controlling the supply chain, they said.

The NIA arrested a Sri Lankan agent from Chennai following the seizure of drugs from a boat with Lankan crew off Vizhinjam in 2021. Haji Salim was named an accused in the case and an arrest warrant is pending against him.

Last year, NIA arrested Tamil refugees C Gunashekharan, Pushparajah and eight others from Tamil Nadu, believed to be aides of Haji Salim who were procuring drugs and arms from him.

Most of these drugs reach Sri Lanka before being diverted to India and other countries. Haji Salim is mostly involved in the supply of heroin sourced through Afghanistan. Now the seizure of a large quantity of meth points to the establishment of laboratories on a large scale from where these synthetic drugs are produced in Pakistan, sources said.

Meanwhile, the arrested foreign national has been identified as Zubair Derakhshandeh, 27. NIA sleuths visited the NCB office and collected information on the case. NIA officials have sought information about the accused. A further probe will reveal the larger conspiracy behind the drug smuggling, sources said.

Zubair was produced before the Mattancherry Judicial First Class Magistrate and remanded to judicial custody. He was later shifted to the Kakkanad district jail. NCB also produced the seized drugs before the court. The court after checking the seizure mahazar prepared by NCB and handed it back to the agency for further steps.

Zubair was speaking the Balochi language and NCB suspects that he is a native of Balochistan province in Pakistan, even though there are Balochis in Iran. The bureau will file an application seeking his custody soon.

It was on Saturday that the mother vessel was intercepted on Indian waters with over 2,500kg of meth, in what is believed to be the largest-ever drug haul in the country.

Question mark over Zubairs nationality

Kochi: The nationality of Zubair Derkshandeh has come under debate after the NCB claimed that he is a Pakistani but his lawyer maintained he is Iranian. NCB claimed Zubair hails from the part of Balochistan which is in Pakistan.

His nationality cannot be confirmed as no ID card or passport was recovered. He is trying to make us believe he is from Iran, said an NCB official.

However, his lawyer B A Aloor said Zubair hails from the part of Balochistan in Iran.

NCB is desperate to project him as a Pakistani to add gravity to the incident. We will raise the matter when he is produced in court next, Aloor said.

KOCHI: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), which in a joint operation with the Indian Navy seized over 2,500kg of methamphetamine off the Kerala coast, has started looking for Indian links to the contraband, believed to have belonged to the Haji Salim network. The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which had named Karachi-based drug lord Haji Salim an accused in a 2021 drug bust, also collected details from the NCB regarding the seizure and arrested a foreign national on Monday. According to sources, NCB is looking for agents in Tamil refugee camps with a history of drug running via sea routes. The bureau has widened its investigative net to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); This drug cartel involves people from Pakistan, Iran and Sri Lanka. Most of these boats are destined for Sri Lanka, which is a transit point for drug cartels to hit other countries, including India. There are Sri Lankan refugees who act as agents controlling the supply chain, they said. The NIA arrested a Sri Lankan agent from Chennai following the seizure of drugs from a boat with Lankan crew off Vizhinjam in 2021. Haji Salim was named an accused in the case and an arrest warrant is pending against him. Last year, NIA arrested Tamil refugees C Gunashekharan, Pushparajah and eight others from Tamil Nadu, believed to be aides of Haji Salim who were procuring drugs and arms from him. Most of these drugs reach Sri Lanka before being diverted to India and other countries. Haji Salim is mostly involved in the supply of heroin sourced through Afghanistan. Now the seizure of a large quantity of meth points to the establishment of laboratories on a large scale from where these synthetic drugs are produced in Pakistan, sources said. Meanwhile, the arrested foreign national has been identified as Zubair Derakhshandeh, 27. NIA sleuths visited the NCB office and collected information on the case. NIA officials have sought information about the accused. A further probe will reveal the larger conspiracy behind the drug smuggling, sources said. Zubair was produced before the Mattancherry Judicial First Class Magistrate and remanded to judicial custody. He was later shifted to the Kakkanad district jail. NCB also produced the seized drugs before the court. The court after checking the seizure mahazar prepared by NCB and handed it back to the agency for further steps. Zubair was speaking the Balochi language and NCB suspects that he is a native of Balochistan province in Pakistan, even though there are Balochis in Iran. The bureau will file an application seeking his custody soon. It was on Saturday that the mother vessel was intercepted on Indian waters with over 2,500kg of meth, in what is believed to be the largest-ever drug haul in the country. Question mark over Zubairs nationality Kochi: The nationality of Zubair Derkshandeh has come under debate after the NCB claimed that he is a Pakistani but his lawyer maintained he is Iranian. NCB claimed Zubair hails from the part of Balochistan which is in Pakistan. His nationality cannot be confirmed as no ID card or passport was recovered. He is trying to make us believe he is from Iran, said an NCB official. However, his lawyer B A Aloor said Zubair hails from the part of Balochistan in Iran. NCB is desperate to project him as a Pakistani to add gravity to the incident. We will raise the matter when he is produced in court next, Aloor said.
By Express News Service

PALAKKAD: One of the LDF government's aims is to make the state free of extreme poverty by 2025. It has set itself a deadline of November 1, 2025, to achieve this, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said after inaugurating the MGNREGA workers' welfare fund board at the Fort Maidan here on Monday.

The CM said that people in extreme poverty are categorized thus: those who are very old and infirm, those who are suffering from chronic illness, and those who are living a solitary life. Their number in the state now stood at 64,000.

The steps to rescue them from poverty are underway, with the local bodies spearheading the effort with the help of locals, the CM added. To augment this effort, the government has increased the monthly welfare pension from Rs 600 in 2016 to Rs 1600.

FROM OUR ARCHIVES: INTERVIEW | Left has been dividing bread, now its time to bake some: Ex-Kerala FM Thomas Isaac

The pending arrears were also distributed.

At present, 62 lakh people are receiving welfare pensions in the state. The government hopes to present a progress report on November 1, 2023.

Local Self-Government Minister MB Rajesh presided over the meet. Electricity Minister K Krishnankutty was the chief guest.

A couple of months ago, CPM state secretary MV Govindan had claimed that within the next three years, 'extreme poverty' will be wiped out in Kerala.

FROM OUR ARCHIVES | Capital shame: Hungry children found eating soil in Thiruvananthapuram

"There are 3.42 lakh landless people in Kerala. The government has decided to provide three cents of land each to these people. For this, 10,500 acres of land is required and the land has been identified. Once the land is handed over to eligible people, Kerala will become the first state with zero landless people," he had said then.

PALAKKAD: One of the LDF government's aims is to make the state free of extreme poverty by 2025. It has set itself a deadline of November 1, 2025, to achieve this, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said after inaugurating the MGNREGA workers' welfare fund board at the Fort Maidan here on Monday. The CM said that people in extreme poverty are categorized thus: those who are very old and infirm, those who are suffering from chronic illness, and those who are living a solitary life. Their number in the state now stood at 64,000. The steps to rescue them from poverty are underway, with the local bodies spearheading the effort with the help of locals, the CM added. To augment this effort, the government has increased the monthly welfare pension from Rs 600 in 2016 to Rs 1600.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); FROM OUR ARCHIVES: INTERVIEW | Left has been dividing bread, now its time to bake some: Ex-Kerala FM Thomas Isaac The pending arrears were also distributed. At present, 62 lakh people are receiving welfare pensions in the state. The government hopes to present a progress report on November 1, 2023. Local Self-Government Minister MB Rajesh presided over the meet. Electricity Minister K Krishnankutty was the chief guest. A couple of months ago, CPM state secretary MV Govindan had claimed that within the next three years, 'extreme poverty' will be wiped out in Kerala. FROM OUR ARCHIVES | Capital shame: Hungry children found eating soil in Thiruvananthapuram "There are 3.42 lakh landless people in Kerala. The government has decided to provide three cents of land each to these people. For this, 10,500 acres of land is required and the land has been identified. Once the land is handed over to eligible people, Kerala will become the first state with zero landless people," he had said then.
Shruti Kakkar By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Defending the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Tamil Nadu (Amendment Act) 2017 which allows the continuation of bull-taming sport 'Jallikattu' and bullock cart races, Tamil Nadu on Thursday informed the Supreme Court that the amendment was not a colourable piece of legislation as it seeks to prevent cruelty on animals.

They are saying it is a colourable legislation because it perpetuates cruelty. But there is a presumption. The new regime seeks to prevent it. If it seeks to prevent it, it cannot be a colourable exercise of power, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal for the Tamil Nadu government told the constitution bench led by Justice KM Joseph.

Referring to the rules by which safeguards have been embedded, he said the basic rules of Jallikattu do not permit the bull to be tamed/restrained by using any instruments like sticks, ropes or knives and do not permit the participants to hold any other part of the bull except the hump.

Changes that have been introduced by way of rules, Only one person approaches the bull. Participants are not allowed to touch the bull. It is 'participants and bulls' and not 'participant and bull' because there are several participants and several bulls, he added.

ALSO READ | Ultimate question perhaps is whether 'jallikattu' can be allowed in any form: Supreme Court

It was also Sibals contention that since Jallikattu involved an ancient practice of breeding native bulls by the local communities it also served the cause of conservation of a Native breed of cattle. Laying emphasis on the fact that the protection of the native breed of bulls is a policy decision, Sibal said that the ban on Jallikattu between 2014 to 2016 had depleted the precious native germplasm.

It is to showcase the bull. its vigour. Its strength. To show that this is bull you should mate your cow with. What's wrong with that my lords? In 80% of the cases, there is no fear to the bull. They run away and nobody can touch them. Humans are instead afraid. There is no issue of lack of constitutionality, there is legislation in place, new rules have been put in place if they have a grievance they can move the appropriate court, he also added.

On agreeing to examine the basis for providing Presidential assent to the three state laws that allowed the sport, the five-judge bench also asked SG Tushar Mehta to apprise the bench whether the state had also placed rules governing the conduct of Jallikattu.

I have seen the files presented before the President for assent. Every single aspect was submitted, Mehta had submitted.

NEW DELHI: Defending the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Tamil Nadu (Amendment Act) 2017 which allows the continuation of bull-taming sport 'Jallikattu' and bullock cart races, Tamil Nadu on Thursday informed the Supreme Court that the amendment was not a colourable piece of legislation as it seeks to prevent cruelty on animals. They are saying it is a colourable legislation because it perpetuates cruelty. But there is a presumption. The new regime seeks to prevent it. If it seeks to prevent it, it cannot be a colourable exercise of power, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal for the Tamil Nadu government told the constitution bench led by Justice KM Joseph. Referring to the rules by which safeguards have been embedded, he said the basic rules of Jallikattu do not permit the bull to be tamed/restrained by using any instruments like sticks, ropes or knives and do not permit the participants to hold any other part of the bull except the hump.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Changes that have been introduced by way of rules, Only one person approaches the bull. Participants are not allowed to touch the bull. It is 'participants and bulls' and not 'participant and bull' because there are several participants and several bulls, he added. ALSO READ | Ultimate question perhaps is whether 'jallikattu' can be allowed in any form: Supreme Court It was also Sibals contention that since Jallikattu involved an ancient practice of breeding native bulls by the local communities it also served the cause of conservation of a Native breed of cattle. Laying emphasis on the fact that the protection of the native breed of bulls is a policy decision, Sibal said that the ban on Jallikattu between 2014 to 2016 had depleted the precious native germplasm. It is to showcase the bull. its vigour. Its strength. To show that this is bull you should mate your cow with. What's wrong with that my lords? In 80% of the cases, there is no fear to the bull. They run away and nobody can touch them. Humans are instead afraid. There is no issue of lack of constitutionality, there is legislation in place, new rules have been put in place if they have a grievance they can move the appropriate court, he also added. On agreeing to examine the basis for providing Presidential assent to the three state laws that allowed the sport, the five-judge bench also asked SG Tushar Mehta to apprise the bench whether the state had also placed rules governing the conduct of Jallikattu. I have seen the files presented before the President for assent. Every single aspect was submitted, Mehta had submitted.
Samsung Engineering and OMV announced the signing of an MoU to cooperate on projects from the early development stage.

The MoU was signed at the OMV headquarters in Vienna, Austria, by Martijn van Koten, Member of the Executive Board of OMV and EVP Fuels & Feedstock, and Hong Namkoong, President and CEO of Samsung Engineering. Alfred Stern, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of OMV, as well as Reinhard Florey, Member of the Executive Board and CFO of OMV welcomed Samsung Engineerings delegation.

OMV, is amongst Austrias largest listed industrial companies and is committed to becoming a net-zero emissions company (Scopes 1, 2, and 3) latest by 2050.

OMV has embarked on a transformation to become a leading provider of innovative and sustainable fuels, chemicals and materials, with a focus on circular economy solutions.

This strategy is aligned with Samsung Engineerings ambitions to contribute to the energy transition, by starting to take key initiatives for the decarbonisation of its operations, whereby it has launched projects in the direction of low-carbon businesses.

A major goal for Samsung Engineering is to become a Beyond EPC - Green Solution Provider. It is striving to transform from a conventional EPC player to a green solution provider by securing a reliable source of profits and creating a sustainable growth engine for the future.

Hong Namkoong, President and CEO of Samsung Engineering said Samsung Engineerings excellent track record in modularisation projects has led to this MoU to jointly develop sustainable projects based on modularisation. In the era of the energy transition, the strategy of OMV and Samsung Engineering align to create synergy effects to promote and strengthen the foundation for mid to long-term sustainable projects.

Martijn van Koten, Member of the Executive Board of OMV responsible for Fuels & Feedstock, said: Strong partnerships with pioneers for sustainable solutions and projects in the low carbon business help accelerate our transformation towards our goal of reducing CO2 emissions and becoming a net-zero company by 2050. We welcome the collaboration with Samsung Engineering. This will enable us to continuously expand our renewable fuels and feedstock product range and fulfill one of the key elements of our OMV Strategy 2030 to become a leading, innovative producer of sustainable fuels and feedstock in Europe. -TradeArabia News Service
Thirteen years ago, the Syrian regime of Bashar al Assad responded to peaceful protests with a brutal crackdown. His regime has detained, tortured, and murdered civilians  including children  and rejected diplomatic efforts to end a war that has claimed more than 500,000 lives, destroyed Syrias economy, and forced millions from their homes.

Millions of Syrians remain internally displaced or have sought refuge in neighboring countries or further afield. The UN has been able to scale-up its cross-border operation back to pre-earthquake levels and aid is again reaching millions of people in northwest Syria.

In the meantime, the Assad regime continues to refuse to negotiate an end to the conflict through Security Council Resolution 2254, said U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey DeLaurentis, Acting Deputy Representative to the United Nations.

Russia claims to support a Syrian-led political process, yet it continues to put up roadblocks to peace.

As a consequence of this intransigence, the Syrian people continue to face immense challenges, observed Ambassador DeLaurentis:

More than 130,000 Syrians are unaccounted for, languishing in regime prisons or detention centers, or missing and believed murdered by the regime, terrorist groups like Daesh, and other parties to the conflict. Assads April 2022 amnesty, which we hoped would be followed by additional releases, instead resulted in the release of only 500 people, many of whom were emaciated, with some having reportedly lost their memories or suffered from trauma or mental illness, while others sustained physical injuries.

Moreover, the brutal practice of arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance of innocent men, women, and children continues.

Syria is spreading instability beyond its borders by flooding the region with illicit drugs. The Assad regime has also allowed Russia to use Syria as a logistics node to export its destabilizing activities to Africa.

Amidst this backdrop, the United States will not normalize our relationship with Assad, and we have strongly discouraged others from doing so, declared Ambassador DeLaurentis:

We will not lift our sanctions on Assad or support reconstruction absent genuine, comprehensive, and enduring reforms and progress on the political process.

We renew our call for a nationwide ceasefire, said Ambassador DeLaurentis, and the humane release of the unjustly detained and to clarify the fate of the missing, including those who are deceased, and for the Assad regime to finally engage the political process in good faith.
Upasana decided to have child after being emotionally prepared to give love

Hyderabad, May 14: Actor Ram Charan's wife Upasana Kamineni Konidela, who is expecting their first child, celebrated her first Mother's Day with an inspiring post.

Upasana decided to have child after being 'emotionally prepared to give love'

"I am proud to embrace motherhood for all the right reasons. I did not do it to conform to society's expectations or to fit. My decision to become a mother was not driven by a desire to carry on a legacy or to strengthen my marriage," she wrote on Instagram."I chose to have a child when I was emotionally prepared to give unconditional love iamp; care that my child deserves for his/her overall well-being," she added.It was in December 2022 that Ram Charan and Upasana announced their approaching parenthood.In February, she confirmed that their first child would be born in India, despite speculations that they could be considering having the child in the United States.During US television show Good Morning America, Ram Charan had requested consultation with Dr Jennifer Ashton. This led to speculations that the couple could give birth to their child in the US.However, Upasana refuted the rumours and revealed that she will give birth to her kid in India. She stated that she would deliver her baby at the Apollo Hospitals, where she is Vice Chairperson of CSR.She had requested Dr Jeniffer Ashton to join Apollo Hospital family in India along with Dr Sumana Manohan and Dr Rooma Sinha to deliver her baby.IANS15 May 2023

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One of the earliest casualties of Russias senseless war on Ukraine, and one of the globally most devastating, was the stoppage of food shipments from Ukraine, the worlds fifth largest exporter of wheat and the second largest exporter of sunflower oil. As drought and strife caused unprecedented food insecurity in vulnerable regions around the world, Russias blockade of Ukrainian ports decimated supplies of food available to aid organizations.

With the July 27, 2022, signing of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, brokered by Turkiye and the United Nations, exports of Ukrainian grain resumed. But the Initiative expires on May 18, giving Russia the opportunity to again block the passage of cargo ships to and from Ukraines ports even before the original agreement expires, and to threaten to pull out of the Black Sea Grain Initiative altogether.

We should not need to remind Moscow every few weeks to keep their promises and to stop using peoples hunger as a weapon in their war against Ukraine, said United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, quoting Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Speaking at a Foreign Press Center Briefing on the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield said that with over 345 million people facing high levels of food insecurity right now, we are facing a global food crisis. This is a crisis felt most acutely in Africa and the Middle East, and especially by people in countries where food was already in short supply, she said. The point of the Black Sea Grain Initiative is to make sure grain and food supplies get to those in desperate need and to stabilize global markets.

The initiative has enabled the export of over 30 million metric tons of foodstuff. Most of it went to various aid organizations, which then delivered desperately needed supplies to those most in need. For example, Ukrainian food fueled the World Food Programs humanitarian operations in Afghanistan, Somalia, and Yemen, saving countless lives.

The world needs the Black Sea Grain Initiative, said Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield. Whats more, the world needs Russia to end its illegal war against Ukraine, which would allow farmers to return to their fields, return agricultural trade to normal, and immediately and significantly improve global food security.

In the meantime, Russia must stop playing games with the lives of hungry people around the world.
France to send more tanks, armoured vehicles to Ukraine

Kyiv [Ukraine], May 15: 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.

France to send more tanks, armoured vehicles to Ukraine

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.Apparently, French AMX-10RCs vehicles can move quickly across the battlefield and switch positions due to their fast speed and mobility.ANI15 May 2023

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South Koreas President to visit Japan to attend G7 Summit

Tokyo, May 14: South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol is all set to visit Japan to attend the G7 Summit and also to hold trilateral talks with Japan and US, Kyodo News reported citing President's office.

South Korea's President to visit Japan to attend G7 Summit

South Korean President will be in Japan for a three-day visit where he will hold trilateral talks with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and US President Joe Biden to confirm cooperation in addressing North Korea's missile and nuclear development, the office said Sunday.According to Kyodo News' diplomatic sources, it will likely be held on May 21, the closing day of the three-day G-7 summit, before Biden leaves for Australia from the Japanese city.Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol agreed last week during a summit at the White House that they will step up trilateral cooperation with Japan to better deal with the North Korean nuclear threat.Yoon, who took office in May 2022, visited Japan in mid-March, while Kishida earlier this month made his first trip to South Korea since becoming prime minister in October 2021. Such reciprocal visits had been suspended since 2011.Kishida is scheduled to host the three-day G-7 summit through next Sunday. South Korea is not a member of the grouping, reported Kyodo News.ANI15 May 2023

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Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande on a 3-day visit to Egypt

New Delhi, May 15: Indian Army Chief General Manoj Pande is on a three-day visit to Egypt to enhance bilateral Defence Cooperation and strengthen ties in areas of mutual interest of both countries.

Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande on a 3-day visit to Egypt

"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.ANI15 May 2023

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Need to promote innovations useful for defence, civil sectors: Rajnath Singh

Pune, May 15: 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.

Need to promote innovations useful for defence, civil sectors: Rajnath Singh

"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.ANI15 May 2023

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Endangered seal spotted on Israeli beach for first time

Tel Aviv, May 15: A rare Mediterranean monk seal was spotted on an Israeli beach, the first time the endangered mammal has made land in Israel.

Endangered seal spotted on Israeli beach for first time

"This is the first sighting of its kind in Israel, a very rare and exciting event, and it is a marine mammal in danger of extinction that is important to protect and that is why we are here," said Bar Molot, a volunteer from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, who is helping guard the seal.The Authority said the seal is a female, appears to be 3-5 years old and is not in any distress. The Authority added that the seal has been named Julia by a boy named Muhammed who helped protect the seal after it was first found.Dr Mia Elser, of the Delphis Association, an Ashdod-based organization that researches and protects marine mammals, said the Mediterranean monk seal is one of the world's 12 rarest mammals. Around 700 are believed to exist, the majority of which live on the coasts of Greece, Turkey and Cyprus. Others live off the coast of Western Sahara and Mauritania,Their reproduction rate -- one offspring every two to three years -- means their likelihood of extinction is very high, Dr Elser said.Researchers and volunteers from Delphis are also helping protect Julia from curious people approaching too closely. The seal, they said, appears to be simply exhausted after swimming a long distance. Dr Elser noted that Julia did not attempt to move away from people gathering around her, a sign of fatigue."We have records of seals of this species sleeping for three consecutive days in a cave," Dr Elser said. "She tries to stay dry even though the sea is rising, constantly moving and staying away from the breaking waves."Is it possible Julia will stay?"If we want them to stay here, we must provide them with a place where they can rest undisturbed," Dr Elser said. "We must provide a home for the seals."Delphis is examining options to create conditions that will allow seals to remain in Israel. One possibility is the restoration of caves in the Rosh HaNikra Marine Nature Reserve on Israel's northern coast in collaboration with the Nature and Parks Authority. (ANI/TPS)ANI15 May 2023

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Producer Ketki pandit hosts the highly anticipated Vadodara Films & Design festival for todays YOUth at Parul University

Vadodara, May 15: 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.

Producer Ketki pandit hosts the highly anticipated Vadodara Films & Design festival for today's YOUth at Parul University

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 and 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)ANI16 May 2023

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Dubai Supreme Council reviews progress in clean energy projects

Dubai, May 15 (: H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy (DSCE), chaired the 76th meeting of the Council, which was held virtually in the presence of Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the DSCE.

Dubai Supreme Council reviews progress in clean energy projects

The meeting was also attended by Ahmed Buti Al Muhairbi, Secretary-General of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, and board members Dawood Al Hajri, Director General of Dubai Municipality; Abdulla bin Kalban, Managing Director of Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA); Saif Humaid Al Falasi, CEO of Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC); Juan-Pablo Freile, General Manager of Dubai Petroleum; and Hussain Al Banna, Acting CEO of the Strategy and Corporate Governance Sector at the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).The meeting discussed the progress of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park phases, in accordance with the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050, to provide 100 per cent of Dubai's total power capacity from clean energy sources by 2050.The solar park's production capacity has reached 2,327 megawatts (MW) in addition to 533 MW underway. DEWA also announced the 1,800MW 6th phase, of the solar park to reach 5,000 MW of production capacity by the end of 2030. The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park includes a Research and Development Centre specialising in developing photovoltaic cells, storage batteries, and improving the efficiency of solar panels."We work in line with the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in all strategic renewable and clean energy projects that we implement. We attach great importance to research and development in sustainability and renewable energy, including photovoltaic solar panels, concentrated solar power, hydroelectric power, and green hydrogen, among others," said Saeed Al Tayer.The meeting also discussed the progress of the Hatta hydroelectric power plant, which DEWA is building and is 70 per cent complete. The meeting also discussed the operation of the region's first green hydrogen production facility to support the strategy of diversifying energy sources and promoting sustainable development and a green economy.As part of its Space-D programme, DEWA has launched the latest nanosatellites supporting its cloud computing network. This enhances the digitalisation of the power and water networks, increases the efficiency and effectiveness of planning, operation and preventive maintenance for the generation, transmission, and distribution divisions; smart grids and electric vehicle charging stations, as well as research into the concentration of solar radiation and integrating them with power plant operations using Artificial Intelligence."During the meeting, we were briefed by Emirates Gas on their initiative to introduce LPG composite cylinders to the local market in Dubai. These are highly safe and lightweight. A total of 5,000 cylinders were introduced in different areas of Dubai. The release of 5,000 cylinders in different regions of the Emirate was met with great demand from consumers. A team from Emirates Gas is spreading awareness and promoting the benefits of the shift from steel gas cylinders to composite gas cylinders to ensure safety and ease of use," said Al Muhairbi. (ANI/WAM)ANI16 May 2023

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New Delhi, May 15: 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.
Foxconn begins work on manufacturing facility near Hyderabad

Hyderabad, May 15: Taiwanese contract manufacturing giant Foxconn performed the groundbreaking of its new electronics manufacturing facility at Kongar Kalaan near Hyderabad on Monday.

Foxconn begins work on manufacturing facility near Hyderabad

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 iamp; 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.AThe 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.IANS16 May 2023

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Babil Khan has a perfect plan for his birthday: Work, then time with mum

Mumbai, May 15: Actor Babil Khan, who made his debut with Anvita Dutt's 'Qala', is celebrating a working birthday on Monday. The actor is currently shooting for a big project the details of which are under wraps.

Babil Khan has a 'perfect plan' for his birthday: Work, then time with mum

Talking about his birthday plans, Babil said "My work truly makes me happy and a working birthday sounds like a perfect plan for me. I'll also end up spending some time with Maa when I wrap work for the day, I couldn't have asked for more."The songs of 'Qala', which starred Babil as a fine singing talent, went crazy viral on the Internet inspiring several reels and memes. The actor aims to repeat the magic with his upcoming films in the pipeline.He further mentioned "I am eagerly waiting for the release of the film I am presently involved in. I simply cannot wait to share the details with everyone."Additionally, Babil has some exciting projects in the pipeline. He is set to appear in YRF's 'The Railway Men'.IANS16 May 2023

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The World Health Assembly, the WHA, is the decision-making body of the World Health Organization, the WHO. It is scheduled to hold its annual meeting May 21-30 in Geneva.

The stated mission of the WHO is Health for All, and, as Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement in advance of the event, the WHAs annual meeting is a unique opportunity for delegates and health experts from around the world to advance global health and global health security.

Considering the meetings purpose, Secretary Blinken strongly encouraged the WHO to invite Taiwan to participate as an observer at this years WHA meeting so it may lend its expertise to the discussions.

Taiwans expertise in the field of global health is indisputable, as are its technological capabilities, its democratic governance, its resilience in the face of COVID-19, and its robust economy, resources which could all beneficially inform the WHAs deliberations.

In addition, Inviting Taiwan as an observer would exemplify the WHOs commitment to an inclusive health for all approach to international health cooperation, said Secretary Blinken, noting that Taiwan has been invited to participate as an observer in previous WHA meetings.

In fact, the WHO broke years of precedent in 2015 at the 70th World Health Assembly when it failed to invite a Taiwanese delegation to attend as an observer  a failure that has been maintained every year since then.

Taiwans isolation from the WHA, the preeminent global health forum, is unjustified and undermines the inclusive global public health cooperation and security, which the world demands, said Secretary Blinken.

Taiwan is a reliable partner, a vibrant democracy, and a force for good in the world, he declared. The United States will continue to advocate for Taiwans return as an observer at the WHA, and moreover, for its meaningful and robust participation in appropriate international fora.

Our support for Taiwans participation in appropriate international fora, noted Secretary Blinken, is in line with our one China policy, which is guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the three U.S.-China Joint Communiques, and the Six Assurances.
Khatron Ke Khiladi 13: Ruhi Chaturvedi opens up about battling homesickness

Mumbai, May 15: As television actress Ruhi Chaturvedi gears up for the upcoming season of 'Khatron Ke Khiladi', she opened up about the challenges of staying away from home for a prolonged period and feeling homesick.

'Khatron Ke Khiladi 13': Ruhi Chaturvedi opens up about battling homesickness

The actress, who has never been away from her husband Shivendraa Saainiyol after marriage, said that being a homebody, the thought of being all by herself for the show is daunting.Speaking from Cape Town, where she is currently shooting for 'Khatron Ke Khiladi 13', Ruhi said "I am missing my husband and home terribly. Any challenge seems tougher when you are away from your loved ones. But I am trying to stay positive and focused on the task at hand."She added "Before leaving for the show, I spent quality time with my family and friends, who are all huge fans of Khatron Ke Khiladi. Their support and advice have been invaluable. And of course, my husband has been my rock throughout this journey, constantly motivating and encouraging me to face my fears and do my best."'Khatron Ke Khiladi 13' will air on COLORS.IANS16 May 2023

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For the 4th year in a row, France ranks 1st for Foreign Direct Investments in Europe according to EY survey

New Delhi, May 16: The EY Europe Attractiveness Survey was published on May 11, 2023. This annual publication identifies projects for international establishments in Europe, and analyses the perception that economic decision makers have of each country. It measures real and perceived attractiveness, comparing major European economies.

For the 4th year in a row, France ranks 1st for Foreign Direct Investments in Europe according to EY survey

This year, for the fourth time in a row, France confirmed its first place on the European podium in terms of attractiveness, with 1,259 investment projects recorded in 2022. The United Kingdom placed second with 929 recorded projects, followed by Germany with 832 projects. Despite a difficult and complex international context, France demonstrated that its economy is not only resilient, but has also triumphed over it.In parallel, the Business France "2022 Annual Report Foreign investment in France" published yesterday, confirmed these good results, attributing them to the favourable business environment. France is acting on fundamental issues for ensuring the successful establishment of businesses on its territory ready-to-use industrial land, a pool of recognized talent, and the "France 2030" investment plan, which supports the transformation of the economy.Reindustrialization, innovation, and France 2030 PlanFrance tops Europe in manufacturing with 547 identified projects, reaping the benefits of "France 2030" investment plan. Re-industrialization continues, focusing on decarbonization, semi-conductors, healthcare, and electric vehicles. Innovation was ramped up with 144 R and D projects recorded in 2022, and is recognized globally with 64 per cent of foreign investors considering it more attractive than any other European country.Indian Investments in FranceIn 2022, Business France identified 36 new foreign investment projects in France, which included 13 new Indian investments in France, creating and maintaining 257 jobs nationwide. This registers a 21 per cent increase from the previous year. Nearly 80 per cent of the jobs created or maintained are related to R and D and engineering activities.France ranks 3rd as host country for Indian investment projects in Europe, behind UK and Germany. Most investments are related to R and D and engineering activities followed by decision making centres and production activities."Indian investors not only Choose France as a door to the European market but also to benefit from the trust on its open dynamic and innovative economy. France is a go-to destination, for its stable economic and regulatory environment, which is resolutely pro-business and promotes the confidence of Indian investors. Tech and industry giants from India have strengthened their presence in France, benefitting from the rapid deployment of the 'France 2030' plan. This illustrates France's ability to remain a major industrial, innovative, and daring nation that knows how to anticipate current and future transformations," said Eric Fajole, Director of Business France India.One such example of a successful Indian company that has invested in France is L and T Technology Services (LTTS). The engineering subsidiary of the L and T group has opened an engineering and R and D centre in Toulouse. It plans to recruit 50 people within a year and around 100 people within 3 years. This centre will serve the group's customers in the aerospace industry, not only in France but also in Europe. In addition to this L and T has also entered into an Electrolyser Manufacturing Binding Agreement with McPhy Energy a France-based leading electrolyser technology and manufacturing company, for a long-term partnership to explore the opportunities unfolding in the emerging Green Hydrogen market. LTIMindtree, L and T's IT Services subsidiary also has offices in Paris, Toulouse, and Marseille in France."I am delighted that Indian companies increased their investments last year - like TCS with its Pace Port in Paris La Defense, and L and T with its new office in southern France. Companies from India will also mark their strong presence at the upcoming edition of the Choose France Summit on May 15th at the invitation of President Macron. This will include majors like HCL, Tata Sons, Bharti Airtel, Motherson, along with 180+ other CEOs from various global companies," said Emmanuel Lenain, Ambassador of France to India.France and IndiaThis year marks the 25th anniversary of the Indo-French strategic partnership. Both France and India are looking forward to setting ambitious goals for strategic, cultural, scientific, academic, and economic cooperation, including in a wide range of industries.Business France is the national agency supporting the international development of the French economy, responsible for fostering export growth by French businesses, as well as promoting and facilitating international investment in France.It promotes France's companies, business image and nationwide attractiveness as an investment location, and runs a young talent internship program (VIE).Business France has nearly 1,500 personnel, based in France as well as spread in 55 countries across the world, who work with a network of partners.For further information, please visitThis story is provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article.ANI16 May 2023

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Ahead of monsoon, Goa CM holds meeting regarding disaster management

Panaji, May 15: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday held a meeting of the State Disaster Management Authority and discussed several issues to prevent devastation and floods during monsoon.

Ahead of monsoon, Goa CM holds meeting regarding disaster management

Since the last four years, Goa has witnessed floods in many areas causing damages to houses, agriculture areas and electric poles. Taking a lesson from the past incidents, the government on Monday discussed restoration of properties if met with natural calamities."We can't stop natural calamities, but if anything such happens then our team will be alert for restorations of road, power and water supply within 24 hours," Sawant said.He said that taking cue from past incidents, which had hit the state during the monsoon, the government has revamped the strategies."We have discussed the local contingency plan for mass rescue at sea and also about monsoon preparedness. We have human resources ready to tackle any situation and for the restoration of properties," Sawant said.He said that instructions have been given to all departments to work in regards to disaster management. "I also appeal to people to download Sachet national disaster alert app, so they can get the alerts of natural disasters," Sawant said.He said that the roles of all the departments for disaster management have also been discussed.Last year in July, Water Resource Department Minister Subhash Shirodkar had said that floods are caused in coastal state due to climate change, recent rain patterns and other issues."In the last two to three years, due to climate change, recent rain patterns and other issues, floods are taking place. However, we are taking measures," Shirodkar said.Last year, due to incessant rain in Goa, many areas from both the districts of the coastal state had flooded.Shirodkar had said that low lying areas get flooded after excess water is released from dams, but in future, measures in this regard will be taken.IANS16 May 2023

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Gautam Gulati is doing something really big on an international level

Mumbai, May 15: 'Bigg Boss 8' winner and actor Gautam Gulati was recently spotted in London, reportedly shooting for a new project. He said that he is doing something really big on an international level there.

Gautam Gulati is doing 'something really big on an international level'

Gautam, who is currently a co-judge on MTV Roadies season 19 alongside Rhea Chakraborty, Prince Narula and Sonu Sood, is shooting for an international project, marking a significant milestone in his career.While details about the project remain under wraps, the actor is set to captivate audiences globally with his upcoming international project for a web-series.Speaking of his upcoming project, Gautam said "I am doing something really big on an international level in London."He added "It's something really exciting for an equally big and valued channel there. It's a web series, and I'm the only Indian actor on the cast. I am really excited and looking forward to it."IANS16 May 2023

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Promoting cultural exchanges among G-20 countries can help create more vibrant world: MoS Nityanand Rai

New Delhi, May 15: 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.

Promoting cultural exchanges among G-20 countries can help create more vibrant world: MoS Nityanand Rai

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.ANI16 May 2023

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US lenders SVB, Signature Bank execs set to testify before the Senate this week

New York, May 15: The US Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs is holding three hearings this coming week centered around the collapses of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank in March, CNN Business reported.

US lenders SVB, Signature Bank execs set to testify before the Senate this week

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.ANI16 May 2023

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Myanmar declares 17 cyclone-hit townships as natural disaster zone

Yangon, May 15: Myanmar authorities on Monday have declared 17 townships in Rakhine state as a natural disaster-affected area in the wake of the extremely severe cyclonic storm Mocha battering the region, according to a notification released by the State Administration Council (SAC).

Myanmar declares 17 cyclone-hit townships as natural disaster zone

The townships are Kyaukphyu, Manaung, Ramree, Ann, Sittwe, Pauktaw, Ponnagyun, Rathedaung, Gwa, Taungup, Thandwe, Maungtaw, Buthidaung, Kyauktaw, Minbya, Mrauk-U and Myebon, reports Xinhua news agency.According to the notification, the townships were declared as a natural disaster-affected area in accordance with Section 11 of the Natural Disaster Management Law.The declaration was made after cyclone Mocha caused loss of life and property and damage to the environment in Rakhine, and it is believed that there may be difficulties in rapid restoration of normality in the affected area.On Sunday, Mocha hit the coastal areas of Rakhine State, leaving a trail of destruction.The extremely severe cyclonic storm is now moving northwards and northeastwards is forecast to hit Chin State and Magway Region, according to Myanmar's Department of Meteorology and Hydrology.The weather agency also forecast that the storm will cross Sagaing Region as a cyclonic storm on Monday before weakening into a depression.It further warned of heavy rains across the Southeast Asian country in next 24 hours due to cyclone Mocha.The two towns of Chauk and Sinphyukyun in central Magway Region also experienced the heaviest single-day rainfall in 55 years and 50 years, respectively, on Sunday.People have been urged to be aware of heavy rains, landslides and storm surge, the weather agency said.All the fishing boats, trawlers and maritime vessels were already advised to remain in shelter till further notice, it said.Cyclone Mocha came after towns in Myanmar have experienced record-high temperatures amid a scorching heatwave in the past few days.The extremely severe cyclone, which is the first to form in the Bay of Bengal this year, is said to be the strongest to hit the region in recent years.IANS16 May 2023

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Fashion show for special kids hosted at Lucknows at Lulu Mall

Lucknow, May 15: A fashion show for special children was organised here at the Lulu Mall to mark the conclusion of the Lulu Fashion Week.

Fashion show for special kids hosted at Lucknow's at Lulu Mall

Specially-able children won accolades as they walked the ramp, displayed several well-known brands. Special children also surprised everyone with their talent in the event.The students of NIFT, Rae Bareilly also participated in the Lulu Fashion Show and added glamour to the show by showcasing their talent.Along with this, the students of JD Institute of Fashion Lucknow also participated in the Fashion Week event a success.The event was also attended by Femina Miss India 2016 Pankhuri Gidwani who was awarded the Style Icon of the Year. The style icon male award went to Gaurav Prakash, a local businessman.IANS16 May 2023

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Makers plan revival of popular sitcoms Nurse Jackie, Weeds

Washington, May 16: The moment of witnessing classic drama shows 'Nurse Jackie' and 'Weeds' again can be around the corner as the creator has reportedly started.

Makers plan revival of popular sitcoms 'Nurse Jackie', 'Weeds'

According to Deadline, a US-based media house, the Showtime television network plans to bring the iconic shows back. The former showrunner Robert Greenblatt will work closely to seal the deal with the studio.The revival is in the infant stages of development with the original leads, Edie Falco and Mary-Louise Parker, attached to star and executive produce for 'Nurse Jackie'. Reports suggest that the projects are still coming together and deals are being negotiated.As per a report by Deadline, 'The Weeds' would be written and executive produced by Christian Torpe, creator of the famous Danish series 'Rita'. The show will be led by Nancy (Parker) in Copenhagen.The Nurse Jackie follow-up would be written/executive produced by Abe Sylvia and Liz Flahive who were writers-producers on the original series. The concept is still blurry with nothing concrete being finalised yet.The audience won't have to wait for too long to witness the shows on screen again as the makers plan an early 2024 launch, as per deets by the Deadline.The show 'Weeds' follows the story of a widowed mother of two boys, played by actors Hunter Parrish and Alexander Gould, who begins selling marijuana to support her family after her husband's death.The plot of 'Nurse Jackie' revolved around a duplicitous, pill-popping ER nurse and her mom. Jackie Peyton who is addicted to drugs runs the whole show as she tries to manage her personal life with a lot of drama under wraps for the audience.Both of the shows were showered with prestigious awards during their run.ANI16 May 2023

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India bears responsibility of embedding culture work stream within G20 system: Kishan Reddy

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.

India bears responsibility of embedding culture work stream within G20 system: Kishan Reddy

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.IANS16 May 2023

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With all that said, we at the DeFake Project of the Rochester Institute of Technology, the University of Mississippi and Michigan State University, and other researchers are working hard to be able to detect video and audio deepfakes and limit the harm they cause. There are also straightforward and everyday actions that you can take to protect yourself.

For starters, voice phishing, or "vishing," scams like the one described above are the most likely voice deepfakes you might encounter in everyday life, both at work and at home. In 2019, an energy firm was scammed out of $243,000 when criminals simulated the voice of its parent company's boss to order an employee to transfer funds to a supplier. In 2022, people were swindled out of an estimated $11 million by simulated voices, including those of close, personal connections.

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What can you do?

Be mindful of unexpected calls, even from people you know well. This is not to say you need to schedule every call, but it helps to at least email or text message ahead. Also, do not rely on caller ID, since that can be faked, too. For example, if you receive a call from someone claiming to represent your bank, hang up and call the bank directly to confirm the call's legitimacy. Be sure to use the number you have written down, saved in your contacts list or can find on Google.

Additionally, be careful with your personal identifying information, like your Social Security number, home address, birth date, phone number, middle name and even the names of your children and pets. Scammers can use this information to impersonate you to banks, realtors and others, enriching themselves while bankrupting you or destroying your credit.

Here is another piece of advice: Know yourself. Specifically, know your intellectual and emotional biases and vulnerabilities. This is good life advice in general, but it is key to protecting yourself from being manipulated. Scammers typically seek to suss out and then prey on your financial anxieties, your political attachments or other inclinations, whatever those may be.

This alertness is also a decent defense against disinformation using voice deepfakes. Deepfakes can be used to take advantage of your confirmation bias, or what you are inclined to believe about someone.

If you hear an important person, whether from your community or the government, saying something that either seems very uncharacteristic for them or confirms your worst suspicions of them, you would be wise to be wary.

Matthew Wright is a professor of computing security at the Rochester Institute of Technology. He receives funding from the Knight Foundation, the Miami Foundation, the National Science Foundation and the Laboratory for Analytical Sciences related to deepfakes.

Christopher Schwartz is a postdoctoral research associate of computing security at the Rochester Institute of Technology. He is a postdoctoral researcher with the DeFake Project, which receives funding from the Knight Foundation, the Miami Foundation, the National Sciences Foundation and the Laboratory for Analytical Sciences.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. You can find the original article here.
Laos begins to prepare for ASEAN Tourism Forum 2024

Vientiane, May 15: Lao authorities are preparing to host the annual ASEAN Tourism Forum in 2024, which will take place in the Vientiane on next January.

Laos begins to prepare for ASEAN Tourism Forum 2024

The theme of the forum will be "Quality and Responsible Tourism -- Sustaining ASEAN Future", Lao News Agency quoted Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Suanesavanh Vignaket as saying at a meeting to discuss preparations for the event.The forum will include a tourism exhibition, and serves to spur tourism and further service improvement in associated businesses, Xinhua news agency quoted Suanesavanh as saying.Laos previously hosted the ASEAN Tourism Forum in 2004 and 2013.The Lao government is promoting the country's potential as a nature-based tourism destination.Many foreign tourists have visited the Southeast Asian country to explore scenic attractions as well as local lifestyles and traditions.In the first three months of 2023, more than 831,000 foreign tourists came to Laos, compared with just 211,898 overseas visitors in the first six months of 2022 during the Covid-19 pandemic.IANS16 May 2023

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Lt Gen Sharma to be next Chief of Staff of Western Command

Chandigarh, May 15: Lt Gen Devendra Sharma, General Officer Commanding, Vajra Corps, on Monday handed over command of Vajra Corps to Lt Gen Vijay B. Nair. The former will take over as Chief of Staff at Headquarters, Western Command.

Lt Gen Sharma to be next Chief of Staff of Western Command

General Sharma, an alumnus of National Defence Academy and Indian Military Academy, had taken over the command of Vajra Corps on February 10, 2022.In an illustrious career spanning over three decades, the General Officer has held varied and significant command and staff appointments. He has served in diverse operational environments including, counter insurgency along the Line of Control, Operation Rakshak, Operation Vijay and Operation Parakram.He commanded his regiment as part of an independent armoured brigade, a brigade as part of a Strike Corps and an Infantry Division on the western borders.The General officer also has rich instructional and staff experience, including appointments both in operational and administrative domain.During his command of the Vajra Corps, the General officer enhanced the state of operational preparedness by focusing on military training and jointness with other services, as also took measures towards capability building and capacity enhancement.Various specialised military exercises were conducted in all formations of the Vajra Corps to enhance combat potential and operational efficiency. He also enhanced synergy with the Border Security Force.Lt Gen Vijay B. Nair, who has taken over the command of Vajra Corps, is an alumnus of National Defence Academy and Indian Military Acadamy and was commissioned into Punjab Regiment in June 1988.In a distinguished career of over three and half decades, the officer has held many prestigious command and staff appointments.IANS16 May 2023

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I-League 2 Final Round: Ambernath United Atlanta FC host Shillong Lajong in top of table clash

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.

I-League 2 Final Round: Ambernath United Atlanta FC host Shillong Lajong in top of table clash

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.IANS16 May 2023

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Vedanta has best dividend yield among large cap stocks

New Delhi, May 15: Vedanta Ltd. has the best dividend yield in the last 12 months among large cap stocks at 26 per cent.

Vedanta has best dividend yield among large cap stocks

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.IANS16 May 2023

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Sona Comstar, Equipmake sign pact to bring new e-powertrains to cars, buses in India

Gurgaon, May 16: Leading global automotive technology firm Sona BLW Precision Forgings (Sona Comstar) has signed a technology-licensing agreement with Equipmake, a UK-based technology company, that has developed high-performance electric powertrains.

Sona Comstar, Equipmake sign pact to bring new e-powertrains to cars, buses in India

Equipmake's patented technology offers high power density and efficiency with high performance, making it ideal for electric cars, buses, and commercial vehicles, according to a statement from Sona Comstar.Under the agreement, Equipmake will license certain patented spoke motor and inverter technology in the range of 100kW-440 kW to Sona Comstar to manufacture and sell EV Powertrains, subsystems, and components for electric cars, buses, commercial vehicles and off-road vehicles.Sona Comstar will lead the business development and customer sales in India, Thailand and select South Asian countries, while Equipmake will lead the sales in the rest of the world, it added.The homegrown company will exclusively manufacture EV powertrains, sub-systems, and components, based on Equipmake's patented technology, for the target applications exclusively in India and other select markets.Sona Comstar will also manufacture and sell EV powertrains, sub-systems, and components for the target applications to Equipmake and its global customers in other overseas markets, according to the statement. The companies expect the serial production of these systems to commence in 2025.Equipmake specialises in ultra-high performance electric motors, completes EV drivetrains and ultra-fast power electronic systems.CRISIL expects the demand for electric passenger vehicles in India to increase to 25 per cent in 2031-32 (FY32), up from less than 1 per cent in FY22, led by the commercial segment (fleet) due to favourable economics. In absolute numbers, it estimates the electric car market in India to grow from 30,000 units in FY22 to 1.6 million in FY32.CRISIL has projected the penetration of electric buses in India to increase to 11 per cent in FY27 and 21 per cent in FY32, up from 5 per cent in FY22, driven by improving unit economics, government push at state transport undertakings (STU) and environmental, social and governance (ESG) concerns.Sona Comstar is an innovation-led automotive technology company delivering mission-critical systems and components to our customers worldwide, according to the company statement.ANI16 May 2023

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After winning Jalandhar LS bypoll, AAP hikes electricity charges in Punjab

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.

After winning Jalandhar LS bypoll, AAP hikes electricity charges in Punjab

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?"IANS16 May 2023

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Now LoC town in Kashmir being linked to Kanyakumari by train via Delhi

Srinagar, May 16: After creating the first rail link between Baramulla and the rest of the country, which is expected to become operational before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Indian Railways is now working on an ambitious project of providing seamless connectivity between Kanyakumari-the last train station at the southern tip of the Indian subcontinent-and Uri, Kashmir's last township, on the Line of Control (LoC) in northern India.

Now LoC town in Kashmir being linked to Kanyakumari by train via Delhi

Official sources told India Narrative that tenders have now been floated for the engineering survey of a 50 km long rail link between Baramulla and Uri. Northern Railways is planning to start Final Location Survey for Baramulla-Uri line, and proposals are being invited by the Ministry of Railways."Tenders have been floated for engineering survey work of a Railway line using modern survey techniques such as Aerial Survey (Aerial Photogrammetric survey or Aerial LIDAR) and DGPS (Differential Global Positioning System) levelling and creation of DEM," sources said."The rail link connecting India's extreme South and extreme North through Delhi will be historic in the sense that it will make the seamless travel by surface communication between the country's southern and northern tips a reality. Thereafter, one can travel directly 'Kashmir to Kanyakumari'. In Kashmir the last station will be at Uri, close to the LoC," said an official of Northern Railways.The Kaman Post on the LoC, also known as Aman Setu, on Srinagar-Baramulla-Uri-Muzaffarabad Road, is just 10 km from Uri. Until now, with the exception of a trade and travel link between Kashmir and the PoK, Uri has been known for all the wrong reasons. For years, it was a notorious infiltration route on which the Indian and the Pakistani troops traded shelling. Hundreds of militant recruits went across and came in through Uri. Many of them were killed in encounters.As many as 72 infiltrating terrorists were killed in an encounter when JJ Singh-who subsequently rose to the position of the Indian Army chief-was a Commanding Officer of a battalion in Uri in 1992. Brigadier Sridhar of the Indian Army was killed here in an IED blast in March 1995. On 18-19 September, 2016, as many as 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a fidayeen attack on their camp. On 28 September, the Indian troops conducted surgical strikes at terror targets across the LoC.The cross-LoC trade and travel, which had been started through Uri in Kashmir and Chakan Da Bagh in Poonch (Jammu) in 2005-07, suffered a major setback due to the terror attack followed by the Indian retaliation in 2016. However, it was permanently closed after the killing of 40 CRPF personnel in another terror strike near Awantipora, on Srinagar-Jammu highway, on 14 February 2019.On 26 February, 2019, the Indian Air Force jets crossed the LoC and dropped bombs at a terror installation in Balakot, in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.The situation has drastically changed after withdrawal of Jammu and Kashmir's special status and its division into the two separate Union Territories in August 2019. Immediately after the Covid pandemic in 2021-22, Uri was opened for tourists. The Government is now planning to develop Uri into a place of tourist attraction.As of now, there is road connectivity between Srinagar/Baramulla and Uri. Currently the last train station in northern India is at Baramulla. Now the rail connectivity is being extended to Uri through a 50 km track for which the survey will start shortly."The rail link between Kanyakumari, Delhi, Jammu, Srinagar, Baramulla and Uri will remain operational on a 24x7x365 basis. It will hugely benefit not only the large number of the Army and BSF personnel but also Kashmir's fruit traders, common travellers and tourists. Most of the Army and BSF supplies, which currently come through trucks and transport planes, will be routed through goods trains," said an official.The Jammu-Srinagar highway remains disturbed or closed for traffic for several days a year due to landslides caused by inclement weather coupled with massive traffic jams. Even the air link between Srinagar and the rest of the country remains disrupted by snowfall and poor visibility at the Srinagar airport. The rail link and completion of the highway will be a major milestone in the 75-year-long journey of Kashmir's physical integration with India.Currently the only surface lifeline, the 260 km long Jammu-Srinagar road, which is a part of NH-44, is being developed into a 4-lane highway through a large number of tunnels, viaducts, bridges and flyovers. While most of the works have been completed on Srinagar and Jammu side, construction of some tunnels and development of road is underway on the most challenging part between Nashri and Banihal. Efforts are underway to complete and inaugurate this whole project before May 2024.The train currently operates up to Katra on the Jammu side and up to Banihal, from Baramulla, on the Kashmir side. Works are in progress in the most challenging part between Katra and Banihal. This 110 km long track passes through a large number of tunnels and bridges including the one over the Chenab river which has got the distinction of becoming the world's tallest railway bridge.(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)--indianarrativeIANS17 May 2023

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Jamie Foxx back in action after hospitalisation, deets inside

Los Angeles, May 16: Actor Jamie Foxx, who was recently hospitalised following a medical emergency, will soon be hosting a gaming show.

Jamie Foxx back in action after hospitalisation, deets inside

Jamie and his daughter Corinne Foxx announced the update via a statement, Page Six reported."We are thrilled to be developing 'We Are Family' with Jeff Apploff and our friends at FOX Entertainment," the father-daughter duo said in the statement."We hope this show brings as much fun to audiences at home as we've had creating it when it premieres next year."The new series - which is set to premiere sometime in 2024 - will feature celebrities' non-famous relatives performing duets with their famed family member, who is hidden.The 100 contestants will compete to win up to USD 100,000 by correctly guessing who the other mysterious celebrities are.The father-daughter duo previously worked together hosting the music game show "Beat Shazam" for the last five seasons.The "Day Shift" actor, 55, was hospitalized on April 11 for an unspecified "medical complication.""Luckily, due to quick action and great care, he is already on his way to recovery," Corinne shared at the time.Nearly a month later, Corinne, 29, revealed that her dad "has been out of the hospital for weeks, recuperating," via her Instagram Story on May 12."In fact, he was playing pickleball yesterday," she added while thanking his fans and followers for their "prayers and support."The "Ray" star has stayed fairly tight-lipped about the ordeal, but he took to Instagram on May 3 to share his gratitude for his fans."Appreciate all the love!!! Feeling blessed," he wrote.ANI17 May 2023

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Odisha CM flags off maiden flight from Bhubaneswar to Dubai

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.

Odisha CM flags off maiden flight from Bhubaneswar to Dubai

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 iamp; 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.IANS17 May 2023

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Installation at the International Car Forest of the Last Church in Goldfield, Nev. (Photo by April Corbin Girnus)

Policy, politics and progressive commentary

In the arid landscapes that make up Esmeralda County, there is a huge cache of untapped wealth that mining companies are racing to acquire: lithium.

Ralph Keyes, the Chair of the Esmeralda County Board of Commissioners, likens the boom in mining applications to the California Gold Rush in its intensity, scale, and potential for lasting change.

Theres mining companies drilling all over the place looking for lithium right now, Keys said. We dont know what else is gonna pop up.

Developers interest in pulling lithium out of Clayton Valley has only grown since North Carolina headquartered Albemarle Corporations Silver Peak Mine  the only operational lithium mine in the U.S  first started production in the 70s.

I think whoever gets to it first is going to be the winner, he said.

One major contender is the Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project by Australian-based mining developer, Ioneer Corp., which secured a $700 million loan commitment for the project from the U.S. Department of Energy in January.

The mine promises to drastically alter the countys economy, but not quickly enough, and not with the blessing of all who live there.

Esmeralda County is the least populated county in Nevada, a fact reflected by the countys infrastructure and services. The county is built to support the roughly 800 residents who live there, but if the projected 600 construction jobs it will take to build the mine is accurate, the county population could nearly double within a couple of years.

How does a small county with limited resources adapt? asked Keys.

The mine, the largest development project in the county in the last 20 years, will demand significant extra costs to expand law enforcement, emergency services, and solid waste disposal, according to the county. The county would be also burdened by higher maintenance expenses for roads, utilities, and sanitation services.

Relief for taxpayers in Esmeralda County would only come after Ioneer starts paying a small property tax after four years, and the county starts receiving its share of the state net proceeds of minerals tax in later years.

The countys entire budget is roughly $5 million a year, a large portion of which pays for only 50 public employees. Recruiting qualified employees is already difficult due to the countys limited budget.

Representatives for Ioneer said the company regularly engages with county officials and are working on an agreement to mitigate financial hardships on the county. In January, Ioneer CEO Bernard Rowe, sent a letter to the Esmeralda County Commission assuring elected officials that Ioneer would address the countys concerns in parallel to the ongoing federal permitting process.

I assure you that we will continue to work respectfully and transparently with the people of Fish Lake Valley and

Esmeralda County to address the challenges and opportunities that our project will bring to the community, Rowe wrote.

Keys, the commissioner for district 3 in Esmeralda County, called actions by the mining company good gestures but emphasized he hasnt seen any formal or legal commitments.

Theres no commitment there, because they dont have any money to back it up at this time, Keys said. Theres nothing in writing about how they would help.

Im not sure how were going to mitigate those effects. Thats a concern, he continued.

Any significant increase in population may further reduce the countys limited water resources, according to county comments to the Bureau of Land Management in March.

Groundwater levels near the proposed mine have a long-term declining trend, according to the county. Local residents fear their wells may dry due to the large amounts of water needed for the mines construction, said Keys. Some peoples wells have already gone dry due to agricultural pumping, he added.

If it dries up somebodys domestic well for their house, its a problem. Their hydrogeology studies show that that wont happen, but they wont commit to mitigating any negative effect if that does happen, Keys said.

The majority his constituents are united behind the idea of limited growth in order to maintain their existing lifestyles, said Keys.

Our master plan doesnt really work real good with their plans, said Keys. We like the rural nature of our county.

In Esmeralda Countys Fish Lake Valley, Keys said about half of residents are against the project. The mine would be about 13 miles away from the small town of Dyer where retirees and veterans value the quiet and unchanging nature of the desert.

Heavy truck traffic, contractors, RV man camps, and hundreds of mine workers will disrupt that way of life, said Keys

Things dont stay the same all the time, he continued.

Keys emphasized that regionally, the potential growth brought by the mine would benefit surrounding counties, but at the burden of residents in Esmeralda County, including himself.

Still, Keys said he supports the mine. He describes his support as apprehensive, but optimistic. The mine is one of dozens of proposed development projects in the county, with more to come.

I think most people understand its going to be inevitable. Its going to happen if they get their permit, Keys said.

Just over 80% of Nevada land is owned by the federal government  the highest in the U.S. Esmeralda County has the highest percentage of federal land ownership of all Nevada counties. Over 97% of Esmeralda County is controlled and managed by the federal government, and 50% of that public land has patented mining claims.

What they allow on those lands affects us greatly. But we dont have much control of that, like this mining permitting process, we dont have a lot of say about it. Were just trying to mitigate any negative effects, hopefully benefit from the positives. But its mostly of out of our control, Keys said.
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Partly cloudy skies during the morning will give way to cloudy skies and light rain late. High 79F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 48F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Partly cloudy in the morning. Increasing clouds with periods of showers later in the day. High around 80F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy early, then clearing later on. Low 48F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.
At the launching ceremony (Photo: VNA)

This is the first Vietnamese restaurant abroad that has implemented the project.

According to Ms. Kieu Bich Huong, who is in charge of the channel, the project aims to introduce Vietnamese culture and literature, history, tourism, art, and cuisine to overseas Vietnamese and international friends in a closer and more accessible way.

Ms. Phuong Mai, the owner of the restaurant, said she hopes her restaurant will be a cozy space for everyone to enjoy Vietnamese foods and read books about Vietnam.

Diners coming to the restaurant not only enjoy Vietnamese culinary art but also understand the soul of Vietnamese people, she said

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Vietnamese writer Kieu Bich Hau, who is on a trip to Europe to attend some international literary conferences, highly valued the initiative "Vietnamese bookcases in Vietnamese restaurants abroad", saying that this is the first step to open similar bookcases in other restaurants in different countries.

She promised to support the project and called on other sponsors to join hands in expanding Vietnamese bookcases abroad.

Poet Nhu Quynh de Prelle, who is living in Brussels, was very touched when she can contribute her own books to the project. She expressed the hope to introduce more Vietnamese books abroad.

Ronald Clercx, a regular Belgian customer of Pho Sure restaurant, said literary books, especially bilingual ones, will help customers get insights into the country and people of Vietnam.

Through the project, Viet Happiness Station hopes that Vietnamese restaurants abroad will serve as bridges to bring Vietnamese books, especially bilingual ones, to many foreign readers./.
In a recent article published in the journal Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, researchers identify measures that improve alcohol health literacy (AHL) and lower alcohol consumption in Germany.

Study: Improving alcohol health literacy and reducing alcohol consumption: recommendations for Germany. Image Credit: Oleksandra Naumenko / Shutterstock.com

Background

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), two primary determinants of alcohol use are the availability and affordability of alcoholic products. Theoretically, these appear easy to manage by modulating policy; however, practically, these factors require public and political support.

A sustainable reduction of alcohol consumption requires changing an individual's risk perception and social norms, alongside reducing their availability and affordability. For example, increasing awareness that alcohol use is a risk factor for cancer could help increase support for alcohol control policies.

Except for a few countries, most countries have not made significant progress in reducing alcohol consumption and, as a result, often report a high prevalence of alcohol users. Notably, alcohol consumption is highly prevalent in most middle- and high-income countries.

The core AHL attributes, which include the capacity to process and understand knowledge about alcohol content, strengths, units, and harm, could become a vehicle for the sustainable reduction of alcohol use. These characteristics are embedded in social and systemic environments called antecedents, which facilitate or limit the establishment of low-risk alcohol use patterns or abstinence.

About the study

In the current study, the authors searched PubMed using keywords like affordability to derive recommendations for improving AHL. For education, health care, and policy, the researchers invited five experts to review the derived recommendations.

The reviewers rated the recommendations based on their likely impact on AHL and reducing alcohol consumption. Inter-rater agreement was assessed using a two-way intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC).

The researchers chose Germany as a target for the measures to improve AHL for several reasons. While other European countries have implemented strict alcohol control policies to reduce alcohol consumption, Germany has not.

In fact, the per capita alcohol consumption in Germany is above the global and European averages, thereby resulting in substantial alcohol-attributable morbidity. Despite its high financial burden on the German population, general health literacy, including AHL, remains low in Germany, especially among vulnerable groups.

Study findings

A total of 11 recommendations were found to strengthen AHL and reduce alcohol consumption in Germany. Four of these recommendations were related to education and information measures.

'Unplugged', for example, is a school-based alcohol prevention program in Europe that provides knowledge and skills related to AHL in a series of 12 sessions delivered over one year. Another intervention example is Klar bleiben, which translates to stay clear in German, which involves students committing to not engaging in heavy drinking, even occasionally, for nine weeks and discussing alcohol-related topics among themselves.

While such programs critically reflected on alcohol advertising, they must be tailored to formulate appropriate goals, such as delaying the onset of alcohol use for younger people. Furthermore, although these education-based measures effectively raised individual competencies concerning alcohol consumption, they did not have an effect on alcohol consumption.

Alcohol control policy measures, such as alcohol taxes, were found to be most effective in reducing actual alcohol consumption; however, they had a low impact on AHL. The reviewers made study recommendations for Germany; however, these could also apply to other nations, such as Central-Western European countries with similar cultures and economies.

The current study highlighted AHL as a separate entity from alcohol consumption. To this end, programs targeting the enhancement of AHL focus on psychological concepts, like awareness, whereas the assessment of alcohol control policies focuses on alcohol sales and population-level health outcomes. Because these two areas of action operate in solitude, their efficacy is limited.

One reviewed study proposed the importance of increasing public awareness that alcohol is associated with various social and health risks. This educational approach could facilitate the learning of risk awareness skills that could help achieve adherence to stricter alcohol control policies.

Unfortunately, the authors could not find empirical evidence of how these policies interact with education-based awareness measures or whether to combine these two areas of research.

Conclusions

The study findings emphasize the importance of integrating alcohol strategies to sustainably improve AHL and reduce alcohol consumption. Importantly, any measure targeted to reduce the societal alcohol burden should not stigmatize people who consume alcohol or have alcohol use disorders.
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 angina - a 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. 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 surgery - open heart - or stent therapy through a cath lab procedure. Dr. William O'Neill, Director of the Henry Ford Center for Structural Heart Disease

"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 back-;and 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.
The third edition of the BIAL Foundation's international award, the BIAL Award in Biomedicine, is now underway, with nominations open until 30 June. With the amount of 300.000 Euros, this award aims to recognize a work of a broad biomedical nature with exceptional quality and scientific relevance results published within the last ten years.

The winner will be chosen by an independent and international Jury chaired by Ralph Adolphs, Professor of Psychology, Neuroscience and Biology at Caltech (California Institute of Technology). In addition to the president, the Panel includes 12 members appointed by the European Research Council, the Council of Rectors of Portuguese Universities, the European Medical Association, the Scientific Board of the BIAL Foundation, previous winners of the BIAL Award, and editors of the British Medical Journal and the New England Journal of Medicine.

Candidates for this international award may be nominated by members of the Jury, members of the Scientific Board of the BIAL Foundation, previous BIAL Award winners, Scientific Societies, Boards or Deans of Medical Faculties, Heads of leading research institutes, and Boards or Heads of prestigious Academies. Highly qualified researchers may also nominate works, though self-nominations will not be accepted.

Ralph Adolphs, president of the Jury, expressed his high expectations for this new edition: "Given the broad nature of this award, we expect to receive nominations from organized groups of scientists with a wide range of affiliations, including in academia, scientific societies, and research institutes. We hope to receive works of high quality and relevance from scientists from any country around the world and at any stage of their career".

For Luis Portela, chairman of the BIAL Foundation, "this award aims to mobilize the scientific community to share, through nominations, relevant work by researchers from all over the world, with a view to recognizing the most important scientific discoveries in the biomedical field".

In the last edition in 2021, this award distinguished an article published in Nature journal in 2017 focused on the mRNA technology used in Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna's Covid-19 vaccines. The winning team was led by the American scientist Drew Weissman and included, at the time of the article's publication, 36 co-authors from the Universities of Pennsylvania, Duke and Kansas State (USA), Harvard Medical School (USA), National Institutes of Health (USA), Bioqual Inc. (USA), Acuitas Therapeutics (Canada), and BioNTech RNA Pharmaceuticals (Germany).

The BIAL Award in Biomedicine takes place biannually, in odd-numbered years, alternating with the Premio BIAL de Medicina Clinica. It has the patronage of the President of the Portuguese Republic, the Council of Rectors of Portuguese Universities and the European Medical Association.

The Regulation and Nomination Form for the BIAL Award in Biomedicine 2023 are available here.

Prof. Ralph Adolphs, president of the Jury, explains the BIAL Award in Biomedicine 2023 nomination process | Watch the video here.

Prof. Drew Weissman, winner of the 2021 edition, talks about the importance of the BIAL Award in Biomedicine 2023 | Watch the video here.
Irregularities in the body's genetic coding to make proteins are linked to cancerous tumors. But most genetic material contains elements whose function isn't clear.

Could abnormalities in non-coding material also impact a person's health, or even be linked to cancers as well?

A new study by researchers at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine suggests that the non-coding genetic molecules also play a key role in health and disease, including tumor development.

More specifically, they've discovered that these molecules may hold promise for warning of malignancies such as esophageal cancer, where a lack of biomarkers makes it hard to detect and treat tumors early.

"What we wanted to find out," said Kishore Guda, an associate professor at the School of Medicine and lead researcher of the study recently published in the peer-reviewed journal Gastroenterology, "was can we use these as potential biomarkers for developing cancers?"

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) codes for proteins and carries genetic information in all living cells. In cancers, these RNA molecules are not only "turned on," but also appear to be activated in cells that are likely to progress to cancer.

With that knowledge, it may be possible to detect cancers at an early stage-;or even before they become cancer-;making it possible to improve patient outcomes and even survival.

In their study, the researchers performed the first discovery and characterization of a specialized sub-class of what is known as "long intergenic" non-coding RNA molecules in esophageal malignancy.

What they found: A panel of these molecules was also "turned on" in cancer tissues and in pre-malignant tissues (for example, those at a high risk for becoming cancer). And these RNA molecules can be detected in patient biopsy tissues using routine imaging.

Those RNA molecules also seem to inhibit the growth of esophageal cancer cells by regulating other genes potentially involved in cancer development, thus providing new opportunities for therapeutic targeting of these cancers, the authors concluded.

Our study opens a new area of investigation by implicating these RNA molecules as additional players in esophageal cancer. Our goal is to understand how and when these molecules are turned-on during esophageal cancer development, and how they control other genes involved in cancer processes." Kishore Guda, Associate Professor, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University

With this new knowledge, the team hopes to test whether the RNA molecules can be integrated into CWRU's EsoCheck molecular diagnostic panel-;licensed to Lucid Diagnostics-;for detecting cells at a high risk of becoming cancerous.

They also want to test whether blocking the RNA molecules, or blocking the genes controlled by these molecules, might lead to a new treatment strategy for a cancer that is often lethal.
Post-secondary education (PSE) has a potential for improving the IQ of adults with mild intellectual disability (ID), according to a new Bar-Ilan University study.

The study examined the impact of PSE on students with mild ID who study in a university-based program, known as the Empowerment Project, at the Bar-Ilan University Faculty of Education.

The study sample included 24 participants, divided into 12 students with ID who participate in the Empowerment Project and 12 adults with ID with the same background, who did not participate. The results were published in the European Journal of Special Needs Education.

The findings revealed significant IQ improvement among the 12 adults after four-and-a-half years of participation in PSE compared to those with the same intelligence level and lifestyle who did not participate in PSE. Their IQ remained stable.

The Empowerment Project, a first-of its-kind program established by Prof. Hefziba Lifshitz, is based on her Compensation Age Theory, which postulates that chronological age, as opposed to mental age, plays an important role in determining the cognitive ability of adults with intellectual disability. Lifshitz and colleagues at Bar-Ilan University have determined that intelligence in ID individuals reaches its peak at around 40-45 years old, providing a window of opportunity for additional, meaningful education and enabling ID adults to develop and maximize their potential later in life.

The Empowerment Project serves 120 adults with all levels of intellectual disability: mild-moderate as well as severe-profound, providing college-level courses adapted to their needs. The most academically capable students in the program can earn a bachelor's degree. All 12 students participating in this study began their studies in the 2014-2015 academic year.

The Weschler Adult Intelligence Test was administered during the third year of study. A second test was administered four-and-a-half years later. "We know that our project contributes to the improvement of cognitive ability, but I was curious to examine whether it would influence their intelligence," says Prof. Lifshitz. "Among those students studying for a BA, IQ recorded the second time exceeded the cutoff point of the ID definition, which is between 70-75. They reached 80, and some higher. This is an amazing development." Though some more and some less, IQ increased in all of the PSE participants, according to Lifshitz, who conducted the study with Dr. Shoshana Nissim, Dr. Chaya Aminadav, and Prof. Eli Vakil from Bar-Ilan University.

The Empowerment Project is the first in the world to open adapted enrichment college for students with severe-profound ID who require extensive support. Due to physical handicap they cannot attend university in person, so the Project offers courses on-site in their day care centers.

Next month, six of the 120 will become the first group of adults with ID in Israel to fulfill all the academic requirements for a bachelor's degree. It is believed that only three additional ID individuals in the world have received the same degree to date.

Prof. Lifshitz says that in addition to their IQ improvement, their self-esteem is also much higher. This can be seen in how they carry themselves and in their body language. And on the university campus they feel like insiders rather than outsiders.
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 drugs  carvedilol (CVD) and chlorthalidone (CLT).

Their work was made available online on March 22, 2023, and published in Volume 637 of the International Journal of Pharmaceutics on April 25, 2023. 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 time  the 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," highlights 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.
In a recent study published in the journal Eurosurveillance, researchers described how they set up a surveillance system in Wales, United Kingdom (UK), using residual samples from the Welsh Blood Service (WBS) to gather information on community exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). They presented data on the SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence in these donors stratified by time, region of residence, and demography.

Study: Serosurveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Welsh Blood Donors: Establishment of the surveillance system and results up to November 2022. Image Credit: LightField Studios / Shutterstock

Background

Understanding variations in immunity across a geographical region or within a country facilitates targeted public health action. To this end, serosurveillance could help effectively monitor SARS-CoV-2 exposure within a population and identify distinct trends in natural exposure to the virus vs. through vaccination.

About the study

In the present study, researchers collaborated with three organizations to sample and test blood samples collected by the WBS between June 2020 and January 2022 and subsequently analyze data and present the results for feedback from key stakeholders involved in the pandemic response in Wales.

The sampling cohort comprised volunteer blood donors aged 17 years who donated blood to the WBS in Wales between 29 June 2020 and 20 November 2022. The Public Health Wales (PHW) recorded each donor's demographic and clinical information and assigned a donor key to the demographic information to help take repeat donations from an individual.

Identifying repeat donors helped investigate changes in SARS-CoV-2 antibody positivity over time. The WBS also recorded the age, gender, ethnicity, and area of residence of all donors.

The team carried out SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing using the Roche Immunoassay on blood samples that would be discarded as waste products from blood manufacturing at the biochemistry laboratories at Swansea Bay University Health Board (SBUHB) and Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board (CTMUHB).

Earlier, the team tested all samples for antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) antigen. However, for samples taken after 12 April 2021, they also tested for naturally- or vaccine-induced antibodies to the spike (S) antigen.

The positive cut-off index (COI) for the N and S antigens was 1 and 0.8 U/mL, respectively. Samples testing positive for anti-N and anti-S antibodies indicated recent natural SARS-CoV-2 infection, while those positive for anti-S antibodies indicated recent vaccination but no prior infection. Next, the researchers used the e801 platform to locally verify the antibody assays, where they assessed precision by performing replicate measurements on 25 positive and negative patient pools across five days.

Finally, PHW staff retrieved data from the portal, where researchers uploaded data files and aggregated them at four-week intervals to disseminate among all key stakeholders.

Results

In this study, researchers used a low-cost method to acquire blood samples to perform SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing (seroprevalence) for the Welsh population. The anti-N and anti-S antibodies data indicated the cause of seroconversion and provided much-needed information on the distribution of individuals prone to contracting breakthrough infection.

The observed temporal variations in SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence remarkably pointed to SARS-CoV-2 transmission and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine uptake in Wales. For instance, a consistently high prevalence of anti-S antibodies corresponded to high, continuous vaccine uptake in Wales. Likewise, a steep increase in anti-N antibodies coincided with the advent of Omicron in November 2021.

In agreement with previous reports, the authors observed a higher rate of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in young adults acquired from natural infection. Additionally, they evidenced that the rate of antibody waning was lowest in 18 to 24-year-olds and maximum in people aged 70 years. The age-related gap between seropositivity was due to the staggered eligibility for vaccination. Globally, governments initially prioritized older adults for COVID-19 vaccines, anticipating higher morbidity and mortality rates in this vulnerable population.

Due to higher vaccine hesitancy in some ethnic minorities, donors of White ethnicity had a higher seroprevalence of anti-S antibodies than Blacks and Asians. Conversely, they had a higher aggregate prevalence of antibodies due to natural infection than donors of White ethnicity. Notably, only 2% of blood donor samples belonged to people who self-reported as Black or Asian.

On the contrary, a majority (43%) of the sample population lived in South Wales, thus, fully representing the Welsh population concerning residential demography. Further, anti-N antibodies were most prevalent in South Wales and Gwent regions, suggesting the localization of COVID-19 outbreaks to specific postcodes.

Since infection and vaccination histories of repeat donors were unavailable, it is feasible that these individuals could have become re-infected between donations. Thus, the authors could not determine the true seroreversion among these people. They observed that 55% of repeat donors tested negative for N antigen at all study visits, indicating that despite viral transmission peaked several times; yet, many individuals avoided infection.

The observed lower seroconversion rate for anti-N antibodies than anti-S antibodies favored prior findings that anti-N antibodies wane quicker than anti-S antibodies, thus acting as a substitute for re-infection in this study.

Conclusions

To summarize, the proportion of Welsh blood donors with vaccine-induced anti-S antibodies surged over time, and most acquired immunity to SARS-CoV-2 by the end of the study. The percentage of donors with anti-N antibodies due to COVID-19 peaked at 80% by November 2022, indicating high disease transmission. Strikingly, except gender, donor's age, ethnicity, and residence substantially impacted their levels of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.

During the COVID-19-induced pandemic, blood donors-based serosurveillance provided continuous information about population immunity and could continue to do so post-pandemic, which could help policymakers design future public health strategies. This serosurveillance system continues to identify COVID-19 cases despite the discontinuation of free testing for the general population in Wales since June 2022. Furthermore, linking data from serosurveillance systems in Wales to public health databases could help interpret this data.

Nonetheless, the information from this blood donor surveillance system successfully detected temporally-varying seroprevalence of antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 N and S antigens, complimenting other surveillance system's data to provide a complete picture of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wales. Policymakers could use this data to devise mitigation and prevention strategies deploying targeted SARS-CoV-2 testing and COVID-19 vaccination initiatives.
Women who experience more severe hot flashes after menopause are more likely to develop metabolic syndrome and high blood pressure, according to research presented at the 25th European Congress of Endocrinology in Istanbul. The findings of this long-term study highlight the importance of using hormone replacement therapy for menopause in these women.

Metabolic syndrome is a group of three or more conditions that occur together, which increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. These conditions include high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels. After menopause, women are at a higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease.

In this study, researchers from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens examined 825 healthy women aged 40-65 years, who had recently gone through menopause, at Aretaieion University Hospital Athens in Greece. They monitored these women over the course of 15 years, between 2006 and 2021, and found that those with moderate to severe hot flashes were more likely to develop hypertension and metabolic syndrome. Additionally, women who developed hypertension or metabolic syndrome were diagnosed earlier when experiencing more severe hot flashes compared to those who had no or milder cases of hot flashes.

Previous studies have also shown an association between hot flashes and cardiovascular health risk; women experiencing hot flashes have a higher risk of developing different types of conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels. However, this association has never been studied in women with varying degrees of symptoms on such a large scale. "Our long-term study is carefully designed, in which we matched a carefully selected group of women according to the severity of hot flashes and their age, and followed them for up to 15 years," said lead researcher Dr Elena Armeni.

Symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats can start around the time of menopause and can last up to 10 years. However, hormone replacement therapy  medication that contains hormones which the body can no longer make after menopause  can be used to treat menopausal symptoms and protect long-term health, especially in women who have moderate to severe hot flashes.

Our results re-emphasize the role of cardiovascular prevention strategies, such as the use of hormone replacement therapy, which should be implemented shortly after menopause. This healthy group of women who are already candidates for hormone replacement therapy should be encouraged to opt for this treatment." Dr Elena Armeni, Lead Researcher

The researchers are now interested in whether these accumulated health risk factors cause heart conditions. "Our study shows that the most symptomatic women after menopause have more prevalent cardiovascular risk factors, but it is unclear if they are also more likely to develop heart disease, type 2 diabetes, or have a stroke," said Dr Armeni. "If so, women with more disturbing symptoms will require appropriate health education to ensure they will remain fit and healthy in old age."
In a resounding success, Air India Express Limited (AIXL), the low-cost carrier subsidiary of Air India, successfully concluded its roadshow in Mumbai aimed at recruiting pilots. Held on 15th May 2023, the event witnessed an impressive turnout of pilots, surpassing expectations and bolstering the airlines efforts to meet the surging demands of its operations.

Building on the success of similar roadshows in Delhi on May 10th and 11th, 2023, and Bangalore on May 12th and 13th, 2023, AIXL saw approximately 300 pilots actively participate in the rigorous selection process during these events.

With a relentless focus on strengthening its workforce since October last year, AIXL has been targeting vacancies for pilots and cabin crew members. In an impressively short span of time, the airline has successfully recruited over 280 pilots and 250 cabin crew members, solidifying its commitment to excellence.

Also Read: DGCA Slaps Rs 30 Lakh Fine on Air India, Suspends Pilot for Allowing Friend into Cockpit

Expanding its reach beyond the major metropolises of Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, and Chennai, AIXL has been conducting walk-in recruitment drives in other cities and towns, including Imphal, Guwahati, Surat, Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Kochi, Kozhikode, and Mangalore, to cater to aspiring cabin crew candidates.

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The ongoing integration and merger of Air India Express and AirAsia India, another low-cost carrier subsidiary of Air India, marks a significant milestone for the airline. Following Air Indias privatization and acquisition by the Tata Group, an all-encompassing growth and transformation plan has been set in motion. The merged entity, Air India Express Limited, is poised to leverage the combined resources of Air India and the Tata Group, enabling it to serve the rapidly expanding Indian domestic market and the regional short-haul international market to and from India.

The remarkable success of the Mumbai roadshow signifies a bright future for AIXL as it positions itself to excel in the aviation industry, meeting the evolving needs of passengers while upholding its commitment to service excellence.
Windfall Tax on Domestic Crude Oil Reduced to Zero: Stocks such as Oil and Natural Gas Corporation and Oil India  oil exploration and production companies jumped in morning trade on May 16 after the government slashed the windfall tax on crude petroleum exports to nil from Rs 4,100 per tonne.

In this sector, Indian Oil, ONGC and GAIL India gained the most, while Adani Total Gas, Indraprastha Gas and heavyweight Reliance Industries (RIL) were top underperformers. BSE Oil & Gas index overall witnessed a 147 points or 0.8 per cent upside so far in the day.

Meanwhile, the Nifty Oil & Gas index saw a marginal upside of 0.12 per cent to trade at 7,576.80. This index crossed 7,600 mark to touch an intraday high of 7,622.95.

Indian Oil was the top gainer with an upside of 2.03 per cent followed by ONGC and BPCL soaring by 1.5 per cent and 1.3 per cent. Gujarat Gas and HPCL also advanced by 1.2 per cent and 1.1 per cent respectively. GAIL and Petronet LNG surged by nearly a per cent.

In regards to top bears, Adani Total Gas dipped by 5 per cent followed by IGL whose share prices tumbled by 1 per cent.

The windfall tax on crude petroleum has been slashed to nil from Rs 4,100 per tonne, according to a notification issued by the government late on May 15. The waiver will come into effect from today.

Windfall tax, also referred to as the special additional excise duty (SAED), was already nil on aviation turbine fuel (ATF), petrol and diesel. This has been left unchanged.

The decision to waive off the tax on crude petroleum as well was taken at the fortnightly review conducted by the finance ministry. In the previous review meeting held on May 1, the government had reduced the windfall tax on crude petroleum to Rs 4,100 from Rs 6,400 per tonne.

Bhavik Patel, Commodity/Currency analyst Tradebulls Securities, explained that The reason behind slashing the windfall tax to zero was the softening of international oil prices. The tax was calculated every fortnight based on the average oil prices in the previous two weeks and the margins of OMCs that refiners earn on overseas shipments. With WTI trading around $71.50, the government has proposed to slash windfall tax. However, if prices rise in the future along with refining margins, then the government will place a windfall tax according to the calculation based on the average oil price. Oil marketing companies wont have any major impact as the margins (difference between international oil price minus cost) right now is low so any slash in windfall tax will be negligible on the books of the companies. "

Windfall tax was introduced by the government on July 1, 2022, to charge the industry for the large profit it has been earning through the sale of refined crude in the international market. Its quantum is reviewed every fortnight, on the basis of the fluctuations in the international crude rates.

Producers, including state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Vedanta-controlled Cairn, were impacted by the windfall tax on domestic crude.

Rising global crude oil prices are seen as positive for domestic oil producers such as ONGC and Oil India.

In this regard, the central government last year in July began imposing the windfall tax on crude oil producers, and the same was levied on exports of gasoline, diesel and ATF after private refiners were making profits from robust refining margins in overseas markets.

The crude oil prices in international markets are currently hovering around $75 per barrel. On Monday, Brent crude futures rose $1.06, or 1.4 per cent to settle at $75.23 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude settled at $71.11 a barrel, up $1.07, or 1.5 per cent.

Last week, oil benchmarks fell for a fourth consecutive week, the longest streak of weekly declines since September 2022, over fears of a US recession and risks of a historic default on government debt in early June, according to a Reuters report.

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On a year-to-date basis, ONGC shares have gained 10 per cent, while Oil India shares have surged almost 21 per cent. In the last six months, ONGC jumped nearly 17 per cent and Oil India grew by 27 per cent.
* More Chinese youngsters are carrying on the heritage of traditional arts and techniques.

* Traditional arts and techniques help younger generation gain economic benefits.

* Xinjiang takes multiple measures to strengthen the protection and inheritance of its intangible cultural heritage.

URUMQI, May 15 (Xinhua) -- With his target in sight, Zhao Hu pulled the string of a traditional bow. The arrow hit the bull's eye and was followed by a roaring cheer from the audience.

They were cheering not only for Zhao's skill, but also for the bow, hand-made by the 31-year-old archer of Xibe ethnic group.

"I love making bows and arrows, as my hometown has a long tradition of archery," said Zhao, who works as a guide in a museum in Qapqal Xibe Autonomous County of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

A fashion designer, he became fascinated with archery, a tradition of his ethnic group: the Xibe people used bows and arrows as hunting weapons long before archery became a sport.

In 2019, he returned to Qapqal, where many local archers have won medals in major competitions at home and abroad. He started systematically learning from his father Xibe ethnic bow- and arrow-making, which was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2008.

Zhao was not alone.

According to Zhou Qingfu, head of the Chinese National Academy of Arts, an increasing number of young people are carrying on the heritage of traditional arts and techniques.

"The traditional arts and techniques, through which it is viable to gain economic benefits, are highly relevant with activities of the younger generation," he said.

This photo taken via a mobile phone shows Zhao Hu pulling the string of a traditional bow he made in a museum in Qapqal Xibe Autonomous County of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 4, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhao Chenjie)

MAKING XIBE BOW KNOWN TO MORE PEOPLE

Talking about his experience of learning bow- and arrow-making, Zhao said: "keep trying, constantly failing, and progress inch by inch."

The process of making traditional bows is complicated, using more than 10 types of materials and dozens of tools. One needs to go through cutting, grinding, shaping, gluing, painting and other procedures before a bow takes shape.

Zhao noted that in the past, limited by materials, tools and weather conditions, it could take as long as a year to make a bow. Machines and tools have now shortened the production process, but bow-making is still anything but easy.

"Before a bow is made I sometimes have to fail twice," he said, adding that success was gained through experience.

After five years of study, Zhao has become an adept craftsman. He has now taken on another role: a guide of the bow and arrow museum in Qapqal. He started a bow-making workshop inside the museum to give lessons to local primary and middle school students.

"Within a 45-minute session, students can fit together the half-finished parts to produce a bow and try it themselves on the archery field," he said.

This photo taken via a mobile phone shows visitors selecting cultural and creative products in the Xinjiang pavilion during the 2nd China (Wuhan) Culture and Tourism Expo in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, April 20, 2023. (Xinhua)

Gao Juntao, vice president of the federation of literary and art circles in Qapqal, said: "We provide Zhao with a venue to design, produce, perform and exhibit bows and arrows, so that the visitors can thoroughly learn about the Xibe culture."

China has been supporting the establishment of intangible cultural heritage workshops in recent years, a move encouraged by a document jointly released at the end of 2021 by three government departments including the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Xinjiang now boasts 120 regional-level intangible cultural heritage protection and inheritance bases, six Uygur Muqam art inheritance centers, and 10 inheritance centers for other types of art.

DOCUMENTING OLD ART FORMS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS

An iconic form of intangible cultural heritage in Xinjiang is Muqam, which means classical music in the Uygur language. A traditional art of the Uygur ethnic group, it integrates songs, dances, and folk and classical music. In 2005, the Xinjiang Uygur Muqam Arts of China was approved by the UNESCO as a "Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity."

Wang Jiangjiang, 38, has been engaged in documenting and recording intangible cultural heritage in Xinjiang for 13 years. He said it was a predestined fate for him to come to the region from his hometown in Hebei Province, nearly 3,000 km away, to witness Muqam and other cultural features.

Wang Jiangjiang (2nd L) poses for photos with Uygur folk artists in Makit County, Kashgar Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, in October 2021. (Xinhua)

"The first time I heard and watched this impassioned performance, I was fascinated by the unpredictable melody and the passionate performers. Thus, I hoped to learn more about this art," he said.

With curiosity and passion, Wang arrived in southern Xinjiang in 2010, where he befriended local people and learned the Uygur language.

Gradually, he became aware of a problem: most of the video documentaries of Muqam were about group performances, rather than individual artists.

"Without musical scores, people only learned the art orally and seldom could one sing the entire piece," he said. "At the time, most of the Muqam artists in Xinjiang were very old, so I had the idea to 'retain' them through video, pictures and sound."

In 2017, Wang began to document inheritors of intangible cultural heritage in Shache County in Kashgar Prefecture, using video cameras to digitize their art, and recorded 318 folk artists over six months.

"There was only one college student who helped me back then. Now we have a team and have established a studio," he said.

This photo taken via a mobile phone shows Wang Jiangjiang (2nd L, front) and his team recording a performance by Uygur artists in Turpan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 23, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhou Ye)

Starting in 2020, with the support of the regional government, Wang and his team began to re-record Muqam art in a more detailed and in-depth way. Currently, 45 varieties of Muqam and oral biographies of 77 Muqam inheritors have been completed. They have traveled to over 300 villages and towns in Xinjiang and formed a "resume" for Muqam art through videos, photos, sounds and biographies.

Apart from Muqam, Wang and his team are also recording other art forms of intangible cultural heritage in Xinjiang like songs and dances, and have collected the information of over 2,000 folk artists from different ethnic groups.

"The records can provide inspiration for musicians, which could also be used for future generations to study and spread our culture and art," he said.

INJECTING VITALITY INTO TRADITIONAL ARTS

While people like Wang are busy recording the old art forms, some others are injecting vitality to the traditional arts with creative cultural products or livestreaming.

Cui Yang is founder of the Onetone designing firm. Their poster series combining the exhibits from the Museum of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and the 24 traditional Chinese solar terms won a national design award earlier this year.

This aerial photo shows Cui Yang (C, back row), founder of the Onetone designing firm, and his team in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Aug. 26, 2021. (Xinhua)

Cui noted that Onetone has some 30 employees with an average age of 28, while their museum counterpart consists of 12 people, almost all of whom are from the post-90s generation.

"Our cultural relics should not only be preserved in the museums, but also brought to the young people in creative ways, so that they could easily learn the culture behind them and spread them on social media," he said.

Guan Yi who is in charge of the museum's cultural and creative products development, said: "Giving full play to our professional advantages, we excavate stories behind the culture relics."

The museum also hosted various events to bring the intangible cultural heritage to visitors, including shadow puppetry, paper-cutting and calligraphy.

"Trying to revive the ancient people's daily life, this sounds probably romantic to the Chinese people today," said Guan. (Video reporters: Zhang Xiaocheng; video editors: Liu Xiaorui, Zhang Yuhong, Zheng Xin)

Editor: GSY
Infosys, Indias second-largest IT company, has allotted 5.11 lakh shares to eligible employees as an incentive for their contributions to the companys growth. The shares have been allotted under two programmes  the 2015 Stock Incentive Compensation Plan and the Infosys Expanded Stock Ownership Program 2019.

The company has allotted 5,11,862 equity shares on May 12, 2023, pursuant to the exercise of Restricted Stock Units by eligible employees as hereunder: 1,04,335 equity shares under the 2015 Stock Incentive Compensation Plan; 4,07,527 equity shares under the Infosys Expanded Stock Ownership Program 2019," Infosys said in a statement.

On May 12, 2023, Infosys issued and subscribed share capital stands increased to Rs 20,749,373,460 (or Rs 2,074.93 crore) divided into 4,149,874,692 (or nearly 4.15 billion) equity shares of Rs 5 each.

The Infosys Expanded Stock Ownership Program 2019

The purpose of this Plan is to increase shareholder value, by expanding employee ownership of the Company, in order to incentivise, retain and attract key talent through this performance-based stock grant programme.

Those who are eligible include:

1) A permanent employee of the Company (or a Subsidiary of the Company) working in India or out of India, or

2) Directors or directors of any Subsidiary,

but shall not include

1) Any employee who is a Promoter or belongs to the Promoter Group, or

2) Any Independent Directors of the Company (or a Subsidiary of the Company); or

3) Director(s) who either themselves or through a relative or through any body corporate, directly or indirectly, hold more than 10% of the outstanding Shares.

Vesting: The Restricted Stock Units granted under the Plan shall vest based on the following three performance parameters, the relative weightage of which shall be determined by the Administrator provided that each parameter shall have a weightage of at least 25% and no single parameter shall have a weightage of more than 50%:

Lock-in Period: There will be no lock-in period in respect of the Shares received post-exercise of the Award.

The 2015 Stock Incentive Compensation Plan

The purposes of this plan are: Attract, retain and motivate talented and critical employees; Encourage employees to align individual performance with Company objectives; Reward employee performance with ownership in proportion to their contribution; Align employee interest with those of the organisation. The 2011 RSU Plan stands deleted and replaced by the 2015 Incentive Compensation Plan stated herein.

Those who are eligible include:

1) Employees, other than (A) any Employee who is a Promoter or belongs to the Promoter Group or holds 2 per cent or more of the outstanding Shares, or (B) except with the prior approval of the Reserve Bank of India, employees who are the citizens of Bangladesh, Pakistan or Sri Lanka; and

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2) Directors or directors of any holding company or Subsidiary, other than (A) any Independent Directors or (B) Director(s) who either themselves or through a relative or through any body corporate, directly or indirectly, hold more than 10 per cent of the outstanding shares.

In Q4 FY23, Infosys posted a net profit at Rs 6,128 crore, a jump of 7.8 per cent over the year-ago period. Its revenues during January-March 2023 increased 16 per cent to Rs 37,441 crore, compared with Rs 32,276 crore a year ago. The net profit of Infosys had stood at Rs 5,686 crore in the corresponding period last year.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) administered the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET UG 2023) to over 2 million candidates in 499 cities across India, as well as 14 cities outside the country on Sunday, May 7. It is expected that the National Testing Agency will soon release the answer key for the NEET UG 2023. No date has been announced by the NTA for the NEET UG 2023 answer key yet, though some media outlets have suggested that the NEET answer key may be released by the end of the month.

Candidates will be able to download the NEET UG provisional answer key 2023 from the official website- neet.nta.nic.in. The NEET UG provisional answer key will be released along with the recorded responses and the OMR answer sheet. The final answer key will be made based on the suggestions obtained from students and will be put out along with the results by the NTA.

With their NEET 2023 marks, successful candidates will be able to gain admission to top medical colleges for MBBS, BDS, and AAYUSH courses. Check out the top 25 medical colleges in India as per the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2022 ratings.

NIRF 2022 - TOP 25 MEDICAL COLLEGES IN INDIA

Rank 1: AIIMS Delhi

Rank 2: PGMIER, Chandigarh

Rank 3: Christian Medical College, Vellore

Rank 4: National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences, Bangalore

Rank 5: BHU

Rank 6: Jawaharlal Institute of Post-Graduate Medical Education & Research

Rank 7: Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences

Rank 8: Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham

Rank 9: Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram

Rank 10: Kasturba Medical College, Manipal

Rank 11: King George`s Medical University

Rank 12: Madras Medical College & Government General Hospital, Chennai

Rank 13: Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences

Rank 14: St Johns Medical College

Rank 15: Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research

Rank 16: AIIMS Jodhpur

Rank 17: Dr DY Patil Vidyapeeth

Rank 18: Siksha `O` Anusandhan

Rank 19: Vardhman Mahavir Medical College & Safdarjung Hospital

Rank 20: SRM IST

Rank 21: Institute of Post-Graduate Medical Education & Research

Rank 22: AMU

Rank 23: Maulana Azad Medical College

Rank 24: Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences

Rank 25: Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences

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NEET cut-offs are divided into two categories: qualifying cut-offs and admission cut-offs. The qualifying cut-off is the lowest mark an examinee must achieve in order to pass the admission exam. The admission cut-off, on the other hand, is the last rank at which admission is given.

The general difficulty level for the NEET UG this year, according to students, ranged from easy to moderate. In terms of difficulty, botany was considered the easiest subject, which was followed by zoology. Physics was also classified as easy to moderately tough. Overall, the 2023 NEET UG was deemed to be slightly simpler than NEET UG 2022. Chemistry was deemed to be slightly more difficult than the previous year.
The UPSC exams, known for their rigorous selection process, serve as the gateway to some of the most coveted positions in the Indian bureaucracy, including the esteemed Indian Administrative Service (IAS). Each year, thousands of hopeful candidates from diverse academic backgrounds and regions across the country take these exams in pursuit of their dreams of serving the nation.

However, despite the overwhelming number of applicants, the limited number of seats available (180 seats only) for the IAS has sparked debates and discussions regarding the reasons behind this disparity. Several factors are believed to contribute to the low number of successful candidates each year but the main reason behind the same has been explored below.

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A few months ago, the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh informed the Lok Sabha that a total of 3,393 posts of Civil Services Officers are currently vacant across the country. This includes 1,472 posts in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), 864 posts in the Indian Police Service (IPS) and 1,057 posts in the Indian Forest Service (IFS). However, he revealed that at present 6,789 posts of IAS officers, 4,984 posts of IPS officers and 3,191 posts of IFS officers have been approved. Whereas, at present, the number of existing IAS officers across the country is 5,317, the number of IPS officers is 4,120 and the number of IFS officers is 2,134.

Despite a large number of vacancies, the number of vacancies approved for IAS every year remains at 180 for one reason- the Baswan Committee (2016 report) thinks that the quality of administrative service might be compromised. Moreover, the selection of more than 180 candidates will also be more than the capacity of Lal Bahadur Shastri Administrative Academy (LBSNAA), Mussoorie. The Union Minister had earlier informed that if more candidates are selected then the career pyramid of IAS officers will also deteriorate, and the biggest impact will be on the officers holding senior positions in the Government of India.
Doddalahalli Kempegowda Shivakumar (DKS), elected recently as an MLA for the eighth time in Karnataka and in the fight for the post of the Karnataka Chief Minister, is a bold, passionate, skillful strategist known for his assiduous grassroots management and strong financial muscle, as well as his emotional side.

ALSO READ | Karnataka CM News LIVE HERE

Hailing from the influential Vokkaliga community and backed by solid financial resources, Shivakumar has made no bones of his aspiration to assume the role of the chief minister. To establish himself as a leader with statewide influence, he extensively travelled throughout Karnataka and orchestrated protests against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) since assuming his current position as the Karnataka Congress chief. His strategy to get to the coveted post has been on track.

Shivakumar engaged Naresh Arora of DesignBox to strategize and plan the 2023 assembly polls, while, along with his MP brother D K Suresh, meticulously planning and engaging in creating a positive image for the Congress in Karnataka.

Congress sources say the PR team had, after several surveys, indicated that the Congress would win 140 seats.

Shivakumars value in Congress lies in his remarkable talent for resource mobilisation within the party, exceptional organisational abilities and his unwavering loyalty to the party and the Gandhis.

HIS RISE AS TIGER OF SATHANUR

DKS started as a student leader, rose through the ranks, and became a junior minister in the S Bangarappa government in 1990. In 1985, he challenged H.D. Deve Gowda, the Karnataka heavyweight who went to be the prime minister, from Sathanur. Shivakumar lost, but Deve Gowda retained his other seat, Holenarsipura, and the Congress leader won the Sathanur by-election.

He fought Deve Gowda again in 1989 from Kanakapura and lost. Then, in 1994, he was defeated by the leaders son, HD Kumaraswamy, in Sathanur.

In 1999, Shivakumar was the Man Friday for Karnataka Congress chief and Deve Gowdas arch-rival SM Krishna, who led the Congress back to power.

ALSO READ | Karnataka CM Suspense: Not Discussed Anything, Left It to High Command, Shivakumar Tells News18

Shivakumar used his political acumen to gain control over Bengaluru rural, and then got Kanakapura back from Kumaraswamy in 2004, earning him the title Tiger of Sathanur.

Shivakumar is feared by political opponents because he never hesitates to use money, power or emotions to win hearts as well as loyalty.

CONGRESSS TROUBLESHOOTER

This popular Congress troubleshooter is known for fighting off alleged poaching attempts by the BJP in Maharashtra and Rajasthan and is often the Congress high commands last resort.

In 2002, when Maharashtra CM Vilasrao Deshmukh of the Congress was facing a no-confidence motion, Shivakumar hosted the entire Congress legislators contingent at a resort on Bengalurus outskirts. After a week, they were safely shepherded back to Mumbai for the trust vote, which Deshmukh won.

In 2017, when Congress strongman Ahmed Patel fought then BJP chief Amit Shah for a Rajya Sabha seat from Gujarat, Shivakumar hosted 44 party MLAs. Patel won his seat, but Shivakumar, by then, had been raided by the Income Tax department.

In May 2018, the incumbent Congress in Karnataka had won 78 of the 224 seats, while the BJP had won 103 MLAs, 10 short of a majority. The Congress feared its MLAs would be poached by the BJP, while it tried to cobble together an alliance with the JDS.

Acting on a call from the party high command in Delhi, Shivakumar herded the legislators to a resort on the outskirts of Bengaluru. Watching over them like a hawk, he took away their communication devices. The resort was located in his DK Sureshs constituency.

Even after the Congress and JDS formed a coalition government, in January 2019, three Congress MLAs  Anand Singh of Vijayanagara, Nagendra of Ballari Rural and Ramesh Jarkiholi of Gokak  revolted against the Congress and left for Mumbai. They were later joined by 10 others.

Shivakumar shocked political circles when he was seen standing in front of the Mumbai hotel where the MLAs were staying. The MLAs and their BJP hosts realised the danger of letting him speak to them.

As he argued with the police, Shivakumar told the media in front of the hotel: I only have a heart that I have come to extend to my friends. I am not a terrorist I have come to have a cup of tea in the hotel. Even if I were to collapse here without food, I dont care. There is no question of leaving this place till I meet them.

THE EMOTIONAL MAN

DK Shivakumar is an emotional man. When he sheds a tear, it is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of his strength and courage to fight like a tiger, said a close associate of the Karnataka Congress chief, when News18 asked about his struggle to make it to the top post of the Chief Minister of Karnataka.

It is a known fact that Sonia Gandhi holds a special fondness for Shivakumar and he credited her for the Karnataka success and called it his gift to Sonia ji on the day of the results. With tears in his eyes and a quiver in his voice, he spoke of how he cannot forget the day when Sonia Gandhi met him at Tihar jail.

I assured Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi that I will deliver in Karnataka elections. I cannot forget Sonia Gandhi coming to meet me in jail when the BJP put me there. I chose to be in jail than have an office. That is the confidence that the Gandhi family, Congress and the entire country has showed in me," said Shivakumar, whose voice cracked with emotion and tears rolled out of his eyes.

Another instance of Shivakumars emotional connection was when he met with the victims of the Chamarajanagar oxygen shortage that led to the deaths of 24 people in 2021.

The tears of the people of Chamarajanagar dont let me sleep at night. I can see their faces each day in front of me. I will ensure justice is served, said a highly emotional Shivakumar.

Karnataka: Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah and state Congress chief DK Shivakumar today visited Chamarajanagar District Hospital where 24 patients died allegedly due to oxygen shortage yesterday. pic.twitter.com/WICqJZ2nlR ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2021

THE NUMEROLOGY CONNECT: SIX IS THE CHARM

Shivakumar is a staunch believer in numerology and he favours the number six. This, he says, is the number that is ruled by Venus, which attracts power. Shivakumar had announced that the Congress would win 141 seats, one more than the estimate of his strategy team as the number totaled six! The Congress won 136 seats and those close to Shivakumar said the number six may be his lucky charm.

Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar offered prayers at Anjaneya Swami Temple in Bengalurus KR market area, today pic.twitter.com/hGgqtJTI9x ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2023

THE BEARD-O

After spending 50 days in Tihar jail after the Enforcement Directorate arrested him in connection with a Rs 7-crore money-laundering case, DKS had stepped out with a fierce look in his eyes and a beard that he had grown in jail.

I dont shed tears. If at all I do, I tear up seeing the love and affection of people. You have seen how people, including my mother and daughter, were harassed, I will not rest till each one of them who did this to us because of pure vendetta is brought to book. This beard is a reminder of it, said a visibly emotional Shivakumar, who teared up during an interview with this reporter in 2020.

He was pointing out to his daughter appearing before the ED, while his mother and wife were issued summons. They harassed my daughter, Shivakumar repeated to this reporter, while quietly wiping his tears.

He remained steadfast. Sonia Gandhi demonstrated her empathy by visiting him. Although Shivakumar may not possess the same level of influence over his community, the Vokkaligas, as Siddaramaiah does over the Lingayats, his spirited nature captivates the younger members of the party. Moreover, his adept networking skills have played a pivotal role in keeping the party united.

Delhi: Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi leaves from Tihar Jail after meeting Congress leader DK Shivakumar, who is currently lodged in the jail under judicial custody, in connection with a money laundering case. https://t.co/ZWBTDI9UyQ pic.twitter.com/zLGKQDJ9fm ANI (@ANI) October 23, 2019

On one occasion, in an interview with this reporter in 2022, he had said that he will shave off his beard the day he becomes the chief minister of Karnataka.

Well, the beard remains on his chin as the tug of war between Siddaramaiah and him continues.

I allowed this beard to grow in Tihar jail. If this beard has to go and I have to have it off, only you the people of Karnataka can give me that salvation," he had said.

ALSO READ | This Beard I Grew in Jail Reminder of Who Put Me There: DK Shivakumar Dares BSY on Ktaka Bypoll Eve

On the counting day, when the results gave the Congress a thumping victory, Shivakumar trimmed his beard!

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Thats a sign of how happy he was. If the beard has to go, he has to become the CM, said his associate.

When asked about making it to the CM chair, DKS said: One man with courage makes a majority, I have proved itMahatma Gandhiji has been said to be bold in times of adversity. Even when our MLAs left our party, we lost our party, when the MLAs went out, I did not lose heart
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president DK Shivakumar, who is a contender for the Karnataka chief ministers position, in an exclusive chat with News18 called rumour and gossip when asked about the speculation that the Congress high command has already chosen K Siddaramaiah for the top post while he will be offered the Deputy CM chair.

News18 spoke to Shivakumar before he left for New Delhi today to meet the Congress high command.

Gossips, people create gossip. All political parties, media and friends in party also create gossip. I was asked to go there (Delhi) but I couldnt because I had fever. Let us not get carried away with all these gossips, DK Shivakumar told News18.

DK Shivakumars camp says no decision has been made since Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi are not in Delhi.

The Vokkaliga community has been rallying behind DK Shivakumar, asking the Congress to make him the next chief minister. Asked if the community will feel let down if the decision is not in his favour, the Vokkaliga strongman said, I had requested Lingayat, backward class Swami ji, Vokkaliga Swami ji, JDS and even common man to give me a chance. They have given a chance and party will take a call now.

The state Congress president refused to directly comment on Siddaramaiahs claim that he has the support of a majority of MLAs. I dont know numbers. I know we have 135+1 associate member MLA. That is our number. That is the Congress number, not DK Shivakumars number. If anyone wants to claim anything, they can, I dont have any numbers. I have learnt one thing, one man with a courage makes majority. I have been fighting, said Shivakumar.

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The leader also remembered other Congress loyalist and his contribution during their challenging days. Ahmed Patel was a great friend and a leader. He would have been so happy that the Congress has come to power in Karnataka. Even Vilasrao Deshmukh would have enjoyed. His children spoke to me, said DK Shivakumar.

As a parting shot, the Congress state president said he still believes in the line, Loyalty will pay royalty.
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staged a stunning victory in the Karnataka assembly polls by winning 135 out of 224 seats.

Shivakumar, who arrived in Delhi in the morning from Bengaluru, reached Kharges residence a little after 5 pm and held deliberations over the post of chief minister of Karnataka. He left after a 30-minute meeting and did not speak to the media.

Rahul Gandhi met Kharge and discussed government formation in the southern state. He drove to Kharges residence and held a closed-door meeting with the Congress chief for almost an hour and a half. Congress General Secretary Randeep Surjewala, who is in charge of the partys affairs in Karnataka, and AICC general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal were also present at the meeting.

Shivakumar had cancelled his visit to the national capital thrice on Monday citing health issues after he and Siddaramaiah were called by the central leadership for discussions. The Kanakapura MLA, talking to the media on Monday evening said, My health is not permitting me (to go to Delhi). I have a stomach problem, blood pressure, and fever. Tomorrow I will reach.

The three central observers, who interacted with party MLAs on their choice for the CMs post after the Congress Legislature Party meeting on Sunday, briefed Kharge and submitted their report. After the meeting, Surjewala said the party was not in a hurry and would take a decision after wider consultations.

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.

Both the leaders have staked a claim on the chief ministers post and are indulging in hectic lobbying.

Amid various claims about the number of MLAs supporting him and Siddaramaiah for the CMs post, Shivakumar had said that his strength is 135 as under his presidency in Karnataka 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 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 hidden their CM ambitions.

Meanwhile, the BJP is reportedly considering the names of former CM Basavaraj Bommai and former minister R Ashoka for the post of the leader of the opposition and the deputy floor leader in the Karnataka assembly.

The swearing-in ceremony for the chief minister will be held on May 18, to which all like-minded parties will be invited.

In the just-concluded Karnataka assembly polls, the Congress scored a massive victory with 135 seats while the ruling BJP and the JD(S) bagged 66 and 19 seats, respectively.
After glimpses of strained ties with the Congress, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has decided to support the grand old party in regions where it is strong" in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The statement comes in the wake of tense relationship between the Congress and the TMC, even as Banerjee has been approaching regional parties to throw the Bharatiya Janata Party out of power.

Leaders of both the parties were seen openly attacking each other during political campaigns. The ties worsened last year when several Congress leaders joined the Trinamool Congress in Goa, Meghalaya and West Bengal just before state polls.

With the statement on Monday, for the first time, the TMC chief cleared the air on her partys stand on a possible strategy for opposition unity in the electoral battle ahead.

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, too," she told reporters at the state secretariat.

"I am giving you the support in Karnataka, but you are fighting against me every day. That should not be the policy," she said.

Banerjee 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. Wherever a regional party is strong, the BJP cannot put up a fight People are very demoralised, frustrated The economy has already been ruined and democratic rights bulldozed; even wrestlers have not been spared. Therefore, I think whoever is strong in their region, they should fight together," she said.

Citing an example, she said that in Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav (and his Samajwadi Party) should be given priority.

However, I am not saying that Congress should not fight in UP. Let us decide, nothing is in the final stage yet," the CM added.

Congratulating people in Karnataka for their mandate in favour of change, the TMC chief had earlier said that brute authoritarian and majoritarian politics has been vanquished.

She had also forecast that the BJP would lose in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, too, where it faces off with the Congress.

Reaction from Congress Over CM Mamatas Offer

Expressing his displeasure with the TMC chief, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary said that when election campaigning was on, Banerjee didnt appeal for any Congress leaders victory.

She goes to UP, Bihar but did not come to Karnataka where Congress was fighting. And after partys big win in Karnataka, she realised that it is difficult to move ahead without the Congress," Chowdhary added.

#WATCH | Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury reacts to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee's statement that her party will support Congress where it is strong pic.twitter.com/pQiuWWflI9 ANI (@ANI) May 15, 2023

If Sonia ji was not there, you would never have got a chance to capture power in Bengal in 2011. Later you worked to drive out the Congress?" the leader reacted.

On the other hand, Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar welcomed Banerjees statement. Im really happy that today Mamata Banerjee has come out with some statement. It is good for the opposition."

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(With inputs from PTI)
As Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge is holding parlays of meetings to decide the next chief minister of Karnataka, former party chief Rahul Gandhi reached his residence in Delhi on Tuesday to ensure no further political drama" over the government formation in the southern state.

Sources privy to the development told CNN News18 that Rahul Gandhi does not want the political disagreements regarding the CM post in Karnataka to drag on any further and therefore, wants a decision as soon as possible.

Gandhi drove to Kharges residence and held a closed-door meeting with the Congress chief. Congress General Secretary Randeep Surjewala, who is in charge of the partys affairs in Karnataka, was also present at the meeting.

Sources further said Congress chief Kharge will meet Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar- two top contenders for the CM post- separately today.

Then there will be a joint meeting, following which there will be an internal meeting of high command to decide on the Chief Ministerial candidate. The announcement may be delayed till tomorrow," they added.

Earlier on Sunday, Kharge held discussions with party leaders from Karnataka and the three observers appointed by him to oversee the Congress Legislature Party meeting in Bengaluru.

Both Siddaramaiah and state Congress president D K Shivakumar are front runners for the chief ministers post and both are lobbying for it.

While former chief minister Siddaramaiah is in Delhi, Shivakumar cancelled his visit to the national capital on Monday evening citing health issues, fuelling speculations that all is not well in the party.

Shivakumar arrived in the national capital Tuesday afternoon. After arriving at Delhi airport, he did not speak to the media and walked away with folded hands parrying a barrage of questions from reporters.

Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar will hold discussions over government formation in Karnataka.

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In just-concluded Assembly elections, 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.

(With PTI Inputs)
Two frontrunners for the Karnataka CM post- DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah- met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in New Delhi on Tuesday and expressed their views on who should head the government in the state where the party registered a landslide victory in the assembly elections.

According to sources, Shivakumar said he has no problem if Kharge becomes the chief minister. However, he said if he is not given the CM post then he will sit as an MLA in the assembly and he is not open to any other offer.

Shivakumar also informed Kharge about Siddaramaiahs mistakes since 2006, the year when the former CM joined the Congress. Shivakumar said Siddaramaiah was the Leader of the Opposition twice and served a full five-year term as the chief minister.

Since Siddaramaiah has come (joined Congress), he has been in power either as the LoP or as CM so much so that even you could not be CM. If you are becoming CM, I have no objection," Shivakumar told Kharge, as per sources.

He highlighted that he has worked for the party while Siddaramaiah has not contributed to building the organization and has just enjoyed power. In the worst case, Shivakumar said a Dalit should be made the chief minister but not Siddaramaiah.

On the other hand, sources said Siddaramaiah asked Kharge to go by the views of the majority of MLAs. He said whoever enjoys the support is naturally the popular choice.

ALSO READ: Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah Meet Kharge in Delhi As Rahul Gandhi Picks His Choice for Karnataka CM

Siddaramaiah said he is fit for the post and has submitted a list of his achievements during his tenure as the chief minister between 2013 to 2018, sources said.

Ahead of these crucial meetings, Kharge had a discussion with former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi where reportedly the final name for the CM post has been already decided.

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Gandhi has reportedly supported the name of Siddaramaiah for the CM post. The Congress has also thought about the rotational CM post formula to avoid any infighting with the party, reports claimed.

Before meeting Kharge, Shivakumar told the media that the Congress party is his mother and there was no question of his resigning from the organisation. He responded when asked about several media reports claiming that he resigned from the party over CM post-battle.
The participants of Khatron Ke Khiladi 13, including Shiv Thakare, Archana Gautam, Anjum Fakih, Arjit Taneja, and Daisy Shah, among others, have already left for South Africa to film the reality show. They have been sharing numerous photos and videos from their time in the foreign country, giving fans a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes fun. However, it seems that another contestant is set to join them. If reports are to be believed, Abdu Rozik, who gained fame on Bigg Boss 16, might join his close friend Shiv Thakare in Khatron Ke Khiladi 13.

According to ETimes, Abdu Rozik has been approached to join Khatron Ke Khiladi 16. The report states that Abdu is in talks with the makers to fly to shoot for Khatron Ke Khiladi 13 which is being shot in South Africa. The stunt-based reality show is hosted by Rohit Shetty and if everything falls into place, Abdu will join his BFF Shiv Thakare on the reality show.

The social media star has been making impressive strides in his career lately. He has been signing highly profitable brand deals, launching his music, and venturing into the food industry by opening his own restaurant, Burgiir, in Mumbai. The restaurant has already captured the attention of food enthusiasts and has gained quite a following. Recently, even the popular Bollywood actor, Sonu Sood, visited the restaurant and posed for a photo with Abdu, who is the proud owner of the establishment.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Abduroziq Official (@abdu_rozik)

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The upcoming season of Khatron Ke Khiladi boasts a star-studded celebrity lineup, including Shiv Thakare, who gained recognition for his outstanding performance in all tasks during his time on Bigg Boss 16. With his impressive track record, Shiv Thakare is considered one of the top contenders on Khatron Ke Khiladi 13. However, the new seasons challenges are said to be significantly more difficult than those faced on Bigg Boss, raising curiosity among fans about Shiv Thakares abilities to conquer these intensified obstacles.

All the participants left for the show last week and were seen bidding farewell to their families at Mumbai airport before departing for South Africa. Director Rohit Shetty also left India on May 15, capturing the attention of photographers at Mumbai airport. The Khatron Ke Khiladi contestants have already been delighting their fans with an array of behind-the-scenes videos and photos from the shoot.
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)

Editor: GSY
This weeks 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 worlds most serious crises. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has invited South Korea, Australia, India, Brazil, Vietnam, Indonesia, Comoros and the Cook Islands.

Almost eight decades later, as the threat of nuclear weapons resurfaces  this time in Ukraine  survivors of the atomic blasts, known as hibakusha, are pressing G7 leaders to deliver a forceful statement condemning the use of atomic weapons when they meet later this week in Hiroshima, as per a report by the Guardian.

One of the dishes that will be on the menu during the summit is okonomiyaki, which has an interesting history after the Hiroshima bombings.

What is Okonomiyaki?

The local speciality is okonomiyaki, a crepe-like pancake stuffed with everything from cabbage to pork belly slices and noodles. The term translates to baked as you like, implying that the toppings can be tailored to ones liking. A traditional Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki is flavoured with bonito, which is powdered fermented tuna, and slathered with an umami-ish okonomiyaki sauce made with soy sauce, shiitake mushrooms, vinegar, and other ingredients.

According to a Reuters report, Hiroshima has over 800 restaurants that specialise on okonomiyaki. The dish is so well-known that the Okonomiyaki Academy, a trade organisation, has organised a menu featuring variations of this pancake for G7 representatives.

It is Said Okonomiyaki Helped Rebuild Hiroshima

After the atomic explosion of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, starving survivors rescued iron plates and returned to the traditional snack, using massive amounts of wheat supplied by the US, as per a report by the Guardian.

With the addition of pork, cabbage, eggs, and yakisoba noodles, the simple pancake blossomed into something far more gratifying as the city recovered. Hiroshima okonomiyaki (literally cooked as you like") was born.

Restaurants anticipate an increase in business when G7 delegations, journalists, and non-governmental organisations gather in Hiroshima this week.

Okonomiyaki is popular throughout Japan, especially in the Kansai region, which includes Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe, and in Hiroshima, which is about 300 kilometres down the Inland Sea coast from Osaka. However, the Hiroshima region has a unique claim to fame: it boasts more okonomiyaki restaurants per capita than any other location in the country, with over 2,000 in Hiroshima city alone, as per a BBC report. Okonomimura (literally Okonomi Village), located in the heart of downtown Hiroshima, is a four-story maze of more than 25 okonomiyaki restaurants, each with its own twist.

Some restaurants on Miyajima Island, just a 10-minute ferry journey across Hiroshima Bay, provide anagoyaki: okonomiyaki with slices of anago (conger eel), an island speciality.

This whatever you like" attitude also makes okonomiyaki a great dish to create at home, utilising whatever ingredients you have on hand or leftovers from your fridge.

Early Version

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An early prototype of Hiroshimas okonomiyaki appeared before World War II. It was basically a thin pancake topped with green onions and dried fish flakes or shrimp and was known as issen yshoku" (literally: one-coin Western food" or Western food for a penny"), but it proved very popular among youngsters, as per the BBC report.

In the aftermath of the Hiroshima bombing, survivors were forced to make do with whatever food they could find due to severe food shortages. Some resourceful people recovered iron plates from the ruins and used them as makeshift hotplates to cook issen yshoku, their favourite pre-war delight, with flour and whatever else they could get their hands on.
As the Arctics ice-bound ground warms, hazardous compounds may be released across the region, as per reports. Researchers on March 28 wrote in Nature Communications that by the end of the century, the thaw threatens to destabilise structures at over 2,000 industrial sites, such as mines and pipelines, and further jeopardise more than 5,000 already contaminated locations.

These figures are based on the first complete analysis of where Arctic permafrost thaw could discharge industrial contaminants, said a report by Science News. However, there are likely to be even more contaminated sites that we are unaware of, according to permafrost expert Moritz Langer of the Alfred Wegener Institute in Potsdam, Germany. We only see the tip of the iceberg," he told Science News. Toxic compounds emitted from these sites could endanger the health of fish and other species living in Arctic rivers, as well as those who rely on them.

But First, Lets Understand What Permafrost Is

Permafrost is a permanently frozen layer that exists on or beneath the Earths surface. It is made up of dirt, gravel, and sand that is usually held together by ice. For at least two years, permafrost normally persists at or below 0C, as per a report by National Geographic.

Permafrost can be found both on land and beneath the oceans surface. It can be found in locations where the temperature rarely rises above freezing. This indicates that permafrost is common in Arctic locations such as Greenland, Alaska, Russia, China, and Eastern Europe.

The thickness of permafrost can range from one metre (approximately three feet) to more than 1,000 metres (3,281 ft). In the Northern Hemisphere, permafrost spans roughly 22.8 million square kilometres (about 8.8 million square miles). Permafrost is not always the same as frozen ground. A layer of soil that freezes for more than 15 days a year is referred to as seasonally frozen ground." A layer of soil that freezes between one and fifteen days each year is referred to as intermittently frozen ground." Permafrost has been frozen for at least two years.

Why Should You Worry?

As a result of climate change, the Arctic is warming roughly four times faster than the rest of the earth, and up to 65 per cent of the regions permafrost may melt by 2100.

Climate scientist Kimberley Miner of NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., who was not involved in the study, told the Science News this could cause some concern. Miner and her colleagues issued a warning in 2021 that warming Arctic permafrost might spill antibiotic-resistant bacteria, viruses, and radioactive waste from nuclear-testing programmes into the ecosystem.

The Contamination Has Already Begun

Langer and his colleagues initially examined the range of Arctic permafrost and the location of industrial infrastructure to determine where warming could spread industrial pollution. They discovered over 4,500 sites, including oil fields, mines, and abandoned military stations, in areas where permafrost is likely to occur.

The scientists then analysed contamination data from Alaska and Canada  territories with accessible statistics  to discover that the two regions had approximately 3,600 contaminated locations as of January 2021. These include landfills and regions where contaminants were unintentionally released.

The researchers discovered that diesel, petrol and associated petrochemicals account for around half of the pollution recorded in Alaska. Lead, arsenic, and mercury  all dangerous to fish, humans, and other species  were also detected. However, in many situations, the type of pollutant was not specified. Thats a big problem," Langer told the publication, partly because it makes determining the hazards of a specific leak or spill much more difficult.

They discovered that there is already a risk of permafrost eroding at around 1,000 of the known industrial sites and 2,200 to 4,800 of the known and predicted polluted areas.

In a low-emissions scenario with warming of up to 2 degrees Celsius over preindustrial levels by the end of the century, those estimates jump to over 2,100 industrial sites and 5,600 to 10,000 polluted areas. A temperature increase of around 4.3 degrees Celsius would almost certainly affect practically all known and forecast sites.

What Could be Other Consequences of the Melting?

According to scientists, thawing permafrost can have a significant influence on the environment, said a report by the Indian Express. The release of greenhouse gases into the environment is one of its most harmful repercussions. According to a NASA report from 2022, Arctic permafrost alone contains an estimated 1,700 billion metric tonnes of carbon, including methane and carbon dioxide." That is nearly 51 times the amount of carbon emitted by the planet as a result of fossil fuel combustion in 2019."

Furthermore, Plant matter frozen in permafrost does not decay; however, when permafrost thaws, microbes within the dead plant material begin to break down the matter, releasing carbon into the atmosphere," it noted.

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According to the report, current models predict that a pulse of carbon released" from permafrost to the atmosphere will occur within the next hundred years, if not sooner. It is unknown how much carbon will be released from permafrost in the coming years.

According to a 2022 Columbia University study, warming permafrost would release thousands of dormant viruses and germs. Some of them could be new viruses or ancient ones for which humans lack immunity and cures, or diseases that society has eliminated, such as smallpox or Bubonic plague," said the report.
A CSIRO research has established the location of the MV Blythe Star shipwreck, which sank off the coast of Tasmania over 50 years ago. On October 13, 1973, while travelling from Hobart to King Island, the ship began to list to the starboard before taking on water and capsizing.

Ten crew members jumped onto an inflatable life raft and spent nine days at sea in increasing weather before reaching land. At least one crew member died at sea, as per a report by the Guardian.

The remaining nine attempted to walk away from their landing place at Deep Glen Bay on the Forestier Peninsula, and two other crew members died as a result of exhaustion and hypothermia. They were rescued almost two weeks later, on October 26, after a small number of survivors wandered out and reached a road, where they flagged down a passing driver. Despite extensive ocean searches, no trace of the vessel was located for decades.

However, researchers from the CSIRO and the University of Tasmania have discovered the MV Blythe Star wreckage, which is located around 10.5 kilometres west of Tasmanias South West Cape.

Last month, the team was investigating a subsurface landslip when they made the find, utilising mapping data and video photos to determine it was the MV Blythe Star. The wreck was coated with algae and seaweed, and the stern was damaged and the wheelhouse was missing.

Amid the development, lets take a look at some other shipwreck mysteries that are yet to be solved and have intrigued readers for years:

Mary Celeste

The story of the brigantine Mary Celeste has become part of nautical folklore, thanks in great part to a short story written by Dr Arthur Conan Doyle, the author and creator of Sherlock Holmes. On November 7, 1872, the Mary Celeste sailed from New York destined for Genoa with a cargo of alcohol. Dei Gratia, another brigantine on an Atlantic passage, saw her drifting somewhere between the Azores and Portugal on the afternoon of December 5, almost a month later.

Captain Morehouse of the Dei Gratia suspected Captain Briggs of the Mary Celeste of being a good sailor and became suspicious of the boats whereabouts. He dispatched a boarding party to the Mary Celeste, and his crew discovered a deserted ship that was still seaworthy. Captain Morehouse divided his crew and set sail for Gibraltar on the Mary Celeste. Captain Briggs, his wife, child, and the crew of seven have yet to be found. It will never be known whether Briggs abandoned ship due to terrible weather or if there is a more sinister motive for their absence, as per a report by BOAT International.

The boats alcohol load was also undamaged, as were the captains and crews personal possessions. None of the passengers were ever seen or heard from again.

The Carroll A. Deering

The Carroll A. Deering cargo ship and its ten-man crew arrived at Rio de Janeiro in 1920, despite the fact that its original skipper became ill, but something unexpected happened on the route back to Virginia. A lightship keeper in North Carolina stated that a crewman who didnt appear to be an officer reported that the ship had lost her anchors while the rest of the crew was milling about" suspiciously, according to a Readers Digest report.

The next day, another ship observed the Carroll A. Deering near the Outer Banks, which would have been an unusual track for a ship on its way to Norfolk, Virginia. A shipwreck was discovered the next day, but perilous conditions kept investigators away for four days. When they got on board, they found food put out as though they were getting ready for a meal, but the crews personal items and the lifeboats were gone.

The federal authorities pursued leads on pirates, mutinies, and other issues, but all were futile.

Sajo

In early 2016, the body of German sailor Manfred Fritz Bajorat was discovered slumped over the desk of his vessel Sajo. Fishermen discovered the bleak discovery as they boarded the drifting yacht off the coast of Barabo, Surigeo del Sur region, as per a report by BOAT International. Following a post-mortem examination, local police stated that there were no traces of foul play and that Bajorat died of natural causes, possibly a heart attack. His yacht was supposed to have been at sea for months before it was discovered, and the dry, salty conditions on board caused his body to mummify.

High Aim No. 6

The fishing boat High Aim No. 6 left Taiwan on Halloween in 2002, but it wasnt the only ghost on board. Something was wrong when the Australian Navy discovered the ship in January 2003. The engine was running at full power, and the main petrol tank was completely empty, but the auxiliary fuel tanks were still full and undisturbed. Ten tonnes of bonito tuna were kept cold, but there was no personnel to be found.

It was destined to be one of the most enigmatic ghost ships of all time until one of its crew members was discovered. The Indonesian fisherman was apprehended and revealed that the crew had collaborated with pirates to kill the ships captain and senior engineer, but their motive remains unknown, as per the report by Readers Digest.

HMS Resolute

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HMS Resolute was a British Royal Navy ship discovered abandoned and floating in the Canadian Arctic in 1854 off the coast of Baffin Island. She had been despatched to investigate the remains of another lost voyage, Sir John Franklins attempt to find the then-frozen Northwest Passage, but she met a same fate. The crew of the HMS Resolute had abandoned ship after becoming entangled in an ice floe, as per BOAT International.

Those who discovered the ghostly ship in 1855 were faced with an uncanny scene; the captains cabin remained intact, with a teapot, bible and glasses full of spirits on the desk. Captain Kellett, the ships commander, had a British flag draped over his chair. HMS Resolute was eventually rescued and decommissioned in 1879. Her timbers were used to build the Resolute desk, which has been used in the Oval Office by practically every American president since the nineteenth century. Captain Kellett, the ships commander, had a British flag draped over his chair. HMS Resolute was eventually rescued and decommissioned in 1879. Her timbers were used to build the Resolute desk, which has been used in the Oval Office by practically every American president since the nineteenth century.
The death toll in Tamil Nadus 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.

After visiting those being treated at Villupuram government medical college hospital, Chief Minister M K Stalin told reporters here 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.

Calls Against Illegal Liquor

AIADMK 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 here at Mundiyampakkam. Three others were being treated at JIPMER Hospital and another person at Puducherry government hospital.

Stalin said in Chengelpet districts 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.

What Makes Methanol Deadly?

Methanol has been the poison in every hooch disaster in Indias - and the worlds - history since 1945, as per a report by the Wire. Most doctors in most nations incorrectly infer that the culprit is chloral hydrate, and therefore offer ineffective treatments, as per the publication.

James Manor writes for the publication that it is critical that doctors and nurses are made aware that the problem is always methanol, and that the antidote to methanol is ethanol. This may seem unusual, he says, but after consuming lethal methanol, the only effective treatment is to have the victim ingest as much safe alcohol (ethanol) as possible. This is because ethanol successfully competes with methanol for an enzyme in the body that breaks down methanol into numerous components, including formaldehyde, which kills, blinds, and cripples individuals. If ethanol is consumed, the methanol will not degrade and will travel through the body safely.

Many lives would be spared, and horrific injuries would be avoided, if every doctor and nurse in India understood nine crucial words, as per Manor: the poison is methanol, and the antidote is ethanol.

Tamil Nadus Alcohol Problem

According to a Crisil survey, the state leads in alcohol use, accounting for 13% of overall alcohol consumption in the country, as per a Hindu report. The Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation, or TASMAC, controls all spirits sales and sells 1,60,000 cases of IMFL and 90,000 cases of beer per day. (IMFL, or Indian Made Foreign Liquor, refers to all hard alcohol, including whisky, brandy, rum, gin and vodka.)

Despite the fact that alcoholism is a huge social problem, the conditions under which alcohol is supplied and consumed at government-controlled shops are dismal, with no dignity afforded to either customers or personnel, the report argues.

Given the low pay and poor working conditions, corruption and malpractice are common at the stores. The sales crew engages in a variety of illicit acts, including overcharging customers, incorrect billing, and alcohol dilution. Selling cuttings, slang for spirits sold by the peg rather than in sealed bottles, is a frequent side hustle, as per the report.

History

It was in Salem district of Tamil Nadu in 1937 that the Congress government of C. Rajagopalachari imposed prohibition, a first in the country. It was extended across the state in 1948 immediately after Independence.

This prohibition in Tamil Nadu continued with Kamaraj at the helm of affairs in the state.

The Madras Abkari Act was introduced in 1886 that placed strict regulations and banned the sale of local liquor. This British policy helped the sale of foreign liquor instead of desi beverages.

The DMK government led by party ideologue M. Karunanidhi, lifted the ban in 1971 citing revenue loss without a nationwide ban, and allowed the sale of arrack and toddy  the desi drinks. However, Karunanidhi had to stop the sale of toddy and arrack in 1974.

The ban on arrack and toddy led to the manufacturing of spurious drinks and methanol, the industrial alcohol, was widely used leading to several deaths in the state in 1975-76. The sale of liquor and toddy was later reintroduced in the state by matinee idol turned chief minister, M. G. Ramachandran ( MGR) when he was catapulted to power as an AIADMK leader in 1981.

MGR even reduced the age for securing a liquor permit for foreign liquor consumption from 45 years to 30 years. In 1981 finance minister V.R. Nedunchezhiyan further reduced the age to 25.

In 1983, the state government under MGR, set up the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac), and the sale of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and arrack were brought under it. Six years after the sale of arrack and toddy began, the MGR government banned local drinks on January 1, 1987, as per a 2022 report by IANS.

Politicians of all hues while in power in Tamil Nadu justify the sale of liquor saying that the revenue generated through huge taxation on liquor is being used to support social welfare schemes that have led to a robust social index for the state.

Gandhian activist M. Idiyanarayanan told IANS: It is a wrong theory that you sell liquor, make money by charging the tipplers heavily and use this money for welfare schemes."

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Welfare is a state subject and the money for that must not be generated through liquor; instead, policymakers must look to other avenues for raising money. Liquor is evil and the government must refrain from generating funds through liquor sales, creating disharmony in the society."

With inputs from PTI, IANS
Turkeys presidential elections appeared headed for a runoff Monday, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pulling ahead of his chief challenger, but falling short of an outright victory that would extend his increasingly authoritarian rule into a third decade.

The vote was being closely watched to see if the strategically located NATO country  which has a coast on the Black Sea to the north, and neighbors Iran, Iraq and Syria to the south  remains under the presidents firm grip or can embark on a more democratic course envisioned by his main rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu.

While Erdogan has been in power for 20 years, opinion polls had shown that his reign may be coming to an end due to economic turbulence, a cost-of-living issue, and criticism of the governments response to the February earthquake that killed more than 50,000 people.

Western nations and foreign investors were particularly interested in the outcome because to Erdogans unconventional economic leadership and often temperamental but effective efforts to place Turkey at the centre of international negotiations, including in Ukraine.

With almost all ballots counted on Monday morning, Erdogan led with 49.42 percent of the vote to Kilicdaroglus 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. Erdogans Islamic-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its far-right allies were also close to an outright majority in Sundays parliamentary elections.

The lira fell against the euro as traders digested with apprehension the increased likelihood of Erdogans unconventional economic policies continuing.

Why is Turkey Result Important to the Rest of the World?

Turkey is important to the world because of its location as well as its role as a strong economic and military power. Turkey is bordered by Syria and Iran, divided from Russia and Ukraine by the Black Sea, and surrounded by the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas. It controls the Bosphorus Strait, which is the sole way for Russia and Ukraine, among other countries, to access the Mediterranean Sea and hence the majority of the world by sea, as per a report by Indian Express.

Turkey is unique in that it possesses territories in both Asia and Europe. It is a NATO member with the second-largest standing army in the world, yet Erdogan is friendly with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Turkey is a buffer between the West and the upheaval in the Middle East, absorbing refugees and providing as a military base when necessary, as well as an ally because it is a stable democracy in an uncertain region.

Democracy is eroding under Erdogan, as per the report. and relations with the United States and the European Union are deteriorating. However, he remains an important collaborator, with the Russia-Ukraine conflict and his access to Putin adding to his clout.

The Russia Factor

Russia, too, has a lot riding on the outcome of the election, as per a report by New York Times. Turkey has been Russias crucial commercial partner and, at times, diplomatic middleman under Erdogan, a connection that has grown even more important for the Kremlin since the invasion of Ukraine.

Erdogan has followed a nonaligned foreign strategy that has frequently angered his purported Western partners while providing a welcome diplomatic opportunity for Moscow  maybe never more so than following Russias invasion of Ukraine, the report argues. Erdogan has hampered efforts to isolate the Kremlin and deprive it of finances to fund the war by refusing to execute Western sanctions against Moscow. At the same time, the faltering Turkish economy has recently feasted on substantially discounted Russian oil, aiding Erdogans bid for a third five-year term.

Erdogan has annoyed his friends even more by obstructing Swedens NATO membership quest, demanding that Stockholm first turn over scores of Kurdish refugees in the country, particularly from the Kurdistan Workers Party, which both Ankara and Washington consider a terrorist organisation.

Of course, NATO hopes that a change in leadership in Turkey will end the deadlock over Swedens membership in the military alliance, hopefully before the July summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.

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Erdogans march towards authoritarianism, ties to Russian President Vladimir V. Putin, and disagreements with NATO have irritated officials in Washington, prompting some members of Congress to demand that Turkey be expelled from the NATO alliance.

New York Times, Associated Press contributed to this report
At least nine people were killed and several injured after an explosion at an illegal firecracker unit located in Egra block in Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal on Tuesday.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced ex gratia of Rs 2.5 lakh for the families of the deceased. She said the owner of this illegal firecracker factory was arrested earlier but he got bail.

Responding to the opposition Bharatiya Janata Partys National Investigation Agency probe into the blast, Banerjee said she does not have a problem with the NIA but the matter should not be politicised.

State Environment Minister Manas Ranjan Bhunia confirmed the explosion and said that the government would take steps to provide help to people affected. We appeal to people to inform us of any illegal firecracker factories that they know of in their area we will take strong steps against such units," he said.

A police official said the impact of the explosion was so massive" that the factory, which was being run from a residential building, collapsed. It took place inside a house where the firecracker unit was functioning. An investigation is underway," the police officer added.

Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari demanded the NIA probe into the blast and sought the intervention of Home Minister Amit Shah and Governor CV Ananda Bose. Adhikari said central forces should be deployed as dead bodies are being shifted illegally by West Bengal Police.

Huge explosion in Sahara ( ) Village in Egra; Purba Medinipur, at the local Regional Tola-Mool Party" leader - Krishnapada Bags (alias Bhanu) house.I am receiving news from the ground that the number of casualties is enormous. Immediately Central Forces should be pic.twitter.com/WpWnVR3PXj  Suvendu Adhikari    (@SuvenduWB) May 16, 2023

This is the IC of Egra; Mr. Mousam Chakraborty.He is the one to be blamed for todays horrific incident. The Mamata Police cadre was on the payroll of the perpetrator Krishnapada Bag.Mamata Police personnel Surajit Sinha & Biswajit Maity acted as emissary between the two. They pic.twitter.com/sXwru24OGi Suvendu Adhikari    (@SuvenduWB) May 16, 2023

Villagers told PTI that the entire house looked like a war zone".

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(With PTI inputs)
The Tamil Nadu government told the Supreme Court that the makers of The Kerala Story have made a false statement that the state has brought shadow ban on screening of the film.

The government elaborated that the petitioners (makers of Kerala Story) have made deliberate misleading statements (i) that the State has brought about a shadow or implicit ban" on the screening of the film by halting screening in theatres;

(ii) not permitting full release of the film

(iii) informally signaling the theatre owners that State will not support in case of any untoward incident

MISLEADING STATEMENTS BY FILMMAKERS MUST BE DISMISSED: TN GOVT TO SC

The Tamil Nadu government said that these deliberate false and misleading statements have been made with a clear view to seek undue benefit of extraordinary jurisdiction under Article 32 of this Honble Court. Even on this count, this petition deserves to be dismissed as the petitioner has not approached this Honble Court with clean hands, it said.

ADEQUATE SECURITY GIVEN TO CINEMAS THAT SCREENED FILM: TN GOVT TO SUPREME COURT

Furthermore, on May 5, the Director General of Police / Head of the Police Force (Tamil Nadu) issued instructions to all the Commissioners of Police and District Superintendents of Police in the State to provide adequate security and protection to every cinema hall that had screened the film.

The state government claimed to have made adequate arrangements for security to facilitate the screening of the film, and to ensure that the theatre owners, viewers and the audience are not endangered. Over 965 police personnel, including 25 DSPs, were posted for the protection of the 21 movie theatres which had screened the film.

AGITATIONS & PICKETING HAPPENED AT 19 PLACES BY OUTFITS OF A MINORITY GROUP, 7 CASES REGISTERED: TN GOVT TO SC

The government told the top court that the demonstrations, agitations and picketing were staged in 19 places by various Muslim organizations. On May 6, demonstrations were held at seven places in Chennai and Coimbatore. A total of nine cases, five in Chennai and four cases in Coimbatore were registered against the protesters.

FILM REMOVED FROM MULTIPLEXES DUE TO POOR RESPONSE: TN GOVT TO SC

In its petition to the apex court, the government submitted that the adequate police protection provided by the state allowed and facilitated the theatre owners to screen the film throughout the state on May 5 and 6 despite backlash from certain Muslim organisations. However, owing to the lack of reception from the general public, theatre and multiplex owners of the state decided to stop exhibiting the film from May 7.

It is respectfully submitted that amidst/despite objections and protests against its release from a few Muslim organizations, the film was released in 19 multiplexes throughout the state of Tamil Nadu on May 5.

In view of the inputs received from reliable sources, the state intelligence on April 26 and May 3, issued alerts to the Superintendents of Police in the districts and Commissioners of Police in the cities for keeping a close vigil on the law and order situation in the state, and ensuring maintenance of the same in the wake of the scheduled release of the film, the government said.

This was done to facilitate and ensure smooth release and public exhibition of the film, and prevent any potential harm to the owners of theatres and multiplexes, and their properties.

The government told the court that the Film was heavily criticized after its release, with some Muslim organizations alleging that the film spreads anti-Muslim hate" and Islamophobia" among the common public, and has been produced solely with the intent to polarize other religions against Muslims.

PETITIONERS MADE FALSE ALLEGATIONS WITH MOTIVATED INTENTIONS TO SEEK PUBLICITY: TN GOVT TO SC

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It is submitted that motivated by malafide intentions and in an attempt to seek publicity, the Petitioners have made false and sweeping allegations against the Respondent No.4 (TN Govt), despite the fact that the State of Tamil Nadu is discharging its positive obligation to create and maintain conditions in which the Film can be screened, the government told the Supreme Court.

It further said that the exhibitors have themselves stopped the screening of the movie due to the poor audience response and the government cannot do anything to increase the audience patronage for the said film, except to provide security to the cinema theatres.
More than three months after doctor Atul Chag allegedly hanged himself inside his room in his hospital in Veraval town of Gujarats Gir Somnath district, police have booked BJP MP Rajesh Chudasama and his father on charges of abetment to suicide and criminal intimidation.

The case against Junagadh Lok Sabha member Chudasama and his father Naranbhai comes around three weeks after the Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel-led government told the Gujarat High Court that it would register an FIR in connection with physician doctors alleged suicide.

No arrest has been made in the case yet, the official said.

Dr Chag, an MD, was a well-known doctor in the Veraval region. He was found hanging from a ceiling fan at his home in Veraval town on February 12. After his death, police found a one-line note blaming the MP and his father.

The FIR was registered on a complaint by the victims son Hitarth Chag.

When the police refused to register a case against Chudasama and his father based on the suicide" note, Hitarth filed a contempt petition in the Gujarat High Court seeking action against the cops.

However, the HC dismissed the petition earlier this month.

It was not immediately known what prompted the police to register the FIR now.

The FIR has been filed under Indian Penal Code sections 306 (abetment to suicide) and 506-2 (criminal intimidation) on Monday against the father-son duo, Veraval city police stations inspector S M Israni said.

As per the FIR, the MP and his father had a close relationship with Dr Chag for the last 20 years and the duo borrowed nearly Rs 1.75 crore from the doctor in instalments since 2008 by winning his trust. They allegedly gave Dr Chag a few cheques.

However, when the MP and his father stopped responding to Dr Chags repeated requests to return the money, the latter deposited one of the cheques of Rs 90 lakh in a bank, but it was dishonoured.

Days before Dr Chags suicide, the duo allegedly abused him verbally and also threatened to kill Hitarth for demanding the money back, the FIR said.

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The threat and the thought of losing money deeply upset the doctor, who took the extreme step out of shock and fear, the FIR added.

(With PTI Inputs)
Driven by the Supreme Court to monitor unnecessary hysterectomies, the central government has asked all states and union territories to share data on the number of such procedures performed.

Last month, the Supreme Court had directed all states and UTs to implement guidelines formulated by the Centre to monitor unnecessary hysterectomies within three months. Hysterectomy is a surgical procedure to remove a uterus and it gained attention as several healthcare institutions were found to be misusing the procedure only to claim high insurance fees from governments under various health insurance schemes.

According to a letter written by health secretary Rajesh Bhushan, the issue of hysterectomies is being closely monitored by the ministry of health and family welfare. The matter is regarding the prevention of unnecessary and often unjustified hysterectomies performed by certain medical institutions, Bhushan said in a letter sent to health and principal secretaries of all states and UTs.

The states are requested to share the hysterectomy status and data before and after the implementation of these guidelines, the letter said. They are also advised to undertake compulsory audits for all hysterectomies, as is already being done for maternal mortality in all healthcare institutions  both public and private.

When the SC gave its directions last month, a bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice JB Pardiwala had disposed of a PIL and noted that the actual picture of such hysterectomies performed will be visible only after data is available.

What forced India to create guidelines?

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In 2022, the health ministry had issued Guidelines to prevent unnecessary hysterectomies, and states were asked to comply with them. According to a copy of the judgement, the guidelines indicate that while in developed countries hysterectomies are typically conducted among premenopausal women above the age of 45 years, in India, community-based studies have consistently found rising hysterectomy rates among young women, ranging from 28 to 36 years old.

Field-based studies have indicated that unnecessary hysterectomies are performed in cases where medical or non-invasive treatment would have been sufficient. The evidence indicates a higher risk among poor, less educated women, particularly in rural areas, the judgement stated.
The Madhya Pradesh anti-terror squad and central agencies unearthed a new module of radicals, which has an uncanny resemblance with the ideology and modus operandi of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI). The group calls itself Hizb ut-Tahrir and its ultimate goal is overthrowing democracy and establishing the Caliphate.

A total of 16 people were arrested last week for allegedly conspiring to carry out an act of sabotage. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) could soon take over the investigation in the case due to links of this Bhopal group to Hyderabad and other parts of India. The MP government has formed a special investigation team (SIT) to look into terror links of the arrested suspects.

The moot point about the group is its funding. We suspect the funds were coming in from outside the country, which a central agency can best investigate," an officer said.

Police seized digital devices in which they reportedly found videos and literature about the workings of the Hizb ut-Tahrir (HuT). They planned to implement their ultimate objective of establishing the Caliphate in four stages: motivate people to join the movement; make people owe allegiance to the HuT; carry out violent struggle; and establish the Caliphate. We have evidence to prove that they were working towards the third stage when arrested, a Madhya Pradesh police officer told CNN-News18.

The PFI, too, in its 2047 vision document had stated a four-step goal to ultimately establish Islamic rule in India. We have given ourselves a target of 2047 CE to bring about an Islamic government in this country, the PFI document states.

According to the PFI document, the four stages of progression were: unite all Indian Muslims under the flag of the Popular Front of India; mass mobilisation under the leadership of PFI and use violence selectively to demonstrate PFI strength and terrorise opponents; win elections and fill all governance, judicial positions with PFI affiliates; and declare a new Constitution based on Islamic principles.

The HuT cadre carried out a similar kind of physical and arms training as PFI, said an official connected with the probe, adding, special care was taken to cover their faces when training videos were recorded.

Officials said this masking of identity was meant to protect suspects in case any link with the PFI was established. Use of apps like Threema, Rocket Chat, and the dark web for communication is also similar to the strategy used by other terror groups, police added.

Is the HuT the new PFI?

The HuT is a Middle East-based organisation founded in 1952 at Jerusalem. Its presence has been noted in Europe, Central Asia, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Its only known activity in India is a protest against Israel in Delhis Bata House area 13 years ago.

Officials further said HuT members in India earlier called themselves Tehreek-e-Khilafat. We have been monitoring this group over the past two to three years, an officer said, adding that since the HuT was active before the PFI was banned, it was unlikely that it was regrouping under a different name.

Intelligence agencies, however, are not ruling out the role of SIMI (Students Islamic Movement of India) sleeper cells, which aided the PFI as well. The base cadre could be that of the SIMI, which was born in Madhya Pradesh and regrouped as the Indian Mujahideen (IM) after a ban, and also provided a cadre base to the PFI in several states, an official told News18.

Religious conversion

Saleem, the alleged mastermind of the HuT arrested by the MP ATS, was originally called Saurabh Rajvaidya, who was born in a Jain family and converted to Islam in 2010. In 2012, his wife too converted to Islam. Saleem is a PhD scholar from Berasia near Bhopal. He was teaching at the Deccan School of Pharmacy. We are investigating what motivated him to convert to Islam and then get radicalised, a probe officer said.

Police said Yaseer, a gym instructor, is the other leader of the group. A resident of MPs Shahjahanabad, he is also being probed for forced religious conversion. His wife also allegedly converted from Hinduism after marrying him.

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Abdul Rehman alias Devi Prasad Panda from Odisha is the third suspect named by the ATS. Officials said he was a software engineer and scouting for a Hindu wife after conversion and even travelled to Bihar to marry. It was strange that he had travelled to Bihar alone to look for a match. It was later revealed that the modus operandi is not to reveal conversion status and scout for possible matches within the Hindu community since you would not be viewed with suspicion, an agency officer said.

Mohammad Abbas, a resident of Hyderabad, was Bux Venu Kumar before he embraced Islam, police said. Five women who allegedly converted after marriage to the suspects were yet to be interrogated.
(Satirical cartoon created by AI creator )

Hong Kong affairs are purely Chinas internal affairs, which brook no foreign interference, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on May 15, 2023.

The Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) recently held a hearing on Hong Kong and published a report, saying that the Chief Executive of Hong Kong appointed 29 judges to hear cases involving national security, which undermines Hong Kongs much-cherished rule of law and independent judicial system. The CECC urged the US government to impose sanctions on the 29 judges.

Hong Kong is a society with rule of law. Judges of the Hong Kong SAR exercise their judicial power on crimes suspected to endanger national security in accordance with laws including the Basic Law and the National Security Law, which brooks no interference. The Chinese Central Government firmly supports judicial authorities and personnel of Hong Kong to perform their duty in accordance with the law and makes utmost efforts to safeguard lawful rights and interests of judicial staff of the Hong Kong SAR,  spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a daily news briefing when answering a relevant query.

Wang said that the CECC has always been judging Chinas internal affairs, deliberately distorting facts and attacking and smearing China. It has little, if any, political credibility.

"We urge the US to stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs in any form, undermining prosperity and stability in Hong Kong and interfering in Chinas internal affairs," said Wang.

Editor: Zhang Zhou
An air hostess from Kolkata was killed near Mumbais Juhu after the car she was travelling in crashed into a stationary BMC dumper. The deceaseds friend, a 27-year-old merchant navy employee, has been booked by police.

According to a report in Times of India, the incident took place in the early hours of last Friday, killing air hostess Pallavi Bhattacharya who was seated next to her friend, Adhvaryu Bhandekar.

The report stated that Bhandekar and two other friends seated in the rear seat, Ankit Khare (38) and Bharati Rai (24), suffered injuries in the crash. Juhu police senior inspector Ajitkumar Vartak was quoted as saying that the preliminary report does not show that the four were drunk.

We are waiting for Bandekars recovery before arresting him. Bandekar has been booked under the Indian Penal Code sections 279 (rash driving), 304-A (causing death due to negligence), 337 (endangering life) and 338 (grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others)," Vartak added.

Victim Came to Mumbai for Tattoo Removal

The TOI report quoted a police officer as saying, Through her friends, we learnt that she worked as an air hostess and had switched to another airline which asked her to remove her tattoo as per company policy. She came to Mumbai for a laser tattoo removal procedure. She was Bandekars friend who works in merchant navy. She decided to stay with Bandekar and his family."

The survivors were quoted as saying they were returning home to Andheri from a party in Saki Naka in Bhandekars mothers car when he lost control upon entering a narrow lane. The speeding car flung into the air after Bandekar missed spotting a speed-breaker and it crashed into a stationed BMC garbage truck near Juhu police station," said a police officer.

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Bhattacharya who was seated in the front died in the crash while the three others survived with injuries. Bhattacharyas parents arrived from Kolkata where she lived before moving to Delhi, and took custody of her body. They registered a complaint against Bandekar, the report stated.

TOI quoted Vartak as saying they have sent a notice to Bhandekar regarding the case against him. They are waiting for him and the other two to get better to collect their statements.
 The Kerala Story has made history. The group opposing the success of the film is also stunned. The group tried to stop the film by giving different types of arguments. Right there, the film has crossed 100 crores in just nine days  Viswa Samvad Kendra, the social media platform that publicises and posts content coming from the Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its functionaries, wrote these lines about the movie on a Facebook post on Sunday.

 Organiser, the English mouthpiece of the RSS in a cover page editorial- titled The Kerala Story: Dangers of Denial, said questions arise when usual hypocrites deny creative freedom by blocking the release of a film named The Kerala Story, highlighting the problem of systematic grooming, deceitful conversions and human trafficking"

 In June, 2022, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat attended the priority screening of a period piece movie  Samrat Prithviraj  at a theatre in central Delhi and said, We are now looking at history from Indias perspective" calling the movie as world class".

 In April, 2022, Bhagwat, in a video message said the movie The Kashmir Files reveals the tragedy of Kashmiri Pandits.

The above mentioned instances quite prominently show how the RSS supported, influenced and inspired movies to make the history of India right", quite literally. RSS, with its around 50 affiliates and hundreds of pro-Hindu offshoots, has always been known in the social-political circle as an organisation, which is closed in nature while to the common masses it remained an enigma.

However, in the past year, the RSS, that remained averse to publicity has embarked on a journey of decolonising" India through rectifying history, bringing corrigible changes in education system and finally by influencing or inspiring movie makers to produce and make movies that depict how Hindus were wronged and victims of Muslim fundamentalists for years, said a senior RSS functionary while explaining the current narrative of RSS in leading the debate. He called series of instances as a movement, and it is called Chitra Bharati.

Making the cinema Right

According to the official website of Chitra Bharati, the organisation was formed for Bharatiya Chitra Sadhana. The website further explains that it was created to encourage and promote film-makers with commitment to Bharatiya values and ethos, to maximise efforts all over the world to include Bharatness in films, to organise competitive film festivals at local, national and international levels, to identify young minds with aptitude to various spheres of film making and to train them, to create a fund to promote films with dominant content related to Bharatness, to create awareness and skills of amongst masses to appreciate good films.

Cinema of Bharat is supposed to reflect Bharatiya in its real nature. A part of our cinema reflects our past and present but a significant section of the Cinema of Bharat seem to be unfair to Bharatiya ethos and values. Either the Bharatness is absent or it is presented in a distorted and derogatory manner. A section of the cinema uses this potent medium to divide the society. Bharatiya Chitra Sadhna (BCS) aims to use the art and craft of this audio-video medium to present Bharat in a realistic manner so as to integrate the society rather than to create fissures in various sections," it further added.

The advisory board includes renowned film producer-directors like Subhas Ghai, Priyadarshan Nair, Madhur Bhandarkar and Vivek Agnihotri. A production and cast analysis of the three movies mentioned above reveal that the makers are related or associated with the Sangh ideology or with its affiliates. Agnihotri, a member of the advisory board of Chitra Bharati directed The Kashmir Files, while Chandraprakash Dwivedi, who made Samrat Prithviraj, have been closely connected with RSS affiliate Sanskar Bharti.

Sudipto Sen, director of The Kerala Story, met two senior RSS functionaries in Delhi in 2015 and travelled to Kerala where he interviewed the victims of Love Jihad in an NGO, run and managed by another senior functionary of the RSS.

Not a Secret Society

In March this year, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi described the RSS as a secret society formed to build along the lines of Muslim Brotherhood, while speaking at a session organised by Chatham House, a London-based think tank.

Even though, Gandhi did not explain why he called the organisation that holds its Shakhas (morning assembly meetings of its members) inside school ground premises or local parks, the senior functionaries of the RSS, however, analysed the probable reasons for the Opposition leader having such an idea.

Apart from his ignorance, there can be other reasons too. Earlier, we never went to general people and did not try to make them understand about us. To common masses, RSS is an organisation that built or gave birth to the BJP. But it is not correct. BJP was born out of Jan Sangh and it was a political movement then. RSS was formed almost a 100 years ago as we will be soon celebrating our centenary. We need to make an outreach to common masses and inspire them to believe in our only ideology  patriotism, said a senior member of RSS central committee.

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As part of the outreach and its efforts to connect with people in general, the RSS has now started interacting with media, holding seminars and even hiring Public Relation firms.

Earlier, the volunteers and people associated with the organisation were self-aware, however, now with time, the rigidity is gone, the style of functioning has changed. Another senior RSS member pointed out, We do not even consider what Rahul Gandhi said, but we need to make people come out and deny his claims. There is nothing secret about the RSS, one just needs to have willingness to understand.
Several passengers were stuck at the Leh airport on Tuesday after the runway was blocked by the Indian Air Forces heavy-lifter C-17 Globemaster that faced technical issues. Officials said that the repair work will go on the entire day.

The technical issues led to shutting of the Leh airport for operation, leading to flight diversions and cancellations. Some passengers and airlines took to Twitter.

While Vistara said its flight UK601 from Delhi to Leh (DEL-IXL) was returning to Delhi airport, IndiGo, cancelling all its flights to the airport, said that they were trying to assist the passengers in best possible manner".

@DGCAIndia @PMOIndia Passengers are stranded at Leh airport. @AAI_Official Kindly give permission to fly few additional flights to and from Leh airport on Wednesday and request to @IndiGo6E to fly additional flight on Wed. Mayuresh (@mdmukadam) May 16, 2023

A report in Hindustan Times quoted officials familiar with the matter as saying, Leh airport is currently non-operational as runway blocked by IAF C-17 heavy-lifter facing technical issue. Work on to clear runway is in process." Domestic airlines such as IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet and Vistara operate 11 flights to Leh every day.

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The report stated that Air India, which operates two daily flights to Leh, diverted one of them to Srinagar and cancelled the second flight after a notice to airmen (NOTAM) was issued. Meanwhile, SpiceJet cancelled two of its three daily flights to/from Leh.

The report stated that Flightradar24, a Swedish internet-based service that shows real-time aircraft flight tracking information, also said all flight arrivals into the airport have been cancelled.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday issued an order to set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe into the reported incident of a group from a different religious background attempting to forcibly enter the renowned Trimbakeshwar temple in Nashik.

Fadnavis has also asked the authorities to take strict action by registering an FIR on the alleged incident of a certain mob gathering at the main entrance of the temple.

The SIT will not only probe this years incident, but also last years incident, when a mob allegedly entered the Trimbakeshwar temple premises through the main entrance.

Security guards at the Trimbakeshwar temple had thwarted the groups attempt on Saturday night, a temple trust official said on Monday. As per the temple management, only Hindus are allowed to enter the temple where theres one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva.

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The temple trust had filed a complaint to the police. Some video clips of the incident also went viral on social media platforms. The office of Fadnavis in a statement said an officer of the additional director general (ADG) rank will head the SIT.

The SIT will not only conduct a probe into this incident, but will also investigate a similar incident which took place last year at the same temple. A group representing certain community had entered the temple, Fadnavis said.
The Jammu and Kashmir police arrested two wanted terrorists who had been on the run for their involvement in the assassination of Mirwaiz Farooq. The accused were residing in Nepal and Pakistan for an extended period of time.

Addressing a press conference chaired by RR Swain, Special DG CID Jammu and Kashmir, it was announced that the State Investigation Unit (SIA) successfully carried out a significant operation in which two individuals associated with Hizbul-Mujahideen were apprehended. The arrested terrorists have been identified as Javaid Ahmad Bhat, also known as Ajmal Khan, hailing from Azad Basti Natipora in Srinagar, and Zahoor Ahmad Bhat, also known as Bilal, from Danderkhaw Batamalo, Srinagar.

According to the officials, the arrested duo had gone into hiding in Nepal and Pakistan since committing the murder of Mirwaiz on May 21, 1990.

The two had gone underground and during all these years were variously hiding in Nepal and Pakistan among other places before surreptitiously returning back to Kashmir few years ago. Maintaining a low profile, changing addresses and shifting residences, they avoided the gaze of law enforcement agencies, Swain said.

As per the police statement, the arrested individuals are accused in a CBI case. They are now required to stand trial in a designated TADA court in Delhi. Notably, the trial in relation to one of the five accused, namely Ayub Dar, codenamed Ishfaq of Srinagar, has already been concluded, and he is currently serving a life sentence after conviction.

The police has now handed them over to CBI from Srinagar who have taken their and will be taken to Delhi.

Two other absconding accused terrorists found guilty in the killing of Mirwaiz, Abdullah Bangroo and Abdul Rehman Shigan, got killed in encounters with security forces in the 1990s, special DG told media.

Mirwaiz Farooq, the head priest of Kashmir was killed by terrorists of Hizbul Mujahideen accusing him of being a peacenik and an Indian agent.

After his killing, a case was registered in Police Station Nageen, Srinagar to investigate the crime. The government had transferred the investigation to CBI on 11 June 1990.

After a long and arduous legal process of investigation and prosecution, the designated TADA court, in 2009, convicted the only arrested accused Ayub Dar for life. The remaining four remained on run. While two (Abdullah Bangroo and Rehman Shigan) died in encounters, Javaid Bhat and Ayub Bhat managed to evade, a press release by the police read.

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Police further said that before the killing of Mirwaiz, all the five Hizbul-Mujahideen terrorists had gone to Pakistan for terrorist training in 1990. Back in Srinagar, Abdullah Bangroo received instructions in April 1990 from his ISI handler in Pakistan to eliminate Mirwaiz.

Ayub Dar had filed an appeal against his conviction. However, the Division Bench of the Supreme Court upheld his conviction on July 21, 2010.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Friday embark on a six-day visit to Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia to attend three key multilateral summits including that of the Group of Seven (G7) and the Quad, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Tuesday.

In the first leg of his trip, Modi will visit the Japanese city of Hiroshima from May 19 to 21 for the annual summit of the G7 advanced economies in which he is expected to speak on challenges facing the globe including food, fertiliser and energy security.

From Japan, Modi will travel to Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea where he will host the third summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) on May 22 jointly with Prime Minister James Marape.

It will be the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Papua New Guinea.

Launched in 2014, FIPIC involves India and 14 Pacific Island countries  Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Samoa, Vanuatu, Niue, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Marshall Islands, Cook Islands, Palau, Nauru and Solomon Islands.

In the third and final leg of the trip, Modi will visit Sydney from May 22 to 24 to attend the Quad summit.

The Quad summit, being hosted by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, will also be joined by US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio.

On Modis visit to Japan, the MEA said he is travelling to that country at the invitation of Kishida. Japan is hosting the G7 summit in its capacity as the current chair of the G7.

During the summit, the prime minister will speak at G7 sessions with partner countries, on subjects such as peace, stability & prosperity of a sustainable planet; food, fertiliser and energy security; health; gender equality; climate change and environment; resilient infrastructure; and development cooperation," the MEA said in a statement.

It said Modi will also hold a bilateral meeting with Kishida. He will also hold bilateral meetings with some of the other participating leaders on the side-lines of the summit, it said.

In Papua New Guinea too, Modi will have bilateral engagements including meetings with Governor-General Sir Bob Dadae and Prime Minister James Marape, according to the MEA.

It said the Quad summit will provide an opportunity for the leaders of the coalition to exchange views about developments in the Indo-Pacific region and advance their vision for a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.

Quad partners are deeply invested in the success of the Indo-Pacific. Leveraging our collective strengths helps Australia advance its interests and more effectively respond to the regions needs," Albanese said last month.

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During his visit to Australia, Modi will have a bilateral meeting with Albanese on May 24.

The prime minister will also interact with Australian CEOs and business leaders, and address the Indian diaspora at a community event in Sydney on May 23, the MEA said
The Supreme Court collegium headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud on Tuesday recommended to the Centre the names of Andhra Pradesh High Court Chief Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and senior advocate KV Viswanathan as judges of the apex court.

If the recommendation of the collegium is accepted by the government, Viswanathan, upon the retirement of Justice JB Pardiwala on August 11, 2030, will become the Chief Justice of India and remain in the post till May 25, 2031.

The five-member collegium said the Supreme Court has a sanctioned strength of 34 judges and is currently functioning with 32.

Two Supreme Court judges-Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and MR Shah- have retired in the last two days.

The collegium, also comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, KM Joseph, Ajay Rastogi and Sanjiv Khanna, noted in its resolution that four more vacancies are going to arise by the second week of July and the working strength of judges will come down to 28.

Justice KM Joseph is set to retire on June 16, 2023, Justice Ajay Rastogi on June 17, Justice V Ramasubramanian on June 29 and Justice Krishna Murari on July 8 this year.

Justice Mishra was appointed as a judge of the High Court of Chhattisgarh on December 10, 2009. He was appointed as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh on October 13, 2021.

The Collegium unanimously resolves to recommend that Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra be appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India," the resolution said. The Collegium said it had deliberated on and discussed the names of chief justices and senior puisne judges of the high courts eligible for appointment to the Supreme Court.

The word puisne has French origins, which means later born or younger.

While recommending appointments to the Supreme Court the collegium has taken into consideration the following aspectsthe seniority of chief justices and senior puisne judges in their respective parent high courts as well as overall seniority of the high court judges, the merit, performance and integrity of the judges under consideration.

The resolution said the collegium also considered the need to ensure diversity and inclusion in the Supreme Court by representation of high courts, which are not represented or are inadequately represented and appointment of persons from marginalised and backward segments of society.

The other aspects considered were gender diversity and representation of minorities, the collegium said.

After carefully evaluating the merit, integrity and competence of eligible Chief Justices and senior puisne Judges of the High Courts and also accommodating a plurality of considerations, the Collegium finds Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra, Chief Justice, Andhra Pradesh High Court to be more deserving and suitable in all respects for being appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India," it said.

The resolution said there is no representation of the High Court of Chhattisgarh in the present composition of the Supreme Court of India.

Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra has served as a judge of the High Court for over thirteen years and ranks at serial number 21 in the All-India Seniority List of judges of the High Courts," it said, adding that during his tenure of nearly 12 years as a judge of the Chhattisgarh High Court, Justice Mishra has acquired significant experience in diverse fields of law.

It said Justice Mishras judgments cover wide ranging issues pertaining to law and justice.

Besides according representation to the State of Chhattisgarh, the appointment of Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra will provide a value addition in terms of his acquired knowledge and experience. Justice Mishra is a judge with integrity," it said.

The resolution said having considered all relevant factors, the collegium is of the view that Justice Mishra is worthy of appointment as a judge of the Supreme Court.

It said having regard to the fact that at present there is only one member from the Bar (Justice PS Narasimha) directly appointed to the Supreme Court Bench, the collegium has also considered the names of eminent members of the Bar.

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In their considered opinion, KV Viswanathan, Senior Advocate is eminently suitable for being appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court," the resolution said, adding the appointment of Viswanathan will enhance the representation to the Bar in the composition of the Supreme Court.

On the retirement of Justice Jamshed Burjor Pardiwala on August 11, 2030, Viswanathan would be in line to assume office as the Chief Justice of India till his retirement on May 25, 2031. In view of the foregoing, the Collegium further resolves to recommend that the appointments of the above persons be made in the following order of seniority: Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra, (ii) K V Viswanathan, the resolution said.
The psychology of office design explores the profound impact that the physical environment of a workplace can have on various aspects of work, including mood, decision-making, and productivity. Factors such as layout, natural light, furniture, plants, art, noise levels, privacy, and color play significant roles in shaping the work experience. By understanding and strategically designing these elements, offices can create an environment that fosters positive work culture, enhances mood, promotes effective decision-making, and ultimately boosts productivity among employees.

Sammeer Pakvasa, Managing Director and CEO, Eleganz Interiors, says, The psychology of office design highlights the significant impact that the physical environment has on work culture and productivity. A well-designed office space goes beyond aesthetics; it influences decision-making and productivity in a positive manner. Several factors contribute to this effect, including the layout, availability of natural light, choice of furniture, presence of plants and art, noise levels, privacy considerations, and color schemes.

When these elements are thoughtfully incorporated, they enhance mood and overall productivity. Moreover, a well-designed office fosters collaboration, creativity, and comfort, creating an environment that supports a positive work culture and ultimately leads to increased productivity among employees.

Office design can have a significant impact on employee work, mood, decision-making, and productivity. Studies have shown that well-designed offices can lead to increased productivity, improved employee satisfaction, and decreased stress levels.

Here are some of the ways that office design can affect employee work, mood, decision-making, and productivity:

Productivity

A well-designed office can help to improve employee productivity in a number of ways. For example, by providing employees with a comfortable and distraction-free work environment, office design can help to reduce stress levels and improve focus. Additionally, by providing employees with the tools and resources they need to do their jobs effectively, office design can help to boost productivity, says Preetam Pratap Tipale, Managing Director and CEO, Gira Infra. Mood

The way an office is designed can also have a significant impact on employee mood. A well-designed office can help to create a positive and productive work environment, which can lead to improved employee morale and satisfaction. Additionally, by providing employees with access to natural light and greenery, office design can help to improve employee well-being and reduce stress levels, adds Tipale.

Decision-making

The way an office is designed can also impact employee decision-making. A well-designed office can help to create a collaborative and supportive environment, which can lead to improved decision-making. Additionally, by providing employees with access to the information and resources they need, office design can help to facilitate informed decision-making. Creativity

A well-designed office can also help to boost employee creativity. By providing employees with a comfortable and stimulating work environment, office design can help to encourage creativity and innovation. Additionally, by providing employees with access to the tools and resources they need, office design can help to facilitate creative thinking, states Tipale.

Overall, office design can have a significant impact on employee work, mood, decision-making, and productivity. By creating a well-designed office, businesses can create a positive and productive work environment that can lead to improved employee performance and satisfaction.

Design elements that can have a positive impact on employee work, mood, decision-making, and productivity



Here are some specific design elements that can have a positive impact on employee work, mood, decision-making, and productivity:

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Layout

The layout of an office space plays a crucial role in shaping work dynamics and productivity. An open layout encourages collaboration and the free flow of ideas, stimulating creativity and fostering a sense of camaraderie among colleagues. It promotes spontaneous interactions, leading to innovative solutions and a vibrant work culture, adds Pakvasa.

On the other hand, private areas provide individuals with the necessary environment for focused work and concentration. These secluded spaces offer privacy, minimizing distractions and allowing employees to tackle complex tasks without interruptions. Ideally, a well-designed office combines both open and private areas, striking a balance between collaboration and focused work, thus creating a versatile environment that caters to various work styles and enhances overall productivity. Natural light

Natural light has been shown to improve mood, productivity, and cognitive function. Studies have shown that employees who work in offices with access to natural light are more productive and have lower stress levels than those who work in offices without access to natural light. Greenery

Greenery has also been shown to improve mood, productivity, and cognitive function. Studies have shown that employees who work in offices with plants are more productive and have lower stress levels than those who work in offices without plants. Incorporating plants into office design offers numerous benefits that positively impact both employees and the overall work environment. Firstly, plants have been shown to reduce stress levels and enhance well-being. Their presence in the office can create a calming and soothing atmosphere, helping to alleviate workplace pressures and creating a more pleasant ambiance. Additionally, plants contribute to improved air quality by filtering pollutants and releasing oxygen, which can enhance cognitive function and overall productivity. Moreover, the presence of greenery has been linked to increased creativity and a sense of connection with nature, fostering inspiration and a sense of vitality among employees. Therefore, integrating plants into the office design is not only aesthetically pleasing but also has significant psychological and physiological advantages, promoting a healthier and more productive work environment, opines Pakvasa. Comfortable furniture

Comfortable furniture can help employees to stay focused and productive throughout the day. Studies have shown that employees who have comfortable chairs are more productive than those who do not, states Tipale. Adequate space

Adequate space allows employees to spread out and work comfortably. Studies have shown that employees who have more space are more productive than those who do not. Personalization

Personalization allows employees to make their workspace their own. Studies have shown that employees who have a personalized workspace are more productive and satisfied with their jobs than those who do not, believes Tipale. Art

Incorporating art into office design has numerous benefits. Art has the power to reduce stress and anxiety, creating a calming environment. It also promotes creativity and inspiration, stimulating innovative thinking among employees. By integrating art, offices can cultivate a positive work culture that encourages well-being and productivity. The presence of art in the workspace contributes to a visually stimulating and aesthetically pleasing atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience for employees and fostering a conducive work environment, feels Pakvasa.

Overall, a well-designed office space can greatly impact work culture and productivity. By considering factors such as layout, natural light, furniture, plants, art, noise levels, privacy, and color, a positive work environment can be created that promotes collaboration, creativity, and comfort.
The Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) is all set to host the largest international summit from May 22-24 this year, on the banks of the famous Dal Lake. Srinagar has been turned into a smart city to make the event beautiful and historic.Kashmir prepares to host delegates from several countries as preparations for the third G20 tourism working group meeting are in full swing. Tourism and trade in the region are expected to benefit largely from the G20 event. The world famous Dal Lake is being decked up, and Shikara (boats) on the lake are being repainted.

Kashmirs Ecotourism Society of Kashmir (ETSK) has welcomed the G20 meeting as a significant development for the tourism industry. The society promotes ecotourism and sustainable tourism practices in Kashmir with an aim to preserve the areas natural beauty and provide economic opportunities.

Sameer Baktoo, the convenor of ETSK, told ANI, Our tourism development policies should be based on ecotourism, and we need to have a sustainable approach towards our eco-fragile destinations." He was also hopeful that the G20 meeting would encourage more foreign tourists to visit the region.

Security tightened in parts of Kashmir

As precautionary measures, more than 10 Army schools have been closed in the Jammu region, particularly in border districts. Several infiltration routes have been identified and security has been tightened. A multi-tiered security system including the police, army, Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, and Village Defence Committees has been established along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB).

The Jammu-Pathankot highway is also under scrutiny. Movements and vehicles are being monitored. Several Army and other schools on the highway, as well as in Rajouri and Poonch districts, have been shut, with online classes to be held until May 25.

The police issued an advisory urging people to remain alert and check their vehicles before starting them.

Boost for tourism

In light of Jammu and Kashmirs heavy tourism dependence, the summit could attract a record number of visitors. A tour of Kashmirs beautiful tourist spots, including the Taj Gulmarg, will be arranged for the delegates taking part in the G-20 meeting in Srinagar. The tourism department believes Kashmir will be promoted globally following this event.

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The G20 Summit includes the European Union, Argentina, Australia, France, Germany, Canada, China, Brazil, United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey and the United States. The group meets annually, and this time India is the chairperson of the group.
The versatile Indian supermodel Priyanka Karunakaran has established herself in both the domestic and international modelling markets. She made her acting debut in the heist-hijack thriller Chor Nikal ke Bhaga" on Netflix, where her performance was praised by critics.

Priyanka is well-known in the Indian modelling industry, having been on numerous magazine covers on the catwalk at numerous major events. She has also been a part of various high-profile corporate endorsements and appeared in the legendary Kingfisher calendar.

In addition to her career accomplishments, Priyanka is renowned for her charitable endeavours. She has been active in a number of organisations that strive to improve society and is a strong supporter of causes relating to womens empowerment.

After her recent fantastic vacation to Turkey, Priyanka has been giving the rest of us big travel goals. See what the stunner had to say about Turkey here.

In her words, Turkey is a big country so I took a good 15 days to explore the various terrains. From ancient architecture to hidden underground homes, from staying in caves hotels to exploring fairy chimneys, from driving down the Turkish Riviera to experiencing the Aegean Sea , this country blew my mind. I started with Istanbul and explored the various mosques and architecture and also ended with Istanbul and the amazing hamam at an authentic traditional Hammam centre. Cappadocia is truly out of poetry. I missed the hot air balloon because of bad weather but explored fairy chimneys, caves and underground cities.

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Then I headed to Bodrum. The blue water and white sands have etched itself in my memory. I was up and about taking boat trips in the Aegean Sea. From Bodrum I did a road trip to the small town of Fethiye and stayed on the harbour in a picturesque apartment. Then headed To Oludeniz to go paragliding 6500 feet high. Overall this trip had adventure, beaches, caves, history, mountains and even a bit of shopping back in Istanbul.
The Shevchenkivsky District Court of Kyiv has seized the corporate rights of 72 companies associated with the assets of the pro-Russian oligarch Vadim Novinsky, controlled through Smart Holding or through affiliated offshore firms.

The relevant ruling, a copy of which is at the disposal of Interfax-Ukraine, was issued by the court within criminal case No. 761/15294/23 on May 4, 2023. The ruling entered into force on May 10, and the document was made public on May 11.

The ruling on the seizure of Novinsky's property was made at the request of the head of the third unit of the pretrial investigation and public prosecution procedural management office of the Department for Supervision of Compliance with Laws by Security Agencies of the Prosecutor General's Office on the grounds of a criminal offense under Part 2 of Article 28, Part 1 of Article 111-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

At the same time, the court found that the prosecutor filed a petition with the judicial investigator to seize the corporate rights of companies where the beneficial owner of shares in the charter capital is Novinsky or persons affiliated with him, in order to preserve material evidence.

During the pretrial investigation, it was established that in the period 2022-2023, this citizen of Ukraine, in respect of whom personal special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions) were applied in December last year by the president's decree, acting by prior agreement with persons engaged in professional activities related to the provision of public services on the territory of Ukraine, avoiding the blocking of his assets, committed actions aimed at changing the owner (ultimate beneficiary) of the corporate rights of his enterprises both in Ukraine and abroad.

At the same time, the definition provides a list of companies, among which, in particular, PJSC Ukrgasvydobyvannia, Smart-Holding LLC, Arkona Gas-Energy LLC, Regal Petroleum Corporation (Ukraine) Limited LLC, Zaporizhstal, Kametsteel, Central Mining, Northern Mining, and Inhulets Mining, and a number of coal mining enterprises in the Pokrovske Coal Group. In addition, a stake in Metinvest Holding LLC (23.76% share) and its enterprises was seized.

"Thus, he transferred the corporate rights and assets of his enterprises to citizens of a foreign state, including persons directly connected with the aggressor state, by which he committed deliberate actions aimed at helping the aggressor state (aiding) through the preparation and transfer of material resources or other assets to representatives of the aggressor state," the court's ruling states.

After the application of personal sanctions, this citizen, to avoid the restrictions applied and the possible blocking of sources of financing for persons associated with the Russian center of influence, as well as for financing destructive activities in favor of the aggressor state, attracting Cypriot citizens operating on the territory of the Russian Federation, founded the Cyprus International Trust, and transferred the assets of his group of companies.

Officials in Ukraine, in particular notaries, who legalized these transactions, are involved in the fraud. In turn, the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, by its orders dated April 10 and May 2, 2023, canceled the illegal actions of public registrars and private notaries and deleted information regarding the ultimate beneficial owner of companies from the public register. At the same time, information about the actual final beneficiary was restored in the register.

The court granted the petition and seized Novinsky's corporate rights in 72 companies and enterprises.

"The ruling is subject to immediate execution," the court said.
Bollywood actress Sara Ali Khan is set to grace the red carpet at the highly-anticipated Cannes Film Festival 2023, joining the ranks of other prominent Indian celebrities who have represented the country at the prestigious event. While it is reported to be her first appearance at Cannes, the schedule for the event remains unclear as of yet. But it seems Sara Ali Khan is extremely excited to add this flamboyant feat to her film career.

Previously, there was an update about actress Anushka Sharma joining the list of Cannes debutantes and it had garnered major traction on the internet. The Chakda Xpress fame is not only gearing up to reign the red carpet of the French Riviera but is also reportedly scheduled to present an award honouring women. It is said Anushka Sharma will deliver the accolade alongside Hollywood veteran Kate Winslet.

Who else besides Sara Ali Khan will attend Cannes 2023?

Apart from Sara Ali Khan and Anushka Sharma, the buzz has it that former Miss World Manushi Chillar and actress Esha Gupta are also set to join the list of Cannes debutantes this year. In addition to this, reports also suggest Vijay Varma, Aditi Rao Hydari, Anek fame Andre Kevichusa, and social media influencers Ruhee Dosani and Dolly Singh will be seen representing India at the French Riviera this year. Meanwhile, what magic Cannes veteran Aishwarya Rai creates this year on the red carpet is also much-anticipated. The Cannes Film Festival will begin on May 16 and extend till May 27 this year.

Last year, actress Deepika Padukone was enlisted as one of the jury members of the prestigious festival.

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Whats next for Sara Ali Khan?

Though her itinerary for Cannes 2023 remains unclear, Sara Ali Khan has multiple interesting projects lined up in the pipeline. She last shared the screen space with Vikrant Massey and Chitrangada Singh in the bloody mystery-thriller Gaslight. She is now set to appear alongside Uri fame Vicky Kaushal in Laxman Utekars romantic-comedy Zara Hatke Zara Bach Ke. The recently released trailer of the film gives fans a closer look at the plot that chronicles the life of a middle-class married couples decision to divorce each other and the family drama that follows later. Besides this, Sara Ali Khan also has Ae Watan Mere Watan, Murder Mubarak, and Jagan Shaktis untitled project in her kitty.
Megastar Amitabh Bachchan found himself in a controversy after posting a picture of himself riding as a pillion passenger on a strangers bike, claiming it was to bypass traffic and reach his destination quickly. However, the controversy arose when it was discovered that he wasnt wearing a helmet. In response, Senior Bachchan has clarified that he was merely joking around by getting on the bike of a crew member. He explained that he didnt actually go anywhere but wanted to create the impression of traveling.

On Monday, the veteran actor shared the picture on Instagram and expressed gratitude to the stranger for allowing him to ride pillion and reach his work location on time. He thanked the owner of the bike, who wore a cap, shorts, and a yellowed T-shirt, for their kindness in facilitating a swift commute.

Despite this, vigilant netizens noticed that the actor was not wearing a helmet and promptly reached out to Mumbai Police, urging them to take action against him. In response, the Mumbai Police stated that they will indeed take appropriate measures against the actor.

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It is Sunday formal permission was taken for the shoot at a lane in Ballard Estate permission was sought for Sunday because all offices are shut and there is no public or traffic. One lane in the region blocked off by police permission for shoot .. the lane is barely 30-40 metres. The dress I wear is my costume for the film. And I am just fooling around by getting on the bike, of a crew member Not even moving anywhere, but giving the impression that I travelled to save time (sic), he wrote.

But yes, I would do it if there was a problem of punctuality .. and wear a helmet and follow all the rules and regulations of the traffic guidelines I am not the only one that does this had seen Akshay Kumar do this to get to a location on time wore helmet etc., on the bike of his security person .. no one could recognise it and it was rapid and efficient .. and it worked well Thank you all for your concern and your care and love and your spanking me and trolling. And sorry , people , for causing concern and giving any wrong concept of breaking traffic rules .. I did not .. love all of you (sic), he added.
This year, the Cannes International Film Festival will be held from May 16 to 27. The Indian delegation will be led by Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, L Murugan. He will be accompanied by many representatives of the Indian film industry. This year will mark the 29th year in a row where no Indian film will be screened in the events prestigious competition for the Palme dOr (Golden Palm) category.

The last time an Indian film was screened in the category was way back in 1994. Malayalam film Swaham, directed by Shaji N Karun was the only movie screened in the Golden Palm competition. The award was claimed by Quentin Tarantino that year for Pulp Fiction. In 1989, Shaji N Karun was awarded the Camera dOr Special Mention at the Cannes Film Festival for his maiden film Piravi.

This year, three Indian films are included in the official selection of the Cannes Film Festival. Jenifer Datta Areng, the writer and director from Meghalaya, has been invited to the MDF to present her project on an international platform. Kennedy, a new film by director Anurag Kashyap, a diploma film by FTI Pune graduate Yudhajit Basu, and Ishanou (1990), a restored Manipuri film by Aribam Syam Sharma round out the official selection for Indian cinema this year. However, none of these films are contesting.

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For the first time, an Anurag Kashyap film is going to be a part of the Midnight Screenings. In 2013, Bombay Talkies, an anthology film, was shown at Cannes to commemorate Indian cinemas 100th anniversary. Short films including Kashyaps Murabba, Zoya Akhtars Sheela Ki Jawani, Karan Johars Ajeeb Dastan Hai Ye, and Dibakar Banerjees Star were compiled for Bombay Talkies.

Kennedy stars Sunny Leone and tells the story of a cop with insomnia who fights against corruption.
Oscar-winning producer, Guneet Monga graced the recent episode of The Kapil Sharma Show. During her interaction with the comedian, Guneet revealed how she could attend the Oscars in 2010 only with the help of former Indian President Pratibha Patil.

Guneet Monga shared that she had no money to attend the Oscars in 2010 even though her short film Kavi was nominated. Therefore, she started writing emails to influential people and thats when she got a reply from the presidents house.

I had no money and I used to live in PG. I wanted a visa and funds so I used to write emails to all the influential people. I used to send mails to people like Richard Branson, Ratan Tata, Airline companies and so on. So once I wrote a mail to hon Mrs Pratibha Patil and I got a reply from her. The assistant called and asked what I wanted to do so I said, I would love to show you the film with my cast and crew as you cannot ask for funds directly. She obliged us to hold a screening at the Rashtrapati Bhavan," Guneet shared.

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Guneet further shared that even though the then-president of India, Pratibha Patil could not attend the screening, it helped her in getting funds to the US. I went there with the whole cast and crew of Kavi, Pratibhaji couldnt see the film but Prithviraj Chauhan ji was there and he heard me out and helped me with the visas, tickets, stay and everything. When we reached the US, the first thing I did was I went to an Indian restaurant in Beverly Hills and spoke to an Indian lady about my film being nominated in the Oscars, which helped us get our travel in place," The Elephant Whisperers producer added.

At The Kapil Sharma Show, Guneet was also joined by author and philanthropist Sudha Murty and Bollywood actress Raveena Tandon.
Katrina Kaif tied the sacred knot with Vicky Kaushal back in 2021. She recently shared a romantic post on the occasion of her husband, actor Vicky Kaushals birthday. The actress, who made fans wait the whole day, took to Instagram on Tuesday evening and shared two unseen photos with the Zara Hatke Zara Bachke star along with a heartwarming note.

For More: Katrina Kaif Sends Vicky Kaushal Dher Saara Pyaar On Birthday, Breaks Into Romantic Dance With Him

Shah Rukh Khan has decided to leave Don 3, a new report claims. Fans have been waiting for 12 years for Farhan Akhtar to announce SRK-led Don 3. However, a new report has now claimed that Shah Rukh is detaching himself from the franchise and Farhan is looking out for a new actor to reboot the series. The new update comes shortly after it was reported that Farhan is almost done writing the Don 3 script.

For More: Shah Rukh Khan EXITS Don 3, Farhan Akhtar To Reboot Don Franchise With New Actor: Report

Despite the initial excitement surrounding the engagement of Sharwanand and Rakshita, the passing months brought a noticeable absence of updates regarding their wedding plans. This information vacuum gave rise to reports suggesting that the marriage between the couple had been called off. In response to the escalating rumours, Sharwanands team has come forward to address the matter and provide clarity.

For More: Telugu Actor Sharwanand BREAKS OFF Engagement With Rakshita Reddy? Team Strongly Reacts

Shekhar Suman opened up about his son Adhyayan Sumans relationship with Kangana Ranaut and claimed he never spoke to the Queen actress when they were dating. For the unversed, Adhyayan and Kangana back in 2008. The now-ex-couple was shooting for their film Raaz: The Mystery Continues. They had an ugly break up with Shekhar taking numerous digs at Kangana at the time.

For More: Shekhar Suman Makes SHOCKING Statements About Kangana Ranaut, Adhyayan; Says I Was Never

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Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt attended her first Gucci event as its India brand ambassador. The Gangubai Kathiawadi made her way to Seoul on Tuesday to attend the Gucci Cruise 2024 event but more than her attendance, her handbag became the talk of the town. In photos going viral, Alia was seen carrying a transparent handbag at the event. The bag is a Gucci Jackie 1961 transparent bag. A few eagle-eyed social media users noticed that there was absolutely nothing in the bag.

For More : Alia Bhatt Takes EMPTY Transparent Bag to Gucci Event, Netizens Ask Why Is She Carrying It?
Katrina Kaif shared a romantic post on the occasion of her husband, actor Vicky Kaushals birthday. The actress, who made fans wait the whole day, took to Instagram on Tuesday evening and shared two unseen photos with the Zara Hatke Zara Bachke star along with a heartwarming note.

In the first photo, Katrina and Vicky appeared to be waltzing through their house. A black and white photo, Vicky had Katrina in his arms while the couple shared a contagious smile. In the second, the couple posed for a selfie. In the photos, Katrina looked breathtaking in a white gown while Vicky looked handsome in a casual fit. Sharing the photos, Katrina wrote, A little dance , dher saara pyaar .Happiest birthday my ."

The photos received much love from fans. Several fans took to the comments section and showered the couple with love. Adorable you guys  Stay Blessed," a fan wrote. MY EYES ARE BLESSED," added another. Perfect example of Rab ne bana di jodi," a third fan wrote. Ek aisa Bollywood moment toh mai bhi deserve karti hoon," a fourth fan wrote.

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Vicky turned 35 today, May 16. The actor began his birthday celebrations early, with a cake arranged for him on Monday, May 15, at the trailer launch of his upcoming film Zara Hatke Zara Bachke. The actor was seen cutting the cake with his co-star Sara Ali Khan and other co-stars from the film.

Speaking about the film, Zara Hatke Zara Bachke is produced by Dinesh Vijans Maddock Studios and directed by Laxman Utekar. 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.
Get ready to see a whole new side of South Korean actor and heartthrob Kim Seon Ho. Fans of addictive Korean dramas know him for his charming good-boy roles that have captured hearts worldwide. From his standout performance as the endearing Han Ji-Pyeong in Start-Up to the lovable Jung Jae-Yoon in 100 Days My Prince, Kim Seon Ho has always been the epitome of sweetness. However, brace yourself, because this talented actor is about to give you the chills with his latest big-screen debut.

Stepping out of his comfort zone, Kim Seon Ho is ready to break free from the good boy" image that fans have adored him for and embrace the darker side of his craft. This is a cinematic journey you wont want to miss. In his upcoming project and the first film for him, The Childe, hes turning up the creepy dial, leaving audiences on the edge of their seats. Its a thrilling transformation that showcases Seon Hos versatility and acting prowess.

The highly anticipated South Korean action-noir film, The Childe is directed by the talented Park Hoon Jung. This gripping cinematic experience brings together a stellar cast including Kim Seon Ho, Kim Kang Woo, Go Ara, and Kang Tae Joo, reported Koreaboo. The story revolves around a determined boxer, with a unique heritage of a Korean father and a Filipino mother, who embarks on a journey to Korea in search of his long-lost father. However, little does he know that this quest will throw him into a dangerous web of intrigue and peril. As he delves deeper into the mystery, he finds himself relentlessly pursued by sinister forces.

In the newly released trailer for The Childe, we catch a glimpse of the extraordinary Kim Seon Ho in the titular role. As the enigmatic nobleman, he exudes an air of mystery and intensity, leaving viewers intrigued and hungry for more.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by  (@salt_ent)

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Fans cant contain their excitement as they eagerly await this unexpected twist in Kim Seon Hos career. Theyre ready to see a darker, more intense side of the actor that will surely challenge his skills and captivate audiences in a whole new way. With his undeniable talent and magnetic presence, theres no doubt that Seon Ho will deliver a performance that will leave a lasting impression.

The movie is set to hit the theatres in June.
Shah Rukh Khan has decided to leave Don 3, a new report claims. Fans have been waiting for 12 years for Farhan Akhtar to announce SRK-led Don 3. However, a new report has now claimed that Shah Rukh is detaching himself from the franchise and Farhan is looking out for a new actor to reboot the series. The new update comes shortly after it was reported that Farhan is almost done writing the Don 3 script.

Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani have had multiple detailed discussions with Shah Rukh Khan on Don 3. Before the pandemic, a couple of ideas were also discussed, which took shape of a script through the pandemic. Meetings have happened recently too, but Shah Rukh is not too keen to get back as Don again at this point of time. He is willing to do commercial films that cater to universal section of audience, and Don certainly doesnt fit the bracket of cinema that he is willing to do for the coming few years. He has conveyed his decision to the stakeholders at Excel, a source told Pinkvilla.

The report added that Farhan is coming up with an idea to bring three generations of Dons together  Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh and the new-gen star, to show ta generational shift. But SRK felt the idea of spinning Don universe would be gimmicky and hence advised the team about his exit, the source claimed.

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The talks at the moment are on with a hero who has done two films with Excel in the last decade. He is keen to step into the shoes of Don, but has his reservations too, as the legacy of the franchise and the actors who portrayed Don before cant be replicated by anyone. Don will be rebooted once one of the younger actors takes up the challenge, the source added.

Shah Rukh headlined Don and Don 2 in 2006 and 2011, respectively. While Shah Rukh played the titular role, Priyanka Chopra played the role of Roma. The film also starred Isha Koppikar, Boman Irani, Lara Dutta and Kunal Kapoor, among others.
Interior designer and producer Gauri Khan recently added a new feather to her hat. She turned author with a coffee table book titled My Life In Design, in which she charts out her journey as a designer with exclusive pictures of her and her family  husband Shah Rukh Khan and children Aryan Khan, Suhana Khan and AbRam Khan. Published by Penguin Random House, it was unveiled at an event in Mumbai on Monday (May 15). Present at the launch was also Shah Rukh, who heaped praise on his wife and her creative instincts. In his signature wit, he said, Shes designing houses, hotels and restaurants. Except for my rooms in my house, shes designing everything else in the world. But Im a forgiving person, magnanimous by heart (smiles).

Crediting her for making their house a home and bringing up their children when he was busy making a name for himself in showbiz, he elaborated, For about 23-24 years of our married life, we were just so busy settling down in Mumbai. This overwhelming response we got from the profession that Im in - just to deal with it, lead a normal life and bring up the children - she never realised that there was an aspect of hers that needed to have some kind of life and give vent to.

He candidly also mentioned that married couples tend to take each other for granted but hes full of pride for what Gauri has achieved. Weve been married to each other for over 30 years. Gauri and I have known each other since she was 14 and I was 18. Sometimes when you know each other for very many years, a sense of appreciation for each others work starts diminishing because you take each other for granted.

Shah Rukh added, Ive been doing what I do for a long time. Gauri has played her part in the best way possible. Weve raised three beautiful children. Shes the wife of a movie star who became extremely popular because of the grace of god. But there was a passion and sense of creativity she always had.

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The superstar, who delivered the blockbuster film Pathaan earlier this year, also revealed that his family is a bunch of creative souls. Theres a mediocre sense of creativity in our whole family, even our little ten-year-old. We do dabble in paint and do a little bit of music we arent outstanding. Gauri is also a part of that journey. She would do up a little bit of space, do a little drawing and painting, he said.

Walking down the memory lane, he recalled how Gauri began her career as a designer and decided to not take any help from him. Gauri started in her mid-forties. I had told that if I needed to be helpful and that Ive some friends and we can talk to them. But she started a 10 X 20 feet shop somewhere down in Lower Parel and she worked it out all on her own, he remarked.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY VICKY KAUSHAL: From his humble beginnings in theatre to becoming one of the most sought-after actors in the industry, Vicky Kaushal has truly carved a niche for himself. With over 14 films to his credit, the actor has won multiple accolades for his exceptional performances. He made his debut as an actor in Kashyaps production Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana (2012), where he played a small but memorable role.

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His acting skills soon caught the attention of Bollywood filmmakers, and he went on to star in films such as Masaan (2015), Raman Raghav 2.0 (2016), Raazi (2018), Sanju (2018), Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019), and Bhoot - Part One: The Haunted Ship (2020) among others. As we celebrate his birthday, lets take a look at his top five films that showcase his talent and versatility as an actor.
As we witness the 2020s being driven by technological advancements, the world of travel is poised for significant changes. As consumer behaviour evolves in tandem, by the end of the decade the 2030 traveler will be a more connected, informed, and environmentally conscious individual, seeking unique experiences and customized travel options. With the rise of automation, artificial intelligence, and sustainable travel practices, our future traveller will have access to a range of new and exciting opportunities, transforming the way we explore the world.



Increased connectivity

One of the biggest changes well see for travel over the next five years is the increase in connectivity. With the proliferation of 5G networks, wearable technology, and the Internet of Things, travellers are able to access information and communicate with others seamlessly, no matter where they are in the world.



Real-time translation tools are starting to break down language barriers, making it easier for travellers to communicate with locals and immerse themselves in new cultures. Wearable technology such as smartwatches and fitness trackers also allow travellers to monitor their health and wellness on the go, while tracking their travel itinerary and providing personalized recommendations. We are starting to see a monumental change where travelers will be able to stay connected with loved ones back home, share their experiences in real-time, and access digital tools that enhance their travel experience.



According to a 2021 survey conducted by Booking.com, 63% of global travelers said that being able to stay connected while traveling was "essential". The survey also found that 70% of travelers use technology to explore their destination and plan their trip, and 57% said that they prefer to book travel arrangements using an app or website. These statistics highlight the increasing importance of connectivity and technology in travel, as travelers rely on digital tools and services to stay informed, connected, and engaged while on the go.



Customisation and personalisation

Customisation and personalisation will also be a key driver of the travel industry in the next five years. The use of AI and machine learning algorithms are enabling travel companies and insurance brokers to collect and analyse vast amounts of data on individual travellers, from their past travel history to their personal preferences and interests. This allows them to offer personalized recommendations for insurance, destinations, accommodations, and activities based on our traveler's unique profile.



Enter embedded and parametric insurance, rising through the ranks in the next five years to be a must have for the future traveler. According to Forbes, the number of travelers planning to purchase travel insurance in 2023 will outpace the previous seven-year average. Embedded insurance integrates into the purchase of a product or service, such as travel insurance that is automatically included when a traveler books a flight or hotel.



Parametric insurance, on the other hand, is a type of insurance that pays out based on predefined parameters rather than actual losses. A traveller may purchase parametric insurance that pays out a set amount if their flight is delayed by more than a certain amount of time, regardless of the reason for the delay. This type of insurance is often used to protect against specific risks or events that are outside of the traveller's control, providing a simple and straightforward way to manage risk.



The recent integration of insurance technology into every aspect of the travel experience is making it easier to plan and book trips, enhancing our travelers overall travel experience and making it more seamless, convenient, and personalized.



Sustainable travel practices

Sustainable travel practices are already starting to be on the mind of the younger generation, in fact 69% of travelers want to travel sustainably. The next five years we will see a significant shift towards sustainable travel practices as travelers become more environmentally conscious.



In response to this, the travel industry is already starting to adopt more sustainable practices, from the use of electric and hybrid vehicles to the implementation of renewable energy sources in hotels and resorts. Travelers are prioritizing eco-friendly accommodations and transportation options that minimise their carbon footprint, such as bike-sharing schemes and public transportation.



Sustainable tourism also focuses on supporting local communities, economies, and cultures, promoting responsible and ethical travel practices. As awareness of the impact of travel on the environment grows, the future traveler will seek out experiences that are sustainable and responsible, ensuring that their travels have a positive impact on the planet and local communities.



Changes in travel demographics

As the world becomes more connected, seamless travel becomes more of a reality. According to Skift research, people from a wider range of age groups will have the opportunity to explore new destinations in the next few years. Baby boomers will be retiring or retired and with the rise of the digital nomad culture, the travelers will include a more diverse range of age groups, from Gen Zs working remotely while they travel to senior citizens on a retirement cruise. This is creating a more dynamic and diverse travel industry, with different age groups seeking out unique experiences that cater to their interests and needs.



The global middle class is also continuing to grow, meaning more people from emerging economies are having the means to travel, opening up new markets for the travel industry. In the next five years travelers will be more globally aware and culturally sensitive, seeking out authentic and immersive experiences that allow them to connect with local communities and cultures.



Significant changes are happening to the travel industry today, driven by advancements in technology, changing demographics, and a growing focus on sustainability and connectivity. Travelers are seeking out experiences that cater to their unique interests and needs while also minimizing their impact on the planet. With virtual and augmented reality technology, AI and machine learning algorithms, and autonomous transportation, the travel industry is transforming the way we explore the world, making it more convenient, efficient, and seamless.



About the Author

Ido Hertz is Vice President of Products for Pattern Insurance in Tel Aviv, leading their rapid growth in the global embedded insurance market. He is shaping the company's product vision, strategy, and execution. Ido has more than 20 years of experience in the tech industry to most recently, Ido was based in Asia as the Head of International Travel Recovery Products for Agoda, where he spearheaded company-wide initiatives and addressed the changing needs of travelers during the pandemic.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has notified businessman Dmytro Firtash and eight top managers of his companies that they are suspected of stealing gas from the gas transmission system of Ukraine, Ukrainian media reported, citing the SBU Telegram channel.

"The SBU, together with the Bureau of Economic Security, exposed a large-scale scheme for the theft of gas from Ukraine's gas transmission system. Sanctioned oligarch Dmytro Firtash and senior managers of companies controlled by him are involved in organizing the deal. Among them are the heads of Regional Gas Company, which manages 20 city and regional gas companies, which adds up to 70% of all gas distribution networks in Ukraine," the SBU Telegram channel says.

The SBU, citing data from a forensic economic examination, reports that during 2021 the suspects caused damage to the state valued in excess of UAH 4.2 billion, and the total amount of damage for 2016-2022 may exceed UAH 18 billion.

Materials from the investigation show that the fraudulent scheme consisted of regional gas companies controlled by Firtash purchasing fuel from a company he controlled. However, in reality, they received less than 30% of the paid volume of gas, and the resulting deficit was covered using gas owned by the state. The regional gas companies took the balance of "under-received" fuel out of Ukraine's gas transportation system, the SBU said.

At the same time, the state was almost not paid for this, citing a lack of funds. According to reports, Firtash's regional gas companies paid the state operator of the Ukrainian GTS an average of 30% of the total cost of the selected gas ... Later on, the defendants made the money disappear through a network of commercial structures controlled by the oligarch.

As part of the criminal proceedings, law enforcement conducted searches at the offices and residences of the organizers of the scheme.

Firtash, two heads of RGC LLC, the head of Ye Energy LLC and five heads of regional gas supply companies are suspected under a number of articles of the Ukrainian Criminal Code: appropriation, embezzlement or seizure of property through abuse of official position, committed on an especially large scale by an organized group, and legalization property obtained by criminal means.
The Arabian Sea  stretching across an area of about 38,62,000 sq km with a maximum width of approximately 2,400 km and depth of 4,652 m  is a hub of transnational organised crime at sea, including drug trafficking; trafficking in persons; smuggling of migrants; illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; and asymmetric threats at or from the sea.

Similarly, opioids produced in Central Asian nations are loaded onto dhows and transported through the Arabian Sea towards the west and east. In the east, they transit through South Asian countries, including India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, to then reach further destinations. This is known as the Southern Route, a well-established maritime path for opioid smuggling in the Indian Ocean Region, extending to Angola, Comoros, Djibouti, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles and Tanzania.

Operation Samudragupt, jointly conducted by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Indian Navy, has successfully interdicted a massive consignment of 2,700 kg of narcotics worth Rs 15,000 crore in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Kochi and apprehended a suspected Pakistani national. In all, 134 sacks of suspected methamphetamine, a boat and other items salvaged from the ship were brought to Kochi by the navy and handed over to the NCB, which in a statement, said the drug cache had started on a mother ship  a large vessel that distributes narcotics to several boats during its journey  from the Makran coast around Pakistan and Iran.

Drug seizures in the Arabian Sea are nothing new. On January 3 this year, it was disclosed that a French warship seized illegal drugs (worth a total estimated US street value of $24 million) from a fishing vessel transiting international waters in the North Arabian Sea, on December 27, 2022. French Marine Nationale frigate FS Guepratte (F714) was patrolling regional waters in support of the combined task force (CTF) 150 when it seized 3,492 kg of hashish and 472 kg of heroin from a fishing vessel.

Led by the Royal Saudi Navy, CTF 150 is one of four task forces organised under the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF)  the largest international naval partnership in the world consisting of 34 member-nations. The capture of the cargo comes amid wider concerns about the spread of the narcotics trade in the Gulf Arab region, with governments working together in an attempt to stem smuggling.

On February 25, the US Coast Guard seized $20 million worth of illegal drugs in the Arabian Sea during a routine patrol. The Sentinel-class cutter John Scheuerman intercepted a fishing vessel in international waters carrying four mariners, who were transporting more than 3,500 pounds (over 1,500 kg) of narcotics.

A frigate from the United Kingdom Royal Navy seized $6 million worth of hashish from a fishing vessel transiting the Arabian Sea, in May. The HMS Lancaster (F 229) was operating in support of CTF 150 when it discovered 3,000 kg of hashish on the smuggling vessel. The seizure took place the same day the US Coast Guard confiscated large quantities of methamphetamines and heroin from another fishing vessel while patrolling the Gulf of Oman under CTF 150.

Currently led by the UK, efforts by the CTF 150 in the Middle East this year have resulted in drug seizures worth a combined estimated US street value of more than $250 million. Frances Abu Dhabi-based naval command for the region suggested that the shipment, with an estimated value of 50M EUR, may have been partially bound for Europe.

Operation Samudragupt is the third major seizure by the NCB of maritime trafficking of drugs through the southern route over the past year and a half. The first seizure in the operation was made in February 2022, when a joint team of the NCB and navy seized 529 kg of hashish, 221 kg of methamphetamine and 13 kg of heroin from the high seas off the coast of Gujarat, all sourced from Balochistan (a region in Pakistan) and Afghanistan.

Subsequently, an Iranian boat was intercepted off the coast of Kerala in a joint operation by NCB and navy in October 2022 and a total of 200 kg of high-grade heroin, also sourced from Afghanistan, was seized and six Iranian drug traffickers were arrested.

The identity of the drug lords operating behind such mammoth seizures is still a matter of speculation. The US recently released drug lord Haji Bashir Noorzai in a prisoner swap deal with the Taliban. Noorzai is referred to as the Pablo Escobar of Asia and he spent over 17 years in US captivity but his release has been seen as a matter of concern by security agencies of many countries, including India. It was believed that Noorzais release would lead to a spike in smuggling of drugs across borders.

Another name that has emerged in connection with Operation Samudragupt is that of Haji Salim alias Haji Ali. It is believed that Haji Ali is living in Pakistan and is running his massive drug empire extending to half of the world from his safe haven in Pakistan, and all the big drug consignments caught in India after 2016, is seen as his handiwork. He specialises in smuggling drugs through the sea and has built a good network in the Arabian Sea. He has a penchant for using fancy code words and numerals like Scorpion, Rolex 55 seals, in addition to 777, 555, 999 and so on.

The heavy illicit narcotics trade in the Arabian Sea and its extensions in the Gulf region, has created a lot of discord. Yemeni influencer Mohammed Mahmoud Hatemhas accused Iran and its proxies of proliferating narcotics in the Gulf Arab region to destroy future generations. Some reports have suggested that a vast manufacturing and distribution network for a variety of narcotic drugs, including Captagon, is allegedly directed by associates of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad to fill government coffers amid the countrys economic collapse. Many of the drug consignments are also intended for Australia, where methamphetamine commands a lucrative price.

The production of illicit narcotics in low-intensity conflict environments remains a serious concern for many nations. Afghanistan is a solid example where the intersection of crime, narcotics production and insurgency has successfully thwarted stabilisation and security efforts. Despite efforts of many nations, the political, economic and conflict related factors that facilitate the narcotics industry and forges cooperation between drug trafficking organisations and insurgent movements, has still not been deciphered in its entirety.

(The author is IRS (retd), PhD (narcotics), former director general, National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes & Narcotics (NACIN). The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent the stand of this publication)
After submission of a 79-page letter by Shiv Sena (UBT) delegation to Deputy Speaker of Maharashtra, urging swift action in the disqualification of 16 MLAs from the Shinde camp, NCP leader Ajit Pawar clarified such action would not result in the governments downfall.

Even if 16 MLAs are disqualified, the government of Shinde and Fadnavis will not fall. There is no threat to the government," Pawar said while addressing a press conference here in Mumbai.

Supporting his viewpoint with an argument, he stated that in a legislative assembly consisting of 288 members, the government would not lose its majority threshold, even if 16 MLAs face disqualification.

During their meeting with Maharashtras Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal and Assembly Secretary Jitendra Bhole, a delegation of the Shiv Sena (UBT) delivered a letter requesting prompt action regarding the disqualification of 16 MLAs from the Shinde camp, in accordance with the recent verdict of the Supreme Court.

Sunil Prabhu, the Whip of Shiv Sena (UBT), confirmed the delegation submitted the letter to the Speaker, following the apex courts ruling, which granted the Speaker the authority to decide on the disqualification of the 16 Shinde camp MLAs.

Not Even in Dreams, Pawars Claim that Shinde Wont Resign

NCP leader Ajit Pawar on Friday reacted to Uddhav Thackerays demand that Eknath Shinde resigns on moral grounds and said it was unnecessary. Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday demanded that Eknath Shinde should resign on the basis of morality after the Supreme Court refused to restore the status quo in Maharashtra.

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There is no need for demanding resignation from the current CM Eknath Shinde on moral grounds. We know he will not resign even in his dreams. There is a huge difference between former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the current people," news agency ANI quoted Ajit Pawar as saying.

After the Supreme Court order that it could have restored status quo had Uddhav Thackeray not resigned, former Mahrashtra Chief Minister said Shinde is not following Shiv Sena founder, the late Balasaheb Thackerays ideology. Thackeray further stressed that he resigned from the CM post last year following a rebellion within the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde on moral grounds. I dont regret my decision," he said.
Rajasthan minister Mahesh Joshi on Tuesday slammed Congress leaders who have mounted an attack on the Gehlot government, saying it was surprising and disappointing that some responsible people were making allegations of corruption against the government.

Congress MLA from Didwana, Chetan Dudi also hit out at those lashing out against the government.

The two leaders came out in defence of the Ashok Gehlot government a day after Pilot and Sainik Kalyan Minister Rajendra Gudha levelled fresh corruption allegations.

Without naming Gudha over remarks that the Rajasthan government was going beyond the 40 per cent commission of Karnataka government, Joshi said, Such leaders should have thought before accusing their own government that they in a way levelling these allegations on themselves too".

Gudha made the allegations during Pilots rally in Jaipur on Monday.

In a statement on Monday night, Joshi said those who have made allegations know it well that whenever the matter of corruption has come, the chief minister has taken strong action by following the policy of zero tolerance and the Anti Corruption Bureaus actions against the corrupt are indicative of this.

Dudi, who was earlier considered close to dissident Congress leader Sachin Pilot but stood with the government during the political crisis in 2020, said the three demands raised by Pilot were impractical and completely incomprehensible.

On the issue of corruption by the former Vasundhara Raje government, Dudi said all those cases have been settled by the High Court and the Supreme Court and the mining leases have already been cancelled. Apart from a call for a high-level probe into corruption, Pilot on Monday spelt 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 the paper leak.

Dont you know that RPSC is an independent constitutional body which can never be dissolved? Even the resignation of the RPSC member is accepted by the president. Why are you confusing the youth? Dudi tweeted on Monday night. The MLA claimed the demand for compensation for the paper leaks is only for getting false praise because this does not happen in any state. To date, no leader in history has made such a demand. Strict actions that have been taken on paper leaks in Rajasthan have not been taken in any other state. Youths know this fact very well, he said.

Dudi said in Rajasthan, more than 150 people have been jailed for the paper leaks, and special laws and STF have been made on the paper leaks.

In a series of tweets, Dudi asked Pilot which cases of the Vasundhara government are still pending that he wants to get investigated.

Because as soon as the government came to power, these cases have been settled by the High Court and the Supreme Court and all the mines have also been cancelled, he said. Pilot has been raising the issue of the alleged corruption of the former government led by Raje, which included the mines scam.

Dudi also took a dig at Pilot over union minister Gajendra Singhs tweet after his rally in which he shared a photo and video clipping of Pilots rally, and said, A large group of Congress workers and leaders in Rajasthan, through whose hard work the government came, today itself is calling its government corrupt.

The Congress MLA wrote, Rajasthans biggest scam is Sanjeevani scam in which lakhs of peoples houses were looted, but in the rally, the name of the main accused of Sanjeevani scam was not even taken and after the rally, the main accused tweeted in praise of Pilot. This is the truth of the rally because friendship has been there since the time of Manesar. Pilot and his supporting MLAs, who had revolted against the Gehlot government in July 2020, had stayed in hotels in Manesar town near Gurgaon.

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Former deputy CM and Tonk MLA Pilot held a rally in Jaipur on Monday on the culmination of his Ajmer-Jaipur Jan Sangharsh Pad Yatra on the issue of corruption and paper leaks.

The rally was attended by at least 14 Congress MLAs, many former MLAs and several other leaders of the party and a large number of his supporters in which he announced to agitate against the government if THE three demands raised by him were not fulfilled by this month end.
On the first day of his spiritual discourse in Bihar, Bageshwar Dhams Dhirendra Shastri advocated for India to be declared a Hindu Rashtra. In the middle of the Hanumant Katha preaching, he said: One day a saint asked me if a Hindu nation is possible since I am advocating for the same. I smiled and replied that India is already a Hindu nation, its just that the announcement is pending."

Several top BJP leaders were also present to hear Dhirendra Krishna Shastri speak on the first day. Union ministers Giriraj Singh and Ashwini Choubey, former union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, MP Manoj Tiwary, Ramkripal Yadav, leader of opposition in the Bihar legislative assembly Vijay Sinha and Bihar BJP president Samrat Chaudhary were present at the programme.

On day 3, he said that the insult of Ramcharitmanas, Gita, and Puranas will not be tolerated now. Now saints will not be insulted. If you want to live in India, you have to say Sita-Ram," he said.

Shastri on the fourth day of the Hanumant Katha went a step further. The population of Bihar is 13 crores. Hindu Rashtra will start from Bihar only. Even if only 5 crore people hang the flag of their religion at their homes and start applying tilak on their forehead, India will move towards becoming a Hindu nation." Scorching heat, dust, and cramped space couldnt stop the devotees from different parts of Bihar, Jharkhand, and Nepal from thronging the venue.

On all four days, over 5 lakh devotees flocked and registered their presence in the three huge pandals set up in Taret Math in Naubatpur block of Patna district on the outskirts of the state capital. Thousands listened to the katha from outside the pandal.

Politics on Hindu Rashtra remarks

Chief minister Nitish Kumar after ignoring the invitation to the mega event, responded to the Hindu Rashtra remarks by Shastri. The Constitution was made after fighting the freedom struggle. How can we change the nomenclature in the Constitution? How can one change the name of the country? If anyone says something, it has no value. Those who are speaking today, were they born during the freedom struggle? All religions should be accepted and respected. I wonder how someone can speak like this. There are multiple religions in this country, each one should be respected. I have always helped people of all religions, he said to the media.

Janata Dal (United) MLC Khalid Anwar said, Bageshwar Dham Baba should not do politics. Action should be taken against those who divide society in the name of religion. How can anyone say that India will be made a Hindu nation? The country is governed by the Constitution, not by Baba. Action should be taken against those who threaten in the name of religion.

Rashtriya Janata Dal minister Tej Pratap Yadav who was upset with the visit of the self-styled godman in Bihar had a peculiar reaction. We do not know any Aba Baba Taba, we only believe in Devraha Baba because I was born with his blessings. Baba Bageshwar has insulted Biharis by calling them insane (pagal), for this Bihar will never forgive him," he said.

RJD patriarch Lalu Prasads younger son and deputy CM of Bihar, Tejashwi Yadav, had earlier refused to attend the Hanumant Katha. We keep getting a lot of invitations here. Where there is good for the public, we only go there. At present, Nitish ji and I are engaged in the welfare of Bihar, said Tejashwi.

Lalu Prasad before flying back to Delhi from Patna commented on Dhirendra Shastri. Is he really a Baba?" he asked.

The BJP has targeted CM Nitish Kumar and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav for not Shastris event.

Giriraj Singh said, These people are very busy and have no time to attend Hanumant Katha. But these people have all the time to attend iftars and wear topi."

Posters of Bageshwar Dham Baba Blackened

Almost all the posters of Bageshwar Dham Baba on the streets of Patna were coloured with black spray. Some posters were torn too in the dark. The miscreants even wrote 420 and Chor on the face.

Posters were also damaged on day one of Dhirendra Krishna Shastris spiritual discourse, but they were installed again. The BJP is pointing fingers at RJD goons", while Rashtriya Janata Dal said that it was the work of the Bharatiya Janata Party workers to get political gains.

RJD spokesperson Shakti Yadav told News18, The case of blackening the poster of Baba Bageshwar is a conspiracy of the BJP. The government will get it thoroughly investigated. CCTV footage will be checked. Action will be taken against the guilty."

Meanwhile, all the BJP leaders have gathered to accompany preacher Dhirendra Shastri on his last day of Hanumant Katha. The Baba will be leaving Patna at 9 pm on Wednesday after a huge success of his event. He has promised to come to Bihar again in September.

About Dhirendra Shastri

Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, also known as Bageshwar Dham Sarkar" and Bageshwar Dham Baba", is the peethadhish (head) of Bageshwar Dham, a pilgrimage site in Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh. He claims to read peoples minds. The 26-year-old self-styled godman also says he has miraculous powers" using which he opens a parcha or chit, which is a prediction of a persons sufferings and the solutions to them.

He talks about ghar wapsi", ending religious conversions, and boycotting those who speak against the Sanatana Dharma, the narratives often invoked by members of right-wing organisations including the BJP.

The BJP government in Madhya Pradesh has supported Shastri, with chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and home minister Narottam Mishra being regular visitors to his sermons and often sharing the dais with him.

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In Chhattisgarh, just ahead of assembly elections, the self-styled godman has stirred up a political controversy by pushing the religious conversion issue.

People had not heard of Shastri until he hit the headlines in December last year when the Nagpur chapter of late rationalist Narendra Dabholkars anti-superstition organisation Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti challenged his miraculous powers". He refused to take up the challenge and asked the anti-superstition organisation to instead come and meet him in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is keeping a close eye on developments in Rajasthan where Sachin Pilot threatened to launch a state-wide protest against the Ashok Gehlot government, said AICC co-incharge for Rajasthan Qazi Nizamuddin on Tuesday.

Nizamuddin held a meeting with other co-incharges Amrita Dhawan and Virendra Singh Rathore and party leaders in the state. He said that it was an election year and they will take feedback on how to ensure the partys victory.

Sachin (Pilot) ji is a strong pillar of the Congress. Our national president Mallikarjun Kharge is keeping a close eye on all the activities that are happening and the entire matter is in his cognisance," Nizamuddin said.

The Congress leader said that the matter has been pending" and Kharge will take a decision once he has addressed the situation in Karnataka. Kharge has held several rounds of meetings but he is yet to take a call on who will become the chief minister of Karnataka.

Amid a power tussle with Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Pilot on Tuesday issued an ultimatum to the state government to agree to his demands by the month-end or face a state-wide agitation.

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.

Asked about the demands raised by Pilot, Nizamuddin said, These things keep happening. If there is any pinpoint issue, then the government will definitely work on it".

He stressed that the Congress president has taken cognisance of the matter and only Kharge or any leader authorised by him can speak on the issue.

Pilot gave the ultimatum while addressing a public meeting here on Monday after his five-day Jan Sangharsh Yatra.

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(With PTI inputs)
Billionaire Elon Musk has left desi Twitter elated after confirming that he is a fan of Indian cuisine. On Tuesday, the business magnate was all praise for desi food while replying to one of his followers tweets. The user in question satiated their hunger with a lavish platter of what seemed to be butter chicken, naan and rice. I love basic b**** Indian food its so insanely good, the user captioned the photograph of their meal.

The Tesla boss seemed to be in full agreement with the tweet praising Indian food. So much so that he did not fail to leave his response in the comment section. True," wrote the SpaceX mogul. Take a look at it here:

True Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 16, 2023

Within a span of hours, his response has amassed major traction on Twitter. Not only his followers, but Elon Musk also made his way into the hearts of popular Indian celebs with his one-word comment. When the tweet caught the attention of Manikarnika actress Kangana Ranaut, she joined the reply section saying, How many more reasons will you give us to like you more and more."

How many more reasons will you give us to like you more and more  Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) May 16, 2023

Actor Ranvir Shorey joined the bandwagon, Not to brag, but Indian cuisine is the most diverse and evolved in the world."

Not to brag, but Indian cuisine is the most diverse and evolved in the world.  Ranvir Shorey (@RanvirShorey) May 16, 2023

With over a million replies, desi users flooded the comment section with their personality recommendations and suggestions. One Twitterati asked, What is your favourite dish in Indian cuisine?"

What is your favorite dish in Indian cuisine? Divya Gandotra Tandon (@divya_gandotra) May 16, 2023

Another stated, You dont know Indian food till you try home-cooked traditional - ground from scratch fare. These hotel and restaurant Indian spreads are a mere scratch on the real thing."

You dont know Indian food till you try home cooked traditional - ground from scratch fareThese hotel and restaurant Indian spreads are a mere scratch on the REAL THING  Strange & Wonder (@after700) May 16, 2023

One curious user wanted to know if Elon Musk could handle the heat of Indian species. Spicy or mild? they asked.

Spicy or mild? Asaad Sam Hanna (@AsaadHannaa) May 16, 2023

One more added, Indian food, culture, and tradition will make you all fall in love. Food is the best part of India. It opens the taste buds. Varieties make you go crazy. You have dry food and curry. Choices of different food for different months and times of the year."

#indian food, culture, tradition will make you all fall in Love.Food is the best part of India.It opens the Taste buds. Varieties make you go crazy.You have dry and curry.Choices of different food for different months and time of the year. biswaroop todi (@guttu73) May 16, 2023

Meanwhile, a user expressed, Theres so much more to explore in Indian Cuisine!

We have so many states and so many different cultures, and this is just a fraction of it. Youre missing out on a lot more. Hope you get a chance to try the other dishes someday."

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But theres so much more to explore in Indian Cuisine!We have so many states and so many different cultures, and this is just a fraction of it.Youre missing out on a lot more Hope you get a chance to try the other dishes some day Aishwarya Dabeer (@AishwaryaDabeer) May 16, 2023

Meanwhile, Elon Musk recently confirmed he has found a new CEO for Twitter. He announced the news on social media. Musk said she will likely take over the responsibility in six weeks. The change will make Elon Musk an executive chairman and chief technology officer of Twitter. Reports indicate the new Twitter CEO is likely to be Linda Yaccarino, the head of advertising sales at NBCUniversal.
Sudha Murty, a prominent author, and philanthropist who happens to be the mother-in-law of UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak encountered an awkward incident when an immigration officer expressed skepticism when she mentioned her London address as 10 Downing Street," which is the official residence and workplace of the British Prime Minister. Mrs. Murtys daughter, Akshata, is married to Rishi Sunak, who assumed office as the first Indian-origin Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in September of last year.

During a recent episode of The Kapil Sharma Show, Mrs. Murty humorously revealed that due to her simple appearance," many find it hard to believe that she is the mother-in-law of the Prime Minister.

Recounting the incident, she said, 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 the UK), but I didnt remember his complete address. But I finally wrote 10 Downing Street."

Her candid account continued with the immigration officers bewildered response. Looking at her in complete disbelief, the officer incredulously asked, Are you joking?!" Without missing a beat, Mrs. Murty replied, Nahi, sachchi bolti hu" (No, I am telling you the truth). She further elaborated, sharing her amusement by saying, He thought I was joking. No one believes that I, a 72-year-old, simple lady, can be the mother-in-law of the Prime Minister."

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In addition to this, the Chairperson of the Infosys Foundation also reminisced about her admiration for the late actor Dilip Kumar in her younger days, describing him as simply lajawaab" (fantastic). However, she also acknowledged that Shah Rukh Khan is the only actor who comes close to Dilip Kumars ability to portray emotions in the TKSS episode along with Guneet Monga and Raveena Tandon.

Inspired by the film Veer Zaara, Mrs. Murty shared a heartfelt observation with her daughter, expressing that if the legendary Dilip Kumar were young today, he would have embraced the role portrayed by Shah Rukh Khan. Reflecting on this, she expressed her belief that now, Shah Rukh Khan has taken up the mantle, asserting, Only he can do it."
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Alberta on Monday as raging wildfires prompted mass evacuations and reduced energy production in Canadas main oil-producing province, where meteorologists expect virtually no rain for 10 days or so.

In the provincial capital Edmonton, Trudeau received an update on firefighting efforts by Canadian soldiers sent to help provincial firefighting and recovery efforts since Thursday. More troops are expected to join in the coming days, according to the Alberta government.

The widespread blazes have marked an intense start to wildfire season in Alberta, forcing more than 30,000 people out of their homes at one point and shuttering at least 319,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd), or 3.7% of national production.

The first 11 days of May have set seasonal heat records in several parts of Alberta, including Edmonton, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Lieutenant Colonel Ben Schmidt, one of the army officials who briefed Trudeau, told him about the regions most at risk and how a lack of rain in the forecast was a huge challenge."

The forecast for Alberta shows a cold front sweeping through starting Tuesday evening that would bring gusty winds, a slight chance of a thunderstorm, but not much rain, said Sara Hoffman, a meteorologist with Environment Canada.

Were very concerned about the possibility of dry lightning in an area thats already got a pretty high fire risk," Hoffman said. Hot and dry conditions are expected to ramp up again from Friday and are unlikely to ease at least until early next week.

By Monday afternoon, 90 fires were burning across Alberta, with 23 considered out of control and more than 17,400 evacuees. That compared with 74 fires and about 16,500 evacuees on Friday.

I dont believe the worst is behind us," Alberta Wildfire agency official Christie Tucker said at a briefing.

Trudeau is due to leave for Seoul on Tuesday to meet South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, before moving on to Japan for a G7 summit starting Friday.

Benchmark Canadian heavy crude prices have risen to multi-month highs on concerns about the wildfires.

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Late on Sunday, Paramount Resources said that due to the fires a third-party gas processing plant and some Paramount fields were shut, and it had curtailed 45,000 boepd.

Vermilion Energy said on Monday it had restored 60% of the 30,000 boepd that it previously shut in.
Fighting is raging and Kyiv is relentlessly pressing its allies for more military hardware.

But has Ukraines long-promised counter offensive against the Russian invasion actually begun?

Analysts say Ukraine has stepped up its activity along the front line, seeking notably to pin Russia down and inflict maximum casualties around the flashpoint town of Bakhmut.

Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelensky has been on a whistlestop tour of European allies, winning pledges from Britain, France and Germany of increased military support while insisting Kyiv needs more.

Western capitals are eager to see the offensive start, in the hope Ukraine can make gains, force Russia to the negotiating table on Kyivs terms and open a path to ending the conflict.

Ukraine is seeking to take back control of territory occupied by Russian forces in the wake of the February 2022 invasion and also areas, including Crimea and parts of the Donbas, seized by Russia in 2014.

The battle for Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine has turned into the longest standoff since the Russian invasion.

Ukraine is now saying it is advancing in the area, retaking Russian positions in Bakhmuts suburbs.

I lean towards the interpretation that Ukraine is fixing Russian forces in Bakhmut to keep them committed to a particular front while Ukrainian forces probe different areas," said Ivan Kyszcz, a research fellow at the International Centre for Defence and Security in Estonia.

My preliminary conclusion is that these probing and shaping operations will be ongoing but remain at the tactical level, that is, until the leadership decides the best moment to launch a larger operation," he told AFP.

- Probing Russian defences -

Moscows forces switched several weeks ago into a defensive posture, employing a large number of soldiers, sometimes three lines deep, to hold positions.

Their set-up includes anti-tank ditches, barriers, pre-fabricated lines of defence like the small anti-tank concrete pyramids known as dragons teeth, and trenches for the men.

The Ukrainian counter-offensive consequently risks being deadly and costly in terms of equipment for Kyiv.

But it appears Ukraine has started a period of tests to measure the effectiveness of this defence.

Ukraine has conducted local counter-offensives in and around Bakhmut to roll back Russias flanks and gauge defences in the region.

Elsewhere, Ukrainian forces are likewise probing Russian defences and reaction behaviours," said Lucas Webber, co-founder and editor of the Militant Wire news site on global military activity.

He said it was difficult" to say whether the full planned counter-offensive has begun.

However, these actions suggest Ukraine is preparing for something much larger.

These could be shaping operations to put Ukraine in a better position when the real action starts."

He said the full counter-offensive was likely to involve multiple fronts, including operations to take back the parts of the Zaporizhzhia region it does not currently control.

That includes the Zaporizhzhia its nuclear power plant which is still occupied by Russian forces, and the south of the region.

Taking Bakhmut in itself would be a blow to Russia.

The citys symbolic importance after such a long battle now outstrips its strategic value, especially given the resources used by the Russian army and the Wagner mercenary group under Yevgeny Prigozhin.

A successful Ukrainian campaign in the region would frustrate Russia and set Moscows war efforts back considerably," said Webber.

- Push the other into a mistake -

Further intrigue comes from the increasingly volatile behaviour of Prigozhin, who is becoming ever more scathing in his criticism of the Russian defence ministry and on Friday accused the Russian army of fleeing" rather than regrouping around Bakhmut.

A report in the Washington Post on Sunday said Prigozhin had maintained contact with Ukrainian intelligence throughout the war and had even in January offered to give Kyiv information on Russian troop positions if Ukraines commanders withdrew their soldiers from the area around Bakhmut.

Some commentators are now arguing he had crossed a line and risks antagonising Russian President Vladimir Putin but Prigozhin has dismissed the allegations as laughable".

Pierre Razoux, academic director of the France-based Mediterranean Foundation of Strategic Studies (FMES), said the current situation was characteristic of a phase where both sides were using feints and games to deceive the other ahead of a major operation.

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The preparatory phases of clandestine actions and deceptions and manipulations seems to have been well launched on both sides," he said.

Each side is probably trying to push the other side into a mistake by convincing them to attack where they seem weakest."
Pakistan Army said it will punish those involved in the recent attacks on its installations on Monday. Pakistan army chief General Asim Munir said spoilers will be brought to justice through trials under relevant laws of Pakistan, including the Pakistan Army Act and Official Secrets Act, the Dawn said in a report.

The announcement was made during the Special Corps Commanders Conference (CCC) which he presided over at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi.

During the meeting, top Pakistani generals took note of 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 press release, accessed by the Dawn, said.

One of the outcomes of the meeting was that the Pakistani Army believes that the desecration of the pictures of martyrs, vandalisation of monuments and military installations, setting fire on historical buildings and attempts to provoke the army to make it react impulsively were a well-coordinated arson plan.

The top generals condemned the politically motivated and instigated incidents against military installations and public/private properties.

Based on the irrefutable evidence collected so far, the 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 press release further said.

The commanders also resolved that they will no longer exercise restraint against those who will launch attacks on military installations and setups under any circumstances.

They also called on the government to punish violators of social media rules and regulations.

The attacks on army installations came after Imran Khan was arrested for three days last week.

The former prime minister and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief was arrested for his alleged involvement in the Al Qadir trust case but the Supreme Court and the Islamabad High Court let him go on protective bail, which stands expired as of Tuesday.

During the time he was in National Accountability Bureaus (NAB) custody, PTI cadres wreaked havoc demanding their leader be freed by attacking army installations, burning public property and fighting with the police.

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Meanwhile, a report by CNN-News18 said that the recent arrest of Imran Khan and the protests by PTI workers have split the Pakistan Army and highly-placed military officials are unhappy over how COAS Munir reacted to the events.

(with inputs from Shalinder Wangu)
French President Emmanuel Macron announced the transfer of missiles to Ukraine, the range of which "allows to resist."

In an interview with the French TV channel TF1, according to European Pravda, Macron noted that "new ammunition" would be sent to Ukraine.

"We are not at war with Russia, we are helping Ukraine to resist the Russian aggressor. This means that we are not supplying weapons that can fall on Russian soil or attack Russia," he said.

He did not give details about weapons for Ukraine, noting only, in particular, that France would send missiles, the range of which "allows Ukraine to resist."

Macron noted that France had already supplied Ukraine with a lot of weapons, in particular Caesar self-propelled artillery mounts, ammunition and armored vehicles.
At least 15 people were killed in a bloody clash over the delimitation of a coal mine in the restive northwestern region of Pakistan on Monday, police said.

The incident occurred between the Sunnykhel and Zarghun Khel tribes in the Darra Adam Khek area, around 35 km southwest of Peshawar, in Kohat district over the delimitation of the mine, they added.

The bodies and those injured were shifted to a Peshawar hospital. The exact number of injured people was not immediately known, but there were casualties on both sides in the exchange of fire, police said.

Joint teams of police and other security forces rushed to the site and halted the firing between the rival tribes.

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An FIR in connection with the incident has been registered at the Darra Adam Khel police station.

The dispute between the Sunnykhel and Zarghun Khel tribes over the delimitation of the coal mine has been continuing for the last couple of years and many reconciliation jirgas have been held in a bid to end the deadlock.
The situation in Pakistan remains tense on Tuesday as the release of former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan failed to bring normalcy. Internet services have been restored across Pakistan allowing people to voice their opinions regarding the events that shook Pakistan last week.

There has been some relief for Imran Khan as the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has extended bails of PTI chief Imran Khan in two cases. The Lahore High Court, however, reserved its verdict on Khans plea against his arrest in any case registered on or after May 9.

There is no sign of truce between the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief and the ruling Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) coalition. The tensions have been exacerbated partly because of the ongoing litigations filed against PTI bigwigs like Fawad Chaudhry and the army chief General Asim Munir indirectly warned PTI that the army will not exercise any restraint if they are threatened.

Here Are the Latest Updates on the Ongoing Political Crisis in Pakistan:

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The ruling coalition criticised Pakistan Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial demanding he step down because he allegedly provided excessive leeway to PTI Chairman Imran Khan. The ruling coalition also cautioned the top judge that there will be dire consequences if Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was disqualified for contempt of court for failing to comply with the courts ruling on the Punjab elections on May 14.

The Islamabad High Court has declared the arrest of Dr. Shireen Mazari under the 3 MPO order as unlawful and has ordered her immediate release. Another PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry is being produced at Islamabad HC where he will attend his hearing. Other bigwigs like Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Maleeka Bukhari, Ejaz Chaudhry, Jamshed Cheema, Musarrat Jamshed Cheema and Ali Mohammad Khan were detained during the week of unrest.

The hearing of the Toshakhana case against former prime minister Imran Khan has been postponed until June 8 by a district and sessions court in Islamabad. The adjournment came after the submission of a copy of the stay order issued by the Islamabad High Court in the case by Imran Khans lawyer. The IHCs relief not only prevented authorities from arresting him but also halted his trial until the second week of June.

PTI leader Imran Khan was granted bail extensions in two cases by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) until June 8. One case is related to making allegations against high-ranking officers of state institutions and the other case is related to alleged physical assault of PML-N leader Mohsin Ranjha by PTI supporters. A case was registered against the former prime minister for allegedly inciting mutiny but Khan said it was politically motivated.

The Lahore High Court (LHC) reserved its verdict on PTI Chairman Imran Khans plea against his arrest in any case registered on or after May 9, when he was arrested from the Islamabad High Court premises in the Al-Qadir Trust case.

(with inputs from the Dawn and GeoNews)
Ukrainian anti-graft authorities said on Monday they were investigating large-scale corruption in the countrys Supreme Court system and shared a photograph of piles of dollars neatly lined up on a sofa.

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) did not name anyone accused of corruption, but two local media organizations reported Supreme Court Chief Justice Vsevolod Kniaziev had been detained on suspicion of receiving a $3 million bribe.

Reuters could not independently verify the reports.

The countrys anti-graft authorities displayed the photograph on its Facebook page, which said the discovery followed investigations by NABU and the office of the Special Anti-corruption Prosecutor (SAP).

NABU and SAP have exposed large-scale corruption in the Supreme Court, namely a scheme for the leadership and judges of the Supreme Court to receive bribes," the bureau said in the post. Emergency investigative actions are under way."

Brussels has made fighting corruption a precondition for Kyiv to join the 27-member European Union. Despite progress in recent years, Ukraine ranks 116th out of 180 countries in Transparency Internationals Corruption Perceptions Index.

Dzerkalo Tyzhnia, a local news website, and online outlet Ukrayinska Pravda both quoted unnamed officials saying Kniaziev had been detained without providing further details.

Reuters was not immediately able to contact Kniaziev for comment after normal business hours.

Dzerkalo Tyzhnia quoted its source as saying the money came from backers of Ukrainian billionaire Kostyantyn Zhevago, who was arrested in France in December at Kyivs request in relation to embezzlement charges.

The businessman told the court he did nothing wrong and should not be extradited.

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The money had come from supporters of a court decision in April that favored pellet producer Ferrexpo Plc, Dzerkalo Tyzhnia quoted its source as saying. It said another 18 Supreme Court judges who heard the Ferrexpo case were now being searched.

The case addressed a repurchase of about 40.2% of shares in the companys Ukraine subsidiary, Ferrexpo Poltava Mining, which was sold to Zhevago and other parties.
The UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues Fernand de Varennes faced criticism from the government for politicising and raising false speculations about Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday.

Varennes remarks comes a week before the G20 tourism working group meeting in Srinagar. All arrangements are being made so that Srinagar can hold its first ever G20 working group meeting but some nefarious elements are using the event to spread falsehoods and mislead global institutions.

We @IndiaUNGeneva strongly reject the statement issued by SR on minority issues @fernanddev & the baseless & unwarranted allegations in it. As G20 President, its Indias prerogative to host its meetings in any part of the country. (1/2)@UNHumanRights @volker_turk @MEAIndia India at UN, Geneva (@IndiaUNGeneva) May 16, 2023

India accused Varennes of acting irresponsibly and politicising the Jammu and Kashmir issue. Varennes made false claims like the G20 meeting was being held in the Union Territory to normalise its suppression of minorities.

We (Indias Permanent Mission in Geneva) strongly reject the statement issued by SR Fernand de Varennes on minority issues and the baseless and unwarranted allegations in it. As G20 President, its Indias prerogative to host its meetings in any part of the country, the Indian Permanent Mission in Geneva said.

Holding a #g20 meeting in #jammuandkashmir while massive #humanrights violations are ongoing is lending support to attemps by #India to normalize the brutal & repressive denial of democratic & other rights of #kashmiri #Muslims and #minorities. pic.twitter.com/fjLSjovfKX UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues (@fernanddev) May 15, 2023

We are aghast that Fernand de Varennes has acted irresponsibly to politicise this issue, misused his position as SR to publicise on social media his presumptive and prejudiced conclusions in a gross violation of the Code of Conduct for SRs, it further added.

Varennes in a tweet said: Holding a G20 meeting in Jammu and Kashmir while massive human rights violations are ongoing is lending support to attempts by India to normalise the brutal and repressive denial of democratic and other rights of Kashmiri Muslims and minorities.

He further added: G20 should on the contrary uphold International human rights obligations and the UN Declaration of Human Rights should be upheld and the situation in Jammu and Kashmir should be decried and condemned, not pushed under the rug and ignored with the holding of this meeting.

Srinagar will be hosting the G20 meeting of the working group on tourism from May 22 to May 24.

Pakistan also tried to create unnecessary noise regarding the G20 working group meeting during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) foreign ministers meeting in Goa earlier this month which was attended by its foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

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When Bilawal Bhutto Zardari raised the issue, the external affairs minister S Jaishankar said since Pakistan is not a member of the G20 it has no locus standi to comment on the issue and Kashmir is and will always remain an integral part of India.

(with inputs from Shalinder Wangu)
The United States and Micronesia agreed on Monday to renew a key strategic pact, US presidential envoy Joseph Yun said, adding that he hopes for similar progress with Palau, as the US shores up support among Pacific island states to counter competition from China.

Yun told Reuters the Compact of Free Association agreement (COFA) with Micronesia would be signed on May 22 at a ceremony in Papua New Guinea, attended by US President Joe Biden and new Micronesian President Wesley Simina.

Yun said he expected to be in the Marshall Islands from Thursday until Sunday, but was doubtful" its COFA agreement could be finalised at the moment.

Washington first reached the COFA accords with the three island states in the 1980s, under which it retains responsibility for their defence and provides economic assistance and gains exclusive access to huge strategic swaths of the Pacific in return.

Renewing the COFA agreements has become a key part of US efforts to push back against Chinas bid to expand its influence in the Pacific.

Yun said he initialed the agreement with his Micronesian negotiating counterpart Leo Falcam and would formally sign it with him next week in Port Moresby on the sidelines of a second summit between the United States and Pacific island leaders.

Its absolutely a done deal," he said, adding: I am (now) going to go to Palau. Where I hope to make similar progress."

Biden will next week become the first sitting US president to visit the Pacific islands state of Papua New Guinea following a G7 summit in Japan, underscoring his investment in the Pacific region to counter China.

The old COFA provisions expire in 2023 for the Marshall Islands and Micronesia and in 2024 for Palau.

Yun gave no reason for the holdup with the Marshall Islands, but parliamentary elections are expected there in November.

Washington has already signed memorandums of understanding on future assistance with the three COFA states. Yun said last month the topline" agreements would provide them with a total of about $6.5 billion over 20 years.

Asked about the Marshall Islands, another senior US official said this is no longer about the amount of money but  about how the money will be structured and how it will be spent and what issues it will cover.

These are always politically very, very sensitive in each country," he said, adding, using the initials of the Republic of the Marshall Islands: In the longer term, Im very optimistic that we will get an agreement with RMI."

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Last year, more than 100 arms-control, environmental and other activist groups urged the Biden administration to formally apologize to the Marshall Islands for the impact of massive US nuclear testing there and to provide fair compensation.

Marshall Islanders are still plagued by health and environmental effects of the 67 US nuclear bomb tests from 1946 to 1958, which included Castle Bravo" at Bikini Atoll in 1954 - the largest US bomb ever detonated.
Ukraine Air Force on alleged hit of Patriot air defense system: we to not comment on Russian sources

Yuriy Ihnat, Speaker of the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, said that the Air Force Command of Ukraine would not comment on the information of the Russian side about the alleged hit of the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system during the night attack on Kyiv.

"Let's leave it without comment. We will not comment on Russian sources," Ihnat said at a briefing on Tuesday.

Earlier, the Ministry of Defense of the aggressor country stated that allegedly "a high-precision strike with the Kinzhal hypersonic missile system in the city of Kyiv hit a U.S.-made Patriot anti-aircraft missile system."
Businessman Kostiantyn Zhevaho has nothing to do with the situation with the alleged bribery by the president or judges of the Supreme Court, the press service of the businessman has reported.

"Information by some media outlets that an unlawful benefit could have been received from people acting in the interests of the entrepreneur is completely untrue. Zhevaho never gave and could not give such instructions to anyone," he said in a message sent to Interfax-Ukraine on Tuesday.

It states that some media draw parallels in this case with the decision of the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court on April 19, 2023 in the case of recognizing the legality of the acquisition of 40.19% of the shares of Poltava Mining by Ferrexpo, created by Zhevaho, in 2002.

At the same time, Director of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) Semen Kryvonos at a briefing on Tuesday confirmed that this version is the main one: according to him, the judges of the Supreme Court received an unlawful benefit for deciding in favor of Zhevaho in the dispute over the shares of Poltava Mining. He said that the NABU made operational and technical steps involving an undercover detective.

"Several contacts were recorded between the owner of the Finance and Credit financial group and one of the owners of a lawyer association that was used to cover up criminal activity. There was an agreement between the owner of this group and the owner of this lawyer association to transfer unlawful benefits in favor of high-ranking officials of the court for making the decision necessary for this entrepreneur," the director of NABU said.

He said that after the decision of the Supreme Court on April 19 in favor of Ferrexpo, in early May, a lawyer  a member of this criminal group  received instructions from the leadership of the Supreme Court to distribute this unlawful benefit among the judges.

"This is an obviously baseless connection and a clear fraud. The Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court adopted its April judgment not in my personal interests, but in the interests of a large, public company with respected shareholders, traded on the main floor of the London Stock Exchange," Zhevaho said in turn.

In his opinion, the Supreme Court announced a legally verified verdict.

"An attempt by dubious offshore companies associated with persons involved in the U.S. and European sanctions lists, including Russian citizens, to carry out a seizure of a large industrial asset was suppressed. Other shareholders and I were convinced that it is in the highest court of Ukraine that one can achieve the protection of their legal rights," the co-owner of Ferrexpo said.

At the same time, Zhevaho suggested that today's events around the Supreme Court may be aimed at discrediting this public body, so law enforcement agencies that have publicly announced the revealed signs of bribery should prove their accusations through an evidentiary investigation with a court verdict.

For his part, the businessman assured that, if necessary, he and the lawyers of the respective companies are ready to provide all due explanations to the investigation and the courts.

"I emphasize that we are interested in a transparent investigation of this case to remove all suspicions and confirm our reputation in Ukraine and among foreign partners," Zhevaho said.
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 US that his country was siding with Russia in the war in Ukraine and had sent Moscow weapons for it, the AP reports. 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. It added, "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 US ambassador to South Africa alleging last week that the country had provided weapons to Russia when a ship under US 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, though it has not categorically ruled out that 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 US Ambassador to South Africa Reuben Brigety, who questioned South Africa's neutrality while making the allegations about a weapons shipment. 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." The AP independently verified that the cargo ship stopped at the South African naval base for at least three days in December, as Brigety claimed. A review of records shows that the Lady R is tied to a company that was sanctioned by the US for transporting weapons for the Russian government and aiding its war effort in Ukraine.

(Read more Russia-Ukraine war stories.)
The number of migrants encountered at the southern US border fell 50% during the last three days compared with the days leading up to the end of a key pandemic-era regulation, federal officials said Monday. A high number of migrants are still in US custody, though 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 the Border Patrol to hold migrants has been a concern as more 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 AP reports. 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 US enforcement measures went into effect Friday.

"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 US government to address these flows will work over time," said Nunez-Neto. He credited the US planning as well as enforcement measures Mexico and Guatemala have carried out in recent days along their own southern borders.

The head of the US 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 US 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.

(Read more US-Mexico border stories.)
A Christian fundraising site collecting money for Daniel Penny has raised more than $2 million for the legal defense of the Marine veteran who faces manslaughter charges for allegedly putting Jordan Neely in a fatal chokehold aboard a New York subway earlier this month. The GiveSendGo fundraiser, which was posted by the law firm representing Penny, says the 24-year-old was "protecting individuals on a NYC subway train from an assailant who later died." Witnesses are split on how threatening Neely was before he died, Fox News reports; one, for example, says he was threatening to kill passengers aboard the train while another says that while he was screaming, he did not physically attack anyone.

Among those urging people to donate to Penny's legal defense fund: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who says Penny should know "America's got his back." One very well-known American who has his back is Kid Rock, who donated $5,000 to the crowdfunding campaign, Fox News reports. Another: Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy; the entrepreneur donated $10,000 and said in an interview with Fox News that Neely, who suffered from mental health issues, should have been behind bars or institutionalized. Contributions to the fund above and beyond what Penny ends up needing will be donated to a New York mental health advocacy program. The New York Times says other right-wing figures and groups have similarly embraced Penny's cause.

Meanwhile, a GoFundMe campaign for Neely's family has raised $135,000. Lawyers for Neely's family say the way Penny's attorneys are painting their client's actions is "character assassination." The statement, they say, aims to paint Neely in a bad light "in an effort to convince us Jordan's life was 'worthless.'" Neely, the Los Angeles Times reports, was known locally as a Michael Jackson impersonator who sometimes moon-walked through the subway; he'd been arrested multiple times, sometimes for violent incidents on the subway. "The truth is," the statement continues, "[Penny] knew nothing about Jordan's history when he intentionally wrapped his arms around Jordan's neck, and squeezed and kept squeezing." (Read more Jordan Neely stories.)
Ana Moreno had taken one of her daughters out to get the teen's hair done and pick up her prom dress for the dance that night when she was caught in crossfire on a Dallas street and killed. The tragedy took place Saturday, the day before Mother's Day, and no one is yet in custody, CBS Texas reports. Moreno's vehicle was struck by a stray bullet during a shootout between two other vehicles; three other people were also shot and are in critical condition, NBC DFW reports. The Dallas Police Department is asking anyone with information about the shooting to reach out to investigators.

"All we heard was gunshots and she was about to stop and I told her to step on it," Moreno's daughter says. "All I remember was she fell on my shoulder," and the car crashed. Moreno's other daughter says the rest of the family was waiting at home to see her sister off to the prom when, instead, the high school senior texted to tell them Moreno had been shot. Relatives rushed to the scene, which was not far away, but Moreno had been taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead. A GoFundMe for the family has raised $10,000 so far. (Read more Texas stories.)
By providing Ukraine with F-16 fighter aircraft, Washington will not only save many Ukrainian lives and ensure Ukraine's battlefield successes, but it will also help to alleviate the global food crisis, gain valuable experience that will strengthen the U.S. Air Force, and ensure long-term stability in Europe, Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba said in his article for Foreign Policy.

"To begin, Ukraine requires modern jets to strengthen our air and missile defenses, save lives, and protect civilians. Russian missiles and drones strike our peaceful cities at night, killing people  most tragically, children  while they are sleeping," he said.

According to the minister, F-16s will operate as one combined system with ground-based air defense, allowing us to shoot down Russian missiles long before they kill someone or destroy another energy facility.

"Second, we require modern jets to support our ground forces. Air superiority is required as a precondition for any successful offensive operations under U.S. and NATO military doctrine," Kuleba said.

He also emphasized that F-16s will allow Ukraine to control its skies, protect its troops, reduce their losses, and increase the chances of its pilots surviving dogfights.

"Providing Ukraine with more Soviet-era MiGs will not accomplish this goal. Their radars are inferior to Russian radars, and their munitions are obsolete, putting our pilots' lives in grave danger," the minister said.

The third reason, according to Kuleba, is that Ukraine requires modern jets to ensure the security of the Black Sea grain corridor.

"This will enable us to fully resume Ukraine's food exports without having to rely on Russia's perpetual lack of goodwill. A squadron of well-equipped F-16s will allow us to keep Russian warships and combat aircraft away from the grain corridor's maritime route. This will ensure an uninterrupted flow of vessels carrying Ukrainian grain and other foodstuffs, particularly to the most vulnerable countries in the global south," he said.

In addition, the minister said that Ukraine's experience flying F-16s in direct combat with Russia will benefit the U.S. Air Force.

"We will share our experience with using F-16s against Russia, which will significantly upgrade the U.S. Air Force without putting any American lives in danger. Ukrainian aces will turn Top Gun fiction into reality," Kuleba said.

Also, F-16s in the hands of Ukrainian pilots will serve as a strong deterrent to any future Russian attempts to redraw borders in Europe, ensuring the continent's long-term stability.

"We require those jets solely for defense and deterrence. We have never had territorial claims against Russia, only over the land within our own borders recognized by international law. Fears of Ukraine misusing F-16s are therefore misplaced. On the contrary, F-16s will aid Ukraine in not only restoring peace on its own soil, but also in taming Russian President Vladimir Putin's aggressive ambitions and de-escalating the conflict," Kuleba said.

According to him, the time required to train Ukrainian pilots cannot be used as a counterargument since Ukrainian aces are prepared to begin training at any time and complete it in a short period of time.

"There are no reasons why the training of Ukrainian pilots cannot begin now. There is also no issue with the jets' availability. We have reasons to believe that some European partners are willing to provide the first platforms and take care of maintenance if Washington gives the go-ahead," the Ukrainian minister said.

Kuleba assured that the payoff of the decision to provide Ukraine with F-16s will be decades of secure and prosperous development for Ukraine, the United States, and their European partners and allies.

"Instead of focusing on fears that will never materialize, we urge the United States and its allies to consider the benefits of providing Ukraine with F-16s," he said.
UPDATE

May 19, 2023 1:41 AM CDT

New Zealand police on Friday lowered the confirmed death toll from a Wellington hostel fire from six people to five, although they said they still haven't finished searching the dangerous four-story building. And in another development, a man charged with two counts of arson in connection with the fire made his first court appearance, the AP reports. He is accused of setting fire to a couch about two hours prior to the big blaze, and, later, of setting fire to the Loafers Lodge itself, ABC reports. If found guilty, the man faces a maximum 14 years in prison on the two charges. Police said they're treating the case as a homicide investigation and could add more serious charges later.

May 16, 2023 1:30 AM CDT

A fire ripped through a hostel in New Zealands capital overnight, killing at least six people and forcing others to flee the four-story building in their pajamas in what a fire chief on Tuesday called his worst nightmare. Six bodies were found but not all areas of the building had been searched yet because the roof on the top floor had collapsed, bringing down debris and making the area unsafe, said Bruce Stubbs, the incident controller for Fire and Emergency New Zealand. Officials said 52 people had made it out of the building alive but they were still trying to account for others and it could take some time to confirm the total number killed, the AP reports. Authorities warned fatalities would likely rise, but said they believed the death toll to be less than 10.

The 92-room Loafers Lodge offered basic, affordable rooms with shared lounges, kitchens, and laundry facilities to people of a wide range of ages. Some were placed there by government agencies and were considered vulnerable because they had little in the way of resources or support networks. Firefighters were called to the hostel at about 12:30am. Emergency officials said the building had no fire sprinklers, which Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said was not required in New Zealands building code for older buildings that would have to be retrofitted. Police said the cause of the fire was not known yet but they didnt believe it had been deliberately lit.

(Read more New Zealand stories.)
In November, the Netflix series Unsolved Mysteries featured an episode on family abductions, including the case of Kayla Unbehaun, who vanished from South Elgin, Illinois, at the age of 9 after a visit with her mom, who didn't have custody of her. Nearly six years later, Kayla, now 15, has been found. NBC Chicago reports that the teen turned up in North Carolina after an eagle-eyed woman who'd seen the Netflix program spotted her mother, Heather Unbehaun, over the weekend at an Asheville clothing consignment shop.

Per WLS, Kayla's father, Ryan Iskerka, went to pick his daughter up from her mother's house in Wheaton on July 5, 2017, only to find that Unbehaun had packed up her vehicle and taken off with Kayla. Unbehaun only had visitation rights, while Iskerka had full custody. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children issued an alert on Kayla and even had an age-progressed image disseminated in the hopes someone would spot her. No one did, until this past Saturday, when a bystander recognized Unbehaun from "published media" and called the cops, an Asheville police rep tells NBC.

Unbehaun, 40, was arrested and faces a charge of child abduction; it's not clear if other charges will emerge. She's being held on $250,000 bond and will be extradited to Illinois. Kayla was taken into the custody of North Carolina's Division of Social Services and will be brought back to family in her original home state. Her dad, meanwhile, is ecstatic over the news. "I'm overjoyed that Kayla is home safe," he says in a statement. "We ask for privacy as we get to know each other again and navigate this new beginning." (Read more missing child stories.)
A 12-year-old is charged with fatally shooting a Sonic employee in Texas. The employee, 32-year-old Matthew Davis, had confronted 20-year-old Angel Gomez after seeing him peeing in the parking lot of the restaurant in Keene around 9:40pm Saturday, police say, per KXAS. At some point, a physical altercation ensued. Police say the 12-year-old used an AR-15 to open fire on Davis from the backseat of Gomez's vehicle, hitting him multiple times, per NPR and KDFW. Davis was flown to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Gomez and the 12-year-old fled the scene, though Gomez later returned, police say.

He is charged with murder along with the minor, who was arrested later Saturday in Rio Vista, per KXAS. Both he and Gomez are said to reside in Fort Worth. Police have not described their relationship to each other. Davis is survived by a 10-year-old son and a mother who works as a flight attendant. She learned of her son's death while on an overnight flight, according to a GoFundMe page, which has raised more than $11,000 to cover funeral and other expenses. Davis, a Louisiana native, had reportedly just moved to Keene and started his job at the restaurant two weeks ago, per KDFW. The restaurant remained closed as of Monday. (Read more murder stories.)
Police fatally shot the suspect in Monday's mass shooting in Farmington, New Mexico, which left three others dead and six injured, including two police officers. Now, more details are trickling out about the gunman, who cops say was 18 years old and used at least three firearms to carry out his rampage. Per CNN, Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe held a press conference later Monday and revealed that the suspect, who has yet to be identified, started through a Farmington stretch of neighborhood about a quarter-mile long around 11am with an AR-15-style rifle and two other firearms, shooting at least six homes and three vehicles before responding officers arrived at the scene and fatally shot him.

"At this point it appears to be purely random," Hebbe said, per the AP. "There was no schools, no churches, and no individuals targeted. ... The suspect randomly fired at whatever entered his head to shoot at." The shooting was "honestly ... one of the most horrific and difficult days that Farmington has ever had as a community," Hebbe added. It's not clear what the condition is of the injured civilians, but Hebbe says a New Mexico State Police officer who was shot and drove himself to the hospital is "doing well." Meanwhile, an officer from the Farmington PD has already been treated and released. Another news conference is expected Tuesday. (Read more New Mexico stories.)
Overnight, Russia launched 18 missiles at Kyiv, six of them said to be "unstoppable" hypersonic Kinzhal missiles that travel at up to 10 times the speed of sound. Although people on the ground were said to be hurt by falling debris, Ukraine on Tuesday said it shot down all sixwhat would be a first in which the war-torn nation took out "an entire volley" of the missiles, per Reuters. If the interception claim from Ukraine's Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, the head of the nation's armed forces known as the "Iron General," is true, it would be a big win for Western air defense systems. Zaluzhnyi says the missiles were launched from aircraft, while three Iskander missiles were launched from land, and nine Kalibr cruise missiles came from ships in the Black Sea, per the Telegraph.

"It was exceptional in its densitythe maximum number of attack missiles in the shortest period of time," Kyiv official Serhiy Popko said on the messaging app Telegram. Ukraine shot down a lone Kinzhal (Russian for "dagger") earlier this month, lending credence to some experts' belief that the missile isn't as unstoppable as claimed by Russia, per Insider. "Nothing is unstoppable. Nothing is perfect," said Tom Karako, head of the missile defense project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, at the time. "It turns out American hardware, including American air and missile defense hardware, is pretty good." (Read more Russia-Ukraine war stories.)
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 states already allow canine dining outdoors, the AP reports the issue is far from settled, with many diners and restaurants pushing back against the increasing presence of pooches. Restaurants have been required to allow service dogs for decades. But it wasnt until the mid-2000s that a handful of statesincluding Florida and Illinoisbegan passing laws allowing dogs in outdoor dining spaces, according to the Animal Legal and Historical Center at Michigan State University. Twenty-three states now have such laws or regulations. But the legal landscape is confusing.

Michigan law doesnt 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 Protectiona group of food industry and health experts that advises the governmentasked 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 FDAs 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 dont use plates or utensils meant for humans.

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 doesnt think dogs should be banned, but says restaurants should consider designating dog-friendly areas or specific hours when dogs are allowed. "Its not a matter of liking or disliking dogs," she says. The point is, regardless of what the owner might sayno matter how perfect and obedient they insist their dog istheres 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 its for your dog, what exactly are they getting out of it?" she says. "Its not as fun of a social interaction for dogs as it is for us."

(Read more dogs stories.)
The report didn't go as far as he hoped, but former President Trump is still looking to quickly capitalize on withering new criticism of the FBI's investigation of him. "I, and much more importantly, the American public have been victims of this long-running and treasonous charade started by the Democratsstarted by Comey," Trump told Fox News Digital, referring to former FBI chief James Comey. "There must be a heavy price to pay for putting our country through this." Trump also took to Truth Social, where he asserted the "American Public was scammed," per the Hill. The former president spoke after the release of special counsel John Durham's report that slammed the FBI's investigation, called Crossfire Hurricane, into alleged ties between Trump's 2016 campaign and Russia.

The criticism: In a nutshell, Durham "found that the FBI acted too hastily and relied on raw and unconfirmed intelligence when it opened the Trump-Russia investigation," per the AP. Among other things, it faulted agents for falling victim to "confirmation bias" in their Trump suspicions. 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.

In a nutshell, Durham "found that the FBI acted too hastily and relied on raw and unconfirmed intelligence when it opened the Trump-Russia investigation," per the AP. Among other things, it faulted agents for falling victim to "confirmation bias" in their Trump suspicions. 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. Full report: You can read the report in full here.

Charges: Trump had previously predicted the report would reveal the "crime of the century," though Durham's four-year investigation resulted in only three low-level prosecutions, two of which resulted in jury acquittals, per USA Today. In the third, a former FBI lawyer received probation after pleading guilty to altering an email regarding surveillance of a Trump aide. (Durham's own probe has been the subject of criticism.)

Trump had previously predicted the report would reveal the "crime of the century," though Durham's four-year investigation resulted in only three low-level prosecutions, two of which resulted in jury acquittals, per USA Today. In the third, a former FBI lawyer received probation after pleading guilty to altering an email regarding surveillance of a Trump aide. (Durham's own probe has been the subject of criticism.) What's next: Trump's GOP allies in Congress also plan to trumpet the report. Rep. Jim Jordan already has said he hopes to have Durham testify before the House Judiciary Committee next week, reports the Hill.

Trump's GOP allies in Congress also plan to trumpet the report. Rep. Jim Jordan already has said he hopes to have Durham testify before the House Judiciary Committee next week, reports the Hill. A recommendation: The 300-page report ends with a quick recommendation that the FBI create a position for either an agent or a lawyer to oversee politically sensitive investigations, per the Washington Post.

(Read more John Durham stories.)
On Nov. 25, 2019, several men broke into Germany's Green Vault, inside Dresden's Royal Palace, and absconded with roughly $129 million in 18th-century jewels in what the BBC calls "a meticulously planned heist." On Tuesday, a German court convicted five men of said heist on charges that included aggravated arson in combination with dangerous bodily injury, theft with weapons, damage to property, and intentional arson, per the AP. The court heard that the menall members of Germany's Remmo organized crime clan acted with "considerable criminal energy" with a goal "to get rich."

The crime? The thieves staked out the museum several timescutting through window bars and taping them back into placethen on the early morning of the heist, set fire to a circuit breaker, causing a blackout in the neighborhood, bashed their way into the Green Vault with axes, and made off with 21 pieces of jewelry that contained more than 4,300 diamonds. The time? Sentences for the men, ranging in age from 24 to 29, were four years and four months to six years and three months. Many of the jewels were recovered in late 2022. Marion Ackermann, director of Dresden's State Art Collections, tells the BBC that "there are people who steal artworks out of passion for art, but this was really the opposite. They had no idea of what they had taken." (Take a deep dive into the history of the heist.)
An alleged drunk driver in Colorado tried to avoid arrest by putting his dog in the driver's seat, according to police, who were not fooled. Indeed, the police officer who caught the unidentified male driving 52mph in a 30-mph zone shortly before midnight Saturday "watched the entire process" as "the driver attempted to switch places with his dog who was in the passenger seat," the Springfield Police Department said in a statement shared on Facebook. The man, who "showed clear signs of intoxication," then "exited the passenger side of the vehicle and claimed he was not driving," according to the statement.

Asked if he'd been drinking, he "ran from the officer" but made it only 20 yards before he was nabbed, according to police, who subsequently learned of "two active warrants for his arrest out of Pueblo." The man had been trying to reach Pueblo from Las Animas when he got lost, KXLF reports. Checked at a hospital before being booked into Baca County Jail, the man faces charges of DUI, driving under suspension, speeding, and resisting arrest. His dog, now staying with an acquaintance, "was let go with just a warning," police quipped. Per Fox, numerous Facebook users are urging police to release body camera footage from the scene. (Read more DUI stories.)
The authoritarian leader of Belarus has been absent from key events in recent days, sparking rumors that his health is failing. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko last appeared in public at events in Moscow and Minsk on May 9 to commemorate victory in World War II, reports Reuters. Observers said the 68-year-old appeared pale and tired in Moscow and after he returned to Minsk, his country's capital, he failed to make his usual Victory Day speech. He skipped numerous scheduled appearances in the following days, including Flag Day celebrations on Sunday, where Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko read an address on his behalf, the AP reports.

State-controlled news outlets published photos and video Monday of Lukashenko visiting the central command post of the country's air force, though the AP reports that the photos didn't dispel talk that the leader could be seriously ill. Lukashenko had a bandage on his right hand and his voice was unusually weak when he spoke to officers. Opposition activist Pavel Latushka, a former government official, said government sources told him Lukashenko has a viral infection with a complication of myocarditis, inflammation of the heart muscle.

Lukashenko, a key ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin has been in power since 1994. Opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who fled the country as Lukashenko cracked down on dissent after a disputed election, said Monday that the people of Belarus and the international community should "be well prepared for any scenario," Fox reports. (Read more Alexander Lukashenko stories.)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has criticized Georgia's decision to resume flights with Russia, taken at a time when the world is isolating the Russian Federation in order to force it to stop the war.

The world is isolating Russia to force it to stop the war, but Georgia is welcoming Russian airlines and sending its own to Moscow. All while 20% of Georgian territory remains occupied by Russia with impunity. The Kremlin will surely be delighted with such a result, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Oleh Nikolenko wrote on Twitter.

As reported, the Civil Aviation Agency of Georgia has issued a permit for the implementation of daily flights to Russia by Georgian Airways. Flights will begin on May 20, and on May 19, the Russian airline Azimuth will operate flights on the Moscow - Tbilisi - Moscow route.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says he's sending a formidable force, including planes, boats, drones, and more than 1,100 personnel, to help "defend" the border with Mexico. The Republican, who is expected to announce a White House bid within weeks, said the deployment will include 800 members of the Florida National Guard, 200 agents from the state Department of Law Enforcement, 101 state highway patrol troopers, and 20 agents from other state agencies, NBC reports. DeSantis sent around 100 law enforcement officers to the border in a similar move in 2021.

DeSantis said the personnel are being sent to the border for 30 days but extensions are possible. He cited the end of COVID-era Title 42 restrictions at the border, though the change last week was not immediately followed by the expected surge in migrants. "While Biden ignores the crisis he created, Florida stands ready to help Texas respond to this crisis," he said, per the Hill. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday that he had asked governors to help the state with its "unprecedented border security efforts." He said DeSantis and Idaho Gov. Brad Little had already offered resources.

"Given the crisis at the border, we decided to send in the cavalry," said Taryn Fenske, the governor's communications director. Some of the governors critics called the move a "political stunt," the Miami Herald reports. "What an irresponsible waste of critical state resources by DeSantis for his own performative national politics," tweeted former GOP Rep. David Jolly. (Read more Ron DeSantis stories.)
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Strike UAVs from UK to be in service not with Air Force, but with other Defense Forces  Ihnat

Strike drones from the UK with a range of more than 200 km will be in service not with the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, but with other units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine, said spokesperson of the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Yuriy Ihnat.

"These drones will not be in service with the Air Forces, but with other Defense Forces, since they are barrage ammunition that can fly for more than 200 km. They will be used by different units of the Defense Forces. This is a type of weapon that will certainly be used more and more, because compared to cruise missiles and other types of weapons, it is a cheap type of ammunition, but no less effective," he said on the telethon.

Ihnat noted that the sphere of production of UAVs and means of countering them will "gain momentum".

"Unfortunately, the enemy is also making some steps in this direction. And the fact that our partners are helping us in this is very good," he added.

The spokesperson of the Armed Forces also stressed that thanks to the Storm Shadow missile provided by the UK, Ukraine "can have a long arm" and reach the logistics of the enemy.

Earlier, Reuters, citing the British government, reported that the UK intends to send hundreds of new attack UAVs with a range of more than 200 km to Ukraine.

According to The Telegraph, the UK intends to transfer UAVs to Ukraine that have a range of more than 125 miles  more than twice as long as Himars.
The potential of the Russian Federation for serious offensive actions is absolutely exhausted, but the occupiers have built a proper and powerful defense, said head of the Main Intelligence Agency of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Major General Kyrylo Budanov said.

It [offensive potential] is absolutely exhausted, they now have a serious potential for defense. They built a defense echeloned, correct, powerful. But this is no longer the Russian army that could carry out serious offensive operations, he said in an interview with the program Different People.

According to Budanov, the group that is directly involved in conducting military operations on the territory of Ukraine is about 370,000 military components, more than 20,000 National Guard troops and about 7,000 in the aggregate of different types of paramilitary formations.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain, directed the Ministry of Finance and National Economy to disburse the salaries of all government sector employees on May 21. The move aims to reduce the timeframe between payments due to the early payment of last month's salaries due to Eid and assist government employees in meeting living costs.

HRH Prince Salman also directed the concerned government authority to immediately accept 236 eligible retirement pension applications in the Khatwa Home Projects Program, provided the government pays the additional contributions to ensure the pension fund is not affected.

His Royal Highness was chairing the weekly cabinet meeting at Gudaibiya Palace. Meanwhile, he also directed the formation of a government committee to review 69 employee cases in the Khatwa Program for Home Projects and verify that they meet the criteria for a retirement pension. The committee has been given one month to complete its work.

The Cabinet congratulated the winners of the seventh edition of the Prime Minister's Award for Journalism, highlighting the contributions of the press, as part of Team Bahrain, to the Kingdoms overall development.

The Cabinet also congratulated the winners of the 49th Bahrain Annual Fine Arts Exhibition and commented that the annual exhibition supports Bahraini artists and promotes initiatives that consolidate the Kingdom's position in the fine arts.

The Cabinet then welcomed the New Housing Finance Program, which won the Best Innovative Program Award for 2023 by the Middle East Economic Digest in the Middle East and North Africa region. In this regard, the Cabinet emphasized the importance of adopting innovative housing services to meet the aspirations of Bahraini citizens.

The Cabinet discussed several memoranda during the meeting, approving the following:

1. A memorandum submitted by the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs regarding two draft decrees establishing two diplomatic missions of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the Republic of the Philippines and the Republic of Korea.

2. A memorandum submitted by the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs regarding an MoU for cooperation and development of healthcare, medical education, and training between the Ministry of Health and the Arabian Gulf University. This initiative aims to organize the training and teaching processes between the two sides and to cooperate in scientific research.

3. A memorandum submitted by the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs regarding an MoU between the Education and Training Quality Authority in Bahrain and the Oman Authority for Academic Accreditation and Quality Assurance of Education in the Sultanate of Oman to ensure the quality of the educational and national qualifications framework.

4. A memorandum submitted by the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs regarding designating the Ministry of Municipalities and Agriculture Affairs as supervisor of the Bahrain Green Building Council.

5. A memorandum submitted by the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs on the government's response to four proposals submitted by the Council of Representatives.

In addition, the Cabinet noted the following ministerial reports:

1. The visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Collaboration of the State of Libya to the Kingdom of Bahrain

2. The Kingdom of Bahrain's participation at the UAE Climate Tech Conference

3. The Kingdom of Bahrain's participation at the World Utilities Congress held in Abu Dhabi

4. The Minister of Sustainable Development's visit to Japan as part of a high-level delegation
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, highlighted the importance of the private sector, as part of Team Bahrain, in supporting the Kingdoms wide-ranging development, led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

He noted the importance of deepening the public-private partnership, a core pillar to meet the Kingdoms sustainable development goals. HRH Prince Salman was speaking as he met yesterday with the Chairman of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), HE Sameer Abdullah Nass, at Gudaibiya Palace.

HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister highlighted the BCCIs prominent role in representing the Kingdoms industrial and commercial sectors, and its contributions to meet the private sectors goals.

His Royal Highness noted the importance of developing plans and strategies to strengthen economic diversification efforts and create quality job opportunities for Bahraini citizens in the Kingdom, in line with Bahrains Economic Vision 2030.

Nass expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to meet with His Royal Highness and noted HRHs commitment to supporting the BCCIs efforts and workstreams. The Minister of Cabinet Affairs, HE Hamad bin Faisal Al Malki, also attended the meeting.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Chery Bahrain won the Best Sales Growth Rate in the World award for the year 2022- 2023 during the Chery Global Business Conference at the 2023 Shanghai Auto Show.

During the conference, Chery executives shared their achievements in globalization in the past years with more than 700 dealers.

The company has launched four major transformation measures to enter new markets, namely technology, products, consumer demand, and ecosystem, to support the move towards a new track, new journey.

Motorcity Assistant General Manager, Saad Alzowayed said: This prestigious award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire team at Chery Bahrain, as well as to the brands unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation.

We look forward to continuing our successful partnership with Chery in the future.

As the worlds largest manufacturing country for 12 consecutive years, China has demonstrated its power in fields such as aerospace, high-speed rail, and infrastructure construction.

With 11.2 million units sold worldwide, Chery is the most powerful Chinese automotive enterprise and has become a shining benchmark in Chinese manufacturing.
AFP | Stockholm

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

President Emmanuel Macron met billionaire businessman Elon Musk yesterday 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 worlds second richest man, who is the chief executive of electric 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 heading to Versailles for the latest edition of the presidents 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 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 yesterdays talks with Musk, saying simply that all of todays 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, its 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 Frances 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 Britains 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 Europes -- 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.
AFP | Istanbul

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Turkey yesterday 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 countrys pivotal election.

Pre-election opinion polls had suggested Erdogan risked a first national election defeat to his main challengers disparate six-party alliance, in a vote seen as the most important in the Muslim-majority nations post-Ottoman history.

But the 69-year-old defied expectations in Sundays 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 firstround victory.

With almost all ballots counted yesterday morning, Erdogan led with 49.

42 percent of the vote to Kilicdaroglus 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.

Erdogans Islamic-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its far-right allies were also close to an outright majority in Sundays parliamentary elections.
NEWTOWN  Residents plan to rally outside Newtown High School ahead of Tuesday's Board of Education meeting in opposition to a proposal to remove two books from the shelves of the schools library.

At the center of the controversy are Flamer by Mike Curato  a graphic novel about a 14-year-old Filipino-American boy whos bullied and struggling with the fact that hes gay  and Craig Thompsons award-winning autobiographical graphic novel Blankets, which talks about childhood sexual abuse, adoption, mental health, religion and sexuality.

Flamer ranked fourth on the American Library Associations list of top 10 most challenged books of 2022, and a copy of each book is available at the Newtown High School media center, according to the schools Follett Destiny catalog.

Attempts to ban and restrict books in schools and public libraries in the United States set a record high in 2022, according to data from the American Library Association. In Connecticut, books have been challenged in Brookfield, Westport, Fairfield, Darien and other communities.

Although a special review committee commissioned by the Newtown Board of Education read the books in question and said they should be kept on the shelves, there are residents calling for their removal, describing them as inappropriate and pornographic.

The special committee unanimously agreed that despite language and images that some people may find offensive, both books should remain in circulation in Newtown High Schools library.

The committee described Flamer as a positive book that promotes empathy, acceptance, understanding and resilience, and Blankets as an artistic work that tells the worthwhile story of a young man coming to terms with his family struggles and transcending them, according to the school boards May 2 meeting minutes.

Although Superintendent Christopher Melillo recommended the Board of Education uphold the committees recommendation to keep the books in the media center, there are concerns that the majority-Republican school board will do the opposite and vote to ban them during its Tuesday night meeting.

During the May 2 meeting, some board members said they see the value in the books but were concerned about their "sexually explicit" content, according to the minutes.

Residents opposed to removing the books say doing so may not only violate Title IX  which prohibits sex-based discrimination in educational institutions that receive federal financial assistance  but the school districts own policies pertaining to transgender and gender non-conforming youth and academic freedom and responsibility.

These books, and the others already being contested, are filled with characters who represent heavily marginalized groups, one resident wrote in a letter addressed to Melillo. Kids should have access to these books and  be able to see themselves in characters that go through similar struggles.

The Newtown Democratic Town Committee has organized a rally to support the special review committees unanimous decision, which will take place at the entrance to Newtown High School at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The Board of Educations meeting will take place in the schools cafeteria, beginning at 7 p.m.
Ukraine expects to hold online talks on the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative in the coming days, while Russia continues to try to block the passage of ships and the possibility of inspecting the cargoes, Ambassador of Ukraine to Turkey Vasyl Bodnar has said.

"Of course, negotiations mediated by Ukraine and the UN continue. We expect that in the coming days there will be talks in an online format. The aggressor country is trying to block the passage of ships and the possibility of inspections in general, it is like a 'pressure tool.' In fact, by naming May 18 the date when, in their opinion, the 'grain' agreement supposedly expires, they are also trying to put pressure not only on us, but also on the UN and Turkey. Especially considering the ongoing election process in Turkey," he said on the air of the national telethon on Tuesday.

The diplomat said he is confident that the parties will be able to find levers of pressure on the aggressor country, and the grain needed for food security in the world will come out of Ukrainian ports.

Earlier, Spokesperson for the UN Secretary General Stephane Dujarric said that before the expiration of the Black Sea grain agreement on May 18, consultations on its extension will be held at the technical level.

Last week, negotiations were held in Istanbul to extend the grain deal between representatives of Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the UN.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative was signed in Istanbul on July 22, 2022 with the participation of the UN, Ukraine, Turkey and Russia to create a corridor for the export of grain from three Ukrainian ports: Chornomorsk, Odesa and Pivdenny. The initiative was concluded for 120 days and it was extended twice, the last time on March 18. However, Ukraine says that the agreement was extended by 120 days while Russia claims that it was extended by only 60 days and insists on unblocking the operation of the Tolyatti-Odesa ammonia pipeline and lifting all sanctions on the trade in agricultural products and fertilizers.
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP)  Daniel Cameron won the Republican primary for Kentucky governor, becoming the first major-party Black nominee for governor in the states history and setting up a November showdown with Democratic incumbent Andy Beshear.

Cameron, the state's attorney general who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, claimed a convincing victory Tuesday in a 12-candidate field that included state Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles, who finished second, and former U.N. Ambassador Kelly Craft, who finished third. Beshear easily dispatched two under-the-radar Democratic challengers in his own primary.

Cameron, the states first Black attorney general, said in a victory speech that his campaign aims to "embody the promise of America, that if you work hard and if you stand on principle, anything is possible.

To anyone who looks like me, know that you can achieve anything, Cameron told supporters. "Know that in this country and in Kentucky, all that matters are your values.

The race now shifts to the general election, which will be one of November's most closely watched contests and could provide clues heading into the 2024 presidential race. Beshear, a popular Democratic governor, will face a tough reelection bid in a Republican-dominated state after a first term marked by a series of tragedies  the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters and a mass shooting that killed one of his closest friends.

Beshear on Tuesday cited his stewardship of Kentucky's economy  pointing to record economic development successes  in setting the stage for his fall campaign. And he blasted the tone of the GOP gubernatorial primary after taking hits for months from the Republican candidates.

Right now somewhere in America, there is a CEO deciding where to move their business and theyre considering Kentucky," Beshear told supporters. "Let me ask you: Is seeing people talk down our state and our economy, insult our people and stoke divisions going to help that next company choose Kentucky? Of course not.

The Beshear-Cameron matchup conjures parallels from the states last governors race but with a reversal of roles for the governor. In 2019, Beshear used the attorney generals office as a springboard to the governorship. During his single term as attorney general, Beshear challenged a series of executive actions by Republican Gov. Matt Bevin. Beshear narrowly defeated Bevin in a race that revolved around Bevins combative personality.

Cameron succeeded Beshear in the attorney generals office, and the Republican turned the tables on Beshear, mounting numerous legal challenges against state and national Democratic policies that endeared him to conservatives. Cameron led the successful challenge that essentially halted the governors COVID-era restrictions, which Cameron said amounted to executive overreach. Beshear says that his actions saved lives and that he leaned heavily on guidance from Trumps coronavirus task force.

A former aide to Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell, Cameron has risen through the political ranks to become one of the most prominent Black Republicans in the country. His victory Tuesday will play into Trumps efforts to solidify his status as the leader of the Republican Party heading into the 2024 presidential primary.

Trump, in a social media post Wednesday about Cameron's victory, cited the finish by Craft, who had been an ambassador during his administration and was endorsed by a leading Trump rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Congratulations to a star in Kentucky, Danial Cameron, who easily won the Republican Nomination for Governor,. Trump wrote, misspelling the nominee's first name. He had my Complete and Total Endorsement. The DeSanctimonious backed candidate came in a DISTANT third. Rons magic is GONE!

If Beshear follows his campaign formula from 2019, he will avoid talking about Trump or dwelling on polarizing national issues that could risk further energizing his opponents conservative base.

He is also expected to draw on his familys strong political brand  his father, Steve Beshear, is a former two-term Kentucky governor who spoke at his son's primary victory celebration Tuesday  and lean into his role of leading through adversity after a multitude of crises during his first term.

Through it all, Beshear emerged as the front man, holding daily pandemic briefings for months and then leading relief efforts to help those left devastated by tornadoes and floods.

Last month, Beshear publicly and emotionally grieved the loss of a close friend who died when a Louisville bank employee opened fire with an assault-style rifle, killing five coworkers. He has frequently invoked his Christian faith as a cornerstone of his efforts to lead the state through tough times.

In addition to Craft and Quarles, Cameron also defeated state Auditor Mike Harmon and Somerset Mayor Alan Keck, among others.

But it was the combative rivalry between Cameron and Craft that dominated the primary campaign. Cameron endured an advertising blitz by Crafts campaign  backed by her familys fortune  and an outside group supporting her campaign. The pro-Craft group portrayed Cameron as an establishment teddy bear in claiming he wasnt tough enough as attorney general. A pro-Cameron group swung back with attacks against Craft, who nabbed a last-minute endorsement from DeSantis.

Camerons handling of an investigation into the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor by Louisville police in 2020 could come under renewed scrutiny as he campaigns as the GOP nominee. Taylors death and the police-related killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis sparked nationwide protests.

In announcing a grand jurys findings in Taylors death, Cameron said jurors agreed that homicide charges were not warranted against the officers, because they were fired upon. Three of the jurors disputed Camerons account, arguing that Camerons staff limited their scope and did not give them an opportunity to consider homicide charges against the police in Taylors death.

Camerons immediate attention will turn toward building party unity for the fall campaign slog, a task for which he has demonstrated skills in the past. He bridged the gulf between Trump and McConnell despite a growing rift between the two GOP heavyweights. Cameron worked as the senators legal counsel and made a high-profile pitch for Trumps unsuccessful reelection campaign at the 2020 Republican National Convention.

The gubernatorial campaign topped primary races for other constitutional offices in Kentucky.

Republican Secretary of State Michael Adams, who pushed successfully for expanded voter access, won his primary against two candidates, including one who cast doubt on the integrity of elections. He faces Democrat Charles Buddy Wheatley in November in his reelection bid.

Other primary winners included Republican Allison Ball, who is running for state auditor after two terms as state treasurer, and now will face Democrat Kimberley Reeder, who ran unopposed. Garrard County Attorney Mark Metcalf won the GOP primary for state treasurer and faces Democrat Michael Bowman in November. The general election race for agriculture commissioner pits Republican Jonathan Shell against Democrat Sierra Enlow, who won their respective primaries. The fall campaign for attorney general will feature Republican Russell Coleman against Democrat Pam Stevenson. Both were unopposed in the primary.
VANCOUVER, BC, May 15, 2023 /CNW/ - CubicFarm Systems Corp. ("CubicFarms" or the "Company") (TSX: CUB), reports its quarterly financial and operating results for three months ended March 31, 2023. All amounts are in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated.

First Quarter Financial Results

Revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was $455,392 , up from $243,912 in the previous year.





was , up from in the previous year. Net losses for the three months ended March 31, 2023 were $4.7 million , compared to a net loss of $8.8 million in the previous year.





were , compared to a net loss of in the previous year. As a result of the Company's recent cost reduction measures, operating expenses, comprising of selling, general & administrative and research & development expenses, was $3.9 million , reduced from $8.1 million in the previous year.

First Quarter Operational Highlights

On January 17, 2023 , the Company announced the lease of FreshHub machinery and equipment to Langley Indoor Produce Ltd., of which CubicFarms has the option to retain up to 97.6% of the equity interest of this entity. As part of this transaction, CubicFarms granted a license for the underlying FreshHub intellectual property to Langley Indoor Produce Ltd. The use of the license grant is limited to the indoor, non-containerized implementation of the CubicFarms patented equipment. Ongoing funding of Langley Indoor Produce Ltd. will come from third-party investors.





, the Company announced the lease of FreshHub machinery and equipment to Langley Indoor Produce Ltd., of which CubicFarms has the option to retain up to 97.6% of the equity interest of this entity. As part of this transaction, CubicFarms granted a license for the underlying FreshHub intellectual property to Langley Indoor Produce Ltd. The use of the license grant is limited to the indoor, non-containerized implementation of the CubicFarms patented equipment. Ongoing funding of Langley Indoor Produce Ltd. will come from third-party investors. On March 7, 2023 , the Company announced that its livestock feed subsidiary company, HydroGreen, Inc. had finalized the installation of two previously sold machines to Jim Cheney Inc. in Utah .





, the Company announced that its livestock feed subsidiary company, HydroGreen, Inc. had finalized the installation of two previously sold machines to Jim Cheney Inc. in . On March 17, 2023 , the Company announced that it had closed its previously announced overnight marketed public offering, issuing a total of 56,027,000 units at a price of $0.05 per unit for gross proceeds of $2,801,350 , including 10,261,000 units issued to reduce working capital obligations of the Company for $513,050 in payables.

"We are pleased to report our first quarter financial results, which demonstrate revenue growth and a significant reduction in net losses compared to the previous year. Our diligent cost reduction measures have yielded positive results, with operating expenses substantially reduced," said Interim CFO Michael Kyne. "Additionally, our strategic partnerships and successful installations continue to drive operational progress. We remain committed to delivering value to our shareholders and pursuing opportunities for sustainable growth in the agricultural industry."

The Company's first quarter financial statements and management's discussion and analysis will be issued and filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com on May 15, 2023, and will be available on CubicFarms' website at https://cubicfarms.com/investors/.

About HydroGreen

HydroGreen produces Automated Vertical Pastures, a type of smart farming equipment that uses a unique process to sprout grains such as wheat and barley, in a controlled growing environment to efficiently produce a high-performance feed ingredient for livestock 365 days a year. HydroGreen's equipment is simple and easy to operate and performs all growing functions automatically, including seeding, watering, lighting, harvesting, and re-seeding, which allows livestock businesses to feed consistent nutrition every day with minimal labour. When balanced correctly in the ration, HydroGreen sprouted grain modifies animal digestion which enhances productivity and reduces the amount of enteric methane emitted in ruminant livestock. The result also enables environmental benefits to the farm while helping to meet increasing demand for valuable farm-based inset and offset carbon credits.

About CubicFarms

CubicFarms is a leading local chain agricultural technology company developing and deploying technology to feed a changing world. Its proprietary ag-tech solutions enable growers to produce high quality, predictable produce and fresh livestock feed with HydroGreen Nutrition Technology, a division of CubicFarm Systems Corp. The CubicFarms system contains patented technology for growing leafy greens and other crops onsite, indoors, all year round. CubicFarms provides an efficient, localized food supply solution that benefits our people, planet, and economy.

For more information, please visit www.cubicfarms.com.

Forward looking and other cautionary statements

This release may contain certain "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" under applicable securities laws. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors and assumptions which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of CubicFarm Systems Corp., or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such statements can be identified by the use of words such as "intend", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "scheduled", "forecast", "predict", and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events, or results "may", "can", "could", "would", "might", or "will" be taken, occur, or be achieved.

These statements reflect the Company's current expectations regarding future events, performance, and results and speak only as of the date of this news release. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except as required by securities disclosure laws and regulations applicable to the Company, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if the Company's expectations regarding future events, performance, or results change.

SOURCE CubicFarm Systems Corp.

For further information: [email protected] for media or [email protected] for investor inquiries.
Sanctuary AI announced a major step forward for humanoid robots with the unveiling of its sixth-generation general-purpose robot named Phoenix. Phoenix is the worlds first humanoid general-purpose robot powered by Carbon, a pioneering and unique AI control system, designed to give Phoenix human-like intelligence and enable it to do a wide range of work to help address the labor challenges affecting many organizations today. Sanctuary has been able to show that its technology is already capable of completing hundreds of tasks identified by customers from more than a dozen different industries.

We designed Phoenix to be the most sensor-rich and physically capable humanoid ever built and to enable Carbons rapidly growing intelligence to perform the broadest set of work tasks possible, said Geordie Rose, co-founder and CEO, Sanctuary AI. We see a future where general-purpose robots are as ubiquitous as cars, helping people to do work that needs doing, in cases where there simply arent enough people to do that work.

About Phoenix

Human-like form and function: standing at 5 7 and weighing 155 lbs

Maximum payload of 55 lbs

Maximum speed of 3 miles per hour

Industry-leading robotic hands with increased degrees of freedom (20 in total) that rival human hand dexterity and fine manipulation with proprietary haptic technology that mimics the sense of touch

Improved aesthetics with a bolder color palette and elevated textures.

About Carbon

A cognitive architecture and software platform for humanoid general-purpose robots

Integrates modern AI technologies to translate natural language into action in the real world

Enables Phoenix to think and act to complete tasks like a person

Explainable and auditable reasoning, task, and motion plans

Symbolic and logical reasoning coupled with modern LLMs (for general knowledge), domain-specific integrations, and extensions

Agency and goal-seeking behaviors

Uses Deep Learning & Reinforcement Learning

Photo-realistic and physics-realistic world simulations for robot training

Human-in-the-loop supervision, teleoperation, and fleet management

What sets Sanctuary AI apart from others in the industry is its literal take on general-purpose and emphasis on creating a technology that can conduct physical work just like a person. To be general-purpose, a robot needs to be able to do nearly any work task, the way youd expect a person to, in the environment where the work is, said Rose. While it is easy to get fixated on the physical aspects of a robot, our view is that the robot is just a tool for the real star of the show, which in our case is our proprietary AI control system, the robots Carbon-based mind.

In March, Sanctuary AI announced it completed its first commercial deployment, a significant milestone in the companys progress toward full commercialization. At that same time, Sanctuary AI announced it was taking an open and collaborative approach to building a new ecosystem in AI and robotics. To fulfill the ambitious mission of creating human-like intelligence in general-purpose robots, Sanctuary AI assembled a robust coalition of best-in-class vendors and partners  including Apptronik, Bell, Common Sense Machines, Contoro, Cycorp, Exonetik, HaptX, Magna, Tangible Research, Verizon Ventures, and Workday Ventures.

Last spring, the company announced the completion of its Series A funding round. In November, the company received a C$30 million Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) contribution from the Government of Canada, bringing Sanctuary AIs total funding to over C$100 million. Sanctuary AI is active in its next funding round to fuel its mission. Interested parties can learn more at the official company website: https://sanctuary.ai

The prior version of the SanctuaryAI bot is shown in the video.

SanctuaryAI Discussion on Generative AI
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NEW HAVEN  Two months after the city cleared the "Tent City" encampment along the West River off Ella T. Grasso Boulevard, another encampment is about to be cleared  this time by the state  just a few blocks away beneath the Boulevard near Lamberton Street in the Hill section, activists said.

Activists, people experiencing homelessness and supporters rallied Tuesday at City Hall to protest any efforts to remove the Lamberton Street encampment, which is adjacent to the Amtrak / Metro-North railroad tracks. A person was killed in that area Feb. 11 when he was struck by a passing train.

"This is the second time in two months the City of New Haven is colluding in an illegal effort aimed at the throwing out of people from where they live," activist and social worker Billy Bromage said at Tuesday's rally against what activists said is the imminent action.

Meanwhile, "the city has refused to provide people with a safe place to live," Bromage said at the rally, organized by the Unhoused Activists Community Team, or U-ACT. "The breaking up of encampments actually leads to worse outcomes for people.

"We call for the immediate stop to all breakups of encampments," Bromage said. "People's lives are going to be horribly disrupted if the city breaks up an encampment in the Hill.

U-ACT member Arthur Taylor, who has been unhoused  and held a sign that read, "Fight poverty, NOT the poor"  said, "Once again, we're in the same situation. They say history repeats itself, but it's not history. It only happened two months ago."

He said authorities are treating unhoused people, now off Lamberton Street, "as if they're the outcasts of society."

Mayor Justin Elicker later said that this time, "The city is not clearing the encampment. The state (Department of Transportation) is clearing the encampment. The state notified us about safety concerns. There was an individual on Feb. 11 of this year that was hit by a train that we believe was staying at the encampment."

DOT spokesman Josh Morgan said, "It is incredibly dangerous to be near railroad tracks, and a person was recently killed crossing these tracks. In addition, conductors continue reporting that people are crossing and nearly being struck by trains.

"We are working with our partners to ensure that the safety needs of every community in the State are met," Morgan said. "CTDOT is coordinating with the City of New Haven and state partners like the Department of Housing, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and Connecticut Mental Health Center to make sure needed assistance is available for the people living in this area."

Elicker said, "We were very clear to the state that if the state clears the encampment, they need to work to make sure that the people at the encampment have a landing place." He reiterated that the city is not "the villain" this time around.

Since the city first spoke with the state, officials from the state DMHAS and the CMHC have been out at the encampment, Elicker said.

While the city is not the agency taking action this time, "I very much understand and appreciate the state's concerns about safety, especially because" someone died there, Elicker said.

"What I have been told is that the state is working to ensure that the people remaining at the encampment have a plan for an alternative," he said.

Meanwhile, "the city is doing many, many things to support the unhoused and has to do more, but we need to see meaningful support from the state of Connecticut in our surrounding towns," Elicker said. "We cannot do this alone."

Activists said New Haven needs to do more  and needs to stop treating homeless people as if they were criminals.

"The city apparently is going to act again without conscience," said Mark Colville, whose Catholic Worker House on Rosette Street now has 16 people living in tents and pallet huts in the backyard.

"When I was there (off Lamberton Street) yesterday, I was told that they're evicting people because 'it's too dangerous for them,'" Colville said.

Colville, who was arrested for trespassing when he went to, and then refused to leave, Tent City May 16, only to later see charges nolled, said New Haven "undertook a criminal conspiracy" with the state and "they're going to go over and destroy the homes that people have been living in for two years."

Meanwhile, "the only option that the city is offering you if you don't have a place to live tonight is to go to a shelter, get patted down," and then be separated from family members and pets in exchange for a bed for the night.

"If somebody gets hurt, who gets blamed?" he asked. "We blame the victim."

To ease the city's homeless crisis, "we need a space," Colville said. "We need a piece of land." If activists can get those things, "We will do it ourselves." For now, "we have invited them to join us" on Rosette Street if they need a place to stay, "but we're running out of room," Colville said.

If need be, "there's a city-owned piece of property nearby" that activists will take over in order to provide shelter for people, he said.
WEST HAVEN  Former state Rep. Michael DiMassa, who awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to three counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, has been granted a request to travel to Texas next week as his pregnant wife reports for a six-month prison term.

DiMassa, a Democratic state representative from West Haven at the time of his arrest in October 2021, pleaded guilty to coordinating and carrying out a scheme to defraud the city of $1.2 million in federal pandemic grant funds involving three other people. Of the four people arrested in connection to the scheme, DiMassa is the only one not yet sentenced; his sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 31.

His wife, Lauren DiMassa, who cashed about $144,000 in checks made out to her for work on a youth violence prevention program she did not do, was sentenced to six months in prison followed by six months of home detention. Lauren DiMassa, who was pregnant at the time of her arrest in February 2022 with her first child with DiMassa, was pregnant with a second child at her sentencing hearing in March 2023. U.S. District Judge Omar Williams said at the time that he did not wish to appear "cynical" about the pregnancy, but it was conceived after she knew she potentially was facing a prison sentence and the sentence is intended to address the actions she took as an adult.

As a condition of DiMassa's release, he may not leave the state without advance permission from his probation officer. According to a May 12 filing, both DiMassa's parole officer and prosecutors deferred to a judge on whether he be allowed to travel to Fort Worth, Texas, to accompany his wife for "health and safety reasons" as she travels to report to prison May 23. He had requested to fly to Texas May 22 and to return the following day. According to federal court records, the request was granted Monday.

Lauren DiMassa was the second of the four defendants sentenced in connection with the scheme, having been sentenced a day after former city employee John Bernardo.

Bernardo, who worked on Michael DiMassa's political campaigns, pleaded guilty for his role in setting up a shell company that received more than $636,000 from the city based upon fraudulent invoices submitted and processed by DiMassa. He was sentenced to 13 months in prison and ordered to pay $58,927 in restitution.

Michael DiMassa testified at the trial of John Trasacco, who he said he met through Bernardo. Trasacco, who was found guilty after a trial of using two companies to steal $432,982 from West Haven, with DiMassa walking the fraudulent invoices through the city's finance department. DiMassa testified that Trasacco used intimidation tactics to keep the fraud going after DiMassa worried that the scheme was becoming too obvious. Prosecutors argued in court that, in contrast with DiMassa's schemes with Bernardo and his wife, Trasacco had been the driver behind his scheme with DiMassa. Trasacco was sentenced to eight years in prison and was the only co-defendant in the case led away from court in handcuffs.

During Lauren DiMassa's sentencing hearing, prosecutors sought to downplay her culpability compared to her other co-defendants, deeming her role in the fraud scheme to be minor. Before Trasacco's sentencing, prosecutors requested a judge issue a sentence above the guidelines due to his criminal history.

Last month, Michael DiMassa's attorney John Gulash filed a sentencing memorandum arguing for his client to receive a prison term less than the recommended guidelines of three years and five months to four years and three months.

In a May 10 filing, federal prosecutors argued for a judge to consider a sentence within the guidelines, citing the terms of DiMassa's plea agreement. Prosecutors said in the document that DiMassa should be made to pay more than $1 million in restitution, $147,000 of which he should be jointly and severally liable for with his wife.

In their memorandum, prosecutors argued that DiMassa's gambling addiction, family circumstances and health are mitigating factors worthy of the court's consideration. Prosecutors also agreed that DiMassa's cooperation as a government witness during Trasacco's trial is worthy of consideration during his sentencing. However, they disagreed with other issues raised in Gulash's memorandum.

Whereas Gulash argued that the highly-publicized nature of DiMassa's crimes would lead to an effective "disbarment" from his career in public service, prosecutors argued that DiMassa's abuse of his position of public trust is in fact an aggravating factor, not a cause for leniency.
NEW HAVEN  Despite the school year coming to an end, literacy and math lessons for some students are not over.

Officials announced Monday that the United Way of Greater New Haven and New Haven Reads will be the lead organizations in helping the city with its pilot tutoring program.

LEAP, New Haven Counts, Horizons, Inspired Communities, Boys and Girls Club, and New HYTEs are other organizations participating in the program.

The pilot program is part of Mayor Justin Elickers administrations proposal to spend $3 million from the American Rescue Plan to help public school students who struggle with reading and math  something he first announced in December and the Board of Alders approved in February.

Elicker said the program will begin this summer, serving more than 600 students. The tutoring will occur a minimum of two times per week for six weeks. The city hopes to expand the program into the fall.

Its going to take all of us, Elicker said, noting the program needs 200 tutors. Volunteers are critical to the success of this initiative, so please, please, please, become a tutor.

He urged local organizations and businesses that want to facilitate a dedicated time for their employees to volunteer to contact the city.

Lauren Zucker, associate vice president for New Haven Affairs at Yale University, said the university also encouraged students, faculty and staff to volunteer as local tutors.

As part of this summers program rollout, we will be piloting with certain employee groups the opportunity to serve during business and school hours, Zucker said, anticipating that the universitys involvement will expand over time.

The city school district last year saw test results a Board of Education member called an emergency  only 17 percent of third graders and 28 percent of eighth graders scored at grade level on this years state Smarter Balance Assessment reading test, while only 12 percent of students made the grade level on the math exam.
Arnold Gold, Staff Photographer / Hearst Connecticut Media

NEW HAVEN  A road rage incident led to gunfire outside of Yale New Haven Hospital Monday afternoon, police said.

In a bulletin sent to the Yale community Monday, Yale Police Chief Anthony Campbell said the road rage incident occurred on Howard and Second avenues in New Haven that afternoon.
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PACARAIMA, Brazil (AP)  As the sun rose, Miguel Gonzalez, partner Maryelis Rodriguez and their four young children got off a passenger bus after an 18-hour ride south from the eastern Venezuelan community they desperately wanted to leave.

The parents, with minds still muzzy from sleep, retrieved two duffel bags and assessed needs before entering the station: Diaper change for the 1-year-old. Restrooms for the 2-, 4- and 6-year-old. Directions to Brazil.

Taxi? Taxi? hawkish cab drivers asked everyone walking through the Santa Elena de Uairen station, where thousands of people every month walk through Venezuelan territory one last time. Roughly a half hour later, the Gonzalez family, like dozens of others every day, became migrants for the first time when they exited a taxi in Pacaraima, Brazil.

More than 7.2 million people have left Venezuela since the countrys political, economic and social crisis began last decade. Most have gone to Spanish-speaking countries of South America  with 2.4 million in Colombia alone  and many to the U.S. and Spain.

Further down the list of destinations has been Venezuelas Portuguese-speaking, next-door neighbor: Brazil.

But Brazil has become a popular choice for many Venezuelans partly because of a five-year-old program that offers eligible applicants work permits and even free flights to faraway parts of the huge country. Approvals into the program have surged in the post-pandemic period.

I want to give well-being to my children, said Gonzalez, who began planning to migrate in October after witnessing violent clashes around the gold mine where he worked.

There is no life in Venezuela, he said, because if the family stays there the children are not going to study, they are not going to have a future.

The Gonzalez family is applying for Brazils interiorization program, launched in 2018 to ease pressure on the countrys far northern state of Roraima as it dealt with Venezuelans flowing across the border after food and medicine shortages at home became acute.

The program moves the migrants to other cities with better economic opportunities, especially in the countrys rich southern states. It has taken in about 100,000 of the 426,000 Venezuelans who have migrated to Brazil during the crisis  with the highest monthly rate so far in March of this year with 3,377.

The Gonzalez family sold their fridge, fan, kitchen, bed and other furniture, stuffed clothes and diapers in duffel bags and backpacks, and began their migration journey from their community of San Felix with $500. They spent $90 to get to Santa Elena de Uairen and $20 to get to Pacaraima, where they applied for the program.

They decided to migrate even though Gonzalez had one of the most lucrative jobs in Venezuela, earning about $600 in two weeks, and occasionally, up to $1,200  far more than the countrys $5 monthly minimum wage. But mining communities are dangerous, thanks to armed groups who are believed to collude with authorities.

There is a lot of crime. Youre alive one moment and dead the next. You get me? Gonzalez said.

Those accepted into the interiorization program receive documentation, temporary shelter, vaccines and relocation flights. It also offers classes on Brazils labor market, laws and rights.

Brazils monthly minimum wage currently is $265. A survey of 800 households encompassing 3,529 Venezuelans living in Brazil in June and July of last year showed that 76% of them earned up to two minimum wages.

Applicants must submit paperwork, and undergo a physical and interviews.

On an early April morning, Maria Rodriguez, her father, husband, daughter, two sons, twin grandsons and four more relatives were among hundreds of people at the Pacaraima border crossing, navigating steps of the program. She laughed with an energetic grandson, but her eyes betrayed fatigue.

At the crack of dawn, migrants form lines where they wait to get or provide information. They cheer when they or their new migrant friends are told they can hop on waiting passenger buses headed roughly 125 miles (200 kilometers) south to Boa Vista, where they will catch flights to their new communities.

Rodriguezs group already had waited six weeks in Pacaraima. They had sheltered from the scorching sun under a makeshift tent and spent nights in a shelter.

The family closed its unprofitable cheese-making business in Venezuela earlier this year and decided to join other relatives in the southern Brazilian state of Parana, where the men plan to work in construction. Rodriguez said another of her sons already living there has done well in just a short time.

His children are studying in a good school, and meanwhile, I could see my other sons ... struggling, Rodriguez, 45, said while she waited for portable toilets to be cleaned for the day. As adults, we can last all day even with just an arepa, but with those kids, how do you tell a child theres no food?

Venezuela was once one of the most prosperous countries in Latin America thanks to billions in oil dollars, but mismanagement by its self-described socialist government and a decline in crude prices plunged it into crisis over the past decade. International economic sanctions meant to topple President Nicolas Maduro have worsened conditions.

Elsewhere in the hemisphere, Venezuelans are making their second or even third migrations as economic opportunities in initial host countries dry up. Most of those coming across the border into Brazil are migrating for the first time, said the Rev. Agnaldo Pereira de Oliveira, director of Jesuit Service for Migrants and Refugees in Brazil.

They are people who held on until now and no longer could, Pereira de Oliveira said. Now come the last ones who had resisted in Venezuela out of attachment to their business, to their home. They say I had a job, but the living conditions no longer exist.'

Brazils interiorization program took shape after a period of tensions in the mid- to late-2010s when arriving Venezuelans strained public services in Roraima, which includes both Pacaraima and Boa Vista. At one point, a man set fire to two residences where Venezuelans lived, injuring five people.

Brazil's southern states like Parana are not without challenges for Venezuelans. There they must brave much colder weather than theyre accustomed to, and lack of fluency in Portuguese can sometimes be a barrier to formal jobs, meaning some of them become street vendors and Uber drivers.

In Boa Vista, shelters have long been available, but many adults and children sleep on sidewalks or outside a bus station. Some find the shelters overcrowded and overheated. Others do not feel safe or dislike the mandatory early wake-up.

On the western bank of the Branco River next to Boa Vista, members of the Figuera family cook, wash clothes, splash in the water or rest under shade trees. Their hair is peppered with sand.

Eleven-year-old Kisberlin Figuera, her father, stepmother and baby sister are on their second attempt to legally relocate to Parana. They gave up on their first try so that the baby could be born near extended family in Carupano, Venezuela.

Kisberlin has learned some Portuguese and become friends with other migrant girls. They joke and play tag or cards near where they sleep outside the bus station. She said she misses family but the access to water in Boa Vista  in public restrooms near a beach  is better than what she had at home.

Sitting by the river, she imagined Parana full of parks, loads of food, lots of money and a lot of water to take showers and drink.

____

AP writers Carla Bridi in Brasilia and Eleonore Hughes in Rio de Janeiro contributed.
In most cases, the statements made by the owner of the Wagner PMC, Yevgeny Prigozhin, are the pure truth, said head of the Main Intelligence Agency of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Major General Kyrylo Budanov.

"This is not IPSO [informational and psychological special operation]. The worst thing is that what Prigozhin says is mostly true. There are some things that I won't even say are untrue, but are perceived in two ways. But 80 percent of what he says is generally true. Absolute truth," Budanov said in an interview with the program Different People.

Budanov also noted that, unlike the Russian army, the Wagner fighters showed their maximum effectiveness, against which the conflicts escalated.

"The fact that Prigozhin says about the lack of shells and support now is to a certain extent due to envy. And the military leadership, personified by Shoigu and Gerasimov now, but there are other generals there who have a different opinion. But their team is doing everything to physically erase all these units," Budanov believes.

He stressed that no one in the Russian Federation can compare with the Wagner PMC in terms of the effectiveness of combat operations.
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HONG KONG (AP)  The life sentence imposed by China on a 78-year-old U.S. citizen, who was also a Hong Kong permanent resident, on spying charges shows the city should stay vigilant to security risks, its leader said Tuesday.

Chief Executive John Lee answered none of the lingering questions about why John Shing-Wan Leung was prosecuted. The sentence was announced Monday but neither the Hong Kong government nor the court in the eastern Chinese city of Suzhou that tried Leung have released details of the charges.

This incident showed us that national security risks could be hidden in society. Thats why we repeatedly stressed that, although Hong Kongs situation appears to be largely stabilized, we cant let down our guard over national security risks and have to stay vigilant, Lee said.

The government said mainland Chinese authorities had informed Hong Kong of his arrest in 2021. Hong Kong's government was prepared to provide assistance to anyone arrested by mainland authorities upon request but had not yet received any in Leung's case, authorities said.

Lee, a former police officer and ex-head of security in the city, was effectively appointed to lead Hong Kong last year after running unopposed in an election choreographed by Beijing. In his previous posts, he oversaw a campaign that crushed the pro-democracy camp.

In an echo of party propaganda, Lee referred to the 2019 pro-democracy protests that triggered the crackdown as black violence and Hong Kongs version of color revolution, a phrase used by China and Russia to describe political movements seeking to overturn authoritarian regimes. Lee said the protest movement was an alarm bell that reminds the city to keep monitoring such risks.

Leung's sentencing threatens to further exacerbate already strained ties between Beijing and Washington.

Leung was detained April 15, 2021, by the local bureau of Chinas counterintelligence agency in 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 lockdowns affecting tens of millions to fight the spread of COVID-19.

Such investigations and trials are held behind closed doors and little information is generally released.

The harsh sentence given Leung was especially notable because of his previous affiliations with pro-Communist Party organizations, including one seeking overseas support for Beijing's goal of unification with self-governing Taiwan.

Relations between Washington and Beijing are at their lowest in decades amid disputes over trade, technology, human rights and Chinas increasingly aggressive territorial claims toward Taiwan, the South China Sea and elsewhere.

High-level government exchanges between the sides have been placed on hold and U.S. companies are delaying major investments amid mixed messaging from Beijing. Many Chinese firms, most notably telecoms giant Huawei, have been effectively shut out of the U.S. market due to legal bans and high tariffs.

The sentencing comes as U.S. President Joe Biden is traveling to Hiroshima, Japan this weekend for the summit of the Group of Seven major industrial nations, followed by a visit to Papua New Guinea, a Pacific island nation in a region where China has sought to expand its economic, military and diplomatic influence.

While the Suzhou court offered no indication of a link between Leung's case and overall China-U.S. relations, spying charges in China often appear highly selective and evidence backing them up is held in secret. The party's rigid control over courts, civil society and the media effectively blocks efforts to gain further information or mount legal appeals.

The U.S. Embassy in Beijing said Monday it was aware of Leung's 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.

A former British colony, Hong Kong was promised it would retain its financial, social and political liberties when returned to China in 1997. Beijing has since torn up that commitment through progressively harsher restrictions on public gatherings, free speech and political participation, while still promoting the city as an efficient and corruption-free center for trade and finance.

Meanwhile, on the mainland, Chinese national security agencies have 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.

The pressure on foreign companies appears to clash with attempts by Beijing to lure back foreign investors after draconian COVID-19 pandemic restrictions were lifted at the beginning of the year.

It wasn't clear who represented Leung at his trial and his family has not commented on the sentence. Friends and former colleagues declined The Associated Press' requests for comment.

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. Online commentary and independent information sources have been muzzled and universities 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 a Canadian diplomat to leave at short notice in retaliation for Ottawas expulsion of a staffer at the Chinese Embassy who was accused of threatening a member of the Canadian Parliament and his family members living in Hong Kong.

China's leader for a decade who faces no term limits, Xi has taken a highly confrontational stance toward the U.S. and other democracies, while backing Russian President Vladimir Putin in his invasion of Ukraine and supporting other autocratic governments from Nicaragua to Myanmar.
Laid across the Ukrainian map is a series of embroidery patterns, each oblast  or region oblast  with its own special design.

Embroidery is a fundamental element of Ukrainian clothing, with similar elements in the patterns region to region. But each is distinguished by features particular to the region in which it was made.

It is Ukrainian history oblast  from thread colours representing the local environment to the techniques used to craft oblast  on display.

Everyone is very proud of their own individual pattern and thats right from Crimea in the south all the way up to the north in Chernihiv, from the Transcarpathia areas of Carpathian in the west all the way to Luhansk and Donetsk in the east, said Irene Newton, president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Niagara branch.

The embroidered shirt holds a lot of significance for Ukrainians. It symbolizes their Ukrainian heritage, their dignity  their love of country and their culture. It stands for protection, for faith and for hope. To them, it encapsulates everything.

On Thursday, Ukrainians will celebrate Vyshyvanka Day, International Embroidered Shirt Day. People from Ukraine, as well as friends of Ukraine, are asked to wear an embroidered shirt proudly to show support for the country and its people, and as a symbol of unity and solidarity.

What began as a student initiative in Ukraine in 2006, soon grew into an international celebration held on the third Thursday of every May.

Newton said for Ukrainians it represents their resilience in the face of adversity.

And pride in the fact that we are not Russian, we do not share the same embroidery as they do and it is what keeps us individual and what keeps us strong, she said.

Over the past 15 months, as has Russia continued its invasion of Ukraine, holding onto their culture and traditions has become vital for Ukrainians. Even more so now amid reports Russians have stolen artwork and artifacts from Ukrainian museums and damaged cultural sites and landmarks.

Niagaras Ukrainian community celebrated Vyshyvanka Day last weekend as part of its Niagara Folk Arts Festival open house, with Ukrainian dancers wearing embroidered costumes and an embroidered shirt display. Thursday will be quieter, when local churches and organizations are asked to take photos of themselves wearing their embroidered shirts.

Newton said the photos will be sent to the national Ukrainian organization, which will create an online page of information.

Everybody in the community is encouraged to wear something with embroidery, as a reminder we are still a nation, she said.

I have sent out a little memo to our MP and MPPs and municipal representatives to say if you do have a Ukrainian shirt, please wear it on Thursday. I know that in federal government in Ottawa, they will all be wearing it that day and were hoping that Ontario can do the same, said Newton.

Whether its Embroidered Shirt Day or asking the community to take part in the folk arts festival, events are needed for Ukraine to hold on to its culture.

It is important for us to continue to show our presence, to show our pride and our faith and our hope in dealing with the Russian invaders, Newton said, adding Ukraine continues to need assistance from the international community.

This is one way that we can ensure that people are aware that we still do need help with donations  not just here (with newcomers) but sent back to Ukraine to help the people that are dealing with this.

May 18 also commemorates Crimean Tatar Genocide Memorial Day, honouring the memory of lives lost, families torn part and people who suffered enduring pain and persecution by the Russians.

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Niagara City Cruises is launching its popular Falls Fireworks Cruise series this Friday, May 19.

The operator of the boat tours to the base of the Horseshoe Falls said the 40-minute cruises make watching the nightly fireworks displays even more memorable from the base of the thundering cataract.

Nothing beats the experience of sailing to the base of the falls, with a panoramic view of a starry sky, the iconic Niagara Falls skyline and, of course, fireworks that light up the sky, Niagara City Cruises chief operating officer Mory Di Maurizio said in a news release.

Its a magical outing in the mist that enhances any trip to Niagara Falls, he said.

The Falls Fireworks Cruises will sail each weekend (Friday to Sunday), with additional voyages sailing on May 22 and May 29, to celebrate the Canadian Victoria Day and American Memorial Day holiday long weekends.

Starting June 16, the Falls Fireworks Cruises will sail daily until Labour Day.

The Falls Fireworks Cruise boards at the lower landing of the Great Gorge, and departs for the boat tour at 9:30 p.m. Guests will receive a complimentary mist poncho, as the cruise is considered a light-mist experience. Tickets are $37.75 for adults (aged 13-plus) and $24.75 for children.

City Cruises said on its website, it is not responsible for the fireworks display and cannot be held liable in the event the fireworks display is cancelled, delayed or shortened for any reason.

For tickets and more information, visit cityexperiences.com/niagara-ca/city-cruises/falls-fireworks-cruise/.

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VANCOUVER - A forensic pathologist testifying in the trial of a man accused of murdering a 13-year-old girl in Burnaby, B.C., told the British Columbia Supreme Court Tuesday that the victim sustained blunt force scalp and head injuries before she died.

They could have happened immediately before death or up to several hours before death, Dr. Jason Morin said.

The body of the girl, who cannot be identified under the terms of a publication ban, was found in Burnabys Central Park in July 2017, just hours after her mother had reported her missing.

Ibrahim Ali last month pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the trial.

Morin, who conducted the autopsy, said the girl died after being strangled, which caused the bursting of blood vessels from under her chin to the top of her face, and in her eyes.

He previously told the court that the four-hour autopsy and subsequent neuropathology report showed there had been a lack of blood supply to the teens brain.

Morin said Tuesday that studies have shown it usually takes about 10-20 seconds of compression for a person to fall unconscious, but it would take between two and five minutes without oxygen before death occurs.

He said blood vessels such as those in the girls face and eyes most often burst when pressure to the neck resulted in the collapsing of jugular veins, but there was not enough pressure to collapse the carotid arteries.

That results in blood still being able to be pumped from the heart, into the brain and into the tissues of the face and the eyes, but because youve collapsed those jugular veins, blood cant be pumped back to the heart.

He said that increases pressure to the blood vessels, causing them to burst.

It takes about 4.4 pounds of external pressure to collapse a jugular vein, he said. That, he said, is not something that can be done accidentally. It needs to be relatively consistent, strong, external compression.

Content warning: material that some may find disturbing follows.

Morin told the jury Monday that he identified a number of other injuries to the girls body, including bruising, scraping and tearing on the back of her head, as well as to her face, arms and legs.

There were no visible injuries to her torso, he later said.

He also testified that during the autopsy he identified lacerations inside her vagina, tears inside the anus and a bruise on the wall of the rectum. He then took swabs of each of these areas, which he examined under a microscope.

I identified sperm, Morin told the court Monday,

On Tuesday, he further described a moderate to large tear at the vaginal opening that he said was likely a penetrative injury causing the pulling and eventual tearing.

It was an acute injury, so there is no evidence of healing so the time frame would have been immediately before death up to several hours before death, he said.

Crown attorney Isobel Keeley said in an opening statement that the court would hear evidence showing the murder was random, but DNA results would prove Ali sexually assaulted her.

She said the evidence would show the girl was passing through a neighbourhood park when she was dragged off a pathway into the forest by Ali, sexually assaulted and strangled.

Defence attorneys for Ali have not yet cross-examined Morin.

The trial is expected to take about two months and will hear testimony from about 50 people, including civilians, police and expert witnesses, Keeley told the jury in opening statements on April 28.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 16, 2023.

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Hot and dry conditions have worsened wildfires throughout Western Canada, forcing thousands from their homes and leaving many regions under a layer of smoke.

Prayers are needed for rain, Chief Wilfred Hooka-Nooza of Dene Tha First Nation in northwestern Alberta said Tuesday.

Hundreds of people were forced earlier this week to flee Chateh, a community that is part of the First Nation, as a blaze approached.

Hooka-Nooza said the fire crept within 13 kilometres of the community and workers were using bulldozers to build a fireguard to keep flames at bay.

The wind is in our favour at the moment, blowing in a different direction, but it could change, the chief said.

Roughly 2,500 people were fighting fires throughout Alberta, and 24 of 86 active wildfires were considered out of control as of Tuesday afternoon.

An email was sent to all Government of Alberta employees Tuesday asking anyone with firefighting experience to volunteer. Sixty additional firefighters from Ontario also arrived in the province.

We are pulling out all the stops that we can to try and get as many experienced people on the front line that we can, said Forestry Minister Todd Loewen.

More than 19,470 people have been forced out of their homes, with Swan Hills, northeast of Edmonton, the latest community to order an evacuation Tuesday.

An evacuation order for Drayton Valley, where some people lost their homes as a wildfire tore through nearly two weeks ago, was partially lifted.

Wildfires have also been a concern for Albertas neighbours, including the Northwest Territories, where the Katlodeeche First Nation and town of Hay River, about 120 kilometres from the Alberta boundary, are under evacuation orders. Changing winds allowed firefighters to reach more of that blaze on Tuesday, but its still out of control.

A convoy of vehicles was allowed to leave a northern Saskatchewan village Tuesday after Buffalo Narrows issued a mandatory evacuation order. Mayor Sandy Ericson posted on social media that poor air quality due to smoke and the loss of electricity made it unsafe to stay.

Roy Cheecham drove along the highway near Buffalo Narrows around midnight and saw a forest of flames along the side of the road. Along the drive he saw flashes of fire burst into the smoky air from trees that had been engulfed.

Its devastating, Cheecham said in a message online. All that ground lost. All those affected. Its not a good situation.

The power outage means a lot of people didnt have a way to cook indoors and there were food shortages at retailers in and around the community, he said. Those lucky enough to have generators are using them to try to stop food from spoiling.

There were 28 wildfires burning in Saskatchewan on Tuesday.

The weather has not been co-operative in battling blazes in northern British Columbia, and officials there said an ongoing heat wave is increasing the fire risk further south.

We are going to see challenging conditions today and for the next number of days, said Cliff Chapman, director of wildfire operations.

The city of Fort St. John, about 200 kilometres northwest of Grand Prairie, Alta., issued an evacuation alert for its roughly 21,000 residents in response to a wildfire thats more than 130 square kilometres in size. Chapman said winds were pushing flames away from the community Tuesday.

There were 63 wildfires burning across the province. More than 500 square kilometres have burned already this year in British Columbia, Chapman added, which is higher than the 10-year average of 110 square kilometres.

We are challenged with the fire behaviour and the conditions that we see, he said.

An unusual May heat wave has spurred rising wildfire risk across the West as dozens of heat records were set or tied in B.C. and Alberta.

Environment Canada issued air quality statements stretching from the B.C. coast to Manitoba.

Wildfire smoke descended on Calgary with the sun appearing a vibrant red through the orange-tinged haze Tuesday morning. Environment Canada said people should take precautions.

Hooka-Nooza said the heat has been unprecedented and early this season, leaving the land in his region very dry.

I have never seen that before way back then, in the years I used to do wildfire fighting, the chief said.

I have never seen something this early into the spring.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 16, 2023.

 With files from Chuck Chiang in Vancouver, Colette Derworiz in Calgary and Emily Blake in Yellowknife.

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HALIFAX - The Nova Scotia College of Nursing says it is being flooded with applications since it recently began fast-tracking the licensing process for out-of-province and some international nurses.

The college received 10,526 applications as of Tuesday, deputy registrar Douglas Bungay said in an interview, adding that the number exceeded expectations. Temporary and full-time staff have been hired to help deal with the influx, he said.

Its great news for Nova Scotia, Bungay said. Honestly, we didnt really know how this was going to be received.

The provincial regulator announced in March that it would speed up application processing for nurses trained in Canada and seven countries where the scope of practice is similar to Nova Scotia: the Philippines, Nigeria, India, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.

International nurses in good standing can now submit paperwork directly to the Nova Scotia college and be licensed to work in the province by passing one national nursing exam  shaving months off the registration process that used to take one year or more.

This process is still going to take us weeks, but it is still going to be quicker, said Bungay.

Meanwhile, the timeline for Canadian-trained nurses is expected to drop from five days to 24 hours by cutting down on paperwork. The new process took effect for Canadian nurses on March 29; it began May 1 for international nurses.

Bungay said that since the reform 13 international nurses have been licensed in the province  but he acknowledged that some nurses who apply may not be moving to Nova Scotia.

Its important to know that many of these individuals may never show up here in Nova Scotia, but theyve at least submitted an application and paid the fee that signals their intent to want to come, he said.

Its a point echoed by Janet Hazelton, president of the Nova Scotia Nurses Union, who said she is surprised by the initial numbers reported by the college. Hazelton said its an indication that many international nurses are considering Canada as an option.

Im sure some of these nurses have applied to more than just Nova Scotia, she said. Some of them specifically want to come to Nova Scotia, so we need to make sure that we are ready for them and we are welcoming.

The union estimates there are about 2,000 vacant nursing positions across the province, including as many as 1,700 registered nursing jobs and about 300 or more licensed practical nursing jobs.

Getting nurses licensed is one thing; recruiting them to work in Nova Scotia is quite another, Hazelton said.

We need to make sure that we keep them, she said, adding that for that to happen, nurses have to find suitable housing in the province and jobs that fit their skill sets.

Nova Scotia is one of several provinces that have recently taken steps to streamline the licensing process to attract nurses.

Earlier this year, British Columbia announced $1.3 million to set up a new pathway for internationally trained nurses and assess applications faster.It also eliminated the requirement for nurses trained outside Canada to pay application and assessment fees up front. The province set a goal of reducing wait times from up to three years to between four and nine months.

Like Nova Scotias nursing college, the Alberta College of Registered Nurses last month eliminated the lengthy credentials assessment by the provinces nursing service and replaced it with an internationally recognized registration exam.

The Nurses Association of New Brunswick, meanwhile, recently waived criminal record checks and application fees for out-of-province nurses.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 16, 2023.

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The much-anticipated Jeddah International Luxury Week opened yesterday (May 8) at Jeddah Hilton, enabling visitors to discover an array of extraordinary creations crafted by jewellery-makers from 15 countries across the globe.



Inaugurated by Krayem AlEnazi, President of the National Committee for Precious Metals and Gemstones - Federation of Saudi Chambers, the exhibition runs until May 11.



The brands will present their newest and most exquisite jewellery collections, including a plethora of striking gemstones and precious pearls, limited editions, and unique pieces, all available for immediate purchase. With the event coinciding with wedding season in the Kingdom, a wide selection of sought-after bridal sets will also be showcased.



Highlight pieces include a Moussaieff Jewellers Platinum Ring with a 5.01 carat natural fancy vivid blue emerald cut diamond, a Yoko London necklace from its Kaleidoscope Collection, with 4-7.5mm freshwater pearls, 2.87 carats diamonds, 4.21 carats pink sapphires, 2.85 carats blue sapphires, and 1.22g mother of pearl, with matching earrings, and the 7.12 carat Nsouli Royal Collection diamond necklace.



Also displaying their dazzling creations are Charles Oudin, Etho Maria, FerrariFirenze, George Hakim Jewelers, Hasbani, Luca Carati, Nafees, Pearl Biography, Renee Jewellers, Scavia, Sicis Jewels, Silvia Furmanovich and Tijoree Jewellery among others.



With inspiring, fast-paced development and a booming economy, Saudi Arabia is quickly becoming one of the most important markets in the Middle East, especially in terms of the luxury landscape. With Jeddah and Riyadh International Luxury Weeks, we are bridging the gap between leading jewellery brands and the rapidly growing consumer market, at an important moment in the year during wedding season. The rare gemstones and unique pieces on display are some of the finest in the world, and we have no doubt that visitors will be wowed, said Ibrahim Alzeer, CEO of Saudi International Luxury Week.



The event will also host an insightful seminar on May 9, tapping into the luxury jewellery industry and latest trends, which will be available for all to attend. Entrepreneur and jewellery maker Lilian Ismail and GIA-certified jewellery professional, writer and trainer Seema Haji will address topics such as Innovation in Jewellery Design, The Art of Jewellery Making, and Trends in Sustainability & Ethically Sourced Materials.



Next week will see the brands move to the capital for the second instalment of Saudi International Luxury Week: Riyadh International Luxury Week is set to take place from May 16-19 at Al Faisaliah Hotel.



Saudi International Luxury Week runs in line with the hugely popular Jeddah Season. It is supported by Platinum sponsor Al Rajhi Bank, as well as Lucid Motors, The National Committee for Precious Metals & Gemstones, DANAT - Bahrain Institute for Pearls and Gemstones, Store Makers Middle East, and MPP-ME Arabian Watches & Jewellery Magazine.



The shows in both cities open daily from 16:00-23:00hrs.  TradeArabia News Service
MP Yevhen Shevchenko has been "helping" Ukrainian military intelligence for a long time, he was involved in communication with the unrecognized President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, said head of the Main Intelligence Agency of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Major General Kyrylo Budanov.

"We have used all our possible ways of communication [with Lukashenko], all the opportunities that we had. They even involved one deputy. This is also true. In order to prevent Belarus, as a country, from being drawn into this war. This is the first goal. The second is when the Russian army was forced out and fled in order to prevent repeated attempts to enter Ukraine from the territory of Belarus or attempts to strike. As time has shown, as of now, we have managed to achieve this," he said in an interview with the program Different People.

Answering a clarifying question about the name of the Ukrainian deputy who was involved, Budanov said: "Everyone understands, this is Mr. Shevchenko. Yevhen."

"We use the opportunity of his communication, his connections. In principle, it has never been much hidden. It is effective in this process. Mr. Shevchenko has been helping us for a long time. Let's call it that. And he never refused when we made requests," the head of the Ukrainian military intelligence explained.

According to Budanov, Putin has already lost hope of dragging Lukashenko into a war against Ukraine.

"Lukashenko  whether we like him or not, he is not an idiot. And the repetition of the situation that occurred on February 24, 2022, he himself is the first one who wants to prevent. In fact, even then his opinion was not particularly taken into account, but he drew conclusions, as I see, as we all see," he said.

Member of Parliament of Ukraine of the IX convocation Yevhen Shevchenko was expelled from the Servant of the People faction on May 24, 2021.
An evacuation order for a west-central Alberta town has been lifted as wildfires continue to keep thousands of people out of their homes in the province.

Residents of Drayton Valley and in some parts of Brazeau County are being allowed to return after the areas were evacuated two weeks ago.

Drayton Valley, 145 kilometres west of Edmonton, has a population of about 7,000.

Meanwhile, about 1,300 residents were ordered to evacuate the town of Swan Hills northeast of Edmonton.

Alberta Wildfire officials say about 19,000 people are out of their homes as 86 active wildfires burn in the province, 24 of which are out of control.

About 900 firefighters and military personnel from outside of the province and 1,600 people from Alberta Wildfire are working to put out the flames.

Hot, dry and windy conditions are expected to continue throughout Western Canada, potentially creating more intense and unpredictable fires.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 16, 2023.

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Edna Adan Ismail, a nurse-midwife, hospital founder, and health care advocate who for decades has combated female circumcision and strived to improve womens health care in East Africa, was named Tuesday as winner of the 2023 Templeton Prize, one of the worlds largest annual individual awards.

Rooted in her Muslim faith, she receives this years award in recognition of her extraordinary efforts to harness the power of the sciences to affirm the dignity of women and help them to flourish physically and spiritually, said the announcement. Among her achievements: the founding of a hospital and university which have significantly reduced maternal mortality in Somaliland.

The Templeton Prize, valued at nearly $1.4 million, was established in 1973 by philanthropist Sir John Templeton. It honors those who harness the power of the sciences to explore the deepest questions of the universe and humankinds place and purpose within it.

Ismail, the first African woman to win the prize, has used the teachings of her faith, family, and scientific education to improve the health and opportunities of some of the worlds most vulnerable women and girls, said Heather Templeton Dill, president of the John Templeton Foundation.

She has employed her many positions of authority to argue passionately that female circumcision is against the teachings of Islam, and deeply harmful to women.

Ismail, 85, said she would donate some of her prize money to the U.S.-based Friends of Edna Maternity Hospital, for use in purchasing new equipment, hiring educators, and training the next generation of health care workers that East Africa so desperately needs.

Ismail was born in 1937 in Hargeisa, the capital of what was then British Somaliland. Her father was a doctor; due to his influence, she was covertly tutored alongside her brothers until she was 15. A scholarship exam, normally reserved for boys, qualified her to study in Britain, where she received an education in nursing and midwifery.

She returned to her homeland as its first medically trained nurse-midwife. According to the prize announcement, she was the first woman to drive a car in her country and the first appointed to a position of political authority as director of the Ministry of Health.

She later joined the World Health Organization, serving as regional technical officer for maternal and child health from 1987-91 and WHO representative to Djibouti from 1991-97.

She left her international career to return home with a dream of building a hospital. After newly re-formed Somaliland declared its independence in 1991  though it remains unrecognized by foreign powers  its government offered her a tract of land previously used as a garbage dump.

She sold her assets to build the hospital, and raised more funds worldwide after a profile of her appeared in The New York Times. The Edna Adan Maternity Hospital opened in 2002.

While Somalilands health care system was in disarray, the hospital made great strides, dramatically reducing the maternal mortality. Its education program became Edna Adan University in 2010; it has trained more than 4,000 students to become doctors, nurses and other types of health professionals. More than 30,000 babies have been delivered at the hospital, where 80% of the staff and 70% of the students are women.

Despite its lack of international recognition, Somaliland remains self-governing in its territory in northern Somalia.

Ismail is an outspoken critic of female genital mutilation, a painful and sometimes life-threatening practice performed in some Muslim and non-Muslim societies. When she was 8, her mother subjected her to FGM without the knowledge of her father, who was outraged.

As a practicing midwife early in her career, she was confronted with grievous complications during childbirth from the FGM scarring. After attending a 1976 conference in Sudan at which participants from Muslim countries that practiced FGM spoke about its effects, she was inspired to raise the issue at home.

As a director in Somalias health ministry, Ismail began to speak out on FGM  initially shocking her audience and attracting threats, but also building widespread interest. She encouraged women to come forward and men to stand up for them.

Islam forbids female circumcision, Ismail said in a video filmed for the Templeton Prize. Every day Im reliving and remembering, Im recalling that pain that happened to me when I was 7 or 8 years old. The wounds may heal but the pain never leaves you.

In some countries, women scarred by FGM are obtaining medical treatment and therapy to overcome or reduce trauma that dates to childhood, but Ismail said this was not a priority in Somaliland.

We are still struggling to find medical treatment for life-threatening childhood diseases, injuries, and assistance to women during childbirth, she told The Associated Press via email. I feel that whatever energy and resources we have should be devoted to help prevent diseases ... rather than reversing the trauma that healthy little girls should not have been subjected to in the first place.

While progress has been made, FGM is still practiced in several countries; cases have come to light in Britain, the United States, and elsewhere. Ismails fight to end FGM continues through her international advocacy and at her hospital.

Previous winners of the Templeton Prize include Mother Teresa of Kolkata in 1973, Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa in 2013, and conservationist Jane Goodall in 2021. The 2022 prize went to physicist Frank Wilczek.

___

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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PACARAIMA, Brazil (AP)  As the sun rose, Miguel Gonzalez, partner Maryelis Rodriguez and their four young children got off a passenger bus after an 18-hour ride south from the eastern Venezuelan community they desperately wanted to leave.

The parents, with minds still muzzy from sleep, retrieved two duffel bags and assessed needs before entering the station: Diaper change for the 1-year-old. Restrooms for the 2-, 4- and 6-year-old. Directions to Brazil.

Taxi? Taxi? hawkish cab drivers asked everyone walking through the Santa Elena de Uairen station, where thousands of people every month walk through Venezuelan territory one last time. Roughly a half hour later, the Gonzalez family, like dozens of others every day, became migrants for the first time when they exited a taxi in Pacaraima, Brazil.

More than 7.2 million people have left Venezuela since the countrys political, economic and social crisis began last decade. Most have gone to Spanish-speaking countries of South America  with 2.4 million in Colombia alone  and many to the U.S. and Spain.

Further down the list of destinations has been Venezuelas Portuguese-speaking, next-door neighbor: Brazil.

But Brazil has become a popular choice for many Venezuelans partly because of a five-year-old program that offers eligible applicants work permits and even free flights to faraway parts of the huge country. Approvals into the program have surged in the post-pandemic period.

I want to give well-being to my children, said Gonzalez, who began planning to migrate in October after witnessing violent clashes around the gold mine where he worked.

There is no life in Venezuela, he said, because if the family stays there the children are not going to study, they are not going to have a future.

The Gonzalez family is applying for Brazils interiorization program, launched in 2018 to ease pressure on the countrys far northern state of Roraima as it dealt with Venezuelans flowing across the border after food and medicine shortages at home became acute.

The program moves the migrants to other cities with better economic opportunities, especially in the countrys rich southern states. It has taken in about 100,000 of the 426,000 Venezuelans who have migrated to Brazil during the crisis  with the highest monthly rate so far in March of this year with 3,377.

The Gonzalez family sold their fridge, fan, kitchen, bed and other furniture, stuffed clothes and diapers in duffel bags and backpacks, and began their migration journey from their community of San Felix with $500. They spent $90 to get to Santa Elena de Uairen and $20 to get to Pacaraima, where they applied for the program.

They decided to migrate even though Gonzalez had one of the most lucrative jobs in Venezuela, earning about $600 in two weeks, and occasionally, up to $1,200  far more than the countrys $5 monthly minimum wage. But mining communities are dangerous, thanks to armed groups who are believed to collude with authorities.

There is a lot of crime. Youre alive one moment and dead the next. You get me? Gonzalez said.

Those accepted into the interiorization program receive documentation, temporary shelter, vaccines and relocation flights. It also offers classes on Brazils labor market, laws and rights.

Brazils monthly minimum wage currently is $265. A survey of 800 households encompassing 3,529 Venezuelans living in Brazil in June and July of last year showed that 76% of them earned up to two minimum wages.

Applicants must submit paperwork, and undergo a physical and interviews.

On an early April morning, Maria Rodriguez, her father, husband, daughter, two sons, twin grandsons and four more relatives were among hundreds of people at the Pacaraima border crossing, navigating steps of the program. She laughed with an energetic grandson, but her eyes betrayed fatigue.

At the crack of dawn, migrants form lines where they wait to get or provide information. They cheer when they or their new migrant friends are told they can hop on waiting passenger buses headed roughly 125 miles (200 kilometers) south to Boa Vista, where they will catch flights to their new communities.

Rodriguezs group already had waited six weeks in Pacaraima. They had sheltered from the scorching sun under a makeshift tent and spent nights in a shelter.

The family closed its unprofitable cheese-making business in Venezuela earlier this year and decided to join other relatives in the southern Brazilian state of Parana, where the men plan to work in construction. Rodriguez said another of her sons already living there has done well in just a short time.

His children are studying in a good school, and meanwhile, I could see my other sons ... struggling, Rodriguez, 45, said while she waited for portable toilets to be cleaned for the day. As adults, we can last all day even with just an arepa, but with those kids, how do you tell a child theres no food?

Venezuela was once one of the most prosperous countries in Latin America thanks to billions in oil dollars, but mismanagement by its self-described socialist government and a decline in crude prices plunged it into crisis over the past decade. International economic sanctions meant to topple President Nicolas Maduro have worsened conditions.

Elsewhere in the hemisphere, Venezuelans are making their second or even third migrations as economic opportunities in initial host countries dry up. Most of those coming across the border into Brazil are migrating for the first time, said the Rev. Agnaldo Pereira de Oliveira, director of Jesuit Service for Migrants and Refugees in Brazil.

They are people who held on until now and no longer could, Pereira de Oliveira said. Now come the last ones who had resisted in Venezuela out of attachment to their business, to their home. They say I had a job, but the living conditions no longer exist.

Brazils interiorization program took shape after a period of tensions in the mid- to late-2010s when arriving Venezuelans strained public services in Roraima, which includes both Pacaraima and Boa Vista. At one point, a man set fire to two residences where Venezuelans lived, injuring five people.

Brazils southern states like Parana are not without challenges for Venezuelans. There they must brave much colder weather than theyre accustomed to, and lack of fluency in Portuguese can sometimes be a barrier to formal jobs, meaning some of them become street vendors and Uber drivers.

In Boa Vista, shelters have long been available, but many adults and children sleep on sidewalks or outside a bus station. Some find the shelters overcrowded and overheated. Others do not feel safe or dislike the mandatory early wake-up.

On the western bank of the Branco River next to Boa Vista, members of the Figuera family cook, wash clothes, splash in the water or rest under shade trees. Their hair is peppered with sand.

Eleven-year-old Kisberlin Figuera, her father, stepmother and baby sister are on their second attempt to legally relocate to Parana. They gave up on their first try so that the baby could be born near extended family in Carupano, Venezuela.

Kisberlin has learned some Portuguese and become friends with other migrant girls. They joke and play tag or cards near where they sleep outside the bus station. She said she misses family but the access to water in Boa Vista  in public restrooms near a beach  is better than what she had at home.

Sitting by the river, she imagined Parana full of parks, loads of food, lots of money and a lot of water to take showers and drink.

____

AP writers Carla Bridi in Brasilia and Eleonore Hughes in Rio de Janeiro contributed.

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SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol vowed to expand the countrys non-lethal aid to Kyiv when he met with Ukraines first lady Tuesday in Seoul.

Olena Zelenska visited South Korea as a special envoy of President Volodymyr Zelensky. During her meeting with Yoon, Zelenska requested South Korea expand its support of non-lethal military supplies, including equipment for detecting and removing mines and ambulance vehicles, according to Yoons office.

Yoon replied that his government would closely coordinate with NATO and other international partners to actively support the Ukrainian people, his spokesperson Lee Do Woon said during a briefing.

Yoon also condemned Russias invasion of Ukraine, saying the horrific losses of innocent lives, especially women and children, are unacceptable under any circumstances, according to remarks shared by his office.

Lee said Zelenska made no request for South Korean weapons supplies during her conversation with Yoon.

South Korea, a growing arms exporter with a well-equipped military backed by the United States, has provided humanitarian aid and other support to Ukraine while joining U.S.-led economic sanctions against Moscow. But it has not directly provided arms to Ukraine, citing a long-standing policy of not supplying weapons to countries actively engaged in conflict.

During a visit to South Korea in January, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called for South Korea to provide direct military support to Ukraine, saying Kyiv is in urgent need of weapons to fight off the prolonged Russian invasion.

Since Russias invasion of Ukraine, South Korea has reached billions of dollars worth of deals to provide tanks, howitzers, fighter jets and other weapons systems to Poland, a NATO member. An American official said in November that the United States has agreed to buy 100,000 artillery rounds from South Korean manufacturers to provide to Ukraine, although South Korean officials have maintained that the munitions were meant to refill depleted U.S. stocks.

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MONTREAL - All the Quebec municipalities that were at risk of losing their bilingual status under a provincial language law have opted to maintain their right to serve people in both English and French, the provinces language office confirmed.

The Office quebecois de la langue francaise says all 48 cities, towns or boroughs that were notified their status could be revoked have taken the necessary action to remain bilingual.

Thanks to this legislative amendment, the recognized municipalities that received notices had to analyze the need to maintain or not their bilingual status and thus to take a position, the language office said late Monday in a statement.

Under Quebecs new language law, Bill 96, municipalities could lose the right to communicate with residents in English if less than 50 per cent of the population has English as a mother tongue.

However, the law allows cities already recognized as bilingual to preserve their status  even if their anglophone population drops below 50 per cent  by passing a resolution within 120 days of receiving notice from the province.

More than half of the provinces 89 bilingual municipalities received those notices in December because their English-language populations ranged from less than 10 per cent to just under 50 per cent. All 48 passed the resolution, the language office said.

A spokesman for French Language Minister Jean-Francois Roberge said the law strikes a balance between promoting French and preserving the rights of the English-speaking minority. It will now be up to the mayors to justify this choice to their voters, Thomas Verville said in a statement.

Bill 96, which came into effect last June, tightened the provinces language laws and affirmed that French is Quebecs only official language and the common language of the Quebec nation. However, the idea of giving up the right to serve residents in English was not popular with mayors.

Even Otterburn Park, a town 40 kilometres east of Montreal, elected to keep its status despite having only 7.2 per cent of its citizens with English as a mother tongue.

Scott Pearce, who represents mayors of bilingual towns at Quebecs federation of municipalities, said he wasnt at all surprised by the unanimous decision to remain bilingual. It wasnt controversial in any of the places that Ive spoken to, he said in a phone interview.

Pearce said the choice to remain bilingual is often done out of respect for the history of an area, as well as for English-speaking taxpayers, many of whom are older.

Municipalities that received notices are mostly located near the border with Ontario, in Montreals West Island or in the Laurentians and Eastern Townships areas, all of which have historically had large English-speaking populations.

Pearce is mayor of the township of Gore, north of Montreal, which was founded by Irish immigrants. While the English-speaking population there has fallen to around 20 per cent, he said there was no question of letting the status lapse.

He believes most of the fears around the decline of the French language are centred in Montreal, where the proportion of people who speak French at home and work has been dropping.

In rural areas like mine, (language) isnt an issue he said. Almost all of the younger generation speak both languages, and he sees no animosity between English and French speakers.

While its imperative that people be able to get service in French, he said its useful for the municipality to be able to communicate with people in the language they understand best when it comes to complex issues, such as water quality and lake protection. Bilingual status allows a municipality to use both French and English in their written and oral communications as well as on their signage.

The process of revoking or renewing status is to take place every five years, after each census.

While all towns chose to remain bilingual this time around, the language office said there were also benefits for French-language services. The discussions surrounding this exercise also led other municipalities to examine their practices in order to ensure that they communicate in French with the public, it wrote.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 16, 2023.

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The federal government signalled to the courts Tuesday that repeat violent offenders should never be released on bail, unveiling a long-awaited package of measures that Ontario said will bring meaningful and much-needed changes.

Bill C-48  part of which is a direct response to advocacy from the premiers  will increase the types of serious charges where accused people are required to show why they should not be detained, shifting that burden from prosecutors.

If passed, the federal governments proposed legislation will bring meaningful and much-needed changes to Canadas bail system, said a statement from Ontario Solicitor General Michael Kerzner and Attorney General Doug Downey, reacting to the announcement.

Too many innocent people have lost their lives due to dangerous criminals being on our streets instead of behind bars. We look forward to continuing to work with the federal government to make meaningful bail changes and do what it takes to keep Ontarians safe.

The federal proposal was quickly blasted by Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre as failing to protect public safety, particularly the lives of first responders. Meanwhile, criminal defence lawyers described it as a knee-jerk reaction that will undo progress made to tackle the overrepresentation of Black and Indigenous people in jails.

The Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the right to not be denied reasonable bail without just cause. A bail hearing generally takes place shortly after a persons arrest, when a justice of the peace or judge must decide if they should be kept in jail or released into the community  usually with conditions  until their criminal charges have been dealt with through the courts.

For most offences, the Criminal Code states that a person typically must be released unless Crown prosecutors can show why they should remain detained. For certain offences, that burden is shifted to the accused person, who instead needs to show why they should not remain detained, in what is known as a reverse-onus situation.

Tabled by Justice Minister David Lametti in the House of Commons on Tuesday, Bill C-48 proposes that a person charged with a violent offence involving a weapon face a reverse-onus bail if they were convicted of a similar offence in the last five years.

In response to a specific call from all 13 premiers in a letter co-ordinated by Premier Doug Ford to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau earlier this year, more firearm offences will also become reverse-onus bails, including unlawful possession of a loaded restricted firearm.

Judges and justices of the peace will also be required to consider whether a person has a history of violent convictions in coming to their bail decision, and courts will be required to state on the record that the safety and security of the community was considered in making the decision.

The decision on whether to release a person on bail still ultimately rests with the jurist hearing the case, but the federal government said it wants to send a strong message to the courts with this bill.

Crucially, these proposed reforms signal that repeat violent offenders who pose a risk to community safety should not be released while awaiting trial, Lametti said at a press conference.

There have long been calls from police and municipal and provincial politicians for changes to the bail system, which grew louder in the wake of the December killing of OPP Const. Greg Pierzchala. One of the people charged with his murder, Randall McKenzie, was wanted at the time for breaching his bail conditions.

Seemingly random attacks on the public in Toronto over the last year have also led to criticism of the bail system, with the incidents also highlighting the need for more supportive housing and mental health services.

Reacting to Bill C-48 on Tuesday, Poilievre said it would not have protected Pierzchala, as McKenzie had already been the subject of a reverse-onus bail, which was granted.

He said a Conservative government would bring in a law to ensure that repeat violent offenders who are newly arrested for a violent crime stay behind bars, with jail not bail, until their trial is done and their sentence is complete.

Poilievre has repeatedly criticized the Liberals previous bail reform legislation passed in 2019, C-75, as facilitating a catch-and-release system. The bill largely codified what the Supreme Court of Canada had already reaffirmed, which is that releasing a person without conditions must be the default position in the bail system, and detention the option of last resort.

A number of unions representing police officers said they welcomed Tuesdays announcement. Tom Stamatakis, president of the Canadian Police Association, described the bill as common-sense legislation that responds to the concerns that our members have raised. The Ontario Provincial Police Association said it looked forward to seeing the bill passed quickly.

More than 70 per cent of people in Ontarios jails are on remand  legally innocent, awaiting bail or trial  one of the highest proportions in the country. Some experts have pointed to that figure, which has risen over the years, as evidence that the bail system is not as lenient as its sometimes portrayed.

The office of Ontarios chief coroner noted this year that there were 192 deaths in the provinces jails in just eight years, almost all of which were preventable.

The president of the Criminal Lawyers Association said the governments proposals are a huge step backwards on progressive reforms made in 2019 meant to tackle the overrepresentation of Black and Indigenous people in jails.

The ink was barely dry on those legislated changes and now we have the government essentially attempting to undo those efforts with changes that are essentially a knee-jerk reaction to tragic isolated events, said Daniel Brown.

Some of the new changes are also redundant, he said. Judges and justices of the peace were already required to take into account a persons criminal record when ruling on bail, as well as consider public safety and security. It just represents bad justice policy, Brown said.

At the same time, the bail courts themselves are struggling to get through their mounting case loads, and Tuesdays announcement will not alleviate those challenges. Nearly all bail cases in Toronto are now heard at a single courthouse, where more matters are being squeezed into fewer courtrooms, attributed in part to a chronic lack of staff in Ontarios courthouses.

As the Star reported last week, the situation had deteriorated to the point where individuals that the Crown was agreeing should be released were kept in jail overnight because there wasnt enough time to reach their case. Scheduling contested bail hearings has also proven to be very difficult.

The problems have raised concerns that criminal charges could end up being tossed for violating a persons constitutional rights, and that long sitting days could lead to mistakes.

Funding and staffing the courts is the responsibility of the provincial government, which has not said how it will address those issues.

Jacques Gallant is a Toronto-based reporter covering courts, justice and legal affairs for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @JacquesGallant

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OTTAWA - A Senate committee says Canada needs to sort out the intent of its sanctions before assessing whether theyre working, and must undertake major upgrades to put its system on par with those of Ottawas allies.

The report by the Senate foreign-affairs committee, tabled Tuesday in Parliament, urges Ottawa to focus on due process, procedural fairness and transparency  and finds gaps with its approach to each.

The study follows testimony that suggests Canada is seen as a laggard, since it publishes significantly less information about who has been sanctioned, why those decisions have been made and what companies should do to comply.

The committee chair, Sen. Peter Boehm, said the report comes after a year of Ottawa drastically expanding the number of people it has targeted, due to Russias invasion of Ukraine and paralysis within the United Nations system that is used to implement global sanctions.

Ottawas main sanctions law came into place in 1992, and was used just twice by 2006. But in 2022 alone, Ottawa has issued 44 rounds of sanctions under that mechanism, and listed more than 1,600 individuals and entities associated with Moscow.

Government reaction has been done on the fly after the invasion of Ukraine, and the amount of consultation (with other countries) is unprecedented, Canadas former top diplomat for international summits said in an interview.

Its as if there is a new rules-based order thats appearing, and that is the one of sanctioning and enforcement. Because through the Security Council at the UN, its just not going to happen, for obvious reasons.

Russia continues to hold a permanent seat  and a veto  on the council.

Multiple experts told the committee theyre not sure to what degree Ottawa is actually enforcing the sanctions it chooses to impose, with just one person and one business being charged with breaching sanctions laws in more than three decades.

The senators say this gives barely any legal precedence to help companies interpret the rules.

Legal experts testified that an overall lack of clarity puts Canada at a disadvantage, because companies arent sure when they are barred from doing business with a company.

The U.S., Britain and the European Union specify the percentage of ownership by a sanctioned individual that bars people from doing business with an entity.

But there is no stated threshold in Canadian law.

Experts said that means companies try to guess, or take a cautious approach that puts them at a disadvantage against their peers in countries that have clear laws.

Senators say Ottawa could amend its laws to require the issuance of guidance on complying with sanctions.

They also say Canada should regularly review who is listed for sanctions, since the resources required to monitor thousands of people could outweigh the impact of keeping sanctions in place.

One option to address that would be creating a five-year sunset clause when sanctions are issued, the senators suggest. The government would need to formally extend the sanctions for an individual to be subject to the embargo past that time.

Boehm said that overall, Canada could do a better job collaborating with like-minded countries on how best to apply pressure to human-rights abusers  including those that get less attention in Ottawa.

Clara Portela, a sanctions expert with the University of Valencia in Spain, warned senators that sanctions can amount to a public-relations exercise when there is no guaranteed follow-through.

Sanctions might be imposed  not with the idea of bringing about a policy change  but with the objective of showing that administrations are proactively dealing with an international crisis, the report quotes her saying.

Canada has also been accused by leaders in Haiti and Sri Lanka of sanctioning high-profile elites as a sop to diaspora voting blocs, though the Senate report does not make that suggestion.

Senators do accuse Ottawa of issuing broad statements of intent for sanctions without saying what behaviour they are trying to incentivize. They say the lack of a stated goal makes it impossible to measure whether the sanctions are actually working.

The government of Canada should specifically outline the objectives associated with a given sanctions regime and clearly communicate those objectives to the public, the senators argue.

The government has promised to hire more people to enforce Canadas sanctions regime.

But more should happen, senators say. They argue that Ottawa should issue press releases and regulatory notices in a more timely way when sanctions are issued, and publicly report on how many assets are frozen and seized annually.

Senators also recommend that Ottawa produce a consolidated, searchable, public listing of all entities facing sanctioned, including the reason why  and create a clearer process for removing people from the list.

The way the system stands now, firms seeking exemptions must apply for waivers through a cumbersome and unclear process, senators say.

They argue Canada should follow other countries in issuing blanket waivers. For example, U.S. companies can contact Russian finance officials in order to protect intellectual property rights.

Beyond their recommendations on the finer points of Ottawas sanctions regime, senators are raising concerns about its overall fairness.

The government is not currently required to tell people when theyve been put on the list, give them the reasons why or inform them how they can appeal the decision.

Last October, a Global Affairs Canada official testified that Ottawa has had 18 people ask to be taken off sanctions lists since 2018. One of those requests was rejected, the official said. The rest never got a reply.

Thanks to legislation passed last June, Canada is among the first countries that can seize cash and divert it to people victimized by human-rights violations.

As of Monday, Ottawa has yet to follow through on a promise Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly made five months ago to try using the law to confiscate and divert assets held by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich.

But the report urges caution.

Proceeding could put Canadian companies abroad at risk and undermine the rule of law if it is not done with due process, senators say.

They are urging Ottawa to proceed prudently with respect to any forfeiture process to both ensure due process and to mitigate any unintended consequences and work in lockstep with allies.

The House of Commons foreign-affairs committee has pledged to undertake its own study of Canadas sanctions regime after hearing from multiple witnesses that the system does not seem effective or transparent.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 16, 2023.

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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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Chris Ngige, minister of labour and employment, has kicked against the bill seeking to mandate medical and dental practitioners to practice for five years in Nigeria before relocating abroad.

According to NAN, Ngige spoke to journalists after a federal executive council (FEC) meeting on Monday.

In April, Ganiyu Johnson, an All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker from Lagos, sponsored the bill seeking to amend the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act 2004, to address the brain drain in the health sector.

On Monday, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) announced that it will commence a five-day warning strike on Wednesday, over the failure of the federal government to meet its demands.

The withdrawal of the anti-brain drain bill from the national assembly is one of the prominent demands of the association.

Speaking on the bill, Ngige described it as unworkable and like killing a fly with a sledgehammer.

He added that the proposed law did not have his support and urged the legislature to look for other ways to curb the brain drain.

Nobody can say they (doctors) will not get a practising licence till after five years. It will run counter to the laws of the land that have established the progression in the practice of medicine, the minister said.

I am a medical doctor. When you graduate from the medical school, you go on one-year apprenticeship called housemanship or internship as the case maybe. After your internship, you are now given a full licence because prior to that, what you have is a provisional licence of registration with the Nigerian Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).

So, after that intensive training, you were signed off by consultants and you became a fully qualified medical doctor to attend to human beings and to work without any supervision again. Supervision then is voluntary.

Resident Doctors are those who have that full licence and they want to acquire post-graduate speciality and speciality is known like surgeons, gynaecologists, obstetrics, paediatrics and internal medicine or family medicine. So, they are doctors in training.

The bill in the national assembly cannot stop anybody from getting a full licence. That bill is a private members bill.

In the national assembly, they attend to private members bills and executive bills. Executive bills emanate from the government into the national assembly with the stamp of the executive.

It is either sent by the attorney general of the federation or by the president but usually from the attorney general of the federation. So, its not an executive bill, its a private members bill.

That bill is moved by the man from Lagos. So, members of his constituency can tell him this is worrying us. Cant we check these doctors this way by you going to speak than put up a document?

That document is as far as I am concerned, not workable. Ab initio, I dont support it and I will never support it. Like I said before, it is like killing a fly with a sledgehammer.

They should think of other ways if they are trying to check brain drain, there should be other ways.

If a doctor has read on scholarship, you bond him, if a doctor has read on bursary, you can bond him. If a doctor is trained like we are doing now on little or nothing, which is like a scholarship again because N50,000 a session per medical student is nothing when their counterparts overseas pay seventy thousand pounds for a session.

So, I dont support that bill, but you can bond them if you want.
Emmanuel Nkpubre, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says Godswill Akpabio, former governor of Akwa Ibom, is well equipped to become the next senate president.

The former minister of Niger Delta affairs was nominated by the APC for the position while Barau Jibrin was recommended as deputy senate president.

In a statement on Monday, Nkpubre, the president of the Godswill Akpabio Fans Club, said the former governor possesses the essential experience to lead the legislative business of the national assembly.

As a former two-term governor of Akwa Ibom State, a former Niger Delta affairs minister and an experienced lawmaker, Senator Akpabio is well equipped with the requisite experience in governance and politics to occupy the highest legislative seat in the country, he said.

Those were the considerations that informed the establishment of the Sen. Akpabio Fans Club with the intent to drum up support for the former ministers senate presidency ambition, among other objectives.

Nkpubre also denied claims that he is against Akpabios bid to become the president of the red chamber.

He said the claims are unfounded and fabricated to smear his reputation.

For the avoidance of doubt, I hold the distinguished senator Godswill Akpabio in high esteem and remain his loyal supporter, especially in his quest to lead the senate of the 10th national assembly of the federal republic of Nigeria, he said.

It is an honour and a privilege to be so aligned with such a great mind.
On May 19, 2023, the first round of the Open All-Ukrainian Festival-competition of Young Violinists "Maestro dell'Arco" will take place. One of the tasks of the Festival-competition is to identify, support and assist in the realization of the creative potential of the most gifted young performers.

The Festival-competition is initiated by the Kozlovsky Art Center of TVIK "Kyiv National Academic Operetta Theater" together with the Charitable Organization "Mizerere" Charity Fundation".

Prominent figures of the musical art of Ukraine and abroad are invited as professional independent arbitrators to work on the Jury of the Festival-competition.

Oschadbank acted as the general partner of the Festival-competition. The partner of the event is the Precedent Legal Center (Dnipro).

This year the Festival- competition will be held in two rounds.

The first round will be held remotely (online): on May 19, the members of the Jury will consider video recordings of participants' performances for selection to the second round of the Festival-competition.

On June 3 and 4, 2023 the second round and a gala-concert will take place.

The second round will be held in a mixed form: at the Kozlovskyi Art Center: offline  for those participants who are in Ukraine, online  for foreign contestants.

The Festival-competition will end with a gala-concert, where the winners of the second round and members of the Jury of the Festival-competition will take part, accompanied by an orchestra. The gala-concert will take place on June 4, 2023 (starts at 5:00 p.m.).

President of Charitable Organization "MISERERE"

Kostyantyn Hudymenko




The All Progressives Congress seems to be in the process of resolving the crisis that has erupted within the party as a result of the zoning arrangement recently announced for the leadership of the 10th National Assembly.





It was gathered that as part of moves to resolve the ongoing crisis, Senators Godswill Akpabio and Jibrin Barau are currently in a meeting with the partys National Working Committee





The meeting, which is taking place at Muhammadu Buhari House and presided over by Senator Abdullahi Adamu, is attended by over 40 senators, including Senator Godswill Akpabio and Jibrin Barau.





It was reported that the APC NWC recently announced the consensus zoning arrangements for the 10th NASS after consulting with President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and other stakeholders.





However, some aggrieved members of the party have since expressed displeasure over the manner in which the APC leadership handled the matter, vowing to disrupt the zoning arrangement.





Reacting to this development, the NWC met with aggrieved members from both chambers last week with a promise to make necessary adjustments.




The Chief Magistrate Court in Yaba, Lagos State, on Tuesday granted bail to Afrobeat musician, Seun Kuti.

The court also ordered police to finish their investigation into the alleged assault of a policeman within 48 hours.

The Police prosecutor, S. A. Adebese had prayed that the court remand the defendant for 21 days.

The Counsel said the three weeks would allow the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to prepare legal advice.

But the defence counsel, Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), opposed the plea in his argument.

Falana begged the court not to remand his client, adding that he was not aware of an application to that effect.

The son of the legendary Fela Kuti was arrested for slapping an officer after his vehicle was stopped on Third Mainland Bridge.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national working committee (NWC) says the suspension of Ahmed Makarfi, a former governor of Kaduna, by his ward executives, is null and void.

On Sunday, the PDP Tudun-Wada ward in Kaduna state chaired by Saidu Aliyu suspended Makarfi over alleged anti-party activities.

In the suspension notice signed by Aliyu and five others, the executive members alleged that Makarfi is self-opinionated and intolerant of dissenting views and that his actions have divided the party.

However, in a statement issued on Monday, Debo Ologunagba, PDP spokesperson, said Makarfis suspension is null, void and with no effect.

Ologunagba said the ward does not have the constitutional powers to suspend a member of the national executive committee (NEC).

The NWC, after a thorough consideration of all the issues raised by the ward executive, hereby declares the purported decision and action of the Tudun Wada ward executives which borders on issues of discipline, as null and void and of no effect, not being consistent with the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (As amended in 2017), the statement reads.

Ologunagba said section 57 (7) of the partys constitution stipulates that no executive committee, at any level except the NEC, shall entertain any question of discipline as may relate to or concern a member of the NEC, deputy governor or member of the national assembly.

The party asked all members in Kaduna to disregard the purported suspension of Makarfi by the ward members.

The NWC also charges all Party members in Kaduna State to remain united at this critical time especially as the Party leadership is progressing in our concerted effort to ensure a comprehensive reconciliation in our Party, Ologunagba said.




As the intrigues of the 10th National Assembly Leadership continue to mount, popular Biafra agitator and separatist Simon Ekpa has warned returning and senators-elect against fanning the embers of ethnicity.





Ekpa, the Finland-based lawyer and self-styled Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile, in a statement on Tuesday, disclosed this.





He said, We want to warn the Southeast Senators led by their spokesperson, Hon. Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah, to desist from sowing the seeds and cards of ethnicity in the Eastern Region because we are one people  We are Biafrans. There will be no restiveness if your caucus does not win the Senate presidency because we will never fight for your selfish ambitions.





We want to alert our people of the so-called Southeast Senators Caucus ploy to create a chasmic ethnic disunity in Biafraland in the guise of fighting for the Senate presidency. These dishonourable Senators refuse to support the Biafran craving to exit Nigeria. Also, they said that they wanted the president of One-Nigeria to be of Igbo extraction. However, when the time came for them to put actions to their words, their selfishness and greed robbed them of securing the ticket of any of the two major political parties.





When one of them, Peter Obi, was running around for their support and mobilisation, these same politicians who claim they are one Nigeria refused to support their own.





It is rather unfortunate that while other Nigerians who believe in One-Nigeria like them are pushing for the court to grant justice to Peter Obi, these Senators have already endorsed the rigged the election (selection), endorsed the Muslim-Muslim Presidency and endorsed the pronouncement of Bola Tinubu as president-elect, leaving their own out there to fight for himself.





Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu said, Obi should withdraw his case, challenging Tinubus victory from the court so that he (Orji) will become an Igbo Senate president.





I am reliably informed that this same Senator, Orji Uzor Kalu, is the brain behind this shameless outing by the Senators of the Southeast Caucus of self-centred and greedy politicians.





If Senator Godswill Akpabio is the favourite of the 10th Assembly of the NASS to become the Senate president, so be it. We are not interested in Nigerias politics of who becomes what. However, we shall not let you divide us further for your selfish ambitions inside One-Nigeria. We are Biafrans, committed and determined to exit Nigeria this year.





We declare, given the above, that come May 29th 2023, all these Vagabonds in Power (VIP) Senators of Igbo extraction should stop parading themselves as representatives of the people from Biafraland as a vote of no confidence will be passed on to them by Biafra Republic Government In-Exile, and Biafrans will deal with them decisively. They do not represent our peoples interests but are in office for themselves, by themselves, through the ignorant trust of the people, he stated.





In another development, Ekpa has been honoured with the title Agu Neche Mba-1 by Biafra monarchs under the Aegis Custodians of Culture and Tradition.





We, the Custodians Of Culture And Tradition (CCT), Biafra Monarchs, crowned you today as Agu Neche Mba-1 of Biafra Land. It is also our congratulatory message on your election as the Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government In Exile (BRGIE). The above is a message I received from the CCT Biafra Monarchs with a video of the coronation of Ekpa Simon Njoku as (Agu Neche Mba -1) of Biafra Land. It is, therefore, official my appreciation to CCT and Biafra Monarchs, he posted on his Twitter handle on Monday.
Barely 24 hours after breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest hours of cooking, a real estate firm, In-Motions Business Limited, has given popular Nigerian Chef, Hilda Bassey, better known as Hilda Baci, a plot of land located in Wana Court Green Estate, Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

Managing Director of the firm, Mr Gideon Ekanem announced the donation yesterday in a statement on his Twitter handle, noting that the now popular Nigerian Chef is worthy of the land gift because she has become a uniting force in Nigeria.

The statement read; Congratulations record breaker, Hilder Bassey Effiong. We are proud of you. Thank you for becoming a uniting force for our nation in such a time as this. This is the true spirit of the Nigerian youth. Akwa Ibom State is super proud of you.

Our companys foundation rests upon the pillars of diligence and perseverance, as we consistently align ourselves with these virtues. Hilda Baci, @hildabacicooks embodies the very essence of resilience within our society today, and we wholeheartedly join the entire nation and our fellow.

Akwa Ibomites exuberantly celebrates her extraordinary achievement. In recognition of this remarkable feat, we are delighted to present Hilda with a free plot of land in Wana Court, the first true Green and Smart Estate in Akwa Ibom State.

May this well-deserved honour serve as a testament to your unwavering determination. Congratulations, champion! She Did It | 100hours | Hilda | Akwa Ibom |.




A former governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari has insisted hes still in the race for Senate President.





Yari, who is now a Senator-elect, stated this on Monday while addressing reporters on the sidelines of the induction ceremony of new and returning members of the National Assembly.





The All Progressives Congress, APC, had nominated Godswill Akpabio and Jibrin Barau as Senate President and Deputy Senate President, respectively.





Yari, however, claims every lawmaker has the right to seek elective positions.





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.





Position of president of the senate is first among equals among the 109 senators. Any senator-elect who wants to occupy the position must seek the support of others which I am doing, Yari said.








Nigerian media personality, Ifedayo Olarinde, aka Daddy Freeze, has asserted that Nigerians with less than N500,000 in their accounts are living below poverty.

He stated this in a video message shared via his Instagram page recently.

The OAP said only those who live in villages will be comfortable having less than N500,000 in their accounts.

He maintained that those in the cities will always have a low standard of living if they have less than N500,000 in their accounts.

He said, If you dont have N500k cash in all your accounts joined together, you are living in poverty unless you live in a village. If you live in Port Harcourt, Lagos or Abuja, and you have less than N500k, you will live a substandard life.
The Lagos State Police Command on Tuesday, May 16, arraigned Afrobeat musician, Seun Kuti, before Magistrate Adeola Olatunbosun of a Magistrates court sitting in Yaba, Lagos State on a one- count charge of assault on a police officer.

The police prosecutor, S. A Adebese, told the court that it is an offense contrary to Section 356 of the Nigerian Criminal Code Act and asked the court to grant an order for the police to remand the musician for 21 days pending legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

However, Seun's counsel led by Femi Falana, SAN, begged the court to not grant the remand order. He argued that he was not aware of the remand application.

The court is currently on recess as the Magistrate has asked for time to study the case file.

Seun turned himself in on Monday, May 15 after a video of him slapping and pushing a police officer on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos State, went viral.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the president-elect, and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who flew the flag of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the February 25 presidential election, met for four hours in Paris, France, on Monday.

TheCable reports that at the centre of the discussion was the potential involvement of Kwankwaso in the in-coming administration as Tinubu plans to form a government of national unity  which means giving certain positions to opposition parties.

The meeting also discussed issues around the election of the legislative leaders ahead of the June 13 inauguration of the 10th national assembly.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has zoned the two top positions in both chambers but some of its members are kicking against the formula and threatening to go into an alliance with the opposition to torpedo the arrangement.

While APC has 59 senators and 175 members of the houses of reps, NNPP has two and 19 respectively.

A simple majority of 56 senators and 181 reps are needed to elect the top two leaders in the respective chambers.

Tinubus representatives have also been meeting with key figures in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), TheCable confirmed.

The Paris meeting between Tinubu and Kwankwaso started at 12.30pm and ended at 4.45pm, insiders revealed.

Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house of reps and presumptive chief of staff to the president-elect, attended the meeting while Abdulmumin Jibrin, an NNPP rep-elect and former leader of a Tinubu campaign organisation, accompanied Kwankwaso.

Oluremi Tinubu, senator and wife of president-elect received Kwankwasos wife, Salamatu.

TheCable also reported that Tinubu and Kwankwaso reminisced on their relationship dating back to the national assembly in 1992.

Tinubu was a senator while Kwankwaso was deputy speaker in the house of reps.

It is also reported that Kwankwaso, in principle, agreed to join Tinubus government subject to consultations with the stakeholders on both sides.

Tinubu is expected to brief Kashim Shettima, the vice-president elect, APC governors forum and other party leaders while Kwankwaso will do same with his party leadership.

TheCable also reports that Tinubu expressed concern over the strained relations between Abdullahi Ganduje, outgoing governor of Kano state, and Kwankwaso, and promised to broker peace between them.

Ganduje was deputy to Kwankwaso when he was governor of Kano from 2011 to 2015 but they have soon parted ways.

Tinubu polled 8,797,726 votes to win the presidential election, beating PDPs Atiku Abubakar by a margin of of two million.

However, Kwankwaso polled 1.5 million which many analysts believe were votes that could have gone to Atiku if the former Kano governor had not defected from the PDP.




Apostle Johnson Suleman of Omega Fire Ministries, has reacted to the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Barrister Festus Keyamos call for regulation of social media.





The minister had on Monday said that although social media has come to stay in the country, there must be laws put in place to regulate and sanitise the system.





He said to kill fake news, which according to him, can destroy the fabric of the country, fake social media accounts must first be killed.





But reacting, Apostle Suleman on Twitter described Keyamo as the author of fake news.





The cleric said Keyamo wants social media regulated because of the attacks he gets from it.





Suleman maintained that social media needs no regulation.





One of the Authors of Fake news who poses to be a lawyer now wants social media regulated because of the constant bashing he gets.(Gal 6.7). 2017 he connived with a Canadian-based lady whom I NEVER met.





He dropped a senseless legal suit online and copied over 200 bloggers. I woke up to find a suit supposedly meant for me online.





Mr lawyer, what do you call that news you were peddling to destroy a mans reputation? you know all you did. You were then made a SAN for a job well done.





What you did to me and others will haunt you for life down to your generation. Leave social media, its very okay and needs no regulation.
Over 4,000 participants joined the discussion on the future of Ukraine during the architectural and construction BUSINESS FORUM "Reconstruction of the country. Change strategy for the architects, developers and builders" organized by the Confederation of Builders of Ukraine together with the Media Group DMNTR | "House and Interior".

Since the Russian Federation full-scale invasion started, more than 50 million square meters of housing, which is about 9% of the entire housing stock, more than 1.2 thousand hospitals, more than 3 thousand educational institutions, thousands of kilometres of roads, hundreds of bridges, enterprises, infrastructure facilities have been destroyed or damaged. The homes of at least 1.3 million Ukrainian families have been damaged or destroyed, over 5 million Ukrainians have been forced to flee the country. We cannot know how long the war will go on but there is the task now to restore. And it has already started. To build better, al processes must be systematic, fast and transparent, the President of CBU Lev Partskhaladze said, during the opening of the forum.

Over 9 hours of the main program discussion and 3 hours of the discussion within the framework of the Community Recovery Forum took place non-stop at several venues.

In the first panel of the main hall Investments. Institutions. Reconstruction and integration of Ukraine into the global business context, the state instruments and programmes for attracting international aid, which had already been implemented, were discussed.

In particular, the Head of Implementation of the State Agency for Restoration of Ukraine Vadym Nozdria described the agency functions and offices supporting at the local level, which help the communities to draw up the restoration projects and look for the donor financing based on priorities.

The co-founder of the RISE Ukraine Coalition, CEO at Better Regulation Delivery Office (BRDO) Oleksii Dorohan spoke about the launch of the digital ecosystem DREAM and informed about filling it with potential projects.

The restoration projects should be entered into the Sectoral System to receive state funding. 5 thousand projects have already been submitted through the system, and when the government decides, which projects it will finance from the Fund for Elimination of the Consequences of Armed Aggression, the decisions will be made based on the digital analysis and comparison of projects not on paper, Dorohan said.

There was a heated debate regarding the most pressing issue, which is the IDPs housing provision and destroyed housing reconstruction. The most effective and democratic tool is a mortgage, that is why the options for making the state affordable mortgage program eOselya more effective were discussed.

1 thousand loans worth 1,3 billion UAH have already been issued. It is not much but it is the beginning, the Deputy Minister of Economy Oleksandr Hryban said.

The Head of the Transformation Office and official of the Ministry for Restoration of Ukraine Maksim Bakhmatov emphasized that only a small part of the aid would come as a grant and the most part would be loans or private investments. And the state, communities and business joint task is to guarantee transparent selection, implementation and financing procedures.

Lev Partskhaladze informed that CBU, the only representative of Ukraine, together with the European Construction Industry Federation (FIEC), which unites 32 countries, and others had developed a general draft of recommendations for the future reconstruction of Ukraine. It contains clauses regarding open and transparent procurements, requirements for the equipment and materials, etc.

In particular, there are recommendations on payment security, setting appropriate standards, training for communities, contractors, architects and many others, allowing us to rebuild better than before and as quickly as possible, he said.

At the architectural block, the participants focused on the reconstruction philosophy, energy efficiency and inclusiveness in particular. Already developed projects, which could speed up the reconstruction, were shown. The consultant of the GIZ Project Promotion of Energy Efficiency and Implementation of the EU Directive about the Energy Efficiency in Ukraine Svitlana Berzina focused on inevitable implementation of green standards, both in relation to building materials and projects in general.

Andrii Pashenko showed the educational institution typical projects. The Head of Construction Centre Project Office of the Steel Manufacturing Group METINVEST Tetiana Skrypka presented the "Steel Dream" project, houses with a metal frame of different heights and purposes.

During the discussion, the Co-founder and Principal Architect at Archimatika company Dmytro Vasyliev emphasized that the urban planning decisions of rural urbanism need to be rethought during the liberated territories restoration.

The topic of urban planning policy was the main one during the third panel discussion. The analytics presented by LUN (primary and secondary housing) and CBRE Ukraine (commercial real estate) showed a positive trend towards general market recovery and investment interest in Ukraine in particular. But the panel moderator, Founder and Head of Advanter Group Andrii Dligach, emphasized that the main issues had not been resolved yet, either at the state level or at the community level. Where exactly and who should we build the houses and industrial facilities for? Should we restore infrastructure with public/loan funds or private investments? How should we stimulate people to return and invest in business development of various formats, etc.?

In particular, the panellists, including active business representatives, emphasized that it is business that is able and has the opportunity to attract foreign investments (both direct and in form of funds). And the expectations of safety and legal protection conditions from the state institutions have not changed.

In addition, as a part of the BUSINESS FORUM, the Community Recovery Forum, which brought together the government officials, local self-government associations, regional military administrations, mayors and village heads, as well as the industry experts, was held.

During the discussion, the Chairman of the Secretariat of the Ukrainian Association of District and Regional Councils Yuriy Andriichuk pointed out the instruments that would stimulate investment in the east of the country are urgently needed. We consider the 75 km border zone in the East and North should be a priority. Our territories should not be liberated only but there should be the life, and people should return, he said. The expert drew attention to the fact that it is necessary to attract such tools as concessions and international insurance programs in addition to loans and grants.

We have already compiled issues of 1,800 settlements in the gray zone. The insurance companies, which will provide the opportunities to create jobs, are needed for an investor to come there, he said.

During the forum, the President of the Confederation of Builders of Ukraine Lev Partskhaladze and Head of the Association of Small Cities of Ukraine Pavlo Kozyrev signed the Memorandum of Cooperation on joint actions aimed at increasing the capacity of local self-governments of Ukrainian communities to restore the communities and territories affected by Russias military aggression. The cooperation provides advisory, informational, expert and analytical, as well as other support, organization and implementation of joint events, projects and programs using the digital platform "SUPERMARKET OF SOLUTIONS FOR COMMUNITIES" as an effective tool to interact with local self-government officials.

In total, more than 40 speakers took part in the forum discussions and several hundred viewers joined the online broadcast.

During the forum, architectural bureaus, manufacturers and suppliers of products and technologies presented their projects, products and technologies at the exhibition venues. There was also an exhibition of the works of All-Ukrainian competitions Ukrainian Urban Awards and Interior of the Year. At the same time, master classes of architects, urbanists, designers and developers were held on additional venues in a non-stop format from 12:00 to 21:00.

The organizers transferred 500,000 hryvnias to the Fund of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky UNITED24, destination: Reconstruction of Ukraine.

Lev Partskhaladze emphasized that the BUSINESS FORUM primarily aimed at the consolidation of efforts of all those who will be involved in the reconstruction of Ukraine.

That is why it is important to bring together government officials, business, communities, international community, etc. on one platform. I am sure that the reconstruction of Ukraine should be implemented quickly, efficiently and transparently due to the synergy and active participation of the professional public and local communities, he concluded.

General sponsor: Metinvest

General Partner: ARCHICLUB

Finance Partner: Bank Globus

Strategic Partner: LUN, Forbes

Partners of the event: SAGA Development, TOPIAR, TOMA GROUP, Kolorit, Farba Service,  , Sensar Development,  , KMD- facade solutions, BUDOVA, ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA Ukraine, -, -, UGLA, MANEZH, Beloded Landscaping, Galleria Porcellanato,       -  GIZ Energy Efficiency and Climate Projects, -,  , Royal House,  , Reynaers Aluminium Belgium, ,  , GalantPole, hansgrohe Ukraine, KyivBuild,  ,  , Ribas Hotels Group, Harmet Modular Houses, Caspian Servise, Natuzzi, Bosphorus Development

General Media Partner: Interfax-Ukraine

Media Partners: Build Portal, ProfBuild, Commercial Property, ,  ,    ,  - , UkraineInvest, HD Technopolygon,  , ROYAL Design MAIN, Property Times, Soft Loft, , StroyObzor, Marketer, Economist.com.ua,   Budynok, Vidbudova, Mind. UA,    , Zagorodna.com,  , Home Ideas Supply, Comments.ua, Aspekty.Media,  |   , HIS.ua, LIGA ZAKON, Ukrainian Association of Government Relations Professionals and Lobbyists, Coatings-UA.com
One police officer was acquitted Monday of three federal charges that had accused him of using excessive force and filing false reports about a 2017 arrest in Trenton.

Total exoneration, former Trenton police officer Anthony Villanuevas lawyer, Jerome Ballarotto, said Monday after the verdict.

Sometimes the good guys win, he said.

A federal jury in Trenton found Villanueva not guilty of violating the civil rights of Chanzie Washington following a chase in Trenton, and filing two false report charges, Ballarotto said.

The jury acquitted a second officer, Drew Inman, of a false report charge, and was hung on the civil rights charge, Ballarotto reported.

The jury in Trenton had been deliberating since early last week.

Villanueva still faces another possible trial on use of force from a unrelated incident in the Trenton police lockup, also in 2017. Ballarotto said that case was more BS, and more ridiculous than this.

The officers were accused of punching Washington several times on April 9, 2017 during an incident that started as a routine traffic stop.

Prosecutors and the defense attorneys differed greatly on how police reacted to Washington when a group of officers caught him.

Two other police officers had pulled over the vehicle Washington was driving after watching him go through a red light. He initially pulled over, then sped away. He pulled over the vehicle and ran on foot, with another officer in pursuit, and started jumping fences and running through backyards along Spring, Passaic and West Hanover streets.

Washington then jumped into the Delaware & Raritan Canal and swam to the other side. When he emerged, other officers confronted him as he was behind a chain-link fence.

Villanueva and Inman, both 25 at the time, were able to get to the other side of the fence first and tackled the 36-year-old Washington to the ground.

Villanueva responded with a sucker punch, and he and Inman then jointly added more punches. Theyre not trying to arrest him, theyre punishing him, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Gribko said during the trial.

After the officers finally got Washington into handcuffs, hed suffered visible facial injuries at the hands of police officers who used excessive force, the attorney said.

Even people who break the law, as Washington did, have rights, Gribko said, after playing one of the police body cameras from that night.

Ballarotto and Inmans attorney, Scott Krasny, countered that police that night were unaware of Washingtons intent. Hed fled from a routine traffic stop and ran through yards, hopping fences, and then made the decision to swim across a frigid, dirty canal in the middle of the night.

Once the officers reached Washington behind a fence, they had reason to use force due to Washingtons refusal to submit to the arrest, and his resistance. By this time, Ballarotto said, Washington had committed two felonies, eluding police and resisting arrest.

Federal authorities arrested the officers in 2019.

Villanueva had been terminated from the police department in 2018 for actions from another incident.

Inman was suspended indefinitely without pay.

In early 2022, Villanueva gave a lengthy interview to NJ Advance Media, describing what he believes are cliques in the Trenton Police Department, and how the case had unfolded during the pandemic.

He said hed been offered many plea deals calling for prison time, but declined each time.

And I am absolutely ready for that risk, he said in the interview. I absolutely want to go to trial.

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Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com

NJ Advance Media staff writer Jeff Goldman contributed to this report
Federal authorities are offering a $10 million reward for information that leads to the arrest of an accused Russian hacker who extorted million of dollars from law enforcement agencies, hospitals and schools in New Jersey and other locations.

In an indictment announced by the U.S. Attorneys Office for New Jersey at a press conference Tuesday in Newark, Mikhail Pavlovich Matveev is accused of receiving about $200 million in ransom from 2,800 victims.

Among the victims are the Prospect Park police department in Passaic County, according to FBI Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy, who also appeared at the press conference.
By Steven Fulop

As state legislators get ready to tackle the budget, a growing number of people and other elected officials are showing support for maintaining New Jerseys tax on the biggest and most profitable corporations. While Gov. Phil Murphy has said that he intends to cut the corporate tax rate, the momentum for tax fairness is growing.

Those advocating to keep it are right.

Extending the CBT surtax is good for New Jerseys future and we have an opportunity to use these funds to finally have a dedicated revenue stream to fund New Jersey Transit.

Officials from New Jersey Transit recently reported to the legislature that they are likely to face a nearly $1 billion deficit in FY2026  why would we eliminate a commonsense tax on the wealthiest, most profitable corporations in our state that could help us sustain our trains and buses, which are essential for commerce? The CBT will realize in 2026 an almost identical amount of revenue to fund the upcoming projected NJ Transit gap in perpetuity.

The CBT has been a win-win as corporate citizenship should be a two-way street  if you are making enormous profits from doing business in our state, you should be helping to pay for the schools, buses, and houses that those residents need. Large profitable corporations need to pay their fair share to build the infrastructure and investments that our communities need to thrive.

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In fact, the CBT surtax has a stellar record as an economic policy: it has allowed New Jersey to invest more in our people, and corporations are doing exceptionally well during its tenure.

This might all be a surprise coming from the mayor of Jersey City, which is headquarters for a diverse set of large companies that employ thousands of residents  from Goya Foods to Jackson Hewitt. But I believe that by any fair metric, the corporate tax increase worked out for everyone  including big business.

If we dont invest in our transit, it has real costs for New Jersey residents as federal COVID support expires, and budget surpluses are likely to return into deficits. This isnt a nice-to-have tax. Its critical that corporations pay what they owe to help us avoid boom and bust revenue pictures and sustain the progress weve made during Governor Murphys years in office.

Finally, the CBT surtax is primarily paid by out-of-state companies like Walmart or Amazon who make money by selling products in New Jersey. These are not mom-and-pop businesses; these are giant Fortune 500 behemoths that have already adjusted their internal budgets to accept the CBT over the last several years. There is no reason to change it now.

New Jerseys economic experience with the CBT surtax demonstrates that ensuring wealthy corporations pay what they owe not only reflects our values of justice, community and hard work  its an investment in our economy and our communities.

I urge Governor Murphy and legislative leadership to extend the CBT surtax this year. Together, we can show the country how to successfully fund our communities and our futures by demanding corporations pay what they owe in taxes.

Steven Fulop is the mayor of Jersey City and a Democratic gubernatorial candidate.

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I was in Guatemala two years ago when Vice President Kamala Harris made an appearance in Guatemala City.

We, as one of our priorities, will discourage illegal migration, said the newly appointed immigration czar. And I believe if you come to our border, you will be turned back.

I didnt believe that. Neither did all the wannabe migrants I met at that countrys border with Mexico. They were getting ready to continue on to the U.S.

And they kept coming, fleeing bad economies and worse governments.

The Customs and Border Protection website reports there have been more than five million apprehensions and expulsions since the date of that speech.

Many of these would-be migrants have to cross the dread Darien Gap in Panama. This is a 37-mile stretch of roadless rain forest.

A recent CNN documentary reported that Panamanian authorities estimate the number of people crossing the gap increased six-fold in the first three months of 2023 compared to last year.

Many had children, and all had to pay a fee for passage to the cartels that control the gap, the report said.

Why do they do it?

This administrations policy is incentivizing it, said Mark Krikorian of the Center for Immigration Studies, a pro-enforcement think tank. Some people are gonna take foolish risks when the message is, Dont come, but if you do come then you have a good chance of getting in.

At the moment theres a new incentive to make it to the border. Its a smartphone app called CBP-One. The app permits potential migrants to file online for an interview that could get them admitted to the U.S. on whats known as humanitarian parole.

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This not parole in the everyday sense of the word. Its an exception to immigration laws for urgent humanitarian reasons or for significant public benefit.

Humanitarian parole used to be reserved for such reasons as life-saving surgery. But in January the Biden administration started using it to grant entry to migrants who couldnt otherwise be admitted to the country.

Once granted parole, the new migrant is given a date for an asylum hearing. That date can be two years or more in the future, said Todd Bensman. Hes a former Dallas Morning News foreign correspondent who reports on the border for the Center.

That CNN report said the would-be migrants crossing the gap came from countries as diverse as Haiti, Venezuela, Ecuador, China and India.

Bensman said he met people from some even more exotic places on his trip last week to the border between Brownsville, Texas, and Matamoras, Mexico.

I just met my first Kyrgyzstani, he said. I met someone from Tajikistan, too.

That brings up another aspect of the vice presidents immigration strategy that hasnt stood the test of time. When she was appointed as the administrations point person on immigration, Harris said she would solve the problem by attacking the root causes.

But how is the U.S. going to address the root causes of emigration from countries like Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan?

At some point we need to simply control our border. That CBP-One app was created as a means to do so after the expiration last week of Title 42, the COVID-based restriction that permitted CBP to expel undocumented migrants.

But theres a problem with it, said Bensman. Its too popular.

When I crossed yesterday, they had a line of like thousands and thousands waiting for that appointment, he said.

Each port of entry can process only about 300 a day, so it will take time to clear that backlog.

Both the Border Patrol and customs are understaffed. And those 1,500 soldiers that Biden sent to the 1,954-mile-long border arent sufficient to handle the flow.

That led to a standoff last week at the Brownsville border crossing.

Thousands of people on the Mexican side apparently decided that seeking asylum through the App would take too long, so they stormed across the Rio Grande.

But Texas was ready for the onslaught. Gov. Greg Abbott sent enough police and National Guard troops to erect concertina wire at the weak points of the border wall and contain the crowd.

The police shouted Go back! Go Back! This is not a port of entry at the border-crossers. After realizing they werent getting in, they returned to the Mexican side.

So that was one thing the vice president got right back in June of 2021. She told those crossing illegally that they would get turned back. And now they are getting turned back.

But it remains to be seen how this new approach will work out. Under the old rules there were as many as 10,000 illegal border-crossings per day, according to the union for Border Patrol agents.

But once the system gets up and running, there could be just as many entering legally.

That means new immigrants will continue to make perilous journeys to get to the border.

And it means they will continue to overwhelm cities like New York.

But those are problems for another day.

Unfortunately, that day may be tomorrow.

BELOW - LIVELY DEBATE OVER BORDER POLICY BETWEEN HARRIS AND ABBOTT:

More: Recent Paul Mulshine columns.

Paul Mulshine may be reached at pmulshine@starledger.com.

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By Dina Sayedahmed and Maryam Ali

In a country that prides itself on freedom of speech, the right to criticize Israels apartheid system and illegal occupation of Palestinian territories would seem to be a given. But in New Jersey, that right hangs by a thread.

Earlier this year, New Jersey Senators Andrew Zwicker and Greenstein introduced a resolution calling on the state to define antisemitism. The resolution, which is cosponsored by Senators Beach and Codey, seeks to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliances (IHRA)working definition of antisemitism.

Antisemitism is generally defined as prejudice against or hatred of Jews, but the IHRA working definition of antisemitism expands antisemitism to also include condemnations or criticisms of Israel as a nation, its occupation of Palestine, the establishment of an apartheid state, and its ongoing blockade of Gaza that amounts to collective punishment and violates international law.

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While the UN moves to mark the 75th anniversary of the Nakba for the first time ever, Speaker Kevin McCarthy attempted to block Congresswoman Rashida Tlaibs educational community event at the Capitol Visitor Center last week on grounds of antisemitism.

The event, which was held nonetheless, sought to uplift Palestinian voices and educate members of Congress and their staff about the ongoing Nakba  the catastrophe, in reference to the founding of the state of Israel in 1948 and the resulting destruction and displacement of Palestinian society.

Such incidents are not uncommon, and civil rights advocates have long warned about the dangerous precedent that equating antisemitism with criticisms of Israel sets.

Conflating protests of Israeli apartheid with antisemitism will muzzle and silence advocates for Palestine, certainly for a positive regard [of Israel], Wassim Kanaan, the Vice Chair of American Muslims for Palestine said.

Not only does this silence debate and criticism of Israeli apartheid, but it also yields a glaring inaccuracy and injustice to Judaism as a religion and Jews as a religious group, Kanaan said.

Judaism is a religion, Kanaan said. Equating state policy and the policy of a country with the teachings of a religion is inherently wrong because they are two completely different things, its important to allow people who share a religious identity to be able to differ on political topics, and still maintain their identity of who they are.

David Letwin, the cofounder of Jews for Palestinian Right of Return, believes that the IHRA definition of antisemitism is a false definition and that adopting it will be harmful not just to critics of Israel, but also to Jews as a whole.

It will just contribute to the ongoing campaign of enablers of the Israeli regime to silence people who stand up for Palestinian Liberation, Letwin said.

Letwin also said that by defining any criticism of the Israeli government as antisemitic, it then becomes standard that all Jews, regardless of their political beliefs, are supportive of the Israeli regime and complicit in its crimes, just by virtue of identifying as Jewish.

It follows logically, that if [criticism of Israel] has nothing to do with Judaism or Jewish identity, then opposing the racist settler colonial political ideology of [Israel] has nothing to do with anti-Jewish discrimination, or violence or stereotypes, Letwin said.

Civil rights advocates and ordinary citizens are unable to criticize Israeli apartheid without fear of repercussion or retaliation, Letwin said.

All it has to do is put fear into people, that they could lose their jobs, that they could be subject to public pressure, Letwin said. Could their homes be attacked? Could they be attacked personally? It creates an environment in which people become frightened to speak out because they dont want to be slandered and smeared as an anti-Semite. So then they say to themselves, well, maybe I better not say that or what will be the consequences? If I speak up? Could I lose my job?

What is necessary, then, is not an erasure of the idea to define antisemitism, but a clear distinction between antisemitism and criticisms of Israel  something which the IHRA definition does not do.

For Kanaan and Letwin, the adoption of a definition of antisemitism must protect the rights of Jewish people from white supremacy, while also not infringing on Palestinians or any other groups basic civil rights.

Its not that we need to have a definition of antisemitism that protects Palestinians. We need a definition that doesnt vilify Palestinians, Kanaan said.

We see the white supremacist movements in this country. The right constantly vilifies people of the Jewish faith, Kanaan said, and so we need to make sure that theyre protected, but not at the expense of vilifying Palestinians.

Dina Sayedahmed is the communications manager and Maryam Ali is a legal intern at CAIR-NJ.

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The getaway driver in a New Jersey bank robbery has been sentenced to more than six years in federal prison.

Kenneth S. Thompson, 44, of Philadelphia, is the last of the three men who took part in the July 2018 robbery in Carneys Point to be sentenced, the U.S. Attorneys Office for New Jersey said Tuesday.

Thompson suffered a minor gunshot wound to his wrist shortly after the robbery of the Fulton Bank when police say he tried to run down a detective at a nearby carwash after fleeing without the two other men.

When officers ordered Thompson out of his car, he put the vehicle in reverse and backed up toward the detective at a high rate of speed, authorities said. The cop fired and struck Thompson, officials have said.

The car missed the detective, but hit a light pole and commercial-grade car wash vacuum cleaner before driving off, officials said. After a brief pursuit, Thompson surrendered.

Thompson pleaded guilty to bank robbery in September.

Thompsons associates  Antwaine Thomas and Kareem Moore  were wearing masks when they robbed the bank at gunpoint of $66,000.

Officers arrived at the bank within minutes of the robbery and after a brief chase across the street, they tackled and arrested Moore, who had a portion of the money he stole hidden inside of his pants, officials said.

Thomas was arrested several hours later. He was captured on surveillance video in a nearby residential area, disposing of the cash, gun, and his clothing, federal prosecutors said.

Thomas, of Philadelphia, was 41 when he was sentenced in May 2021 to 22 years and eights months in prison Moore, then 31, of North Wales, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 14 years in prison.

Both pleaded guilty to armed bank robbery and brandishing a gun during a bank robbery in 2019.

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NJ Advance Media staff writers Matt Gray and Chris Sheldon contributed to this report.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
Joey Gallo had his third career start in the leadoff Monday.

But the Minnesota Twins outfielder doesnt prefer that role.

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Its not that I dont want to, Gallo said before Mondays game, via Phil Miller of the Star Tribune. but I dont want to.

But Twins manager Rocco Baldelli will keep the lefty there despite his feelings on the matter:

Hes obviously got the strength and the power and hes swinging the bat good right now. But hell also take some pitches and some walks. Sometimes just shaking the lineup up and seeing how some different skill sets kind of work together, is something we have to do.  If you like judging results by seeing a guy thats hitting the ball real well and having great at-bats, hes done a great job of it ... Hell be fine. His thoughts are always welcome, but right now, theyre not going to be taken into account.

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On Monday, Gallo was 0-for-3 with a strikeout. Hes slashing .209/.327/.582 with nine home runs, 21 RBIs, 34 strikeouts and 15 walks in 32 games thus far this season.

Gallo signed a one-year, $11 million deal with the Minnesota Twins during the offseason.

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Bridget Hyland may be reached at bhyland@njadvancemedia.com.
TORONTO  Everything has gone according to plan for Yankees starter Carlos Rodon since he received a cortisone-like injection in his back last week.

Rodon played catch again on Monday, beginning to ramp up after resuming his throwing program over the weekend, per Yankees manager Aaron Boone.

That doesnt mean the Yankees arent taking every necessary precaution with their $162 million starter, though. In fact, Rodon has a second injection scheduled for later this week, per Boone.

This doesnt mean the lefty has suffered another setback with his back stiffness. Rodon might not even need this second injection.

Boone explained that the second appointment was something doctors wanted to set in stone early, just in case. As the skipper put it, its easier to take an appointment for something like this off the schedule than to add it on the books at the last minute.

The doctors said to schedule a second round because thats sometimes needed, Boone said from Rogers Centre before Mondays series opener against the Blue Jays. But then you see how the week plays out.

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Rodon initially went on the injured list with a left forearm strain, an issue that was resolved weeks ago. Its the southpaws nagging back issue  something Rodon referred to as chronic last week  thats held him back. It impacted his mechanics as he tried to work back from the IL, leading to this injection.

Patience is evidently required in this situation. For Rodon, the Yankees and their fans. Again, the left-handers arm isnt an issue anymore. Once he clears this final hurdle with his back, Rodon should be able to hit the ground running and build toward a rehab assignment.

For now, its still too early to put any sort of timetable on Rodons status.

When I throw  I dont feel pain, Rodon said last week in St. Petersburg. I feel restriction. Say I throw a pitch, like a fastball, its just inconsistent whether its command or how it moves. I can tell just the way Ive moved on the mound, its not what I normally do.

Id throw a fastball and it would cut like two feet or Id throw a sinker and I dont throw a sinker. The release height  things are just not normal because my bodys not letting me get to the position I normally get to.

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Here are a few more injury updates:

-- Luis Severino returning from the injured list and starting on Sunday in Cincinnati is in play, per Boone. The right-hander has a rehab assignment scheduled for Tuesday with Double-A Somerset. Depending on how Severinos second rehab outing goes  and most importantly, how he feels afterwards  the Yankees can make a decision on when hell be back  or if he needs to make one more rehab start.

-- Tommy Kahnle will begin his rehab assignment with Low-A Tampa on Thursday, his first in-game action since a case of bicep tendinitis that he sustained in spring training. Kahnle will throw again on Sunday with Tampa, per Boone. The plan is for the reliever to make either four or five rehab appearances before returning from the IL.

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Max Goodman may be reached at mgoodman@njadvancemedia.com.
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BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 16. Latvia is particularly interested in construction and restoration process in Azerbaijan's Karabakh, a source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia told Trend.

As the source noted, Latvian Embassy, together with partners in Riga, continues to inform Latvian companies about the reconstruction process in the territories of Azerbaijan [liberated from Armenian occupation], in particular, about the creation of green energy zones, water and waste management, infrastructure projects, buildings design, as well as the restoration of historical and cultural monuments.

"Our business community is following the development processes and trying to identify the possible forms of cooperation on the restoration of the liberated territories. At the moment, there is a particular interest on the Latvian side in the areas such as construction and restoration. Representatives from our energy-efficient lighting solutions company named Vizulo took part in the President Egils Levits' official visit to Azerbaijan. We hope this will provide an incentive to engage in the reconstruction processes in Karabakh," the source at the ministry said.

At the same time, as the source pointed out, Latvia is interested in exploring further prospects of cooperation with Azerbaijan in areas such as ICT, "smart" energy and green technologies.

"We are delighted that our Cluster Cleantech Latvia has taken the first steps to share its best practices and promote water, waste, air and energy efficient solutions and technologies. Recently, the representatives from a member of the cluster, Ekolat LLC, visited Baku to explore future cooperation in the fields such as water supply, wastewater treatment, waste disposal and waste-to-biogas processing," the source said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 16. On the eve of the Brussels meeting, the Armenian side did everything possible to ensure that it either did not take place at all, or there was not the slightest breakthrough in the negotiations on a peace agreement, Trend reports.

Things did not go as Yerevan had planned. The meeting confirmed that the attempt to avoid or sabotage peace is already beyond the capabilities of both Armenia and its patrons. There is only one option for Armenia left - to agree to the conditions of Azerbaijan.

Despite the fact that Nikol Pashinyan and Emmanuel Macron tried to cancel Azerbaijan's peace plans, Baku once again patiently and resolutely repelled these attempts.

Since October, France and Armenia have purposefully sought to hold a meeting in a quadrilateral format, the Azerbaijani side did not agree to this, and as a result of the will and firm position of Azerbaijan, the Brussels format reactivated.

Baku has achieved its goal this time and proved after Washington in Brussels that there is one interested party in the peace talks - Azerbaijan.

The next trilateral meeting between President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and President of the Council of the European Union Charles Michel in the Brussels format ended in favor of Baku.

At the last two meetings, both the head of the US State Department, Antony Blinken, and the head of the EU, Charles Michel, supported the position of official Baku.

Armenia should think carefully about the results of the next meeting in the Brussels format. If the military-political leadership of Armenia continues to obstruct negotiations on a peace agreement, it should think about its future.

Azerbaijan will never allow the realities formed in the South Caucasus to be changed by Armenia and its patrons, whether through military provocations or diplomatic manipulations. If Yerevan continues to create barriers to the reintegration of the Armenian residents of Azerbaijans Karabakh, then Yerevan will suffer the greatest damage from this.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 16. The trilateral meeting of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and President of the European Council Charles Michel in Brussels on May 14 is an important step forward, US State Department Deputy Spokesman Vedant Patel said during a briefing, Trend reports.

"The U.S. was not a party to these talks. But as a follow-on to the talks that we hosted in Arlington, we continue to believe that these are important steps forward as we continue to find that a durable peace is possible between these two countries," he said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 15. Chair of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) of Azerbaijan Sahiba Gafarova who is on a working trip to Moscow, has spoken at an official reception on the occasion of 100th anniversary of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, Trend reports via the statement of the Parliament.

Aide to the President of Azerbaijan Anar Alakbarov, representatives of the embassies accredited in Moscow, Members of the State Duma and Federation Council of the RF Federal Assembly, state and government delegates, cultural and artistic figures from both countries as well as members of the public attended the event.

Gafarova greeted those present before describing such remarkable happenings held in Moscow on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Azerbaijans national leader Heydar Aliyev as a display of sincere respect for the entire Azerbaijani people and the memory of their great leader.

Gafarova thanked for the kind words spoken about Heydar Aliyev as a personality, about his achievements and merits and his role in strengthening co-operation between Azerbaijan and Russia.

She noted that today the work of the national leader is consistently continued by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

Gafarova also expressed gratitude to the State Duma of the RF Federal Assembly, the Federation Council, the TASS Agency, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and all participants for the events dedicated to the anniversary.

Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Alexey Gordeyev and Azerbaijani ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloghlu also delivered speeches at the event.
Added details (first version published at 10:48)

BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 16. Another criminal group has been identified in Azerbaijan, acting upon the instructions of Iran, Trend reports citing a joint statement by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the State Security Service and the Prosecutor General's Office.

Regular operational measures were carried out to stop the criminal actions of a group of Azerbaijani citizens recruited by the Iranian special services through religious propaganda and in exchange for material interest in order to destabilize the situation on the territory of Azerbaijan.

It was identified that Rufulla Akhundzade and his son Almursal Akhundzade, who collaborated with the special services of Iran, developed an action plan to organize armed riots on the territory of Azerbaijan.

As part of the plan, Rufulla Akhundzade created special groups in WhatsApp, Telegram and other messengers. In addition, Rufulla Akhundzade and his son presented to the members of the group a list of officials and public figures for the organization of assassination attempts on their lives, their personal data, addresses of places of residence and work. He gave instructions to the members of the group to purchase firearms.

During the operation, Elgun Agayev, Ruslan Aliyev, Yusif Mirzoyev, Elvin Jafarov, Savalan Huseynli, Bilal Sujaddinli, Maharramali Musayev and other members of the group were detained.

Rufulla Akhundzade was engaged in instructing the listed persons and constantly held online meetings with them in order to keep them under influence. The members of the criminal group said in their testimony that they were preparing to carry out various subversive actions, organize mass riots and other similar activities, as well as to attract other persons to the "resistance group" on the instructions of Rufulla Akhundzade.

In addition, they wrote radical religious slogans on the streets near the administrative buildings of various state bodies, photographed them and shared these photos on social networks. Rufulla Akhundzade also planned to send members of the group to Iran under the pretext of receiving religious education, but in fact to involve them in military exercises and involvement in illegal armed extremist organizations.

The members of the group also sent money from abroad to promote religious radicalism in Azerbaijan and finance other subversive activities.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 16. Azerbaijan is working to promote the normalization process with Armenia, Dennis Sammut, Director of LINKS Europe, said in an exclusive interview with Trend.

"I think that the peace agreement is the first step. The parties are discussing a number of issues, agreements are being reached. All this gives impetus to the normalization process. Everyone sees and knows that peace should be not just on paper, but between the authorities and the peoples," Sammut said.

The international conference themed "From Bandung to Baku: the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in a complex and changing global context" has started its work in Azerbaijan's capital Baku.

It is attended by representatives of think tanks and foreign ministries from the NAM member countries, representatives of the Azerbaijani government and the diplomatic corps in the country, as well as by local experts.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 16. The delegations invited to a special session of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) of Azerbaijan dedicated to the 100th anniversary of national leader Heydar Aliyev visited the Alley of Honor in Baku, Trend reports.

Members of the delegations of parliaments from about 30 countries, the Arab Parliament, the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, TURKPA (Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States), and the Inter-Parliamentary Union visited the graves of Azerbaijani national leader Heydar Aliyev and outstanding ophthalmologist, academician Zarifa Aliyeva in the Alley of Honor, laid wreaths and bouquets of flowers to them.

Then the delegations visited the Alley of Martyrs.
The St. Regis Abu Dhabi has appointed Carolin Henze as Director of Sales.

Joining The St. Regis Abu Dhabi in 2018 as Sales Manager, Henze's exceptional problem-solving skills, extensive specialist experience and infectious positive attitude saw her quickly work her way up the career ladder.

Just a year after joining the palatial hotel in the heart of the UAE capital, the ambitious professional was promoted to Account Director of Leisure Travel in 2019. This was followed by a further elevation to the position of Assistant Director of Sales & Distribution in 2022, before she finally gained her new role as Director of Sales in April 2023.

Bringing nine years of sales experience in luxury hospitality, including with leading hotel brands such as the One&Only Reethi Rah in the Maldives, Henze will continue to work closely with the multi-property Director of Revenue Strategy and the Director of Marketing and Communications, to curate market strategies and enhance approaches to key segments.

Her many responsibilities include overseeing the companys extensive portfolio of corporate and FIT accounts, maximising sales, boosting hotel revenues, as well as managing, supervising and mentoring the entire sales and reservations team.

Moustafa Sakr, Area Managing Director Luxury, Middle East, said: "Carolin has been a valuable member of our team since 2018, and she has consistently demonstrated her dedication, expertise, and outstanding leadership skills. Given her talent for initiating and sustaining long-term relationships with leading luxury tour operators, travel agents, and concierge clubs, her extensive experience in the hospitality and luxury industry and her passion for delivering exceptional service, we are confident that Carolin will excel in her new role and continue to drive the success of our sales and reservations teams." -TradeArabia News Service
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 16. A working visit of Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov to Iceland has begun, Trend reports via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan.

According to the ministry, Bayramov will take part in the IV Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe in Reykjavik, as well as hold bilateral meetings with other officials who will take part in the event.

Will be updated
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
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
Hanover School HQ The superintendent of the Hanover Community School Corporation received a threat from an unknown source by email Tuesday afternoon, Cedar Lake

CEDAR LAKE  Police are investigating the source of a threatening email sent to the Superintendent of the Hanover Community School Corporation Tuesday afternoon, according to a statement from Cedar Lake Police Chief William Fisher.

Fisher said students were not sent home or placed on lockdown as a result of the threat.

Police are working with local and federal officials to identify the source of the threat, Fisher said.

"Safety is of the utmost importance and threats are taken very seriously," Superintendent Mary Tracy MacAulay said in a statement.

No additional information will be released until further investigation is made, Fisher 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.
CROWN POINT  This Saturday, walkers will fill the Lake County Fairgrounds in an effort to spread awareness about the dangers of drunken driving.

The second annual Walk Like MADD Crown Point will begin at 10 a.m. Mothers Against Drunk Driving held the first Crown Point walk in 2021. The group was not able to hold a walk in 2022.

Yolanda Coriano helped bring the event to Northwest Indiana; her son was killed in a car wreck by a drunken driver in 2018.

The 1.5-mile walk will begin at the Lions Shelter. Check-in will begin at 9 a.m., with opening remarks at 10. Coriano said there will be a memorial table where attendees can place photos of loved ones who have been lost to drunken driving.

In 2021, Coriano said about 50 people attended the walk, raising around $5,000. This year MADD hopes to raise $10,000; the fundraiser has already drawn more than $8,000.

Donations will go toward Indiana MADD.

MADD was founded in 1980 by a mother whose 13-year-old daughter was killed by a drunken driver. The group, which hosts walks across the country, aims to stop drunken driving, support those affected by drunken driving, prevent underage drinking and strive for stricter impaired-driving policy.

Coriano said she felt a MADD walk was "needed" in Lake County. According to a 2018 Times report, drunken driving was linked to 35.1% of the deadly crashes from 2010 to 2014 in Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties, compared with 27.9% nationally and 25.1% statewide.

Participants can register for the walk and make donations at walklikemadd.org.

PHOTOS: Bald for a Cause in Crown Point Bald for a Cause in Crown Point Bald for a Cause in Crown Point Bald for a Cause in Crown Point Bald for a Cause in Crown Point Bald for a Cause in Crown Point Bald for a Cause in Crown Point Bald for a Cause in Crown Point
The Class UFC Gym in Winfield will have a grand opening Saturday with top welterweight UFC title contender Belal Muhammad.

Muhammad, a Chicago-based fighter with a 23-3 record in the mixed martial arts, will do a meet-and-greet and teach a class at the grand opening, which will take place from 12 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the gym at 10660 Randolph St. in Winfield.

The high-end gym focuses on classes, specializing in boutique boxing conditioning, kickboxing and HIIT, or High Intensity Interval Training. Manager Hannah Elliott said it's more akin to an Orange Theory than the boxing or mixed martial arts gym one might expect from the name.

"We use Myzone Fit Metrics, which track your workout and connect you to an app," she said. "It's like Orange Theory where they track you the same way and you burn the most calories and sweat the most when you're in the orange."

The owners also own the Class UFC Gym on Calumet Avenue in Munster. There also was an unaffiliated UFC Gym in Merrillville that closed.

"We are an affiliated class-based gym that's mostly focused on conditioning," she said. "There's also sparring. We hold classes for boxing, kickboxing and high interval cardio and strength classes. We have circuit training and one-on-one time with coaches."

Most classes run 60 minutes per session. People can get coached by active MMA fighters or trainers who help them reach their fitness goals, whether getting in shape, losing weight or recovering.

Classes run from 5:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on weekdays.

Class UFC Gym also has open gym times between 12 and 4 p.m. during the week. People can come in and work out outside of classes, such as by punching a heavy bag, rowing, cycling, lifting weights or practicing fundamentals. It has classes like Muay Thai, cycling and a coach's choice day on the weekend.

"You can get a day pass to come in and learn techniques and fundamentals," she said. "Our coaches will push you. There's no downtime. They push you hard and you feel accomplished. It's a good workout you feel for days. It will help you get in shape again. We focus on conditioning and fundamentals."

The grand opening event will have a taco truck, an ice cream vendor, a bounce house, a bakery, an artisan jewelry maker and fitness clothing for sale. It will feature a motorcycle club, balloon animals, Jersey Mike's and Muse Med Spa.

People will be able to buy sparring gloves and have Muhammad sign them. There will be discounted memberships and giveaways.

"It's an open house where people can come in to see how we operate," she said. "The facility itself is impressive and high-end. It will be an amazing experience."

Class UFC Gym offers monthly membership and multi-class passes. It gives discounts to teachers, first responders and veterans.

For more information, call 219-252-9812 or visit www.classufcgym.com/locations/winfield/.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 16. The Security Council of Armenia in September 2022 discussed the possibility of the country's withdrawal from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Trend reports citing the Armenian Foreign Ministry,.

Following the discussions, a decision was made to continue membership in the organization.

Will be updated
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette. May 14, 2023.

Editorial: General Assembly has turned the voucher spigot on full blast

When former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels began pitching the idea of school choice  vouchers  the rhetoric was that this was a wise use of state funds to help poor kids in failing schools. Listening to political leaders now, it is abundantly clear the voucher scheme has grown far beyond those altruistic goals.

To no ones surprise, the political maneuvering and ideological shenanigans reached a crescendo this spring as the Indiana General Assembly, with Gov. Eric Holcombs approval, expanded the voucher programs budget to an estimated $500 million for fiscal year 2024 and $595 million in 2025. Thats up from $240 million in the current budget.

There are 36 voucher schools in Allen County and those counties contiguous. Most are in Allen County.

Last year, the maximum household income to qualify for a voucher for a family of four was $165,000. Next year, the maximum to receive this entitlement jumps to $220,000, a level of prosperity that would put a family in the countrys top 10% of households.

Betsy Wiley, president and CEO of the Institute for Quality Education, proclaims Indiana now has a universal voucher program. She also declared this to be an education-friendly budget.

We strenuously disagree.

The extraordinary disparity between the supermajoritys K-12 priorities this past session was highlighted by education blogger Steve Hinnefield: In fiscal year 2024, state funding for vouchers will increase by 72.3%. That compares with a 5.4% increase in state spending for traditional public schools and a 16.2% increase for charter schools.

If the principle was that taxpayer education money for K-12 should follow the child rather than the home district, then the cash has flowed well to parochial elementary and secondary schools. (Canterbury School does not accept vouchers.)

Since its inception in 2011, the voucher programs budget has risen to accommodate more children from wealthier backgrounds, thus changing the argument from helping the poor to, as Wiley pointed out, a universal program. But unfortunately, the accountability and transparency piece has not changed.

Theres no accountability because the state purposely does not want to look at how theyre spending the money, said Ball State University professor Michael Shaffer, who spent nearly 30 years working as an educator and administrator in public and private schools.

Even with the voucher spigot turned to full blast, voucher schools do not have public meetings as school corporations are, rightly, forced to hold. These schools are not beholden to Freedom of Information Act laws that allow organizations to see how funds are used.

As the Indiana Coalition for Public Education pointed out, the State Board of Accounts cannot audit voucher schools.

Indiana voucher schools can turn away students, families and faculty for reasons that public schools cannot: students with learning disabilities, low test scores, or English as a second language learners. The schools can deny admission or faculty positions to people who do not align with the schools non- academic principles, something public school corporations could be sued for doing. In addition, though these schools report test scores, curriculum matters are unchecked.

The door to school choice is open if one conforms to parochial traditions and partisan principles. And were paying for this evident blurring of church and state, which has consequences.

Earlier in the legislative session, Mishawaka Republican Sen. Ryan Mishler, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, blasted a voucher school in his district  a school where his son was enrolled  for mishandling alleged mistreatment and bullying of students by staff.

In an open letter published in February, Mishler said administrators rebuffed him when he sought answers.

The overall attitude seemed to be, Who are you to interfere with our business? I must admit that I was very disturbed! Mishler said.

Morally, the problem of bullying is a subject that knows no boundaries in terms of institutions, public or private. However, the school receives state funds and answers Mishlers demands with a dismissive tone that could get a public school administrator publicly reprimanded or possibly even fired.

This kind of unaccountable contempt for the peoples generosity with tax dollars cant possibly be what the framers of the state Constitution or generators of Indianas voucher plan intended.

Terre Haute Tribune-Star. May 12, 2023.

Editorial: Kristina Box, health chief, leaves a job well done

If anybody deserves a chance to relax a bit and spend more time with their family, it is Dr. Kristina Box, Indianas health commissioner.

Box led the state through the COVID-19 pandemic with professionalism. Her weekly livestreamed updates  alongside Gov. Eric Holcomb, Indiana Department of Health chief medical officer Dr. Lindsay Weaver and other health professionals  kept Hoosiers informed about the coronavirus movement through Indiana and best practices to avoid getting infected.

Occasionally, she appeared exhausted, as did Weaver and Holcomb. COVID-19 itself was enough to exhaust Hoosiers. Yet Box and the health team also dealt with the damage from the spread of misinformation about the pandemic through social media and political rhetoric meant to divide Americans. Box handled the problem as carefully as any public health official in the country, and those weekly updates were refreshingly informational, compared to the circus-like White House pandemic sessions during the Trump presidency.

Now, after five years as Indiana health commissioner, Box has told the governor she will retire by the end of this month. Box grew up in Terre Haute, living here from age 3 through 18, when she graduated from Terre Haute North Vigo High School and then headed off to Indiana University for her medical studies. An obstetrician-gynecologist, Box was named health commissioner by Holcomb in 2017.

The past five and a half years have been filled with challenges and opportunities unlike any that public health has ever encountered, and the public health workforce across the state has met those challenges with a heart and determination that have inspired me every day, Box said in a statement Friday. I am incredibly proud of the work being done and will forever be grateful to those who continue to make improving the health and well-being of Hoosiers a priority.

Along with her guidance through the pandemic, Box also led the effort with Holcomb to boost funding for local public health departments around the state. Indianas funding of its community health departments ranks 45th, near the bottom among U.S. states. Box launched the Governors Public Health Commission, which critiqued the existing level of care and issued recommendations.

Box and Holcomb worked to get the funding approved through an Indiana General Assembly that included supportive legislators, but also includes some that cling to the politically sewn distrust of local public health leaders. The Legislature wound up approving about two-thirds of the funding Holcomb sought. Indiana will have an added $225 million through the next two years to expand services in local communities, the Associated Press reported.

Those funds will help Indiana improve its poor health and high rates of obesity and smoking, low life expectancy and under-funded local emergency services.

Box also put into action a statewide network of services for mothers and babies, with Indianas high infant mortality rates. She also led an initiative to prevent lead poisoning in kids.

Holcomb said Box genuinely cares about the health and well-being of every single Hoosier, and because of her dedication to the betterment of our overall public health system, the state is at the forefront of transformational change that will result in a healthier Indiana.

Weaver will step into Boxs role as the new commissioner, Holcomb said, and that is a positive step. Both Weaver and Box, actual physicians and longtime public health servants, displayed their concern for folks who live in Indiana through the harshest health crisis in a century. They deserve gratitude.

END
Why It Matters: Preventive health services are popular.

The ruling earlier this spring overturned one of the most popular requirements of the Affordable Care Act by taking away the financial barriers to a range of preventive services. It had taken effect immediately nationwide and had the potential to affect roughly 150 million Americans enrolled in private health insurance, either through employer-sponsored plans or through the Obamacare marketplaces.

While the case is under review, full coverage for preventive services will be legally required.

Background: The Affordable Care Act under fire  again.

Earlier this year, Judge Reed OConnor of the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Texas ruled that insurers did not have to cover any of the services that had been recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force since 2010. His reasoning: The task force is not appointed by Congress and therefore did not have the constitutional authority to decide what services a health insurer must cover.

That ruling had built upon previous ones: In 2018, Judge OConnor had ruled that the A.C.A. was unconstitutional (though the Supreme Court later overturned that decision). Last September, he ruled that the A.C.A.s mandate that employers cover a daily H.I.V. prevention pill called PrEP violated a companys religious freedoms.

Whats Next: A march toward the Supreme Court.

For now, employers will still be required to provide no-cost coverage for preventive services. But the Fifth Circuit is conservative-leaning, and the case could eventually end up at the Supreme Court as yet another challenge to the Obamacare health law.
Why It Matters

The tolling program, which would be the first of its kind in the nation, is intended to reduce traffic by charging drivers to enter the busiest parts of Manhattan.

Many transit advocates, community leaders and urban planning experts in New York have celebrated the progress made toward congestion pricing this month, saying it was long overdue.

The loudest opposition to the program has come from New Jersey. Mr. Menendez and Mr. Booker have joined their states governor, Phil Murphy, a Democrat, and several members of the House of Representatives in speaking out against the plan, including Representative Josh Gottheimer, who has been one of its staunchest critics, and Representative Mikie Sherrill, who called it an unfair hit against New Jersey families.

Notably, The Star-Ledger of Newark published an editorial on Sunday admonishing the states politicians for trying to stop what its editorial board described as a monumental step in the fight to save the environment.

Background

Mr. Murphy has threatened legal action if the plan continues to advance, and last year he took his case directly to President Biden, complaining about the added costs for drivers and the inability of the states existing mass transit infrastructure, New Jersey Transit and the PATH train, to handle extra riders.

Mr. Murphy on Monday also unveiled an advertising campaign criticizing the program, complete with billboards near interstate crossings.

Other opponents of congestion pricing have included taxi drivers and Lyft and Uber drivers, who worry that fare increases triggered by the tolls could slash demand for taxis and for-hire rides by up to 17 percent.

Whats Next

The M.T.A. on Friday released a report that shows the clearest picture of how much the tolls may cost and who may be spared from paying.

The Federal Highway Administration has tentatively approved the plan, and the public now has until June 12 to review the report  which is tens of thousands of pages long  before the federal government gives the document its final OK, paving the way for the M.T.A. to come up with toll rates.

Once that happens, the M.T.A. says the program, which would affect drivers entering Manhattan south of 60th Street, could begin as soon as spring 2024.

Tracey Tully contributed reporting.
The detectives, court documents say, were stationed in a V.I.P. area where people at one table had ordered bottles of the Champagne, which is officially named Armand de Brignac but is better known as Ace of Spades because of its logo. (The brand is owned by Jay-Z and the French luxury goods conglomerate LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton.)

At one point, the people who had ordered the Champagne stepped away, and Detective Gonzalez took two of their unopened bottles and put them on a different table near where he, Detective Czech and Detective Golden had been standing, according to court documents. The bottles had a combined value of $2,900, the district attorneys office said.

Detective Gonzalez then retrieved a backpack, returned to the table and put the bottles into the backpack after Detective Czech handed them to him, court documents say. One of the people who had ordered the Champagne saw what was happening, and when he and the rest of his group returned to their table, the detectives quickly left the area, court documents say.

With the backpack in tow, court documents say, the detectives tried to enter a restricted, staff-only area, where a festival security officer stopped them. Detective Gonzalez identified himself as a police officer and insisted that he and his colleagues should be allowed to pass through, court documents say.

The people who had ordered the Champagne confronted the detectives in front of the security officer, who removed the bottles from the backpack, returned them to their owners and contacted his employer, who in turn contacted the police, court documents say.
Last week the ReAwaken America Tour, a Christian nationalist roadshow co-founded by the former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn, rolled up to the Trump National Doral Miami resort. Two speakers whod appeared at other stops on the tour, the online streamers Scott McKay and Charlie Ward, were jettisoned at the last moment because of bad publicity over their praise of Hitler. (Hitler was actually fighting the same people that were trying to take down today, said McKay, not inaccurately.) But as of this writing, the tours website still includes McKay and Ward, along with Eric Trump, as featured speakers at an upcoming extravaganza in Las Vegas.

ReAwaken Americas association with antisemites did not stop Donald Trump from calling into the rally to offer his support. Its a wonderful hotel, but youre there for an even more important purpose, he told a shrieking crowd, before promising to bring Flynn back in for a second Trump term. Flynn is exactly the sort of figure we can expect to serve in a future Trump administration  a MAGA die-hard uninterested in restraining Trump. So its worth paying attention to how he has changed since he was last on the national stage.

Flynn has long been a paranoid Islamophobe, and toward the end of Trumps presidency, he emerged as a full-fledged authoritarian, calling on Trump to invoke martial law after the 2020 election. Now hes become, in addition to an anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist and QAnon adherent, one of the countrys most prominent Christian nationalists. If we are going to have one nation under God, which we must, we have to have one religion, he said at a 2021 ReAwaken America event. One nation under God and one religion under God, right?

A major question for Republicans in 2024 is whether this militant version of Christian nationalism  one often rooted in Pentecostalism, with its emphasis on prophecy and revelation  can overcome the qualms of more mainstream evangelicals. The issue isnt whether the next Republican presidential candidate is going to be a Christian nationalist, meaning someone who rejects the separation of church and state and treats Christianity as the foundation of American identity and law. Thats a foregone conclusion in a party whose state lawmakers are falling over themselves to pass book bans, abortion prohibitions, anti-trans laws and, in Texas, bills authorizing school prayer and the posting of the Ten Commandments in classrooms.
Presidential candidates typically resign from corporate boards soon after entering the race, to avoid the appearance of any conflicts.

A spokeswoman for Ms. Haley did not comment on the filing, or on Ms. Haleys continued service on the United Homes board.

Ms. Haley listed a dozen speaking engagements, for each of which she reported an honorarium between $100,001 and $1 million. They included events at the Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs in Montreal, Barclays Services Corporation in New York, and Water Street Healthcare Partners in Chicago.

The Wall Street Journal reported last month that Ms. Haley had received stock options from United Homes worth close to $300,000 on March 30, about six weeks after she entered the presidential race.

In the filing, Ms. Haley reported owning between $250,000 and $500,000 worth of stock in Great Southern Homes, which became United Homes when it went public through a merger.
Former Vice President Mike Pence is expected to soon declare a long-shot campaign for the White House against the president under whom he served, pitching himself as a classical conservative who would return the Republican Party to its pre-Trump roots, according to people close to Mr. Pence.

Mr. Pence is working to carve out space in the Republican primary field by appealing to evangelicals, adopting a hard-line position in support of a federal abortion ban, promoting free trade and pushing back against Republican efforts to police big business on ideological grounds. He faces significant challenges, trails far behind in the polls and has made no effort to channel the populist energies overtaking the Republican Party.

In a sign his campaign will be announced in the coming weeks, a pro-Pence super PAC called Committed to America is being set up. A veteran Republican operative, Scott Reed, who ran Bob Doles 1996 presidential campaign and was the longtime top political strategist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, will lead the group alongside Jeb Hensarling, a close friend of Mr. Pences who served with him in Congress.
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.
I very much believe in the mission of PEN, but I had to step down from leadership in order to not be implicated in what I think was a mistaken decision, Gessen said. Their resignation was first reported by The Atlantic.

Boycotts of Russian artists and culture have been a topic of debate across the cultural world since Russias invasion of Ukraine last year. But Nossel, who has spoken out against such boycotts, said the question had yet to fully reach PEN until now.

At last springs festival, she noted, Andrey Kurkov, a novelist and the president of PEN Ukraine, had given the annual Freedom to Write lecture, after which he had an onstage conversation with the Russian American novelist Gary Shteyngart. But there were no Russian writers in the festival, which was smaller than usual due to Covid concerns.

Ukrainian writers concerns about appearing with Russians had been raised earlier this year, Nossel said, when discussions about the festival began. But she said PEN did not realize until the Ukrainian delegation had arrived in New York that they would object to participating not just on a panel with Russians, but in a broader festival that included Russians in any of the nearly four dozen events.

Reached by email, Chapeye said he believed that a Ukrainian soldier cannot be seen under the same umbrella with Russian participants for political / public image reasons.
Jadagu has a singular sense of melody. Her phrases hopscotch around, full of angular leaps that also feel easy and conversational. Those melodies turn out to be equally effective whether theyre leaping across distorted guitar chords, suave keyboards or abstract soundscapes.

Greta Kline, who records as Frankie Cosmos, became one of Jadagus early admirers and mentors. Shes got an encyclopedic knowledge of all the different ways that music can go, Kline said in an interview. And she can picture all those parts before even laying them down. Shes got an amazing producers mind. And she knows everything cool thats going on.

Kline added, Shes going to be a star. I just hope someday I get to open for her.

Jadagu has always been absorbed in music. She grew up in Mesquite, Texas, the Dallas suburb where her parents settled after immigrating from Zimbabwe in the 1990s. She soaked up pop, hip-hop and indie rock from the radio and from the albums of her older sister, Tymie. She attended church regularly  along with youth groups and church camp  and sang in the choir, where she learned to love building vocal harmonies.

Jadagu turned away from the church when she was in high school. I know the Bible, she said. But it just got to a point where I was like, I dont know if this is something Im really fully believing in with my heart.

Two songs that frame the album, Explanation and Letter to Myself, sympathetically explore how believers seek answers to fundamental questions. Everyone is looking for an explanation/Put your faith and hope in something, Jadagu sings as the album begins. Then she starts to wonder: How do you know?

In high school, Jadagu studied classical percussion and joined the schools drum line. She also picked up electric guitar at 16, learning her favorite songs on her own. But as early as elementary school, she had already started recording her own music on computers.
First version published at 11:18

BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 16. A special session of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) of Azerbaijan dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birth of Great Leader Heydar Aliyev has begun, Trend reports.

Welcoming the participants, the Chairman of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova declared the meeting open.

Gafarova said that 228 foreign delegates are taking part in the meeting, including the chairmen of parliaments from 12 countries, deputy chairmen of parliaments from 15 countries, and representatives of 4 international organizations.

Before the meeting, its participants visited the grave of the national leader Heydar Aliyev.
So what are you doing in the Bahamas?

Its a mopping up operation for the end of the book. There are three or four people who are very relevant to this story who said, six months ago, come back in six months and we can have a free and frank conversation. Since they arrested Sam, Ive been back three or four times, and it gets better and better because everyone gets looser and looser.

You were following him closely before his legal troubles started. When did you first get the sense that his business was in trouble and possibly fraudulent?

I would rather not answer that question. I want the reader to experience surprise when reading it. My own experience will be part of the surprise. In October, theres probably going to be a trial, and the two sides are each going to take a bunch of facts and tell completely different stories. I think I can tell a story thats a better story than either side, that includes all the facts and will put the reader in a position of being the juror.

When he was arrested, did you worry that it might blow up your book, or make it better?

I hate to say this. Its horrible. It does not reflect well on me as a human being, but my first thought was, Oh my God  it was like a lock clicking into place  now I have the story. It didnt occur to me for a moment that it would blow up the book. I did think, just how messy is this going to get, as the writer, because Id been so involved. Nobody watched this the way I did, so, was I going to be dragged into this in some way? But Ive been allowed to do my job, and its been one of the most exciting creative experiences Ive ever had.

Youve continued to visit Bankman-Fried. How has his legal situation affected your access to him, and do you feel hes more guarded in his conversations with you?
Florida legislation that was designed to hamstring Disney could end up helping the company, at least in relation to a lawsuit in state court over development at Walt Disney World near Orlando.

Gov. Ron DeSantis and Disney have been sparring for more than a year over a special tax district that encompasses Disney World. The fight started when the company criticized a Florida education law labeled by opponents as Dont Say Gay  angering Mr. DeSantis.

His punitive actions since then, and Disneys efforts to protect itself, have resulted in a federal lawsuit, which Disney filed on April 26, that accused Mr. DeSantis and his allies of engaging in a targeted campaign of government retaliation.

The tax district  newly controlled by Mr. DeSantis  responded by suing Disney in state court. Filed on May 1, the districts lawsuit seeks to nullify contracts with Disney that lock in development plans for the resort. A few days later, the Florida Legislature, at the request of Mr. DeSantis, passed a bill that prohibited the district from complying with the contracts. Mr. DeSantis signed it into law on May 5.
Wells Fargo has agreed to pay $1 billion to settle a class-action lawsuit accusing the bank of overstating how much progress it had made in fixing the unlawful practices that regulators said had hurt millions of customers.

The agreement, detailed in court filings on Monday, is the latest in a succession of settlements and penalties the bank has paid stemming from a fraud scandal that came to light nearly a decade ago. From 2002 to 2016, bank employees, facing unrealistic sales goals imposed by their bosses, opened millions of accounts in customers names without their knowledge.

Wells Fargo removed top executives and pledged to regulators that it would fix the internal deficiencies that caused the scandal and other practices that put customers at risk.

The latest settlement resolves a lawsuit brought on behalf of shareholders that focused on the banks conduct from 2018 to 2020, after regulators identified many of the problems. The plaintiffs, including pension funds in Mississippi, Rhode Island and Louisiana, said Wells Fargo defrauded investors by giving the false impression that it was further along in the process of tackling regulators orders than it had disclosed at the time. The settlement, which must be approved by a federal judge in New York, was reported earlier by The Wall Street Journal.
Why It Matters: Biden needs Manchin, and Manchin needs fossil fuels.

The Mountain Valley Pipeline has been opposed for years by environmentalists, civil rights activists and many Virginia Democrats. Scientists also have warned that nations must stop approving new fossil fuel projects if they want to constrain global warming, something President Biden has said is a top priority.

But while Mr. Biden has put in place an ambitious climate agenda, he needs Mr. Manchin, as well as moderate Republicans, to achieve his goals. They are considered key to passing legislation that the White House says is critical for speeding the construction of new wind, solar and other renewable energy projects.

In recent months, Mr. Biden has taken steps to bolster fossil fuels and placate centrists, while also trying to deflect Republican criticism that his climate policies are harming American energy security. His administration approved the enormous Willow oil project in Alaska, as well as increased exports of liquefied natural gas from Alaska. Both projects were supported by Mr. Manchin and Senator Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican who is also an important swing vote for Mr. Biden.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

Background: The project has faced years of delay.

Equitrans Midstream, the Pennsylvania-based company that is building the pipeline, says construction is nearly complete. But the project has been mired in legal delays for about four years.

Courts have twice rejected the Forest Services attempts to issue a permit for the Mountain Valley Pipeline to be built through the Jefferson National Forest. Last year the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit ruled that the governments environmental reviews had inadequately considered the impacts of erosion, among other issues.

The national forest is home to five protected species, including the endangered candy darter, a colorful freshwater fish, as well as old-growth forest. Environmentalists have adamantly opposed the project, arguing it would destroy sensitive land and ecosystems.

Jessica Sims, Virginia Field Coordinator for Appalachian Voices, an environmental group that opposes the pipeline, said the Biden administration decision grossly underestimates the lasting environmental harms from the project.

Whats Next: More legal action and more regulatory decisions.

The Mountain Valley Pipeline is not a done deal. Fresh lawsuits challenging the Forest Service decision are expected. There is also a lawsuit pending regarding a recent Fish and Wildlife Service permitting decision in favor of the pipeline.

More regulatory hurdles also remain. The Bureau of Land Management, which is responsible for approving pipelines that cross state lines, must decide whether to issue required permits.

Mr. Manchin said in a statement, While Im pleased with the announcement from the Forest Service, the job isnt done yet, and I will keep pushing the administration and all involved to finally complete the last 20 miles of this vital pipeline.
Autumn light filters through the treetops of Central Park West, streaming into Jean-Georges, giving the gray banquettes a matte, silver gleam. The space is plain, severe in its neutrality, undeniably grand and hushed. Each table, though in clear view of the others, is luxuriously cocooned by space, almost private.

Its the ideal place, really, for the Roy children  the scions of the Waystar Royco media empire on HBOs Succession  to discuss their fathers funeral arrangements.

The conversation is brisk, and though they chose Jean-Georges as their meeting spot, they dont eat the food. They leave the pastries  the dark, oversize caneles and fruit-studded buns  along with the platter of fanned, cut fruit, completely untouched. They get up from their seats without so much as unraveling a napkin or dirtying a plate. The slight, feathered mark of Shivs nude lipstick on a coffee cup is the only trace of their presence.

Its not unusual for the Roys to avoid eating. From Logans humiliating game of Boar on the Floor to the menacing box of doughnuts he sends his children when they try to meet in secret, the food on Succession has always been deliciously toxic, dissonant and loaded  a clear line into the familys trauma and power dynamics.
Sometimes it takes an entire meal before I know whether I want to write about a new restaurant. At Tobala, an eight-month-old Mexican place in Riverdale in the Bronx, I was pretty sure after one drink.

The drink was a carajillo, a cocktail made with two ingredients, espresso and the Spanish liqueur Licor 43, shaken over ice. The carajillo was invented in Spain and became even more popular in Mexico, but is eclipsed in New York by the espresso martini. This is too bad. The espresso martini is a decent cocktail, but a well-made carajillo is a great one. An inky brew under a plush cap of foam, it is a union of opposites, bitter and sweet, caffeine and alcohol, liquid and froth, darkness and sunshine.

Despite its simplicity, or because of it, the carajillo is not easy to pull off. Tobala makes one of the best Ive ever tasted, here or in Mexico. After a swallow or two I found myself hoping this wasnt a fluke, that the cooks were paying attention to details as closely as the bartenders. One taste of the duck enmoladas told me they did.
Scroll through the images in this collection. Then, in writing or through discussion with a partner, respond to the following questions:

What do you notice? What can you learn from the photographs from the U.S. southern border since the end of Title 42?

What do you wonder? What questions do you have about these images, the people and the scenes they depict?

Taken as a whole, what do these images tell you about the situation at the southern border? If you had to create a headline for the collection, what would it be?

Questions for Writing and Discussion

Read the featured article, then answer the following questions:

1. According to the article, why have there been widespread fears that the end of Title 42 on May 11 would set off a stampede of migrants from Mexico? What, in fact, has happened before and after the expiration of the pandemic-era policy?

2. What new restrictions has the Biden administration put into place to address a possible surge in migrants following the end of Title 42? How are those new restrictions being challenged by immigrant advocacy groups and by federal judges?

3. What did you learn about the push and pull factors driving migration to the United States? Compare them to your list from the warm-up activity. What else can you add?

4. Wayne Cornelius, an immigration scholar and emeritus professor at the University of California, San Diego, said, There has never been a better moment for migrants to seek work in the U.S. What evidence from the article supports his claim?

5. The article notes that a renewed surge in migrants at the border could deepen political headaches for the Biden administration and that Republicans are hoping to make immigration central to their 2024 election campaigns. Why do you think the issue of immigration is such a polarizing one today? How does the issue or the debate around it affect you and your community?
Questions of guilt hovered over another couple I worked with. He had recently cheated on his wife. They were generally deeply supportive of each other, but after she found out about his transgression, she was terribly upset and also confused. Their attempts to talk about what happened were halting. #MeToo rhetoric was woven into their discussions, functioning as a superego, shaping and inhibiting what they could even think. She said that she felt that the lessons of the movement were telling her not to forgive but to leave him  Especially now, if a woman is being wronged, you get out. It was hard for her to know how she actually felt about it all. Early on, he couldnt separate remorse from fear. He was terrified of getting into trouble, and guiltiness prevailed. His voice was hushed while he scrutinized me intently, worried about how he would be perceived: There are a lot of men in this business right now who have taken positions of power and use them to have sex with people.

They were both white and understood their privilege and were apologetic about it. She often undid her own complaints  I levitate out  by having the thought, Oh, poor cis white woman. He was uncomfortable, too. He talked about reading the news about another Black or brown person being killed. And its just like I feel a little  well, I feel guilty, to be honest, to be sitting here. The lessons of the Black Lives Matter movement initially can provoke such paralyzing guilt and shame that people become defensive and stop fully thinking. Yet over time, Ive found, the ideas can inspire deep psychological work, pushing people to reckon with the harm that has been done, the question of whom should be implicated, and the difference between virtue signaling and deeper concerns. These are tough and important lessons that can carry over into intimate relationships. In this case, the husband described a new understanding about the ways he exercised power at work: Hold on. Have I been an ally? Has it just been optics? These insights extended even to his way of speaking about his transgression. He had been rationalizing his behavior by saying that his wife was not giving him the attention he needed. But moving beyond what the couple called optics, now he was asking himself for a more thorough accounting of what his cheating was really about, and how it affected his wife. He explained how lonely he was if she traveled; he felt left behind and discarded, a feeling deeply familiar to him from early childhood. Acknowledging his vulnerability was hard for him, but it opened up a series of honest conversations between them. I convinced myself she does not desire me, he said. Im not the popular guy. Im not the strong guy. He linked those feelings to insecurities he felt as a teenager, when he suffered chronic teasing from kids at school for being perceived as effeminate.

This new, nondefensive way of talking made it possible for her to understand how his transgression hit her where she felt most insecure, and he could see it, generating remorse and forgiveness between them. She described how it had become easier for both of them to check themselves for their impact on the other person, and quickly notice or apologize. In one session she said, smiling: You were a jerk to me yesterday, and then you apologized a couple hours later. You recognized that you took out your frustration there on me because I was an easy target. He realized that he stopped skimming over ways he caused others pain: I actually was just thinking therapy and the Black Lives Matter movement have made me keenly aware of the words that just came out of my mouth, and the understanding that she reacted adversely to that, instead of me just going, We move on, because thats awkward. Theres a need now to address it. He continued:  Did I just upset you? What did I do to just upset you?

Couples work always goes back to the challenge of otherness. Differences can show up around philosophical questions like what is important to devote a life to, or whether it is ethical to have babies with a climate crisis looming; or it can be closer to home, like whether having a sexual fantasy about a person who is not your partner is acceptable; or even as seemingly trivial as the correct way to load a dishwasher. Whatever the issue, differences can become a point of crisis in the relationship. Immediately the question of who is right, who gets their way or who has a better handle on reality pops up. Narcissistic vulnerabilities about self-worth appear, which then trigger an impulse to devalue the other. Partners try to resolve such impasses by digging in and working hard to convince the other of their own position, becoming further polarized.

The challenge of otherness may be easiest to see when we think of racial differences. This was certainly true for James and Michelle. Michelle was a calm, gentle, somewhat reserved African American social worker, and James, at the time a police officer, was a slight, wiry white man whose face did not reveal much feeling. They came in with classic conflicts around division of labor and differing parenting styles, and then the pandemic hit. Quarantined, working remotely and home-schooling their 3-year-old son, they started fighting about Covid protocols. Michelle was aware of the way that Covid was devastating Black communities and wanted to be careful. James, along with his fellow police officers and his conservative parents, thought the concern was overblown. Discussion about how race shaped James and Michelles experiences and ideas routinely dead-ended. If Michelle tried to bring up the topic, James would insist, I dont see color, and say he didnt know what she was talking about. In our sessions, Michelle sounded hopeless: She wanted him to understand how traumatizing Covid had been for Black people. But she was frustrated by his inability to acknowledge real difference, as if everyone was the same race. Hes of the mind-set that I dont see color. She continued setting out his thinking:  I dont want to hear what you have to say because thats not how I think. That point of view obviously angers me, she said. James would shrug, expressionless. Michelle was describing the infuriating experience of trying to break through a barrier: Her husband wasnt consciously aware that whiteness was a perspective that was constricting what he could imagine or comprehend.
Ellen Driessen is a psychologist in the Netherlands who believes, to the contrary, that the field has not yet unlocked the full potential of talk therapy. Driessens Twitter bio describes her as a passionate depression treatment researcher, and she has devoted herself in recent years to finding ways to maximize therapys effectiveness. Her goal: to determine which kinds of therapies work best for which kinds of patients, in the hope that those targeted pairings will yield better results. In her own practice, when patients turn to her for guidance about what treatment to choose, she often feels frustrated by uncertainty. The finding that all types of therapy work equally well, Driessen believes, could be hiding the variation that exists from person to person. Given the state of research, it is impossible to know what to recommend for an individual patient. I dont know which of these treatments will work best for you, she resorts to saying. And that is something that I, as a clinician, find very unsatisfying.

Most studies do not break down the results of various psychotherapies by type of patient  by gender, for example, or comorbidities, or age of onset of illness. The trials are too small to generate statistically meaningful results for those categories. Driessen and colleagues are undertaking the ambitious task of going back to the researchers on at least 100 trials to procure identifying details about patients, so that their samples will be large enough to allow them to determine whether certain kinds of people are more likely to respond to one kind of therapy or another. The project will most likely be underway for a decade before they can tease out matches between practice and patient.

Another growing school of research, meanwhile, hopes to move practitioners away from adhering strictly to one school or another, by identifying the most effective components of each  the practice of exposing patients to the sources of their fears, for example, or examining relationship patterns. But Wampold believes that eventually these researchers will simply land, with their collection of techniques, on yet another form of therapy that proves about as effective as all the others.

The most significant difference in patient outcomes, Wampold says, almost always lies in the skills of the therapist, rather than the techniques they rely on. Hundreds of studies have shown that the strength of the patient-therapist bond  a patients sense of safety and alignment with the therapist on how to reach defined goals  is a powerful predictor of how likely that patient is to experience results from therapy. But what distinguishes the therapists most likely to forge those bonds is not intuitive. Wampold says that some of the attributes that would seem most salient  a therapists agreeability, years of training, years of experience  do not correlate at all with effectiveness of care.

To demonstrate the skills that do correlate, Timothy Anderson, director of the Psychotherapy & Interpersonal Process Lab at Ohio University, studied groups of therapists who have been rated by patients as highly effective. He put them through a monitored exercise in which they were asked to respond to video clips featuring actors playing out difficult situations that commonly arise in therapy. The patient might be saying, This isnt working  you cant help me, Anderson says. He found that the highest-rated therapists tended, in those moments, to avoid responding with hostility or defensiveness, but instead replied with a pairing of language and tone that fostered a positive bond. Thats displayed by the therapist saying things like, Were in this together, Anderson told me, even when the patient is saying, You cant help me no matter what. Among the other qualities that these therapists displayed were verbal fluency  the ability to speak clearly in ways the patient could quickly grasp  along with an ability to persuade the patient and to focus on a specific problem. A certain humility in the face of the fields uncertainties also seems to help; on a different questionnaire, therapists whose care was more successful gave responses that reflected self-questioning about professional efficacy in treating clients.

For the past four years, Anderson says, he has been running workshops that aim to train therapists in these various skills. Can we do it in brief workshops? he says. Im not sure that we can. Empathy, a capacity for alliance building  these might be innate, elusive, alchemic gifts that are challenging to teach. Anderson believes that people who become therapists tend to have more of those qualities than the general population, but he also referred to a study from the 1970s suggesting that laypeople who naturally have those skills performed nearly as well in therapeutic simulations as trained therapists with Ph.D.s.
For its opening film, the Cannes organizers have opted for both star power and potential controversy with Jeanne du Barry, a French costume drama that is Johnny Depps first major film since winning a bitter defamation trial last year.

Directed by and starring Maiwenn, the film centers on a young woman as she climbs from humble origins to become Madame du Barry, the favorite of King Louis XV of France, who Depp plays in a white wig and powdered face.

The trial between Depp and his ex-wife Amber Heard riveted the world last year as the actress aired allegations of physical and sexual abuse. Depp denied the claims, asserting that she was the true aggressor in the relationship. (A judge in Britain had ruled in an earlier case that there was evidence that Depp had assaulted Heard.)

The jury in Virginia largely sided with Depp, finding that Heard had defamed him when she described herself in a 2018 op-ed in The Washington Post as a public figure representing domestic abuse. Heard initially appealed the verdict, but then announced last year that she intended to settle the dispute.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 16. International discussions of Azerbaijan's economic projects were held in Strasbourg with the organizational support of the Baku Network Expert Platform, Trend reports.

Azerbaijani MPs Tural Ganjaliyev, Sevil Mikayilova and Nurlan Hasanov, as well as Polish MEP Richard Czarnecki have participated in the discussions.

The sides exchanged views on the development of relations between Azerbaijan and the EU, the current dynamics of the implementation of joint economic projects. Azerbaijan's significant contribution to the energy security of Europe, the invaluable importance of the Middle Corridor and other topical issues were discussed as well.

One of the priorities of the Baku Network Expert Platform is the promotion of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the EU and the strengthening of interparliamentary ties.

Trend presents the discussion:
Giving Birth to a Butterfly, Theodore Schaefers beautifully peculiar debut feature, strikes a balance between tender and vaguely unsettling, an effect similarly achieved by the work of David Lynch. I hate to use Lynchian, a term frequently  and slovenly  invoked for films with a merely surrealist bent. But Schaefers film, also steeped in a distinctly American nostalgia, more than deserves the description.

In this uncanny indie, were plunged into an American no-place, where a suburban father, Daryl (Paul Sparks), plans to open a diner despite not having any money; and where a former actress named Monica (Constance Shulman, channeling Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard) prepares for a big interview that will never happen. Opposite these tragic figures is Daryls wife, Diane (Annie Parisse), and Monicas daughter Marlene (Gus Birney)  two women worn down by the follies of their loved ones.
Follow our live updates from the opening night of the Cannes Film Festival.

The gunslinger in green locks eyes with the sheriff.

Dont look at me like that, says the sheriff, squinting.

How do you want me to look at you? replies the gunslinger, flirting.

It wouldnt be a western without a fraught standoff, but when Pedro Almodovar is behind the camera, the glances are even more loaded than the pistols. In Strange Way of Life, a new short film that will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday, Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal star as a lawman and a cowboy who reunite 25 years after having a passionate affair. But will their old magic be rekindled, or are both men concealing ulterior motives for the meeting?

In many ways, the project is a swerve for Almodovar: The 73-year-old auteur, typically known for Spanish-language movies about modern women living in beautiful apartments, has cast two English-speaking actors in a short that is set in the dusty Wild West. But Almodovar, who was courted two decades ago to direct the gay western Brokeback Mountain and turned it down, sees his new project on a continuum with that 2005 film, which was ultimately directed by Ang Lee, who went on to win best director.
But left-leaning Democrats have increasingly raised the alarm about the mayors decisions  his comments casting doubt on the separation of church and state, his response to the migrant crisis and homelessness and his support for rent increases and charter schools.

Adams has called for budget cuts that threaten to reduce city services like libraries as he tries to cover the cost of sheltering migrants, which is expected to come to more than $1 billion. You wrote that this is not an expense that Adamss predecessors had to worry about. Is that his only concern on the financial front?

The mayor has said that New York City is facing several budget challenges: the response to the migrant crisis, the cost of new labor contracts with city workers, including police officers, and economic concerns over slowing tax revenues and empty office buildings. Leaders of the City Council say that his budget projections are too pessimistic and that the city needs to invest in key priorities like housing and free preschool to help New Yorkers during an affordability crisis.

How different is Adams now from when he was a candidate? Has being in City Hall changed him?

The mayor ran on a public safety message at a time when New Yorkers were feeling anxious about crime, and hed be the first to tell you that hes the same guy as he was on the campaign trail. During the 2021 mayoral race, the city was still in the depths of the pandemic. Other issues like housing, schools and homelessness received less attention, and progressive Democrats were to some extent playing defense after a backlash to the defund the police movement.

Some of the mayors decisions have been surprising, like his cuts to Mayor Bill de Blasios popular preschool program for 3- and 4-year-olds and his cuts to schools and libraries. Those werent issues he talked about on the campaign trail.
At a dialysis center in Brooklyn, Nardel Joseph used to try making friends with the other patients, until they began dying one by one.

As her kidneys failed from an autoimmune disease, Ms. Joseph, 34, realized she might be next.

A new kidney would offer Ms. Joseph the best hope for regaining her health, but as an undocumented immigrant who lacked health insurance, her odds of getting a transplant had been close to zero.

Its unfair, Ms. Joseph said.

Undocumented immigrants face high hurdles to receiving organ transplants themselves, even though they can donate organs, and more of them are signing up to do so through programs like IDNYC, which gives residents of New York a municipal identification card regardless of their immigration status.

Now, some advocates are pushing the state to make organ transplants available to undocumented immigrants, although the effort could create political friction as the state debates how to handle an influx of migrants.
In my view, President Biden should out-Trump Trump. Do everything possible to secure the border like never before  more walls, more fences, more barriers, more troops, the 82nd Airborne  whatever it takes. Make Democrats own border security. But not for the purpose of choking immigration: for the purpose of expanding it. It is good policy and good politics.

If we are going to thrive in the 21st century and compete effectively with China, we need to double down on our single greatest competitive advantage: our ability to attract the most high-aspiring migrants and the most high-I.Q. risk takers, who start new businesses.

Best I can tell, God distributed brains equally around the planet. What he didnt distribute equally was which countries would most welcome the highest-energy, highest-intellect immigrants. It has long been our singular competitive advantage that we were No. 1 in this category. If we throw that advantage away, as a country we will revert to the global mean.

But we simply cannot have a rational discussion about expanding immigration to serve our interests  and about how to create a fair pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants already here, as well as for their children born here  if too many Americans think our southern border is out of control.

And we need that discussion today more urgently than ever, because heres a news flash: The 10,000 migrants a day who surged across the Mexico-U.S. border in the few days before the Trump restrictions were lifted  the highest levels ever  were not an aberration, even if those levels were reduced in recent days to less than the chaotic levels Biden feared. Theyre the start of a new normal.
I did not grow up around guns, but 10 years ago, I started attending firearms training classes. I wasnt there to learn how to protect myself or my family. I was there to learn what was taught in the classes themselves, which a broad coalition of groups  including many police officers, Republican and Democratic legislators and gun violence prevention organizations  have hailed as a path out of the nations epidemic of violence.

I found something very different. The classes I attended trained students to believe that their lives are in constant danger. They prepared us to shoot without hesitation and avoid legal consequences. They instilled the kind of fear that has a corrosive effect on all interactions  and beyond that, on the fabric of our democracy.

I took 42 classes and conducted interviews with 52 instructors and 118 students, in traditionally red states like Texas as well as blue states like Massachusetts, in urban areas like Newark as well as rural Southern Illinois. (The instructors knew I was there to conduct research; in keeping with my universitys academic protocols, I had permission to take notes in class and to record interviews but not to publish anyones names.) Most of all, I immersed myself in firearms schools in Texas, where I live, that cater to people who wish to learn how to use guns for self-defense. Some instructors in these schools told me they have been involved in drafting public safety protocols or running active shooter drills for public school teachers. Some of these instructors students have gone on to open training programs of their own.

While American gun culture has diversified in recent years, the overwhelming majority of firearms instructors  in Texas its 75 percent  are white men. Many have a background in the military or law enforcement. Nationwide, more than 125,000 of them have taken a certification course offered by the National Rifle Association. Many states require instructors to complete additional training.
To the Editor:

In the past week several journalists have weighed in defending CNNs decision to hold a town hall with Donald Trump. These include Maureen Dowds May 14 column (No Playing Ostrich With Trump), Anderson Coopers commentary on CNN and Bill Sammon, a former managing editor at Fox News, in an Opinion guest essay (Were Asking the Wrong Questions About the Trump Town Hall, nytimes.com, May 13).

They all make the point that the media has an obligation to cover Mr. Trump given his political prominence. But there is a difference between covering Mr. Trump and giving him his own TV special, which is exactly what it was.

It was irrelevant whether Kaitlan Collins asked tough questions  as a matter of fact the tougher the better for Mr. Trump to swat down with his usual non sequitur bluster while the MAGA-packed audience applauded wildly. When Mr. Trump calls you a nasty person and the audience applauds, you are simply a foil.

The second point these journalists make is that the media must show us who Mr. Trump is. This is enough to make a cat laugh. Its been Trump, Trump, Trump for eight years now. What dont we know?
Although it is possible the jury made a mistake when it handed down a guilty verdict, neither Carlson nor Rittenhouse nor Abbott tried to argue the case on the merits. Instead, they made a simple assumption: that any violence against a left-wing protester is justified on its face. Perry had lived out the right-wing fantasy of lethal violence in defense of order. By their lights, he had done nothing wrong.

Prominent conservatives have taken the same view of Daniel Penny, the 24-year-old assailant in the killing of Jordan Neely in a New York City subway car this month. What we know is that Neely, who was homeless, was erratic and acting hostile toward other passengers. Witnesses said he had not attacked anyone. At some point, Penny, a former Marine, placed Neely in a chokehold, which killed him. Two other passengers restrained Neely while he struggled on the ground. Penny is now charged with second-degree manslaughter.

We dont know much, yet, about Pennys mind-set or motivation during his confrontation on the subway. But this has not stopped conservatives from valorizing him in the same way they valorized Rittenhouse and Perry. The Marine who stepped in to protect others is a hero, said Greene, now a congresswoman. The decision to charge Penny, said the Fox News host Greg Gutfeld, was pro-criminal and anti-hero.

In a testament to conservative enthusiasm for Penny, an online fund-raiser has raised more than $2 million for his legal defense. And DeSantis, now angling for the Republican presidential nomination, stepped in with a message of support. We must defeat the Soros-Funded DAs, stop the Lefts pro-criminal agenda, and take back the streets for law abiding citizens, he said on Twitter. We stand with Good Samaritans like Daniel Penny. Lets show this Marine  Americas got his back.

Its the same language, the same tropes, the same ideas. In listening to conservative fans of Rittenhouse, Perry and Penny, you would never know that there were actual people on the other side of these confrontations. You would never know that those people were, in life, entitled to the protection of the law and that they are, in death, entitled to a full account of the last moments of their lives, with legal responsibility for the men who killed them, if thats what a jury decides.
But there are still prosecutors who wont admit they were wrong, even in the face of substantial evidence. There was no expression of regret from the prosecutors who convicted Randall Dale Adams in Dallas. Nor does one seem likely from the Polk County district attorneys office, where any defense of Leo Schofield appears to have been seen by its prosecutors as an attempt to subvert the jurys decision and, by extension, justice.

It happens less, because back awhile you would regularly see where it was a small town and the state attorney could be the cousin of the sheriff, and who they decided was guilty, was guilty, said Herman Lindsey, executive director of Witness to Innocence, which provides assistance to exonerated death row inmates. (Mr. Lindsey himself spent three years on death row before the Florida Supreme Court concluded the evidence was insufficient to sustain his conviction. He is one of 30 death row inmates in Florida to be exonerated since 1972, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.)

But these wrongful convictions still happen, and not every prosecutor is willing to reconsider a conviction. While yes, there are more prosecutors willing to be proven wrong, there are still those who show an almost Disney-villain level of not budging, Ms. OBrien said, adding that the Schofield case is beyond the pale, one of the worst I have seen.

How to explain this stubborn insistence on guilt despite what others perceive as proof of innocence or, at least, enough evidence to warrant another look?

Ms. OBrien blames the fact that we have an adversarial system rather than an inquisitorial one, meaning that the court does not take part in investigating the facts but is rather assumed to be an impartial forum in which prosecution and defense present their opposing arguments. It can attract people who see things as very black and white, theres good guys and bad guys, where the goal is the win rather than the truth, she said.
When I was 22 years old, I committed robbery and murder. I pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 45 years, of which I have so far served two decades. During that time, Ive experienced the squalor and dangerous conditions of various state prisons. Ive lived in a crumbling penitentiary built in the 1800s. Ive been put in isolation for weeks on end because of Covid exposure and infection. Still, I was not prepared for what I found when I was transferred to a county jail for two weeks last December.

Along with people serving short sentences for relatively minor offenses, jails house people who are awaiting trial and either didnt get bail or simply couldnt pay it  people, that is, who have not been convicted of any crime.

Despite that fact, conditions in these facilities are often worse, and sometimes much worse, than those in the prisons where people who are convicted of the worst crimes are confined. Jails throw people together in overcrowded units that may be controlled by the most violent people in the room. Like prisons, jails house a disproportionate number of people experiencing addiction or chronic health conditions but jails lack the resources to treat them and adequate staffing overall. Udi Ofer, a professor at Princeton University who focuses on policing and criminal justice reform, told me that jails regularly rely on even harsher conditions of confinement than prisons do.

As a prison writer, journalist and criminal justice activist, I try to communicate to anyone who will listen that the vast majority of incarcerated people will eventually return to their communities. The trauma they suffer on the inside comes with them. Just as a very short time in solitary confinement can cause lasting harm, weeks or months in county jail can have a huge negative impact on peoples lives, even after they are released. What happens in jails doesnt stay in jails.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 16. Heydar Aliyev is a national leader who played an important role in the formation of modern Azerbaijan, Chairperson of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili said at the special meeting of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) of Azerbaijan dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birth of Great Leader Heydar Aliyev, Trend reports.

The chairperson noted that Heydar Aliyev strengthened the national spirit of the Azerbaijani people, and laid the foundations of national statehood.

"With his effective policy, he turned the country into a strong, prosperous state. And most importantly, he won the hearts of the people. Heydar Aliyev was a supporter of peace in the South Caucasus. He ensured the establishment of strong friendly ties between Azerbaijan and Georgia," he said.

Papuashvili also added that under Heydar Aliyev's exceptional leadership, success has been achieved in the projects of the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkiye energy transit routes and a great legacy to the people of Azerbaijan was left by the wise leader Heydar Aliyev.

The special meeting is attended by 228 foreign delegates, including 12 chairmen of the parliaments of the countries, 15 deputy chairmen of the parliaments of the countries, and representatives of 4 international organizations.
Aristotle called the hand the tool of tools; Kant, the visible part of the brain. The earliest works of art were handprints on the walls of caves. Throughout history hand gestures have symbolized the range of human experience: power, tenderness, creativity, conflict, even (bravo, Michelangelo) the touch of the divine. Without hands, civilization would be inconceivable.

And so the discovery in 2011 of the bones of a dozen right hands, at a site where the ancient Egyptian city of Avaris (today known as Tell el-Daba) once stood, was particularly unsettling. The remains were unearthed, most with palms down, from three shallow pits near the throne room of a royal palace. The hands, along with numerous disarticulated fingers, were most likely buried during Egypts 15th dynasty, from 1640 B.C. to 1530 B.C. At the time, Egypts eastern Nile Delta was controlled by a dynasty called the Hyksos, which means rulers of foreign countries.

Although the Hyksos were described by the Ptolemaic Egyptian historian Manetho as invaders of an obscure race who conquered the region by force, recent research has shown that they descended from people who had immigrated peacefully over centuries from southwest Asia, now Israel and the Palestinian territories. Eventually, a few rose to power as the Hyksos, basing their power in Avaris.

The Hyksos are widely believed to have introduced the Egyptians to the horse and chariot, glass-working and all sorts of weaponry, including battle axes and composite bows. A recent study published in the journal Nature proposes that the Hyksos had a custom known as the Gold of Valor, which involved taking the hands of enemy combatants as war trophies.
Why It Matters: Condors are at high risk.

The virus was first detected in a California condor found dead in late March. Since then, 20 more condors have died and four additional condors are currently in rehabilitation facilities, according to the federal agency. The virus has been confirmed in 15 of those birds.

Condors appear to be highly susceptible to the virus, said Dr. Carlos Sanchez, the head veterinarian at the Oregon Zoo, which has a condor breeding program. Once they get it, he said, they tend to have high mortality.

California condor populations dropped precipitously during the 20th century; in the 1980s, fewer than 30 birds were left. In the decades since, captive breeding programs have helped the population recover. If the virus gets into more condor populations, it could erase this progress, Dr. Sanchez said: Were talking about a potential catastrophic collapse of the conservation project.

Background: A new version of an old threat.

The H5N1 virus was first detected in China in 1996. Since then, various versions of the virus have circulated in wild birds and caused repeated outbreaks in poultry. A new version of the virus arrived in North America in late 2021. Since then, it has spread rapidly throughout the United States, causing the largest bird flu outbreak in the nations history and resulting in the death of almost 60 million farmed birds.

It has also taken a far heavier toll on wild birds than previous outbreaks. It has been detected in more than 6,700 wild birds  a figure that is surely an underestimate  in every state but Hawaii and has resulted in mass die-offs of wild birds around the world.

It has also repeatedly spilled over into mammals and caused a small number of human infections, generally in people who were known to have been in close contact with birds. The virus is best adapted to birds, and the threat to the general public remains low, officials say. But scientists have long been concerned that the virus could evolve in ways that help it spread easily among people.

Whats next: Officials are considering a broader bird vaccination campaign.

The small size of the existing California condor population will allow the vaccination program to be monitored closely, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service said. Federal officials have not authorized the vaccine for use in other birds.

But the size and scope of the current outbreak have prompted officials to consider a mass poultry vaccination campaign. U.S.D.A. scientists have been testing numerous potential poultry vaccines and have said that some results could be available this spring.

The country could see more animal outbreaks in the coming weeks as infected wild birds migrate north for the summer.
Foragers around the world hunt for wild mushrooms to bring their earthy, nutty, meaty flavors to the table. But every so often, people mistake a potentially lethal variety for the edible ones.

A mushroom called the death cap  Amanita phalloides  and dozens of related species containing the same toxin, alpha amanitin, account for the vast majority of mushroom-poisoning deaths. And many scientists have tried to find a quick remedy.

Theres no antidote, said Terrence Delaney, a plant biologist and mycologist at the University of Vermont who studies the toxin profiles of a related mushroom called the destroying angel.

In the past, such poisoning was fatal in more than half of the cases, but today about 85 to 90 percent of people survive. The main treatment is hydration, because the toxin is excreted in urine, Dr. Delaney said, and also includes electrolytes and substances to protect the liver. But a lot of people dont get better, and the only effective therapy is a liver transplant, he said.
Not all artists painting breasts are interested in them as sexual objects, but their erotic associations can be difficult to shake. In 2020, the American artist Sarah Slappey, 39, exhibited a series of surreal canvases in which disembodied arms, creamy lozenges and liquid tendrils collide with petal pink breasts resembling long balloons, complete with puffy areolas and noodle-like, upturned nipples. Some breasts ooze drops of milk that morph into strings of pearls. Slappey, who painted these works after night feeding her nephew with a bottle for several weeks, was thinking about the transformation of nipples after childbirth, and the mingled pleasure and pain of being in a womans body (she compares it to a cupcake full of thumbtacks). Still, viewers were quick to read the tangles of rosy limbs as erotic. Maybe in our language we dont have enough separation between eroticism and sensuality or touch and the body, so people just overlap them too much, says Slappey. Or people just like sex. Frustrated, she took a temporary break from breasts to focus on ankles and hands.

Image In oil paintings such as Figure and Monstera (2022), Somaya Critchlow imbues her subjects with a sense of interiority and unapologetic sensuality. Credit...  Somaya Critchlow. Courtesy of the artist, private collection, London, and Maximillian William, London. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates

The British artist Somaya Critchlow, 30, who depicts Black women with big hair and pneumatic breasts in compact oil paintings saturated with warm earth tones and jewel-hued shadows, has similarly expressed exasperation with one-note readings of her work. People try to position my work as being sex-positive or political or whatever  and its not, its just investigative, she told The Guardian. Her subjects might lie back luxuriously or bend forward, squeezing their breasts together, like pinup girls, but they also tend to exude a strong sense of interiority  mingled states of ambivalence, mischief and desire that make them whole human beings. Endowing them with exaggerated breasts is a provocation to the viewer to move past the obvious. Im just going to blow this up as big and silly as I can, she told one journalist, and still make it a serious painting. And what can you say to me about that?

Larissa De Jesus Negron, 28, renders breasts more realistically than some of her peers, using airbrushed acrylic and soft pastels to create subtle gradients of color, but they also speak, in her work, to the ways in which selves can transform. Raised in a devout Christian family in Puerto Rico with what she describes as really harsh rules revolving around being modest and not showing too much skin, she began painting naked women as a teenage rebellion. Soon it became a form of therapy. I was able to process a lot of self-hate and shame that I felt around my body, and nudity in particular, she says. Now based in Queens, De Jesus Negron portrays herself, in all-consuming bouts of worry, spells of serene self-acceptance and ambiguous moods somewhere in between, flaunting the nipple hairs her mother once told her to pluck. In Soy Libre Mami  (2023), a close-up view of a single breast in shades of green and mauve, the curlicue strands form cursive letters spelling the first two words of the title. Translation: Im free.
When computer scientists at Microsoft started to experiment with a new artificial intelligence system last year, they asked it to solve a puzzle that should have required an intuitive understanding of the physical world.

Here we have a book, nine eggs, a laptop, a bottle and a nail, they asked. Please tell me how to stack them onto each other in a stable manner.

The researchers were startled by the ingenuity of the A.I. systems answer. Put the eggs on the book, it said. Arrange the eggs in three rows with space between them. Make sure you dont crack them.

Place the laptop on top of the eggs, with the screen facing down and the keyboard facing up, it wrote. The laptop will fit snugly within the boundaries of the book and the eggs, and its flat and rigid surface will provide a stable platform for the next layer.
The tone of congressional hearings featuring tech industry executives in recent years can best be described as antagonistic. Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos and other tech luminaries have all been dressed down on Capitol Hill by lawmakers upset with their companies.

But on Tuesday, Sam Altman, the chief executive of the San Francisco start-up OpenAI, testified before members of a Senate subcommittee and largely agreed with them on the need to regulate the increasingly powerful A.I. technology being created inside his company and others like Google and Microsoft.

In his first testimony before Congress, Mr. Altman implored lawmakers to regulate artificial intelligence as members of the committee displayed a budding understanding of the technology. The hearing underscored the deep unease felt by technologists and government over A.I.s potential harms. But that unease did not extend to Mr. Altman, who had a friendly audience in the members of the subcommittee.

The appearance of Mr. Altman, a 38-year-old Stanford University dropout and tech entrepreneur, was his christening as the leading figure in A.I. The boyish-looking Mr. Altman traded in his usual pullover sweater and jeans for a blue suit and tie for the three-hour hearing.
As the legal battle over abortion pills winds through the federal courts, anti-abortion activists are citing a 150-year-old law, the Comstock Act of 1873, to bolster their case.

For most of the past century, that law has rarely if ever been enforced, with many of its anti-vice provisions narrowed by federal courts or considered to be vastly out of date. But with the overturning of the Roe v. Wade decision, opponents of abortion rights have begun invoking it as a legal basis for blocking the mailing of abortion medication, which could have sweeping implications for abortion access across the country.

Here is how the Comstock Act came to be and how it is being viewed today.

What does the Comstock Act say?

Among other things, the Comstock Act prohibits the mailing of obscene, lewd, or lascivious materials, like pornography, or any article or thing intended for the prevention of conception or procuring of abortion. It also prohibits shipping those things by way of express common carriers, meaning services like FedEx or UPS.

The acts namesake, Anthony Comstock, was a deeply religious Civil War veteran turned anti-vice crusader from New York who was obsessed with combating what he saw as a culture of sexual impurity. He successfully pushed Congress to restrict materials he saw as immoral, arguing that allowing them to be distributed through the mail corrupted the public and posed a danger to children.
A 15-year-old high school student in Springfield, Mo., was suspended for three days after she recorded a video of her teacher repeatedly using a racial slur to refer to Black people, her lawyer said on Tuesday.

The Glendale High School student, Mary Walton, who is white, was in geometry class last week when her teacher used the slur four times, said her lawyer, Natalie Hull. Mary, a 10th grader, was not sure how to respond and then started to record a video of what was happening to share with her mother and a friend to get their advice. The teacher then used the racial slur two more times.

Ms. Hull said that Mary did not post the video online, but it was circulating within the community within half an hour of it happening.

The teacher, a man who has not been named publicly, was placed on administrative leave that day, May 9. Springfield Public Schools said in an email on Tuesday that he was no longer employed by the district and that it had accepted a resignation letter from him.
Thousands of Oakland students will return to school today, after about 3,000 striking public school educators reached a tentative deal with district officials to raise salaries for teachers and take some unconventional steps to improve students lives, including creating a Black reparations task force and using district property to help homeless students.

Teachers, librarians, nurses and other staff members in the Oakland Unified School District walked out on May 4, the latest in a string of labor standoffs at academic institutions in California. Over the nearly two weeks that Oakland educators were off the job, the districts 80 schools remained open to its 34,000 students, but there was no instruction.

Oaklands teachers, among the lowest paid in the Bay Area, secured raises of roughly 15 percent over three years under the agreement struck on Monday between the district, one of the largest in the state, and the Oakland Education Association, the union representing the educators. The starting salary for a first-year teacher in the district will increase to $62,696 from $52,905, according to a draft provided by the union.

District officials say they are investing $70 million in educators wages in the deal, making progress toward a long-term goal of paying them what they deserve, Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell said.
The News

Frustrated, powerless and with little hope of regaining significant influence anytime soon, Republican lawmakers in Oregon have in recent years turned repeatedly to a disruptive tactic: boycotting their own legislature.

The stalling strategy, with senators fleeing the State Capitol to avoid casting a vote, has at times proved effective in a state where two-thirds of lawmakers must be present in order for the legislature to conduct business. It has been so disruptive that voters altered the Constitution last year to punish those who were repeatedly absent by barring them from re-election.

But now, as the legislature debates contentious bills over abortion and transgender rights, some lawmakers are boycotting once again. This week, in the first significant test of the new law, three state senators reached the legal threshold of 10 unexcused absences.

Let it be abundantly clear: This is just the beginning of the fight, Tim Knopp, the Republican Senate minority leader, said in a statement.

Republicans have signaled that they may challenge the new constitutional provision in court. The three lawmakers who have reached the 10-day mark are Dennis Linthicum and Daniel Bonham, both Republicans, along with Brian Boquist, a former Republican who is now an independent. There are no term limits in the legislature, but some senators are facing re-election campaigns as soon as next year.

Mr. Knopp has called for a more bipartisan approach to deal with the concerns of Republicans, who have made it clear that they oppose bills that would expand access to abortion and require insurance companies to cover gender-transitioning treatment when a health care provider deems it medically necessary.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 16. Under the leadership of Heydar Aliyev, Azerbaijan overcame many difficulties and became a strong state, President of the National Assembly of Serbia Vladimir Orlic said at a special meeting of the Azerbaijani Parliament dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birth of Great Leader Heydar Aliyev, Trend reports.

According to Orlic, Serbia and Azerbaijan take the same position regarding the protection of territorial integrity and ensuring sovereignty.

"We adhere to the principles of international law. Azerbaijan and Serbia have strong friendship relations. Serbia is happy with the success of Azerbaijan. The success of our friends makes us happy," he added.

The special meeting is being attended by 228 foreign delegates, including 12 chairmen of the parliaments of the countries, 15 deputy chairmen of parliaments, and representatives of four international organizations.
The latest battle over a widely used abortion drug is set to play out on Wednesday before a conservative appeals court in New Orleans that has become the testing ground for some of the most contentious policy fights in the nation.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit will weigh in on the legal status of the medication, mifepristone, used in more than half of recent abortions in the United States.

By virtually any measure, it is the most conservative appeals court in the country, said Stephen I. Vladeck, a law professor at the University of Texas.

The court, which has jurisdiction over Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi, is almost certain to be skeptical of steps the Food and Drug Administration has taken to ease access to mifepristone, part of a two-pill regimen used in medication abortion. It has long been at the center of high-profile challenges to measures backed by the Obama and Biden administrations, including gun restrictions and transgender rights, and the arrival of a wave of Trump appointees has pushed it to the leading edge of potent policy decisions.
Two days before officials lifted the Title 42 pandemic restrictions at the southern border, President Biden gave a blunt assessment of his administrations ability to manage the surge of migrants they expected to arrive last week.

Its going to be chaotic for a while, Mr. Biden predicted grimly.

When the time came, what Republicans had insisted would be a career-ending moment for Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas did not fully turn into the chaos Mr. Biden and others had anticipated.

An initial surge of about 10,000 migrants just hours before the rule expired on Thursday put a fresh strain on already full detention facilities and shelters, and scenes of migrants, some with no place to sleep but a sidewalk, underscored the searing reality of a broken immigration system.

But that was followed by a marked slowdown in migration across the 2,000-mile border with Mexico.

America can manage this moment and we know how to do it in a manner that is both orderly and just, reflecting our values, interests and the rule of law, said Vanessa Cardenas, the executive director of Americas Voice, a liberal pro-immigration group in Washington.
Congressional leaders negotiating over a deal to raise the debt ceiling and avoid the first default in the nations history are working against an unforgiving force: the legislative calendar.

President Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthys meeting on Tuesday afternoon to try to break their impasse over increasing the cap comes just over two weeks before the projected X-date of June 1  the day the Treasury Department has projected it could no longer pay the United States governments debts.

Even if they are able to reach a deal, Mr. McCarthy and Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the majority leader, would need to navigate legislation reflecting that agreement through their respective chambers  and the days left to do so are rapidly dwindling.

At least for now, the House is scheduled to be in session  present in the Capitol and ready to vote  for only six more days before the end of the month. The Senate is set for just five, and is scheduled to be out of Washington beginning on Monday ahead of the Memorial Day weekend.
With Mr. Durhams investigation now officially finished, no court cases or indictments will advance such claims. But the Republican interpretation of the final Durham report will feed a narrative of Deep State corruption that is fueling not only Mr. Trumps quest for the White House in 2024 but that of many of his rivals for the Republican nomination. The vilification of federal bureaucracy was already an emerging theme in the fight to be the Republican standard-bearer. Regardless of Mr. Durhams actual conclusions, his report appears to serve that theme.

Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, Mr. Trumps closest competitor in the still-early Republican primary race, promised on Monday to clean house at weaponized federal agencies, which he said had manufactured a false conspiracy theory.

Heads need to roll, another competitor, former Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina, said.

Mr. Trump had termed the Russia investigation the crime of the century, and with no one doing time for that crime, the Durham report could still prove to be Exhibit A in how the American right seems to be living in its own universe  and how Mr. Trump still dictates the parameters of that separate reality.

On his Truth Social website, Mr. Trump said the special prosecutor had concluded that the FBI should never have launched the Trump-Russia Probe! In fact, Mr. Durham said he agreed that the F.B.I. should have opened a preliminary investigation.

I, and much more importantly, the American public have been victims of this long-running and treasonous charade started by the Democrats  started by Comey, Mr. Trump told Fox News Digital. There must be a heavy price to pay for putting our country through this.
And in Delaware County, one of the suburban collar counties outside Philadelphia, a surprisingly close special election for an open State House seat in a once reliably Democratic district will determine who controls the Pennsylvania legislature.

There is also a notable mayoral contest unfolding in Jacksonville, Fla., the most populous American city to have a Republican mayor. The candidates to succeed Mayor Lenny Curry are Donna Deegan, a Democrat who has the support of abortion rights groups, and Daniel Davis, a Republican who has emphasized his partys messages on crime and policing.

Political celebrity vs. cash vs. old school

First test of a rising star: Daniel Cameron was already a trailblazer as the first Black man elected attorney general in Kentucky and the first Republican elected to the post in nearly 50 years. But his political celebrity skyrocketed after he delivered a prime-time speech at the 2020 Republican National Convention.

Mr. Cameron is a close ally of Senator Mitch McConnells; some in the state call him Mr. McConnells protege. The Republican nomination for governor appeared to be his to lose after he announced his candidacy a year ago.

But what was once a double-digit lead over the rest of the field dwindled significantly during the spring as Kelly Craft, a former ambassador to the United Nations and part of a Republican megadonor family, poured millions of her own money into an aggressive ad campaign, attacking Mr. Cameron and heightening her own name identification. Though she has not completely closed the gap in polling, Republican operatives in the state have deemed it a race that is suddenly too close to call.
The Biden administration announced arrests and criminal charges on Tuesday in five cases involving sanctions evasion and technology espionage efforts linked to Russia, China and Iran.

Two Russian nationals were taken into custody last week under accusations of sending aircraft parts to Russia in violation of sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine. In another case, a former Apple engineer is accused of stealing the companys autonomous vehicle technology to provide it to a Chinese competitor.

The announcements were the work of a recently established technology strike force, which aims to protect critical American technology or data from theft by hostile nations. The strike force was set up in February and brings together agents with the Commerce and Justice Departments, as well as the F.B.I. and local attorneys offices.

Federal agents are working to trace the global movement of U.S. goods and data, as well as the funds used to pay for them. The effort seeks to crack down on the global networks that are channeling goods and technology through opaque jurisdictions and middlemen to try to circumvent sanctions and technology restrictions imposed by the United States.
President Biden and top congressional leaders are set to meet Tuesday to discuss raising the debt ceiling. Which raises a lot of questions, including what the debt limit actually is and why the United States has one.

Heres everything you need to know about the debt limit.

What is the debt limit?

The debt limit is a cap on the total amount of money that the United States is authorized to borrow to fund the government and meet its financial obligations.

Because the federal government runs budget deficits  meaning it spends more than it brings in through taxes and other revenue  it must borrow huge sums of money to pay its bills. Those obligations include funding for social safety net programs, interest on the national debt and salaries for members of the armed forces.

Approaching the debt ceiling often elicits calls by lawmakers to cut back on government spending. But lifting the debt limit does not actually authorize any new spending  in fact, it simply allows the United States to spend money on programs that have already been authorized by Congress.
SAN FRANCISCO  Standing at the stoop of her childhood home  a slim but stately Victorian shaded by an evergreen pear tree  Lynette Mackey pulled up a photo of a family gathering from nearly 50 years ago. The men were all in suits, the women in skirts. Ms. Mackey, a teenager in red bell bottoms, stretched her arms wide and had a beaming smile.

Soon after that time, in the 1960s and 1970s, Ms. Mackey watched the slow erasure of Black culture from the Fillmore District, once celebrated as the Harlem of the West. The jazz clubs that drew the likes of Billie Holiday and Duke Ellington disappeared, and so, too, did the soul food restaurants.

By the mid-1970s, many of her friends were gone as well, pushed out by city officials who seized homes in the name of what they called urban renewal. Then, finally, her family lost the house they had purchased in the 1940s after migrating from Texas. In many cases, the old Victorian homes were torn down and replaced with housing projects, but the city kept Ms. Mackeys home standing, and it has since been renovated into government-subsidized apartments.
When Carrie Davis found out that her health insurance wouldnt cover Ozempic, she sought an alternate route to getting the diabetes drug, which is increasingly being used off-label for weight loss. Ms. Davis, 55, did not have diabetes, but had gained 50 pounds during menopause and developed hypothyroidism, she said, and was eager to lose weight.

After seeing someone claiming to be a doctor on TikTok saying he could help patients obtain a generic version of the medication, she reached out. After a few days and a brief video consultation with someone who introduced herself as a nurse practitioner, Ms. Davis had a prescription in hand. It was really fast, Ms. Davis said.

It took a week for the medication to arrive  a vial filled with a mauve liquid that was semaglutide, the doctor said, the same active ingredient as in Ozempic. She was told to inject it weekly, just as people who take Ozempic do. But her medication had been shipped to her home in Galveston, Texas, from a compounding pharmacy in Kentucky.

In the scramble to find Ozempic, patients are seeking out telehealth platforms, medical spas and compounding pharmacies for what some tout as generic versions of the drug. But Novo Nordisk, the company that makes Ozempic, does not sell semaglutide for compounding purposes, and a generic form of the drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration doesnt exist, a Novo Nordisk representative wrote in a statement.
Militias, made up mostly of Arab fighters, have exploited the power vacuum to rampage through cities, loot households and kill an unknown number of civilians, according to aid workers, doctors and local activists. In response, some civilians have begun arming themselves, and non-Arab groups have also retaliated against militias at a small scale.

Along with Khartoum and the two adjoining cities across the Nile, cities in Darfur have been the most affected by the fighting between the Sudanese Army and a paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces. Hospitals have been looted and markets burned.

But while Khartoum had been a peaceful city before April, Darfur has been torn by decades of violence.

More than 300,000 people were killed in Darfur in the 2000s when Sudans former dictator, Omar Hassan al-Bashir, ordered militias, widely known as the Janjaweed, to crush a rebellion among non-Arab groups. A popular uprising in 2019 led to Mr. al-Bashirs ouster, but in Darfur the situation has continued to deteriorate, including with ethnically motivated attacks in recent years.

The latest influx of refugees is also increasing pressure on Chad, a landlocked, vast Central African country that shares 870 miles of border with Sudan and is the among the worlds poorest nations. Its eastern region, semiarid and isolated, already has more than 400,000 refugees from Darfur living in 13 camps, which are now filling with new arrivals helped by the U.N. refugee agency.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 16. An indestructible and everlasting brotherhood has developed between Azerbaijan and Turkiye, Member of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Bayram Ozcelik said at a special meeting of the Azerbaijani Parliament dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birth of Great Leader Heydar Aliyev, Trend reports.

According to Ozcelik, the support of the Azerbaijani people, who first came to the aid of Turkiye after the earthquake, will never be forgotten.

He noted that the fraternal ties between Azerbaijan and Turkiye are further strengthened.

"The brotherhood between the leaders of Turkiye and Azerbaijan is indestructible, and this makes us proud. With the signing of the Shusha Declaration, our ties have risen from a strategic level to an allied one," the MP added.

The special meeting is attended by 228 foreign delegates, including 12 chairmen of the parliaments of the countries, 15 deputy chairmen of parliaments, and representatives of four international organizations.
If youre a journalist, do you have the right to commit criminal acts because you are a journalist? Mr. Giammattei asked during an interview with a Colombian radio station in January. Does journalism grant you immunity?

Nine other journalists at the newspaper are also under investigation by the government, some of them because they wrote about Mr. Zamoras case, which prosecutors have said constitutes obstruction of justice.

Some journalists at elPeriodico have fled Guatemala, fearing legal repercussions because of their work.

The feeling came that everything was falling, everything was leading us to disappear, said Mr. Aceituno, in an interview on Sunday in his Guatemala City home, which was filled with books and movie posters. We went from being a promising news organization to an uncomfortable one that struggled everyday.

The shuttering of elPeriodico is a horrible sign for independent journalism in Guatemala and in Central America, said Eduardo Suarez, head of editorial at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism in England. What we are seeing in Guatemala is the latest example of how press freedom is eroding in the region.
For the second consecutive parliamentary election, Cambodia has disqualified the countrys main opposition party, eliminating the only credible challenge to the ruling party of Prime Minister Hun Sen.

The countrys National Election Commission on Monday refused to register the party, the Candlelight Party, for a general election scheduled in July, saying it had failed to file required paperwork and was therefore ineligible to take part in the contest.

Mr. Hun Sens Cambodian Peoples Party currently holds all 125 seats in Parliament after government-controlled courts dissolved its main challenger, the Cambodian National Rescue Party, or C.N.R.P., before the 2018 election. The Candlelight Party, with many of the same members, took its place.

Opposition party members said they would appeal the Election Commission ruling. After the C.N.R.P. was dissolved in 2017, Mr. Hun Sen has moved on several fronts to neutralize the remaining opposition. Government-controlled courts convicted about 100 opposition figures of treason and other charges, jailing some and prompting several of its leaders to flee into exile.
Last year, South Korea had a birthrate of 0.78, according to government figures. Many young couples in the country are choosing to not have children because of the rising costs of child care and housing, job scarcity and growing anxiety about the future. For years, the government has offered incentives like monthly subsidies worth hundreds of dollars to families with children but has failed to adequately address the demographic crisis.

There are hundreds of no-kids zones throughout South Korea. The National Library of Korea, for example, prohibits anyone under the age of 16 from entering without special permission. (Recently, some places have also tried to ban seniors, triggering a debate online.)

This is the second time Ms. Yong has appeared at the National Assembly with her child. In the summer of 2021, she came with her son when he was only a few weeks old. The National Assembly prohibits anyone other than assembly members and authorized personnel from entering, and is itself considered a no-kids zone.

Ms. Yong introduced the National Assembly Chamber Child Companion Law in 2021, calling for infants under 24 months old to be allowed to enter the legislatures main floor. The bill has yet to pass.
The Council of Europe, the main institution governing human rights on the continent, begins a summit in Iceland on Tuesday, with discussions among the heads of state to include what steps they can take to support Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression.

The toll of the war in Ukraine, and how the rest of Europe can best help, is expected to be a major focus of the gathering  only the fourth since the council was established in 1949, after World War II. Leaders from many of the councils 46 member nations are expected in person, but President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, who has been on a whirlwind tour of Europe in recent days, attended virtually.

Ukraine must take center stage at the summit, the councils secretary general, Marija Pejcinovic Buric, said in a statement. She added that accountability for the death and destruction caused by Russian aggression is vital, suggesting that the organization could take a leading role in establishing a record to document evidence and claims of damage, loss or injury in Ukraine as a result of Russias invasion.

Russia became a member of the council in 1996, in the years following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, but was suspended from it last year after attacking Ukraine. The invasion goes against everything we stand for and is a violation of our statute and of the European Convention on Human Rights, Ms. Buric told The Times in March 2022.
The Investigation and Trial

It took months for a special police task force, named Epaulet, to come up with solid leads, which started emerging when officers linked DNA found at the crime scene and the two burned getaway cars to members of the Remmo family. Another significant breakthrough came when the police found and questioned a man who had sold a batch of telephone SIM cards that were used during the robbery.

About a year after the break-in, nearly 1,700 police officers swooped on apartments, garages, a cafe and several cars during a raid in Berlin, and arrested three members of the crew. The others were arrested in the following months.

Their trial had been ongoing for almost a year when Rabieh Remo (who uses a different spelling of the familys last name) recanted previous testimony and told the court he had actually been in the vault during the robbery. His admission was part of a deal the defense had negotiated with the court: return the jewels and confess to the crimes, in return for capped prison sentences. Three others also admitted to their part in the crime; one of the men could prove he was in the emergency room on the night of the robbery, and another insisted until the very end that he was not part of the heist.

But the deal had some odd stipulations. While the defendants agreed to confess to their own crimes, they had secured the right not to incriminate any accomplices whom the police had not yet caught. They were also given time with their lawyers to prepare answers to prosecutors questions.

Although the men on trial admitted to burglarizing the museum, they refused to admit significant aspects of the crime  such as planning and leadership  blaming unknown accomplices instead.

But the plea deal had a major upside: Most of the loot was returned. However, some important parts of the collection  including a significant diamond, an elaborate brooch and an epaulet  are still missing and others are damaged or oxidized.
The elite British university has become the latest in a long series of institutions to publicly distance themselves from the family, a philanthropic giant whose members led Purdue Pharma, the now bankrupt company that made OxyContin. The drug fueled an opioid crisis that has killed hundreds of thousands of people in the United States.

In 2019, the Louvre in Paris became the first major museum to remove the name of the family from its walls. Tate museums in London decided that they would no longer accept gifts from the family, and Britains National Portrait Gallery canceled a planned $1.3 million donation.

In the United States, institutions such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, and the American Museum of Natural History also distanced themselves from the family.

Last year George Osborne, the chair of Londons British Museum, said that the Sackler name would be removed from the galleries, rooms and endowments the family supported. But last February, an investigation by The Financial Times revealed that Oxford had continued to extend invitations to a Sackler family member in the past two years.

The University said it came to the decision to remove the familys name after a review of its relationship with the Sacklers and their trusts, including the way their benefactions to the university are recognized.
Drones have exploded over the Kremlin. Russian military aircraft are crashing before they even reach Ukrainian airspace. A Russian mercenary boss is releasing one profanity-laced tirade after another, claiming that corrupt Russian generals who all reek of expensive perfume are sending soldiers to their deaths.

And Ukraines long-anticipated counteroffensive hasnt even started in earnest.

These would seem to be bad weeks for President Vladimir V. Putin, a time when the problems that have plagued his 15-month war since its beginning are only worsening: stretched resources, disorganized defenses and disunity in the ranks.

Those problems are now threatening to derail what just weeks ago had seemed finally to be a rare military success in Russias grasp: victory in the long-running, bloody battle for the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut.

Russian forces, while still fighting fiercely within the city limits, have retreated from positions on the edges of Bakhmut and according to the Russian Defense Ministry lost two colonels to combat there. Yevgeny V. Prigozhin, the chief of the Wagner mercenary group who has made capturing Bakhmut his main objective, has been spouting social media invective at the Russian military, accusing its leadership of failing to adequately supply his fighters and its soldiers of abandoning their positions on Wagners flanks.
JOHANNESBURG  As South Africa faces increasing pressure over its close ties to Russia, the countrys president, Cyril Ramaphosa, said on Tuesday that leaders from six African countries would visit Moscow and Kyiv on a peace mission in a bid to end the war in Ukraine.

Mr. Ramaphosa said both President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia and President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine welcomed the initiative  which includes Egypt, Zambia, Senegal, Uganda and the Republic of Congo  in separate phone calls over the weekend. Mr. Ramaphosas announcement makes South Africa the latest in a string of outsiders aiming to step in as a mediator. An envoy from China, Li Hui, the governments special representative for Eurasian affairs, is expected in Ukraine and Russia this week in an attempt to help negotiate an end to the war. And Pope Francis has said the Vatican was involved in a secret mission to establish peace.

Mr. Zelensky and Mr. Putin did not immediately comment or confirm Mr. Ramaphosas statements, and the time frame for the visits was still unclear. Mr. Zelensky has made clear that he would reject any calls for peace talks that do not include a demand that the Russian military first withdraw from all of Ukraines territory. Mr. Putin has shown no signs of wanting to make concessions.

Tensions between the United States and South Africa, which has officially said it would not take sides in the conflict, have escalated in recent days. Last week, the United States ambassador to South Africa accused the government of providing weapons and ammunition via a sanctioned Russian ship that was allowed to dock in a South African naval base last December. South African officials have denied the allegations and appointed a judge to investigate the incident.
Ukraines first lady, Olena Zelenska, met with President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea on Tuesday to request nonlethal military aid, using a visit to Seoul to stress the need for something more radical than just humanitarian support to end Russias invasion of her country.

Ms. Zelenska thanked Mr. Yoon for the humanitarian and economic help that South Korea has already provided and asked for nonlethal military equipment, including tools for mine detection and removal, a spokesman for Mr. Yoons office, Lee Do-woon, told reporters.

Ms. Zelenska said on Telegram that she and other Ukrainian officials, including the first deputy prime minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, also discussed Ukraines need for stronger air-defense systems.

Mr. Yoon vowed that South Korea would coordinate with NATO and other nations to actively support the Ukrainian people, his spokesman said, but did not offer specific details on what that would entail.
The chair of Ukraines Supreme Court was removed from his post after being arrested in a bribery investigation, two anti-corruption bodies said on Tuesday.

The agencies did not identify the chair by name, but said it was the Supreme Court chief. On Tuesday, Vsevolod Knyazev was dismissed as chief justice after an overwhelming majority of the courts judges voted to strip him of the position, according to local news reports.

The authorities accused the justice of accepting $2.7 million in bribes.

This is a dark day in the history of the court, the courts judges said in a joint statement. We must be worthy and withstand such a blow.

Image Vsevolod Kniaziev was dismissed as chief justice after a majority of the courts judges voted to strip him of the position. Credit... Leah Millis/Reuters

The judges added that they would fully cooperate with investigations, and that the court must act on the principle of self-purification, taking all necessary measures.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 16. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on approving the "Cooperation Agreement between the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan", Trend reports.

By the decree, the "Cooperation Agreement between the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan", signed on April 5, 2023 in Dushanbe, was approved.
Executions around the world rose to the highest number recorded in five years in 2022, even as more countries moved to outlaw the death penalty, according to an annual report by Amnesty International released on Tuesday.

At least 883 executions were recorded globally last year, a 53-percent increase over 579 deaths in 2021. Those numbers did not include China, which Amnesty said it believed had executed and sentenced to death thousands of people, because of a lack of transparency that made it difficult for the human rights group to make an accurate assessment.

About 90 percent of the executions recorded in 2022 were carried out by three of the worlds leading executioners, Egypt, Iran and Saudi Arabia, the report said.

Amnesty Internationals secretary general, Agnes Callamard, said the trend of increasing executions demonstrated a callous disregard for human life among governments in the Middle East and North Africa, in particular. Executions in that region increased by 59 percent, Amnesty said.


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.
J. Anton Hie

Community Health Systems, which owns or leases 78 affiliated hospitals, brings on J. Anton Hie as VP of investor relations. Hie comes to Community Health Systems from AdaptHealth Corp., where he also held the VP of investor relations role, establishing the companys internal investor relations department. Before that, he was an assistant VP at RBC Capital Markets for 12 years, and he has also held positions with Jefferies Asset Management, First Union Securities, and J.C. Bradford & Co. His knowledge of the healthcare services industry will support effective communications of the value we deliver to our shareholders, and we are excited to welcome him to our team, said Community Health Systems president and CFO Kevin Hammons.

Amanda Reierson

Avant, a Chicago-based, credit-first fintech, names Amanda Reierson as CMO, a newly created position at the company. Reierson was previously head of marketing at home services app Thumbtack, overseeing all branding/creative efforts, media, CRM and product marketing. Before that, she served as chief growth officer at Farmers Insurance and has also held senior positions at Yahoo!, DIRECTV and the Los Angeles Times. At Avant, Reierson will be responsible for brand, growth marketing and partnerships. She is based in California and will report to CEO Matt Bochenek.

Elizabeth Heidt

Gibson Brands promotes Elizabeth Heidt to CMO. Heidt has been with the company since 2016, previously serving as VP, head of global cultural influence. Before that, she led the experience marketing program at Technicolor and was a brand director at PMKBNC. She will now lead all of Gibsons marketing initiatives globally, while continuing to oversee all aspects of cultural influence. She has been a thought partner, leader, and a key player in shaping and implementing our global strategy, said Gibson Brands president and interim CEO Cesar Gueikian, who also called her a critical voice in how we engage with fans around the world.
TULLAMORE & District Chamber of Commerce along with partners, Offaly Local Development, Offaly Local Enterprise Office, Technological University of the Shannon Midlands Midwest and Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board launched the 2023 Offaly Jobs Fair last week.

This event which will be held in the Tullamore Court Hotel on Saturday, June 10 between 10.00 am and 3.00 pm.

The event has the capacity to cater for about50 businesses who will be able to meet with potential future employees and inform them of their vacancies.

The event will be heavily marketed to attract job seekers especially the employee market who are leaving our county each day on long commutes, said Chamber President, Anthony Hanniffy speaking at the informal launch at Zoetis in the Sragh industrial Estate on Friday afternoon last.

He said that last year's inaugural fair proved to be a great success with very positive feedback from both job hunters and businesses.

He added that a copy of the application form and full details are available on the Chamber website: www.tullamorechamber.com or by contacting Aoife Wyer in the Chamber Office  info@tullamorechamber.com.

He added: There is a cost to the event which is based on the size of businesses but weve endeavoured to keep this to the minimum.

Mr Hanniffy said it was great to see the major expansion in progress at Zoetis.

It is understood that 600 people are employed in construction work on the expansion at the moment.

Also speaking at the launch, Siobhan Conroy of Tullamore Credit Union, said her organisation was really looking forward to the fair having being very impressed with last year's event.

Her views were echoed by John O'Donovan of Integra and Orla Martin of the Local Enterprise Office.
Quarter-finals of valuable stakes were the order of the week, with the cream of our racing dogs vying to extend their run in valuable stakes around the tracks. Some quality Offaly winners added into the mix in another super week of racing.

Early Week Racing

Enniscorthy, Monday, quarter-finals of the April Open unraced stake, four top class winners with a double for Paul Hennessy. Dagingerbreadman was his first in 29.24 by five lengths at even money fav. Dairyhill Stella was his second in 28.95 by four lengths at 6/4 fav. Dubai Kid remains the only unbeaten dog in the stake for Peter Cronin in 29.98 by four lengths at 4/6 fav. Fastest of the four was Misterin Ger for Mary Galway in 29.91 by a short head at 8/1. All races in Enniscorthy were rated .20 slow.

Thurles, Thursday, two finals of note, in the climax of the Sonny Butler Memorial A4 525, the 1.65k first prize went to Paleriva (Droopys Sydney - Strings Of Pearls) who went through this stake unbeaten in 29.97 (20 slow), by eight lengths at 4/5 fav, for owner Shannon Smith. The second final was an A5 525, won by an Offaly dog, as Totos Farloe (Farloe Blitz - Rosmult Racer) for Birr owner Tony McCormack and Denis Fogarty, in 29.35 (20 slow) by one length, at 5/2 with a cheque of 1.3k going their way. One Offaly winner in Shelbourne Park, in an A4 contest, Moneygall Aaron won for Geashill trainer Margaret Bolton in 29.32 by one length at 6/1.

Friday Racing

First Offaly winner on Friday was in Dundalk as Carrick Aldo won an S4 400 yard dash in 21.44 by two lengths for Edenderry owner Thomas Glynn with David Murray training. In the Marble City, it was quarterfinal night of the Kilkenny Champion Open unraced stake. Droopys Doughnut set the standard in 28.65 (20 slow) by eight lengths at 2/1. Another to impress was Clonroosk Sydney for Portlaoise owners Ray (Cookie) Conroy and Ollie Dunne in 28.69 (20 slow) by one length at 2/1. Both these look to have a bright future ahead of them.

Newbridge hosted the quarter-finals of the Friends Of Newbridge A1 550 Derby, All About Magic went fastest of the four for Owen McKenna in 30.07 by five lengths at 3/1. In Galway, in an S6 350 yard distance, Cappaneale Lulu was first home for Birr owners Michael Pardy and Jack Carroll in 19.29 (.05 slow) by six lengths at 6/4.

In Shelbourne Park, in the final of the This Runs Deep A1 stake, the 1.75k pot went to Droopys Ailsa (Loughteen Blanco - Droopys Berry) in 28.66 by three lengths at 4/5 fav with Rathangan trainer Robert Gleeson guiding.

In the first round of the Islandbridge Open Sprint won last year by Off The Pitch for Marie and Skip Gilbert. Three heats with top sprinter Gizmo Cash going fastest for Keeley McGee who was winning his twenty third race, in 18.59 by three lengths, at 4/7 fav. Having won the Supersprint in Cork in 2022 and with Flashing Willow winning it this year its going to be some battle between the two of these for the prestigious Islandbridge trophy.

In Tralee, in the quarter-finals of Lee Strand A3 550, Ballyard Oscar went fastest in heat three in 29.54 (20 fast) by two lengths at 7/2 for Micheal Daly.

Saturday Racing

Cork, quarter-finals of the Curraheen Park A2 Spring Derby, Ballymac Pete was fastest of the four for Liam Dowling in 28.39 (10 fast) by four lengths at 2/1.

The best race on a good card in Limerick was the final of the Epic Hero Limerick Open Oaks. Class won out here as Rafa Mofo (Droopys Sydney - Clares Queen) made all to win 28.23 by two lengths at 4/5 for Murt Leahy. The 2.8k first prize brings her career earnings to over 40k and she is now a treble Oaks champion having already won the National Oaks and the Galway Oaks. No doubt this top class bitch will be back to defend her National Oaks which starts in a couple of weeks. It will take something very special to stop her.

No Offaly winner in Mullingar on a Saturday night which is certainly a rarity.

In Shelbourne, in the semifinals of the Champion Open 550, Bens Teddy won the first for Pat Buckley in 29.63 by three lengths at 4/6 fav, while Sober Glory won the second for Karol Ramsbottom in near identical time of 29.64 by two lengths at 4/5 fav. One Offaly winner earlier in the card as Laughil Rocky won an A1 550 for Kilcormac owners Mary and Paul Jennings in 29.83 by one length at 3/1 with David Murray training.

Sunday Racing

Just the one Faithful County winner at the matinee meeting in Mullingar, Lahinch Blaze won an A6 contest in 29.99 (50 slow) by three lengths at 3/1 for Clara owner P.J. Cleary.

Upcoming Events

Friday, semi-finals of the Champion Open Unraced in Kilkenny, semifinals of the Newbridge Derby, semifinals of the Islandbridge Open Sprint and semifinals of the Lee Strand A3 stake in Tralee.

Saturday, semi-finals of the Curraheen Spring Derby in Cork and final of the Shelbourne Champion Open 550 in Ringsend Dublin 4.

Tribune Offaly dog of the week

To win in Shelbourne on a Saturday night is always a tough ask and so Laughil Rocky gets the nod this week having won an A1 550 there in a super 29.83 for Mary and Paul Jennings. Well deserved.

Offaly Winners

Six Offaly winners this week. Congratulations to all involved in any way.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 16. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree approving the "Protocol between the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan and the Customs Service of Tajikistan on the organization of the exchange of preliminary information on goods and vehicles transported between Azerbaijan and Tajikistan", Trend reports.

The decree approves the protocol signed on April 5, 2023 in Tajikistan's Dushanbe.

President Ilham Aliyev's another decree approved the "Agreement between the Government of Azerbaijan and the Government of Tajikistan on cooperation in the field of land management, land relations, cadaster, geodesy, cartography, remote sensing of the Earth and geographical information systems", signed on April 5, 2023 in the city of Dushanbe.
'His logic can be understood': Tharoor on Pawar's views on JPC over Adani row

Adani tried utmost to get to me, but: Mahua Moitra's sharp rebuke as he met Sharad Pawar

Cong wonders if SEBI request for extension in Adani case an attempt to bury the 'scam'

Adani Helps Airlift Mountaineer Anurag Maloo From Kathmandu To AIIMS

India

oi-PTI

Billionaire Gautam Adani arranged for an air ambulance to help transfer mountaineer Anurag Maloo, who was rescued after falling into a deep crevasse in Nepal's Mount Annapurna last month, from Kathmandu to the AIIMS in New Delhi.

Mountaineer's brother Aashish Maloo on Tuesday took to Twitter to express gratitude for the timely action by Adani to airlift the injured.

''Grateful beyond words for the timely airlifting! Heartfelt thanks to @gautam_adani and @AdaniFoundation for their invaluable support in repatriating @AnuragMaloo safely,'' he tweeted.

A resident of Kishangarh in Rajasthan, Maloo went missing on April 17 after falling from an altitude of 5,800 meters while descending from Camp III on Mount Annapurna - the 10th highest mountain in the world, which is known for its treacherous terrain.

Climber Anurag Maloo, who went missing in Nepal, found alive

He survived in the avalanche-prone crevasse for three days before being rescued on the morning of April 20. He was in critical condition and was first taken to a nearby medical camp, then to Manipal Hospital in Pokhara, and later to Kathmandu's Medicity Hospital.

His family requested the Adani Foundation's assistance to arrange and bear the cost of the airlift and ground transfer from Nepal to India as the cost seemed to be beyond their means.

Adani group founder and chairman Gautam Adani promptly acted and his philanthropy arm, Adani Foundation arranged an air ambulance and transfer.

Anurag was rescued and airlifted to the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi for medical treatment and is currently undergoing treatment. Replying to Aashish's tweet, Adani said it was a privilege for him and his wife, who heads Adani Foundation, to help the injured mountaineer.

''Priti and I are privileged to be of help. We are happy to learn that Anurag is safe and are praying for his speedy recovery. We are confident that he will soon be ready to conquer more of life's peaks,'' he tweeted.

After being airlifted from Kathmandu, Maloo was taken to AIIMS's Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Centre, where he was admitted to the ICU. His condition is said to be stable.

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Story first published: Wednesday, May 17, 2023, 0:08 [IST]
Karnataka CM Announcement: No Decision Yet As DK Shivakumar Refuses To Budge

If A Dalit Is Not Made Deputy CM, It Will Spell Trouble For Congress, Warns Parameshwara

Karnataka CM Swearing-In Ceremony: Heres Who All Will Be Attending

Amid dilemma on CM, Congress faces Deputy CM gauntlet

India

oi-Deepika S

Even as Congress is struggling to name a leader for the chief ministerial post in Karnataka, the party is now facing hectic lobbying from lawmakers and socio-religious groups who have started demanding the Deputy CM's post.

Newly elected legislatures from Veerashaiva-Lingayat, Muslim and Dalit communities are staking a claim for the second highest post in the government, asserting that their community played a "key role" in Congress' landslide victory in the State.

Karnataka Waqf Board chief Shafi Saadi has demanded that the Congress appoint a Muslim as Deputy Chief Minister, besides giving five Cabinet berths with plum portfolios to MLAs from the community.

Who Will Be Karnataka CM? Decision Likely To Be Announced In Next 24 Hours

"Muslim candidates contested the election in 15 constituencies and 9 of them won. Besides, Muslims have played a crucial role in 72 constituencies. We did a campaign and awareness in all the mosques to vote for the Congress party. In return, we want a Muslim Deputy Chief Minister and five important ministerial posts like Home, Revenue and Education," demanded Saadi.

Chamarajpet MLA B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan's name is being talked about for a Deputy CM position.

Similarly, several Lingayat MLAs have stepped up their demand urging Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to reward the community with a Deputy CM post. In its best performance since 1989, the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community has elected as many as 34 legislators from Congress.

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M.B. Patil, the Lingayat face of Congress, and former minister Eshwar Khandre are the main contenders for the Deputy CM's post.

As Congress Gets Set For Hard Call, D K Shivakumar In Delhi Today

Moreover, Karnataka Reddyjana Sangha has urged Congress to give appropriate representation to 12 MLAs belonging to the community. Senior leaders, including Ramalinga Reddy, H.K. Patil, N.S. Subba Reddy and N.H. Kona Reddy belong to this community.

Besides, there are over 60 Congress MLAs aspiring to become ministers in the newly formed Karnataka government. The party will have to accommodate senior lawmakers like R.V. Deshpande, Basavaraj Rayareddi and H.C. Mahadevappa too while legislators like C. Puttarangashetty, Vinay Kulkarni and Ajay Singh are also vying for key posts in the government.

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Story first published: Tuesday, May 16, 2023, 11:30 [IST]
Based On Misinformation, Flawed Understanding: India Rejects US Report On Religious Freedom

India

oi-Deepika S

India on Tuesday rejected the US State Department report criticising India's religious freedom, saying it was based on misinformation and flawed understanding.

"We are aware of the release of the U.S. State Department 2022 Report on International Religious Freedom. Regrettably, such reports continue to be based on misinformation and flawed understanding," MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a statement.

"Motivated and biased commentary by some US officials only serves to undermine further the credibility of these reports. We value our partnership with the U.S. and will continue to have frank exchanges on issues of concern to us," he added.

Rashad Hussain, Ambassador at Large, Office of International Religious Freedom released a report that documents the status of religious freedom in countries across the world on Monday.

"Far too many governments continue to freely target faith community members within their borders," Rashad told reporters.

"Regarding these concerns, we're continuing to encourage the government to condemn violence and hold accountable those who engage in rhetoric that's dehumanising towards religious minorities," he said.

"There were numerous reports during the year of violence by law enforcement authorities against members of religious minorities in multiple states, including plainclothes police in Gujarat publicly flogging four Muslim men accused of injuring Hindu worshippers during a festival in October, and the Madhya Pradesh State government bulldozing Muslim-owned homes and shops following communal violence in Khargone in April," it said.

The report highlighted the anti-conversion laws passed by Haryanaand the Hijab row in Karnataka.

"In October, the Supreme Court failed to reach agreement in a review of a Karnataka High Court ruling that upheld a Karnataka government ban on religious garb in educational institutions, including wearing hijabs in an all-girls' school in that state," read the report.

"On April 26, 108 former senior government officials wrote Prime Minister Narendra Modi stating that government discrimination against religious minorities, "particularly Muslims, in states like Assam, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand," was undermining the country's constitution," the report added.

The report highlighted that in September, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat met with five prominent members of the Muslim community to listen to their concerns and discuss how to promote communal harmony between Muslims and Hindus.

"Bhagwat reportedly committed to continued meetings for the purpose of improving relations between the Muslim and Hindu communities. Bhagwat also met with Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, head of the All India Imam Organisation, at a Delhi-area madrassah run by that organisation. Media reported that some Muslim groups welcomed Bhagwat's engagement, while others described it as 'just optics' and preparation for the 2024 parliamentary elections," it stated.

"In 2021, Bhagwat had stated publicly that Hindus and Muslims in the country should not be treated differently because of religion and that killing non-Hindus for cow slaughter was an act against Hinduism," the report said.

US Commission for International Religious Freedom Chair Nury Turkel said the International Religious Freedom Report is an invaluable tool in the fight to hold violators accountable and improve global religious freedom conditions.

"With this report, the state department shows the entire world that the United States is committed to the fundamental value of religious freedom," he said.

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Story first published: Tuesday, May 16, 2023, 23:19 [IST]
Why Should I Be upset? There Is A Long Way To Go, Says DK Shivakumar

Broad Arrangement On Term-Sharing In Karnataka, But There Is A 2024 Twist

What Challenges Does The Congress In Karnataka Face To Choose Its Council of Ministers

DK Shivakumar Threatens To Sue Channels Speculating His Resignation

India

oi-Deepika S

Karnataka Congress President D. K. Shivakumar on Tuesday denied reports speculating his resignation from the party and threatened to take legal action against those who spread rumours.

"Several media organisations are reporting that I will be resigning from the Congress party, if denied the chief minister post. I will file a defamation case against those who spread fake news. Congress party is like my mother and I built it in my state. The high command is with me along with 135 MLAs. There is no question of quitting the party," D.K. Shivakumar said.

Congress high command is expected to declare Karnataka's next chief minister today, ending the hours-long tussle between D.K. Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah over the top post.

"If I do not get the CM post, I will to work as an ordinary MLA. Ever since Siddaramaiah joined the party, he has enjoyed all the powers, either as an LOP or as the Chief Minister," Shivakumar reportedly told Mallikarjun Kharge.

However, the Karnataka Congress chief made it clear that he is a responsible man and will not backstab or blackmail the party leadership.

Specualtions are rife that majority of the newly elected MLAs have backed Siddaramaiah for the top post.

Later in the day, Shivakumar met Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence and learnt to have told that he is ready to work as an "ordinary MLA" if he does not get the Chief Minister's post.

Karnataka CM Race: G Parameshwara's Supporters Ask Congress To Make Him New CM

Mallikarjun Kharge is likely to hold several meetings with the senior Congress leaders before announcing a name for the CM post.

Congress observers who were at the CLP meeting on Sunday recorded the opinion of newly elected MLAs in Bengaluru and submitted their report to Kharge in Delhi.

The Congress registered a landslide victory with 135 seats while BJP won just 66. The JDS emerged third with only 19 seats.
Dust storm to stay for 48 hours in Delhi, wind speed at 40 kmph: IMD

Explained: Why There Is Sudden Dust Storm In Delhi?

India

oi-Prakash KL

The India Meteorological Department said that strong winds swept across Delhi on Tuesday morning, raising dust and affecting air quality as well as reducing visibility to 1,000 metres.

A thick layer of dust covered large parts of northwest India, the satellite pictures released by the meteorological office showed.

Senior IMD scientist RK Jenamani told the PTI that the visibility levels at the Palam Observatory stood at 1,100 metres at 9 am as compared to 4,000 metres at 9 am on Monday.

 #Delhi is witnessing an unexpected #DustStorm & #Smog, turning the sky an eerie pale orange hue.Air quality taken a hit, affecting health of people. Stay indoors & take necessary precautions to protect your lungs and overall well-being. #AirQuality #StaySafe  pic.twitter.com/wQpvoukZj1  Saharsh Damani, MBA, CFA, MS (Finance) (@saharshd) May 16, 2023

Why thick layer of dust covered large parts of northwest India?

The dust storm in Delhi is attributed to the prevailing cyclonic circulation over Rajasthan. This cyclonic circulation has resulted in dust storms and light rain activities occurring in North Rajasthan.

Delhi Dust Storm:

A yellowish haze enveloped #Delhi , as strong dust-raising winds, gusting up to 22 kilometers per hour, swept the city. Difficult for the citizens to breathe!!!! #Duststorm@IMDWeather #Delhipollution pic.twitter.com/d24TWHLuPi  The Environment (@theEcoglobal) May 16, 2023

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Meteorologists claim that intense heat in northwest India in the last five days, dry soil resulting from the lack of rainfall, and persistent strong winds since midnight are causing dust storm.

However, dust will settle down soon, V K Soni, the head of the IMD's Environment Monitoring and Research Centre, told PTI. "Dust concentration has gone up multiple times. The PM10 concentration rose from 140 micrograms per cubic metre at 4 am to 775 micrograms per cubic metre at 8 am. It is mainly because of strong gusty winds prevailing over the area. Dust will settle down soon," he stated.

Health Implications

Inhaling dust particles, particularly fine particulate matter (PM2.5), can deeply infiltrate the respiratory system. These particles have the potential to irritate the lungs, induce respiratory issues, and worsen pre-existing conditions like asthma, bronchitis, and allergies.

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Story first published: Tuesday, May 16, 2023, 13:36 [IST]
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 16. Azerbaijani Parliaments Chairperson Sahiba Gafarova has met with the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Duarte Pacheco, the press and public relations department of the parliament told Trend.

Greeting the guest, Gafarova thanked him for participating in a special meeting of the Azerbaijani Parliament dedicated to the 100th anniversary of national leader Heydar Aliyev.

The chairperson noted that by the decree of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, 2023 was declared the "Year of Heydar Aliyev" on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the national leader Heydar Aliyev, in connection with which commemorative events are held at the state level, including by the Azerbaijani Parliament.

Besides, Gafarova said that Heydar Aliyev, both in Soviet times and in the years of independence, devoted himself to preserving and strengthening the Azerbaijani statehood and serving his people.

According to her, the great leader forever inscribed his name in the history of Azerbaijan with his leadership qualities and far-sighted policy.

Our grateful people will always keep the memory of their great son in their hearts, she added.

Gafarova also stressed that independent Azerbaijan is currently developing dynamically under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev.

The chairperson noted that Azerbaijan attaches great importance to cooperation with the IPU, and highly appreciates its role in the development of inter-parliamentary relations and global parliamentary diplomacy.

Speaking about the active participation of Azerbaijans parliamentary delegation in the work of the IPU, Gafarova reminded that the countrys parliament was elected a member of the Eurasia geopolitical group in February 2022.

She thanked Pacheco for supporting Azerbaijans initiative to create the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Parliamentary Network and participating in its activities during the chairmanship in the NAM.

Furthermore, the chairperson noted that Azerbaijan is committed to inter-parliamentary cooperation and that the NAM Parliamentary Network also intends to contribute to the achievement of common goals and work together with other parliamentary organizations, including the IPU, to find ways to resolve issues of global interest.

Pacheco thanked for the invitation to the parliaments special meeting and expressed satisfaction with participation in the event.

He stressed the important role of Azerbaijan as a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

At the meeting, an exchange of views on a number of issues related to cooperation between the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the NAM Parliamentary Network has been also held.

The special meeting has been attended by 228 foreign delegates, including 12 chairmen of the parliaments of the countries, 15 deputy chairmen of parliaments, and representatives of four international organizations.
Why Should I Be upset? There Is A Long Way To Go, Says DK Shivakumar

What Challenges Does The Congress In Karnataka Face To Choose Its Council of Ministers

'Mother Will Give Everything To Her Child': Shivakumar Before Leaving For Delhi

India

oi-Prakash KL

Reiterating that he is a party man, Karnataka Congress Chief D K Shivakumar on Tuesday said that he will not "backstab" even if the high command overlooks him and make Siddaramaiah the Chief Minister of Karnataka.

"Ours is a united house, our number is 135. I don't want to divide anyone here. Whether they like me or not, I am a responsible man. I will not backstab and I will not blackmail," ANI quoted him as saying before leaving for Delhi. He was supposed to go to the national capital on Monday but he cancelled his trip citing health issues.

He said that his next challenge is to win 20 seats for Congress in Karnataka in the Lok Sabha polls next year.

"The Party is my god...We have built this party, I am a part of it and I am not alone in this," he further stated. "We have built this party (Congress), we have built this house. I am a part of it...A mother will give everything to her child," the Congress state chief added.

The Congress central leadership will announce the name of the next Karnataka Chief Minister on Tuesday evening. "A decision on Karnataka's CM candidate will be announced by tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon. Both Siddahramaiah and D K Shivakumar will be in Delhi for meeting with the party president Mallikarjun Kharge. Observers have spoken to the MLAs and submitted their report," Eshwar Khandre, Karnataka Congress Working President, told reporters.

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Speaking to NDTV on Monday evening, Shivakumar claimed that Sonia Gandhi and the party leadership know that he will not rebel against them even if he is not made the Chief Minister. However, he pointed out that the decision is left to the senior leaders.

Cancelled Meetings, Flip-Flops And Suspense As Congress Yet to Pick CM Candidate

"I am sitting in Bengaluru and doing my regular responsibility. You should have the basic courtesy, a bit of gratitude. They should have the courtesy to acknowledge who is behind the win," he told the channel.

Congress has registered a resounding victory in Karnataka in the Assembly elections by winning 135 seats. The BJP has managed to bag just 66 while JDS was reduced to 19.
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In Afghanistans Delhi Embassy, Infighting Comes To The Fore

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

There is a full blown power struggle at the Afghan embassy in Delhi as Ambassador Farid Mamundzay battles on to stay in office in defiance of the Taliban run foreign ministry.

Mamundzay was appointed by the previous Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

In Delhi the Taliban regime has not managed to take control of its mission. It has however nominated its members in 14 other missions.

The scenario in Delhi is however likely to change as the Mamundzay has been pitted against another diplomat in his team who has been appointed Charge d'affaires.

The Ministry of External Affairs has however not taken sides, following the battle that erupted in April. The MEA is learnt to have conveyed to both sides that it would not interfere in this as it is an internal matter of Afghanistan. It needs to be settled internally and India will not take any side, the MEA also conveyed to Afghanistan.

Not via Pak, India to send 20,000 tonnes wheat to Afghanistan through Chabahar port

On Monday Mamundzay issued a press statement saying he categorically rejects the claims from an individual claiming to have taken charge of the mission in Delhi at the behest of the Taliban.

He also said that the individual who claimed to be named as Charge d'affaires at the embassy by the Taliban was spreading misinformation and running a baseless campaign against the officials of the mission.

The individual according to sources is Muhammed Qadir Shah, a counsellor at the embassy in charge of trade.

The infighting came to light after Mamundzay brought it up at a weekly meeting of Afghan ambassadors posted in various capitals. All these ambassadors still affiliate themselves with the Islamic Republic rather than the Taliban's Islamic Republic.

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Story first published: Tuesday, May 16, 2023, 10:13 [IST]
Karnataka CM Race: G Parameshwara's Supporters Ask Congress To Make Him New CM

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Amid intense lobbying between Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar for the post of chief minister in Karnataka, now G Parameshwara, a senior Congress leader, stated on Tuesday that he would readily accept the responsibility if asked by the party high command to lead the government.

The former state Congress President highlighted his service to the party and emphasized that he does not feel the need to engage in lobbying for the position. "I am prepared to assume the responsibility if the high command decides and requests me to run the government," stated the former Deputy Chief Minister to reporters in Bengaluru.

"I have faith in the party high command. I have certain principles. I could also gather around 50 legislators and make demands, but for me, party discipline is important. If people like us don't adhere to the rules, there will be a lack of discipline in the party. I have stated that I am willing to take up the responsibility if the high command entrusts it to me. I haven't said I won't," he clarified.

Tumakuru, Karnataka | Supporters of Congress leader G Parameshwara staged a protest demanding CM post for him. pic.twitter.com/cjdpEFqQvf  ANI (@ANI) May 16, 2023

"They (the high command) are also aware of my contributions to the party. They know that I have worked for the party for eight years as the KPCC President and helped bring it to power in 2013. I have also served as the Deputy Chief Minister. They are well aware of everything, and there is no need for us to reiterate it. Therefore, I believe there is no need for me to seek or lobby for the position. I am keeping quiet. That does not mean I am incapable. I am capable, and if given the opportunity, I will perform the job," he added.

Who Will Be Karnataka CM? Decision Likely To Be Announced In Next 24 Hours

The power struggle for leadership of the government in Karnataka is currently being contested between State Congress President D K Shivakumar and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Following the Congress's victory in the May 10 elections, securing 135 seats in the 224-member Karnataka assembly, both leaders are in Delhi to discuss government formation and the next Chief Minister with the central leadership of the party.

The Congress's three central observers, who consulted with newly elected party MLAs to ascertain their choice for Chief Minister, briefed party chief M Mallikarjun Kharge and submitted their report on Monday.

Parameshwara, a Dalit, previously served as Deputy Chief Minister during the Congress-Janata Dal Secular coalition government led by H D Kumaraswamy. He holds the distinction of being the longest-serving KPCC chief, having served for eight years, and possesses a PhD in plant physiology from the Waite Agriculture Research Centre at the University of Adelaide.

After losing the 2013 assembly polls while serving as KPCC President, Parameshwara became an MLC and a minister in the Siddaramaiah government. He hails from Koratagere in Tumakuru district.
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Karnataka CM Race: Kharge Holds One-On-One With DK Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

The suspense over the new Karnataka chief minister has intensified with two top contenders - state chief DK Shivakumar and senior leader Siddaramaiah - in the national capital to discuss the issue with the party's national leadership.

Karnataka Congress president D K Shivakumar met party chief Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence and discussed the modalities of government formation in the southern state.

Shivakumar, who arrived in Delhi in the morning from Bengaluru, reached Kharge's residence a little after 5 pm and held deliberations over the post of chief minister of Karnataka. He left after a 30-minute meeting and did not speak to the media.

According to reports, Shivakumar, in meeting with Kahrge, said he would like to be the Chief Minister. They also discussed government formation in Karnataka.

Rahul Holds Closed-Door Meeting With Kharge As Clock Ticks To Pick New CM

Following his meeting with Shivakumar, Kharge also held a meeting with Siddaramaiah to take his views. While many reports have claimed that Congress wants to go with Siddaramaiah as the CM and DK Shivakumar as his deputy, a formal announcement has not been made yet.

Shivakumar along with former chief minister Siddaramaiah are frontrunners for the top post after the party staged a stunning victory in the Karnataka Assembly polls by winning 135 out of 224 seats.

Both the leaders have staked claim on the chief minister's post and are indulging in hectic lobbying.

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Story first published: Tuesday, May 16, 2023, 20:00 [IST]
BJP does this for 'cheap political gains': Cong on UP making 'The Kerala Story' tax-free

Look-Out Notice Issued against Atiq Ahmeds Wife, Shaista Parveen

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

The Prayagraj police in Uttar Pradesh has issued a look-out notice against slain gangster, Atiq Ahmed's wife Shaista Parveen.

The notices have been also issued against Ahmed's close aides Guddu Muslim and Sabir, officials said.

On Parveen, the UP police have already issued a bounty of Rs 50,000. Officials despite all efforts have not been able to track the above mentioned persons. The worry for the cops is that they may try and flee the country. This is what led to the authorities issuing a loo-out notice against Parveen and the two others.

The notice period will be for one year and it has been sent to all immigration checkpoints to ensure that the accused persons are not allowed to flee the country.

On April 9, the UP police had doubled its reward on Shaista Parveen. On April 19, the UP police had carried out a search operation at Kaushambi.

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How Atiq's wife Shaista, daughter of a cop, went on to turn most-wanted?

Shaista has been on the run since the killing of her husband, brother-in-law and son.

Earlier on Akhlaq Ahmed, a health department doctor was suspended by the UP government on the ground that he was allegedly involved in unethical activities.

Ahmed is currently in jail. He was posted at the Bhavanipur Community Health Centre in Meerut. He is accused of providing explosives to absconding shooters and sheltering Guddu Muslim following the murder of Umesh Pal. Action against him was taken by the principal secretary based on the instructions of deputy chief minister, Brajesh Pathak.

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Story first published: Tuesday, May 16, 2023, 9:26 [IST]
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New Parliament Building Likely To Be Inaugurated By PM Modi This month

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

India's new Parliament building is likely to be inaugurated later this month by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The new building will be inaugurated by the end of May to mark nine years of the Narendra Modi government. PM Modi had taken oath on May 26 2014.

The four-storey building is being built at an estimated cost of RRS 970 crore. It can house 1,224 MPs. Furthermore it has a massive Constitution hall which will showcase India's democratic heritage.

The building also has dining areas and ample parking space.

PM Modi makes surprise visit to new parliament building, inspects works

The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) has designed a new uniform which will be work by the staff of both Houses.

The new building also has three new doors-Gyan Dwar, Shakti Dwar, and Karma Dwar. It also has a separate entry for MPS, VIPs and visitors.

In December 2020, PM Modi had laid the foundation stone for the new Parliament building.

Further the BJP has planned a month-long special contact campaign across the country covering all Lok Sabha constituencies to mark nine years of the Narendra Modi-led government. The PM would launch the campaign with a huge rally on May 30, a BJP leader said. He also added that a second rally of the PM will be held on May 31. In all 51 rallies of senior BJP leaders will be held.

The BJP has also planned public meetings in 396 Lok Sabha seats. The BJP's chief ministers, leaders of the opposition in states, MPs and MLAs will be invited for these rallies and public meetings.
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Do Not Dream About It: Ajit Pawar On Whether Eknath Shinde Will Resign as Maha CM

'No Threat To Shinde Government': Ajit Pawar

India

oi-Prakash KL

As a delegation of the Shiv Sena (UBT) handed over a letter seeking expedited action in the disqualification of 16 MLAs of the Shinde camp to Maharashtra's Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal, NCP leader Ajit Pawar has said that the Maharashtra government will not fall even if the Speaker takes the action.

"Even if 16 MLAs are disqualified, the government of Shinde and Fadnavis will not fall. There is no threat to the government," ANI quoted him as saying. He claimed that the government will not lose its majority even if the 16 MLAs are disqualified.

Following the Supreme Court's recent verdict, a delegation of Shiv Sena (UBT) on Monday reached Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha and handed over a letter seeking expedited action in the disqualification of 16 MLAs of the Shinde camp.

"Since the Speaker is yet to return from his foreign tour, we submitted the letter to his deputy," Whip of Shiv Sena (UBT) Sunil Prabhu said.

The Shinde-led coalition as 145 MLAs while the overall coalition has 162 MLAs. It means 17 more than the required number to form government in Maharashtra.

Do Not Dream About It: Ajit Pawar On Whether Eknath Shinde Will Resign as Maha CM

The recent verdict by the apex court has given fresh impetus to the Shiv Sena crisis, with former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray calling for an early decision on the disqualification of 16 party MLAs, according to a PTI report.

The Supreme Court also came down heavily on then Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, saying he did not have reasons based on objective material before him to reach the conclusion that Thackeray had lost the confidence of the House.

The court said that relief was due for Thackeray if he had not resigned before facing the floor test.
New Parliament Building Likely To Be Inaugurated By PM Modi This month

Quad Summit Cancelled: PM Modi Will Go Ahead With Bilateral Engagements in Sydney

PM Modi To Inaugurate New Parliament Building On May 28

PM Modi To Embark On 3-Nation Visit Of Japan, Papua New Guinea, Australia From May 19

PM Modi To Attend G7, Quad Summits During Visit To Japan, Australia

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia from May 19 to 24, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Tuesday.

PM Modi will be in Japanese city of Hiroshima from May 19 to 21 for the G7 summit, as reported by PTI.

The MEA said the prime minister will speak at G7 sessions with partner countries on subjects such as peace, stability and prosperity of a sustainable planet; and food, fertiliser and energy security.

From Japan, Modi will then travel to Port Moresby where he will host the third summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation jointly with Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea James Marape on May 22, the MEA said in a statement.

New Parliament Building Likely To Be Inaugurated By PM Modi This month

On the third and final leg of the trip, Modi will visit Sydney in Australia from May 22 to 24 to attend the Quad summit.

The summit, being hosted by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, will also be attended by US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

''The summit provides an opportunity for the leaders to exchange views about developments in the Indo-Pacific region and advance their vision for a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific,'' the MEA said.

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Story first published: Tuesday, May 16, 2023, 21:39 [IST]
Rahul Holds Closed-Door Meeting With Kharge As Clock Ticks To Pick New CM

India

oi-Deepika S

While the suspense over the new Karnataka Chief Minister remains, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday met party president Mallikarjun Kharge and is reported to have held discussions over government formation in the state.

According to reports, Rahul Gandhi held a closed-door meeting at Congress Chief Mallikargun Kharge's residence and made it clear that he wants a decision on the CM candidate as soon as possible.

Randeep Surjewala, who is in charge of the party's affairs in Karnataka, was also present at the meeting.

Kharge is now expected to hold a meeting with CM aspirants D K Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah.

Both Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar are the main contenders for the Chief Minister's post and both are lobbying for it.

On Sunday, the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) passed a resolution authorising Kharge to pick the new Chief Minister of Karnataka.

The Congress high command remained undecided on who will get the top post in the state. Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have played an important role in the party's landslide victory in Karnataka.

'Nafrat Ka Bazaar Band Hua, Mohabbat Ki Dukaanein Khuli Hain': Rahul After Karnataka Win

Siddaramaiah, who held meeting with party's central leadership remained tight-lipped over the issue while D K Shivakumar is hopeful that loyalty to the party will pay.

D K Shivakumar on Tuesday said that he will not backstab even if the high command overlooks him and make Siddaramaiah the Chief Minister of Karnataka.

"Ours is a united house, our number is 135. I don't want to divide anyone here. Whether they like me or not, I am a responsible man. I will not backstab and I will not blackmail," ANI quoted him as saying before leaving for Delhi.

He was supposed to go to the national capital on Monday but he cancelled his trip citing health issues.

Congress registered a landslide victory in Karnataka with 135 seats while the ruling BJP won 66 seats and the regional party Janata Dal Secular secured 19 seats.
SC Collegium Recommends 2 Names To Be Elevated As Judges In Apex Court

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

The Supreme Court collegium on Thursday recommended the names of Chief Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra of the Andhra Pradesh High Court and Senior Advocate KV Viswanathan to be appointed as judges of the top court.

The collegium headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud has passed a resolution, as reported by LiveLaw.

Senior advocate K V Viswanathan, whose name was recommended by the collegium for judgeship in the Supreme Court, will become the 58th Chief Justice of India in August 2030 for a period of over nine months if the Centre gives the nod.

The collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, in its meeting recommended two names -- Andhra Pradesh High Court Chief Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Viswanathan -- to regain its full sanctioned strength of 34 judges, including the CJI.

Collegium issue is all about mindgame: Law Minister Kiren Rijiju

Justice MR Shah and Justice Dinesh Maheshwari demitted office within a span of last two days, bringing the strength of the top court to 32 judges.

If the recommendation goes through, Viswanthan will join the elite list of lawyers who went on to become the CJI after being directly elevated to the apex court bench from the Bar. Justice S M Sikri was the first CJI, who was directly elevated to the apex court bench from the Bar. Justice U U Lalit was second in the list. Sitting apex court judge Justice P S Narasimha will become the third CJI who was directly elevated from the Bar. Born on May 26, 1966, Viswanathan, upon his appointment as a judge of the apex court, would serve till May 25, 2031.

"On the retirement of Justice Jamshed Burjor Pardiwala on August 11, 2030, Viswanathan would be in line to assume office as the Chief Justice of India till his retirement on May 25, 2031," the collegium, which also comprised justices S K Kaul, K M Joseph, Ajay Rastogi and Sanjiv Khanna, said in its recommendation.

The recommendation said at present, there is only one member (Justice P S Narasimha) from the Bar directly appointed to the Supreme Court bench. It noted the Collegium also considered the names of eminent members of the Bar and zeroed upon senior advocate Viswanathan, saying he is "eminently suitable for being appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court".

"The appointment of K V Viswanathan will enhance the representation to the Bar in the composition of the Supreme Court. Viswanathan is a distinguished member of the Bar of the Supreme Court. His wide experience and profound knowledge will provide a significant value addition to the Supreme Court," the resolution said.

It said Viswanathan had completed the five-year integrated law degree from Coimbatore Law College, Bharathiyar University, and enrolled with the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu in 1988. The resolution said after practising before the apex court for over two decades, Viswanathan was designated as a senior advocate in 2009. It said Viswanathan has appeared in a wide range of cases on diverse subjects including Constitutional law, criminal law, commercial law, the law of Insolvency, and arbitration.

"His stature as an eminent member of the Bar has been recognised by the Supreme Court in numerous cases where he was appointed to assist the Court as amicus curiae," it said, adding that Viswanathan has a sound understanding of law and is known in the legal fraternity for his integrity and as an upright senior member of the Bar.

During the recent hearings in the apex court on a batch of pleas seeking legal validation for same-sex marriage, Viswanathan had argued before a five-judge Constitution bench for one of the petitioners.
Vista Global Holding, a leading global private aviation group headquartered at the DIFC in Dubai, has posted high double-digit growth during Q1, noting that the strong sales momentum in 2022 is expected to prevail through 2023.



The Group has delivered a record first quarter, with double-digit revenue growth, continued EBITDA margin expansions and continued strong growth momentum for Vistas subscription solutions and services.



Record results are underpinned by Program sales, with approximately 9,000 gross annual hours sold in the quarter, up 55% year-on-year. Growth was led by the U.S. following significant investment made, and Program annual hours sold in the quarter doubled relative to the same quarter last year.



Strong growth was also witnessed in the Middle East which was up nearly 50% year-on-year, and was the second strongest region for new clients in the quarter. Globally over 50% of hours sold in Q1 2023 were to existing clients, particularly in Europe and Asia, demonstrating the strength and proven endurance of this product.



The growth is sustained by the added capabilities from its 2022 acquisition strategy, which includes full Vista aircraft and service upgrades to harmonize its premium brand positioning across the world. Year to date, now over 200 aircraft are inclusive of silver and red interior standards and VistaJet products. With fleet expansion and upgrades, Vista achieved record revenue with another quarter of double-digit growth and further EBITDA margin expansion.



On May 1, 2023, the Group successfully executed on its refinancing strategy for the year with a new $500m 5-year Senior Unsecured bond. The two times oversubscribed offer attracted overwhelming interest from leading institutional investors and pension funds. This solidifies the positive views from all of Vista groups' credit ratings agencies, including S&P, Fitch and Moodys, which affirmed or upgraded their positions following the Groups 2022 financial audit released in April.



Thomas Flohr, Vistas Founder and Chairman said: As a Group we have delivered a very strong Q1 performance and continued to build on the great momentum of 2022. Across all markets we continue to see unprecedented levels of demand from existing and new Members, with many more hours being sold to existing Members as well as a large number of new clients asking to join Vista, reflecting the enduring demand of the subscription model across our customer base.



Our Members recognize that we provide the best value and end-to-end experience in the industry. Our asset free, technology-driven solutions meet the need of every private aviation user, and we are fully committed to innovating and advancing our flying solutions across every corner of the globe. Today, we offer more aircraft with our iconic silver and red quality than ever before, and I am pleased with the progress we have made on integrating now one year on.



Vista has a proven 19-year track record of growth and a prudent financial policy which has enabled the Group to build our global infrastructure to support all our valued Members around the world, he added.  TradeArabia News Service
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 16. Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Ali Asadov has met with Speaker of the Egyptian Parliament of the House of Representatives Hanafy Ali El-Gebali, who is on a visit to Azerbaijan, the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan told Trend.

The participation of the Egyptian delegation in a special meeting of the Azerbaijani Parliament dedicated to the 100th anniversary of National Leader Heydar Aliyev was noted at the meeting.

The current level of development of relations between Azerbaijan and Egypt was highly appreciated, the role of the heads of state in the development of relations between the two countries was emphasized.

The meeting also discussed the prospects for expanding the Azerbaijani-Egyptian mutually beneficial cooperation in various areas.
If A Dalit Is Not Made Deputy CM, It Will Spell Trouble For Congress, Warns Parameshwara

Siddaramaiah or DK Shivakumar? No Consensus Yet As Cong Meet On Karnataka CM Remains Inconclusive

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

The suspense over Karnataka's next chief minister continued on Tuesday as the Congress' high command is yet to announce its decision after a massive win in the southern state on Saturday.

The power struggle for leadership of the government in Karnataka is currently being contested between State Congress President DK Shivakumar and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar held separate meetings with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge as the party held hectic consultations to decide on who would lead the government in the southern state.

Former party chief Rahul Gandhi also drove to Kharge's residence this morning and held an over 90-minute meeting, as reported by PTI.

The two leaders discussed the issue of chief ministership and modalities of government formation in Karnataka after the party staged a stunning victory in the May 10 assembly polls in which Congress won 135 out of 224 seats.

AICC general secretary in-charge for Karnataka Randeep Surjewala and general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal were also present during the meeting between Kharge and Gandhi.

Venugopal later separately met Gandhi at the latter's residence.

Top party leaders were, however, tight-lipped on who was the probable choice for the chief minister's post and by when the decision would be taken.

PTI Sources that discussions could also be held with Sonia Gandhi before the final decision is taken.

Earlier in the day, AICC spokesperson Pawan Khera said that a decision regarding the appointment of the Chief Minister of Karnataka will be revealed in a day or two. Khera informed reporters that the opinions of the newly-elected MLAs have been gathered and the central leadership is currently considering the matter.

Karnataka CM Race: G Parameshwara's Supporters Ask Congress To Make Him New CM

Highlighting the significance of the Leader of Opposition post in every state, he questioned when the BJP will appoint the LoP in Karnataka.

"Appointing a Chief Minister is not a simple task. It cannot be imposed from Delhi... Everyone's viewpoint must be taken into consideration. We need to engage with every stakeholder and then decide who the Chief Minister will be," he stated.

"The process is ongoing. The observers have already been sent there. They have met with the MLAs. The MLAs have expressed their opinions. Now, the opinions and all the records have been forwarded to the central leadership. So, you will know the answer in a day or two," Khera added.

Regarding government formation, the Congress leader mentioned that the BJP took seven days in Uttar Pradesh, one month in Maharashtra, and nine days in Assam to establish a cabinet. He was responding to a query about when the party would announce a decision on the next CM of Karnataka.

When asked about the possibility of an alliance with the ruling BRS in Telangana for the 2024 Parliamentary elections, Khera stated that Telangana is one of the states where the Congress would confront regional parties directly and defeat them. He also ruled out the possibility of an alliance with AAP in Punjab.

Responding to dissident Congress leader Sachin Pilot's yatra in Rajasthan, Khera mentioned that the party would take action based on the report of the party's Rajasthan in-charge, who has gathered the views of party leaders in the state.

He acknowledged that there are multiple competent leaders within the party in various states, including Rajasthan, and only one leader becomes the Chief Minister. Khera stated that the party has its own mechanism to handle such situations, and they will act based on the report provided by their representative.

Khera also mentioned that the Congress party continues to have concerns about EVMs (Electronic Voting Machines), despite their victories in Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka. He listed the concerns, including the tallying of VVPATs (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) with the results, alleged missing machines, faulty machines, and the alleged violation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on faulty machines.

Regarding the Congress' manifesto in Karnataka that mentioned a ban on Bajrang Dal and the possibility of initiating an investigation, Khera stated that action would be taken if any organization is found spreading hatred.
Gadkari threat call: Caller an inmate of Belagavi jail who was handed death sentence in murder case, says police

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Union Minister Nitin Gadkari Gets Death Threat Again

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Union Minister, Nitin Gadkari has received a death threat and the police have been informed about the same.

The Delhi police said that the information regarding the death threat call was received at the residence of Granddad. The information was passed on by the staff of the minister. As per sources, the matter is being investigated and details are being verified.

The Minister's office said that the death threat call was received at his Delhi residence last evening.

This is not the first time that Gadkari is receiving a death threat. Earlier, on January 14 a man named Jayesh Pujari made a death threat to Gadkari. He had demanded Rs 100 crore and also claimed to be a member of the Dawood Ibrahim gang.Pujari was a murder convict.

'No Threat To Shinde Government': Ajit Pawar

Later on March 21, Pujari again made a threat call to Gadkari, who is an MP from Nagpur. He had then demanded Rs 10 crore from the minister.

Pujari according to the probe had links with terrorists in Punjab. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had launched a probe against Pujari following an order of the Home Ministry after it was found that he had linked with terrorists from Punjab. It was also found that he had been linked with the Lashkar-e-Tayiba's south division chief, Captain Naseer, an official said.

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Story first published: Tuesday, May 16, 2023, 17:09 [IST]
Weather Update: Southwest Monsoon Likely To Arrive In Kerala On June 4

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Weather alert in India: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday said that this year, there will be a slight delay in the onset of southwest monsoon over Kerala. However, it added that for the next 7 days no heatwave conditions are expected.

Typically, the southwest monsoon arrives in Kerala around June 1, with a standard deviation of approximately seven days. In a statement, the Met office stated, "This year, the onset of the southwest monsoon over Kerala is projected to be slightly delayed. It is likely to occur on June 4 with a model error of four days."

Explained: Why There Is Sudden Dust Storm In Delhi?

Kuldeep Srivastava from the IMD in Delhi explained, "The severity of heatwave conditions in the first half of May was mitigated by Western disturbances affecting parts of northwest India. As another western disturbance approaches northwest India, we do not anticipate heatwave conditions in that region for the next seven days. However, temperatures will remain elevated, reaching up to 40C."

Srivastava further elaborated, "Dust-raising winds are prevailing over Haryana, South Haryana, Delhi NCR, Western Uttar Pradesh, and North-East Rajasthan. This is primarily due to the passage of a previous western disturbance, resulting in strong winds. Additionally, temperatures have been quite high, mostly exceeding 40C in the past week. The atmosphere is dry, and the hot weather has loosened the soil. As a result, winds blowing at speeds of 40-45 kmph are lifting dust from the surface, dispersing it into the atmosphere, particularly up to an altitude of 1-2 km."
Uddhav Quit On His Own, But Governor Wrong Says SC In Big Order

Will have to first recognise which Sena faction is the political party: Maharashtra Speaker

India

oi-PTI

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.

He was speaking to reporters here 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".

'No threat to Shinde government': Ajit Pawar

"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.

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Story first published: Tuesday, May 16, 2023, 9:46 [IST]
UP Board Announces Summer Vacations From May 20: Check Details

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Madhya Pradesh Class 10, 12 Results 2023 Soon: How To Check

RBSE 8th Result 2023 To Be Out On May 17 @ rajeduboard.rajasthan.gov.in

New Delhi

oi-Deepika S

The Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education is likely to announce the RBSE Class 8 result 2023 on Wednesday. Once released, students can check their Class 8 result at the official websites.

Rajasthan education minister BD Kalla will hold a press conference on May 17 at 12 Noon to declare the results for RBSE Class 8.

The RBSE Class 8 markscard 2023 will include details like the name of the student, school name, roll number, exam date, marks secured in each subject, total marks secured as well as qualifying status.

RBSE 8th Result 2023: Websites to check

rajeduboard.rajasthan.gov.in

rajresults.nic.in.

RBSE 8th Result 2023: 2022 pass percentage

In 2022, the overall pass percentage of RBSE Class 8 students stood at 95.5 per cent. Nearly 12.63 lakh students appeared for RBSE Class 8 exams in 2022.

This year, around 13 lakh students are anxiously waiting for their RBSE Class 8 results.

How to check Rajasthan 8th Result 2023

Go to the official website at rajeduboard.rajasthan.gov.in

On the homepage, choose the result link available for RBSE Class 8 results.

You will be redirected to a new window

Now enter your login details.

Your RBSE Class 8 result 2023 will be displayed on the screen.

Download the same and take a copy for future reference

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Story first published: Tuesday, May 16, 2023, 22:12 [IST]
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Ukraine is intensifying its campaign for the Albanese government to send a batch of Australian-made vehicles to the front line of its war with Russia.
US President Joe Biden has cancelled his trip to Australia due to take place next week, support for the Voice to parliament slips and the prime minister says there are no changes to negative gearing.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 16. A dialogue on energy security between NATO and Azerbaijan was held at the Headquarters of the Alliance in Brussels, Azerbaijan's representation to NATO told Trend.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Minister of Energy of Azerbaijan Elnur Soltanov, Head of the Azerbaijani delegation to NATO Jafar Huseynzade, and other members of the delegation.

During the visit, Soltanov held bilateral meetings with Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia of NATO Secretary General Javier Kolomina and Head of the Climate and Energy Security Department of the International Secretariat Michael Ruhle.

During the discussions, Soltanov informed the parties about the successful energy strategy of Azerbaijan, the significance of the Southern Gas Corridor, Azerbaijans contribution to the energy security of Europe, opportunities and new promising projects in the field of renewable energy sources.
A barrister representing Sir Frederick Barclays ex-wife has expressed astonishment at the amount spent on the retired businessmans lawyers. Sir Frederick, 88, and Lady Hiroko Barclay, who is also in her 80s, are featuring in the latest stage of a fight over money at a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in [...]
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Ukrainian air defenses repelled a heavy Russian missile attack on Kyiv overnight. European leaders are gathering for a Council of Europe summit, the first one in years, to discuss the war. DW has the latest.
Six members of a criminal gang were accused of stealing priceless jewels from the Green Vault museum in Dresden. It is considered the biggest art heist in modern history.
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Republicans across the country, including Ron DeSantis, lambasted the FBI following the release of the Durham findings in the Russia probe into Donald Trump's 2016 campaign.
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BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 17. On May 15, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Fariz Rzayev paid a visit to Jordan, Trend reports citing Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

Within the framework of the visit, the first round of political consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigrant Affairs of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan took place in Amman.

The Azerbaijani side at the consultations was headed by Deputy Minister Fariz Rzayev, the Jordanian side - Secretary General for Diplomatic and Immigration Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Migrants Affairs Lina al-Hadid.

The current state and prospects of bilateral cooperation in the political, economic, energy, humanitarian spheres, inter-parliamentary relations and logistics, issues of cooperation within international organizations, including the UN, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Non-Aligned Movement were discussed during consultations.

The Jordanian side was informed about the post-conflict situation in the region, as well as about the reconstruction and reintegration work carried out in the liberated areas. The parties also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.

During his visit to Jordan, Deputy Minister Fariz Rzayev also met with the head of the political affairs department of the Royal Administration, Muaz al-Zubi.

The meeting discussed the prospects for the development of bilateral and multilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and Jordan, strategic energy and transport projects implemented at the initiative of Azerbaijan, as well as discussions of regional security and the post-conflict situation.

During the visit, the Deputy Minister also met with the leadership of the prestigious Jordanian Middle East Research Center and with experts from the Center in the political, military and economic fields, and exchanged views on Azerbaijan's foreign policy priorities, Azerbaijani-Jordanian relations, and the regional situation.
Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy did not express much optimism on Monday regarding debt ceiling negotiations with the White House, telling reporters nothing has moved.
Over two dozen GOP AGs told insurance companies that their ESG policies that advance an "activist climate agenda" could possibly violate antirust laws.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is inviting top donors to meet in Miami next week, in another signal that the conservative governor is moving closer to launching a 2024 campaign.
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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis heads to the key state of New Hampshire, in what appears to be another sign that he's moving closer to launching a 2024 Republican presidential campaign
The head of Scotland's prosecution service has refused to say whether a search warrant for Nicola's Sturgeon's home was "deliberately delayed" until after the SNP leadership contest ended.
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In December 2021, the European Azerbaijan School hosted the Experiential Learning Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan. This three-day conference served as a valuable platform for educators from different countries to come together, foster connections, share their experiences and expertise, and engage in fruitful idea exchanges. The event saw the active participation of education experts, educators, teachers, and PhD holders from both public and private educational institutions, schools, and centers worldwide. Representatives from various countries, including Georgia, Kazakhstan, Spain, and the Netherlands, contributed to the rich diversity of perspectives and insights showcased at the conference.

The conference was led by keynote speakers, their engaging talks and innovative approach to learning left a lasting impression on the attendees.

During the three-day event, several sessions took place in Workshop Rooms and Auditorium. The mission of the conference was to promote collaboration between private and public schools from participating countries, facilitate the exchange of ideas and experiences among educators and local and international experts, establish a network of different perspectives and opinions, and bring together more international school communities in future conferences.

The conference provided an opportunity for talented and experienced professionals to influence the development of young and novice colleagues. Experts from different public and private schools and countries updated each other and discussed the latest education trends and innovations from around the world. The different viewpoints and analytical thinking of educators inspired all participants towards a creative approach to education.

The establishment of the Caucasus and Central Asia Association of IB World Schools (CCAAIBWS) in December 2021 marked a significant milestone in the development of international education in the region. The association was formed by The European Azerbaijan School, The Tbilisi European School, and The Nazarbayev Intellectual School in Nur-Sultan, with the directors of the three schools signing and declaring the establishment of the association.

The association has grown in strength over the past months and now boasts a total of 20 members.

The association's growth and success can be attributed to the support of its members, who are committed to promoting international education and sharing their experiences and knowledge. The association welcomes new members who share these goals and is always happy to hear from anyone interested in joining.

From 9-11 December 2022, Caucasus, and Central Asia Association of IB World Schools (CCAAIBWS) in Baku, Azerbaijan hosted the highly anticipated II International Experiential Learning Conference. The event was a resounding success with the participation of 800 educators from different countries worldwide. The conference aimed to develop new educational opportunities, provide networking opportunities, and share experiences in the field of Experiential Learning.

EAS hosted a truly remarkable conference, involving 60 keynote speakers and over 800 participants from various countries, including Turkey, Italy, the USA, the Netherlands, Japan, Austria, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. The event was particularly beneficial for new and beginner teachers, who had the opportunity to learn from master educators, professors, and professionals who have dedicated their lives to education.

The General Director of the International Baccalaureate Organization Olli-Pekka Heinonen, Founding Board Chair of Monte Del Sol School in Santa Fe, Education Leader Dr. Gary Gruber, the Council of the International Taskforce on Child Protection and on the Board of Directors of the International Commission Advancing Independent School Accreditation (ICAISA) Jane Larsson and the Executive Director for ECIS Kam Chohan made an online productive presentation for the audience.

The Experiential Learning Conference 2022 provided a great learning experience and platform for all participants, helping them acquire new knowledge and skills. The event has left a lasting impact on the attendees, equipping them with innovative and cutting-edge teaching methods to better educate their students.

The CCAAWIBS and its impactful activities were recently highlighted in IB newsletter published in May 2023. The publication recognized the Association's productive role in advancing and improving the professional skills of educators.

Here is the news published on the IB newsletter:

Caucasus and Central Asia Association of IB World Schools (CCAAIBWS) hosts second Experiential Learning Conference

Location: Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Russia

The Caucasus of Central Asia Association of IB World Schools (CCAAIBWS) hosted its second Experiential Learning Conference in December 2022, with more than 800 participants from various countries joining. This large number reflects the associations growthfrom just three schools in its first year to almost thirty now.

The conference provided professional development for CCAAIBWS educators, with sessions focused on enhancing their teaching abilities and techniquessuch as team-building exercises and workshops on outdoor learning and gamification in the classroom. Educators learned from experts in the field of experiential learning and networked with fellow educators from around the world.

One of the conferences highlights was IB Director General Olli-Pekka Heinonens keynote speech. Heinonen emphasized the importance of experiential learning in developing critical thinking, problem-solving and leadership skills in students.

CCAAIBWS also provides professional development sessions three times a month to keep its members up to date with the latest trends and best practices in experiential learning, as well as to help them develop new skills and techniques to bring into their classrooms.

CCAAIBWS looks forward to another opportunity for educators to come together at next year's conference and to the continued growth of the association.
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Cannes: As the Cannes Film Festival prepares to launch amidst activism on both sides of the Atlantic, director Thierry Fremaux announced on Monday that he is open to allowing climate demonstrators onto the red carpet.

Fremaux also said artists would be welcome to discuss issues arising from the Hollywood writers' strike - and that he had had "positive dialogue" with France's CGT union, which had threatened to cut power to the event during pension protests.

As in past years, the city of Cannes has banned demonstrations near the festival centre in a bid to keep the focus on the films, which this year include "La Chimera" from Alice Rohrwacher and "Fallen Leaves" by Aki Kaurismaki.

But the confluence of at least three major protest movements has put unusual pressure on the organisers.

"We are in the process of speaking with Cyril Dion, the French filmmaker and climate activist because a big climate day is organised for next Monday," Fremaux told a news conference.

"It's not impossible that we will welcome them at the top of the steps to express themselves," he added.

It was too early to tell what effect the writer's strike would have on the festival, he said, but the right to strike had to be respected.

"We will see if the actors and the writers who will sit at this table for their films will want to talk about this issue - of course, they will be welcome to do so," he said.

Talks with the CGT union - a founder member of the festival - had been positive and so far no concrete plans to cut power had been announced, he said.

The union has announced plans to have protests outside the restricted areas.

The festival "is a place that is protected for the fortnight but is at the same time a target for certain people to make demands because it projects them more strongly," Fremaux said.

The Writers Guild of America began a work stoppage on May 2 after failing to reach a new labour agreement with higher pay from Hollywood studios such as Netflix and Walt Disney.

France has been roiled by mass protests over government moves to raise the retirement age.

(With inputs from Reuters)
By Karl Grossman

Radioactive: The Women of Three Mile Island is the title of a newly-released documentary feature film directed, written and produced by award-winning filmmaker Heidi Hutner, a professor of environmental humanities at Stony Brook University, a "flagship" school of the State University of New York.

With greatly compelling facts and interviews, she and her also highly talented production team have put together a masterpiece of a documentary film.

It connects the proverbial dots of the 1979 Three Mile Island nuclear plant disaster--doing so brilliantly.

The documentary has already received many film awards and has had screening in recent months in New York City--winning the "Audience Award for Best Documentary" at the Dances With Films Festival--and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Sarasota, Florida; Dubuque, Iowa; Long Island, New York; First Frame International Film Festival in New York City; the Environmental Film Festival in Washington D.C., and is soon be the featured film at Kat Kramer's #SHEROESForChange Film Festival in Los Angeles and the Cinequest Film Festival in San Jose, California, as well as the Uranium Film Festival in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. And there will be tours across the U.S.

Resident after resident of the area around Three Mile Island is interviewed and tells of the widespread cancer that has ensued in the years that have followed the accident--a cancer rate far beyond what would be normal. Accounts shared in the documentary are heartbreaking.

A whistleblower who had worked at the nuclear plant tells Hutner of the deliberate and comprehensive attempt by General Public Utilities, which owned TMI, to cover up the gravity of the accident and its radioactive releases especially of cancer-causing Iodine-131 and Xenon 133.

An attorney, Lynne Bernabei, involved in litigation in the wake of the accident, says the Three Mile Island "cover-up was one of the biggest cover-ups in history."

Meanwhile, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which is "supposed to protect the public", has then and since been just "interested in is promoting the [nuclear] industry. This is corrupt," says attorney Joanne Doroshow, now a professor at New York Law School and director of the Center for Justice & Democracy. Many examples of this are presented.

The documentary's focus on women includes women being far more at risk to the effects of radioactivity than men. Mary Olson, a biologist and founder and director of the Gender & Radiation Impact Project, says in the film that those setting radiation standards in the U.S. from the onset of nuclear technology in 1942, based impacts on a "25- to 30-years-old" male "defined as Caucasian." She said, "It has come to be known as the 'Reference Man'." However, Olson cites research findings that "radiation is 10 times more harmful to young females" and "50 percent more harmful to a 'comparable female'" than it is to "Reference Man" who is "more resistant" to radioactivity than a woman.

There's the scientist, Dr. Aaron Datesman, who is now pursuing a major chromosomal study regarding the impact of the disaster on the health of people in the area, how people have been harmed despite the denials of the nuclear industry. This study is based on his recent ground-breaking work, "Radiological Shot Noise," in Nature.

And more and more.

After the screening of the documentary at the Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington, Long Island, the showing I attended, there was a panel discussion involving Hutner, four women featured in the documentary, and its editor Simeon Hutner, who is also a producer.

The discussion was moderated by Kelly McMasters, author of the memoir, Welcome to Shirley, A Memoir of an Atomic Town, and a professor at Hofstra University on Long Island. McMasters in her book attributes wide-ranging cancer in her Shirley hometown on Long Island to radioactive releases from the three nuclear reactors that operated at the adjacent Brookhaven National Laboratory, reactors that are now shut down.

From the audience, Catherine Skopic of Manhattan, who journeyed to Long Island for the premiere of the documentary in Huntington, said the film "is going to make waves." She related the link between the TMI accident and contemporary nuclear issues. These included the plan by Holtec International, now the owner of the closed Indian Point nuclear power plants 25 miles north of the city, to "dump a million gallons of radioactive water" into the Hudson River from which "seven communities get their drinking water," and similar dumping planned in coming months by the Tokyo Electric Power Company from its 2011 accident-struck Fukushima Daichi nuclear power plants into the Pacific Ocean.

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Vote the Bible

(Image by The Bulwark) Details DMCA



It's not just "Strip Search" Sam Alito basing his decision to overturn Roe on a 17th-century jurist who condemned women to death for being "witches". It's not just Amy "Offred" Barrett, the Supreme Court's first Handmaiden, telling graduates of Notre Dame Law School that the sole purpose of a legal career is "building the kingdom of God". And it's not just right-wing christian Matthew Kacsmaryk rejecting twenty years of scientific data in favor of faith-based nonsense in order to ban mifepristone.

It's everywhere.

Preacher Sean Feucht wants to replace the secular, Constitution-based gov't of the US with a gov't based solely on scripture. Impose christian nationalism by force, where only true believers make the rules. The president of a seminary in Minnesota agrees. So do a lot of people in Idaho. Christian nationalist members of Congress like Lauren Boebert, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Mo Brooks, Paul Gosar and others shout it from the steps of the Capitol: it's the "cross or the sword!" In fact, according to polls, 7 out of 10 Republican voters nation-wide believe the US is a "christian nation." Democrats, at almost 50%, are not far behind.

Christian hate groups help political officials spread misinformation about the LGBTQ+ community. They put up homophobic billboards. They teach parents to reject their children, if their children happen to be lesbian or gay. They threaten to kill gays and lesbians. They pray for their "eternal damnation," and, to help the situation along, Pastor Dillon Awes of the Stedfast Baptist Church in Watauga, Texas, recommends shooting LGBTQ+ folks "in the back of the head," execution style. Praise Jesus.

In Arizona, a christian organization was given legal permission to "hide" information related to its members who sexually abuse children. In Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi and Nebraska, christian-controlled legislatures voted to ban abortion after six weeks. In South Carolina, a christian-controlled legislature is pushing a law that equates aborting a "fetus" with murdering a "living [] person". In Ohio, a teacher at a public middle school refused to use her students' preferred pronouns because it "violates her religion". In Tennessee, Republican officials attribute the epidemic in gun violence to "demonic possession". In Texas, which has the highest level of violent crime in the nation, including the highest number of murders, the governor wants to put the Ten Commandments into public schools.

Speaking of public schools and Mosaic law, a distraught mother from Texas recently demanded the same thing, for roughly the same reason. The Decalogue should be posted in every classroom in every school in the state, she argued, because doing so will restore "order and morality".

Where to start?

How about actually reading the bible, or at least the Pentateuch, the original source from which the Commandments are derived? There's very little about morality in these five books. They're mostly about genocide, tribal violence, vengeance, theft, incest, rape and slavery, all whipped to a bloody boil by a sadistic celestial dictator. Exhibit A: god includes in his commandments a specific order not to kill, yet, not long after they're delivered, he demands that Moses "slay" everyone who worshipped the golden calf, roughly 3,000 men.

As for christian mythology, let's be clear. It's a system of belief that rallies adherents around torturing and then killing an innocent human being, in the hope that doing so will bring about their spiritual salvation. It must be said publicly, loudly, again and again: to be a christian is to worship human sacrifice. This is wickedness, not morality.

Consider a recent example, the Lori Vallow case, so-called "doomsday cult mom." From the perspective of a secular society, she's a murderous fiend, guilty of the most heinous crime of killing her young children. From the perspective of a christian, she's the embodiment of faith.

Forget all the nasty stuff being said about the woman. Focus on the fundamentals. When she swears again and again that she's a devout christian, believe her. Friends have testified she told them that she "saw angels" and was a "personal friend of Jesus Christ," experiences central to the faith. What's more, such is the nature of Ms Vallow's relationship with the godhead that he "visited her" shortly before she butchered her children and buried their remains in a shallow grave. An annunciation, of a kind. Of course they had to be killed. They were "possessed by evil spirits". To christians, this battle, the battle between good and evil, between angels and devils, is real, tangible, of this world. So, naturally, when god told Ms Vallow to kill her children, she acted. She obeyed. Like Abraham, only she followed through. Surely, for christians of all denominations, Ms Vallow's filicide demonstrates the kind of loyalty expected of those in service to a capricious, vengeful god.

For context, here's James Madison, considered the "Father of the Constitution", on why he opposed the State partnering with any religion: "The purpose of separation of Church and State is to keep forever from these shores the ceaseless strife that has soaked the soil of Europe with blood for centuries."

Ceaseless strife.

It's not hard to pinpoint the cause of the strife to which Madison was alluding. Open any history book (unless you live in a christian, book-burning state) and you'll discover fairly quickly the reality behind the words. Our fourth president was referring to the religious violence that plagued Europe throughout its then-1800-year evolution. A few examples: the Saxon Wars in 784. The Rhineland Massacres in 1095. The Crown of Castile in 1502. The Second War of Kappel in 1531. The Schmalkadic War in 1546. The Knights' Revolt, the Peasants' War and the French Wars of Religion, also in the 16th century. The Nine Years' War, the Thirty Years' War and the Wars of the Three Kingdoms in the 17th century. The War of the Spanish Succession in 1701. And on and on and on, bloody slaughter after bloody slaughter, each one carried out in service to their god.

The "troubles" in Ireland is another, more recent example of how christian nationalism continues to be a force for misery and suffering. Two branches of the same faith, protestant and catholic, warring with each other for hundreds of years, burning each other at the stake, blowing up churches, bombing cars and buildings, murdering each other and each other's children in unrelenting waves of sectarian violence. Disagreements brought on by a clash of religious practices spread generationally, destroying families and whole communities, fanned to a fire by those who believe they are, like Ms Vallow, doing god's work.

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This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here.

In some sense, the most recent events in the Middle East, described vividly today by TomDispatch regular Juan Cole, creator of the must-read Informed Comment website, should be seen as yet more fallout from Washington's version of the Ukraine war. I'm thinking, of course, about how, in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, President George W. Bush and crew decided to invade a country that had nothing to do with Osama bin Laden or his al-Qaeda associates and presented no danger whatsoever to the U.S. Who could forget Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld telling an aide in the ruins of the just attacked Pentagon on September 11, 2001: "Go massive. Sweep it all up. Things related and not."

That "and not" was most distinctly Saddam Hussein's Iraq. From there, of course, it just went downhill. If there's a difference, in criminal terms, between Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the American invasion of Iraq, it might only be that Ukraine was, at least, a neighboring country. Iraq was a truly distant land. Today, 20 years later, there are still thousands of American troops in Iraq and neighboring Syria, while victory in what came to be known as "the global war on terror" was never in sight.

In fact, from George W. Bush to Donald Trump "" who, I suspect, would never have been elected president without this country's disastrous twenty-first-century wars "" to the aged Joe Biden, ours has long been a tale of self-imposed imperial decline and, in a country that still "invests" more money in its military than the next 11 countries combined, it has yet to end by any means. Meanwhile, in that region where so much of the disaster began, Iran is evidently coming ever closer to having the know-how necessary to produce nuclear weapons and China is now the rising power. But let Juan Cole explain how the once-upon-a-time "American century" is now playing out in the Middle East. Tom

China and the Axis of the Sanctioned

How America's Divide-and-Rule Strategy in the Middle East Backfired

By Juan Cole

A photo Beijing released on March 6th of Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a seismic shock in Washington. There was the Secretary-General of the Chinese Communist Party standing between Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran's National Security Council, and Saudi National Security Adviser Musaad bin Mohammed al-Aiban. They were awkwardly shaking hands on an agreement to reestablish mutual diplomatic ties. That picture should have brought to mind a 1993 photo of President Bill Clinton hosting Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO chief Yasser Arafat on the White House lawn as they agreed to the Oslo Accords. And that long-gone moment was itself an after-effect of the halo of invincibility the United States had gained in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union and the overwhelming American victory in the 1991 Gulf War.

This time around, the U.S. had been cut out of the picture, a sea change reflecting not just Chinese initiatives but Washington's incompetence, arrogance, and double-dealing in the subsequent three decades in the Middle East. An aftershock came in early May as concerns gripped Congress about the covert construction of a Chinese naval base in the United Arab Emirates, a U.S. ally hosting thousands of American troops. The Abu Dhabi facility would be an add-on to the small base at Djibouti on the east coast of Africa used by the People's Liberation Army-Navy for combating piracy, evacuating noncombatants from conflict zones, and perhaps regional espionage.

China's interest in cooling off tensions between the Iranian ayatollahs and the Saudi monarchy arose, however, not from any military ambitions in the region but because it imports significant amounts of oil from both countries. Another impetus was undoubtedly President Xi's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, or BRI, that aims to expand Eurasia's overland and maritime economic infrastructure for a vast growth of regional trade "" with China, of course, at its heart. That country has already invested billions in a China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and in developing the Pakistani Arabian seaport of Gwadar to facilitate the transmission of Gulf oil to its northwestern provinces.

Having Iran and Saudi Arabia on a war footing endangered Chinese economic interests. Remember that, in September 2019, an Iran proxy or Iran itself launched a drone attack on the massive refinery complex at al-Abqaiq, briefly knocking out five million barrels a day of Saudi capacity. That country now exports a staggering 1.7 million barrels of petroleum daily to China and future drone strikes (or similar events) threaten those supplies. China is also believed to receive as much as 1.2 million barrels a day from Iran, though it does so surreptitiously because of U.S. sanctions. In December 2022, when nationwide protests forced the end of Xi's no-Covid lockdown measures, that country's appetite for petroleum was once again unleashed, with demand already up 22% over 2022.

So, any further instability in the Gulf is the last thing the Chinese Communist Party needs right now. Of course, China is also a global leader in the transition away from petroleum-fueled vehicles, which will eventually make the Middle East far less important to Beijing. That day, however, is still 15 to 30 years away.

Things Could Have Been Different

China's interest in bringing to an end the Iranian-Saudi cold war, which constantly threatened to turn hotter, is clear enough, but why did those two countries choose such a diplomatic channel? After all, the United States still styles itself the "indispensable nation." If that phrase ever had much meaning, however, American indispensability is now visibly in decline, thanks to blunders like allowing Israeli right-wingers to cancel the Oslo peace process, the launching of an illegal invasion of and war in Iraq in 2003, and the grotesque Trumpian mishandling of Iran. Distant as it may be from Europe, Tehran might nonetheless have been brought into NATO's sphere of influence, something President Barack Obama spent enormous political capital trying to achieve. Instead, then-President Donald Trump pushed it directly into the arms of Vladimir Putin's Russian Federation and Xi's China.

Things could indeed have been different. With the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal, brokered by the Obama administration, all practical pathways for Iran to build nuclear weapons were closed off. It's also true that Iran's ayatollahs have long insisted they don't want a weapon of mass destruction that, if used, would indiscriminately kill potentially vast numbers of non-combatants, something incompatible with the ethics of Islamic law.

Whether one believes that country's clerical leaders or not, the JCPOA made the question moot, since it imposed severe restrictions on the number of centrifuges Iran could operate, the level to which it could enrich uranium for its nuclear plant at Bushehr, the amount of enriched uranium it could stockpile, and the kinds of nuclear plants it could build. According to the inspectors at the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran faithfully implemented its obligations through 2018 and "" consider this an irony of our Trumpian times "" for such compliance it would be punished by Washington.

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Latvian authorities continue to fight against people who are the basis of the State. They invent new financial and political mechanisms aimed to worsen the living and working standards of those who directly influence the future of young generation. The "war" against teachers has already led to protests and tensity in Latvian society.

Thus, Latvian Education and Science Workers' Trade Union (LIZDA) organized a major protest march in the capital of Riga on 24 April and went on a three-day strike until 27 April. The strike forced the coalition government to increase their wages. More than 26 000 Latvian teachers have signed up for the protest procession and three-day strike.

The government approved amendments suggested by the Ministry of Education and Science, allocating an additional amount towards the increase of teachers' wages in order to satisfy demands of the teachers on strike. However, according to LIZDA, the decision for allocation of additional funding towards an increase of teachers' wages have not completely fulfilled the union's demands presented in the recent strike.

The new political campaign that will move teachers to despair and job loss is Latvian language-proficiency tests. Authorities call it "the natural process of sorting". And it has begun.

According to Kurzeme Television, since teachers in Latvia have had to pass the official Latvian language-proficiency tests, 15 teachers have lost their jobs permanently or temporarily in Liep?ja.

At Liep?ja 3rd Secondary School, in which learning is bilingual, the official language tests launched by the State Education Content Center proved to be an insurmountable obstacle for seven teachers. The three teachers have been suspended from work right now, until July 5, they have been given time to improve Latvian language skills.

Unfortunately, the fact is that four more teachers themselves stopped their employment relationship on April 28, because they decided independently that they were better off not working at school than to learn. Four more teachers have also chosen the same way at Liepaja 7th High School. Another educator has lost her job in Liep?ja's pre-school education institution "Liesmi?a" because of the official language test.

According to P?vels Jurs, principal of Liep?ja 7th High School, working legal relations have already been stopped with teachers who were not able to pass the exam.

Three teachers at the 7th High School have not yet passed official language proficiency tests. Two of them have been on sick leave for a long time. They have chosen a path called "the sick leave" being in despair. The long-standing absence of staff was suspicious to the principal, so he asked the Health Inspectorate to assess the validity of the issuing of sick leaves. Teachers are even accused of abusing the law.

Health Inspectorate spokeswoman Iveta Balode informed that at the beginning of April, the Inspectorate requested medical documents from the family doctors of these educators and three separate tests have been launched, the results of which could be known in early June. During tests, inspection doctors and experts will see records of patient visits, health complaints, referrals to investigations, and their results.

Unfortunately, the absence of teachers has affected the learning process.

Thus, Liep?jas 3rd Secondary School principal acknowledged that a tragic situation is with a math teacher: "It is sudden, especially now, in May, when there are exams, state tests, finding a math teacher who is willing to work full-time is almost impossible."

Liep?ja City Education Board pointed out that the shortage of 15 teachers in the population of approximately 800 teachers was not a large number, so there is no reason to consider the situation as extreme. But it is really extreme and absurd and even catastrophic for children who will lose time and knowledge only because Russian-speaking teachers are persecuted in the state and cannot carry out their key duties and educate children.
A jury found three former executives of Aequitas Capital guilty of multiple counts of fraud and conspiracy charges related to the financial firms 2016 collapse.

Prosecutors accused Bob Jesenik, company founder and chief executive officer, and two other senior executives, Brian Rice and Andrew MacRitchie, of lying to investors about the safety of the investments as the Lake Oswego finance firm was collapsing. The executives continued to solicit new investors into early 2016, they said, by which time it was clear the company was in an uncontrolled tailspin.
The Greenbrier Cos. said Tuesday it has sold its Gunderson Marine barge building operation to a newly formed company that plans to expand production on the Portland waterfront.

Greenbrier, which had already announced plans to stop making railcars at the Northwest Portland riverfront site and lay off 101 this year, said Tuesdays deal preserves 300 jobs from the barge manufacturing business. The new owners say they hope to boost Gundersons workforce considerably.

The facility has a tremendous amount of room to accommodate other fabrication, said Marvin Dee Burch, co-founder of Oregon Green Manufacturing, the new company created to buy the Gunderson site.

Burch is president of Advanced American Construction, a marine construction business also based in Northwest Portland. He formed Oregon Green Manufacturing with Terry Aarnio, who owned Oregon Iron Works until its sale to Vigor Industrial in 2014.

The companies didnt disclose terms of their deal, which closed Monday, but said there were no public incentives associated with the transaction. Workers at the Gunderson site are not unionized.

Gunderson emerged from a steel fabrication business two brothers started in Portland in 1919. It has been building ships since 1941, operating on the Front Avenue site beginning in 1947. Greenbrier acquired the company in 1985.

The 58-acre site on Front Avenue will retain the Gunderson Marine name, Burch said, with Oregon Green Manufacturing serving as its parent company.

The Gunderson property once had 1,800 people working along the Willamette River, according to Burch. He said he and Aarnio will use their experience in metal fabrication and marine construction to explore other opportunities for the property including electric tugboats, wind energy platforms, wave buoys, bridge girders and components for river dams.

Were really looking at as many areas as we can to get that space operating again, Burch said.

Greenbrier announced last fall that it would shut down the Gunderson railcar factory in Portland, shifting production to factories elsewhere in the country that are closer to its customers and other railcar operations. That left the site of the adjacent barge operation uncertain, along with the 300 factory jobs.

The transition of Gunderson Marine and the Front Avenue site leaves us encouraged but also with a heavy heart, Greenbrier CEO Lorie Tekorius said in a written statement. We have been a steward of the Gunderson location since entering railcar manufacturing in 1985. The facility holds a special place in the life of Portland and Oregon.

Greenbriers headquarters remain in Lake Oswego, where it employs more than 250, including about 70 that recently relocated from the Gunderson site who work in engineering, information technology and other corporate functions. Greenbrier continues to build and manage railcars at sites around the country, businesses it runs from Lake Oswego.

Were going to maintain a significant presence in Oregon, Greenbrier Vice President Jack Isselmann said Tuesday.

This article has been updated with additional detail on the transaction and plans for the Gunderson site.

-- Mike Rogoway | mrogoway@oregonian.com | 503-294-7699

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A 13-year-old boy accused of threatening to shoot up the Creative Science School in Southeast Portland Monday was arrested nearby with a replica gun and wearing a tactical vest bearing a patch that read, BAD DECISIONS MAKE GOOD STORIES, according to Portland police.

Just before 4 p.m., officers were dispatched to the school at 1231 S.E. 92nd Ave. on reports that a former student was making threats to commit a school shooting and was seen with a gun and wearing tactical gear.

Administrators of the school, which is a Portland Public Schools K-8 that draws students by lottery from across the district, placed the school on lockdown and called 911.

Officers located the 13-year-old at Southeast 92nd Avenue and Stark Street, about six blocks from the school. He was wearing a helmet, goggles and a green tactical vest and carrying what looked like a Glock handgun, police said. Officers ordered him to drop the gun and put his hands up and he complied, according to police.

The firearm turned out to be a replica gun.

Police took the 13-year-old boy to the Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Center on allegations of menacing with a firearm and disorderly conduct.

Gene Bivens, principal of Creative Science School, said the former student had been banned from the campus but had entered the building after school on Monday. An assistant principal immediately told the 13-year-old that he needed to leave and escorted him to the parking lot, where someone reported seeing him with what they thought was a gun, Bivens wrote to students parents. Thats when police were called and the school doors were locked.

No one was hurt, and we will continue cooperating with the police. This is an important reminder to be attentive when entering or exiting our building. As you pass through our external doors, please do not let other people enter unless they are wearing PPS identification. Even if you know someone to be a parent or member of our school community, please direct them to ring the external bell themselves, and then to check-in at the front desk.

Sydney Kelly, a spokesperson for Portland Public Schools, said by email, We are proud of the way our students and staff responded. At PPS, we take the health and safety of our students and staff very seriously and will respond accordingly when situations like this occur.'

Its the second time in as many months that a boy has been arrested outside a city school with what looked like a real handgun.

Last month, two teens, ages 15 and 17, were arrested in a robbery and stabbing of a 13-yr-old boy outside Rieke Elementary School in Southwest Portlands Hillsdale neighborhood on a Friday evening about 5:15 p.m. The 17-year-old is accused of pointing a black handgun , which turned out to be an air soft pistol, at a crowd of middle school students after his 15-year-old friend had robbed and stabbed the 13-year-old, according to witnesses and court statements.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212

Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian

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A four-alarm fire ripped through a Southwest Portland apartment building Tuesday morning, causing extensive damage and raising the possibility the building will collapse.

The blaze sent heavy, black smoke throughout downtown Portland and surrounding areas, leading to the closure of streets and highways.

Firefighters responded to the building, at 1410 S.W. Taylor Street in the Goose Hollow neighborhood, at about 10 a.m., according to Portland Fire & Rescue spokesperson Rick Graves. They entered the building, sprinted down the hallways and banged on doors, yelling to residents to come out and that it wasnt a false alarm.

Firefighters evacuated more than a dozen people and at least two dogs, Graves said. The bureau said its confident everyone got out of the building, which was built in 1910 and had about 60 units. It was unclear Tuesday afternoon, however, how many people lived in the building. All things lead us to believe everyone got out safely, Graves said.

The fires cause is unknown at this time, but the blaze appears to have started on the third floor and jumped to the fourth, Graves said. There were multiple explosions. One firefighter was hit in the forehead with glass while standing across the street. He wiped the cut with gauze, put his helmet on and returned to fighting the fire, Graves said. Another firefighter experienced a cardiac concern, Graves added.

Because the structure is so old, fire officials are absolutely concerned about it collapsing, Graves told reporters at the scene. Two buildings south of the structure sustained water and smoke damage but are expected to reopen.

Portland General Electric turned off power to the area at the fire bureaus request.

Photos and video shot by Portland Fire & Rescue show smoke billowing from the windows of the four-story structure as firefighters evacuated and rescued tenants and pets from the fire-escape stairs on the buildings facade.

About an hour after arriving on the scene, the fire bureaus on-scene commanders directed crews to withdraw from the building because the fire was still growing and it was unsafe, Graves said. At 11:45 a.m., the bureau said crews were performing a Personal Accountability Report  making sure all firefighters were accounted for. Graves later said crews did three checks for its firefighters.

Flames were still jumping out of the roofline at 12:30 p.m. as fire engines poured water onto the structure from hoses and cranes.

Residents standing at the corner of Southwest 14th Avenue and Yamhill Street were crying as they stared up at the building.

The giant smoke cloud over the building had mostly dissipated by then but the air still smelled acrid as fire hoses continued to spray through windows.

Water streamed down 14th Avenue and swirled into storm drains.

Everything I love is gone, said one resident, who watched the fire from behind red police tape and asked not to be named. You can see the sky through my ceiling.

The woman said a resident on the floor below her apartment had been pulling the fire alarm almost daily for six months, so many residents probably thought it was another false alarm.

She said she left for work at 6:30 a.m. but got a call just after 10 from a neighbor on the fourth floor who said an apartment blew up.

The woman said she had two cats inside her apartment and feared they were both dead.

A complaint filed with the Bureau of Development Services in December said the apartment building lacked smoke, gas and carbon-monoxide detectors, had exposed electrical wiring and suffered from severe leaks leading to mold and mildew, records show.

Inspectors did not find any missing alarms during a walk-through of the building Dec. 15, case files show, and most of the code violations found that day were found to be fixed during a follow-up inspection Monday.

[READ MORE: Portland apartment building cited for expired fire extinguisher, daisy-chained cords, but most violations corrected before blaze]

Another nuisance complaint filed last August objected to overgrown vegetation and trash in the building, records show. That complaint was closed in November.

Multiple streets near the fire were closed as firefighters worked. The Portland Bureau of Transportation said that, due to heavy smoke, Interstate 405 was closed in both directions from the Interstate 5 split before the Marquam Bridge and from U.S. 26 eastbound. It reopened a couple hours later, although a ramp to I-405 south remained blocked as of Tuesday afternoon. Transportation officials expected it to reopen by Wednesday morning.

PBOT warned that additional street closures may remain in place for hours. Southwest 14th Avenue between Salmon and Yamhill streets is likely to remain closed through Thursday afternoon, said Dylan Rivera, a PBOT spokesperson.

The blaze also disrupted MAXs Blue and Red lines, because fire engines blocked tracks near Providence Park stadium.

The apartment building is four blocks from Providence Park and two blocks from Lincoln High School, which lost electricity Tuesday morning after the Fire Bureau asked PGE to turn the power off in the neighborhood.

Students at Northwest Academy, a private school for grades 6-12 at Southwest 12th Avenue and Main Street, were sent home around midday because of the heavy smoke.

About 100 firefighters battled the blaze at the apartment building, which had oil furnaces in the basement. Water that flooded the basement caused those oils to spill into the street, and firefighters blocked storm drains to try to prevent the oil from seeping into the citys sewer system.

Off-duty Portland firefighters were asked to report for duty Tuesday afternoon. Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue and Gresham Fire Department also reported to the scene, fire officials said.

Graves, the Portland Fire & Rescue spokesperson, said around 1 p.m. the fire had maxed out but likely would burn until tomorrow.

With a strong possibility of its collapse, firefighters and residents were kept at a safe distance from the building Tuesday afternoon, he said, adding:

We can replace an engine and a truck but we cant replace a human.

Reporters Jayati Ramakrishnan, Zane Sparling and Julia Silverman contributed to this report.

-- Savannah Eadens; seadens@oregonian.com; 503-221-6651; @savannaheadens
Frankie Olivo has been selling second-hand goods online from his home in Rockwood for the better part of a decade, and more recently he started buying abandoned storage units to resell the items at area flea markets like Maizee Maes.

As he attended more events, Olivo, who identifies as Latinx and queer, started to notice he didnt meet many others who were part of the LGBTQ community or people of color. So he decided to launch his own market that reflected the diversity he hoped to see, and Rockwood seemed like the perfect place.

This neighborhood is one of the most diverse in Oregon, and one thats often neglected, Olivo said. Ive met a lot of amazing people from different cultures, and I wanted a market that was as inclusive as my neighborhood.

He reached out to a variety of vendors, balancing his research with his day job as an estate sale liquidator. When his Rockwood Flea Market launched on Saturday, 34 vendors filled the Downtown Rockwood Plaza at 458 SE 185th Ave.

Benasha Williams, owner of a homemade skin product business called Ms. Medicinals, quickly accepted an invitation from Olivo.

I feel like this kind of event is something I want to see more of and be a part of, and its something thats missing, Williams said. I think what Frankie is doing is really awesome.

Another goal of the event is to help break negative stigma around the neighborhood, where Williams also resides.

Its not a bad neighborhood at all; there are just some bad things that happen  thats life, Williams said. I think everyone out here is good people, and theyre just trying to live their life day to day.

Destiny Elliot came to the event to sell Native American jewelry to raise money for her daughters quinceanera through her business Pomo Spiritual Readings. Its a side gig she started two years ago.

Elliot said it was important to have diverse markets like the one Olivo is trying to build.

Its amazing to see kids out here and people trying to rebuild this community, she said.

Bryan Hamilton, a diversity, equity and inclusion consultant by day, met Olivo at the Maizee Maes event selling his homemade chocolate mint oils. It was his first event, and he was trying to figure out how to sign up for more when Olivo offered him a spot at the Rockwood plaza. Hamilton aims to turn his business, Hamilton Lifestyles, into a full-time career.

I immediately signed up, Hamilton said. Im an LGBTQ veteran so diversity, equity and inclusion is a big part of my life.

The Rockwood Flea Market will return monthly throughout the summer, on Saturday June 10, July 8, Aug. 12 and Sept. 9. Next year, Olivo would like the flea market to operate every summer Saturday.

Under the blazing sun this Saturday, Krisann Washington found herself perusing the market while waiting to get a table at a nearby restaurant. She said the event is a great opportunity for a unique area like Rockwood.

To be in spaces with other people like yourself is wonderful, Washington said. Its an up-and-coming neighborhood, and Im glad that this space is here.

 Austin De Dios; adedios@oregonian.com; @austindedios; 503-319-9744

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Ten-year-old Aubree Orren clutches her moms waist, cuddling into her at every opportunity.

Because for most of Aubrees life, she couldnt.

Brittany Endicott opens the scrapbook she sent to Aubree and her other two children two years ago.

Hello my children this is a book just for the three of you to get to know me more than you know me I love you guys.

Endicott, 34, made the scrapbook when she was incarcerated at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville. The crafts project was part of Girls Scouts Beyond Bars, a unique program in dozens of womens prisons, jails and juvenile-detention centers across the country.

Endicott used toothpaste to glue photos into the scrapbook, and she cut scraps of paper from old magazines and calendars, adorning the small book with butterflies, a symbol that represents her first-born son, Anthony, who died in 2005. On one page, she drew stick figures of the family at a beach. On another, she listed her favorite things: purple, turtles, camping and dancing.

Sitting at a picnic table in their favorite Keizer park during spring break, she asked her children: Did you know all this about me when I was in prison?

They didnt. A year and a half after her release, theyre still getting to know her.

Over the past 20 years, the incarceration rate for women in Oregon has tripled, according to data from the Oregon Justice Resource Center. More than 60% of women in state prisons have a child under the age of 18.

The Girl Scout programs mission is to strengthen and preserve the family bonds that can break during a family members time in prison. Oregon and Southwest Washingtons Girl Scouts Beyond Bars program started in 1997 at Multnomah Countys Inverness jail; it moved to Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in 2001.

We believe strongly in second chances, said Amy Botula, the programs manager.

In 2014, Endicott took a plea deal in Clackamas County for her role in an armed robbery. The robbery led Michael Orren, her ex-husband and the father of her children, to a life sentence for aggravated murder.

Endicott received a seven-year prison sentence. Her children were all under two years old when she was convicted and sent to Coffee Creek.

For most of her time in prison, Endicotts kids only knew their mother in the sterile confines of Coffee Creeks gray-walled visitor room, where correctional officers kept a close watch and restricted physical contact. Once a week, Endicotts grandmother and her childrens custodian drove from Keizer to Wilsonville with Aubree and her younger siblings, Madison and Michael.

Getting incarcerated made me grow up, Endicott said. Prison sucks. Nobody should ever want to go. But I can say that seven and a half years at Coffee Creek did some justice. Ive learned so much about myself. I never knew I had the ability to grow and become who I am today.

Towards the end of her sentence, Endicotts two daughters, Aubree and Madison, joined the Girl Scout troop affiliated with the prison program. This allowed them to see their mother twice a month outside the visitor room. During three-hour visits in a classroom, they earned Scout badges, did crafts and sold cookies to inmates while Endicott and other mothers acted as troop leaders. Endicott could hug her children, and they sat on her lap while she braided their hair.

In the company of other young girls who had a mother, grandmother, aunt or sister in prison, the troop ate lunches together  food brought in from the outside  and played games.

The Beyond Bars program allowed Endicotts children to get to know their mother, and helped them understand her imprisonment. It also gave Endicott much-needed hope for the future, showing her she could be a mom and lead a normal, successful life after her sentence.

We need visits, we need the outside world, Endicott said. Because our lives are at standstill while were in there and everyone else moves on with their lives.

***

Rhiannon Cates, 30, volunteers at a Troop 60 girl scouts meeting Saturday, March 25, 2023, located in SW Portland. Cates begin volunteering with the organization around five years ago after her best friend donated to the group on her behalf. Cates, who was a girl scout from age 10 to 18, understands firsthand the impact of incarceration on children. Her grandmother, who was her main caregiver at the time, was sent to prison shortly before she joined the Girl Scouts. Mark Graves/The Oregonian

If Rhiannon Cates had known other girls with an incarcerated family member, she might not have felt so alone and alienated as a preteen when her grandmother was in prison.

Now Cates, 30, gets to serve that role for little girls.

A library archivist at Portland State University, Cates volunteers for Girl Scouts Beyond Bars, often driving to and from troop meetings at Coffee Creek.

Cates joined Girl Scouts at age 10, shortly after her grandmother, who had been her caregiver, went to prison.

She didnt know about the Girl Scouts Beyond Bars program then. It couldve been a reprieve from the shame she felt, she said.

In Girl Scouts Beyond Bars, theres an unspoken energy, Cates said, because weve all been touched by that stigma.

The criminal-justice system is confusing for children, she added. They often feel at fault.

She plays an important role in the lives of many of the girls in the Beyond Bars program, she said, because she truly understands what theyre going through. Because my grandma, like, the dearest person in my life, became someone people didnt want to bring up.

Incarcerated women who want to join Girl Scouts Beyond Bars are screened through a partnership with the Department of Corrections. Their conviction, facility disciplinary history and relationship with their childrens caregiver are taken into consideration.

We want to give them this new opportunity to see themselves in a new way, (to see) their connection to their child in a new way, Botula said.

***

The scrapbook Brittany Endicott made for her children while in prison included photos of her with their father, Michael Orren, who is now serving a 25-to-life sentence at the Oregon State Penitentiary. Endicott was released from Coffee Creek in Sept. 2021. Sean Meagher/The Oregonian

Endicott grew up in Oregon and Washington, raised by a single mother who worked long hours, so Endicott spent a lot of time alone.

Her mother struggled with addiction, and she sometimes dated men Endicott didnt like.

Endicott acted out, hanging out in downtown Portland until 2 a.m., experimenting with drugs.

She was addicted to ecstasy by age 13 and using meth by 15, she said. She dropped out of high school and at 17 gave birth to her first child, a son, Anthony.

I was young, and didnt want to be a mom, Endicott said. I was a baby that had a baby and shouldnt have, because I wasnt done being a baby.

She and Anthony were living with Endicotts grandmother in 2012 when she let the 5-year-old boy go camping with his dad at Detroit Lake.

Anthony drowned in an accident. His body wasnt found for a month.

Endicott couldnt eat or sleep after Anthonys death. Her husband at the time, the father of her three living children, was using and selling meth, she said. She fell deep into addiction.

Before, I always used to try to justify why I was using, Endicott said. As an addict, you always come up with a reason.

Endicotts prison sentence was a roller coaster, she said. She felt suffocated, stuck. But with therapy, she learned to grieve the loss of her son and move forward in a constructive way.

After five years in prison, she decided to shoot for the moon and apply to the Girl Scouts Beyond Bars program. Shed always wanted to be a Girl Scout, she said.

She was nervous, worried her kids wouldnt be accepted.

Endicott knew how important it was to have a one-on-one relationship with her children. When Endicott was convicted, Aubree was just 17 months old, and the twins were 7 months.

Shed been somewhat lucky; her grandmother brought the children to visit often when they were babies.

I wouldnt have the relationship I have with my children now if it wasnt for her consistency, Endicott said.

There are a lot of women at Coffee Creek who dont get to see their children because of complicated relationships with a caregiver or because their children are in foster care. And some mothers are ashamed to let their children see them incarcerated, Endicott said.

Everyones story of course is unique, but in some ways, Brittany, her daughters and the extended family are really emblematic of how (Girl Scouts Beyond Bars) can be of service, Botula said. We were just one more strong thread in the safety net that the family was already creating to keep everybody together through Britneys incarceration.

20 1 / 20 Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington's Troop 60

When Aubree and Madison joined Girls Scouts, they got to have lunch with their mom for the first time in five years.

With valuable one-on-one time, Endicott learned Aubree was the artistic tomboy and Maddie the bossy diva.

I feel like Girl Scouts Beyond Bars not only helps us maintain a relationship with our children, but it also helps the children to see and be a part of a program where other little girls are also impacted by incarceration, Endicott said. Theyre not alienated. Theyre in a room where they can all relate.

When COVID hit in 2020, the program went virtual. The girls and their troop leaders were mailed bonding projects to do together over Zoom, like making slime, asking each other questions from a jar, and the scrapbook.

If it wasnt for Girl Scouts I wouldve never done anything like that, Endicott said of the activities.

With COVID restrictions finally lifted, Girl Scouts Beyond Bars is recruiting families anew and conducting interviews with mothers in custody. Botula said she expects the program to be back in Coffee Creek by June.

On Sept. 8, 2021, Endicott was released from prison. Waiting for her in the parking lot, the children came running, and Endicott fell to her knees.

But re-entering the world wasnt easy. For so long, shed made no decisions. Getting out meant relearning how to live and be responsible. It was anxiety-inducing.

She moved into her grandmothers home, sharing a bed with her kids, holding them close through the night.

On one of the scrapbook pages, shed written to her children about her dream of becoming a hairdresser. After her release, Endicott completed beauty school and is now finishing another cosmetology license. Her goal is to start her own salon by 2025.

Meantime, she practices on the kids: dying Maddies hair blue and giving Michael blonde highlights.

Endicott immediately stepped right into a full-time mother role, but it took some time to earn her childrens trust.

You were in prison my whole life, theyd sometimes say, in defiance of her authority.

Endicott took it with humility. Youre right, shed say. If I could go back, I wouldnt have done it.

The resentment and wariness soon waned.

I think they realized Im here to stay, theyre not gonna lose me, Endicott said. I can understand that fear.

Endicott is honest with her children; she doesnt refrain from answering their questions about her incarceration. Theyd already Googled her case and learned some of the details.

They tell me they love me every five minutes, every time they see me, Endicott said.

Theyre not necessarily making up for lost time, Aubree said, just saying it because shes here now.

 Savannah Eadens; seadens@oregonian.com; 503-221-6651; @savannaheadens

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WASHINGTON  U.S. 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.

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.

Durham also concluded FBI and Justice Department 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 conducted 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 U.S. 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.

2023 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Gov. Tina Kotek learned Secretary of State Shemia Fagan had an outside marijuana consulting contract and had recused herself from an audit of the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commissions pot regulation system eight days before Fagans side job became public, the governors office said late Monday.

Koteks spokesperson said the governor and Fagan met on April 19 for their first official meeting to discuss the legislative session and other topics unrelated to cannabis.
Details added: first version posted on 15:45

BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 16. The first solar panel was installed at 'Garadagh' solar power plant in Azerbaijan, Trend reports via the Ministry of Energy of Azerbaijan.

The Azerbaijani Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov, together with CEO of Masdar company Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, inspected the area where the Garadagh solar power plant with a capacity of 230 MW is being built.

Masdar representatives noted that as part of the solar power plant project, the construction of relevant roads has been completed, the area for the installation of solar panels has been leveled and kilometers of territory have been fenced off.

It was emphasized that it is planned to install more than 500,000 solar panels, each side of which can generate electricity with a capacity of 545-550 watts.

"At present, solar panels are gradually being put into operation, and automated panel cleaning plants are being tested. The construction of the 330/35 kV substation is ongoing, the station, which will be equipped with a single-axis solar tracking system, will be commissioned before the end of this year," the ministry said.

At the end of the visit, Shahbazov and Al Ramahi took part in the process of installing the first solar panel at the plant and in a tree planting ceremony.

On January 9, 2020, the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Masdar Company of the United Arab Emirates signed an Implementation Agreement. According to the Agreement, pilot project will be implemented for the construction of solar power plant with a capacity of 230 MW by Masdar.

In this regard, on April 6, 2021, Investment agreement, Power Purchase agreement and Transmission Connection agreement were signed on 230 MW solar power plant between the Ministry of Energy, Azerenergy OJSC and Masdar of the United Arab Emirates. The project with a total installed capacity of 230 MW will be implemented in an area 9 km northwest of Alat settlement.

According to preliminary estimates, the solar power plant will annually generate 500 million kWh of electricity, will save 110 million cubic meters of natural gas per year, to prevent 200,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions and to supply 110,000 homes with electricity. The total cost of the project is approximately $ 200 million and is expected to be fully funded by foreign investment.

On March 15, 2022, with the participation of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure of the United Arab Emirates, Suhail Al Mazrouei groundbreaking ceremony of the 230 MW Garadagh Solar Power Plant was held.
As the three-year anniversary of the May 2020 dam failures approaches, Four Lakes Task Force Chair and President Dave Kepler informed the Midland County Board of Commissioners that the recovery and pre-restoration phases are complete and the four lakes are expected to filled by the end of 2025 or in 2026.

Kepler spoke to the board during its meeting Tuesday in the County Services Board Room, with the anniversary of the Edenville Dam and Sanford Dam failures coming up on Friday.

The FLTF three-year report has been released on the task force's website. FLTF will also be at the High Water Mark event presented by the Midland Business Alliance from 1 to 4 p.m. March 22 at Dow Diamond.

Kepler summarized the work the group has done so far. This includes property acquisition from Boyce Hydro LLC - the former owner of the dams - stabilization of all four dams (Smallwood, Secord, Edenville and Sanford), debris removal, shoreline protection for 10,000 feet of shoreline and pre-engineering and design of the four dams.

Kepler said this work has been a $58 million effort, with $33 million spent on acquisition and recovery of the dams, $22 million on pre-construction work, and $3 million on operations and maintenance.

He said a significant amount of funds came from federal and state sources as well as private donations.

Looking ahead, FLTF is moving into the restoration phase. Secord and Smallwood dams are under construction. All four dams have acceptable designs that exceed the state requirements for capacity and safety.

We have confidence that we can sustain and maintain (the dams) once they are constructed, Kepler said.

But Kepler did list some challenges the task force is facing. One is a permit required from Michigan's Environment, Great Lakes and Energy department regarding snuffbox mussels, an endangered species living at the Edenville Dam. He said the permit will need to be obtained before the lake can be filled.

The task force is also required to have a Conditional Letter of Map Revision in regards to the 100-year Flood Insurance Plain between the Edenville and Sanford dams.

According to FEMA, a CLOMR is FEMAs comment on a proposed project that would affect the hydrologic or hydraulic characteristics of a flooding source.

The task force is hoping to receive funding from a U.S Army Corps of Engineers program for dam repairs.

In talking with the Army Corps, theyre pretty confident that we can get that program, Kepler said.

Because of the USACE program, Kepler expects FLTF will need to go through an operation assessment and another capital assessment review in 2024 - but he said the capital assessment would likely come closer to when the lakes will be filled.

Lastly, he said the Sanford Dam project is currently working on bids. The task force received two high bids from out-of-state construction companies that were rejected. Kepler said the task force expects it can get lower bids and is looking at local companies.

He said very few local construction companies can perform the entire project, but that they could break the project down into smaller ones to be completed by various local companies.

We appreciate all of the support, Kepler said. We feel like were in a process. Were going to restore the dams and its just a matter of working through the issues.

Commissioners Gaye Terwillegar and Jeanette Snyder said at the end of the meeting that they appreciated the update and the work of the task force.

I would like to commend (Kepler) for the ongoing effort and the dedication of the Four Lakes Task Force, Terwillegar said. We are blessed to have them leading the charge.

Comissioners pass several resolutions

All resolutions at the meeting were passed by the board by a 6-0 vote, with Commissioner Steve Glaser absent. This included an agreement with Consumers Energy to create a 20-foot easement on South Cedar Street near West Railway Street in the Village of Sanford. The easement will allow for the installation of a power pole on the west side of Cedar Street to facilitate electricity at Porte Park.

The board also approved a revision to the countys Equal Opportunity Employment and Non-Discrimination policy that would add the words sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, in accordance with the state legislatures recent amendment to the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act.

The board approved a Whistleblowers Protection Act to be added as policy 406.3. The policy will provide a means for county employees to report a violation or suspected violation of federal, state or local law, rule or regulation without reprisal.

The absence of a whistleblower policy became known during a State of Michigan audit of the Midland County Health Department family planning program, which receives federal funds and is required to have such a policy on record.

In addition, the board approved:

 An amendment to the grant award between the County of Midland and the Michigan Department of Corrections adding $50,101 for services, increasing the total grant award to $376,457.

 An amendment of $124,743 to the Comprehensive Agreement with the Michigan Health and Human Services Department for supporting a COVID Workforce Development program, the U4U Tuberculosis program and the COVID vaccination program.

 A revision to the countys travel expenses reimbursement policy.

 Requests to increase the Full-time Equivalence for the Pre-Trial Specialist position to full-time and the Community Health Nurse position to 0.9 FTE. Director/Health Officer for the Department of Public Health Fred Yanoski said the nurse position will increase from 0.8 but will not reach full-time due to the level of demand and the preference of the employee.

 Approval of Administrator/Controller Bridgette Gransden's 2023-2024 goals and evaluation tool in preparation for her performance evaluation at the June 20 meeting.

 The appointment of Jeremy Rosenbrock, Tim Lapham and Roger Mahoney to the Midland County Peer Review Committee.

The Midland County Board of Commissioners will next meet on June 20 in the County Services Board Room.
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DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP)  Early warnings from weather agencies and better preparedness by local governments and aid agencies likely saved thousands of lives during a powerful cyclone that slammed into Bangladesh and Myanmar over the weekend. But there are concerns about a large number of people still unaccounted for in areas where preparations were lacking.

At the worlds largest refugee camp in Bangladesh's Coxs Bazar district, thousands of Rohingya from Myanmar were moved to safer areas until Cyclone Mocha passed. But at camps for displaced Rohingya in Myanmar's Rakhine state, where the storm hit harder, the presence of aid agencies is spotty and help from the country's military government negligible.

Only about two dozen deaths have been reported by media in Myanmar, but many people remain missing from the camps, which were reportedly heavily damaged by storm surges. Information from the affected areas has been hard to obtain because telecommunication facilities were damaged by the storm's high winds. Independent confirmation is difficult even in normal times because the military restricts the media.

In Bangladesh, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said more than 700,000 people were moved to cyclone shelters or makeshift facilities including schools and mosques.

Azizur Rahman, director of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, said early warnings and proper and timely dissemination of information enabled authorities to move people to safer ground in time.

Indias weather agency, the Indian Meteorological Department, closely tracked the storm after it was detected on April 27. As the leading weather agency in the region, the IMD is responsible for tracking cyclones across the Northern Indian Ocean, from the shores of Oman in West Asia to Myanmar in Southeast Asia.

Since 2010, it has upgraded its storm-tracking technology and is now among the most accurate forecasters of cyclones and other extreme weather events.

When Cyclone Nargis, a storm as strong as Cyclone Mocha, hit Myanmar in 2008, more than 138,000 people died, said Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, chief of the IMD.

We have tried our best to pass on all the information we collect and our analysis to authorities in the coastal regions where the cyclone eventually hit, Mohapatra said. The IMD issued updates on the cyclone every three hours over the past week.

Cyclone Mocha made landfall at Sittwe township in Myanmar with winds blowing up to 209 kilometers (130 miles) per hour, according to Myanmar's Meteorological Department. The IMD had predicted the site where the cyclone would make landfall as well as the time.

We were able to forecast this accurately four days ahead, which gave enough lead time for authorities to move the coastal communities to safer regions, Mohapatra said.

Improving ways to warn people about extreme weather events is becoming increasingly important in South Asia  the world's most densely populated region and also among the most vulnerable to climate change.

During a visit to India last year, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the World Meteorological Organization will invest $3.1 billion to set up early warning systems across the world. According to WMO, nearly half the worlds nations  mostly low-income countries and small island states  do not have any early warning systems.

Countries with limited early warning coverage have disaster mortality eight times higher than countries with high coverage, Guterres said.

According to WMO, the number of extreme weather events increased fivefold between 1970 and 2019. Economic losses increased even more - by a factor of seven. However, thanks to improved early warning and disaster risk reduction strategies, the number of deaths fell to 40% of the 1970 level.

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.

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.

___

Arasu reported from Bengaluru, India. Peck reported from Bangkok.

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Follow Sibi Arasu on Twitter at @sibi123

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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.
BEIRUT (AP)  A French investigative judge Tuesday issued an international arrest warrant for Lebanon's embattled central bank governor after he didn't show up for questioning in France on corruption charges, a Western diplomat said.

Longtime central bank Gov. Riad Salameh was supposed to appear before French prosecutors Tuesday as part of an ongoing European probe. Lebanese officials have not confirmed receipt of the arrest warrant or commented on the development.

The Western diplomat who confirmed the warrant spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not cleared to speak to media outlets.

Chanez Mensous, a lawyer at the French anti-corruption non-govermmental organization Sherpa, which alongside other organizations filed initial legal complaints against Salameh and associates back in May 2021, also confirmed the warrant was issued.

Salameh responded with a statement shortly afterward, saying he will appeal the decision calling it a clear legal violation. He also criticized the French judicial process, saying that some confidential information about the case was leaked to the media.

A European judicial team from France, Germany and Luxembourg has been conducting a corruption investigation into an array of financial crimes they allege were committed by Salameh and a long list of his associates from Lebanon's central bank, as well as Lebanese commercial banks and auditing companies. The allegations include illicit enrichment and laundering of $330 million.

Salameh, 72, who has held his post for almost 30 years, has repeatedly denied all allegations against him. He has insisted that his wealth comes from his previous job as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch, inherited properties, and investments.

The three European governments in March 2022 froze over $130 million in assets linked to the probe. During a visit to Lebanon in March, the European delegation questioned Salameh about the Lebanese central banks assets and investments outside the country, a Paris apartment  which the governor owns  and his brother Raja Salameh's brokerage firm Forry Associates Ltd.

According to a senior Lebanese judicial official, Riad Salameh never received his summons from Paris, despite several attempts to deliver it. The official said a Lebanese judge sent the notice to Salameh several times over the past two weeks, but it was returned each time because the governor was not present at the central bank to receive the notice. The judicial official spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not cleared to speak to the press.

Salameh's whereabouts were not known Tuesday and the central bank did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Salamehs failure to show up in Paris.

The date for Tuesdays hearing was set last month and Lebanon lifted a travel ban on Salameh, who is also being investigated at home. In the probe in Lebanon, Beiruts Public Prosecutor Raja Hamoush in late February charged Salameh, his brother and a close associate with corruption, including embezzling public funds, forgery, illicit enrichment, money-laundering and violation of tax laws.

Once hailed as the guardian of Lebanons financial stability, Salameh is being increasingly blamed for the country's financial meltdown. Many say he precipitated the economic crisis, which has plunged three-quarters of Lebanons population of 6 million into poverty.

Lebanon's banks have since been battered, as millions struggle from soaring inflation, high unemployment and a messy cash-based economy. According to a World Bank report released Tuesday, the cash economy makes up almost 46% of the country's GDP, as officials stall on implementing critical economic reforms demanded by the international community to make its economy viable again.

Lebanese Deputy Prime Minister Saade Shami criticized Lebanons politicians and vested interest groups for obstructing reforms and for their lack of urgency in resolving the crisis, saying the traditional economic class behave as if they live on another planet.

Salamehs term ends in July and while there is no apparent successor, the veteran governor has said in television interviews that he plans to step down.

Separately, lawyers representing Salameh, his brother and close associate Marianne Hoayek filed requests this week in Beirut demanding the suspension of the European probe until Lebanon's own investigation of the governor is completed.

Another Lebanese judicial official said the defense team argued this would ensure proper administration of justice and that a parallel European probe violates Lebanon's sovereignty. They, too, spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not permitted to speak to the press.

Nadim Houry, who heads the Paris-based think tank Arab Reform Initiative, said he believes Salameh's latest actions and those of Lebanese political and financial leaders, are attempts to stall the European probe.

Salameh still enjoys protection from the political class, which is deeply connected to the judiciary in Lebanon, Houry said. They know they cannot manipulate the judicial process in France the way they do in Lebanon."

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Associated Press writer Abby Sewell in Beirut and Thomas Adamson in Paris contributed.
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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 country's 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.

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Hranjski reported from Zagreb, Croatia.

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Find more of APs Asia-Pacific coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific
The Nation's Weather for Wednesday, May 17, 2023

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NATIONAL SUMMARY

With a cold front sliding southeastward tomorrow, showers

and thunderstorms will remain a threat for much of the

Southeast. This will be most likely from Louisiana to the

coastal Carolinas. These storms are unlikely to turn severe

but could produce pockets of torrential downpours and even

small hail. Drier and cooler weather is likely in the

Midwest and Northeast, though a couple of showers cannot be

ruled out in northern Maine. Well to the west, additional

storms are likely to develop in the High Plains, from New

Mexico to the western Dakotas. A few of these storms have

the potential to turn severe, with hail and damaging wind

gusts. Showers and storms may also extend westward into the

Rockies and Desert Southwest.

SPECIAL WEATHER

No new information for this time period.

WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS

No new information for this time period.

DAILY EXTREMES

National High Tuesday 102 at Phoenix, AZ

National Low Tuesday 28 at Gothic, CO

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Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
New York, US (PANA) - The world must make every effort to eliminate chemical weapons, the UN chief said on Monday, raising grave concerns about their continued use
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Libyan Ministry of Culture and Cognitive Development of the Government of National Unity signed a cooperation agreement Monday with the Anti-Terrorist Force to prevent and combat terrorism and intellectual extremism
New York, US (PANA) - The security situation in the Sahel remains very worrying and the spiralling crisis in Sudan is an additional source of concern, a senior UN official warned the Security Council on Tuesday
Washington, DC, US (PANA) - The United States says it is appalled by the disregard for human life exhibited by elements of the Malian Armed Forces in cooperation with the Kremlin-backed Wagner mercenary group during an operation in Moura, Mali, in March of last year
Photo: (Photo : George Frey / Getty Images)

In an effort to bolster security measures and prioritize the safety of students and staff, Alexandria City Public Schools in Virginia has taken a significant step forward by implementing weapons detection scanners.

This proactive move aims to prevent potential threats and ensure a secure learning environment for all.

The decision to introduce weapons detection scanners comes in response to the growing concern over school shootings across the nation.

By leveraging advanced technology, Alexandria City Public Schools are taking a proactive stance to prevent such incidents from occurring within their district.

State-of-the-Art Weapons Detection Scanners Deployed

As reported by WUSA9, the Alexandria City Public Schools have invested in state-of-the-art weapons detection scanners to fortify their security infrastructure.

These scanners are capable of identifying concealed firearms and other dangerous weapons through a combination of metal detection and advanced imaging technology.

Placed strategically at key entry points throughout the school premises, the scanners are designed to identify potential threats swiftly and accurately, allowing for immediate intervention and response.

The implementation of these scanners is part of a comprehensive safety plan that includes ongoing staff training and collaboration with local law enforcement agencies.

The combination of these measures aims to create a secure environment for students, staff, and visitors, minimizing the risk of any potential harm.

Fostering a Culture of Safety and Preparedness

The introduction of weapons detection scanners aligns with Alexandria City Public Schools' commitment to fostering a culture of safety and preparedness.

By proactively addressing potential threats, the school district aims to empower its students and staff, ensuring they feel safe and supported while focusing on education.

School administrators and staff have undergone comprehensive training to effectively utilize the weapons detection scanners.

According to ABC7, the scanner will be supplied by Evolv Technology.

They are trained to respond swiftly and appropriately in the event of an alert, working in coordination with law enforcement to resolve any potential threats efficiently.

Additionally, the school district has collaborated closely with local law enforcement agencies, sharing resources and expertise to enhance security protocols.

This partnership ensures a coordinated response and facilitates a seamless exchange of information in cases of emergencies.

Read Also: McDonald's in Florida Found Liable After Child Suffers Burns From 'Dangerously Hot' Chicken Nuggets

Alexandria City Public Schools New Superintendent

Additionally, according to DCist, the Alexandria school board has appointed Melanie Kay-Wyatt as the new superintendent to lead the city's schools.

Following an extensive search process, the board will publicly announce its decision during a meeting tonight.

Serving approximately 16,000 students across 18 schools, Alexandria City Public Schools has a student population where over half are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a measure of poverty.

The incoming superintendent is expected to assume the position over the summer, almost a year after the previous superintendent, Gregory Hutchings, announced his departure after serving for nearly four years. Hutchings successfully navigated the school system through the challenges posed by the pandemic.

He also staunchly defended ACPS' commitment to equity, advocating for an anti-racist approach to public education despite opposition from the Youngkin administration and other Virginia Republicans.

Virginia's Alexandria City Public Schools have taken a proactive stance in enhancing the safety of their students and staff by implementing state-of-the-art weapons detection scanners.

This move underscores the district's commitment to maintaining a secure learning environment and preventing potential threats.

By combining advanced technology with comprehensive staff training and collaboration with law enforcement agencies, Alexandria City Public Schools are fostering a culture of safety and preparedness.

As the school district continues to assess the effectiveness of the scanners, they remain dedicated to staying vigilant and exploring further advancements in their security infrastructure.

Related Article: Battling Childhood Obesity: US Considers Ban on Sugary Chocolate Milk in Schools
Photo: (Photo : Scott Olson/ Getty Images)

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has taken a significant step in reshaping the state's education system by signing a bill that restricts the use of public funds for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in Florida colleges.

The move, which follows a trend among Republicans across the country, reflects DeSantis' push to address what he considers inappropriate liberal ideology in classrooms.

This controversial legislation is expected to have far-reaching implications for higher education in Florida.

Governor DeSantis Takes Aim at DEI Programs in Florida Colleges

According to Reuters, in a bid to shape the educational landscape in Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a bill that blocks the use of federal or state funding for diversity programs in public colleges.

The move comes as part of DeSantis' larger efforts to regulate discussions on race and gender, with the governor asserting that he aims to challenge what he views as the imposition of liberal ideology within classrooms.

With his anticipated presidential run on the horizon, DeSantis has been keen on addressing divisive cultural issues to win over conservative voters, who typically hold significant influence in Republican primary elections.

Impact on Higher Education: Stricter Regulations on DEI Initiatives

The new law enacted by Governor DeSantis places restrictions on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in Florida colleges.

These programs, often led by dedicated DEI offices, are designed to provide tailored support and services to students of various racial, gender, sexual orientation, cultural, and ability backgrounds.

They also influence admissions processes, scholarships, and faculty hiring and promotion decisions.

However, the recently signed legislation now prohibits the allocation of state or federal funds toward programs advocating for diversity, equity, and inclusion or those promoting political or social activism, as per the Los Angeles Times.

According to Governor DeSantis, the concept of DEI has been misused as a means to impose ideological agendas upon universities.

The law further prohibits curricula that teach identity politics or theories that propagate the belief that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in U.S. institutions.

This provision primarily targets critical race theory, a framework that examines U.S. history through the lens of racism.

Read Also: McDonald's in Florida Found Liable After Child Suffers Burns From 'Dangerously Hot' Chicken Nuggets

A Controversial Decision: Backlash and Future Implications

As reported by Axios, the signing of SB 266 and HB 931 by Governor DeSantis marks a significant escalation in the ongoing effort to regulate how race and gender are addressed within Florida's educational institutions.

The decision to sign the bill at New College of Florida, known for its progressive reputation, further highlights the governor's intention to challenge existing norms and ideologies.

Notably, a conservative-leaning board of trustees was recently appointed by DeSantis to the traditionally liberal-leaning institution, resulting in the elimination of the college's diversity, equity, and inclusion office.

Unsurprisingly, the legislation has sparked considerable pushback, particularly among students and activists at New College.

Critics argue that the bill infringes on academic freedom and undermines efforts to foster an inclusive and diverse learning environment.

Many higher education experts and free speech advocates view the restrictions as an attack on the principles of academic inquiry and expression.

The long-term implications of this legislation on Florida's higher education system remain uncertain.

The bill's provisions will undoubtedly reshape the landscape of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, potentially limiting resources and support for marginalized students.

As colleges navigate the implementation of these new regulations, it remains to be seen how they will adapt and find alternative avenues to promote diversity and inclusivity within the constraints of the law.

The move aligns with a broader trend among Republicans who seek to address what they perceive as inappropriate liberal influence within classrooms.

Related Article: Battling Childhood Obesity: US Considers Ban on Sugary Chocolate Milk in Schools
In 2017, Halte a l'Obsolescence Programmee (HOP - Stop Planned Obsolescence) filed a lawsuit against Apple for purposely slowing iPhones (the throttling issue). Then in January 2018, Patently Apple posted a report titled "A Prosecutor in France has launched a Preliminary Investigation into Apple's alleged planned Obsolescence of its Products."

Today, according to the news site France 24, France is officially advancing their investigation into Apple Inc. allegedly planning for smartphones to become out of date through restricting their repair, prosecutors and an association said on Monday. A slightly different focus from their 2018 investigation.

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 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.
Today the DOJ published a press release that covered five cases as part of recently launched Disruptive Technology Strike Force. The Disruptive Technology Strike Force is co-led by the Departments of Justice and Commerce to counter efforts by hostile nation-states to illicitly acquire sensitive U.S. technology to advance their authoritarian regimes and facilitate human rights abuses. The Strike Forces work has led to the unsealing of charges against multiple defendants in five cases accused of crimes including export violations, smuggling and theft of trade secrets.

One of the cases covered relates to Weibao Wang, a software engineer that worked at Apple from 2016 to 2018. The DOJ charged former software engineers with stealing software and hardware source code from U.S. tech companies in order to market it to Chinese competitors.

The formal press release issued today states that "a federal court in the Northern District of California unsealed an indictment of former Apple Incorporated (Apple) employee Weibao Wang, 35, formerly of Mountain View, California for charges related to his alleged theft and attempted theft of trade secrets in connection with a scheme to access, download, and steal Apple technology related to autonomous systems.

According to the indictment, Apple hired Wang to work as a software engineer beginning in March 2016. The indictment describes how Wang signed a confidentiality agreement with Apple. The indictment further states that Apple provided Wang with in-person secrecy training that covered the appropriate handling of confidential material and established rules prohibiting the transfer and transmission of the companys intellectual property without Apples consent. Wang was assigned to work with a team at Apple that designed and developed hardware and software for autonomous systems, which can have a variety of applications, such as self-driving cars.

According to the indictment, in November 2017, Wang signed a letter accepting an offer of full-time employment as a Staff Engineer with the U.S.-based subsidiary of a company headquartered in the PRC. The parent company is described in the indictment as COMPANY ONE and allegedly was working to develop self-driving cars. The indictment alleges Wang waited more than four months after signing the new employment agreement before informing Apple that he was resigning.

After Wangs last day at Apple on April 16, 2018, Apple representatives reviewed access logs documenting historical activity on Apples network. Apple identified Wang as having accessed large amounts of sensitive proprietary and confidential information in the days leading up to his departure from Apple.

The indictment describes the June 27, 2018, search by law enforcement of Wangs Mountain View residence and the discovery of large quantities of data taken from Apple prior to his departure. Wang was present during the search and told agents he had no plans to travel. Nevertheless, Wang purchased a one-way plane ticket from San Francisco International Airport to Guangzhou, China and boarded a flight that night.

The indictment describes six categories of trade secrets that Wang allegedly stole, or attempted to steal, and charges him with one count for each category.

Wang faces a maximum statutory sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine in the amount of $250,000 (or twice the gross gain or loss resulting from the scheme) for each count of theft or attempted theft of trade secrets.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sloan Heffron and Marissa Harris are prosecuting the case. Within the National Security Division, this matter is being handled by Brendan Geary of the National Security Divisions Counterintelligence and Export Control Section."

Wang is the third former Apple employee to be accused of stealing autonomous trade secrets for China. Patently Apple covered the former cases in 2018 and 2019.

Beyond the DOJ's official press release, CNBC's report added that "Wang has been charged with six separate counts involving the theft or attempted theft of Apples 'entire autonomy source code,' tracking systems, behavior planning for autonomous systems, and descriptions of the hardware that was behind the systems."

For naysayers who don't believe that Apple's Project Titan is real, I think that Apple catching three Chinese Nationals stealing their autonomous vehicle technology and source code to advance Chinese vehicle companies would prove their skepticism to be futile.
This review essay, written by Jeff Lindsay, just went up on the blog of the Interpreter Foundation: Brent J. Schmidts Relational Faith: An Essential Book for Understanding the New Testament Meaning of Faith and for Better Appreciating the Beauty of the Restoration

As did this archived recording of our weekly AM radio program: Interpreter Radio Show  May 7, 2023

In the 7 May 2023 episode of the Interpreter Radio Show, Terry Hutchinson, Spencer Kraus, Hales Swift, and Brent Schmidt discussed Come, Follow Me New Testament lesson 23, the windows in Jaredite barges, and the recent BYU New Testament Commentary Conference. Their discussion has now been edited to remove commercial breaks, archived, and posted for your listening convenience The New Testament in Context portion of this show, for the Come, Follow Me New Testament lesson 23, In Remembrance covering Matthew 26, Mark 14, and John 13 will also be posted on Tuesday, May 30. The Interpreter Radio Show can be heard live on Sunday evenings from 7 to 9 PM (MDT), on K-TALK, AM 1640, or you can listen live on the Internet at ktalkmedia.com.

Ill share here some notes from Michael Guillen, Believing is Seeing: A Physicist Explains How Science Shattered His Atheism and Revealed the Necessity of Faith (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale Refresh, 2021):

According to the Pew Research Center, about 18 percent of American Atheists believe in a higher power. And 31 percent of American Atheists say they often feel a deep sense of spiritual power and well-being. (191) In 2007, neuroscientist and popular Atheist Sam Harris caught flak from many attendees of the Atheist Alliance conference in Washington, DC, when he delivered a speech titled The Problem with Atheism. One problem with atheism . . . is that it seems more or less synonymous with not being interested in what someone like the Buddha or Jesus may have actually experienced. In fact, many atheists reject such experiences out of hand, as either impossible, or if possible, not worth wanting. . . . As atheists, our neglect of this area of human experience puts us at a rhetorical disadvantage. Because millions of people have had these experiences, and many millions more have had glimpses of them, and we, as atheists, ignore such phenomena, almost in principle, because of their religious associations  and yet these experiences often constitute the most important and transformative moments in a persons life. Not recognizing that such experiences are possible or important can make us appear less wise even than our craziest religious opponents. Ouch. In 2o14, Harris wrote a book called Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality without Religion, in which he doubles down on his critique of Atheisms small-mindedness. Heres the publishers summary of Harriss basic thesis: Waking Up is for the twenty percent of Americans who follow no religion but who suspect that important truths can be found in the experiences of such figures as Jesus, Buddha, Lao Tzu, Rumi, and the other saints and sages of history. Throughout this book, Harris argues that there is more to understanding reality than science and secular culture generally allow. (192-193)

Its interesting that Harris  once, at least, one of the most prominent among what were known as the New Atheists (Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, and the late Christopher Hitchens, were sometimes dubbed the Four Horsemen of the movement)  took a notably and controversially accepting attitude toward extrasensory perception (ESP) or psychic phenomena or psi on page 41 of his 2004 bestseller The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason, acknowledging a body of data attesting to the reality of psychic phenomena, much of which has been ignored by mainstream science. He goes on to observe that

The dictum that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence remains a reasonable guide in these areas, but this does not mean that the universe isnt far stranger than many of us suppose. It is important to realize that a healthy, scientific skepticism is compatible with a fundamental openness of mind. (The End of Faith, 41)

Now, I should be clear that I dont regard psi , if it exists, as a matter of religion  and Im guessing that Sam Harris doesnt, either. If it exists at all (and Im currently somewhat inclined because of the same data to which Harris alludes, to think that it probably does, though typically at a very low level of intensity, efficiency, or effectiveness), its probably a natural power of the mind. However, it if exists at all it also seems to me pretty conclusive evidence that materialism or naturalism as its typically conceived is incorrect.

Here are three responses to Sunday evenings CBS Sixty Minutes expose on the financial holdings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:

In this context, I cant help but be reminded of the devotional address given by Elder Shayne M. Bowen at Brigham Young University back in 2018: I Can Sleep When the Wind Blows

Im reminded, too, of a story about President Heber J. Grants call to the apostleship. He received a letter shortly thereafter from a business acquaintance in (if I remember correctly) San Francisco. This man wrote saying, effectively, that he had always supposed that the leaders of the Mormon Church were scoundrels. Now that Elder Grant was among them, though, he realized that he owed them all an apology, because he knew that Heber J. Grant, a man whose integrity he knew and respected, would never be part of such a thing.

I close, as I often do, with some infuriating items from the Christopher Hitchens Memorial How Religion Poisons Everything File:
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 16. Azerbaijan is working together with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to create a national group to prevent cyber incidents, Tomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union, said during the "GSMA Mobile 360 Eurasia 2023" event, Trend reports.

According to Lamanauskas, Azerbaijan is participating in the process of strengthening the infrastructure of mobile and broadband internet.

"Global internet traffic at the global level increased by more than 50 percent in 2021, and the number of internet users increased by 10 percent. Studies show that countries with better infrastructure with greater resilience resisted the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. We need to take measures that will lead to greater sustainability," the secretary-general said.

In addition, he said that the ITU is working with Azerbaijan in the development of 5G, the prevention of cyber incidents, as well as the creation of a rapid response team.
If youve read anything about technology in the last few years, you may have seen the term encryption floating around. Its a simple concept, but the realities of its use are enormously complicated. If you need a quick 101 on what encryption is and how its used on modern devices, youve come to the right place. But first, we have to start at the beginning.

Further reading: 5 easy tasks that supercharge your security

The basics of cryptography

At the most simple, basic level, encryption is a way to mask information so that it cant be immediately accessed. Encryption has been used for thousands of years, long before the rise of the information age, to protect sensitive or valuable knowledge. The use and study of encryption, codes, and other means of protecting or hiding information is called cryptography.

The most simple version of encryption is a basic replacement cipher. If you use numbers to indicate letters in the Latin alphabet, A=1, B=2, et cetera, you can send a message as that code. It isnt immediately recognizable, but anyone who knows the code can quickly decipher the message. So, a seemingly random string of numbers:

20 8 5 16 1 19 19 23 15 18 4 9 19 19 23 15 18 4 6 9 19 8

can become vital information, to someone who knows how to read it.

t he p a s s w o r d i s s w o r d f i s h

Thats an incredibly basic example, the kind of thing you might find in the classic decoder ring toy. Archaeologists have found examples of people encrypting written information that are thousands of years old: Mesopotamian potters sent each other coded messages in clay, telling their friends how to make a new glaze without letting their competitors know. A set of Greek substitutions called the Polybus square is another example, requiring a key to unlock the message. It was still being used in the Middle Ages.

Cryptography in wartime

Cryptography is used to protect information, and theres no more vital application than warfare. Militaries have encrypted their messages to make sure that enemies wont know their plans if communication is intercepted. Likewise, militaries also try to break encryption, discover the pattern to a code without having the original key. Both have greatly advanced the field of cryptography.

Take a look at World War II for two illustrative examples of practical encryption. The German military used a physical electronic device called an Enigma machine which could encode and decode messages with incredible complexity, allowing for fast and secret communication. But through a combination of finding rotating daily codes and advanced analysis, the Allies were able to break the encryption of the Enigma machines. They gained a decisive military advantage, listening to encrypted German radio messages and accessing their true contents.

But an encryption code doesnt necessarily have to be based on complex mathematics. For their own secret radio communications, the American military would use Native American code talkers, soldiers who used their native languages like Comanche and Navajo. Speaking to each other in these languages, both in plain speech and in basic word-to-letter cipher codes, the code talkers could communicate orders and other information via radio. The German, Italian, and Japanese militaries could easily intercept these transmissions, but having no access to any Native American speakers, this relatively simple method of encryption was unbreakable.

Modern electronic encryption

In the modern world, encryption is done almost exclusively via computers. Instead of encrypting each word or letter with another, or even following a pattern to do so, electronic encryption scrambles individual bits of data in a randomized fashion and scrambles the key as well. Decrypting just a tiny bit of this information by hand, even if you had the correct key, would take more than a lifetime.

With the rapid computation available in the electronic world, data encrypted digitally is more or less impossible to crack by conventional means. For example, the ones and zeros (bits) that make up the digital contents of a file encoded on the common 128-bit Advanced Encryption Standard are scrambled around ten different times in a semi-random pattern. For another computer to rearrange them back in the correct order, without the key, it would take so long that the sun would burn out before it was cracked. And thats the weakest version of AES: it also comes in 192- and 256-bit key sizes!

What can you do with encryption?

Every major modern operating system includes at least some tools for encrypting your data: Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, and Linux. The Bitlocker system in Windows is one example. To a greater or lesser degree, you can encrypt all of your data so it requires a key to unlock. The same is true for online file storage, and your personal information stored in other secure locations, like your bank.

The best overall Password manager Dashlane Read our review Best Prices Today:

To access encrypted information, you can use one of three different types of keys. In computer security, these are referred to as something you know, (a password or PIN), something you have, (a physical encryption key like Yubico), and something you are (biometric authentication, like a fingerprint or face scan). The latter two methods are at the heart of Googles new passwordless passkey authentication.

Encrypting the storage of your devices protects them in purely electronic terms: without one of those unlock methods, its incredibly difficult  bordering on impossible  for anyone to access your data. The extra processing it takes to encrypt and decrypt data can make computer storage perform more slowly, but modern software can help minimize this speed reduction.

Of course if your password, or your physical key, or your fingerprint can be accessed by someone else, they can get to that data. Thats why its a good idea to use extra security methods. A common two-factor authentication system (2FA) uses both a password (something you know) and a text message sent to your phone (something you have) to log in. That gives an extra layer of security to any information stored in that system. Using a password manager to create unique passwords for each site or service you use adds even more protection, preventing hackers from reusing your login information if they do manage to pilfer your credentials for a given service.

Encrypting data doesnt mean its absolutely impossible to access improperly. There are always weaknesses and ways around security. But using even basic encryption tools can help protect your data far beyond whats available by default.
The Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is set to approve Ghana's US$3 billion programme by May 19, after the country received financial assurances from its external creditors.



The Creditor Committee which is co-chaired by China and France in a release dated May 12, said it had examined the macroeconomic and financial situation of Ghana, including its long-term debt sustainability, and its formal request for a

debt treatment under the Common Framework for Debt Treatments beyond the DSSI endorsed under the Saudi G20 Presidency in November 2020, which was also endorsed by the Paris Club.



The creditor committee supports Ghanas envisaged IMF upper credit tranche (UCT) program and its swift adoption by the IMF Executive Board to address Ghanas urgent financing needs.



The creditor committee encourages Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to maximize their support for Ghana to meet its long-term financial needs, the release stated.



Consistent with their national laws and internal procedures, creditor committee members are committed to negotiate with the Republic of Ghana terms of a restructuring of their claims to be finalized in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), in accordance with the Common Framework for Debt Treatments beyond the DSSI.



The creditor committee stresses that the Ghanaian authorities are expected to seek from all private creditors and other official bilateral creditors debt treatments on terms at least as favorable as those being considered by the creditor committee, in line with the comparability of treatment principle.



Consequently, the creditor committee urges private creditors and other official bilateral creditors to commit without delay to negotiate with Ghana such debt treatments that are crucial to ensure the full effectiveness of the debt treatment for Ghana under the Common Framework.



The IMF Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, also in a statement welcomed the announcement from the Creditor Committee for Ghana on the importance of an IMF-supported economic program, together with its commitment to negotiate debt restructuring terms accordingly.



She said the statement from the committee provides the necessary financing assurances for the IMF Executive Board to consider the proposed Fund-supported program and unlock much-needed financing from Ghanas development partners.



I also strongly endorse the call by the Official Creditor Committee for private creditors and other official bilateral creditors to commit to comparable debt treatments.



The Creditor Committees action recognizes the Ghanaian authorities strong reform program, which aims to restore macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability while laying the foundation for an inclusive recovery. It also signals that further progress is being made under the G20 Common Framework, demonstrating that international partners are ready to work together to help countries resolve their debt issues. This is vital to enable countries such as Ghana to achieve sustainable growth and poverty reduction, she stated



On December 12, 2022, the IMF reached a staff-level agreement with the Ghanaian authorities on a new arrangement under the Extended Credit Facility. Board consideration of Ghanas program request has been pending financing assurances from Ghanas official bilateral creditors.

Source: graphic.com.gh









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African mining giant, Engineers & Planners has signed a $230m Caterpillar equipment financing with the Mansour Group of Dubai and Egypt.



The list of equipment under this facility include, 50 units of CAT 785, 30 units of CAT 777, 5 units of CAT 992K, 20 units of CAT D9R. Other equipments include, Water Bowsers, Fuel Bowsers, Motor Graders and Backhoes.



This agreement signed between the mining giant owned by Business Mogul, Ibrahim Mahama and Caterpillar is significant in changing the face of mining in Ghana and the Sub Sahara Africa.



E&P is a wholly Indigenous Ghanaian owned mining and construction contracting company headquartered in Accra, Ghana. Since its inception in 1997, E&P has successfully completed world class projects including road construction, mining projects, tailings dam construction, landfill site construction, leach pads construction, land reclamation amongst others.



E&P has the capacity, experience and expertise to deliver on major hard rock mining projects. E&P has executed mining projects both in Ghana and in Liberia. Over the past 25 years E&P has gained considerable experience in hard rock mining. E&P is currently engaged in hard rock contract mining for Gold Fields Ghana Limiteds world class mine in Tarkwa, and Abosso Goldfields Limited in Damang. Between January 2010 and May 2014, E&P also undertook hard rock mining for Golden Star (Wassa) Limited.



Most recently Abosso Goldfields Limited requested E&P to take over the Damang Complex Pit as the main mining contractor. The latest project for E&P is the Cardinal Namdini Mines in Bolgatanga.





Source: Peacefmonline.com









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There have been fierce clashes between the Sudanese army and the rival Rapid Support Forces in the capital Khartoum and neighbouring cities of Omdurman and Bahri, across the River Nile.



The military has continued to carry out air strikes and residents sheltering in their homes are hearing loud explosions.



Rights groups in Darfur say fighting around the city of el-Geneina over the last few days has left more than 350 people dead.



There have been widespread reports of Arab militias loyal to the RSF attacking, looting and burning homes.



Medics say the health system in Darfur has totally collapsed.



The two warring parties are meant to have been negotiating in Saudi Arabia but so far all commitments to protect civilians and allow humanitarian access have been broken.

Source: BBC









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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 Director of Communications at the Presidency during late Prof John Atta-Mills' regime, Samuel Koku Anyidoho has thanked God for the withdrawal of Dr. Kwabena Duffuor from the NDC's Saturday Presidential primary.



He said "there was no bloodshed because any drop of blood based on a fake register would have been attributed to Dr. Duffuor."



The Founder and CEO of the Atta-Mills Institute prior to the primaries had verbally 'attacked' the National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia and National Executives of the NDC and former President John Mahama who eventually won.



In a tweet on Sunday morning after the elections, he attributed John Mahama's victory to a fake register.



"Let those who won by 10,0000000% enjoy their fake victory," he tweeted.



Mahama's Victory



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.



Distrust for Mahama



The former Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Koku Anyidoho has said he does not trust former President John Mahamas promise to scrap ex-gratia.



He asked Mr Mahama to answer why he did not implement the Constitution Review Commission (CRC) White Paper on Emoluments when he was President.



Koku Anyidoho says he is prepared to debate Mr Mahama on how he betrayed President Atta-Mills. I dont trust him and will never trust him.



You think we are all stupid so you can lie to us by saying you will scrap ex-gratia. They say prove that you are sincere, by refunding what you are enjoying; you respond with insults by telling us that we are silly. Yooo we hear you Mr. dead goat, he tweeted.



I dont trust John Mahama if he says he will scrap ex-gratia. Why did he not implement the Constitution Review Commission (CRC) White Paper on, Emoluments? I am prepared to debate John Dramani Mahama on how he betrayed President Atta-Mills. I dont trust him and will never trust him.



Koku's Expulsion from NDC



In 2021, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) reportedly expelled Koku Anyidoho, for indiscipline.



The party said the decision comes after the Functional Executive Committee (FEC) considered the report and recommendations of the National Disciplinary Committee on the case of misconduct and anti-party behaviour, brought against Anyidoho.



A letter signed by Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the then General Secretary of the NDC, said: The Committees report found you guilty of the said allegations of misconduct and anti-party behaviour and recommended your outright expulsion from the party.



You are, therefore, by the decision of FEC, expelled from the National Democratic Congress and for that matter, you are no more recognised as a member of the Party and cannot carry yourself as such.

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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Bahrain's Civil Aviation Affairs yesterday (May 15) announced the resumption of flights between Bahrain and Qatar from May 25, in accordance with what was agreed upon between the concerned authorities in the two countries.

The resumption of the flights between Bahrain and Qatar comes within the framework of the brotherly relations between the two countries and peoples, it said.

The move achieves the common aspirations of the leaderships and citizens of both countries, it added.

The two countries officially resumed their diplomatic relations in April this year, after they were cut off in 2017.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 16. Agrodairy plans to establish cooperation with Azercosmos, CEO of Agrodairy Niyazi Amirbekov said during the "GSMA Mobile 360 Eurasia 2023" event in Baku, Trend reports.

According to him, it is planned to monitor the acreage using satellite solutions.

"The more data we have, the more effective decisions we will be able to make. I believe that the processing of big data, including satellite data, should be carried out with the help of artificial intelligence. In addition, I expect that tractors driven by people today will be controlled remotely in the future," he said.

Brought by the GSMA, the conference features keynote speeches and panel discussions, with a focus on digital resilience for future prosperity, building stronger customer connections, 5G and the future of infrastructure, IoT, AI and Machine Learning, fintech, cybersecurity, and more.

The event convenes experts and decision-makers from Azerbaijan and the Eurasian region, including regulators, and senior executives from the leading mobile operators, and digital corporations.
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









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Head of Psychology at the University of Ghana, Professor Joseph Osafo has condemned the monetization in politics in Ghana.



He noted that the culture where politicians vying for positions induce electorates with money doesn't help the country's political system.



Parliamentary aspirant for Ejura Sekyedumase constituency of the National Democratic Congress, Juliana Kinnan-Wassan was over the weekend sighted spraying cash on a crowd during the party's primaries.



She came out of her vehicle spraying lots of cash with the crowd frantically cramming to pick up the money.



The Ghana Police Service has reacted to this cash spraying which was caught in a 19-second viral video.



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.



Tackling the matter on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show, Professor Osafo cautioned politicians not to compromise their integrity stressing "once we compromise our integrity, people will kill for money".



He added that should the monetary inducement continue, "people will destroy reputation for money. People will insult and engage in all kinds of behaviour for money".



He advised the politicians to live a good example by upholding good values in politics.



"Money can have influence but money can never be a leader," he concluded.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has questioned Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, a former flagbearer hopeful for the party, for supporting his son in the NDC parliamentary elections.



Speaking in an interview with Okay FM on May 15, 2023, Asiedu Nketiah expressed concerns over Dr. Duffuor's decision to support his son's campaign despite his allegations about the integrity of the voters' register.



He pointed out that the same flawed voter register that Dr. Duffuor had objected to was utilized in both the presidential and parliamentary elections.



"The election, it is the same voters register that we are using for both the presidential and parliamentary, so after withdrawing from the presidential, why did they choose to support the parliamentary elections because it is the same voter register that we are using?" he questioned.



Highlighting the inconsistency in Dr. Duffuor's stance, Asiedu Nketiah questioned whether the flawed voter register that Dr. Duffuor deemed unfit for the election could be suitable for his son's electoral success. He emphasized that utilizing the same flawed register for the parliamentary elections raised concerns about its reliability and fairness.



"The same register that is not good for his father (Dr. Kwabena Duffuor) to use for an election, can the son (Dr. Duffuor Jnr) use it to win an election? It is the same register, so how?" Nketiah added.



It may recall that, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, a former flagbearer hopeful for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), announced his withdrawal from the party's presidential primaries which was held for Saturday, May 13, 2023.



The decision was made public during a press briefing held late Friday evening at the Institute of Fiscal Studies in Accra.



Dr. Duffuor, who had been eagerly vying for the NDC's presidential race, cited flawed processes leading up to the elections as his primary reason for withdrawing.



However, Dr. Duffuors son, Duffuor Jnr went ahead to contest a parliamentary election in the primaries but lost by nine votes to his opponent Hajia Nasira Afrah in the Sekyere Afram Plains constituency.











Source: ghanaweb.com









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The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Marrer Ghana Limited and Susatgad Boat Building and Fishing Industries, Mr. Novihoho Afaglo has appreciated all National Democratic Congress (NDC) members across the country for voting overwhelmingly and peacefully in the just ended party primaries.



Mr. Afaglo again relished congratulation message to all party members and delegates in the Volta region for exhibiting unity and love at the polls.



It is with great joy that the message put across to aspirants and delegates to ensure they vote massively for former President John Dramani Mahama sank deep in their heat to the extend of him getting 98.9%, he stated.



This, Mr. Afaglo said depicts that the coming 2024 election will be a record set in history and will keep asking God to give him strength and protection.



He again congratulated the incumbent Ketu South Member of Parliament, Mrs. Dzifa Abla Gomashie for retaining her seat adding the last Saturday May 13 victory was well deserved.



Speaking to the Press, Afaglo acknowledged the roles played by the Election Committee of the various constituencies both National and Regional Executives of the party, the Electoral Commission and the Ghana Police Service for ensuring peace prevailed during the election.



He again called on all losing aspirants, MPs and hopeful presidential candidates to come onboard, rally support and work together by ensuring that come 2024 the NDC will wrestle power from the New Patriotic Party.



I want to use this opportunity to call on all NDC party members across board to come together, put behind us issues that may retard our progress, but rather, preach the good news of the party and flagbearer John Dramani Mahama to ensure the partys victory, he stated.



At the end of last Saturdays NDC primaries, former President John Mahama pulled 297,603 votes representing 98.96% to win flagbearership race to lead the part ahead of 2024 elections.



Mr. Afaglo reiterated the point of , rallying every one for victory is the main target.

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 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 threatened 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.

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FARMINGTON, N.M.  At least three people were killed and several others, including two police officers, were wounded Monday in a northwestern New Mexico community before law enforcement shot and killed the suspect, authorities said.

The shootings occurred at around 11 a.m. in Farmington, a city of about 50,000 people that serves as a modern-day trading post to the adjacent Navajo Nation reservation and is a supply line and bedroom community to the regions oil and natural gas industry.

The citys police department said in a Facebook post that at least three members of the public were killed and that officers confronted and killed a suspect at the scene. It also said two officers, including one of its own and a State Police officer, were wounded and were in stable condition at the San Juan Regional Medical Center.

The suspects identity is unknown and there are no other known threats at this time, police said, adding that city, San Juan County and State Police were involved.

Police did not release the names of those who were killed or wounded or give details about what led to the shootings.

After the shootings were reported, the citys schools were placed on what officials called preventative lockdown.

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.

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. The governor, a Democrat, did not describe any other circumstances of the deadly confrontation.

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.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives tweeted 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. Traveling Broadway shows make regular stops at the expansive community center auditorium, while rural lots on the outskirts are littered with disassembled oilfield equipment.

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.

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Three horses were malnourished and in need of emergency medical care when volunteers rescued them from a central Pennsylvania auction over the weekend.

Although the horses are far from out of the woods, they are resting at a Lewisberry farm, owned and operated by the nonprofit Bonded by Strength Equine Rescue. The rescues founder, Alura Ruppert, said Pennsylvania State Police are investigating who owned the horses before they ended up at the Saturday auction.
Police in Allegheny County are asking for the publics help in the investigation of what they say is a suspicious death in Mount Lebanon.

Officials said that the body of 86-year-old Regis Bonner was discovered by a family member at around 2:58 p.m. Saturday at a house in the 200 block of Academy Avenue, according to reports from TribLive and WTAE.

There was trauma to the victims body, police said. That and other, unspecified circumstances led police to ask for help from the homicide unit.

Officials did say that one of the doors in Bonners home was unlocked, TribLive reported.

The medical examiners office has not yet determined the cause and manner of death.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Allegheny County Police Tipline at 1-833-255-8477.
Three teenagers have been charged in the killing and robbing of a taxi driver on Thursday night, Somerset County (New Jersey) Prosecutor John P. McDonald said.

The three males, 14- and 13-year-olds 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 in the vehicle with a gunshot wound, officials said. He was later pronounced dead at a 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 teens. One of the teens shot him with the intention of robbing him, prosecutors said. The three teens 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.

Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com.

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Primary election day 2023 certainly isnt going to smash any voter turnout records.

It was quiet at 7 a.m. when the polls opened at the Scottish Rite Cathedral in uptown Harrisburg where two precincts operate.

Slow, said Susan Wilson, of Harrisburg, when describing the turnout.

She showed up early to vote and hand out candidate literature but wasnt surprised by the lack of turnout. In fact, shes not anticipating a groundswell of voters.

Just because its an off-year election. Usually, presidential and big races bring a larger flow, she said.

Across the state, Republicans and Democrats will pick their candidates to run in November. The polls close at 8 p.m. A smattering of school board, county commissioner and judicial races fill the ballots.

Generally on municipal elections they are a little light on turnout, said Susan Bailey, judge of elections for the 10-3 precinct at the Scottish Rite Cathedral.

Turnout was also low at a pair of adjacent polling places at the Lemoyne Borough building in Lemoyne.

Deborah Austin, who votes in Lemoynes fourth ward and was handing out campaign literature and is also running as a write-in candidate for Lemoyne Borough Council, said that there had only been two voters as of 7:30 a.m.

Its just opened, plus its a primary, she said.

She said it was her concerns that brought her out on Tuesday.

Im really concerned about the issues facing our country today, she said. And Im a conservative and I want to promote those ideals.

Linda Farr, who votes in Lemoynes third ward and was handing out campaign literature, said voting is something we all should be doing.

Im here because I believe in the Democratic process and everybody should [vote] if they can vote, she said. And I think most people can vote. It determines the future of the country. And if you dont vote you cant say that you have a say, which I think is a privilege and an honor that we have.

At the top of the ticket on Tuesday in Cumberland County is the county commissioners race. The Democratic Primary has two candidates, so its uncontested on Tuesday. But, on the Republican side, there are nine candidates that are running in the Republican primary for two seats. That race has Austins attention.

I would like to see a change in commissioners, she said. One of my beliefs is politics shouldnt be a life-long career. Id love term limits. But, I think its time to get new people in.

This year is a so-called off-year election, but, it doesnt mean its not important. Up for election are the people who run our schools, decide whether to raise our local and county taxes or not, decide legal disputes, and run our local, county, and state courts.

The rules are simple. Only registered Republicans and Democrats can vote in the primaries in Pennsylvania. Only Republicans can vote in their primaries, and only Democrats can vote in their primaries. Registered independents and third-party voters can only vote on questions in primaries in Pennsylvania but, there arent any statewide questions on the ballot in Tuesdays election.

Democrats and Republicans are able to cross-file for school board, district judge, and county judge positions.

Voters on both sides of the ballot will have two choices for one seat on the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

Democrats will have three choices for two seats on the Superior Court of Pennsylvania. Republicans have two choices for the two seats.

Both Democrats and Republicans have two choices for one seat on the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania.

In the battle for one seat on the Court of Commons Pleas in Dauphin County, La Tasha Williams will take on Courtney Powell. Williams is on the Democratic ballot while Powell is cross-filed.

In Dauphin County, candidates are on the ballot for county commissioner, district attorney, sheriff, clerk of courts, register of wills, recorder of deeds, county treasurer, and county controller but there are no competitive primaries.

READ MORE: District judge candidates vie for votes in Dauphin County

There are seven district judge races in Dauphin County on the ballot but only two competitive races. In magisterial district 12-1-05, the race is between incumbent Judge Hanif Johnson and two challengers, Claude Phipps and Lori Ann Jenkins in the Democratic primary. Johnson cross-filed in the race. In magisterial district 12-1-02, candidate Matthew Pianka is cross-filed and unopposed on the ballot but small business owner and educator, Autumn Fair, is running as a write-in candidate.

In Harrisburg, Democrats will have eight choices for three seats on Harrisburg City Council. And there are a number of other competitive races on the ballot in Dauphin County on Tuesday for school board, township supervisor, township commissioner, and borough council.

Over in Cumberland County, the marquee race is between nine candidates vying for two county commissioner seats. Democrats also have two candidates on the ballot. Republicans also have two choices for country treasurer.

There are seven district judge races in Cumberland County on the ballot. The races for magisterial districts 09-2-01, 09-3-01, and 09-3-02 each have two candidates who are cross-filed.

There are a number of other competitive races on the ballot in Cumberland County on Tuesday for the school board, township supervisor, and borough council.

The polls close at 8 p.m.

READ MORE:
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 16. The GSMA M360 EURASIA 2023 International Conference on May 16 has started its work in Azerbaijan's capital Baku, Trend reports.

The international conference, organized in Azerbaijan with the support of the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan and the general sponsorship of Azercell (mobile operator), covers various topics around key industry trends, including new generation technologies, digitalization, artificial intelligence and the role of digital services.

Well-known global and regional experts in the field of telecommunications, who arrived in Baku to participate in the two-day conference, exchange views on the protection of strategically important infrastructure and discuss investment opportunities in the future growth of mobile telecommunications.
David Foreman of Swatara Township hasnt missed an election since at least 1971.

I believe in my constitutional right, he said, walking into Living Water Community Church in Swatara Township to vote.

Across Pennsylvania, voters today are heading to the polls for the primary election. With no major races on the ballot, many precincts in the Harrisburg region are reporting low voter turnouts.

Very slow, said Steven Chiavetta, a Swatara resident passing out candidates literature at Living Water. A lot of races are unopposed. Its an off-year.

Over in Camp Hill, there are a number of contested races.

In Camp Hills first precinct at the Cleve J. Fredricksen Library, there were a few voters strolling in around 1:45 p.m. on Tuesday.

Its been light but theres been certain rushes at lunchtime, people on lunch breaks, maybe before work a little bit of a rush, and were hoping for an after-school rush and a dinner rush, said Kristen Acri of Camp Hill.

Caroline Machiraju of Camp Hill also said it had been very slow.

I hope its just a funk because of the time, she said. Sometimes they pour in over lunch. But maybe after work, theyll come.

Acri, who votes at the precinct, was also handing out literature for Democratic candidates. She had her eyes on two races in particular.

School board  thats the big race, she said.

Seven candidates, all cross-filed are running for five seats on the Camp Hill School Board.

In addition to the school board race. There is also the race for Camp Hill Borough Council. Democrats have two people on the ballot for three seats on the council, so there is a write-in campaign for the third seat.

Machirau was handing out literature at the same polling place for certain Republican candidates.

Theyre all contested races and I feel that theres true conservatives and theres false conservatives, she said.

In addition to the school board race in Camp Hill, in Cumberland County there are two contested races countywide for Republicans, with two people running for county treasurer and nine people running for two county commissioner seats.

As far as turnout goes, a similar story played out earlier today when the polls opened at 7 a.m. Voters are picking candidates to run in November amid a smattering of local and state races including school boards, county commissioners, and judicial contests.

This year is a so-called off-year election, but that doesnt mean its not important. Up for election are the people who run our schools, and municipal and county government; decide whether to raise our local and county taxes or not; decide legal disputes, and run our local, county, and state courts.

The rules are simple. Only registered Republicans and Democrats can vote in the primaries in Pennsylvania. Only Republicans can vote in their primaries, and only Democrats can vote in their primaries. Registered independents and third-party voters can only vote on questions in primaries in Pennsylvania but, there arent any statewide questions on the ballot in Tuesdays election.

Democrats and Republicans are able to cross-file for school board, district judge, and county judge positions. The polls close at 8 p.m.

READ MORE:
A Chick-fil-A restaurant in Dauphin County wants to reconfigure its drive-thru lanes in hopes of alleviating traffic.

Before it can move forward with plans, the fast-food chicken restaurant at 4655 Lindle Road in Swatara Township is seeking several zoning variances. A hearing is scheduled for June 15 with Swatara Townships Zoning Hearing Board.

If youve been there during peak times, youve probably experienced some traffic issues up there, said Robert Ihlein, the townships director of planning and zoning.

At the May 10 board of commissioners meeting, Ihlein said the traffic situation is not ideal due to the way the parking lots are laid out, the drive-thru is configured and traffic circulates around the restaurant.

Owners of Chick-fil-A are trying to bring their standards up for restaurants across the country because they are experiencing more success as more people want to go to the drive-thru and pick up their food, he said.

Since the pandemic, the chain has noticed an uptick in the use of its drive-thrus and is adding more lanes and building drive-thru only restaurants. Chick-fil-A is the third-largest restaurant chain in the United States, behind McDonalds and Starbucks. Sales in 2021 grew by 15% to $15.8 billion, according to Technomic, a research and consulting firm.

Owners of the Swatara Township restaurant want to create three queuing lanes that will funnel into two ordering lanes, Ihlein said, adding they also want to build additional canopies and reconfigure traffic patterns in the parking lot with Raymour & Flanigan furniture store and Sheetz.

They are hoping that adding probably 25% more queuing volume will help prevent blocking on the driveway, he said.

Chick-fil-A is expanding its footprint in the Harrisburg region and recently opened a restaurant with three drive-thru lanes near Trader Joes in Lower Allen Township. Another one in Cumberland County is under development at the Mills at Shepherdstown Crossing, a mixed-use development under construction at Gettysburg Pike and Route 114.

In Dauphin County, its also constructing a restaurant at the former Arbys at 5101 Jonestown Road in Lower Paxton Township. A second Chick-fil-A is under development in Susquehanna Township where the chain wants to build a 4,758 square-foot, 62-seat restaurant with a drive-thru at 3951 Union Deposit Road at the former First National Bank.

READ MORE:
For a fourth year craft breweries from across Pennsylvania have joined together for the return of an all-Pennsylvania Veterans beer collaboration. This beer is brewed by Pennsylvania Veterans, in support of Pennsylvania Veterans.

Adapt And Overcome: Got Your Six will release all throughout Pennsylvania on Memorial Day Weekend 2023 with proceeds of sales going directly to the Keystone Military Families organization, according to a press release. Since 2019, the PA Veterans Collaboration Beer has raised over $60,000 dollars to support fellow Pennsylvania veterans.

Founded in 2002, Keystone Military Families was established with the goal of providing support for our deployed troops and their families. In 2010 they realized there was also a need for veteran support so they reorganized and expanded services. Located out of Shoemakersville, Berks County, their mission is to support Pennsylvania military families every week with groceries, clothing, household items, furniture, and more while still shipping up to 100 care packages monthly and 10,000 Christmas stockings annually.

Not only is this a beer being produced by Pennsylvania veterans, but it will also include ingredients from Pennsylvania veteran-owned and operated businesses. Grain and malt for this beer will come from Deer Creek Malthouse in Glen Mills. While some of the hops being used for the beer have been produced by GEMS Farms Hops in Carlisle; both of which are veteran-owned businesses. This year, due to a large amount of PA veteran breweries involved, the brew days were broken into four regional breweries: Ten7 Brewing (North Wales), Tattered Flag Brewing (Middletown), Gearhouse Brewing (Chambersburg) and Butler Brew Works (Butler). This ensures the beer will be available all over the state.

Adapt And Overcome: Got Your Six is a 6% Hazy Pale Ale brewed with Spelt, Toasted Oats, and Pale Wheat malts. These malts give it a cracker-like backbone and help to balance the subtle bitterness. Amarillo, Cascade, Centennial, Citra, Comet, and Simcoe hops were used in this recipe to bring out flavors and aromas of papaya, melon, and stone fruits with a soft and fluffy finish, the release said.

Consumers can begin enjoying the beer on Memorial Day Weekend 2022 at all of these participating breweries. You can see a complete list of participating businesses for this project below.

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Jet Wine Bar in Philadelphia will hold what its calling a Pasaeli Turkish Wine Happy Hour from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, with proceeds benefiting World Central Kitchen.

The wine bar is located at 1525 South St.

Attendees will have an opportunity to meet a representative from distributor Skurnick Wines, taste sample pours, and ask questions. This happy hour is pay-as-you-go with specials on glasses, flights, and bottles, in addition to a Turkish-inspired bites, with no reservations needed.

A glimpse of several products made by Pasaeli, a Turkish boutique winery that conserves indigenous grape varietals of Anatolia and Thrace.

Those who frequent Jet Wine Bar should be familiar with Pasaeli, the Turkish boutique winery that conserves indigenous grape varietals of Anatolia and Thrace. However, this will be the first time that guests will be able to try every wine that the Turkish vintner offers in Pennsylvania

Additionally, a portion of the proceeds from the wine sold will go to World Central Kitchen, the non-profit organization dedicated to providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises, which is currently operating in Turkey in response to the recent earthquakes that devastated the region.

See below for the full list of wines available during the happy hour.

Calkarasi Seahorse Rose  ($6.50 half-glass / $13 glass / $52 bottle / $27 to-go)

House Red  ($5.50 half glass / $11 glass / $44 bottle / $22 to-go)

Karasakiz 6N Red  ($7.50 half glass / $15 glass / $60 bottle / $32 to-go)

Karasakiz Old Vines Red  ($9 half glass / $18 glass / $72 bottle / $36 to-go)

Calkarasi Merman Red  ($9 half glass / $18 glass / $72 bottle / $36 to-go)

Sidalan Pet Nat  ($8.50 half glass / $17 glass / $68 bottle / $33 to-go)

Flight of all six wines (2 oz. pours)  $42

See below for the Turkish-inspired bites available during the Pasaeli Turkish Wine Happy Hour.

Turkish mezze: one for $6 / two for $10 / three for $14 (all served with pita)

Kapia  Marinated roasted red peppers

Yesil Zeytin Salatasi  Olive salad

Sarimasakli Yogurtlu Havuc Salatasi  Yogurt-carrot dip

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Red blends earn the top prizes in pair of Va. wine competitions

Central Pa. winery adds a new neighbor  pretty much right next store
Businesses have a new option for providing catered boxed lunches and coffee, sandwiches or doughnuts for meetings and events.

Wawa is partnering with ezCater to offer business customers its breakfast sandwiches, hoagies, coffee and snacks from 1,000 of its locations in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Florida and Washington, D.C.

Thanks to this new partnership with ezCater, we now have the ability to reach more business customers with our fresh offers, perfect for breakfast, meetings, and corporate events, said Steve Hackett, director of digital experience, Wawa. We see this as a great way to provide even more convenience to the business community.

The catering menu options come individually packaged or in trays.

Our customers count on us to provide a variety of reliable caterers for all of their food for work needs, whether thats for breakfast meetings, daily employee lunches, or anything in between, said Mike OHanlon, chief partnership officer, ezCater.

Wawas iconic lunch staples and breakfast options like the Sizzli make them fan-favorites. Were so excited to now be able to offer Wawa Catering to ezCater customers.

The Wawa catering menu includes hoagies, breakfast sandwiches, doughnuts, cookies, soft pretzels, sides such as macaroni and cheese and mashed potatoes, soups, bagels, brownies, coffee, muffins, salads and beverages.

Wawa had partnered with ezCater to provide its catering menu to business customers for meetings and events. Customers can get hoagies, breakfast sandwiches, doughnuts, snacks, drinks, coffee and desserts delivered through the ezCater platform. (Photo provided by Wawa)

A few selections from the menu (prices may vary) include:

A Sizzli breakfast sandwich box with individually packaged sandwiches to serve 12 is $52.99.

A box of 24 assorted doughnuts is $20.99.

Bagels, coffee and orange juice to serve 15 people is $60.99.

The macaroni and cheese hot trays to serve 16 people, including serving spoons, cups, utensils and napkins is $59.99.

A meatball hoagie hot tray to serve 16 people also includes rolls, cheese, serving spoons, napkins, plates and utensils for $114.99.

The Philly snack box for 26 people comes with soft pretzels, Tastykake Krimpets and Peanut Chews for $49.99.

Wawa had partnered with ezCater to provide its catering menu to business customers for meetings and events. Customers can get hoagies, breakfast sandwiches, doughnuts, snacks, drinks, coffee and desserts delivered through the ezCater platform. (Photo provided by Wawa)

Wawa had partnered with ezCater to provide its catering menu to business customers for meetings and events. Customers can get hoagies, breakfast sandwiches, doughnuts, snacks, drinks, coffee and desserts delivered through the ezCater platform. (Photo provided by Wawa)
The 25-year-old former New Jersey woman charged in a drunken driving crash that killed a bride and seriously injured a groom on the couples wedding night in South Carolina had a blood alcohol content of more than three times the legal limit, according to the results of a toxicology report provided by police.

Jamie Lee Komoroski had blood alcohol content of .261% on April 28 when her vehicle slammed into a low speed vehicle on the 1200 block of East Ashley Avenue in Folly Beach at about 10:15 p.m., according to documents from the towns police department.

Komoroski was traveling 65 mph in a 25 mph zone in her rented vehicle on the beach street, according to the police report.

A former Hunterdon County resident, Komoroski is charged with three counts of felony DUI resulting in serious bodily injury or death and one count of reckless homicide, authorities in South Carolina said.

Komoroski told an officer she drank a beer and a pineapple tequila an hour before the crash and that she was on her way home, which was in the opposite direction of the way she was traveling, authorities said. She also stated she had done nothing wrong, authorities said.

When asked if she remembered what happened, Komoroski said I was driving and then all the sudden something hit me, the report said.

The bride  Samantha Hutchinson 38, was killed in the crash, authorities said. Her 36-year-old husband suffered broken bones and brain injury, and a 44-year-old man was also injured.

Aric Hutchinson and Samantha Miller were hit in a crash as their wedding reception ended. (The Associated Press, file)AP

Komoroski remains held Monday in the Charleston County jail. She was booked into the jail around 3 a.m. on April 29.

Hutchinson had just gotten married hours earlier, Folly Beach Public Safety Department Director Andrew Gilreath said. He said the low speed vehicle had lights and was legal to drive at night. The vehicle had rolled over several times after the crash, and her husband was thrown 100 yards, according to family members.

Komoroski lives in James Island in the Charleston area, according to Deborah Gramiccioni of Kingston Coventry, the law firm representing her. She is a 2015 graduate of North Hunterdon High School and received a bachelors degree in marketing and hotel tourism from Coastal Carolina University in 2020, according to her LinkedIn.com page.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
Stellantis North America has issued a recall of some 2014-2016 model year Jeep Cherokees because of an issue with the powered lift gate module that could spark a fire.

Owners are encouraged to park the vehicles outside and away from structures.

According to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the modules in 132,099 vehicles are failing due to an electrical short after remedial actions were performed during a prior recall.

The electrical short in the module may lead to a vehicle fire with the ignition on or off.

The suspect period began on February 27, 2013, when vehicles were built with a PLGM located in a spot vulnerable to water intrusion, and ended on September 9, 2015, when the PLGM was made more robust to water intrusion.

According to the documents, a repair is under development. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on June 30. Vehicles repaired under the previous recalls will still ned to have the new remedy performed.

Stellantis said it has identified 50 customer assistance records, 23 warranty claims and 21 field reports potentially related to this issue for all markets with dates of receipt ranging from July 26, 2017, through January 31, 2023.

READ MORE: GM recalls almost 1 million vehicles because air bag inflator may explode and hurl shrapnel.
An Indiana County man is behind bars after police say he posted a lengthy threat on social media directed towards the Indiana Area School District that threatened to destroy its time capsule, according to news sources.

Now, 39-year-old Edward Gamboa Jr. is facing one felony count of making terroristic threats.

The alarming message raised red flags earlier this month when a member of the school board spotted a Facebook post that originated from an account named Micah De Gamboa. The board member alerted the districts Superintendent and authorities were contacted from there, according to WJAC.

Authorities were able to trace the account back to Gamboa, who officials said has had several incidents with law enforcement, in which he has made alarming and harassing posts towards members of the public.

The social media post included an attached article about John Wilkes Booth, the man who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln, WJAC reported.

The district was placed on a heightened alert, including Indiana Junior High, which also had an increased police presence, according to WCCS Radio.

Gamboa was later taken into custody, where he told officers he had planned to dig up the time capsule, believing it had information about Booth that he wanted to make public. He also said he didnt think the post would create such a reaction from the district.

He is now being held at the Indiana County Jail on $25,000 bail.

Read More:
RALEIGH, N.C.  North Carolinas Republican-controlled Senate voted Tuesday to override the Democratic governors veto of a bill banning most abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy in the first of two steps necessary to enact the policy over Gov. Roy Cooper s opposition.

The vote came as abortion rights in the U.S. faced another tectonic shift with lawmakers debating laws to sharply limit abortion in North and South Carolina, two of the few remaining Southern states with relatively easy access.

Nebraska joined North Carolina and South Carolina in debating abortion restrictions Tuesday that are possible because the U.S. Supreme Court last year struck down the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling, which established a nationwide right to abortion.

Under another bill up for a vote Tuesday, in the South Carolina House, abortion access would be almost entirely banned after about six weeks of pregnancy. The South Carolina state Senate rejected a proposal to nearly outlaw abortions.

Abortion is banned or severely restricted in much of the South and is banned throughout pregnancy now in Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia. In Georgia, its allowed only in the first six weeks of pregnancy.

The Carolinas, Florida and Virginia are now the main destinations in the region for those seeking legal abortion. Florida has a ban that kicks in 15 weeks into pregnancy. Under a recent law, that would tighten to six weeks  before women often know theyre pregnant  pending a court ruling. Further west, women often travel to Illinois, Kansas, New Mexico or Colorado.

Nationally, bans on abortion throughout pregnancy are in effect in 14 states.

If the North and South Carolina bans become law, combined with Floridas recent ban, it would be just devastating for abortion access in the South, Jamie Lockhart, executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia, said Tuesday.

In North Carolina, House Republicans will attempt late Tuesday to complete the override of Gov. Roy Coopers veto in a consequential test of unity for their recently attained supermajority. In both the House and Senate, Republicans hold the exact three-fifths majority needed to pull off an override if all members are present and vote together.

While House Speaker Tim Moore has made repeated assurances that he has the votes, one key Republican has declined to state publicly his position on the bill.

Cooper vetoed the measure over the weekend in an unconventionally public ceremony after spending last week traveling around the state to convince at least one Republican to uphold his expected veto. Republicans have pitched the measure as a middle-ground change to state law, which currently bans nearly all abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, without exceptions for rape or incest.

During the hour of North Carolina Senate debate, Republicans urged colleagues to override Coopers veto, saying the Democratic governor has been dishonest in public about the extent of the proposed restrictions.

They said Cooper also ignored $160 million within the measure that would boost funding to increase contraceptive services, reduce infant and maternal mortality and provide paid maternity leave for state employees and teachers.

North Carolinians watching this debate, you are bearing witness to exaggerated and extremist objections from some Democrats, Republican Sen. Vickie Sawyer of Iredell County said. Their anger is that this bill is mainstream and a common-sense approach to a very difficult topic.

Democrats focused on details of the abortion rules, which they say would place barriers between women and their doctors, leaving those who are pregnant in danger.

And the 12-week cutoff means that young women will have potentially only a couple of weeks to decide whether an abortion is the right decision, leading them to continue with unwanted pregnancies, Democratic Sen. Natasha Marcus said.

Anti-abortion protesters who arrived hours before the vote packed the North Carolina Senate gallery, with about 150 supporters of the proposed ban holding identical Vote Pro-Life signs.

So many Republicans have just keeled over from pressure from all the groups who are just filled with hate and are pushing things that are going against God, said Sharon Dooley, 61, of Garner, North Carolina.

In South Carolina, the impasse dates back to a special session last fall when House lawmakers demanding a near-total ban did not meet to negotiate with their Senate counterparts pushing for a ban around six weeks.

The stalemate persisted even after the state Supreme Court in January struck down a previous law banning abortions once cardiac activity is detected.

That decision left abortion legal through 22 weeks of pregnancy. A sharp increase in abortions since then has rankled Republicans.

The House is now weighing a Senate bill similar to the one they denied last year. The measure would ban abortion when an ultrasound detects cardiac activity, around six weeks.

A late night is expected even after Republicans invoked rules to limit debate. House Speaker Murrell Smith has said the chamber will not adjourn until the measure gets approval. Democrats began slowing the process Tuesday by speaking for all three allotted minutes on each of their hundreds of amendments and forcing other procedural votes.

We are going to make it hurt if theyre going to force this on us, Democratic Rep. Beth Bernstein said at a Tuesday press conference, flanked by dozens of supporters with signs reading BANS OFF OUR BODIES.

Lawmakers in Nebraska were scheduled to take up debate on a proposal that would ban abortion at 12 weeks of pregnancy. The proposal comes after lawmakers rejected a bill last month that would have banned abortion after cardiac activity is detected.

This latest proposal is tacked onto a bill that would ban gender-affirming care for transgender minors. Opponents have said they plan to filibuster for the entire two hours of scheduled debate Tuesday evening. Conservatives in Nebraskas unique single-chamber, officially nonpartisan Legislature will need 33 out of 49 votes for these proposals to advance.

A separate challenge to abortion access will be considered Wednesday, when a federal appeals court hears arguments on whether the Food and Drug Administrations approval of the widely used abortion drug mifepristone should be overturned. A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will review a ruling last month by a federal judge in Texas who ordered a hold on approval of mifepristone, a decision that overruled two decades of scientific approval of the drug. That ruling was stayed while the appeal is pending.

The three judges who will hear the case each have a history of supporting restrictions on abortion. A ruling is not expected immediately.
Cancer causing forever chemicals seem to be everywhere these days  even in your eye.

Thats right, according to a report, a recent study found that 18 popular soft contact lenses contained extremely high levels of organic fluorine, which is an indicator of the dangerous chemicals, also known as PFAS.

PFAS are bad news, having been linked to an increase in a risk of some cancer types, immune issues, liver damage  the list goes on. They have been ingredients in such things as non-sticking cooking pans and food containers and wrappers for years.

They are called forever chemicals because they do not naturally break down in the environment, hang around and end up in our food and water supply. According to reports, many of us have already been exposed to the chemicals, and likely have some level of them in our blood.

But because of what they can do to your health, they are certainly not something you want to introduce more of into your system. And, apparently, eating freshwater fish is a quick way to pile up the PFAS in your bloodstream.

And you certainly dont want to be sticking them right into your eyeball.

The specific lense brands were not reported, but the study that found the marker that indicates PFAS are present was conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency.

And it is bad news.

According to a report, the study showed that the fluorine showed up at levels 50,000 times more than the highest level deemed safe in drinking water by the EPA.

Scott Belcher, a researcher and scientific adviser at North Carolina State, said the levels suggest that you could almost consider (them) almost pure PFAS.

He said the best option for folks looking to avoid sticking those chemicals into their eyes would be to switch to glasses.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 16. The Digital Silk Way project, which Azerbaijan is implementing in partnership with colleagues from Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, will speed up data transfer between the countries of Central Asia and Europe, Chairman of the Board of AzerTelekom Fuad Allahverdiyev said during the GSMA M360 Eurasia 2023 international conference in Azerbaijan's capital Baku, Trend reports.

"The implementation of this project will allow us to turn Azerbaijan into a digital hub. Our country will also transport international traffic along with the export of renewable energy," he added.

According to him, Azerbaijan is a hub for the transportation of goods from East to West today.

"I want to note that our country has a huge potential in the field of renewable energy, which it can export to Europe in the future. In this regard, a corresponding memorandum has already been signed between Azerbaijan, Georgia, Hungary and Romania," he said.

The purpose of the Digital Silk Way project is to ensure the passage of international Internet routes through Azerbaijan, the development of information technologies and the digital ecosystem in Azerbaijan and the region.
WILLIAMSPORT  A Harrisburg woman who is serving life in prison without parole for killing her boyfriend in 2019 by running over him with her minivan has turned to federal court in hopes of getting lesser sentence.

Dolly S. Hendrickes, 41, contends in a filing Monday in U.S. Middle District Court her sentence is too harsh and she should be given the opportunity for rehabilitation.

Previous appeals by Hendrickes, an inmate at the State Correctional Institution at Muncy, in the state court system have been unsuccessful. She is now representing herself.

Dolly Hendrickes

In her new appeal, she claims the Oct. 10, 2019, crime occurred in the heat of passion. She testified at her trial that she was in the midst of a psychotic episode during the murder.

Jurors were shown a dash cam video from a tractor-trailer truck stopped for a red light that showed:

A minivan driven onto the wide concrete median at Cameron Street and Arsenal Boulevard and slam into Andres Claudio, 68, from behind. He was dragged beneath the van for about 30 feet before it drove away.

Claudio had gotten out of the van moments earlier amid an argument with Hendrickes, according to evidence presented at trial.

I was upset, frustrated. I felt disrespected and ignored, Hendrickes said when testifying on her own behalf. My thinking at that time was not clear I didnt think before I reacted.

Dauphin County Judge Richard A. Lewis at the July 15, 2021, sentencing told Hendrickes: Your actions in this case were as bizarre as they were horrific. Then you drove home and relaxed on your back porch.

The judge recommended she receive mental health treatment in prison.

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Pa. school district debunks report it paid $10K to student victim of alleged sexual abuse
Anti-abortion groups are looking for new ways to wage their battle against abortion rights, eyeing the potential implications of a 150-year-old law, the Comstock Act, that could effectively lead to a nationwide abortion ban.

Congress passed the Comstock Act in 1873, making it a crime to mail or ship any lewd, lascivious, indecent, filthy or vile article and anything that is advertised or described in a manner  for producing abortion.

There are now legal cases questioning the Food and Drug Administrations regulation of mifepristone, one of the two drugs used in the standard regimen for medication abortion. If courts find that the FDA has the authority to approve mifepristone for abortion, the Comstock Act could still prevent the pills distribution.

As scholars of law and reproductive justice, we have been analyzing potential strategies to use this Victorian-era law to restrict the ability to get an abortion in the U.S.

Read one way, the Comstock Act could prevent mailing mifepristone to a persons home, regardless of whether this person lives in a state where abortion is legal.

A broader interpretation, advanced by anti-abortion groups in recent months, would mean the Comstock Act applies to the distribution of all drugs and medical tools used for abortions, not just mifepristone.

The Supreme Court returned the question of abortion rights to states in June 2022. But its important to understand that the Comstock Act is a federal law that applies to states, regardless of their approach to abortion.

So while abortion remains legal in certain states, we believe its possible that a court could interpret the Comstock Act to prevent the distribution of any tool used for an abortion, anywhere in the U.S.

The history of the Comstock Act

Devout Christian and self-described moral evangelist Anthony Comstock came up with the idea of what would become the Comstock Act after he felt troubled by the large amount of pornography and alcohol his fellow Union army soldiers consumed.

He lobbied for Congress to pass a law restricting what he deemed lewd behavior, displaying his impressive collection of pornographic pictures, sex toys and contraceptive materials in the Capitol building to help galvanize Congress to pass anti-obscenity legislation.

Congress then passed the Comstock Act in 1873.

Although prosecutions under the Comstock Act were brought in the early 1900s, enforcement started to wane by the 1930s.

Nonetheless, the Supreme Court has heard the occasional case related to the law over the past 100 years. In 1983, for example, the Supreme Court found that applying the Comstock Act to prohibit mailed advertisements about contraceptives violated the First Amendment.

No court has since ruled decisively to actually enforce the Comstock Act.

Indeed, major court decisions have limited the laws applicability.

And, in 2022, the Justice Department issued an opinion concluding that the Comstock Act does not prohibit mailing mifepristone if the sender doesnt know the recipient intends to use those pills illegally for abortions  for example, the recipient might be using them to treat a miscarriage.

Applying the Comstock Act today

As anti-abortion rights groups try to reinvigorate the Comstock Act, the question is what the law covers, exactly. Several legal cases are addressing this point in different contexts.

Texas federal court Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk  who issued a preliminary decision on April 7, 2023, effectively rescinding the FDAs approval of mifepristone  said the Comstock Act prevented the mailing of abortion pills.

When that decision was appealed, the appellate court seemed to agree with Kacsmaryk. It noted that the law does not necessarily require users of the mails or common interstate carriage to intend that an abortion actually occur, contrary to the Justice Departments 2022 opinion. It emphasized, however, that it was not required to definitively interpret the Comstock Act because it was not issuing a final ruling.

That decision was then appealed to the Supreme Court, which temporarily upheld the availability of mifepristone and sent the case back to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals for full review on April 21.

The appellate court will hear oral arguments on May 17 and should issue a more definitive interpretation.

Extending to other lawsuits

The Comstock Act is also at the center of other kinds of litigation and legal campaigns focused on whether people can get abortions.

Jonathan Mitchell, a conservative lawyer and former solicitor general of Texas, is trying to use the Comstock Act to outlaw abortion altogether. Notably he also devised the Texas bounty-hunter abortion legislation in 2021 that bans most abortions and deputizes citizens to sue people involved in the process.

Since 2019, two counties and more than 60 cities in Texas, Nebraska, Iowa, Ohio, New Mexico, Louisiana and Illinois have passed ordinances that ban abortion. This is part of a political campaign called Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn  orchestrated by Mitchell and conservative pastor Mark Lee Dickson.

Some of these places now prohibit the shipment and receipt of abortion drugs or medical items used for abortions.

These ordinances have led to two lawsuits questioning their legal status.

New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez sued several Sanctuary City towns in January 2023, claiming that the ordinances violated state law that says people have the right to access health care and that physicans care of patients is a private matter.

But then the New Mexico city of Eunice, another Sanctuary City, also filed a lawsuit in April 2022, asking a state court to determine that the Comstock Act is enforceable.

Finally, the Comstock Act is being applied even after an abortion has occurred.

In a Texas lawsuit filed in March 2023, Texas resident Marcus Silva sued three women for wrongful death, saying they assisted in murdering Ms. Silvas unborn child with illegally obtained abortion pills. The complaint notes that Silva will also sue the pills manufacturer for wrongful death based on the Comstock Act.

Mailing, distributing or banning?

It seems likely that the high-profile federal FDA mifepristone case in Texas could head back to the Supreme Court after the 5th Circuit issues its ruling. If so, the Supreme Court could determine that the Comstock Act only applies to the mailing of items if the sender knows the items are intended to be used illegally for abortions. In that case, little or nothing would change in states where abortion is legal.

Or, the court could decide that the Comstock Act bars mailing mifepristone regardless of its users intent, making access to medication abortion more difficult. The court could also cast a wider net, prohibiting the shipping of abortion medication altogether across the U.S.

And if the Comstock Act applies to mifepristone, it could also apply to any other item or tool that is used to terminate a pregnancy. Such a ruling would effectively impose a nationwide ban on abortion, even in states that allow abortions. To achieve this result based on an 1873 Victorian statute would be entirely consistent with Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade based on the state of the law in 1868.

Sonia Suter, Professor of law, George Washington University and Naomi Cahn, Professor of Law, University of Virginia

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Peter Boehm speaks at a Canadian International Council event in Ottawa on Thursday, May 10, 2018. A Senate committee says Canada needs to sort out the intent of its sanctions before assessing whether theyre working, and undertake major upgrades to put its system on par with Ottawas allies. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle
Family members carry the casket of Gordon Lightfoot into St. Paul's United Church, in his hometown of Orillia, Ont., Sunday, May 7, 2023. The folk singer-songwriter died May 1 at the age of 84. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Thornhill
During his visit to Brussels, Deputy Prime Minister-Minister-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu met with the European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson. As a result of the negotiations the parties agreed to begin official consultations on the facilitation of the visa regime for the citizens of Kazakhstan, Kazinform has learned from the press service of the Kazakh Foreign Ministry, Trend reports.

inister Nurtleu informed his interlocutor in detail about the visa policy of Kazakhstan, the high human capital of our citizens and the absence of migration risks for the EU in Kazakhstan, as well as measures taken by the Government of Kazakhstan to fight against illegal migration, and other important aspects of work in this area.

In turn, Ylva Johansson said the European Union is interested in further strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation with Kazakhstan and is committed to expanding contacts between the citizens of the parties. According to the Commissioner, one of the important dimensions of the strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and the EU is maintaining a regular cultural and humanitarian exchange.

Expressing his sincere gratitude to the European side for the constructive approach, the Minister of Foreign Affairs noted that the visa regime facilitation for Kazakhstan citizens not only meets the expectations of public, but will also give a serious impetus to the development of the whole range of cooperation between Kazakhstan and the EU.

Since 2017, Kazakhstan has unilaterally introduced a visa-free regime for citizens of all EU states to develop business cooperation, tourism and human contacts.
Incredible: Second $10K Mystery Bounty for the Same Player in a Month at 888poker

May 16, 2023 Matthew Pitt Editor

They often say that some poker players have all the luck, and you could make a case for British grinder "d5t6y7" in that statement. Less than a month ago, d5t6y7 finished tenth in the 888poker $100,000 Mystery Bounty Main Event but not before they pulled out the $10,000 top mystery bounty prize.

Fastforward to May 15, and d5t6y7 did it again. Not only that, but they took down the tournament too!

This week's $100,000 Mystery Bounty main Event saw the 965-strong field reduced to a final table of nine on Day 1. Usually, the biggest mystery bounty prizes have been won by this stage, but not this time around because there was a $3,000 and a $10,000 bounty still waiting to be won.

$100,000 Mystery Bounty Main Event Final Table Results

Place Player Country Bounties Prize Total Prize 1 d5t6y7 United Kingdom $10,389 $7,740 $18,129 2 KJJIDIele Uzbekistan $5,126 $5,645 $10,771 3 Iadutska Belarus $408 $4,150 $4,558 4 p1uzera Brazil $124 $3,075 $3,199 5 Adhmor8 Montenegro $764 $2,275 $3,039 6 Freedan Ukraine $524 $1,700 $2,224 7 juncanaru98 Romania $703 $1,280 $1,983 8 SeiryokuZen Brazil $1,423 $970 $2,393 9 DiouL2 Brazil $241 $740 $981

"DiouL2" of Brazil busted in ninth for a $981 score, and another Brazilian in "SeiryokuZen" joined them on the rail with $2,393 in tow.

Then came the exit of "juncanaru98" in seventh. They open-shoved for 9.2 big blinds with ace-deuce of spades from under the gun, and the action folded to "KJJJIDIele" in the cutoff. KJJJIDIele held an overwhelming chip lead and was using their massive stack with deadly aggression. They continued that aggression by moving all-in with ace-ten of clubs, resulting in the other active players folding, including d5t6y7 who mucked ace-jack. d5t6y7 would have won the pot because the board ran five-queen-jack-ace-four. KJJJIDIele saw a golden envelope open in front of them, an envelope containing $3,000!

Ukraine's "Freedan" saw their tournament end in sixth place for $2,224, "Adhmor8" fell in fifth for $3,039, and "p1uzera" bowed out in fourth for $3,199. None of those eliminated players' envelopes contained the $10,000 mystery bounty payment!

Neither did the envelope on the head of third-place finisher "Iadutska" who collected $4,558, meaning the heads-up duo were not only fighting for the first place and the not-so-small matter of more than $2,100 difference in prize money, but one of them had a $10,000 mystery bounty on their head!

888poker LIVE Barcelona Runs May 10-22; Will There be a Spanish Main Event Champion?

KJJJIDIele started the heads-up battle with a 62.6 big blind to 58 big blind advantage over d5t6y7 but the stacks were reversed on the first hand with KJJJIDIele getting frisky with queen-five of clubs and folding to a four-bet.

The chip lead exchanged hands a few times over the next 15 minutes, but neither player could pull away from the other. That was until d5t6y7 flopped twp pair with nine-deuce and got fully paid off by KJJJIDIele, who couldn't lay down their pair of aces.

d5t6y7 now held an eight-to-one chip advantage over KJJJIDIele, and the writing was on the wall for the latter. The final hand occurred soon after and saw KJJJIDIele limp with king-eight, and call when d5t6y7 raised to three big blinds. A ten-king-ten flop saw d5t6y7 fire a 1.5 big blind bet, and KJJJIDIele called. An eight on the turn was greeted with a 3.1 big blind bet, a 10.4 big blind shove from KJJJIDIele, and a call from d5t6y7. It was king-eight for KJJJIDIele and king-jack for d5t6y7. A seven on the river busted KJJJIDIele in second place for $10,771, and they handed an envelope containing $10,000 to the tournament's champion, d5t6y7.

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The first of 32 numbered XL Spring series events shuffles up and deals at 6:30 p.m. BST on May 21, while the 888poker LIVE Barcelona Main Event runs from May 17-22, and you can follow all of the Barcelona Main Event action right here at PokerNews.

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Speaker McCarthy attacked President Biden for leaving the country on an overseas trip while he was trying to hold America, hostage.

Video:

Kevin McCarthy criticizes Biden for leaving the country as he is trying to hold the nation hostage on the debt limit. pic.twitter.com/0XAtdNcFqu  Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) May 16, 2023

McCarthy criticized the President for going to Japan, All I know is we got 16 more days to go. I dont think I would spend eight days out of the country, and I think the country wants an American president focused on solving American problems.

Speaker McCarthy is trying to create a national crisis, which is kind of difficult to do when the President thinks so little of his threats that he doesnt cancel his overseas trip. McCarthy wanted an agreement before this weekend because the House only has four more days in session before they go on recess for Memorial Day until June 5.

The message that the White House is sending is that Joe Biden isnt going to be Kevin McCarthys hostage. The Speaker has created this crisis, and he could end it right away by passing a clean debt limit increase.

Biden isnt playing Kevin McCarthys game, and his attempts to pressure the President comes off as McCarthy sounding desperate because he has painted himself into a corner and has no easy way out.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 16. Kazakhstan is interested in launching direct flights to Singapore, Trend reports via the Civil Aviation Committee of the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructural Development of Kazakhstan.

This was stated during a video meeting between the Chairman of Kazakhstan's Civil Aviation Committee Talgat Lastayev and the Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore Han Kok Juan.

At the meeting, the Kazakh side offered Singapore Airlines to use the open skies regime in Kazakhstan with the fifth freedom of the air. The parties agreed to continue discussing the opening of air traffic during a meeting in July 2023 with the participation of Singapore Airlines and Singapore Changi Airport.

In addition, the Singaporean side briefed representatives of Kazakhstan's Civil Aviation Committee on the possibility of studying at the Singapore Civil Aviation Academy.

Also, the plans of Air Astana to start flights between the countries were particularly noted.

In order to expand flight routes and enhance international connectivity, efforts are currently underway to establish direct flights between Kazakhstan and Singapore.

The open skies regime removes all restrictions on the number of flights and provides foreign airlines with a fifth freedom of the air on routes where Kazakh airlines do not operate. The fifth freedom of the air is the right to fly between two foreign countries on a flight originating or ending in one's own country.
When Perla Hernandez begins attending USC Aiken, it will be a really huge step for me and my family, she told the Rotary Club of Aiken on Monday at Newberry Hall.

Hernandezs parents moved to this country from Mexico prior to her birth.

They never got the chance to go to college, so I will be a first-generation student, said Hernandez, who will be graduating soon from Aiken High School.

She was among the 23 local seniors who each received a $7,500 scholarship from the Rotary Club.

The total value of the grants awarded was $172,500, which established a record for the Rotary Club program.

In addition, the amount of each scholarship was the highest ever.

The grants were for students who live in and/or attend a school in the Aiken County Public School Districts Area 1.

Thank you is not a big enough word to show my gratitude, Hernandez said. Education is a privilege, and I am very fortunate to have this opportunity.

Hernandez has three younger brothers.

Her father, Margarito Huerta, is a construction worker, painter and fence builder.

Her mother, Socorro Hernandez, is a stay-at-home mom.

Perla Hernandez will be pursuing a career in health care.

After studying nursing at USC Aiken, she eventually wants to become a pediatrician.

I really like working with kids, and I want to help people, Hernandez said. I think nursing will help me understand more of how things work with science and stuff. Im thinking about focusing on pediatric nursing. I like taking care of my younger brothers, so that really is an influence for me.

Hernandezs plans also include getting a job.

Today I took my PCT (patient care technician) exam, and I passed, so I can work in a hospital and have some income, she said.

The biggest funding source for the Rotary scholarship program is the Albrecht family. Last year, the Rotary Club announced that the Albrechts would be increasing their annual gift from $50,000 to $100,000.

In 2017, Gary Albrecht and his wife, Virginia, made a commitment to donate $50,000 annually for 25 years to the Rotary Clubs scholarship fund through the Gary Albrecht Charitable Trust.

Gary died in 2019, and Virginia died in 2020.

Lyddie Hansen and Linda Strojan are the co-chairs of the Rotary Club's Scholarship Committee.

There were 89 applicants for this year's scholarships.

The seniors who received grants Monday in addition to Hernandez were as follows:

Aiken High School: Julissa Beltran, Christina Freeman, Delicia Green, Payton Hall, Christopher Harrell, Emily Hudson, Mariah Mathews, Tiffany Marsh Upson, Benjamin Waits, Jaeden Williams.

Aiken Scholars Academy: Kennedy Brown, Kylee Fonseca, Bailey Kirkland, Reese Kirkland, Zephanae Liis, Mika Mayo, Helen McClain, Alyssa Williams, Jace Wrightson.

Mead Hall Episcopal School: Oscar Zeller.

South Aiken High School: John Vaught Jr., Emily Westberry.
A local man is facing an abuse charge after a 4-month-old child was admitted to an Atlanta hospital with injuries.

Darrel Timpson, 27, of North Augusta, was arrested and charged May 12 with abuse to inflict great bodily injury upon a child, according to jail records.

On. Jan. 1, a deputy with the North Augusta Department of Public Safety spoke with a social worker about a child who had been admitted to an Atlanta area hospital with several injuries, according to an incident report from North Augusta Department of Public Safety.

The child had been transported to the Atlanta hospital from a hospital in Augusta, the report said.

According to the social worker, the child had two new rib fractures, one healing rib fracture, torn bridging veins and CAT scan revealed an acute and chronic bilateral subdural hematoma, the report said.

The complainant said the child's parents stated the child was not around other children and doesnt go to a daycare or any other childcare facility, the report said.

The complainant said the child was getting an MRI and X-rays to check for more broken bones, the report said.

Police conducted a warrant check for both parents, with the mother being wanted by the Columbia County Sheriffs Office in Georgia.

Timpson is listed as an inmate at the Aiken County detention center with a $60,000 bond.
A local man was sentenced to 32 years prison for a March 2021 case involving criminal sexual conduct with a minor.

Joseph Edmond, 44, of Aiken was sentenced by a jury May 11 to serve 32 years for first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor or attempt with a victim under 11 years of age and third-degree criminal sexual conduct towards a minor, according to deputy solicitor Ashley Hammack of the Second Judicial Circuit Solicitor's Office.

Court records show Edmond has been in police custody since March 10, 2021.

Hammack said the case stemmed from a March 7, 2021 incident in which Edmond was accused of sexually assaulting a child under the age of 11.

Edmond will have to serve 85 percent of his time before he is released, Hammack said.

Edmond will have to register as a sex offender and wear an ankle monitor once he completes his sentence, Hammack said.

Edmond was taken into custody by the Aiken County Sheriffs Office and will be transferred to the custody of the South Carolina Department of Corrections.
The Cane Bay High School football team waved goodbye to almost 30 seniors after last season, including all but one all-region player. Read moreCobras wrap up spring practice
Legislation aimed at jump-starting construction of electric vehicle charging stations will have to wait until state lawmakers return to Columbia next year.

A bill that would make EV chargers eligible for tax incentives won approval in the House last week and was introduced in the Senate just as the first year of a two-year legislative session ended. The Senate, which referred the bill to its finance committee, can act on the legislation when the General Assembly reconvenes in January.

Rep. Brandon Newton, R-Lancaster, said the bill he sponsored is expected to easily pass the Senate.

"We had a whole binder full of letters that we received supporting this, and we didn't have any opposition," Newton said. "I think this is a much-needed infrastructure improvement for the state."

The bill would provide businesses with an income tax credit equal to 25 percent of the cost of installing the stations by adding electricity to the list of alternative fuels eligible for incentives. Other eligible fuels include compressed and liquified natural gas and liquified petroleum. The bill would also add EV charging stations to the types of equipment eligible for the tax credits.

"I think you would probably see the biggest use of this at shopping centers and other retail spaces" that add EV chargers for customers, Newton said.

The tax credit would be available for any EV charger placed in service before Jan. 1, 2026. The credit would have to be claimed in three annual installments and any unused credit could be carried forward for up to 10 years.

The S.C. Department of Revenue estimates the bill could lead to $5.9 million in lost tax revenue over the life of the legislation, but Newton said the benefits of having more chargers for a growing number of EVs outweighs the costs.

He said the short timeframe for claiming the tax credit is designed to see how effective the program will be and how many businesses will take advantage of the incentive.

Extending tax breaks to EV charging infrastructure will "increase the rate of charging deployment and private capital investments," said Mike McCauley with Columbia-based Watershed Consulting Group, which is working to support and create awareness of the state's EV industry.

"As South Carolina's leadership in the EV and battery space continues building, and the demand for EVs grows here and globally, the manufacturing, installation and maintenance of EV charging infrastructure will create additional economic investments and jobs," McCauley said.

Conservation Voters of South Carolina, a political action group focused on environmental issues, has pushed for the bill and said it was "thrilled to see so much enthusiasm" for the measure.

There are currently 466 EV charging stations with 1,127 ports throughout the state, mostly in urban areas and along major highways, according to the federal Alternative Fuels Data Center. They help power roughly 7,400 EVs and 62,100 hybrid-electric vehicles registered to South Carolina owners.

By comparison, more than 4.2 million gasoline-powered vehicles were registered in the Palmetto State in 2021, the center's most recent data available.
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Showers and thundershowers this evening will give way to steady rain overnight. Low 64F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Showers and thundershowers this evening will give way to steady rain overnight. Low 64F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
In February, David Richardson drove to Columbia from his home in Charleston to speak to a room of state senators about his life as a South Carolina crabber, which, at the moment, "is kind of miserable."

But it wasn't always miserable.

Which is why he drove two hours to the Statehouse, a place he had never been nor expected to visit. The crabber thought about wearing a Hawaiian shirt, then thought twice: "I wore a suit, thank God."

The crabber noticed fancy suits all around him as the Senate Fish, Game and Forestry subcommittee gaveled into session. Here's another thing Richardson noticed: "Just how political it is, how crazy hard it is do get stuff done." What Richardson wants to see get done is management  any kind of management  of the Palmetto State blue crab fishery. He said it can't wait two or three years.

South Carolina has essentially zero regulations when it comes to commercial crab fishing. No other state is like that, making it, according to Richardson, a "wild, wild west" where anything goes, distrust reigns, crab numbers plummet and crabbers themselves are fed up.

There's a perception that fisherman want fewer rules and less regulation. But in South Carolina a decadeslong laissez-faire approach, squeezed by the stress of climate change, is upending that narrative. Crabbers are calling for a better way.

"I didn't want to speak for everyone," said Richardson, a few days after the Senate subcommittee meeting where he welcomed changes to the fishery. "I know a lot of people feel the way I do ... especially the younger guys."

Richardson made his Columbia debut at a particularly tough time of the year. Crabs were especially scarce; a day's catch, according to Richardson, never filled more than three bushels on his truck in February.

As Richardson talked by phone, his young daughter played in the background. "Right now, we're fishing to eat."

How did we get here?

In 2021, blue crab landings in South Carolina reached a 50-year low. This was no surprise to crabbers who have bemoaned declining catches for decades.

A "status report" published by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources in January uncovered the drivers of that decline, which state scientists linked to miniscule regulations as well as worsening droughts driven by climate change.

At the February meeting, DNR officials briefed lawmakers on the report's conclusions and nine science-backed recommendations for getting out of the state's crabbing free fall.

We feel like were in a pretty vulnerable spot  (the fishery) is underregulated compared to neighboring states, Blaik Kepler told the lawmakers.

Kepler, deputy director for marine resources at DNR, explained there is no cap on commercial licenses nor number of traps a fisherman can use. There are also no limits to catch or fishing season. In South Carolina, you can crab all you want, every day of the year, as long as the crabs you keep are over 5 inches wide and don't have eggs.

DNR's recommendations for saving crabs In January, the S.C. Department of Natural Resources proposed nine recommendations for a "more sustainable" blue crab fishery. 1. Set a limit of 100 commercial crabbing licenses in the blue crab fishery. 2. Set a limit of 200 of crab pots allowed per commercial license. 3. Establish daily catch limits for recreational fishing. 4. Authorize DNR to quickly implement fishery closures or other management actions "as needed" in response to emerging threats. 5. Establish an annual two-week period when all crab pots must be pulled to identify abandoned and derelict pots. 6. Create a managed fishery for "enhanced recreational" activities to better accommodate individuals who want to fish up to 10 pots. 7. Codify the description of a "legal" crab pot to include escape rings that reduce the catch of juvenile crabs. 8. Establish a certification process for soft-shell crab dealers. 9. Increase funding for blue crab research and monitoring in South Carolina.

Then Richardson spoke, on invitation from committee Chairman Sen. Chip Campsen, R-Isle of Palms, in a measured voice about some of the dramatic changes he had seen to the crab fishery.

In 2010, Richardson would pull 35 crabs from a single trap.

Today, he might get only 10 crabs for every trap he sets, and that, he said, "are in the good crabbing spots." A lot of that, he said, is from too many crabbers entering the fishery and no relief to areas getting overfished. "It's getting harder to make a living," said Richardson, who is in favor of limiting the number of commercial crabbing licenses or the number of traps, both on the list of recommendations supported by DNR.

Raised by a fishing family who now owns Marvin's Seafood, he said his family couldn't afford day care. He went out on his dad's shrimping boat instead. "Some of my first memories are fishing," he recalled. He's been professionally fishing with his own boat since the age of 24.

Now in his 30s, Richardson and his friend Garret High are some of the few commercial crabbers under 40. They both fish "the guillotine"  the heavily trafficked waters that surround the Charleston Peninsula where large vessels routinely run over crabs traps and, as High joked, "tear traps to shreds."

Fishing the guillotine means dodging other boats, fending off swarms of pelicans and sometimes having your pots robbed by other crabbers. Richardson and High both think the no-rules approach no longer works. They know this because they have friends who crab in other Atlantic states, like Georgia, Virginia and Maryland, where similar downward trends in crab numbers have motivated swift management changes.

Looking to other states

As crab numbers fell over the past decade across the Eastern Seaboard, South Carolina did nothing, but North Carolina increased its management actions. It designated some areas as "no-fishing" spawning sanctuaries.

And Georgia decided to limit the number of commercial crabbing licenses to under 100.

"I like the way Georgia does it," said Richardson, referencing the way the Peach State treats crabbing permits like taxi medallions. In addition to decreasing competition between crabbers, the license itself becomes a safety net, something to cash in when a crabber retires. In Virginia, where licenses are similarly limited, retiring fisherman can get up to $6,000 to transfer their license to another just starting out.

Louisiana has spent the past decade trying new approaches to improve its fishery where in the Bayou, crab numbers slumped in 2016 and then, over time, rebounded. How?

Louisiana experimented with emergency crab closures in 2017, to address a stock assessment that deemed its blue crabs were officially overfished. The full and partial shutdowns gave fledgling crabs a respite. By 2020, the fishery was well on its way to recovery. There hasnt been an as needed closure since.

"I wouldnt mind a closure every once in a while," said High, a crabber and oyster picker who lives in Ravenel. "An emergency closure, for sure.

High admitted he was jealous of crabbers from Louisiana, some he knows personally. He gets the sense that because things are little more regulated, Louisiana crabbers show up to work every day without the worry of competing with newcomers, sustaining profit during slumps and other crabbers robbing his pots. These are things he worries about constantly around the Lowcountry.

The Post and Courier previously reported how experimental closures and other progressive regulation have enabled the Louisiana blue crab fishery to thrive. Not only has the state been able to maintain a sustainability certification, its crabs product are on the shelves of Walmart and Whole Foods nationwide.

Most importantly, Louisiana crabbers also have a say in the rollout of new regulations. Take, for example, the state's first experimental closure of the fishery which lasted one month in the spring of 2017.

According to Peyton Cagle, crustacean program manager for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Crabbers came back and said, Look, that hurt us bad. 

The department worked with Louisiana crabbers to tweak the closure policy, making it a better fit for the community. The following year in 2018, the crab fishery closed again but this time during the fall season and only partially, allowing some limited fishing in some areas to make sure crabbers could pay their bills.

Richardson, the crabber who in February was "fishing to eat," found luck in March. That is when the crabs started to molt, creating a coastline full of soft-shell crab. Each one can fetch up to $15 for local restaurants. With that revenue, Richardson paid off his bills and was able to buy 100 new traps for the summer season. The cost: about $8,000.

Richardson longs for a day when he has a say in the future of the resource.

I just wish they would ask for a little more input from us fisherman," said Richardson, who'd like to see the state set up something akin to an advisory body that make recommendations to lawmakers on new policies. "You can regulate us, but you can also trust us."

Campsen said he's in the process of putting a bill together now to "do something" about the unregulated status. The bill likely won't start to move until next early next year.

At this point, said Richardson, he's willing to try it. If only state lawmakers would give him something worthwhile to try.
Marianne Eaves, the first woman to be named master distiller in Kentucky since Prohibition, is behind a new bourbon brand that is backed by four South Carolinians, including Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann.

Forbidden, a small-batch bourbon that is distilled, blended and barreled in Kentucky by Eaves, will land in South Carolina retail stores in June.

Its said to be the only bourbon made with both white corn and white winter wheat, ingredients Eaves says give the 95.2 proof spirit a restrained sweetness and smooth finish.

I've been creating different spirits, different whiskeys my whole career, Eaves told The Post and Courier. It was really exciting for me to be back at it with this project and doing something that nobody had ever done before.

Rickenmann, who was elected mayor in 2021 after defeating fellow councilmember Tameika Isaac Devine in a runoff election, brings hospitality industry experience to the new small-batch brand. After graduating from the University of South Carolina, he opened his own restaurant, which led to more business opportunities in the area. His partners in Forbidden  Murray Baroody of Pawleys Island, Michael Fawcett of Greenville and Brad Valdes of Columbia  have combined to work in the distribution, beer, spirits and hospitality businesses.

With the idea to make a bourbon using white corn and winter wheat, they reached out to Eaves, a trailblazer in the distilling industry.

After graduating from the University of Louisville with a degree in chemical engineering, she went on to become a master taster at Brown-Forman, the company behind whiskey brands like Woodford Reserve, Old Forester and Jack Daniels. This work helped her earn a master distiller role at Castle & Key Distillery in Frankfort, Ky., where the first batches of Forbidden were made.

Eaves, a Forbidden partner, was included in Forbes 2015 Food & Drink 30 under 30 list and named to Wine Enthusiast Magazines list of Americas Top 40 Under 40 Tastemakers. She even blended Peyton Manning and Andy Roddicks bourbon, Sweetens Cove.

Named after the thought that distilling was once a forbidden career for women to pursue, the bourbons recipe has been refined several times. The final blend features white corn, winter wheat, malted barley and floral yeast, all balanced by darker notes from the charred barrels its aged in at Bardstown Bourbon Co., where Forbidden is now produced.

The spirit's corn and barley are sourced from Walnut Grove Farm in Kentucky, and the winter wheat grain is coming from Star of the West Milling Co.

Both the white corn and the white winter wheat are food-grade quality grains, which really enhances the flavor, Rickenmann said. Marianne put a little twist with the malted barley and then a floral kind of fruity yeast combination. And after about 14 variations, she gave us something that we all fell in love with.

Rickenmann hopes his fellow South Carolinians will be just as enthusiastic about Forbidden when it becomes available in June.
GEORGETOWN  The principal of Carvers Bay High School is suing the Georgetown County School District over allegations that he has faced "unlawful and blatant and intentional racial discrimination" and that district employees made a "planned effort" to demote and fire him.

The federal lawsuit filed by Principal Larry Odom, who is Black, alleges that White principals in the district have received "much better" treatment when resolving employment issues and that an "improvement plan" implemented for him by the district was merely a pretext to justify dismissing him. Odom remains at the school.

Though not long on anecdotes, the seven-page complaint claims multiple incidents could be detailed at trial to "establish a presence of and an exercise of racism both by the District Management and employees and staff at Carvers Bay High School that has been detrimental to" Odom.

In an incident cited in the lawsuit, an unnamed Carvers Bay High School staff member allegedly characterized the Black Lives Matter movement as a terrorist organization.

"From the beginning of his employment by the Defendant, Georgetown County School District, the Plaintiff has been, on many occasion, been treated unfairly, disrespectfully, and as an inferior person despite his superior education, training and performance," according to the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Charleston this month.

District Superintendent Keith Price and Executive Director for Human Resources Doug Jenkins are named in the lawsuit among White district employees who "unlawfully conspired" to "damage and harm" Odom.

District spokeswoman Kristi Kibler said schools leadership does not comment on ongoing litigation.

Odom wants an unspecified amount for damages to his mental and physical health and to cover his pain and suffering as well as reimbursement for attorney's fees. The lawsuit also states that he filed a complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which enforces civil rights laws in the workplace.

Odom's attorney, Thomas Tisdale of Charleston, said he and his client are open to resolving the matter before it reaches a jury.

"I believe that his record as principal at the school is very good and he's made great contributions to the school," Tisdale said. "And I'm sorry it has been marred by what is going on now in this lawsuit."

Prior to his tenure at Carvers Bay High, Odom held multiple roles in the Williamsburg County and Georgetown County school districts, according to his biography on the school's website. Previous jobs listed include stints outside education as a case manager for the Williamsburg County Department of Social Services and as a correctional officer at the medium-security federal prison in Salters.

School board trustees for the Georgetown County School District received legal advice on a new lawsuit against the district in executive session at a May 2 meeting. The meeting's agenda does not indicate whether Odom's lawsuit, filed the day before, was the one discussed.

In the 2023-24 school year, all five Carvers Bay-area public schools will become magnet schools. Students from around the county will be able to attend them.

Price previously said that the magnet school program, dubbed Pathways to Success, aims to increase enrollment and academic achievement and decrease minority isolation and opportunity gaps for students.

Almost 73 percent of Carvers Bay High School's student body during the 2020-21 school year was Black, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Odom presented the plan for what will become Carvers Bay Early College and Career High School at a May 2022 school board meeting, noting that a model for a military magnet school was voted down.
GREENVILLE  A tea and dessert franchise will make its South Carolina debut in Greenville this spring.

Feng Cha will open at 20 N. Spring St. It will occupy a small, tan-brick building near the rear of the federal courthouse.

"This is our first Feng Cha store, but hopefully not the last one," franchise owner Ashley Tran said in an email.

The teahouse menu consists of teas, coffees, fruit drinks and desserts. Feng Cha launched in the metro region of Dallas, Texas in December 2017. By the time the Greenville store opens, it will be up to 56 locations in 14 states, a Feng Cha spokesperson said.

The Greenville shop plans to host a soft opening on May 27 and a grand opening in June. Openings are subject to change. Tran said she will keep customers up-to-date on social media.

"We want to be the best version of us when people come in," she said.

Tran wanted to open a Greenville location as a means to create a space for people to gather.

"We want to bring people together, introduce a part of Asian drink culture to people, and also create a space for people in Greenville come to relax, play, work and chill out," Tran said.

Feng Cha is not the only tea shop opening soon in downtown Greenville. Kung Fu Tea, a boba tea franchise, plans to open its second Greenville County location on North Main Street in the former Strawberry Bowls shop, next to the old Jersey Mike's.
GREENVILLE  The families of two teenagers who died in a vehicle crash after a Greenville Police pursuit are asking for transparency.

Jaedan Demone Pitts-Johnson, 14, and Dekiyas Antione Workman Jr., 16, died May 11, according to the Greenville County Coroner's Office.

They were two of four occupants in a stolen vehicle that crashed near the intersection of Old Piedmont Highway and Grove Road, Greenville Police Sgt. Johnathan Bragg said.

Community activist Bruce Wilson said at a May 15 press conference that the families should see the police body camera and dash camera evidence from the crash. He also requested the audio from radio transmissions be released to the public.

We understand what they're (GPD) saying and their account of what happened, Wilson said. We plan to make sure that theres transparency in this whole thing, because we're dealing with teens.

Wilson said he has requested a meeting with Police Chief Howie Thompson.

Officers attempted to stop the vehicle around 9:37 that night around Easley Bridge Road and Andrews Street, Bragg said in news release. The driver kept going, and officers pursued the vehicle, which Bragg said was stolen.

While on Old Piedmont Highway, the vehicle reached a high speed and the pursuing officers lost sight of it and deactivated their equipment, Bragg said.

The vehicle crashed shortly after.

Workman was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the coroners office.

Pitts-Johnson and a third, unidentified occupant were taken to Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital. A fourth occupant fled the scene of the crash but was later found, Bragg said.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.
GREENVILLE  The director of a Greenville-based behavioral health clinic has been indicted on 21 counts of health care fraud.

Stamatina Nina Bourret, 41, is accused of billing Medicaid for services to treat autism that were not rendered, either fully or in part, according to a May 16 news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for South Carolina.

The indictment, returned by a federal grand jury in Columbia, alleged that Bourret used her company, Agapi Behavioral Consultants Inc., to perform the fraud.

Each count carries up to a 10-year prison sentence.

Efforts to reach Bourret for comment May 16 were unsuccessful. An email reply from a company representative said the company had "closed its doors" April 22 and referred inquiries about pay to a bankruptcy lawyer.
GREENVILLE  U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham reiterated his support for former President Donald Trump's third run, even as the two differ over the war in Ukraine and two presidential challengers have emerged from South Carolina aligned with the Republican senator's hawkish position.

Over the yearlong course of Russian's unprovoked invasion, Graham has been one of the loudest proponents for spending billions to aid Ukraine's war effort in what supporters have effectively cast as a proxy war for world order.

However, in what has become a potential inflection point in the upcoming presidential election, Trump last week during a CNN town hall event expressed ambivalence over who wins and focused more on his desire that both sides "stop dying." Trump claimed he could end the war within 24 hours.

During a visit to Greenville on May 15 to discuss the immigration crisis at the Mexican border and the upcoming showdown over raising the federal government's debt ceiling, Graham also sought to reconcile the starkly different philosophies on the war.

In so doing, Graham aimed to cast Trump's lack of concern over who wins with Democratic President Joe Biden's approach thus far, saying that the two don't differ much in their commitment to which side wins.

"Trump and Biden have almost the same approach, I think," Graham told reporters in his downtown Greenville office. "Biden has never been all in for winning. Because what President Trump is saying makes some sense. You don't want to put a guy in a box, so you can end the war."

The senator's comments are counter to public statements Biden has made. After a surprise visit to Ukraine this past February, Biden in a speech in Poland reiterated NATO resolve against Russian President Vladimir Putin through aid to the war effort and said that "Ukraine will never be a victory for Russia. Never."

"Autocrats only understand one word  no, no, no," Biden said. "No, you will not take my country. No, you will not take my freedom. No, you will not take my future."

In his comments, Graham said that he sees no option but outright victory for Ukraine because Russian success would embolden China to invade and seize Taiwan.

"I'd like to end the war and killing, too, but there is no way out now," Graham said. "There's no off-ramp for Putin."

"I see him losing as being the only acceptable outcome," he continued. "You could really end the fighting tomorrow and set up more conflict throughout the world. It's not when the war in Ukraine ends, it's how it ends."

Two challenges to Trump's third run for the presidency have emerged from South Carolina in the form of U.S. Sen. Tim Scott and Nikki Haley, who as governor appointed Scott to his seat and served under Trump as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

Both have expressed support for aiding Ukraine. Haley is in the presidential race and Scott's entry is imminent next week.

During his comments in Greenville, Graham railed against the Biden administration's policies on handling mass immigration from the southern border.

Last week, the administration let end a COVID-era provision, Title 42, that allowed the U.S. to quickly expel illegal immigrants. Biden allowed it to expire in deference to new rules at the border that Graham said has overwhelmed those tasked with enforcing them.

"The policy changes that worked under Trump can't be done by the Biden administration, because Trump did it," he said. "The left is all over the Biden administration every time they try to move toward Trump policy."

On the showdown between Democrats and GOP lawmakers on the impending deadline to raise the country's debt ceiling, Graham said Democrats' warnings of a first-ever government default are overblown.

"We've got to raise the debt ceiling to pay the credit card," he said. "But we also have to address how we're running up debt on the credit card. I think we can do both."
For a few weeks after moving out of war-torn Ukraine, 5-year-old Filip Kuzmina would drop to the floor, his hands covering his ears.

He'd been doing it so long in Ukraine that when his family, including parents, Diana and Alex Kuzmina, and younger sister, Zlata, journeyed to the Czech Republic in March 2022, where doors are "strong and castle-like," his mind couldn't tell the difference between the sound of a closing door and a firing weapon.

"Luckily, Zlata, didn't know what fear was yet," their mother Diana said. "She doesn't even react to a car horn."

Zlata was born deaf, which her parents didn't learn until she was a little over a year old.

"I didn't notice it because she is so smart and sociable with her brother, she repeats everything he does," Kuzmina told The Post and Courier.

Zlata's hearing loss likely wouldn't have gone untreated for so long in the U.S., where 98 percent of babies have their hearing screened before 1 month of age.

Hearing loss is actually the most common congenital condition in the U.S. And according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, three in 1,000 infants are born deaf or hard of hearing. Another three in 1,000 children will experience permanent hearing loss after the newborn period and become deaf during childhood.

In South Carolina, 100 kids are born every year with some form of permanent hearing loss. Less than a quarter of those kids will likely qualify for a cochlear implant, and only half of those who qualify will actually receive one, said Kara Leyzac, director of the Cochlear Implant Program at the Medical University of South Carolina.

The cochlea is spiral-shaped bone in the inner ear that plays a key role in the sense of hearing. A cochlear implant is an electronic device that bypasses damaged or nonworking parts of the cochlea and directly stimulates the auditory nerve. The treatment is widely recognized for children from 9 months to 17 years old.

Most of the cochlear implant surgeries done at MUSC Health's Cochlear Implant Program go to adults who've lost their hearing over time. But nearly 20 percent of those surgeries are young patients like Zlata.

Doctors from the hospital said many children in the state qualify for these implants but don't receive them because of common misinformation around cochlear implants, lack of access to implant services and the low number of qualified audio-verbal therapists in the state.

"I have patients who travel two hours both ways for treatment," Leyzac said.

There are only six audio-verbal therapists (AVTs) in South Carolina. And most are located in heavily populated areas like Greenville, Charleston and Columbia, leaving families in rural areas without access to local therapists. Doctors recommend children with cochlear implants and other hearing devices see a private AVT to supplement federal intervention therapy sessions with a speech language pathologist on a weekly basis.

Often times, it's the best route to ensure a child's success with the implant.

Zlata's surgeon and medical director for the implant program, Dr. Theodore McRackan, said the actual implant surgery is the easy part. The hard part is what happens after the device is activated and whether a patient has access to local, quality therapists to help with their development.

"North Carolina does an excellent job at streamlining pediatric hearing loss care throughout the state," McRackan said. "And that really doesn't exist here. It's a major need for our state is to have an overarching plan for how to treat and provide resources for these kids."

Treatment in the U.S.

By the time the Kuzminas noticed Zlata couldn't hear, not much could be done for her in Ukraine. Diana said she made plans for Zlata to see a specialist there but war broke out three days before her scheduled appointment.

The family was already on its way to the U.S., making stops in the Czech Republic, Germany and New York before settling in Boiling Springs.

Once in the U.S., the family's quest to find help for Zlata's hearing was met with disappointment at myriad doctors offices.

Zlata was born with barely visible cochlear nerves in each ear, the right nerve more visible than the left. Many doctors told the Kuzminas there was no hope that a cochlear implant would work for Zlata and were unwilling to qualify her as a candidate for the procedure.

All except Dr. McRackan, who thought it was at least worth a try.

The implants are designed to help a child develop speech. The devices work best when implanted within the first year of a child's life when hearing, speech and learning are developing quickly.

Zlata was nearing 3 years old at the time of her implant and she'd already started learning American Sign Language to communicate with her family.

When left untreated, moderate to severe hearing loss in children can result in delayed development of language, learning and speech skills. It can also impact nearly every area of a child's life, including social skills, grades, emotional health and self-esteem.

Going on more than two years without a sense of hearing, Zlata hadn't yet developed speech. A cochlear implant seemed like her last hope, albeit slim, and she was already past the recommended age for implantation.

"I was sure that it would work," Diana said.

According to Cochlear Americas, the leading manufacturer of cochlear implants and bone conduction hearing devices in the world, early access to sound and proper treatment for children with hearing loss allows a child's speech and language development to be on par with children not born deaf or hard of hearing.

Research from the organization also showed over 80 percent of children with cochlear implants went to traditional public schools and tested within the normal range for vocabulary by the time they reached school age.

Life after the implant

Typically, children start learning speech and hearing from the second they are born.

But for children who've never heard before, their starting point is the day the cochlear implant is activated.

Zlata's activation day was March 16, the day before St. Patrick's Day. That day would determine whether she would ever be able to hear.

Dr. Amy Noxon, Zlata's audiologist, positioned the electronic device around the rim of her right ear.

Zlata sat on her mother's lap, hitting the rainbow colored tiles of the toddler-sized xylophone while the adults in the room looked as if they held as many hopes and prayers as possible. Out of Zlata's sight, Noxon shook a small rattle.

Suddenly, Zlata paused her xylophone solo to locate the noise.

"She looked up and you could tell what she was thinking," Carter Coyle, a spokesperson for MUSC told The Post and Courier. "'Wait a minute, I think I hear something.'"

That was a good sign, her audiologist and doctors agreed.

While activation day was a step in the right direction, the months and years ahead will be filled with weekly therapy with speech and language specialists and doctors visits to further program her device.

Therapy for kids with cochlear implants condenses years of speech and verbal learning they didn't receive prior to surgery.

"It's intense, but it's necessary to get children where they need to be," McRackan said.

Since getting her implant, Kuzmina said Zlata is steadily growing more accustomed to it. Her new morning routine includes patiently waiting for her mom to braid her hair to the side, leaving room for her implant.

She points to her device, which sits atop a table in her room, eagerly anticipating getting ahold of the TV remote to turn her cartoon volume up to its highest setting.

"She's never cared about the sound on the TV before," Kuzmina said.

Zlata's audiology team at MUSC said she is already ahead of schedule, as most kids in her age group don't develop a want for the device just a few months after surgery.

"It's a big milestone and she reached it pretty early," Leyzac said.

To learn more about cochlear implants and common signs of childhood hearing loss visit www.cochlear.com/us/en/home.

Parents can also visit www.cdc.gov to learn more about hearing loss treatments and interventions for children.
All of the maple trees of the world belong to a genus which has been named Acer. There are well over 100 different species, and practically all of them are native to the northern hemisphere. Maples play an important role in various ecological settings and forest types, and several species  Read moreCan you identify this weeks mystery plant?
The question I have been asked the most this year revolves around dying grass (other than moles  moles always top the list). The answer has always involved too much shade. Trees generally grow a bunch and put on a lot of leaves every year, and as a result, grass suffers due to lack of sunli Read moreHorticulture Hotline: Shade might be the reason for dying grass
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 16. The value of exports from Latvia to Tajikistan grew almost two times or by 323,883 euro in February 2023 compared to January 2023  from 342,711 euro up to 666,594 euro, Trend reports with reference to Eurostat.

According to the agency, the bulk of Tajikistans imports from Latvia during the period under review fell on the products of the chemical or allied industries  447,196 euro. The figure increased by 2.1 times compared to January 2023 (212,428 euro).

In February 2023, Tajikistan imported from Latvia base metals and articles of thereof for 140,198 euro, various vehicles and transport equipment for 26,150 euro, and machinery and mechanical appliances for 1,629 euro.

Overall, Tajikistan imported from Latvia goods for 8.2 million euro in 2022, which is 3 percent more than 7.9 million euro in 2021. Tajikistans exports to Latvia last year amounted o 144,089 euro, increasing by 3.2 times over 43,980 euro in 2021.

The value of trade turnover between Tajikistan and EU countries exceeded 84 million euros in from January through February 2023.

During the specified period, Tajikistan imported goods from the EU countries for more than 56.4 million euros. The value of Tajikistans exports to the EU totaled 27.6 million from January through February 2023.
MYRTLE BEACH  Nine animals were removed from the former Waccatee Zoo, accused by a national animal rights organization in an ongoing federal lawsuit of being one of the worst roadside zoos in America."

The 1,214-acre Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado will be the new home for two North American black bears, six emus and a llama under an agreement with the Socastee-area zoos owners, according to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

PETA filed a federal lawsuit in April 2022 accusing the 550-acre zoo located off S.C. Highway 707 south of Myrtle Beach with more than 460 animals of not providing "basic necessities," including not enough food and water and forcing some to live in solitary confinement.

Zoo owners Kim and Jeff Futrell have denied the allegations in previous federal court filings but have since closed the business, according to a letter filed in September by their attorney.

Attorney Reese Boyd, who is representing the husband and wife, confirmed an agreement was made with PETA to release the nine animals, but said he would have to speak with his clients before releasing a statement.

Waccatee spent years exploiting vulnerable animals and allowing suffering ones to languish in cramped enclosures, but now these survivors will get the care they so desperately need and deserve, said PETA General Counsel for Captive Animal Law Enforcement Brittany Peet in a statement. Thanks to the lawsuit by PETA and concerned citizens as well as the sanctuary provided by TWAS, this shoddy roadside zoo has been shuttered and animals have been saved.

PETA officials said the nine removed were the last animals remaining at the Waccatee Zoo that were in captivity and subject to the federal lawsuit.

Both black bears, who are thin and suffer from a chronic skin condition, will receive immediate veterinary care at the sanctuary, where, following their rehabilitation, theyll have acres to explore, soft ground for digging, and opportunities for climbing, foraging, and socializing with other bears, PETA officials said. The llama and emus will have a massive enclosure with space to take shelter from wind and rain as well as warm indoor areas.

In PETA's 62-page federal suit  citing the federal Endangered Species Act and South Carolinas public nuisance law  the zoo is accused of not providing proper veterinary care to its animals, including one tiger, Lila, which led to malnutrition and ultimately her death.

She had spent months wasting away, losing fur, and pacing in her cramped cage, said the lawsuit, while noting the tigers skeleton was visible through her skin.

PETA claims endangered parrots housed at the 500-acre zoo were confined in cramped, unsanitary cages where they can barely expand their wings fully, let alone fly, according to the lawsuit.

Parrots at Waccatee appear to exhibit abnormal feather-plucking behavior, indicating psychological distress likely caused by solitary confinement and environmental deprivation, the lawsuit said.

Additionally, the lawsuit contends that two lions were forced to live in small cages, which allegedly deprived them of the space to engage in species-typical behaviors such as hiding from humans, running and playing.

The lion enclosures at Waccatee Zoo present a stark contrast to a lions natural environment, and are void of adequate enrichment, the lawsuit said.

The animal rights organization said it received more than 150 complaints from the public, the most of any attraction in America. Additionally, the group noted in the lawsuit that USDA inspections between 2020 and 2021 resulted in $7,800 worth of fines for the zoos owners.

According to online court records, a trial could be held at the end of the year if a settlement is not reached.
At the end of April, North Augusta Chamber of Commerce members got an earful about artificial intelligence and how the new age of technology, if not accepted and invested in, could sound the death knell for many companies.

This week, Chamber members heard a bit about how that new tech, along with other innovations, hits the market.

Its a very defined, narrow niche. But it impacts all of us, Nancy Conwell said. Conwell is manager for innovation in the business services division of South Carolina Department of Commerce.

She was joined May 11 by SC Commerces Holly McCrary, manager of existing industry; and Joni McDaniel, workforce advisor for the Lower Savannah region.

The three were in North Augusta to talk about how the state agency aids South Carolina businesses in getting products to market and in securing the workforce they need.

That might be through linking businesses to each other  McCrary said shes helped one company cut costs associated with having an out-of-state supplier when she directed that company to one closer to home that was making the same product.

It might be through identifying the recyclables that could become new revenue streams. It might be through grant writing, and it might be through upscaling innovation.

Conwell, in her "defined, narrow" niche of innovation, is focused on discovering the new services and products being created by South Carolinians and then figuring out how to commercialize them, how to bring them to market and how to find the financing that might ensure the company stays in South Carolina.

Shes not focused on the traditional small business. Rather, shes looking for those who rely on venture capital or non-traditional funding.

Innovation, she said, means reliance on some sort of a technology that [a company] has invented or some piece or component of something that is going into a larger product thats creating something new."

That might be in advanced materials, like what Aikens AGY is doing in fiberglass. It might be a service like Uber, a company that Conwell said initiated a transformation in transportation.

We dont work with a company to enhance whatever product or service theyre doing, she added. Instead, were very interested in finding out what are the challenges and gaps that you are facing [as a company] and how, as a state  maybe by policy or through education or by grants  we can help you, an entity, be successful and then use that as a model to scale up and make it available to other companies.

South Carolina businesses received $27.6 million in Small Business Innovation and Research and Small Business Technology Transfer grants in 2022.

The grants are awarded by the U.S. Small Business Administration, but Conwell attributed the success of South Carolina companies securing them to the consulting firm 3Phase, which helps businesses with grant writing and whose services, at least for South Carolina companies, are funded by the state Department of Commerce.

What's especially important, Conwell said, is creating an environment that promotes innovation. "Success is celebrated, and failure is also celebrated because most of these companies that are innovating, even if they fail, something great comes out of it or another piece of technology comes out of whatever efforts theyve made, and its transferred either to another individual who might acquire it, or it gets transferred into something new."

Some of innovation is about getting the workforce to meet technology where its at.

"You dont know what you dont know, said McDaniel, SC Commerces Lower Savannah regions workforce advisor.

McDaniel and her colleagues are the connection between education, business and industry; and theyre focused on developing the next generation of employees such that they know their skills and balance these skills against their interests and what the economy needs.

Because there is still room for humans alongside the robots. Just as Dr. Patrick Dicks said last month when talking about AI, both McDaniel and Conwell emphasized that business still needs the human touch.

Were interested in those entities or companies that are developing programs to address the challenges of technology in the workforce, Conwell said. We need to make sure that we have a workforce to service those robotics when they break down.
The lifting of Title 42  which allowed the government to use the COVID-19 pandemic as an excuse to expel migrants for public health purposes  has not resulted in chaos at the border, according to most news accounts. Intended or not, this is a great example of managing expectations. Becau Read moreGoldberg: After Title 42, there's a border crisis whether Biden admits it or not
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Showers in the morning with some clearing in the afternoon. High 79F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

A few clouds from time to time. Low 64F. Winds light and variable.
Theres a good chance the S.C. Legislature will pass a bill this month banning most abortions after six weeks, after House Republican leaders finally accepted that the GOP Senate won't go along with a ban on nearly all abortions beginning at conception.

While we welcome the move away from a near total ban and prefer tighter restrictions than the current 20-week cutoff, we believe six weeks is too soon  particularly since that timeframe is derived from the claim, unsupported by physicians, that a baby has a heartbeat that early in pregnancy.

Its particularly concerning that lawmakers would push forward on such an early ban when they have done so little to reduce the number of women who seek abortions  despite pledges to work on demand as well as supply after the U.S. Supreme Courts decision a year ago freeing states and the Congress to impose pretty much any abortion limitations they want.

The Legislature did pass a law last year allowing women to purchase birth control without a prescription. And the House and Senate both added provisions to next years budget requiring the state to cover contraceptives for the dependents of state employees, which will help. (Amendments to S.474, which the House is set to debate starting Tuesday afternoon, would require insurance companies to cover contraception in most cases, but federal law already requires that.)

More importantly, the Legislature has not acted to provide free contraceptives for women and girls who dont have insurance, and who most need them to avoid an unwanted pregnancy.

Lawmakers also havent replaced our states abstinence-only approach to sex-education with one that encourages abstinence but also provides age-appropriate contraception instruction.

We understand concerns that this sort of sex-education, like free contraceptives, could send a message to some adolescents that its OK to become sexually active. But those concerns are outweighed by the reality that far too many of them already are sexually active, and that too many girls and young women are getting pregnant as a result  an outcome that surely we all want to change.

Wed also like to see sex education that empowers girls with the self-esteem necessary to say no to sex, teaches boys to respect girls and makes it clear how miserable an early pregnancy can make a young girl's life.

Legislators also need to reduce our disturbingly high infant mortality and maternal mortality rates, but that will become even more difficult if even more gynecologists and obstetricians flee our state as a result of a too-strict abortion law.

Lawmakers are making good progress on a series of bills to make adoptions easier and faster, but they should do more to improve our foster care system and our entire child welfare system  and much more to ensure that children are healthy, safe, well-fed and educated.

As for the abortion bill itself, Tuesday's debate isnt off to a good start: After Democratic women in the House filed more than 1,000 amendments to the so-called fetal heartbeat bill to slow down the debate, the House voted Thursday to prohibit any more amendments being offered and to limit the time for each amendment to three minutes on each side.

That will speed things up and make it possible for the House to pass a bill this week, but it also means that even if lawmakers come to a compromise on some of the more contentious items  a prospect that itself is much reduced because of last weeks tactics on both sides  theres a good chance they wont be able to adopt it. They can only choose from the amendments already proposed, and not just the ideas in those amendments but the precise words.

Thats discouraging because even if you accept that six weeks is the right cutoff, the legislation in its current form will cause needless heartache for women who desperately want to have a baby but discover the baby they are carrying cant live long after birth.

As The Post and Couriers Seanna Adcox reports, one woman testified before a House panel last week that she experienced precisely that last year, while an earlier version of the law was temporarily in place. And was ignored.

Jill Hartle of Charleston, whose guest column on her experience ran on our pages in November, found out when she was 22 weeks pregnant that her daughter had a severe heart defect and would die shortly after birth  likely after experiencing excruciating pain and possibly surgeries that were doomed to fail. But doctors told her the exception for fatal fetal anomalies wouldn't allow them to perform an abortion. And the bill before the House contains that same language.

Its true that Ms. Hartles situation is uncommon. The vast majority of people seeking an abortion face no medical threats to themselves or their fetus. But neither is she unique, and lawmakers' refusal to make accommodations for the small number of women in similarly devastating situations is simply unacceptable.

Thats one reason even some Republicans who support a six-week ban are uncomfortable with what soon could land on the governors desk. And its one more reason we urge lawmakers to find a better path forward for our state: one that recognizes situations like Ms. Hartles, that gives women a few more weeks to learn they are pregnant and have an abortion and, most of all, that reduces the number of women and girls who become pregnant to begin with.

Click here for more opinion content from The Post and Courier.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-16 15:31:09

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PARIS, FRANCE/ ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / Akkadian Partners SA ("Akkadian") has announced that Akkadian Partners Fund, a Luxemburg registered securitisation fund under its management, now holds over a 5% shareholding and voting rights in Erytech SA ("Erytech").Akkadian has conducted a detailed analysis of the merits of the proposed strategic alliance between Erytech and Pherecydes Pharma ("Pherecydes") with particular focus on the strategic alignment of the expertise between the two companies, on their market competitiveness, their future prospects and the respective valuations chosen in this merger. Following this analysis, Akkadian has concluded that the merger between Pherecydes and Erytech does not serve the interests of Erytech's shareholders.Akkadian is willing to work constructively with Erytech's management with a view to finalizing a strategy that will enable to Erytech's significant cash resources to be effectively deployed.Akkadian believes that the chosen market value of Pherecydes is unjustified and overvalued compared to that of Erytech. Pherecydes is on the verge of going into bankruptcy and had to undertake a 1.5 million capital increase, fully subscribed by its shareholders, in February 2023 before its General Assembly meeting scheduled in June 2023This chosen market valuation appears solely dictated by the concern to protect Pherecydes shareholders, in particular Auriga IV Bioseeds: (i) Elaia Partners, acting on behalf of Auriga IV Bioseeds, which holds approximately 23% of the share capital of Pherecydes; (ii) Auriga Ventures III which holds approximately 3,70 % of the share capital of Erytech, (iii) the representative and joint manager of these two "Auriga" shareholdings is Mr. Franck Lescure, which constitutes a clear conflict of interest. Elaia Partners, acting on behalf of Auriga IV Bioseeds, subscribed to half of the 1.5 million capital increase of Pherecydes, i.e. well over the percentage of its shareholding in Pherecydes.Finally, Akkadian notes that the allocation of managerial roles is entirely skewed in favour of Pherecydes, which will fill the roles of Chairman (Mr. Didier Hoch) and CEO (Mr. Thibaut du Fayet), whereas the current CEO of Erytech (Mr. Gil Beyen) would simply act as Chairman and CEO of its US entity. Specifically, he will manage seven people in the future whereas he currently manages 50 people and managed 181 people on 31 December 2021. The reasons for this are inexplicable but which might be dictated by personal and family/marital interests.Akkadian requests that Erytech's Board of Directors immediately cease incurring costs on this transaction which clearly goes against the interests of Erytech's shareholders (already 1.2 M have already been spent) and focus its efforts on finding solutions that can generate short and medium term value for all Erytech's shareholdersand not for Pherecydes shareholders.Concerning the lack of relevance of the alliance between Pherecydes (phagotherapy) and ErytechOur analysis highlights the following weaknesses in Pherecydes:The Pherecydes product portfolio has limited commercial potentialIts positioning as a last-line therapy has resulted in:A low number of patients as illustrated by the small number of treatments administered under the Compassionate Access Authorisations (ACCs) obtained in May 2022;The critical clinical condition of patients with a very high mortality rate.Each product is extremely targeted and limited to a given species type of bacteria or to one or more strains within this species, thereby requiring very high precision and the need to combine treatments with antibiotics to produce an effective therapeutic impact which in turn entails increased risks in terms of tolerance and additional costs;A complicated treatment rationale: selection of the bacteria strain, phagogram, delivery of one or more active bacteriophages;Difficult in situ delivery, creating an obstacle to acquiring new clients;The need to reconstitute the product in a hospital pharmacy environment which poses an additional difficulty for new potential clients;The choice of targets is questionable:There are no precise indications for the anti-Pseudomonas aeruginosa and anti-E.col bacteriophages;The low cost of treatments: the low cost of antibiotics and the major difficulty of obtaining a premium price;No presence on the US market.The ability to complete the treatment is improbableThe difficulty of obtaining the registration of the products;No interest for antibacterial agents among big phara companies;Its highly complex pricing making any commercial launch without a partner impossible.Clinical development is complicatedInfectiology trials which are typically complicated are even more so because of the abovementioned difficulties, namely: the need to select strains that respond to treatment (phagogram), the need to add active antibiotics to the treatment protocol, requiring a large cohort of patients in many hospitals at high cost; this is illustrated by the difficulties faced in the PHAGODAIR study with an initial patient recruited in a clinical trial in June 2022 and about which there has been no news since;No significant results in clinical development and with Compassionate Access Authorisations (ACCs).Non sustainable manufacturingManufacturing is fully outsourced and know-how is disseminated among potential competitors (MB Pharma) with total dependency on sub-contractor manufacturers and research sub-contractors;High production costs since there are no phage associations enabling cost savings in terms of quality control (QC) and manufacturing.The management team is undersizedThe medical team is undersized, hence the long delay in launching the PHAGODAIR clinical trial;A lack of commercial development or market access activities, as evidenced by the lack of results with Compassionate Access Authorisations (ACCs).Fiercer competition in this sector with approaches that relate to the points mentioned above.Armata Pharmaceuticals (New York Stock Exchange -USA):Announcement of positive Phase I/II trial results according to good manufacturing practices (GMP) in-house internal standards in the US;In-house manufacturing in a GMP plant in the US;Over US$30 million in financing.Adaptive Phage Therapeutics (USA):3 clinical trials in progress;In-house GMP manufacturing plant in the US;Major B series financing of US$61 million in 2021;Partnership with Mayo Clinic;Solid managerial team recently bolstered in clinic research.Concerning the unbalanced terms of the strategic alliance between Erytech and PherecydesOn the excessive valuation of PherecydesIn their joint press release dated 15 February 2023, Erytech and Pherecydes announced a propose
PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-16 16:16:11

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / AADirection Capital Corp. (TSX-V: AAD.P) (the "Company") confirms that the Company has received TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") conditional acceptance with respect to its Qualifying Transaction to acquire Centenario Gold Corp. and its Eden Property, an early stage mineral resource exploration property located in Sinaloa State, Mexico. The Exchange did waive the requirement for sponsorship.One of the conditions precedent to Exchange acceptance has been satisfied with the SEDAR filing of the prescribed form of Filing Statement together with the applicable expert consents. The Filing Statement may be viewed and downloaded at www.sedar.com under the Company's profile and under Centenario's profile.The Company is currently addressing the financing condition of the Exchange by way of Centenario raising a minimum $1,750,000 by way of subscription receipts at $0.15 per subscription receipt. This financing is expected to close in the next week or two in advance of closing the Qualifying Transaction. Please see the Filing Statement for a full description of this financing and the ultimate receipt by subscribers of units in the resulting issuer on closing of the Qualifying Transaction.Once the financing is closed the Company will be able to set a scheduled closing date for the Qualifying Transaction as the remaining conditions of the Exchange to be satisfied are within the control of the Company and should be addressable within a few days of the closing of the financing.Assuming the gross proceeds from the financing are exactly $1,750,000, on closing the Qualifying Transaction, the resulting issuer will have 40,805,485 common shares issued and outstanding of which 11,079,166 shares will be subject to 36 months escrow (10% released on closing, and 15% released every 6 months thereafter) and 2,000,000 shares will be subject to 18 months escrow (25% released on closing, and 25% released every 6 months thereafter).About Centenario Gold Corp.Centenario is an unlisted reporting issuer that, through its Subsidiary, holds an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Eden Property, subject to a 1% NSR. The Eden Property consists of two (2) contiguous and titled mineral concessions named El Eden and El Eden 1 covering approximately 2,489 hectares. The Eden Property is located in the Cosala mining district of southeastern Sinaloa State, Mexico, in the southwestern foothills of the Sierra Madre Occidental, approximately 160 kilometres north of Mazatlan, Mexico.The Eden Property is located on the northern boundary of the Los Reyes property of Exchange listed Prime Mining Corp. Pursuant to recent news releases, Prime has provided an updated mineral resource estimate for the Los Reyes property of 1.47 million Indicated gold equivalent ounces and 0.73 million Inferred gold equivalent ounces.Centenario completed a first phase exploration program on the Eden property in late 2022. Centenario collected and received assays from both surface and underground workings that returned grades as high as 239.94 g/t Au and 1389.91 g/t Ag. Centenario also completed semi-detailed mapping over a 2.8 km portion of the Buenavista' prospect's mineralized corridor, followed by an IP/Resistivity geophysical survey and soil sampling program. Additional geophysical and soil sampling studies were completed across the La Provedora' prospect located 1.5 km further to the east.Proceeds of the $1,750,000 financing will be used, in part, to complete an initial 1,500m drill program on the Buenavista prospect as recommended in the up-to-date detailed National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") compliant technical report on the Eden Property which has been filed on Sedar under the Company's profile.About AADirection Capital Corp.The Company is a capital pool company pursuant to the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange with a view to completing a Qualifying Transaction. Readers are referred to recent news releases and the Filing Statement of the Company with respect to a detailed description of the proposed Qualifying Transaction that the Company is expecting to complete.For further information please contact:Mary Ma, Director of the CompanyT: 604-779-0016E: maryxm@ shaw.ca Douglas Fulcher, President of CentenarioT: 604-803-5901E: dfulcher@ centenariogold.com Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan","expect", "project", "intend","believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similarwords, or statements that certain eventsor conditions "may" or "will" occur.Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in applicable forward-looking statements are reasonable, therecan be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements are subjectto risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in such statements.NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOT 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: AAD Direction Capital Corp.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-16 12:50:03

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Global 3D Bioprinting Market is a latest research study released by Absolute Markets Insights evaluating the market risk side analysis, highlighting opportunities and leveraged with strategic and tactical decision-making support. The report provides crucial statistics on the market status of the leading 3D Bioprinting market players and offers information on market trends and development, growth drivers, technologies, and the changing investment structure of the Global 3D Bioprinting Market. The report uses effective graphical presentation techniques, such as graphs, charts, tables as well as pictures for better understanding.Key Players Influencing the 3D Bioprinting Market: :3D Systems, Inc.Advanced Solutions Life Sciences, LLCAllevi, IncAspect Biosystems LtdBrinterCellbricksCELLLINKCYFUSE BIOMEDICAL K.K.FELIXprinterFluicell ABGeSim  Gesellschaft fur Silizium-Mikrosysteme mbHMedprinnScryptOrganovo Holdings IncregenHUOther Industry ParticipantsGlobal 3D Bioprinting Market:By OfferingHardwareBioprintersBioinksSolutionsBy TechnologyExtrusion basedInk-jetLaser basedPress-assistedStereolithographyLight basedOthersBy ApplicationTissue engineeringTransplantable organsDrug development/ screeningToxicology ScreeningTissue model for cancer researchOthersBy End UsersPharmaceutical CompaniesResearch & Academic InstitutionsMedical Device ManufacturersContract Research OrganizationBy RegionNorth America (U.S., Canada, Mexico, Rest of North America)Europe (France, The UK, Spain, Germany, Italy, Nordic Countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden, Norway), Benelux Union (Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg), Rest of EuropeAsia Pacific (China, Japan, India, New Zealand, Australia, South Korea, Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Rest of Southeast Asia), Rest of Asia PacificMiddle East & Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Kuwait, South Africa, Rest of Middle East & Africa)Latin America (Brazil, Argentina, Rest of Latin America)Download PDF Sample Copy of this Report: https://www.absolutemarketsinsights.com/request_sample.php?id=1397 The documented report aims to offer an organized and methodical strategy for important aspects that have affected the market in recent years and future market opportunities that companies can trust. It gives readers clear market research for better judgment and better decision making on whether or not to invest. The report provides an analysis and overview of the future dynamics with an in-depth analysis of the most important players that are likely to contribute to the growth of the global 3D Bioprinting market during the forecast period.The market report also provides a correct assessment of the company strategies and business models that companies implement to stay in the market and lead. Some of the most important steps companies are taking are mergers and acquisitions, partnerships and collaborations to expand their regional and global reach. In addition, the players are also launching a new range of products to enrich their portfolio by using the latest technology and implementing them in their company.The report is updated with the impact of the currently unfolding COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has dynamically affected the key segments of the market and has changed the growth pattern and demands in the 3D Bioprinting Market. The report covers extensive analysis of these changes and provides an accurate forecast estimation of the market growth after the impact of the pandemic.Global 3D Bioprinting Market Segmentation:Seg123The report has classified the market into segments including product type, and application. Every segment is evaluated based on share and growth rate. Besides, the analysts have studied the potential regions that may prove rewarding for the manufacturers in the coming years. The regional analysis includes reliable predictions on value and volume, thereby helping market players to gain deep insights into the overall industry.Ask for Discount on this Premium Report: https://www.absolutemarketsinsights.com/ask_for_discount.php?id=1397 The report provides a detailed overview of the industry including both qualitative and quantitative information. It provides an overview and forecast of the global 3D Bioprinting market based on the type and application. It also provides market size and forecast till 2030 for overall 3D Bioprinting market with respect to five major regions, namely; North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa and South America. The market by each region is later sub-segmented by respective countries and segments. The report covers the analysis and forecast globally along with the current trends and opportunities prevailing in the region.Why the 3D Bioprinting Market Report is Beneficial?The 3D Bioprinting report is compiled with a thorough and dynamic research methodology.The report offers a complete picture of the competitive scenario of 3D Bioprinting market.It comprises vast amount of information about the latest technology and product developments in the 3D Bioprinting industry.The extensive range of analyses associates with the impact of these improvements on the future of 3D Bioprinting industry growth.The 3D Bioprinting report has combined the required essential historical data and analysis in the comprehensive research report.The insights in the 3D Bioprinting report can be easily understood and contains a graphical representation of the figures in the form of bar graphs, statistics, and pie charts, etc.If You Have Any Query/Inquiry, Ask Our Expert: https://www.absolutemarketsinsights.com/enquiry_before_buying.php?id=1397 Major Highlights of the Report:All-inclusive evaluation of the parent market.Evolution of significant market aspects.Industry-wide investigation of market segments.Assessment of market value and volume in past, present, and forecast years.Evaluation of market share.Tactical approaches of market leaders.Lucrative strategies to help companies strengthen their position in the market.About Us:Absolute Markets Insights assists in providing accurate and latest trends related to consumer demand, consumer behavior, sales, and growth opportunities, for the better understanding of the market, thus helping in product designing, featuring, and demanding forecasts. Our experts provide you the end-products that can provide transparency, actionable data, cross-channel deployment program, performance, accurate testing capabilities and the ability to promote ongoing optimization.From the in-depth analysis and segregation, we serve our clients to fulfill their immediate as well as ongoing research requirements. Minute analysis impact large decisions and thereby the source of business intelligence (BI) plays an important role, which keeps us upgraded with current and upcoming market scenarios.Contact Us:Contact Name: Shreyas TannaCompany: Absolute Markets InsightsEmail Id: sales@ absolutemarketsinsights.com Phone: IN +91-7400-24-24-24, US +1-510-420-1213Website: www.absolutemarketsinsights.com
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LITTLETON COMMON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / Dover Saddlery, the leading omni-channel retailer of equestrian products, has announced that it will be offering franchise opportunities for Dover Saddlery store locations across the United States in their newest business venture.Dover Saddlery is the largest and most respected English Equestrian Retailer in the United States, currently operating 37 free-standing retail stores and a robust website with over 60,000 products for horse and rider that span all English riding disciplines and levels.Dover's organization will support each business ownership with over 45 years of operational experience and established and successful concepts. Dover Saddlery was founded on the principle of providing both world-class customer service and equestrian products, which will remain Dover's focus in this new business venture. The Dover team is comprised of experienced and dedicated equestrians that understand the needs of horse owners and riders."Over the years, we've received numerous requests to open franchise locations around the country," said Brad Wolansky, CEO of Dover Saddlery. "We look forward to developing this special opportunity with the right partners, who share the same passion, commitment, and service to the sport that the Dover Saddlery brand was founded on." To learn more about Dover Saddlery Franchising, including timeline and availability, please send your inquiry to Franchise@ doversaddlery.com . We look forward to discussing your vision and entering the ring together for an amazing ride.The information provided in this press release is not intended as an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, a franchise. It is for informational purposes only. Currently, the following states regulate the offer and sale of franchises: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. If you are a resident of, or wish to acquire a franchise to be operated in one of these states, we will offer you a franchise only after we have complied with the applicable pre-sale registration and disclosure requirements in your jurisdiction.About Dover Saddlery, Inc.Dover Saddlery, Inc. is the leading omni-channel retailer of equestrian products in the United States. Founded in 1975 in Wellesley, Massachusetts, by United States Equestrian team members, Dover Saddlery has grown to become The Source for equestrian products. Dover offers a broad and distinctive selection of competitively priced, brand-name products for horse and rider through catalogs, online and through retail stores across the nation. Dover Saddlery, Inc. serves the English rider. For more information, please call 1-978-952-8062 or visit www.DoverSaddlery.com Contact InformationWhitney KeeleySenior Director of Corporate Communicationswkeeley@ doversaddlery.com 1- 978-952-8062 ext 277SOURCE: Dover Saddlery
PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-16 19:00:09

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The Swim School's Donation Supports the Hospital's Injury Prevention ProgramBOSTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / Goldfish Swim School in Massachusetts has donated $50,000 to support Boston Children's Hospital Injury Prevention Program and its mission to dramatically decrease preventable injuries through research and education. Aligned with the swim school's commitment to water safety and educating children and their families about how to be safe in and around the water, Boston Children's Hospital works in the local community to support initiatives designed to prevent childhood injury. The hospital also conducts research to better understand how to prevent injury.The owners of Goldfish Swim School in Massachusetts present Boston Children's Hospital Injury Prevention Program with a $50,000 donation to support Boston Children's mission to dramatically decrease preventable injuries through research and education. Goldfish Swim School has 11 locations in Massachusetts, including Burlington, Braintree, Brookline, Danvers, Marlborough, Milford, Needham, Norwood, North Attleboro, Rockland, and Westford. According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control & Prevention) and the American Academy of Pediatrics, drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death in US children 1 through 4 years of age. It is also the second leading cause of injury-related death among kids between the ages of 5-14. The Goldfish Swim School locations, including Burlington, Braintree, Brookline, Danvers, Marlborough, Milford, Needham, Norwood, North Attleboro, Rockland, and Westford, incorporates water safety skills into its curriculum during weekly swim lessons as well as during designated water safety weeks at each of the swim schools. Also, in conjunction with Water Safety Awareness Month (in May), Goldfish Swim School puts an extra focus on its mission by providing water safety presentations to students and families, as well as at preschools, daycares, and elementary schools in the community."We are proud supporters of the Boston Children's Hospital Injury Prevention Program," said Sarah Kepic, John Schwab, Tobey Kelly, Tracey McCaghy, Bill Burnett, John Higgins, and Eric Schwab, Goldfish Swim School owners in Massachusetts. "With our support, we hope to further the hospital's research and education, especially as it relates to water-related pediatric injury prevention. As parents ourselves, we understand the importance of year-round swim lessons and educating families and children how to be safe in and around the water." Most childhood injuries are preventable. As part of the Trauma Center at Boston Children's, the Injury Prevention Program aims to dramatically decrease the number of kids injured through public education and research. Their dedicated staff includes some of the world's most experienced pediatric physicians and clinicians who work together to treat and prevent the most common and complex childhood injuries."We are grateful for the support of Goldfish Swim School and know this gift will help so many families learn how to keep their kids safe this summer at the pool, the beach, and beyond," said Michael Bornhorst, Vice President, Corporate Development, Leadership Giving & Special Events at Boston Children's Hospital Trust.Learn more about Goldfish Swim School by visiting: www.goldfishswimschool.com/boston . Goldfish Swim School in Massachusetts has 11 locations, including Burlington, Braintree, Brookline, Danvers, Marlborough, Milford, Needham, Norwood, North Attleboro, Rockland, and Westford.About Goldfish Swim SchoolFounded in 2006 by husband-and-wife team Chris and Jenny McCuiston, Troy, Michigan-based Goldfish Swim School provides swim lessons and water safety instruction to infants and children aged 4 months to 12 years. Classes are led by specially trained instructors in a safe, child-friendly environment using a research-based philosophy called The Science of SwimPlay. Since opening its first franchised location in 2009, the brand has grown to more than 145 schools in over 30 states, with an additional 150+ in development. Goldfish is ranked No. 69 overall in Entrepreneur's 2023 Franchise 500 and has been recognized as the No. 1 children's fitness franchise for seven consecutive years, was named to Franchise Times' Top 500 for 2022 and is rated as a Top Franchise by Franchise Business Review for 2023. Goldfish Swim School is currently in the process of expanding franchise opportunities throughout North America. For information on franchising, go to www.goldfishswimschool.com/franchise-opportunities Contact:Katie SullivanGoldfish Swim School508-641-2404SOURCE: Goldfish Swim School
PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-16 22:00:40

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DENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / Revolutionize your farming practices with Growlink's groundbreaking Terralink Soil Moisture Sensor (VWC, EC, Temp). This advanced technology redefines precision agriculture by delivering unparalleled accuracy and efficiency, all at an affordable price point.TerralinkTerralink Soil Moisture sensor + EC + TempThe Terralink sensor goes beyond the capabilities of conventional sensors, transforming the way farmers monitor and optimize soil conditions. With state-of-the-art capacitance technology, this cutting-edge device provides real-time measurements of soil moisture, electrical conductivity (EC), and temperature. Its exceptional precision in non-soil mediums empowers farmers to make informed decisions, leading to maximized crop yield."At Growlink, we believe in democratizing advanced technology for farmers of all sizes. Terralink embodies our commitment to providing high-quality solutions that are accessible to every farmer," says Ted Tanner, CEO of Growlink. "By offering Terralink at an affordable price, we aim to support the widespread adoption of precision agriculture without compromising on quality." Seamless integration with the Growlink Smart Controls Platform ensures instant access to crucial data anytime, anywhere. The user-friendly interface enhances the user experience, enabling farmers to effortlessly harness the power of precision agriculture.Terralink empowers farmers to gain a deeper understanding of their soil's needs, enabling proactive decision-making and promoting sustainable farming practices. By accurately measuring soil moisture, EC, and temperature, Terralink optimizes crop yield and resource utilization, offering a compelling value proposition.With the introduction of Terralink, Growlink reaffirms its commitment to driving innovation and supporting farmers of all scales on their journey towards precision agriculture.To learn more about Terralink and its transformative capabilities, visit https://www.growlink.ag/hardware/p/growlink-soil-moisture-sensor-ec-temp About Growlink:Growlink is a leading provider of smart farming solutions, leveraging cutting-edge technology to optimize agricultural practices and drive sustainable crop production. Through innovative sensors and intuitive analytics, Growlink equips farmers with actionable insights, enabling them to make informed decisions and achieve optimal results.For media inquiries, please contact:Ted Tanner - CEOttanner@ growlink.com 800-432-0160Contact InformationTed TannerCEOttanner@ growlink.com 3037102530SOURCE: Growlink
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / Hagens Berman urges Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE:RAD) investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now.Class Period: Apr. 26, 2018 - Mar. 13, 2023Lead Plaintiff Deadline: May 19, 2023Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/RAD Contact An Attorney Now: RAD@ hbsslaw.com 844-916-0895Rite Aid Corporation (RAD) Securities Fraud Class Action:The litigation focuses on Rite Aid's compliance with federal regulations concerning its pharmacies' prescriptions practices and its federal healthcare program reimbursement billing.According to the complaint, Defendants made false and misleading statements or failed to disclose that Rite Aid: (1) filled hundreds of thousands of unlawful prescriptions for controlled substances that lacked a legitimate medical purpose until June 2019; (2) ignored evidence that its stores were dispensing unlawful prescriptions and intentionally deleted internal notes about suspicious prescribers written by concerned pharmacists; (4) violated the Controlled Substances Act by knowingly filling unlawful prescriptions for controlled substances; and (5) violated the False Claims Act when it sought reimbursement from federal healthcare programs.Investors began to learn the truth on Mar. 13, 2023, when the US Department of Justice announced it filed a lawsuit against Rite Aid alleging that the company knowingly filled hundreds of thousands of unlawful prescriptions for controlled substances and knowingly submitted false or fraudulent reimbursement claims for such prescriptions to federal healthcare programs. The DOJ alleges these activities violate the Controlled Substances Act and the False Claims Act and states, in part, "[w]hile making millions of dollars [Rite Aid] opened the floodgates for millions of pills of opioids and other controlled substances to flow illegally out of [its] stores." This news sent the price of Rite Aid shares sharply lower."We're focused on investors' losses and proving Rite Aid's decision to put profits ahead of safety enabled it to record illegally-generated revenues," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.If you invested in Rite Aid and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm's investigation, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman.Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Rite Aid should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email RAD@ hbsslaw.com # # #About Hagens BermanHagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation law firm focusing on corporate accountability through class-action law. The firm is home to a robust securities litigation practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com . Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.Contact:Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895SOURCE: Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP
PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-16 20:31:58

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / Covia Canada consists of mining and manufacturing operations in Quebec and Ontario. Covia's largest Canadian operations - Blue Mountain and Nephton are located in Peterborough, Ontario in the Kawartha Lakes region. These two operations are Covia's only hard rock mining facilities, mining and processing Nepheline Syenite, a coarse-grained high alumina feldspar with no crystalline silica-producing product for the glass, paint, and polymer industries.Nephton and Blue Mountain's commitment to ESG is particularly noteworthy. For the past ten years, in partnership with the local Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry office, these facilities have worked to protect local turtle populations, including species at risk, living in the adjacent wetlands. The annual turtle nesting is currently taking place and Covia Team Members travel the haul road and other high traffic areas such as plant entrances to search for and gather turtle eggs. The eggs incubate in the Customer Service area and are monitored and maintained weekly. Covia Team Members also receive annual Turtle Training which highlights the importance of turtles in the ecosystem. Over the past few years, they have collected more than 900 eggs, with a 70% hatch rate. This important program supports the mission of the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre "to protect and conserve Ontario's native turtles and the habitat in which they live." Recently, Covia was featured in Rubber World with a published white paper, Nepheline Syenite as the Smart Alternative to Crystalline Silica Fillers in Silicone Elastomers. Covia Team Members and co-authors Scott VanRemortel, Application Technology Manager, and Kysle King, Application Technology Manager, explore the importance of Nepheline Syenite as a smart alternative for the polymer and elastomer markets. To view white paper in its entirety, visit https://rubberworld.com/february-2023/ We're proud of the Blue Mountain and Nephton facilities. They are great examples of Covia's commitment to quality products, partnership, and the environment.View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Covia on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: CoviaWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/covia Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Covia
PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-17 00:30:08

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LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / Luxury air service Goldwing announced its first public capital raise after securing an initial anchor investor. This Seed round equity offering will enable the upcoming semi-private carrier to secure aircraft and prepare their innovative concept for scheduled daily flights between Los Angeles and New York.Goldwing is a luxury offering for the premium traveler that fueled a post-pandemic private travel boom, which catapulted semi-private carriers into successful household names such as Blade, Aero, SurfAir, XO, and JSX (formerly Jetsuite X). Unlike these other semi-privates, Goldwing offers the service, luxury, privacy, amenities, and nonstop long-distance flights one could expect on a Gulfstream or other large private jet.Goldwing is able to offer a true private jet experience, as passengers relax in spacious personal sleeper suites on reconfigured Boeing jets, conveniently departing from private terminals at smaller airports. This offering is a major upgrade of the semi-private aviation product, featuring luxurious private sleeper suites and extended range, capable of flying to Europe and Asia.Goldwing stands out from the rest by allowing passengers to reserve one of several private suites onboard called SkyCabins instead of booking individual seats. The suites come in different sizes so passengers can easily upgrade to a larger cabin to fly together with up to four friends, family members, colleagues plus pets! The aircraft also features plenty of common space, with a luxurious onboard bar and lounge, and runs on low-carbon biofuels.Goldwing offered a summary of their latest announcement: "We believe that private jet travelers are increasingly sensitive to the high financial and environmental costs of private jet travel. Goldwing is uniquely poised to lead the U.S. air travel industry in the quality of our luxury offering and in sustainability with our commitment to low-carbon aviation fuels. This investment brings us one step closer to building an exciting and socially responsible luxury brand that extends the private aviation experience to a wider range of travelers," says Goldwing.Goldwing is projecting to launch in 2025 after completing their Series A. The company raised pre-Seed funds during the pandemic and is presently soliciting capital for their Seed round equity offering. Interested accredited investors are welcome to contact the company directly:Media DetailsWebsite URL: goldwingjets.com Company Name: Goldwing Jets Inc.Email address: info@ goldwingjets.com SOURCE: Goldwing Jets Inc.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-16 04:40:11

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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/
PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-16 13:01:05

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CARY, N.C. / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / Merkados has announced that they have partnered with Cary Chiropractic and Massage to provide digital marketing consulting and design services.The services that Merkados is delivering include a full revamp of the business strategy, the creation of a comprehensive branding system, and the design and development of a fully responsive, bilingual (English and Spanish), state-of-the-art custom website."Cary Chiropractic and Massage is a fantastic brand with a lot of potential. We are happy to help Dr. Michelle Elliott and her team, take their business to the next level by enhancing their digital strategy," said Alex Centeno, Founder of Merkados.The new website that was created is clean, contemporary, and fully responsive for mobile devices. It incorporates new technologies including the latest Analytics to help the business understand their digital presence and user behavior.Additionally, the digital marketing program, AIM System, has been implemented to support Cary Chiropractic and Massage's efforts to attract new patients, improve their digital marketing, and create momentum for their brand. Utilizing Merkados' proprietary and client-specific artificial intelligence implementation gives Cary Chiropractic and Massage an edge, becoming much more competitive."When we started working with Merkados, we knew that we wanted to take our digital marketing to the next level. We were excited to work with a company with so much experience in the field," said Dr. Michelle Elliott, Owner of Cary Chiropractic and Massage.Cary Chiropractic and Massage has already seen significant results from working with Merkados, including improvements in search engine rankings, an increase in website traffic, and a growth in patient volume.For more information about Merkados' services and how they can help small businesses with their digital marketing strategies, visit their website at https://merkados.com/ Contact InformationAlex CentenoCreative Directorspm@ merkados.com 888-525-8117.700Related Filescary-chiro-homepage@2x.jpg1080 p-cary.jpg SOURCE: Merkados
PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-16 11:15:10

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mindzie's new MuleSoft Certified Connector for mindzie studio helps companies create seamless digital experiences, faster.DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / mindzie today announced a new MuleSoft Certified Connector for mindzie studio. Accessible in the MuleSoft Anypoint Exchange, this new connector will allow companies to simplify integration to mindzie's low-code process mining platform and leverage business process intelligence to map, analyze, and optimize workflows.mindzie Process Intelligence Process intelligence is becoming one of the fastest-adopted technologies by businesses. Its ability to provide a new level of insight into how organizations operate, and where the opportunities are to improve, is helping transform companies across a wide variety of industries.With this new integration, organizations will be able to seamlessly access the data they need from a wide variety of systems and leverage mindzie's low-code process mining platform to quickly identify ways to drive efficiency, monitor compliance, and improve working capital. The new integration drives automation through MuleSoft RPA."The combination of MuleSoft's ability to connect to a wide variety of systems and Robotic Process Automation solution with mindzie's process mining platform provides customers a turnkey solution for digital transformation," said James Henderson, mindzie's Chief Executive Officer. "Customers will have the ability to extract and transform data, analyze their business processes to identify opportunities for improvement, and automate to reduce costs and drive efficiency all from an integrated toolset." "Industries are facing new demands that push them to accelerate the pace of digital transformation," said Amy Kodl, Senior Vice President, Alliances & Channels, Salesforce. "mindzie's integration allows MuleSoft customers to enable teams to integrate apps and data and automate business processes, to innovate faster and deliver great customer and employee experiences." MuleSoft helps businesses and developers transform into customer-first companies by enabling a single customer view across hundreds of systems and touchpoints using one unified platform. With MuleSoft, organizations can empower no-code and pro-code teams to build integrations and automations across any system, connect data for a single customer view, and discover and govern every API. The result is empowered business users who can do more with less, quickly creating workflows and integrations that drive efficient growth and faster time to value while removing time spent on repetitive tasks and complex integrations.MuleSoft customers can learn more about mindzie's MuleSoft Certified Connector for mindzie studio by visiting: https://www.mulesoft.com/exchange/com.mulesoft.connectors/mule4-mindzie-connector/minor/1.0/ Salesforce, MuleSoft and others are trademarks of salesforce.com , inc.Contact Informationmindzie mediaMedia Relationsinfo@ mindzie.com 866-646-3943SOURCE: mindzie, inc.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-16 13:01:17

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TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / 55 North Mining Inc. ("55 North" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company and Marcel Colomb First Nations (MCFN) have signed an Exploration Agreement ("the Agreement") outlining a framework for collaboration on the proposed exploration of the Last Hope Gold Project in Lynn Lake, Manitoba.The Agreement details how the two parties will work together to progress ongoing exploration activity at the Last Hope Gold Project, which lies within the MCFN Traditional Territory in the Lynn Lake area of Manitoba.MCFN Chief, Christopher Colomb, said, "We are in full support of the Last Hope Gold Project moving ahead." 55 North CEO, Bruce Reid, said, "the landmark Agreement is an important step forward in our long-standing relationship with the MCFN Band. We look forward to working closely with MCFN to advance our high-grade Last Hope Gold Project." About The Last Hope Gold ProjectSince 2017, 55 North Mining Inc. has spent over $5 Million on exploration and community relations at its Last Hope Property. A previous diamond drill program consisting of 11,653 m in 29 holes was conducted in 2020 and 2021. Step-out drilling extended the strike length of the gold mineralization to approximately 1.2 km.The Phase 2 drill program was completed was in 2020. Drill results from that program included LH-20-08 which returned 19.25 g/t over 15.7 m. Currently, the Last Hope Gold Project hosts an Indicated mineral resource of 408,300 tonnes grading 5.41 g/t Au for 71,100 ounces of gold, and an Inferred resource of 1,553,000 tonnes grading 5.48 g/t Au for 273,800 ounces of gold.The Last Hope Property has the potential to define additional Mineral Resources and expand the Mineral Resource area. The Company has planned a Phase 3 drill program. The Phase 3 drill program will comprise of 9,500 m of drilling in 25 holes as a follow up to the 2020-2021 drill program. This program will target possible mineralization for an additional 500 m along strike to the southeast of the present Mineral Resource at a vertical depth of approximately 550 m.About 55 North Mining Inc.55 North Mining Inc. is an exploration and development company advancing its high-grade Last Hope Gold Project located in Manitoba, Canada.FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:Mr. Bruce ReidChief Executive Officer, Director55 North Mining Inc.br@55 northmining.com CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATIONThis news release of 55 North contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements." Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in the industry to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.SOURCE: 55 North Mining Inc.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-16 21:30:18

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PHILADELPHIA, PA / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / Kaskela Law LLC announces that it is investigating Energy Vault Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:NRGV) ("Energy Vault") on behalf of the company's long-term investors.Energy Vault develops and sells energy storage solutions. The current company was formed in February 2022 via a business combination with SPAC entity Novus Capital Corporation II (NYSE: NXU), with Energy Vault as the surviving, publicly traded entity.Immediately following the closing of the business combination in February 2022, shares of Energy Vault's stock traded at approximately $12.00 per share. Subsequently, in the year following the business combination, shares of Energy Vault's stock declined in value to approximately $4.50 per share, a cumulative decline of $7.50 per share, or over 60% in value.The investigation seeks to determine whether Energy Vault and/or the company's representatives violated the securities laws or breached their fiduciary duties to stockholders in connection with the business combination, thereby causing investor losses.Energy Vault investors who purchased or acquired shares of NXU / NRGV stock prior to January 4, 2022 are encouraged to contact Kaskela Law LLC (D. Seamus Kaskela, Esq. or Adrienne Bell, Esq.) at (484) 229 - 0750, or by email (skaskela@ kaskelalaw.com / abell@ kaskelalaw.com) or online at https://kaskelalaw.com/cases/energy-vault-holdings/ , to receive additional information about this investigation and their legal rights and options.Kaskela Law LLC exclusively represents investors in securities fraud, corporate governance, and merger & acquisition litigation. For additional information about Kaskela Law LLC please visit www.kaskelalaw.com . This notice may constitute attorney advertising in certain jurisdictions.CONTACT:KASKELA LAW LLCD. Seamus Kaskela, Esq.Adrienne Bell, Esq.18 Campus Blvd., Suite 100Newtown Square, PA 19073(888) 715 - 1740(484) 229 - 0750SOURCE: Kaskela Law LLC
PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-16 15:01:49

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VILNIUS, LITHUANIA / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / With the ever-changing commercial landscape, businesses strive to improve operations and offer customers the best possible prices for their products and services. It is a key element in retaining competitiveness recognized by, for example, European Commission, as crucial for supplying consumers with better-quality and low-price products.Companies stay ahead of the competition through several processes, one being price comparison. It involves scanning large amounts of data to compare a particular product across multiple channels. Such an operation enables companies to view relevant and structured data for price adjustments and offer the best possible deals to customers.On the other hand, price comparison has become available to the global audience, and people can discover which companies have the best prices for particular products themselves. In the U.S., the most popular price comparison tool is Google Shopping scoring 60% on brand awareness. In a highly competitive market where competitors and customers can evaluate a company's price strategy, comprehensive price comparison is necessary.Another important business process is product catalog monitoring. It is a broader operation that includes checking product availability, variety, discounts, and relevant shopping information. Monitoring the changes in the product catalog enables businesses to react to any market shifts promptly.Both operations are crucial for companies, especially in e-commerce, to remain competitive and meet the demand of their customers for good-quality and low-price products. Even the British government has developed its own price comparison tool to help people choose among the various items.Notably, companies need to scan through enormous amounts of data and enable price comparison tools to provide reliable data. That's why large-scale data solutions based on the sharing economy have emerged to help businesses collect real-time data from various online sources.Using solutions like Honeygain, a crowdsourced web intelligence network, price comparison can be done using publicly available online data collected ethically, including user consent and safety measures. People share their unused Internet resources with the network, which is then used for price comparison and product catalog monitoring.Utilizing the Honeygain network allows businesses to stay ahead of the competition by providing an innovative large-scale data collection solution. Moreover, Honeygain allows its users to participate in the sharing economy by allowing them to supply their Internet and make the Internet a better place for everyone.Honeygain compensates its users for participating in the sharing economy and helping others. Based on fairness and transparency, the network gives monetary rewards according to the amount of traffic shared. This motivates users to continuously help others by enabling businesses to sell products at reasonable prices.About HoneygainHoneygain is the first-ever application that allows users to generate passive online income by sharing their Internet connection. It is the world's first crowdsourced web intelligence network that provides services to global industries for price comparisons, advertisement verification, brand protection, and more.Contact:Monika Ezerinskaitemonika@ honeygain.com SOURCE: Honeygain UAB
PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-16 08:50:11

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GOTEBORG, SE / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / Smart Eye (STO:SEYE)(OTC PINK:SMTEF)(FRA:SE9) High Organic Growth and Improved Cash FlowJanuary-March 2023Net sales amounted to SEK 64.3 (53.5) million, an increase of 20% compared to the corresponding period the previous year. Underlying invoicing was approximately SEK 6 million higher during the quarter, but as iMotions started periodization of recurring revenue as from Q3 2022, this revenue will instead be recognized over the contract period. With the above effect in consideration, the organic growth for the total group was 31%.EBITDA amounted to SEK -44.2 (-36.1) million. The lower result is largely due to an addition of resources to deliver more advanced content on Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS) and Interior Sensing. The quarter was burdened by one-time costs due to the funding process amounting to SEK 2.8 million.Operating loss amounted to SEK -81.9 (-71.5) million. Depreciation of the surplus value created in conjunction with the Affectiva and iMotions acquisitions amounts to SEK 28.2 million.Earnings after tax per share is -2.34 (-2.75), and after full dilution -2.34 (-2.75).Cash and cash equivalents totaled SEK 239.1 million at the end of March.The funding process of a fully covered rights issue was finalized in late February 2023, with total proceeds of approximately SEK 324 million before deduction of transaction costs.Late January Smart Eye was nominated to deliver its DMS software to 3 additional car models with an existing Japanese OEM customer. The estimated revenue of the order is SEK 30 million based on estimated product life cycle projections.Late February the company was awarded its first design win for heavy trucks by a global commercial vehicle customer. The company was chosen to deliver its technology to eight new heavy vehicle models. The estimated revenue of the order is SEK 150 million based on product life cycle projections.Early March Smart Eye was nominated to deliver its DMS software to 12 additional car models with an existing Korean OEM customer. The estimated revenue of the order is SEK 350 million based on estimated product life cycle projections.Comments from the CEOWe are pursuing our focus on cost control and increasing sales. We are expecting that both Behavioral Research and Automotive will increase their revenue significantly during the coming quarters. That together with high gross margins and tight control over costs and cash flow will bring us to profitability no later than the second half of 2024. The first quarter of this year was a very important steppingstone towards that goal. We decreased our OPEX with 10% compared to quarter four 2022. We also increased top line slightly more than expected primarily thanks to strong Research sales. Together with that we managed to decrease the working capital, we improved the cash flow from operating activities from -54 MSEK in Q4 2022 to -34 MSEK, ending the quarter with 239 MSEK in the bank. We are expecting the growth of sales to continue in the coming quarters without us having to increase the cost base in any significant way.AutomotiveWe are still in the starting blocks for several of the large platform SOP:s with many of the world's largest car OEMs. In several cases the production has started but isn't ramping as fast as the original production plan schedules. Sometimes it's because of components and sometimes because of general car software architectural issues. We are carrying on with the development work and the organic revenue increase of 20% is mostly coming from NRE, development services. Another source is that the fleet and aftermarket product has started to sell albeit at low levels. We are very positive in our outlook that our customers will ramp up production in the coming quarters and are expecting growth at higher levels than the current 20%. The upcoming European legislation is a hard stop for the OEMs and yields a market size of more than 18 million cars in Europe alone by 2026.Behavioral ResearchThe research side of Smart Eye was already making profit on a stand-alone basis last quarter at a revenue of 41 MSEK. This quarter at 50 MSEK the three units were even more profitable. Organic growth has more than doubled, from 15% to 34% compared to last quarter, which is clearly above the market. Hence we are gaining market share. Our offering is very complete with eye tracking hardware, Emotion AI SaaS as well as the leading multi modal software platform, so it's no surprise that we are gaining momentum as the effects of the pandemic are losing its grip on the research market. We are expecting continued strong traction for the rest of the year.Final WordsThe first quarter gave us record topline, 31% organic growth, improved capital structure and subsequently better cash flow than last quarter. We are sitting on the most important contracts and customers in Automotive and our sales of aftermarket product is starting to ramp up. We are gaining market share in our business area Research, growing at a record pace. We will continue with tight cost control and extreme sales focus to make sure we break even next year. The upcoming regulations regarding DMS and our market- leading product has put us in a very advantageous position, to say the least.Martin KrantzCEO Smart EyeFind the full report and all previous financial reports at https://smarteye.se/investors/financial-reports/ For more information:Martin Krantz, CEO Smart Eye ABPhone: +46 70-329 26 98Email: martin.krantz@smarteye.se About Smart EyeSmart Eye is the global leader in Human Insight AI, technology that understands, supports, and predicts human behavior in complex environments. We are bridging the gap between humans and machines for a safe and sustainable future. Our multimodal software and hardware solutions provide unprecedented human insight in automotive and behavioral research-supported also by Affectiva and iMotions, companies we acquired in 2021.In automotive, we are leading the way towards safer and human-centric mobility through Driver Monitoring Systems and Interior Sensing solutions. Our technology is embedded in next-generation vehicles and available as a standalone aftermarket solution for existing vehicles, fleet, and small-volume OEMs.Our industry-leading eye tracking systems and iMotions biosensor software enable advanced research and training in academic and commercial sectors. Affectiva's Emotion AI provides the world's largest brands and market researchers with a deeper understanding of how consumers engage with their content, products, and services.Smart Eye was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Sweden with offices in the US, UK, Germany, Denmark, Egypt, Singapore, C
PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-16 01:41:14

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BOCA RATON, FL / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2023 / Infinity Sales Group (ISG) has been awarded a Top Workplaces 2023 honor by the South Florida Sun Sentinel Top Workplaces. The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by research partner Energage, LLC, a leading provider of technology-based employee engagement tools. The confidential and anonymous survey measures 15 culture drivers that are critical to the success of any organization, including alignment, execution, and connection.ISG awarded a Top Workplaces 2023 honor by the South Florida Sun Sentinel Top WorkplacesISG awarded a Top Workplaces 2023 honor by the South Florida Sun Sentinel Top Workplaces Additionally, ISG won five Culture Excellence awards: Compensation & Benefits, Innovation, Leadership, Purpose & Values, and Work-Life Flexibility."During this very challenging time, Top Workplaces has proven to be a beacon of light for organizations, as well as a sign of resiliency and strong business performance," said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. "When you give your employees a voice, you come together to navigate challenges and shape your path forward. Top Workplaces draw on real-time insights into what works best for their organization, so they can make informed decisions that have a positive impact on their people and their business." "At ISG, we work daily to promote a culture rooted in transparent, constructive, and positive communication designed to recognize the impact of individual contributions to the organization's collective goals," said Josh Slater, ISG President and CEO. "We believe that an enthusiastic, motivated team creates a unique energy that is evident to our business partners and customers we interact with daily. By rewarding effort, promoting from within, and celebrating innovation, we encourage a diverse staff to feel valued. We are thrilled to be recognized as a Top Workplace based on employees' high ratings for their ISG experience." About ISG:ISG is a 100% U.S.-based performance-propelled digital marketing agency specializing in new customer acquisition across multiple verticals. Headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, ISG partners with major global brands to drive unique customer interactions through all digital touchpoints. Operating best-in-class Marketing, Sales, and IT divisions, ISG delivers industry-leading conversion rates for its partners. The team at ISG strives to provide innovative solutions that set the pace for an ever-changing digital ecosystem.Contact InformationLauren MiskaSenior VP, General Counsel & CCOlmiska@ isg.us (561) 665-4310SOURCE: Infinity Sales Group
Xi holds talks with Eritrean president

Xinhua) 08:00, May 16, 2023

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)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Rotana, a leading hotel management company, has signed four Edge by Rotana and one Rayhaan by Rotana property in partnership with Memar Development & Investment at the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) 2023.



Guy Hutchinson, President & CEO of Rotana, and Abdulaziz Al Meqren, CEO of Memar Development & Investment, were both present at the official signing of the agreement at FHSs Global Stage.



Commenting on the partnership, Hutchinson said: Saudi Arabia presents one of the fastest-growing markets in the region, increasingly establishing itself as a leading tourist destination. These new properties located in the heart of Riyadh include a mix of hotels and serviced apartments, offering our guests diverse options to suit their varying needs. We are excited to partner with Memar Development & Investment on this project as we work together to deliver on Rotanas singular brand promise of delivering Treasured Time for all our guests.



The five new Riyadh properties will add 618 keys to Rotanas growing portfolio. This is in line with the groups target of adding triple the number of rooms it currently runs in the Kingdom to 6,000 over the next four years. The new Edge by Rotana properties will be interconnected, operating in synergy to ensure efficient workflow and deliver the ultimate guest experience. The properties will offer guests a range of dining options as well as recreational facilities such as pools, gyms, treatments rooms and more.



Abdulaziz Al Meqren added: We are pleased to sign today with a leading hospitality brand with regional roots such as Rotana. This new development will provide visitors with various experiences gathered in one place. With a variety of dining and recreation facilities being developed across all five properties, residents and visitors of Riyadh will soon have a new place to discover in the city.



Makram El Zyr, Corporate Vice President  Development for Rotana added: launched at ATM 2022, Edge by Rotana has seen tremendous development and is on track to reach its target of operating 30 Edge by Rotana properties across the region by 2027. Rotana has, to date, successfully opened three Edge by Rotana-managed hotels in the UAE  Arabian Park and Park Apartments in November 2022, and Damac Hills 2 in February 2023.



Rotana currently operates 73 hotels in the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe and Turkiye, serving more than six million guests per year, including 10,012 keys across 36 hotels in the UAE alone.  TradeArabia News Service
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 16. Uzbek "Centrum Air" flight operator plans to establish flights between the cities of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan, the representative of the companys foreign relations department, Dilshod Ishankulov told Trend.

According to Ishankulov, at the present time, Centrum Air is studying the potential passenger traffic for the successful launching of flights between the two countries.

"Currently, we are studying the potential passenger traffic and plan to establish flights between the cities of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. At the moment, it is complicated to announce the certain timing of the flights launching, but we are very optimistic on this matter," he said.

Ishankulov emphasized that the Uzbek low-cost air carrier started to operate flights passenger flights under the Centrum Air trademark on February 2023, since then passenger flights have been carried out, not only on local destinations but also on international.

"The new airline under the Centrum Air trademark has started operating regular and charter passenger flights since February 2023. As of May 12, 2023, more than 200 passenger flights have been carried out, both on local and international destinations. The airline operates international flights to the UAE, Egypt, Georgia, Saudi Arabia, as well as Kazakhstan," the companys representative added.

Furthermore, Ishankulov said that in the nearest future, Uzbek private airline plans to launch flights to Europe, Southeast Asia, as well as the Middle East.
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A Trusted Data Security SolutionATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / TeleMate, the leader in vendor-neutral, unified communication monitoring and analytic platforms, today announced that it has successfully completed its Service Organization Control (SOC) 2 Type II certification. The SOC 2 is an auditing standard developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accounts (AICPA). Successful completion of the SOC 2 Type II audit further validates TeleMate's focus on security and compliance, demonstrating a major milestone for the company and the services it provides global enterprises.SOC 2 defines criteria for managing customer data based on five "trust service principles" - security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality and privacy. Certification demonstrates a company's ability to not only implement critical security policies but also prove compliance over an extended period of time."We believe that the relationship with our customers is built on trust," said Steve Tabaska, CEO of TeleMate. "SOC 2 compliance defines an important milestone for TeleMate, and confirms our commitment and adherence to security and accountability, giving our customers greater confidence that their unified communication data is being thoughtfully stored and protected." An SOC 2 Type II audit is performed by an accredited CPA firm and verifies that all the necessary safeguards are in place to protect customer data and that the safeguards are operational. TeleMate's audit was performed by Johanson Group LLP, which worked with TeleMate's management team to streamline the business processes to ensure it had every necessary policy, controls and systems in place.This SOC 2 Type II audit certification follows TeleMate's recent announcement of its enhanced Predictive UC Analytics platform, which unveiled its innovative approach to solving remote and hybrid workforce visibility challenges of unified communication services. The platform creates a new level of capability by eliminating the information and visibility gap that exists between the office-based workforce using unified communications & collaboration technologies and the growing workforce that operate outside of corporate walls.To learn more about TeleMate, visit our website and schedule a demo today. Or reach out to one of our valued partners (World Wide Technology, Presidio, Encore Technologies, GDT or Waterfield Technologies). Alternatively, you can visit TeleMate's booth 9807 at this year's Cisco Live 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada, June 5 - June 8, 2023.ABOUT TELEMATE:TeleMate is a global leader in providing unified communications, collaboration and contact center monitoring, analytics, and reporting platforms. As a recognized innovator in the space, TeleMate is the solution of choice for the Fortune 1000 and service providers.To learn more about TeleMate visit us at www.TeleMate.Net , or contact us at info@ TeleMate.Net , or call us at 1-855-790-3369.Contact InformationJackson WilksDirector of Marketing+1 855-790-3369SOURCE: TeleMate, LLC.
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Why Some Believe the US Healthcare System is Making Us SickRENO, NV / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / Many healthcare experts today feel America's healthcare system is broken. According to the American Public Health Association, the U.S. spends more on health care but has worse health outcomes than comparable countries around the globe.It's true that Americans suffer from poor health issues including lower life expectancy and higher obesity rates than other high-income countries. But while politicians debate complex policy solutions, the answer to better health may be simpler than we realize.Jason Teichner, a holistic health practitioner in Nevada, believes the key to revolutionizing healthcare lies in treating the root causes of illness, not just symptoms. After overcoming Hodgkin's Lymphoma in his 20s, Teichner founded Sunrise Wellness Institute to help others heal naturally. His approach addresses the nutrition, oxygenation, and toxicity factors at the source of disease."Conventional medicine largely treats symptoms. We need to shift the focus to underlying causes of poor health," says Teichner. "Disease is the end result of imbalance in the body and ignoring the whole person. At Sunrise Wellness, we look at everything from nutrition and toxicity to stress and PH balance." Teichner's philosophy reflects an emerging approach called integrative medicine, which combines conventional and alternative methods. It considers the mind, body, and community in fostering wellness. Teichner is not alone in his belief; according to the National Institutes of Health, "The landscape of medicine in the United States has been slowly progressing toward a more holistic and individualized approach to healing. Part of this progress has been the integration between western and alternative forms of medicine, a concept that has been described as "integrative medicine." This approach to healthcare incorporates a patient's mind, spirituality, and sense of community into the healing process." With healthcare costs skyrocketing and chronic illness rising in America, many feel we need innovative solutions. Could holistic methods that reduce our reliance on drugs and medical interventions cut spending and improve public health? The answer to many seems to be yes.Studies show holistic programs can lower health costs and risks. Some Cancer patients using integrative therapies had lower medical expenses and fewer hospital stays. Mind-body interventions decreased migraines and arthritis pain. Exercise and nutrition changes reversed diabetes and heart disease.However, holistic medicine remains on the fringe of the U.S. system. While patients seek alternative treatments, insurance rarely covers them. Doctors get little training in integrative methods. Healthcare is designed to treat sickness rather than cultivate wellness.To transform a "sick care" system into true health care, policymakers should support integrative approaches. Insurance coverage for lifestyle counseling, nutritional therapy and stress management could curb costs over the long run. Medical education must teach future doctors the importance of holistic health. Hospitals would do well to offer acupuncture, meditation and other wellness practices.America has a choice. Continue pouring money into a broken system that manages disease or invest in holistic models targeting its source. Teichner is proof alternative methods can work with proper, professional guidance. Our health crisis demands we stop debating fixes and start implementing real solutions. An integrative approach could be the answer that leads to a vibrant, sustainable future for our nation's health. Our wellbeing depends on a system designed not just to treat sickness but achieve whole health. The cure has been there all along.ABOUTJason Teichner is a certified holistic health practitioner, hypnotherapist, and nutritionist. Teichner, combines conventional and alternative methods of medicine to help heal people naturally from a variety of types of health challenges by getting to the root of their ailments. He is a published article and received his certifications from School of the Healing Arts Thomas Edison State University, and Hypnosis Motivation Institute. Sunrise Wellness Institute customizes individual plans to help as many people as possible heal naturally while giving hope to their clients who otherwise thought complete, permanent healing wasn't possible. To learn more, visit Sunrise Wellness on their website at sunrisewellnessinstitute.com , and on Facebook or LinkedIn.CONTACTJason Teichner775-527-7791jason@ healhealheal.info SOURCE: Sunrise Wellness Institute
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NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION OR DISSEMINATION DIRECTLY, OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES.OTTAWA, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / TUP Capital Inc. (TSXV: TUP.P) ("TUP") and Orthoforge Inc. ("Orthoforge", together with TUP, the "Parties") are pleased to announce the signing of a letter of intent dated effective May 15, 2023 (the "LOI") pursuant to which TUP has agreed to acquire all of the issued and outstanding securities of Orthoforge (each, an "Orthoforge Security") in exchange for the issuance of securities of TUP (the "Transaction").The Transaction will result in a reverse takeover of TUP by Orthoforge, and will constitute TUP's "Qualifying Transaction" as defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"). TUP and Orthoforge are at arm's length and the Transaction will not be a non-arm's length transaction under the policies of the Exchange. On closing of the Transaction (the "Closing"), it is expected that TUP (being, following the Closing, the "Resulting Issuer") will be listed as a Tier 2 Technology Issuer on the Exchange, and its business will be that of Orthoforge.About TUPTUP is a Capital Pool Company (as defined in the policies of the Exchange) led by Paul Barbeau (Chief Executive Officer) and David Chow (Chief Financial Officer). Its principal business activity is to identify and evaluate opportunities to acquire assets or a business. Incorporated in 2020 under the laws of the Province of British Columbia, TUP is a reporting issuer in the Provinces of British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario. Its common shares (each, a "TUP Share") are listed for trading on the Exchange under the symbol TUP.P.About OrthoforgeOrthoforge, a corporation existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, incorporated on August 10, 2016, is a medical technology company that has created a wearable sensor patch that utilizes acoustics to quantify the stage of bone fracture and soft tissue injuries. Orthoforge uses a unique algorithm to analyze ultrasonic sound waves as bone and soft tissue heal from traumatic injury.Orthoforge's wearable sensor patch has diagnosis-assisting software and constant on-demand telemetry, designed to address the limitations inherent in the healing process. Orthoforge's wearable sensor patch is intended to reduce the number of CT Scans, X-rays and office visits necessary in monitoring bone and soft tissue healing, with the goal of reducing exposure of patients to harmful radiation and the typical costs associated with analyzing bone injuries. Its objective is to provide a quantifiable real-time assessment of a patient's current stage of healing, utilizing personalized precision medicine to produce reliable results and improved outcomes for patients.Terms of the TransactionThe Transaction is expected to proceed by way of an amalgamation, share exchange or such other structure as may be determined by the parties. As contemplated in the LOI, at Closing, TUP will issue such number of TUP Shares (or other applicable TUP securities following any internal capital reorganization) to the holders of the Orthoforge Securities as have an aggregate value of $10,750,000, based on a deemed price of $0.20 per TUP Share, or such other deemed price per share as may be determined by the parties.Completion of the Transaction will be subject to various conditions, including: the parties entering into a definitive agreement with respect to the Transaction; the parties obtaining all required directors', shareholders', regulatory and third-party consents for the Transaction, including the conditional approval of the Exchange; completion of the Concurrent Financing (as defined below); and compliance with applicable listing requirements of the Exchange. No finder's fees are expected to be paid in connection with the Transaction.As the Transaction is not a non-arm's length transaction under the policies of the Exchange, TUP is not required to obtain shareholder approval for the Transaction. However, TUP intends to hold a special meeting of shareholders to approve certain matters ancillary to the Transaction, which may include, among other things: a reorganization of TUP's share capital; the adoption of a new omnibus equity incentive plan and amendments to TUP's articles to include advance notice provisions with respect to the nominations of directors.Upon completion of the Transaction, Orthoforge will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Resulting Issuer, and the Resulting Issuer will change its name to "Orthoforge Inc." or such other name as may be determined by TUP and Orthoforge (the "Name Change"), and will continue with the business of Orthoforge.The final structure of the Transaction, including any internal reorganization required by TUP and/or Orthoforge, will be determined after the parties have considered applicable tax, securities and accounting matters.Proposed Concurrent FinancingPrior to the Closing, TUP is expected to undertake a concurrent financing for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $3,400,000 (the "Concurrent Financing"), or such other amount as may be determined by the parties, on terms to be determined in the context of the market. Additional information with respect to the Concurrent Financing will be disclosed in a subsequent news release.All of the securities to be issued under the Concurrent Financing will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from the closing of the Concurrent Financing under applicable Canadian securities laws and may be subject to additional resale restrictions under applicable securities laws of other jurisdictions, including the United States. In addition, certain of the TUP Shares to be issued to holders of Orthoforge Securities pursuant to the Transaction may be subject to escrow or other resale restrictions under applicable securities laws or the policies of the Exchange. None of the securities to be issued in connection with the Transaction or the Concurrent Financing will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to any U.S. Person (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration is available. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction where such offer or solicitation would be unlawful, including the United States.Managem
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PLANO, TX / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / Universal EV Chargers, a leading provider of EV charging solutions, is excited to announce its partnership with Carter School District in Kentucky to assist them in transitioning their fleet to electric vehicles. The School district received federal funding from the EPA to move its fleet to electric, and Universal EV Chargers was selected through a competitive bidding process to provide charging infrastructure for the School District's electrified buses.Universal EV Chargers has been working closely with Carter School District to understand their charging requirements and will install 12 dual-port 60KW chargers with 24 ports, ensuring that each bus has its own charging port. This partnership marks a significant milestone in achieving Carter District's sustainability goals and promoting eMobility."We are honored to partner with Carter School District to support their transition to electric buses," said a spokesperson for Universal EV Chargers. "Our innovative charging solutions will ensure that the district's buses are always charged and ready to go, and we are committed to making eMobility more accessible and affordable for everyone." Universal EV Chargers is excited to work with various school districts and assist them in transitioning their fleets toward a more sustainable future. By providing EV charging infrastructure, the aim is to facilitate the adoption of electric vehicles and reduce the carbon footprint of transportation. This step is crucial in promoting sustainable living and creating a greener future for the next generation."We are excited to work with Universal EV Chargers to electrify our fleet and promote a sustainable future for our students," said Ronnie Cooley, Director of Maintenance at Carter School District. "With their innovative charging solutions, we are confident that our electrified buses will run efficiently, and we look forward to further collaborations with Universal EV Chargers." Universal EV Chargers is committed to facilitating the transition towards a more sustainable future by providing innovative EV charging solutions. By promoting the adoption of electric vehicles, we strive to create a greener future for generations to come. The company's mission is to make EV charging accessible and convenient for all, and this partnership with Carter School District is a significant step towards achieving this goal.For more information about Universal EV Chargers and its EV charging solutions, please visit www.universalevcharging.com Contact:Name: Megha ThackerCompany: Universal EV ChargersPhone: 866-350-2738Email: megha.thacker@universalgreengroup.com SOURCE: Universal EV Chargers LLC
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / Ximen Mining Corp. ( TSX.v:XIM) (FRA:1XMA)(OTCQB:XXMMF) (the "Company" or "Ximen") announces it has acquired the Perry Creek gold property of 8 claims covering 608.7 hectares, located approximately 22 km west of Cranbrook in southeastern British Columbia.Photo of Ximen geologist at sample site on Perry Creek claims.We are thrilled to announce the acquisition of the Perry Creek gold property, a significant addition to Ximen's portfolio. The presence of multiple gold occurrences and the property's location within the Kimberley Gold Trend highlight its tremendous potential. We are committed to conducting thorough exploration and verification work to unlock the true value of this property and further advance our goal of discovering and developing high-grade gold deposits. Ximen is excited about the opportunities that lie ahead on the Perry Creek claims. " States Anderson CEOThe Perry Creek claims were acquired 100% from an independent vendor and are situated less than 1 km southwest of Ximen's Quartz Mountain property. There are five known mineral occurrences on the Perry Creek property, four of which are primary gold occurrences. Historical records indicate the area was originally explored in 1915 with programs of trenching and drifting on several shafts on the Homestake claim group, which covered the Columbia and Homestake occurrences. Past workings at the Columbia occurrence consisted of the Scorgie tunnel and Columbia shaft, with attendant open-cuts (BC Minfile).At The Homestake occurrence, previous diamond drilling in 1986 identified a silicified fault system anomalous in gold for at least 200 metres with a true width of approximately 7 metres; best result yielded 1.0 metre assaying 10.3 grams per tonne gold. In 1987, a sample assayed 7.8 grams per tonne gold. A 2.7-tonne bulk sample is reported to have yielded 27.7 grams of gold or 10.3 grams per tonne gold (BC Minfile records).At The Columbia occurrence, a 1986 rock sample from a former shaft assayed 14.0 grams per tonne gold, and in 1987, trench samples from the Columbia shaft area yielded up to 12.6 grams per tonne gold and a rock sample assayed 22.4 grams per tonne gold (BC Minfile )Perry Creek is the site of modern and historic placer gold workings, and lies within the Kimberley Gold Trend, which covers placer gold deposits on the Wild Horse River, Perry Creek and the Moyie River. Placer operations still continue on Perry Creek. The Kimberley Gold trend is marked by the St. Mary's and Moyie faults cross-orogen faults and overlies the Vulcan basement tectonic zone which likely influenced structural development and fluid flow during Jurassic and Cretaceous folding, faulting and intrusion.Photo showing present-day placer gold mining operation in Perry Creek valley.Ximen plans to relocate and sample the historic workings and conduct geochemical and geophysical surveys prior to trenching and/or drilling to further test the extensive gold-bearing vein and shear zones. An initial filed examination was conducted recently.Readers are cautioned that historical records referred to in this News Release have been examined but not verified by a Qualified Person. Further work is required to verify that historical records referred to in this News Release are accurate.Dr. Mathew Ball, P.Geo., VP Exploration for Ximen Mining Corp. and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, approved the technical information contained in this News Release.On behalf of the Board of Directors,"Christopher R. Anderson"Christopher R. Anderson,President, CEO and Director604 488-3900Investor Relations: Sophy Cesar, 604-488-3900, ir@ XimenMiningCorp.com About Ximen Mining Corp.Ximen Mining Corp. owns 100% interest in three of its precious metal projects located in southern BC. Ximen`s two Gold projects, The Amelia Gold Mine and The Brett Epithermal Gold Project. Ximen also owns the Treasure Mountain Silver Project adjacent to the past producing Huldra Silver Mine. Currently, the Treasure Mountain Silver Project is under an option agreement. The option partner is making annual staged cash and stocks payments as well as funding the development of the project. The company has also acquired control of the Kenville Gold mine near Nelson British Columbia which comes with surface and underground rights, buildings and equipment.Ximen is a publicly listed company trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol XIM, in the USA under the symbol XXMMF, and in Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin Stock Exchanges in Germany under the symbol 1XMA and WKN with the number as A2JBKL.This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, including statements regarding the receipt of TSX Venture Exchange approval and the exercise of the Option by Ximen. 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 statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," "potential," "goal," "objective," "prospective," and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include the possibility that the TSX Venture Exchange may not accept the proposed transaction in a timely manner, if at all. The reader is urged to refer to the Company's reports, publicly available through the Canadian Securities Administr
Porous borders are exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, where fighting continues to rage between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports that since the conflict began on 15 April, approximately 300 000

Sudanese have become internally displaced, and more than 100 000 have fled to neighbouring countries. These include Egypt, Chad, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and the Central African Republic (CAR).

The UN recently reported that the fighting had choked off deliveries of essential goods and food.

Although numerous factors contribute to the humanitarian crisis, ineffective border control facilitates the movement of people, goods and weapons across Sudans borders. This impedes aid organisations ability to provide life-saving assistance to affected populations.

A major problem is identifying and tracking displaced people who have crossed the border and need help. In Chad, some newly arrived refugees are living in the open or under trees, while others have set up makeshift shelters close to the border.

In South Sudan, vulnerable groups such as the elderly, people with disabilities, pregnant women, female-headed households with young children, and large families are arriving at the border. Weak border registration systems have also delayed aid delivery.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), approximately 9 700 displaced people have crossed into CAR and settled near the border town of Am-Dafock.

This is destabilising the countrys already fragile economy, where 56% of the population needs humanitarian assistance. Rising numbers of refugees will overwhelm the international aid apparatus in CAR.

People displaced by Sudans war are forced to live in unsafe and unsanitary conditions, with limited access to food, water and shelter.

Registering and relocating them to more secure locations away from the border is a priority, and the UNHCR has recognised the need to take action. This involves identifying those who need help and transporting them to places where they are protected from cross-border attacks and criminal activities.

Creating such safe pathways is a complex undertaking requiring collaboration between governments, humanitarian organisations and other actors. Functional border control and registration systems help to identify and quickly assist displaced individuals without exacerbating existing conflicts.

Porous boundaries have perpetuated the proliferation of armed groups and militias in the region. Fighters move freely between countries and evade authorities, carrying out cross-border attacks and other crimes.

The Janjaweed in Sudan has used their proximity to Chad and South Sudan borders to launch raids and loot livestock in those countries. In CAR, militias are accused of recruiting child soldiers and smuggling diamonds across the borders with Sudan and Chad.

In South Sudan, the government has allegedly used militias to target civilians in areas believed to support the opposition groups, leading to massive displacement and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. These groups exploit the lack of sound border control and security measures to smuggle arms, recruit new members and launch surprise attacks on communities and military bases.

The conflict in Sudan could spill over into neighbouring countries, with grave implications for their stability. Chad, South Sudan and CAR are already dealing with internal conflicts and displacement. Chad has received 30 000 Sudanese refugees despite closing its border when clashes started in April. That is in addition to the 600 000 refugees and 400 000 internally displaced people due to Chads own instability.

Dealing with porous borders requires short- and long-term measures. As a matter of urgency, the Sudanese government should increase border patrols and implement stricter immigration and customs controls.

International organisations such as the UN and the African Union can facilitate dialogue and cooperation between neighbouring countries to address shared border security challenges. In the long term, border

regions need better governance and socio-economic development.

Margaret Monyani, Senior Researcher, Migration, Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Pretoria

(This article was first published by ISS Today, a Premium Times syndication partner. We have their permission to republish).

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A break-away faction of the minority caucus of the members-elect of the House of Representatives has backed Tajudeen Abbas and Ben Kalu as speaker and deputy speaker, respectively, confirming a division in the caucus.

The decision was contained in a communique issued on Monday following a meeting of the faction of the opposition group at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.

Idu Igariwey, a ranking PDP member from Ebonyi State, and Alhassan Rurum, a member of the NNPP from Kano State, signed the communique.

That in furtherance of our resolve to play a leading role in the formation of the leadership of the 10th Assembly and as a result of our diligent interactions with all aspirants for the position of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, we hereby resolve to support the duo of the Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and Rt. Hon Benjamin Kalu, respectively as Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.

That we have found in the two persons of Tajudeen Abbas and Benjamin Kalu, a leadership that will allow for fairness and equity as well as provide an equal platform for all political parties represented in Parliament to have a say in the running of the legislature and expression of alternate views on issues of public interest.

That in the next few days we will be meeting in a larger caucus of the minority parties to discuss and formalise the adoption of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker designates of the 10th Assembly of the House of Representatives, the communique reads.

Crack in the ranks of minority

This development shows a crack in the minority caucus as the members held two meetings simultaneously at different venues on Monday. Both camps claim to represent all the minority parties.

Idu Igariwey, a ranking PDP member from Ebonyi State, leads the faction that endorsed Mr Abbas. In contrast, another group led by Fred Agbedi, a ranking PDP member from Bayelsa State, met at Fraser Suites, Abuja, and announced a plan to get a suitable candidate to back.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Tinubu settled for Messrs Abbas and Kalu for speaker and deputy speaker, respectively.

The faction that met at Fraser Suites failed to get a committee to cause an upset against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the speakership race.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported that the coalition, which comprises the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Social Democratic Party (SDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Young Progressive Party (YPP), set up a 13-man committee to shop for a candidate from the minority camp.

The Secretary of the Committee, Victor Afam, a Labour Party member-elect from Anambra State, said the committee could not get a candidate as none of the minority caucus members showed interest.

He stated this on Monday during the meeting of the caucus at the Fraser Suites Hotel.

Mr Afam informed his colleagues that no one showed interest, saying, however, that the caucus remains united.

The committee called on Members of the minority caucus who are interested in the speakership or Deputy Speaker position to step forward.

I wish to report on behalf of the Chairman of that Committee and the entire members, as at the end of the period given to undertake that assignment, no member of the minority caucus, better known as the greater majority, stepped forward to contest for the role of presiding officers.

Deductively, this means that we are not bidding for those two positions. However, we remain united as one caucus of the opposition parties, he said.

He also disclosed that the minority group met with all the aspirants in the race to decide on who to back.

We did also meet with those aspiring for the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives, but because weve not briefed our members, I will not go into details of our interface, he said.

The minority coalition may have to pick from incumbent Deputy Speaker Idris Wase (Plateau), Yusuf Gagdi (Plateau), Sada Soli (Katsina), Muktar Betara (Borno) Tunji Olawuyi (Kwara), Abubakar Makki (Jigawa), Aminu Jaji (APC, Zamfara), Ado Doguwa (Kano), and Miriam Onuoha (Imo).

Meanwhile, the ruling party, APC, aligning with the President-elect, has adopted Messrs Abbas and Kalu as the candidates for speaker and deputy speaker.

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The Presidential Election Petition Court began its sitting in Abuja last Monday.

It marked the unveiling of five members of the court panel to the public.

The panel comprises five judges drawn from various divisions of the Court of Appeal.

They are:

*Haruna Tsammani, presiding justice of Abuja Division (63)

*Stephen Adah, presiding justice, Asaba Division (65)

*Misitura Bolaji-Yusuf, Asaba Division (63)

*Moses Ugo, Kano Division (57)

*Abba Mohammed, Ibadan Division (62)

Read below 14 quick points to note about them:

1. There is only one female among them.

2. Two of them are presiding justices of divisions of the Court of Appeal.

3. Three of them are graduates of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, one from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, and the other of the University of Calabar, Calabar.

4. Four of them were born before the Independence, while only one of them was born post-Independence.

5. All five judges attended the Lagos campus of the Nigerian Law School.

6. Some of them have connections to high-profile cases involving the illegal removal of former Governor Rashidi Ladoja of Oyo State; former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen; IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu; outgoing Governor of Kano State, Ganduje, renaming of UNILAG, police womens right, Okada ban in Lagos, former PDP spokesperson, Olisa Metuh, other corruption cases, VAT, etc

7. They are all participating in a presidential election petition court for the first time.

8. Their legal careers have spanned between 39 and 41 years.

9. They have been judges for 13 to 24 years.

10. They have served as Justices of the Court of Appeal for two to 12 years.

11. They hold between the 12th and 71st positions in the seniority list of 76 Justices of the Court of Appeal.

12. They are drawn from five of the six geo-political regions of Nigeria  South-west, South-south, North-west, North-East and North-central.

13. Some have made headlines, while others have only little reported about them in the media.

14. They have up to September to deliver their judgement, and a displeased party can still appeal to the Supreme Court.

Read fuller details of the judges here.

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The Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) has given Governor Dapo Abiodun until the end of May to address issues raised by its members in the Ogun State House of Assembly over their welfare.

The assembly workers are demanding full implementation of the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure CONLESS) for themselves and their colleagues in the House of Assembly Service Commission.

The national body of PASAN, in a letter dated May 9 and signed by its Secretary-General, Awobifa Hammed, also demanded full compliance with the provisions of the Ogun State House of Assembly Service Commission Law, 2018 and Statutory Office (State Emolument) Amendment 2018.

In the letter, a copy of which was made available to PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday, the association said the governor ignored three correspondences from its chapter on the issue despite the legislative workers plea.

It urged the governor to address its demands before May 31 or risk an industrial crisis in the state.

Sir, Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) as a National Umbrella of all workers working in all Houses of Assembly and their Commissions, always conduct background checks on activities on appointment process and procedures in conformity with Assembly Service Commission Laws and other extant regulations.

Its therefore alarming shocking and strange when discovered that the Clerk/Head of Legislative Service, the Deputy Clerk and Executive Secretary Assembly Service Commission who are all our members were not only denied their due salaries, in consonance with Ogun State Assembly Service Commission Law, 2018 section 10 (2)13 and 14 but other allowances attached to their office as well were equally denied.

Consequent upon the earlier appeal cum request of Ogun State Chapter of PASAN demanding the full implementation of CONLESS and all attached allowances in their letters of March, 2013, the National Leadership wish to reiterate our strong support for the clarion call that Their demands be attended to on or before 31 of May, 2023 which its failure may allow Our union to pursue the goal from other legitimate actions available.

Sir, while still appealing through this medium that you use your good office to address this issue in time, please accept our unflinching regard.

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A civil society organisation has asked the Federal High Court, Abuja, to order the investigation and prosecution of Bola Tinubu, the president-elect, over his alleged Guinean citizenship.

The Advocacy for Societal Rights Advancement and Development Initiative (ASRADI) accused Mr Tinubu of perjury for refusing to disclose his alleged dual citizenship to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In the suit filed on Tuesday, the group urged the court to order the police to probe the case and possibly refer Mr Tinubu to the Attorney-General of the Federation for prosecution.

It pleaded with the court to hear and determine the request before the swearing-in of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 29 May 2023.

Mr Tinubu will begin to enjoy constitutional immunity from prosecution once he is inaugurated on 29 May.

Mr Tinubu, who won the February presidential election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been enmeshed in a recent controversy over his alleged citizenship of the Republic of Guinea.

A former Guinean President, Alpha Conde, confirmed his conferment of Ambassador extraordinaire on Mr Tinubu, whom he described as a pan-Africanist.

However, Tinubu has neither confirmed nor denied his dual citizenship of Nigeria and Guinea.

Following Mr Tinubus silence over the issue, a civil society group called for the polices prosecution of the president-elect.

It alleged that Mr Tinubu lied on oath by refusing to disclose Guinean citizenship in his Form EC9 submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2023 presidential election.

The allegation of Tinubus citizenship has also been featured at the Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja, where Mr Tinubus victory at the 25 February presidential election is being challenged.

Prayers

In an affidavit of urgency in support of an ex-parte request, the groups lawyer, Chukwunweike Okafor, urged the court to grant his client permission to apply for an order compelling the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, to investigate and prosecute Mr Tinubu if found guilty of perjury regarding his Guinean citizenship.

Citing relevant provisions of the Nigerian constitution and the Police Act, Mr Okafor said the police have a statutory duty to investigate Mr Tinubu for alleged perjury contained in INECs Form EC9 sworn to by him on 14 June 2022 concerning his Guinean citizenship.

An order of mandamus compelling the respondent (police) to investigate the fillings made by Bola Ahmed Tinubu in respect of his Guinean citizenship contained in INEC Form EC9 sworn to by him on June 14, 2022, and where he is found culpable of the offence of perjury, refer him to the Attorney General of the Federation for prosecution.

In the affidavit sworn to by Adeolu Oyinlola, Executive Director of ASRADI, the applicant urged the court to hear and determine the request before the swearing-in of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 29 May 2023.

The non-disclosure by Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the INEC Form EC9 of his dual citizenship of his voluntary acquisition of the citizenship of Guinea amounts to Perjury.

Accompanying the application is a letter by the plaintiff to the IGP dated 8 May.

The letter with the title, Demand for Investigation of Bola Ahmed Tinubu for Suspected Perjury, read in part, At page three (3) of the affidavit in support of personal particulars Form EC9 which Ahmed Tinubu filled and submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) preparatory to contesting for President on February 25, 2023, he declared on oath in answer to question eleven (11) that he has not voluntarily acquired citizenship of any other country.

However, it has now come to light that (the) subject has indeed voluntarily acquired citizenship of Guinea.

Meanwhile, with less than two weeks to Mr Tinubus inauguration, no date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

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About 24 million voters gathered in February at over 176,000 voting points across the country to choose Nigerias next president, but only five persons will cast crucial votes at the first of two court stages in a conference room in Abuja in September.

The fate of the president-elect, Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), will continue to hang in the balance months after he would have been inaugurated as Nigerias president on 29 May. His stay in office will still be steeped in uncertainties until the handful of judges that will hear the cases challenging his victory hand down their verdicts.

Election petitions set the stage for a paradox for democracy to break its prime majority rule. The choice of the minority can take the place of the decision of the majority.

It gives a reason for the riveting attention millions of Nigerians and foreigners within and outside Nigerian borders are paying to the proceedings of the Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja, which began sitting on Monday.

The court will review a mix of varied, tricky legal and factual questions that have been raised in three petitions pending before the court.

After the courtroom fireworks that promise to last months, the five jurists will retire to their conference room, a drab, small conclave in the sprawling complex of the Court of Appeal headquarters perched on the fringes of the Three Arms Zone, Abuja  the domicile of Nigerias highest executive, legislative and judicial powers  to deliberate and possibly vote to take a final decision, in case there are disagreements on issues thrown up at trial.

They will return to a packed courtroom to announce their decision  whether the result of the 25 February presidential election declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on 1 March was valid or not valid.

The court has up to September, the end of a statutory period of 180 days from March when the aggrieved candidates filed their petitions, to give its decision.

The decision is, however, not final, as a displeased party can still appeal to the Supreme Court. But lawyers say the Court of Appeals decision sets the tone of the final decision of the Supreme Court, either in concurrence or disagreement.

Using publicly- available information, PREMIUM TIMES presents profiles of the five appeal court jurists who will give the much-awaited vital decision in September.

Haruna Simon Tsammani

Mr Tsammani, who hails from Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State, was unveiled as the presiding justice of the five-member panel of the Presidential Election Petition Court last week.

The 63-year-old, who occupies a relatively distant 12th position on the seniority list of the 76 judges of the Court of Appeal, must be well-regarded to be appointed to head the panel, a prized responsibility that is ordinarily reserved for the president of the court, some lawyers have said.

The immediate-past President of the Court of Appeal, Zainab Bulkachuwa, appointed herself to the position during the 2019 election cycle and only withdrew after succumbing to relentless calls on her by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to step down.

Mohammed Garba, who replaced Ms Bulkachuwa, and another member of the panel, Abdu Aboki, were later elevated to the Supreme Court bench.

Called to the Nigerian bar after undergoing one-year-long legal studies at the Nigerian Law School in Lagos in 1983, Mr Tsammani has spent the last four decades of his life in the legal profession. This was after he completed his law degree programme at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, between 1972 and 1982.

The experienced jurist began his journey on the bench with his appointment as a judge of the High Court of Bauchi State on 17 September 1998, about 24 years ago.

The longest-serving Justice of the Court of Appeal among the five members of the panel, Mr Tsammani has spent half of his 24 years as a judge on the Court of Appeal bench which he was elevated to on 16 July 2010.

This is his first time participating in the panel of a presidential election petition court, a rarity that only a handful of judges in a generation are opportune to be involved in.

However, it is definitely not his first time adjudicating on an election petition or political case.

On 4 July 2020, Mr Tsammani delivered one of the judgements of the Court of Appeal in Abuja that affirmed the second term election of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State.

Well-familiar with intra-and inter-party disputes in Nigeria, Mr Tsammani gave the lead judgement of the Court of Appeal that handed back the control of APC in Kano State to the outgoing governor, Abdullahi Gaduje, in February last year.

He also delivered the judgement of the Court of Appeal in Abuja that issued the order restraining the Rivers and Lagos state governments from taking action on their bids to collect Value Added Tax (VAT).

About a month later, in October 2021, he led the three-member panel of the court that dismissed a suit by the suspended National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, to allow the party to hold a hitch-free national convention.

Mr Tsammani also led the Court of Appeals panel that gave the October 2022 judgement suspending the release of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, from custody after the charges against the secessionist were dismissed in an earlier judgement of the court.

Stephen Jonah Adah

Mr Adah hails from Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State in North-central Nigeria.

Number 23 on the list of Justices of the Court of Appeal, he is the second most senior judge on the panel of the Presidential Election Petition Court. He is currently the presiding justice of the division of the court in Asaba, Delta State.

Mr Adah is 65 years old.

He is equally a graduate of the law faculty of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and the Lagos campus of the Nigerian Law School. He was called to the Nigerian bar in 1982, about 41 years ago  a year earlier than Mr Tsammani.

His journey on the bench began with his appointment as a judge of the Federal High Court 24 years ago on 12 November 1998.

He was appointed to the Court of Appeal bench on 5 November 2012, about 10 years ago and over two years after Mr Tsammani.

Mr Adah has a robust record of high-profile cases with diverse subject matters to his name. His decisions have triggered applause and controversies.

As a Federal High Court judge for 12 years, he gave judgements that portrayed his leaning towards the uncompromising defence of the supremacy of the constitution and the rights it grants citizens, as well as his aversion for arbitrariness by public officers.

In May 2012, Mr Adah nullified a provision in the Police Act prohibiting a female police officer from marrying a man of her choice without the permission of the commissioner of police in the command where she is serving.

Mr Adah held in the judgement that the provision contained in Regulation 124 of the Police Act was unconstitutional.

He also gave the 25 June 2012 ruling that thwarted the plan of then President Goodluck Jonathans administration to rename the University of Lagos to Moshood Abiola University, Lagos.

On 4 May 2012, he gave the judgment that restrained then-Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State from going ahead with his plan to ban or restrict the operations of commercial motorcyclists in the state. Without any law passed by the state House of Assembly to back the policy, Mr Adah said, It is arbitrary for the state and dictatorial in a democratic setting for the government to curtail the movement of others without any valid law passed by the National Assembly or the state House of Assembly.

Mr Adahs decision inspired the law the Lagos State House of Assembly would later pass to give the ban on okada legal backing.

At the Court of Appeal, Mr Adah delivered the lead judgement of a three-member panel that affirmed the conviction of a former Plateau State governor, Joshua Dariye, on 16 November 2018. President Muhammadu Buhari would later grant a widely condemned pardon to Mr Dariye alongside a former governor of Taraba, Jolly Nyame, after their conviction and jailing had been affirmed by the Supreme Court.

In May 2019, Mr Adah delivered a belated judgement that could have saved the former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, who was controversially tried at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), and removed from office.

On 24 July 2020, he delivered the lead judgment of a panel of the Court of Appeal affirming the acquittal of a cousin to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Robert Azibaola, and his wife, Stella Azibaola, accused of money laundering involving $40 million security funds.

Later that year, on 4 December 2020, Mr Adah led a panel of justices that affirmed the death penalty imposed on Maryam Sanda, in a celebrated murder case in which the woman was accused of stabbing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, to death.

Less than two weeks later, the jurist, on 16 December 2020, delivered the lead judgement of a three-member panel that ordered a retrial of a former spokesperson for the PDP, Olisa Metuh, earlier jailed for seven years for money laundering by the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Mr Adah, in his judgement, also quashed the indicting comments made by the trial judge concerning a former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, who is standing trial in a separate but related case of diverting billions of naira in arms funds.

Mr Adah trained as a teacher at Ilorin Teachers College, Ilorin between 1975 and 1976 before gaining admission to study law at ABU in 1978.

Misitura Bolaji-Yusuf

Ms Bolaji-Yusuf, the only female member of the panel of the Presidential Election Petition Court, hails from Oyo-West Local Government Area of Oyo State, South-west Nigeria.

The jurist, a law graduate of the law faculty of Obafemi Awolowo University, is 63 years old.

Appointed to the Court of Appeal on 24 March 2014, about nine years ago, Ms Bolaji-Yusuf now occupies the 31st position on the roll call of the judges of the court.

Before her elevation to the Court of Appeal bench, she had put in a total of 17 years into her judicial career which began with her appointment to the High Court of Oyo State on 30 January 1997.

Adding her nine years at the Court of Appeal to her 17 years on the High Court bench, Ms Bolaji-Yusuf becomes the longest-serving judge among the five judges on the panel of the Presidential Election Petition Court, with 26 years of unbroken career as a judge to her credit.

Her entire legal career beginning with her call to the bar in 1984 is about 39 years old. In terms of the length of their legal profession, she comes behind both Messrs Tsammani and Adah.

She currently serves at the Asaba Division of the Court of Appeal where she ranks behind Mr Adah as the second most senior judge.

Not many cases have been credited to her in the media, but there is one that cast her in the mould of a courageous judge.

On 12 January 2006, as a judge of the High Court of Oyo State, Ms Bolaji-Yusuf issued an order that invalidated the steps taken by then-acting Chief Judge of the state, Afolabi Adeniran, which led to the illegal removal of the then governor, Rashidi Ladoja.

Although the Acting Chief Judge withdrew the case from her, her ruling was the first major blow to the entire impeachment process which the Supreme Court would also later nullify. The Supreme Court declared the process null and void and reinstated Mr Ladoja in its judgement delivered on 11 November 2006.

About a month before her elevation to the Court of Appeal, the judge was reported to have overseen a stormy court proceeding as a High Court judge in Ibadan in February 2014. During the hearing, most likely to be one of the last she conducted before her elevation, Ms Bolaji-Yusuf was reported to have successfully calmed the war of nerves between opposing lawyers in the criminal case. Before the proceedings of that day, she was to have affirmed the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case.

She was also reported to have delivered the lead judgement of the three-member panel of the Benin Division of the Court of Appeal that affirmed the first term election of Governor Godwin Obaseki in June 2017.

Boloukuoromo Moses Ugo

Mr Ugo hails from Kolokuma/Qpokuma Local Government Area in Bayelsa State, South-south Nigeria.

At 57, he is the youngest among the judges on the panel of the Presidential Election Petition Court.

The graduate of the law faculty of the University of Calabar was appointed to the Court of Appeal bench on 24 March 2014, making this year his ninth on the courts bench where he occupies the 44th position on the roll call.

Before his elevation to the Court of Appeal, he served as a judge of the Bayelsa State High Court for eight years, dating back to his appointment on 21 March 2014.

In total, Mr Ugo has put in a total of 17 years to his career on the bench, and a total of 33 years to his legal profession that started with his call to bar in 1990. He also attended the Lagos campus of the Nigerian Law School between 1989 and 1990.

Mr Ugo, who is currently serving at the Kano Division of the Court of Appeal, is hardly read about in the media. It will perhaps take digging deep into law reports to find out the important cases he has handled.

His participation in the Presidential Election Petition Court panel is a pivotal turn in his career, placing him on a national, if not global stage where the public can gain insights into the workings of his judicial mind for the first time.

Abba Bello Mohammed

Mr Mohammed hails from Kano State, North-west Nigeria, and is the third ABU, Zaria graduate on the Presidential Election Petition Court panel.

He was called to the Nigerian bar in 1984, marking the beginning of his legal career of about 39 years.

Like the other members of the panel, Mr Mohammed was called to bar after passing his bar examinations at the Lagos campus of the Nigerian Law School.

The 62-year-old has less than two years on the Court of Appeal bench as he was appointed on 28 June 2021, the last time judges were appointed to the Court of Appeal bench.

The little-known judge, who is currently on a posting to the Ibadan, Oyo State Division of the Court of Appeal, ranks lowest in terms of seniority on the courts bench among the judges on the panel of the Presidential Election Petition Court. He occupies the 71st position on the list of judges of the Court of Appeal, ranking higher than only five others with whom he was elevated to the bench in 2021.

Before his elevation to the Court of Appeal, Mr Mohammed served on the bench of the FCT High Court, Abuja, from 2010, making about 10 to 11 years.

His participation in the Presidential Election Petition Court may become a defining milestone in his profile that has little to reference so far in the public space.

Not yet a significant case has been credited to him in media reports, perhaps many could be found to his name in legal reports.

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On Monday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said social media celebrity Ismaila Mustapha (alias Mompha), charged with N6 billion in money laundering, has been re-arrested.

The EFCC counsel, Suleiman Suleiman, told an Ikeja Special Offences Court that the prosecution, in collaboration with its international partners, had secured the arrest of Mompha.

The prosecution will like to bring to the knowledge of my lord that in collaboration with our international partners, we have been able to apprehend the defendant.

We plan to take him into custody and to produce him before the court.

The counsel for the defendant reached out to me seeking an adjournment that he will be absent today in court, Suleiman said.

The judge, Mojisola Dada, adjourned the case until 3 July to continue the trial.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the court had, on 21 September 2022, ordered the commencement of the defendants trial in absentia after he failed to appear before the court.

NAN reports that EFCC had on 22 January 2022 arraigned Mompha alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investment, on an eight-count charge of N6 billion laundering, which he pleaded not guilty to.

NAN also reports that the court had on 22 June 2022 issued a bench warrant for Momphas arrest following his absence in court.

NAN reports that Ms Dada revoked the bail she granted the defendant.

The social media celebrity was equally absent in court on 16 June 2022.

READ ALSO: Olori Sekinat Elegushi debunks bum enlargement death rumours

On 10 June 2022, EFCC accused him of disregarding the courts order by travelling to Dubai with a new international passport.

The charges against Mompha include conspiracy to launder money obtained through unlawful activities and laundering money received through illegal activities.

Others are retention of proceeds of criminal conduct, use of property derived from an unlawful act, possession of a document containing pretence, and failure to disclose assets.

(NAN)

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Nigerians doctors under the umbrella of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) have announced plans to begin a five-day warning strike if the Nigerian government fails to meet their demands.

The President of the association, Emeka Innocent, said the decision was reached at the NARDs extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held virtually on Monday.

Mr Innocent said the warning strike will commence at 8 a.m on Wednesday 17 May and end at 8 a.m Monday, 22 May.

NARD had on 29 April issued a two-week ultimatum to the government to meet its demands or face industrial action.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, however described as absurd the demands by the doctors.

Mr Ngige said the resident doctors are suffering from entitlement syndrome, insisting that the federal government has gone to great lengths to give them everything they want.

We have been managing their matter and have given them everything they want, including the residency training programme funds, we are paying them, even when in training, we pay them a full salary, pay them all the allowances and you decided that we have not done enough, he said.

Doctors Demands

The doctors, amongst other issues, are demanding the immediate payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), tangible steps on the upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and payment of all salary arrears owed its members from 2015.

The association also condemned the controversial bill seeking to compel medical and dental practitioners to practise for five years before relocating abroad, noting that such would rather escalate the challenge of brain drain in the health sector.

The ARD president said the body frowns at the deliberate refusal by the government to pay the salary arrears of 2014, 2015 and 2016 to its members as well as the arrears of the consequential adjustments of minimum wage.

He said many state governors are yet to implement the appropriate CONMESS structure, domesticate the Medical Residency Training Act (MRTA) or improve on the hazard allowance paid to NARD members.

The doctors demanded an immediate increment in the CONMESS salary structure to the tune of 200 per cent of the current gross salary of doctors in addition to the new allowances included in the letter written by NARD to the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, in 2022.

Other demands include: The immediate massive recruitment of clinical staff in the hospitals and the complete abolishment of bureaucratic limitations to the immediate replacement of doctors who leave the system.

Immediate commencement of payment of all salary arrears owed our members by the various state governments, notorious amongst which is the Abia State government.

Resident doctors

Resident doctors are doctors undertaking training to become specialists/consultants. They make up the bulk of the doctors in Nigerias tertiary hospitals and when the NARD goes on strike, activities are crippled in such hospitals.

The association had in January issued an ultimatum to the government to resolve issues affecting its members, including the immediate implementation, and payment of the new hazard allowance and arrears.

The doctors said the government is yet to meet their demands.

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Journalists were prevented from covering Tuesdays proceedings of the illicit drug trial of Abba Kyari, a suspended deputy commissioner of police, and others at Court 10 of the Federal High Court, Abuja, venue of the proceeding.

The judge, Emeka Nwite, gave the order following an application to the effect by Sunday Joseph, counsel for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Mr Joseph, a director of the Legal and Prosecution Department of the NDLEA, had applied for the protection of the next witness listed to give evidence in the trial.

The lawyer prayed the court that other lawyers, litigants, and visitors, including journalists, who were in the court should not be allowed to be in the courtroom while the hearing lasted.

Mr Nwite then stood down the matter to allow non-parties in the anti-narcotic suit against the suspended police officers to move out.

However, when the judge came in for the matter, a lawyer, Emmanuel Oluwabiyi, whose case was on number 11 on the cause list, told Mr Nwite that he was in the court for another matter.

I am embarrassed by the application my lord, the lawyer said of Mr Josephs application that everyone not connected to Mr Kyaris case, including lawyers and journalists be cleared out of the courtroom.

Mr Nwite then pleaded with lawyers not connected to Mr Kyaris matter to bear with the court in the interim.

However, when journalists asked the NDLEAs lawyer on the reason for the application, he said it was to give protection to intelligence officers scheduled to testify in the case.

When asked about his reaction to the opinions of other lawyers in court, Mr Joseph said There is a doctrine of state privilege in the interest of national security.

He said it had been observed that members of the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) who were loyal to Mr Kyari were still coming to court.

And you dont know who is who; so, it is for the witness protection.

We are now going into the nitty-gritty of the matter and there have been allegations that we are just witch-hunting them, he said.

Mr Joseph said though the agency had been calling witnesses, he said the present witnesses cannot be exposed to the public.

The hearing was ongoing as of the time of filing the report.

Mr Nwite had, on 22 March, dismissed an application filed by Mr Kyari and others seeking an order dismissing the NDLEAs charge against them.

Mr Kyari and three other co-defendants in the suit bordering on drug offence had filed the application.

They are Mr Kyari, ACP Sunday Ubia, Insp Simon Agirigba and Insp John Nuhu.

They urged the court to stop their trial because they had not been subjected to the internal disciplinary action of the Nigeria Police Council (NPC) and the Police Service Commission (PSC), as provided by the constitution.

They said that the failure of the complainant (NDLEA) to await the disciplinary action against them rendered the charge incompetent and deprived the court of jurisdiction to entertain the charge.

(NAN)

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The Nigerian Senate has congratulated its former deputy president, Ike Ekweremadu, who is in jail in the United Kingdom, on his 61st birthday.

Senate President Ahmad Lawan announced Mr Ekweremadus birthday at the plenary session on Tuesday.

Mr Ekweremadu represents Enugu West Senatorial District in the current Senate.

He, his wife Beatrice and a Nigerian doctor, Obinna Obetta, were found guilty of conspiracy for organ trafficking by the Westminster Magistrate Court, an offence that contravenes the Modern Slavery Act.

Justice Johnson sentenced Mr Ekweremadu to nine years and eight months in prison while his wife was also sentenced to four years and six months and Mr Obetta to 10 years.

But at the plenary, the Senate president prayed to God to grant the celebrant long life and prosperity.

Mr Ekweremadu was born on 12 May, 1962.

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The Nigerian government has approved the establishment of 37 new private universities located in various parts of the country.

The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, disclosed this to reporters after the Federal Executive Council meeting on Monday.

Mr Adamu said the government approved the establishment of the universities due to the importance of education in bolstering the economic fortunes of the country.

Mondays approval has put the number of private universities in Nigeria to 148. In April last year, the government approved 12 new private universities that brought the figure to 111.

There are currently 258 universities in Nigeria; 50 federal universities, 60 state universities and 148 private universities.

University Education

University education is the highest level of tertiary institution in Nigeria, with most students sitting the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) opting for the universities, rather than the polytechnics or colleges of education.

In the past year, both Lagos and Sokoto State governments have converted some polytechnics and colleges of education to universities.

In January 2022, Lagos State converted the trio of Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education ((AOCOED), Ijanikin, Lagos; Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED), Noforija, Epe, Lagos, and Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Ikorodu into universities.

The Sokoto State Government has also converted the Shehu Shagari College of Education into a university.

The existing dichotomy between university and polytechnic graduates has also worsened the situation as polytechnic graduates are made to face hurdles that their university counterparts would not face in their civil service career.

Proliferation of private universities

The incessant industrial actions in government-owned universities in Nigeria has over the years created a market for the private universities, which is getting more investments despite reservations by the academic staff unions in the public universities.

The first three private universities in Nigeria  Babcock University, Igbinedion University and Madonna University were established in 1999, according to the National Universities Commission (NUC). By 2023, however, the figure has risen to 148 private universities, surpassing the number of federal and state universities put together.

Qosim Suleiman is a reporter at Premium Times in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe

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The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has denied claims that it had planned to participate in the inauguration of Nigerias president-elect, Bola Tinubu, on 29 May.

A factional Secretary-General of the Ohanaeze, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, had last week claimed that Ohanaeze will participate fully in the inauguration of the President-elect, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu.

Mr Isiguzoro also claimed that the Ime-Obi Ohanaeze Ndigbo has mandated that every agitation for the 2023 election should come to an end, adding that Peter Obi is the candidate of the future and that nobody should pick up a fight they cant finish, against Bola Tinubu.

Mr Obi, the Labour Party (LP) candidate in the 2023 presidential election, lost to Mr Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress. He came third with a total of 6,101,533 votes.

Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party came second with 6,984,520 votes.

Both Atiku and Mr Obi are challenging Mr Tinubus victory.

Ohanaeze reacts

Reacting in a statement on Tuesday by its spokesperson, Alex Ogbonnia, Ohanaeze said the report claiming that the group had planned to participate in the inauguration of the president-elect did not emanate from them.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide led by Chief Dr Engr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, CFR, did not issue any statement with respect to the inauguration of President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Ohanaeze said.

The group stressed that it does not wax eloquent on partisan politics, except when it becomes exceedingly necessary, and also does not begrudge or antagonise any Igbo for his choice of political party and association.

But to implicate Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide in personal pecuniary interest is not only unethical, despicable and unscrupulous but, in all ramifications, connotes a criminal intent, it said of the claims attributed to Ohanaeze.

Those behind such acts are highly ignorant of the damages they cause to themselves and the Igbo nation on a daily basis. They are reminded that every misconduct against the Igbo pantheon or the Imeobi Ohanaeze has its corresponding inevitable consequences.

ALSO READ: Ohanaeze criticises Tinubu for not including Igbos in transition committee

The group said it had at various times informed Nigerians that its Secretary-General is Okey Emuchay and that Mr Isiguzoro is a meddlesome interloper who uses the hallowed name of Ohanaeze Ndigbo for narrow interests.

Not the first time

Citing some examples, Ohanaeze accused Mr Isiguzoro of making repeated claims in the groups name, despite not being its secretary-general.

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide led by Iwuanyanwu regrets the embarrassments that are often caused to the general public by the maladjusted attention seekers that deploy the name of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in most detestable and deplorable proportions, it said.

Repeated efforts

Ohanaeze also said it had made several unsuccessful efforts to prevent Mr Isiguzoro and others who allegedly emerged from a parallel Ohanaeze Ndigbo election in January 2021 from presenting themselves as Ohanaeze leaders.

The group said it, on 10 March, obtained a court order restraining a factional president of the group, Chidi Ibeh, a disowned chieftain of the Ohanaeze, Richard Ozobu, Mr Isiguzoro and others from parading themselves as its representatives.

It said the judge, Uchenna Mogbo of the Enugu State High Court, declared that the purported parallel election of the officers of the National Executive Council of Ohanaeze conducted in Enugu State at the instance of the defendants is illegal and unconstitutional.

Since the March 10 court injunction, the Isiguzoros have been in hiding, and Ohanaeze pleads information for their whereabouts, it said.

We have deployed several means available, including reaching out to the traditional ruler of Isiguzoros community for him to desist from the damages he causes to the image of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, to no avail, Ohanaeze added.

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the International Day of the Boy Child should remind us of our collective guilt in neglecting the boy-child, which led us to the spate of insecurity bedeviling the nation from all angles and in all directions. As we celebrate the International Day of the Boy Child this year, let us reflect on the dangers of the neglect the boy-child. Let us look towards taking definite actions to addressing the neglect of the boy child. Let us summon the courage to end the phenomenon of street children by whatever name called. Let us protect our boys as much as we protect our girls.

I wonder how many people are aware of the fact that there is an International Day of the Boy Child? Perhaps we are all obsessed with protecting our daughters that our focuses have always been on the girl child. But there is an International Day of the Boy Child. It is the 16th of May every year. It was officially adopted by the United Nations in 2018, which was five years ago. The pioneer in the struggle to focus attention on the boy child is Jerome Teelucksingh. A lecturer in History at the University of West Indies, Jerome is also the founder of the International Mens Day, which is celebrated on the 19th of November, every year. He is known for his commitment to gender mainstreaming and inclusion. He has been passionate about building an inclusive society.

According to the founder of International Day of the Boy Child, the day is not to be marked as one to oppose the focus on the girl child, but rather to compliment it. This was the same position he took when proposing the International Mens Day. It is not about opposition but rather about inclusion. We must all accept the fact that as a society, we really need to mainstream our boys and protect them, as much as we do for our girls, while keeping the balance. Boys are becoming more vulnerable because, apart from physical abuse, including cases of sodomy, there is also the psychological torture that boys go through in patriarchal societies. Worst still is the neglect, the abandonment and recruitment into terror gangs and criminal conclaves.

In a patriarchal society such as ours, a boy is expected to be macho, fend for himself at an early age, get a job, marry a wife and maintain a family. In some societies an adult male who still stays in his parents house is called a woman by his peers. Boys must be boys, no matter what. But with all these expectations, several boys are on the streets without homes or even families. Whether as an almajiri in the North, Area Boy or Alaye in Lagos and the South-West, or by whatever name they are called, street children are minors who live, survive and grow on the streets, and most of them are boys. They are street-working and they consider those on the street as their families. Being homeless and unloved, they are often rugged but equally vulnerable.

 I almost became a victim of such a condition. It is just providence that saved me from being at the mercy of the vagaries of abandonment. I know exactly how it feels to be treated as an abandoned child. I understand the anxieties that go with being neglected as a child.

Two reasons made me develop interest in the phenomenon of the abandoned boy child in Nigeria. First, I almost became a victim of such a condition. It is just providence that saved me from being at the mercy of the vagaries of abandonment. I know exactly how it feels to be treated as an abandoned child. I understand the anxieties that go with being neglected as a child. I understand what it is to start fending for oneself at an early age. As a child, I begged for food, I hawked water and carried loads for people to survive. However, I grew up in a system that was not as unmerciful as we have today. If it were now, I surely would not have managed to lift my head out of the water. Then there was merit, as brilliance was rewarded with generous scholarships and opportunities. But today, things are totally different.

The second reason I got interested in the boy child is due to an event I witnessed recently. A blessed woman with a heart of gold called Mrs Oyinade Samuel-Eluwole invited me to Lagos for a programme that took place on the 20th of April. A foundation she established, known as Elizabethan Humanitarian Life (H & H) Foundation had organised an event with the theme, Rescue the Boyz: A Pathway to Societal Inclusion. One of the reasons that made me accept to attend the function is the clear commitment of this noble woman to addressing the plight of street children, especially the boys. Her vision for rescuing boys is very profound. She is doing it as concerned mother. I understand that the wife of the Lagos State Governor, Her Excellency Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, also has a foundation focusing on the boy child. These are commendable examples.

why do we men allow women to lead us in rescuing ourselves? Boys become men. So why are men not showing enough concern for the plight of our boys? There should be more voices and actions of men in rescuing boys who are out there in the streets. No one said the girl child should not be protected.

My question at the event was that: why do we men allow women to lead us in rescuing ourselves? Boys become men. So why are men not showing enough concern for the plight of our boys? There should be more voices and actions of men in rescuing boys who are out there in the streets. No one said the girl child should not be protected. In fact, Mrs Oyinade Samuel-Eluwole was very clear about that when she said, you may want to ask why are we focusing on rescuing the boys and why are we not rescuing the girls? As a society weve been rescuing the girls and well still continue to rescue the girls from various ills. We believe that theres so much focus on the girl child and were leaving the boys behind. In fact, weve left them behind almost to a level of neglect.

Street boys are the cannon fodder and the recruitment pool for all manner of social miscreants, such as Boko Haram insurgents, armed bandits, kidnappers, Shila boys, Kalare, area papas, political thugs, street touts and related criminal gangs. As such, the International Day of the Boy Child should remind us of our collective guilt in neglecting the boy child, which led us to the spate of insecurity bedeviling the nation from all angles and in all directions. As we celebrate the International Day of the Boy Child this year, let us reflect on the dangers of the neglect the boy-child. Let us look towards taking definite actions to addressing the neglect of the boy child. Let us summon the courage to end the phenomenon of street children by whatever name called. Let us protect our boys as much as we protect our girls. Inclusion means every child matters, girl or boy.

Ahmad Sajoh writes from No. 35 Oran Steet Wuse zone 1 Abuja and can be reached on 08058421126 (text only).

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The redevelopment of the Igbosere High Court in Lagos, which is the oldest courthouse in Nigeria, has recorded significant progress.

The project director of the Rebuild Lagos Trust Fund (RLTF), Olujimi Hotonu, said this to journalists on Monday during a tour around the construction site.

The iconic colonial vestige was razed by rampaging hoodlums in the unrest that trailed the EndSARS protest in October 2020.

The trust fund was set up to seek donations to rebuild and restore all states assets torched in the unrest.

The high court dates back to the period when Lagos was a British protectorate.

It was formerly known as the Supreme Court until the relocation of the Federal Capital Territory to Abuja when the court reverted to a State High Court.

Reconstruction overview

According to Mr Hotonu, an engineer, the briefing was done to keep the public abreast of the ongoing redevelopment of the courthouse.

He said that the construction site, which is 18,000 square meters, is in two phases.

The first phase of the reconstruction of the high court of Lagos, Igbosere is the restoration of the colonial building.

The building will comprise a modern court complex, auditorium, administrative offices, parking facilities, and other ancillary facilities.

The first phase of the reconstruction is progressing as planned and RLTF is pleased to announce the completion of the basement level and the foundation works of the restoration of the old colonial building which is at 75% completion, Mr Hotonu said.

This milestone marks a significant step towards completing this iconic project, which will serve as a symbol of justice and fairness for the people of Lagos.

The project manager said the first phase will be completed by May 2024.

He noted that after the fire incident, they had strong recommendation to pull down the CJs Quarters because it failed an integrity test.

The phase two will be a multi-storey (11 floors) structure with more court, offices and three floors will be dedicated for parking, the project manager said.

During a tour around the construction site, the consultant project manager, Adeola Akande, told journalists that the Babalakin Structure will be demolished because it failed the integrity test.

The site will be replaced by the 11 storey structure, he said.

Relics

Mr Hotonu explained that the external facade inclusive of the relics will be maintained.

He noted that the interior of the colonial building will be restored with major interior upgrades to meet modern-day design requirements.

Cost implication

While answering questions from journalists, the engineer said that the first phase cost roughly N8 billion (structure, equipment furnishing).

He said the second phase will be completed within 48 months after the completion of the first phase.

He added that they got donations from law firms, government, international organisations and well-meaning Nigerians.

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Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi has stressed the importance of keeping interactions alive with Iran, Trend reports citing IRNA.

In an interview with CBC News, Grossi said the level of interactions between Iran and the nuclear watchdog currently is not assessed to be good.

Whats important is to keep the interactions (alive) and, possibly there could be a return to the negotiating table, the IAEA chief emphasized.

The United States unilaterally withdrew from the multinational nuclear deal with Iran, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in 2018 and imposed sanctions on Tehran.

Negotiations were launched in the Austrian capital city of Vienna in April 2021 to potentially remove the sanctions against Iran and pave the way for JCPOA's revival.

The talks, however, have been at a standstill since August 2022 due to Washingtons refusal to lift the bans and provide guarantees that it will not violate its commitments again.

The prospects of a swift return to the JCPOA as we once knew it are quite low at the moment, Grossi said in the interview.

However, he emphasized that all parties to the agreement stand to gain by working constructively.

Iran and the IAEA have been in a dispute triggered in part by accusations from the Israeli regime and the United States against Tehrans peaceful nuclear activities.

Grossi visited Tehran in March for high-level talks with Iranian officials, including with President Ebrahim Raisi, in an effort to resolve the differences.

In a joint statement after the visit, the two sides agreed that interactions will continue in a spirit of collaboration and in full conformity with obligations under IAEA's Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement.
CHICAGO, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Through constant improvements to customer experience, industry-specific apps, and technology. The need for A2P messaging is anticipated to increase as organisations realise the importance of personalised, real-time communication, spurring innovation and opening up new business prospects.

The global A2P Messaging Market size to grow from USD 68.3 billion in 2023 to USD 78.2 billion by 2028, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 2.8% during the forecast period, according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets.

The global A2P Messaging Market shows a significant growth in the forecast period. The A2P messaging services are used in various applications, such as, promotional campaigns by enterprises in order to promote events, brands, and other activities. Promotional and Marketing services, which include messaging-enabled services that can be availed by users by feeding in certain information, is also gaining traction in the emerging regions, such as Asia Pacific and Middle East and Africa, owing to the growing customer base of mobile phones. The major end-users of the A2P Messaging Market include banking and financial institutions, gaming, retail & e-commerce, hyperlocal businesses and healthcare. A2P messaging services are also used for applications, such as mass voting for contests, announcements, charity and other such uses, which necessitate establishing a wide communication channel between the sender and the receiver.

Browse in-depth TOC on "A2P Messaging Market"

261 - Tables

48 - Figures

224 - Pages

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Scope of the Report

Report Metrics Details Market size available for years 2018  2028 Base year considered 2022 Forecast period 2023-2028 Forecast units Value (USD Billion) Segments covered Component(Platform and A2P Service), Deployment Mode (On-premise and Cloud),Application (Authentication Services, Promotional and Marketing Services, Customer Relationship Management Services, Pushed Content Services, Interactive Messages, and Others), SMS Traffic(National and Multi-country), End User (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance, Retail and eCommerce, Hyperlocal Businesses, Healthcare, Travel and Hospitality, and Others) and Region Regions covered North America, Europe, APAC, MEA, and Latin America Companies covered AT&T (US), Sinch (Sweden), China Mobile (China), Infobip (UK), Orange (France), Route Mobile (India), Comviva (India), Twilio (US), BICS (Belgium), Monty Mobile (UK), Syniverse (US) and many more.

Factors contributing to the high growth rate in these regions are growing number of mobile subscribers, increasing number of advertising and marketing companies, and growing use of A2P messaging among major industries. These factors are also expected to shape the future of the global A2P Messaging Market. However, the market also faces several challenges, including the increasing competition from global OTT vendors, and SMS fraudulent activities, such as SMS phishing, and SMS spamming.

Among vertical, the BFSI segment is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period

Based on vertical, the BFSI segment of the A2P Messaging Market is projected to hold a larger market size during the forecast period. The BFSI vertical is witnessing a rise in the adoption of A2P messaging due to several driving factors. These factors include the need for effective customer engagement, heightened security measures, payment notifications and reminders, transactional updates, marketing opportunities, and the convenience and accessibility provided by A2P messaging. Financial institutions are leveraging this communication channel to enhance customer experience, improve security, streamline transactions, and strengthen their overall service offerings.

By deployment mode, on-premises segment to record a higher growth rate during the forecast period

By deployment mode, on-premises segment is expected to record a higher growth rate during the forecast period. The on-premises segment and deployment mode is adopted by players who can install the platform at their own end without taking the service from a cloud service provider. The need for enhanced data security and compliance adherence, the desire for customization and flexibility, the requirement for optimal performance and reduced latency, the presence of regulatory and compliance restrictions, concerns regarding privacy and data control, and the necessity for seamless integration with existing legacy systems will drive the market.

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Asia Pacific to record the highest growth during the forecast period

The APAC A2P Messaging Market is estimated to have strong growth in the future. These drivers include the widespread adoption of mobile devices, particularly high mobile penetration rates in the region. Additionally, the flourishing e-commerce market, with a growing number of online consumers, has led to increased demand for A2P messaging services for order confirmations, delivery updates, and transactional notifications The adoption of mobile banking and mobile payment solutions, along with government initiatives leveraging mobile technology for citizen services, have further accelerated the demand for A2P messaging.

Top Key Companies in A2P Messaging Market:

Major vendors in the A2P Messaging Market include AT&T(US) ,Sinch(Sweden), China Mobile (China), Infobip(UK), Orange (France), Route Mobile (India), Comviva (India), Twilio(US), BICS (Belgium), Monty Mobile (UK), Syniverse (US), Global Message Services (Switzerland), Tyntec(UK), Silverstreet (Singapore),Vonage (US), Genesys (US), TATA Communications(India),Cequens (Egypt),Mitto(Switzerland),ClearSky Technologies (US), Sify Technologies (India), MSG91 (India), Textlocal (UK), Clickatell (US), Kaleyra (Italy), MessageBird (The Netherlands) TeleWhale (Cyprus).

Recent Developments:

In June 2021 , AT&T partnered with Google Cloud to offer RCS messaging to businesses. The partnership would enable businesses to use Google's RCS business messaging platform, which offers features such as chatbots and rich media messages, to communicate with customers over AT&T's network.

, AT&T partnered with Google Cloud to offer RCS messaging to businesses. The partnership would enable businesses to use Google's RCS business messaging platform, which offers features such as chatbots and rich media messages, to communicate with customers over AT&T's network. In November 2020 , Twilio acquired Segment, the market-leading customer data platform, at USD 3.2 billion . This acquisition helps developers and companies to access the world's leading cloud communications platform to effectively manage customer communications, including SMS, Messaging, Voice, Video, Email, and Internet of Things (IoT).

, Twilio acquired Segment, the market-leading customer data platform, at . This acquisition helps developers and companies to access the world's leading cloud communications platform to effectively manage customer communications, including SMS, Messaging, Voice, Video, Email, and Internet of Things (IoT). In September 2020 , Infobip partnered with Span to help Span build connected customer experiences through Infobip's entire customer engagement and experience portfolio, thereby onboarding new customers looking to accelerate digital transformation.

, Infobip partnered with Span to help Span build connected customer experiences through Infobip's entire customer engagement and experience portfolio, thereby onboarding new customers looking to accelerate digital transformation. In June 2020 , Sinch announced to acquire ACL Mobile Limited, thereby expanding its operations in India . ACL Mobile limited is one of the leading providers of cloud communications services in India and Southeast Asia and with the acquisition of ACL Mobile limited, Sinch enters into the world's second-largest mobile market. ACL Mobile limited has helped more than 500 clients to interact with their customers through multiple channels, including SMS, voice, email, IP messaging, and WhatsApp.

, Sinch announced to acquire ACL Mobile Limited, thereby expanding its operations in . ACL Mobile limited is one of the leading providers of cloud communications services in and and with the acquisition of ACL Mobile limited, Sinch enters into the world's second-largest mobile market. ACL Mobile limited has helped more than 500 clients to interact with their customers through multiple channels, including SMS, voice, email, IP messaging, and WhatsApp. In May 2020 , Infobip launched Conversations, a new contact center solution, enabling businesses to integrate the world's most popular communication channels. All the messaging services, including Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Live Chat, SMS, and in-house chatbots can be managed through Conversations.

A2P Messaging Market Advantages

Businesses may rapidly reach a big audience with A2P communications. Worldwide, there are billions of mobile devices in use, enabling businesses to communicate with clients across geographies and time zones, expanding their clientele and increasing consumer engagement.

Comparing text messages to other communication methods like email, text messages have impressively high open rates. A2P messaging is an efficient technique to make sure your messages are seen and read by recipients because studies have shown that the majority of text messages are read within minutes of delivery.

A2P messaging enables real-time communication, enabling companies to instantaneously send customers time-sensitive information, notifications, alerts, or updates. When conveying time-sensitive information or in urgent situations, this speed of communication is very important.

A2P messaging is typically less expensive than conventional marketing methods like print or direct mail. It does away with the need for tangible supplies, printing expenses, and postage. Businesses can reach a big audience at a fraction of the expense of traditional marketing strategies because to bulk messaging capabilities.

Businesses can interact with customers in a personalised way by using A2P messaging. Businesses may collect insightful data, improve customer experience, and forge closer connections with their audience by using SMS-based surveys, feedback requests, or two-way messaging.

User authentication and secure communication are both possible with A2P messaging. By forcing users to confirm their identity using a special code given to their mobile device, two-factor authentication (2FA) through SMS, for instance, adds an extra layer of security.

Report Objectives

To describe and forecast the size of the A2P Messaging Market, by application, by component, SMS traffic, deployment mode, end user, and region

To describe and forecast the size of the market segments with respect to five main regions: North America , Europe , Asia Pacific (APAC), Latin America , and the Middle East and Africa (MEA)

, , (APAC), , and the and (MEA) To provide detailed information regarding drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges influencing the growth of the A2P Messaging Market

To analyze micromarkets with respect to the individual growth trends, prospects, and contributions to the overall A2P Messaging Market

To analyze opportunities in the market for stakeholders by identifying the high-growth segments

To profile key market players, including top vendors and startups, provide comparative analysis based on business overviews, regional presence, product offerings, business strategies, and key financials, and provide a detailed competitive landscape of the market

To analyze competitive developments, such as Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A); new product launches and product enhancements; agreements, partnerships, and collaborations; expansions; and Research and Development (R&D) activities in the market

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DHAHRAN, Saudi Arabia, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) is excited to announce Iraqi-Finnish artist Adel Abidin as the winner of the 5th Ithra Art Prize. Abidin was selected from 10 shortlisted proposals for his idea for ON, a wall installation highlighting the complexity of capturing events for posterity. He receives $100,000 to bring his proposal to life, and the artwork will join Ithra's collection.

Adel Abidin winner of the 5th edition of the Ithra Art Prize

ON explores the intricate relationship between history, memory and identity. "As I delve into the intangible aspects of history, I am confronted with the challenge of scarce reliable archival sources," said Abidin. "This challenge is especially present in the context of Arab history, where much remains shrouded in ambiguity, allowing for a broad range of interpretations and augmentations. In studying the Zanj rebellion of 869AD in Iraq, I find a captivating example of this complexity."

Abidin said reading the chain of oral accounts that have survived, he realized the reality of the revolt against the Abbasid Caliphate has been interrupted, modified and changed depending on the perspectives of those writing history.

The Helsinki-based artist holds a BA in painting from Baghdad's Academy of Fine Arts and an MFA from Helsinki's Academy of Fine Arts. His work explores the complex relationship between art, politics, memory and identity, while his cross-cultural background allows him to create a distinct visual language often laced with sarcasm and paradox while maintaining an ultimately humanistic approach.

"The Ithra Art Prize reaffirms Ithra's commitment to developing the creative industries in the Kingdom, the region and the wider world," said Farah Abushullaih, Head of Museum at Ithra. "As one of the largest art grants regionally, we support artists to develop important and meaningful work. The Prize aims to inspire creative thought, broaden cultural horizons and enable talent while empowering the art ecosystem."

This year's Ithra Art Prize was decided by art historian and gallery owner Dr. Andree Sfeir-Semler; Balqees Fakhro, one of Bahrain's most prominent artists; Farah Abushullaih, Head of Museum at Ithra; art critic, curator and art historian Murtaza Vali; and Dr. Ridha Moumni, Deputy Chair of Middle East and North Africa at Christie's.

Previous winners are Ayman Zedani (2018), Daniah Al Saleh (2019), Fahad bin Naif (2020) and Nadia Kaabi-Linke (2021).

For media enquiries, contact [email protected]. Access Ithra's media kit here.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2077493/Adel_Abidin.jpg

SOURCE King Abdul Aziz Center for World Culture (Ithra)
Partnership expands advisory capabilities for both firms, reinforces shared strengths in serving high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts and endowments

NEWTON, Mass. and BOSTON, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Adviser Investments, LLC ("Adviser") and Ropes Wealth Advisors ("Ropes Wealth") announced they are combining their wealth management businesses to create a bespoke advisory firm providing customized wealth solutions through a planning-first, fiduciary-only model. Established 30 years ago, Adviser Investments is an independent registered investment advisor (RIA) that serves families, businesses, foundations and institutions. Ropes Wealth Advisors is an RIA supporting families, trusts and institutions.

Together, Adviser and Ropes Wealth manage nearly $15 billion in client assets and have more than 185 employees, including wealth advisors, portfolio managers, fiduciary and financial planning specialists, and client service professionals catering to high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients nationwide. Their services span the full range of wealth management needs, including financial, tax and estate planning as well as institutional-quality investment management within public and private markets and across active, passive and tactical investment strategies.

"We're thrilled to partner with Ropes Wealth. The firm's differentiated service offering, which is centered on high-net-worth clients, is as impressive as its talented executive leaders and deep bench of advisors," said Adviser CEO Mario Ramos. "Their expertise in trust, estate and tax planning will be a game-changing addition to our wealth management platform."

Mr. Ramos continued, "With this combination, we will deepen our leadership position serving wealth management clients with complex planning needs. Equally important, this transaction reinforces our role as one of the leading merger partners of choice for RIA firms and other independent wealth management firms across the country."

The combined company will yield enhanced capabilities and new services for clients of both firms.

Michelle Knight, CEO and chief economist at Ropes Wealth, said, "Adviser shares our vision, values and commitment to delivering exceptional service to sophisticated individual and institutional clients. This excellent cultural and strategic match enables us to enrich our wealth management offerings. I look forward to all that we can achieve together with a combined team, enhanced technology, a shared commitment to employee development, and the deep resources to support industry-leading growth and a personalized service model."

Ropes Wealth Advisors, previously a wholly owned subsidiary of the global law firm Ropes & Gray, will continue to have its offices in Boston's Prudential Tower, and maintain close ties to its former parent company, acting as the preferred provider of wealth management services to Ropes & Gray clients and partners.

Enhanced Legal Resources and Growth Opportunities With Ropes & Gray

In a related development, the co-chairs of the private client group at Ropes & Gray, Brenda Diana and Martin Hall, will also join the Adviser Investments management team, with Diana as chief fiduciary officer and Hall as managing director. Both were instrumental in the launch and growth of Ropes Wealth Advisors.

In addition to their roles with Adviser, Diana and Hall will continue to offer legal services through a new law firm specializing in domestic and international estate, tax and charitable planning, estate settlement, and fiduciary administration.

The new relationship between Adviser Investments and Diana and Hall will enable wealth management clients of both Adviser and Ropes Wealth to benefit from leading tax planning and collaborative, coordinated legal advice.

Looking Ahead

The management of Adviser and Ropes Wealth will own the combined firm in partnership with Summit Partners, a leading global growth equity investment firm. In 2020, Summit made a growth capital investment in Adviser to support its national expansion.

"Adviser and Ropes Wealth are highly complementary organizations in terms of both values and vast capabilities," said Matt Hamilton, a Managing Director at Summit Partners and board director at Adviser Investments. "This exciting partnership positions the combined firm to be a formidable leader in the wealth advisory space."

About Adviser Investments

For 30 years, Adviser Investments, LLC has served families, businesses, trusts, foundations and institutions, providing tailored wealth management services including financial, tax and estate planning, 401(k) advisory services, as well as balanced portfolios of core index funds, ETFs and select alternative investments. Adviser is a nationally recognized brand with over 5,000 clients across the U.S. and multiple offices in locations including Boston, the San Francisco Bay Area and Dallas. The firm employs over 130 professionals including fully staffed client service, research, operations, marketing, technology and M&A teams. Over the last decade, the firm has expanded both organically and through targeted partnerships.

Adviser Investments is routinely named among Barron's top independent financial advisors and the Financial Times' 300 top registered investment advisors, and it has been consistently chosen as one of the best places to work in financial services in national and regional surveys.

About Ropes Wealth Advisors

Ropes Wealth Advisors, LLC was formed in 2013 and opened its doors as a registered investment advisor (RIA) in 2015. It is a nationally recognized fee-only firm with a mission to preserve and enhance the wealth and legacy of the families and institutions it serves. The firm prides itself on the core values of integrated perspective, uncompromising integrity, effective stewardship, generational continuity, sustainable investment results, communication and education. Ropes Wealth Advisors manages investments and provides financial planning services, assists with gift and estate planning, prepares tax returns, consults on philanthropic transfers, and provides trustee and other fiduciary services. It serves high-net-worth individuals and families, charitable organizations and businesses as well as pension and profit-sharing plans.

Press inquiries please contact:

Donald Cutler or Joe Kuo

Haven Tower Group

[email protected] or [email protected]

424 317 4864 or 424 317 4851

To discuss partnership opportunities with Adviser Investments, please contact:

Steven Gaven

[email protected]

Awards and recognitions referenced above do not evaluate client experience or investment returns, nor are such a guarantee of future performance or satisfaction. Adviser Investments did not pay a fee to participate in the awards referenced herein.

The Barron's America's Best Independent Advisors ranking (awarded to Adviser Investments, LLC, 20132020) considers factors such as assets under management, revenue produced for the firm and quality of practice as determined by Barron's editors. The award sponsor has not disclosed how many firms were surveyed or considered for this recognition nor the percentage of total participants that ultimately received recognition. Prior to 2019, the award was called the Barron's Top 100 Independent Wealth Advisors.

The Barron's Top Advisor Rankings by State (Massachusetts) (awarded to Adviser Investments, LLC, 20142021), also referred to as Barron's Top 1,200 Financial Advisors, considers factors such as assets under management, revenue produced for the firm, regulatory record, quality of practice and philanthropic work. According to Barron's, "around 4,000" advisory firms were considered for this recognition in 2021, with about 1,200 firms receiving recognition.

The InvestmentNews Best Places to Work for Financial Advisers award (awarded to Adviser Investments, LLC, 20182022) is conducted in partnership with employee survey firm Best Companies Group. Winners are selected based on a two-part survey completed by employers and employees. Employers report their organization's workplace policies, practices and demographics. Employees complete a survey designed to measure the employee experience in areas such as leadership and planning, pay and benefits, corporate culture and communications, and work environment. Scores from the employee survey represent three-quarters of the weight of the final rankings. Firms do not pay a fee to participate. To be eligible for the award, a firm must be a registered investment advisor or broker-dealer, have been in business for at least one year and have at least 15 full-time employees. In 2018, 50 firms were named to the list; in 20192022, 75 were named. The award sponsor has not disclosed how many firms were surveyed or considered for this recognition nor the percentage of total participants that ultimately received recognition.

The Financial Times 300 Top Registered Investment Advisers (awarded to Polaris Wealth Advisory Group, LLC, 2020) is an independent listing produced annually by Ignites Research, a division of Money-Media, Inc., on behalf of the Financial Times. The FT 300 is based on data gathered from RIA firms, regulatory disclosures and the FT's research. The listing reflects each practice's performance in six primary areas: Assets under management, asset growth, compliance record, years in existence, credentials and online accessibility. Over 750 qualified firms applied for the award, 300 of which were selected (40%). This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients and is not indicative of the practice's future performance. Neither the RIA firms nor their employees pay a fee to the Financial Times in exchange for inclusion in the FT 300.

SOURCE Adviser Investments, LLC
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and Warrior Expeditions team up to highlight the mental and physical health benefits of time spent outside.

WASHINGTON, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) and Warrior Expeditions were joined by members of Congress at the U.S. Capitol to celebrate the departure of six wartime veterans as they embark on a cross-country bike ride to process and heal from the mental health impacts of their deployments. The riders began their journey at the eastern endpoint of the Great American Rail-Trail, RTC's flagship project to connect a cross-country, multiuse trail, and will conquer 3,700 miles before reaching their ultimate finish in La Push, Washington, later this summer.

There is hope in connecting with the people, places and rich heritage that makes up the American landscape. Tweet this Veterans pose in front of the U.S. Capitol as they prepare to travel 3,700 miles across the country by bike on the Great American Rail-Trail with the veteran outdoor therapy program, Warrior Expeditions. From left to right: Brittany Greene of Washington; Charles Sonnenberg of Texas; Stephanie Buffett of Virginia; Aaron Ledbetter of Oregon; Timothy Davis of Illinois; and Jared Thomas of West Virginia. Photo by Albert Ting, courtesy of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.

"When we introduced the Great American Rail-Trail four years ago, we knew that this grand vision to connect a trail across the country would capture the imagination of the nation," said Ryan Chao, president of RTC. "The veterans who have taken park in this ride previously have shared that the journey has brought solace and healing, alongside hope that comes from connecting with the people, places and rich heritage that makes up the American landscape. Their experience is an inspiration and we're proud that the infrastructure we're helping to build can support their expedition."

Warrior Expeditions is a nonprofit organization that emphasizes the therapeutic value of long-distance outdoor expeditions to help veterans transition from their wartime experiences. Veterans apply to be included in one of several expedition teams, including long-distance hikes, paddles and the Warrior Bike, which exclusively takes place on the Great American Rail-Trail. As part of the program, psychologists partner with Warrior Expeditions to research and publish the effects of long-term outdoor and wilderness experiences, like the Warrior Bike Expedition, on combat veterans.

"Warrior Expeditions is excited to support another group of veterans along the Great American Rail Trail for the third consecutive year," said Sean Gobin, founder and executive director of Warrior Expeditions. "These rides allow our veterans to find peace and healing in nature while simultaneously experiencing a cross section of America. We also very much appreciate RTC's work to make the route better and better each year."

Veterans participating in the 2023 Warrior Bike include Stephanie Buffett of Riner, Virginia (United States Air Force, deployed to Afghanistan); Timothy Davis of Lake Zurich, Illinois (United States Air Force, deployed to Afghanistan); Brittany Greene of Tacoma, Washington (United States Army, deployed to Afghanistan); Aaron Ledbetter of Cottage Grove, Oregon (United States Army, deployed to Afghanistan); Charles Sonnenberg of New Braunfels, Texas (United States Air Force, deployed to Iraq); and Jared Thomas of Huntington, West Virginia (United States Army, deployed to Afghanistan).

"I'm hoping that this journey enables me to deepen my understanding of myself and my connection to the world. I anticipate working through a continuous series of physical, emotional, mental and spiritual challenges that have the potential to become significant personal growth opportunities," said Brittany Greene, former U.S. Army CBRN Officer from Tacoma, Washington.

Over the next several months, media are encouraged to follow the journey as the veterans traverse the Great American Rail-Trail, making stops in Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and Washington. For more details about the Great American Rail-Trail, including photos and video for press use, visit greatamericanrailtrail.org and follow @greatamericanrailtrail and #GRTAmerican on social media.

Editors and Producers Note: B-roll and photos of the event, courtesy of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, are available upon request by contacting Patricia Brooks, [email protected].

Warrior Expeditions is a veteran nonprofit outdoor therapy program that helps veterans transition from their wartime experiences through long-distance outdoor expeditions.

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is the nation's largest trails organizationwith a grassroots community more than 1 million strongdedicated to building a nation connected by trails, reimagining public spaces to create safe ways for everyone to walk, bike and be active outdoors. Connect with RTC at railstotrails.org and @railstotrails on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .

CONTACT:

Patricia Brooks, [email protected] , 202.351.1757

SOURCE Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
WILMINGTON, N.C. , May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Alcami Corporation ("Alcami"), a leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), announced today the appointment of Laurent Boer to the newly created position of General Manager, Biostorage and Pharma Services.

"Laurent brings a wealth of industry expertise and a proven track record in leading multi-faceted pharmaceutical operations across the globe; this makes him the ideal leader as we look to expand our biostorage and pharma services business operations," commented Pat Walsh, Chairman and CEO at Alcami Corporation.

Before joining Alcami, Laurent was Vice President & General Manager at Resilience's biomanufacturing site in Allston, Massachusetts. Before that, he held several leadership roles at Sanofi Genzyme over a ten-year period. Laurent's prior executive leadership experience includes supply chain roles at UCB Pharma and Biogen. Laurent received his Master of Science in Business Econometrics from Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

"I am thrilled and honored to join Alcami," commented Laurent Boer, General Manager of Biostorage and Pharma Services at Alcami. "Alcami is uniquely positioned to provide clients with integrated solutions from comprehensive analytical services to robust solid dose and drug product manufacturing, storage, and beyond. I look forward to working alongside the team as we continue our growth journey."

This important appointment came on the heel of Alcami's recent biostorage expansion that added more secure and reliable cGMP biostorage in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Alcami now offers 440,000 ft of biostorage capacity across four US locations in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, with a fifth site coming online later this year in North Carolina.

About Alcami Corporation

Alcami is a contract development and manufacturing organization headquartered in North Carolina with over 40 years of experience advancing products through every stage of the development lifecycle. Alcami serves pharmaceutical and biotech companies of all sizes for small molecules and biologics, providing customizable and innovative solutions for analytical development, clinical to commercial sterile and oral solid dose drug product manufacturing, packaging, microbiology, cGMP biostorage, environmental monitoring, and pharmaceutical support services. Alcami's private equity ownership includes GHO Capital, The Vistria Group, and Ampersand Capital Partners. For more information, please visit alcaminow.com.

SOURCE Alcami Corporation
The peer-reviewed publication describes the significant effects of B244 in 4 weeks across key endpoints in adult patients with atopic dermatitis and associated pruritus (itch) in the largest study of B244 to date.





The study demonstrated significant efficacy of B244 across all clinical endpoints, including the improvement of itch, eczema severity, and quality of life metrics.





Study results reiterate B244's strong safety profile at all dose levels, confirming prior clinical trial safety results.





B224 is an investigational therapy currently under regulatory review in the U.S. These study results support the advancement of B244 to Phase 3.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- AOBiome Therapeutics, Inc. ("AOBiome"), a leading clinical-stage biotech company focusing on inflammatory conditions, today announces that The Lancet's eClinicalMedicine, a peer-reviewed medical journal, has published a report describing the Company's Phase 2b clinical data for its B244 treatment for mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis and moderate-to-severe pruritus. The paper, titled "Efficacy and safety of topically applied therapeutic ammonia oxidising bacteria in adults with mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis and moderate-to-severe pruritus: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging phase 2b trial," provides a detailed analysis of the Phase 2b trial, showing that B244 demonstrated significant improvements in eczema severity and itch reduction. The article can be freely accessed via the following link: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(23)00179-7/fulltext

In the trial, 547 patients were assigned to a high-dose, low-dose, or placebo group. The trial was run across more than 50 clinical sites in the US, in collaboration with Biorasi, LLC, a leading Clinical Research Organization. After 4 weeks of use, the following key results were obtained:

AOBiome's publication in The Lancet's eClinicalMedicine for B244 in the treatment of atopic dermatitis and pruritus Tweet this

Itch was reduced by 34% (-2.8 B244 vs -2.1 Placebo) compared to placebo, as measured by the Worst Itch Numeric Rating Score (WI-NRS) and achieved a clinically meaningful itch response (30.8% B244 vs 21.8% Placebo in 4-point improvement in WI-NRS from baseline).

Eczema severity improvements were also seen, with 29.3% and 27.7% of patients in the high and low dose groups of B244 achieving EASI-75 success vs. 15.8% in the placebo group and with 26.2% and 21.7% of patients in the high and low dose groups of B244 achieving IGA success (2-point improvement in IGA to clear or almost clear) vs. 12.3% in the placebo group.

B244 was well-tolerated, with no serious adverse events. Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAE) and treatment-related TEAEs were infrequent, mild, and transient.

Dr. Jonathan Silverberg, Director of Clinical Research at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, says "B244 is a promising new non-steroidal therapy for AD, with a very novel mechanism of action. The study was well designed and the results are very promising. B244 may address a number of unmet needs for atopic dermatitis patients."

According to Todd Krueger, President and CEO of AOBiome Therapeutics, Inc., "This publication represents the recognition of B244's efficacy and differentiation in addressing this population. The fact it has so few side effects reinforces the commercial opportunity to become first line therapy before patients escalate to more expensive, risky, or invasive therapies."

About B244

AOBiome's B244 platform is a patented, proprietary, topical formulation of ammonia oxidizing bacteria. Once deployed, B244 produces nitric oxide, a signaling molecule known to regulate inflammation and vasodilation. B244 has been observed to be safe and well-tolerated in clinical studies to date.

Additionally, recently published immunology data demonstrates that B244 can reduce the inflammatory and pruritic cytokines IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13. See full article at: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-93299-1.

About AOBiome Therapeutics, Inc.

AOBiome Therapeutics, Inc. is a Cambridge, MA-based life sciences company focused on transforming human health by developing topical therapeutics for inflammatory conditions. AOBiome is advancing a pipeline of multiple, clinical-stage therapeutic candidates. Learn more at www.aobiome.com.

About Biorasi

Biorasi is a customer-focused, full-service, contract research organization (CRO) that delivers fast and flexible solutions across global clinical trials to maximize speed-to-market for its sponsors. As the leader in clinical trials for dermatology, neurology, oncology, and the rare disease market, Biorasi sets new benchmarks for speed, agility, and quality in patient enrollment, decentralized trials, and data sciences. Contact Biorasi at [email protected] / (786) 388-0700 or visit us online at www.biorasi.com.

Contacts:

For Media Inquiries:

Jim Hoffman

845-417-3487

[email protected]

SOURCE AOBiome
CHICAGO, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- According to Arizton's latest research report, the Middle East & Africa data center construction market will grow at a CAGR of 8.54% from 2022-2028.

To Know More, Download the Free Sample Report: https://www.arizton.com/request-sample/3781

Middle East and Africa Data Center Construction Market (PRNewsfoto/Arizton Advisory & Intelligence)

Countries in the Middle East & Africa will see the installation of inland and submarine network connectivity, leading to higher data center development driven by efforts from government agencies, telecommunication service providers, and utility providers. The data center construction market in the Middle East & Africa is led by countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, Israel, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, and Turkey. Telecommunication providers, enterprises, governments, cloud, and colocation service providers are the major investors in developing regional data center facilities.

Middle East and Africa Data Center Construction Market Report Scope

Report Scope Details Market Size (2028) USD 4.26 Billion Market Size (2022) USD 2.60 Billion CAGR By Revenue (2022-2028) 8.54 % Market Size - Area (2028) 3.80 Million Square Feet Power Capacity (2028) 745.5 MW Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023-2028 Market Segmentation Infrastructure, Electrical Infrastructure, Mechanical Infrastructure, Cooling Systems, Cooling Technique, General Construction, Tier Standards, and Geography Geographic Analysis Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Israel, Jordan, and Other Middle Eastern Countries) and Africa (South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Other African Countries) Market Dynamics Cloud Adoption Driving Data Center Investments

IoT & Big Data fueling Data Center Investments

On-Premises Infrastructure Migrating to Colocation & Managed Services

Deployment of the Modular Data Centers

Looking for More Information? Download the Free Sample Report: https://www.arizton.com/request-sample/3781

Investment Overview

The Middle East & Africa data center market has witnessed data center investments from telecommunication companies, colocation data center operators, and cloud providers.

& data center market has witnessed data center investments from telecommunication companies, colocation data center operators, and cloud providers. Dubai , Abu Dhabi , Riyadh , Jeddah , Neom, Johannesburg , Nairobi , Istanbul , and Kuwait City are the major locations for data center development, whereas Doha and Sharjah were emerging as new locations for data center development.

, , , , Neom, , , , and are the major locations for data center development, whereas and were emerging as new locations for data center development. In terms of 5G network deployment, the UAE, Saudi Arabia , South Africa , Kenya , Kuwait , Bahrain , Nigeria , Oman , Turkey , Israel , and Qatar have witnessed 5G network deployments on a commercial and trial basis.

, , , , , , , , , and have witnessed 5G network deployments on a commercial and trial basis. The market also attracted investments from cloud service providers such as Google, Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, Oracle, and Tencent across the Middle East & Africa . Major cloud service providers are expanding in the region during the forecast period. For instance, Microsoft announced its intention to open a cloud region in Saudi Arabia

across the & . Major cloud service providers are expanding in the region during the forecast period. For instance, Microsoft announced its intention to open a cloud region in Initiatives for developing smart cities are observed in the UAE, Saudi Arabia , Kuwait , Oman , and Bahrain . For instance, in Saudi Arabia , NEOM is a $50 million smart city project expected to reach completion by 2025.

, , , and . For instance, in , NEOM is a smart city project expected to reach completion by 2025. The rise in demand across industries has led data center operators to sign several M&A contracts and enter joint ventures (JVs) to expand their portfolios across the Middle East & Africa

& In September 2022 , Khazna Data Centers and BEEAH Digital formed a JV. The JV will be termed as One Data Center SPV. The newly formed company plans to build a 9-MW data center in Sharjah , UAE

, Khazna Data Centers and BEEAH Digital formed a JV. The JV will be termed as One Data Center SPV. The newly formed company plans to build a 9-MW data center in , UAE

In June 2022 , G42 (Group 42) and Etisalat (e&) officially merged their data center businesses and operated them under Khazna Data Centers JV. On receiving approval, Khazna Data Centers will be the largest data center provider in the UAE, with 12 data center facilities.

, G42 (Group 42) and Etisalat (e&) officially merged their data center businesses and operated them under Khazna Data Centers JV. On receiving approval, Khazna Data Centers will be the largest data center provider in the UAE, with 12 data center facilities.

In March 2022 , Equinix partnered with Omantel to build a second data center facility SN1 in Salalah, Oman .

Power Capacity Development

The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Qatar, Oman, Turkey, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, Morocco, Ethiopia, and Ivory Coast are some countries that shall witness investments in renewable energy to improve the power stability in their respective countries during the forecast period. The world is moving toward attaining sustainable energy targets, despite Middle East & African countries traditionally having low levels of renewable energy output due to their heavy reliance on fossil fuel-based energy production. Countries are taking initiatives to develop renewable energy projects to meet their carbon-neutral goals. For instance, the Israel government announced that it aims to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

Most data center operators are investing in developing green data centers or powering their data centers with 100% renewable energy to meet the regional countries' net zero carbon emission targets. For instance, In February 2023, Moro Hub announced the launch of a green data center facility located in Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, powered by 100% solar energy and adds up to 100 MW of power capacity once fully built. MTN, a South Africa-based telecom company, operates four data centers in Kenya and other African countries, uses renewable energy to power its data center, and targets carbon-neutral by 2040. It has introduced the "Project Zero" program. Oracle launched a cloud region in Johannesburg in January 2022 and has pledged that all its global cloud regions, including Johannesburg, will be powered by 100% renewable energy by 2025. In June 2022, Vantage Data Centers signed a 20-year-long Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with SolarAfrica in which the company will procure solar energy of around 87MWp that will be used to power its Johannesburg data center campus.

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The report includes the investment in the following areas:

Infrastructure

Electrical Infrastructure

Mechanical Infrastructure

General Construction

Electrical Infrastructure

UPS Systems

Generators

Transfer Switches & Switchgear

PDUs

Other Electrical Infrastructure

Mechanical Infrastructure

Cooling Systems

Racks

Other Mechanical Infrastructure

Cooling Systems

CRAC and CRAH Units

Chillers Units

Cooling Towers, Condensers, and Dry Coolers

Other Cooling Units

Cooling Techniques

Air-based Cooling

Liquid-based Cooling

General Construction

Core & Shell Development

Installation & Commissioning Services

Engineering & Building Design

Fire Detection & Suppression

Physical Security

DCIM/BMS Solutions

Tier Standard

Tier I & Tier II

Tier III

Tier IV

Geography

Middle East

The UAE



Saudi Arabia



Bahrain



Oman



Kuwait



Qatar



Israel



Jordan



Other Middle Eastern Countries

Africa

South Africa



Kenya



Nigeria



Egypt



Ethiopia



Other African Countries

Major Vendors

Prominent Support Infrastructure Providers

4energy

ABB

Airedale

Alfa Laval

Canovate

Caterpillar

Cummins

Delta Electronics

EAE Group

EATON

Envicool

EVAPCO

Enlogic

HITEC Power Protection

Johnson Controls

Legrand

Master Power Technologies

Rittal

Rolls-Royce

Schneider Electric

Siemens

STULZ

Vertiv

Prominent Data Center Construction Contractors

AECOM

AlDar Properties

Anel Group

Arup

Ashi & Bushnag

Atkins

Abbeydale

Advanced Vision Morocco

ARSMAGNA

b2 Architects

CAP DC

Chess Enterprises

Copy Cat Group

Dar Group

DC Pro Engineering

Deerns

Eastra Solutions

Edarat

EGEC

ENMAR Engineering

EDS Engineers

Egypro

Harinsa Qatar (HQ)

HATCO

HHM Building Contracting

Hill International

H&MV Engineering

Ingenium

Interkel

ICS Nett

INT'LTEC

ISG

JLB Architects

Laing O'Rourke

Linesight

M+W Group (Exyte)

Mace

Mercury Engineering

McLaren Construction Group

MIS

MWK Engineering

NDA Group

Orascom Construction

Prota Engineering

Qatar Site & Power

RED Engineering

RW Armstrong

Royal HaskoningDHV

Shaker Group

Sterling & Wilson

Summit Technology Solutions

Sudlows

Telal Engineering & Contracting

Tri-Star Construction

Turner & Townsend

United Egypt

Westwood Management

Prominent Data Center Investors

21st Century Technology

Africa Data Centres

Adgar Investments and Development

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Batelco

Bynet Data Communications

Digital Parks Africa

Equinix

Etisalat

EdgeConneX

Future Digital Data Systems

G42

Gulf Data Hub

Google

Galaxy Backbone

icolo.io (Digital Realty)

IXAfrica

Khazna Data Centers

Moro Hub

MedOne

MEEZA

Mobily

MainOne

Medallion Communications

Microsoft

NTT Global Data Centers

Oman Data Park

Ooredoo

Paratus Namibia

Rack Centre

Raxio Data Centres

stc

Serverfarm

Turkcell

Turk Telekom

Telehouse

Telecom Egypt

Teraco (Digital Realty)

Tencent Cloud

Cloud Wingu

New Entrants

Airtel Nigeria

Cloudoon

Compass Datacenters

Digital Realty

EDGNEX

Global Technical Realty

Infinity

Kasi Cloud

Open Access Data Centres (OADC)

Vantage Data Centers

Quantum Switch

ZeroPoint DC

ARIZTON'S EXPERTISE IN THE DATA CENTER INDUSTRY

We continuously track data center investments worldwide and strive to provide accurate market analysis on investments across 20+ infrastructure categories.

Arizton's team of principal consultants and analysts work towards publishing extensive secondary and primary research that is credible, resourceful, and data-driven. With over 5+ years of experience, Arizton has helped several Fortune 500 companies with data-driven insights that enabled them to expand their businesses to niche regions, added over a billion dollars in revenues, and effective go-to-market strategies. We offer various product portfolios to meet the client's requirements, which align with their key business strategies and identify high-value growth avenues.

Exhaustive syndicated reports, databases, country-wise market analysis, & customized consulting projects are published by our exuberant and well-experienced analysts who possess exemplary skills in advanced research practices, techniques, and ethics to outperform in fabricating impregnable research. Subscribe to our exhaustive portfolios to access premium research reports at competitive prices. Partner with Arizton for your next strategic business decision and gain a competitive advantage with real-time, data-driven research.

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Table of Content:

1 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

2 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

3 RESEARCH PROCESS

4 SCOPE & COVERAGE

4.1 MARKET DEFINITION

4.2 BASE YEAR

4.3 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

4.4 MARKET SEGMENTS

4.4.1 MARKET SEGMENTATION BY INFRASTRUCTURE

4.4.2 MARKET SEGMENTATION BY ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

4.4.3 MARKET SEGMENTATION BY MECHANICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

4.4.4 MARKET SEGMENTATION BY COOLING SYSTEMS

4.4.5 MARKET SEGMENTATION BY COOLING TECHNIQUE

4.4.6 MARKET SEGMENTATION BY GENERAL CONSTRUCTION

4.4.7 MARKET SEGMENTATION BY TIER STANDARDS

4.4.8 MARKET SEGMENTATION BY GEOGRAPHY

5 REPORT ASSUMPTIONS & CAVEATS

5.1 KEY CAVEATS

5.2 CURRENCY CONVERSION

5.3 MARKET DERIVATION

6 PREMIUM INSIGHTS

6.1 KEY HIGHLIGHTS

6.2 SEGMENTAL ANALYSIS

6.3 MARKET TRENDS

6.4 GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS

6.5 KEY MARKET PARTICIPANT INITIATIVES

7 MARKET AT A GLANCE

8 INTRODUCTION

8.1 DATA CENTER SITE SELECTION CRITERIA

8.1.1 KEY

9 MARKET OPPORTUNITIES & TRENDS

9.1 RISING ADOPTION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

9.2 INCREASE IN 5G DEPLOYMENTS FUELING EDGE DATA CENTER INVESTMENTS

9.3 DEPLOYMENT OF SUBMARINE CABLES AND INLAND CONNECTIVITY

9.4 SMART CITY INITIATIVES DRIVING DATA CENTER INVESTMENTS

9.5 INCREASE IN AI ADOPTION

10 MARKET GROWTH ENABLERS

10.1 CLOUD ADOPTION DRIVING DATA CENTER INVESTMENTS

10.2 IOT & BIG DATA FUELING DATA CENTER INVESTMENTS

10.3 ON-PREMISES INFRASTRUCTURE MIGRATING TO COLOCATION & MANAGED SERVICES

10.4 DEPLOYMENT OF MODULAR DATA CENTERS

11 MARKET RESTRAINTS

11.1 SECURITY CHALLENGES IN DATA CENTERS

11.2 DEARTH OF SKILLED WORKFORCE

11.3 LOCATION CONSTRAINTS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF DATA CENTERS

11.4 SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTIONS IN DATA CENTERS

12 MARKET LANDSCAPE

12.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

12.2 INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

12.3 AREA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

12.4 POWER CAPACITY: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

12.5 FIVE FORCE ANALYSIS

12.5.1 THREAT OF NEW ENTRANTS

12.5.2 BARGAINING POWER OF SUPPLIERS

12.5.3 BARGAINING POWER OF BUYERS

12.5.4 THREAT OF SUBSTITUTES

12.5.5 COMPETITIVE RIVALRY

13 INFRASTRUCTURE

13.1 MARKET SNAPSHOT & GROWTH ENGINE

13.2 ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

13.2.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

13.2.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

13.3 MECHANICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

13.3.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

13.3.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

13.4 GENERAL CONSTRUCTION

13.4.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

13.4.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

14 ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

14.1 MARKET SNAPSHOT & GROWTH ENGINE

14.2 UPS

14.2.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

14.2.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

14.3 GENERATORS

14.3.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

14.3.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

14.4 TRANSFER SWITCHES & SWITCHGEAR

14.4.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

14.4.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

14.5 POWER DISTRIBUTION UNITS

14.5.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

14.5.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

14.6 OTHER ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

14.6.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

14.6.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

15 MECHANICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

15.1 MARKET SNAPSHOT & GROWTH ENGINE

15.2 COOLING SYSTEMS

15.2.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

15.2.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

15.3 RACKS

15.3.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

15.3.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

15.4 OTHER MECHANICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

15.4.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

15.4.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

16 COOLING SYSTEMS

16.1 MARKET SNAPSHOT & GROWTH ENGINE

16.2 CRAC & CRAH UNITS

16.2.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

16.2.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

16.3 CHILLER UNITS

16.3.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

16.3.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

16.4 COOLING TOWERS, CONDENSERS & DRY COOLERS

16.4.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

16.4.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

16.5 OTHER COOLING UNITS

16.5.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

16.5.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

17 COOLING TECHNIQUE

17.1 MARKET SNAPSHOT & GROWTH ENGINE

17.2 AIR-BASED COOLING

17.2.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

17.2.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

17.3 LIQUID-BASED COOLING

17.3.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

17.3.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

18 GENERAL CONSTRUCTION

18.1 MARKET SNAPSHOT & GROWTH ENGINE

18.2 CORE & SHELL DEVELOPMENT

18.2.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

18.2.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

18.3 INSTALLATION & COMMISSIONING SERVICES

18.3.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

18.3.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

18.4 ENGINEERING & BUILDING DESIGN

18.4.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

18.4.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

18.5 FIRE DETECTION & SUPPRESSION

18.5.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

18.5.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

18.6 PHYSICAL SECURITY

18.6.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

18.6.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

18.7 DCIM/BMS

18.7.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

18.7.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

19 TIER STANDARDS

19.1 MARKET SNAPSHOT & GROWTH ENGINE

19.2 OVERVIEW OF TIER STANDARDS

19.3 TIER I & II

19.3.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

19.3.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

19.4 TIER III

19.4.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

19.4.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

19.5 TIER IV

19.5.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

19.5.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

20 GEOGRAPHY

20.1 INVESTMENT: MARKET SNAPSHOT & GROWTH ENGINE

20.2 AREA: MARKET SNAPSHOT & GROWTH ENGINE

20.3 POWER CAPACITY: MARKET SNAPSHOT & GROWTH ENGINE

21 UAE

21.1 MARKET SNAPSHOT & GROWTH ENGINE

21.1.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

21.2 INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

21.3 AREA: MARKET SIZE AND FORECAST

21.4 POWER CAPACITY: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

21.5 SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

22 SAUDI ARABIA

22.1 MARKET SNAPSHOT & GROWTH ENGINE

22.1.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

22.2 INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

22.3 AREA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

22.4 POWER CAPACITY: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

22.5 SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

23 ISRAEL

23.1 MARKET SNAPSHOT & GROWTH ENGINE

23.1.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

23.2 INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

23.3 AREA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

23.4 POWER CAPACITY: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

23.5 SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

24 OMAN

24.1 MARKET SNAPSHOT & GROWTH ENGINE

24.1.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

24.1.2 INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

24.2 AREA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

24.3 POWER CAPACITY: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

24.4 SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

25 QATAR

25.1 MARKET SNAPSHOT & GROWTH ENGINE

25.1.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

25.2 INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

25.3 AREA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

25.4 POWER CAPACITY: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

25.5 SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

26 KUWAIT

26.1 MARKET SNAPSHOT & GROWTH ENGINE

26.1.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

26.2 INVESTMENT: MARKET FORECAST & FORECAST

26.3 AREA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

26.4 POWER CAPACITY: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

26.5 SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

27 JORDAN

27.1 MARKET SNAPSHOT & GROWTH ENGINE

27.1.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

27.2 INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

27.3 AREA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

27.4 POWER CAPACITY: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

27.5 SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

28 BAHRAIN

28.1 MARKET SNAPSHOT & GROWTH ENGINE

28.1.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

28.2 INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

28.3 AREA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

28.4 POWER CAPACITY: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

28.5 SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

29 OTHER MIDDLE EASTERN COUNTRIES

29.1 MARKET SNAPSHOT & GROWTH ENGINE

29.1.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

29.2 INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

29.3 AREA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

29.4 POWER CAPACITY: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

29.5 SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

30 COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

30.1 SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE

30.2 CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS

30.3 DATA CENTER INVESTORS

31 PROMINENT DATA CENTER SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE PROVIDERS

31.1 ABB

31.1.1 BUSINESS OVERVIEW

31.1.2 PRODUCT OFFERINGS

31.2 AIREDALE

31.3 ALFA LAVAL

31.4 CANOVATE

31.5 CATERPILLAR

31.6 CUMMINS

31.7 DELTA ELECTRONICS

31.8 EAE GROUP

31.9 EATON

31.10 ENVICOOL

31.11 HITEC POWER PROTECTION

31.12 JOHNSON CONTROLS

31.13 LEGRAND

31.14 RITTAL

31.15 ROLLS-ROYCE

31.16 SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC

31.17 SIEMENS

31.18 STULZ

31.19 VERTIV

32 PROMINENT DATA CENTER CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS

32.1 AECOM

32.2 ALDAR PROPERTIES

32.3 ANEL GROUP

32.4 ARUP

32.5 ASHI & BUSHNAG

32.6 ATKINS

32.7 DAR GROUP

32.8 DC PRO ENGINEERING

32.9 DEERNS

32.10 EDARAT

32.11 EGEC

32.12 ENMAR ENGINEERING

32.13 HARINSA QATAR

32.14 HATCO

32.15 HHM BUILDING CONTRACTING

32.16 HILL INTERNATIONAL

32.17 ICS NETT

32.18 INT'LTEC

32.19 ISG

32.20 LAING O'ROURKE

32.21 LINESIGHT

32.22 M+W GROUP (EXYTE)

32.23 MACE

32.24 MERCURY ENGINEERING

32.25 MCLAREN CONSTRUCTION GROUP

32.26 MIS

32.27 NDA GROUP

32.28 PROTA ENGINEERING

32.29 QATAR SITE & POWER

32.30 RED ENGINEERING

32.31 RW ARMSTRONG

32.32 SUDLOWS

32.33 TELAL ENGINEERING & CONTRACTING

32.34 TURNER & TOWNSEND

33 PROMINENT DATA CENTER INVESTORS

33.1 ADGAR INVESTMENTS AND DEVELOPMENT

33.2 AMAZON WEB SERVICES

33.3 BATELCO

33.4 BYNET DATA COMMUNICATIONS

33.5 EQUINIX

33.6 EDGECONNEX

33.7 FUTURE DIGITAL DATA SYSTEMS

33.8 GULF DATA HUB

33.9 GOOGLE

33.10 KHAZNA DATA CENTERS (G42 & ETISALAT)

33.11 MORO HUB

33.12 MEDONE

33.13 MEEZA

33.14 MOBILY

33.15 MICROSOFT

33.16 OMAN DATA PARK

33.17 OOREDOO

33.18 STC

33.19 TURKCELL

33.20 TURK TELEKOM

33.21 TELEHOUSE

33.22 TENCENT

34 NEW ENTRANTS

34.1 COMPASS DATACENTERS

34.2 DIGITAL REALTY

34.3 DAMAC DATA CENTRES (EDGNEX)

34.4 GLOBAL TECHNICAL REALTY

34.5 INFINITY

34.6 QUANTUM SWITCH TAMASUK (QST)

34.7 SERVERFARM

34.8 ZEROPOINT DC (NEOM)

35 REPORT SUMMARY

35.1 KEY TAKEAWAYS

36 QUANTITATIVE SUMMARY

36.1 MIDDLE EAST DATA CENTER CONSTRUCTION MARKET

36.1.1 INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

36.1.2 INFRASTRUCTURE: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

36.2 MARKET SEGMENTATION

36.2.1 ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

36.2.2 MECHANICAL INFRASTRUCTURE: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

36.2.3 COOLING SYSTEMS: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

36.2.4 COOLING TECHNIQUES: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

36.2.5 GENERAL CONSTRUCTION: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

36.2.6 TIER STANDARDS: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

36.3 MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

36.3.1 INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

36.3.2 AREA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

36.3.3 POWER: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

36.4 UAE

36.4.1 INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

36.4.2 INFRASTRUCTURE: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

36.5 SAUDI ARABIA

36.5.1 INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

36.5.2 INFRASTRUCTURE: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

36.6 BAHRAIN

36.6.1 INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

36.6.2 INFRASTRUCTURE: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

36.7 OMAN

36.7.1 INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

36.7.2 INFRASTRUCTURE: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

36.8 KUWAIT

36.8.1 INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

36.8.2 INFRASTRUCTURE: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

36.9 QATAR

36.9.1 INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

36.9.2 INFRASTRUCTURE: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

36.10 ISRAEL

36.10.1 INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

36.10.2 INFRASTRUCTURE: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

36.11 JORDAN

36.11.1 INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

36.11.2 INFRASTRUCTURE: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

36.12 OTHER MIDDLE EASTERN COUNTRIES

36.12.1 INVESTMENT: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

36.12.2 INFRASTRUCTURE: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

37 APPENDIX

37.1 ABBREVIATIONS

About Us:

Arizton Advisory and Intelligence is an innovative and quality-driven firm that offers cutting-edge research solutions to clients worldwide. We excel in providing comprehensive market intelligence reports and advisory and consulting services.

We offer comprehensive market research reports on consumer goods & retail technology, automotive and mobility, smart tech, healthcare, life sciences, industrial machinery, chemicals, materials, I.T. and media, logistics, and packaging. These reports contain detailed industry analysis, market size, share, growth drivers, and trend forecasts.

Arizton comprises a team of exuberant and well-experienced analysts who have mastered generating incisive reports. Our specialist analysts possess exemplary skills in market research. We train our team in advanced research practices, techniques, and ethics to outperform in fabricating impregnable research reports.

Contact Us

Call: +1-312-235-2040

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Contact Us: https://www.arizton.com/contact-us

Blog: https://www.arizton.com/blog

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SOURCE Arizton Advisory & Intelligence
Georgian Deputy Economy Minister Vakhtang Tsintsadze said exports from the country had reached a record high figure in the first four months of 2023, Trend reports with reference to Agenda.

The Ministry of Economy cited Tsintsadze as saying the value of exports had risen by about 20 percent in April and reached $0.5 billion.

Between January and April, the figure increased by 23.5 percent and reached $1.96 billion, he also said, adding the increase in exports promoted economic growth in the country.

"It is directly related to the efficient use of its transit function by Georgia, and also emphasises increase in the competitiveness of the products produced in Georgia, which is one of the most important priorities of the Government, he said.

Georgian external trade turnover amounted to $6.49 billion between January-April, posting a 21.9 percent increase year-on-year, the Georgian National Statistics Office revealed on Monday.
HELSINKI, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Askel Healthcare, the Finnish medical technology company offering a new method for the treatment of knee cartilage damage, has started a fundraising campaign to raise up to 5 million euros to finance clinical trials of its COPLA implant. The public phase of the ongoing fundraising campaign started today and closes on 18 June 2023. An investor meeting will take place on 24 May 2023 at 16:00 EEST at VALO Hotel & Work and online.

Askel Healthcare's COPLA implant is a new biodegradable implant for the surgical treatment of cartilage damage in the knee. Askel Healthcare is targeting the global cartilage repair market with the COPLA implant which is estimated to be up to 3 billion USD. The company aims to become the global standard of surgical knee cartilage repair.

Key highlights of the share issue:

- The company is offering 7.56-21.42% of equity for EUR 8.10 per share with a minimum investment of 50 shares. Shares are offered globally through brokers Invesdor GmbH and Oneplanetcrowd B.V. Additional details are available on the campaign website at https://www.invesdor.com/rounds/f589c08e-3245-4ad9-ba03-96c3277b0c43#/.

- The subscription period is 16 May-18 June 2023.

- Askel Healthcare's mission is to keep people in motion through its universal COPLA implant, a ground-breaking innovation for repair of knee cartilage damage. It is easy to implant and enables fast recovery to pain-free activity. The implant is a result of more than ten years of orthopedic and tissue engineering research at the University of Helsinki and Tampere University in Finland.

- The company is currently in the clinical investigation phase. Its primary goal is market authorization for the COPLA implant and product launch in the US by 2028.

- Key investment highlights:

(i) The global knee cartilage repair market is estimated to be up to 3 billion USD;

(ii) Knee cartilage does not have the capacity to heal on its own, and untreated knee cartilage damage is one of the main reasons for developing osteoarthritis. So far, there is lack of reliable and accessible treatment options for knee cartilage repair. The long-term results of the most common treatment method currently available, microfracture, are insufficient, and new methods that have entered the market are expensive;

(iii) The company's own cost-effective and scalable in-house production and moderate supply chain costs enable an effective global business model;

(iv) Askel Healthcare has an extensive global network of top experts and key opinion leaders in knee cartilage repair.

- Key advantages of the COPLA implant:

(i) Fast recovery through full weight-bearing on the operated leg immediately after surgery;

(ii) Affordability; surgical simplicity; universal.

(iii) Long-term clinical results as a result of good repair tissue quality driven by timely mechanical loading of the repaired tissue site.

- Key use of funds:

(i) Demonstration of safety of the COPLA implant;

(ii) Authority approval for the main clinical trial aiming for market authorization;

(iii) Strengthening the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR).

A more detailed description of the share issue is presented in the Information Memorandum here https://www.invesdor.com/rounds/f589c08e-3245-4ad9-ba03-96c3277b0c43#/.

"Askel Healthcare is on a major mission: keeping people in motion. Knee pain is extremely disabling and the number one factor preventing people from doing physical activities they love. To solve this universal problem, we have developed the COPLA implant. It works together with the biological environment of the knee, allowing the joint surface to repair itself. It is the only cartilage repair method that allows the patient to place full body weight on the operated leg immediately after the surgery. This shortens the recovery time and enables patients to return to their daily activities faster. Moreover, the mechanical stimuli resulting from physical activity is paramount for cartilage tissue to rebuild itself and thus for long-term clinical effects. Together with our world-class network of clinicians, we aim to be the global standard in surgical knee cartilage repair," said Virpi Muhonen, CEO of Askel Healthcare Ltd.

"Developing health technology requires money and patient investors. Crowdfunding is a vital source of equity funding for MedTech companies like Askel Healthcare, as venture capital investors in this field are almost non-existent in Finland. Investors on the Invesdor platform have shown interest in healthcare companies in recent years, as these have significant return potential when everything goes right," comments Mari Lymysalo, Managing Director of Invesdor Oy.

Invitation to investor event on 24 May 2023 at 4:00 p.m. EEST

Askel Healthcare invites investors, analysts and media to an investor event on 24 May 2023 at 4:00 p.m. EEST, where the company management will present the company, its strategy and the ongoing share issue, and answer questions from the audience. The hybrid event will be held in English at VALO Hotel & Work at Mannerheimintie 109, 00280 Helsinki. Participants can also join the event online.

To register for the event, please send an e-mail to [email protected]. After successful registration, a link to the online event will be sent to online participants who have registered in advance for the event. The event materials will be sent to registered participants after the event. For additional information, please contact Askel Healthcare CEO, Virpi Muhonen at [email protected].

Additional information:

Askel Healthcare, CEO Virpi Muhonen. Tel. +358 40 489 3840

Invesdor Finland, CEO Mari Lymysalo. Tel. +358 40 356 6160

About Askel Healthcare

Askel Healthcare is a Finnish medical technology company set to transform surgical knee cartilage treatment and recovery. Our mission is to keep people in motion through our universal COPLA implant, which is a ground-breaking innovation for the repair of knee cartilage defects. For more information, visit: www.askelhealthcare.com and https://youtu.be/RSZwLWwfwe8.

About Invesdor

Invesdor Group is among the largest European investment and financing platforms, with over 436 million in funding volume. It currently operates in Finland, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. Invesdor's digital investment platform offers tailor-made financing solutions for unlisted companies. For more information, visit: https://www.invesdor.com.

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/22234/3769543/2060253.pdf Press release (PDF) https://news.cision.com/askel-healthcare-oy/i/founder,c3179054 Founder

SOURCE Askel Healthcare Oy
Sameer Adam joins Bestfly Aviation Group as Executive Board Director

Stephan Krainer named Executive Board Director

ORANJESTAD, Aruba, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Earlier today, Bestfly announced a change in its board and leadership structure by appointing Sameer Adam and Stephan Krainer as Executive Board Directors to support the company's strong growth and expand the group's aviation businesses.

Sameer Adam joins Bestfly Aviation Group as Executive Board Director (CNW Group/Bestfly) Stephan Krainer named Executive Board Director (CNW Group/Bestfly)

"In 2009, Bestfly started as a ground handling company in Angola and has since grown into a global aviation group with operations by end of 2023 out of Aruba, Portugal, Cape Verde, Austria, UAE, Congo, Guyana, and Senegal. We have built a solid foundation with a diversified business in the VIP executive aircraft, commercial aircraft, oil & gas support, and ground support segments." said Nuno Pereira, Chairman & Group CEO, Bestfly . "This has led to strong revenue verticals , which is why we are adding two great individuals to an already strong executive board and leadership, who will further enhance our activities with their valuable experiences."

As part of the leadership structure changes, the new Board Directors will be engaged in their respective executive capacities as follows:

Sameer Adam (Canadian) joins Bestfly as Executive Board Director to oversee all aspects of fleet strategy, business development, and aircraft financing for the business aircraft, commercial aircraft, and helicopter operations. Bestfly has expanded its operations in recent years, building a strong base of customers in various markets, which requires an added level of experience to grow our fleet based on the optimal approach that fits our growth strategy.

Stephan Krainer (Austrian) adds to his duties as CEO of Primus Aero, Executive Board Director for Bestfly. An Austria-based company, Primus Aero delivers CAMO and other maintenance services to various operators, including Bestfly. The increased efficiencies brought about by an in-house CAMO partner have added to the group's ability to manage a diverse fleet based across multiple continents.

Sameer Adam and Stephan Krainer join current board directors Nuno Pereira (Chairperson), Alcinda Pereira (Vice Chairperson), Helder Rosa, Nuno Sandao, and Americo Borges.

About Bestfly

Bestfly was established in 2009 as an Angolan company for ground handling services and has since grown into a global aviation group with and several new markets and business segments. The company has expanded its presence from Angola into Aruba, Portugal, Cape Verde, Austria, UAE, Congo, Guyana, and Senegal. Bestfly has assembled a very experienced team to ensure the highest operational standards, organizational efficiency, and commercial agility.

The group's current fleet stands at 27 aircraft based on an assortment of Bombardier, Falcon, Gulfstream, Hawker and Cessna Citation business jets, Beechraft Kingair turboprops, Leonardo and Bell helicopters, Embraer commercial jets, and ATR72 turboprop aircraft. The diverse fleet is optimized to serve key commercial markets and long-term contract customers throughout Europe, Africa, Middle East, and the Caribbean.

As a founding member of the African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA), Bestfly is also a current member of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA).

https://bestfly.aero/

SOURCE Bestfly
Kramm Appointed as President and Chief Operating Officer

PLANTATION, Fla., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BioMatrix Specialty Pharmacy announced today Kathee Kramm has joined the executive leadership team as President and Chief Operating Officer. Working in collaboration with the CEO and CFO, Kathee will oversee sales, operations, nursing and revenue cycle management. She will play an integral role in BioMatrix's strategic priorities as a leader in the specialty infusion pharmacy industry.

Kathee Kramm appointed as BioMatrix Specialty Pharmacy President & Chief Operating Officer Tweet this Kathee Kramm, President & COO, BioMatrix Specialty Pharmacy

Ms. Kramm is an accomplished, entrepreneurial healthcare executive extensively experienced in specialty pharmacy and home infusion. She has successfully designed and implemented growth strategies for several industry-leading infusion, specialty, and mail order pharmacies. Kathee has also successfully transitioned businesses through multiple private equity recapitalizations and participated in sale negotiations and integration efforts.

Most recently, Kathee served as President and Co-Founder of AxelaCare Health Solutions (now Optum Infusion), where her key areas of focus included operations, building national sales teams, nursing networks, and payer alliances to improve care and therapy access for patients with rare and chronic health conditions. Prior to AxelaCare, Kathee was a co-founder of Home Patient Care which eventually was sold to Amerisource Bergen and rebranded as US BioServices.

"We are excited to partner with Kathee and welcome her to our executive leadership team," CEO Nick Karalis affirms. "Kathee's background, experience, and leadership will further enhance BioMatrix's investment and focus on specialty infusion, bleeding disorders, 340b and HUB/ LDD services. Her skill set combined with her enthusiasm and entrepreneurial spirit makes her a perfect addition to the team."

Kathee Kramm shares, "I am impressed with and motivated by the staff and the resources BioMatrix possesses. The wealth of industry experience, resources, and passion BioMatrix has in prioritizing patient care above all else is unique in the specialty infusion pharmacy space. I am elated to be a part of the BioMatrix family and look forward to playing a role in the continued growth of the organization."

For more information on BioMatrix Specialty Pharmacy, please visit www.biomatrixsprx.com.

About BioMatrix Specialty Pharmacy

BioMatrix Specialty Pharmacy, an Inc. 5000 company, offers comprehensive, nationwide specialty infusion pharmacy services and digital health technology solutions for patients with chronic, difficult to treat conditions. Our commitment to every patient is to provide individualized pharmacy services, timely access to care, and focused education and support. We offer a tailored approach for a wide range of therapeutic categories, improving health and empowering patients to experience a higher quality of life.

Media Contact

Tara Marchese, Senior Director of Marketing  BioMatrix Specialty Pharmacy

P: 954-908-7636

E: [email protected]

SOURCE BioMatrix Specialty Pharmacy
COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- River (river.com), a Bitcoin technology and financial services startup, announced today a $35 million equity round. This series B funding was led by Kingsway Capital. Other investors included Peter Thiel, Goldcrest, Cygni, M13, Valor Equity Partners, Esas Ventures, and Alarko Ventures.

River raises $35 million in Series B funding

River is on a mission to champion an honest and robust financial system through the use of Bitcoin, the world's only incorruptible digital money. River is a one-stop-shop for any person or business interested in Bitcoin. They offer a suite of Bitcoin services, including Bitcoin brokerage with zero-fee recurring orders, full-reserve custody, mining, and a Bitcoin wallet that supports both on-chain and Lightning Network transactions.

"We're seeing another wave of Bitcoin interest, largely driven by business and institutional adoption," says Alex Leishman, River CEO. "It's not fueled by hype. This year's bank failures and bailouts have been a wake-up call, revealing the cracks of the traditional financial system and reminding us why Bitcoin is so importantit's a secure path to a stronger and more transparent global economy. Adopting Bitcoin with a trusted partner is no longer the speculative choice, but rather the prudent one."

Last year River announced the launch of River Lightningan enterprise API that allows companies to easily integrate with the Lightning Network. River Lightning is already utilized by a number of crypto apps, including El Salvador's Chivo wallet, to enable instant Bitcoin payments.

Demand for Lightning transactions has grown rapidly in the last year and has accelerated to new levels in recent weeks by rising on-chain fees. In addition to serving individuals and businesses directly, River intends to serve as the Bitcoin payments back-end for the industry. Part of this funding round will be used to further build out the B2B River Lightning segment.

"River has become the premier Bitcoin brand in the United States. We have deep Bitcoin expertise, focus, and frankly, we do things right," says Leishman. "Unlike many crypto companies and regional banks for that matter, we have not taken shortcuts or reckless risks with our regulatory strategy and product offering. We're a mission-driven company with full-reserve Bitcoin custody, and will continue to play our part in moving society towards a brighter economic future powered by Bitcoin."

About River

Founded in 2019, River is a Bitcoin technology and financial services company. River offers the full suite of Bitcoin brokerage, custody, and mining services in one easy-to-use mobile app and on River.com. The company is also a leader in Lightning infrastructure, powering Lightning transactions for other exchanges and wallets in the crypto ecosystem.

To learn more, please visit River.com or follow them on Twitter @River.

CONTACT: [email protected]

SOURCE River
BEIT YANAI, Israel, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Electreon (TASE: ELWS), announced today it is ready to publicly demonstrate what, Oren Ezer, CEO and Co-founder of Electreon, describes as "The unlimited potential of wireless Electric Road technology (Dynamic Wireless EV Charging)."



In less than one week (starting on May 21st, 2023), the Electreon team will showcase its industry-changing wireless Electric Road technology charging a TOYOTA RAV4-PHEV as it drives on the company's demonstration wireless Electric Road for up to 100 hours. In a world first, over a five-day period (21st-25th of May, 2023), the hybrid EV's compact and lightweight 18 kWh battery will never be depleted (fully discharged) and will drive between 1,000 - 1,500 km over the five-day period. Electreon selected this hybrid vehicle to demonstrate how any EV, even one with a minimal vehicle battery size can benefit from extended, even unlimited range, with wireless EV charging. The company's demonstration track is just over 200 meters in length and approximately 25% of the track is electrified. By driving 1,000 km, the wireless EV charging technology will increase the range 13 times more than the current hybrid vehicle real-world limits; and driving 1,500 km without will extend the vehicle's range 20-fold.[1]



While drivers will change throughout the week, the vehicle will not need to stop for dedicated charging time throughout the five-day period. On Wednesday, 24th of May, the Electreon team will welcome select clients, partners, suppliers, investors, industry, academics, investors and political leaders to its headquarters to witness 'history in the driving'. The driving rally will be live-streamed for anyone to tune into at any point.



Ezer states, "Industry, political and public support for wireless EV charging technologies is greater now than at any other time since Electreon's doors opened in 2013. We witnessed industry enthusiasm for our wireless EV technology grow into unwavering support. Now we see it bloom into declarations of commitment to advance wireless charging in commercial projects in public roads across the globe. Today we are involved in a dozen projects across five countries together with more than 60 global partners, including leading automotive partners. This is the tipping point." said Oren Ezer, CEO and Co-founder of Electreon. "Just this month we launched the first public shuttle that charges as it drives in Germany (dynamically). Here we are also demonstrating the true potential of the wireless EV charging road."



The company is no stranger to the limelight, selected to feature in several documentaries, including Bloomberg's 15-min piece, How Electric Roads Could Power the Future , and in 2021 its technology was named by TIME Magazine as one of its coveted Inventions of the Year. Since the company went public in Israel in 2018, Ezer has announced a string of automotive and industry category partnerships and investments that demonstrate the great interest in this technology.



About Electreon

Electreon is the leading developer and provider of wireless charging solutions for electric vehicles (EVs), providing end-to-end charging infrastructure and services, to meet the needs and efficiency demands of shared, public, and commercial fleet operators and consumers. The company's proprietary inductive technology dynamically (while in motion) and statically (while stopped) charges EVs quickly and safely, eliminating range anxiety, lowering total costs of EV ownership, and reducing battery capacity needs-making it one of the most environmentally sustainable, scalable, and compelling charging solutions available in the market today. Electreon collaborates with cities and fleet operators on a "sale" business model, and on a Charging as a Service (CaaS) business model, that enables cost-effective electrification of public, commercial, and autonomous fleets for smooth and continuous operation. For more information, visit electreon.com.

The TOYOTA RAV4 charging wirelessly while driving at Electreon's HQ (PRNewsfoto/Electreon)

Media contact:

Keren Alleson Gerberg

[email protected]

+972-549758734

[1] The range for an 18 kWh battery in real world driving conditions would be ~ 75 km.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2078302/Electreon_Wireless_Ltd.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1997596/4038754/Electreon_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Electreon Wireless Ltd
PITTSBURGH, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Every owner will leave their business one day, but few are prepared.

In her new book, The Business Transition Handbook: How to Avoid Succession Pitfalls and Create Valuable Exit Options, author Laurie Barkman provides a step-by-step process to ensure every business owner is prepared for this transition.

The Business Transition Handbook: How to Avoid Succession Pitfalls and Create Valuable Exit Options Laurie Barkman

"When you're ready to sell, the company may not be sell-readyleaving you out of time and unrewarded," says Barkman. "Most entrepreneurs are too busy to begin thinking about the end. But they may be leaving moneyand their happinesson the table. It's crucial to start thinking three to five years in advance who might buy your business."

Barkman, the former CEO of a $100 million in annual revenue company that sold to a Fortune 50 firm, is a business transition sherpa. As a business exit planning advisor and host of the award-winning podcast Succession Stories, she provides guidance to business owners on how to plan successful transitions.

The Business Transition Handbook demystifies the exit process, guiding business owners who are considering leaving their ventures or beginning to think about their eventual next steps.

"My book prepares owners to navigate the emotional and practical nature of the transition process so they can exit on their terms and avoid succession regrets," says Barkman, an adjunct professor of entrepreneurship at Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business in Pittsburgh, PA.

Barkman's book discusses the three most likely candidates as potential buyers:

Strategic Buyers: companies that aim to acquire businesses whose products or services can be integrated into their existing operations and create long-term value. These buyers can also be unrelated to the company for sale and looking to grow the market to diversify revenue sources. Strategic buyers can be a publicly traded or privately held company.

"In industries that are heavily regulated, or subject to unpredictability, seeking an alliance with a strategic buyer can offset potential hazards linked with the sector," says Barkman.

To realize the forecasted results, strategic buyers can optimize the balance sheet, reduce interest expenses, remove redundant operating expenses and headcount, or increase top-line revenue through cross-selling. The key to having an acquisition that gradually grows over time is the ability to successfully integrate both companies.

Financial Buyers: include private equity firms, family offices, and acquisition entrepreneurs. Private equity groups (PEGs) describe investment partnerships that buy and manage companies before selling them. PEGs raise capital from limited partners and managing partners determine how to invest those funds. Private equity firms operate these investment funds on behalf of institutional and accredited investors. PEGs are in the business of making investments in core portfolio companies, or platform deals, and realizing a return within five to seven years with a subsequent sale or an initial public offering (IPO).

Family office investors are also considered financial buyers  having generational wealth or having sold real estate or businesses. Family office investors are somewhat like a PEG, but they are not investing third-party money from investors. They are investing money from the family. In contrast, these investments have a long-term approach and are often called patient capital.

Acquisition entrepreneurs are looking to acquire an existing company funded by a combination of personal funds, investor capital, seller financing, and bank financing. They seek to acquire the business to run directly as the operator or as part of a larger strategy to develop a holding company of smaller businesses.

Related Buyers: are related as family, management or a partner buying out the other partner.

"You may be surprised to learn that only a third of family business organizations have a robust, documented, and communicated succession plan in place," says Barkman.

Selling to management may not be the highest price, but it should be a fair price. "If you have been developing your management team, and they are interested in ownership, this may be a succession option to consider," says Barkman.

A management buyout (MBO) is when a company's existing leadership team purchases a majority stake from the owner using outside debt. Another option is for the owner to grant shares to management over a long-term vesting schedule.

If you want to transition the leadership and ownership of your business to your management team or family members, take the time to work out a plan.

For Media Inquiries

Info from Laurie Barkman and JWC Publishing

Contact

Henry DeVries

[email protected]

619-540-3031

SOURCE Laurie Barkman
Empowering ethics in response to rapidly evolving challenges in technology and public policies

NEW YORK, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, new ethical questions are emerging at an exponential rate. Society faces significant challenges in the realm of international affairsfrom the impact of rapidly evolving technologies such as artificial intelligence to the rise of autocrats and accelerating climate change. Too often, new public policies, technologies, and products are developed, deployed, and co-opted with haste by actors who view ethics as an encumbrance rather than a requisite.

In response, Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs is pleased to announce the launch of the Carnegie Ethics Acceleratora new kind of incubator designed to empower ethics in the face of swiftly evolving challenges in technology and public policies. Each Accelerator will tap into the convening power of Carnegie Council to assemble a diverse community of experts and practitioners who will collaboratively and ambitiously push the discourse forward on a complex ethical question.

With generous support from the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, the inaugural series of Ethics Accelerators will take place over the next 12 months in New York City and focus on critical questions at the intersection of ethics and emerging technology. Led by Carnegie Council Senior Fellow Arthur Holland Michel, the first Accelerator will examine ethical questions regarding the adoption of software tools for correlating and fusing surveillance data from a growing web of sources.

"Crisis by crisis, we face accelerating growth in global challenges that face humanity. Emerging technologies that reflect the best of human ingenuity and innovation might provide critical new responses to these challengesbut only if built for public purpose instead of maximizing profits," said Vilas Dhar, president of the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation. "Carnegie Council brings a deep history and commitment to ethical decision-makingexperience and wisdom that is critical as we develop and deploy new tools. The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation is delighted to support the launch of the Ethics Accelerator to advance practices that center community interests, pose difficult questions about core values, and shape our best possible human-centered, tech-enabled future."

The Ethics Accelerator will seek to generate publicly available instruments and principles that policymakers and practitioners can immediately leverage and deploy. As the initiative expands to tackle additional novel issues within international affairs, so will Carnegie Council's library of available Ethics Accelerator assets, including ethical frameworks, multimedia educational materials, and governance blueprints.

"The Accelerator is Carnegie Council's answer to the need to be nimble in response to fast-moving issues in applied ethics," said Joel Rosenthal, president of Carnegie Council. "This new initiative enables us to convene and publish quickly to bring ethical issues into focus in real time, as debates are unfolding. The team and I are delighted to be working with the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation to meet this critical moment."

END

About Carnegie Council

Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs is an independent nonprofit that works to empower ethics by identifying and addressing the most critical ethical issues of today and tomorrow. Founded by Andrew Carnegie over a century ago, we set the global ethical agenda and work for an ethical future by convening leading experts, producing agenda-setting resources, and catalyzing the creation of ethical solutions to global problems. Join us in using the power of ethics to build a better world. Carnegie Council is a nonprofit 501(c) (3) institution. For more information, please visit CarnegieCouncil.org, subscribe to "Carnegie Council" wherever you get your podcasts, and engage with us on LinkedIn, YouTube , Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook .

Contact:

Kevin Maloney

[email protected]

Director of Communications

Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs

SOURCE Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs
MIAMI, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- This week the Jackson County, Missouri legislature voted unanimously for the design and construction of a new detention center, which is set to modernize and improve the county's detention services and capabilities.

Faced with overcrowded, deteriorating facilities that posed significant safety concerns for both staff and inmates, the County realized in order to truly make a shift in its approach to detention, a new facility was necessary. Jackson County intends to meet the community's needs by planning and building a detention center that is safe, secure, efficient to operate, and incorporates thoughtfully designed long-term solutions for the Jackson County Justice System.

One of the key elements of planning, building, and operating a detention center, is respecting the dignity of detained individuals. To accomplish this, the new facility will provide evidence-based treatment and training opportunities that address the needs of the individual and the underlying causes of criminal behavior. The new detention center will boast high-tech security features, improved inmate housing and services, and ample space for staff and administrative offices. The facility will be equipped to meet the needs of both male and female detainees and will serve as a modern and secure detention center that meets all state and federal regulations.

"Working closely with our owner's representative and contractors, I have witnessed firsthand the incredible amount of patience and hard work that goes into bringing a project like this to fruition," said Jackson County Administrator Troy Schulte. "Collaborating with multiple stakeholders, managing complex timelines and ensuring all parties are working toward a shared vision can be challenging, but it is also very rewarding. I am incredibly proud of our team and believe that the dedication and perseverance that has been shown will be reflected in the final product  a first-class detention center we can all be proud of that meets the County's needs for many years to come."

A project of this scale requires the services of an Owners Representative who specializes in the development of large county jail facilities, understands the ins and outs of the design-build delivery method, and knows how to work effectively with the County to deliver the fullest measure of success. In the winter of 2020, the County engaged JCDC Partners, a proven partnership comprised of CGL Companies (CGL), the nation's leading justice facilities expert, and Newmark Grubb Zimmer (NGZ), a Jackson County-based commercial real estate firm with a proven history of success in working with Jackson County.

The Jackson County Board of Commissioners' decision to approve the new detention center is a testament to the county's commitment to improving and modernizing its facilities and services, as well as its dedication to public safety and the well-being of its residents. Construction is set to begin this year and is expected to be completed in 2025.

ABOUT CGL

CGL is the leading provider of justice facility planning, design, program management and maintenance solutions. Dating back to 1974, CGL has since grown into the largest, most comprehensive criminal justice consulting firm in the world. CGL offers services spanning an entire project and building lifecycle, providing the unique capability to help at any stage of the development process and well beyond completion. With CGL's vertically-integrated 360 Justice platform, Owners can expect:

Significant facility cost savings

Increased facility life

Total understanding of the facility and operations

Speed to market with a single-source solution

Reduced risk and comprehensive plans that work

To date, CGL has worked in more than 900 counties and municipalities, all 50 states, and more than 20 countries, delivering solutions on more than 1,900 projects. To learn more about CGL and 360 Justice, please visit: www.cglcompanies.com

SOURCE CGL
Law.com, The National Law Journal also name Aldous\Walker law firm a finalist in Elite Trial Lawyers Awards process

DALLAS, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- American Lawyer Media, publishers of Law.com and The National Law Journal, have named Dallas trial lawyer Charla Aldous among the winners of its "Elite Women of the Plaintiffs Bar" honor. The designation comes as part of ALM's 2023 Elite Trial Lawyers Awards process.

In addition, ALM named the firm a finalist in the Civil Rights category, based on its pro bono representation of Dr. Ximena Lopez. When her clinic for transgender teens was closed, Ms. Aldous, law partner Brent Walker and their co-counsel Stephen Malouf secured a court order that allows Dr. Lopez to continue treating patients, including new ones.

"Well, this is both a tremendous honor and a very nice surprise," Ms. Aldous said. "There are so many outstanding women who are doing great things in this profession, and to be included in a group along with them is wonderful."

Reporters and editors from both Law.com and The National Law Journal select the Elite Trial Lawyers Awards based on submissions from the firms and input from an external panel of judges. The awards recognize outstanding plaintiff work in bench and jury trials. To be eligible for consideration, firms need to have "an impressive track record of wins over the last three to five years," including one in the previous year.

In the case of Aldous\Walker, the firm won a $21 million jury verdict last year on behalf of a young man left in a vegetative state after botched surgery for a broken leg.

"This kind of recognition is very special because it recognizes this firm pretty much across all the different kinds of legal work we do," Mr. Walker said. "It begins with Charla, who is one of the best  if not the best  trial lawyer in the country. And it extends to our pro bono work and court wins."

ALM plans to announce winners in the Civil Rights and other remaining Elite Trial Lawyers Awards categories during an awards dinner and event at The St. Regis New York July 13.

The Aldous\Walker LLP law firm represents clients in civil litigation and specializes in high-profile, high-stakes cases. Learn more about the firm at http://www.aldouslaw.com .

Media Contact:

Mark Annick

800.559.4534

[email protected]

SOURCE Aldous Walker LLP
The global chlorpheniramine maleate market is driven by factors such as rise in the prevalence of allergies and related respiratory conditions such as allergic rhinitis and hives, surge in awareness of allergies among the population, an increase in demand for antihistamines, and a surge in investments in R&D activities by pharmaceutical companies.

PORTLAND, Ore., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Chlorpheniramine Maleate Market by Dosage Form (Tablets, Syrups and Eye Drops), by Application (Allergy, Hay Fever, Common Cold, Watery Eyes, Itchy Throat/Skin, Anaphylactic Shock, and Urticaria), by Distribution Channel (Hospital Pharmacies, Retail Pharmacies and Online Pharmacies): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032". According to the report, the global chlorpheniramine maleate Market valued at $468.6 million in 2022 and is estimated to reach $751.4 million by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 4.9% from 2023 to 2032.

Download Free Sample Copy of the Report- https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/3975

Prime determinants of growth

Increase in the prevalence of allergic disorders such as allergic rhinitis, common cold, watery eyes, urticaria and various others, increase in urbanization and change in lifestyles and surge in technological advancement drive the growth of the global chlorpheniramine maleate market. However, potential side effects of chlorpheniramine maleate and availability of alternative medicines are hampering the chlorpheniramine maleate market growth. On the contrary, the growing level of air pollution in developing countries and surge in geriatric population are expected to offer remunerative opportunities for expansion of the chlorpheniramine maleate market during the forecast period.

Report coverage & details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20232032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 $468.6 million Market Size in 2032 $751.4 million CAGR 4.9 % No. of Pages in Report 438 Segments covered Dosage From, Application, Distribution Channel and Region. Drivers Increase in the prevalence of allergic conditions Rise in urbanization and changes in lifestyles Surge in technological advancement Opportunities High growth potential in developing economies Restraints Potential side effects of chlorpheniramine maleate Availability of alternative medicines

Covid-19 Scenario

The global chlorpheniramine maleate market was positively impacted during the pandemic, owing to increase in demand for respiratory medications, as chlorpheniramine maleate is commonly used to treat allergy symptoms, including respiratory issues such as sneezing, itching, and runny nose.

Moreover, the shift in consumer behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an increase in awareness and concern about personal health and hygiene. This, in turn, presented various growth opportunities for companies operating in the chlorpheniramine maleate market.

Procure Complete Report (438 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures)

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The tablets segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on dosage form, the tablets segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than one third of the global chlorpheniramine maleate market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period, owing to increase in prevalence of allergy and the easy availability of chlorpheniramine maleate tablets. The same segment is estimated to showcase the fastest CAGR of 5.5% during the forecast period.

The allergy segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on application, the allergy segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for around one third of the global chlorpheniramine maleate market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period, owing to the rise in prevalence of allergic conditions and expansion of the pharmaceutical industry across the world that provides chlorpheniramine maleate-based formulations to treat allergic disorders. However, the hay fever (allergic rhinitis) segment is projected to manifest a significant CAGR of 6.4% from 2023 to 2032, owing to an increase in prevalence of allergic rhinitis, a surge in demand for antihistamines and a rise in geriatric population.

The hospital pharmacies segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period

Based on distribution channel, the hospital pharmacies segment accounted for the largest share in 2022, contributing to more than two-fifths of the global chlorpheniramine maleate market revenue, as hospital pharmacies are a major source of distribution for chlorpheniramine maleate in various forms, including tablets, capsules, or liquid formulations. The same segment would portray the fastest CAGR of 5.4% during the forecast period.

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North America to maintain its dominance by 2032

Based on region, North America held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2022, accounting for around two-fifths of the global chlorpheniramine maleate market revenueand is likely to dominate the market during the forecast period. The chlorpheniramine maleate market in North America is mainly driven by advancement in healthcare infrastructure with easy access to healthcare services, including OTC medications for allergic conditions and increase in prevalence of allergic condition in this region. However, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 5.5% from 2023 to 2032 owing to rise in prevalence of allergic conditions, rise in demand for antihistaminic drugs to treat allergic conditions, surge in geriatric population and increase in air pollution in developing countries such as India, China, Japan, and South Korea contribute to the growth of the market.

Leading Market Players: -

Alkeem Laboratories Ltd

Bayer AG

GlaxoSmithKline plc

Johnson & Johnson

Merck & Co. Inc.

Novalab Healthcare Pvt. Ltd.

Capellon Pharmaceuticals

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited

Viatris Inc.

Zydus Lifesciences Limited.

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players of the global chlorpheniramine maleate market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, agreements, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario.

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AVENUE- A Subscription-Based Library (Premium on-demand, subscription-based pricing model) Offered by Allied Market Research:

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"We have also published few syndicated market studies in the similar area that might be of your interest. Below are 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."

About Allied Market Research:

Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domains. AMR offers its services across 11 industry verticals including Life Sciences, Consumer Goods, Materials & Chemicals, Construction & Manufacturing, Food & Beverages, Energy & Power, Semiconductor & Electronics, Automotive & Transportation, ICT & Media, Aerospace & Defense, and BFSI.

We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

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SOURCE Allied Market Research
Alphabet Inc's Google on Tuesday said it would delete accounts that had remained unused for two years starting December, in a bid to prevent security threats including hacks, Trend reports citing Reuters.

The company said that if a Google account had not been used or signed into for at least two years, it might delete the account and content across Google Workspace, which includes Gmail, Docs, Drive, Meet and Calendar, as well as YouTube and Google Photos.

The policy change only applies to personal Google Accounts and not to those for organizations like schools or businesses.
New tools gather, analyze, compare, and deliver insights from more than 140 million trademark records and more than 6.2 million trademark office and court decisions

LONDON, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Clarivate Plc (NYSE: CLVT), a global leader in connecting people and organizations to intelligence they can trust to transform their world, today announced the launch of the Clarivate Brand Landscape Analyzer and the development of the Clarivate Trademark Watch Analyzer. Together they will enable brand professionals to assess brand risk from every angle as they make trademark intelligence more actionable.

With almost 12 million new trademark applications in 2022, brand and trademark professionals face exponential growth in data sets. They enable IP professionals to focus their time on making informed decisions to establish and protect trademarks under their stewardship in minutes, rather than days. These tools leverage artificial intelligence (AI) built on rich proprietary content and trained by Clarivate internal search experts to analyze and deliver insights from more than 140 million trademark records and over 6.2 million trademark office and court decisions.

Powered by proprietary, patented technologies including AI and machine learning the Brand Landscape Analyzer combines trademarks, case law, and competitive intelligence data, to provide IP professionals with a real-time risk assessment of future trademark candidates. It provides businesses with a comprehensive understanding of potential risks to their brand, including litigation maps, in-use examples and similarity assessments, while improving the way IP professionals search and protect new trademarks by combining data and decisions into one single workflow.

The Trademark Watch Analyzer is being designed to address the challenges faced by trademark owners in protecting their trademarks. It combines proprietary, global trademark, and case law data from Clarivate with in-house IP expertise and uses leading AI technology to provide faster and more accurate answers to critical business questions. Global monitoring and automated alerts will enable trademark owners to monitor and protect global brands with confidence.

Gordon Samson, President, IP, Clarivate, said: "Brand risk is a significant concern for companies of all sizes in today's fast-paced business environment. At Clarivate, we empower law firms to achieve practice excellence by providing their clients with trustworthy, data-driven guidance. We aim to bring clarity to the complex. We have been using AI in our products for many years, as applied responsibly and in the right use cases, it helps professionals achieve more. We are investing in new tools that empower brand professionals to assess the potential risks to their brand and meet today's challenges with greater agility, efficiency and confidence."

To learn more about the Clarivate Brand Landscape Analyze and the Clarivate Trademark Watch Analyzer, visit here.

About Clarivate

Clarivate is a leading global information services provider. We connect people and organizations to intelligence they can trust to transform their perspective, their work and our world. Our subscription and technology-based solutions are coupled with deep domain expertise and cover the areas of Academia & Government, Life Sciences & Healthcare and Intellectual Property. For more information, please visit clarivate.com.

Media contact:

Sofia Nogues

Senior External Communications Manager

[email protected]

SOURCE Clarivate Plc
TEL AVIV, Israel , May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Shield, solving communications compliance for financial institutions, announced today that it has achieved accelerated growth in North America, capitalizing on the growing demand for employee communication data management, supervision and AI power surveillance, and the urgent need to update legacy technology in this domain. Since establishing its New York office in February 2022, the company has tripled its customer base while doubling its annual recurring revenue and increasing its employees by 400%.

Experiencing high growth across top tier US markets, the company announced the appointment of Brian Panicko to the position of General Manager of North America. In his new role, Brian will be responsible for driving the company's sales and go-to-market efforts in the region, overseeing the North American team, and managing the region's overall growth strategy.

Shield's end-to-end solution offers a centralized platform purpose-built for regulated industries, including financial services, to evaluate risk across every communication channel, like email, chat, social, text, and voice. With recent fines from the Securities and Exchange Commission surrounding personal messaging totaling more than $2 billion, regulations have spread to include major hedge funds and communication channels. Monitoring over 75 different communication platforms, Shield uses behavioral analysis, a multi-layered AI approach to detect context, semantics, sentiment, intent and relevancy to effectively cut through the noise and uncover hidden risk.

With his extensive industry experience and exceptional leadership skills, Panicko is well-positioned to continue Shield's expansion efforts and capitalize on the thriving market opportunities within end-to-end financial communication compliance.

"Given Shield's recent high growth, we are very excited to promote Brian to GM for North America," said Shield Co-founder and Chief Business Officer Eran Noam. "Brian has demonstrated remarkable leadership qualities and a deep understanding of the challenges and dynamics within our industry. We have full confidence in his ability to continue building our business in North America, and achieve outstanding results."

Panicko has a proven track record of success in the industry, previously serving as Shield's VP of Global Corporate Business Development and Strategic Initiatives. His vision and expertise have been instrumental in Shield's growth. Panicko's profound understanding of the communication compliance landscape, and his ability to navigate complex market dynamics will be vital in further establishing Shield as the industry leader.

"I am looking forward to this new role at the company, building on our remarkable growth in North America thus far," said Panicko. "Shield is leading the way in delivering innovative communication compliance solutions, and I am eager to lead our exceptional team as we continue to address the evolving needs of our clients. I am committed to driving our success in the region to ensure that Shield remains at the forefront of the industry."

Shield will participate in XLoD Global on Tuesday, May 16 in New York City to showcase its risk intelligence platform that leverages multi-layered AI technology to provide compliance teams with the insights they need to read between the lines. After the event, Shield will host Compliance After Dark, a networking reception for industry leaders to connect and learn about the latest advancements in communication compliance technology.

About Shield

Shield enables compliance teams in financial services and other highly regulated industries to read between the lines to see what their employee communications are really saying. Many of these organizations struggle with compliance because they are unable to gain visibility into the mass of scattered data across all of their communication channels to mitigate against market abuse, internal bad actors and increasing regulatory risk. By applying advanced AI, NLP, and visualization capabilities, Shield is enabling enterprises and financial institutions to more effectively manage and mitigate communications compliance risks. Shield has helped customers from UBS to FIS to reduce false positive alerts by 97%, conduct faster investigations, and reduce compliance costs. Learn more at shieldfc.com .

Media Contact

Josh Turner

Si14 Global Communications

[email protected]com

+1-917-231-0550

SOURCE Shield
BOSTON, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Connectbase , The Industry Cloud for Connectivity, announces the addition of Edison Smith to its sales leadership team as the Vice President of Sales for EMEA. Specializing in high-growth disruptive tech companies, Smith brings 20 years of global commercial leadership experience to the role and will focus on driving growth across the EMEA region.

Edison Smith, Connectbase's Vice President of Sales for EMEA

"Connectbase is thrilled to have Edison join our team and contribute to our global expansion serving Europe, the Middle East and Africa," said Ben Edmond , Founder and CEO of Connectbase. "His experience working with growing brands in the industry supports our mission and makes Edison a great asset to our customers and partners across the globe."

Prior to joining Connectbase, Smith was Vice President of Business Development at Telnyx, where he led the company's international market entrance and built its European sales organization. Additionally, he held sales leadership roles at PacketFabric, Cloudscene and notably, Megaport, where he was one of the first employees and played a critical role in building the original customer ecosystem across the APAC and EMEA regions.

"Connectbase has built an enviable reputation as the leading global connectivity marketplace and location and network intelligence provider in the U.S.," said Smith. "I was drawn to the way that they demonstrate a deep understanding of our industry's problems and apply practical solutions to fix them. I'm excited to bring this technology to the global market and play a part in revolutionizing the way that companies buy and sell connectivity."

Based in Amsterdam, Smith will report to Jezzibell Gilmore , CCO of Connectbase. The addition of Smith to the Connectbase team comes as part of a period of significant international growth following the recent acquisition of London-based access quoting solution provider LastMileXchange (LMX).

About Connectbase

Connectbase is The Industry Cloud for Connectivity. Connectbase is a partner to the industry, enabling next generation buying and selling of connectivity, including automated quoting, and providing deep, trusted insights. Connectbase's industry-leading platform, The Connected World, serves almost 300 providers globally, managing 2.4 billion locations across more than 150 countries. The Connectbase team has built a connected ecosystem transforming network buying and selling processes. Visit Connectbase at www.connectbase.com and follow us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/connectbase-us/ .

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2077955/Connectbase___Edison_Smith.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1738716/Connectbase_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Connectbase
CALGARY, AB, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Crescent Point Energy Corp. ("Crescent Point" or the "Company") (TSX andNYSE: CPG) advises that it has shut-in its Kaybob Duvernay production due to the ongoing Alberta wildfires. A portion of this production was recently reactivated in the prior week, however Crescent Point is temporarily shutting back-in the remainder of its 45,000 boe/d of production in the area as a precautionary measure due to changing wildfire conditions. No damage has been reported to the Company's assets.

Crescent Point continues to work with local officials, regulators, and industry partners to ensure everyone's safety in the area and plans to restart production once permitted to do so. The Company will provide another update to this evolving situation when appropriate.

Crescent Point continues to thank its staff, industry partners, emergency responders and firefighters for their hard work and dedication to protecting our communities.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CRESCENT POINT ENERGY, PLEASE CONTACT:

Shant Madian, Vice President, Capital Markets, or

Sarfraz Somani, Manager, Investor Relations

Telephone: (403) 693-0020 Toll-free (US and Canada): 888-693-0020 Fax: (403) 693-0070

Address: Crescent Point Energy Corp. Suite 2000, 585 - 8th Avenue S.W. Calgary AB T2P 1G1

www.crescentpointenergy.com

Crescent Point shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CPG.

SOURCE Crescent Point Energy Corp.
World's sunniest hotel brand debuts limited-time amenity in time for the busy summer travel season, offers hotel guests compliments at the push of a button

PARSIPPANY, N.J., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A great compliment is like a ray of sunshineit brightens your day. That's why, Days Inn by Wyndham, the iconic hotel brand known for making days brighter, is launching its newest limited-edition "complimentary" amenity: an in-room mirror that gives compliments at the push of a button. Voiced by beloved television personality, host, and producer, Ross Mathews, it might just be the world's most flattering mirror.

Days Inn by Wyndham, the iconic hotel brand known for making days brighter, has released a new, limited-edition complimentary amenity: an in-room that offers compliments at the push of a button Best known for his wit and charm as co-host of The Drew Barrymore Show, as well as judge and producer of RuPauls Drag Race, TV personality Ross Mathews serves as the signature voice of the compliments, sure to make any guest smile. The new Days Inn Complimentary Mirror is available at the following select cities and locations across the U.S., starting May 22, 2023.

Adored for his signature style and best known for his wit and charm as co-host of The Drew Barrymore Show, as well as judge and producer of RuPaul's Drag Race, Mathews teamed up with Days Inn to deliver undeniably funny, morale-boosting messages sure to make anyone smile. From praising guests for just how much they light up the room to admiring their signature style, each pre-recorded message is designed to ready guests to head out and Seize the Days.

"Making people smile is engrained in my DNA, which is why this project is such a perfect fit," said Mathews. "Everyone deserves to feel their best, no matter who they are or where they're going, and I can't think of a better solution than having your own hotel room equipped with a personal cheerleader. It's the perfect morning pick-me-up as travelers head out to seize the day."

The mirror, available at select Days Inn hotels across the U.S. and Canada, is the second iteration of the sunny hotel brand's line of "complimentary" amenities. Last summer, Days Inn introduced what it coined "the world's nicest pillow"  a pillow that dished out cheeky compliments, helping guests start their day with a smile.

"At Days Inn, we are in the business of making days brighter and we know this mirror will bring guests an extra dose of sunshine," said John Henderson, president and brand leader, Days Inn by Wyndham. "Whether it's getting guests excited before a beach day or fun at the theme park, our complimentary mirror complements the friendly service and amenities guests already count on  like a great night's sleep, complimentary light breakfast, free Wi-Fi, fitness center or swimming pool."

The Days Inn Complimentary Mirror is available at the following select cities and locations across the U.S. and Canada starting May 22, 2023, and will remain available through June 30, 2023.

Albuquerque, NM  Days Inn by Wyndham Albuquerque North

 Days Inn by Wyndham Albuquerque North Brunswick, ME  Days Inn Brunswick Bath Area

 Days Inn Brunswick Bath Area Calgary, AB  Days Inn by Wyndham Calgary North Balzac

 Days Inn by Wyndham Calgary North Balzac Chattanooga, TN  Hotel Bo, a Days Inn by Wyndham

 Hotel Bo, a Days Inn by Wyndham Houston, TX  Days Inn by Wyndham University of Houston

 Days Inn by Wyndham Little Rock, AR  Days Inn by Wyndham Lonoke

 Days Inn by Wyndham Lonoke Minneapolis, MN  Days Inn by Wyndham University Ave SE

 Days Inn by Wyndham University Ave SE Madison, WI  Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Madison

 Days Inn & Suites by Niagara Falls, ON  Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Niagara Falls Centre Street by The Falls

 Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Niagara Falls Centre Street by Ocean City, MD  Days Inn by Wyndham Ocean City Ocean

 Days Inn by Wyndham Ocean City Ocean Paris, TX  Days Inn by Wyndham Paris

 Days Inn by Pensacola, FL  Days Inn by Wyndham Pensacola - Historic Downtown

 Days Inn by Wyndham Pensacola - Historic Downtown Panama City, FL  Days Inn by Wyndham Panama City Beach/Ocean Front

 Days Inn by Wyndham Panama City Beach/Ocean Front San Diego, CA  Days Inn by Wyndham San Diego Hotel Circle

 Days Inn by Wyndham San Diego Hotel Circle Saskatoon, SK  Days Inn by Wyndham Saskatoon

Up to five complimentary mirrors will be available at each participating hotel. Mirrors are available at no extra cost and will be available in select rooms upon request. For more information and to book a stay, visit www.daysinn.com/mirror.

About Days Inn by Wyndham

With over 1,500 locations in over 20 countries, Days Inn by Wyndham is one of the largest, most well-recognized hotel brands in the world. Welcoming guests with a warm smile and an inviting room, most locations offer fast, free Wi-Fi; complimentary light breakfast; swimming pool or fitness center; and more. Whether it's small town or downtown, a trip with family or a getaway with friends, count on Days Inn by Wyndham for a great stay paired with a little extra sunshine along the way. Seize The Days and book your next stay at www.daysinn.com. You can also like and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. For development opportunities, visit www.wyndhamdevelopment.com .

About Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH) is the world's largest hotel franchising company by the number of properties, with approximately 9,100 hotels across over 95 countries on six continents. Through its network of approximately 843,000 rooms appealing to the everyday traveler, Wyndham commands a leading presence in the economy and midscale segments of the lodging industry. The Company operates a portfolio of 24 hotel brands, including Super 8, Days Inn, Ramada, Microtel, La Quinta, Baymont, Wingate, AmericInn, Hawthorn Suites, Trademark Collection and Wyndham. The Company's award-winning Wyndham Rewards loyalty program offers more than 100 million enrolled members the opportunity to redeem points at thousands of hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally. For more information, visit www.wyndhamhotels.com.



SOURCE Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
DDI adds hospital rankings to Provider Ranking System (PRS), integrated with its existing rankings of doctors.

NEW YORK, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Denniston Data Inc. (DDI), "The Healthcare Transparency Company," has expanded its Provider Ranking System (PRS) to include hospitals, showing where each hospital ranks for every service they provide, both nationally and locally. PRS has detailed ranking data on over one million providers per year for nine years, along with their hospital affiliations. Now, PRS shows all affiliated doctors within each hospital by specialty, listing their individual grades, overall grades by specialty, as well as average grade for all doctors affiliated with the hospital.

Patricia Whelan, COO/CFO Denniston Data Inc.

According to Patricia Whelan, COO of DDI, "A complete understanding of the quality of a hospital requires objective, transparent information on the experience of each physician. DDI's expanded PRS allows users to drill down into hospital experience data based on specialty and even see how that hospital ranks at the level of its individual providers."

By adding hospitals to PRS, DDI provides an essential tool for:

Health Plans and Self-Insured Employers to use to select the best providers.

Hospital Management to target medical specialty areas in need of improvement.

Physician Recruiters to ensure their hospitals have the best doctors.

Provider Ranking System (PRS) was created to help lower healthcare costs through improved outcomes by ranking providers for each of their services, thereby making it easy to identify and evaluate high-performing physicians. High-quality medical evidence shows that a physician's experience, measured by the number of times that physician has performed each service, is the most significant predictor of outcome, whether it be the benefits of a successful result or the risks of an adverse effect.

Other attempts to measure quality have looked at adverse events such as mortality rates and hospital readmissions. These outcomes should almost never occur, so they tell you nothing about over 90% of doctors. Furthermore, when using adverse events to measure quality, it is important to adjust for patient risk, so doctors do not avoid more risky patients, the ones in most need of treatment and healthcare equity, but there is no perfect solution for risk adjustment that considers social determinants of health. PRS uses a predictor of quality that is available for every medical provider: level of experience. This is backed by the medical evidence as the best proxy measure to predict a good health outcome. The data shows higher performing providers do not cost more, and when considering better outcomes, they cost less. Users of PRS can identify high-performing medical providers to lower healthcare costs through improved health outcomes. For every reimbursable service they perform, over one million providers are ranked nationally, regionally, and locally. They are also ranked within their medical specialty according to a Composite Ranking Score that is also translated into a letter grade.

About Denniston Data Inc.

The mission of Denniston Data Inc. (DDI) is to bring transparency to provider quality and costs, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of patient care in the U.S. Healthcare system. Provider Ranking System (PRS) and DDI's newly released Healthcare Pricing Guide (HPG) serve the needs of healthcare payers and providers. HPG reveals benchmarked negotiated prices for every reimbursement code from the Transparency in Coverage (TiC) files. The principals of Denniston Data have together founded and built multiple enterprises in the healthcare field based on medical database and claims-analytics. DDI has offices in New York and Texas. For more information, please visit https://www.dennistondata.com

Patricia Whelan

Denniston Data Inc.

760-846-4930

SOURCE Denniston Data Inc.
NEW YORK, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, social media drives makeup trends and defines beauty in any given moment. From rebellious twists on the classic smokey eye to the latest underpainting techniques, these viral looks inspire followers to try their hand and wear them their own way.

LILA MOSS GETS STYLED IN THE YSL COUTURE SUMMER GLOW

To celebrate the ever-evolving nature of beauty and the endless creative possibilities makeup brings, this month YSL Beaute launched Drop The Look. The exclusive video series follows Global Beauty Director Tom Pecheux as he reimagines social media's most influential trends through a couture lens that can only be YSL Beaute.

Following the viral success of the first episode featuring Yasmin Finney, YSL Beaute gets ready to Drop The Look again with a fresh take on a Couture Summer Glow in a new video starring model Lila Moss.

In celebrating individuality and empowering viewers with inspirational makeup looks they can make their own, Drop The Look takes us behind the scenes with one of the world's most revered makeup artists as he shares an intimate conversation with an influencer. Get ready to press play. It's time to Drop The Look.

TOM PECHEUX DROPS THE LOOK

YSL'S GLOBAL BEAUTY DIRECTOR TURNS SOCIAL MEDIA TRENDS INTO YSL SIGNATURES

One night in Paris in the 1980s, Tom Pecheux found himself in a nightclub talking to a girl training to be a makeup artist. The rest, as they say, is history

Since his first big break working for makeup artist Linda Cantello and celebrated photographer Peter Lindbergh, Tom has spent three decades building a career as one of the top makeup artists in the world. Having become part of an avant-garde group of fashion and beauty pioneers, including Mario Testino, hair stylists Orlando Pita and Marc Lopez, and model Stella Tennant, Tom's work went on to appear in advertising campaigns for Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci, Chanel, and Dolce & Gabbana, as well as in magazines such as Vogue, W, V, Interview and Harper's Bazaar. Along with photographers like Paolo Roversi, Patrick Demarchelier, Craig McDean, Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin, Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, he is regarded today as a trailblazer for modern beauty.

As a rule-breaker and visionary, he shares a daring spirit with YSL Beaute  along with a deep respect for people and a desire to empower them with the confidence they need to express themselves freely  as nobody but themselves.

'The most beautiful makeup is there to give you an upgrade, not change who you are.'  Tom Pecheux.

THE SECOND IN A SERIES OF INSPIRATIONAL LOOKS

LILA MOSS GETS STYLED IN THE YSL COUTURE SUMMER GLOW

Inspired by this season's naturally glowing social media trend, Tom Pecheux reinterprets the look on Lila Moss in a way that's unmistakably YSL Beaute. Using the Beauty brand icons, Tom shows us how to create luminous skin with a hint of bronze, naturallydefined eyes and a peachy pop of color on the lips and cheeks.

The Couture Summer Glow was created using NU Bare Look Tint for a soft glow and 24hour hydration. Tom also added Touche Eclat illuminating pen, then NU Halo Tint Highlighter in NU Gold beneath Lila's eyes and on the Cupid's bow. For a bronzed, contoured effect, he applied NU Halo Tint Highlighter in NU Bronze, then NU Lip & Cheek Balmy Tint in Pinch to the apples of the cheeks, blending all the products together seamlessly for a peachy natural glow. He followed with Lash Clash mascara in No. 1 Black on the top lashes, smudging a little onto the upper eyelid before applying Lash Clash mascara in No. 2 Brown to the lower lashes. To finish the look, Tom applied Rouge Volupte Shine Candy Glaze in No. 15 for a glossy summer lip finish.

"We're taking a look or an idea that already exists and giving it a couture YSL twist. These videos are an exciting way to discover new looks, learn new techniques and push the boundaries of who you are."  Tom Pecheux.

MEET LILA MOSS

A RISING GLOBAL STAR

With more than 493K followers on Instagram, 20 yearold model Lila Moss, daughter of Kate Moss, is an undoubted rising star with global influence. Her naturally radiant beauty shines through, inspiring a new generation to embrace their individual beauty. As a multi-faceted creative, Moss is redefining conventional attitudes and brings a modern perspective to how we talk about beauty.

Having shot her first Vogue cover at the age of 19, Lila has also appeared in AnOther magazine and Dazed & Confused. She has also worked with globally renowned photographers such as David Sims, Steven Meisel and Tim Walker. All the while experiencing immense success at a young age, Moss is determined to encourage beauty lovers everywhere to allow their inner beauty to shine.

"Staying authentic to yourself and using makeup for self expression are two really important things to me so I was really happy to be a part of the YSL Beauty Drop The Look series; encouraging others to be their authentic selves. Working with Tom Pecheux was amazing and I can't wait to see all the new looks people try out."  Lila Moss.

Drop The Look episode 2, starring Tom Pecheux and Lila Moss, will be revealed on 15th of May. Further looks featuring a new ambassador will be dropped throughout the year to inspire everyone to push the boundaries of makeup creativity and express who they are.

SOURCE Yves Saint Laurent Beaute
YPSILANTI, Mich., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Eastern Michigan University Construction Management Alumni Chapter has established an endowed scholarship to honor the late Aishwarya Thatikonda, the EMU graduate killed in the Texas mall shooting. Details are included in the message from the Construction Management Alumni Chapter below:

The scholarship will be available to International students looking to complete their undergraduate or master's degree in Construction Management at EMU. The scholarship is not intended to be need-based or dependent on academic standing but rather to honor an EMU alumna who was taken from us too soon.

Many of you may not have known Aishwarya (Aish) personally. She received her Master's Degree in Construction Management from EMU in December 2020. Tragically taken from this world in the Allen, Texas mass shooting May 6, 2023, Aish was just getting ready to celebrate her 27th birthday.

If you would like to donate to Aish's scholarship, the link to the site is https://www.emich.edu/foundation/give/?fund=02805.

We are pleased to announce that an anonymous donor will match all donations 100% up to $25,000.00. This means whatever gift you may choose to make will be doubled with this matching fund.

If you would prefer to mail a check in lieu of electronic giving, your check may be sent to:

Eastern Michigan University Foundation

P.O. Box 972057

Ypsilanti, MI 48197

Please include a notation on your check that it is for the "Aishwarya Reddy Thatikonda Construction Management Scholarship" fund.

Through this scholarship, we hope to honor Aish's memory and show the support and solidarity of the entire EMU community.

SOURCE Eastern Michigan University
SANTA CLARA, Calif., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Eightfold AI today announced that it received a 2023 SAP Pinnacle Award in the SAP Store category, which recognizes its outstanding contributions as an SAP partner. SAP presents these awards annually to the top partners that have excelled in developing and growing their partnership with SAP and helping customers run better. Winners and finalists in 22 categories were chosen based on recommendations from SAP, customer feedback, and performance indicators.

"SAP's ecosystem plays a key role in our vision to enable every organization and every industry to become a network of intelligent, sustainable enterprises. The SAP Pinnacle Awards recognize and celebrate the winning partners' outstanding commitment to customer value creation, exponential growth, and simplification," said Christian Klein, CEO and Member of the Executive Board of SAP SE.

"We are on a mission to create a future-ready workforce, using our technology to help companies continue to grow and achieve their goal through any market disruption," said Ashutosh Garg, CEO and co-founder at Eightfold AI. "It is an honor to work hand-in-hand with the SAP team, this award further cements our shared vision."

Eightfold and SAP SuccessFactors have been strategic partners since 2018, and in 2020, Eightfold reached Premium Certified Endorsed App status. Together they have supported over 40 customers in accelerating their talent strategies and driving organizational agility. This aligned vision to support customers in building best in class talent functions will continue to drive the partnership.

SAP Pinnacle Awards shine a spotlight on distinguished partners to acknowledge their dedication to teamwork, exceptional innovation, and capacity to help customers achieve their goals.

About Eightfold AI

Eightfold AI's market-leading Talent Intelligence Platform helps organizations retain top performers, upskill and reskill their workforce, recruit talent efficiently, and reach diversity goals. Eightfold's patented deep learning artificial intelligence platform is available in more than 155 countries and 24 languages, enabling cutting-edge enterprises to transform their talent into a competitive advantage. For more information, visit www.eightfold.ai .

SAP and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP SE in Germany and other countries. Please see https://www.sap.com/copyright for additional trademark information and notices. All other product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies.

SOURCE Eightfold AI
Encora Holdings Limited, an Encora Group company, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Softelligence SRL, a Romanian software engineering services company

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Encora, a global next-gen digital engineering provider, today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Softelligence, a Romanian software engineering services provider, to establish Encora's first delivery centers in Europe. Encora's growing global presence enables the company to deliver nearshore services to clients in the Americas, Asia Pacific, Australia and now Europe as well.

"Softelligence is expected to greatly expand our global reach and strengthen our ability to provide high-quality, nearshore services for customers across the world," said Anand Birje, CEO, Encora. "We are delighted to welcome Adrian Blidarus and his team, as they will provide critical expertise to enhance our capabilities and further our mission of being the leading global engineering solutions provider."

Softelligence offers a comprehensive array of software engineering services and digital solutions for banking, insurance and other industries. Through its offices and delivery sites in Bucharest and Craiova (Romania) and in Skopje (Macedonia), Softelligence enables organizations in the Insurance and Banking industries to accelerate data-driven growth with next generation InsurTech, automation, AI, machine learning and software engineering.

"We're very pleased to become part of the Encora family and we feel that this partnership will greatly strengthen our ability to serve customers in the U.K, continental Europe and beyond," said Adrian Blidarus, founder and CEO, Softelligence. "Softelligence and Encora fit very well together culturally, and we feel that our capabilities will provide critical value to current and future customers."

"Today's announcement signals Encora's formal entry into the European market. We are thrilled to partner with the Softelligence team to bring world-class software engineering services to clients across every economic center in the world," said Venu Raghavan, Founder and Executive Chairman, Encora.

Encora has grown to more than 9,000 associates across the U.S., Europe, Latin America, India and Asia Pacific. Softelligence will support Encora's strategic expansion into Europe and bolster its capabilities to serve clients in new markets.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Under the agreement, Softelligence will continue to operate with its existing leadership and staff as a wholly owned subsidiary of Encora. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approval and is expected to close in mid-2023. Upon the closing, Softelligence will begin implementing rebranding to operate under the Encora brand.

To learn more about Encora and its digital engineering services, please visit www.encora.com.

About Encora

Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona and backed by renowned private equity firms Advent International and Warburg Pincus, Encora is the preferred innovation partner to some of the world's leading technology companies. It provides award-winning digital engineering services including data science & engineering, generative AI, software product engineering, cloud services, devops, digital experience, quality engineering and cybersecurity. Encora has deep cluster vertical capabilities in HealthTech, FinTech, HiTech, IAM & Cybersecurity, Digital Commerce, Travel & Hospitality, Supply Chain & Logistics, Telecom and other specialized industries. With over 9,000 associates in 50+ offices and innovation labs across the U.S., U.K., Canada, Latin America, India, and Asia Pacific, Encora's global talent pool, industry vertical expertise and proprietary agile engineering capabilities enable clients to deliver superior business outcomes through accelerated innovation cycles. For more information, please visit www.encora.com.

About Softelligence

Softelligence enables organizations in Financial Services to accelerate growth with next generation InsurTech through Automation, AI and Machine Learning. It has extensive industry knowledge and a broad expertise in digital projects covering paperless quote-and-bind flows, automation of the claims process through AI, fraud detection using Machine Learning algorithms across personal and commercial lines, corporate and specialty as well as digital lending, Know Your Customer (KYC) and other digital banking flows. From data to insights with compelling dashboards, from manual processes and forms to pure digital customer journeys, Softelligence is the partner of choice for many top-tier insurance companies and banks in Europe.

SOURCE Encora
European Union states on Tuesday gave the final nod to the world's first comprehensive set of rules to regulate cryptoassets on Tuesday, piling pressure on countries such as Britain and the United States to play catch up, Trend reports citing Reuters.

An EU finance minister meeting in Brussels approved rules that were thrashed out with the European Parliament, which gave its approval in April.

The rules are expected to be rolled out from 2024.

Regulating crypto has become more urgent for regulators after the collapse of crypto exchange FTX.

"Recent events have confirmed the urgent need for imposing rules which will better protect Europeans who have invested in these assets, and prevent the misuse of crypto industry for the purposes of money laundering and financing of terrorism," said Elisabeth Svantesson, finance minister for Sweden, which holds the EU presidency.

The rules require firms that want to issue, trade and safeguard cryptoassets, tokenised assets and stablecoins in the 27 country bloc to obtain a licence.

Ministers took steps to combat tax evasion and the use of cryptoasset transfers for money laundering by making transactions easier to trace.

They agreed on a requirement that from January 2026 service providers obtain the name of senders and beneficiaries in cryptoassets, regardless of the amount being transferred.
NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Endeavor Business Media unveils Marketing Solutions Website that will serve as an educational hub and inspirational resource for business marketers who need solutions and guidance for engaging professionals from key market sectors and accelerating growth in the digital landscape. [Marketing Solutions Website]

With the ever-evolving nature of the B2B marketing industry, the need for creative, data-driven strategies has become more vital than ever. Endeavor has responded to this demand by investing in 1st party data, technology and building our SME network in niche and technical industries. Marketing professionals and their respective organizations will benefit from this new website that offers valuable insights, expert perspectives, and illustrations of successful marketing strategies that emphasize content development, amplification, lead generation, video and podcasting, data-driven marketing journeys, as well as research encompassing comprehensive analysis and insights throughout the entire marketing process, from planning to execution.

"We are thrilled to unveil our new website, marketingsolutions.endeavorb2b.com, as a resource for marketers driving business growth through innovative marketing strategies. We aim to empower businesses by providing them with the tools, resources, and expertise they need to excel in today's digital and data landscape," said Jacquie Niemiec, Chief Digital Officer.

Launching the Marketing Solutions Website marks a significant milestone for Endeavor B2B as the company continues redefining the possibilities of B2B marketing. By leveraging the power of cutting-edge technology, data-driven insights, and unparalleled expertise, Endeavor B2B is poised to revolutionize the way businesses approach marketing in the digital age.

Are you a marketing professional seeking to stay ahead in today's fast-paced and ever-evolving business landscape? Look no further than "Marketing Minds," the ultimate marketing newsletter designed to fuel your success! This resource delivers a curated selection of industry trends, strategies, and insider tips directly to your inbox monthly. Crafted by a team of seasoned marketing experts and powered by the latest advancements in AI technology, this newsletter is your go-to source for staying informed and inspired. Subscribe Now!

Endeavor Marketing Solutions harnesses the power of Endeavor's full capabilities, including Endeavor Business Intelligence, Endeavor's Data-Driven Business, and the over 90 media brands and 40 conferences that power a database of 12.4 million contacts in key sectors, including Aviation, Buildings & Construction, City Services, Commercial Vehicles, Dental, Design & Engineering, Digital Infrastructure, Energy, Healthcare, Infrastructure, Lighting, Manufacturing, Processing, Security, Vending, Vehicle Repair, and Water.

Learn more about Endeavor Business Media Marketing Solutions

Subscribe to Marketing Minds Newsletter

For more information, contact:

Jacquie Niemiec, Chief Digital Officer

[email protected]

About Endeavor Business Media

Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, Endeavor Business Media was formed in 2017 to acquire and operate business media brands, events, and marketing solutions. Today the company is one of the largest B2B Media companies in the US, with over 700 employees, 10,000 customers, and a database of over 12 million business professionals. The company serves business professionals and marketers in key business sectors such as aviation, buildings, electronics, energy, healthcare, infrastructure, manufacturing, networking systems, public safety, transportation, and water. The company has offices in Nashville, TN; Tulsa, OK; Nashua, NH; Birmingham, AL; Sarasota, FL; Skokie, IL; Fort Atkinson, WI; Houston, TX; Independence, OH; Fort Collins, CO, and Overland Park, KS. To learn more, visit www.endeavorbusinessmedia.com.

SOURCE Endeavor Business Media
Boasting over 80 stores in Colombia, and Honduras, the acclaimed brand has officially opened its US doors.

MIAMI, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Epeka, an internationally recognized brand has decided to open its first US store location in what many will consider the very best place to do so- Miami. Establishing a flagship US store is only the beginning of what the brand announced, with plans to open numerous stores by 2025. In time for Formula 1 in Miami, Epeka hosted a by invitation reception complete with ribbon cutting, which was attended by VIPS, influencers and celebrities including TV personality, author and Chef Ana Quincoces, Star of NBC's Young Rock Arlyn Broche, Actress and TV personality Adriana Catano, among other notables.

Grand Opening Epeka USA. Miami location

Epeka is a brand that offers total looks for babies, toddlers, and kids. The Epeka style is defined by an elegant and sophisticated, European silhouette, with a chic and accessible spirit. There is special care in the choice of materials used and significant work on cuts and details. Known to be popular with those who pay attention to quality and trend, the brand is synonymous with children in South America and intends to become the same in the United States.

Creative Director for Epeka Diana Janna stated: "With our visible presence in South America, we felt it was time to make this move. We love South Florida and its diversity. There was no better place to launch our multi-store expansion in the US. We know the potential in this market and fittingly chose Doral, in Miami, as our launchpad. We couldn't be more excited to welcome everyone to our first US store."

The decision to establish a presence in the US for Epeka was a natural one for CEO Samuel Tcherassi, known as a world-class business leader, entrepreneur, and visionary. His leadership, and ability to "think big" and long-term have resulted in [him] being recognized as a powerful, influential, and admired figure throughout the business world. Tcherassi is no new name in the fashion world in the US. Samuel's sister, and acclaimed designer, Silvia is considered one of the leading figures in fashion.

ABOUT EPEKA (USA)

EPEKA is a children's clothing brand that accompanies the family in the task of dressing children from newborn to 14 years old. Its garments and accessories adapt to different occasions and designs offer elegant, creative, and accessible fashion with a European twist. With EPEKA, girls will always look well-dressed. Children will feel comfortable in each of their activities and babies will be able to freely explore the world they are just beginning to discover. #EPEKAUSA

Epeka USA is located at Miami International Mall at 1455 NW 107th Ave, Doral, FL 33172.

For more information: www.epekausa.com

On social media: @epeka_usa

Contact:

Liza Santana

3059682384

[email protected]

SOURCE Epeka
NEW YORK, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of Eqonex Limited f/k/a Diginex Limited (OTC: EQOSQ) securities between March 7, 2022 and November 29, 2022, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period") and/or unregistered securities between April 8, 2021 and April 20, 2023 (the "Unregistered Securities Class Period") (collectively, the "Classes"), of the important June 20, 2023 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased EQONEX securities during the Class Period and/or unregistered securities (including EQO Tokens) between April 8, 2021 and April 20, 2023 you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the EQONEX class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=15304 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than June 20, 2023. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) defendants were not interested in leveraging the EQONEX Exchange or deploying resources to strengthen that technology; (2) EQONEX had no way of paying Bifinity, a payments technology company affiliated with Binance, back pursuant to the loan agreement; (3) defendants had no intention of consummating a merger between EQONEX and Bifinity or Binance; and (4) as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects, were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the EQONEX class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=15304 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.

Phillip Kim, Esq.

The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

www.rosenlegal.com

SOURCE Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
According to Confie, move will "greatly expand" the company's Franchising Division and footprint in Florida

MIAMI, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Estrella Insurance , a leading property and casualty insurance agency and national franchisor, has been acquired by Confie , the largest personal lines insurance distribution company in the U.S. Confie leadership says the move will "greatly expand" the company's presence in Florida, and will fall under Confie's Freeway Insurance division.

Estrella's more than 190 offices and employees across the U.S. will continue to operate under its current brand, and Confie will retain all current employees with the acquisition.

According to Confie CEO Cesar Soriano, "Estrella has built a strong franchising model well-known among Hispanic consumers and business owners alike. Franchising allows us to broaden our customer reach, and accelerate our growth into new markets. Americans are entrepreneurial by nature and we proudly will offer them the choice between three trustworthy brands."

"Our franchise partners are family, and their success is our success. It was important to find the right partner that would support both our brand, customers, and growth plan," said Nicolas Estrella Jr., Estrella's CEO. "Confie is a highly respected organization with years of industry knowledge and forward momentum. It was a perfect fit for Estrella."

Estrella Insurance operates in Florida, California, Arizona, Texas, and Colorado. For over 40 years, the agency has provided affordable insurance solutions and exceptional service to their customers. Their product portfolio includes auto, home, commercial, business, life, and health.

Confie, which has more than 750+ retail locations in 23 states, introduced franchising opportunities to entrepreneurs in 2022. Their leadership adds the Estrella acquisition is part of Confie's larger growth and development expansion plans.

"Estrella has aggressive growth plans that will only be strengthened through our affiliation with Confie," says Nicolas Estrella, Jr., CEO of Estrella. "We are thrilled to be part of the Confie organization and see great potential ahead."

About Estrella Insurance

Miami-based Estrella Insurance is a property and casualty insurance franchisor and a trusted leader among consumers and insurance companies by providing simple, cost-effective insurance solutions across its auto, home, commercial, business, life, and health insurance portfolios. With more than 190 offices across the U.S., it is consistently ranked as a top franchise opportunity with a proven business model that allows owners to focus directly on customer support and community engagement. For more information on franchise ownership, visit www.estrellafranchise.com .

About Confie

Established in 2008, Confie is the nation's leading personal lines insurance distribution company. Today, Confie meets customers wherever they are  with more than 750+ retail locations in 23 states, the Bluefire general agency, and a telephone and online shared service center servicing all 50 states. With flexible insurance options, outstanding value, and convenient service, Confie's aspiration is to be the most trusted source of insurance solutions so our customers can have peace of mind. Confie is a portfolio company of Alliant. For more information about Confie, visit www.confie.com.

SOURCE Estrella Insurance
By Eric Jia-Sobota, Principal and Stephen Richardson, Managing Consultant

CHARLESTON, S.C., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The United States Economic Development Administration (EDA) released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (Tech Hubs). This initiative aims to foster innovation, collaboration, and economic growth by establishing regional technology hubs across the nation by providing funding and resources to create and expand technology-focused hubs. These hubs will serve as vibrant centers where entrepreneurs, startups, researchers, and industry leaders converge to collaborate, innovate, and drive economic prosperity. The program aims to address regional disparities, promote diversity, and leverage local strengths in key technology sectors.

The Tech Hubs NOFO outlines several key objectives that make this initiative exciting for communities across the country. First, it emphasizes the importance of inclusivity and equitable access to resources, ensuring that underserved populations and underrepresented groups have an equal opportunity to participate and benefit from the program. Additionally, the Tech Hubs program aims to create jobs, attract private investment, and nurture entrepreneurship within the chosen regions.

"The launch of Tech Hubs funding by the Biden-Harris administration marks a significant milestone in our country's commitment to fueling innovation and economic growth," stated EverGlade Consulting Founder, Eric Jia-Sobota.

By fostering collaboration, driving entrepreneurship, and leveraging regional strengths, these technology-focused hubs can propel local economies forward, creating a ripple effect that benefits the nation. The Tech Hubs NOFO provides a roadmap for organizations to seize this opportunity and contribute to the development of vibrant and inclusive innovation ecosystems. Interested organizations, such as regional partnerships, research institutions, economic development entities, and nonprofits, are invited to submit proposals outlining their vision, capabilities, and strategies for creating and expanding technology hubs. The deadline for Phase 1 applications is August 15, 2023.

"By investing in regional innovation ecosystems, we are not only cultivating cutting-edge technologies but also empowering communities to thrive in the digital age," stated EverGlade Managing Consultant, Stephen Richardson.

If you are interested in exploring EDA Tech Hub opportunities, EverGlade can help. EverGlade Consulting is a national consulting firm helping clients navigate the federal landscape. We work with technology-driven companies whose focus is to secure non-dilutive funding through the federal government. We offer services ranging from opportunity identification and proposal support through the implementation of systems to comply with federal regulations at agencies including Commerce.

For additional information about EverGlade Consulting, visit: https://www.EverGlade.com

SOURCE EverGlade Consulting
DENVER, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Payroll industry experts from around the world will discuss developments in payroll legislative and regulatory updates at PayrollOrg's 41st Annual Payroll Congress May 16  19 at the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center in Denver, Colorado.

"As employers continue to adapt and change, paying employees accurately and in compliance is more complicated than ever," said Dan Maddux, executive director of PayrollOrg. "Each year, Payroll Congress helps the payroll professionals responsible for accurate and compliant payrolls across the globe by providing an opportunity for borderless education, peer networking, and finding solutions at the industry's largest payroll expo."

Payroll Congress will feature more education on key industry topics such as benefits and compensation, global payroll, the latest technology, and more. Representatives from government agencies including the IRS, Social Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will present to provider insider information on the latest legislative and regulatory changes. In addition to government speakers, three Keynotes will be delivered by Hall of Fame speaker Bill Stainton, CSP, CPAE, future of work speaker Seth Mattison, and Tami Evans, CSP.

PayrollOrg's 41st Annual Payroll Congress will feature more than 90 specialized workshops, the industry's largest payroll expo, and networking opportunities for the more than 2,158 professionals in attendance. Go to www.payrollcongress.com to learn more.

PayrollOrg (PAYO) is the industry leader in payroll education, publications, and networking. Each year, PAYO enrolls more than 100,000 participants from more than 100 countries in its training programs, and provides publications, newsletters, and resources to help payroll professionals maintain compliance. Visit PAYO online at payroll.org.

SOURCE PayrollOrg
COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Express Wash Concepts, the parent company of 5 express wash tunnel brands, accepted the International Car Wash Association's "Community Impact Award" on Monday, May 8th, 2023, at the International Carwash Association's Annual Conference in Las Vegas, NV. This award recognizes the countless hours and dollars contributed to the communities served by car wash operators. Express Wash Concepts donated over $490,000 to local non-profits across the communities of all 5 brands in 2022.

John Roush accepting the Car Wash Community Impact Award, May 2023.

"We are honored to receive this award, and we are humbled by the impact that we have been able to provide to each of the communities we operate in. We are grateful to the team and customers that have made this possible, and look forward to continuing our philanthropic efforts," said John Roush, CEO of Express Wash Concepts.

Express Wash Concepts raises donation funds by celebrating the opening of each new car wash facility with a 10-day "Free Wash Week", which offers customers a free "signature" wash with a monetary donation to a non-profit partner. Along with various local sponsorships and community donations, Express Wash Concepts hosts quarterly air freshener campaigns and a Towel Exchange Program, with all net proceeds going to the EWC Cares fund.

About Express Wash Concepts:

Express Wash Concepts operates 85+ award winning, express car wash locations under the following brands: Moo Moo Express Car Wash, Flying Ace Express Car Wash, Clean Express Auto Wash, Green Clean Express Auto Wash and Bee Clean Express Car Wash. For more information, please visit www.expresswashconcepts.com.

SOURCE Express Wash Concepts
Performance Systems Integration Strengthens Presence in Northern California with Latest Addition

SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Performance Systems Integration (PSI) has acquired Integrated Fire Systems (IFS) as an add-on to its fire and life safety platform. Based in Portland, Oregon, PSI is a leading single source provider of fire and life safety services in the Pacific Northwest, Mountain West, and Northern California regions. The company provides customers with fire and life safety services including system inspection, service and monitoring, equipment and first-aid sales and cylinder repairs as well as installations for new construction and retrofits.

"After meeting with the PSI team, we immediately recognized their commitment to building on IFS's legacy," said Julie and Jim Rios, co-owners of Integrated Fire Systems. "PSI's philosophy and values were in complete alignment with our own. We knew that the opportunity for our team's growth and our customers' continued satisfaction was enhanced greatly by partnering with the PSI team."

IFS is based in Rocklin, California, and provides repeating fire and life safety system inspection, repair, maintenance, and monitoring services, and installations to commercial building owners and property managers in the Sacramento, CA region.

"We're excited to add IFS to the PSI family," said PSI CEO Travis Everton. "We look forward to providing expanded services and support to customers in the greater Sacramento, CA region and building on the strong business the team at IFS has worked hard to build over the years."

About Performance Systems Integration

PSI is committed to delivering high-quality customer service through its "single-point-of-management" compliance services for all fire and life safety installations and inspections in the Pacific Northwest and the Northern California regions. PSI also operates cylinder requalification, cylinder maintenance, and fire equipment parts distribution businesses under the Fire King brand.

With over 20 years of fire and life safety industry experience, its highly qualified technicians are carefully factory-trained and NICET-certified to deliver the highest level of services. Beyond compliance, PSI's mission is to help save lives by providing meaningful fire and life safety protection and training.

SOURCE Performance Systems Integration
ALLENTOWN, Pa., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Reaffirming their commitments to improve member financial wellbeing and investing in their communities, First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union (Allentown, PA) "First Commonwealth" and Bellco Federal Credit Union (Wyomissing, PA) "Bellco" have jointly agreed to merge, pending approval from the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), and Bellco's membership. The merger is expected to be completed in the first half of 2024.

The credit unions, when merged, will do business as First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union, with combined assets of more than $1.3 billion and over 92,000 members. By bringing the two credit unions together, their members will have access to expanded products and services, the latest digital banking technology, and best-in-class member service at 14 financial centers, our Contact Center, and our ATM/ITM network.

"As a member-owned Community financial cooperative, our members are our top priority. By joining forces with First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union, our members will have access to additional products and services, and a growing network of financial centers and ATMs/ITMs across the Lehigh Valley, Warren County, NJ, and Berks County. Bellco's community impact will be amplified through First Commonwealth's 'We Thrive Foundation', Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, and volunteerism. These benefits are a win for our members and the communities we serve," said Tom Gosling, Bellco Federal Credit Union's President/CEO.

"First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union is thrilled to welcome Bellco members and employees through this merger. With shared values rooted in the wellbeing of our members and communities, complementing retail footprints, and strong financial positions, this partnership is a natural fit for both organizations' members, employees, and communities," said Donna LoStocco, First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union's President/CEO.

For additional information about the First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union and Bellco Federal Credit Union merger visit firstcomcu.org/Bellco.

ABOUT FIRST COMMONWEALTH FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union (FCFCU) is a $1B+ member-owned, not-for-profit financial services cooperative serving nearly 78,000 members and 1,800 businesses from Berks County, PA to Warren County, NJ since 1959. A nationally recognized leader in consumer and business banking innovation and service, FCFCU is committed to 'Banking for Better' and investing heavily in the Lehigh Valley and Berks County. With a mission of "empowering the pursuit of financial happiness", FCFCU is focused on bringing affordable, easy to use financial services to everyone in our communities.

First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union's members enjoy access to 12 financial centers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, 24/7 account access, a best-in-class digital banking center, and a dedicated business solutions center.

SOURCE First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union
BANGALORE, India, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Flexible Electronics Market is Segmented by Type (Single Sided Flex Circuits, Double Sided Flex Circuits, Multi-Layer Flex Circuits, Rigid Flex Circuits), by Application (Smart Phone, Computer, Camera, Liquid Crystal Display, Electrical Instrumentation And Medical Treatment, Defense And Aerospace, Automobile): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast 20232028. It is published in Valuates Reports under the Computers & Electronics Category.



Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the global Flexible Electronics market size is estimated to be worth US$ 22340 million in 2022 and is forecast to be a readjusted size of US$ 55220 million by 2028 with a CAGR of 16.3% during the review period.

Download Free Sample: https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/QYRE-Auto-7E8039/Global_Flexible_Electronics

Major factors driving the growth of the Flexible Electronics Market

The Flexible Electronics market is expanding due to a number of factors, including the rising demand for consumer electronics products and the lower production costs compared to rigid substrates.

The global market development is being positively impacted by the increasing sales of Internet of things (IoT) devices. The Flexible Electronics market is anticipated to rise in response to the increasing demand from customers throughout the world for creative, small, and smart consumer electronics. Additionally, the market growth is being positively impacted by the quickly expanding printed electronics industry.

View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-7E8039/global-flexible-electronics

TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF FLEXIBLE ELECTRONICS MARKET

Although the field of flexible electronics is still in its infancy, the fact that it can function with less expensive substrates already sets it apart from more conventional electronics, which depend on pricey substrates like glass. People will eventually be able to print flexible electronic components on a less expensive substrate like the plastic film as technology advances. Companies will employ less expensive, flexible substrates like plastic to retain gadget functionality in place of needing to use pricey glass substrates. This factor is expected to drive the growth of the Flexible Electronics market.

One of the key advantages of flexible electronics is portability. Traditional electronics sometimes include glass-based displays constructed of parts that are more likely to break, making them difficult to move. Due to the organic thin-film transistors used in flex circuits, which enable goods to be substantially smaller and lighter, you avoid this issue. These modifications have made it such that devices using flexible electronics frequently have the strength and dimensions required for simple transportation. This factor is expected to drive the growth of the Flexible Electronics market.

With fresh applications and improved design capabilities, flexible electronics research has continued to push the limits of the technology. The development of flexible sensors and displays has been one of the flexible electronics' most significant advances. Companies that employ flex circuits particularly value the wider range of design possibilities they give consumers because of their flexibility. With this technology, you could drive a car with monitors that use flexible electronics while having a smartphone clasped around your wrist. Flex circuits' flexibility to be customized virtually ensures that businesses will continue to employ them for innovative new applications and to enhance legacy products. This factor is expected to drive the growth of the Flexible Electronics market.

Flex circuits enable businesses to provide customers with more individualized experiences. As an illustration, consider goods like smart bracelets whose screens use flexible electronics. Systems, sensors, and displays are combined in a smart band to track and transmit data to users. These gadgets frequently enable users to monitor their health and communicate with their peers. These complicated gadgets may be worn on your wrist thanks to flex circuits. Flex circuits may be customized to precisely meet the requirements of a specific application, in addition to merely giving customers personalized data. This factor is expected to drive the growth of the Flexible Electronics market.

To continually improve their goods, major industry players are making significant investments in R&D. Major corporations are encouraging and challenging one another to make use of flexible technology through these advances. It is anticipated that companies in the flexible electronics and circuit market would benefit financially from the industry's ongoing technical advancement. This factor is expected to drive the growth of the Flexible Electronics market.

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FLEXIBLE ELECTRONICS MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS

Growth in the Asia-Pacific area is anticipated. This is due to the region's abundance of leading consumer electronics manufacturers. The desire for inexpensive consumer electronics is increasing, which is driving up demand for flexible electronics. Additionally, due to the availability of inexpensive production inputs in the area, the government's increased efforts are luring FDIs and assisting numerous vertical participants to establish their manufacturing facilities in countries like India, China, and Indonesia. As a result, the market for flexible electronics in Asia and the Pacific is anticipated to expand quickly in the years to come.

Download Regional Report: https://reports.valuates.com/request/regional/QYRE-Auto-7E8039/Global_Flexible_Electronics

Key Companies:

Sumitomo Electric

Nitto

Career Technology (Mfg.) Co. Ltd

Flexcom Inc

Daeduck GDS

Fujikura Ltd

All Flex

CONTAG AG

Amphenol

Cicor Group

Minco

PCB Solutions

Elcom Design

Reid Industrial

Tesa

Multi-Fineline Electronix Inc. (MFLEX)

Interflex Co. Ltd

NewFlex Technology Co. Ltd

NOK Corp

PICA

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SIMILAR REPORTS

- Flexible Battery market was valued at US$ 427.9 million in 2022 and is anticipated to reach US$ 3871.3 million by 2029, witnessing a CAGR of 36.4% during the forecast period 2023-2029.

- Printed Electronics market was valued at USD 2386.5 Million in 2020 and it is expected to reach USD 5428.4 Million by the end of 2027, growing at a CAGR of 12.5% during 2021-2027.

- AR and VR Lens market size is estimated to be worth US$ 441.8 million in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of US$ 1006 million by 2028 with a CAGR of 14.7%

- PCB Waste Services Market

- Connector market was valued at USD 62.3 billion in 2020, and is projected to reach USD 114.7 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 6.6% from 2021 to 2030.

- Semiconductor Liquid Filters market size is estimated to be worth USD 444.89 Million in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 876.32 Million by 2029 with a CAGR of 11.8%.

- Electronic Grade Germane (GeH4) Market

- Bluetooth Low Energy IC market size is estimated to be worth USD 735 Million in 2021 and is expected to grow with a CAGR of 22.4% during the review period.

- Bipolar Plates market was valued at US$ 397 million in 2022 and is anticipated to reach US$ 880.1 million by 2029, witnessing a CAGR of 11.9% during the forecast period 2023-2029.

- Pro AV market size is estimated to grow USD 2677.7 Million by 2028 with a CAGR of 4.1% during the review period.

- Printed Circuit Board market was valued at US$ 70850 million in 2020 and it is expected to reach US$ 90930 million by the end of 2027, growing at a CAGR of 3.8% during 2021-2027.

- Consumer Electronics Market Revenue is about USD 850 Billion in 2021, projected to have a CAGR 5.1%.

- Mobile phone accessories market size was valued at USD 224.69 Billion in 2018, and is projected to reach at USD 284.06 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 3.1% from 2019 to 2026.

- The global Integrated Passive Devices market size was US$ 916 million in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of US$ 1327.9 million by 2029 with a CAGR of 5.0% during the forecast period 2023-2029.

- Mobile device management market size was valued at US$ 8.49 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach US$ 98.71 billion by 2030 growing at a CAGR of 27.8% from 2021 to 2030.

- Bluetooth Headphones market size was US$ 18760 million and it is expected to reach US$ 41110 million by the end of 2027, with a CAGR of 11.7% during 2021-2027.

- NAND Flash market size was USD 18480 Million and it is expected to reach USD 74330 Million by the end of 2027, with a CAGR of 22.0% during 2021-2027.

- Audio CODEC market size was valued at USD 11.44 Billion in 2019, and is projected to reach USD 14.12 Billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 4.1% from 2020 to 2027.

- Power electronics market size was valued at USD 23.25 Billion in 2019 and is expected to reach USD 36.64 Billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 5.7% from 2020 to 2027.

- The space electronics market was valued at USD 3.3 Billion in 2021, and is projected to reach USD 5.4 Billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 5.04% from 2022 to 2031.

- Power Semiconductor market was valued at US$ 46070 million in 2022 and is anticipated to reach US$ 66420 million by 2029, witnessing a CAGR of 5.3% during the forecast period 2023-2029.

- The Testing, Inspection, and Certification market was valued at US$ 116700 million in 2022 and is anticipated to reach US$ 142710 million by 2029, witnessing a CAGR of 3.4% during the forecast period 2023-2029.

- The global wearable technology market size was valued at US$ 54841.40 million in 2020 and is projected to reach US$ 184403.60 million by 2031 growing at a CAGR of 12.8% from 2022 to 2031.

- Protective Cases for Consumer Electronics Market

- Stretchable Electronics market was valued at US$ 1795.3 million in 2022 and is anticipated to reach US$ 6230.5 million by 2029, witnessing a CAGR of 14.3% during the forecast period 2023-2029.

- Custom Electronics Manufacturing Services Market

- Flexible Printed Electronics Market

- Certified and Seller Refurbished Electronics Market

- Digital Thread market size is projected to reach US$ 3698.7 million by 2027, from US$ 337.1 million in 2020, at a CAGR of 39.7% during 2021-2027.

- Printed Electronics Devices and Material Market

- SiC Based Power Electronics and Inverter Market

- Organic Electronics Conductive Material Market

- Electric Vehicle Power Electronics Market

- Electronic Potting Box Market

- Electronic Stamping Parts Market

- Printed Electronics Technology Market

- Motorcycle Electronics Market

- Printed Electronics Products Market

- Inks for In-Mold Electronic Market

- Graphene Electronics market was valued at US$ 340.6 million in 2022 and is anticipated to reach US$ 1318.5 million by 2029, witnessing a CAGR of 20.8% during the forecast period 2023-2029.

- Embedded Flexible Electronics Market

- Barrier Films Flexible Electronics market was valued at US$ 23050 million in 2022 and is anticipated to reach US$ 28100 million by 2029, witnessing a CAGR of 2.8% during the forecast period 2023-2029.

- Roll-to-Roll Printing for Flexible Electronics Market

- Flexible Electronics & Circuit market was valued at US$ 18870 million in 2022 and is anticipated to reach US$ 55220 million by 2029, witnessing a CAGR of 16.3% during the forecast period 2023-2029.

- Printed and Flexible Electronics Market

Click here to see related reports on Flexible Electronics Market

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A school girl was killed and six others, including five students and a teacher, injured in firing inside a school in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Tuesday, police said, Trend reports citing Xinhua.

A policeman deployed at the security of the school in Swat district opened fire at the kids when they were returning home after attending classes, Divisional Police Officer of Swat Shafi Ullah Gandapur told media.

The nine-year-old girl's body and the injured were shifted to a nearby hospital, and two of the students were in critical condition, according to local media.

The suspect was arrested and an investigation was underway, he said, adding that apparently, the policeman had some psychological problems which made him commit the crime.
The 114-year-old dairy co-operative provides travelers of all ages with hands-on, educational experience

TILLAMOOK, Ore., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Waiting for a flight at the Portland International Airport (PDX) has never been so fun. Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) is proud to announce the grand opening of an interactive playground  the PDX Play Area  a treat for travelers passing through the airport's recently expanded Concourse E, just in time for Memorial Day Weekend travel.

Tillamook County Creamery Association Introduces New Interactive Playground to PDX Concourse E Tillamook County Creamery Association Introduces New Interactive Playground to PDX Concourse E Tillamook County Creamery Association Introduces New Interactive Playground to PDX Concourse E

The 608-square-foot PDX Play Area  designed, constructed, and gifted to PDX by TCCA  will provide travelers of all ages and abilities with the chance to not only stretch their legs between flights, but also a unique, interactive way to learn about TCCA, its award-winning dairy products and the makers and farmer-owners behind them. Driven by the mission to do right by the communities and families TCCA serves both across the state and now across the country, the PDX Play Area is just one of many ways the brand is bringing joy to those who pass through their home state of Oregon.

"We are thrilled to bring the Tillamook experience to PDX travelers, no matter their destination," said Kate Boltin, Vice President, Brand Marketing, TCCA. "While travelers from across the country may know us for our award-winning products, we hope that the PDX Play Area and Tillamook Market will share our complete story  from our 110+ history and heritage as a farmer-owned cooperative, to the passion and pride that our makers have for turning the finest ingredients into delicious, high-quality products."

TCCA partnered with Seattle-based award-winning architecture firm Olson Kundig on the concept design. Honoring TCCA's Stewardship commitments, the PDX Play Area was built on flooring manufactured with 78 percent recycled rubber. From there, visitors can explore a climbing area that leads to an abundance of Tillamook products atop a life-sized flying Yum Bus  the brand's iconic retrofitted bus  which doubles as a slide.

"The design is anchored in our Oregon roots and celebrates our nostalgic Yum Bus, a symbol adored by our passionate fans here in the Pacific Northwest," said Paige Yim, Sr. Manager, Brand Experiences and Strategic Initiatives, TCCA. "With the airport context in mind, we playfully turned our Yum Bus into a Yum Jet to show how we spread Tillamook products and joy across the nation. We were deliberate in creating a moment that everyone of all ages and abilities could enjoy, from families to friend groups to business travelers."

Serving as a backdrop and cheerful photo op for the space is a 15-foot-tall mural featuring TCCA brand icons, including the historic Tillamook Morning Star, with corresponding QR codes that visitors can scan to learn more about the Tillamook brand story. Travelers will also be able to pick up a free printed coloring page and crayons at the Tillamook Market, also located in Concourse E.

The Tillamook Market, which opened as a part of the PDX Concourse E expansion in Summer 2020, features a menu full of Tillamook Cheddar and Ice Cream products as well as exclusive Tillamook merchandise. Since the opening of Tillamook Market, 1,842 baby loaves departed as cheddar carry-ons, more than 24,837 orders of Tillamook's famous fried cheese curds have been enjoyed, more than 45,719 scoops of ice cream took flight, and almost 128,000 Tillamook cheeseburgers and grilled cheese sandwiches fueled PDX travelers.

Flying through PDX soon? Learn more about Tillamook Market at Tillamook.com/Visit-Us/Market. To find Tillamook products in a store near you, visit Tillamook.com.

About Tillamook County Creamery Association

Founded in 1909 as a farmer-owned cooperative, Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) recently achieved the distinction as a Certified B Corporation (B Corp) and prides itself on its commitment to bringing to market the most consistent, best tasting, highest quality dairy products made in the most natural way possible. Guided by the belief that everyone deserves real food that makes them feel good every day, Tillamook produces internationally recognized, award-winning cheese as well as exceptional ice cream, butter, cream cheese spreads, yogurt, and sour cream, made with unwavering values that never sacrifice or compromise quality for profit. TCCA is owned by a group of farming families, primarily based in Tillamook County, Oregon. TCCA operates production facilities in Tillamook and Boardman, Oregon and employs more than 900 people throughout the state. The Tillamook Creamery is the largest tourist attraction on the coast of Oregon and one of the most popular in the state, attracting more than one million visitors each year. For more information on TCCA and Tillamook, visit Tillamook.com.

Media Contacts:

Jenna Faller, FleishmanHillard

[email protected]

Austin Blythe, Tillamook

[email protected]

SOURCE Tillamook County Creamery Association
Listen to Lead: Raise Retention and Boost Business helps C-Suite and other management leaders prioritize employee voices to maximize business success and improve workplace conditions and culture

NEW YORK, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Ford Foundation and a coalition of nonprofits released Listen to Lead: Raise Retention and Boost Business , a guide that helps C-Suite and management leaders understand the value of employee voice for business success and provides a step-by-step framework for listening to build more resilient and competitive companies. The Ford Foundation partnered with the Center for Democracy and Technology, Institute for the Future, Good Jobs Institute, JUST Capital, Partnership on AI, PolicyLink, and TechEquity Collaborative  as well as leading for-profit corporations  to develop best practices for listening to employees and acting on their input.

Shocks to the employment landscape such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the rapid deployment of advanced technology, and the shift toward the gig economy have reframed the future of work, posing challenges to business leaders and employees alike. Employee churn represents a trillion dollar problem for businesses and continues at an alarming rate. Effectively capturing employee voice is essential to reducing costly employee turnover, improving employee engagement and job quality, securing customer insights, and identifying gaps in business operations. Many business leaders are already taking note: According to Russell Reynolds' annual Global Leadership Monitor, more than half (51%) of global executives identified employees as a top three stakeholder, an increase from 41% of global executives in 2021.

"Employees are a corporation's most valuable asset," said Ritse Erumi, Program Officer, Future of Work(ers) program at Ford Foundation. "Listen to Lead: Raise Retention and Boost Business is a tool for companies to increase productivity and long-term growth. Step by step, the guide helps companies incorporate employee feedback in corporate decision making, leading to a more engaged workforce and smarter business operations. Together with corporate leaders, we can strengthen the link between good work environments and business outcomes, supporting a more inclusive and resilient economy."

Listen to Lead: Raise Retention and Boost Business offers evidence-based actions business leaders can leverage to continue paving the way forward. Central to this is the LAB (Listen, Act, Be Accountable) Framework, backed by workplace experts, Fortune 500 chief executives, investors, and qualitative research on different approaches to workplace culture and employee engagement. The LAB Framework introduces proven steps to support employee engagement and, critically, provide accountability. In addition, case studies and testimonials from companies such as Best Buy and Siemens make the business case for engaging employees tangible, illustrating the connection between implementing the framework and increased shareholder returns.

"Listening is so important in these fast-changing times. It's how we learn where our employees are thriving, and how we can best support them," said Barbara Humpton, CEO of Siemens.

The LAB Framework consists of three core ideals to help employers understand and address employee needs:

Listen: Develop strategies and activities that encourage input from employees to improve company retention, culture, and profitability goals.

Develop strategies and activities that encourage input from employees to improve company retention, culture, and profitability goals. Act: Analyze insights captured from listening activities into digestible, presentable data. Then, translate this data into measurable actions.

Analyze insights captured from listening activities into digestible, presentable data. Then, translate this data into measurable actions. Be Accountable: At all levels, create shared ownership and responsibility to employee feedback.

"Leaders often forget the power and importance of a simple coffee, a simple question, and just listening before we make assumptions about our team members. Listening not only helps to retain existing employees, but also helps with onboarding new employees," said Dr. Rachel Pacheco, PhD, Management Faculty at Georgetown University McDonough School of Business. "Finding the time to commit to listening strengthens company culture by showing that you care."

Companies across the nation are struggling to find and retain workers, while Americans across every demographic group are united in wanting companies to prioritize their employees as the most important stakeholder. Listen to Lead: Raise Retention and Boost Business provides proven approaches by some of America's most successful companies on how improving employee conditions in the modern workplace creates more successful, resilient, and attractive companies. Ford Foundation and partners aim to build a coalition of employers, employees, academics, and advocates to expand upon these insights, generate new ideas, and promote action.

"Frontline employees are closest to the customer and closest to the work," said Sarah Kalloch, Executive Director of Good Jobs institute. "They have invaluable insights on how to improve service and operational execution. Companies that set up systems to listen and act can gain a competitive advantage and show respect for their workers' knowledge and judgment."

"In 2023, there is a heightened level of communication and transparency expected from corporations when it comes to their employees. And both consumers and investors increasingly want to know that employers are paying fair wages, providing healthcare and paid leave, and ensuring safety in the workplace, so that they attract and retain the best talent," said Martin Whittaker, CEO of JUST Capital. "To compete successfully today, maintaining leadership in employee engagement is critical. This starts with listening, and it continues with action."

To read the full listening guide, please download a pdf version here: www.listentoemployees.org .

About Ford Foundation

The Ford Foundation is an independent organization working to address inequality and build a future grounded in justice. For more than 85 years, it has supported visionaries on the frontlines of social change worldwide, guided by its mission to strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, promote international cooperation, and advance human achievement. Today, with an endowment of $16 billion, the foundation has headquarters in New York and 10 regional offices across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.

SOURCE Ford Foundation
HALETHORPE, Md., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Fzata, Inc. will be showcased at upcoming conferences for the ongoing Series A raise supporting the first-in-class Bio engineered P robiotic Y east M edicines (BioPYM) modality. Elizabeth Smith, Fzata's Chief Business Officer, will be pitching and available for in person partnering at the following events:

RESI, The Westin Copley Place, 3rd Floor, 10 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA. Innovator's Pitch Challenge (IPC). Pitching in Session 2 on Monday, June 5, 10:00-11:00 a.m.

The BIO International Convention, Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, Boston, MA. Fzata selected as NIH Innovation Zone Company. Pitching on Tuesday, June 6, 11:15 a.m., Room 104A.

Women in Bio -Greater Boston's 8th Annual Lobster Pot, 101 Seaport Avenue, Boston, MA.

Pitching on Wednesday, June 7, 12:00-6:00 p.m.

Fzata's BioPYM capsules will be life changing for those suffering with gastrointestinal disorders who routinely self-inject or require infusions of their biologic medicines. The BioPYM modality will be a game changer for biologic manufacturing, distribution and administration, replacing fragile conventional biologics with a stable oral capsule. BioPYM is designed to work "on-site" in the gut for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders like infectious diseases, inflammation, IBD, diabetes, and visceral pain. FZ002 for C. diff. infection, first-in-human phase I clinical trial is targeted for 2024. Readout will help clinically derisk all following BioPYM drug candidates.

Dr. Zhiyong Yang, President and CEO of Fzata, commented, "Fzata has been honored to be an NIH SEED company and selected for the Innovation Zone at BIO. NIH's outstanding support of BioPYM validates the very strong science underpinning our first-in-class biologics modality. We are also grateful to Women in Bio and RESI for providing us with such great venues to pitch. BioPYM is poised to disrupt the biologics space and provide an impactful alternative that will enable at home access to biologic therapies to all patients."

About Fzata, Inc.: Fzata (www.Fzata.com) is a privately held near-clinical biopharmaceutical company. The Company owns two proprietary platforms: one to generate fully humanized multi-specific antibodies and a second, BioPYM, for localized delivery of live recombinant yeast therapeutics to treat gastrointestinal related diseases and disorders. The preclinical pipeline is deep with over 10 drug candidates.

For additional information about Fzata, visit www.fzata.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

For Investment opportunities or partnership inquires please contact:

Elizabeth Smith, PhD, MBA

E-mail: [email protected]

1.240.904.5127

SOURCE Fzata, Inc.
BEIJING, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Women's beauty should never be defined, and "she" should full of possibilities. Most women are not confident enough in themselves and unaware of their beauty. They are deeply affected by appearance anxiety and age anxiety, enlarging their own shortcomings. In recent years, the emergence of society's stereotypical aesthetic impressions of coins put collarbone, elf ears, A4 waist, has deepened women's anxiety, so that women always want to be the perfect other, but not themselves.

On this beautiful holiday of 38 Queen's Day, GEMO joined hands with Switzerland female artist ELLA TJADER to celebrate women's preciousness, presented the courage flower in the snow, broke the stereotype of female gazing, encouraged every woman to be confident and bold, young and forward. Meanwhile, GEMO has brought the brave power to fight against time for her, Switzerland's top luxury anti-aging technology - ICE-RF anti-aging energy, wishing every one of her to bloom bravely like Edelweiss.

ELLA TJADER is a renowned illustrator from Switzerland who draws inspiration from the richness of nature in her exquisite, delicate, and elegant works. She specializes in fine and natural lines and rich colors, and her works are like a beautiful song of nature. GEMO was inspired by the Alps and the nature of Thunersee and Lake Brienz in Switzerland and the magnificent Switzerland mountains. Took the Alpine traditional spa physiotherapy as an anti-aging idea to study the mechanism of skin aging and discover the updated solution to fight skin aging, and achieved remarkable success in the anti-aging field of skin. GEMO joined an effort with Switzerland artist ELLA TJADER to empower women to be brave and celebrate their precious and unique selves.

ELLA TJADER said, "When GEMO contact me about joining forces to do something meaningful for women, to encourage them to be brave, I thought it was a very worthy thing to do. The beauty of Switzerland's nature has greatly influenced my creative style, and this work was inspired by the serene Alps, where clusters of Edelweiss were blooming in the light with elegance. This original inspiration came from my own experience, as we often hike in the snowy mountains of Switzerland, at that time when we climbed to the heights of the mountains as if we can touch the sky, and the dividing line between the snowy mountains seemed to melt with the sky together. I used Switzerland's national flower, the Edelweiss, because its language is bravery, blooming on top of the snow, noble and pure, very much like the character of current women. Regardless of their small body, they are bold and fearless, insisting on exploring their inner love. GEMO Switzerland's luxury beauty device ice RF Energy gives women the power of staying on the ice to beautify their skin, making them beautiful forever even beyond time control, which gave me great creative inspiration. The Switzerland Edelweiss symbolizes brave women, the ancient Switzerland watches are representing the favor of time to them, and this is the power given by the GEMO beauty device. This power makes them brave and fearless, daring to break through the definition of age, a power that many women need. You just need to be yourself instead of others, brave and noble, young and fearless."

GEMO Switzerland luxury beauty device carried the essence of Switzerland aesthetics, the R&D concept derived from the Thermage FLX, sapphire ICE-RF technology, no fear of sensitivity, and it controls temperature and takes care of the skin. Customized high-definition sapphire can effectively relieve EMS micro-current brought about by the sense of irritation, providing the skin surface with a comfortable sense and ensure that RF in the deeper layers of the skin sustained high-intensity action, during the tightening and lifting, to avoid overheating on the skin surface. No fear of sensitivity, assisting in enhancing the anti-wrinkle and anti-aging effect of the skin. RF anti-aging energy is multiplied by the ice-using experience, feeling like a cool breeze gently passing the face, though time flies, the skin always shines.

GEMO brand leader spoke to the reporter: "GEMO inherits the anti-aging shrine - Switzerland's research philosophy, to control the anti-aging science and skincare aesthetics of the perfect balance, to bring self-pampering experience beyond over the imagination, to create a firming and lifting skincare effect, to help every woman to be the master of time and life, to obtain the ultimate beauty. In this beautiful holiday of 38 Queen's Day, I wish every woman a happy holiday and hope that every woman can pamper herself from the heart, we all have a very strong female power."

Undoubtedly, March is a time for women. GEMO collaborated with Switzerland female artists ELLA TJADER to create the Edelweiss Art Gift Box, the national flower of Switzerland, whose language is "bravery and love". In the future, GEMO will continue to focus on women's power and meet more consumers to provide women around the world with new solutions to fight against aging.

SOURCE GEMO
Nearly 100 youth gather in Washington D.C. to protest Altria's shareholder meeting and expose Big Tobacco's lies and schemes to addict kids



WASHINGTON, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 18, over 125 youth and advocates from 15 different states will protest tobacco giant Altria's annual shareholders meeting. These advocates will hold a demonstration outside Altria's Washington, D.C. office, while several youth activists have been made designees by shareholders to directly address Altria's executives and ask questions during the virtual shareholders' meeting.

This year marks the eighth consecutive year that Mobilize Against Tobacco Lies (MATL), a collaborative of youth programs and national partners, will gather to expose and fight back against the tobacco giant.

Altria and its Philip Morris USA subsidiary sell the number one most popular cigarette brand among kids, Marlboro, and its John Middleton subsidiary sells the second most popular brand of cigars among kids, Black & Mild. Altria has long targeted kids and other vulnerable groups with its products and also invested in Juul at the height of the youth e-cigarette epidemic. Altria claims to be "moving beyond smoking," but the truth is that they make most of their revenue from cigarettes and fight real efforts to reduce smoking like bans on menthol cigarettes.

Despite Altria and the tobacco industry's efforts, the United States has made great progress to reduce youth smoking. However, the latest government survey shows over 3 million U.S. middle and high school students still use tobacco products, including over 2.5 million who use e-cigarettes.

WHAT: Over 125 youth and other advocates will protest Altria's shareholder meeting to expose how Altria profits off cigarettes and other tobacco products, addicts kids, and fights real efforts to reduce tobacco use.



WHO: Mobilize Against Tobacco Lies is a collaborative of tobacco control youth programs and national partners, including seven youth programs and five national partners:

Reality Check of New York

Michigan Making It Count

Texas Say What

New Hampshire Dover Youth to Youth

Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii

Wisconsin FACT

Delaware Kick Butts Generation Indigenous Peoples Task Force

Corporate Accountability

Counter Tools

Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

Center for Black Health and Equity

Truth Initiative









WHEN: Thursday, May 18, 2023, at 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM ET



WHERE: Altria's Lobbyist Office

101 Constitution Ave NW, #400W, Washington, D.C. 20001

SOURCE Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
DUBLIN, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Hydroponics Market 2022-2032 by Product Type, Input, Equipment, Crop, Distribution Channel, and Region: Trend Forecast and Growth Opportunity" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global hydroponics market will reach $28,510.2 million by 2032, growing by 13.6% annually over 2022-2032.

Companies Mentioned

Advanced Nutrients Ltd.

Aerofarms

American Hydroponics

Argus Control Systems Limited (Controlled Environments Limited)

Emerald Harvest Co.

Freight Farms

General Hydroponics Inc.

GreenTech Agro LLC

Heliospectra AB

Hydrodynamics International Inc.

Hydroponic Systems International

Logiqs B.V.

LumiGrow Inc.

Scotts Miracle Gro

Signify N.V.

Village Farms International Inc.

The market is driven by the continuous increase in the global population along with rising the demand for food consumption, the rise in difficulty of growing crops on soil, the rising success rate related with the commercial hydroponics industry, the development of new hydroponics system with higher yield, and the decreased use of artificial ripening agents and pesticides.



This report is based on comprehensive research of the entire global hydroponics market and all its sub-segments through extensively detailed classifications. Profound analysis and assessment are generated from premium primary and secondary information sources with inputs derived from industry professionals across the value chain. The report is based on studies on 2020-2022 and provides forecast from 2023 till 2032 with 2022 as the base year.



In-depth qualitative analyses include identification and investigation of the following aspects:

Market Structure

Growth Drivers

Restraints and Challenges

Emerging Product Trends & Market Opportunities

Porter's Fiver Forces

The trend and outlook of global market is forecast in optimistic, balanced, and conservative view by taking into account of COVID-19 and Russia-Ukraine conflict. The balanced (most likely) projection is used to quantify global hydroponics market in every aspect of the classification from perspectives of Product Type, Input, Equipment, Crop, Distribution Channel, and Region.



Based on Product Type, the global market is segmented into the following sub-markets with annual revenue ($ mn) for 2022-2032 included in each section.

Aggregate System

EBB and Flow System

Wick System

Drip System

Other Aggregate Systems

Liquid Hydroponics

Aeroponics

Nutrient Film Technique

Deep Water Culture

Other Liquid Hydroponics

Based on Input, the global market is segmented into the following sub-markets with annual revenue ($ mn) for 2022-2032 included in each section.

Growth Media

Nutrients

Other Inputs

By Equipment, the global market is segmented into the following sub-markets with annual revenue ($ mn) for 2022-2032 included in each section.

Irrigation System

HVAC

LED Growing Lights

Material Handling

Control Systems

Other Equipment

By Crop, the global market is segmented into the following sub-markets with annual revenue ($ mn) for 2022-2032 included in each section.

Tomatoes

Lettuce & Leafy Vegetables

Peppers

Cucumbers

Strawberry

Herbs

Flowers

Other Crops

By Distribution Channel, the global market is segmented into the following sub-markets with annual revenue ($ mn) for 2022-2032 included in each section.

Online Channels

Offline Channels

Geographically, the following regions together with the listed national/local markets are fully investigated:

North America (U.S., Canada , and Mexico )

(U.S., , and ) Europe ( Germany , UK, France , Spain , Italy , Netherlands , Rest of Europe ; Rest of Europe is further segmented into Russia , Switzerland , Poland , Sweden , Belgium , Austria , Ireland , Norway , Denmark , and Finland )

( , UK, , , , , Rest of ; Rest of is further segmented into , , , , , , , , , and ) APAC ( Japan , China , South Korea , Australia , India , and Rest of APAC; Rest of APAC is further segmented into Malaysia , Singapore , Indonesia , Thailand , New Zealand , Vietnam , Taiwan , and Philippines )

, , , , , and Rest of APAC; Rest of APAC is further segmented into , , , , , , , and ) South America ( Brazil , Chile , Argentina , Rest of South America )

( , , , Rest of ) MEA (UAE,Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Rest of MEA)

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/3ztg83

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Research and Markets
DUBLIN, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Industrial Hose Market Report and Forecast 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

According to the report, the global industrial hose market attained a value of USD 12969 million in 2022.

Aided by the increasing demand from various end-use industries such as oil and gas, chemicals, food and beverages, and construction, the market is projected to further grow at a CAGR of 3.8% between 2023 and 2028 to reach a value of USD 16238.39 million by 2028.



Industrial hoses are flexible, hollow tubes designed to transfer fluids, gases, and granular materials from one location to another. They are commonly used in oil and gas, chemicals, food and beverages, construction, and agriculture industries, among others. The growth of the industrial hose market is primarily driven by the increasing demand from various end-use industries. The expansion of oil and gas exploration activities and the increasing demand for energy are expected to boost the demand for industrial hoses in this sector.



Similarly, the chemical industry relies on industrial hoses for the safe transfer of various chemicals and solvents. The growing chemical industry, especially in emerging economies, is expected to contribute to the growth of the industrial hose market. Moreover, the food and beverage industry requires specialised hoses that meet strict hygiene and safety standards for the transfer of food products, potable water, and other consumables. The growth of the food and beverage industry is expected to further propel the demand for industrial hoses.



The construction industry also contributes significantly to the growth of the industrial hose market. Industrial hoses are used in various construction applications, such as concrete placement, plastering, and grouting. The increasing number of construction projects, infrastructure development, and urbanisation in developing countries are likely to boost the demand for industrial hoses in the construction sector. Another factor driving the growth of the industrial hose market is technological advancements in hose materials and designs. These advancements have expanded the range of applications for industrial hoses, further fuelling market growth. Additionally, the increasing focus on preventive maintenance and the need to reduce downtime in various industries are expected to contribute to the growth of the market.



Regular maintenance and replacement of hoses can help prevent equipment failures and costly production downtime, leading to a growing demand for high-quality industrial hoses. The industrial hose market is also influenced by the implementation of stringent regulations and industry standards related to hose safety and performance. These regulations are expected to drive the demand for high-quality, compliant hoses, further propelling the growth of the market.



Market Segmentation



The market can be divided on the basis of material, media, industry, and region.



Market Division by Material:

Synthetic Rubber

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

Natural Rubber

Silicone

Polyurethane

Market Segregation by Media:

Air and Gas

Oil

Water and Steam

Chemical

Food and Beverage

Market Segmentation by Industry:

Automotive

Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals

Infrastructure

Oil and Gas

Food and Beverages

Water and Wastewater

Mining

Agriculture

Others

Market Breakup by Region:

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

Middle East and Africa

Competitive Landscape



The report looks into the market shares, plant turnarounds, capacities, investments, and acquisitions and mergers, among other major developments, of the global industrial hose companies. Some of the major key players explored in the report are as follows:

Eaton Corporation PLC

Gates Industrial Corporation PLC

Parker Hannifin Corporation

Transfer Oil S.p.A

Kurt Manufacturing Company

Piranha Hose Products, Inc

NORRES Schlauchtechnik GmbH

Colex International Ltd

Others

Key Topics Covered:



1 Preface



2 Report Coverage - Key Segmentation and Scope



3 Report Description



4 Key Assumptions



5 Executive Summary



6 Market Snapshot



7 Opportunities and Challenges in the Market



8 Global Industrial Hose Market Analysis



9 North America Industrial Hose Market Analysis



10 Europe Industrial Hose Market Analysis



11 Asia Pacific Industrial Hose Market Analysis



12 Latin America Industrial Hose Market Analysis



13 Middle East and Africa Industrial Hose Market Analysis



14 Market Dynamics



15 Value Chain Analysis



16 Trade Data Analysis (HS Code - 4009)



17 Price Analysis



18 Competitive Landscape



19 Key Trends and Developments in the Market



Companies Mentioned

Eaton Corporation PLC

Gates Industrial Corporation PLC

Parker Hannifin Corporation

Transfer Oil S.p.A.

Kurt Manufacturing Company

Piranha Hose Products, Inc.

NORRES Schlauchtechnik GmbH

Colex International Ltd.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ftmk6a

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Research and Markets
Golden Gate Ventures makes its 6th AI investment as Startups and Enterprises turn to AI within their organizations

SINGAPORE, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Golden Gate Ventures, a venture capital fund in Southeast Asia (SEA) founded by Silicon Valley natives, has injected a second round of investment into Locofy.ai, a platform that converts graphic designs into working code with AI. Other investors joined the round, including experienced SME technopreneurs from Dropbox, Lottiefiles and Zopim. The US$4.25m investment is one of SEA's largest pre-seed rounds into an AI startup.

Golden Gate Ventures first spotted Locofy.ai's potential early on, identifying the startup's ability to tap into the ever-growing low-code platform market and participating in Locofy.ai's first institutional investment round in 2021.

"The early-stage investment scene is all about identifying trends ahead of an inflection point, and to be the first in: the first institutional investor into the startup, at the right time. Our investments into the AI space pre-date the buzz around ChatGPT. Being FirstIN enables us to help founders ahead of anyone else and yields higher returns for our investors," said Vinnie Lauria, Founding Partner at Golden Gate Ventures.

Off the back of the firm's FirstIN strategy is a long list of successes including, Rukita, Bukuwarung, Homage, Vui and Multiplier  where Golden Gate Ventures was the first institutional investor and has continued to support the startups across multiple funding rounds.

What informs the firm's early investment strategy is the combination of the partners' SEA and Silicon Valley experience, coupled with Golden Gate Ventures' Brain  our data-driven market predictions platform based on data and insights the firm has amassed over a decade.

"We've used data to identify niche opportunities in the AI space. Golden Gate Ventures' Brain platform is designed to mine data points across markets, industries and changing economic conditions, uncovering unexpected patterns that our partners leverage to identify specific types of startups that we proactively search for in the market," said Jeffrey Paine, Founding Partner at Golden Gate Ventures.

"Based on our Golden Gate Ventures' Brain platform and partners' insights, we started investing in AI startups over five years ago when most of the market was skeptical about their return-on-investment. AI is going to dramatically transform go-to-market strategies and accelerate e-commerce development at an exponential rate. We will see an unrivalled rate of innovation, which coincides perfectly with the rising consumer class across SEA's fast-growing economies," Vinnie Lauria adds.

Locofy.ai is one of several strategic AI investments Golden Gate Ventures has made even before the AI fever caught on in the region.

"Low-code presents a huge opportunity as more people outside of IT leverage its vast potential and it becomes more ubiquitous. Locofy-ai has a strong first-mover advantage with a huge global user base that is continuously helping to improve the platform. The cross-section of users encompassing developers, enterprises, startups, freelancers and student communities already demonstrates its stickiness and ability to integrate seamlessly with other tools," said Justin Hall, Partner at Golden Gate Ventures.

Locofy.ai is a low-code development tool in public beta, which assists developers worldwide in building and managing their frontend at speed. It accelerates web and mobile app development by 5  10 times with its design-to-code conversion platform that helps designers automate frontend code directly from their designs and extend into existing workflows. It currently converts Figma and Adobe XD designs into React, React Native, HTML-CSS, Gatsby and Next.js code with AI.

Its latest round of funding, which brings Locofy.ai's total to $7.3m raised since its incorporation in 2021, will accelerate the startup's plans to simplify the design to code conversion significantly with AI, while adding more integrations to the platform to seamlessly fit in the workflows. With recent integrations with Storybook, Github, Netlify, Vercel and Snack, Locofy.ai bridges the chasm between designers and developers, enabling developers to iterate designs and code more naturally.

In addition to securing this latest round of funding, Locofy.ai has made strategic hires to support its ambitious development plans. Tien Nguyen, ex-CTO at Wego and Teko, will be joining as Vice President of Engineering; leading data scientist, ex-Founder of SWAT and AI advisor to top startups, Nick Jachowski, will be joining as Head of AI; and Nguyen Kien, ex-Director of Engineering at TIKI, will be taking on the role of Head of Engineering.

About Golden Gate Ventures

Golden Gate Ventures is a global venture capital firm powering technology and innovation from Southeast Asia. Founded in 2011, Golden Gate Ventures combines the knowledge and experience of Silicon Valley with the passion and dynamism of Southeast Asia. For over a decade we've proudly backed some of the region's most audacious founders and companies behind Southeast Asia's incredible growth story, such as Carousell, Coda Payments, Carro, Xendit, Paper.id, Alodokter, Homage, Hijra, Rukita, and Locofy. We empower the audacious. For more information, visit goldengate.vc .

SOURCE Golden Gate Ventures
EL PASO, Texas, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Henry Repeating Arms, one of the country's leading firearm manufacturers, has donated $25,000 to the Border Patrol Foundation (BPF) in support of the organization's mission to honor the memory of fallen U.S. Border Patrol agents and provide immediate financial aid to their families.

Henry Repeating Arms presenting a $25,000 donation to Border Patrol Foundation at an evening event coinciding with the Border Security Expo in El Paso, Texas. (Photo/Henry Repeating Arms)

Growing in scope since its founding in 2009, BPF now offers financial assistance to agents and Border Patrol support personnel who are wounded, injured or have fallen ill while performing their duties, as well as their family members, and a scholarship program for the children of fallen Border Patrol agents.

"Henry Repeating Arms' donation will make a very significant impact to our critical mission," said Rowdy Adams, President of Border Patrol Foundation. "BPF is very thankful for the support and looks forward to a long-lasting relationship with Henry Repeating Arms. The generous donation supports our commitment to 'Honoring the Memory. Serving the Families.'"

The donation is part of Henry Repeating Arms' $1 million Silver Anniversary pledge through its charitable branch, Guns for Great Causes, and the company's longstanding advocacy for American law enforcement agencies. The company has donated $275,000 to organizations supporting law enforcement personnel and their families since June 2022, including Tunnel to Towers, Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.), First Responders Children's Foundation, and more.

"We are proud to help support the Border Patrol Foundation so they can continue to be there for the families of the brave men and women who put their lives on the line every day at our borders," said Anthony Imperato, Founder and CEO of Henry Repeating Arms. "I cannot imagine the anguish of a family that loses a loved one in the line of duty, and we hope this donation can go on to help ease some of the financial burdens and provide greater opportunities for their children."

Henry's check presentation occurred at the BPF's Southwest Soiree event in conjunction with the Border Security Expo in El Paso, Texas. Henry Repeating Arms ambassadors and dealers Clark Sanders and his daughter Martha Kaye Sanders of Big Sandee's Guns in Sedan, Kansas, presented the check to BPF.

To learn more about Border Patrol Foundation, visit borderpatrolfoundation.org.

For more information about Henry Repeating Arms and its products, visit henryusa.com.

About Henry Repeating Arms:

Henry Repeating Arms is one of the leading firearm manufacturers in the United States and a world leader in the lever action category. The company motto is "Made in America, or not made at all," and its firearms come with a lifetime guarantee backed by award-winning customer service. The company is also known for its Guns for Great Causes charitable program, which focuses on assisting the families of sick children, children's hospitals, military veteran organizations, law enforcement and first responder groups, Second Amendment advocacy groups, and wildlife conservation organizations. The company currently employs over 600 people and has over 350,000sf of manufacturing space in its Wisconsin and New Jersey facilities. The company is named in honor of Benjamin Tyler Henry, who invented and patented the Henry lever action rifle in 1860  the first practical repeating rifle and America's unique contribution to the international stage of firearms design. Visit Henry Repeating Arms online at henryusa.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/HenryRepeating, and @henry_rifles on Instagram.

SOURCE Henry Repeating Arms
EBENE, Mauritius, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Trading online with one of the leading brokerage brands in the world has just become even better. The esteemed broker HFM has announced an enhancement of its trading conditions, to all account holders. As part of this impressive upgrade, the company has also refreshed its website, including smarter technologies and protocols, making it more user-friendly and intuitive than ever.

"We at HFM know that being an industry leader comes with a lot of responsibilities," commented the spokesperson for HFM. "We are constantly setting the bar in terms of proper trading conditions and serving an example for the rest of the industry to follow. This means that we cannot rest on our laurels, and we must continue to innovate all the time. This is also our way of showing our unwavering commitment to our valued clients."

Faster, simpler, safer trading

As part of the efforts to continually provide the best trading conditions , HFM now offers new trading accounts, including higher leverage, swap-free trading on specific accounts and specific instruments, faster deposits and withdrawals, improved execution and much more. Moreover, the updated website displays a modern design which promotes easier access to information and knowledge resources. As part of the upgrade, the signup process has also been made simpler.

"This is an exciting new chapter for HFM," added the spokesperson. "Through client feedback, we constantly make improvements, striving to serve our valued users in the best way possible. This was a good opportunity for us to refresh our website and KYC procedures, in order to make online trading easily accessible to everyone. We invite anyone who is looking for a partner to explore the markets with, to give us a try."

About HFM

Formerly known as HotForex, HFM (a brand name of HF Markets Group), is today the broker of choice for over 3.5 million traders around the world, thanks to its wide variety of products, state-of-the-art trading technology, unparalleled customer support and plethora of educational resources. That is also why the brand has been awarded over 60 prestigious industry titles since its foundation in 2011. Besides CFD trading, HFM also offers unique services such as its social trading tool HFcopy, the HFM App, special offers and promotions, and percentage allocation management module (PAMM). More information regarding that and other benefits can be found on the HFM website.

Website - www.hfm.com

SOURCE HFM
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) now sees a 1.5% decline of Russias GDP in 2023 rather than the 3% previously forecast, according to its latest report on Tuesday, Trend reports with reference to TASS.

In February, the bank expected Russias economy to contract by 3% in 2023 and to grow 1% in 2024.

Earlier, experts of the London-based bank estimated that the Russian economy will decline by 3.5%, while the country saw growth rebounding to 2.1% due to higher energy prices that partially mitigated the adverse impact of wide-ranging anti-Russian sanctions.
We believe the retail industry is being transformed by innovative hyper-local retail solutions that have been receiving praise from industry leaders.

SYDNEY, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- HIVERY, a pioneer in next-generation hyper-local retail assortment strategy simulation and optimization, has been named in the recent Gartner report on the future of Intelligent Virtual Store Design (IVSD) applications.

"We are thrilled to be recognized in Gartner Market Guide for Intelligent Virtual Store Design Applications report. To us, this acknowledgment reflects our unwavering commitment to developing state-of-the-art solutions that enable retailers to create hyper-local space-aware assortments. We firmly believe that Data Has A Better Idea, and we're dedicated to assisting our clients in unlocking the full potential of store-level data-driven shopper insights for enhanced shopper experiences and business growth," said Jason Hosking, HIVERY's CEO & Co-founder.

HIVERY Curate, the company's proprietary machine learning and applied mathematics algorithms, was co-developed with CSIRO's Data61, Australia's national science agency. This SaaS-based solution enables clients to optimize their product assortments, enhance their in-store operations, and create hyper-local shopping experiences for their customers.

Gartner subscribers can access the report via Gartner website.

GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's Research & Advisory organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

About HIVERY:

HIVERY is a pioneer of next-generation hyper-local retail assortment strategy simulation & optimization solutions. These proprietary machine learning and applied mathematics algorithms were co-developed with Australia's national science agency - CSIRO's Data61. HIVERY was founded on the vision that Data Has A Better Idea - and we're working with our clients to uncover its full potential. For more information, visit www.hivery.com.

Press Contact: Franki Chamaki, VP of Marketing, HIVERY, Level 2, 15 Foster St, Surry Hills, NSW 2010, Australia, Email: [email protected]

SOURCE HIVERY
SHANGHAI and CLINTON, N.J., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- HuidaGene Therapeutics (; HuidaGene), a clinical-stage company focusing on developing gene editing tools and gene therapies, today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted to the Company patent US11,649,444B1 with respect to its independently-developed DNA editing system, CRISPR-Cas12i (Cas12Max), in just 9 months post-filing with the assistance of a reputable US law firm. Cas12Max has the highest DNA editing efficiency in mammalian cells compared with Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 (SpCas9) and Lachnospiraceae bacterium Cas12a (LbCas12a). The grant of this US patent represents the first oversea breakthrough of CRISPR-Cas12i systems developed in China. This fundamental patent covers multiple novel Cas12i proteins, and their variants and DNA editing uses thereof. HuidaGene exclusively owns its global rights.

"After granting the CRISPR-Cas13X/Y (13e/f) patents in both China and US, grant of the first overseas patent of Cas12i is another important milestone for HuidaGene, which further strengthens the Company's intellectual property position," said Xuan Yao, Ph.D., Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of HuidaGene. "With our commitment to developing novel CRISPR systems, the Company has carried out global patent layout of the core technology and established the Company's dominant position in gene editing tool and gene therapy development. The strong intellectual property protection for our gene editing tools would allow more independent gene editing products to be commercialized globally."

CRISPR RNA and CRISPR-associated (Cas) protein constitute an RNA-guided adaptive immune system found in bacteria and archaea for the defense of virus infection. Class 2, Type II (CRISPR-Cas9) system has been transformed into one of the most powerful gene-editing tools used globally for biomedical research that has therapeutic potential against incurable genetic disorders by modifying their DNA sequences. However, DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs)-related genotoxicities due to formation of DSBs by Cas9 and DNA repair, including apoptosis, chromosome deletions, and chromosomal rearrangements, remain to be the major concern in clinical development. The in-vivo delivery of the CRISPR-Cas9 system for efficient gene editing is also challenging due to its large size. Additionally, various Cas9 patents owned by multiple patentees and continuous litigations are likely to remain unresolved for years to come, suggesting many uncertainties to commercial development.

Class 2, Type V (CRISPR-Cas12) system is an emerging CRISPR system different from Class 2, Type II (CRISPR-Cas9) system in both evolution and classification, and thus it is believed that its use is not limited to Cas9 patents.

The Company filed the patent based on the November 2022 publication describing the novel engineered xCas12i with high activity, high specificity, and board protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) range. "On 15 November 2022, my team published a research paper online of the Protein & Cell titled 'An engineered xCas12i with high activity, high specificity and board PAM range'," said Hui Yang, Ph.D., Co-Founder, Chief Scientific Advisor, and Chairman of the SAB at HuidaGene. "My team has identified 10 novel Cas12i proteins through AI and deep ML of DNA sequencing and assembly prediction from metagenomic database followed by the identification of xCas12i through the fluorescent reporting system. Through HGPRECISE (HuidaGene  Platform for Rational Engineering of CRISPR-Cas Identification by Synergic Expertise) platform, we further engineered xCas12i system to develop a high-fidelity xCas12i variant (Cas12Max), which is smaller than Cas9 allowing it to be packaged and delivered in vivo through a single AAV vector and has the highest editing efficiency in mammalian cells with strong fluorescence intensity in compared with SpCas9 and LbCas12a."

At present, HuidaGene has applied Cas12Max to the development of in vivo gene therapy for various indications in neurology, neuromyology, and hepatology. HuidaGene will continue to improve the CRISPR-based gene-editing technology and bring safe gene-editing therapies a reality for millions of patients worldwide.

About HGPRECISE Platform

HuidaGene's HGPRECISE ( H uida G ene  P latform for R ational E ngineering of C RISPR-Cas I dentification by S ynergic E xpertise) platform enables rapid discovery of Cas proteins using both artificial intelligence (AI) and deep machine learning (ML) of DNA sequencing and assembly prediction from metagenomic database. HGPRECISE generated Cas12i protein (Cas12Max) has demonstrated superior on-target editing efficiency, lower off-target editing activity compared to widely-used CRISPR-Cas9 as well as Cas12a, Cas12b and Cas12e. Furthermore, Cas12Max has a relatively smaller size (1033-1093 aa) compared to SpCas9 and Cas12a and has a broad 5' TN protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) preference. With its high on-target editing efficiency, low off-target editing activity, and small size for packaging into single AAV vector, Cas12Max has many potentials and prospects in biomedical research, agriculture, gene therapy, and other fields.

About HuidaGene -

HuidaGene Therapeutics () is a global clinical-stage biotechnology company focusing on discovering, engineering, and developing gene editing tools and gene therapies to rewrite the future of genomic medicine. Based in Shanghai and New Jersey, HuidaGene is committed to addressing patients' needs globally with various preclinical therapeutic programs covering ophthalmology, otology, myology, and neurology. HuidaGene is currently advancing clinical programs in RPE65 mutation-associated inherited retinal dystrophies and various preclinical pipelines, including programs in neovascular age-related macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, hereditary hearing loss, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and MECP2 duplication syndrome. Those CRISPR-based therapeutics offer the potential to cure patients with life-threatening conditions by repairing the cause of their disease. HuidaGene is committed to transforming the future of genome-editing medicine.

For more information, please visit http://www.huidagene.com

or follow us on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/company/huidagene

SOURCE HuidaGene Therapeutics
NEW YORK and TORONTO, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - iAnthus Capital Holdings, Inc. ("iAnthus" or the "Company") (CSE: IAN) (OTCPK: ITHUF), which owns, operates, and partners with regulated cannabis operations across the United States, today reported its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023. The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which includes its unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and the related management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations, can be accessed on the Securities and Exchange Commission's ("SEC's") website at www.sec.gov, the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com, and on the Company's website at www.iAnthus.com. The Company's financial statements are reported in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). All currency is expressed in U.S. dollars.

First Quarter 2023 Financial Highlights

Revenue of $36.8 million , a sequential decrease of 2.2% from Q4 2022 and a decrease of 14.1% from the same quarter in the prior year.

, a sequential decrease of 2.2% from Q4 2022 and a decrease of 14.1% from the same quarter in the prior year. Gross profit of $15.5 million , a sequential decrease of 3.6% from Q4 2022 and a decrease of 31.0% from the same quarter in the prior year.

, a sequential decrease of 3.6% from Q4 2022 and a decrease of 31.0% from the same quarter in the prior year. Gross margin of 42.2%, relatively flat when compared to Q4 2022 and a decrease of 1036bps from the same quarter in the prior year.

Net loss of $18.6 million , or a net loss of $0.00 per share, compared to a net loss of $43.7 million or a net loss of $0.01 per share in Q4 2022, and compared to a net loss of $10.1 million , or a net loss of $0.06 per share, in the same quarter in the prior year.

, or a net loss of per share, compared to a net loss of or a net loss of per share in Q4 2022, and compared to a net loss of , or a net loss of per share, in the same quarter in the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA(6) of $0.9 million , a sequential increase from ($1.0) million in Q4 2022 and a decrease from $3.4 million from the same quarter in the prior year. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures. Reconciliation tables of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as used in this press release to GAAP are included below.

Table 1: Financial Results in thousands of US$, except share and per share amounts (unaudited) Q1 2023 Q4 2022 Q1 2022 Revenue $ 36,753 $ 37,571 $ 42,790 Gross profit

15,512

16,092

22,492 Gross margin

42.2 %

42.8 %

52.6 % Net loss

(18,595)

(43,732)

(10,102) Net loss per share

(0.00)

(0.01)

(0.06)

Table 2: Reconciliation of Net Loss to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA in thousands of US$ Q1 2023 Q4 2022 Q1 2022 Net loss $ (18,595) $ (43,732) $ (10,102) Depreciation and amortization

6,991

6,602

9,029 Interest expense, net

3,731

3,514

5,834 Income tax expense (recovery)

3,799

(3,900)

4,875 EBITDA (Non-GAAP) (6) $ (4,074) $ (37,516) $ 9,636 Adjustments











Impairment loss

-

30,551

- Write-downs and other charges, net

516

82

57 Inventory reserves and write-downs

356

-

194 Accretion expense

978

1,029

766 Share-based compensation (1)

1,489

2,938

1,464 Non-monetary gain from MPX NJ acquisition

-

-

(10,460) Losses from change in fair value of financial instruments

33

48

102 Debt obligation fees (2)

-

-

414 Non-recurring charges (3)

529

2,441

1,243 Loss on debt extinguishment (4)

1,288

-

- Other income (5)

(220)

(562)

- Total Adjustments $ 4,969 $ 36,527 $ (6,220) Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP) (6) $ 895 $ (989) $ 3,416





(1) Q4 2022 reflects an additional $1.0 million of share-based compensation expense related to restricted share units issued as severance compensation to the Company's former Chief Financial Officer. (2) Reflects accrued interest on the exit fee with the Company's 13.0% senior secured convertible debentures and owed to the holders thereof. As the Recapitalization Transaction closed on June 24, 2022, the Company will no longer incur debt obligation fees relating to such debentures. (3) Includes one-time, non-recurring costs related to the Company's Recapitalization Transaction, strategic review process, ongoing legal disputes, severance and other non-recurring costs associated with being a U.S. reporting company. These non-recurring costs are offset by insurance proceeds received as reimbursement for certain legal costs incurred. (4) One-time loss of $1.3 million on debt extinguishment related to the amendment of the $11.0 million senior secured bridge notes issued by iAnthus New Jersey, LLC. (5) Q1 2023 reflects $0.1 million related to tax refunds and accounts payable write-offs and vendor credits of $0.1 million. (6) See "Non-GAAP Financial Information" below for more information regarding the Company's use of non-GAAP financial measures.



Recent Business Updates

On April 20, 2023 , iAnthus' subsidiary in New Jersey (d/b/a MPX New Jersey) commenced adult-use sales at its Atlantic City dispensary, and subsequently entered the adult-use wholesale market in New Jersey .

, iAnthus' subsidiary in (d/b/a MPX New Jersey) commenced adult-use sales at its dispensary, and subsequently entered the adult-use wholesale market in . On April 26, 2023 , MPX New Jersey opened its second location in New Jersey , a medical dispensary in Gloucester Township .

, MPX New Jersey opened its second location in , a medical dispensary in . On May 3, 2023 , the Maryland governor signed a bill to regulate cannabis sales, opening a pathway to adult-use legalization with a target start date of July 1, 2023 . The Company continues to monitor the situation and prepare for the potential to convert its subsidiaries' medical licenses to licenses to operate both medical and adult-use cannabis businesses in the state of Maryland .

Non-GAAP Financial Information

This press release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures as defined by the SEC and the Canadian Securities Administrators. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP are included in the tables above. This information should be considered as supplemental in nature and not as a substitute for, or superior to, any measure of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.

In evaluating our business, we consider and use EBITDA as a supplemental measure of operating performance. We define EBITDA as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. We present EBITDA because we believe it is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties as a measure of financial performance. We define Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA before stock-based compensation, accretion expense, write-downs and impairments, gains and losses from changes in fair values of financial instruments, income or losses from equity-accounted investments, changes in accounting policy, non-recurring costs related to the Company's Recapitalization Transaction, and litigation costs related to ongoing legal proceedings.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not standardized financial measures defined under GAAP, and are not a measure of operating income, operating performance or liquidity presented in accordance with GAAP. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA have limitations as an analytical tool, and when assessing the Company's operating performance, investors should not consider EBITDA or Adjusted EBITDA in isolation, or as a substitute for net income (loss) or other consolidated income statement data prepared in accordance with GAAP. Among other things, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect the Company's actual cash expenditures. Other companies may calculate similar measures differently than us, limiting their usefulness as comparative tools. We compensate for these limitations by relying on GAAP results and using EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA only as supplemental information.

A bout iAnthus

iAnthus owns and operates licensed cannabis cultivation, processing and dispensary facilities throughout the United States. For more information, visit www.iAnthus.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Statements in this press release contain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made on the basis of the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of management, are not guarantees of performance and are subject to significant risks and uncertainty. These forward-looking statements should, therefore, be considered in light of various important factors, including those set forth in the Company's reports that it files from time to time with the SEC and the Canadian securities regulators which you should review including, but not limited to, the Annual Report filed with the SEC. When used in this press release, words such as "will," "could," "plan," "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "potential", "believe", "should" and similar expressions, identify forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements relating to the Company's financial performance, business development and results of operations.

These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as predictions of future events, and the Company cannot assure you that the events or circumstances discussed or reflected in these statements will be achieved or will occur. If such forward-looking statements prove to be inaccurate, the inaccuracy may be material. You should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by the Company or any other person that the Company will achieve its objectives and plans in any specified time frame, or at all. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company disclaims any obligation to publicly update or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission have reviewed, approved or disapproved the content of this press release.

SOURCE iAnthus Capital Holdings, Inc.
Top line revenue increases 38% YoY; License bookings grew 20% YoY with subscriptions up 7x over prior year

Company refreshes brand, reinforcing commitment to customer success and partnering to achieve manufacturing cloud transformation

LAKE FOREST, Calif., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- iBase-t, the company that helps its customers simplify how complex products are built and maintained, announced the completion of a successful fiscal year 2023, as the company saw another year of record revenue and profitability.

Fiscal 2023 revenue increased 38% over the prior year. License bookings grew 20% year-over-year with annual subscription revenue up 7x over the prior year as the company accelerates its shift to a cloud-native digital ecosystem SaaS solution provider. Concurrently, iBase-t also unveiled a companywide rebrand delivering a new look and feel designed to better represent the company's modern solutions for discrete manufacturing.

iBase-t continues to step up investments in its flagship Solumina iSeries, the industry's first microservices-based, cloud-native manufacturing platform as a core driver of growth, while also striking a host of new strategic partnerships.

"I am very proud of the solid execution by our team in achieving strong growth over the last fiscal year," said Naveen Poonian, CEO, iBase-t. "We made significant progress accelerating the capabilities of our solutions to meet the specific needs and challenges of our customers, enabling them to manage complex operations with greater ease, efficiency, and quality in any environment. The strategy we have set and our continued investments in the product and business continues to drive strong financial performance."

Product Innovation

iBase-t's Solumina iSeries underwent several key updates culminating with its most recent version, i090. These updates solve specific user limitations and improve functions at multiple stages in the manufacturing process, including improved flow of data between the supplier and the manufacturer, enhanced user capabilities to split inspection orders, and helping to improve sustainability through reduced waste, improved efficiency, and decreased carbon footprint.

Following these product advancements and the company's ability to execute, iBase-t was also selected by IDC as a Leader in "MES for Engineering Intensive Manufacturing" for its innovative offerings. In addition, iBase-t's Solumina iSeries successfully completed its Service Organization Control (SOC) 2 Type 2 certification. Completion of the SOC 2 Type 2 audit certifies the highest level of security and data protection standards for iBase-t's customers.

Rebrand

Now stylized as iBase-t - the Intelligence-Based Technology company - has refreshed its previous branding which served the company for more than two decades. With a new color scheme, modern design, and phonetic spelling, iBase-t better represents the forward looking and innovative solution the company delivers. Learn more about the iBase-t Rebrand.

"iBase-t has evolved and grown in delivering our leading-edge solutions since our founding in 1986," said Tom Hennessey, CMO, iBase-t. "Our rebrand is reflective of the changes our company has made in recent years and delivers a fresh and modern feel while maintaining and respecting the reputation and heritage the company has developed over the last several decades."

Partner Engagement

In the past fiscal year, iBase-t expanded its Partner Ecosystem welcoming several new partnerships to drive digital transformation in manufacturing, spark innovation in cutting edge research, and to give back to the Aerospace and Defense community. This expands previously announced ecosystem members including Accenture, ATS, AWS, Cyient, DXC, HCL, Microsoft, and PTC.

Most recently iBase-t announced a strategic alliance with eQ Technologies to create and offer a Closed Loop Manufacturing (CLM) solution connecting iBase-t's Solumina MES with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. The partnership is aimed at enabling manufacturing companies to accelerate digital transformation by establishing a digital thread across PLM, MES, ERP systems.

iBase-t also expanded partnership with the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC). Beginning in January, iBase-t has made the Digital Operation Suite, powered by Solumina iSeries, available to researchers and members of the MTC's National Centre for Advanced Manufacturing Technologies. This expanded partnership has seen iBase-t become a Tier-1 MTC member cementing the company's commitment to UK manufacturing.

In addition, iBase-t launched a partnership with consulting and system integrator, Razorleaf Corporation. Together, the companies provide strategic consulting, deployment and technical services built around Solumina iSeries and aimed at supporting customer's Industry 4.0 strategies by simplifying manufacturing, quality and sustainment MRO processes.

Separately, iBase-t provided a momentous donation to The Camaraderie Foundation which supports individuals and military families who have served in the United States Armed Forces.

About iBase-t

iBase-t is a software company that simplifies how complex products are built and maintained. Founded in Southern California in 1986, iBaset- solutions ensure digital continuity across manufacturing, quality, and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) operations on a global scale. The iSeries, powered by Solumina, is a cloud-native platform that establishes a digital ecosystem to drive innovation and improve operational performance. With offices in the U.S., UK, France, and India, iBase-t customers include Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Rolls Royce, Pratt & Whitney, and Textron. Learn more at iBaset.com.

Media Contact:

Tom Hennessey

(949) 958-5200

[email protected]

SOURCE iBase-t
The technology breaks through the barriers limiting silicon's advancement and delivers customers higher efficiency, smaller and more cost-effective products

LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- iDEAL Semiconductor, a fabless semiconductor company focused on delivering breakthrough power efficiency, today announced the general availability of its patented SuperQ technology. SuperQ can reduce power loss in many applications including data centers, electric vehicles, solar panels, motor drives, medical devices, and white goods. Its elevated efficiency reduces carbon footprints and allows for a more sustainable future.

iDEAL's engineers and scientists reinvented the power device architecture and delivered a step-function increase in performance. The technology is based in silicon, which represents 95% of global semiconductor manufacturing capacity, and is forward compatible with future power semiconductor materials.

The basic power semiconductor structure has seen limited innovation in the past two decades and silicon power device performance has plateaued. Attempts to further increase performance have focused on materials versus expanding the limits of silicon. Through scientific research and engineering at the atomic level, iDEAL Semiconductor has created a novel architecture that sets the next frontier of performance and debunks the idea that the industry has reached the end of the road for silicon advancement.

"iDEAL Semiconductor is one of the only companies focused on both process and architecture for building power devices. Our improvements in silicon rival the improvements offered by other materials, but with silicon's manufacturability, availability, and reliability," said Mark Granahan, CEO and co-founder of iDEAL Semiconductor. "Through collaborations in the U.S. with Applied Materials and Polar Semiconductor, we have unlocked previously unimaginable performance gains. Material agnostic, we address the increasing demand for power devices. With the current global push for a greener future, we are thrilled about the role we play in making products more sustainable while also showcasing what investment in America's semiconductor industry can accomplish."

Achieved through science and engineering at the atomic level, SuperQ delivers record-setting resistance per unit area (RSP). Initially targeting voltages up to 850 volt (V), the technology equips system engineers with improved power semiconductor devices such as diodes, metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs), insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBTs) and integrated circuits (ICs). For example, SuperQ-based 200V MOSFETs deliver 6x lower resistance than existing silicon and 1.6x lower resistance than GaN. Motor drive inverters designed with SuperQ technology can save up to 50% of power losses. The technology is manufactured using state-of-the-art complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) equipment.

The launch comes on the heels of a Series C funding round bringing total investment to over $75 million. iDEAL's investors are U.S.-based, high-wealth family offices and successful business entrepreneurs with an interest in growing the domestic semiconductor industry. Leveraging the capital, iDEAL Semiconductor is aggressively expanding its hiring, product proliferation and U.S. manufacturing capacity.

For more information, visit www.idealsemi.com.

About iDEAL Semiconductor

Founded in the Lehigh Valley in 2017, iDEAL Semiconductor Devices, Inc. is an industry-leading developer of next generation silicon power devices. Its products are developed using a novel semiconductor technology, SuperQ, based on a newly observed phenomenon that delivers dramatic semiconductor energy efficiency using conventional CMOS manufacturing techniques. The platform technology, applicable across a wide range of products, applications, and semiconductor materials, is purpose-built to mitigate power loss in every application and will provide greener energy usage for the next generation.

SOURCE iDEAL Semiconductor
TEL AVIV, Israel, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- iMDsoft, a global leader in clinical information systems and the developer of the MetaVision Suite for critical care, anaesthesia and acute care, announced today its partnership with Respiratory Care Africa (Pty) Ltd (RCA) for the South African market. Under this partnership, RCA will be authorized to market and sell licenses for the MetaVision Suite and provide implementation and support services to MetaVision customers in South Africa.

As a leading medical device distributor in the field of critical care and representing global brands in South Africa for over 20 years, RCA is ideally positioned to offer MetaVision to hospitals throughout South Africa, with a clinically driven, customer focused approach and a steadfast commitment to providing customers with the best solutions and highest level of service possible.

This partnership with RCA, marks an important milestone for iMDsoft, as it is the company's first foray into the African continent reflecting the growing readiness of the region to adopt dedicated, advanced IT solutions in the critical care and perioperative space.

"We are excited to partner with RCA and launch MetaVision in South Africa", said Shahar Sery, Executive Vice President, iMDsoft. "This is a very meaningful market in the region and the timing is perfect, with South Africa's dual private and public health systems poised to take their existing health informatics infrastructure to the next level for the benefit of patients and clinicians. We are confident that RCA has the right combination of customer reach, understanding of market dynamics and commitment to success, necessary to develop a substantial business in South Africa."

"Healthcare institutions today are challenged by the need to deliver positive outcomes for patients whilst dealing with budget constraints, staff shortages, multiple care protocols, and increasing regulation. We are excited to partner with iMDsoft and bring MetaVision to South African market to address these challenges, by optimizing operational efficiencies in key revenue areas, to increase profitability and maintain growth rates at sustainable levels. With the current implementation and adoption of EHR, our partnership with iMDsoft enables RCA to leverage our local expertise in conjunction with a well-established global provider in critical care and perioperative unit clinical information systems, that ensures interoperability with customers' new and existing systems and software", said Christiaan De Wet, General Manager, RCA.

iMDsoft is constantly working to expand its global presence, to enhance care quality and improve financial performance throughout high acuity hospital environments around the world. Through its channel partner program, iMDsoft teams up with leading healthcare technology companies, empowering them to lead marketing and sales activities in the local market whilst providing them with implementation and support services. With channel partners driving local market activities and leveraging their physical proximity to the customer, iMDsoft is enabled to focus its full attention on the development and enhancement of MetaVision, as a fully scalable critical care solution. With RCA, iMDsoft now has 13 strategic channel partners operating across 24 markets.

About iMDsoft

iMDsoft is a global leader in clinical information systems, empowering healthcare leaders to deliver superior results across critical care, acute care and anaesthesia environments. With extensive experience in high acuity environments, we are critically focused on delivering results in areas of hospitals with the highest cost, revenue, mortality, and morbidity. Hundreds of hospitals and health networks across 24 countries trust and use MetaVision Suite, the company's flagship product, to improve patient care quality and enhance financial results. Our global channel partner program offers an end-to-end approach for distribution partners to deliver iMDsoft's best in class software. iMDsoft is a wholly owned subsidiary of N. Harris Computer Corporation.

For more information please visit www.imd-soft.com and follow us on LinkedIn

About RCA

With over two decades of experience in the medical device industry RCA are driven to augment the challenges our healthcare institutions and providers are faced with by configuring individualised customer-centric solutions that will lead to improved financial performance and the provision of safe, quality, coordinated care and better patient outcomes for a long and healthy life for all South Africans. Established in 1998, RCA, is a privately held company.

SOURCE iMDsoft
LOS ANGELES, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- What is Music Metaverse Token?

The Music Metaverse Token ($MMT) is a cryptocurrency that harnesses the power of blockchain technology to revolutionize the way fans access live music events. $MMT allows users to purchase concert tickets at a fraction of the standard cost, making it a win-win situation for both artists and music lovers. By offering an unrivalled utility only available for owners of the coin, $MMT is set to challenge the traditional ticketing industry which has seen so many altercations in recent times.

Introducing $MMT: Musics Brand New Token.

The $MMT platform operates using a combination of smart contracts, blockchain technology, and tokenomics to create a seamless and transparent ticketing process. $MMT can offer significant discounts, up to 90% discount on prices currently on the market, bringing fans more chances to see their favourite artists live.

Fans can purchase these tickets using the $MMT cryptocurrency, and $MMT can be easily purchased on the DEX, UNISWAP where $MMT will reside.

Promote 2 Earn  StreamSpace & Partnership with StreamLIVE

By integrating $MMT into the world-leading live-streaming music platform, StreamLive, digital concert promoters can now earn $MMT by opening and operating their Streamspace  specialized, customizable virtual venues for hosting live music events & creating a social community around whatever the promoter may choose. This groundbreaking partnership creates a seamless and transparent system for promoters to monetize their efforts while also benefiting the wider music community.

StreamLive have already partnered with over 1,000 colleges in USA to bring this incredible offering to the future of the music industry  students studying music in college. Music students are being given the chance to become their own Digital Concert Promoter on the StreamLive platform, benefitting their learning & experience within the industry.

How it works

The process is simple and straightforward:

Open a Streamspace: approved Digital Concert Promoters create a virtual venue on the StreamLive platform, customizing its design, features, and overall atmosphere to suit the events they plan to host. The Streamspace for each promoter will completely unique, and will become a hub for their community. Host an event: Concert promoters choose which upcoming StreamLive events they want to host in their Streamspace. Monetize with $MMT: The more viewers a Digital Concert Promoter has in their Streamspace, the more $MMT they will earn!

$MMT is a niche Token for the Music Industry, and for Digital Concert Promoters. It not only provides incredible Utility for Music Fans, but also a major commitment to young music students looking to break into this highly competitive industry.

Key benefits of the Music Metaverse Token

Cost savings for fans: With the potential to save up to 90% on concert tickets, music lovers will find it much more affordable to attend their favorite events. The platform's transparent pricing structure also ensures that fans are never blindsided by hidden fees or surcharges. Promote2Earn: Approved Digital Concert Promoters can earn $MMT simply by operating & attracting audiences into their Streamspace. Enhancing opportunities in the music industry for Fans, Music Artists and Music Students & Professionals.

So, get ready to enjoy the show  Music Metaverse Token is here to revolutionize the concert experience for good!

$MMT Is Out Now!

If you want to enjoy discounted concert tickets, then join the $MMT community!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/musicmetatoken

Discord: https://discord.gg/musicmetaversetoken

Website: https://musicmetaversetoken.xyz/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/musicmetaversetoken

SOURCE Music Metaverse Token
Luxury Grand Margarita cabanas available poolside in Miami and Los Angeles in partnership with ResortPass. Experience Grand Marnier's unexpected blend of cognac and orange liqueur, tailor-made for a Grand Encounter

NEW YORK, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Grand Marnier introduces the Grand Margarita Summer Encounter, a one-of-a-kind, unexpected cabana experience that brings together touches of the brand's French heritage and the iconic, bold flavors of the Grand Margarita cocktail for an elevated poolside soiree.

Consumers will have the opportunity to sign up for a luxurious Grand Margarita Summer Encounter in both Los Angeles and Miami via ResortPass.com all summer long.

The unique pairing of the patio-friendly American favorite, the Margarita, with the sophistication of Cognac in Grand Marnier creates an elevated Margarita experience any time of year. Yet beginning this May, consumers will have the opportunity to sign up for a luxurious Grand Margarita Summer Encounter in both Los Angeles and Miami via ResortPass.com all summer long. Dedicated to inspiring people to treat themselves to a wide range of luxury resort amenities, ResortPass provides access to breathtaking pools, private beaches, deluxe spas, and top fitness facilities at leading hotels - all in their own neighborhood.

With the Grand Margarita Summer Encounter, cabana-goers can purchase a personalized, French inspired cabana "daycation" for up to six guests, without having to make an overnight reservation at the resort. The experience includes delicious Grand Margaritas and light bites, a custom Grand Marnier pool tote accompanied by a deluxe Turkish towel, a sun hat inspired by walks along the French Riviera and premium French skincare items, and of course unlimited access to the cool ripple of a pristine, luxurious pool. You must be 21+ to purchase the summer encounter experience and can do so by simply visiting fooji.info/summerencounter . After selecting your desired city, you will be redirected to the corresponding ResortPass page to book your preferred date (available June through August) for a Grand Margarita Summer Encounter experience.

A Grand Encounter has been at the heart of Grand Marnier's heritage since its inception in 1880 with its unique blend of Cognac and bitter orange liqueur, an unthinkable combination at that time. Yet the result was unexpectedly Grand, and the recipe has remained unchanged ever since. The Grand Margarita Summer Encounter follows the brand's recent launch of a new global creative campaign entitled "Grand Encounter"  a series of films that celebrates the magic created by bringing two unexpected elements together to make something extraordinary. By pairing Grand Marnier's hero cocktail, The Grand Margarita, with an elevated cabana experience, the brand is transforming a poolside visit into a luxurious immersive experience, providing consumers with a French inspired holiday in which they can enjoy their own unique Grand Encounters throughout the summer, and beyond.

To extend the Grand Margarita Summer Encounter opportunity outside of Miami and Los Angeles and continue celebrating Grand Encounters beyond the summer months, Grand Marnier will be offering the chance for one lucky person and their guest to win a trip to Paris, saying "Au revoir" to home, and "Bonjour" to France, the origin of Grand Marnier. Guests 21+ will be whisked away for 4 days and 3 nights to experience a journey of unexpected encounters in Paris. This coveted sweepstakes prize will allow guests to create their own Grand Encounter under the Parisian sun and stars in 2024, courtesy of Grand Marnier.

Andrea Sengara, Vice President of Marketing for Campari, U.S. says "The Grand Margarita Summer Encounter program celebrates Grand Marnier's history of bringing together two unexpected elements to create something Grand. This concept dates to our origins when our founder, Louis-Alexandre Marnier Lapostolle combined Cognac with a bitter orange essence, and continues today with our hero cocktail, the Grand Margarita, in which the inclusion of a Cognac based liqueur in the number one cocktail in the U.S., the Margarita, creates a cocktail that has a more complex, richer flavor profile. With this program, we continue to provide consumers with the opportunity to elevate their cocktail drinking experience, pairing Grand Margarita cocktails with a French inspired, luxurious cabana setting in which they can uncover the magic of serendipitous encounters all summer long."

From May 16th to August 20th, sign up to take part in the Grand Margarita Summer Encounter for an experience to remember with Grand Marnier! Whether enjoying your Grand Margarita poolside, at your favorite bar or restaurant, at home with friends or otherwise, please do so responsibly. Learn more about this unforgettable French holiday experience by visiting fooji.info/summerencounter .

Find us at

https://www.grandmarnier.com/en-us/

fooji.info/summerencounter

On Social

@grandmarnierusa

#GrandEncounter

#GrandMarnierSweepstakes

Give Our Recipe a Try

Grand Margarita

RECIPE:

0.75 parts Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge

1.5 parts Tequila

0.75 parts Fresh Lime Juice

0.25 parts Agave Nectar

Lime wheel to garnish

Salt Optional

SERVE:

Begin by filling a wide, shallow dish with 2-3mm of fine salt. Cut a lime in half and rub around half of the glass rim

Then, holding the glass upside down, dip the wet half delicately into the salt, so that it adheres to the rim to a thickness of 2-3mm

Shake the Grand Marnier, tequila, lime juice, and agave nectar with ice and strain into the glass

Apply lime wheel to the rim of the glass and enjoy!

About Grand Marnier

Grand Marnier is the only premium liqueur in the world that combines cognac with exotic bitter orange liqueur. Grand Marnier was created in 1880 by Louis-Alexandre Marnier Lapostolle who had the innovative idea of blending cognac with a rare variety of orange "Citrus bigaradia."

By combining the complexity of cognac with the exoticism of distilled essence of orange he created the famous Grand Liqueur. Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge continues to be produced as it was in 1876, with the addition of special cuvees to the range over the years, including Grand Marnier Louis Alexandre, Grand Marnier Cuvee Centenaire, Grand Marnier Cuvee Revelation and the Grand Marnier Cuvee Quintessence.

About Campari Group

Campari Group is a major player in the global spirits industry, with a portfolio of over 50 premium and super premium brands, spreading across Global, Regional and Local priorities. The Group was founded in 1860 and today is the sixth-largest player worldwide in the premium spirits industry. Campari Group has a global distribution reach, trading in over 190 nations around the world with leading positions in Europe and the Americas. Campari Group is headquartered in Sesto San Giovanni, Italy, and owns 22 plants worldwide with its own distribution network in 23 countries. The shares of the parent company, Davide Campari-Milano N.V. (Reuters CPRI.MI - Bloomberg CPR IM), have been listed on the Italian Stock Exchange since 2001.

Campari America LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Davide Campari-Milano N.V. ampari America has built a portfolio unrivaled in its quality, innovation and style, making it a top choice among distributors, retailers and consumers. Campari America manages Campari Group's portfolio in the US with such leading brands as SKYY Vodka, SKYY Infusions, Grand Marnier, Campari, Aperol, Wild Turkey Kentucky Straight Bourbon, American Honey, Russell's Reserve, The Glen Grant Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Forty Creek Canadian Whisky, BULLDOG Gin, Cabo Wabo Tequila, Espolon Tequila, Montelobos Mezcal, Ancho Reyes Chile Liqueur, Appleton Estate Rum, Wray & Nephew Rum, Coruba Rum, Ouzo 12, X-Rated Fusion Liqueur, Frangelico, Cynar, Averna, Braulio, Cinzano, Mondoro and Jean-Marc XO Vodka.

For more information:

http://www.camparigroup.com

Please enjoy our brands responsibly.

Media Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Grand Marnier
Deepens NY Bench for Patent and Trade Secret Litigation

NEW YORK, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A three-person intellectual property team joins Crowell & Moring in New York, bringing in-depth IP litigation experience in patent and trade secret matters.

The team is led by top IP litigator Paul Keller and includes counsel Michelle Wang and James Reed.

IP Team Joins Crowell (left to right: Paul Keller, Michelle Wang, and James Reed)

This trio has handled a broad range of patent and trade secret disputes in the automotive, life sciences, and fintech sectors, as well as trade dress, copyright, and other commercial disputes involving IP assets.

"The team broadens our IP litigation and trial capabilities around the globe," said Laura A. Lydigsen, co-chair of the firm's Intellectual Property Department. "In addition to advising clients on patent and trade secret related matters, they have carved out a niche working with companies on the forefront of disruptive technologies, notably artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles."

Keller is a first-chair trial lawyer with more than two decades of IP litigation experience. Keller and his team focus on disruptive technologies, such as autonomous driving, artificial intelligence, IoT, 3D printing, eHealth, Big Data, 5G, and encryption.

Keller previously led the U.S. intellectual property disputes group at Allen & Overy. Prior to that, he served as the head of Norton Rose Fulbright's IP disputes group and co-led its autonomous vehicle international business group.

"Crowell has built a premier IP practice and we look forward to collaborating with their excellent team of lawyers to provide the highest level of client service possible," said Keller, noting that the firm combined with Brinks, Gilson & Lione two years ago, making it one of the largest patent practices in the nation. "Our automotive, heavy industry, and disruptive tech industry experiences provide a variety of cross-practice opportunities."

Keller earned his law degree at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and earned his undergraduate degree from Fordham University. He is a recognized thought leader on IP issues, hosting a successful podcast series focused on autonomous vehicles.

About Crowell & Moring LLP

Crowell & Moring LLP is an international law firm with offices in the United States, Europe, MENA, and Asia. Drawing on significant government, business, industry and legal experience, the firm helps clients capitalize on opportunities and provides creative solutions to complex litigation and arbitration, regulatory and policy, and corporate and transactional issues. The firm is consistently recognized for its commitment to pro bono service as well as its programs and initiatives to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Media Contact:

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Crowell & Moring LLP
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 15. The first meeting of the General Assembly of the Turkish Parliament of the 28th convocation is expected to be held under the temporary chairmanship of the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party Devlet Bahceli, Trend reports via Anadolu.

According to the preliminary results of the parliamentary elections held on May 14, five deputies under the age of 30 entered the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye.

The youngest member of the Turkish parliament of the new convocation was 25-year-old Zehranur Aydemir, a member of the Justice and Development Party from Ankara.

It is expected that acting chairman of the Nationalist Movement Party from Osmaniye Devlet Bahceli will become the deputy of the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye. He is the oldest member of the Parliament.

According to preliminary results, 479 men and 121 women received a deputy mandate in the Turkish parliament.

The Justice and Development Party will be represented in Parliament by 30 women, the Nationalist Movement Party  4, the IYI Party [The Good Party]  6, the Left Green Party  30, the Turkish Workers' Party  1 woman.

The Parliament of the 28th convocation included deputies of various specialties: doctors, sociologists, sportsmen, pilots, teachers, farmers, businessmen, journalists.
Tightened Focus Will Better Serve Local and Regional Community Needs, Building Behind Proven Leader Dr. Christine Sapienza

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Building on a decade of developing market-responsive programs that prepare graduates to succeed in cutting-edge, high-demand fields, Jacksonville University announced today the launch of its Office of Partnership and Development. This office will continue capitalizing on opportunities for partnership, expansion, innovation and development at the pace that the marketplaceand JU studentsdemand.

Dr. Christine Sapienza was named Executive Vice President of Partnership of Development at Jacksonville University.

"In response to the opportunities and challenges facing higher education institutions nationwide, Jacksonville University has leaned into hundreds of strategic partnerships with industry leaders to continue offering relevant, timely fields of study at the undergraduate and graduate levels," said Jacksonville University President Tim Cost. "Establishing this Office of Partnership and Development is less about structure and more about focus. This helps to enhance and further resource our proven track record of anticipating market needs and adapting for the benefit of our students."

The Office of Partnership and Development will be led by Executive Vice President Dr. Christine Sapienza, in a tightened focus of her work over the past five years as she balanced her role as Provost, reflecting her unique expertise in healthcare, technology, innovation, student interests, partnership development, trend analysis, and strategy development. Sapienza joined Jacksonville University in 2013.

"Jacksonville University continues to prioritize addressing the opportunities we see in the marketplace, with premier partners, dedicated faculty and staff, and increasingly high expectations from students," said Dr. Sapienza. "We continue to aggressively identify, assess, debate and verify new ideas while ensuring those we have already enacted continue to receive the resources required to flourish."

Entrepreneur, alumnus, and Chairman of the Jacksonville University Board of Trustees Matt Kane adds, "A premier university has a unique opportunityand, we believe, a responsibilityto reflect the intellectual vitality of its community by enhancing the global marketplace of ideas to benefit the full spectrum of local stakeholders. Intensifying our efforts around partnerships and development supports that goal and is the next smart strategic step to accelerate and sustain progress at the university."

In the past 10 years, Jacksonville University has developed dozens of new programs, many of which required, and were accelerated by, strong strategic and financial partnerships with high-caliber organizations. These included:

Creation of the Health Sciences Complex on the north end of the Jacksonville University main campus;

main campus; Buildout of the Healthcare Simulation Center, the largest healthcare simulation center with open access to community healthcare partners,

Creation of the Cybersecurity Range and Cyberforensics lab;

Establishment of the Brooks Rehabilitation College of Healthcare Sciences and, more specifically, the School of Applied Health Sciences;

Development of accelerated innovative programming for in-demand practitioners, most notably in nursing workforce development;

Expansion of the geographic footprint of JU academic sites, including downtown Jacksonville and Palm Coast locations;

and locations; Creation of the UpSkill Institute at Jacksonville University to meet regional market demand by offering classes and certifications in technology, healthcare, education, and technical skill training for certifications'

to meet regional market demand by offering classes and certifications in technology, healthcare, education, and technical skill training for certifications' Creation of academic partnerships to expand distance-learning opportunities;

Creation of a College of Law in partnership with the City of Jacksonville ; and

; and Future plans to launch a medical school in partnership with Lake Erie College of Medicine; the accreditation process is well underway for both new Colleges.

Dr. Sapienza will begin her new role on June 1, 2023. Dr. Sherri Jackson, who has served in the role of Vice Provost since 2018, will serve as Interim Provost.

About Jacksonville University

As northeast Florida's premier private institution of higher education, Jacksonville University is consistently recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the Best Regional Universities in the South. Founded in 1934, the University offers more than 100 majors, minors, and programs, including in-demand degrees in Nursing, Business, Marine Science, Engineering, Finance, and Psychology, as well as those in the highly specialized fields of Aviation, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Film, Animation, and Healthcare Administration. With its five colleges, eleven schools and four institutes, Jacksonville University's 235-acre riverfront campus is minutes from downtown and from beautiful area beaches.

Contact:

Laura Phelps

[email protected]

SOURCE Jacksonville University
Freddie Noe, 8th Generation Master Distiller of Fred B. Noe Distillery, Leads Beam Family's First Foray Into This Emerging Category of American Whiskey

CLERMONT, Ky., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, for the first time, the James B. Beam Distilling Co. brings its 227 years of whiskey-making expertise and excellence to the American Single Malt Whiskey category with the launch of Clermont Steep. Developed by Freddie Noe, 8th Generation Master Distiller of the Fred B. Noe Distillery, this venture into an emerging category explores the full potential of a single grain  American Malted Barley.

Clermont Steep American Single Malt explores the full potential of a single grain  American Malted Barley. Tweet this The James B. Beam Distilling Co. brings its 227 years of whiskey-making expertise and excellence to the American Single Malt Whiskey category with the launch of Clermont Steep American Single Malt Whiskey. Photo credit: Beam Suntory

With little to no definition in the American Single Malt category, Noe developed his own defining guidelines, making intentional production choices to celebrate the flavor of this single grain at every step of development. Clermont Steep is a five-year-old liquid distilled and aged in Clermont, Kentucky, and matured in bespoke barrels to deliver warm toffee sweetness on the palate without overshadowing the unique, bready taste of American barley.

"As a new venture, crafting Clermont Steep has been one of the toughest challenges I have ever faced in the distillery, and I am incredibly proud of where we've landed," said Noe. "This American Single Malt Whiskey is smooth, sweet and incredibly balanced, and it deserves a spot on any whiskey lover's bar cart, right alongside their bourbons and ryes."

Clermont Steep is a whiskey steeped in influence from both process and place. Just as single malt couldn't exist without steeping the grain, this whiskey couldn't exist without Clermont, Kentucky  the soul place of the James B. Beam Distilling Co. and the heartland of American Whiskey distilling culture. Noe and his team hand-selected the American malted barley for the mash and used Beam family jug yeast in the natural fermentation process. It's the same yeast that is used in all Beam products, adding a sense of familiarity to every sip. The single malt was then distilled on a column still and aged for five years in barrels that were toasted, then quickly charred to a char level 1.

The launch of Clermont Steep marks a significant milestone in the American Whiskey landscape as James B. Beam Distilling Co., the world's largest producer of Bourbon, takes a stake in a rapidly growing segment that has yet to be fully explored.

"I'm always looking toward the future of American Whiskey, and the boundless runway in this category intrigued me," said Noe. "We don't just want to participate in American Single Malt Whiskey; we want to help define it for the future of the category."

The foray into an American Single Malt Whiskey is proof of the innovation possible within the Fred B. Noe Distillery under Freddie Noe's guidance. The Fred B. Noe Distillery was named after 7th Generation Master Distiller Fred Noe and serves as the home to legacy small batch brands, such as Booker's Bourbon, as well as new-to-world whiskies, including Little Book Whiskey, Hardin's Creek Bourbon and, in the future, Clermont Steep.

Clermont Steep will be available in select states across the US, in-store and on ReserveBar, beginning June 2023. For real-time information about Clermont Steep, follow along on Instagram @clermontsteep and ClermontSteep.com.

CLERMONT STEEP AMERICAN SINGLE MALT WHISKEY | 47% ABV | SRP: $59.99

COLOR Golden Honey

NOSE Toasted Malt, Caramel, Toffee

PALATE Vanilla, Caramel, Whole-Grain / Cereal

About Clermont Steep

Clermont Steep American Single Malt Whiskey is the first American Single Malt Whiskey to be released from the James B. Beam Distilling Co. under Freddie Noe, 8th Generation Master Distiller of the Fred B. Noe Distillery. As a formally undefined category, Freddie Noe purposefully developed his own guidelines and defining factors for American Single Malt Whiskey while operating under the ultimate creative constraint  using a single grain. Clermont Steep is a product of singular focus and results in a singularly focused whiskey experience. 47% ABV | SRP: $59.99).

About Beam Suntory

As a world leader in premium spirits, Beam Suntory inspires the brilliance of life by delivering great consumer experiences through its world-class portfolio of brands. Known for its craftsmanship of premium whiskies, including Jim Beam, Maker's Mark, Basil Hayden and Knob Creek bourbons; Japanese whiskies, including Yamazaki, Hakushu, Hibiki and Toki; and leading Scotch brands including Teacher's, Laphroaig and Bowmore, Beam Suntory also produces leading brands such as Courvoisier cognac, Tres Generaciones, El Tesoro and Hornitos tequila, Roku and Sipsmith gin, Canadian Club whisky, and is a world leader in ready-to-drink cocktails, with brands like -196 and On The Rocks Premium Cocktails.

A global company with approximately 6,000 employees in more than 30 countries, one of Beam Suntory's core values is Growing for Good and through its Proof Positive sustainability strategy, the company has committed to ambitious goals and investments to promote environmental sustainability in its operations, ensure the company has a positive impact on the communities where employees live and work, and programs to educate and inform consumers to make the right personal choices about drinking. Headquartered in New York City, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com and www.drinksmart.com.

ENJOY RESPONSIBLY. Clermont Steep American Single Malt Whiskey, 47% Alc./Vol. 2023 James B. Beam Distilling Co., Clermont, KY.

SOURCE Beam Suntory
JENNIE-O Brand Team Members and Chef Carla Hall Visit Central Durfee K-12 School This Week



WILLMAR, Minn., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The makers of the Jennie-O turkey brand  a category leader and trusted brand for turkey products  announced that on Thursday, May 18, the brand team and chef Carla Hall, a noted celebrity chef, will recognize the unsung heroes of the school cafeteria staff at Detroit 's Central Durfee K-12 School, where a recently signed proclamation has declared the month of May as "School Lunch Hero Month". Detroit is the last stop of the national "School Cafeteria Takeover" tour hosted by the Jennie-O brand team and Chef Hall.

The makers of the Jennie-O turkey brand  a category leader and trusted brand for turkey products  announced that on Thursday, May 18, the brand team and chef Carla Hall, a noted celebrity chef, will recognize the unsung heroes of the school cafeteria staff at Detroits Central Durfee K-12 School, where a recently signed proclamation has declared the month of May as School Lunch Hero Month. Detroit is the last stop of the national School Cafeteria Takeover tour hosted by the Jennie-O bran The brand announced its partnership in October 2022 with esteemed chef, cookbook author and beloved TV personality Carla Hall. As part of this partnership, the Jennie-O team and Hall visited schools across the nation to honor school cafeteria staff by hosting School Cafeteria Takeovers, where they cooked Jennie-O turkey as part of the catered meal for the staff, pampered them with massage chairs, baked biscuits and showed them gratitude and love from their students with flowers and hand-writt

The brand announced its partnership in October 2022 with esteemed chef, cookbook author and beloved TV personality Carla Hall . As part of this partnership, the Jennie-O team and Hall visited schools across the nation to honor school cafeteria staff by hosting "School Cafeteria Takeovers," where they cooked Jennie-O turkey as part of the catered meal for the staff, pampered them with massage chairs, baked biscuits and showed them gratitude and love from their students with flowers and hand-written notes. They kicked off the campaign in Knoxville, Tenn., at Blue Grass Elementary School in October 2022, headed to Panorama High School in Los Angeles in November 2022, and visited Houston 's Mandarin Immersion Magnet School in February 2023.

"The School Cafeteria Takeovers with Jennie-O has been an absolute pleasure, as I've been able to honor some of the most unsung heroes in our school system - the cafeteria staff!" said Chef Carl Hall. "From Knoxville to Los Angeles, Houston and now Detroit, we want to thank them from the bottom of our hearts for caring for our children and putting good food in their stomachs - which then allows them to have proper nutrition to play, study, compete in sports, and more!"

Hall and the Jennie-O brand team worked together to develop a grazing table featuring Jennie-O turkey for the school cafeteria staff to enjoy this week. During the event, Hall will lead a baking tutorial of her famous biscuits with school cafeteria staff. Additionally, Jennie-O will bring in local businesses to offer refreshments and relaxing amenities for school cafeteria heroes, including chair massages. Finally, staff will receive heartfelt notes of gratitude from the student body.

"We are elated that the renowned Chef Carla Hall, who combines her love of food and people, is coming here to the Central-Durfee K-12 Campus. Our staff and students can't wait for the lunchroom takeover!" said Principle LaToyia Webb

"It has been a dream come true to work with chef Carla Hall over the last few months to honor cafeteria staff across the country with our 'School Cafeteria Takeover' program," said Renee Cool, brand manager at Jennie-O Turkey Store. "Seeing the huge smiles on the cafeteria staff's faces, have them realize that we recognize all they do, and working with students to show our gratitude to the staff has been incredibly gratifying. And we hope to bring even more joy to four more schools in the next few months with our special kitchen equipment giveaway!"

An additional component of the School Cafeteria Takeovers program with Hall, the makers of the Jennie-O brand will provide $25,000 in kitchen equipment to four additional schools throughout the Spring and Summer to help fulfill wish lists for cafeterias in need of new equipment and supplies. To nominate a school for a $25,000 prize of kitchen equipment, supplies and essentials, share your school's story and how they make a difference in lives everyday HERE.

Jennie-O is the leading turkey provider to school districts in the United States.

Jennie-O is the leading turkey provider in 9 of the top 10 school districts in the nation.

Jennie-O serves more than 5,000 school districts in the U.S.

Jennie-O has the largest variety of K-12 turkey products in America.

The Jennie-O sales team has more than 100 years of combined experience in servicing K-12.

90 percent of USDA-donated turkey is made by Jennie-O.

For more information about Jennie-O turkey products, including recipes, nutritional information and where to buy, visit JennieO.com or follow the brand on social media at Facebook.com/JennieOTurkey , Instagram.com/JennieO , TikTok.com/@jennieobrand and Twitter.com/JennieO .

ABOUT JENNIE-O TURKEY STORE

For over 80 years, the Jennie-O brand has been helping consumers live well by eating well. As the category leader, Jennie-O turkey is the trusted brand for quality turkey and a source of expertise. We provide a full portfolio of delicious, nutritious turkey proteins and inspiration for everyday meals or special occasions. Known for our bright green awning evoking the nostalgia of a local farmer stand, our round logo with a touch of yellow and our distinct name from our founders' daughter Jennifer, the Jennie-O turkey brand has the right amount of small-town friendliness paired with leading company expertise and quality. For more information, visit JennieO.com.

ABOUT HORMEL FOODS  Inspired People. Inspired Food.

Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a global branded food company with over $11 billion in annual revenue across more than 80 countries worldwide. Its brands include Planters, SKIPPY, SPAM, Hormel Natural Choice, Applegate, Justin's, Wholly, Hormel Black Label, Columbus, Jennie-O and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named on the "Global 2000 World's Best Employers" list by Forbes magazine for three years, is one of Fortune magazine's most admired companies, has appeared on Corporate Responsibility Magazine's "The 100 Best Corporate Citizens" list for 12 years, and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. The company lives by its purpose statement  Inspired People. Inspired Food.  to bring some of the world's most trusted and iconic brands to tables across the globe. For more information, visit www.hormelfoods.com and http://csr.hormelfoods.com/.

Contact:

Media Relations

[email protected]

SOURCE Jennie-O Turkey Store
Among the World's Most Inspiring and Impactful Creators, Recipients will be Honored at Choose Creativity Awards in NYC

NEW YORK, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Each year Choose Creativity, powered by the Lulu & Leo Fund , selects trailblazers that lead with and inspire creativity within their respective industries and beyond. The 2023 recipients break new ground. The three honorees include Journalist and Media Pioneer Kara Swisher, Chief Marketing Officer of Hyundai Motor America and Creative Storyteller Angela Zepeda, and Acclaimed Multimedia Artist Grimanesa Amoros.

Swisher, Zepeda and Amoros will be honored on June 5 at the Choose Creativity Awards in New York City, the proceeds of which fund the delivery of its flagship curriculum Learn with Creative Confidence to under-resourced schools and after-school programs. The program is centered on the 10 Principles of Creativity, which empower children to develop into confident, resilient learners. To date, Choose Creativity has reached nearly 1,400 educators and over 24,000 children nationwide.

"This past year, Choose Creativity honored its tenth anniversary by bringing its unique curriculum to thousands of students to instill confidence and resilience," said Marina Krim, who founded the organization along with her husband Kevin. "The 2023 Gala will provide our first chance since the pandemic to truly celebrate the impact of creativity, but most importantly to look ahead to the future. As part of this celebration, we are honored to be able to highlight some of the most creative minds that exemplify how creativity can drive success."

Kara Swisher will be honored for Authentic Journalism. Known for her sharp wit and no-nonsense approach as a journalist for three decades, Swisher is the host of weekly interview podcast, On with Kara Swisher, and co-host of the technology and business podcast, Pivot, which she hosts with NYU Stern Marketing professor Scott Galloway. Both shows are New York Magazine productions, where she is an editor-at-large. She was co-founder of All Things Digital, Recode, and its annual Code conference. Kara's unfiltered approach is matched only by her authenticity and forthrightness, disarming even the most intimidating public figures, from Steve Jobs and Bill Gates to Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg.

Angela Zepeda will receive the Intuitive Leadership Award. A seasoned marketing executive with more than 25 years of experience, Angela has built a career on consumer-centric campaigns that build brands and drive business results. At Hyundai, Zepeda is responsible for the brand's marketing and advertising activities. Angela is an expert in marketing to women and has spoken on the topic at various conferences worldwide. Angela was named to the Forbes World's Most Influential CMOs , Ad Age's Leading Women and the Brand Innovators Top 100 Women in Brand Marketing lists in 2021.

Grimanesa Amoros will be honored for Inspired Illumination. Throughout her career, Peruvian-born American artist Amoros has exhibited in the United States, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, and is part of the ' Art In Embassies Program of the U.S. . She is known for using light to create immersive monumental sculptures that represent cultural heritage, community, and relationships to technology. Her work inspires viewers to engage with her art in unique and unconventional ways.

"The only way to describe this year's Choose Creativity Award recipients is relentless pioneers. Kara, Angela and Grimanesa have all brought creative approaches to their craft. They inspire others, lead with humanity, and take new and different approaches that have inspired not only their peers but society at large," said co-founder Kevin Krim. "We look forward to celebrating them at the Choose Creativity Awards this June."

The Choose Creativity Awards Gala is generously sponsored by Disney, TelevisaUnivision, ASCAP, Hyundai Motor America, Comcast NBCUniversal, CNBC, FOX, Haveli Investments and SambaTV.

For more information about the Choose Creativity Awards visit: https://one.bidpal.net/creativity2023/welcome

Choose Creativity, powered by the Lulu & Leo Fund

Marina and Kevin Krim established the Lulu & Leo Fund, and subsequently developed Choose Creativity, in memory of their children Lulu and Leo, who were lost in a tragedy in NYC in October 2012. The organization's work seeks to honor the role of creativity in their lives.

All proceeds from the Choose Creativity Awards fund the delivery of Choose Creativity's flagship curriculum Learn with Creative Confidence to under-resourced schools and after-school programs. The program is centered on the 10 Principles of Creativity, which empower children to develop into confident, resilient learners. To date, Choose Creativity has reached nearly 1,400 educators and over 24,000 kids.

SOURCE Choose Creativity
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kawasaki Engines today announced a series of leadership changes taking place at its division headquarters. Effective May 1, the following executives have moved into new roles:

Nelson Wilner, Kawasaki Engines Eisaku Mori, Kawasaki Engines

Fumihiro (Clint) Ohno, the senior vice president and general manager of the engines division since 2014, and Atsuhiro Yoshimatsu, executive vice president and general manager of research & development since 2019, both returned to corporate headquarters in Japan. After a total of 17 years with the engines division, Ohno continues to serve in a consultatory role, as a senior advisor for Kawasaki Engines, to help ensure continued support for customers and dealers.

Nelson Wilner, formerly vice president of business operations, becomes senior vice president and general manager, business operations. Wilner now holds one of the top leadership positions within the engines division and is responsible for continuing to enhance a strong employee and customer-centered culture while positioning the company for future product and sales expansion.

Eisaku Mori is a veteran executive of Kawasaki in both Japan and the United States. Mori previously held positions at the engine manufacturing plant in Missouri and at the engines division in Michigan before returning to the corporate office in Japan in 2019. Mori, who most recently held the position of general manager of general purpose engines in Japan, now returns to Grand Rapids, succeeding Yoshimatsu as executive vice president and general manager of research & development.

"We want to acknowledge and thank Mr. Ohno and Mr. Yoshimatsu for the outstanding leadership and dedication they've shown Kawasaki Engines, and also congratulate Mr. Wilner on his promotion," said Mori. "We have confidence in a strong and knowledgeable executive team who will continue the tradition of thoughtful leadership and strategic growth."

Kawasaki Engines, a division of Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A., distributes gasoline engines for landscape, industrial, and consumer markets. The division is headquartered in Grand Rapids, Mich. It sells to and services customers through a network of OEMs, distributors, and more than 7,600 independent dealers throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, select countries in Central and South America, Australia, and the U.S. Trust Territories of the Pacific, including Guam.

MEDIA CONTACT

Tiffany Young

Kawasaki Motors Corp.

616-954-3027

SOURCE Kawasaki Engines
NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Chief Executive magazine's annual list of the Best and Worst States for Business has ranked Kentucky as the 18th-best state overall, a significant jump from last year's ranking. Kentucky's booming manufacturing sector and influx of new investment have helped to propel the state forward and make it a top destination for businesses looking to grow and innovate.

The rankings, released in the Spring issue of Chief Executive, are based on a survey of more than 500 CEOs across the country who were asked to rate states based on how easy it was to do business in that state versus others. Kentucky's focus on creating a business-friendly environment has helped to attract a number of major companies to the state, including Ford and Toyota.

"Kentucky's jump in the rankings is a testament to the state's commitment to building a strong business climate and investing in workforce development," said Chris Chalk, Publisher, Chief Executive magazine. "The state's booming manufacturing sector and influx of new investment make it an attractive destination for businesses looking to grow and innovate."

While the Bluegrass State has seen its share of challenges in recent years, it is flush with business opportunities and is becoming known as a manufacturing hub for everything from bourbon to electric vehicle batteries. In 2021, of the 21,000 jobs that were created statewide, 90% were in manufacturing, according to the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers. That momentum continued in 2022. Toyota, Ford, GE Appliances and AESC have made new investments or expansions here in the past couple of years.

"The state's continued commitment to workforce development and investment in technology and infrastructure seem to have created a business-friendly environment that is attracting new investment and driving economic growth," said Chalk. "CEOs seem to be taking note."

Here's what some of the CEOs we surveyed had to say about why they ranked Kentucky so highly:

"Economic development is booming in virtually all sectors." - Donald H Lloyd II, President and CEO, St. Claire Healthcare

"Employer friendly policies" - Greg Batts , Prizer Point Marina & Resort, LLC,

, Prizer Point Marina & Resort, LLC, "Low cost of doing business"  exporter of food packaging, < $5 mil

mil "Lower cost of living and good access to skilled workers" - $25 to 49 mil, tech

to 49 mil, tech "Like bourbon and love the trail. Good, hard-working people not like states much further west." - Ralph Costen , Costen Family of Floors

, Costen Family of Floors "Low taxation. Healthy, profitable state government. Distribution. Great workforce." - $50 to 99 mil, pharma

The Top 5 States for 2023:

1. Texas

2. Florida

3. Tennessee

4. North Carolina

5. Arizona

The Bottom 5 States for 2023:

46. Oregon

47. New Jersey

48. Illinois

49. New York

50. California

Biggest Gain, 2022-23:

Kentucky, + 5 to 18th place

Biggest Loss, 2022-23

New Hampshire, - 7 to 28th place

See the full list in the Spring Issue of Chief Executive: https://cloud.3dissue.com/124771/124993/223586/Spring2023ChiefExecutiveMagazine/index.html

Enhanced Coverage online: https://chiefexecutive.net/best-worst-states-business/

About Chief Executive/Chief Executive Group

Chief Executive Group, a leading community for business leaders worldwide, exists to improve the performance of U.S. CEOs, CFOs, CIOs, CHROs and corporate directors. We publish Chief Executive magazine, ChiefExecutive.net, Corporate Board Member magazine, BoardMember.com, StrategicCFO360.com, StrategicCIO360.com and StrategicCHRO360.com, and run some of the nation's most essential peer-networking communities, including The CFO Leadership Council, Chief and Senior Executive Networks, Corporate Board Member Network and The American College of Corporate Directors. Learn more at ChiefExecutiveGroup.com.

Contact:

Dan Bigman

203-889-4980

[email protected]

SOURCE Chief Executive Group
Premier wine region unveils year-long campaign of events recognizing five decades of quality, innovation, and community

RIVERHEAD, N.Y., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Long Island Wine Country, a dynamic community of the region's 57 distinct wine producers, is proud to celebrate its 50th Anniversary of world-class winegrowing this summer on the East Coast. Since its establishment in 1973, Long Island Wine Country has become a premier destination for wine enthusiasts and for high-quality winemaking that rivals those from other renowned wine regions worldwide. With its unique terroir, characterized by a maritime climate, sandy soils, and influence from the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island Wine Country has consistently produced exceptional grapes and award-winning wines that stand out in a bustling market.

"Over the past 50 years, the region has blossomed into a thriving community of passionate producers who work together to craft exceptional wines for New York State and worldwide," said Kareem Massoud, Winemaker at Paumanok and Palmer Vineyards, and President of Long Island Wine Country. "Our wineries take great pride in their achievements, which have been made possible by the unwavering support of loyal customers and the local community."

Premier wine region unveils year-long campaign of events recognizing five decades of quality, innovation, and community Tweet this

Long Island Wine Country will commemorate its 50th Anniversary with a series of celebrations featuring a range of exciting press, trade, and consumer activities, including:

Trade and Press Portfolio Tasting at Temple Court in NYC on Wednesday, June 28, 2023 from 11:30 am - 2:30 pm ET

Cheers to 50 Years! Experience a one-of-a-kind trade and press portfolio tasting where wine experts can savor the best of Long Island Wine Country. Discover the region's finest wines during a three-hour-long portfolio tasting featuring select, quality, top-tier wines from over 25+ Long Island wineries. Celebrate the region's 50th Anniversary of winegrowing and explore the bounty of Long Island's acclaimed wine country right in the heart of New York City! This event is for trade and media only; to request an invitation, please contact us.

Consumer Library Wine Dinner at Temple Court in NYC on Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at 6:00 pm ET

Celebrate 50 years of Long Island's exceptional wines with a special commemorative dinner. Explore the North and South Fork under one roof with an hour-long walk-around wine-tasting reception, followed by a seated four-course dinner paired with special wines. Be the first to taste library vintages pulled from winemakers' cellars, including large format magnums that showcase the ageing capabilities of the region. The menu features local purveyors and products from Long Island crafted by Tom Colicchio's talented team from Temple Court. End the evening on a sweet note with late-harvest dessert wines from the region. Purchase tickets here.

Summer Grand Celebration at Peconic Bay Vineyards on Saturday, August 19, 2023 at 5:00 pm ET

Long Island's 50th Anniversary premier wine event this summer features over 35 East End winemakers' wines and delectable bites prepared by renowned local vendors. Presented by Long Island Wine Country, this grand event celebrates the rich agrarian heritage of the East End and raises funds for collaborative initiatives dedicated to advancing viticulture, sustainable agriculture, and community relations. Purchase tickets here.

#50YearsLIWC Social Media Campaign

Indulge in the dynamic wine culture, wine diversity, and breathtaking natural beauty of Long Island as we take a virtual trip with captivating photo features of the wine region. Visitors are encouraged to share their pictures of the wine region and wine producers using #50YearsLIWC.

Long Island produces award-winning red wines like Merlot and Cabernet Franc, sparkling wines made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, dry rosesboth sparkling and stillas well as white wines like Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling, and Gewurztraminer. Known for its exceptional wines, Long Island also leads in environmentally responsible winemaking with cutting-edge vineyard practices and innovative techniques.

One of its proudest achievements over the past five decades is becoming the first wine region on the East Coast to implement a certified sustainable viticulture program, showcasing its unwavering commitment to sustainability. When wine enthusiasts indulge in Long Island wines, they not only savor the exquisite flavors, but also support a wine region that prioritizes the environment and practices responsible stewardship of its natural resources.

To learn more about Long Island Wine Country, please visit liwines.com. To stay updated on upcoming news and events, follow via Instagram @liwinecountry, LinkedIn @LongIslandWineCountry, Facebook @LongIslandWine.

About Long Island Wine Country

Since 1973, Long Island wine growers have been dedicated to producing wines of the highest quality, providing environmental & community stewardship, and preserving this magical place that is our home. Our Mission is to inspire, sustain, and promote Long Island wine. For more information on Long Island Wine Country, please visit our website at: liwines.com or send us an email at [email protected]. Winery images available upon request.

Media Contact:

Maria Calvert, O'Donnell Lane

+1 646-318-0340

[email protected]

SOURCE Long Island Wine Country
MOORESVILLE, N.C., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) announced today that it will hold its First Quarter 2023 Earnings Conference Call at 9 a.m. Eastern time on Tuesday, May 23. A webcast will be available by visiting the Quarterly Earnings section of the Lowe's Investor Relations website, ir.lowes.com. Supplemental materials will be available 15 minutes before the start of the conference call.

What: First Quarter 2023 Earnings Conference Call When: 9 a.m. Eastern time on Tuesday, May 23 Where: Visit the Quarterly Earnings section of the Lowe's Investor Relations website, ir.lowes.com How: Listen live online and view the supplemental materials by following the directions above

A webcast replay of the call can be accessed from noon EST on May 23, 2023 through May 22, 2024 by visiting Events & Presentations on our Investor Relations website and clicking on Q1 2023 Lowe's Companies, Inc. Earnings Conference Call.

About Lowe's

Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is a FORTUNE 50 home improvement company serving approximately 17 million customer transactions a week in the United States. With total fiscal year 2022 sales of over $97 billion, approximately $92 billion of sales were generated in the United States, where Lowe's operates over 1,700 home improvement stores and employs approximately 300,000 associates. Based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe's supports the communities it serves through programs focused on creating safe, affordable housing and helping to develop the next generation of skilled trade experts. For more information, visit Lowes.com.

LOW-IR

SOURCE Lowe's Companies, Inc.
SHANGHAI, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lufax Holding Ltd ("Lufax" or the "Company") (NYSE: LU), a leading financial services enabler for small business owners in China, today announced that it plans to release its first quarter 2023 financial results after the market closes on Monday, May 22, 2023 U.S. Eastern Time.

The Company's management will hold an earnings conference call at 9:00 P.M. U.S. Eastern Time on Monday, May 22, 2023 (9:00 A.M. Beijing Time on Tuesday, May 23, 2023) to discuss the financial results. For participants who wish to join the call, please complete online registration using the link provided below in advance of the conference call. Upon registering, each participant will receive a participant dial-in number, the Direct Event passcode, and a unique access PIN, which can be used to join the conference call.

Registration Link: https://www.netroadshow.com/events/login?show=518734ce&confId=51041

A replay of the conference call will be accessible through May 29, 2023 (dial-in numbers: +1 (866) 813-9403 or +1 (929) 458-6194; replay access code: 728031). A live and archived webcast of the conference call will also be available at the Company's investor relations website at https://ir.lufaxholding.com.

About Lufax

Lufax is a leading financial services enabler for small business owners in China. The Company offers financing products designed principally to address the needs of small business owners. In doing so, the Company has established relationships with over 550 financial institutions in China, many of which have worked with the Company for over three years. These financial institutions provide funding and credit enhancement for the loans the Company enables as well as other products to enrich the small business owner ecosystem that the Company is creating.

Investor Relations Contact

Lufax Holding Ltd

Email: [email protected]

ICR, LLC

Robin Yang

Tel: +1 (646) 308-0546

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Lufax Holding Ltd
Automotive powerhouse continues its rapid expansion in the New England region.

BOSTON, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- McGovern Automotive Group, the New England auto powerhouse founded by industry veteran Matt McGovern, today announced its acquisition of Acton Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Action, MA. The landmark deal marks the group's 25th dealership acquisition in 6 years - a monumental achievement for a privately held dealership group.

The acquisition of Acton Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram brings an inventory of 75 pre-owned and 150 new cars to the group's network. Employees currently working at the dealership will stay on. Regional Vice President Zac Casey will oversee management in addition to plans to add more staff.

Founded in 2016, McGovern Auto Group is a full-service dealer group, with 4 collision centers and a commercial and municipal division. Recognized as the region's leading dealer of luxury car brands such as Ferrari and Porsche, the McGovern Auto Group also has extensive expertise working with Chevrolet, GMC, Ford, Hyundai, Honda, and Toyota vehicles.

Patrons of Acton Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram will benefit from the McGovern Auto Group's innovative sales platform, which uses cutting-edge technology to intelligently price vehicles according to their true market value  rather than an arbitrary price. This streamlined and efficient system guarantees complete transparency throughout the purchasing process, ensuring every shopper receives a fair deal as soon as they walk onto the lot.

"With every dealership we add, our brand and network continues to get stronger and offers more diverse models and convenient locations," said Matt McGovern, CEO and Founder of the McGovern Automotive Group. "Our people have always been our biggest assets. We are excited to welcome Acton CDJR's employees to our family and are looking forward to expanding the group in the local community."

Visit Acton Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram at 196 Great Rd. Alternatively, speak to the sales and leasing department.

SOURCE McGovern Auto Group
Former President Trump on Monday hailed the findings of Justice Department special counsel John Durham, whose final report after a four-year investigation was deeply critical of the FBIs investigation into Trumps 2016 campaign, Trend reports citing The Hill.

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 Truth Social in his first reaction to the 305-page report.

In a subsequent interview with Fox News Digital, Trump called the FBIs investigation of him a disgrace and argued former FBI Director James Comey and others should face consequences.

I, and much more importantly, the American public, have been victims of this long-running and treasonous charade started by the Democrats  started by Comey, Trump told the outlet. There must be a heavy price to pay for putting our country through this.

Durhams report, released Monday afternoon, concluded authorities didnt have sufficient information to open the case, and he issued a scathing assessment of how the FBI handled certain evidence.

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.

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, he continued.

Durham was appointed in 2019 by then-Attorney General Bill Barr to investigate the origins of the FBI probe, a move that Trump welcomed at the time. Trump himself repeatedly raised expectations for the Durham probe, suggesting it would unveil the crime of the century.

Durhams investigation yielded multiple indictments but limited results in court. Two individuals  Igor Danchenko and Michael Sussmann  were charged with lying to the FBI and found not guilty, and a third individual pleaded guilty to doctoring an email about a surveillance warrant.

Mondays report did not call for any additional charges.

Still, Durhams findings are likely to exacerbate partisan tensions about alleged bias within the FBI and Justice Department.

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), a top Trump ally in the House and chairman of the Judiciary Committee, tweeted that he had reached out to the Justice Department to have Durham testify next week.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who ran against Trump in 2016, said the report details serious and unforgivable breaches by federal law enforcement.
The industry expert repositions its brand to meet the next generation of both enterprise and startup innovation

NEW YORK, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Vention , a global industry-leading custom software development company, today launched the culmination of its extensive rebranding initiative in partnership with Pentagram , the world's largest independent design consultancy. This rebranding follows more than 20 years of business as the company modernizes itself to match the caliber of its partners' and clients' business and tech recognition amid rapid growth and expansion.

Sergei Kovalenko , Vention's CEO and one of its original co-founders, stated, "Vention's mission is to achieve innovative solutions for its clients, and now with our rebrand, we are modernizing to match all that we've accomplished and have planned for the future. Since co-founding Vention, the company has helped over 500 businesses achieve their goals and bring scalable, next-gen solutions to the market and our clients' end-users."

Kovalenko believes that the company's new image will convey a sense of renewed sophistication and appeal to new partners and employees as Vention embarks on its next chapter.

Over the past three years, Vention has experienced tremendous global growth  nearly doubling its headcount, increasing revenue by 117%, and adding more than 200 new clients to its roster. However, the company had taken few steps to revamp its outward appearance despite consistent and proven leadership in software development services. With larger enterprises as well as more well-known and disruptive startup clients, Vention's work became increasingly impactful and visible to the business and tech communities  including work that resulted in the first unicorn of the decade. To date, the Vention portfolio includes Carson , Croquet , DealCloud by Intapp , and Thirty Madison . However, while the clients Vention partnered with reached their business-critical and newsworthy milestones, the company itself maintained a comparably low profile.

Denis Pakhomov , COO at Vention said, "The companies we work with are visionaries looking to create the next generation of tech solutions for our homes, health, finances, and futures. Over the past 20+ years, Vention has contributed to many websites, mobile apps, and emerging tech services that have improved our daily lives. I'm excited for our teams to finally feel and see the business and tech communities' recognition for their contributions."

Following Vention's rebrand, the company will establish its renewed presence at the world's leading business and tech events to reinforce its new brand and reconnect with long-standing partners and supporters. Follow Vention across social to track its rebrand journey and gain access to top tech insights via LinkedIn , Twitter , YouTube , Facebook , and Instagram .

About Vention

Vention is the premier global leader in software engineering, synonymous with technology designed for scale and the common denominator behind the world's most successful tech-empowered enterprises, industry innovators, and startups. Headquartered in New York with 20+ offices, Vention provides access to 3,000+ engineers worldwide and equips technology leaders with the top engineering talent from the world's most respected tech hubs. Our teams sync with clients' in-house engineers to advise and execute their product vision to accelerate their roadmap, innovate faster and more efficiently, and ultimately scale their operations to new heights.

Media Contact

Sydney Alcaraz

PR Director

[email protected]

SOURCE Vention
Only Worldly delivers the complete value chain view essential to enable fashion, outdoor and home goods brands to reduce their impacts and comply with ESG regulation  at scale

SAN FRANCISCO, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Most businesses want to do right by their customers and the planet, which is why today we're unveiling Worldly , the planet's most comprehensive Impact Intelligence platform.

Already relied upon by more than 40,000 of the most iconic brands, retailers, suppliers and manufacturers in the world  from fashion to home goods  Worldly offers companies real data  specific to their supply chain, products and operations  all in one place so they can understand their true impact and compliance position.

"We believe the fashion, apparel and footwear industries are under tremendous pressure to transform how they do business," Worldly CEO Jason Kibbey said. "Businesses recognize the leadership opportunity of the deeper disclosure requirements they're increasingly facing. And forward-thinking governments and agencies are developing legislative frameworks to decarbonize manufacturing supply chains and protect workers. Worldly is uniquely positioned to provide brands and manufacturers access to the primary data and insights they urgently need to understand their true impacts, make better sustainability decisions and comply with governmental regulation  all at scale  faster and with greater resolution than ever before."

The need for a sustainability intelligence platform like Worldly has never been greater. Up to 20% of carbon emissions come from consumer goods and their supply chains. And 88% of consumers are asking to buy from companies with sustainable business practices. Many companies are ill-equipped to meet fast emerging disclosure regulations.

Featuring the largest source of primary data from more than 40,000 facilities and the most widely accepted assessments available, Worldly is uniquely positioned to help brands understand their products, sourcing and footprint based on comprehensive manufacturing data  gathered more frequently, with greater resolution and accuracy than any other solution.

By enabling businesses to track their supply chain emissions at any resolution, with flexible tools for submitting, collecting and tracking data, Worldly helps brands and manufacturers improve their impact across carbon, water, labor and chemistry at each step in a product's value chain.

And as the single source for Environmental, Sustainability and Governance (ESG) data and the most comprehensive library of materials impacts, Worldly embeds environmental and social responsibility into business operations  at scale.

Tools, Partnerships and Data

Through a unique combination of tools, primary data collection, partnerships, reporting and benchmarking capabilities, Worldly provides the insights companies need for impact reduction, compliance and disclosure:

Higg Index: Worldly is the exclusive licensee of the Higg Index, the sustainability impact measurement tools used by more apparel, footwear and textile brands than any other solution.

Worldly is the exclusive licensee of the Higg Index, the sustainability impact measurement tools used by more apparel, footwear and textile brands than any other solution. Supplier Management: In addition to the Higg Index tools, Worldly offers a wide range of capabilities that make it easier to source supplier data  from simpler collection of monthly utility bills and automated supplier onboarding, to chemical management.

In addition to the Higg Index tools, Worldly offers a wide range of capabilities that make it easier to source supplier data  from simpler collection of monthly utility bills and automated supplier onboarding, to chemical management. Tracking Impacts: Through impact measurement and analytics tools across a wide range of requirements  including Scope 3 carbon measurement, product design and materials  Worldly helps brands track the impact of their products and supply chains.

Through impact measurement and analytics tools across a wide range of requirements  including Scope 3 carbon measurement, product design and materials  Worldly helps brands track the impact of their products and supply chains. Improved Data Integrity: Worldly drives data integrity and reliability through preferred partnerships with myriad organizations including SGS for third-party data assurance and certification.

Worldly drives data integrity and reliability through preferred partnerships with myriad organizations including SGS for third-party data assurance and certification. Reporting to Brand Partners: Worldly makes it easier than ever for manufacturers to gather and share their sustainability data with brand partners through tools like standardized self-assessments and utility bill submission  so they can spend less time on reporting and focus more on improvements.

Worldly makes it easier than ever for manufacturers to gather and share their sustainability data with brand partners through tools like standardized self-assessments and utility bill submission  so they can spend less time on reporting and focus more on improvements. Benchmarking & Reporting: Across these capabilities Worldly enables brands to compare their suppliers to industry benchmarks, report out their progress to customers and stakeholders as well as comply with regulatory frameworks.

"At Brooks Running, the majority of our Scope 3 emissions come from tier 2 materials manufacturers, which are the current focus of our emissions reduction strategy," said Dave Kemp, Director, Corporate Responsibility at Brooks . "We rely on Worldly to help us meet our climate action objectives and science-based targets. We use them to calculate our carbon and materials footprints so we can understand products' and overall value chain impacts. And with near 100% adoption by our tier 1 and high-volume tier 2 facilities around the world, Worldly is the engine behind our responsible sourcing programs."

Find out more about Worldly's new Factory Data capability and Partnership with SGS .

Join us June 1 to learn more about Worldly, its factory data capability and SGS partnership.

About Worldly

Worldly is the planet's most comprehensive impact intelligence platform, trusted by 40,000+ major brands, retailers, and manufacturers in fashion, outdoor, home goods, toys and more. Worldly uniquely collects high-resolution primary data specific to companies' value chains, operations and products, providing insight into true impacts across carbon, water, chemistry and labor. Featuring the most comprehensive source of ESG data for global manufacturers and the largest library of materials and product impacts, Worldly empowers businesses to scale responsibility into their global operations, faster and more accurately. Hosting, connecting with, and supporting the leading industry solutions and methodologies including ZDHC, Bluesign, and the Higg Index  the most widely-adopted measure of sustainability in the apparel industry  Worldly delivers the insights businesses need to reduce their impact, comply with emerging regulatory and financial disclosure requirements and meet the expectations of a new generation of customers. www.worldly.io

Media Contact:

[email protected]

SOURCE Worldly
NEWARK, N.J., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark is inviting veterans, their families, and friends to join Memorial Day Masses on Monday, May 29, 2023, at 11:00 AM across various archdiocesan cemeteries.

Our Memorial Day Masses honor the memory of fallen heroes, acknowledge the service of veterans and active-duty military personnel, and include prayers for all those interred in our cemeteries and mausoleums.

Memorial Day Mass will be celebrated simultaneously Monday, May 29, 2023, at 11 A.M. at various Archdiocesan Catholic Cemeteries locations with distinguished celebrants at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover, Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington, Maryrest Cemetery in Mahwah, Christ The King Cemetery in Franklin Lakes, St. Gertrude Cemetery in Colonia, and Holy Name Cemetery in Jersey City, New Jersey. Our Memorial Day Masses honor the memory of fallen heroes, acknowledge the service of veterans and active-duty military personnel, and include prayers for all those interred in our cemeteries and mausoleums. The Archdiocese will also celebrate the dedication of the new Chapel Mausoleum of the Resurrection at Gate of Heaven Cemetery by His Eminence Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., D.D., Archbishop of Newark.

"Each name engraved on these sacred grounds represents a hero who served our nation with honor, a loving family member who supported them, and a story of courage that inspires us all," says Andrew P. Schafer, Executive Director of Catholic Cemeteries, expressing his appreciation for the veterans and their families. "We are humbled to celebrate and remember their legacies, forever cherishing the sacrifices they made for our freedom."

Most Masses will be held outdoors under large canopy tents - rain or shine, with seating provided. *Gate of Heaven and Maryrest cemeteries Masses will be held indoors.

After last year's successful return to open-air celebrations, this year's event promises to be equally inspiring, allowing local Catholics to experience Memorial Day Mass with family and friends as a united community.

The Archdiocese will also celebrate the dedication of the new Chapel Mausoleum of the Resurrection at Gate of Heaven Cemetery by His Eminence Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., D.D., Archbishop of Newark.

The new Chapel Mausoleum of the Resurrection at Gate of Heaven Cemetery features stunning marble crypts, glass cremation niches, a two-story mosaic of the Resurrected Christ, and 14 life-like wooden statues of the stations of the cross, handcrafted nearly 200 years ago in Tyrol, Austria. The dedication ceremony will serve as a testament to the unwavering faith of the community.

Active military personnel and veterans are encouraged to participate in the Memorial Day Mass by carrying wreaths or candles, serving as Lectors or gift presenters, or reciting intercessions.

Memorial Day Mass will be celebrated simultaneously Monday, May 29, 2023, at 11 A.M. at various Archdiocesan Catholic Cemeteries locations with distinguished celebrants.

*Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover  Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin , C.Ss.R., D.D.

Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington  Most Reverend Manuel A. Cruz , D.D.

 Most Reverend , D.D. *Maryrest Cemetery, Mahwah, NJ  Most Reverend Michael A. Saporito , D.D.

Saint Gertrude Cemetery, Colonia  Most Reverend Elias R. Lorenzo , O.S.B., D.D.

 Most Reverend , O.S.B., D.D. Holy Name Cemetery, Jersey City  Most Reverend Gregory J. Studerus , D.D.

 Most Reverend , D.D. Christ the King Cemetery, Franklin Lakes  Very Reverend John J. Chadwick , S.T.D.

 Very Reverend , S.T.D. Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, East Orange  Rev. Philip J. Waters , O.S.B.

*Gate of Heaven and Maryrest cemeteries will celebrate Memorial Day Mass inside their mausoleum chapels. Visit www.rcancem.org/memorial-day-mass for more information and location details.

Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark is committed to honoring and remembering veterans throughout the year during monthly Masses, Veteran's Day, Flag Day, and Memorial Day. Flags fly daily in designated areas across all Archdiocesan cemeteries, and over one thousand American flags are placed at the memorials of interred veterans for Memorial Day, remaining through Flag Day.

For more information about Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark and their ministry, contact a Memorial Planning Advisor at [email protected] or visit www.CatholicJourney.org.

About Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark

The ministry of Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark exists to meet the needs of individuals and families before, at the time of death and burial, and throughout bereavement. They also provide Monthly Masses of Remembrance celebrated at Archdiocesan Catholic cemeteries throughout the year, typically during the first week of each month and on special days. Contact a caring and professional Memorial Planning Advisor at [email protected] or learn more at www.rcancem.org.

SOURCE Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark
NEW YORK, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Klein Law Firm announces that a class action complaint has been filed on behalf of shareholders of Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (NYSE: MPW) alleging that the Company violated federal securities laws.

Class Period: July 15, 2019 to February 22, 2023

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: June 12, 2023

No obligation or cost to you.

Learn more about your recoverable losses in MPW:

https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/medical-properties-trust-lawsuit-loss-submission-form?id=39403&from=4

Medical Properties Trust, Inc. NEWS - MPW NEWS

CLASS ACTION CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that Medical Properties Trust, Inc. made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) the Company masked the distressed state of its tenants through sale-leaseback arrangements which were essentially round-robin transactions in that they allowed debt-saddled tenants to meet their obligations in the short-term; (ii) the Company fraudulently transferred hundreds of millions of dollars in what amounted to a bailout of financially distressed tenants; (iii) the Company concealed its fraudulent transfers with fake construction projects with purportedly high capital expenses, despite the fact that the Company entered into "triple-net leases," which meant that its tenants were obligated to pay a significant portion of expenses, such as real estate taxes, insurance, and maintenance; and (iv) as a result, the Company's public statements, including those with respect to the Pennsylvania Properties, were materially false and misleading at the time they were made.

WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER: If you have suffered a loss in Medical Properties Trust you have until June 12, 2023 to petition the court for lead plaintiff status. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.

NO COST TO YOU: If you purchased Medical Properties Trust securities during the relevant period, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket fees.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FINANCIAL INTERESTS: For additional information about the MPW lawsuit, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/medical-properties-trust-lawsuit-loss-submission-form?id=39403&from=4.

ABOUT KLEIN LAW FIRM

J. Klein, Esq. represents investors and participates in securities litigations involving financial fraud throughout the nation. The Klein Law Firm is a boutique litigation firm with experience in a wide range of areas including securities law, corporate finance and commercial litigation. Since 2011, our experienced attorneys have achieved superior results for our clients with a personalized focus. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

J. Klein, Esq.

535 Fifth Avenue

4th Floor

New York City, NY 10017

[email protected]

Telephone: (212) 616-4899

www.kleinstocklaw.com

SOURCE The Klein Law Firm
WASHINGTON, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- During an event at 10 a.m. EDT Friday, May 19, at NASA Headquarters in Washington, the agency will announce the company selected to develop a sustainable human landing system for the Artemis V Moon mission. The human landing system will take astronauts to and from Gateway in lunar orbit to the surface and back to the lunar space station as part of NASA's return to the Moon for science, exploration, and inspiration.

The announcement will air on NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency's website.

An artists concept of a suited Artemis astronaut looking out of a Moon lander hatch across the lunar surface, the Lunar Terrain Vehicle, and other surface elements. Credits: NASA

NASA participants will include:

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson

Jim Free , associate administrator, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters

, associate administrator, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters Lisa Watson-Morgan , manager, Human Landing System Program, NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama

Media are invited to attend in person or participate virtually via teleconference. Media must RSVP no later than two hours prior to the start of the event to Vanessa Lloyd, [email protected]. A copy of NASA's media accreditation policy is online.

NASA is partnering with industry providers to develop, build, test, and launch innovative and technically advanced landers for the Artemis Generation. The second selected company will design, develop, test, and evaluate a human landing system under the Next-STEP Appendix P broad agency announcement for sustaining lunar development. The agency already is working with SpaceX to develop landers for the Artemis III and Artemis IV missions.

With Artemis, NASA will land the first woman and the first person of color on the lunar surface and establish long-term exploration for scientific discovery and to prepare for human missions to Mars. The agency's Space Launch System rocket and NASA's Orion spacecraft, along with the human landing system, next-generation spacesuits, and the lunar spaceship Gateway, are NASA's foundation for deep space exploration.

For more information about Artemis, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/artemis

SOURCE NASA
WASHINGTON, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Following is a statement from Eileen O'Reilly, president of the National Press Club and Gil Klein, president of the National Press Club Journalism Institute on the murder of Mexican Photojournalist Gerardo Torres.

"Our hearts go out to the family and colleagues of Gerardo Torres who was shot dead by armed assailants in the Icacos neighborhood of Acapulco last weekend. We had hoped that the security situation for Mexican journalists was improving after a horrible 2022 where 13 journalists were killed according to Reporters Without Borders. Torres is now the 2nd Mexican journalist killed in 2023 following the murder of Abisai Perez Romero in February. We are carefully monitoring this situation and call on the government of Mexico to redouble efforts to keep journalists safe."

Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists. The Club's 3,000 members represent nearly every major news organization and is a leading voice for press freedom 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
Net at Work also announces "Employee Experience" practice, delivering powerful, flexible next-gen HR solutions tailored to meet the demands of today's digitally-driven workforce.

NEW YORK, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Net at Work, a leading provider of next-generation technologies for small-to-medium-sized businesses, today announced a new partnership with Rippling, the leading unified workforce platform, becoming the first member of Rippling's reseller program.

Rippling provides a best-in-class HR, IT, and Finance platform to help organizations efficiently manage global workforces, bringing together all of the workforce systems that are normally scattered across a company, like payroll, expenses, benefits, and computers. So, for the first time ever, companies can manage every part of the employee lifecycle in a single system, fostering collaboration, better communication, and ultimately making their employees around the world more engaged and productive.

Next generation digital HR solutions Tweet this

"We're excited to welcome Net at Work as our first Value Added Reseller (VAR) partner. They have deep expertise in the industry and are committed to delivering a great experience for each client," said Matt Donaldson, Rippling's Senior Director of Channel Sales. "It's a three-way win for Rippling, Net at Work, and most importantly our customers. This new partnership will enhance Net at Work's offering and ultimately make it easier for our clients to run their business."

Net at Work also announces that their Employer Solutions practice has been renamed "Employee Experience" to reflect its focus on providing today's workforce  increasingly made up of remote, hybrid and gig workers - with next-gen digital solutions that improve the way they work. Studies show that employees provided with tools that facilitate collaboration while giving them the ability to work "asynchronously," lower barriers to productivity, enable them to develop/acquire skills, and better balance work and life, are more deeply invested in their work and their company's mission. Net at Work's Employee Experience practice will help organizations address their core HR challenges: improving engagement (decreasing "quiet quitting"), increasing productivity, and competing for top talent.

"We realize that today's workforce challenges are vastly different than any other time," said Harold Ford, Net at Work's, Employee Experience Practice Director. "An organization's next-generation employee portal is critical to increasing employee engagement and is a major component of the employee branding experience. Every employee will access this portal  it must provide not only the functionality but the user experience as well. Our focus on the employee experience and our agreement with Rippling reflects our alignment with these realities."

About Net at Work

Founded in 1996, Net at Work is one of North America's largest technology advisors to thousands of small and mid-sized businesses. The award-winning consultancy offers a rich portfolio of technology, expertise and services to help organizations derive value from the transformative effects of technology. Through the integration of ERP, HRIS and/or CRM, Net at Work builds unique, industry-specific digital operations platforms (DOPs) that provide comprehensive application support for greater agility and operational efficiency and innovation to streamline the physical and digital experience. For more information, visit www.netatwork.com .

About Rippling

Rippling gives businesses one place to run HR, IT, and Financeglobally. It brings together all of the workforce systems that are normally scattered across a company, like payroll, expenses, benefits, and computers. For the first time ever, you can manage and automate every part of the employee lifecycle in a single system.

Based in San Francisco, CA, Rippling has raised $1.2B from the world's top investorsincluding Kleiner Perkins, Founders Fund, Sequoia, and Bedrock.

For more information, visit Rippling.com.

SOURCE Net at Work
TAIPEI, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- NEXCOM, a leading supplier of network appliances, has unveiled its latest product portfolio and expansion of its network and communication capabilities, focusing on the latest advancements in edge computing, 5G, cyber security, and OT security. With a commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction, NEXCOM is dedicated to providing cutting-edge solutions to help businesses optimize their existing networks and build future networks to meet the demands of digital transformation and stay ahead of the competition.

NEXCOM Shaping Future Networks for Smarter and Safer World. NEXCOM's Network and Communication Solutions Group (NCS) drives the cutting edge to build an ever-changing network infrastructure. NCS offers full-scale Intel-based network product portfolio for edge and cloud computing, cyber security, and OT security. With a commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction, NEXCOM is helping businesses optimize their existing networks and build future networks and stay ahead of the competition.

NEXCOM offers a comprehensive range of solutions designed to help businesses optimize their existing networks as well as build future networks. These solutions include advanced network solutions such as Cyber Security, OT Security, Network Function Virtualization (NFV), Multi-Access Edge Computing (MEC), and 5G uCPE for public and private networks. They are designed to help businesses optimize their networks for the cloud, improve network security, scale bandwidth, and increase network agility.

"As businesses continue to embrace digital transformation, they need flexible, secure, and scalable networks," said Allan Chiu, VP of Network & Communication Solutions at NEXCOM. "We are thrilled to share our vision and our latest network product portfolio, with well-positioned additions to our product line to meet the growing demand for advanced network solutions and reliable telecom services."

The latest featured network appliances include the DFA 1163M, mmWave-enabled uCPE for 5G applications; NSA 7160, 2U performance appliance with PCIe5 interface and LAN module slots for cyber security and NFVi applications; FTA 5180, high-end Edge appliance for 5G fronthaul applications; ISA 141, fanless OT security DIN-rail with dual 5G and dual Wi-Fi.

To learn more about the NEXCOM network and communication capabilities, please watch a short video. To learn more about the latest network solutions, please refer to this PDF file.

About NEXCOM

Founded in 1992 and headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, NEXCOM integrates its diverse capabilities and operates six global businesses, including the Network and Communication Solutions (NCS) unit. NCS focuses on the latest network technology and helps to build reliable network infrastructure, by delivering professional design and manufacturing services for customers all over the world. NCS's network application platform is widely adopted in Cyber Security Appliance, Load Balancer, uCPE, SD-WAN, SASE, Edge Computing, Storage, NVR, and other network applications for businesses of all sizes.

Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2075668/NCS_230509.mp4

SOURCE NEXCOM International Co., Ltd.
DUBLIN, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "North America Connected Roadside Assistance Solution Market 2022-2032 by Offering, Vehicle Type, Service Type, Solution Provider, and Country: Trend Forecast and Growth Opportunity" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

North America connected roadside assistance solution market is projected to grow by 13.0% annually in the forecast period and reach $2,090.9 million by 2032, driven by the growing number of vehicles on road, rising need for real-time notification and alerts, advent of mobile devices and IoT technology, and increasing requirements for seamless roadside assistance across the world.



This 127-page report is based on comprehensive research of the entire North America connected roadside assistance solution market and all its sub-segments through extensively detailed classifications.

Profound analysis and assessment are generated from premium primary and secondary information sources with inputs derived from industry professionals across the value chain. The report is based on studies on 2020-2022 and provides forecast from 2023 till 2032 with 2022 as the base year.

In-depth qualitative analyses include identification and investigation of the following aspects:

Market Structure

Growth Drivers

Restraints and Challenges

Emerging Product Trends & Market Opportunities

Porter's Fiver Forces

The trend and outlook of North America market is forecast in optimistic, balanced, and conservative view by taking into account of COVID-19 and Russia-Ukraine conflict. The balanced (most likely) projection is used to quantify North America connected roadside assistance solution market in every aspect of the classification from perspectives of Offering, Vehicle Type, Service Type, Solution Provider, and Country.

Based on Offering, the North America market is segmented into the following sub-markets with annual revenue ($ mn) for 2022-2032 included in each section.

Hardware

Software & Apps

Reporting & Analytics

Real-time Notifications

Positioning & Navigation

Smart Payment

Other Software & Apps

Based on Vehicle Type, the North America market is segmented into the following sub-markets with annual revenue ($ mn) for 2022-2032 included in each section.

Passenger Vehicles

Commercial Vehicles

By Service Type, the North America market is segmented into the following sub-markets with annual revenue ($ mn) for 2022-2032 included in each section.

Towing

Battery Jump

Tire Replacement

Fuel Delivery

Other Service Types

By Solution Provider, the North America market is segmented into the following sub-markets with annual revenue ($ mn) for 2022-2032 included in each section.

Auto Manufacturers

Insurance Providers

Independent Contractors

Other Solution Providers

Geographically, the following national/local markets are fully investigated:

U.S.

Canada

Mexico

For each key country, detailed analysis and data for annual revenue ($ mn) are available for 2022-2032. The breakdown of national markets by Offering, Vehicle Type and Service Type over the forecast years are also included.



The report also covers current competitive scenario and the predicted trend; and profiles key vendors including market leaders and important emerging players.

Key Topics Covered:

1 Introduction



2 Market Overview and Dynamics



3 Segmentation of North America Market by Offering



4 Segmentation of North America Market by Vehicle Type



5 Segmentation of North America Market by Service Type



6 Segmentation of North America Market by Solution Provider



7 North America Market 2022-2032 by Country



8 Competitive Landscape

Companies Mentioned

Access Roadside Assistance

Allianz Worldwide Partners

American Automobile Association (AAA)

Auto Vantage

Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) AG

Best Roadside Service

Better World Club

Chubb Limited

Falck AS

Ford Motor Company

Good Sam Enterprise

Honk Technologies, Inc.

Medinyx Technologies GmbH

National General Insurance

Paragon Motor Club

RAC Group (Holdings) Ltd.

Roadside Masters

The Allstate Corp.

Toyota Motor Corporation

TVS Auto Assist India Limited

Verizon Telematics, Inc.

Viking Redningstjeneste Topco AS.

Volkswagen AG

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/q7fyrl

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

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Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Research and Markets
NEW YORK, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Northwind Group, a Manhattan-based real estate debt fund manager and private equity firm, today announced that it provided a $100 million senior A-Note as part of a $207 million senior lease-hold mortgage. The loan was secured by the Hudson Hotel, a 24-story, former 878-key hotel which is being converted into 441 multifamily units and 51,474 square feet of retail space. The property is located on 58th street between 8th and 9th Avenue in the heart of the Columbus Circle submarket of Manhattan. The property was acquired by a repeat borrower of Northwind Group and was originally capitalized by Montgomery Street Partners as the fee holder and Parkview Financial who provided a leasehold mortgage in 2022.

This loan is being provided by Northwind Group as part of its recently launched A-Note financing product, a vehicle that is targeted to provide the most senior tranche of the capital stack on real estate transactions. This pool of capital can be provided as an A-Note or Loan-on-Loan and will be available for all major asset types across the country, with a major focus on residential transactions, with loan size of $50 million and above.

Northwind Group provided the A-Note with flexible terms, which will provide the owner and existing lender with the required capital to complete the conversion project. Northwind Group remains committed to lending in New York City and is actively providing capital to quality borrowers with well-located assets.

"Northwind Group is excited to provide our A-Note loan, as we recognize a big gap in the market for financing due to commercial banks stepping back from regulatory and macro issues," said Ran Eliasaf, founder and managing partner of Northwind Group. "We are pleased to work with experienced sponsors and financing counter parties like Parkview Financial and Montgomery Street Partners to deliver much-needed rental units due to the significant shortage of new rental products in Manhattan. We look forward to also continuing to provide senior financing to other lenders."

About Northwind Group

Northwind Group, founded in 2008 by Ran Eliasaf, is a Manhattan based real estate private equity firm with $3 billion in AUM that invests primarily in debt instruments through its discretionary closed-ended debt funds. For further information, go to www.northwind-group.com.

About Parkview Financial

Parkview Financial is a direct private lender specializing in ground-up commercial and residential real estate financing. Through a private real estate debt fund, Parkview provides short-term bridge and construction loans secured by first trust deeds to developers throughout the United States.

About Montgomery Street Partners

Real estate investment firm that makes controlling and non-controlling investments in real estate assets, general partner positions, and real estate operating companies. MSP invests across all real estate product types and across domestic geographies.

SOURCE Northwind Group
US officials on Monday said there will be tougher consequences for migrants illegally crossing the southern border as US President Joe Biden transitions away from COVID-19 restrictions known as Title 42 that allowed agents to quickly expel many migrants to Mexico over the past three years, Trend reports citing Al Arabiya.

The number of people caught crossing the border illegally since Title 42 ended on Friday dropped sharply from highs last week, US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official Blas Nunez-Neto said on a call with reporters.

Apprehensions have dropped as Biden implemented a higher standard for asylum applications at the border and opened up new legal pathways for migrants abroad, while countries further south have stepped up border security, Nunez-Neto said.

Nunez-Neto said migrants crossing illegally now face tougher consequences at the border, including a minimum five-year bar on re-entry and the potential to be criminally prosecuted if they try again.

Last week, some migrants told Reuters they were rushing to the border to try to enter the country before the new asylum rules took effect. After Title 42 ended at midnight on Thursday, some asylum seekers said they were told by US authorities they could not enter until they applied for an appointment on a new app known as CBP One.

Biden, a Democrat seeking re-election in 2024, has grappled with record numbers of border crossings since he took office in 2021. Republicans fault him for rolling back some of the more restrictive policies of Republican former President Donald Trump, currently his partys front runner for the presidential nomination.

Some Democrats and asylum officers have internally expressed concerns with the rapid rollout of Bidens new asylum standard and said it undercuts the right to claim asylum under US law and international treaties, as well as Bidens own campaign promises. Immigration advocates are suing in an effort to halt the new regulation, which they say mirrors similar Trump policies blocked in court.

US border officials had cautioned for months that the end of Title 42 restrictions, in place since March 2020 at the start of the COVID pandemic, could lead to a rise in illegal crossings. Title 42 allowed US authorities to expel migrants to Mexico or other countries without the chance to request US asylum.

The Biden administration has also expanded legal pathways that allow more people to enter the US without crossing illegally, including the CBP One appointments and applications available abroad for humanitarian parole and refugee status.

The number of migrants caught crossing the US-Mexico border illegally dropped to an average of 5,000 per day since Title 42 ended, down from daily highs of more than 10,000 last week, Nunez-Neto said, cautioning that the situation is very fluid.

This is a continuously evolving situation that we are monitoring in real time, he said.

We are processing people safely, orderly and humanely, and quickly delivering consequences to those that do not establish a legal basis to remain in the United States, Nunez-Neto added.

Mexico and Guatemala have toughened enforcement at their own southern borders with military personnel, while Panama and Colombia have clamped down on smuggling networks, Nunez-Neto said.

Guatemalan Defense Ministry spokesperson Ruben Tellez said the rollout was not a direct response to the ending of Title 42 but a permanent deployment organized last year and linked to neighboring El Salvadors crackdown on gangs.

The military presence at the border would continue as long as there is a need to control migration, encompassing up to 1,500 security personnel, Tellez said.

Nunez-Neto added that thousands of migrants have been deported since Friday. At the same time, 2,400 people have been returned to Mexico, including Cubans, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans, whom Mexico has agreed to continue accepting as deportees. DHS did not provide exact figures for non-Mexicans returned to Mexico.

US border facilities holding migrants were strained last week with more than 28,000 people in custody.

The figure dropped to around 21,000 on Monday, according to Brandon Judd, president of the National Border Patrol Council, a union for agents, still far above typical levels.

As migrant crossings rose last week, US border officials began releasing some people without a notice to appear in immigration court, telling them to report to an immigration office later to speed up processing. However, the practice was temporarily halted on Thursday by a federal judge in Florida who had previously blocked similar Biden administration efforts.

On Monday, the judge, T. Kent Wetherell, threatened to hold Biden officials in contempt after a news article reported that some migrants continued to be released after he ordered a halt to the practice.

In response, Biden officials said migrants processed before the effective date of his order were released the following day and that a small number of cases remained under review.
New Corporate Headquarters of Affordable Retail Eyecare Brands Stanton Optical and My Eyelab Expected to Bring 45 Jobs to Delray Beach Metro Area.

DELRAY BEACH, Fla., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Now Optics, the parent company of leading affordable eyewear brands My Eyelab and Stanton Optical , celebrated the completion of its new corporate office in Delray Beach, Florida in a grand opening event on May 15, 2023. The new Now Optics corporate office will offer a more modern, state-of-the art workspace that will support Information Technology, Merchandising, Marketing, Retail Operations, and more as the brand portfolio grows nationally. Located at 1615 S. Congress Avenue, the new company headquarters is expected to bring in 45 jobs to the Delray Beach metropolitan area.

Now Optics New Headquarters Opening in Delray Beach, FL.

The new Now Optics workplace spans 15,000 square feet and features a showroom for the hi-tech hybrid eye exams provided by Physicians Eyecare Group and its exclusive collection of eyewear, including an on-site lab where glasses can be made in 15 minutes. The showroom will be an innovation zone to test and improve the eye care experience as Now Optics continues to deliver on its mission of making eye care easy. Buyers and consumers can get an in-person look at the latest eyewear trends and industry-leading transformative solutions.

The new Now Optics workplace celebrates post-pandemic trends toward a more open-concept workspace design that encourages collaboration and teamwork, as well as individual focus time. The office brings in natural light and creates an open, transparent workspace that aligns with the company's ICARE values (Integrity, Collaboration, Accountability, Respect and Empowerment). Keeping in line with the new way of working among the latest office trends, Now Optics invested over $800,000 in renovating the office space to champion ideation and curiosity paired with themed meeting spaces, a photo studio, and huddle rooms to ignite a strong level of inspiration and creativity.

The corporate office will house staff that supports seven departments and 45 professionals for 290 My Eyelab and Stanton Optical stores across 29 states nationwide. "We are thrilled to open our Now Optics corporate headquarters in Delray Beach, an area that will provide us with the talent and opportunity to plant the growth initiatives for the company's next phase of our development. It took three years to find the ideal location, perfectly situated between Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. Delray Beach is one of the top business markets for forward-thinking and educated professionals, making it a perfect location to grow our Now Optics foundation," said Daniel Stanton, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Now Optics. "We want our new headquarters to inspire new technology-driven solutions and ensure that our brands' potential will translate into accessible eye care for all communities across the United States."

Under the leadership of Daniel Stanton, Now Optics is ranked in the top 15 on Vision Monday's Top 50 U.S. Optical Retailers. Since 2016, Now Optics has led the optical industry in ocular telehealth by leveraging proprietary innovative technology to provide affordable, quality eye exams through Physicians Eyecare Group. To date, the company has conducted more than 3 million telehealth eye exams, something no other eye care provider can offer.

Most Stanton Optical stores offer same-day service. Patients can get an eye exam and single-vision glasses made the same day due to onsite labs. For convenience, My Eyelab and Stanton Optical partner with Physicians Eyecare Group to offer same-day eye exams and walk-ins. They accept most insurance and offer buy now, pay later options, and even without insurance, eye exams are free with the purchase of eyeglasses. On top of that, an assortment of over 1,000 eyeglass frames and top contact lens brands to fit both style and budgets allows consumers the ultimate freedom to experiment with unique, stylish designs that fit their personal style and budget.

For more information about the brands, visit www.myeyelab.com or www.stantonoptical.com .

ABOUT NOW OPTICS:

Now Optics is a leader in the eye care industry. Its retail brands, My Eyelab, and Stanton Optical are among the nation's fastest-growing, full-service retail eye care centers. The company continues to expand its retail footprint with almost 300 corporate and franchise locations in 29 states while delivering affordable eye health and eyewear solutions. The company consistently ranks among the largest optical retailers in the country by Vision Monday and was ranked #3 on Entrepreneur's list of Top New Franchises in 2021. Visit myeyelab.com or stantonoptical.com for more information. Find details about franchise opportunities at myeyelabfranchise.com .

SOURCE Now Optics
Milestone achieved 20 years after Orbis began leading mass drug administrations

NEW YORK, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Eye care nonprofit Orbis International today announced that it has distributed 100 million doses of azithromycin antibiotics in Ethiopia. This is part of ongoing efforts to eliminate trachoma, an infectious, painful, and blinding eye disease, by 2030, in line with World Health Organization goals.

Lelisa Ammanuel, Senior Advisor to the State Minister, Ethiopia Ministry of Health, administers the 100 millionth azithromycin dose to Hizkiel, age six, on the 25th anniversary of Orbis Ethiopia.

In a symbolic moment, the 100 millionth dose was administered to six-year-old Hizkiel by Lelisa Amanuel, Senior Advisor to the State Minister, Ministry of Health. Derek Hodkey, President and CEO of Orbis International, was also in attendance. The dose was administered in Gacho Baba District, Gamo Zone, SNNPRS, Ethiopia. Local children performed a play during a celebration to mark the moment, and community leaders blessed the giving of the historic dose.

"Today is an historic moment," said Dr. Alemayehy Sisay, Country Director of Orbis Ethiopia. "We started by administering one dose of azithromycin in 2003. It has been a long journey to reach this 100 millionth dose 20 years later. So, while the work continues, today has a special meaning to all involved in working to eliminate trachoma in Ethiopia."

The administration of the dose was part of a wider Orbis-led mass drug administration taking place in the Gacho Baba District. In 2022, Orbis and its partners distributed 3.4 million antibiotic doses for trachoma control and elimination within Ethiopia. This work will continue in the coming years to ensure that trachoma can be eliminated in the country by 2030.

Trachoma elimination

Trachoma is one of the world's oldest infectious diseases known to humans, with ice age skeletons from 8,000 years ago showing evidence of the disease. If left untreated, it can cause extreme pain with repeat infections as eyelashes turn inwards and scratch the eye, causing scarring that ultimately leads to permanent blindness. While we have made great strides in combatting trachoma, 1.9 million people today are blind or living with vision loss due to this tropical disease. In addition, 125 million people remain at risk in 42 affected countries. Nearly half of the people at risk in the world live in Ethiopia.

Trachoma is highly contagious, but it is easily treatable with antibiotics. 30 years ago in 1993, the World Health Organization endorsed the SAFE strategy to combat the disease in countries where trachoma continued to be prevalent. The SAFE strategy emphasizes S urgery for eyelashes turned inwards, A ntibiotics to stop or slow the spread, F acial cleanliness, which prevents transmission and infection, and E nvironmental improvement, particularly for water and sanitation to reduce transmission of infection. As of 2023, the WHO has validated the elimination of trachoma as a public health need in 15 countries.

Orbis's partnerships and work in Ethiopia

Orbis Ethiopia began implementing mass drug administrations, as part of the SAFE strategy, 20 years ago in 2003. A number of partners and funders through this time have helped make the vital work towards eliminating trachoma in Ethiopia possible, including FCDO/DFID, Irish Aid, Sightsavers, the Qatar Fund For Development, Jersey Overseas Aid Commission, The Clothworkers Foundation, Euromoney, CIFF, The End Fund as well as generous contributions from many other donors.

In 2021, Orbis and partners performed more than 16,000 surgeries in cases where trachoma infections had progressed to the later stages of infection called trachomatous trichiasis. To date, Orbis has conducted over 217,000 trachomatous trichiasis surgeries.

Good hygiene practices, such as face washing and handwashing, play a crucial role in combating trachoma because of its highly contagious nature. That is why Orbis has supported the construction of communal and school latrines as well as protected water points in SNNPRS, Sidama, and South West Ethiopia People's Region. Over the past 23 years, Orbis Ethiopia, in collaboration with local partners, has constructed a total of 130 latrine blocks with covered toilets and installed 36 water points throughout communities and schools.

About Orbis

Orbis is a leading global non-governmental organization that has been a pioneer in the prevention and treatment of avoidable blindness for over four decades. Orbis transforms lives by delivering the skills, resources and knowledge needed to deliver accessible quality eye care. Working in collaboration with local partners, including hospitals, universities, government agencies and ministries of health, Orbis provides hands-on ophthalmology training, strengthens healthcare infrastructure and advocates for the prioritization of eye health on public health agendas. Orbis operates the world's only Flying Eye Hospital , a fully accredited ophthalmic teaching hospital on board an MD-10 aircraft, and an award-winning telemedicine platform, Cybersight . For the past ten consecutive years, Orbis has achieved Charity Navigator 's coveted four-star rating for demonstrating strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency, placing Orbis in the top 3% of U.S. charities. For the past two years, Orbis has earned GuideStar 's platinum Seal of Transparency. In 2022, Orbis earned "accredited charity" status from the Better Business Bureau by meeting all 20 of their standards for charity accountability. To learn more, please visit orbis.org .

MEDIA CONTACTS

Orbis International

Jenna Montgomery

Manager, Global Communications and Marketing

[email protected]

SOURCE Orbis International
Since 2019, Outcomes4Me and NCCN have supported more than 135,000 breast cancer patients, empowering them with direct-to-patient clinical information and resources

BOSTON, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Outcomes4Me Inc. , the developer of a personalized and evidence-based cancer navigation platform, and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) announced today that Outcomes4Me has newly incorporated the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer into its free app . The collaboration between Outcomes4Me and the NCCN dates back to 2019, when Outcomes4Me first integrated the NCCN Guidelines for Breast Cancer. In 2021, the two groups expanded their collaboration when Outcomes4Me added the NCCN Guidelines for Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Breast, Ovarian, and Pancreatic into its app, which raised awareness for the importance of genetic cancer risk screening.

This latest extension of the years-long collaboration represents the formal launch of Outcomes4Me's multi-cancer care efforts; its app is now fully available to lung cancer patients across the world, meeting an important need. Annually, there are more than 2 million new cases of lung cancer and 1.8 million people die from the disease globally. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 80-85% of all lung cancer cases. In the U.S., more people die of lung cancer each year than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined; however, there are new and effective treatment options that patients should have access to. The FDA has approved 39 lung cancer drugs since 2018 , including eight new approvals in the last year. 10,663 lung cancer clinical trials are currently recruiting globally , with more than 4,000 of those trials recruiting in the U.S.

"For more than three years, Outcomes4Me has helped us to deliver our physician-facing resources in an accessible manner. We are delighted to see the company expand these efforts to now include information on the latest innovations and approaches for lung cancer." Tweet this

NCCN is a not-for-profit alliance of leading cancer centers devoted to patient care, research, and education; it represents the expertise of many of the world's leading authorities on cancer treatment and innovation. With the expanded collaboration between NCCN and Outcomes4Me, breast and lung cancer patients can use the Outcomes4Me app to directly access the latest clinical guidance for their cancer, personalized to their unique diagnosis, and in a format they can understandregardless of where they receive their care.

"Cancer innovation has never happened so quickly or shown as much promise as it does today," said Maya R. Said, Sc.D., Founder and CEO at Outcomes4Me. "This should be a time of great excitement, but there is a troubling disconnect between innovation and clinical practice. We know from our own research that many patients are not benefitting from this innovation. After seeing the power of our NCCN content integration within the breast cancer community, we are thrilled to accelerate the dissemination of the latest science to lung cancer patients globally."

"It is important that people with cancer have access to all of the tools they need in order to make shared decisions about their care," said Robert W. Carlson, MD, Chief Executive Officer at NCCN. "For more than three years, Outcomes4Me has helped us to deliver our physician-facing resources in an accessible manner. We are delighted to see the company expand these efforts to now include information on the latest innovations and approaches for lung cancer."

The Outcomes4Me app is available for download on iOS and Android . After patients download the app and answer a few questions about their health history, they can immediately gain access to personalized treatment options, genetic and genomic testing opportunities, symptom tracking and management, the latest innovation and clinical trials, and health records they can understand.

About Outcomes4Me

Outcomes4Me is an AI-driven patient empowerment platform that helps cancer patients take a proactive approach to their care, gaining access to personalized, evidence-based treatment options and information. The company is on a mission to democratize healthcare by providing real-time, evidence-based clinical information to cancer patients, ensuring they can effectively navigate through their disease and improve their outcomes. In doing so, Outcomes4Me is working to promote health equity by generating deeper insights that improve care, and accelerating research and access to innovation. Based in Boston, Massachusetts, Outcomes4Me is a woman-led company of seasoned healthcare, oncology, pharmaceutical, consumer, and technology veterans. For more information, visit www.outcomes4me.com .

About the National Comprehensive Cancer Network

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) is a not-for-profit alliance of leading cancer centers devoted to patient care, research, and education. NCCN is dedicated to improving and facilitating quality, effective, efficient, and accessible cancer care so patients can live better lives. The NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) provide transparent, evidence-based, expert consensus recommendations for cancer treatment, prevention, and supportive services; they are the recognized standard for clinical direction and policy in cancer management and the most thorough and frequently-updated clinical practice guidelines available in any area of medicine. The NCCN Guidelines for Patients provide expert cancer treatment information to inform and empower patients and caregivers, through support from the NCCN Foundation. NCCN also advances continuing education, global initiatives, policy, and research collaboration and publication in oncology. Visit NCCN.org for more information.

SOURCE Outcomes4Me Inc.
Phase 3 PL9643 Data in Patients with Dry Eye Disease Presented at KOL Event

Analysis of Lead-In Population of Initial 120 Patients Showed Statistical Separation for Clinical Efficacy Across Multiple Signs and Symptoms of Dry Eye along with Excellent Patient Safety and Tolerability



Final Data Expected Second Half Calendar Year 2023

Phase 2 Clinical Study of Oral PL8177 in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis

Interim Analysis Targeted for Second Half Calendar Year 2023



Topline Results Currently Expected First Half Calendar Year 2024

Vyleesi

Net Product Revenue Increased 16% Over the Prior Quarter



Prescriptions Dispensed Increased 27% Over the Prior Quarter



5 Consecutive Quarters of Double-Digit Growth

Received $4.7 Million of Non-Dilutive Funding Through NJ Economic Development Program

Teleconference and Webcast to be held on May 16, 2023 , at 11:00 AM ET

CRANBURY, N.J., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Palatin Technologies, Inc. (NYSE American: PTN), a biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class medicines based on molecules that modulate the activity of the melanocortin receptor system, today announced financial results for its fiscal third quarter ended March 31, 2023.

"On the development front, we are excited that the analysis of the data for the Lead-In population of the initial 120 patients in our Phase 3 PL9643 clinical study demonstrated statistically significant positive effects on multiple endpoints for both signs and symptoms, including excellent patient safety and tolerability," said Carl Spana, Ph.D., President and CEO of Palatin. "On the commercial front, we are pleased with Vyleesi's fifth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth in net product revenue and dispenses. We are particularly pleased that Vyleesi's quarterly net product revenue exceeds Vyleesi quarterly operating expenses."

Business Highlights and Recent Updates

Anti-Inflammatory / Autoimmune Programs

PL9643 melanocortin agonist for the treatment of dry eye disease (DED)



Review of Phase 3 clinical study data in patients with DED at Key Opinion Leader (KOL) Event.





Analysis of Lead-In population of initial 120 patients completing 12 weeks of treatment showed statistical separation for clinical efficacy across multiple signs and symptoms of dry eye along with excellent patient safety and tolerability.





Presented initial Phase 3 clinical data at the Association of Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) 2023 Annual Conference.





Data demonstrated positive effects on signs and symptoms.







Consistent clinical efficacy across multiple signs and symptoms of dry eye along with excellent safety and tolerability - a differentiating product profile.





Pivotal Phase 3 clinical study patient enrollment continuing.





Final data currently expected second half of calendar year 2023.





Additional trial information, including inclusion and exclusion criteria, can be found at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ via the identifier NCT04268069.



PL8177 oral melanocortin agonist for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC):



Interim assessment is currently expected to occur in the second half of calendar year 2023.





Topline results currently expected in the first half of calendar year 2024.





Digestive Disease Week Annual Conference.





Preclinical data shows PL8177 was found to be efficacious in animal models of inflammatory bowel disease.







Clinical data confirms PL8177 oral formulation is delivered and contained in the colon.





Frontiers in Immunology published a preclinical study demonstrating oral PL8177 provides therapeutic effects in inflammatory bowel disease and pharmacokinetic data showing PL8177 remains restricted to the gut.

published a preclinical study demonstrating oral PL8177 provides therapeutic effects in inflammatory bowel disease and pharmacokinetic data showing PL8177 remains restricted to the gut.



Additional trial information, including inclusion and exclusion criteria, can be found at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ via the identifier NCT05466890.



Bremelanotide BREAKOUT study (BMT 701) in patients with diabetic kidney disease:



Enrollment is currently expected to be completed in the second half of calendar year 2023.





Topline results currently expected first half of calendar year 2024.





Additional trial information, including inclusion and exclusion criteria, can be found at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ via the identifier NCT05709444.



Preclinical data on melanocortin agonist PL8331 demonstrating therapeutic effects in diabetic retinopathy and uveitis published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences.

Vyleesi (bremelanotide injection) / Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD): Goal of the Vyleesi program is to demonstrate commercial product value in the marketplace with an objective of re-licensing the U.S. rights to a committed women's healthcare company.

Goal of the Vyleesi program is to demonstrate commercial product value in the marketplace with an objective of re-licensing the U.S. rights to a committed women's healthcare company. For the fiscal third quarter ended March 31, 2023 :

:

Gross product sales were $3.4 million , an increase of 31% over the prior quarter, and an increase of 165% over the comparable quarter last year.

, an increase of 31% over the prior quarter, and an increase of 165% over the comparable quarter last year.



Net product revenue of $1.2 million increased 16% over the prior quarter and increased 453% over the comparable quarter last year.

increased 16% over the prior quarter and increased 453% over the comparable quarter last year.



Total prescriptions dispensed increased 27% over the prior quarter and increased 147% over the comparable quarter last year.





Refill rates, commercial insurance reimbursement, and net revenue per prescription dispensed continued with positive and impactful results and trends, versus the prior quarter and comparable quarter last year.



Issued a patent, titled "Use of Bremelanotide in Patients with Controlled Hypertension" with a term through April 29, 2041 .

.

Patients and healthcare providers can learn more about HSDD and Vyleesi at www.vyleesi.com and www.vyleesipro.com .

and www.vyleesipro.com Other:

Palatin received $4.7 million in January 2023 from the State of New Jersey's Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program sponsored by The New Jersey Economic Development Authority.

Fiscal Third Quarter Ended March 31, 2023 Financial Results

Revenue

Total revenue consists of gross product sales of Vyleesi, net of allowances and accruals, and license and contract revenue.

Vyleesi gross product sales to pharmacy distributors were $3.4 million, with net product revenue of $1.2 million, compared to gross product sales of $1.3 million and net product revenue of $0.2 million for the comparable quarter last year. Gross product sales increased 165% and net product revenue increased 453% over the comparable quarter last year.

Operating Expenses

Total operating expenses were $8.5 million, compared to $8.0 million for the comparable quarter last year. The increase in operating expenses was mainly the result of higher spending on our marketing efforts of Vyleesi.

Cash Flows

Palatin's net cash used in operations was $1.4 million, compared to net cash used in operations of $9.5 million for the same period last year. The decrease in net cash used in operations is mainly due to the Company's receipt of proceeds from the sale of the State of New Jersey NOLs and working capital changes for the quarter ended March 31, 2023.

Net Loss

Palatin's net loss was $7.1 million, or $(0.63) per basic and diluted common share, compared to a net loss of $7.6 million, or $(0.80) per basic and diluted common share for the comparable quarter last year.

The decrease in net loss over the comparable quarter last year, was mainly due to an increase in net product revenue of Vyleesi of $1.0 million offset by an increase in operating expenses of $0.5 million.

Cash Position

As of March 31, 2023, Palatin's cash and cash equivalents were approximately $19.6 million plus $1.7 million of accounts receivables, compared to cash and cash equivalents of $21.2 million with $6.5 million of accounts and other receivables as of December 31, 2022, and $29.9 million with $1.8 million of accounts receivable as of June 30, 2022.

Based on its current operating plan, the Company believes that existing cash and cash equivalents and receivables will be sufficient to fund currently anticipated operating expenses through calendar year 2023.

Conference Call / Webcast

Palatin will host a conference call and audio webcast on May 16, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the results of operations in greater detail and provide an update on corporate developments. Individuals interested in listening to the conference call live can dial 1-888-506-0062 (US) or 1-973-528-0011 (International), participant access code 555988. The audio webcast and replay can be accessed by logging on to the "Investor/Webcasts" section of Palatin's website at http://www.palatin.com. A telephone and audio webcast replay will be available one hour after the completion of the call. To access the telephone replay, dial 1-877-481-4010 (US) or 1-919-882-2331 (International), participant access code 48459. The webcast and telephone replay will be available through May 30, 2023.

About Melanocortin Receptor Agonists and Inflammation

The melanocortin receptor ("MCr") system has effects on inflammation, immune system responses, metabolism, food intake, and sexual function. There are five melanocortin receptors, MC1r through MC5r. Modulation of these receptors, through use of receptor-specific agonists, which activate receptor function, or receptor-specific antagonists, which block receptor function, can have medically significant pharmacological effects.

Many tissues and immune cells located in the eye (and other places, for example the gut and kidney) express melanocortin receptors, empowering our opportunity to directly activate natural pathways to resolve disease inflammation.

About Palatin

Palatin is a biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class medicines based on molecules that modulate the activity of the melanocortin receptor systems, with targeted, receptor-specific product candidates for the treatment of diseases with significant unmet medical need and commercial potential. Palatin's strategy is to develop products and then form marketing collaborations with industry leaders to maximize their commercial potential. For additional information regarding Palatin, please visit Palatin's website at www.Palatin.com and follow Palatin on Twitter at @PalatinTech.

Forward-looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not historical facts, including statements about future expectations of Palatin Technologies, Inc., such as statements about market potential of Vyleesi and other Palatin products in development, clinical trial results, potential actions by regulatory agencies including the FDA, regulatory plans, development programs, proposed indications for product candidates, market potential for product candidates, and potential adverse impacts due to the global COVID-19 pandemic such as delays in regulatory review, manufacturing and supply chain interruptions, adverse effects on healthcare systems and disruption of the global economy, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Palatin intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created thereby. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause Palatin's actual results to be materially different from its historical results or from any results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Palatin's actual results may differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements for reasons including, but not limited to, Palatin's ability to establish and maintain the capability for manufacturing, marketing and distribution of Vyleesi, sales of Vyleesi in the United States and elsewhere in the world, results of clinical trials, regulatory actions by the FDA and other regulatory and the need for regulatory approvals, Palatin's ability to fund development of its technology and establish and successfully complete clinical trials, the length of time and cost required to complete clinical trials and submit applications for regulatory approvals, products developed by competing pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, commercial acceptance of Palatin's products, and other factors discussed in Palatin's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Palatin is not responsible for updating events that occur after the date of this press release.

Palatin Technologies and Vyleesi are registered trademarks of Palatin Technologies, Inc.





















PALATIN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

and Subsidiary

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(unaudited)





















Three Months Ended March 31,

Nine Months Ended March 31,



2023

2022

2023

2022



















REVENUES















Product revenue, net $ 1,195,675

$ 216,097

$ 3,091,745

$ 447,719

License and contract -

-

-

250,000

Total revenues 1,195,675

216,097

3,091,745

697,719



















OPERATING EXPENSES















Cost of products sold 129,235

46,908

314,438

130,012

Research and development 4,830,327

4,980,074

15,224,896

13,891,235

Selling, general and administrative 3,537,376

3,009,528

10,220,518

10,163,830

Gain on purchase commitment -

-

(1,027,322)

-

Total operating expenses 8,496,938

8,036,510

24,732,530

24,185,077



















Loss from operations (7,301,263)

(7,820,413)

(21,640,785)

(23,487,358)



















OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)















Investment income 234,044

1,127

509,006

4,100

Foreign currency (loss) gain (77,266)

190,719

(352,121)

64,000

Interest expense (3,434)

(3,019)

(18,523)

(11,423)

Total other income (expense), net 153,344

188,827

138,362

56,677



















Loss before income taxes (7,147,919)

(7,631,586)

(21,502,423)

(23,430,681)

Income tax benefit -

-

4,674,999

-

NET LOSS $ (7,147,919)

$ (7,631,586)

$ (16,827,424)

$ (23,430,681)





































Basic and diluted net loss per common share $ (0.63)

$ (0.80)

$ (1.59)

$ (2.46)



















Weighted average number of common shares outstanding used in computing basic and diluted net loss per common share 11,432,380

9,552,214

10,613,830

9,537,768









PALATIN TECHNOLOGIES, INC. and Subsidiary Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited)









March 31, 2023

June 30, 2022 ASSETS





Current assets:





Cash and cash equivalents $ 19,632,330

$ 29,939,154 Accounts receivable 1,699,110

1,780,020 Inventories 630,033

944,471 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 2,277,498

1,932,454 Total current assets 24,238,971

34,596,099







Property and equipment, net 713,567

539,314 Right-of-use assets - operating leases 599,442

878,465 Other assets 56,916

56,916 Total assets $ 25,608,896

$ 36,070,794







LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK, AND

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY





Current liabilities:





Accounts payable $ 2,786,313

$ 3,157,617 Accrued expenses 5,536,033

6,875,216 Short-term operating lease liabilities 301,169

371,124 Short-term finance lease liabilities 104,998

100,921 Other current liabilities 3,122,850

5,754,986 Total current liabilities 11,851,363

16,259,864







Long-term operating lease liabilities 320,490

529,398 Long-term finance lease liabilities 73,141

152,407 Other long-term liabilities 3,771,400

2,861,250 Total liabilities 16,016,394

19,802,919







Series B and Series C Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock of $0.01 par value:

authorized 9,000,000 shares, 9,000,000 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30,

2022, with a liquidation preference of $15,000,000 -

15,000,000 Escrowed proceeds -

(15,000,000)







Stockholders' equity:





Preferred stock of $0.01 par value  authorized 10,000,000 shares (including amounts





authorized for Series B and Series C Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock):





Shares issued and outstanding designated as follows:





Series A Convertible: authorized 4,030 shares as of March 31, 2023: issued and





outstanding 4,030 shares as of March 31, 2023 and June 30, 2022 40

40 Common stock of $0.01 par value  authorized 300,000,000 shares:





issued and outstanding 11,152,680 shares as of March 31, 2023 and 9,270,947 shares

as of June 30, 2022 111,527

92,709 Additional paid-in capital 414,302,055

404,168,822 Accumulated deficit (404,821,120)

(387,993,696) Total stockholders' equity 9,592,502

16,267,875 Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock, and stockholders' equity $ 25,608,896

$ 36,070,794

SOURCE Palatin Technologies, Inc.
Philanthropic partnerships to benefit First Nations Development Institute's Native Language Immersion Initiative and the Northwest Native American Center of Excellence at OHSU

PORTLAND, Ore., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- For more than a century, Pendleton Woolen Mills has had a deep connection with the Native American community. Pendleton Woolen Mills is expanding on this connection with a new philanthropic initiative to support key community needs. Pendleton has committed to provide yearly grants to nonprofits that support Native American language preservation and help strengthen Native Americans in their journey to serve the community as healthcare professionals. These philanthropic partnerships will be supported by a portion of sales from products that incorporate the Chief Joseph pattern, with a commitment of at least $100,000 annually. The initial organizations that will be recipients of the donations are First Nations Development Institute's Native Language Immersion Initiative and the Northwest Native American Center of Excellence at Oregon Health & Science University.

Pendleton Woolen Mills Chief Joseph Blanket

"Pendleton has had a relationship with the Native American community since our company's founding over 100 years ago. We are committed to connecting with the Native American community and supporting them to strengthen education, preservation and wellness," said John Bishop, Pendleton Woolen Mills president and chief executive officer. "First Nations Development Institute's Native Language Immersion Initiative and the Northwest Native American Center of Excellence at OHSU are both doing wonderful work in the community, and we are pleased to support their efforts."

First Nations Development Institute's Native Language Immersion Initiative supports programs for Native language retention and revitalization efforts that provide multiple cultural, social and economic benefits that can be life changing to Native American communities.

Michael E. Roberts, President and CEO of First Nations Development Institute, said the partnership will raise valuable support and awareness surrounding Native language retention. "Pendleton Woolen Mills has stepped forward where the private philanthropic community has repeatedly failed to invest  in the important work of Native language preservation and revitalization. Keeping Native languages alive is imperative to the passing down of Native ways. The commitment by Pendleton is an investment in the future, health, and strength of Native communities."

The OHSU Northwest Native American Center of Excellence (NNACoE) works to sustainably address the healthcare needs of all people by increasing the number of American Indian and Alaska Natives in the health professions workforce through recruitment, training and retention efforts.

Dr. Erik Brodt, NNACoE Director and Assistant Dean of Native American Health at OHSU, is hopeful for the positive impact of the initiative on health workforce needs. "We are optimistic about the budding partnership with Pendleton to support training the future health leaders of tomorrow at OHSU NNACoE. This has the potential to be a profound step forward in the right direction to make certain that rural and Tribal communities across the country have access to high quality, safe, affordable, and culturally-congruent health care in their communities. We thank Pendleton for their vision and partnership."

These are two of the many philanthropic partnerships with the Native American community that Pendleton contributes to, others include:

The American Indian College Fund: Supporting education

Fund: Supporting education Center of Southwest Studies: Preserving Native American arts and funding Native American art education

Native American Rehabilitation Association (NARA): Culturally informed Health care for Native women

DigDeep: Supporting the Navajo Water Project

National Indigenous Women's Resource Center (NIWRC): Dedicated to restoring sovereignty and safeguarding Native women and children

Missing and Murdered Dine Relatives (MMDR): Protecting generations and raising awareness

ABOUT PENDLETON WOOLEN MILLS

Pendleton Woolen Mills is a heritage lifestyle brand and the leader in wool blankets, apparel and accessories. Weaving in Oregon since 1863 and located in Portland, Oregon, Pendleton weaves iconic designs in two of America's remaining woolen mills located in Pendleton, Oregon and Washougal, Washington. With six generations of family ownership, Pendleton is focused on their "Warranted to Be a Pendleton" legacy, creating quality lifestyle products with timeless classic styling. Inspiring individuals from the Pacific Northwest and beyond for over 150 years, Pendleton products are available at Pendleton stores across the US, select retailers worldwide, and on pendleton-usa.com.

ABOUT FIRST NATIONS' NATIVE LANGUAGE IMMERSION INITIATIVE

Language is a vital asset for Native people and communities. It defines who we are, where we come from, and the value systems that in many ways cannot be translated into English. To stem the loss of Indigenous languages and cultures, the Native Language Immersion Initiative supports new generations of Native American language speakers, and helps Native communities establish infrastructure and models for Native language immersion programs. The initiative was launched in 2017 by First Nations Development Institute, which for 42 years has been working to restore Native American control and culturally-compatible stewardship of the assets they own  be they land, human potential, cultural heritage or natural resources  and to establish new assets for ensuring the long-term vitality of Native American communities. For more information, visit www.firstnations.org.

ABOUT NORTHWEST NATIVE AMERICAN CENTER OF EXCELLENCE (NNACoE)

The Northwest Native American Center of Excellence (NNACoE) at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) works to sustainably address the health care needs of all people by increasing the number of American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) in the health professions workforce. We accomplish this through a continuum of health professions initiatives from high school through early faculty level. NNACoE is Native-led, and grounded in Indigenous values that strengthen our programmatic approaches to recruit, train, and retain future AI/AN healthcare leaders. NNACoE was established in 2017. Since then, the number of AI/AN medical students at OHSU has tripled, and AI/AN people now make up nearly 10% of the two most recent matriculating classes at OHSU School of Medicine. Building on this success, NNACoE is currently collaborating with a variety of partners to establish nursing and dentistry health professions pathways as well as medical pathway programs in present-day Washington and California. We envision Indigenous leadership and education that extends wider into the community, transforming medicine to better serve all people. For more of our story, visit www.nnacoe.org

Contact

April Rodgers, Pendleton Woolen Mills

503-754-3597, [email protected]

SOURCE Pendleton Woolen Mills
CHICAGO, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Jay K Joshi, physician, author, entrepreneur, has released his debut book titled "Burden of Pain." The book presents a unique perspective on the opioid epidemic, arguably the most pressing health issues of our time.

"Burden of Pain" is divided into two parts. The first part provides an account of Dr. Joshi's efforts to treat vulnerable patients in Northwest Indiana only to find himself at the crosshairs of the Drug Enforcement Agency and Department of Justice.

Dr. John Whyte, Chief Medical Officer of WebMD, called it a "must-read for anyone affected by the opioid epidemic." Tweet this

The second part provides an analysis of the opioid epidemic, challenging current health policies and offers a new perspective on this complex issue. He uses principles from behavioral economics to show why most policies and guidelines fail to curtail rising overdoses.

The book combines his personal reflections about the opioid crisis with insights gleaned through his experiences. It provides a nuanced approach to thinking about patients with pain and physicians who treat them. It's a must-read for anyone affected by the opioid epidemic.

"Burden of Pain'' provides an opportunity for those affected by the opioid epidemic to find a voice for their sufferings. His experience reflects the darkest fears of any physician prescribing opioids for patients presenting with pain to the clinic encounter.

Dr. Joshi was indicted in 2018 for prescribing Norco 7.5/325mg BID outside the scope of medicine to an undercover DEA agent presenting with cramp-like leg pain. He has since regained his medical license and resumed his clinical practice. He was an amicus party to the Supreme Court case, Ruan v. United States, which established that convictions for physicians prescribing opioids illegally require criminal intent.

"Burden of Pain" has received praise from notable medical professionals. Dr. John Whyte, Chief Medical Officer of WebMD, called it a "must-read for anyone affected by the opioid epidemic." Dr. Nabarun Dasgupta, Senior Scientist at UNC Injury Prevention and Research Center and advisor to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said the book "demonstrates the power of dedication to bettering the lives of patients."

For more information on "Burden of Pain" or to schedule time with Dr. Joshi, visit: www.burdenofpain.com .

To purchase a copy of "Burden of Pain", click the link: https://amzn.to/3Bqbmpl

SOURCE Dr. Jay K Joshi
NEW YORK, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The police and law enforcement equipment market is set to grow by USD 1,271.94 million from 2022 to 2027 progressing at a CAGR of 6.4% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current global market scenario, the latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. The market is driven by the growing focus on public place protection. 4K CCTV surveillance cameras provide clear video footage, allowing security authorities to monitor the city more effectively and efficiently.

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Police and Law Enforcement Equipment Market 2023-2027

Here is an Exclusive report talking about Market scenarios with a historical period (2017-2021) and forecast period (2023-2027). Download Sample Report in minutes!

The report on the police and law enforcement equipment market provides a holistic update, market size and forecast, trends, growth drivers, and challenges, as well as vendor analysis.

Police And Law Enforcement Equipment Market 2023-2027 - Market Dynamics

Market Drivers

Growing focus on public place protection

Development of innovative equipment

Rising government investment

Market Trends

Use of social media for law enforcement

Integration of electronic components

Integration of video analytics with law enforcement software

Market Challenges

Infrastructural requirements

Governed by various regulations and acts

Issues related to privacy

Police And Law Enforcement Equipment Market 2023-2027: Market Segmentation

The Police and Law Enforcement Equipment Market is analyzed in terms of Applications by police, court, and others. The product segmentation by lethal and non-lethal weapons, surveillance systems, communication systems, and others. The geography segment includes North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa. The report offers market size and forecasts for all the above segments in value (USD billion). This study identifies the use of social media for law enforcement, the integration of electronic components, and the integration of video analytics with law enforcement software as one of the prime reasons driving the police and law enforcement equipment market growth during the next few years.

The market share growth of the police segment will be significant during the forecast period. The driving force for the police segment is the constitutional authority and large-scale usage of various police and law enforcement equipment by the police station to maintain law and order in the area and prevent crime. In the forecast period, it is estimated that North America will contribute 42% to the market.

Insights on the market contribution of various segments, including country- and region-wise data, historic data (2017 to 2021), and forecast market size (2023 to 2027)- View Sample Report

The police and law enforcement equipment market covers the following areas:

Police And Law Enforcement Equipment Market Sizing

Police And Law Enforcement Equipment Market Forecast

Police And Law Enforcement Equipment Market Analysis



Companies Mentioned

3M Co.

Co. Aholdtech

Avon Polymer Products Ltd.

Axis Communications AB

Axon Enterprise Inc.

Bayly Inc.

Combined Systems Inc.

Digital Ally Inc.

Hard Shell

Haven Gear

Honeywell International Inc

Jiangsu Kelin Police Co. Ltd.

Mart Group LLC

Motorola Solutions Inc.

OBERON ALPHA

Safariland LLC

Streichers Inc.

Textron Inc.

XION Protective Gear

Zhejiang Ganyu Police Co. Ltd.

3m.com- The company offers police and law enforcement equipment for industrial SCBAs and firefighting SCBAs.

avon-protection.com- The company offers police and law enforcement equipment such as escape devices, ballistic helmets and CBRN boots and gloves.

axis.com- The company offers police and law enforcement equipment such as Wearables, Accessories and System devices.

Related Reports:

Commercial Airlines Market- The commercial airlines market size is estimated to decline at a CAGR of 6.31% between 2022 and 2027, and the size of the market is forecast to increase by USD 260 billion.

Tethered Drones Market- The Tethered Drones Market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 5.72% between 2022 and 2027, and the size of the market is forecast to increase by USD 21.64 million.

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Police And Law Enforcement Equipment Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 6.4% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 1,271.94 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023(%) 5.6 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution North America at 42% Key countries US, Canada, China, Germany, and UK Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled 3M Co., Aholdtech, Avon Polymer Products Ltd., Axis Communications AB, Axon Enterprise Inc., Bayly Inc., Combined Systems Inc., Digital Ally Inc., Hard Shell, Haven Gear, Honeywell International Inc, Jiangsu Kelin Police Co. Ltd., Mart Group LLC, Motorola Solutions Inc., OBERON ALPHA, Safariland LLC, Streichers Inc., Textron Inc., XION Protective Gear, and Zhejiang Ganyu Police Co. Ltd. Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

Key Topics Covered:

1 Executive Summary

1.1 Market overview

Exhibit 01: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Overview



Exhibit 02: Executive Summary  Data Table on Market Overview



Exhibit 03: Executive Summary  Chart on Global Market Characteristics



Exhibit 04: Executive Summary  Chart on Market by Geography



Exhibit 05: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by Application



Exhibit 06: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by Product



Exhibit 07: Executive Summary  Chart on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 08: Executive Summary  Data Table on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 09: Executive Summary  Chart on Vendor Market Positioning

2 Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

Exhibit 10: Parent market



Exhibit 11: Market Characteristics

3 Market Sizing

3.1 Market definition

Exhibit 12: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 13: Market segments

3.3 Market size 2022

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2022-2027

Exhibit 14: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 15: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 16: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 17: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

4 Historic Market Size

4.1 Global police and law enforcement equipment market 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 18: Historic Market Size  Data Table on Global police and law enforcement equipment market 2017 - 2021 ($ million)

4.2 Geography Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 19: Historic Market Size  Geography Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million)

4.3 Product Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 20: Historic Market Size  Product Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million)

4.4 Application Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 21: Historic Market Size  Application Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million)

4.5 Country Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 22: Historic Market Size  Country Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million)

5 Five Forces Analysis

5.1 Five forces summary

Exhibit 23: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2022 and 2027

5.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 24: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers  Impact of key factors 2022 and 2027

5.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 25: Bargaining power of suppliers  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 26: Threat of new entrants  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 27: Threat of substitutes  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 28: Threat of rivalry  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.7 Market condition

Exhibit 29: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2022 and 2027

6 Market Segmentation by Application

6.1 Market segments

Exhibit 30: Chart on Application - Market share 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 31: Data Table on Application - Market share 2022-2027 (%)

6.2 Comparison by Application

Exhibit 32: Chart on Comparison by Application



Exhibit 33: Data Table on Comparison by Application

6.3 Police - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 34: Chart on Police - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 35: Data Table on Police - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 36: Chart on Police - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 37: Data Table on Police - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

6.4 Court - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 38: Chart on Court - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 39: Data Table on Court - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 40: Chart on Court - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 41: Data Table on Court - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

6.5 Others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 42: Chart on Others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 43: Data Table on Others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 44: Chart on Others - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 45: Data Table on Others - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

6.6 Market opportunity by Application

Exhibit 46: Market opportunity by Application ($ million)

7 Market Segmentation by Product

7.1 Market segments

Exhibit 47: Chart on Product - Market share 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 48: Data Table on Product - Market share 2022-2027 (%)

7.2 Comparison by Product

Exhibit 49: Chart on Comparison by Product



Exhibit 50: Data Table on Comparison by Product

7.3 Lethal and non-lethal weapons - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 51: Chart on Lethal and non-lethal weapons - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 52: Data Table on Lethal and non-lethal weapons - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 53: Chart on Lethal and non-lethal weapons - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 54: Data Table on Lethal and non-lethal weapons - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

7.4 Surveillance systems - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 55: Chart on Surveillance systems - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 56: Data Table on Surveillance systems - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 57: Chart on Surveillance systems - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 58: Data Table on Surveillance systems - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

7.5 Communication systems - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 59: Chart on Communication systems - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 60: Data Table on Communication systems - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 61: Chart on Communication systems - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 62: Data Table on Communication systems - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

7.6 Others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 63: Chart on Others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 64: Data Table on Others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 65: Chart on Others - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 66: Data Table on Others - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

7.7 Market opportunity by Product

Exhibit 67: Market opportunity by Product ($ million)

8 Customer Landscape

8.1 Customer landscape overview

Exhibit 68: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria

9 Geographic Landscape

9.1 Geographic segmentation

Exhibit 69: Chart on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 70: Data Table on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%)

9.2 Geographic comparison

Exhibit 71: Chart on Geographic comparison



Exhibit 72: Data Table on Geographic comparison

9.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 73: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 74: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 75: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 76: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 77: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 78: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 79: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 80: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.5 APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 81: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 82: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 83: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 84: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.6 South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 85: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 86: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 87: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 88: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.7 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 89: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 90: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 91: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

and - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 92: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.8 US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 93: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 94: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 95: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 96: 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 97: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 98: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 99: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 100: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.10 Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 101: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 102: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 103: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 104: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.11 Canada - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 105: Chart on Canada - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 106: Data Table on Canada - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 107: Chart on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 108: Data Table on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.12 UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 109: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 110: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 111: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 112: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.13 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 113: Market opportunity by geography ($ million)

10 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

10.1 Market drivers

10.2 Market challenges

10.3 Impact of drivers and challenges

Exhibit 114: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2022 and 2027

10.4 Market trends

11 Vendor Landscape

11.1 Overview

11.2 Vendor landscape

Exhibit 115: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation

11.3 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 116: Overview on factors of disruption

11.4 Industry risks

Exhibit 117: Impact of key risks on business

12 Vendor Analysis

12.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 118: Vendors covered

12.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 119: Matrix on vendor position and classification

12.3 3M Co.

Co. Exhibit 120: 3M Co. - Overview

Co. - Overview

Exhibit 121: 3M Co. - Business segments

Co. - Business segments

Exhibit 122: 3M Co. - Key news

Co. - Key news

Exhibit 123: 3M Co. - Key offerings

Co. - Key offerings

Exhibit 124: 3M Co. - Segment focus

12.4 Avon Polymer Products Ltd.

Exhibit 125: Avon Polymer Products Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 126: Avon Polymer Products Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 127: Avon Polymer Products Ltd. - Key offerings

12.5 Axis Communications AB

Exhibit 128: Axis Communications AB - Overview



Exhibit 129: Axis Communications AB - Product / Service



Exhibit 130: Axis Communications AB - Key news



Exhibit 131: Axis Communications AB - Key offerings

12.6 Axon Enterprise Inc.

Exhibit 132: Axon Enterprise Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 133: Axon Enterprise Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 134: Axon Enterprise Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 135: Axon Enterprise Inc. - Segment focus

12.7 Combined Systems Inc.

Exhibit 136: Combined Systems Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 137: Combined Systems Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 138: Combined Systems Inc. - Key offerings

12.8 Digital Ally Inc.

Exhibit 139: Digital Ally Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 140: Digital Ally Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 141: Digital Ally Inc. - Key offerings

12.9 Honeywell International Inc

Exhibit 142: Honeywell International Inc - Overview



Exhibit 143: Honeywell International Inc - Business segments



Exhibit 144: Honeywell International Inc - Key news



Exhibit 145: Honeywell International Inc - Key offerings



Exhibit 146: Honeywell International Inc - Segment focus

12.10 Jiangsu Kelin Police Co. Ltd.

Exhibit 147: Jiangsu Kelin Police Co. Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 148: Jiangsu Kelin Police Co. Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 149: Jiangsu Kelin Police Co. Ltd. - Key offerings

12.11 Mart Group LLC

Exhibit 150: Mart Group LLC - Overview



Exhibit 151: Mart Group LLC - Product / Service



Exhibit 152: Mart Group LLC - Key offerings

12.12 Motorola Solutions Inc.

Exhibit 153: Motorola Solutions Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 154: Motorola Solutions Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 155: Motorola Solutions Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 156: Motorola Solutions Inc. - Segment focus

12.13 OBERON ALPHA

Exhibit 157: OBERON ALPHA - Overview



Exhibit 158: OBERON ALPHA - Product / Service



Exhibit 159: OBERON ALPHA - Key offerings

12.14 Safariland LLC

Exhibit 160: Safariland LLC - Overview



Exhibit 161: Safariland LLC - Product / Service



Exhibit 162: Safariland LLC - Key offerings

12.15 Streichers Inc.

Exhibit 163: Streichers Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 164: Streichers Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 165: Streichers Inc. - Key offerings

12.16 Textron Inc.

Exhibit 166: Textron Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 167: Textron Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 168: Textron Inc. - Key news



Exhibit 169: Textron Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 170: Textron Inc. - Segment focus

12.17 XION Protective Gear

Exhibit 171: XION Protective Gear - Overview



Exhibit 172: XION Protective Gear - Product / Service



Exhibit 173: XION Protective Gear - Key offerings

13 Appendix

13.1 Scope of the report

13.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 174: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 175: Exclusions checklist

13.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 176: Currency conversion rates for US$

13.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 177: Research methodology



Exhibit 178: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 179: Information sources

13.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 180: 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
Data Show Majority of Pro-Choice and Prop 3 Voters Support Parental Consent, Safety Standards

LANSING, Mich., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The legislative majority and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer would be going against the will of Michigan voters  and for the Governor, her own stated position  if legislation advances to remove the requirement that parents give consent for their children to undergo abortion, according to polling data released today by Michigan Catholic Conference (MCC).

When it comes to parental consent requirements for abortion, 67% of Michigan voters support the policy, along with 61% of pro-choice voters and 60% of voters who said they voted yes on Proposal 3 last fall, according to a Marketing Resource Group (MRG) poll commissioned by MCC.

Those numbers are similar when it comes to voter support of the current requirement for a 24-hour waiting period to provide women with informed consent on the procedure. Some 63% of Michigan voters support the current law, while 65% of pro-choice voters and 65% of Proposal 3 supporters also agree.

And, almost unanimously, voters want abortion clinics to be licensed and inspected by the state for the purpose of meeting basic health and sanitation standards: 90% of Michigan voters overall, 97% of pro-choice voters and 97% of Proposal 3 supporters expect abortion facilities to meet basic public health criteria.

"Lawmakers must decide if they stand with a majority of voters who support reasonable guardrails such as parental rights, informed consent, and health and sanitation standards for abortion facilities," said Rebecca Mastee, J.D., policy advocate for MCC. "Even pro-choice voters and those who supported Proposal 3 last November have made clear that legislative protections for parents, women and children should remain in place."

These numbers are being shared in light of reports of a renewed push by abortion advocates to end parental consent requirements, 24-hour waiting periods to provide informed consent, and licensing and inspection standards for most abortion clinics.

Pro-abortion rights supporters regularly state that abortion should be treated 'like other forms of health care,' and that abortion is a 'procedure,' even though medical services and procedures involve health care professionals providing informed consent to their patients and obtaining parental consent for procedures performed on minors.

"If abortion rights advocates want abortion to be treated like any other medical procedure, why would they want to get rid of informed consent and parental consent for minors  which are both standard and expected medical practices?" Mastee said.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer herself is on record for preserving parental consent for a minor's abortion. When asked about parental consent in a 2022 interview with The Detroit News editorial board (paywall), the Governor acknowledged that parental consent "is a part of the law that we have on the books," and added that "what we have works" and "I would be interested in preserving it."

"Rather than push dangerous and unpopular policies that prioritize the abortion industry over women and children, we encourage the legislature to allocate its time and energy to issues that promote the common good and uphold human dignity," Mastee said.

Note: Data is from Marketing Resource Group's spring 2023 poll, which was conducted March 1317 of this year and yielded 599 responses from Michigan voters with a margin of error of 4%. Three-quarters of the responses came from cell phones.

Michigan Catholic Conference is the official public policy voice of the Catholic Church in this state.

SOURCE Michigan Catholic Conference
NEW YORK, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The precast concrete market size is estimated to increase by USD 19.61 billion from 2022 to 2027. The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.83%, according to a recent market study by Technavio. This report also offers a 5-year historical (2017-2021) data projection of market size, segmentation, and region. Discover some insights on market size before buying the full report -Request a sample report

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Precast Concrete Market 2023-2027

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of vendors has been conducted to help clients understand the wider business environment as well as the strengths and weaknesses of key market players. Data is qualitatively analyzed to categorize vendors as pure play, category-focused, industry-focused, and diversified; it is quantitatively analyzed to categorize vendors as dominant, leading, strong, tentative, and weak. The Bargaining Power of Buyers & Suppliers and the Threat of New Entrants, Rivalry, and Substitutes have also been analyzed and rated between LOW-HIGH to provide a holistic view of market favorability.



Find Technavio's Exclusive Analysis of Price Sensitivity, Adoption Lifecycle, Customer Purchase Basket, Adoption Rates, and Purchase Criteria

One of the core components of the customer landscape is price sensitivity , an analysis of which will help companies refine marketing strategies to gain a competitive advantage .

, an analysis of which will help companies refine . Another key aspect is price sensitivity drivers (purchases are undifferentiated, the purchase is a key cost to buyers, and quality is not important) , which range between LOW and HIGH.

, which range between Furthermore, market adoption rates for all regions have been covered.

The addictions therapeutics market report also offers information on the criticality of inputs, R&D, CAPEX, technology, and products of 15 vendors listed Below -

Boral Ltd., CEMEX SAB de CV, Consolis Group SAS, EBAWE Anlagentechnik GmbH, Elematic Oyj, Elementbau Osthessen GmbH and Co. ELO KG, Gulf Precast Concrete Co. LLC, HeidelbergCement AG, Holcim Ltd., Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Kiewit Corp., Larsen and Toubro Ltd., Olson Precast Co., Prilhofer Consulting GmbH and Co. KG, QUIKRETE Holdings Inc., Spiroll Precast Services Ltd., The Wells Companies, Weckenmann Anlagentechnik GmbH and Co. KG, CRH Plc, and Tindall Corp.

To provide a deeper understanding of the competitive landscape, Technavio has profiled key players along with the study that categorizes the global market segmentation. Download a Sample Report

Precast Concrete Market - Segmentation Analysis

This report extensively covers market segmentation by end-user (non-residential and residential), product (building components, transportation, water and water handling, and others), and geography (APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and Middle East and Africa).

The market share growth by the non-residential segment will be significant during the forecast period. This is because it saves time and reduces costs. The segment includes commercial buildings, offices, hospitals, schools, warehouses, and industrial facilities. It represents a large and diverse precast concrete market, offering manufacturers and suppliers an opportunity to serve a wide range of customers with diverse needs and preferences. To ensure consistent quality and minimize on-site construction time, precast concrete elements are manufactured externally under controlled conditions, which speeds up the construction process and reduces labor costs and project schedules. Hence, such factors influence the segment growth during the forecast period.

To procure the data - Buy report!

Precast Concrete Market - Market Dynamics

Key Drivers

Growing urbanization and industrialization is the major factor that drives the global precast concrete market growth.

Global economic growth, rising disposable incomes, and changing lifestyles drive rapid urbanization.

Rapid industrialization and urbanization are some of the factors increasing the demand for roads, housing, water storage structures, tunnels, and bridges.

The development of new roads and increased investment in transportation and highway infrastructure projects, as well as smart cities, all drive the growth of the market.

Hence, regular investments in technological advancements in infrastructure projects in developed countries are also boosting the growth of the market during the forecast period.

Major Trends

Increasing investments in the construction industry will influence the global precast concrete market growth.

Construction activity is on the rise across the world owing to the growing interest to develop infrastructure that drives economic growth and improves people's living standards.

Developed countries like the US look to improve their existing infrastructure. The construction industry in developing countries such as China and India is also growing because the populations of these countries move into the middle-income bracket.

and is also growing because the populations of these countries move into the middle-income bracket. Hence, such trends fuel the growth of the precast concrete market during the forecast period.

Significant Challenges

A lack of awareness regarding precast concrete is a major challenge that may impede the growth of the market.

End users often exhibit a lack of awareness of precast concrete, which can lead to misunderstandings and missed opportunities to use this versatile building material.

Precast concrete is a type of building material poured into reusable forms, allowed to harden, and transported to a construction site for installation one of the main reasons is the persistent belief that only traditional building materials such as brick, stone, and wood are suitable for building construction.

This misconception often stems from resistance to change and a lack of understanding of the many benefits of precast concrete, including durability, economy, safety, and design flexibility.

Hence, such challenges may hinder the market growth during the forecast period.

Precast Concrete Market - Geographic Analysis

The market is segmented by region APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and Middle East and Africa. An analysis of key leading countries has been included.

 APAC is estimated to account for 32% of the global market growth during the forecast period. The region's construction industry experiences significant growth because of the increased demand for industrial buildings, warehouses, and other infrastructure. Favorable government policies and initiatives attract investment in the construction industry from both public and private organizations. For instance, in India, government initiatives such as the smart city mission and housing for all are driving growth in the construction and infrastructure sector. Hence, such factors influence the growth of the precast concrete market during the forecast period.

For Insights on the market dynamics & segmentations VIEW PDF SAMPLE !

What are the key data covered in this Precast Concrete Market report?

CAGR of the market during the forecast period

Detailed information on factors that will drive the growth of the precast concrete market between 2023 and 2027

Precise estimation of the size of the precast concrete market and its contribution to the market with a focus on the parent market

Accurate predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

Growth of the precast concrete market across APAC, Europe , North America , South America , and Middle East and Africa

, , , and and A thorough analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information about vendors

Comprehensive analysis of factors that will challenge the growth of precast concrete market vendors

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The concrete contractor market is projected to grow by USD 571.3 million with a CAGR of 0.71% during the forecast period 2021 to 2026. Furthermore, this report extensively covers the market segmentation by end-user (building construction, building renovation, and other constructions) and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and the Middle East and Africa). Increasing urbanization and industrial development are the key drivers supporting the market's growth.

The concrete superplasticizer market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 7% between 2022 and 2027. The size of the market is forecast to increase by USD 2,028.33 million.This report extensively covers market segmentation by application (ready-mix concrete, precast concrete, high-performance concrete, and others), type (sulfonated naphthalene formaldehyde (SNF), modified lignosulfonates (MLS), polycarboxylic acid (PC), and sulfonated melamine formaldehyde (SMF)), and geography (APAC, Europe, North America, Middle East and Africa, and South America). The increased investment in infrastructure is notably driving the market growth.

Precast Concrete Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 3.83% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 19.61 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 3.3 Regional analysis APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution APAC at 32% Key countries US, China, India, Germany, and France Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled Boral Ltd., CEMEX SAB de CV, Consolis Group SAS, EBAWE Anlagentechnik GmbH, Elematic Oyj, Elementbau Osthessen GmbH and Co. ELO KG, Gulf Precast Concrete Co. LLC, HeidelbergCement AG, Holcim Ltd., Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Kiewit Corp., Larsen and Toubro Ltd., Olson Precast Co., Prilhofer Consulting GmbH and Co. KG, QUIKRETE Holdings Inc., Spiroll Precast Services Ltd., The Wells Companies, Weckenmann Anlagentechnik GmbH and Co. KG, CRH Plc, and Tindall 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.

Table of Contents:

1 Executive Summary

1.1 Market overview

Exhibit 01: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Overview



Exhibit 02: Executive Summary  Data Table on Market Overview



Exhibit 03: Executive Summary  Chart on Global Market Characteristics



Exhibit 04: Executive Summary  Chart on Market by Geography



Exhibit 05: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by End-user



Exhibit 06: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by Product



Exhibit 07: Executive Summary  Chart on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 08: Executive Summary  Data Table on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 09: Executive Summary  Chart on Vendor Market Positioning

2 Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

Exhibit 10: Parent market



Exhibit 11: Market Characteristics

3 Market Sizing

3.1 Market definition

Exhibit 12: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 13: Market segments

3.3 Market size 2022

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2022-2027

Exhibit 14: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 15: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 16: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 17: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

4 Historic Market Size

4.1 Global precast concrete market 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 18: Historic Market Size  Data Table on global precast concrete market 2017 - 2021 ($ billion)

4.2 End-user Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 19: Historic Market Size  End-user Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion)

4.3 Product Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 20: Historic Market Size  Product Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion)

4.4 Geography Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 21: Historic Market Size  Geography Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion)

4.5 Country Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 22: Historic Market Size  Country Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion)

5 Five Forces Analysis

5.1 Five forces summary

Exhibit 23: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2022 and 2027

5.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 24: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers  Impact of key factors 2022 and 2027

5.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 25: Bargaining power of suppliers  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 26: Threat of new entrants  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 27: Threat of substitutes  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 28: Threat of rivalry  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.7 Market condition

Exhibit 29: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2022 and 2027

6 Market Segmentation by End-user

6.1 Market segments

Exhibit 30: Chart on End-user - Market share 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 31: Data Table on End-user - Market share 2022-2027 (%)

6.2 Comparison by End-user

Exhibit 32: Chart on Comparison by End-user



Exhibit 33: Data Table on Comparison by End-user

6.3 Non-residential - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 34: Chart on Non-residential - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 35: Data Table on Non-residential - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 36: Chart on Non-residential - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 37: Data Table on Non-residential - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

6.4 Residential - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 38: Chart on Residential - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 39: Data Table on Residential - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 40: Chart on Residential - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 41: Data Table on Residential - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

6.5 Market opportunity by End-user

Exhibit 42: Market opportunity by End-user ($ billion)



Exhibit 43: Data Table on Market opportunity by End-user ($ billion)

7 Market Segmentation by Product

7.1 Market segments

Exhibit 44: Chart on Product - Market share 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 45: Data Table on Product - Market share 2022-2027 (%)

7.2 Comparison by Product

Exhibit 46: Chart on Comparison by Product



Exhibit 47: Data Table on Comparison by Product

7.3 Building components - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 48: Chart on Building components - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 49: Data Table on Building components - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 50: Chart on Building components - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 51: Data Table on Building components - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

7.4 Transportation - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 52: Chart on Transportation - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 53: Data Table on Transportation - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 54: Chart on Transportation - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 55: Data Table on Transportation - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

7.5 Water and water handling - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 56: Chart on Water and water handling - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 57: Data Table on Water and water handling - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 58: Chart on Water and water handling - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 59: Data Table on Water and water handling - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

7.6 Others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 60: Chart on Others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 61: Data Table on Others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 62: Chart on Others - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 63: Data Table on Others - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

7.7 Market opportunity by Product

Exhibit 64: Market opportunity by Product ($ billion)



Exhibit 65: Data Table on Market opportunity by Product ($ billion)

8 Customer Landscape

8.1 Customer landscape overview

Exhibit 66: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria

9 Geographic Landscape

9.1 Geographic segmentation

Exhibit 67: Chart on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 68: Data Table on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%)

9.2 Geographic comparison

Exhibit 69: Chart on Geographic comparison



Exhibit 70: Data Table on Geographic comparison

9.3 APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 71: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 72: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 73: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 74: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 75: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 76: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 77: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 78: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.5 North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 79: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 80: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 81: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 82: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.6 South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 83: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 84: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 85: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 86: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.7 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 87: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 88: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 89: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

and - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 90: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.8 China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 91: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 92: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 93: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 94: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.9 US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 95: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 96: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 97: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 98: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.10 Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 99: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 100: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 101: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 102: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.11 France - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 103: Chart on France - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 104: Data Table on France - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 105: Chart on France - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 106: Data Table on France - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.12 India - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 107: Chart on India - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 108: Data Table on India - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 109: Chart on India - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 110: Data Table on India - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.13 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 111: Market opportunity by geography ($ billion)



Exhibit 112: Data Tables on Market opportunity by geography ($ billion)

10 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

10.1 Market drivers

10.2 Market challenges

10.3 Impact of drivers and challenges

Exhibit 113: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2022 and 2027

10.4 Market trends

11 Vendor Landscape

11.1 Overview

11.2 Vendor landscape

Exhibit 114: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation

11.3 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 115: Overview on factors of disruption

11.4 Industry risks

Exhibit 116: Impact of key risks on business

12 Vendor Analysis

12.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 117: Vendors covered

12.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 118: Matrix on vendor position and classification

12.3 Boral Ltd.

Exhibit 119: Boral Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 120: Boral Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 121: Boral Ltd. - Key news



Exhibit 122: Boral Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 123: Boral Ltd. - Segment focus

12.4 CEMEX SAB de CV

Exhibit 124: CEMEX SAB de CV - Overview



Exhibit 125: CEMEX SAB de CV - Business segments



Exhibit 126: CEMEX SAB de CV - Key news



Exhibit 127: CEMEX SAB de CV - Key offerings



Exhibit 128: CEMEX SAB de CV - Segment focus

12.5 Consolis Group SAS

Exhibit 129: Consolis Group SAS - Overview



Exhibit 130: Consolis Group SAS - Product / Service



Exhibit 131: Consolis Group SAS - Key offerings

12.6 CRH Plc

Exhibit 132: CRH Plc - Overview



Exhibit 133: CRH Plc - Business segments



Exhibit 134: CRH Plc - Key news



Exhibit 135: CRH Plc - Key offerings



Exhibit 136: CRH Plc - Segment focus

12.7 EBAWE Anlagentechnik GmbH

Exhibit 137: EBAWE Anlagentechnik GmbH - Overview



Exhibit 138: EBAWE Anlagentechnik GmbH - Product / Service



Exhibit 139: EBAWE Anlagentechnik GmbH - Key offerings

12.8 Elematic Oyj

Exhibit 140: Elematic Oyj - Overview



Exhibit 141: Elematic Oyj - Product / Service



Exhibit 142: Elematic Oyj - Key offerings

12.9 Gulf Precast Concrete Co. LLC

Exhibit 143: Gulf Precast Concrete Co. LLC - Overview



Exhibit 144: Gulf Precast Concrete Co. LLC - Product / Service



Exhibit 145: Gulf Precast Concrete Co. LLC - Key offerings

12.10 Holcim Ltd.

Exhibit 146: Holcim Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 147: Holcim Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 148: Holcim Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 149: Holcim Ltd. - Segment focus

12.11 Julius Berger Nigeria Plc

Exhibit 150: Julius Berger Nigeria Plc - Overview



Exhibit 151: Julius Berger Nigeria Plc - Business segments



Exhibit 152: Julius Berger Nigeria Plc - Key offerings



Exhibit 153: Julius Berger Nigeria Plc - Segment focus

12.12 Kiewit Corp.

Exhibit 154: Kiewit Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 155: Kiewit Corp. - Product / Service



Exhibit 156: Kiewit Corp. - Key offerings

12.13 Larsen and Toubro Ltd.

Exhibit 157: Larsen and Toubro Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 158: Larsen and Toubro Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 159: Larsen and Toubro Ltd. - Key news



Exhibit 160: Larsen and Toubro Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 161: Larsen and Toubro Ltd. - Segment focus

12.14 QUIKRETE Holdings Inc.

Exhibit 162: QUIKRETE Holdings Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 163: QUIKRETE Holdings Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 164: QUIKRETE Holdings Inc. - Key offerings

12.15 Spiroll Precast Services Ltd.

Exhibit 165: Spiroll Precast Services Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 166: Spiroll Precast Services Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 167: Spiroll Precast Services Ltd. - Key offerings

12.16 The Wells Companies

Exhibit 168: The Wells Companies - Overview



Exhibit 169: The Wells Companies - Product / Service



Exhibit 170: The Wells Companies - Key offerings

12.17 Tindall Corp.

Exhibit 171: Tindall Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 172: Tindall Corp. - Product / Service



Exhibit 173: Tindall Corp. - Key offerings

13 Appendix

13.1 Scope of the report

13.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 174: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 175: Exclusions checklist

13.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 176: Currency conversion rates for US$

13.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 177: Research methodology



Exhibit 178: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 179: Information sources

13.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 180: List of abbreviations

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SOURCE Technavio
The psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease market size shall grow during the forecast period (20232032). This increase will be due to rising disease awareness and improving diagnosis, besides the launch of emerging therapies by key companies, including Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, Karuna Therapeutics, Vanda Pharmaceuticals, and others.

LAS VEGAS, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DelveInsight's Psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Disease Market Insights report includes a comprehensive understanding of current treatment practices, psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease emerging drugs, market share of individual therapies, and current and forecasted market size from 2019 to 2032, segmented into 7MM [the United States, the EU-4 (Italy, Spain, France, and Germany), the United Kingdom, and Japan].

Key Takeaways from the Psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Disease Market Report

As per DelveInsight analysis, the psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease market size in the 7MM was approximately USD 1.2 billion in 2022.

According to the assessment done by DelveInsight, the estimated total diagnosed prevalent psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease cases in the 7MM were approximately 6.7 million in 2022.

Leading psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease companies such as Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, Karuna Therapeutics, Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Suven Life Sciences, Enterin, Intra-Cellular Therapies, Merck Sharp & Dohme , and others are developing novel psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease drugs that can be available in the psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease market in the coming years.

The promising psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease therapies in the pipeline include Ulotaront (SEP-363856), KarXT (xanomeline-trospium), FANAPT (iloperidone), Masupiridine (SUVN-502), ENT-01, ITI-1284, MK-8189 , a nd others.

Discover which therapies are expected to grab the major psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease market share @ Psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Disease Market Report

Psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Disease Overview

Psychosis is a group of symptoms that affect the mind and indicate a loss of contact with reality. Individuals' ideas and perceptions are altered during a psychotic episode, making it difficult to distinguish between what is genuine and what is not. In Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease, both exogenous and endogenous factors contribute to the development of psychosis. Old age, sleep difficulties, long-term neurodegenerative conditions, depression, cognitive impairment, and vision abnormalities are all risk factors for the disease.

Parkinson's disease psychosis (PDP) is a prevalent occurrence in Parkinson's disease patients that is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. It is caused by anomalies in dopamine, serotonin, and glutamate neurotransmission induced by Lewy body deposition in the brain. Alzheimer's disease psychosis (ADP), which is common in Alzheimer's disease patients, is caused by increased excitatory neuron sensitivity and post-transcriptional mechanisms that alter synaptic protein in the brain. Due to the complexity of the aetiologies and physiological hypotheses, many diagnostic techniques, including neuroimaging, neurophysiological, genotypic, and serologic examinations, are used to diagnose psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease patients.

Psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Disease Epidemiology Segmentation

DelveInsight estimates that there were approximately 6.7 million diagnosed prevalent cases of psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease in the 7MM in 2022.

Among the 7MM, the US contributed to the largest diagnosed prevalent psychosis population in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, acquiring ~34% in 2022. In contrast, the UK accounted for the least, with approximately 4% of the total population share in 2022.

The psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease market report proffers epidemiological analysis for the study period 20192032 in the 7MM segmented into:

Total diagnosed prevalent cases of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease

Age-specific cases of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease

Gender-specific cases of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease

Total diagnosed prevalent cases of Psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease

Psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Disease Treatment Market

The current treatment of psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease includes both nonpharmacological and pharmacological treatments. The major goal of psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease treatment is to lessen the frequency and severity of psychotic symptoms while causing little worsening of motor symptoms. The use of conventional and atypical antipsychotics (e.g., aripiprazole, clozapine, quetiapine, and others) is the first-line treatment. However, atypical antipsychotics are frequently chosen in the initial therapy, which minimizes the likelihood of further worsening in patients. Aside from antipsychotics, 5-HT3 receptor antagonists, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil, rivastigmine), and various antidepressants are utilized. While cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), reasoning, and rehabilitation are used to reduce behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), anxiety, psychosis, agitation, aggression, sleep difficulties, and other symptoms linked with psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease.

The US FDA has approved ACADIA's NUPLAZID (pimavanserin), a receptor antagonist (5-HT2A, 5-HT2C), for the treatment of hallucination and delusion associated with psychosis in Parkinson's disease patients. It is the only approved therapy available in the US. Recent trials also suggest that the medicine is helpful in Alzheimer's disease patients with more severe psychosis. At the same time, more long-term studies are needed to define better the efficacy and long-term safety profile of pimavanserin for treating psychosis in Alzheimer's disease. Though the expensive cost of pimavanserin certainly restricts its use, the findings in Parkinson's disease psychosis patients and evidence from Alzheimer's disease trials are convincing.

There are currently no approved medicines for Alzheimer's disease psychosis patients; the major treatment is antipsychotics. Off-label therapies that are routinely utilized include quetiapine, clozapine, risperidone, aripiprazole, citalopram, and escitalopram. Aripiprazole has been shown in clinical tests to be effective and safe. In contrast, citalopram has been shown to be useful in lowering agitation and the severity of hallucinations and delusions in Alzheimer's disease psychosis patients.

To know more about psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease treatment guidelines, visit @ Psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Disease Management

Psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Disease Pipeline Therapies and Key Companies

Ulotaront (SEP-363856): Sunovion Pharmaceuticals

KarXT (xanomeline-trospium): Karuna Therapeutics

FANAPT (iloperidone): Vanda Pharmaceuticals

Masupiridine (SUVN-502): Suven Life Sciences

ENT-01: Enterin

ITI-1284: Intra-Cellular Therapies

MK-8189: Merck Sharp & Dohme

Learn more about the FDA-approved drugs for psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease @ Drugs for Psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Disease Treatment

Psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Disease Market Dynamics

The psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease market dynamics are anticipated to change in the coming years due to increasing awareness and improved diagnosis. Increased awareness and a better understanding of disease pathogenesis have improved diagnosis and treatment. Moreover, the recent FDA approval of NUPLAZID, the first approved therapy for treating hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson's disease psychosis, suggests a positive shift in the psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease market. Furthermore, pharma companies have an opportunity to develop therapies with enhanced safety and tolerability profiles, effectively lowering symptoms and preventing the recurrence of psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. In addition, the advancement of biomarkers for cognitive impairment enables exact diagnosis and individualized therapy.

However, several factors are impeding the growth of psychosis in the Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease market. Psychosis in Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease is related to low quality of life, higher healthcare resource utilization, and a significant economic burden. NUPLAZID and the other atypical antipsychotics recommended for treatment include black box warnings and adverse effects. Moreover, a lack of a medication development pipeline, the ongoing use of antipsychotics despite the hazards, and a lack of specialized nonpharmacological interventions may cause a dip in the growth of psychosis in the Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease market. Furthermore, there is a high attrition rate when drug development proceeds from first-in-human trials to pivotal registration studies due to a lack of efficacy. Hence all these factors may hamper the psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease market growth in the coming years.

Report Metrics Details Study Period 20192032 Coverage 7MM [the United States, the EU-4 (Italy, Spain, France, and Germany), the United Kingdom, and Japan] Base Year 2019 Psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Disease Market CAGR (US) 15.6 % Psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Disease Market Size in 2022 USD 1.2 Billion Key Psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Disease Companies Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, Karuna Therapeutics, Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Suven Life Sciences, Enterin, Intra-Cellular Therapies, Merck Sharp & Dohme, and others Key Pipeline Psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Disease Therapies Ulotaront (SEP-363856), KarXT (xanomeline-trospium), FANAPT (iloperidone), Masupiridine (SUVN-502), ENT-01, ITI-1284, MK-8189, and others

Scope of the Psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Disease Market Report

Therapeutic Assessment: Psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Disease current marketed and emerging therapies

Psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Disease Market Dynamics: Attribute Analysis of Emerging Psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Disease Drugs

Competitive Intelligence Analysis: SWOT analysis and Market entry strategies

Unmet Needs, KOL's views, Analyst's views, Psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Disease Market Access and Reimbursement

Discover more about psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease drugs in development @ Psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Disease Clinical Trials

Table of Contents

1. Psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Disease Market Key Insights 2. Psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Disease Market Report Introduction 3. Psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Disease Market Overview at a Glance 4. Psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Disease Market Executive Summary 5. Disease Background and Overview 6. Psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Disease Treatment and Management 7. Psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Disease Epidemiology and Patient Population 8. Patient Journey 9. Psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Disease Marketed Drugs 10. Psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Disease Emerging Drugs 11. 7MM Psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Disease Market Analysis 12. Psychosis in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Disease Market Outlook 13. Potential of Current and Emerging Therapies 14. KOL Views 15. Unmet Needs 16. SWOT Analysis 17. Appendix 18. DelveInsight Capabilities 19. Disclaimer 20. About DelveInsight

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SOURCE DelveInsight Business Research, LLP
Senior officials will brief Tuesday at the Biden administrations first Iran-focused classified session for all senators, seven congressional staffers and U.S. officials said, coming at a time when relations with Tehran are spiraling and nuclear constraints are weakening, Trend reports citing Politico.

Outgoing Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, Undersecretary of Defense Colin Kahl, Deputy Director of National Intelligence Morgan Muir, Treasurys Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson and Vice Adm. Stephen Koehler, the Joint Staffs chief of strategy, policy and plans, will be on Capitol Hill at 4 p.m. for the classified briefing.

One person who wont be there is Rob Malley, the special envoy for Iran deal talks, who were told is on leave by two people (they, like others, were granted anonymity to freely discuss details of a classified session). His deputy, ABRAM PALEY, will accompany Sherman in his stead.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who asked for the Iran briefing several months ago, has been arguing on the Senate floor that the threat from Iran has worsened under President Joe Biden. A Senate GOP aide said the briefing is overdue.

McConnell has railed at the administration after an Iranian proxy killed an American contractor in Syria two months ago. The United States responded with air strikes on facilities used by groups affiliated with Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Republicans were also upset that, around the same time, the repeal of the 2002 Iraq authorization for the use of military force didnt include a carve out to keep pressure on Iran.

Sherman will use the opportunity to update senators on the state of Iran deal negotiations, a Senate Democratic aide told NatSec Daily. Theres been progress on nuclear talks, the staffer said without expanding further. Other topics that will surely come up include Irans general threats to the United States and its regional partners, namely Israel, and Tehrans support for terrorism.

Put together, theres a good chance the private session will get a little rowdy as the administration, some Democrats, and Republicans are at odds over how to handle Iran.

Sen. JONI ERNST (R.-Iowa) led a dozen senators in a bipartisan appeal last month to Biden to reinvigorate U.S. efforts to enforce sanctions on Iranian oil and gas shipments.

It is incredibly disappointing that my bipartisan call for Iranian oil sanction enforcement, which includes a dozen Republicans and Democratic senators, has yet to receive an answer from the administration, despite a requested deadline of today, she said in a statement.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters Monday that, since August, Iran has provided Russia with more than 400 drones, most of them Shaheds. In exchange, Moscow is assisting Tehran with its missile and air defense programs and selling it fighter jets, among other things. This is a full-scale defense partnership, he said, adding that additional sanctions will be placed on the individuals who are helping it flourish.

Since the U.S. withdrew from the Iran deal in 2018, Tehran has been enriching nuclear fuel closer and closer to the weapons-grade level of 90 percent.
Famed Newport Hotel to join Pyramid's Benchmark Luxury & Lifestyle Collection

BOSTON and THE WOODLANDS, Texas, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pyramid Global Hospitality  the powerhouse hospitality company behind inspired collections like Benchmark Pyramid Luxury & Lifestyle and Hamilton Pyramid Europe  is pleased to announce the Wayfinder Newport hotel in Newport, Rhode Island, as the latest addition to the company's distinguished management portfolio. Continuing a longtime partnership with Dovetail + Co, owner of the Wayfinder Newport, Pyramid Global has assumed management of the 197-room hotel with immediate plans underway to rebuild and revitalize the property.

"We are pleased to welcome the Wayfinder Newport to Pyramid Global's Luxury & Lifestyle collection of world-renowned properties and to extend our footprint into the beautiful state of Rhode Island," said Chris Devine, chief investment officer, Pyramid Global Hospitality. "We look forward to partnering with the fantastic team at Dovetail + Co to reinvigorate this remarkable property."

First opened in 2020, the Wayfinder Newport is an imaginative boutique hotel developed with local chefs, bartenders, artists, designers and entrepreneurs to create a genuine homage to the destination. A fresh take on a Newport hotel, the Wayfinder pairs coastal design with home-grown talent to provide a mindful and unstrained hotel experience that highlights Rhode Island's relaxed free-spirited energy.

Sadly, just two years after its opening, the Wayfinder Newport suffered extensive damage in a catastrophic fire. In close collaboration with Dovetail + Co, Pyramid Global intends to support the current restoration of the property with plans to reopen a portion of the hotel this summer and the rest to follow this fall.

The addition of Wayfinder Newport to Pyramid Global Hospitality's extensive portfolio supports a growing relationship with ownership team Dovetail + Co as the two companies also successfully own and operate Cambridge Beaches Resort & Spa in Bermuda.

"Wayfinder Newport has a special place in Dovetail's heart as our first property," said Phil Hospod, Founder and CEO of Dovetail + Co. "We love Rhode Island as a second home. We are eager to open our doors again, continue contributing to this dynamic community, and excited to build a great team with Pyramid Global that shares our appreciation for this beautiful state."

In anticipation of the property's reopening this year, Wayfinder Newport is now rehiring all positions from general manager and director of sales to bar and front-and heart-of-house staff. If interested in joining the team, please reach out to [email protected]. For more information on the property's reopening and to be among the first to revisit, visit thewayfinderhotel.com.

About Wayfinder Newport

Wayfinder Newport is a boutique hotel developed by Dovetail + Co. Founder Phil Hospod brought together a group of local chefs, bartenders, artists, designers, and entrepreneurs to create a property that redefined the 'typical' Newport experience. In a destination known for its gilded history and traditional accommodations, Wayfinder Newport represents Rhode Island's new "creative class" with a fresh, more relaxed, and free-spirited energy. Designed in collaboration with New York-based firm Reunion Goods & Services, the Wayfinder features a fresh take on coastal style, including cool tones, antique finds, custom furnishings, and contemporary art. Weaving high-design throughout the entire property, the on-site restaurant, Nomi Park, boasts a menu full of coastal classics with a kick, and the hand-painted pool by Rhode Island resident Sean Spellman features the artist's signature rolling sea motif. www.wayfinderhotels.com

About Pyramid Global Hospitality

Pyramid Global Hospitality, a leading third-party hospitality management company, is the powerhouse brand behind an inspired collection of forward-thinking professionals providing powerful solutions to some of the world's best hotels and resorts. Formed by the 2021 merger of three hotel and resort management companies, the organization's global portfolio now spans more than 230 properties across the U.S., Caribbean and Europe, with offices in Boston; The Woodlands, Texas; Cincinnati; and London. For more information, visit www.PyramidGlobal.com

About Dovetail + Co

Led by Phil Hospod, Dovetail + Co is an owner and creator of hotels, bars, and restaurants that promote exploration and discovery. Industry veterans in the disciplines of investment, development, branding, and operations, Dovetail + Co believes that new experiences can shift perspectives, spark friendships, and redefine what is possible. Dovetail + Co's critically acclaimed hotel projects include Urban Cowboy Lodge in the Catskills Mountains of New York, Wayfinder hotels in Newport, Rhode Island and Waikiki, Hawaii, Cambridge Beaches Resort & Spa in Bermuda, Palihotel San Diego and an upcoming micro-hotel in the heart of Noho New York. www.dovetailandco.com

FOR MORE MEDIA INFORMATION:

THE ZIMMERMAN AGENCY - 850.668.2222

[email protected]

SOURCE Pyramid Global Hospitality
Q Mixers Is 'Official Non-Alcoholic Premium Mixer Sponsor' of IMS

INDIANAPOLIS, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Q Mixers , America's leading premium mixers company, announces a multiyear partnership with Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) to become the "Official Non-Alcoholic Premium Mixer" of IMS.

The sponsorship was unveiled just in time for the 107th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on May 28 at IMS.

"We're very proud to partner with Indianapolis Motor Speedway," Q Mixers CEO Bob Arnold said. "Having the biggest American premium mixer brand team up with the largest single-day sporting event in the world is a natural fit and a great way to directly connect our dedicated fans. Both the spirits and racing industries are rapidly growing in popularity, so we're excited to partner with a premium property like IMS to be their official mixer partner. Q Mixers is committed to further elevating the Indy 500 fan experience by providing the highest quality refreshments and premium cocktails."

Q Mixers will serve specialty cocktails and offer on-site experiences at the Indy 500 and will be available in all suites, the Hulman Terrace Club and the 500 Club. Q Mixers' signature cocktail - The Victory Lane - was created exclusively for IMS and is the "Official Premium Mixer Cocktail" of the Indy 500; a delicious mix of Q Mixer's Hibiscus Ginger Beer, Crown Royal Whisky and a splash of lime.

"The Indianapolis 500 is known as "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing," and it is the largest single day sporting event in the world," IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. "The fan experience at IMS for the Month of May and Race Day includes a variety of sounds, sights, tastes and smells. Adding Q Mixers as an official partner of the track and the Indy 500 gives our fans another option to add some flavor to their time at the track."

In addition to the Indy 500, Q Mixers will be proudly served at all IMS events, allowing fans to enjoy quality cocktails throughout the race season that includes the GMR Grand Prix, Pennzoil 150 at the Brickyard presented by Advance Auto Parts, Verizon 200 at the Brickyard, Gallagher Grand Prix and the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks.

About Q Mixers

Q Mixers is America's leading premium mixer company, proudly based in Brooklyn, New York. Q Mixers is committed to making all of your drinks spectacular. Q Mixers uses the highest quality ingredients, less sugar added, and are always carbonated to perfection. Q Mixers can be enjoyed on their own or perfectly complimenting your liquor of choice - the mixing options are endless. Q Mixers offers 14 flavors including: Spectacular Tonic, Ginger Beer, Club Soda, Sparkling Grapefruit. Q Mixers can be found at America's best restaurants, local grocery stores and available at major US retailers including Target and Amazon. For more information, please visit us at QMixers.com and follow us @QMixers .

About Indianapolis Motor Speedway

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the world's largest spectator sporting facility, has been the worldwide leader in motorsports entertainment since opening in 1909. IMS will host the 107th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge  the world's most prestigious auto race  on Sunday, May 28. That race is the climax of an exciting Month of May schedule for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES that also includes the GMR Grand Prix on Saturday, May 13 on the IMS road course. Three of the biggest racing series in North America each will race on the IMS road course during Brickyard Weekend on August 11-13, featuring the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard for the NASCAR Cup Series, Gallagher Grand Prix for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and Pennzoil 150 at the Brickyard presented by Advance Auto Parts for the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Other events in 2023 at IMS will feature the USAC National Midget Series, the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association and IMSA. IMS, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and IMS Productions are owned by Penske Corporation, a global transportation, automotive and motorsports leader. To purchase tickets or for more information, please visit ims.com.

SOURCE Q Mixers
NEW YORK, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Klein Law Firm announces that a class action complaint has been filed on behalf of shareholders of Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE: RAD) alleging that the Company violated federal securities laws.

Class Period: April 26, 2018 to March 13, 2023

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: May 19, 2023

No obligation or cost to you.

Learn more about your recoverable losses in RAD:

https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/rite-aid-lawsuit-loss-submission-form?id=39397&from=4

Rite Aid Corporation NEWS - RAD NEWS

CLASS ACTION CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that Rite Aid Corporation 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.

WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER: If you have suffered a loss in Rite Aid you have until May 19, 2023 to petition the court for lead plaintiff status. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.

NO COST TO YOU: If you purchased Rite Aid securities during the relevant period, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket fees.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FINANCIAL INTERESTS: For additional information about the RAD lawsuit, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/rite-aid-lawsuit-loss-submission-form?id=39397&from=4.

ABOUT KLEIN LAW FIRM

J. Klein, Esq. represents investors and participates in securities litigations involving financial fraud throughout the nation. The Klein Law Firm is a boutique litigation firm with experience in a wide range of areas including securities law, corporate finance and commercial litigation. Since 2011, our experienced attorneys have achieved superior results for our clients with a personalized focus. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

J. Klein, Esq.

535 Fifth Avenue

4th Floor

New York City, NY 10017

[email protected]

Telephone: (212) 616-4899

www.kleinstocklaw.com

SOURCE The Klein Law Firm
Surpassed Rs. 79,519 Crores in revenues for FY'23

FY'23 Revenue growth of 27%; EBITDA 20%

Q4 FY'23 Revenue growth of 26%; EBITDA 15%;

Dividend of Rs. 7.2 per equity share of Rs. 2 each (i.e., 360% of face value) has been recommended

CHENNAI, India, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Redington Ltd (NSE: REDINGTON), today announced its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 (Q4 FY'23) and full financial year FY'23 delivering strong performance vis-a-vis the industry across all business segments.

At Rs. 21,895 Crores, overall global revenues for Q4 have been the highest ever for any quarter growing by a strong 26% YoY and at Rs. 590 Crores, it has registered highest ever Q4 operating profit with a 15% YoY. For the full year FY23 the firm reported a revenue of Rs. 79,519 Crores which is a growth of 27% YoY and a PAT of Rs. 1,393 Crores, a growth of 9%.

Supported by solid execution across businesses and geographies, Redington continues to gain share and secure new opportunities in the markets they compete in. The company emphasized that this record performance is an outcome of continued investments in improving their technology capabilities, building deeper partner relationships, making breadth of offerings more comprehensive and innovations in business model.

Redington's digital transformation has been a key growth catalyst as the company transitions from its role of distributor and aggregator towards becoming a holistic technology solutions provider. It is addressing the market demand for consumer devices and smartphones, hybrid work and learn environments, SMB and enterprise technology solutions including cloud, infrastructure for servers, storage, networking and security. It is also responding to the emerging technology requirements fueled by growing adoption of 5G, Internet of Things (IoT), Edge Computing and Generative AI.

"Our growth in FY23, has been driven by reinventing ourselves across many dimensions. We made significant investments in improving our digital capabilities, building platforms and creating processes to enable faster time to market and providing choice to customers to engage with us in ways they prefer. While technology distribution has been our core value proposition, we are focused on building competencies and capabilities to provide managed services for private and public Cloud, Security and audits. Technology industry globally has been going through a phase of reduced demand and our initiatives ensure we provide more value to serve our customers better thereby gaining share and accelerate our growth momentum. Our partners play a most crucial role and we remain committed to empower them and help them in their business growth," said Mr. Rajiv Srivastava, Managing Director, Redington Ltd.

Redington's endeavour to address Technology Friction  the gap between speed of innovation and rate of adoption of technology  is a key driving force, which is shaping its business, R&D and market strategy. With an acute focus on digital, the company is investing on upskilling and elevating its partners through dedicated Centre of Excellence (COEs) and providing them with greater accessibility to new age technology products, services and solutions.

*The detailed Financial Report for FY23 can be accessed here: https://www.bseindia.com/xml-data/corpfiling/AttachLive/8d867e1d-3766-4c13-b9f2-db9ecc5919ef.pdf

Safe Harbor

Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements. The business involves various risks, and uncertainties that could result in the actual results to differ materially from those indicated here. All forward looking statements made herein are based on information presently available to the management of the Company and the Company does not undertake to update any forward looking statement that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company.

About Redington Ltd:

Redington Limited, an integrated technology solutions provider and a Fortune 500 company, enables businesses in their digital transformation journeys by addressing technology friction  the gap between innovation and adoption. With presence across 38 markets through 60 subsidiary offices, over 300+ brand associations, and 43,000 channel partners, Redington enables seamless and end-to-end distribution for all categories of IT/ITeS, Telecom, Lifestyle, and Solar products in India, Singapore, South Asia, Middle-East, Africa and Turkey. Through its concentrated focus on technology, innovations, and partnerships, Redington is one of the most trusted distributors of products, services, and solutions across the world.

For more details, please visit https://redingtongroup.com/

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SOURCE Redington
Renaissance Hotels offers travelers a gateway to discover Porto like a local from the picturesque Lapa neighborhood

BETHESDA, Md., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Renaissance Hotels, part of Marriott Bonvoy's global portfolio 31 extraordinary hotel brands, has debuted in Portugal with the opening of Renaissance Porto Lapa Hotel. Located in charming Lapa, one of the most historic, vibrant neighborhoods in Porto, the new hotel offers spontaneous explorers a sleek, sophisticated urban hideaway moments away from the iconic Lapa Church and other city landmarks, such as Casa da Musica and Clerigos Tower.

Renaissance Porto - a.typical Restaurant and Bar

"Porto is an alluring destination with a thriving wine and culinary scene, intriguing sightseeing, with history and culture around every corner  making for an exciting debut for Renaissance Hotels," said Jennifer Connell, Global Brand Leader, Renaissance Hotels, and Vice President, Distinctive Premium Brands, Marriott International. "Through the brand's signature theatrical design, Evenings programming, and savvy Navigators, Renaissance Porto Lapa Hotel will entice guests and locals alike with unexpected discoveries that surprise and delight."

Perched on the Lapa's hills, the hotel offers panoramic views of the city skyline. Drawing inspiration from this beloved city, local architecture firm Visioarq Arquitectos and interior designers of Broadway Malyan were commissioned to create Renaissance Porto Lapa Hotel as an 'Art House in The Park'. Anchored by the brand's theatrical design concept, the hotel is dressed harmoniously in pastel pinks and champagne golds with an unexpected touch of petrol blue, which pays homage to the iconic Douro River running through Porto and Gaia. The hotel's interiors feature vintage Portuguese tiles, which have been used in local buildings and pavements for centuries. Adorning the walls are original art pieces from Portuguese international artists including a tile mosaic installation by Pedrita Studio, a painting by Isabel Mello, and a unique piece made of corrugated iron and neon lights by Berlin-based artist Clemens Behr.

The champagne color scheme extends to the hotel's 163 stylish guest rooms and suites, which feature neutral furnishings in walnut wood, chic design pieces as well as floor-to-ceiling windows that allow plenty of natural light to pour through the space. All guest rooms feature modern 55 LCD flat-screen TVs, high-quality sound systems, work desks, and USB outlets. The four suites, mostly set on high floors, offer a spacious living area and private balcony where guests can unwind with stunning views looking out to the Atlantic Ocean.

The new hotel has one restaurant and two bars, all of which showcase a gastronomic experience of Portuguese cuisine with a Mediterranean flair. On the ground floor, guests will enjoy all-day dining at a.typical Restaurant and Bar where the brand's signature Ritual, with local flavors takes place to usher the transition of daytime to nightfall. Four nights a week the bar will prepare a locally infused 'punch bowl' with gins from Porto, fresh seasonal fruit and picked herbs. Following the Ritual, the space transforms into an elevated venue where guests and locals alike can mix and mingle over cocktails and live music. For panoramic views, the Sky Bar on the fifth floor offers a serene setting for locally inspired cocktails alongside Portuguese-style light bites.

Ideal for active travelers, the hotel's top floor is also home to a 55-feet outdoor heated infinity pool and a state-of-the-art Fitness Centre with top-notch Technogym equipment.

Renaissance Porto Lapa Hotel has more than 5,850 square feet of flexible event space equipped with the latest technology, including an advanced translator system accommodating events with multi-language speakers. There are a total of six meeting rooms of which the largest can comfortably host close to 600 guests for conferences and corporate events.

The Renaissance Navigator, the brand's neighborhood expert, helps guests discover the local culture and destination. For history lovers, the hotel's neighboring Lapa Church is a must-visit as it stands today as a reference point of the city's religion, art, and culture with a history of over 260 years. After visiting the church, guests can set off on the Liberal Porto route to immerse themselves in the city's history of The Siege of Porto in 1832. Guests looking to enjoy a leisurely stroll around the neighbourhood will be recommended to boutique cafes such as Cafe Guarany or Cafe Piolho; wineries like Gota a Gota Winery or Universo Carmim; antique shops like Porto de Magia and local favourites including multi-brand store The Feeting Room, Casa Januario and Queijaria Amaral, which are all in the Navigator's very own black book.

Renaissance Porto Lapa Hotel will participate in Marriott Bonvoy  the award-winning travel programme from Marriott International  allowing members to earn and redeem points for their stay at the new hotel, and at other hotels and resorts across Marriott Bonvoy's extraordinary portfolio of brands. With the Marriott Bonvoy app, members enjoy a level of personalisation and a contactless experience that allows them to travel with peace of mind.

To discover more, please visit www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/opobr-renaissance-porto-lapa-hotel.

About Renaissance Hotels

With over 170 hotels and resorts in nearly 40 countries and territories around the world, Renaissance Hotels has a dynamic and inspiring global portfolio, where every trip is an opportunity for unscripted discoveries. Renaissance Hotels connects travelers to the spirit of the neighborhood through its theatrical design, entertaining evening bar rituals, and engaging Navigators, extending an open invitation to experience the unexpected both inside and out of the hotel. For more information, please visit www.renaissancehotels.com and stay connected on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter . Renaissance Hotels is proud to participate in Marriott Bonvoy, the global travel program from Marriott International. The program offers members an extraordinary portfolio of global brands, exclusive experiences on Marriott Bonvoy Moments and unparalleled benefits including free nights and Elite status recognition. To enroll for free or for more information about the program, visit marriottbonvoy.com .

SOURCE Marriott International, Inc.
New research shows that next generation of shoppers will prefer real-life shopping over virtual reality but crave tech innovation to elevate their shopping experience, with 81% of Gen Z'ers & Millennials expecting Augmented Reality to enhance in-store shopping and 65% stating that more personalisation is key to their purchase intent

NEW YORK, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- New data released today by Klarna, the global payments and shopping service, reveals how retailers will need to adapt their offering to win shoppers in the future. With recent advancements in technology, AI, AR and robots are likely to dominate the in-store and online landscape with shopping services like Klarna already integrating AI personalisation into their products.

Over the past 18 years, Klarna has been instrumental in driving transformative change within the retail industry, during which time the online retail industry in the US grew as a percentage of retail sales by 484%*. To celebrate the brand reaching this milestone year, Klarna spoke to more than 5,000 consumers across 5 countries and teamed up with retail expert Kate Hardcastle, MBE, aka the Customer Whisperer, to explore how the future of shopping could evolve. The Future of Retail report also includes future-gazing predictions from some of the world's leading retailers and ChatGPT, the artificial intelligence chatbot developed by OpenAI, which recently teamed up with Klarna to bring smoooth shopping to the hugely popular ChatGPT.

The study examined shopping habits 18 years from now, when Gen Zers will turn 40 and together with Millennials be the dominant consumers. Results revealed their predictions on how emerging technologies will influence future shopping experiences, such as:

More personalization is top of the wishlist.

65% want the shopping experience to become more personalized in the future, and 36% are sure it will be, both in-store and online.

Most fashion shoppers won't try clothes on physically.

Only half believe they will try clothes in the same way as today (53%). Instead, 48% want to use virtual dressing rooms, 28% Augmented Reality (AR), and 23% will rely on Artificial Intelligence (AI) to advise which clothes best fit their body and fashion style.

Well-mannered robot fashion advisors and virtual personal shopping assistants are in high demand.

More than half (59%) are open to the idea of a robot approaching them in-store to take their measurements and recommend styles, with an additional 18% considering it depending on how the robot looks and behaves. In addition, 34% want access to virtual 'personal shoppers' which can provide recommendations based on their fashion style and taste when they shop online

Augmented Reality (AR) will elevate the future in-store shopping experience.

The vast majority (81%) expect Augmented Reality (AR) to enhance their in-store shopping experience and one-third (37%) think that this technology will eventually become standard across retail stores.

Virtual Reality (VR) won't replace the real-life shopping experience.

Less than half of Gen Z'ers (43%) believe that shopping in Virtual Reality (VR) will come to surpass the real-life shopping experience within the next two decades.

The future is cashless.

Gen Z'ers and Millennials (64%) agree with the prediction that the majority of physical stores will be completely cash-free in 18 years time, and 31% of them believe that shift will take place already in 5 years time.

In addition to technological advancements, the future of the planet and the growth in the circular economy are also at the forefront of consumers' minds.

The younger generations also agree that the circular economy should take a larger share of the total shopping industry and that fashion needs to become more sustainability oriented in the future.

52% want more sustainable fashion in the future.

57% want the circular economy to take a larger share of the total shopping industry, and 1 in 3 believe they will sell (26%) and buy (37%) pre-owned items more often.

David Sandstrom, Chief Marketing Officer at Klarna, commented: "In the western world, approximately 80% of all online purchases are made through search, while the remaining 20% are based on personalized recommendations. In contrast, in China, 80% of online purchases are driven by personalized recommendations. This study confirms that shoppers in the western world desire a comparable shopping experience, which is now available on the Klarna app feed, powered by AI and purchase history data. The next generation of consumers will expect a highly personalized shopping experience where products find them instead of the other way around."

Kate Hardcastle MBE, The Customer Whisperer and independent expert, added: "Retail and shopping trends have evolved significantly over the last decade and it's clear there are more changes to come. Technologies like augmented reality have the potential to transform rundown physical shops and revamp the in-store experience for shoppers. Klarna's latest research shows that consumers want greater convenience and a more personalised shopping experience - and seamless technology must be at the heart of this."

ChatGPT, the artificial intelligence chatbot developed by OpenAI, commented: "The biggest change for consumers when they shop in 2041 will likely be the widespread use of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies, allowing them to virtually try on products and experience them before making a purchase. Additionally, personalized recommendations based on their past behavior and preferences will become even more accurate and prevalent, making shopping experiences more efficient and tailored to individual needs."

* Statista, US Census Bureau. (February 17, 2023)

White Paper:

Available here



Methodology:

Klarna conducted an online survey in cooperation with research agency Dynata across 5 countries (the US, UK, Germany, France and Sweden) in April 2023, including a minimum of 1,000 respondents in each country. The sample sizes are nationally representative, naturally including both Klarna users and non-Klarna users, and have been selected by Dynata. In total, 5,055 consumers participated in the study, out of which 1,108 were from the US.



Press imagery:

Available here



Press contacts:

[email protected]



About Klarna

Since 2005 Klarna has been on a mission to revolutionize the retail banking industry. With over 150 million global active users and 2 million transactions per day, Klarna is meeting the changing demands of consumers by saving them time and money while helping them be informed and in control. Over 500,000 global retail partners, including H&M, Saks, Sephora, Macys, IKEA, Expedia Group, and Nike have integrated Klarna's innovative technology to deliver a seamless shopping experience online and in-store. Klarna has over 5,000 employees and is active in 45 markets. For more information, visit klarna.co

CONTACT:

Adaline Colton

[email protected]

+1 (614) 429-9125

The following files are available for download:

SOURCE Klarna Bank AB (publ)
SAN FRANCISCO, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The global returnable packaging market size is expected to reach USD 173.05 billion by 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc., expanding at a CAGR of 6.0% over the forecast period. This is attributed to the expanding key end-use industries such as food & beverages, healthcare, and others.

Key Industry Insights & Findings from the report:

Plastic has emerged as a dominating material in the market for returnable packaging with a majority share in 2022 and is expected to maintain a leading position by 2030, owing to its wide application in the food & beverage and healthcare industries, due to its unique properties such as anti-shock during shipping the products.

Pallets recorded the largest market share in 2022 in the products segment, due to their higher compatibility, structural integrity, and easy cleaning properties. However, the lack of international standards and uniformity in the sizes of pallets is expected to challenge material handling and transportation corporations.

The healthcare segment is expected to expand at a substantial CAGR of 6.9% during the forecast period. The pharmaceutical industry requires packing products like pallets, containers, FIBCs, drums, and barrels for the transportation of chemicals, medicines, drugs, and vaccines in bulk quantities.

The increasing aging population in countries like Japan , Germany , Italy , Portugal , and other European economies are expected to increase the demand for pharmaceutical products and healthcare equipment, which is expected to drive demand for returnable packaging from the healthcare end-use industry.

, , , , and other European economies are expected to increase the demand for pharmaceutical products and healthcare equipment, which is expected to drive demand for returnable packaging from the healthcare end-use industry. However, the growing adoption of single-use flexible packaging and several shortcomings of returnable packaging, such as expensiveness in comparison to other single-trip products, restrains the market growth to some extent.

New product developments, coupled with mergers & acquisitions and capacity expansions, are some of the strategies adopted by industry players. For instance, during the 2022 Plastics Caps & Closures conference in September, the Orbis Corporation showcased its reusable packaging solutions designed to address the unique requirements of the primary packaging supply chain that includes bulk containers, pallets, and boxes.

Read 130-page full market research report, "Returnable Packaging Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Material (Plastics, Metal), By Product (Pallets, IBCs), By End-use (Food & Beverage, Healthcare), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030", published by Grand View Research.

Returnable Packaging Market Growth & Trends

Returnable packaging products offer numerous benefits to end-use companies, in comparison to single-use or expendable packaging products. Even though the procurement cost of returnable packaging is significantly higher than that of single-use packaging, it is reused multiple times, unlike single-use packaging, which will eliminate the recurring costs of packaging production. Besides, using similar containers for longer duration reduces the cost per trip and thus, returnable packaging proves to be cost-efficient in the longer term.

Food & beverages, pharmaceuticals, and automobiles are among the major end-use industries for returnable packaging. In these sectors, returnable packaging products such as pallets, crates, IBCs, dunnage, and others are mainly utilized for internal handling (within the manufacturing plant) of raw materials, semi-finished, and finished goods, as well as for the transportation of finished goods from the manufacturing plant to distribution and retail center. Therefore, expanding manufacturing and distribution activities within the food & beverages, pharmaceutical, and automobile industries is expected to directly fuel the demand for returnable packaging products.

Furthermore, the global pharmaceutical industry is expected to witness strong growth in the coming years. Growing aging population, especially in developed countries such as Japan, France, Germany, and others; increasing health consciousness among consumers; improving healthcare infrastructure, particularly in developing countries such as India, Brazil, and China; and high emphasis on the strengthening of the healthcare sector, coupled with the introduction of various healthcare insurance schemes by governments globally, are primarily driving the pharmaceutical industry.

Industry players are adopting several strategies, including collaborations, mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, and partnership agreements to expand the customer base and individual market share. For instance,in September 2022, CHEP and Cabka collaborated to supply reusable containers out of recycled plastics. These containers are customized to CHEP's performance requirements and are set to maximize the use of recycled materials, facilitating a fully circular approach.

Returnable Packaging Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global returnable packaging market based on material, product, end-use, and region

Returnable Packaging Market - Material Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2018 - 2030)

Plastic

Metal

Wood

Returnable Packaging Market - Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2018 - 2030)

Pallets

Crates

IBCs

Drums & Barrels

Dunnage

Others

Returnable Packaging Market - End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2018 - 2030)

Food & Beverage

Automotive

Consumer Durables

Healthcare

Others

Returnable Packaging Market - Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2018 - 2030)

North America

U.S.



Canada



Mexico

Europe

Germany



France



U.K.



Italy



Spain

Asia Pacific

China



India



Japan



South Korea



Australia

Central & South America

Brazil

Middle East & Africa

& South Africa

List of Key Players in the Returnable Packaging Market

ORBIS Corporation

NEFAB GROUP

PPS Midlands Limited

Tri-pack Packaging Systems Ltd.

Amatech, Inc.

CHEP

Celina

UBEECO Packaging Solutions

RPR Inc.

RPP Containers

IPL, Inc.

Schoeller Allibert

Check out more market research studies published by Grand View Research:

Supplements And Nutrition Packaging Market - The global supplements and nutrition packaging market size is expected to surpass USD 35.07 billion by 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc., expanding at a CAGR of 4.1% from 2023 to 2030. The rising demand for immunity-boosting supplements due to the COVID-19 outbreak, ease in access to supplements, increasing disposable income, and consumer awareness regarding nutrition, health, and wellness. However, the presence of counterfeit products is hampering the market of supplements which in turn decline the demand for packaging.

The global supplements and nutrition packaging market size is expected to surpass by 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc., expanding at a CAGR of 4.1% from 2023 to 2030. The rising demand for immunity-boosting supplements due to the COVID-19 outbreak, ease in access to supplements, increasing disposable income, and consumer awareness regarding nutrition, health, and wellness. However, the presence of counterfeit products is hampering the market of supplements which in turn decline the demand for packaging. Zero Waste Packaging Market - The global zero waste packaging market size is expected to reach USD 502.6 billion by 2030, expanding at a CAGR of 9.6% from 2023 to 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The increasing awareness about sustainable packaging products across industries, developing infrastructure for waste management, and sensible disposal practices across developed and some developing countries are driving the market.

- The global zero waste packaging market size is expected to reach by 2030, expanding at a CAGR of 9.6% from 2023 to 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The increasing awareness about sustainable packaging products across industries, developing infrastructure for waste management, and sensible disposal practices across developed and some developing countries are driving the market. Cold Form Blister Packaging Market - The global cold form blister packaging market size is expected to reach USD 5.69 billion by 2028, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. It is expected to expand at a CAGR of 6.5% from 2021 to 2028. The market is anticipated to be driven by the growing end-use industries including healthcare, electronics and semiconductors, consumer goods, food and confectionery, and industrial products, particularly in Asia Pacific .

Browse through Grand View Research's Plastics, Polymers & Resins Industry Research Reports.

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research Helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead.

Contact:

Sherry James

Corporate Sales Specialist, USA

Grand View Research, Inc.

Phone: 1-415-349-0058

Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519

Email: [email protected]

Web: https://www.grandviewresearch.com

Grand View Compass | Astra ESG Solutions

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Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/661327/Grand_View_Research_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Grand View Research, Inc.
Popular quick-service restaurant issues comment on Taco Bell lawsuit; in 'unrelated' news, brand announces 2 Tacos for $2 Taco Tuesday deal

CHEYENNE, Wyo., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Taco John's has proudly owned the Taco Tuesday trademark since 1989. In celebration of this non-anniversary, beginning today  conveniently, Taco Tuesday  Taco John's is rolling out a special Taco Tuesday deal  $2 for 2 Tacos (crispy or softshell). Every day, all day, May 16 - May 31, through the Taco John's Mobile App, for Bigger Bolder Rewards Members.

Because at Taco John's, Every Day is Taco Tuesday!

Taco John's has been the official home of Taco Tuesday since 1989. The brand operates and franchises nearly 400 restaurants in 23 states.

"I'd like to thank our worthy competitors at Taco Bell for reminding everyone that Taco Tuesday is best celebrated at Taco John's," said Taco John's CEO Jim Creel. "We love celebrating Taco Tuesday with taco lovers everywhere, and we even want to offer a special invitation to fans of Taco Bell to liberate themselves by coming by to see how flavorful and bold tacos can be at Taco John's all month long."

As for Taco Bell's lawsuit, Creel added, "No mas, por favor!"

At Taco John's, each crispy shell is cooked fresh in-house every day, then filled with its signature 100% American beef, mild sauce, fresh lettuce and cheddar cheese. Five classic ingredients. Always awesome. And when you want all the flavor of a classic taco without the crunch, softshell tacos offer all the same delicious ingredients wrapped lovingly in a soft, warm flour tortilla.

"When it comes right down to it, we're lovers, not fighters, at Taco John's," continued Creel. "But when a big, bad bully threatens to take away the mark our forefathers originated so many decades ago, well, that just rings hollow to us. If 'living mas' means filling the pockets of Taco Bell's army of lawyers, we're not interested."

More fine print, for the litigious people out there (you know who you are): $2 for 2 Regular Crispy or Softshell Tacos available every day of the week  including Taco Tuesday, Taco Wednesday, Taco Thursday, Taco Friday, Taco Saturday, Taco Sunday and Taco Monday  from May 16-31, 2023. Must purchase through the Taco John's Mobile App for Bigger, Bolder Rewards Members.

With its fusion of distinctive flavors and bold south-of-the-border spices, the Taco John's menu offers several signature items, including Meat & Potato Burritos, Stuffed Grilled Tacos, Potato Oles and craveworthy Fried Chicken Tacos. Taco John's features signature specials like Taco Tuesday and everyday value starting at $1, $2 and $3 on the ValuEST Menu. Download the Taco John's Mobile App and join Bigger Bolder Rewards for free food and exclusive offers today.

About Taco John's

Founded in 1969 in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Taco John's has been serving bigger. bolder. better. flavors for more than 50 years. Now, Taco John's operates and franchises nearly 400 restaurants in 23 states  making it one of the largest Mexican quick-service restaurant brands in America. With bold originals like Potato Oles, Taco John's knows how to Ole The Day. Taco John's prides itself on serving generous portions of its signature menu items that are made-to-order using fresh, high-quality ingredients, seasonings and sauces. The brand was listed on Entrepreneur's "Top Food Franchises of 2023" under the "Mexican Food" category and was recently recognized by QSR Magazine as a "Top 15 Chain Ready to Contend as Fast Food's Top Players." Taco John's is led by CEO Jim Creel, who was named one of "The Most Influential Restaurant CEOs in the Country" by Nation's Restaurant News in 2022. For more information, visit tacojohns.com and follow Taco John's on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

SOURCE Taco John's
NEW YORK, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities Trinseo PLC (NYSE: TSE) between May 3, 2021 and March 27, 2023, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important June 20, 2023 lead plaintiff deadline in the securities class action commenced by the Firm.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Trinseo securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Trinseo class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=13711 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than June 20, 2023. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) the Company's Bristol, Pennsylvania plant had a troubled safety record while under prior ownership and continued to be unsafe after the Company acquired it; (2) defendants did not sufficiently disclose specific risks related to conducting operations at that plant; (3) operating a chemical plant with an unsafe history and presently unsafe operations exposed the Company to a heightened risk of a chemical spill or other adverse event; and (4) 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. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Trinseo class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=13711 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.

Phillip Kim, Esq.

The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

www.rosenlegal.com

SOURCE Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
Franklin Graham is coming to Amory to dedicate upgraded mobile homes that are being given to hard-hit families

BOONE, N.C., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Samaritan's Purse, an international Christian relief organization, is offering a mobile home replacement program for Mississippi families who lost everything in the March 24 tornado. The N.C.-based organization was on the ground in Mississippi less than 24 hours after the stormhelping homeowners begin to recover by salvaging personal belongings, clearing debris, tarping damaged roofs, and reminding families that God loves them and they are not forgotten.

On Friday, May 19, Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan's Purse, will dedicate these homes to the Lord and pray for the families who will be receiving them. Local installers will then be able to set up the mobile homes in the coming weeks. To date, 35 families have been approved for mobile home replacement and others are actively in the application process. They will be given to residents in Amory, Rolling Fork, and Silver City, Mississippi who did not have insurance or were under-insured and in desperate need of help.

"The devastation that these families experienced can take years to recover from, and we want to help them get back on their feet quickly," said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan's Purse. "While we can't make these mobile homes storm proof, we are making them safer and more durable by adding stronger roofing and floor joists, tempered glass, thicker walls, and other enhancements. We pray that these new homes are a blessing to each family, and that they remind them that God loves them."

Each mobile home has been specially built to be more durable and last longer. They are rated to a Wind Zone III, which means they can endure wind speeds up to 110 miles per hourthe average mobile home is built for winds up to 70 miles per hour. Additional enhancements include fiberglass insulation, continuous vinyl flooring, more durable decking material, and 10 times the amount of tie-downs to stabilize the homes during severe weather.

What: Franklin Graham Dedicates Mobile Homes



When: Friday, May 19 at 11:00 a.m. CT



Where: 60082 Puckett Drive

Amory, MS 38821

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:

Interview Franklin Graham , president of Samaritan's Purse

, president of Samaritan's Purse Interview Luther Harrison , vice president of North American Ministries for Samaritan's Purse

, vice president of North American Ministries for Samaritan's Purse High-quality photos and broadcast quality b-roll of the tornado response

During the initial disaster response, 1,145 Samaritan's Purse volunteers served more than 400 families with cleanup and recovery in Mississippi.

Samaritan's Purse is also offering mobile home replacement programs in Tennessee and Arkansas, following tornadoes that struck one week after the deadly Mississippi storm.

Based in Boone, North Carolina, Samaritan's Purse responds to the physical and spiritual needs of individuals in crisis situationsespecially in locations where few others are working. Led by President and CEO Franklin Graham, Samaritan's Purse works in more than 100 countries to provide aid to victims of war, disease, disaster, poverty, famine and persecution. For more information, visit SamaritansPurse.org.

SOURCE Samaritan's Purse
Italian Minister of Defence Guido Crosetto noted in a meeting with President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi in Cairo on Wednesday that Egypt plays a key role in maintaining stability in the Middle East and Mediterranean regions, according to a statement released by the Egyptian presidency.
Powered by Carbon, its pioneering AI control system, and less than two months after announcing the first-ever commercial deployment of its technology, Sanctuary AI announces details about its 6th-generation technology

VANCOUVER, BC, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sanctuary AI, a company on a mission to create the world's-first human-like intelligence in general-purpose robots, announced a major step forward with the unveiling of its sixth-generation general-purpose robot named Phoenix. Phoenix is the world's first humanoid general-purpose robot powered by Carbon, a pioneering and unique AI control system, designed to give Phoenix human-like intelligence and enable it to do a wide range of work to help address the labor challenges affecting many organizations today. Sanctuary has been able to show that its technology is already capable of completing hundreds of tasks identified by customers from more than a dozen different industries.

Sanctuary AI Unveils Phoenix - A Humanoid General-Purpose Robot Designed for Work

"We designed Phoenix to be the most sensor-rich and physically capable humanoid ever built and to enable Carbon's rapidly growing intelligence to perform the broadest set of work tasks possible," said Geordie Rose, co-founder and CEO, Sanctuary AI. "We see a future where general-purpose robots are as ubiquitous as cars, helping people to do work that needs doing, in cases where there simply aren't enough people to do that work."

About Phoenix

Human-like form and function: standing at 5' 7" and weighing 155 lbs

Maximum payload of 55 lbs

Maximum speed of 3 miles per hour

Industry-leading robotic hands with increased degrees of freedom (20 in total) that rival human hand dexterity and fine manipulation with proprietary haptic technology that mimics the sense of touch

Improved aesthetics with a bolder color palette and elevated textures.

About Carbon

A cognitive architecture and software platform for humanoid general-purpose robots

Integrates modern AI technologies to translate natural language into action in the real world

Enables Phoenix to think and act to complete tasks like a person

to think and act to complete tasks like a person Explainable and auditable reasoning, task, and motion plans

Symbolic and logical reasoning coupled with modern LLMs (for general knowledge), domain-specific integrations, and extensions

Agency and goal-seeking behaviors

Uses Deep Learning & Reinforcement Learning

Photo-realistic and physics-realistic world simulations for robot training

Human-in-the-loop supervision, teleoperation, and fleet management

What sets Sanctuary AI apart from others in the industry is its literal take on " general-purpose " and emphasis on creating a technology that can conduct physical work just like a person. "To be general-purpose, a robot needs to be able to do nearly any work task, the way you'd expect a person to, in the environment where the work is," said Rose. "While it is easy to get fixated on the physical aspects of a robot, our view is that the robot is just a tool for the real star of the show, which in our case is our proprietary AI control system, the robot's Carbon-based mind."

In March, Sanctuary AI announced it completed its first commercial deployment , a significant milestone in the company's progress toward full commercialization. At that same time, Sanctuary AI announced it was taking an open and collaborative approach to building a new ecosystem in AI and robotics. To fulfill the ambitious mission of creating human-like intelligence in general-purpose robots, Sanctuary AI assembled a robust coalition of best-in-class vendors and partners  including Apptronik, Bell, Common Sense Machines, Contoro, Cycorp, Exonetik, HaptX, Magna, Tangible Research, Verizon Ventures, and Workday Ventures.

Last spring, the company announced the completion of its Series A funding round . In November, the company received a C$30 million Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) contribution from the Government of Canada, bringing Sanctuary AI's total funding to over C$100 million. Sanctuary AI is active in its next funding round to fuel its mission. Interested parties can learn more at the official company website: https://sanctuary.ai

About Sanctuary Cognitive Systems Corporation

Founded in 2018, Sanctuary AI is a Vancouver, Canada-based company. Sanctuary AI is on a mission to create the world's first human-like intelligence in general-purpose robots that will help us work more safely, efficiently, and sustainably, helping to address the labor challenges facing many organizations today. Sanctuary AI's growing list of customers and investors represents a wide variety of industries across Canada, the US, and other countries around the world.

Members of the Sanctuary team founded D-Wave (a pioneer in the quantum computing industry), Kindred (first use of reinforcement learning in a production robot), and the Creative Destruction Lab (pioneered a revolutionary method for the commercialization of science for the betterment of humankind). With experience at startups and technology leaders such as Amazon, HP, IBM, Microsoft, and Samsung, the team has experience launching market-defining innovations rooted in previously unsolved and deep scientific problems.

SOURCE Sanctuary Cognitive Systems Corporation
NEW YORK, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sycamore Partners today announced that Sandeep Mathrani, former Chief Executive Officer at WeWork and former Chief Executive Officer of Brookfield Properties' retail group / Vice Chairman of Brookfield Properties, has joined the firm as a Director strengthening the firm's real estate expertise. Sandeep will lead Sycamore's real estate activity, improving and optimizing real estate often embedded within Sycamore's target companies.

"We are thrilled to have Sandeep join the Sycamore Partners team as the firm has a long history of underwriting real estate while evaluating portfolio company opportunities. Given the current environment, we believe real estate will continue to be a significant source of value," said Stefan Kaluzny, Managing Director of Sycamore Partners. "Sandeep has invaluable operating experience over many cycles and I am confident that his real estate expertise will enhance Sycamore's ability to realize value across our portfolio."

Mr. Mathrani said, "I am honored to join Sycamore Partners. Sycamore Partners has an outstanding reputation for driving profitable growth across its leading retail and consumer brands. I look forward to working closely with my new colleagues as we focus on building upon the firm's existing capabilities."

About Sandeep Mathrani

Sandeep Mathrani has served as WeWork's Chief Executive Officer and as a member of WeWork's board of directors since February 2020. He was elected Chairman of the Board for WeWork on March 29, 2022. Mr. Mathrani most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of Brookfield Properties' Retail Group and Vice Chairman of Brookfield Properties. Prior to that, he served as Chief Executive Officer of GGP Inc. for eight years, during which the company was capitalized in November 2010, experienced eight years of growth, and in August 2018 was sold to Brookfield Property Partners. Prior to joining GGP in 2010, Mr. Mathrani was President of Retail for Vornado Realty Trust, where he oversaw the firm's U.S. retail real estate division and operations in India comprised principally of office properties. During his tenure, he was responsible for stabilizing and growing the portfolio. Before that, he spent eight years as Executive Vice President at Forest City Ratner, where he was tasked with starting and growing a new platform of retail properties across the five boroughs of New York City. Mr. Mathrani currently serves as a member of the board of directors of Dick's Sporting Goods, Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. and Bowlero. Previously, Mr. Mathrani served as a member of the board of directors of Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. and was the 2019 Chair of NAREIT. Sandeep also served on the executive board and the board of trustees for the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC). Mr. Mathrani earned a Bachelor of Engineering, a Master of Engineering and a Master of Management Science from Stevens Institute of Technology.

About Sycamore Partners

Sycamore Partners is a private equity firm based in New York. The firm specializes in retail, consumer, and distribution-related investments and partners with management teams to seek to improve the operating profitability and strategic value of their business. With approximately $10 billion in aggregate committed capital raised since its inception in 2011, Sycamore Partners' investors include leading endowments, financial institutions, family offices, pension plans and sovereign wealth funds. For more information on Sycamore Partners, visit www.sycamorepartners.com.

Contacts

Sycamore Partners

Michael Freitag or Arielle Rothstein

Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher

212-355-4449

[email protected]

SOURCE Sycamore Partners
TIANJIN, China, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The seventh World Intelligence Congress (WIC), a major artificial intelligence (AI) event in China, will be held in north China's Tianjin Municipality from May 18 to 21, according to the Publicity Department of Tianjin Municipality.

Themed "Intelligence: Extensive Development Space, Sustainable Growth Driver", the event will focus on empowering economic and social development with smart technologies and building a global platform for exchange, cooperation, win-win outcomes and sharing in the field of intelligent technology.

Zhu Peng, vice mayor of Tianjin, said the event, highlighting the new trends, new technologies and new business forms of AI development, will invite politicians, entrepreneurs, experts and scholars from all over the world to discuss forward-looking subjects such as intelligent cars, generative AI, brain-computer interaction, as well as AI-related hot topics in the fields of economy, society and culture.

Covering an exhibition area of 120,000 square meters, the intelligent technology exhibition component of the four-day event will set up 10 themed exhibition areas, including information technology application innovation, AI and 5G+ industrial Internet, and two smart experience areas focusing on the likes of 5G and smart cars.

The exhibition also covers products, initiatives and technologies such as scientific research and application, smart city and transportation, international and regional collaboration, and intelligent manufacturing.

In addition, experts, scholars and entrepreneurs from 21 countries and regions, including the United States, Germany, Japan and the Republic of Korea, will come to Tianjin to strengthen cooperation in science and technology, trade and culture.

Since its inauguration in 2017, the event has offered a platform for scientists, entrepreneurs and economists from home and abroad to discuss the frontier trends of intelligence technology.

SOURCE The Publicity Department of Tianjin Municipality
Nelarabine Injection ensures access to a treatment that historically has been in shortage

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. and CHICAGO, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Shorla Oncology ('Shorla'), a U.S.-Ireland pharmaceutical company, and EVERSANA, a leading provider of commercialization services to the life science industry, today announced the commercial launch of the company's oncology drug, Nelarabine Injection, for the treatment of T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (T-ALL) and T-cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma (T-LBL) in adult and pediatric patients aged one year and older whose disease has not responded to or has relapsed following treatment with at least two chemotherapy regimens.

Nelarabine Injection, which received FDA approval in March of 2023, is now available for order through major wholesalers and specialty distribution partners. The new therapy provides patients with an alternative to a product that has historically been in shortage for the treatment of T-cell leukemia, an aggressive blood and bone marrow cancer that progresses quickly. While most leukemias target older people, T-cell leukemia is most common among children. This marks the first product approved in the U.S. market for Shorla.

"Patients are directly affected by therapy shortages. Our team is proud that Nelarabine Injection is now available across the United States for clinicians to prescribe as a new treatment option to help patients, particularly children, in their battle against leukemia," said Sharon Cunningham, CEO and Co-founder of Shorla Oncology. "We look forward to helping educate both the clinical and patient communities on this new therapy."

Shorla Oncology selected EVERSANA to support the commercialization launch for the therapy in 2021. EVERSANA will provide comprehensive launch support including field deployment sales and training solutions, medical information, pharmacovigilance and quality services, revenue management, agency solutions, 3PL channel and trade relations support.

"What a milestone for the Shorla Oncology team to officially have this new treatment option available to the oncology community across the U.S.," said Jim Lang, CEO, EVERSANA. "We're honored to provide the full depth of our commercialization solutions to ensure a successful launch and look forward to helping the Shorla team bring this and future therapies to the U.S. and patients in need."

Founded in Ireland, Shorla specializes in developing innovative oncology drugs, with a focus on orphan and pediatric cancers. With strong support from scientists and clinicians, plus an extensive industry network, including key opinion leaders from top leading hospitals such as The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), the company has an advanced pipeline of oncology therapies to treat a number of unmet patient needs.

Important Safety Information

Nelarabine Injection is indicated for the treatment of T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (T-ALL) and T-cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma (T-LBL) in adult and pediatric patients aged one year and older whose disease has not responded to or has relapsed following treatment with at least two chemotherapy regimens.

For Important Safety Information and full Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning please visit https://shorlaoncology.com/product/nelarabine-injection/.

About Shorla Oncology

Established in 2018 by Sharon Cunningham and Orlaith Ryan, Shorla Oncology is a privately held, Ireland- and U.S.-based specialty pharmaceutical company with an advanced pipeline of innovative oncology drugs for women's, orphan and pediatric cancers. The company concentrates on indications where existing treatments are limited, in shortage or inadequate for the target population. Shorla's growing portfolio brings accessible, affordable and life-saving treatments to patients, delivering a major contribution to patient care. For further information, please visit www.shorlaoncology.com or connect through LinkedIn and Twitter.

About EVERSANA

EVERSANA is the leading independent provider of global services to the life sciences industry. The company's integrated solutions are rooted in the patient experience and span all stages of the product life cycle to deliver long-term, sustainable value for patients, prescribers, channel partners and payers. The company serves more than 670 organizations, including innovative start-ups and established pharmaceutical companies, to advance life sciences solutions for a healthier world. To learn more about EVERSANA, visit eversana.com or connect through LinkedIn and Twitter.

Media Contacts:

For Shorla Oncology

Rachel Ford Hutman

[email protected]

+1-301-801-5540

For EVERSANA

Matt Braun

[email protected]

+1-414-975-8831

SOURCE EVERSANA
NEW YORK, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The soft drinks market size is set to grow by USD 622.47 billion between 2022 and 2027, and register a CAGR of 9.98%, according to Technavio's latest market research report. With a focus on identifying dominant industry influencers, Technavio's reports present a detailed study by way of synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. This report offers an up-to-date analysis of the current market scenario, the latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. Read our Sample Report

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Soft Drinks Market 2023-2027

The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. Asahi Group Holdings Ltd., Danone SA, Del Monte Pacific Ltd., Dongpeng Beverage Group Co. Ltd., Keurig Dr Pepper, Kirin Holdings Co. Ltd., Mondelez International Inc., Monster Energy Co., National Beverage Corp., Nestle SA, Otsuka Holdings Co. Ltd., Parle Agro Pvt Ltd., PepsiCo Inc., POSTOBON S.A, Purity Soft Drinks Ltd., Red Bull GmbH, Refresco Group BV, Starbucks Corp., Suntory Holdings Ltd., and Tata Consumer Products Ltd are some of the major market participants. The hectic lifestyle and need for instant energy, the strengthening distribution networks and collaborations, and the packaging innovations will offer immense growth opportunities. To leverage the current opportunities, market vendors must strengthen their foothold in the fast-growing segments while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments.

Soft Drinks Market 2023-2027: Segmentation

Product

Carbonated Soft Drinks: The market share growth by the carbonated soft drinks segment will be significant during the forecast period. Product innovations such as cold-pressed juices will also help the market's growth during the forecast period.



Juices And Juice Concentrates



Bottled Water



RTD Tea And Coffee



Others

Distribution Channel

Offline



Online

Geography

North America: North America is projected to contribute 36% by 2027. North America will be the largest market for soft drinks globally in 2022 in terms of revenue.



Europe



APAC



South America



Middle East And Africa

Receive our market sample report now to gain access to a detailed analysis of the soft drinks market: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR44622

Soft Drinks Market 2023-2027: Vendor Analysis and Scope

Some of the major vendors of the soft drinks market in soft drinks industry include Asahi Group Holdings Ltd., Danone SA, Del Monte Pacific Ltd., Dongpeng Beverage Group Co. Ltd., Keurig Dr Pepper, Kirin Holdings Co. Ltd., Mondelez International Inc., Monster Energy Co., National Beverage Corp., Nestle SA, Otsuka Holdings Co. Ltd., Parle Agro Pvt Ltd., PepsiCo Inc., POSTOBON S.A, Purity Soft Drinks Ltd., Red Bull GmbH, Refresco Group BV, Starbucks Corp., Suntory Holdings Ltd., and Tata Consumer Products Ltd. To help businesses improve their market position, Technavio's report provides a detailed analysis of around 15+ vendors operating in the market. To leverage the current opportunities, market vendors must strengthen their foothold in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the soft drinks market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile & M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support.

asahigroup-holdings.com- The company offers a wide variety of fruit based soft drinks

danone.com- The company offers pure mineral water in natural form

delmontepacific.com- The company offers a variety of fresh and healthy soft drinks

The report also covers the following areas:

Market trends such as increasing demand for craft soft drinks are likely to emerge as one of the primary drivers of the market. However, factors such as increasing obesity rates and related issues may threaten the growth of the market.

Market Drivers

Hectic lifestyle and need for instant energy

Strengthening distribution networks and collaborations

Packaging innovations

Market Trends

Increasing demand for craft soft drinks

Use of soft drinks as a mixer for alcoholic beverages

Prominence of probiotic drinks in weight management

Market Challenges

Increasing obesity rates and related issues

Easy availability of counterfeit products

Implementation of sugar tax

Get lifetime access to our Technavio Insights. Subscribe now to our most popular "Lite Plan" billed annually at USD 5000. View 3 reports monthly and Download 3 Reports Annually!

Soft Drinks Market 2023-2027: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2023-2027

Detailed information on factors that will assist soft drinks market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the soft drinks market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the soft drinks market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of soft drinks market vendors

Related Reports:

Premium Bottled Water Market- The premium bottled water market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.65% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 8,013.56 million.

Sparkling Juices Market- The Global Sparkling Juices Market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 10.43% between 2022 and 2027. The size of the market is forecast to increase by USD 920.29 million.

Soft Drinks Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 9.98% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 622.47 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023(%) 8.54 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution North America at 36% Key countries US, China, Japan, Germany, and UK Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled Asahi Group Holdings Ltd., Danone SA, Del Monte Pacific Ltd., Dongpeng Beverage Group Co. Ltd., Keurig Dr Pepper, Kirin Holdings Co. Ltd., Mondelez International Inc., Monster Energy Co., National Beverage Corp., Nestle SA, Otsuka Holdings Co. Ltd., Parle Agro Pvt Ltd., PepsiCo Inc., POSTOBON S.A, Purity Soft Drinks Ltd., Red Bull GmbH, Refresco Group BV, Starbucks Corp., Suntory Holdings Ltd., and Tata Consumer Products Ltd Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID 19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

Download now to uncover successful business strategies deployed by Companies of soft drinks market - Download Latest Free Sample Report in Minutes

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contact

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
This announcement follows previous announcements of resolutions in DC and CA, and the company's listing on CNBC's 2023 Disruptor 50 List

All resolutions include no admission of wrongdoing as well as a clear path forward for SoLo to continue to serve in each jurisdiction.

SoLo is one of the more affordable solutions to consumers being  the total cost of subprime credit cards over a 12 month period per noted report.

LOS ANGELES, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SoLo , the largest community finance platform in the US and a 2023 CNBC Disruptor 50 company, has reached a resolution with the Connecticut Department of Banking regarding its 2022 temporary Cease & Desist order. The resolution marks a marquee conclusion and provides a clear pathway forward for SoLo to serve Connecticut state residents.

"We are thankful for the due process afforded us by the Connecticut Department of Banking, and appreciate their efforts to work through this matter in the spirit of collaboration with SoLo," said Kyle George, Head of Regulatory & Government Affairs. "The effort the Department put into this resolution will ultimately benefit struggling Connecticuters, who have limited options for affordable small-dollar loans."

This announcement comes on the heels of resolution announcements in DC and CA . The resolutions in all three jurisdictions included no admission of wrongdoing, and a clear path forward. Although SoLo disagrees with the accusations, we are happy we were able to work collaboratively and constructively towards positive resolutions.

"Despite the regulatory focus on fintechs, our financial system is dominated by traditional products which are the most significant culprits of predatory behavior," George said. "The status quo does not work. If policymakers are sincere about protecting borrowers and effecting change, they must embrace new models. They cannot legislate by enforcement, suffocate innovation, and then wonder why nothing changes."

SoLo Funds recently commissioned Opinium and the London Centre for Economics and Research to conduct an economic study to assess the true costs of borrowing short-term capital. The resulting report titled, "The 2023 Cash Poor Report," authored by University of WisconsinMadison Professor of Consumer Science Melody Harvey, is set to release in a few weeks.

Ahead of the report publication, SoLo Funds has released an excerpt created by London's Centre for Business and Economics. This study definitively concludes that subprime credit cards are the most expensive solution for short-term cash needs. The excerpt is available here .

"When annual fees, subscription fees, and monthly compounding late fees are included, the cost of borrowing on a subprime credit card becomes astronomical," said SoLo Co-Founder & CEO, Travis Holoway. "These companies use the system by imposing all these fees, fully knowing that none of them are included in the calculation of APR. Yet, regulators and policymakers remain myopically focused on APR, while wilfully blinding themselves to these traditional players ."

"The findings in the report are sad. With credit cards having 80% use among Cash Poor Americans, it's sad that regulators find appeasement in addressing fintechs vs. the true culprits. It's sad that traditional companies use the current system to legally communicate deceptive 'APR' numbers, but ultimately continue to cause harm based on what consumers really pay," said SoLo Co-Founder & President, Rodney Williams. "We are the premiere model for community lending where 100% of tips go to consumers, not an institution. With 82% of our members being in underserved communities, we are happy with our pathway forward."

SoLo was founded by best friends, Travis Holoway and Rodney Williams, who had first-hand experience with the difficulties their families and loved ones had with accessing short term loans and yield. The solution they designed now provides access to short-term capital and lender returns at an unprecedented scale. On May 9, 2023, CNBC acknowledged the impact of this innovative model by naming SoLo Funds to its 2023 Disruptor 50 list.

SoLo's vision of community finance is powered by people. As the only Black-owned Certified B Corp fintech in the U.S. and Canada, SoLo has promoted innovation and community impact. With rising popularity amongst consumers, SoLo recently passed the momentous milestone of 1 million users.

For any additional press related questions please reach out to [email protected] . For our members requesting additional detail on our return please reach out to [email protected]

SOURCE SoLo Funds
NEW YORK, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Klein Law Firm announces that a class action complaint has been filed on behalf of shareholders of Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPR) alleging that the Company violated federal securities laws.

Class Period: April 8, 2020 to April 13, 2023

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: July 5, 2023

No obligation or cost to you.

Learn more about your recoverable losses in SPR:

https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/spirit-lawsuit-loss-submission-form?id=39412&from=4

Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. NEWS - SPR NEWS

CLASS ACTION CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Spirit lacked effective production quality controls; (2) as a result, Spirit incorrectly installed fittings designed to join the aft fuselage to the vertical tail for some Boeing 737 Max airplanes that Spirit sent to Boeing; (3) as a result, Spirit would have to develop an inspection and repair procedure for the affected fuselages; (4) the foregoing would negatively impact Spirit's financial results; and (5) as a result of the foregoing, defendant's positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER: If you have suffered a loss in Spirit you have until July 5, 2023 to petition the court for lead plaintiff status. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.

NO COST TO YOU: If you purchased Spirit securities during the relevant period, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket fees.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FINANCIAL INTERESTS: For additional information about the SPR lawsuit, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/spirit-lawsuit-loss-submission-form?id=39412&from=4.

ABOUT KLEIN LAW FIRM

J. Klein, Esq. represents investors and participates in securities litigations involving financial fraud throughout the nation. The Klein Law Firm is a boutique litigation firm with experience in a wide range of areas including securities law, corporate finance and commercial litigation. Since 2011, our experienced attorneys have achieved superior results for our clients with a personalized focus. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

J. Klein, Esq.

535 Fifth Avenue

4th Floor

New York City, NY 10017

[email protected]

Telephone: (212) 616-4899

www.kleinstocklaw.com

SOURCE The Klein Law Firm
Texas crowned top state MATHCOUNTS team

ORLANDO, Fla., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Channing Yang, a 13-year-old seventh grader from Sugar Land, Texas, solved his way to victory over 222 competitors, becoming the 2023 Raytheon Technologies MATHCOUNTS National Champion following an intense, elite competition at the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista this weekend. As the National Champion, Channing will receive the $20,000 Donald G. Weinert College Scholarship.

Channing Yang is presented with the 2023 Raytheon Technologies National Champion award by Bindu Nair, the director of basic research at the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, his coach Andrea Smith, and Tracey Gray, MATHCOUNTS board chair and vice president of Communications and External Affairs for Raytheon Intelligence & Space.

Channing squared off against his opponents in the final round of the 2023 Raytheon Technologies MATHCOUNTS National Competition by answering the question: "Erika cuts one pound of fudge into pieces to share with her friends. She divides the fudge into seven small pieces and three large pieces. If each large piece is three times as large as each small piece, how many pounds does one of the large pieces weigh?" during the Countdown Round, in which the top 12 Mathletes in the country competed in head-to-head matchups. He calculated the correct answer, three-sixteenths, in just seven seconds.

Oron Wang, 14, of Short Hills, New Jersey, was the Countdown Round Runner-Up and won a $7,500 scholarship. The remaining Countdown Round participants were:

Edward Chen , an eighth grader from Carmel, Ind.

, an eighth grader from Varun Gadi , an eighth grader from Johns Creek, Ga.

, an eighth grader from Johns Creek, Ga. Adam Ge, an eighth grader from Lexington, Mass.

Selena Ge, a seventh grader from Lexington, Mass.

Jason Lee , a seventh grader from Durham, N.C.

, a seventh grader from Seabert Mao , an eighth grader from Saratoga, Calif.

, an eighth grader from Liam Reddy , an eighth grader from Las Vegas, Nev.

, an eighth grader from Ashvin Sinha , an eighth grader from Tallahassee, Fla.

, an eighth grader from Alex Sun , an eighth grader from Sugar Land, Texas

, an eighth grader from Roger Zhen , a seventh grader from Houston, Texas

In the team competition, Texas captured the title of First Place Team. Team members include:

Kevin Chen , an eighth grader from Sugar Land, Texas

, an eighth grader from Alex Sun , an eighth grader from Sugar Land, Texas

, an eighth grader from Channing Yang , a seventh grader from Sugar Land, Texas

, a seventh grader from Roger Zhen , a seventh grader from Houston, Texas

The Florida state team took second place, and the Massachusetts state team placed third.

Channing was among 223 competitors from all 50 states as well as U.S. territories and schools that serve the U.S. State and Defense departments, who traveled to Orlando after earning a spot in the national competition. More than 30,000 students participated in the local and state competitions that led to this weekend's event, the 39th in the MATHCOUNTS Foundation's history.

This year's event theme revolved around movies and red carpets to place Mathletes on par with celebrities and celebrate math as a crucial skill for society's success. The event highlighted film, animation and music to emphasize that math can be used in an array of creative fields, just like how the movie Hidden Figures showed how math was used to help NASA launch its first successful space missions.

"These Mathletes are the kind of problem solvers who will inspire a bright future for all of us," said Kristen Chandler, executive director of MATHCOUNTS. "I can't wait to see what incredible feats they accomplish with the skills they've developed and displayed during their time in MATHCOUNTS."

This is the 14th year that Raytheon Technologies has served as title sponsor of the MATHCOUNTS National Competition as part of its global commitment to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education.

"Making it to the MATHCOUNTS National Competition is a great accomplishment and a testament to the students' perseverance, creativity and problem-solving skills," said Tracey Gray, vice president, Communications and External Affairs for Raytheon Intelligence & Space, a Raytheon Technologies business. "Congratulations to Channing and all the competitors who put their skills to the test in this year's competition."

Media Contact:

Alyssa Shaffer

alyssa.shaffer@rtx.com

About MATHCOUNTS Foundation

MATHCOUNTS is a nonprofit organization that strives to engage middle school students of all ability and interest levels in fun, challenging math programs, in order to expand their academic and professional opportunities. Middle school students exist at a critical juncture in which their love for mathematics must be nurtured, or their fear of mathematics must be overcome. For more than 30 years, MATHCOUNTS has provided free, high-quality resources to educators and enriching, extracurricular opportunities to students to lay a foundation for future success. Materials and information are available at www.mathcounts.org.

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
Investors and the media are invited to listen to the call through the company's website at Target.com/Investors (click on the link under "Upcoming Events")

WHO:
The Danish biotech company, Tetra Pharm Technologies, is expanding its management board with Mr. Steen Jakobsen as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Mr. Jacob Schlundt as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). As a result, the company's management board now has 6 members.

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tetra Pharm Technologies develops and manufactures pharmaceutical drugs targeting the endocannabinoid system for the treatment of neuropathic pain, sclerosis, and mental health disorders. The expansion of the management board is due to the company's increasing level of activity and ambition.

Directors of TPT

"Tetra Pharm Technologies has reached a size that makes it necessary to expand the management board. We are very ambitious about our future growth potential, and the expansion of the management team with experienced profiles such as Steen and Jacob, is an obvious and timely strengthening of the company," says Martin Rose, CEO, Tetra Pharm Technologies.

Steen Jakobsen is 52 years old and holds an MSc in Business Administration and Commercial Law from Copenhagen Business School. He joins Tetra Pharm Technologies from a position as Vice President at Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism. Steen Jakobsen brings solid experience in strategic planning, finance, and management, and he will take responsibility of the overall finance function at Tetra Pharm Technologies.

"Tetra Pharm Technologies is a very compelling company with strong values and a promising future that I am excited to be a part of. I look forward to contributing to the continued positive development and to accelerating our highly ambitious growth strategy in collaboration with my new colleagues," says Steen Jakobsen.

Jacob Schlundt is also 52 years old and holds a degree in International Business Information from Copenhagen Business College. Tetra Pharm Technologies has recruited Jacob Schlundt from a role as Head of Marketing & Communications at Aon Denmark, and he brings extensive knowledge within marketing, communication, and event planning to strengthen Tetra Pharm Technologies' global position and profile.

"I am very motivated by Tetra Pharm Technologies' mission of developing effective and affordable drugs, and I'm excited about contributing to making a genuine difference for patients and their families. I'm also looking forward to developing myself personally and professionally in a team of far-sighted, competent, and dedicated colleagues," says Jacob Schlundt.

In addition to the two newly appointed executives, the management board of Tetra Pharm Technologies is made up of Mr. Martin Rose as Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Jesper Breum as Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Morten Alles as Chief Scientific Officer and Mr. Martin Caspersen as Chief Commercial Officer.

About Tetra Pharm Technologies ApS

Tetra Pharm Technologies is a Danish biopharmaceutical company established in 2018 with a vision to be a leader in research and development of pharmaceutical drugs for the treatment of diseases related to the endocannabinoid system.

For more information, please visit www.tetrapharm.eu

For further information:

Martin Rose

[email protected]

+45 2644 9991

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2075914/Directors_of_TPT.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2075913/Tetra_Pharm_Technologies_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Tetra Pharm Technologies
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.
COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Stepping up to fill a void now that Amazon is no longer renting college textbooks, TextbookRush.com is quickly becoming the go-to site for students looking to rent books. TextbookRush.com rented books under contract with Amazon under the name Apex Media for 11 years. As one of the first and largest rental providers on Amazon.com, customers can now go straight to the source for all their rental books.

In the business of books for nearly three decades, TextbookRush.com also has over 15 years of experience in the textbook rental sector. Recognized as a superior seller and renter on Amazon, TextbookRush.com warehouses tens of thousands of textbook titles for college students to choose from every semester, replacing the once-valued Amazon rental program.

"Students have trusted Amazon for years. But what they may not realize is that a lot of their faith was placed in Apex Media, a top-ranked textbook renter on Amazon" says CEO Phil Smyres.

Since 2002, TextbookRush.com has built on a nearly 30-year heritage of book buying and selling experience that started at The Ohio State University in 1994 with retail brick-and-mortar stores. Today, TextbookRush.com has grown into a trusted brand used by college students nationwide.

To rent a textbook, customers can visit https://www.textbookrush.com/rent/textbooks/, enter the title, author, or ISBN in the search screen, and click "Search." From there, they can select their preferred shipping and payment options at checkout. All textbook rentals are fulfilled via TextbookRush.com, and those over $35 are also eligible for free shipping. Customers can return all books for free at the end of their rental period with a convenient, prepaid, printable return label.

About TextbookRush.com

TextbookRush.com is a premier online retailer that rents, buys, and sells college textbooks. Customers may rent or buy eBooks as well as TV and movie titles and games. Phil Smyres, the founder, started in the college book business in 1994, opening a textbook store at Ohio State University and adding a second 4 years later. In 2001, he began retailing books online. Amazon contracted with his company to operate Amazon's book trade-in program from 2010 to 2019 and Amazon's book rental program from 2012 to 2023.

Media Contact:

Alison Blankenship

TextbookRush.com

614-643-2181

[email protected]

https://www.TextbookRush.com

SOURCE TextbookRush.com
NEW YORK, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Klein Law Firm announces that a class action complaint has been filed on behalf of shareholders of Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) alleging that the Company violated federal securities laws.

Class Period: August 18, 2021 to May 17, 2022

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: May 30, 2023

No obligation or cost to you.

Learn more about your recoverable losses in TGT:

https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/target-corporation-lawsuit-loss-submission-form?id=39396&from=4

Target Corporation NEWS - TGT NEWS

CLASS ACTION CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that Target Corporation made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Target's difficulty maintaining a balanced inventory of in-demand goods was far worse than the Company had represented; (ii) Target was severely impacted by changing consumer preferences; (iii) Target's inventory mix was significantly more sensitive to changing consumer preferences due to Target's practice of buying larger quantities ahead of season, and was therefore at significant risk of having to use markdowns to sell out-of-demand goods; and (iv) as a direct result of these changing preferences, Target's inventory increasingly became out-of-balance and overweight in bulky and unsellable goods throughout the Class Period forcing Target to markdown its out-of-demand goods, thereby negatively impacting revenue.

WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER: If you have suffered a loss in Target you have until May 30, 2023 to petition the court for lead plaintiff status. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.

NO COST TO YOU: If you purchased Target securities during the relevant period, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket fees.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FINANCIAL INTERESTS: For additional information about the TGT lawsuit, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/target-corporation-lawsuit-loss-submission-form?id=39396&from=4.

ABOUT KLEIN LAW FIRM

J. Klein, Esq. represents investors and participates in securities litigations involving financial fraud throughout the nation. The Klein Law Firm is a boutique litigation firm with experience in a wide range of areas including securities law, corporate finance and commercial litigation. Since 2011, our experienced attorneys have achieved superior results for our clients with a personalized focus. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

J. Klein, Esq.

535 Fifth Avenue

4th Floor

New York City, NY 10017

[email protected]

Telephone: (212) 616-4899

www.kleinstocklaw.com

SOURCE The Klein Law Firm
Close collaboration to deliver innovative cybersecurity solution for SAP infrastructure and customers powered by XM Cyber

Companies come together to help secure critical business systems against cyber attacks

NECKARSULM, Germany, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The companies of Schwarz Group today announced a strategic partnership with SAP that aims to eliminate potential attack paths across business-critical applications. The partnership focuses on the security solutions developed by XM Cyber, a Schwarz Group company. It builds on a long-standing collaboration supporting the digital transformation across the companies of Schwarz Group.

Schwarz logo

The cybersecurity platform developed by XM Cyber shows companies their IT landscape through the eyes of potential attackers, continuously. XM Cyber supports cloud and on-premise, as well as hybrid environments to identify breach points in their systems and address these threats in order of priority. Later this year, in addition to SAP's IT infrastructure, XM Cyber will also support the protection of the company's customer-specific cloud services and RISE with SAP landscapes, helping companies migrate data and processes to the cloud without being compromised.

"Europe's largest software company, SAP, is engaging the expertise of XM Cyber and planning to use this unique security solution to safeguard its infrastructure. As such, we are also protecting SAP's customers," explains Rolf Schumann, CEO of Schwarz Digital. "In doing so, we will offer another example of our ability to secure the digital transformation for companies around the world."

The importance of this partnership is especially relevant when more and more processes are being controlled and monitored digitally. SAP is supporting Bon Presso a division of Schwarz Produktion, who is taking advantage of modern process engineering and smart digital solutions to visualize key figures on the product lines and evaluate machine data in real time. This concept of a "digital factory" was coined within the companies of Schwarz Group and is possible thanks to the software provided by SAP.

"For more than 50 years, our software suite has laid the foundation for companies in all industries to digitize their business processes successfully. Thanks to the partnership with the companies of Schwarz Group and their XM Cyber security solution, we are significantly enhancing the security components of our products, which enables us to continue to provide our customers with optimal protection for their data and processes. As such, we offer an unparalleled package that will reinforce our market position," says Thomas Saueressig, Member of the Executive Board of SAP SE, leading SAP Product Engineering.

XM Cyber is available today on SAP Store, the online marketplace for solutions developed by SAP and its partners.

Additional information

For further information, see www.gruppe.schwarz/en .

Press contact

Schwarz Unternehmenskommunikation GmbH & Co. KG

Phone: +49 7132 30-788600

[email protected]

SOURCE Schwarz Group
Respected Medicare-focused agency known for client empowerment will utilize Integrity's transformative platform to help more Americans feel secure in their insurance decisions

DALLAS, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Integrity Marketing Group, LLC ("Integrity"), a leading distributor of life and health insurance, and provider of wealth management and retirement planning solutions, today announced it has acquired The Insurance Superstore, an independent marketing organization ("IMO") based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and led by Brad Keating, President. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

The Insurance Superstore Joins Integrity to Support Client-Focused Agents with Insurtech Platform

"Brad has built a flourishing business by focusing on the fundamentals of teaching and he is now ready to advance even further with the support Integrity provides," shared Bryan W. Adams, Co-Founder and CEO of Integrity. "The Insurance Superstore is prepared and well-positioned to experience the 'Integrity Effect' of momentum that happens when agencies and brokerages tap into our plethora of shared services, resources and technology. Our systems are designed to help companies like The Insurance Superstore take huge leaps forward in the industry through greater efficiency and expanded capacities that come with scale  we can't wait to support their progress."

Keating founded The Insurance Superstore in 2008 to help seniors understand their health insurance options through Medicare and the Affordable Care Act. The agency now serves thousands of Americans across multiple states through its growing team of thoughtful, client-driven agents. In addition to health insurance, The Insurance Superstore also provides life insurance and annuities.

"Before joining Integrity, I was inundated with the administrative aspects of running the business while ensuring its continued growth," explained Brad Keating, President of The Insurance Superstore. "Integrity gave me back the time to do what I love, which is meeting with clients and designing solutions for their lives. Integrity's Shared Services offering and advanced technology have been exactly what I needed to put my agents and clients first. This partnership has reenergized our business and supported all our agents  whether they are just starting out or have decades of experience. I couldn't be happier with our decision to become an Integrity partner."

Integrity's platform of resources offers agents and advisors world-class systems that expand their scope and position them on the cutting edge of insurtech. These vast capabilities include real-time data and analytics, instantaneous quoting and enrollment, and access to the MarketingCENTER assets portal, an on-demand library offering customizable marketing assets. The Insurance Superstore will also benefit from streamlined operations through Integrity's shared business services. Areas of support include People & Culture, Technology & Innovation, finance, legal and compliance.

Enhancing these solutions is the invaluable opportunity for all Integrity partner companies to affiliate with its partner network, an exceptional group of industry icons and legends. These distinct leaders leverage diverse competencies and experience to help consumers plan for the good days ahead. Their collaboration on best practices and impactful solutions positions all partners to better protect the life, health and wealth of Americans.

For more information about The Insurance Superstore's partnership with Integrity, view a video at www.integritymarketing.com/InsuranceSuperstore.

About Integrity

Integrity, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is a leading distributor of life and health insurance, and provider of innovative solutions for wealth management and retirement planning. Through its partner network of over 500,000 agents and advisors, Integrity helps millions of Americans protect their life, health and wealth with a commitment to meet them wherever they are  in person, over the phone and online. Integrity's cutting-edge technology helps streamline the insurance and financial planning experience for all stakeholders. In addition, Integrity develops products with carrier partners and markets them through its nationwide distribution network. In 2022, Integrity helped carriers place over $22 billion in new sales and oversaw more than $40 billion of assets under management and advisement through its RIA and broker-dealer platforms. For more information, visit www.integritymarketing.com .

About The Insurance Superstore

The Insurance Superstore is an insurance agency founded in 2008 and headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Specializing in Medicare and the Affordable Care Act, they are known for their expert approach of empowering seniors to become educated decision-makers by teaching them about insurance and retirement solutions. Since its establishment, The Insurance Superstore has helped thousands of families throughout the states of Colorado, Nebraska, Arizona, Missouri and Florida. For more information, visit www.insurancess.org.

SOURCE Integrity Marketing Group, LLC
LOS ANGELES, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz announces that investors with substantial losses have opportunity to lead the securities fraud class action lawsuit against Teleperformance SE ("Teleperformance" or the "Company") (OTC: TLPFY).

Class Period: July 29, 2020  November 9, 2022

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: June 20, 2023

If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.

On August 4, 2022, Forbes published an article alleging that Teleperformance had subjected its workers to poor working conditions, using real, graphic images and videos of child sexual abuse to train its TikTok content moderators, while "conversations with former employees reveal[ed] the extent to which moderators were both under-trained and overworked." On this news, Teleperformance's stock price fell $7.75, or 4.6%, to close at $160.94 per ADR on August 5, 2022, thereby injuring investors.

Then, on November 9, 2022, Time reported that "Colombia's Ministry of Labor has launched an investigation into TikTok subcontractor Teleperformance, relating to alleged union-busting, traumatic working conditions and low pay." On this news, Teleperformance's stock price fell $24.55, or 18.6%, to close at $107.77 per ADR on November 10, 2022.

Then, on March 22, 2023, four months after the Company "unanimously" decided to exit the "highly egregious" content moderation business, Teleperformance announced that it would be reentering the field. Market analysts observed that the move was an indication of the Company's overall business and growth prospects. One HSBC Global Research analyst report stated that the "U-turn on content moderation raises concerns about communication, governance and broad fundamentals."

On this news, Teleperformance's stock price fell $6.87, or 5.7%, over three days to close at $112.82 per ADR on March 24, 2023, thereby injuring investors further.

The complaint filed alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants failed to disclose to investors: (1) that Teleperformance's growth in Core Services had been achieved, in part, by requiring its content moderators to engage in inappropriate, traumatic, abusive, and potentially criminal activities; (2) that certain Teleperformance social content moderators had been trained with materials which included illicit images of child sexual exploitation; (3) that contraband images had been included in Teleperformance Daily Required Reading reports for its content moderation staff; (4) that Teleperformance had failed to safeguard child sexual abuse material and had potentially violated strict rules governing the handling of such materials, including rules relating to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children; (5) that Teleperformance had failed to provide adequate training or emotional and psychological support to content moderators exposed to egregious materials, including those exposed to extreme graphic violence and sexual images; (6) that Teleperformance had imposed unreasonable time and performance targets that compounded the occupational trauma suffered by its content moderators; (7) that Teleperformance had failed to implement or maintain the working conditions represented to investors, including by subjecting the Company's content moderation workers to widespread occupational trauma without psychological support, and with paltry pay, punitive salary deductions, extensive surveillance, and aggressive union-busting tactics; (8) that, as a result, Teleperformance was subject to a material, undisclosed risk of legal, regulatory, business, and reputational harm if the truth regarding the Company's content moderation services, treatment of its content moderation workers, and handling of contraband materials was ever publicly revealed; and (9) as a result, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.

Follow us for updates on Twitter: twitter.com/FRC_LAW.

To be a member of the class action you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action. If you wish to learn more about this class action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to the pending class action lawsuit, please contact Frank R. Cruz, of The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, 1999 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1100, Los Angeles, California 90067 at 310-914-5007, by email to [email protected], or visit our website at www.frankcruzlaw.com. If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.

SOURCE The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, Los Angeles
Prestigious Recognition Marks Significant Growth of TogoRun as MarCom Agency of Record Providing Clients with Streamlined Strategic Commercialization, Public Relations, and Public Affairs Services

NEW YORK, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TogoRun, a woman-owned global health and well-being communications, marketing, and public affairs agency, has been named to Inc. magazine's annual Best Workplaces list. Featured in the May/June 2023 issue, which hits newsstands on May 16 and will be prominently featured on Inc.com, the list is the result of a comprehensive measurement of American companies that have excelled in creating exceptional workplaces and company culture, whether operating in a physical or a virtual facility.

TogoRun Logo (PRNewsfoto/TogoRun)

"We are so proud to receive this prestigious recognition from Inc. magazine reflecting our commitment to the professional and personal well-being and happiness of our team," said TogoRun President, CEO, and Owner Gloria "Glo" Janata, JD. "At TogoRun, people are the heart of our organization and the key to our success. We work together every day to make a healthy impact for our clients and the world and are truly blessed to be on the sled together with the best team and client partners in the business."

After collecting data from thousands of submissions, Inc. selected 591 honorees this year. Each company that was nominated took part in an employee survey, conducted by Quantum Workplace, which included topics such as management effectiveness, perks, fostering employee growth, and overall company culture. The organization's benefits were also audited to determine overall score and ranking. TogoRun ranked among the highest-scoring companies, with 100% engagement and a total overall score of 95%, indicating a team that goes above and beyond in their work, advocates for the agency, and intends to stay on the sled into the future.

To celebrate this honor, TogoRun has released "The Untold Story: TogoRun," a short film that captures the heart of the agency's mission and invites talent to join the expanding TogoRun global team. Positions include full-time remote staff as well as paid internships through our Trailblazer Intern Program (TIP), which focuses on developing strategies and tools to close health disparity gaps.

TogoRun Chief Operating Officer and Head of Digital Marketing Sheetal Davitt said, "Creating a company that prioritizes every team member's well-being along with its purpose-driven work is not just a privilege, but a responsibility we all share. Winning Inc.'s Best Places to Work 2023 is a testament to driving a workplace culture that supports our values and the values of our client partners: commitment, courage, creativity, craftsmanship, and community."

"Being named to Best Workplaces is an honor that only a small fraction of companies have been able to claim," said Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. "Proving to the world that 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 TogoRun

TogoRun is a woman-owned, award-winning, full-service strategic communications, marketing, and public affairs agency focused on global health and well-being and telling the untold story. Inspired by the 1925 hero sled dog Togo, TogoRun works in partnership with clients committed to advancing innovative solutions that save and improve lives, close health disparity gaps, support a healthier planet, and embrace a vision of equitable abundance. Headquartered in New York, with seasoned teams in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and virtually everywhere via a network of global partners in +90 markets, TogoRun specializes in integrated marketing and communications, branding and positioning, advocacy and government affairs, issues and crisis management, and corporate communications. Areas of expertise include pharma/biotech, life sciences, health information technology, medical device, health insurance, hospital, non-profits/associations, medical aesthetics, consumer packaged goods, and beauty. TogoRun is part of the GMJ Global network of companies and a proud signatory of CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion. The TogoRun Team has collectively been responsible for more than 230 industry awards, including Inc. Magazine's Best Workplaces in 2023 and Best in Business for Marketing in 2022, and donates at least 11% of time each year in pro bono services to non-profits that share our values. Visit us here: www.TogoRun.com. And follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and, Twitter.

About GMJ Global

GMJ Global is a woman-owned communications and media company focused on making a healthy impact worldwide. Including award-winning health and well-being agency TogoRun, digital consumer health and beauty agency VegaRun, full service creative shop StudioTogo, and publications and media company GMJ Global Media, GMJ Global aims to create a new and kinder capitalism, a more inclusive society, and a healthier environment centered on the philosophy of equitable abundance. GMJ Global is a proud partner of the UN Global Compact. Visit us here: www.GMJGlobal.com.

About Inc. Media

The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com .

About Quantum Workplace

Quantum Workplace, based in Omaha, Nebraska, is an HR technology company that serves organizations through employee-engagement surveys, action-planning tools, exit surveys, peer- to-peer recognition, performance evaluations, goal tracking, and leadership assessment. For more information, visit QuantumWorkplace.com.

Contact

Peter Collins

TogoRun

M: 908.499.1200

E: [email protected]

SOURCE TogoRun
NEW YORK, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- WHP Global, the parent company of Toys"R"Us, announced a new partnership with leading travel retailer Duty Free Americas to open the first-ever Toys"R"Us airport store at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), the world's second busiest airport. The Toys"R"Us store will be located in Terminal A, and is slated to open in time for Holiday 2023.

Rendering of Toys"R"Us Airport Store coming to Terminal A at Dallas Fort-Worth International Airport. Duty Free Americas

"We are excited that WHP Global selected us to introduce a new retail concept to the travel industry," said Jerome Falic, CEO of Duty Free Americas. "Toys"R"Us is a globally recognized brand beloved by millions of families, and we are confident that the store at DFW will become a must-visit destination for travelers."

Travelers visiting the store will be welcomed by a life size custom Geoffrey the Giraffe 3D sculpture perfect for a family photo, before discovering a curated selection of toys and games from the hottest brands. With demonstration tables for hands on play and iconic brand elements throughout, the new airport store brings a fun Toys"R'Us experience that caters to gift buyers on-the-go and parents traveling with children.

"We are thrilled to partner with Duty Free Americas to introduce the first-ever Toys"R"Us airport store, an exciting new concept that we believe could roll out in airports around the world," said Yehuda Shmidman, Chairman and CEO of WHP Global.

Since its acquisition by WHP Global in 2021, Toys"R"Us has experienced significant growth doubling its footprint by 50% in 2022 with the national rollout in the U.S. at all Macy's stores. The momentum is continuing this year with recent launches in India, United Kingdom, and Mexico.

Further details on the opening date for the Toys"R"Us airport store at DFW to follow.

About Toys"R"Us

Toys"R"Us has been a global leader in the toy category celebrating the joys of childhood and play with kids of all ages for more than 70 years. Geoffrey the Giraffe, the beloved mascot of Toys"R"Us, is adored by millions of kids and their families around the world. The brand generates more than USD$2 billion in global retail sales annually through 1,350+ stores and e-commerce businesses in 30+ countries. For more information, visit www.toysrus.com.

About Duty Free Americas

Duty Free Americas, Inc. (DFA) is the largest duty-free retailer in the Americas, operating approximately 200 stores in airports, border crossings and seaports located in the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, and other international locations. DFA stores offer a vast assortment of exceptional brand name merchandise, including liquor, tobacco, fragrances, cosmetics, confections, fashion accessories, watches, leather goods and luxury gifts, free of all duties and sales/excise taxes. Established in 1972 and headquartered in Hollywood, Florida, DFA provides an exciting travel retail experience for millions of vacationers and business travelers from around the world every year. For more information, visit www.dutyfreeamericas.com.

About WHP Global

WHP Global is a leading New York based firm that acquires global consumer brands and invests in high-growth distribution channels including digital commerce platforms and global expansion. WHP owns ANNE KLEIN, JOSEPH ABBOUD, JOE'S JEANS, WILLIAM RAST, ISAAC MIZRAHI, LOTTO, TOYS"R"US, BABIES"R"US, and a 60% interest in the EXPRESS brand. In April 2023, WHP Global signed a definitive agreement to acquire the BONOBOS fashion brand. Collectively the brands generate close to USD $7 billion in global retail sales. The company also owns WHP+, a turnkey direct to consumer digital e-commerce platform and WHP SOLUTIONS, a sourcing agency based in Asia. For more information, please visit www.whp-global.com.

Media Contacts

WHP Global / Toys"R"Us

Jaime Cassavechia

EJ Media Group

[email protected]

(646) 701-7041

Duty Free Americas

Glorimar Figueroa

[email protected]

(954) 986-7706

SOURCE WHP Global
CHICAGO, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- According to Arizton's latest report, the Middle East & Africa tractor market will grow at a CAGR of 4.77% during 2022-2028.

To Know More, Download the Free Sample Report: https://www.arizton.com/request-sample/3824

Middle East and Africa Tractor Market

Money and time can be saved, and farm yields can be increased by adopting technologically advanced tractors and implements. The Middle East & African countries' government plans to increase the rate of farm mechanization among farmers, which will boost the demand and sales of new tractors. The mechanization of farms is deemed necessary in the Middle East & Africa to increase crop production.

Governments must adopt effective and sustainable farming practices to ensure food security and safety. Developed countries implement the concept of precision agriculture to increase productivity. At the same time, the level of agricultural mechanization is still low in developing countries. Precision farming is a management concept under which crops are grown according to soil specifications. The focus on agricultural mechanization will increase the demand for tractors and the sense of accuracy in farming using technologically advanced tractors in the Middle East & Africa.

Middle East and Africa Tractor Market Report Scope

Report Attributes Details Market Size (2028) 109,974 Units Market Size (2022) 83,146 Units CAGR (2022-2028) 4.77 % Historic Year 2020-2021 Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023-2028 MARKET Segmentation Horsepower, Drive Type, and Geography Largest Segment by Horsepower Less Than 50 HP Largest Segment by Drive Type 2-Wheel Drive Largest Segment by Geography Turkey Market Dynamics Assistance to Farmers through Loans & Subsidies

Increased Agricultural Productivity & Exports

Increased Farm Mechanization

Looking for More Information? Download the Free Sample Report: https://www.arizton.com/request-sample/3824

Impact of Technological Advances in Tractor Technology

A new frontier of innovation emerged as agriculture met digital technology, opening various paths to a smart agricultural future. Agricultural equipment manufacturers are competitive, and companies constantly strive to innovate and ensure product differentiation at affordable prices. State-of-the-art technology-based equipment is currently available on the market. GPS and remote sensing make farming more accurate and productive.

Swath Control and Variable Rate Technology

Swath control and VRT are technologies that are built on GPS. At this point, the value of guiding starts to emerge. Control of swaths is what it sounds like. The width of the swath a particular piece of machinery cuts through the field is under the farmer's control.

In 2021, John Deere installed GPS technology in its tractors. The GPS technology in tractors and other equipment helps farmers with field mapping, soil sampling, and crop scouting. It also allows them to work in low visibility field conditions, such as rain, dust, and fog and maximizes efficiency. GPS technology can also be installed in old tractors. For instance, Lantek S.A. offers the GPS guiding system named ES840 for agricultural equipment, making farming operations more profitable and efficient.

High Demand for Autonomous Equipment

There is a rapid increase in innovation and extensive use of robotics and AI in Middle East & African countries. The current farming method will likely be completely revolutionized using autonomous agricultural equipment and robots, performing time-consuming tasks more efficiently and effectively within the next ten years.

Autonomous agricultural equipment is driverless and operates with minimum or no human intervention. Autonomous agricultural equipment technology is still in the developing stage. Agricultural equipment with such technology can be used to plant crops, collect real-time data, and collect pictures to monitor harvests through remote controls. Driverless or autonomous agricultural equipment is programmed to avoid obstacles, such as objects, animals, and people in the field, determine the vehicles' speed, and navigate vehicles while performing other agricultural tasks. This equipment enables autonomous tillage in row-acre and broad-acre farming, seeding, and planting.

Self-driving or autonomous agricultural equipment can help farmers reduce their working hours. There is also a huge potential for data monitoring.

GPS receivers in autonomous agricultural equipment accurately determine positions up to two centimeters. This kind of accuracy is difficult to achieve with manual driving. Moreover, poor driving skills lead to the wastage of timemanually operated equipment, therefore, slower than self-driven equipment. The prospects of driverless technology are expected to revolutionize the agricultural sector in the Middle East & African countries and have the potential to become one of the most innovative technologies soon. Driverless equipment is programmed via tablets and is helpful during the harvesting period. They enable autonomous seeding, planting, and tillage with obstacle detection.

According to CNH officials, autonomous equipment will not replace human farmers but will assist them in farming and increase productivity and operating efficiency. Furthermore, most of the tasks that farmers and farm laborers currently perform are not linked to tasks that autonomous equipment is developed to perform.

The price of autonomous equipment is estimated to be 40%50% higher than a conventional one. Thus, affordability will be a major challenge for farmers. However, autonomous agriculture equipment will provide better returns to farmers.

Buy the Report Now: https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/middle-east-and-africa-tractor-market

Post-Purchase Benefit

1hr of free analyst discussion

10% of customization

Recent Developments

In March 2023 , John Deere announced MY24 updates for its 7, 8, and 9 Series Tractors lineup that will help prepare them for the future of precision agriculture.

, John Deere announced MY24 updates for its 7, 8, and 9 Series Tractors lineup that will help prepare them for the future of precision agriculture. John Deere launched the new electric variable transmission (EVT) in March 2022 for select 8 Series Tractors and a new JD14X engine for 9 Series.

for select 8 Series Tractors and a new JD14X engine for 9 Series. Massey Ferguson launched the MF 6S series tractors in February 2022 . This machine provides up to 180 HP with advanced technology.

launched the MF 6S series tractors in . This machine provides up to 180 HP with advanced technology. In February 2022 , New Holland North America, CNH industrial brand, announced the launch of the world's first production T6 Methane Power tractor in the US.

, New Holland North America, CNH industrial brand, announced the launch of the world's first production T6 Methane Power tractor in the US. CNH Industrial partnered with Monarch Tractors in March 2021 , a US-based agri-technology company, to improve long-term sustainability and raise awareness of the importance of zero-emission agriculture among farmers.

Why Should You Buy This Report?

This report is among the few in the market that offer outlook and opportunity analyses forecast in terms of:

Market Size & Forecast Volume (Units) 20202028

Segmentation by Horsepower



Segmentation by Wheel Drive



Segmentation by Geography

Production and trade values

Major current and upcoming projects and investments

Competitive intelligence about the economic scenario, advantages in the Middle East & Africa , market dynamics, and market shares

& , market dynamics, and market shares Latest and innovative technologies

COVID-19 impact analysis of the market

Company profiles of major and other prominent vendors

Middle East and Africa tractor market shares of major vendors

Key Company Profiles

John Deere

CNH Industrial

AGCO

Kubota

Mahindra

Deutz-Fahr

Claas

TAFE

V.S.T. Tillers Tractors Limited

ISEKI & Co., Ltd.

KIOTI

Escorts

Yanmar

Market Segmentation

Horsepower

Less Than 50 HP

50 HP-100 HP

Above 100 HP

Wheel Drive

2-Wheel-Drive

4-Wheel-Drive

Geography

Turkey

Saudi Arabia

South Africa

Israel

Others

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North America Tractor Market  Industry Analysis & Forecast 2023-2028:

Europe Tractor Market  Industry Analysis & Forecast 2023-2028:

Table of Content

1 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

2 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

3 RESEARCH PROCESS

4 SCOPE & COVERAGE

4.1 MARKET DEFINITION

4.1.1 INCLUSIONS

4.1.2 EXCLUSIONS

4.1.3 MARKET ESTIMATION CAVEATS

4.2 BASE YEAR

4.3 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

5 REPORT ASSUMPTIONS & CAVEATS

5.1 KEY CAVEATS

5.2 CURRENCY CONVERSION

5.3 MARKET DERIVATION

6 PREMIUM INSIGHTS

7 MARKET AT A GLANCE

8 INTRODUCTION

8.1 OVERVIEW

8.1 VALUE CHAIN ANALYSIS

8.1.1 OVERVIEW

8.1.2 RAW MATERIAL & COMPONENT SUPPLIERS

8.1.3 MANUFACTURERS

8.1.4 DEALERS/DISTRIBUTORS

8.1.5 RETAILERS

8.1.6 END-USERS

8.2 TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES

9 MARKET OPPORTUNITIES & TRENDS

9.1 TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES IN TRACTOR TECHNOLOGY

9.1.1 SWATH CONTROL AND VARIABLE RATE TECHNOLOGY

9.1.2 HIGH DEMAND FOR AUTONOMOUS EQUIPMENT

9.2 SHORTAGE OF AGRICULTURAL LABORERS

9.3 USE OF ENERGY-EFFICIENT AGRI TRACTORS

10 MARKET GROWTH ENABLERS

10.1 ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS THROUGH LOANS & SUBSIDIES

10.2 INCREASED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY & EXPORTS

10.3 INCREASED FARM MECHANIZATION

11 MARKET RESTRAINTS

11.1 LACK OF AWARENESS OF LATEST INNOVATIONS IN AGRICULTURAL TRACTOR

11.1.1 LOW LEVELS OF EDUCATION AMONG FARMERS IN EMERGING COUNTRIES

11.1.2 RESOURCE SCARCITY OF SMALL AND MEDIUM FARMERS

11.2 HIGH DEMAND FOR USED & RENTAL TRACTORS

11.3 CLIMATE CHANGE ADVERSELY AFFECTING AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES

12 MARKET LANDSCAPE

12.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

12.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

12.3 FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS

12.3.1 THREAT OF NEW ENTRANTS

12.3.2 BARGAINING POWER OF SUPPLIERS

12.3.3 BARGAINING POWER OF BUYERS

12.3.4 THREAT OF SUBSTITUTES

12.3.5 COMPETITIVE RIVALRY

13 HORSEPOWER

13.1 MARKET SNAPSHOT & GROWTH ENGINE

13.2 MARKET OVERVIEW

13.3 LESS THAN 50 HP

13.3.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

13.3.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

13.3.3 MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

13.4 50 HP-100 HP

13.4.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

13.4.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

13.4.3 MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

13.5 ABOVE 100 HP

13.5.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

13.5.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

13.5.3 MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

14 WHEEL-DRIVE

14.1 MARKET SNAPSHOT & GROWTH ENGINE

14.2 MARKET OVERVIEW

14.3 2-WHEEL-DRIVE

14.3.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

14.3.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

14.3.3 MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

14.4 4-WHEEL-DRIVE

14.4.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

14.4.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

14.4.3 MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

15 GEOGRAPHY

15.1 MARKET SNAPSHOT & GROWTH ENGINE

15.2 GEOGRAPHIC OVERVIEW

15.3 TURKEY

15.3.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

15.3.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

15.3.3 HORSEPOWER

15.3.4 WHEEL-DRIVE

15.4 SAUDI ARABIA

15.4.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

15.4.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

15.4.3 HORSEPOWER

15.4.4 WHEEL-DRIVE

15.5 SOUTH AFRICA

15.5.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

15.5.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

15.5.3 HORSEPOWER

15.5.4 WHEEL-DRIVE

15.6 ISRAEL

15.6.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

15.6.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

15.6.3 HORSEPOWER

15.6.4 WHEEL-DRIVE

15.7 OTHERS

15.7.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

15.7.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

15.7.3 HORSEPOWER

15.7.4 WHEEL-DRIVE

16 COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

16.1 COMPETITION OVERVIEW

16.1.1 RECENT DEVELOPMENTS BY TOP BRANDS

16.1.2 BRAND LOYALTY

16.1.3 SALES & EXPORTS

17 KEY COMPANY PROFILES

17.1 JOHN DEERE

17.1.1 BUSINESS OVERVIEW

17.1.2 PRODUCT OFFERINGS

17.1.3 KEY STRATEGIES

17.1.4 KEY STRENGTHS

17.1.5 KEY OPPORTUNITIES

17.2 CNH INDUSTRIAL

17.3 AGCO

17.4 KUBOTA

18 OTHER PROMINENT VENDORS

18.1 MAHINDRA

18.1.1 BUSINESS OVERVIEW

18.1.2 PRODUCT OFFERINGS

18.2 DEUTZ-FAHR

18.3 CLAAS

18.4 TAFE

18.5 V.S.T TILLERS TRACTORS LIMITED

18.6 ISEKI & CO., LTD.

18.7 KIOTI

18.8 ESCORTS

18.9 YANMAR

19 REPORT SUMMARY

19.1 KEY TAKEAWAYS

19.2 STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATIONS

20 QUANTITATIVE SUMMARY

20.1 MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

20.2 MARKET BY HORSEPOWER

20.3 MARKET BY WHEEL-DRIVE TYPE

21 APPENDIX

21.1 ABBREVIATIONS

About Us:

Arizton Advisory and Intelligence is an innovative and quality-driven firm that offers cutting-edge research solutions to clients worldwide. We excel in providing comprehensive market intelligence reports and advisory and consulting services.

We offer comprehensive market research reports on consumer goods & retail technology, automotive and mobility, smart tech, healthcare, life sciences, industrial machinery, chemicals, materials, I.T. and media, logistics, and packaging. These reports contain detailed industry analysis, market size, share, growth drivers, and trend forecasts.

Arizton comprises a team of exuberant and well-experienced analysts who have mastered generating incisive reports. Our specialist analysts possess exemplary skills in market research. We train our team in advanced research practices, techniques, and ethics to outperform in fabricating impregnable research reports.

Contact Us

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SOURCE Arizton Advisory & Intelligence
Calling it the "AI antidote" to the "robotic recommendations" of chatbots, the online travel guide unveiled its annual summer list of 150 unique things to do in the USA.

DENVER, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- To kick off the 2023 summer travel season, Travel Lemming released its picks for the 150 best things to do in the USA this summer. The list is an annual project by the online guide, which has more than 10 million readers.

This year's guide directly confronts the rise of generative AI, highlighting that human creators handpicked every attraction on the list.

Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada, #3 on Travel Lemming's list of 150 things to do in the USA this summer.

Showcasing the depth of America's diversity, the list features a Bavarian Village in Washington, a tiger sanctuary in Colorado, the world's largest musical instrument in Virginia, and a ghost town in the Nevada desert.

The top ten entries on Travel Lemming's list of things to do are:

The Wild Animal Sanctuary ( Keenesburg, Colorado ) - an open-air sanctuary home to rescued animals, including 39 tigers once owned by Tiger King's Joe Exotic and 9 lions airlifted from Ukraine . Leavenworth (Washington) - a Bavarian-themed town offering a taste of Germany in the Cascade Mountains. Valley of Fire State Park ( Nevada ) - a 46,000-acre crimson oasis of desert outcroppings, petroglyphs, and petrified forests. Pilsen ( Chicago, Illinois ) - a culturally-rich Latino neighborhood featuring vibrant art, music, and mouthwatering food. Luray Caverns ( Virginia ) - a 400-million-year-old network of caverns, home to the biggest musical instrument in the world. Sensorio ( Paso Robles, California ) - a whimsical lightshow installation featuring 100,000 stemmed spheres. New Jersey Lottery Festival of Ballooning ( Readington, New Jersey ) - a festival featuring 100 colorful hot air balloons from July 28-30 . Brewery Hopping ( Asheville, North Carolina ) - an everyday fun activity that takes in the best of America's "Beer City." Dead Horse Point State Park ( Utah ) - an overlooked state park featuring 16.6 miles of singletrack mountain biking trails. Olympia (Washington) - an underrated state capital home to a vibrant artistic community and nearby natural attractions.

The full list of 150 best things to do can be found at: https://travellemming.com/best-things-to-do-in-usa-2023/ .

Travel Lemming's team of two dozen writers and editors collaborate to create the list, with the goal of highlighting the USA's hidden gems.

This year's list also explicitly addresses the rise of generative AI chatbot advisers, which have been recently touted by several big tech companies as a new way to plan travel.

"Like lemmings over the cliff, we'll all travel to the same destinations if we allow AI to dictate our itineraries," says the article.

Travel Lemming editor Abigail Bliss commented: "These activities are based on expert travelers' first-hand human experiences. AI-generated suggestions can't replace the authentic advice of locals who have eaten at these restaurants, felt the energy of these festivals, and seen America's magnificence."

Nate Hate, CEO of Travel Lemming, added: "Every Silicon Valley generative AI demo includes a travel planning example. But the big tech companies seem to forget that travel is about exploring the human senses. Without human creators to share their lived experiences, AI chatbot recommendations will quickly become stale."

About Travel Lemming

Travel Lemming is an online guide with more than 10 million annual readers. It publishes detailed original guides written by dozens of local and expert travelers with firsthand experience.

Media assets can be found here . Interviews can be arranged upon request.

Press Contact: Taylor Herperger

[email protected]

+1 306-745-7501

SOURCE Travel Lemming
Trella Health named among best workplaces in 2023

ATLANTA, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Trella Health has been named to Inc. magazine's annual Best Workplaces list. Featured in the May/June 2023 issue, the list is the result of a comprehensive measurement of American companies that have excelled in creating exceptional workplaces and company culture, whether operating in a physical or a virtual facility.

With a commitment to smarter growth and healthier outcomes  Trella Health empowers post-acute providers and suppliers by providing actionable market insights combined with a tailored CRM platform to help them achieve their business goals.

We'll continue fostering innovation, collaboration, and empowerment to make a positive impact on the healthcare industry. Tweet this

After collecting data from thousands of submissions, Inc. selected 591 honorees this year. Each company that was nominated took part in an employee survey, conducted by Quantum Workplace, which included topics such as management effectiveness, perks, fostering employee growth, and overall company culture. The organization's benefits were also audited to determine overall score and ranking.

"We're proud to be recognized as one of the best workplaces in 2023 by Inc. This award is a true honor, showcasing our dedication and passion," shared Scott Tapp, CEO of Trella Health, "Our culture is at the heart of everything we do, empowering our team to reach their full potential. We'll continue fostering innovation, collaboration, and empowerment to make a positive impact on the healthcare industry."

"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 Trella Health

Trella Health's unmatched market intelligence and purpose-built CRM allow post-acute providers and suppliers to drive more effective performance and growth. Trella's solutions allow post-acute, HME, and infusion organizations to identify the highest-potential referral targets, evaluate new market opportunities, and monitor performance metrics. Paired with CRM and EHR integrations, business development teams can better manage referral relationships to advance their organizations with certainty by improving their sales and marketing strategy.

For more information on Trella Health and its post-acute growth solutions, visit www.trellahealth.com, call 678-813-1590, or follow Trella on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

About Inc. Media

The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

About Quantum Workplace

Quantum Workplace, based in Omaha, Nebraska, is an HR technology company that serves organizations through employee-engagement surveys, action-planning tools, exit surveys, peerto-peer recognition, performance evaluations, goal tracking, and leadership assessment. For more information, visit QuantumWorkplace.com

Media contact: Lauren Corcoran, [email protected]

SOURCE Trella Health
Rebels from Ethiopia's Oromia region on Wednesday accused the government of launching a large-scale military offensive against them after peace talks between the two sides ended without agreement.
DALLAS, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- After launching their "whole human" approach in March, TRG now unites subject-matter experts in paid social, programmatic, Google/YouTube, and content strategy into a new team called the Brand Performance Group. This team will identify attention-rich opportunities for brands that balance long-term brand-building and short-term sales objectives. Rather than competing for a slice of the budget pie or debating YouTube vs. TikTok, this team focuses on what these platforms have in common: opportunities to earn people's attention.

"TRG is all about the power of 'and'," said TRG Chief Strategy Officer Christopher Ferrel. "Brand and performance, emotion and promotion, art and science. A mountain of evidence-based marketing research supports this, and we've seen it firsthand. Our creative and media work together to earn the attention of those in the market both today and in the future. This is key to our 'whole human' approach and one of the first proof points of our more memorable, meaningful work."

This announcement coincides with the changing dynamics in advertising spending, as most of advertisers' media dollars increasingly flow through just a handful of platforms: Google/YouTube, Meta (Facebook and Instagram), TikTok, and Amazon. TRG's Brand Performance Group has subject-matter experts in Google/YouTube, Meta, TikTok, and programmatic advertising. The group is led by Scott Luther, who takes on a new title as Head of Connections Strategy & Brand Performance Marketing.

"People are not one-dimensional. They do not use media any one particular way and are only rarely on a linear path to purchase. Most importantly, people aren't always rational and consistent  we cannot expect a simple, logical plan to work every time. Truly captivating and moving people requires heart and magic," said Luther. "The way we connect with people through our campaigns must be multifaceted  rich with insights into how humans actually live, work, connect, and unwind. We need to treat their attention as preciously as they do, so our approach to brand performance is all about balance: attention and action, broad and targeted, short- and long-term growth."

TRG's Brand Performance Group is among the industry's early adopters of human attention metrics, exploring partnerships with platforms like Amplified Intelligence, System1, Adelaide, Integral Ad Science, and others. The group will work closely with TRG's creative and strategy teams to create more effective media strategies and more inspired creative ideas.

About TRG

In 2021, The Richards Group advertising agency became TRG  a vibrant, nonprofit-owned, people-run creativity collective that believes: To earn people's attention, we must pay attention to people. Current client partners include Charles Schwab, Ram Trucks, and Cayman Islands Department of Tourism. Learn more at trg.agency and on Instagram @TRGCreativity.

SOURCE TRG
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ubicquia, Inc. announced that its UbiHub AP/AI multi-function streetlight platform, has been awarded an iF Design Award in the communication devices category. The ceremony took place in Berlin last night where Ubicquia was honored alongside industry giants such as Apple, Google, Motorola, and Samsung.

UbiHub AP/AI Wins iF Design Award

The UbiHub AP/AI provides Wi-Fi, street analytics, situational awareness video and network streetlighting controls in a platform that is disruptively simple and cost-effective to deploy. The platform plugs into the photocell socket at the top of streetlights within seconds, is nearly invisible from the street, and costs between 42% to 67% less than traditional methods of deploying the same applications. The industrial design team focused on creating a sleek and functional design that delivers advanced technology capabilities, while meeting demanding environmental and aesthetic requirements.

The iF Design Awards program is an international competition that recognizes exceptional achievements in product design, packaging, communication, and service design. The competition received over 11,000 entries from 56 countries. A panel of independent design experts selected winners based on design quality, innovation, functionality, and sustainability.

"We are honored to receive the prestigious iF Design Award for our UbiHub multi-function streetlight platform," said Claudio Ribeiro, VP of Design for Ubicquia. "This recognition reflects our commitment to creating functional, sustainable products for our customers."

Accreditation of the UbiHub AP/AI platform with an iF Design Award is a testament to Ubicquia's commitment to providing streetlight solutions that are innovative, sustainable, and simple to deploy.

About iF Design Award

Since 1954, the iF Design Award has been recognized as an arbiter of quality for excellent design. The iF Design brand is renowned worldwide for outstanding design services, and the iF Design Award is one of the most important design prizes in the world. It honors design achievements in all disciplines: product, packaging, communication and service design, architecture and interior architecture as well as professional concept, user experience (UX) and user interface (UI). All award-winning entries are featured on www.ifdesign.com and published in the iF Design App.

About Ubicquia

Ubicquia intelligent infrastructure platforms install in minutes and simply plug into the photocell sockets of 360 million compatible streetlights to reduce energy consumption, enhance public safety, and lower operations and maintenance costs. Our communication platforms use existing streetlights to expand public broadband and help mobile operators accelerate their 5G and Fixed Wireless Access deployments. Our smart grid products attach to existing distribution transformers in minutes, providing predictive analytics that make the grid more resilient. Ubicquia products are deployed by more than 550 customers, including the largest cities, utilities, and mobile operators across North America. To learn more visit www.ubicquia.com or follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

SOURCE Ubicquia, Inc.
Business and carrier community will now have access to diverse fiber-optic network

LAS CRUCES, N.M., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Unite Private Networks (UPN), a leading provider of high-capacity, fiber-based communication networks, is pleased to announce a network expansion into Las Cruces, New Mexico.

The expansion will bring over 55 miles of new, high-count fiber-optic infrastructure, including a core ring configuration for network diversity, yielding over 2,433 serviceable locations throughout Las Cruces. UPN will also establish a network hub in the market and provision network capacity back to UPN's core point-of-presence in Albuquerque, NM.

Business and carrier customers will now have access to a full array of fiber services that are scalable from 100 Mbps to 100 Gbps, including dark and lit fiber, private line, optical Ethernet, Internet access, FiberVoice, DDoS Protection, Cloud Connect, SD-WAN, and other customized solutions powered by a low-latency, carrier-grade, 100 percent fiber-optic network. Beyond services, UPN will invest in the community and network by employing a local operations team to install and maintain service.

Mark Hallamore, Regional Vice President of Sales at UPN, expressed his enthusiasm about the expansion, stating, "We are thrilled to extend our network infrastructure into Las Cruces and are looking forward to working with the business and carrier community. We hope to empower growth throughout the community by providing reliable and efficient connectivity."

About Unite Private Networks: UPN provides high-bandwidth, fiber-based communications networks and services to schools, governments, carriers, data centers, hospitals, and enterprise business customers across a 21-state service area. Service offerings include dark and lit fiber, private line, optical Ethernet, Internet access, FiberVoice, DDoS Protection, Cloud Connect, SD-WAN, and other customized solutions. Headquartered in Kansas City, MO, UPN has been providing customer-focused communications solutions since 1998. For more information on UPN, please visit www.uniteprivatenetworks.com, or connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Media Contact:

Brandi Tubb

816-903-9400

[email protected]

SOURCE Unite Private Networks
GREENVILLE, S.C., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Unite Us , the nation's leading software company enabling cross-sector collaboration to improve people's health and well-being, and Goodwill Industries of Upstate/Midlands SC (GIUMSC) are collaborating to solidify access to employment resources for residents in South Carolina. Through this partnership, GIUMSC and Unite Us aim to address the unmet needs of people and families throughout the state.

Unite Us Expands Its Collaboration with Goodwill South Carolina to Improve Access to Care Coordination Services

Goodwill serves more than 10,000 job seekers throughout the Upstate and Midlands each year. This partnership will enable GIUMSC to reach more people in need and connect them to the services they need when they need them.

In South Carolina , Unite Us connects people to much-needed resources and services, such as assistance with employment, benefits navigation, housing, and much more. Partners in the Unite South Carolina network are connected through Unite Us' shared technology platform, which enables them to send and receive secure, electronic referrals, address people's social needs, and improve health across communities.

"For the last half-century, we've committed to creating the best possible outcomes for job seekers and families," said Patrick Michaels, President, and CEO at Goodwill Industries of Upstate Midlands/South Carolina. "We're excited to be part of Unite South Carolina. The network aligns with our mission to provide access, information, and resources to help people improve the lives of the people we serve through the power of coordinated care."

The iconic "smiling G" logo is a beacon of hope and opportunity for those looking to overcome barriers and transform their lives. Goodwill's resources and expertise cover everything from resume writing tips to job leads, vocational certification programs, GED help, and so much more. Whether a person is justice-involved, a senior looking for a new skill, a high school dropout, or looking for a fresh start, the organization's "goodwill to all" motto means just thatgoodwill to all. The material and financial donations from generous givers fuel the thrift retail stores, creating a powerful goodwill cycle and allowing the organization to invest more than 90 cents of every dollar into those services.

"The collective goal of our partnership with Goodwill Industries of Upstate Midlands/South Carolina is to effectively increase equitable access to care for all residents regardless of circumstance," said Liz Walsh, Community and Customer Success Director at Unite Us. "GIUMSC and Unite Us will work together to redefine the quality, impact, and intersection of health and social care across this communityto get connected to the care they need that will enable them to thrive and live healthier lives."

Nonprofits, community-based organizations, and other providers who want to connect their clients and patients to Goodwill Industries of Upstate Midlands/South Carolina services within Unite Us' network can reach out to uniteus.com/contact/ .

About Goodwill Industries of Upstate Midlands/South Carolina

Goodwill Industries of the Upstate/Midlands South Carolina (GIUMSC) is a locally owned and operated non-profit within the Goodwill Industries International, Inc. network. Founded in May 1973, GIUMSC has served the people of South Carolina for 50 years to create generational success for job seekers, families and communities. Goodwill's 41 retail stores across 16 counties turn donors' generosity into new treasures for shoppers. More than 90 cents of every dollar spent is then invested back into providing life-changing education and career services at no cost.

About Unite Us

Unite Us is the nation's leading software company enabling collaboration across sectors to improve the health and well-being of communities. Unite Us' secure solutions establish a new standard of care that identifies social care needs, helps connect people to services, and leverages meaningful outcomes data to further drive community investment. Through Unite Us' national network and software, community-based organizations, government agencies, health plans, and healthcare providers are all connected to better collaborate and meet the needs of the individuals in their communities. Follow Unite Us on LinkedIn , Twitter , Instagram , and Facebook .

Media Contact

Jarid Munsch

Director of Marketing & Public Relations

[email protected]

Unite Us Media Contact

Jaquetta Gooden

Communications Manager

[email protected]

SOURCE Unite Us
PHOENIX, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE: UTI) (the "Company"), a leading workforce solutions provider of transportation, skilled trades and healthcare education programs, is scheduled to participate in the B. Riley Securities 23rd Annual Institutional Investor Conference, which is being held from May 24-25 at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, CA.

The Company's CEO, Jerome Grant, and CFO, Troy Anderson, will be participating in a fireside chat on Wednesday, May 24th at 9:00 a.m. Pacific time, with one-on-one investor meetings held throughout the conference.

To receive additional information, request an invitation or schedule a one-on-one meeting with UTI management, please contact your B. Riley Securities representative or the Company's investor relations team at [email protected].

The Company's most recent investor presentation can be found here.

About Universal Technical Institute, Inc.

Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE: UTI) (the "Company") was founded in 1965 and is a leading workforce solutions provider of transportation, skilled trades and healthcare education programs, whose mission is to serve students, partners, and communities by providing quality education and support services for in-demand careers across a number of highly-skilled fields. The Company is comprised of two divisions: Universal Technical Institute ("UTI") and Concorde Career Colleges ("Concorde"). UTI operates 16 campuses located in 9 states and offers a wide range of transportation and skilled trades technical training programs under brands such as UTI, MIAT College of Technology, Motorcycle Mechanics Institute, Marine Mechanics Institute and NASCAR Technical Institute. Concorde operates across 17 campuses in 8 states, offering programs in the Allied Health, Dental, Nursing, Patient Care and Diagnostic fields. For more information, visit www.uti.edu or www.concorde.edu, or visit us on LinkedIn at @UniversalTechnicalInstitute and @Concorde Career Colleges or on Twitter @news_UTI or @ConcordeCareer.

Media Contact:

Mark Brenner

Vice President, Corporate Affairs & External Communications

Universal Technical Institute, Inc.

(623) 445-0872

[email protected]

Investor Relations Contact:

Matt Glover and Jackie Keshner

Gateway Group, Inc.

(949) 574-3860

[email protected]

SOURCE Universal Technical Institute, Inc.
TAMPA, Fla., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of South Florida celebrated a significant milestone in the university's history with the grand opening of the new, state-of-the-art home of the Judy Genshaft Honors College. The five-story, 85,000-square-foot facility will serve USF's most accomplished and talented students from every undergraduate college and strengthen the university's position to attract the top talent within the state of Florida and beyond.

"The Judy Genshaft Honors College is the perfect place for our students to pursue their passions and create lasting memories during their studies at the University of South Florida," USF President Rhea Law said. "A world-class honors college deserves an equally remarkable home. Our students will treasure this facility and all it has to offer as they ascend to new heights in their academic journeys."

The new facility, located across from the Yuengling Center along USF Genshaft Drive on the Tampa campus, provides a dedicated home for the unique classes and programs for honors students. It features a variety of spaces for intellectual development and creative exchange, including open-design classrooms, 39 signature learning lofts and dedicated studio spaces for art, food and culture, along with music and technology. A total of 50 spaces in the building are named through generous gifts.

"I have no doubt this building and the opportunities it will provide, will have a tremendous impact on our USF community being able to achieve our goals and aspirations as an institution. I look forward to witnessing that impact on us, and in the lives of our students, for years to come," USF Board of Trustees Chair Will Weatherford said.

The project is primarily funded through philanthropic support, including a historic lead gift of $20 million from USF President Emerita and Professor Judy Genshaft and her husband Steven Greenbaum. When the gift was announced in 2019, it represented one of the largest gifts of its kind ever made by a sitting university president to their institution.

"This stunning building  a beacon for bright, talented and high-achieving USF students  is the realization of a dream. It is a home of endless possibilities  both for our Honors students and the dynamic faculty members who help to shape their futures," Genshaft said.

"It is like no other building in the nation. I can't wait to see our Honors students here attending classes, learning in dedicated studio spaces and listening to guest speakers in the beautiful event space or on the terrace," USF Foundation CEO Jay Stroman said. "The future is bright for the Judy Genshaft Honors College and we all are so grateful to Judy and Steve for making dreams come true."

The Judy Genshaft Honors College consists of more than 2,500 high-achieving, cross-disciplinary scholars who are part of a close community that provides specialized experiences and advanced educational opportunities. More than one third of Honors College students at USF are the first in their families to go to college.

"This architectural masterpiece will be a place where students can be creative and think outside all the boxes and put their learning to use in addressing the challenges facing their generation," Judy Genshaft Endowed Honors Dean Charles Adams said. "What binds these students together in my mind is that they care about making the world a better place. Here they have, at last, an academic home worthy of their dreams."

Following the announcement of the new building in spring 2019, the profile and success of Honors College students have continued to increase. Total enrollment has grown 13 percent, the number of students with a 4.0 GPA has risen from 463 to 556 and the four-year graduation rate continues to steadily increase. Positive trends are expected to continue as the new building will offer more opportunities for student engagement, which research has shown links directly to stronger academic outcomes.

"I feel a sense of exhilaration for my peers and for future Honors students who will enjoy a new world of possibilities inside our new home," said Naziza Bhuiyan, outgoing president of the Judy Genshaft Honors College Student Council. "I can attest that this is a major step up from our current situation. It's almost unimaginable to me that our student leaders will have their own space now."

The building will welcome its first class of students this summer.

About the University of South Florida

The University of South Florida, a high-impact global research university dedicated to student success, generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. Over the past 10 years, no other public university in the country has risen faster in U.S. News and World Report's national university rankings than USF. Serving more than 50,000 students on campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee, USF is designated as a Preeminent State Research University by the Florida Board of Governors, placing it in the most elite category among the state's 12 public universities. USF has earned widespread national recognition for its success graduating under-represented minority and limited-income students at rates equal to or higher than white and higher income students. USF is a member of the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.

SOURCE University of South Florida
Get ready for an unforgettable weekend of music, yoga, workshops, and fun under the sun, featuring top acts such as Polo & Pan, Griz, Louis The Child, and Big Wild

Tweet It: Get ready for a festival adventure as @SSBDFest brings the party back to Lake Perris from September 28 to October 1. Featuring headliners Polo & Pan, Griz, Louis The Child, and Big Wild, plus tons of amazing activities! Tickets on sale now at www.ssbdfest.com. #SSBD2023 #SameSameButDifferentFestival

SAN DIEGO, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Same Same But Different (SSBD), the premier Southern California beachside music festival, is excited to announce its spectacular return to Moreno Beach at Lake Perris from September 28 to October 1. This year promises to be better than ever, with an epic lineup featuring headliners Polo & Pan, Griz, Louis The Child, and Big Wild, alongside What So Not, Hippie Sabotage, Phantoms, Blu DeTiger, and many more.

The SSBD experience will be packed with four main stages of fantastic music across the beach, exciting workshops, yoga sessions, camping, swimming, and a focus on community. Over the weekend, festival-goers will enjoy a mix of established and emerging talents across various genres, creating a unique and memorable atmosphere.

This year, SSBD is introducing new camping options, including 80' x 80' Group Campsites, allowing your crew to camp together and arrive at their convenience. Shuttles will be available from Los Angeles and San Diego, hotel packages, and the new Flex Refund Ticket Guarantee. This pass gives you the assurance that if you can't make it for any reason, we'll refund your money in the form of credit towards SSBD 2024 or 2025.

In addition to the music, SSBD offers an array of fun activities such as yoga, wellness workshops, arts and crafts, and more, led by experts in their field.

Find more information about SSBD Fest at www.ssbdfest.com or connect with us @ssbdfest.

About Same Same But Different Festival

SSBD offers an unforgettable experience, featuring beach-side camping, RV hookups, and more lodging options that create a community atmosphere. In addition to musical acts, SSBD includes workshops, yoga, breath-work, meditation, dance classes, painting, crafting, and more led by field experts. More information on Same Same But Different Festival can be found at www.ssbdfest.com and on Facebook and Instagram at @ssbdfest.

SOURCE Same Same But Different Festival
NEW YORK, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Klein Law Firm announces that it is investigating allegations that United States Cellular Corporation ("UScellular") (NYSE: USM) violated federal securities laws.

CURRENT INVESTIGATION DETAILS: After market closed on November 3, 2022, UScellular announced results for the third fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2022, including that service revenues totaled $781 million, versus $788 million for the same period in the previous year, and that net income (loss) attributable to UScellular shareholders and related diluted earnings (loss) per share were $(12) million and $(0.15), respectively, for the third quarter of 2022 compared to $34 million and $0.38, respectively, for the third quarter of 2021. UScellular also announced that it was reducing the Company's fiscal year 2022 outlook, such that the upper bounds for the ranges of fiscal 2022 guidance concerning service revenues, adjusted OIBDA, and adjusted EBITDA were lowered by $50 million, $75 million, and $75 million, respectively.

Following this news, UScellular's stock price fell more than 22%, declining from a closing price of $31.05 per share on November 3, 2022 to a close of $24.09 on November 4, 2022.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FINANCIAL INTERESTS: For additional information about the potential claims on behalf of USM investors, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/uscellular-lawsuit-loss-submission-form?from=4

ABOUT KLEIN LAW FIRM

J. Klein, Esq. represents investors and participates in securities litigations involving financial fraud throughout the nation. The Klein Law Firm is a boutique litigation firm with experience in a wide range of areas including securities law, corporate finance and commercial litigation. Since 2011, our experienced attorneys have achieved superior results for our clients with a personalized focus. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

J. Klein, Esq.

535 Fifth Avenue

4th Floor

New York City, NY 10017

[email protected]

Telephone: (212) 616-4899

www.kleinstocklaw.com

SOURCE The Klein Law Firm
PHOENIX, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Market Innovators (GMI) proudly announces that its esteemed CEO and Owner, Vicki Mayo, has been honored with the prestigious 2023 Titan Women in Business Award. Mayo was recognized as "Female Executive of the Year - CEO of the Year," highlighting her exceptional leadership, strategic vision, and significant contributions to the business world.

Vicki Mayo, CEO of GMI, Wins the 2023 Titan Women in Business Award for Female Executive of the Year - CEO of the Year. Tweet this Vicki Mayo

The Titan Women in Business Awards, presented annually, celebrate and acknowledge the outstanding achievements of women who have excelled in various sectors of the business landscape. This Award serves as a testament to the incredible talent and dedication Mayo has demonstrated throughout her career.

Under Mayo's exceptional leadership, Global Market Innovators (GMI) has consistently achieved remarkable growth, forged valuable partnerships, and delivered cutting-edge solutions to its esteemed clientele. As the CEO and Owner, Mayo has spearheaded the company's growth, driving innovation and fostering a culture of excellence. Mayo's leadership style emphasizes empowering her team members and encouraging a collaborative work environment. Her strategic decision-making abilities and commitment to integrity and ethics have earned her the respect and admiration of her peers and colleagues.

Upon receiving the 2023 Titan Women in Business Award, Mayo expressed her gratitude and shared, "I am deeply honored to receive this prestigious Award. It is a humbling experience to be recognized among such accomplished women in business. This Award is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and unwavering commitment of the entire GMI team. I am immensely proud of what we have achieved together, and I look forward to continuing our journey of innovation and success."

As Mayo receives the 2023 Titan Women in Business Award, Global Market Innovators (GMI) extends its warmest congratulations and commends her on this well-deserved recognition. This prestigious accolade further solidifies her position as a visionary leader, inspiring countless individuals in the business world.

About Global Market Innovators (GMI)

Global Market Innovators (GMI) is a Secure Managed Service Provider specializing in leading growth markets, including Cyber Security, Digital Workplace, and Managed Services. A one-stop-shop for full IT lifecycle services, GMI provides secure technology solutions across security, network, cloud, collaboration, mobility, and managed IT practices and is supported by a dynamic global team of expert consultants.

A diversified client roster includes Fortune 50-2000 customers, and state and local education, including K-12, and covers a range of commercial, government, and enterprise customers. The company's geographic footprint extends from the United States and Canada to Morocco, the Philippines, and Costa Rica.

GMI is a privately-held, women- and minority-owned, and diversity supplier-certified company headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. GMI's delivery team features nearly 175 security, collaboration, networking, and data center engineers and architects across project management, staff augmentation, managed, and consulting practices; and boasts most key industry and best-in-class technology certifications.

For more information about GMI, visit the Global Market Innovators website: https://gmi.com/

SOURCE Global Market Innovators (GMI)
NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Chief Executive magazine's annual list of the Best and Worst States for Business has ranked Virginia the top-ranked mid-Atlantic state. According to the magazine's rankings, released in the Spring issue of Chief Executive, Virginia ranks as the 12th best state for business, up from its previous rank of 14th.

The ranking is based on a survey of more than 500 CEOs across the country who were asked to rate states based on their opinion of how easy it was to do business in that state versus others. Virginia's ranking this year reflects its strong business climate and commitment to attracting and retaining businesses.

"The rise in Virginia's ranking in our annual list is a testament to its pro-business environment and commitment to fostering innovation and economic growth," said Chris Chalk, Publisher, Chief Executive magazine. "The state's business-friendly policies, strategic location, and highly skilled workforce have made it a hub for businesses across various industries."

Virginia's diverse economy includes top companies in technology, healthcare, and defense industries, and its location in the mid-Atlantic region makes it a prime location for businesses looking to expand and grow, CEOs say.

Home to the third-largest port on the East Coast, numerous manufacturers and plenty of enterprise companies, IT and R&D facilities are also in abundance, taking advantage of the favorable business climate while also being near the movers and shakers in the District of Columbia. LEGO Group, Hitachi and IperionX Limited have announced projects here recently, and last May Boeing said it would relocate its headquarters from Chicago to Arlington.

Here's what some of the CEOs we surveyed had to say about why they ranked Virginia highly:

"Where our home office is and what I personally see compared to other states. Congenial, better overall roads and hard-working people." - Ralph Costen , Costen Family of Floors

, Costen Family of Floors "Lower biz taxes and less regulations." - <5 million, consulting

"Right to work, good schools, low taxes, good roads. Temperate climate. Positive Governor." - <5 million, consulting

"Low taxes and business-friendly policy." - $50 to 99 mil, tech

to 99 mil, tech "Accessibility to staff and business growth." - $100 to $250 mil , construction

to , construction "Well-developed peripheral services (law, accounting, etc.). Near federal government resources in my field."  Caroline Sigman , CCS associates

, CCS associates "Great available talent - low tax burden - incredible quality of life." - Don Yager , President / COO Mural Consulting Corporation

The Top 5 States for 2023:

1. Texas

2. Florida

3. Tennessee

4. North Carolina

5. Arizona

The Bottom 5 States for 2023:

46. Oregon

47. New Jersey

48. Illinois

49. New York

50. California

Biggest Gain, 2022-23:

Kentucky, + 5 to 18th place

Biggest Loss, 2022-23

New Hampshire, - 7 to 28th place

See the full list in the Spring Issue of Chief Executive: https://cloud.3dissue.com/124771/124993/223586/Spring2023ChiefExecutiveMagazine/index.html

Enhanced Coverage online: https://chiefexecutive.net/best-worst-states-business/

About Chief Executive/Chief Executive Group

Chief Executive Group, a leading community for business leaders worldwide, exists to improve the performance of U.S. CEOs, CFOs, CIOs, CHROs and corporate directors. We publish Chief Executive magazine, ChiefExecutive.net, Corporate Board Member magazine, BoardMember.com, StrategicCFO360.com, StrategicCIO360.com and StrategicCHRO360.com, and run some of the nation's most essential peer-networking communities, including The CFO Leadership Council, Chief and Senior Executive Networks, Corporate Board Member Network and The American College of Corporate Directors. Learn more at ChiefExecutiveGroup.com.

Media Contact:

Dan Bigman

203-889-4980

[email protected]

SOURCE Chief Executive Group
The Egyptian Exchange (EGX) experienced a downturn by the end of this week on Thursday, 18 May; and the market cap lost EGP 33 billion, standing at EGP 1.09 trillion, down from EGP 1.136 trillion in the previous week's end.
Leader in joint pain relief stands with caregivers help recognize their value and provide pain relief and movement resources.

WARREN, N.J., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 53 million Americans provide care to family members or loved ones,1 but an overwhelming 4 out of 5 Americans say that pain has affected their caregiving abilities.2 Caregivers dedicate so much time and energy  both emotionally and physically  to taking care of others, and the day-to-day realities of caregiving can involve a lot of physical labor and heavy lifting that may lead to aches and pains. In effort to help caregivers combat pain, Voltaren Arthritis Pain Gel is partnering with fitness instructor and TV personality Amanda Kloots to create a series of exercises designed specifically to help caregivers alleviate pain and discover the joy of movement.

As part of the initiative, Amanda is creating a series of three thoughtfully designed workout routines that target and strengthen different areas of the body that are susceptible to pain when caregiving, like legs and arms. Presented in bite-sized, snackable formats on Instagram Reels, the exercises are custom created to fit the needs of caregivers and can be incorporated easily into their daily routines.

"Caregivers do so much for others, and it's important to celebrate them and encourage them to give back to themselves through movement," Amanda Kloots said. "I'm excited to be working with Voltaren to develop these exercise routines. All of the moves will not only be effective at keeping them moving strongly and safety, but they are also super easy to incorporate into a caregiver's busy daily routine."

"The physical demands of caregiving tend to go overlooked, when in reality caregiving requires a wide range of physical movements that can bring on joint pain," said Stacey Harris, Vice President of Marketing, Pain at Haleon. "As a trusted, world leader in pain relief, Voltaren Arthritis Pain Gel is dedicated to helping people with arthritis, and is proud to support the 53 million unpaid caregivers1 in the U.S."

Voltaren is on a mission to help unpaid family caregivers recognize their own value, leading to a renewed journey of physical health. In addition to their partnership with Amanda, Voltaren conducted a series of intimate interviews with caregivers using cutting edge neuro-technology to explore how they perceive their value. During the interview, the caregivers wore an EEG headset that mapped their brain responses, measuring wellbeing based on brain wave changes in levels of stress, relaxation, excitement, engagement and attention. Results of these interviews and brain scans found that caregivers experienced a 36% increase in their wellbeing after hearing from their loved ones about their value as a caregiver.*

Millions of Americans experience joint pain as a result of their arthritis. As a world leader in arthritis joint pain relief, Voltaren is dedicated to improving the quality of life for people living with joint pain due to arthritis. For powerful arthritis pain relief, Voltaren delivers the triple effect of relieving arthritis pain, reducing stiffness, and improving mobility.

Voltaren is proud to stand beside caregivers, hear their stories, and help them prioritize their own physical health and wellbeing to better care for others. To view the first of Amanda Kloots' three-part caregiver movement series, visit her Instagram, @AmandaKloots. To unlock more tools and resources for a renewed journey of physical health and to view the interviews and brain scans of two caregivers, Carol and Bill, visit VoltarenGel.com.

About Voltaren Arthritis Pain Gel

The active ingredient in Voltaren Arthritis Pain Gel, diclofenac sodium, is an effective medicine that is clinically proven to relieve joint pain due to arthritis. Voltaren penetrates through the skin at the application site to deliver arthritis pain relief. Voltaren offers consumers who suffer from OA a well-tolerated alternative to oral analgesics. For more information, visit www.VoltarenGel.com.

About Haleon US

Haleon (NYSE: HLN) is a leading global consumer health company with a portfolio of brands trusted daily by millions of people. In the United States, the organization employs more than 4,700 people who are united by Haleon's powerful purpose to deliver better everyday health with humanity. Haleon's products span five categories: Oral Health, Pain Relief, Respiratory Health, Digestive Health, and Wellness. Built on scientific expertise, innovation, and deep human understanding, Haleon's brands include Abreva, Advil, Benefiber, Centrum, ChapStick, Emergen-C, Excedrin, Flonase, Gas-X, Natean, Nexium, Nicorette, Parodontax, Polident, Preparation H, Pronamel, Sensodyne, Robitussin, Theraflu, TUMS, Voltaren, and more. For more information on Haleon and its brands, please visit www.haleon.com or contact [email protected].

About osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis. OA occurs when the cartilage between joints begins to break down and wear away, resulting in joint pain and stiffness. OA occurs more frequently with age, and the pain can gradually worsen over time. The most common symptoms associated with OA include joint pain, stiffness, and decreased range of motion.

Haleons's commitment to pain relief

With a portfolio of products to relieve pain and reduce inflammation, Haleon's range brings comfort and ease to millions. World-leading brands such as Panadol, Voltaren and Advil help people manage their symptoms so they can enjoy life to the fullest.

Important safety information about Voltaren Arthritis Pain Gel

Before using the product, consumers should read the Voltaren Arthritis Pain Gel Drug Facts Label.

References

AARP and National Alliance for Caregiving. Caregiving in the United States 2020. Washington, DC : AARP. May 2020. https://www.aarp.org/ppi/info-2020/caregiving-in-the-united-states.html Study from researchers at The Ohio State University led by Amy Darragh , PhD, an occupational therapist at Ohio State's School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. particularly among the estimated 14 million "high-burden" caregivers (defined by the National Alliance for Caregiving and the AARP as people who spend more than 21 hours a week assisting care recipients with activities of daily living).

*EEG used to indicate a change in wellbeing and analysis of brainwaves powered by EMOTIV. Results are not statistically significant due to small sample.

Media Inquiries

Haleon Meghan Sowa +1 919 864 0953 Warren Edelman Brittany Herrmann +1 917 244 0665 New York City

SOURCE Haleon
This unique Tropical Fruit Bar recipe, created in celebration of this new flavor, is the latest addition to Curtis Stone's Waterloo-infused tasting menu. He also has curated a premium picnic basket for purchase at the Butcher Shop in his Los Angeles restaurant, Gwen, that will include the Waterloo-infused dessert bar, signature charcuterie, cheese and crudite, cans of Waterloo Tropical Fruit Sparkling Water, and a picnic blanket. Baskets will be available to consumers starting Tuesday, May 16th while supplies last, at $50 for a 2-person basket and $85 for a 4-person basket. For those who are unable to pick up their own picnic basket at his LA hotspot, fans can test out the Tropical Fruit bar recipe at home.

Tropical Fruit Bars  An island-inspired delight with fruit-flavored filling and crisp graham cracker crust, featuring Waterloo's Tropical Fruit Sparkling Water.

"I'm so excited to continue my partnership with Waterloo Sparkling Water, a brand that is continuously pushing boundaries in the world of flavor development. After learning about their limited-time only Tropical Fruit offering, I knew I would be stocking up for my own summer barbecues, beach outings, and picnics. As an Aussie, I'm always inspired by tropical flavors, sunshine, and memories of home. This Tropical Fruit sparkling water embodies all those things, with an exotic and citrusy profile that makes me want to hop on my longboard as soon as I take a sip," says celebrity Chef Curtis Stone. "Everyone in the LA area should swing by my Hollywood spot, Gwen Butcher Shop & Restaurant, to pick up their own picnic basket, featuring my Tropical Fruit Bars and this delicious new Waterloo flavor. Get outdoors, spread a blanket, crack open a can, and enjoy a picnic to get pumped for summer!"

The launch of Tropical Fruit comes on the heels of significant distribution gains for the brand, including national distribution at Walmart, Sprouts, Food Lion and Fresh Direct, and greater assortment on shelf at Albertson Safeway, Kroger, Target and Meijer. "Retailers see our growth at 10X the category  and want us on their shelves," said Jason Shiver, Waterloo Sparkling Water CEO. "Our continued success with new flavor innovations, like our newest Tropical Fruit, has brought more consumers into the brand, helping to drive household penetration growth higher than any core competitor  proof that our products deliver a unique, full-out flavor experience that consumers want."

Like all Waterloo varieties, Tropical Fruit is free of calories, sugar, and sweeteners. All flavors are made with Non-GMO Project Verified natural flavors and purified carbonated water, bringing forward uniquely authentic taste and aroma for an overall refreshing experience that supports active and healthy lifestyles. For those looking for more ways to enjoy the latest summer LTO offering, Waterloo has also developed two new refreshing mocktail recipes, the Paradise Punch and the Tropical Island Sunrise.

Waterloo Tropical Fruit Sparkling Water is available beginning this month at retailers nationwide, including Target, Whole Foods Market, HEB, Central Market, select Albertson Safeway divisions including Jewel, Walmart.com, Hy-Vee, select Costco divisions, Smart & Final, Fresh Thyme and more -- through the summer only.

Waterloo Summer Berry Sparkling Water is now on shelf year-round at Walmart nationwide, joining Publix, Meijer, HEB, Central Market, and ecommerce platforms, with summer-only availability at Whole Foods Market, Target, select Albertson Safeway divisions, select Costco divisions and more beginning this month.

For more information and to find a retailer near you, please visit drinkwaterloo.com.

ABOUT WATERLOO SPARKLING WATER

Founded in 2017 and independently owned, Waterloo Sparkling Water offers fruit-inspired flavors and aromas with a lively amount of carbonation for a uniquely authentic and refreshing anytime drink. Waterloo has been challenging expectations from the start, embodying the entrepreneurial spirit and independent thinking that Austin is known for. We at Waterloo go all in on full flavor every day  with sparkling waters that are a refreshing change from the usual. Made with Non-GMO Project Verified flavors and Whole30 Approved, Waterloo is free of calories, sugar, artificial sweeteners, and sodium. For the benefit of fans and the environment, Waterloo has only ever been produced in aluminum cans made with BPA-free liners. Waterloo Sparkling Water is sold at retailers nationwide . For the latest news, join the 'Loo community at drinkwaterloo.com or follow @waterloosparkling on Instagram and Facebook .

SOURCE Waterloo Sparkling Water
NEW YORK, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Momcozy, the renowned maternity and baby brand endorsed by over two million moms globally, recently made an appearance at Times Square in New York and Citadium in Paris. Apart from drawing massive attention from the passers-by, it has also sparked a wave of online discussion among KOLs, motherhood community and many other societal groups.

Momcozy made the appearance at the opportunity of its Mother's Day campaign which is dedicated to speaking up for moms globally and encouraging them to find their inner power to become a cozy mom and a cozy her.

The world is changing with cozy power.

Over the years, Momcozy has established itself as an global maternity and baby brand that not only has a strong presence online but also a wide global reach offline.

Its wearable breast pump has always been the best-selling one in the category of electric breast pumps in North America. Multiple of its products like nursing bras are recognized as online bestsellers for many consecutive years. Momcozy's broad product portfolio has indeed offered moms an all-rounded solution to their pregnancy and motherhood. Its widening global reach is also manifested in its rapid expansion into large merchandise retailers like Walmart and Babylist - the leading vertical marketplace. Momcozy's active participation in international industry events like Baby Show ExCeL in the UK as well as ABC Kids Expo in the US also demonstrates its fast-growing global reach.

Nowadays, Momcozy's customer base is rapidly spreading across the globe covering the USA, Canada, the UK, Germany, France, Italy and many other countries and regions, which has enabled moms and their family to easily enjoy a one-stop shopping experience regardless of their locations.

As a brand that has consistently upheld the belief that "moms always come first", Momcozy never stops listening to moms' real voices and fulfilling their needs. It will continue to live up to the expectations of more and more moms and honor its commitment to accompanying them through their pregnancy and early motherhood. And it will also strive to take the lead in the industry to raise more awareness about moms' well-being and speak up for more moms.

About Momcozy

Momcozy, the renowned maternity and baby brand endorsed by over two million moms globally, has always put moms on top. Through cozy designs born from love and continuous innovation, Momcozy brings a much simpler, more relaxed, and more comfortable experience for moms globally through their pregnancy and early motherhood.

For more information, please visit: www.momcozy.com

Shop now: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09QXLHPLX

CONTACT: Ella Zheng, [email protected]

SOURCE Momcozy
Esteemed Operating Group to Open the Brand's First Arkansas Location,

First of 20 Restaurants Planned

BENTONVILLE, Ark., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Wienerschnitzel, the world's largest hot dog franchise, is putting down new roots in Arkansas, with the brand's first location in the state opening in early June.

The first restaurant will be located within the thriving city of Bentonville at, 1530 E Centerton Blvd. Tejas Dogs, based in Texas, is spearheading the initiative with plans to open a total of 20 Wienerschnitzel locations in Arkansas over the next several years. Tejas Dogs already has multiple sites approved, with plans to keep a steady pipeline of new openings across the state over the next five-years.

Tejas Dogs is owned by Mike Smith and Alvin Fults, two large scale business investors with operations throughout the country. Brian Shinall serves as the group's business manager, and brings over 30 years of real estate development and investment experience to the table. His expertise within the restaurant and retail space, combined with being an Arkansas native, has primed Shinall as the ideal candidate to lead the charge for the high-level development plans.

"Having grown up in Arkansas, it's been an amazing experience to be close to my roots while simultaneously bringing a fan-favorite concept like Wienerschnitzel to a new market," said Shinall. "At its core, Wienerschnitzel is a simple, cost-effective and delicious American food, and that's why we're so excited for the Bentonville community to fall in love with this brand just as we have  and not only that, but those low costs and easy operations are exactly what make this concept an amazing opportunity for operators like us. It's scalable, reliable and growth potential is sky-high."

As the nation's leading hot dog concept, Wienerschnitzel has forged an impressive path of new growth in recent months. The multi-unit development in Arkansas comes on the heels of the brand launching three unique ghost kitchen locations in California, Texas and Georgia, with an aim to further innovate and better understand key market segments across the country.

"Arkansas has been a highly anticipated market for our brand, and it's amazing to see these plans finally coming to fruition," said Doug Koegeboehn, Chief Marketing Officer for Galardi Group, the parent company for Wienerschnitzel. "Brian and the Tejas Dogs group are ideal franchisees for our brand. Their experience, combined with their operational expertise, makes them the prime candidates to introduce our brand into a new state like Arkansas. I'm confident that their skillsets will make these locations a major success over the coming years, and I look forward to seeing the first location open soon."

There are 340 franchised Wienerschnitzel locations in operation throughout 10 states, and more than 50 units in various stages of development across the United States and further expansion plans underway internationally. Wienerschnitzel is looking for experienced multi-unit restaurant operators to be a part of its franchise family. To learn more about the brand and the benefits of owning a Wienerschnitzel franchise, visit www.wienerschnitzelfranchise.com .

About Wienerschnitzel

Founded by John Galardi in 1961 with a single hot dog stand in Wilmington, California, Wienerschnitzel is one of the iconic pioneers of the quick-service food industry. The World's Largest Hot Dog Chain serves more than 120 million hot dogs annually  and is fueled by a mission of "Serving Food to Serve Others," giving back a percentage of profits to its charitable partners. Based in Irvine, CA, Galardi Group Inc. franchises 340 Wienerschnitzel restaurants in 10 states. The Galardi Group is also the parent company and franchisor of Hamburger Stand and Tastee Freez, LLC. Visit Wienerschnitzel's Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or YouTube to learn more.

SOURCE Wienerschnitzel
Now, brands, retailers and manufacturers can more efficiently harness energy, water and waste data to achieve impact targets.

SAN FRANCISCO, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Worldly , the planet's most comprehensive impact intelligence platform for fashion and consumer goods businesses, announced its industry-first solution to capture real-time data from factories across the supply chain. Now, brands, retailers and manufacturers can share energy, water and waste data, in closer to real time and take action throughout the year. Access to this high-frequency, high-resolution data will better equip companies to start calculating Scope 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and streamline Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) regulatory and corporate reporting. The capability will help companies prepare for some of the most pressing regulations across the globe, such as the U.S. SEC Climate Disclosure Act, New York Fashion Act, and the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive.

"Across the industry, companies can't wait to collect real-time primary data, helping them prepare for emerging regulatory requirements, highlight financial risk, and develop more responsible supply chain operations," said Jason Kibbey, Worldly CEO. "By focusing first on factory data, Worldly hones in on the most essential information that both the manufacturers themselves and companies sourcing for them, need to act on to make improvements. The data provides a snapshot view of impacts across water, energy, and waste, and is calculated to help companies with GRI reporting standards and complete Scope 3 data within CDP, while preparing for the most pressing regulations."

Historically, companies have collected resource consumption data by manually adding factory data to spreadsheets once a year. The process, combined with infrequent data capture, makes it difficult to track and manage sustainability programs and Scope 3 targets throughout the year. Worldly's new high-frequency data capture capability makes it faster and simpler for manufacturers to share data on production volume, emissions, waste and water more frequently. Worldly, in turn, delivers real-time insights that help companies take more current action across their supply chain and mitigate risk. For example, by tracking emissions data throughout the year from manufacturers such as energy use, emissions from refrigerants, and more, businesses can more actively manage and track Scope 3 targets.

Across consumer goods brands and manufacturers, companies are making public commitments on Scope 3 emissions, water and waste, through programs like Science-Based Targets and the GHG Protocol. Worldly collects utility data that is aligned with GHG protocol and Science-based targets, making it easier to stay on track while also streamlining annual reporting requirements. Companies that embrace this new availability of primary data built with the evolving reporting and regulatory landscape in mind will swiftly rise as ESG leaders.

Moreover, the credibility of brands' sustainability claims and disclosures is more important than ever. Through a new preferred partnership with SGS announced today, Worldly users can validate their utility data, adding a layer of assurance that their data can be trusted.

Find out more about Worldly company launch and Partnership with SGS .

Join us June 1 to learn more about Worldly, its factory data capability and SGS partnership.

About Worldly

Worldly is the planet's most comprehensive impact intelligence platform, trusted by 40,000+ major brands, retailers, and manufacturers in fashion, outdoor, home goods, toys and more. Worldly uniquely collects high-resolution primary data specific to companies' value chains, operations and products, providing insight into true impacts across carbon, water, chemistry and labor. Featuring the most comprehensive source of ESG data for global manufacturers and the largest library of materials and product impacts, Worldly empowers businesses to scale responsibility into their global operations, faster and more accurately. Hosting, connecting with, and supporting the leading industry solutions and methodologies including ZDHC, Bluesign, and the Higg Index  the most widely-adopted measure of sustainability in the apparel industry  Worldly delivers the insights businesses need to reduce their impact, comply with emerging regulatory and financial disclosure requirements and meet the expectations of a new generation of customers. www.worldly.io

Media Contact:

[email protected]

SOURCE Worldly
Conference Call to Be Held at 7:30 A.M. U.S. Eastern Time on May 16, 2023

GUANGZHOU, China, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Yatsen Holding Limited ("Yatsen" or the "Company") (NYSE: YSG), a leading China-based beauty group, today announced its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023.

First Quarter 2023 Highlights

Total net revenues for the first quarter of 2023 decreased by 14.1% to RMB765.4 million ( US$111.5 million ) from RMB891.0 million for the prior year period.

for the first quarter of 2023 decreased by 14.1% to ( ) from for the prior year period. Total net revenues from Skincare Brands [1] for the first quarter of 2023 increased by 34.2% to RMB245.1 million ( US$35.7 million ) from RMB182.7 million for the prior year period. As a percentage of total net revenues, total net revenues from Skincare Brands for the first quarter of 2023 increased to 32.0% from 20.5% for the prior year period.

for the first quarter of 2023 increased by 34.2% to ( ) from for the prior year period. As a percentage of total net revenues, total net revenues from Skincare Brands for the first quarter of 2023 increased to 32.0% from 20.5% for the prior year period. Gross margin for the first quarter of 2023 was 74.3%, as compared with 69.0% for the prior year period.

for the first quarter of 2023 was 74.3%, as compared with 69.0% for the prior year period. Net income[2] for the first quarter of 2023 was RMB50.7 million ( US$7.4 million ), as compared with net loss of RMB291.4 million for the prior year period. Non-GAAP net loss[3] for the first quarter of 2023 decreased by 83.2% to RMB25.8 million ( US$3.8 million ) from RMB153.6 million for the prior year period.

Mr. Jinfeng Huang, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Yatsen, stated, "We started 2023 by continuing to execute our new five-year strategic transformation plan, focusing on building a healthy brand portfolio and capitalizing on rising opportunities as the consumer goods industry recovers. For our Skincare Brands, we are committed to increasing brand awareness and developing new products, while improving our current hero products' market position in their relevant sub-categories. For our Color Cosmetics Brands, we continued to introduce high-quality products and build a more sustainable business model. Additionally, we remained dedicated to strengthening our R&D capabilities as a core strategy for our future growth and product differentiation."

Mr. Donghao Yang, Director and Chief Financial Officer of Yatsen, commented, "Our first quarter financial results once again proved that we are on the right path to achieve our strategic goal. We recorded net revenues of RMB765.4 million, representing a 14.1% decline year-over-year and beating the guidance we provided previously. Revenue contribution from our Skincare Brands grew to 32.0% for the first quarter from 20.5% for the prior year period. Furthermore, gross margin improved significantly by 5.3 percentage points year-over-year to 74.3%. We recorded net income margin of 6.6%, as compared with net loss margin of 32.7% for the prior year period. With an ample cash reserve, we are well positioned to carry out our long-term development plan for 2023."

First Quarter 2023 Financial Results

Net Revenues

Total net revenues for the first quarter of 2023 decreased by 14.1% to RMB765.4 million (US$111.5 million) from RMB891.0 million for the prior year period. The decrease was primarily attributable to a 29.1% year-over-year decrease in net revenues from Color Cosmetics Brands[4], partially offset by a 34.2% year-over-year increase in net revenues from Skincare Brands.

Gross Profit and Gross Margin

Gross profit for the first quarter of 2023 decreased by 7.5% to RMB568.7 million (US$82.8 million) from RMB614.5 million for the prior year period. Gross margin for the first quarter of 2023 increased to 74.3% from 69.0% for the prior year period. The increase was driven by (i) increasing sales of higher-gross margin products from Skincare Brands, (ii) more disciplined pricing and discount policies and (iii) cost optimization across all of the Company's brand portfolios.

Operating Expenses

Total operating expenses for the first quarter of 2023 decreased by 37.6% to RMB575.9 million (US$83.9 million) from RMB922.5 million for the prior year period. As a percentage of total net revenues, total operating expenses for the first quarter of 2023 were 75.2%, as compared with 103.5% for the prior year period.

Fulfillment Expenses. Fulfillment expenses for the first quarter of 2023 were RMB51.9 million ( US$7.6 million ), as compared with RMB73.9 million for the prior year period. As a percentage of total net revenues, fulfillment expenses for the first quarter of 2023 decreased to 6.8% from 8.3% for the prior year period. The decrease was primarily attributable to a decrease in warehouse and logistics costs due to the outsourcing of most of the Company's warehousing and handling operations.

Fulfillment expenses for the first quarter of 2023 were ( ), as compared with for the prior year period. As a percentage of total net revenues, fulfillment expenses for the first quarter of 2023 decreased to 6.8% from 8.3% for the prior year period. The decrease was primarily attributable to a decrease in warehouse and logistics costs due to the outsourcing of most of the Company's warehousing and handling operations. Selling and Marketing Expenses. Selling and marketing expenses for the first quarter of 2023 were RMB459.0 million ( US$66.8 million ), as compared with RMB604.7 million for the prior year period. As a percentage of total net revenues, selling and marketing expenses for the first quarter of 2023 decreased to 60.0% from 67.9% for the prior year period. The decrease was primarily attributable to the closure of underperforming offline stores and a reduction in share-based compensation related to the decrease in selling and marketing headcount.

Selling and marketing expenses for the first quarter of 2023 were ( ), as compared with for the prior year period. As a percentage of total net revenues, selling and marketing expenses for the first quarter of 2023 decreased to 60.0% from 67.9% for the prior year period. The decrease was primarily attributable to the closure of underperforming offline stores and a reduction in share-based compensation related to the decrease in selling and marketing headcount. General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2023 were RMB40.7 million ( US$5.9 million ), as compared with RMB208.1 million for the prior year period. As a percentage of total net revenues, general and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2023 decreased to 5.3% from 23.4% for the prior year period. The decrease was primarily attributable to a reversal of recognized share-based compensation expenses of RMB109.4 million due to the forfeiture of unvested awards granted to our former chief technology officer upon his resignation, and a decrease of RMB42.2 million in recognition of share-based compensation expenses using the graded-vesting method over the vesting term of the Company's awards.

General and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2023 were ( ), as compared with for the prior year period. As a percentage of total net revenues, general and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2023 decreased to 5.3% from 23.4% for the prior year period. The decrease was primarily attributable to a reversal of recognized share-based compensation expenses of due to the forfeiture of unvested awards granted to our former chief technology officer upon his resignation, and a decrease of in recognition of share-based compensation expenses using the graded-vesting method over the vesting term of the Company's awards. Research and Development Expenses. Research and development expenses for the first quarter of 2023 were RMB24.2 million ( US$3.5 million ), as compared with RMB35.8 million for the prior year period. As a percentage of total net revenues, research and development expenses for the first quarter of 2023 decreased to 3.2% from 4.0% for the prior year period. The decrease was primarily attributable to the Company's efforts to maintain research and development expenses at a reasonable level relative to total net revenues.

Loss from Operations

Loss from operations for the first quarter of 2023 decreased by 97.7% to RMB7.2 million (US$1.0 million) from RMB308.0 million for the prior year period. Operating loss margin was 0.9%, as compared with 34.6% for the prior year period.

Non-GAAP loss from operations[5] for the first quarter of 2023 decreased by 63.3% to RMB62.4 million (US$9.1 million) from RMB170.1 million for the prior year period. Non-GAAP operating loss margin was 8.1%, as compared with 19.1% for the prior year period.

Net Income/Loss

Net income for the first quarter of 2023 was RMB50.7 million (US$7.4 million), as compared with net loss of RMB291.4 million for the prior year period. Net income margin was 6.6%, as compared with net loss margin of 32.7% for the prior year period. Net income attributable to Yatsen's ordinary shareholders per diluted ADS[6] for the first quarter of 2023 was RMB0.08 (US$0.01), as compared with net loss attributable to Yatsen's ordinary shareholders per diluted ADS of RMB0.46 for the prior year period.

Non-GAAP net loss for the first quarter of 2023 decreased by 83.2% to RMB25.8 million (US$3.8 million) from RMB153.6 million for the prior year period. Non-GAAP net loss margin was 3.4%, as compared with 17.2% for the prior year period. Non-GAAP net loss attributable to Yatsen's ordinary shareholders per diluted ADS[7] for the first quarter of 2023 was RMB0.05 (US$0.01), as compared with RMB0.24 for the prior year period.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

As of March 31, 2023, the Company had cash, restricted cash and short-term investments of RMB2.54 billion (US$369.2 million), as compared with RMB2.63 billion as of December 31, 2022.

Net cash used in operating activities for the first quarter of 2023 decreased by 80.6% to RMB20.2 million (US$2.9 million) from RMB104.1 million for the prior year period.

Business Outlook

For the second quarter of 2023, the Company expects its total net revenues to be between RMB761.4 million and RMB856.6 million, representing a year-over-year decline of approximately 10% to 20%. These forecasts reflect the Company's current and preliminary views on the market and operational conditions, which are subject to change.

Exchange Rate

This announcement contains translations of certain Renminbi ("RMB") amounts into U.S. dollars ("US$") at specified rates solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from RMB to US$ were made at a rate of RMB6.8676 to US$1.00, the exchange rate in effect as of March 31, 2023, as set forth in the H.10 statistical release of The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. The Company makes no representation that any RMB or US$ amounts could have been, or could be, converted into US$ or RMB, as the case may be, at any particular rate, or at all.

[1] Include net revenues from DR.WU (its mainland China business), Galenic, Eve Lom, Abby's Choice and other skincare brands of the Company. [2] The net income we recognized for the first quarter of 2023 was primarily attributable to a reversal of recognized share-based compensation expenses of RMB109.4 million due to the forfeiture of unvested awards granted to our former chief technology officer upon his resignation, and a decrease of RMB42.2 million in recognition of share-based compensation expenses using the graded-vesting method over the vesting term of the Company's awards. [3] Non-GAAP net loss is a non-GAAP financial measure. Effective from the third quarter of 2022, non-GAAP net loss is defined as net loss excluding (i) share-based compensation expenses, (ii) amortization of intangible assets resulting from assets and business acquisitions, (iii) revaluation of investments on the share of equity method investments, and (iv) tax effects on non-GAAP adjustments, and non-GAAP net loss for the prior year period presented in this document is also calculated in the same manner. [4] Include Perfect Diary, Little Ondine, Pink Bear and other color cosmetics brands of the Company. [5] Non-GAAP loss from operations is a non-GAAP financial measure. Non-GAAP loss from operations is defined as loss from operations excluding share-based compensation expenses and amortization of intangible assets resulting from assets and business acquisitions. [6] ADS refers to the American depositary shares, each of which represents four Class A ordinary shares. [7] Non-GAAP net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders per diluted ADS is a non-GAAP financial measure. Non-GAAP net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders per diluted ADS is defined as non-GAAP net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders divided by the weighted average number of diluted ADS outstanding for computing diluted earnings per ADS. Effective from the third quarter of 2022, non-GAAP net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders is defined as net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders excluding (i) share-based compensation expenses, (ii) amortization of intangible assets resulting from assets and business acquisitions, (iii) revaluation of investments on the share of equity method investments, and (iv) tax effects on non-GAAP adjustments, and non-GAAP net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders per diluted ADS for the prior year period presented in this document is also calculated in the same manner.

Conference Call Information

The Company's management will hold a conference call on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at 7:30 A.M. U.S. Eastern Time or 7:30 P.M. Beijing Time to discuss its financial results and operating performance for the first quarter 2023.

United States (toll free): +1-888-346-8982 International: +1-412-902-4272 Mainland China (toll free): 400-120-1203 Hong Kong, SAR (toll free): 800-905-945 Hong Kong, SAR: +852-3018-4992 Conference ID: 6310119

The replay will be accessible through May 23, 2023, by dialing the following numbers:

United States: +1-877-344-7529 International: +1-412-317-0088 Replay Access Code: 6310119

A live and archived webcast of the conference call will also be available on the Company's investor relations website at http://ir.yatsenglobal.com/.

About Yatsen Holding Limited

Yatsen Holding Limited (NYSE: YSG) is a leading China-based beauty group with the mission of creating an exciting new journey of beauty discovery for consumers around the world. Founded in 2016, the Company has launched and acquired numerous color cosmetics and skincare brands including Perfect Diary, Little Ondine, Abby's Choice, Galenic, DR.WU (its mainland China business), Eve Lom, Pink Bear and EANTiM. The Company's flagship brand, Perfect Diary, is one of the leading color cosmetics brands in China in terms of retail sales value. The Company primarily reaches and engages with customers directly both online and offline, with expansive presence across all major e-commerce, social and content platforms in China.

For more information, please visit http://ir.yatsenglobal.com/.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company uses non-GAAP income (loss) from operations, non-GAAP net income (loss), non-GAAP net income (loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders and non-GAAP net income (loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders per diluted ADS, each a non-GAAP financial measure, in reviewing and assessing its operating performance. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The Company presents these non-GAAP financial measures because they are used by the management to evaluate operating performance and formulate business plans. Non-GAAP financial measures help identify underlying trends in its business, provide further information about its results of operations, and enhance the overall understanding of its past performance and future prospects. The Company defines non-GAAP income (loss) from operations as income (loss) from operations excluding share-based compensation expenses and amortization of intangible assets resulting from assets and business acquisitions. The Company defines non-GAAP net income (loss) as net income (loss) excluding (i) share-based compensation expenses, (ii) amortization of intangible assets resulting from assets and business acquisitions, (iii) revaluation of investments on the share of equity method investments, and (iv) tax effects on non-GAAP adjustments. The Company defines non-GAAP net income (loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders as net income (loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders excluding (i) share-based compensation expenses, (ii) amortization of intangible assets resulting from assets and business acquisitions, (iii) revaluation of investments on the share of equity method investments and (iv) tax effects on non-GAAP adjustments. Non-GAAP net income (loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders per diluted ADS is computed using non-GAAP net income (loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders divided by weighted average number of diluted ADS outstanding for computing diluted earnings per ADS.

However, the non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools as the non-GAAP financial measures are not presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP and may differ from the non-GAAP information used by other companies, including peer companies, and therefore their comparability may be limited. The Company compensates for these limitations by reconciling the non-GAAP financial measures to the nearest U.S. GAAP performance measure, all of which should be considered when evaluating performance. The Company encourages investors and others to review its financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure. Reconciliations of Yatsen's non-GAAP financial measure to the most comparable U.S. GAAP measure are included at the end of this press release.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking" statements which are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "aims," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "likely to," and similar statements. The Company may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs, plans, outlook and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, which include but not limited to the following: the Company's growth strategies; its future business development, results of operations and financial condition; its ability to continue to roll out popular products and maintain popularity of existing products; its ability to anticipate and respond to changes in industry trends and consumer preferences and behavior in a timely manner; its ability to attract and retain new customers and to increase revenues generated from repeat customers; its expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of its products and services; its ability to integrate newly-acquired businesses and brands; trends and competition in and relevant government policies and regulations relating to China's beauty market; changes in its revenues and certain cost or expense items; and general economic conditions globally and in China. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

In China:

Yatsen Holding Limited

Investor Relations

E-mail: [email protected]

The Piacente Group, Inc.

Hui Fan

Tel: +86-10-6508-0677

E-mail: [email protected]

In the United States:

The Piacente Group, Inc.

Brandi Piacente

Tel: +1-212-481-2050

E-mail: [email protected]

YATSEN HOLDING LIMITED UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (All amounts in thousands, except for share, per share data or otherwise noted) December 31, March 31, March 31, 2022 2023 2023 RMB'000 RMB'000 USD'000 Assets Current assets Cash and cash equivalents 1,512,945 1,349,734 196,536 Restricted cash - 20,603 3,000 Short-term investment 1,072,867 1,144,712 166,683 Accounts receivable, net 200,843 186,144 27,105 Inventories, net 423,287 382,780 55,737 Prepayments and other current assets 292,825 299,933 43,674 Amounts due from related parties 5,654 12,576 1,831 Total current assets 3,508,421 3,396,482 494,566 Non-current assets Restricted cash 41,383 20,603 3,000 Investments 502,579 569,138 82,873 Property and equipment, net 75,619 63,288 9,215 Goodwill 857,145 866,945 126,237 Intangible assets, net 689,669 683,636 99,545 Deferred tax assets 1,951 1,295 189 Right-of-use assets, net 133,004 110,855 16,142 Other non-current assets 52,885 52,512 7,646 Total non-current assets 2,354,235 2,368,272 344,847 Total assets 5,862,656 5,764,754 839,413 Liabilities, redeemable non-controlling interests and shareholders' equity Current liabilities Accounts payable 119,847 94,505 13,761 Advances from customers 16,652 15,174 2,210 Accrued expenses and other liabilities 323,259 293,873 42,791 Amounts due to related parties 27,242 27,192 3,959 Income tax payables 21,826 20,883 3,041 Lease liabilities due within one year 79,586 74,785 10,890 Total current liabilities 588,412 526,412 76,652 Non-current liabilities Deferred tax liabilities 113,441 112,779 16,422 Deferred income-non current 45,280 41,221 6,002 Lease liabilities 52,997 37,240 5,423 Total non-current liabilities 211,718 191,240 27,847 Total liabilities 800,130 717,652 104,499 Redeemable non-controlling interests 339,924 339,924 49,497 Shareholders' equity Ordinary Shares (US$0.00001 par value; 10,000,000,000 ordinary

shares authorized, comprising of 6,000,000,000 Class A ordinary

shares, 960,852,606 Class B ordinary shares and 3,039,147,394 shares

each of such classes to be designated as of December 31, 2022 and

March 31, 2023; 2,030,600,883 Class A shares and 666,572,880 Class

B ordinary shares issued; 1,569,677,384 Class A ordinary shares and

666,572,880 Class B ordinary shares outstanding as of December

31, 2022 and March 31, 2023) 173 173 25 Treasury shares (669,150) (669,150) (97,436) Additional paid-in capital 12,038,802 11,971,404 1,743,171 Statutory reserve 24,177 24,177 3,520 Accumulated deficit (6,600,365) (6,550,307) (953,799) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (74,195) (72,897) (10,614) Total Yatsen Holding Limited shareholders' equity 4,719,442 4,703,400 684,867 Non-controlling interests 3,160 3,778 550 Total shareholders' equity 4,722,602 4,707,178 685,417 Total liabilities, redeemable non-controlling interests and shareholders' equity 5,862,656 5,764,754 839,413

YATSEN HOLDING LIMITED UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (All amounts in thousands, except for share, per share data or otherwise noted) For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 2023 2023 RMB'000 RMB'000 USD'000 Total net revenues 890,954 765,396 111,450 Total cost of revenues (276,408) (196,667) (28,637) Gross profit 614,546 568,729 82,813 Operating expenses: Fulfilment expenses (73,863) (51,916) (7,560) Selling and marketing expenses (604,726) (459,048) (66,843) General and administrative expenses (208,129) (40,741) (5,932) Research and development expenses (35,810) (24,178) (3,521) Total operating expenses (922,528) (575,883) (83,856) Loss from operations (307,982) (7,154) (1,043) Financial income 8,103 26,988 3,930 Foreign currency exchange losses (2,632) (5,549) (808) (Loss) income from equity method investments, net (2,330) 19,060 2,775 Impairment loss of investments (4,416) - - Other income, net 17,654 17,517 2,551 Loss before income tax expenses (291,603) 50,862 7,405 Income tax benefits (expenses) 223 (186) (27) Net (loss) income (291,380) 50,676 7,378 Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests and redeemable

non-controlling interests 465 (618) (90) Net (loss) income attributable to Yatsen's shareholders (290,915) 50,058 7,288 Shares used in calculating loss per share (1): Weighted average number of Class A and Class B ordinary shares: Basic 2,526,753,316 2,236,250,264 2,236,250,264 Diluted 2,526,753,316 2,373,166,850 2,373,166,850 Net (loss) income per Class A and Class B ordinary share Basic (0.12) 0.02 0.00 Diluted (0.12) 0.02 0.00 Net (loss) income per ADS (4 ordinary shares equal to 1 ADS) Basic (0.46) 0.09 0.01 Diluted (0.46) 0.08 0.01

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 2023 2023 Share-based compensation expenses are included in the operating

expenses as follows: RMB'000 RMB'000 USD'000 Fulfilment expenses 1,523 651 95 Selling and marketing expenses 22,355 6,292 916 General and administrative expenses (income) 94,983 (76,320) (11,113) Research and development expenses 6,957 1,979 288 Total 125,818 (67,398) (9,814)

(1) Authorized share capital is re-classified and re-designated into Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares, with

each Class A ordinary share being entitled to one vote and each Class B ordinary share being entitled to twenty votes on all

matters that are subject to shareholder vote.

YATSEN HOLDING LIMITED UNAUDITED RECONCILIATIONS OF GAAP AND NON-GAAP RESULTS (All amounts in thousands, except for share, per share data or otherwise noted) For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 2023 2023 RMB'000 RMB'000 USD'000 Loss from operations (307,982) (7,154) (1,043) Share-based compensation expenses (income) 125,818 (67,398) (9,814) Amortization of intangible assets resulting from assets and business acquisitions 12,083 12,176 1,773 Non-GAAP loss from operations (170,081) (62,376) (9,084) Net (loss) income (291,380) 50,676 7,378 Share-based compensation expenses (income) 125,818 (67,398) (9,814) Amortization of intangible assets resulting from assets and business acquisitions 12,083 12,176 1,773 Revaluation of investments on the share of equity method investments 1,986 (19,146) (2,788) Tax effects on non-GAAP adjustments (2,084) (2,080) (303) Non-GAAP net loss (153,577) (25,772) (3,754) Net loss (income) attributable to ordinary shareholders of Yatsen (290,915) 50,058 7,288 Share-based compensation expenses (income) 125,818 (67,398) (9,814) Amortization of intangible assets resulting from assets and business acquisitions 11,831 11,912 1,735 Revaluation of investments on the share of equity method investments 1,986 (19,146) (2,788) Tax effects on non-GAAP adjustments (2,084) (2,080) (303) Non-GAAP net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of Yatsen (153,364) (26,654) (3,882) Shares used in calculating loss per share: Weighted average number of Class A and Class B ordinary shares: Basic 2,526,753,316 2,236,250,264 2,236,250,264 Diluted 2,526,753,316 2,236,250,264 2,236,250,264 Non-GAAP net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders per Class

A and Class B ordinary share Basic (0.06) (0.01) (0.00) Diluted (0.06) (0.01) (0.00) Non-GAAP net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders per ADS

(4 ordinary shares equal to 1 ADS) Basic (0.24) (0.05) (0.01) Diluted (0.24) (0.05) (0.01)

SOURCE Yatsen Holding Limited
TALLINN, Estonia, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital wealth platform Yield App has partnered with Volt , the leading global real-time payments gateway, to offer additional GBP and EUR on-ramps via FPS and SEPA Instant.

Yield App customers can now buy cryptocurrency in real time directly with their bank, thanks to the integration of Volt's pan-European open banking solution. With connections to 1,800+ banks across the continent, this streamlined two-step process enables customers to authorize transactions with just face ID or biometric authentication from their banking app.

Building upon the foundations of legacy payment solutions, open banking-powered on-ramping has emerged as the faster, easier and more secure way to invest, offering an enhanced payment experience fit for the digital age.

The partnership is a strategic move by Yield App to ensure its customers have a seamless experience when accessing the platform's full suite of products, which bridge the gap between traditional finance and decentralized finance through crypto structured products and its core earn offerings.

Gero Piskov, Card and Payments Manager at Yield App, said: "It's time for the industry to embrace open banking solutions so that retail crypto investors aren't left outside in the cold. As advocates of the latest payment technologies, we're thrilled to partner with Volt to provide our customers with fast, secure and seamless transactions directly from their banking app. By integrating additional payment options on Yield App, our customers can unlock the full potential of their digital assets."

Kat Marangos, Volt's VP Strategic Accounts, said: "Purchasing crypto is a perfect use case for open banking, which is safer and more convenient than cards or manual bank transfers. Our partnership with Yield App will showcase this in an environment that offers users a whole new level of returns from their crypto assets. We look forward to bringing this proposition to a new generation of retail investors."

About Volt

Volt is a London-based, global open payments gateway founded in 2019, building the infrastructure for real-time, account-to-account payments everywhere. Its open payments gateway allows merchants and PSPs to process transactions securely between accounts held at more than 5,000 banks in the UK, EU and Brazil, covering over 680m accounts.

About Yield App

Yield App is a digital wealth platform that serves as a digital wealth partner to its customers. The company's mission is to provide a safe custody environment for digital assets and enable users to exchange and earn at market-leading rates. Yield App achieves this through its innovative technology that seamlessly bridges traditional and decentralized finance, offering users a more efficient and user-friendly way to manage their portfolio. To support this, Yield App's in-house research and development team, Yield App Labs, which comprises highly-experienced and best-in-class DeFi experts, invests in and collaborates with Web3 projects that share the company's vision for a more secure decentralized ecosystem. By choosing Yield App as a digital wealth partner, customers can unlock the full potential of digital assets, enhance their investment strategies and grow their digital wealth over the long term.

SOURCE Yield App
FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. , May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Zulu Pods, Inc. (ZPI) is proud to announce a Letter of Intent from Acutronic Turbines, Inc. for the purposes of integrating ZPI's packaged oil delivery solution into its limited-life turbo jet engine to afford system level benefits in the form of part count reduction. In this capacity, Acutronic Turbines intends to acquire and integrate the Zulu Pod system to conduct engine testing in 2024 for the purposes of validating and quantifying engine optimizations that would otherwise be absent when utilizing a traditional oil delivery system.

Zulu Pods - Self Energized Packaged Oil Delivery Systems for Limited Life Engines

The Zulu Pod is the world's first decentralized lubrication system that combines the function of a reservoir, pump, and nozzle into a single, self-contained, self-pressurized, and hermetically sealed packaged oil delivery system. The Zulu Pod is lighter, placed right in the working zone of the engine bearing or gear compartment, and meters the minimum amount of lubrication required for optimal performance. Zulu Pods can be used for primary lubrication for limited life engines or backup lubrication during a loss of lubrication event.

Zulu Pods, Inc shares common goals with Acutronic, demonstrated by its commitment to bringing affordable hardware innovations to the limited-life engine industry. ZPI's patented packaged oil delivery system is a new, novel solution that radically simplifies short-duration engine architecture to reduce weight, cost, and complexity while improving storage life.

About Zulu Pods, Inc.

Headquartered in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, ZPI is a company that designs and manufactures novel lubrication systems for both limited life UAV jet engines and rotorcraft powertrain systems. Their first patent was filed in December 2020. In August 2022, ZPI opened their vertically integrated R&D facility near UMASS Amherst.

About Acutronic Turbines, Inc

Acutronic offers a broad range of specialty aerospace components for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), optionally piloted aircraft (OPAs), urban air mobility (UAM) platforms, and missile applications. These products are used on next-generation aerospace programs and include a range of electric power systems, servo actuators, micro turbines, and turbo-generator sets, (Hybrid Electric Propulsion Systems). Acutronic offers standard products and excels at designing highly customized solutions for demanding mission requirements.

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Germany is preparing a new weapons package for Ukraine worth 2.7 billion euros, reportedly Berlin's largest since Russia invaded last year, the defence ministry said Saturday.

"We all hope for a rapid end to this terrible war by Russia against the Ukrainian people, but unfortunately this is not in sight," Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said in a statement.

"This is why Germany will supply all the help that it can, for as long as necessary," he said.

The package, worth $3 billion, will include 30 additional Leopard-1 tanks, Marder armored vehicles, air-defense systems, and surveillance drones, the ministry said.

Der Spiegel magazine said it would be Germany's largest since the outbreak of the war.

It comes as Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to travel to Rome on Saturday for talks with political leaders, which could be followed by a trip to Berlin.

German officials have not confirmed the visit, but Berlin police have opened an inquiry after details of a possible trip attributed to the force appeared in the media.

Western allies have delivered increasingly powerful weapons to Kyiv since Russia sent its forces into Ukraine in February 2022, though so far not the advanced fighter jets that Zelensky has requested.

Germany last year provided military support worth two billion euros and had earmarked 2.2 billion euros for this year, though details had not yet been finalised.

Berlin has also promised to supply its more advanced Leopard-2 tanks, and has begun training Ukrainian soldiers on their use.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Pope Francis and Italy's prime minister on Saturday as part of a diplomatic tour also involving Germany, as Berlin unveiled a huge new weapons package ahead of an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive.

"An important visit for (the) approaching victory of Ukraine!" Zelensky tweeted as he arrived in Rome, on his first visit to EU and NATO member Italy since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Zelensky was due to travel on Sunday to Berlin, a German government source said, where the defence ministry earlier Saturday announced a new weapons package worth 2.7 billion euros ($2.95 billion) for Ukraine.

There was a heavy security presence in Rome for Zelensky's visit, which began with a formal welcome by President Sergio Mattarella, followed by a 70-minute face-to-face with Meloni.

In a joint press conference, Zelensky thanked Meloni "for helping to save lives" while detailing what he called fresh aggressions by Russia.

"I have not come to complain, I have come to talk about our cooperation and to thank you once again for helping us, for the sake of our country, because we want peace," he said.

Despite a history of warm ties with Moscow, including within Meloni's hard-right coalition government, Italy has been a strong supporter of Kyiv, sending weapons and aid and backing sanctions against Russia.

Meloni, who visited Zelensky in Kyiv in February, added: "I am convinced that Ukraine will win and be reborn stronger, more proud and more prosperous than before."

Zelensky then headed straight to the Vatican for a meeting with Pope Francis, which he described as a "great honour", according to footage released by the Holy See.

The 86-year-old pontiff has repeatedly called for peace in Ukraine and prays for the victims of the war almost every week, although his offers to mediate have yet to yield any public results.

Russia "bound to lose"

The new package from Germany, which will include 30 additional Leopard-1 tanks, Marder armoured vehicles, air-defence systems and surveillance drones, is reportedly Berlin's largest since Russia's invasion.

"We all hope for a rapid end to this terrible war by Russia against the Ukrainian people, but unfortunately this is not in sight," Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said in a statement.

"This is why Germany will supply all the help that it can, for as long as necessary," he said.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Zelensky, hailed the announcement, saying it indicated that Russia was "bound to lose and sit on the bench of historical shame."

Western allies have delivered increasingly powerful weapons to Ukraine, and Britain this week announced it was sending Storm Shadow missiles, becoming the first country to send longer-range arms to Kyiv.

Russia described it as "an extremely hostile step" and on Saturday accused Kyiv of using the British missiles to target civilian sites in eastern Ukraine, and wounding six children.

But EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Saturday urged other European nations to provide long-range weapons for Ukraine, while accelerating arms deliveries overall.

"The Russians are bombing from far away so the Ukrainians have to have the capacity to reach... the same distance, the same range," Borrell said after a meeting with Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Stockholm.

"But we have to speed up," he said.

Fighting intensifies

On the front line, meanwhile, near the eastern flashpoint town of Bakhmut, both sides claimed to be making progress.

"Our soldiers are moving forward in some areas of the front, and the enemy is losing equipment and manpower," commander of the Ukrainian ground forces Oleksandr Syrskyi said on social media.

Russia said its forces were still pushing inside Bakhmut.

"In the Donetsk direction, assault detachments liberated a block in the northwestern part of the city of Artemovsk," the defence ministry said, referring to Bakhmut by its Russian name.

The conflicting reports from the battlefront suggest an increase in fighting after months of relative stability, as expectations grow over Kyiv's spring counteroffensive.

The question of when and where Ukraine might launch its high stakes battle to push Russian forces from occupied land has been the subject of steady speculation, although Zelensky insisted earlier this week that his army needed more time to prepare.

Suffering and death

Pope Francis last held an audience with Zelensky in February 2020, but they have spoken on the phone since Russia invaded.

During an address to ambassadors earlier Saturday, the pontiff again lamented the conflict in Ukraine that he said "has brought suffering and unspeakable deaths".

During a papal audience last month, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal invited the pope to Ukraine and asked for his help in returning children forcibly taken to Russia.

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Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky held talks Sunday with his German counterpart at the start of his first visit to Germany since Russia's invasion, with Berlin offering emphatic support in the form of a huge new military package.

"Already in Berlin," Zelensky wrote on Twitter. "Weapons. Powerful package. Air defense. Reconstruction. EU. NATO. Security."

Zelensky's trip comes as Kyiv is preparing a much-anticipated counter-offensive and follows a day of meetings in Rome with Italian leaders and Pope Francis.

Ukrainian forces have been training a new contingent of forces and stockpiling Western-supplied munitions and hardware that analysts say will be key to reclaiming territory captured by Russia.

Once accused of reticence in supplying military gear to Ukraine, Germany has since become a major contributor of tanks, rockets and anti-missile systems.

Zelensky was greeted by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the Bellevue Palace where he signed the guestbook before the pair headed into talks.

The Ukrainian leader's schedule for Germany has not yet been officially confirmed but he is expected to meet Chancellor Olaf Scholz later Sunday.

He may also head to the western German city of Aachen, which this year is awarding him and the Ukrainian people the Charlemagne prize -- an honour awarded for efforts to foster European unity.

Bild daily said Zelensky's flight to Aachen on a German government plane would be secured by the air force.

Scholz, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki are due to attend the ceremony in Aachen.

A meeting with the European leaders could help prepare the ground ahead of an EU summit in Reykjavik next Tuesday, followed by the G7 gathering of world leaders in Hiroshima, Japan.

"Historical shame"

Zelensky's visit rounds off over a year of choppy relations with Germany, which is now one of Ukraine's biggest armaments suppliers, but only after much pressure from Kyiv.

In a clear show of its backing for Kyiv, Berlin on Saturday said it would send Ukraine more firing units and launchers for the Iris-T anti-missile system, 30 additional Leopard 1 tanks, more than 100 armoured combat vehicles and over 200 surveillance drones.

"We all hope for a rapid end to this terrible war by Russia against the Ukrainian people, but unfortunately this is not in sight," Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said in a statement.

"This is why Germany will supply all the help that it can, for as long as necessary," he said.

Mykhaylo Podolyak, an adviser to Zelensky, hailed the announcement, saying it indicated that Russia was "bound to lose and sit on the bench of historical shame".

Early on in the conflict, Kyiv had accused Germany of being too accommodating to Russian President Vladimir Putin, while Berlin's reliance on Russian energy had proved tricky.

Kyiv had also snubbed a visit by Steinmeier in the weeks following the invasion, which in turn delayed Scholz's first trip to the war-torn country.

Both Steinmeier and Scholz have since visited Ukraine.

As Kyiv prepares its offensive to retake ground in the eastern Donetsk and Lugansk regions, as well as the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions in the south, Germany's continued military backing will likely prove vital.

High-tech German-made Leopard 2A6 tanks sought by Kyiv have already been put to use at the frontlines, Bundeswehr chief Carsten Breuer had confirmed during his recent trip to Ukraine.

The medium-range Iris-T missile defence system from Germany is also helping to bolster Ukraine's protection against Russian strikes, Kyiv has said.

"Reborn stronger"

On the front line, near the eastern flashpoint town of Bakhmut, both sides claimed to be making progress.

"Our soldiers are moving forward in some areas of the front, and the enemy is losing equipment and manpower," commander of the Ukrainian ground forces Oleksandr Syrskyi said on social media.

Russia said its forces were still pushing inside Bakhmut.

"In the Donetsk direction, assault detachments liberated a block in the northwestern part of the city of Artemovsk," the defence ministry said, referring to Bakhmut by its Russian name.

Western allies have delivered increasingly powerful weapons to Ukraine. Britain this week announced it was sending Storm Shadow missiles, becoming the first country to send longer-range arms to Kyiv.

Russia described it as "an extremely hostile step" and on Saturday accused Kyiv of using the British missiles to target civilian sites in eastern Ukraine, and wounding six children.

In Rome, Zelensky said he discussed with Pope Francis the fate of "tens of thousands of children" that Kyiv says were deported to Russia, as well as his plans for peace.

Zelensky also thanked Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni "for helping to save lives".

"I am convinced that Ukraine will win and be reborn stronger, more proud and more prosperous than before," said Meloni in response.

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Sofia, May 16 : Bulgaria's President Rumen Radev has 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, on Monday.

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, Xinhua news agency reported.

"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 realise 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 will 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 will 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 will 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 November 14, 2021, but it was ousted by a no-confidence vote in June 2022.
Nicosia, May 16 : Israel and Cyprus have agreed to build a natural gas pipe that will carry Israeli natural gas to Cyprus, the latter country's Energy, Commerce and Industry Minister Giorgos Papanastasiou said here.

Confirming a statement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he and Cyprus President Nicos Christodoulides had decided to construct the pipeline during their talks in Jerusalem last week, Papanastasiou added on Monday that he will soon travel to Israel to discuss details and prepare a final agreement with his Israeli counterpart.

"What comes first in the current phase is the signing of an agreement between the two states, which will allow the building of a pipeline that will connect the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of the two countries. We'll start from there," Papanastasiou added.

Israel and Cyprus have both discovered extensive natural gas fields in their adjoining EEZs in the eastern Mediterranean and the pipeline would be the first practical step towards transferring gas to Europe, Xinhua news agency reported.

On Sunday, Netanyahu said that "the project that we focused on (in talks last Tuesday) is the supply of Israeli gas to Europe via the pipeline from our gas field to a huge liquefaction facility that will be built in Cyprus".

Papanastasiou said that during his impending visit to Israel he will discuss the speedy resolution of an issue arising from a partial Israeli claim on a Cypriot gas deposit adjoining an Israeli gas field and the promotion of the construction of a gas pipe from the Israeli gas fields to a liquefaction plant in Cyprus.

He added that part of the gas will be used for the production of cleaner and cheaper electricity and the rest will be turned into liquid form at a liquefaction plant for export to Europe.
Tokyo, May 16 : Japanese police have arrested a woman after she approached the US Consulate General in Okinawa and said she was carrying a gunpowder-like substance, local media reported.

Police officers seized an iron pipe that the woman was holding, suspected to be filled with gunpowder, and arrested the 44-year-old resident in the southern island prefecture on suspicion of obstructing official duties, Kyodo News said on Monday.

The police are investigating her motivations in approaching the US Consulate General Naha in the prefecture's Urasoe city, the report said as quoted by Xinhua news agency report.

No injuries were reported from the incident which prompted the police to temporarily restrict traffic in the area, it added.
Kanpur, May 16 : A couple were killed after being hit by a speeding train in Kanpur's Bilhaur, police said.

The incident occurred at the Dhaursalar railway station on Sunday afternoon, where an argument between the couple took a tragic turn.

According to eyewitnesses, the woman, identified as Nirmala, 48, jumped in front of a speeding train. The husband, who was standing nearby, tried to rescue his wife by pulling her, but was hit by the train. The police immediately arrived at the spot after being informed by the onlookers.

The man, identified as Santosh Gupta, 50, suffered severe injuries and died later.

The accident caused severe mutilation and scattered their bodies up to 50 metre. The police conducted an investigation based on the information provided by the witnesses.

The bodies of the couple have been sent for autopsy after notifying the family.

During the probe, Inspector Surendra Singh said they discovered a slip of paper with a mobile number inside Santosh's pocket.

Upon contacting the number, one Deep Gupta received the call. Based on the appearance and clothing of the deceased, Deep identified the bodies to be of his parents.

According to Deep, the family lived in Kakadev's Hitkari Nagar. His father owned a general store.

The initial investigation suggested it to be a case of suicide. However, the police are sceptical about how the couple reached the railway station, which is 50 kilometre from their home.

Deep revealed that his parents had gone to attend a Sunderkand event organised at his in-laws' house in Rawatpur. He, too, had accompanied them with his wife.

His parents reportedly returned home late at night, Deep said, adding that when he reached home with his wife in the morning, the doors of the house were open and no one was home.

Further investigation is underway.
Washington, May 16 : A new US State Department report chronicles China's oppression of Tibetan Buddhist practitioners and efforts to keep two of the religion's most prominent leaders out of sight inside Tibet.

The State Department's 2022 Report on International Religious Freedom, released on Monday, documents allegations of "forced disappearances, arrests, physical abuse and prolonged detentions without trial of monks, nuns and other persons due to their religious practices" in Chinese-occupied Tibet last year.

The report arrives just days before the 28th anniversary of China's abduction of the Panchen Lama, a high-ranking Tibetan Buddhist figure who has not been seen in public since his forced disappearance at the age of six.

The report also addresses China's ongoing refusal to negotiate with the envoys of the Dalai Lama, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Tibetan Buddhist leader, whom China forced into exile from Tibet more than 60 years ago.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Rashad Hussain released the report at an event at the State Department attended by International Campaign for Tibet President Tencho Gyatso.

"I was grateful to join other civil society leaders and religious freedom advocates at the release of the 2022 Report on International Religious Freedom, and I'm grateful to the State Department for shining a spotlight on China's oppression of religious worshippers in Tibet," Gyatso said.

"As the report shows, Tibetans face horrific abuse from China's government for attempting to practice their faith freely, speak up for their religious rights or venerate their spiritual leaders like the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama. The best way to bring this oppression to an end is to push for renewed dialogue between China and the Dalai Lama's envoys by passing the bipartisan Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Conflict Act currently in the Congress." According to the report, Chinese authorities in the Tibet Autonomous Region, which spans about half of Tibet, required clergy and Tibetan government employees to denounce the Dalai Lama, who has not set foot in Tibet since his forced exile in 1959.

"Authorities also continued to force monasteries to display portraits of (Chinese Communist Party) leaders and required Tibetans to replace images of the Dalai Lama and other lamas in their homes with portraits of CCP leaders, including former Chairman Mao Zedong and General Secretary and (People's Republic of China) President Xi Jinping," the report says.

"Images of the Dalai Lama were banned, with harsh repercussions for owning or displaying his image." As one example, the report, citing news articles and rights groups, says Chinese Police arrested a Tibetan named Zumkar after finding a photo of the Dalai Lama on her home altar. They also arrested her sister Youdon for colluding with Zumkar to conceal the photo.

According to the report, authorities also required clergy and government employees to pledge allegiance to Gyaltsen Norbu, whom Chinese leaders appointed as their own Panchen Lama after kidnapping Gedhun Choekyi Nyima -- on May 17, 1995.

Traditionally, the Panchen Lama and the Dalai Lama have played a key role in identifying one another's reincarnations.

With the current Dalai Lama about to turn 88-years-old, China has made clear it plans to appoint its own successor to the globally revered Buddhist leader.

However, according to the report, US officials last year "underscored that decisions on the succession of the Dalai Lama should be made solely by the Tibetan people, free from interference, and they raised concerns about the disappearance since 1995 of Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima".

China also cracked down on ordinary practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism last year, according to the report.

It says China "continued to place restrictions on the size of Buddhist monasteries and other institutions and to implement a campaign begun in 2016 to evict monks and nuns from monasteries".

Between 6,000 and 17,000 monks and nuns were evicted over three years from the Larung Gar and Yachen Gar Buddhist institutes, the report says.

Those expelled were forbidden from continuing their religious education elsewhere; instead, many of them were forced to undergo "patriotic education".
Houston, May 16 : At least three people were killed and multiple others were injured in a shooting in Farmington, southwestern US state of New Mexico, police said.

"There are multiple civilian victims with at least 3 deceased," Farmington police said in a Facebook post on Monday.

Two police officers, including a member of the city police and one with the New Mexico State Police, were among the shot and hospitalised. Both were in stable condition, the police added.

One suspect "was confronted and killed on scene," the police said.

The suspect's identity was unknown and there were no other known threats at this time, the police added.

The shooting took place shortly after 11 a.m. local time in the area of Brookside Park, and all city schools were placed on what officials called "preventative lockdown" following the shooting, local media reported.

Four of the schools remained on lockdown as of just before 1 p.m. local time, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Everyone at Farmington schools -- the students and the staff -- they're all safe and they've been fed," Farmington Municipal Schools spokesman Roberto Taboada later said, adding that all students were released.

This is the second active shooting in the Farmington area in less than six years, local media reported.

Farmington, a city of about 46,400 residents in northwestern New Mexico, serves a modern-day trading post to the adjacent Navajo Nation and a supply line and bedroom community to the region's oil and natural gas industry, according to the reports.
Lucknow, May 16 : Deepak Ratan, an IPS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, died of cardiac arrest in Delhi while he was on deputation in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). He was 50.

The 1997 batch officer is survived by his wife Kamini Ratan Chauhan, an IAS officer, a son and a daughter.

Deepak Ratan hailed from Bhopal.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed grief over the IPS officer's sudden demise.

In its condolence note on Twitter, the Uttar Pradesh Police said: "With profound sorrow we inform about the shocking demise of Deepak Ratan, an illustrious officer of UP cadre of 1997 batch. Our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members & friends." Sources said that Deepak Ratan was taking an inter-departmental interview at the CRPF headquarters in Delhi when he complained of chest pain.

He was taken to a private hospital where he passed away.

A senior officer in the DGP headquarters said Deepak Ratan began his career as trainee ASP from Lucknow in 1999 and then went on to become an ADC to the then Uttar Pradesh Governor in 2001.

He had served as an SP in Baghpat, Rae Bareli, Ghaziabad, Saharanpur.

The officer also had a stint in the UN peacekeeping mission in Kosovo during 2006, as well as in the ATS, EOW and even intelligence.

The officer underwent Mid-Career Training Programme training in London and had also served as IG Aligarh range.
Shahjahanpur, May 16 : Majority of the girls in an Uttar Pradesh government school a teacher has been arrested for sexually assaulting 15 students, have stopped coming for classes after the incident.

The attendance in the school in Shahjahanpur's Dadraul block, has dropped below 35 per cent, sources said.

It has been found that the accused computer instructor Mohammad Ali, had been sexually assaulting minor girls in the school.

A number of used condoms were found in the school toilet.

After the matter came to light on May 13, angry villagers created a ruckus.

The protesting parents said that the sexual assault would have gone on had their girls not opened up.

Taking cognisance of the horrific crime, police action was initiated on the complaint of the gram pradhan.

The accused has been arrested and headmaster Anil Kumar, and assistant teacher Sajia have been booked in this connection.

Speaking on the incident, Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA) Kumar Gaurav said: "Of the 112 students, including 50 girls, only 35 per cent of the students turned up on Monday. This is obviously because both parents and students, particularly girls, are scared to come to the school after what happened with those 13 girls.

"The department will ensure counselling of students and parents because unless we are able to rebuild confidence among them, the student turnout will not improve. We will have to sensitise our teachers too. Simultaneously, we are trying to address the issue and strong action will be taken against the guilty." On a similar vein, gram pradhan Rampal said: "The incident has dented the confidence of parents. We all consider educational institutions to be a safe place for students but unfortunately, a few teachers have brought shame to the school and hence, parents are reluctant to send their wards." A parent said: "Some of the girls who went through this horrible incident are reluctant to come to the school anytime soon. The misconduct of the teacher has left them scarred. It will take some time for them to overcome." Meanwhile, Director-General, school education, Uttar Pradesh, Vijay Kiran Anand, said: "To check such incidents, all 746 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) in Uttar Pradesh will soon have an all-women staff. Contracts of all existing male staff working in these schools functioning in all 75 districts of the state will not be renewed. He said this step had been taken for the safety of girl students studying in these residential schools offering residential education from classes 6 to 8." State minister Baldev Singh Aulakh has also assured strict action against the accused in the case.

"Action will be taken against all those involved as per the law. If teachers are involved in such cases, they will be thrown out of the school."
Lucknow, May 16 : The 2019 Balakot airstrike, Pulwama attack and the 2016 surgical strike will be part of Lucknow University's (LU) defence studies' syllabus from the coming academic session 2023-24.

The new addition to the syllabus has been approved in the board meeting of defence studies department and will be taught to B.A. sixth semester students.

Prof O.P. Shukla, head of defence studies, said: "The 2016 surgical strike and 2019 Balakot airstrike have been included in defence studies syllabus as per the New Education Policy under the theme of 'Nation First: No Second Thought on National Security'. Students will also be studying about the Pulwama attack.

"In the Balakot airstrike topic, we will teach that Indian Air Force's airstrike were in retaliation to the Pulwama attack that took place on February 26, 2019. The operation was codenamed Operation Bandar. Similarly, every detail about the surgical strike 2016 will be taught to students. Also, we have added Bhopal gas tragedy of 1984 to the syllabus." Meanwhile, postgraduate students will study new weapons, role of chemical and biological technology and its relationship with the army and all about new military technology and conventional weapons.

Earlier, the Uttar Pradesh government had amended the syllabus for defence studies in state universities and had directed to include topics on the Pulwama attack and surgical strike under the National Education Policy.
Lucknow May 16 : AAP national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will soon visit Lucknow to meet and greet the party candidates who won the in the recent Uttar Pradesh civic polls.

"Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will visit Lucknow by the end of this month. He will meet all winning candidates of the party and guide them how to carry out work in their constituencies," AAP's chief spokesperson Vaibhav Maheshwari said.

After the civic polls, AAP will now focus on Uttar Pradesh in the wake of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

"As Uttar Pradesh sends the largest number of 80 MPs to Parliament, AAP's planning for the state will be for the general election," said aparty leader.

Throughout the campaigning for civic polls, AAP candidates had focused on the Delhi model of governance of the party.

"The party is also planning Arvind Kejriwal's UP tour. But the schedule is yet to be formalised," said an AAP leader.

The party's most resounding victory was in the Samajwadi Party's stronghold, Rampur district.

Party candidate Sana Khanam was elected chairperson of the Rampur Nagar Palika Parishad.

Khanam bagged 43,121 votes (44.19 per cent of the total votes polled) to win this seat reserved for women.

Rafat Jahan of AAP was elected chairperson of the Kemri nagar panchayat, Rampur.

She secured 7,449 votes (52.84 per cent of total votes polled).

According to the Uttar Pradesh State Election Commission, AAP won three nagar palika chairman seats, six nagar panchayat chairman seats and several wards in municipal corporations.

Over half of AAP's winning candidates belong to the minority community.
From Al-Ahram Weekly archives: Fifty years of dispossession 1948-1998*

David Ben-Gurion, one of the father founders of Israel, described Zionist aims in 1948 thus: "A Christian state should be established [in Lebanon], with its southern border on the Litani river. We will make an alliance with it. When we smash the Arab Legion's strength and bomb Amman, we will eliminate Transjordan too, and then Syria will fall. If Egypt still dares to fight on, we shall bomb Port Said, Alexandria and Cairo... And in this fashion, we will end the war and settle our forefathers' account with Egypt, Assyria, and Aram" *.

50 years after the Arab defeat in the1948 war, which resulted in the establishment of Israel, many of Ben-Gurion's stated aims can still be discerned in the language of Israeli and Zionist leaders. Some modifications have become apparent, in large part as a result of Arab resistance, but the biblical language in which Ben-Gurion chose to state his meaning starkly expresses the deeply-rooted nature of these violent fantasies of conquest and destruction.

Resistance, in this instance through a better comprehension of the history of the struggle, as well as the writing of our own version of it, becomes more necessary than ever. Israel cannot be allowed to write the history of the past fifty years unchallenged. It is in this conviction that Al-Ahram Weekly presents the first in a regular series of articles designed to document the history and nature of Arab-Israeli struggle, as well as that of Palestinian dispossession and exile.

* This article was published in Al-Ahram Weekly on 1 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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Kiev, May 16 : Air raid sirens were sounding in Kiev on Tuesday after the Ukrainian capital came under a heavy missile and drone attack.

In video footages on social media, loud explosions could be heard as well as air defence systems were seen shooting down suspected Russian missiles, reports the BBC.

Government messages warned people to keep away from windows as debris from intercepted missiles fell from the sky.

Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko said some rocket debris had fallen in central districts, including on the city's zoo.

There were reports of injuries.

Serhiy Popko, head of the Ukrainian capital's military administration, described the latest barrage as being the "maximum number of attack missiles in the shortest period of time".

"According to preliminary information, the vast majority of enemy targets in the airspace of Kiev were detected and destroyed," the BBC quoted the top official as saying.
Prayagraj : , May 16 (IANS) The UP Police has issued a lookout notice against accused Guddu Muslim and Shaista Parveen in the Umesh Pal murder case.

The UP Police has already placed a reward of Rs 5 lakh each on Shaista Parveen and Guddu Muslim.

The police have been searching for Shaista Parveen, wife of slain gangster Atiq Ahmad, and shooter Guddu Muslim for the past 78 days when the murder of Umesh pal took place in Prayagraj. Both the accused have, so far, managed to evade the police.

A lookout notice will prevent the accused from travelling abroad because details and photographs of the accused are sent to all airports and international borders.
Islamabad, May 16 : At least 16 people were killed and four others injured in an exchange of fire between two rival groups in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, police said on Tuesday.

The incident occurred late Monday night over the demarcation of a coal mine disputed between two groups in Darra Adam Khel tribal area of Kohat district, police officials told Xinhua news agency.

The police said that the firing took place due to a long-standing dispute between the two tribal groups, and that several sessions of Jirga, a local tribal court, had been held to reconcile the rival tribes.

However, the groups turned violent when they faced each other while working in the coal mine earlier on Monday.

Following the incident, the police and rescue teams immediately rushed to the site and shifted the victims to a nearby hospital, according to the local media.

The police have registered a case against the culprits and started investigations.

Law enforcement agencies have taken control of the disputed coal mine, said the police, adding that some offenders fled the scene after firing, and a search operation is underway to nab them.
Washington, May 16 : In a letter to Congressional leaders, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen reiterated that the country could default on its debt obligations as early as June 1.

The Department of 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 sent on Monday.

She made the assessment after obtaining additional information on the latest data, and federal receipts, outlays, following her earlier letter of this kind on May 1, reports Xinhua news agency.

"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 US," warned Yellen.

"In fact, we have already seen Treasury's borrowing costs increase substantially for securities maturing in early June," she added.

If Congress fails to increase the debt limit, it would cause severe hardship to American families, harm US global leadership position, and raise questions about U.S. ability to defend its national security interests, according to the Treasury Secretary.

The second meeting between President Joe Biden and congressional leaders on budget and debt ceiling will now take place on Tuesday.

Biden and congressional leaders discussed the budget issue for the 2024 fiscal year last Tuesday but failed to generate meaningful breakthroughs.

Though Biden has expressed optimism on prospects of the second meeting, Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said on Monday that there's been "no progress" on debt ceiling talks ahead of the meeting.

In January, the US hit its $31.4 trillion debt limit, set in December 2021, prompting the Treasury Department to use accounting maneuvers known as "extraordinary measures" to keep the government paying its bills, such as curbing certain government investments.
San Francisco, May 16 : Chief Twit Elon Musk has lost another bid to end a 2018 settlement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding his controversial "funding secured" tweets after a federal appeals court rejected his effort to modify his settlement with the SEC.

The 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan rejected Musk's argument that the consent decree reached in 2018 is a "prior restraint" on his speech.

"Each tweet plausibly violated the terms of the consent decree," the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in New York City wrote in its ruling, reports The Verge.

Musk must continue to have certain Tesla-related tweets pre-approved by a lawyer.

The court said in its ruling that the SEC investigated three of his tweets: the infamous 2018 "funding secured" tweet that subsequently resulted in the consent decree, a $40 million fine and Musk losing the chairmanship of Tesla.

Two other Musk tweets had misleading information about Tesla's vehicle production and a poll proposing Musk sell 10 per cent of his Tesla stock.

In February this year, another court in the US had cleared Musk in a class-action securities fraud over his tweets about taking Tesla private.

Musk had tweeted that he is "deeply appreciative of the jury's unanimous finding".

Musk had earlier admitted in a US court that he ignored his advisors and investors while tweeting about Tesla securing funding in 2018.

In August 2018, he had tweeted: "Am considering taking Tesla private at $420. Funding secured." "Shareholders could either sell at 420 or hold shares & go private," he added.

The notorious tweet had cost him his role as Chairman of Tesla.

The August 2018 tweet resulted in Musk and Tesla reaching a settlement of fraud charges with the US SEC.

The settlement included $40 million in penalties, split equally between the company and Musk, and the removal of Musk as chairman of the Tesla board.

Thank goodness, the wisdom of the people has prevailed!



I am deeply appreciative of the jurys unanimous finding of innocence in the Tesla 420 take-private case.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 3, 2023

Tesla also agreed to pay a separate $20 million penalty.

Musk finally acquired Twitter for $44 billion in October 2022.

-- Syndicated from IANS
New Delhi, May 16 : Kerala-headquartered Experion Technologies on Tuesday said it will hire an additional 1,500 IT professionals, including 600 fresh IT graduates, within the next two years, doubling its overall headcount to 3,000.

The global product engineering services company said that it plans to invest Rs 50 crore to expand its international operations in Japan, Nordics, and other existing markets like the US, Australia/New Zealand, the UK and Mainland Europe.

In June, Experion will start operations in Japan.

"Experion has already started providing immersive training in the local Japanese language and culture to many existing technical leads covering multiple technology portfolios," said Binu Jacob, Managing Director and CEO of Experion Technologies.

"Product engineering within the digital domain is witnessing explosive demand across industries in the global markets where we operate," he added.

The company plans to bring advanced tech capabilities, product engineering process competence, and learnings gained from other markets to India.

Additionally, the company will invest in capacity building for engineering verticals comprising automotive and embedded systems.

According to the company, around 600 recruits would be freshers, selected, trained and deployed in Kerala.

The organisation's product engineering teams work out of three development centres in India -- Trivandrum, Kochi and Bengaluru and 11 global offices across Asia, Europe, Australia and North America.
New Delhi, May 16 : Three Delhi Police Sub-Inspectors were thrashed and a PCR van was damaged by a group of slum dwellers in Delhi's Shastri Park area, an official said on Tuesday.

The official said that they have arrested three accused identified as Abdul Khalid (74), Md. Haseen (28) and Phool Babu (25).

According to police, on Monday around 09:48 p.m., information was received that some slum dwellers had assaulted PCR staff and damaged PCR van following which a police team was dispatched for the spot.

"It was found that the PCR van had responded to a quarrel call near the petrol pump Kabristan. When the PCR van was leaving with some miscreants for the police station, the local residents surrounded the vehicle and damaged it. The PCR staff was also assaulted," said a senior police official.

"A case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code was registered at Shastri Park police station and three accused persons involved in the incident have been arrested while efforts are being made to identify and arrest the remaining accused persons," said the official.

The sub-inspectors -- Pappu Lal Meena, Rajkumar and Robin -- were discharged from hospital after treatment.
New Delhi, May 16 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday conducted raids at the residences of Prem Chand Gupta - a close associate of RJD chief Lalu Prasad -, party MLA Kiran Devi and her husband Arun Yadav across the country in connection with its probe into the land for job scam.

The scam allegedly involves former Railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family members.

According to information, the searches are covering various locations, including Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, Patna, Bhojpur, and Arrah.

The CBI is yet to make any official statement in the matter.

What is the matter: The CBI had registered a case against Lalu Yadav, the then union Railway Minister between (2004-2009), his wife Rabri Devi, two daughters and 15 others, including unknown public servants and private persons.

"During the period Yadav had obtained pecuniary advantages in the form of transfer of landed property in the name of his family members in lieu of appointment of substitutes in Group 'D' posts in different Zones of Railways," the official said.

A number of residents of Patna themselves or through their family members sold and gifted their land in favour of the family members of Yadav and a private company controlled by Yadav and his family.

"No advertisement or any public notice was issued for such appointment of substitutes in Zonal Railways, yet the appointees who were residents of Patna were appointed as Substitutes in different Zonal Railways located at Mumbai, Jabalpur, Kolkata, Jaipur and Hazipur.

"In continuation of this modus operandi, about 1,05,292 Sq. feet land, immovable properties situated at Patna were acquired by Yadav and his family members through five sales deeds and two gift deeds, showing the payment made to seller in cash in most of the land transfer," the CBI had said.
Srinagar, May 16: After creating the first rail link between Baramulla and the rest of the country, which is expected to become operational before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Indian Railways is now working on an ambitious project of providing seamless connectivity between Kanyakumari-the last train station at the southern tip of the Indian subcontinent-and Uri, Kashmir's last township, on the Line of Control (LoC) in northern India.

Official sources told India Narrative that tenders have now been floated for the engineering survey of a 50 km long rail link between Baramulla and Uri. Northern Railways is planning to start Final Location Survey for Baramulla-Uri line, and proposals are being invited by the Ministry of Railways.

"Tenders have been floated for engineering survey work of a Railway line using modern survey techniques such as Aerial Survey (Aerial Photogrammetric survey or Aerial LIDAR) and DGPS (Differential Global Positioning System) levelling and creation of DEM," sources said.

"The rail link connecting India's extreme South and extreme North through Delhi will be historic in the sense that it will make the seamless travel by surface communication between the country's southern and northern tips a reality. Thereafter, one can travel directly 'Kashmir to Kanyakumari'. In Kashmir the last station will be at Uri, close to the LoC," said an official of Northern Railways.

The Kaman Post on the LoC, also known as Aman Setu, on Srinagar-Baramulla-Uri-Muzaffarabad Road, is just 10 km from Uri. Until now, with the exception of a trade and travel link between Kashmir and the PoK, Uri has been known for all the wrong reasons. For years, it was a notorious infiltration route on which the Indian and the Pakistani troops traded shelling. Hundreds of militant recruits went across and came in through Uri. Many of them were killed in encounters.

As many as 72 infiltrating terrorists were killed in an encounter when JJ Singh-who subsequently rose to the position of the Indian Army chief-was a Commanding Officer of a battalion in Uri in 1992. Brigadier Sridhar of the Indian Army was killed here in an IED blast in March 1995. On 18-19 September, 2016, as many as 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a fidayeen attack on their camp. On 28 September, the Indian troops conducted surgical strikes at terror targets across the LoC.

The cross-LoC trade and travel, which had been started through Uri in Kashmir and Chakan Da Bagh in Poonch (Jammu) in 2005-07, suffered a major setback due to the terror attack followed by the Indian retaliation in 2016. However, it was permanently closed after the killing of 40 CRPF personnel in another terror strike near Awantipora, on Srinagar-Jammu highway, on 14 February 2019.

On 26 February, 2019, the Indian Air Force jets crossed the LoC and dropped bombs at a terror installation in Balakot, in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The situation has drastically changed after withdrawal of Jammu and Kashmir's special status and its division into the two separate Union Territories in August 2019. Immediately after the Covid pandemic in 2021-22, Uri was opened for tourists. The Government is now planning to develop Uri into a place of tourist attraction.

As of now, there is road connectivity between Srinagar/Baramulla and Uri. Currently the last train station in northern India is at Baramulla. Now the rail connectivity is being extended to Uri through a 50 km track for which the survey will start shortly.

"The rail link between Kanyakumari, Delhi, Jammu, Srinagar, Baramulla and Uri will remain operational on a 24x7x365 basis. It will hugely benefit not only the large number of the Army and BSF personnel but also Kashmir's fruit traders, common travellers and tourists. Most of the Army and BSF supplies, which currently come through trucks and transport planes, will be routed through goods trains," said an official.

The Jammu-Srinagar highway remains disturbed or closed for traffic for several days a year due to landslides caused by inclement weather coupled with massive traffic jams. Even the air link between Srinagar and the rest of the country remains disrupted by snowfall and poor visibility at the Srinagar airport. The rail link and completion of the highway will be a major milestone in the 75-year-long journey of Kashmir's physical integration with India.

Currently the only surface lifeline, the 260 km long Jammu-Srinagar road, which is a part of NH-44, is being developed into a 4-lane highway through a large number of tunnels, viaducts, bridges and flyovers. While most of the works have been completed on Srinagar and Jammu side, construction of some tunnels and development of road is underway on the most challenging part between Nashri and Banihal. Efforts are underway to complete and inaugurate this whole project before May 2024.

The train currently operates up to Katra on the Jammu side and up to Banihal, from Baramulla, on the Kashmir side. Works are in progress in the most challenging part between Katra and Banihal. This 110 km long track passes through a large number of tunnels and bridges including the one over the Chenab river which has got the distinction of becoming the world's tallest railway bridge.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, May 16 : Domestic smartphone brand Lava on Tuesday launched a new smartphone 'Agni 2' 5G, with a curved AMOLED display, and cutting-edge technology.

The phone is priced at Rs 21,999 and will be available to buy on online stores from May 24, with a flat discount of Rs 2,000 on all major credit and debit cards making the effective starting price only Rs 19,999, according to the company.

"Our aim is to make Agni a product that shows the technological prowess of India on the global stage. It's truly world-class attributes will change what you think about Indian smartphones," Sunil Raina, President and Business Head, Lava International, said in a statement.

Moreover, the company said that the Agni 2 comes powered by MediaTek's latest Dimensity 7050 processor, which will provide faster gaming and app experience.

"Lava Agni 2 5G is India's first smartphone powered by MediaTek Dimensity 7050 integrated with MediaTek 5G UltraSave, powerful MiraVision 4K HDR video processing for streamers, super-fast responsiveness, high-resolution displays along with MediaTek HyperEngine gaming enhancements," Anku Jain, Managing Director, MediaTek India, said in a statement.

The Agni 2 features a 6.78-inch FHD+ screen with a 120 Hz Refresh Rate.

Furthermore, the smartphone comes equipped with a 50MP quad camera with a segment-first 1.0-micron (1 um) pixel sensor, which captures more light and richer details.

Agni 2 offers 256 GB storage along with 8GB RAM, which is extendable up to 16GB RAM virtually.

It is also powered by a 4700mAh battery with a 66W charger, which will charge 50 per cent battery in less than 16 minutes, the company said.

-- Syndicated from IANS
Egypt is preparing two state-owned companies to be offered as investments before the end of the current fiscal year, Mohamed Metwally, CEO of NI Capital, the Egyptian government financial adviser announced.

"Overall, seven companies are planned to be offered by Q1 of next year in the oil, petrochemical, and transport sectors," Metwally added in an interview with CNBC Arabia.

He revealed that some of these companies are not included in the list of the 32 companies announced by the government and some of them are not traded on the EGX.

The new offerings include IPOs and direct investments by strategic investors, Metwally noted.

Telecom Egypt Offering

Metwally stated that 9 percent of total subscriptions in Telecom Egypt's new offering came from Gulf investors, while the remaining 91 percent were Egyptian.

Foreign investors submitted orders at the lowest price for the company's stock, which resulted in accepting fewer bids from them, the top executive commented.

The average price of the stock was determined based on the average price in the last three months.

Egypt's privatization programme

On Sunday, the Egyptian government offered a 10 percent stake in Telecom Egypt in two tranches totalling 170.7 million shares, as part of the governments privatization programme, according to a cabinet statement.

The offer included an EGP 3.7 billion ($122.2 million) stake for 9.5 percent of the company's principal or 162.1 million shares valued at EGP 23.1 ($0.75) each.

In February, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly disclosed government plans to offer 32 state-owned companies operating in 18 sectors to strategic investors within a year. However, Telecom Egypt was not among the companies included in the disclosed list.

Egypts Paint and Chemicals Industries (PACHIN) was the first such company on the list to be sold off after the UAEs National Paints acquired 81 percent of the company's shares for EGP 770.4 million (about $25 million) in early May.

Two other companies on the list, National Company for Producing and Bottling Water (Safi) and Wataniya Petroleum Company, have not seen much progress despite being mentioned in a plethora of statements. The government announced earlier in May that it will start receiving bids for the companies over the month.

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New Delhi, May 16 : Eight people were rescued after a fire broke out in a three-storey residential building in West Delhi, a fire department official said on Tuesday.

Atul Garg, the Director of Delhi Fire Services, said that a call regarding the blaze in Subhash Nagar area was received at around 11 p.m. on Monday night.

"A total of two fire tenders were rushed to the spot. The fire was brought under control within hours," said Garg.

"The fire was in electronic meter board and tyre at ground floor and eight persons were rescued safely from first, second and third floor using ladder and through the house windows," he added
Lucknow, May 16 : The cashier of the Gandhi Ashram in Lucknow's Hazratganj has been accused of embezzling over Rs 32 lakhs of the institution.

An office-bearer of the society handling the work, Arvind Kumar Srivastava, has lodged a case with the Hazratganj police.

In his complaint, Srivastava stated that the cashier Bhadra Narain, who is a native of Sant Kabirnagar, had embezzled Rs 32.85 lakhs.

"Bhadra Narain kept withdrawing cash by making false entries in the cash book and by overwriting the brochures for a long period of time. His misdeed was exposed in an internal probe," said the complaint.

He further said that the act of the cashier was an economic offence.

The accused was employed for over 10 years, said the police.

Preliminary investigations have revealed that the accused had done overwriting on the balance sheets, and then used the net to withdraw the cash.

The accused oversaw Gandhi Ashram Khadi Emporium, and its other outlets in Nishatganj, Aashiana.

Police said that it seems the accused was duping the organisation for 10 years.

SHO, Hazratganj, Akhilesh Mishra, said that police have registered a case of criminal breach of trust and forgery against the cashier.
London, May 16 : Sussex police are set to re-examine the case of an eight year-old Indian-origin boy who was found dead months after he mysteriously disappeared in 1981 in London, media reports said.

Vishal Mehrotra and his family were on their way home to Putney when he disappeared, having watched Prince Charles and Princess Diana's wedding parade in central London, the Guardian reported.

Part of the child's remains were found in Rogate, West Sussex, seven months later in February 1982.

No one has been convicted for his murder despite investigators interviewing more than 14,000 people.

After Vishal's father Vishambar Mehrotra, criticised the Sussex police for failing to reinvestigate the case, police officers met him on May 10 and told him that detectives had been given a "clear directiona to "advance" the case.

They also apologised for failing to spot a potential link between Vishal's murder and a document known to them that had been found in the possession of a convicted paedophile, according to Guardian.

This came after a BBC podcast which revealed fresh details about the case, including a potential link between the murder and the document titled 'Vishal'.

This document was written in 1983 by Nicholas Douglass, convicted of child sexual offences about a boy he was abusing.

Vishal's remains were found buried in a bog at a depth of around two feet on a property where Douglass is known to have abused children.

It has been held by Sussex police since the 1990s but was only connected to Vishal's murder four years ago.

"We acknowledge the ongoing distress to Mehrotra and Vishal's wider family and their need to find answers to what happened to Vishal in 1981. The force is committed to identifying those responsible for Vishal's tragic death and to delivering justice for Vishal and his family," DS Mark Chapman of Sussex police told the Guardian.

Vishal's father expressed his doubts about how thorough the investigation would be.

"Well, I am very pleased, but I am also sceptical because I am not so sure how much and when they are going to actually investigate," he said.
Islamabad, May 16 : After the Pakistan Army's decision to nab all and spare none, establishment of military courts seems to be the way forward for the current government and the establishment, with a special focus on former Prime Minister Imran Khan, PTI leaders and workers, who are being nabbed under the terrorism and army act regulations.

As per sources in the government, the ruling coalition under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif does not trust Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Atta Bandial and many others in the judiciary, who they believe continue to give blanket legal cover to Khan and his party leaders in many cases.

"You can see the anger in the parliament against the Supreme Court Chief Justice Atta Bandial and other judges. The government or even the establishment wants to make a strong statement in response to the May 0 mayhem, and that is something that may not be achieved if Imran Khan or other PTI leaders and workers are put to trial under the current judicial setup," said a government source.

It is also a fact that as per the law of the land, the Pakistan Army Act or Official Secrets Act cannot be applied on a civilian.

In order to implement both the provisions, an amendment in the Constitution and the Army Act 1952, would be required to reinstate the expansion of jurisdiction of the military courts and allow them to try civilians for terror-related offenses.

Military courts were established in Pakistan on January 7, 2015, for a period of two years, as part of the National Action Plan (NAP) and its 20-point action plan, formulated after the terror attacks on the Army Public School on December 16, 2014, which killing at least 148 people, including children.

The military courts saw serious criticism by global human rights bodies, including the UN, while opposition political parties raised questions over civilians being tried in military courts through secret court trials, prompting questions over fair trial matters.

former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was arrested and taken into custody from Balochistan by Pakistani authorities, was also put to trial on charges of spying, terrorism and espionage under the Pakistan Army Act and the Official Secrets Act.

He was given death sentence by a Pakistani military court as well, which was later overturned by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), barring the Pakistani government from implementing decision of the military court to give capital punishment and directed them to have him trialed in a civil court.

However, with the current political unrest in the country, in which the ruling government and the military establishment has decided to take on Khan and his anti-military narrative under terrorism related laws, coupled with the distrust that prevails among both institutions in relation to the judiciary's alleged support for the former premier in all legal cases against him; it is believed that all measures would be undertaken to reinstate the military courts and punish PTI workers, its supporters, leaders and even Imran Khan through sanctioned penalties.
San Francisco, May 16 : People turning to Google Search with suicide-related terms may find new pre-written texts that may prompt them to ask for help in their most vulnerable moments, the tech giant has announced.

Google developed the pre-written prompts in partnership with the International Association for Suicide Prevention to reduce the stigma of reaching out to ask for help, which is shown to help people get support in moments of crisis.

The new feature will be first rolled out in the US, and will appear below the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

"When someone is in a vulnerable situation, it can be difficult to put this experience into words and know what to say to ask for help," Dr Megan Jones Bell, Clinical Director, Consumer and Mental Health at Google, said in a blog post.

"To better support people reaching out to someone they trust, starting soon in the US, when someone searches for suicide-related terms, they'll see a prompt with conversation starters they can send via text message," she added.

Suicide prevention information has been visible at the top of relevant search results for years.

Recently, Google also updated its approach to eating disorder-related content. To protect viewers from harmful content, the tech giant removed certain content that showed or described "disordered eating behaviours such as bingeing or purging", Dr Bell said.

"We're also adding age-restriction to videos that are centred on eating disorder recovery to viewers 18 years or older.

"And the crisis resource panel for eating disorders now appears underneath videos related to eating disorders, in addition to the search results, to reach even more people when they're watching content on this topic. These changes will help make space for community and recovery, while continuing to protect viewers," she said.

Further, Google is also expanding its work with mental health organisations, especially those focused on helping certain populations like children and veterans.

If you or a loved one are experiencing a mental health crisis, there are resources available to help from Google and many other trustworthy organisations.
Washington, May 16 : In a breakthrough, the powerful James Webb Space Telescope has found the presence of water around a comet in the main asteroid belt for the first time.

Using Webb's NIRSpec (Near-Infrared Spectrograph) instrument, astronomers confirmed gas -- specifically water vapour -- around Comet 238P/Read, indicating that water ice from the primordial solar system can be preserved in that region.

"In the past, we've seen objects in the main belt with all the characteristics of comets, but only with this precise spectral data from the Webb can we say yes, it's definitely water ice that is creating that effect," explained lead author and astronomer Michael Kelley of the University of Maryland.

"With Webb's observations of Comet Read, we can now demonstrate that water ice from the early solar system can be preserved in the asteroid belt," Kelley said. The study was published in the journal Nature.

Comet Read is a main belt comet -- an object that resides in the main asteroid belt but which periodically displays a halo, or coma, and tail like a comet. Main belt comets themselves are a fairly new classification, and Comet Read was one of the original three comets used to establish the category.

Before that, comets were understood to reside in the Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud, beyond the orbit of Neptune, where their ices could be preserved farther from the Sun.

Frozen material that vaporises as they approach the Sun is what gives comets their distinctive coma and streaming tail, differentiating them from asteroids.

Scientists have long speculated that water ice could be preserved in the warmer asteroid belt, inside the orbit of Jupiter, but definitive proof was elusive -- until Webb.

However, unlike other comets, Comet 238P/Read had no detectable carbon dioxide (CO2) which makes up about 10 per cent of the volatile material in a comet that can be easily vaporised by the Sun's heat.

The team speculated that Comet Read had CO2 when it formed but has lost that because of warm temperatures.

"Being in the asteroid belt for a long time could do it -- CO2 vaporises more easily than water ice, and could percolate out over billions of years," Kelley said. Alternatively, he said, Comet Read may have formed in a particularly warm pocket of the solar system, where no carbon dioxide was available.

The next step is taking the research beyond Comet Read to see how other main belt comets compare.

"Now that Webb has confirmed there is water preserved as close as the asteroid belt, it would be fascinating to follow up on this discovery with a sample collection mission, and learn what else the main belt comets can tell us," said Stefanie Milam, Webb deputy project scientist for planetary science.
New Delhi, May 16 : Congress on Tuessday launched a tirade against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for betraying the youths saying he has shattered the dreams of 18 crore youths in last nine years and the grand old party will give a befitting reply.

In a tweet in Hindi, Kharge said, "Modiji, who promised to provide 2 crore jobs annually, in 9 years, has shattered the dreams of 18 crore youth so far. 30 lakh posts are vacant in government departments, but today an event has been organised to distribute only 71,000 recruitment letters! Congress party will give a befitting reply to the betrayal of the youth!" Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also targeted the BJP government at Centre and said, "By making governance personal, the Prime Minister has destroyed the governance system. What he is doing has never happened before. They have further lowered the level of governance through their job fairs. It seems as if he himself has created these jobs and he himself will pay those people who are getting these jobs. And that's why job seekers should express their gratitude towards them only." Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary in-charge of communications, further said youths looking for jobs in this country know that this is the same Prime Minister who has destroyed lakhs of jobs in both government and private sector by demonetisation, wrong GST, destruction of MSMEs and indiscriminate privatisation of PSUs.

Targeting the Prime Minister, Ramesh, who is also a Rajya Sabha MP, said, "The PM claims that he has created his own image. In fact, he is obsessed with the image that has created him." The remarks of Congress leaders came hours after the Prime Minister on Tuesday distributed 71,000 appointment letters to new recruits. Modi also addressed the appointees on the occasion via video-conferencing.

The Rozgar Mela was held at 45 locations across the country. The recruitments are taking place for Central government departments as well as state governments/UTs supporting this initiative.
San Francisco, May 16 : Google has released a new update to its AI chatbot Bard, improving the ability to provide summaries of information and tell users where that information has come from.

"We've updated Bard with better summarisation capabilities by incorporating advances we've developed in our large language models," Google said.

With the new update, users will be able to ask Bard to summarise a specific article or story, or to provide a quick explanation of a topic without going into too much detail.

Moreover, the tech giant is also "making sources more useful".

"Bard can now help you identify which parts of a response match a source. For the responses with sources, you'll see numbers alongside the response. By clicking on the numbers you will now be able to identify the section of the text that matches the source and easily navigate to it," Google stated.

This is the third update to Bard released this month.

Meanwhile, Google has now removed the waiting list and opened the AI chatbot to over 180 countries and territories, including India, after initially rolling out Bard in the UK and the US.

Apart from English, Bard is now available in Japanese and Korean, and the company said it's on track to support 40 languages soon.
Mumbai, May 16 : Acclaimed actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui visited Faculty of Performing Arts Academy in Gujarat where he started his journey in performing arts.

Travelling through the lanes of the academy, it was indeed a nostalgic trip for the actor where he addressed the students.

Nawazuddin captured some precious moments from his visit to his Faculty of Performing Arts Academy in a video on his social media. Remembering his good old days from the academy, the actor gave a speech to the students and the moment was filled with a lot of warmth and emotions.

He wrote in Hindi that translates to: "This is the place where I performed for the very first time in a play. This is where it all started for me @faculty.of.performing.arts.msu Special Thanks to everyone involved in this process." On the work front, Nawazuddin has an interesting lineup of films which includes Jogira Sara Ra Ra, Noorani Chehra, Haddi, Tiku Weds Sheru', and Adbhut.
New Delhi, May 16 : A 43-year-old maintenance supervisor in DMRC allegedly murdered his wife and six-year-old daughter before taking his own life by hanging in the Shahdara area here.

The man also attempted to kill his 13-year-old son, who is fighting for his life in a hospital.

Investigations revealed that the accused had searched online for information on tying knots just before the gruesome act.

At the crime scene, authorities discovered the bodies of the three victims, while forensic teams are examining the area for further evidence.

The man was identified as Sushil, his wife Anuradha (43) and their daughter. The family resided in Shahdara's Jyoti Colony.

Police said that Sushil was working as maintenance supervisor in Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) at East Vinod Nagar depot.

According to police, a police control room call was received around 12.04 p.m in which the caller said that his colleague, Sushil didn't come for work on Tuesday and when he called him, Sushil was crying and told him that he had killed everyone.

Acting on the call, a police team rushed to the spot, where they found three bodies.

"Sushil was found hanging while Anuradha and her daughter had stab injuries and were dead on the spot. Sushil's 13-year-old son also suffered a knife injury and was rushed to a hospital, said a senior police official.

The Forensic Science Laboratory teams are inspecting the crime scene.

"Prima facie, it appears to be case of murder, an attempt to murder and suicide. Further investigation is underway and teams are probing the incident from all angles," said the official.
Voters in Northern Ireland head to the polls in local elections on Thursday, with the British province politically paralysed due to a boycott by the biggest pro-UK party.

The vote in 11 municipal councils comes 15 months after a walkout by the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) from Northern Ireland's power-sharing executive in Belfast.

But with the DUP showing no sign of budging on their opposition to a new post-Brexit trading pact, the campaign has been described as "lacklustre", with the malaise spreading to voters.

"Is there any point anymore?" said Rachel Hamilton, a 32-year-old primary school teacher with a young family, when asked who she was going to vote for.

Hamilton, who lives in Lancaster Park, a smart, new housing estate south of Belfast, said she had given up on the DUP after voting for them in the past.

Despite being concerned about budget cuts she has seen first hand, she said she was unlikely to vote at all.

"It's just extremely disappointing when you're in a job where the budgets have been cut drastically," she told AFP.

"They're not doing anything about it."

'Stand firm'

The DUP's walkout in February last year was prompted by its opposition to the Northern Ireland Protocol, the agreement for new trading rules after the UK's European Union exit.

The protocol, which the unionists said threatened Northern Ireland's place in the wider UK, kept it under EU rules because of the need to keep its land border with EU member Ireland open.

Parts of the protocol have been renegotiated into the Windsor Framework to ease trading bottlenecks with the rest of the UK.

But the DUP is still unconvinced, with its boycott fuelling political uncertainty in Northern Ireland, where 30 years of violence over British rule only ended in 1998.

"We are pledged to continue to stand firm after this election until we have properly secured and protected our place within the United Kingdom," party leader Jeffrey Donaldson said last week.

An April LucidTalk poll indicated that 62 percent of unionists and 79 percent of DUP voters support the party's opposition to the framework.

Peter McLoughlin, a political expert at Queen's University Belfast, expects the DUP to "hold their ground" on Thursday as the issue had "absolutely dominated" campaigning.

"I'm not optimistic," he explained. "Normally they do a bit of preparing the ground. And I'm not hearing that."

Nationalist Sinn Fein, the largest pro-Ireland party in Northern Ireland, has also framed the debate around the DUP's walkout as it looks to replace the unionist party as the dominant force in local government.

"This council election is more important than ever as one party continues to block an executive," said Michelle O'Neill, the party's leader.

'Bloody nose'

Antoinette Cole, 71, also living in Lancaster Park, said she planned to vote for Sinn Fein, whose fortunes have been transformed since they were the political wing of the IRA paramilitary.

In the past Cole, a former nurse, consistently voted for the more moderate nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP).

But she said she now wanted to give the DUP a "bloody nose".

"The DUP have got away with too much. And every time there's something (offered) it's not good enough," she said.

"There has to be a line. It just goes on and on."

The cross-community area is a political battle ground for the non-aligned Alliance Party, which hopes to flip the local, DUP-dominated Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council for the first time.

Campaigning in the area, Alliance leader Naomi Long said her party was seeking to reform Northern Ireland's political institutions to end what she characterised as "ransom politics" in Northern Ireland.

She questioned whether the DUP's position could have any bearing on future discussions between the UK and the EU.

"The government have moved on even though the DUP have rejected the Windsor Framework," Long told AFP.

"The UK government is looking to the wider economy of the UK, not simply the disgruntlement of a certain section of the population here in Northern Ireland."

McLoughlin said it was difficult for the DUP to "turn the ship around" at this point.

"They've fed that angst and paranoia for so long now that I don't know how easy it will be to come out of."

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New Delhi, May 16 : In a setback for senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and former Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik, the Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to consider his plea for urgent hearing on bail application.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal submitted before a bench headed by Justice Sanjiv Khanna that the matter needs urgent hearing and pointed at his client's deteriorating health pressed for early hearing.

Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, appeared for the Enforcement Directorate in the matter.

The bench, also comprising Justice M.M. Sundresh, asked Sibal to approach the Bombay High Court for the relief regarding early hearing in the matter.

"We can only say, decide the application. We cannot bypass on the grounds...." it said and scheduled the matter for hearing in July second week.

Malik, arrested by the Enforcement Directorate under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), had moved the Supreme Court aggrieved with the Bombay High Court adjourning his bail application to June 6.

During the hearing on Tuesday, Sibal said the high court adjourned the bail application on the ground of non-availability of the probe agency's counsel.

He urged the apex court to specify that the matter would be heard by the high court next week and pointed at Raju's submission that they are ready next week. However, the apex court did not specify any date for the hearing on the matter in the high court.

The investigating agency had arrested Malik in February last year, in connection with a money laundering case over an alleged land deal concerning an aide of terrorist Dawood Ibrahim. In November last year, a special court in Mumbai had rejected his bail application in the money laundering case arising out of activities in 1999.

The ED had filed a charge sheet against the former Maharashtra minister over the monetary transactions in the land deal with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim's sister, Haseena Parkar, through her driver Salim Patel.
New Delhi, May 16 : Bengaluru-based telecommunication company OnMobile Global on Tuesday launched its first-ever SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) based gamification platform 'Gamize' for brands across industries.

According to the company, it is a critical step in the transformation journey for its global business in this new fiscal, with Bangladeshi telecommunications company Banglalink as its first partner.

In addition, the company stated that Gamize will provide completely customisable, industry-agnostic solutions for acquiring, engaging and retaining users for a brand's website or app.

"With Gamize, we intend to help enterprises drive acquisition, engagement and user retention with a customised strategy. We thank Banglalink for their trust in Gamize, which was used in the revamp project of their MyBL app," Sanjay Baweja, MD and Global CEO of OnMobile Global, said in a statement.

Moreover, the company said that the platform also uses methods via gamification to help customers increase users through referrals which helps keep customer acquisition costs lower.

Gamize is built on a strong product platform which enables customers to deploy in a couple of days with out-of-the-box integrations and develop and launch campaigns in a few minutes rather than weeks.

"Banglalink and OnMobile revolutionise app engagement with MyBL SuperApp, featuring gamification through the Gamize Module. It's fun, rewarding, and sets a new industry standard, captivating users and boosting engagement. Customisable UI/UX ensures a seamless and user-friendly experience," Mohit Kapoor, Digital Business Director of Banglalink, said in a statement.
Srinagar, May 16 : In a major breakthrough, the J&K Police's State Investigation Agency (SIA) on Tuesday arrested two Hizbul Mujahideen militants reportedly involved in the murder of Mirwaiz Muhammad Farooq on May 21, 1990.

Special Director General of Police, CID, R.R. Swain told a media conference here that of the two persons arrested by the SIA, identified as Javaid Bhat and Zahoor Ahmed Bhat, one had entered the bedroom of late Mirwaiz and opened fire at him.

He said that on May 21, 1990, a case regarding the killing of the Mirwaiz was lodged in police station Nigeen under FIR 61/1990.

"Then the case was transferred to the CBI. The CBI had presented a charge sheet against one accused after arresting him before the TADA court after which the court awarded a life sentence to him," Swain said.

He said that investigations into the case revealed that Hizbul Mujahideen commander Abdullah Bangroo had hatched a conspiracy to kill the Mirwaiz.

"Bangroo and his associate, another Hizb commander were killed in encounters while one accused was serving life sentence.

"Two more accused, Javaid Bhat and Zahoor Ahmed Bhat, both residents of Srinagar, were arrested by the SIA.

"They were evading arrest as they were hiding in Pakistan and Nepal over these years. Both have been arrested and handed over to the CBI as proclaimed offenders.

"One of the two arrested Hizb militants, Zahoor Ahmed Bhat was the one who had entered into the bedroom of Mirwaiz and opened fire at him," the Special DG said.

He, however, did not reveal where the two were arrested.
Jaunpur : , May 16 (IANS) Two undertrials, accused in the murder of wrestler Badal Yadav, were attacked in broad daylight in a Jaunpur court on Tuesday when attackers opened fire on them.

The undertrials, Surya Prakash and Mithilesh Giri, were seriously injured in the incident and have been admitted to a local hospital and have now been referred to Varanasi for advanced treatment.

Soon after the attack, the lawyers present in the court premises caught hold of the attackers and thrashed them before handing them over to the police. One of the attackers is said to be Shrawan, brother of the slain wrestler.

Additional police forces have been deployed in the area, said a police spokesman.
New Delhi, May 16 : The Delhi High Court on Tuesday told BharatPe's former MD Ashneer Grover and the officials of the fintech company not to speak in a "unparliamentary" or "defamatory" manner against one another.

The Delhi Police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) had filed an FIR against Grover and members of his family, and BharatPe had filed an application alleging that Grover had been tweeting defamatory statements ever since.

BharatPe filed the application in its alreasy pending defamation suit related to Grover's earlier tweets.

"This is not a street fight between some rival gangs in the corner of the city. These are corporate people, educated people, articulate people who can surely adjudicate their grievances against each other in a more refined way," Justice Prateek Jalan said.

"If you have both decided to enter the gutter, then please remain there." Appearing for the fintech company, senior advocates Rajiv Nayar and Dayan Krishnan referred to some of Grover's tweets which alleged that the firm has spent several crores on "lawyers and fixers".

Grover can dispute the BharatPe complaint against him and the Delhi Police's FIR in court if he has issues with company's complaint, counsel argued.

Highlighting some of the tweets by BharatPe officials, advocate Giriraj Subramanium, appearing for Grover, said that BharatPe officials have used similar language against his client on social media and levelled allegations against Grover in the press.

The bench then said that such statements should not be made by two sides.

"Issue notice, Mr Subramanium learned counsel for all respondents accepts notice. Reply be filed by May 20, rejoinder by May 22. List before the roster bench on May 24. While keeping the application pending for adjudication on contest, the learned counsel on all sides have requested to advise their clients to avoid recourse to unparliamentary and defamatory publication against each other," the court ordered as Subramanium said that he will advise Grover to use more decorous language.

BharatPe had approached the HC months after Grover and his wife were dismissed from the company over allegations of misappropriation of funds.

In its suit, running into 2,800 pages, BharatPe has claimed damages worth Rs 88.67 crore from Grover, his wife, and his brother for alleged cheating and misappropriation of funds.

The damages sought include a claim for payment made against the invoices of non-existent vendors amounting to Rs 71.7 crore, a claim for Rs 1.66 crore penalty paid to GST authorities, payments totalling Rs 7.6 crore made to vendors purportedly providing recruitment services, payments of Rs 1.85 crore made to a furnishings company, payments for personal expenditures up to Rs 59.7 lakh and payment of Rs 5 crore damages for loss of reputation to the company caused by tweets and other statements made by them.

In its suit, the fintech company claimed that a Rajasthan-based travel company had raised invoices for foreign tours twice, once for Grover and his wife and second time, for their children. The family also used the company's funds to travel abroad.

The suit further claimed that the Grovers used the company funds to pay the rent and security deposit of their posh duplex and for home appliances, too. The duplex was first taken over by Grovers as the company's guest house but eventually they started living there, the suit claimed.
Panaji, May 16 : Congress has sought clarification from Chief Minister Pramod Sawant about a rumour that suggests involvement of the latter in 'Benami company' namely 'Surya Transport', which is awarded transport contracts of e-auctioned mining ore.

Addressing a press conference, Congress General Secretary Vijay Bhike on Tuesday attacked the BJP government over giving contracts to one single transport company.

"People of the state still remember the statement of former chief minister Manohar Parrikar that he himself had suspended the mining activities in 2012, which the BJP government failed to resume despite giving promises at every election. Today all the mining dependents are suffering and many have no income source. However, one 'Surya Transport' company is getting all the transport contracts of e-auctioned ore across Goa. There are many transport contractors in the state, why only 'Surya Transport' is getting these contracts," Bhike questioned.

"There is rumour that Pramod Sawant is a partner in this 'Surya Transport' firm or may be running it in 'benami' style. He should give clarification on this," Bhike said.

He said due to mining suspension many have lost their jobs and income source, however the government has failed to create jobs.

"During the election period, they give promises of creating employment. However, their poll promises have always turned out to be 'jumla'. BJP always creates a big picture of promises, but fails to deliver," Bhike said.

Bhike said that when Parrikar was defence minister he had promised to create 50,000 to 80,000 jobs, later Pramod Sawant also promised to create 8,000 to 10,000 jobs. "Where all these jobs have gone? Why is this government hoodwinking our youths and testing their patience," he questioned.

He also said that the BJP at Centre had said that jobs will be created, but even the primary engine failed to keep its promise.

"In 2024 Lok Sabha election, BJP will again give the promise of jobs. I urge youths not to fall prey to their tactics," he said.
Kochi, May 16 : In a first of its kind action, the Kerala High Court ordered mitigation studies into the death sentence references of Nino Mathew, convicted in the Attingal twin murder case, and of Muhammed Ameer-ul-Islam, convicted in the Dalit law student murder case.

Generally, mitigating circumstances in death sentence cases are considered after the persons are convicted, or after their conviction is confirmed by the appellate court.

However, a division bench of Justices Alexander Thomas and C. Jayachandran decided the commencement of mitigation studies for Mathew and Ameer-ul-Islam even before the hearing of their appeals had begun.

The two convicts were sentenced to death by trial courts and their appeals against their conviction and sentence, as well as the references to confirm their death sentence, are currently pending before the High Court, when the fresh direction came.

The court also appointed two mitigation investigators associated with Project 39A, a research and legal aid centre at the National Law University, Delhi to assist the court with the process of sentencing, particularly to arrive at a conclusion on whether the cases warrant death penalty for the convicts.

The court pointed out that if mitigation studies are conducted only after the conviction is affirmed by the appellate court, then there will be a lot of unnecessary delay in the administration of justice.

The two cases placed before the Bench were to confirm the death sentence awarded to Mathew, who was convicted by a trial court in the 2014 twin murder case in the state capital district and a similar death sentence awarded to Islam by a trial court for the rape and murder of a Dalit law student of the Ernakulam Government Law College in 2016.
Mumbai, May 16 : Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar on Tuesday urged Union Minority Affairs Minister Smriti Z. Irani to remove the discrepancies in the charges payable at the embarkation points for Haj pilgrims at different locations in Maharashtra.

In a letter to Irani, Pawar said that this year, of the 22 airports in India, Mumbai, Aurangabad, and Nagpur have been selected as EPs for the Haj 2023 pilgrimage season.

However, there are a lot of discrepancies in the EP charges payable at Aurangabad which is around Rs 88,000 higher than what is payable in Mumbai.

"It puts a heavy burden on the Haj pilgrims, especially from the underdeveloped regions of Marathwada and other rural areas of Maharashtra," said Pawar.

He added that the people of entire Marathwada have raised their voice against these indiscriminate charges and requested that it should be made at par with Mumbai EP charges.

The issue was first highlighted by state Congress Working President M. A. Naseem Khan who not only slammed the Central government's move to reduce this year's quotas for Haj pilgrimage but also slapped higher charges to the pilgrims at various EPs, as reported by IANS on May 10.

On May 15, Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar wrote to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde pointing out the hefty EP charges being levied on Haj 2023 pilgrims from Nagpur which is over Rs 63,000 higher than Mumbai.

Ajit Pawar demanded that "either the pilgrims should be given a discount on these high charges, or they should be re-allotted Mumbai as their EP".

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Khan has said that earlier the pilgrim quota given to the Haj Committee of India was over 200,000, but has now been slashed to around 150,000, and the rest given to the private tour operators who are charging exorbitant amounts ranging from Rs 500,000-Rs 10,00,000 per pilgrim.

The Congress leader also questioned the HCI's decision to charge different and unjustified amounts for the pilgrimage from different EPs in the country - and Maharashtra - Mumbai at Rs 3,04,843, Nagpur at Rs 3,67,044, and Aurangabad at Rs 3,92,738.

Khan claimed that the pilgrims are also being denied other benefits like the 'qurbani' and 'adahi' charges that were given pre-2019, but when he raised the matter with the HCI Members, they informed lack of authority as all their powers were withdrawn by the Ministry of Minority Affairs.

"Due to this, there is anger in the pilgrims and the Muslim community in Maharashtra and all over India. I request you to personally look into the matter and give suitable directions to the concerned ministry," Khan appealed to the PM.

Sharad Pawar also sent along representations of state NCP Youth President Mehbub Shaikh and Beed MLA Sandeep Kshirsagar on the same issue, and urged Irani the EP charges be slashed.

The annual Haj-2023 pilgrimage will start from June 26 and the first of the flights to Saudi Arabia from different EPs all over India will take off on May 21.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in)
Bengaluru, May 16 : Outgoing Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday thanked senior state government officials for extending full cooperation and for taking several bold decisions during his tenure.

In a informal interaction with officials at a high tea here, he said that in the administration, the legislature and executive play important roles and they work under them.

Bommai recalled that soon after assuming the office, he faced the Covid pandemic and unprecedented floods and everything was effectively managed. In the last four years, no violence had been reported from any part of the state and even the Assembly elections also passed off peacefully for which the Home Department must be congratulated, he said.

He said several important decisions have been taken such as a hike in the reservation, on challenges of the government employees, and new policies. The officials played a vital role in the implementation of the employment and industrial policies and their cooperation was very important, he noted.

"We come once in five years but you will be in power for a long time. Everyone must strive for the development of the state. I might have said things loudly but it is only to speed up the work. But it is nothing personal. The state of Karnataka is ahead in many issues such as the GST and in attracting investments. The role of officials is very important in the state's development. Let us all work for the all-round development of Karnataka," he noted.
New Delhi, May 16 : Leading travel service provider MakeMyTrip on Tuesday said the gross bookings for fiscal year FY23 grew by 122 per cent (year-on-year) to reach $6.6 billion with adjusted operating profit at $70.3 million, a growth of 203 per cent (YoY) and highest-ever for the company.

The gross Bookings for Q4 grew by 80.7 per cent YoY in constant currency to $1.7 billion. Adjusted operating profit was $19 million in Q4, as compared to $12 million in Q4 FY22.

The company registered $5.4 million profit in Q4 FY23, as compared to a loss of $4.1 million in Q4 FY22.

MakeMyTrip said that the loss for FY23 was $11.2 million as compared to $45.6 million in FY22, being a reduction of $34.4 million.

"We witnessed robust recovery in travel demand with significant improvement in consumer sentiment during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023. We capitalized on this trend to deliver strong results with over 120 per cent YoY constant currency growth in gross bookings," said Rajesh Magow, Group CEO, MakeMyTrip.

He said that the strategy of investing in the right areas coupled with "our initiatives to optimise certain costs has helped us to preserve and strengthen our moat".

"We remain well positioned for the next fiscal year with a strong pipeline of product innovation to further enhance customer experience," Magow added.

The online travel company last week collaborated with Microsoft to make travel planning more inclusive and accessible by introducing voice assisted booking in Indian languages.

The new, in-platform tech stack powered by Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service and Azure Cognitive Services, will converse with the user to offer personalised travel recommendations based on their preferences and curate holiday packages.
Three people died during clashes Monday between Senegalese police and supporters of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, the authorities said, raising the toll by two.

In a statement early Tuesday, the interior ministry said it had been "informed of the discovery of the bodies of two young people."

One of them apparently died of knife wounds in a suburb of the capital Dakar, while the second was found in the southern city of Ziguinchor, it said, without giving further details.

The ministry did not directly attribute the latest deaths to the protests, but said it "strongly urges parents to prevent their children from taking part in violent demonstrations."

These events are liable to "attacks, theft, looting and other acts of vandalism," he said.

On Monday, the ministry said a policeman died after being accidentally crushed by an armoured vehicle that had been deployed at demonstrations in Ziguinchor.

Crowds blocked roads with logs and burning tyres, throwing stones at police who responded with tear gas, according to an AFP correspondent there.

Local media reported that several protesters had been injured.

Protests in Ziguinchor and the Dakar area erupted on the eve of a scheduled court appearance by Sonko, who is facing trial for the alleged rape of an employee at a beauty salon where he went for a massage.

The trial opened in his absence at a Dakar court on Tuesday and was immediately adjourned until May 23.

Sonko, 48, who was also recently sentenced to a six-month suspended prison sentence for defamation and insults against the tourism minister, has denied the charge.

Sonko, president of the Pastef-Patriots party, came in third in the 2019 presidential elections.

He says the legal cases against him are a plot aimed at barring him from contesting the 2024 vote.

Senegal is traditionally a beacon of stability in troubled West Africa, but in recent years has been buffeted by turbulence that has at times turned deadly.

When Sonko was arrested in 2021, several days of protests left at least 12 people dead.

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Rome, May 16 : Novak Djokovic continued the quest for his record-extending 39th ATP Masters 1000 crown on Tuesday when he moved past Cameron Norrie 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the quarterfinals of the Italian Open at the Foro Italico on Tuesday.

The current world No. 1 is now through to the last eight stage in Rome for the 17th consecutive year. It was the 91st ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal of Djokovic's career.

"So far so good," Djokovic was quoted by ATP Tour website. "It was an early start today. Strange conditions and we warmed up for just 20 minutes. I was rushing a little bit and we couldn't play before because of the rain, so I am glad to overcome the challenge in straight sets and move on," he said.

Djokovic has finished in the top eight of the tournament in each of his participations. On the Foro Italico, the Serbian has won six editions of the tournament and is the reigning champion.

The 35-year-old Serb is chasing his seventh title in Rome, having triumphed at the event in 2008, 2011, 2014-15, 2020 and 2022. Following his 89-minute win, he will next meet Dane Holger Rune.

On the other hand, Norrie was aiming to reach the quarterfinals at an ATP Masters 1000 for the second time this season, after advancing to that stage in Indian Wells.

In other action, Rune halted Alexei Popyrin's career-best run at an ATP Masters 1000 tournament. The 20-year-old Dane scored a hard-fought 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 victory in their fourth-round showdown on Tuesday.

Rune, who is making his debut in Rome, now holds an 11-2 record on clay this season. The World No. 7 reached the final in Monte-Carlo last month before he clinched his fourth tour-level title in Munich.

The Dane will head into his quarterfinal meeting against Djokovic with confidence, having defeated the Serbian in the 2022 Paris final.
Patna May 16 : On Day 4 of his 'Hanuman Katha', self-styled godman and Bageshwar Dham chief Dhirendra Shastri repeated his commitment to make India a Hindu nation, here on Tuesday.

Shastri also claimed that he has come to Bihar by risking his life to wake up the people of the state.

After offering prayers at the Hanuman temple near Patna Junction railway station, Shastri went to the venue of his event at the Taret Pali Math in Naubatpur.

"The population of Bihar is around 13 crore and I want to tell you through this 'Hanuman Katha' that once you return to your respective homes, you should install religious flags of Lord Hanuman. If five crore people of Bihar do that and put 'tilak' on their foreheads before stepping out of their homes, India will head towards becoming a Hindu nation.

"I want to appeal to all the people to save and preserve their culture and Sanatan Dharma. I came to Bihar by risking my life to wake up the people of Bihar. And I will continue to do so," Shastri said.

"People should read Ramcharitmanas, put 'tilak' on their foreheads, and install religious flag of Lord Hanuman at their homes to preserve Sanatan Dharma. I don't want to force anyone with religion, but I want to say that those who worship Lord Ram, Lord Hanuman will protect their homes," Shastri added.

Meanwhile, the Bihar chapter of Bageshwar Dham on Tuesday announced the next event of the self-styled godman at Gaya in September this year.
New Delhi, May 16 : Anurag Maloo is a mountaineer and a climate athlete. He is a resident of Kishangarh, Rajasthan. Recently, he went on an expedition to Mount Annapurna in Nepal, one of the highest peaks in the world.

Unfortunately, Anurag met with an accident and had gone missing on April 17 after falling from an altitude of 5,800 metres while descending from Camp III on Mount Annapurna.

After three days, he was found alive but in a critical condition. His family needed extended medical support for his treatment as his recovery cost exceeded their means.

His family requested for the Adani Foundation's assistance to arrange and bear the cost of the airlift and ground transfer from Nepal to India.

Chairman Gautam Adani promptly acted and the Adani Foundation arranged an air ambulance for his transfer.

Anurag was rescued and airlifted to the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi where he is currently undergoing treatment.

Aashish Maloo said in a tweet: "Grateful beyond words for the timely airlifting! Heartfelt thanks to @gautam_adani and @AdaniFoundation for their invaluable support in repatriating @AnuragMaloo safely." "Priti and I are privileged to be of help. We are happy to learn that Anurag is safe and are praying for his speedy recovery. We are confident that he will soon be ready to conquer more of life's peaks," Gautam Adani tweeted.
Mumbai, May 16 : The countdown has started for the theatrical release of 'Adipurush'. The movie will premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival, which will be followed by its theatrical release in India, exactly one month from today.

The makers of the film dropped a stunning new poster, featuring Prabhas as Raghava. Sharing the poster on social media, Prabhas wrote in the caption: "Mangalmay Har Bhakt Hoga, Jab Adipurush Ka Swagat Hoga. The devotion of everyone abounds as Adipurush's arrival resounds, One month to go! Jai Shri Ram #Adipurush in cinemas worldwide on 16th June!" A mythological drama based on the Ramayana, the film has been written and directed by Om Raut. The film has been shot simultaneously in Hindi and Telugu, and it has Prabhas, Kriti Sanon, Saif Ali Khan, Sunny Singh, Devdatta Nage and Vatsal Sheth in the lead roles.

Its music has been composed by Ajay-Atul.

With a budget pegged at over Rs 700 crore, it the most expensive Indian film ever made.
Chennai, May 16 : The Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday said that it is contemplating stringent restrictions on the use of methanol after 19 people died by consuming spurious liquor in Villupuram and Chengalpattu districts of the state.

State Health Minister Ma Subramanian told a press conference here that the government will take steps to monitor the use of methanol that is used to brew spurious liquor.

He said that 50 persons were admitted in various hospitals in the two districts following consumption of spurious liquor. He said that an officer will be appointed to monitor those who are undergoing treatment at Villupuram government medical college and Muniyambakkam hospital.

Ma Subramanian said that he would visit those who are admitted at the hospitals for consuming spurious liquor.

A group of 50 people had consumed liquor at Ekkiyarkuppam fishing hamlet at Marakkanam in Villupuram district on Saturday evening. The second incident took place hours later at Maruthanthakam, 50 km away at Marakkanam in Chengalpattu district.

Tamil Nadu DGP, C. Sylendrababu has directed the Villupuram Police Superintendent and Chengalpattu Police Commissioner to conduct a special search operation to trace and eradicate the sale of spurious liquor in the state.

--IANS aal/vd

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Ghaziabad, May 16 : Lawyers' protest over the arrest of an advocate took an ugly turn in Ghaziabad court premises on Tuesday. The protestors vandalised the public properties in the court premises, assaulted media personnel and also damaged their cameras and mobile phones.

The lawyers broke windows in the court premises, raised slogans against the police and blocked the main road leading to the court.

On May 14, a lawyer was taken into custody for alleged assault of a policeman. The lawyers demand that the fellow lawyer be released and the fake trial be ended, threatening to continue the strike.

On May 14, Golu, a resident of Bhanera village of Niwadi police station, called the police and informed that he had been robbed.

Advocate Pawan Tyagi and Shanki, a resident of the village, were named as suspect accused.

Niwari police station in-charge Surendra Singh said that after getting information, sub-inspector Gaurav Kumar and three constables reached the spot. They took lawyer Pawan Tyagi, Golu and Shanki into custody for giving false information about the loot, in the meantime the villagers gathered and attacked the policeman. The uniform of the inspector was also torn. After this, the police arrested advocate Pawan Tyagi and registered a case.

On Monday, the Bar Association Ghaziabad held a meeting. In this regard, a resolution was passed condemning the police. In protest against the action, the lawyers were on strike throughout the day on Monday.

As soon as the lawyer reached the court on Tuesday morning, they again started the protest. At present, the lawyers have just calmed down and are staging a sit-in protest on the main road near the court.
Geneva, May 16 : Carefully examining the risks involved is imperative while using artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT, Bard, and Bert in healthcare, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Tuesday.

While the WHO is enthusiastic about the appropriate use of technologies, including the generated AI tools to support health-care professionals, patients, researchers and scientists, "there is concern that caution that would normally be exercised for any new technology is not being exercised consistently with large language model tools (LLMs)", it said.

LLMs include ChatGPT, Bard, Bert and others that imitate understanding, processing, and producing human communication.

"This includes widespread adherence to key values of transparency, inclusion, public engagement, expert supervision, and rigorous evaluation," the global health body said in a statement.

"It is imperative that the risks be examined carefully when using LLMs to improve access to health information, as a decision-support tool, or even to enhance diagnostic capacity in under-resourced settings to protect people's health and reduce inequity," it added.

The WHO said that "precipitous adoption of untested systems could lead to errors by health-care workers, cause harm to patients, erode trust in AI and thereby undermine (or delay) the potential long-term benefits and uses of such technologies".

The WHO's concerns against the AI tools include that data used to train the AI models may be biased, thus generating misleading or inaccurate information which could pose risks to health, equity and inclusiveness.

The LLMs are also likely to generate responses that can appear authoritative and plausible to an end user and these responses may also be completely incorrect or contain serious errors, especially for health-related responses.

Further, the WHO said that AI may not protect sensitive data (including health data), it can misuse data to generate and disseminate highly convincing disinformation in the form of text, audio or video content that is difficult for the public to differentiate from reliable health content.

"WHO proposes that these concerns be addressed, and clear evidence of benefit be measured before their widespread use in routine health care and medicine -- whether by individuals, care providers or health system administrators and policy-makers," the statement said.
Kolkata, May 16 : The death toll in the explosion at an 'illegal' fire-cracker factory at Egra in East Midnapore district on Tuesday has risen to five.

Seven other critically injured persons are currently undergoing treatment at a local hospital.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced a compensation of Rs 2.5 lakh each for the deceased persons families, and Rs 1 lakh for those injured in the blast, besides ordering a probe into the matter by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of West Bengal Police.

Banerjee also said that if the National Investigation Agency (NIA) probes the matter, as demanded by state BJP President Sukanta Majumdar, she will not object to it.

Speaking to the mediapersons here, the Chief Minister said that the owner of the fire-cracker factory, Krishnapada Bag, was arrested by the police in October last year.

"He was arrested for running an illegal fire-cracker factory. The police even issued a charge sheet against him. But the court granted him bail. After that he resumed operations at his illegal fire-cracker factory located close to the Bengal-Odisha border," she said.

Bag is absconding since the blast at his factory and the police suspect that he might have escaped to Odisha.

The Chief Minister also said that Bag runs similar illegal fire-cracker manufacturing business in Odisha and Bangladesh.

Banerjee further alleged that Trinamool Congress leaders were stopped by the local BJP cadres from reaching the spot of the explosion.

"The panchayat under which the blast took place is under the control of the BJP," the Chief Minister said.

Meanwhile, Sukanta Majumdar has claimed that the impact of the explosion shows that it was not an explosion of ordinary fire-crackers.

"We suspect that crude bombs were being manufactured at the factory," he said.

The local people have alleged that the fire-cracker factory was being run illegally without requisite permission or monitoring of the local administration, including the police.

They have also alleged that their repeated appeals for taking action against the illegal fire-cracker factories mushrooming in the area were ignored by the local administration.
New Delhi, May 16 : Liquor firm Indospirits, which is accused of obtaining an liquor license illegally under the alleged Delhi liquor policy scam, had transferred Rs 1.70 crore to news channel India Ahead Private Ltd "without any reasons", as per the Central Bureau of Investigation charge sheet.

India Ahead News President, Sales and Marketing, Arjun Pandey had also been made an accused in the case by the CBI.

"Rs 70 lakh were transferred from the bank accounts of Indospirits to the account of India Ahead News Pvt Ltd on March 14, 2022. Prior to this, Rs 1 crore were transferred by Indospirits to Andhra Prabha Publications Ltd on February 28, 2022. Andhra Prabha Publications Ltd is the holding company of India Ahead News Pvt Ltd. There was no specific reasons to transfer such big amounts," CBI sources said quoting the charge sheet.

The CBI has contended that there was no reason for the transfer of Rs 1.70 crore to India Ahead Private Ltd by Indospirits.

The CBI learnt that Pandey was paid large sums in the guise of "consultancy", at an average of Rs 5 lakh per month.

It said that their probe established that Pandey was also present in the meetings that took place between the accused persons of the 'South Group' with AAP's Vijay Nair in New Delhi in which conspiracy was hatched among the accused in respect of the formulation and implementation of the Excise Policy 2021-22 as well as in lieu of the same Rs 30 crores were to be transferred from the accused Abhisek Boinpally to Nair.

(Atul Krishan can be approached at atul.k@ians.in)
New Delhi, May 16: In a significant meeting of the military chiefs of Quad countries that kicked off in California today, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan presented Indias views on fostering peace, prosperity and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Hosted by Commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command Admiral John Christopher Aquilino at Sunnylands in California, the Indo-Pacific Security Dialogue is also being attended by Japan's Chief of Joint Staff General Yoshida Yoshihide and the Chief of the Australian Defence Force General Angus Campbell.

"General Anil Chauhan CDS put forth India's views in the 1st session 'Deterrence Through Effective Partnerships'," said Headquarters of Integrated Defence Staff.

The gathering of top military commanders comes just before next week's third Quad Leaders' Summit hosted by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Sydney which will also witness the presence of PM Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden and Japanese PM Fumio Kishida.

The Quad partners will be meeting immediately after the G7 Leaders' Summit in Hiroshima (May 19-21). Kishida has already extended an invitation to PM Modi for the summit where the leaders are expected to discuss common interests, including China's rapidly increasing imprint in the Indo-Pacific region.

The extensive interactions will continue as, a few months later in September, India will host the leaders again for the G20 Leaders' Summit.

The Sunnylands dialogue began just as the US Air Force wrapped up a bilateral fighter training exercise 'Cope Thunder' with the Philippine Air Force - the first since 1990 - at Clark Air Base on Luzon Island to strengthen the defence of the region with its allies and like-minded forces.

Interestingly, the Philippines Secretary for Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo met Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi in Tokyo on Tuesday to discuss the situation in the East and South China Seas.

Last week, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley told the Senate Appropriations Defence Subcommittee that the international rules-based system that has kept great power peace since the end of World War II is under increasing stress.

Milley labelled China as the long-term geostrategic security challenge for the United States, emphasising that Beijing has publicly stated that it intends to be the regional hegemon in Asia within the next 10 years and to exceed the United States' overall military capability by the mid-century.

"Chinese actions are moving it on a path toward potential confrontation with its neighbours and the United States. But, again, war with China is neither inevitable nor imminent," said Milley.

As reported by IndiaNarrative.com, Washington has maintained that India remains a key pillar in US strategy in the Indo-Pacific region as it builds alliances and partnerships to the ongoing implementation of the US National Defence Strategy.

"The deputy secretary thanked NSA Doval for India's leadership in the region and discussed avenues to deepen coordination between the US and Indian militaries to address the region's increasingly contested strategic environment," Pentagon spokesman Eric Pahon said after February's meeting between National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and the US Deputy Secretary of Defence Kathleen Hicks in the US capital.

Admiral Aquilino, who visited India a month later, reaffirmed the India-US strategic partnership, noting that military cooperation between the two nations - who have shown a shared commitment to a resilient, rules-based international order that promotes a free and open Indo-Pacific for all - is at an all-time high.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative
Egypt's exports to Germany, Spain, France and the UK have surged in 2022 thus lowering the trade deficit with these four major European, according to Minister of Trade and Industry Ahmed Samir.

Minister Samir reviewed figures for Egyptian exports to these four major European markets in 2022 during a meeting with the heads of regional trade offices, according to a cabinet statement released on Tuesday.

Germany

Egypt's exports to Germany surged by 30.8 in 2022 to reach 1.1 billion.

Trade exchange between the two countries grew by 7.8 percent in 2022 to reach 5.5 billion in 2022, up from 5.1 billion in 2021, Samir said.

Spain

Egyptian exports to Spain tripled in 2022 to reach 2.9 billion in 2022, up from 1.1 billion in 2021.

Trade exchange between the two countries doubled in 2022 to register 4.5 billion, up from 2.7 billion in 2021, the trade and industry minister added.

France

Egyptian exports to France jumped by 136 percent in 2022 to reach 2.16 billion, up from 917 million in 2021, thus lowering the trade deficit with France to 121.9 million at the end of 2022, from 940.8 million in 2021.

UK

Egyptian exports to the UK surged 83 percent in 2022 to reach 1.6 billion in 2022, up from 912 million in 2021, resulting in a trade surplus with the Kingdom of 57 million.

Samir explained that investors from the UK remain the largest investors from any one country in Egypt, with total value investments of $21.8 billion according to most recent figures.

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Mumbai, May 16 : In a stinging attack, the Maharashtra Congress on Tuesday accused ruling ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of returning the 'favour' to former Mumbai Commissioner of Police Param Bir Singh for his help rendered to topple the erstwhile Maha Vikas Aghadi government in the state.

State Congress President Nana Patole said that the BJP has now compensated Singh - who was suspended by the MVA regime headed by former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray - by revoking the ex-top cop's suspension and other issues.

"The entire conspiracy to defame the MVA government by plotting the planting of a gelatine-laden vehicle outside the Antilia (residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani), or accusing a minister of collecting Rs 100 crore bribe has fallen flat. It is also clear now that Singh was a puppet in the hands of Devendra Fadnavis," Patole said.

Hence, in order to return the 'favours' to Singh, the government of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and (Deputy CM) Fadnavis have helped honorably rehabilitate him, taking back his suspension without following the due legal process, he added.

This, said Patole, was done despite the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) clearly stating that the Bombay High Court had given a clear order to the CBI to probe, file a charge sheet and conduct a department inquiry against Singh.

The Shinde government did not do this, it did not review his suspension and extend it as required, failed to conduct a department probe and hence Singh got the relief in the hearings before the CAT, claimed Patole.

"When I was the Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly, I had met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in Delhi, who had said that some people had given him a corruption file pertaining to Singh. He had also said that the concerned person had sent a copy of the file to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the state Chief Minister," said Patole.

Thereafter, Patole said, Singh met him and reportedly said that "this is how it works in the department".

"It is clear that even though the PMO, CMO and the Lok Sabha Speaker's office were fully aware of Singh's corruption, the BJP government in the state did not even conduct a simple inquiry, far from taking any action against him. And now the ex-officer has been given a clean chit," said Patole.

He also accused the Shinde-Fadnavis government of deliberately weakening the case to save Singh on technical grounds, but their mentality has been fully exposed before the people now.
Gurugram, May 16 : A 36-year-old woman was allegedly raped by a doctor in a hotel located in Sector-40 area, police said.

"The woman lodged a complaint saying that she had been sedated and raped when she had gone for treatment. A case was registered under the appropriate sections of the IPC. The accused will be nabbed soon," said a senior police officer.

In her complaint, the woman said that she was unwell for a few days. On this, she called her female friend who told her that she has a doctor friend with whom she is currently sitting in the Sector-40 hotel.

It is alleged that the friend called the victim so that after getting her checked up by the doctor, she could get treatment.

The victim told the police when she reached the said hotel, she saw that her friend was consuming alcohol with a person identified as Dr Rakesh.

It is alleged that during the conversation, he offered her a cold drink in which some intoxicant was mixed. When the girl's health started deteriorating, her friend went out of the room, after which the doctor locked the room from inside and raped her.

When she regained consciousness, the woman realized that she had been raped. The victim complained to the Sector-40 police station.
Vidisha : , May 16 (IANS/ 101Reporters) "Had I been at work, I would not have let this happen," regrets Sharda Kushwaha (29), an Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) from Neh Pipariya village in Vidisha district.

On April 13, a village woman lost her newborn shortly after delivery as the child was in breech position (bottom down and head up) in the womb. The family could not figure out that something was amiss and couldn't seek timely medical intervention. All this, as Sharda and thousands of ASHAs have been on an indefinite strike in Madhya Pradesh since March 23, demanding that they be given a fair increase in their monthly stipend and assured of permanent employee status.

ASHA supervisor Vinita Sharma claims three women and four newborns died in Vidisha district ever since the strike - a reminder of how rural health services rely heavily on the ASHAs in their role as providers of crucial outreach services under the Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health and Nutrition (RMNCHN) strategy of the National Health Mission.

"Ever since the strike began, non-institutional deliveries are on the rise. If we take the last one-month period, seven deliveries have taken place at homes in my block. I feel this number would have otherwise been zero as the pregnant women would have been shifted to a hospital or health centre," says Preeti Raghuvanshi, an ASHA supervisor from Tyonda block of Vidisha.

"Pregnant women go to the government hospital only because of the ASHAs. In fact, no one wants to go there without an ASHA's escort. They think there is a lack of resources in government hospitals, and that people will not provide the required information or behave well. So women do not want to go to the hospital alone," Lakshmi Korav, the president of Madhya Pradesh ASHA/ASHA Sahyogini Shramik Sangh, tells 101Reporters.

Admitting that non-institutional deliveries have gone up ever since the strike, Korav says, "Even check-ups and monitoring of pregnant women have stopped. The ASHAs used to get them medicines from health centres or check their blood pressure during door-to-door surveys. After delivery, they are encouraged to breastfeed. The ASHAs take care of the newborn in the first 28 days and constantly monitor their weight. All of this has stopped." Nargis Bi of Sirnota is pregnant, but she will have to go alone to the primary health centre (PHC) for check-up. "The ASHA always accompanied me for check-ups. Everything went well when she was around. Sometimes, she would take me to the district hospital for an ultrasound. She can better articulate my problems to the doctor, which makes treatment easier." For now, the ASHAs have been instructed to verbally keep in touch with the women and explain what they should necessarily do. "These are the people of our community; we have no enmity towards them. We care about the people we look after. We have told them that right now we are on strike and cannot come to take care of your child. It bothers us that we cannot help them while we are fighting for our rights," says Korav.

Why strike work? There are three working cadres - ASHA, Urban Social Health Activist (USHA), and ASHA Sahyogini. Currently, the ASHAs and USHAs receive a monthly payment of Rs 2,000, while ASHA Sahyoginis, who perform supervisory duties, get Rs 10,000. They want the honorarium to be raised to a minimum of Rs 18,000 and Rs 26,000, respectively.

"After working tirelessly for hours together, we are paid less than a daily wage worker. My family has seven members. Tell me how I will run the household with this meagre amount," asks Sharda. Korav emphasises that they are only demanding a living wage. "We need at least Rs 18,000 per month, which is the minimum wage a trained worker in Madhya Pradesh should get as per the government mandate." However, the current focused demand relates to an agreement reached during talks with a government delegation headed by Chhavi Bhardwaj, the then NHM Mission Director, in 2021. "On June 24, 2021, when we were protesting in Bhopal, the government team engaged in talks with us, and it was agreed upon that the ASHAs would be given Rs 10,000 per month and Sahyoginis Rs 15,000. We seek the immediate implementation of this agreement and payment of arrears from that date," Korav explains.

NHM State Director Priyanka Das did not respond to repeated attempts to contact her.

Justifying the demand for a better honorarium, Sharda says they are on call 24x7. "We leave everything to tend to a woman in labour in the middle of the night, yet join routine work early morning the very next day." The ASHAs maintain a register of pregnant women, newborns and other target beneficiaries. Every day, they go through a checklist and mark the areas that need home visits - like pregnant women in the last trimester or breastfeeding mothers - and set out on foot for door-to-door visits as soon as they are done with the work at the PHC. These visits facilitate early detection of diseases, maternal and child healthcare, nutrition education and immunisation campaigns.

The ASHAs are like an extended family, intimately involved in the lives of the villagers they serve. They not only provide essential healthcare but also act as sources of support. "Being part of the local culture and customs makes it easier to tackle sensitive health topics. We counsel the residents on numerous issues. We talk about family planning and encourage sterilisation... We know which house has what issue, and how it should be addressed," says Usha Sharma, an ASHA from Sirnota.

Pooja Kushwaha from Ahmedpur is forever thankful to the ASHA who supported her during pregnancy. "I was underweight, had low BP and suffered from bouts of nervousness... Arti Lodhi, our ASHA, checked upon me regularly, and sometimes accompanied me to the PHC for check-up. She gave me iron tablets. After her counselling session, I was no longer anxious about the delivery," says Kushwaha, who also got maternity assistance under the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) with her help.

The JSY is a centrally sponsored scheme that integrates cash assistance with delivery and post-delivery care. The scheme has recognised ASHAs as an effective link between the government and pregnant women. It aims at promoting institutional deliveries and reducing maternal and neonatal mortality by providing cash incentives to those who give birth in healthcare institutions.

"She (ASHA) has been with us from the beginning of pregnancy. She advised me about both maternal and child health. After the baby's arrival, she only took care of the vaccination, weight, nutrition and everything else," attests Sunaina Bairagi, a new mother from Ahmedpur.

The ASHAs hold weekly sessions with the women and children at anganwadis to ensure holistic development and well-being of children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers. "We are trained in providing assistance during childbirth in both home and institutional settings. No one knows exactly when a delivery will happen, so we are always prepared when a woman is expecting," says Usha.

They also maintain a record of the children's growth and development. "Ever since the strike, the data on nourishment levels of children have not been shared with the government. No one is tracking nutritional intake. These children are walking a fine line between undernourishment and malnourishment," cautions Korav.

The ASHAs were to start the registration work for the newly-launched Madhya Pradesh Mukhyamantri Ladli Behna Scheme, but they have not been part of it due to the strike. The referral system has been affected as the ASHAs play a critical role in facilitating timely and appropriate referrals for emergency obstetric care.

Around March-April, they conduct a malaria survey to check the presence of mosquito larvae on household premises. Vaccination drive against Japanese Encephalitis is also carried out during this period. None of these activities have been taken up this time.

No doubt, the ASHA strike has crippled rural health services in Madhya Pradesh. The only thing left to know is how long the government will take to intervene.

(Satish Malviya is a Vidisha-based freelance journalist and a member of 101Reporters, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters)
Bengaluru, May 16 : Karnataka's former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, who jumped from the BJP to the Congress, might have lost in the Assembly elections but the Congress is all set to give him a big role considering his contribution to its victory.

Senior leaders - former Deputy Chief Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara and former state Congress President Dinesh Gundu Rao paid a visit to his residence here on Tuesday as per the instructions of the party high command and thanked him for the support.

Shettar told the media that it was a cordial meeting. "I had campaigned in 15 constituencies," he said.

He stated that the BJP has lost power because it humiliated the Lingayat community. "They (BJP) should explain why they asked (Chief Minister B.S.) Yediyurappa to step down? Yediyurappa was in tears. I was humiliated by denying me a ticket. All this resulted in the defeat of the BJP," he said.

Shettar lost from Hubballi-Dharwad Central seat against BJP candidate Mahesh Tenginakayi. Union Home Minister Amit Shah made it a point to defeat Shettar who defected to Congress from the BJP.

Yediyurappa was stationed in Hubballi and personally held meetings to ensure his defeat. He even announced that he will give it in blood that Shettar will be defeated. However, Shettar was made a star campaigner by the Congress.

Shettar toured north Karnataka and narrated how he was humiliated by the BJP and alleged that BJP wants to finish off Lingayat leadership. The damage was done and the Lingayat vote bank of BJP had got divided and shifted to the Congress.

To keep the Lingayat vote divided and garner a major chunk of it, the Congress has decided to pursue its mission. Sources say that since the BJP wants to politically finish off Shettar, Congress wants to see to it that Shettar is given a big role. Shettar has got emboldened and started fresh attacks on the BJP.

He had questioned the discretion of BJP leadership to give plum posts to Pralhad Joshi and Niramala Sitharaman and allot low key portfolios to other communities. This shows the priorities of BJP, he had said.
New Delhi, May 16 : A threat call from a landline number was received at Union Minister Nitin Gadkari's official residence at Motilal Nehru Road on Monday night, a Delhi Police official said on Tuesday.

The Minister's office reported the matter to Delhi Police.

According to police, an unidentified man, speaking in Hindi, called up the official residence of the Minister and said that he wants to talk to the minister and then threatened him.

"We are investigating the matter and further police teams are scanning the call details record to trace the caller's number and further identify the culprit and nab him," a senior police official said.
Hyderabad, May 16 : Ahead of the first anniversary of the critically acclaimed film 'Major', actor Adivi Sesh had the opportunity to meet and engage with former Presidenti Ram Nath Kovind.

The actor was delighted by the privilege of discussing the film and its significance with the former President. Deeply moved by the movie, Ram Nath commended the entire team's efforts and acknowledged Adivi's remarkable acting skills, which conveyed the emotional depth of this powerful film.

Adivi shared a heartwarming post of his encounter with Ram Nath Kovind in an Instagram post saying, "I am truly overwhelmed by his response to our efforts on Major. It was a lovely conversation. Memories of a lifetime. Forever grateful. Forever thankful." The film unit says this meeting is a testament to the impact Major had made, as it resonated with individuals from all walks of life, including distinguished figures like the former President.

Adivi Sesh received immense love for his exceptional portrayal in Major, which brought him in the spotlight. Critics praised his nuanced performance as Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan.

The actor's fans eagerly await his future project Goodachari 2.
Imphal, May 16 : Of Manipurs 28 lakh population, 1.4 lakh youth are affected by the drugs menace, forcing the state government to launch a 'War Against Drugs' campaign that led to the arrest of 2,518 drug peddlers and destruction of 15,496 acres of illegal poppy cultivation in the past six years, officials said on Tuesday.

A senior official of Manipur's Narcotics and Affairs of Border Department said that while dealing with the drugs-related cases and destruction of illegal poppy cultivation areas, the state government never targeted a particular community.

"Drugs ruined many precious lives in Manipur and India. Manipur has a population of only 28 lakh, of which 1.4 lakh are currently affected by the drugs menace. The state has become a gateway for illegal drugs smuggling into the mainland Indian states," the official told IANS.

Manipur government's actions against the drugs menace and destruction of illegal poppy fields in the reserved forests (RF) and protected forests are the two main reasons of unrest since early this year, which erupted in the ethnic violence from May 3.

Poppy cultivation is prohibited in India under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act 1985, except under a licence issued by the Central Bureau of Narcotics.

At present, licit opium poppy cultivation is permitted by the Indian government in selected tracts in a few north Indian states.

The official said that the Manipur government never targeted a particular community, and encroachment evictions from the reserve forest and protected forest were done statewide to preserve the forests in view of the deteriorating climatic conditions.

According to the official, of the 2,518 drug peddlers arrested since 2017, 1,083 were Muslim, 873 people belonged to Kuki-Chin tribals, 381 belonged to the Meitei community, while 181 people belonged to various other communities.

Out of the destruction of 15,496 acres of illegal poppy fields since 2017, 13,121 acres belonged to Kuki-Chin tribals, 2,340 acres belonged to Naga tribals, and 35 acres to other communities.

The official said that the 291 encroachers evicted from the protected and reserve forest areas in various districts, including Imphal East, Imphal West, Kangpokpi, Thoubal and Noney, belonged to various communities, including Kuki-Chin, Naga tribals, Nepali, Meitei etc.

The hills account for 90 per cent of the state's area and 10 per cent of its population, while the valley occupies 10 per cent land.

Out of the 60 Assembly seats, the valley accounts for 40 seats, dominating the state government and policy-making decisions.

In the valley, there are Hindu, non-tribal Meitei communities while the hills are inhabited largely by the Christian Naga and Kuki-Zomi communities.

Protesting against the state government's action to evict them from forest lands and destruction of illegal poppy cultivation in the reserve and protected forests, the tribals had on March 10 organised protest rallies in three districts -- Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Tengnoupal, during which five people were injured.

Fresh incidents of violence, including arson and vandalisation of government properties, were triggered on April 27 in Churachandpur district after the tribals launched fresh protests against the state government's action against illegal poppy cultivation.

Over 70 people died while scores of others were left injured after rampant arsoning and clashed 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.

Government officials accused the Kuki militants of inciting Kuki tribal encroachers against the government, which has been evicting the tribals from the forest land and destroying poppy fields and these actions are said to be a precursor to the ethnic violence that was triggered on May 3.

The Centre and the Manipur government had signed a tripartite agreement and 'Suspension of Operation' with three Kuki militant outfits -- the Kuki National Army (KNA), Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) and Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) -- on August 22, 2008.

After the March 10 agitations by the tribals, allegedly backed by the Kuki militants, the Manipur government had unilaterally withdrawn itself from the tripartite agreement.

However, the Centre is yet to give its approval to the Manipur government's decision.

(Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujit.c@ians.in)
Chennai, May 16 : In wake of 19 people losing their lives in the hooch tragedy in Villupuram and Chengalpattu districts of Tamil Nadu, the opposition AIADMK has upped its ante against Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and the DMK government.

Leader of Opposition K. Palaniswami on Tuesday called for the resignation of Stalin due to "the mounting number of deaths due to spurious liquor".

Addressing media at Tiruchi after meeting the families of the hooch tragedy victims, he also demanded Prohibition and Excise Minister Senthil Balaji quit.

The former Chief Minister also claimed that during the AIADMK regime from 2011 to 2021, there were no hooch tragedies in the state and the latest is mainly due to the failure in curtailing the availability of spurious liquor in many parts of Tamil Nadu.

Palaniswami also said that the DMK government must take stringent action against those who are found selling illicit liquor. He said that there are reports of some DMK local level leaders ensuring protection to bootleggers.

Talking to IANS, Villupuram trader M. Tirunavakarasu said: "The local people have been complaining against this illegal liquor supply in these areas. People have complained, but there was no action and this is the answer to lethargy and callousness in ensuring that proper liquor is used."
Patna May 16 : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday reacted sharply to self-styled godman Baba Bageshwar's comments on making India a "Hindu nation", saying these comments had no value as they were made by those who had no knowledge of the country's freedom struggle or the Constitution.

"Those (Bageshwar Baba) who are talking about such things (Hindu nation) were not born when the country became independent and the Constitution was implemented. Would they change the name of the country? We have 7 communities in the country and everyone has the equal right to believe in their respective religions. We never make any obstructions to any. We respect every religion and they are free to worship their gods," he said after the inauguration of the Transport Department's new building here.

"People like him (Baba Bageshwar) are talking on his own and it has no value. We believe in the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi and leaders who worked with him. I was not born at that time, my father who participated in the freedom struggle told me about everything and we are doing development on the basis of their ideology. It is surprising that some people are speaking for Hindu nation. What is the need of it? Everyone has the right to follow their respective religions, there is no hurdle in it," he added.

"We have seven communities in the country - Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Parsis, Buddhists and Jains and people of these communities have equal rights as per the constitution. The number of Parsis in the country is small, they mainly live in the Mumbai region but they have equal rights and we respect it. We always ensure that no one would feel any inconvenience in any community in Bihar. It is not allowed to say anything beyond the Constitution," Nitish Kumar said.

"If anyone wants to amend the Constitution, it needs two-third majority in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Amendment happened only with the decision of all parties," he said.

Reacting to the allegations that his government working against "Sanatan Dharma", he said: "They are talking against me to get some weight in the party. Hence, they are making wild allegations against me."
Bhubaneswar, May 16 : Adrija Manjari Singh, the granddaughter of former Prime Minister late V.P. Singh, has lodged a domestic violence and dowry torture complaint against her husband and in-laws, who belong to the Balangir Royal family.

Adrija levelled the allegation against her husband Arkesh Narayan Singh Deo, father in-law and senior BJD leader Ananga Udaya Singh Deo, brother-in-law Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, mother-in-law Vijay Lakshmi Devi, and Meghna Rana in Uttarakhand.

"I have registered a complaint in this regard. I called the police several times, but in vain. I don't understand why the Uttarakhand police are not helping me. I have met the DGP seeking justice," Adrija said in a video message to local media. She has sought protection citing threat to her life.

Adrija got married to Arkesh on November 23, 2017 and initially she lived in a joint family with her in-laws in Odisha, and sometimes Dehradun.

In 2019, after Arkesh was defeated in the Assembly elections, they both started living in Dehradun.

In January last year, when her mother was diagnosed with cancer, Arkesh, her mother-in-law, and her father-in-law pressurised her to come to Odisha and campaign in panchayat and municipality elections, Adrija claimed.

"I executed my duties as a wife and a daughter-in-law completely. Only I can understand the state I had to leave my mother in for the sake of my in-laws," she said.

In August last year, her in-laws pressed her to file for a mutual divorce, she alleged.

The junior scion of Balangir Royal family, Arkesh, has refuted the allegations, saying that the matter is currently sub-judice in a Dehradun court.

Speaking to the media, Arkesh said on Tuesday that her wife had filed the case about six-eight months ago.

"I left my own house (in Dehradun) after she filed a domestic violence case against me. Currently, her sister resides there and also her father visits her for 15 days every month. I visit the house to pick my stuff once a month," he said.

Arkesh claimed that he had even tried to install CCTV cameras at the house on the recommendation of the police to ensure her safety, but Adrija would cut the wires.

Arkesh also alleged that Adrija's father visited them about three days back and put forth a demand, which is beyond their capacity to fulfil.

"I have repeatedly told them that the matter is sub-judice and let the court decide, but they have been trying to put pressure on me," he said.

Arkesh also alleged that his father-in-law has links with some land mafias in Saharanpur.
Egypt has sent two military planes carrying tons of medical aid to alleviate burdens on the Sudanese people in times of crisis, according to a statement released on Tuesday by the Spokesperson of Egyptian Armed Forces Gharib Abdel-Hafez Gharib.

The medical aid was provided as a gift from the Ministry of Health and Population per directions from President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, according to the statement.

The two military planes took off from East Cairo military base and arrived at destination at Port Sudan Airport, explained the statement.

This effort comes as a confirmation of the strong historic relations between the Egyptian and Sudanese people as well as Egypts pioneering role in supporting the countries of the African continent under all circumstances, stressed the statement.

The statement added that a number of members of the Egyptian diplomatic mission to Sudan returned to the country to resume their duties at the Egyptian Consulate in Port Sudan.

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New Delhi, May 16 : With the arrest of 10 persons, Delhi Police has busted a gang of cheats involved in sale of inferior quality ayurvedic medicines of reputed companies through three fake call centres running in Delhi and Lucknow, an official said on Tuesday.

The official said that the gang-- Neem Hakeem Khatre Jaan -- had cheated 6,372 people across the country to the tune of Rs 1.94 crore.

The accused were identified as Vikas Pal, Sonu Pal, Rahul Singh, Samar, Ugarsen Singh, Jitender Kumar Singh, Rohit Singh, Satish Singh, Rajesh Singh and Ashutosh Kumar.

The official said that they have also recovered 42 mobile phones, nine laptops and inferior quality medicines and data of 'Hakim Suleman group'.

According to police, Sachin Dahiya, Manager Admin, Unayur Marketing Pvt Ltd (UMPL) lodged a complaint with Intelligence Fusion & Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit of Delhi Police wherein it was alleged that fake, spurious, misbranded and adulterated medicines are being delivered to their customers by some unknown persons who represent themselves as their company's employees.

"Dahiya alleged that the persons call the clients from different mobile numbers and lure them by offering to sell medicines at discounted rates, thereby causing wrongful loss to the clients and wrongful gain to themselves," said Prashant Gautam, Deputy Commissioner of Police (IFSO).

"It was also alleged that the fraudsters also procured the data of UMPL and around 6,372 clients/patients have been defrauded by them to the tune of Rs 1.94 crore since 2017," said the DCP.

During investigation, relevant account details from various courier companies and call detail records of alleged numbers were collected and analyzed and it came to notice that accounts were opened from Delhi and Lucknow.

"Further, the locations of the alleged numbers were also found in both the cities. However, the addresses of the alleged persons were not traceable. Hence, the team conducted comprehensive analysis and carried out exhaustive field investigation and finally succeeded in tracing three call centres located in Swaroop Nagar (Delhi), Indira Nagar and Jankipuram (Lucknow)," said the DCP.

Consequently, the police teams conducted simultaneous raids at all the three locations and apprehended the accused persons.

The DCP said that Rahul is the mastermind of this network.

"He was running a fake call centre at Indira Nagar, Lucknow along with other partners --Ugarsen, Samar Singh and Jitender Singh. He had procured the data of the complaint's company from one Rajesh, an employee of Airtel through a chain of persons. He further sold the data to Vikas Pal and others on 60 per cent commission," said the official.

"The telecallers at these call centres would lure the customers of complainant company on the pretext of discounted medicines and would sell them inferior quality Ayurvedic medicines," the DCP added.
Kolkata, May 16 : West Bengal minister Birbaha Hansda, a popular tribal face in the state Cabinet, sat on the stairs of a state-run medical college and hospital in protest against the alleged misbehaviour by a doctor.

According to Hansda, the event took place late on Monday night when she went to the Jhargram Medical College & Hospital to inquire about the health condition of people injured in the nor'westers earlier the same evening.

"A doctor was misbehaving with the family members of one of the injured persons when I reached there. I asked the doctor his name. He not only refused to tell me his name, but used insulting words against me. Later I came to know that his name was Saikat Rana," she said.

The minister immediately sat on the stairs of the hospital as a mark of protest. Later, she withdrew following the request of the hospital superintendent.

She said that previously too she had received many complaints against a section of the doctors and medical staff of misbehaving with the family members of the patients. "I witnessed that myself on Monday. I am surprised how such misbehaviour can come from a doctor," she said.
New Delhi, May 16 : Indians were among more than 13,000 spouses of asylum seekers in Germany who failed to join their partners in 2022 due to a lack of sufficient language skills, according to a report.

According to Germany's Foreign Office, one in three spouses, or 13,607 people, failed the German language test last year to qualify for family reunification, the InfoMigrants reported.

Reaching a basic A1 level of German language competency, which involves listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills is a prerequisite to join a spouse in the country.

A total of 71,127 people received a visa for spousal reunification in 2022, including people who had passed their tests in previous years. Of these, a total of 40,165 people passed their exams successfully, according to figures released by the Foreign Office.

A total of 8,930 people came from India, followed by 8,778 people from Turkey, and 5,006 from Lebanon.

The failure rate was the highest among Ethiopian nationals, with around 61 per cent not succeeding with their exams.

The latest number of failure rates were revealed after a member of parliament from Germany submitted a written question to the federal government.

The Foreign Office said that each year for the past few years, between 8,000 and 10,000 visa applications for spouse reunification have been rejected or withdrawn, the Info Migrants reported.

Following this, a draft law in 2022 was introduced by the opposition to enable the language test required to be completed after the spouses have arrived in Germany.

In December, Germany's government decided to relax the rules for skilled personnel whose partners were allowed to enter the country without a language test.
Kolkata, May 16 : The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday refused to put an interim stay on the earlier order of its single-judge bench terminating the services of 36,000 primary teachers in West Bengal.

The hearing in the matter will continue in the second half on Wednesday.

A division bench of Justice Subrata Talukar and Justice Supratim Bhattacharya observed that the single-judge bench order by Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay has highlighted certain hard realities in his verdict.

"The single-judge bench has not thrown the terminated primary teachers in front of wolves. Rather it has kept them within a system, so that they can get jobs in future. What is the problem with getting jobs after appearing in a recruitment examination?" Justice Talukdar questioned.

The WBBPE had challenged the single-judge bench's observation that these primary teachers were recruited without proper training. According to it, all the primary teachers recruited in 2016 received post-job training in the open and distance learning (ODL) mode.

In his order on Friday, Justice Gangopadhyay also directed the WBBPE to fill up the vacancies arising from the termination of services within the next three months.

He had held Trinamool Congress legislator and former WBBPE President Manik Bhattacharya responsible for the irregularity and observed that if the WBBPE wants, it can recover the cost of the process of filling up the vacancies from Bhattacharya, who is currently in judicial custody because of his alleged involvement in the scam.

However, Justice Gangopadhyay directed that these 36,000 primary teachers will be able to attend their respective schools for the next four months and during which they will be paid the salary of para-teachers instead of that for regular teachers.

If any candidate among these 36,000 completes the requisite training in the interim period, he/she will be eligible for appearing for examinations in the next recruitment phase.
Bhubaneswar, May 16 : The Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha police has arrested three cyber criminals for sharing OTP of pre-activated SIMs to some criminals and suspected Pakistani agents, a police official said on Tuesday.

Based on intelligence inputs, the STF has arrested Pathani Samant Lenka (35), Saroj Kumar Nayak alias (26) and Soumya Pattanaik (19) on charges of fraudulently procuring a large number of pre-activated SIM cards in others' names and selling the OTPs to some Pakistani Intelligence Operatives (PIO) and ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) agents in Pakistan and in India, the official said.

J.N. Pankaj, Inspector General of Police, STF, said that the three procured a large number of activated SIM cards in others' names and sold the OTPs to various clients, including some Pakistani intelligence operatives and ISI agents, for large sums of money.

They were also in touch with a female PIO agent who was arrested last year in an Official Secrets Act/honey-trap case in Rajasthan, he informed.

"The OTPs were misused to open online bank accounts and social media handles in WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook, Instagram etc. and also on online shopping sites like Amazon, Flipkart etc.," Pankaj said.

He suspected that these social media platforms would then be used in various kinds of anti-India activities like spying, communicating with terrorists, radicalisation, running anti-India propaganda, fuelling anti-India/divisive sentiments on social media, sextortion, honey-trapping etc.

As these accounts are registered/linked on Indian mobile numbers, people would find them trustworthy.

The OTPs also might have been used in opening email accounts. People will think that these accounts are owned by an Indian but actually they are operated from Pakistan, he said.

"We have found that the accused had done all the financial transactions through UPIs. So, we have requested the National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) to provide the details of the UPI accounts," the IGP told IANS.

After receiving details from the NPCI and scientific examination of the seized mobile phones and other gadgets, the accused will be taken on remand for further investigation into the sensitive case, he said.

Pankaj also informed that an investigation is on to nab other persons involved in this case.
Kolkata, May 16 : The death toll in the explosion at an 'illegal' fire-cracker factory at Egra in East Midnapore district on Tuesday has risen to nine.

Thirteen other critically injured persons are currently undergoing treatment at a local hospital.

Meanwhile, the local people staged a protest after some senior police officers of the district reached the spot on Tuesday evening. There were heated exchange of words and even scuffles between the protesters and the cops.

The protesters alleged that it was because of the indulgence of the local police that such illegal fire-cracker factories were mushrooming in the area, which is close to the Bengal-Odisha border.

However, the large police contingent present there quickly brought the situation under control.

Meanwhile, West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking a probe into the matter by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has also said that she has no objections to an NIA probe into the matter.

Majumdar has claimed that the impact of the blast shows that it was not an explosion of ordinary fire-crackers.

"We suspect that crude bombs were being manufactured in the factory," he said.

As the police suspect that the owner of the illegal fire-cracker factory, Krishnapada Bag, might have escaped to adjacent Odisha, the officers of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of West Bengal police have contacted their counterparts in Odisha, alerting them about the absconding suspect.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Chief Minister said that Bag was arrested on charges of running an illegal fire-cracker factory in October last year.

"The police even filed a charge sheet against him. But the court granted him bail. After that he again started this illegal fire-cracker factory in the area which is close to Bengal-Odisha border," Banerjee said.
Jaipur, May 16 : The Leader of Opposition in Rajasthan Assembly, Rajendra Singh Rathore, on Tuesday backed Congress leader Sachin Pilot's demand for reconstitution of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC).

On Monday, Pilot had given a 15-day ultimatum to his own party's government in the state to act on his three demands on corruption or face a state-wide agitation. One of the demads was the "corruption-ridden" Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) be dissolved, reconstituted and backed by a new law.

Rathore claimed on Tuesday that the RPSC paper leak case, in which people like Babulal Katara were caught, shows that the body is like a dirty pond. In such a situation, the RPSC should be dissolved, he said, adding that lakhs of youth who were affected by the paper leak should also be compensated.

Rathore targeted the Congress government and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot by holding a press conference at the BJP headquarters here on Tuesday.

Supporting Pilot's demand, Rathore said that he also wants the RPSC to be dissolved.

Stating that the Congress government is looting the people of Rajasthan, Rathore said that Chief Minister Gehlot is buying coal at expensive rates even as complaints of coal theft keep coming from different parts of the state.

He also said that institutional corruption is taking place in the electricity department.

"The capacity of our thermal power project is more than 8.5 MW. But they are being deliberately kept closed in the name of maintenance because of which electricity is being purchased at an expensive rate. The power companies in Rajasthan are moving towards bankruptcy. The announcement of setting up a separate power company for the farmers is also proving to be false, for which the people of Rajasthan will never forgive the COngress government," Rathore said.
Bengaluru, May 16 : The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday rejected a petition by the accused in the infamous DJ Halli-KG Halli violence in Bengaluru in August 2020, seeking quashing of charge sheet against them.

A bench, headed by Justice M. Nagaprasanna, rejected the petition submitted by accused Mohammad Khaleel Ahmad and others in the violence case which rocked Bengaluru on August 11, 2020.

The accused also sought to quash the investigation by the Special NIA (National Investigation Agency) court. The petition maintained that the statements recorded by the CCB and the NIA are different. It also alleged that the investigation by NIA is just for the sake of it.

The bench opined that if the allegations are true, the investigation is very much needed. At this stage, the court can't investigate witnesses. If allegations are made that investigation is not proper, it can't be concluded that the investigation is inappropriate, it held.

Counsel for accused maintained that the NIA slueths have concealed certain matters and conducted the investigation. As a result, there is no opportunity for the accused to prove their innocence.

It was also submitted that the act of accused only attract IPC sections and do not attract the UAPA and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act and hence the charges must be dropped, counsel submitted.

NIA counsel had submitted that the petitioner had approached the High Court, though the jurisdiction lies with NIA Special court. The charge sheet is going to prove the involvement of accused in offences under the UAPA act and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. It was also submitted that at least four persons had lost their lives in the incident.
New Delhi, May 16 : Google on Tuesday said it will delete personal accounts and their content that haven't been used or signed in for at least 2 years.

The company said it will purge the content in inactive accounts within Google Workspace (Gmail, Docs, Drive, Meet, Calendar), YouTube and Google Photos.

While the policy took effect on Tuesday, it will not immediately impact users with an inactive account and the earliest the company will begin deleting accounts is December 2023.

"The policy only applies to personal Google Accounts, and will not affect accounts for organisations like schools or businesses," Ruth Kricheli, VP, Product Management at Google, said in a statement.

The update aligns Google policy with industry standards around retention and account deletion and also limits the amount of time Google retains the unused personal information.

"If an account hasn't been used for an extended period of time, it is more likely to be compromised. This is because forgotten or unattended accounts often rely on old or re-used passwords that may have been compromised, haven't had two factor authentication set up, and receive fewer security checks by the user," Google explained.

Google's internal analysis shows that abandoned accounts are at least 10x less likely than active accounts to have 2-step-verification set up.

This means that these accounts are often vulnerable, and once an account is compromised, it can be used for anything from identity theft to a vector for unwanted or even malicious content, like spam.

"To reduce this risk, we are updating our inactivity policy for Google Accounts to 2 years across our products," said the company.

"We will take a phased approach, starting with accounts that were created and never used again," it added.

Before deleting an account, Google will send multiple notifications over the months leading up to deletion, to both the account email address and the recovery email (if one has been provided).

As previously announced, people will need to specifically sign in to Google Photos every 2 years to be considered active.
Lucknow, May 16 : Marcus Stoinis' unbeaten 89 off 47 along with skipper Krunal Pandya's 49 off 42 powered Lucknow Super Giant (LSG) to 177/3 against Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 at the Ekana Stadium, here on Tuesday.

LSG's move to promote Deepak Hooda did not pay off. Prerak Mankad and Quinton de Kock were dismissed cheaply as well and the hosts were tottering at 35/3. Krunal and Stoinis then got together and forged a solid recovery with an 82-run stand.

After Krunal Pandya retired himself in the 16th over, Stoinis took matters into his hands and unleashed shorts all around the park, taking 54 runs off the last 3 overs to provide a magnificent finish to LSG.

Batting first, LSH had a torrid start as Chris Jordan almost got Deepak Hooda to mistime his shot and the ball went high up in the air. Tim David ran behind towards deep extra cover to take the catch but the ball went through his hands and hit him on the chin.

Jason Behrendorff's double strike in the second over sent the opener Hooda and Prerak Mankad on two successive deliveries to reduce LSH to 12/2. With Quinton de Kock's couple of sixes and Krunal Pandya's boundary, LSG were 35/2 at the end of the Power-play.

Piyush came into the attack on the next over and picked up a wicket on the first ball of his spell. De Kock lunged forward and looked to push it away but the ball turned away and got the outside edge. Ishan Kishan took a sharp catch behind the stumps.

While the MI bowlers dominated the proceedings, Stoinis and Krunal steadied the innings as they were looking for twos and the odd boundaries.

The duo, then, launched the counter-attack with some lusty blows and LSG touched the 100-run mark in the 14th over. An over later, Stoinis freed his arms and hit it straight down the ground for a maximum.

Krunal Pandya was experiencing cramps while running and retired himself in the 16th over, falling one short of his half-century.

Madhwal trapped Stoinis lbw with a toe-crushing yorker but the batter was quick to review the decision. The Ball Tracking confirmed that the ball was missing the stumps and Stoinis survived a scare.

He made the best use of the reprieve and smoked it over the bowler's head for a maximum and brought up his fifty in fine fashion. A dot ball later, he lined up 4, 4, 6, 4 in the next four deliveries, taking 24 off the 18th over.

The Australian smashed two consecutive sixes against Behrendorff in the penultimate over. In the last over, Pooran swung it away behind backward square leg for a boundary. Stoinis gave fine finishing touch, lifting it high toward long-off for a maximum and Lucknow ended the innings with 177 with the loss of 3 wickets.

Brief scores: Lucknow Super Giants 177/3 in 20 overs (Marcus Stoinis 89, Krunal Pandya 49; Jason Behrendorff 2-30) against Mumbai Indians.

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Thousands of Israelis are expected to join the annual Israeli flag parade on Friday. Last year the march, which passes the Damascus Gate, acted as a catalyst for confrontations in the West Bank between Palestinians and Israeli occupation forces which left many Palestinians wounded and tens of civilians arrested.

Palestinians view the parade as a deliberate violation of Muslim sites in Jerusalem. During last weeks negotiations to secure a ceasefire between Israel and the Jihad Resistance Movement in Gaza, Egyptian mediators had tried to convince their Israeli counterparts to suspend or delay the parade to avoid a new wave of tensions.

The ceasefire we reached was an attempt to ensure the situation in Gaza, which is already very bad, does not get worse, said an informed Egyptian source after the ceasefire was announced on Saturday night following five days of Israeli attacks on Gaza that included the assassination of high-profile Jihad leaders and the destruction of houses. Jihad responded to the attacks with volleys of retaliatory rocket fire.

Egypt is trying to consolidate the ceasefire, said the same source. It is not going to be an easy mediation given the radical positions adopted by the Israeli government.

Cairo is hoping that the parade will pass without provocative acts that prompt a reaction from Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza.

We are keeping the communication channels open with all the parties and hope things will not explode again, he said.

That the scheduled date of the parade coincides with the expected inauguration of the annual Arab summit in Saudi Arabia has caused apprehension in Arab quarters. An Arab diplomat said that Saudi Arabia is set to revive the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative during the summit, though in a format that will call on signatories of the Abraham Accords to make specific demands on Israel concerning its management of occupied East Jerusalem.

Officials in Cairo say recurring confrontations between Israeli occupation forces and Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza are giving Egypt a permanent headache, not least along its 14 km eastern border with Gaza where security measures have been increased.

The situation is being compounded by the military confrontation in Sudan between the Sudanese Army Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Trafficking of arms and militants and other forms of smuggling from the Egyptian border with Sudan to its border with Gaza is an issue Egyptian authorities have long worked to control. There is serious concern in official quarters in Cairo that these activities will increase given the fluid security situation in Egypts southern neighbour.

Though Egypt welcomed the Saudi announcement earlier this week that Riyadh had brokered an agreement between the SAF and RSF to honour their humanitarian obligations, there are a few illusions that a ceasefire will be in place anytime soon.

Egypt has been worried by the deteriorating humanitarian situation given the impact a long conflict will have on the numbers of Sudanese attempting to cross the 1,200 km border into Egypt. The concern is not so much the number of refugees, say officials, but the impact of compromised borders on national security. An open-ended battle in Sudan, or the decline of the stability of its armed forces, are very disturbing scenarios for Egypt, they argue.

On Monday, as the conflict in Sudan was entering its second month, SAF head Abdel-Fattah Al-Borhan adopted measures intended to restrict the financial options available to RSF leaders. Al-Borhan also reshuffled some senior aides, including the minister of interior and the governor of the Sudanese Central Bank. Meanwhile, RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo promised in a recorded message to keep on fighting, targeting the SAF in and out of Khartoum.

Egypt has been working hard, speaking to all concerned players in an attempt to secure consensus over three objectives: a role for the armed forces in any future political deal, agreement over humanitarian relief operations, and the outlines of a political compromise acceptable to both sides. Informed sources say that despite the difficulties, work is ongoing.

Cairo has been preparing for a partial summit of Sudans neighbours which will examine both the humanitarian and security situation in Sudan and on Sudans borders. The plan is to invite the leaders of both Chad and South Sudan, countries that have received large numbers of Sudanese civilians fleeing the fighting. Other neighbours of Sudan may decide to join the limited African summit. Originally scheduled to convene ahead of the Arab summit, on Monday a government source said that it could be delayed pending further consultations.

The open-ended conflict in Sudan is fuelling concerns not just over Egypts border with Sudan, but its border with Libya. Egyptian security authorities worry about the smuggling of arms and militants from Libya into Sudan via Egyptian territory. Officials say that the 400 km border between Libya and Sudan has been used during the past month to smuggle arms to one of the warring parties in Sudan. The lax security situation in east and southern Libya, and the Gordian knot of alliances between Libyan and Sudanese leaders, is compounding Cairos worries.

This week, Cairo dispatched a high-level security delegation to Libya to hold meetings with political and military figures in the eastern part of the country. A government source says that Cairo has been monitoring the beginning of a possible collapse of the fragile political understanding between political and military leaders in the east of Libya. He argued that while the conflicting agendas and interests of these leaders are almost impossible to untangle, it is essential to ensure they dont get out of hand.

Securing a detente between political leaders in the east of Libya is crucial to avoiding conflicts on Egypts western border. We have been working very hard to build strong contacts with all the leaders in the east of Libya and have been trying to build in-roads with tribal leaders in Libyas south. It is all about the borders, said one government source.

Libya will be high on the agenda of the Arab summit in Saudi Arabia. A Cairo-based Libyan source said that ahead of the summit, Riyadh has conducted consultations with Libyan political and tribal leaders in the east, west, and south of the country in an attempt to push forward the work of UN Envoy on Libya Abdoulaye Bathily and start the long overdue electoral process in Libya before the end of the year.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 18 May, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Patna, May 16 : A woman, who used to undertake home delivery of liquor and was known as "Sharab Wali Hasina" in the region, was arrested in Bihar's Motihari on Tuesday, police said.

The accused woman is identified as Rani Devi, 25, a resident of Sahebganj in East Champaran district and police were looking for her for quite some time.

She was involved in home delivery of liquor in East Champaran and also in neighbouring Muzaffarpur district.

The police said that Rani Devi used to deliver liquor on her two-wheeler to her fixed customers after receiving orders on her phones.

"We are scanning her phone calls to identify customers who are in contact with her. We had received a tip-off that she is going for the home delivery of liquor. Accordingly, we laud the trap and arrested her. During the search of her house, we have also seized 50 litres of IMFL," said an official of Motihari police said.
New Delhi, May 16 : The West Bengal government has told the Supreme Court that film "The Kerala Story" is based on manipulated facts and contains hate speech in multiple scenes, which may cause disharmony between the communities, while justifying its prohibition on exhibition of the movie.

The state government, in a counter affidavit, said if the movie is allowed to be exhibited, it will cause breach of peace which will not be in the interest of justice.

"The movie is based on manipulated facts and contains hate speech in multiple scenes that may hurt communal sentiments and cause disharmony between the communities which will eventually lead to a law and order situation, as has been gauged from various intelligence inputs received by the state government over a period of time," said the affidavit.

The state government said to maintain public order and for the benefit of the general public, and by exercising its power section 6 (1) of the West Bengal Cinemas (Regulation) Act, it has imposed a prohibition on exhibition of the movie.

The movie was released in the entire state on May 5, along with the rest of India and was playing in over 90 theatres. "However, on the very first day after the initial shows, the Intelligence Branch of the government of West Bengal sent a communication to all the police departments alerting them that as per the intelligence report, the release of the movie is likely to cause a violent clash between the extremist groups," said the affidavit.

"During surveillance, it has been observed that the audience makes very objectionable comments whenever they see a particular scene where Hindu or Christian girls are seen tortured," it said, adding that it has also been observed that while coming out of movie halls people discuss among themselves to limit their interaction with Muslims, or that these Muslims ought to be taught a lesson.

On social media videos, photos and comments are being circulated against a particular community, which is further spewing hatred, it said.

The state government stressed that in the present case, considering the demography of the state of West Bengal and considering the hate speech used in the movie, further corroborated by the intelligence report, will said to be a reasonable restriction on the right of the petitioners.

It clarified that it is not reversing the certification given by the the CBFC but instead passed such an order to protect safety and security of the state and its residents.

On May 12, the Supreme Court posed a series of queries to the West Bengal government in connection with the ban on the film, saying that it is being exhibited in the rest of the country and there is no reason why it should be banned in West Bengal.

A bench, headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud and comprising Justice P.S. Narasimha told senior advocate A.M. Singhvi, representing the West Bengal government said: "The film has been released in the rest of the country, West Bengal is no different from any other part of the country." Senior advocate Harish Salve, representing the filmmakers, said the film ran in theatres for three days.

The Chief Justice said: "If the film can run in peace in other parts of the country, why should the state of West Bengal ban the film?....if the public does not find it worth seeing, they will not see the film." "It is running in different parts of the country, which has a similar democratic profile as the state of West Bengal. Why should you not allow a film to run?" The apex court issued notice to the West Bengal government on a plea by filmmakers challenging the state government's ban on the movie.

The filmmakers submitted that the state government has no power to ban a movie which has been certified for public viewing by the Central Board of Film Certification.

They claimed the state government cannot cite law and order issues to stop the screening of the movie. They argued that it will result in the violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed to them.
May 15 May 16 : Gucci's Indian face, Alia Bhatt attends the Gucci Cruise 2024 in Seoul, South Korea. Making her debut as the global ambassador of the Italian fashion house, this is Bhatt's first public appearance for the brand.

The 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' actress choose to wear a black Gucci dress teamed with a Gucci Jackie 1961 translucent purse from the brand for her first official outing as worldwide brand ambassador.

The actress who recently gave birth to daughter 'Raha' has shed her pregnancy weight and looked a million bucks. The black dress with silver lining and polka-dot cutouts were completed with minimal makeup smoky black eyes with thick eyeliner, and middle-parted hair pulled back into a ponytail.

(IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)
Aizawl/Imphal, May 16 : Over 6,520 people from Manipur, fleeing due to the recent ethnic violence, had taken shelter in Mizoram, officials in Aizawl said on Tuesday.

Mizoram Home Department officials said that as the situation in several tribal dominated districts of Manipur are very volatile, more tribals belonging to Chin, Kuki, Mizo, Zomi are likely to come to Mizoram to take shelter.

Of the 6,520 people, the highest number of 2,238 tribals took shelter in Mizoram's Saitual district followed by 2,119 people in Aizawl district and 1,993 in Kolasib district.

Over 140 displaced people took shelter in Champhai district, bordering Myanmar, while Khawzawl and Serchhip districts have 17 and 14 displaced people respectively.

Officials said that a large number of people from Manipur took shelter in the homes of their relatives and friends in Mizoram, while many of the hapless people were lodged in community halls, schools and vacant buildings.

Tribal leaders in Manipur and Mizoram are discussing among themselves and they would soon hold a meeting involving the civil societies to deliberate on the issue of the future of Zo tribal community in Manipur.

Meanwhile, 10 tribal legislators belonging to Chin, Kuki, Mizo, Zomi, and Hmar tribal communities have been demanding a separate state for the tribals dividing Manipur.

One of the tribal MLAs in Manipur said that they would soon meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi to apprise him about their demand.

"There are no tribals left in the Imphal valley. There are no Meiteis left in the hills. The government of Manipur and its police machinery were communalised and used in the pogrom against the Kuki tribals," a jointly-signed letter of the 10 MLAs to Shah said on Monday.

The riots in Manipur claimed the lives of 73 people and injured 250, and resulted om destruction or burning down of 1,800 houses and destruction of government and private properties.
New Delhi, May 16 : The Lt Governor's office has told the Supreme Court that the governance of municipalities is independent of the elected state governments and the role of LG as an administrator under the Delhi Municipal Corporation (DMC) Act is not a "mirror-image" of what is provided under the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD Act), or Article 239AA of the Constitution.

The LG's office, in an affidavit in the apex court, said: "MCD is an institution of self-government and the role of the administrator, within the meaning of the MCD Act is not a mirror image of what is provided either under Article 239AA or under the GNCTD Act".

Defending his decision to nominate 10 aldermen in the Delhi Municipal Corporation, the LG's office said the independent mechanism of self-government is separate and distinct from the mechanism/ framework of the GNCTD Act.

"The spheres of authority for the elected government of Delhi and the Lt. Governor of NCT of Delhi have been specifically delineated under the DMC Act. It is submitted that the Lt. Governor is referred to as the Administrator in the DMC Act and has been identified as a source of authority, distinct from the Central Government and the GNCTD." The affidavit contended that the entire ambit of local self-government by a municipal corporation is discussed in various provisions of Article 243 of the Constitution. The LG office filed the affidavit in response to the AAP-led Delhi government's petition to quash the former's notifications of January 3 and 4 to nominate the aldermen.

The LG's office said that the discretionary power of "administrator" under the DMC Act is recognised independent of any interference by the other four sources of authority. "For that matter, even other authorities, namely the Central Government, the GNCTD, the Corporation as well as the Commissioner, exercise independent discretionary powers in different spheres for different purposes... the provisions as regards the powers specifically conferred on the Administrator, as opposed to the powers of the Government, and such powers include, inter alia, the power to nominate the aldermen," said the affidavit.

During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain, appearing for the LG, contended that there is no concept of 'aid and advice' under the DMC Act and that this is relevant only in the context of Article 239AA.

The apex court queried about the "source of power" of the LG under the Constitution and the law to nominate 10 aldermen to the MCD without the aid and advice of the elected government.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud queried Jain: "What is the source of power for you to nominate? Show us the source of power of LG..." Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing the Delhi government, cited the 2018 judgment and recent constitution bench judgment on control over services and argued that the LG has to act as per the aid and advice of the government and he should have taken back the nominations by now.

The apex court will continue to hear the matter on Wednesday.
Gurugram, May 16 : Union Road, Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari will inspect the Dwarka expressway to be built at a cost of Rs 9,000 crore on Wednesday.

Union Minister for Statistics and Programme Implementation, Rao Inderjit Singh, said that the construction of Gurugram part of the Dwarka expressway is nearing completion.

He added that after the inauguration of the Gurugram part of the Dwarka expressway, the journey of the new sectors and the locals connected to the Dwarka expressway will be pleasant. The people of Gurugram will also get an alternate route to reach Delhi.

The construction of the Haryana section (18.9 km) of the 29-km long Dwarka expressway is in the final stage.

"This will be the country's first elevated urban expressway. The expressway has been constructed by dividing it into four parts, in which 10.01-km area has been kept in two areas in the Delhi region and 18.9-km area in Haryana region has also been kept in two areas. The construction work in both the sections of Haryana region has been completed up to 99.25 per cent," Singh said.
New Delhi, May 16 : Karnataka Congress chief D.K. Shivakumar, who is vying for the CM's post, told party President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday that he took over the reins of the party in 2020 when no one was ready for the job, sources said.

During their meeting, Shivakumar, it is also learnt, told Kharge that if he himself becomes the Karnataka Chief Minister, then he would not have any opposition to it and will support him fully.

According to party sources, Shivakumar, who met Kharge for around 45 minutes, stressed that he took over the job as Congress chief in Karnataka when no one was ready to accept it, and he he delivered as per the expectation of the party leadership in the state.

The source further said that Shivakumar also said that when the party lost in 2018 under Siddaramaiah, he didn't oppose him.

It is further learnt that Shivakumar also pitched his candidature for the top post in the state but told Kharge if he is not given it, he will like to continue working as a MLA.

Shivakumar had arrived in the national capital on Tuesday afternoon. He had cancelled his trip to Delhi on Monday due to stomach infection.

Meanwhile, soon after Shivakumar left Kharge's residence, Siddaramaiah arrived there.

Party sources said that, however, no confirmation for the Chief Ministerial post has been given to Shivakumar by Kharge.

The source also said that announcement on new Chief Minister will be done on Wednesday in Bengaluru.

Meeting of both the leaders with Kharge comes hours after Rahul Gandhi, party General Secretary, Organisation, K.C. Venugopal and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala held a long discussion with the party chief to decide on the new Karnataka Chief Minister. The meeting of the senior Congress leaders lasted for over one and half hours.

On Monday night, party sources had said that the Congress chief will decide on the next CM after discussing the result of the secret ballot voting with UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and former party chief Rahul Gandhi. Sonia Gandhi is currently in Shimla.

All the three observers for Karnataka had submitted their report to Kharge on Monday and the meeting of the party leaders lasted for over 5 hours.

Sources said that despite Siddaramaiah getting the majority, Shivakumar is not willing to budge. He is claiming that he had delivered the victory to the party and hence deserved the Chief Minister's post.
New Delhi, May 17 : The Congress has shared a video of former party Chief Rahul Gandhi's visit to the Shakur Basti area in the national capital and interacting with the slum dwellers who narrated the fear of bulldozers razing their homes as well as issues such as price rise.

The Congress shared the video of Gandhi's interaction with women and other residents from the area on its social media accounts last week after his visit to the Delhi University PG Men's hostel.

Sharing the video on Twitter, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh wrote, "Listen to Rahul Gandhi's conversation with these women. See the truth of 'Amrit Kaal'." In the video, women from the area can be seen narrating their problems of not having proper access to water, toilets and electricity with the Congress leader.

The women also informed Gandhi that they constantly live in the fear of their houses being razed by bulldozers.

Besides the fear of bulldozers and no proper basic facilities in the area, the women also talked about how tough it for them to run their houses due to price rise and they are even unable to buy or refill gas cylinders.

In the video, the Congress leader asked the group of women if the demolition drive issue from 2015 has now been resolved.

To his question, a women told him that it has been halted for the time being, but they keep on getting notices.

Gandhi had visited Shakur Basti area in 2015 during which he criticised the Central government and the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government over the razing of a slum cluster by the Railways and had assured the homeless that he would fight for them.

The Congress leader also interacted with the children of the area and also spoke with a lawyer, who had followed up the demolition case in the courts.

The lawyer informed the Congress leader that a PIL was filed in the name of Ajay Maken on Rahul Gandhi's instructions.

The PIL had led to a judgment that the residents would not be removed unless they are provided an alternative place to stay, the lawyer told Gandhi.
Patna, May 17 : National Commission for Women (NCW) Chairperson Rekha Sharma has slammed the Bihar Police for callous attitude in crime cases against women in the state.

Sharma was in Patna on Tuesday and she analysed 25 such cases, adding that the Investigating Officers of the cases were not aware of anything about the cases in which they are appearing.

"I came to Patna for the hearing of cases pending against women. I was shortlisted for 45 serious cases and listened to 25 of them. I was shocked to see the Investigating Officers appearing in those cases who did not know about it. They appeared before the Commission without any preparation," the DCW chairperson said.

She added that a large number of cases like rape-cum-murder, kidnappings, dowry, murder, acid attacks are pending in Bihar for four to five years and the state police is not steadfast in cracking a majority of the cases.

"In a case of two missing girls who disappeared a year ago and the Bihar Police failed to trace them. The state police have confiscated the bedsheets of their room one year after their disappearances. Police are claiming that they have found blood stains on the bedsheets. They do not even realise that the bedsheet was washed many times. What would they get in the forensic test? I believe Bihar Police is not informed about the 'F' of forensic test," Sharma said.

"Human trafficking is rampant in Muzaffarpur district of Bihar. The mother of missing girls also alleged that she had paid police personnel Rs 500 for scanning every CCTV camera. I will visit Muzaffarpur during my next visit," the DCW Chairperson added.

"As I have a train in the night, I am leaving Patna but two teams of the NCW are staying here and they will visit several districts to know the actual development in those cases." "I have visited every state but the way Investigating Officers have callous attitude in Bihar, such attitude I have never seen in any other states. I observed that the cases were pending for four to five years without any probe," she said.

"After observing many crime cases against women, I believe women are not safe here in Bihar. Twelve cases of acid attack appear every year in Bihar," Sharma added.
Baghdad, May 17 : Three Yazidi militiamen affiliated with the Turkish Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) were killed and a fourth wounded in a Turkish airstrike in Iraq's northern province of Nineveh, the Counter-Terrorism Service of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region said in a statement.

Around midday local time (0900 GMT), a Turkish aircraft bombarded the headquarters of a Yazidi militia, known as the Sinjar Protection Units (YBS), near the town of Sinjar, nearly 120 km west of Nineveh's provincial capital Mosul, killing three militiamen and wounding another, the statement added on Tuesday.

The YBS is a Yazidi militia formed in Iraq in 2007 to protect the Yazidi community in Iraq. The group has strong links to the PKK group, Xinhua news agency reported.

PKK is listed as a "terrorist" group by Turkey, the US, and the European Union, and the Turkish forces frequently carry out ground operations, airstrikes, and artillery bombardments against its positions in northern Iraq, especially the Qandil Mountains, the main base of the PKK.
The first edition of the Egypt Fashion Week was a celebration of Egypts millennia-old civilisation, a glimpse of the present, and a vision for the future

Held under the auspices of the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, the first edition of the Egypt Fashion Week took place at the Museum of Agriculture in Dokki this week and was a must-go opportunity for all fashion-obsessed visitors who enjoyed the morning till night days of the event.

The huge open area and the museums three historical buildings dating back to the time of King Fouad were used as spaces for fashion shows, exhibitions, educational workshops, lectures and insightful talks, and model photo sessions.

Wherever you wandered, indoors or outdoors, you met identity and culture-obsessed designers, models and sometimes even visitors wearing fashionable pieces and vintage items. You mingled with all these and the mix of the heritage site and the present fashionable atmosphere, and western and eastern music, all went with the flow of everything happening around you.

Agriculture for the ancient Egyptians was the basis from which their civilisation was born. By choosing the venues of the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square and the Agriculture Museum in Dokki we already see the theme of the event coming true: we have all the past in Tahrir, and we have all the present of fashion-making here, Paul Antaki, founding member of the Egyptian Fashion and Design Council (EFDC), told Al-Ahram Weekly

This inspires the designers of today to become more creative and not to copy, in order to prepare for the future.

The EFDC is aiming to develop excellence in the Egyptian fashion and textile industries by nurturing, supporting, and promoting Egyptian fashion and design talent and businesses locally, regionally and globally.

Around 70 designers showed off their latest lines, among them Egyptian pioneers Marie Louis and Mix&Match known for their unique styles and fabrics, mainly linen. Marie Louis models appeared on the fashion runway with some iconic pieces that attracted the audience for their pharaonic patterns that tell the story of Egypts heritage..

Part of this collection was shown at the French Fashion Week in Paris in 2008 and 2011, Marie-Louis Bishara, chair of the Apparel Export Council of Egypt (AECE) and co-founder of the Fashion Week, told the Weekly. She is also the CEO of fashion houses Bishara and BTM.

Ive been working for a long time adding and updating this collection with new creations in order to continue in the same line and get inspired by the Egyptian culture to attract our customers with pharaonic embroidery and symbols of Egyptian heritage, Bishara said.

The idea of organising the event came in 2008, when it was proposed to the French Fashion Syndicate, they recommended that we should get at least 17 Egyptian designers to be able to organise a fashion event in Cairo. We started working on preparing a new generation of designers through seminars and workshops to help them with all possible tools, Bishara said, adding that given the great leaps and bounds that have been made in recent years Egypt was ready to host such an event.

We didnt have good schools specialising in fashion in 2008, but now we have a lot of schools and designers who are showing their work abroad, she added. She said that Egypt has a great generation of designers today, either those who studied in Egypt or abroad, and they all understand branding, marketing, products and quality control.

There is also the development that went in parallel with the growth of our exports from $1.1 billion in 2021 to $2.5 billion in 2023, with everyone working together to encourage us and to prepare the funds for such a huge event.

Haute couture Nuria Telpian, known as Nara, has spent her life performing folkloric dances in Armenia, Russia, and various Middle Eastern countries including Egypt, and she settled in the Land of the Pharaohs in 2003. Her interest in fabrics and design came from the early years she spent working in drama and plastic art.

Every collection has its own story or theme. My collections theme is the snake, as you may have seen on the runway, Telpain said. Snakes symbolise life and death. I see life in snakes as some medicines are prepared using snake poison, so a snake can also be a life-saver and not only a reason for death.

In her book Cleopatra: Egypts Last Queen, UK Egyptologist Joyce Tyldesley says that the ancient Egyptians believed that snakes were good mothers. Academics at the University of Manchester in the UK have dismissed the notion that Cleopatra was killed by a snake bite.

I know that the connection between Cleopatra and the snake is one of life and not death, so its a positive effect and not a negative one, Telpian said. Some Egyptologists say that Cleopatra believed she was the embodiment of the goddess Isis who could take on the form of a snake.

Telpian had a solo show at the Fashion Week, and her collection included 29 glamorous evening gowns, mostly in vibrant colours, either with a snake design on the dress or handmade snakeskin-style fabrics. Not all the materials used in the gowns are made in Egypt, however, with some of them imported from abroad. My collection of snakes is for women who dare to wear, Telpian concluded.

With Egypt being ready for more colour, Rasha Al-Gammal, owner of the Rasha Pasha Studio, had made statement khayyameya-like cotton art pieces, kimonos and handbags in strong colours that are uniquely hand crafted and give a luxurious look for either men or women. Her colourful tote bags and belts displayed inside the Dokki museum all had Horus eyes on them.

Inside the same hall, there was a huge gown made of linen with words like sustainable, slow fashion, durable, and handmade embroidered on it in different languages. Manar Hilal is the owner of the Talalya slow fashion brand, a womens empowerment platform that started in 2014. It serves women who have disabilities, trains them in handicrafts like crochet, knitting, and embroidering, and then buys products from them.

We sometimes provide the materials they cant afford to buy, and then we sell the products that meet our design and quality guidelines inside Egypt and abroad, Hilal said.

In another building, the cotton building, there was a lot happening. The space was promoting different fashion schools in Egypt and displaying the designs of their students. Our Centre collaborates with the Italian Instituto di Moda Burgo. We mostly use Egyptian cotton in our designs. During this event, we are displaying haute couture, ready to wear, smart wear and mens wear made by our students, Sally Taha, coordinator of the Fashion and Design Centre said, adding that it receives students from around the world.

In the same space, there was the Design Studio by Azza Fahmy providing free classes in jewellery making, especially silver wire rings. Most of the contemporary designers taking part in this event are mixing the old with the new, like having crochet and pharaonic patterns in one creative piece, which is something I like, the famous designer told the Weekly.

Meeting designer Adrien Roberts was rewarding, a UK designer who stresses the importance of formal education. He thinks education is about the questions youre asking of the student and not the answers youre giving him or her: its about opening the door to the imagination.

I always discover new things about Egypt and the Pharaohs and their culture. Its a country that keeps on giving, Roberts said. I teach the history of knitwear, and I love telling my students that knitwear was born in North Africa and the only ancient knitwear we have is of Egyptian origin  a red sock displayed in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. It is a split-toe sock, so I asked why the ancient Egyptians were wearing knitted socks with split toes.

Then I discovered that the culture of knitting originated in Egypt and that we have the first pair of knitted socks in England made by the ancient Egyptians.

The Egypt Fashion Week closed with a Shop the Runway event featuring all participating designers at the Mall of Arabia on Monday.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 18 May, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Telefomin Airport, Telefomin, Papua New Guinea [ TFM / ]

If you are planning to travel to Telefomin or any other city in Papua New Guinea, this airport locator will be a very useful tool. This page gives complete information about the Telefomin Airport along with the airport location map, Time Zone, lattitude and longitude, Current time and date, hotels near the airport etc... Telefomin Airport Map showing the location of this airport in Papua New Guinea. Telefomin Airport IATA Code, ICAO Code, exchange rate etc... is also provided.

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Telefomin Airport IATA Code: TFM Telefomin Airport ICAO Code: Latitude : -5.1854 Longitude : 141.639 City : Telefomin Country : Papua New Guinea World Area Code : 804 Airport Type : Small Timezone : Pacific/Port_Moresby Telefomin Airport Timezone : GMT +10:00 hours Current time and date at Telefomin Airport is 20:16:19 PM (+10) on Friday, May 19, 2023

Looking for information on Telefomin Airport, Telefomin, Papua New Guinea? Know about Telefomin Airport in detail. Find out the location of Telefomin Airport on Papua New Guinea map and also find out airports near to Telefomin. This airport locator is a very useful tool for travelers to know where is Telefomin Airport located and also provide information like hotels near Telefomin Airport, airlines operating to Telefomin Airport etc... IATA Code and ICAO Code of all airports in Papua New Guinea. Scroll down to know more about Telefomin Airport or Telefomin Airport, Papua New Guinea.

Telefomin Airport Map - Location of Telefomin Airport Load Map Papua New Guinea - General Information Country Formal Name Independent State of Papua New Guinea Country Code PG Capital Port Moresby Currency Kina (PGK)

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No matter the environment  video, audio, images  Verity will ensure that an ad meets someone in the right moment and will only serve ads in safe and suitable environments.

GumGum, a contextual-first, global digital advertising platform, today announced that its leading contextual intelligence solution, Verity, will now be available in MediaMaths demand-side platform (DSP) as the first MRC content-level accredited partner.

Advertisers can now take a mindset-first approach across their programmatic campaigns within the MediaMath platform with GumGum Verity. By applying Verity's accredited and advanced technology, advertisers are able to align their ad contextually with relevant content. This is proven to increase metrics like brand awareness and brand recall. Verity's precision and accuracy allows brands to limit wasted ad spend and ad placements by putting ads only in the moments that matter.

Were thrilled to integrate with MediaMath and expand Veritys footprint to another leading DSP, said Hailey Denenberg, interim Head of VerityTM. Advertisers globally are planning on leveraging contextual targeting and that number will continue to grow as third-party cookies depreciate. Veritys ability to analyze all digital environments in their entirety at the content level makes it an invaluable contextual solution for advertisers. No matter the environment  video, audio, images  Verity will ensure that an ad meets someone in the right moment and will only serve ads in safe and suitable environments.

Verity combines computer vision (CV) and natural language processing (NLP) to process all available signals within a digital environment. Verity is able to analyze text, images, audio and video to gain a comprehensive, human-like understanding of web, mobile, or CTV content. Recently, Verity became the first ad tech platform to receive content-level accreditation from the Media Rating Council (MRC) for contextual analysis, brand safety and suitability across CTV, desktop and mobile web.

We are excited to make the only MRC-accredited contextual provider for content-level analysis, GumGum Verity, available to our clients through the MediaMath platform, said Dawn Valandra, Director of Ecosystem Activation at MediaMath. Advertisers will now be able to easily apply GumGum Veritys precise and accurate solution to their campaigns to ensure their ads are being placed in the moments that matter.

Verity is a cookieless solution that delivers strong results and can apply contextual targeting, brand safety and suitability segments at the pre-bid level. This integration is now available in North America, Latin America and Europe for display, native, connected TV and in-stream online video inventory across 12 languages.

For more information, please reach out to pr@gumgum.com

###

About GumGum

GumGum is a contextual-first, global digital advertising platform that captures peoples attention, without the use of personal data. We believe that an advertising ecosystem based on understanding a consumers active frame of mind rather than behavior builds a more equitable and safer future for consumers, publishers, and advertisers alike. Founded in 2008, GumGum is headquartered in Santa Monica, California and operates in 19 markets worldwide. For more information, please visit http://www.gumgum.com.

About MediaMath

MediaMath is the leading technology pioneer on a mission to make advertising better. We deliver outstanding results through powerful ad tech, partnership and a curiosity for whats next. We help more than 3,500 advertisers solve complex problems so they can deepen their customer relationships across screens and around the world.
With our end-to-end orchestration capabilities, we are revolutionizing the way companies manage and optimize their robot fleets. We help developers drive continuous improvement in their robots by making data from the field easy to access and actionable.

InOrbit Inc., the industry leader in robot operations (RobOps), today announces its participation in Automate 2023, the premier event for robotics and automation professionals. At booth 2247, InOrbit will showcase its latest groundbreaking solutions, addressing critical industry needs and empowering businesses in the era of robotics.

Discover the power of end-to-end robot orchestration with InOrbit's award-winning platform. Companies using robots can now seamlessly control any robot fleet, from scheduling repeatable tasks to dynamically dispatching robots on their missions, while precisely tracking performance across sites. InOrbits scalable platform enables heterogeneous robots to operate autonomously, reliably, and collaboratively with existing infrastructure and software systems, ensuring optimal performance and unlocking new levels of productivity.

In addition, attendees will be among the first to experience InOrbit's robust root cause analysis (RCA) solution tailored for developers. Beyond simple incident management, these advanced tools empower robot developers to identify and resolve complex autonomy issues, enhancing the reliability and performance of their robots in real-world environments.

"Automate is an incredible opportunity to showcase InOrbit's cutting-edge solutions and demonstrate our commitment to accelerating businesses on their automation journey," said Florian Pestoni, CEO and co-founder of InOrbit. "With our end-to-end orchestration capabilities, we are revolutionizing the way companies manage and optimize their robot fleets. We help developers drive continuous improvement in their robots by making data from the field easy to access and actionable. In addition, we recognize the challenges faced by end users in the early stages of robotic integration. That's why we're excited to introduce InOrbit Intelligence, a unique program designed to support businesses navigating this transformative process through our automation expertise."

InOrbit is helping robotics end users at any stage of their automation journey navigate the robotics landscape and maximize the potential of their robots through expert guidance, advanced software and strategic industry partnerships. Now with InOrbit Intelligence, innovation and operations teams can access InOrbits world-class expertise through workshops, proof of concept deployments and customized strategy development. InOrbit Intelligence enables companies to embrace robotics with confidence to drive operational excellence.

Join InOrbit at Automate to drive the future of robot operations. Explore how InOrbit helps companies deploying robots here and those developing robots here. InOrbit CEO and co-founder Florian Pestoni is available for interviews upon request and will also be giving a talk at Automate on "The Growing Need for Robot Orchestration" on Tuesday, May 23, at 1:30 PM.

Please find media assets here and visit InOrbit at booth 2247 on the Automate show floor to witness firsthand how InOrbit is revolutionizing the way businesses harness the potential of robotics for unprecedented success.

About InOrbit

Headquartered in Mountain View, California, InOrbit is the leading platform for RobOps at scale. The company empowers robot developers and end users to maximize the potential of every robot. InOrbits multi-cloud platform enables efficient robot operations and provides observability through secure, real-time analytics and data collection, robot performance monitoring, incident response and root-cause analysis. The InOrbit Connect certification program allows end users across industries to orchestrate robots for multiple tasks and from multiple vendors to optimize productivity. For more information, please visit http://www.inorbit.ai.

Press Contact:

Michelle McIntyre

MMC PR

408-621-1686

michelle@michellemcintyrecommunications.com
Chaffin Luhana LLP is proud to announce that as part of our mission of growth through quality, Nicholas R. Farnolo has joined the firm effective May 15, 2023 as a Partner in its New York City office.

Mr. Farnolo joins the firm from another prominent national mass tort firm where he focused his practice on mass torts. Mr. Farnolo will head up the day-to-day management of the firm's individual mass tort cases and be responsible for ensuring top-quality client service and driving results for our clients.

For over a decade, Chaffin Luhana LLP has provided innovative and aggressive representation for personal injury victims nationwide in a range of pharmaceutical, medical device, and catastrophic injury cases. The firm's mission is to meaningfully impact the lives of its clients, team, and communities through its motto of Doing Good by Doing Right.

Chaffin Luhana has grown from a team of four in 2010 with an office in New York City to a team of over 50 with operations in NYC, Pittsburgh and West Virginia. The firm currently plays prominent roles in the Hair Relaxer and Paraquat MDLs and represents thousands of victims in those and other national mass tort litigations.

We are excited to welcome Nick to our partnership. He will be responsible for managing the growing day-to-day operations of the firms case-specific mass tort litigation, says Managing Partner, Eric Chaffin. "We couldnt be more excited to gain another partner who shares our values and has a deep understanding of mass torts, said Eric Chaffin. "Nick is a great fit for our mass tort team and partnership. What attracted us to him is his depth of mass tort operational experience and his natural leadership abilities. We are excited for Nick to join our growing team," said Co-Founding Partner, Roopal Luhana.

I am thrilled to join Chaffin Luhana as a Partner, and I look forward to contributing to the firm's commitment to Doing Good by Doing Right, said Nicholas Farnolo. Together, we will continue to provide compassionate and tenacious representation for our clients, making a meaningful difference in their lives and the communities we serve.

About Chaffin Luhana:

Chaffin Luhana LLP is a plaintiffs-only national trial firm focused on representing injured survivors and their families in catastrophic and complex cases. Started by former federal prosecutors Eric Chaffin and Roopal Luhana, the firm is comprised of former state and federal prosecutors, former large defense firm attorneys, former judicial law clerks, and caring and compassionate staff including an in-house social worker. The firm has been appointed by federal and state courts to important national litigations including the 3T Heater-Cooler Litigation, the Transvaginal Mesh Litigation, the Yaz Birth Control Litigation, and the Denture Cream Zinc Poisoning Litigation, the Zantac (Ranitidine) Products Liability Litigation, the Paraquat Products Liability Litigation, and the Hair Relaxer Marketing Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation. With over 160 years of combined legal experience, Chaffin Luhanas attorneys have recovered over $1 billion for their clients nationwide.
Invafresh is the industry standard for fresh food retail operations Having Invafresh as the foundational technology for our perimeter store operations, including deli, meat, bakery, and produce, will allow us to scale efficiently as the business grows, Vineet Gupta, Chief Information Officer at The North West Company.

Invafresh, the industry leading fresh grocery platform, today announced that The North West Company, currently using Scale Management, will expand its use of Invafreshs Fresh Retail Platform by deploying Recipe Management to ensure regulatory compliance, improve operating margins, and reduce shrink across their operations.

The North West Company was looking for a solution to include allergen and nutritional information on food labels so they could maintain compliance and to also provide good guidance to their customers when it comes to healthier eating options.

We have been using Invafreshs Scale Management solution with very positive results due to the ease of use for our in-store employees and flexibility of the platform. Extending our relationship with Invafresh to include Recipe Management will help take our operations to the next level in the use of analytics to deliver an improved customer experience, said Vineet Gupta, Chief Information Officer at The North West Company. Having Invafresh as the foundational technology for our perimeter store operations, including deli, meat, bakery, and produce, will allow us to scale efficiently as the business grows.

Utilizing the artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities native to the Invafresh Fresh Retail Platform, The North West Company will be able to measure the performance of each store, providing them with increased awareness of the efficiencies they are realizing food production operations, such as reducing shrink by projecting ingredient demand for each of their recipes. With Recipe Management, they will have a centralized source of recipe truth and be able to accurately forecast the cost of recipes against actual costs, allowing them to improve operating margins by accounting for production based on food, labor, packaging cost, and the recipe yield.

A key driver for The North West Company was the need to ensure compliance with food safety regulations in both the United States and Canada. As Invafresh is an industry proven solution when it comes to regulatory compliance, integrating Recipe Management with their existing Invafresh Scale Management solution means The North West Company will be able to produce regulatory compliant nutrition labels with ingredients and allergen statements with 100% accuracy across their enterprise.

One of the goals of The North West Company is to provide healthier options to our northern communities as well as our southern communities, said Vineet Gupta, Chief Information Officer at The North West Company. Invafresh will help us achieve this goal, while ensuring regulatory compliance and reducing shrink across our operations.

With our Fresh Retail Platform, The North West Company will be able to unlock critical data that will allow them to better allocate labor resources, reduce shrink, and drive increased efficiencies, said Tim Spencer, Chief Executive Officer at Invafresh. We are excited to strengthen our partnership with The North West Company as they seek to further automate their in-store processes to deliver an exceptional customer experience.

Follow Invafresh on Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook

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About Invafresh

With a combined 500+ years of Freshology experience, the heritage of Invafresh has enabled fresh food retailers to create extraordinary store operations performance and differentiated customer experiences. As the leader of Freshology, Invafresh is deployed in more than 25,000 grocery stores spanning a global reach of 15 countries with more than $100 million of Fresh revenue being transacted daily, to provide omnichannel demand forecasting, merchandising, replenishment, and sustainability and compliance. Learn more at http://www.invafresh.com

About The North West Company

The North West Company Inc., through its subsidiaries, is a leading retailer of food and everyday products and services to rural communities and urban neighbourhoods in Canada, Alaska, the South Pacific and the Caribbean. North West operates 221 stores under the trading names Northern, NorthMart, Giant Tiger, Alaska Commercial Company, Cost-U-Less and RiteWay Food Markets and has annualized sales of approximately CDN$2.0 billion. Learn more at https://www.northwest.ca/.
Puja Mahajan, CEO and Co-Founder, Azzera Sustainability is perhaps the greatest challenge facing our industry and the time for action is now.

Azzera, an innovative provider of sustainability solutions for aviation, today introduced Azzera Celeste, a groundbreaking online platform that allows aircraft operators to take action against emissions by providing access to voluntary and compliance carbon credit trading, sustainable aviation fuel certificates (SAFc), fleet management software integration and compliance market segregation services.

Azzera Celeste enables business aviation professionals to:



Consolidate all emissions management needs in an all-in-one platform

Automatically calculate fleet emissions through fleet management software integration

Save hundreds of hours by segregating emissions and extracting reports for various compliance needs, including the EU emissions trading system (ETS), UK-ETS, CH-ETS and Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA)

Claim emissions reductions by acquiring SAFc via Azzeras Book and Claim system

Gain access to the largest vetted portfolio of carbon credits rated with Azzeras Impact Score and close the gap between demand and supply

Aircraft owners, operators and passengers are facing public, stakeholder and regulatory pressure to quickly implement solutions that advance a transition to global Net-Zero. Azzera Celeste is a digital platform that merges the Azzera teams unparalleled expertise and the latest digital technologies to create a catalyst for sustainable action.

Azzera Celeste is a one-stop-shop for total carbon emissions management, says Puja Mahajan, CEO and Co-Founder, Azzera. Presently, we are enrolling aircraft operators to participate in our beta testing phase. Participants will have access to our subscription-based platform for one year free of charge. We invite interested parties to visit us online or in-person at EBACE.

Only one year after its official launch, Azzera has met and surpassed numerous milestones, including:

Selected to present at the Singapore Fintech Festival Haccelerator, November 2022

Winner of the Innovation Start-Up Award at the World Innovation Economics at the WEF (Davos), January 2023

Accepted into the Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada program, in collaboration with Transport Canada, to assist its Greening Government Strategy, March 2023

In the last year, Azzera has established ongoing collaborations with industry leaders including Jetcraft, Jetex and ElitAvia, which validates our mission of helping business aviation on its path to Net-Zero. Sustainability is perhaps the greatest challenge facing our industry and the time for action is now. Reflecting on the last year, we have seen a tremendous growth in the number of companies wanting to take sustainable action. We remain driven by our vision to reset aviations climate legacy, concludes Puja Mahajan.

About Azzera

Azzera is an innovative provider of Net-Zero transition solutions. The company was founded on the belief that investing in the protection of our environment should be simple. Business owners and managers seeking to implement sustainable practices and require support to reach their objectives. Azzeras mission is to make managing and mitigating emissions through carbon markets and SAF an effortless experience. For more information, please visit https://azzera.com/.

Notes to Editors:

Azzera will exhibit at EBACE 2023 in Geneva, May 23-25, booth #059.

Puja Mahajan, CEO and Co-Founder, Azzera, is available for interviews via video, voice or in-person at EBACE.

Azzeras Chief Science Officer, Sebastien Lacube, will participate in the Carbon Offsetting  Completing the Journey to Net-Zero panel at EBACE on May 24 at 10:00, Sustainability Theater L53.

Media Contact:

Mark Lowe

PRagmatic Communications

Email: mark.lowe@pragcom.com

(514) 576-2519
Four Immigration & Compliance Practice shareholders at global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP are recognized in Lawdragons 2023 100 Leading Immigration Lawyers guide.

The guide recognizes the following Greenberg Traurig shareholders:

Kate Kalmykov, New York office and New Jersey office

Laura Foote Reiff, Northern Virginia office and Washington, D.C. office

Nataliya Rymer, Philadelphia office

Martha J. Schoonover, Northern Virginia office

According to Lawdragon, this years guide features attorneys who are on the front lines advocating for immigrant rights and helping businesses and other organizations with their talent needs while weighing against regulations. Honorees were selected through journalistic reporting, nominations, and vetting by peers in immigration law.

Kalmykov has close to two decades of experience in business immigration matters and co-chairs the Global Immigration & Compliance Practice at Greenberg Traurig. Kalmykovs practice focuses on supporting clients and advising them on temporary and permanent residency immigration options for multinational executive, business, scientific, and information technology personnel. Additionally, her practice provides support to companies in the global transfer of personnel.

Reiff has more than 32 years of experience representing businesses and organizations in the business immigration and compliance field, including advising corporations on Form I-9 eligibility employment verification matters. She is co-founder of Greenberg Traurigs Business Immigration and Compliance Group, which she co-led for more than two decades. Currently, Reiff is co-managing shareholder of the firms Northern Virginia office and chairs the Northern Virginia/Washington D.C. Immigration and Compliance Practice.

Rymer focuses her nearly 20-year-old practice on employment-based immigration and compliance. She represents employers of various sizes across all industries, helping them plan and effectuate movement of an international workforce to the United States, as well as with the nuances involved with hiring foreign nationals. Rymer has experience working with employers on I-9 employment verification matters as well as H-1B and LCA compliance-related issues.

Schoonover focuses her practice on business immigration matters and assists employers in obtaining temporary nonimmigrant visas, leveraging her four decades-plus of experience. A past co-chair of the firms global practice, she assists in obtaining labor certifications and permanent resident status for professionals. Schoonover represents companies facing U.S. government investigations or audits for immigration violations and prepares immigration and visa compliance programs for clients.

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.
A-Alpha Bio Our collaboration with the A-Alpha Bio team leverages their platform and expertise toward state-of-the-art computational models that will accelerate drug discovery.

A-Alpha Bio, a synthetic biology and machine learning company that measures and engineers protein-protein interactions, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), a federally funded research and development center, today announced their intention to collaborate to combat multiple pathogen families of concern. To enable this work, A-Alpha Bio has been awarded an additional $2.4M sub-contract from the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense (JPEO-CBRND) in support of the Generative Unconstrained Intelligent Drug Engineering (GUIDE) Program, which the company will use to generate large-scale and quantitative protein-protein interaction (PPI) data and support LLNLs advanced high-performance computational models for antibody discovery and development.

In support of DOD, over the past year, A-Alpha and LLNL have measured tens of millions of protein interactions between antibodies and coronavirus variants using A-Alpha Bio's AlphaSeq platform. The experimental data has proven valuable for building and refining LLNLs computational models for predicting antibody sequences that bind to current and possible future variants of concern. Beyond the pandemic, there is a well-recognized need to ensure preparation for other potential biological threats. Under the GUIDE program, A-Alpha and LLNL will focus their efforts to generate antibody-antigen binding data and train predictive Machine Learning (ML) models for multiple pathogen families prioritized by the DOD.

A-Alpha Bios AlphaSeq platform represents the first large-scale and quantitative approach for measuring protein-protein interactions. The AlphaSeq platform can simultaneously measure millions of interactions between antibodies and antigens to determine properties like affinity, specificity, cross-reactivity, and epitope engagement. These data are particularly valuable for training and validating ML models aimed at predicting desirable antibody sequences for therapeutic development. Under the new funding, the teams will work on 5 selected pathogen families that are considered biothreats.

Antibody libraries from LLNL and others will be synthesized and cloned into the AlphaSeq platform to measure all pairwise interactions between each antibody and a library of antigen variants. LLNL will use the binding data to train and refine ML models that learn the affinity landscape across antibody and antigen sequence space. Antibodies with desirable in silico binding profile predictions will be synthesized and tested in subsequent AlphaSeq assays for validation and refinement. Highly predictive ML models will enable computational design of antibodies against never before seen pathogen variants, reducing the response time for future biothreats.

Based on our experience working with the LLNL team and the computational resources and knowhow that they bring, we are excited to tackle multiple pathogen families beyond COVID, said Dr. David Younger, Co-Founder and CEO of A-Alpha Bio. This expanded scope underscores the value of large-scale and high-quality antibody-antigen binding data for training ML models and the importance of rapid experimental iteration to test and refine those models.

LLNLs platform integrates world-class high-performance computing and simulation, machine learning, structural bioinformatics, and multi-objective optimization to perform in silico antibody and antigen design and optimization. Critical to these computational models is antibody-antigen binding data that can be experimentally determined using AlphaSeq.

The AlphaSeq platform can rapidly measure millions of antigen-antibody binding affinities, providing data for our high-performance computational models and enabling accurate binding predictions, said Daniel Faissol, Principal Investigator for AI-Driven Development of Biologic Countermeasures at LLNL. Our collaboration with the A-Alpha Bio team leverages their platform and expertise toward state-of-the-art computational models that will accelerate drug discovery.

About A-Alpha Bio

A-Alpha Bio uses synthetic biology and machine learning to measure, discover, predict, and engineer protein-protein interactions.

The companys AlphaSeq platform applies synthetic biology to experimentally measure millions of protein-protein interaction affinities simultaneously. Protein binding data is incorporated into the companys AlphaBind platform to train machine learning models that predict binding from sequence. A-Alpha Bio uses both platforms to discover and optimize high-impact therapeutics for their own pipeline and in partnership with industry leaders.

A-Alpha Bio is based in Seattle and was founded in 2017 at the University of Washington's Institute for Protein Design and Center for Synthetic Biology. To learn more, please visit: https://www.aalphabio.com/

About Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Founded in 1952, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory provides solutions to our nations most important national security challenges through innovative science, engineering and technology. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is managed by Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration.

About the JPEO-CBRND

The Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense (JPEO-CBRND) mission is to provide an integrated layered chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defense capabilities to the Joint Force across combined Joint All-Domain Operations. JPEO-CBRNDs goal is to enable the Joint Force to fight and win unencumbered by a CBRN environment. This contract was funded by the Joint Project Lead for CBRND Enabling Biotechnologies (JPL CBRND-EB) in collaboration with the Department of Energy (DOE) under agreement # A2210-021-089-033253. To learn more about JPEO-CBRND, visit: https://www.jpeocbrnd.osd.mil/, or follow JPEO-CBRND on social media @JPEOCBRND.


"Together, as like-minded firms, were reinforcing our people-first, purpose-driven culture and navigating whats next. Together we will aggressively buildout our real estate and trust and estate client roster in the Northeast."

No. 1 Fastest-Growing Firm in the U.S. Aprio, LLP announced today that two firms, Tobin & Collins in Hackensack, New Jersey and Squire, Lemkin + Company, LLP (SL+Co) in Rockville, Maryland, will merge with the firm. Tobin & Collins 43 team members and 4 partners, and SL+Cos 25 team members and 5 partners, will join Aprio effective June 1, 2023.

The strategic combinations grow Aprios national footprint in the bustling northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, bolstering the firms existing services with additional strength and further expertise in industry segments. Aprio will deliver exceptional client and team member experiences by drawing on Tobin & Collins and SL+Cos current services and specialty areas particularly Real Estate, Professional Services, High-Net-Worth Individuals, Estates and Trusts and Closely-Held businesses. The combination also enables Aprio to expand our comprehensive service offerings to Tobin & Collins and SL+COs existing and prospective clients in the region.

Tobin & Collins broadens Aprios national real estate segment while expanding our capabilities for our clients, said Richard Kopelman, CEO and Managing Partner at Aprio. SL+COs will drive continued growth in the Mid-Atlantic region serving clients with high net worth and professional service needs. Together, as like-minded firms, were reinforcing our people-first, purpose-driven culture and navigating whats next. Together we will aggressively buildout our real estate and trust and estate client roster in the Northeast.

Based in Hackensack, New Jersey, Tobin & Collins has served clients in the New Jersey and New York metropolitan area for more than 50 years. They represent real estate entrepreneurs, high-net worth individuals and privately held companies in a broad range of industries.

Joining Aprio is an exciting new chapter for our firm as we look forward to the future and providing expanded capabilities and impactful opportunities for our clients, said Kevin Collins, Tobin & Collins Managing Partner.

Phil Whitman, CEO of Whitman Transition Advisors, consulted with Aprio and Tobin & Collins in the transaction. "I knew that the depth and breadth of expertise in Real Estate at Tobin & Collins would provide Aprio further enhancement of technical abilities in that niche, as well as expansion in the Northeast, while providing Kevin and the Tobin & Collins team an impressive platform to provide amazing new opportunities and servicing abilities for their people and clients, Whitman said.

Founded in 1997, SL+Co is a boutique CPA firm in Rockville, MD, providing high quality accounting services to a diverse client base and specializing in Tax Advisory, Business Consulting, and accounting, focused on high net worth and privately held business and their owners. The former SL+Co office will join the existing Mid-Atlantic team, increasing Aprios presence in the DC metro area to more than 375 professionals.

Our core values of mutual respect and open, honest communication reflect themes within Aprios 31 Fundamentals, and that alignment is key to the future of our firm and our dedication to our clients while providing them with an overall comprehensive experience, said Bart J. Lanman, SL+Cos former Managing Partner.

Since the rebrand in 2017, Aprio has grown to the 26th largest accounting firm through expanded services and capabilities and has completed more than 19 strategic mergers and acquisitions in the last five years, including Aronson, LBA Haynes Strand, Leaf Saltzman, RINA and Tarlow and Company. The firm is regularly awarded top workplace awards nationally and regionally across the U.S, and earned a 2023 Top Workplaces USA Award and received recognition on Vaults Top Accounting 25 list, which ranks the best accounting firms to work for in 2023.

For more information about Aprio, visit http://www.aprio.com.

About Aprio:

Aprio is a premier, full-service business advisory and certified public accounting firm that advises clients and associates on how to achieve whats next. Aprios associates work as integrated teams across advisory, audit, tax, outsourcing, talent solutions and private client services, bringing the best thinking and personal commitment to each client. Across practices, Aprio brings together proven expertise, deep understanding and strategic foresight for industries including Manufacturing and Distribution; Non-Profit and Education; Professional Services; Real Estate; Construction; Retail, Franchise and Hospitality; Government Contracting, and Technology and Blockchain. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Aprio has grown to over 1,600 team members. To serve clients wherever life or business may take them, Aprios teams speak more than 35 languages and work with clients in over 50 countries. For more, visit https://www.aprio.com/.

Follow Aprio:

Aprio Website: https://www.aprio.com/

Aprio Careers: https://www.careers.aprio.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aprio

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aprioadvisors

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AprioAdvisors

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aprioadvisors/
What is behind todays apparent indifference to the conflict in Palestine and the failure of the international community to stand up for the rights of the Palestinians under Israeli occupation, asks Ahmed Mustafa

In decades gone by, clashes in Palestine would often instigate demonstrations in Arab capitals calling for an end to the conflict. Protesters and activists would be vocal in their support of the Palestinians under occupation and facing the brunt of the oppression by the Israeli military occupation and armed settlers.

Today, however, the present conflict in Palestine has been raging for days, but the reaction to the news of the Israeli air raids on Gaza or the rockets sent from Gaza towards Israeli settlements has been subdued. What has contributed to such indifference?

Some might argue that the Palestinian issue is no longer a prominent cause in the Middle East. The situation in other countries has dominated the news, whether in Syria, Libya, Yemen, or Sudan.

The subdued reaction could also be the result of growing apathy about matters beyond peoples daily concerns in their own countries and communities. Since the wave of demonstrations and protests across the region in 2011 left many countries in a state approaching a sort of civil war, the public might also have found itself in a state of despair.

All these factors may be relevant, but the present apparent public indifference to an issue that has dominated the region for decades likely goes beyond them. It could be the result of an isolationist trend sweeping the world, some might call it chauvinism, that justifies a sort of blank reaction to bloody conflicts nearby. This global factor may well be the root cause of what appears to be a paradigm shift in attitudes.

I would call it a dilution of basic human principles. While not directly correlated, this apparent lack of empathy on a world scale has also in some respects coincided with the rise of far-right groups elsewhere. Some of these have garnered huge followings, despite holding extreme views that often disregard basic human rights.

Political commentators may find it easier to blame this party or that for the apparent public indifference to the Palestinian issue. Yet, I think all the parties are accountable, as their political manoeuvring ends up shifting the blame onto the Palestinians and their resistance to the Israeli occupation for the conflict. There are also many who support the Palestinian resistance on politically opportunistic grounds that do not benefit the Palestinians in their day-to-day affairs.

The dilution of the human aspect of the conflict has also come as a result of the growing influence of religion in the conflict. In the early 20th century, the British occupation of Palestine facilitated the immigration of Jews from Central and Eastern Europe to the country with the aim of establishing a homeland there at the expense of the indigenous population. This was not like the immigration of Europeans to the new world of North America, Australia and New Zealand, however, as it was a type of settler occupation based on religious purity that was exploited for political gain.

By the turn of the century, the rise of Islamist militancy in Palestine had helped to dilute the Palestinian cause. It could be argued that this did a great deal of harm to the rightful struggle of the Palestinian people against the Israeli occupation of their land.

Many people across the region are now realising that religion in politics can complicate matters in unfortunate directions. This is contrary to the perception of the region that came about in the 1970s, when many academics and intellectuals in the West propagated the notion that so-called moderate Islamism was a rising political power that needed to be considered as such.

Some of these Western commentators, from Frenchman Francois Burgat to the American John Esposito and the Lebanese-American Fawaz Gerges, differentiated between moderate Islamism (the Muslim Brotherhood and its affiliates) and militant Islamism (Al-Qaeda, the Islamic State group IS and so on), but today we are discovering that this distinction is a false one. A large of swath of the militant Islamist groups are in fact offshoots of the Muslim Brotherhood.

There is no legally binding international definition of terrorism in the same way that there is no legally binding definition of anti-Semitism. However, there are working definitions that many countries have incorporated into their criminal law. Anti-Semitism is behaviour that is hostile towards Jews because they are Jews, and the laws against it conform to basic human rights principles that seek to stop discrimination against people of different religions, ethnicities, or creeds.

However, some nations extend the definition of anti-Semitism to refer to any action against the state of Israel as a Jewish collective. This is a case where the line between religion and politics is muddied.

Any action against a Jew, or a person of any other faith for that matter, based on prejudice is a matter that can be dealt with by law in most countries, including almost all the Arab countries. But the assumption that a state or its politicians are exclusively representative of a religion (or even a race) is a notion that comes close to discrimination in itself.

Standing up against so-called ultra-orthodox Israeli settlers burning Palestinian homes in the West Bank is not anti-Semitism. It can be framed as such, but this would be inaccurate as a distinction has to be made between the policies of a state and the expression of a faith. Not doing so would be like refusing to criticise Al-Qaeda or IS on the grounds that this could be deemed Islamophobic. This is why distinctions and definitions are vital in order to create sound dialogue.

Diluting the seriousness of the anti-Semitism that could rightly be identified in the case of an attack on a rabbi, for example, owing to his Jewish identity or attire, is dangerous. It fuels the dangerous perception, encouraged by the Political Islamists, that all Muslims are to be branded as terrorists. Some extremist groups in the West such as white supremacists and ultra-nationalists do exactly this, but the law and the state should not do so and should insist upon proper definitions and distinctions.

The wide usage of accusations of anti-Semitism to silence any criticism of Israel or its policies dilutes the working definition it adopted throughout the world. It feeds the perception that Israel has a privileged status that allows it to ignore the rules and norms followed by other countries because people are afraid to condemn it lest they face the accusation of anti-Semitism. In fact, of course, supporting Israel is a political decision that has nothing to do with being pro-Semitic. Not supporting it is also a political decision that has nothing to do with religion.

The same thing applies to the Palestinians who are resisting the Israeli occupation. Branding them as Islamists dilutes the human rights violations suffered by an occupied people and their right to resist and fight for their independence and freedom. Ultimately, the introduction of religion into this conflict is contributing now more than ever to the apparent indifference and apathy towards it that we are now witnessing.

* The writer is a London-based seasoned journalist.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 18 May, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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"Despite certain jobs being at risk, our research points to a silver lining of growth among careers like data analysis, software development and machine learning. As companies embrace new technology they are allowing their workers to invest more time towards creating better customer experiences"

A new research report from Arizent, parent company of American Banker and Digital Insurance, analyzes how banks and insurance firms are embracing automation. The report, sponsored by UI Path, shows that while three-quarters of respondents plan on implementing this new technology to gain a competitive edge and improve operational efficiency, they face unique challenges, including the cost of implementation, regulatory optics and constraints and the ethical questions of balancing efficiency with human labor.

For banks especially, the challenges are impactful. More than half of banking leaders rate their organizations performance on their automation initiatives as poor or fair, citing slow implementation, competing priorities and cost as key hindrances. In contrast, six-in-10 insurers rate their organizations performance on their automation initiatives as excellent (11%) or good (49%).

Respondents indicate that these industries may not be fully automated for some time. In banking, fraud detection and prevention, application processing and underwriting continue to be seen as the biggest opportunities for automation. By comparison, insurers see fraud detection/prevention, personalized customer experience and prequalification and account eligibility as the biggest opportunities for automation in their industry.

Debate also continues around how companies should ethically balance efficiency with human labor, and how and when to replace or reduce human workers in favor of technology solutions.

Despite certain jobs being at risk with automation implementation, our research points to a silver lining of growth among other careers such as data analysis, software development and machine learning, says Janet King, Vice President of Arizent Research. As companies embrace this new technology, they are allowing their workers to invest more of their time towards creating better customer experiences.

When looking ahead to a more automated working world, banks and insurers are hoping to shift their focus away from repetitive and time-consuming tasks while reaching customers in new, more productive and seamless ways.

The full report can be downloaded here:

American Banker: https://www.americanbanker.com/research-report/taking-automation-one-point-at-a-time

Digital Insurance: https://www.dig-in.com/research-report/taking-automation-one-point-at-a-time

Methodology

This research was conducted online by Arizent, parent company of American Banker and Digital Insurance, during March 2023. A total of 200 respondents, 100 each from banking and insurance, completed the survey. All respondents were screened for personal involvement with or knowledge of their organizations enterprise automation initiatives.

For more information on this survey or other Arizent research, contact:

Janet King

Vice President, Research

Arizent

janet.king@arizent.com

M 207-807-4806

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 American Banker

American Banker empowers banking professionals with unique analysis and insight into the ideas transforming their business and industry. Across its journalism, events, research and benchmarking, it helps drive the way forward through the complexity of business innovation, retail and commercial disruption, technology, regulation, and reform. With a banking community 850K strong, American Bankers transformative content connects leaders online, in person and in print every day.

About Digital Insurance

Digital Insurance is the essential resource for senior executives leading the digital transformation of the insurance industry. Across events and member forums, original research reports, and editorial news and analysis, Digital Insurance examines business-critical topics in technology innovation, data advancements, insurtech market trends, and transformation strategies. The brand convenes the community around these transformational ideas and insights so they need to stay ahead of the competition and the real-world examples of impact that they can bring back to their companies.

About UiPath

UiPath builds AI-powered automation that radically transforms the way we work in service of human creativity and collaboration. Its Business Automation Platform combines robotic process automation with a full suite of capabilities empowering people enterprise-wide to create better ways to operate, innovate, and drive business outcomes more easily and efficiently than ever.

UiPath enables companies to achieve better outcomes with greater speed and streamlined operating flow that transform customer and employee experiences. Its platform understands, automates, and operates end-to-end business processes across the organization.

For more information, please visit uipath.com
Maureen Healy, programming director, Ashland Farm at North Andover We are so fortunate to have Maureens great passion and dedication benefit our residents and their interests. I cant think of anyone who is more deserving of this award than she. -Nick Barash, acting executive director, Ashland Farm at North Andover.

Ashland Farm at North Andover, a Benchmark assisted living and Mind & Memory Care community, today announced that programming director, Maureen Healy, has been awarded the YMCA of Northeastern Massachusetts Tribute to Women award. Each year, YWCA chapters across the country accept nominations and honor a select group of remarkable women who contribute to the communities within their service areas.

Healy, who lives in Haverhill, was selected for her undying support of seniors, veterans and womens issues, a passion that started when she was a child.

Having grown up in North Andover as part of a big Irish family with a mother who was a nurse and a father who was a teacher, from a young age, together they would visit nursing homes and other older people in the community. For hours, they would spend time chatting, giving out their homemade goodies and having tea.

When Healy was in high school, she spent a lot of time at her grandparents farm. When they developed Alzheimers disease and moved to a senior living community, she would spend hours playing cards and taking walks with them.

I learned a lot of patience from my mom and that quality time with older people was important, said Healy. I also learned that older people have history and developed a love of history. In those days, we didnt have any formal Alzheimers education, so we really fell into our own way of managing it and connecting with them.

It was when she was visiting her aunt who was a resident at Ashland Farm that she was inspired to become an associate. Since 2017, shes worked at Ashland Farm, first as Mind & Memory Care coordinator, and now as programming director for the entire community.

At Ashland Farm, Healy enjoys organizing veterans recognition programs and other events where the entire community comes together to give back. Making sandwiches for the homeless and stuff-the-bus events, where residents can recycle their clothes while raising money for good causes, are all in a days work for Healy.

I love not just fulfilling the residents lives, but helping families be a family again, said Healy.

In her free time, she also serves as the fundraising chair for Soroptimist Internationals Haverhill/Merrimack Valley chapter, where shes raised thousands of dollars for scholarships and causes like human trafficking and battered women.

We are so fortunate to have Maureens great passion and dedication benefit our residents and their interests, said Nick Barash, acting executive director of Ashland Farm. I cant think of anyone who is more deserving of this award than she.

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About Benchmark Senior Living

Benchmark is New Englands largest senior living provider with 65 independent living, assisted living, memory care and continuing care communities and over 5,000 dedicated associates providing compassionate care and outstanding experiences throughout the Northeast. The Waltham, Mass.-based company was founded over 25 years ago by Tom Grape with the purpose of Transforming Lives Through Human Connection. Since then, Benchmark has continued to set the industry standard, having won over a hundred local, regional and national awards for its care, programs and as a top workplace. Benchmark has been named one of the Top Places to Work for 15 straight years in The Boston Globes annual employee-based survey and received repeated recognition in FORTUNEs Best Workplaces for Aging Services list. For more information, visit BenchmarkSeniorLiving.com.
Clovity recently moved into a new office space at the premium location of Noida Sector 62, Candor Techspace. With this new facility, we're even better equipped to continue driving towards the next generation of technology capabilities emerging daily in these regional focal points of innovation like Noida.

Clovity, a leading provider of digital transformation solutions, announced today its relocation to a new, state-of-the-art facility in Noida, India. The move comes as Clovity prepares for significant expansion in the coming months and over the next couple of years.

The new location, situated in the prime business district of Noida, boasts modern amenities for its employees as well as it places them within a hotbed of other cutting-edge technology companies. This provides the ideal environment for Clovity's innovative teams to continue delivering top-quality and ever-evolving digital solutions for its clients across the range of industries it services.

"We're excited to be making this move at such a pivotal moment in our company's history," said Anuj Sachdeva, CEO of Clovity. "With this new facility, we're even better equipped to continue driving towards the next generation of technology capabilities emerging daily in these regional focal points of innovation like Noida."

The move represents a major investment in Clovity's future road map, is going to stimulate new opportunities for job creation and help drive economic growth in the technology sector for that region as well as globally. Clovity is committed to fostering a strong local community and supporting the development of India's thriving technology sector both through its work as well as its philanthropy.

"We're proud to be part of Noida's vibrant business community, and we're looking forward to expanding our presence here," said Soarabh Gupta, President and COO of Clovity. "With this move, we are strategically positioning ourselves for even greater success in the near and long term."

The office is designed to be a reflection of Clovitys culture and values  modern, comfortable, and creative. It is clear that the move to this new space signals that Clovity is up for even bigger opportunities and taking on new business challenges in the future.

About Clovity

Clovity is a San Francisco based IoT-as-a-Service platform provider powered by CSensorNet and a Digital Transformation professional and managed services provider in IoT Digital, Cloud, and Data who has earned the trust of top Fortune 500 Companies. Clovity has 3 levels of engagement models.

Level One is Talent Partner Hiring (TPH) and IT Staffing engagement model that helps companies procure these hard-to-find skill sets and allows them to be used as they are needed. This is called our Clovity Flex Model. Level Two engagement focuses on providing managed teams or projects (MTP) for niche skill sets deployed for a fixed period or fixed scope and it is based on milestone-based delivery coupled with our best practices. It is basically Clovitys Professional Services divisions covering stand-alone, nearshore, and offshore managed teams & projects. Level 3 is engaging Clovity and utilizing our proprietary IoT platform  CSensorNet to provide an IoT-as-a-Service model. Overall, we focus on IoT, Digital, Data, Cloud, Enterprise Apps Integration & Agile practice areas.

Our proprietary platform CSensorNet connects companies to their assets and the world of things around them. We have engineered our solution to provide edge computing, artificial intelligence, cloud-agnostic, and network, coupled with powerful data analytics and data visualization. Our deployments provide IoT capabilities in days, not months, Clovity simplifies the deployment, management & operations of IoT solutions. We operate in several models of IoT deployment, the most relevant is IoT-as-a-Service. By providing all hardware, software, and professional support all for a single monthly price. Our service includes data analytics, 24x7 tech support, hardware replenishment or replacement, on-line customer portal, and a team of engineers to ensure the solutions are future-proof.

Clovitys strategy is focused on high growth in mid-market enterprises, providing pre-integrated solutions with seamless orchestration from device-to-cloud-to-business. Our success is founded on industry thought leadership and technology innovation that is IoT, Cloud, Consumerization and Big Data focused, for several verticals including: Industrial, Agriculture, Telecom, Banking & Finance, Healthcare and Retail industries. Clovity has developed real-world use cases and 'disruptive solutions' for these and many other industry domains with fully referenceable customer base.

Whether on the forefront of working with our clients on 5G products for the next generation of Smart Cities or Smart Infrastructure, Smart Sustainable Buildings, Connected Healthcare, and Connected Spaces or developing new solutions for global Asset Tracking and Asset Management, our services can scale to meet any demand and in any vertical.

We are a supplier to the Federal Government, numerous Public sector organizations like the State of California, the State of Massachusetts, the State of Minnesota, the State of Illinois, and multiple Fortune 500/1000 companies. We are a minority-owned business enterprise and Diversified & Inclusive certified. Clovity was selected in the top quarter of all companies award on the 2021 and 2022 Inc. 5000 list, USPAACCS Fast 50 Asian American Business Award for Top US Asian Owned Companies in 2022 And 2023, Gold for Best of IoT - Smart Buildings by IoT Innovator Award 2022, 2020 Emerging Company of the Year for the Enterprise Market and again in 2021 as "Global IoT Innovation Vendor of the Year by IoT Vendor Breakthrough Awards and in the Top 50 IoT Enterprise growth companies for 2018 & 2019 by CIO Review Magazine.

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Contentsquare, the global leader in Digital Experience Analytics, today announced the appointment of Benoit Fouilland as Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

I am excited to welcome Benoit as Chief Financial Officer. He is a fantastic addition to our executive team, bringing a wealth of leadership experience and an impressive track record of building and scaling high performance finance organizations at global tech companies, said Jonathan Cherki, CEO & Founder of Contentsquare. Im proud of how far weve come and Contentsquare is just getting started. With his vast experience and knowledge of the tech space, Benoit will play a key role in driving our future growth as we pursue our mission of empowering businesses to deliver the online experiences their customers love, seek and deserve.

Benoit brings more than three decades of executive leadership and finance experience at global tech and market-leading innovation driven companies. Immediately prior to joining Contentsquare, Benoit was the CFO of the global Swiss group Firmenich, the largest private fragrance and taste company in the world. He was instrumental in enabling the accelerated transformation of the company, notably through the preparation for an initial public offering and the execution of the industry changing merger with DSM to form DSM-Firmenich.

Benoit previously served as CFO of Criteo SA, a global advertising technology company. During his tenure at Criteo he orchestrated the companys transformation from a private start-up to a multi-billion US$ public company and led the successful execution of the IPO. Prior to Criteo, Benoit held CFO and executive finance leadership positions at global tech public companies SAP AG and Business Objects SA. Benoit has served on the Board of Directors of VTEX, an enterprise digital commerce platform company, since May 2021, where he chairs the audit committee.

Im impressed by the formidable momentum gained by Contentsquare over the past few years and excited by the opportunity to shape the future of digital experience analytics. Im thrilled to join the adventure today and looking forward to helping the company scale and maximize its potential into the future, said Benoit Fouilland. Benoit holds a MBA from INSEAD as well as masters degrees from Universite Paris Dauphine and Paris ESLSCA Business School.

In April 2023, Contentsquare was recognized as the leading provider in 11 categories including Digital Analytics, Customer Journey Analytics and Customer Journey Mapping in G2s Spring 2023 Best Software Rankings.

About Contentsquare

Contentsquare delivers the power to make the digital world more human. Its AI-powered platform provides rich and contextual insight into customer behaviors, feelings and intent  at every touchpoint in their journey  enabling businesses to build empathy and create lasting impact. The global leader in digital experience analytics, Contentsquare helps brands everywhere transform the way they do business, allowing them to take action at enterprise scale and build customer trust with security, privacy and accessibility. More than 1000 leading brands use Contentsquare to grow their business, deliver more customer happiness and move with greater agility in a constantly changing world. Its insights power the customer experience on over 1 million websites worldwide. Founded in Paris and with offices around the world, Contentsquare has raised $1.4B in investment funding from leading investors, including funds and accounts managed by BlackRock, Bpifrance, Canaan, Eurazeo, Highland Europe, KKR, LionTree, Sixth Street and SoftBank Vision Fund 2. For more information, visit http://www.contentsquare.com.
Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLPs Boston office co-hosted the panel Compelling ROI: Why It Matters in Digital Health with HealthTech Build May 10.

The panel featured health technology leaders discussing how digital health companies can achieve financial, clinical, operational, and social return on investment (ROI). Andrew (A.J.) Tibbetts, a shareholder in Greenberg Traurigs Intellectual Property & Technology Practice, provided welcoming remarks.

Tibbetts leverages prior experience as a software engineer to provide practical intellectual property strategy counseling on matters related to software-implemented tech across a range of industries, from networking, fintech, and natural language processing through to life sciences, artificial intelligence, medical records, and medical devices. He advises a wide array of clients on intellectual property strategies, ranging from international and publicly traded companies and large research institutions to small and growing companies. He serves on the board of directors of MassMEDIC, helping support digital health efforts in the New England area.

About Greenberg Traurigs Boston Office: Established in 1999, Greenberg Traurigs Boston office is home to more than 85 attorneys practicing in the areas of banking and finance, corporate, emerging technology, energy, environmental, gaming, governmental affairs, intellectual property, labor and employment, life sciences and medical technology, litigation, public finance, real estate, restructuring and bankruptcy, tax,and white collar defense and investigations. An important contributor to the firm's international platform, the Boston office includes a team of nationally recognized attorneys with both public and private sector experience. The team offers clients the value of decades of helping clients in complex legal matters and hands-on knowledge of the local business community, supported by the firm's vast network of global resources.

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
India L. Sneed, a Government Law & Policy Practice associate in global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLPs New York office, was honored at the Women of Excellence Awards Ceremony May 11 at the Manhattan Penthouse in New York. City & State New York, Spectrum, and the NAACP New York State Conference sponsored the event, which salutes some of the most prominent women in government, business and media in New York State who are making a difference in our communities.

Sneed is dedicated to giving back and involved in numerous organizations, including the National Black Prosecutors Association, the Metropolitan Black Bar Association, and serves on the Education Subcommittee of Greenberg Traurigs Justice Initiative.

Sneed advises clients on matters pertaining to government law and policy, election law, and investigations. She has vast experience as a leader in governmental and legislative roles, having served as deputy director of the New York City Mayors Action Plan where she was responsible for interagency coordination of citywide programs and managing a multimillion dollar budget; chief of staff and legislative and budget director for two city council members where she led bill drafting and negotiations and allocated funds to community partners; and as executive director of the New York State Black, Latino and Asian Caucus engaging legislators statewide on a wide variety of matters. She also served as a prosecutor in the Kings County District Attorneys Office, leading investigations into officer misconduct and hate crimes and conducting bench and jury trials.

Additionally, Sneed has been listed in City & States Above & Beyond, 40 Under 40, and Power of Diversity: Black 100; The Best Lawyers in America; and Super Lawyers magazine  New York Metro Super Lawyers.

About Greenberg Traurigs Diversity Initiative: From its inception, Greenberg Traurig has been committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. Greenberg Traurig is a uniquely empowering and diverse firm built on a foundation of fairness, equality, and authenticity. Through its Social, Racial, and Economic Justice Action Plan, the firm has committed $5 million over five years to help combat systemic racism and support impoverished communities. In addition, the firms efforts have been recognized through its Mansfield Rule 5.0 Certification Plus, administered by The Diversity Lab, and by local, national, and global publications and organizations including Chambers and Partners. Web: https://www.gtlaw.com/en/general/our-firm/diversity Twitter: @GT_Drives.

About Greenberg Traurigs Government Law & Policy Practice: Greenberg Traurigs Government Law & Policy Practice combines the capabilities of its Federal Practice in Washington D.C. with its state and local practices across the country. The firms national team of governmental affairs professionals and attorneys spans major political and commercial capitals throughout the United States, including: Albany, Austin, Denver, New York City, Philadelphia, Sacramento, Tallahassee, and Washington, D.C. Most recently, Greenberg Traurigs Government Law & Policy team was Top Listed for Government Relations in Best Lawyers in Americas 2018 edition. The team was also named Law Firm of the Year for Government Relations by the U.S. News-Best Lawyers 2014 edition of "Best Law Firms." The practice also received the most first-tier Government Relations rankings in the U.S.

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.
A Bus Gates extended stop arm is deployed on the side of a school bus in Illinois. "We are hoping this new law passed in Illinois will push other states to follow suit and we can make extended stop arms required equipment on every bus in the US and Canada, said Bus Gates Co-founder Jeff Stauffer.

With unanimous support, the Illinois Legislature has passed a measure that will make it safer for students to get on and off school buses across the state. SB2340 allows Illinois school districts to install a well-lit additional extended stop arm that further obstructs the roadway from passing traffic when a school bus is stopped to pick up or drop off students.

There is no greater priority we as leaders can have than safety for our children. That includes giving school districts the ability to make the commute to and from school safer and I believe this legislation does that, said Senator Doris Turner (D-Springfield), one of four senate chief co-sponsors.

While the bill does not require districts to do so, the legislation gives Illinois school buses the option to be fitted with up to two additional safety arms.

More than 17 million incidents of vehicles driving around stopped school buses are reported each year in the US. These extended arms provide a more visible and physical warning to motorists to stop before a tragedy happens, said State Rep. Janet Yang Rohr (D-Naperville), a chief-co sponsor of the bill in the house.

A 2019 study conducted by the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation (NASDPTS) found that in a single day, more than 95,000 motorists had illegally passed stopped school buses displaying flashing red lights and traditional stop arms.

Across the U.S. an estimated 17 million drivers will illegally pass school buses while their current stop arms are deployed this year a statistic making extended stop arms an increasingly popular option for school districts to install these.

With driver distraction levels at all-time highs the current warning systems, which havent changed in 30 years, simply arent enough. We felt compelled to design a simple and cost-effective way to increase the visibility of buses, reduce the liability of motorists, and decrease these tragedies and close calls, said Illinois-based Bus Gates co-founder Jeff Stauffer.

Under the bill, the front side extension to the required stop arm must extend no more than 78 inches from the side of the bus with the rear side arm not extending more than 32 inches.

Illinois joins a growing list of progressive states to modernize warning systems on school buses. States allowing Bus Gates and other stop-arm extensions including Texas, Montana, Virginia and West Virginia. Bus Gates is federally approved.

Since installing Bus Gates stop arm extensions, weve seen a 95% drop in stop arm passing violations, said Alvarado, Texas Public Schools Transportation Manager, Terry Woods.

Albemarle County Public Schools in Charlottesville, Virginia reported an 89 percent reduction in the number of violations when utilizing Extended Stop Arms.

The state of Montana mandated that stop-arm extensions be installed on all public school buses across the state in 2022.

Illinois is one of the leaders within the school bus safety industry and this bill increases that safety. We are hoping this new law passed in Illinois will push other states to follow suit and we can make extended stop arms required equipment on every bus in the US and Canada, added Stauffer.

About Bus Gates

Bus Gates is on a mission to reduce vehicle "drive-arounds" at bus stops across America and make getting to and from school safer for students. Bus Gates stop-arm extensions are a simple, cost-effective solution to a major problem - cars ignoring stopped school bus warnings putting students at risk. Bus Gates stop-arm extensions easily retro fits to the existing school bus stop signs. They offer additional visibility and stick out further from the bus to make drivers more aware and reducing "drive-arounds" by up to 95%.


When we began searching for technology to replace our previous solution, we wanted tools that could drill down into every account and help provide context behind our performance. [Aptech has] been invaluable for digging into last years reporting and preparing forecasts for the year to come.

Business at the Hotel Nikko San Francisco is booming, especially since the property secured a spot on Forbes 2022 list of the 13 best hotels in San Francisco. With travelers eyes fixed on the luxury boutique hotel in Union Square, the hotels management team began looking for new financial management tools capable of delivering macro and micro analysis of numerous data sets and assisting with planning for future investments into the property. PVNG enterprise accounting and Targetvue budgeting and forecasting solutions from Aptech fit the bill for their ability to affordably give operators the insight, flexibility and control they desired.

When we began searching for technology to replace our previous solution, we wanted tools that could drill down into every account and help provide context behind our performance, said Vincent Rafanan, Hotel Nikko San Francisco chief financial officer. Budgeting and forecasting was a top priority. Previously, we relied on a standalone system to oversee these processes. Once we met with Aptech, we immediately saw how easy it was to connect Targetvue to the cloud and to PVNG, then share information seamlessly between the two systems. Today, our team is easily comparing and contrasting any scenario from month to month. These tools have been invaluable for digging into last years reporting and preparing forecasts for the year to come.

Targetvue is designed to provide one version of the truth throughout an organization. By providing variance analytics, data visualization and version control, this tool helps hotels meet future growth goals by utilizing a single, centrally maintained set of database models. By adopting this user-friendly software, hotels can eliminate the need to correct and recombine multiple spreadsheets for consolidating and reporting.

PVNG elevates hoteliers ability to monitor their success. The tool features Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, General Ledger, Statistics, Financials, and Bank Reconciliation modules and seamless web browser navigation allowing hotels to upload their accounting data remotely. PVNG can be deployed as a hosted service and also offers OCR invoice processing, a myriad of payment options, drill-down capabilities in financial statements and reports, and the ability to handle single or multi-property accounting.

We are thrilled to partner with the Hotel Nikko San Francisco and are delighted at the success they are having with Targetvue and PVNG, said Jill Wilder, Vice President at Aptech. Luxury hotels like the Hotel Nikko frequently add new services and amenities. This, combined with the wide range of offerings the hotel provides, makes accounting, budgeting, and forecasting all the more complex. PVNG streamlines common daily procedures, while Targetvue eliminates the need to manage budgets across multiple spreadsheets, preserving a single view of a hotels true operating potential across the entire organization. These capabilities are helping hotels of any size maintain success and momentum, heedless of the size of their aspirations.

The 531-room Hotel Nikko San Francisco is known for its high-end Japanese-inspired decor, a wide array of amenities, and attention to detail. Located at Union Square's gateway, it is surrounded by retail stores, boutiques, and various restaurants. The property is convenient to San Franciscos Theater District and is renowned for its 10,000-square-foot health club, the Anzu restaurant, and a glass-enclosed swimming pool.

For more information on PVNG by Aptech, visit http://www.aptech-inc.com.

# # #

About Aptech Computer Systems Inc.

Aptech Computer Systems, Inc., based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is the only provider of a fully integrated enterprise accounting, business intelligence and planning ecosystem to the hospitality industry. All clients are companies like yours, which own or manage hotels. Its solutions help customers at both the corporate and property levels understand their financial and operational data for faster goal achievement. The company is renowned for introducing business intelligence into the hotel industry and offers a solid resource of hospitality professionals. Aptech is an IBM Software Value Plus partner and Premier Solution Provider, as well as a Prophix Premier Business Partner. Incorporated in 1970, Aptechs state-of-the-art back office, true business intelligence and enterprise planning solutions are 100% hotel specific. Solutions include PVNG, Execuvue and Targetvue. Clients comprise over 3,500 properties  including large chains, multiple-property management companies and single-site hotels. Execuvue is registered to Aptech Computer Systems Inc. All other trademarks are owned by their respective holders. For more information, please visit http://www.aptech-inc.com.


Matrix Solutions Announces the 6th Annual Media Ad Sales Summit "The Media Ad Sales Summit is a niche event that has compounded in growth through the years, playing a significant role in bringing the industry together to discuss and advance the often-underserved areas of the advertising ecosystem, ad-sales and ad-tech," shared Mark Gorman, CEO, Matrix Solutions.

Matrix, the developers of the only global ad sales platform built for media, announces the dates and location for the 6th annual Media Ad Sales Summit. The event, produced by Matrix, will be returning this November 8-10, 2023, at the beachfront Conrad Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

The Summit brings together leaders from across the media industry who represent varying verticals, to discuss both the challenges and opportunities the industry currently faces, while aiming to both reduce the friction and improve efficiencies when buying and selling advertising. High level topics to be discussed will include:



Ad Buy/Sell Automation: Now or Never?

Ad-Supported Streaming: SVOD, AVOD & FAST

Local TV Streaming: Opportunities & Limitations

TV Station Economics: The Future of Advertising, Affiliation & Retrans

Political Advertising: Local's Biennial Fix

Linear TV Reach vs. Streaming Specificity

TV/Video Measurement & Currencies

Waiting for TV's ATSC 3.0 Godot

Agency Preview: 2024

Media Ad Sales: The Modern Structure

A highly anticipated session will be led by members of the Media Ad Sales Council (MASC), an advocacy group founded by Matrix. This will be a roundtable session focused on the industrys role in advancing the media ad-sales ecosystem through automation, convergence, and inclusion. In addition to its founders, Mark Gorman, CEO, Matrix, and Brenda Hetrick, President, Matrix, MASC members include Peter Jones, Head of Local Sales/Director, Strategic Partnerships, Premion, Melanie Webb, Vice President, Sales Operations, TEGNA, Joe Lampert, Senior Program Manager, CNOmniMedia, Becky Meyer, SVP, National Sales, Gray Television, Jen Scilabro, SVP Digital Sales, Nexstar, Michael Barbetta, Senior Director, Revenue & Strategy, E.W. Scripps, and Al Lustgarten, SVP, Hearst Television. The remaining, full schedule of sessions will be announced in June.

The Media Ad Sales Summit is a niche event that has compounded in growth through the years, playing a significant role in bringing the industry together to discuss and advance the often-underserved areas of the advertising ecosystem, ad-sales and ad-tech, shared Mark Gorman, CEO, Matrix Solutions. We are excited to be spotlighting this area of media ad sales while returning to the Conrad Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, which serves as an incredible venue for all general sessions, as well as the ample networking opportunities offered throughout the Summit.

The Media Ad Sales Summit registration is now open. For more information or to register, visit: https://www.matrixformedia.com/summit2023

About Matrix Solutions

Matrix Solutions is a forward-thinking technology company that empowers the media ad sales world with intelligence, technology, and expertise. It provides the technology backbone for the end-to-end workflow for sales organizations, transacting in the media marketplace. Its flagship solution, Monarch, is the only global ad sales platform built specifically for media, delivering the CRM and business intelligence necessary to optimize inventory, while the Matrix Sales Gateway, serving as a sell-side dedicated platform allows for the ingestion and dissemination of data from all providers in the ecosystem that participate in the negotiation and execution process. Matrix manages more than $13 billion annually in media ad revenue, has over 10K users, maintains over 95% renewal rate, and has founded the annual Media Ad Sales Summit and Media Ad Sales Council (MASC)  both of which bring together industry leaders to advance the future of media ad sales. For more information, please visit matrixformedia.com.
Mission Cloud, a cloud-managed services provider and Amazon Web Services (AWS) Premier Tier Services Partner, has been named to Inc. magazines annual Best Workplaces list. Featured in the May/June 2023 issue, which hits newsstands today, and prominently featured on Inc.com, the list is the result of a comprehensive measurement of American companies that have excelled in creating exceptional workplaces and company culture, whether operating in a physical or a virtual facility.

In addition to being included on Inc. magazines annual Best Workplaces list, Mission Cloud was also honored in the following special categories:



Established Excellence: 5-14 years in business

Medium-Large: Employee size 100-499, and

Pacific Region: AK, CA, HI, OR, WA

After collecting data from thousands of submissions, Inc. selected 591 honorees this year. Each company that was nominated took part in an employee survey, conducted by Quantum Workplace, which included topics such as management effectiveness, perks, fostering employee growth, and overall company culture. The organizations benefits were also audited to determine overall score and ranking.

At Mission Cloud we pride ourselves on values such as inclusivity, striving for excellence, and embracing life, said Karoline Saffi, Chief People Officer, Mission Cloud. These principles collectively shine through Mission Cloud employees throughout all levels. We are truly honored to be included on Inc. magazines Best Workplaces list as it is a reflection of the attitude and culture weve created at Mission Cloud.

Being named to Best Workplaces is an honor that only a small fraction of companies have been able to claim, says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. Proving to the world that youre a magnet for talent and have a culture that keeps teams engaged, productive, and proud to come to work is a truly remarkable achievement.

Mission Cloud is the fastest-growing AWS provider aimed at helping enterprises throughout their cloud journey. To learn more please visit https://www.missioncloud.com.

About Mission Cloud

Mission empowers businesses to invent a greater future in the cloud by leveraging the leading cloud platform. Our dedicated team of cloud experts matches businesses with the personalized services and software they need to migrate, manage, modernize, and optimize their cloud environments with confidence.

About Inc. Media

The worlds most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit http://www.inc.com.
In recent years each new round of fighting between Palestinian resistance groups and Israel has proved that the level of violence and human damage can only rise, further complicating what slim prospects of trust might revive the practically dead peace process.

Over five days, the Israeli air force reduced to rubble scores of Palestinian residential buildings, claiming it was targeting leading figures of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, allegedly responsible for firing rockets at settlements close to the besieged Gaza Strip. Yet even Israels most advanced technology, supposed to target single apartments within buildings made up of several floors, could not spare innocent human lives, including those of women and children.

And that is what the Israeli occupation is all about: the occupier can indiscriminately kill Palestinian victims with impunity, and the best-case scenario is a pledge of investigation that never produces results or holds anyone accountable. The martyred Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh who died a year ago is a case in point. Luckily, she had dual Palestinian-American nationality, and that is why the Israeli army made a rare admission that she was mistakenly killed by soldiers while carrying out her reporting job.

In the opening round that Israel started on Tuesday, 9 May, 13 Palestinians were killed, including three key Jihad leaders, the rest being mostly women and children. Over five days of heavy bombing, a total of 34 Palestinians were killed, less than half of them wanted targets by Israel, while the rest were innocent victims who happened to be in the same buildings or bystanders. One Israeli was killed by shrapnel after a single Palestinian rocket escaped the costly Iron Dome system.

The Palestinian people and all those who support their just cause worldwide are entitled to ask and compare the international reaction to their repeated plight under a racist occupation that pays no heed to their lives to what has been happening for an infinitely shorter time in Ukraine.

How would Washington or the EU be if it was Russian fighter jets that killed Ukrainian women and children in order to destroy what they claimed to be a legitimate military targets? Would any Western government ask the International Criminal Court to issue an arrest warrant for an Israeli political or military leader over charges of killing innocent Palestinians, as we have seen recently with the Russian President Vladimir Putin? Have we seen any US or European official unequivocally condemning such barbaric acts against innocent Palestinian women and children? No, only the classic statements calling on all parties to refrain from escalating the situation, while at the same time affirming Israels eternal right to self-defense. No word about the occupation, the root cause behind the entire crisis.

Days before Israel ignited the recent round of fighting, a senior Jihad leader, Khedr Adnan, died in an Israeli jail after going on a hunger strike for nearly 90 days to protest his administrative detention. Adnan, 45, and the father of nine children, helped introduce the practice of protracted hunger strikes by individual prisoners as a form of protest. Palestinian detainees have mostly used hunger strikes to challenge administrative detention, a classic Israeli occupation tactic in which more than 1,000 Palestinians are currently being held without charge or trial.

The Islamic Jihad reacted to Adnans assassination in an Israeli prison by firing rounds of rockets on settlements in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, leading the most right-wing, extremist government in Israeli history, found no better distraction from his own domestic problems than seeking to impress the Israeli public through yet another round of assassination of Palestinian resistance fighters.

Last weeks clashes between Israel and the Palestinians took place barely a month after the region reached the brink of a wide-scale confrontation when Palestinian resistance factions fired rockets from several fronts, namely Gaza, Lebanon and Syria, to protest repeated Israeli incursions into Palestinian towns in the West Bank and violations of the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, where extremist Jewish settlers were allowed to enter the site and perform prayers there by force during the holy month of Ramadan.

This was an unprecedented reaction by Palestinian resistance groups. Although it was contained quickly through regional mediation, there is no guarantee that any future confrontations will not go out of hand on several fronts.

In last weeks round of fighting in Gaza, and in the confrontations that followed Israels violation of agreements organising control of Al-Aqsa Mosque, Egypt exerted tremendous efforts to reduce tensions and prevent escalation. The role Cairo played was praised by Palestinian groups in Gaza as well as Israel, the United States, the European Union and the United Nations.

Yet, there is only so much Egypt can do, and the sad reality that everyone recognises is that the present calm in Gaza is only a temporary truce awaiting any future trigger by the Israeli occupation forces to break out in another round of fighting. This will remain the case as long as even efforts to renew peace talks between the two sides have come to halt.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 18 May, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Moore, a leading constituent experience management company, names Stephanie Ceruolo as president of Moore Response Management Group, a Moore company. Moore RMG, located in Hagerstown, Maryland, is one of the nations largest full-service direct response processing and fulfillment companies, with an emphasis on providing clients accurate data through timely processing, deposits and reporting.

Moore purchased the response management company from Merkle, Inc. in January 2023 and rebranded the company Moore RMG. Kent Grove, who led the company as president before and through the acquisition, is moving into an enterprise business development position at Moore. In his new position, Grove will support growth across all Moore products and services. Bringing Ceruolo and Grove into these positions is yet another step Moore is taking to invest in people and technology to deliver the best marketing and data solutions in the industry.

Prior to joining Moore RMG, Ceruolo served in senior leadership positions at Epsilon and Merkle, and most recently as nonprofit division president of Data Axle. Ceruolo is a high-performing executive who has spent more than 20 years helping nonprofits achieve their missions through innovative, data-driven solutions.

After spending so many years helping nonprofit clients acquire and steward donors through data solutions, I am excited to work with the team that is responsible for getting data to our clients as quickly as possible, advancing insights for their success, said Ceruolo. To do that with Moore, a company with a truly innovative vision for elevating the nonprofit industry, is thrilling.

Ceruolo will guide and direct Moore RMGs ongoing focus to streamlined data acquisition and analysis beyond traditional response management services, providing clients with the ability to make critical timely and accurate decisions that impact future growth. Along with her commitment to advancing nonprofit missions, Ceruolo is dedicated to helping Moore RMG employees grow professionally and make full use of their talents and passions.

At Moore, we analyze the entire data cycle to discover ways to give clients a competitive edge. With Stephanie leading the effort for a one-day turn around on data collection and cash deposits, clients benefit from faster access to critical information, enabling them to make faster and better-informed decisions, said Gretchen Littlefield, chief executive officer of Moore.

Additionally, we are excited that Kent Grove is moving into an enterprise business development role at Moore. Our clients have some of the most sophisticated marketing and data programs in the industry and we are so fortunate to have someone with Kents experience to guide them through our enterprise solutions, Littlefield continued.

To learn more about Moore and our response management services, visit wearemoore.com.

About Moore Response Management Group

Moore RMG, located in Hagerstown, Maryland, is a processing, data and technology-driven company. The company, formerly Merkle RMG, was purchased in January 2023 from Merkle, Inc. By combining best-in-class direct-response processing, customer care and fulfillment solutions with actionable data insights, Moore RMG drives one-to-one relationships for an improved donor and customer experience that increases retention and revenue. The company employs a high-tech/high-touch approach that helps minimize costs while ensuring a high level of donor and customer satisfaction through fast, accurate, secure and responsive service that is tailored to each client's requirements and strategic objectives. Moore RMG serves more than 200 clients in the nonprofit, government and commercial markets.

About Moore

Moore is a data-driven constituent experience management (CXM) company achieving accelerated growth for clients through integrated supporter experiences across all platforms, channels and devices. We are an innovation led company of 5,000 people that is the largest marketing, data and fundraising company in North America serving the nonprofit industry with clients across education, association, political and commercial sectors.

Moore combines our strength in technology and unmatched industry expertise to provide clients with strategy, creative, production, media, data, response management and analytic services. Our omnichannel solutions are powered by an ongoing investment in next-generation artificial intelligence and machine learning that deepens constituent relationships and creates transformational growth.
We followed our strategic direction to increasingly leverage cloud solutions, and work with the product demonstrating the most maturity in the legal tech space with a solid reputation.Vince Marin, Global CIO, Sidley Austin

NetDocuments, the #1 trusted cloud platform where legal professionals do work, today reported record growth in 2022 with momentum continuing into 2023, with over 750 enterprise firms making the switch from top document management competitors or storage solutions to NetDocuments.

Why are firms choosing to leave other popular DMS solutions for NetDocuments?

Today, the needs of document management go far beyond securing and organizing files. Firms are increasingly looking for a single platform that enables end-to-end legal document workflows while integrating with critical applications  all underpinned by state-of-the-art security and governance capabilities.

NetDocuments is helping firms chart their move to the cloud, whether to accommodate a firms overarching cloud-first strategy or helping them take initial steps into the cloud at their own pace.

Vincent A. Marin, Sidley Austins Global Chief Information Officer, who led the global firms (ranked sixth in the 2023 Am Law 100) multidisciplinary team spearheading the evaluation, selection, implementation, and rollout of NetDocuments cited priorities integral to the project. We focused on two key priorities. First, we needed to address specific pain points, missing capabilities, features, and functionality not available to us in the previous solution, and second, we followed our strategic direction to increasingly leverage cloud solutions, and work with the product demonstrating the most maturity in the legal tech space with a solid reputation.

Martin Pringle, a regional Midwest firm, made the switch to NetDocuments, noting Google-like searches and file-it-once approach to email via ndMail as stand-out capabilities that help the firm maximize productivity and efficiency. Kent Selby, the firms Director of IT commented: Were thrilled to be in the cloud, integrating with core applications through the platform, and have 100% certainty that the platform will continue to innovate and deliver what we need not only today  but in the future.

Cloud security remains a central law firm priority, along with the reality that the security technology delivered by

NetDocuments and its application within the platform outperform internal security measures implemented by any individual firm.

For Conni Falkner, Chief Operating Officer at Danish law firm Njord, their decision to select NetDocuments was solidified by the platforms ease-of-use along with an incredible 8-week implementation timeline, underscoring the cloud platforms ability to integrate seamlessly with the firms existing technology stack and go-live at such a rapid pace.

The implementation process was as smooth as possible, which was beneficial for our business, shared Falkner. When moving our documents to the cloud, there were concerns it would disrupt our lawyers work and client service. However, working with NetDocuments and its partners was a frictionless experience, enabling us to get up and running quickly and ensuring that business could continue as usual.

For the UKs largest litigation-only law firm Stewarts, a switch to a company that they could trust to future-proof the business was a priority.

James Mead, IT Director at Stewarts, shared, We wanted to partner with a DMS vendor that had a mature cloud service offering, a clear roadmap and proven ability to deliver and support our growth and innovation over the next ten years. After an extensive search and evaluation, we chose NetDocuments as it is built for the cloud and is a vendor, we felt we could rely on.

Josh Baxter, CEO at NetDocuments, says a customer-focused, forward-thinking approach is at the heart of what is driving firms to choose NetDocuments. We have always prioritized meeting and exceeding our customer expectations and what we can deliver to help firms future-proof their organizations. When we ask what makes the difference, our customers talk about our unrelenting focus of vetting and bringing forward highly relevant technology and innovations that help them streamline workflows all natively within NetDocuments.

Alberto Varillas, Managing Partner at Garcia Sayan Abogados (GSA) shared similar sentiments about the importance for flexible/remote work stating, while our previous document management technology met some of our basic document needs, it did not offer adequate alternatives for a new remote reality. We knew we wanted an innovative and technologically advanced cloud solution  so that is how we discovered NetDocuments.

75% of law firms have already made a cloud forward commitment and adoption rates of mission critical cloud applications like comprehensive content and document management platforms are surging. This ideally positions firms and corporate legal departments to not only future proof their organizations with a platform that will innovate with them, but equips their legal professionals with automation, collaboration, and productivity tools to do their best work.

For additional details and success stories of firms making the switch to NetDocuments, click here.


Customers who want the latest 2023 Toyota Tundra i-FORCE Max pickup truck can buy it at the Ammaars Toyota Vacaville dealership.

Ammaar's Toyota Vacaville is proud to announce the availability of the 2023 Toyota Tundra i-FORCE Max in their inventory. This powerful and capable pickup truck is designed to take on any challenge.

With a bold and muscular exterior design, the 2023 Toyota Tundra i-FORCE Max will surely attract attention wherever it goes. The truck has a massive stance, high ground clearance, an active aero front splitter and 20-inch alloy wheels. Its body is made from high-strength steel, which provides exceptional durability and rigidity.

Regarding mechanics, the 2023 Toyota Tundra i-FORCE Max is powered by a 3.4-liter V8 engine that delivers an impressive 437 hp of power and 583 lb.-ft. of torque. It is mated with a 10-speed automatic transmission that provides smooth and responsive shifting. The pickup truck also features a superior suspension system that ensures smooth and comfortable rides, even on rough terrain.

One of the key features of the 2023 Toyota Tundra i-FORCE Max is its towing capacity. The truck can tow up to 11,175 pounds, making it one of the most capable pickups on the market. It also has a payload capacity of up to 1,740 pounds, which means it can carry a heavy load without sweat.

Regarding the interior, the 2023 Toyota Tundra i-FORCE Max is spacious and comfortable. The truck features a 14-inch touchscreen display that provides access to the truck's infotainment system, which includes features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Amazon Alexa integration. It carries a 12-speaker JBL premium audio system that delivers crystal-clear sound.

Customers can visit the toyotavacaville.com website to learn about the various vehicle offers, new Toyota trucks and services available at the Ammaars Toyota Vacaville dealership. For further details on the rugged 2023 Toyota Tundra i-FORCE Max, they can visit the dealership at Ammaars Toyota Vacaville, 500 Orange Dr. Vacaville, CA 95687 or contact them by phone at 707-446-7000. The dealership is open seven days a week and offers a range of financing options to make owning a Toyota Tundra i-FORCE Max more accessible than ever.
ezACH direct deposit software benefits employers by speeding up quarterly tax payments to the government. Latest ezACH direct deposit software benefits employers by speeding up quarterly tax payments to the government to ensure payments are made on time.

Customers considering a switch to ezACH direct deposit software from Halfpricesoft.com will be happy to know that along with the features for unlimited payments to employees and vendors, that businesses can also pay the government quarterly taxes with ezACH as well. At only $199.00 per installation (We offer discounts for multi user installations). See instructions below:

https://www.halfpricesoft.com/direct-deposit-software/howto-pay-government-ach-direct-deposit.asp

Latest ezACH direct deposit software benefits employers by speeding up quarterly tax payments to the government to ensure payments are made on time. Says developer, Dr. Ge.

Cost-effective: ezACH is only $199.00 flat rate for a single installation to process unlimited deposits for unlimited companies. (Please check with the bank for the transaction fees that may be charged by the bank). Additionally, you can make EFTS payments using instructions below

https://www.halfpricesoft.com/payroll-software/EFTPS-deposit-guide.asp

Benefits to using ezACH Direct Deposit-

Increased security: Direct deposit will reduce the risk of lost, stolen or damaged checks.

Quicker access to funds: ezACH Direct deposit ensures that funds are available in accounts immediately, giving quicker access to money.

Go Green: Direct deposit eliminates the need for paper checks and reduces the environmental impact of paper waste.

Convenience: With ezACH direct deposit, there is no need to go to the bank or wait for a check to clear. Funds are automatically deposited into your account on a specified date.

Time-saving: Direct deposit saves time for both employers and employees. Employees don't have to go to the bank to deposit paychecks, and employers don't have to spend time preparing and distributing paper checks.

ezAch Deposit Software  Affordable direct paycheck deposit for any business  30-day trial

ezAch is priced at just $199 per single version installation, (additional cost for network version). The free download and the license key can be found

https://www.halfpricesoft.com/NACHA-ACH-direct-deposit-software.asp

About halfpricesoft.com

Halfpricesoft.com is a leading provider of small business software, including online and desktop payroll software, online employee attendance tracking software, accounting software, in-house business and personal check printing software, W2, software, 1099 software, Accounting software, 1095 form software and ezACH direct deposit software. Software from halfpricesoft.com is trusted by thousands of customers and will help small Business owners simplify payroll processing and streamline business management.
Pearson Online Academy Opens Enrollment For Summer School 2023 Weve been with Pearson Online Academy for five years now, and it all started with a wonderful experience with the schools summer school program

Pearson Online Academy, a leading U.S.-based accredited virtual private school serving students in grades K-12 worldwide, has opened enrollment for the 2023 virtual summer school program. Families are invited to register for summer courses and will receive a 10 percent discount when purchasing two or more courses, through June 30. Active-duty military and veteran families are also eligible for a ten percent discount. Rolling start dates for the program begin June 1 through July 6.

Our robust online summer school program engages students beyond the traditional school year and offers a flexible schedule that supports our students' and families needs, said Hannah Rinehart, director of Pearson Online Academy. Whether students choose to brush up on foundational skills or explore a new area of learning, our summer school program is designed to propel their learning and academic future through an array of rigorous course options.

Pearson Online Academys virtual summer school program provides a high-quality private school education experience in a user-friendly online environment for students worldwide. The flexible scheduling and availability of more than 100 different online course options allow students to explore new interests while preparing for the next school year during summer break.

Pearson Online Academys K-12 summer school courses include:



Elementary and Middle School Courses offer younger students the opportunity to master English or Math core concepts, to learn a new language or begin exploring career interests.

Summer Smarts Math and Reading Programs, the most popular courses taken in 2022, help kindergarten through eighth grade students refine foundational skills and stay on track for the new school year.

Original Credit Courses encourage high school students to fulfill graduation requirements, explore their career interests or accelerate their academic progress.

High School Credit Recovery Courses ensure students earn the necessary credits to move forward and acquire the core skills to succeed.

High School Honors Courses in grades 9-12 provide students with rigorous assignments for honors credits.

Students from around the world participated in Pearson Online Academys summer school program in 2022, logging in from locations such as Aruba, Guatemala, Nepal, Qatar and more. Each year, Pearson Online Academy prepares students for future academic pursuits and career fulfillment, and provides a well-rounded support system for parents and caretakers to ensure success for students on both an academic and emotional level.

Weve been with Pearson Online Academy for five years now, and it all started with a wonderful experience with the schools summer school program, said Janette Getui, parent of eleventh grade student Vanessa Ace Magnano. Ace wanted an online summer school program that offered high-quality math and science courses and found Pearson Online Academys challenging curriculum. She campaigned us to enroll her that summer and weve stayed ever since. Through the schools advanced coursework, flexible learning model, and encouraging teachers, Ace has been able to explore her passion for math and science at her own pace, her way.

Ace recently scored a 1600 SAT score and aspires to be a computational astrophysicist.

Enrollment for Pearson Online Academys 2023 online summer school program is now open and additional discounts may be available for families who qualify. Parents who want to learn more about online summer courses for grades K-12 can visit the schools website or contact an admissions advisor at 855-505-0029.

About Pearson Online Academy

Pearson Online Academy is an accredited, online private school serving students in grades K-12 throughout the United States and abroad. Recognizing individualized instruction as the key to student academic and personal success, Pearson Online Academys highly trained, certified teachers offer instruction tailored to each student's strengths and challenges using an award-winning computer-based curriculum, real-time instruction, and time-tested course materials from leading publishers. Pearson Online Academy currently serves students in 66 different countries around the world and is part of the global learning company Pearson. For more information, visit http://www.pearsononlineacademy.com/.
Port of Oakland joins the California Purchasing Group by Bidnet Direct Registered vendors can access bids, related documents, addendum and award information.

The Port of Oakland announced it has joined the California Purchasing Group and will be publishing and distributing upcoming bid opportunities on the system. Bidnet Directs California Purchasing Group connects 27 participating agencies from across California. The purchasing group provides a transparent bid process through which the bid is available to all vendors at the same time. The Port of Oakland invites all vendors to register online at http://www.bidnetdirect.com/california/portofoakland.

The Port of Oakland joined the purchasing group in January 2023. The Port of Oakland will utilize the system to streamline their purchasing process including bid distribution, bid management, and vendor relations. The California Purchasing Group is a single, online location for managing sourcing information and activities and provides 27 local government agencies with the tools needed to have a transparent bid process while minimizing costs and saving time.

We strive to be as transparent as possible and to give all the information we have about the bid opportunity and the procurement process to all our vendors. By becoming a part of the California Purchasing Group, we can provide all the important and necessary information instantly to our vendors, everything they need is in one spot and they dont need to contact us to find out details, they can just log in and view everything in real time. This has allowed us to create a more seamless bid process and has provided more participation from vendors across the state, stated Bill Russell, of the Port of Oakland.

As a participating agency of the California Purchasing Group, it allows the Port of Oakland to expand their vendor pool and enhance vendor competition without increasing distribution costs. To be added to the existing list of vendors on the California Purchasing Group, any suppliers looking to do business with the Port of Oakland can register online: http://www.bidnetdirect.com/california/portofoakland. The Port of Oakland encourages all interested bidders to register today.

Registered vendors can access open bids, related documents, and files, additional addendum, and available award information from all participating agencies. In addition, the California Purchasing Group offers a value-added service to notify vendors of new bids targeted to their business, including all addenda and advance notification of expiring term contracts.

With one click, the Port of Oakland can now see how many vendors match a specific opportunity, how many have downloaded documents, responded and more. The Port of Oakland also has its own, branded page on the public side of the California Purchasing Group in which taxpayers can view all closed bids and any awarded information.

Vendors may register on the California Purchasing Group: http://www.bidnetdirect.com/california/portofoakland. Bidnet Directs vendor support team is available to answer any questions regarding the registration process or the bid system at 800-835-4603 option 2.

Other local California government agencies looking to switch from a manual bid process, please contact the California Purchasing Group for a demonstration of the no-cost sourcing solution.

About the Port of Oakland:

The Port of Oakland is a major container ship facility located in Oakland, California, in the San Francisco Bay. It was the first major port on the Pacific Coast of the United States to build terminals for container ships. As of 2011 it was the fifth busiest container port in the United States, behind Long Beach, Los Angeles, Newark, and Savannah. Development of an intermodal container handling system in 2002 after over a decade of planning and construction positions the Port of Oakland for further expansion of the West Coast freight market share. In 2019 it ranked 8th in the United States in the category of containers.

About Bidnet Direct:

Bidnet Direct, powered by mdf commerce, is a sourcing solution of regional purchasing groups available at no cost to local government agencies throughout the country. Bidnet Direct runs regional purchasing groups, including the California Purchasing Group, across all 50 states that are used by over 1,600 local governments. To learn more and have your government agency gain better transparency and efficiency in purchasing, please visit https://www.bidnetdirect.com/buyers
Premier Workspaces Concord Building Were confident business in this area will appreciate the professionalism and prestige of this location. Its an excellent fit.

Irvine, California based Premier Workspaces, one of the largest privately-owned coworking operators in the U.S., is delighted to announce the opening of its most recent location in Concord, CA. This will expand Premiers Northern California footprint to include Concord, San Jose, San Francisco, and Oakland  in addition to over 60 locations throughout California, 85+ nationally. With a dedicated focus on premium, private offices, this location will be a welcome addition to Concords thriving downtown. Premier will occupy space at 1800 Sutter Square where they signed a 9-year agreement with the Barker Pacific Group.

Were excited to add Concord to our portfolio, said Amy Fuller, SVP of Sales & Marketing at Premier. With its stunning views and well-rounded economy, its the perfect setting for a flexible workspace. She continued, It will also give our Northern California clients another potential meeting room or full-time office option closer to home. This is important as more companies and workers try to find a balance. Were happy to be part of that solution.

In keeping with that promise, Premier will offer a selection of products and services that are easy to customize. From full-time private offices to more robust solution for teams, they offer a menu of options that are white-label, flexible, and easy to execute. In addition to dedicated space, they also offer virtual plans and blended hybrid plans that allow clients to select the options that work best for them.

Sutter Square is centrally located in a Class A building downtown that is within walking distance of shops, restaurants, and more. It features several premium amenities, including an on-site fitness facility with showers, subterranean parking, an ENERGY STAR rating, and a luxurious 2-story atrium with Italian marble. Once inside the Premier location, clients will enjoy a selection of masterfully designed private offices, serviced meeting rooms, and common areas  all with a full-time hospitality team. The location features a new build with floor-to-ceiling windows, modern furniture, and a welcoming aesthetic.

In addition to great design, this location will bring us further into the East Bay  allowing us to serve important markets like Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek, said Michael Pollack, Premiers VP/Director of Real Estate. Were confident business in this area will appreciate the professionalism and prestige of this location. Its an excellent fit.

Commuters will also enjoy Sutter Squares central location in Concord. As a well-known transportation hub in the East Bay, its close to several major transportation routes and transit systems  including BART (3 blocks). Concord also borders Walnut Creek, San Ramon, and Antioch.

The Barker Pacific Group was represented by Scott Ellis with Colliers International, and Premier was represented by Robert Rush of U.S. Realty Group on the deal.

Start at: $560 a month for a private office

Address: 1800 Sutter Street, Suite 500, Concord, CA 94520

Available now at: (925) 338-8505

Website: https://www.premierworkspaces.com/california/concord-sutter-square

About Premier Workspaces:

Premier Workspaces (http://www.premierworkspaces.com) operates one of the largest privately owned executive suite, coworking and shared workspace companies in the United States with locations in Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Washington, and the District of Columbia. Since 2002, Premier Workspaces has owned or operated 139 locations comprised of 2.4 million square feet of commercial office space.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/premier-workspaces/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PWSpaces

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PremierWorkspaces

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/premierworkspaces
Our cleanup initiative was something that our two groups had collaborated on as a way to not only educate our team on our ISO 14001 efforts, but also to really drive home the message that we can make serious change when it comes to our local environment.

Security Engineered Machinery Co., Inc. (SEM), global leader in high security information end-of-life solutions, spent Thursday, April 27, 2023 walking up and down Walkup Drive in Westborough, MA, where their headquarters are located, picking up trash.

The SEM Culture Committee, a group of voluntary employees that plan interactive philanthropic and team-building activities, partnered with the companys ISO 14001 task force to collaborate on an event to honor Earth Day, an annually recognized day centered around environmental protection celebrated on April 22.

At SEM, we are committed to protecting our environment in a multitude of ways, says Lara Rapport, SEM Director of Quality. Our ISO 14001 certification as just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the continuous improvements we make in order to be as sustainable and environmentally conscious as possible.

ISO 14001 is a familial set of standards developed in the mid-1990s to help organizations minimize how their operations negatively affect the environment (or cause adverse changes in air, water, or land), educating the organization on how to comply with applicable laws, regulations, and other environmental standards, and how they can sustain their efforts.

Our cleanup initiative was something that our two groups had collaborated on as a way to not only educate our team on our ISO 14001 efforts, but also to really drive home the message that we can make serious change when it comes to our local environment, says Amanda Canale, SEM Marketing Coordinator.

The two teams worked closely with the Westborough Department of Public Works to coordinate the delivery of empty waste bags and the pickup of the collected trash. The cleanup event saw an attendance of over twenty employees, including company president, Andrew Kelleher. The cleanup activity is just the latest in the companys detailed history of giving back to their local community, adding itself amongst the annual food bank and toy donations, and Operation Playhouse.

We have always prioritized events and activities that are both interactive and morale-boosting, and serve a philanthropic purpose, and this one was our most well-received yet. We will be making this an annual SEM tradition, states Rapport.

For more information on Security Engineered Machinerys environmental policy, visit here.
Tech Coast Angels (TCA) members invested $15.4 million in a total of 41 companies in 2022, as noted in its 2022 Annual Report released today. The angel network announced a new licensing initiative that welcomed two esteemed angel groups, Pasadena Angels and MEDA Angels, as members of the TCA super angel network. These groups bring their unique wisdom to TCA: MEDA Angels is a specialty investment group comprising medical professionals, academics, and scientists; Pasadena Angels brings expertise in emergent and early-stage technology.

TCAs total investments have exceeded $10 million for twelve years (from 2011  2022), which is the longest sustained level of high investment activity in TCAs history.

TCA posted 13 exits in 2022, with 11 acquisitions, one buyout, and one IPO (initial public offering). Five exits realized returns to members between 10x and 34x. Of its 525 total number of investments since TCAs inception in 1997, 53% (279) of the companies are still active. There have been 106 exits, and the overall return on all outcomes (including shutdowns) is 6.4x on the initial investments. While exits were at a record-high in 2022, there were also 10 shutdowns.

Twenty-one of the 41 companies receiving funding were new additions to TCAs portfolio, representing 72% of investments, compared to 48% in 2021. While the angel network continued to fund a range of industries, life sciences (medical devices, medical diagnostics, pharma, and digital health) was the largest sector of dollars invested in 2022 (41%), followed by software (37%). Seed rounds continue to be the focus of TCA funding, with 68% of deals and 76% of investments in 2022, compared to 2021 respective percentages of 58% and 67%.

While Southern California remained TCAs geographical focus, representing 49% of 2022 investment dollars and 46% of companies funded, for the first time TCAs reach into other parts of the country and internationally exceeded the investment in local companies. This was due in part to our new licensees, and the ability of TCA networks to build relationships with other angel and investment groups through syndication through initiatives such as the Angel Syndication Network which TCA launched in 2016 and now includes over 60 leading Angel Groups across the country.

TCAs diversity initiative is gaining traction: 29% of CEOs received funding in 2022 identified as non-white, up from 23% in 2021, and companies with female CEOs increased to 20% from 15% in 2021. Two of TCAs network presidents are female. TCA continues to strive for more inclusive investments and membership opportunities.

TCA reported 410 members at year-end. This large base of active, knowledgeable and experienced members enables the angel network to provide 30-day due diligence on most funding decisions. TCA members continue to play an important role in the mentorship of its active portfolio companies and serving on portfolio company boards, while leveraging connections with other investment and operations opportunities.

Three of TCAs networks have sidecar funds that grew relative to the previous year, and a total of $5.2 million was invested by these funds in 2022; this was in addition to $10.2 million in direct investment by individual TCA members in 2022, comparable to the previous two years. Twenty-six of TCAs 41 deals in 2022 received investment from at least one network fund. In addition to incremental funding for entrepreneurs, these funds help members achieve the benefits of greater portfolio diversification.

2022 was a year of significant change, not just for us, but for the entrepreneurial ecosystem and we see that 2023 is proving to be an even more transitional environment, said TCA chairman David Friedman. While the high investments in recent years showcase a strong pipeline of opportunities, we recognize that investments will be harder to attain for entrepreneurs and they should be realistic and well-prepared regarding valuations and spending. Seek investors with the experience to navigate through this uncertain time and listen to their counsel. Very good companies with really good ideas will survive and flourish. TCA, with the capital it has through its several funds and its large investor base, can provide the funding and expertise to help our portfolio companies attain success.

Investors and other smaller angel groups may want to join TCA to access deal flow and gain expertise through other accredited investors knowledge and may want to diversify and invest in funds, Friedman continued. Its a good time to connect with and learn from other angels; the Angel Capital Association hosts webinars and learning opportunities that are very beneficial. And I cant stress enough that patience is vital: best exit returns occur five or more years after funding while failures often happen within the first two-to-five years after investment. Investing through funds and developing a diverse portfolio are keys to long term financial success.

TCAs 2022 Annual Report is available at https://www.techcoastangels.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/TCA-Annual-Report-2022-final.pdf. The report includes a summary of TCAs activity in 2022, comprehensive detail about investments and chapter funds, TCAs portfolio companies and exits, advice going forward for entrepreneurs and investors, and much more thought-provoking information.

About Tech Coast Angels:

Founded in 1997, Tech Coast Angels (TCA) has invested more than $270 million in more than 525 companies and has helped attract more than $2.2 billion in additional capital/follow-on rounds. One of the largest and most active angel investor groups in the nation, TCA has steadily remained one of the top three angel groups nationally--in number of funded deals, amounts invested in those companies, and number of members--for over two decades. From 2019 - 2022, TCA invested $15 - 21 million in 40 - 55 companies each year.

The Tech Coast Angels network is comprised of more than 400 members within five networks: TCA Los Angeles, TCA Orange County, TCA Inland Empire, and licensees including Pasadena Angels and MEDA Angels. TCA is a leading source of funding for seed-stage and early-stage companies, and its members are founders and business leaders, all accredited investors with extensive knowledge in the investment process and world-class business practices. That real-world experience allows TCA members to provide companies with benefits beyond capital: counsel, mentoring, board advisors, and access to an extensive network of investors and other resources. Connect with Tech Coast Angels on its website, and on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Contact:

Kimber Smith Fidler

For Tech Coast Angels

kimber(at)smithfidler.com

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Call Center & Enterprise Communication Expo China 2023 transcosmos China offers a suite of solutions to help clients solve the challenge, leveraging its proven expertise in multi-channel contact center services.

transcosmos inc. is proud to announce that Shanghai transcosmos Marketing Services Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shanghai, China; CEO: Eijiro Yamashita; General Manager: Toshiya Okada; transcosmos China), its wholly-owned subsidiary, received the Contact Center Digital Intelligence Solutions Award at the Call Center & Enterprise Communication Expo China 2023 and CTI Forum Editors' Choice Award Ceremony hosted by CTI Forum on April 13, 2023.

Huang Wenbo, Director, Business Promotion Department, Contact Center Business Unit, transcosmos China

at the award ceremony

Started in 2011, this year marks the 13th anniversary of the CTI Forum Editors' Choice Award, the renowned award program in the industry hosted by the CTI Forum, a dominant Chinese online media company which offers information services. The winners were selected after going through screening processes including self-nomination/nomination and experts' reviews, and call-based and on-site surveys about the nominated companies' products and solutions. In addition, industry experts assessed and evaluated the nominated ICT (Information Communication Technology) products and solutions as well as employees based on their abundant experience and deep insights into the industry accumulated over years, while receiving input from various parties in the industry. Highly recognized for its contact center digital intelligence services, transcosmos China won the Contact Center Digital Intelligence Solutions Award.

Needs for businesses to implement digital technologies continue to grow as digitalization gathers pace. Now, building digital intelligence contact centers effectively has become a common challenge that businesses must overcome. Against this backdrop, transcosmos China offers a suite of solutions to help clients solve the challenge, leveraging its proven expertise in multi-channel contact center services. The solutions include a human-bot hybrid chat service as well as services for increasing customer traffic, visualizing data, creating a knowledge bank, training robots, and more.

In addition, based on its 5A Loyalty Diagnostics Service and BI (Business Intelligence) system development service, transcosmos China helps clients develop personalized digital intelligence contact center solutions designed for each industry to serve customers across a diverse range of touchpoints in this digital age. Ultimately, transcosmos China helps clients reduce costs, streamline operations and optimize customer experience all at the same time.

As a digital transformation (DX) partner for clients, transcosmos will continue to drive its initiatives towards enhancing its digital intelligence contact center services that are built on high quality, high value-added services.

 transcosmos history in China

transcosmos entered the Chinese market and launched its offshore services business in 1995. In 2006, the company opened its first call center in Shanghai and started to provide call center services for the Chinese market. Today, transcosmos has its bases and subsidiaries across 22 cities in China including Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin, Hefei, Xi'an, Changsha, Wuhan, Neijiang, Kunshan, Suzhou, Taipei and more. The company offers extensive services such as business process outsourcing (BPO) including contact centers, e-commerce one-stop, customer experience, digital marketing and system development for both Chinese and global brands.



transcosmos is a trademark or registered trademark of transcosmos inc. in Japan and other countries.

Other company names and product or service names used here are trademarks or registered trademarks of respective companies.

About transcosmos inc.

transcosmos launched its operations in 1966. Since then, we have combined superior "people" with up-to-date "technology" to enhance the competitive strength of our clients by providing them with superior and valuable services. transcosmos currently offers services that support clients' business processes focusing on both sales expansion and cost optimization through our 172 bases across 28 countries/regions with a focus on Asia, while continuously pursuing Operational Excellence. Furthermore, following the expansion of e-commerce market on the global scale, transcosmos provides a comprehensive One-Stop Global E-Commerce Services to deliver our clients' excellent products and services to consumers in 46 countries/regions around the globe. transcosmos aims to be the "Global Digital Transformation Partner" of our clients, supporting the clients' transformation by leveraging digital technology, responding to the ever-changing business environment. Visit us here https://www.trans-cosmos.co.jp/english/
Egypts Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Osama Askar met with Indias Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Manoj Pande on Tuesday.

Askar greeted Pande and his delegation, who are on an official visit to Egypt.

Both officials discussed mechanisms to boost cooperative military relations and exchange expertise between Egyptian and Indian armed forces.

Egypts chief of staff expressed pride in his countrys military relations with India as well as the Armed Forces keenness to expand cooperation and partnership in multiple military fields.

For his part, Pande affirmed Indias keenness to enhance military cooperation with Egypt in the future and expressed appreciated for the Egyptian Armed Forces efforts in all fields.

The meeting was attended by a number military leaders from both countries.

The visit by Indias chief of staff comes shortly after a joint exercise in Egypt between the two countrys air forces earlier in May.

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"We are thrilled to be a platinum sponsor of Community Summit 2023, as it is a fantastic opportunity for us to engage with our customers, partners, and the broader Microsoft Dynamics community," said Katherine Turner-Lawrence, Vice President of Marketing.

Western Computer, a leading reseller of Microsoft Dynamics 365, CRM, and ERP systems as well as business intelligence solutions, is proud to announce its platinum sponsorship of Community Summit 2023.

The event will take place from October 15-20, 2023, at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. As a platinum sponsor, Western Computer will be exhibiting in booth 1735.

Western Computer's Executive Team and experienced Microsoft Dynamics consultants will be in attendance to answer your toughest questions and provide valuable insights. In addition, Western Computer will participate in several breakout sessions, sharing its expertise and knowledge on various topics related to ERP, CRM, and Power Platform solutions.

"We are thrilled to be a platinum sponsor of Community Summit 2023, as it is a fantastic opportunity for us to engage with our customers, partners, and the broader Microsoft Dynamics community," said Katherine Turner-Lawrence, Vice President of Marketing. "Our team is looking forward to showcasing our latest offerings and sharing our extensive knowledge during the event."

I have attended several Dynamics Community Summit conferences over the last many years. The event has always provided a ton of value by giving the attendees an opportunity to network with other users, learn by attending a wide variety of sessions, meeting with ISVs and getting face time with our partner, Western Computer, is also great says Steve Hey, VP of IT for Hylands Standard Homeopathic. We look forward to attending each year, we know a lot about the Dynamics solutions that we currently run but this event never fails to provide an opportunity to expand that knowledge. The key to a successful event for Hylands is to take enough people to Summit to cover as much content as possible.

Western Computer encourages attendees to take advantage of the early bird pricing, which ends on May 31. More information about the event can be found on the Community Summit website: https://www.summitna.com/.

About Western Computer

Western Computer is a Gold certified Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) founded in 1987 to empower and enable businesses. Specializing in Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Power Platform solutions, services, and support, our 180+ senior-level experts bring advanced functional and industry expertise to companies across North America. With over 35 years of ERP, CRM, and business intelligence experienceand more than 1,100 successful implementationswe deliver solutions to meet the unique needs of specialized industries and companies of all sizes.

Western Computer is a proud 2022/2023 Inner Circle Member and finalist of the 2022 Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Partner of the Year. Learn more at http://www.westerncomputer.com or call (805) 581-5020.

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As our study continues, we hope to discover new ways to marry scientific innovation and conservation efforts to support our local pollinators and provide unparalleled product quality that begins at our farms, even before seeds are planted.

Ahead of World Bee Day on May 20, Young Living, the world's leading provider of essential oils and oil-infused wellness products, announces new research project that expands upon its pioneering bee research project.

The first study launched in April of 2022 in partnership with Utah scientists Dr. Joseph Wilson, author of The Bees in Your Backyard: A Guide to North America's Bees; and his wife, Lindsey Wilson, co-owner of the Native Pollinator Project. The study successfully gathered data on native bee species at Young Livings Mona farm in Utah and Simiane-la-Rotonde farm in France.

That research project laid the groundwork for population studies, with scientists estimating that at least 50 species of bees were found visiting the lavender farms. Preliminary data gathered during the project suggested that natural-kept farms may house a greater number wild bees than more-manicured farms. However, it was found that uncultivated (wild) lavender was primarily visited by wild bees, while honey bees mainly visited farmed lavender.

The scientists also collected evidence that suggested wild bees might be more effective pollinators of lavender than honey bees and that when there are more honey bees around, there are fewer wild bees.

This year, the scientists are looking to discover the immediate and long-term effects of bee pollination on the lavender botanicals, examining how native pollinators interact with these plants in Utah to determine if Young Living should reevaluate the pollination process to help its farms flourish further.

We are thrilled to be able to continue our work with local native bee species, says Young Living Senior Scientist Tyler Wilson. As our study continues, we hope to discover new ways to marry scientific innovation and conservation efforts to support our local pollinators and provide unparalleled product quality that begins at our farms, even before seeds are planted.

This year, the scientists will continue observing the native pollinators in Utah at Young Livings Global Headquarters (GHQ) near the propertys greenhouse, where three research plots of lavender have been planted. The three plots will serve as different study groups: Group one will be open for any pollinators, from bees to butterflies; group two will have bags covering the lavender, so it cannot be accessed by pollinators; and group three will have bags covering the lavender occasionally, allowing certain groups to pollinate, but not others.

The project will be split into two stages, with the first spanning May through July and including activities such as bee counts, data collection, and photography of the species of bees present. When the lavender is ready to harvest in July, Young Livings essential oil experts will distill and analyze the oils from each group to determine how the pollination process might affect the yield or profile of the final product. After a portion of the lavender is harvested to investigate the immediate impacts of pollination on lavender, a separate portion of the lavender will be left alone to produce seed. Young Living scientists will then analyze how many seeds are produced by each plot.

These seeds will be collected, winterized, and grown in Young Livings greenhouse in October and November for the projects second stage in the fall and winter months of 2023, which will examine the health and success rate of the seeds from each plot to determine how pollination might affect future generations of lavender. The two stages of the lavender-bee research will help answer what immediate and long-term impact bees have on lavender.

Dr. Joseph and Lindsey Wilson will also spend several weeks in France this summer to gather additional data on wild bees in the lavender fields of the Simiane-la-Rotonde farm. Their research will help scientists to continue gathering data about how different farming practices influence the species of bees found in the fields and learn more about the bee communities that visit wild lavender compared to farmed lavender.

We plan to spend time uncovering more details of the lives of the bees that are visiting lavender, so we can help other people have a broader understanding of the important role wild bees play in natural and agricultural settings, says Dr. Wilson. The unique qualities of Young Livings lavender farms make for the perfect setting to analyze the relationship between pollinators and the plants they pollinate, giving us the opportunity to not only discover new ways to help conserve these incredible creatures but also make significant scientific strides.

About Young Living Essential Oils

Young Living Essential Oils, LC, based in Lehi, Utah, is the world leader in essential oils, offering the highest-quality oil-infused products available. Young Living takes its industry leadership seriously, setting the standard with its proprietary Seed to Seal quality commitment. This guiding principle helps Young Living protect the planet and provide authentic products that its Brand Partners and Customers can feel confident using and sharing with friends and family. Young Livings productssourced from corporate-owned farms, partner farms, and other trusted suppliersnot only support a healthy lifestyle, but also provide opportunities for over 6 million global Brand Partners to find a sense of purpose and whole-life wellness by aligning their work with the Young Living values and passions. For more information, visit YoungLiving.com, follow @youngliving on Instagram, or like us on Facebook.

Media Contact

For media inquiries, please contact bianca@redbanyan.com.
The first EgyptAir flight between Cairo and Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, flew from Cairo International Airport on Sunday as part of Egypts strategic plan to expand its network of airlines across the world, announced the Ministry of Civil Aviation Monday.

The flight, which was operated at a 50 percent discount for economy and business class, was received in Dhaka by several relevant officials from both Bangladesh and Egypt.

EgyptAir will operate two flights per week on its B787-9 Dreamliner from Cairo International Airport to Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Sunday and Wednesday, EgyptAir CEO Ihab Al-Tahtawy at the press conference that was held in celebration of the launch.

According to EgyptAir's website, the direct flight from Cairo to Dhaka  which takes 7 hours and 15 minutes  cost EGP 11,375 ($368) for economy class, and EGP 19,730 ($638) for business class.

The new line will serve a large segment of passengers, Al-Tahtawy asserted, as well as expand EgyptAirs current point-to-point network-70 points across the world.

EgyptAir received the plane, on its return flight from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, with the tradition of spraying water on the plane, which is an international tradition followed to welcome the launch of any new line.

The company announced its plan for the direct flight in April.

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Claire Stetzer at Inkyard Press has acquired, in an exclusive submission, in a six-figure deal, Ann Liang's I Could Give You the Moon, in which the darling socialite at an elite Beijing boarding school must outsmart the mysterious new student after discovering a vision of both their futuresone where she loses everything, and he recovers everything he's losteven as she fights her growing attraction to the enemy. Publication is slated for winter 2026; Kathleen Rushall at Andrea Brown Literary Agency sold world English rights.



David Linker at HarperCollins has bought, in an exclusive submission, 16 Forever, a YA novel by Lance Rubin. Every year, on what should be his 17th birthday, Carter somehow wakes up 16 again, remembering nothing from the past year. But when Carter meets Maggie, it becomes clear they once knew each other, maybe even loved each other. And Maggie may be Carters one shot at discovering the solution to his condition. The only problem? She wants nothing to do with him. Publication is set for summer 2025; Mollie Glick at CAA brokered the deal for world rights.



Kelly Delaney at Crown has acquired, in a preempt, The Unexpected Consequence of Bleeding on a Tuesday by Kelsey B. Toney, a darkly funny novel about Delia, who suffers from endometriosis. Unable to secure a proper diagnosis, she self-medicates her extreme pain with marijuana, which leads to expulsion from her fancy prep school and the dissolution of her life plan. Publication is scheduled for summer 2025; Moe Ferrara at BookEnds Literary handled the deal for world rights.



Jennifer Ung at HarperCollins/Quill Tree Books has bought K-Jane by Lydia Kang, a YA contemporary novel that follows a Korean American Nebraskan teen who, frustrated that everyone seems to know more about Korean culture than she does, attempts a self-guided crash course in K-pop, K-dramas, K-beauty and more before her little brother is born. Publication is planned for fall 2025; Eric Myers at Myers Literary negotiated the two-book deal for world rights.



Lynne Missen at Tundra Books has acquired two YA novels by Something More author Jackie Khalilieh. You Started It, a rom-com in which a messy, type-A girl determined to check items off the senior year bucket list she once shared with her ex, schemes to win him back by fake-dating a younger, obnoxious new student. And Everything Comes Back to You, a romance featuring a Palestinian Canadian girl intent on being the perfect Arab daughter after news of her older sister's accidental pregnancy shakes her family's foundation, but struggles to abide by expectations placed on her when she falls in love. Publication is set for summer 2025 and summer 2026; Valerie Noble at Donaghy Literary Group sold world English rights.



Cheryl Klein at Algonquin Young Readers has bought John Cochran's middle-grade debut, Breaking into Sunlight. The novel follows the intense weeks after 12-year-old Reese finds his father collapsed on the floor from an overdose, as his family splits apart, he struggles to keep the secret of his dad's addiction, and he tries to figure out what to do when his world doesn't look the way it should. Publication is slated for summer 2024; Isabelle Bleecker at Nordlyset Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.



Margaret Ferguson at Holiday House/Ferguson has acquired Yoli's Favorite Things by Patricia Santana, a middle grade novel set during the Vietnam War. Yolanda Sahagun compares her Mexican American family of nine siblings to that of the von Trapps with seven kids from The Sound of Music. But when her beloved brother Chuy is drafted into the army, Yoli looks to teachers and Martin Luther King Jr. for advice, and determined to protect Chuy, she makes a pact with God. But what happens if God doesn't keep his part of the bargain? Publication is planned for spring 2025; Steven Chudney at the Chudney Agency did the deal for world English rights.



Anna Parsons at Aladdin has bought Exit Nowhere by Juliana Brandt, a middle grade Jumanji meets escape room novel about four middle school rivals trapped in a haunted mansion, where they must win a series of games to break free or be stuck in the house forever. Publication is scheduled for summer 2024; Natalie Lakosil at Irene Goodman Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.



Joy Bean at Arctis Books USA has acquired the first three books in the middle grade series Alea Aquarius by Tanya Stewer (l.), illustrated by Claudia Carls (c.), an ecological fantasy adventure that follows mermaid Alea as she and the other members of the Alpha Crew journey to find the ancient Sea People and save the water world from destruction. The first two books in the series will be translated from the German by Matt Anderson (r.) and will be published in fall 2024; Tina Amour at TI Books Agency sold world English rights.



Jessica Anderson at Little, Brown/Ottaviano has bought, in an exclusive submission, world rights to Some of Us: A Story of Citizenship and America by Newbery Honor author Rajani LaRocca (l.), illustrated by Huy Voun Lee, a picture book that explores the unique paths to U.S. citizenship through naturalization. Publication is slated for summer 2025; Brent Taylor at Triada US represented the author, and Claire Morance at Painted Words represented the illustrator.



Mabel Hsu at HarperCollins has acquired world rights to If by Matthew Burgess (l.), illustrated by Matthew Forsythe. This picture book follows a child who, confronted with the dreaded "what ifs" at bedtime, chooses to pursue the kinds of questions that bloom into dreamy imaginings. Publication is set for summer 2025; Erica Rand Silverman at Stimola Literary Studio represented the author, and Judith Hansen at Hansen Literary represented the illustrator.



Christy Ottaviano at Little, Brown/Ottaviano has bought world rights to Ruby Fifer Maps Her World by Jane Yolen (l.), illustrated by Dow Phumiruk. This STEM-focused picture book follows Ruby, a curious child who is eager to map the world around her, as she captures each observation in her birthday journal. Publication is scheduled for winter 2025; Elizabeth Harding at Curtis Brown Ltd. represented the author, and Deborah Warren at East West Literary Agency represented the illustrator.



Tamar Brazis and Meriam Metoui at Viking have acquired Bigfoot's Big Heart by Sarah Glenn Marsh (l.), illustrated by Ishaa Lobo. The story follows a lonely Bigfoot, sad to always be hiding away in his cave, who decides to write Valentine's Day letters to his equally lonely mythical friends hiding out all across the worldonly to have the letters lost then found by some unlikely new friends along the way. Publication is planned for fall 2024. Katelyn Detweiler at Jill Grinberg Literary Management represented the author, and Jennifer Rofe at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator.



Melissa Manlove at Chronicle has bought world rights to When You Find the Right Rock by Mary Lyn Ray (l.), illustrated by Felicita Sala, a celebration of children's sense of wonder and connection with nature. Publication is slated for fall 2024; Rick Margolis at Rising Bear Literary Agency represented the author, and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Agency represented the illustrator.



Naomi Krueger at Beaming Books has acquired world rights to Ping's Perfect Pot by Helen H. Wu (l.) (Tofu Takes Time), illustrated by Zihua Yang. In this story of persistence and not giving up, a girl tries to make the perfect pot for the tangerine tree she and her grandfather purchased for Lunar New Year. Publication is scheduled for December 2024; the author represented herself, and Tina Doffing at Astound US represented the illustrator.



Cecily Kaiser at RISE x Penguin Workshop has bought four Jewish-themed board books from author, illustrator, and product designer Suzy Ultman. The books feature a multi-faceted approach to Jewish traditions, each one centering around a single holiday or cultural aspect. The series launches in fall 2024 with I Like Your Chutzpah & Other Likable Yiddish Words, and will feature future titles on Shabbat, Passover, and more; Kathleen Brady at the Current Company did the four-book deal for world rights.

Claudia Gabel at HarperTeen has acquired Jordyn Taylor's historical YA thriller Rebel Girls of Rome, a dual-timeline story of Lilah, a Jewish girl whose understanding of her family's history is upended when a locket stolen by the Nazis during WWII is rediscovered, launching her on a journey of discovery through Rome as she tries to find out what happened to her great-aunt Bruna, long believed to have died in Auschwitz. Emilia Rhodes will edit; publication is set for winter 2025. Danielle Burby at Mad Woman Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.



Kristin Daly Rens at Balzer + Bray has bought, in a preempt, The Daggers of Ire by J.C. Cervantes (The Storm Runner series), the first in a new middle grade fantasy series following a bruja whose discovery of an ancient grimorio leads her to embrace her power and confront the mysterious legend at the heart of her town. Publication is scheduled for fall 2024; Holly Root at Root Literary negotiated the two-book deal for world English rights.



Sally Morgridge at Holiday House has acquired Keepers of the Marsh by Maura Jortner, a middle grade novel set in the swampy depths of Galveston, Texas, where drastically different twin sisters Lana and Gracie must team up to take on witchy magic, stormy history, and family secrets. Publication is planned for summer 2025; Rena Rossner at the Deborah Harris Agency handled the deal for world rights.



Angus Yuen-Killick at Red Comet Press has bought world rights to the picture book My Book and Me by Newbery Medalist Linda Sue Park (l.), illustrated by two-time Caldecott Medalist Chris Raschka. The book, conceived and developed in collaboration with The Rabbit hOle in Kansas City, is a poem about a child's love of books and reading. Publication is slated for spring 2024; Ginger Knowlton at Curtis Brown represented the author, and Brenda Bowen at the Book Group represented the artist.



Kendra Levin at Simon & Schuster has acquired world rights to two books by Laurel Goodluck (l.) (Forever Cousins). In an ode to strong women, Fierce Aunties! celebrates those who surround children with love and support; Steph Littlebird (c.) (My Powerful Hair) will illustrate, and publication is set for spring 2025. Stories Are the Heart of the World is a picture book about the gift of storytelling a Native child receives from those around him, beginning before birth all the way to young adulthood, illustrated by Nicole Neidhardt (r.) (What Your Ribbon Skirt Means to Me); it's set for spring 2026. Nicole Geiger at Full Circle Literary represented Goodluck, who is Mandan, Hidatsa, and Tsimshian; Kathleen Rushall at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented Littlebird (a registered member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde); and Jacqui Lipton at Tobias Literary Agency represented Nicole Neidhardt (a registered member of the Navajo Nation).



Nancy Paulsen at Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Books has bought world rights in an exclusive two-book deal to a pair of debut solo picture books by singer-songwriter, educator and storyteller Randy Preston (l.). The first book, First Drum, illustrated by Tamisha Anthony, is a onomatopoetic, musical journey from bass drum to snare, djembe to steel pan, as readers discover new and familiar drums, and the one beat that we hear first. Publication is scheduled for fall 2025; the second book, What's That Noise?, will follow. Deborah Warren at East/West Literary represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong at Bright Agency represented the illustrator.



Neal Porter at Holiday House/Neal Porter Books has acquired world rights to Elsa's Chessboard by debut author Jenny Andrus (l.), illustrated by Julie Downing (Night in the City). Inspired by the author's grandmother, the picture book tells the story of Elsa who takes her chessboard with her everywhere, and how chess helps her bridge the divide when she is forced to flee her home in Vienna and seek refuge in San Francisco during WWII. Publication is planned for spring 2025; the author represented herself, and Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio represented the illustrator.



Liz Bicknell at Candlewick Press has bought world rights to Seven by Sandra Nickel (l.), illustrated by Aimee Sicuro; Kate Fletcher will edit. The picture book follows an unusual pigeon who uses his extraordinary sense of smell rather than following traditional advice to find his way home. Publication is slated for spring 2025; Victoria Wells Arms at HG Literary represented the author, and Andrea Morrison at Writers House represented the illustrator.

Janine O'Malley at FSG has acquired world rights to Scarecited: Scared and Excited on the First Day of School by Alliah L. Agostini (l.) (Big Tune), illustrated by Lala Watkins, in which a young student navigates the first day by naming her big, mixed emotions with made-up, mashed-up compound words. Publication is scheduled for spring 2025; Miranda Paul at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Erica Rand Silverman at Stimola Literary Studio represented the illustrator.



Andrea Welch at S&S/Beach Lane Books has bought world rights to What Marcel Found: The Incredible Discovery of the Lascaux Cave Paintings by Cedar Pruitt (l.), illustrated by David Litchfield. This nonfiction picture book tells the story of how, while exploring the forest near his home in 1940, a boy named Marcel found a hidden cave that was to become one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in history. Publication is set for summer 2026; Mary Cummings at Great River Literary represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong at Bright Agency represented the illustrator.



Hannah Lambert at Little Simon has acquired world rights to Hush Little Dozer by Rebecca Colby (l.), a board book for the youngest construction fans and a nod to the classic "Hush, Little Baby" lullaby, illustrated by Katya Longhi. Publication is planned for spring 2024; Kathleen Rushall at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Kate Powell at Astound US represented the illustrator.



Katie Ten Hagen at Magination Press has bought world rights to You'll Be There by Amanda Rawson Hill (l.), illustrated by Joanne Lew Vriethoff, a narrative of loss intended to guide young readers through the grief that accompanies loss, and reflecting on small but dynamic moments that last forever. Publication is slated for May 2024; Curtis Brown Ltd. represented the author, and Mela Bolinao at MB Artists represented the illustrator.



Madeleine Dunphy at Web of Life has acquired world rights to If You Lived in the Sea, Who Would You Be? by debut author Julie Johnston (l.), illustrated by Meg Sodano. This nonfiction rhyming picture book asks interactive questions to inspire young readers to imagine what it would be like to live in the sea while learning about the quirky and obscure creatures that make their home beneath the waves. Publication is set for fall 2024; the author and artist represented themselves.



Michele McAvoy at The Little Press has bought world rights to Birthday Bash, a picture book by sailing captain Blair Williamson (l.), illustrated by Taylor Woolley, in which a tiny Bug creates chaos for an uptight, disaster-prone Mouse as she prepares for her birthday party on her houseboat. Publication is scheduled for fall 2025; the author represented herself, and Dan Cramer at Page Turner Literary Agency represented the illustrator.



Maria Dismondy and Adam Blackman at Cardinal Rule Press have acquired world rights to Do-It-Yourself Dollhouse by Shannon Anderson (l.), illustrated by Giulia Pintus. This parallel story explores the divergent economic experiences of two girls through their experiences with their dollhouses, one ready-made and static, the other constantly ready to be remade and dynamic. Publication is slated for fall 2024; the author was unagented, and Amy Milligan at Illo Agency represented the illustrator.
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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A group of authors and illustrators represented by New Leaf Literary & Media agent Jordan Hamessley were left reeling on May 12, after the agency informed them that Hamessley had "amicably parted ways" with the company and that they would no longer receive representation as a result. In a statement posted to her Twitter account on May 16, Hamessley countered that she "would not characterize my departure from New Leaf as amicable." The controversy unfolded shortly after New Leaf announced a series of changes to its staff structure.

According to the agency, Hamessley managed a roster of 45 clients. Of that roster, 19 clients were offered continued representation under other New Leaf literary agents, with one refusing to move forward under another agent. The agency said it released 11 clients who were considered "inactive," with no projects under contract or in process, according to agency records. Another 15 clients were informed that they would continue to have agency representation through current contract negotiations and submissions, but that the agency was "discussing options" on the "right fit" to move forward with representation on their future work.

With some multi-selling authors released, and others kept on, affected clients took to Twitter to express feelings of rejection from the agency and frustration over the handling of the transition. With industry writers, editors, agents and former New Leaf authors weighing in on the situation, "New Leaf" began trending on the social media platform as a dialogue about the merits of the author-agent relationship was discussed.

"I definitely was surprised at the sheer number of clients who were dropped," said a New Leaf author on Hamessley's roster who wished to comment anonymously. "There were some authors who really seemed to be finding success, and I never would have imagined wouldn't be taken on by another agent."

According to the author, "I was told in the email that I received as notice of Jordan's departure that no one would currently be able to take me on. However, they would still handle any ongoing contracts," they explained. "Ultimately, since no one was currently able/willing to take on my work, I chose to look for representation elsewhere as I have a lot going on in my publishing career and wasn't comfortable with the time it could have taken to 'discuss options.' "

An email from Hamessley sent Friday afternoon at 3:28 p.m., which New Leaf said was pre-scheduled,announced her summer hours and reiterated her support and passion for her clients. Seven hours later, Hamessley's clients were informed that she had left the agency, leading many to believe her exit was abrupt and unplanned from the conflicting communications.

One of my former agent sibs wanted me to point this out. On Friday at 3:28pm ET I received the bottom email about my agent planning ahead for summer.



The top email came in at 10:16pm. <7 hours doesnt feel amicable. pic.twitter.com/WWUgxttoVD  Taylor Tracy  (@tayberryjelly) May 14, 2023

About Hamessley's departure, "I dont have enough information to publicly speculate the agencys reasoning, but I have so many questions and why is a great starting point," said an affected author who also wished to remain anonymous. They added, "Why did New Leaf suddenly part ways with an agent and let us know at 10:16 p.m. on the Friday of Mothers Day weekend? When many of us had plans with family or were traveling, and we heard from their literary director and not from Jordan herself, when she wrote us earlier that day indicating plans through at least summer at New Leaf?"

New Leaf literary director Patrice Caldwell told PW that the agency aimed to inform Hamessley's clients of her departure immediately and all at once, before word could spread individually among clients. "There was no way to do this as quickly by calling people, nor did we want people to start sharing publicly about this before we told everyone," Caldwell explained. "We wanted to send an email to give as much transparency as I can."

Due to information not being updated on Hamessley's end, some clients thought to be "inactive" were indeed active with contracts and submissions in process, Caldwell explained. The agency "apologized to them immediately and assured them we would take care of things and offered them options on how to move forward," she said. We are still handling all contracts for all clients.

Caldwell said that the team worked in shifts to ensure that any inquiries about next steps were answered in a timely manner over the weekend, and that all affected authors had the agency's support to move forward.

"We completely understand why Jordans clients who werent offered a continued space here are upset, and we respect their decision to process this change how it feels best to them," said Caldwell. She explained that the agency not moving forward with representing all of Hamessley's clients came down to ensuring those authors could be paired with agents who are excited and understood their work, without infringing on an agent's capacity.

Hi, Im one of the New Leaf creators unexpectedly back to querying



Im an #authorIllustrator w/ a GN series pubbing in 24 (& more unannounced)



I create PBs, GNs, & CBs. I  anything w/ heart & humor.



Any recs for good fits would be appreciated https://t.co/zN3KLtEjsl pic.twitter.com/yD8QUUnM3O  Tara Hannon  (@tarajhannon) May 15, 2023

Speaking on background, a longtime literary agent confirmed that what New Leaf did was "unusual" and not standard practice, while another said that clients released by the agency would be better served finding new representation than being represented by agents who aren't passionate about their work.

About an expectation that the agency should continue representing all of Hamessley's clients after her departure, Caldwell said, "this is unfortunately the industry expectation, and I believe that leads to a bad experience for the client and the agent/associate." New Leaf founder and president Joanna Volpe added that the decision to offer representation to some and release others was made as a team effort based on interest in a client's work from New Leaf's team.

"That was a really difficult to decision to have to make," said Volpe. "It's not always about the clients themselves. When you're making these decisions, you try to do it all at once so that no one is finding out through a grapevine, which feels really bad. There was just no way to make room for everybody on everybody else's list, and I do feel really strongly it's not fair to anybody to say you are taking these five or six clients whether you are interested in them or not."

Hamessley's statement on Twitter ran counter to those provided earlier by New Lead. "I was not asked any questions about the current status of my clients' submissions upon my exit," Hamessley wrote. Refuting New Leaf's assertions that that information about her clients was not updated, she added, "my contract and deal negotiation files were up to date." Hamessley added that she had "no intention" of ending her relationship with any client on her list: "I would hope to resume things once I have found a new home," she said. "I do not begrudge anyone who seeks new representation elsewhere while I conduct my search."

My statement on my departure from New Leaf Literary & Media.



Full text follows in the thread below. pic.twitter.com/W3utAsmggl  Jordan Hamessley (@thejordache) May 16, 2023

In an official statement on the matter, the Authors Guild expressed concern that Hamessley's clients continue to be supported through the transition. "The Authors Guild strongly believes that every agent needs to have a succession plan for their authors in case of disabling ill health or death, and we instruct authors to inquire about such a contingency plan. We have seen far too many authors left in the lurch over the years."

The statement continued: "New Leaf authors who were impacted by this sudden shakeup can reach out to us, though we can only represent Authors Guild members in legal matters. Authors who are members of the Authors Guild should send in their agency agreements to our legal staff so we can advise them on their rights."

New Leaf told PW that it has been actively reaching out to Authors Guild representatives to clarify the situation.

In a statement to PW, author Stephanie Lucianovic said: "Undoubtedly, you'll find out a lot about our reactions to these unceremoniously abrupt, late, Friday-night agency oustings on our socials, but our primary concern for the last 48+ hours has been about gathering our shocked and distraught agent-mate community and taking care of one another as best we can."

This story has been updated to include Hamessley's statement.
If you pay a company like SpaceX, Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic, or Boeing to go into space, perhaps even perform your own spacewalk, should those companies be bound by safety regulations issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)?

Currently, the answer is no, thanks to a law that bans federal regulation of commercial space enterprises.

As a result, individuals who choose to go to space, and the general public, may not have sufficient information to reasonably assess the safety of commercial spaceflight. It's time to allow the moratorium on regulation to expire and allow the development of safety standards, led by the FAA.

Since 2004, federal law has barred most participant safety regulations and leaves nearly all issues of safety procedures, equipment, and standards for commercial spaceflight participants like amateur astronauts up to the discretion of the company providing the service. As a result, companies voluntarily determine and choose to apply safety standards that they deem appropriate. These include basic, critical safety aspects like when passengers should be strapped into the vehicle's cabin, when they should wear pressurized suits in case of a loss of oxygen and what risk tolerance for serious injury or death they might encounter.

There were several reasons why Congress imposed the moratorium and continued to extend it up to the present. Lawmakers, the commercial space industry, and other stakeholders believed that a learning period was necessary to ensure that any regulations eventually issued would necessarily take into consideration the evolving standards of the commercial space flight industry. In other words, because the industry was so new, and the number of commercial spaceflights continued to be limited, there was insufficient data, information, testing, and experience to craft effective safety rules.

Another reason is that as different companies designed and developed unique types of vehicles, systems, and equipment to go into space, it would be impractical to impose a single set of rules that would have broad applicability. This has certainly become the case as even the basic designs of the current crop of commercial space vehicles differ significantly.

For example, SpaceX and Blue Origin employ different types of crew capsules, and Virgin Galactic employs a fuselage-type crew vehicle rather than a capsule. Each vehicle would naturally require safety standards specific to its design.

Moratorium Memento Mori

On October 1, 2023, the moratorium on federal regulation is set to expire. RAND was asked by Congress to assess the state of the development of voluntary safety standards led primarily by industry in coordination with private standards development organizations and the FAA's Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee. RAND was also asked to assess if commercial spaceflight is ready for government regulation.

The current state of participant safety is largely unknowable because sufficient data and information are not available Share on Twitter

One significant finding that drove our conclusions is that the current state of participant safety is largely unknowable because sufficient data and information are not available.

Three factors contribute to this lack of transparency.

First, companies that offer commercial spaceflight services are not required to share their safety data and information publicly, including incidents or anomalies that may indicate risk. Additionally, companies are reluctant to share this data voluntarily because it may disclose proprietary information that, if revealed, could harm a company's reputation, or allow its intellectual property to be appropriated by others unfairly. This fact is despite the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommendation after the 2014 crash of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo that the FAA should work in collaboration with the spaceflight industry to develop a database of lessons learned from commercial space mishap investigations, and encourage industry members to voluntarily submit lessons learned.

Additionally, companies are reluctant to share this data voluntarily because it may disclose proprietary information that, if revealed, could harm a company's reputation, or allow its intellectual property to be appropriated by others unfairly. This fact is despite the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommendation after the 2014 crash of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo that the FAA should work in collaboration with the spaceflight industry to develop a database of lessons learned from commercial space mishap investigations, and encourage industry members to voluntarily submit lessons learned. Second, current regulations direct companies to provide informed consent notification to individuals who pay to go to space on their vehicles . The belief underlying the informed consent rule is that if companies provide information to would-be spaceflight participants about the risks and hazards of spaceflight, individuals can judge for themselves whether they are willing to accept the risks. However, these notifications are also not publicly available.

. The belief underlying the informed consent rule is that if companies provide information to would-be spaceflight participants about the risks and hazards of spaceflight, individuals can judge for themselves whether they are willing to accept the risks. However, these notifications are also not publicly available. Third, industry and interested stakeholders participate in public and semi-public forums to develop voluntarily agreed-upon, industry-wide, safety standards, but consensus has been elusive. Because of the varied types of companies and stakeholders involved, and because of the diverse interests at stake, some who participate are incentivized to slow the development of safety standards out of a concern that they may be disadvantaged in comparison to competitors. As a result, there have been very few safety standards published that relate to participant safety.

Based on these factors, it is not possible to independently assess and analyze whether policymakers, spaceflight participants, industry, or the public have sufficient information to make reasonably informed decisions about the safety of commercial spaceflight.

Clearing the Way for Rulemaking

Allowing the moratorium to expire would clear the way for the FAA to begin informal, publicly accessible rulemaking activities. As part of these activities, the FAA, industry, standards development organizations, and other interested stakeholders could work in collaboration to determine next steps for the development of safety standardswhether they continue to be developed voluntarily, or whether binding rules should be considered.

The current practice of nondisclosure and siloing of data and information may result in gaps or blind spots that could increase the likelihood of a catastrophic event. Share on Twitter

While we're not suggesting any specific types of regulations at this time, our research generally supports considering rules that would increase transparency with respect to the identification, collection, reporting, and analysis of key safety data and information. The current practice of nondisclosure and siloing of data and information may result in gaps or blind spots that could increase the likelihood of a catastrophic event.

A system that would enable the FAA, industry, and stakeholders to develop safety standards more collaboratively, while also providing sufficient protections for sensitive corporate information, may help to enhance the sustainability and growth of the commercial spaceflight industry.

Douglas Ligor is a senior behavioral/social scientist at the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation, and a member of the RAND Space Enterprise Initiative. Josh Becker is an adjunct policy researcher at RAND.

This commentary originally appeared on Space News on May 16, 2023. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis.
The deal is part of an extension into the UK and Canada and renewal of an existing partnership in Australia, launched in 2022 to help agencies plan, activate and measure TV budgets with greater efficiency and effectiveness. Samba TVs first-party smart TV data and proprietary measurement will be integrated into the Yahoo DSP in all three markets to help advertisers connect TV audiences from the biggest screen in the house to all digital channels for true incremental reach and frequency. Combined with Yahoos consent-based Identity Graph, fuelled by 200 billion daily cross-screen signals derived from direct consumer touchpoints, across Yahoos ecosystem of products and services, Samba says advertisers will be able to unlock better omni-screen performance and ROI at scale.Our partnership with Samba TV brings an enhanced Advanced TV solution to our Yahoo DSP and to clients across these strategic markets. Bridging linear TV and online digital audiences enables advertisers to maximise the effectiveness of their TV budgets and reach the right audiences across every screen seamlessly, without repeating ads needlessly, explained Yahoo chief revenue officer Elizabeth Herbst-Brady.This first-of-its-kind partnership was launched in Australia last year and were thrilled to renew the relationship and expand into the UK and Canada. Advertisers can pool their TV and digital budgets to plan and measure audiences with Samba TVs data and target audience segments created and curated by the Yahoo DSP in order to maximise campaign impact.David Barker, senior vice president of international sales at Samba TV added: This partnership brings together the best of Yahoos impressive tech stack and Samba TVs comprehensive TV data and analytics. The expansion of our partnership across the three markets reflects a joint ambition to bring innovative solutions that connect advertisers with valuable audiences with greater precision, scale and seamless ad experiences.
New migrants pouring into the U.S. after the Biden administration let a COVID-19 restriction called Title 42 expire last week will not break the nations stretched court system. The system is already shattered, according to several former judges, immigration experts, and Department of Homeland Security data.

Detainee in San Diego: He could wait 10 years just for a court date. The average wait time for a Notice to Appear before a judge at one of the nations 66 immigration courts is now four and a half years. In some cities it is much longer. In New York City, new migrants do not have to appear in court until 2032. This growing backlog creates an incentive for more people to cross the border and request asylum as each new case pushes assigned court dates further into the future. In the meantime, many migrants are permitted to live and work in the United States.

Its well past broken, said Art Arthur, a former immigration court judge and now a resident fellow at the conservative Center for Immigration Studies. The courts werent set up for this. When you dont do anything at the front end, the back end just collapses. Everybody who shows up now knows the chances are 90 percent or better youre going to be here indefinitely or forever.

The impact on the courts of the expiration of Title 42  a restriction former President Trump implemented to expel migrants, even if they were seeking asylum  is one of several unknowns the U.S. will confront in the current wave of migration. The cost to taxpayers is also unclear, though complaints have been mounting in border states that must absorb the crush and in self-proclaimed sanctuary cities that are struggling with pledges made years ago to house and care for migrants.

Federal agencies charged with handling immigration  including the Department of Homeland Security, the Executive Office of Immigration Review, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)  did not respond to requests for comment or declined to answer questions on the record.

But a Feb. 18, 2023, internal ICE document obtained by RealClearInvestigations listing the top 10 backlogged locations shows court dates are already far in the future.

Texas: Estimates are that at least 11,000 arrivals could pour into the U.S. every day with Title 42 lifted. But much smaller totals have clogged the system for years. The document shows New York leading the list as fully booked through October 2032. That time lag tops Florida locations, booked until 2028; Atlanta and San Antonio, where a migrant in the system does not have to appear until 2027; and a handful of other cities such as Chicago, Baltimore, Milwaukee, and Indianapolis, where the backlog carries into 2026.

Early estimates are that at least 11,000 arrivals could pour into the U.S. every day with Title 42 lifted. But much smaller totals have clogged the system for years. Baltimore, for instance, is mostly booked with fewer than 3,500 people, while Atlanta has a four-year wait time for just 1,757 people, according to ICEs February figures.

Critics note the sharp disconnect between the estimated number of migrants who have crossed the border since Biden became president  more than 5 million  and the relatively small numbers of people with court dates. In theory, all migrants, whether they request asylum or not, would be assigned a court date. But the Biden administration has begun a policy of paroling, i.e. releasing, many encountered migrants with the expectation they would report to immigration offices at their final destinations.

That leaves most of the millions floating, according to those who study the issue closely.

Both parolees and asylum applicants are eligible for work authorization, said Rosemary Jenks, director of government affairs for NumbersUSA, a group pushing for tighter immigration policies. Despite that, a huge number of those who say theyre here for asylum never actually file an asylum application, so they live and work here illegally.

As more migrants arrive, court backlogs will undoubtedly be pushed even further into the future. That in turn may prompt more migrants to work through the system, further burdening an overwhelmed system. The delays already in place make it all but impossible for judges to hear cases properly, according to Arthur and another former immigration court judge in Texas, Tony Rogers. Even if somehow the courts were able to triple or quadruple the roughly 600 judges now on the bench, the system cannot keep up with the crush of people crossing the southern border.

The judges cant do anything more than saw the wood in front of them, Rogers said. Its a dysfunctional system from top to bottom that is way past broken. This is exactly why all of them are coming  they know you cant meaningfully try a case five years or more after a claim, and if you buy time long enough theyll give you something. Youre not going to get deported and sent back.

The average pending docket for Texas immigration court judges has skyrocketed to 8,000 from the 1,800 average that prevailed when Rogers left the bench 12 years ago, he said, and those figures do not reflect the reality within the U.S. at the moment, with its estimated population of 11.35 million undocumented immigrants.

Its actually even worse than what theyre telling you, Rogers said. These numbers only reflect people in the system. If they filed NTAs  notices to appear  for all the people that have entered, it would be even worse. No one can give you a statistic for that.

Beyond the overwhelmed court system, the financial strain on taxpayers continues to grow. Sanctuary cities like New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. are struggling to meet the cost of just small fractions of the people swarming across the southern border.

New York City is now reportedly spending roughly $8 million a day to house and care for them, some of whom have been bused there from Texas. Mayor Eric Adams said he is considering housing some migrants in a closed prison. Washington, D.C., facing a budget gap of roughly $1.7 billion, says its Office of Migrant Services has spent more than $15.1 million providing housing and other services to immigrants, a figure expected to climb to $52.5 million by October. In January, the state of Illinois rejected Chicagos request for money saying it had already spent close to $120 million on its asylum seeker emergency response.

Like the federal agencies, numerous others knowledgeable about the situation both within and without government did not respond to questions, including Susan Long and David Burnham, the co-directors of TRAC Immigration, a nonpartisan Syracuse University clearing house on information about immigration.

Members of Congress were unwilling to discuss the overloaded court system. RCI reached out to every Republican member of the House Border and Security Enforcement Committee and they did not respond. Similarly, RCI sought comment from a half dozen Democrats on the Committee, as well as two Republicans and Democratic ranking member Jerrold Nadler of New York on the House Judiciary Committee. None responded.

On May 11, hours before Title 42s midnight expiration, the GOP majority in the House passed H.R. 2, which they labeled the Secure the Border Act.

House Republicans are fighting to do what the Biden administration refuses to: secure our sovereign borders and protect Americans, said a joint statement from three GOP committee chairmen  Jim Jordan of Ohio, Mark Green of Tennessee, and Michael McCaul of Texas. The images coming out of border communities for the end of Title 42 this week are horrifying. Theres no question the border is not secure and the Biden administration has lost all control.

Federal records show ICE wasnt using Title 42 to expel many immigrants before. In 2022, the monthly figure for those expelled under Title 42 fell from 8,008 in May to 3,791 in December, the document shows. In the last five months of 2022, an average of 4,000 were expelled by Title 42.

But perceptions about Title 42 being an enforcement tool had worked as a brake on unfettered immigration the Biden administration has chosen to release, Jenks said.

They know even thats gone now, she said. Its preposterous and thats why they keep coming.

Whatever impact the lifting may have, it can hardly hurt the effectiveness of a court system already characterized by Kafkaesque delays, according to the Federation for American Immigration Reform, a group that has long worked for immigration controls.
While its bad enough the debunked dossier the FBI used to spy on the Trump campaign was paid for by the Clinton campaign and authored by a foreign FBI informant and his carousing researcher, the newly released report of Special Counsel John Durham strongly suggests a top Justice Department official and his wife had an early hand in shaping the political rumor sheet.



Bruce Ohr, above, and wife Nellie, top.

According to the 306-page report, former Justice Department prosecutor Bruce Ohrs wife Nellie Ohr first plowed the ground for the dossier with a series of research reports she wrote for Fusion GPS, the D.C.-based opposition research firm the Clinton campaign commissioned to dig up dirt on Trump and Russia.



Obtained by Durham, her reports zeroed in on Sergei Millian and his connections to Russia and Trump, falsely portraying him as a key intermediary between the Kremlin and the Republican candidate. They would later provide the foundation for the dossiers many fictions.



"Fusion GPS records demonstrate that Nellie Ohr first identified Millian, Durham states in his report. "All told, Ohr prepared at least 12 reports that discussed Sergei Millian."



She wrote her first Millian report in April 2016, the month before Fusion GPS hired former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele to put his imprimatur as a supposed former spy and "Russian insider" on the dossier.



"This report was prepared just ten days after Fusion GPS was retained by [Clinton campaign law firm] Perkins Coie to conduct opposition research on Trump, the Durham Report states, "and prior to Steele being retained by Fusion GPS."



Sergei Millian: Never a dossier source.

Durham suggests Nellie Ohr planted the seeds of sourcing for the most explosive allegations leveled by the dossier against Trump, including the oft-cited notion that he and his campaign were engaged in a well-developed conspiracy of cooperation with the Kremlin. The dossier attributed this, falsely, to Millian. Durham found that the Belarusian-American realtor was never a source for the dossier and was simply invented as one, along with the allegations attributed to him.



In fact, Durham says that Millian initially wasnt even on the radar of Steele and his dossier collector" Igor Danchenko, a former Brookings Institution analyst who's admitted much of the information he provided Steele was alcohol-lubricated gossip. Millian was called to their attention by Nellie Ohr, who the prosecutor said implicated" Millian through her own reports. Durham suggests Steele and Danchenko merely followed her leads.



Igor Danchenko: Tracked leads on Millian from Nellie Ohr within approximately one week of Fusion GPS retaining Steele for the dossier.

Meanwhile, the prosecutor added, Bruce Ohr, an anti-Trump Democrat, pushed his wifes reports that cited Millian  12 in all  onto the Crossfire Hurricane team at FBI headquarters that was investigating Trump and his campaign for possible espionage. Agents used her reports as a source of corroboration for the Steele reports they received in the summer and fall of 2016, even though it was circular reporting.



"The reports prepared by Ohr and others at Fusion GPS were ultimately provided to Crossfire Hurricane investigators by Ohr's husband, Bruce Ohr, according to the Durham Report.



Durham notes that Danchenko was tracking leads on Millian from Nellie Ohr within approximately one week of Fusion GPS retaining Steele to compile the dossier. He concludes that this strongly supports the inference that Fusion GPS directed Steele to pursue Millian.



In other words, Steele was not the catalyst behind the dossiers central claims. Rather, it was Clinton's contractor Fusion GPS -- but more specifically, the wife of a senior DOJ official who worked for Fusion. So the FBI wasnt really investigating "Crown reporting, as officials referred to Steeles dossier, implying it was British intelligence. More accurately, it was investigating information from inside its own department that was laundered through Steele and his dossier.



On page 97 of their book, "Crime in Progress," Fusion GPS co-founders Glenn Simpson and Peter Fritsch maintained that it was Steele who identified Millian as "one of the key intermediaries between Trump and the Russians. Durhams report shatters their claim.



The special counsel also found that Simpson worked with Bruce Ohr to pressure the FBI to investigate the dossier allegations.



On Aug. 22, 2016, Simpson asked Ohr to call him. About an hour later, Ohr emailed the FBI agent handling Steele as an informant to, as he said, "check in. Ohr and the agent, Michael Gaeta, spoke over the phone on Aug. 24. During their call, Ohr inquired if the FBI was going to do anything with the dossier reports that Steele had passed along to Gaeta in July. In response, Gaeta told Ohr that a group at FBI headquarters was working on them, according to the Durham report. This undercuts the official FBI timeline of when HQ first received the dossier. For years, the bureau has insisted it did not receive the reports until a month later  Sept. 19, 2016.

The Ohrs also appear to have directly influenced the dossier and the FBIs investigation. Both Bruce and Nellie Ohr, who previously worked for the CIA, met with Steele in Washington at a critical time. Emails reveal that on July 30, 2016 -- the day before the FBI formally opened its overarching case against Trump, codenamed Crossfire Hurricane" -- the couple sat down with Steele and an unidentified associate of his at the Mayflower Hotel in D.C. to compare notes  Nellie and Steele literally passed pieces of papers back and forth  regarding their research into suspicions that Russian government figures were supporting the candidacy of Donald Trump. After their breakfast, Bruce Ohr reportedly contacted then-deputy FBI director Andrew McCabe to relay their concerns.



Fusion GPS also pitched the press the false narrative that Millian was a key intermediary between Trump and Russia. For example, on June 27, 2016, Fritsch sent an email to Franklin Foer, a reporter at Slate magazine, stating "this dude is key and claiming "he is clearly kgb.



The next month, Simpson reached out to ABC News producer Matthew Mosk about Millian. Mosk emailed Simpson and reported back that he was "making arrangements to interview Millian on camera" and that he and Simpson "should chat." On July 29, 2016, Millian ultimately was interviewed by Brian Ross, formerly of ABC News, who asked Millian whether he was a Russian spy.



On Sept. 13, 2016, Mosk emailed Simpson and asked, "What's the most official thing we have showing Millian tied to Trump? That would make it hard for the Trump org to disavow Millian?"



Ross later left ABC after being suspended for erroneous reporting on Russiagate, while Mosk has moved to CBS News.



Throughout the summer and fall of 2016, Fusion GPS also promoted to the Washington media the false allegation the Trump campaign maintained a secret hotline to Moscow through Russia-based Alfa Bank. In an attempt to tie Millian to the Alfa Bank allegations, Durham found that Fusion GPS sought the assistance of Clinton campaign lawyer Michael Sussmann, who in turn contacted D.C. tech executive Rodney Joffe to determine if Millian had any ties to Alfa Bank.



On Aug. 20, 2016, Joffe emailed federal computer contractors at Georgia Tech a document titled "birdsnest-1.pdf' that contained "known associates" of Trump. Included in the attached document was a description of Millian along with his past mailing addresses; various email addresses; websites; and IP addresses that were associated with him. Joffe, who was recently fired as an FBI informant, described Millian as "the most likely intermediary" between Trump and Russia.



On Sept. 27, 2016, Simpson and Fritsch emailed IP "look-up" information for one of Millians websites to then-New York Times reporter Eric Lichtblau, whom Fusion was pressuring to write a story about the Trump-Alfa Bank allegations. In the email, Fritsch pointed out that "Alfa" was the website service provider for Millian's website. However, Durham determined that the relevant IP information did not indicate that "Alfa Bank" was the service provider, but rather Alfa Telecom  a Lebanese-based telecom company, which appears to have no affiliation with Alfa Bank.



Fusion GPS and Steele also provided the substance of the Alfa Bank allegations to Bruce Ohr, the DOJ official, who passed the false tip on to the FBI. The Crossfire Hurricane team used Ohr as a conduit to continue to receive information from Steele about Trump throughout 2017, even after the FBI had to terminate Steele as an informant for leaking information about its investigation to the media.


Looks at the negative experiences of minorities studying engineering and finds ways to create a culture that makes diversity, equity, and inclusion a priority in the engineering enterprise.

While pushing record spending for research and development, the Biden administration is working not just to advance science but also progressive ideology. In line with the administrations whole of government commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, recent grants and requests for proposals from the National Science Foundation encompass research that:

A primary federal funder of basic research in the non-medical sciences.

Critics, including some scientists, claim such projects are outside the scope of the National Science Foundation, whose $10 billion annual budget is one of the governments prime mechanisms for supporting basic research in the non-medical sciences. Through 11,000 awards each year to academic and corporate researchers, the NSF sets the agenda for inquiry in a wide variety of fields including computer science, environmental science, mathematics, engineering, and the social and psychological sciences.

People should realize that [we] are paying tax money to fund science that should be going to help improve peoples lives, said Leif Rasmussen, a research Ph.D. student at Northwestern University who has analyzed NSF research grant funding in a white paper titled, Increasing Politicization and Homogeneity in Scientific Funding.

That money isnt always going to that [and] is instead pushing an agenda in which people have to use the right words, Rasmussen adds.

His research shows that the emergence of politically driven science did not begin with the Biden administration. He found that 3% of successfully executed NSF grants in 1990 included indicative terms such as equity, inclusion, or diversity. In 2020, such words appeared in 30% of grants. And the number rose to 36% of all executed grants in 2021, the first year of the Biden administration and the last year he has numbers for.

These types of grants claim diversity is inherently beneficial to scientific progress, but ironically, that statement has not come anywhere close to being validated scientifically, Rasmussen added in an email. He noted that the NSF reviews are conducted by a community of academic scientists and so the community is still responsible for the ideological turn.

An NSF spokeswoman, Martha Vilarchao Klinck, defended the foundation's DEI efforts.

For more than two decades, NSF has been engaged in a concerted effort to address racial disparity, she said in an email. NSFs extensive portfolio of funded activities aimed at broadening participation in STEM [science, technology, engineering, and math] provides a strong foundation for such efforts. We continue to work with the STEM community, government agencies and other stakeholders to better understand the barriers and how best to support efforts to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM.

The increasing politicization of NSF grants echoes the embrace of progressive ideology across the sciences, including the medical sector, a focus of earlier RealClearInvestigations reporting.

Many medical schools now require a DEI statement from applicants, and some course studies begin with the preconception of implicit bias in the healthcare system. That assumption is embedded in grants from the National Institutes of Health, the primary source of federal funding.

There is plenty of research that can no longer get funded by the NIH due to political correctness, said Michael Bailey, a professor of psychology at Northwestern University. Sexuality, for example, is very difficult to research objectively, as progressive definitions blur distinctions between male and female.

Both political sides have been less concerned about the truth over the years, but these days, the left is far more deranged and destructive than the right, Bailey said. And that doesnt mean it cant go the other way at some point.

Among the aims of NSF funding and programs is a social goal that goes beyond increasing scientific knowledge: boosting the participation of minorities and women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics  an endeavor the federal government has spent millions of dollars pursuing since the early 80s, when encouraging girls and young women in the STEM disciplines was the focus.
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Six weeks ahead of the feast holiday of Eid Al-Adha, Egypt is currently witnessing record-high meat prices, reaching EGP 400 per kilogram (nearly $13) in some neighbourhoods.

The unprecedented prices has left everyone  from clients, chamber of commerce officials, to butchers  complaining.

Ahram Online surveyed the market and found prices ranging from EGP 270 for imported meat to EGP 340 for fresh meat in middle-class districts to more than EGP 400 in upper-class neighborhoods and some hypermarkets.

In Egypt, meat refers to red meat  beef, lamb and goat  and excludes poultry.

Head of the Butchers Division at Cairo Chamber of Commerce Mohamed Wahba attributed last Friday the soaring prices of meat to the low supply and the high cost of importing fodder.

He called for increasing the quantities of imported meat during the coming period, in order to control prices.

However, in a phone-in with presenter Amr Adib on MBC Masr channel, Wahba said: Due to time constraints, we will not be able to do anything before Eid to contain the rise in meat prices.

He called for price controls, saying if the situation continues like this, we will face a crisis.

Egypts livestock breeders rely mainly on imported high-cost cultivated or manufactured feed.

Moreover, local production of red meat, which used to cover about 60 percent of the countrys needs, has recently declined to 40 percent, according to vice president of the Butchers Division Haitham Abdel-Basset.

During a phone-in with Sada El-Balad satelite channel on Sunday, Abdel-Basset attributed this decline to a number of factors, including the fact that 30 percent of butchers have left the business, in addition to 70 percent of farmers who have given up livestock farming.

The meat market is stagnating and buying and selling has declined due to the high prices and weak purchasing power of citizens, Wahba said.

Abdel-Basset agrees, saying that the market has seen a decrease in purchasing power by 60 percent.

According to the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS), Egypt's consumer price index (CPI) inched up 1.8 percent in April, down from 3.2 percent in March and 7.1 percent in February.

Prices of food and beverages surged by 53.8 percent in April on an annual basis, the CAPMAS said.

Gauging consumer demand

Abo Omar, a butcher shop owner in Mokattam district in Cairo, says the turnout is not really going well.

We used to sell one and a half calves per week, now it is only a quarter per week, a disappointed Abo Omar told Ahram Online.

A photo showing Abo Omar's butcher shop

Currently, the most demanded meat in Abo Omars shop is liver which is priced at EGP 360 per kilogram.

As for the price of Kanduz meat (calves over one year old) ranges from EGP 350 to EGP 360 based on the meat cut, he said.

Comparing the current prices to those from last years Eid Al-Adha, Abo Omar says that the prices for goats and calves have drastically changed.

During Eid Al-Adha, which is one of the two major annual Islamic feasts, Muslims slaughter cows, sheep and goats to feed their families and donate to the poor, marking Prophet Ibrahims willingness to sacrifice his son, Ismail, on God's command.

The [average] price of a goat was EGP 4,500 [$145] and now it has reached EGP 9,000 ($290) and more. As for calves, it ranges from EGP 65,000 [$2,100] to EGP 120,000 [$3,880] up from EGP 65,000 last year, Abo Omar explained.

He attributes this price increase to two factors: the shortage of livestock fodder and the slaughtering of female calves, which are more expensive than their male counterparts.

Elsewhere in El-Matariya, a lower middle-class district, in an attempt to overcome the recession and attract customers, the El-Gomhoriya butcher shop is offering promotional offers to get customers to buy larger quantities.

They are offering four kilos of premium meat for EGP 1,400 instead of 1,520, while four kilos of medium quality meat are being offered for EGP 1,150 instead of EGP 1,280.

Customer response

Egyptians are struggling to afford meat as prices surge, leading many to reduce the quantities they are purchasing.

We reduced the quantity of meat I consume, and therefore reduced the number of times we eat meat per week, Ashraf, a 50-year-old employee, told Ahram Online.

Sobhi, who is retired, says: I allocate a fixed budget for meat and deduct it from my monthly pension. So, according to the prices, I buy the same value of meat, but less of it.

There have been some calls on social media to boycott meat, in order to punish what they see as price gouging.

However, such a boycott is difficult, says Mohamed Mahmoud, a father of three children.

Meat cannot be completely avoided due to the importance of animal protein for children's growth and nutrition, but we opt to reduce quantity we purchase and compensate with other types of protein such as plant protein," Mahmoud explained.

Manal, a housewife, wonders why there is a significant difference in prices from place to place, and is demanding regulation.

The Aman outlet [which is affiliated with the Ministry of Interior] has meat priced at EGP 270, while the butcher in front of my house sells it for EGP 360, Manal said.

The meat industry has been negatively affected by foreign currency shortages and the devaluation of the Egyptian pound, which caused crucial inputs like fodder to accumulate in ports.

However, the country is working to release fodder stuck in ports.

On Monday, the Minister of Agriculture announced in a statement the release of the largest quantity of fodder in a single batch, 308,000 tons of corn and soybeans worth approximately $134 million.

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By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 05/16/2023



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

alum Hannah Godwin has celebrated her bachelorette party in Las Vegas ahead of her Summer 2023 nuptials with fiance Dylan Barbour "I can't believe I'm a bride walking around Vegas right now, like [at a] casino," Hannah, 28, said in a Friday, May 12, video via Instagram Stories of her evening the night before, according to Us Weekly. "I don't know who I am. It's too much attention!"Hannah partied with her friends -- including her mother and best friend Dina, her maid of honor -- at the Venetian Hotel, where they enjoyed fancy dinners, poolside cocktails and glamorous nights out in Sin City.Barbies resembling Hannah and Dylan were strewn about the girls' hotel suite, and certain outfits were Barbie-inspired."It's happening!!!!!" Hannah captioned a TikTok video on Friday. "@DylanBarbour buckle up."In one video, the bride-to-be donned a white mini dress with a matching veil while most of her besties wore black. One friend, however, wore a white tube top, which was a noticeable mismatch from the other girls."I approved everyone back off," Hannah told a troll in a TikTok comment after a social media user criticized the called out the contrasting outfit.Hannah jokingly told Dylan in the comments to "cancel" her pal Dena Sukar, who wrote, "I'm just wearing what you gave me."The bachelorette bash continued on Friday with a "pool day," according to Hannah.For the "stunning" occasion, Hannah rocked a white bikini. She later changed into a gold, off-the-shoulder dress for the night."I'm getting married," Hannah exclaimed from the group's limo in a subsequent video on Instagram Stories.Hannah posted additional photos on her Instagram account of herself posing under white balloons and gambling in a casino."Bridal Barbie is here to STAY!!!" Hannah captioned one slideshow of pictures.Hannah wore a variety of mini dresses throughout the weekend featuring corsets, sparkles and sunglasses.Hannah and Dylan, who got engaged on 's sixth season in June 2019, previously revealed they'll be tying the knot at a destination wedding in August of this year, but they have yet to share where exactly they're going to get married."We might end up sharing it . I don't want to make it this big, weird secretive thing. I think it's just more for us. I kind of like that, for once, we're not just sharing everything, especially with social media now, I just share everything," Hannah explained to Caelynn Miller-Keyes Dean Unglert , and Jared Haibon in late March on the "Help! We Suck at Being Newlyweds" podcast.The model and social-media influencer added, "I mean, we got engaged on television! So this is kind of for us, and it's kind of fun. Who knows, it might just come out one day."Hannah did share, however, that she invited 150 guests to the wedding and it will take place in Europe or Mexico.As far as which members of Bachelor Nation may attend, Hannah listed off Mike Johnson Tyler Cameron , and Chris Randone "It's now almost April and I still don't have a dress or even really an idea of a dress," Hannah admitted on the podcast episode, which was released in early April."I'm just kind of annoyed at myself, but I've been holding off. I think I'm going to work with a designer and she's going to help me do the whole thing... But I don't really know what I want."Hannah said the "issue" was that she liked everything she had tried on, many different styles, and so she'd probably end up with two dresses for her big day.She also revealed Dylan was planning on having his bachelor party in Miami, FL.Hannah complained that once she and Dylan tie the knot, fans are probably going to be asking her when the kids are coming."I get the excitement and curiosity, but I'm like, 'It's really never ending!'" Hannah said."Now that we officially have a wedding date and all of this stuff... now it's like, 'Oh, we're getting married. We should talk more about future stuff.'"Given they're both 28-years-old, Hannah said she and Dylan are going to wait at least five years to have their first child -- but she knows Dylan will "crush" being a dad."But honestly, some days, I'm like, 'Oh yeah, we could totally do this. I would love to have a little kid.' But then some days, I don't even know what I was thinking and I can't even book appointments for myself, let alone a child," Hannah explained.When it comes to their wedding priorities, Dylan said in February he wants "good cocktails" -- including Espresso martinis and tequila -- cigars and "good music," not old wedding classics like "The Cha Cha Slide" or "Shout!""I want it to be very elegant, classic, and timeless, nothing trendy," Dylan explained.And Hannah said she wants the whole event to be "fun" while she stays present and "in the moment." She'd like to blend in, hang out with loved ones, and not feel like "the host" of a party.The pair -- who said they pictured the event being a formal black-tie affair -- also don't care about having an expensive wedding cake, and they said they were considering writing their own vows.For several years, Hannah and Dylan were in no rush to get married after their engagement.In fact, the pair revealed last year that they had decided to postpone their wedding in order to cut back on spending since they had just bought a new home together in San Diego in late 2021.Hannah and Dylan have also been traveling the world together in recent years, including a recent vacation to Paris, France.Hannah and Dylan initially decided on an early 2020 wedding, but their planning got derailed due to the global outbreak of coronavirus -- and now more than three years have passed "[The date has been] pushed back a bit. We've been eyeing 2023 so we'll see how it goes," Hannah told Us Weekly in September 2021.Dylan said at the time he and Hannah hoped to wed in Spring 2023 because they don't want to exchange vows in the winter, and Hannah shared how they had already hired a wedding planner."We're loving being engaged," Hannah gushed to the magazine in 2021. "We are excited to, like, start the next chapter whenever that is though. We are getting eager for it."But Hannah and the Vizer app co-founder confirmed early into the wedding planning they don't want to get married on television for ABC cameras and viewers."For our wedding, we'd just want it to be personal, like, as close-knit as we possibly can. We want to just keep it personal and small," Hannah explained.Prior to meeting on , Hannah competed for Colton Underwood 's heart on The Bachelor's 23rd season and Dylan appeared on The Bachelorette's fifteenth season.During 's sixth season, Dylan called Hannah the love of his life and said he had no doubts in his mind that she was his person.Dylan basically fell in love with Hannah during the first week of Paradise, but Hannah was a little terrified of investing her heart so quickly into a man following her breakup with Colton.Dylan, however, never gave up on their potential, even when Blake Horstmann was trying to charm Hannah and steal her away.After Hannah worked through "a few obstacles" inside of herself, she and Dylan got engaged on the beach in Mexico.During the reunion portion of 's sixth season, Dylan said popping the question to Hannah was "the best decision" he had ever made."We talk all the time, like, 'How did this all work out for us?' But for some reason, it did. He's my person and I have a different kind of love for him that I knew existed, and that's really special," Hannah shared in Summer 2019.After the show, Hannah moved from Birmingham, AL, to California in order to be closer to Dylan and his job.Interested in more The Bachelor news? Join our The Bachelor Facebook Group
Netflix is teasing the new film Extraction 2.

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The streaming service shared a trailer for the action thriller Tuesday featuring Chris Hemsworth

Extraction 2 is a sequel to the 2020 film Extraction. The movies are based on the graphic novel Ciudad by Ande Parks and Joe Russo (Avengers: Endgame) and are written and produced by Russo.

Hemsworth reprises his role of Tyler Rake, an Australian black ops mercenary. Golshifteh Farahani, Daniel Bernhardt and Tinatin Dalakishvili also star.

In the sequel, Rake (Hemsworth) is personally requested for a new mission -- rescuing "the battered family of a ruthless Georgian gangster from the prison where they are being held."

The trailer gives a look at the 21-minute, one-shot action sequence that appears in the film.

Netflix shared a teaser trailer for the movie in April.

Extraction 2 premieres June 16.

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Hemsworth previously collaborated with Russo on Avengers: Endgame and other films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where he stars as Thor.
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'It's an open secret that the UK business is structurally not in a great place.'

Photograph: Phil Noble/Reutyers

A day after Tata Steel, while announcing its results, flagged risks to its UK operations against the backdrop of a possible economic downturn in Europe, Tata Steel MD & CEO T V Narendran, in an interview with Ishita Ayan Dutt/Business Standard, says the offer from the UK government as it stands won't justify the investment required for the impending transition to greener steel.

What prompted the stress test for European operations?

It is generally part of what the auditors do. It's more for the UK business; they have pointed out the vulnerabilities of the business to the volatilities seen in the past couple of years and with some of the assets coming towards the end of life.

It's an open secret that the business (UK) is structurally not in a great place.

Hence, the need for government support for the transition because cash flows of the business can't support the transition.

The Dutch business stands on its own. It's always been cash-positive, Ebitda positive and doesn't need any support from India.

The discussion with the UK government has now been on for about three years...

It's about three years but to be fair there have been three or four governments.

That's been part of the issue. For the first time, we've had a formal proposal from the government which came about three months back.

Have you conveyed your feedback to the UK government on the proposal?

We have. But the UK government is also talking to the Tata group on multiple companies and issues.

It's a group-level conversation where Tata Steel is an important part because of its footprint and assets.

From our point of view, we have made it clear that the proposal as it stands won't justify the investments that need to be made to make the transition.

What is the cost of the transition in the UK and the Netherlands?

I don't want to give a specific number but generally, the ask has been at least 50 per cent of the capex and also support on opex.

This is not different from the requests made by steel companies to other governments.

In the Netherlands, the cash flows of the business can support most of the transition, though we need some help from the government.

But it's not like in the UK where if there is no support, there is no transition.

We are also seeking support because there needs to be a level playing field.

If some of our competitors get 50 per cent grants and we don't get anything, that makes it unfair.

To stay invested or exit the UK - when would you take a final call?

We will certainly come to a decision in the next 12 to 24 months for the upstream assets (at Port Talbot) because those are the ones that are at the end of life - the coke oven plants there, the sinter plant, and one of the blast furnace (BF) are struggling.

The downstream assets can stand on their own.

The UK government made an offer of Pound 300 million. Is there any indication that it would be willing to increase the offer?

Not yet.

In the Netherlands, what is the status of your talks with the Dutch government for support?

We submitted a proposal to the government in October; it is studying it (the proposal) and in conversation with our team there.

There we have announced that by 2030 we will transition one BF (blast furnace) route into gas-based DRI (direct reduced iron).

And if hydrogen is available by 2030, we can use it instead of gas.

Steel prices in Europe and in India have moved up since last quarter. What is the outlook for FY24?

Our volumes will be about 1-1.5 million tonnes (mt) higher in FY24 compared to FY23 -- half of it will be in Europe and half in India.

Last year, our production was higher but sales were lower because we produced a lot of slabs in the Netherlands to plan for the transition.

The margins will be better. We don't see the kind of volatility that we saw last year.

And we expect cash release from working capital, so our debt reduction will go as per our original plan.

What is the capex plan for FY24?

We have planned a capex of Rs 16,000 crore. Of this, roughly, Rs 4,000 crore is in Europe, with the Netherlands accounting for about Rs 3,000; the balance will be in the UK.

Around Rs 12,000 will be in India for Tata Steel and its subsidiaries and a big part of which will be for the Kaliganagar expansion.

When would you take up the next phase of expansion?

The first one would be Neelachal, for which we plan to go to the board later in the year.

That will take the capacity at Neelachal from 1 mt to 5 mt.

Parallelly, we will work on Kalinganagar Phase III and we will take the Bhushan capacity from 5 mt to 6.5 mt.
'Both the BJP and Congress will make every effort to break the JD-S.'

IMAGE: Karnataka Congress President D K Shivakumar visits the Kadasiddeshwara Mutt in Tumkur district, a day after the party's victory in the Karnataka assembly elections, Sunday, May 14, 2023. Photograph: PTI Photo=

"The Congress thought it would use caste to defeat the BJP's politics, but the various caste groups in the region had already been intoxicated by the BJP's agenda," 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.

"In Karnataka, the BJP faces a dilemma about the manner in which to pursue Hindutva -- whether it should be hardline Hindutva or should it be Hindutva in small doses," Professor Narayana says in the concluding part of a phone interview with Rediff.com's Archana Masih.

Does this election result mean that BJP's Hindutva politics will be suppressed temporarily in Karnataka or will it provoke the BJP to promote a more hardline Hindutva?

Despite losing this election, the party's vote share has remained unchanged at 36 per cent. This shows that the BJP's Hindutva politics continues to have a huge patronage in Karnataka.

The BJP's defining character is Hindutva. The party's political strategy is based on a combination of Hindutva and development.

Development can be provided by any other political formation, but the combination of development+Hindutva offers a fatal attraction for a large constituency of people. Therefore, the BJP cannot do without Hindutva.

However, in Karnataka the BJP faces a dilemma about the manner in which to pursue Hindutva -- whether it should be hardline Hindutva or should it be Hindutva in small doses.

The challenge in the first option is that the Lingayats, their largest social constituency, will not be comfortable with virulent Hindutva. They do not vote for the BJP because of communal politics, but because it suits their purpose.

They have a great working relationship with the BJP, but when the party starts homogenising society in the name of Hindutva, the Lingayats risk losing their identity and will resist such a move.

Now, Karnataka is very aware of the BJP's strategy. Several organisations emerged before the elections to galvanise people against communal polarisation. Many movements that were lying dormant for years suddenly showed revival because the BJP's polarisation campaign was going out of control.

Therefore, the BJP's strategy to push Hindutva in small measures will not go unchallenged in the future.

What is the future of the JD-S? Will there be an exodus of JD-S MLAs to the Congress?

The JD-S is facing the biggest crisis since its inception. It fought its first election in 1999 and hasn't faced such a challenge in 20 years.

However, I will not hasten to write it off because it has faced lows in the past too and has somehow survived. Mr H D Deve Gowda has aged and though his son H D Kumaraswamy is a leader in his own right, the JD-S needs to reinvent itself and move beyond being a family-centric party.

Most regional parties are family-centric, but those parties stand for something, meanwhile, the JD-S does not have any defining ideology.

There is a huge constituency in Karnataka which wants a centrist third alternative, especially in Old Mysore. In the absence of such a party, they will be taken over by the BJP.

Both the BJP and Congress will make every effort to break the JD-S.

IMAGE: Former Karnataka chief minister and Janata Dal-Secular leader H D Kumaraswamy at a roadshow in Channapatna for the Karnataka assembly elections. Photograph: ANI Photo

What makes coastal Karnataka such a strong BJP bastion?

The region has a very complex socio-economic profile and political trajectory. That is the region where Hindutva+Development has taken deeper roots.

Communal polarisation, development mantra and larger than life image of Narendra Modi are the three narratives that have found a lot of traction in the two districts of coastal Karnataka which happen to be Karnataka's most economically and educationally advanced region.

The Congress thought it would use caste to defeat the BJP's politics, but the various caste groups in the region had already been intoxicated by the BJP's agenda.

If the Congress wants to take them on without offering an alternate ideological antidote, then it has to win over the Billavas, which is the largest caste in that region.

But the Congress has a limitation because that area also has a large minority population and other OBC castes. If it puts all its eggs in the Billavas's basket, then the other castes will get alienated.

The BJP can afford to do that because it does not have to accommodate the minorities, but because of its philosophy, the Congress has to also accommodate Christians and Muslims that have a considerable presence in the region.

That may be the reason why the Congress fielded only one Billava candidate this time and the Billavas decided to continue to support the BJP.

IMAGE: Karnataka Chief Minister and BJP leader Basavaraj S Bommai tenders his resignation to state Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot following the BJP's defeat in the Karnataka assembly election 2023, May 13, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

Corruption was an issue with the 40% tag on the BJP government. How can the Congress escape such a reputation, especially with the Lok Sabha election coming up and as pressure to raise funds intensifies?

The Indian electorate is very understanding. It knows that political parties resort to illicit means to raise funds to finance elections. Corruption does not figure prominently in the minds of the people when they go to vote.

There is a perception that all parties are corrupt.

The BJP discredited the Congress so much for corruption that if the Congress takes up the issue of corruption, it will help the BJP. People believe that no Opposition party, especially the Congress, has the moral authority to question corruption.

Corruption was the defining character of the outgoing government party; every week there were new charges. The Congress and the JD-S used corruption in a big way in the election campaign to corner the ruling party.

However, we do not have evidence to show that corruption played a role in making the people reject the BJP. At least two pre-poll surveys suggested that corruption was not one of the main issues based on which they made their electoral choice.

IMAGE: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, centre, being felicitated by party leaders D K Shivakumar, right, and Siddaramaiah, left, on the victory in the Karnataka assembly elections, May 13, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

Who, according to you, are the leaders to look out for in the state?

Political parties are not institutional anymore, they are increasingly centered around individuals.

There are three mass leaders in Karnataka -- Siddaramaiah, B S Yediyurappa and H D Kumaraswamy. The first two are nearing the end of their political careers whereas Kumaraswamy's appeal is limited largely to the Vokkaliga heartland in Southern Karnataka.

D K Shivakumar is known more for his organisational skills and as a trouble shooter in the Congress. He is yet to grow as a mass leader.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
A year after kicking Russia out of the Council of Europe (CoE), the leaders of the 46-nation pan-continental rights body gather Tuesday in Iceland to show a united face against Moscow.

Firming up ways to hold Russia legally responsible for the death and destruction it has wrought in Ukraine will dominate the summit in Reykjavik, only the fourth to be held in the CoE's seven-decade history.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was to address the opening of the summit by videolink, according to British officials who hosted him on the last leg of a whirlwind tour he made of major European capitals.

During Zelensky's trip, Berlin, Paris and London all pledged to step up arms deliveries to Kyiv, deepening a military arrangement between the West and Ukraine that has helped put Russia on the back foot.

Ukraine is expected to mount an offensive against Russian forces in the east of its territory in coming weeks.

Zelensky tweeted on Monday that he was "returning home with new defence packages".

The Council of Europe's mission is to promote human rights, democracy and rule of law in its member states, which include all 27 European Union nations plus Britain, Turkey, Western Balkan countries, Georgia and Armenia.

Russia was kicked out of the CoE in March 2022, because of its invasion of Ukraine, just ahead of its plan to withdraw from the Strasbourg-based body.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, who is attending the summit, said on Monday the EU will "keep supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes".

She said that, "in Reykjavik we will discuss how to hold Russia accountable" and "I will support the creation of a dedicated tribunal to bring Russia's crime of aggression to trial".

Von der Leyen, Britain and the United States -- which holds observer status in the CoE -- all voiced backing for a new register of damage in The Hague that would record harm and destruction wrought by Russia for the mooted future court.

Russia isolated

The commission and EU countries are in favour of setting up a special tribunal, likely in The Hague in the Netherlands where the International Criminal Court already sits, to judge Russian leaders and commanders.

That prospect, though, is pushed off to after what looks like it will be a long war, with Russia digging in and perhaps preparing its own spring attack on Ukrainian positions.

The two-day Council of Europe summit will be an opportunity for almost the entire European community to portray Russia as isolated on its own continent.

Emmanuel Macron of France, Rishi Sunak of Britain and Olaf Scholz of Germany are among the heads of state and government set to attend.

But for all the projected unity there are fissures in the European community.

Britain, for instance, is antagonistic towards the CoE's European Convention of Human Rights, which is a barrier to its plans to stem the irregular arrival of asylum-seekers by deporting them to Rwanda or returning them to transit European countries.

The convention is backed by a European Court of Human Rights which has made rulings that have already stymied Britain's efforts in that direction.

"It is clear that our current international system is not working, and our communities and the world's most vulnerable people are paying the price," Sunak said late Monday.

Britain's ruling Tories, who took their country out of the European Union after a Brexit referendum, are determined to fight what they describe as "the scourge of illegal migration".

The leaders' gathering is also a key moment for the heads of European heavyweights Germany, France, Italy and Britain to meet before a G7 summit starting Friday in Japan.

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'They sent a message that I will not be given the ticket and ordered me to issue a statement -- Gujarat style -- that with immediate effect I was retiring from politics.'

'They were treating me like a political novice who would be pushed around on the order of vested interests.'

'This rude behaviour hurt a lot. It was then I spontaneously decided that I will challenge this dictatorial order and expose all those who want to hurt Lingayat pride in Karnataka.'

IMAGE: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi meets with newly-joined party member Jagadish Shettar at a public meeting for the Karnataka assembly elections in Hangal, April 24, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

The Lingayat community in Karnataka makes for roughly 14 per cent of the 53 million voters. Taken together, they decide the winners in over 90 of the 224 assembly segments in the state.

Interestingly, the Congress which had just 13 Lingayat MLAs in the last assembly, romped home with 37 Lingayats in 2023, which many political observers believe led to the Bharatiya Janata Party's downfall in the state.

One of the most prominent Lingayat leaders -- next only to former chief minister B S Yediyurappa, according to his own reckoning -- and its six-time MLA from the Hubli-Dharwad Central constituency, who quit the BJP or rather was so humiliated that he had no option but to quit the party is Jagadish Shettar, the former BJP chief minister.

Speaking to Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com, Shettar reveals how he was humiliated by Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and BJP national president J P Nadda, and why he believes BJP national General Secretary B L Santosh wants to weaken the Lingayat leadership within the party.

What role did Lingayat votes play in the BJP's defeat in Karnataka and how successful were you in getting Lingayat votes in favour of the Congress after switching from BJP?

After I quit the BJP and joined Congress, many existing BJP MLAs and ex-BJP MLAs too quit the BJP and joined Congress.

Important Lingayat leaders like Laxman Savadi from Athani (who contested on a Congress ticket and won from Athani), U B Banakar, former BJP MLA from Hirekerur, V S Patil former BJP MLA from Yellapur, Mohan Limbikai, former BJP MLC from Dharwad, former MLA Kiran Kumar from Tumkur also quit the BJP. When I quit the BJP, hundreds of Lingayat leaders joined the Congress.

There is a shadyantra (conspiracy) in the BJP to finish off all the top Lingayat leaders.

Do you know why some leaders in the BJP worked behind the scenes to deny ticket to Jagadish Shettar? Because if I had contested and won for the seventh time from Hubli-Dharwad Central -- I have won six straight elections from the same constituency and I was confident of winning the same as a BJP candidate with more than 50,000 votes -- they would have had no choice but to name me as the chief minister.

I spent all my life to strengthen the party in the state and even state intelligence agencies had submitted their reports to the state and Union government about my victory.

Their survey showed Jagadish Shettar as the number one popular (Lingayat) leader (after former chief minister B S Yediyurappa). They know that I am the most popular Lingayat and state BJP leader after B S Yediyurappa.

IMAGE: Jagadish Shettar being administered the oath of office as minister by then Karnataka governor Vajubhai Vala as then chief minister B S Yediyurappa looks on in this August 20, 2019 photograph. Photograph: Shashidhar Byrappa/ANI Photo

A conspiracy was thus hatched to scuttle my leadership and chief ministership and finish off the domination of Lingayat leaders in the BJP.

After Yediyurappa and I, most other Lingayat leaders in the BJP are second and third line leaders and none of them were in the reckoning to claim the number one position.

Some vested interests in the Karnataka BJP feared that if I won the election for the seventh time then based on popularity and stature I would claim the number one position (of the state's chief minister). They knew I would be the natural choice for the CM's post.

To avoid this they want to finish me and the Lingayat leadership in the party by denying the assembly ticket to me upfront.

I sensed this conspiracy much earlier, but I would have still kept out of the fray if they had done it honourably.

If they had called me a month or fortnight before (the nomination for Hubli-Dharwad Central constituency was announced) and requested me to step aside for someone else and assured me of respect and gratitude for the work that I have done for the party then I would have definitely agreed to it.

What exactly happened?

Instead of showing grace, tact and respect they decided to humiliate me with their rude behaviour.

Just a day before the nomination was to be filed for the constituency they sent a message to me through Dharmendra Pradhan (Union minister who was appointed the poll in-charge of Karnataka) that I will not be given the ticket and ordered me to issue a statement -- Gujarat style -- that with immediate effect I was retiring from politics.

Dharmendra Pradhan then asked me to write a three-sentence letter and send it to him on WhatsApp and, he said, he will immediately send it to the national president (J P Nadda).

They were treating me like a political novice who would be pushed around on the order of vested interests; those who harbour dreams of becoming chief minister themselves by sidelining top Lingayat leaders.

This rude behaviour hurt a lot. It was then I spontaneously decided that I will challenge this dictatorial order and expose all those who want to hurt the Lingayat pride in Karnataka.

I told (Dharmendra Pradhan) that I was not backing out, whatever the consequences, and that I refuse to be pushed around like a rag. It was then they realised that they just stepped onto some wrong feet.

In the first press conference I addressed (after quitting the BJP) I publicly stated that some BJP leaders in the state wanted to destroy the Lingayat leadership and influence in Karnataka politics.

That is how I exposed the BJP's plot to destroy Lingayats and ultimately Lingayats destroyed the BJP in Karnataka.

How?

Look at the number of Lingayats fielded by the BJP and Congress and how many of these won from both the parties.

Out of the 46 Lingayat candidates fielded by the Congress, 37 won and out of the 69 Lingayats fielded by the BJP, only 15 won their seats.

This is the price you pay for humiliating leaders like Jagadish Shettar and before me stalwarts like B S Yediyurappa.

Why was he (Yediyurappa) asked to resign just two years (into his tenure that started in 2019)? Why and who did not allow him to finish his five-year term? Just because they wanted to weaken and gradually finish off strong Lingayat leaders from the BJP.

It is still the plan of vested personalities like B L Santosh (RSS pracharak Bommarabettu Laxmijanardhana Santhosh, who emerged as a very powerful Karnataka leader after his elevation as the BJP's national general secretary [organisation] of the BJP in 2019).

People are not fools; they have their eyes open; they know how you ill-treated us. They (the Lingayat community who substantially contribute to electoral successes because of their vote share) showed you your right position in Karnataka.

In North Karnataka, wherever the Congress fielded Lingayat candidates, and even in those constituencies where Lingayats are strong and from which non-Lingayats from Congress contested, with all due respect, because of Jagadish Shettar, the Congress got the votes of the Lingayats.

Ask any newly elected Congress MLA from these constituencies (where Lingayats dominate) they will vouch for what I am saying. Because of the ill-treatment of Lingayats, a huge majority of the community voted for the Congress this time.

Why would B L Santosh conspire against the Lingayats?

For personal ambition; personal agenda. They don't have the heft or backing of the Lingayats and yet they dream of becoming chief minister (B L Santosh was a candidate to become chief minister in 2019 when BJP emerged as the largest single party with 104 MLAs). For that very purpose they (the BJP under B L Santosh's influence) are sidelining the Lingayat leaders.

If the BJP were to conspire against the Lingayats why would they field 69 Lingayats out of the 224 BJP candidates who contested the 2023 elections?

And yet only 15 Lingayat candidates could win the election. Can't they (the BJP leadership) see the writing on the wall? The Lingayats don't trust the BJP now.

This (fielding 69 Lingayats) was just to garner the votes of the (Lingayat) community. They want Lingayat votes, but they don't want a Lingayat to be made chief minister.

The BJP fielded only the third and fourth-line Lingayat leaders who they thought they could easily push around in case the BJP got a majority in the state and get him (B L Santosh) elected chief minister. Nobody knew these Lingayat candidates (fielded by the BJP).

You also met BJP President J P Nadda after you threatened to contest the elections with or without BJP. What happened at that meeting?

I met Naddaji and asked him why you (the BJP) were denying the ticket to Jagadish Shettar. He had no reasons or justifications to offer.

I told him the BJP didn't believe in dynastic politics, but yet in Karnataka so many dynasts got the BJP ticket. I asked him the reason for eroding the core values of the BJP and he had nothing to offer as an answer.

I had warned Naddaji in that meeting that by denying one ticket to Jagadish Shettar they were not risking to lose one seat, but the BJP will lose at least 25 seats in North Karnataka (where Lingayats decide the victor). I told Naddaji, but nobody took me seriously.

IMAGE: Former Karnataka CM Jagadish Shettar joins the Congress in the presence of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and General Secretary K C Venugopal in Bengaluru, April 17, 2023. Photograph: Shailendra Bhojak/PTI Photo

If Lingayats are so powerful a political force, and as you reckon, you happen to be a powerful community leader, then why couldn't you succeed in winning the Hubli-Dharwad Central constituency? You lost by 34,000 votes to fellow Lingayat Mahesh Tenginaki of the BJP.

My opponent used money to win this election (from Hubli-Dharwad Central). They (the BJP) used power politics; they used pressure tactics and threatened powerful Lingayat groups in my constituency to vote against me.

They used the threats of IT and ED raids on the businesses and industrialists, who have always supported me in my constituency.

I built the BJP in my constituency from scratch. Being a six-time MLA I had always emphasised the importance of loyalty to my people in the constituency. For 30 years of my existence as a party worker 'Party-Party-Party' is what I taught my people to be loyal to (BJP).

I built such a mindset of the people in my seat that I was not able to turn them around to support me in my fight against the humiliation heaped on me and other Lingayat leaders.

I joined the Congress only at the last minute and money factor too played a big role in my defeat.

I lost due to these factors, but that has not broken me. The public sympathy is still with me. I lost my constituency, but because of my name so many Congress MLAs got elected.

Why couldn't Lingayats play a role in your victory?

In the last 30 years I ingrained so much party loyalty and party commitment in them that they too decided to stick to my teachings. I created a mindset among the Lingayats that they should always vote for the BJP.

Do you see yourself playing any role in the government that the Congress will form now in a couple of days in Karnataka?

It is left to the Congress to decide how to use my services and political life.

The 2024 Lok Sabha election is just a year ahead and if they have to take advantage of Jagadish Shettar, and if they have to use my services in the party or in the government is left entirely to the Congress.

Whatever responsibility my party (the Congress now) vests me with, I will be happy to play my role.

There seems to be a power tussle happening between Congress stalwarts D K Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah over who should be the chief minister. Who do you think is headed to win this race?

This issue will be settled within a couple of days to the satisfaction of both leaders. I don't want to say anything about it.

How do you feel today when the party which you helped build and from which you got elected for six consecutive terms lose so badly in Karnataka?

Let me repeat that I also played my role along with B S Yediyurappa and (former Union minister) Anantha Kumar to build the party in Karnataka. I really felt very sad while quitting the party.

It is because of some vested interests the BJP is going to the depths in Karnataka. It is okay that I personally lost an election because of the skullduggery of some people, but it feels sad to say that in their efforts to finish off the Lingayat leadership in Karnataka they are sounding the BJP's death-knell too.
The Jammu and Kashmir police arrested two people who were involved in the killing of Mirwaiz Mohammad Farooq, 33 years after the then chief priest of the Valley fell to the bullets of Hizbul Mujahideen assassins, a senior police officer said in Srinagar on Tuesday.

Photograph: Umar Ganie/ Rediff.com IMAGE: Special Director General of Police (CID), RR Swain along with senior officials addresses a press conference over the arrest of two Hizb terrorists.

Special DG CID Jammu and Kashmir R R Swain said the State Investigation Agency (SIA) arrested Javed Bhat and Zahoor Bhat, who had managed to escape along with two others after the killing of Mirwaiz Farooq at his residence on May 21, 1990.

Officials, however, did not divulge other details such as when and from where the accused were arrested.

Ayoub Dar, also an accused, was already arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment by a court.

"The four accused were absconding. Main accused Abdullah Bangaroo was killed in an encounter while another accused, Ab Rehman Shigan, was also killed in an encounter during the investigation.

"Javed Bhat alias Azmat Khan and Zahoor Bhat alias Bilal managed to escape. It was Zahoor who had pulled the trigger after entering the bedroom of the Mirwaiz," Swain told reporters.

He said the absconders have been arrested by "the long arms of the law after more than 30 years. They will face a trial now."

"With this all the accused in Mirwaiz killing have been brought to justice," he added.

Swain said the duo, who was arrested on the basis of intelligence developed by the SIA, have been handed over to the CBI.

Giving details, Swain said Javed and Zahoor had gone underground and during all these years were hiding in Nepal and Pakistan among other places before returning to Kashmir a few years ago.

"Maintaining a low profile, changing addresses and shifting residences, they avoided the gaze of law enforcement agencies. They are now liable to immediately face trial in a designated TADA court in Delhi which has already completed the trial in respect of Dar, he added.

According to the police, Mirwaiz Farooq was killed by Hizbul Mujahideen cadres, who accused him of being a 'peacenik' and an 'Indian agent'.

"A case FIR No 61/1990 came to be registered in police station Nageen, Srinagar, to investigate the crime. Thereafter the government of the day transferred the investigation to CBI on 11 June 1990," Swain said.

Before killing the Mirwaiz, all the five Hizb terrorists had gone to Pakistan for training in 1990. Back in Srinagar, Bangroo received instructions in April 1990 from his ISI handler in Pakistan to eliminate the Mirwaiz.
West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Monday said her party will support the Congress where it is strong in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

IMAGE: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addresses a press conference at Nabanna in Howrah. Photograph: PTI Photo

This is the first time that Banerjee cleared the air on TMC's stand on a possible strategy for opposition unity in the electoral battle ahead.

"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, too," she told reporters at the state secretariat.

"I am giving you the support in Karnataka, but you are fighting against me every day. That should not be the policy," she said.

Banerjee 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. Wherever a regional party is strong, the BJP cannot put up a fight... People are very demoralised, frustrated

The economy has already been ruined and democratic rights bulldozed; even wrestlers have not been spared. Therefore, I think whoever is strong in their region, they should fight together," she said.

Citing an example, she said that in Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav (and his Samajwadi Party) should be given priority.

However, I am not saying that Congress should not fight in UP. Let us decide, nothing is in the final stage yet," the CM added.

Congratulating people in Karnataka for their mandate in favour of change, the TMC chief had earlier said that brute authoritarian and majoritarian politics has been vanquished.

She had also forecast that the BJP would lose in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, too, where it faces off with the Congress.
Karnataka Congress chief D K Shivakumar, engaged in an intense competition with Siddaramaiah over the post of Chief Minister, left for Delhi on Tuesday morning.

IMAGE: Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar addresses the media at his residence in Bengaluru. Photograph: PTI Photo

"Congress party General Secretary has instructed me to come alone, I'm going to Delhi alone. My health is good," Shivakumar told reporters outside his residence before leaving for the airport.

He was scheduled to leave for the national capital on Monday evening but cancelled the travel plans citing ill-health.

Siddaramaiah is in Delhi since Monday.

The three central observers of the Congress, who interacted with newly elected party MLAs on their choice for chief minister, briefed party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and submitted their report on Monday.

The Congress Legislature Party, which met at a hotel in Bengaluru on Sunday, had passed a unanimous resolution authorising Kharge to pick who will be the next chief minister of Karnataka.

Amid speculations about the number of MLAs supporting him and Siddaramaiah for the post, Shivakumar on Monday said his strength is 135, as it was under his leadership, the party won 135 seats.

In just-concluded assembly elections, 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 seats, respectively.
Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party president Nalin Kumar Kateel on Tuesday alleged 'Talibanisation' has started in the state after the victory of the Congress in the assembly polls and those indulging in "anti-national activities" are "rising up" to destroy peace.

IMAGE: Karnataka BJP chief Nalin Kumar Kateel (second from right) meets relatives of slain party worker as former state minister KS Eshwarappa (second from left) looks on, in Bengaluru, May 16, 2023. Photograph: Courtesy BJP Karnataka/Twitter

The Lok Sabha member from Dakshina Kannada met family members of Krishnappa, a BJP worker who was allegedly hacked to death, while his wife and son were grievously injured in the attack after they protested against bursting of crackers outside their house in Bengaluru Rural district's Hoskote on Sunday.

One person has been arrested, and a hunt is on to catch hold of others involved in the attack.

"Talibanisation has begun. Those indulging in anti-national activities are rising up and destroying peace and harmony. This is happening because Congress harboured and promoted these types of people. So, we cannot expect anything better from the Congress," Kateel told reporters after the meeting.

Condemning the incident, he alleged that attempts have been made to make Karnataka a 'mini-Bihar'.

"The politics of hatred is going on in the state. This sends across a message about what will happen to the state if this government continues. This is a sign that 'jungle raj' will be established here," Kateel said.

"We (BJP) will condemn it and will face it. There is no need for our workers to panic. We will face it and fight it and we will give a befitting reply. We will not sit idly," he said.

"The power struggle is going on. Everyone (top Congress leaders) is in Delhi to decide who should be the next chief minister. Congress workers are continuing their hooliganism in the state," Kateel said.

He asserted that incidents of violence took place in Yadgir, Shivamogga, Bhatkal and some other parts of the state (after election results were declared).

"It will be good if the Congress understands this. I have told the police officers. You should not keep quiet when such incidents happen. You have to arrest all those who are behind such incidents," Kateel said.

The Congress ousted the BJP from power by bagging 135 seats in the 224-member Assembly. The BJP secured 66 seats and the Janata Dal (Secular) headed by former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda won 19.
The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered an FIR against a freelance journalist for allegedly collecting sensitive information related to the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Army, and sharing them with intelligence agencies of foreign countries, officials said on Tuesday.

Following the FIR, the agency conducted searches on premises linked to Vivek Raghuvanshi, listed as India correspondent of a US-based portal on defence and strategic affairs on its web site, and people close to him at 12 locations in Jaipur and the National Capital Region (NCR), they said.

The agency has booked Raghuvanshi under Section 3 (spying) of Official Secrets Act read with Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.

A number of sensitive documents was recovered during the searches and sent for legal scrutiny, the officials said.

Sources said the agency has launched an exhaustive probe to find Raghuvanshi's accomplices in India and abroad.

He was allegedly collecting sensitive information and minute details about the progress of various DRDO projects, the CBI alleged.

He was also collecting details of future procurement plans of the Indian armed forces which could have adversely affected the country's strategic preparedness, the agency alleged.

"It is alleged that he collected and passed on sensitive details about the future procurement of Indian armed forces which reveal the strategic preparedness of the country besides classified communications and information relating to national security, details of the strategic and diplomatic talks of India with our friendly countries and sharing such classified information with intelligence agencies of foreign countries," the CBI spokesperson said.
The Centre has decided to recruit private sector specialists as joint secretaries, directors and deputy secretaries on contract basis in its different departments, an official said on Tuesday.

The department of personnel and training has asked the Union Public Service Commission to recruit such specialists through "lateral entry" mode in 12 government departments/ministries, he said.

Lateral entry refers to appointment of private sector specialists in government departments.

Usually the post of joint secretaries, directors and deputy secretaries are manned by officers of all-India and Group A services, among others.

The proposed recruitment will be done for the department of agriculture & farmers welfare under the ministry of agriculture & farmers welfare, ministry of civil aviation, department of chemicals & petrochemicals under ministry of chemicals & fertilizers, ministry of corporate affairs, department of food & public distribution in ministry of consumer affairs, food & public distribution and the ministry of heavy industries.

Select posts in the department of higher education, ministry of education, ministry of housing and urban affairs, department of legal affairs under the ministry of law & justice, department of promotion of industry & internal trade, ministry of commerce & industry, department of pharmaceutical, ministry of chemicals & fertilizers and department of school education & literacy, ministry of education will also be filled through this lateral recruitment, the official said.

"A detailed advertisement and instructions to candidates will be uploaded on the UPSC's website on May 20," he said, adding that interested candidates can apply from May 20 to June 19.

"Candidates will be short-listed for interview on the basis of the information provided by them in their online application," the official said, sharing an official communique in this regard.

He said the number of vacancies, to be filled through this lateral recruitment, will be advertised on May 20.

The personnel ministry had in June 2018 invited applications against 10 joint secretary-rank posts through lateral entry mode for the first time.

The recruitment for these posts was done by the Union Public Service Commission.

The Commission had in October 2021, recommended 31 candidates for the appointment as joint secretaries (three), directors (19) and deputy secretaries (nine) in different central government departments.

Now, the process for lateral entry recruitment for the third time by this government will be initiated from May 20 onward, the official added.
Karnataka's two chief ministerial aspirants Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar held separate meetings with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday as the party held hectic consultations to decide on who would lead the government in the southern state.

IMAGE: Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar meets party president Mallikarjun Kharge, New Delhi, May 16, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

Former party chief Rahul Gandhi also drove to Kharge's residence this morning and held an over 90-minute meeting.

The two leaders discussed the issue of chief ministership and modalities of government formation in Karnataka after the party staged a stunning victory in the May 10 assembly polls in which Congress won 135 out of 224 seats.

All India Congress Committee general secretary in-charge for Karnataka Randeep Surjewala and general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal were also present during the meeting between Kharge and Gandhi.

Venugopal later separately met Gandhi at the latter's residence.

Top party leaders were, however, tight-lipped on who was the probable choice for the chief minister's post and by when the decision would be taken.

Sources that discussions could also be held with Sonia Gandhi before the final decision is taken.

IMAGE: Siddaramaiah meets Kharge, New Delhi, May 16, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

Party's spokesperson Pawan Khera said in Hyderabad that a decision on the appointment of the chief minister of Karnataka will be known in a day or two.

"Appointing a chief minister is not an easy thing. It cannot be imposed from Delhi... Everybody's view has to be taken into consideration. We have to engage with every stakeholder and then decide who the chief minister will be," he said.

"The process is on. The observers have already gone there, met the MLAs. The MLAs have given their opinions. Now, the opinions have gone, all the record has gone to the central leadership. So, in a day or two you will know the answer," Khera said.

Former chief minister Siddaramaiah, who has been camping in the national capital since Monday, met Kharge a little after 6 pm and the two leaders discussed various issues related to Karnataka government formation. The meeting lasted over an hour.

Siddaramaiah later drove to Venugopal's residence for a meeting.

Karnataka PCC president Shivakumar arrived in the national capital from Bengaluru and drove straight to his brother's residence. He later met Kharge around 5 PM and the meeting between the two lasted around half an hour.

Shivakumar, who is one of the top contenders for the state chief minister's post, earlier said the party is his mother and there was no question of his resigning from the organisation.

"We have built this party. No question," he said when asked about reports that he may resign from the party if not given the chief minister's post.

"If any channel is reporting that I am resigning from the post, I will file a defamation case against them," he said.

On whether he will also meet Rahul Gandhi, the Karnataka leader said, "I have to meet all leaders. First, I have to meet my Congress president."

"My high command is there, my party is there, our MLAs are there - 135," Shivakumar said, as he left the residence of his brother and Bengaluru Rural MP DK Suresh.

Suresh said that since the party has won under his (Shivakumar's) leadership as Pradesh Congress chief, he had the right to stake his claim on the top post.

He had earlier met Kharge on Monday evening at the latter's residence after Shivakumar cancelled his visit to Delhi on Monday citing health issues.

Both Shivakumar and former chief minister Siddaramaiah are staking a claim on the top post and their supporters have been indulging in hectic lobbying.

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader G Parameshwara also threw his hat in the ring saying he is ready to take up the responsibility if the party high command asks him to run the government.

The former state Congress president said, the high command is aware of his service to the party and he doesn't feel the need to lobby for the post.

"If the high command decides and asks me to run the government, I'm ready to take up the responsibility," the former deputy chief minister told reporters in Bengaluru.

"I have faith in the party high command. I have certain principles. I can also take about 50 legislators and do the shouting, but for me the discipline of the party is important.... if the high command gives me the responsibility, I will take it up. I have not said I won't," he said.

"They (high command) too are aware that I have worked for the party, served it for eight years (as KPCC President) and brought it to power (in 2013).... I feel there is no need for me to ask for the post or lobby for it, and I'm quiet. That doesn't mean I'm incapable, I'm capable and if given an opportunity will do the job," he added.

The newly-elected MLAs in Karnataka had on Sunday passed a one-line resolution authorising party chief Kharge to appoint the legislature party leader, who will be the new chief minister.

Kharge earlier held discussions with party leaders from Karnataka and the three observers appointed by him to oversee the Congress Legislature Party meeting held in Bengaluru on Sunday.

The three central observers - Sushilkumar Shinde, Jitendra Singh and Deepak Babaria - had met all Congress MLAs individually and sought their views on who would be their choice of chief minister.

They also held a 'secret ballot' on their choice for chief minister. The observers discussed the findings of their report and handed it over to Kharge on Monday night.

In the just-concluded Assembly elections, the 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 seats, respectively.
Don't create an "atmosphere of fear", the Supreme Court Tuesday told the Enforcement Directorate (ED) after the Chhattisgarh government alleged the probe agency is "running amok" and is trying to implicate Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel in a money laundering case linked to the alleged Rs 2,000 crore liquor scam in the state.

IMAGE: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel's government is facing the ED's heat in the liqour scam. Photograph: Rahul Singh/ANI Photo

The state government alleged before a bench of Justices S K Kaul and A Amanullah that several state excise department officials have complained the ED is threatening them and their family members with arrest and is "trying to implicate the CM (chief minister)". The officers, the government claimed, have said they will not work in the department.

"The ED is running amok. They are threatening excise officers," senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Chhattisgarh, told the bench.

"It is shocking state of affairs. Now elections are coming and that is why it is happening," he told the bench.

Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, appearing for ED, countered the allegations and said the agency is probing a scam in the state.

"Even a bona fide cause becomes suspect when you behave like this," the bench observed, adding, "Don't create an atmosphere of fear".

Last month, Chhattisgarh became the first state to move the apex court challenging the constitutional validity of certain provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), alleging that central investigating agencies are being misused to "intimidate, harass and disturb" the normal functioning of the non-Bharatiya Janata Party state government.

The Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government has filed an original suit through advocate Sumeer Sodhi challenging the law under Article 131 of the Constitution which empowers a state to move the Supreme Court directly in matters of dispute with the Centre or any other state.

The apex court was on Tuesday hearing a plea filed by two Chhattisgarh-based persons, one of whom has been arrested by the ED in connection with the case, challenging the proceedings initiated by the anti-money laundering agency.

The state has filed an application seeking impleadment in the petition, claiming that 52 officers of the excise department have complained in writing alleging "mental and physical torture" by ED officers during the course of investigation.

In its application, the state has claimed," Several officers have made serious allegations that not only were they threatened but the members of the family of the officers were also physically abused and threatened to sign blank pages or pre-typed documents.

"The officers in the state are being threatened by the officers of the Directorate of Enforcement with threat of their arrest or arrest of their family members and being implicated in cases if they do not make and sign the statement as desired by the officers and to implicate the chief minister and other senior officers of the state administration," the application said.

The bench asked the ED to respond to the application filed by the state.

The state, in its application, has claimed the officers who have complained in writing are now being threatened with coercive actions and forced to retract the statements made before the state police "which itself is an interference with the investigation of crime (law and order) which is a subject matter falling in exclusive domain of state list".

It said there is a law and order situation in the state and an "administrative standstill" due to the ED's actions.

"It is further submitted that the public officers of the state are scared and there is an overwhelming sense of apprehension and unease due to threats made by the officers of Enforcement Directorate. These actions of the Enforcement Directorate are a part of well orchestrated and targeted attempt of de-establishing the state government. Hence, the applicant/state of Chhattisgarh has no option but to approach this court," it said.

The state said the primary issue which has constrained it to approach the top court is that the actions of ED are "not only coercive, illegal, biased, whimsical, politically motivated" but also completely without jurisdiction and authority of law.

"It is submitted that the respondent investigating agency is acting on behest of political masters and the investigation is completely biased, non independent and all actions are premeditated to bring de-stability in the state of Chhattisgarh," it claimed.

The state alleged the investigation being carried out by the ED is wholly without jurisdiction and illegal in as much as there is no underlying predicate offence.

"The illegal investigation conducted by Enforcement Directorate in the present case is contrary to the principle of federalism which is a part of the basic structure of the Constitution," it said.

The application said that multiple complaints have been received by the office of the chief minister by various citizens of the state, including businessmen, state officials, highlighting various acts of "blatant" abuse of power by the ED.

The money laundering case stems from a 2022 income tax department charge sheet filed in a court in Delhi.

The ED had earlier told a court about an alleged massive scam in liquor trade in Chhattisgarh perpetrated by a syndicate comprising high-level state government officials, private persons and political executives that generated tainted money more than Rs 2,000 crore in 2019-22.

The federal agency had also alleged bribees were collected from distillers in the state on per liquor case basis procured from the CSMCL (state body for purchase and sale of liquor) and country liquor was being sold off-the-books.

According to the ED, bribes were taken from distillers to allow them to form a cartel and have a fixed market share.
Soon after a delegation of the Shiv Sena-UBT handed over a 79-page letter to the Maharashtra Deputy Speaker seeking expedited action in the disqualification of 16 MLAs of the Shinde camp, Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar said that the action would not actually topple the government.

IMAGE: Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar. Photograph: ANI Photo

"Even if 16 MLAs are disqualified, the government of Shinde and Fadnavis will not fall. There is no threat to the government," he said on Monday while addressing a press conference in Mumbai.

He said that in a 288-member assembly, the government will not lose its majority mark, even if 16 MLAs are disqualified.

Notably, a delegation of the Shiv Sena-UBT handed over a letter seeking expedited action in the disqualification of 16 Shinde camp MLAs following the Supreme Court's recent verdict during their meeting with

Maharashtra's deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal and Assembly secretary Jitendra Bhole.

The Whip of Shiv Sena-UBT, Sunil Prabhu, said that the Sena's delegation submitted a letter to the Speaker following the apex court's order that ruled that the Speaker can adjudicate the disqualification of the 16 Shinde camp MLAs.

"Since the Speaker is yet to return from his foreign tour, we submitted the letter to his deputy," Prabhu said.

The ruling coalition of Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party currently has 145 MLAs while the overall coalition has162 MLAs, 17 more than the required numbers to form the government in Maharashtra.

The Supreme Court's verdict has given fresh impetus to the Shiv Sena crisis, with former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray calling for an early decision on the disqualification of 16 party MLAs.

The top court also pulled up then Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and said he did not have reasons based on objective material before him to reach the conclusion that then chief minister Uddhav Thackeray had lost the confidence of the House. The court said that relief was due for Thackeray if he had not resigned before facing the floor test.
UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths late on Monday called for the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which allows the export of Ukrainian grain and other agricultural products from Black Sea ports.

Food exported under the initiative, and food and fertilizer exports from Russia, continue to make a crucial contribution to global food security as more than 30 million metric tons of cargo have been safely exported from Ukraine under the initiative, he told the Security Council in a briefing.

The exports include about 600,000 metric tons of wheat transported by the World Food Programme, in direct support of humanitarian operations in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Yemen, he said.

The latest Food and Agriculture Organization analysis indicates that global cereal prices have fallen by nearly 20 percent over the past 12 months.

Last month, international wheat prices reached their lowest level since July 2021, driven in part by the continued movement of Ukrainian grain, and by large quantities available for export in Russia and other locations, said Griffiths.

"This is undeniable progress. But much more remains to be done. Predictable supplies for humanitarian food assistance operations continue to be required," he said via a video link from Geneva.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative refers to the export of Russian ammonia from Ukraine's Odessa port. But this has still not been realized.

Over the past month, there has been a reduction in the volumes of exports moving out of Ukraine's Black Sea ports, due to challenging dynamics within the Joint Coordination Centre in Istanbul set up by the initiative, Griffiths noted.

"In recent weeks, and last week in particular, we have engaged in intensive discussions with the parties to the Black Sea Initiative, to secure agreement on its extension and the improvements needed for it to operate effectively and predictably," he said.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative was signed separately by Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul with Turkiye and the United Nations on July 22, 2022.

The deal, initially in effect for 120 days, was extended in mid-November 2022 for another 120 days till March 18, 2023. At that point, Russia only agreed to extend the deal for a further 60 days, till May 18, 2023.

As a parallel agreement, Russia and the United Nations signed a memorandum of understanding on the facilitation of exports of Russian food and fertilizer.

A senior-level quadrilateral meeting was held last week in Istanbul, Turkiye, to discuss the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

Those efforts will continue over the coming days, said Griffiths.

"Continuation of the Black Sea Initiative is critically important, as is recommitment by the parties to its smooth and efficient operation. We will continue to call on all (parties) to meet their responsibilities as the world watches very closely," he said.

It is clear that the people of Ukraine and millions around the world can ill afford a continuation of the Ukraine crisis. More than ever, they need an end to hostilities and a political solution to end the conflict, he said.

"I call on this council and all (UN) member states to support all efforts to bring an end to the carnage and destruction. In the meantime, the United Nations and its humanitarian partners remain committed to safeguarding the life and dignity of persons affected by the war and to the pursuit of peace, today, tomorrow, and for as long as it takes."

The humanitarian operating environment remains complex and dangerous. Nonetheless, thanks to the courage of humanitarian workers, the United Nations and its partners continue to deliver life-saving assistance to front-line areas and elsewhere across Ukraine, said Griffiths.

Nearly 3.6 million people received humanitarian assistance in Ukraine in the first quarter of 2023. This includes people receiving cash assistance, food, health care and livelihood support.

Around 43 inter-agency convoys have delivered supplies to around 280,000 people in front-line areas so far this year, with local partners conducting last-mile delivery and distribution, he said.

"It is imperative that we explore all options to reach civilians, wherever they are," he said. "Under international humanitarian law, all parties must allow the safe, rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need and must ensure that personnel have the freedom of movement required for their work. I urge the parties to reinforce and strengthen facilitation efforts so we can reach all civilians in need."

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Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday ordered the setting up of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) for a probe into the alleged attempt by a group of people from a different religion to force their way into the famous Trimbakeshwar temple in Nashik.

Security guards at the Trimbakeshwar temple had thwarted the group's attempt on Saturday night, a temple 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 had submitted a complaint to the police.

Some video clips of the incident went viral on social media platforms.

The office of Fadnavis in a statement said an officer of the additional director general (ADG) rank will head the SIT.

The SIT will not only conduct a probe into this incident, but will also investigate a similar incident which took place last year at the same temple. A group representing certain community had entered the temple, Fadnavis said in the statement.
An unidentified man made a threatening call on the landline number of Union minister Nitin Gadkari's official residence on Motilal Nehru road in New Delhi, the police said on Tuesday.

The call was received by a staff of Gadkari's office on Monday night.

The caller did not share his details and demanded to speak to the minister and threaten him, a senior police officer said.

"The caller spoke in Hindi and said 'mujhe mantri ji se baat karni hai, unhe threaten karna hai' (I want to talk to the minister and want to threaten him), and disconnected the call," he said.

The minister's office reported the matter to the Delhi police which is now investigating the matter.

"All call records details are being analysed. The accused had called on the landline number so we are trying to trace the number to get to the culprit. An enquiry is underway," the officer added.

Notably, the minister's office in Nagpur had received such threat calls on two separate occasions earlier this year.

A team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had gone to Nagpur on May 9 to conduct a probe into the matter. The calls were allegedly made by a murder convict, Jayesh Pujari alias Kantha, who was arrested from a jail in Belagavi, Karnataka, and booked under the anti-terror law UAPA, the police had said.
An explosion at an illegal firecracker unit located at Egra in Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal killed nine people and injured several others on Tuesday, a senior police officer said.

IMAGE: Security personnel and locals outside an illegal firecracker unit after a massive explosion, in West Bengal's Purba Medinipur district, May 16, 2023. Photograph: PTI Photo

The impact of the explosion was so massive that the factory which was being run from a residential building collapsed.

Villagers said that the site looked like a "war zone" with body parts and debris strewn all around, including in a nearby pond.

While the state government ordered a CID probe into the incident, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party demanded an investigation by the NIA and wrote a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah in this regard.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, "The illegal firecracker unit was functioning at a house in a village near the West Bengal-Odisha border. The firecrackers manufactured there used to be sent to Odisha. Local labourers were working there."

Banerjee, also the Trinamool Congress supremo, said the next of kin of the deceased will get a compensation of Rs 2.5 lakh each and the injured will get Rs 1 lakh, while the state government will bear the expenses of their treatment.

On the BJP's demand for a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), she said, "We do not have any objection (to it). It is the district of their leaders, so they have some formula. Let the investigators find out."

Leader of the opposition in the West Bengal assembly Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP hails from Purba Medinipur district.

A police officer said sacks of explosive materials were seized from a hidden chamber in the collapsed house.

A preliminary investigation found that five of the deceased and seven injured were working in the factory.

The chief minister said action will be taken against the chief of Egra police station as "he had no information that an illegal firecracker unit was operating" in the area.

Banerjee said the owner of the illegal firecracker unit, who was arrested in October last year for running the factory, has fled to Odisha after the explosion.

"I will ask the police to share his details with their counterparts in Odisha so that he is arrested immediately," she said.

The TMC chief claimed that the panchayat where the incident took place is being run by an Independent politician backed by the BJP, and Trinamool Congress workers were not allowed to enter the village.

Policemen were attacked by villagers when they visited the spot.

Alleging that BJP and Communist Party of India-Marxist had been regularly "instigating" people to beat up policemen, Banerjee said strong action will be taken against the culprits.

"Police are the custodian (of law). Strong action must be taken against those assaulting law enforcers. I believe people have the right to demonstrate, but they must not assault policemen," Banerjee added.

She asked Environment Minister Manas Ranjan Bhunia and another local MLA to visit the spot.

Bhunia said, "We had earlier undertaken a campaign to build awareness among the public in this regard. We need the help of the public to fight the menace."

He said that his department and the West Bengal Pollution Control Board will intensify the campaign, asking everyone to alert the administration about the existence of illegal firecracker units operating in their respective areas.

Alleging that West Bengal has become a "stockpile of explosives", Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Governor C V Ananda Bose to initiate an NIA probe into the Egra blast.

Adhikari also demanded that central forces be immediately deployed in the area while fearing that the state police might illegally shift the bodies.

"Huge explosion in Sahara village in Egra, Purba Medinipur, at the local TMC leader Krishnapada Bag's (alias Bhanu) house. I am receiving news from the ground that the number of casualties is enormous. Immediately, central forces should be deployed as dead bodies are being shifted illegally by Mamata Police," Adhikari alleged in a tweet.

On this allegation, the chief minister said only 13 people were working there.

So, where will the bodies be shifted? Is it the time to indulge in politics instead of sending the injured to hospitals? They (BJP) are not allowing the police to get the bodies. I will request them to be human before being a political leader," Banerjee said.

Tagging Union Home Minister Amit Shah and state Governor CV Ananda Bose, Adhikari urged them in another tweet to initiate an NIA probe into the incident as early as possible.

BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said he has written to Shah, demanding an NIA probe into the incident.

Under the TMC regime, you won't find any normal industry, but bomb-making factories have flourished due to the patronage of local TMC leaders. Bombs produced here will be used in the upcoming panchayat polls," Majumdar said.

The BJP intends to malign the state. We don't support such an incident. Let the investigation be over," TMC state spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said.

On March 20, three people were killed in a blaze at a fireworks unit at Mahestala in South 24 Parganas district. In December 2022, three people were killed in a blast in a firecracker factory at Bhupatinagar in Purba Medinipur district.\
Amid the race for the Karnataka chief minister's post, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday met party president Mallikarjun Kharge and discussed government formation in the southern state.

IMAGE: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visits the residence of party president Mallikarjun Kharge, in New Delhi on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. Photograph: Ravi Chaudhary/PTI Photo

Gandhi drove to Kharge's residence and held a closed-door meeting with the Congress chief for almost an hour and a half. Congress General Secretary Randeep Surjewala, who is in charge of the party's affairs in Karnataka, and AICC general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal were also present at the meeting.

Kharge earlier held discussions with party leaders from Karnataka and the three observers appointed by him to oversee the Congress Legislature Party meeting held in Bengaluru on Sunday.

The observers had sought the opinion of all newly-elected MLAs and also held a 'secret ballot' on their choice for chief minister. The observers discussed the findings of their report after speaking to the party MLAs in Karnataka and handed it over to Kharge Monday night.

Both Siddaramaiah and state Congress president D K Shivakumar are front runners for the chief minister's post and both are lobbying for it.

While former chief minister Siddaramaiah is in Delhi, Shivakumar arrived in the national capital Tuesday afternoon. After arriving at Delhi airport, he did not speak to the media and walked away with folded hands parrying a barrage of questions from reporters.

Shivakumar had earlier cancelled his visit to the national capital on Monday evening citing health issues, fuelling speculations that all is not well in the party.

Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar will hold discussions with party chief Kharge, as well as with other senior leaders over government formation in Karnataka. Both leaders are also expected to meet former party chief Rahul Gandhi.

Sources said former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi would also be consulted over the choice of chief minister and government formation in Karnataka.

The newly-elected Congress MLAs have already passed a resolution authorising party chief Kharge to appoint a leader of the Congress Legislature party, who will be the chief minister.

In the just-concluded assembly elections, 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 seats, respectively.
The Supreme Court has dismissed a batch of pleas seeking review of its verdict upholding the 10 per cent reservation introduced in 2019 for the economically weaker sections in educational institutions and government jobs that excluded the poor among the SC/ST/OBC categories.

IMAGE: The Supreme Court of India. Photograph: ANI Photo

A five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said there was no ground to reconsider the verdict.

It also rejected the plea to list the petitions for hearing in open court.

The Supreme Court passed the order on May 9 and a copy of it was uploaded on the court website on Tuesday.

"Having perused the review petitions, there is no error apparent on the face of the record. No case for review.... The review petitions are, therefore, dismissed," the bench also comprising Justices Dinesh Maheshwari (since retired), S Ravindra Bhat, Bela M Trivedi and J B Pardiwala said.

The top court's order came on a batch of appeals, including the pleas filed by Society for the Rights of Backward Communities and Congress leader Jaya Thakur, seeking review of the apex court's November 7, 2022 judgement.

In its landmark judgement, a five-judge Constitution bench had said that the use of basic structure doctrine as a "sword" to "stultify" the State's effort to do economic justice cannot be countenanced.

It had delivered a 3:2 majority decision in favour of the 103rd Constitution Amendment.

While upholding the 10 per cent reservation introduced in 2019 for EWS in admissions and government jobs that excluded the poor among the SC/ST/OBC categories, the apex court had said it is not discriminatory or violative of any essential feature of the Constitution.

Treating the EWS as a separate category is a reasonable classification and the 50 per cent ceiling on the total reservation under the Mandal judgment is "not inflexible", the judges had said while dismissing the petitions challenging the validity of the law.

The bench headed by then Chief Justice U U Lalit had delivered four judgments on 40 petitions against the amendment that was passed after the Narendra Modi government decided to grant quota to the economically weaker sections ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Justices Dinesh Maheshwari, Bela M Trivedi and J B Pardiwala had upheld the EWS quota.

The then CJI was in minority with Justice S Ravindra Bhat when they ruled against it, holding that due to exclusion of the poor of classes like SCs, STs, and OBCs from its ambit, the amendment "practises constitutionally prohibited forms of discrimination".

The apex court had held that reservation is an instrument of affirmative action by the State so as to ensure an all-inclusive march towards the goals of an egalitarian society while counteracting inequalities.

The EWS quota is over and above the existing 50 per cent reservation to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes.
Fifteen-year-old Pushpa Karam fears she will not be able to perform well in the class 10 examinations next year.

IMAGE: Students from Uttarakhand, studying in Manipur, upon their arrival at Jolly Grant Airport after being evacuated from the violence in Manipur, in Dehradun. Photograph: PTI Photo

Her home in Torbung Bangla area in Churachandpur district of Manipur has been gutted in the recent ethnic violence.

Karam is taking shelter in a relief camp in Kunbi area of neighbouring Bishnupur district along with 42 other school-going students and their families. She has been forced to miss her Mathematics and English tuitions.

"I fear I won't perform well in the class 10 board examination next year, which might affect my dreams of enrolling in a good school in Imphal," Karam said.

Karam is among around 4,000 school-going students who have been affected by the recent ethnic violence in Manipur.

Of these, around 1,000 have been rendered homeless in Churachandpur and affected areas of neighbouring Bishnupur district, while the remaining are from Imphal East district and Moreh town, officials said.

While the students fear they might lose an academic year as they will not be able to return to their schools in the affected areas, their parents' immediate concern is to have a permanent place to stay.

"My books, study materials and even all school documents were in my house, which was burnt. My father says we cannot return to Churachandpur anymore. I don't know where I will go to school," 15-year-old Anu Irom Chanu, a student of Don Bosco School in Churachandpur, said.

She is taking shelter along with her family in a community hall in Moirang in neighbouring Bishnupur district.

Seventeen-year-old Namoijam Tomba Singh from Torbung Bangla area in Churachandpur said his chances of getting into a coveted course or job at the end of his school year have now been diminished.

"With my academic year in the doldrums as well as uncertainty over where we will live, I really don't know how I will prepare for various exams NDA entrance, merchant navy etc., that I was planning to appear for," Singh, whose parents were daily wage earners, said.

Moirangthem Shyam of the People's Progressive Union which organised the relief camp in Kunbi said that the affected students must be enrolled in the nearest government school at the earliest so that their academic year is not lost.

At least 73 people were killed, 231 injured and 1,700 houses, including religious places, were burnt in the ethnic violence that rocked the northeastern state recently, officials said.

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 had to be deployed to bring back normalcy in the northeastern state.

Curfew has been relaxed in the 11 affected districts for different durations, including 5 am to 3 pm in Imphal East and West districts.
Photographer / Multimedia Editor

Has been working as a photojournalist since 2007, before moving into newspapers, he worked with an NGO called Project HOPE. He then went to work for the Press and Sun-Bulletin in New York, and then in New England working for the Brattleboro Reformer.
Some 1.2 billion euros ($1.3 billion) in Russian-owned assets managed by Cyprus-registered companies were frozen in compliance with sanctions imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, Cyprus' Finance Ministry said Tuesday.

The ministry told The Associated Press the vast majority of those assets were held in European Union credit institutions and the entire amount came on top of 105 million euros frozen by banks in Cyprus.

The ministry provided the information in response to European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders saying last week that Cyprus appeared to be falling behind on freezing Russian-owned assets.

Reynders said that while other EU member nations each froze 2-4 billion euros worth of Russian assets, Cyprus reported sum of around 100 million euros seems to be a little low.

The Finance Ministry said this was an error owed to the European Commission receiving incomplete information  an error since rectified by updating a relevant database.

Meanwhile, the Cypriot government is stepping up its supervisory capacity to ensure compliance with international sanctions by setting up a specialized unit modeled after the UKs Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), according to the ministry.

The Cyprus government is also keen on joining a European Commission program on supporting the effective and uniform implementation of sanctions.

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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
The Connecticut Water Co. will invest $60 million this year on more than 100 infrastructure upgrades and improvement projects, officials with the Clinton-based utility have announced.

Connecticut Water, which serves more than 350,000 people in 60 communities in the state, will be replacing components of its distribution network that are between 40-and-100-years old. One of the larger projects is a new $12 million water treatment facility being built in East Windsor to serve customers in north central Connecticut, according to Dan Meaney, a spokesman for the utility

"That's our largest system and the new work is replacing something that went on line in the late 1960s or early 1970s," Meaney said. Work on replacing the water treatment system started last year and will be completed by the end of the summer, he said.

David Peeling, Connecticut Water's vice president if engineering, making investments in the company's distribution network "is costly to ... install, maintain and replace."

"But it is imperative for us to continually make investments in our water systems so that customers and communities served by Connecticut Water can count on high-quality drinking water and reliable service for generations to come," Peeling said. "Aside from maintaining a safe water supply, replacing water mains, treatment systems and storage facilities in a planned and systematic manner costs less than emergency repairs.

Other improvements being made to the company's distribution network include more than 30 water main replacement projects across the state involving 1,850 miles of piping as well as upgrades to hundreds of other facilities such as pump stations, water treatment and storage tanks. One of those new water main projects got started this week in Chester, where nearly half a mile of new piping will be installed along the Kings Highway at a cost of $1.4 million.

The new main in Chester will replace existing pipe that was installed in 1969. Three fire hydrants will also be replaced as part of the project, which will be completed by the end of August.

It will take the efforts of about 260 construction workers to complete this year's improvement projects. A majority of the improvements are being done by outside contractors hired by Connecticut Water, Meaney said.

Connecticut Water is also installing a 275 kilowatt array of solar panels in Clinton to offset the power needs of the companys Clinton office, as well as the southern region work center and two electric vehicle charging stations, which are need because the utility is electrifying part of its fleet. Work on the solar array got underway last month and will be completed by the end of June.

Company officials said the solar array will keep the utility from having to purchase power from more traditional sources at prices that are subject to fluctuation. That in turn will help Connecticut Water to stabilize the cost of delivering water to customers.

The company already has two other solar arrays serving parts of its network. One is at the utility's Stewart Water Treatment Plant in Naugatuck and the other is in Colchester at the company's Westchester Village system.

Meaney said Connecticut Water will ultimately seek to recover some the costs associated with the system improvement by going before state utility regulators to seek a rate increase.

"These are increased costs associated with operating and we do file rate cases periodically," he said. "We have a time frame in mind for the filing, but it's not something we are prepared to share at this point."

Connecticut Water improvements to its distribution network come even as the state's other large water company, Aquarion, is in court appealing a rate hike request that was rejected by utility regulators in March.

At that time, the state's Public Utilities Regulatory Authority denied the Bridgeport-based utility's rate hike request increase that could have increased rates by 27 percent over three years. Instead, PURA ordered that Aquarion customers water rates be reduced by about $67 per year.

Aquarion filed an appeal of the PURA ruling on March 30 in New Britain Superior Court and was granted a temporary stay of the regulatory decision. A hearing in the case was scheduled for Monday.

Meaney said Connecticut Water is following the Aquarion court challenge as it makes its way through the legal system.

"We're looking to interpret their filing in such way that we can improve our own when the time comes," Meaney said of the Aquarion rate case.
For the first time, the United Nations will officially commemorate on Monday the 75th anniversary of the mass displacement of Palestinians known as Nakba " or catastrophe, that led to displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from what is now Israel  an action stemming from the UNs partition of British-ruled Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is headlining Mondays U.N. commemoration of what Palestinians call the Nakba or catastrophe.

Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian U.N. ambassador, called the U.N. 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 still dont have an independent state, and they dont have the right to return to their homes as called for in a General Assembly resolution adopted in December 1948.

A Special Commemorative event will take place in the General Assembly Hall, 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, Palestinian News Agency WAFA reported.

Israels U.N. ambassador, Gilad Erdan, condemned the commemoration, calling it an abominable event. He claimed that those who attend will be condoning antisemitism.

A special commemorative event, set to take place in the General Assembly Hall, promises to captivate attendees with a powerful journey through Palestinian history. From 6 pm to 8 pm (NY Time), the event will transport participants into the heart of the Nakba, offering an immersive experience through live music, evocative photographs, compelling videos, and poignant personal testimonies, as reported by the Palestinian News Agency "WAFA."

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 to restore the Palestinian terriotries.

The Nakba commemorates the estimated 700,000 Palestinians who fled or were forced from their homes in 1948 by the zionist Haganah, underground military organization.

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.

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 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, and the U.S. Mission said no American diplomat will attend Mondays commemoration.

Explaining why a U.N. commemoration took so long, Mansour told The Associated Press on Friday that the Palestinians have moved cautiously at the United Nations since the General Assembly raised their status in 2012 from a non-member observer to a non-member observer state.

U.N. recognition as a state enabled the Palestinians to join treaties, take cases against Israels occupation to the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice, which is the U.N.s highest tribunal, and in 2019 to chair the Group of 77, the U.N. coalition of 134 mainly developing nations and China, he said.

At the 70th anniversary of the 1948 exodus five years ago, Mansour said, the word Nakba was used in a General Assembly resolution for the first time," and Abbas then gave instructions to obtain a mandate from the U.N. to commemorate the 75th anniversary.

The Nakba commemoration comes as Israel agression against the Palestinians 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.

Mansour said Friday that Palestinian refugees are being forcibly removed from their homes and forcibly transferred by Israel at an unprecedented rate, reminiscent of 1948.

In a speech to the U.N. Security Council on April 25, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Malki said it is time to bring the Nakba to an end, stressing that the Palestinians have suffered from the most protracted refugee crisis in the world and the longest occupation of an entire territory in modern history.

He was sharply critical of the U.N. and the wider international community for adopting resolutions that make demands and call for action but doing nothing to implement them. He said if the international community made Israel's occupation costly, "I can assure you it will come to an end.

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. He also urged countries to support the Palestinian request for full membership in the United Nations, which would demonstrate international support for a two-state solution where Israelis and Palestinians lived side-by-side in peace.

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 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.

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External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has called on Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and discussed with him growing bilateral cooperation, including in trade and technology, and spoke about contemporary strategic concerns.

Jaishankar arrived in Brussels on Monday evening for the last leg of his three-nation tour covering Bangladesh, Sweden and Belgium.

Jaishankar said he conveyed personal greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to De Croo during the meeting, which was also attended by Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Skill Development and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

Jaishankar is in Brussels for the first meeting of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council scheduled for Tuesday.

"Delighted to call on PM of Belgium @alexanderdecroo along with my colleagues - @PiyushGoyal & @rajeev_GOI today. Conveyed personal greetings of PM @narendramodi," the external affairs minister wrote on Twitter.

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.

The Indian ministerial delegation also met Ursula von der Leyen, President of the EU Commission.

"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," Jaishankar tweeted after the meeting.

The first ministerial-level meeting of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) will take place on Tuesday in Brussels.

The TTC was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of the European Commission during the latters visit to India in April last year.

Subsequently, both sides established three working groups under the TTC.

The first working group is on strategic technologies, digital governance and digital connectivity. The second one is on green and clean energy technologies and the third one is on trade, investment and resilient value chains.

The TTC is expected to facilitate the exchange of critical technologies relating to an array of domains including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductors and cybersecurity.

The TTC with India is the European Unions second such technology partnership after the first one with the United States which was firmed up in June 2021.

The working group on strategic technologies, digital governance and digital connectivity is focusing on areas of mutual interest such as digital connectivity, artificial intelligence, 5G/6G, quantum computing, semiconductors, cloud systems, cybersecurity, digital skills and digital platforms.

The group on green and clean energy technologies is focusing on green technologies, including investment and standards, with an emphasis on research and innovation.

Jaishankar 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 Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum (EIPMF) in Stockholm.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo 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. Jaishankar is in Brussels for the first meeting of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council, scheduled for Tuesday.

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

Delighted to call on PM of Belgium @alexanderdecroo along with my colleagues - @PiyushGoyal & @rajeev_GOI today. Conveyed personal greetings of PM @narendramodi, he tweeted.

Discussed our growing bilateral cooperation, including in trade and technology. Also spoke about contemporary strategic concerns, he said.

The EAM 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.
A Ugandan police constable suspected of killing 39-year-old Indian national Uttam Bhandari will be facing arraignment in court for murder, according to the Uganda Police Force. On May 12, Bhandari, an Indian businessman, was allegedly shot dead by 30-year-old Ivan Wabwire, a police constable off-duty.

Wabwire allegedly used a stolen AK-47 assault rifle to gun down the victim. The crime, which was captured on CCTV, stemmed from a monetary conflict between the duo wherein Bhandari-run financial services company lent money to Wabwire. Ugandan Police called the constable's acts "deliberate" and "pre-meditated."

The findings so far, clearly indicate that the actions of our officer were deliberate, planned and pre-meditated.https://t.co/VwwpdEjeBC  Uganda Police Force (@PoliceUg) May 15, 2023

The findings so far, clearly indicate that the actions of our officer were deliberate, planned and pre-meditated, it said in a statement on Twitter on Tuesday. Bhandari's brutal killing was condemned by Ugandan President Yoweri K Museveni, who demanded answers from authorities.

Ugandan President expresses condolences, demands answers from security forces

"Ugandans and, especially the Bazzukulu, Condolences on the death of one of our Indian People, Mr. Uttam Bhandari, killed by a Police Constable by the names of Wabwire Ivan. All these mistakes are easily traceable. In this case, for instance, some questions immediately come up: 1. How did an off-duty Police man, access a gun? 2. Did he walk away from his guard post without permission with a gun to commit crime? 3. How are the guns stored in the Police?" the president tweeted.

Ugandans and, especially the Bazzukulu,



Condolences on the death of one of our Indian People, Mr. Uttam Bhandari, killed by a Police Constable by the names of Wabwire Ivan.



All these mistakes are easily traceable. In this case, for instance, some questions immediately come up:  Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) May 13, 2023

"4. Is there no security at the site where the victim was? 5. Why did that local security allow an armed person into the building who had no guard business there? Then, there is the question of the mental state of this Policeman. 6. Did he have a history of mental instability? If he had, why hadnt the Police leadership noticed and acted appropriately? The answers to these questions may help us to plug the gaps in the security system. Condolences to the family of Bhandari," he added.
One of Libyas rival administrations voted Tuesday to suspend its prime minister, who has been placed under investigation, the parliament's spokesperson said.

Fathi Bashagha was prime minister of Libya's eastern-based parliament, known as the House of Representatives, which operates in Tobruk.

The reason for Bashagha's suspension and investigation was not immediately clear. Abdullah Belhaiq, the parliament spokesperson who made the announcement, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In his initial statement, Belhaiq said the House of Representatives finance minister, Osama Hamada, had taken over Bashaghas duties.

Earlier on Tuesday, however, Bashagha issued a statement to the parliament announcing that he was passing his duties to Deputy Prime Minister Ali Qatrani. No further details were given. The conflict between the two statements could not immediately be reconciled.

Torn by civil conflict since 2011, Libya is divided between two rival governments, each backed by international patrons and numerous armed militias on the ground. Libya's Western government is based in the capital Tripoli and is headed by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah.

A UN-brokered process installed an interim government, with Dbeibah at its head, in early 2021 with the aim of guiding the country to elections later that year.

The elections werent held following disagreements over several key issues, including the eligibility for presidential candidacy.

Bashagha, a former interior minister and air force pilot, was appointed prime minister of the east-based government by the House of Representatives in February 2022.

Months after his appointment, he tried to seat his government in the capital, arriving in Tripoli with a number of his Cabinet ministers. Clashes soon broke out between rival militias, forcing Bashagha to retreat to the city of Sirte.

While the precise reason for Bashaghas removal remains unannounced, Jalel Harchaoui, a Libya specialist and associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, believes the suspended premier may have out-served his use to Khalifa Hafter, commander of the Libyan National Army.

Hafar and his family are seeking more influence in Tripoli and have been engaging in regular talks with Dbeibahs nephew along with militia leaders from the west, Harchaoui said.

The UNs special representative to Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily, unveiled a new initiative in late February aiming to usher the divided country to the ballot box before the end of 2023.

Both parliaments have agreed upon a joint committee to draft electoral law for the vote, however, progress has since slowed.

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After the court issued an order for his release, Fawad Chaudhry, a leader of the PTI, hastily rushed back into the premises of Islamabad HC. Television footage captured the moment when the PTI leader, dressed in traditional shalwar kameez attire, entered a white SUV. However, within seconds, Fawad hastily exited the vehicle and hurriedly returned to the courtroom, crouching as he did so.

According to a report from DawnNewsTV, the reason behind Fawad Chaudhry's sudden return to the courtroom was the arrival of the police, who intended to arrest him in connection with another case. Confirming the situation on Twitter, Fawad's wife, Hiba, stated, "They tried to arrest him again."

They try to arrest again. https://t.co/DiDb8SoCZM  Hiba Fawad Chaudhary (@HibaFawadPk) May 16, 2023

"Senior Supreme Court lawyer Fawad Chaudhry was abducted without any warrant from the premises of the Supreme Court despite being granted bail and now attempts are being made to abduct him again despite being granted bail by the Islamabad High Court," the Imran Khan-led PTI tweeted along with the video of the politician fleeing inside the court.

                                           #PakistanUnderFascism

pic.twitter.com/qLLUZTOOzE  PTI (@PTIofficial) May 16, 2023

As per Dawn, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry is still present inside the court premises and is waiting for the written order to be issued. The PTI has alleged that there are attempts by the center to abduct Fawad Chaudhry from the court despite him being granted bail by the Islamabad High Court

You should have waited for the written order: IHC Judge

Pakistan media later reported that Fawad Chaudhry had not been issued a written order when he stepped out of court premises. The PTI leader, having sprinted back informed Islamabad High Courts Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb that authorities tried to arrest him despite the court granting bail to him.

You should have waited for the written order considering you are a practitioner yourself, the judge said.

Fawad told the court that he will file a contempt of court case against the authorities. The court also advised Fawad to file a contempt case and take a copy of the written order as well.

Pakistan, Imran Khan and Chaos

Last week, Fawad Chaudhry, along with several other leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, was apprehended by Islamabad police on charges of "inciting arson and violent protests with a premeditated strategy to disturb peace". These protests erupted following the arrest of Imran Khan by Pakistani Paramilitary Rangers outside the premises of the Islamabad High Court. The arrest sparked widespread turmoil throughout the country. These protests have resulted in multiple casualties and extensive damage to military and state facilities caused by the demonstrators.

In April of the previous year, Imran Khan was removed from his position of power following a no-confidence vote, which he claimed was orchestrated by a US-led plot aimed at undermining him due to his autonomous foreign policy choices concerning Russia, China, and Afghanistan.
An anti-terrorism court in Lahore, Pakistan, granted bail to former Prime Minister Imran Khan in two separate cases, namely, the May 9 mayhem and the death of political worker Zile Shah. The interim bail was extended on Tuesday, when Khan was expected to appear in court at 11 am. Now, Khan has been ordered to appear on May 19.

However, he did not show up due to an "external situation" cited by his attorney, who possibly referred to the violent protests being held by the ruling coalition. The lawyer added that his client would appear for the next hearing. When asked to elucidate the reason for Khan's absence, the lawyer argued that chaos could have occurred, given the large crowds of PDM supporters and police personnel already gathered outside the erstwhile premier's Zaman Park residence.

Offering a solution, he said that Khan could attend the court proceedings virtually instead. Both cases were filed at the Race Course Police Station. They were heard by ATC judge Ejaz Ahmed Buttar. Meanwhile, the ATC dismissed the interim bail of six prominent Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders after they did not appear in court.

PTI leaders' bail rejected

The leaders include Fawad Chaudhry, Farrukh Habib, Mian Mehmoodur Rashid, Omar Ayub, Hammad Azhar, and Ijaz Chaudhry. In addition to that, PTI leader Yasmin Rashid is expected to appear in court in a case about the attack on Jinnah House. Meanwhile, PTI chief Imran Khan took to Twitter to express his fears of getting apprehended again. Using (the) pretext of violence while I was inside the jail, they have assumed the role of judge, jury and executioner, he said of Pakistan's incumbent government.
Cincinnati-Based Restaurant Chain Partners with Georgia-Based Nashville-Style Hot Chicken Restaurant

Today, Frischs Big Boy, the 75-year-old American comfort food and casual-themed restaurant brand, announces its partnership with The Original Hot Chicken, an American fast casual restaurant specializing in Nashville-style hot chicken. With this partnership Frischs locations will be offering new menu items, including The Original Chicken Sando, Jumbo Tenders and more. The menu will be available in-store and online through DoorDash at 10 locations throughout Ohio and one in Kentucky.

We are thrilled to expand our menu offerings with this partnership with The Original Hot Chicken, says James Walker, CEO of Frischs Big Boy. At Frischs we offer made to order items at a value price, and we are excited to partner with another brand that is just as focused on premium ingredients and value menu offerings. We know our customers will love the Nashville-style chicken, and we cant wait for them to try them!

A recently opened restaurant in Woodstock, GA, The Original Hot Chicken offers hand-battered premium chicken that is marinated, rolled in cornflake batter and cooked to order daily, so every meal is hot and tender. The menu offers a variety of options, including its hot chicken sandwich, chicken and waffles, tenders and crinkle-cut French fry combos.

The Original Hot Chicken menu will be available at 11 Frischs locations throughout Ohio including Cincinnati, Fairborn, Grove City, Englewood, Blue Ash and more. The full Original Hot Chicken menu is available in-store as well as through online ordering on DoorDash at participating locations.
Conservative lawmakers use budget review to grill Blinken and Austin on the U.S. approach to China.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a Senate Appropriations hearing on the president's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2024, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, May 16, 2023.

Republicans ripped into Cabinet officials during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on efforts to enhance U.S. security measures and the nations ability to compete with China.

Three Cabinet members defended President Joe Biden's budgetary request. The presence of Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, a rare triple act, showed the importance of China policy for the White House.

Biden administration officials have asked members of Congress for $842 billion in defense spending for the next fiscal year, in part to deter the threat of a potential military conflict with China. This years budgetary request is 3.2% more than the one made last year, and approximately 13% higher than the year before that.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, said during the hearing that the presidents budget was inadequate to counter the threat from China, however. He said the proposed budget did not include enough funding for the Navy or other branches of the military.

Overall, the budget proposal was a sign of the presidents weak approach to China, said Graham. He used an expletive to describe his assessment of the presidents policy: This idea that we have a strong China policy is a bunch of [expletive].

Secretary of State Antony Blinken [left] speaks with Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., before a Senate Appropriations hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. Credit: Associated Press

Another Republican member of the committee, Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas, said during the hearing that he has been disappointed in the presidents record on trade agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership. In contrast, Moran said, China has been aggressively pursuing trade agreements and gaining a competitive advantage.

Tensions between the U.S. and China have escalated in recent months, as both the witnesses at the hearing and the Republicans on the committee agreed. Austin described Chinas bullying and its provocations in the Indo-Pacific region.

U.S. military leaders are now trying to beef up their forces in order to defend Taiwan, if it becomes necessary, and to defend the island nation against the Chinese military.

The United States will soon provide significant additional security assistance to Taiwan, he said. Earlier this month, as Reuters reported, Biden White House officials had agreed to send $500 million worth of weapons aid to Taiwan.

Competition with China

Commerce Secretary Raimondo said the presidents proposed budget includes resources that are critical for national security. She warned about the danger from Beijing, saying that, China is doubling down on its competitiveness with the U.S.

Senate Democrats on the spending panel sought to use the threat to frame the broader budget debate in Washington, as the White House and congressional Republicans remain at an impasse in negotiations to raise the nations debt limit.

Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican, met again Tuesday to negotiate an extension without success. According to estimates, the U.S. government could run out of money to pay its bills in two weeks.

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray, a Democrat for Washington state, warned that steep budget cuts of the kind House Republicans are pushing, even if they wouldn't come from the Pentagon, would hand China an edge as it tries to supplant the United States as the dominant world power.

China is not debating whether to pay its debt or wreck its economy, Murray said.
Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo says both countries believe in rules-based resolution of disputes.

Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos (second from left) and Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, May 11, 2023.

The top Filipino diplomat said Tuesday that stronger security ties with Japan were essential for peace in the Asia-Pacific region, as he advocated for enhancing Philippine defenses because of repeated infringements on our sovereignty.

The comments in Tokyo by Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo underlined the security challenges that both nations face from China  Tokyo and Manila are embroiled in maritime disputes with Beijing over the South and East China seas, respectively.

We have never been more convinced as now that our stronger security cooperation will allow our peoples to live in greater peace, Manalo said during a policy speech at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies.

We are driven by the same faith in rules and commitment to multilateralism, he added, according to a copy of his speech obtained by reporters in Manila.

Manalo was in Tokyo for the Munich Leaders Meeting, which ended on Tuesday.

In the coming years Philippine-Japanese ties would focus on maritime security, particularly on domain awareness and law enforcement to implement the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), he said.

While the Philippines has had conflicts with China in the South China Sea, Japan has had its own territorial disputes with the Asian superpower over the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.

Manalo said that while dialogue and diplomacy should be the primary means to address disputes, repeated infringements on our sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction  also necessitate the enhancement of our defense capabilities.

Let me emphasize that maritime cooperation will always be a key feature of Philippines-Japan ties. Being island-states binds us in the common objective of keeping the seas of the Indo Pacific safe, secure and peaceful, Manalo said.

Manalo also urged further discussion between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China on a code of conduct for the South China Sea.

To achieve a peaceful and UNCLOS-based regime, sincere dialogue among all claimants is crucial, both bilaterally and through discussions between ASEAN and China on a code of conduct, Manalo said.

The Philippines advocates for an effective and substantive code of conduct that adheres to UNCLOS and takes into account the interests of all stakeholders, even extending beyond ASEAN and China.

In July 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines, and threw out Chinas expansive claims in the South China Sea, particularly the waters within Manilas exclusive economic zone.

China, however, ignored the landmark ruling and has carried on with its military expansionism in the strategic waterway, including building artificial islands.

During Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.s official visit to Japan in February, he and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed to increase the defense capabilities of their respective countries, and further strengthen overall security cooperation.

The two sides agreed to increase bilateral communications between their defense and military officials in light of the very challenging regional security environment.

BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated new service.
Political science books are displayed on a shelf in a public library in Hong Kong, July 4, 2020. Hong Kong authorities have removed hundreds of books from the shelves of the city's public libraries in recent weeks, including books referencing the 1989 Tiananmen massacre that ended weeks of pro-democracy protests around China, according to authors and the public library catalog.

Hong Kong authorities have removed hundreds of books from the shelves of the city's public libraries in recent weeks, including books referencing the 1989 Tiananmen massacre that ended weeks of pro-democracy protests around China, according to authors and the public library catalog.

In what some are calling it a war on libraries," the government audit office and its Leisure and Cultural Services Department recently ordered librarians to ensure nothing in their collections could run afoul of a draconian national security law banning public criticism of both the local government and the ruling Chinese Communist Party.

The number of books on offer at Hong Kong's public libraries has fallen amid an ongoing cull of books that includes any titles referencing jailed media mogul Jimmy Lai and his now-shuttered Apple Daily newspaper, while compendiums of political cartoons by satirist Zunzi, whose column was recently axed by the Ming Pao newspaper, have also been taken off the shelves.

Chinese University of Hong Kong history lecturer Rowena He's book about former 1989 student leaders in exile, Tiananmen Exiles: Voices of the Struggle for Democracy in China, was among the political titles disappearing from public lending collections, according to Hong Kong-based editor Simon Cartledge.

"Another book that's disappeared from HK Public Libraries - Rowena He's Tiananmen Exiles," Cartledge said via his Twitter account on May 15. "Six copies available on 23 April. None today."

250 titles gone

A survey of the Hong Kong public library catalog by RFA's Cantonese Service found that around 250 titles had disappeared in the recent book cull, around three times as many as during a similar operation in 2021.

Just weeks ahead of the politically sensitive June 4 massacre anniversary, 146 titles about the massacre and the democracy movement that preceded it had been recently removed, compared with just 29 titles during the 2021 cull.

Keyword searches for "June 4," "Tiananmen Incident," "Tiananmen" and "1989" returned either zero results, or showed titles that were marked as unavailable.

The books "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" are displayed during the annual book fair in Hong Kong, July 20, 2022. Credit: Kin Cheung/AP





The Chinese-language Ming Pao estimated in a May 15 report that 468 items featuring political themes or public figures had been removed from libraries since the end of 2020, including books and audiovisual materials.

Some of the politically sensitive keywords are similar to those used by censors in mainland China, and include references to the 1989 Tiananmen massacre and protest movement in the same year.

Some books about the 2014 Umbrella Movement and the 2019 protest movement against the loss of Hong Kong's promised freedoms remain, but only those penned by pro-China authors.

Pro-democracy politicians and authors, critics of the ruling Chinese Communist Party and historians are among those targeted in the latest round of censorship.

They include works by Occupy Central founder and former University of Hong Kong law professor Benny Tai, former pro-democracy lawmaker Claudia Mo, jailed barrister and former lawmaker Margaret Ng, Umbrella Movement leader Joshua Wong and 2010 Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo.

Informers

The general public have been actively encouraged by police to inform on any words or deeds that could be deemed subversive under the national security law, which criminalizes dissent in the form of words or deeds that "incite hatred" of the Hong Kong or Chinese authorities, leading to more than 40,000 tip-offs last year.

The move has prompted even pro-Beijing voices to speak out.

Businessman and former Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference committee member Lew Mon-hung likened the censorship to the book-burning carried out under Emperor Qin Shihuang (259210 BC) or the political purges of the Cultural Revolution (1966-76).

He said the Hong Kong authorities appear to be acting over-zealously in a bid to demonstrate their leftist credentials.

"It is the worst practice to be leftist in everything, to try to gain credit and to demonstrate loyalty to the left," Lew said. "History has proven that ... there are no benefits."

"It is detrimental to ... the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation."

In this Oct. 15, 2021 photo, customers at independent bookstore Bleak House Books in Hong Kong, on the bookstores last day of operations before closing due to inability to operate under the Beijing-imposed national security law. Credit: Isaac Lawrence/AFP





Barrister Ronny Tong, who currently serves on the Hong Kong governments Executive Council, agreed.

"I want libraries to abide by the law and safeguard national security, but there should also be some kind of balance, so that readers have access to more diversified sources of reference," Tong said.

"Libraries should base their judgements on common sense, on a sense of what is socially acceptable," he said. "I don't think there should be a list of banned books."

"Whether a book is considered criminal depends on a number of factors, including the intentions and behavior of the suspect."

Cultural Revolution in Hong Kong

Current affairs commentator Chip Tsao said the book cull could mark what he termed "the start of the Cultural Revolution in Hong Kong," and appeared to agree with Lew that officials were overdoing the zeal.

"The frontline bureaucrats of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region were trained in the colonial era," Tsao told Radio Free Asia. "They only know how to carry out orders from their superiors, with a list of books and a few names."

"They dont understand the overall political situation in [mainland] China because they have only just joined the Chinese political family."

He added: "In many cases, mainland China can be dealt with flexibly."

An official who responded to requests for comment from the Leisure and Cultural Services Department declined to confirm whether all of Zunzi's books, or all books mentioning the Tiananmen massacre, had been removed from the shelves.

"From time to time, books that do not conform to the [direction of] development of the collection are reviewed and canceled," the official said. "Books whose contents are suspected of violating national security or Hong Kong laws will be removed immediately for review."

According to Tsao, officials could be acting in too much of a hurry to appease Beijing.

"They're still in the process of learning to be Chinese ... and they don't understand China's unspoken rules," he said. "And now there's a national security hotline for anyone to inform [on suspected violations]."

He said there are likely still "tens of thousands" of such books in people's private collections.

"If they regard these books that many people have in their homes as [similar to] illegal firearms, then there's little point in removing them from [libraries]," he said. "They should call for people to bring them out within the next three days, and then the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government should burn them."

Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster.
The Egyptian trade minister and his Indonesian counterpart signed an agreement to form a trade committee to support trade between both countries, according to a cabinet statement Monday.

"The agreement will help the private sector in Egypt and Indonesia launch trade partnerships," Minister of Trade and Industry Ahmed Samir commented.

Samir further stated that Indonesian investments in Egypt reached around $58 million in 28 projects in the industrial, services, construction, telecommunication, and information technology sectors.

Trade exchange between Egypt and Indonesia registered around $1.5 billion in 2022, the minister revealed.

He added that the top key items traded between the two countries include palm oil, as well as mineral, chemical, and phosphate fertilizers.

Compared to data released by Indonesia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Egypt-Indonesia trade was at $1.86 billion in 2021, which represents a 19.3 percent annual decline in 2022 in the trade between the two countries.

Noteworthy, Egypt's trade balance deficit dropped by 48.2 percent to $2.1 billion in February 2023, down from $4.06 billion a year earlier.

Exports reached $3.44 billion in February, a 22.2 percent annual shrinkage, while imports declined by 34.7 percent y-o-y to $5.54 billion in the same month.

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Beijing is trying to 'Sinicize' all religious activities in line with Communist Party doctrine.

A picture of the Chinese President Xi Jinping is displayed on a billboard in northwestern China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, March 21, 2021.

China came under harsh criticism for new restrictions on religious freedom in the U.S. State Departments annual global report on religious freedom, released Monday.

Myanmars junta was also faulted for its troops attacks on religious sites amid the civil war there.

The 2022 International Religious Freedom Report, which provides an overview of the state of religious freedom in nearly 200 countries and territories around the world, highlighted how China is trying to Sinicize all religious practices in line with Communist Party doctrine.

That includes requiring clergy members of all faiths to attend political indoctrination sessions and suggesting content for sermons that emphasize loyalty to the party and the state, the report said.

It cited an Oct. 16 speech to the 20th Party Congress in which President Xi Jinping stated that the party would remain committed to the principle that religions in China must be Chinese in orientation and provide active guidance to religions so that they can adapt to socialist society.

The report highlighted Chinese repression of the predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and Tibetan Buddhists, living in the far western part of the country, as well as Chinese Christians.

The Peoples Republic of China seized, imprisoned, and banished predominantly Muslim Uyghurs to re-education camps, said U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in an address on Monday. They continue the repression of Tibetan Buddhists, Chinese Christians and Falun Gong practitioners.

The Chinese national flag is raised during a ceremony marking the 96th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China at Potala Palace in Lhasa, July 1, 2017. Members of the armed forces are required to be atheists and are forbidden to engage in religious practices. Credit: He Penglei/CNS via Reuters





Rushan Abbas, executive director of Campaign for Uyghurs, a Uyghur advocacy group based in Washington, said the report serves as a powerful testament to the pressing need to address the Uyghur genocide and hold the Communist Party accountable.

We commend the efforts behind this report and remain hopeful that its findings will lead to international solidarity in addressing the plight of the Uyghur people and other persecuted communities, she told Radio Free Asia.

New law

The report cited a new law in China that went into effect in March 2022, the Measures for the Administration of Internet Religious Information Services, which bans unauthorized domestic online religious content and prohibits foreign organizations and individuals from spreading online religious content in China.

The Chinese government has blocked religious websites and censored religious content from the WeChat messaging platform, the report said. Authorities have also censored posts referencing Jesus or the Bible, removed articles published by Christian platforms and removed accounts whose names contained the words gospel or Christ.

Chinese authorities also continue to restrict the printing and distribution of Bibles, Qurans and other religious literature.

Though Chinas constitution states that citizens enjoy freedom of religious belief, it limits protections for religious practice to normal religious activities, without defining normal, the report said.

A dismantled minaret of Xinqu Mosque lies by a Chinese national flag near the house of worship in Changji outside Urumqi, Xinjiang, May 6, 2021. Credit: Thomas Peter/Reuters





The government officially recognizes only Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Protestantism and Catholicism, and bans spiritual groups it deems to be cults or to promote unorthodox teachings. The regulations require clergy members to pledge allegiance to the Chinese Communist Party and socialism and to resist illegal religious activities and infiltration by foreign forces using religion, the report said.

Authorities arrested and detained leaders and worshipers not registered with the state-sanctioned religious associations. Communist Party members and members of the armed forces are officially atheist and are forbidden to engage in religious practices.

Myanmar

Among countries in Southeast Asia, Myanmar stood out in the report because of the military juntas attacks on religious sites amid a widespread assault on civilians in areas where ethnic armed groups and local forces oppose the regime and clash with soldiers.

Amidst the Burma military regimes ongoing repression of religious minorities, thousands of teachers from Muslim, Buddhist, Christian, and other religious backgrounds continue to teach the importance of human rights, including religious freedom and respect between religions, Blinken said.

The State Departments report cited several instances of attacks by junta forces on places of worship, reported by Radio Free Asia.

Among them were a Sept. 16 airstrike in Sagaing region, that destroyed a school within a Catholic monastery compound, killing seven children and injuring another 17 and another airstrike the same day in Shan state, killing four individuals, including two children, seeking refuge in a Buddhist monastery

It cited the detaining or killing of Buddhist monks for alleged links to anti-junta Peoples Defense Force groups, while holding dozens of other monks in various prisons throughout the country since the military seized power on Feb. 1, 2021.

The junta destroyed scores of religious buildings in Myanmar, including dozens of churches in Chin state, churches and a mosque in Kayah state, religious buildings in Sagaing region, and Buddhist monasteries and a church in Magway region.

The U.S. Department of State submits the reports in accordance with the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998.

RFA Uyghur contributed to this report. Edited by Malcolm Foster.
Companies including Panasonic, Tesla, and Toyota should check their supply chain, rights group says.

This aerial picture taken on May 14, 2023 shows a general view of PT Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP), one of the biggest nickel producers in Konawe Utara, Indonesia.

Updated at 12:35 pm EDT, May 16.

Human rights violations and environmental abuses were found in two nickel supply chains in the Philippines and Indonesia, home to more than half of the worlds supplies. They provide batteries to companies including Panasonic, Tesla, and Toyota, said a report released Tuesday by a rights research group.

The lack of transparency in electric vehicle battery supply chains means end-user companies must be held responsible, as they can easily distance themselves from the lower-level abuses and avoid addressing associated risks, the London-based Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC) said in its report Powering Electric Vehicles.

The Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation (Rio Tuba) in the Philippines, and Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt (ZHC) and CNGR Advanced Materials (CNGR), two Chinese companies operating in Indonesia, are responsible for rising incidents of human and environmental rights violations, the group said.

Their mining operations have direct adverse effects on local communities, including loss of food security, destruction of surrounding rainforests, water contamination, a detrimental impact on marine life, and respiratory and other health-related problems.

The companies also allegedly failed to obtain a lack of free, prior consent from indigenous communities for mining their lands, BHRRC said.

The human rights abuses in electric vehicle supply chains need to be urgently interrogated and mitigated  and supply chain transparency and accountability must be at the heart of this, said Pochoy Labog, the BHRRCs Southeast Asia researcher.

Indonesia is the worlds biggest producer of nickel, a key component for lithium-ion batteries, with 21 million metric tons (4.6 billion pounds) in proven reserves, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The Philippines ranks fifth in reserves but is second in nickel production worldwide, with 330,000 metric tons (728 million pounds) in 2022, far behind the 1.6 million tons (3.5 billion pounds) Indonesia produced.

In both countries, the mining and processing companies rejected the claims made by BHRRC, saying there are no significant impacts on the environment due to their activities, and their own investigations have found no rights violations.

Eco-friendly?

Nickel ore is processed in two main industrial parks in Indonesia, where China is a prominent investor. CNGR operates in the Morowali in Central Sulawesi, while ZHC operates in the Weda Bay on Halmahera Island in North Maluku, as well as in East Luwu and Pomalaa in Sulawesi.

In the end, Tesla and Ford use their products.

The Resource Centre sought comment from Toyota, Telsa and Nickel Asia -- of which Rio Tuba is a subsidiary -- to respond to the reports alleging human rights and environmental violations of sourcing nickel in Rio Tuba, Palawan, but they did not respond.

Panasonic, in its response, stated the company strives to conduct its business with suppliers in a way that fulfills its social responsibility in areas such as human rights and responsible employment, occupational health and safety, environmental conservation and information security.

An aerial photo shows a local settlement on the seafront of the nickel mining industrial area in Morowali, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, Jan. 10, 2023. Credit: Keisyah Aprilia for BenarNews.

Fishing, the profession of most residents, has been severely affected by the sea water becoming too hot, almost boiling due to the cooling system exhaust from coal-fired power plants, the report said, while residents also complained of respiratory problems, which they suspect are caused by inhaling dust from the coal unloaded from barges to supply power plants.

In Bahodopi, Central Sulawesi, the report said mining operations were destroying forests, and mine tailings spilled into rivers and streams. These contaminated waters run through villages reaching the sea and affecting corals.

Melky Nahar, a national Mining Advocacy Network (JATAM) coordinator, said such activities have caused enormous ecological damage in Morowali due to the big industrial area.

The area is right on the seafront  If Elon Musk believes nickel extraction is eco-friendly, thats untrue, he told BenarNews, an affiliate of Radio Free Asia.

Ruslan Dula, a fisherman in Kurisa Hamlet in Morowali, said residents who have been at sea for decades can no longer catch fish because the sea is polluted by nickel mining waste.

We are very disappointed because the pollution has hampered people from making a living, he said.

Dedi Askary, chairman of the Central Sulawesi chapter of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), said Morowali industrial park conducted real practices of environmental crimes since they do not properly manage hazardous toxic waste.

The government should no longer issue permits for dumping waste into the Morowali sea, said Muhammad Taufik, director of the Mining Network (JATAM) for Central Sulawesi.

Marine ecosystems are damaged, and peoples livelihoods are polluted, he said.

Philippine concessions 'unsustainable'

Rio Tuba is a Filipino and Japanese mining project in Palawan. The nickel ends up in Panasonic-manufactured electric vehicle batteries, including those used by Tesla.

The report said the mining operations have reportedly had direct negative effects on the health and welfare of affected communities, including water contamination, loss of food security, and the destruction of surrounding rainforests.

Locals reported coughs, respiratory diseases, and skin lesions, which prompted water quality tests for areas surrounding the mine site. The report said the hexavalent chromium, a listed human carcinogen, in one of the sampling river water was greater than 0.05 milligrams per liter (mg/L)  or parts per million  a limit set by the World Health Organization.

Rio Tubas initial sampling in December 1996 already showed escalated values of hexavalent chromium before the peak of the mining operation, while a 2018-2019 study showed that the carcinogen in surface waters was mostly below the limit of 0.1 mg/L.

Indigenous Palawans have also expressed worries over the looming expansion of Rio Tuba.

Residents from the nickel mining island of Manicani display placards during a rally outside Nickel Asia, a mining company, to demand its closure after 25 years of operation in Taguig city, east of Manila, Philippines, Nov. 22, 2017. Credit: AP.

In 2017, Manila ordered the closure of 26 open-pit mines, most nickel-related, but they were allowed to resume operations in 2020.

The report said biodiversity loss in Palawan has illustrated how business-as-usual mining practices and levels are no longer sustainable.

Greenpeace Philippines country director Lea Guerrero said mining is unsustainable since extractive activity itself is highly destructive.

We need to change how we use materials as a society, she told BenarNews. Many mining concessions are located in islands where many biodiversity and ecosystems are destroyed just to extract minerals.

She said, for example, spills can immediately reach the seas; in the case of some areas, large swathes of the islands are earmarked as mining concessions, edging out communities that make their living from fishing and farming or tourism.

EV-powered battery boom means more mining.

Electric car markets are seeing exponential growth as sales in 2022 exceeded 10 million globally, or 14% of all new cars sold last year, according to a report released last month by the International Energy Agency, a Paris-based intergovernmental organization.

Thats up tenfold from 1 million sold in 2017. Sales will likely grow another 35% this year to reach 14 million, which means almost one in five cars sold this year will be electric, the IEA said.

Indonesia alone is expected to account for half of the global production increase in nickel between 2021 and 2025, according to the IEA.

As the globe transitions to these cleaner sources of energy, companies must recognize their role in mitigating the endemic human rights issues in E.V. battery supply chains  and must use their leverage to hold suppliers accountable for risks in their value chains, BHRRC said.

Labog said the positive momentum towards electric vehicles risks being derailed by these unaddressed abuses.

While this shift to greener sources of energy must be encouraged, now is the time to start asking serious questions about the human rights abuses in electric vehicle supply chains, he said.

The globe has already begun transitioning to cleaner sources of energy, with decarbonized transport seeing significant investment, said Labog.

BenarNews reporters Pizaro Gozali Idrus in Jakarta, Keisyah Aprilia in Central Sulawesi, and BenarNews Staff in Manila contributed to this report.

BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated news service. Edited by Mike Firn.

Updated with Panasonic response obtained from report authors, and that BHRRC contacted Toyota, Tesla and Nickel Asia for comment, but got no response.
The rebel group is even willing to work with the junta on recovery in the region.

Updated at 9:28 am EDT on May 17, 2023.

On Sunday, Cyclone Mocha slammed into the coast of western Myanmars Rakhine state, flattening homes, blocking roads with fallen electricity pylons, splintering trees and causing widespread flooding. Power was cut off to the capital Sittwe, a city of about 150,000. Of the 431 people confirmed dead throughout the country as of Tuesday, 425 were killed by the storm in Rakhine state, according to the shadow National United Government.

In the aftermath of one of the worst cyclones to hit Myanmar in a decade, the ethnic Arakan Army has pledged to cooperate with all aid groups assisting rescue efforts in Rakhine, where the group said that in some places, entire villages were destroyed. The ethnic rebel group, which is fighting the military regime for control of Rakhine state, has appealed to neighboring countries and the international community for assistance in providing food and medicine to those left homeless by the cyclone.

Speaking to RFA Burmese senior editor Nay Rein Kyaw, AA Information Officer Khaing Thuka discussed the scale of the destruction, the situation of the stateless ethnic Muslim Rohingya community living in camps for the displaced, and expectations of how long it will take for life to return to normal in Rakhine.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.







RFA: Reports suggest that about 90% of Rakhine state was damaged by Cyclone Mocha, while telephone and internet services in cities such as Sittwe have been cut. Could you tell us what you have heard about the situation through AAs military communications?

Khaing Thuka: At the moment, 80% or even 90% of some towns and villages in the north of Rakhine and in Sittwe have been damaged. Some villages have been totally destroyed ... The Tein Nyo camps for those displaced by conflict have been totally destroyed. The roofs of 80% of all houses in Kyauktaw township were blown away in the storm.

RFA: What is the situation with access to electricity there?

Khaing Thuka: Electricity has been cut off everywhere. All electrical pylons on the Sittwe-Yangon road have collapsed. Telephone communications have been cut off as well and while they are up and running in some areas, the connections have been unstable. We havent been able to communicate with the townships of Rathedaung, Buthidaung and Maungtaw.

RFA: What are the main areas your organization has been helping? Have you had the chance to help in Sittwe, too?

Khaing Thuka: Prior to the storm, we helped evacuate about 100,000 people to safety. But the living situation of the people who fled has become more difficult after the storm. We placed them in well-built structures such as schools and monasteries, but the roofs were blown away by the storm, and now the displaced are forced to stay in whatever shelter they can find, while facing serious difficulties.

Additionally, roads in the state are blocked by trees downed during the storm. The AA and residents have begun clearing roads. We have started collecting data to get an overview of the damage.

A member of the Arakan Army helps evacuate residents of Rakhine state, Myanmar, before the arrival of Cyclone Mocha, May 12, 2023. Credit: Arakan Army

RFA: What have you heard about the Rohingya camps for the displaced?

Khaing Thuka: We dont have a clear idea of how much was destroyed at the Muslim camps in areas controlled by the military junta. The phone communications there are down as well. However, we evacuated the camps under our control before the storm hit.

RFA: How long do you estimate that it will take until telephone, internet and electricity services are restored?

Khaing Thuka: That depends on how fast the junta undertakes relief projects.

Housing, food and medicine needed

RFA: What are the supplies most urgently needed for the current situation?

Khaing Thuka: One emergency requirement is shelter. Since 80% or 90% of all houses in northern Rakhine state are damaged, roofs and walls for houses are in high demand. Additionally, the displaced need food, drinking water and medicine. We need assistance from neighboring countries and the international community for this.

RFA: The United Nations and members of the international community have announced that assistance was prepared in advance to help the victims of the storm. What do you know about that?

Khaing Thuka: Yes, we have heard that too. But [so far], I have not seen such assistance arrive. The AA is ready to cooperate and coordinate with any international relief and humanitarian organizations to help the victims.

Members of the Arakan Army help residents of Rakhine state, Myanmar, board a boat for evacuation before the arrival of Cyclone Mocha, May 12, 2023. Credit: Arakan Army

RFA: Are you also willing to cooperate with the military junta to help victims?

Khaing Thuka: That depends on what they propose. Our organization is ready to cooperate with any group in any way to help those affected by the disaster.

RFA: [The anti-junta shadow National Unity Government] said before the storm that it will help victims however it can  Is the AA cooperating with the NUG on relief work?

Khaing Thuka: I havent heard the specifics on what they discussed with our central office, but I can confirm their offer. Our position on this is clear: We will cooperate with any organization to help the victims affected by the storm.

Updated to correct typo in first paragraph, attributes death toll to NUG, corrects title for RFA's Nay Rein Kyaw.

Translated by Myo Min Aung. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster.
The majority of victims were staying in camps for the displaced described as open-roof prisons.

A girl draws water from a pump in front of a damaged building at the Basara camp in Sittwe, Myanmar, on Tuesday, May 16, 2023.

Updated at 3:15 pm EDT, May 16, 2023.

Nearly 400 Rohingya living in camps for the displaced in Myanmars Rakhine state were probably killed by Cyclone Mocha, the countrys parallel National Unity Government and local aid workers told RFA Tuesday.

The NUG said the figure was based on estimates of the damage, since search and rescue teams have not retrieved the bodies and many victims are still missing. The figure has not been independently verified by RFA.

Volunteers from the Muslim Aid and Relief Society who are collecting field data said most of the dead were children, pregnant women and the elderly. They said they are still searching for bodies.

Aung Kyaw Moe, a Rohingya advisor to the National Unity Government, told RFA Tuesday the majority of the victims were from Sittwe township.

Some are still missing. This is in Sittwe alone, he said.

Bodies were found on the streets and under trees. Search and rescue has not been done yet so we cant pick up the bodies. All the displacement camps were badly damaged.

He said that the actual number of casualties could be much higher.

"Some died trying to get up on the roofs of their houses to stay above the flooding, while others were hit by zinc roof sheeting blown by the wind and died," Aung Kyaw Moe said. "Some pregnant women died with babies in their wombs."

In many cases, he said, missing Rohingya have yet to be rescued or bodies have yet to be recovered, despite two days having passed since the storm. The dead that have been recovered are being buried immediately, in accordance with Islamic traditions, he added.

Camps are open-roof prisons.

There are 21 Rohingya camps in Rakhine state with 120,000 displaced persons staying in 13 camps in Sittwe township.

This combination of Feb. 17 and May 15, 2023, photos shows Sittwe University in Myanmar, before and after Cyclone Mocha made landfall in Rakhine state on Sunday, May 14, 2023. Credit: Maxar Technologies via AP

Nay San Lwin, co-founder of the Free Rohingya Coalition, said the displaced were housed in makeshift tents which were mostly destroyed when the cyclone hit.

Most of the Rohingya camps did not have time to evacuate [ahead of] the cyclone, he said.

Lives are lost when there are no shelters to evacuate the cyclone. The tents were destroyed. The camps are open-roof prisons.

Nay San Lwin said that the Rohingya "already have targets on their backs" in Myanmar and suggested that authorities may have withheld assistance to their community amid preparations for the storm.

"In the case of such natural disasters, authorities intentionally neglected them, rather than help them survive," he said. "I don't think the government of this country had any interest in evacuating them prior to the disaster."

Residents of Sittwe township said that most of the camps were built close to the sea, leaving them vulnerable to heavy waves, coastal winds and torrential rainfall.

A Rohingya woman sits amid the shattered remains of her home in the Basara refugee camp in Sittwe, Myanmar, on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. Credit: AFP

A Rohingya camp resident told RFA that some Rohingya villages "completely disappeared" as the result of flooding.

"I have personally buried more than 10 bodies myself in this camp," he said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "I also went to other places ... [where villages] had been entirely wiped out by the floods, as the sea level rose up to about six meters (20 feet) there."

Another displaced Rohingya from Sittwe, who also declined to be named for security reasons, said many of the dead bodies he has seen were floating in floodwaters.

"Some people died trying to flee from the danger and their bodies were washed away by the flood," he said. "Women, children and some men were among them."

The Rohingya said that roads and bridges leading to the camps have been damaged, hampering transportation in the area.

Difficulties collecting data

Nearly 1 million Rohingya were forced to leave their homes in Rakhine state following a military crackdown against the Muslim-minority in 2017.

About 740,000 fled to Bangladesh and live in Coxs Bazar, also hit hard by Cyclone Mocha.

Those who remained live in internally displaced persons camps, poorly funded by the junta and volunteer groups.

Collecting information on cyclone victims has been hard because there are only a few volunteers from the Muslim community collecting data in the field, a member of the data collection team told RFA, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Buildings damaged by Cyclone Mocha in Sittwe, Rakhine state, Myanmar, are seen Monday, May 15, 2023. Credit: Xinhua via Getty Images

It is also hard to collect data on the ground after Sittwes largest telecommunications tower collapsed when the cyclone hit it on May 14, cutting phone lines and internet access.

RFAs calls to the junta spokesman for Rakhine state, Hla Thein, went unanswered Tuesday.

State media reported that junta chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing personally visited Sittwe on Monday to deliver more than 7 billion kyats (US$ 3.3 million) worth of supplies to those in need.

Cyclone Mocha hit Myanmars coast Sunday with sustained winds reaching over 220 kilometers per hour (137 mph).

According to preliminary figures compiled exclusively by RFA, there have been at least 31 deaths due to the cyclone in Rakhine and Chin states, and Ayeyarwady, Magway and Sagaing regions.

Later on Tuesday, the National Unity Government updated its death toll to 435 across the country, with an unspecified number still missing.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in a flash update on Tuesday that early estimates indicate "nearly 3.2 million are considered to be most vulnerable and are considered likely to have humanitarian needs" across Rakhine state and Myanmar's northwest in the wake of the cyclone.

Rakhine state and Ayeyarwady region were hit hard by Cyclone Nargis in 2008, leaving nearly 140,000 people dead or missing.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn and Joshua Lipes.

This story has been updated to include comments from Rohingya affected by the cyclone in Rakhine state and an increased death toll from the storm.
The U.S. president and Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet leaders of Pacific island countries

Members of PNG Trade Union Congress mentioned U.S. President Joe Bidens upcoming visit to Papua New Guinea and other issues at a press conference in Port Moresby on May 15, 2023.

U.S. President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis upcoming visits to Papua New Guinea are provoking both excitement and skepticism in a Pacific island country that grapples with poverty, tribal conflicts and lack of infrastructure.

From hopes of support for Papuans who want independence from Indonesia  which has a long border with Papua New Guinea  to warnings about global conflict, the most populous Pacific island country is bubbling with opinions about the merits of the visits, particularly Bidens.

The American president is expected to briefly stop over in the capital Port Moresby on Monday before heading to Sydney for a meeting with the leaders of Australia, Japan and India. Modi will be visiting Port Moresby for a summit with leaders of Pacific island countries, who Biden also will meet.

Papua New Guineas Prime Minister James Marape last week quixotically cautioned his fellow citizens to be cautious when commenting about the visits and to refrain from unnecessary inferences, especially on matters that you know little of, such as global geopolitics and various other issues.

Biden, leader of a country that is the world's largest economy and a nuclear-armed superpower, met Pacific island leaders in Washington in September last year. That summit was meant to highlight renewed U.S. participation in the Pacific where China has made inroads over several decades. His visit to Papua New Guinea is meant to underscore that commitment, analysts say.

High school student Cameron (left), pictured in Papua New Guineas capital Port Moresby on May 11, 2023, said U.S. President Joe Biden should make his intentions clear to ordinary Papua New Guineans when he visits later this month. Credit: Harlyne Joku/BenarNews

Cameron, a high school student in Port Moresby who only gave his first name, said he wanted to know what benefits Bidens visit would bring to Papua New Guinea.

We are honored and happy that U.S. President Biden is coming to PNG, but we do not know of his intentions, he said. He must make it clear to us ordinary Papua New Guineans.

Bidens visit, according to Vincent Manukayasi, an activist with civil society group PNG Trust, is an opportune time to address the plight of Papuans who live on the western half of New Guinea island under Indonesian rule.

Biden has to be told about what is happening, he said.

Indonesia took control of the territory from the Dutch in the early 1960s and its rule was cemented by a referendum in 1969 in which little more than 1,000 Papuans were allowed to participate.

The actions of Indonesias government and military in West Papua are a genocidal attempt by Jakarta to remove the Melanesian race, said Manukayasi, referring to the frequent reports of human rights abuses.

Most countries including the United States and Papua New Guinea recognize Indonesias sovereignty over its Papuan region. However some Pacific island countries including Melanesian nations such as Vanuatu are staunch supporters of self determination for Papuans under Indonesian rule.

The brevity of Bidens planned visit  reported by Papua New Guineas media to be three hours  has drawn unfavorable comparisons with Chinese President Xi Jinpings stay in the Pacific country in November 2018, when it hosted the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders summit.

The United States sent then Vice President Mike Pence to the summit, but he and his delegation based themselves in northern Australia rather than Port Moresby.

China was genuine. President Xi Jinping was here on the ground, businessman Justin Parker said in the WhatsApp group for PNG ThinkTank, an online forum. He showed genuine development partnership with PNG.

Bidens visit, said Parker, is nothing but for [the] U.S. own security interest.

Others said Papua New Guinea should be pragmatic and try to benefit from the China-U.S. rivalry in the Pacific.

What we can do is to take advantage of this short visit, riding on our friends to all, enemies to none foreign policy stance to leverage the best outcome for the country, said Anton Sekum the acting general secretary of the PNG Trade Union Congress.

If the U.S. or any other country thinks there are opportunities here their country can benefit from, they must come prepared with a clean deal for our peoples benefit too, he said.

Betelnut seller Kini, pictured in Papua New Guineas capital Port Moresby on May 11, 2023, said he hopes U.S. President Bidens upcoming visit will bring mutual respect. Credit: Harlyne Joku/BenarNews

Kini, who sells betelnut, a mild stimulant, from a makeshift stall in Port Moresby, said he would like to greet Biden in person.

When he comes we will respect him and he too must respect and help us, he said.

BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated news service.
NGOs credit foreign pressure, but it may have been because her family paid tax in question.

Vietnamese environmental activist Nguy Thi Khanh was released from prison late last week after serving 11 months on a charge of tax evasion. She posted this photo on her Facebook page, May 14, 2023.

Human rights groups welcomed last weeks early release of Vietnamese environmental activist Nguy Thi Khanh, who was imprisoned on tax evasion, saying that international pressure to free her influenced authorities decision to free her.

But her release also came after sources told Radio Free Asia that her family paid a 10% tax on Khanhs US$200,000 award for receiving the 2018 Goldman Environmental Prize  tax that she was convicted of withholding from the government.

Khanh, an opponent of Vietnams reliance on coal power and executive director of the environmental NGO Green Innovation and Development Centre, was arrested in January for failing to pay the tax on her prize money.

After she was sentenced in June 2022 to 16 months in prison, her family paid 456 million Vietnamese dong in taxes on the award, according to two activists from Hanoi with knowledge of the situation but requested anonymity for safety reasons.

Last week, Khanh was released five months early from her 16-month prison sentence.

Vietnamese authorities have long harassed, intimidated and arrested environmental advocates, human rights defenders and others working peacefully on issues of public interest to silence them and the purported threats they pose to those in power.

Endless happiness to be back in the midst of familys love, to meet and hug loved ones after 16 months of being isolated, she wrote on May 13 on her Facebook account KhanhGreenid Vietnam, which has nearly 4,000 followers.

Sincere thanks to everyone who has cared, shared, and helped me personally and my family during the past year and a half, said Khanh, whose organization promotes the use of renewable energy in place of coal.

Khanh told Radio Free Asia on Monday that she was healthy, but declined to comment further.

'Pressure campaign'

Since Khanhs arrest, many foreign governments, including those of the United States, United Kingdom and Canada, as well as many international organizations and 52 other Goldman laureates, protested her arrest and called on Hanoi to release her.

Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch, agreed that Khanhs early release resulted from a concerted international advocacy campaign on her behalf by a coalition of environmental groups, human rights organizations, and Vietnamese rights activists who called out the injustice of her conviction.

It looks like Hanoi decided to cut their losses and let her go early to try and escape that growing pressure campaign, he told RFA in an email.

Last June, after Khanhs first-instance trial, the International Federation for Human Rights, or FIDH, and the World Organization Against Torture, or OMCT, issued a joint statement, calling on the international community raise concerns over her cases and those of three other Vietnamese environmental activists  Dang Dinh Bach, Mai Phan Loi and Bach Hung Duong  also detained on tax evasion charges.

They all advocate the development of clean energy such as wind and solar power plants and less dependence on thermal coal-fueled projects.

Andrea Giorgetta, FIDHs Asia director welcomed Hanois decision to release Khanh, saying she should not have spent time in jail on for a ludicrous prosecution on tax evasion charges.

Khanh was freed amid a sustained international campaign for the release of imprisoned environmental activists in Vietnam, which shows Vietnams government is responsive to external pressure, he said.

Vietnamese state media in Vietnam did not cover Khanhs early release, though they heavily reporting her first-instance trial in June 2022 and appeal hearing which took place five months later.

Attorney Ha Huy Son from the Hanoi Bar Association said the activists early release was in line with a statute in Vietnams 2015 Penal Code that allows authorities to reduce criminal offenders sentences if they have served at least half of their jail term, admitted their wrongdoing, and followed prison regulations.

According to the procuracys indictment, Khanh used her award money for personal use and bought property to use as an office for her environmental organization without filing personal income tax in accordance with Vietnams law and failed to pay what she owed the government from the prize money.

Translated by Anna Vu for RFA Vietnamese. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster.
BELGRADE -- In mid-April, along the so-called Balkan route favored by hundreds of thousands of desperate migrants with dreams of Europe, authorities collected the mangled body of a young man along train tracks near Serbia's border with Croatia.

Activists there say such victims frequently go unidentified beyond their "physical appearance and skin color" that leads authorities to conclude they are refugees. Despite prescribed procedures, they say, in those instances there is no autopsy and no DNA sampling to help establish their identities.

However, this victim's name was known.

He was Shoib Tasal, a 21-year-old who fled war-torn Afghanistan to Turkey more than a year ago, after finishing 12th grade, before traveling to Serbia in the months before his death.

Since Tasal was struck by a train in northwestern Serbia, there have been more questions than answers about his death. But unlike those of thousands of fellow migrants who've perished in abandoned trailers, choppy seas, or fast-moving river currents, Tasal's body has been returned to his parents for burial in his homeland, thanks to alerts by activists and a crowdfunding campaign organized by a family member in the Netherlands.

"Shoib was a young boy with hopes and dreams, just like any of us," the relative, Faridullah Khorshid, said in his GoFundMe appeal. "He deserved a chance at a better life, and his parents deserve the chance to say goodbye properly."

This is the cruel reality of life on the move and of life at the European borders, where people are violently and illegally push backed.

Weeks later, after $5,000 was raised to transport the body to Afghanistan with any remaining money to be sent to Tasal's parents, Khorshid thanked the 100-plus contributors.

His death -- and the deaths of so many others like him -- is a tragic facet of a decade-long battle between asylum seekers and refugees like Tasal and populist, anti-immigrant governments in stepping-stone states like Serbia, on the border of the more affluent European Union.

"This is the cruel reality of life on the move and of life at the European borders, where people are violently and illegally push backed," said No Name Kitchen, an NGO that promotes humanitarian aid and political action along the Balkan and Mediterranean migrant routes to Europe.

Migration Crisis

Since its peak in 2015, the continent's migration crisis has pitched and lurched but stubbornly persisted, upending or, in thousands of cases, tragically ending lives.

The latest official figures, from October 2021, suggested nearly 70 refugees and migrants had died in Serbia since the wave of undocumented immigration to Europe began amid war and humanitarian crises in Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, and North Africa.

Serbia's Commissariat for Refugees and Migration declined to respond to a query by RFE/RL's Balkan Service seeking a precise and more current figure.

WATCH: Hungary is increasing the height of its border fence and Serbian police are ramping up operations while a Serbian far-right group patrols the border for illegal migrants.

The most common causes of confirmed deaths have been traffic or railway accidents or drownings in any of the three fast-flowing rivers along the Serbian border.

Asylum lawyer and activist Rados Djurovic, executive director of the Asylum Protection Center in Serbia, says the number of dead is likely higher because some bodies are never found.

"We think a certain number of people who have died are not even known about," Djurovic told RFE/RL's Balkan Service. "They are reported as missing, or friends and relatives from [their] country of origin, or from some European countries where they went, ask about them, [although] it's never established what happened [to them]."

Most of those who have died in Serbia have been buried in local cemeteries near the country's half-dozen or so refugee centers.

Irina Fehr, a volunteer for No Name Kitchen, told RFE/RL that her group heard news of Tasal's death through others in the migrant-welfare movement and that they were later contacted by Tasal's parents.

In a thread on Twitter, they shared news of the tragedy and encouraged the public to donate to Khorshid's GoFundMe.

"There are different stories about what events led to his death, and we don't know what actually happened," Fehr said. Neither the Interior Ministry nor the Commissariat for Refugees and Migration responded to RFE/RL's request for more information about Tasal's death.

Fehr said her group was not in direct contact with the police but that police must have been informed of the case.

Djurovic agreed, adding that police would have to conduct an investigation into a death involving someone being hit by a train.

Milica Svabic from the Klikaktiv Center for the Development of Social Policies, an NGO, says there are official steps assigned that are often skipped in the cases of migrant deaths.

"The official procedure says that when the body is found, it should be transferred to the morgue of the nearest hospital, where an autopsy will be performed and, if the person does not have identification documents with them, DNA material will be taken for possible later analysis and comparison."

The body is assigned an identification number before burial.

"But in the summer of 2020 we received unofficial information by phone that very often when they see that it's a migrant, that is, a refugee -- and they determine this only on the basis of physical appearance and skin color -- that they don't send the body for an autopsy at all, they don't take DNA material, and the body is sent directly to the cemetery for burial," Svabic said.

WATCH: Serbian police have been rounding up people traveling toward the European Union and taking them to government-run camps around the country.

The International Organization for Migration (IMO) estimates that more than 55,000 migrants have died en route to international destinations around the world since 2014, nearly half of them in the Mediterranean region.

In the absence of official data, activists have created what they call a "4D database" of migrant deaths in the region that lists grim fates such as drownings, car crashes, train strikes, and sometimes gun or other violence.

It lists at least 80 deaths in Serbia prior to January 2022, the latest update available.

Asylum activist Djurovic argues that officials' "frequent pushbacks and violence" to try to turn away unregistered migrants and asylum seekers just encourages people to "take more and more risks in the hope that they'll succeed at some point in crossing the border of Serbia and continuing on their way to the European Union."

That, he says, prompts even greater risk-taking through more dangerous ways to cross the border -- and more tragedies like that of Tasal.

In an update to the GoFundMe effort for Tasal's repatriation, the family member in the Netherlands announced that "Unfortunately, wehave some regrettable news to share. The family had to borrow funds to cover the transportation costs because GoFundMe has not yet released money from the crowdfunding campaign."

He added: "We understand that this has added to the family's stress, and we are working hard to ensure that the funds are released as soon as possible."

Written by Andy Heil based on reporting by RFE/RL Balkan Service correspondent Iva Gajic
Uladzimer Mikhalka was one of thousands of Belarusians arrested during the mass protests that broke out following the country's discredited 2020 presidential election. He was sentenced to 14 months in prison for purportedly insulting strongman leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka and a police officer.

He served his time and was released earlier this year. But his troubles did not end there, he told RFE/RL's Belarus Service. Even before he arrived home, he was hit with a fine from the state tax service for 20,000 rubles ($8,000).

"While I was in prison, the tax service was 'working' hard," he said. "They audited me for the last 10 years. I got the notice delivered to my prison cell."

Mikhalka is one of dozens of pro-democracy activists who have been released this year following the completion of their prison terms. In all, some 253 former political prisoners have been released, according the Vyasna human rights group. And many of them tell RFE/RL the authoritarian Lukashenka government continues to persecute them and their relatives, making it all but impossible for them to live in the country.

In all, Vyasna says, 1,480 designated political prisoners are still being held in Belarus, many of them for activities related to the democracy movement that followed the 2020 election in which Lukashenka claimed a landslide victory while opponents, voters, and Western governments charged that the vote was rigged in his favor.

Since his release, the police in Mikhalka's hometown of Rechytsa in the southeastern Homel region have hounded him relentlessly, he said.

"I have been being followed as if I were a terrorist or extremist," he said. "The police have searched my home, and every week I have to check in with them for a 'prophylactic' chat" -- a term used by the authorities to describe meetings used to monitor people they want to keep tabs on.

"They tell me that black is white and vice versa," Mikhalka added. "They tell me how great things are in Belarus and that I am mistaken if I think otherwise."

The police also insisted Mikhalka find a full-time job, but when he tried he found few opportunities for a former prisoner. He was offered shift work as a street sweeper or a gravedigger.

"In the end, I got a job as a guard," he recalled. "But after three months' work, I was paid 140 rubles ($55)."

The rest, he explained, had been seized by the government to pay his tax fine.

"Fines, searches, no work!" he concluded. "That's why I decided to leave. Especially since I started getting letters from the prosecutor's office again."

WATCH: Belarusian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka appeared in public amid swirling speculation about his health. He's held a tight grip on power since 1994. What does the future hold if he dies?

Activists with the Belarus Solidarity Foundation (BySol) helped Mikhalka get out of the country and seek refuge in the European Union.

"I'm very grateful to those guys," he said, "because it was impossible for me to live there any longer."

Mahilyou resident Valyantsin Labachou was also released earlier this year after serving his sentence for purportedly insulting Lukashenka at a prison in the Vitsebsk region. Initially, he was ordered to report to the police once a month; later, once a week.

Former prisoners are required to appear regularly before a monitoring commission, Labachou said. He added that the head of the commission told him if he doesn't get a job or leave the country, he would be sent back to prison.

"These commissions are a circus," he concluded. "Officials from various agencies get together and mess with your head."

Labachou added that he told his commission that he intends to leave Belarus.

"They didn't mind because it would be less work for them," he said. "I think their goal is to push people out of the country."

One woman who asked that her name be withheld for fear of repercussions for speaking out told RFE/RL that both she and her husband have been targeted since she was released from a prison in the Homel region.

He couldn't find any work, even as a day laborer, she said.

"After all, he has an 'extremist' wife," the woman said. "He can only work occasional shifts. No one will hire him officially."

She also must check in regularly with the police where she and other "extremists" are shown propaganda films.

"We are forced to sign that we watched them and discussed them [with the police]," she said. "It is madness."

"The police can come and check you at any time of the day or night," she added. "Sometimes they don't show up for weeks. And then they start coming every day. They are pushing me to get a job, but the only one I'm offered is milking cows at a collective farm. But I told the police I won't go there."

Adapted from the Belarusian by RFE/RL's Robert Coalson
Though they explore caves for fun, these Bulgarian enthusiasts have been hailed for making the "discovery of the year" in speleology. Now their mission is to preserve its splendor. The cave explorers (pictured above from left to right) Simeon Nenkov, Georgi Nenchev, Stanislav Asenov, Konstantin Stoichkov, and Slaveya Kostadinova discovered a beautiful hall within the cave complex of the Iskar Gorge of Stara Planina near Lakatnik, Bulgaria. They investigated the often-overlooked entrance to the Zidanka cave that is located 15 meters from the entry point to one of the more famous and visited caves called Temnata Dupka. Small, dusty, and nondescript, the Zidanka entrance was passed over by speleologists and cavers for decades.

That was until the five enthusiasts delved deeper into Zidanka to discover an unknown and surprisingly beautiful section of the cave. The region is riddled with caverns and grottos due to the large amount of underground water that flows up into the Zhitolyub spring and the Iskar River. The underground cavities and galleries in the area are connected by a huge cave system.

On Hands And Knees Little by little, they slowly crawled deeper and deeper, opening up tight spaces and removing dangerous rock fragments. They were aided by a robot that Asenov invented, which he calls his "selfie stick." The device resembles a seven-meter rod with a head mounted on top that can rotate in all directions and contains a high-resolution camera, a light, and several types of sensors, including lasers and ultrasonic sensors for measuring distances. After a dozen visits and over 100 hours of hard work, the spelunkers managed to clear the mass of rocks that blocked Zidanka. Kostadinova called the place where they dug "hopeless." She added, "All day I thought I was doing first-class labor for no money and that I was very stupid for it. That's until we discovered the new part." "We knew from the mapping that after a number of meters it would reach a place in Temnata Dupka, which cavers can reach in about two hours from its entrance," Stoichkov said.

The Zidanka and Temnata Dupka caves are part of a large cavern system that was cut off by debris from a collapse. After entering Zidanka, the five explorers thought they had come to a dead end with no way to cross the last 8 meters to Temnata Dupka. It was there they noticed a crack in the ceiling. Nenkov managed to climb up to it, some 4-5 meters up the rockface. The rift led to a dead end, where he lingered for a moment before returning to the others. "I felt a slight draft, which is a sure sign that there is a cavity. I checked with my breath to see that air was coming out from somewhere." Nenkov then crawled as far as possible into the narrow alcove, and above his head he saw a small space through which he could crawl. After a few more meters, the black space of the new hall opened up before his eyes. "I expected to see the same as before -- mud, stones, narrow openings -- but a total surprise opened up," he said.

The hall was white and huge, measuring 72 meters long, 17 meters wide, and 15 meters high. Kostadinova described it as "surreal." Unlike the other caves in the area, the Zidanka hall abounds with all kinds of secondary cave formations, such as stalactites, stalagmites, draperies, and crystals. Its entire floor is dotted with small and large calcite pools. A waterfall flows from the ceiling, leaving deposits that form a towering white stalagmite before flowing into other parts of the cave.

Aleksey Zhalov from the management board of the Bulgarian Cave Society told RFE/RL that the new find at Zidanka is "the discovery of the year." For Nenkov, "The feeling of penetrating where no human has ever set foot is incomparable to anything else, to the exclusion of all other sensations known to mankind. Perhaps only astronauts can experience it nowadays." He named the hall Kosyo Kasabov, after the late respected caver and caving instructor.
Natalia Arno, the U.S.-based chief of the Free Russia Foundation, says there are suspicions she may have been poisoned, "possibly by some nerve agent," after falling ill during a recent trip to Europe, amid a report that at least two other Kremlin critics have experienced similar episodes since 2020.

Arno, who previously kept silent about what she experienced during a trip to Prague in early May, wrote about the ordeal on Facebook on May 16 after the website Agentsvo published a story on the spate of critics of Russian President Vladimir Putin who have left the country.

"There is a suspicion that during my recent trip to Europe I was poisoned, possibly by some nerve agent, investigated by one [or maybe more] Western intelligence agency, I still have neuropathy symptoms but overall I feel much better," Arno wrote on Facebook.

Agentstvo reported that two journalists who write about Russia, a former U.S. ambassador, and an activist have experienced similar symptoms or have found signs that their residences have been entered by "unknown persons who may be associated with Russian special services" over the past two years.

Arno said she found her hotel room door open after returning from meetings and that she encountered a "foreign and sharp" smell as she entered. That night, she said she felt "strange" symptoms that she chalked up to jet leg, but the illness gained strength and left her in "acute" pain that prompted her to move up her plane ticket home.

Upon arrival in the United States, Arno said that doctors couldn't find a cause of the illness, even though the symptoms were intensifying.

Two weeks later, the illness subsided but has yet to disappear, she said, with "a Western special service" now investigating the ordeal.

"Russians who had to leave Putin's Russia, but who abroad continue to fight firmly and decisively against the war, against Putin's regime and for a free and democratic Russia, need to understand that the enemy has long tentacles, that there is the possibility of being exposed to danger outside of Russia, so we must always remain vigilant," Arno wrote.

According to Agentstvo, the former U.S. ambassador who also suffered a similar illness is John Herbst. Once the top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine and Uzbekistan, he is currently the senior director of Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center.

He experienced possible poisoning symptoms several months before Russia launched its unprovoked ongoing invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Sources told Agentstvo that an investigation was launched into his situation as well, while Herbst declined to comment.

Agentstvo also reported from sources that a self-exiled Russian journalist, whose identity was not disclosed, experienced possible poisoning symptoms while attending a conference of exiled Russian opposition politicians and activists in Berlin in April. The journalist confirmed experiencing the illness but did not elaborate further.

Agentstvo noted that unknown intruders unlocked a hotel room of Christo Grozev, a Bulgarian investigative journalist with the Bellingcat group, in Montenegro in 2022 and stole his phone. Grozev confirmed the incident to Agentsvo but declined to give more details.

The Kremlin has steadfastly denied any links to several suspicious poisonings involving Putin's critics, such as opposition politicians Aleksei Navalny and Vladimir Kara-Murza -- both of whom are currently in prison.

Navalny fell violently ill on an airplane in Siberia before eventually being transported to Germany to be treated for what European labs defined as a poisoning using a Novichok nerve agent in 2020.

Kara-Murza fell deathly ill on two separate occasions in Moscow -- once in 2015 and again in 2017 -- with symptoms consistent with poisoning. Tissue samples smuggled out of Russia by his relatives were turned over to the FBI, which investigated his case as one of "intentional poisoning."

U.S. government laboratories also conducted extensive tests on the samples, but documents released by the Justice Department suggest they were unable to reach a conclusive finding.

In 2018, former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter were poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent in Salisbury, England, in an attack believed to have been carried out by Russian military intelligence operatives.
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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TBILISI -- The first Russian passenger plane bound for Georgia since 2019 has left Moscow for Tbilisi after Russian President Vladimir Putin lifted a flight ban last week.

An aircraft from Russian airline Azimuth on May 19 took off from the Russian capital carrying a group of pro-Russian Georgian activists living in Russia, including the chairman of the Solidarity For Peace organization, Merab Chikashvili; the director of the Georgian-Russian Public Center, Dmitry Lortkipanidze; the head of the Georgian-Russian Friendship Center, Valery Kvaratskhelia; and other activists and public figures.

Moscow unilaterally imposed the ban on direct flights by Russian airlines to Georgia in 2019 after a wave of anti-Kremlin protests in Georgia.

Putin lifted the ban on May 10, also signing a decree allowing Georgians to enter Russia without visas starting from May 15, unless they are coming to work in Russia for more than 90 days.

The move, however, has been met with some derison in Georgia.

The plane is expected to be met by Georgian opposition activists holding a protest rally at the Tbilisi airport over any warming of relations with the Kremlin because of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which like Georgia was once part of the Soviet Union before regaining independence.

The two countries have had no formal diplomatic ties since Russia routed Tbilisi's forces in a brief war in 2008 that ended with Tbilisi losing control over the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Georgia has also voted in favor of all international resolutions condemning Russia's aggression in Ukraine. It has also provided Ukraine with humanitarian aid and taken in thousands of war refugees.

At the same time, the Black Sea country of 3.7 million has been a top destination for Russians fleeing the partial mobilization that Putin announced in September 2022 and the worsening general crackdown in Russia.

The European Union has criticized the flight resumption, while Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili called Putin's decrees "another provocation."

"Resuming direct flights and lifting visa ban with Georgia is unacceptable as long as Russia continues its aggression on Ukraine and occupies our territory," Zurabishvili, who has often accused the ruling Georgian Dream party of having ties to Moscow since being elected with its backing in 2018, wrote on Twitter.

The Georgian Civil Aviation Agency said on May 19 that another Russian airline, Red Wings, had been given a license to start charter flights from the Russian city of Sochi to Tbilisi and back three times a week as of June 2.

The agency said earlier that Georgian Airways will resume direct flights to Russia from May 20.

The EU , United States, Canada, and other states have banned Russian airlines from entering their airspace since Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Many filmmakers from the African continent are participating in the 76th Cannes Film Festival (CFF) by screening their films, sitting on jury panels, and engaging in a variety of events.

African filmmakers are particularly present in the 76th CFF. Many of the entries come from Northern Africa with Arab presence being enumerated in the article published in Ahram Online last week.



Undeniably Morocco leads Africa this year with five films at Cannes: The Mother of All Lies (Kadib Abyad) by Asmae El Moudir, Les Meutes by Kamal Lazraq, Ayyur by Moroccan Zineb Wakrim, Little Girl Blue by Mona Achache, and Deserts by Faouzi Bensaidi.

And of course, Morocco has filmmaker Maryam Touzani as a juror of the International Competition.

Egypt is represented by films such as I Promise You Paradise by Morad Mostafa and El-Toraa (The Call of the Brook) by Jad Chahine.

Moreover, the Egyptian filmmaker Haya Khairat will receive the Angenieux Special Encouragement Award while the Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) will participate in three events associated with the CFF.

Tunisia shines with Four Daughters (Les Filles dOlfa) by Kaouther Ben Hania and The Nature of Love (Simple Comme Sylvain) by Monia Chokri.

Algeria is represented by Firebrand by Karim Ainouz and Omar la fraise by Elias Belkeddar.

And we should not forget the historical contribution to the CFF by Mohamed Kordofani whose debut feature film, Goodbye Julia, will be the country's first entry to the Cannes competitive segment.

With North Africa (and Sudan) carving its strong presence, let's have a look at the central, southern and western regions of the continent, also represented by films in the International Competition and within the Directors' Fortnight segment, as well as a jury member of the International Competition.

International Competition

This is the main competitive segment of the festival, in which films compete for the top award, the Palme dOr.

Banel and Adama

Written and directed by French Senegalese director Ramata-Toulaye Sy, the film follows a young couple in Senegal who must contend with the disapproval of their remote village.

Starring Khady Mane, Mamadou Diallo and Binta Racine Sy, Bane and Adama is an extension of a short film by Ramata-Toulaye Sy and entitled Astel (2022). Astel won the grand prize at the Odense International Film Festival, and was awarded the special jury prize at the Clermont-Ferrand festival, among other awards.

Ramata-Toulaye Sy also co-wrote feature Sibel which garnered numerous awards and nominations, including nomination to Best Screenplay award at the Turkish Film Critics Association (SIYAD) Awards

Rungano Nyoni (Zambia) and Maryam Touzani (Morocco) on jury panel of International Competition

Cannes-regular Zambian-Welsh director and screenwriter, Rungano Nyoni debuted with 20 Questions and The List (2009) which won her a BAFTA Cymru Award. Her following film Mwansa the Great (2011) was nominated at the BAFTA. Her film Listen (2014) received the Best Narrative Short Award at the Tribeca Festival.

Nyoni's first feature Im Not a Witch premiered in Cannes and won the BAFTA for Outstanding Debut in 2018.

She is currently editing her upcoming feature On Becoming a Guinea Fowl.

Touzani, launched her career as a film critic and directed two notable short films, Quand ils dormant (When They Sleep) and Aya va a la plage (Aya Goes to the Beach), before collaborating with Nabil Ayouch on Much Loved and co-writing and starring in Razzia.

Her first feature film, Adam, was selected for the Un Certain Regard at the Festival de Cannes in 2019 and shortlisted for the Oscars.

She then collaborated once again with Nabil Ayouch, with whom she co-wrote Razzia  a film in which she also starred  and Casablanca Beats, selected in Competition for the Festival de Cannes in 2021.

Touzani returned to the festival as a director with The Blue Caftan in 2022, which was selected for Un Certain Regard and shortlisted for the Oscars. She is currently working on her first novel and her next feature film.

Directors' Fortnight section



A parallel selection of the CFF which aims to present the most singular and visionary practices of contemporary cinema is this segment which has highlighted the practices of numerous filmmakers who make significant contributions to the world of cinema.



Mambar Pierrette

Directed by Cameroonian Rosine Mbakam, the film is a Belgian-Cameroonian coproduction.



Oscillating between fiction and documentary, the film presents the journey of a courageous mother (Mambar Pierrette). The plot is interwoven in a picture of the economic situation and the place of women in Cameroon.

Mbakam has directed numerous short and feature films, often focusing on documentary formats. Her films have garnered numerous awards at the international festivals.

Critics Awards for Arab Films

The Arab-African cinema is also celebrated through the Critics Awards for Arab Films.

Organised by the Arab Cinema Center (ACC) the final nominees for the seventh edition of the awards have been revealed and include numerous films from Morocco, Tunisia, and Ethiopia.

The complete list of the nominees is provided here.

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After months of preparation, the National Dialogues political, economic, and social committees began with sessions scheduled for Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday, writes Gamal Essam El-Din.

On Sunday, the political committee featured four sessions focusing on the electoral system and discrimination, each attended by around 600 people. Representatives from political parties took two sessions to discuss the best electoral system for parliamentary elections due in 2025, with speakers divided over whether a closed list or proportional system was most appropriate.

Opposition parties backed the adoption of an unconditional proportional list system in electing members of the House of Representatives and Senate, arguing that it is in line with the constitution and will help political parties and marginalised forces like women and young people gain representation.

Wafd Party representative Yasser Al-Hodeibi said there is a consensus among opposition parties that an unconditional proportional list system should be adopted in 2025 in order to promote the role of political parties and their platforms and help them secure a larger foothold in parliament.

Mohamed Abdel-Ghani, representative of the Egyptian Socialist Democratic Party, said the solution to Egypts political and economic problems depends on the success of the National Dialogue in introducing radical change of the existing electoral system.

The closed list system has proved a failure and led to the demise of many political parties because they were unable to secure a place in parliament, he said.

The closed list system, in use in Egypt since 2015, allows the party that wins a simple majority of votes in a constituency to take all that areas seats.

MP Diaaeddin Dawoud said that while he favoured the proportional list system, just changing the rules of elections will not be enough to reinvigorate political life.

We need to recognise that that the general public are far from satisfied with the performance of the current parliament. Egypt desperately needs credible political parties and they will only emerge by changing the laws that regulate parliamentary elections, political parties and press and media freedoms, said Dawoud.

Abdel-Aziz Al-Shenawi, representative of the opposition Justice (Adl) Party, said the current closed list system allows only the most heavily resourced political parties and candidates to enter parliament.

Al-Ahram political analyst Amr Hashem Rabie argued the closed list system skewed political representation and could theoretically disenfranchise half of Egypts voting population minus one by allocating all seats to the winner of a simple majority.

Pro-government political parties were firmly in favour of closed lists. Alaa Abed, deputy chairman of the pro-government parliamentary majority party Mostaqbal Watan, said he supports maintaining the current system because it allows only strong parties to join parliament and allows voters to focus on election platforms rather than individuals.

Due to the adoption of a mixed system of individual candidacy and closed party list in the 2020 parliamentary elections, we now have more than 11 political parties in parliament, he said.

Mostaqbal Watans Parliamentary Spokesperson Ashraf Rashad argued that a mixed system guarantees political stability while a proportional list system probably violated the constitution which stipulates that certain groups, such as women and youth, be allocated a fixed quota of seats. He warned that the proportional list system, though it might work well in some other countries, could be invalidated by the Supreme Constitutional Court.

Mahmoud Fawzi, secretary-general of the National Dialogue, suggested that while proportional representation might make it easy for political parties to join parliament, it could hamper the exercise of parliaments legislative roles. A parliament with representatives from many political parties will make it difficult to reach a consensus on legislations, he cautioned.

Rashad and Fawzis arguments faced strong objections from Rabie and other opposition forces.

A proportional list system is in line with Article 102 of the constitution which states that elections shall be held via the individual system, the list system or a combination of both, said Rabie. The closed list system has been exploited to create toothless rubber-stamp parliaments, opening the doors for loyalists, wealthy businessmen and relatives to sweep the elections and win seats.

The dialogues General Coordinator Diaa Rashwan said supporters of each electoral system should submit their recommendations in written form within one week to the dialogues board of trustees.

Whether participants end up choosing one election system or more than one system, their suggestions will be submitted to the president so that he can direct the government to turn them into legislation to be debated and voted by parliament, said Rashwan.

Rashwan also revealed that Moataz Al-Shennawi, a member of the Justice Party, has submitted a draft law to establish an anti-discrimination commission to the dialogues Committee on Human Rights and Public Freedoms.

The role of this commission will be to spread the culture of human rights and free citizenship, end all forms of discrimination, achieve equality among citizens, and find peaceful solutions, said Al-Shennawi.

The proposed commission will be fully independent, with a board including judges, heads of the syndicates of lawyers and journalists, chairs of the National Human Rights Council, the National Council for Women, two heads of political parties and representatives of religious minorities.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 18 May, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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A CHARITY helping the elderly in Rotherham is in the running for a 5,000 windfall  but needs your help to get their bid over the line.

Age UK Rotherham is appealing to supporters to nominate them for a chance to win one of ten 5,000 special grants as part of Benefact Groups Movement for Good Awards.

You can back the charity online until this Friday at www.health.movementforgood.com.

Winners will be drawn at random and the more times a charity is nominated, the more chance it has of being selected.

Age UK Rotherham said it would spend any winnings in Rotherham area helping to make the lives of older people as fulfilling and rewarding as possible.

Awards of 1,000 are open to all UK-registered charities.

Anyone can nominate a registered charity at any time for the chance to receive 1,000.
For Representation Purpose Only

Doctors are still prescribing branded medicines: Dr Atul Goyal

NEW-DELHI: The Central Government has warned the doctors at Central Government hospitals and CGHM health centers to either prescribe generic medicines or be ready for action. The Center has said that action will be taken against those doctors who do not prescribe generic medicines.

Instructions have been given to reduce the movement of medical representatives in government hospitals. Director General of Health Services Dr. Atul Goyal has said that doctors in government hospitals are also asked to prescribe only generic medicines.

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In an order issued on May 12, Dr Atul Goyal, director general of health services, said that "despite this, it has been observed that in some cases (including residents) doctors are still prescribing branded medicines." As per the orders, the heads of all institutions have been asked to ensure strict compliance of the doctors working under them. It has been said that action will be taken if the orders are not followed.
Water Resources Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer with newly appointed employees

Govt will create more employment opportunities for the youth in Future: Minister

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Water Resources Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer on Tuesday handed over appointment letters to the newly selected 68 clerks in the Water Resources Department at Punjab Bhawan, Chandigarh. Of these clerks, 42 have been recruited in the Water Resources Department and 26 in the Punjab Water Resources Management and Development Corporation.

Congratulating the newly-appointed employees, the Water Resources Minister said that they should now work with full dedication and sincerity so that people's faith in the government offices could be further increased. He said that the state government under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has given appointment letters to more than 29,000 youth in just one year. The Punjab government is providing employment to the youth on priority basis. The Water Resources Minister said that in the coming days also, the government will create more employment opportunities for the youth by setting up new projects and by creating an investment-friendly environment in the state.

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Meet Hayer appealed to the youths who have received the appointment letters to perform their services in the public interest with sincerity and honesty. He said that the Water Resources Department is directly connected with the farmers, so the newly appointed employees can contribute for the welfare of the farmers by performing their services with full cordiality.

Notably, Ranjit Singh Cheema, Chairman, Punjab Water Resources Management and Development Corporation, extended gratitude to the Chief Minister and Water Resources Minister for speedy recruitment to strengthen the department. Among others, Krishan Kumar, Principal Secretary, Water Resources Department, M.D. Pawan Kapoor and other officers were present on this occasion.




Chargesheet

A case has been registered against the arrested members: Police

CHANDIGARH: The Local police has filed a chargesheet in the district court against seven members of the Bambiha Gang. The Operation Cell nabbed these members when they were trying to rob a businessmen. The police have arrested the accused Mannu Batta, Aman Kumar, Sanjeev Kumar, Kamaldeep, Chetan, Mukul Rana and Jimmy Bansal. A case has been registered against them under sections 384, 386, 120-B of IPC and sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act.

The Seven members of the Bambiha Gang were arrested in March last by the team of Operation Cell under the leadership of Inspector Amanjot Singh. Three pistols of .32 bore, one revolver and 23 bullets were recovered from their possession. The police have claimed that all these miscreants used to extort money from city's clubs, liquor shops and hotel owners at the behest of gangster Gaurav Patial alias Lucky Patial and Prince.

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In March 2023, the team of 'Operation Cell' of Chandigarh Police was on patrol. Meanwhile, the informer told that there is some special information about Gaurav Patial and his associate Prince Kurali. The informer told that these accused are running their gang from abroad through WhatsApp and other social media platforms. The miscreants of this gang are on the lookout to carry out a major incident in Chandigarh. On this information, the police arrested two accused Mukul Rana and Mannu Batta.

During investigation, it was found that Mukul Rana, a resident of Maloya and Mannu Batta Budail, currently a resident of Kharar, were threatening businessmen, hoteliers, night club owners, property dealers, builders, restaurateurs of Chandigarh at the behest of Lucky. With these clues, the police arrested five more members of Bambiha gang and filed a charge sheet against all of them in the court.
IPS Soumya Mishra

Instructions have been issued to shopkeepers selling uniforms of Punjab Police

LUDHIANA: Joint Commissioner of Police, Ludhiana Soumya Mishra, has ordered to depute at least one security personnel from 08:00 PM to 06:00 AM at ATMs located within the area, during the said hours. Any ATM without a security guard will not be allowed to be operated.

In the issued orders, IPS Soumya Mishra said that some illegal organizations have installed ATMs in different cities of Punjab. An attempt has been made to loot or vandalize, which creates a sense of panic and fear in the minds of the general public. Therefore, there is a need to take concrete steps in the public interest to stop the robbery and vandalism of ATMs so that the feelings of public confidence can be maintained.

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In another order, various instructions have been issued to shopkeepers selling uniforms of Punjab Police, Punjab Home Guards, Paramilitary Forces and Army located within Commissionerate Ludhiana, keeping in view the safety of general public.

IPS Soumya Mishra, has issued instructions to the persons or shopkeepers selling uniform equipment of Punjab Police, Punjab Home Guard, Paramilitary Forces and Army to ensure that they prepare complete records about their business and submit monthly reports at the police station in this regard. They have issued instructions that whenever any person comes to them (the shopkeeper) to purchase any kind of uniform accessories, the details of the goods sold to them (the buyer) and the buyer's identity card, mobile number and residential address and other details should be entered in the entry register.

The official said that sometimes anti-social elements can execute any untoward incident by illegally using para military forces and army uniforms. These orders have been issued to stop this illegal use. The orders will come into force immediately and will continue for the next two months from the date of issue.
SGGS College

Principal Dr. Navjot Kaur extended gratitude to the Chief Guest

CHANDIGARH: Shri Guru Gobind Singh College, Sector 26, Chandigarh organized a book donation drive to promote literacy and reading culture among the students of SGGS Collegiate Public School under its management.

Harjinder Kaur, Ex-Mayor, Chandigarh, Chairperson, CCPCR was the chief guest and Paramjit Singh, Director, Sikh Missionary College and Regional Center of Entrepreneurship was the special guest. More than 200 books were distributed to school students to encourage all round development and inculcate the habit of reading from an early stage.

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Principal Dr. Navjot Kaur extended gratitude to the chief guest and other guests. He motivated the students to develop the habit of reading as it enhances knowledge, improves concentration and promotes all round development. He appreciated the efforts of 'Chintan' - Reader's Society of Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha Library of the college for organizing the event.
On Sunday, President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi used a video conference to welcome the wheat harvest season at the East Owainat reclamation project in the Western Desert.

The government is hoping this years wheat harvest will top six million tons. The year-on-year increase of 1.5 million tons will reduce import bills and, by extension, the pressure on public finances.

The East Owainat project, located 365 km south of Dakhla Oasis in the New Valley governorate and 500 km from Lake Nasser, covers an estimated 528,000 feddans divided into plots, half of them allocated to agricultural companies that produce wheat and other strategic crops. The second largest project in Upper Egypt in terms of wheat production, it is expected to produce around three million tons annually.

President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi said the use of smart irrigation techniques in East Owainat and Toshka  south of Egypt, near Aswan  will allow the newly reclaimed areas to expand to cover one million feddans.

One million feddans is equal to the cultivated area of three Nile Delta governorates and will help generate one million job opportunities in the agricultural sector, said President Al-Sisi.

It is important to reclaim new lands to achieve food security. At the same time, we have to rationalise water use in order to make the most of available underground water in East Owainat by adopting smart irrigation methods in accordance with best international practices to ensure efficiency and avoid loss, said Al-Sisi.

Over the past four years we have been able to cultivate these lands and secure the first harvests.

Next year, explained Al-Sisi, the West Owainat project will be launched alongside the remaining parts of the Toshka project, increasing the area of cultivated land in both areas. He added that people from the Nile Delta and Upper Egypt moving to live in Owainat and Toshka areas will find a lot of job opportunities and see a lot of agricultural investments.

Tawfik Sami, chair of the National Company for Desert Reclamation and Cultivation, says an additional 460,000 feddans in East Owainat have already been reclaimed, and a further 200,000 to 250,000 feddans will be reclaimed in the Toshka agricultural project by the end of this year. According to Sami, most of these lands will be cultivated with wheat and other strategic crops to raise local production and cut down on imports.

Since 2014, 1.5 million palm trees have been cultivated in East Owainat. There is also a potato storage and processing facility with a capacity of 160,000 tons which will help reduce transportation and production costs for investors.

Minister of Supply and Internal Trade Ali Moselhi said more than 3.2 million feddans are being cultivated with wheat this season, the largest area ever. He noted that the increase in the area devoted to wheat is due mainly to the record price the government is paying farmers this season  up from LE1,250 per ardeb (about 150 kg) last year to LE1,500.

The wheat harvest season in East Owainat usually starts around the second half of April and continues until the second half of June, said Moselhi. The government has so far bought more than two million tons of local wheat since the start of the harvest season, which is a third of the six-million-ton target this season.

Increasing the production of local wheat cuts import bills, reduces the demand on foreign exchange and narrows the gap between production and consumption, said Moselhi.

While the minister of agriculture stressed the government has enough wheat reserves to cover five months of consumption, reducing wheat imports continues to be a priority after the war between Russia and Ukraine disrupted supply chains. Before the war, Egypt imported more than 50 per cent of its wheat needs from Russia and Ukraine.

Moselhi said the Ministry of Supply and Internal Trades storage facilities can accommodate 5.5 million tons of wheat, and that the government has taken a number of measures to make it easier for farmers to deliver wheat to government silos.

The Ministry of Supply has set up 420 collection points for wheat close to harvest areas to ease transport and reduce freight costs. The government has also accelerated its payment systems, meaning farmers can receive their payments within 48 hours of delivery.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 18 May, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Kharg Singh

The Labor Party is expected to have a tough fight with its rival party at Botany

AUCKLAND: The Labor Party, which has been ruling New Zealand for the last 6 years, has started selecting its candidates for the general elections to be held in October this year. The Indian community will be happy that for the first time a turbaned Sikh from the Labor Party, Kharg Singh has been declared as its parliamentary candidate from Botany, which is a very important constituency.

Here, The Labor Party is expected to have a tough fight with its rival party. The information about this was issued by the Labor Party through a press note. S. Kharg Singh has earlier tried his luck in the council elections of the local board from the same constituency as well as from Manurewa, an adjacent area. Notably, Kharg Singh came to New Zealand in 1987 after completing his graduation from India to fulfill his life's dream and to live a better life.

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After working hard and working for many years in 'Auckland', he started his life well and then in 1995 he bought his first supermarket as a businessman. He has now been in business for 27 years and is the owner of the Everglade 4-Square at Manukau Heights. Where he participates in social works, he is also a 'Justice of Peace'. He is an active member of Papatoetoe Rotary Club, former President of Life Vision Society and has been a member of the New Zealand Business Council.

S. Kharg Singh thanked the Labor Party and said that by giving ticket to a turbaned person, the ruling Labor Party has increased the pride of all Indians, especially Sikhs. He said, "I am proud to be the Labor candidate for the electorate of Botany. I have seen Botany area develop from being a farm land to an important suburb."

He added, "It is an honor to represent the people of Botany. I want to make sure that every member of the community is happy. I would be proud to represent Botany in government and be a strong voice for our community."

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Oil prices declined on Tuesday, after rising sharply in the previous session on prospects of lower supplies in Canada, and several other parts of the globe.

Benchmark Brent crude futures fell 0.7 percent to $74.69 a barrel, while WTI crude futures were down 0.7 percent at $70.61.

Growth concerns returned to the fore after China's industrial production and retail sales both missed expectations.

Industrial production posted an annual growth of 5.6 percent in April, faster than the 3.9 percent increase in March but weaker than economists' forecast of 10.9 percent.

Retail sales growth accelerated sharply to 18.4 percent in April from 10.6 percent in March but sill missed expectations for a 21.0 percent increase.

The downside in oil prices was capped to some extent by a weaker dollar, wildfires in Canada and U.S. plans to refill its heavily depleted strategic reserves.

The U.S. Department of Energy said on Monday it would buy 3 million barrels of crude oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve for delivery in August and asked that offers be submitted by May 31.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

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Director of the Centre for Postgraduate Studies, Professor Sioux McKenna, has been awarded the 2022 Internationalisation Award.

By Ephreeda Banda

Recognising her exceptional leadership, dedication, and achievements in advancing internationalisation at Rhodes University, Professor Sioux McKenna, the Director of the Centre for Postgraduate Studies (CPGS), has been awarded the 2022 Internationalisation Award. Her tireless efforts have strengthened the institution's global presence and significantly contributed to the advancement of knowledge and understanding on a worldwide scale.

This award recognises the achievements of individual staff and collective groups working towards broader internationalization within Rhodes University's departments, schools, and institutes. Staff members nominate candidates or groups, including themselves or their groups.

Professor McKenna received the award for various activities, including her work in the CPGS and running a PhD program in CHERTL, the Social Justice and Quality in Higher Education international project she led, and the Phakamisa DHET-funded collaborative project in which she wrote the project proposal. She has also facilitated several Erasmus+ PhD students and staff exchanges to visit Vrije Universiteit over the last few years. She has enabled exchange visits to Kenya and the Netherlands for several research administrators. Alongside this, Professor McKenna designed and implemented the Reading across Borders project during the pandemic, which brought together 60 PhD higher education scholars from eight countries to discuss readings related to social justice in their countries. She also supervised to graduation of PhD and Master's students from Malawi, Kenya, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. She supervises students from Namibia and Zimbabwe and co-supervises students from the UK and Canada.

Professor McKenna said that the inspiration behind her work and research is based on the opportunities to engage internationally, and she is always curious about how things work. I often wonder whether my understanding about whatever I am researching at that time, like how universities work in society or how they are funded, simply reflect my narrow world experience. International collaborations often challenge my understanding of the phenomenon I am studying in a way that reading all the literature in the world may fail to do, said McKenna.

She emphasized the importance of thinking about the politics of globalisation in the context of internationalisation, as the internationalisation of higher education can strengthen colonial hierarchies. She said these dynamics are often embedded in the funding mechanisms, affecting how people interact. In addition, Professor McKenna reflected on this research journey and sees it as an opportunity to open doors for aspiring researchers and PhD students across borders to share, collaborate, and enjoy developing critical views of their research. She might be eight years from retirement, but receiving this award is like a lever to continue opening doors for her. At this time, I wonder how many colleagues, emerging academics, administrators, postdoctoral fellows, and postgraduate candidates I can support to enjoy international opportunities, acquire funding, and come to understand the value of their work in the global conversation. I wonder how many lessons I can learn along the way, said Professor McKenna.

Professor McKenna's efforts to integrate international perspectives into the curriculum have ensured that Rhodes University graduates are equipped with a global mindset and cross-cultural competencies. By developing interdisciplinary courses and incorporating international case studies, she has broadened students' understanding of global issues and prepared them to navigate the complexities of our interconnected world.

As a beacon of international collaboration and an inspiration to educators worldwide, Professor McKenna's work is a testament to the transformative power of fostering global engagement in higher education. Her passion for creating meaningful connections and promoting intercultural understanding has undoubtedly left an undeniable mark on the academic community. It has positioned Rhodes University as a leading institution in the realm of international education.

Source: Division of Communication and Advancement
Rapid Support Forces militias are looting and seizing homes in the Sudanese capital Khartoum, using them for shelter or as bases for military operations, writes Haitham Nouri

A report presented to the UN Human Rights Council this week said that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militias, currently fighting for control of the Sudanese capital Khartoum against the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), have seized residential buildings to use as operational bases for hostile manoeuvres, potentially harming civilians.

Many Sudanese citizens have taken to social media platforms to report that such RSF actions are now prevalent in Khartoum.

I first thought that these reports were propaganda disseminated by army loyalists against the RSF. But they now seem to be true, said Khaled Mahmoud, a journalist specialising in Sudanese affairs.

I cannot decide whether the RSF actions are part of a strategy or the result of a fear of defeat, resulting in their spreading terror throughout the city, he added.

The RSF were established by ousted former Sudanese president Omar Al-Bashir in 2013. They are mainly comprised of Janjaweed militias accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Darfur conflict between 2003 and 2019.

The Janjaweed hail from Arab Bedouin tribes in Darfur and West Kordofan in Sudan. Al-Bashir used them to quell the demands of non-Arab groups in Darfur, such as the Fur, Masalit, and Zaghawa. He also directly affiliated them to himself and not to the armed forces.

RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo is said to have acquired his nickname Hemedti from the Arabic words for support and my protection.

I live in Buri [Downtown Khartoum], and my brother lives in Bahari [Khartoum North]. The two areas are connected via the Al-Mek Nemer Bridge, Khartoum resident Amal Al-Rayyeh told Al-Ahram Weekly by telephone.

Buri is a middle-class district of the Sudanese capital and is close to the city centre. Its residents have been affected by the fighting between the SAF and the RSF to control the army general command.

Khartoum North is in the northeastern part of the capital and has a number of army and railway facilities, such as the Waburat neighourhood that controls transport to the north of the country and up to the Egyptian border.

I called my brother last week to check up on him, but I couldnt reach him. More than a day later, I was able to reach him, and he told me that the RSF had kicked him and his children out of their house to use it as a base, Al-Rayyeh said.

He has managed to get to my house in Egypt. His neighbour fled to Egypt as soon as the Janjaweed seized my brothers house, she added.

Her brother, an accountant at Sudans largest state-owned bank, the Bank of Khartoum, said my sadness at losing my house is one thing, but I am also grieving for the horror my family has had to endure, especially my youngest daughter Wedad, named after my mother who passed away just two months before her birth, he said.

Wedad has not fully recovered from the RSF attack. She keeps repeating I want to go home, he added.

Khartoum, home to a population of 10 million, is made up of three separate cities, the biggest of which is Khartoum itself nestled between the Blue and White Niles. Omdurman, situated to the west, is separated from Khartoum by the White Nile, while Khartoum North, the smallest of the three, lies across the Blue Nile.

Khartoum is one of the largest metropolises in Africa and the Arab world. The majority of its inhabitants reside in modest single or double-storey housing, with only a handful of apartments available in selected areas.

The SAF announced early last week that it had started the final stages of taking control of Khartoum North, giving no further details. It is only natural for armies to conceal their plans during times of war, said Amin Magzoub, a former officer in the SAF.

The armys control over Khartoum North is an extension of its control over areas in the North and Red Sea region, he added, referring to the armys control over the Red Sea region, Port Sudan, Kesla on the borders with Eritrea, Gedaref bordering Ethiopia, the northern region on the borders with Egypt, and the Nile region that includes Merowe and its air base.

The RSF want to control Sudans gateway through Port Sudan to be able to receive military support from its allies, Magzoub said.

Highways and railways from Port Sudan to Khartoum pass through Khartoum North via Merowe and Atbara, which is why the RSF wanted to establish control over Port Sudan and Merowe when the fighting broke out in mid-April.

We were held hostage by the Janjaweed for several days in our house, which they seized, said Amna (not her real name).

My mother, sisters, and I live in a beautiful house that my late father built. Our house is known for its many trees inside and outside its walls. I guess this is why the RSF had their eyes on it, she added, refusing to mention the location.

While we were held captive, we were forced to serve the Janjaweed. At the end of the day, they would lock us up in one room while they camped on the roof where they had positioned their arms.

One day, we took advantage of people screaming in the street that the army has arrived to escape carrying as much as we could of our belongings.

Amna said that while we were held captive, an RSF soldier assaulted my mother. He wasnt speaking Arabic, and his fellows said he was from Boko Haram, a reference to the Nigerian terror group.

The sound of fighting was terrorising the children, so we escaped to our village in the north of Sudan, said Mohamed, formerly a Khartoum resident. They [the RSF] didnt take over our house, but the fighting around the airport was horrific. My son Ahmed was unable to sleep, he wrote on Twitter.

The airport neighbourhood is a new district located north of Khartoum Airport and in close proximity to central Khartoum.

All our memories and belongings are in our house. Its fate and ours remain unknown, Mohamed said.

I have grown a lot of flowers around the house because my wife loves them. Trees require more attention, and perhaps the absence of trees explains why the Janjaweed did not have their eyes set on the house.

However, I am afraid they will steal our belongings. This will be a deafening blow to the children and my brothers. I will try to go back to Khartoum in a weeks time, and I hope I will not still find the militias there when I do, he concluded.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 18 May, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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An employee at Superior Technical Ceramics meets with a United Way Working Bridges Resource Coordinator. Resource coordinators offer financial coaching and a range of supports to help employees access community resources and navigate life challenges that impact their ability to maintain stable employment.
Paranormal researcher Nicole Strickland in the master bedroom of the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe in Vista. She leads monthly Spirits of the Adobe tours at the historic Vista property and recently published a book on the adobes ghostly inhabitants.

At the historic Rancho Buena Vista Adobe, visitors can see a treasure trove of historical artifacts, photographs, artwork and classic rancho architecture. But its what they cant see that makes the Adobe a popular destination this Halloween night.

Over the past eight years, paranormal researchers and tour groups have reported dozens of ghostly encounters and unexplained sounds and voices at the 166-year-old city-owned home.

These experiences have included disembodied voices, ethereal apparitions of spectral women in period dress floating past doorways and through walls, the rustle of petticoats, the sounds of childrens voices, women singing, galloping horse hooves, strange smells, unexplained cold spots in rooms and the sensation of an invisible hand touching the head, hair or shoulder of passers-by.

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Many of these spooky goings-on have occurred during the Spirits of the Adobe tours, which take place at the adobe once a month. This months tours are at 7 and 9:30 p.m. Oct. 31. The cost is $25, which benefit the adobes maintenance fund.

The tours are conducted by the San Diego Paranormal Research Society, which was co-founded in 2009 by Tierrasanta resident Nicole Strickland and Fallbrook resident Ali Schreiber.

Over the years, the longtime friends have volunteered their services conducting numerous paranormal investigations aboard the Queen Mary cruise ship in Long Beach, at Vistas Avo Playhouse, the Escondido Public Library and several private homes.

But no property theyve ever researched has yielded more spiritual energy than the adobe. Strickland said she believes the historic rancho  an 1836 Spanish land grant that passed through a dozen hands before the city bought it in 1989  could be a portal connecting the living and spirit worlds.

Yet while spirit portals in horror movies usually admit murderous demons, Strickland said that if any portal exists at the adobe, it has only welcomed happy ghosts.

With our research and intuition we would say theres energy here thats very peaceful and very contented, Strickland said. If there are earthbound energies here, this was a place they loved.

1 / 13 Exterior view of the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe at sundown. The historic property, owned by the city of Vista, will host two tours on Halloween night focused on the 1852 buildings haunted history. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune) 2 / 13 Paranormal researcher Nicole Strickland stands near a doorway to the master bedroom of the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe. She leads monthly tours of the adobe and has written a book about the hauntings of the historic dwelling. Many visitors have seen ghostly figures of men and women standing in or passing through doorways at the end of halls. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune) 3 / 13 Paranormal researcher Nicole Strickland in a childrens bedroom of the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe. Shes written a book about the hauntings of the historic dwelling. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune) 4 / 13 Detail view of a window and furniture in the main living room known as the Sala of the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune) 5 / 13 Late afternoon view of a childrens bedroom of the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe. This is the original adobe room built in 1852 and is known among staff and visitors as the stinky room because visitors associate it with the smell of horse manure and feed. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune) 6 / 13 View of the gathering room of the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe. Paranormal researchers heard the disembodied voice of a young boy. The cross shape in the wood shutters was actually a gun sight to deter horse thieves. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune) 7 / 13 A doll stands in a window of a childrens bedroom of the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune) 8 / 13 OA portrait of Chalmers Scott is displayed on a wall in the main bedroom of the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe. He owned the adobe from 1876 to 1891. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune) 9 / 13 View of the covered veranda and center courtyard at the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune) 10 / 13 View of a covered patio near the kitchen at the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe. A walled-off root cellar was situated underneath this walkway in the 1800s. Spirits on the property have said that men were kept captive in the root cellar. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune) 11 / 13 Paranormal researcher Nicole Strickland in the master bedroom of the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe. Shes written a book about the hauntings of the historic dwelling. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune) 12 / 13 Paranormal researcher Nicole Strickland stands in a childrens bedroom of the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe known as the Stinky Room. The 1852 one-room adobe was once used to house the stallion of Cave Couts Jr. Today, visitors can hear the whinny and gallop of horses and smell horse hay and manure. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune) 13 / 13 Paranormal researcher Nicole Strickland in the master bedroom of the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe. Shes written a book about the hauntings of the historic dwelling. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune)

Strickland is accustomed to skeptics and says shes skeptical too until she can assemble the facts and recordings to back up her theories. Still, she prefaces most of her statements with phrases like theres no proof, but .

She had her first spiritual encounter at age 5 when she had a visit from an old man dressed in Gold Rush-era attire. When she was 21, she had a more profound and extended interaction with the ghost of her grandmother that eventually led her to shelve a career in counseling to focus on paranormal research and writing.

I was born into the field with an innate passion for ghosts, hauntings and the spiritual realm, she said. I was always intuitive and an empath.

In September, Strickland published Spirits of Rancho Buena Vista Adobe. Available in the adobes gift shop, its the seventh book shes written for Haunted America about paranormal activities in Southern California.

In the 124-page book, she describes the many experiences she, Schreiber and others have had in virtually every room of the L-shaped adobe structure.

Frank Rojano, a longtime city employee who has frequently worked on the adobe property, describes several spooky experiences in the book. In the early 2000s, he heard mysteriously slamming doors, saw a television turn itself on twice, and saw a painting inexplicably fly across a room and smash into a door.

Strickland believes some of the adobes ghosts may be the spirits of women and men who lived and worked on the property in the late 1800s.

The adobes most famous owner was Cave Johnson Couts, the Mexican War veteran who acquired the property in 1866 for ranching, but lived with his family three miles away at the Rancho Guajome Adobe.

Strickland said Couts widow, Ysidora Dona Bandini de Couts, and five of her children may be among the spirits inhabiting the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe property.

There have also been communications with a man named Juan (possibly Gonzalez) who worked for the Couts family in the 1800s. Its possible he was held prisoner in the adobes now-walled-off root cellar and might have been killed on the property. Theres a legend that an electrician installing electrical wiring in the adobes majordomo room in the 1920s discovered a skeleton hanging from a noose inside a wall that could have been that of Juan.

Many of Strickland and Schreibers theories came from archival research, sightings and conversations recorded with the help of the equipment they use both in their private investigations and during the monthly tours.

Disembodied voices, known as electronic voice phenomena or EVP, are captured via audio recorders, video cameras, a spirit box (which rapidly scans AM/FM radio signals for talking spirits) and the Ovilus X, a synthesizer that supposedly converts spiritual energy into recognizable words. They also use dowsing rods (L-shaped copper wires) to detect spiritual energy.

Strickland said she knows many people doubt the scientific veracity of these devices, but most of the people who sign up for the two-hour tours are not among them.

They arrive here open to the possibilities, she said.

For information on paranormal tours coming up on Oct. 31, Nov. 9 and Dec. 21, call (760) 643-5275 or visit cityofvista.com/residents/rancho-buena-vista-adobe/spirits-of-the-adobe. Tours are limited to 10 people, ages 18 and up only.

pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com
As peace negotiations continue in the Saudi city of Jeddah, can the existing Jeddah Declaration on the conflict in Sudan be enforced on the ground, asks Asmaa Al-Husseini

It is the fifth week of the war in Sudan, and prospects for a permanent ceasefire seem as distant as ever. Each of the warring sides, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), believes it can win the conflict militarily. But this is unattainable as past weeks have resulted in nothing but death and destruction on both sides.

Large numbers of civilians and fighters have lost their lives, and Sudans heavily populated capital of Khartoum has been the centre of the fighting, with large areas destroyed.

The clashes have also spread to West Darfur and North Kordofan, even as the Sudanese are hoping that the negotiations in Jeddah sponsored by the US and Saudi Arabia will lead to a comprehensive ceasefire and a dialogue that solves the problems of Sudan.

A few days ago, a bombing claimed the life of budding Sudanese artist Shaden Hussein in her home in Omdurman, leading many to mourn the loss of an artist renowned for her profound artistic works.

Hussein espoused a message of love and peace, striving to forge connections between disparate social and cultural groups. Her reputation was cemented through her melodious renditions of traditional songs, in addition to her vocal support for the Sudanese Revolution, which resonated deeply with the nations youth.

Her death is but one of many in a conflict that has wrought havoc upon Sudan, transforming daily lives into a living hell. The number of killed, wounded, or displaced is now in the hundreds, thousands, and hundreds of thousands, respectively.

Rawan Khalil, a Sudanese national employed by an international aid organisation, told Al-Ahram Weekly that the magnitude of the disaster in Sudan is far larger than the official statistics regarding the number of fatalities and casualties. The situation is particularly dire in Al-Geneina in West Darfur and Khartoum.

Despite the horrors the refugees and displaced experience, they are lucky to have escaped the destruction caused by this war in which no party has moral or ethical restraints, she said.

Attia Abdullah Attia, secretary of the Sudan Doctors Syndicate, said the military operations are expanding in Sudan and the humanitarian situation is getting worse despite the ongoing negotiations. Without real guarantees on the ground, they are nothing but propaganda to serve the two warring parties, he told the Weekly.

The military escalation increased after the two parties started to negotiate, as if the two sides wanted to raise the cap. They are both using the humanitarian conditions to serve their purposes in the negotiations, Attia added.

Attia said that 67 per cent of hospitals near the clashes are out of service, and that out of 88 hospitals in Khartoum itself, 59 are out of service, while 29 are fully or partially operating, though some are providing first aid services only and are also threatened with closure as a result of shortages of medical staff, medical supplies, water and electricity.

He added that all the health facilities in the city of Al-Geneina are out of service after they had been attacked and looted. The central drug store, doctors residence, Red Crescent office, and only kidney centre in the city met the same fate.

Seventeen hospitals have been bombed, 20 have been subjected to forced eviction, and six ambulances have been attacked and prevented from transporting patients and delivering aid.

The recent clashes and tribal fighting in the city of Kosti have resulted in the deaths of 25 and the injury of more than 50, Attia said, noting that these clashes are part of the larger war engulfing all of Sudan.

He said that the Sudan Doctors Syndicate had called on the Sudanese people and civil society organisations to organise initiatives calling for peace and warning against giving in to hate speech targeting the unity of the Sudanese.

There have been reports of rape, as well as of the targeting of Coptic churches in Khartoum and Omdurman, where armed groups shot at worshippers at the Mar Guirguis Church in the Al-Masalma neighbourhood of Omdurman, injuring a number of worshippers and assaulting the priest.

A mosque in Al-Azhari City was bombed and another in Borri was shelled, leading to the death of a worshipper.

The majority of the factions in the country have refrained from aligning with either of the two warring parties and have remained neutral.

Arko Minawi, leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement and governor of the Darfur region, opted to withdraw his troops and relocate to Darfur, for example. Jibril Ibrahim, head of the Justice and Equality Movement and minister of finance, travelled to Port Sudan to distance himself from mounting pressure to take part in the ongoing conflict.

In a bid to convey a message to both domestic and international parties that the RSF are a renegade militia, Lieutenant General Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan, the commander of the SAF, has taken steps to freeze the bank accounts of the RSF and prevent the disbursement of funds or resources.

RSF Commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, aka Hemedti, appeared on satellite TV channels amid news of his death, denying the news and saying that he is moving to Khartoum and taking part in the battles.

The Jeddah Declaration, forged between the SAF and the RSF on 11 May, stipulated the upholding of Sudans sovereignty and the safeguarding of its unity and territorial integrity, prioritising the welfare and safety of the Sudanese and ensuring the protection of civilians and facilitating their safe passage from areas ravaged by conflict.

It promises the evacuation of the injured without discrimination and the access of humanitarian organisations to affected populations. It prohibits the recruitment and use of children in hostilities.

According to the Saudi Foreign Ministry, the declaration will serve as a guide for the two forces, with the aim of facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid, reinstating essential services, withdrawing troops from healthcare facilities, and affording the deceased dignified burial.

The negotiations in Jeddah will concentrate on effecting a viable ceasefire for a duration of roughly 10 days to facilitate these measures. To ensure the safety of civilians during this period, a ceasefire monitoring mechanism, supported by the US, Saudi Arabia, and the international community, will be instituted, the ministry added.

The declaration has garnered widespread acclaim from various factions within Sudan, as well as regional and international entities, which hope it will be a step towards a comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire and initiate a genuine dialogue aimed at restoring peace and resolving differences.

But the Arab Organisation for Human Rights, a NGO, released a statement saying that while the declaration has commendable provisions related to the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, it does not introduce measures beyond those dictated by international humanitarian law.

Its commitment to the establishment of humanitarian corridors for the safe passage of civilians from conflict zones and the unhindered delivery of aid is a positive step, but its implementation is contingent upon practical arrangements to be determined in the future, the organisation said.

Sudanese political analyst Osman Mirghani told the Weekly that the Jeddah Declaration is a positive step, but it is a declaration of principles not an agreement. Its most important condition is allowing civilians to get out of conflict areas.

Zuhal Al-Amin, an expert in constitutional and international law in Sudan, told the Weekly that the declaration stresses that the two parties observe their obligations under international humanitarian law. It does not define the duration of the agreement nor the entities that would observe it, she said.

The ongoing negotiations in Jeddah are reportedly focused on pinpointing safe passages and devising mechanisms to monitor the compliance of the two parties, who have accused each other of violating the ceasefire. The participation of regional and international organisations in these efforts is crucial, necessitating the engagement of multiple parties, including neighbouring nations such as Egypt, the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the Arab League.

The plight of civilians in Sudan remains dire, and with each passing day of the conflict, the likelihood of its escalation and the involvement of external parties both within and outside Sudan only increases.

The pressure should continue on both sides to enforce an immediate, comprehensive, and enduring ceasefire, followed by a political process that will secure the countrys future.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 18 May, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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After five days of bombardment of the Gaza Strip, the military onslaught eased on Saturday evening, reports Mohamed Abu Shaar

In the early hours of 9 May, the Israeli army assassinated three military commanders of Saray Al-Quds, the armed wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group. All three were killed, along with ten members of their families including women and children.

Mediation led by Egypt resulted in a ceasefire between the two sides, including an end to the targeting of civilians and individuals and the demolition of buildings. Cairo urged both sides to uphold the tenets of the agreement, and said it would monitor its implementation.

There were a few breaches once the agreement came into force, including rockets fired from Gaza at neighbouring Israeli towns and settlements, and the Israeli army bombed military lookouts and sites on the eastern border of Gaza. Otherwise, the ceasefire has remained in place.

During Israels escalation in Gaza, 33 Palestinians, including six children, three women, and two elderly people were martyred, according to figures issued by the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza. More than 190 Palestinians were injured in the attacks by the Israeli army. Some 2,041 Palestinian homes were partially damaged during the bombings, with damages worth $9 million. Losses in the agricultural sector alone reached $3 million, and $40 million in the economy overall, according to a report published by the media office of the government in Gaza.

The Israeli army used more than 400 missiles and bombs as it targeted homes, buildings and agricultural land in the Gaza Strip, of which 115 were dropped by drones. The army also used the advanced US-made GBU-39 bombs, which are armour piercing, during the assassination operations against the military commanders.

Israel said those smart bombs achieve direct hits on the person they are targeting, but the attacks also killed civilians, such as Jamal Khaswan, a Palestinian doctor who is a dual Russian citizen, his wife and son, who was a medical student.

Israeli missiles also killed or injured all members of Tarek Ezzeddins family, who was the main target. His two children Myar and Ali were killed, and his wife and other son were injured. Ezzeddin, who is originally from the West Bank, was a Palestinian detainee who was released during the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange deal between Hamas and Israel, under Egyptian auspices, in 2011.

Armed Palestinian factions fired more than 1,100 locally-made rockets at Israel during this round of escalation, while the Israeli army used Davids Sling defence system to intercept a rocket heading towards Tel Aviv.

Israel views this round of confrontations as achieving a handful of military goals, most notably the elimination of prominent military commanders in the Islamic Jihad. It has assassinated Jihad Al-Ghanam, a member of the groups military council, the military leader Khalil Al-Bahtini, the commander of the groups rocket unit Ali Ghanam, his deputy Ahmed Abu Daqah, and the head of operations in Saray Al-Quds Iyad Al-Hosni.

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who issued joyful statements about his victory, talked about greater military and political goals. He succeeded in gathering right-wing parties in his government coalition around him again, after they had boycotted him to pressure him into stiffer measures against armed Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip.

During a visit to Askalan, the city that was bombarded with rockets fired by Islamic Jihad during escalation, Netanyahu said, we are changing the balance of deterrence.

Hatem Abu Zaydeh, an expert on Israeli affairs, said that the escalation was based on an urgent need for the Israeli leadership to strengthen the so-called deterrence capacity, especially with the declining image of Netanyahus right-wing government on the Israeli street. This stems from a political decision rather than a military one, and Netanyahu was focused on a limited military confrontation.

Abu Zaydeh told Al-Ahram Weekly: The operation was part of the Netanyahu governments search for a quick and low-cost military operation. It looked for the weakest link in various arenas, finding Gaza and specifically the Islamic Jihad movement. Hamas did not openly participate in this military operation, despite confirmations by military and political officials that they were coordinating with Islamic Jihad.

According to Abu Zaydeh, Netanyahu achieved more political than military victories. First, regarding internal disputes in his government coalition, escalation ended all bickering. It also brought back the mass popularity of Netanyahu and the Likud Party among the right-wing public in Israel. Also, despite its limitations, it will enable him to confront opponents of his coalitions plan to reform the judiciary.

Nazir Majli, a political analyst, agrees, noting that Israel is dealing with the crisis in Gaza through a military lens. This has not changed, and at the conclusion of the military operation, preparations for a new military operation began.

Majli told the Weekly that so far, Israel has carried out 17 military operations against Gaza, and no final solution is in place for the battle between Israel and armed factions in Gaza.

As for the positive outcome of the military operation for Israel, he stated, Israel used advanced drones and weapons, which opens up a global market and increases the sale of Israeli weapons.

He added, Netanyahu succeeded in halting the downward spiral of his popularity among the Israeli public, and the possibility of losing power. He was also able to improve his political position and power in quarrels with his right-wing partners. He further gained leverage against the Israeli opposition, which will enable him to play the security card in the coming phase. This is disconcerting for Israelis, and prevents the overthrow of his government.

Despite the military operation in Gaza, the Flag March scheduled for Thursday in the occupied city of Jerusalem hints at the possibility of a new confrontation between Israel and armed Palestinian factions. Israel asserts the procession will take place as scheduled, and the route will not be amended despite threats by armed groups in Gaza.

Abu Zaydeh stressed there is a great probability of military escalation between Israel and armed groups in Gaza, especially since Israel is saying that boosting its deterrence power cannot happen in five days. Also, the operation is a prelude for a broader and larger military operation against the Gaza Strip, and may coincide with a similar military operation in the West Bank.

He continued: Indicators of military escalation are still present, and there are many explosive hotbeds for a new military confrontation between Israel and Palestinian factions. A new war between the two sides in the coming months is not entirely to be ruled out.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israels extremist minister of National Security, called for a large-scale military operation in the West Bank on the heels of the Israeli armys recent onslaught  which Ben-Gvir had pressed for. Following his statements, the Palestinian Authority urged the International Criminal Court to issue an arrest warrant against Ben-Gvir.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 18 May, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Scientists from the Florida Museum of Natural History and elsewhere have sequenced 391 genes from nearly 2,300 butterfly species, sampled from 90 countries and 28 specimen collections, to reconstruct a new phylogenomic tree of butterflies representing 92% of all genera. Theyve found that butterflies are likely to have first fed on flowering plants from the Fabaceae (legume, pea, or bean) family and originated in what is now the Americas.

This was a childhood dream of mine, said lead author Dr. Akito Kawahara, curator of lepidoptera at the Florida Museum of Natural History.

Its something Ive 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 curators door.

Its also the most difficult study Ive 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 hadnt been digitized and were written in various languages, Dr. Kawahara said.

Undeterred, the study 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 story  one 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, the researchers said.

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 Siberia.

North and South America hadnt 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 Pangea.

Its possible butterflies once lived in Antarctica when global temperatures were warmer, making their way across the continents 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, Dr. Kawahara said.

Europe doesnt 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, Dr. Kawahara said.

This was true in the ancestor of all butterflies as well.

Fabaceae plants have since increased their roster of pollinators to include various bees, flies, hummingbirds and mammals, while butterflies have similarly expanded their palate.

The botanical partnerships that butterflies forged helped transform them from minor offshoot of moths to what is today one of the worlds largest groups of insects, said Professor Pamela Soltis, curator at the Florida Museum of Natural History.

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.

The findings were published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution.

_____

A.Y. Kawahara et al. A global phylogeny of butterflies reveals their evolutionary history, ancestral hosts and biogeographic origins. Nat Ecol Evol, published online May 15, 2023; doi: 10.1038/s41559-023-02041-9
29 April 2023

Your Excellency,

You made a speech this week praising the establishment of Israel on its 75th anniversary. For someone in your position, it is surprising how many factual errors, misguided judgement, violation of international law and deviation from basic norms of justice that statement had.

You congratulated Israel on 75 years of existence on a land area of 20,500 km2, which is 78 per cent of Palestine. Not one square kilometre of this area was obtained by legal or just means. Six per cent was obtained through the treacherous British collusion and 72 per cent by military conquest. How could you congratulate a regime which obtained this land by spilling innocent blood?

Israel has no borders, neither by international law nor by its own devising. The Armistice Agreement of 1949 confers no legal title on any border. Which Israel are you congratulating? Is it in the land occupied by Israel in 1948, or in 1967? Not a single line in the relevant UN resolutions would support your views.

You congratulate Israel on its dynamism, ingenuity and groundbreaking innovations. I ask you, if you gather the best of German scientists and locate them in Madagascar, where you let them kill the people of the island and set up the best laboratory of the world, can that be considered a scientific achievement?

Einstein did not discover the Theory of Relativity because he was Jewish or Swiss; he discovered it because he was a brilliant scientist. To his credit he also rejected the idea of Israel and condemned the Jewish massacre of Deir Yassin.

Your European governments poured billions of Euros into Israel for scientific research under the EU-Israel Association. The agreement contained a clause requiring Israel to abide by human rights in the conduct of research. But Germany and Holland actually waived this clause when Israel asked them to.

Your Israel did not waste time. Its arms industry company Elbit sold weapons of mass destruction to many countries, spreading death and destruction in many parts of the world.

The prime victim is our people in Gaza. In four Israeli wars against Gaza in the last six years alone, not only were Elbit products used to kill women and children, but Elbit operators were in the field guiding Israeli soldiers on their use.

People of good conscience in the UK protested against that and demonstrated against Elbit in England. Similar people in Germany protested against Elbit but your government jailed them for doing so. Is this the Israeli science you celebrate?

You also say, Israel made the desert bloom. And it becomes clear that you fell into the trap of Israeli propaganda. With your government capabilities, you could have done a better job.

The area of the southern district is 12,500 km2. Israel irrigated at best 800 km2. The remaining 94 per cent was and is still desert. The irony is that the irrigation water is stolen from the West Bank and Golan Heights. All the stolen water used in agriculture produces only 1.5 per cent of Israel GDP. Making the desert bloom is a myth. How can this escape you?

You have paid for your guilt for atrocities against your Jewish citizens in Palestinian blood. Your leaders flocked to Yad Vashim  erected in Palestine, not in Germany  to shed tears and ask for forgiveness. But none of your leaders had the moral courage to look at the opposite hill, three km away, at Deir Yassin and confront your hosts, the criminals who committed the massacre there.

You took no notice of the Israeli-run concentration camps and forced labour camps for captured Palestinian civilians in 1948, set up by your citizens who fled to Palestine, only three years after those camps were closed in Germany, even though they were reported by ICRC.

But the major defect in your speech is that you did not see the elephant in the room. You did not see or recognise Al-Nakba, the worst disaster in Palestines 4000 years history.

You did not mention the Zionist invasion by 120,000 European soldiers in nine brigades carrying out 31 military operations. This invasion depopulated 560 towns and villages through massacres, making refugees of two thirds of the Palestinian people. How can you escape this calamity? Do you not know of Palestine?

Go back to the mid 19th-century maps by your geographers Kiepert and Van de Velde, who will tell you about 1,200 localities in Palestine. You are a fluent French speaker. Go to the seven volumes of Victor Guerin describing every village in Palestine.

If you miss all that, you cannot miss the historical visit of Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany to Palestinian Jerusalem on 31 October 1898. You cannot miss the voluminous scholarly work of Gustav Dalman about the Palestinian people.

With this knowledge, it is very sad, and indicative of the Western racism, that you should vote so frequently against inalienable Palestinian rights in the United Nations, invoking the sordid European history of colonialism.

Still, it is not too late. You can retract your words and actions and come back to the true path of peace and justice to Palestinians. They are the true heirs of Jesus Christ, after whom your political party was named.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 18 May, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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The touch of another person may increase levels of the "feelgood" hormone oxytocin. But the context really matters. The situation impacts oxytocin levels not only in the moment, but also later, as is shown by researchers at Linkoping University and the University of Skovde in Sweden. Their study has been published in the scientific journal eLife.

An embrace from a parent, a warm hand on your shoulder or a caress from a romantic partner are examples of how touch can strengthen social bonds between people and influence emotions. But although touch and the sense of touch have a very important function, knowledge of how this actually works is still lacking.

Studies in animals have shown that the hormone oxytocin is linked to touch and social bonding. However, many questions remain unanswered when it comes to oxytocin's role in human social interactions and how this hormone can influence and be influenced by the brain. To study this closer, researchers have examined what happens in the body when we feel a soft touch.

"We saw that the body's oxytocin response to touch was influenced by the situation: what had happened a few moments earlier and with whom the interaction takes place. The hormone does not function like an on/off button, but more like a dimmer switch," says India Morrison, senior associate professor at the Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences at Linkoping University.

42 women took part in the study, published in eLife. The actual experiment consisted of the woman's male partner stroking her arm with his hand, while her brain activity was monitored using functional magnetic resonance imaging, fMRI.

The experiment also involved repeatedly taking blood tests to see whether oxytocin levels in the woman's blood changed over time. Combining the various measurements allowed the researchers to examine whether hormone levels were linked to brain activity.

The measurements from the social interaction between the woman and her partner were compared with what happened when instead an unknown, non-threatening man touched her arm in the same way. In half of the experiments, her partner was the first to stroke her arm, and in the other half it was the stranger. The participating women were informed of who was stroking their arm.

"Our basic question was whether oxytocin levels would be higher when the woman's partner touched her arm than when a stranger did it. The answer was yes, but only when her partner was the first to stroke her arm," says India Morrison.

The researchers found that when her partner was first, the women's oxytocin levels increased during the social interaction, then fell, only to increase again when the stranger did the same thing. However, when the stranger touched her first, there was no change in oxytocin levels. And when her partner then stroked her arm, there was only a slight increase. The changes in oxytocin levels were linked to activity in regions of the brain important for the contextualisation of events.

Oxytocin is released in a variety of situations and has several functions in the body.

"It might be good to bear in mind that context matters, for instance when providing synthetic oxytocin in the form of a nasal spray as part of the treatment of mood-affecting conditions," says India Morrison.

The study was supported by the Swedish Research Council.
An international collaboration of researchers, including the Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (Kavli IPMU) has succeeded in a proof-of-principle experiment to verify strong-field quantum electrodynamics [4] with exotic atoms [5], by performing high-precision measurements of the energy spectrum of muonic characteristic X-rays [1] emitted from muonic atoms [2] using a state-of-the-art X-ray detector, reports a new study in Physical Review Letters.

The group's results are a significant step toward verifying fundamental physical laws under strong electric fields, which humankind has not yet been able to create artificially. The highly efficient and accurate X-ray energy determination method using state-of-the-art quantum technology demonstrated in this research is expected to be applied to various research fields, such as non-destructive elemental analysis methods using muonic atoms [6].

It has always been a dream of scientists to discover physical laws. They have been found or proposed to explain observed phenomena that cannot be understood by existing theories. In many cases, the discovery of new physics requires the development of new experimental techniques and improved accuracy of measurements. The most precisely tested theory of physical laws is Quantum ElectroDynamics (QED), which describes the microscopic interactions between charged particles and light. Scientists are constantly pushing the limits of how far QED accurately describes our physical reality.

In this paper, the collaboration, including Dr. Takuma Okumura (Postdoctoral Researcher, RIKEN at the time of the research, now Assistant Professor at Tokyo Metropolitan University), Professor Toshiyuki Azuma (Chief Scientist, RIKEN), Dr. Tadashi Hashimoto (Assistant Principal Researcher) of Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), Visiting Researcher Hideyuki Tatsuno of Tokyo Metropolitan University, Associate Professor Shinya Yamada of Rikkyo University, Professor Paul Indelicato of the Kastler-Brossel Laboratory, Professor Tadayuki Takahashi of Kavli IPMU, the University of Tokyo, Professor Koichiro Shimomura of Institute for Materials Structure Science, KEK, Professor Shinji Okada of Chubu University, injected a low-velocity negative muon beam from the J-PARC[7] facility into neon gas, and the energy of characteristic X-rays emitted from the resulting muonic neon (Ne) atoms was precisely measured using a superconducting Transition-Edge Sensor (TES) [3] detector. By taking full advantage of the excellent energy resolution of the TES detector, the energy of the muonic characteristic X-rays was determined with an absolute uncertainty of less than 1/10,000, and contributions from vacuum polarization [8] in strong-field quantum electrodynamics were successfully verified with a high precision of 5.8 %.

The TES detector was originally developed for space X-ray observation. Takahashi's current project at Kavli IPMU has been to carry out unprecedented cross-disciplinary research using this detector. His team includes Kavli IPMU Project Assistant Professor Shin'ichiro Takeda, Project Researcher Miho Katsuragawa, and at-the-tune graduate student Kairi Mine, who took part in the muon experiments.

The collaboration's demonstration of the experimental technique using muonic atoms is expected to lead to a great leap forward in the study of QED verification under strong electric fields.

Details of the study were published online (27 April 2023 Japan time) prior to publication in the scientific journal Physical Review Letters (27 April 2023 Japan time).

Background The effects of QED are more pronounced in environments with strong electric fields, but theoretical calculations become more difficult in this case. Therefore, a strong electric field environment is very important for QED verification. For many years, experiments using highly charged ions (HCIs), which are atoms stripped of multiple electrons, have been conducted as an approach to realize a strong electric field environment. The electric field felt by the bound electrons in HCIs becomes stronger as the atomic number becomes larger, and the shielding effect [10] is suppressed by the stripping of many electrons. HCI research using large accelerators is still vigorously pursued. However, even for HCIs with large atomic numbers, the effect of the finite size of the nucleus cannot be ignored. It has been pointed out that this effect is not precisely known, and thus the accuracy of QED verification, which compares experimental results with theory, is greatly compromised.

Research Methodology and Results To verify QED under strong electric fields in a different way than with HCIs, international research groups have focused on "exotic atoms," in which a negatively charged particle is bound to the nucleus instead of the electron. Among the variety of exotic atoms, muonic atoms are composed of negative muons (elementary particles about 200 times heavier than electrons) and nuclei. Negative muons can nowadays be extracted as beams from large accelerators. Muonic atoms are characterized by the extremely close proximity of the negative muon to the nucleus, with the orbital radius of a bound muon being approximately 1/200th that of a bound electron. As a result, the electric field felt by the muon is about 40,000 times stronger than the electric field felt by a bound electron of the same quantum level in an HCI, resulting in a huge QED effect. In addition, by using negative muons, which occupy high angular momentum quantum levels with small overlap with the nucleus, it is possible to conduct experiments in which the effect of the finite size of the nucleus is largely suppressed. By precisely measuring the energy of muonic characteristic X-rays emitted when muonic atoms are deexcited from a specific level to lower levels, QED can be verified under a strong electric field .

Thus, muonic atoms are a promising experimental target for strong-field QED verification. However, there are several problems to overcome. The largest is that a number of muonic atoms must be prepared in an isolated environment. The presence of atoms or molecules in the vicinity of the muonic atoms may cause rapid electron transfer and changes the energy of the muonic characteristic X-rays. The solution is to use dilute gas targets with a small number density (low pressure), but the number of produced muonic atoms and the resulting intensity of muonic characteristic X-rays are reduced. The international research group conducted experiments at the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC) in Tokai-mura, Ibaraki, where the world's most intense low-velocity muon beam is available. In order to determine the energy with sufficient accuracy even with low-intensity muonic characteristic X-rays, the experiment was conducted with a superconducting transition edge sensor (TES) microcalorimeter, which is a highly efficient and high-resolution X-ray detector.

Using rare gas neon ( 10 Ne) atoms as the target, they have achieved an energy resolution that is one order of magnitude higher than that of conventional semiconductor detectors (FWHM [11]: 5.2 eV) under dilute conditions of 0.1 atm and successfully measured the muonic characteristic X-rays. The peaks shown are mainly due to the overlap of muonic characteristic X-rays from six different transitions, and the energy of the muonic characteristic X-rays was determined to a high accuracy of 0.002% by analyzing contributions from each of them.

They repeated the measurements while changing the pressure of the neon gas target and confirmed that the energy of the muonic X-rays is constant within experimental error regardless of the pressure of the neon gas target. Thus, it can be concluded that the muonic neon atoms were in an isolated environment. They compared the latest theoretical calculations with the experimental results and confirmed that they agreed within the experimental error. We succeeded in verifying the effect of vacuum polarization under a strong electric field with an extremely high accuracy of 5.8%. This is comparable to the accuracy of strong-field QED using the multiply charged uranium ion U91+, which is the most accurate observation to date.

Supplementary Explanation

[1] Muonic characteristic X-ray When a negative muon bound to a nucleus deexcites from a higher energy orbital to a lower energy orbital, the excess energy is emitted as X-rays. These X-rays have specific energies depending on the atom and are called muonic characteristic X-rays.

[2] Muonic atom, negative muon Muons are one of the elementary particles and are the second generation of charged leptons in the Standard Model. There are positively or negatively charged muons, all with 1/2 spin and an average lifetime of 2.2 microseconds. Negative muons decay into electrons, muon neutrinos, and antielectron neutrinos through weak interactions. Negative muons are about 200 times heavier than electrons. Since negative muons have the same negative charge as electrons, they behave as "heavy electrons" bound to a positively charged nucleus, like electrons. An atom composed of a negative muon and a nucleus is called a muonic atom. A muonic atom eventually decays due to the lifetime of the negative muon or due to the capture of the negative muon by the nucleus.

[3] Superconducting Transition Edge Microcalorimeter (TES) A microcalorimeter is a detector that determines the X-ray energy by the temperature rise when a material absorbs X-rays. The Superconducting Transition Edge Microcalorimeter measures the temperature change due to X-ray absorption using the steep change in electrical resistance near the superconductivity-normal conduction phase transition. TES stands for Transition-Edge Sensor.

[4] Quantum electrodynamics (QED) QED is a field theory that regards electromagnetic interactions between charged particles as being caused by the exchange of photons and has succeeded in explaining a variety of phenomena that cannot be understood by relativistic quantum mechanics.

[5] Exotic atoms Atoms formed by replacing the nucleus and electrons that make up an atom with other charged particles (positrons, muons, antiprotons, pions, etc.) are called exotic atoms. The combination of charge and mass of the particles that make up an exotic atom is very different from that of electrons and nuclei, so exotic atoms behave in a unique way that ordinary atoms do not.

[6] Non-destructive elemental analysis method using muon atoms As a non-destructive elemental analysis method for unknown samples, the measurement of electronic characteristic X-rays emitted when a sample is irradiated with high-energy X-rays or electron beams has been widely used. However, the electronic characteristic X-rays emitted from light elements such as carbon and hydrogen have low energy, making it difficult to perform elemental analysis with sufficient accuracy. Recently, a non-destructive elemental analysis method using muonic characteristic X-rays, which are emitted when a sample material is irradiated with a negative muon beam, has been established. Since muonic characteristic X-rays generally have higher energy than electronic characteristic X-rays, this method has an extremely high sensitivity to light elements. The muon-based elemental analysis method has been used for the analysis of samples brought back from the asteroid "Ryugu," and its usefulness has been demonstrated.

[7] J-PARC (Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex) J-PARC is an accelerator facility located in Tokai-mura, Ibaraki, where advanced research in various fields, such as particle and atomic physics, materials, and life sciences, is conducted using the world's most intense proton beams. The Muon Science Experimental Facility MUSE is in the Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility (MLF) at J-PARC.

[8] Vacuum polarization Quantum electrodynamic effects on muon atomic energy can be classified into two main types: vacuum polarization and self-energy. According to quantum electrodynamics, photons, which are responsible for electromagnetic interactions, are constantly repeating the creation and annihilation reactions of virtual electron-positron pairs. The energy change associated with the creation and annihilation of these virtual electron-positron pairs is called vacuum polarization. Bound muons in muonic atoms are constantly absorbing and emitting virtual photons, and the energy change due to this process is called self-energy. It is known that the effect of vacuum polarization is particularly significant in quantum electrodynamic effects on muonic atoms, and in the case of muonic neon atoms, the effect of vacuum polarization is more than 1,000 times larger than the self-energy.

[9] Transition energy According to quantum mechanics, muons and electrons bound to nuclei occupy discrete orbits, with their energy also being discretized (quantized). The extra energy produced when a particle transitions from a higher energy orbital to a lower energy orbital is called the transition energy. In many cases, the transition energy is emitted as electromagnetic waves (light or X-rays).

[10] Shielding effect In an atom with multiple electrons, the effect is that the Coulomb force between the electrons and the nucleus appears to be reduced due to the charge of the remaining electrons.

[11] Half-width This indicates the width at half the value of an observation. The smaller this value is, the higher the resolution of the observation and the more precise the peak position can be measured.

[12] Schwinger limit According to quantum electrodynamics, in very strong electric fields exceeding an electric field strength of 1.32 x 1018 V/m, the electromagnetic field exhibits nonlinear effects. This limiting electric field is called the Schwinger limit after the physicist Julian Schwinger.
When people leave their rural lives behind to seek their fortunes in the city or agriculture is no longer profitable, the lands they toiled on are often left unused. A new perspective piece in Science shows that these abandoned lands could be both an opportunity and a threat for biodiversity, and highlights why abandoned lands are critical in the assessment of global restoration and conservation targets.

The past 50 years have seen an increased exodus of populations from rural to urban areas. Today, 55% of the world's population lives in or around cities and this proportion is expected to expand to up to 68% by 2050. There are of course a multitude of reasons for people to leave their rural lives behind and move to urban areas, including socioeconomic and political change, declining subsistence farming, and environmental factors. One effect of this continuous decrease in rural populations is that the land they leave behind leads to a rise in the number of abandoned fields and pastures, forestry areas, mines, factories, and even entire human settlements.

IIASA researcher Gergana Daskalova and Johannes Kamp, a researcher at the University of Gottingen in Germany, took a closer look at abandoned land -- in other words land on which human activities have ceased -- to explore how biodiversity is influenced, and what this means for ecology and conservation.

"The factors that drive depopulation and consequently also land abandonment are intensifying due to issues like climate change and the rapidly changing geopolitical landscape. The Russian invasion of Ukraine, for example, has already created new abandonment hotspots. Abandonment is a globally important process. The scale at which this is happening around the world urged us to put the spotlight on the places people have left behind as a potential source of future solutions for conservation, while also protecting human livelihoods," Daskalova explains.

According to the authors, the exact amount of abandoned land around the world is unknown, but it is estimated that it could comprise up to 400 million ha globally, which is an area roughly half the size of Australia. Most of this abandoned land is in the Northern Hemisphere, of which around 117 million ha falls within the former Soviet Union.

The effect that abandoned areas have on biodiversity can be both positive and negative. The biggest wins are likely to be achieved where areas that were previously intensively farmed and where biodiversity was low, are abandoned. The first changes that will probably be observed in these areas would be the return of plant life, birds, and invertebrates that can survive in recently disturbed ecosystems. If the abandonment of these crop fields is coupled with people leaving the area or with wildlife reintroductions, this can lead to rewilding with the possible return of large herbivores and even carnivores. The authors however point out that not all abandoned land will recover without help, and that some of the land that was previously intensively farmed will never return to what it once was.

Land abandonment can also have negative impacts in terms of biodiversity, as well as for human culture and tradition. In areas that have traditionally been used for low-intensity, or subsistence farming over a long period of time, for instance, the close ties between the people and the land have created interdependent ecosystems that break down after people move away, thus leading to the loss of locally rare species or the proliferation of only one or two dominant species at the expense of others.

"Because abandonment usually happens out of sight, there is still so much we do not know about its imprint on the planet. We are currently working in Bulgaria, the quickest depopulating country in the world, to determine what types of plants, birds, and other biodiversity return to villages long after the last house lights have been turned off," Daskalova notes.

Any gains in biodiversity on abandoned land can unfortunately be very quickly undone when land is recultivated or repurposed and, according to the authors, there is growing pressure to find new industrial uses for abandoned land, such as large-scale bioenergy, wind-, and solar energy production, often in just over a decade after abandonment.

The authors further highlight that finding the best use for abandoned land will involve balancing benefits for conservation, human livelihoods, and sustainability. It is therefore crucial that biodiversity change on abandoned land be included in regional and global assessments, policies, and scenarios and where abandoned land is reused, care should be taken to ensure that economic needs are balanced with restoration and conservation goals.

"It is important for future models and scenarios aimed at predicting the positive versus negative effects of abandonment on biodiversity to take into account whether the land is likely to remain abandoned and what the feedbacks between abandonment, biodiversity, human values, and livelihoods entail. As global conversations around this topic continue, we can look to abandoned lands as the product of centuries of interactions between people and nature, and create incentives not just for conservation, but also for land stewardship and the preservation of both social and ecological values," Daskalova concludes.
For two decades, physicists have tried to directly manipulate the spin of electrons in 2D materials like graphene. Doing so could spark key advances in the burgeoning world of 2D electronics, a field where super-fast, small and flexible electronic devices carry out computations based on quantum mechanics.

Standing in the way is that the typical way in which scientists measure the spin of electrons -- an essential behavior that gives everything in the physical universe its structure -- usually doesn't work in 2D materials. This makes it incredibly difficult to fully understand the materials and propel forward technological advances based on them. But a team of scientists led by Brown University researchers believe they now have a way around this longstanding challenge. They describe their solution in a new study published in Nature Physics.

In the study, the team -- which also include scientists from the Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies at Sandia National Laboratories, and the University of Innsbruck -- describe what they believe to be the first measurement showing direct interaction between electrons spinning in a 2D material and photons coming from microwave radiation. Called a coupling, the absorption of microwave photons by electrons establishes a novel experimental technique for directly studying the properties of how electrons spin in these 2D quantum materials -- one that could serve as a foundation for developing computational and communicational technologies based on those materials, according to the researchers.

"Spin structure is the most important part of a quantum phenomenon, but we've never really had a direct probe for it in these 2D materials," said Jia Li, an assistant professor of physics at Brown and senior author of the research. "That challenge has prevented us from theoretically studying spin in these fascinating material for the last two decades. We can now use this method to study a lot of different systems that we could not study before."

The researchers made the measurements on a relatively new 2D material called "magic-angle" twisted bilayer graphene. This graphene-based material is created when two sheets of ultrathin layers of carbon are stacked and twisted to just the right angle, converting the new double-layered structure into a superconductor that allows electricity to flow without resistance or energy waste. Just discovered in 2018, the researchers focused on the material because of the potential and mystery surrounding it.

"A lot of the major questions that were posed in 2018 have still yet to be answered," said Erin Morissette, a graduate student in Li's lab at Brown who led the work.

Physicists usually use nuclear magnetic resonance or NMR to measure the spin of electrons. They do this by exciting the nuclear magnetic properties in a sample material using microwave radiation and then reading the different signatures this radiation causes to measure spin.

The challenge with 2D materials is that the magnetic signature of electrons in response to the microwave excitation is too small to detect. The research team decided to improvise. Instead of directly detecting the magnetization of the electrons, they measured subtle changes in electronic resistance, which were caused by the changes in magnetization from the radiation using a device fabricated at the Institute for Molecular and Nanoscale Innovation at Brown. These small variations in the flow of the electronic currents allowed the researchers to use the device to detect that the electrons were absorbing the photos from the microwave radiation.

The researchers were able to observe novel information from the experiments. The team noticed, for instance, that interactions between the photons and electrons made electrons in certain sections of the system behave as they would in an anti-ferromagnetic system -- meaning the magnetism of some atoms was canceled out by a set of magnetic atoms that are aligned in a reverse direction.

The new method for studying spin in 2D materials and the current findings won't be applicable to technology today, but the research team sees potential applications the method could lead to in the future. They plan to continue to apply their method to twisted bilayer graphene but also expand it to other 2D material.

"It's a really diverse toolset that we can use to access an important part of the electronic order in these strongly correlated systems and in general to understand how electrons can behave in 2D materials," Morissette said.

The experiment was carried out remotely in 2021 at the Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies in New Mexico. Mathias S. Scheurer from University of Innsbruck provided theoretical support for modeling and understanding the result. The work included funding from the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science.
In the future, artificial intelligence will play an important role in medicine. In diagnostics, successful tests have already been performed: for example, the computer can learn to categorise images with great accuracy according to whether they show pathological changes or not. However, it is more difficult to train an artificial intelligence to examine the time-varying conditions of patients and to calculate treatment suggestions -- this is precisely what has now been achieved at TU Wien in cooperation with the Medical University of Vienna.

With the help of extensive data from intensive care units of various hospitals, an artificial intelligence was developed that provides suggestions for the treatment of people who require intensive care due to sepsis. Analyses show that artificial intelligence already surpasses the quality of human decisions. However, it is now important to also discuss the legal aspects of such methods.

Making optimal use of existing data

"In an intensive care unit, a lot of different data is collected around the clock. The patients are constantly monitored medically. We wanted to investigate whether these data could be used even better than before," says Prof. Clemens Heitzinger from the Institute for Analysis and Scientific Computing at TU Wien (Vienna). He is also Co-Director of the cross-faculty "Center for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning" (CAIML) at TU Wien.

Medical staff make their decisions on the basis of well-founded rules. Most of the time, they know very well which parameters they have to take into account in order to provide the best care. However, the computer can easily take many more parameters than a human into account -- and in some cases this can lead to even better decisions.

The computer as planning agent

"In our project, we used a form of machine learning called reinforcement learning," says Clemens Heitzinger. "This is not just about simple categorisation -- for example, separating a large number of images into those that show a tumour and those that do not -- but about a temporally changing progression, about the development that a certain patient is likely to go through. Mathematically, this is something quite different. There has been little research in this regard in the medical field."

The computer becomes an agent that makes its own decisions: if the patient is well, the computer is "rewarded." If the condition deteriorates or death occurs, the computer is "punished." The computer programme has the task of maximising its virtual "reward" by taking actions. In this way, extensive medical data can be used to automatically determine a strategy which achieves a particularly high probability of success.

Already better than a human

"Sepsis is one of the most common causes of death in intensive care medicine and poses an enormous challenge for doctors and hospitals, as early detection and treatment is crucial for patient survival," says Prof. Oliver Kimberger from the Medical University of Vienna. "So far, there have been few medical breakthroughs in this field, which makes the search for new treatments and approaches all the more urgent. For this reason, it is particularly interesting to investigate the extent to which artificial intelligence can contribute to improve medical care here. Using machine learning models and other AI technologies are an opportunity to improve the diagnosis and treatment of sepsis, ultimately increasing the chances of patient survival."

Analysis shows that AI capabilities are already outperforming humans: "Cure rates are now higher with an AI strategy than with purely human decisions. In one of our studies, the cure rate in terms of 90-day mortality was increased by about 3% to about 88%," says Clemens Heitzinger.

Of course, this does not mean that one should leave medical decisions in an intensive care unit to the computer alone. But the artificial intelligence may run along as an additional device at the bedside -- and the medical staff can consult it and compare their own assessment with the artificial intelligence's suggestions. Such artificial intelligences can also be highly useful in education.

Discussion about legal issues is necessary

"However, this raises important questions, especially legal ones," says Clemens Heitzinger. "One probably thinks of the question who will be held liable for any mistakes made by the artificial intelligence first. But there is also the converse problem: what if the artificial intelligence had made the right decision, but the human chose a different treatment option and the patient suffered harm as a result?" Does the doctor then face the accusation that it would have been better to trust the artificial intelligence because it comes with a huge wealth of experience? Or should it be the human's right to ignore the computer's advice at all times?

"The research project shows: artificial intelligence can already be used successfully in clinical practice with today's technology -- but a discussion about the social framework and clear legal rules are still urgently needed," Clemens Heitzinger is convinced.
Do we always perceive the world in the same way? A hypnosis experiment proves that we certainly don't.

If we sincerely believe that our index finger is five times bigger than it really is, our sense of touch improves. Researchers at Ruhr University Bochum demonstrated that this is the case in an experiment in which the participants were put under professional hypnosis. When the participants signalled that they understood the opposite hypnotic suggestion that their index finger was five times smaller than it actually was, their sense of touch deteriorated accordingly. The study shows that our tactile perception is affected and can be altered by our mental processes. The scientific community has been divided on this issue. Headed by PD Dr. Hubert Dinse, Professor Albert Newen and Professor Martin Tegenthoff, the researchers published their findings in the journal Scientific Reports on 21 April 2023.

Two needles feel like one

The researchers measured the tactile perception of their 24 test participants using the two-point discrimination method. This involves the index finger lying relaxed on a device with two needles repeatedly touching the finger painlessly but perceptibly. "If the needles are far enough apart, we can easily distinguish two points of contact," explains Hubert Dinse from the Neurological Clinic of Berufsgenossenschaftliches Universitatsklinikum Bergmannsheil. "But if the needles are very close together, we only feel the touch in one place." At a certain distance between the needles, the sensation changes from feeling two needles to feeling just one, although two are presented. This discrimination threshold is stable for each person given normal everyday consciousness.

If the finger were five times bigger

"We wanted to find out whether it's possible to change this sensation threshold by activating a verbally articulated thought in a person," explains Albert Newen from the Philosophy Institute II at Ruhr University Bochum. The research team chose two thought cues: "Imagine your index finger is five times smaller" and "Imagine your index finger is five times bigger." To specifically activate these semantic contents, the researchers used hypnotic suggestion. During a controlled state of hypnosis induced by a professional hypnotist, the participant was asked to sincerely accept the first belief for a series of tests and then the second.

The subjects took part in a total of four experiments to determine the sensation threshold in each case: under normal everyday consciousness, under hypnosis without suggestion, and under two hypnotic conditions with the suggestions of a bigger or smaller index finger.

Changes in the sense of touch

"Discrimination thresholds did not differ when measured during normal consciousness and hypnosis without suggestion. This supports our preliminary assumption that hypnosis alone doesn't lead to changes," says Martin Tegenthoff. "However, if the beliefs are induced as suggestions under hypnosis, we observe a systematic change in the tactile discrimination threshold." When a test person imagined that their index finger was five times bigger than it actually was, their discrimination threshold improved and they were able to feel two needles, even when they were closer together. When the suggestion was that their index finger was five times smaller, the discrimination threshold worsened. This means that it is the beliefs that change perception. The behavioural results were supported by parallel recordings of brain activity such as spontaneous EEG and sensory evoked potentials.

The scientific community is divided on the question of whether or not perceptual processes can be influenced by semantic content alone -- experts refer to this as the question of cognitive penetrability of perception. "Our study provides another building block supporting the idea that such top-down influences of beliefs on perception do indeed exist," stresses Hubert Dinse. "The beliefs we hold do indeed change how we experience the world."
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 this Monday 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 story -- one 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.
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.

But this level of personal information must be handled extremely carefully. Now, scientists and regulators must grapple with the ethical dilemmas inherent in accidentally -- or intentionally -- sweeping 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.

"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."
Individual fish in schools scatter in unison when a predator is in their midst.

Similar examples of precisely coordinated group movements and immobility during threats have long been observed in insects and mammals.

Now, for the first time, a brain pathway has been discovered that enables individual animals to rapidly coordinate a unified response, with no rehearsal required.

Publishing recently in the print edition of the journal Biological Psychiatry, Virginia Tech scientists with the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC described how they studied synchronized immobility in pairs of mice and identified the underlying brain circuit responsible for this behavior.

The study provides an identified target to advance research on the poorly understood brain activity that underlies coordinated group movement and, more broadly, social communication in general, which is compromised in a variety of human neuropsychiatric conditions such as attention hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and social communication disorder (SCD).

"Examples of coordinated defensive responses in nature are numerous -- oxen, for example, form a circle when they face a threat," said Alexei Morozov, assistant professor of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute and corresponding author of the study. "Synchronization under threat is an evolutionary-conserved survival mechanism and occurs across species, including humans. This type of behavior has never been measured in a lab before, but now we can now quantify this response and explore the underlying mechanisms."

Mice were trained to associate an auditory cue to a potential threat, like a fire drill. The researchers studied parts of the brain that process and remember fear and social information, and they found that a specific connection between two parts of the brain, the ventral hippocampus and basolateral amygdala, plays an important role in coordinating behavior when faced with a threat.

The information suggests a method to investigate these brain connections in more complicated situations. Although the study began with pairs of individuals, more research is needed to determine whether the same pathway is responsible for coordinating larger group behavior, such as huddling, in larger groups.

"This gives us a way toward a deeper understanding of social behavior," Morozov said. "At home and at work, people coordinate and exchange information with partners. Now we have a model that helps us understand the underlying brain pathway."

"This is among the most significant discoveries made in recent years on identifying the sites and the potential underlying mechanisms in the brain that mediate these types of important social interactions," said Michael Friedlander, Virginia Tech vice president for health sciences and technology and executive director of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute. "While the pathologies in these behaviors are well characterized in human clinical populations, attempts at effective therapies have been hampered by a lack of understanding of which brain circuits and biological processes are impacted. Dr. Morozov and his team have designed and implemented an elegant series of experiments in mice to provide a potentially powerful base from which to advance this science and hopefully shorten the time to develop more strategically targeted therapies for humans."

Research assistant professor Wataru Ito and research assistant Alexander Palmer, also of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute's Center for Neurobiology Research, participated in the research study.
Tel Aviv has always justified and promoted its wars against Palestinians by reference to security and fighting terrorism. Israels greatest challenge throughout these wars was hardly the Palestinian resistance, however steadfast and resilient. The challenge has always been Tel Avivs ability to kill many Palestinians, including civilians, without tarnishing its image internationally as an oasis of democracy and civilisation.

More recently Israel has been losing the public relations battle and it is now losing a different kind of battle too. Throughout its 75-year-old history, from its violent birth on the ruins of historic Palestine in May 1948, up to its latest war on the besieged Gaza Strip on 9 May Israels history has been associated with violence.

Pro-Israeli Western propaganda, along with Israels own masterful manipulation of facts and rewriting of history, have allowed Israel to blame the violence on others: first, the Arabs who supposedly attacked Israel unprovoked time and again; then the Palestinian terrorists of all ideological colours, socialists, secularists and, as of late, Islamic fundamentalists.

Alas, the Israeli Hasbara worked, not because of its sheer genius, but because of the near-total embargo on the Palestinian voice in all aspects of life. This embargo continues to this day, and has extended to reach dominant social media platforms including, notably, Facebook.

But the fight for the truth, intellectual integrity and freedom of speech continues, and Palestinian successes are now far greater than all attempts by Israel, its benefactors and supporters to censor, sideline or muffle the Palestinian voice. The days of hiding Israeli crimes or blaming them on someone else seem to be over.

There are reasons why Israeli propaganda is going through its worst days. Aside from the power and influence commanded by Palestinian intellectuals, social media activists and the numerous platforms made available to them through innumerable solidarity networks around the world, the Israeli Hasbara has itself grown weak and unconvincing. Israel is a fragmented society. While it is true that Israelis often unite during times of war, this time around, their unity is stale and unimpressive.

The rise of a far-right, even fascist government under the leadership of embattled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last December generated mass protests that have rocked Israeli cities since then. Trapped, Netanyahu needed an outlet through which to rally angry Israelis behind him, and to keep his far-right ministers satisfied. He opted for attacking Gaza.

The choice to export Israels political crises to Palestine is an old tactic. However, with stiff and increasingly strong Palestinian resistance in recent years, a Gaza war is no longer an easy option. The May 2021 war, dubbed Guardian of the Walls by Israel and Sword of Jerusalem by the Palestinians, for example, was a painful reminder of how such foolish miscalculations on the part of Tel Aviv can backfire.

Netanyahu has since resorted to a different model: a mini war that targets one Palestinian group in an isolated area at a time: the Lions Den in Nablus, or the Islamic Jihad in Gaza.

Netanyahus choice to attack Gaza and assasinate top leaders in the Islamic Jihads military arm, the Al-Quds Brigades, was not a haphazard one. The group is strong enough for such a decisive and bloody military operation to be marketed by Netanyahu and his supporters as a restoration of deterrence without involving Israel in a prolonged and costly war with all Palestinian Resistance groups all at once.

This tactic worked in the past, at least according to Israels own calculations. In November 2019, Israel launched a war on the Islamic Jihad in Gaza. It was dubbed Black Belt. Though other Resistance groups declared their support for the Islamic Jihad then, they did not engage in the fight directly. Why?

For years, the resistance in Gaza wanted to change the rules of engagement with Israel. Instead of allowing Israel to determine the time and place of war, based on Tel Avivs own agenda and degree of readiness, resistance factions in Gaza wanted to have a say over the timing of such battles.

Israel completely failed to understand the Palestinian strategy and assumed that the Black Belt operation reflected Palestinian weakness, indecisiveness and, more dangerously, disunity.

The May 2021 and Unity Intifada should have alerted Israel to the fact that Palestinian resistance groups remained united, and that the resistance Joint Operations Room, which includes Hamas, the Islamic Jihad, the socialist PFLP, among others, continues to operate in unison.

Netanyahu sought to ignore the clear message communicated by Palestinians not only in Gaza, but also through the unified resistance in the West Bank, perhaps out of his own desperation to divert attention away from his multiple political crises and corruption trials at home. For whatever reason, Netanyahu thought he would be able to successfully replicate Black Belt, divide the resistance and restore deterrence.

Soon after the assassination of top Islamic Jihad commanders  Jihad Al-Ghannam, Khalil Al-Bahtini and Tarek Ezzeddin  on 9 May, Netanyahu gave a press conference along with his archenemy, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, to prematurely detail Israels supposed victory. The victory lap did not last for long, however. After 35 hours of perplexing silence, while nearly two million Israelis hid in shelters as if awaiting their punishment, the resistance responded.

Then, the rockets of the resistance came raining in, creating panic, from Sderot, Ashkelon and Netivot all the way to Rehovot or Gush Etzion.

Suddenly, the deterrence war, named Shield and Arrow by the Israeli military, became Netanyahus nightmare. And, yet, all of this was done by the Islamic Jihad alone, with coordination and support from the rest of the resistance factions.

Though Hamas, the PFLP and others have fully supported the Islamic Jihad in its ongoing fight, Israeli officials still refrained from resorting to their usual threats of assassinating all Palestinian resistance leaders. The only exception was comments made by Israels Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Israel Katz, who threatened, in an interview with Israels Kan 11 News, to eliminate top Hamas leaders in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar and Mohamed Deif.

As of the evening of 13 May, a tentative ceasefire has been reached, pro-Netanyahu propagandists will spend many hours speaking of the splendid victory over terror, and pro-Israeli spin doctors will labour to twist the facts and blame Palestinians, including children, for their own misery.

But the uncontested truth is that the Palestinian Resistance has managed to challenge, if not to reverse, the rules of engagements like never before.

More importantly, Palestinians on the ground have shown us that unity is not expressed through cliched language, empty slogans and press conferences in luxury hotels. It is the unity of those resisting on the ground, from Gaza to Nablus, and from Jenin to Sheikh Jarrah, that matters most.

The writer is a journalist, author, and the editor of The Palestine Chronicle.

* This article was published in Al-Ahram Weekly in May 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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Migration will likely increase for demographic, economic, climatic, and geopolitical reasons, and origin, destination, and transit countries should plan for it to optimise its benefits and minimise its costs, writes Mahmoud Mohieldin

Migration presents both diverse opportunities and great challenges. It can help economies to improve or cause governments to fall. Policymakers have to decide whether to turn it into a tool for economic development and the fight against poverty or let it remain a source of tension, attrition, brain drain and squandered opportunities.

Last month, the World Bank released its World Development Report entitled Migrants, Refugees and Societies. The updated facts and figures on migrants in this are particularly useful, with these being defined as people who live outside their country of nationality, whether they moved in search of better economic opportunities or were displaced across borders by conflict or persecution (refugees).

The report says that there are around 184 million migrants in the world today, or about 2.3 per cent of the worlds population, of whom 37 million are refugees. About 43 per cent of migrants live in low- and middle-income countries.

More and more countries defy the conventional classification of migrant exporter versus migrant host countries. Demographic changes and the effects of climate change and geopolitical conflicts have combined to make migration an increasingly complex phenomenon. Today, many countries, regardless of their wealth, are both migrant exporters and hosts at the same time.

Though modern political and economic analysis brings new ideas and paradigms to bear on the question of migration, the drivers of migration are as old as the hills. People have been on the move from one place to another since the dawn of history and before the birth of borders. The classical writers gave considerable thought to the phenomenon and, indeed, wrote poetry on it, enumerating its causes and benefits.

The eighth-century Arab Muslim renowned scholar and the great Imam Al-Shafei is noted for a verse that lists five reasons for leaving ones native land, for example, including release from distress and the search for a better livelihood, knowledge, moral edification, and illustrious company. Some motives may outweigh others, but generally economic reasons are the main driving force of migration and the source of attraction of destination countries. In 2020, more than 84 per cent of migrants settled in a country that was wealthier than their own.

Regarding demographics, one of the main drivers of migration, I have previously discussed this in relation to development and progress, noting how, in the countries of the South, longer life expectancy rates and population growth have given rise to a higher ratio of young people to old. The demographics in the countries of the North are heading in the opposite direction: a shrinking population and a larger ratio of elderly people.

The World Bank report cites Italy as a case in point. Its population, which currently stands at around 59 million, is expected to shrink to 32 million by the end of this century. People over 65 will increase from 24 to 38 per cent of the population. By contrast, the population of Nigeria is expected to rise from 213 million to 791 million by the end of the century, making it the second most populous country in the world after India.

Statistically, communicating vessels mechanisms may offer a solution to such demographic problems, making it possible to balance population shortages and surpluses. But political, economic, social and cultural considerations tell us that this is not as easy as it might sound. Yet, even so legal and well-organised migration can undoubtedly help to remedy demographic imbalances and help both migrant origin and migrant destination nations to provide essential services to their public and meet their economic needs.

This is a subject that has not received its due share of recognition in the countries of the North. At the same time, optimising the benefit of the population resources of the countries of the South requires huge investments in human capital, and, above all, in education, skills and capacity building, and healthcare.

Climate change is the second major driver of migration, as its adverse impacts on economic activity and life in general have precipitated a phenomenon known as climate migration. The World Bank Report says that about 40 per cent of the worlds population  3.5 billion people  live in places highly exposed to the impacts of climate change: water shortages, drought, heat stresses, sea level rise, and extreme events such as floods and tropical cyclones.

Climate impacts are threatening the habitability of entire regions in places as diverse as the Sahel, low-lying Bangladesh, and the Mekong Delta. In some Small Island Developing States, these impacts are forcing leaders to contemplate planned relocations.

In her book Nomad Century: How Climate Migration Will Reshape Our World, UK writer Gaia Vince vividly demonstrates how environmental deterioration due to climate change will increase forced migration from the warming countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America, and warns the countries of the North that they had better prepare for unprecedented influxes of climate refugees unless they take the necessary steps now to radically reduce climate-damaging emissions.

An integrated and collaborative international approach is of the essence in order to marshal the necessary resources and investments for climate mitigation and adaptation action. This includes compensation for climate-related damage. It should also be borne in mind that climate action projects should be designed in a framework that integrates them with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This, in turn, entails developing migration policies for both migrant origin and destination countries.

The third major driver of migration is the spread of conflict, civil strife, violence, terrorism and persecution in tandem with mounting geopolitical tensions. Forced displacements due to conflict  i.e. refugees  have more than doubled during the past decade, according to the World Bank Report. Many people have said that they have seen nothing like the current waves of conflict-related migration since the end of World War II.

According to the report, refugees make up 20 per cent of the total number of migrants. We should note however that the majority of impacted population by conflicts are internally displaced in their home countries. Those who manage to flee abroad tend to seek refuge in countries close to their homelands. Children account for around 41 per cent of the total number of refugees in the world.

In a previous article, I discussed how the average length of refugee stays in their host countries has risen to more than 17 years, which necessitates addressing a broader range of interrelated concerns, from urgent to mid-term humanitarian relief and services to longer-term development, security and other basic needs.

The World Bank Report provides a framework for handling migration that it calls the Match and Motive Matrix. This relies on a fusion of labour market economics with international law. The labour economics side focuses on the right fit between the migrants skills, qualifications and other socioeconomic attributes and the needs of the destination country. Obviously, the better the match, the greater the benefit for the economy of the destination country, for the migrant in terms of income and related benefits, and for the country of origin through remittances.

As noted above, the motives for migrating vary, from the desire for better work opportunities and living standards to security and safety concerns due to outbreaks of violence or different types of persecution in the original homeland. These, in turn, raise the question of the destination countries obligations under international law, such as the need to offer protection and support under the UN Refugee Convention or for victims of racism and other forms of discrimination.

The report incorporates both dimensions  Match and Motive  into a framework that helps policymakers to identify priorities and procedures, whether in the country of origin, the destination country, or the transit countries depending on the length of the migrants stay there, which could end up being quite long depending upon the destination countrys restrictions.

It underscores the need to understand the different types of migration and how these relate to the Match and Motive Matrix in order to optimise potential benefits while minimising losses in the event of a weak fit on the labour economics side the equation. For simplicitys sake, I have distinguished between four cases:

 The first case is when migrants have the skills and attributes that the destination country needs, while their motives for migrating are relatively easy to deal with. In this case, the benefits of migration outweigh the costs. An example might be the migration of Indian engineers to Silicon Valley in the US.

 In a second case, migrants may lack the skills needed in the destination country, while the motives for migration are more complicated. In this case, the costs of migration outweigh the benefits. An example would be poorly skilled migrants at the southern US border.

 A third case is when highly skilled refugees are forced to migrate due to conditions in their homeland and whose skills are in demand in the destination country. The World Bank Report cites the examples of Syrian entrepreneurs in Turkey and doctors from Venezuela. In this case, the destination countries need to take special measures in order to benefit from their skills, such as providing security and legal protection.

 A fourth case is when refugees are fleeing for their lives and not legally allowed to work. This is the worst-case scenario and applies, for example, to unaccompanied refugee minors in Africa or the victims of brutal wide scale cleansing like the Rohingya who were forced to flee from Myanmar. In this case, humanitarian and security considerations outweigh all others.

Dealing with migration requires a fact-based approach, a high degree of flexibility, and rational dialogue as free as possible from politicisation and the associated ills of demagoguery and political opportunism that often capitalise on racist and xenophobic currents in society.

For countries to benefit from the movement of people and minimise the costs, policymakers must objectively analyse the types of movement they are dealing with in order to devise the most sensible and mutually beneficial policies possible in the light of the economic, political, social and humanitarian situation.

Migration in all its forms and patterns will likely to increase due to the above-mentioned economic, demographic and climatic factors as well as geopolitical conflicts. It would be wise for origin, destination, and transit countries to start planning and working together in comprehensive and integrated ways, taking advantage of such tools as the Match and Motive Matrix, in order to prepare for the inevitable.

Burying the heads in the sand is a recipe for dire consequences.

* This article appeared in Arabic in Wednesdays edition of Asharq Al-Awsat.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 18 May, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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If you were watching the coronation of Charles III, you might have noticed a golden eagle-shaped flask. It is crucial to one of the most sacred parts of the ceremony.

The coronation ceremony at Westminster Cathedral includes an ancient rite conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the head of the Anglican Church, in which oil from that flask, known as chrism oil, is used to anoint the new king.

Prior to that, the oil was consecrated by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III, and the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, Rev Hosam Naoum in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which is built on the site where Jesus was crucified. Rev Hosam Naoum, who took part in the coronation ceremony, personally delivered the sacred oil to the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby for the purpose.

The oil, itself, comes from olives harvested in the Mount of Olives, home to the oldest olive trees in the world, and specifically from groves belonging to the Monastery of the Ascension and the Monastery of Mary Magdalene. King Charles visited the latter in 2020 in order to pay his respects at the tomb of his paternal grandmother Princess Alice of Greece and Denmark. Olives are pressed near the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem and then scented with essential oils, spices and resins, such as rose and orange blossom, cinnamon and sesame, and amber and benzoin. The recipe for the holy oil is over 2,000 years old and was used for the first time to perfume the shroud of Jesus in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Today, by some twist of fate, Israel is busily uprooting olive trees in the occupied Arab territories to clear the way for concrete blocks of Jewish settlements. In so doing, it is violating international law prohibiting the altering of the topographical and demographic character of occupied territories. Every olive tree in Palestine is imbued with a deep historical and symbolic significance intimately connected with the collective soul of the Palestinian people.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 18 May, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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A lot of water has passed under the bridge since the last Arab summit in the city of Dammam in eastern Saudi Arabia five years ago. At the time, in 2018, the aftershocks of the Arab Spring were still splitting the Arab region between two camps. One believed the spring had ushered in changes in the essence of the Arab state to mould it in an Islamist revolutionary or neo-Ottoman cast, while the other saw it as a way out of a cyclical past that had lasted longer than it should have. The most salient manifestation of the polarisation was the Arab Quartet consisting of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE and Bahrain, versus the alliance between Qatar and Turkey. Other Arab countries gravitated towards one of the two poles. Some were being ravaged by civil wars. Others were hit by a sudden overflow of human tragedy and misery from neighbouring states. The direct and indirect fallout from conflict jeopardised the stability and security of every state in the region, at a time, moreover, when hearts grieved for the tragedy of thousands of lives lost at sea or tens of thousands caught in the barbed wired gates of Europe in search of refugee.

Nevertheless, the regional landscape had a brighter side. Some Arab countries, such as the Gulf countries, Jordan and Morocco, had weathered the spring. Others, such as Egypt, overthrew Muslim Brotherhood rule. Moreover, a current of political, economic and social reform injected a new dynamism in some Arab countries, producing a thrust towards peaceful change epitomised by ambitious sustainable development visions with sights set 15 or 20 years ahead to 2030 or 2035. Regardless of how they differed in timeframe or other details, the projects all agreed to reject stagnation and work towards renewal, opening up the economy, and setting in motion nationwide mega projects, renewing religious and civil thought, and taking what steps were necessary to build the modern nation state.

It had been a long time since the Arab state underwent such fundamental change. Moreover, this was not an imitation of previous revolutionary-type experiences led by army officer movements and/or political parties with Arab nationalist ideologies that sanctioned meddling in the domestic affairs of other Arab nations. It was clear that the Arab nation state, with its particular geopolitical interests and calculations, was both able to and needed to be a distinct and dynamic entity if the larger Arab front was to be effective.

Developments both within and outside the framework of the Arab state since the last Arab summit have reflected progress in the reform process. A landmark is to be found in the AlUla Declaration adopted in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit on 5 January 2021. Its deescalation of the tension between the Arab Quartet and the Qatari-Turkish axis constituted the first step towards overcoming regional polarisation. Not only did a rapprochement begin soon afterwards, but a New Levant process, spearheaded by Baghdad, Cairo and Amman, was set in motion to lead Iraq out of its isolation. Baghdad demonstrated its ability to act as a bridge between Tehran and Riyadh, then Muscat joined in as a mediator and a hub for negotiating efforts to end the long intractable Yemeni crisis.

A unified and constructive Arab front was needed for other reasons. If at first, the second wave of Arab Spring, which broke out in Sudan, Iraq, Lebanon and Algeria, seemed to have heeded the lessons of the first wave, that assessment soon proved inaccurate. Algeria and Baghdad may have been spared, but Lebanon and, more recently, Sudan have suffered, and both look like they are in for a very hot summer. Between the first and second Arab Springs, non-Arab regional powers such as Iran, Turkey and Israel also sought to take advantage of the situation in order to penetrate the region in their own ways. Fortunately, the process within the reform bloc had matured sufficiently to forge coordinated reformist foreign policies.

While Saudi Arabia and the UAE moved to restore relations with Iran, the UAE and Bahrain moved towards normalisation with Israel in the framework of the Abraham Accords. Saudi Arabia occupied a central place and performed important roles during this period. Just as it was instrumental in helping Egypt emerge from the Muslim Brotherhood, it was the starting point for regional deescalation and the Arabs return to the international stage. It was no coincidence Saudi Arabia hosted the Arab-US summit and the Arab-Chinese summit, which eventually led to that regional turning point: the Chinese-brokered Iranian-Saudi agreement to resume relations.

Whatever one might say about coincidences, they can create exceptional circumstances that can either accelerate or decelerate history. The dual earthquake that struck Syria and Turkey in February generated a grassroots Arab outpouring of sympathy and calls for coming to the aid of those two countries. As a fellow Arab nation, Syria had a special place in this context. Arab and, especially, Saudi Arabian relief and assistance were immediately forthcoming and this created a climate favourable to Syrias return to the Arab League.

The 33rd Arab summit held in Jeddah on Thursday,19 May, and the one held in Dammam five years ago are as different as day and night. The blaring ideological posturing and empty slogans have fallen silent. The Arab gathering that attended the Arab summits with the US and China consisted of the GGC countries, Egypt, Jordan and Iraq and all had experienced the moments of polarisation to reconciliation, the struggle to defend national interests, and the desire to reach out to others through such initiatives as the Abraham Accords, the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum, or the Red Sea Security Order. This is the gathering that formulated the recent call to offer Damascus new options and avenues even as it continues to struggle with the difficult challenges to the security and stability of the Syrian state. All these forms of regionalism offer new horizons whether to foster new approaches to the northern Red Sea region or to enable Palestinians to tap their gas resources off the coast of Gaza just as a recent Lebanese-Israeli border demarcation agreement had made it possible for both sides to benefit from underwater oil wealth that had previously been out of reach to them both.

The 33rd Arab summit in Jeddah occurs at a time when the Arab League is facing another test borne of a complex of interwoven crises, one of which is the current conflict in Sudan. Another is that, despite all the inroads the Arabs have made in dealing with Israel, that state has become more fundamentalist  Jewish in this case  than the fundamentalism that preceded it in Arab countries and its relations with both Gaza and the West Bank are a permanent tinderbox. Still, as volatile as conditions may be, the Arabs are more able to grapple with new and unfamiliar situations. Exactly how they will do that will certainly be discussed in the summit, which will be more focused on talks and consultations than issuing fiery slogans. In this new climate, participants will also be able to entertain new and innovative initiatives to improve conditions in the region, augment its international standing and make it both more cohesive and more interdependent than ever before.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 18 May, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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As a new exhibition on Ramses II mesmerises visitors in Paris, important work is being done to excavate and publish new information about the great kings tom, writes Zahi Hawass

The ancient Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses II was the most famous king of ancient Egypt, building the greatest architectural monuments and erecting monuments all over the country.

Ramses the Great has now come to Paris in the shape of the touring exhibition Ramses the Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs, which includes artefacts relating to Ramses II and other kings of Egypt in addition to the largest collection of gold from the era of the Pharaohs ever to have left Egypt.

The exhibition will allow French and European visitors not only to see more of the magic of the Pharaohs, but also to see part of the greatness of the ancient Egyptian civilisation that combined perfection in workmanship with absolute beauty.

Ramses II extended the Luxor and Karnak temples by constructing the most beautiful pillared halls, pylons, obelisks and statues. One of the largest and most beautiful funerary temples in Egypt is the famous Ramesseum on the west bank of the Nile in Luxor. It was also Ramses II who built the famous temple of Abu Simbel, in addition to many other temples in Nubia.

He is credited with the construction of the most beautiful tomb for a queen on earth, the tomb of his beloved wife queen Nefertari, whose name means the most beautiful one. The tomb is the most magnificent in the Valley of the Queens in Luxor.

The amazing buildings of Ramses II, sometimes still in a good state of preservation despite the thousands of years that have passed since their construction, has led many not to believe that his own tomb, KV7 in the Valley of the Kings, is actually the tomb of Ramses II. Even two years ago, the tomb had still not been fully excavated, and many of its passages and chambers were still filled with debris and sediments from the floods that the tomb had suffered.

I had always dreamed of being able to reveal the secrets of the tomb of Egypts greatest Pharaoh, and thanks to funds provided by the Cityneon Group and World Heritage Exhibitions, the company that has now organised the Ramses the Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs exhibition, I was able to lead an Egyptian team in revealing the secrets of the tomb of Ramses II in the Valley of the Kings.

The tomb of Ramses II represents one of the mysteries of the ancient Egyptian civilisation. Ramses IIs mummy was uncovered among those found in the Deir Al-Bahari cache in 1881, and there is no doubt that tomb KV7 in the Valley of the Kings belongs to him.

The famous Strikes Papyrus in the Turin Museum provides detailed information about an attempt by two tomb robbers to penetrate inside KV7 during regnal year 29 of Ramses III, further supporting the idea that tomb KV7 is Ramses IIs tomb. During the ancient Egyptian 21st Dynasty, Ramses IIs mummy was moved first to the tomb of his father Seti I (KV17) and then to the cache in the tomb of Queen Inhapy at Deir Al-Bahri (TT320), where the kings mummy was eventually found.

The ambiguity surrounding the last resting place of Ramses II can be summarised as follows. First, Ramses II, as one of the longest-lived Pharaohs, identified himself as king of all the kings, and his 66-year reign is considered to be Egypts most glorious and powerful period.

He is well known as a master builder, as he erected more monuments, statues, and obelisks than any other Pharaoh of ancient Egypt. As a result, he has long been regarded as Ramses the Great. Therefore, many Egyptologists expected that his tomb would be a marvelous one full of wonderful treasures, especially if compared with the tomb of a minor king like Tutankhamun.

This leads to the second reason for the doubts surrounding the tomb of Ramses II. The current appearance and state of preservation of KV7 do not satisfy the expectations one would have of the tomb of a great Pharaoh like Ramses II. It has been open to visitors since at least the Roman period, and it has suffered successive thefts and random digging in search of hidden treasures in its walls and under its floors.

The tomb was also exposed to severe floods that washed dirt and debris inside it, destroying its beautifully executed reliefs and inscriptions. The tombs passages and internal rooms were blocked completely. Despite the fact that many archaeological missions tried to excavate the tomb, they all failed to clean it completely or to reveal its secrets.

After two fruitful seasons working inside the tomb starting in January 2021, the Egyptian mission now intends to publish a series of updates on the work that will reveal new information that has never been told before.

The mission has successfully managed to remove the debris and clean the tomb, revealing new information on its construction and pictorial programme. It is in fact the only royal tomb complete with inscriptions and decorations in the Valley of the Kings.

Even the most beautiful tombs, such as that of Seti I, father of Ramses II, were left unfinished in some parts. This was also true of the tomb of Ramses VI and before him the tomb of Tutankhamun, which was prepared in a hurry owing to the early death of the king.

Our excavations revealed a large group of scenes depicted on the walls of the tomb. These represent important chapters from the funerary books of the afterlife, such as the Book of Gates and the Book of Imy-Duat, or what is in the afterlife.

The shaft of the tomb was also uncovered completely for the first time. It is the deepest of all the shafts of the royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings, reaching a depth of more than nine metres. Surprisingly, this tomb shaft, unlike all the other shafts of the royal tombs, is decorated. Each of the four side walls carries three registers of marvellous scenes and inscriptions that represent chapters never seen before from the books of the afterlife.

The Egyptian mission was also able to get a sense of the size of the funerary treasure of Ramses II by measuring the size of the inner chambers of the tomb. Our work showed that the huge funerary furniture of the king, such as the sarcophagus and the inner anthropoid coffins as well as the golden shrines and other large-sized furniture, were moved outside the tomb not by tomb robbers, but by the priests of the Egyptian god Amun in the Late Period.

The excavation indicated that the priests could not have taken the large objects outside the tomb in the same way that they had been brought inside. Therefore, they had to dig into the floors and ceilings of the rock-carved doors in order to expand them and thus remove the kings treasures.

Given the absence of physical evidence that such treasures were destroyed and looted by tomb robbers, there is still the possibility of discovering them and other treasures of the Pharaohs hidden in the tombs of the high priests of Amun, which have still not been discovered today.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 18 May, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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The Community Mental Health Association of Michigan (CMHA) is the state association representing and advocating for Michigans public mental health system and those served by this system.

St. Clair County Community Mental Health hosting a vaccination clinic.

Coordination of care. A patients care activities are organized and information is shared among all of the providers concerned with that parents care. The goal is to achieve safer and more effective care. The study found 157 initiatives using coordination of care.



A patients care activities are organized and information is shared among all of the providers concerned with that parents care. The goal is to achieve safer and more effective care. The study found 157 initiatives using coordination of care. High utilizer initiatives. These provide patients with comprehensive case management. A patient utilizes a lot of services, health services as well as human services such as public safety or housing support. The study found 147 joint efforts in high- and super-utilizer initiatives.



These provide patients with comprehensive case management. A patient utilizes a lot of services, health services as well as human services such as public safety or housing support. The study found 147 joint efforts in high- and super-utilizer initiatives. Co-location of care. Behavioral health and intellectual/developmental disability services or protocols are provided by a behavioral health staff to a primary care site or hospital emergency department via face-to-face or via telehealth psychiatric consultations. The study identified 115 efforts to co-locate physical and mental health services.



Uswa Ali Memon, policy analyst for Community Mental Health Association of Michigan

The MI Mental Health series highlights the opportunities that Michigan's children, teens, and adults of all ages have to find the mental health help they need, when and where they need it. It is made possible with funding from the

Community Mental Health Association of Michigan

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Center for Health and Research Transformation

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Genesee Health System

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Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan

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North Country CMH

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Northern Lakes CMH Authority

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OnPoint

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Sanilac County CMH

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St. Clair County CMH

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Summit Pointe

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Washtenaw County CMH

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Tuerie de Moura: le Burkina exprime sa "solidarite" envers larmee malienne accusee par lONU

Le Burkina Faso a exprime sa "solidarite" envers larmee malienne, accusee par l'ONU davoir execute en mars 2022 au moins 500 personnes lors dune operation anti-jihadiste a Moura, dans le centre du Mali.



"Le gouvernement du Burkina Faso setonne du contenu du rapport sur les evenements de Moura du Haut-Commissariat des Nations unies aux Droits de lHomme" publie vendredi et "marque son incomprehension quant aux conclusions dudit rapport", ecrit le porte-parole du gouvernement burkinabe Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo.



"Il exprime sa solidarite au gouvernement et au peuple frere du Mali ainsi qua lensemble des forces combattantes engagees dans la lutte contre les forces du mal et injustement pris a partie pour des allegations supposees de violation des droits de lHomme", poursuit M.Ouedraogo dans un communique consulte mardi par l'AFP.



La semaine derniere, l'ONU avait affirme avoir "des motifs raisonnables de croire" qu'au moins 500 personnes auraient ete "executees par les Forces armees maliennes et les personnels militaires etrangers", en mars 2022 a Moura.



Les autorites de Bamako avaient repondu en denoncant un "recit fictif", assurant qu'il s'agissait d'une operation antijihadiste dans laquelle aucun ressortissant civil n'a ete tue.



"Parmi les morts, il ny avait que des combattants terroristes", a declare le porte-parole du gouverment malien, le colonel Abdoulaye Maiga.



Comme son voisin malien, le Burkina Faso est dirige par des militaires putschistes et est pris dans une spirale de violences jihadistes depuis plusieurs annees.



Selon le communique de Ouagadougou, "la violence ignoble et la negation de toute humanite sont celles perpetrees contre les innocentes populations saheliennes par des hordes terroristes assoiffees de sang, de richesse et de pouvoir".



Le gouvernement burkinabe dit egalement s'interroger sur "cette approche des droits humains a geometrie variable qui observe une complaisance suspecte face aux exactions de ces memes groupes terroristes et dedouane la communaute des nations, de son devoir de solidarite vis-a-vis des peuples du Sahel, violentes et martyrises".



Au Burkina Faso, une enquete a ete ouverte apres le massacre de 136 personnes - dont 50 femmes et 21 enfants - le 20 avril dernier, par des hommes en uniformes militaires, a Karma, dans le nord du pays.



Lors dun entretien televise, debut mai, le president de la transition, le capitaine Ibrahim Traore, a appele a eviter des "conclusions hatives" accusant l'armee d'etre responsable du massacre de Karma.
Some Marin County residents will see 20% increases to their water bills this summer with the passage of new water rates approved late Tuesday.

The Marin Municipal Water District said the increase is needed because of rising costs and decreasing revenues  partly driven by people responding to calls for conservation and using less water.

The plan includes rate increases for the next four years starting July 1. The average single-family customer will see their bimonthly bills  which are currently $138.66  jump by $31.96 this summer, followed by a $20.48 increase in July 2024, $16.27 in 2025 and $11.43 in 2026.

Taken together, the changes will increase the average bimonthly bill from $138.66 under current rates to $218.80 by the end of the four-year period  a 58% increase. Specific rate increases vary and are based on each customers meter size and water use.

The new rate and fee structure adds millions of dollars in revenue to the agencys budget and takes effect July 1. District staff said the influx of money will go toward maintaining and replacing its aging infrastructure as well as exploring more sustainable sources of water.

Most of the districts water flows down from Mount Tamalpais or is imported Russian River water from Sonoma County. The agency has been searching for another source of water for years, and at one point explored an expensive plan to pipe water across the San Rafael-Richmond Bridge.

The Marin Municipal Water District serves over 191,000 people in central and southern Marin County, including San Rafael, Mill Valley, Fairfax, San Anselmo, Ross, Larkspur, Corte Madera, Tiburon, Belvedere and Sausalito. Most of the districts revenue comes from water rates, fees and charges.

Water districts across California have faced similar predicaments. When people respond to concerns about water scarcity by using less, providing water becomes more expensive.

Water districts across the Bay Area have begun raising rates, but perhaps none quite as dramatically as the Marin district is poised to do.

Last year, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission temporarily added a 5% drought surcharge to customer bills. The Alameda County Water District raised the price of water, effectively increasing average bills by about $6.

The Marin water district is the oldest in the state and uniquely isolated from other water sources, such as those that connect Bay Area residents to the Sierra Nevada snowpack.

The district has long relied on Sonoma Water for about 25% of its water supply. But the 2021 drought forced Marin to import even more water from the agency  totaling about 44% of the water provided to Marin customers.

Details on the water districts plan can be found here.
There are several reasons why the tomb of Ramses II may not fully express the status of its owner.

Perhaps the first lies in the location of the tomb. The main entrance to the Valley of the Kings was chosen to dig the tomb in a modest rocky mound, and the entrance to the tomb was made at a low level from its base.

This is strange as during the digging and preparation of the tomb the architect in charge seems to have realised how bad the location of the tomb was as well as the poor condition of the limestone, which forced the sculptors to cover the walls with thick layers of plaster in order to implement the tombs pictorial programme.

The most important question is why didnt the king give up this bad location? Why did he not move his tomb to another place? In fact, some scholars still believe that the king actually did build another tomb that has not yet been discovered. However, I believe that Ramses II insisted on this site for his tomb. He purposefully chose this site because of the location of the symbolic cenotaph of his children, KV5, which is located directly on the opposite side of his tomb.

This is important in understanding my desire to conduct an Egyptian mission inside the tomb of Ramses II beginning in January 2021 to uncover the secrets of this tomb. My challenging excavation of the tunnel inside the tomb of Seti I, KV17, from 2008 until 2010, made me believe that there is a good chance that Ramses II also planned a tunnel inside his tomb like his father.

My excavation inside KV17 was able to uncover a 174 metre descending tunnel from the floor of the burial chamber ending in a dead end due to the sudden death of Seti I who only reigned for 12 years. Unlike his father, Ramses II ruled for long enough to finish his tomb.

The tomb of Ramses II was looted at the end of the Ramesside period. For several centuries thereafter, the tomb was shrouded in silence, and we hear nothing about it. The tomb reappeared in the Graeco-Roman period through the names of visitors that are recorded in ancient graffiti on the walls of the first corridor.

There is reason to believe that the kings tomb has remained open since then. However, it is not certain when or how it began to suffer from floods, until it reached the point that it was almost completely sealed off by the debris and deposits washed in by them.

The tomb was first excavated partially by British consul Henry Salt in 1817. Salt began clearing the descending corridors of the tomb. But at a distance of about 60 metres, his work was interrupted. The French-Tuscan Expedition led by Champollion and Rosellini resumed the clearance of the tomb in 1829. They were hardly able to reach the side chamber with its four pillars by crawling over the debris.

Richard Lepsius was able, also by crawling, to reach the end of the tomb in 1844-45, exploring the accessible rooms and mapping the underground complex, the walls of which, he noted, had been badly damaged by silt and gravel. As a result of his work, Lepsius provided the first precise plan of the tomb of Ramses II.

Lepsiuss plan of KV7 was in use until the team of the Theban Mapping Project of the University of Berkeley updated and revised it at the end of the last century.

Harry Burton, funded by Theodore Davis, undertook excavations of the tomb between 1913-14, then Howard Carter resumed the work between 1917-21. Burton and Carters work did not add anything new to the ground plan of the tomb made by Lepsius, but the first remains of the royal funerary furniture were uncovered and are now in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum in New York and the British Museum in London.

Thanks to the Theban Mapping Project, the most accurate plan of the tomb of Ramses II was made and still is in use today. The project is considered to be one of the most important archaeological projects conducted in the Valley of the Kings. It started in 1978 and continued for almost three decades.

After several decades of neglect, since 1991 the tomb of Ramses II has been the focus of a combined French research project attempting to carry out the first systematic excavation to fully uncover the architecture of the tomb. The excavation is attempting to remove the accumulated flood debris and to restore both the architectural elements of the tomb and the reliefs on the walls of the tomb that surprisingly can still be seen and can still be saved.

Between 1993 and 2003, 10 excavation working seasons were carried out by the French archaeological mission in Thebes led by Christian Leblanc to fully clear the tomb and to fully uncover its pictorial programme. It was during these years that the first attempts to consolidate and restore the burial chamber were carried out with the help of French engineers working on the Cairo Metro project.

Many metal anchors were fixed into the ceiling of the burial chamber. Thanks to the dedicated work of Leblanc, much of the subterranean structure including the burial chamber and its side chambers were excavated and cleared of flood debris. Much of the pictorial programme of KV7 was published. The work of Leblanc was then interrupted and stopped for several years. It resumed in 2016-17, before it was stopped again.

It is unfortunate that more than 200 years since the first attempt made by Salt in 1817, the tomb of Ramses II has still not been excavated completely. The well chamber and the pillared chamber with its side chambers were still fully covered by debris in 2020.

The previously excavated areas of the tomb were also in a bad state of preservation. The scenes, especially in the inner parts, were turning into powder. Dangerous cracks and sometimes gaps between the rocks of the walls were left without restoration and consolidation.

Therefore, in 2020 the Egyptian expedition led by the author was granted permission from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities to fully excavate and restore the tomb of Ramses II. I began my excavation inside the tomb in January 2021 and ended the first season in July 2021. Our second season began in September 2021 and ended by the end of March 2022.

Over the course of two seasons of work inside the tomb, I managed for the first time since the first excavation of the tomb to achieve important results excavating and uncovering the entire F passage, in addition to the two side chambers. My team was able for the first time to reveal the architecture of this important part of the tomb, together with its pictorial programme, cleaning the tomb completely for the first time by removing all the accumulated gravel and the flood debris.

Our work concentrated on the areas of the C and D passages and the side chamber and on excavating and uncovering the E shaft of the tomb. We implemented an extensive restoration programme on the newly uncovered walls and reliefs. Reconstructing the pillars in the F passage and side chamber and revealing new scenes and inscriptions allowed us to produce a complete version of the pictorial programme of the tomb.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 18 May, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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San Franciscos seemingly endless quest to deploy new garbage cans took another odd twist Monday, when the citys Civic Design Review Committee put the entire process on hold.

Not for rarified artistic reasons, but something that regular people can relate to  committee-wide skepticism that the sleek silvery trash receptacles wont end up trashed themselves.

Its the maintenance issue. I love the design, said Arts Commissioner Patrick Carney, an architect on the committee that must sign off on public construction projects at all scales. Were talking about (spending) millions of dollars of city money, and its a graffiti magnet.

The chair of the committee, landscape architect Kimberlee Stryker, framed the dilemma in a different way.

Aesthetically beautiful. Functionally concerning, Stryker said, after no commissioner offered a motion to approve the design presented by the Public Works department.

The committees non-vote comes nearly five months after the department announced that it had decided on a new model to replace the green trash cans that San Francisco has been using  with increasingly ramshackle results  since 1993. And 32 months have passed since the city selected three prototypes for a 21st century trash receptacle  a process widely ridiculed when the initial costs for the test was set at $537,000 (it was lowered to $400,000).

After the hearing, a Public Works official said that the temporary roadblock erected by the civic design committee shouldnt knock the replacement project off-track.

We dont think its going to be much of a wrinkle, said Beth Rubenstein, a spokesperson for the department. Commissioners made it clear they really like the design, and thats great  their concerns about maintenance are understandable.

The model being reviewed by the committee on Monday also was the narrow public favorite after a two-month trial last summer where prototypes were on view in 52 locations across the city: Slim Silhouette. Streamlined in design, with an oval footprint and vertical strips of stainless steel,

Public Works decreed it to be the model that bested its rivals in terms of both design and functional criteria.

As for the much-lampooned question of costs  test models of the city-designed contenders come in at between $12,000 and $20,000 each  the aim at full production is for individual bins to cost no more than $3,000.

During the presentation to the committee, members were swayed by photos that Carney took earlier this month of a chosen model that remains at Sutter and Leavenworth streets, on Lower Nob Hill. Its marred by stickers and graffiti, including a phrase denouncing the cost.

I know its a trash can, but we want it to look nice, Stryker said at one point. We have a trash can graffiti problem  its the culture in this city right now.

Lisa Zhuo, the project manager for Public Works, said that these matters are taken seriously by the department and that they will be emphasized when selecting a manufacturer for the contract.

We looked at cans all over the world, Zhuo said. As for the selection of stainless steel, we want a material that will withstand the daily (oceanside) weather in San Francisco, as well as all the behaviors.

But commissioners balked at giving what would be the final green light before the department goes public with a formal request for proposals to build the cans.

This is a small project but an important project, because were going to see it everywhere, said one commissioner. If maintenance and durability proves problematic, Im afraid of (allowing) either a pure nightmare or a money pit.

When Stryker then asked for a motion, reminding the committee it must focus specifically on what Public Works had presented to them, there was silence.

Zhuo took the vote in stride.

These are all the questions we ask ourselves, she said of the process throughout the cumbersome and often controversial search. Were trying to find the one that addresses most of our problems.

Later on Monday, Rubenstein said that Public Works aims to return to the committee at its next monthly meeting or the one after that. The department would ask again for approval  bringing more details on how the cans would be maintained during their hoped-for 25-year life space.

Even in a best-case scenario, no manufacturer would likely be selected before early next year. Silvery silhouettes wouldn't be spotted on public sidewalks for at least six months after that.

As the next generation of trash cans are installed, Rubenstein isnt naive enough to predict graffiti-free bins.

A trash can doesnt have a force field around it, Rubenstein said. Taggers are going to tag. Stickers are going to stick. The question will be how we maintain it.
Residents can watch the videos and read hundreds of pages of documents to try to decide for themselves if Walgreens security guard Michael Earl-Wayne Anthony killed alleged shoplifter Banko Brown in self-defense. But no such research is required before concluding that San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins handling of the matter has been disappointing.

Jenkins had an opportunity to prove to San Francisco residents that she is the decisive, considerate and empathetic district attorney the city requires. Instead, she was inconsistent and reckless in her statements, had to be pushed to be transparent and poorly handled justifiable criticism from elected leaders and skepticism from a tired public.

Jenkins missteps have only led to more uncertainty about the incident.

It isnt just that Jenkins waited three weeks to release the evidence surrounding Browns death. The problem is how she spent that time: changing her tune around the decision and trading barbs with the lone Black member of the Board of Supervisors over the unavoidable racial elements of the case. Jenkins should have been calming the growing tensions over the shooting, especially among marginalized people with intersectional identities like Brown, who was Black, transgender and unhoused.

Brown was killed on April 27. Jenkins issued a statement on May 1 saying the evidence in the case clearly shows that the suspect believed he was in mortal danger and acted in self-defense.

The evidence released Monday does not clearly show that at all. The case hinges on whether Brown told Anthony that he had a knife, which the security guard said frightened him enough to justify the gunshot. We now know there was no knife and no witness to Brown saying that.

Jenkins decision seemed definitive at the time, yet a few days later, she said she wasnt ruling out charging Anthony. Jenkins even admitted to rushing her decision due to how long a crime suspect can remain in custody without being charged.

The tonal shifts only spoke to a larger, more troubling narrative: Jenkins didnt have a firm grasp of the moment.

She should have clearly communicated with the public well before questions mounted about Browns killing. Jenkins could have even attended one of the rallies outside of Walgreens where residents were grieving Browns death to show the public that she was, in fact, listening and trying to be transparent.

Jenkins could have explained her handling of the Brown case at one of the Board of Supervisors meetings where some of the citys most powerful elected officials were publicly questioning her judgment. This never happened, which is partly why Jenkins soon found herself in a back-and-forth with Supervisor Shamann Walton.

Provided by San Francisco District Attorneys Office

Walton sent Jenkins an inquiry on May 3 asking her to reconsider and reevaluate her decision not to prosecute Anthony and to release video of the shooting. Jenkins could have taken the request in stride, understanding the heightened emotions around the shooting. Instead, she replied in scathing fashion.

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As The Chronicle reported, Jenkins sent Walton a letter saying his request was wholly inappropriate and dangerous to the interests of justice and a fair criminal justice system for all people. She also criticized Walton for pointing out Brown was Black while failing to note that the security guard who shot him is also Black.

Im not sure why Jenkins would have thought this element was important. Its likely Jenkins was arguing that the shooting wasnt about race since both people involved were Black.

Its a puzzling point to make in 2023 when theres mounting evidence that Black public safety workers  be they cops or security guards  also can do violent harm to another Black person.

Perhaps Jenkins hesitated to release the video because she knew it was far from definitive.

In the video, Brown is seen trying to leave Walgreens with a bag in hand before being stopped by Anthony, who was the only security person on duty at the time, according to a report from the District Attorneys Office.

Theres some quick pushing and shoving between the two before Anthony strikes the much smaller Brown multiple times. The two then fall to the ground. After Brown scrambles to get to his feet, Anthony places him in a choke hold. He again throws Brown to the ground and remains atop his back for a few moments before letting Brown get back on his feet.

Brown quickly retrieves the bag and heads toward the door. He then turns around and makes a slight motion toward Anthony before being shot on the sidewalk.

The confrontation lasted 56 seconds.

Jenkins said this footage shows the security guard acted in self-defense and she will not file charges. But the video shows Anthony was in control throughout the melee.

He was tossing that young man around like a rag doll, John Burris, the civil rights attorney hired by Browns family, said Monday. It looked like he had a choke hold on him, he was pinning him down like an MMA fighter. Banko was in a defensive position to protect himself. It was clearly a situation where deadly force was not justified.

While it benefits Burris to describe the fight involving his client this way, he isnt wrong. Others were similarly disquieted by the video, including Aaron Peskin, the Board of Supervisors president, who focused on the bigger issue of how these incidents should be handled in a progressive city like ours.

This is not who we are, Peskin said. I understand people are afraid of crime, a fear being stoked by too many politicians and their political allies. But this is not a choice between justice and safety  we can have both. And allowing what appears, at a minimum, to be an unjustified shooting does not make us safer. It does not make us better. It should make us ashamed.

The district attorney could have taken a similar tack. She is a public servant with tremendous power who always must build  not erode  the reputation of law enforcement with the citys diverse communities. Jenkins had a chance to strengthen these relationships, but has so far failed to do it.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  Disgraced Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes has avoided starting her more than 11-year prison sentence on Thursday by deploying the same legal maneuver that enabled her co-conspirator in a blood-testing hoax to remain free for an additional month.

Holmes' lawyers on Wednesday informed U.S. District Judge Edward Davila that she won't be reporting to prison as scheduled because she had filed an appeal of a decision that he issued earlier this month ordering her to begin her sentence on April 27.

The appeal, filed with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals late Tuesday, automatically delays her reporting date because she has been free on bail since a jury convicted her on four counts of fraud and conspiracy in January 2022. The verdict followed a four-month trial revolving around her downfall from a rising Silicon Valley star to an alleged scam artist chasing fame and fortune while fleecing investors and endangering the health of patients relying on Theranos' flawed blood tests.

The tactic deployed by Holmes mirrored a move made last month by her former lover and subordinate, Ramesh Sunny Balwani, to avoid a prison reporting date of March 16. After the Ninth Circuit rejected his appeal three weeks later, Davila set a new reporting date of April 20.

Balwani, 57, is now serving a nearly 13-year prison sentence in a federal prison located in San Pedro, California after being convicted of 12 counts of fraud and conspiracy.

Although they had separate trials, Holmes and Balwani were accused of essentially the same crimes centered on a ruse touting Theranos blood-testing system as a revolutionary breakthrough in health care. The claims helped the company become a Silicon Valley sensation that raised nearly $1 billion from investors.

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Holmes, 38, l ast appeared in court about a month ago, shortly after giving birth to her second child in an attempt to persuade Davila to allow her to remain free while she appeals her conviction. Davila, who scolded Holmes for betraying Silicon Valley's history of innovation when he sentenced her in November, subsequently rejected that request.

Davila had recommended Holmes be incarcerated at a low-security prison camp in Bryan, Texas, but it has not been publicly disclosed if that is where she has been assigned to serve her sentence.

The news of Holmes' latest legal maneuver emerged the same day that it was announced one of the federal prosecutors who helped convict her is leaving the U.S. Attorney's office in San Jose, California. Jeffrey Schenk, who also helped convict Balwani in that trial, will specialize in defending people accused of white-collar crimes as a partner for the law firm Jones Day in Silicon Valley.
At the crux of San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins decision not to charge a security guard in the shooting death of suspected Walgreens shoplifter Banko Brown was Michael Earl-Wayne Anthonys claim that he acted in self-defense after Brown threatened to stab him.

Some experts, reviewing video of the incident released Monday, said they understood Jenkins reasoning. But others  noting that witnesses did not hear Brown threaten Anthony, and that no knife was found on Brown  questioned why the district attorney did not file charges against the guard.

You let a jury decide that, said Jody Armour, a USC law professor who studies the intersection of race and legal decision making, adding that he thought the evidence wasnt strong enough for Jenkins to make the call. It seems, therefore, the decision was more politically motivated than by just the facts.

Store surveillance video of the April 27 shooting shows Anthony confront Brown at the exit of the Market Street Walgreens. In the footage, which has no sound, the pair wrestle before Brown stands, grabs his bag from the floor and heads toward the door. As he exits, Brown turns toward Anthony, who follows him to the exit door and shoots him.

The confrontation took less than a minute; Brown died on the sidewalk as a Good Samaritan tried to render medical aid. The shooting, apparently prompted by suspected shoplifting, along with prosecutors decision to not pursue charges, has polarized the city and led to protests.

The Chronicle asked four experts in criminal law, use of force and private security to weigh in on Jenkins decision after reviewing the video and other evidence. Charging decisions in self-defense and Stand Your Ground cases are often controversial as law enforcement officials must try to determine whether a suspect feared for his or her life and whether that fear was reasonable.

Determining whether a persons fear of death was reasonable is a flexible standard, Armour said, which can depend on how sympathetic the victim is.

Anthonys self-defense case hinges on his claim that Brown repeatedly threatened to stab him. Yet during the scuffle, Armour said, the guard did not appear to be concerned about the knife, unholstering his weapon only after he was done manhandling Brown.

Tom Nolan, a former Boston police officer for almost three decades and a use-of-force expert who was a senior policy advisor for the Department of Homeland Securitys Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, said Anthony should have been charged with manslaughter and a jury should have determined if he acted in self-defense.

Nolan questioned Jenkins premise that the suspected shoplifting became a more serious robbery once Brown struck the guard as he attempted to leave the store. Nolan said that, based on his viewing of the video, the assault only happened at the instigation of the security guard.

Additionally, the only person who heard Brown allegedly threaten the guard with stabbing him was Anthony himself, Nolan noted. Two other witnesses, who were in earshot, do not mention stabbing threats.

Anthony never saw a knife either, Nolan said. So the question is: Was there a reasonable fear?

At a press conference on Monday, Jenkins said that while witnesses did not hear Brown threaten Anthony, they also did not refute that it could have happened.

And so, again, youre looking at the credibility of Mr. Anthony, the security guard, and whether we can disprove anything that he said, Jenkins said. At this point in time, we cannot disprove that he heard those statements.

Joseph Jaksa, a private security expert and professor of criminal justice at Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan, said he understood Jenkins decision not to charge, but said that doesnt mean errors were not made.

Jaksa said the private security industry is largely left to police themselves on use of force. There are no national regulations when it comes to the training of security officers, he said.

Jaksa said he expected a wrongful death lawsuit to be filed against the security guard; his employer, Kingdom Group Protective Services; and Walgreens. Regarding civil liability, Jaksa said hed want to know why three guards were normally on duty, but only two were working that day and one was on a break.

The situation may have been much different if there were more than that at the time, Jaksa said.

While Anthony was a licensed security guard with handgun certification, Jaksa said that doesnt tell the full story. According to records, Anthonys company had recently delivered a new policy concerning what their guard-employees were to do in the way of active recovery of property from persons seen stealing merchandise from the Walgreens. They were to be hands on in the recovery of stolen goods.

All of a sudden being hands on changes a lot, Jaksa said.

Laurie Levenson, a Loyola Marymount University law professor, called the decision very hard.

Upon initial viewing, Levenson said the video appeared to show an improper shooting. But the moment Brown turns to face the security guard, coupled with the alleged stabbing threats, creates an opening for self-defense, she said.

Levenson added that the legal argument for self-defense could be bolstered by the fact that Anthony is not a police officer, but a security guard, who may not be as trained to respond to a life-threatening situation and therefore may have a lower threshold of reasonably believing his life is in danger.

Its not implausible that it was an act of self-defense, Levenson said.
A security guard who shot and killed a suspected shoplifter at a Walgreens store last month had been directed by his employer to engage in hands-on recovery of stolen items, which the guard said compelled him to confront the man, according to documents released Monday that added new layers to the debate over how to handle retail theft in San Francisco.

Banko Brown, 24, died April 27 outside the store after a confrontation captured on surveillance video also released Monday. The video showed guard Michael Earl-Wayne Anthony shoot Brown as he stepped backward onto the sidewalk, moments after he turned and made a slight movement toward Anthony. District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said Monday she would not charge Anthony.

Several city supervisors and advocates for Brown said the tragedy proves that merchants should not hire gun-carrying guards. Some security experts say it shows that guards need more training.

Beleaguered merchants who have long complained about rampant theft at their stores say they are so overwhelmed they often take security into their own hands. And the policies over whether and how to confront shoplifters are inconsistent and  in the case of the company that employed the Walgreens guard  can change in a day.

San Francisco District Attorney's Office

Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin said Monday he would ask California Attorney General Rob Bonta and the U.S. Department of Justice to review the case and would introduce legislation Tuesday asking his colleagues to do the same.

This is not who we are. Stealing a bag of candy does not warrant the death penalty. I understand people are afraid of crime, a fear being stoked by too many politicians and their political allies, Peskin said. But this is not a choice between justice and safety  we can have both. And allowing what appears, at a minimum, to be an unjustified shooting does not make us safer. It does not make us better. It should make us ashamed.

Mayor London Breeds office did not return a call requesting comment.

Jenkins decision to release documents and videos in the case comes after repeated calls from the community to do so. The citys top prosecutor released a 32-page transcript of homicide detectives interview with Anthony, along with surveillance video of the incident, a 25-page legal analysis describing the decision and reports filed by officers who responded to the shooting and later interviewed Anthony.

Anthony was not available for comment Monday, but, according to a transcript with homicide investigators, he said Brown was saying (hes) gonna stab me and thats what really put the fear in my heart. Like  okay, if I let (him) go (he) might just try to stab me so  thats when I drew my gun out.

Jenkins originally said on May 1 she would not file charges against Anthony, explaining shed reviewed the evidence and found it did not meet the burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Days later, however, she altered her position and said she might still consider filing.

Announcing her final decision on Monday not to charge, Jenkins said the issue of whether and how guards should confront shoplifters remained unsettled.

Its a conversation that needs to be had amongst everybody involved  us as consumers, the stores, leaders  about the serious implications of both unarmed and armed security, she said. I think its one that we need to have at this moment.

The decision to confront or not confront shoplifters has been a fuzzy topic for some time, even as the city confronts a high property crime rate.

According to the D.A.s report released Monday, on the date of the Walgreens confrontation, the company that employed Anthony  Kingdom Group Protective Services  had recently changed the policy concerning what their guard-employees were to do in the way of active recovery of property from persons seen stealing merchandise from the Walgreens.

Guards were instructed to engage in hands-on recovery of merchandise, according to the report. The guards  were to actively work to retrieve or recover any stolen items once it was clear that the individual who concealed the items intended to leave the store without paying.

Anthony told the police officer interrogating him after the shooting that we can ask for receipts if we suspect if somebodys steals or something. I was in my right to ask that individual  um, if they paid for those items. In fact, I seen em stealing, so 

Reached by phone, Kingdom Group CEO James Vierra said, This is something we take very seriously. Working in the environment we work in can be very, very challenging.

In a call with analysts earlier this year, a Walgreens executive said the company was moving from using security guards to hiring off-duty law enforcement officers to guard stores because the security companies Walgreens was using had proven to be largely ineffective.

The very act of trying to stop someone stealing at a store can be very dangerous, said Tom Wong, CEO of Red Dragon Private Security, who reviewed the footage Monday. Find the least confrontational approach, the least amount of force needed to get that person out of the store.

He said it would be easy to criticize Anthonys decision, but at the time, in that situation, it was what he deemed the best course of action, and he was able to justify his statement to police.

Security guards in California must complete a 32-hour training course, and, if they want to carry a gun, pass a separate firearms training course. They also need separate training and permits to carry pepper spray or a baton.

However, police officers must pass a rigorous police academy, which lasts 34 weeks in San Francisco, followed by a 16-week field training program.

Michael Spearman, who runs the Bay Area-based Archangel Solutions security company for CEOs, celebrities and Fortune 50 companies, said giving a gun to anyone who hasnt been extensively schooled in how to use it in tense situations raises potential for trouble.

You give a guy a hammer, and everything looks like a nail after a while, he said. When youre dealing with angry people, desperate people stealing things or the mentally ill  actually any confrontation  if they are trained correctly in de-escalation, a guard will know what to do. If theyre not, it doesnt work.

Store owners and workers said they are stuck. They dont want to risk violent clashes to stop thieves, but keeping a hands-off approach seems to tell shoplifters they can waltz out of their businesses scot free  resulting in thousands of dollars in losses for some.

Merchants are completely fed up with having their businesses vandalized, or being robbed over and over, Ryen Motzek, president of the Mission Merchants Association, told The Chronicle. But that still doesnt justify taking a human life.

He said it seems clear that police cant defend every business, but the alternative of store owners depending on their own security might not be a well-trained response. It creates ugliness all around, this loop of dysfunction. I dont see anybody winning.

Maria Gonzalez, who clerks at a Metro PCS store near City Hall, said shoplifters hit her shop at least twice a week, sometimes jumping over the counter to swipe phones and cords before dashing out the door. Often they dont even bother to disguise themselves, despite the store having prominent cameras recording every move, she said.

Employees like her have no choice but to pepper-spray shoplifters who get too aggressive or too close, she said. A security guard funded by area merchants patrols the part of Market Street where her store is, but its not enough to ward off trouble, she said.

We tell them to get out, but theyre going to take what theyre going to take, Gonzalez told The Chronicle. More than anything, I feel scared for my life.
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Social media challenges showing perpetrators using a USB cable and screwdriver to start  and steal  Kias and Hyundais are sweeping the nation, leaving government officials at a loss for how to stop the thefts.

Now, one Bay Area city could join a handful of others nationwide trying to fight back.

Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin, who is running for state Senate, announced legislation Tuesday that asks the city attorney to explore legal action against the car manufacturers for security failures. If Berkeley does sue, it would join Cleveland, Seattle, St. Louis and others suing the companies.

The number of thefts of Kias and Hyundais manufactured from 2011 to 2022 has soared nationwide in the wake of the social media attention. State law enforcement have struggled to get a handle on the phenomenon. In March, attorneys general from 17 states, including California, urged the federal government to recall millions of the vehicles because theyre too easy to steal.

Step aside Nicolas Cage, with just a USB cord and a screwdriver these vehicles are gone in 30 seconds, Arreguin said. These corporations cut corners and their vehicles are incredibly vulnerable to theft as a result. Thats having implications for consumer and public safety alike, and its putting an unnecessary strain on police resources. Corporations that place profits above community and consumer safety must be held accountable.

In March, California Attorney General Rob Bonta joined Jennifer Louis, Berkeleys newly appointed police chief who was an interim chief at the time, to announce that he is leading the charge for a federal recall.

Terry Chea/Associated Press

Prior to December 2022, thefts of Kias and Hyundais in Berkeley accounted for only about 2% of all vehicle thefts in the city. That number has now increased to 38%, according to the Berkeley Police Department. As of April 26, police recorded 377 stolen vehicles in Berkeley, a 51% increase from the same time last year, though its unclear how many of the cars stolen are Kias and Hyundais.

In March, Berkeley police released a bulletin warning the public of the rise  pointing to the social media trend encouraging the thefts. Police said Kias and Hyundais are targeted because the cars do not have an engine immobilizer, which is an electronic security device that prevents a vehicle from being started unless the correct key is used.

In response to the surge in thefts, the vehicle manufacturers offered a software upgrade, but Arreguin wrote in his legislation that the upgrade isnt available until June and is incompatible with some models.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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One of Oaklands oldest dive bars  the dark and grimy but welcoming Smittys Cocktails on Grand Avenue  was almost lost to the pandemic, but will be rescued.

It had been sitting vacant and frozen in time, glasses on the bar and a pinball machine gathering dust, since the March 2020 shutdown. But JJ Jenkins, who owns longtime Oakland dive bars Merchants Saloon and Baggys by the Lake, stepped in and took over the 3339 Grand Ave. business after former owner Byron Schostag closed it. He didnt want to see Oakland lose another dive bar, which he said is becoming a dying breed in the Bay Area.
Mark Herold made headlines when he sold his Napa Valley garage winery Merus, coveted for its big and bold Cabernets, to billionaire Bill Foley and his rapidly expanding empire Foley Family Wines in 2007. But when it came time to sell his namesake winery, he took a different route  joining a small countermovement of vintners attempting to disrupt Napa Valleys corporatization trend.

This month, Herold sold the Cabernet Sauvignon-focused Mark Herold Wines to a client of 13 years, Brion Wise. Wise owns two eponymous wine brands, B. Wise Vineyards in Sonoma and Brion, a premium, single-vineyard Cabernet label in Napa; Herold, a sought-after winemaking consultant in the Bay Area, works with both. A prolific investor across several industries, Wise also has an ownership stake in 400 acres of premium Napa Valley vineyard land in top subregions like Oakville and Coombsville.

The purchase price was not disclosed. The Mark Herold Wines tasting room, located steps from Napas Oxbow Public Market, will remain in operation.

The acquisitions of big-name wineries  like Joseph Phelps and Shafer  by conglomerates for hundreds of millions of dollars have become the controversial new normal in Napa Valley. Many in the local wine industry are concerned that the region will lose its roots as a multi-generational farming community, and that sustainable farming and wine quality will falter as a result of hands-off ownership by absentee parties. But recently, more winery and vineyard owners, like Herold, are selling to a familiar face or a small, family operation instead of a corporation.

Herold called the deal a perfect marriage that allows him to stay on as winemaker and the face of the brand.

His continued involvement was critical in Wises decision to purchase. If it were just a brand, I probably wouldnt do it, said Wise. I know its going to be handled properly and done right because hes the guy behind it.

Mark Herold Wines

Its an opportunity for Herold to focus on artistry and transition away from the administration side of the business. But he said his alliance with Wise will also help improve the quality of his wines, which include Mastodon, a $750 large format bottling of Oakville Cabernet.

Brion has things I dont  vineyards, a winery  and in order for Mark Herold Wines to grow further, these things are indispensable, said Herold. Some vineyards he has access to, I could never access. Theyre very high quality and very expensive.

The sale is reminiscent of a handful of recent Bay Area transactions, like cult Cabernet brand Realms 2022 purchase of the Houyi Vineyard and winery in Napas ultra-exclusive Pritchard Hill region. Realm had a decade-long relationship with the previous owners and agreed to keep the name as an homage. Similarly, Berkeley natural wine phenom Broc Cellars bought Fox Hill, a popular Mendocino County vineyard, earlier this month; the winery had purchased grapes from the property since 2013.

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Perhaps most notably, renowned vintners Steve Lagier and Carole Meredith decided not to cash out as they eye retirement. Instead, they agreed to transition ownership of their lucrative Napa hillside vineyard, Lagier Meredith, to their friend and fellow winemaker Aaron Pott  for $0.

These intentional moves appear to prioritize legacy over money. Whats happening in the wine world with big companies buying our brands is that control is locked and your vision gets swallowed up, said Herold.

Hes speaking from experience. After the sale of Merus, Herold was quickly replaced by famed winemaker Paul Hobbs. He went on to start Mark Herold Wines, but was prohibited from making his signature Cabernet Sauvignon for several years due to a non-compete clause in the sale agreement.

But there is no such paperwork this time around, and Herold is confident that the partnership will stick  he and Wise share a history and wine preferences. Its funny because 25 years ago, I was buying (vineyard) rows and theres this guy Wise with some of the rows that I wanted, he said. Weve been attracted to similar fruit for a while.
The end of the national COVID-19 public health emergency has substantially shifted how coronavirus data is gathered and reported. The familiar, colorful community-level reports, graphs illustrating fluctuating case counts and jarring smartphone notifications that helped guide people through the first three years of the pandemic have largely disappeared.

As of Thursday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention no longer tracks or publishes data on daily new infections, as states arent obligated to report such figures anymore. Instead, the CDC has shifted its surveillance efforts toward monitoring weekly coronavirus-positive hospital admissions and deaths.

We will continue to keep our eye on the COVID-19 ball, Nirav Shah, the CDCs principal deputy director, said at a briefing. We will still be able to tell that its snowing, even though were no longer counting every snowflake.

Doctors and public health officials have long argued that with the widespread use of rapid home tests, whose results are rarely reported, case counts are no longer a reliable pandemic indicator.

You can have a fair number of people infected but you may not know it because the publicly reported numbers are just really misleading, said Dr. Bob Wachter, the chair of the Department of Medicine at UCSF.

Instead, the CDC now will use a different set of metrics to monitor the virus, including sampling wastewater for virus counts and focusing on hospitalizations.

At a practical level, that means Americans who want to keep close tabs on the COVID situation will see less frequent data updates and with less granularity  making it harder to assess their personal risk as they try to deal with the virus on an individual basis.

While they can still take a home test before traveling across the country, it will be harder to confirm if theres a new outbreak underway where they are traveling. And people are less likely to know if the virus is spreading at a rapid rate in their own communities before attending a large gathering, such as a summer wedding or music festival.

The CDCs COVID Data Tracker also no longer shows the national coronavirus test positivity rate or the number of weekly COVID-19 deaths, opting instead to showcase the percentage of COVID-associated deaths among all reported deaths.

By the end of April, the CDC had tracked more than 104 million COVID-19 cases, 6 million related hospitalizations, and 1.1 million COVID-19-associated deaths in the U.S.

Delayed snapshots

The changes in reporting may make it more difficult to detect future surges. Hospitalizations are a lagging indicator of community spread, so outbreaks may not be visible until after theyre already underway.

In a way, it makes sense because weve been talking about how case numbers dont matter with home tests, said Dr. Abraar Karan, an infectious disease researcher with Stanfords Center for Innovation in Global Health. But giving up on tracking cases entirely, he said, Seems like a big concession.

Instead, he said, our system around home testing and reporting could be a lot better.

The federal government also has retired the color-coded system, implemented in February 2022, that categorized COVID-19 community levels nationwide as low (green), medium (yellow) or high (red). These tiers were based on case rates and hospitalization metrics, and helped local health departments issue guidance on mitigation measures such as masking and restrictions on gatherings.

We have worked hard to sustain the data to understand whats happening with the virus in America, said the CDCs outgoing director, Rochelle Walensky. But the end of the (public health emergency) means the CDC will no longer be able to collect data and share information many Americans have come to expect.

Instead of the previous system, the only county-level data the CDC will now report is the number of new coronavirus-positive hospital admissions, categorized into three new tiers: green, yellow or orange. As of Monday, more than 99% of the country fell into the green tier, indicating fewer than 10 weekly admissions per 100,000 population.

Centers for Disease Control

In addition to the changes in data reporting, the U.S. terminated the nationwide smartphone exposure notifications program on Thursday. This service alerted individuals of potential exposure to the virus but was discontinued on the same day the national COVID-19 emergency ended.

The CDC said it would continue its wastewater monitoring program, collecting data from a patchwork of treatment plants across the nation covering roughly 140 million Americans. The agency has also established partnerships with 450 public health laboratories nationwide, encouraging them to voluntarily report local COVID-19 test-positive rates, as well as data related to influenza, RSV and other respiratory viruses.

COVID-19 remains a risk and CDC remains committed to preventing severe illness and deaths associated with COVID-19, particularly for those who are at higher risk, principal deputy director Shah said.

To further enhance surveillance, the agency recently began a pilot program at San Francisco International Airport to analyze wastewater from incoming international travelers, aiming to identify potential variants of concern.

The changes in data reporting trickle down to state and local agencies, too.

We are really going to be shifting away from case-based reporting, Dr. Erica Pan, Californias state epidemiologist, told physicians ahead of the changes last month.

The California Department of Public Health, which updates its COVID-19 dashboard once a week, has temporarily paused its hospitalization data reporting. The agency said it plans to redefine how it tracks COVID-19 deaths, focusing on death certifications rather than relying solely on investigations and reporting by local health departments.

Californias COVID-19 wastewater surveillance program has also hit a wall.

We wont be able to expand as we hoped due to budgetary constraints, Pan said.

San Franciscos health department, which updates its COVID-19 data daily, plans to consolidate its public-facing dashboards.

We will continue to track COVID-19 data and respond to public health concerns and to the needs of the community, it noted. Our response to the coronavirus emergency is based on data, science, and facts. Data and dashboards help us see the whole picture of COVID-19 in our community.
As an infectious disease physician, I have dedicated my life to helping others and have served at the front lines of the pandemic from the beginning. I have seen myriad COVID-19 cases and helped diagnose countless infections caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi. I love what I do. However, if todays GOP had been in charge when I was a kid, I would never have been able to be a doctor or help my patients.

Why? Because until I was 8 years old, I was an undocumented immigrant.

I was born in 1979 in Nicaragua, the year communism took over the country after a brutal civil war. Food and water were scarce and thousands of people were homeless. Although we had a roof over our heads, my parents often tell me that my father hid with me under the sink for fear of wandering soldiers because our neighborhood had become a battleground. After my mother was held at gunpoint, my parents finally made the difficult decision to flee.

Three months after I was born, my mother and I left on one of the last flights allowed to leave Nicaragua; the plane was shot at while taking off. My father was denied a visa so he made the dangerous journey on foot, crossing the Rio Grande. After reuniting in the U.S., we lived in a church and slept on a mattress that we found on the street until we could afford an apartment. My parents took whatever jobs they could find in order for us to survive: cleaning houses, working in factories and my personal favorite  making donuts.

For years, my parents paid taxes hoping that it would give them good standing and provide a way for them to become U.S. citizens. But after saving up the $3,000 dollars to apply for asylum, their hopes were dashed by a deceptive lawyer who never submitted their documentation. Because my parents were undocumented, they had no voice to report the lawyer.

Our situation changed though in 1986 when President Ronald Reagan signed an immigration bill that, while increasing security on the southern border, also provided amnesty for undocumented immigrants who had entered the country before 1982. The following year, my parents and I obtained a green card and in 1996, at 17, I became a U.S. citizen.

My mother prayed that I would go to college as an American citizen  she knew that it would afford me opportunities that would otherwise be inaccessible. She was right  becoming a U.S. citizen changed my life. I was able to earn a scholarship to attend college and eventually obtained both a medical degree and a doctorate.

My dreams were realized. But today, the likelihood of someone else in a similar situation being able to achieve theirs is low. Congress continues to be incapable of passing any meaningful immigration reform. Meanwhile, at the state level, anti-immigrant sentiment has fueled states like Florida to pass some of the strictest state immigration laws in over a decade. And although liberal states have taken a more compassionate approach, even they are having issues. With last weeks end of the pandemic-era public health policy called Title 42  which turned away asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border  things are looking increasingly uncertain at Californias southern border. All of this follows a federal appeals court ruling in October that determined that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program  which protects hundreds of thousands of young adult migrants from deportation and permits them to work in the U.S.  is unlawful. The situation is so uncertain that a growing number of DACA recipients are self-deporting from the U.S. because of growing disillusionment with our governments inability to provide them with a pathway forward.

Some argue that we dont need more immigrants in this country and that they are a drain on our resources. However, in a 2018 research paper from the Cato Institute, researchers estimated that losing DACA recipients alone would cost the U.S. economy $351 billion over a 10-year period. Moreover, with some 27,000 health care workers and support staff dependent on DACA for work authorization and a health care worker shortage, its clear how critical these front-line workers were during the pandemic and continue to be.

Overall, undocumented immigrants contribute to our economy by paying billions of dollars in taxes each year. Economic advisers and entrepreneurs alike have suggested that immigration reform that legalizes the status of the 11 million people already in the country without authorization to work would serve as a necessary boost to our labor force and the economy.

As delinquent dictatorships continue and persist, the number of asylum seekers will only grow. But without a clear pathway to asylum and citizenship, many, including immigrants already living in the country, will remain in limbo  despite contributing to our economy and society in countless ways.

Because I was given a path and opportunities, I have spent my career helping others in this country. Immigrants can make a difference and meaningfully contribute to our society if only given a chance  a pathway forward.
22 January 1998

From Al-Ahram Weekly archives: Fifty years of dispossession 1948-1998*

There were four prosperous and new Arab quarters largely built during the Mandate period (1918-1948): Upper and Lower Baqaa, Talbiya, and Qatamon. I recall that during my last weeks in the fall of 1947 I had to traverse three of the security zones instituted by the British to get to St. George's School from Talbiya; by December 1947 my parents, sisters, and I had left for Egypt.

My aunt Nabiha and four of her five children stayed on but experienced grave difficulties. The area they lived in was made up of unprepared and unarmed Palestinian families; by February Talibya had been taken over by the Hagganah. Now as we drove around, looking for my family's house, I saw no Arabs, although the handsome old stone houses still bear their Arab identity.

I remembered the house itself quite clearly: two stories, a terraced entrance, a balcony at the front, a palm tree and a large conifer as you climbed toward the front door, a spacious (and at the time) empty square, designated as a park, that lay before the room in which I was born, facing toward the King David and the YMCA. I do not recall street names from that time (there are none, it turns out) although Cousin Yousef (now in Canada) drew me a map from memory that he sent along with a copy of the title deed. Years before, I had heard that Martin Buber lived in the house for a time after 1948, but had died elsewhere. No one seemed to know what became of the house after the middle 1960s.

Our guide for the trip was George Khodr, an elderly gentleman who had been a friend of my father's and an accountant for the family business, the Palestine Educational Company. I vividly recalled the main premises (comprising a wonderful bookshop at which Abba Eban had been a regular customer): These were built against the stretch of city wall running between the Jaffa and New gates.



Edward Said with his sister Rosy in traditional Palestinian dress, Jerusalem, 1941. Source: Out of Place, 1999

All gone now, as we drove past the wall, and up the Mamila Road, then a bustling commercial centre, now a gigantic construction site where a Moshe Safdie settlement was being built. Khodr's family had also lived in Talbiya in a house he took us to so as to orient himself. Despite the Mediterranean foliage one might have been in an elegant Zurich suburb, so patently did Talbiya bespeak its new European personality.

As we walked around, he called of the names of the villas and their original Palestinian owners - Kitaneh, Sununu, Tannous, David, Haramy, Salameh - a sad roll call of the vanished past, for Mariam a reminder of the Palestinian refugees with the very same names who fetched up in Beirut during the fifties and sixties.

It took almost two hours to find the house, ad it is a tribute to my cousin's memory that only by sticking very literally to his map did we finally locate it. Earlier I was detained for half an hour by the oddly familiar contours of Mr. Shamir's unmistakably Arab villa, but abandoned that line of inquiry for the greater certainty of a home on Nahum Sokolow Street, 150 yards away. For there the house was, I suddenly knew, with its still impressive bulk commanding the sandy little square, now an elegant, very manicured park.

The wedding photo of Edward Saids parents in Nazareth 1932. Source: Out of Place, 1999

My daughter later told me that, using her camera with manic excitement, I reeled off twenty-six photos of the place which, irony of ironies, bore the name plate "International Christian Embassy" at the gate. To have found my family's house now occupied not by an Israeli Jewish family, but by a right-wing Christian fundamentalist and militantly pro-Zionist group (run by a South African Boer, no less, and with a record of unsavory involvement with the Contras to boot), this was an abrupt blow for a child of Palestinian Christian parents.

Anger and melancholy took me over, so that when an American woman came out of the house holding an armful of laundry and asked if she could help, all I could blurt out was an instinctive, "no thanks."

The coincidence was too much for me at that point, suddenly vitalizing my family's history with this astonishing serene likeness of my young father as I really never knew him, and, as I thought back to the silent Talbiya house, with its lamentably foreclosed destiny now in "Christian" hands, that world seemed condemned to intermittent scraps and shards of memory and melancholy. I think I knew at that instant why I should have left politics and resigned from the PNC, as I did, in late 1991, and why I felt I had to return to Palestine just then.

Wasn't it that the shocking medical diagnosis I received in September of a chronically insidious blood disease convinced me for the first time of a mortality I had ignored, and which I now needed to experience with my own family, at the source, so to speak, in Palestine?

And then the reminder of other earlier histories starting and ending in Jerusalem seemed for me a fitting accompaniment to the ebbing of my life on the one hand, and, on the other, a concrete reminder that just as they had started and ended, I did and would too, but so too would my children, who could now see for the first time the linked narrative of our family's generations, where that story belonged but from which it had been banished.



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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San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins fractured a city by declining to prosecute a Walgreens security guard who shot and killed an alleged shoplifter in April  but she might not have the last word on the case.

Within hours of Jenkins official decision on the shooting of Banko Brown, a city supervisor had called on California Attorney General Rob Bonta and the U.S. Department of Justice to review the evidence and possibly pick up the prosecution.

Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin introduced a resolution Tuesday, co-sponsored by Supervisors Shamann Walton and Hillary Ronen, calling for the outside reviews.

In an interview, Peskin said he hopes to at least send a message that justice has not been served, though he and others are not sure what path the case will take at this point. Resolutions are not binding legislation, though supervisors often use them to convey urgency, exert political pressure and take principled stands.

Other political leaders appeared as baffled as Peskin was by Jenkins findings.

Ive repeatedly watched the video and reviewed the other released evidence, and I honestly cannot see a justification for this shooting, Democratic state Sen. Scott Wiener said. While shoplifting is a problem in San Francisco that needs to be addressed, shooting someone for shoplifting is truly horrific and must never be tolerated. I respect the criminal process in San Francisco, and I respect the district attorney and the difficult choices she has to make every day. But a lack of any criminal responsibility for this shooting makes no sense to me.

Neither Bonta nor U.S. Attorney Ismail Ramsey can force Jenkins to file charges, but they have the power to bring their own cases, said former Alameda County prosecutor Darryl Stallworth, who now works as a criminal defense attorney. Even so, he warned, its extremely rare for state and federal law enforcement officials to override a county district attorney.

Typically, state and federal justice departments get involved only if the district attorney has a conflict of interest, Stallworth said. The U.S. attorney general might press charges if there is sufficient evidence of a civil rights violation or hate crime  a prospect some observers have raised, because Brown was a Black transgender man. Bonta investigates all police shootings of unarmed civilians in California, in accordance with a law passed in the wake of George Floyds murder in 2020.

Browns family members have hired Oakland civil rights attorney John Burris, signaling they may pursue a federal lawsuit against San Francisco, security guard Michael Earl-Wayne Anthony, Walgreens, or its security contractor, citing wrongful death or civil rights violations.

Anthonys employer, Kingdom Group Protection Services, had directed him to engage in hands-on seizure of stolen items, an instruction that may have compelled him to confront Brown, and could be used to bolster a future lawsuit. Civil suits have a lower burden of proof than criminal prosecutions.

But Browns death presents a quandary for leaders in criminal justice. While it resembles a police shooting in some ways  in that Anthony wore a uniform, carried a gun, and had marching orders to detain shoplifters  he isnt a sworn member of law enforcement. And Jenkins argued in her public report on the case that she lacks the evidence to overcome Anthonys claim of self-defense. The security guard said that Brown threatened to stab him, though police did not recover a knife from the scene.

So far, Bonta and Ramsey have refrained from commenting on Browns death, and have not indicated whether they will pursue charges. Representatives from Bontas office said Tuesday that they are not currently involved in the matter. A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Justice did not respond to a request for comment.

As a general rule, Stallworth said, state and federal law enforcement authorities trust the discretion and respect the expertise of county prosecutors, and seldom interfere in their decision-making.

Several legal experts who spoke with The Chronicle agreed with the call for a second review. At a minimum, it may help quell the public outcry, said Steven Clark, a former Santa Clara County prosecutor who, like Stallworth, currently works as a defense attorney.

When you take it to the level of Attorney General Bonta, it eliminates chatter about the politics of the situation, Clark said. He noted that the case has touched raw nerves in San Francisco as the city debates how far stores should go to stifle retail theft  a central theme for a narrative in conservative media about the citys descent into a hellish dystopia.

Clark was also alarmed by the video of Anthonys altercation with Brown, which quickly turned violent, with the guard at one point appearing to put Brown in a choke hold.

While everyone can acknowledge the difference between a private security guard and a police officer, Anthonys role still falls in that realm, said Stanford University law Professor George Fisher, who also believes it would be prudent for Bonta to weigh in.

Peskin said he is perturbed by what he views as a lack of accountability for Anthony, saying it sets the stage for vigilantism.

I dont want to live in a society that looks like Florida, and Trayvon Martin, and stand your ground,  Peskin said. He expects his resolution to go before the board next week. It would need a unanimous vote to pass.

Chronicle staff writer J.D. Morris contributed to this report.
An unusual, extremely strong high-pressure system over the Pacific Northwest is forecast to send rounds of hot, unstable air toward California on Tuesday. This cranked up air mass will then settle over the Central Valley, quickly spilling into parts of the Bay Area.

Weather models predict that the marine layer will shield most of the bayside, but there is a chance this hot air could breach some of that defense by Tuesday afternoon.

How hot will it get?

Depending on where you are in the Bay Area, Tuesday will be marked by yet another surge of hot, dry air  similar in some ways to the weather setup from this past weekend.

Weatherbell

The Central Valley and Mojave could reach the 90s and low 100s on Tuesday afternoon.

Thankfully, however, the marine layer is looking to shave off most of Tuesdays extreme heat around the Bay Areas coastline. This natural air conditioning will keep temperatures by the water closer to the upper 60s and 70s. That said, its ability to cool things off becomes a little less certain as you head toward the inland valleys of the North Bay, East Bay and South Bay.

Baron/Lynx

There is a slight chance that the marine layer weakens a smidge on Tuesday afternoon, leading to highs in the 80s reaching some of the hills closer to the eastern side of San Francisco Bay. The National Weather Service has issued a moderate heat risk for many of the inland valleys to account for some of those concerns.

But weather models are signaling that Tuesdays high-pressure system is trending weaker than it was over the weekend. This means the system wont have as much momentum to help spread the bulk of its heat west of Sacramento.

Its also worth mentioning that Monday mornings rush of cool marine clouds was more widespread than what the forecast was originally calling for, further raising the odds that Tuesdays marine layer will hammer away at any heat that tries to rush in from the Central Valley.

All in all, the odds are in favor of the marine layers winds keeping daytime temperatures in the Bay Areas valleys from reaching the scorching levels that residents in the rest of the interior of the state can expect Tuesday afternoon. And depending on how quickly the atmospheres steady stream of cool winds push this high-pressure system away, residents in the Sacramento Valley can also expect some heat relief later in the week.

Tuesday breakdown

San Francisco: A cold, chilly start to Tuesday is on tap for residents in the outer Sunset and Richmond districts, where 7 a.m. temperatures will struggle to reach the mid-50s. Once the coastal fog clears out, expect those numbers to climb to the upper 60s.

Look for more widespread daytime highs in the lower 70s by Tuesday afternoon as mostly sunny skies prevail across the city. San Franciscans can then expect the gradual return of the sea breeze after 1 p.m., with winds reaching 15 to 20 mph while gusts by the water reach 20 to 25 mph. This cool air will quickly return temperatures to the upper 60s by 3 p.m. and lower 60s just before sunset.

Expect a comfortable evening with nighttime lows that stay just above 50 degrees in downtown, SoMa and the Castro and mid-50s by the water.

Pacific Coast and Peninsula: Residents along Highway 1 between Pacifica and Half Moon Bay are in for a chilly Tuesday morning as fog and cool air keep temperatures in the lower 50s. This all changes after 9 a.m. as warm, dry air begins to chip away at the fog, raising daytime highs to the lower 60s. Look for more widespread mid-60s in Daly City and upper 60s to lower 70s in Millbrae and the vicinity around San Francisco International Airport by the afternoon as this warm air spreads out across the Peninsula.

Sunshine will prevail along the Interstate 280 and Highway 101 corridors, leading to highs reaching the mid-70s near San Andreas Lake, San Mateo and San Carlos, while residents in Redwood City, Atherton and Menlo Park can expect highs to reach the upper 70s by 2 p.m.

A light breeze off San Francisco Bay arrives after 3 p.m., leading to a sharp cooldown across the Peninsula. Look for a gradual return to the lower 60s by the evening and mid-50s after sunset as cool air rushes along Highway 92 and into the rest of the region.

North Bay: Residents in the Napa, Santa Rosa and Petaluma valleys can expect a hot and muggy Tuesday, with daytime temperatures quickly approaching the 90-degree mark in the afternoon. A steady warm-up is also on tap for inland cities in Solano County like Fairfield and Vacaville, where heat from the Central Valley will raise their daytime highs to the lower 90s.

The marine layer will shave off the worst of Tuesdays heat for residents along the bay shoreline and delta region. Look for daytime temperatures in the lower 70s in towns like Tiburon, Sausalito and Benicia while residents in Mill Valley, San Rafael, Novato and Vallejo can expect slightly warmer weather  upper 70s to lower 80s. The region will then experience a sharp cooldown after 3 p.m. as a light breeze forms over the Sonoma and Marin County coastline, spreading inland and dropping temperatures by 5 to 7 degrees.

Expect a warm evening followed by a comfortable night with lows in the mid-50s by the water and lower 50s in the inland valleys.

East Bay: For those taking the Caldecott Tunnel, it may feel like traveling from one climate zone to the next. A sharp temperature difference will develop between the bayside and the San Ramon and Livermore valleys Tuesday afternoon. Hot air from the Central Valley will spill into Walnut Creek, Pleasanton, Dublin and most inland cities in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Look for daytime highs in the upper 80s, with a few 90-degree benchmarks possible in cities like Livermore and Brentwood.

Some of this heat will reach the Oakland and Berkeley hills by 1 p.m., but a breeze off the delta and San Francisco Bay will keep daytime temperatures closer to the upper 70s. Residents along the Interstate 80 and Interstate 880 corridors, including those in Richmond, Oakland, Alameda and San Lorenzo, can expect daytime temperatures in the mid-70s.

Cooler air and patches of fog will return by the evening, keeping nighttime humidity up while nighttime lows fall to the mid-50s by the water and lower 50s in the valleys.

South Bay and Santa Cruz: A warm Tuesday is on tap for the Santa Clara Valley and Santa Cruz Mountains, with sunny skies and daytime highs in the lower 80s. A light breeze off Monterey and San Francisco bays will keep temperatures stabilized most of the afternoon, though a few pockets of mid-80s cant be ruled out along the Highway 101 corridor between Morgan Hill and Los Gatos. Residents in North San Jose and Milpitas can expect cooler temperatures closer to the upper 70s.

If youre looking for sunny skies and cool weather, your best bet will be Capitola, Soquel, Aptos and the Santa Cruz Boardwalk, where a lingering patch of fog off the coast and the wind will keep temperatures closer to the 70-degree mark.

Look for a comfortable evening across the region as nighttime lows fall to the 50s by the water and upper 40s inland.
Sunday, CNN aired an hourlong special titled What Happened to San Francisco, in which reporter Sara Sidner spoke to Mayor London Breed and a host of her ideological allies, all of whom offered some version of the following message: It's time for the city to take a tough love approach with its homeless residents.

Much ink has been spilled on how homelessness is linked with crime in the minds of people who walk the streets of San Francisco. Many feel unsafe given the large numbers of people visibly struggling on the streets  which explains the disconnect between violent crime data and people's beliefs. Perception matters; many retailers have recently closed marquee SF locations and either cited public safety concerns directly or alluded to the image of a city that's out of control and dangerous.

CNN noted early in the program that San Francisco's rates of violent crime are low when compared with other major U.S. cities, and that property crime rates  while higher than in other cities  are comparable to pre-pandemic numbers. That cleared the way for what the network clearly wanted to focus on: public drug use and homelessness. A quick block of time was dedicated to car break-ins in the middle of the special, but the majority of the hour was spent on homelessness and drugs.

CNN gathered a smattering of quotes in which individuals insinuated, or said outright, that the city is too permissive with homeless residents. Breed bemoaned the disconnect between how much the city spends on homelessness and the continued presence of encampments, and several small-business owners detailed their day-to-day challenges. Deli Board's Adam Mesnick (of BetterSoma Twitter fame) said homelessness is a drug and mental illness problem as opposed to a housing problem, and former Mayor Willie Brown discussed what he described as the citys inability to force anyone to accept help.

Tanya Tilghman of Mothers Against Drug Addiction and Deaths offered the strongest call to action, telling CNN, You should be arresting people for using illegal drugs, not watching people use illegal drugs.

Many of the arguments for a tough-love approach are compelling. It's not hard to find people in the city who agree the status quo is unacceptable, and CNN interviewed multiple unhoused individuals who said they had come to San Francisco because they believed the city, out of a place of compassion, would allow them to use drugs indefinitely. One specifically cited the availability of cheap drugs, and another said, Theres a lot more assistance out here than in other cities.

Where CNN ran into problems was its inability to engage with the most compelling arguments against the tough-love approach. If tough love means incarcerating users, well, study after study and analysis after analysis show that drugs will always win the war on drugs. CNN did not mention any of the relevant literature showing that locking up drug users is extremely expensive and does very little to curtail drug use in the broader populace, nor did Sidner meaningfully debate with any of her sources on the subject.

If tough love means an initial arrest and then diversion to a court-ordered substance abuse treatment program, or perhaps placement into a conservatorship, several questions still need to be addressed. Does the city have the necessary infrastructure to handle an influx of individuals sent to treatment programs? (Likely not.) Does state law even allow for conservatorship in a way San Francisco officials would find useful? (Not right now, at least.) Are we even sure that compelled treatment works, or does entering treatment need to be a personal choice for it to be successful? (Unclear.)

These are all weighty questions that CNN didn't attempt to engage with.

If the purpose of the special was to present a comprehensive and balanced picture of the city's homelessness crisis, the network came up short on both counts. The special cannot be considered comprehensive if it strongly suggests that tough love is the obvious answer and then declines to discuss what implementing such an approach would require. San Francisco voters have arguably already decided they want to see more tough love  in 2022, District Attorney Chesa Boudin was recalled; just months later, his more moderate successor, Brooke Jenkins, was reelected, and two moderate Board of Supervisors candidates (Joel Engardio and Matt Dorsey) defeated progressive opponents to win office.

It's time now to discuss what the implementation of this groups policy agenda looks like. San Franciscans are fed up is old news and incomplete reporting in 2023, yet thats as far as CNN went. The special, to its credit, was much better than most other national coverage of San Francisco, but it was still negligibly additive.

The network also stumbled on ideological balance. The most obvious attempt at achieving it was CNNs choice to feature the city's Coalition on Homelessness. Executive Director Jennifer Friedenbach offered some pushback on the idea that a more stringent approach will have an impact, arguing that its wishful thinking to believe that if you make it uncomfortable for [homeless people], they will simply disappear.

But immediately after Friedenbach delivered that quote, CNN cut back to Sidners conversation with Brown. She asked the former mayor, Do you think that the perpetuating of the homeless issue and the drug issue is partly through the very people that say theyre helping?  teeing up Brown to unload on homelessness activists.

Overall, there were far more proponents of the tough-love approach than there were skeptics in the one hour of programming. Now, that's perfectly acceptable if the purpose of the special is not balanced, comprehensive reporting but instead political advocacy. I dont know whether Sidner aligns more closely with the citys moderate faction or progressive faction, but I do know that early in the special, she listed ideology alongside COVID-19 and fentanyl as factors that have shaken up the city in the worst way. If that line sounds familiar, its because the city's moderates frequently argue that progressives are too ideological and inappropriately prioritize dogma over pragmatism. (Sidner did not respond to an SFGATE request for comment in time for publication.)

To lay my own ideological cards on the table, I do not neatly align with either the moderate or progressive faction of city politics. I believe each group has valid criticisms of the other, and on this particular issue, moderates have yet to satisfactorily answer the practical, nonideological questions related to tougher policing of drug use. Any form of successful political advocacy must address obvious counterarguments, and the CNN special did not.

San Francisco's approach to drug policy is in a bizarre state of limbo, as it's neither harm reduction (the city closed its only safe consumption site last year) nor tough love. The CNN special inhabits a similar space: not balanced or thorough enough to classify as comprehensive journalism but not persuasive enough to classify as successful advocacy.
The developer planning 125 supportive housing units for extremely low-income, unhoused or formerly housed people at Berkeleys Peoples Park has pulled out of the project, citing the ongoing court battle surrounding construction.

This is another hurdle in the controversial quest to build on the 2.8-acre park after UC Berkeley lost a lawsuit earlier this year concerning environmental impacts at the site. The university also plans to build a 1,100-bed student housing development on the park, with 2 acres of preserved green space.

The UC is appealing the decision at the state Supreme Court.

Resources for Community Development said its decision was a direct result of the courts ruling. RCD continues to be deeply committed to providing housing solutions for low-income individuals and families, unhoused people, and those at risk of being unhoused, RCD said in a statement sent to SFGATE. With this commitment in mind, RCD is reallocating our non-profit organizations limited resources to other developments.

The statement said the court ruling sets a dangerous precedent for housing development, especially for the creation of new affordable housing which is so desperately needed.

UC Berkeley said it will work to bring another nonprofit partner on board. We are confident that the campus will secure the partnerships and funding necessary to honor our commitment to unhoused people in our community who have an urgent need for all that a new supportive housing facility can provide, a statement provided to SFGATE reads.

The city of Berkeley continues to offer its support for the project. The blame does not fall on RCD, but rather the minority of people who are determined to stop progress, Mayor Jess Arreguin wrote in a statement May 10 provided to Berkeleyside. They have used the homeless as a prop to support their campaign of obstruction, all the while denying 125 units of needed permanent supportive housing for our formerly homeless neighbors.

The fight against housing at Peoples Park has been ongoing for over two years. Up to 100 people gathered in the space and tore down fences when they first went up in January 2021. Just a month later, 20 to 30 students started taking shifts occupying the park in an effort to encourage the university to choose a different location for housing. In August 2022, the university was forced to halt construction due to the destruction of construction materials, unlawful protest activity, and violence.

Located in the center of the Bay Area's high-priced and famously tight real estate market, UC Berkeley faces a student housing shortage. According to a 2017 survey, it has the lowest percentage of beds for its student body of any campus in the UC System. The survey also found that 10% of respondents self-identified as having experienced homelessness at some point while attending UC Berkeley.
From Al-Ahram Weekly archives: Fifty years of dispossession 1948-1998

As I have been here (Damascus) for some time, closely observing the preparations to combat the Jewish gangs, and as my stay in Syria afforded me the opportunity of direct contact with those who will be leading the battle of liberation in Palestine, at least on the northern front, I must report that Syria is the one major Arab country to have shouldered the responsibility of preparing for the organisation of the battle.

This, to a great extent, is natural: the French and British have evacuated Syria, removing any obstacles to its defence of Palestine. The Zionist menace, too, is primarily directed against Syria. Many people are probably unaware that a number of Jewish colonies are inside the Syrian borders, concentrated around Lake Tiberius and close to the province of Hawlah.

While on a fact-finding mission on the Syrian border, with Salah Harb Pasha, we witnessed how the Zionist arteries extended into Syrian territory. Syrian concerns with the Palestinian question, in this context, is only to be expected. Yet despite monumental efforts on the part of the Syrian government it continues to lag behind the Syrian people, who insist on participating in the battle with all they have, be it money or man power. Syria is the most advanced front line for the defence of Palestine, and it is, therefore, my duty, to place before the people of Egypt and the rest of the Arabs, some observations that must be taken into account if we are to win the battle of Palestine.

First -- we exaggerate in belittling the power of our opponents. I hate to say that this belittling is not only habitual among the man in the street, but is indulged by many of our rulers. Many now say that we can crush Zionism in the blink of an eye, while others insist that one Arab can stand up to a thousand Jews, and the battle will last only a few months, if not a matter of weeks. Without casting any aspersions on the bravery of the Arabs, to make so light of our enemy is ridiculous.

We are facing a resolute and strong foe, an enemy whose overriding will can be measured in the efforts they are exerting around the world in rallying support to their cause. More importantly, it is necessary that we understand that our foes will spare no effort or weapon, whether honourable or not, in their attempts to defeat us. We face a cruel opponent, without mercy, resolved to fight to the very end, and we have to be prepared for a very fierce battle.

My second remark concerns the way news about what is taking place in Palestine is being broadcast. Newspapers and reporters persistently speak about Arab victories and the defeat of various colonies of Zionists. Whoever reads these reports is led to believe that the Zionists have been finally defeated in Palestine. The danger of such reporting is that it depicts the Arabs of Palestine as being capable of winning the battle alone, persuading other to relax, contenting them with offering words of support. In my opinion the news of each and every clash in Palestine must be depicted accurately, so that the Arab people are not lulled into a false assurance of victory.

My third remark concerns the differences and problems regarding the way we perceive the future of Palestine. Let us first remember that our main concern now is to rescue Palestine. Once this is achieved and Palestine is free from Zionism, we can begin discussions of its future and address any differences in opinion if such differences are inevitable.

I am writing these lines and in front of me are all those young people of Misr al-Fattah who have volunteered to fight in defence of Palestine. They are government employees who have left their jobs, officers, workers and lawyers. They have families and they left everything behind for the sake of the liberation of Palestine.

Let my appeal be one from the bottom of my heart to the Egyptian people and the Arab leaders: unite, unite, and forget everything except the rescue and liberation of Palestine. Sacrifice everything, even personal pride, for the sake of the pride of us all, and of the homeland.

* This article was published in Al-Ahram Weekly on 15 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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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP)  Pipeline design issues, lapses by its operators and problems caused during its construction led to a massive oil spill on the Keystone pipeline system in northeastern Kansas, according to a report for U.S. government regulators.

An engineering consulting firm said in the report that the bend in the Keystone system where the December 2022 spill occurred had been overstressed since its installation in December 2010  likely because construction activity itself altered the land around the pipe. The U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration posted a redacted copy of the report online Monday, about three weeks after it was completed by RSI Pipeline Solutions, based in the Columbus, Ohio, area.

The report raised questions about Canada-based TC Energy's oversight of the manufacturing of its pipeline, saying the report's authors could find no record of a pre-installation inspection of the welds on the pipeline bend in Washington County, Kansas. The report concluded that TC Energy underestimated the risks associated with the bend going from its round shape when installed to a more-restricted oval shape within two years and didn't replace the bend after excavating it in 2013.

The company said in February that a faulty weld in the bend caused a crack that grew over time under stress. The spill dumped nearly 13,000 barrels of crude oil  each one enough to fill a standard household bathtub  into a creek running through a rural pasture about 150 miles (240 kilometers) northwest of Kansas City. It was the largest onshore spill in nearly nine years.

When you have a pipeline that is spilling and having as many problems as Keystone One, it is clearly a red flag that there are bigger issues going on," said Jane Kleeb, who founded the Bold Nebraska environmental and landowner rights group that helped fight off TC Energy's plan to build a second pipeline, the Keystone XL.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has documented 22 leaks along the Keystone pipeline since it was built in 2010. The one in Washington County was by far the largest.

At what point, does the federal government ... step in and say this has reached a point where we need to shut the full line down to do a full review of the pipeline?" Kleeb said.

The 2,700-mile (4,345-kilometer) Keystone system carries heavy crude oil extracted in western Canada to the Gulf Coast and to central Illinois. Concerns that spills could pollute waterways ultimately scuttled TC Energy's plans to build the Keystone XL across 1,200 miles (1,900 kilometers) of Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska.

In Kansas, no one was evacuated because of the December spill. State and U.S. government officials have said it didn't affect two rivers and a lake downstream from the creek.

In response to a request Tuesday for comment, TC Energy pointed to a statement it issued when the report was finished in April but not public. In it, Richard Prior, president of TC Energy's Liquids Pipeline operations, said the company was confident in the pipeline's reliability.

TC Energy has said the cleanup will cost the company $480 million, and it announced last week that it had finished recovering oil from the creek.

Prior said last month: We are unwavering in our commitment to fully remediate the site.

But Bill Caram, executive director of the Pipeline Safety Trust watchdog group, said that with the history of problems along the Keystone pipeline, the public has plenty of reasons to doubt its safety.

I would certainly like to see PHMSA come up with a plan to work with TC Energy to develop a plan so that the public can be ensured that TC Energy will be able to operate this pipeline safely going forward. I dont think the public has that kind of trust in this pipeline right now, Caram said.

Richard Kuprewicz, who has five decades of experience in the pipeline industry and consults with governments about them, said problems like this flawed weld need to be found during construction but TC Energy clearly missed it amid the pressure to get the multibillion-dollar project built quickly.

It looks like the quality control got out of hand at least in this segment. I cant say for the whole line, said Kuprewicz, who is president of Washington-based Accufacts Inc.

The consultants' report said the pipeline rupture and oil spill occurred only days after TC Energy began testing for increasing the pressure in the Keystone system, though the Kansas section was operating about 16% below the top pressure allowed by U.S. government regulators. At the same time, the company was running a device through the pipeline to look for potential leaks.

Pipeline valves were left open so that the leak-testing tool could pass through the pipeline, the report said, and that could have contributed to the size of the spill.

The report said a March 2021 engineering assessment of Keystone's pipeline from southern Nebraska to northern Oklahoma showed five bends, including Washington County's, had the same oval deformation.

The report noted that the industry generally does not see so-called ovalities as a threat, so the obvious focus in Washington County in 2012 and 2013 when that abnormality was found there was ensuring that a leak-detecting tool still could pass through the bend.

Yet this focus may have caused the Pipe Integrity team and senior management to overlook a potential concern of added stress on the elbow and its possible impact on future integrity, the report said.

The report added that 108 other pipe fittings manufactured for the Keystone system in 2010 could have imperfections similar to those in the Washington County bend. All of them were replacements for other fittings found to be deficient.

Because other bends made on the same day had weld flaws that were repaired, the report found it plausible that the Washington County bend also had flaws "repaired but not recorded.

The lack of an inspection report means that, at a minimum, record-keeping procedures were not followed and, at worst, the report said, The weld inspections were never performed.

___

Funk reported from Omaha, Nebraska.

___

Follow John Hanna on Twitter: https://twitter.com/apjdhanna
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP)  A controversial and long-delayed natural gas pipeline got the green light for construction on national forest land in Virginia and West Virginia after the U.S. Forest Service reissued its approval for a permit, despite past federal appeals court rulings determining developers had inadequately considered the project's environmental impact.

Monday night's decision will allow the $6.6 billion Mountain Valley Pipeline to be built  for now  across a 3.5-mile (5.6-kilometer) corridor through the Jefferson National Forest.

The 303-mile pipeline would transport natural gas that is drilled in Ohio and Pennsylvania across rugged slopes in the Appalachian Mountains. Environmental groups say construction has led to violations of regulations meant to control erosion and sedimentation.

Mountain Valley Pipeline LLC, the joint venture behind the project, still has other federal permits it will need approved as it works to complete the pipeline by the end of this year.

Environmental advocates like Wild Virginia Conservation Director David Sligh said Tuesday that the Biden administration is favoring fossil fuels even as it claims to advance environmental justice.

This is the third time those who should guard our public treasures have failed us, Sligh said.

In previous litigation, the 4th U.S. Court of Appeals has twice vacated U.S. Forest Service decisions allowing for the pipeline in the Jefferson National Forest.

Sligh also said the pipeline remains far from completion, saying 88 miles of the proposed route is still incomplete in Virginia.

That is despite assurances the project is almost finished from developers and pipeline-supporting politicians like U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, a moderate Democrat from West Virginia who chairs the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

Manchin said Tuesday the natural gas line is a crucial piece of energy infrastructure that is good for global supply and American energy security. The fact that the U.S. Forest Service has approved construction three times shows the review has been exceptionally thorough, he said in a statement.

In a separate decision, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals revoked a key water permit last month because it said West Virginia's environmental protection agency didnt adequately address the pipelines history of water quality violations. It also ruled that the agency used the wrong standards to support the decision that in-stream activities would meet state water quality regulations. The permit is required under the federal Clean Water Act.

The court noted at least 46 water quality violations and assessed civil penalties totaling roughly $569,000.

U.S. Forest Service officials said in the agency's decision Monday that the amended plan will permit the project to move forward while minimizing environmental impacts to soils, water, scenery and other resources.

The plan contains requirements like one that 85% of soils dedicated to growing vegetation be left in place and that revegetation of the area be completed within five years, with the exception of the construction zone and right-of-way.

Jill Gottesman, a top regional director for The Wilderness Society, said in a statement this week that the decision means groups like hers opposing the project will have no choice but to take this battle back to court.

The Forest Service has bent to the will of the oil and gas industry, and is placing fossil fuel profits above our environment and public safety, she said.
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SCHOHARIE, N.Y. (AP)  A jury began deliberations Tuesday in the trial of a limousine company manager accused of deadly indifference to safety rules before a crash that killed 20 people.

Nauman Hussain is charged with criminally negligent homicide and second-degree manslaughter in connection with the 2018 wreck of a stretch SUV limousine in Schoharie, New York  one of the deadliest U.S. road wrecks of the past two decades.

Jurors deliberated for just under two hours Tuesday before heading home for the evening. Their discussions were due to continue Wednesday morning.

Earlier Tuesday, relatives of the dead wiped away tears during special prosecutor Frederick Renchs closing argument.

He said Hussain intentionally failed to follow maintenance regulations for the 2001 Ford Excursion. The stretch SUV was packed with birthday revelers when it hurtled down a hill, went off the road, and hit a parked car and trees before stopping in a streambed.

Prosecutors say defective brakes failed to stop the heavy limo. Rench said that if Hussain had done routine state vehicle inspections, as required, they wouldve revealed brake defects and prevented the wreck.

Hussains lawyer, Lee Kindlon, told jurors his client was not to blame. He faulted Mavis Discount Tires, a repair shop that Hussain routinely used.

Hussain had true belief that he had repaired the brake system, that the brakes were in fine and working order, Kindlon told jurors. The people could not prove that Nauman Hussain knew or even should have known that Mavis falsified the repair maintenance and safety inspections.

Lawyers for Mavis, which is not on trial in the criminal case but is being sued by victims families, deny the repair shop is at fault.

Seventeen passengers, the driver and two bystanders died in the crash outside a country store in a village west of Albany.

Witnesses called to testify during the trial included a former Mavis manager, people who witnessed the wreck, and a state Department of Transportation inspector who flagged the SUV-style limousine for violations long before the crash. The defense called no witnesses.

The trial was held after a judge threw out a plea deal last fall that would have spared Hussain prison time.

___

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.
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.
CANNES, France (AP)  The Cannes Film Festival opened its 76th edition with a parade of stars, including the much-debated return of Johnny Depp.

Depp's prominence on the festival's first day  he plays Louis XV in the opening night film, Jeanne du Barry  has been a hot topic in the leadup to the premiere. (Festival juror Brie Larson left it an open question on whether she would even watch the film, which is not in competition.) Depp received a warm welcome Tuesday night, smiling for cameras as fans nearby chanted Johnny!
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STOCKHOLM (AP)  Swedish singer Loreen, who won the Eurovision Song Contest with her power ballad Tattoo, returned home on Tuesday, saying she was proud to be only the second person in Eurovision history to have won the contest twice.

Im so incredibly happy, a smiling Loreen said after landing at Stockholms international airport from the English city of Liverpool, where the event was held.

On the plane home, I had my first burst of joy and looked out at the sky. I am so incredibly happy about this. I am so proud that Sweden sent me.

She held the trophy  a handmade glass sculpture in the shape of a microphone from the 1950s  saying it was brutally heavy.

Later Tuesday, the 39-year-old artist performed the winning dance-pop anthem at a downtown Stockholm park  a popular hangout known for its outdoor cafes and open-air concerts  before a cheering crowd of hundreds of people. The concert was broadcast live on Sweden's public television.

I am so grateful to have been able to represent you, Loreen said to a screaming audience.

Loreen won the 67th Eurovision Song Contest, billed as the worlds biggest music event, on Saturday night. She had previously won in 2012 in Baku, Azerbaijan, with her song Euphoria.

Until this week, the only person to have won Eurovision twice was Johnny Logan of Ireland, 36 years ago.

Swedens victory at the Eurovision Song Contest is the countrys seventh, matching Irelands record.

The win gave Sweden the right to host next year's contest which coincidentally is the 50th anniversary of Swedens first Eurovision triumph  ABBAs 1974 victory with Waterloo. No details of next year's show have been announced yet.

Born Lorine Zineb Nora Talhaoui in Stockholm of Moroccan parents, Loreen had her breakthrough when she took part in Swedish show Idol 2004 and came third.
After a 10-month battle over noise complaints, San Franciscos Bissap Baobab has prevailed. The Mission District Senegalese restaurant and nightclub will finally receive its beer and wine license, as first reported by Eater.

Bissap Baobab first moved into the former Lupulandia Brewery space at 2243 Mission St. last summer, a revival for the beloved business that closed back in 2019. But things got off to a rocky start when noise complaints from neighbors living in condos next door delayed the restaurants liquor license application. Owner Marco Senghor went public with the debacle in February, launching a GoFundMe to raise funds for soundproofing and related losses in business.

Senghors adviser, Kevin Ortiz, told SFGATE that Senghor has spent more than $80,000 on soundproofing.

After several court hearings with San Franciscos office of the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, an administrative law judge overruled the protests against Bissab Baobab this month, granting it a beer and wine license after an appeal period. In the decision, the judge wrote that Bissab Baobab serves a public convenience or necessity due to its unique Senegalese Mexican fusion menu and the businesss furtherance of a revitalization effort in the Mission District.

The judge also acknowledged that Senghor appears to have made specific efforts to improve compliance with the noise conditions.

San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images

It has been very difficult, so the news has been fantastic, Senghor told SFGATE. But we still have to keep the energy because we need to grow now. The rebirth of the Baobab starts today.

Bissap Baobab was able to survive the delays in obtaining its liquor license by holding other events in the space, such as Zumba and tango classes, as well as renting it out for weddings and birthday parties. Senghor also obtained a loan from the city, and his landlord gave him a rent reduction.

This was the community really coming together to make sure that this longstanding community institution thats been around for 25 years in the Mission, one of the few West African eateries in the entire Bay Area that is hosting live international music, is able to survive and able to thrive in the neighborhood, said Ortiz. But it really did take a herculean effort.  It shouldnt have had to be this hard to just apply for a beer and wine license.

With this beer and wine license victory, Senghor said hes excited to finally focus on the food, the colors, the energy, what is really Baobab. He plans to debut a full calendar of themed nights, such as Afro-Taco Tuesdays with live Afro-Latinx music. The restaurant also recently finished construction on its front patio, and plans to apply for a full liquor license as soon as possible.

This is a huge community win, Ortiz said.  But it does clearly highlight some overlying issues that need to be addressed, whether its neighbors that are not understanding or wanting to enjoy vibrant cultures  or just the overall efforts that need to be made to help small businesses return to and thrive on busy economic corridors, like Mission Street.
Almost 3,400 people died alone in Korea last year, often left undiscovered for some time as lockdown isolated them even further from society.

The number of lonely deaths has jumped 40 percent over the last five years as more and more people live alone, and almost half of them were men who were only in their 50s and 60s.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare on Wednesday said it used police records to conduct its first study of people dying alone.

The ministry defines a lonely death as a person dying without contact with family or relatives, be it from suicide or disease, and their body left undiscovered for some time.

The number of lonely deaths stood at 2,412 in 2017 but had risen to 3,378 last year or around one percent of total deaths in the country. Men outnumbered women around four times, and they were more likely to die alone in their 50s and 60s than in their 70s.

Up to 60 percent involved men in their 50s and 60s. According to the Center for Happiness Studies at Seoul National University, they are often incapable of looking after themselves after layoff or divorce, resulting in a sharp decrease in the quality of life as they descend into alcoholism and despair.

Song In-joo at the Seoul Welfare Foundation said, "Men in their 50s and 60s are at risk of a lonely death if they lose their jobs and grow apart from their family, becoming quickly isolated from society as their health deteriorates."
Tourists and locals spending an afternoon at San Franciscos Pier 39 may have noticed an unexpected visitor sunning on K-Dock recently.

A Steller sea lion has taken up residence at the beloved hangout spot for hundreds of California sea lions, with sightings reported by Pier 39 staff as early as May 4. What sets this newcomer apart from its blubbery peers is its sheer size and appearance  the Steller sea lion is the largest member of the Otariidae, or eared seal family, which includes all sea lions and fur seals. Though observations of the species arent exactly uncommon in California, Steller sea lions usually stick to remote islands or beaches that are inaccessible to people.

Experts at the Marine Mammal Center believe this individual is likely a three-year-old male weighing 1,000 pounds, and can grow to be much bigger than its California sea lion counterparts, measuring up to 11 feet long and weighing as much as 2,500 pounds  about as heavy as a Toyota Prius. By comparison, a male California sea lion will only grow to be about 7.5 feet long and 700 pounds. Steller sea lions have a distinctive light tan to reddish-brown coloring, a blunt face and a boxy, bear-like head. The most recognizable feature in many males, however, is a very thick neck covered with longer fur that resembles a lions mane, which is how sea lions get their name.

This pinniped population is divided into two distinct segments, western and eastern. Experts with the Marine Mammal Center said the individual at Pier 39 is almost certainly from the eastern population group, which is found along the U.S. and Canadian coasts. Because of unexplained widespread population declines in Alaska, the Steller sea lion was listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1990, but the eastern population made a gradual comeback and was delisted by 2013. The western population, however, has been elevated to endangered status due to lack of recovery among sea lions from rookeries, or breeding colonies west of Cape Suckling.

Its not clear how this individual got to the pier, or why its not accompanied by other Steller sea lions. The species has shown up at Pier 39 before, but the Marine Mammal Center was unable to provide SFGATE with more data showing just how frequent these sightings are. However, Steller sea lions, especially males, can travel long distances in a season. This one may have come from one of the two small but active local rookeries on the Southeast Farallon Island or Ano Nuevo Island, but the Marine Mammal Center said it could have traveled as far south as the waters off southern California.

Marc Webber  The Marine Mammal Center

Biologists believe California sea lions have stuck around at Pier 39 not only for the abundance of food, but also because they are protected from their natural predators like white sharks and orcas, as well as other hazards such as storms and rising tides. This Steller sea lion could be stopping by for a similar reason. Breeding season for the species runs from mid-May to mid-July, and the animals need undisturbed land habitat to rest, molt, socialize, mate, give birth and nurse small pups, the Marine Mammal Center said. Experts noted this individual wouldnt be part of the breeding season at its current age and size, and is likely hanging out in the area because it happens to be a good spot to rest and forage.

Swing by The PIER to learn more from our on-site Docents and see if you can spot this big boy in action, or try to catch a glimpse of him on our sea lion webcam, Pier 39 said in a recent newsletter.
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KEENE, Texas (AP)  A 12-year-old boy and a 20-year-old man have been arrested on a murder warrant in the fatal shooting of a Sonic Drive-In employee in Texas, police said.

Matthew Davis, 32, was shot and killed Saturday night as he fought with Angel Gomez, 20, in the parking lot of the restaurant in Keene, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) southwest of Dallas, police said.
MIAMI (AP)  Five people have pleaded guilty in South Florida to participating in a wire fraud scheme that created an illegal shortcut for aspiring nurses to get licensed and find employment.

Krystal Lopez and Damian Lopez, both of Palm Beach County, Florida; Francois Legagneur, of Nassau County, New York; Reynoso Seide, of Union County, N ew Jersey; and Yelva Saint Preux, of Suffolk County, N.Y.; pleaded guilty last Wednesday in Miami federal court to wire fraud conspiracy. They each face up to 20 years in prison at a July 27 hearing.
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Mubashar Hasan, Western Sydney University

(THE CONVERSATION) Bangladesh, which became independent from Pakistan in 1971, is a young country. Only 7 percent of the 160 million people in this South Asian country  which is home to more Muslims than Iran, Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia combined  are over the age of 60, according to a 2016 United Nations Development Program report.

It is young, but not hopeful. Youth unemployment is high in Bangladesh, especially among those with only a primary school education. According to a recent survey, 82 percent of young people are not optimistic about getting a job.

One consequence of this youthful unrest is religious radicalization. Once lauded for its secularism, Bangladesh is now seeing young people increasingly adopt more conservative Islamic values. Though many conservative Muslims denounce violence in the name of Islam, religiously motivated crimes are on the rise. Since 2013, at least 30 secular bloggers, authors, intellectuals and publishers have been murdered.

But there is another story about youthful anger in this Muslim nation, too. And it contradicts that all-too-familiar narrative about radicalization. Its the story of hip-hop.

Tupac, Eminem and young rage

Over the past 15 years or so, a new kind of musical activism has emerged in Bangladesh, one inspired by American rappers like Tupac Shakur, Eminem, NWA and Public Enemy.

The old school hip-hop icon Tupac Shakur  who was murdered in Las Vegas in 1996  holds particular significance for Bangladeshi MCs. Like Shakur, who spoke of police brutality and racism in the U.S., Bangladeshs young rappers want to use their music to criticize their countrys political dysfunction, democratic erosion and gaping inequality.

Hip-hop was born as protest music in the United States. The genre emerged in the late 1970s, as black Americans raised their voices against the poverty, police brutality and violence taking place in black communities.

Songs like Fight the Power by Public Enemy and NWAs F*!k tha Police underpinned the black struggle for black freedom and freedom of speech in America. This trend continues today, with hip-hop fueling the social movement Black Lives Matter.

Breaking the culture of silence

Over the past 12 months, I have listened to about 50 tracks by some two dozen Bangladeshi hip-hop artists. With this project, which grew out of my research on political Islam in Bangladesh, I hope to understand how this emerging underground genre reflects the youthful unrest that drives violence and radicalization in the country.

Though many Bangladeshi rappers rhyme about love, money and romance, there are several recurring political themes. One is the culture of silence around inequality.

Everyone is silent  nobody is talking, observes rapper Skib Khan in Shob Chup. The elite need inequality, he says, because otherwise how will the rich get servants to serve their families?

In Bangladesh, more than 60 million people  nearly a third of the population  live below the poverty line of US$1.90 per day. Twenty percent of Bangladeshis hold 41 percent of all wealth in the country.

Inequality is visible everyday in the slums of the capital Dhaka, arguably the worlds most crowded city. But it is ignored in the nations political debate.

Shob Chup, which translates to everyone is silent, frames the countrys inequality and disenfranchisement as a betrayal of the inclusive, secular and democratic ideals behind Bangladeshs 1971 revolution.

Rapping for freedom of speech

Bangladeshi hip-hop, which is celebrated with an annual festival in Dhaka, is also a defense of free speech in a country where that right is rapidly eroding.

In 2013, the government amended the Information and Communication Technology Act to mandate a jail sentence of seven up to 14 years for online speech deemed offensive by the courts. Since then, 1,271 Bangladeshi journalists and activists have been charged with cyber defamation, according to the international nongovernmental organization Human Rights Watch.

A proposed new digital security law would impose even stricter regulation of speech.

In his track Bidrohi, or rebel, rapper Towfique Ahmed sees these crackdowns as a violation of Bangladeshs founding ideals.

I havent seen the war but I heard of it. I dont know how to do revolution but my blood is on fire, he raps. Dont take me as someone who is stupid because of my silence.

Another group Cypher Project raps about the high-profile 2014 murder case in which security forces abducted and killed seven people in the Bangladeshi city of Narayanganj.

Dysfunctional politics

Bangladeshs politics is bloody. By virtually any measure  political equality, freedom of speech, human rights, religious tolerance, press freedom  this is a country struggling with the most basic tenets of democracy.

Rappers criticism of Bangladeshi politics can be fierce.

One group, Uptown Lokolz has declared elections, which are held every five years, pointless. The countrys situation changes in every five years, they rap. Yet whoever comes in the power  everything is lost under the curtains of self-interest.

Rappers also indict self-serving politicians for the rise in religious violence in Bangladesh. In White Democracy, the rapper Matheon wonders for how long religion would be subject of big politics  maybe I am a Christian but I understand your corruption.

Research confirms that mainstream parties in Bangladesh have embraced religious zealotry for political gain, giving Islamic extremists more power. Religious radicalization is not a marginal phenomenon in Bangladesh: Studies have found that many who support terrorism in the name of religion come from a middle-class background.

The U.S.-based Bangladeshi rapper Lal Miah condemns politicians who foment religious zealotry as frauds who are betraying the secular spirit of 1971.

Towfique Ahmed has perhaps the most pointed critique. Bangladeshi politicians corrupting society for their own benefit, he says, are waging false Jihad.

Speaking truth to power in a time and place where that habit is strongly discouraged sends a powerful political message. Hip-hop in Bangladesh, as in the U.S., becomes protest music simply by unflinchingly portraying the harsh reality that too many young people live everyday.

This article has been updated to correct the date and location of Tupac Shakurs death.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/bangladeshi-rappers-wield-rhymes-as-a-weapon-with-tupac-as-their-guide-96324.
MIDDLETOWN  After 110 years, a piece of Middletown history has finally returned home.

The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art delivered two pocket watches and a letter written by President George Washington to the Middlesex County Historical Society in Middletown April 17.

Washington wrote the letter on Sept. 1, 1782, thanking Revolutionary War Capt. William H. Van Deursen (1752-1824) for lending him a book, according to historical society Executive Director Jesse Nasta, also assistant professor in African American Studies at Wesleyan University.

Both time pieces belonged to Van Deursen, a notable city resident and integral participant in the West Indies trade, he said.

His family maintained possession of his belongings until the death of his granddaughter Margaret Van Deursen in 1913. She stipulated in her will that the objects be placed in a Middletown museum, yet the objects ended up at the Wadsworth Atheneum, even though the historical society had existed since 1901, Nasta said.

He explained that the mistake likely occurred because Margaret Van Deursen presumably wrote a clause in her will prior to 1901.

Any object tied to George Washington is extremely rare and nationally significant, so to learn that there was this George Washington document tied to such a prominent Middletown figure was a remarkable discovery, Nasta said. The fact that it had been at the Wadsworth for 110 years, and not known, was another amazing, exciting discovery.

Nasta first learned of the letter and pocket watches in 2019, when society board member Jack Bolles received a call from then-Wadsworth registrar Edd Russo. The pandemic and Russos untimely death put the transfer process on hold, but now the objects have finally been returned.

They will be displayed alongside some of Van Deursens other possessions in an exhibit called A Vanished Port: Middletown & the Caribbean, 1750-1824, which has showcased objects relating to Van Deursen and Atlantic commerce since 2016.

Interim Curator of American Decorative Arts at the Wadsworth Atheneum Philippe Calvert helped facilitate the transfer of the objects to the historical society, which has technically owned them since 1913, Nasta said.

Calvert described returning the objects to Middletown after all this time as a homecoming of sorts.

Bringing those objects back to a historical society that is tasked with keeping that history alive for the local community of Connecticut, that's really something special, Halbert said.

Washington's letter helps humanize both the former president and Van Deursen, according to Halbert.

It's not necessarily a groundbreaking historical document, but it's one that offers a really compelling human slice of insight into Washington, because he's thanking William Van Deursen for a book, Calvert said. It makes them real, and a little less larger-than- life than the way we tend to think of them  more like us, perhaps.

Likewise, the pocket watches offer a sense of the material culture from the time period and build a stronger picture of Van Deursens place in American society, the executive director said. They're not anonymous objects. They have a provenance. They have a history.

One pocket watch originates from Paris. While less is known about the second, the fact that Van Deursen owned both watches indicates his social status, and contextualizes his place in society and in commerce.

I think they're remarkable both as objects of art, and because they show conspicuous consumption, the wealth, the tastes of the elite; and again, the West Indies trade, included the enslaved people that fueled and drove this global market, Nasta said.

Having 18th century pocket watches is less rare than having documents by George Washington. But it is remarkable that we know these objects' history in such detail, including their connection to Van Deursen," he added.

Washingtons and Van Deursens lives intersected with so many people whose stories have been lost to history, Nasta explained, adding that he feels compelled by these stories, especially since both men had much influence and were involved in the slave trade.

Understanding all of this world is important: Documents signed by George Washington [are important], but also everybody who Van Deursen encountered and everyone whose lives he shaped either with their will or against their will, [such as] enslaved people [and] people who worked for him, Nasta said.

The Vanished Port exhibit grapples with some of these questions. While some of the current Van Deursen objects have been there since 1906, the addition of the letter and the pocket watches help further contextualize Van Deursens life and Middletowns role in the Atlantic, he said.

The Middlesex County Historical Society is located at 151 Main St. in Middletown and is open to the public on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and by appointment. For information, visit mchsctorg.wordpress.com.
NEW YORK (AP)  Two New York City police detectives have been charged with swiping pricey Champagne while on duty at an electronic music festival, and a third detective did nothing to stop them, prosecutors said Monday in announcing indictments of all three officers.

Detectives Wojciech Czech and Warren Golden were arraigned Monday and suspended from their jobs. Czech pleaded not guilty to felony charges of grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property; Golden pleaded not guilty to official misconduct, a misdemeanor. Both were released without bail.

A third detective, Jonathan Gonzalez, is due to be arraigned on all three charges later in the week.

Detective Czech is shocked and saddened by the criminal charges, said his lawyer, Oliver Storch, adding that his client is a 10-year law enforcement veteran who loves being in the business of protecting and saving lives.

Gonzalezs attorney, Peter E. Brill, said he believed the charges come from a misunderstanding of the facts, and after a jury has had the opportunity to hear the evidence in this case, he will be cleared of all charges."

A message seeking comment was left for Golden's lawyer.

The three detectives were on drug enforcement duty Sept. 3 at the Electric Zoo festival on Randall's Island.

According to Manhattan prosecutors, Gonzalez grabbed two unopened bottles of Ace of Spades Champagne from a VIP table. Prosecutors say that Czech participated by handing the bottles back to Gonzalez after the latter set them down briefly to fetch a backpack, and that Golden looked on and did nothing to intervene.

Some festival attendees who had ordered the Champagne got wise to what had happened and confronted the detectives in front of a festival security officer, who alerted his employer, prosecutors said. The employer notified police.

The Champagne  worth $2,900 in all  was pulled out of Gonzalez knapsack and returned to the guests who had ordered it, according to prosecutors.

Public confidence in the criminal justice system depends on members of law enforcement acting with the utmost integrity while on duty and following the same rules that apply to everyone else, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat, said in a news release.

All three detectives have been on modified assignments since last fall. The New York Police Department said Monday it would continue to pursue the facts in this investigation and initiate further discipline where appropriate.

Public confidence in the criminal justice system depends on members of law enforcement acting with the utmost integrity while on duty and following the same rules that apply to everyone else, said

Gonzalez is accused of
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Eric P. Robinson, University of South Carolina

(THE CONVERSATION) Just over a century ago, the United States government  in the midst of World War I  undertook unprecedented efforts to control and restrict what it saw as unpatriotic speech through passage of the Sedition Act of 1918, signed by President Woodrow Wilson on May 16 of that year.

The restrictions  and the courts reactions to them  mark an important landmark in testing the limits of the First Amendment, and the beginnings of the current understanding of free speech in the U.S.

As a scholar and lawyer focused on freedom of speech in the U.S., I have studied the federal governments attempts to restrict speech, including during World War I, and the legal cases that challenged them. These cases helped form the modern idea of the First Amendment right of free speech. But the conflict between patriotism and free expression continues to be an issue a century later.

Governments pursuit of radicals

The onset of war led to a patriotic fervor, fed by an intense government propaganda campaign. It also led to new challenges to the concept of free speech.

Within a few weeks of declaring war in 1917, President Woodrow Wilson signed the Espionage Act.

This law, which is still largely in effect, makes it a crime to do three things. First, to convey false information in order to interfere with the American military, or promote the success of Americas enemies. Second, to cause or attempt to cause insubordination within the military. Third, to willfully obstruct military recruitment or enlistment.

Both the Obama and Trump administrations used this law to investigate unauthorized leaks of government information, including obtaining reporters phone records.

The more restrictive Sedition Act of 1918 went further, amending the Espionage Act to criminalize disloyal, profane, scurrilous or abusive speech about the United States or its symbols; speech to impede war production; and statements supporting a country with which the U.S. is at war.

These laws were unprecedented restrictions on speech, and challenged the First Amendments founding concept of tolerating criticism of government. But the courts, including the United States Supreme Court, generally upheld them as necessary wartime restrictions.

When a nation is at war, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled in Schenk v. United States (1919), many things that might be said in time of peace are such a hindrance to its effort that their utterance will not be endured so long as men fight, and that no Court could regard them as protected by any constitutional right.

Many convictions

More than 2,000 people were prosecuted under the Espionage and Sedition acts during the war. About half were convicted, many of whom were given jail time.

These included several people who distributed leaflets arguing that the draft constituted slavery (as in the Schenk case) and those who urged labor strikes against munitions plants (as in the U.S. Supreme Court case Abrams v. United States (1919). Those convicted included leaders of the Socialist and Communist parties, including anarchist writer Emma Goldman and Socialist presidential candidate Eugene V. Debs, whose 1920 campaign was mounted from prison.

A few judges  notably U.S. Supreme Court justices Louis Brandeis and Oliver Wendell Holmes  expressed concerns that the prosecution of war dissenters was contrary to the First Amendment protection of free speech. As Holmes explained in his famous dissent in the Abrams case, Congress certainly cannot forbid all effort to change the mind of the country.

The war ended in November 1918, but the Sedition Act continued to be used against so-called radicals, including a Justice Department campaign known as the Palmer Raids in response to several terrorist bombings. The effort was named for Wilsons attorney general, A. Mitchell Palmer, whose home was among the locations bombed.

After World War II, a reassessment

The Sedition Act was finally repealed on Wilsons last day in office in 1921, although the Espionage Act remains.

All those who were jailed under the laws saw their sentences commuted by 1923. In 1924, Attorney General Harlan Fiske Stone concluded that law enforcement should be concerned with only the conduct of individuals, not their political or other opinions. In 1931, President Franklin Roosevelt offered amnesty to all those convicted under the Espionage or Sedition acts during the war.

But speech restrictions returned. In the run-up to American entry into World War II, Congress adopted the Smith Act in 1940, which barred speech and organizations intended to overthrow any government in the United States. It was used during the war and the Red Scare of the 1950s to suppress dissemination of Communist ideas and thought.

Eventually, however, in 1969 the Supreme Court settled on the current legal standard, under which speech can be restricted only if it presents a threat of "imminent lawless action, based on the circumstances in which it is made.

This standard allows for controversial, even incendiary, speech, unless there is an immediate threat that the speech will foreseeably lead to illegal behavior by the audience.

[Over 100,000 readers rely on The Conversations newsletter to understand the world. Sign up today.]

Despite calls for repression of dissent after the Sept. 11 attacks, no direct restrictions on speech were enacted. In 2020 Attorney General William Barr called for prosecutions of violent protesters, but no such charges were filed. There were also calls for President Donald Trump to be prosecuted for the fiery speech that preceded the Capitol insurrection on Jan. 6. But the imminent lawless action standard is a high threshold.

This reluctance to prosecute speech may well reflect the lessons learned from the excesses of repression under the Espionage Act a century ago. The First Amendment right of free speech exists as a means of keeping a critical eye on government. Such scrutiny is always important, but is especially critical during times of war.

This is an updated version of an article originally published on April 6, 2017.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/free-speech-wasnt-so-free-105-years-ago-when-seditious-and-unpatriotic-speech-was-criminalized-in-the-us-160835.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)  A federal judge on Tuesday declined to let a former Tennessee state senator withdraw his guilty plea on federal campaign finance charges.

In the case related to his failed 2016 congressional campaign, former Republican Sen. Brian Kelsey's attorneys had argued he should be allowed to go back on his guilty plea because he entered it in November with an unsure heart and a confused mind due to events in his personal life  his father had terminal pancreatic cancer, then later died in February, and he and his wife were caring for their twin sons born in September.

U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw in Nashville said that those stressors are not sufficient to allow the reversal of his guilty plea. Kelsey's sentencing was set for late July.

A guilty plea is a grave and solemn act, Crenshaw said, according to The Daily Memphian.

Kelsey and his mother were among those who testified at the hearing Tuesday.

Kelsey pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the Federal Election Commission as well as aiding and abetting the acceptance of excessive contributions on behalf of a federal campaign. He faces up to five years in prison for each count.

Before that, Kelsey had previously pleaded not guilty  often describing his case as a political witch hunt  but changed his mind shortly after his co-defendant, Nashville social club owner Joshua Smith, pleaded guilty to one count under a deal that required him to cooperate fully and truthfully with federal authorities. Smith's sentencing is also scheduled for late July.

In October 2021, a federal grand jury in Nashville indicted Kelsey and Smith, who owns The Standard club, on several counts each. The indictment alleged that Kelsey, Smith and others violated campaign finance laws by illegally concealing the transfer of $91,000  $66,000 from Kelseys state Senate campaign committee and $25,000 from a nonprofit that advocated about legal justice issues  to a national political organization to fund advertisements urging support of Kelseys congressional campaign.

Prosecutors allege that Kelsey and others caused the national political organization to make illegal and excessive campaign contributions to Kelsey by coordinating with the nonprofit on advertisements, and that they caused the organization to file false reports to the Federal Election Commission.

Kelsey's motion to withdraw his plea, which he filed in March, also argued he was unaware of the consequences of pleading guilty because he had no prior criminal record. Those consequences have included his bank cutting off his credit card and the suspension of his law license.

Kelsey, a 44-year-old attorney from Germantown, was first elected to the General Assembly in 2004 as a state representative. He was later elected to the state Senate in 2009. He didn't seek reelection in 2022.

Kelsey also served as the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which oversees changes to civil and criminal laws, judicial proceedings and more.
BOSTON (AP)  The Massachusetts attorney generals office is investigating possible racial bias by the Boston Police Departments gang unit and its associated gang member database, which has been criticized in the past for disproportionately tracking young Black and Latino men.

The investigation into what is formally known as the Youth Violence Strike Force began last summer, Attorney General Andrea Campbells office said in a statement released Monday.

Our Civil Rights Division is reviewing the Youth Violence Strike Force and its Gang Assessment Database based on allegations that, between 2018 and the present, there may have been a pattern or practice of racially biased policing," the statement said.

Boston police said in a statement that the department is fully cooperating with the investigation.

While police defend it as a critical tool for fighting violent crime, others have called the database flawed and sought to have it abolished. Gang databases in other jurisdictions have also come under scrutiny, for example in Chicago, where a 2019 report found the city's database rife with errors.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts sued in 2018 to get more information about Boston's database. It found then that of the nearly 5,000 people listed, 66% were Black and 24% were Latino.

Simply being seen wearing the wrong clothing or having contact with the wrong person can land someone on the list, civil libertarians have said.

The database overwhelmingly targets Black and Hispanic young people, who have been labeled as gang members for little more than wearing popular brands or even becoming a victim of gang violence," Carol Rose, executive director of the ACLU of Massachusetts, said in a statement Tuesday.

The database also came under fire last year when a panel of judges for the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston ruled in favor of a Salvadoran national who was facing deportation based in part on his inclusion on the list as a verified member of the violent MS-13 gang.

The justices cited flaws in that database, including its reliance on an erratic point system built on unsubstantiated inferences.

The Salvadoran man maintained that police wrongly implicated him as a gang member and he had actually been persecuted by MS-13 due to his evangelical Christian faith.

The police department in 2021 changed how it assesses people for possible inclusion on the list, and it was down to about 3,500 names that year.

The Massachusetts attorney general's office usually does not discuss ongoing investigations but went public because another unnamed party has released information about the review. The investigation has not yet made any findings or reached any conclusions, and should it find any violations, the office will engage with the police department on reforms, the office said.

Campbell was sworn in as attorney general in January and ran on a campaign platform that included police reform. She was previously a Boston city councilor and mayoral candidate.
A Missouri high school teacher who was videotaped repeatedly using a racial slur in class has resigned from the district, while the student who took the video finishes serving a school suspension.

Mary Walton, a 15-year-old sophomore at Glendale High School in Springfield, will be allowed to return to school Wednesday after a three-day suspension for what the school district said was improper use of an electronic device.

Walton's suspension caused controversy, with supporters including the Radio Television Digital News Association saying she was exercising her free speech rights and documenting a disturbing incident that might have otherwise been ignored.

Kate Welborn, Walton's mother, said in an interview Tuesday that she was genuinely shocked her daughter received the harshest possible punishment for recording the teacher during class last week. She said her daughter's video clearly showed the situation and context for what happened.

"To punish someone in this situation who does the right thing, it's absurd," Welborn said.

Walton told her mother and others that she started videotaping the teacher after he said the slur several times, and her video captures him saying it twice. The teacher stopped when he saw she was recording.

Walton sent the video to her mother, a friend and a student in the video to ask for advice on what to do. She did not post it to social media, and it's unclear how it quickly spread, said Natalie Hull, the family's attorney.

The teacher, who had worked for the district since 2008, was initially placed on administrative leave and told to leave the building. His name has not been released.

Glendale principal Josh Groves said in a message to school employees and families last week that the comments expressed in the video were inappropriate and did not meet the Springfield districts professional standards.

Walton was preparing to head to school Friday when she and her mother were notified she had been suspended, although Welborn had to go to the school to find out the reason for the suspension.

Hull asked the district during the weekend to allow Walton to return to school on Monday, but officials declined. Walton did not record the teacher to get attention and doesnt understand what she did wrong or why she was punished so harshly, Hull said.

Stephen Hall, a spokesperson for the school district, said in a statement that the district could not discuss specifics about its actions for the unacceptable classroom incident."

He said the student handbook is clear about consequences for inappropriate use of electronic devices, which would consider if other minors were identifiable and suffered because of a violation of privacy."

SPS is confident that the district appropriately and promptly handled all matters related to what occurred at Glendale, Hall said. We want our schools to be safe and welcoming learning environments. When students have concerns, they should follow the appropriate steps for reporting.

The policy on use of electronic devices includes a line that says, "The prohibited conduct includes such things as audio or visual recording of faculty or staff in the classroom; acts of violence; disruptions to the school environment; or other acts prohibited by the Districts Disciplinary Guidelines.

Hull said the district needs to reexamine the policy because it does not allow students to capture evidence of any wrongdoing, including possible crimes or misconduct. She also said it was unreasonable to expect young students to know the proper channels for reporting such events.

Frankly, many of them don't know if they'll be believed, Hull said. It makes sense that they would feel the need to capture hard evidence and indisputable evidence.

In a letter to Springfield Superintendent Grenita Lathan, Dan Shelley, president and CEO of the Radio Television Digital News Association, urged her to reconsider Walton's punishment.

He said several court decisions have upheld citizens' rights to record activity in public places and that the district's policy on use of electronic devices flies in the face of those rights.

The student says she was recording the teachers alleged racist remarks for the express purpose of making a record of the incident should the events in the classroom at that moment come into dispute, Shelley wrote. In our opinion, that makes her a lawful whistleblower, not a delinquent. She should be congratulated, not punished.

Hull said Walton's supporters are hoping the district will apologize to Walton, expunge the suspension from her record and take the opportunity to show students it is all right to acknowledge making a mistake.

Welborn said the district has not apologized and has said it will not remove the suspension from her daughter's record.

___

This story was first published on May 16, 2023. It was updated on May 18, 2023 to correct the last name of the students mother. She is Kate Welborn, not Kate Wellborn.
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 UN 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. UN 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.
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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.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP)  A northern Indiana school district will distribute and require clear backpacks for all students at all grade levels for the upcoming school year to enhance security and safety.

The South Bend Community School Corp. announced at Monday evenings board meeting that starting in the 2023-24 school year, it will allow only clear backpacks on all campuses.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP)  The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday sided with an Alabama death row inmate, who had his lethal injection called off at the last minute in November, and argues he should be put to death by nitrogen hypoxia when he is ultimately executed.

Justices without comment rejected the Alabama attorney general's request to review an 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision regarding inmate Kenneth Eugene Smith. The state argued the decision disregarded Supreme Court precedent that an inmate challenging an execution method must show that an alternative method is readily available, not just feasible.

Alabama has authorized nitrogen hypoxia  death as a result of breathing pure nitrogen  as an execution method but no state has attempted to use the untested method to put an inmate to death.

Smith was scheduled to be put to death by lethal injection on Nov. 17, 2022, for the 1988 murder-for-hire slaying of a preacher's wife.

On the day of the execution, a divided 11th Circuit panel stayed the execution after Smith raised concerns about previous lethal injections in the state and suggested nitrogen hypoxia as an available alternative method. The Supreme Court disagreed and lifted the stay. However, prison officials ended up calling off Smiths execution for the night after staff were unable to find a suitable vein to connect the second of two intravenous lines to Smith's body.

Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented from the Supreme Court's opinion, saying they would hear the case.

The Eleventh Circuits error is not only plain but also serious enough to warrant correction, Thomas wrote in a dissent.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey in November announced a pause in executions to conduct an internal review of procedures. The review came after problems with intravenous lines caused multiple executions to be canceled or delayed. The state is seeking to resume executions this summer.

Attorneys for Smith have claimed his November execution attempt was botched. Smith has an ongoing lawsuit seeking to prevent the state from making a second attempt to execute him by lethal injection.

To subject Mr. Smith to a second execution by lethal injection would subject him to a torturous experience of unnecessary physical and psychological pain, as has been established through Alabamas last three execution attempts," Smith's lawyers wrote in a December court filing.

Prosecutors said Smith was one of two men who were each paid $1,000 to kill Elizabeth Sennett on behalf of her husband, who was deeply in debt and wanted to collect on insurance. The slaying, and the revelations over who was behind it, rocked the small north Alabama community.
Watch the video in the player above for a list of politicians who receive the most funding from the NRA.

Mass shootings are at a record high  most recently, eight people were killed at a mall in Texas after authorities say the shooter used an AR-15-style weapon.

Roughly half of Americans (53%) favor stricter gun laws, according to a study by the Pew Research Center, and yet Congress has been slow to pass any major changes to gun laws.

The most recent effort Congress made was passing the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in June 2022  in response to mass shootings in Buffalo, New York, and Uvalde, Texas. The law provides a $750 million incentive for states to voluntarily adopt red flag laws that would remove firearms from people deemed to be a danger to themselves or others. The law was backed by Democrats and 15 Senate Republicans, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

However, the law fails to address restrictions on assault weapons or high-capacity magazines, a topic that is divisive between Democrats and Republicans.

The National Rifle Association, known to be the top most influential gun rights group, has spent tens of millions of dollars in lobbying and supporting gun rights politicians.

Since 2012, the NRA has reportedly spent an average of $3.6 million each year to oppose gun control bills like the Protect Americas School Act and the Keep Americans Safe Act, which called for limiting access to devices that allow guns to rapidly discharge many rounds of ammunition, according to Open Secrets, a nonprofit organization that tracks money in politics.

Open Secrets has also compiled a database of current members in the 118th Congress who have received the most funding from the NRA.

The report reveals the NRA has funded tens of millions of dollars to support gun rights politicians  including Ted Cruz, Mitt Romney, Lindsey Graham and Mitch McConnell. The report also shows the NRA spent millions of dollars against gun control politicians, including Elizabeth Warren, Chuck Schumer, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock.

Does the NRA still hold the same influence?

While the NRA has poured millions into gun rights lobbying, the organizations influence has been waning in the past few years.

The NRA has also reportedly lost over 1 million members since 2018. The organization reported they had 6 million members in 2018, but the NRAs CEO, Wayne LaPierre, reported membership was around 4.9 million members in a 2021 deposition.

Experts say its shrinking membership is caused by several reasons  including coming under the spotlight for its leadership turmoil.

In 2020, the New York Attorney Generals Office filed a lawsuit against the NRA and its senior management for allegedly failing to manage the organizations funds, violating state and federal laws and the organizations own rules.

Court proceedings revealed LaPierre and others spent tens of millions of dollars for lavish personal trips and no-show contracts for associates, among other incidents. The NRA tried to file for bankruptcy in 2021, but the Texas judge dismissed the case, ruling it was not filed in good faith.

According to Open Secrets, the NRA reported its largest-ever year-to-year decline in federal lobbying spending  from $4.9 million in 2021 to $2.6 million in 2022.

There was also a dip in NRA spending during recent federal elections  from $54.5 million in the 2016 election to $29.1 million in the 2020 election.

Further-right gun groups, like Gun Owners of America, have also risen in popularity during this time.

Gun control funding

Theres also been a notable increase in funding for gun control in recent years. According to Open Secrets, donations to gun control nonprofits and PACs, including Everytown for Gun Safety and Giffords PAC, have increased consistently.

In 2018, gun control groups outspent the NRA for the first time by a $2.6 million margin, according to Open Secrets. However, in the 2020 election, gun control groups spent a total of $23.5 million  which dwarfed in comparison to the NRAs spending.

Gun control groups have also increased outside spending since the 2018 election cycle. Gun control advocates poured $16.6 million in outside spending in 2020 in comparison to $14,000 in 2016.
WILTON  The interests and enthusiasm of one noteworthy Wilton High School senior received national recognition as Lukas Koutsoukos, 17, received a U.S. Presidential Scholarship for 2023.

He was one of only two students in Connecticut to receive the honor.

"It was definitely not expected," said Lukas, who said he was still somewhat flabbergasted by the news and confessed he was shaking when he first heard.

Only 161 students in the country were chosen, with Lukas sharing the honor with Greenwich High senior Ambika Grover. Gov. Ned Lamont praised them both for the accomplishment as the news was announced Wednesday, May 10.

"I am so proud of Ambika and Lukas on being named U.S. Presidential Scholars and receiving this extraordinary national recognition," Lamont said. "They represent some of the very best of Connecticut, and I applaud their perseverance and drive."

Lukas made a point of spreading credit among his family members and several faculty members at Wilton High School.

"I have a lot of people to thank  the counselors and teachers who wrote letters of recommendation. ... Also my parents too, because they pushed me to this point," he said.

Lukas also gave credit to his older brother, Alexander, whom he said has always been an inspiration in terms of his focus and academic interests.

"He was definitely, when I was younger, a big role model for me," Lukas said of his brother.

Lukas's interests, which include international affairs, as well as ancient Greek and Greek politics, in particular, can be traced to his parents backgrounds. His father, James Koutsoukos, is from Greece, and his mother, Maria Miranda, is from Nicaragua.

"I pushed him to the limits," James Koutsoukos said of his son, noting that he constantly texts Lukas news stories and items relating to Greece and international affairs in general.

"Unfortunately he doesn't read them all," his dad said, saying he is astonished by his son's burgeoning success.

His mother, likewise, was thrilled to learn the news.

"I think my hands are still shaking," Maria Miranda said, noting the many thousands of young people who for this honor.

Max Gabrielson, who teaches ancient Greek at Wilton High, shared high praise for Lukas, calling him a natural-born scholar.

"Lukas pursues his studies not merely for the sake of a grade, but because he genuinely loves to learn," he said.

Gabrielson also praised Lukas as a "consummate gentleman."

"He is remarkably humble, kind, and exceptionally courteous in all of his personal interactions," Gabrielson said.

Patricia Rinaldi, a Wilton High chemistry teacher who also wrote a recommendation for Lukas, concurred.

"Most important, Lukas shows compassion and warmth when working with others. ... He is clear and concise, as well as patient and understanding," she said, noting that students in Lukas's class may have learned as much from him as from her.

"Lukas Koutsoukos is a person who is going to make a difference in the world," Rinaldi said, noting his abilities as "natural leader" who helped engage even the shyest kids in class with his questions and comments.

"I honestly admire this young man," said Rinaldi, a 20-year veteran. "It is much harder for a student to earn my respect than it is to earn a good grade. He did both."

Along with his interest in political affairs and Greek, Lukas is also a multifaceted musicians, playing piano, viola and guitar.

"Music is a really big thing for me," he said, having also tried out for and been accepted at Berklee College of Music.

Among his other interests and accomplishments, Lukas has been an active participant in Quiz Bowl, and four years ago started the club that currently operates at Trackside Teen Center.

"I'm the kind of person that used to read a lot of Wikipedia articles," he said.

News of the scholarship came on the heels of Lukas's acceptance to Yale University, where he intends to study political science, with a focus on ancient Greek.

He was also accepted to Brown University, Cornell University and the University of Pennsylvania, along with several other leading colleges. But Lukas said he'll be happy to be closer to home and explore Yale's unique departments in his areas of interest.

"It's a school that I always kind of dreamed of getting into," Lukas said.

Though he has strong interest in political science, Lukas is open to seeing his interests evolve as well.

"I'm thinking about law school afterward," he said. "But I'm not even certain."
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NEW YORK (AP)  Top executives at Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank largely avoided taking responsibility for their banks dramatic failures at a Senate hearing Tuesday, instead using their time to assign blame to events they said were largely out of their control.

The arguments got little traction with senators on both sides of the aisle. Democrats and Republicans on the Senate Banking Committee criticized the executives for taking risky actions or missing obvious problems that directly led to the demise of their banks, while still accepting lucrative pay packages and bonuses, even in the days and weeks leading up to the failures.

You were paying out bonuses until literally hours before regulators seized your assets, said Sen. Sherrod Brown, the Democratic chair of the Senate Banking Committee. To most Americans, a lack of Wall Street accountability tracks with their entire experience with our economy. Workers face consequences; executives ride off into the sunset.

More than a handful of senators asked if the executives would consider returning part of their compensation, since bank failures are shouldered by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and other banks in the system. Each of the three executives testifying demurred.

Greg Becker, Silicon Valley Banks former CEO, took the brunt of the criticism from committee members, although Scott Shay, the former chairman and co-founder of Signature Bank, also came under fire. Signature President Eric Howell also appeared.

Becker used his testimony and answers to senators questions to say that Silicon Valley Bank was a victim of a confluence of factors, including a social media-driven bank run. Regulators have said that customers pulled $42 billion of deposits from Silicon Valley Bank on March 9, one day after the bank announced it needed to raise capital.

You say you took risk management seriously. I find it hard to believe that comment, said Sen. Tim Scott, the ranking Republican on the committee.

A number of senators faulted the executives for failing to guard against the impact of rising interest rates. The Federal Reserve rapidly increased rates starting in March of last year, which reduced the value of large loans the bank issued as well as Treasury bonds the bank bought when rates were much lower.

An exasperated Sen. John Kennedy, R-Louisiana, pointed out that Silicon Valley Bank even sold off financial contracts, known as hedges, that could have mitigated some of the impact of rising rates. He called the banks interest rate management bone deep, to the marrow, stupid.

Becker was criticized repeatedly for handing off the bank's interest rate risk issues to a committee instead of being more directly involved, as well as the fact that Silicon Valley Bank was repeatedly found deficient in multiple parts of its businesses by bank regulators. He was also criticized for going to Hawaii immediately after his bank failed.

Senators also used the hearing to address executive pay and whether senior executives in the U.S. are being rewarded more for short-term gains  like rising stock prices  than for ensuring their companies long-term health.

Executives at Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank and were paid millions of dollars over their tenures up until their banks failed, the bulk of the compensation coming in the form of company stock. That stock is now largely worthless but the CEOs still pocketed millions from the planned sales of their shares before the banks' collapse.

Becker received compensation valued at roughly $9.9 million in 2022, and also sold stock in the company only a few weeks before it failed. Joseph DePaolo, CEO of Signature Bank, also sold stock in the company in the years leading up to its collapse. DePaolo did not appear in front of the Senate on Tuesday due to health concerns.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, asked both Becker and Shay if they would forfeit any of their compensation to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., which covered their banks deposits after they failed.

The executives said they would not be giving their money to the FDIC.

Warren called their response just plain wrong, adding if we dont fix it, every CEO for these multibillion dollar banks will keep right on loading up on risks and blowing up banks and everybody else is going to have to pay for it.

The anger over CEO pay echoes that of roughly 15 years ago, when the 2008 financial crisis led to taxpayer-funded bailouts of major banks. The CEOs and high-level bankers still received millions in pay and bonuses, most notably at nearly failed insurance conglomerate American International Group.

Clawing back CEO pay has gained bipartisan attention despite the fierce divisions between the two political parties. Four senators  two Democrats and two Republicans  have introduced legislation that would give the FDIC authority to claw back any pay made to executives in the five years leading up to a bank's failure. Warren is one of the bill's sponsors.

Executives at big companies tend get most of their pay each year in company stock. That means CEOs and other insiders have much to gain if the company's stock rises. Shareholders generally agree that by tying a CEOs compensation to the stock price, it better aligns their interests with shareholders.

But executives also have a lot to gain if they can sell their stock before the share price takes a steep dive. In his testimony, Becker said his stock sale in February was was a planned sale.

Since 2000, the Securities and Exchange Commission has given CEOs and other corporate insiders a way to defend themselves against charges that they bought or sold stock using information unavailable to others, an illegal practice known as insider trading.

The method, known as the 10b5-1 rule, lets insiders enter into written plans to buy and sell stock in the future. The goal was to let insiders make trades, but not when they have their hands on material information not available to the public.

Over the years, complaints have risen about insiders abusing some loopholes in the 10b5-1 rule. In December, the SEC announced amendments to close the loopholes.

_____

AP Business Writer Stan Choe contributed to this report from New York. AP Congressional Writer Stephen Groves contributed to this report from Washington.
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Gov. Ron DeSantis criticized Donald Trump for implying that Florida's new six-week abortion ban is too harsh, going after the former president as DeSantis prepares to challenge him for the 2024 Republican nomination.

DeSantis was responding to a question Tuesday about Trump's comments in The Messenger about the six-week ban that DeSantis recently signed into law. Many people within the pro-life movement feel that that was too harsh, Trump told the online outlet in an article published Monday.

The governor contended the law has widespread support among opponents of abortion and he noted that Trump did not say what limits he would back.

Protecting an unborn child when theres a detectable heartbeat is something that almost 99% of pro-lifers support, DeSantis said at a news conference after he signed a measure to combat human trafficking.

As a Florida resident, you know, he didnt give an answer about, Would you have signed the heartbeat bill that Florida did, that had all the exceptions that people talk about? DeSantis added.

The rivalry between Trump and DeSantis is heating up as DeSantis nears a decision on a presidential campaign. DeSantis allies believe he will launch his candidacy as soon as this week, although an announcement could come closer to the end of the month.

Abortion has been an early flashpoint in the still-forming Republican primary field in the first White House election since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The bickering showcases the GOP's internal debate over hard-line abortion restrictions, which may be popular in a primary but could create problems in a general election for the party's eventual nominee.

Asked whether he felt Trump had taken a firm enough stance on abortion, former Vice President Mike Pence  a staunch opponent of abortion who is soon expected to enter the race against his former boss  drew a line of distinction with Trump, saying he supported Floridas bill and would sign such a measure as president.

For my part, I disagree with President Trump about the heartbeat bill, Pence told reporters Tuesday night after an event in Concord, New Hampshire. I truly do believe that we ought to advance the cause of life at the state level, but I also want to say, I also believe there is a role at the federal level to advance the sanctity of life.

The bill signed into law last month by DeSantis would ban abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. It will take effect only if the states current 15-week ban is upheld in a legal challenge before the state Supreme Court, which is controlled by conservatives.

Calling into a Newsmax program Tuesday night, Trump repeated earlier comments he made on CNN that he had given abortion opponents the power of negotiation. Twice deflecting questions about whether he would support a national abortion ban at a specific point, Trump said many pro-life people are talking about more weeks than Ron is talking about.

But Im going to decide, and Im going to be in there pushing, and Im the one that got rid of Roe v. Wade, he said.

Trump kept it up Wednesday, saying on his social media platform, Without me there would be no 6 weeks, 10 weeks, 15 weeks, or whatever is finally agreed to. Without me the pro Life movement would have just kept losing. Thank you President TRUMP!!!

Trump has referred to himself as the most pro-life president in American history, as his three nominations of conservative judges to the Supreme Court paved the way for the end of legalized abortion nationwide.

But in the early months of his 2024 bid, Trump has often sidestepped the issue of abortion, even as Republicans across the country celebrate the Supreme Court decision stripping federal constitutional rights to the practice.

In Iowa in March, he repeatedly refused to say whether he would support a federal law restricting abortion in every state  a move that anti-abortion activists have been demanding of the GOPs presidential contenders. Were looking at a lot of different things," he said when asked by The Associated Press whether he supports a federal abortion ban.

Last week during a primetime CNN town hall in New Hampshire, Trump continued to avoid specifics on a national ban, repeatedly saying he would do whats right, without specifying what that was.

As he gets closer to an announcement, DeSantis has been escalating his criticism of Trump, who for months has been attacking him directly and through groups supporting his candidacy. Last week in Iowa, as perilous weather sidelined Trumps trip to the state, DeSantis highlighted the GOPs recent string of electoral losses  a clear knock on the former president.

We must reject the culture of losing that has impacted our party in recent years. The time for excuses is over, DeSantis said at an event in Sioux Center. 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.

___

Associated Press writers Michelle L. Price in New York and Holly Ramer in Concord, New Hampshire, contributed to this report.

___

Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP
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WASHINGTON (AP)  Bungled applications to eavesdrop on a former aide of then-candidate Donald Trump. Flawed research by a former British spy tasked with a sensitive, and political, assignment. And an FBI scrambling against the election-season clock to untangle suspicions about foreign government collusion that it feared could have grave national security implications.

A 306-page report by Justice Department special counsel John Durham is refocusing negative attention on one of the most politically significant investigations in FBI history: the probe into whether Trump's 2016 presidential campaign was conspiring with Russia to tip the outcome of the election.

The findings aren't flattering for the FBI, with Durham asserting that it rushed into the investigation without an adequate basis and routinely ignored or rationalized evidence that undercut its premise. The report catalogs a series of errors  though many were already documented years ago by a separate Justice Department inspector general report, and the FBI says it's taken several dozen corrective steps on its own.

A look at some of the major findings of the Durham report.

A SERIOUSLY FLAWED INVESTIGATION

The report devotes considerable space to the FBI's decision to open, on July 31, 2016, an investigation into possible criminal collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.

The probe was initiated after it learned from an Australian diplomat that a Trump campaign associate named George Papadopoulos had claimed to know that Russia had dirt on Hillary Clinton in the form of emails. By that point, it was well known that Russian operatives had hacked Democratic emails, and Trump had even appeared to publicly invite Moscow to go looking for Clinton's communications.

But, according to Durham, the FBI rushed into the probe without having any evidence that anyone from the Trump campaign had had any contact with any Russian intelligence officers. It identifies by name the Russia experts in the FBI and other agencies who were never consulted before the investigation was begun and says that had they been, they would have said there was no information pointing to a conspiracy between Russia and the campaign.

The report contends that the FBI fell prone to confirmation bias, repeatedly ignoring, minimizing or rationalizing away evidence that undercut the premise of collusion, including a conversation in which Papadopoulos vigorously denied knowing about any cooperative relationship between Russia and the Trump campaign.

It also says investigators did not corroborate a single substantive allegation in a dossier of Democratic-funded research that was compiled by a former British spy, Christopher Steele, and yet continued to cite it in applications to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to eavesdrop on a former Trump campaign aide, Carter Page.

BUT DID IT UNCOVER THE CRIME OF THE CENTURY AS TRUMP PREDICTED?

No, it did not. Despite identifying abundant errors, the report and the broader investigation failed to live up to Trumps hype. The former president claimed that it would reveal the crime of the century and expose a deep state conspiracy by high-ranking government officials to derail his candidacy and later his presidency.

But the report yielded only one conviction  a guilty plea from a little-known FBI employee  and the only two other cases that were brought both ended in acquittals at trial. And though Durham accused the FBI of confirmation bias, he did not allege that political bias or partisanship were guiding factors for the FBIs actions.

RIGOR, OBJECTIVITY AND PROFESSIONALISM

The FBI responded to criticism of its actions by noting that the conduct occurred under different FBI leadership, months before current Director Christopher Wray took the top job. It also said it had already taken dozens of corrective measures designed to prevent the same problems from recurring.

Those include steps designed to ensure the accuracy of applications the FBI files with the secretive surveillance court when it wants to eavesdrop on the communications of suspected spies and terrorists. For instance, the FBI said, agents must now provide more information, including identifying and disclosing evidence that might undercut their premise that probable cause exists for surveillance. In addition, the FBI has worked to improve oversight of confidential human sources.

The FBI said in a letter to Durham that it was confident that had those steps been in place in 2016, the failures detailed in your Report never would have happened. In a separate statement, it said the 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.

WAS THE CLINTON CAMPAIGN TREATED DIFFERENTLY?

Yes, Durham argues. He notes that the FBI in 2016 also investigated allegations in the book Clinton Cash, authored by a conservative writer who alleged foreign governments were funneling money to the Clinton Foundation in exchange for access. Both Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential candidate, and former President Bill Clinton have long denied any wrongdoing.

The FBI labeled its reviews linked to Clinton Cash as preliminary investigations, Durham said. But the Trump Russia probe, he said, was immediately opened as a full investigation despite the fact that it was similarly predicated on unvetted hearsay information.

He argues the FBI showed caution about possibly influencing Hillary Clintons campaign that it did not show for Trumps campaign.

To underscore his point, he quotes some of the text messages between former FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, whose privately expressed dislike for Trump has long been cited as evidence of bias.

One more thing: (Clinton) may be our next president, Page is said to have written Strzok. The last thing you need (is) going in there loaded for bear. You think shes going to remember or care that it was more doj than fbi?

AN UPHILL CLIMB IN CONGRESS GETS STEEPER

The Durham report is another blow to the FBI as its trying to persuade Congress that it is a responsible steward of intelligence.

Lawmakers are beginning to debate whether to renew a U.S. surveillance program that captures huge swaths of foreigners emails and phone calls. The program authorized by Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act expires at the end of this year.

The Durham report calls attention to mistakes that Republicans have already cited as reasons for overhauling Section 702. The FBI did not use Section 702 in surveilling Page. But its omissions before the primary surveillance court have long rankled Republicans, who have signaled they won't renew Section 702 without changes targeting the FBI.

It is essential that Congress codifies clear guardrails that prevent future FBI abuses and restores the publics trust in our law enforcement institutions, said Rep. Mike Turner, the Ohio Republican who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, in a statement.

A significant number of Democrats, meanwhile, separately want limits on when the FBI can search foreign surveillance data collected under Section 702.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP)  Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed gun-control measures into law on Tuesday, and the National Rifle Association quickly filed a federal lawsuit against them.

The governor signed legislation approved by state lawmakers this year in response to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

The high courts ruling in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen last year ended a requirement similar to a Maryland law for people to demonstrate a particular need to get a license to carry a concealed gun in public.

One of the measures Moore signed Tuesday removes the good and substantial reason language from Maryland law that the court found unconstitutional in the Bruen case. But the Maryland General Assembly, which is controlled by Democrats, also tightened gun laws to prevent someone from carrying a concealed handgun in certain areas.

Gun violence is tearing apart the fabric of our communities, not just through mass shootings but through shootings that are happening in each of our communities far too often, Moore, a Democrat, said at a bill-signing ceremony.

Moore said the measures he signed into law demonstrate that the state won't back down from the challenges of addressing gun violence plaguing the nation.

In Maryland, we refuse to say these problems are too big or too tough, Moore said. "We will act, and thats exactly what today represents.

One of the bills signed by the governor generally prohibits a person from wearing, carrying or transporting a gun in an area for children or vulnerable adults, like a school or health care facility. The new law, which takes effect Oct. 1, also prohibits a person from carrying a firearm in a government or public infrastructure area, or a special purpose area, which is defined as a place licensed to sell alcohol, cannabis, a stadium, museum, racetrack or casino.

The law also prohibits a person carrying a firearm from entering someone's home or property, unless the owner has given permission. There are exemptions for law enforcement, security guards and members of the military.

The NRA contends in its lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Maryland that the state passed the legislation in defiance of court rulings that its gun-carry permitting law was unconstitutional.

Through these bills, Maryland replaced one blatantly unconstitutional licensing regime with another blatantly unconstitutional licensing regime," the NRA said.

A separate measure signed by the governor changes and expand requirements and procedures that relate to the issuance and renewal of a permit to wear, carry or transport a handgun.

While it repeals the good and substantial reason requirement struck down by the Supreme Court, it raises the age for qualifying for a handgun permit from 18 to 21, which has come under court challenge in other parts of the country.

It also prohibits a permit for someone who is on supervised probation for a crime punishable by up to one year or more in prison, a person convicted of driving while impaired or under the influence, and people who violate a protective order. People with a mental illness who have a history of violent behavior also would be prohibited from carrying a gun, as well as people who have been involuntarily admitted for more than 30 days to a mental health facility.

The new law also makes changes to requirements for a firearms training course. For example, it specifies that 16 hours of in-person instruction for initial applications include laws relating to self-defense, safe storage and circumstances under which a person becomes prohibited from possessing a firearm.

The law increases the fee for an initial application for a handgun permit from $75 to $125. The fee for renewal or subsequent application for a handgun permit increases from $50 to $75, and a fee for a duplicate or modified handgun permit would go from $10 to $20.

The governor also signed into law another bill that strengthens storage requirements for firearms. Under the law, a person can't store a loaded firearm in a place where the person knew or should have known that an unsupervised minor has access to a gun. It's known as Jaelynn's Law. The law is named after 16-year-old Jaelynn Willey, who was killed in 2018 at Great Mills High School by a 17-year-old student who used his father's gun.
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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.
Almost 30 years ago, Harvard professor Michael J. Sandel scratched through the golden surface of the 1990s. Just beneath that layer of prosperity and euphoria that followed the end of the Cold War, he found a buzz of anxiety. He could hear that many people were rejecting the project of globalization, which was pushed by the elites. The professor collected this discomfort in Democracys Discontent (1996), which soon became a classic. Now, when we look back at it, we can see that it had premonitory overtones.

Today, Sandel  who was born in Minneapolis in 1953  is the closest thing to a rock star in the world of philosophy. His talks fill theaters and his ideas on how to resolve the uncomfortable coexistence between capitalism and democracy are at the center of the debate in which Western social democracy is immersed. From U.S. President Joe Biden to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Sandel has had an impact. Scholz went so far as citing The Tyranny of Merit  Sandels acclaimed 2020 book  during his campaign in the 2021 German federal elections. In the essay, the philosopher dismantles the theory of meritocracy, pointing out the lack of equality of conditions among citizens, which hinders a truly merit-based system.

After addressing the poisonous culture of merit  which sowed legitimate resentment with disastrous consequences in the working classes  Sandel has now revised his 1996 book, updating it nearly 30 years later to include the explosion in democratic discontent that he once wrote about.

The interview with Sandel takes place at the IE Business Schools skyscraper in Madrid, where he has been invited to offer students one of his famous lectures on justice. Its quite the experience to see, in real-time, how Sandel generates passionate civic debate between students  the kind of debates that he wants the whole of society to have.

While contemplating the overwhelming views of the city from the 29th floor, the philosopher and the EL PAIS journalist recall their last meeting, in the drab basement of the Carpenter Center for Visual Arts at Harvard University. That strange interview  which took place three years ago, with six feet of social distance and both men wearing masks  conjured up a dystopian reality that, today, seems far away. Sandel has weaved the pandemic into his story, which involves war, climate change and all the other issues that have caused deep disappointment and weighed down on public life in the West.

To escape this state of malaise, the thinker has two uncomfortable messages for the confused left: first, reconfigure the economy, to make it susceptible to democratic control; and secondly, embrace patriotism. But not the patriotism that the populist right has built on, with walls and fear. He advocates for another kind of patriotism, one that articulates a feeling of community around concepts such as universal healthcare or tax fairness.

Question. You write that, 30 years ago, the notion of democratic discontent was more of a murmur but today, its a loud and shrill sound. What happened?

Answer. During the 1990s, there was confidence  even some arrogance  on the part of politicians and economists. They felt that the American version of democratic capitalism had won. And that, consequently, the main political questions left were merely of a technocratic nature. The neoliberal version of globalization  which included outsourcing jobs to low-wage countries and deregulating the financial industry  was embraced, in the name of economic efficiency. What these people missed was the effect such a project would have on working-class communities, as well as the growing income inequality it would produce.

Q. You warn that many of the people who voted for Trump  and other populist right-wing options in other parts of the world  did so because they agreed with certain xenophobic ideas. However, you link another part of the support to legitimate complaints  built over the course of four decades  about neoliberal governments. Where do those grievances stand today, when we may find ourselves facing a second round of Trump versus Biden?

A. Those grievances are basically the same as when Trump left office, which is why most Republican voters accept the big lie that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. A good part of working-class people sees the left as more aligned with the values and interests of the well-educated professional classes. These grievances persist, unfortunately, because the progressive side has yet to find an alternative response to those complaints. Right-wing populism is, historically, a symptom of the failure of progressive politics.

Q. But weve seen clear progressive policies from the White House over the past two years, no?

A. You have to give credit to Biden, whose administration has done more than anyone expected to begin to break away from the neoliberal version of globalization. For example, it has not promoted free trade agreements. The first Democratic candidate in 36 years without a degree from an Ivy League university, [Biden] was less stuck to belief in meritocracy than his predecessors. And hes a bit more skeptical about the economists who have advised previous Democratic and Republican administrations.

Q. Why does the populist right continue to connect more with the working-class?

A. In part, the answer is that politics is not just about redistributive issues its also connected to a sense of patriotism. People need a strong sense of identity and community. And the left has failed to offer its own positive version of patriotism as an alternative to the narrow, bigoted and xenophobic hypernationalism offered by the populist right.

In the first edition of Democracys Discontent, I expressed my concern that people feel that the moral fabric of community is unravelling around them in families and neighborhoods, but also at the national level. Globalization  or, at least, market-led globalization  ignored the meaning of national community. And thats something that progressives just havent found a way to address. For the right  for Trump  the border and immigration are a way of appealing to the desire for a national identity. The left wants another approach to immigration, but it also needs to offer an alternative idea about what holds us together as a country, as a community, as a nation.

Q. How do we build that other healthy version of patriotism that you advocate for?

A. We could start by asking what we owe each other as fellow citizens. The healthcare debate, at its best, is a debate about mutual obligations between citizens. If you notice, Obamas healthcare reform [the Affordable Care Act, 2010] was mainly proposed with technocratic arguments: that it was more efficient than the system that existed, and so on and so forth. But the underlying feeling about national community has not yet been articulated. Its a moral and civic debate its not about technocratic efficiency.

Healthcare is just one example. Its also important for the national community to decide whether companies can move to other jurisdictions to pay less tax. [When a company] avoids higher tax rates by moving operations from one country to another with lower rates, thats not just a glitch its a patriotism problem.

Q. Is the left afraid to talk about patriotism?

A. Yes. Because of fear. Theres almost an allergy towards the word. Patriotism  as a political argument  has been ceded to the right. This is a big mistake. The right has exploited it very effectively.

Q. When we last spoke, almost three years ago, I had hopes that the pandemic would help make inequalities more visible. It revealed the extent to which we depend on workers that  in meritocratic logic  we had previously looked down on. We even started calling these people essential workers. Have you seen a change in how we value the dignity of work?

A. I fear that, as some time has passed, there hasnt been serious reflection on essential workers, on how to recognize their contributions and pay them fairly.

Q. Another thing that the pandemic revealed was the importance of effective governance. Has this notion also been forgotten?

A. I dont think weve forgotten the importance of the state. Austerity measures  once embraced by many countries  have been rejected. [During the pandemic], governments carried out large-scale spending that would have been inconceivable in the years after the 2008 crash. Politics has also been affected: the era of globalization taught us that there is no alternative to blind faith in the market it was a subject that was not open to democratic debate. But the financial crisis and growing inequalities were the product of deliberate political decisions that could have been different. [Perceptions about] this kind of politics have also changed.

Michael Sandel, philosopher and professor, at the IE Business School in Madrid, on April 24, 2023. Jaime Villanueva

Q. We are now facing the great challenge that all societies must think about together: the fight against the climate crisis. How do we achieve a green transition without repeating the mistakes of past political projects  without once again widening the gap between winners and losers?

A. How we deal with climate change will be the most important test. There is a tendency to face climate change as a technocratic problem, to correctly input economic incentives [for green energy and technology], etc. But [the climate crisis] is more than a technological or economic problem. Fundamentally, it is a political question. We need bottom-up climate policy not abstract blueprints or technocratic solutions.

We need to start by having conversations, especially with people in communities where lives and jobs depend on fossil fuels. This will require political leadership and activism. The reason for the resistance to policies that could lead to a green economy is that there is deep skepticism on the part of working people. Thousands of jobs were lost in vast industrial areas in the name of economic globalization. These people were told: there will be losers, yes, but the gains of the winners will offset the losses of the losers. That worked in theory, but not in practice. Now, these same communities wonder, will the same thing happen again? Its a legitimate question.

Q. In a conversation with Yuval Noah Harari, you said that the climate change debate isnt about facts or education.

A. It tends to be said that the reason for the opposition to the green transition is that [the people who oppose it] dont know enough about science. But its not about science, nor is it about education. This isnt about lecturing people about the dangers of global warming its about trust. Its a political issue and, as such, requires a genuine kind of grassroots civic engagement and discussion.

Q. How do politicians find a middle ground between technocracy and the peoples demands?

A. Politicians and parties should broaden the terms of political conversation to include issues like the ones were discussing. But its unrealistic to expect them to do it on their own. We have to understand that the broadest type of public conversation can only come from within civil society.

Q. Is social media a suitable forum for this kind of conversation?

A. We need to challenge the way social media works. We need to create platforms for public conversation that dont simply accept the ad-driven business model of tech companies. A business model that depends on keeping people online as long as possible  so that they can collect more and more personal data to sell [users] things that reinforce that cycle of consumerism  is antithetical to the kind of public conversation we need. Its urgent that we cultivate the lost art of democratic public conversation.

Q. At the moment, what are the principal differences between the center-left and the more radical left?

A. I think that the relationship between center-left parties [and groups] and those from the more populist left is in the process of being redefined.

Q. Where should they start?

A. The most powerful combination to rejuvenate the center-left is to connect ostensibly conservative values  such as patriotism and shared identity  with a reconfiguring of the economy to make it amenable to democratic control something traditionally associated with the populist left. Powerful notions of community  which seem to drink from conservative thought  and economic power controlled by the citizenry are two ideas [that are central to] the future project of progressive politics.

Q. How does the war in Ukraine fit into your thinking?

A. I think that the war in Ukraine is the most dramatic example of the nonsense of neoliberal globalization. A central idea of liberal globalism was that commercial ties would make war obsolete. Although it goes back to Montesquieu, who spoke of doux commerce: the more nations and people trade with one another, the less likely they are to fight one another, because trade ties will give them a vested interest in peace. We heard this over and over again in the 1990s and early 2000s, as an argument for admitting China into the WTO, for example. In Germany, such an argument [made the case] for developing an energy dependency on Russia. Evidently, this has not been the case. Ukraine is a reminder that politics and national borders will not disappear. We must develop trading patterns with some sense of who reliable partners are, [instead of] just being driven by the pursuit of supposed efficiency.

Thats another idea that I think the Ukrainian war has made us think about the idea that the economy is not autonomous. It is not simply a fact of nature. It is, inevitably, a political issue that should be the subject of democratic political debate.

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HELENA, Mont. (AP)  Planned Parenthood of Montana on Tuesday asked a state judge to temporarily block a law that bans the abortion method most commonly used after 15 weeks of gestation, arguing it is unconstitutional.

The organization filed the complaint over the law to ban dilation and evacuation abortions just hours after Republican Gov. Greg Gianfortes office announced he had signed the bill.

The law is the latest salvo in the Legislatures ongoing assault on Montanans right to seek safe and lawful pre-viability abortions  a right guaranteed by the Montana Constitution, the complaint states.

Montanas Supreme Court ruled in 1999 that the state constitutional right to privacy includes the right to a pre-viability abortion from a provider of the patients choice, the lawsuit states.

Under the new ban, which took effect immediately, anyone who performs a dilation and evacuation abortion can be charged with a felony that can be punished by 5 to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000. There are exceptions for medical emergencies.

The new law is a grave threat to Montanans health and safety and must be blocked, Martha Fuller, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Montana, said in a statement. Given the laws immediate effective date, patients across the state can already be denied access to care that was legally available moments before the governors signature today.

Planned Parenthood sought a preemptive ban on the law last month after the bill had been passed by the Legislature, but before it was signed by Gianforte. District Court Judge Kathy Seeley said she could not restrain a law that was not yet in effect.

The office of Attorney General Austin Knudsen filed a motion on May 8 asking the court to sanction the attorneys and the plaintiffs for seeking the temporary restraining order before the law was in effect.

Planned Parenthood said it filed the lawsuit before the bill was signed because it had an immediate effective date and implicated constitutionally protected medical procedures.

House Bill 721 does not prevent a single woman from having an abortion. Instead, it prohibits a barbaric abortion procedure," said Emily Flower, spokeswoman for the Montana Department of Justice.

Abortions can also be performed by using medications to induce labor and delivery. The procedure takes place in a hospital where the patient can be monitored.

None of the alternatives offered by the state for the banned procedure are feasible," Planned Parenthood of Montana said in a statement. "They also carry more risk to the patient. This law bans the safest procedure after 15 weeks.

The new law being challenged also includes a provision that says: The right of individual privacy as referenced in the Montana Constitution ... does not create, and may not be construed as creating or recognizing, a right to abortion or to governmental funding of abortions," as part of a Republican effort to require the Montana Supreme Court to reconsider the 1999 Armstrong ruling.

The Montana Supreme Court cited the Armstrong ruling last week in saying advanced practice registered nurses can continue to provide abortion care if they are properly trained.

Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers did receive an order to temporarily block a state rule that required prior authorization before Medicaid paid for an abortion. Planned Parenthood obtained an order to block another law that called for a 24-week abortion ban and required an ultrasound before an abortion could be performed.

A hearing over whether a judge should grant preliminary injunctions blocking the rule and the ultrasound law are scheduled for May 23.
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CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP)  Nevada and pharmacy chain CVS have reached a nearly $152 million settlement to be paid over the next decade to end a lawsuit over opioid claims, state Attorney General Aaron Ford announced Tuesday.

CVS negotiated in good faith, Ford said at a news conference in Carson City. Their work with the state of Nevada ... will help our state tackle the opioid problem.

According to an Associated Press analysis, the settlement is one of the 10 largest between a single state and a single company over opioid claims. It also puts the total money Nevada expects to receive from opioid litigation settlements since 2020 at $606 million, according to Ford's office. It marks the largest sum the state has brought in opioid-related litigation by itself.

CVS was one of a number of companies that the state sued in the case filed in June 2019. A lawsuit against one company  Teva Pharmaceuticals  remains to be settled, and Ford said the state is preparing to go to trial in August.

Drugmakers, pharmacies, wholesalers and other companies have agreed to settlements of lawsuits over the opioid crisis nationwide totaling more than $50 billion. Much of the money is to be used to deal with an overdose crisis that is linked to more than 100,000 deaths a year in the U.S.

Some states have seen more from their share of multi-state or nationwide settlements. Last year, CVS agreed to pay state and local governments nearly $5 billion to settle lawsuits over the toll of opioids. But Nevada did not join in that litigation in order to pursue the single-state settlement, Ford spokesperson John Sadler said.

Nevada joined another multi-state settlement with three of the nation's largest opioid manufacturers in April 2022 totaling $232 million over nearly two decades.

Ford said about $80 million of the CVS settlement will go to a coalition of Nevada county and city governments, and the state will retain nearly $70 million. A panel of experts will make recommendations for using the money to mitigate the opioid epidemic, he said.

CVS also agreed to develop an oversight program with a list of prescriptions, patients and prescriber red flags to help stop the misuse of opioids.

A CVS spokesperson, Kara Page, said in a statement that the company was pleased with the pact with Nevada. The statement noted that opioid prescriptions are written by doctors, not pharmacists. It did not elaborate on the oversight program.

With the state Legislature in session, Ford is backing one of two companion bills with Democratic Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro to enhance fentanyl trafficking penalties, starting trafficking charges at four grams of possession of the synthetic opioid. Several states across the country are taking similar steps.

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Associated Press writer Geoff Mulvihill contributed reporting in Washington D.C. Stern 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. Follow Stern on Twitter: @gabestern326.
MOSCOW (AP)  The lower house of Russia's parliament on Tuesday voted unanimously to formally pull out of a key Cold War-era security deal, more than eight years after Moscow halted its participation.

The vote in the State Duma came less than a week after President Vladimir Putin introduced a draft bill on May 10 denouncing the Treaty of Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, which aimed to prevent Cold War rivals from massing forces at or near mutual borders. The deal was signed in November 1990, but not fully ratified until two years later.
The U.S. State Department on Tuesday condemned the arrest of a former employee of a U.S. consulate in Russia, the latest example of the country's crackdown against its own citizens and foreigners.

Russia's Tass news agency said Robert Shonov was detained in the Russian city of Vladivostok on suspicion of "cooperation on a confidential basis with a foreign state, international or foreign organization. Tass didn't say when the detention occurred or provide any details of the allegation.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Shonov is a Russian national worked at the now-closed U.S. consulate in Vladivostok for more than 25 years. He said that after a Russian government order in April 2021 required dismissing all local employees from U.S. diplomatic outposts in Russia, Shonov worked at a company the U.S. contracted with to support its embassy in Moscow.

Mr. Shonovs only role at the time of his arrest was to compile media summaries of press items from publicly available Russian media sources, Miller said. His being targeted under the confidential cooperation statute highlights the Russian Federations blatant use of increasingly repressive laws against its own citizens.

Miller added, The United States strongly condemns the reported arrest of Robert Shonov and said the allegations against him are wholly without merit.

Tass said a Moscow court on Thursday would consider extending Shonov's arrest for three months. The news agency said he was being held in Moscow's Lefortovo prison on charges that carry a potential sentence of up to eight years in prison.

Also held in Lefortovo is Evan Gershkovich, an American reporter for The Wall Street Journal. Gershkovich has been in custody since his March 29 arrest by Russias security service on espionage charges that he, his employer and the U.S. government have denied.

Gershkovich's arrest rattled journalists in Russia and drew outrage in the West. The United States has declared Gershkovich to be wrongfully detained and demanded his immediate release.

Since invading Ukraine in February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin has widened the scope of a years-old crackdown on criticism of government policies, other forms of dissent and actions that his government finds objectionable. Hundreds, if not thousands, of Russians have been fined, jailed or fled the country because of the crackdown.
SINJAR, Iraq (AP)  An airstrike targeted a militant group in northern Iraqs Yazidi heartland of Sinjar on Tuesday, according to local officials, who attributed the strike to Turkey.

Officials gave conflicting reports regarding the number of casualties. The semi-autonomous Kurdish regions counter-terrorism service said in a statement that three fighters were killed in the attack, and one wounded. Ali Hamed, a member of the militia-affiliated town council, however, denied that there were any deaths, saying one civilian was lightly injured in the attack.

A drone strike around noon in the Sinjar district hit a house frequently used by leaders of the Shingal Resistance Units, or YBS, Hamed said.

The group made up of mostly minority Yazidis was instrumental in driving out Islamic State group militants from the area after the collapse of the Iraqi army and withdrawal of the semi-autonomous Kurdish regions forces in 2014.

The YBS has been a frequent target of Turkish attacks in recent years for its ties to the insurgent Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, a separatist movement banned in Turkey and operating in northern Iraq.

A spokesperson for the Turkish Defense Ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

The continued violence has stunted beleaguered efforts to return Yazidis to their ancestral homeland after years of violence and displacement.

Violent clashes last year between the Yazidi militia and the Iraqi army in heavily populated areas of the war-scarred district caused as many as 10,000 people to flee the area, many who had returned from displacement, according to Kurdish officials.

The YBS was created in 2014 with support from the PKK in response to ISs takeover of Sinjar, during which about 10,000 Yazidis were killed and captured in what the United Nations has classified a genocide.

Today, if they hit us with a missile, ten missiles, or a hundred missiles, we will continue our return to our land, houses, and properties, said Hamed.

Tensions remain high between the maze of security forces operating in Sinjar. A power-sharing agreement brokered by the United Nations in October 2020 between Baghdad and the Kurdish-run government, where the federal police are the sole state authority, has failed to take hold.

___

Associated Press writer Salar Salim in Erbil, Suzan Fraser in Istanbul, and Qassim Abdul-Zahra contributed to this report.
Austin Kachipeya/AP

BLANTYRE, Malawi (AP)  A 1-year-old child died and 23 people were missing and feared dead after a hippopotamus charged into and capsized a canoe on a river in southern Malawi, authorities said Tuesday.

The long wooden canoe was carrying 37 people across the Shire River on their way to neighboring Mozambique when it was hit by the hippo in the Nsanje district on Monday.
BEIJING (AP)  China is prepared to resolutely smash any form of Taiwan independence, its military said Tuesday, as the U.S. reportedly prepares to accelerate the sale of defensive weapons and other military assistance to the self-governing island democracy.

A recent increase in exchanges between the U.S. and Taiwanese militaries is an extremely wrong and dangerous move, Defense Ministry spokesperson Col. Tan Kefei said in a statement and video posted online.

Chinas Peoples Liberation Army continues to strengthen military training and preparations and will resolutely smash any form of Taiwanese independence secession along with attempts at outside interference, and will resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity," Tan said, in a reference to Taiwans closest ally, the United States.

China claims the island of 23 million people as its own territory, to be brought under its control by force if necessary.

With the worlds largest navy, latest-generation fighter jets and a huge arsenal of ballistic missiles, China has been upping its threats by sending planes and warships into waters and airspace around Taiwan. With more than 2 million members, the PLA also ranks as the world's largest standing military, although transporting even a portion of the force in the event of an invasion is considered a huge logistical challenge.

Along with daily air and sea incursions around Taiwan, Beijing has held military exercises in and around the Taiwan Strait dividing the sides, seen in part as a rehearsal for a blockade or invasion that would have massive consequences for security and economies worldwide.

Such actions seek to harass Taiwan's military and intimidate politicians and voters who will choose a new president and legislature next year.

The moves appear to have had limited effect, with most Taiwanese firmly in favor of maintaining their de facto independent status. Politicians and other public figures from Europe and the U.S. have also been making frequent trips to Taipei to show their support, despite their countries' lack of formal diplomatic ties in deference to Beijing.

Tan's comments were prompted by a question from an unidentified reporter about reports that U.S. President Joe Biden is preparing to approve the sale of $500 million in arms to Taiwan, as well as sending more than 100 military personnel to evaluate training methods and offer suggestions for improving the island's defenses.

Taiwan enjoys strong support from both the U.S. Democratic and Republican parties, which have called on the Biden administration to follow through on nearly $19 billion in military items approved for sale but not yet delivered to Taiwan.

Administration officials have blamed the delayed deliveries on bottlenecks in production related to issues from the COVID-19 pandemic to limited capacity and increased demand for arms to assist Ukraine. Biden's move would allow the export of items from existing U.S. military stockpiles, speeding up the delivery of at least some of the hardware Taiwan needs to deter or repel any Chinese attack.

Among the items on backorder are Harpoon anti-ship missiles, F-16 fighter jets, shoulder-fired Javelin and Stinger missiles and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, a multiple rocket and missile launcher mounted on a truck that has become a crucial weapon for Ukrainian troops battling Russian invasion forces.

Tan's comments were in line with Beijing's standard tone on what it calls the core of China's core interests. The two sides split at the end of a civil war in 1949 and Beijing considers bringing Taiwan under its control as key to asserting its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Attempts to seek independence by relying on the United States and seek independence by military might are a dead end, Tan said.

With China-U.S. relations at a historic low and Taiwanese unreceptive to Beijing's demands for political concessions on unification, concerns are rising about the likelihood of an open conflict involving all three sides and possibly U.S. treaty allies such as Japan.

China's diplomatic and economic support for Russia following its invasion of Ukraine has also increased tensions with Washington. Beijing is believed to be closely studying Moscow's military failures in the conflict, while the Western will to back Kyiv is seen by some as a test of its determination to side with Taiwan in the event of a conflict with China.
ABUJA, Nigeria (AP)  Gunmen on Tuesday targeted a convoy of U.S. Embassy staffers in southeast Nigeria, killing two of its local workers and two policemen, the police said.

The assailants opened fire on the convoy along a major road in Ogbaru local government area in Anambra State, one of the epicenters of separatist violence in the region, according to the police. The hoodlums murdered two of the Police Mobile Force operatives and two staff of the Consulate, and set their bodies ablaze and their vehicles, said Tochukwu Ikenga, a police spokesman in Anambra.

A joint team of security forces was deployed to the scene but arrived only after the assailants escaped with two other police officers and one of the drivers, Ikenga added. He said no U.S. citizen was on the trip.

U.S. State Department said its personnel in Nigeria are working with the nations security agencies to investigate Tuesday's attack. The security of our personnel is always paramount, and we take extensive precautions when organizing trips to the field, the State Department said in a statement.

It is not immediately clear the nature of the trip embarked upon by the U.S. embassy staffers in Anambra, nor how many there were in the convoy. Ikenga said it was regrettable that a convoy of such or any related will enter the state without recourse to the police in the area or any security agency.

The attack in Atani town, located 60 kilometers (37 miles) from the state capital, further raised concerns about the safety of residents and travelers amid the separatist violence that has become rampant in Nigeria's southeastern region in recent years.

Authorities have blamed the violence on a separatist group known as the Indigenous People of Biafra which is leading a campaign for the region to break away from the West African nation to form an independent country. The separatists have become more violent in the last few years as they continue to demand a referendum and since the trial of its leader Nnamdi Kanu on terrorism charges.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has rejected the calls for a referendum, insisting that the unity of Africa's most populous country  and the continent's largest economy  is not negotiable.



Associated Press writer Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.
In 2018, when then-Gucci designer Alessandro Michele was inspired by a bomber jacket designed by Dapper Dan a decade prior, social media users rescued the African-American tailor from being forgotten. Gucci decided to collaborate with him and reopen his Harlem workshop 25 years after the police closed it for infringing intellectual property, because Dan, since 1982, had made a fortune copying famous logos and stamping them on jackets and pants worn by Nas, Missy Elliot, Salt-N-Pepa and other big names in 1980s and 1990s hip-hop. I do not dictate fashion. I translate culture, Dan used to say.

Salt-N-Pepa dressed by Dapper Dan in 1987.

Hip-hop culture, from music to fashion, is based on creating something new through sampling or customizing something that already exists. And, according to journalist Elena Romero, co-author of the book Fresh, Fly and Fabulous: 50 Years of Hip-Hop Style, when all of those people werent received in the luxury of Fifth Avenue, he treated them like luxury clients in his workshop. Until well into the 1990s, rappers dressed however they could, because no brand wanted to do it. The expression shopping while Black, which referred to the monitoring they faced in shops, was very real. Black clients were excluded because of how they dressed, she says. Once many of those artists had already achieved fame even among white audiences, they kept wearing Dans creations.

Queen Latifah, photographed by Jesse Frohman in 1990.

In 2018, the same year that Gucci hired Dan, Ralph Lauren released the Stadium collection, a capsule of sportswear that was paradoxically similar to the outfits worn in the early 1990s by the Lo Lifes, a group of Latinos and African-Americans from Crown Heights, Brooklyn, who were famous for buying (or stealing) Ralph Lauren garments and customizing them. The Ralph Lauren brand, though founded in the Bronx, represented the opposite. It communicated a privileged lifestyle at a time when Wall Street yuppies collected brands with multiple zeros. Until the Lo Lifes appeared.

A necklace from the Chanel spring/summer 1991 collection. Eileen Costa

Dapper Dan and the Lo Lifes exemplified how hip-hop transcended the stereotype of logomania: it wasnt about buying certain brands, but turning their symbolic power upside down by customizing and faking them. Timberland boots and Kangol hats were mixed with clothes (hoods, baggy pants, shoes without laces) that evoked prison garb and vandalism. But the esthetics global influence closed the circle. Sportswear brands quickly realized raps value among the new generations, as demonstrated by the 1986 Adidas and Run DMC collaboration. But the luxury designers name-checked in rap songs continued to turn their back on the genre, until they were left with no choice but to pay tribute to it. As Romero points out, though, the complex idiosyncrasy of the hip-hop esthetic and its evolution is still being put under a fictional umbrella called urban fashion.

Missy Elliott by Christian Witkin in 1998.

2023 marks 50 years since the 1973 Bronx house party where rap was spontaneously born (the DJ, Kool Herc, scratched records and started reciting the guests names to liven things up). The first major museum dedicated to rap is soon to open. And a rapper, Pharrell, has become the first musician to be hired as creative director at a major French luxury house (Louis Vuitton). It is worth now remembering the industrys complex relationship with perhaps the most influential street subculture in the world.

The Fugees in 1993.

History hasnt done a great job of recognizing hip hops weight in culture, fashion and art, acknowledges Amanda Hajjar, curator of the Conscious, Unconscious exhibition, celebrating raps half-century of life, at Fotografiska in New York. Hajjar points to the early 1990s as the turning point for hip hop to become a phenomenon beyond American shores, thanks to the rise of MTV. It was then, in 1991, that Lagerfeld at Chanel, the epitome of French refinement, dressed models in ostentatious jewelry with the brands name sculpted on a nameplate. In 1996, Gianni Versace invited Tupac Shakur, the new style icon, to an exclusive party celebrating his mens collection, also inspired by gangsta style, and the same year Tommy Hilfiger hired Aaliyah for a global campaign.

Marc Jacobs' fall 2017 show. Filippo Fior

Fashion was caught by surprise by raps popularity. In fact, many brands had already been born (Cross Colours, Karl Kani, Ecko), which despite making millions had no place in the media or traditional stores, perhaps because of who was buying them and who was designing them, Romero says. Hundreds of thousands of young people bought the brands created or worn by their idols, but it wasnt until 2004 that a Black man won a CFDA, the award of the Council of American Designers. It went to Puff Daddy for his brand, Sean John, which had been making millions for a decade. It has never been won by a woman of African descent. And behind the influential suit style popularized by Daddy was his then partner, Misa Hylton, one of the most powerful stylists on the womens scene, who worked with artists from Mary J. Blige to Lil Kim.

They were among the first figures to subvert the stereotype of women in the scene, until then objectified in countless music videos. Another woman, June Ambrose, was responsible for the new image of artists including Jay Z and Pharrell, who in the book Fresh, Fly and Fabulous is described as the turning point of the new hip-hop fashion, sweeter, more ironic and deconstructed. After 30 years in the industry, Ambrose became the creative director of Puma in 2022.

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ABUJA, Nigeria (AP)  Gunmen attacked villages in troubled north-central Nigeria, killing 29 people and razing houses, survivors and authorities said Tuesday.

Many villagers remained unaccounted for Tuesday evening after the attack in Plateau state, residents said. It was the latest incident in a spiral of violence mainly targeting remote communities in the West African nation.

The gunmen targeted three villages in Plateau states Mangu local government area late Monday night and killed several people either with gunfire or after setting their houses ablaze, resident Philip Pamshak said.

As I am talking to you, they are still attacking people. The tension is still high and there are places the bandits still control, so people are not able to go and check if there are others killed, Pamshak said.

Plateau Gov. Simon Lalong said he was disturbed by the attack and directed security forces to search for the suspects and prosecute them, according to a statement issued by his spokesman.

He (the governor) describes this as yet another attempt by crises merchants and criminals to return the state to the dark days of pain and agony, said Makut Macham, Lalong's spokesman.

Such attacks have become rampant in many parts of Nigerias northern region, where several armed groups target villages with inadequate security, either killing or abducting residents and travelers for ransom.

Arrests are rare in such attacks, for which no group typically takes responsibility. However, authorities have in the past identified many of the attackers as former pastoralists who took up arms after decades of conflict with farmers over limited access to land and water.

The security crisis has led to thousands of deaths and defied several government and security measures in the last year.

After the latest killings in Plateau, Lalong directed the emergency response agency to visit the affected communities to bring succor to victims and their families, many of whom have either fled the area or have lost their homes, adding to Nigerias worsening humanitarian crisis.
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ROME (AP)  With the help of a high-leaping dog with a fine nose for cocaine, Italian police seized more than 2,700 kilos (about 3 tons) of the drug hidden in 70 tons of boxed bananas shipped from Ecuador, authorities said Tuesday.

Police estimated that the cocaine, which they described as of the finest quality, could have brought traffickers more than 800 million euros ($900 million) in street sales if it had reached its ultimate destination in Armenia.

Customs police became suspicious about two containers on a cargo ship that recently arrived at the port of Gioia Tauro, in the toe of the Italian peninsula and a stronghold of a ndrangheta organized crime clan.

Police told Italian state radio that documents and a background check indicated the shippers of the bananas weren't in the business of moving that much fruit.

Officers used scanning machines and the dog, named Joel, to uncover packets of cocaine hidden in boxes stacked meters-high in container trucks.

Joel leaped high and eagerly when the officers opened the back doors of the truck, and pawed furiously at the unloaded boxes to try to move the bananas aside, police recounted.

Had the drug eluded detection, the containers with the cocaine would have continued through the Mediterranean to a Black Sea port in Georgia for eventual transport to Armenia, authorities said.

They didn't specify just when the container ship arrived in Gioia Tauro.

But customs police said that said just days before the seizure, customs police at the same port found some 600 kilos (1,320 pounds) of cocaine in six container trucks also laden with exotic fruit from Ecuador. Those shipments had been destined for Croatia, Greece and Georgia, the customs police said.

Anti-Mafia investigative police aided in the seizure of the the cocaine.

The Gioia Tauro port, one of Italy's busiest, has long been under the watch of anti-Mafia investigators because of its proximity to towns where the ndrangheta has bases. The crime clan is one of the worlds most powerful cocaine traffickers.

Since the start of 2021, and including the latest seizure, customs police at the port have intercepted and seized a total of 37 tons of cocaine, the police said.
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VATICAN CITY (AP)  The new head of Caritas Internationalis said Tuesday that the Vatican's preeminent charity would look to the future of its global aid mission, seeking to close out a tumultuous period that prompted Pope Francis to oust the previous leadership team.

The Vatican presented the charity's new hierarchy following elections by representatives of the 162 national Caritas chapters, who met in Rome starting last week. It was the first general assembly since Francis in November removed the Caritas president, vice presidents, secretary general, treasurer and ecclesiastic assistant after an outside investigation into bullying complaints found management problems at the Rome headquarters.

The new secretary-general, Alistair Dutton, acknowledged the chapter representatives had questions about the popes unusual intervention and that he himself feared walking into an assembly where people were angry and frustrated and were looking backwards.

But he said the spirit of the meeting was instead one of a family looking to learn from the past and move forward.

I know the past is there, but we really havent dwelt on it, Dutton told reporters. Weve been trying to look now to the future.

Dutton, a British former Jesuit novice, spoke alongside the new Caritas president, Tokyo Archbishop Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi, treasurer Patrick De Bucquois of Belgium and Kirsty Robertson, who becomes the organization's first woman vice president.

Robertson, head of the Caritas Australia branch, said it was particularly significant for a woman to hold the position that represents Caritas in official, Catholic Church events that are often dominated by male clerics.

The face of poverty is the face of a woman, she told reporters. Therefore, it is only right and just, I think, to see the face of women at all levels in our confederation.

Dutton acknowledged there had also been a concerted search for a woman from the global South to head the organization as secretary-general. But he said he heard from national representatives who voted for him, including delegates who had pushed for a woman head, that he had the skills necessary to get the job done.

Dutton replaces Aloysius John, a French citizen of Indian descent who was ousted in November after staff at the Caritas headquarters complained of a toxic work environment. On the eve of the general assembly, John accused the Vatican of staging a brutal power grab fueled by a colonialist attitude of northern, wealthy Caritas chapters over poorer ones in the developing world.

In a sign that the global South had not fully moved on, John's ecclesiastic assistant, who was also ousted in November, the Rev. Pierre Cibambo, was elected by African Caritas leaders to be their regional Caritas Africa representative.

Dutton said he viewed the election as a marker being put down by Africa, to keep Cibambo in a leadership position, but that he didnt anticipate problems.
TOKYO (AP)  Amid the high-level efforts to deal with a raft of global emergencies, this weekend's Group of 7 summit of rich democracies will also see an unusual diplomatic reconciliation as the leaders of Japan and South Korea look to continue mending ties that have been marked for years by animosity and bickering.

At first glance the two neighbors would seem to be natural partners. They are powerful, advanced democracies and staunch U.S. allies in a region beset with autocratic threats. The continuing fallout, however, from centuries of complicated, acrimonious history, culminating in the brutal 1910-1945 Japanese colonization of the Korean Peninsula, has resulted in more wariness than friendship.

A big part of the sudden recent shift in tone is a shared focus on China's growing aggressiveness, t he threat of North Korea's fast-improving arsenal of nuclear-capable missiles  and deep worry about how Russia's war in Ukraine is influencing both issues. Some diplomatic nudging by Washington, which provides military protection for both its allies and wants them to more strongly counter China's rising global influence, has also helped.

Tokyo and Seoul understand that their survival, both nationally and politically, depends on subordinating themselves to the U.S. President Joe Biden administrations global and regional priorities, according to Daniel Sneider, an East Asia lecturer at Stanford University.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's invitation for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to be a guest at the G-7 talks in Hiroshima is only the most recent sign of these reset ties. It follows back-to-back summits by the leaders, which hadn't happened in years. Japan also agreed to South Korea's request to send an experts team later this month to visit the destroyed Fukushima nuclear power plant to view preparation for a planned release into the ocean of treated but still slightly radioactive wastewater.

The G-7 summit, which runs Friday through Sunday, will allow the leaders to deepen their burgeoning relationship  Kishida, Yoon and Biden plan to meet on the sidelines  while also working to persuade the world's most powerful leaders to tighten defense cooperation as China and North Korea expand their military postures in the region.

History issues have long harried Seoul and Tokyo. Ties worsened in 2018, for instance, after South Korean court rulings ordered two Japanese companies to compensate a group of Korean plaintiffs who the companies had used for wartime slave labor. Disagreement over the rulings later spilled over to trade and military cooperation issues. Japan insists all compensation issues were settled by a 1965 treaty that normalized relations.

Yoons summits with Kishida came after his government announced a domestically unpopular plan in March to use South Korean corporate funds to compensate the forced laborers. The move was aimed at preventing the courts from liquidizing the Japanese companies local assets, which would cause a further diplomatic rupture.

Kishida agreed to a resumption of defense, trade and other talks in his meetings with Yoon, and Japan recently announced that it is negotiating an agreement with Washington and Seoul on sharing real-time data on North Korean missile launches.

Seoul and Tokyo are both worried about the geopolitical uncertainty created by Russias invasion of Ukraine, which has raised fears about similar Chinese aggression in the South and East China Seas and against Taiwan, the democratic, self-governing island that Beijing claims as its own. North Korea also used the global focus on the invasion to ramp up its tests of nuclear-capable missiles.

Japan is one of many nations in Asia that has territorial disputes with China, something that has strongly figured into Kishida's push to distance Japan from its post-World War II principle of self-defense only. Last year, Tokyo adopted a new national security strategy that includes the goals of acquiring preemptive strike capabilities and cruise missiles to counter threats from North Korea, China and Russia.

Alarmed by the growing North Korean threat  Pyongyang has test-launched around 100 missiles since the start of 2022  Yoon may be using better relations with Japan as a way to forge a stronger alliance with the United States.

Yoons government has expanded its combined military exercises with the United States, which also included three-way drills with Japan, while seeking greater assurances from Washington that it would swiftly and decisively use its nuclear weapons to protect its allies in the event of a North Korean nuclear attack.

Theres growing recognition (in both Tokyo and Seoul) that the regions various security issues are becoming increasingly interconnected, which is leading the countries to reassess their importance to each other, said Jin Chang Soo, an analyst at South Koreas Sejong Institute.

During a recent meeting in Washington, Yoon and Biden agreed to a declaration that includes more nuclear information-sharing and regular visits to South Korea by a U.S. nuclear-powered sub.

The Biden administration may now be pushing for an extended deterrence dialogue among Washington, Seoul and Tokyo that would convey a formidable response both to North Korea and to China, and even to a potential ChineseRussian military axis, Sneider recently wrote.

Hiroshima, the first target of a nuclear weapon in history, could provide a symbolic backdrop for Kishida and Yoon to raise awareness about the North Korean threat while underlining goals for nuclear non-proliferation.

In another trust-building gesture, Kishida and Yoon plan to pay their respects at a Hiroshima memorial for Korean atomic bomb victims.

Despite the improving ties, however, there's no certainty how long reconciliation will last.

After decades of poverty and dictatorship following the 1950-53 Korean War, South Korea has become a developed economic and military power. But there are large policy swings between conservative governments, like the one in power now, and liberal governments that are more wary of stronger ties with Japan and the United States.

And then there are the historical issues, including continuing court hearings on forced labor, which remain buried like landmines, not far from the surface and ready to be set off, Sneider said.

___

Kim reported from Seoul.
UNITED NATIONS (AP)  Africas Sahel region has become a hot spot for violent extremism, but the joint force set up in 2014 to combat groups linked to the Islamic State, al-Qaida and others has failed to stop their inroads, and a senior U.N. official warned Tuesday that without greater international support and regional cooperation the instability will expand toward West African coastal countries.

Resolute advances in the fight against terrorism, violent extremism and organized crime in the Sahel desperately need to be made, U.N. Assistant Secretary-General for Africa Martha Pobee told a U.N. Security Council meeting.

The counterterrorism force, now comprised of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mauritania and Niger, lost Mali a year ago when its ruling junta decided to pull out. Pobee said the force hasn't conducted any major military operations since January.

She said the force is adjusting to new realities: France moving its counterterrorism force from Mali to Niger due to tensions with the junta and Mali's decision to allow Russian mercenaries from Wagner to deploy on its territory.

She said Burkina Faso and Niger have recently strengthened military cooperation with Mali to counter an upsurge in extremist attacks, but despite these efforts, insecurity in the tri-border area continues to grow.

Pobee criticized the international community, saying a lack of consensus among donors and partners left the joint force without sufficient funding and other needed support to become fully operational and autonomous so it could have the capacity to help stabilize the Sahel region.

An agreement between the U.N., EU and the force under which the U.N. peacekeeping force in Mali supplied fuel, rations, medical evacuation and engineering support to the joint force is expected to end in June, she said, expressing hope that the Security Council will consider the issue of U.N. financing for African peace operations.

Eric Tiare, executive secretary of the force known as the G5 Sahel, said experts have finalized a new concept of operations, which will be submitted to its defense council and then to the African Union to be endorsed.

"Given that the Sahel is at a crossroads, as it is seeing many threats to international peace and security, it's absolutely vital that we provide support to the force," he said. "The force needs what it has always lacked and what it has always sought. That is sustainable funding and equipment as we seek to counter terrorism."

U.N. experts have reported in recent years that Africa has been the region hardest hit by terrorism, and U.N. counterterrorism chief Vladimir Voronkov told the Security Council in January that the Islamic State group's expansion in Africas center, south and Sahel regions is particularly worrying.

Last August, African security expert Martin Ewi said at least 20 African countries were directly experiencing activity by the Islamic State group, and more than 20 others were being used for logistics and to mobilize funds and other resources.

Ewi, who coordinates a transnational organized crime project at the Institute for Security Studies in South Africas capital, Pretoria, told the Security Council that the Islamic State threat was growing by the day in Africa and the continent could be the future of the caliphate," which is what the Islamic State called the large swath of Syria and Iraq it seized in 2014 but lost in 2017.

Ewi said the Lake Chad Basin  which borders Chad, Nigeria, Niger and Cameroon  was the extremist groups biggest area of operation and areas in the Sahel were now ungovernable.

Pobee warned that without significant gains in fighting terrorism, it will become increasingly difficult to reverse the security trajectory in the Sahel, and the further expansion of insecurity towards coastal West African countries.

She said the recent instability in Sudan was an additional cause for concern. The devastating effects of the continuing destabilization of the Sahel would be felt far beyond the region and the African continent," Pobee said.

The U.S. deputy ambassador, Jeffrey DeLaurentis, said the United States is especially concerned by the security, humanitarian and political crises unfolding in the Sahel, which stem primarily from governance failures.

He criticized state-led military operations in Burkina Faso and Mali, and Mali's operations with the Wagner mercenaries, which he said have led to "large-scale civilian casualties and reports of human rights violations."

DeLaurentis urged Mali to rejoin the G5 Sahel, saying regional efforts are needed to fight terrorism, criminal networks and climate change. And he extended U.S. support to Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali to complete their transitions to democratically elected civilian governments.

We and other partners are keen to consider restarting currently restricted support, he said. The election of democratic governments would help us resume such assistance.
HARTFORD  Sandra Slack Glover, an assistant United States attorney who has never served as a judge on any level, took tough questions from state lawmakers for nearly seven hours on Monday, stressing a commitment to protect reproductive rights if she is confirmed to fill a vacancy on the Connecticut Supreme Court.

Glover tried to persuade Democrats on the legislative Judiciary Committee that a 2017 letter she signed with former federal law clerks in support of conservative future Supreme Court justice Amy Coney Barrett's candidacy to a federal appeals court post was a mistake that she regretted.

A committee public screening session that started at 10 o'clock and kept Glover seated at a desk in the Legislative Office Building until after 5, was followed by closed-door Republican and Democratic caucuses. They reconvened at 6:45. "Given the hour we're not going to take that up tonight," said Rep. Steve Stafstrom, D-Bridgeport, before bringing three other, unrelated bills that needed action or they would expire, to votes. The Glover vote would likely occur later in the week, but no date was announced.

The Ohio-born Glover, a 52-year-old mother of two who last month was nominated by Gov. Ned Lamont, said she was appalled by the U.S. Supreme Court's decision last year in the so-called Dobbs case that overturned 50 years of abortion rights, noting that Connecticut state law codifies those protections.

"I support a woman's right to choose, full stop," Glover said in the Legislative Office Building. "Speaking as an attorney, Dobbs was wrong and egregiously so. Speaking as a woman, it was horrifying. All of us should have a constitutional right to control our reproductive freedom and our bodies. My belief in this is firm an unwavering. One important hope I can offer those who, like me, are scared by the erosion of our rights, is that thanks to you and your colleagues, Connecticut law and the Connecticut Constitution guarantee more expansive rights than those found in the federal Constitution today."

But committee members including state Rep. Pat Dillon, D-New Haven, Sen. Ceci Maher, D-Wilton and Sen. Matt Lesser, D-Middletown, criticized Glover for signing a May, 2017 letter promoting the appeals candidacy for the conservative Barrett, who three years later became a successful Trump nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court. Barrett wrote a controversial 2012 statement challenging contraceptive rights in the United States during the Obama administration.

I cannot get past being appalled that you as someone who speaks to the importance to you of reproductive freedom and your values that you would have added your name to a letter supporting someone who has made her self known and her belief systems about reproductive rights, Maher said, recalling a meeting with Glover last week.



Is this something that you would do again, to write a letter supporting someone who took away the rights of every woman in this country? Maher asked.

No, Glover responded. As Ive said before, Ive learned a lot in the last six years about our country and about now-Justice Barrett, and knowing what I know now, I shouldnt have signed it. I thought the guardrails were stronger. I thought the institutions would hold. I was pretty naive.

I share frustration with regard to that letter you wrote on behalf of now-Justice Barrett, and I just think it indicates a selective clubbiness in the legal profession, Lesser said. Its not about you. Its about a sort of general issue out there at a time when I think a lot of folks in the profession are not adhering to the traditional respect for the rule of law, to respect for precedent, et cetera. And yet we still have this perhaps unseemly chumminess that I think has led to a real erosion of civil liberties and basic legal protections for a lot of folks in this country.

Other skeptical members of the committee, led by state Rep. Craig Fishbein, R-Wallingford, and state Rep. Melissa Osborne, D-Simsbury, focused on the importance of legal precedents in the role of being an associate justice on the state's high court.

Glover said that while her familiarity with state law might not be as extensive as someone rising from the ranks of the state judiciary, such as her predecessor Maria Araujo Kahn, who resigned from the state Supreme Court after winning a U.S. Senate appointment to the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals, her feelings on the importance of justice and familiarity with review processes should allow her to adjust.

"Whether defending a criminal conviction, for example, or a federal agency that's been sued for tortious conduct, the question is not just what can we do, but what should we do," Glover said. "If I am fortunate enough to be confirmed, I would bring my expertise and experience in interpreting laws and analyzing legal questions, my independence and dedication to the rule of law and my deep and long-standing commitment to public service."

Fishbein, an attorney who is a top Republican on the legislative panel, pushed back on the abortion issue. "Many peoples' takeaway on Dobbs is, it's a states rights issue. Why and how is Dobbs wrong?" Fishbein asked.

"I don't see it as a states rights issue," Glover said. "We in this country, as rights have expanded, partially they have expanded because we don't leave basic civil rights to the discretion of the states. Dobbs was wrong to take away my constitutional right to control my body, to control my autonomy. The Supreme Court has never taken away a right like that and certainly has never made women effectively second-class citizens in this country, subject to the whims of the legislators in the states where they live."

"I appreciate it," Fishbein replied. "The whole topic is a lightning rod."

He said that without Glover's experience as a judge, it's hard to establish what her judicial acumen might be. "So I've got to try and look at what you've done." Fishbein complained that a detailed questionnaire that Glover filled-out has not been made available to lawmakers.

"You are free to write statutes and think my job as a potential jurist, or as a jurist is to apply those and enforce those statutes," Glover said. "The role of the judiciary is not to make those policy calls. Those calls are for you all to make, and the role of the judiciary is to apply those statutes as written."

Glover, currently the chief of the appellate unit in the U.S. Attorney's office, started in that office in 2004. She grew up in Texas, received her undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia; master's in political science from Duke University; and a law degree from the University of Chicago Law School.

She served as a law clerk to Justice Sandra Day OConnor of the U.S. Supreme Court and to Chief Judge Richard A. Posner of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. She entered private practice in Washington, D.C., serving as an appellate attorney in the Environment and Natural Resources Division at the U.S. Department of Justice. In 2002, she and her husband moved to Connecticut where she joined the firm of Wiggin & Dana before accepting a job with the U.S. Attorneys Office.

Glover said Lamont's former legal counsel Nora Dannehy, the former U.S. attorney for whom she worked, had called Glover in March to suggest she seek the nomination.

Osborne agreed with Fishbein that without a judicial record, it's hard for the committee to decide on Glover's credentials.

"That's why we're probably plodding a little bit today," Osborne said. "Certainly we need to basically understand what your gut is. What is your gut instinct that you're going to bring to things and we don't have any illumination into that. When you say that policy is a legislative decision, I disagree with that a lot because I realize policy is frequently made by courts and especially by the Supreme Court."

"I also have found in my experience that decision-making bodies at any level and in any organization, whether it's a legislature, whether it's a multi-member court, whether it's a U.S. Attorney's office, make better decisions when they have a lot of different views, when they have different perspectives, when they have diverse views," Glover said. "By hearing different perspectives and hearing those views, you make better decisions. I don't see judges as unconstrained. The text is there. The original public meaning is important. What are the principles we derive from that?"
During a bill signing ceremony on Monday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis mentioned recent events at two Bay Area universities that exemplified what he described as "a cancer" growing among student bodies at liberal colleges.

Law students at Stanford made national headlines in March for protesting a speech from a conservative federal judge, which caused him to lash out at individual students during his remarks. Then, in April, students at San Francisco State University crashed a speech given by Riley Gaines, a former collegiate swimmer who's become an outspoken critic of transgender women competing in women's sports.

During his remarks, DeSantis said the behavior by the students at those universities should have resulted in them being expelled.

"It also, really, I think, shows a cancer that's developed in some of these institutions amongst the student body the idea that if 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," he said. "That is antithetical to what a free society is all about, and I think if there's behavior like you saw at Stanford, or like you saw at San Francisco State University by students ... they should be expelled from the university."

DeSantis, who is expected to imminently launch a 2024 bid for the White House, has made a name for himself in combating left-wing ideology in public institutions, namely in schools. In fact, he made his Monday remarks at the New College of Florida, a small liberal arts school thats become a culture war battleground.

The school became a focal point for DeSantis' self-described "anti-woke" efforts in January, when he appointed six conservative allies to the colleges board of trustees as a way to counter what he perceived as liberal ideology at the school. The new board quickly forced out the schools president and replaced her with DeSantis former education commissioner. Then, in February, the trustees voted to disband the office that handles diversity and inclusion programs at the school.

The bill DeSantis signed at the New College of Florida on Monday bans universities in his state from spending money on diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
A new San Francisco political group is launching an ad campaign sure to get attention: a series of pastel-colored ads joking about the citys response to the fentanyl crisis, tied together by the jaunty slogan, Thats Fentalife!"

This week, the ads will appear in the Tenderloin and South of Market neighborhoods, the two places where overdose deaths have been the most prevalent. The group responsible  TogetherSF Action  is insistent that the ads aren't insensitive to the hundreds of people who have died from drug overdoses in the city and that the Thats Fentalife moniker on the ads comes from a place of compassion.

TogetherSF Action is one of several new advocacy organizations in the city aligned with San Francisco's moderate faction of politicians and shares their aim of more resources for law enforcement in policing drug crimes.

Kanishka Cheng, TogetherSF Action's co-founder and executive director, told SFGATE the ad campaign was timed to coincide with the city budget process, in the hopes the ads move residents to demand more money for law enforcement, as well as services for people addicted to fentanyl. The interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

SFGATE: This design is a little cheeky. What would you say to people who may find it flippant and argue youre making light of a crisis that has killed hundreds of people?

Kanishka Cheng: The reason that it looks flippant or cheerful is to draw a sharp contrast to the darkness of the reality. We dont want to come on too heavy because weve become numb and normalized to the situation. The point of the font and bright colors is to draw contrast; it's about what should be this bright California lifestyle we aspire to have in San Francisco versus the reality playing out on our streets.

We kind of have to shock people into being awake and taking action.

Courtesy of TogetherSF Action

SFGATE: Let's say someone who lost a loved one to fentanyl saw one of these ads, especially one of the more sarcastic ones like, No yelling while selling drugs. Kids are trying to sleep around here. How do you think it might make them feel?

Cheng: Before we went forward with this effort, we talked to folks in the recovery community, and we talked to Mothers Against Drug Addiction and Deaths about how they felt. Many of them lost people or have kids suffering in the streets of San Francisco. They felt strongly and passionately we needed to do this.

We would have never done this without their buy-in, and youll hear that from them. Demanding action is the most important thing, and we have to be bold in how we do that.

[In an email to SFGATE, Mothers Against Drug Addiction and Death co-founder Jacqui Berlinn wrote, Yes, my group Mothers Against Drug Addiction and Deaths are supportive of the 'Fentalife' ad campaign and believe its necessary.]

SFGATE: On demanding action, what, specifically, does TogetherSF Action want to see done by way of policy?

Cheng: The most pressing concern is budget investments. We have to address both the supply side and the demand side of the fentanyl market. On the supply side, that's a fully staffed police department and bringing in state law enforcement. We need that partnership and continued law enforcement collaboration.

On the demand side, we need true recovery on demand. [The Department of Public Health's] goal is to get people into recovery within 10 days, and we think 10 days is unacceptable. If someone is still living out there for 10 days, they may die. We need stabilization centers, step-down beds, new facilities and getting people into long-term treatment.

Those are our budget priorities. On policy, we want the city to focus on more than just overdose prevention and reversal. Of course we need to do that, but we want to find more ways of bringing people into treatment and restoring lives.

Courtesy of TogetherSF Action

SFGATE: The ads are critical of harm reduction policies, and you mentioned overdose reversal. Do you support safe consumption sites?

Cheng: We havent taken a position on them formally. Theres a role for them in care, but we think the city puts too much emphasis on harm reduction. Whats happening is we're getting a bastardized version of it, which is not what is happening in other countries that have had success with safe consumption sites.

For example, Portugal has safe consumption sites, but they also have recovery treatment on demand for those who need it. The goal is to get people into recovery and not just keep them using indefinitely.

SFGATE: It sounds to me like you're talking about compelled treatment, as many people with addiction refuse treatment. But that's a state law issue, is it not?

Cheng: This should absolutely be addressed at the state level, as city leaders think its a tool that's missing from the toolbox. Now, there are things at the city level we can do to improve our on-site treatment. The district attorney has a policy of bundling drug possession charges to connect people with services, and we can beef up our mental health and substance abuse diversion programs.

SFGATE: Is anyone in the city actually fighting you on expanding access to services? All of the solutions you've discussed  whether it's on-demand treatment, wraparound services, more beds or improving diversion programs  when you hear the city's progressives like Dean Preston and Hillary Ronen talk about addiction, these are all things they support.

Cheng: I dont think anyone is fighting us on services. We're arguing that we have to offer both the carrot and the stick. In San Francisco, we have a habit of not doing the stick part; we only want to do the carrot, and thats where the tension arises. There are people who dont want to use law enforcement, and that ideology is where we are today.

SFGATE: On the stick, if you could wave a magic wand to create your preferred law enforcement response, what does that look like?

Cheng: It looks like a police department that's fully staffed, well trained, and has coordination with federal and state law enforcement. Everyone has to be rowing together in the same direction and sharing the same goals.

SFGATE: And if it turns out that, when law enforcement is rowing in the same direction trying to crack down on dealers, they find there's a lot of overlap between drug dealers and drug users, and it means a return to the war on drugs and incarceration of drug users, so be it?

Cheng: Absolutely not. In Portugal, if it's found that dealers also have substance addiction, they're diverted to treatment programs. There needs to be nuance, and we should be able to apply discretion to people arrested for drug crimes.

SFGATE: Are the ads conducive to nuance?

Cheng: The ads are intended to draw your attention. I hope people use the QR code on the ads to get that nuance on our site. I think we know its hard to convey nuance in ads and in politics in general.
Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix

Ali Wong is coming home. Monday, the San Francisco-born comedian announced a five-set mini-residency at the Masonic Auditorium from Dec. 16 to Dec. 20.

Wong, who grew up in Pacific Heights and graduated from San Francisco University High School, is most recently known for her 10-part comedy/thriller series Beef, which debuted on Netflix in early April. But her statement later that month in support of Beef co-star David Choe, whose offensive 2014 comments on sexual assault resurfaced with the show's airing, opened her up to scrutiny. Following this tour announcement, the comedian locked her Twitter account and the comments on her Instagram.



This latest controversy aside, Wong has helmed three popular Netflix specials and, in the process, become one of the countrys most celebrated comedians. Shes also had success in feature films, including Always Be My Maybe, a 2019 romantic comedy set in San Francisco.
The first weekend of filming our new HBO documentary, 1000% Me: Growing Up Mixed, wasnt even really an official shoot. HBO had given us development funds to film some kids just to see if there even was a film in our very loose idea of talking to mixed kids about their race.

It was October 2021. COVID-19 was proving that it wasnt going anywhere. I was shocked that parents thought the idea was worth the immense hassle of coming to a set at a house in Oakland filled with masked strangers. Two of my Black and mixed daughters, who were also going to be interviewed, had brought a bunch of toys, books, artwork and stuffed animals from home to decorate the house. My 7-year-old, Juno, even wanted a set designer credit in the film. She didnt get it. Shes not in the union. And the Bell family arent scabs.

Half the kids we planned to film with were friends of my oldest daughter, Sami, who was 10 at the time. My producer, Natasha Lewin, had found the other half after contacting local cultural organizations like SOMA Pilipinas. We supplied endless juice boxes, snacks and cheese pizza, and in return, the kids were effortlessly charming and deep and had a sense of humor.

Many of the kids talked about feeling comfortable being mixed race and how they didnt see themselves as being half one thing and half another thing. They saw themselves as 100% of each race. And Myles  who is Filipino and Black  said, Im 1000% a person.

Courtesy of HBO Max

'How would you describe your racial mix?'

Things were going well, but it still felt like we were just planning for the film. And then 7-year-old Sumaya showed up. She was a bundle of energy but also focused on the task. She wanted to talk as much about the cartoon Bluey as she did about her race, which, as a Bluey fan, I was cool with.

In every interview, after warming up the kids with small talk, I asked the question of the day: How would you describe your racial mix? Sumaya looked off into the distance, pondering her answer, and finally responded, I would think of myself like a mix of, like, well  After a pronounced pause, she continued, Basically all my favorite animals. A corgi, a spaniel, husky, llama and shiba inu. I was taken aback. Sumaya knew what I was asking her, but I loved that she made the question fit her. And it was hilarious. It showed that not only are these kids capable of nuanced conversations about race and racism, but they are also capable of shining through all that noise to be individuals. And they are still kids. In that moment, I wanted to shout to the room, WE HAVE A FILM, PEOPLE!

Courtesy of HBO Max

But like a lot of my career, I never imagined making this film until I was offered the opportunity. After my wife, Melissa, and I were married in 2009, we decided to have children. At that point, we had already had many discussions about race and racism in America, but the birth of our oldest daughter led to a different type of conversation about racial identity.

Talking about race was not just a focus of my work as a stand-up comedian but part of my family legacy. In the 1980s, my mom put food on our table by self-publishing collections of African American quotations. And my dad worked in corporate America being the Black guy who wouldnt stop bringing up diversity and mentoring Black people who wanted careers in corporate America. My mom did her race work with quotes. My dad did his race work with insurance. I was doing my race work with jokes. And in my regular life, my family and I were also confronting real-world examples of racism here in the San Francisco Bay Area, be it dealing with swearing from strangers or an influx of the alt-right in our neighborhood or a now-infamous incident of racial profiling at a coffee shop in Berkeley.

Shades of Black

Black folks are like that old commercial about the Army. We have more conversations about race and racism before breakfast than most white people have all day. But Melissa and I are not both Black. Im Black. Melissa is white.

All of that is to say that Melissa and I have had several run-ins with Americas race and racism problem. Even before our daughter Sami was born, we discussed Samis racial identity. We knew she would be Black, because thats how racial identity works in America. Historically in this country, Black plus white equals Black.

We also knew she would be mixed, an identity that neither of us could personally identify with. We had to get ready for that. Melissa spent time learning about how to do Black hairstyles. We both acquired books that featured not only Black main characters but also mixed characters. Peanut Butter Big Brother, The Colors of Us and The Shades of Black were classics in our home. And living in the San Francisco Bay Area, we had mixed folks in our community, both kids and adults. We knew our daughter Sami would not be alone  by the time she began kindergarten, she had plenty of other mixed friends. I started to wonder what kinds of conversations these kids were having.

Courtesy of HBO Max

I had talked about my daughters mixed-ness in my stand-up. In my 2018 Netflix comedy special, Private School Negro, I joked about how my middle kid, Juno, looked lighter skinned than me, which meant that if I stood too far away from her at an airport, it would look to strangers like she was hanging out by herself. In my 2015 Showtime comedy special, Semi-Prominent Negro, I talked about Melissa's learning how to do our daughters hair on a real website named Chocolate Hair, Vanilla Care. But I knew a documentary would be more intimate, more revealing and more vulnerable. And although Melissa and I had worked to keep our children outside the spotlight of my career, since I am a person who generates intense hatred in some people, we knew there would be a mini mutiny in our house if their voices werent in the film. We knew our daughters had something to say, and they deserved to say it.

We also wanted to make a documentary about mixed identity that focused mostly on the experiences of mixed kids. While we initially thought we would fly around the country to talk to mixed kids, we realized after that first weekend of filming in Oakland how special it would be if we just focused on kids in the Bay Area.

Miikka Skaffari/Getty Images

A rebuke

These kids are in many ways the effortless antidote to all the anti-woke/anti-critical race theory nonsense around the country. These kids are a rebuke of the many adults in this country who believe that an accurate history of race and racism shouldnt be taught in schools. And those adults, like presidential nopeful Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, often frame the debate around their belief that children cant handle these discussions. Meanwhile, by nature of their identity, mixed kids live these discussions in real time. They are wrestling with it, learning about it and making jokes about it. And they are better off because of it. In the film, the mixed adults see that this current generation of mixed kids has way more space to talk about identity than they did as kids. It seems like a feeling somewhere between envy and awe.

Making this film, I learned that while being mixed is a loaded identity, it doesnt have to be so loaded if we just let mixed folks speak for and define themselves. The kids in the film dont see themselves as being half one thing and half another thing. They see themselves as both. As 10-year-old Myles puts it in the film, Im 100% African American. 100% Filipino. And 1000% a person. Kids say the least racist things.

And that is why it was important for us to make a film that was family-friendly. I hope that groups of various ages (and races) watch it together. I hope it creates more space for mixed folks to talk about their lived experiences. And I also hope we can airdrop them over Florida.

W. Kamau Bell is a writer, comedian and TV host based in the Bay Area. He has hosted the CNN series "United Shades of America" since 2016. "1000% Me: Growing Up Mixed" was released on HBO Max on May 2, 2023.
Republican Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy speaks to reporters about negotiations with the White House over the debt limit in Washington, on May 15, 2023.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Monday theres been no progress on debt ceiling talks ahead of a meeting with President Joe Biden and other congressional leaders scheduled for Tuesday at the White House, as the country pushes closer to a crisis over the need to raise its legal borrowing limit. Its 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.

McCarthy confirmed that he and the other congressional leaders are heading back to the White House on Tuesday to meet with Biden. The meeting was initially supposed to be Friday, but was abruptly postponed so staff-level talks could continue through the weekend.

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 says the nation will be unable to pay its bills as soon as June 1. Bidens 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 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 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.

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 nations 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.

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.

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LATEST May 17, 11 a.m. Former Apple engineer Weibao Wang, whom the Department of Justice has charged with stealing trade secrets from Apples autonomous systems research, is now leading the self-driving car project at the Chinese firm Jidu, CNBC reported.

Jidu is a joint venture between the Google-esque conglomerate Baidu and the carmaker Geely, and it plans to begin mass production of its self-driving cars this year. In a 2021 interview, Wang praised Apples engineer-driven culture and avoided a question about the Bay Area-based companys self-driving car project  a project the DOJ alleges Wang stole swaths of data and code from on his way out of the company in 2018.

The arc of Wangs post-Apple career is becoming clearer. According to a now-deleted LinkedIn page published alongside the 2021 interview, Wang left Apple in 2018 to work in China for a San Jose-based company called Singularity.AI, which is now focused on medical products. The DOJ alleged in its indictment that Wang signed on to a new firm to work on self-driving car tech before he quit his job at Apple. After Singularity.AI, Wang moved in 2020 to autonomous driving startup Neolix and then to Jidu in 2021, according to a screenshot of the LinkedIn page.

Wangs case is getting treated as a national security issue by the Justice and Commerce departments, who have launched a joint project to prosecute the theft of sensitive U.S. technology.

May 16, 1 p.m. Apple is a famously secretive company, known not just to hide product launches from the public but to keep tens of thousands of employees in the dark on even major company projects.

Apparently, that mentality doesnt reach into the rank and file, according to a Department of Justice indictment from April unsealed Tuesday. Former Apple employee Weibao Wang faces six counts of theft and attempted theft of trade secrets for allegedly stealing huge amounts of the companys autonomous systems data, including the projects entire source code, and then fleeing to China.

The 35-year-old, who lived in Mountain View, worked as a software engineer for the Cupertino-based tech giant from March 2016 to April 2018, the indictment says. Wang allegedly worked for Apples annotation team, which develops algorithms to better label real-world objects, a key piece in building autonomous technology like Apples long-gestating self-driving car.

Each of Wangs six counts refers to a piece of technology that prosecutors allege he stole from the autonomy project  the source code, a tracking system, a behavior planner, architecture design, hardware descriptions and a motion planner. Wang faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if he is convicted.

According to the indictment, Wang signed on to a job for a China-based self-driving car developer in November 2017. He wouldnt quit Apple until four months later. After he resigned, the indictment says, Apple engineers found records of Wang combing through the autonomous projects databases in his final days at the company.

Just 5,000 of Apples 135,000 full-time employees in April 2018 had been given information about the need to know autonomy project, the indictment says, and only 2,700 had access to the databases of confidential information.

Law enforcement stepped in soon after. In June 2018, agents took several of Wangs personal devices from his Mountain View home. He reportedly told them he had no plans to travel, but that night, he booked and boarded a one-way flight from San Francisco to Guangzhou, China.

When analysts checked Wang's desktop computer and external hard drive, the indictment says, they found swaths of stolen data  including the entire autonomous system source code  mostly downloaded in the run-up to Wangs final day at Apple. The firm did not respond to SFGATEs request for comment.

Wangs case is being prosecuted in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and is being treated as a national security issue. The DOJ unsealed Wangs case in a batch of five criminal cases, part of a Disruptive Technology Strike Force project by the Justice and Commerce departments to, their release says, counter efforts by hostile nation-states to illicitly acquire sensitive U.S. technology to advance their authoritarian regimes and facilitate human rights abuses.

Hear of anything happening at Apple? Contact tech reporter Stephen Council securely at stephen.council@sfgate.com or on Signal at 628-204-5452.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

In the days after announcing Twitters new CEO and getting subpoenaed in connection to a lawsuit involving Jeffrey Epstein, Elon Musk has veered into troublesome territory on Twitter.

Between agreeing with racist tweets and likening George Soros, whose fund recently sold off its entire stake in Musk's Tesla, to the X-Men supervillain Magneto, Musk once again made San Francisco a punching bag on Twitter. He railed against the city in response to a tweet by far-right influencer Ian Miles Cheong about Dave Chappelles surprise show in (and accompanying disdain toward) San Francisco.
The 700 attendees in the crowd at SFJAZZ on Friday night are a testament to a modern comedy playbook: If you build a TikTok following, they will come.

Austin Nasso, Jesse Warren and Nikita Oster make up Socially Inept, the comedy group that brought its newly popular Tech Roast Show to the Bay Area late last week. Friday, they delivered a laugh-packed set built on roasts of the tech worker crowd, relying on rapid-fire, mostly improvised jokes that entertained but stayed frustratingly low-stakes. It was a roast of a vocation but not an industry, playing with techs countless absurdities but rarely tackling them head-on (and relying too often on an unfunny crowd).

The trios 90-minute show, with the aid of a massive screen projecting LinkedIn pages and startup sites, was split into five sections  a round of audience introductions, an attempt to find the worst tech job in the room, a game show-style empathy-off against ChatGPT, a prewritten roast for an audience volunteer and, to wrap it up, a quick-fire roast round.

The show was well researched if not quite well constructed. The three comedians, each of whom used to work in tech, clearly knew their marks and gave the crowd what it wanted: in-group stereotypes, references to company cultures, and techie language twisted to be lewd or insulting. Nasso, Warren and Oster turned sharp jokes on Ubers mistreatment of drivers, audience members ridiculous startup plans and the strange tasks required of tech workers. Targets ranged from an engineer who simulates crashes for the self-driving car company Cruise to an Instagram employee with no way to defend the demise of the platforms creator program  a personal affront to the internet-viral comedy group.

At the beginning especially, the comics fired off rapid critiques and questions at volunteers and front-row viewers alike, talking over each other to shove in an extra dig.

What the fk is Velt? Warren asked a crowd member who had volunteered the name of his new company, which the founder said is trying to make work multiplayer. A pile-on ensued, each comedian aghast and yelling questions. Warren eventually raised his voice and yelled, Come on, founder, pitch!

When the comedians had the reins, the intense, bro-ey chaos was usually funny. But Nasso, Warren and Oster gave the crowd a lot of airtime, using often boring audience stories about new startups, bad jobs and personal gaffes as jumping-off points for roasts. The comics mostly managed to rescue laughs from the awkward, mundane audience inputs  supplied Friday by a cast of corporate tech workers, startup employees and one venture capitalist. But I got the impression that Socially Inept felt frustrated with the material it had to work with. Several of the volunteers tried their own mediocre jokes; others brought the point of view of, as Nasso put it, a perfectly oiled cog in the machine. Only a few were brave enough to bash a former employer.

The segment on bad jobs fell especially flat, with tired anecdotes from audience volunteers who worked drab but not heinous jobs, like labeling data or building Ubers safety products during the pandemic. Warren summed up the feeling in the room: I actually think no one in this audience likes working. A show built on crowd work relies in part on an interesting crowd  Socially Inept got a boring one.

Then the evenings juiciest detail emerged. While a lead engineer at investing startup Wefunder was explaining his company to the crowd, the screen behind him sprang to life. Text filled the Google search bar, reading wefunder controversy. It seemed like a gag, an instant background check that surely the volunteered roastee would pass.

Atop the results, however, was a bona fide controversy  for years, the crowdfunding investment startup had improperly diverted funds, put misleading statements on its website and sent hundreds of thousands of unallowed marketing emails. Wefunder had to pay a $1.4 million fine to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. The crowd at SFJAZZ was on the edge of their seats, waiting for the roasters to sound off. Here it was, I thought: the moment the tech industry actually catches some heat.

But rather than pounce, the comedians deferred to the engineer for a defiant non-apology. Warren simply pitched in, Youve done this speech so many times, havent you? Rather than use the moment to hold his company accountable with a cutting jab, the comedians moved on to more personal, less meaningful topics. Their resolve had weakened.

A few minutes later, a heckler yelled, Roast him harder, adding after a moment that the comedians were just letting him tell his life story. The trio had to explain to the crowd that the roast hadnt started yet; they were just setting things up. After neutralizing the heckler (the crowd eventually booed him for calling San Francisco a trash city), they sped through the rest of the setup and finally took over the segment but never brought up his companys transgressions.

Benji made his first pull request posing naked on Reddit, Nasso joked in the roast, making a double entendre of the software engineering term for submitting new code changes. Nobody approved.

The shows comedic peak came in a reprieve from the roasting, with a game show-esque I cant believe its not human empathy-off. The comedians pitted two audience members against OpenAIs GPT-4 and told each to console Warren, who pretended to mourn crowd-supplied tragedies. The chatbot was well run and appropriately San Franciscan, prompting a roar from the crowd with a punchline about Salt & Straws nondairy flavors. Warren was in excellent form, baiting the Uber and Meta engineers into a series of verbal gaffes. When he went uninterrupted on the sometimes over-busy stage, I found myself wishing he had the reins for more of the show.

Chris Tuite @christuitephoto/Courtesy of Socially Inept

The group was born out of Seattles comedy scene  and the comedians disillusionment with their own budding careers in the industry. Nasso and Warren were producing local shows part time when they came up with the idea for a goodbye roast, as Nasso plotted his move away from Microsofts Seattle campus. They sold out a 200-seat venue for a roast of Seattles tech scene in October 2018 and started solidifying the shows perspective  techies and ex-techies who roast the companies and workforces they know well  by touring cities with a large tech presence, like San Francisco, Denver, New York City and Austin.

Now, the Tech Roast Show has hundreds of thousands of followers on TikTok and Instagram and consistently sells out larger performances. Speaking to the group on a video call a week before the show, I asked if, as its popularity has grown, it has noticed more people at its shows who arent working in tech.

Yes, in that they were just laid off, Nasso quickly replied. It was a theme of the night Friday: Nassos default response when an audience member said theyd left a job was to ask if they were a layoff victim. The jobs tracker Layoffs.fyi estimates that tech companies have laid off more than 350,000 workers over the past year and a half.

The comedians told me they were excited about their biggest shows yet in the Bay Area, which they tend to visit monthly. Unlike Seattle, where much of the audience usually consists of Microsoft and Amazon employees, San Francisco provides a wider mix, and far more startup founders and employees, with all their odd ideas. One founder in the crowd told the group his company was trying to create collaboration-as-a-service software, while another seemed to be trying to build a company on the idea that Slack channels are deletable.

The Bay Area is also just the hub of the community the trio knows so well  the tech culture they ridicule was built by the workforces famous for dominating the industry in San Francisco and the larger Silicon Valley. Everyone here has a relationship with tech.

The most far-removed person from tech in San Francisco is still surrounded by tech companies on all sides, Oster said to me on our call. Their daily life is still dictated by tech companies. The shape of the streets they walk is determined by tech companies. Every billboard they look at is advertising to a corporate entity.

The performance Friday was not for the far-removed. To end the show, the comedians brought five volunteers up to the stage for a final round of roasts. They had each person announce their total yearly pay, one by one.

$200,000. $225,000. $200,000. $200,000. $230,000.

As billed, this was tech roasting tech, a comedy set of in-group insults delivered to workers who've profited off the excesses of an industry its in vogue to criticize. The show made an interesting but unproductive point: These jobs can be horrible, boring or straight-up absurd, but it doesnt matter to the workers themselves  theyll laugh all the way to the bank.

Hear of anything happening at a Bay Area-based tech company? Contact tech reporter Stephen Council securely at stephen.council@sfgate.com or on Signal at 628-204-5452.
A budget-friendly option for traveling between California cities returned this week to offer multiple daily trips from San Francisco to five major cities.

Megabus is back in downtown San Francisco to offer bus trips from its departure along Townsend Street near the 4th Street Caltrain Station. Direct trips from San Francisco began May 15 for cities Sacramento, Fresno, Bakersfield, Anaheim and Los Angeles.

Theres a bus from San Francisco to Oakland for $14.99, which is hardly a bargain compared to riding BART. However, Megabus becomes a viable option for travelers on a budget when trekking across the state. A round-trip to Los Angeles runs a hair over $100 while round-trips from San Francisco to Sacramento are $33.97.

The intercity travel company suspended service in California and across other parts of the country in 2020 as traveler demand decreased at the onset of the pandemic.

Colin Emberson, a vice president for Megabus, told SFGATE that timing made sense to revise service now that summer travel is starting to ramp up.

It was a tough couple of years, he said. In our mind, we suspended service and did all we could to keep facilities in place. San Francisco was very easy and were happy with our stop there. We look forward to seeing how things grow.

Megabus began operating in the United States from Europe in 2006. The company offers cost-effective transportation and notoriously promotes fares as low as $1 on the side of its buses.

This is not the first time Megabus has returned service to California. The company offered rides between San Francisco and Los Angeles in 2007 and 2008 before withdrawing due to low ridership. After finding success in other markets in the country, Megabus relaunched service in California in 2012.
Usually, the criticism of Draymond Green is that he takes things too far, and understandably so. But one member of the national media thinks he didnt go far enough in the Warriors second-round series against the Lakers.

Bill Simmons dissected Greens friendship with LeBron James with his own Draymond, Ryen Russillo, in an episode of his eponymous Ringer podcast published Monday.

All the Draymond stuff that he does thats great in a playoff series, he wouldnt do to LeBron and Davis, Simmons said. He didnt fk with LeBron once.  It was actually like shocking. It was shocking.

Warriors fans have harped on Greens apparent undying support for his supposed rival ever since the Golden State forward signed with James agent, Rich Paul, in 2019. (To be fair to guys with Steph Curry cartoon avatars who tweet things like LeFlop, Green did title the YouTube version of his lastest podcast episode Steph & Klay miss shots + LeBron dominates.)

Simmons pointed out how Green seizes on whatever the mental or emotional or whatever weaknesses of the other team, going to his bread and butter of remembering a painful Celtics loss, in this case, last years Finals.

Did he try anything with LeBron or Davis that whole series? No, Simmons said. LeBron, I get it. LeBrons his friend, they have the same agent, like all that stuff. LeBrons his big brother in a lot of ways. Davis is exactly the kind of guy, if you were doing a fantasy draft of people Draymond Green would fk with, you would put Davis on it, and he didnt mess with him. He was kind of running around trying to start st with Dennis Schroder and Darvin Ham. Its like, why dont you start fighting the two guys who are kicking your ass?

As Simmons said, he goaded Schroder into an ejection with some crafty gamesmanship of pushing a ball into Schroders face. The smoke just wasnt there for James and Davis. Its a far cry from the infamous 2016 Finals incident where Green hit James with a retaliatory swipe toward the groin that set the stage for the Cavaliers 3-1 series comeback, or even this postseason when Green reveled in the jeers of Sacramento fans after he was ejected for stomping on an opposing players chest.

Simmons further diagnosed the issue with what should be an absolute gut-punch to Dubs fans: LeBron softened up the Golden State enforcer.

I think LeBron befriending that guy was really smart, Simmons said. Down the road, you never know if youre going to play against somebody like that and theyre going against them and Draymond wasnt doing any of the normal Draymond stuff against them.

Simmons spent most of the Green-Warriors segment talking about how the Jordan Poole punch diminished Greens standing inside the team. Maybe all the discontent bubbling up this year will lead to Green declining his player option and hightailing it to join James in Los Angeles this summer. But if the retaliatory swipe incident is any indication, maybe Green and Poole will be best friends in a year or two.
The investor group comprised of NewGAMe and Bruellan - which is opposed to Liontrust s takeover of Swiss fund group GAM - said on Tuesday that it plans to increase its stake in GAM from 8.4% to above 10%.

The group said in a statement that it has notified the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) that it intends "to go above the threshold of 10% of the voting rights in GAM".

Earlier this month, the investor group said Liontrust's 96m takeover offer undervalues GAM and "does not reflect the significant upside that a successful turnaround could generate for GAM's current shareholders".

"In addition, the fact that Liontrust only offers its own shares, and is not making any cash offer, implies that GAM shareholders will be subject to the volatility of Liontrust shares without any firm price for a business that has significant intrinsic value," it said.

The investor group also said the deal proposed by Liontrust was subject to "significant execution contingencies", since the risk of an unsuccessful exit of GAM's fund management services business in Luxembourg and Switzerland - "on which almost no information is being provided" - is being shifted to GAM shareholders.

"The investor group is therefore contemplating not to accept Liontrust's offer under the current terms," it said.
Tobacco giant Imperial Brands reported a 4.8% improvement in first-half revenue on Tuesday, to 3.66bn, although adjusting for constant currency, its revenue decreased 1%.

The FTSE 100 company said operating profit was ahead 7.3% year-on-year in the six months ended 31 March at 1.72bn, and 0.8% firmer at constant exchange rates.

Earnings per share totalled 118.5p, indicating a 4.9% increase in actual terms, and a 1.7% decline at constant currency.

Net debt widened to 9.8bn, from the 9.16bn it recorded in the first half of 2022.

The board declared a dividend of 43.18p per share for the period, making for a 1.5% increase on both actual and constant currency terms.

On the operational front, Imperial Brands said pricing was robust in the period, as it saw a 20-basis point increase in its total market share across its top-five combustible market portfolio.

Net revenue from next-generation products (NGP) saw significant growth, rising 19.8%, which the board put down to successful product launches across various categories.

The firms overall volumes were impacted by the unwinding of Covid-related effects and its exit from the Russian market last year, while higher investments in NGP also affected profitability.

Imperial Brands also noted a strong contribution from Logista, a recent merger and acquisition.

The directors affirmed that the company was progressing towards meeting its full-year guidance, expecting improving returns in line with its five-year strategy.

We are now in the third year of our five-year strategy, and this means we are moving from the initial foundation-building phase to a period of improving financial delivery, said chief executive officer Stefan Bomhard.

We remain strongly committed to an ongoing programme of shareholder returns and will complete our initial 1bn buyback during the second half.

Business performance for the first half of fiscal year 2023 was resilient, despite temporarily increased volume declines against a strong comparator.

Bomhard said that as expected, that reflected a return to pre-Covid buying patterns, as well as the firms decision to exit Russia last year.

In tobacco, we have delivered further share gains in aggregate across our portfolio of top five markets, while also achieving strong pricing to help mitigate the volume declines.

We have now recorded stable or growing aggregate market share in these markets in each of the last four six-month periods after many years of sharp declines.]

In NGP, we have delivered a step-up in innovation with new product and market launches in all three categories: vapour, heated tobacco and modern oral.

That performance, Stefan Bomhard explained, was underpinned by targeted investments in capabilities and people.

Earlier this month we opened a new innovation facility in Liverpool, which brings together consumers, product developers and third-party partners in a single collaborative space.

We are making good progress in our programmes to modernise legacy systems, and we continue to invest in upskilling our leaders to drive forward our performance culture.

We remain on track to deliver the acceleration in adjusted operating profit growth in the second half in line with our guidance and expectations.

At 0814 BST, shares in Imperial Brands were up 0.24% at 1,877.5p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
One in four teachers and one in eight nurses will be higher-rate taxpayers by 2027 as a result of the governments record freeze on income tax allowances and thresholds, according to a leading thinktank. The Institute for Fiscal Studies said better-paid public sector workers will be among the almost 8 million people  one in five of all taxpayers  who will pay income tax at 40% or above as result of the Treasurys attempt to reduce the UKs budget deficit.  Guardian

The energy watchdog for Great Britain will label the decade-long wait to connect low-carbon projects to the electricity grid as unacceptable, amid tensions over a blame game for a mounting backlog of green power projects. Jonathan Brearley, the chief executive of Ofgem, has written to energy bosses to warn that the current system, whereby energy projects queue for their connection, could be replaced by new methods to match power generation with demand.  Guardian

John Lewis has turned to the advertising agency that helped Margaret Thatcher into Downing Street as the department store seeks to reinvigorate its flagging business. The John Lewis Partnership, which also owns Waitrose, has hired Saatchi & Saatchi to work on all its upcoming adverts including its much anticipated Christmas advert.  Telegraph

The European Commission has given the green light to Microsofts merger with Activision Blizzard, putting it at odds with the British competition watchdog which blocked the tie-up last month. The European regulator approved the $68.7 billion deal, subject to promises from Microsoft over the next ten years to ensure that Activisions games, which include the blockbuster Call of Duty franchise, are freely available across cloud streaming providers.  The Times

British businesses have been urged to supply more data and information on how the Treasurys decision to scrap VAT-free shopping for overseas visitors is hurting the economy, as renewed pressure builds for the policy to be reinstated. The government is facing fresh calls from companies, including the luxury trade body Walpole and Heathrow airport, to restore tax-free shopping for overseas tourists. They warn that London is losing tourism business to cities such as Milan and Paris.  The Times
On April 9, at around 8 p.m., four members of a drug gang fired at least 25 shots at a house where the mother of the leader of a rival gang lived. Some of the bullets flew through the windows of the house next door, where there were children. The attack, in which no one was injured, occurred in the Los Jazmines neighborhood in the city of Valdivia, some 850 kilometers (530 miles) south of Santiago, Chile. When Investigations Police (PDI) agents arrived at the scene, the attackers fled. One of the gang members, aged 15, threw a pistol into a backyard as he ran away. The following day, a resident called the police to report that he had found the gun on his property. It was a .380 Pietro Beretta, with a brown grip and a name embossed on it: Augusto Pinochet U.

After running the weapons serial number, the General Directorate of National Mobilization confirmed that the pistol was registered in the name of Augusto Jose Ramon Pinochet Ugarte, the former Chilean dictator who died in 2006. The system also showed that the gun had been reported as lost. The question authorities are now asking is: how did a pistol belonging to the general who staged the 1973 coup detat find its way into the hands of a teenage member of a street gang in the south of the country?

The Pinochet family lost track of the gun a decade ago. In April 2014, Marco Antonio Pinochet Hiriart, the dictators son, reported the pistol missing at a police station in Lo Barnechea, in the province of Santiago, along with 17 other weapons including a rifle and several pistols and revolvers. There are around 770,000 registered firearms in Chile. Of those added to the registry over the last three years, at least 60% have been reported as lost or stolen, chief prosecutor of the North Central Metropolitan Region, Tania Sironvalle, said in an interview last November.

Pinochet's name engraved on the pistol grip. PDI Chile

Marco Antonio Pinochet noticed the missing weapons when he decided to make an inventory of his late fathers objects in what had been his residence during his final days, a property located in the municipality of Lo Barnechea, one of the most affluent areas of the Chilean capital. According to the police report, as quoted by the newspaper La Tercera, the fourth of the dictators five sons said a large number of weapons of different brands and calibers were missing, and that they were duly registered with a collectors description and one of them was defined as a weapon for personal defense. According to sources familiar with the case, Marco Antonio told the police it was a case of misappropriation.

At the end of 2014, Lucia Hiriart, Pinochets widow, sold the mansion where the former dictator resided from 2000 following his return to Chile after being arrested in London. The following year, the new owners  who bought the home for $1.6 million  demolished the 1,500 square meter property to build a condominium.

Almost three months after the complaint lodged by Marco Antonio Pinochet, the Eastern Metropolitan Prosecutors Office ruled out investigating the case due to a lack of evidence. However, now that Pinochets Beretta pistol has resurfaced as part of a criminal investigation, the original case has been reopened. The Regional Prosecutors Office of Los Rios, led by Juan Agustin Melendez, has decided to separate the investigation of the attack on the house in Los Jazmines into two branches: one will deal with the two rival gangs of drug traffickers, in which 10 people have already been arrested, and the other will work toward solving the theft of Pinochets small personal armory in 2014.

The local prosecutor in Valdivia, Tatiana Esquivel, said that the 10 detainees in the gang case have been charged with attempted homicide, illegal possession of firearms and the unjustified discharge of weapons on public streets. Among the charges being brought against the 15-year-old gang member who discarded Pinochets pistol is illegal possession of firearms. On the night of the shooting, the teenager was also carrying a black bag containing 26 grams of cocaine and three shotgun cartridges. The PDIs Anti-Narcotics and Organized Crime Squad arrested him almost a month after the attack, along with nine other members of his gang and a criminal organization known as Poblacion Libertad, of which the son of the woman whose house was shot at was a member. He is currently in prison in Valdivia for drug-related crimes.

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The government is set to accept the chip-making organization of the Vedanta-Foxconn collaboration under the $10-billion Indian Semiconductor Mission (ISM), senior government officials. This will pave the way for the Centres bid to launch India as a global hub for semiconductors.

Their plan is for fabrication of 40 nm (nanometre) chips--there are some conditions they need to fulfill. We are going to approve it, one of the officials.

Another top official said, The approvals will come in very shortly.

Vedanta Foxconn Semiconductors Ltd (VFSL) has signed initial pacts with two companies for technology transfer US-headquartered GlobalFoundries and European chip-maker STMicroelectronics (STMicro). The details of the two have been submitted to the information technology (IT) ministry, one of the officials said. The government has asked VFSL to submit details of the binding technology transfer agreement with either of the two companies, the person added.

The IT ministry, the nodal ministry for the ISM, has suggested to GlobalFoundries and STMicro that they take a stake in VFSL as well, a third official said.

They have responded positively to the suggestion. We are waiting for them to get back to us on the proposal, the person said.

GlobalFoundires it could not confirm any of this information and had no further comment.STMicro and Foxconn did not respond to queries.

VFSL has an agreement with a technology partner to transfer and qualify a proven, production-grade, high volume, technology with licenses for Integrated Circuit manufacturing in India, CEO David Reed. However, we also have in place an NDA (non-disclosure agreement) because of which we are unable to disclose further details.

VFSL is a 63-37 joint venture between Indias Vedanta Group and Taiwans Hon Hai Precision Industry (Foxconn). It has plans to invest up to Rs 66,000 crore initially to set up a semiconductor manufacturing unit at Dholera in Gujarat. Overall, the joint venture has plans to invest a total Rs 1.54 lakh crore in the Dholera plant, which will also include a unit for display fabrication.

The government plans to give close to 50% subsidy to selected applicants under the ISM initiative in a bid to kickstart chip manufacturing in the country. The ISM program was announced in December 2021.

Before disbursal of incentives, there is a list of conditions they (VFSL) must fulfill, said one of the officials cited above. These include details of the binding technology transfer agreement and the technology being used besides information on intellectual property rights holders, the person added. It will also have to furnish data on the technology transfer duration as well as the technical experts who will be involved, the official said.

We will see these details and set preconditions for any money that is given to them, the official said.

Last year that the IT ministry had asked the Vedanta-Foxconn JV to bring on board a third technology partner as the ministry was unsure that the existing partners had the technical know-how for semiconductor manufacturing and fabrication.

Akarsh Hebbar, the managing director of Vedantas global display and semiconductor business, earlier that the joint venture had provided details on the technology partner to the IT ministry.

Of the two venture partners, Foxconn has taken the lead on finalizing the technology partner, Reed previously. The joint venture had full access to a world-class manufacturable, high-volume, automotive-grade technology, he had said.

In addition to the Foxconn-Vedanta proposal, the Centre has also received bids to set up semiconductor fabrication units from Next Orbit Ventures, which has partnered with Israels Tower Semiconductor as well as Singapore-based IGSS Ventures. The tower is being acquired by Intel the deal awaits regulatory approval.
As outgoing Twitter CEO Elon Musk found butter chicken and naan 'insanely good,' a team of senior Tesla executives is reportedly planning to visit India this week to explore entering the niche EV market and expand its footprint beyond China.

According to a Bloomberg report, citing sources, the Tesla executives are expected to meet officials from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office.

"The discussions will revolve around the possibility of local sourcing of components for Tesla's car models," the report noted.

Whether Musk will accompany the team was not clear yet, as he gears up to hand over the Twitter baton to Linda Yaccarino, former Chairman of Global Advertising and Partnerships at NBC Universal, and "devote more time to Tesla" and bring it back on course.

The visit by Tesla executives comes at a time when the country is betting big on EV adoption.

With the friendly government policies and new entrants arriving on the scene with cheaper EVs, the country is set to witness a plethora of options in the next 2-3 years.

Industry experts expect that passenger car EV penetration will cross 21 per cent by 2027 from 1.3 per cent in 2022.

However, Musk has time and again said that he faced challenges from the government for releasing its products in India. "Tesla isn't in India yet due to "Challenges with the government," he had posted.

The team he hired in India in 2021 was diverted to focus on the Middle-East and the larger Asia-Pacific markets last year.

Several top Indian leaders made repeated appeals to Musk to bring Tesla to India but to no avail.

Currently, India levies 100 per cent tax on the imported cars of price more than $40,000 (Rs 30 lakh), inclusive of insurance and shipping expenses, and cars less than $40,000 are subject to 60 per cent import tax.

With a $40,000 (over Rs 30 lakh) price tag, Tesla Model 3 may remain as an affordable model in the US but with import duties, it would become unaffordable in the Indian market with an expected price tag of around Rs 60 lakh.

Musk has said that he wants to launch cars in India but the country's import duties on EVs are "highest in the world by far".
Worldline signed an MoU to run an Accelerator Programme for payment technology start-ups with Zone Startups India a part of BRTSIF (BIL-Ryerson Technology Startup Incubator Foundation- part of BSE).

For the PayTech accelerator programme, Worldline will work closely with the Zone Startups team to nurture innovation and entrepreneurship in the payment technologies space. The partnership is under the Buland Bharat initiative of Worldline and will support creating greater awareness of digital payments adoption across India. Zone Startups India provides an interdisciplinary coworking platform for selected start-ups with infrastructure, access to industry partners, business development support, mentoring and client relations.

Vishal Maru, Executive Vice President, Financial Institutions, Worldline India said, The BSE Zone Start-ups India is one of the sort after start-up accelerator in India. It is fantastic to see the work they are doing to support innovation and entrepreneurship. We could not have asked for a better partner to carry forward Worldlines values of innovation and growth in building a sustainable start-up ecosystem for payments technology. We look forward to closely working with their team to make this a success.

Hemant Gupta, Managing Director, Zone Startups India commented, It is wonderful to have Worldline as our business solution partner. With their network spanned around the globe, our start-ups are going to have the opportunity of interacting with the wide range of Worldline merchants. The cohort will get unique opportunities for pilots from Worldline and mentorship of Worldlines senior management. Looking forward to take this accelerator program to new heights through this partnership.

Worldline will also provide a technology, business and knowledge platform to help grow these young start-ups being incubated by Zone Startups India. It will bring a wealth of expertise in payment technologies for selected start-ups to provide a platform to learn, brainstorm, and guide them from the early state to jumpstart their growth and achieve scalability.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A registered sex offender from New Dorp Beach was caught with a stash of dangerous weapons during a car stop in Mariners Harbor, authorities allege.

Michael Mcneil, 45, of Roma Avenue, was arrested in a car stop on May 5 at about 10:50 p.m. at South and Forest avenues, according to the criminal complaint and police.

Mcneil was driving a black, 2009 Kia that attracted the attention of police after an activation of a license plate reader revealed that the vehicle had a registration that was suspended or revoked, police say.

Mcneil did not show a drivers license when requested by officers, the complaint alleges.

Officers allege they seized a machete, two swords, four knives, each with a blade more than four inches long, and a hatchet from the Kia. A black, ASG air rifle that resembled a real gun also was confiscated from a rear-passenger seat of the vehicle, the complaint alleges.

A check of Mcneils records with the state Department of Motor Vehicles indicated that his license was suspended or revoked at the time of his arrest, police say.

The suspect has been charged with criminal possession of a weapon, possession of an air rifle, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and driving without a license.

He has been released under supervision and is due to appear in Criminal Court in St. George on June 20, according to public records.

An attorney for the defendant did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

CONVICTION FOR FAILING TO REGISTER AS A SEX OFFENDER

Mcneil was convicted in Manhattan on Oct. 5, 2022, of a misdemeanor count of attempted failure to verify address every 90 days as a Level 3 sex predator under Correction Law 168-F(3).

The 45-year-old suspect was convicted in July 2014 of misdemeanor sexual misconduct and sentenced to six months in jail for an incident involving a then 16-year-old girl in 2012, according to public records.

The classification indicates that the suspect is at high risk of repeat offense and a threat to public safety exists, according to state criteria.



OTHER STATEN ISLAND NEWS:

>> Driver accused of dragging 1 NYPD officer, running over 2nd cops foot during Staten Island chase

>> NYPD: 14-year-old boy arrested for fatal stabbing of man on Staten Island; victim identified

>> Staten Island man accused of boxcutter robbery at retailer, shoplifting at supermarket

>> 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
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  It appears part of a new strategy from Mayor Eric Adams administration to deal with the large influx of migrants coming into New York City is to use vacant Department of Education properties as temporary housing.

The former Richard H. Hungerford School on Tompkins Avenue in Clifton saw its first wave of migrant arrivals Sunday evening as the city searches for options to house new arrivals in the five boroughs.

In addition, an unused gymnasium at PS 188 in Coney Island, Brooklyn has been set up as an overflow facility to temporarily house migrants, according to City Councilman Justin Brannan (D-Brooklyn). And Assemblyman Michael Reilly (R-South Shore) said a third school facility at PS 132 in Williamsburg, Brooklyn has been set up as a site for migrants.

But local elected officials say vacant public school buildings are not a solution for migrants housing.

This is an evolving situation, but let me be clear. The safety of our community is my top priority. I expect clear timelines on when the migrants will arrive, when they will depart, and a mitigation plan to avoid as much disruption to our community as possible, said City Councilwoman Kamillah Hanks (D-North Shore), whose district includes the Staten Island site. That said, it is clear that we need a long-term plan to address this situation, and I call upon our partners in the state and federal government to stop playing politics with this situation and come up with real, concrete solutions.

Hanks said she expects city officials to keep her updated about the former schools use, but the real solution to the ongoing migrant crisis lies with higher levels of government.

MIGRANTS MOVE INTO CLIFTON SCHOOL BUILDING

A reader shared photos of people exiting a school bus on Sunday and entering the former Hungerford School where about 140 people will be housed, according to city officials. The school was relocated to the Michael J. Petrides Campus in Sunnyside last year.

Assemblyman Sam Pirrozzolo (R-Mid-Island) first brought the use of the school to the attention of the Advance/SILive.com Friday night.

The reader who shared the photos said she took the pictures around 8 p.m. when a busload of males were dropped off at the site.

Cots seen set up inside the school's gymnasium (Courtesy of Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo)

City officials have set up at least four emergency shelters in Staten Island hotels to help house the migrants, many who have come seeking asylum.

The sites currently being used or even considered for future use to house asylum seekers are not sustainable in the long-term for both these migrant populations and the communities that they are being placed in, State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, who represents the district where the former Hungerford site is, said. It is critical that the federal government step up to address this crisis.

WILL MORE VACANT PUBLIC SCHOOLS BE USED?

City Council Minority Leader Joseph Borelli (R-South Shore) and City Councilman David Carr (R-Mid-Island), both said they were unaware of any similar migrant centers for their districts, but that more needs to be done to address the ongoing crisis.

This has to be the last straw for anyone still on the fence. This is some woke experiment gone off-the-wall, Borelli said. Migrants get more attention and resources than any other group in the city, and we are just turning New York into the worlds refugee camp.

Carr referenced the citys right-to-shelter policy, which Adams rolled back last week allowing for set-ups like the one in Clifton that doesnt provide the same services seen in the citys traditional shelter system.

A 1979 lawsuit and subsequent legal action made New York City one of three U.S. municipalities that has a right to shelter for all homeless people, according to the Coalition for the Homeless.

A Coalition co-founder, attorney Robert Hayes, brought the suit in 1979 on behalf of Robert Callahan, a homeless man suffering from alcoholism who Hayes discovered sleeping on the street in Manhattan, according to the Coalition.

In a settlement, the city and state agreed to provide shelter and board to all homeless men who met the need standard for welfare or who were homeless by reason of physical, mental or social dysfunction. Women and children were added later, according to the Coalition.

Carr became the latest conservative elected official Monday to accuse the Adams administration of misinterpreting the right to shelter.

Until the influx of migrants is halted at the border, we are going to continue to see them take advantage of New York Citys ridiculous right-to-shelter policy, he said. The city has to limit this policy to exclude those who have never had any connection to our city because Staten Island, Brooklyn and indeed every borough is overwhelmed with migrant shelters.

Adams has become a target of criticism for other strategies from his administration aimed at dealing with the influx of migrants, 4,200 of whom arrived in the five boroughs just last week. Many are being bused from Texas.

Local officials in Rockland and Orange counties have criticized New York Citys mayor for the city busing migrants to hotels in their jurisdictions.Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/South Brooklyn), Borough President Vito Fossella, and Pirozzolo have spoken out against the citys migrant strategy.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Staten Islanders with non-fatal skin cancers, terminal cancers and respiratory illness who never even stepped foot in Manhattan during the time after the terrorist attacks may be eligible to receive large financial compensations from the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund, according to a New York attorney whose firm represents more than 2,700 Ground Zero-related cancer victims.

Borough residents who lived along the debris removal route  from lower Manhattan to the Fresh Kills Landfill  during the time the transfer of Ground Zero debris was taking place may be eligible for compensation if they suffer from any of the 69 cancers and many respiratory illnesses currently linked to Ground Zero toxins by the World Trade Center Health Program, Michael Barasch, managing partner at the Manhattan law firm of Barasch & McGarry, told the Staten Island Advance/SILive.com. Uterine cancer is the most recent cancer to be added to the list, he said.

Dust was flying off the trucks that were carrying the World Trade Center debris, Barasch said. If you lived along the debris removal route, you were also exposed.

As of April, more than $11 billion has been awarded to those who suffered or died from cancers related to the toxic dust that polluted lower Manhattan after the terrorist attacks.

Trucks leaving Ground Zero traveled through Brooklyn, crossed the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and moved along the Staten Island Expressway to the West Shore Expressway to the landfill, according to a Sanitation Department source, who said the drivers were instructed to avoid residential neighborhoods.

Yet, residential communities line different sections of both expressways, and the Staten Island Expressway was like a dust bowl,' the source recalled.

Skin Cancer is common

During Skin Cancer Awareness Month, Barasch said his firm is focusing on informing residents that several skin cancers  including melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and scuamous cell carcinoma  could qualify a victim for compensation.

Yet, many New Yorkers who are entitled to compensation are not aware that they qualify, Barasch said.

These programs are not just for first responders, he said. We represent thousands of Staten Island commuters who worked in lower Manhattan, but, sadly, even though office workers are eligible, just like the firefighters and cops, less than 10 percent of civilians are enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Program, whereas 85 percent of first responders are enrolled  and they were all breathing the same dust.

Widows, too, are entitled to compensation, Barasch said, even if their spouse had already been compensated for being ill. The victim is entitled to $250,000 for suffering with terminal cancer, and the widow is entitled to $350,000 after a death occurs, he said.

This is life-changing money for most of my clients who are middle-class people depending on two incomes, Barasch said. It has helped people keep their homes, put their kids through school. Its a wonderful thing, and, sadly, too many people are not aware of these benefits.

Skin cancers are the most common cancers reported, and have been on the list of qualifying conditions since the programs inception, Barasch said.

Firefighters and volunteers make a human chain to bring debris out of the World Trade Center on the night of Sept. 14, 2001. (Staten Island Advance /Jin Lee)

Free 9/11 skin cancer webinar

To educate New Yorkers, Baraschs law firm is hosting a free online webinar, which will inform participants about the qualifications necessary and benefits available to those exposed to 9/11 toxins.

Since May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, the May 31 webinar will specifically address skin cancer in the 9/11 community. It will take place at 5 p.m.

Panelists for the event include several partners at the law firm of Barasch & McGarry, as well as Dr. Gregory Daniels, a professor of medicine at the University of California San Diego Moores Cancer Center.

Skin cancers, Barasch said, are often missed until they have spread to other parts of the body. Based on his experiences, he encourages everyone to visit a dermatologist and get a full-body scan.

One firefighter he spoke to is alive today because a dermatologist noticed a slight discoloration in the skin on his pinkie finger. An early treatment with chemotherapy saved his life, Barasch said.

The federal programs are open until the year 2090, Barasch said, and they are not adversarial. If you get skin cancer, and you get $50,000, and five years later you get blood cancer, you can amend your claim and get $250,000, he said. Additionally, victims have received money for lost wages due to disability and funeral expenses.

The federal government is doing the right thing, he said, by acknowledging that it incorrectly told residents that the air in lower Manhattan was safe to breathe in the months following the terrorist attacks.

Awards for non-life-threatening cancers

An award of $250,000 is available for any life-threatening cancers, like melanoma, while non-life-threatening cancers and conditions, including basal cell carcinoma, scuamous cell carcinoma and COPD, entitle a victim to between $20,000 and $90,000, he said.

On average it takes a victim less than 18 months to recover their compensation, he said, noting that an attorney is not required to apply.

Crowds gather along the water at the St. George ferry terminal on Sept. 11, 2001. (Staten Island Advancde/Jan Somma-Hammel).

According to the Victim Compensation Fund website, people eligible for monetary compensation include those who were present at one of the attack sites, within the New York City Exposure Zone, or along the routes of debris removal at some point during the period beginning on Sept. 11, 2001, through May 30, 2002. This includes any area related to, or along, routes of debris removal, such as barges and the Fresh Kills landfill in Staten Island -- and you do not have to have been a responder to be eligible, according to the website.

Spent time near Ground Zero?

To qualify, an applicant who spent time near Ground Zero in the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2021 must prove one of three things:

They were caught in the dust cloud near Ground Zero on Sept. 11, 2001, or spent four hours during the first four days following the attack in lower Manhattan.

They spent 24 hours total in lower Manhattan during the month of September 2021.

They spent 80 hours all together (two full work weeks) between Sept. 11, 2001 and May 30, 2002 near Ground Zero.

Those interested in attending the webinar are asked to RSVP at 911victims.com/skin or by calling 212-385-8000.
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Firefighters put out fire caused by fragments of a Russian rocket after it was shot down by an air defense system during the night Russian rocket attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, on May 16, 2023.

Ukrainian air defenses, bolstered by sophisticated Western-supplied systems, thwarted an intense Russian air attack on Kyiv early Tuesday, shooting down all 18 missiles aimed at the capital, officials said. The bombardment included six Russian Kinzhal aero-ballistic hypersonic missiles  the most fired in a single attack in the war so far  according to air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly touted the Kinzhals as a key strategic competitive advantage of Russia, difficult to detect and intercept because of their hypersonic speed and other characteristics. If confirmed, Ukraines ability to shoot down all six fired on Tuesday appeared to mark another blow to his war efforts and shows the increasing effectiveness of Kyivs air defenses.

Ihnat said Russia fired the Kinzhals from MiG-31K warplanes, along with nine cruise missiles from ships in the Black Sea and three S-400 cruise missiles launched from the ground.

Loud explosions boomed over Kyiv in the major nighttime attack apparently aimed at overwhelming Ukraines air defenses. Kyivs mayor reported three people were wounded.

The barrage came as European leaders sought new ways to punish Russia for the war and a Chinese envoy sought traction for Beijings peace proposal, which so far appears to have made little impression on the warring sides. It also came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky returned home from a whirlwind European tour to seek more military aid.

The overnight attack on Kyiv was exceptional in its density  the maximum number of attacking missiles in the shortest period of time, said Serhii Popko, the head of the Kyiv military administration.

Valentyna Myronets, a 64-year-old Kyiv resident, said she felt pain, fear, nervousness, restlessness amid the assaults. God, we are waiting for victory and when all this is over, she said.

U.K. Ambassador Melinda Simmons tweeted that the barrage was pretty intense.

Bangs and shaking walls are not an easy night, she wrote.

It was the eighth time this month that Russian air raids had targeted the capital, a clear escalation after weeks of lull and ahead of a much-anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive using newly supplied advanced Western weapons.

After the first onslaught, Russia also launched Iranian-made Shahed attack drones and conducted aerial reconnaissance, Ihnat said.

Debris fell across several districts in the capital, starting fires, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.

Sophisticated Western air defense systems, including American-made Patriot missiles, have helped spare Kyiv from the kind of destruction witnessed along the main front line in the countrys east and south. While most of the ground fighting is stalemated along that front line, both sides are targeting other territory with long-range weapons.

Associated Press reporters saw a metal fragment that landed inside the Kyiv zoo labeled Lockheed Martin and Boeing, two of the companies involved in manufacturing the Patriot missile system.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said a Kinzhal destroyed a Patriot missile battery in Kyiv but he didnt provide evidence, and the statement couldnt be independently verified. Ihnat, the Ukrainian air force spokesman, refused to comment on the claim.

The bolstered air defenses have deterred Russian aircraft from going deep into Ukraine and helped shape the course of the war, military experts say.

In Iceland, European leaders are taking part in a rare summit of the 46-nation Council of Europe, the continents main human rights body, to discuss how to manage claims for compensation from Russias damage to Ukraine.

Meanwhile, a Chinese envoy is preparing to visit Ukraine and Russia as Beijing advocates a peace plan it released in February. Li Hui, a former ambassador to Moscow, also will visit Poland, France and Germany, according to the Chinese foreign ministry.

Ukraine has cautiously welcomed Chinas proposal while saying it would wait to see what specific actions China takes. Chinese leader Xi Jinpings government says it is neutral and wants to mediate in the war, but it has given Moscow political support, and a breakthrough appears unlikely more than 14 months after Russias full-scale invasion.

In Russian-occupied southern Ukraine, about 500 kilometers (300 miles) from Kyiv, Russian officials have begun training for a planned evacuation from the shut-down Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant of 3,100 staff and their families, a representative of Energoatom, Ukraines state nuclear company, said Tuesday. The plant, Europes largest, employed around 11,000 staff before the war, some 6,000 of whom remain at the site and in the surrounding town of Enerhodar.

More Russian military units have been arriving at the site and are mining it, the representative told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity due to security concerns. Russian troops have barred remaining workers from communicating with each other or leaving, to prevent information from leaking out on Russian positions and military equipment, Energoatom said on Telegram.

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The law firm helming the largest ever suit against BHP over the 2015 Samarco dam disaster in Brazil is pushing for the mining giants high command to take the stand in the English courts.

The lead lawyer in the class action, which seeks $US44 billion ($66 billion) in damages from BHP, is in Australia meeting large superannuation funds and other investors in the mining giant urging them to hold it to account. The case has 700,000 claimants and is set down for an 11-week trial in October next year.

A structure is buried in mud after BHP-Vales Samarco dam failure in 2015. Credit: Steve Yolen

BHP has denied the claim and says it will continue to defend the case.

BHP is the largest Australian mining company and the single largest investment held by 14 of the countrys biggest super funds, according to the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia and NAB.
Jacinta Price is jetting around the country. Credit: John Shakespeare In April, Price was in Sydney to launch a book on Catholicism by UNSW professor James Franklin, a generous friend and benefactor to Price and family over the years, who covered travel and accommodation. And lets not forget her keynote speaker appearance at the Church and State Summit in Brisbane, a conservative Christian conference attended by Katherine Deves and former LNP MP George Christensen who used his speech to claim Western culture was possessed by Satan. We wondered how the new frontbencher could possibly have time for parliamentary duties amid all that extra-curricular work, but her office didnt enlighten us by deadline. MODEL CITIZENS

Christian Kimber, outfitter to the moneyed man around town, did his best to keep it real at his Australian Fashion Week show on Tuesday. Kimbers brand certainly aint a youth label, and when modelling agencies are sending lads aged in their late teens and early 20s to show off clobber designed for the more mature gentleman, something must be done. So, Kimber recruited a cast of non-models  its called real talent or street cast, CBD was reliably informed  to man the runway for his show at Carriageworks. That was slated to include Destination NSW chief executive Steve Cox, until a diary clash put his modelling career on hold. Instead, strutting their stuff in Christians creations were Last King of the Cross star Lincoln Younes, fellow actor Remi Hii, photographer Nick Leary, wellness entrepreneur James Duigan and Australian Media Hall of Famer Steve Pennells.

We wont get too carried away with the everyman aesthetic here; this crew may not be professional models, but they dont look like theyve just stepped off their stools in a suburban bar either. SISTER ACT Staying at Fashion Week for a moment, our scouts at the event spotted the ever-stylish independent MP Allegra Spender  who spent several years running her mother Carla Zampattis label  at Carriageworks for her sister Bianca Spenders show on Tuesday morning. And no, Allegra wasnt wearing teal. LITTLE PHARMA

Decked out in their unmissable yellow and black ties, the Pharmacy Guilds minions descended on Canberra for the budget last week, to keep making their fury known at the Albanese governments plans to make medicine cheaper. But health minister Mark Butler was seemingly unmoved by Guild boss Trent Twomeys outburst last month when he tearfully documented the impact of the changes on Australias long-suffering community pharmacies. Being represented by one of the most powerful lobby groups in the country never looked so hard. Twomey and friends received a more heroic welcome at the Liberals post-budget reply fundraiser last Thursday (held, you may recall under a dinosaur at the National Museum) and got another sympathetic outing at trade publication BioPharmaDispatchs annual conference at Sydneys Ivy Ballroom on Monday. Organisers seemed pretty stoked to announce Twomeys appearance shortly after those teary theatrics and were full of praise for his speech on Monday.

His reminder that lack of consultation can happen to anyone makes it clear how much we all need to stand and work together, they wrote on LinkedIn. The Coalitions opposition health spokeswoman Anne Ruston, whose party is backing the Guilds campaign against the changes, also gave a speech, in front of a weird display of candles. Perhaps thats why Butler only dropped in via video link. In other pharma news, Ben Wicks, formerly with Scott Morrison and Dominic Perrottets media teams, has popped up doing some freelance consulting for the Guild. Bombs away The announced retirement on Monday of former PwC Australia boss Tom Seymour  as the insider tax info scandal surrounding the consulting giant thickened  didnt prompt much of an outpouring of sympathy and heres one more reason why.
To Adelaide, where a climate change protester has been charged over disrupting peak-hour traffic after using a rope to suspend herself from a city bridge.

The 69-year-old woman spent about 90 minutes dangled above North Terrace after abseiling over the Morphett Street bridge this morning.

Extinction Rebellion South Australia said her action was to give a life or death message to delegates attending the nearby Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association conference at the Adelaide Convention Centre.

No new oil and gas exploration and production, if we want to avert total climate catastrophe and collapse of our natural systems, the group said.

It said traffic on Morphett Street and on North Terrace had been safely diverted.

Once brought down, the woman was charged with obstructing a public place and with disturbing the peace.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens told radio FiveAA the protest activity was completely selfish.

Stevens said he fully supported the right of people to protest.

But theres a way to do it to get your message across and theres a way to do it and piss people off, he said.

By all means protest, but do it in a way that doesnt unfairly and disproportionately affect so many innocent people.

Premier Peter Malinauskas said he was sympathetic to the groups cause, but said stunts like this did not persuade anyone and did the cause harm.

Extinction Rebellion uses disruptive protest as a tactic because they believe it is the best way to ensure the protest is noticed by the public and covered by the media.

With AAP
It was a discreet wedding, with immediate family and a few other attendees. But, when a photograph of the happy couple and the details of the marriage were published, the union of the mayor of Araucaria and his fifth wife became headline news in the city in the southern state of Parana and, in a heartbeat, all over Brazil. The wedding led to controversy as it took place four days after the bride turned 16, the minimum age in Brazil to legally marry with the permission of family or a judge, and because the groom is 65 years old. Eyebrows were also raised when it became known that the day before the ceremony the alderman had given his future mother-in-law a position in City Hall, appointing her councilor for culture. Despite the half-century age difference between the couple, it was this act of nepotism that raised the most outrage.

But despite the singular elements of this particular union, it is far from an uncommon event in Brazil. Last year, Brazilian notaries registered 12,509 marriages in which at least one of the participants was aged 16 or 17. That equates to 34 teenage spouses per day, the vast majority of whom were female.

A photograph of the beaming couple as Kauane Rode Camargo places a wedding ring on Hissam Hussein Dehaini swiftly went viral. The mayors political party moved quickly to disown him. And, in the face of a public backlash against the appointment of his mother-in-law, he soon dismissed her, although he initially pointed to her 26 years experience in public service as proof of her credentials.

Almost a month after the marriage, the newlyweds remain the most talked-about subject among Araucarias population of around 140,000. As anywhere, there are people who are for and against it, says E. T., who asks to be identified by his initials in order to speak freely. But I have noticed that, because he is an excellent administrator, his supporters choose not to look at the negative side, that it [the marriage] is legal, but immoral. Many have congratulated them, and wished them good luck.

E. T. knows Dehaini personally, but his wife only by sight. He points out that the mayor is a successful businessman with interests in hotels, gas stations and airline charters that have created many jobs locally (although E. T. also mentions Dehaini was arrested on suspicion of links to drug trafficking two decades ago, according to the website G1, part of the Globo group). In his personal life, he has been married on four other occasions and has 16 children. His current wife was a recent finalist in the Miss Araucaria Teen 2022 pageant. Although it is a conservative city, Araucaria also hosts a beauty contest for young girls in the style of the movie Little Miss Sunshine.

Hissam Hussein Dehaini and his 16-year-old wife Kauane Rode Camargo. RR SS

Perhaps the age difference between Dehaini and Camargo did not come as much of a shock because Brazil is well-accustomed to marriages between older men and much younger women. The political elite serve as an example: President Lula da Silva is 21 years older than his wife, Janja and his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, is 27 years older than his wife Michelle. The record, though, goes to Michel Temer, president from August 2016 to December 2018, who is 43 years older than his wife, Marcela, whom he met in 2002 when he was already a veteran politician, and she was a 19-year-old newly crowned miss.

The marriage between Dehaini and Camargo, while causing controversy, has served to renew the focus on child weddings in Brazil, which remains a widespread practice. But legal marriages performed before the relevant authorities are only the tip of the iceberg, says Ana Nery Lima, a gender specialist with the NGO Plan International, who says that informal unions in Brazil are very normalized. The United Nations estimates that 26% of Brazilian women live with a partner before they are 18, including 6% who are not even 15. In Brazil, when people hear the expression child marriage, they usually think of child brides of nine or 10 years old in India, but they dont think of people they know, such as that neighbor, that aunt or their grandmother, who got married at 14, says Lima. In the eyes of the United Nations, child marriage is a formal or informal union in which at least one of the parties is younger than 18. In global terms, Brazil ranks fifth in the world in terms of child marriages, with 2.2 million people falling under this category. In percentage terms, however, it is not in the top 20 worldwide, a list headed by Niger where 76% of minors cohabit with a partner before the age of 18.

In Brazil, the main reasons for this phenomenon are socioeconomic and cultural. When two minors marry, it is usually because she is pregnant and the family wants to protect the girls reputation. But there are also very poor families who have many children and who think: Look, at least [in another family] she will have something to eat, clothes to wear, says Lima. Then there is that deep-rooted, macho culture that young women are more attractive. The specialist notes that in weddings involving minors aged 16 and 17, the age difference between the spouses is usually around 15 years, and this means a very large inequality of power.

Although there were still over 12,500 legal child marriages last year in Brazil, the number of such unions has fallen by 30% since 2019 when Congress reformed the Civil Code to ban marriage before the age of 16 altogether, thus closing a loophole that ultimately allowed an adult who had raped a minor to marry her instead of going to jail, while also denying her access to abortion care, which she is entitled to by law. Any sexual relationship with someone aged under 16, consensual or not, is a crime in Brazil and no child aged under 16 can marry, regardless of whether his or her family has blessed it or not. Lima says this is a step in the right direction, but Plan International is still fighting to make marriage before the age of 18 illegal.

Following the controversy over the marriage between Dehaini and Camargo, the Prosecutors Office opened an investigation into the Araucaria mayors wedding and accusations of nepotism. However, as his wife is a minor, the details of the case cannot be made public.

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Almost 10,000 on-the-job trainees and apprentices from NSW dropped out of their job in the September quarter of last year, the highest level in a decade.

Commencements are also down, a fall which employer groups say is largely due to the withdrawal of federal government apprentice wage subsidies of up to $28,000 a year during the pandemic.

At CathWest Innovation College in Mount Druitt, students spend one day learning on the job as part of an apprenticeship. Credit: Edwina Pickles

The number of NSW students who opted out of their trainee or apprenticeship early rose to 9955 in the July to September quarter last year, the highest number since 2013, according to the latest data from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research.

Commencements fell from 12,665 in 2012 to just 6905 in the latest quarter.
Year 4 boys in NSW are failing to keep up with girls in their reading skills, with the latest major global test results revealing the literacy gender gap has widened in the past decade.

The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), released on Tuesday, shows that while Australias overall results remained steady, a troubling one in five primary students is unable to meet the proficient reading standard.

It is the third time Australia has participated in PIRLS, which assesses the literacy skills of Year 4 students worldwide every five years. It is the only major periodic global assessment of student progress that was not cancelled during the pandemic.

Australia was one of eight countries where reading scores did not decline in the latest round of tests, while 21 nations recorded lower results than in 2016.
Tech companies are in danger of unleashing a rogue artificial intelligence that will cause significant harm to the world without urgent intervention by governments, the creator of ChatGPT has admitted.

Appearing before US politicians, OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman lauded the new generation of digital chatbots for their potential to improve nearly every aspect of our lives.

However, he admitted that they had also created the risk of a catastrophe, amid growing fears that programmers could accidentally create a superintelligence that decides to wipe out humanity.

Altman said: My worst fear is that we, the field, the technology, the industry, cause significant harm to the world.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Ombudsman of Sint Maarten, Gwendolien Mossel, recently attended the International Ombudsman Institutes (IOI) Board of Directors meeting, which was held from 7-11 May 2023 in Vienna, Austria. Ms. Mossel was elected to the IOI Board in February of 2022, as Director for the Caribbean and Latin American Region.

The IOI, established in 1978, is the global organization for the cooperation of 205 independent Ombudsman institutions from more than 100 countries worldwide. The IOI is organized into six regional chapters - Africa, Asia, Australasian and Pacific, Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America, and North America. The IOIs General Secretariat is located in Vienna.

One of the issues that was discussed and approved during the Board meeting was a statement of support for the Ombudsman (Office for the Protection of the Citizen) of Haiti. In the letter the IOI expressed its concern about the acts of violence that have been taking place, particularly the acts of looting, vandalism, arson, and murders recorded both in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince and in other regions of the country during the last months. Ms. Mossel, as President of the Caribbean Ombudsman Association (CAROA), had previously also sent a letter of support to the Ombudsman of Haiti, Dr. Renan Hedouville.

Another important agenda point that was discussed is the subsequent IOI World Conference and General Assembly that will be hosted by the National Ombudsman of the Netherlands, Reinier van Zutphen, in The Hague from 13-17 May 2024. The World Conference will cover four (4) themes: inclusiveness, value dilemmas, climate change & living conditions, and future generations.
PHILIPSBURG:--- This Tuesday 9 May 2023, destination St. Maarten received an honorable mention by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) CAST Committee for its efforts in its November 2022 St. Maarten Flavors Program.

The CHTA Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST) awards are meant for destinations making an effort in publicprivate cooperation, sustainability in tourism, showing tourism resilience in the wake of challenges. The 2023 CAST awards were provided at the Caribbean Travel Forum at the 41st Caribbean Travel Marketplace, in two categories of smaller and larger destinations in the Caribbean.

Bahamian island Eleuthera won the CAST award in the category of smaller destinations, after which St. Maarten, Bonaire, and Saint Lucia were called to stage as this years runners-up. CAST Board of Trustees Chairman Kyle Mais made mention of the close call for the committee to honor a destination: The quality of public-private initiatives attempting to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals has been very high this year. This made deciding on an award winner very difficult for the CAST Board of Trustees, and we decided to make honorary mentions for projects on three additional islands next to Eleuthera that ranked high from our jury. All in all, CAST is pleased to see the attention of many NHTAs for the important development goals CAST supports the tourism industry to move towards.

Destination St. Maarten received the honorary mention for its 2022 experiment St. Maarten Flavors, the destinations November-long, prix fixe dinner month. The program received the accolade for its publicprivate cooperation, its eye on sustainability, and broad involvement of social stakeholders in the process. Finally, it functioned as a fundraiser bringing together over USD$12,000 for a new St. Maarten culinary talent team to be sent as representatives to the prestigious Taste of the Caribbean contest in Miami.

A new edition of St. Maarten Flavors is in the making for this November, with a launch at St. Maarten Flavors Appeteaser Week this June 15th to 24th, including a St. Maarten Flavors Feast for all to taste on June 17th.

The St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association (SHTA) and St. Maarten Tourism Board (STB) delegation present at the event were grateful for the exposure of the destination on the Caribbean Travel Forum, the prelude to the 41st Caribbean Travel Marketplace held this week in Barbados.
On May 13th, 2023, the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) hosted its Big Live Nature Quiz for residents of Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, St. Eustatius, and St. Maarten. A total of 164 individuals in teams consisting of 1-4 persons participated in the online, live, and interactive quiz. After many exciting and thrilling nature question rounds, a team on Saba won a sailing trip.

The Big Live Nature Quiz is a yearly event, created to educate citizens about nature (conservation) in a fun interactive way, to instill pride in Dutch Caribbean nature, encourage eco-friendly practices, support nature conservation projects, and to connect people throughout the Dutch Caribbean. The quiz is a true multi-island team effort: created and supported by the six Dutch Caribbean islands including the protected area management organizations (Fundacion Parke Nacional Aruba, CARMABI Curacao, Saba Conservation Foundation (SCF), Nature Foundation St. Maarten, St. Eustatius National Parks (STENAPA), (local) sponsors and Dutch Caribbean TV.

Live and Interactive Quiz

Some teams played online from home whilst others went to a designated bar or restaurant where the quiz was broadcasted. Broadcast locations included Aruba: Battata Beach Bar, Bonaire: Hillside Bar & Restaurant, Curacao: Grand Cafe Mahaai Saba: Chez Bubba Bistro, Sint Eustatius: Ocean View Terrace, St. Maarten: Dinghy Dock Sailors Bar.

The Quiz was online and live. Therefore, all teams from the Dutch Caribbean islands could participate at the same time as well as interact with each other and the host of the program.

Theme: Endangered animals and plants

The quiz had a total of 24 multiple-choice trivia questions. The quiz was in English, but the questions also had Dutch, Papiamentu, and Papiamento subtitles. Questions included species such as sea turtles, sharks, and iguanas.

Winners

First place went to team Not Even Once on Saba. They will receive a sailing trip around their beautiful island. Second place went to Cuddlefishes on Bonaire and third place to humuhumunukunukuapua on Bonaire. Island winner of Aruba is team Walishali, team Beaujon ta on on Curacao, team I pampani on St Maarten and team Bacon and Beans on St. Eustatius. They will receive other local prizes. A big congratulations to all.

We had a lot of fun and learned much about nature. So cool to have all 6 Dutch Caribbean islands together in one quiz. Commented a Big Live Nature Quiz Participant from Bonaire.

Dont Miss the next Big Live Nature Quiz

Follow DCNAs Facebook (Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance), Instagram (DCNAnature) or http://www.biglivenaturequiz.org/. For more information, email //This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. /">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Sponsors

The Big Live Nature Quiz is funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV) and DCNAs activities are supported by the Dutch Postcode Lottery. Local prizes were donated by de Buren Curacao, Concept Store by Sea & Sand-Curacao, Oliva Restaurant Curacao and Restaurant Ginger Curacaoand Hillside Bonaire.
First Tin Plc (\First Tin\ or \the Company\): Completed Taronga Confirmatory Drilling Validates Historic Mineralisation

First Tin ( https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/first-tin-ltd/ ), a tin development company with advanced, low capex projects in Germany and Australia, is pleased to announce that all confirmatory drilling at its Taronga tin project in Australia is now complete and that the results from the programme confirm both the widths and grades of mineralisation previously reported by Newmont between 1979 and 1982.

Taronga is First Tina?s 100% owned Australian subsidiary, Taronga Mines Pty Ltd (aTMPLa).

Highlights

Twin diamond drilling: 1,657.5m in 14 drillholes

Twin RC drilling: 664m in 6 drillholes

First Tin can now use the significant database of historical Newmont data, in combination with the findings from its extension and infill drilling, to deliver an updated resource estimate for inclusion in the Definitive Feasibility Study (aDFSa).

In total, 11 of Newmonta?s diamond drillholes were twinned by First Tin diamond drillholes, two of Newmonta?s percussion drillholes were twinned by First Tin diamond drillholes and 5 of Newmonta?s percussion drillholes were twinned by First Tin RC drillholes as shown on Table 1 and Figure 1.A Two drillholes were abandoned due to difficult drilling conditions.

Grades are generally comparable and acceptable for the style of mineralisation.A Of the 31 intercepts reported, only 3 are considered to be outside reasonable error limits.A Two of these are considerably higher grade than the Newmont intercepts and examination of the core shows exceptionally thick veins with very coarse cassiterite (SnO2, the main tin bearing mineral) suggesting a anugget effecta.A The third interval is lower grade than the Newmont intercept and may suggest the same effect in reverse.A

Overall agreement between the TMPL and Newmont assay data is statistically good and shows no bias (Figure 2).A It is therefore valid to use the historical data in combination with the new TMPL data.

Details of all drilling data are shown as Table 2 in Appendix 1 and a JORC aTable 1a is included as Appendix 2.

First Tin CEO Thomas Buenger said, aWe are pleased with these drilling results which confirm the expectations we had of this impressive asset, following previous Newmont drilling. We can now confidently use the significant amount of historical Newmont data to provide an updated resource estimate which will include our extension and infill drilling.A We expect to undertake this updated estimate in the coming months and we look forward to updating shareholders once completed.

aThe DFS continues at pace and the range of workstreams underway are progressing positively. We look forward to providing results from our world-class Taronga project as we advance it further.a

Notes to Editors

First Tin is an ethical, reliable, and sustainable tin production company led by a team of renowned tin specialists. The Company is focused on becoming a tin supplier in conflict-free, low political risk jurisdictions through the rapid development of high value, low capex tin assets in Germany and Australia.

Tin is a critical metal, vital in any plan to decarbonise and electrify the world, yet Europe has very little supply. Rising demand, together with shortages, is expected to lead tin to experience sustained deficit markets for the foreseeable future. Its assets have been de-risked significantly, with extensive work undertaken to date.

First Tin\-s goal is to use best-in-class environmental standards to bring two tin mines into production in three years, providing provenance of supply to support the current global clean energy and technological revolutions.
In a house in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood of Gaza City there hangs a poster paying tribute to the martyrs, as those who die in the conflict with Israel are typically called. The youngest members of the group are distributing the usual dates and coffee with cardamom to people who come to offer their condolences.

On a poster showing the faces of Jamal Khaswan and his son Yousef, there are no emblems of Palestinian militias, and no photos of well-known Palestinian leaders such as Yasser Arafat, Ahmed Yasin or Mohammed Dahlan. Instead, there are only three logos: one from the citys Al Wafa hospital  where the deceased had served as chairman of the board , another one from a charitable association and a third from a nursing home.

Khaswans relationship with Palestines armed groups came down to living in the apartment unit right above Tariq Ibrahim Ezzedin, one of three leaders of Palestinian Islamic Jihad against whose homes Israels military aviation launched a missile in a series of synchronized selective assassinations, triggering a new escalation of violence and five days of fighting that ended this past Saturday with a ceasefire after 33 deaths in Gaza and two in Israel.

One of the homes targeted by Israeli aviation in Gaza City. Antonio Pita

It was 2:00 a.m. when the ceiling collapsed on the bed in which Jamal and his wife, Mervat, were sleeping. Both died, as did their 20-year-old son Yousef, who was sleeping in an adjoining room. Another son, Yasem, who is five years younger, did not find out until the next day, at the hospital, that he had lost three members of his family. The youngest child, a nine-year-old girl, still believes that her parents and one of her brothers are traveling, explains Musa Saber Khaswan, Jamals brother. They are three of the 14 civilians whose lives were claimed by Israels Operation Shield and Arrow, defined this Sunday by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as perfect for having killed dozens of terrorists  including six leaders of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad  and doing so with total surprise and continuing initiative.

I was sleeping and suddenly things fell on my bed. It took me a few minutes to react, Yasem, who a visible limp from the injuries caused by the falling debris, explains about the moment the missile hit the house. We live in Gaza and we know that it is a dangerous place, but we never thought it could happen to us, because we know that my family is not a target for Israel, he says with an absent look in his eyes.

Jamal Khaswan, 53, was a respected figure in Gaza, says his brother Musa Saber, who is four years older. In the 1990s, he studied dentistry and earned a doctoral degree in Russia, and had dual nationality. He was part of the family business of dental prosthetics, which currently employs 10 people and has been run by Musa since his graduation from Tel Aviv University (back when studying in Israel was not a pipe dream for a resident of Gaza). All the children in the family have gone on to study dentistry at college.

Musa Saber Khaswan stands next to two posters paying tribute to his brother Jamal, one of the victims of Israeli airstrikes against Gaza. Antonio Pita

Musa had visited his brother, who also headed the Gaza Dental Association, shortly before the latters death. Two hours later, he received a call that the building had been bombed. Its a good neighborhood. No one had moved away, no one expected anything to happen. If everyone in Gaza who has a neighbor from Hamas or from Islamic Jihad had to get out, the Israelis would have to start building lots of apartments for us, he says ironically in one of the rare moments in which his voice does not tremble. The pain of losing a brother is impossible to explain, but beyond that, the question is: why did he have to die? And I would say the same if I were a Jew or a Christian. And another question, how long will it go on like this?

Three goals

The gaping holes in the buildings attest to the accuracy of both the impact (the buildings are still standing and, generally, with a single burnt-out apartment) and of Israels intelligence information regarding the location of the targets. The missiles were launched at dawn against three bedrooms in three different houses where the leaders of Palestinian Islamic Jihad were resting with their wives and children. Of the 13 deaths caused by that first wave of selective assassinations, on May 9, there were 10 civilians. One of them was five-year-old Hajar, who had snuggled in with her parents in their bed. Her father was Jalil Bahitini, a top commander of the Islamic Jihad.

Another daughter, 10-year-old Nada, has a black eye. That night, she was sleeping on the couch in the family home, just a few meters from the room where the projectile hit. At first, she says, she thought it was a dream. Then she saw a small fire. I started screaming and realized that no one could hear me because I was under rubble, she recalls, standing next to her sister Sara, 14. I was expecting that something might happen to my father. At first, they told me that he had died, but that my mother and sister were only injured, says Nada, before a lump in her throat prevents her from speaking further.

My father used to tell us: I could die at any moment, says his son Abdelaziz, 17, who was sleeping on the top floor of the two that make up the family home. Yes, we were worried about him, because we knew he was part of the resistance and because what he said was true. But we thought it could happen in the middle of the street, or in a training field. What I could not imagine is that they would also take my mother and my sister, he says, standing under the funeral tent where the Islamic Jihad is honoring his father. A group of hooded armed militiamen, the Al-Quds Brigades, are posing while loudspeakers blast nationalist and religious music against the Zionist enemy.

A poster paying tribute to Yihad Shaker Al Ghanam, secretary general of the military council of the Al Quds Brigades, killed on Monday in Israeli airstrikes in Rafah, a city in the south of the Gaza Strip. Antonio Pita

Considered a terrorist group by Israel, the United States and the European Union, the Islamic Jihad  which depends on Iran for weapons and financing  is not very large, but it is particularly combative and Islamist, which is evident in the staging of the tributes to their deceased commanders. There are only men inside the tents, and the dead wives do not typically appear on the posters. The images of their dead leader Tariq Ibrahim Ezzedin extol the warrior in fatigues with the Temple Mount in the background, rather than the father in civilian clothes standing next to his two deceased sons: Ali, eight, and Miar, 12.
Rashid Khalidi was born in Manhattan in 1948. That year was the beginning of what the Palestinians know as Nakba  the catastrophe in Arabic  a term that refers to the mass expulsion of thousands of Palestinians to create the state of Israel. Khalidi, a U.S. writer of Palestinian descent and a historian specializing in the Middle East, believes that the catastrophe that shattered Palestine 75 years ago continues to this day. The historian  who wrote The Hundred Years War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonialism and Resistance  agreed to chat in Madrid, just as the ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militia was taking effect. The ceasefire was reached after five days of clashes that have caused the death of more than 30 people, most of them civilians from the Gaza Strip.

Khalidi, who is the Edward Said Professor of Modern Arab Studies at Columbia University in New York, recounts in his book that back in 1899, his great-great-grandfather Yusuf Diya al Khalidi, then the mayor of Jerusalem, wrote to one of the fathers of Zionism, Theodor Herlz, to warn him that the Palestinians would not accept being pushed out. In the name of God, leave Palestine alone, he told him in a fiery letter. But none of that came to pass  except for Palestinians tenacity to resist.

Question. Do you believe the latest ceasefire agreement in Gaza will hold?

Answer. Im very far away, obviously, and its hard to say, but yes, I think it may last. The Israelis think theyve won. Islamic Jihad thinks its won. I think Hamas thinks that it was successful by not being involved. That may be a reason for a ceasefire lasting, but it wont last for very long. As long as Israel is starving and blockading the Gaza Strip. As long as Israel refuses to allow connections between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. And as long as the occupation continues, theres going to be violence. The occupation breeds resistance.

Q. More than 30 people, most of them civilians, have been killed in Gaza during last weeks Israeli offensive against the Islamic Jihad militia. Do you foresee any consequences?

A. One of the consequences is a high degree of trauma for a population of more than two million people. I lived in Beirut during nine or 10 years of war from 1973 to 1983, and my children were affected by it. I can only imagine the effect on a population of 2 million, most of whom are children. Its a very young population that will suffer lasting trauma. Only 100 homes were destroyed this time. Sometimes the Israelis destroy hundreds of homes, whole apartment buildings. In the wars that Israel wages against Gaza, hundreds and hundreds of people have been killed. Most of them are civilians. When the Israelis go into [the Palestinian city] Nablus and blow up a building, most of the people killed and wounded are always civilians. Sometimes they are after someone specific. They may kill that person, but they will kill others at the same time. That is the way that the Israeli army operates

Q. Despite the deaths of civilians in the last week in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it a perfect operation. What do you expect from this Netanyahu?

A. Every Israeli government since 2007 has attacked Gaza. This government is absolutely not different in any respect from previous governments. Israel has a policy. As if killing Palestinians every six months, every year, every whatever the period is in between, were normal and natural. They used to use an expression: mowing the grass. We have to mow the grass from time to time. The inhumanity of the expression tells you how blindly murderous this policy is. If the siege were lifted and if Israel negotiated with the Palestinians, with all of them, there would be a possibility of an alternative to this violence. But Israel has closed off any possibility of an alternative, of any negotiation. It doesnt want to negotiate. It wants everything. It wants all the occupied territories to be absorbed into the greater land of Israel. And that has been the policy of governments, whether they were Likud governments or coalition governments or even when they were Labor governments. Settlement colonization never stopped. There are 750,000 illegal Israeli settlers, colonists in the occupied West Bank and Arab East Jerusalem. Every single government since 1967 has been settling Israelis.

Writer Rashid Khalidi, at Casa Arabe in Madrid, on Monday. Santi Burgos

Q. After the ceasefire with Israel, the political chief of Islamic Jihad, Mohamed al-Hindi, stated that the Palestinian resistance movement is united. Is it?

A. No. I would say two things. The first is that both the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, supported by the United States, the EU, Israel and some Arab countries, and Hamas in Gaza, supported by Turkey and Qatar and Egypt  both of which have security arrangements with Israel  are not engaged in the resistance. They are, in fact, trying to limit resistance. So whatever Islamic Jihad says, thats not true. The Palestinian Authority openly has security coordination with Israel. Hamas covertly has security coordination with Israel. It didnt fire one rocket over the last of those five days. Clearly, theyre not united. The second thing I would say is that there is a spirit of resistance. There is a certain sense of unity in the West Bank and in Gaza. It is more of a grassroots thing than an organizational thing. Its supported by groups like Islamic Jihad and supported from the outside, by Hezbollah, Iran, Syria. Networks like The Lions Den, which brings together people from different organizations. Thats something that neither the Palestinian Authority nor Hamas control.

Q. Do you share the feeling that Hamas and the Palestinian Authority have been absent from the latest escalations of violence with the Israeli army?

A. Yes, you may be right. Both have lost a certain amount of credibility. I think the Palestinian Authority has lost most of its credibility because it neither exists nor does it have a strategy for liberation. They are dependent on the United States and Israel and other donors. They have no visible diplomacy, no visible public outreach. They dont speak to the world. They have nothing to say. Theyre bankrupt. The leadership is made up of people who should have retired decades ago. And if there were elections, they would lose. In the case of Hamas, I think that they do provide a certain kind of stability, certainly for the middle classes. Thats true of both the Authority and Hamas. There are hundreds of thousands of people who work for both of these authorities, who depend on them for salaries, for mortgages. But that doesnt affect most people in the occupied territories who are young, poor and dont benefit. So I think they have been pushed to the sidelines by Islamic Jihad and by this spirit of resistance and dissatisfaction with the status quo.

Q. You are very critical of the support provided by Arab countries to Palestine, even since the Nakba (1948), the expulsion of thousands of Palestinians with the creation of the state of Israel.

A. I think the Arab countries have not fought for Palestine since 1982, when Israel attacked Lebanon and attacked the Syrian army. Hezbollah has, but it is not a regular army. In 1948, Arab countries sent troops to Palestine because Israel was driving out the Palestinians. The Nakba had started. Public opinion forced Arab governments to act. Were not in that world anymore. They did it partly for their own interests, due to rivalries and so forth. Things have changed enormously from the 1940s to the 1960s and 1980s. I think in that respect, the conflict between Israel and the Arab states, to some extent, doesnt exist. Half of the Arab countries have relations with Israel of some sort or another. Egypt, Jordan, the Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco have diplomatic relations. Tunisia and several other countries, such as Qatar and Oman, have indirect forms of relations with Israel.

Q. The situation in the Middle East has changed.

A. Yes, but our public opinion has not changed. The Arab governments that are doing this are almost without exception, undemocratic, authoritarian regimes that operate on the basis of their own interests as ruling families, or as military regimes. There are all kinds of regimes, but almost none of them are really democratic, so they dont represent what their public wants and feels. There is polling every year done by the Arab Center in Qatar, and it shows that 80-90% of our public opinion still supports the Palestinians. The governments dont because the governments dont represent their people.

Q. An Arab News/YouGov poll states that Palestinians prefer Russia or China over the United States as mediators.

A. It is correct that public opinion regards the United States as a dishonest broker and doesnt consider it a potential mediator. Ive always said the United States has to be in the negotiations because its so powerful, but it should be on the side of Israel. The Palestinians on one side, the United States and Israel on the other. The interesting thing is that governments  even some that have traditionally been aligned with the United States such as Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt  have begun to take a more independent position. The Saudi-Iranian rapprochement was brokered by China. Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt have very good relations with Moscow as well as with Beijing. Only the Europeans seem to follow the United States blindly, no matter what, whether its over Ukraine or something else. People realize that the the unipolar Cold War world and post-Cold War world has changed.

Q. Even Israel.

A. Israel doesnt do what the United States wants either. On Ukraine, for example, Israelis have good relations with Moscow and theyre not going to jeopardize those because the United States tells them to. Every major power in the Middle East  Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Israel  basically does as it pleases.

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Quantum entanglement is when two particles link together in a certain way no matter how far apart they are in space. Their state remains the same.

Quantum entanglement is a bizarre, counterintuitive phenomenon that explains how two subatomic particles can be intimately linked to each other even if separated by billions of light-years of space.

Despite their vast separation, a change induced in one will affect the other.

In 1964, physicist John Bell posited that such changes can be induced and occur instantaneously, even if the particles are very far apart. Bell's Theorem is regarded as an important idea in modern physics, but it conflicts with other well-established principles of physics. For example, Albert Einstein (opens in new tab) had shown years before Bell proposed his theorem that information cannot travel faster than the speed of light (opens in new tab). Perplexed, Einstein famously described this entanglement phenomenon as "spooky action at a distance."

Related: How quantum entanglement works (infographic)

Quantum entanglement FAQs answered by an expert

We asked Alan Migdall a fellow at the Joint Quantum Institute at the University of Maryland and leader of the Quantum Optics Group at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, a few frequently asked questions about quantum entanglement.

Alan Migdall Fellow at the Joint Quantum Institute at the University of Maryland and Leader of the Quantum Optics Group at the National Institute of Standards and Technology

What is quantum entanglement? Quantum entanglement is when a system is in a "superposition" of more than one state. But what do those words mean? The usual example would be a flipped coin. You flip a coin but don't look at the result. You know it is either heads or tails. You just don't know which it is. Superposition means that it is not just unknown to you, its state of heads or tails does not even exist until you look at it (make a measurement). If that bothers you, you are in good company. If it doesn't bother you, then I haven't explained it clearly enough. You might have noticed that I explained superposition more than entanglement. The reason for that is you need superposition to understand entanglement. Entanglement is a special kind of superposition that involves two separated locations in space. The coin example is superposition of two results in one place. As a simple example of entanglement (superposition of two separate places), it could be a photon encountering a 50-50 splitter. After the splitter, the photon could be In path A, or it could be in path B. In this case, the superposition is between a photon in path A and no photon in path B. and no photon in path A and a photon in path B. As a normal human being, you think that it is in just one or the other, and it is just that you don't know which. But in fact, it is in both, until you actually measure it. Again, that normal human being wants to say that if I measured it and found it in path A, it was in path A even if I hadn't measured it. But making that assumption gets you into trouble. Assuming the particle has that definite characteristic before you actually measured it, leads to measured results that are just not possible.

How does quantum entanglement work? What is an example of quantum entanglement? An example of quantum entanglement that I work with involves a light source that emits two photons at a time. Those two photons of a pair can be entangled so that the polarizations of the individual photons can be any orientation (i.e., random), but photons of a pair always have matching polarizations. What is polarization? The polarization of light depends on the electric field of the light wave. As the light travels from point one point to another, its electric field will oscillate transversely to that propagation direction. It might oscillate in the vertical plane, in the horizontal plane or any direction in between. Back to those entangled pairs. So, if I measure the polarization of photon A to see if it is polarized horizontal or vertical, I get an answer and find it to be, this time, vertical. Entanglement means that when I measure whether its twin is horizontal or vertical, I find that its polarization is vertical too. If I do that experiment many times, I will always find that the two photons' polarizations match, even if I find that the result of which polarization they match to is random. (Think a pair of magical loaded dice.) So, a key point is that the measurement result will be random, but if I make the same measurement on the twin, I will get that same random result. (Again, as a normal human being, that should bother you.)

Is quantum entanglement faster than light? Asking about speed is a very interesting question. You might as a "normal human being" think that if I measure the polarization of one photon, that sets the state of the other photon. That thinking is fine, as long as the other photon measurement happens after the first measurement. But there is already a problem. If that second photon is measured on Pluto , it might take 6 hours for light to get there, so because information cannot travel faster than the speed of light , the second photon wouldn't know what state it should be. But it turns out that that second measurement will always match the first no matter when it was measured. So, it seems like the necessary information must have traveled faster than the speed of light. Big problem, but entanglement's weirdness gets it out of an astronomical speeding ticket. In the case of entanglement, the information that appears at your Pluto measurement station is not useful information (in the ordinary sense). It is random just like the random result that came out of that first measurement (but matching random). So, the key point is that you could not take advantage of news of a crop failure and send a buy or sell order to your stockbroker on Pluto at faster than the speed of light before the Plutonian markets had time to adjust. It is only "randomness" that appears to travel faster than light, so the galactic traffic cop just lets you off with a warning. The inherent randomness of quantum mechanics and entanglement is a useful resource. It allows you to address two issues. It guarantees randomness and it can be arranged to guarantee it is fresh randomness. Both of those are important. For example, in a lottery, we all know that the numbers should be random, but if they existed for a long time, someone could have made a copy of them and then they would know what number is coming next. If you have a way of guaranteeing that the randomness was generated very recently, you minimize the time someone has to hack your system and secretly copy those numbers. And then there is the use of entanglement for quantum computing, but I'll leave that for someone else.

How to test quantum entanglement

For more than 50 years, scientists around the world experimented with Bell's Theorem but were never able to fully test the theory. In 2015, however, three different research groups were able to perform substantive tests of Bell's Theorem, and all of them found support for the basic idea.

This cartoon helps explain the idea of entangled particles. Alice and Bob represent photon detectors, which NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the National Institute of Standards and Technology developed. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

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One of those studies was led by Krister Shalm, a physicist with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Boulder, Colorado. Shalm and his colleagues used special metal strips cooled to cryogenic temperatures, which makes them superconducting, meaning they have no electrical resistance. A photon hits the metal and turns it back into a normal electrical conductor for a split second, and scientists can see that happen. This technique allowed the researchers to see how if at all, their measurements of one photon affected the other photon in an entangled pair.

Related: 10 mind-boggling things you should know about quantum entanglement (opens in new tab)

The results, which were published in the journal Physical Review Letters, strongly backed Bell's Theorem. "Our paper and the other two published last year show that Bell was right: any model of the world that contains hidden variables must also allow for entangled particles to influence one another at a distance," co-author Francesco Marsili, of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, said in a statement (opens in new tab).

What is quantum entanglement used for?

In addition to proving Bell's Theorem, there are practical applications to this work as well. The "superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors'' (SNSPDs) used in that experiment, could be used in cryptography and in deep-space communications (opens in new tab), NASA officials said.

NASA's Lunar Atmosphere Dust and Environment Explorer (LADEE) mission, which orbited the moon from October 2013 to April 2014, helped demonstrate some of this communications potential. LADEE's Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration used components on the spacecraft and a ground-based receiver similar to SNSPDs. The experiment showed that it might be possible to build sensitive laser communications arrays that would enable much more data to be up and downloaded to faraway space probes, NASA officials said.

Quantum entanglement experiments may help develop powerful quantum computers that could be used in deep space. (Image credit: Getty Images)

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Additional resources

For a more in-depth definition and exploration of quantum entanglement, check out Jed Brody's "Quantum Entanglement (The MIT Press Essential Knowledge series) (opens in new tab)" (Knopf, 2008). Read the fascinating stories about what life was like at the time of quantum entanglement's discovery in Louisa Gilder's "The Age of Entanglement: When Quantum Physics Was Reborn (opens in new tab)" (Deckle Edge, 2008). Or, take a broader look at quantum physics as a whole in this book, "Quantum Physics for Beginners: From Wave Theory to Quantum Computing. Understanding How Everything Works by a Simplified Explanation of Quantum Physics and Mechanics Principles (opens in new tab)" by Carl J. Pratt (Independently published, 2021).

Bibliography
Online search to make up lost time with AI



San Francisco, May 16 (AFP) May 16, 2023



Online search, dominated by Google for 25 years, has become as banal as making a phone call, but it could finally be getting a profound reset thanks to artificial intelligence.

The classic search and click made ubiquitous by the Google behemoth is getting a major AI makeover as bots ChatGPT, Bard or Bing see hundreds of millions of web surfers seek answers to life's questions in a new way.

"People are realizing how many times they use Google search, not to find a webpage, but to answer a question," said Stefan Sigg, Chief Product Officer at Germany-based Software AG.

Microsoft, long considered big tech's boring uncle, has jumped fearlessly and some say blindly into generative AI search with an update to Bing, the long struggling also-ran to Google.

Bing's bot, which was released worldwide after three months of testing, responds directly to a query instead of throwing out a pageful of links for the search user to wade and click through.

With a prompt, Bing will compare two products, brainstorm vacation plans or reassuringly help prepare a job interview, for example.



- 'Heavy lifting' -



"Now, search does the heavy lifting for you," said Cathy Edwards, VP Engineering at Google, during the company's annual I/O developers conference in California.

The user no longer has to "sift through the information and then piece things together," she said.

At the conference, matching Bing, Google presented the latest iteration of its web search juggernaut, but instead of the constellation of links that confronts you today, a chatbot offered a few paragraphs to answer what you were looking for.

Google's AI amped search engine will slowly be released in the United States as a start, the company said.

"What we're trying to do is make it more natural and intuitive, as easy as asking a friend and getting information from someone who's really knowledgeable for any question you have in the world," Elizabeth Reid, Vice President of Search, told AFP.

Beyond search, Google and Microsoft have deployed generative AI tools to other products, from cloud to word processing, presenting bots as helpful "co-pilots," to use the term hammered home by the Windows-maker.



- Personal 'genie' -



"I think search is going to be fractured into a million pieces, and integrated into all sorts of interfaces, and not just one monolithic centralized place, which is what Google has become," said John Battelle, author and media entrepreneur.

But if every website acts like a faithful friend, it will become ever more difficult to distinguish good information from bad, he warned.

"Would you trust an AI travel agent to give you the right deal? No," Battelle said.

"I want my own 'genie', my 'agent' to negotiate with the website. If it's just me against an AI, I'm gonna lose. I want one on my side."

Battelle's "genie" would digest a user's information from the smartphone, computer, TV or car to help answer and act for the user in life online.

The bot, powered by personal data, would buy the best vacuum cleaner according to your tastes, habits and current promotions, sparing a long and tedious search

The AI personal assistant would have to come for a fee, ensuring that personal data wasn't harvested and sold to the highest bidder for advertising or online tracking, as it is on social media.

Startups such as Replika, Anima and others are already moving into the companion AI space.



- 'Vital role' -



For the time being, Google isn't going to disappear, said Jim Lecinski, professor of marketing at the Kellogg School of Management.

"We could have had this same conversation about four years ago with the advent of voice assistants like Alexa or Siri,"

"Oh wow, search is going away because people are just going to speak their query to their car and device on their kitchen counter. Well, here we are," he said.

The disruption of generative AI could, however, challenge the internet's business model, as it can allow users to find the product they want "without having to click on an ad," Lecinski said.

But he has no doubt that the giants, ad-based Google and Meta first among them, will find solutions.

In the new version of Google search presented on Wednesday, the ads still appear, either up at the top of the page or lower in the results, depending on the question asked.

"I don't think we can predict what the future will have, but we do think ads will continue to play a vital role," said Google's Reid.

juj/arp/dw



MICROSOFT

APPLE INC.

GOOGLE
ChatGPT's Altman pleads to US Senate for AI rules



Washington, May 16 (AFP) May 16, 2023



Sam Altman, the chief executive of ChatGPT's OpenAI, told US lawmakers on Tuesday that regulating artificial intelligence was essential, after his chatbot stunned the world.

The lawmakers stressed their deepest fears of AI's developments, with a leading senator opening the hearing on Capitol Hill with a computer-made voice, sounding remarkably similar to his own, reading a text generated by the bot.

"If you were listening from home, you might have thought that voice was mine and the words from me, but in fact, that voice was not mine," said Senator Richard Blumenthal.

Artificial intelligence technologies "are more than just research experiments. They are no longer fantasies of science fiction, they are real and present," Blumenthal said.

The latest figure to erupt from Silicon Valley, Altman testified before a US Senate subcommittee and urged Congress to impose new rules on big tech, despite deep political divisions that for years have blocked legislation aimed at regulating the internet.

But governments worldwide are under pressure to move quickly after the release of ChatGPT, a bot that can churn out human-like content in an instant, went viral and both wowed and spooked users.

Altman has since become the global face of AI as he both pushes out his company's technology, including to Microsoft and scores of companies, and warns that the work could have nefarious effects on society.

"OpenAI was founded on the belief that artificial intelligence has the potential to improve nearly every aspect of our lives, but also that it creates serious risks," Altman told a Senate judiciary subcommittee hearing.

He insisted that in time, generative AI developed by OpenAI will "address some of humanity's biggest challenges, like climate change and curing cancer."

However, given the risk to disinformation, jobs and other problems, "we think that regulatory intervention by governments will be critical to mitigate the risks of increasingly powerful models," he said.



- Go 'global' -



Altman suggested the US government might consider a combination of licensing and testing requirements before the release of powerful AI models, with a power to revoke permits if rules were broken.

He also recommended labeling and increased global coordination in setting up rules over the technology as well as the creation of a dedicated US agency to handle artificial intelligence.

"I think the US should lead here and do things first, but to be effective we do need something global," he added.

Senator Blumenthal underlined that Europe had already advanced considerably with its AI Act that is set to go to a vote next month at the European Parliament.

A sprawling legislative text, the EU measure could see bans on biometric surveillance, emotion recognition and certain policing AI systems.

Crucially for OpenAI, US lawmakers underlined that it also seeks to put generative AI systems such as ChatGPT and DALL-E in a category requiring special transparency measures, such as notifications to users that the output was made by a machine.

OpenAI's DALL-E last year sparked an online rush to create lookalike Van Goghs and has made it extremely easy to generate illustrations and graphics with a simple request.

Lawmakers also heard warnings that the technology was still in its early stages.

"There are more genies yet to come for more bottles," said New York University professor emeritus Gary Marcus, another panelist.

"We don't have machines that can really... improve themselves. We don't have machines that have self awareness and we might not ever want to go there," he said.

Christina Montgomery, chief privacy and trust officer at IBM, urged lawmakers against being too broad stroked in setting up rules on AI.

"A chatbot that can share restaurant recommendations or draft an email has different impacts on society than a system that supports decisions on credit, housing, or employment," she said.
EU, India vow to boost trade ties despite differences



Brussels, May 16 (AFP) May 16, 2023



The EU and India vowed on Tuesday to boost trade ties and tackle thorny issues through dialogue, after they risked overshadowing a significant meeting between the two sides in Brussels.

The European Union held its first-ever trade and technology council with Indian foreign, trade and communications ministers as they seek to bolster ties.

The EU is India's third-largest trading partner with trade in goods worth around $95 billion, and last year the two sides restarted talks for a free trade agreement.

But hours before the high-level meeting, the Financial Times published comments by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell urging the bloc to crack down on India reselling Russian oil as refined fuels including diesel into Europe.

"If diesel or gasoline is entering Europe ... coming from India and being produced with Russian oil, that is certainly a circumvention of sanctions and member states have to take measures," he said ahead of a meeting with the Indian foreign minister.

After Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar met Borrell in Brussels, he dismissed the issue during a press conference when asked about the comments.

"I really don't see the basis for your question. Because my understanding of the council regulations is that if Russian crude is substantially transformed in a third country, then it's not treated as Russian anymore," Jaishankar said later on Tuesday.

There were also reports on Tuesday that India planned to challenge the EU's "carbon border tax" at the World Trade Organization.

The tax imposes environmental standards on imports into the bloc based on the carbon emissions linked to their production.

Indian Trade Minister Piyush Goyal said India was discussing the issue with EU officials.

"I'm sure that the intention is not to create a barrier to trade," he said.

"We have a long time ahead of us in which we will be working together to find the right solutions to this."

The EU's trade commissioner, Valdis Dombrovskis, echoed the commitment to dialogue but said the EU was "very careful to ensure WTO compatibility" and would apply the same price of carbon to imported goods as on domestic producers.
ChatGPT's Altman pleads US Senate for AI rules



Washington, May 16 (AFP) May 16, 2023



Sam Altman, the chief executive of ChatGPT's OpenAI, told US lawmakers on Tuesday that regulating artificial intelligence was essential, after his poem-writing chatbot stunned the world.

The lawmakers stressed their deepest fears of AI's developments, with a leading senator opening the hearing on Capitol Hill with a computer-generated voice -- which sounded remarkably similar to his own -- reading a text written by the bot.

"If you were listening from home, you might have thought that voice was mine and the words from me, but in fact, that voice was not mine," said Senator Richard Blumenthal.

Artificial intelligence technologies "are more than just research experiments. They are no longer fantasies of science fiction, they are real and present," said Blumenthal, a Democrat.

The latest figure to erupt from Silicon Valley, Altman's testimony in front of a US Senate judiciary subcommittee was far from the testy grilling given to the bosses of Facebook or TikTok when they visited Washington.

"If this technology goes wrong, it can go quite wrong," Altman said.

Tipped as an opportunity to educate lawmakers, Altman used the session to urge Congress to impose new rules on big tech, despite deep political divisions that for years have blocked legislation aimed at regulating the internet.

But governments worldwide are under pressure to move quickly after the release of ChatGPT, a bot that can churn out human-like content in an instant, went viral and both wowed and spooked users.

Altman has since become the global face of AI as he both pushes out his company's technology, including to Microsoft and scores of other companies, and warns that the work could have nefarious effects on society.

"OpenAI was founded on the belief that artificial intelligence has the potential to improve nearly every aspect of our lives, but also that it creates serious risks," Altman told the hearing.

He insisted that in time, generative AI developed by OpenAI will "address some of humanity's biggest challenges, like climate change and curing cancer."

However, given concerns about disinformation, job security and other hazards, "we think that regulatory intervention by governments will be critical to mitigate the risks of increasingly powerful models," he said.



- Go 'global' -



Altman suggested the US government might consider a combination of licensing and testing requirements before the release of powerful AI models, with a power to revoke permits if rules were broken.

He also recommended labeling and increased global coordination in setting up rules over the technology as well as the creation of a dedicated US agency to handle artificial intelligence.

"I think the US should lead here and do things first, but to be effective we do need something global," he added.

Blumenthal underlined that Europe had already advanced considerably with its AI Act that is set to go to a vote next month at the European Parliament.

A sprawling legislative text, the EU measure could see bans on biometric surveillance, emotion recognition and certain policing AI systems.

Crucially for OpenAI, US lawmakers underlined that it also seeks to put generative AI systems such as ChatGPT and DALL-E in a category requiring special transparency measures, such as notifications to users that the output was made by a machine.

OpenAI's DALL-E last year sparked an online rush to create lookalike Van Goghs and has made it possible to generate illustrations and graphics with a simple request.

Lawmakers also heard warnings that the technology was still in its early stages.

"There are more genies yet to come for more bottles," said New York University professor emeritus Gary Marcus, another panelist.

"We don't have machines that can really... improve themselves. We don't have machines that have self-awareness, and we might not ever want to go there," he said.

Christina Montgomery, chief privacy and trust officer at IBM, urged lawmakers against being too broad stroked in setting up rules on AI.

"A chatbot that can share restaurant recommendations or draft an email has different impacts on society than a system that supports decisions on credit, housing, or employment," she said.
Prehistory represents the epoch of finality. It was the last period of coexistence of different species of human beings, and of the eight, we, the Homo sapiens, are the only ones to have survived. It was also the point when most of the planets inhabitants abandoned nomadism, hunting and foraging as a way of life, to devote themselves to agriculture, cattle raising and the building of cities. This was precisely when kings and priests began to emerge. It also marked the end of a long glaciation and a sweeping change in climate. At that time, as now, many people saw how the places they knew and that had permitted them to survive for generations were gradually flooded and submerged under the waves while the deserts expanded. Many species of animals became extinct, which is also the case today.

From all of those species, there is one that continues to fascinate us more than any other, because it epitomizes both the strength and fragility of nature, for it shows us that other beings were once here before us, only to disappear. Mammoths, those giants of the Ice Age  though they adapted to diverse climates and latitudes , take center stage in an intriguing exhibition at CaixaForum in Madrid. This display has previously passed through other Spanish cities and occupies a central role in the latest novel by Spanish writer Alex Prada, La parte blanda de la montana (Seix Barral), and in the recent essay by American researcher Dan Flores, Wild New World. The Epic Story of Animals and People in America (W. W. Norton & Company).

It is both a real and a supernatural animal, writes the French prehistorian Marylene Patou-Mathis in Histoires de Mammouth (History of the Mammoth, Fayard). It is contemporary to our ancestors, it belongs to the past, but it still resides in our imagination, continues the author of The Prehistoric Man is also a Woman (Lumen). Mammoths constitute a formidable cultural icon, recalls Patou-Mathis, from Manny, one of the three main characters in the Ice Age animated films, to the Rahan comic books and the countless exhibitions that have travelled around the world in recent decades.

The 1911 novel, The Quest for Fire, shaped the view of prehistory at a time when many discoveries about humanitys distant past were yet to be made. The Belgian brothers, under the pseudonym J.-H. Rosny, depicted mammoths as allies of Homo sapiens in their struggle against another flesh-eating species of mankind. They knew they were the lords of the land, reads the novel, which was made into a film by Jean-Jacques Annaud under the same title. The column of clay-colored giants, with their coarse coats, lined the length of the pond and began to drink with such vigor that the level of the water began to decrease.

Cave painting of a mammoth in the Rouffignac Cave, France.

This image encapsulates everything that mammoths represent in the popular imaginary of the prehistoric age, a kind of tranquil presence that should not be confronted without the necessary means and know-how. Yet they died out like all those gigantic creatures that Antonio Monclova details in his book La primera megafauna: La apasionante historia de los mamiferos mas fabulos y extranos que habitaron la Tierra tras la extincion de los dinosaurios (The first megafauna: The exciting story of the most fabulous and unusual mammals that inhabited Earth after the extinction of the dinosaurs, Almuzara). This process spanned tens of thousands of years. When the last mammoths vanished some 4,000 years ago, taking refuge on the Arctic island of Wrangel (now part of Russia), mankind had embarked on the long Neolithic journey and there was little left  in prehistoric terms  for the construction of pyramids and the invention of writing. Global warming brought an end to their existence, but more and more experts believe that human intervention was also to blame.

The end of glacial climates may have affected northern species such as woolly mammoths, Dan Flores, an American wildlife expert and author of the landmark book, Coyote America, explains by email. But, like modern elephants, the mammoth species of the south (such as the Columbians) adapted to warm climates. The end of the Ice Age did not affect them, and yet they too disappeared. I think humans played a big part in the extinction of mammoths all over the planet, but they probably didnt actually kill them all in a literal sense. In contrast, it is likely that the remaining dispersed populations succumbed (as was the case on Wrangel Island) to the diminishing genetic diversity, which eventually led to the impossibility of reproduction. The term for this is genetic fusion.

This relatively recent extinction relates to two of humanitys pressing concerns. Firstly climate change, whose predicted consequences can be seen in David Wallace-Wellss book, The Uninhabitable Earth (Debate). Secondly, the ongoing actions of human beings that are making life increasingly difficult for many other species, something that the American author Elizabeth Kolbert has termed The Sixth Extinction (Critica).

Model of a 'Mammuthus primigenius', in the 'Mammoth. The giant of the Ice Age' exhibition. JUAN BARBOSA

According to Dario Fidalgo, paleontologist at the Department of Paleobiology of the National Museum of Natural Sciences, which belongs to the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), our fascination with mammoths stems as much from their enormity as from the somewhat apocalyptic vision they cast of our own present reality. In mammoths, we encounter two ingredients needed to succeed in our collective imagination, he explains. Along many millennia, these animals were the largest that have populated the terrestrial surface of Europe, Asia and America. Nevertheless, along with their sheer size, we find a convulsive history of recent extinction, caused by climate change, but driven by humans. So, from my point of view, the combination of a familiar animal species, of such considerable size that populated practically the entire Northern Hemisphere, with a direct relationship with humans since such a distant past, and whose recent and certainly morbid history of disappearance, creates a rather complex profile for an animal that arouses fascination.

In La parte blanda de la montana, the Seville-born, Madrid-based writer Alex Prada explores the end of the mammoths and, to some extent, their reappearance, in two parallel eras separated by thousands of years. Their story is told in two narratives: in one of them, Prada recounts the story of a hunter 6,000 years ago who wants to find a mammoth, an increasingly rare animal, which resembles a shifting mountain. This prehistoric account intersects with that of the 21st century Mongolian Khunbish, who wants to enter the booming business of mammoth tusk trafficking in order to escape poverty. As the thaw caused by the global climate crisis  which particularly impacts the areas where woolly mammoths once roamed  is now causing the remains of these giants to surface from the permafrost, the Arctics permanently frozen land, which is thawing quickly. In some cases, they are completely intact calves and in others, ivory tusks that represent tremendous value in a market where the trafficking of elephant tusks is being increasingly pursued.

Although they may not be as popular as dinosaurs, their extinction is also highly symbolic and is the subject of numerous hypotheses, says Prada. From time to time, all this is fueled by news that informs us about experiments that could reproduce mammoths from their DNA. In my novel, the emotional nature of their disappearance and the emergence of their remains centuries later serve as the central pillars of the plot. It is full of philosophy that makes us think and reconsider the endings, their causes, their consequences and the sentimental burden that all of this entails.

Two men lift the carcass of a mammoth calf preserved in permafrost in the Susumansky region of Russia's Magadan province in 1977. Sovfoto / Universal Images / Getty Images (Universal Images Group via Getty)

Dira, the hunter from the late prehistoric period created by Prada, not only reflects the images that literature has conjured up of the relationship between humans and mammoths for hundreds of thousands of years. This connection has been supported by countless archaeological remains. The third part of Earths Children by Jean Auel  the American writer who has sold 45 million copies of her prehistoric saga  is titled The Mammoth Hunters (Maeva). She depicts things like sophisticated tents  which bear no resemblance to the caves where we imagine our ancestors, who probably used them more for painting than for dwelling  mainly made of mammoth bones and tusks. Numerous excavations have shown that the remains of these huge creatures were central to the building of living spaces.

It is impossible to ascertain what prehistoric art was all about because its meaning has been lost with the transition from one cultural universe to another, it can only really be classified and analyzed statistically. However, there are plenty of suggestions that mammoths occupied a significant place in that spiritual world, not only because of the abundance of depictions  beyond the French Rouffignac cave known as the cave of the 100 mammoths, they are not as common as reindeer, horses or bison, even though they do appear frequently , but also because they were utilized to design the everyday environment, as well as a sacred one.

Right at the outbreak of World War II, in August 1939, two researchers discovered fragments of mammoth ivory in the Hohlenstein-Stadel cave in the state of Baden-Wurttemberg (southern Germany). This was on the last day of excavation, and those pieces of ivory survived the conflict. In 1969, the archaeologist Joachim Hahn began to put the puzzle together, which was not completed until 2012, years after his death, as more fragments appeared later. This was one of the great discoveries in European prehistory and is comparable to the caves of Altamira, Chauvet or Lascaux. This is because what was concealed in those fragments revealed the first known imaginary being, a lion man from 40,000 years ago, carved when the first Homo sapiens reached Europe, then inhabited by the Neanderthals, who would subsequently disappear shortly after.

The skeleton of a fossilized Siberian mammoth, measuring 3.5 meters high and dating back between 40,000 and 50,000 years, in the exhibition 'Mammoth. The giant of the Ice Age', at Madrid's CaixaForum. JUAN BARBOSA

Although the original is kept in the Museum Ulm, the CaixaForum exhibition presents a wonderful reproduction of this mighty, albeit very small, figure that propels human imagination and creativity into the distant past. And the mammoth tusks were the material of choice. Engravings have been found in caves in regions where mammoths are known never to have existed, says biologist Javier Hidalgo, in charge of the science exhibitions of the Fundacion La Caixa. This means that there was oral transmission, that somehow the knowledge on those animals was transmitted and spread to places that had never been inhabited before.

The skeleton currently on display in Madrid in the exhibition Mammoth. The giant of the Ice Age is a woolly mammoth fossil that was discovered in Russia and dates back between 40,000 and 50,000 years. Contemplating a creature of such size, especially the tusks, is breathtaking, and it is daunting to imagine the great herds of mammoths that roamed Earth for millions of years. The mammoth would continue to grow throughout its life, just like the modern elephant, explains Marylene Patou-Mathis by email. The tusks, in particular, were continuously growing, as were the teeth. The average weight of an adult was four to six tons. It probably had to consume between 180 and 200 kilograms of plants per day to survive. If we extrapolate this to todays African elephant, female mammoths and young specimens must have traveled in herds of 10 to 40 animals. However, the males left at the age of 14 and only returned to the group during the rutting season. At this time, there were fights between enormous males over 25 years old, and the most imposing one, with the most striking tusks, earned the right to mate. The gestation period lasted about two years. Mating would probably occur in July, which gave the males time to regain their strength before the winter. The calf was born at the end of May, so the female could replenish herself until September. The herds migrated to warmer regions at the beginning of the cold season.

One of contemporary sciences dreams, or perhaps nightmares, concerns the idea of resuscitating a mammoth through genetics. However, over and above technology, ethical dilemmas, and the feasibility of actually doing it, it poses a number of problems. Like most people, Im intrigued by the possibility that nowadays we can genetically engineer mammoths using CRISPR technology in the genomes of Asian elephants, the closest remaining relatives of this species, says Dan Flores. Unfortunately, I believe that modified mammoths would have to exist in some form of simulation of their original ecosystems. That would include their predators, and I doubt wed be willing to bring saber-toothed tigers back to life! Maybe their place should simply remain in our imagination and serve as a warning that no form of life is ever resilient enough not to vanish one day.

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Using a ChatGPT query to craft an introductory sentence that effectively mimicked his voice, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal kicked off a set of Capitol Hill hearings on how to control the proliferation of artificial intelligence, with experts and senators advocating for an entity akin to the Food and Drug Administration to review new AI programs before they are released to the public.

Blumenthal said Congress can "write the rules" of artificial intelligence, speaking Tuesday in his role chairing the U.S. Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law. While acknowledging the implications for AI to advance the sciences, the initial hearing contemplated all the ways AI programs can harm individuals and disseminate "weaponized disinformation," in Blumenthal's words, to destabilize society and elections.

The subcommittee plans to analyze as well how to minimize any mass dissipation of jobs into the cloud, as corporations develop AI systems to replace workers. And several senators and panelists said an international enforcement institution may be needed, along the lines of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

"The prospect is more than a little scary," Blumenthal said Tuesday. "Congress failed to meet the moment on social media. Now we have the obligation to do it on AI before the threat and the risk become real."

Gary Marcus, a professor emeritus of New York University and AI expert, pressed the subcommittee to consider a new federal agency that would review AI programs before they are released to public use, and with the "nimble" regulatory reach to swiftly deal with any programs being misused, and the people or entities that created them.

"There are more genies to come from more bottles," Marcus said Tuesday. "If you are going to introduce something to 100 million people, somebody has to have their eyeballs on it."

In a Tuesday afternoon interview with CT Insider, Blumenthal said he does not envision any new federal agency having a perch on the White House cabinet as the case with the Department of Homeland Security established in 2002, but said it should have broad investigatory and corrective powers. And he suggested any agency could itself use AI to thwart bad actors, while upholding civil rights and liberties.

"Enforcing those rules involves investigation, sure  there has to be oversight and scrutiny," Blumenthal said. "AI can be programmed to recognize the schemes that run amok."

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman also advocated for a licensing system for individuals or entities that create artificial intelligence systems. He said that Congress needs to consider ways to evaluate and respond to any emerging dangerous capabilities, like an AI program self-replicating and escape control "into the wild" in his words.

Altman added that thresholds for regulation could be set according to the level of computational capability an AI program has, or whether a program's capabilities could include the ability to influence how people think. He suggested AI programs can be programmed with human values and legal frameworks to reject attempts at illicit use.

"It may take a long time, I'm not sure, but as we head toward artificial general intelligence, the impact that will have and the power of that technology  I think we need to treat that as seriously as we treat other powerful technologies," Altman said.

Blumenthal suggested any attempt to clone existing federal regulatory schemes for AI will not be equal to the task, and that a new way of thinking will be needed to deal with the proliferation of AI.

"You can create 10 new agencies, but if you don't give them the resources  and I'm talking not just about dollars, I'm talking about scientific expertise  you guys will run circles around us," Blumenthal said. "For every success story in government regulation, you can think of five failures. That's true of the FDA. It's true of the IAEA. It's true of the SEC. It's true of the whole alphabet."
STAMFORD  As the Stamford school district embarks on a massive overhaul of its curricula, officials hope to add a new position dedicated to implementing it.

The addition of a "chief academic officer" position is being studied by the Board of Education and would add another top level administrator to the superintendent's cabinet. If approved, the position would already have an occupant, as current Associate Superintendent for Teaching and Learning Amy Beldotti would step into the role.

During a recent meeting of the Board of Education, Superintendent Tamu Lucero said the plan is to have all the district curricula updated and in place by 2025.

One thing thats going to be really important is that we have someone who is overseeing this curriculum, she said. "We want to make sure that we are providing all of the supports that are needed so we get good, quality curriculum and assessments at the building level."

A recent yearlong audit conducted by the company CMSi found that only 20 percent of core classes in high school (such as English) have a written curriculum. The figure for middle schools was 15 percent and 21 percent for elementary schools.

In response, school officials have launched a three-year curriculum plan. The short-term goal is to having written curricula for 65 percent of courses by the start of the next school year, including across all high school classes. At the middle school level, English and social studies written curricula will be ready by then as well.

Beside the addition of a new academic officer, central office administrators also want to redefine the three associate superintendent roles under a plan they are calling "Vision 2025."

Beldotti's current title would change to associate superintendent for research and policy and would become vacant if Beldotti becomes the district's chief academic officer.

The three associate superintendents will also see a shift in responsibilities. The future associate superintendent for research and policy would oversee principals at all elementary schools, while associate superintendent Lori Rhodes would supervise middle schools and associate superintendent Michael Fernandes would be in charge of high school leaders.

Currently, the three associates split up the schools evenly, but manage schools at all grade levels.

Lucero said one of the reasons she would like to create an academic officer role to focus on curriculum is to take Beldotti out of the job of monitoring principals, which she does as an associate superintendent.

The work of the curriculum and instruction and assessment really needs to be taken out of the role of anyone who will supervise a building, Lucero said.

If the plan is approved, two directors would work under Beldotti, with one focusing on secondary schools and another on elementary schools. Another two assistant directors of curriculum and instruction would work under them.

Lucero said the new chief academic officer job would not require extra funding. That's because she had asked for four assistant directors of curriculum and instruction in her original budget, but cut two of those to pay for the officer position.

A salary for the new position was not immediately availab.e

The fallout of the curriculum audit has also been felt in the district's budget.

The proposed teaching and learning budget for all content areas in Stamford schools is up 17 percent for the upcoming school year, in large part due to the district addressing the lingering problem.

For instance, the district is looking to purchase a curriculum for grades six through 12 for both math and the world languages Spanish, French and Italian.

Since the audit findings came out, some new curriculum has already been adopted, such as English and social studies at the high school level and music and physical education across the entire district.

Curriculum for electives, computer science and the implementation of integrated math at both the high schools and middle schools is expected to be in place by fall of 2025.

At a previous meeting, Beldotti said teachers have led the work of bolstering curricula across all schools. Curriculum committees, which were set up in the past but have not been used for years, were resurrected in the wake of the audit's findings.

At the elementary level, the district will be unveiling a new state-approved curriculum, Amplify CKLA, this fall. Kindergarten classrooms will begin using it in the fall, while first grade and second grade will incorporate it starting in 2024, followed by grade three through five in 2025.
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STAMFORD  Seventh grade student Rhea Sadhu was perplexed as she and her fellow students were shuffled into the auditorium at Strawberry Hill School Tuesday morning for an event ostensibly titled "Magnet Information Session."

"Why are we sitting at this assembly?" said the 13-year-old, describing her reaction to the gathering.

The magnet information session was a decoy; the reason the students were brought together was to celebrate her.

Principal Frank Rodriguez  along with a Google "ambassador"  told the collection of seventh grade students that the surprise assembly was to announce the winner of the Doodle 4 Google for the state of Connecticut for 2023  and that the winner was Rhea.

"I was very shocked," Rhea said.

Her parents and 5-year-old sister were sitting toward the back of the room as Rhea was called to the front to describe her winning entry.

Doodle 4 Google is an annual competition now in its 15th year that is open to all K-12 students in schools across the United States.

The winner has their drawing, or doodle, displayed on the main page of the Google website.

The Google Doodle technically started in 1998, but didn't begin to gain steam until 2000, when an intern at the company was tasked with creating one for Bastille Day. From the beginning, the idea was to incorporate the Google logo into a new image, usually to celebrate a holiday. But over the years, the number of doodles began showing up more and more. According to the company, it has created 5,000 doodles for the homepage around the world.

The theme this year was I am grateful for

For her submission, Rhea drew herself, surrounded by the things she loves.

The theme of my doodle was I am grateful to be myself and I am grateful for all of the things that make me me and that includes art, reading, painting and my family and friends, she said to the crowd of students.

Her drawing was displayed on the main screen in the auditorium. In it, Rhea drew herself, cross-legged on the floor of her bedroom, sitting peacefully with headphones on. Behind her is a dresser with objects on top that spell the word "Google." In the form of a "G" is a bookstand to display her love of reading  currently, she lists the Harry Potter and Percy Jackson series as favorites  and a framed photo of herself with her family making the shape of an "o."

Rhea's head takes the place of the second "o," followed by a tangled headphone cord in the shape of a lowercase "g." A painting makes up the "l" and another picture of friends encased in a frame decorated with rabbit ears that closely resembles one in Rhea' real bedroom takes the place of the "e."

As the winner for Connecticut, Rhea already won some prizes, including a free Chromebook and other technology from Google.

Rhea will now go up against 53 other submissions  from the 49 other states and four territories  to find a final winner. The top five vote getters will each receive a $5,000 scholarship. The national winner will get a $30,000 scholarship and a $50,000 technology package for their school. The winners will be selected through a public vote on the site g.co/doodleforgoogle between May 18-25.

The winner's drawing will be displayed on the Google homepage for one day.

Rhea's parents said their daughter found out about the Google competition on her own and decided to enter.

"When it comes to painting and creativity, she is very independent," said her father, Akash Sadhu.

Akash Sadhu credits Rhea's teachers for inspiring her love of art. In particular, he said, one pre-school teacher made a huge impact. He said he and his wife, Nagina Malhan, would go to work early, which meant they had to drop off Rhea early at a daycare before any other children arrived.

There used to be one teacher and she had a masters in art and they would spend one hour together before others kids would come in, he said.

The parents said their daughter likely didn't get her love of the arts from them.

"We both are not very creative," Akash Sadhu said of himself and his wife, both of whom work in banking.

"We are not painters," Nagina Malhan said. "We are analytical people."

Malhan said Rhea spent many days working on her Google submission, making multiple tweaks before sending the final product.

"We are very excited, very happy for her, Malhan said.
By Maya Kaneko, KYODO NEWS - May 16, 2023 - 10:13 | World, All, G7

With the Group of Seven leaders expected to urge China again to act responsibly at their summit in Hiroshima later this week, Beijing has stepped up its defense, trying to deflect their criticism by highlighting possible rifts among the G-7 members.

On the back of a deepening China-U.S. rivalry and closer ties between Beijing and Moscow amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the world's second-largest economy has downplayed the influence of the group representing a handful of rich Western nations and urged some European countries to value their "strategic autonomy."

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang visited France and Germany as part of his European tour last week, in an apparent effort to demonstrate Beijing's cooperation with them in economic and other areas and disrupt G-7 unity in dealing with China-related issues.

The Global Times, a tabloid affiliated with China's ruling Communist Party, quoted Zhou Yongsheng, deputy director of the Japanese Studies Center at the China Foreign Affairs University, as saying Monday that Germany, France and Italy take a different stance from "the comparatively extreme policies" of the United States and Japan.

The three European Union countries "still attach importance to benefiting their own economies and hope to strengthen economic relations with China," Zhou said.

Li Haidong, a professor at the Institute of International Relations at the China Foreign Affairs University, also told the paper the G-7 members will be "more divided than united" in the future.

"Major EU economies with significant influence that highly value their strategic autonomy will be more reluctant to cooperate and the Europeans will not allow the G-7 to eventually turn into the G-1 -- a group controlled by the only superpower in the world," Li said.

Beijing has been cautious about any reference in G-7 statements to issues such as Taiwan and China's "economic coercion," with the Asian powerhouse stressing its position in the run-up to the summit.

China maintains Taiwan is part of its territory and the island issue is "at the core of its core interests" and a "red line that must not be crossed."

Last month, the G-7 foreign ministers reaffirmed during a meeting in Karuizawa, central Japan, the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and expressed strong opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion.

China, which regards the self-ruled democratic island as a renegade province to be unified with the mainland by force, if necessary, is "carefully watching" whether the leaders will use even stronger wording on Taiwan, said John Lim Chuan-tiong, a Hong Kong-based scholar of international politics.

On economic coercion, or using economic means in pursuit of political objectives, Zhou said the G-7 nations adopt "double standards," with Washington and some of its allies cracking down on Chinese tech firms and imposing export controls.

The Global Times alleged in its editorial Sunday there is a "sinister intention" behind some Western countries' accusations that Beijing engages in economic coercion, saying they are attempting to "morally blackmail China so that they can provoke and harm China's interests without any worries."

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his G-7 counterparts are seeking to issue a separate statement with language opposing economic coercion, with China in mind, officials with knowledge of the planning said Saturday.

Lim, who has called the U.S.-led AUKUS, Quad and Five Eyes frameworks "3-4-5 containment efforts against China" based on the number of member countries, said the G-7 is a forum that can show a strong unity and he believes Beijing is "concerned most about" it among other entities.

"The G-7 is the sharpest knife" in dealing a blow to China, the scholar said, compared with the smaller trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, and the four-way body involving India, which often takes a different path from Western nations.

The leaders of the Quad members -- the United States, Japan, Australia and India -- are scheduled to meet in Sydney on May 24 following the G-7 Hiroshima summit.

The Five Eyes refers to an intelligence-sharing alliance involving Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand and the United States.

Although French President Emmanuel Macron, an advocate of strategic autonomy, recently stirred controversy by urging Europeans not to be "followers" of either the United States or China and cautioning against being drawn into a Taiwan crisis amid their rivalry, experts doubted the development marked a success for China's strategy to weaken U.S.-Europe ties.

The comments represented "a slip of the tongue" by Macron and "somewhat of an over optimistic view that France can separate trade and security" and that the Taiwan issue "can somehow be disconnected from France's foreign policy," said Stephen Nagy, professor at International Christian University in Tokyo.

Lim also said other European countries were unlikely to support what Macron said and China expects France to "return to a big Western family" of the G-7 and endorse the upcoming leaders' statement.

In addition to the G-7 summit, China will also be keeping a vigilant eye on a meeting of the leaders of Japan, South Korea and the United States to be held on the sidelines of the event, after a rapid improvement in Tokyo-Seoul ties and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's remarks on Taiwan that drew fire from Beijing, the Hong Kong academic said.

Beijing's relations with Seoul have deteriorated sharply since Yoon expressed concern in an interview with Reuters last month about increased tensions over Taiwan amid pressure from China.

On the other hand, ties between Japan and South Korea -- both U.S. security allies in Asia -- have recovered from their lowest point in decades since Yoon proposed in March a solution to a bilateral dispute over wartime labor compensation.

Yoon, who is eager to strengthen South Korea's ties with the United States, said in the interview, "The Taiwan issue is not simply an issue between China and Taiwan but, like the issue of North Korea, it is a global issue."

Lim said Yoon's comments were "more straightforward than Japan's stance," indicating a "major change" in the Taiwan policy of South Korea, which had not been vocal on the issue in apparent consideration of its strong economic ties with China. Therefore, Beijing is "very cautious about" discussions on the island at the trilateral summit, he added.
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.
STAMFORD  A Shelton man was sentenced to 54 months in prison Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to robbing a Norwalk bank in November 2021.

Judge Kevin Randolph sentenced Michael Tallo, 38, during a remote disposition hearing Tuesday morning to a 12-prison sentence, suspended after he serves four-and-a-half years, and five years of probation.

The sentencing comes about two months after Tallo pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery of a TD Bank in Norwalk in November 2021.

Tallo was arrested by Norwalk police in February 2022 on charges of first-degree robbery and fifth-degree larceny.

According to Norwalk police, on Nov. 7, 2021, dispatchers were notified of a robbery at the TD Bank on Westport Avenue.

When officers arrived, police said, they were told the robber handed a note to a teller claiming to have a weapon.

The note read, in part  Im quoting  I have a gun. Want 100s and 50s only. No bands, no dye packs, no GPS. Be cool and you will be fine, States Attorney Paul Ferencek said.

The bank teller gave Tallo $600, and he left the bank, Ferencek said. No weapon was shown during the robbery, according to police.

Witnesses described the robber as a heavy-set male in a hat and shorts. Police said the investigation revealed evidence and testimony that connected Tallo with the robbery.

As a part of his deal with state prosecutors, Tallo will be required to pay TD Bank back $600 within one year of his discharge from the Connecticut Department of Corrections.

Tallo is also awaiting sentencing after he pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery in connection to a second bank robbery in Ansonia, which happened in late October 2021, a month before the Norwalk robbery.

While Tallo was technically sentenced on Tuesday, the imposition of the sentence was held off until May 23, when hell be sentenced in the Ansonia case. Under that offer, Tallo is expected to receive a four-year prison sentence.
STAMFORD  A Stamford 18-year-old was sentenced to 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to the home invasion killing of a 32-year-old man on the citys East Side in May 2021.

Rudi Reyna-Morales received the sentence, which didnt include any probation, during a remote disposition hearing Tuesday afternoon. He was one of three people charged in the crime, and the other two have since pleaded guilty as well.

The sentence came as part of an agreed-upon disposition with prosecutors in which Reyna-Morales pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of first-degree manslaughter with a firearm.

Prior to the sentencing, Stamford Victim Services Advocate Katryn Doud shared a letter from the sister of Lwidji Brun, the 32-year-old victim in the case. In the letter, Bruns sister said Bruns death was difficult to fathom.

She said she was working at Stamford Hospital on May 18, 2021, when she heard Brun was fighting for his life in the emergency department. She said she rushed to see him but was ultimately too late.

I knew when I saw that nurses eyes that my brother had found his way to be with our mother again. Its an unspeakable sad look that Ive had to give to my patients families, and on May 18, 2021, I was on the receiving end. Not a chance to hold his hand or see his face, she wrote.

Bruns sister wrote that her brother was not a perfect person, but he lived a simple life and deeply loved his family and his friends. She lamented that his family  his significant other and their 2-year-old daughter  not only lost Brun that day, but also had to witness his last moments in agony.

This is a trauma that we pray the two will one day recover from. Both being in danger and experiencing a loss in such a manner is something one never recovers from, only copes with, she wrote.

Despite her grief and anger, Bruns sister wrote that she hopes the 18-year prison sentence will allow Reyna-Morales to make better, wiser decisions in the future and come out with a new heart.

Assistant States Attorney Margaret Moscati said the state arrived at the offer after numerous discussions with Bruns family members, as well as balancing other factors, such as the fact that Reyna-Morales was 16 at the time of the incident and the strength of the states case.

There is no offer that I can make or sentence that I can recommend that is going to bring Lwidji back. In speaking with some of the victims family members about potential dispositions, theres one remark in particular from his sister that stuck out to me. She said she wanted the sentence to be fair. Even though her brother was unfairly taken from her, she was still seeking fairness, Moscati said.

While the offer of 18 years in prison was not perfect, Moscati said, she felt it was fair.

Criminal defense attorney Kevin Black, who represents Reyna-Morales, said his client made a mistake and chose to be a part of the botched robbery that day in May 2021.

Mr. Reyna-Morales has never shirked from taking responsibility for this, Judge," he said. "This wasnt a long, hard-fought legal battle where he eventually capitulated to taking a deal. He, from the very beginning with me, said that he would accept whatever offer that was reasonable that would be made to him, to accept responsibility for this and to not put anybody through a long, drawn-out process of a trial."

Since his arrest in May 2021, Reyna-Morales has been taking anger management courses and therapy at the Manson Youth Institute, according to Black. Soon, Black said, Reyna-Morales will also obtain his GED.

Hes going to have a long time incarcerated to think about his actions, the pain that it caused, the people who are attending here today, and the loss of life that was a result of his actions, Black said.

Reyna-Morales and two other people were charged in the fatal shooting of 32-year-old Lwidji Brun inside of his Ursula Place residence in May 2021, following what police describe in arrest warrants as a botched robbery.

In February 2022, the 14-year-old juvenile arrested at the same time as Reyna-Morales pleaded guilty to felony murder in the case.

The third suspect in the case and gunman in the shooting, 24-year-old Deandre Parsons, later pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter with a firearm and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

All three were originally charged with felony murder and home invasion.

On May 18, 2021, police responded to an Ursula Place residence on a report that the homeowner was shot by intruders.

Officers found Brun on the floor of his living room, fatally shot three times. Bruns girlfriend and 2-year-old daughter were in the home at the time, police said.

Investigators reportedly found numerous videos from the area that showed three individuals traveling about a mile and a half from the South End of the city to Bruns home on May 18, 2021. Authorities said the trio had face masks and hoods on despite it being more than 80 degrees outside.

Private surveillance footage from the scene showed two of the individuals run into the home and the sound of three gunshots, police said. All three individuals then ran from the area. Additional footage showed the individuals changing their appearance and tossing aside the masks before fleeing together, police said.

Reyna-Morales, then 16, and his unnamed juvenile co-conspirator were arrested in May 2021. Parsons was taken into custody in Massachusetts by the U.S. Marshals Service.
On May 26, 1647, Connecticut became the first colony to execute someone accused of practicing witchcraft, which, in colonial Connecticut, was a capital offense.

The woman, named Alyse (sometimes spelled Alice or Achsah) Young, was hanged in Hartford. No trial records remain and we dont know much about her circumstances  the names of her accusers, the circumstances of their accusations, nothing. We can guess that shed run afoul of someone, and so  with rabid disregard for anything approach a fair trial, the colony executed her, long before the better-known Salem witch trials.

The state of Massachusetts exonerated Salems last woman convicted of witchcraft in 2022. It is long past time for Connecticut to own up to Youngs and others state-sanctioned murders, though we dont, as a rule, like to revisit the past if the past is the least bit ugly. For an illustration, listen the chattering class meltdown over efforts such as the 1619 Project attempt to tell all the countrys history, including the painful parts around the enslavement of people. And we definitely dont like to take responsibility for events at which we were not present. (Thats the My family never owned slaves so why should I care school of thought.)

But a state House resolution thats moved to the Senate is asking Connecticut to look at the ugly past and apologize  for nine women and two men, all found guilty of witchcraft in Colonial times. The resolution absolves the executed, and acknowledges the trauma and shame that wrongfully continued to affect the families of the accused.

The resolution passed the House last week, 121-30, and everyone who voted against it was a Republican (though 24 Republicans voted in favor). One naysayer  Rep. Jason Perillo, R-Shelton  said he wasnt particularly sorry about this benighted epoch because his family wasnt around for the sham trials. And, he added, the state faces bigger issues.

I hope residents of the state of Connecticut are watching this right now, Perillo said.

Oh, I hope so, too, Rep. Perillo. My family wasnt in Connecticut during the wrongful witchcraft executions, either, but maybe, just maybe, I can still care about what this might do in the way of prompting discussions about wrongful convictions  which hardly stopped after these sham trials. These modern-day attempts to skate over our past dont serve any of us. In fact, theyre quite harmful.

This particular acknowledgement  a project of some descendants of the accused and others  has been a long time coming. The resolutions version is carefully worded after objections that todays state government has no legal remedy to undo the mistakes of colonial magistrates. But for all the years of discussions, theres nothing terribly groundbreaking about it. There have been other, much larger-scale apologies that sought to redress past injustices.

In 1988, then-President Ronald Reagan (a Republican) signed into law Public Act 100-383, which acknowledged the injustice of interning Americans of Japanese descent during World War II. The act also provided $20,000 to every surviving person who had been interned. (Even in 1988 dollars, that was a fraction of what families lost when they were rounded up and shipped away from their homes and their businesses.)

In 2008, the U.S. House of Representatives issued an apology for slavery and Jim Crow laws that extended slave-like conditions beyond the Civil War. U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., wrote the bill and said at the time, Slavery and Jim Crow are stains upon what is the greatest nation on the face of the earth and the greatest government ever conceived by man. But when we conceived this government and said all men were created equal we didn't in fact make all men equal, nor did we make women equal. There was no attendant monetary award, though discussions for reparations continue. Rep. Cohen suggested that his was a symbolic resolution but hopefully it will begin a dialogue where people will open their hearts and their minds to the problems that face this country  including wrongful convictions.

In this case, even Colonial people who escaped the gallows often lost their livelihoods, farms, and families. However, there is no monetary reparations attached to the resolution. Its a simple apology and a long-overdue absolution.

We cant forget that whether a commonwealth or the state of Connecticut, these were our people, said state Rep. Jan Garibay, D-Windsor, who sponsored the resolution. So many families have been hurt over generations, and once the bill passes the Senate and is signed by the governor, many people  both descendants of those accused and executed but also the families of the aggressors  will feel a sense of peace. This shows the soul and compassion of our state.

After the execution of Ms. Young, witch trials continued for 50 years in Connecticut. In 2017, Windsors town council exonerated Young and Lydia Gilbert, another Windsor resident killed upon suspicion of practicing witchcraft.

One of the efforts longtime supporters, Anthony Griego, has worked on various projects to get the lives of the accused and executed recognized. This resolution is a good step, he says. Next, maybe the group will work on constructing a permanent memorial marker, or maybe theyll seek to get May 26 named Alyse Young Day.
C igarette maker Imperial Brands has reported a healthy rise in profit as it managed to put up its tobacco product prices to offset a fall in sales.

The business said that it had increased its aggregate market share across its five highest priority countries: the US, Australia, Spain, Germany and the UK.

It captured an extra 20 basis points of the combustibles market  cigarettes and rolling tobacco  in these countries, Imperial said.

The growth was driven by rises in the US, Australia and Spain which offset falls in the other two markets.

The maker of Blu e-cigarettes and iD heated tobacco sticks said that its next generation products (NGP) portfolio, which includes vapes and other categories, saw revenue rise by nearly one-fifth in the first half of the financial year.

While the traditional cigarette market is in decline, Imperial has taken advantage of rising prices to grow that business market share over the last six months

Pre-tax profit rose from 1.3 billion to 1.4 billion in the six months, Imperial said, with revenue rising 0.3% to 15.4 billion.

Business performance for the first half of fiscal year 2023 was resilient, despite temporarily increased volume declines against a strong comparator, said chief executive Stefan Bomhard.

As expected, this reflects a return to pre-COVID buying patterns as well as our decision to exit Russia last year.

In tobacco, we have delivered further share gains in aggregate across our portfolio of top five markets, while also achieving strong pricing to help mitigate the volume declines.

We have now recorded stable or growing aggregate market share in these markets in each of the last four six-month periods after many years of sharp declines.

In NGP, we have delivered a step-up in innovation with new product and market launches in all three categories: vapour, heated tobacco and modern oral.

Chris Beckett, head of equity research at Quilter Cheviot, said: Imperials results this morning are a good reminder, for those without ethical investment considerations, of the attractions of a tobacco stock  low valuation, strong cash flow, a high dividend yield and share buybacks.

He added: While the traditional cigarette market is in decline, Imperial has taken advantage of rising prices to grow that business market share over the last six months.

Furthermore, its next generation products, such as heated tobacco and vaping increased sales 20%.

This part of the business only represents 7% of the group, so it will be looking to increase this over time as more and more people shift to less harmful products.

Shares in Imperial Brands dropped 0.7% on Tuesday morning.
L ondon stocks slid on Tuesday afternoon as concerns over the US debt ceiling spilled over into Europe.

The FTSE 100 kept it head above water during morning trading but dropped into the red as Janet Yellen, secretary to the US Treasury, met President Joe Biden and Republican speaker of the House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy.

US traders were shaken after Ms Yellen told banking industry leaders a failure by politicians to raise the debt ceiling would cause an economic and financial catastrophe and Mr McCarthy cautioned over slow progress.

Londons top index moved 0.34%, or 26.62 points, lower to finish at 7,751.08.

Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets UK, said: Markets in Europe tried to move higher in early trade, but turned lower during the afternoon session, with todays weakness coinciding with comments from Kevin McCarthy that no progress had been made on some of the key issues with respect to the debt ceiling.

Coming on the back of disappointing Chinese retail sales numbers which are weighing on luxury retail and basic resources, theres been little reason to buy stocks today, with the FTSE underperforming.

The downturn in sentiment was similar in France and Germany, with multinational firms performing particularly weakly.

The Dax fell by 0.12% and the Cac 40 decreased by 0.16% at the close as a result.

Meanwhile, sterling slipped after the latest UK labour market figures showed a surprise increase in the unemployment rate to 3.9% over the three months to March.

The pound was down 0.25% to 1.249 US dollars and by 0.18% to 1.149 euros at market close in London.

In company news, Boohoo gave shareholders reason to cheer as bosses said they expect to stem falling sales and improve profitability this year.

Shares jumped by 2.6p to 41.05p on the outlook for next year, despite the company slipping from profit into a 91 million loss.

Shoppers were put off buying more clothes from the retailer as the prices they paid to eat, cook and heat their homes soared.

Shares in Greggs dipped despite the company unveiling a 17% rise in sales in the first three months of the financial year.

The business said that its chicken goujons, wedges and pizzas were selling well. Shares ended down 92p to 2,752p.

The worst performer on the FTSE 100 was Vodafone, which announced it planned to slash 11,000 jobs over the next few years.

New chief executive Margherita Della Valle said the company must change to consistently deliver.

However investors did not express much confidence in the companys plan, sending shares crashing by 6.7p to 83.33p during the day.

The price of oil increased after the International Energy Agency lifted its demand forecast, offsetting the impact of weaker-than-predicted economic data from China.

Brent crude oil increased by 0.5% to 73.87 US dollars per barrel.

The biggest risers on the FTSE 100 were DCC, up 131p to 4,785p, Land Securities, up 14.6p to 634.6p, Rolls-Royce, up 3.05p to 148.15p, Centrica, up 2.1p to 119.65p, and Compass Group, up 33p to 2,200p.

The biggest fallers were Vodafone, down 6.7p to 83.33p, Ocado, down 16.8p to 414.2p, Kingfisher, down 7.6p to 242.3p, JD Sports, down 4.4p to 170.25p, and Admiral Group, down 54.0p to 2,193p.
T elecoms giant Vodafone today announced sweeping cuts of at least 11,000 jobs as new CEO Margherita Della Valle laid out a fresh turnaround plan to reverse the companys fortunes.

Staff at the firms global headquarters in Paddington would be laid off, in addition to roles in Germany and Spain being eliminated in a bid to streamline operations and improve profitability.

The losses were revealed in CEO Margherita Della Valles first set of results since becoming Vodafones permanent CEO last month. She said the telecoms giant needed drastic change.

Our performance has not been good enough. To consistently deliver, Vodafone must change, Della Valle said.

My priorities are customers, simplicity and growth. We will simplify our organisation, cutting out complexity to regain our competitiveness. We will reallocate resources to deliver the quality service our customers expect.

Vodafone had 104,000 staff at the end of 2022. Della Valle could not confirm how many roles in the UK would be impacted by the job cuts.

She told the Standard: Its coming out of three areas. On top of taking out oversight layers in our HQ, we are also stopping our shared operations where we have unproven business cases, and we are simplifying our markets.

Vodafone reported a drop in full-year earnings of 1.3% to 14.7 billion euros, falling below the 15-15.5 billion originally guided. The firm said the fall in earnings was due to higher energy costs and commercial underperformance in Germany.

It said it expected earnings to fall further still next year, coming in at 13.3 billion euros.

Vodafone shares fell 4% to 86p after markets opened this morning. Shares are now down more than 28% over the last year.

Della Valle told the Standard she had expected the share price to fall because of a law change that affects its TV contracts in Germany. Under new rules, bulk TV contracting will be banned, forcing the company to attempt to individually re-contract with around 8.5 million German TV customers, who are responsible for around 800 million in revenues.

Lets face it. Our performance in Germany has been unacceptable -- I think thats been clear, Della Valle said.

What we are seeing today is the result of the broadband losses that were suffered in previous quarters. We have taken action in terms of a new series of products and promotions.

The job cuts and turnaround measures add to an increasingly large in-tray facing the new Vodafone CEO. Last week, the company said the boss of United Arab Emirates government-owned telecoms business e& would join its board as part of a new partnership, and the firm reportedly on the cusp of signing a deal to acquire telecoms rival Three.

We are continuing to progress on our discussions in the UK but it will take as long as it takes to get a good deal, Della Valle said.
KYODO NEWS - May 16, 2023 - 21:17 | All, Japan

Japan and China on Tuesday began the operation of a hotline between their defense authorities, the two nations' governments said, as bilateral ties remain tense over a territorial dispute.

Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada and his Chinese counterpart Li Shangfu affirmed the necessity of maintaining candid communication during their 20-minute talks on the direct communication line, according to the Japanese Defense Ministry.

Hamada and Li agreed that the hotline, which is part of the Maritime and Aerial Communication Mechanism that Tokyo and Beijing launched in 2018, "plays an important role" in building mutual trust and avoiding contingency, the ministry said.

The Chinese Defense Ministry said the hotline will "strengthen the maritime and air crisis management capabilities of the two sides" and "help further maintain regional peace and stability."

In November last year, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed on an early launch of the defense hotline when they met in Bangkok.

In late March this year, the Japanese and Chinese governments announced that the hotline had been set up.

The two Asian powers have been at odds over the repeated intrusion of Chinese coast guard ships into Japanese waters around the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea. The uninhabited islets are controlled by Tokyo but claimed by Beijing, which calls them Diaoyu.

The opening of a direct hotline was originally agreed in 2007 as a pillar of the communication mechanism to avoid accidental military clashes at sea and in the air, but negotiations had made little progress due to the coronavirus pandemic and the dispute over the Senkakus.

Related coverage:

China urges Japan to reflect on aggression after PM Kishida comments
I quit my role at the Home Office last year because I could not serve in a department led by our current Home Secretary, whose views towards refugee people like me are despicable. I fled what is today Somaliland 33 years ago with half of my family, leaving the rest behind not knowing if I would ever see them again. Fellow British-Somali and Londoner Warsan Shire perfectly summed up why my family and I became refugees when she said no one leaves home unless home is the mouth of a shark; you only run for the border when you see the whole city running as well.

And run everyone did, looking for shelter where they could find it, and for us it was here in the UK. Things were so different then, compared to how they are today. There was kindness, there was compassion and because of that I am who I am today. The sad irony is that when my family and I became refugees the country also had a Conservative government and one which was led by the Iron Lady herself.

Margaret Thatchers government not only gave me safety but rescued my grandparents from a refugee camp. My grandfather, who was ill due to being tortured by the Somali dictator, was nursed back to health and was able to return to Somaliland after a few years here. I mention that he and most of my family went back to home when Somaliland was founded in 1991 because most people who become refugees dont want to live in a land that is not their own and when they have the opportunity to go back they will. But to do that they need to heal and get their life together.

Sadly, this Governments current rhetoric seems to miss the concept of why people flee  its controversial mega-barge set to house hundreds of asylum seekers is evidence of that. When the Home Secretary and others talk about those seeking refuge as invaders I wonder who they are seeking to win over. As someone who has known Conservative voters, members and politicians for decades, I can tell you that they are not speaking to their constituents nor are they deterring those who are risking their lives to find safety.

I understand that a country needs a good immigration system but that has to be one based on good and fair policies. It must be based on policies that reflect what is great about this country and its people; a policy that is not a 222-bedroom, three-storey vessel, that will soon house 500 male asylum seekers on the south coast. It is not based on policies that strip women trafficked into this country of the safety and human rights we have enshrined in law.

I dont have much faith in our current Home Secretary but I do have some faith in the Prime Minister, and others around him. Rishi Sunak knows that the Illegal Migration Bill as it stands and the language being used by his ministers is not the legacy he wants to leave behind, nor does he want to inflict more pain on people who have suffered and lost so much already.

Bad Sisters and the family factor

Bad Sisters won a Bafta on Sunday  and given it was the reason I signed up for Apple TV, I could not be happier.

This dark comedy starring Sharon Horgan, below, is about how five sisters find themselves at the centre of a life insurance probe after the death of one of their husbands. It really got me thinking about sisterhood.

I, like the Garvey girls, come from a big family, which is as common among Somalis as it is for the Irish. But what stood out for me was not just the number of siblings, but the role each one played  I only have one sister but as the eldest child I have played mum for years. I hated having so many siblings while growing up, but I can say now that its a blessing, something I dont think I could live without.

The show may be dark at times, but it makes you appreciate knowing that, whatever happens, your siblings will be there with you.
I t was billed at the worlds most important election  pending the 2024 version, which will likely determine whether Donald Trump returns to the White House. Less international attention would usually attach to Turkeys presidential race but when critical alliances are at stake, results matter far beyond the Golden Horn.

This vote is a reminder that autocracy is not easily dislodged. Recep Tayyip Erdogans AKP (Justice and Development Party) has channelled regional resentments, Islamic frustration, strongman fantasies, and grudges against the countrys business and cultural elites to consolidate power for the best part of 20 years.

The result  Erdogan won just under 50 per cent of the vote, putting him in pole position in the run-off in a fortnight  is a setback. But it is not terribly surprising in a country where to be an opponent of the ruling party is an uphill struggle. Visiting Turkey for the past decade, each encounter has featured some conversation which provides a glimpse of over-weening power. Newspaper editors and publishers who refused to toe the line are stripped of jobs and assets. Professional groups who raise concerns about unsafe building practices, the backdrop to the countrys recent harrowing earthquake, find their leaders facing onerous investigations. The tax system is routinely used as a weapon against companies disfavoured by a corrupt and economically reckless leadership. The 2016 coup attempt was followed by a ferocious reckoning and waves of imprisonment  and a school curriculum bent since with Maoist determination to write history only as Erdogan would like it to be read.

Like many modern power-grabbers he also has support and the combination of that defiant base and the pre-electoral advantages of media domination, corruption and intimidation have won him 49.4 per cent of the vote. His centre-Left opponent Kemal Klcdaroglu, meanwhile, has underperformed in this election. Now both parties will scrap it out for the three million or so votes of the third party. It looks like a better shot for the incumbent. Erdogan also has a performers ability to hold the limelight. Mocking his rival, who had filmed campaign ads in his modest kitchen, Erdogan took to his party HQ balcony boasting, Some are in the kitchen, we are on the balcony and singing to the crowd. All this while insisting that Twitter bans opposition and anti-corruption accounts in the run-up to the vote.

In short order, another Erdogan victory would be a headache for both Volodomyr Zelensky and Rishi Sunak, who held talks yesterday to advance UK support for supplying additional weapons to Ukraine to supplement a decisive counter-offensive against Russia  and training Ukrainian pilots to use Nato standard F-16 jets.

Turkey is already the main strategic beneficiary of the war. It serves the Kremlins interests by undermining Natos unity, helps Russia dodge Western sanctions and reaps dubious construction deals with cash advances to bail out an ongoing financial crisis.

Russia and China are the new lenders of last resort in a shaken global system, prepared to spend lavishly to buy loyalty or at least fealty. Erdogans prosperity track record is a sham  poor Turks struggle to buy staple goods.

Erdogan has played an advanced game of Risk, leveraging favours from both sides in the war. That is unlikely to change. Crucially, as an early member of Nato, Turkey has a central but often conflicted role in a security alliance on which the Ukraine war outcome depends. The blocking of Swedish accession is a signal of its ability to deploy cunning brinkmanship when its support can command a bidding war for favours and trade deals.

Its no coincidence that one of the most astute James Bond novel plots, From Russia With Love, is set in Turkey as Soviet-inspired and Western spies battle it out for technological superiority. That fiction has roared back to life, with a 21st-century twist  an authoritarian leader eroding a fragile democracy and a doomed economic model.

That also poses a conundrum for the West  how far to indulge a wayward ally whose values are all wrong but who may re-emerge as key to a vital but vulnerable security compact? The nail-biting election will be decided in weeks. The consequences will resonate across Europe and beyond, down the decades.

Anne McElvoy is Executive Editor at Politico
T he clocks have gone back, the days are growing longer, and you have finally sloughed off your winter coat. Its time to hunt down your biggest pair of sunglasses, dust off your glad rags and get yourself down to the French Riviera, for its that time of year again  the biggest, the best, the most glamorous film festival in the world is ready to unfurl its red carpet, and we are totally here for it.

The token blockbuster

The Cannes Film Festival is a world unto itself and knows how to tread the fine line between class and crass, auteur and popcorn fodder, minimalist navel-gazing and full-blown spectacle. Festival director Thierry Fremaux has created a heady mix at Cannes so that the avant-garde experimental cinema of someone like Jean-Luc Godard (whose 20-minute Phony War is screening posthumously at the festival this year) can rub shoulders with more prosaic Hollywood fare, and the festival head is more than happy to sate our voracious appetite for stateside glamour.

In previous years, crowds have enjoyed such spectacles as tanks being driven down the Croisette (Canness seafront boulevard) to transport the cast of The Expendables 3 to their press conference, and last years red, white and blue fighter jet flyover to salute the Top Gun Maverick premiere. This years blockbuster crowd-pleaser is James Mangolds Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, with a stellar cast including Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Antonio Banderas and Mads Mikkelsen; most of whom are likely to make an appearance on the red carpet. Who knows what to expect for that premiere  a whip-wielding stuntman fighting off Nazis in a snakepit?

The coolest parties

Phoebe Waller-Bridge is sure to be at Disneys party to celebrate the new Indiana Jones movie / Getty Images

Talking of Indiana Jones, the hottest ticket in town will surely be Disneys party to celebrate the films opening night. Disney throws a great bash, usually on the Carlton Beach: it went all out when celebrating Solo, with photo ops including selfies on board the Millennium Falcon flight deck and a firework extravaganza over the moonlit sea. Other hotly anticipated parties will be for Wes Andersons Asteroid City  with so many A-listers in its cast, the films party will surely see some of them dancing until the wee hours, probably on a sandy beach.

Still, sidebar event the Directors Fortnight holds its own, both in the quality of films in its selection and the beach party that everybody wants to attend. Last year Julianne Moore and Jesse Eisenberg were seen propping up the bar after the screening of When You Finish Saving the World.

Slightly less glamorous, but no less charming, is the critics lunch organised by the Cannes municipality. Held high above town, with sweeping views of the Cannes Marina, this alfresco lunch resembles a country wedding or local fete, with a brass marching band and flower-wielding ladies in traditional costume greeting their guests. The festival jury is always in attendance and the aioli lunch is a beloved tradition amongst the journos in town.

This year, arthouse streaming service Mubi is one of many industry players hosting a soiree, and every night, many of the seafront hotels will be hosting an event. Added to the mix are the villas in the hills and the yachts moored in the marina, also home to private parties or sponsored events. Every night is party night when the festival is in town. The tricky part is bagging an invitation.

Its not just invitations to parties that Joe Public craves. The streets outside the festival venue are lined with people  many of them young, most of them in decked out in full evening regalia even at 8.30am  holding up placards begging for invitations to a premiere. A lucky few manage to pick up the odd spare ticket or two, and experience the full-wattage glamour of a Cannes red-carpet event.

The controversies

Johnny Depp still cuts a controversial figure after the furore around his recent court case / Getty Images for SiriusXM

Of course, it wouldnt be Cannes if there werent a little drama. The festival cocks a snook at trends and movements in the film industry. While Hollywood was wringing its hands and dealing with the fallout from the MeToo movement, Cannes was welcoming the likes of Woody Allen and Roman Polanski to the Croisette. This year, the festivals opening film is Maiwenns Jeanne du Barry, starring Johnny Depp. Once so beloved, he arrives in Cannes with the whiff of his trial against ex-wife Amber Heard clinging to him like a very bad smell. Meanwhile, last month director Maiwenn had a complaint for violence filed against her by the editor-in-chief of the French news website Mediapart.

While there are seven women in competition this year  a Cannes record  this is nowhere near 50-50 representation, the festival categorically refusing to consider the notion of gender equality as an option. One of those seven female directors is Catherine Corsini, but a scandal has broken out surrounding her film Le Retour, which reportedly contains a sex scene with its 15-year-old actor Esther Gohourou that did not see appropriate safeguarding rules in place.

Accusations of on-set impropriety led to the film losing government funding and the film was briefly removed from the Cannes lineup. It brings to mind the controversy around the 2013 Palme dOr winner Blue is the Warmest Colour, which saw its actresses Lea Seydoux (who said that during filming at times she felt like a prostitute) and the then-18-year-old Adele Exarcholpoulos spending ten days on repeated takes of just one of the many intimate sex scenes. Plus ca change, as one might say in Cannes.

The auteurs

Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal in Strange Way of Life by Pedro Almodovar / handout

It is right to take Cannes to task for championing established white male directors in its competition lineup, but when the list contains luminaries such as Ken Loach (with The Old Oak, a film about Syrian refugees in the Northeast of England), Todd Haynes (May December, a romantic drama starring Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore) or Wes Anderson (with his quirky sci-fi romance Asteroid City), not to mention Nanni Moretti, Wim Wenders and Kore-eda, it makes it harder to get a bee in your bonnet about the dearth of women.

Out of competition, Martin Scorseses Killers of the Flower Moon, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jesse Plemons and Robert De Niro, has a special screening. The film tells the true story of the murder of members of the Osage tribe in 1920s Oklahoma. Pedro Almodovar follows on from his sumptuous The Human Voice with Strange Way of Life, another English-language short. Starring Ethan Hawke and heartthrob du jour Pedro Pascal, this is sure to be a hot ticket despite its diminutive running time.

The quirky stuff

For all the serious fare screening in and out of competition, Cannes offers plenty of frivolous charm, such as the annual Palm Dog award for the best canine performance. Previous best in show(business) includes Brad Pitts dog in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, with Quentin Tarantino himself showing up to accept the award on the poochs behalf. Last years winner, the giant poodle Britney from the film War Pony, was in town to pick up her award (a Palm Dog collar).

Pixars Elemental / handout

Closing the festival will be another crowd-pleaser: Pixars Elemental. Directed by Peter Sohn, it is a romance about a girl, Ember, who is all fire (literally) falling for Wave, her watery beau. It looks adorable and ensures the festival will end on an upbeat note. If Pixar puts on a party that is anything like the one it held for Inside Out in 2015, then that will be the icing on this very rich, very filling and very moreish gateau. Cannes, mon amour, let the fun of the festival commence. I, for one, cant wait.

The Cannes Film Festival runs from May 16-28
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.
T he beloved UK independent music festival Barn on the Farm is getting ready to make a return with indie hits and breakout stars.

The weekend gig set in the storybook Over Farm in Gloucestershire  will encourage a sense of community among artists and music lovers, highlighting the importance of collaboration and kinship.

But who can you expect to see at Barn on the Farm and how can you get your hands on tickets?

Here is everything we know.

When is Barn on the Farm 2023?

This years festival will take place from Thursday, June 29 until Sunday, July 2.

The three-day event will welcome tens of artists and thousands of festival-goers.

Barn on the Farm 2023 line-up

Each day is set to have a headliner. So far, Thursdays headliner has been kept under wraps, but the remaining headlining acts will be Lizzy McAlpine, Bleachers, and Holly Humberstone on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, respectively.

Other names you can expect to see at the event include Dylan, The Staves, The Big Moon, Olivia Dean, and The Academic, plus Caity Baser, Wunderhorse, Cam Aspen, Thomas Heddon, and Amber Run will be there, too.

The remaining artists in the line-up are:

Flyte

Cassia

Rachel Chinouriri

FlowerOvLove

Adam Melchor

Benjamin Francis

Leftwich

Stone

Matilda Mann

Plested

Cate

Lily Moore

Red Rum Club

Katie Gregson

Macleod

86TVS

The Royston Club

Ber

Etta Marcus

Tommy Lefroy

Noisy

Conor Albert

Feet

Swim School

Michael Aldag

ADMT

Beren Olivia

Kingfishr

Seven

Nieve Ella

Aine Deane

Dolores Forever

Hutch

Beaux

Cartwright

Bilk

Carpark

Overpass

Farm Band

Future Utopia

Jack Garratt

How to get tickets

Barn On The Farm tickets are currently on sale on the events official website.

While the tickets that cover both the Thursday event and the main weekend have sold out, music lovers can still get their hands on tickets for the main weekend for 190 per person, which includes entry and camping. Tickets covering Saturday to Monday are also up for grabs for 150.

Those who arent interested in camping can opt for entry-only tickets, which are 90 per day.
T he most ravishing and surreal of the Greek islands tend to be the farthest-flung, and like anything worthwhile require the most effort. Even one ferry ride from the islands with airports tends to sieve out the hen parties, influencer-swarmed beaches and tourists spilling out of cruise ships. The extra leg (or two) will lead to drowsy sugar-cube villages, cliff-clinging monasteries and coves whose soft, sandy underbellies are exposed by the gin-clear water and that sharp Grecian sunlight. These are the under-the-radar Greek islands to visit this summer (before the crowds discover them).

Folegandros

Folegandros / Shutterstock

This 12-mile Cycladic slice of loveliness is tricky to reach, with ferries from Santorini proving frustratingly elusive. But once there, and fully ensconced in Folegandross pure flickering light and silencing beauty, its all about the beaches (Fira, Agios Georgios, Kartego), tavernas that grill whatever the boats just brought in and floating through its Cycladic-style towns and villages (Chora, Kastro, Ano Meria).

Stay: Anemi (anemihotel.gr) is a white-washed boutique hideaway with lemon yellow accents, mere moments from the sea and with a pretty pool overlooking the Aegean Sea.

Naxos

Via Greek Tourist Board

The ultimate island-hopping base, Naxos is the largest of the Cyclades and is relatively unscathed by tourism, despite its knockout beaches, time-capsule mountain villages and proximity to the party island of Mykonos. Of all its beaches, Agios Prokopios is considered by most good judges to be the prettiest, Grotta beach is where snorkellers head to explore the underwater ruins of an ancient city, and Pyrgaki is a wild, parasol-and-beach-bar-free stretch of sand. The mix of Venetian and Cycladic architecture also gives Naxos an edge over the surrounding islands  days can be spent exploring the capitals Venetian mansions, 13th-century hilltop forts and one of the oldest temples in Greece. The island doesnt rely as heavily on tourism as others, meaning theres no mass off-season exodus, which makes it charming to visit all year round.

Stay: Boho-beautiful and adult-only Naxian on the Beach (naxianonthebeach.com) makes the most of the islands powder-soft stretches of sand. Its all driftwood and wicker, modish spins on Greek classics and earthy linens that mirror the sun-baked long grasses flanking Plaka Beach.

Syros

Via Greek Tourism Board

Small and sleepy Syros is the commercial and political capital of the Cyclades, where pocket-sized sandy beaches and an easy-going attitude pair with its main towns neoclassical piles and rich trading heritage. In summer, wild fennel and sage cling to the hot air and Athenians wash down fresh fish and chicken souvlaki with tsipouro in go-slow tavernas tipping over the beach (visit Ambela Tavern at Megas Gialos). Days are spent wallowing in Galissas beachs glassy waters or reading a book to the background clang of goatbells, before flinging on the linen for a soiree at Ermoupolis impressive Apollo Theatre, or taking a deep dive into Syross haute foodie scene (Mazi and Allou Giallou).

Stay: Contemporary slices of marble Grecian busts and palm leaves decorate vast, uncluttered spaces at Aristide Hotel (hotelaristide.com). Sun-trap courtyards with perfect little pools soothe any reluctance to book a town-based hotel, as does its proximity to the beach.

Amorgos

Amorgos / Via Greek Tourism board

Divers are in heaven on Amorgos, with its underwater caves ablaze with marine life, and shipwrecks, such as the cargo vessel Marina 3 just off nearby Skinopi. On land, explore the windmill-dotted Choras streets via the Fotodotis walking path or scale a winding path and 300 steps to the monastery of Hozoviotissa dating back to 1017 and carved into a steep cliff overlooking the sea. For that whitewashed backdrop of Clycadic reverie with locals sipping strong Greek coffee in clouds of smoke, head to Tholaria, and pull up a blue chair at family-run Santouraki for home-cooked classics and their own Greek cheeses.

Stay: Vorina Ktismata (vorinaktismata.com) is one of those Greek boutique hotels any off-grid traveller would hope for. Its stylishly pared-down interiors and painted shutters blink out over a bewildering haze of mountains, sea and valleys. Breakfast is a feast of traditional cheese pies and local yoghurt and honey.

Milos

Milos / Via Greek Tourism Board

Although its crept onto a number of Instagram homepages and many a Greek island travel blog, Milos still retains an air of moonlike mystery, with its luminous milky chunks of rock that dip into azure waters and its abundance of little churches. Visitors can take their pick from about 70 ethereal beaches (head to Sarakiniko and Kleftiko). Those drawn to the lunar-like isle will find a fresh scene emerging, one that is deeply reverential to Milos landscape and traditions, with boho-chic, earthy hotels, restaurants placing creative spins on traditional Greek fare and the coastal plunder, and bars that capture the quiet charm of this beguiling isle. The ferry from Athens takes under five hours and the island pairs beautifully with Folegandros, Sifnos or Kimolos.

Stay: Check into Skinopi Lodge (skinopi.com) for its photo-ready pools, lovely lo-fi interiors and Dalmatian coast views.

Kimolos

Via Greek Tourism Board

Just next to moonscape Milos, Kimolos is a small fleck of Cycladic paradise popular with the yachting crowds and those after an off-beat island summer. Having docked at Poliegos, the yachties tend to chug in for taverna fare and that warm Greek hospitality  expect a seafood feast rounded off with strong coffee and chocolate pie at make-shift Postali just next to the port. Kimolos is all about its beaches  Aliki, Kalamitsi and Bonatsa are among some of the most beautiful, with white sands that slope into glassy, turquoise waters and are typically backed by rustic tavernas. Pull up a sky-blue chair at nearby Palaia Agora Grill for some of the Cyclades best souvlaki.

Stay: Windmill Kimolos boutique hotel (windmillkimolos.reserve-online.net) with its pretty, white-washed turret and olive-shaded windows peering over a bright-blue Aegean. Its location, between the port of Kimolos and Chorio (the islands only village), makes it an ideal perch for exploring both the beaches and cultural spots.

Leros

Via Greek Tourism Board

One of the lesser-known of the Dodecanese, Leros is lush and hilly while its mosaic of architecture, food and culture is particularly intriguing to visitors. The island is teeming with churches, some chiselled into the cliff edges, others on their own little islets, and all cultural spots can be easily paired with a trip to a nearby beach, such as Dioliskaria beach (remote and reached along a long path), Violiskaria beach is backed by a number of tavernas grilling the fishermans catch, while Alindas northern end at the cove of Dio Liskaria is less crowded and other-wordly to swim in.

Stay: Not far from Alinda beach lies 19th-century Venetian villa Archontiko Angelou (hotel-angelou-leros.com), lost in acres of vineyards and rolling hills carpeted with wildflowers.

Aegina

Crash: Tragedy struck off the Greek island of Aegina / Getty

It may be close to Athens but Aegina runs on island time and to the rhythm of weathered fishing boats drifting with the current in the port. The islands main town was once the capital of Greece, and relics of this grandiose era are fascinating to observe, along with the ancient Temple of Aphaia (take in the views from its hilltop perch). A trip to Aegina wouldnt be complete without a wander through the abandoned village of Paleachora, or a trip to Perdika village for its seafood joints tipping over the water and its sandy coves.

Stay: For a mix of beach, shops, restaurants and cultural jaunts, Alefi Place on Airbnb (airbnb.co.uk), in downtown Aegina, lies 30 metres from the beach and is an easy scoot from the port.

Alonnisos

Via Greek Tourism Board

Proper Mamma Mia territory, Alonnisos is one of those Greek isles whispered around knowing groups, speaking the same language of morning rises to the distant clang of bells, docile afternoons along empty east coast beaches, and taverna nights that demand little more than a linen shirt and good conversation. The beaches here are ravishing. Agios Dimitros spans both sides of a pointed headland with a lush green interior and smooth white pebbles that dip into the sea. Glifa is known for its blue waters, while Kokkinokastro takes its name from the red-hued cliffs that slice the beach in two and is also a stellar spot for snorkelling. Alonnisos is surrounded by a vast national marine park, with rare sea birds, marine life and mammals such as Mediterranean monk seals.

Stay: Theres an unwritten rule in Alonnisos that you never share your location. Locals and a few in-the-know loyalists keep this Caribbean-of-Europe to themselves. The Thinking Travellers Hibiscus villa (thethinkingtraveller.com), woven into the pine-carpeted slopes overlooking a calm sea, with a path leading to its own empty beach, perfectly embodies this spirit of quiet (and rather smug) discovery.
P redicting what will happen to Bitcoins price is difficult. The token traded at almost 50,000 in November 2021 and today its valued at 21,701.

As volatile as BTC prices are, theyre driven by four main factors: supply, demand, competition and sentiment. Here, weve taken a look at how each might play out in the foreseeable future  plus some additional pressures and expert opinions - to predict what might be next for bitcoin prices.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has warned repeatedly that anyone investing in crypto should be prepared to lose everything.

Supply

The more scarce an asset becomes, the more valuable it tends to get. The total amount of bitcoin that will ever be available is capped at 21,000,000, which means supply is limited.

New bitcoins are minted when a new block of verified transactions is added to the blockchain by a bitcoin miner ( read more here ). As a reward, theyre gifted an amount of newly-minted bitcoin.

More than 19,000,000 BTC have already been minted over the last 12 years, leaving around 2,000,000 more to be mined. However, while the unmined supply of BTC represents over 10% of the total supply of BTC, it doesnt mean the 21,000,000 limit will be reached in 14 months (10% of 12 years) time.

This is because the minting of new bitcoins is set at a fixed rate which slows over time. When bitcoin began, the reward given to miners for adding a block of transactions to the blockchain was 50BTC. Four years later, it was halved to 25 and the reward continues to halve every four years.

Its expected the reward will be 3.125BTC by the end of 2024, which means itll be decades before all 21,000,000 bitcoins are minted. So, in the medium term, bitcoin will not be in short supply.

However, the halving mechanism effectively puts a constraint on supply that could push up prices if demand increases in future. Were now less than a year out from the next halving in April 2024, and anticipation could cause prices to rise.

Verdict on supply: With 11 months to go until the next bitcoin halving, prices could slowly increase.

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Cryptoassets are highly volatile and unregulated in the UK. No consumer protection. Tax on profits may apply.

Demand

Growing demand for a finite resource should increase its value. As we know, bitcoin is a finite resource that is going to become scarcer over time.

The greater the demand for bitcoin  that is, the number of people buying it  the more transactions there will be. Daily bitcoin transactions peaked on May 10 2023 at more than 670,000. Yesterday, on 15 May 2023, there were more than 526,379 transactions - up from around 276,185 last month.

Google trends data appears to show that fewer people are searching for bitcoin today than they were a few years ago, with searches peaking in December 2017.

Another worthwhile indication of demand is the number of active bitcoin addresses, since you need an active address to buy bitcoin.

At the time of writing, there were around 834,276 active addresses, according to CryptoQuant data. That number is broadly flat for the year so far, but up slightly on last month and down from its 1.25m peak in April last year.

Finally, the next bitcoin halving is due to take place in the spring of 2024, and demand could increase before that time in anticipation of the supply squeeze it theoretically brings.

Verdict on demand: Transaction numbers have shown a strong upwards trend since April, setting a new record last week. This could reflect an increase in demand that couold push prices up.

Competition

The emergence of cheaper altcoins with faster transaction speeds has not cost bitcoin its crown as the king of cryptocurrencies. Its still the biggest cryptocurrency by market capitalisation and has even been adopted as a state currency in El Salvador - something that no altcoin can boast.

Detractors have argued that some altcoins have more potential than bitcoin because, while the latter is a system for payments alone, Ethereum, Cardano and Ripple feature programmable blockchains that can host smart contracts and decentralised apps (dApps).

Supporters might argue that bitcoin cannot be directly compared to such altcoins.

Its interesting to note that the crypto crash that began in May 2022 and took more than 50% off bitcoins value also affected its competition. Ethereum (ETH) and Cardano (ADA) both fell by similar amounts, meaning bitcoins losses werent its competitors gains.

Even stablecoins that were created as a less volatile alternative to traditional crypto assets have been negatively affected by global economic factors.

The other big change in recent months is the Ethereum merge, which saw Ethereum switch from a Proof of Work consensus mechanism to a Proof of Stake consensus mechanism. While better for the environment, the change doesnt appear to have boosted bitcoins main rival significantly in terms of value.

Verdict on competition: With no particular pressure on competition, prices may remain flat.

Sentiment

Bitcoin prices can be affected by peoples attitudes towards it.

A fear and greed index is a tool used by investors to gauge sentiment in a market. Fear reflects a market in which investors sell their assets because theyre concerned prices will fall. Greed reflects a market where investors are buying because they expect prices will rise.

According to the widely cited Crypto Fear & Greed Index at alternative.me, which tracks crypto trends, the market is currently in a Neutral state - meaning crypto holders in generalarent anticipating gains or losses. This status is unchanged for the last few months.

Critics of fear and greed indices say they can be useful as a barometer of sentiment, but they dont work well for predicting price movements.

Another good indicator of sentiment is the levels of bitcoin outflow from crypto exchanges: in other words, the more bitcoin is being transferred out of crypto exchanges and into wallets, the more investors are holding their bitcoin in anticipation itll go up in value.

Cryptoquant data shows withdrawals spiked yesterday, May 15, going five times higher than the previous day.

Verdict on sentiment: Sentiment might indicate that prices are about to increase.

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A block of flats in south London could be razed to the ground because demolishing it will be cheaper than trying to fix its critical safety flaws.

The drastic move follows a post-Grenfell inspection of Citiscape, a Barratt-owned building in Croydon, carried out in 2019.

It revealed that the 20-year-old building was shrouded in flammable ACM cladding.

And when the blue and white panels were stripped away it became clear that Citiscapes concrete frame was failing leaving it at risk of collapse.

The building was considered so dangerous that residents were evacuated in September 2019, with Barratt funding alternative accommodation for them until the end of 2020.

Then, at the start of 2021, Barratt, which had already spent almost 15.8m on temporary housing and remediation work, agreed to purchase the 95 flats at the 20-year-old block at an estimated cost of 30m. It was the first such buyback by a major developer since the cladding crisis emerged.

Two new redbrick blocks with 144 flats have been proposed for the site / Barratt London

The building is currently propped up with scaffolding.

Now it has emerged that Barratt has lodged a planning application for a comprehensive redevelopment of the site, demolishing the current building and replacing it with two new redbrick blocks containing 144 flats.

A spokesman for Barratt said that it believed the blame for the Citiscape fiasco lay with the structural engineering firm which had designed it and the contractor who built it.

Barratt is actively seeking to recover costs from third parties, he said.

The structural engineering firm has been approached for comment.
P olice are appealing for information after the front window of a parked BMW was found riddled with bulletholes in east London.

Officers responded to reports of shots fired in Cornwood Drive, Limehouse at 1.40am on Tuesday.

There are no reports of any injuries.

Pictures from the scene show a BMW black with four bullet holes in the front windscreen that were not found during an initial police sweep of the area.

A Met spokeswoman said: Police were called to reports that a firearm had been discharged in Cornwood Drive, E1.

Officers attended. A search of the area was carried out but no vehicles or offences were identified.

No arrests, enquiries continue.

Anyone with information that could assist police is asked to call 101 or tweet @MetCC and quote CAD 437/16MAY. You can also speak to the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
A robber who left his provisional driving licence at the crime scene has been jailed for six years.

Patrick Muddiman, 38, threatened staff at the Co-op shop in High Street, Brampton, and demanded cash on March 3, Cambridgeshire Police said.

He was handed about 120 in 5 and 10 notes and also demanded a packet of cigarettes after staff told him 20 notes were kept elsewhere and they did not have access.

A customer restrained Muddiman, of Whiteford Drive, Kettering, Northamptonshire, but he managed to flee, punching a second customer who tried to help with the restraint.

Muddiman accidentally left a black wallet, containing his provisional driving licence, outside the shop and he was later arrested by police.

He gave no comment in interview but later admitted robbery and assault by beating.

Muddiman was sentenced at Peterborough Crown Court on Friday to six years in prison, with a further three years on licence, police said.

The defendant has 24 previous convictions for 36 offences including theft, violence and other robberies, the force added.

The theft of the cash and damage to the shop amounted to between 400-500 but the Co-op also lost about 7,000 in business after closing for a day, police said.

Detective Constable Sarah Longbottom, who investigated the robbery, said: This was an incredibly frightening incident for both customers and staff who were in the shop at the time and genuinely feared for their safety.

Id like to thank the brave shop customers who tried to help on the day  and was pleased to see the judge award the man who helped restrain Muddiman with a commendation.

Muddiman was linked to the crime by shop CCTV and witnesses who identified him from his driving licence  a key part of evidence which he left behind.
KYODO NEWS - May 16, 2023 - 16:58 | World, All

China has requested foreign embassies and international organizations based in Beijing not to use the outer walls of their buildings for "political propaganda," apparently with regard to signs that show support for Ukraine, multiple diplomatic sources in the capital said Tuesday.

Many embassies in Beijing have put up signboards depicting the Ukraine flag and with messages in Chinese and English, such as #StandWithUkraine, to demonstrate their solidarity with the Eastern European country battling a Russian invasion since February last year.

The notice from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, dated May 10, urged the embassies and international organizations not to use the outer walls of their buildings for propaganda and "avoid causing conflicts between states."

The move has triggered a backlash from diplomats of Europe and other areas, with none believed to have removed the signboards.

Embassies in Beijing displaying support for Ukraine include Canada, Germany and Poland.

China has dispatched a special envoy to Ukraine, Russia, Poland, France and Germany from Monday to promote peace talks over the war in Ukraine. But critics are doubtful whether Beijing can act as a mediator due to its close ties with Moscow.

The notice also said embassies and international organizations are "obliged to follow Chinese laws and regulations," even though Beijing respects diplomatic immunity under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

The letter is believed to have been sent to all the diplomatic missions in China. Some embassies also fly the rainbow flag, a symbol of pride and diversity of sexual minorities.

A European diplomat criticized China's stance, stating that there is no reasonable justification for obstructing a state's expression of its intent and that they will not comply with the notice.

Related coverage:

FOCUS: China wary of new G-7 pressure, seeks to highlight rifts
P olice are hunting three men after a violent assault at Chiswick Station left a man with serious injuries. He later died in hospital.

The victim, a man aged 38, was thrown against a concrete wall banging his head and being knocked unconscious about 11.50pm on October 14.

He was taken to hospital suffering a bleed on the brain and a fractured skull.

He died in January, three months after the attack sparked by a verbal altercation with three men, British Transport Police said.

The suspects ran from the scene and boarded a bus towards Turnham Green, the force added.

A BTP Spokesman said: Very sadly, the victim suffered a cardiac arrest in December and died in hospital in January this year.

Detectives await further pathologist results to establish his cause of death however they are not currently treating it as a murder investigation.

Following a number of enquiries detectives are now releasing images of three men who they think they may be able to assist their investigation.

If you recognise them, or have any information, please contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 555 111 quoting reference 12 of 14/10/22. Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
V ictims families have gathered at the Old Bailey for the trial of a tram driver accused over the Croydon crash that claimed the lives of seven passengers more than six years ago.

On Tuesday, Alfred Dorris, 49, attended the central London court charged with an alleged health and safety failing in relation to the fatal crash on November 9 2016.

Seven people were killed and 51 injured when tram 2551 spun off the tracks and toppled over near the Sandilands stop in Croydon, south London.

The victims were: Dane Chinnery, 19, Philip Seary, 57, Dorota Rynkiewicz, 35, Robert Huxley, 63, and Philip Logan, 52, all from New Addington, and Donald Collett, 62, and Mark Smith, 35, both from Croydon.

Dorris denies a single charge of failing to take reasonable care at work under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

According to the indictment against him, he failed to take reasonable care for the health and safety of himself and of other persons who may be affected by his acts or omissions at work, namely passengers on board tram 2551.

The charge goes on to allege that Dorris failed to negotiate tram 2551 around the Sandilands curve at a safe speed so as to prevent the tram from derailing and overturning.

The trial is being heard by senior judge Mr Justice Fraser in Court One of the Old Bailey.

Members of the victims families sat in court for the first day of the case which is expected to be opened by prosecutor Jonathan Ashley-Norman KC on Wednesday.

A jury panel of 12 men and eight women was selected and told to return to court on Wednesday.

They were read out a list of names of people involved in the case including tram passengers, tram drivers, operations managers, driver trainers, sleep experts and human factor specialists.

Mr Justice Fraser told jurors: You have now been selected as a wider jury panel. One very important direction that Im going to give you, you will have realised that this case concerns the Croydon tram disaster that took place on November 9 2016.

You will get a formal direction about this tomorrow but its crucial that none of you do any research on your own this evening before you come back tomorrow.

Do not speak to anyone about the Croydon tram disaster or discuss with anybody else.

The prosecution is being brought by regulator, the Office of Rail and Road and is due to go on for up to five weeks.

Dorris of Ravenscroft Road, Beckhenham, south-east London, is being represented in court by barrister Miles Bennett.
A man at the helm of one of Britains biggest businesses has told a High Court judge that his 88-year-old uncles financial and marital difficulties are not good for the family.

Aidan Barclay told Sir Jonathan Cohen that he felt terribly sorry for what had happened to Sir Frederick Barclay and his aunt Lady Hiroko Barclay.

However, he said Sir Fredericks non-payment of 100 million he owed to Lady Hiroko, who is also in her 80s, was not really my issue.

He was giving evidence, at a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London, during the latest stage of a long-running fight over money between Sir Frederick and Lady Hiroko.

To be honest with you, this is not really my issue, not my fight. I feel terribly sorry it has happened. I would like it to go away

In May 2021, Sir Jonathan ordered Sir Frederick to hand Lady Hiroko lump sums totalling 100 million following the breakdown of their 34-year marriage.

Sir Jonathan, who has heard the money has yet to be paid, said then that Sir Frederick had behaved in a reprehensible fashion during the litigation.

Lady Hiroko, who petitioned for divorce on the grounds of unreasonable behaviour, has complained Sir Frederick had not paid her as ordered  and alleged that he was in contempt of court.

Sir Jonathan subsequently ruled that Sir Frederick was in contempt as a result of failing to pay about 245,000 he owed his ex-wife for legal fees and maintenance.

Sir Frederick and his twin brother, Sir David Barclay, were among the UKs most high-profile businessmen.

Sir David died aged 86 in January 2021.

Their interests included the Telegraph Media Group and The Ritz hotel in London. The family also has links to the Channel Islands and Monaco.

Sir Jonathan has been told that Sir Davids sons, his nephews Aidan and Howard Barclay, now have day-to-day responsibility for group business.

Sir Frederick said he has been unable to pay Lady Hiroko because his nephews hold the purse strings.

He has argued a trust which could provide him with money is being starved of funds from the family business  and has told the judge his nephews had turned off the tap in 2019 as a result of conflict.

Sir Jonathan told Aidan Barclay on Tuesday that the situation was desperate.

Aidan Barclay told the judge that he had not spoken to Sir Frederick for a couple of years.

But he said it was not true that the tap had been turned off in 2019.

We were having some difficulty, he told the judge.

We had to readjust the way in which we were operating. Things have been quite difficult since then.

He said he had tried to negotiate something which would settle the problem between his uncle and aunt.

This is not good for the family, he said.

It is not good for the people involved.

Sir Frederick, and his daughter Amanda, had trusts, assets and income which were nothing to do with the business, Aidan Barclay told the judge.

To be honest with you, this is not really my issue, not my fight, he added.

I feel terribly sorry it has happened.

I would like it to go away.

Aidan Barclay told the judge that the Barclays employed about 20,000 people and had about 100 companies in around five jurisdictions.

He said business was not easy.

It is a time of doom and gloom, yes, he said.

It is not actually easy at the moment.

We have had severe pressures in the business in the last couple of years.

He told the judge that he had paid Sir Fredericks legal bills.

Aidan Barclay said he did not want to see a man in his 80s go to prison.

The judge adjourned the hearing until later in the week.
A serving Metropolitan Police officer has been charged with rape after an alleged incident in Buckinghamshire.

PC Callum Utley, attached to the West Area Command Unit covering Ealing, Hounslow and Hillingdon, is due to appear at High Wycombe Magistrates Court on May 25.

He was charged by Thames Valley Police via postal requisition on Friday, 12 May.

The allegation relates to an alleged off duty incident in Buckinghamshire in 2019.

The Mets Directorate of Professional Standards has been informed.

PC Utley is suspended from duty, the Met said in a statement.
A gang who supplied golden ticket falsified passports to fugitive criminals including murderers and drug dealers has been jailed.

Anthony Beard was part of a gang who paid vulnerable people for their expired passports so he could apply for renewals using their names but criminals photos.

He was sentenced to six years and eight months at Reading Crown Court on Tuesday.

Beard was jailed after admitting conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and conspiracy to make a false instrument with intent.

Another 74 offences linked to fraudulent passport applications were taken into consideration.

High level criminals paid up to 20,000 for the fraudulently obtained genuine (FOG) passports, that enabled them to go on the run and start a new life abroad in countries including Spain, Portugal and cities such as Dubai.

The court heard how passports were obtained for customers including Glasgow murderers Jordan Owen and Christopher Hughes, Liverpool drug trafficker Michael Moogan, Manchester fugitive David Walley and suspected Scottish drug traffickers Barrie Gillespie, Jamie Stevenson and James White.

Christopher Zietek, part of the gang who supplied falsified passports to fugitive criminals / National Crime Agency/PA Wire

Beard, 61, from Sydenham, south east London, put contact numbers of his own burner phones on official forms and countersigned some of them himself as he shepherded more than 100 fraudulent applications through to completion.

He would find people with similar facial features to his criminal clients and pay them to donate their expired passports, with other contacts pretending to be professionals to vouch that the criminals photos were genuine.

Evidence of his offending went back to 2007, but Beard was heard bragging that he had been operating the scam for 20 years.

A fraudulently-obtained genuine (FOG) Latvian passport in the name of Aleksejs Rustanovs issued to Christopher Hughes / National Crime Agency/PA Wire

In 2019 he began working with Christopher Zietek, a broker who represented a Glaswegian crime gang allegedly run by two brothers called James and Barrie Gillespie; and a man described both as Zieteks trusted lieutenant but also his dogsbody, Alan Thompson.

Zietek, 67, who had homes in Sydenham, Ireland and Spain, was jailed for eight years for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, conspiracy to make a false instrument with intent and converting criminal property.

Thompson, 72, from Sutton in Surrey, was sentenced to three years for the same offences. Both men were found guilty on March 17 after a trial.

Passing sentence on Tuesday, Deputy Circuit Judge Nicholas Ainley said of the scheme: It was to enable very wicked, sophisticated, violent criminals to escape justice by providing them with documents that because they were genuine would deceive the authorities to enable them to escape.

He said that Zietek was clearly the organiser, providing a link to serious criminals, while Beard was the leg man and Thompson had a lesser role.

Anthony Beard, at a branch of Snappy Snaps in Bromley / National Crime Agency/PA Wire

Zietek, formerly known as Christopher McCormack, was also once an enforcer for north London crime group the Adams family, investigators believe.

Lawyers for the trio pointed to their age and various health problems in mitigation.

Craig Rush, for Thompson, said he had been forced to retire on medical grounds in 1999, and by 2017 was so bored that he was driven to crime.

Describing Thompson meeting Zietek, he said: These days from 1999 to 2017 or 18 watching Homes Under The Hammer, daytime TV, totally bogged down in a world of ennui and boredom, were lightened by a man who could spin an interesting story.

Thompson had become a gofer for Zietek not for money but because it gave him something to do, Mr Rush told the court.

Investigators from the National Crime Agency (NCA) believe Beard was responsible for at least 108 fraudulently obtained genuine passports being issued, with several more unsuccessful applications made.

The passports enabled serious criminals to go on the run from the UK and start a new life abroad, remaining undetected even if they had a brush with the law under their fake name.

Anthony Beard, inspecting a passport at a cafe in New Cross / National Crime Agency/PA Wire

Craig Turner, NCA deputy director of investigations, said: This was the golden ticket for the organised crime networks in order that they could evade arrest, evade identification by local law enforcement either internationally or at home in the UK.

Once the passport scam was uncovered, the fake identities of around 50 fugitives were discovered and they were arrested.

The trial heard how Beard also obtained fake passports for Stephen Lawrence murder suspect Jamie Acourt, Irish drug kingpin Christy Kinahan Snr and firearms trafficker Richard Burdett, although these were not part of the trial.

Acourt spent more than two years on the run using the name Simon Alfonzo having been accused of leading a 3 million drug-smuggling plot.

He was arrested in Barcelona, Spain in 2018 after being spotted in surveillance footage of an associate of Beard by NCA investigators, and was later jailed for nine years for the plan that moved around 750kg of cannabis.

A fake passport was obtained for him by Beard but ultimately never reached Acourt.

The NCA said it now plans to make an application to recover proceeds of crime from the passport gang.
A female police officer who claims she was raped repeatedly by a Met PC kept quiet about the alleged abuse for years because initial attempts to report him were swept under the carpet, a court heard.

Adam Provan, 43, is accused of a series of rapes against two different women, and faces claims he was overbearing and manipulative and used his police role to exert control.

One of the alleged victims, herself a police officer, reported Provan for abuse and harassment, Wood Green crown court heard, and says she was disappointed with the response.

She felt her allegations were swept under the carpet, said prosecutor Anthony Metzer KC. For her own sake and that of her career, she felt she should keep quiet about it. In light of such a response, she did not feel able to disclose the rapes.

Provan denies eight counts of rape, and insisted when he was first questioned: I have never ever hurt anyone in a sexual nature in my life.

The first alleged victim accuses Provan of six rapes and said the abuse has blighted the rest of her life, Mr Metzer told the court.

It is serious allegations of control and abuse of power at the hands of this defendant, who at the time was a serving police officer with the Metropolitan Police.

The woman claims Provan was violent towards her during sex, including putting a pillow over her face until she found it difficult to breathe.

Mr Metzer said Provan also faces allegations of controlling behaviour, telling the woman she was fat, ugly, and no one would ever want to sleep with her.

He even went so far as to tell her what to wear, he added, and is once accused of saying to the woman he hoped she would get raped.

Provans second accuser says she was just 16 when she was raped by the officer, then aged about 30, on a hellish first date. Jurors heard Provan agreed to meet the girls father before they went to the cinema.

But the prosecutor said: The defendant drove away with her, and after about 15 to 25 minutes drive he pulled out into a car park by some woods. The defendant asked for a kiss, aggressively kissing her neck and touching her breasts. He pulled a condom out of his pocket.

He asked if they should do it  have sex  she said no.

Provan is alleged to have raped the girl while he pinned her against a tree and then drove to a McDonalds for milkshakes before taking the girl to a childrens playground and forcing her to perform oral sex.

Provan denied anything sexual happened during the date in 2010. But Mr Metzer said he had a determination to have sex without any regard to the womens desires.

Provan, who lives near Newmarket in Suffolk, denies all the charges and the trial continues.
T he family of a Deliveroo driver killed in a hit and run smash have paid tribute to the loving father as their fundrasing appeal to repatriate his body to Brazil has raised more than 17,000.

Metropolitan Police are on the hunt for the driver and passengers of a BMW that overturned after it collided with Ronaldo Medeiros De Oliveiras motorbike in Leigham Court Road, Streatham.

Metropolitan Police said the BMW was abandoned at the scene and three occupants fled on foot. A man, 22, was arrested and released without further action.

While detectives continue to hunt for suspects, Ronaldos grieving daughter Gabriele Oliveira has shared an emotional tribute to her father, aged 44 when he was killed last Thursday.

He was always happy and never had bad times when we were with him, she said in a statement released by the Met on Tuesday.

He was my true hero, taught me everything I know. We are going to miss him a lot. Wherever he went he carried a lot of light with him and a lot of happiness.

A GoFundMe page set up to raise funds to repatriate his body has raised more than 17,000. Ronaldo had lived in London for 13 years.

He was the base of the family, an example of a father, an example of a friend and husband, Ms Oliveira said.

She described the the impact of the BMW being so violent that it threw my father along with the motorcycle.

Some people passing by called the emergency (services) and started first aid until the ambulance arrived, but unfortunately, due to the force of the impact, my father couldnt resist and died at the scene of the accident, Ms Oliveira wrote on GoFundMe.

He was much loved and cherished by all his friends, a warrior man who always did everything for others. With a lot of pain in my heart, I come to ask for your help so that we can return his body to Brazil to his homeland and to his family.

Detective Sergeant Nick Bale of the Mets Serious Collision Investigation Unit said on Tuesday: My thoughts are with Ronaldos family and I want to reiterate my commitment to them that we working hard to piece together what happened.

I am continuing to ask anyone who has information about the identity of three occupants who we believe left a blue BMW abandoned at the scene of the collision to get in touch.

Similarly, if you were in the car, please make yourself known to us.

A Deliveroo spokesperson confirmed Ronaldo worked for the food delivery service.

This is an incredibly tragic and shocking accident and our hearts go out to all of his family and friends, a spokesperson earlier told the Standard.

We are making contact with the next of kin and we will do everything we can to support them. We have also offered to help the police however we can.

Anyone who witnessed this incident or has footage can call the Incident Room on 020 8285 1574, call 101 or tweet @MetCC quoting 7533/11MAY. To remain 100% anonymous call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
A teenager with a history of extreme violence has been convicted of the murder of a 17-year-old boy in Tottenham.

The 16-year-old was found guilty of the murder of Ali Baygoren and possession of an offensive weapon by a jury at the Old Bailey on Tuesday.

He was also convicted of grievous bodily harm possession of an offensive weapon and theft in relation to a separate incident.

The murderer, who cannot be named because of legal reasons, was remanded in custody to appear for sentencing at the same court on 23 June.

Police were called to reports of a stabbing at Orchard Place, Tottenham, on June 18 last year, the jury had heard.

The victim was found with knife wounds to his neck.

Police officers administered CPR and medics attempted to save Ali, but he died in the stairwell of a block of flats.

A post-mortem examination took place on 21 June and the cause of Alis death was found to have been sharp force trauma.

A phone belonged to the defendant was found at the scene and he was arrested at his east London home just hours after the stabbing.

Meanwhile a grey hooded top belonging to the defendant was forensically examined and Ali Boygorens blood was found on the cuff, further confirming his presence at the time of the murder.

On 20 June 2022 he was charged with murdering the teenager.

He was also charged with grievous bodily harm and theft in relation to the non-fatal stabbing and robbery of a 14-year-old boy in Chadwell Heath, Romford, on 6 August 2021.

Detective Sergeant James Robertson said: Despite his young age, this defendant has a history of committing extreme violence and I am pleased that the jury was able to see the danger he poses.

Ali Boygoren was the victim of a brutal and frenzied attack by the defendant and we may never know what triggered that attack. It saddens me to see another young mans life so needlessly ended in our city.

We know too well that the effects of losing a loved one to violence are devastating and can last a lifetime. My thoughts are very much with Alis family today.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Rawlinson, who led the murder investigation, added: Due to the devastation they bring to families and communities, people who carry knives can expect to feel the full force of the law.

Anyone who wants to pass on information on knife crime anonymously can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Any young people who have information about violence or knife crime, can visit www.fearless.org where they can pass on information anonymously.
T he schools minister on Tuesday said he will look at concerns that last weeks Sats exams were too difficult amid claims that a paper left some Year 6 pupils in tears.

Nick Gibb said he does not want the exams which are taken by 10 and 11-year-olds in England to be too hard as that is not the purpose of the assessment.

Hundreds of parents and teachers complained that last weeks reading exam was too difficult and a headteachers union said some staff also struggled to understand the questions.

When asked about parents concerns over the difficulty of Sats, Mr Gibb said: Ive not seen the paper yet. Ill look at it next week when its available.

He added: The Standards and Testing Agency have tested this test before the pandemic. They tested it last year with a large group of children  they found that 85 per cent enjoy taking the test.

But we will look at this. I will look at this because I know that there has been concern expressed by some schools.

The Department for Education previously said the tests are designed to be challenging to measure attainment across the ability range.

Standard Assessment Tests, known as Sats, are used to measure childrens English and maths skills in Year 2 and Year 6, and consist of six 45-minute papers.

The National Association of Head Teachers said it plans to raise the issue with exams regulator Ofqual and the Standards and Testing Agency.

Sarah Hannafin, the unions head of policy, said members had reported that the difficulty of the reading paper was beyond previous tests, left children upset and some staff struggled to understand the questions.

Meanwhile, England has been ranked fourth out of 43 countries in an international league table showing how well primary school children can read.

Despite disruption caused by the pandemic, England has improved from its previous ranking of eighth in 2016. The latest Progress in International Reading Literacy Study put Singapore top.

It comes after the Evening Standards Get London Reading campaign highlighted the importance of boosting reading in the capital.
S mokers are costing the capital 2.6 billon each year in lost productivity, new figures reveal, as campaigners renew calls for a levy on tobacco companies.

London has the highest annual smoking productivity costs in England, with almost 800,000 smokers, data commissioned by charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) shows.

Healthcare costs related to smoking in the capital top 242 million each year, as well as 125.7 million in social care costs and 47.6 million in fire costs.

That makes the overall cost of smoking in London an eye-watering 3 billion each year, according to the data set.

Thats around a fifth of the overall cost of smoking in England each year (17.3 billion) including a significant cost to the NHS and social care.

Smoking-related hospital admissions and primary care treatments cost 1.9 billion yearly, while it costs local authorities in England 1.1 billion each year on care for smoking-related illnesses in later life.

Smoking is a massive burden on society, Deputy CEO of ASH Hazel Cheeseman said.

Smoking is still the leading cause of preventable ill-health and death in the country but resources to tackle it have been reduced.

Recent announcements by Public Health Minister will not be enough to meet the Governments ambition for England to be smokefree by 2030.

We urgently need a levy on tobacco companies to pay for services which support people to quit smoking and to prevent uptake among young people.

Smoking-related sickness is causing smokers to face job losses during the cost of living crisis, reduction in wages, and being more likely to die prematurely, ASH said.

Family budgets are feeling the pinch too, with each smoker on average spending an estimated 2,451 each per year on tobacco - more than 14 billion across England.

ASH said that reducing smoking would ease pressure on families and allow them to spend disposable income on products that would boost the local economy instead.

But the charity and other NHS health experts have criticised the Governments package of measures aimed at driving smoking rates down below 5 per cent by 2030, introduced in April.

The measures include encouraging people to swap tobacco products for vapes, offering up to 400 to pregnant women to stop smoking and cracking down on the illegal sale of vapes to under-18s.

But ministers ruled out raising the minimum age to buy cigarettes from 18.

In an opinion piece published in The BMJ, the experts said the announcements are a step forward but meagre spending on tobacco control could cost the economy billions.
KYODO NEWS - May 16, 2023 - 02:57 | All, World

U.S. President Joe Biden has no plans to shorten his upcoming weeklong trip to the Asia-Pacific region so as to deal with an impasse in Washington over the debt ceiling, the White House said Monday.

John Kirby, White House national security spokesman, reiterated that Biden is due to depart for the Japanese city of Hiroshima on Wednesday as planned to take part in this year's Group of Seven summit as well as meetings later in Papua New Guinea and Australia.

"Right now, there are no plans to curtail the trip or cut it short or not go," Kirby said in an online press briefing. "We're planning on going and we're planning on executing it."

His remarks came as Biden has been struggling for months to strike a deal with top congressional leaders to avert an unprecedented government default, which could occur as soon as June 1.

Biden is expected to meet with them on Tuesday, but Republicans remain opposed to his request to raise or suspend the $31.4 trillion ceiling.
S ummertime may not have film fans rushing to the cinema  we need to make the most of the UK sun while we have the chance.

But, fortunately, Everyman Screen on the Canal is coming back to Kings Cross this June, allowing Londoners to catch a flick and soak up the summer vibes at the same time.

Everymans free, annual outdoor film and TV festival will run from June 22 until August 6, inviting Londoners to kick back on a beanbag and watch an exciting lineup of films throughout the days and into the evenings.

The screen is positioned over the canal, with accessible views from the Canal Side Steps, officially called the Ghat Steps, which are located just off Granary Square.

The full programme has yet to be announced, but films on the line-up include Elvis, Matilda, Top Gun: Maverick, Mamma Mia, and Casablanca.

This summer, Everyman will also be screening sporting events including Wimbledon, plus live events such as Q&As.

Alongside the movies, Everyman will be serving up pizza and side plates, plus wine, beer, and summer cocktails, so film fans can have the full cinema experience in the open air.

Visit here to find out more about the programming at Everymans Screen on the Canal at Kings Cross, presented by Jaguar.

Everymans Screen on the Canal is free and unticketed, so film fans should turn up early for a chance to get a spot in front of the big screen.

The outdoor screen can be found at Kings Cross Canal Side Green Steps, Regents Canal Towpath, London, N1C 4PQ.

Alongside the outdoor cinema, Kings Cross is putting its signature twist on the classic French Riviera this summer.

Visitors to the area can enjoy British classics like sticks of rock, 99p ice creams, and family-friendly games alongside Regents Canal and the Granary Square fountains.
T he Tory party was today urged to return the hundreds of thousands of pounds donated to it by the business tycoon Javad Marandi as Parliament was told that the damning revelations about his links to a money laundering case risked undermining trust in democracy.

Labour MP Margaret Hodge said that the disclosure by this newspaper and the BBC that Mr Marandi was a person of importance in case involving a criminal enterprise known as the Azerbaijan laundromat moving corrupt funds around the world meant that if true, dirty money has well and truly crept into our politics.

She told the Commons during an urgent parliamentary question prompted by the revelations that the Conservative Party, which has received hundreds of thousands of pounds in donations from Mr Marandi, should return the money and called for ministers to report back to MPs on any access that the businessman had received to the government in return for his money.

These revelations are completely damning. There is an investigation into the Azerbaijan laundromat, $2.9 billion stolen, laundered through UK companies used to bribe politicians and line the pockets of corrupt Azerbaijani elite and Javad Marandi is linked with it. Now we hear that he donated three quarters of a million pounds to the Tory party, got an OBE and access to government ministers. We should take these allegations very seriously. If true, dirty money has well and truly crept into our politics.

The Conservative Party wont regulate itself so will the government bring forward regulations requiring all parties to do due diligence and checks on the source of all political donations? Will the minister make sure that this donation is returned and will he investigate and report back to Parliament on any access that Mr Marandi got to government ministers because of his large donations to the Conservative Party?

The policing minister Chris Philp responded that people are entitled to be assumed innocent until proven guilty but said that he welcomed the National Crime Agency investigation  which targeted three members of an Azeri oligarchs family - leading to the identification of Mr Marandis connection to the money laundering case.

He added that no-one wants to see dirty money flowing through London but told MPs that he had only just learnt of Mr Marandis connection to the case and that strict rules applied to political donations which were in the process of being scrutinised to see whether further strengthening was needed.

Alison Thewliss, the Scottish Nationalist Party MP who tabled the urgent question, praised the Evening Standard and the BBC for bringing Mr Marandis involvement to public attention in what she described as a victory for open justice.

The news that Javad Marandi has lost an 18 month legal battle .. to remain anonymous is a victory for transparency and freedom of the press in a battle often weighted in favour of wealthy oligarchs. It also goes to the heart of our democracy. Although it is incumbent upon me to state that Mr Marandi denies any wrongdoing, the National Crime Agency has found that companies linked to Mr Marandi are a crucial part of the money laundering network known as the Azerbaijan laundromat.

Credit must go to the Evening Standards Martin Bentham, the BBCs Steve Swann and Dominic Casciani of the BBC, the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, who back in 2017 exposed the $2.9 billion stolen from the people of Azerbaijan, and to the National Crime Agency for their part in this case naming Mr Marandi as a person of importance.

The UK must not be a home for dirty money but has become so under the Tories. Mr Marandi appears to have used corporate structures including Scottish limited partnerships Hilux Services LP and Polux Management LP registered to a mailbox in my constituency.

There are clear political and security aspects to this case. Mr Marandi is a significant donor to the Conservative Party. This money secured him access to the Conservative leader group and advisory board, part of a wider effort no doubt of reputation laundering.

She asked Mr Philp to tell MPs which meetings Mr Marandi had had with ministers and what influence his donations have bought him as well as when ministers had learnt of his connection to the Azerbaijan laundromat and what action had been taken.
A London councils refusal of permission for almost 1,600 new homes to be built has been questioned by City Hall, who may overturn the decision.

The redevelopment scheme at the Aberfeldy Estate in Poplar, which would see the demolition of 330 existing homes and their replacement with 1,582 new ones, was turned down by Tower Hamlets Council in February.

Councillors on the authoritys strategic development committee had voted unanimously to refuse the planning application, despite a recommendation from officers on the council that they should approve it.

The committee justified rejecting the scheme on the grounds that it would worsen local traffic, not provide enough affordable housing, reduce sunlight for nearby buildings, and would place a tall development outside the councils tall building zone, among other reasons.

But in a letter to the authority, Londons Deputy Mayor for Planning, Jules Pipe CBE, said the project has the potential to make a substantial and positive contribution towards achieving local and strategic housing and affordable housing targets set out in the London Plan.

The London Plan is a policy document outlining how the capital should develop over the coming decades, with a target of building 66,000 new homes each year to meet current and future demand.

Mr Pipe added: As well as the new housing, and new and re-provided affordable homes, the scheme would deliver new retail and employment workspaces, including affordable workspace.

The proposal also has the potential to improve strategic connections through the repurposing of the underpass for pedestrians and cyclists, overcoming the physical barriers to movement created by the A12.

The Deputy Mayor said that while he recognised the positive approach to delivering new homes taken by Tower Hamlets Council in recent years, there remained an undersupply of affordable housing in the pipeline of the boroughs planning department.

Based on habitable rooms, some 38.8 per cent of the scheme would comprise affordable housing, of which 15.3 per cent would be re-provision to make up for the demolished affordable homes and 23.5 per cent would be an uplift in affordable housing.

The planning application was put forward by Aberfeldy New Village LLP - a joint venture between housing association Poplar HARCA and Malaysian developer EcoWorld.

Mr Pipe, using powers delegated to him by Mayor Sadiq Khan, told the authority that City Hall would be taking control of the planning application, and would hold a public hearing to determine its fate in due course.

At the hearing, Mr Pipe or Mr Khan will consider arguments for and against the project, before making a final decision on whether to approve it.

Jules Pipe CBE, Londons Deputy Mayor for Planning / Greater London Authority

A spokeswoman for the council said: We received the Deputy Mayor of Londons letter for Aberfeldy on 2 May 2023, which confirmed that they will now act as the local planning authority.

The Greater London Authority [City Hall] will now arrange a date for a representation hearing, notifying the council, the applicant and interested parties, where we will put forward our case.

It is understood that the council will continue to argue for the schemes refusal.

The redevelopment of the Aberfeldy Estate has been ongoing since 2012, with this planning application representing a major phase in the areas overall regeneration.
M ore than 180,000 Londoners are employed on zero hour contracts, official figures revealed on Tuesday.

They showed a rise in workers in the capital in jobs employed in this way from 118,000 in January to March 2021, to 158,000 a year later, and 181,000 for this period of 2023.

The recent high was in the summer months of 2022, July to September, of 188,000.

The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics showed the zero hour employment rate in London was 3.7 per cent, above the national average.

In the South East, outside the capital, 151,000 were on zero hours, a rate of 3.2 per cent.

Across the whole of the UK, the figure was 1,133,000, a rate of 3.4 per cent.

Critics of zero hours say they offer workers, often on low wages, little assurance of employment and leaves them vulnerable to being exploited by bosses. However, they can also give flexibility in working which some people want. Hospitality chiefs in central London warned recently that they are being forced to put staff on zero hours contracts because of the devastating impact of the rail strikes on their businesses.

Plans to give zero hours contract workers the right to request regular hours recently moved closer to becoming law. MP Scott Bentons Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Bill cleared the Commons in March after winning backing from across the House. The Bill would introduce a new statutory right for workers to ask for a predictable working pattern from their bosses, with the aim of helping those on zero hours contracts.

The overall employment rate in the capital was 75.4 per cent, up 0.3 percentage points on the October to December quarter of 2022, and below the UK average of 75.9 per cent.

The unemployment rate in London was 4.7 per cent, up 0.2 percentage points, and the second highest in the country, behind only the West Midlands at 5.1 per cent.

The inactivity rate for the city was 20.9 per cent, down 0.5 percentage points, and very slightly below the national average.
B rexit has failed, says Nigel Farage.

The former UKIP leader made the blunt admission as evidence grows over the economic harm to Britain of quitting the European Union.

Economists say it will leave millions of workers in the UK 1,300 worse off than if the UK had remained in the European trading bloc.

Mr Farage told the BBCs Newsnight: We have not actually benefited from Brexit economically, what we could have done.

What Brexit has proved, Im afraid, is that our politicians are about as useless as the commissioners in Brussels were.

We have mismanaged this totally.

Simple things, such as take-overs, coroporation tax, we are driving business away from our country.

Arguably, now we are back in control, we are regulating our own businesses even more than they were as EU members.

Brexit has failed.

We have not delivered on borders, we have not delivered on Brexit, the Tories have let us down very, very badly.

However, he still denied that the UK would have been economically better off staying in the EU.

Few if any leading Brexiteers have themselves accepted any blame for the harm being caused to Britain by splintering away from the EU.

Rishi Sunak is refusing to acknowledge any economic damage to the UK despite the growing weight of evidence.

The Governments economic watchdog, the Office for Budget Responsibility, has said that the post-Brexit trading deal reached with the EU will reduce Britains long-run productivity by some four per cent, compared with if the UK had remained in the bloc.

It added that both exports and imports will be around 15 per cent lower in the long run than if Britain had stayed in the EU.

Britains economy is flatlining and shows no signs of any significant pick-up.

Brexit: UK's relationship with Europe - In pictures 1 / 60 Brexit: UK's relationship with Europe - In pictures 1975 Margaret Thatcher, sporting a jumper bearing the flags of European nations, in Parliament Square during her 'Yes to Europe' campaign PA 2016 Boris Johnson speaks at the launch of the Vote Leave campaign, in Truro, on May 11, 2016 Reuters 2020 Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage holds up a small Union Jack flag following a vote on the ratification of the Brexit deal during a European Parliament plenary session in Brussels on January 29, 2020 AFP via Getty Images 1962 French President General Charles de Gaulle gives a televised speech on New Year's Eve 1962 AFP/Getty Images 1973 A 50p coin introduced in 1973 to mark Britain's entry into the European Economic Community (EEC) 1972 Marie-Louise Kwiatkowski throws ink over Edward Heath in Brussels as he prepares to sign the Treaty of Accession Popperfoto/Getty Images 1973 Gertrude Shilling's Royal Ascot 'Common Market' outfit which was designed by her milliner son David Getty Images 1988 Jacques Delors, President of the European Comission, addresses the Trade Union Congress in Bournemouth to pose the idea of a wider European concept PA 1989 Margaret Thatcher greets French European Commission President Jacques Delors, months after she vowed to oppose a European superstate exercising a new dominance from Brussels" AFP via Getty Images 2001 Greengrocer Steve Thoburn sells fruit and vegetables in pounds and ounces rather than kilos and grams, in protest at the EU's official weights and measurement system Reuters 1998 European Monetary Affairs Commissioner Yves-Thibault de Silguy and President of the European Commission Jacques Santer mark the minting of the first euro coin Reuters 2002 Ray Egan, a retired policeman from Harborne, Birmingham, wears a traditional John Bull outfit as he burns an imitation Euro bank note outside the Bank of England to stress his desire to keep the pound as Britain's currency PA February 2016 David Cameron announces the date of the EU referendum outside 10 Downing Street PA May 2016 Boris Johnson, surrounded by Vote Leave and Vote Remain activists, speaks in Winchester as part of his Vote Leave campaign tour in the run up to the EU referendum PA June 2016 Nigel Farage launches a referendum poster campaign in Smith Square, London PA June 2016 Michael Gove and Boris Johnson (right) on the Vote Leave campaign bus PA June 2016 A boat forming part of a Fishing for Leave pro-Brexit flotilla makes its way along the River Thames PA June 2016 Kate Hoey and Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party, show their support for the 'Leave' campaign aboard a boat on the River Thames Getty Images June 2016 Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn adjusts his microphone as he addresses members of the shadow cabinet on the EU referendum at the TUC Congress Centre, London PA June 2016 A boat carrying Remain supporters including Singer, Bob Geldoff shout and wave at Brexit fishing boats as they sail up the river Thames AFP/Getty Images June 2016 Former prime ministers Sir John Major (left) and Tony Blair at a Remain campaign event at the University of Ulster in Londonderry PA June 24, 2016 Pro-Eu "Stronger In" campaign supporters react after hearing the results of the EU referendum at London's Royal Festival Hall PA June 24, 2016 Nigel Farage at the Leave EU party in London, where he celebrated the referendum result PA July 2016 David Cameron, with wife Samantha and children Nancy, 12, Elwen, 10, and Florence, 5, hug outside 10 Downing Street as he announces his resignation as Prime Minister PA November 2016 Nigel Farage becomes the first British politician to meet Donald Trump following his victory in the US election November 2016 Investment manager Gina Miller speaks after the High Court decides that the Prime Minister cannot trigger Brexit without parliamentary approval at The Royal Courts Of Justice Getty Images March 2017 Britain's Ambassador to the EU, Sir Tim Barrow hand-delivers Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit letter in notice of the UK's intention to leave the bloc under Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty to EU Council President Donald Tusk PA May 2017 A Banksy artwork painted on a former amusement arcade near Dover's busy ferry terminal shows an EU flag with a workman chipping away one of the stars PA June 2017 Theresa May listens as the results of the 2017 general election are declared AP October 2017 Theresa May takes a seat as she arrives for a bilateral meeting with European Council President Donald Tusk during an EU summit in Brussels AFP/Getty Images June 2018 Theresa May meeting with Donald Tusk inside No 10 Downing Street during bilateral talks PA September 2018 Prime Minister Theresa May arrives for a European Union leaders' summit in Salzburg, Austria Reuters April 2019 Theresa May arrives at the European Council in Brussels to discuss Brexit with European Union leaders PA May 2019 Theresa May announces her resignation as PM in an emotional statement outside 10 Downing Street on May 24 Getty Images March 2019 Brexit Demonstrators come head-to-head in Westminster Jeremy Selwyn September 2019 Demonstrators remonstrate with police officers on Parliament Square, during an anti-government protests calling for the Prime Minister's resignation, near Whitehall and Downing Street AFP/Getty Images October 2019 Anti-Brexit protesters in Parliament Square, London, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson delivers a statement in the House of Commons on his new Brexit deal PA December 2019 Prime Minister Boris Johnson is greeted by staff as he arrives back at 10 Downing Street, after the Conservative Party swept to an overall majority in the General Election PA December 2019 The London Eye lit up with the colours of the European Unionduring the New Year celebrations PA January 2020 Anti-Brexit protestor Steve Bray attempts to appear in shot behind a television crew on Abingdon Green, outside the Houses of Parliament PA January 2020 Britain's MEP Richard Corbett holds a banner after a vote on the Withdrawal Agreement Bill at the European Parliament in Brussels Reuters January 2020 Sir Tim Barrow, UK Permanent Representative to the EU, left, delivers the Instruments of Ratification to European Council Secretary General Jeppe Tranholm-Mikkelsen, at the Europa building in Brussels AP January 2020 Coins are checked from storage bins after pressing at the Royal Mint in Llantrisant, Pontyclun, Wales, during production of the new 50p Brexit coin, which bears the inscription 'Peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations' and the date the UK leaves the EU. Around 3 million Brexit coins will enter banks, Post Offices and shops nationwide from Friday 31 January, with a further 7 million entering circulation later this year PA January 2020 Mike Pompeo is welcomed by Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson as the two countries prepare to forge a new trade deal Getty Images December 2020 Boris Johnson celebrates the UK and EU agreeing a post-Brexit deal Boris Johnson/Twitter

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, who campaigned for Remain, has accepted some harm caused by Brexit but also says there are opportunities for Britain.

International Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch has hailed a number of trade deals with other countries, but many economists say they are eclipsed by the lost business with the EU.

Former Environment Secretary George Eustice has criticised a trade deal being struck with Australia as being too favourable to Australia at the expense of the UK.

The Brexiteers claim that Leaving would allow the UK to take back control of its borders also rings hollow, with a record number of people having crossed the Channel in small boats, and legal migration also spiralling.

Former Brexit minister Jacob Rees-Mogg has also refused to accept the economic harm being caused to the UK.

But he attacked the Government's decision to scale back post-Brexit plans to scrap EU laws as "pathetically under-ambitious".

Ministers have defended the delay so EU laws can be ditched in an orderly way, rather than causing more chaos.

But former Cabinet minister Mr Rees-Mogg criticised the Prime Minister at a Right-wing conference in Westminster on Monday for breaking his promise to complete a "bonfire" of remaining EU-era laws by the end of the year.
B ritain has lost self-confidence without the essential threat of the Cold War, a former head of MI6 has said.

Sir Richard Dearlove said Britain no longer had the cohesion and motivation that drove the former spy when he joined the service in 1966.

He told the National Conservatism conference in Westminster: It never occurred to me that I was not on the side of the angels.

Sir Richard, who led MI6 between 1999 and 2004, said: Looking back, we were self-confident without any hint of complacency. We took for granted the fundamental moral difference between the values we espoused and the totalitarian nature of Soviet Russia and Maoist China.

Comparing his experience to the modern world, he said: It seems to me we have since lost our way.

Without the essential threat to our way of life that was a constant feature of the Cold War, we have lost cohesion and motivation, and especially our self-confidence.

Minority views amplified by social media have been allowed disproportionate political and social space so that the mainline political and social debate has become seriously distorted by fringe movements.

Im worried when I witness eminent members of our own elite doing the work of our foremost enemies for them

Sir Richard appeared at the right-wing National Conservatism conference as part of a panel on national realism and foreign policy, alongside other speakers who claimed woke movements had undermined security.

Michael Anton, a former US national security official under Donald Trump, claimed the American armed forces were struggling with recruitment because too many Americans had been taught that their country is evil and they should hate it.

Discussing active measures  disinformation and subversion efforts usually associated with Communist nations  Sir Richard warned: Active measures work best in a fertile social and political environment where naivety about Russian and Chinese intentions is rife, where doubt about our own values system and its foundations has irrational strength.

Im worried when I witness eminent members of our own elite doing the work of our foremost enemies for them.

Whether it is advocating for Huawei, refusing to publish any serious scientific study that questions the Chinese narrative on the origins of the Sars-Cov 2 virus, or promoting a settlement in the war between Russia and Ukraine that ignores the peace conditions laid down by President Zelensky.

Sir Richard also argued that only a revolution could end the threat from Russia, saying: The sheer brutality of Putins regime leads me towards the conclusion that Russias political DNA is so corrupted that only another revolutionary change might rebalance it.
T he Council of Europe meeting, at which Rishi Sunak will push for co-operation on tackling illegal migration, will not have a big focus on migration, host country Iceland has said.

The Prime Minister will warn European leaders in Reykjavik that the international system for policing human trafficking is not working.

He will also call for reforms to rules that prevented the UKs first scheduled deportation flight taking asylum seekers to Rwanda.

This summit doesnt have a big focus on migration in general

But Icelands foreign affairs minister Thordis Kolbrun Gylfadottir suggested these issues will not be top of the agenda at the gathering.

She told BBC Radio 4s World At One programme: The biggest focus is of course Ukraine, and then other issues such as AI and environment and other things. So this summit doesnt have a big focus on migration in general.

But I agree that that is an issue for Europe. And of course, that system has to develop with the challenges that we face.

Mr Sunak will hold talks with the president of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), Siofra OLeary, over reforms to how Rule 39 works  the order that blocked the inaugural flight to Kigali last year.

Asked whether Iceland and other European nations will consider an overhaul of the rules, Ms Gylfadottir said: I believe that there will be a discussion on it, but there will not be I think a real concrete outcome on reforming certain articles.

Immigration will also come up in the Prime Ministers bilateral meeting with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, Downing Street said.

His official spokesman told reporters: Im not going to pre-empt their discussion, but I imagine they will talk about Ukraine following president (Volodymyr) Zelenskys visit to other countries and to see the Prime Minister yesterday.

And I would have thought they will talk about the challenge of illegal migration.

Northern Ireland would potentially be discussed as well, the spokesman said.

Mr Sunak is also expected to hold one-on-one talks with Mark Rutte, the prime minister of the Netherlands.

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

At the summit, Mr Sunak will say that both European communities and the worlds most vulnerable are paying the price for the failure to prevent unlawful migration.

It comes as his 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.

No 10 said the Government remains committed to reducing net migration amid speculation it could pass the one million mark next year.

It follows reports that the Home Office has privately shared figures with No 10 suggesting more than 1.1 million foreign workers and students could legally arrive in Britain in 2024/25, just as the Tories face a general election test.

Mr Sunaks spokesman said: I wont get into specific pieces of advice that go between departments and No 10.

The Government remains committed to reducing net migration over time while ensuring the economy has the skills we need.

He said there is no specific target on reducing migration numbers and that the priority is tackling illegal migration in the first instance.

Cabinet minister Michael Gove, when it was put to him at the National Conservatism conference that net migration could hit the one million mark, said: I dont think it will reach those figures.

But the Housing Secretary added that the numbers recently have been at a level where there is an inevitable pressure on housing and on public services.

The Leave campaigner said a critical part of Brexit was being able to say this is the level of migration we as a country believe is right and establishing that there is a limit.

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.

Speaking ahead of his trip, the Prime Minister said: 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.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman argued 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 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.

The meeting, which Ukrainian president Mr Zelensky is due to join virtually, will focus on the situation in his country and how international allies can hold Russia to account for breaches of international law since the invasion.

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 the 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.
A Conservative former ministers suggestion that introducing voter ID was an attempt at gerrymandering should face further investigation, ministers have heard.

Former Cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg appeared to describe the introduction of voter ID as an attempt at influencing the franchise that backfired against the Conservatives at the recent local elections.

Speaking at the National Conservatism conference in Westminster on Monday, 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.

Mays local elections were the first poll in Britain in which photographic identification was required to take part.

In the Commons, Labour former minister Dawn Butler described Mr Rees-Moggs comments as deeply concerning and suggested she may report them to the Parliamentary Standards Authority or the police.

Brent Central MP Ms Butler said: Yesterday, the former minister admitted that the proposal was a deliberate attempt to manipulate electoral outcomes in favour of the Conservative Party, a strategy he termed as gerrymandering.

In other words, the deliberate bending of electoral rules or boundaries for partisan gain. He said it backfired however in the recent local elections.

It is deeply concerning to see the blatant could-be politicisation of policy and organisation intended to ensure the fairness and security of our democratic process.

She added: The justification for the policy was to combat voter fraud.

It seems to me there is a real possibility that the only fraud could be this Government. I just wonder if you can advise me whether I should report this to the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner and the police?

Deputy Commons Speaker Dame Rosie Winterton responded: I should say that if she is intending to pursue this through the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner or to the police she shouldnt really be raising it in the House. She might like to reflect on that.

She added: I am sure that (Mr Rees-Mogg) will have heard her comments. She has put her concerns on the record. I suggest that at this point, given that I am sure the Treasury bench will report back what she has said, that we leave it at that.

Liberal Democrat MP for North Shropshire Helen Morgan meanwhile suggested ministers needed to correct previous claims that voter ID was not aimed at suppressing participation in elections.

She told MPs: I think I speak for a number of Members of this House in saying that I was appalled yesterday when I heard the member for North East Somerset (Mr Rees-Mogg), a former Cabinet minister, suggest in his speech to the National Conservatism conference that the introduction of voter ID was an attempt by the Government to gerrymander.

She called for communities minister Lee Rowley to come to the Commons and clarify or correct remarks he made in a debate on Voter ID in February, in which he claimed it was a myth that this is some form of suppression.
E ssex Police have opened an investigation into MP Julian Knight after Scotland Yard referred an allegation of serious sexual assault.

The Metropolitan Police had previously shelved its investigation into the Solihull MP, who was stripped of the Conservative whip, and it is not clear why the case was referred onwards.

The Tories refused to restore the whip to Mr Knight after the Met dropped the case, with the party saying at the time that it had received further complaints.

Detectives who specialise in cases of this kind will gather evidence and conduct a thorough investigation

Mr Knight has denied what he described as a false and malicious accusation.

On Tuesday, a statement from Essex Police said: We have agreed to take on an investigation which has been referred to us from the Metropolitan Police Service.

We are investigating an allegation of serious sexual assault.

Detectives who specialise in cases of this kind will gather evidence and conduct a thorough investigation.

Detective Chief Superintendent Andy Waldie will oversee the work carried out by a senior investigating officer with extensive experience.

In the interests of justice and of all concerned, we have asked media outlets and others not to enter into any speculative comment or reporting on this matter, Essex added.

We would also remind everyone that victims of sexual offences are entitled to life-long anonymity, regardless of how a case proceeds.

The Essex Police investigation remains at an early stage.

Mr Knight is currently sitting in the Commons as an independent and has announced that he will stand down at the next election.

In December, the then chairman of the Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee insisted he is entirely innocent of any wrongdoing whatsoever after the Met opened its investigation.

The force said in March that it was no longer proceeding with an investigation, with no arrests having been made.

Mr Knight urged the Tories to hand back the whip, meaning that he could rejoin colleagues in the parliamentary party.

But the Conservatives refused his demand and said that further complaints had been made to the Whips Office.

These complaints, if appropriate, will be referred to the relevant police force, or appropriate bodies, a spokeswoman for Chief Whip Simon Hart said at the time.

The Conservatives declined to comment on Tuesday.
C abinet minister Michael Gove accused Sir Keir Starmer of planning to downgrade the ultimate privilege of British citizenship by giving EU nationals in the UK the right to vote in a general election.

The Labour leader has suggested people who have spent decades living in the UK ought to be able to vote in elections to decide who runs the country.

But Levelling Up Secretary Mr Gove wrote to the Labour leader saying it had been the settled constitutional position for many decades that the right to vote in a general election was limited to British, Irish and qualifying Commonwealth citizens.

He also hit out at the prospect of Labour lowering the voting age to 16, arguing that adulthood begins at 18.

Labour is looking at proposals to extend the franchise for general elections, but has not yet fixed on a policy.

Opponents have accused Labour of seeking to undermine Brexit and rig the voting system, in the belief that younger voters and EU nationals may be more inclined to support Sir Keirs party.

In his letter to Sir Keir, Mr Gove said: Why do you think we should extend voting rights to EU nationals (which they never previously had), now we have left the European Union?

Why do you think its 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?

Speaking on LBC on Monday, Sir Keir 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.

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, Sir Keir said.

He pointed to Wales where the voting age for Senedd and local government elections has been lowered to 16.
KYODO NEWS - May 16, 2023 - 07:41 | All, Japan





Police are searching for an angler who went missing at a lake in Japan's Hokkaido, suspecting he may have been attacked by a bear after a human head was found in the area Monday, they said.

According to the police, a boat dropped off Toshihiro Nishikawa, 54, to fish unaccompanied at a spot on Lake Shumarinai in Horokanai early Sunday. An employee of the boat operator later saw a bear nearby with waders dangling from its mouth and attempted to call Nishikawa, but could not reach him.

The information prompted the town office to launch a bear hunt operation and a member of the group killed one on Monday afternoon, according to a town official.

A human head was also discovered during the operation. The police said they are investigating whether it is that of Nishikawa, a resident of Okoppe, also on Japan's northernmost main island.

The lake, located in northern Hokkaido, draws anglers trying to catch Sakhalin taimen, a rarely caught fish in Japan, as well as trout and Japanese smelt.
C riticism of Government policy by Tory MPs is a sign of a healthy party, a senior Cabinet minister has said.

Communities Secretary Michael Gove denied that the Conservative tent had become too big, in comments at the National Conservatism conference in Westminster on Tuesday.

The conference, which started on Monday, has seen other Conservatives attack policies including the U-turn on scrapping EU regulations and the expansion of funding for childcare announced at the last Budget.

We are now wrestling with a new set of issues and I think it's right that we have those conversations

But asked whether this was a sign that the Conservative Party was becoming too divided, Mr Gove told conference delegates: I dont think so.

I think its a sign of a party and a broader movement that is healthy, that you can have debate.

One of the arguments thats sometimes made is that after 13 years in power, the time has come to dispense with the Conservatives because theres a lack of ideas, theres a lack of intellectual energy, theres a sense of exhaustion.

I completely disagree. I think what weve seen at different points is the Conservative Party, as it always has, adapting to changed circumstances.

He added: We are now wrestling with a new set of issues and I think its right that we have those conversations.

Mr Gove also stressed the need for Conservatives to advance their arguments with self-confidence and civility while being intellectually robust.

He said: I think that the overwhelming majority of people in this country prefer civility.

They want people, when there are assaults, to stand up for them. This goes to the whole question of the so-called culture war that is raging at the moment.

This new left is not in competition, it is at war with the West, with the moral, intellectual and social foundations on which our entire civilisation rests

My own view is there are certain things, certain principles that you should defend, absolutely. It is absolutely critical that we dont deny biological reality, that we dont feel that we should apologise for aspects of our past which are genuine sources of pride.

But we should do so with the self-confidence that means that we dont need to be strident.

The so-called culture war has been a significant feature of the National Conservatism conference so far, with one speaker earlier on Tuesday warning that left-wing forces were at war with the West.

Kevin Roberts, chair of the Washington-based Heritage Foundation, used his speech to attack globalists and ruling-class contempt of everyday working families.

He said: This new left is not in competition, it is at war with the West, with the moral, intellectual and social foundations on which our entire civilisation rests.

Which is why it reserves a singular hatred for the kind of conservatism represented by Donald Trump and (Florida governor) Ron DeSantis, by Brexit, by (Hungarian president) Viktor Orban, and yes, by this conference.

Mr Robertss Heritage Foundation is one of the most prominent right-wing think tanks in the United States and was a strong backer of former US president Donald Trump.

Mr Roberts went on to attack the normalisation of anti-Western, anti-Christian, anti-democratic, cultural totalitarianism in western newsrooms, classrooms and bureaucracies, as well as the Covid lockdown debacle.

The EU's systematic assault on member nations' sovereignty, to say nothing of their diverse cultures, identities and faith, is already tearing Europe apart and pushing it toward the brink

Mr Roberts claimed these were symptoms of ruling-class contempt for everyday working families and the institutions that prioritise their rights and interests over elite privilege.

He added: Things like democracy, the rule of law, free speech, religious devotion, marriage and family-ordered liberty, property rights and yes, the real free market.

He also accused elites in Europe of condemning Russian president Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine even as they coolly plot a far more aggressive and ambitious imperial project.

He said: Today, the EU embodies the cultural chauvinism, spiritual decadence, strategic incompetence and tyrannical ambition that have hurried the continent into chaos for millennia.

Its systematic assault on member nations sovereignty, to say nothing of their diverse cultures, identities and faith, is already tearing Europe apart and pushing it toward the brink.

They think because they rule by pen and microphone, they are kinder and gentler than their gauche martinet predecessors who led armies and navies. Theyre not. Theyre just as imperialistic, ambitious, megalomaniacal and authoritarian as any of the bullies they hope to succeed.

The only good news is that theyre weaker than those who failed before them.

Mr Roberts made his comments on the second day of the National Conservatism conference, which has also heard from Home Secretary Suella Braverman.

Ms Braverman used her speech to outline her own view of conservatism and argue for a reduction in immigration, saying immigration without integration and the unexamined drive towards multiculturalism was a recipe for communal disaster.

The conferences first day also featured speeches from former Cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg and backbenchers Danny Kruger and Miriam Cates, who called for greater support for the family amid falling birth rates.

But Downing Street has declined to endorse the conference, with the Prime Ministers spokesman telling reporters: Some Government ministers have chosen to speak at the event. But beyond that, theres no change in our policy.

Downing Street also said the Prime Minister disagreed with comments made by Mr Kruger in his speech, where he argued the normative family with a mother and a father was the only basis for a functioning society.

Other speakers have called for Conservatives to take their children out of woke schools and claimed sex education was being outsourced to rainbow activists.
A senior MP tipped to run as the Tory candidate for Mayor of London would be breaching the ministerial code if he took on Sadiq Khan, it has been claimed.

Minister for London Paul Scully is expected to officially announce he is running for the Conservative nomination this week.

But the Liberal Democrats have said the Sutton and Cheam MP could be breaking Government rules if he throws his hat into the ring.

MP Sarah Olney has written to ethics advisor Sir Laurie Magnus asking that he launches an investigation if Mr Scully declares his intention to stand in the City Hall election next May.

She said she is "concerned" that there would be a conflict of interest if Mr Scully continued to be a minister while campaigning to be MAyor of London and it would give the impression that "Government resources at his disposal as Minister for London would be being used for the purposes of his potential candidacy".

"I therefore would urge you to open an investigation under article 1.3f of the Code, should Scully announce his intention to seek the nomination," Ms Olney wrote in her letter.

But Mr Scully hit back, saying he would happily relinquish his ministerial role and pause all Minister of London activities if he declared he wanted to run.

He told the Standard: Rather than drowning in an attempt to remain politically relevant like the Lib Dems Im concentrating on improving the lives of Londoners, especially on crime, transport and housing.

Several Tory candidates have declared they want to take on Labour's Sadiq Khan, who will fight for a historic third term next year.

Three Tories on the London Assembly - Andrew Boff, Nick Rogers and Susan Hall - have all said they will stand.

Samuel Kasumu, a former Downing Street aide to Boris Johnson, tech entrepreneur Daniel Korski, and ex councillor Duwayne Brooks have entered the race, while former Education Secretary Kit Malthouse has also refused to rule out a bid.
S ir Keir Starmer has pledged to ramp up housebuilding in the UK by relaxing planning restrictions and allowing more homes to be built on the green belt.

Speaking to The Times, the Labour leader pledged to give local authorities more power to build on green belt land.

Earlier this month, Sir Keir committed Labour to reinstating housebuilding targets that were scrapped by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak after a backbench revolt.

Ministers backed down and made the target of building 300,000 houses a year in England advisory rather than mandatory, taking the pressure off local authorities to approve new developments.

Sir Keir told the newspaper that, in doing so, the Conservatives had killed the dream of homeowning for a whole generation.

It will fall to us to deal with that.

Green belt policy aims to prevent urban sprawl by keeping land permanently open.

There are currently 13 green belts in London and 1 in Wales, all of which are protected by planning controls as well as an additional presumption against inappropriate development within their boundaries.

Sir Keir said Labour would fix what is essentially a broken system giving councils and residents the power to build on certain areas of green belt land if they wish.

He added: It cannot be reduced to a simple discussion of will you or will you not build on the green belt. This is why its important for local areas to have the power to decide where housing is going to be.

Very often the objections that people have to housebuilding on the green belt are valid because the control by landowners and developers mean that the houses are proposed in areas where its quite obvious that theres going to be a local concern.

Give local authorities, local areas more power to decide where it will be and you alleviate that problem. So its not as binary or straightforward as green belt, not green belt. Its how you direct where the housing will be.

During the Tory leadership contest last summer, Mr Sunak said the green belt was extremely previous and said his planning policy would be brownfield, brownfield, brownfield.

It comes hours after Housing Secretary Michael Gove conceded there simply arent enough homes in Britain.

Across Britain, the average asking price for a first-time buyer type property currently sits at a record of 224,963, according to data shared earlier this month by property website Rightmove.

Cabinet minister Mr Gove said: There is a problem and the problem is there simply arent enough homes in this country.

It is increasingly difficult to get on the property ladder.
S uella Braverman was slammed on Tuesday by a senior Tory MP for her speech to a Right-wing conference and told she should concentrate on the job as Home Secretary.

Ex-Justice Secretary Sir Robert Buckland also stressed that all ministers owed the Government a sense of collective responsibility and should be disciplined.

He criticised the Home Secretary after her speech to the National Conservatism conference in Westminsters Emmanuel Centre.

In her address, Ms Braverman said that while preventing illegal migration in the Channel is the Governments priority, they must not lose sight of the importance of controlling legal migration as well.

She argued that you cannot have immigration without integration and the unexamined drive towards multiculturalism is a recipe for communal disaster.

Her speech was being seen as a warning to Cabinet colleagues against relaxing immigration visa rules in a bid to boost growth and as setting out her stall as the candidate of the Right if the Tories lose the next General Election and there is a leadership contest to replace Rishi Sunak.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman arrives at 10 Downing Street today / PA

But Sir Robert criticised her intervention.

He told Sky News: Im saying to the Home Secretary that she has got a big job to do.

Getting on and doing that job is exactly where she needs to be.

The conference for the Conservative Party, there are two conferences, there is the spring forum which we have just had and there is the Conservative Party conference in the autumn, that is the platform through which we should be projecting our views and value.

Lets concentrate on the job.

He said that a lively policy debate showed the Tories were not just talking about personalities, but also about issues that matter to voters.

But he added: We all, particularly ministers, owe the Government that sense of collective responsbility, to be disciplined, to be very clear about the priorities that the Prime Minister has set out, and to work towards what we believe would be a Conservative government that would act in the national interest.

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.

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.

But Sir Keir Starmer had urged Ms Braverman to cancel her planned speech on immigration and get back to the office.

The Labour leader 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... doing a speech this afternoon on what Arsenal ought to do.

In her speech, Ms Braverman also praised the common sense approach of Conservatives who are sceptical of self-appointed gurus, experts and elites.

She added: Measuring diversity only on the basis of skin colour, sex and sexuality is mindbogglingly myopic. Identity politics is the politics of grievance and division.

Earlier, ex-Brexit minister Rees-Mogg attacked the Governments decision to scale back post-Brexit plans to scrap EU laws as pathetically under-ambitious.

The former cabinet minister criticised the Prime Minister for breaking his promise to complete a bonfire of remaining EU-era laws by the end of the year.

The conference will also feature speakers including 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

Ministers say it is common sense to address the issue of EU laws in an ordered way, rather than risk havoc by rushing the policy.

Economic experts already say Brexit will leave millions of workers 1,300 worse off than if Britain had stayed in the EU.

Tory MP Miriam Cates had opened the conference with a call for families to be encouraged to have more children, as she claimed cultural Marxism was destroying our childrens souls.

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.
S upermarkets that have significantly inflated petrol and diesel prices to increase profits should be "named and shamed", an MP said on Tuesday.

Retail bosses are set to be hauled in for interviews this month in an investigation launched by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

It is concerned fuel costs are higher than they should be and increases cannot all be blamed on global factors, such as the war in Ukraine.

Prices last year were on average of 5p-a-litre more expensive than they would have been had supermarkets maintained their average profit margins at 2019 levels, the CMA said.

Chief Executive Sarah Cardell warned that there was evidence weakening competition among retailers had pushed up fees for drivers.

There was evidence at least one company had increased its internal profit targets and others may have also have adjusted prices, she said.

The rocketing costs come despite Chancellor Jeremy Hunt confirming fuel duty would remain frozen for a thirteenth consecutive year, and extending the 5p-a-litre cut for another 12 months, during his budget in March.

Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olney said it was shocking that there was evidence at least one company had inflated prices to profiteer off the cost of living crisis.

This supermarket must be named and shamed, she said. The Government has completely failed to bring down prices and have been ignoring allegations of profiteering for far too long.

Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olney / PA Wire

Ms Cardell told BBC Radio 4: "We are concerned about this increase in retailer margins and it doesn't appear to be driven entirely by factors outside of retailers' control.

"Obviously things like the war in Ukraine have had a significant impact on pump prices, but we have identified for example at least one supermarket has increased its own internal targets for its margins and we know that other supermarkets are aware of that and may have adjusted their own pricing behaviour accordingly.

"So we are calling in the representatives from the supermarkets for interviews over the next couple of weeks.

She added that diesel margins have remained significantly higher" than petrol and it is not clear why that is".

The CMA will also look at the grocery retail market as food costs continue to rise.

Ms Cardell said: Grocery and food shopping are essential purchases. We recognise that global factors are behind many of the grocery price increases, and we have seen no evidence at this stage of specific competition problems.

But, given ongoing concerns about high prices, we are stepping up our work in the grocery sector to help ensure competition is working well and people can exercise choice with confidence.
S choolchildren in England are in the top five in the world at reading, new stats have shown.

Primary pupils have ranked in at fourth in international rankings for literacy skills in results announced today by the UK Government.

The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study - known as Pirls - saw Englands rank jump from eighth to enter the top four.

The tests internationally are looked at every five years and place countries in a global education league table.

Children aged nine and ten, normally Year 5 pupils in England, are tested at the end of the school year.

In the latest round of tests - in 2021 - a massive 400,000 pupils across 57 countries were assessed. But in this round of league tables a total of 14 countries delayed testing until the start of the 2022 school years because of the Covid pandemic, meaning they were not included in the rankings table as the children were deemed older than others in the study.

The International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA), which runs the study, decided to include England in the table - even though it pushed back testing until 2022 to avoid that disruption - because it tested the same age group as the other countries.

Schools minister Nick Gibb said Englands success was aided by government reforms, including a focus on phonics, which teaches children to read using sounds, and to teachers putting reading at the heart of everything they do.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said the excellent results were a badly needed piece of good news for an education system that feels beleaguered.

He said the success was testament to the hard work, skill and dedication of primary school teachers and leaders.

The best countries for childrens reading

Here are the top ten and the scores for each country:

1. Singapore

Average score: 587

2. Hong Kong

Average score: 573

3. Russia

Average score: 567

4. England

Average score: 558

The stats also showed that in England, there is still a gender gap, with girls outperforming boys, although it was by a lower margin this year.

5. Finland

Average score: 549

6. Poland

Average score: 549

7. Chinese Taipei

Average score: 544

8. Sweden

Average score: 544

9. Australia

Average score: 540

10. Bulgaria

Average score: 540
A multi-millionaire Tory donor who owns Londons famous Conran Shop and a stake in the Anya Hindmarch handbag retailer was revealed today as a key figure linked to a major money laundering operation targeted by the National Crime Agency.

A court ruling said that bank records showed that Javad Marandi, who has been on a Conservative advisory board of ultra-wealthy supporters, either owned or was connected to companies involved in a criminal enterprise moving vast sums of illicit funds around the world and into this country.

The judgment states that he received $49 million directly from the bank account of one of the companies used to launder the proceeds of crime as part of the scheme - known as the "Azerbaijan laundromat" - and that one of the companies owned by Mr Marandi received a further $107 million from the same account.

It also shows that Mr Marandi was a conduit for dirty money chanelled to an oligarchs son in London.

Mr Marandi, who is one of Londons most successful tycoons and has a home on Belgravias Eaton Square, has strongly denied any wrongdoing and had managed to keep his connection to the money laundering case secret through an anonymity order imposed by a court in 2021.

He had claimed that revealing his name would inflict catastrophic damage on him and his businesses, which in this country also include the Emilia Wickstead fashion brand and the Wed2B wedding outfit retailer.

Mr Marandi, 55, is also the landlord of the celebrity favoured Soho Farmhouse in Oxfordshire and the long-term holder of the McDonalds fast-food franchise in Azerbaijan. His other overseas businesses include a five-star hotel in Brussels. He also has a charitable foundation that supports The Royal Foundation charity set up by the Prince and Princess of Wales and other organisations ranging from St Pauls School to Centrepoint.

He was awarded an OBE in 2020 for services to business and philanthropy and as well as being the former owner of a multi-million pound yacht has been described in one media profile as having a taste for vintage wines, private jets and beautiful properties.

Mr Marandi, who is one of Londons most successful tycoons and has a home on Belgravias Eaton Square /

His link to the money laundering case had been kept from the public because of the anonymity order.

But the order, which was contested by the Evening Standard when it was first imposed, was removed today after the Court of Appeal joined the High Court in backing a judges earlier ruling in favour of applications by this newspaper and the BBC for his identity to be revealed.

In that ruling, District Judge John Zani said he was removing anonymity on the grounds that Mr Marandi was a person of importance in court proceedings brought by the National Crime Agency which led to the forfeiture of 5.6 million from the London bank accounts of three members of the family of Azeri oligarch Javanshir Feyziyev.

The court found then that the trio  Mr Feyziyevs wife Parvana Feyziyeva, their son Orkhan, and nephew Elman Javanshir  had all benefited from funds funnelled to them by Mr Feyziyev and others via a criminal enterprise known as the Azerbaijan laundromat in which a complex network of offshore and UK companies were used to shift huge sums around the world.

Judge Zani said he rejected Mr Marandis claim that he was a peripheral figure in the case against the Feyziyev family.

Instead, he said Mr Marandi had featured directly (and indirectly) on a number of occasions in the detailed opening note prepared by .. the NCA setting out the alleged money laundering and in evidence provided by the law enforcement agencys lead investigator.

The judge said he had also concluded that there had been a significant money laundering scheme in existence in Azerbaijan, Estonia and Latvia involving the companies Baktelekom, Hilux, Polux, Brightmax as well as from other entities.

He said substantial funds from this criminal enterprise had been paid into the Latvian bank account of a business called Avromed Company (Seychelles) which banking records showed was owned by Mr Marandi.

The court found that Mr Marandi had in turn received almost $49 million from this bank account in account replenishment, and that a company he owned had received $107 million, while Mr Feyziyev and members of his family had also received multi-million dollar sums.

The judge added that there was overwhelming evidence that the `invoices` and `contracts` purporting to support legitimate (and very substantial) business transactions between Baktelekom, Hilux and Polux were entirely fictitious and being used to mask the underlying money laundering activities of those orchestrating the accounts.

Judge Zani also cited his forfeiture judgment from against the Feyziyev family showing that a $500,000 deposit by Mr Marandi was one of the sources of the 1 million seized from the account of Orkhan Javanshir by the National Crime Agency on the grounds that it was illicit money.

The judge added that Mr Marandi had failed to provide any clear and cogent evidence to demonstrate the enormous and irremediable damage to him and his businesses that his barrister, the former Bar Council chairman Desmond Browne QC, had told the court he would suffer.

Judge Zani said this considerably weakened any argument for anonymity and cited a Divisional Court judgment in an earlier court victory by the Standard in the case of the millionaire DJ Izzat Javadova and her husband Suleyman Javadov stating that it is wholly insufficient simply to aver damage without providing details.

He added: In all the circumstances I am no longer satisfied that it is necessary or proportionate for the [anonymity] order .. to remain in place. Accordingly, the said anonymity order  is hereby revoked.

Lawyers for Mr Marandi managed to maintain the bar on revealing his name, however, by seeking a judicial review on the grounds that Judge Zani had erred in law by lifting anonymity.

They used a controversial Supreme Court ruling, ZXC v Bloomberg, and a European Court of Human Rights judgment in a case called del Campo to support their case that Mr Marandis privacy rights should outweigh those of the media to tell the public about his connection to the money laundering case.

The application was opposed by the Evening Standard and the BBC and ended in defeat after two senior judges, Lord Justice Warby and Mr Justice Mostyn, rejected Mr Marandis bid to overturn the decision to remove his anonymity.

Their judgment states that the original anonymity order should never have been granted and had been achieved through a strategic decision by Mr Marandi and his lawyers to give the media effectively no notice of the application in a process that did not meet the requirements of natural justice.

The judgment adds that the judges subsequent decision to remove anonymity cannot be impugned and that Mr Marandis attempt to keep his name secret had always been doomed to failure in circumstances where he had never advanced an account of why the allegations.. or findings .. against him were wide of the mark or evidence of the specific concrete harm that he would suffer.

Lord Justice Warby added that although Mr Marandis barrister in the judicial review, Lord Pannick KC, had treated the forfeiture judgment as if it contained a finding that his client is guilty of an offence this was  certainly not the formal position and nor is it the only possible interpretation of the judgment.

The judgment added that claims in a statement by Mr Marandis solicitor Julian Pike, from Farrer & Co, that the businessman would suffer the loss of banking facilities if his name was made public amounted to "inadmissible lay opinion" that was "not worth the paper it was written on".

In a final effort to keep his name secret, Mr Marandi sought permission to challenge the High Court judgment at the Court of Appeal.

But his application has now been rejected by both the High Court and the Court of Appeal, meaning that the anonymity order has finally been removed allowing Mr Marandis identity to be revealed.

The court decision follows a ten day hearing in 2021 in which Judge Zani approved the original anonymity order before ruling against the Feyziyev family  which has a multi-million pound mansion on Cumberland Terrace overlooking Regents Park  and ordering the 5.6 million forfeiture from their respective accounts.

The court heard then that Mr Marandi ,who was referred to as MNL, was the owner of another company, Vynehill Enterprises Ltd, involved in receiving suspect funds and also believed to be the owner of Brightmax, another of the entities named as part of the money laundering scheme.

Mr Marandi, who was born in Iran, came to London as a child and has lived here ever since and is a British citizen

He has extensive property and business interests internationally, including in Azerbaijan, and has made 11 donations to the Conservative Party dating from David Camerons premiership onwards totalling 663,800 between May 2014 and November 2020. The largest donations were two payments of 250,000 made in 2019 and 2020.

He has been named previously by The Sunday Times newspaper as a member of an elite advisory board of ultra wealthy Tory donors given access to ministers, although a spokesman said at the time that he had only attended on one occasion.

As well as supporting The Royal Foundation of the Prince and Princess of Wales , Mr Marandis philanthropic activities include being the founder and funder of The Watercolour World. It is a charity creating an online database of watercolour paintings from before 1900 and before the death of Queen Elizabeth II listed the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall as its patrons.

Mr Marandi was not a party to the forfeiture case against the Feyziyevs and his lawyers complained that he had been unable to challenge the money laundering findings made in relation to the case.

He declined to provide any testimony to the anonymity hearing but instead relied on a witness statement submitted to the court on his behalf by his solicitor in which he denied any wrongdoing.

It states that the source of his income is very clear and easily demonstrated and that there is no legitimate or lawful basis to accuse Mr Marandi of having established his wealth by unlawful means or for alleging that he is guilty of or involved in unlawful money laundering of funds directly derived from his lawful business interests.

The fact that he is the beneficiary of substantial dividend payments, for example, is not prima facie evidence of wrongdoing, criminal or otherwise, as opposed to the income being lawfully earned from very extensive business interests, the statement adds.

Another document submitted to the court on Mr Marandis behalf seeks to explain the methods used to transfer his money.

It says that because of currency restrictions imposed in Azerbaijan intermediary organisations, such as exchange houses, both inside the country and in neighbouring jurisdictions such as Latvia and Estonia, were used to transfer money out of the country and that this necessity only ceased in 2017 when these rules were relaxed.

It also insists that Mr Marandi rejects any suggestion that his use of exchange houses to transfer legitimate and lawfully acquired funds from his business activities in Azerbaijan out of the country was in any way illegal or gives rise to legitimate suspicion.

Mr Marandi has declined to be be interviewed by this newspaper, but a statement issued by his solicitors Farrer & Co said that he "vehemently denies any wrongdoing" and believed the decision to name him was unjust.

The statement added: "At no point has Mr Marandi been investigated or questioned by the authorities. And no case has ever been brought against him or his businesses in relation to these or any other matters, anywhere in the world.

"Mr Marandi is deeply disappointed at the Courts decision to lift reporting restrictions, knowing the reputational damage that is likely to follow."

His solicitors added that the businessman had commissioned three separate investigations into his affairs and that each had shown no impropriety and that his vast wealth had been legitimately earned.
A magnificent 3D replica of Earth as seen from space has been unveiled in a Glasgow church.

Seven metres (nearly 23ft) in diameter, Gaia, created by the renowned British installation artist Luke Jerram and named after the Greek goddess of Earth, has gone on show at Mackintosh Queens Cross Church, the only church ever designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

The globe is around 2.1 million times smaller than the real Earth, with each centimetre of the internally lit sculpture representing 21km of the worlds surface.

Formed using detailed Nasa imagery of the Earths surface, the artwork in the church in the citys Maryhill area provides the public with the opportunity to see our planet floating in three dimensions.

The unveiling of the artwork kicked off a month-long series of events in the city organised by the Charles Rennie Mackintosh (CRM) Society to mark its 50th anniversary.

Director Stuart Robertson remarked: Were thrilled to unveil the magnificent Gaia installation and welcome visitors to see this stunning spectacle and enjoy our exciting 50th anniversary events.

We have a packed programme of exhibitions, concerts, talks and film nights under Gaia.

Whether youve been to Mackintosh Queens Cross before, or are visiting for the first time, we look forward to welcoming you.

Gaia will be on show at Mackintosh Queens Cross until June 24, during which time a number of 50th anniversary events are scheduled to take place.

These events include talks about Glasgows history, concerts featuring artists such as Amy May Ellis and Siobhan Wilson, several film screenings and a special exhibition showcasing some of Charles Rennie Mackintoshs unbuilt designs.
A lorry driver has claimed he was not aware of offensive chanting about murder victim Michaela McAreavey when he streamed a video from a Co Down Orange Hall.

Andrew McDade made the claim at an industrial tribunal as he challenged the decision by his former employer to dismiss him in the aftermath of the Facebook Live broadcast last May.

He had been attending an event at Dundonald Orange Hall when he live-streamed footage of singing which appears to mock the daughter of the former Tyrone GAA manager Mickey Harte who was murdered while on honeymoon in Mauritius in 2011.

The clip sparked widespread condemnation across the political sphere in Northern Ireland and beyond.

However Mr McDade contends he was not aware of the offensive chanting and had simply been streaming to show the atmosphere of the day at an event to mark Northern Irelands centenary, adding he could not be responsible for the actions of others during a live stream.

His employer became linked with the video because Mr McDades Facebook profile description included their name.

Mr McDade was suspended on June 3, while an investigation was carried out, and then dismissed. He did not appeal his dismissal last year.

During the industrial tribunal hearing in Belfast, representatives from Norman Emerson Group said they feared reputational damage to their firm, which included the GAA among its customers, after the clip went viral.

They said they had requested the full four-minute video but were told it no longer existed because Mr McDade had deleted his Facebook account.

As he began his evidence, Mr McDade repeated an apology he made last year to the Harte and McAreavey families for the video, which he said he was ashamed of.

Frank ODonoghue KC for the Norman Emerson Group questioned Mr McDade on whether he had written a letter of apology to the two families and made a donation to a charity of their choice, as he had committed to in his apology statement last year.

Mr McDade said he had not done those things personally, but believed his representative Jamie Bryson had written on his behalf.

Mr ODonoghue also asked Mr McDade if he had been drunk when he took the video, to which the claimant responded: Definitely not.

It was pointed out to him that his apology statement last year referred to actions fuelled by alcohol. Mr McDade said he had had two cans of beer, but was not drunk.

Mr ODonoghue described the Emerson family and their firm as non-sectarian, and that managing director George Emerson, who is a friend of the Harte family, phoned them to apologise for the actions of one of his employees.

Under questioning, Mr McDade contended the full four-minute video had included him moving around the hall taking in Orange bannerettes on display.

The shorter clip of the full video was shown to the hearing room.

Mr ODonoghue noted the video ended as the song ended, and put to Mr McDade it is plain as the nose on your face that you were videoing that song, to which Mr McDade replied: No, adding that the clip was taken from a longer video.

The barrister also put to Mr McDade he had meant to broadcast to just his friends on Facebook but as the live stream was public, the video went viral and he was found out.

You knew exactly what you were posting, and its an insult to everyones intelligence to suggest you didnt, Mr ODonoghue stated.

The video was removed in the early hours of June 3.

Mr McDade said he removed the video because he had been getting threats, and also deleted his Facebook profile for his own safety.

Mr ODonoghue, however, put to Mr McDade that he had removed the evidence.

Under questioning by his own representative, Mr Bryson, Mr McDade said if he had been aware of the offensive chanting he would have removed the video earlier.

Mr Bryson said the clip was taken of the video by an SDLP representative and deliberately edited and put online for political gain.

Earlier in the day, Norman Emerson Group business development director Conor Jordan, who conducted the investigation into Mr McDade, gave evidence.

He described a cross-community business which employs from both denominations and was built on good relations.

Mr Jordan said while the GAA is an important customer, he said that was not the sole reason for the decision to dismiss Mr McDade.

This was going global, it was going viral, and the negative exposure for the company was startling, he said.

The hearing is set to resume on Wednesday morning for final submissions.

On Monday, Mr McDades partner, nursing assistant Rhonda Shiels, appeared in a case challenging the decision by the Southern Health and Social Care Trust to dismiss her after she liked and shared the Facebook Live recording.
P rince Harry is mounting a second legal challenge against the Home Office over the decision to bar him from paying for a police security detail during trips to the UK.

The Duke of Sussex lost his right to security protection when he and wife Meghan stood down as working Royals and left the UK.

A decision was then taken that the Prince could not privately fund Metropolitan Police protection for him and his family in the future, after being told officers were not guns for hire.

Harry was granted permission in July last year to bring a first judicial review over that decision, which had been taken by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (RAVEC).

At the High Court on Tuesday, the Duke mounted a second legal challenge, arguing the question of paying for protection should not have been delegated to RAVEC by the Home Office.

Lawyers for the Prince say he was not given any opportunity to make representations to RAVEC, and to comment on any representations RAVEC took into account, before the funding decision was made.

He also argues there is a power for a police chief to decide that special police services can be privately paid for by an individual.

Permission to bring the second judicial review challenge was denied by a judge in February, after consideration of the Princes submissions in writing.

Shaheed Fatima KC, leading Harrys legal team, is now making a fresh application to bring forward the challenge at a High Court hearing today.

In response, Robert Palmer KC, representing the Home Secretary, urged the court to uphold the judges original decision and throw out Harrys case.

RAVEC was entitled (indeed, correct) to characterise there being significant legal uncertainty as to whether or not the provision of Protective Security (including firearms) falls within the scope of section 25 of the Police Act 1996 at all, he said, in written submissions.

The Claimant has identified no case law, guidance or practice which addresses this type of scenario and suggests otherwise.

RAVEC was entitled to take account of that uncertainty as relevant to whether a decision which favoured the use of private funding could actually be delivered. It was not obliged to reach a purported authoritative view.

The Home Office says the decision to block Harrys security detail was rational and well within the permissible range of decisions open to RAVEC.

RAVEC was not required to offer the Claimant the opportunity to make representations in relation to the Funding Decision, and given the nature of the arguments now advanced by the Claimant, the Court can be confident that such representations would have been highly likely to have made no substantial difference in any event, they added.

Harry is fighting on two fronts in the High Court on Tuesday, with a seven-week phone hacking trial against Mirror Group Newspapers ongoing in another part of the Royal Courts of Justice.

In separate legal cases, the Prince is also suing the owners of The Sun and Daily Mail newspapers over claims of unlawful newsgathering against him.
KYODO NEWS - May 16, 2023 - 23:00 | All, World, Japan

The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.

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New ex-member of Johnny's talent agency claims teenage sexual abuse

TOKYO - Another former member of Japan's top male talent agency Johnny & Associates Inc. said Tuesday he was sexually abused as a teenager by the firm's late founder Johnny Kitagawa, with the scandal leading to an apology by the current president.

"When I was about 13, I was sexually abused around two times," Yasushi Hashida, now a dancer and actor, told a Diet hearing he was invited to attend by the main opposition, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan.

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Tokyo's Topix ends at 33-yr high on Wall St. gains, upbeat earnings

TOKYO - Tokyo's Topix index ended Tuesday at its highest level in around 33 years as stocks were lifted by overnight gains on Wall Street and recent favorable earnings results from domestic companies.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average closed up 216.65 points, or 0.73 percent, from Monday to 29,842.99, its highest since September 2021. The broader Topix index finished 12.33 points, or 0.58 percent, higher at 2,127.18, its highest level since August 1990.

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China urges Japan to reflect on aggression after Kishida comments

BEIJING - China on Tuesday urged Japan to seriously reflect on the past aggression of Japanese militarism in reaction to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's warning to Beijing against changing the status quo by force.

Kishida said Monday that the Group of Seven leaders will seek to send a strong message to the world during their summit later this week in Hiroshima that they will not accept "unilateral attempts by China and Russia to change the status quo by force," in the face of Beijing's military assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific.

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FOCUS: China wary of new G-7 pressure, seeks to highlight rifts

BEIJING - With the Group of Seven leaders expected to urge China again to act responsibly at their summit in Hiroshima later this week, Beijing has stepped up its defense, trying to deflect their criticism by highlighting possible rifts among the G-7 members.

On the back of a deepening China-U.S. rivalry and closer ties between Beijing and Moscow amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the world's second-largest economy has downplayed the influence of the group representing a handful of rich Western nations and urged some European countries to value their "strategic autonomy."

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China urges embassies to remove signs showing support for Ukraine

BEIJING - China has requested foreign embassies and international organizations based in Beijing not to use the outer walls of their buildings for "political propaganda," apparently with regard to signs that show support for Ukraine, multiple diplomatic sources in the capital said Tuesday.

Many embassies in Beijing have put up signboards depicting the Ukraine flag and with messages in Chinese and English, such as #StandWithUkraine, to demonstrate their solidarity with the Eastern European country battling a Russian invasion since February last year.

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Toyota, Subaru to jointly develop electric SUV as early as 2025

TOKYO - Toyota Motor Corp. and Subaru Corp. are set to ramp up cooperation in the development of electric cars, with a plan to launch an all-electric sport utility vehicle in the Japanese market as early as 2025, sources familiar with the matter said Tuesday.

The two companies will also consider collaborating on another EV targeted for North America and other regions, the sources said.

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Thai opposition Move Forward wins poll, challenges pro-military rule

BANGKOK - 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.

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Toyota falls in "future readiness" ranking amid global shift to EVs

TOKYO - Toyota Motor Corp. fell to 10th place from second last year in a ranking of automakers' ability to cope with future business risks, a Swiss business school said Tuesday, underscoring Toyota's slower shift to electric vehicles than its U.S. and Chinese rivals.

The annual ranking that measures "future readiness" for automakers was made based on such factors as innovation, business diversity and financial health, according to the International Institute for Management Development.

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Video: Mounted archery rite "Yabusame" at Kyoto shrine
R oyal Mail will be investigated by the industry watchdog Ofcom after it failed to meet its delivery targets during the past year.

The postal service delivered only 73.7 per cent of First Class mail within one day, well short of its 93 per cent target.

Ofcom said it would take into account whether any exceptional events explained the shortfall, but that Covid was no longer an excuse for poor delivery performance.

It comes as the boss of Royal Mail announced plans to step down, just weeks after the postal delivery firm agreed a pay deal with striking staff.

Following a bitter dispute with workers over pay, Simon Thompson said it was the right time to quit. He will leave his role on October 31.

The board of Royal Mail is in advanced stages of appointing a new CEO.

Keith Williams, chairman of Royal Mail parent International Distributions Services, said: On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Simon for his significant contribution over more than five years at Royal Mail, both as CEO and previously as a non-executive director of the Board.

As CEO, his leadership, resilience and unwavering drive to ensure that Royal Mail transforms for the benefit of our customers means we have set a clear path to turn the business around.

Mr Thompson said: I have been incredibly proud to lead Royal Mail during this crucial period in its 507-year history.

The changes we have made, the infrastructure we have put in place, and the agreements negotiated with our trade unions mean that Royal Mail now has a chance to compete and grow.

That is what I have always wanted, and it is now the right time to hand over to a new CEO to deliver the next stage of the companys reinvention.

Royal Mail agreed a deal with the Communication Workers Union (CWU) last month after almost a year of negotiations. That deal included a 10 per cent salary increase over three years and a one-off lump sum of 500.

So what is Royal Mail and who owns it?

Who owns Royal Mail?

Royal Mail is a public service that for much of its 507-year history was a Government department or public corporation. The Government in 2011 passed the Postal Services Act, which gave the green light for 90 per cent of Royal Mail to be privatised. Royal Mail employees owned 10 per cent of the firm.

In 2013, Royal Mail was floated on the London Stock Exchange. The Government initially retained a 30 per cent stake in the service, but sold its remaining shares in 2015 under former chancellor George Osborne.

It is now a public limited company, meaning it is owned by shareholders. It trades on the FTSE 250 as RMG, having been demoted from the FTSE 100 in June.

The Governments decision on the sale is practical, it is logical, it is a commercial decision designed to put Royal Mails future on a long-term sustainable business, Vince Cable said in 2013 when he was business secretary.

Royal Mails privatisation was contentious and led to widespread strikes called by the CWU. The companys share price also shot up after it was floated on the Stock Exchange, leading to accusations it had been undervalued by the Government.

The companys biggest shareholder is Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky, who controls the group Vesa Equity Investment. He has been dubbed the Czech Sphinx, due to his enigmatic business approach.

Mr Kretinsky, who also has stakes in Sainsburys and West Ham United, became the largest shareholder at Royal Mail in 2020. The billionaire, 47, is known for keeping a low profile and has not commented publicly on recent strikes.
A restaurant manager has contradicted the evidence of a former Metropolitan Police officer who claimed she had never been shown CCTV footage of a car used by Wayne Couzens when he flashed female members of his staff.

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 fast food restaurant in Swanley, Kent, on February 14 and 27, a police disciplinary hearing was told.

On both occasions, Couzens was seen by female members of staff to have his pants open and his penis on display.

Ms Lee attended the restaurant on March 3, interviewing the restaurant manager hours before Sarah Everard was kidnapped by Couzens in Clapham, south west London.

Ms Lee is alleged to have lied about her actions when later questioned about the interview, as she claimed she believed that the CCTV at the restaurant deleted automatically and so there was no CCTV evidence of Couzens or the offence.

But at the hearing on Tuesday, the manager said that he had shown Ms Lee CCTV footage and told her it could be downloaded onto a USB stick.

I showed her on the actual screen in the office, he told the hearing.

I showed her what I looked at before using the time from the receipts and it shows the car coming around.

He said he explained to her that Couzens registration plate could be seen in the CCTV footage of the second incident.

I told her (Samantha Lee) everything I knew and I explained how we caught him (Wayne Couzens) out the second time

He said he knew what times to play the CCTV at because of the time stamps on Couzens receipts.

The manager added: I said we could burn this on a USB.

He said he showed her all the evidence he had.

I told her everything I knew and I explained how we caught him out the second time, he said.

He said that Ms Lee stayed at the restaurant for probably 10 minutes in total.

It wasnt quick, it wasnt long either, it was probably 10 minutes, he said.

The manager also told the hearing he gave her Couzens receipts from the two incidents, which showed the same last four digits of a credit card number, and witness statements he had gathered from the victims.

On March 12, a meeting was held between Ms Lee and her commanding officer Inspector Rita Jones, after the arrest of Couzens three days earlier.

Ms Jones said she was shocked to discover that Ms Lee still had the witness statements and they had not been placed in a sealed evidence bag.

I was a tiny bit shocked she still had them, she said. This was two weeks later.

She added that Ms Lee did not mention the existence of the receipts, and that she did not realise at the time that there had been two incidents of flashing.

However, she said that Couzens offending during the incidents was, at most, medium risk and it would not have been treated as needing an immediate call.

The risk is now at the level of a medium risk, she said.

You would ask them to do it as a priority, maybe not as an immediate call, but as a priority.

In March 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 related to when Couzens exposed himself to a female cyclist on a Kent country lane in November 2020.

Ms Lee is said to have breached the forces 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.
C enter Parcs has been put up for sale by its owner, the Canadian private equity firm Brookfield.

The company aims to raise between 4 bn and 5 bn from the sale, according to the Financial Times.

This is nearly double what it was first bought for, eight years ago in 2015, when the business cost 2.4 bn.

Center Parcs runs six holiday villages in the UK and Ireland, which attract more than two million visitors every year.

If the sale is successful, it would be one of the largest property deals of the year so far.

In September last year, the company was inundated with complaints and jokes online after it said that its five UK parks would close for 24 hours on Monday, September 19, for the Queens funeral.

The decision-making process at Center Parcs was questioned by thousands.

Heres a look at who owns the company.

Who owns Center Parcs in the UK?

Center Parcs is owned by the Canadian private equity firm Brookfield.

The UK and Ireland operations are separately owned by Center Parcs in Europe which also trades under the brand.

The European business is still owned by Blackstone Group which sold the UK part of the business to Brookfield in 2015.

Who is the CEO of Center Parcs?

In the UK, Center Parcs is headed by CEO Colin McKinlay. He only took the role in February last year, replacing Martin Dalby, who was at the helm for 22 years beforehand.

Before becoming CEO, Mr McKinlay served as their chief financial officer, a role he still holds until the appropriate replacement can be found.

What do we know about the sale of the company?

At the end of 2022, Center Parcs reported occupancy rates of 97.3 per cent, in line with pre-Covid levels.

The company booked revenue of 426.6m between April and December 2022, up 20 per cent on 2021, and an 18 per cent increase from the 2019 pre-pandemic year.

According to the Financial Times, Brookfield appointed investment bankers to investigate potential buyers, including different private equity firms.

Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at AJ Bell, reported that demand for Center Parcs holidays remains.

It is thought the reason for selling is due to concern over the cost-of-living crisis, with rising mortgage costs and the tough economic climate prompting questions regarding the future growth of the company.
F ive men have been found guilty of stealing 100 million worth of jewels from a Dresden museum in a sensational 2019 heist.

The notorious break-in at the eastern German citys Green Vault Museum, on November 25, 2019, saw 21 pieces of 18th Century jewellery containing more than 4,300 diamonds stolen.

The treasure had a total insured value of at least 113.8 million - just under 99 million.

Dresdens state court on Tuesday convicted five men - aged 24 to 29 - over the theft.

One of the rooms in the Green Vault at the Royal Palace in Dresden, Germany where jewels were stolen in 2019 / AP

They were each handed prison sentences of between four years and four months, and six years and three months, German news agency dpa reported. One defendant was acquitted.

They were convicted of particularly aggravated arson in combination with dangerous bodily injury, theft with weapons, damage to property and intentional arson.

The men laid a fire just before the break-in, at around 5am, to cut the power supply to street lights outside the museum. CCTV inside the building then captured the hooded thieves smashing open a cabinet and stealing the jewellery before they escaped in a getaway car.

The car was then set alight in a nearby garage before the men fled to Berlin. They were caught several months later during police raids in the German capital.

One of the pieces stolen from the Royal Palace that houses the historic Green Vault in Dresden / Green Vault (Gruenes Gewoelbe)/A

Following the heist, Saxons interior minister Rolan Woeller said: This is a bitter day for the cultural heritage of Saxony.

He said the thieves stole cultural treasures of immeasurable worth - that is not only the material worth but also the intangible worth to the state of Saxony, which is impossible to estimate.

In January, there was a plea bargain between the defence, prosecution and court after most of the stolen jewels were returned.

The plea bargain had been agreed to by four defendants, who subsequently admitted their involvement in the crime through their lawyers. The fifth defendant also confessed, but only to the procurement of objects such as the axes used to make holes in the museum display case, dpa reported.

A jewel-encrusted sword was among items stolen / Green Vault (Gruenes Gewoelbe)/A

Dresdens historic Grunes Gewolbe - translated as Green Vault - is one of the worlds oldest museums and houses Europes largest collection of treasures.

Situated inside the Royal Palace, it was established in 1723 and contains the treasury of Augustus the Strong of Saxony, comprising around 4,000 objects of gold, precious stones and other materials.
R ussia launched an exceptionally intense air attack on Kyiv early on Tuesday.

Ukrainian officials said the raid was carried out using drones, cruise missiles and likely ballistic missiles. It is the eighth air raid on Kyiv this month.

It was exceptional in its density - the maximum number of attack missiles in the shortest period of time," Serhiy Popko, head of Kyivs city military administration, said.

According to preliminary information, the vast majority of enemy targets in the airspace of Kyiv were detected and destroyed!"

It was not immediately clear how many objects were shot down over the city and if any of them managed to hit their target.

Residents reported hearing explosions across the capital, while the head of President Volodymyr Zelenskys office, Andriy Yermak, said: Air defence is working on targets.

Falling debris was reported in Kyivs Obolonskyi, Shevchenkivskyi, Solomyanskyi and Darnytskyi districts, officials said.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the debris set several cars on fire and damaged a building in the capitals west, injuring three people.

Mr Klitschko said that air defence systems repelled a drone attack in Boryspil, a city just southeast of Kyiv. The city is home to Kyivs main passenger airport, which is now closed.

The damage in other districts was not significant and there was no immediate information on potential casualties there, the military administration said.

After a weeks-long hiatus, Russia in late April resumed its tactic of long-range missile strikes.

Rishi Sunak talks with Ukraines Volodymyr Zelensky at Chequers / POOL/AFP via Getty Images

The latest escalation in attacks comes after President Zelensky made a surprise visit to the UK on Monday.

The government has pledged hundreds more air defence missiles, as well as attack drones with a range of more than 200 kilometres to Ukraine.

Mr Zelensky said he and Rishi Sunak had also discussed western fighter jets and he anticipated very important decisions" to be made soon.

Following the meeting, the president said the two countries were real partners", with Mr Sunak knowing details of developments on the battlefield.

He has pushed for Western allies to provide fighter jets, a step that Nato members have been reluctant to take over fears of escalating the war.

We want to create this jets coalition and Im very positive with it, said Mr Zelensky.

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 stressed the provision of warplanes was not a straightforward thing" but said the UK was committed to training Ukrainian pilots using Nato-standard aircraft.
S ince Donald Trumps inauguration and the Womens March that followed, Free Melania became a meme that was shared everywhere, as people pondered how his wife coped with the controversy that surrounds him.

Throughout his term as president of the United States, and ever since, he has been embroiled in scandal.

The latest news has seen Trump mentioned in court papers during a trial against his former personal secretary and lawyer Rudolph Giuliani, described in court papers, as a longtime friend and close confidante of then-President Donald Trump, in addition to being a member of Trumps legal team.

In the court documents, a former aide to Giuliani, Noelee Dunphy, has accused him of offering to sell presidential pardons for $2 million (1.6 m) each during his tenure, which he and President Trump would split.

Noelee Dunphy, a New York-based PR professional who worked with Trumps former lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, claimed in court that she was told the pair would offer the pardons for a fee in the ongoing trial. She is suing Mr Giuliani for unlawful abuses of power, wide-ranging sexual assault and harassment, wage theft, and other misconduct committed while she worked for him in 2019 and 2020. Mr Giuliani has strongly denied the claims.

And this is not the only time Trumps name has come up in court in recent weeks.

In a civil court case that would be hard for any wife to hear, a jury found her husband liable for sexually abusing and defaming journalist E. Jean Carroll and awarded her $5 million (around 3.9 million) in damages.

He has appealed the finding, but the verdict was another legal setback for Trump as he seeks to regain the presidency in 2024.

In April, Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records, and was accused of paying hush money to a former porn actress, with whom he allegedly had sex just a month after Melania had given birth to their son, Barron.

But who is the woman behind Donald Trump, and what is she doing now, with his name again being dragged through the mud?

Who is Melania Trump?

Originally from Slovenia, and born Melanija Knavs in 1970, the wife of Donald Trump is only the second First Lady to be born outside the United States, after the wife of former president John Quincy Adams, Louisa Adams, and is the only First Lady to become a naturalised US citizen.

She has modelled since the age of five and, when she became professional, changed her name to Melania Knauss. Melanjia then moved to the US and appeared in a number of high-profile campaigns.

She met Trump for the first time in 1998 at a fashion party in New York. He was married at the time to Marla Maples, but they divorced a year later. It is not suggested she was involved in the breakdown of that marriage.

How long have Melania and Donald been married?

The pair dated from around 1999 to 2005, when they married at his home in Florida. It was Donald Trumps third marriage, after Ivanka Trump and Maples, but her first.

Do the Trumps have children?

Yes, one together. Barron William Trump, now 17, was born in 2006. He is Melanias only child, but Donald Trumps fifth. Following his birth, Melania applied to become a naturalised US citizen.

What is Melania doing now?

Melania has kept a low profile, both during Donald Trumps reign as president and ever since his departure.

In Aprils court hearing, he had an array of supporters with him, but Melania was not one of them.

However, it has since been reported that Melania has vowed to stand by her husband through all of the hearings and allegations.

The Mail Online reported a source as saying: Mrs Trump is strong. She is focused on her family and stands behind her husband, as she always has. For the past seven years, the left has made multiple attempts to smear and attack her family, and this is just the latest attempt to bring him down.

Friends have reported how the former First Lady has thrown herself into work recently.

Melania now lives back in Florida, and is continuing work on her Be Best Programme, which she launched during her time as First Lady to protect young people from online harm and cyberbullying.

Last year, she launched Fostering the Future, an extension of Be Best, which focuses on supporting children in the US foster system.
A mal Clooney praised young female community leaders and said lasting change has to be led by people on the ground as she presented a special honour at the Princes Trust awards.

The high-profile barrister and wife of Hollywood star George Clooney presented the Amal Clooney Womens Empowerment Award to a young Tanzanian woman at the ceremony on Tuesday.

The annual Princes Trust Awards recognise young people who have succeeded against the odds, improved their chances in life and had a positive impact on their local community.

As a lawyer, I can work to change laws. But lasting change has to be led by people on the ground, in the community

The Clooneys were among the stars that attended the 19th annual event in London, alongside British talent including actor Stephen Graham, Eurovision star Sam Ryder and rapper Bugzy Malone.

Award winner Zamana was recognised after launching her own campaign to support and encourage girls to stay in school in Tanzania.

The campaign translates as Allow Me To Study and focuses on helping schoolgirls and their parents understand the importance of completing their education.

Presenting her womens empowerment award, Amal Clooney said: As a lawyer, I can work to change laws.

But lasting change has to be led by people on the ground, in the community. Sometimes, these leaders can be found in girls as young as 16. Like Zamana, who we are honouring today.

Zamana told me that one of the ways she convinces parents to let girls study is by showing them images of successful women  and I have no doubt that she will one day be among them.

Elsewhere, This Is England star and Princes Trust ambassador Graham read a letter to the audience from the King.

The actor also presented the Homesense Young Achiever of the Year award to 24-year-old Joanna Drewett from South Manchester.

Ms Drewett was admitted to a psychiatric hospital at 15, which disrupted her education, and she finished school with just three GCSEs, before reaching out to the Princes Trust.

Presenting her with the award, Graham said: Joanna should be very proud of herself.

She hasnt let the challenges in life hold her back and is now thriving, loving and enjoying lifes experiences.

This is a real testament to her strength and determination. Congratulations on the award win and best of luck in your future endeavours.

Awards were also presented by celebrity supporters and Princes Trust ambassadors including Edward Enninful, Geri Horner, Fearne Cotton, Holly Willoughby, Rylan Clark and Kate Garraway.

Tuesdays event was hosted by celebrity presenters and long-term ambassadors of The Princes Trust Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, and featured a performance by Ryder.

Ryder, who was heavily involved in the recent Eurovision celebrations in Liverpool, said he had nothing but respect for those who had overcome tribulations and challenges in life.

Being around this kind of energy inspires the transmission and the radiation of that kind of energy from your own life and your own heart and your own spirit, he told the PA news agency on the events carpet.

I had a dream of a career in music since I was about 14 years old it took a long time and the only thing that I can attribute that is just never giving up.

You have this feeling and this fire inside of your heart that you want to share music for no other reason but a connection with total strangers and to enrich your life in that way.

So, Ive got nothing but respect for people who have that same spirit and same vigour.

He added: Whatever life throws at them, whatever failures, tribulations and challenges, they will never cease in this search to share light.

Charles is set to meet the winners of this years Princes Trust awards at a reception at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday.
J ack Whitehall has spoken about his impending fatherhood for the first time since sharing over the weekend that he and girlfriend Roxy Horner are expecting a baby together.

The comedian, 34, revealed the happy news on his Instagram page on Sunday alongside images of him and model Horner, 31, showing off images from a baby scan.

The London-born star is currently touring the UK on his stand-up Settle Down Tour and, according to The Sun, he told the audience during his Southend show the idea of becoming a father filled him with trepidation.

He jokingly said: But I have been responsible and we have got a dog first. If you can keep the dog alive then you have a kid.

Whitehall added: I look at some of my friends and think, You could not even keep a plant alive.

Jack Whitehall shared his and Roxy Horners baby news on social media over the weekend / Jack Whitehall /Twitter

Hopefully he will pick up a parenting guide or two ahead of the birth.

Meanwhile, the mum-to-be told HELLO magazine that she felt relieved to finally fall pregnant after the couple suffered a miscarriage last year.

She told the publication: 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.

She also shared how they had discovered their baby news during a trip with her family to Australia.

It was really lovely because I got to tell my mum pretty much straight away and I dont get to see my parents too often, so it was a really perfect moment before he went off on tour, Horner recalled.

Adding: We found out the same week my nan passed away. Theres a part of me that feels like my nan knew we were trying for a baby and maybe this was her gift to us.
A -listers streamed down Cannes famous red carpet on Tuesday night as the film festival kicked off its 76th edition.

The iconic film festival began with a premiere of Johnny Depps period drama Jeanne du Barry amid growing controversy over the actors appearance.

Throngs of onlookers shouted Johnny! as Depp, wearing purple-hued sunglasses, signed autographs and mingled on the red carpet.

The opening night selection has attracted controversy following Depps explosive trial with ex-wife Amber Heard last year.

Catherine Zeta-Jones, Michael Douglas, and Carys Zeta Douglas / PA Wire

Jeanne du Barry marks Depps return to the big screen for the first time in three years after a High Court judge in London ruled that an article calling Depp a wife beater was substantially true.

Depp also successfully sued Heard for libel over an article in which she claimed to be a victim of domestic abuse.

Cannes director Thierry Fremaux defended the choice to premiere Depps film on Monday, telling reporters that he had paid no attention to his legal battles.

To tell you the truth, in my life, I only have one rule, its the freedom of thinking, the freedom of speech and the freedom to act within a legal framework, he said.

If Johnny Depp had been banned from acting in a film, or the film was banned we wouldnt be here talking about it.

Naomi Campbell on the red carpet / PA Wire

During the opening ceremony, Michael Douglas received an honorary Palme dOr, with his wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones and their daughter, Carys Zeta Douglas, looking on from the audience.

The jury that will decide the festivals top prize, the Palme dOr, was also introduced earlier on Tuesday.

Swedish filmmaker Ruben Ostlund, a two-time Palme winner who last year won for the social satire The Triangle of Sadness, is presiding over a jury which includes a host of directors from across the globe.

Addressing the ceremony, Ostlund said: If I can choose between an Oscar and a Palme dOr, its an easy choice.

I would rather have one more (Palme) than have an Oscar.

Elle Fanning attending the Jeanne du Barry premiere / PA Wire

Separately, thousands of Hollywood and television writers went on strike this month as the Writers Guild of America (WGA) called its first work stoppage in 15 years after failing to reach an agreement for higher pay from studios such as Walt Disney Co and Netflix.

It is feared the stoppage could potentially drive up prices for finished films at Cannes, the worlds top movie market.

Stars set to hit Cannes red carpet in the next week and a half include Natalie Portman, Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Sean Penn, Alicia Vikander, Scarlett Johansson and the Weeknd.

Cannes Film Festival over the years - In pictures 1 / 34 Cannes Film Festival over the years - In pictures 1966 US actress Jayne Mansfield and her husband US actor Mickey Hargitay pose during the 17th Cannes Film Festival AFP/Getty Images 1977 Arnold Schwarzenegger, the film actor who first became famous as Mr Universe for his magnificent physique, on Cannes beach during the Film Festival with the girls from the Folies Bergere Keystone/Getty Images 1957 1957: American actress Elizabeth Taylor with her husband, producer Mike Todd at the Cannes Film Festival Express Newspapers/Getty Images 1978 British singer David Bowie poses during the 31th Cannes Film Festival Ralph Gati/AFP/Getty Images 1954 British actress Simone Silva posing topless with the American star Robert Mitchum during the Cannes film festival. Having been elected 'Miss Festival', Simone Silva was asked to leave the festival after her semi-nude pose which resulted in one photographer breaking his arm and another his leg in the rush for pictures Keystone/Getty Images 1965 1965: Daleks arrive in Cannes from Shepperton Studios, England, for the showing of the new 'Dr Who' movie which features at the Film Festival Keystone/Getty Images 1983 Helmut Newton and Jerry Hall in Cannes Rex 1972 Robert Redford, US director Sydney Pollack, pianist Arthur Rubinstein and his wife Nela pose during The Cannes International Film Festival AFP/Getty Images 1962 Actors Warren Beatty and Natalie Wood are followed by The Press whilst in Cannes Associated Newspapers 1947 Film stars parading in the street of Cannes, southern France, during the Cannes Film Festival AFP/Getty Images 1955 Grace Kelly Aat the 8th Cannes International Film Festival Rex 1956 Running barefoot on the sands at Cannes, French film star, Brigitte Bardot George W Hales/Getty Images 1956 Diana Dors, the starlet, with the Cadillac in which she arrived at the Cannes Film Festival Keystone/Getty Images circa 1956 Dancer Ginger Rogers (right) and actress Kim Novak attending the Cannes Film Festival, France, circa 1956 Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 1959 Italian film star Sophia Loren poses on the window ledge of her hotel in Cannes, where she is promoting the Italian film 'Nella Citta L'Inferno' (aka 'Caged') by Renato Castellani Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images circa 1960 Swiss film actress Ursula Andress at the Cannes Film Festival, Keystone/Getty Images 1963 Alfred Hitchcock and American actress Tippi Hedren explore Cannes together after the premiere of 'The Birds' Keystone/Getty Images 1965 A gathering of guests and models enjoying a barbeque after a fashion show, at the Cannes Polo Grounds during the annual film festival, France, AFP/Archive Photos/Getty Images 1966 French actress, Catherine Deneuve with her husband, English photographer, David Bailey at the Festival of Cinema in Cannes Pieri/Getty Images 1967 Portrait of actress Vanessa Redgrave sitting on the beach wearing a chevron patterned dress, as she bring her film 'Blow Up' to the Cannes Film Festival Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 1968 Hollywood sex symbol Jayne Mansfield and her husband Mickey Hargitay smile for the cameras at the Cannes film festival Keystone/Getty Images 1968 Beatles drummer Ringo Starr chats with French film director Roman Polanski at the Cannes film festival, whilst attending a screening of the British film 'Joanna' Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 1975 English actress Jane Birkin takes up photography at Cannes Keystone/Getty Images 1977 Mexican-born actor Anthony Quinn (1915 - 2001, centre, left) and Brazilian football star Pele make their way through the crowds at the Cannes Film Festival Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 1979 On the beach of a luxury hotel outside Cannes, 32-year-old David Essex limbers up on his motorbike. Phillip Jackson/Daily Mail 1984 Robert de Niro and Joe Pesci pose after the screening of the film "Once upon a time in America" Ralph Gati/AFP/Images

Cannes, which runs until May 27, is the world's biggest film festival, first conceived in 1939.

It has been held annually since 1946 except in 1948 and 1950, when it was cancelled due to lack of funds.
F ormer Love Island star Francesca Allen has announced her beloved father has sadly passed away.

The 27-year-old confirmed the devastating news on Monday night and thanked her followers for their patience as she takes time of social media in the wake of his death.

Taking to her Instagram Story, the ITV2 star wrote alongside an image of a bouquet of roses: Taking some time off socials as I lost my dad last week.

Just having the time to process thanks to those who noticed Ive been inactive. I will be back doing my thing and connecting with you all soon. Thank you for the patience.

Allen also shared several photographs of her father on the app and commented how he was the life and soul of every party.

The reality TV star, who is engaged to businessman Ed Crossan, included a photo of her late father smiling as he enjoyed a cocktail in the social media tribute and wrote: And always the best dressed.

The former Love Island star announced the news on her Instagram Story / Instagram/Francesca Allen

She also shared two images of her father in his younger years, one showing him playing pool and one of him posing with her mother Barb.

Allen found fame on the 2019 instalment of Love Island where she was initally coupled up with Curtis Pritchard after arriving in the villa, but the ballroom dancer eventually chose to pursue a romance with Maura Higgins.

The TV personality shared several photos of her father as she paid tribute to him / Instagram/Francesca Allen

She then ended up in a friendship couple with Michael Griffiths following his ex Amber Gills decision to recouple with Greg OShea instead of giving him a second chance, and left the villa soon after.

Following her stint in the villa, Allen went on to launch a jewellery brand with her sister Claudia, Cloud Eighteen, and clothing store, Bonnie & Clyde 162.

She got engaged to Crossan in December 2021 at Home House private members club in Marylebone, London.
KYODO NEWS - May 16, 2023 - 19:00 | World, All, Japan

China on Tuesday urged Japan to seriously reflect on the past aggression of Japanese militarism in reaction to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's warning to Beijing against changing the status quo by force.

Kishida said Monday that the Group of Seven leaders will seek to send a strong message to the world during their summit later this week in Hiroshima that they will not accept "unilateral attempts by China and Russia to change the status quo by force," in the face of Beijing's military assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin pointed out at a press conference that some forces in Japan "have been doing all they can to whitewash the history of aggression" and asked, "Isn't this just an attempt to change the status quo?"

"If Japan truly opposes unilateral changes to the status quo, it should unequivocally check the regressive behavior of the abovementioned forces," Wang said.

He also criticized the view held by some Japanese that any contingency concerning Taiwan would be an emergency for Japan, urging Tokyo to abide by the one-China principle -- namely that both the mainland and Taiwan belong to one and the same China.

As the host of the G-7 summit from Friday, Japan is "obsessed with stoking and creating bloc confrontations, which undermines the interest of the region," Wang said, expressing China's firm opposition to it.
A n Oireachtas committee has been told there is an arms race with artificial intelligence technologies that continue to move beyond our capability to detect them.

The Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence was holding a session on disinformation and hybrid threats in the context of geopolitical shifts.

In submissions, the committee was told that hybrid attacks and campaigns could be understood as co-ordinated actions across different domains.

For example, cyber attacks that included information manipulation with a view to influencing electoral outcomes.

Different types of tools and organised actions such as disinformation, economic pressure, abuse of migrants, cyber attacks and other covert actions were understood as being combined in hybrid threats.

It was told these threats were growing both in frequency and impact.

Dr Eileen Culloty, deputy director of the Dublin City University (DCU) Institute for Future Media, Democracy and Society, told the committee that AI technologies provided a quite shocking capacity to speed and scale up the generation of disinformation.

(On disinformation) the challenge lies in reaching people who need it the most

We are very much in an arms race with these technologies, she said.

On disinformation, Dr Culloty said people engaged with disinformation for all sorts of reasons, including having lower levels of knowledge about a topic, mistrust in government and the media, and ideological biases.

She said pre-bunking could neutralise the effects of disinformation by explaining how it worked and warning people of its threats.

The challenge lies in reaching people who need it the most, she said.

The unipolar world is over. We now live in a multipolar world where the rules-based international order is much weaker and under threat.

Dr Culloty said the study had been hampered by a lack off access to data from online platforms, which had left researchers unable to determine the true scale and impact of online disinformation.

She said there was a greater burden placed on public funding and civil society when online platforms could be providing a much better picture.

Brigid Laffan, Professor Emeritus European University Institute (EUI) and president of the European Policy Centre (EPC) in Brussels, said security had ratcheted up the agenda of the European Union.

The unipolar world is over. We now live in a multipolar world where the rules-based international order is much weaker and under threat, she said.

We can't afford a major incident in relation to multinational investment in Ireland, also our own critical infrastructure

Prof Laffan said Russias invasion of Ukraine had shattered any pervasive complacency that Europes security and way of life was secure.

She said EU member states found themselves in a very different security landscape due to hybrid threats which were used to undermine public trust in institutions.

She said there were core economic interests at play when considering Irelands vulnerability.

We cant afford a major incident in relation to multinational investment in Ireland, also our own critical infrastructure, she said.

Ms Caitriona Heinl, executive director of the Azure Forum for Contemporary Security Strategy and adjunct research fellow at University College Dublin, said the objectives of hybrid threats included undermining public trust in democratic institutions, deepening unhealthy polarisation both nationally and internationally, challenging the core values of democratic societies, gaining geopolitical influence and power through harming and undermining others, and affecting the decision-making capability of political leaders.
W hatsApp 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.

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.
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The UKs Civil Aviation Authority say they believe sub-orbital Space flights are the future of flight travel, with passengers jetted out of the atmosphere to drastically reduce the amount of time in the air.

Research is ongoing between the UK Civil Aviation Authority and the RAF, looking into the effects of suborbital Space flights on the human body.

At present, a flight to Sydney, Australia, from the UK takes 24 hours of travel but, under these plans, passengers could be there in just two.

Experts say they believe the flights will be ready within the next decade, but medical studies are ongoing to check the impact it would have on the bodies of average holidaymakers.

CAAs medical lead for space flight Dr Ryan Anderton told the Times that it was definitely not science fiction and would happen a lot sooner than people think... certainly less than 10 years.

Evidence suggests older passengers could handle the strain easier than those who are younger

Kings College London is also part of the study and, along with the CAA and the RAF, says that the evidence collated so far supports the idea, and they believe the majority of people could withstand the G-force that would be required to undergo the flight.

They even say they have found evidence that suggests older passengers could handle the strain easier than those who are younger because of stiffer joints and vascular system. However, there may be problems for those with cardiac issues.

https://shows.acast.com/039b783b-a527-4fdf-b3ce-b3c255ad3034/64621faf01a21a0011393027

Dr Ryan Anderton, the CAAs medical lead for flight, said that physiological responses are likely to be benign for most passengers but older people usually have slightly stiffer arteries which could lessen the pooling of blood away from the brain.

At present, the quickest journey from the UK capital to Sydney is 22 hours, and airline Qantas is aiming to introduce a direct route by the year 2025, which would cut it down to 19 hours.

However, the suborbital Space flights will be pricey. The CAA believes the price of a ticket when the scheme launches could cost in excess of a whopping 350,000, but experts say this would go down over time, with the flight path eventually accessible to anybody.

The report, published in the Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance scientific journal, 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, eg London to Sydney in less than two hours.
T he boss of OpenAI, the startup that developed ChatGPT, has told US lawmakers that he welcomes and is strongly calling for more regulation to prevent the harms of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly large-language models (LLM) like generative AI.

"My worst fear is that we, the industry, cause significant harm to the world. I think, if this technology goes wrong, it can go quite wrong and we want to be vocal about that and work with the government on that, OpenAIs chief executive Samuel Altman told Congress on Tuesday afternoon.

In addition to Mr Altman, senators heard from two other witnesses  Professor Gary Marcus of New York University, and Christina Montgomery, chief privacy and trust officer for tech giant IBM.

Heres a sum up of some key points that were made during the hearing.

AI use in elections

Prof Marcus highlighted risks relating to AI systems subtly convincing people to change their beliefs without meaning to, referencing a recent article in the Wall Street Journal.

"We dont know what ChatGPT 4 is trained on... how these systems might lead people about very much depends on what it is trained on. We need scientists doing analysis on what the political impact of these systems might be, said Prof Marcus.

Groups of people who have historically been underrepresented or not had much access to this technology  this technology seems to have the ability to lift them up

We have this issue of potential manipulation... hyper-targeting is definitely going to come. Maybe it will be open-source models, I dont know, but the tech is able to do that and will certainly get there.

When questioned by senators on this point, Mr Altman said he agreed: Given we're going to face an election next year... this is a concern. I do think some regulation on this would be wise. We need some rules on whats expected in terms of disclosure from a company providing these models. Im nervous about it.

Senator Dick Durbin said that the AI industry seemed to have the message of stop me before I innovate again, compared to social-media networks, which have often not wanted to be held accountable for actions that happened on their platforms.

In response, Mr Altman emphasised that AI is a very new technology and that the technology industry needed a liability framework to work with.

He mentioned that previously, for a while, people were quite fooled by Photoshop, and then quickly acquired an understanding that photos could be photoshopped. It would be advantageous for the public to be able to understand this about content produced by ChatGPT, he explained.

Prof Marcus told Congress that he was vastly concerned about peoples safety when it comes to AI, warning that the US was now facing the perfect storm. He cautioned lawmakers to learn from what happened with social media.

Gary Marcus, Professor Emeritus at New York University (l), and Samuel Altman, CEO of OpenAI, are sworn in during a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law / Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP via Getty Images

When asked by senators about whether AI will take over all our jobs, he said: Eventually, all jobs will be taken over by AI, but we are not that close to AI general intelligence now.

The key term is AI general intelligence, which refers to a type of AI that doesnt exist today, which could possess cognitive abilities equivalent to how humans think.

How to regulate AI

Asked about how AI should be regulated, Prof Marcus said that he recommended creating an international agency, where multiple governments came together to supervise and monitor the growth of AI.

Some genies are out of the bottle, some are not  we dont have machines that can self-improve yet, for example, he told Congress.

But there are other genies to be concerned about. We need to have some meetings very soon about how you build international agencies very quickly.

Christina Montgomery, chief privacy and trust officer at IBM, testifies during a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law / Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP via Getty Images

The senators also quizzed IBMs Ms Montgomery on what she thought about the EUs proposed AI Act, which will require developers to establish how much harm their AI systems can cause from the get-go.

"Absolutely that approach makes a ton of sense, Ms Montgomery said. Guardrails need to be in place. We dont want to slow down regulation to address real risks right now. We have existing regulatory authorities right now... a lot of the issues we're talking about span multiple domains.

OpenAIs Mr Altman said that AI models needed to be trained on a system of values developed by people around the world.

He also wants an independent commission whereby experts are able to evaluate whether the AI models are complying with regulations and have the power to both grant and take away licences.

Were excited to collect systems of values from around the world, he told Congress.

Groups of people who have historically been underrepresented or not had much access to this technology  this technology seems to have the ability to lift them up.

Monetising ChatGPT

Cory Booker (R) asks questions before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law / Win McNamee / Getty Images

Mr Altman was asked by Senator Cory Booker about whether ChatGPT would ever have adverts shown to users.

Altman replied that, while he couldnt rule it out completely, he preferred a subscription model, that is currently offered with the latest version of ChatGPT.

Another senator quizzed OpenAIs chief executive on whether he made much money. Altman responded that he did his job because he loved it, and didnt earn a high enough salary to have health insurance offered as part of his compensation.

Really? replied Senator John Kennedy. You need a lawyer or an agent.

Should we stop developing AI?

The senators then grilled OpenAIs Mr Altman, IBMs Ms Montgomery, and Prof Marcus on whether other more drastic options should be considered to prevent the harms of AI, which everyone in the hearing room seemed to agree on.

Why dont we just let people sue you? asked Senator Josh Hawley, in response to concerns from other senators that US regulators are already understaffed.

Senator Josh Hawley at the hearing / Win McNamee / Getty Images

He suggested that any citizen or company who feels that they have been harmed by AI could just seek justice through the courts, meaning regulators would have less to do.

Another idea, other senators including Mr Booker pointed out, was for the tech industry to pause all development on AI until it is possible to establish all the risks and remedies.

OpenAIs Mr Altman disagreed with the idea of taking a break, but he confirmed that his company is currently not training any AI models.

IBMs Ms Montgomery was not keen, either. I'm not sure how practical it is to pause but we absolutely should prioritise regulation, she told lawmakers.

Senator Richard Blumenthal strongly disagreed with the idea of pausing AI innovation.

The world wont wait. The global scientific community wont wait. We have adversaries that are moving ahead, he warned Congress.

Safeguards and protections yes, but a flat stop sign, sticking our heads in the sand, I would advocate against that.
KYODO NEWS - May 16, 2023 - 21:24 | G7, All, Japan, World

The Group of Seven leaders are set to pledge at their summit in Hiroshima later this week to bolster the regime established by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to promote disarmament, a diplomatic source said Tuesday.

The commitment in an outcome document will highlight the importance of nuclear countries disclosing their capabilities and continuing efforts to reduce the number of weapons, while positioning the NPT as the foundation for non-proliferation, the source said.

Nuclear disarmament is expected to be discussed at a session on the first day of the three-day summit through Sunday in the western Japanese city devastated by a U.S. atomic bomb in August 1945, the source said. The document is likely to be issued on Friday.

The document will reflect the dedication of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, the chair of the G-7 summit, to nuclear disarmament amid concerns over Russia's use of such weapons in its war against Ukraine and China's increasing nuclear stockpile.

Kishida, who represents a constituency in Hiroshima, said Monday that the G-7 leaders will "send out a strong message to realize a world free of nuclear weapons."

Before they begin their talks, the G-7 leaders are set to visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, which serves as a testament to the world's first nuclear attack in the final days of World War II, the source said.

The NPT came into effect in 1970. The treaty designates five nations -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- as authorized possessors of nuclear arsenals, while prohibiting other countries from acquiring them.

Represented by Moscow's suspension of its participation in the New START treaty in February, the only remaining nuclear arms control pact with Washington at that time, talks on nuclear disarmament have shown little progress worldwide in recent years.

The NPT review conference failed to adopt a consensus report in 2015 and 2022, while nations such as North Korea and Iran are believed to be continuing their nuclear development.

In the outcome document, the G-7 countries will promise to oppose the use and threat of nuclear arms and call on political leaders from around the world to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the other Japanese city struck by a U.S. atomic bomb, the source said.

The document will also express appreciation for the five pillars of the "Hiroshima Action Plan," aimed at achieving a world free from nuclear weapons, that Kishida announced in August last year during a speech at the NPT review conference in New York.

At the Hiroshima summit, six outcome documents are being arranged with the themes of general summary, nuclear disarmament, Ukraine, economic security, clean energy and food security, the source said.

Food security will be discussed at an "outreach" session that will also include the leaders from eight invited nations -- Australia, Brazil, Comoros, Cook Islands, India, Indonesia, South Korea and Vietnam, the source added.
Grade 12 student Rebecca Dyck shows off the jelly roll she and her St. Catharines Collegiate classmates created as part of an entrepreneurship competition. For the month of May, the school will have a stall Thursdays at the St. Catharines Farmers Market.



The Saints are marching in to the downtown Farmers Market to showcase the entrepreneurial spirit of St. Catharines high school students.

From jelly rolls and sugar body scrubs to charcuterie boards and singing telegrams, the creative creations designed and sold by students from St. Catharines Collegiate will be available for the month of May at the downtown farmers market on Thursdays.

Business teacher Lisa Koster explained the event is part of an entrepreneurship competition hosted by the school called TAB Entrepreneurs, open to students in Grades 9 through 12.

It was an entrepreneurship opportunity where students created their own products, their own marketing labels, slogans and worked in a team with two technology students, an art student and a business student, said Koster.

Some of the student-created products include market-friendly to-go foods like pizza and pastry braids made by bakery students, salsa and chips, jelly rolls and Colombian red guava rolls. Other products include frozen soups from the culinary department, hanging baskets from the horticulture program, wine racks and Adirondack chairs from the construction department.

In addition to providing opportunities for students to use their skills to create marketable products, Koster said it was also an opportunity for them to develop teamwork and communication skills.

We are trying to encourage as many students as possible to have that entrepreneurial thinking experience and then to be able to bring them opportunities for real-life experiences, said Koster.

For Grade 12 student Rebecca Dyck, whose group came up with the jelly rolls, the experience has been a great one.

I think it was the best thing I could do in high school, she said, adding that actually making the product they came up with has given her a greater understanding of how businesses work. And how they make the products, market and sell them. Just everything that goes into it.

The students will be present on Thursdays throughout the month of May. Located in Market Square at 91 King St., the market is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Koster said the great community reaction so far to the inaugural market event means theyd love to do it again next year and perhaps have a presence in December and May, so students can participate in both semesters.

Funds from the market days will go back to the school to enhance opportunities available for hands-on learning.

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Lipa Park Events Centre in Pelham will showcase Slovenian food and culture when it hosts an open house as part of the Niagara Folk Arts Festival on May 22. From left are members Teresa Allison, Teresa Reiter, president Frank Chermaz and founding president Frank Vrhovsek.



The two Franks from the Lipa Park Events Centre are quick to point out a few things about their native Slovenia.

You cant spell Slovenia without love, said Frank Vrhovsek.

Slovenia is the sunny side of the alps, added Frank Chermaz.

Chermaz, president, and Vrhovsek, a longtime member and the clubs first president back in 1966, are fiercely proud of their Slovenian roots.

A small European country of just two million people  fewer than those who call Toronto home  Slovenia only won its independence in 1992 with the breakup of the former Yugoslavia. Bordered by Austria to the north, Croatia to the south, Italy to the west and Hungary to the east, it is a territory that was always under the rule of another country.

Were so proud of our tiny country, said Chermaz. It was a momentous occasion because we were never independent. We were always under someone else, the Austrian-Hungarian Empire or Italians or whoever came through.

Not unlike Slovenia itself, the events centre is tucked into a tiny corner of Pelham, bordering on St. Catharines and just a stones throw from the border with Lincoln.

Its the best kept secret, Chermaz said.

People will have a chance to see what Lipa Park is about when the club hosts an open house from 1 to 7 p.m. on May 22 as part of the Niagara Folk Arts Festival.

The club got its start as the Bled Mutual Benefit Society (established in St. Catharines in 1943). It wasnt until 1966 that what is currently Lipa Park was born, Vrhovsek said.

(Bled Mutual Benefit Society) was the insurance club for people who work in the mines up north in Sudbury, Timmins. They have branches all over Canada, he said.

The club raised enough funds to purchase the 13 acres of property the club now calls home.

We were going to buy our own place where we can sing in our language, Slovenian, and where we could gather.

Since then, Lipa Park has been home to Niagaras small, but active Slovenian community. At its peak, about 300 families and individuals were members. Today, that number is at 287 families and individuals, Chermaz said.

There are several reasons for the drop-off, he said.

Its hard to keep that love of what you grew up with when you never grew up with it, Cheraz said. Because once the next two or three generations start to intermarry and the kids kind of lose their interest in their culture. That's a big struggle for us.

He hopes the open house will draw attention to the Slovenian community. Guests will have a chance to sample a wide variety of food  pigs and lamb on a spit, cabbage rolls, chicken schnitzel, kielbasa and more.

And theres sweets  ladies that donate their favourite sweets, said Teresa Allison, who is a multicultural co-ordinator at the club along with her sister, Linda Reiter and Brenda Cernac. They make up plates that people can sample.

Guests also will be treated to presentations of traditional Slovenian dance and The Golden Keys, a band in London, Ont., will provide the music.

The open house has always been a popular event during the month-long festival. The last time the event was held on a traditional holiday, the Monday of the Victoria Day weekend, back in 2019, more than 1,000 people turned out.

Crowds were smaller last year, Chermaz said, largely because of a date switch to June with the easing of COVID restrictions, but he anticipates larger crowds this year with a return to the traditional date.

An important component to keeping the club going is hall rentals, Chermaz said. The hall is available for weddings, business meetings and family celebrations. Anyone interested in booking the hall can email lipaparkrentals@gmail.com.

We want people to come here and experience our club, Chermaz said.

STORY BEHIND THE STORY: Niagara this Week wanted to see how the regions small Slovenian community is maintaining the European countrys culture here.

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St. Catharines city council has voted to support a new collective agreement for approximately 350 city workers, putting any concerns of a strike to rest.

Mayor Mat Siscoe made the announcement in council chambers Monday night after councillors met behind closed doors to discuss the deal with Canadian Union of Public Employees locals 150 and 157.

On behalf of council, Id like to thank staff from both the union and management who participated in the bargaining process. Were looking forward to continuing to work together to serve the community, Siscoe said.

CUPE spokesperson Zaid Noorsumar confirmed Monday night that both locals voted to ratify the deal with the city last Wednesday.

Locals 150 and 157 represent inside and outside workers in St. Catharines, including those in community and recreation, municipal works, city planning and other departments.

The two locals had been without a contract since December 2021 and had been in negotiations with the city since February 2022.

The union has said the top issue was better wages and maintaining the quality of public services as experienced and trained workers were leaving the city for better pay elsewhere.

On May 3, members of both locals voted overwhelmingly  at 95 and 86 per cent  to authorize CUPE leadership to call a strike if negotiations with the city failed.

The negotiations resumed on May 5 with conciliation officer appointed by the Ministry of Labour. Both sides said they were hopeful a deal could be reached going into those talks.

In a joint email statement Tuesday, president of local 150 Pierre Parent and president of local 157 Jason Trombetta said the new contract includes reasonable wage increases and improvements to benefits.

The gains we negotiated with the city is a step in the right direction that will help retain and recruit city workers who serve our community and help make St. Catharines a great place to live, they said.

We hope that city management will continue to work with the unions to improve the quality of municipal, publicly delivered services that we all rely on.

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With Niagara Region Chair Jim Bradley leading the way, this years Niagara Week delegation doesnt have to worry about getting lost in the corridors of power at Queens Park.

Bradley represented St. Catharines in the legislature for 41 years, so finding his way isnt a problem as the leader of a group of top politicians and staff take part in the advocacy blitz.

Its going exceedingly well, Bradley said after taking a break to watch question period in the legislature.

We have been able to obtain meetings with different ministers, including the provinces premier, and they have been very receptive to the representations we have been making on behalf of the people of Niagara.

Niagara Week started Monday and included a reception for MPPs featuring Niagara food and wine. The real work, however, occurs in face-to-face meetings with cabinet ministers and senior provincial staff.

We had a large number of our council members at the reception where they met with individual members of parliament and their staffs on an informal basis, Bradley said.

In terms of the actual meetings with the ministers, myself as chair, the CEO and senior staff, and a couple of council members specifically associated with the subjects take part.

In one instance, Thorold Mayor Terry Ugulini, Fort Erie Mayor Wayne Redekop and regional Couns. Diana Huson (Pelham) and Rob Foster (Lincoln) joined Bradley and Region chief administrative officer Ron Tripp at the table in a meeting with Premier Doug Ford. Sitting alongside Ford were Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark, Community and Social Services Minister Michael Parsa, Long-Term Care Minister Paul Calandra and Niagara West MPP Sam Oosterhoff.

Previous experience taught Niagaras delegation to narrow the focus to priority topics, Bradley said. This year there are four:

Joint funding (with Ottawa as well) for the $400-million South Niagara Falls Water Wastewater Treatment Plant;

Co-investment in Niagaras plan to build more affordable and attainable homes;

Reimbursement of about $1.7 million in local property tax dollars used to mitigate ambulance off-load delays at hospitals and the need for more primary care;

One-time financial support for accelerating shared service and modernization initiatives between Niagaras municipalities.

This years Niagara Week is branded Growing Better, Together, with the goal of helping to respond to the regions growing population, which the upper-tier municipalitys official plan predicts will reach almost 700,000 people by 2051.

Previous Niagara Week efforts helped land provincial commitments for daily GO train service to Niagara. They also helped secure funding for the Niagara-on-the-Lake water treatment plant, the Burgoyne Bridge replacement project and highway redevelopment and construction, especially along Highway 406.

Oosterhoff, the only Niagara representative on the government side of the house, helped facilitate the meetings.

As a grassroots MPP, my legislative role is to bring the voice of Niagara to Queens Park, Oosterhoff said. Todays advocacy for the region, which will include additional meetings throughout the week, is about ensuring local concerns are heard at the highest levels of the province.

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Nearly $12 million worth of illegally grown cannabis has been seized from a west St. Catharines facility.

More than 11,800 plants were confiscated, Ontario Provincial Police said in a release issued Tuesday.

The Provincial Joint Forces Cannabis Enforcement Team and Niagara Regional Police on May 6 executed a search warrant at a facility on Third Avenue, assisted by specialized OPP units including the Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau and community street crime unit.

In addition to the cannabis plants, officers seized about 77 kilograms of cannabis shake.

The location was licensed to produce fewer than 1,000 cannabis plants, the release said.

As a result of the investigation another search warrant was executed May 8 at a nearby residence and several vehicles.

Rodolfo Ramirez, 40, and Gervi Santamaria, 25, are each charged under the Cannabis Act with cultivating cannabis without authorization. Both of the accused were remanded into custody, pending future appearances at Ontario Court of Justice in St. Catharines.

The Provincial Joint Forces Cannabis Enforcement Team comprises members from the OPP and police services in Barrie, Durham Region, Windsor, London and Niagara.

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With more than 50 complaints lodged so far this year, the fire department is reminding residents that backyard fires are not permitted in Niagara Falls.

Our firefighters have already responded to 55 calls in 2023 for complaints of open-air burning and we expect the numbers will increase as residents start spending more time outdoors said fire Chief Jo Zambito.

When our firefighters are called to these complaints, it takes them away from responding to other emergencies that could be occurring in the city.

Recreational fires, such as backyard fires, are not permitted in Niagara Falls.

City council amended the citys open-air burning bylaw in 2016 to allow residents to have small, confined fires for cooking purposes only.

The size of the fire must be comparable with the type and quantity of food being cooked. For example, a fire to toast marshmallows must be small, and only active for a short period of time.

Chimineas, outdoor fireplaces and other similar appliances are only permitted to be used for the cooking of food.

Due to the safety hazards related to backyard fires, and the nuisances they can create in neighbourhoods, we encourage residents to look at using propane or natural gas appliances that provide the same effect, Zambito added.

In the event firefighters respond to a property for an open-air burning complaint, the property owner could be responsible for the cost of department response and/or charged with violating the municipal bylaw.

In 2022, the fire department responded to 216 open-air burning complaints.

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A consortium of investors including Blackstone Inc. and Thomson Reuters Corp. are looking to sell 2.4 billion ($3 billion U.S.) worth of stock in London Stock Exchange Group Plc, two months after their last disposal of the companys shares.

The group, which also includes Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Singaporean sovereign wealth fund GIC, is offering about 28 million shares in the accelerated placement, according to terms seen by Bloomberg. The stock on offer represents a 5.1% stake in the stock exchange.

The placing had attracted enough investor demand for all the shares on offer within minutes of deal launch, according to a term sheet. Following the sale, Blackstone and Thomson Reuters will own about 10.1 million shares in London Stock Exchange, the terms showed.

Citigroup Inc., Barclays Plc, Bank of America Corp. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. arranged the share sale.

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Check your flight status. Thats the message from the countrys largest airport following a lockout notice from WestJet just as thousands of Canadians prepare to travel over the May long weekend.

Following a 72-hour strike notice from WestJet pilots late Monday that could see hundreds of them walk off the job over demands including better wages and working conditions, Canadas second-largest airline responded by issuing the lockout notice, which could occur as soon as Friday.

WestJet said in a release that it would prepare for a work stoppage in the coming days by operating a reduced schedule and providing flexible change and cancel options for those who wish to make alternate arrangements.

Should flight delays or cancellations occur, impacted guests will be refunded or reaccommodated, as applicable, the airline said.

The decision to issue a lockout notice, in response to the actions taken by the union today, was not one that was made lightly, and we sincerely regret the inconvenience and uncertainty this continues to cause for our guests, said Alexis von Hoensbroech, chief executive officer at WestJet Group.

The lockout notice  which occurs when an employer suspends the work to be done by employees to put pressure on the union  comes after the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), which represents WestJet pilots, said Monday that pilots plan to begin lawful job action Friday, which could include grounding all aircraft and effectively shutting down operations.

The notice from WestJet pilots starts the clock on a 72-hour countdown to negotiate a fair and equitable contract, the pilots union said, adding that it could have filed the notice over the weekend, but in a bid to keep the airline operating, agreed to extend negotiations.

When asked about airport preparations ahead of the possible strike, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) said in an email that Toronto Pearson is aware of the possible job action.

As Fridays deadline approaches, we remind passengers to check their flights status and please do not come to the airport if your flight is cancelled, said GTAA spokesperson Rachel Bertone.

The Calgary-based airline flies to more than 110 destinations in North America, Central America, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia, and offers more than 700 flights per day, with a fleet of more than 180 aircraft.

The possible work stoppage comes after hundreds of WestJet pilots demonstrated outside Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver international airports last week. In April, the pilots association said that an overwhelming 93 per cent of its members voted in favour of a strike if contract negotiations dont reach an agreement by the May long weekend, which kicks off the summer travel season.

The union has previously said that the airline has a retention problem and is hemorrhaging pilots at the rate of over 30 per month, amounting to a WestJet pilot leaving the company every 18 hours in search of a better work opportunity.

After nine months of negotiating, management still fails to understand todays labour market conditions, leading to a mass exodus of our pilots in search of better work opportunities, and more will follow if this agreement does not meet our pilots needs, said Bernard Lewall, chair of the WestJet ALPA Master Executive Council. Without the economic and job security improvements our pilots require, WestJet will be parking planes, as they will not have enough pilots to operate them or accomplish its own growth strategy.

WestJet has countered that the unions demand to be paid closer to U.S. wages is not reasonable and is impeding the WestJet Groups ability to reach an agreement in advance of the upcoming long weekend.

Both parties say they remain at the bargaining table as negotiations continue.

The labour turmoil follows an announcement by the GTAA last week that it has increased staffing and improved technology to better prepare for the summer travel surge. Last year, Pearson was ranked the worst airport for delays in the world, with thousands of flights delayed or cancelled, leaving passengers stranded and bags lost in the wake of COVID flight restrictions being lifted.

Last week, president and CEO of the GTAA, Deborah Flint, said this summer will be very different and better than summer of 2022.

Since then, the airport has hired 10,000 new employees, giving it 22 per cent more staff, or 50,000 workers in total. The increase includes the hiring of 130 new staff announced last week to help in critical areas such as busing, baggage handling and terminal operations.

Flint said staffing levels are equivalent to 2019 as the airport expects about 80 per cent of the summer traffic it saw before the pandemic  a 10 per cent bump over last year.

Despite these improvements, passengers should brace for long wait times to reschedule their flights in the event of a strike, said John Gradek, a former Air Canada executive who lectures in aviation management at McGill University.

They (WestJet) have got to rebook everybody and thats not an instantaneous process, Gradek said. Itll be a difficult time for passengers to get in touch with WestJet to reconfirm either a refund or a new travel arrangement.

It remains to be seen whether this summer travel season will be a repeat of last years chaos at Pearson airport, he added.

This weekend is probably not going to be indicative of how well-prepared GTAA is for the summer, Gradek said.

At least for now, increasing staff is a good move by the GTAA, Gradek said.

But the question now is do they have the experience needed to really operate a very, very busy airport during the summer peak? The jury is still out on that one.

With files from The Canadian Press.

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Earlier this year, a study conducted by the University of California San Diego raised concerns about the safety of UV nail lamps, namely their potential to cause skin cancer. Now, new evidence is giving people more reasons to rethink getting their nails done. Increasing cases of severe allergic reactions to acrylates, substances found in gel polish, have recently been reported, and its said the consequences can be life-changing. The U.K. government has even launched an investigation into the matter.

So how alarmed should we really be? We asked Toronto dermatologist Dr. Julia Carroll to explain.

Why can gel manis potentially cause skin reactions?

Gel manicures can cause irritation or allergies due to the acrylates present in the nail polish, explains Carroll. Thats because acrylates are strong sensitizers, meaning they can trigger an immune response in some people, causing an allergic reaction. Acrylates can also cause irritant contact dermatitis, which is a non-allergic skin reaction that occurs when the skin is exposed to a substance that damages or irritates the skin.

What are acrylates?

Acrylates are a family of synthetic resins made by polymerizing acrylic acid or its esters, such as methyl methacrylate (MMA) and ethyl methacrylate (EMA), says Carroll. These substances are commonly found in various products, including adhesives, nail polishes and dental fillings.

How common are reactions to these chemicals?

The prevalence of acrylate allergies is not precisely known, but studies have suggested that they are becoming more common, says Carroll. Its important to note that the risk of developing an allergy or adverse reaction to acrylates may increase with repeated exposure, meaning frequent gel manicures may pose a higher risk than occasional ones.

What are some signs of a reaction to acrylates?

Signs of an allergy or irritation caused by acrylates may include redness, itching, swelling and blistering of the skin around the nails, says Carroll. Nails can also become loose or even fall off completely. (Well spare you the photos.) In severe cases, a person may also experience difficulty breathing or a rapid heartbeat.

Are nails the only area that can be affected?

Reactions to the acrylates in gel polish can also occur on the face (especially the eyelids) since we often touch these areas with our hands. So if you get a rash on your lids or face frequently, see if it lines up with your mani schedule, Carroll advises. You may get the reaction solely on your eyelids and not on your fingers or hands.

How long do these issues normally last and what can be done to help?

The duration of symptoms depends on the severity of the reaction. In mild cases, Carroll says symptoms may resolve within a few days of removing the gel manicure. In more severe cases, however, symptoms may persist for several weeks or even months. Treatment may include steroids to reduce inflammation and alleviate symptoms.

Why has it been said that becoming sensitized to acrylates can have life-changing consequences?

Sensitization to acrylates can have serious consequences in the future, says Carroll, because acrylates feature in a number of medical treatments such as dental fillings, joint replacements and certain medications, including some diabetes drugs. So becoming allergic to the substances could render you unable to receive such treatments.

Why are at-home gel manis potentially riskier than the salon kind?

The risk of developing an allergy or adverse reaction to acrylates may be higher with at-home gel kits due to improper application, exposure to higher concentrations of acrylates or prolonged exposure to the chemicals used in the process, says Carrolls. Some reports have also found that the allergies often occur when the gel polish isnt sufficiently cured, leading the chemicals to penetrate the nail bed and surrounding skin. This is likelier to occur with DIY kits as users may not cure their polish long enough or their lamps may not be powerful enough to properly get the job done.

How can we minimize the risk of developing a reaction to acrylates?

To minimize the risk of developing an allergy or adverse reaction to acrylates, it is recommended to limit exposure to nail polish, particularly gel manicures and use gloves or other protective barriers when handling acrylates or other chemicals, says Carroll. She adds that in general, it may be safer to get gel manicures in a salon rather than doing it yourself, as salon professionals are trained in proper application techniques and the use of protective measures. Definitely a lot to think about. Well keep you updated as more information comes to light.

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FREDERICTON - New Brunswicks child and youth advocate revealed Tuesday that the governments decision to review the provinces policy on sexual orientation in schools came after three complaints.

Kelly Lamrock said in his scathing 21-page report that he isnt sure any government policy would survive if three complaints over 30 months were enough to lead to its reconsideration.

Surely projects such as local government reform or health-care restructuring would not be reversed upon receiving three complaints, he wrote.

Policy 713, introduced in 2020, establishes minimum standards for schools to ensure a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment for LGBTQ students.

If youre going to review a policy, like Policy 713, youd better be clear about what details youre reviewing, Lamrock said. Because if you treat it like just another review, a loud minority will use that platform to attack vulnerable kids and make them feel scared and ashamed of who they are.

The provincial government has said it is reviewing the policy because it received hundreds of concerns from a variety of groups, including parents and teachers. But Lamrock said that when he asked the government for copies of the complaints, he received three  none of which were from teachers or students. There was evidence in the emails that online hoaxes and conspiracy theories were fuelling some of the opposition to the policy.

One repeats the now debunked myth that children are using litter boxes and identifying as cats, he wrote in the report. The same writer suggested policy should be rejected to fight the influence of the World Economic Forum. Another email compared gender identity issues with Marxist and racist critical race theory.

The third suggested that having material that mentions LGBTQ people creates a hostile environment for Christian students, the report said, adding that policies already exist banning discrimination against Christian students.

On Monday, the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission also expressed concern over the review, reminding government officials about their obligation to safeguard the equality and dignity of all school-going children.

In an interview, Lamrock said LGBTQ children are much more at risk of bullying, violence, suicide, mental-health issues and dropout from school.

So any time their rights are in question, thats why theres a child advocate, he said. Were there to make sure that those stories dont get forgotten as people in power make their decisions.

Lamrock said he is hopeful the government will take his offices report into consideration.

He praised Education Minister Bill Hogan and Premier Blaine Higgs, saying they have taken care to highlight that its not the entire policy that is under review but certain parts of it. He said he is particularly encouraged by Hogans statement that Policy 713 wont be scrapped.

The department could support those encouraging words with what weve recommended, which is real terms of reference and a clear process, he said.

And if that were done, I think, we would still have some thoughts on the policy. But at least some of the words have been encouraging today.

In a statement Monday, Hogan said the government is looking 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 six-page policy doesnt mention sports but states: all students will be able to participate in curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities that are safe, welcoming, and consistent with their gender identity.

Higgs defended his governments decision late Tuesday about reviewing parts of the policy, saying its rather a very unique situation to say parents have no role in raising their kids.

He pointed to students under 16 changing their preferred first name and pronoun without informing their parents.

Its that sort of belief that parents dont need to know, parents dont play a role, he said.

I dont think that parents would believe that they have no role in their childs (life), kind of where they are and what theyre believing in, what theyre doing and where theyre going. They want to be part of it.

Parents should know what is happening with their children and schools should keep them informed, he said.

Thats why we have children. Thats why we have adults. And thats why we have parents, he said.

To suggest that its OK that parents dont need to know  just stop and think about that question for a moment.

With respect to the government reviewing team sport selection and participation processes, Higgs said it might be unfair if a transgender woman competed on a womens hockey team.

What about the other women on the hockey team who obviously arent able to compete in the same manner? he said.

What should that look like? Is that fair to all of the other girls on that hockey team who obviously are physically different and cant compete? Is that fair? Thats why we need to have these discussions. Is it fair? Is it reasonable? How do we do this? I dont know.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 16, 2023.

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HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP)  Democrat Dan McCaffery and Republican Carolyn Carluccio won their parties primaries for a vacant seat on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Tuesday, setting up a fall contest to join a high court that is at the center of cases on guns, abortion and elections in a presidential battleground state.

Each nominee won a two-way primary race. McCaffery defeated Deborah Kunselman, a colleague on the Superior Court, and Carluccio defeated Patricia McCullough, a Commonwealth Court judge who lost a primary for a high court seat in 2021. Party allies reported spending nearly $1 million to help her beat McCullough.

On the campaign trail, McCullough repeatedly boasted of being the only judge in 2020 in the presidential election in the entire country to order a halt to her states election certification.

McCullough was ruling in a Republican-backed post-election legal challenge that sought to tilt victory to Donald Trump in the presidential battleground state. The states high court quickly overturned McCulloughs order.

Democrats currently hold a 4-2 majority on the court, which has an open seat following the death last fall of Chief Justice Max Baer, a Democrat.

The court has handled a number of hot-button issues over the past few years.

It is currently examining a challenge to a state law that restricts the use of public funds to help women get an abortion as well as Philadelphias challenge to a state law that bars it and other municipalities from restricting the sale and possession of guns.

In recent years, the justices rejected a request to invalidate the states death penalty law and upheld the constitutionality of the states expansive mail-in voting law. The court also turned away challenges to the 2020 election result from Republicans who wanted to keep Trump in power, and ruled on a variety of lawsuits over gray areas in the mail-in voting law.

In one 2020 election case, justices ordered counties to count mail-in ballots that arrived up to three days after polls closed, citing delays in mail service caused by disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ruling spurred an outcry among Republicans, who challenged the decision in the U.S. Supreme Court.

The nations highest court ultimately declined to take the case. The ballots  nearly 10,000 of them  were never counted in any federal race, including for president, because the election was certified while their fate remained in legal limbo. State elections officials said the votes werent enough to change the results of a federal election.

In lower court races, Republican Megan Martin and Democrat Matt Wolf each won a two-way primary for an open seat on the Commonwealth Court while Democrats Jill Beck and Timika Lane captured the nomination in a three-way race for two open seats on the Superior Court, which hears appeals of civil and criminal cases from county courts.

___

Follow Marc Levy on Twitter: http://twitter.com/timelywriter

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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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OTTAWA - A parliamentary committee has called for Canadas Safe Third Country Agreement with the United States to include new exemptions allowing some asylum seekers to make claims in Canada after arriving south of the border.

The agreement, first signed in 2004, means asylum seekers must make their claim wherever they arrive first  and they are turned away if they try to cross the border to make a claim in the other country.

But on Tuesday, the House of Commons immigration committee tabled a report that calls for Canada to negotiate exceptions to that rule, particularly when it comes to people who have experienced gender-based violence.

As it stands, existing exceptions are limited to considerations for family unity, the best interests of children and public interest, the committee wrote in its report.

The only public-interest exemption that has been used to date applies to people facing the death penalty, the committee said.

Witnesses suggested that the committee encourage the government to negotiate greater flexibility for those who may not have equal access to the same protections in both countries.

Immigration lawyer Maureen Silcoff told the committee in November that claimants who seek asylum due to female genital mutilation, domestic violence or the fear of sexual assault face more-restrictive laws in the U.S. and are more likely to be offered protection in Canada.

U.S. President Joe Biden pledged to restore asylum provisions for domestic violence survivors in 2021, but the committee said there is still concern about the viability of gender-based claims made on American soil.

The House of Commons committee had made a similar recommendation in 2002, when the Safe Third Country Agreement was first being considered.

In their Tuesday report, members of the committee also recommended that the two countries reinstate an exemption to the agreement that allowed asylum claims at the Canadian border if the claimant was from a country to which Canada did not deport people.

Stephen Harpers Conservative government removed the exemption in 2009, but several refugee organizations  including The Refugee Centre  told the committee it should be put back into place.

Several witnesses also testified before the committee that they felt the United States was not, in fact, a safe country for asylum seekers.

They urged the government to scrap the agreement altogether.

But the report said the government should continue to assert publicly that the United States is a safe third country, and to reaffirm that sentiment in any relevant court proceedings.

Immigration Minister Sean Fraser told the committee in November that suspending the agreement would likely spur thousands of people to make dangerous journeys to migrate to Canada, and could encourage human smugglers to bring people into the country.

Silcoff suggested that Canada could create an another exemption for refugees who are in danger of being incarcerated in American detention centres as a way to address some of the issues that make the U.S. an unsafe country for some asylum seekers.

The images of kids in cages offer a horrific window into the system that jails vulnerable people when theyre simply seeking safety, Silcoff told the committee in November.

Public-policy exemptions have been a mainstay of our immigration system. It makes sense to put them to use at this point.

That recommendation was not adopted by the committee, however.

Even as some advocates continue to call for an end to the agreement, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Biden announced their plans to expand it during the presidents visit to Ottawa in March, effectively closing a loophole that saw tens of thousands of migrants cross into Canada each year.

The agreement now applies to all 8,900 kilometres of the shared border between the United States and Canada, not just official crossings as it had before.

Meanwhile, the future of the agreement could be decided by the Supreme Court of Canada, which is expected to rule shortly on whether or not it abides by Canadas constitution.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has started working on contingency plans in case the court strikes the agreement down, and the Crown has asked for a one-year grace period if that happens.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 16, 2023.

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OTTAWAThe federal government is forcing provinces to move too fast on clean electricity.

Or its making regrettably slow progress.

Those two perspectives emerged from different places Tuesday, illustrating the political push and pull over federal policies to clean up Canadas electricity grids  with the Liberal government fielding criticism in the middle.

In Regina, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe took a swing at Ottawas incoming plans to make provincial energy grids run with net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2035, meaning any remaining pollution would need to be offset.

Moe released his own plan to accomplish the goal 15 years later, by 2050, and to continue burning fossil fuels for power generation until existing plants are scheduled to wind down as currently planned.

He also criticized the federal proposal as unrealistic and unaffordable, publishing a document that claimed electricity bills could more than double and that his province could fail to provide enough power to residents if it was forced to convert its grid to net-zero by 2035.

The federal plan is still in the works, but early proposals have signalled the new regulations could allow natural gas plants to continue beyond 2035 to back up renewable power or operate for a short period beyond that date if they are in operation before 2025.

The measure is a key part of Ottawas plan to address the costly threat of climate change, and to create a clean electricity supply for industries that want to operate without carbon footprints in the coming years.

In an emailed statement Tuesday, a spokesperson for federal Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said Ottawa wants to work with all provinces on this goal. Ian Cameron pointed to recent federal spending to help provinces achieve this, such as a new tax credit the government expects to cost $6.3 billion over the next five years to help pay for new clean electricity projects and money to refurbish a hydro dam in Saskatchewan.

Cameron also noted that all G7 countries have pledged, like Canada, to hit net-zero electricity by 2035  making clean power key to attracting business investment in the coming years.

The global race to net-zero is well underway, and a clean, reliable and affordable grid is the backbone of any prosperous net-zero economy, Cameron said. It is our shared responsibility to ensure that Canada does not fall behind.

Meanwhile, supporters of that goal also raised concerns on Tuesday, this time blaming federal regulations for making it too difficult to build clean power in Canada.

Speaking on Parliament Hill Tuesday, the head of Electricity Canada  an Ottawa-based lobby group for power utility companies  made a different pitch. While acknowledging provinces like Saskatchewan, which have long relied on natural gas plants for large portions of their electricity generation, will face greater challenges hitting the 2035 target, Francis Bradley argued Canada needs to move faster to build clean power plants.

To Bradley, government regulations are too complex and onerous to meet the urgency of cleaning Canadas electricity grids, with only 12 years  or 4,613 days as of Tuesday, as Bradley put it  until 2035.

Electricity, in theory, is primarily a provincial responsibility. But there are 90 federal statutes and laws that actually come into play, and everything from environmental assessment reviews to the Fisheries Act to migratory birds, Bradley said.

He called for changes so that electricity projects could go through a single review process that is clearer and simpler and designed to avoid lengthy wait times that can stretch up to 10 years.

We need to build things faster, he said.

Some provincial governments have similarly criticized federal regulations for blocking clean energy development. In a statement to the Star last week, a spokesperson for Energy Minister Todd Smith said Ontario believes the largest barrier to clean power in the province is the federal governments project assessment law, which the Liberals revamped to much criticism from Conservative politicians, who claimed it would slow down or block future developments.

In Nova Scotia, some proponents of tidal energy projects in the Bay of Fundy, which has the highest tides in the world, have blamed federal fisheries regulations for blocking their construction. Last week, the Canadian subsidiary of a company called Sustainable Marine Energy said it would declare bankruptcy because fisheries regulations made it impossible for its tidal energy projects to continue in the region.

In an interview Tuesday, Nova Scotia Natural Resources Minister Tory Rushton said the province believes there was no reason to delay the companys project. He said his government continues to speak with the federal Fisheries Department about the situation, and that during a roundtable discussion Tuesday, Ottawa committed to striking a task force to study the issue.

A spokesperson for federal Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray confirmed that the task force would include officials from Nova Scotia and the tidal energy industry in order to simplify the regulatory process.

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A lorry transporting approximately 25 tonnes of aluminum waste from Belgium for a company from western Alba County was returned from northwestern Petea customs because it does not comply with the legal conditions, the Territorial Inspectorate of the Sighetu Marmatiei Border Police informs on Tuesday.

According to the source, at the Petea Border Crossing Point, a 46-year-old Romanian citizen, residing in Satu Mare County, who was driving a truck registered in Romania, presented for border formalities on the inbound to the country. He transported, according to the documents accompanying the goods, aluminum waste from a commercial company in Belgium to a company in Alba County.

"As there were suspicions regarding the legality of this transfer of waste, the border police requested authorized support from the Satu Mare Environmental Guard, who established that the transported goods - in total 24,980 kilograms - cannot enter the territory of Romania, as the transport does not meet the legal conditions," the source says.

Subsequently, the control authorities decided not to allow the transported goods to enter the territory of Romania, being returned to the Hungarian territory.AGERPRES
The black iris (Iris nigricans), together with other varieties cultivated at the Plant Genetic Resources Bank for Vegetables, Floriculture, Aromatic Plants (BRGVLFPA) in eastern Buzau, is the subject of analyses by researchers, as a result of the fact that the flower bulbs contain a large amount of sugar, close in terms of concentration to that of classic plants, such as stevia, beet or sugar cane.

According to the researchers, irises have not been the subject of detailed studies in Romania, although the plant has a high potential in the food field. Along with iris, there are other plants from which products can be obtained that can successfully replace classic sugar, with benefits in the medical field as well.

"Sugar iris or sweet iris as it is popularly called is an iris from which a sweet substance is extracted, which can replace sugar. Unfortunately, it has been very little studied in Romania, in the 80s an alternative to sugar was tried and then several plants have been studied, including the sweet iris. As you know, sugar is extracted from plants, whether we are talking about sugar beet, sugar cane, but I think there are other plants that can replace those consecrated. We are talking about Jerusalem artichoke, where we have four homologated varieties and the fifth on its way, to which other plants are added, such as sweet iris, licorice or stevia acclimatized here at the Resource Bank," the BRGVLFPA manager Costel Vanatoru told AGERPRES.

The sugar in the iris is extracted from the roots of the plant, and the concentration can vary from one variety to another. With the support of several universities in the country, the Plant Genetic Resources Bank aims to establish for each variety the concentration of substances from which sugar can be produced.

"Sweet iris is appreciated for its sweet concentration at the level of tubers, tuberous roots. From the point of view of sugar concentration, iris is close to classic plants, whether we are talking about beet or sugar cane, and we hope that in a project we are working in with our colleagues from the University of Dunarea de Jos and those from the University of Bucharest to get to know better the biochemical composition of this plant," stated the manager of the Plant Genetic Resources Bank.

One of the rare but productive species from which researchers expect to obtain exceptional results is the black iris. In the not too distant future, the management of the institution hopes that the specialists will be able to analyze the flowers from the perspective of smells too, with the help of a gas chromatograph.
Maternity care centers are gaining in popularity in Nanning, China, as many women choose to head to professional facilities to "Zuo yuezi."

In China, "Zuo yuezi" is a tradition when a new mother stays at home for a month to allow her body to rest after giving birth. #GLOBALink





Produced by Xinhua Global Service




Bookfest 2023 to be held between 24-28 May, in pavilion B2 of Romexpo; 3,000 new titles;Italy - guest of honour.

The 16th edition of the Bookfest International Book Fair opens its doors next week, in pavilion B2 of Romexpo, with over 200 exhibitors from all over the country and the Republic of Moldova, as well as cultural institutes with representations in Bucharest, being present every day until 28 May, told Agerpres.

According to an Association of Romanian Publishers (AER) release sent to AGERPRES on Tuesday, this year's edition will be officially opened on Wednesday, 24 May, at 12:00hrs, at the ARENA stage, within a ceremony where there have been invited Culture Minister Lucian Romascanu, Italy's Ambassador to Romania Alfredo Maria Durante Mangoni, Presidential Advisor Sergiu Nistor, as well as AER President Grigore Arsene.

In the year which celebrates six decades of uninterrupted activity, the Madrigal - Marin Constantin National Chamber Choir opens the 16th edition of Bookfest performing the national anthems of Romania and Italy. It will also perform a recital on the first day of the Book Fair, as of 13:30hrs, the repertoire including works from the Italian Renaissance, as well as Romanian compositions.

At this edition, the organizers promise spectacular discounts, about one million volumes, including 3,000 new titles, over 400 book launches and debates, over 60 events dedicated to children, with the participation of the most famous Romanian authors, round tables dedicated to the state of written culture and musical recitals.

The events will take place both at the exhibitors' stands, as well as in the specially arranged spaces within Bookfest: three stages, two cafes, one cinema and one stand dedicated to children, Bookfest Junior, the public entry being free of change, as in all previous editions.

The guest of honour at this edition is Italy, which proposes book lovers a wide-ranging programme with over 30 events, from book launches to debates and children's activities.

The full and updated programme of events will be posted on www.bookfest.ro website.

A project co-financed by the Culture Ministry, Bookfest holds local editions in Timisoara, Cluj-Napoca, Targu Mures, Brasov and an international edition in Chisinau.

The Bookfest International Book Fair is organized by the Association of Romanian Publishers, under the aegis of the Federation of Romanian Publishers, with the support of the Italian Embassy in Bucharest, the Italian Trade Agency and the Italian Cultural Institute of Bucharest.
Eleven banks operating in Romania were found to apply misleading commercial practices in the installment calculation method, which is why the National Consumer Protection Authority (ANPC) fined them a combined 550,000 RON, and also ordered them to issue new repayment schedules, for the contractual balance to be restored, ANPC general director Paul Anghel told AGERPRES.

"ANPC has identified misleading commercial practices in the way the banking economic operators were calculating installments, due to the fact that on the repayment schedule, in the first years, the installment was 25 percent principal and 75 percent interest. Due to this method of calculation, the borrowers were in fact paying mainly interest. For the contractual balance to be restored, in addition to the sanction, i.e. 11 fines in the amount of 550,000 RON, the ANPC commissioners proposed the issue of new repayment schedules for both loans in progress, and future ones, where the principal amount of the loan shall be repaid in equal installments, over the entire lending period, calculated against the loan interest," Anghel stated.

According to the cited source, this measure will allow average consumers to benefit from equality between the contract parties, but will also ensure contractual balance, so that they can make an informed borrowing decision and anticipate any misleading cost or calculation method.

The 11 sanctioned banks are: ING Bank, First Bank, Credite Europe Bank, OTP Bank, Alpha Bank, Banca Transilvania, Raiffeisen Bank, BCR, Patria Bank, Unicredit Bank, BRD Groupe Societe Generale.

ANPC has carried out a series of checks into the way banks implement medium and long-term retail lending contracts in domestic RON or foreign currency, with a repayment term of over 10 years, as well as into the compliance of the contractual terms and conditions with consumer rights.
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 on Monday night.

The company reported investments of 151.6 million RON on March 31, 2023 and a total value of assets of 2.419 billion RON. The company distributed dividends with a yield of 7%, competitive on the capital market. On June 28, Evergent Investments will start paying dividends for the year 2022, in the total amount of 82.712 million RON.

"The start of 2023 was strong, we reached an investment level of 151.6 million RON in a quarter with new challenges. We continue development in an increasingly complex world and remain firm in our commitment to show results because we are confident in the company's long-term strategy, in the conditions of permanent change," said Claudiu Doros, president and managing director of the company.

According to the source, Evergent Investments continues the development of the Private Equity portfolio, increasing the area of the Blueberry Farms project to 105 ha, by acquiring 50 ha through the Ever Agribio company. The new land is intended for the production of organic blueberries, which satisfies the growing demand for organic products.

Evergent Investments, with over 30 years of experience in the Romanian capital market, is a trailblazer, contributing to the development of the community of which it is a part. Over the last 15 years, the company has distributed dividends exceeding the value of 750 million RON.
FinMin Caciu: National commitment is an essential element of an effective economic governance framework.

National commitment is an essential element of an effective economic governance framework, and the shift to multiannual fiscal planning has many benefits, Finance Minister Adrian Caciu believes, told Agerpres.

"In agreement with the European Commission's proposals, I believe that national commitment. is an essential element of an effective economic governance framework, and the shift to multiannual fiscal planning has many benefits. It is necessary to take into account member states' initial standpoints and fiscal prospects, as well as economic characteristics in establishing differentiated fiscal paths. Simplification of the framework, as well as maintaining its multilateral character under conditions of equal treatment, transparency and predictability are important. I believe it essential to ensure that the fiscal adjustment period can be extended if a member state commits to an eligible set of reforms and investments which improve growth prospects or resilience, strengthen public finances and, therefore, their long-term sustainability, or tackles the EU's strategic priorities, including the challenges regarding public investment for the green and digital transition and the development of defence capabilities," the Finance minister told AGERPRES in respect to the European Commission's proposals to amend public debt regulations.

Adrian Caciu believes that this approach linked to the extension of the fiscal adjustment period will generate a higher level of flexibility in view of adapting the implementation period of the plan to the national administrative capacity and specific circumstances.

Moreover, according to the Finance minister, the package should offer a balance between sustainability (solidity of public finances) and inclusive and sustainable economic growth (reform and investment needs).

"It is necessary that this new Framework creates sufficient conditions to stimulate investment in member states with economic difficulties or with a weak fiscal space. In the current geopolitical context, I believe that defence expenditure should be taken into account as a relevant factor in all stages of the Excessive Deficit Procedure/EDP (launch, evaluation, implementation of actions, deactivation)," Adrian Caciu stated.

The European Commission (EC) has proposed a reform of EU fiscal regulations, according to which governments must ensure that the public debt falls over a four-year period and remains on a downward trajectory for a decade without further measures.

The EC proposal will be discussed by EU governments and negotiated with the European Parliament, with the aim of reaching an agreement in 2023.
Culture is "a barrier to barbarism," Italian Ambassador in Bucharest Alfredo Maria Durante Mangoni stated on Tuesday.

He attended the press conference within which it was presented this year's edition of the Bookfest Fair.

Italy will be the guest of honor at this edition, which is to take place between 24 and 28 May, in pavilion B2 of Romexpo, and the motto of the event is "Latin spirit."

The diplomat remarked that the book fair in Bucharest is held between the Paris Book Fair and the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2024, where Italy is also a guest of honour.

"It seems to me deeply symbolic that, between two prestigious events in the heart of Western Europe, Italy is put in the spotlight here in Bucharest, at the eastern border of the European Union and NATO. I would like to reiterate that this culture, which means books, which means community, is a barrier to barbarism," Alfredo Maria Durante Mangoni stated.

The ambassador said that the next week's events will represent " a glimpse of modern, creative Italy, capable of transformation."

"It makes us aware of the fact that we have a very important role to play in facilitating a better understanding of the image and spirit of our country," he showed.

The ambassador also noted the close relationship between Romania and the talent of Romanians for learning the Italian language.

In his turn, President of the Association of Romanian Publishers (AER) Grigore Arsene spoke of the example set by the Italian book industry in terms of the organisation and the book market, and the way in which the book market is supported and collaborates with the Italian state.

The AER head added that during the book fair, which is organised by the association, a study on book consumption in Romania shall be presented.

Eleven Italian writers are invited to Bookfest, three of whom are awarded the prestigious Strega Prize. Moreover, there will also be events dedicated to Italo Calvino, to mark the centenary of the author's birth. AGERPRES
PM Ciuca, Knesset Speaker discuss bilateral relation.

Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca met on Tuesday at the Victoria Governmental Palace with Amir Ohana, Speaker of Parliament of the State of Israel (Knesset), with whom he discussed cooperation in areas such as technology, defence industry, IT, solutions for irrigation systems in drought-affected areas and the development of energy storage capacities, told Agerpres.

"Prime Minister Nicolae-Ionel Ciuca met at the Victoria Palace with Amir Ohana, Speaker of the Knesset, Parliament of the State of Israel. On this occasion, they discussed issues related to the bilateral relationship, both sides appreciating the high level of cooperation in areas such as technology, defence industry or IT. Solutions for irrigation systems in drought-affected areas and the development of energy storage capacities, as well as the identification of new solutions for the gas supply of our region were among the areas of development of economic relations," the Government informs in a press release sent to AGERPRES.

According to the quoted source, Ciuca highlighted the importance given by Romania to the fight against anti-Semitism and the promotion of the role of the Jewish community in our history, stressing the relevance of the educational process of the young generation to avoid extremist drifts and preserve democratic values.

"At the same time, Prime Minister Nicolae-Ionel Ciuca thanked both for the Israeli investments in Romania and for the support given for the accession to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, which is a national objective assumed at government level. The Speaker of the Knesset expressed his thanks for the constant support given by our country at the international level to the State of Israel and the peace process in the Middle East. In turn, the high official underlined the relevance of the historical and cultural connections between the two peoples, an important part of the citizens of the State of Israel being born or having parents in Romania," the press release reads.
National Liberal Party (PNL) Chairman, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca, said on Tuesday that King Charles III will visit Romania on June 2, mentioning that this activity is included on the government agenda.

"It is an activity that is planned, it is on the government agenda. We are part of the programme that will be at the level of the President of Romania and so on," Ciuca said, when asked after the PNL National Standing Bureau (BPN) meeting if he had been informed about the visit of King Charles III to Romania on June 2.

Asked how many days King Charles III will stay in Romania, the Prime Minister answered that he does not know this detail. AGERPRES
Strengthening the critical infrastructure along the North-South axis in Central and Eastern Europe under the current geoeconomic and geopolitical realities is a prerequisite for unlocking the region's full economic potential, as well as for ensuring military mobility on the eastern flank of the North Atlantic Alliance, from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca on Tuesday told the "Better Connected through Connecting Europe Facility" conference.

"Having in view the current strategic background, the Three Seas Initiative gains even greater importance for increasing our resilience. Romania's hosting the Summit gives us the opportunity to strengthen the Initiative's tools. The upcoming Bucharest Summit will focus on concrete deliverables. The purpose is to gain political support for the most feasible projects, which will have a significant impact on the entire region and will contribute to our development and security," Ciuca declared.

"It is a period during which the EU's interconnectivity and interdependence open both new opportunities and challenges. The intersection in Romania of two major transport routes, via the Danube and the Black Sea, gives the entire Union a considerable strategic edge. Both routes represent important nodes in the supply chains for Europe, as well as an essential point of contact in the connections with the south of Europe, as well as with the eastern neighborhood," said the prime minister.

He also stressed that in the current global situation where global logistics routes are being rearranged and redesigned and the resilience of regional and global connectivity is being put to the test, ensuring flexible and alternative transport routes must remain an EU priority.

The head of the Executive said that the Romanian side supports stepping up ties and interconnectivity with the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, both as key points in the development of the European transport network, and as a way to support the two countries in their EU accession process.

"Against this background, I would like to welcome the Republic of Moldova's recent decision to join the Connecting Europe Facility program. It's an important step for this country's rapprochment to the internal market by anchoring it to the interconnected networks of the Union," Ciuca added.

Last but not least, he emphasized the crucial role of mobility projects such as Via Carpathia and Rail-2-Sea, emphasizing that following an analysis at government level, Romania will increase its contribution to the Three Seas Initiative Investment Fund, with the amount being decided by the coalition and provided by the government of Romania. AGERPRES
Social Democratic Party (PSD) Chairman Marcel Ciolacu said Tuesday that at the party's National Political Council meeting they did not discuss the withdrawal of any party from the current governing coalition.

He was asked, after the meeting of the PSD National Political Council meeting, if he had received a mandate to keep or remove the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) from the government.

"I have very clearly presented to you the mandate I had and received today from my colleagues, namely that the central government structure should be more efficient and more flexible. We had no discussion to remove any political party from this coalition," Ciolacu said at the Palace of Parliament.

He announced that a meeting of the three co-chairs of the coalition will take place in the coming days. AGERPRES
Approximately 159,000 people, Romanian and foreign nationals, and roughly 42,000 means of transport underwent border checks at all of Romania's crossing points on Monday, on both the inbound and the outbound, the General Border Police Inspectorate (IGPF) reports.

As many as 76,700 travelers of whom 7,783 Ukrainian nationals entered Romania on May 15, the IGPF said.

The number of Ukrainians who crossed into Romania since the pre-war date of February 10 is 4,238,263, the IGPF reports.

As part of the specific activities at crossing points and the green border, the border police found 54 illegal acts (34 crimes and 20 misdemeanors) committed by both Romanian and foreign citizens. The value of the seized undeclared goods amounts to approximately RON 88,800.

Fines worth over RON 14,100 were also issued.

27 foreign citizens who did not meet the legal requirements were denied entry to the country, and 13 Romanian citizens were also not allowed to leave the country for various legal reasons. AGERPRES
BEIJING, May 15 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Education will hold a special employment promotional campaign from May to August to ensure high-quality and full employment among college graduates this year.

The campaign around graduation season will focus on five tasks, including creating more jobs, improving employment guidance, and strengthening assistance for key groups, the ministry said on Monday.

Universities and colleges are required to continue inviting employers to recruitment activities on campuses, and to encourage graduates to find jobs at grassroots levels.

Before this, about 2.53 million new jobs had been created for fresh graduates via a separate employment promotional campaign launched by the ministry last November, with 2,415 universities and colleges participating.

China will see a record 11.58 million college graduates this year, earlier data shows. 
Ten museums in the rural area of southeastern Dobrogea will be promoted, starting in July, through high-performance equipment interactive 3D virtual tours, announces the Village Museums team.

According to the source, they will also be integrated into Google Street View, Google Maps and Google Earth.

The tours will be available for virtual visits on the only online platform in Romania dedicated to village museums - www.muzeedelasat.ro -, inaugurated on December 1, 2021. The initiative belongs to young people from northern Botosani and northeastern Iasi, whose project won, through a competition, co-financing from the National Cultural Fund Administration (AFCN), informs a press release sent to AGERPRES.

The Village Museums team aims to improve the image of each museum included in the project through virtual tours, photos, documented texts and presentation videos. In the future, the goal is to expand the project nationwide, obtaining an X-ray of the museums in the village, announce the initiators of this initiative.

"The stage of data collection for the Dobrogea region began on Saturday, May 13, in eastern Tulcea county, at the Paleo-Christian Monument in Niculitel and at the Panait Cerna Memorial House in Cerna," declared the team's copywriter, Nicoleta Felea.

Until the publication of the virtual tours, those interested can follow the Village Museums platform, where more than 50 museums from the regions of Moldavia and Muntenia are already published.

The 10 museums, from the Dobrogea area, that will be hosted by the www.muzeedelasat.ro platform are: Paleo-Christian Niculitel Monument; Panait Cerna Memorial House; Enisala Fortress Museum; Peasant household from Enisala; Souvenir from Dobrogea Museum; Constantin Paraschiva Museum; Dinu and Sevastia Vintila Art Museum; History Museum Complex; Tropaeum Traiani Adamclisi Museum Complex; Cobadin Museum of Traditional Turkish Art - UDTR.

In addition to the 10 museums in Dobrogea, the other regions already visited by the team will be updated with the following museums:

* in the Moldavia area: Sturdza Castle from Miclauseni (Iasi county) and the Tazlau Ethnography Museum (Neamt county);

* in the Wallachia/Muntenia area: GeoGate Visitor Center, Buzau county; Museum of Human Time visitor centre, Buzau county; The Museum of Forms visitor centre, Buzau county.AGERPRES
The 27th edition of European Film Festival (EFF) was opened, on Monday evening, at the Auditorium of the National Art Museum of Romania, with the film The Pod Generation, a Belgium, France and UK co-production, directed by Sophie Barthes.

The artistic director of EFF, film critic Catalin Olaru, told AGERPRES that 33 films will be screened at this year's edition of the event, 27 of which are national premieres.

"The European Film Festival means 33 films, of which 27 are national premieres. More than that, we also have a world premiere film, How To Be Dead, If Alive?, the new documentary by Ilinca Calugareanu, which resumes a series of articles that made history in the Romanian tabloid press just a few years ago and reinterprets them in a key that we invite you all to discover," said Catalin Olaru.

"This year, just like last year, I proposed a theme that is of interest and very intensively debated at these moments, because European film also involves debates, in addition to diversity, in addition to balance, European film involves themes or questions on to ask ourselves, more than trying to give answers, we ask ourselves questions and it makes us think, and then, this year's theme is Artificial Intelligence and tonight's film is exactly on this theme," said the Romanian Culture Institute (ICR) chairman, Liviu Jicman.

Bogdan Barla, the head of the Department of Communication and Networks with Representation of the European Commission in Romania, said that the EU has in the treaties that are the basis of its functioning listed among its objectives the promotion of cultural and linguistic diversity in Europe, as well as the support and development of cultural heritage.

Julien Chiappone-Lucchesi, the chairman of EUNIC Romania, the managing director of the French Institute in Romania, said that the opening of the festival takes place under the sign of Europe and film.

The European Film Festival debuted in western Timisoara, between May 9 and 12, and continued in southwestern Oravita, between May 12 and 14. From Bucharest, where it will take place between May 15 and 23, it will continue to southern Curtea de Arges, northeastern Botosani and Gura Humorului.

The European Film Festival is organized by the Romanian Cultural Institute, with the support of the European Commission Representation in Romania and EUNIC Romania, in partnership with UCIN (Union of Film-makers of Romania), embassies, European cultural centers and institutes. Partner of the local edition in Timisoara is the Timisoara Project Center.

AGERPRES is media partner of the event.
WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden has an ambitious agenda when he sets off this week on an eight-day trip to the Indo-Pacific.

He's 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 administration's commitment to the Pacific. The three-country trip also presents the 80-year-old Biden, who recently announced he's 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 China's 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

Russia's 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 Russia's war. The G-7 includes Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States.

Biden administration officials have been troubled by China's 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.
WASHINGTON  The head of the artificial intelligence company that makes ChatGPT told Congress on Tuesday that government intervention will be critical to mitigate the risks of increasingly powerful AI systems.

As this technology advances, we understand that people are anxious about how it could change the way we live. We are too, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman testified at a Senate hearing Tuesday.

Altman proposed the formation of a U.S. or global agency that would license the most powerful AI systems and have the authority to take that license away and ensure compliance with safety standards.

Altman, who grew up in St. Louis and graduated from John Burroughs School in Ladue, saw his San Francisco-based startup rocket to public attention after it released ChatGPT late last year. ChatGPT is a free chatbot tool that answers questions with convincingly human-like responses.

What started out as a panic among educators about ChatGPTs use to cheat on homework assignments has expanded to broader concerns about the ability of the latest crop of generative AI tools to mislead people, spread falsehoods, violate copyright protections and upend some jobs.

And while theres no immediate sign that Congress will craft sweeping new AI rules, as European lawmakers are doing, the societal concerns brought Altman and other tech CEOs to the White House earlier this month and have led U.S. agencies to promise to crack down on harmful AI products that break existing civil rights and consumer protection laws.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, the Connecticut Democrat who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committees subcommittee on privacy, technology and the law, opened the hearing with a recorded speech that sounded like the senator, but was actually a voice clone trained on Blumenthals floor speeches and reciting a speech written by ChatGPT after he asked the chatbot to compose his opening remarks.

The result was impressive, said Blumenthal, but he added, What if I had asked it, and what if it had provided, an endorsement of Ukraine surrendering or (Russian President) Vladimir Putins leadership?

Blumenthal said AI companies ought to be required to test their systems and disclose known risks before releasing them, and expressed particular concern about how future AI systems could destabilize the job market.

Pressed on his own worst fear about AI, Altman mostly avoided specifics. But he later proposed that a new regulatory agency should impose safeguards that would block AI models that could self-replicate and self-exfiltrate into the wild  hinting at futuristic concerns about advanced AI systems that could manipulate humans into ceding control.

Co-founded by Altman in 2015 with backing from tech billionaire Elon Musk with a mission focused on safety, OpenAI has evolved from a nonprofit research lab into a business. Its other popular AI products including the image-maker DALL-E. Microsoft has invested billions of dollars into the startup and has integrated its technology into its own products, including its search engine Bing.

Altman is also planning to embark on a worldwide tour this month to national capitals and major cities across six continents to talk about the technology with policymakers and the public. On the eve of his Senate testimony, he dined with dozens of U.S. lawmakers, several of whom told CNBC they were impressed by his comments.

Also testifying were IBMs chief privacy and trust officer, Christina Montgomery, and Gary Marcus, a professor emeritus at New York University who was among a group of AI experts who called on OpenAI and other tech firms to pause their development of more powerful AI models for six months to give society more time to consider the risks. The letter was a response to the March release of OpenAIs latest model, GPT-4, described as more powerful than ChatGPT.

Artificial intelligence will be transformative in ways we cant even imagine, with implications for Americans elections, jobs, and security, said the panels ranking Republican, Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri. This hearing marks a critical first step towards understanding what Congress should do.

A number of tech industry leaders have said they welcome some form of AI oversight but have cautioned against what they see as overly heavy-handed rules. In a copy of her prepared remarks, IBMs Montgomery asks Congress to take a precision regulation approach, and disagreed with proposals by Altman and Marcus for an AI-focused regulator.

This means establishing rules to govern the deployment of AI in specific use-cases, not regulating the technology itself, Montgomery said.
MIAMI (AP)  Five people have pleaded guilty in South Florida to participating in a wire fraud scheme that created an illegal shortcut for aspiring nurses to get licensed and find employment.

Krystal Lopez and Damian Lopez, both of Palm Beach County, Florida; Francois Legagneur, of Nassau County, New York; Reynoso Seide, of Union County, N ew Jersey; and Yelva Saint Preux, of Suffolk County, N.Y.; pleaded guilty last Wednesday in Miami federal court to wire fraud conspiracy. They each face up to 20 years in prison at a July 27 hearing.

A total of 25 people were charged earlier this year in a scam that sold more than 7,600 fraudulent nursing degree diplomas from three Florida-based nursing schools, according to grand jury indictments. The schools involved  Siena College, Palm Beach School of Nursing and Sacred Heart International Institute  are now closed.

During guilty plea hearings, Damian Lopez, Legagneur, Seide and Saint Preux admitted to soliciting and recruiting people who sought nursing credentials that would allow them to work as registered, licensed practical or vocational nurses. Krystal Lopez admitted that, in her role as the Palm Beach School of Nursings finance director, she processed applications for individuals who were issued fraudulent nursing school diplomas and transcripts and that each student paid the school $15,000 for the documents.

The fake diplomas and transcripts qualified those who purchased them to sit for the national nursing board exam. If they passed, they were able to obtain licenses and jobs in various states, prosecutors said.

About 2,400 of the 7,600 students eventually passed their licensing exams  mainly in New York, federal officials said. Nurses certified in New York are allowed to practice in Florida and many other states. Many of those people may lose their certification but likely wont be criminally charged, federal officials said.
MONDAY, May 15, 2023 -- Researchers have discovered a genetic mutation that should actively protect people from Alzheimers, thanks to a man belonging to a Colombian family known to be susceptible to the degenerative brain disease.

Based on his family's genetics, this unnamed patient should have started showing signs of Alzheimers in his 40s.

They start getting impaired at age 44. By 49, they have dementia, By 60, they are dead, said co-researcher Dr. Joseph Arboleda-Velasquez, an associate scientist at Mass Eye and Ear, a research institute with Mass General Brigham in Boston.

But this man showed no signs of cognitive decline by age 67, Arboleda-Velasquez said.

The patient was studied and went through a battery of cognitive tests. At 67, he was fine, he said. He should have been dead by then, but for him, it hadn't even started. That is just remarkable.

The man was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment at age 70. Imaging scans taken at 73 showed his brain was riddled with the amyloid plaques and tau tangles that are hallmarks of Alzheimers.

He died of pneumonia at age 74, having progressed to moderate dementia, researchers said.

Critical for protection

So what protected his brain from the ravages of Alzheimers?

Research conducted after his death revealed that he carried a specific mutation in a gene that regulates reelin, a protein that serves a pivotal role in brain cell development.

The mutation enhances the function of reelin, and reelin naturally hampers the process that causes tau proteins to stick together in tangles and impede brain function, Arboleda-Velasquez said.

This mutation in reelin makes reelin work better, what we call a gain of function, he said. You have a situation where the mutation increases the function of a protein that already has a beneficial effect.

Specifically, the reelin mutation appeared to have diminished the number of tau tangles that accumulated in the mans entorhinal cortex, an area of the brain that serves a critical role in memory and learning.

This case indicates that the entorhinal region may represent a tiny target thats critical for protection against dementia, senior researcher Yakeel Quiroz, director of the Familial Dementia Neuroimaging Lab at Mass General Hospital, said in a hospital news release.

The identification of this reelin gene and the brain region it most benefits should break open a new front on the war against Alzheimers, alongside ongoing efforts to prevent the plaques of amyloid beta protein that are another trait of the brain disease, Arboleda-Velasquez said.

I would say 95% of the efforts for therapeutic development have focused on amyloid, and maybe 4% or 5% have focused on tau, he said. This shows us that there is this other pathway that doesn't really have to do much with amyloid.

Focus on a family

This new finding stems from ongoing research of an extended family of 6,000 people in Colombia who carry the Paisa mutation, a genetic variant known to significantly increase risk of early-onset Alzheimers.

Researchers have been following this family for three decades, and in 2019, their efforts uncovered one protective genetic mutation in a woman who remained unimpaired until her 70s.

That woman carried two copies of a variant called APOE3-Christchurch, which also appears to inhibit the development of tau tangles. The apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene is known to influence genetic risk for Alzheimers.

The man didnt carry APOE3-Christchurch, so researchers went looking for another genetic factor that could explain his resilience.

The reelin mutation would be really the second major protective factor found within this family of individuals where theres a mutation associated with young onset Alzheimers disease, said Dr. Vijay Ramanan, a neurologist with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Mass.

The newly discovered mutation appears to inhibit a process called phosphorylation, which induces a structural change that causes naturally occurring tau proteins to tangle with other threads of tau, Arboleda-Velasquez said. The tau tangles that occur in the brains of Alzheimers patients are highly phosphorylated.

Arboleda-Velasquez is confident that reelin itself could be administered as a therapy to block at least one pathway by which Alzheimers progresses.

It's very clear that the mutation offered a gain of function. If that is so, that means more reelin is better. More reelin should do it, he said. Its just a matter of how were going to do it, how we are going to give it to patients. I think it has tremendous promise.

Targeting tau

Ramanan, who wasn't involved with the new research, agreed that the findings should spur research into tau as a culprit in Alzheimers.

We know that there are multiple factors involved in Alzheimer's disease. It is a complex disease and multiple pathways are contributory, Ramanan said. But the accumulation of tau in the brain is very tightly connected to the character of symptoms that folks experience and the timing when they experience those symptoms."

From that standpoint alone, he said, it makes great sense to think about targeting tau as a treatment.

When you see a genetic factor with a relationship potentially to modifying tau burden as having the ability to also protect against the development of dementia in a familial situation where there's incredibly high risk, it really sort of adds fuel to that direction of research, Ramanan added.

The new study was published May 15 in the journal Nature Medicine.

More information

The U.S. National Institute on Aging has more about the hallmarks of Alzheimers disease.

SOURCES: Joseph Arboleda-Velasquez, MD, PhD, associate scientist, Mass Eye and Ear, Boston, and associate professor, ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston; Vijay Ramanan, MD, PhD, neurologist, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.; Mass General Brigham, news release, May 15, 2023; Nature Medicine, May 15, 2023
ST. LOUIS  Dr. Anthony Fauci urged a class of graduating medical students to adopt the hard-won lessons of the U.S. response to the COVID pandemic and warned against the dangerous undercurrent of anti-science sentiment that has grown stronger over the past three years.

Fauci was in St. Louis on Monday to address students graduating from the Washington University School of Medicine. He called on medical professionals to speak out with evidence-based, truthful information.

Do not hesitate to push back on these destructive forces, with civility, but also with all the strength you can muster, he said. Throughout the pandemic, Fauci has drawn adoration from those who viewed him as a voice of reason in the crisis, and vitriol from those who believed the COVID-era public health recommendations were oppressive.

As he spoke, a group of about 60 people were gathered outside to protest his appearance, having marched to campus from an earlier rally at Shaw Park in downtown Clayton. That event was attended by Eric Nepute, a Creve Coeur chiropractor facing a federal lawsuit for false claims that his vitamin products are more effective than COVID-19 vaccines, and Katherine Pinner, a former Republican candidate for St. Louis County Executive who has espoused conspiracy theories including that masks are linked to satanic ritual abuse.

Fauci, who recently stepped down after 38 years as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and from his role as the presidents chief medical adviser, urged the graduates to learn from experts experiences with the unpredictable nature of the pandemic. He recounted how public health officials were humbled when they realized the coronavirus ability to spread from people who showed no symptoms, and when it continued to mutate rapidly, into new and challenging strains.

His visit came at a time of transition in the COVID-19 crisis, for which Fauci has been Americas most visible communicator. His remarks echoed sentiments expressed by federal and international health authorities in recent weeks: While COVID-19 still poses a threat, it will no longer be treated as an emergency.

Although the emergency is ending, we are still not completely out of the woods, Fauci said.

The U.S. is still seeing an unacceptably high level of deaths, he said, but the numbers are far lower than they were 18 to 24 months ago. He stopped short of declaring an end to the pandemic.

Four days before Faucis remarks at Washington University, the Biden administration allowed the U.S. public health emergency to expire, sunsetting a slew of regulatory and financial mechanisms the country had relied on during the crisis. Earlier in the month, the World Health Organization  the United Nations health agency  downgraded the designated threat level for COVID-19, determining that it is no longer an emergency.

The virus still poses disruptions to daily life, and scientists are still monitoring circulating variants for signs of concern. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported more than 1,100 deaths the week of April 15, the most recent non-preliminary data, and experts have reportedly warned top U.S. officials that there is still some chance of another significant wave.

Dr. Alex Garza, SSM Healths chief community health officer, said that while COVID-19 wont go away, it seems like the virus is finally reaching a stage where it becomes endemic and follows more predictable patterns.

That transition is always better understood after the fact, Garza added. But the virus is no longer new. There will be spikes at times, but COVID-19 will likely become more of a seasonal phenomenon.

For many, the emergence of Fauci as a national, go-to expert on the pandemic was a source of relief. Spring Schmidt, the St. Louis County health departments former deputy director, recalled that in the early days of the outbreak, desperate for information and unable to find it elsewhere, residents turned to their county health department with questions that national and international authorities could not yet answer.

When news broke that researchers had found live virus samples on surfaces in hospitals in Italy, county residents phoned the department en masse with questions about the virus means of transmission, Schmidt recalled. During an interview with a local news outlet, Schmidt fielded questions about whether people should scrub packages they received in the mail, and whether a washing machine cycle was strong enough to disinfect virus-exposed clothing.

Fauci stepped in and explained, under the national spotlight, what experts learned as they learned it. He described what was known and unknown about how the virus spreads, how it can be limited and how COVID-19 can be treated.

He put himself out there. He said hard things. People really looked to him and responded to him. And then they got disappointed and angry with him, too. And he bore a lot of that, on behalf of all of us, Schmidt said.

Garza, the SSM official, said he was influenced by Faucis straightforward style of explaining science in clear, common language. Garza led the St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force and has been the regions most visible spokesperson on COVID-19.

Fauci said he wants the medical students graduating to know that they should not sit back and accept the normalization of untruths.

Youve got to counter it. You cant give them an open field and surrender, Fauci added.

Nassim Benchaabane of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.
MONDAY, May 15, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Nearly one-third of U.S. physicians (31.2 percent) in 2022 reported they had previously been sued, according to new research released by the American Medical Association.

The Benchmark Survey includes a nationally representative sample of 3,500 physicians who provide at least 20 hours of patient care per week, have completed their residency, are not employed by the federal government, and practice in one of the 50 U.S. states or the District of Columbia.

The survey showed nearly half (46.8 percent) of physicians aged 54 years or older had been sued, versus 9.5 percent of physicians younger than 40 years. The widest variation in claim frequency was attributed to medical specialty, with surgical specialties at highest risk and internal medicine subspecialties at lowest risk (e.g., 62 percent of ob-gyns and 59.3 percent of general surgeons versus 7 percent of allergists/immunologists and 8 percent of hematologists/oncologists). Furthermore, women physicians face lower liability risk than men (23.8 percent of women versus 36.8 percent of men).

"Even the most highly qualified and competent physicians in the U.S. may face a medical liability claim in their careers; however, getting sued is not indicative of medical errors," Jack Resneck Jr., M.D., president of the American Medical Association, said in a statement. "When physicians are sued, two-thirds of civil liability claims are dropped, dismissed, or withdrawn without a finding of fault."
KHOST, Afghanistan, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Two children were killed and two others injured as a blast rocked a house in Afghanistan's eastern Khost province on Tuesday, provincial police spokesman Mustaghfir Garbaz said.

According to the official, the blast occurred inside a house in Bahram Khil village of Ismael Khil Mandozai district at 3:00 a.m. local time, killing two children on the spot and injuring two others.

Following the blast, rescue teams and security personnel reached the site and shifted the injured children to a nearby hospital, the official added.

Security authorities have begun an investigation into the incident, the official further said.

In the meantime, villagers say that the blast took place inside the house of a prayer leader early Tuesday morning, killing two siblings and injuring two others. 
ST. LOUIS  Police on Wednesday identified the man who was shot and killed Monday night in the city's O'Fallon neighborhood.

Officers found Antwuan Morrow, 31, shot in the head and torso just before 8 p.m. at West Florissant and Athlone avenues, according to a police report.

Morrow was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Another person went to Barnes Hospital after being shot in the abdomen and rear, but police said that person is refusing to cooperate with their investigation.
ST. LOUIS  An off-duty Berkeley police officer shot a man who was running away after rear-ending a parked vehicle Monday in the parking lot of a bar in the city's Walnut Park East neighborhood, police said.

The 26-year-old man survived, and the police use of force unit is investigating.

Police said the off-duty officer was inside the Speakeasy Bar, at 5532 W. Florissant Ave., just before 5 p.m. when the 62-year-old man heard a loud crash outside.

He went out to see what had happened and saw that a grey Kia had rear-ended a parked vehicle and a man was jogging away from the parking lot with a gun in his hand.

The off-duty officer announced himself as police and told the man to stop running, but he did not stop. The man then raised his gun and pointed it at the officer, according to a police report.

The officer fired shots at the man, who then limped away.

The man arrived at a hospital while officers responded to the bar, police said. He had been shot in the foot.

A police report said the man admitted to being involved in the crash and running away with a gun in his hand.
Kim Gardner abruptly resigns, Parson appoints temporary replacement in St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner announced Tuesday she would resign immediately  two weeks earlier than expected.

ST. LOUIS  Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said Tuesday he will appoint an interim St. Louis prosecutor by Friday following the sudden departure of Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner.

Parson's announcement comes after the surprise resignation of Gardner, who announced earlier this month she would resign on June 1 but instead resigned abruptly Tuesday.

Parson said he will be interviewing some of the 18 applicants for the circuit attorney position on Wednesday.

We will give them the resources they need to be successful, Parson said of the city's next prosecutor. Again, this is not something thats going to happen overnight.

In the meantime, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, who filed a lawsuit earlier this year seeking to remove Gardner from office, will send staff to help the city prosecutor's office.

We need somebody in there right now just to stabilize things and make sure were doing the functions of the prosecutors' office to make sure were going after hardcore criminals in this city and this state, Parson said.

He emphasized Baileys office was asked to assist in stabilizing the office in St. Louis but that it was not a state takeover.

Were not going in there to take over that office, Parson said. Thats not our job. Our job is to go in there until we make this placement and then give him all the support we can to be successful.

Gardner's departure comes amid months of mounting criticism of Gardner's office over organizational dysfunction.

In a statement outlining her resignation, Gardner cited a "comprehensive transition plan" between Gardner and St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell and referred all questions to Bell's spokesman, Chris King.

King said Bell still intends to help Gardner's office, but her resignation came as a surprise to the top prosecutor in the county.

Parson had not spoken with Bell since last week and was not aware of the county prosecutors discussions with Gardner to take over in the transition, other than through media reports, Parson said Tuesday.

His office tried to meet with Gardner after she previously announced plans to step down in June but Gardner did not respond, he said.

Parson said he was following the appropriate legal process for replacing Gardner by appointing an interim replacement. Asking Baileys office to assist was the right format to handle the transition until he names the appointee, Parson said.

Parson said he previously met with St. Louis Police Chief Robert Tracy, Sheriff Vernon Betts, Mayor Tishaura O. Jones, Bailey, and St. Louis prosecutors and judges to discuss the transition after Gardners initial resignation announcement.

On Tuesday, he met with more than a dozen faith leaders in a closed-door discussion in downtown St. Louis, including several Black clergy and civil rights leaders.

The Rev. Darryl Gray said after the meeting that faith leaders asked Parson to appoint someone who was a qualified and experienced candidate, preferably Black, who is familiar with the St. Louis community and who would not seek to run for office in 2024 or operate as a political appointee.

Parson, at his press conference later Tuesday, said the applicants to replace Gardner were an extremely talented pool and that political party would not be a factor in his pick.

Its not going to be a political appointment, he said. Its about who I think will go in there and do the best job to right the ship in the city of St. Lois and has their heart in the right place to really put St. Louis people first.

Victims and families face new pain as Kim Gardners office struggles. Its been a mess. St. Louis prosecutors are wrestling with staffing and workload issues, leaving cases to languish. Crime victims and their relatives are left wondering when justice will be served.

Kim Gardner abruptly resigns, Parson appoints temporary replacement in St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner announced Tuesday she would resign immediately  two weeks earlier than expected.
ST. LOUIS  When Kira Dunn told her husband Christopher Dunn by phone that the St. Louis Circuit Attorneys Office has launched an effort to overturn his murder conviction, he was quiet.

It was 4:30 p.m. Monday. Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardners office had announced that morning it was moving to prove his innocence in court.

Weve had so many emotional ups and downs, sometimes we dont react with joy or sorrow. We just absorb it, said Kira Dunn in an interview. The pair met while she was a volunteer for a justice publication in 1999 and grew closer. They married nine years ago.

Until he walks out that door, we cant get our hopes up, she said.

Christopher Dunns innocence claims rely on the lack of physical evidence linking him to the killing of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers in 1990. A teen himself at the time, Christopher Dunn, now 51, maintains that at the time of the murder, he was at home with his mother and sister.

The main two witnesses have since recanted their testimony, saying they were pressured by police and prosecutors at the time to make an identification. A judge in 2020 noted no court today would convict Christopher Dunn but cited legal hurdles in Dunns case.

Until Monday, Dunns bid for freedom had been denied by nearly every possible court. The Missouri Supreme Court and U.S. Supreme Court have both refused to hear his case.

When you lie down, its over. As long as there is breath in our bodies, we are going to fight until he gets home, Kira Dunn said.

Gardner filed the motion to vacate the murder sentence of Christopher Dunn just a day before her surprise early resignation. She used a law influenced by the case of a man she worked to set free earlier this year, Lamar Johnson. At one point, Johnson and Dunn, both Black men from St. Louis, were acquainted with each other in prison.

The nation should be paying attention to Dunns case, said one of his original attorneys, Justin Bonus.

Let me make this clear: Hes not getting a favor. This is what is supposed to happen, said Bonus, who is based in New York. He proved his innocence, and because of a procedural bar, they kept him in jail. This could be anybodys relative. It could be you sitting in Chris Dunns position right now.

Kira also flew into St. Louis from her home in California to attend Lamar Johnsons five-day hearing in December, where witnesses and former detectives and officers testified about Johnsons prosecution. A judge ultimately granted Gardners motion, and Johnson walked out of the Carnahan Courthouse a free man on Valentines Day.

It takes everyones voice to say, This is what we as a community believes is justice, said Tricia Bushwell, executive director of the Midwest Innocence Project, which has taken up Christopher Dunns case.

A lot of families go through what Kira is going through. They are working really hard to bring their loved ones home, but oftentimes the courts dont pay attention until theres a professional voice.

Steve Ohmer, one of the prosecutors from Christopher Dunns trial, is now a St. Louis Circuit Court judge. During the 1991 trial, Ohmer simultaneously prosecuted a case against one of the main witnesses, who, after testifying, had pending felony charges reduced.

But Dunn, with his quest for freedom being led by the same Circuit Attorneys Office that convicted him, isnt worried about the politics.

Thursday will be the anniversary of Rogers death. Normally, Christopher Dunn fasts during this time, praying that he and Rogers get justice. His wife says that will continue.

Its something all St. Louisans should pay attention to even in the midst of crime waves, said St. Louis University criminology professor Kenya Brumfield-Young.

We also have to focus back and say the victims have not received justice truthfully if theres a person who is sitting in prison who is not the person that committed the offense. Thats why we care, she said.

Bobby Bostic was cellmates with Johnson and Dunn during his 20-year stint in prison. Bostic was sentenced to more than 241 years in prison for a robbery as a teen but was released on parole last year.

Bostic, too, was happy to hear the news about Dunns case was making movement. But with the birthdays, Christmases and graduations missed, its still hard to accept.

Its a lot harder than most people think. Its especially hard when youre innocent. I was guilty. I always looked at those guys like: How do you do it? Bostic said. Every day that hes sitting in there is an injustice.
Parson says hell appoint interim St. Louis prosecutor by Friday Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said Tuesday he will appoint an interim St. Louis prosecutor by Friday following the sudden departure of Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner.

ST. LOUIS  The citys top prosecutor announced Tuesday that she would resign immediately, more than two weeks earlier than expected, sending state and local officials scrambling to patch yet another hole in an office that has already lost key leaders.

The timing of Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardners resignation  she initially said she would quit June 1  scuttled an early plan to hand off some responsibilities to St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell. His spokesman said the office was ready to help, but Gardners surprise exit left the plan in limbo.

By days end, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said he would appoint a replacement by Friday. He tapped his general counsel, Evan Rodriguez, to fill in until the appointee can start, with help from the Attorney Generals office.

This is a very unprecedented situation, said Bill Corrigan, a lawyer for Attorney General Andrew Bailey. A very volatile, very fluid situation.

In her resignation announcement Tuesday, Gardner said she was committed to serving the people of St. Louis and had done all she can to ensure a smooth transition.

Gardners abrupt departure throws into further chaos a city courts system thats already bending under the weight of a staffing exodus, organizational dysfunction, a leadership vacuum and a backlog of several thousand cases. Her office lost roughly a third of its attorneys in two months, and two judges filed to hold her in contempt of court after prosecutors didnt show up for scheduled hearings or trials.

The departure comes amid months of mounting criticism of Gardners office. Bailey filed suit earlier this year to remove her from office, and Missouri lawmakers filed a bill seeking to strip her of most of her power. Gardner struck a deal to step down in exchange for lawmakers dropping the bill.

Bell and Gardner, both elected as progressive prosecutors who promised to reform the criminal justice system and review wrongful convictions, have been in talks since at least last week about a plan to rebuild her office. He was seen visiting her office with top aides last week and visiting again on Monday and Tuesday this week.

But it was not publicly clear until Tuesday just how closely the two had been working.

First, Gardner in her resignation called their plan comprehensive and directed questions about city cases to Bells office.

Then, in a news conference that afternoon, Bell spokesman Chris King revealed that Bell was given security access to Gardners office, two county attorneys were training in the city warrant office, and Bells office expected to begin charging cases in the city on Tuesday.

Gardner had even issued an order seeking to appoint Bell as an assistant prosecutor in the city before she resigned Tuesday morning, but that move needed approval from a judge, and no ruling was made on Tuesday, King said.

Were here. Were ready to work, he said in a hall packed with reporters outside Gardners office. But were not sure what our legal standing is.

After announcing the intended collaboration  without details  last week, Bell was criticized by a St. Louis County councilman who argued Bell should have to get council approval before using any county resources to help Gardners office.

Bailey, the attorney general, said in a statement Tuesday evening he would send Corrigan, the attorney who led the lawsuit seeking Gardners removal, and several others to St. Louis to receive charging referrals from police and start the process of clearing the backlog of cases.

We need somebody in there right now, Parson said, just to stabilize things and make sure were doing the functions of the prosecutors office to make sure were going after hardcore criminals in this city and this state.

Corrigan said the Attorney Generals Office will meet with city prosecutors on Wednesday. He anticipates state attorneys will appear in court on behalf of the city and help clear cases.

Our expectation is well do whatever it takes, Corrigan said.

Rodriguez, Parsons temporary pick for the circuit attorneys job, joined Parsons office in February. Then 28, he had previously worked as a legislative analyst for the Missouri House and at the Missouri Attorney Generals Office.

Area counties said Tuesday theyd help, too: Prosecutors in St. Charles, Jefferson, Franklin, Lincoln, Warren and St. Louis counties released a joint statement saying theyve pledged to help Parsons appointee in any manner we can.

Restoring faith in the prosecutors office, St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones said Tuesday, is critical to a functional criminal justice system. She thanked Parson for engaging St. Louis elected and community leaders as he makes this critical decision.

Parson said the roughly 20 applicants to replace Gardner were an extremely talented pool and political party would not be a factor in his pick.

Its not going to be a political appointment, he said. Its about who I think will go in there and do the best job to right the ship in the City of St. Louis.
Thirty-five states, including Missouri, have fewer children than they did five years ago, a situation caused by declining birth rates nationwide, but also by young families migrating across state borders in search of cheaper housing.

Even in the 15 states that gained children, all but North Dakota experienced greater growth in the adult population, meaning children now make up a lower percentage of residents.

In states where the number of children has declined, school officials are facing the possibility of teacher layoffs or even school closures when pandemic aid expires next year. A decline in school enrollment could provide short-term cost savings and might be a benefit to children if there are more resources to go around, but it bodes poorly for future state workforces.

In states where the drop in the number of children is part of a broader population decline, there will be additional fiscal, economic and political ramifications, such as diminished representation in Congress.

The states with the largest drops were California, Illinois and New Mexico, where the child population declined by 6% between 2017 and 2022, according to a Stateline analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data. Missouri saw its child population decline by 1% during the same period.

Idaho and North Dakota saw the largest increases, at 4%.

The declines mostly are a reflection of historically low fertility rates, which have been below the replacement rate of two children per woman since 2010. Births increased in only a handful of states in 2021.

But in the 35 states that experienced declines, high housing prices also are a factor. In California, jobs pay well but the states housing shortage has sent prices beyond the means of young families, said Hans Johnson, a senior fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California, a nonpartisan think tank.

People want to buy a house and have children, but they realize they cant do it here so they look in the vicinity, states close by, and work remotely so they can keep their California paychecks, Johnson said.

Slow population growth cost California a seat in Congress after the 2020 census. The number of adults in California grew in the past five years, according to the Stateline analysis, but the decline in the number of children led to a lower overall population.

California also has experienced a phenomenon shared by other Western states: The children of Hispanic immigrants have lower birth rates than their parents. Californias total fertility rate dropped from 2.15 per woman in 2008 to a historic low of 1.52 in 2020, the lowest since records have been kept, Johnson wrote in a January report.

California, Illinois and New Mexico all have seen lower school enrollment in recent years, even as theyve tried to rekindle interest in public education after pandemic upheavals.

In New Mexico, enrollment has dropped particularly sharply in the northwestern part of the state, where there are many Indigenous students, according to a January state report. Between 2012 and 2022, enrollment declined by 22% in the majority-Native Central Consolidated Schools in San Juan County, compared with a statewide decline of 7%, according to the report. Indigenous and other children in the mostly rural area struggle to stay in school because of long bus commutes and lack of internet access at home.

The recent closure of a coal mine and the power generating station it fueled forced many families with children to move away from San Juan County to find jobs, according to Central Consolidated school board President Christina Aspaas.

A lot of Navajo workers who were employed had to relocate to Phoenix or elsewhere out of state to earn the same wages, Aspaas said. It affected the local tribes, Hopi and Navajo, Dine. Seeing the impacts makes my heart break. These are all my children, and they deserve the best in education and in life.

In Idaho and North Dakota, annual school enrollment has increased over the past five years, except for temporary drops early in the pandemic. But Idaho is bracing for a decline starting in 2025, when children from a historic 2007 baby boom in the state start turning 18.

Idaho has become known as a picturesque and affordable place to raise children, said Jaap Vos, a planning professor at the University of Idaho in Boise. He relocated from Florida with his 3-year-old son in 2012, when it was still the middle of nowhere, he said. The number of adults in the state grew by 16% during the same period.

Boise is getting a lot of new residents from California, and northern Idaho is seeing more movers from Northern California, Washington and Utah. It might be for ideological reasons, people looking for a more conservative lifestyle, Vos said. He added that some people have left Boise as it has grown more crowded.

Even in northern Idaho, housing prices have risen rapidly. Writer Leah Hampton is moving from North Carolina to Moscow in northern Idaho to teach at the University of Idaho. But she said she is having trouble finding an affordable house  even without children. Her husband is working remotely.

Moscow is definitely a great place to raise kids. Its like a 1950s movie up here but more diverse and left-wing, Hampton said. All of my friends children seem really happy and well-adjusted. But cost of living is much higher than we expected. We have money and we literally cant find anything to buy.

Many houses are sold sight unseen to investors offering cash, she said.

Another fast-growing state with meager growth in the number of children is Florida, where a decrease in births and an increase in deaths over the past five years has created a negative drag on overall population, according to census estimates. The state had almost 25,000 more births than deaths in 2017, but there were 40,000 more deaths than births by 2022.

Still, Florida had the third-highest increase in child population between 2017 and 2022, at 2%. One reason: Hispanic births in Florida have continued to increase, unlike in Western states, said Stefan Rayer, director of the population program at the state Bureau of Economic and Business Research. In fact, births are increasing for white, Black and Hispanic mothers in Florida, helping to offset some of the increasing deaths among the white population, Rayer said.

Unless births increase substantially, because of the aging of Floridas population, the state will likely see natural decrease for the foreseeable future, with all growth coming from migration, Rayer said.

Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a national nonprofit news organization focused on state policy.

Population of children under 18 from U.S. Census Bureau estimates, Stateline analysis State childen 2022 children 2017 change17-22 % change California 8,506,027 9,060,136 -554,109 -6% Illinois 2,720,131 2,897,185 -177,054 -6% New Mexico 459,513 488,090 -28,577 -6% Mississippi 678,061 713,567 -35,506 -5% West Virginia 351,922 369,718 -17,796 -5% Wyoming 130,114 136,483 -6,369 -5% Alaska 176,523 184,928 -8,405 -5% Louisiana 1,061,693 1,108,403 -46,710 -4% Oregon 836,988 873,619 -36,631 -4% New York 3,989,288 4,154,497 -165,209 -4% Colorado 1,215,575 1,261,833 -46,258 -4% Michigan 2,109,695 2,176,649 -66,954 -3% Kansas 690,832 712,538 -21,706 -3% Wisconsin 1,245,629 1,282,644 -37,015 -3% Hawaii 297,326 305,744 -8,418 -3% Arizona 1,589,010 1,633,490 -44,480 -3% Massachusetts 1,337,434 1,369,955 -32,521 -2% New Hampshire 252,924 258,773 -5,849 -2% Maine 247,898 252,634 -4,736 -2% Vermont 114,757 116,825 -2,068 -2% Connecticut 731,030 743,826 -12,796 -2% Rhode Island 203,912 207,332 -3,420 -2% Ohio 2,562,550 2,605,235 -42,685 -2% Pennsylvania 2,624,465 2,664,515 -40,050 -2% Missouri 1,364,908 1,382,971 -18,063 -1% Arkansas 697,119 705,540 -8,421 -1% Iowa 724,489 731,947 -7,458 -1% Oklahoma 953,146 959,285 -6,139 -1% Kentucky 1,004,575 1,010,539 -5,964 -1% Minnesota 1,294,162 1,298,657 -4,495 0% North Carolina 2,294,879 2,302,346 -7,467 0% Indiana 1,569,923 1,573,409 -3,486 0% Georgia 2,510,123 2,514,698 -4,575 0% Virginia 1,866,910 1,869,176 -2,266 0% Maryland 1,346,589 1,347,506 -917 0% District of Columbia 124,475 124,492 -17 0% Washington 1,646,573 1,645,816 757 0% Nebraska 476,677 475,733 944 0% Utah 931,608 926,699 4,909 1% Nevada 689,778 685,463 4,315 1% New Jersey 1,994,109 1,979,018 15,091 1% South Carolina 1,117,872 1,104,674 13,198 1% Texas 7,456,338 7,366,039 90,299 1% Alabama 1,111,562 1,095,473 16,089 1% Delaware 208,127 204,484 3,643 2% South Dakota 219,165 214,856 4,309 2% Tennessee 1,538,137 1,507,502 30,635 2% Montana 233,753 228,889 4,864 2% Florida 4,296,354 4,201,983 94,371 2% North Dakota 182,775 175,772 7,003 4% Idaho 463,404 443,792 19,612 4%
JEFFERSON CITY  Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey on Tuesday withdrew his emergency rules restricting transgender health care.

The rules, which would have made Missouri the first state to greatly restrict care for transgender adults, were terminated effective Tuesday, according to the secretary of states website.

Baileys action Tuesday effectively ends a court fight in St. Louis County over the rules, which also affected minors. The judge in that case had temporarily blocked enforcement of the restrictions until July.

Bailey, a Republican, announced his rules in March and filed them with the secretary of state in April. They included a new therapy requirement that created an 18-month waiting period for care.

His action Tuesday also followed the Missouri Legislatures passage last week of restrictions on transgender health care for minors. Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, is expected to sign that legislation.

After the initial court loss and action by lawmakers, Baileys decision was not unexpected. He hinted last week that he could drop the effort.

We were standing in the gap unless and until the General Assembly decided to take action on this issue, Bailey said in a statement Tuesday.

His action Tuesday came on a day when the news cycle was focused on his attempts to drive St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner from office.

There was no formal announcement from his office that he dropped the controversial rule as he prepares for a 2024 run for a full term as attorney general.

Bailey had initially only mentioned regulations for minors when announcing the rules this spring.

His spokeswoman acknowledged after the rules were filed that the limits would affect everyone. Puberty blockers, hormone therapies and surgeries wouldve all been restricted under the new rules.

We believe everyone is entitled to evidence-based medicine and adequate mental health care, Madeline Sieren, spokeswoman for Bailey, said at the time.

When the rules were announced, Planned Parenthood, which provides hormone replacement therapy to patients 16 or older, said Baileys rules were an attempt to effectively ban gender-affirming care in Missouri.

Baileys fellow Republicans didnt rush to his defense after he was criticized for his unprecedented action.

Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, a Republican running for governor in 2024, predicted the rules would never actually take effect.

Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, a Republican who is running for governor, declined to comment on Baileys rules.

And Parson, who appointed Bailey to the job, said he disagreed with limits on health care for adults.

Bailey based the authority for the regulation on the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act, a consumer protection law the attorney general enforces.

In response to Tuesdays news, House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, said Missourians dont deserve an attorney general who persecutes innocent Missourians for political gain.

Andrew Bailey grossly overstepped his legal authority, and everyone knows it, she said in a statement. So it isnt surprising he withdrew his unconstitutional rule knowing another embarrassing court defeat was inevitable.
ST. LOUIS  For many years, working for the city has usually meant living in it, too. But maybe not for much longer.

A bill on the governors desk, approved by state lawmakers last week, would do away with the residency requirement for all city employees. They could instead live anywhere within an hours drive.

The change could provide a boost to recruitment efforts at a time when City Hall could really use one. Hundreds of vacancies across the workforce have hobbled trash pickup, 911 dispatch, tree-trimming and other services in recent years, frustrating residents and officials.

The mayors office applauded passage in a statement Monday.

Mayor (Tishaura O.) Jones is working to modernize city government, bringing it into the 21st century while navigating the labor market pressure created by the COVID-19 pandemic, said spokesman Nick Desideri. Lifting the residency requirement would give the city another tool to recruit workers.

Others were more wary.

Aldermanic President Megan Green said voters, who rejected a similar change on the ballot three years ago, should be allowed to weigh in. And Alderman Shameem Clark Hubbard, of the West End, said the city should consider beefing up incentives for employees who stay.

We dont want a mass exodus, Hubbard said.

Residency rules are a longstanding tradition in St. Louis and other cities, including New York, Boston, and Chicago. The general idea is simple: If someone is going to be paid by the city, they should live there, buy a house there and spend their money there.

Or, as Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley once quipped, If a city is good enough to work for, it should be good enough to live in.

St. Louis charter, which is like a local constitution, has imposed a requirement since 1914, and there were rules for some positions even before that.

It wasnt much of an issue until the 1950s, when more and more residents began moving from the city, then the eighth-largest in the country, to the booming suburbs. Hundreds of waivers were issued to city employees, eventually prompting a backlash when aldermen moved to tighten requirements in the 1970s. Under pressure from City Hall, the old state-appointed police board slapped a requirement on new officers around that time as well.

But in recent years, cracks in the dam have been spreading. City firefighters successfully lobbied the state legislature for an exception for those who lived more than seven years in the city, arguing they shouldnt be required to send their children to the citys struggling public schools. Officers hired before the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department was returned to local control in 2013 got the same deal.

And about five years ago, citing a growing struggle to attract qualified applicants for a number of positions in the wake of the Ferguson unrest, Mayor Lyda Krewson and a group of aldermen began pushing for wholesale repeal.

There was some pushback. Some aldermen wondered if the city might improve recruitment from area high schools and community colleges. They also worried about city workers moving and lightening the tax base, leaving less money to provide services.

Thats not fair to those who do stay, then-Alderman Marlene Davis argued.

But former Alderman Joe Vaccaro, a proponent of the plan, said the city had to acknowledge reality. Decades of population decline had shrunk the talent pool in the city. And the city needed more police officers, tree-trimmers and truck drivers.

Initial results from that push have been underwhelming. When the plan went before voters in 2020, it only received 49.8% of the vote, well short of the 60% threshold required for a charter change.

That same year, state lawmakers passed a three-year exemption for public safety-related positions, like those in the short-staffed city police department. But since then, the number of commissioned officers has dropped from roughly 1,200 to less than 1,000.

Vaccaro, the former alderman, said the same thing has been happening at police departments across the country, though.

And now, the residency change wont be the only big thing the city is doing to goose recruitment: The city police union recently negotiated some of the largest pay raises for officers in recent memory. And the proposed city budget calls for across-the-board, 4.5% pay bumps for the second year in a row.

Jeff Rainford, the longtime chief of staff to Mayor Francis G. Slay, cast it all as a bit of a gamble.

The city is losing residents at an alarming rate, he wrote in a text message. This will likely make that worse.

But if it makes city services like policing and trash pickup noticeably better, it will be worth it.
UNITED NATIONS, May 15 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday appointed Maj. Gen. Humphrey Nyone of Zambia as the new force commander of the world body's peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (CAR), said a UN spokesman.

Nyone succeeds Lt. Gen. Daniel Sidiki Traore of Burkina Faso, who completed his assignment as the force commander of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the CAR in January 2023.

Nyone joined the Army of Zambia in 1994, and has extensive peacekeeping experience with the United Nations, having served in the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 2006 to 2007 and in the UN Mission in Sierra Leone from 2001 to 2002, according to Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN chief. 
ST. LOUIS  A group of marijuana investors is suing Alderman Bret Narayan and his brother, accusing them of conspiring to cut them out of their rightful shares in a burgeoning local pot enterprise.

This is a case of two individuals  Rahm Narayan and Bret Narayan  tricking two Colorado cannabis investors/operators into contributing their money and expertise into a Missouri cannabis operation over which the Narayans schemed, with the other defendants, to wrest full control, the suit alleges.

The alderman, who was recently reelected to represent the new 4th Ward covering Dogtown and Lindenwood Park, brushed off the complaint in an interview Tuesday, noting that a Colorado judge dismissed a similar lawsuit on procedural grounds last month.

We intend to put forward a vigorous defense and counterclaims, he said. This lawsuit was dismissed once before, and we anticipate that happening again.

The lawsuit in question, filed late last week in St. Louis County, tells a story from the viewpoint of plaintiffs Brian Ruden and Naser Joudeh, businessmen from Colorado. They say the alderman and his brother, John Rahm Narayan, came to them after the 2018 vote to legalize medical marijuana here looking for help getting into the industry.

Ruden and Joudeh said they struck a deal, too: They would put up 49% of the money needed to get a business started and license their Star Buds brand and operations playbook. In exchange, they would own 49% of the business.

Ruden and Joudeh say they held up their end of the bargain, pouring more than $900,000 into the venture, which eventually opened two retail dispensaries in the St. Louis area. State records show Occidental Group Inc., which John Narayan incorporated in June 2019, won licenses to open dispensaries in University City and Festus.

But the suit says things soured once the doors opened. Under the management of the Narayans and their associates, it says, revenues from both (dispensaries) were weak and the financial management of the dispensaries was reckless.

Star Buds management came in from Colorado to improve things, but the Narayans and their associates resisted their help, the lawsuit says: They fired Star Buds personnel. They refused to issue Ruden and Judeh their promised stock in the company. And they cut off their access to company financial data.

The suit says that when other investors, Edward Throop and Ron Lincoln, complained, the Narayans and their associates cut them off, too.

Ruden and Joudeh are asking a St. Louis County judge to force the Narayans and their associates to award them a 49% share in the company as well as an unspecified amount in damages and attorney fees.

Narayan, who lives in Dogtown, has been active on marijuana issues at the board. In 2021, he sponsored a bill repealing ordinances making it illegal to possess 35 grams or less of marijuana in the city.

The city charter requires aldermen to disclose their interest in businesses or other organizations that may pose a conflict of interest with their legislative duties. Narayan said he talked to the boards attorney about the marijuana business and was told it was not a conflict because all of Occidentals operations are outside of the city. Louis Galli, the boards lawyer, declined comment Tuesday.

Narayan also said he has not spent much time at the business and that other people manage the day-to-day operations. New rules enacted earlier this year require aldermen to spend an average of 32 hours per week on their government duties.
CLAYTON  A St. Louis County councilman wants the county prosecuting attorney to get council approval before lending a hand to the office of former St. Louis city prosecutor Kimberly M. Gardner.

County Prosecutor Wesley Bell agreed last week to help stabilize the St. Louis Circuit Attorneys office as Gardner prepared to step down June 1, and he had made multiple visits to Gardners office prior to her abrupt resignation on Tuesday. Neither office, however, had specified fully how the county had planned to help the citys understaffed team.

In Gardners resignation announcement Tuesday, she indicated Bell would be taking over her office. Bell was given security access, and two county attorneys had been training in the city warrant office. Bell had expected to start charging cases in the city this week.

But Republican Councilman Dennis Hancock of Fenton wants Bells office to seek council approval before using any county resources to help the city office. He also wants the city to pay the county back for any costs.

Its one thing to want to help bring order to the chaos in the Circuit Attorneys Office, and its another thing to make sure county taxpayers are getting what theyre paying for, Hancock said.

Itd be nice to know what were agreeing to.

But Hancocks resolution, which would have been nonbinding, failed to garner support from four Democrats on the seven-member County Council.

Councilwoman Kelli Dunaway, a Democrat from Chesterfield, said the neighborly thing to do would be to help the city.

Hancock said hes not opposed to the county helping the city. He just wants detailed records kept on costs. But Councilwoman Rita Heard Days, a Democrat from Bel-Nor, said the resolution was unnecessarily twisting the knife in the citys wounds.

The resolution failed with only three Republican votes.

Gov. Mike Parson says he will appoint a replacement for Gardner by Friday.

Katie Kull of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.
Hours before the Missouri Legislature adjourned for the summer last week, House Speaker Dean Plocher said the quiet part out loud. In chiding the state Senate for failing to pass a bill making it more difficult for citizens to amend the state constitution, he warned that if a referendum to restore abortion rights in Missouri needs only a simple majority to pass, it would. In other words, Plocher admitted that efforts to change the ballot petition process are a blatant maneuver to deny Missourians the right to weigh in on this crucial question. That makes it more important than ever that pro-choice forces get abortion rights onto the 2024 statewide ballot.

The bill that passed the House this session, but thankfully stalled in the Senate, would have required a victory of 57% of the statewide vote to make changes to the state constitution via ballot initiative. Contrary to some legislative Republicans straight-faced claims, the timing of this sudden urgency for silencing Missourians was not coincidental  it was entirely about ensuring that Missouris draconian new abortion ban doesnt get overturned by the voters.

The anti-choice caucus in Jefferson City has every reason to be fearful about that. Polls consistently show that even in conservative Missouri, there is strong support for reasonable abortion rights. And they have surely considered that all six states where abortion rights have been put up for a vote since Roe v. Wade was overturned last year, including bright-red neighboring Kansas, came down on the pro-choice side.

Thus the sudden interest by Missouri Republicans in overhauling the constitutional amendment system. Their claims that this was just about citizens changes to the document becoming too unwieldy never made sense. But that sounds better than saying, We know the majority of Missourians support abortion rights, so lets raise the bar to prevent it.

Plocher apparently missed a memo. At a press conference as the session wound down without Senate action on the ballot-initiative measure, Plocher acknowledged that a ballot referendum to protect abortion rights would absolutely pass if it needed only a simple majority. In that case, he said, the Senate should be held accountable for allowing abortion to return to Missouri. Oops.

Plocher also predicted that abortion-rights activists would use ballot candy to get their referendum passed. Ballot candy is when supporters stick something irrelevant but popular into referendum language to confuse voters into approving it. Which is exactly what Republicans planned to do with their ballot-initiative measure. The candy part would have made it look like voters were being asked to ban non-citizens from voting (which is already illegal). That was to mask the real question about making it harder to pass future constitutional amendments.

The bid to undermine democracy having failed, Missouris voters should get behind a constitutional referendum to restore abortion rights  while theyve still got all their voting rights.
You probably saw something about the announcement last week by the Department of Transportation (DoT) that is about to launch a new rulemaking requiring airlines to provide compensation to passengers and cover their costs when their flights are delayed or canceled. Many hailed the announcement as a big gain for consumers; the more cynical said not to hold your breath until you see any positive results. As is usual in these cases, you have to look at the details to see exactly what's involved  and what's realistically likely to happen.

Currently, when an airline cancels a flight or delays it substantially for a reason beyond the airline's control, the only recourse you have is either a full refund or whatever else the airline promises in its contract of carriage  the legally binding agreement you accept when you buy a ticket. The only applicable federal rule is that each airline must specify what it owes you  other than a refund, there are no specifics  in an accessible format. There are no definitions, such as what constitutes a "delay;" just that the airline must tell you.

Currently, all U.S. airlines give you a refund if you want it, or promise to book you on their own next flight with an available seat at no extra cost. That commitment applies no matter what causes the cancellation or delay  whether it's the airline's fault or a force majeure event outside airline control. All the contracts I've seen recently cover about the same ground. Presumably, new rules would not change this.

Travelers generally have some additional recourse when a delay or cancellation is an airline's fault or subject to airline control. This is a standard of "care." Here again, current rules require only that airlines tell you what's in their contracts of carriage, not what has to be in those contracts. And current airline contracts vary significantly. Some offer only vaguely-worded offers of help or assistance; others go into detail about paying for a hotel if an overnight delay exceeds a certain number of hours or the circumstances in which each line agrees to transfer you to another line. Presumably, new DoT rulemaking would consider minimum standards of care required of all U.S. airlines.

A related issue is compensation  cash payment beyond provision of care to offset traveler inconvenience and expense. Currently, in addition to rebooking and other assistance, the only compensation airlines are legally required is to travelers "bumped" due to oversale. Only Alaska and JetBlue presently offer compensation  as credit, not cash  to travelers canceled or delayed for reasons other than oversale bumping. Compensation would seem to be a hot issue in new rulemaking.

For now, the US requires neither care nor compensation in cases of delays and cancellations due to factors outside an airline's control  weather, force majeure, and such. Advocates for stronger traveler rights point to the EU rules that require care even in many delays that are not under an airline's control and compensation in some. Presumably, DoT will consider these possibilities in its rulemaking.

But whatever happens, it will happen slowly. So far, DoT has said no more than it intends to do a rulemaking. Before actually issuing any rules, it must post public notice and open a formal document for comments, after which it must decide which rules to propose, which, again, it must post for public comment before issuing any actual rules. Without waiting for any details, the airlines, through their international trade association IATA, have already attacked the proposal, and they will vigorously lobby against anything really good for their customers. Several consumer advocates I know are predicting that actual new rules, if any, are at least four years away  which, means inter alia, under a new administration. As I said, don't hold your breath.

Meanwhile, DoT has already mounted one useful consumer benefit: A "dashboard" summarizing key contract promises of the eight largest US airlines. Check it out at flightrights.gov.
One of eight TV creatives selected for the NBC TV Writers Program, William Yu was taking a break from his craft at the time of this interview. With the [Writers Guild of America] strike now upon us, I am in full support of them, the Korean American screenwriter said. I am pencils down on any writing work. His previously completed project GOOD BOY (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmA7cb1NyYM) was workshopped at the Sundance Episodic Lab. And in the future, he will resume work on a feature romantic comedy that is set up with Electric Somewhere, the production company of Crazy Rich Asians director Jon M. Chu, and developing an animated half-hour series with Rooster Teeth and Religion Of Sports. Based out of Los Angeles Koreatown, Yu posts regular updates of his work on Instagram and Twitter (@its_willyu).

Q: How has living in different places impacted your view of the world?

A: Im lucky to have family roots that stretch around the globe. I was born in Philadelphia, moved to Hong Kong when I was five, then to Boston, and then to New York, before coming out here to Los Angeles. My older sister currently lives in London. While we still have family in Seoul, where my parents were born, my mother went to high school in Taiwan, while my father spent formative years in Jamaica, before the two ended up in America for college and beyond. Moving around so much, I gained empathy for seeing how big the world is. And how there is so much range and nuance to all of our upbringings, while also realizing that there are so many fundamental values that connect us. This perspective made me a curious person, which drives me to dig deep whenever Im developing new stories and characters.

Q: What was the impetus for your #StarringJohnCho social media campaign, which featured the Harold & Kumar actor depicted as the leading man?

A: It started in 2016, when a few things happened  several whitewashed movies (Doctor Strange, Aloha, Ghost In the Shell) had been announced. I had seen reports from USC Annenberg and the UCLA Bunche Center that had published data that showed that films with more diverse casts are better returns on investment than non-diverse films. And I had grown really, really tired of having conversations about Asian representation that ended with well-intentioned folks saying that they couldnt [imagine] a bonafide Hollywood movie with an Asian lead. So, armed with a little design knowledge, I decided to show them. I Photoshopped hit movie posters, swapped out every Hollywood Chris with an Asian John, and shared them on Twitter with the hashtag #StarringJohnCho. Turns out, an Asian Captain America actually looks pretty normal and the world agreed! Before I knew it, a viral conversation had been sparked and CNN, BBC, even the New York Times were covering the movement.

Q: Do you speak any foreign languages? And in the same train of thought, do you pick up new languages easily?

A: Even though Im Korean American, Mandarin is actually my second language. I first studied it when living in Hong Kong and then took classes for it during college, because my school didnt offer Korean. Ive also got my high school Spanish and some dim sum Cantonese. Because I was never formally taught Korean, its my worst language, but Im working on it. I just hit my 115 day streak on Duolingo! Small steps.

Q: What are your five favorite cities?

A: Copenhagen. Hong Kong. Amsterdam. Seoul. New York.

Q: Where would you like to go that you have never been to before?

A: Berlin has been at the top of the list for a while now! Ive also wanted to explore Singapore as an adult. The only time Ive visited was as a kid.

Q: What kind of research do you do before you go away on a trip?

A: I am a massive planner when I travel. Ill usually plan my day around meals, landmarks I want to visit, or museums, design stores and cafes that Id like to check out. Before any big trip, I create a custom Google Map where Im able to catalog my wish list of destinations. Then Ill start breaking up the days Im visiting by grouping places that are in the same or nearby neighborhoods. What Ive learned over the years is that while I love covering all my planning bases, I have to give myself the grace to know that things probably wont always go the way I expect. Which is why I also make sure to throw in some backup, contingency spots in case things go awry.
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / 3M



Originally published on 3M News Center

It's not every day that a world-famous innovator asks to visit your company.

William Kamkwamba did just that during a recent trip to the Twin Cities.

Best known for his New York Times bestselling memoir and Netflix film The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind,' William asked to visit 3M headquarters to learn about the company's history of innovation, explore its technologies and connect with 3M scientists.

William was joined by his wife and business partner, Olivia Scott Kamkwamba. They run a Malawi-based organization called Moving Windmills Project' that works in partnership with local leaders and farmers to secure a viable future for Malawians. Their efforts have led to construction of low-cost water wells, solar powered pumps and new facilities for schools.

The duo is now embarking on an ambitious new campaign to build an innovation center in Malawi designed to further inspire and empower African innovators.

William and Olivia received a hands-on tour of 3M's technology platforms and shared their story and aspirations with several 3M leaders.

"It was very natural for us at 3M to connect with William's story because he's an innovator," said Jayshree Seth, a 3M corporate scientist and chief science advocate. "We were heartened to learn about how William and Olivia are supporting young changemakers in Malawi. Their work is truly inspiring."

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from 3M on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: 3M

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/3m

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: 3M

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / Edison International

Three rescued Great Horned owls at the Ojai Raptor Center. PHOTO CREDIT: COURTESY OF OJAI RAPTOR CENTER

Energized by Edison

By Ben Gallagher ENERGIZED by Edison Writer

Spring brings new life to Southern California Edison's service area, often too close to the company's infrastructure. That makes nesting season, March 1-Oct. 31, a busy time for Kara Donohue, who oversees SCE's Avian Protection Program.

"Ultimately, we all have the same goal in mind, which is to protect wildlife and ensure that we mitigate any potential disturbance to their nesting period," Donohue said.

Large nests on electric transmission and distribution equipment can cause power outages and be a threat to the birds. Donohue works with specially trained crews to safely relocate these nests onto a platform attached to the utility pole or another nearby location.

Once the nest's transition is complete, an on-site biologist observes the nest from a distance to ensure the adult birds return and continue to tend the nest. If it's simply impossible to relocate a nest or the adults abandon it, SCE's team then takes the eggs or chicks to a wildlife rehabilitator to raise and release the birds back into the wild.

"We have built great relationships with wildlife rehabilitators throughout our service area," said Donohue, noting that SCE's environmental team also meets regularly with wildlife agencies to share environmental practices and partner on stewardship opportunities.

The Ojai Raptor Center is one of SCE's wildlife protection partners. The nonprofit focuses on wildlife rehabilitation and educates local children on the importance of habitat conservation. The group also takes in abandoned eggs or chicks and is a longtime SCE sustainability partner.

Through grant funding from SCE's parent company, Edison International, the Ojai Raptor Center has held programs for underfunded schools to teach children about conservation and locally native species. The group also used SCE grant funds to build the largest flight pen in California for large birds of prey, which is used to rehabilitate eagles, red-tailed hawks, vultures and other large avian species.

"SCE has done a lot to help us not only in our work to rehabilitate birds but to educate local children about the importance of conservation," said Kim Stroud, executive director and founder of the Ojai Raptor Center. "It's obviously vital to our mission to help our local bird populations, but it's equally important that we preserve their habitats for future generations."

SCE has maintained an active Avian Protection Program since 1988. The program ensures that crews and contractors are trained annually to check for nesting birds and wildlife year-round before beginning work. It also guides when and where work is conducted, including establishing a buffer zone in some instances to minimize disruption to nearby nesting species.

Program guidelines also take into consideration the type of work that is planned near an active nest. In cases where the work is not critical, crews sometimes wait until hatchling birds mature and leave the nest before beginning the project.

Learn more about the work SCE is doing to protect avian and other wildlife habitats.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Edison International on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Edison International

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/edison-international

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: Edison International

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / Alibaba Group



Felix Liu, President of General Services Administration at Alibaba, spoke to Alizila about the group's green initiatives

By Terren Ho and Chloe Shen

Alibaba Group is launching innovative green technologies across its campuses.

The Hangzhou-based company has been ramping up efforts since 2020, ensuring all new buildings meet the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Standard, the second-highest certification level awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council.

"To influence more people, we can always start with ourselves. We can take actions at our campus and among our colleagues to drive for greater change," Felix Liu, President of General Services Administration at Alibaba, told Alizila in an interview.

Alibaba has committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2030, and the company has vowed to slash 1.5 gigatons of carbon emissions throughout its ecosystem by 2035.

Green practices are happening inside and outside. An AI-based program reduces air conditioning and heating needs in offices, while street lights on Alibaba's main campus now operate using solar power, according to Liu.

Below is a transcript of the interview edited for clarity and brevity

Transcript

Felix Liu: ESG creates values beyond businesses. It builds a roadmap for addressing a wide range of global problems and sets the basis for Alibaba to last for 102 years.

To influence more people, we can always start with ourselves. We can take action at our campus and among our colleagues, to drive for greater change.

We began implementing various green and low-carbon technologies on our campuses in 2020 while providing employees with a comfortable, pleasant, and dynamic working environment.

Hangzhou Xixi Campus is the global headquarters of Alibaba Group. It is expanding with our company. Many green practices start here before they were introduced to our campuses across China.

We are also actively looking for clean energy alternatives in electricity consumption. 100% of our campus street lights are solar-powered.

On ecological diversity, we make every effort to protect the wetland environment. Xixi Campus Park A retains the original ecological environment, including the willows, bamboo, and persimmons.

We've built trails along the wetland and constructed semi-open office spaces and meeting areas along the wetland to connect our employees and nature.

All future new constructions by Alibaba will meet the LEED Gold standard and the China green building standard.

Alibaba launched a number of initiatives and mechanisms to encourage every Alibaba employee to participate in a low-carbon lifestyle.

For example, we launched "Youxin," a platform to guide and motivate employees to participate in low-carbon actions.

Every Alibaba employee can earn points by taking low-carbon emission actions on the platform. The points can be redeemed for green-themed souvenirs or other employee benefits.

As new technologies emerge, Alibaba has been keeping tabs on emerging technologies. While we reduce carbon emissions in our own office parks and constructions, we are also considering additional investment in green energy.

View original content here

Please refer to https://www.alizila.com/esg/ for additional information about Alibaba's sustainability efforts.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Alibaba Group on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Alibaba Group

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/alibaba-group

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: Alibaba Group

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The Company Hits Milestone Having Delivered to Amazon Over 20,000 3D Models

Company Continues To See Global Surge in the 3D Modeling For Ecommerce Business

TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / Nextech3D.AI (formally "Nextech AR Solutions Corp'' or the "Company") (OTCQX:NEXCF)(CSE:NTAR)(FSE:EP2), a Generative AI-Powered 3D model supplier for Amazon, P&G, Kohls and other major e-commerce retailers to pleased to announce a large renewal contract with an S&P 400 company and the largest department store in the USA, for over 5000 3D models of their most popular products. This announcement comes shortly after last week's announcement of another enterprise deal for over 3000 3D models and speaks to the staying power and global surge in 3D model demand. Separately, as a preferred 3D model supplier, the Company has delivered to Amazon over 20,000 3D models marking a major milestone. With Nextech's breakthrough Generative-AI technology, the Company believes it has revolutionized the 3D modeling industry, and gained a major competitive edge solidifying its leadership position in the global 3D model space for ecommerce. Nextech3D.ai is making it possible to create photo-realistic 3D models as digital replicas of real-world products at scale for large enterprise customers in the ecommerce market.

The enterprise renewal contract with the S&P 400 company for 5,000 3D models is for 12-months to host the 3D models on the company's 3D cloud. The contract is worth approximately $160,000 annually. The Company is in late-stage negotiations for thousands of additional 3D models which if agreed to could be worth an additional $100,000 in 2023.

Nextech3D.ai's CEO Evan Gappelberg commented, "Renewal contracts are very positive since it points to a rapidly growing future revenue pipeline and more stability in our business. Importantly, it also means that our 3D models are providing our customers with a positive ROI. Also, hat's off to our team for delivering 20,000+ 3D models to Amazon which speaks to our team's ability to deliver at the highest level of this 3D modeling for ecommerce business." He continues, "On our technology front we are continuing to gain momentum with our Generative AI and expect that in the second half of this year, we will see it have a dramatically positive impact on our bottom line profitability."

A major contributor to Nextech3D.ai's 3D modeling success and ability to meet market demand is its Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI). In March, the Company filed a provisional patent titled: " Generative AI for 3D Model Creation from 2D Photos using Stable Diffusion with Deformable Template Conditioning ." This patent builds on the previous patent filed in November 2022: " Generating Three-Dimensional Models by Part " for creating complex 3D models by parts.

In February, Nextech3D.ai announced a major Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) breakthrough in 3D model texture creation. The breakthrough enables the Company to recreate high-quality 4K textures at scale from just small digital swatches in just seconds versus hours of manual labor, representing a 720x increase in production speed .

In May, the Company announced it had achieved a major breakthrough in generative AI technology that facilitates the generation of 3D materials from text prompts . This breakthrough in text-to-3D material creation is key in driving the company forward in its quest to be the dominant 3D model supplier for the ecommerce industry. The 3D models for e-commerce TAM is estimated to be worth $100 billion over the next decade.

Recent News

To learn more, please follow us on Twitter , YouTube , Instagram , LinkedIn , and Facebook , or visit our website: https://www.Nextechar.com .

About Nextech3D.ai

(formally "Nextech AR Solutions Corp" or the "Company") (OTCQX: NEXCF) (CSE: NTAR) (FSE: EP2 is a diversified augmented reality, AI technology company that leverages proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) to create 3D experiences for the metaverse. Its main businesses are creating 3D WebAR photorealistic models for the Prime Ecommerce Marketplace as well as many other online retailers. The Company develops or acquires what it believes are disruptive technologies and once commercialized, spins them out as stand-alone public Companies issuing a stock dividend to shareholders while retaining a significant ownership stake in the public spin-out.

On October 26, 2022 Nextech3D.ai spun out its spatial computing platform, "ARway" as a stand alone public Company. Nextech3D.ai retained a control ownership in ARway Corp. with 13 million shares, or a 50% stake, and distributed 4 million shares to Nextech AR Shareholders. ARway is currently listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE:ARWY), in USA on the OTCQB (OTC: ARWYF) and Internationally on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FSE: E65). ARway Corp. is disrupting the augmented reality wayfinding market with a no-code, no beacon spatial computing platform enabled by visual marker tracking.

On December 14, 2022 Nextech announced its second spinout of Toggle3D, an AI-powered 3D design studio to compete with Adobe. Toggle3D is expected to be public in the first half of 2023.

To learn more about ARway, visit https://www.arway.ai/

For further information, please contact:

Investor Relations Contact

Lindsay Betts

[email protected]

866-ARITIZE (274-8493) Ext 7201

Nextech3D.ai

Evan Gappelberg

CEO and Director

866-ARITIZE (274-8493)

Forward-looking Statements

The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Certain information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, "will be" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements regarding the completion of the transaction are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Nextech will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE: Nextech3D.ai

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Sales and Clinical Field Force Onboarded and Fully Trained

First Quarter Results to be Announced on May 22, 2023

FORT MILL, SC / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / Ra Medical Systems, Inc. (NYSE American:RMED) announced the first corporate update since the merger of the private company Catheter Precision, Inc. into the public company Ra Medical Systems. Catheter Precision continues to operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of RMED, which operates as the parent. The RMED board of directors, as part of its governance commitment, last month established a committee for examining a transition at the CEO level. Mr. David Jenkins, the Company's Executive Chairman of the Board, is serving as Interim Chief Executive Officer until a full-time replacement is named.

David Jenkins said, "Since the time of the merger in January, we have analyzed our opportunities and resources and have affirmed our decision to focus on Catheter Precision's cardiac electrophysiology technologies and markets. As such, we have decided to close the laser catheter business of Ra Medical. Although Ra Medical had a 510(K) FDA approval, an ongoing clinical trial nearing its endpoint, and an intellectual property portfolio, we believe that the target market required a broader product offering which entailed further research and development before bringing its products to market. Therefore, our decision was made to allocate our limited resources to the cardiac electrophysiology field, with a team and products in place. We believe these changes and others are in strong alignment with cash management and the overall shareholder interest."

As part of the transition, and to appropriately match expenditures to the size of the company, several notable changes have been made.

The facility in Carlsbad, California was closed, and the leases were terminated.

All employees associated with the manufacture of the laser catheter were terminated.

Legal representation has been changed from a costly international firm to a smaller regional firm.

Better cash management on excess funds has been instituted.

Will McGuire, RMED's previous CEO, resigned as of the end of April.

The part-time Acting CFO has been replaced with a full-time permanent CFO.

The board of directors has been reduced from five to four directors, and director pay has been reduced. The salary and bonus of the acting CEO is limited to $300,000 annually.

The company has brought in $8 million in new funding, so that as of May 1, 2023, Ra Medical had approximately $11 million on hand, which is prior to payment of Mr. McGuire's severance payment in May. Management believes these cash resources will last into 2024.

In addition to these above changes, Ra Medical has made additional investments into the electrophysiology business, with several highlights to share:

Five new area sales representatives and three additional clinical support specialists were hired, onboarded, and fully trained as of April 1, 2023. This has resulted in over 70 new target accounts for our VIVO product on May 1, 2023, and over 20 target accounts for our recently launched LockeT product, all in the US.

Catheter Precision launched LockeT, a brand-new closure device, which is a Class I device labeled for suture retention. This product is not only applicable to electrophysiology procedures, but also structural heart procedures, percutaneous pacemaker implants, and vascular surgery procedures.

The VIVO European registry has almost completed enrollment, now having enrolled 125 patients. New clinical studies for both VIVO and LockeT will begin later this year.

Catheter Precision will attend the Heart Rhythm Society annual scientific sessions, to be held May 19-21, where our products will be on display in the exhibit hall, including VIVO and the new LockeT closure device.

The company plans to file a Form 12b-25 Notification of Late Filing on May 16, 2023, and to file the 10-Q for the first quarter ending March 31, 2023, by May 22, 2023, and will release first quarter financial information at that time. The acquisition of Catheter Precision requires an allocation of the purchase price amongst the acquired assets, including an evaluation of goodwill and other intangibles. This time-consuming evaluation, with the assistance of outside consultants, has been a necessary endeavor to bring about meaningful numbers for the first quarter, and to provide our auditors with the information to complete their review.

Electrophysiology Market

Cardiac Electrophysiology, or EP, is one of healthcare's largest sectors and is rapidly growing. The EP market includes well known medical devices such as pacemakers, ECG systems and cardiac catheters, but also laboratory equipment such as intracardiac mapping systems and fluoroscopy systems (similar to x-ray in real time). The EP market includes large medical device companies such as Medtronic, Plc., Abbott Laboratories, Biosense-Webster (J&J) and Boston Scientific Corp. and was estimated to be $6.8 billion in 2020 and growing to $10.6 billion by 2025 (CAGR of 9.1%). Population growth, increasing rates of heart disease and the rising cost of healthcare are driving growth in the EP markets.

Within the EP market, we focus our products on the catheter ablation market. The catheter ablation market has been estimated at $3.2 billion in 2020 and estimated to grow to $6.4 billion in 2026.

About VIVO

Catheter Precision's VIVO" (View Into Ventricular Onset), is a non-invasive 3D imaging system that enables physicians to identify the origin of ventricular arrhythmias pre-procedure, thereby streamlining workflow and reducing procedure time. VIVO has received marketing clearance from the U.S. FDA and has the CE mark.

About LockeT

Catheter Precision's LockeT is a suture retention device intended to assist in hemostasis after percutaneous venous punctures. LockeT is a Class 1 device registered with the FDA.

About Ra Medical Systems

Ra Medical, and its wholly owned subsidiary Catheter Precision, is an innovative U.S.-based medical device company bringing new solutions to market to improve the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. It is focused on developing groundbreaking technology for electrophysiology procedures by collaborating with physicians and continuously advancing its products.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "believe," "anticipate," "may," "might," "can," "could," "continue," "depends," "expect," "expand," "forecast," "intend," "predict," "plan," "rely," "should," "will," "may," "seek," or the negative of these terms and other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, our plans and expectations regarding Catheter Precision's products, including plans, strategies, projected timelines and estimated markets, for and/or related to VIVO and LockeT, market growth rates, future cash availability and needs, and timing of SEC filings and financial information release dates. These forward-looking statements are subject to the safe harbor provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company's expectations and beliefs regarding these matters may not materialize. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements as a result of uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances, including but not limited to risks and uncertainties included under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's Form 10-K filed with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov. These risks and uncertainties include, but aren't limited to, that we will not be able to reach profitability unless we are able to achieve our product expansion and growth goals, our research and development and commercialization efforts may depend on entering into agreements with corporate collaborators, we have entered into joint marketing agreements with respect to our products, and may enter into additional join marketing agreements, that will reduce our revenues from product sales, royalty agreements with respect to our LockeT device will reduce any future profits from this product, if we experience significant disruptions in our information technology systems, our business may be adversely affected, litigation and other legal proceedings may adversely affect our business, if we make acquisitions or divestitures, we could encounter difficulties that harm our business, failure to attract and retain sufficient qualified personnel could also impede our growth, failure to maintain effective internal controls could cause our investors to lose confidence in us and adversely affect the market price of our common stock, if our internal controls are not effective, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud, our revenues may depend on our customers' receipt of adequate reimbursement from private insurers and government sponsored healthcare programs, we may be unable to compete successfully with companies in our highly competitive industry, many of whom have substantially greater resources than we do, our future operating results depend upon our ability to obtain components in sufficient quantities on commercially reasonable terms or according to schedules, prices, quality and volumes that are acceptable to us, and suppliers may fail to deliver components, or we may be unable to manage these components effectively or obtain these components on such terms, if hospitals, physicians and patients do not accept our current and future products or if the market for indications for which any product candidate is approved is smaller than expected, we may be unable to generate significant revenue, if any, our medical device operations are subject to pervasive and continuing FDA regulatory requirements, our products may be subject to additional recalls, revocations or suspensions after receiving FDA or foreign approval or clearance, which could divert managerial and financial resources, harm our reputation, and adversely affect our business, changes in trade policies among the U.S. and other countries, in particular the imposition of new or higher tariffs, could place pressure on our average selling prices as our customers seek to offset the impact of increased tariffs on their own products, increased tariffs or the imposition of other barriers to international trade could have a material adverse effect on our revenues and operating results. In addition, the calculation of the purchase price allocation with respect to the Catheter merger is a complicated, time-consuming evaluation, which requires the assistance of outside consultants, and which could negatively impact our ability to file our first quarter Form 10-Q and report earnings within our anticipated time frame. The risks and uncertainties described above may be amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused significant economic uncertainty, or other pandemics, supply chain disruptions from the Ukraine war and otherwise, and ongoing volatility in the stock markets and the U.S. economy in general. Market growth rates are subject to the above risks as well as to factors impacting the global economy and medical services markets generally.

The forward-looking statements included in this communication are made only as of the date hereof. The Company assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

CONTACTS:

At the Company

David Jenkins

973-691-2000

[email protected]

SOURCE: Ra Medical Systems, Inc.

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BEIJING, May 16 (Xinhua) -- The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, will send lawmakers to six provinces between May and July to inspect the enforcement of the Wetlands Conservation Law.

Meanwhile, the NPC Standing Committee will also entrust local legislature in eight other provincial-level regions with law enforcement inspection, according to a meeting of the law enforcement inspection groups of the NPC Standing Committee on Tuesday.

According to the meeting, lawmakers will inspect law enforcement from seven aspects, including how local governments and related authorities fulfill their statutory duties of protecting wetlands and wetlands' utilization and restoration.

The NPC Standing Committee will hear and deliberate a report on the law enforcement inspection in late October.

The Wetlands Conservation Law was passed in December 2021 and put into force on June 1, 2022. 
FORT WALTON BEACH, FL / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / Step One Automotive Group is pleased to announce the winners of its 2023 Learning Legacy Awards. The Learning Legacy Awards provides three $3,000 grants to be used towards the implementation of innovative classroom projects. The program received numerous applications from public school teachers in Grades K-12 in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia.

After careful consideration, three outstanding teachers were awarded:

Amy Bowden, Antioch Elementary School in Crestview, Florida - K-5 Math, Science, Technology

Gavin Klinge, Pleasant Home School in Andalusia, Alabama - Grades 9-12 Anatomy and Physiology, Physical Science, Chemistry, Biology

Rhonda Mosley, Andrea B Williams Elementary School in Georgia - Grade 4 All Subjects

The winners were selected based on their innovative classroom projects, which should enhance the learning experience for their students and promote lifelong learning. In addition to receiving the grant, Learning Legacy Award recipients will be required to provide monthly updates including receipts, photos, and videos of the funded project's progress until completion. Recipients will have six months to complete the funded project.

Amy Bowden from Antioch Elementary School in Crestview, Florida, was awarded the grant for her winning essay on the importance of engaging students with science and technology. She plans to use the award to purchase a Merge EDU school-wide subscription, a resource that aligns with every single science standard for K-5th grade. This purchase will allow her to motivate learners, transform their science instruction, and create endless possibilities for her students.

Gavin Klinge from Pleasant Home School in Andalusia, Alabama, won the grant for his essay on the acquisition of instructional resources to enhance the learning experience for students in rural areas. He plans to use the award to acquire a MacBook, gamified learning software, coding instruction software, and virtual reality applications. These resources will allow students to engage in immersive learning experiences and develop crucial technological skills, preparing them for the demands of the modern workforce.

Rhonda Mosley from Andrea B Williams Elementary School in Georgia won the grant for her essay on using the award to purchase a greenhouse for her students. The greenhouse will allow them to plant and grow their own food, helping them understand where food comes from and how it is grown. This project will also help the school achieve its STEAM certification.

"We are thrilled to be able to support teachers who are making such a significant impact on the lives of their students," said Maureen Bierman, Director of Marketing of Step One Automotive Group. "We believe in investing in the future of our communities, and these awards are a way to recognize and support those who are creating positive change in education."

Step One Automotive Group is committed to investing in the communities it serves and is proud to support the future of education. For more information on the Learning Legacy Awards and to apply, please visit https://www.steponeautomotive.com.

Contact Information:

Shantelle Dedicke

President, Frances Roy Agency

[email protected]

307-631-7644

SOURCE: Step One Automotive Group

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BOCA RATON, FL / ACCESSWIRE / May 15, 2023 / Infinity Sales Group (ISG) has been awarded a Top Workplaces 2023 honor by the South Florida Sun Sentinel Top Workplaces. The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by research partner Energage, LLC, a leading provider of technology-based employee engagement tools. The confidential and anonymous survey measures 15 culture drivers that are critical to the success of any organization, including alignment, execution, and connection.

ISG awarded a Top Workplaces 2023 honor by the South Florida Sun Sentinel Top Workplaces

ISG awarded a Top Workplaces 2023 honor by the South Florida Sun Sentinel Top Workplaces

Additionally, ISG won five Culture Excellence awards: Compensation & Benefits, Innovation, Leadership, Purpose & Values, and Work-Life Flexibility.

"During this very challenging time, Top Workplaces has proven to be a beacon of light for organizations, as well as a sign of resiliency and strong business performance," said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. "When you give your employees a voice, you come together to navigate challenges and shape your path forward. Top Workplaces draw on real-time insights into what works best for their organization, so they can make informed decisions that have a positive impact on their people and their business."

"At ISG, we work daily to promote a culture rooted in transparent, constructive, and positive communication designed to recognize the impact of individual contributions to the organization's collective goals," said Josh Slater, ISG President and CEO. "We believe that an enthusiastic, motivated team creates a unique energy that is evident to our business partners and customers we interact with daily. By rewarding effort, promoting from within, and celebrating innovation, we encourage a diverse staff to feel valued. We are thrilled to be recognized as a Top Workplace based on employees' high ratings for their ISG experience."

About ISG:

ISG is a 100% U.S.-based performance-propelled digital marketing agency specializing in new customer acquisition across multiple verticals. Headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, ISG partners with major global brands to drive unique customer interactions through all digital touchpoints. Operating best-in-class Marketing, Sales, and IT divisions, ISG delivers industry-leading conversion rates for its partners. The team at ISG strives to provide innovative solutions that set the pace for an ever-changing digital ecosystem.

Contact Information

Lauren Miska

Senior VP, General Counsel & CCO

[email protected]

(561) 665-4310

SOURCE: Infinity Sales Group

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / At Wintergreen Lake, a bevy of trumpeter swans performs in concert, their unmistakeable call echoing across the water. Nesting pairs raise their young and juveniles practise fishing as tens of thousands of visitors watch every year, charmed by the majestic white waterfowl with jet-black bills.

Just 30 years ago, this lake in southwest Michigan was devoid of trumpeter swans, as were nearly all waterways from Wisconsin to Mississippi along the Mississippi Flyway bird migration route. In the 1980s and '90s, overhunting and deaths by blood poisoning from toxins decimated the population of North America's largest native bird species.

But thanks to conservation efforts led by Augusta's W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary, the trumpeter swan population has been restored.

The hundreds of swans that stop over in Wintergreen Lake today are part of the lineage of the restored population, explains Sarah Carroll, a development coordinator with the 180-acre Kellogg Bird Sanctuary, which includes Wintergreen Lake.

Now, multiple generations of visitors, including thousands of schoolchildren, flock to the Sanctuary to visit the trumpeter swans, as well as Canada geese, eastern screech owls, red-tailed hawks, bluebirds and hummingbirds.

"The best stories are meeting people who came as kids, then brought their own children, and now are coming back with their grandchildren," says Carroll.

The Sanctuary was established in 1927 by W.K. Kellogg of Kellogg's cereal fame. He donated the property a year later to Michigan State University, whose main campus is in East Lansing, an hour northeast of the Sanctuary. In addition to being a green space preserving species and habitat, the Sanctuary serves as a research lab for the university's scholars and students.

In the 1960s, the university built a welcome center with an auditorium to enhance visitors' educational experience. Schoolchildren in Grades 1 to 12 take part in programs that expand on the state's science curricula relating to ecology, birds and habitats. The public attends talks and workshops, such as bird identification courses.

After more than a half century of welcoming learners, the center needs an upgrade to expand its educational capacity, update technology, and comply with the American Disability Act. The upgrade will also see the creation of two new learning spaces.

"In these different spaces, people will learn from our volunteers and educators before they go out on the trail to see the birds on a field-trip experience," explains Carroll.

To help with the upgrade, Enbridge contributed a $10,000 Fueling Futures grant to Michigan State in 2022 as part of our commitment to sustainability projects that help improve, grow and nurture the environment. We've also supported a second ornithological project through MSU, with a $25,000 Fueling Futures grant directed toward a research project studying the movement and migration of red-tailed hawks in the Straits of Mackinac.

As shown with the restoration of trumpeter swan populations, the Sanctuary's work is having a significant impact on bird populations and is helping the next generation learn to care for the environment.

Carroll herself was influenced by childhood visits to the Sanctuary. Her first job was greeting guests in the welcome center. Now, she supports conservation and restoration efforts.

MSU researchers doing cutting-edge conservation work often present their work in public talks at the center, she notes.

As the Sanctuary approaches its 100th anniversary, generations of families have experienced memorable moments to cherish-spotting tiny hummingbird nests, feeding the swans at Wintergreen Lake, watching owlets learn to fly.

Says Carroll: "The Sanctuary is a place to connect with family and connect with nature, to walk together and appreciate the beauty of Wintergreen Lake and the species that live here."

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Enbridge on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Enbridge

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/enbridge

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: Enbridge

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From SEO and pay-per-click advertising to social media marketing and email marketing, there are various digital marketing channels that can be used to achieve business goals.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / Zib Digital, the leading digital marketing agency Melbourne-wide, has released a guide to the ultimate marketing mix for Melbourne businesses, based on tried and tested strategies that have helped many businesses improve their online presence, generate leads and increase revenue. The guide covers various aspects of digital marketing, including search engine optimization (SEO), social media marketing, email marketing and pay-per-click (PPC) advertising.





Zib Digital

Zib Digital



One of the key takeaways is the importance of SEO for Melbourne businesses. According to Zib Digital, SEO is one of the most effective ways to drive organic traffic to a website and increase visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs). Zib Digital is the top SEO agency Melbourne-wide, with a team of experts who specialize in helping businesses improve their SEO performance.

Zib Digital recommends Melbourne businesses use social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn to reach their target audience and engage with customers. Social media marketing can help to build brand awareness, foster customer loyalty and drive traffic to a website.

Email marketing is also a powerful tool in the digital marketing mix. Zib Digital advises Melbourne businesses to use email marketing to nurture leads, promote products or services and stay in touch with customers. Effective email marketing campaigns can lead to higher open and click-through rates, as well as increased sales and revenue.

Pay-per-click advertising can be a cost-effective way to generate leads and increase revenue, says Zib Digital. Using platforms like Google Ads and Facebook Ads can help businesses reach their target audience and drive conversions.

Zib Digital is the premier digital agency Melbourne-wide and can help businesses implement these strategies and achieve success in the online world. For more information, visit www.zibdigital.com.au.

About Zib Digital

As a leading digital marketing agency, Zib Digital has helped grow businesses in a wide variety of industries, both in Australia and internationally, through clever online marketing.

Contact Information:

Zib Digital

Manager

(03) 8685 9290

SOURCE: Zib Digital

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NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION OR DISSEMINATION DIRECTLY, OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES.

OTTAWA, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 16, 2023 / TUP Capital Inc. (TSXV:TUP.P) ("TUP") and Orthoforge Inc. ("Orthoforge", together with TUP, the "Parties") are pleased to announce the signing of a letter of intent dated effective May 15, 2023 (the "LOI") pursuant to which TUP has agreed to acquire all of the issued and outstanding securities of Orthoforge (each, an "Orthoforge Security") in exchange for the issuance of securities of TUP (the "Transaction").

The Transaction will result in a reverse takeover of TUP by Orthoforge, and will constitute TUP's "Qualifying Transaction" as defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"). TUP and Orthoforge are at arm's length and the Transaction will not be a non-arm's length transaction under the policies of the Exchange. On closing of the Transaction (the "Closing"), it is expected that TUP (being, following the Closing, the "Resulting Issuer") will be listed as a Tier 2 Technology Issuer on the Exchange, and its business will be that of Orthoforge.

About TUP

TUP is a Capital Pool Company (as defined in the policies of the Exchange) led by Paul Barbeau (Chief Executive Officer) and David Chow (Chief Financial Officer). Its principal business activity is to identify and evaluate opportunities to acquire assets or a business. Incorporated in 2020 under the laws of the Province of British Columbia, TUP is a reporting issuer in the Provinces of British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario. Its common shares (each, a "TUP Share") are listed for trading on the Exchange under the symbol TUP.P.

About Orthoforge

Orthoforge, a corporation existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, incorporated on August 10, 2016, is a medical technology company that has created a wearable sensor patch that utilizes acoustics to quantify the stage of bone fracture and soft tissue injuries. Orthoforge uses a unique algorithm to analyze ultrasonic sound waves as bone and soft tissue heal from traumatic injury.

Orthoforge's wearable sensor patch has diagnosis-assisting software and constant on-demand telemetry, designed to address the limitations inherent in the healing process. Orthoforge's wearable sensor patch is intended to reduce the number of CT Scans, X-rays and office visits necessary in monitoring bone and soft tissue healing, with the goal of reducing exposure of patients to harmful radiation and the typical costs associated with analyzing bone injuries. Its objective is to provide a quantifiable real-time assessment of a patient's current stage of healing, utilizing personalized precision medicine to produce reliable results and improved outcomes for patients.

Terms of the Transaction

The Transaction is expected to proceed by way of an amalgamation, share exchange or such other structure as may be determined by the parties. As contemplated in the LOI, at Closing, TUP will issue such number of TUP Shares (or other applicable TUP securities following any internal capital reorganization) to the holders of the Orthoforge Securities as have an aggregate value of $10,750,000, based on a deemed price of $0.20 per TUP Share, or such other deemed price per share as may be determined by the parties.

Completion of the Transaction will be subject to various conditions, including: the parties entering into a definitive agreement with respect to the Transaction; the parties obtaining all required directors', shareholders', regulatory and third-party consents for the Transaction, including the conditional approval of the Exchange; completion of the Concurrent Financing (as defined below); and compliance with applicable listing requirements of the Exchange. No finder's fees are expected to be paid in connection with the Transaction.

As the Transaction is not a non-arm's length transaction under the policies of the Exchange, TUP is not required to obtain shareholder approval for the Transaction. However, TUP intends to hold a special meeting of shareholders to approve certain matters ancillary to the Transaction, which may include, among other things: a reorganization of TUP's share capital; the adoption of a new omnibus equity incentive plan and amendments to TUP's articles to include advance notice provisions with respect to the nominations of directors.

Upon completion of the Transaction, Orthoforge will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Resulting Issuer, and the Resulting Issuer will change its name to "Orthoforge Inc." or such other name as may be determined by TUP and Orthoforge (the "Name Change"), and will continue with the business of Orthoforge.

The final structure of the Transaction, including any internal reorganization required by TUP and/or Orthoforge, will be determined after the parties have considered applicable tax, securities and accounting matters.

Proposed Concurrent Financing

Prior to the Closing, TUP is expected to undertake a concurrent financing for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $3,400,000 (the "Concurrent Financing"), or such other amount as may be determined by the parties, on terms to be determined in the context of the market. Additional information with respect to the Concurrent Financing will be disclosed in a subsequent news release.

All of the securities to be issued under the Concurrent Financing will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from the closing of the Concurrent Financing under applicable Canadian securities laws and may be subject to additional resale restrictions under applicable securities laws of other jurisdictions, including the United States. In addition, certain of the TUP Shares to be issued to holders of Orthoforge Securities pursuant to the Transaction may be subject to escrow or other resale restrictions under applicable securities laws or the policies of the Exchange. None of the securities to be issued in connection with the Transaction or the Concurrent Financing will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to any U.S. Person (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration is available. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction where such offer or solicitation would be unlawful, including the United States.

Management and Directors of the Resulting Issuer

At the Closing, it is anticipated that all current officers of TUP, other than Mr. Barbeau, will resign and that the board of directors of the Resulting Issuer will consist of at least five directors, one of whom will be nominated by TUP, two of whom are expected to be nominees of Orthoforge, and two of whom will be mutually agreed upon by the parties.

Biographies and titles of the proposed new directors and officers of the Resulting Issuer are set out below. Once finalized, the names and biographies of any additional directors and officers (if any) to be appointed to the Resulting Issuer in connection with the Closing will be disclosed in a subsequent news release.

Dr. Brent Nowak (PhD) - Chief Executive Officer and Director

Dr. Brent Nowak (PhD) is the CEO, a director and co-founder of Orthoforge, as well as the founder and executive director of the Applied Medical Device Institute (aMDI), a non-instructional unit of the Grand Valley State University (Grand Rapids, Michigan) that provides engineering, regulatory, and commercial services to companies, entrepreneurs and start-ups. Prior to his role at Orthoforge, he was the founder and a director of the Robotics & Intelligent Machine Laboratory at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Dr. Nowak co-founded the Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Lean Systems at the University of Texas at San Antonio and secured an educational partnership and development agreement with the US Navy Undersea Warfare Division, which expanded into a multi-university program (Naval Engineering Education Consortium). Dr. Nowak also has experience with the Assistant Director of the Advanced Manufacturing Department of Southwest Research Institute, the Robotics Research Group at the University of Texas at Austin, Rockwell Space Operations and NASA. He received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) from the University of Illinois - Champaign, his Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) from the Illinois Institute of Technology - Chicago, and his Ph.D from the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Nowak resides in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Erik Hall - Chief Operating Officer and Director

Erik Hall is the COO and a director of Orthoforge. In addition to his role at Orthoforge, Mr. Hall is the president of Lee Shore Enterprises, a private investment office that focuses on both large asset acquisitions as well as early stage equities in the life science and technology communities. In addition, Mr. Hall has experience in engineering and marketing with various industrial manufacturing and services companies, including Halliburton, Trane, Mead Johnson and Plascore. He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Michigan State University and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (Industrial Engineering) from Purdue University. Mr. Hall resides in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Paul Barbeau - Chief Technology Officer and Corporate Secretary

Paul Barbeau, the CEO and a director of TUP, brings more than 25 years of experience working in the public markets in various capacities, including as a chief executive officer, chief financial officer, corporate secretary, director and promoter. He recently worked as chief technology officer for a Toronto-based investment fund and provided technical due diligence. Mr. Barbeau, a serial entrepreneur, has also been president of hyperNET Inc., an IT consulting firm, since 1993, and was awarded Top 40 under 40 in Ottawa. Mr. Barbeau resides in Ottawa, Ontario.

Michael Labiak - Independent Director

Mr. Labiak is a is an entrepreneur and investor. From 2011 to 2013, Mr. Labiak was the chief operating officer, executive vice-president and one of the founders of Essex Angel Capital Inc., a publicly listed investment issuer company. He has also served as a director of Soleil Capital Corp. and NBS Capital Inc. From 1991 until his retirement in 2014, he was the general manager of Windsor Honda Automotive, and between 1991 and 2017, owned and operated several apothecary-style pharmacies with his wife, a pharmacist. He has participated in over 20 different financings, many of which were undertaken in connection with "go public" transactions. He holds a Bachelor of Arts, Finance, from Michigan State University. Mr. Labiak resides in La Salle, Ontario.

Dave Pfeiffer - Independent Director

Dave Pfeiffer brings over 30 years of operational and development expertise in the pharmaceutical and medical device space. He is currently the CEO of Vimalan Biosciences Inc., a private, venture capital backed company which is developing a topical treatment for atopic dermatitis, and was previously the president and CEO of Ralexar Therapeutics, a dermatology company focused on developing novel treatments in the dermatology space. Mr. Pfeiffer also previously served as chief commercial officer of Ellman International, a supplier of radiofrequency generators and aesthetic lasers to various physician specialties, and chief commercial officer of CollaGenex Pharmaceuticals, a publicly traded company, from 1997 to 2008, which was sold to Galderma in 2008. Prior to his time at CollaGenex, Mr. Pfeiffer worked at several large pharmaceutical companies, including Glaxo SmithKline and Zeneca Pharmaceuticals, in various sales and marketing roles. He holds a Bachelor of Science (Physiology) from Rutgers University and a Masters in Management from the J.L. Graduate Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Mr. Pfeiffer resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

J. Michael Magnus - Independent Director

Mr. Magnus has extensive leadership and management expertise in the food and energy industries, with previous positions including president and CEO of Open Global Blue Services, chairman and CEO of CherryTee Foods Inc., president and CEO of Shear Wind Inc. (TSXV: SWX), and executive vice-president of Clearwater Fine Foods Inc. (TSX: CLR.DB.B:CC). Throughout his career, his focus areas have included corporate strategy and performance, business planning development and execution, organizational restructuring, change management, governance and investor relations. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Carleton University. Mr. Magnus resides in Greenwich, Nova Scotia.

Sponsorship

The Transaction will be subject to the sponsorship requirements of the Exchange unless a waiver or exemption from the sponsorship requirement is available. If required, a sponsor will be identified at a later date and will be announced in a subsequent news release. TUP intends to apply for a waiver of the sponsorship requirement in connection with the Transaction.

Trading in TUP Shares

Trading in TUP Shares on the Exchange has been halted in compliance with the policies of the Exchange in connection with the announcement of the proposed Transaction, and is expected to remain halted pending the review of the proposed Transaction by the Exchange, and satisfaction of the conditions of the Exchange for resumption of trading. It is not expected that trading in the TUP Shares will resume prior to the Closing.

Further Information

A summary of significant financial information with respect to Orthoforge, as well as further details about the proposed Transaction, the Concurrent Financing, and the expected directors, officers and other insiders of the Resulting Issuer following the Closing, will be included in subsequent news releases.

Further details about the Resulting Issuer will be provided in the disclosure document to be prepared and filed in connection with the Transaction. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in such disclosure document, any information released with respect to the Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon.

All information in this news release concerning TUP and Orthoforge, as applicable, was supplied by management of such party and has not been independently verified by the other party.

Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, Exchange acceptance and if applicable pursuant to Exchange requirements, majority of the minority shareholder approval. Where applicable, the Transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all.

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement to be prepared in connection with the Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of TUP should be considered highly speculative.

The TSXV has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

For further information, please contact:

TUP Capital Inc.

Paul Barbeau, Chief Executive Officer

Phone: 613.218.5319

Email: [email protected]

Orthoforge Inc.,

Dr. Brent Nowak (PhD), CEO, co-Founder

Phone: 210.325.2780

Email: [email protected]

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are statements other than statements of historical fact that can be identified by phrases such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "aims", "plans" and "believes", and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the proposed terms of the Transaction, the definitive agreement and the Concurrent Financing; the expected directors and officers of the Resulting Issuer; and the business of Orthoforge. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; delay or failure to receive board, shareholder or regulatory approvals; failure to enter into a definitive agreement with respect to the Transaction; failure to complete the Concurrent Financing; failure of the Exchange to approve the Transaction; that factors may occur which impede Orthoforge's future business plans; the results of continued development, marketing and sales; and other factors beyond the control of TUP and Orthoforge. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. TUP disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements in this news release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

SOURCE: TUP Capital Inc.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Preserver Partners LLC, a diverse-owned and woman-led alternative investment management firm, proudly announces the hire of Caroline Lovelace as Chief Investment Officer. Carolines arrival and the wealth of experience she brings helps honor the memory of Preserver Partners founder Dr. Floyd Tyler, Jr., who passed away in early 2023.

Caroline Lovelace joined Preserver Partners in April 2023. As CIO and Co-Portfolio Manager, Caroline oversees all investments for the firms managed portfolios, focusing on portfolio construction, manager selection and risk management. Prior to joining the firm, she held portfolio manager and director of research roles at Rose Hill Park Alternative Asset Managers, Pine Street Alternative Asset Management, and Provident Group Asset Management. Caroline earned a B.A. in Economics from Harvard University and an MBA in Finance from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

I am thrilled to join Dana Pointer and the exceptional team at Preserver Partners. Together, we will build upon the firm's long and successful track record, serving our investors with integrity and a commitment to excellence, said Caroline Lovelace.

Dana Pointer joined Preserver Partners in 2010 during the firms inception. As CEO, Dana oversees management of the firm focusing on business development, strategic planning, compliance, and investor relations.

After Floyds unexpected passing, we focused on serving our clients by continuing the strategy with transparency and diligence. Today were delighted to welcome Caroline Lovelace to our team. I am excited about our shared future as we continue to grow the firm, said Dana Pointer.

About Preserver Partners LLC

Founded in 2009, Preserver Partners LLC is an alternative investment management firm, based in Memphis, TN, that manages investor capital for pension plans, endowments, foundations, corporations, family offices, and individual investors. The firm manages opportunistic multi-strategy funds for institutional and accredited investors through its private funds, a separately managed account and a liquid alternative mutual fund, Preserver Alternative Opportunities Fund.

THIS PRESS RELEASE IS INTENDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION WITH RESPECT TO THE PURCHASE OR SALE OF ANY FUND OR SECURITY.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516005346/en/

Mitch Ackles, 646-657-9230, [email protected]

Source: Preserver Partners LLC
AMSTERDAM--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of a (Excellent) of N.V. Unive Her (Unive Her) (Netherlands), a wholly owned subsidiary of Cooperatie Unive U.A. (Unive Group), a mutual insurance group domiciled in the Netherlands. The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect Unive Hers balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management. The ratings also consider Unive Hers strategic importance to and integration within the Unive Group (the group) as its reinsurance vehicle, with the company benefiting from rating enhancement as a result.

Unive Hers balance sheet strength is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation, which remained at the strongest level as at year-end 2022, as measured by Bests Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). Given the companys exposure to catastrophe losses, prospective risk-adjusted capitalisation is prone to volatility. An offsetting factor is the companys dependence on retrocession to manage its natural catastrophe exposure; however, the risks associated with this dependence are partially offset by the high credit quality of the counterparties.

Unive Hers underwriting results are solid, having generated a five-year (2018-2022) average combined ratio of 76.7%, and overall operating earnings are supplemented by modest investment returns reflective of the companys conservative investment portfolio. In 2022, Unive Her reported a loss after tax of EUR 6.4 million (2021: EUR 3.9 million profit after tax), underpinned by a combined ratio of 125.5% due to elevated natural catastrophe events in the first quarter of the year. In addition, the companys five-year average (2018-2022) return on equity is 2% (as calculated by AM Best). Given the nature of the catastrophe-exposed property reinsurance risks written, Unive Hers technical performance is subject to periodic volatility.

Because of its distinctive role as the groups main reinsurer, Unive Her benefits from its exclusive access to the reinsurance business ceded by the Unive mutuals and N.V. Unive Schade. Unive Her is predominantly a monoline reinsurer; the company retains the property excess of loss reinsurance risk ceded by the regional mutuals. All other product lines are retroceded to the external reinsurance market, with the exception of motor hull insurance, which has been partially included within Unive Hers risk appetite since 2020. An offsetting factor to the business profile assessment is the companys limited geographic diversification, with its portfolio concentrated exclusively within the Netherlands.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Bests website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Bests Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Bests Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Bests Credit Ratings, Bests Performance Assessments, Bests Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Bests Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright  2023 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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Victoria Ohorodnyk

Associate Director, Analytics

+31 30 308 5432

[email protected]

Christopher Sharkey

Associate Director, Public Relations

+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159

[email protected]

Dr. Mathilde Jakobsen

Senior Director, Analytics

+31 20 308 5427

[email protected]

Al Slavin

Senior Public Relations Specialist

+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5098

[email protected]

Source: AM Best
Local Business and Community Leaders Complement Experienced Board

TERRELL, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The American National Bank of Texas (ANBTX) announced two new additions to its board of directors, Suzanne Cruz-Sewell and Dennis Cail. Ms. Cruz-Sewell currently serves as assistant vice president of business diversity at DFW International Airport, and Mr. Cail is co-founder and chief executive officer of Zirtue, the leading relationship-based lending application with a mission to drive financial equity and inclusion.

As one of the oldest independent banks in Texas, its important that we bring new insights and perspectives from professional and civic leaders, said Robert Hulsey, president and chief executive officer of American National Bank of Texas. Their experience will be vital as we work across our markets to expand access to financial services while continuing to fulfill our mission to foster growth and strengthen the communities in which we live and work.

Cruz-Sewell, a business development and supplier diversity executive, has a long-standing track record for creating access and advocating for small business enterprises. Cruz-Sewell is a Womens Business Enterprise Hall of Fame inductee and serves on the boards of the Womens Business Council Southwest (WBCS) and the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GDHCC).

Im passionate about building communities, said Cruz-Sewell. And Im honored to join this board thats focused on making our communities stronger by making businesses stronger.

Cail, a Navy veteran, has had executive roles at IBM, PwC, Accenture, and Uptown Financial and has an extensive background in technology and finance. He also serves on the boards of Dallas Regional Chamber, Goodwill and the YMCA Foundation and is an emeritus member of the Southern Methodist University (SMU) Alumni Board of Directors.

I look forward to being part of such an established bank  and board  while we help drive financial inclusion locally, Cail said.

Said Hulsey: Both Suzanne and Dennis will be valuable additions. Im confident theyll make an immediate impact and help us create more opportunities for businesses and families across the metroplex.

The American National Bank of Texas

American National Bank of Texas (ANBTX), founded in 1875 in Terrell, Texas, is an independently owned community bank with over $5 billion in assets and more than 30 locations throughout North Texas. ANBTX provides banking and financial solutions for businesses, individuals, and municipal governments as well as trust, estate planning, and investment services offered through its Wealth Management Group. ANBTX has consistently been ranked one of the Top 100 Places to Work by the Dallas Morning News. www.anbtx.com. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516005276/en/

Owen Ramsey

Cooksey Communications

612-222-8833

[email protected]

Source: American National Bank of Texas
Honors 8 Students Nationwide for Scholastic Achievement

CAMDEN, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- American Water (NYSE: AWK), the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company, today announced recipients of the annual James V. LaFrankie Scholarship Awards. The awards were distributed nationwide to eight college-bound students of full-time American Water employees who demonstrate an interest in science and water-related industry occupational fields.

Out of 53 submitted applications, an independent, third-party organization selected eight high school seniors based on their outstanding records, academic honors, participation in extracurricular activities and teacher recommendations. The $1,000 scholarship is awarded for one year and may be renewed for up to three years based on the students academic progress.

Below are the eight scholarship award recipients and American Water employees:

Zoe Jarvis  Jonathan Jarvis, Manager, Water Quality and Environmental Compliance, West Virginia American Water

 Jonathan Jarvis, Manager, Water Quality and Environmental Compliance, West Virginia American Water Holly McGee  Kristina McGee, Director, Engineering, Virginia American Water and Maryland American Water

 Kristina McGee, Director, Engineering, Virginia American Water and Maryland American Water Elijah Pawelek  Barry Pawelek, Senior Manager, External Communications, American Water

 Barry Pawelek, Senior Manager, External Communications, American Water Eleanor Schuler  Ryan Schuler, Manager, Water Quality and Environmental Compliance, Illinois American Water

 Ryan Schuler, Manager, Water Quality and Environmental Compliance, Illinois American Water Gabriela Shulman  Dorothy Baiocco-Shulman, Specialist, Operations, American Water Contract Services Group

 Dorothy Baiocco-Shulman, Specialist, Operations, American Water Contract Services Group Bryson Sutton  Tyronne Sutton, Wastewater Operator, Missouri American Water

 Tyronne Sutton, Wastewater Operator, Missouri American Water Kaylee Wilson  Brandon Wilson, Field Service Representative, Tennessee American Water

 Brandon Wilson, Field Service Representative, Tennessee American Water Michael Yang  Jian Yang, Manager, Engineering, American Water

The American Water Board of Directors established the scholarship program in 1991 in honor of former American Water president, James V. LaFrankie, who demonstrated the value he placed on college education by earning a degree at Georgetown University night school while working days at the Alexandria Virginia Water Company, now known as Virginia American Water. After that, LaFrankie excelled, climbing the ladder to increasingly responsible positions over his 44-year career with American Water, retiring as the companys president in 1991.

About American Water

With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs approximately 6,500 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and regulated-like drinking water and wastewater services to an estimated 14 million people in 24 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to our customers to help keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit amwater.com and diversityataw.com. Follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516005760/en/

Media Contact

Alicia Barbieri

Manager, Corporate Communications

American Water

856-676-8103

[email protected]

Source: American Water
NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc. (Atmus), the Filtration business unit of Cummins Inc. (Cummins; NYSE: CMI), today announced that it has launched a roadshow for its proposed initial public offering (IPO).

The IPO is for 14,124,409 shares of the common stock of Atmus currently owned by Cummins. The underwriters will also be granted a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 2,118,661 shares at the IPO price, less underwriting discounts and commissions.

The IPO price is currently expected to be between $18 and $21 per share. Atmus has applied to list its common stock on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol ATMU. Upon completion of the IPO, Cummins is expected to hold approximately 83.0% of Atmus outstanding shares, or 80.5% if the underwriters' option to purchase additional shares is exercised in full.

A registration statement on Form S-1 relating to these securities has been filed with the SEC but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold, nor may offers to buy be accepted, prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of that jurisdiction. Any offers, solicitations or offers to buy, or any sales of securities will be made in accordance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). This announcement is being issued in accordance with Rule 134 under the Securities Act.

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC will act as joint lead book-running managers and as representatives of the underwriters for the proposed offering. Baird, BofA Securities, Wells Fargo Securities and HSBC will also act as joint book-running managers. PNC Capital Markets LLC, BTIG, ING, KeyBanc Capital Markets, Loop Capital Markets and Siebert Williams Shank will act as co-managers. The proposed offering will be made only by means of a prospectus. When available, copies of the preliminary prospectus relating to the proposed offering may be obtained for free from (i) Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282, via telephone: 1-866-471-2526, or via email: [email protected]; (ii) J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, via telephone at (866) 803-9204, or via e-mail at [email protected].

About Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc.

Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc. is a global leader in filtration and media solutions. For more than 65 years, the company has combined its culture of innovation with a rich history of designing and manufacturing filtration solutions. With a presence in more than 150 countries on six continents, Atmus serves customers across truck, bus, agriculture, construction, mining, marine and power generation vehicle and equipment markets, along with comprehensive aftermarket support and solutions. Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee (U.S.), Atmus employs approximately 4,250 people globally who are committed to creating a better future by protecting what is important.

About Cummins Inc.

Cummins Inc., a global power leader, is a corporation of complementary business segments that design, manufacture, distribute and service a broad portfolio of power solutions. The companys products range from diesel, natural gas, electric and hybrid powertrains and powertrain-related components including filtration, aftertreatment, turbochargers, fuel systems, controls systems, air handling systems, automated transmissions, axles, drivelines, brakes, suspension systems, electric power generation systems, batteries, electrified power systems, electric powertrains, hydrogen production and fuel cell products. Headquartered in Columbus, Indiana (U.S.), since its founding in 1919, Cummins employs approximately 73,600 people committed to powering a more prosperous world through three global corporate responsibility priorities critical to healthy communities: education, environment and equality of opportunity. Cummins serves its customers online, through a network of company-owned and independent distributor locations, and through thousands of dealer locations worldwide and earned about $2.2 billion on sales of $28.1 billion in 2022.

Forward-looking disclosure statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based on management's current expectations, but actual results may differ materially due to various factors. These statements relate to the offering and the use of proceeds therefrom. There are significant risks and uncertainties relating to the offering. There can be no guarantees that the IPO will be consummated on the timeline anticipated or at all or that Cummins will achieve the anticipated benefits of the IPO. Cummins ability to consummate and achieve the anticipated benefits of the IPO may be materially affected by such factors as changes to the business, results of operation or financial condition of Atmus or Cummins, changes in the filtration and power solutions industries, adverse market or macroeconomic conditions and other factors outside Cummins control that could affect the advisability, pricing and timing of the potential IPO. For additional information about the factors that affect the Cummins and Atmus businesses, please see its respective filings with the SEC. Each of Cummins and Atmus undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law.

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Investor relations:

Todd Chirillo

[email protected]

Media relations:

Keri Moenssen

[email protected]

Source: Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc.
by Martina Fuchs

LONDON, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Three Chinese auto brands were among the top 10 most "future-ready" carmakers, reflecting a rise of Chinese players as the industry pivots toward new capabilities, such as chipset design and software, an expert said here Tuesday.

According to the 2023 Future Readiness Indicator for the auto industry, Chinese carmaker BYD snatched up the second position just after Tesla, while XPeng ranked 6th and Li Auto in the 7th place, the famous business school International Institute for Management Development (IMD) said in a report.

"One key finding is the rise of the Chinese players in the automotive industries," Howard Yu, director of the IMD Center for Future Readiness, told Xinhua on the sidelines of the report's launch.

"For the first time, we have three players from China, BYD, Li Auto, XPeng, all making it into the top 10 of our global indicator. It illustrates how quickly the industry is evolving, the kind of new skills that these Chinese players represent," Yu said.

"The Chinese players have done an incredible job when it comes to hard skills, batteries, AI, semiconductors. What is needed going forward is to internationalize their offerings and to understand the different consumer behaviors, from Europe to North America, in order to win market share," Yu said.

The report also showed that while Tesla has retained the number-one spot, competition from China's new kids on the block is heating up.

BYD's rank moved up three places from last year, while XPeng and Li Auto were up six and seven notches, respectively.

Meanwhile, Geely and Nio, two other Chinese carmakers, ranked the 17th and 19th in the indicator.

Yu said automotive companies that develop capabilities like chipset design and software would eventually be the winners.

He added that the strongest auto players, Tesla, BYD and Volkswagen, are innovating in battery-run vehicles, autonomous vehicles and in-house expertise in microchips.

"The industry is at a crossroads. Demand for chips would likely remain highly unpredictable as we see the rollout of technologies like AI, the Internet of Things, and 5G/6G," he said.

The Future Readiness Indicator has been compiled annually since 2010 to assess the world's top carmakers' ability to adapt to future challenges.

The rankings are based on companies' performance in financial fundamentals, investor expectations, business diversity, research and development, early innovation results, and cash and debt.

"Future readiness is really about a balanced scorecard, and this is how we measure it. It's not enough if you have one single hot product," Yu said.

"You need to perform today in order to transform tomorrow. We always tell executives there's never a better time to prepare," he added. 
Boomi's new generative AI-based tool accelerates business transformation within minutes

CHESTERBROOK, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- BoomiTM, the intelligent connectivity and automation leader, today announced Boomi AI  a first-of-its-kind, simplified user experience that harnesses generative AI to connect and integrate applications, data, processes, people, and things across organizations  creating business outcomes faster than ever before.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516005335/en/

Boomi Changes the Integration and Automation Game With Boomi AI (Graphic: Business Wire)

The introduction of Boomi AI marks yet another milestone in our long history of pioneering innovation in the integration industry, said Ed Macosky, Chief Product Officer at Boomi. We pioneered the first low-code, cloud-native integration platform as a service (iPaaS) to disrupt the middleware market 20+ years ago. Then, over a decade ago, Boomi pioneered AI-assisted development with the launch of Boomi Suggest, which further disrupted the market. Now, we are taking our intelligent integration and automation platform to the next level by making it AI-first  enabling AI to responsibly build and complete integrations, and transform automation for our customers.

In todays constantly changing market, organizations are making substantial investments to modernize their digital operations. According to IDC, global spending on AI will increase by 26.9% in this next year alone. However, disconnected ecosystems make it difficult for IT teams to focus on strategic initiatives. Fragmented tools, applications, and data can cause confusion and coordination issues, as teams lack a centralized platform for integration, API management, orchestration, and automation, resulting in time spent on maintenance, not innovation.

Boomis AI engine is fueled by the companys approximately 20,000 customers  the largest customer base among integration platform vendors. Boomi AI leverages anonymized metadata, patterns, and best practices from the 200 million integrations made with the Boomi platform to train the AI models to create high-quality integrations across various business processes and applications, such as data management, customer experience optimization, or supply chain processes.

Boomis extensive knowledge base makes our AI engine far more advanced than the AI-assisted development tools available today. It also benefits users by continuously testing patterns to ensure optimal integration design and root out risks and errors early, enabling customers to achieve tremendous gains in efficiency, operational improvements, and other desirable business outcomes, added Macosky.

With Boomi AI, organizations can:

Design Connections: Boomi AI can design integration processes, application programming interfaces, and master data models with built-in best practices from millions of successful use cases, through a quick command, like, Connect my CRM and invoice systems.

Optimize Operations: With Boomi AIs actionable intelligent insights, users can solve problems proactively, facilitate predictive maintenance, automate updates, and allocate optimal resources to enable software to efficiently self-manage itself. These insights, like A data attribute in Salesforce has changed. Would you like to apply it across your systems? make previously menial tasks quick and easy.

Orchestrate Experiences: Boomi AI can interpret intent behind desired business outcomes to orchestrate processes across applications. It enhances decision-making, simplifies tasks, and improves engagement while providing audit history and prompts to confirm intent so that decisions and outcomes are always explainable, creating even greater synergies between IT and the business. With a simple prompt like Automate invoice processing, IT teams and business leaders can focus on what matters most.

Enable Responsible AI Development: Boomis AI algorithms are trained to avoid biases and unfairness with established ethical guidelines for the development and use of AI within the Boomi platform. These guidelines confirm that Boomis AI technology is used in a transparent and accountable manner, and that it does not violate any ethical principles or laws. Additionally, Boomi has achieved U.S. Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) Authorization Moderate, a government-wide program that provides a standardized approach to security assessment. Boomi AI does not store any customer-specific information of any kind.

In today's fast-paced market, organizations need more powerful tools that enable them to outperform, and AI presents a potent new avenue to do this, says Dion Hinchcliffe, VP and Principal Analyst of Constellation Research. By embracing an important new AI-first approach, organizations can unlock new levels of efficiency, innovation, and competitive advantage, to immediately capture opportunity as well as ensure their business remains future-ready.

As the pioneer of cloud-native integration platform as a service (iPaaS), Boomi celebrates a growing community of more than 100,000 members, and one of the largest arrays of global systems integrators (GSIs) in the iPaaS space. The company boasts a worldwide network of partners, including Accenture, Deloitte, SAP, and Snowflake; and works with the largest hyperscaler cloud service providers, including Amazon Web Services, Google, and Microsoft, among others.

Included on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 and Inc. 5000 lists as one of Americas fastest growing and most innovative technology companies, Boomi was recently named to Nucleus Research's list of Hot Companies to Watch in 2023. The company has also won numerous awards, including three International Stevie Awards, for Company of the Year (two years in a row) and Product Innovation; the Gold Globee Award in the Platform as a Service (PaaS) category; the Merit Award for Technology in the Cloud Services category; the Stratus Award as a Global Leader in Cloud Computing 2022; and received the prestigious 5-star rating in the CRN Partner Program Guide for two consecutive years.

Join the Boomi AI waitlist at boomi.ai.

Additional Resources

About Boomi

Boomi aims to make the world a better place by connecting everyone to everything, anywhere. The pioneer of cloud-based integration platform as a service (iPaaS), and now a category-leading, global software as a service (SaaS) company, Boomi touts the largest customer base among integration platform vendors and a worldwide network of approximately 800 partners  including Accenture, Capgemini, Deloitte, SAP, and Snowflake. Global organizations turn to Boomis award-winning platform to discover, manage, and orchestrate data, while connecting applications, processes, and people for better, faster outcomes. For more information, visit http://www.boomi.com.

 2023 Boomi, LP. Boomi, the B logo, and Boomiverse are trademarks of Boomi, LP or its subsidiaries or affiliates. All rights reserved. Other names or marks may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516005335/en/

Kristen Walker

Global Corporate Communications

[email protected]

+1 415-613-8320

Source: Boomi
NEW ORLEANS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Breaux Law Firm, a premier family-owned personal injury law firm in Metairie, is delighted to announce their forthcoming office relocation to accommodate their expanding team and better serve the local community.

Breaux Law Firm will be moving from their present location at Heritage Plaza, 111 Veterans Memorial Blvd STE 740, Metairie, LA 70005, to a more spacious suite in the same building at 111 Veterans Memorial Blvd STE 1820, Metairie, LA 70005.

A staple of the New Orleans community, Breaux Law Firm has been delivering top-quality legal representation for their clients in personal injury cases for over 30 years. As the firm's client base and reputation have expanded, the demand for a larger, modern office space has increased. The new location will allow Breaux Law Firm to maintain their growth trajectory, adding more committed and skilled attorneys and support staff to their team.

"Our firm's growth reflects our unwavering dedication, hard work, and commitment to providing exceptional legal services to our clients in New Orleans and Louisiana as a whole," said Evan Breaux, Managing Member of Breaux Law Firm. "We are enthusiastic about this move and the prospects it offers for further expansion and community engagement."

Relocating to Suite 1820 in Heritage Plaza will not only provide Breaux Law Firm with a more spacious office, but the new space will also be outfitted with contemporary conference rooms and inviting client meeting areas. These enhancements will enable the firm to persist in delivering the highest level of service to clients while streamlining internal operations.

Breaux Law Firm intends to finalize the move by May 19th, ensuring a seamless transition for clients and team members. They will retain their current phone number and email addresses, and clients are encouraged to reach out with any inquiries during this period.

About Breaux Law Firm: Based in New Orleans and Metairie, Louisiana, Breaux Law Firm is a family-owned personal injury law firm. With a team of devoted and experienced attorneys, the firm has earned a reputation for providing empathetic, client-centered legal representation in personal injury cases. Breaux Law Firm is dedicated to seeking justice for their clients and aiding them in obtaining the compensation they deserve. Recognizing the deeply personal nature of injuries, Breaux Law Firm takes pride in dedicating time, personalized care, and undivided attention to each and every client.

For more information about Breaux Law Firm and their upcoming office relocation, please visit their website at www.breauxlaw.com or contact their office at (504) 914-7779.

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Evan Breaux Managing Member, Breaux Law Firm

Phone: (504) 914-7779

Email: [email protected]

Website: breauxlaw.com

Source: Breaux Law
Re-delivery Marks Completion of First-ever Airbus A330-300 Passenger to Freighter Conversion in China

CHENGDU, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- CDB Aviation, a wholly owned Irish subsidiary of China Development Bank Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. (CDB Leasing), announced today the re-delivery of Chinas first-ever converted Airbus A330-300 Passenger to Freighter (A330 P2F) aircraft on lease to its customer, Sichuan Airlines.

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Members of the Sichuan Airlines and CDB Aviation teams celebrated the re-delivery of Chinas first A330 P2F in Chengdu, China. (Photo: Business Wire)

The A330 was converted by Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH (EFW) with Shanghai Technologies Aerospace Company Limited ("STARCO") at its facilities in Shanghai Pudong, concluding EFWs first-ever A330 P2F conversion to have taken place in China.

This re-delivery marks a significant milestone for Sichuan Airlines and China as we see the outcome of intense work and collaboration resulting in the arrival of the countrys very first A330 P2F, asserted Jie Chen, CDB Aviations Chief Executive Officer. We are grateful to the Sichuan Airlines team for trusting CDB Aviation to be a partner in supporting their innovative fleet strategy and for becoming our first A330 P2F customer in China. This aircraft will be a superb addition to their fleet as the airline continues to serve the countrys rapidly expanding air cargo market.

The freighter, equipped with Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines, was delivered to Sichuan Airlines on May 15, 2023, becoming the inaugural A330 P2F in the carriers fleet. In addition to the A330 P2F, CDB Aviation has two A320 aircraft on lease to the airline.

We are very happy to build on our relationship with CDB Aviation and thank CEO Jie Chen and his team for their work and cooperation in bringing this aircraft to market, said Zuyi Shi, Sichuan Airlines Chief Executive Officer. The introduction of this A330 P2F will provide us more freighter capacity to meet the market requirement and further strengthen our development strategy in cargo business.

The A330 P2F is the in-demand, next-generation aircraft in the fast-growing medium widebody space. CDB Aviation was one of the first lessors to secure conversion commitments for the A330 P2F. Since the companys entry into the air cargo space in 2022, CDB Aviation has contracted 14 A330 P2F conversions with EFW.

To offer conversions in China, serving the high demand in this growing market, was an important strategic decision for EFW, commented Jordi Boto, Chief Executive Officer of Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH. We are very pleased to have successfully started this journey together with CDB Aviation, our first customer with A330 P2F conversions on three continents, and we are very grateful for the trust they placed in us.

Han Weimin, General Manager of Shanghai Technologies Aerospace Company Limited, denoted: We are very honored to do the first A330 P2F conversion in China. It is a big challenge to us. This first re-delivery is a milestone for STARCO and the Chinese aviation industry. We will continue to re-deliver more converted aircraft to Chinese and worldwide customers.

The A330 P2F continues to gain traction as the preferred, next-generation medium widebody freighter. We strategically positioned our platform to be at the forefront of the A330 P2F program. CDB Aviations team has worked admirably in advancing this delivery and related cargo program. We are very pleased with its accelerating momentum and look forward to expanding our freighter fleet in collaboration with our partners at Airbus, ST Engineering, and EFW, concluded Chen.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, beliefs or opinions, including with respect to CDB Aviations business, financial condition, results of operations or plans. CDB Aviation cautions readers that no forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future performance and that actual results or other financial condition or performance measures could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate only to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements sometimes use words such as may, will, seek, continue, aim, anticipate, target, projected, expect, estimate, intend, plan, goal, believe, achieve or other terminology or words of similar meaning. These statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of CDB Aviations management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results and outcomes may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results and we do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any of these forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable law, we do not undertake any obligation to, and will not, update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About CDB Aviation

CDB Aviation is a wholly owned Irish subsidiary of China Development Bank Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. (CDB Leasing) a 38-year-old Chinese leasing company that is backed mainly by the China Development Bank. CDB Aviation is rated Investment Grade by Moodys (A2), S&P Global (A), and Fitch (A+). China Development Bank is under the direct jurisdiction of the State Council of China and is the worlds largest development finance institution. It is also the largest Chinese bank for foreign investment and financing cooperation, long-term lending and bond issuance, enjoying Chinese sovereign credit rating.

CDB Leasing is the only leasing arm of the China Development Bank and a leading company in Chinas leasing industry that has been engaged in aircraft, infrastructure, ship, commercial vehicle and construction machinery leasing and enjoys a Chinese sovereign credit rating. It took an important step in July 2016 to globalize and marketize its business  listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX STOCK CODE: 1606). www.CDBAviation.aero

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Paul Thibeau

[email protected]; +1 612 594 9844

Source: CDB Aviation
33-year food science veteran from Tyson Foods joins Chicago cultivated meat startup

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Clever Bratwurst is one bite closer to your grocers meat department.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230512005361/en/

Russell Thomas, VP of product development, Clever Carnivore (Photo: Business Wire)

Clever Carnivore, a Chicago-based biotech startup working to bring cultivated meat  pork, beef and chicken  to consumers, today announced Russell Thomas, MSc, has joined the team as vice president of product development. A triple-decade food scientist with expertise in food safety, product development and operations management, Thomas will accelerate the development of Clever Carnivores debut consumer product, the Clever Bratwurst.

Russells experience as director of research and development at Tyson is a huge asset to Clever Carnivore as we aim to unveil our prototype product later this year, said Clever Carnivore CEO Virginia Rangos, Ph.D.

Thomas resume includes a bachelors in animal science and business and a masters in poultry science and product technology from the University of Arkansas. Most recently, Thomas served as vice president of product development with a Silicon Valley cultivated fat company founded in late 2010.

Prior to that, during Thomas more than 33 years at Tyson Foods, one of the largest food companies in the U.S., he served as manager, then director of research and development.

Thomas hiring represents a milestone for Clever Carnivore. The addition of an experienced executive with demonstrated success bringing innovative products to the global market propels Clever Carnivore into the exciting prototype development stage. Leveraging his decades of accomplishments in the food sciences, Thomas will spearhead the creation of a delicious, accessible product line  starting with sausages.

Im excited about joining Clever Carnivore, said Thomas. I entered the food industry more than three decades ago because I believe theres no greater way to serve humanity than by working to provide accessible, sustainable food to people. The technology being developed by Clever Carnivore aligns with that mission.

Clever Carnivore has been focused on scaling meat production and bringing costs down  producing high-quality pork at consumer-ready prices. With Thomas on the team, the company is ready to start turning pork into bratwurst. Clever Carnivores cost and scale advantages put Thomas on track to cook up something delicious.

Clever Carnivores headquarters and lab are located in Chicagos Lincoln Park neighborhood. Thomas appointment is effective immediately.

About Clever Carnivore

Clever Carnivore, Chicagos first cultivated meat company, is a mission-driven startup deploying cutting-edge biotechnology to bring low-cost, top-quality cultivated pork, beef and chicken to the consumer market. Using Clever Carnivores high-efficiency model, cruelty-free, sustainable and cost-competitive sausages, burgers and chicken nuggets will soon be a reality. The company works to develop cultivated meat products using cell biology, recombinant protein technology and advanced bioreactor design, with the objective of creating consumer products that compete on taste, price and convenience with conventional meat, delivering a gastronomic experience that satisfies vegetarians and carnivores alike.

To learn more about Clever Carnivores work to bring sustainable, affordable cultivated meat to market and to receive updates on our progress and employment opportunities, please visit clevercarnivore.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230512005361/en/

Kaitlin Grady

Director of strategic partnerships and public affairs

[email protected]

919-272-3811

Source: Clever Carnivore
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- For the second year in a row, Compass One Healthcare has been selected by Modern Healthcare as a winner of its prestigious 2023 Best Places to Work in Healthcare award. Before Compass Ones two premier healthcare support service specialist companies  Morrison Healthcare and Crothall Healthcare  were combined under the banner of Compass One, Morrison and Crothall each individually won the award dating back to 2012. This recognition highlights the exceptional culture and workplace environment Compass One Healthcare seeks to foster across Morrison and Crothall.

We are deeply honored to receive this esteemed recognition from Modern Healthcare again this year, solidifying our position as one of the best places to work in the industry, said Bobby Kutteh, CEO of Compass One Healthcare. At Compass One, we take immense pride in fostering an exceptional community within our workplace. This milestone accomplishment shines a spotlight on our evolving culture and reflects our unwavering commitment to our employees' well-being.

The Best Places to Work in Healthcare awards program identifies and celebrates exceptional employers in the healthcare industry on a national level. The assessment process, conducted in collaboration with the Workforce Research Group, includes a comprehensive employee survey.

An uncertain economy, staffing shortages and increasing demands for flexibility and remote work opportunities are forcing every business in the industry to focus on attracting and retaining talent in unprecedented ways," said Dan Peres, president of Modern Healthcare. "The 2023 Best Places to Work winners proved the value of understanding what employees want  and need  today. The healthcare industry is going through a period of extraordinary change. Having the right people in place is more critical than ever, and the winning workplaces understand that taking care of employees is central to business success.

Compass One, along with other selected companies, will be honored at the 2023 Best Places to Work in Healthcare Awards Gala, scheduled for September 28 at the Renaissance Chicago. Further details about the gala can be found at ModernHealthcare.com/BestPlacesGala. Modern Healthcare will publish a special supplement featuring a ranked list of all the winners along with the October 2, 2023, issue of MH magazine.

About Compass One Healthcare

Compass One Healthcares branded sectors, Morrison Healthcare (food and nutrition services) and Crothall Healthcare (support services) provide exceptional expertise in 45 states and 2,200 hospital and health systems. With more than 52,000 engaged team members, we focus on delivering quality, value, and exceptional patient experience through our specialized services.

About Modern Healthcare

Modern Healthcare stands as the most trusted business news and information brand in the healthcare industry. Empowering healthcare leaders and influencers to make informed and timely business decisions, Modern Healthcare remains at the forefront of industry knowledge. To learn more or subscribe, visit www.modernhealthcare.com/subscriptions.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516005722/en/

Tom Hughes

404-236-7934

[email protected]

Source: Compass One Healthcare
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Provo-Orem, Utah, for the 3rd consecutive year, has demonstrated the best performance among large cities, according to the 2023 Milken Institute Best-Performing Cities Index. Among small cities, Idaho Falls, ID, regained the first position this year after falling to the fifth spot in last years rankings. These cities rankings were fostered by strong job and wage growth and a robust high-tech presence.

The Index, published annually since 1999, reflects cities effectiveness at leveraging their resources to promote economic growth and provide their residents with access to the essential services and infrastructure needed for success. Its components include job creation, wage growth, and the high-tech sectors output growth. Since 2021, the Index also includes measures of housing affordability and broadband access that reflect access to economic opportunities of cities residents.

The 2023 Index and rankings are mainly based on data from 2021, the first full year of recovery following the onset of COVID-19.

This years report shows that US cities continue to drive the nations growth despite the pressures created by Covid-19, said Maggie Switek, Ph.D., director of regional economics in the Milken Institutes Research Department. Three years after the onset of the pandemic, cities are still the main centers of the nations economic activity. In 2021, the metropolitan areas included in the BPC rankings generated 89% of the U.S. gross domestic product and were home to 86.3% of the countrys population.

This years top-performing cities had several common themes: a vigorous and growing high-tech sector, rebounding leisure and hospitality sectors, and above average broadband access. Simultaneously, housing affordability was a concern among most top-performing cities. While remarking on the strong performance of top-ranked cities, this years BPC report also noted that cities should aim to increase their supply of affordable housing to remain attractive to young generations of workers.

Having become an established hub for technology startups, Provo-Orem maintained its top ranking with the highest levels of employment growth and wage growth over the last five years. From 2016 to 2021, Provo experienced rapid labor market expansion driven partly by the expansion of its high-tech sector. This allowed the city to rank first in five-year growth for both jobs and wages in this years rankings.

No place on earth is as dear to me as Provo. Its where I was born, where I grew up, and where my husband and I chose to raise our kids. I am proud to see that the world is taking note of this remarkable place, where the majesty of nature surrounds a thriving hub of tech activity and educational opportunity, creating unparalleled quality of life, said Provo, Utah Mayor Michelle Kaufusi. For the Milken Institute to recognize us for three straight years as the nations Best Performing City is a thrill and an honor. The award is data driven, based on metrics like job and wage growth. But behind our impressive metrics are the amazing people that make it all happen. It is they who should be most proud of this award.

The Index ranks cities into five tiers, allowing stakeholders such as policymakers, business leaders, and residents to compare their economic performance more easily to their peers. Notably, most of the top-performing Tier 1 cities (16 in total: eight large, eight small) are in just six states (Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Texas, Florida, and North Carolina), with the remainder (eight: two large, six small) of Tier 1 cities spread across several states in the West, Midwest, and Southeast regions of the country.

Key findings from the 2023 Best-Performing Cities Index:

Provo-Orem, Utah, maintains the No. 1 ranking among large cities for the third consecutive year, due to its strong five-year job and wage growth, along with a robust high-tech sector. The city is home to several well-established high-tech companies and numerous tech startups, in addition to Brigham Young University, which offers stable employment to 4,000 Utahns. Austin-Round Rock, Texas; Raleigh-Cary, North Carolina; Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, Tennessee; and Boise City, Idaho, round out the top five.

Idaho Falls, ID, returns to the top of the rank among small cities after falling to fifth place in 2022. Like Provos, Idaho Falls rise to the top was buoyed by strong job and wage growth. The top five small cities include Logan, Utah; St. George, Utah; The Villages, Florida; and BendRedmond, Oregon.

As cities reopened and traveling resumed, the leisure and hospitality sector grew rapidly. Atlantic City, New Jersey, experienced the biggest increase in ranking, rising 131 places to 53rd position. Among large cities, Asheville, North Carolina, experienced the biggest gain, moving up 118 spots to 47th place. Both cities gains were driven largely by the recovery of their leisure and hospitality sectors.

Lincoln, Nebraska, experienced the most dramatic decline, dropping by 115 spots from 26th in 2022 to its current 141st position. The drop resulted from a decline in all near-term components of the index for Lincoln: short-term job growth, one-year job growth, one-year wage growth, and one-year high-tech GDP growth. Lubbock, TX, and Vallejo, CA, also experienced a marked drop in their rankings, driven mainly by declines in one-year high-tech GDP growth (84th to 198th for Lubbock and 57th to 200th for Vallejo).

Internet access is vital in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, many small cities are still struggling to provide adequate broadband access for their residents. While this mostly affects cities that fall in the bottom of this years rankings, some top-performing small cities are also affected: Wenatchee, WA, Bloomington, IN, and Burlington, NC, fall in the bottom half of small cities rankings in the percentage of households with broadband access, ranking 134th, 118th, and 111th, respectively. To ensure sustainable and inclusive future growth, these cities need to focus on providing broadband access for their residents.

The shifting landscape of recovery created unique economic conditions that are reflected in the 2023 Best Performing Cities Index, added Switek. The rankings, coupled with our online tool, which allows users to explore cities performance in each of the indexs 12 components, provide an objective framework to evaluate and craft effective policies aimed at improving performance of US cities.

How We Evaluate Cities

The Index measures economic vitality in 200 large metropolitan areas and 203 small metropolitan areas by assessing performance of the labor market, tech sector, and access to economic opportunities. As in the previous year, the 2023 version of the Index emphasizes jobs, wages, high-tech growth, housing affordability, and household broadband access.

Best-Performing Cities 2023: Thriving in a Changing Economic Landscape is co-authored by Maggie Switek, Hyeongyul Roh, Lawson Mansell, and Katherine Sacks. View the full report and search the 403 metro areas evaluated here, and follow coverage on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn using #BestPerformingCities.

2023 Milken Institute Best-Performing Cities Index

LARGE US CITIES  TIER I

ProvoOrem, UT

AustinRound Rock, TX

Raleigh, NC

NashvilleDavidsonMurfreesboroFranklin, TN

Boise City, ID MSA

DallasPlanoIrving, TX

Wilmington, NC

PhoenixMesaScottsdale, AZ

FayettevilleSpringdaleRogers, ARMO

Palm BayMelbourneTitusville, FL

SMALL US CITIES  TIER I

Idaho Falls, ID

Logan, UTID

St. George, UT

The Villages, FL

BendRedmond, OR

Punta Gorda, FL

Coeur d'Alene, ID

Missoula, MT

Sioux Falls, SD

Gainesville, GA

Prescott, AZ

Bloomington, IN

Wenatchee, WA

Burlington, NC

About the Milken Institute

The Milken Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank focused on accelerating measurable progress on the path to a meaningful life. With a focus on financial, physical, mental, and environmental health, we bring together the best ideas and innovative resourcing to develop blueprints for tackling some of our most critical global issues through the lens of whats pressing now and whats coming next. For more information, visit https://milkeninstitute.org/.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516005193/en/

Paul Guequierre

[email protected]

+1 202 249 6942

Source: Milken Institute
Digital tip pay out improves employee retention, streamlines operations, reduces cash dependency

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Fourth, the leader in workforce and inventory management solutions to the restaurant, hotel, retail, and leisure industries, today announced that its Fuego on-demand pay solution has added automated tip pay out functionality to complement its existing earned wage access capability. Integrated seamlessly with Fourths scheduling platform, HotSchedules, Fuego allows employees to access their tips electronically and draw a portion of their earned pay before payday.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516005304/en/

Fuegos new tip pay out solution reduces dependency on cash by automating the tip payout process. (Graphic: Business Wire)

Fuegos new tip pay out functionality automates the entire process and removes the tip cash out process from the managers daily responsibilities  all at no cost to the business or for employees who have a Fuego Visa Card*. The enhanced on-demand pay1 solution gives both employers and employees choice and flexibility over payments.

We are excited to expand our earned wage access offering with tip pay out, said Clinton Anderson, CEO, Fourth. Businesses today face unprecedented challenges attracting and retaining employees. As the only on-demand pay app fully integrated with the industrys #1 scheduling app, HotSchedules, customers experience more than 20% employee adoption, making it the best choice for retention.

By eliminating the need for excess cash in stores to pay out tips, employers can reduce their dependency on cash and the costs associated with cash collection, delivery, and insurance, while lowering security costs and the chances of theft or fraud. In addition, cash pickups are minimized, and employees benefit from safer commutes after shifts.

One of the most surprising benefits customers realize is how seamlessly it integrates into existing systems, said Christian Berthelsen, CTO, Fourth. Fuego is a cost-free benefit that helps customers reduce turnover and stand out in the competition for labor.

Fourth will be showcasing Fuego at the 2023 National Restaurant Association Show, May 20-23 in Chicago.

For more information on how on-demand pay can help you retain employees, please visit Fourth.com.

About Fourth

When every hour of every shift matters, Fourth helps restaurants, retailers, and hotels conquer the day with data-driven workforce and inventory technology. The Fourth Intelligence Platform leverages more than 20 years of rich data and advanced analytics to deliver actionable insights and demand forecasting for optimizing operations, maximizing margins, and empowering employees. With a streamlined business powered by Fourth Intelligence, industry operators can act with certainty and conquer with confidence whatever comes their way every day. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Fourth serves more than 15,000 customers across 100,000 locations globally. For more information, please visit fourth.com.

*About Fuego Visa Card

The Fuego Card is enabled through Fourths partnership with Central Payments and their Open*CP Fintech API Marketplace.

The Fuego Visa Card is issued by Central Bank of Kansas City, Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A., Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. Certain fees, terms, and conditions are associated with the approval, maintenance, and use of the Card. You should consult your Cardholder Agreement and the Fee Schedule at www.getfuego.com/legal. If you have any questions regarding the Card or such fees, terms, and conditions, you can contact us toll-free 24/7/365 at 1-855-715-8518.

1Central Bank of Kansas City does not administer nor is liable for on-demand page/wage draws.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516005304/en/

Scott Factor

Fourth

[email protected]

+1 216 299 9629

Source: Fourth
The May 23 event will feature Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky, and Accenture CEO Julie Sweet, among other speakers

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Harvard Business Review will be hosting its third annual virtual HBR Live: Leaders Who Make a Difference conference next Tuesday, May 23, 2023.

The daylong programfilled with CEO interviews, expert-led mini-masterclasses, and morewill explore responsible AI, talent management, inclusive capitalism, DEI, and other top-of-mind topics. Participants will come away equipped with proven strategies to drive positive change in their own organizations.

Speakers and sessions will include:

Revathi Advaithi, CEO, Flex  Managing a Global, Next-Gen Manufacturing Workforce

Brian Cornell, chair and CEO, Target  Creating a Culture of Care Around Team and Community

Amy Edmondson, professor, Harvard Business School  Psychological Safety

Seth Godin, blogger, entrepreneur, and bestselling author  The Path to Significant Work

Mo Ibrahim, founder, Celtel; founder and chair, Mo Ibrahim Foundation  Cultivating Inclusive Capitalism in Africa

Juan Luciano, chair, president, and CEO, ADM  Feeding and Decarbonizing the Planet with Sustainable Agriculture

Sundar Pichai, CEO, Google and Alphabet  Bold But Responsible AI Innovation

Ryan Roslansky, CEO, LinkedIn  How the Best Employers Are Adapting to a New Era of Work

Julie Sweet, chair and CEO, Accenture  Managing Talent in the Age of Disruption

Zeynep Ton, professor, MIT Sloan School of Management  Good Jobs Strategy

Ella F. Washington, professor, McDonough School of Business, Georgetown University  The DEI Journey

Sarah Myers West, managing director, AI Now Institute  Ethical AI

For the agenda and complete list of confirmed speakers, visit HBR Live: Leaders Who Make a Difference.

The lead sponsor of Leaders Who Make a Difference is SAS.

Media who would like to cover the event should contact Amy Poftak at [email protected].

About Harvard Business Review

Harvard Business Review is the leading destination for smart management thinking. Through its flagship magazine, nine international licensed editions, books from Harvard Business Review Press, and digital content and tools published on HBR.org, Harvard Business Review provides professionals around the world with rigorous insights and best practices to lead themselves and their organizations more effectively and to make a positive impact.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516005838/en/

Amy Poftak

[email protected]

Source: Harvard Business Review
Projects in 13 school districts fully funded during Teacher Appreciation Week

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Horace Mann Educators Corporation (NYSE: HMN) celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week by donating more than $50,000 to support DonorsChoose projects in school districts nationwide. The surprise funding of 113 classroom projects honors more than 100 educators in 72 schools across the county and will provide learning experiences for nearly 15,500 students with projects including furniture, iPads, classroom rugs and various school supplies.

Horace Mann, the largest financial services company focused on helping Americas educators achieve lifelong financial success, knows that teachers regularly spend hundreds of dollars of their own money to buy classroom supplies for their students. Providing funding support for projects during Teacher Appreciation Week that teachers have identified as critical to helping their students learn can help educators reduce their out of pocket spending on classroom materials and put those funds toward their own financial goals.

Educators have faced so many challenges over the last few years and yet continually pivot and find new ways to help their students learn, both academically as well as socially, said President and CEO Marita Zuraitis. Supporting their DonorsChoose projects is one way Horace Mann can show its appreciation and say thanks.

Katherine Jones, a kindergarten teacher at Thomas Paine Elementary School in Urbana, Illinois requested a lounge learning bundle, mobile storage cart. leveled reading books and snacks to create a space for her students to experience hands-on learning. My students have their own unique learning styles and personalities and every day it is a joy to see all of their smiling faces! said Jones in her project post Courageous Kindergartners! Having these materials will help these young students expand their educational knowledge and incorporate movement, interaction, and tactile experiences in the classroom.

Everyone wants to feel like they are ready and prepared for what might be in store for their day. These materials will help my students be organized and prepared for the learning that will take place in our classroom, said Maureen Allen, sixth grade teacher at Roy Elementary in Roy, Utah whose project, Ready to Learn included basic school supplies. Each student will receive folders, notebooks, and pencil boxes with supplies to be prepared to work and keep their papers and desks organized.

Since Horace Mann started its partnership with DonorsChoose.org in 2011, it has contributed nearly $7 million to educator projects.

About Horace Mann

Horace Mann Educators Corporation is the largest financial services company focused on helping Americas educators and others who serve the community achieve lifelong financial success. The company offers individual and group insurance and financial solutions tailored to the needs of the educator community. Founded by Educators for Educators in 1945, the company is headquartered in Springfield, Illinois.

About DonorsChoose

Founded in 2000 by a high school teacher in the Bronx, DonorsChoose empowers public school teachers from across the country to request much-needed materials for their students. Right now, there are thousands of teacher requests that you can help bring to life with a gift of any amount.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516005985/en/

Michelle Eccles

Public Relations Manager

217-788-5394

[email protected]

Source: Horace Mann Educators Corporation
BOISE, Idaho--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- IDACORP, Inc. (NYSE: IDA) will hold its 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders at 10:00 a.m. Mountain Time on Thursday, May 18. The meeting will be held in virtual-only format, accessible via the Internet. IDACORP shareholders may attend the annual meeting by registering for the meeting at www.proxydocs.com/IDA no later than 3:00 p.m. Mountain Time on May 17, 2023. Additional information related to the meeting is available in IDACORPs 2023 proxy statement located on IDACORPs website.

During the meeting, IDACORP President and Chief Executive Officer Lisa Grow will discuss the 2022 performance of IDACORP and its primary subsidiary, Idaho Power Company, as well as company initiatives for 2023 and beyond. Shareholders will have an opportunity to vote and submit questions electronically during the meeting.

Additionally, an audio stream of the meeting will be webcast live at www.idacorpinc.com, available in listen-only mode to both shareholders and non-shareholders. Webcast access information will be posted on the IDACORP website the morning of the meeting and presentation slides for the meeting will be available on the IDACORP website before the meeting begins. Following the meeting, all annual meeting webcast materials will be available on IDACORPs website for 12 months.

About IDACORP, Inc.

IDACORP, Inc. (NYSE: IDA), Boise, Idaho-based and formed in 1998, is a holding company comprised of Idaho Power, a regulated electric utility; IDACORP Financial, a holder of affordable housing projects and other real estate investments; and Ida-West Energy, an operator of small hydroelectric generation projects that satisfy the requirements of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978. Idaho Power, headquartered in vibrant and fast-growing Boise, Idaho, has been a locally operated energy company since 1916. Today, it serves a 24,000-square-mile service area in Idaho and Oregon. Idaho Powers goal to provide 100% clean energy by 2045 builds on its long history as a clean-energy leader that provides reliable service at affordable prices. With 17 low-cost hydropower projects at the core of its diverse energy mix, Idaho Powers residential, business, and agricultural customers pay among the nation's lowest prices for electricity. Its 2,000 employees proudly serve more than 620,000 customers with a culture of safety first, integrity always, and respect for all. To learn more about IDACORP or Idaho Power, visit idacorpinc.com or idahopower.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516006062/en/

Investor and Analyst Contact

Justin S. Forsberg

Director of Investor Relations & Treasury

Phone: 208-388-2728

[email protected]

Media Contact

Jordan Rodriguez

Corporate Communications

Phone: 208-388-2460

[email protected]

Source: IDACORP, Inc.
LJUBLJANA, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Slovenia's economy expanded by 0.7 percent year-on-year (YoY) in the first quarter of 2023, mainly driven by increasing exports, the national Statistical Office said on Tuesday.

Growth has slowed down significantly compared to the same quarter of 2022, when gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 10.2 percent year-on-year.

On a quarterly basis, GDP rose by 0.6 percent in the first quarter of 2023 versus 0.7 percent in the last quarter of 2022 and 1.2 percent in the first quarter of 2022.

Exports increased by 1.9 percent year-on-year, while imports were 3.8 percent lower.

"The external trade balance in services was positive for the fourth consecutive quarter. On the other hand, the external trade balance in goods was positive for the first time in two years," the office said in a report.

It added that the contribution of the positive external trade balance to GDP was "the highest in the last ten years."

Household spending increased by 2.1 percent year-on-year versus 20.3 percent a year ago. General government expenditure fell by 1.9 percent compared to a growth of 4.8 percent in the same quarter of 2022.

Slovenia exports more than 70 percent of its production, mainly to other European Union states. Local household appliances producer Gorenje, which is owned by China's Hisense, is one of Slovenia's largest exporters.

The European Commission on Monday said that Slovenia's economy is projected to grow by 1.2 percent this year compared to a growth of 5.4 percent in 2022. 
HANGZHOU, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Ahead of 2023 International Museum Day, Digital to Asia, an Italian digital marketing agency focused on Chinese market, and Way Experience, an Italian production company that creates unique AR and VR immersive experiences for the culture and tourism sectors, today announced the launch of an innovative virtual tour featuring Leonardo da Vincis art on Alipay, the leading digital open platform in China.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230515005914/en/

A virtual museum launched by Italian companies on Alipay platform, exhibiting Leonardo da Vincis works displayed across different museums around the world (Photo: Business Wire)

The tour, with a 360-degree view powered by immersive 3D technologies, allows Chinese art lovers to see and learn about Leonardo da Vincis works that are displayed across different museums around the world into a single virtual museum. Italian designers and creatives took inspiration from European Renaissance architecture for the look and feel of the virtual museum. The virtual museum also includes a Chinese language guide of Leonardo da Vincis life and his most iconic paintings such as the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, as well as his inventions, such as the flying machine, collected from Codex Atlanticus.

Chinese art lovers can purchase the tour through a mini program, named Yunshang Mibao, on the Alipay platform.

The virtual museum on Alipay is the latest example of how technology is being used to bring history and culture to life for a new generation of consumers. By partnering with Alipay, Digital to Asia and Way Experience are able to offer Chinese art lovers a unique and immersive experience that would not be possible otherwise.

Emerging technologies give us the opportunity to create virtual places and travel inside them to discover humanity's greatest masterpieces. We are excited to partner with the Alipay platform to bring innovative sight-seeing experiences to Chinese consumers, said Marco Pizzoni, co-founder and CEO of Way Experience, Together with Digital to Asia, we created a virtual tour of Leonardo da Vincis masterpieces for Chinese art lovers in a Renaissance-like museum with inspiration drawn from different places that represent Italian history.

As an agency specializing in digital marketing strategies for Asian markets, we always stay ahead of the curve. Given mobile-savvy Chinese consumers open attitude towards new and innovative experiences, we have been working with Italian partner Way Experience and leading platform Alipay for the past several months to provide users with a Leonard da Vinci themed virtual tour that they have never experienced before, said Giuliana Zagarella, General Manager of Digital to Asia. Alipays deep connection with users and the availability of various digital tools on the platform make it the perfect platform partner for us in China.

Digital technology is making it possible for people to transcend the limitations of time and space and experience different cultures and art from all over the world. As a platform, Alipay is committed to supporting businesses to better engage with digital savvy audiences, said Nicole Wang, Alipays digital solution expert for the museum industry.

The culture and tourism industries are becoming increasingly digital, with companies using more digital solutions to create new experiences for customers. According to a survey by Accenture, senior travel industry executives believe that technology is becoming more important in developing long-term business success1.

By the end of 2022, more than 2,000 museums have been using the Alipay platform to improve their digital operations and connect with museum enthusiasts, particularly younger, mobile-savvy generations. These museums leverage digital tools and services offered on Alipay, such as mini-programs, lifestyle accounts, live streaming, and blockchain-based digital collectibles to improve engagement with visitors.

According to OECDs Tourism Trends and Policies report in 20222, Digital technologies present wide-reaching opportunities to facilitate increased reach to consumers, productivity, and the transition to a more sustainable and inclusive future, delivering benefits to micro and small businesses and local communities as well as to visitors.

About Way Experience

Founded in 2019, Way Experience is an Italian production company that creates unique AR and VR immersive experiences for the culture and tourism sectors. Way Experience comes up with, produces and shares innovative projects designed for the general public through both phygital experiences and full digital products. We are a team of digital creatives, storytellers and virtual artists whose mission is sharing culture, knowledge and beauty through disruptive experiences that enrich everyone who lives them.

About Digital to Asia (Branding Records Group)

Digital to Asia is a digital marketing agency founded in 2017 that supports European Brands in promoting products and services towards Chinese customers. Digital to Asia designs digital marketing strategies for Asian markets with significant and measurable results, starting from market analysis, defining sales and communications strategies and searching for suitable Chinese partners to develop online sales and brand promotions. Moreover, Digital to Asia is expert on travel marketing, with the aim to guide Chinese customers discover European attractions while ensuring the most amazing lifestyle and luxury shopping experiences.

About Alipay

In the digital era, Alipay has evolved from a trusted payment tool to an open platform that connects businesses, institutions, service providers, and other partners with consumers. Alipay enables partners from various industries to offer safe and convenient payment options. It also enables partners to communicate and deliver different digital services to their customers in China through Alipay mini programs, lifestyle accounts and other tools. The Alipay platform has connected over 80 million businesses with more than one billion consumers.

____________________________

1 https://www.accenture.com/content/dam/accenture/final/industry/travel/document/Travel-Technology-Vision-2022.pdf

2 https://www.oecd.org/cfe/tourism/oecd-tourism-trends-and-policies-20767773.htm

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230515005914/en/

Bell Wang

[email protected]

Source: Alipay
DALLAS & FORT WORTH, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Mouser Electronics, Inc., the New Product Introduction (NPI) leader empowering innovation, invites design engineers to visit its exhibit at Embedded Vision Summit, May 2224 at the Santa Clara (California) Convention Center. Embedded Vision Summit is the premier conference for innovators incorporating computer vision and edge AI in products.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230515005045/en/

Mouser invites design engineers to visit its exhibit at Embedded Vision Summit, May 2224 at the Santa Clara (California) Convention Center. (Photo: Business Wire)

Embedded Vision Summit offers Mouser a perfect opportunity to engage with our design engineer customers and talk about solutions our 1,200-plus manufacturer brands can provide, said Kevin Hess, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Mouser Electronics. We are also excited to discuss the many technical resources that Mouser offers to help speed design.

Visitors to the Mouser booth 203 can learn more about Mousers award-winning Empowering Innovation Together series, featuring podcasts discussing the hottest engineering topics impacting engineering design. Mouser representatives will also be available to discuss Mouser's informative eBooks, newsletters, and new product emails as well as the Methods technology and solutions journal, a valuable source of design information that provides exclusive information on prototype development that every design engineer needs to drive new levels of innovation. Visitors can also enter for a chance to win a set of Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700.

Embedded Vision Summit attracts a global audience of technology professionals from companies developing computer vision and edge AI-enabled products including embedded systems, cloud solutions and mobile applications. The Summit offers four tracks for engineers, business executives, newcomers and experts, ensuring attendees get an experience tailored to their needs. The three days of the event include 90+ sessions on embedded vision and deep learning techniques and technologies, keynote and general session presentations by industry luminaries, and live demos of the latest enabling technologies.

To learn more about Embedded Vision Summit 2023, visit https://info.mouser.com/Embedded-Vision-summit/.

For more Mouser news, visit https://www.mouser.com/newsroom/.

As a global authorized distributor, Mouser offers the worlds widest selection of the newest semiconductors and electronic components  in stock and ready to ship. Mousers customers can expect 100% certified, genuine products that are fully traceable from each of its manufacturer partners. To help speed customers designs, Mousers website hosts an extensive library of technical resources, including a Technical Resource Center, along with product data sheets, supplier-specific reference designs, application notes, technical design information, engineering tools and other helpful information.

Engineers can stay abreast of todays exciting product, technology and application news through Mousers complimentary e-newsletter. Mousers email news and reference subscriptions are customizable to the unique and changing project needs of customers and subscribers. No other distributor gives engineers this much customization and control over the information they receive. Learn about emerging technologies, product trends and more by signing up today at https://sub.info.mouser.com/subscriber/.

About Mouser Electronics

Mouser Electronics, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is an authorized semiconductor and electronic component distributor focused on New Product Introductions from its leading manufacturer partners. Serving the global electronic design engineer and buyer community, the global distributor's website, mouser.com, is available in multiple languages and currencies and features more than 6.8 million products from over 1,200 manufacturer brands. Mouser offers 27 support locations worldwide to provide best-in-class customer service in local language, currency and time zone. The distributor ships to over 650,000 customers in 223 countries/territories from its 1 million-square-foot, state-of-the-art distribution facilities in the Dallas, Texas, metro area. For more information, visit https://www.mouser.com/.

Trademarks

Mouser and Mouser Electronics are registered trademarks of Mouser Electronics, Inc. All other products, logos, and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230515005045/en/

For further information, contact:

Kevin Hess, Mouser Electronics

Senior Vice President of Marketing

+1 (817) 804-3833

[email protected]

For press inquiries, contact:

Kelly DeGarmo, Mouser Electronics

Manager, Corporate Communications and Media Relations

+1 (817) 804-7764

[email protected]

Source: Mouser Electronics, Inc.
SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Juniper Networks (NYSE: JNPR), a leader in secure, AI-driven networks, today announced that effectively immediately, Jean English has been named Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. Ms. English will lead an award-winning global marketing organization that is highly data-driven, results-oriented, ROI-focused and plays a strategic role in Junipers growth.

Juniper has experienced unprecedented growth across all business verticals in recent years as customers increasingly look to cloud-delivered, AI-driven and secure solutions to power their strategic evolution toward delivering better digital experiences. Ms. English joins Juniper with a strong track record of successfully building holistic data-driven marketing strategies to scale enterprise growth and transform AI and cloud companies as they aim to enter new market segments and reinvent their brands.

I am excited and honored to join Juniper Networks and the leadership team at this pivotal moment in the companys growth. Juniper is reinventing networking with their game-changing AI technology that simplifies networks and delivers seamless end-user experiences. I look forward to applying my expertise in cloud, security and infrastructure to scale growth and help customers deliver network experiences that transform how people connect, work and live.

- Jean English, SVP & Chief Marketing Officer, Juniper Networks

English brings more than 20 years of marketing leadership in the technology sector. Prior to Juniper, Ms. English served as SVP and CMO of NetApp, CMO at Palo Alto Networks, Global Vice President of Marketing for IBM Cloud and, most recently, CMO at Armis Security. Ms. English has also held international leadership roles, including CMO of IBM Asia Pacific located in Singapore.

Jean is an exceptional marketing leader with a proven track record of delivering business results. She is a great addition to our team and will help further strengthen our position as the clear leader in experience-first networking and help scale Junipers next chapter of growth.

- Manoj Leelanivas, EVP & Chief Operating Officer, Juniper Networks

About Juniper Networks

Juniper Networks is dedicated to dramatically simplifying network operations and driving superior experiences for end users. Our solutions deliver industry-leading insight, automation, security and AI to drive real business results. We believe that powering connections will bring us closer together while empowering us all to solve the worlds greatest challenges of well-being, sustainability and equality. Additional information can be found at Juniper Networks (www.juniper.net) or connect with Juniper on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Juniper Networks, the Juniper Networks logo, Juniper, Junos, and other trademarks listed here are registered trademarks of Juniper Networks, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516005149/en/

Leslie Moore

Chief Communications Officer,

Juniper Networks

[email protected]

Source: Juniper Networks
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- KBRA affirms the issuer and senior unsecured debt ratings of A for Petershill Partners Inc. ("Petershill Delaware"), a wholly owned issuing entity of Petershill Partners PLC (PHP or the firm). PHP has guaranteed a $500 million private placement of senior unsecured notes issued by Petershill Delaware. The rating Outlook is Stable.

Key Credit Considerations

PHPs credit profile benefits from a management team of highly regarded industry experts combined with support from Goldman Sachs Asset Management ("GSAM"). Management has constructed a sizeable and diverse portfolio of high performing asset managers. A focus on private equity, real assets, and private credit has resulted in compelling growth, durable fund structures, predictable management fees, and the opportunity to share in considerable carry and investment gains over time. PHP benefits from more diversification by fund, vintage, and strategy when compared to a typical mid-sized manager. PHPs margins and revenue durability are considerably enhanced by structural protections and debt/EBITDA is expected to be managed at conservative levels. Given the resiliency of PHPs cash flow generation, interest coverage is projected to remain quite comfortable even in a stress scenario. Balance sheet lever- age is low with an ample amount of shareholders equity.

The Petershill Group is a long-established leader in providing growth capital to, and partnering with, independent alternative asset managers (partner firms). PHP is managed by GSAM whose Petershill team has been operating since 2007. In October 2021, PHPs initial public offering (IPO) achieved a permanent capital base to fund development of partner firms, acquisitions, and other growth initiatives. The establishment of a separate corporation will be instrumental in further building the Petershill brand. PHP is 76% owned by funds managed by Goldman Sachs with a free float of 24%. As part of the IPO, PHP entered into a seven-year operator agreement with GSAM, which renews annually after seven years. PHPs corporate governance is strengthened by a fully independent board with extensive asset management and financial sector experience.

Rating Sensitivities

Given the Stable ratings Outlook, an upgrade is not expected over the next one to two-year time frame. Over the medium term, there is meaningful potential for an upgrade if management achieves growth and diversification plans, maintains leverage metrics within conservative levels, and continues to generate higher levels of operating cash flow over time. Pressure on ratings could ensue in the event of an unforeseen decline in partner firm AUM overtime or other financial issues which result in lower fee generation and cash flow. That said, KBRA recognizes the resiliency of the firm to a more challenging environment. Materially higher-than-expected leverage could negatively affect ratings.

To access ratings and relevant documents, click here.

Disclosures

A description of all substantially material sources that were used to prepare the credit rating and information on the methodology(ies) (inclusive of any material models and sensitivity analyses of the relevant key rating assumptions, as applicable) used in determining the credit rating is available in the Information Disclosure Form(s) located here.

Information on the meaning of each rating category can be located here.

Further disclosures relating to this rating action are available in the Information Disclosure Form(s) referenced above. Additional information regarding KBRA policies, methodologies, rating scales and disclosures are available at www.kbra.com.

About KBRA

Kroll Bond Rating Agency, LLC (KBRA) is a full-service credit rating agency registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as an NRSRO. Kroll Bond Rating Agency Europe Limited is registered as a CRA with the European Securities and Markets Authority. Kroll Bond Rating Agency UK Limited is registered as a CRA with the UK Financial Conduct Authority. In addition, KBRA is designated as a designated rating organization by the Ontario Securities Commission for issuers of asset-backed securities to file a short form prospectus or shelf prospectus. KBRA is also recognized by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners as a Credit Rating Provider.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516005876/en/

Analytical Contacts

Ashley Phillips, Managing Director (Lead Analyst)

+1 (301) 969-3185

[email protected]

Joanna Drobnik, CFA, Senior Director

+353 1 588 1250

[email protected]

Joe Scott, Senior Managing Director (Rating Committee Chair)

+1 (646) 731-2438

[email protected]

Business Development Contact

Constantine Schidlovsky, Senior Director

+1 (646) 731-1338

[email protected]

Source: Kroll Bond Rating Agency, LLC
Firm Looks to Expand Via M&A Opportunities

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Dynasty Financial Partners today announced that Welcy Capital Advisors has joined the Dynasty Network. Welcy is the most recent independent advisory firm to leverage Dynasty Financial Partners industry-leading platform of technology-enabled wealth management solutions and business services for financial advisory firms.

Headquartered in Miami, Florida, Welcy Capital Advisors is a wealth management firm with expansive wealth management knowledge across all asset classes catering to international clients. The firms specialty and expertise focuses on the Latin American market and are well-versed in navigating new rules, requirements, and restrictions in the international trading space. The firm has two advisors: Nicolas Zalles, and Philip Henriquez.

We believe partnering with Dynasty Financial Partners will bring a user-friendly platform that will allow us to onboard financial advisors quickly and seamlessly, commented Jaime Sosa, founder of Welcy Capital Advisors. Our strategy is to grow Welcy Capital by adding like-minded advisors focused on the Latin American market.

The firm works with international and high-net-worth clients on portfolio construction, advising on individual securities, and managing specialized funds that invest in niche markets throughout the Americas.

Welcy Capital Advisors is interested in pursuing M&A opportunities with advisors in the Miami-metropolitan area and looking to expand in more Latin American countries in the future. The firm currently services clients from Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay, Panama, Costa Rica, Curacao, and the U.S.

Shirl Penney, CEO of Dynasty Financial Partners, said, We are honored to welcome the Welcy Capital Advisors team to the Dynasty community. We expect to see Welcy Capital Advisors grow quickly both organically and inorganically, as they will be a premium choice for advisors with international high-net-worth clients seeking partnership, professionalism, and integrity.

About the name Welcy: Previously called Principle Asset Management, the founding partners decided to rename their firm Welcy Capital Advisors to represent the three pillars they consider foundational in their service to their clients: wellness, wealth, and legacy.

Welcy Capital Advisors have selected Charles Schwab for custody. For more information, please visit welcycap.com.

Bios

Jaime Sosa

Chairman

Jaime Sosa holds a Bachelor in Business Administration with a Major in Finance from University of Texas, at Austin, Texas and a Master in Business Administration from Duke University. He has more than 30 years of experience in banking, investments and markets holding positions in different brokers dealers and banks such as American Securities, and Banistmo Securities Inc., where he was the Chief Executive Officer for many years.

Nowadays, Mr. Sosa is the CEO of Prival Group that includes: Prival Bank and Prival Bank Costa Rica, and Acerta Compania de Seguros. Mr. Sosa also serves in the board of Grupo Prival and most of its subsidiaries. He has also served on the boards of the Panama Stock Exchange.

Carlos A Zalles

Board Member

Mr. Zalles is currently a board member at Welcy Capital Advisors, and since 1999 has been Chairman and Founder of LWPartners, a group of offshore financial service companies with a presence in several Latin American countries. From 1995 through 1999, he was a founding partner and Managing Director of Andino Capital Markets, where he was responsible for Asset Management, as well as trading and distribution of Latin American securities. From 1987 through 1995, he was one of the founders of Vestcorp Partners, where he developed and managed the stock exchange trading and brokerage services of the firm throughout Latin America.

From 1980 through 1987, he held various positions at Bank of America, his last one was as Vice President and Senior Credit Officer in Mexico and Venezuela, running the banks problem loan portfolio for the Corporate Banking Group and the Financial Asset Group. From 1975 through 1980, he held several positions at American Security Bank in Washington D.C., becoming Vice President and Head of Latin America. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Georgetown University and completed additional graduate studies in finance at George Washington University. Mr. Zalles has been actively involved in various committees of the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University.

Nicolas Zalles

Chief Investment Officer

Mr. Nicolas Zalles is currently the Chief Investment Officer of Welcy Capital Advisors. From 2014 to 2021 he was Portfolio Manager at LW Investment Management USA for the Latin America Opportunities Fund and all the SMAs at the firm. Prior to that, Mr. Zalles worked at Biscayne Americas with his last role being Head Trader and Portfolio Manager from 2009 to 2014. Nicolas studied at Bryant University and holds a Bachelor's in International Business with a concentration in Finance and a minor in Economics.

Philip Henriquez

Board Member

Mr. Henriquez is currently a board member at Welcy Capital Advisors. He also acts as CEO of LW Investment Management, Ltd. He joined LW Investment Management Ltd. as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner in March 2016 and supervises the asset management activities. Mr. Henriquez has 35 years of experience in the financial services sector having served as a top executive in various firms. He was a member of the Executive Committees for different companies of Mercantil Servicios Financieros as well as Global Manager of Corporate and Investment Banking. Other responsibilities included the Corporate, Institutional, and Financial Institutions Banking Business in Latin America and the United States. Previous positions include Country Head for Mercantil Servicios Financieros in Panama (Mercantil Bank, Mercantil Seguros, and Mercantil Capital Markets), President of Mercantil Merinvest, and Board member of Mercantil Servicios Financieros, Mercantil Seguros, Mercantil Banco, and Mercantil Commercebank Holding Corporation.

He has also been president of Citibank Venezuela, Citigroup Venezuela Corporate Country Officer, Global Wholesale Banking Executive Vice-President, member of the Board of Directors of Banco Venezuela - Grupo Santander, President of Valores Santander Casa de Bolsa, and Corporate Bank Manager of Banco Exterior. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Ceramica Carabobo, BanCaribe Banco Universal. He has been part of the Board of Directors of the Venezuelan Council for Investment Promotion  CONAPRI, VenAmCham, the Venezuelan Institute of Finance Executives (IVEF), the Venezuelan Diabetic Foundation, the National Banking Council of Venezuela, the Caracas Stock Exchange, the National Art Gallery, and the Ideas Foundation. Mr. Henriquez received a degree in Economics from the Universidad Catolica Andres Bello in Caracas, Venezuela, and holds an MBA from Columbia University in New York, USA.

About Dynasty

Dynasty is a provider of technology-enabled wealth management solutions and business services for financial advisory firms primarily focused on serving high net worth and ultra-high net worth clients. Dynasty provides access to a comprehensive platform of software and technology tools, business services and holistic investment management capabilities through an open-architecture platform delivered via a suite of proprietary and third-party technologies. Dynastys technology, tools and services provide advisory firms the supported independence to launch their business, scale their operations and grow their firms  both organically and inorganically  while also allowing them to be more focused on and better equipped to serve their clients. Dynastys platform and offering have won multiple awards in recent years.

For more than a decade, Dynasty has championed the benefits of independent wealth management for high net worth and ultra-high net worth clients and has contributed to the movement of assets from traditional brokerage channels to the independent channels of wealth management. As Dynasty is becoming a recognized industry leader, Dynasty has differentiated itself by developing competitive strengths, including a deep understanding of and strong relationship with its clients, a comprehensive offering of services and technology-enabled solutions, the ability to leverage its size and breadth to invest, the flexibility and seamlessness enabled by a modular technology solution, the entrepreneurial culture and experienced and committed management team. Dynasty is committed to continually growing its business by facilitating existing advisory firm clients growth, onboarding new clients, increasing the clients use of its broader capabilities, launching additional solutions and carrying out complementary acquisitions.

For more information, please visit www.dynastyfinancialpartners.com.

Also visit Dynasty on social media:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dynasty-financial-partners

Twitter: @DynastyFP

Youtube: http://bit.ly/1MKXhC8

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516005284/en/

Sally Cates

[email protected]

646-704-4500

Source: Dynasty Financial Partners
The female-produced and directed documentary showcases the power of women in conservation

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Good things come in trees. Forest of Hope, an eye-opening documentary that highlights women leaders in forest conservation, was screened at the 17th Dallas International Film Festival earlier this month. Executive produced by iconic beauty brand Mary Kay in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, the short film tells the story of Angelica Torres, leader of Mujeres Unidas Para La Conservacion de Laguna de Sanchez, and a group of female entrepreneurs as they combat environmental challenges in the area surrounding Monterrey, Mexico.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516005766/en/

Forest of Hope, an eye-opening documentary, highlights women leaders in forest conservation, and was written, directed, and produced by women. (Credit: Mary Kay Inc.)

Forest of Hope takes viewers to a small mountain town, surrounded by Cumbres National Park, a natural reserve known as The Lungs of the Region. Fires and clear-cutting have destroyed over 30% of the local forestand other ecological disasters, such as hurricanes, flooding, and water supply issues, remain a constant threat.

The film, which was written, directed, and produced by an all-female team, has also been screened at the North Dakota Environmental Rights Film Festival, Hot Springs International Womens Film Festival, Green Film Festival, and La Femme International Film Festival.

Forest of Hope marks the latest occasion where Mary Kay, a leader in corporate sustainability, has shined light on the issue of tree conservation. Recently, the brand announced the completion of a 69-acre reforestation project to revitalize Floridas Econfina Creek Wildlife Management Area in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation. Mary Kay has supported large-scale reforestation projects around the world including the United States, Brazil, China, Germany, Ireland, Peru, and Madagascar. Through its partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, Mary Kay has planted 1.3 million trees and continues to work toward future impact.

Forest of Hope was a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with the amazing woman at the center of the documentaryAngelica Torres, said Cris Graves, Forest of Hopes director. In telling her story, we were able to touch on several important issues: the importance of family and community, protecting and preserving the environment, and female empowerment. At 71 years young, Angelica proves that youre never too old to make a difference in this world.

Mary Kay has supported other women-directed and produced environmental documentaries such as Guardians of the Gulf, an eye-opening documentary that explores the tumultuous relationship between the Gulf of Mexico and the conservationists determined to protect it.

For decades, Mary Kay has demonstrated a commitment to conservation and nature-based solutions. Mary Kay has supported conservation projects, on land and below water, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy and the Arbor Day Foundation to drive impact in critical areas such as reforestation and ocean conservation.

About Mary Kay

Then. Now. Always. One of the original glass ceiling breakers, Mary Kay Ash founded her dream beauty brand in Texas in 1963 with one goal: to enrich womens lives. That dream has blossomed into a global company with millions of independent sales force members in more than 35 countries. For 60 years, the Mary Kay opportunity has empowered women to define their own futures through education, mentorship, advocacy, and innovation. Mary Kay is dedicated to investing in the science behind beauty and manufacturing cutting-edge skincare, color cosmetics, nutritional supplements, and fragrances. Mary Kay believes in preserving our planet for future generations, protecting women impacted by cancer and domestic abuse, and encouraging youth to follow their dreams. Learn more at marykayglobal.com, find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, or follow us on Twitter.

About DIFF

Through curation of the broadest range of expression through film, DIFF is the regions most powerfully inclusive and equitable platform for diverse, emerging and underrepresented voices. The Dallas International Film Festival (DIFF) is the signature program of our organization, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established as Dallas Film Society, Inc. in 2006 by people who believe passionately in the art and magic of film. Since its founding, DIFF has screened more than 2,500 widely diverse new films from more than 50 countries, provided more than $1.1 million in awards, and hosted more than 100,000 filmgoers and filmmakers.

DIFF exists to celebrate films and their impact on society, honor filmmakers and recognize their contribution enhancing both the creative community and the city of Dallas, provide leadership in film education, and celebrate excellence in the art of film. Through a variety of year-round screenings, educational programs, community partnerships, and festivals, DIFF raises awareness of the worlds most approachable and inclusive art form. More information is available at www.dallasfilm.org.

About The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our worlds toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable. Working in 79 countries and territories, we use a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit www.nature.org or follow @nature_press on Twitter.

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Mary Kay Inc.

Corporate Communications

marykay.com/newsroom

972.687.5332 or [email protected]

Source: Mary Kay Inc.
Second annual Merrimack Teacher Survey polled nearly 1,200 US-based public school teachers

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A newly released study shines a spotlight on a pressing crisis facing American education: Only 46% of current public K-12 educators would be fairly or very likely to advise their younger selves to choose teaching again and more than a third (35%) are considering leaving the profession altogether. This is according to the 2023 Merrimack College Teacher Survey, which was conducted by the Winston School of Education and Social Policy at Merrimack College, in partnership with the nonprofit, nonpartisan EdWeek Research Center.

While the survey paints a dark picture overall for American public K-12 education, there are areas that have seen notable improvements since last years study. The percentage of teachers who are very satisfied with their jobs has nearly doubled to 20%, and the percentage of teachers considering leaving the profession within the next two years has dropped from 44% to 35%. Additionally, more teachers now report feeling respected by the public and being treated as professionals than in last years study.

Despite these positive trends, most teachers still would not advise their younger selves to pursue the profession, and measures of teacher autonomy remain stagnant. The survey highlights the ongoing impact of the pandemic on mental health, with 42% of teachers reporting their mental health and wellness negatively affects their work.

While this should serve as a flashing red light to educational policymakers, the survey also provides insights into strategies that educational administrators and policymakers can employ to address this, said Dean Deborah Margolis. By prioritizing teacher mental health and wellbeing, and taking steps to build teacher morale, academic leaders can help create a healthier and happier school environment and retain more of their teachers.

The survey provides clear guidance about how these learnings can be incorporated into teacher and school administrative programs. According to the study, About 1 in 3 teachers say their principals provide some or a lot of concrete support for teacher mental health and wellness. But just 1 in 10 teachers whose mental health is having a very negative impact on their work say the same.

The study specifically surveyed teachers on steps that schools or districts could take to support their mental well-being. The most frequently cited responses were:

A pay raise or bonus to reduce financial stress (67%)

Smaller class sizes (62%)

More/better support for student discipline-related issues (62%)

Fewer administrative burdens associated with meetings and paperwork (57%)

More acknowledgement of good work/hard work/successes (54%)

This study has given districts the kind of concrete insights that they can use to support their teachers and improve their retention, said Associate Dean Russell Olwell. With this survey, we wanted to go beyond just highlighting the challenges, and start looking at how we can leverage this work to support educators and educational leaders. He added, As a result of what we are seeing in K-12 schools, Merrimack College has launched several new programs to address teacher and student wellness, including coursework in mental health first aid, social emotional learning for educators, and a wellness professional development series through the Merrimack Institute for New Teacher Support.

The survey, which was administered between January 15-25 of this year, collected responses from 1,178 K-12 public school teachers in the United States, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3% at a 95% confidence level.

The full survey can be viewed here.

About the Winston School of Education and Social Policy at Merrimack College

Merrimacks Winston School of Education and Social Policy strives to transform the field of teacher preparation and retention by providing national thought leadership and research, yielding valuable insights to educators and policymakers in todays complex and evolving K-12 educational environment.

One of only two Catholic Augustinian colleges in the U.S. and one of the fastest growing institutions in the country, Merrimack College is a private institution with approximately 5,500 undergraduate, continuing education and graduate students from 34 states and 36 countries. Through the schools of liberal arts, science and engineering, nursing and health sciences, education and social policy, and business the College offers more than 100 career-focused programs taught by faculty who are passionate about their subjects. Merrimacks mission to enlighten minds, engage hearts and empower lives is a rich part of the student and academic experience and guides the Colleges commitment to supporting communities. Merrimack is a Masters Colleges & Universities/Medium Programs institution in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education and a top 40 ranked institution by U.S. News & World Report.

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Media:

Colin Murphy

[email protected]

413-233-8856

Source: Merrimack College
GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Metals Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: MTAL.U):

Subscription Agreement totaling US$35 million executed for the PIPE relating to the CSA Mine acquisition from multiple institutions, including a large Australian fund which has anchored the PIPE, alongside MACs existing global anchors.

PIPE Subscription Agreements now totaling approximately US$175 million executed, well above the targeted minimum PIPE raise of $126 million.

Update

Metals Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: MTAL.U) (MAC, and/or the Company) today announced that it has entered into additional Subscription Agreements totaling $35 million at a purchase price of $10.00 per share in a private placement to be consummated concurrently with the consummation of the Business Combination. The executed Subscription Agreements now total approximately $175 million, surpassing MAC's initial fundraising target of $126 million.

This comes on the back of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) declaring effective the Registration Statement on Form F-4 (the Registration Statement) for the proposed business combination to acquire the CSA Mine (the Business Combination) on May 11, 2023.

MAC is mailing the definitive proxy statement/prospectus to shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 5, 2023.

MAC will hold its Extraordinary General Meeting (the Special Meeting) of its shareholders to vote on the approval and adoption of the Business Combination on June 5, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time at the offices of Paul Hastings LLP located at 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166, and via a virtual meeting at https://central.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/ MTAL2023SM. MAC shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 5, 2023 are entitled to attend and vote at the Special Meeting.

The Business Combination is expected to close shortly after shareholder approval at the Special Meeting, subject to the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions.

"The successful $35M of additional PIPE executions showcase strong investor support, solidifying our confidence in the transaction." stated Mick McMullen, CEO of MAC. "We deeply appreciate their trust and eagerly anticipate continued support from our fellow shareholders as we move forward together. We encourage MAC shareholders to support the Business Combination.

Advisors

Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (Citi) is serving as financial advisor and Squire Patton Boggs and Paul Hastings LLP are serving as legal advisors to MAC. Citi, Canaccord Genuity and Ashanti Capital have been engaged as placement agents in connection with the PIPE.

Further Information

Additional information about the proposed transaction, including a form of the Subscription Agreement, will be included in a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by MAC with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov.

INVESTMENT IN ANY SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SEC OR ANY OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITY NOR HAS ANY AUTHORITY PASSED UPON OR ENDORSED THE MERITS OF THE OFFERING OR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

About Metals Acquisition Corp.

MAC was formed as a blank check company for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. MAC is led by Mick McMullen (Chief Executive Officer), Jaco Crouse (Chief Financial Officer) and Dan Vujcic (Chief Development Officer). The Company is focused on green-economy metals and mining businesses in high quality, stable jurisdictions.

Important Information About the Proposed Business Combination and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed business combination, MAC has caused to be filed a Registration Statement on Form F-4, including a definitive proxy statement/prospectus with the SEC. MAC's shareholders and other interested persons are advised to read the definitive proxy statement/prospectus as well as other documents filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed business combination, as these materials will contain important information about CSA, MAC, and the proposed business combination. The definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials for the proposed business combination are being mailed to shareholders of MAC as of May 5, 2023, the record date for voting on, among other things, the proposed business combination. Shareholders are also able to obtain copies of the definitive proxy statement/prospectus, and other documents filed with the SEC that will be incorporated by reference therein, without charge, once available, at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, the websites referenced in this communication is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this communication.

Participants in the Solicitation

MAC and its directors and executive officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from MAC's shareholders with respect to the business combination. MAC shareholders and other interested persons may obtain, without charge, more detailed information regarding the directors and officers of MAC in MACs final prospectus filed with the SEC on July 30, 2021 in connection with MACs initial public offering and in MACs other periodic and current reports filed with the SEC. Information regarding the persons who may, under SEC rules, be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies to MACs shareholders in connection with the proposed business combination is set forth in the definitive proxy statement/prospectus for the proposed business combination. Additional information regarding the interests of participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed business combination is included in the definitive proxy statement/prospectus that MAC filed with the SEC.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements. MACs actual results may differ from expectations, estimates, and projections and, consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as expect, estimate, project, budget, forecast, anticipate, intend, plan, may, will, could, should, believes, predicts, potential, continue, and similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify such forward- looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, MACs expectations with respect to future performance of the CSA Mine and anticipated financial impacts and other effects of the proposed business combination, the satisfaction of the closing conditions to the proposed transaction and the timing of the completion of the proposed transaction. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Most of these factors are outside MACs control and are difficult to predict. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: the occurrence of any event, change, or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Share Sale Agreement dated as of March 17, 2022, and as further amended by the Share Sale Agreement Side Letter, dated as of April 21, 2023 (as amended by the Deed of Consent and Covenant dated as of November 22, 2022 (the Share Sale Agreement); the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against MAC following the announcement of the Share Sale Agreement; the inability to complete the proposed transaction, including due to failure to obtain financing, approval of the shareholders of MAC, certain regulatory approvals, or satisfy other conditions to closing in the Share Sale Agreement; the occurrence of any event, change, or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the Share Sale Agreement, or could otherwise cause the transaction to fail to close MACs inability to secure the expecting financing for the consideration under the Share Sale Agreement; the inability to obtain or maintain the listing of MACs shares following the proposed transaction; the risk that the proposed transaction disrupts current plans and operations as a result of the announcement and consummation of the proposed business combination; the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the proposed business combination, which may be affected by, among other things; the supply and demand for copper; the future price of copper; the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of production, capital expenditures and requirements for additional capital; cash flow provided by operating activities; unanticipated reclamation expenses; claims and limitations on insurance coverage; the uncertainty in mineral resource estimates; the uncertainty in geological, metallurgical and geotechnical studies and opinions; infrastructure risks; and dependence on key management personnel and executive officers; and other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in the final prospectus of MAC for its initial public offering and the definitive proxy statement/prospectus relating to the proposed business combination that MAC filed with the SEC, including those under Risk Factors therein, and in MACs other filings with the SEC. MAC cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. MAC cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. MAC does not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

More information on potential factors that could affect MACs or CSA Mines financial results is included from time to time in MACs public reports filed with the SEC, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K as well as the definitive proxy statement/prospectus MAC filed with the SEC in connection with MACs solicitation of proxies for the meeting of shareholders to be held to approve, among other things, the proposed business combination. If any of these risks materialize or MACs assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that MAC does not presently know, or that MAC currently believes are immaterial, that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect MACs expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this communication. MAC anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause its assessments to change. However, while MAC may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, MAC specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, except as required by law. These forward- looking statements should not be relied upon as representing MACs assessment as of any date subsequent to the date of this communication. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements.

No Offer or Solicitation

This press release shall not constitute a solicitation of a proxy, consent, or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the proposed business combination. This press release shall also not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any states or jurisdictions in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or an exemption therefrom.

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Mick McMullen

Chief Executive Officer

Metals Acquisition Corp.

+1 (817) 698-9901

[email protected]

Dan Vujcic

Chief Development Officer

Metals Acquisition Corp.

+61 451 634 120

[email protected]

Source: Metals Acquisition Limited
LAKE MARY, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A new consortium, formed by Mitsubishi Power Americas, Inc. and engineering company CONSAG, has signed an agreement with Portocem Geracao de Energia S.A. for the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) of the Portocem Thermoelectric Power Plant (UTE Portocem) in Brazil. The start of the projects construction was marked with a groundbreaking ceremony on May 5th, 2023.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516005281/en/

Image of the site where the Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) will be chartered by Portocem and permanently moored within the basin of the Port of Pecem. (Credit: Complexo do Pecem)

Portocem Geracao de Energia S.A. was the biggest winner of the first Power Capacity Reserve Auction in Brazil, held in December 2021, to contract power for the National Interconnected System (SIN).

Per the agreement, Mitsubishi Power will supply four M501JAC enhanced air-cooled gas turbines while CONSAG will be responsible for supplying the balance of plant (BoP), utilities, civil works, assembly, and commissioning of the plant as well as the implementation of transmission lines and substations supplying the BoP.

The four state-of-the-art M501JAC gas turbines will operate in simple cycle at UTE Portocem providing much needed generation capacity in Brazil.

UTE Portocem represents Mitsubishi Powers third advanced class gas turbine project in Brazil over the past six years, establishing a strong track record of success in the country.

UTE Portocem will be one of the largest power plants ever built in Latin America and will boast 1.6 gigawatts (GW) of installed capacity. The project is designed to provide reliable energy to the national grid in Brazil, supplying much-needed additional capacity to back the existing reliance on intermittent energy coming from renewable sources. UTE Portocem will be constructed in the Pecem Industrial and Port Complex, located in the metropolitan region of Fortaleza.

The UTE Portocem power plant is a historic project for Brazil, allowing for an efficient energy transition and ensuring the reliability of the national electrical system. We are proud to participate in this project and also to maintain market leadership in this segment, said Eric Shigetomi, Vice President of Sales for South America at Mitsubishi Power Americas.

We are happy with this partnership. Portocem has selected state-of-the-art technology by choosing Mitsubishi Power and a construction company with extensive experience in building this type of project  CONSAG, said Ronan Dias, CEO of Portocem. Together, they will help us transform the region into an important natural gas hub in Latin America, attracting several other sustainable investments.

The construction of the Portocem Thermoelectric Power Plant in partnership with Portocem and Mitsubishi Power is an important milestone in the history of CONSAG, reinforcing the Group's position as a major player in the energy and infrastructure sector in Brazil and worldwide. We appreciate the trust and wish much success in the implementation and operation of this venture, adds Daniel Breanza, Business Director at CONSAG.

A 6 km transmission line will connect the plant to the National Interconnected System (SIN), through the Pecem 2 substation. A Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) will be chartered by Portocem and permanently moored within the basin of the Port of Pecem. The development is being designed to have power generation capacity readily available to dispatch at times when the electrical system needs extra reinforcement to meet demand peaks, according to dispatch decisions by the National System Operator (ONS).

About Mitsubishi Power Americas, Inc.

Mitsubishi Power Americas, Inc. (Mitsubishi Power) headquartered in Lake Mary, Florida, employs more than 2,500 power generation, energy storage, and digital solutions experts and professionals. Our employees are focused on empowering customers to affordably and reliably combat climate change while also advancing human prosperity throughout North, Central, and South America. Mitsubishi Powers power generation solutions include gas, steam, and aero-derivative turbines; power trains and power islands; geothermal systems; PV solar project development; environmental controls; and services. Energy storage solutions include green hydrogen, battery energy storage systems, and services. Mitsubishi Power also offers intelligent solutions that use artificial intelligence to enable autonomous operation of power plants. Mitsubishi Power is a power solutions brand of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI). Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, MHI is one of the worlds leading heavy machinery manufacturers with engineering and manufacturing businesses spanning energy, infrastructure, transport, aerospace, and defense. For more information, visit the Mitsubishi Power Americas website and follow us on LinkedIn.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516005281/en/

Christa Reichhardt

Mitsubishi Power Americas

+1 407-484-5599

[email protected]

Source: Mitsubishi Power Americas, Inc.
DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Phoenix House Texas (PHT) is pleased to express our gratitude to the sponsors and attendees of our recent luncheon event, held on Monday, May 8th at the Dallas Country Club. The event was a great success, bringing together community members to raise awareness about the critical need for substance abuse and mental health services for today's youth.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230515005729/en/

Connie and Denny Carreker, Hill A. Feinberg, and Drew Dutton unite at the 2023 Phoenix House Texas Luncheon, raising awareness for vital substance abuse and mental health services. (Photo: Business Wire)

As we highlighted during the event, drug overdose deaths have become the leading cause of death for all Americans under the age of 50. The recent surge in adolescent deaths from drug overdoses, which increased by 130% in the past three years, has made PHT's work more important than ever. We remain steadfastly dedicated to providing affordable, high-quality treatment services to individuals struggling with substance abuse and co-occurring mental health issues.

The event was also an opportunity for us to honor Hill A. Feinberg with the 2023 Phoenix Forward Award, recognizing his remarkable contributions to the community and unwavering support of PHT. Through his visionary leadership, PHT is building awareness to remove the stigma surrounding individuals seeking help for substance use and mental health disorders. Drew Dutton, PHT CEO, also addressed attendees, discussing the current state of drug addiction and its impact on Texas.

The 2023 Phoenix House Texas Luncheon was made possible through the generous support of community leaders such as Connie and Denny Carreker, Kathy and Harlan Crow, The Arnold Companies, Bank of America, Renee and Hill Feinberg and Hilltop Securities. Their sponsorship helped make the event an afternoon of inspiration and education about the importance of substance abuse and mental health services in our communities.

Phoenix House Texas provides a continuum of care addressing the long-term nature of recovery through a wide range of services in substance use prevention and education programs, along with high-quality behavioral healthcare treatment for substance use disorders and related mental health conditions to teenagers who need help, regardless of their ability to pay. We are proud to represent two of only five treatment providers that take Medicaid for adolescent boys and girls in Texas with residential treatment centers located in Dallas and Austin, Texas. For more information about our programs and services, please visit our website at www.phoenixhousetx.org.

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Regina Fonts Morris

[email protected]

214-616-8436

Source: Phoenix House Texas
TOKYO, May 16 (Xinhua) -- The Japanese government on Tuesday endorsed seven major power companies' plans to raise household electricity prices from June.

The government, at a meeting of related cabinet ministers, approved the screening standards on the sizes of rate hikes, compiled by the industry ministry late last month.

The price hikes range from around 15 percent to 40 percent, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told a news conference.

The increased electricity rates are expected to be implemented on June 1 after authorizations are given by the industry ministry.

Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said, "We recalculated the rates after carefully considering the latest fuel prices and other factors."

The seven power utilities including Tokyo Electric Power Company had applied for hikes in their regulated household rates, stating that their balance sheets are suffering due to soaring prices of natural gas used in thermal power generation. 
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE: PHM) announced today that experienced industry veteran Matthew Koart has been named as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Koart replaces John Chadwick who retired effective April 21, 2023. Koart will join the company on May 18, 2023.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516005820/en/

Matthew Koart. (Photo: Business Wire)

With almost 30 years of residential real estate experience, Matt will be an outstanding addition to PulteGroups leadership team, said PulteGroup President and CEO Ryan Marshall. He has extensive expertise in both new home construction and land acquisition, entitlement and development, having run his own land company for the past decade after having served as CEO of Shapell Industries, a multi-billion dollar home builder and diversified real estate company.

Matt is an exceptional leader who will further develop our high-performing homebuilding operations and play an integral role in maintaining our culture of doing the right thing, caring for our customers, focusing on quality, and being a company people are proud to work for, added Marshall.

Since 2011, Koart has been President of Koart Residential, Inc., a company he founded that was engaged in all facets of residential real estate acquisition, entitlement, development and construction, including supplying entitled and developed lots to the production homebuilding industry. Prior to founding his own company, Koart was CEO of Shapell Industries, a California-based diversified real estate company involved in both residential and commercial construction. From 1996 to 2008, Koart spent 12 years with PulteGroup, advancing through a series of leadership roles serving as a division, region and area president. He earned both a BS and Juris Doctor from the University of Southern California.

I am thrilled to rejoin the exceptional team at PulteGroup and look forward to working with Ryan and the homebuilding team to advance the companys strategic priorities of expanding operations, assembling a more efficient land pipeline and delivering high returns over the housing cycle, said Koart. This is a company and team I admire and I look forward to getting to work.

About PulteGroup

PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE: PHM), based in Atlanta, Georgia, is one of Americas largest homebuilding companies with operations in more than 40 markets throughout the country. Through its brand portfolio that includes Centex, Pulte Homes, Del Webb, DiVosta Homes, American West and John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods, the company is one of the industrys most versatile homebuilders able to meet the needs of multiple buyer groups and respond to changing consumer demand. PulteGroups purpose is building incredible places where people can live their dreams.

For more information about PulteGroup, Inc. and PulteGroup brands, go to pultegroup.com; pulte.com; centex.com; delwebb.com; divosta.com; jwhomes.com; and americanwesthomes.com. Follow PulteGroup, Inc. on Twitter: @PulteGroupNews.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516005820/en/

Company Contact

Investors: Jim Zeumer

(404) 978-6434

Email: [email protected]

Source: PulteGroup, Inc.
ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated (NYSE: RGA) will host a conference for institutional investors and analysts at The St. Regis in New York City on Thursday, June 15, 2023, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Eastern time.

The presentation materials and a live audio webcast will be accessible at www.rgare.com under the Investors tab the morning of the event. A recording of the audio webcast will be made available and posted to the website after the event. Webcast viewers are encouraged to visit the website at least 15 minutes prior to the presentation to download and install any necessary software. Presentation slides will be available at www.rgare.com, through the link on the Investors tab.

About RGA

Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated (NYSE: RGA) is a global industry leader specializing in life and health reinsurance and financial solutions that help clients effectively manage risk and optimize capital. Founded in 1973, RGA celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2023. Over the past five decades, RGA has become one of the worlds largest and most respected reinsurers and is listed among Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies. The global organization is guided by a fundamental purpose: to make financial protection accessible to all. RGA is widely recognized for superior risk management and underwriting expertise, innovative product design, and dedicated client focus. RGA serves clients and partners in key markets around the world and has approximately $3.4 trillion of life reinsurance in force and assets of $89.1 billion as of March 31, 2023. To learn more about RGA and its businesses, visit www.rgare.com. Follow RGA on LinkedIn and Facebook.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516005084/en/

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Lynn Phillips

Vice President, Corporate Communications

RGA

636-736-2351

[email protected]

Lizzie Curry

Director, Public Relations

RGA

636-736-8521

[email protected]

Jeff Hopson

Senior Vice President, Investor Relations

RGA

636-736-2068

[email protected]

Source: Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated
Appoints Jeffrey D. Lawrence to Its Board of Directors

Agrees to Add One Additional Mutually Agreed Director With Restaurant Operations Experience

Company to Engage Operational Consulting Firm and Enhance Corporate Governance

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Shake Shack Inc. (Shake Shack or the Company) (NYSE: SHAK) today announced that it has entered a cooperation agreement (the Cooperation Agreement) with Engaged Capital, LLC (Engaged Capital). As part of the Cooperation Agreement, Shake Shack appointed Jeffrey D. Lawrence to its Board as an independent director, effective immediately. The Company will also work with Engaged Capital to identify an additional mutually agreed upon independent director to appoint to the Shake Shack Board with restaurant operations experience. The Company also agreed to take other actions that both the Company and Engaged Capital believe are in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

Randy Garutti, Shake Shacks CEO, commented, We appreciate our constructive dialogue with Engaged Capital and believe the appointment of Jeff and another new director will benefit our Company and stockholders. We are executing our strategic plan and share Engaged Capitals view that Shake Shack can drive additional profit growth. We look forward to continuing to increase stockholder value.

Lawrence, former CFO of Dominos Pizza Inc., brings strong financial management, business operations, and transformation expertise from leading restaurant and consumer-facing companies. While at Dominos, he guided the companys digital transformation and international expansion. Lawrence currently serves as CFO of technology company ShiftKey.

Jeff is a seasoned leader in the restaurant industry, and we are excited to welcome him to the Board, said Danny Meyer, Chairman of the Board. It became clear that Jeff is an ideal addition to our Board after an extensive search that began in January 2023 led by the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee of the Board. Given his expertise in scaled operations, digital and international expansion, as well as his strong financial leadership experience, we believe he will be able to make immediate and impactful contributions to Shake Shack. I am also pleased that we reached an agreement with Engaged Capital, one of our largest stockholders, that I believe will further our mutual goal of enhancing stockholder value.

Pursuant to the Cooperation Agreement, Shake Shack has agreed to retain a consulting firm to support its ongoing operational initiatives to improve restaurant execution, cost structure and profitability, and Danny Meyer and certain of his affiliates have agreed to step down their director designation rights over time.

We are pleased to have aligned with the Board on a constructive path forward to helping Shake Shack achieve its potential. Due to its strong brand, elevated product and uplifting guest experience, Shake Shack has a unique opportunity for substantial profitable growth. Jeff and an additional director with expertise successfully scaling profitable restaurant concepts will be tremendous additions to the Board as the company continues to improve the guest experience, Shack and company profitability and returns on capital, commented Glenn W. Welling, Founder and Chief Investment Officer at Engaged Capital.

"I am honored to join the Board of such an outstanding global brand, a brand whose mission to Stand for Something Good resonates strongly with me. I have long admired Shake Shack and could not be more excited to partner with Danny, Randy and the rest of the team to continue to build real and sustainable value for all of our important stakeholders, said Jeff Lawrence.

Engaged Capital has agreed to abide by certain customary standstill and voting commitments in connection with the Cooperation Agreement and will support the Boards full slate of directors at the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The agreement will be filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as an exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8-K.

Jeffrey Lawrence Bio

Jeffrey (Jeff) D. Lawrence has more than 25 years of leadership experience with particular expertise in the consumer retail and restaurant industries globally as well as in digital and technological transformations, franchising and financial strategy. Mr. Lawrence is currently the Chief Financial Officer of ShiftKey, a technology-enabled marketplace connecting licensed professionals to the future of work. Mr. Lawrence previously served as Chief Financial Officer of FIGS, Inc., where he led its successful initial public offering and partnered to grow significant shareholder value during his tenure. Mr. Lawrence previously spent more than 20 years at Dominos Pizza, Inc., the leader in the global pizza industry, including five years as Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Lawrence was instrumental in Dominos successful initial public offering, then the largest restaurant IPO ever, as well as the ground-breaking turnaround of the brand including the technological transformation, global expansion and dramatic increase in store level profitability, all of which led to best-in-class shareholder returns for more than a decade. Mr. Lawrence previously served on the Board of Directors of Dominos master franchisee in China. Mr. Lawrence began his career in public accounting and is a certified public accountant (registered status) in the State of Michigan. Mr. Lawrence holds an MBA with High Distinction from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan as well as a BBA (summa cum laude) from Wayne State University.

About Shake Shack

Shake Shack serves elevated versions of American classics using only the best ingredients. Its known for its delicious made-to-order Angus beef burgers, crispy chicken, hand-spun milkshakes, house-made lemonades, beer, wine, and more. With its high-quality food at a great value, warm hospitality, and a commitment to crafting uplifting experiences, Shake Shack quickly became a cult-brand with widespread appeal. Shake Shacks purpose is to Stand For Something Good, from its premium ingredients and employee development, to its inspiring designs and deep community investment. Since the original Shack opened in 2004 in NYCs Madison Square Park, the Company has expanded to over 450 locations systemwide, including over 290 in 32 U.S. States and the District of Columbia, and over 150 international locations across London, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Mexico City, Istanbul, Dubai, Tokyo, Seoul and more.

About Engaged Capital

Engaged Capital, LLC (Engaged Capital) is an investment advisor with a private equity-like investing style in the U.S. public equity markets. Engaged Capital seeks to help build sustainable businesses that create long-term stockholder value by engaging with and bringing an owners perspective to the managements and boards of undervalued public companies and working with them to unlock the embedded value within their businesses. Engaged Capital focuses on delivering superior, long-term, risk-adjusted returns for its limited partners. Engaged Capital was established in 2012 and is based in Newport Beach, California. Learn more at www.engagedcapital.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230515005926/en/

Media:

Meg Davis, Shake Shack

[email protected]

or

Lex Suvanto or Nora Flaherty, Edelman Smithfield

[email protected]

Investor Relations:

Melissa Calandruccio, ICR

Michelle Michalski, ICR

(844) SHACK-04 (844-742-2504)

[email protected]

Source: Shake Shack Inc.

Source: Shake Shack Inc.
Significant capital to expand Brands aesthetic skin care clinics nationwide and accelerate development of leading product line

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Skin Pharm, a modern beauty brand and leading aesthetic skin care clinic, today announced the company has received a minority investment from Prelude Growth Partners, a female-founded growth equity firm focused on high-potential, fast-growing consumer brands. The fifteen-million-dollar investment will fund the Companys aggressive clinic expansion plans nationwide and contribute to ongoing product development. Founder and CEO Maegan Griffin, a board-certified nurse practitioner, successful entrepreneur and industry pioneer, will continue to lead the Company, guiding brand expansion, vision and culture.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516005185/en/

Maegan Griffin, Nurse Practitioner, Founder and CEO of Skin Pharm (Photo: Haley Terrell)

Skin Pharm is a leading provider of aesthetic skin care services with five operational clinics across Nashville, TN; Atlanta, GA; Charlotte, NC; Dallas, TX; and Franklin, TN  with Houston, TX and Alpharetta, GA slated to open in the coming months. These funds will aid in the continued expansion of the Companys brick-and-mortar clinics across the country, creating over 100 new jobs nationwide as a result.

Since launching its own skin care line in 2018, the Brands award-winning product portfolio has grown to nearly 20 products. Prelude Growth Partners financial investment will also allow the Company to expand its product line and continue product development.

With combined plastic surgery and dermatology experience, Maegan Griffin founded Skin Pharm in 2017, aiming to create a clinic environment and product line she sought as a patient herself. Griffin has steadily built a team of advanced practice providers  all nurse practitioners and physician assistants  to carry out her vision of innovative work in aesthetic skin care and facial rejuvenation techniques, offering patients a balanced approach to beauty and anti-aging. Griffin has effectively transitioned from ICU nurse to beauty mogul, with five operating clinics (and counting) and a thoughtful, effective product line with a cult-like following among celebrities, notable talent and influencers.

With this strategic partnership, we will be able to achieve our dream of expanding Skin Pharm to every major city and continue to stay at the forefront of an ever-changing industry  all while maintaining the same quality of care our patients and customers deserve, says Maegan Griffin, Founder and CEO of Skin Pharm. We are excited to work with a female-founded growth partner that shares our passion for supporting women in business.

Skin Pharm has created a uniquely differentiated, trusted brand with a quality of experience and loyalty which is unrivaled in the industry, adds Neda Daneshzadeh, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Prelude Growth. We see long-term secular growth in this category driven by consumers seeking efficacy and results. We look forward to working closely together with Maegan and her team as they execute on their strategic growth plan.

For more information about Skin Pharm, to book an appointment or shop their product line, visit skinpharm.com and follow @skin_pharm on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.

About Skin Pharm

Founded by nurse practitioner Maegan Griffin in 2017, Skin Pharm is a modern beauty brand offering in-clinic treatments and a clinical skin care line. Skin Pharm is headquartered in Nashville, TN and is a leading aesthetic skin care practice with clinics nationwide in Nashville, TN; Atlanta, GA; Charlotte, NC; Dallas, TX; and Franklin, TN. Skin Pharms advanced practice providers promote skin health and inspire confidence with custom treatment plans, product recommendations and natural, never-overdone results. The brands award-winning product line empowers customers to best care for their skin at home and has garnered attention from a loyal customer base across the country, including celebrities, influencers and professional athletes, among others. For more information on Skin Pharm, visit skinpharm.com and follow @skin_pharm on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.

About Prelude Growth Partners

Prelude Growth Partners is a growth equity firm that supports brands made for the new modern consumer. Prelude Growth partners with founders and CEOs to provide deep category experience, value-added operational support and a broad network to power the high potential, fast-growing consumer brands of tomorrow. Prelude Growth seeks to make investments of $10 million to $50 million in each company, across branded consumer categories including personal care, beauty, food & beverage, baby, pet, health & wellness and other consumer product, service and technology companies. Investments include: Naturium, Summer Fridays, Westman Atelier, MadeGood, Banza, Sol de Janeiro, Blueland, So Good So You, Bachan's, 8Greens, dpHUE and Fly By Jing. For additional information on Prelude Growth, please visit www.preludegrowth.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516005185/en/

FlyteVu

Brittany Rashkin

(561) 314-5359

[email protected]

Maggie Trabucco

(615) 587-4435

[email protected]

Source: Skin Pharm
GRAPEVINE, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Southland Holdings, Inc. (NYSE American: SLND and SLND WS) (Southland), a leading provider of specialized infrastructure construction services, today announced financial results for quarter ended March 31, 2023.

Revenue increased to $275 million, up 6% from $258 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022.

Gross profit margin of 6.9%, compared to 1.9% for the quarter ended March 31, 2022.

Operating income increased to $3.4 million, compared to an operating loss of $9.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022.

Net loss of $4.7 million, compared to a net loss of $13.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022.

Adjusted net loss of $1.5 million, or $(0.03) per share, compared to an adjusted net loss of $13.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022.(1)

Adjusted EBITDA increased to $12.7 million, compared to $1.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022. (1)

Backlog of $2.9 billion, up 43% compared to $2.0 billion as of March 31, 2022.

New awards of $170 million, compared to $41 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022.

(1) Please refer to Non-GAAP Measures and reconciliations for our Non-GAAP financial measures, including, Adjusted Net Loss, Adjusted Net Loss Per Share, and Adjusted EBITDA

Southlands President and Chief Executive Officer, Frank Renda, said, Our first quarter results for 2023 reflect a good start to the year, with revenue increasing by 6% and margins expanding from 1.9% to 6.9% from the prior year. We continue to see elevated demand for our services with limited competition as opportunities with funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act accelerate."

2023 First Quarter Results

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) Three Months Ended (Amounts in thousands except shares and per share data) March 31, 2023 March 31, 2022 Revenue $ 274,829 $ 258,486 Cost of construction 255,886 253,555 Gross profit 18,943 4,931 Selling, general, and administrative expenses 15,571 14,299 Operating income (loss) 3,372 (9,368 ) (Loss) gain on investments, net (32 ) 280 Other expense, net (2,599 ) (576 ) Interest expense (3,254 ) (1,967 ) Loss before income taxes (2,513 ) (11,631 ) Income tax expense 1,753 1,342 Net loss (4,266 ) (12,973 ) Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests 398 628 Net loss attributable to Southland Holdings Stockholders $ (4,664 ) $ (13,601 ) Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders Basic (1) $ (0.11 ) Diluted (1) $ (0.11 ) Weighted average shares outstanding Basic (1) 44,407,831 Diluted (1) 44,407,831

(1) The structure of Southlands historical common equity structure was in the form of membership percentages and no shares were issued. As such, reporting periods prior to the three months ended March 31, 2023 will not present share or per share data. Basic net loss per share is the same as diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders for the three months ended March 31, 2023, because the inclusion of potential shares of common stock would have been anti-dilutive for the period presented.

Revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2023, was $274.8 million, an increase of $16.3 million, or 6%, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2022.

Gross profit for the three months ended March 31, 2023, was $18.9 million, an increase of $14.0 million, or 284%, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2022. Our gross profit margin increased from 1.9% to 6.9% for the three months ended March 31, 2023.

Selling, general, and administrative costs for the three months ended March 31, 2023, were $15.6 million, an increase of $1.3 million, or 9%, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2022. The increase was driven by $1.0 million of expenses related to becoming a public company.

Segment Revenue

Three Months Ended (Amounts in thousands) March 31, 2023 March 31, 2022 % of Total % of Total Segment Revenue Revenue Revenue Revenue Civil $ 72,989 26.6 % $ 75,043 29.0 % Transportation 201,840 73.4 % 183,443 71.0 % Total revenue $ 274,829 100.0 % $ 258,486 100.0 %

Segment Gross Profit

Three Months Ended (Amounts in thousands) March 31, 2023 March 31, 2022 % of Segment % of Segment Segment Gross Profit Revenue Gross Profit Revenue Civil $ 8,766 12.0 % $ 6,967 9.3 % Transportation 10,177 5.0 % (2,036 ) (1.1 ) % Gross profit $ 18,943 6.9 % $ 4,931 1.9 %

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) As of (Amounts in thousands) March 31, 2023 December 31, 2022 Cash and cash equivalents $ 28,930 $ 57,915 Restricted cash 14,621 14,076 Accounts receivable, net 178,723 135,678 Retainage receivables 126,092 122,682 Contract assets 543,147 512,906 Other current assets 24,083 24,047 Total current assets 915,596 867,304 Property and equipment, net 108,857 114,084 Right-of-use assets 18,657 16,893 Investments - unconsolidated entities 116,920 113,724 Investments - limited liability companies 2,590 2,590 Investments - private equity 3,319 3,261 Goodwill 1,528 1,528 Intangible assets, net 2,057 2,218 Other noncurrent assets 3,391 3,703 Total noncurrent assets 257,319 258,001 Total assets 1,172,915 1,125,305 Accounts payable $ 166,203 $ 126,385 Retainage payable 34,828 33,677 Accrued liabilities 114,184 121,584 Current portion of long-term debt 52,718 46,322 Short-term lease liabilities 16,678 16,572 Contract liabilities 138,800 131,557 Total current liabilities 523,411 476,097 Long-term debt 242,669 227,278 Long-term lease liabilities 10,556 10,032 Deferred tax liabilities 2,878 3,392 Other noncurrent liabilities 119,981 48,622 Total long-term liabilities 376,084 289,324 Total liabilities 899,495 765,421 Noncontrolling interest 10,712 10,446 Members capital  327,614 Preferred stock  24,400 Common stock 8  APIC 269,436  Accumulated deficit (4,664 )  Accumulated other comprehensive income (2,072 ) (2,576 ) Total equity 273,420 359,884 Total liabilities and equity $ 1,172,915 $ 1,125,305

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (unaudited) Year Ended (Amounts in thousands) March 31, 2023 March 31, 2022 Cash flows from operating activities: Net loss $ (4,266 ) $ (12,973 ) Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities Depreciation and amortization 8,560 11,667 Deferred taxes (514 ) 63 Change in fair value of earnout liability 2,936  Gain on sale of assets (967 ) (251 ) Foreign currency remeasurement gain (5 ) (156 ) Earnings from equity method investments (3,242 ) (765 ) TZC Investment present value accretion (603 ) (580 ) Loss (gain) on trading securities, net 32 (280 ) Changes in assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable (49,278 ) (19,363 ) Contract assets (30,306 ) (3,029 ) Prepaid expenses and other current assets 119 2,602 ROU assets (1,764 ) (2,371 ) Accounts payable and accrued expenses 33,705 786 Contract liabilities 7,241 (12,247 ) Operating lease liabilities 1,820 2,347 Other 1,753 (3,137 ) Net cash used in operating activities (34,779 ) (37,687 ) Cash flows from investing activities: Purchase of fixed assets (1,166 ) (714 ) Proceeds from sale of fixed assets 1,295 521 Purchase of trading securities (81 )  Proceeds from the sale of trading securities  357 Capital contribution to investees  (1,000 ) Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 48 (836 ) Cash flows from financing activities: Borrowings on line of credit 3,000 30,000 Borrowings on notes payable 181 115 Payments on notes payable (12,382 ) (10,367 ) Advances from related parties (493 ) (247 ) Payments to related parties 6 1,252 Payments on finance lease (1,189 ) (2,088 ) Distributions (110 ) (1,542 ) Proceeds from merger of Legato II and Southland Holdings, LLC 17,088  Net cash provided by financing activities 6,101 17,123 Effect of exchange rate on cash 190 (401 ) Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash (28,440 ) (21,801 ) Beginning of period 71,991 111,242 End of period $ 43,551 $ 89,441 Supplemental cash flow information Cash paid for income taxes $ 87 $ 421 Cash paid for interest $ 3,230 $ 5,415 Non-cash investing and financing activities: Lease assets obtained in exchange for new leases $ 6,416 $ 6,894 Assets obtained in exchange for notes payable $ 2,299 $  Issuance of post-merger earn out shares 35,000  Dividend financed with notes payable $ 50,000 $ 

Adjusted Net Loss and Adjusted Net Loss Per Share Attributable to Common Stock Reconciliation Three Months Ended (Amounts in thousands except shares and per share data) March 31, 2023 March 31, 2022 Reconciliation of adjusted net loss attributable to common stock: Net loss attributable to common stock (GAAP as reported) $ (4,664 ) $ (13,601 ) Adjustments: Transaction related costs 1,035 - Contingent earnout consideration non-cash expense 2,936 - Income tax impact of adjustments (1) (774 ) - Adjusted net loss attributable to common stockholders $ (1,467 ) $ (13,601 ) Weighted average shares outstanding (2) Basic and diluted (2) 44,407,831 Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders (2) $ (0.11 ) Adjusted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders (2) $ (0.03 ) (1) The income tax impact of adjustments that are subject to tax is determined using the incremental statutory tax rates of the jurisdictions to which each adjustment relates for the respective periods. (2) The structure of Southlands historical common equity structure was in the form of membership percentages and no shares were issued. As such, reporting periods prior to the three months ended March 31, 2023 will not present share or per share data. Basic net loss per share is the same as diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders for the three months ended March 31, 2023, because the inclusion of potential shares of common stock would have been anti-dilutive for the period presented

Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation Three Months Ended (Amounts in thousands) March 31, 2023 March 31, 2022 Net loss $ (4,664 ) $ (13,601 ) Depreciation and amortization 8,560 11,667 Income taxes 1,753 1,342 Interest expense 3,254 1,967 Interest income (137 ) (11 ) Transaction related costs 1,035 - Contingent earnout consideration non-cash expense 2,936 - Adjusted EBITDA $ 12,737 $ 1,364

Backlog (Amounts in thousands) Backlog Balance December 31, 2022 $ 2,973,886 New contracts, change orders, and adjustments 170,070 Gross backlog 3,143,956 Less: contract revenue recognized in 2023 (282,122 ) Balance March 31, 2023 $ 2,861,834

Conference Call

Southland will host a conference call at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. The call may be accessed here, or at www.southlandholdings.com. Following the conference call, a replay will be available on Southlands website.

About Southland

Southland is a leading provider of specialized infrastructure construction services. With roots dating back to 1900, Southland and its subsidiaries form one of the largest infrastructure construction companies in North America, with experience throughout the world. The company serves the bridges, tunneling, communications, transportation and facilities, marine, steel structures, water and wastewater treatment, and water pipeline end markets. Southland is headquartered in Grapevine, Texas.

For more information, please visit Southlands website at www.southlandholdings.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release includes certain unaudited financial measures not presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), including but not limited to adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (Adjusted EBITDA), backlog, adjusted net loss, adjusted net loss per share and certain ratios and other metrics derived therefrom. Note that other companies may calculate these non-GAAP financial measures differently, and therefore such financial measures may not be directly comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Further, these non-GAAP financial measures are not measures of financial performance in accordance with GAAP and may exclude items that are significant in understanding and assessing financial results. Therefore, these measures should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to net income, cash flows from operations or other measures of profitability, liquidity or performance under GAAP. Southland believes that these non-GAAP measures of financial results provide useful information to management and investors regarding certain financial and business trends relating to Southlands financial condition and results of operations. Southland also believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide an additional tool for investors to use in evaluating ongoing operating results and trends. These non-GAAP financial measures are subject to inherent limitations as they reflect the exercise of judgments by management about which items of expense and income are excluded or included in determining these non-GAAP financial measures.

Please see the accompanying tables for reconciliations of the following non-GAAP financial measures for Southlands current and historical results: adjusted net loss per share attributable to common stock (a non-GAAP financial measure) to net loss per share attributable to common stock; and adjusted net loss attributable to common stock, and Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP financial measures) to net loss attributable to common stock.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains 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 are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on Southlands current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of Southlands business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of Southlands control. Southlands actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements.

Any forward-looking statement made by Southland in this press release is based only on information currently available to Southland and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Southland undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230515005825/en/

Cody Gallarda

EVP, Chief Financial Officer

[email protected]

Alex Murray

Corporate Development & Investor Relations

[email protected]

Source: Southland Holdings, Inc.
New York Citys most beloved cookie brand is the hottest franchise ticket in town with an A-list lineup of franchise advantages including showstopping unit economics

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Schmackarys, New York Citys award-winning cookie shop thats captured the hearts of Broadway stars and fans for the past 10 years, is giving franchisees the opportunity to own the brand sure to be the hottest ticket in their local town. The company plans to grow its national footprint to more than 500 units throughout the U.S.

Schmackarys has partnered with franchise development firm Fransmart, the global leaders in growing emerging concepts into successful national and international franchise brands, to launch a robust sales and marketing strategy to fuel the cookie companys national expansion.

Schmackarys proven business model and top line sales in excess of $2M make it the only real player in the highly-competitive cookie category, said Fransmart CEO Dan Rowe. "Crumbl paved the way for the next-generation cookie company and has given way to dozens of copycat cookie brands, but Schmackarys has cracked the cookie code and is the undisputed leader with some of the most incredible numbers Ive seen out of this size footprint not to mention an A-list lineup of celebrity fans backing the brand.

Schmackarys exceptional unit economics are powered by low startup costs, low square footage requirements, minimal labor, streamlined operations, strong sales per square foot, and a robust catering and delivery business that provides multiple revenue streams to investors.

Weve spent the past decade serving hordes of hungry cookie fans out of our tiny NY storefront and we're finally answering the call from enthusiasts everywhere to treat the rest of the world to Schmackarys, said founder Zachary Schmahl. We cant wait for franchisees throughout the U.S. to experience the endless lines of fans and ongoing demand once they get a taste of our incredible cookies.

Since opening in NYCs Theatre District in 2012, Schmackarys has earned critical acclaim for its world-famous Cookies of Broadway. The bite-sized NY flagship store cranks out more than 3,000 cookies daily to tourists, locals and Broadway stars clamoring for a bite of the citys most beloved baked good. With cookies like Caramel Apple Crisp, Maple Bacon and Buckeye Moonpie, Schmackarys has spent the last decade in the spotlight, earning rave reviews, awards and accolades from around the globe.

Schmackarys is currently vetting qualified multi-unit owners to bring the cookie company to their local market. Ideal franchisees have prior franchise experience and a passion for bringing delicious, homestyle cookies to the eager masses. Franchisees receive expert training from the experienced Schmackarys team, in addition to ongoing brand support throughout the opening process. Other franchise advantages include the brands coffee program which allows franchisees to generate revenue all day, affordable startup costs, low square footage requirements, and a robust catering and delivery business that provides multiple revenue streams to investors. Interested franchisees may submit inquiries and applications online at www.fransmart.com/schmackarys.

About Schmackarys

Schmackarys began in 2011 thanks to Zachary Schmahl  a boy from Nebraska who came to New York City with a showbiz dream. After charming his neighborhood with his delicious homemade cookies, Schmahl opened Schmackarys in Hells Kitchen, the heart of NYCs vibrant Broadway district. The brand was an immediate success, quickly becoming Broadways favorite cookie. After more than a decade of building a national network of fans and generating massive revenue, Schmahl has made the decision to expand the brand through franchising. Franchisees will receive hands-on training from the Schmackarys team, a business that generates revenue across several revenue streams, and a brand thats recognized worldwide for its charm and deliciousness. Schmackarys currently operates one corporate location in New York City, with the goal of expanding into the 50 biggest metropolitan areas in the country. For more information, visit www.schmackarys.com.

About Fransmart

As the leading franchise development firm in the country, Fransmart turns emerging restaurant concepts into successful national and global brands. Founded by Dan Rowe, the man who identified and grew brands such as Five Guys Burgers & Fries and QDOBA Mexican Grill from single unit businesses to the powerhouse chains they are today. Fransmarts current and past franchise development portfolio brands have opened more than 5,000 restaurants worldwide and facilitated franchise investments that have cumulatively generated 1 billion dollars in revenue to date. For more information, visit www.fransmart.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516005656/en/

Dan Sweatt

Fransmart

[email protected]

Source: Fransmart
PSSCRA Has Committed Over $40 Million in Support of 66 Innovators in Cancer Research in the Past Decade

Annual $5.25M Pershing Square Sohn Prize Awarded to Seven Innovators in the Greater New York Area to Empower High-Risk, High-Reward Cancer Research

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance today announced the seven winners of the 2023 Pershing Square Sohn Prize for Young Investigators in Cancer Research, awarded annually to cancer research scientists and physician-scientists based in the greater New York City area. The Prize empowers investigators early in their independent careers to pursue their most exciting research projects at a critical stage when traditional funding is lacking. Recipients receive $250,000 per year for three years, totaling $750,000 per awardee.

Over the past decade, the Alliance has awarded over $40 million to 66 scientists at 13 institutions in the greater New York City area to advance their research. With this funding, investigators have been able to launch their careers, do some of their boldest and most exciting work, and uncover novel biological pathways, tools, models, and potential therapeutic approaches. In addition to funding, the Alliance provides Prize winners with opportunities to present their work to scientific and business audiences to encourage collaboration and help bridge the gap between academia and industry.

What the Pershing Square Sohn Prize gave me was scientific freedom, which is perhaps the most important aspect of making novel discoveries, said Richard White, MD, PhD, a recipient of the 2017 Prize, physician-scientist, former Associate Member at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and now Professor at University of Oxford. Whereas many grant programs are very restricted in what they will support, this award builds in the unexpected avenues that we all take as scientists, and fully allows us to go where the data takes us. Sometimes that is far away from what we first proposed, and thats ok. Because of this, the Prize has played an instrumental role in my labs ability to make important and impactful discoveries in cancer.

The Alliance was a pivotal catapult to my early career and has led to pioneering work in a range of blood cancers, computational algorithms, and new therapeutic directions for engineered cellular therapies, remarked 2016 Prize winner Chris Mason, PhD, Professor of Physiology and Biophysics and Director of the WorldQuant Initiative for Quantitative Predication at Weill Cornell Medicine. Dr. Mason concluded his project in 2019 and has since then participated in application process as a member of the Scientific Review Council.

We started the prize in 2013 after realizing that the scientific research community faced a dramatic defunding of early-stage, novel cancer research which was starving humanity of important scientific breakthroughs, said The Pershing Square Foundation Co-Trustee Bill Ackman. Since then, we have been incredibly fortunate to partner with 66 early-career scientists as they have pursued exciting and important new work. We are committed to supporting the groundbreaking work of young scientists and are excited to see what the next decade will bring.

The winners of the 2023 Pershing Square Sohn Prize are:

Gilad Evrony, MD, PhD, New York University Grossman School of Medicine: The laboratory of Dr. Evrony strives to uncover when the first genetic mutations occur that later cause cancer, with a focus on mutations that occur many decades before cancer diagnosis during development. In his Prize-funded project, Dr. Evrony will develop a systematic approach to identify a tumors developmental mutations with a focus on glioblastoma, the most common and lethal brain cancer, and whether any of these mutations contributed to its onset. Through illuminating previously unexplored links between brain development and adult brain tumors, this work may enable new laboratory models, early detection, and treatments.

Benjamin Izar, MD, PhD, Columbia University Irving Medical Center: A medical oncologist, Dr. Izars lab looks at the intersection of cancer metastasis and immunology and tries to solve critical problems often seen in patients. His project pursues an understudied, difficult-to-treat, and common cause of cancer-related deaths: brain metastasis, especially from lung cancer. Dr. Izar aims to dissect the role of a genomic process called chromosomal instability driving metastasis to the brain and suppressing immune responseswhich he hypothesizes can create a vulnerability for cancer that can be leveraged therapeutically.

Marta Luksza, PhD, The Tisch Cancer Institute at Mount Sinai: A computational biologist interested in cancer evolution, Dr. Luksza uses approaches from machine learning and physics to develop a predictive model to describe the complex interactions of the evolving tumor and the immune system, particularly in response to a vaccine. The model will use data from mouse experiments and from cancer patients in clinical trials and focus on cancers that dont traditionally respond to immunotherapies. Using this powerful model, the Luksza lab aims to build a protocol for the design of personalized, effective, and safe anti-tumor vaccine therapies.

John Maciejowski, PhD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: Dr. Maciejowski and his lab work to understand how a cell's innate mechanism of protection against viruses is weaponized by cancer to create bursts of mutations in the cell. The Maciejowski lab recently discovered that one of the most common alterations detected in cancer genomes are mutations caused by the naturally occurring A3A enzymewhich normally protects against viral infectionand that A3A may operate in an unexpected manner by causing mutations in episodic bursts in a short period of time, rather than linearly over time. Through their Prize-funded project, they hope to uncover a new paradigm of genome instability in cancer, which could ultimately offer opportunities for the development of more effective tools and therapies.

Kyle K. Payne, PhD, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey: Dr. Payne and his lab focus on ovarian cancer, a lethal cancer with limited treatment options. Immunotherapeutic approaches have been unsuccessful as ovarian cancer cells have developed remarkable strategies to prevent the T cells of the adaptive immune system from eradicating tumor cells. The Payne lab identified a mutation in a gene associated with better outcomes in women with ovarian cancer that regulates lipid trafficking on the surfaces of immune T cells. Utilizing this information and by targeting these mechanisms, they aim to develop novel approaches to boost T cell activity and more effective immunotherapies.

David Simon, PhD, Weill Cornell Medicine: A neuroscientist by training, Dr. Simon and his lab looking at the role and activity of axonscable-like projections between cells of the nervous systemin the tumor microenvironment. His work takes the tools of neuroscience and directs them towards cancer biology, focusing on understanding how nervous system signaling in tumors contributes to cancer progression, particularly melanoma, and whether manipulation of nerve-tumor interactions can be harnessed for therapeutic benefit.

Xiaolei Su, PhD, Yale School of Medicine: The lab of Dr. Su aims to create a new cell weapon that adapts better and lives longer in the tumor environment, thus providing a more effective immunotherapy targeting solid tumors. While immune T cells have historically been favored in cell therapies, utilizing mast cellsanother type of immune cell that is found in tissues all through the bodymay be more advantageous, as these cells reside in tumor tissues and can repetitively release effectors to induce broad immune responses fighting against tumor growth. In his Prize-funded project, Dr. Su will design novel signaling receptors that activate mast cells to specifically kill solid tumors, using melanoma and colon cancer as models, with the goal to ultimately create a more effective cell therapy for broad types of solid tumors.

When we launched the Prize a decade ago, it was our mission to build a community of scientists who werent afraid to think big, ask the difficult questions, and tackle the toughest issues in cancer research, said Olivia Tournay Flatto, PhD, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance and President of The Pershing Square Foundation. The success of our grantees reflects the success of our program, and this years cohort of Prize winners adds to our community of inspiring and talented investigators. Their workfrom immunology to computational biology to neurologybrings us even closer to our ultimate goal of eradicating cancer.

The work to find new treatments and cures for cancer continues to be an urgent global health priority so we are heartened by the research approaches of this years Prize winners, said Evan Sohn, Vice President of the Sohn Conference Foundation. We are confident that with the passion, creativity, and insights weve seen from this group of scientists, they will make discoveries that will have a lasting impact for the patients for whom our Foundation fights.

As part of the selection process, the Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance relied on and benefitted from the guidance of a highly accomplished Prize Advisory Board and Scientific Review Council.

Prize Advisory Board members include: Jeanne B. Ackman, MD, Director, Thoracic MRI, Radiologist, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Assistant Professor, Harvard Medical School; Mikael Dolsten, MD, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer and President, Worldwide Research, Development, and Medical, Pfizer, Inc.; Allan Goodman, PhD, Chief Executive Officer, The Institute of International Education; Pablo Legorreta, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Royalty Pharma; Richard P. Lifton, MD, PhD, President, The Rockefeller University; Siddhartha Mukherjee, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Columbia University Medical Center, and Author of The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer and The Gene: An Intimate History; James E. Rothman, PhD, Sterling Professor of Cell Biology and Professor of Chemistry, Yale University and 2013 Nobel Prize Winner in Physiology or Medicine; Bruce Stillman, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory; Craig Thompson, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; and George D. Yancopoulos, MD, PhD, President and Chief Scientific Officer, Regeneron.

Scientific Review Council members include: Julio Aguirre-Ghiso, PhD; Iannis Aifantis, PhD ;Dafna Bar-Sagi, PhD; Emily Bernstein, PhD; Nina Bhardwaj, MD, PhD; John Blenis, PhD; Jef D. Boeke, PhD; Ali H. Brivanlou, PhD; Jacqueline Bromberg, MD, PhD; Ross Cagan, PhD; Andrea Califano, PhD; Lewis Cantley, PhD; Howard Y. Chang, MD, PhD; Moses V. Chao, PhD; Carlo M. Croce, MD; Riccardo Dalla-Favera, MD; Luis A. Diaz, MD; Olivier Elemento, PhD; Adolfo Ferrando, MD, PhD; Richard J. Gilbertson, MD, PhD; Richard I. Gregory, PhD; Clifford Hudis, MD, FACP; Ross Levine, MD; Dan R. Littman, MD, PhD; David C. Lyden, MD, PhD; Christopher Mason, PhD; Joan Massague, PhD; Christine Mayr, MD, PhD; Ramon Parsons, MD, PhD; Frank J. Rauscher, III, PhD; Danny Reinberg, PhD; David M. Sabatini, MD, PhD; Michel Sadelain, MD, PhD; Mihaela Skobe, PhD; David Tuveson, MD, PhD; Jedd D. Wolchok, MD, PhD.

Additional details about the Prize winners can be found on the PSSCRA website at https://psscra.org/.

About the Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance

The Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance was formed in 2013 by The Pershing Square Foundation, which has since committed more than $40 million to 66 scientists, in partnership with The Sohn Conference Foundation. The Alliance is dedicated to playing a catalytic role in accelerating cures for cancer by supporting innovative cancer research and by facilitating collaborations between academia and industry. Annually, the Alliance awards The Pershing Square Sohn Prize for Young Investigators in Cancer Research, which provides early-career, greater New York area-based scientists the freedom to take risks and pursue their boldest research at a stage when traditional funding is lacking. For more information, visit http://psscra.org/.

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Christy Hudson

[email protected]

Source: The Pershing Square Foundation
The improvements will enable ThinkData Works to integrate new types of data sources, including cloud and on-premises storage systems, widening options for data management to better integrate with hybrid cloud environments while ensuring significant cost and time savings for clients.

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ThinkData Works Inc., a leading data catalog provider, is introducing new platform improvements that support data virtualization from more than 40 data sources. This enhancement increases the number of data source integrations available on the ThinkData Works Catalog Platform, including native support for Snowflake, BigQuery, and other cloud warehouses, as well as Oracle, SQL Servers, mongoDB and streaming data sources like Kafka and Kinesis. By supporting integration with these data sources, ThinkData Works enables out-of-the-box data fabric capabilities for organizations with hybrid cloud environments.

According to recent research by Google, the majority of organizations deploy applications on multiple on-premises and cloud solutions, clearly indicating that hybrid-cloud and multi-cloud is a reality for modern business. ThinkData Works' new capabilities harmonize these environments through virtualization technology, allowing customers to deploy a data catalog that enables governance across an entire decentralized data ecosystem without requiring data asset migration. This approach ensures compliance and governance are maintained while creating visibility and streamlined data access across organizations without the need for custom connections to data sources.

With an increasing number of companies repatriating data from cloud to on-premises, this feature addresses concerns around ballooning cloud costs and complex migrations. Teams can easily connect to data in a standard way no matter where it resides, even facilitating data migration to or from the cloud.

"The idea that companies are migrating their data to a single cloud warehouse is a myth," said Bryan Smith, Co-founder and CEO of ThinkData Works. "These days it's much more likely that an average organization will have data stored in a number of different places, both cloud and on-premises, and they need a good way to manage, access, and report on this data quickly. We're excited to launch these new capabilities to our users, who know first hand how diverse a data environment can be."

Non-Invasive Data Governance is based on the idea that organizations can achieve appropriate levels of governance without a major lift-and-shift of their data," says Robert S. Seiner, President and Principal of KIK Consulting & Educational Services and the author of two books on Non-Invasive Data Governance. "By supporting data virtualization from essential data sources, ThinkData Works is helping companies with hybrid cloud environments put non-invasive data governance rules into practice."

Prospective customers can experience the power of the ThinkData Works data catalog platform first-hand through a new Free Trial offering, now available for a limited time.

About ThinkData Works

ThinkData Works unlocks the value of data to grow your business. Connect seamlessly to any source, drive critical insights, and deliver data while retaining visibility and control. Founded in 2014, ThinkData Works offers flexible data connections, an intuitive catalog interface, and secure tools to deliver data where it needs to be  inside or outside your organization. Purpose-built to handle the complexities of data variety, their unified cloud platform cuts overhead, fuels innovation, and drives revenue growth. For more, visit ThinkData Works on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and their website.

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Media inquiries:

Stephanie Yeoh

Talk Shop Media

[email protected]

Source: ThinkData Works Inc.
Trident Seafoods, Copper River Prince William Sound Marketing Association, Alaska Airlines and Chef Tom Douglas Partner to Bring the Prized Fish to Consumers

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today, the first King Salmon from Copper River, weighing 34 pounds, landed in Seattle on an Alaska Airlines flight direct from the pristine waters of Alaska, marking the beginning of what industry leaders expect to be an above-average run for the some of the most delectable salmon in the world. Representatives from Trident Seafoods, the Copper River Prince William Sound Marketing Association, Alaska Airlines, and Chef Tom Douglas were on-hand to greet the first of these prized fish.

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Trident Seafoods' Ali Turner, Analise Gonzales and Rick Isaacson with Seattle Chef Tom Douglas welcome the first fish from Copper River, kicking-off the Copper River King Salmon Run in front of the Alaska Airlines flight it flew in on, direct Alaska.

With 50 years of industry leadership, Trident Seafoods takes pride in distributing Copper River King Salmon, known for its delicious, rich taste and high content of omega-3s. Following Trident's commitment to fleet-to-fork processing, the salmon is delivered from Alaskan waters within 24-48 hours, directly to knowledgeable fishmongers, esteemed chefs, and renowned restaurants nationwide. This ensures consumers with discerning palates can experience the exceptional quality of Copper River salmon at its freshest, leading to unforgettable dining experiences.

We are very excited to bring in the first King Salmon from Copper River and are grateful for all the independent fishermen that continue to choose to be our partners and deliver the best quality and freshest fish to the world. Our history of partnership with Copper River goes back many years and we look forward to continuing working together in responsibly sharing the best from Alaska with the world, said Joe Bundrant, CEO of Trident Seafoods.

Consumers can find Copper River salmon in numerous restaurants and retailers, including in Chef Tom Douglas restaurants, where he will feature Copper River King Salmon in a mouthwatering dish at his Seattle restaurants, including Palace Kitchen, Carlie Room, Lola, Etta's, and Sea Town. A portion of proceeds from these dishes, from May 16-20, will be donated to the Ballard Food Bank, with Trident Seafoods matching the donation 100%.

Ive been cooking Copper River salmon for many years and this year I think its fitting to partner once again with Trident to support our community by donating proceeds to the Ballard Food Bank and supporting people in need, said Chef Tom Douglas.

Christa Hoover, the Executive Director of the Copper River Prince William Sound Marketing Association reflects, "As this momentous season launches, we are so pleased that were also celebrating our 40th Anniversary. Its been incredible to see and let people know how much the fishery has evolved and yet remains steadfastly committed to quality for the consumer."

To bring the fish to tables so quickly, its imperative to have immediate transportation from Alaska to the rest of the country.

"Alaska Air Cargo has a special partnership with the Alaska seafood industry, which is recognized worldwide for its sustainable fishing practices," said Adam Drouhard, managing director at Alaska Air Cargo. "Our cargo employees across more than 110 airports are working around the clock to ensure we deliver the first catch of wild Copper River salmon to market, often within 24 hours of being pulled from the water."

Copper River King Salmon is available now through June, at retailers and restaurants across the country.

About Trident Seafoods

Trident Seafoods is the largest vertically integrated seafood harvesting and processing company in North America. Trident is a privately held, 100 percent USA-owned company with global operations in 6 countries and serves customers in over 50 countries. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, (USA), Trident employs approximately 9,000 people worldwide each year and partners with over 5,400 independent fishermen and crewmembers. Species harvested and processed by Trident include virtually every commercial species of salmon, whitefish, and crab harvested in the North Pacific and Alaska. The global supply chain also includes cultured and wild species from a network of trusted sources worldwide.

Follow Trident on the Web at www.tridentseafoods.com or on social media on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube or LinkedIn

About Copper River Prince William Sound Marketing Association

Copper River Prince William Sound Marketing Association is a fisherman funded non-profit regional seafood development association, representing 560 independent small boat fishermen. Their task is to build consumer preference for seafood from the Copper River and Prince William Sound.

About Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines and our regional partners serve more than 120 destinations across the United States, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica and Mexico. We strive to be the most caring airline with award-winning customer service and an industry-leading loyalty program. As a member of the oneworld alliance, and with our additional global partners, our guests can travel to more than 1,000 destinations on more than 25 airlines while earning and redeeming miles on flights to locations around the world. Learn more about Alaska at news.alaskaair.com and follow @alaskaairnews for news and stories. Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group.

About Tom Douglas

Tom Douglas is an American executive chef, restaurateur, author, and radio talk show host, and winner of the 1994 James Beard Award for Best Northwest Chef. In 2012 he also won the James Beard Award as Best Restaurateur. In 2005, he appeared on an episode of the Food Network's Iron Chef America, in which he defeated Chef Masaharu Morimoto. For over 30 years has received many accolades recognizing his innovative role in defining Pacific Northwest cuisine. Through Douglas self-taught methodology he has mastered fresh, local ingredients and helped define the cuisine and restaurant industry to critics, audiences, and diners around the world.

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Alexis Telfer (Trident Seafoods, Corporate Communications)

[email protected]

Stefanie Moreland (Trident Seafoods, Corporate Spokesperson)

[email protected]

Source: Trident Seafoods
UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths (on screens) speaks via a video link at a Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, on May 15, 2023. Griffiths on Monday called for the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which allows the export of Ukrainian grain and other agricultural products from Black Sea ports. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

UNITED NATIONS, May 15 (Xinhua) -- UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths on Monday called for the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which allows the export of Ukrainian grain and other agricultural products from Black Sea ports.

Food exported under the initiative -- and food and fertilizer exports from Russia -- continue to make a crucial contribution to global food security as more than 30 million metric tons of cargo have been safely exported from Ukraine under the initiative, he told the Security Council in a briefing.

The exports include about 600,000 metric tons of wheat transported by the World Food Programme, in direct support of humanitarian operations in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Yemen, he said.

The latest Food and Agriculture Organization analysis indicates that global cereal prices have fallen by nearly 20 percent over the past 12 months. Last month, international wheat prices reached their lowest level since July 2021, driven in part by the continued movement of Ukrainian grain, and by large quantities available for export in Russia and other locations, said Griffiths.

"This is undeniable progress. But much more remains to be done. Predictable supplies for humanitarian food assistance operations continue to be required," he said via a video link from Geneva.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative refers to the export of Russian ammonia from Ukraine's Odessa port. But this has still not been realized. Over the past month, there has been a reduction in the volumes of exports moving out of Ukraine's Black Sea ports, due to challenging dynamics within the Joint Coordination Centre in Istanbul set up by the initiative, Griffiths noted.

"In recent weeks, and last week in particular, we have engaged in intensive discussions with the parties to the Black Sea Initiative, to secure agreement on its extension and the improvements needed for it to operate effectively and predictably," he said.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative was signed separately by Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul with Turkiye and the United Nations on July 22, 2022. The deal, initially in effect for 120 days, was extended in mid-November 2022 for another 120 days till March 18, 2023. At that point, Russia only agreed to extend the deal for a further 60 days, till May 18, 2023.

As a parallel agreement, Russia and the United Nations signed a memorandum of understanding on the facilitation of exports of Russian food and fertilizer.

A senior-level quadrilateral meeting was held last week in Istanbul, Turkiye, to discuss the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

Those efforts will continue over the coming days, said Griffiths.

"Continuation of the Black Sea Initiative is critically important, as is recommitment by the parties to its smooth and efficient operation. We will continue to call on all (parties) to meet their responsibilities as the world watches very closely," he said.

It is clear that the people of Ukraine and millions around the world can ill afford a continuation of the Ukraine crisis. More than ever, they need an end to hostilities and a political solution to end the conflict, he said. "I call on this council and all (UN) member states to support all efforts to bring an end to the carnage and destruction. In the meantime, the United Nations and its humanitarian partners remain committed to safeguarding the life and dignity of persons affected by the war and to the pursuit of peace -- today, tomorrow, and for as long as it takes."

The humanitarian operating environment remains complex and dangerous. Nonetheless, thanks to the courage of humanitarian workers, the United Nations and its partners continue to deliver life-saving assistance to front-line areas and elsewhere across Ukraine, said Griffiths.

Nearly 3.6 million people received humanitarian assistance in Ukraine in the first quarter of 2023. This includes people receiving cash assistance, food, health care and livelihood support. Around 43 inter-agency convoys have delivered supplies to around 280,000 people in front-line areas so far this year, with local partners conducting last-mile delivery and distribution, he said.

"It is imperative that we explore all options to reach civilians, wherever they are," he said. "Under international humanitarian law, all parties must allow the safe, rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need and must ensure that personnel have the freedom of movement required for their work. I urge the parties to reinforce and strengthen facilitation efforts so we can reach all civilians in need." 

UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths (on the screen) speaks via a video link at a Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, on May 15, 2023. Griffiths on Monday called for the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which allows the export of Ukrainian grain and other agricultural products from Black Sea ports. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)
Award recognizes top 500 faculty for teaching excellence

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- University of Phoenix is pleased to share the results of its annual Phoenix500 faculty awards, identifying the top 500 faculty for the year. The annual Phoenix500 Award is part of the Faculty Rewards & Recognition Program at the University of Phoenix and has been issued since 2020.

Our practitioner faculty bring hands-on experience and wisdom into the classroom for our students every day, states John Woods, Ph.D., provost and chief academic officer at University of Phoenix. The Phoenix500 is an opportunity to highlight their commitment to our students and recognize faculty across our programs for their commitment to providing an engaging learning experience.

The Phoenix500 honors the contributions of faculty across the universitys seven colleges: College of Business and Information Technology; College of Doctoral Studies; College of Education; College of General Studies; College of Health Professions; College of Nursing; and College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

Being selected for the Phoenix500 is truly an honor for me, states William Stewart, MBA, M.A.Ed., a full-time faculty member teaching in the College of General Studies at University of Phoenix.

A 2023 and 2022 Phoenix500 recipient, Stewart shares, This award is more about my students than myself as their success is the measure by which I determine how much of a positive impact I have on their learning experience and, in turn, their lives. Its affirming to see that I am making a real difference, upholding my students trust in me as their instructor, and playing a role in their hard work to improve the quality of their lives through education. The best part of earning the Phoenix500 award for me is seeing that my efforts are changing lives.

Faculty receiving the award must meet minimum eligibility requirements including being active and in good standing as a faculty member, earning Meets Expectations on all elements of their most recent Faculty Performance Evaluation (FPE) and facilitating four or more courses in the last 12 months as the primary instructor. Faculty award recipients also receive a cash award to reflect the appreciation for their outstanding work.

Learn more here about teaching opportunities at University of Phoenix.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix is continually innovating to help working adults enhance their careers in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, and Career Services for Life commitment help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu.

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Sharla Hooper

University of Phoenix

[email protected]

Source: University of Phoenix
Lindsay Campbell brings nearly 15 years of oil and gas experience, with a focus on methane regulation development and implementation in Alberta.

HOUSTON & CALGARY, Alberta--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Validere, a measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) SaaS company, welcomes Lindsay Campbell as Senior Advisor, Carbon Strategies. A former senior emissions specialist for the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER), Campbell joins Valideres Market Fundamentals Team  a group of experts from across academia, industry, and technology who help clients develop strategies and optimize measurement programs to meet operational and environmental goals.

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A former senior emissions specialist for the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER), Lindsay Campbell joins Validere as Senior Advisor, Carbon Strategies. (Graphic: Business Wire)

A licensed Professional Engineer, Campbell brings nearly 15 years of experience in the Alberta oil and gas sector. Prior to joining Validere, she served as a lead contributor for the AER on the development and implementation of methane emissions reduction requirements in Directive 060. Campbell also created a new regulatory process that enabled the deployment of innovative methane detection technologies at a scale never before realized in Alberta.

We are honored to welcome one of Albertas top experts in methane emissions regulations to the Validere team, says Nouman Ahmad, Validere Co-Founder and CEO. Having developed key requirements and processes for the AER, her deep experience will be invaluable in helping our clients navigate todays evolving regulatory landscape.

Prior to AER, Campbell worked in government relations for Encana (now Ovintiv), a major gas producer in Canada and the U.S. In this role, she evaluated the environmental and operational implications of emerging provincial and federal climate and air policies, as well as water and wetland policies. A graduate of the University of Alberta with a B.Sc. in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Campbell began her career working as an environmental engineer for Ecoventure, a consulting firm that focuses on reclamation and remediation in the oil and gas industry, which gave her the opportunity to evaluate oil and gas sites across the Duvernay and Montney formations and the Horn River Basin.

Emissions related data generation is growing at a rapid pace in response to evolving regulations, creating a critical need for more holistic data management, says Campbell. Having focused on these important issues throughout my career, I am thrilled to now work alongside such a talented group of experts at Validere to help prepare the industry for what lies ahead.

About Validere

Validere is a measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) SaaS company that helps energy organizations transform disconnected, incomplete data into clear and immediately actionable pathways to financial and environmental value. Over 50 of North Americas leading energy companies rely on Valideres technology and multidisciplinary experts to understand their physical and environmental commodities and navigate an increasingly complex environment with clarity and ease. Validere is on a mission to better human prosperity by making the energy supply chain efficient and sustainable. The company has offices in Houston, Calgary, and Toronto.

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Media:



Nicole Yager

Validere

[email protected]



Matthew Juul

Validere

[email protected]

Source: Validere
An aerial view shows a crude oil tanker at an oil terminal off Waidiao island in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, China January 4, 2023. China Daily via REUTERS

By Stephanie Kelly

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil futures dipped on Tuesday as weaker-than-expected economic data in China and the United States offset a forecast of higher global demand from the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Brent crude futures settled 32 cents lower to $74.91 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude edged down 25 cents to $70.86.

Both benchmarks rose more than 1% on Monday, reversing a three-session losing streak.

Weighing on prices on Tuesday was Chinese data showing industrial output and retail sales growth undershot forecasts in April, suggesting the world's second-largest economy lost momentum at the start of the second quarter.

However, an 18.9% year-on-year rise in China's oil refinery throughput in April to the second-highest level on record helped to keep a floor under crude prices.

"There has been a lot of concern about China's industrial numbers, but if you look at their actual demand numbers or refinery runs, they're knocking on the door of breaking records," said Phil Flynn, an analyst at Price Futures Group.

With refiners building stockpiles ahead of the summer travel season in the northern hemisphere, crude imports by China in May are moving towards 11 million barrels per day, versus 10.67 million bpd in April, Refinitiv Oil Research said.

China's June refinery intake is expected to grow by 1.5% month on month, data compiled from Wood Mackenzie showed.

U.S. data showed that retail sales increased less than expected in April, pointing to consumers feeling the pinch from rising prices and interest rates.

Richmond Federal Reserve President Thomas Barkin on Tuesday said he is "comfortable" with raising interest rates further if that is what is needed to lower inflation.

The IEA raised its forecast for global oil demand this year by 200,000 bpd to a record 102 million bpd. It said China's recovery after the lifting of COVID-19 curbs had surpassed expectations, with demand reaching a record 16 million bpd in March.

In another bullish development, the U.S. Department of Energy on Monday said it would buy 3 million barrels of crude oil for delivery in August in a move to begin refilling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

The SPR has been drawn down to its lowest level since 1983 after President Joe Biden's administration last year conducted the largest ever sale from the emergency stockpile of 180 million barrels, as part of a strategy to stabilize soaring oil markets and combat high pump prices in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Meanwhile, U.S. crude oil inventories rose by about 3.6 million barrels last week, according to market sources citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Tuesday. Government data on U.S. stockpiles is due on Wednesday. [API/S] [EIA/S]

Additionally, widespread fires in the Canadian province of Alberta have shuttered at least 319,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, representing 3.7% of Canada's production.

Global crude supplies could also tighten in the second half of the year as the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia, a group known as OPEC+, implement additional output cuts.

(Reporting by Stephanie Kelly in New York; additional reporting by Ahmad Ghaddar in London, Yuka Obayashi in Tokyo and Trixie Yap in Singapore; Editing by Paul Simao and Stephen Coates)
Crescent Point Energy Corp. (NYSE: CPG) advises that it has shut-in its Kaybob Duvernay production due to the ongoing Alberta wildfires. A portion of this production was recently reactivated in the prior week, however Crescent Point is temporarily shutting back-in the remainder of its 45,000 boe/d of production in the area as a precautionary measure due to changing wildfire conditions. No damage has been reported to the Company's assets.

Crescent Point continues to work with local officials, regulators, and industry partners to ensure everyone's safety in the area and plans to restart production once permitted to do so. The Company will provide another update to this evolving situation when appropriate.

Crescent Point continues to thank its staff, industry partners, emergency responders and firefighters for their hard work and dedication to protecting our communities.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CRESCENT POINT ENERGY, PLEASE CONTACT:

Shant Madian , Vice President, Capital Markets, or

Sarfraz Somani , Manager, Investor Relations

Telephone: (403) 693-0020 Toll-free (US and Canada ): 888-693-0020 Fax: (403) 693-0070

Address: Crescent Point Energy Corp. Suite 2000, 585 - 8th Avenue S.W. Calgary AB T2P 1G1

www.crescentpointenergy.com

Crescent Point shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CPG.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/crescent-point-energy-provides-further-update-on-alberta-wildfires-301826121.html

SOURCE Crescent Point Energy Corp.
Milestone Scientific Inc. (NYSE: MLSS), a leading developer of computerized drug delivery systems that provide painless and precise injections, today announced that it has commenced sales of CompuFlo Epidural disposables into The Pain and Rehabilitation Medical Group in Torrance, California. Adoption of the technology by this clinic follows a successful evaluation process by its founder, Dr. Fabian Proano, an interventional pain medicine physician, who is board-certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology in both anesthesiology and pain medicine.

Dr. Proano initially conducted eight cases using the CompuFlo Epidural system, in which he reported 100% success. The evaluation included Epidural Steroid Injection (ESI) procedures within the lumbar, thoracic and cervical thoracic junction of the spine.

Dr. Proano has over 25 years of experience in interventional pain management, regenerative medicine, and adult stem cell therapies. He specializes in performing precise image-guided spinal and joint injections. Dr. Proano is a member of numerous organizations including: The American Medical Association, American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, North American Spine Society, International Spine Injection Society and The North American Neuromodulation Society. Dr. Proano completed his undergraduate studies at Santa Clara University, and attended medical school at University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, Washington. His residency training was in Anesthesiology at Harbor/UCLA Medical Center. Dr. Proano also completed an advanced specialty fellowship in Interventional and Multidisciplinary Pain Management at UCLA Medical Center. Dr. Proano has also served as Medical Director of Pain Management at several hospitals.

Dr. Proano commented, Having evaluated Milestones CompuFlo System within my clinic, I can confidently state it has proven to be a valuable tool in helping navigate the challenging anatomical regions in the thoracic region and cervical thoracic junction. The system is easy to use and provides both audible and visual feedback, including real-time confirmation of epidural placement that enhances both the speed and safety of the procedure, thereby providing a better experience for the provider and patient.

About Milestone Scientific Inc.Milestone Scientific Inc. (MLSS), a technology-focused medical research and development company that patents, designs and develops innovative injection technologies and systems for medical, dental and cosmetic applications. Milestone Scientifics computer-controlled systems are designed to make injections precise, efficient and increase the overall patient comfort and safety. Their proprietary DPS Dynamic Pressure Sensing Technology systems is the platform to advance the development of next-generation devices, regulating flow rate and monitoring pressure from the tip of the needle, through platform extensions of subcutaneous drug delivery, including local anesthetic. To learn more, view the MLSS brand video or visit milestonescientific.com.

Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding the timing and financial impact of Milestone's ability to implement its business plan, expected revenues, timing of regulatory approvals and future success. These statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties and are based on assumptions involving judgments with respect to future economic, competitive and market conditions, future business decisions and regulatory developments, all of which are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of which are beyond Milestone's control. Some of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements are general economic conditions, failure to achieve expected revenue growth, changes in our operating expenses, adverse patent rulings, FDA or legal developments, competitive pressures, changes in customer and market requirements and standards, and the risk factors detailed from time to time in Milestone's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including without limitation, Milestone's Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2021. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon management's reasonable belief as of the date hereof. Milestone undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.

Contact:Crescendo Communications, LLCEmail: [email protected]Tel: 212-671-1020

Source: Milestone Scientific, Inc.
ServiceNow (NYSE: NOW), the leading digital workflow company making the world work better for everyone, today announced new generative AI capabilities for the Now Platform to help deliver faster, more intelligent workflow automation. The new solutionsServiceNow Generative AI Controller and Now Assist for Searchexpand ServiceNows already extensive AI functionality with built-in capabilities that apply the power of generative AI to enterprise applications.

With these solutions, companies can expect to reduce costs while driving higher productivity, smarter experiences, and faster time to value. Additionally, ServiceNow and Microsoft also expanded their existing strategic partnership to connect the Now Platform to Azure OpenAI Service, enabling customers to realize the promise of generative AI in a secure, trusted way.

ServiceNow's intelligent end-to-end Now Platform is uniquely positioned to deliver generative AIs full potential to customers and help them take speed, efficiency, and great experiences to the next level, said CJ Desai, president and chief operating officer at ServiceNow. By augmenting the Now Platform with powerful new generative AI features and including access to Azure OpenAI Service, we are giving customers a built-in action layer of intelligence.

ServiceNows integration with Azure OpenAI Service is a great example of empowering customers to improve productivity and faster time to value with generative AI, said John Montgomery, Corporate Vice President, AI Platform Microsoft. Azure OpenAI Service provides customers with access to the most powerful large language models available with the enterprise capabilities of Azure. We look forward to connecting Azure OpenAI Service with the Now Platform, enabling customers to quickly add generative AI intelligence to a multitude of use cases, while ensuring the highest security levels and responsible approach to AI innovation.

Generative AI Scales Digital Business Today

The ServiceNow Generative AI Controller allows organizations to easily connect ServiceNow instances to both Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service and OpenAI API large language models. It includes built-in actions so customers can quickly and easily integrate popular generative AI capabilitieslike answering questions, summarizing content, and content generationinto existing ServiceNow experiences such as Virtual Agent from a single integration point. The ServiceNow Generative AI Controller can be used for seamless integration on the Now Platform to unlock more efficient self-service and work experiences.

Generative AI Controller is also configurable as part of ServiceNows suite of low-code development tools, so that anyone across the enterprise can apply generative AI to automation applications. With this solution, companies can optimize workflows and innovate at scale on the Now Platformregardless of technical ability.

Now Assist for Search provides natural language responses based on the customer's own knowledge base when users pose questions in Portal Search, Next Experience, or Virtual Agent. Because Now Assist for Search pulls information from within a customers environment, customers can trust that robust security layers are applied and results are more accurate, greatly reducing the likelihood of error or hallucinations.

Building on ServiceNows existing AI-powered search, Now Assist for Search is the first deeply embedded capability to use the Generative AI Controller across all experiences, to make search results even more relevant and specific for internal agents or external customers.

Both features are enabled through an expansion of the ServiceNow-Microsoft strategic partnership, which includes new AI use cases powered by Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service. ServiceNow and Microsoft already partner on the delivery of joint applications and integrations for Microsoft 365 and Azure, as well as Azure for Regulated and Commercial Markets.

The Future of Generative AI Drives Business Transformation Across Every Function

ServiceNow will continue to apply the power of generative AI to new use cases to extend the power of productivity across every business function and industry. We expect in the near-future, Generative AI Controller and Now Assist for Search will enable our customers to:

Prioritize incidents (with explanation in natural language) and provide a chat summary for intake agents in a Service Operations Workspace to get up to speed and resolve issues more quickly.

Generate chat responses for customer service agents to help customers more quickly and generate knowledge articles automatically when a gap is detected.

Help an employee complete processes such as changes to benefits enrollments or requesting a new laptop right from the Search bar in an Employee Workspace using Virtual Agent.

We believe generative AI will usher in a new era of innovation and agility on the Now Platform, enabling customers to accelerate growth, improve satisfaction, and drive innovation on one platform. In the future, generative AI will enable powerful levels of human productivity on the Now Platform from helping call center and service agents access and analyze critical information more quickly, to allowing engineers to speed up development at scale through text to code and text to workflow.

The explosive popularity of generative AI has created an inflection point for enterprises, who are increasingly looking to capitalize on these novel innovations as a means to drive more business value, said Dave Schubmehl, research vice president, conversational artificial intelligence (AI) and intelligent knowledge discovery research at IDC. Organizations are seeking out vendors with battle-tested, secure, and trusted AI capabilities so they can empower their teams with improved productivity to achieve greater competitive advantage within their industries.

Integrating generative AI capabilities into the Now Platform will revolutionize business models and workflows across every industry, said Gary Plotkin, Principal, Advisory and Global ServiceNow Lead for KPMG. KPMG and ServiceNows longstanding alliance has empowered countless organizations to deliver value through technology, and these enhanced capabilities will accelerate time to value. As a part of our own efforts to embed generative AI into KPMGs operations, weve been able to leverage the power of the Now Platform to identify new value-creation opportunities and efficiencies.

Propelling responsible AI innovation on the intelligent platform for end-to-end digital transformation

ServiceNow has grown its portfolio with the singular purpose of providing one of the only intelligent platforms for end-to-end digital transformation, with several notable AI acquisitions in the last three years alone, including Attivio, Element AI and Hitch Works, which have brought practical, purposebuilt AI capabilities to the Now Platform. Most recently, ServiceNow rolled out new AI-based tools within the Utah platform release, including AI-powered process mining, intelligent search enhancements, and expanded AI-enabled text extraction to boost human productivity with augmented automation.

In addition, the ServiceNow Research Large Language Models Lab partners with Hugging Face and over 600 members of the open-source community on the BigCode project, an open and transparent scientific AI research collaboration that champions the responsible development of LLMs for code. ServiceNow and Hugging Face recently announced the open-access, open-science, open-governance 15 billion parameter StarCoder LLM on behalf of the BigCode community to make generative AI more transparent and accessible.

ServiceNow has also internally invested in AI research and development with its AI Trustworthiness and Governance Lab, which conducts fundamental and applied research to build AI-powered experiences that are reliable, safe, and trustworthy. The Trustworthiness and Governance Lab works with internal teams at ServiceNow to inform and guide responsible AI practices across the development of ServiceNow Generative AI Controller and Now Assist for Search. Building on this, ServiceNow will continue to accelerate investment in AI on the Now Platform to give customers next-generation automation capabilities to disrupt their respective verticals, with AI safety and governance built in by design.

Additional Information:

Jeremy Barnes, ServiceNows VP of product platform, AI, shares additional insights on Generative AI in his blog here .

Availability

Generative AI Controller and Now Assist for Search are expected to be released to a limited set of customers in May 2023.
By Pete Schroeder and Ann Saphir

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Federal Reserve will unveil its plan to ratchet up capital rules for banks this summer and will ensure supervisors more aggressively police lenders following several recent bank failures, its top regulatory official told Congress on Tuesday.

Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Michael Barr said the agency was "carefully considering" rule changes for larger regional banks of over $100 billion in assets.

He said he expects to lay out his plan for overhauling the Fed's capital and liquidity rules sometime this summer, which would kick off an ambitious rule rewriting process for banking regulators.

That effort could include several tougher rules on those larger banks, including requiring them to account for unrealized losses on their books when considering capital levels. Such lenders had previously had rules relaxed under the Trump administration.

Bank watchdogs have been under intense scrutiny after the collapses of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank triggered a rout in global banking shares and set off fears of contagion.

Also testifying before the House Financial Services Committee were top officials from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

They also vowed to take a tougher stance and embolden supervisors to be more aggressive after their own post-mortem reports on the failures found the watchdogs were aware of some of the issues but did not move quickly enough to address them.

"The core issue was the failure on the part of examiners to compel compliance when issues were identified," said FDIC Chairman Martin Gruenberg.

In particular, Barr said the Fed was investigating a payout of executive bonuses at Silicon Valley Bank hours before it was closed by regulators, calling it "outrageous."

Republicans on the committee, though, urged the officials to consider simply using their existing tools more efficiently, rather than writing new rules.

"You have used this crisis to justify progressives long-held priority to increase capital requirements and impose more regulations on banks," added Representative Patrick McHenry, who chairs the panel.

Tuesday's hearing marked the first time regulators appeared before Congress since the FDIC agreed to sell failed First Republic Bank to JPMorgan Chase & Co this month.

Former SVB chief executive Greg Becker was also testifying on Tuesday before a separate panel. In prepared testimony, he said rapid interest rate increases and social media-fueled rumors drove the "unprecedented" bank run that sank his firm.

(Reporting by Pete Schroeder, editing by Deepa Babington)
WORCESTER, Mass., May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AdCare Hospital, a leading provider of services for co-occurring mental health and substance use disorder for more than 45 years, has announced behavioral health industry veteran Brian Stoesz as the facilitys new CEO. With more than 35 years of experience in operational leadership, clinical programming and business development, Stoesz is positioned to strengthen the high-quality care AdCare Hospital is known for providing.

Prior to joining AdCare Hospital, Stoesz had a storied career in behavioral health and addiction treatment in the Northeast region. For more than 20 years, Stoesz has overseen the day-to-day operations of treatment facilities serving adolescents and adults. Previously, during his time at Summit Behavioral Healthcare, Stoesz aided the corporation in significantly increasing its presence as Vice President of Operations Development and later Division Vice President. Most recently, hes seen success as a consultant assisting treatment companies and startups with growth, acquisitions and mergers.

I am eager to bring my expertise to the position of CEO here at AdCare Hospital, said Stoesz. The hospital has a long-standing reputation, and has been, and continues to be, a lifeline to so many in the community and beyond. Im committed to ensuring that AdCare Hospital remains that beacon of hope and I look forward to working alongside this amazing and dedicated team.

In addition to AdCare Hospital in Worcester, AdCare offers a range of addiction treatment programs at inpatient and outpatient locations throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Learn more about treatment options available.

Brian is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to behavioral health and addiction treatment, and I have the utmost certainty that under his guidance and leadership that AdCare Hospital will flourish, said Fred Trapassi, American Addiction Centers Northeast regional CEO and CEO of AdCare Rhode Island. With someone of Brians caliber overseeing the hospital, I know that the facility, staff and every patient seeking treatment is in the most capable hands.

About AdCare HospitalAdCare Hospital is located in Worcester, MA. AdCare Hospital treats patients who are struggling with drug addiction, alcohol addiction and co-occurring mental/behavioral health issues. For more information, call 401-200-4885

AdCare Hospital107 Lincoln St.Worcester, MA 01605401-200-4885

Contact:Maz RodriguezPublic Relations Manager[email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c7ceeba0-1d6c-4046-819b-c0e910a1dee8

Brian Stoesz AdCare Hospital CEO Brian Stoesz

Source: AdCare Hospital
Toronto, ON, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Advocis, The Financial Advisors Association of Canada is pleased to announce the appointment of Julie Martini as Chief Operating Officer.

In her new role, Julie will assume responsibility for direction of most of the Associations day-to-day operations

"This appointment recognizes the outstanding performance that Julie has delivered throughout her five-year tenure with Advocis, said Greg Pollock, President and Chief Executive Officer. Julie will strengthen the ability of our Executive Management Team to focus on our 2023  2027 Strategic Plan, and to continue building an Advocis that speaks to what we envision as the Advisor of the Future.

A 23-year industry veteran, Julies career experience spans both the wealth management and insurance sectors with a portfolio that has included marketing, public relations, business development, research, client relations and government relations. A graduate of McGill University, Julie also holds the Professional Certified Marketer (PCM) and Certified Digital Marketing Professional (CDMP) designations, along with a Certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University.

About Advocis

Advocis, The Financial Advisors Association of Canada, is the largest voluntary professional membership association of financial advisors in Canada, representing more than 17,000 member-clients and 40 Chapters across the country. Advocis offers designation programs, continuing education opportunities, industry-leading publications and membership in a chapter network that includes mentorship, study groups, practice development, and more.

Attachment

Lucas Di Rocco Advocis, The Financial Advisors Association of Canada 4163429807 [email protected]

Source: Advocis, The Financial Advisors Association of Canada
LOS ANGELES, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Jim Maser, senior vice president of Aerojet Rocketdynes Space Business Unit, was selected as a 2023 Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and elected as a member of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE).

I cannot think of a more deserving individual for these top honors, said Eileen P. Drake, Aerojet Rocketdyne CEO and president. As the leader of our space propulsion business, Jim has made enormous contributions to our company, our industry and the nation.

An AIAA Honorary Fellow is the top honor bestowed by AIAA that recognizes recipients for their eminence in aeronautics or astronautics and it is only given to less than 1% of its membership. Being elected as a member of NAE is also one of the highest professional honors accorded in the engineering profession. NAE members have distinguished themselves in business and academic management, in technical positions, as university faculty, and as leaders in government and private engineering organizations.

Jim Maser has enjoyed a distinguished aerospace career, spanning entrepreneurial space launch, human spaceflight, as well as commercial and military jet engines. In his current position, he is responsible for critical propulsion programs supporting the nations defense and exploration endeavors, including the 53 elements on NASAs Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft that were built by Aerojet Rocketdyne, and performed spectacularly during the Artemis I mission.

I am truly honored and humbled to be recognized among my peers by these prestigious institutions, said Maser. I offer my sincere thanks to the AIAA and NAE for considering me, and I look forward to my induction, membership and continuing to contribute to advances in the aerospace industry.

Maser is among three AIAA Honorary Fellows and 28 Fellows to be inducted during a May 17 ceremony, which will be followed the next day by an awards gala at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

The NAE, a branch of the National Academies, is an independent, nonprofit organization that provides engineering leadership to support the nation. Members are elected annually by a panel of peers for outstanding contributions to engineering practice, research, education and literature. Maser, along with 106 other newly elected members and 18 international members, will be formally inducted on Oct. 1 during the NAEs annual meeting.

About Aerojet Rocketdyne: Aerojet Rocketdyne, a subsidiary of Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AJRD), is a world-recognized aerospace and defense leader that provides propulsion systems and energetics to the space, missile defense and strategic systems, and tactical systems areas, in support of domestic and international customers. For more information, visit www.Rocket.com and www.AerojetRocketdyne.com. Follow Aerojet Rocketdyne and CEO Eileen Drake on Twitter at @AerojetRdyne and @DrakeEileen.

Media Contacts:Mary Engola, Aerojet Rocketdyne, 571-289-1371[email protected]Todd McConnell, Aerojet Rocketdyne, 561-882-5395[email protected]

Source: Aerojet Rocketdyne, Inc.
TEHRAN, May 16 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Monday night that Iran's recent seizure of two foreign vessels in regional waters is "aimed at countering behaviors and actions in violation of international maritime law."

In a statement responding to U.S. accusations that Iran has been carrying out increased attacks on commercial shipping, Nasser Kanaani said Iran plays the "most effective" role in ensuring maritime security in regional and international waters and has always been a "guarantor" of the "harmless and safe" passage of ships and vessels across the Strait of Hormuz.

The spokesman condemned the U.S. government for compromising maritime security by breaking maritime law and seizing certain Iranian oil shipments in international waters and high seas.

During a news briefing on Friday, U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Washington has seen "repeated Iranian threats, armed seizures, and attacks against commercial shippers who are exercising their navigational rights and freedoms in international waterways."

Iran seized two oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz in late April and early May respectively.

Iran said it seized the first ship after it "hit an Iranian vessel and tried to flee in violation of maritime regulations" while according to the Mizan news agency of the Iranian judiciary, the second one was seized at the order of its judicial authority over "a complaint from a plaintiff." 
MAPLE GROVE, Minn., May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TopLine Financial Credit Unions second annual baby care supply drive held during the month of April benefited three local non-profits, Avenues for Youth, Keystone Community Services and YMCA of the North Youth and Family Services. TopLine members and employees generously donated diapers, wipes, and other baby care items to help bring comfort to families in need in our local communities.

Employees were able to participate by donating baby care items and money in exchange for a Foundation Friday/Saturday sticker, allowing them to wear jeans to work. TopLine and community members could also purchase items from our Amazon Wishlist or Target Registry and have them delivered directly to TopLine, and in return we delivered to our charitable partners. When the program ended employees and members had donated 3,768 diapers, over 100 wipe packs and $790 in cash to assist local families.

We are committed to strengthening our communities and providing much needed in-kind and monetary donations to improve the quality of life for individuals and families, says Mick Olson, TopLine President and CEO. We are grateful to all of our kindhearted members and employees who contributed to our baby supply drive.

Avenues for Youth provides emergency shelter, short-term housing and supportive services for homeless youth in a safe and nurturing environment. There are over 6,000 homeless youth in Minnesota each night. Avenues shelters in Brooklyn Park and Minneapolis help over 300 youth. Visit www.avenuesforyouth.org to learn more.

Keystone Community Services is a community-based volunteer organization in St. Paul that helps thousands of low-income individuals and families in the East Metro Area. Keystones mission is to strengthen the capacity of individual and families to improve their quality of life. Visit www.keystoneservices.org to learn more.

The YMCA of the North Youth and Family Services is a leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. To learn more about the Ys mission and work, visit ymcanorth.org/youthandfamilyservices.

TopLine Financial Credit Union, a Twin Cities-based credit union, is Minnesotas 11th largest, with assets of more than $770 million and serves over 50,000 members. Established in 1935, the not-for-profit cooperative offers a complete line of financial services from its five branch locations  in Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Maple Grove, Plymouth and in St. Pauls Como Park  as well as by phone, mobile app and online at www.TopLinecu.com. Membership is available to anyone who lives, works, worships, attends school or volunteers in Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Washington and Wright counties in Minnesota and their immediate family members. Visit us on our Facebook or Instagram. To learn more about the credit unions foundation, visit www.TopLinecu.com/Foundation.

CONTACT:Vicki Roscoe EricksonSenior Vice President & Chief Marketing OfficerTopLine Financial Credit Union[email protected]763.391.0872

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e6796cf1-1b37-42c2-ba94-f3612ba9b0ac

Baby Supplies Donated by TopLine Financial Credit Union Members and Employees Baby Supplies Donated by TopLine Financial Credit Union Members and Employees

Source: TopLine Financial Credit Union
Media relations:

Victoire Grux

Tel. : +33 6 04 52 16 55

[email protected]

Investor relations:

Vincent Biraud

Tel. : +33 1 47 54 50 87

[email protected]

Shareholders Meeting of May 16, 2023

Paris, May 16, 2023  The Shareholders Meeting of Capgemini SE, held today at the Pavillon Gabriel in Paris, adopted all the resolutions put to the vote.

The companys Shareholders Meeting took place in person, while being broadcast live on the company's website.

Shareholders approved the proposed distribution of a dividend of 3.25 euros per share in respect of the 2022 financial year, to be paid from June 1st, 2023, with an ex-dividend date of May 30th, 2023.

Regarding the composition of the companys Board of Directors, Ms. Xiaoqun Clever has expressed her wish not to renew her term of office for personal reasons. Ms. Tanja Rueckert, further to a change in her responsibilities within Bosch, has decided to stand down from the Board of Directors, effective following the end of the Shareholders Meeting of May 16, 2023. The Board of Directors warmly thanked Ms. Xiaoqun Clever and Ms. Tanja Rueckert for their respective contributions to the work of the Board and its Committees throughout their term of office.

The Shareholders Meeting approved the appointment of two new directors:

Ms. Megan Clarken 1 has been appointed to the Board of Directors for a four-year term. Ms. Megan Clarken, a New Zealand citizen, is chief executive officer of a global technology company operating in commerce media. She has acquired throughout her career solid expertise in technology, data and digital transformation as well as experience in the media and retail sectors. She would also bring to the Board her inclusion and diversity expertise, as well as her knowledge of the US and Asia Pacific markets. The Board has indicated that it considers Ms. Megan Clarke to be an independent director in accordance with the criteria of the AFEP-MEDEF Code to which the Company refers;

has been appointed to the Board of Directors for a four-year term. Ms. Megan Clarken, a New Zealand citizen, is chief executive officer of a global technology company operating in commerce media. She has acquired throughout her career solid expertise in technology, data and digital transformation as well as experience in the media and retail sectors. She would also bring to the Board her inclusion and diversity expertise, as well as her knowledge of the US and Asia Pacific markets. The Board has indicated that it considers Ms. Megan Clarke to be an independent director in accordance with the criteria of the AFEP-MEDEF Code to which the Company refers; Ms. Ulrica Fearn2 has been appointed to the Board of Directors for a four-year term. Ms. Ulrica Fearn, a Swedish citizen, has acquired throughout her career strong financial expertise from multiple senior positions in leading global companies in the energy, telecommunications and consumer goods & retail sectors, all of which are industries leveraging technology as part of their sustainable transformation journey. The Board has indicated that it considers Ms. Ulrica Fearn to be an independent director in accordance with the criteria of the AFEP-MEDEF Code to which the Company refers.

At the end of this Shareholders' Meeting, the Board of Directors of Capgemini SE now has 15 directors3, including two directors representing employees. Of its members, 83% are independent directors4, 40% are international directors, and 42% are women5. This composition reflects the Boards renewed ambition to enrich the diversity of its profiles, notably in terms of internationalization, and to deepen its industry expertise.

The Shareholders Meeting approved 2022 compensation components and benefits paid or granted to Paul Hermelin, Chairman of the Board, as well as to Aiman Ezzat, Chief Executive Officer. The report on the compensation of corporate officers and the various 2023 compensation policies for executive corporate officers and directors were also approved.

Finally, the Shareholders Meeting approved all the financial delegations granted to the Board of Directors.

A detailed breakdown of voting results as well as full webcast of the General Meeting can be found on the Capgemini website: https://investors.capgemini.com/en/event/2023-shareholders-meeting/.

DISCLAIMER

This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Such statements may include projections, estimates, assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives, intentions and/or expectations with respect to future financial results, events, operations and services and product development, as well as statements, regarding future performance or events. Forward-looking statements are generally identified by the words expects, anticipates, believes, intends, estimates, plans, projects, may, would, should or the negatives of these terms and similar expressions. Although Capgeminis management currently believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties (including without limitation risks identified in Capgeminis Universal Registration Document available on Capgeminis website), because they relate to future events and depend on future circumstances that may or may not occur and may be different from those anticipated, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of Capgemini. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those expressed in, implied by or projected by forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not intended to and do not give any assurances or comfort as to future events or results. Other than as required by applicable law, Capgemini does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement.

This press release does not contain or constitute an offer of securities for sale or an invitation or inducement to invest in securities in France, the United States or any other jurisdiction.

ABOUT CAPGEMINI

Capgemini is a global leader in partnering with companies to transform and manage their business by harnessing the power of technology. The Group is guided everyday by its purpose of unleashing human energy through technology for an inclusive and sustainable future. It is a responsible and diverse organization of nearly 360,000 team members in more than 50 countries. With its strong 55-year heritage and deep industry expertise, Capgemini is trusted by its clients to address the entire breadth of their business needs, from strategy and design to operations, fueled by the fast evolving and innovative world of cloud, data, AI, connectivity, software, digital engineering and platforms. The Group reported in 2022 global revenues of 22 billion.

Get The Future You Want | www.capgemini.com



APPENDIX 1

BIOGRAPHIES

Ms. Megan Clarken

Ms. Megan Clarken is Chief Executive Officer of Criteo.

Born in New Zealand, Ms. Megan Clarken held senior leadership positions for large publishers and online technology providers in Australia, before joining Nielsen in 2004. From 2004 to 2019, Ms. Clarken held numerous senior positions at Nielsen in both commercial and product leadership, including Chief Commercial Officer of Nielsen Global Media and other management roles across Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa. Ms. Clarken was also a champion of diversity & inclusion during her 15 years at Nielsen Global Media.

Ms. Clarken was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Criteo S.A. effective November 25, 2019 and has served as a member of the Board of Directors of Criteo S.A. since August 2020.

Ms. Ulrica Fearn

Ms. Ulrica Fearn is Chief Financial Officer of Carlsberg Group since January 1st, 2023.

Before joining Carlsberg, she was Chief Financial Officer of Equinor, the leading energy company in Norway. Prior to Equinor, she was Director, Group Finance at the British telecommunications company, BT Plc. She began her career at Diageo, where she spent almost 20 years in various senior finance and other management roles across Europe, Asia Pacific and the USA.

A Swedish citizen, Ms. Fearn holds a masters degree in business and finance from the University of Halmstad, Sweden.

APPENDIX 2

Composition of the Capgemini SE Board of Directors and of its committees following the Shareholders Meeting of May 16, 2023

Composition of the Board of Directors:

Paul Hermelin  Chairman

Frederic Oudea  Lead Independent Director and Vice-Chairman

Megan Clarken

Aiman Ezzat  CEO

Ulrica Fearn

Maria Ferraro

Pierre Goulaieff  Director representing employees

Sian Herbert-Jones

Herve Jeannin  Director representing employees

Belen Moscoso del Prado

Xavier Musca

Patrick Pouyanne

Olivier Roussat

Kurt Sievers

Lucia Sinapi Thomas  Director representing employee shareholders

The Board of Directors decided to change the composition of its committees as follows:

Audit & Risk Committee: Xavier Musca (Chair), Ulrica Fearn, Maria Ferraro, Sian Herbert-Jones.

Compensation Committee: Patrick Pouyanne (Chair), Pierre Goulaieff, Belen Moscoso del Prado, Kurt Sievers, Lucia Sinapi-Thomas.

Ethics & Governance Committee: Frederic Oudea (Chair), Sian Herbert Jones, Xavier Musca, Patrick Pouyanne.

Strategy & CSR Committee: Paul Hermelin (Chair), Megan Clarken, Aiman Ezzat, Herve Jeannin, Olivier Roussat, Kurt Sievers.

1 A biography of Ms. Megan Clarken is presented in the appendix.

2 A biography of Ms. Ulrica Fearn is presented in the appendix.

3 Composition of the Capgemini SE Board of Directors in the appendix.

4 The directors representing employees and employee shareholders are not taken into account in calculating this percentage, in accordance with the provisions of the AFEP-MEDEF Code.

5 The directors representing employees and employee shareholders are not taken into account in calculating this percentage, in accordance with the provisions of the French Commercial Code currently in force.

Attachment
HOUSTON, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Carriage Services, Inc. (NYSE: CSV) today announced a landmark national agreement with National Guardian Life Insurance Company (NGL), which has provided insurance solutions for over 100 years, and Precoa, the premier pre-arranged funeral sales and marketer in the death care industry. This strategic partnership will deliver exceptional pre-arranged funeral services and offerings across the Carriage Services platform, empowering families with unparalleled peace of mind and an elevated customer experience.

"We are excited to announce this transformative national agreement and partnership between NGL, Precoa and Carriage Services," said Carlos Quezada, Vice Chairman, President and Chief Operating Officer of Carriage Services. "By combining the expertise and heritage of NGL, the innovative and industry-leading preneed solutions of Precoa and the customer-centric approach of Carriage Services, we are elevating our pre-arranged funeral offering across all Carriage locations and ensuring families receive personalized support and peace of mind as they plan for their end-of-life celebration. In addition, this transformative partnership will enable Carriage to reach new audiences, forge deeper customer relationships and to grow market share, ultimately creating value for our shareholders.

Carriage Services is a leading provider of funeral and cemetery services and merchandise in the United States. Carriage operates 173 funeral homes in 26 states and 32 cemeteries in 11 states.

Certain statements made herein or elsewhere by, or on behalf of, the Company that are not historical facts are intended to be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and contains certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking statements within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements made herein, other than statements of historical information, should be deemed to be forward-looking statements, which include, but are not limited to, statements regarding any projections of equity performance, market share growth, or financial and operational performance; any statements of the plans, timing, and objectives of management regarding the announcement of our pre-arranged funeral sales and insurance partnership, including, for example, the anticipated results, expectations, and demand for such services and offerings; any statements of belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing and are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effect on us. These statements are based on assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable as and when made; however, many important factors, as discussed under "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, could cause the Company's actual results in the future to differ materially from the forward-looking statements made herein and in any other documents or oral presentations made by, or on behalf of, the Company. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of the applicable communication and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements except to the extent required by applicable law. A copy of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Companys Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and other filings with the SEC, are available at www.carriageservices.com.

For more information, please email [email protected].

Source: Carriage Services, Inc.
Singapore, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Crypto Expo Asia, one of the regions leading crypto conferences and exhibitions, today announced several new headline speakers and a partnership with ACCESS Blockchain Association Malaysia as the event bolsters its collaboration with leading industry groups across the region.

This dovetails Crypto Expo Asias earlier collaborations with the Asia Blockchain Association (ABA), Asia Blockchain Gaming Alliance (ABGA), Asosiasi Blockchain Indonesia (ABI), Singapore Fintech Association (SFA), and the Singapore University of Social Sciences Node for Inclusive FinTech Blockchain Security Alliance (SUSS NiFT).

This second edition of Crypto Expo Asia also unveiled its latest line-up of headline speakers, which include Henryk Abucewicz Tan, Head of Institutional Sales at Coinhako, the first crypto-asset exchange to receive in-principle approval from the Monetary Authority of Singapore; Sebastian Zilliacus, Managing Director of EMURGO Media, the official commercial arm and a founding entity of the Cardano blockchain; Karthik Rajeswaran, VP of Product at Headquarters (HQ.xyz), a Web3 finance operations toolkit; Julian Kwan, Co-Founder and CEO of InvestaX, a Singapore-licensed tokenization SaaS platform and IX Swap, the first automated market maker for tokenized assets; Anuj Shankar, CEO of Luganodes, a Swiss-operated institutional-grade staking service provider; Timothy Tan, Head of Sales and Marketing at Cactus Custody, the institutional custody arm of the leading digital assets financial services ecosystem Matrixport; and Dr Ben Zhang, Co-Founder and COO of NodeReal, the leading one-stop blockchain infrastructure and service provider.

Michael Xuan, Director of Crypto Expo Asia, said Institutional interest in blockchain and Web3 technology remains at a high despite fears of a prolonged crypto winter. As the entire industry approaches maturity, as evidenced by increased regulatory oversight, now is the time for public and private sector stakeholders to work more closely together than ever before.

South and Southeast Asia have some of the worlds highest crypto adoption rates. It will come as no surprise that Crypto Expo Asia is seeing record interest from industry associations as well as global and regional players, keen to further discourse around hot-button issues including artificial intelligence, CBDCs, Web3 regulation, Metaverse adoption, and blockchain gaming, he continued.

President of ACCESS Blockchain Association Malaysia, Harpreet Singh, said, ACCESS Malaysia is excited to contribute to the discussions around how crypto assets will reimagine the financial ecosystem. As the sector evolves toward mainstream acceptance spurred by the ongoing regulatory developments both in the region as well as globally, we believe Crypto Expo Asia will be a timely avenue to discuss the path ahead for the industry.

2023 also marks the debut of the Web3 Expo Asia Summit, a sub-event under the auspices of Crypto Expo Asia dedicated to panel sessions around NFTs and the Metaverse.

Association members will receive access to preferential rates for all sponsorship packages and delegate passes. Interested parties should contact: [email protected]

Interested sponsors, partners, and speakers at Crypto Expo Asia are encouraged to visit the website for more information: https://cryptoexpoasia.com/.

 END 

About Crypto Expo AsiaCrypto Expo Asia is the premier event for the global crypto ecosystem in Asia, creating an integral platform for the industry to connect and exchange ideas. Attendees gain valuable insight into the global crypto ecosystem and are given a chance to exchange ideas with established thought leaders. Topics discussed include the future of the blockchain-based economy and the possible impacts on industry and society, while attendees are among the first to know about market movements, partnerships and product launches. Crypto Expo Asia is an unrivalled global meeting place for like-minded entrepreneurs, industry insiders and investors. For more information, visit: https://cryptoexpoasia.com/

Media Contacts Wachsman for HQMENA [email protected]

Source: Crypto Expo Asia
Receives Largest International Award Ever Given to Individual African Woman for Her Work to Affirm the Dignity of Women

West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, USA, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The winner of the 2023 Templeton Prize is Dr. Edna Adan Ismail, a nurse-midwife, hospital founder, and healthcare advocate who has worked courageously to change cultural, religious, and medical norms surrounding womens health in East Africa, improving the lives of thousands of women and girls in the region and beyond. Drawing from the resources of her Muslim faith, she receives this years award in recognition of her extraordinary efforts to harness the power of the sciences to affirm the dignity of women and help them to flourish physically and spiritually. Her many achievements include the founding of the Edna Adan University and Edna Adan Hospital, which has significantly reduced maternal mortality in Somaliland, and her tireless campaign to end female genital mutilation (FGM) around the world.

Like Mother Teresa, who received the first Templeton Prize fifty years ago in 1973, Edna has dedicated herself to helping a community that did not have adequate medical care, thereby achieving a global impact.

This years award is believed to be the largest international prize ever given to an individual African woman.

We are delighted to honor Edna Adan Ismail, a woman who has used the teachings of her faith, the influence of her family, and her education in science to improve the health and opportunities of some of the world's most vulnerable women and girls, said Heather Templeton Dill, president of the John Templeton Foundation. Driven by a passionate belief in womens innate dignity and divine-given potential, she has enacted a transformation of female health in her native land. Drawing on the doctrines of the Muslim faith, she has employed her positions of authority to argue passionately that, despite what some have believed, female circumcision is against the teachings of Islam, and deeply harmful to women.

Dill added: Over the last 50 years, the Templeton Prize has celebrated winners of many different faiths, fields, and nationalitiesand this year we are proud to award our first prize to an African woman.

The Templeton Prize, valued at 1.1 million GBP, is one of the world's largest annual individual awards. Established by the late global investor and philanthropist Sir John Templeton, it is given to honor those who harness the power of the sciences to explore the deepest questions of the universe and humankinds place and purpose within it.

I feel blessed and honored to receive this award, which will enable me to make a major contribution to the U.S.-based Friends of Edna Maternity Hospital, said Edna Adan Ismail, 85. These funds will be used to support the hospital in carrying out its essential work, such as obtaining medical equipment, hiring expert educators, enabling expansion to serve more patients, and to continue training the next generation of healthcare workers that East Africa so desperately needs.

This hospital, she added, has given life to our country.

Edna Adan Ismail was born in 1937 in Hargeisa, the capital of what was then British Somaliland, to a prominent family. Her father was a doctor often described as the father of medical care in the country, and her mother was the daughter of the postmaster general. Thanks to her father Adan Ismails forward-thinking values, she was covertly tutored alongside her brother until she was 15 and then went to a new school for girls. A scholarship exam, also normally reserved for boys, qualified her to study in the United Kingdomthe first Somali girl to do sowhere she received an education in nursing and midwifery at the Borough Polytechnic.

As a girl, she loved shadowing her father in his surgery and thought to become a surgical nurse, but he encouraged her to look into midwifery, where the need was greatest. The most important lesson she absorbed from him was compassion, she later recalled. One of his favorite expressions was if you cannot do it with your heart, your hands will never do it. She returned in 1961 to her homeland as its first professionally trained nurse-midwife. She was also the first woman to drive a car in her country and the first to be appointed to a position of political authority as director in the Ministry of Health. She was the first lady of Somalia, as the wife of Mohamed Haji Ibrahim Egal, Prime Minister of a united Somalia in the late 1960s.

Following the outbreak of civil war in Somalia, she joined the World Health Organization as an advisor. She was the regional technical officer for maternal and child health from 1987 to 1991 and WHO representative to Djibouti from 1991 to 1997. She decided to leave her high-profile international career to return home and fulfill an ambitious dream: to build a hospital from the ground up.

After the newly re-formed Somaliland declared its independence in 1991though it remains unrecognized by foreign powers to this dayits government offered her land to realize this vision: a little piece of land that had previously been used as an execution ground and garbage dump.

Inauspicious as this wasan ulcer in the center of town, she called itthe site was proximate to the slums where Ednas hoped-for patients lived, and so she took it. She sold all of her own assets and belongings to build the hospital, and raised more funding from around the world after a profile of her appeared in The New York Times. With the opening of the Edna Adan Maternity Hospital in 2002, the miserable land it stood on was transformed. Now I live in it. I wouldnt be anywhere else in the world, she said in a 2012 interview with ABC News. Thats my home, my hospital, thats where I hope to spend whatever days God gives me.

While Somalilands healthcare system collapsed in the aftermath of war, the hospital made great strides, reducing the maternal mortality rate by up to 75 percent. In addition to providing patient care to a high-risk population, the hospital also started training nurses even before it opened. The education program expanded to become the Edna Adan University in 2010, which has trained more than 4,000 students to become doctors, nurses, midwives, dentists, surgeons, pharmacists, lab technicians, anesthetists, and public health professionals. Its graduates go on to serve communities across East Africa. Over 30,000 babies have been safely delivered at the hospital, at which 80 percent of the staff and 70 percent of the student body is female.

Meanwhile, Edna also served as the first and only female cabinet member in 2002 as Minister of Social Affairs. From 2003 to 2006, she served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. In spite of its lack of international recognition, Somaliland remains self-governing and administers a democratic system in its territory in northern Somalia.

Edna is an outspoken critic of female genital mutilation (FGM), a painful, disfiguring, and life-threatening practice performed in some non-Muslim and Muslim societies, including her own. When she was eight, her mother subjected Edna to FGM without her fathers knowledge. His outraged reaction planted the seeds of my sense of injustice, and started the embryo that led me much later to act, she said in an interview with the Berkley Center at Georgetown University. As a practicing midwife early in her career, she was confronted with the grievous complications during childbirth from the scarring. After visiting a 1976 conference in Sudan at which participants from Muslim countries that also practiced FGM spoke openly about its effects, she was inspired to take up the issue at home. Later that year, as a director in Somalias health ministry, she began to speak out on FGMat first shocking her audience and attracting threats, but also building widespread interest and a movement. She was instrumental in Djiboutis passage of a law against it. After her ex-husband became president of the breakaway republic of Somaliland in 1993, he became an ally in the effort.

Education is more important than legislation in opposing FGM, she stresses, because passing a law that no one intends to obey simply forces the practice underground. Edna has patiently and energetically encouraged women to come forward, men to stand up for them, cultural discussions to be had at every level, and the decoupling of FGM from faithful Islamic practice.

Islam does not accept, Islam forbids female circumcision. It is a moral issue, a moral obligation. It is a responsibility. God has shown me this, said Edna in the biographical film Edna Adan Ismail: A Beacon of Hope for Women's Health & Dignity produced in honor of the Templeton Prize. Every day Im reliving and remembering, Im recalling that pain that happened to me when I was seven or eight years old. The wounds may heal but the pain never leaves you.

Raised in a multifaith household, with a Catholic mother and Muslim father, she has described her religious views as rooted in a sense of action.

For me religion is not only about rituals, but also about how you live your religion. It is about kindness and charity, living a clean and honest life. I live my religion through my acts, through the way I work with poor people, students, patients, and colleagues, she said. Being true to any religion is about how you live, how you respect the rules of God, how you live with others. It is a respect that safeguards others, that respects life and the property and dignity of others. It is doing unto others what you would have them do unto you. It is about going that extra mile to help others and to love them.

While much progress has been made, FGM continues to be practiced in several countries, and has spread overseas as populations have migrated to the United Kingdom, United States, and other nations. Edna continues to educate people on the grave health harms FGM inflicts on women and girls.

Her fight to end FGM continues both through her international advocacy and at her hospital where they care for complications caused by the procedure and lead the effort against the practice using Somali-language materials to reach the local population and religious leaders. In addition, every student who applies to study in her programs must commit to joining the fight against FGM. Thankfully Edna is no longer a lonely voice in this fight as the WHO, United Nations Population Fund, and UNICEF have joined forces to help accelerate the rejection of FGM.

Edna Adan Ismail is a beacon of hope and an inspiration for all who care deeply about the health of women and girls around the world, said Diane Lane, actress and activist who appeared with Edna in the 2012 documentary Half the Sky, in a statement for the Templeton Prize.

Lane added: Her commitment to the highest moral and scientific standards are what make her such an exemplary winner of the Templeton Prize. For decades, Edna has been a force of female empowerment and cultural transformation that I was grateful to witness firsthand visiting her Somaliland in 2011. Her hopeful attitude and commanding sense of compassion are an inspiration, as her countless patients, students, and admirers can attest. I am so happy Ednas devotion to women and their families is being honored in this unique and prestigious way.

Nicholas Kristof, columnist for The New York Times, wrote of Edna in a letter of commendation for the Templeton Prize: Shes bringing modern medicine, the latest science of prevention and a fundamental emphasis on gender equity to Somaliland, and its making a huge difference. He added: She is bringing science in a truly lifesaving way to one of the worlds poorest countries, while tackling culture and religion in deeply sensitive and effective waysand also serving as an extraordinary role model.

Ednas awards and recognitions include: Officer of the French Legion dHonneur and a Commandeur Dans lOrdre National du 27 Juin, Djibouti; the Medical Mission Hall of Fame, University of Toledo, Ohio; honorary doctorates from Clark University in Massachusetts and the University of Pennsylvania; honorary fellow of Cardiff University School of Nursing in Wales; the Chancellors Gold Medal from the University of Pretoria; the Renfield Foundation Award for Global Womens Health; an honorary doctorate from London South Bank University (formerly Borough Polytechnic, where she was trained); an honorary fellowship by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists; and short-listed for the European Parliaments Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. Edna was featured in the 2012 PBS documentary Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide. Her autobiography, A Woman of Firsts, was published in 2019.

As the 2023 Templeton Prize laureate, Edna will participate in a Templeton Prize event this fall in London, where she will deliver the Templeton Prize lecture.

The Templeton Prize winner is chosen following an extensive selection process that mobilizes an anonymous group of expert nominators from a diverse cross-section of fields. Nominees are reviewed by a panel of judges, who include scientists, business leaders, religious leaders, and scholars who represent the many fields of work that the Templeton Prize seeks to honor. Judges rank nominees according to a range of criteria before scores are calculated for a winner.

This years nine judges are Georgia M. Dunston, Ph.D., Founder, President, and CEO of Whole Genome Science Foundation; Tsitsi Masiyiwa, philanthropist and social entrepreneur; Baroness Philippa Stroud, Member of the House of Lords, CEO of the Legatum Institute and Chair of the Social Metrics Commission; Dr. France A. Cordova, astrophysicist and 14th director of the National Science Foundation; Anousheh Ansari, CEO of the XPrize Foundation; Rabbi Meir Soloveichik, Ph.D., Director of the Straus Center of Torah and Western Thought at Yeshiva University; Homa Sabet Tavanger, author and co-founder of the Big Questions Institute and Oneness Lab; Prasad Kaipa, Ph.D., entrepreneur and author; and Timothy P. Shriver, Ph.D., Chairman of the Special Olympics International.

Edna joins a list of 52 Prize recipients including St. Teresa of Kolkata (the inaugural award in 1973) and Archbishop Desmond Tutu (2013). The 2022 Templeton Prize was awarded to theoretical physicist Dr. Frank Wilczek. Preceding him was ethologist and conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall. Other humanitarians who have won the Prize include Dame Cicely Saunders, a nurse and the pioneer of the hospice movement, and Chiara Lubich, creator of the Focolare movement in Italy.

###



Notes to Editors

More information on Dr. Edna Adan Ismail, her statement on accepting the Prize, a statement by Heather Templeton Dill on the awarding of the Prize, and information on the 52 previous Templeton Prize Laureates, are available at www.templetonprize.org/2023

Follow the Templeton Prize on Twitter using @TempletonPrize and #TempletonPrize2023.

Follow the Templeton Prize on Facebook and Instagram using #TempletonPrize2023

and using #TempletonPrize2023 Watch and embed a video featuring Edna Adan Ismail on the Templeton Prize YouTube channel , where you will find additional videos with information on the Templeton Prize.

About the Templeton Prize

Established in 1972, the Templeton Prize is one of the worlds largest annual individual awards. It is given to honor individuals whose exemplary achievements advance Sir John Templetons philanthropic vision: harnessing the power of the sciences to explore the deepest questions of the universe and humankinds place and purpose within it. Currently valued at 1.1 million GBP, the award is adjusted periodically so it always exceeds the value of the Nobel Prize. Winners have come from a wide range of faiths, fields, and geographies, and have included Nobel Prize winners, philosophers, theoretical physicists, and one canonized saint. The Templeton Prize is awarded by the three Templeton philanthropies: the John Templeton Foundation, based in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, and by the Templeton World Charity Foundation and Templeton Religion Trust, based in Nassau, The Bahamas. To learn more, visit TempletonPrize.org

Contact:

Benjamin Carlson

[email protected]

Thomas Burnett

[email protected]

Attachments
SANTA ANA, Calif, May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ducommun Incorporated (NYSE: DCO) (Ducommun or the Company) today announced the pricing of its public offering of 2,000,000 shares of common stock (the Offering) at $40.00 per share for net proceeds of approximately $74.4 million, after giving effect to the underwriting discount and commission but before estimated expenses payable by the Company. Ducommun has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 300,000 shares of its common stock. The closing of the Offering is expected to occur on May 18, 2023, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

Ducommun intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering to repay indebtedness under its revolving credit facility that was used to finance its acquisition of BLR Aerospace L.L.C.

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Citigroup, RBC Capital Markets, LLC and B. Riley Securities are acting as joint book-running managers and as representatives of the underwriters for the Offering.

The securities described above are being offered by Ducommun pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 that was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) and was declared effective on November 17, 2022. A preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to the Offering was filed by Ducommun with the SEC and is available on the SECs website at www.sec.gov. A final prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to the Offering will be filed by Ducommun with the SEC. The Offering may only be made by means of a prospectus, including a prospectus supplement, that forms part of the registration statement referred to above. Copies of the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to the Offering, when available, may be obtained by contacting: Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282, telephone: (866) 471-2526, facsimile: 212-902-9316, email: [email protected]; Citigroup, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717 (Tel: 800-831-9146); RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Attn: Equity Syndicate, 200 Vesey Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10281-8098, by telephone at (877) 822-4089 or by email at [email protected]; or B. Riley Securities by telephone at (703) 312-9580 or by email at [email protected]. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About Ducommun Incorporated

Ducommun Incorporated delivers value-added innovative products and manufacturing solutions to customers in the aerospace, defense and industrial markets. Founded in 1849, the Company specializes in two core areasElectronic Systems and Structural Systemsto produce complex products and components for commercial aircraft platforms, mission-critical military and space programs, and sophisticated industrial applications.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including, in particular, statements relating to the timing of the closing of the Offering and the use of proceeds from the Offering. The Company generally uses the words may, will, could, expect, anticipate, believe, estimate, plan, intend, continue, and similar expressions in this press release to identify forward-looking statements. The Company bases these forward-looking statements on its current expectations and assumptions regarding market conditions and its views with respect to the Companys financial performance, the economy and other future conditions. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those detailed from time to time in the Companys periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. You should understand that many important factors could cause the Companys results to differ materially from those expressed or suggested in any forward-looking statement, including, without, limitation, the factors set forth under Risk Factors in the prospectus supplement relating to the Offering and in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements to reflect new information or events or circumstances that occur after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or otherwise. Investors are advised to review the Companys filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (which are available from the SECs EDGAR database at www.sec.gov).

CONTACT:

Suman Mookerji, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Controller and Treasurer 657.335.3665

Source: Ducommun Incorporated
LISBON, Portugal, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EllaLink, the high-capacity fibre-optic submarine cable directly connecting Europe with South America, and EXA Infrastructure, the largest dedicated digital infrastructure platform connecting Europe and North America, today announce a unique joint transatlantic service, connecting South America with the heart of Europes main business centres.

Customers of both companies will benefit from the latest high capacity direct data route across the Atlantic that joins up with EXAs extensive European footprint. The 9,120 kilometres route will enable Internet traffic to bypass North America, and it will deliver a 50 per cent increase in network performance between data centres in Brazil, Portugal, and Spain. Once landed, EllaLinks customers will also benefit from optical connectivity to and from Sines in Portugal, thanks to the direct interconnect with EXAs extensive pan-European network.

EllaLinks Brazil to Portugal routes won the Global Carrier Awards Best Subsea Project of the Year category in 2019 and 2020. According to Nick Collins, CCO at EXA Infrastructure, The partnership with EllaLink testifies to EXAs ambition to become the leading data centre to data centre connectivity provider in Europe and beyond. We have committed 39 million of network investments to date in Portugal and Spain and this partnership enables us to interconnect with South America, closing the connectivity gap for companies in this fast-growing, bandwidth-demanding environment.

EllaLink and EXA are also collaborating on the Olisipo project, a unique cable system connecting the main data centres and all the landing stations in Portugal. This project will reinforce connectivity and improve network infrastructure in Portugal, which is emerging as another key digital hub in southern Europe. We understand the importance of securing diversity as an alternative to the north transatlantic routes. Combining EllaLinks low latency network with EXA Infrastructures extensive and advanced footprint enhances both our portfolios and the value proposition we can offer to the market. This is a strong partnership for EllaLink, that will significantly benefit our customers, says Vincent Gatineau, CSMO at EllaLink. EXA is a leading company in the market with prime assets and robust experience. Our complementary connectivity offer has a compelling potential for customers demanding the highest quality and performance.

About EXA Infrastructure

Headquartered in London, UK, EXA Infrastructure is the largest dedicated digital infrastructure platform connecting Europe and North America and owns 125,000 kilometres of fibre network across 34 countries. EXAs network connects 300 cities and offers 13Tier 3-equivalent data centres, with sub-sea routes that include three transatlantic cables, one the lowest latency link between Europe and North America. EXA is wholly owned by I Squared Capital.

For more information, see exainfra.net

About EllaLink

EllaLink is a privately funded and independent company committed to providing products and services on a Carrier Neutral and Open Access basis. Marguerite II, a pan-European equity fund active in the renewables, energy, transport and digital infrastructure sectors, is the main shareholder of EllaLink. The EllaLink submarine cable system is an advanced optical platform offering secure high-capacity connectivity on a unique low latency transatlantic route serving the growing needs of the Latin American and European markets. The EllaLink network directly connects Brazil and Europe, linking the major hubs of Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Fortaleza with Lisbon, Madrid and Marseille. The EllaLink submarine cable system has been built with state-of-the-art coherent technology initially offering 100Tbps of capacity over four direct fibre pairs between Europe and Brazil.

For more information visit ella.link

Media contact:Clara Casanova[email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a9894c5b-a175-4b0d-842f-013e080ccff6

EllaLink and EXA Infrastructure network map EllaLink and EXA Infrastructure network map

Source: EllaLink Ireland Limited
HOUSTON, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Emerson Firm, PLLC (Emerson) announces a continuing investigation of the data breach at PharMerica Corporation (PM). This investigation relates to the theft of sensitive personal identifiable information (PII) of 5,815,591 million customers.

According to a PM letter, the incident led to the unauthorized party learning the Names, Addresses, Dates of Birth, Social Security Numbers, Medications, and Health Insurance Information of individuals whose information was stored on PMs computer systems. PM recently started delivering data breach notification letters on May 12, 2023, to individuals affected by the recent data security incident.

PharMerica Corporation is a Fortune 1000 company headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky and provides pharmacy services in fifty states.

Emerson with offices in Houston, TX is a law firm specializing in results, integrity, and personal service. Emerson represents consumers throughout the nation and has significant class action experience with proven results. Emerson lawyers have devoted their practice to complex commercial litigation for more than forty years and have recovered over one billion dollars for consumers in class actions throughout the United States.

IMPORTANT: If you believe that you were affected by the PM data breach AND you received a Notice letter from PM, please contact us immediately to protect your rights. It makes no difference what state you reside in. Contact plaintiffs counsel via e-mail to John G. Emerson at [email protected].

Source: Emerson Firm, PLLC
Victoria, B.C., May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, FireSmart BC, the provincial program committed to helping British Columbians reduce their wildfire risk, launched a new campaign reminding residents that everyday chores make everyday heroes.

On average, there are more than 1,600 wildfires in British Columbia annually. While each year is different, the BC Wildfire Service has observed unusually advanced fire behaviour for this time of year. Parts of Alberta and northern BC are already blazing, reinforcing the importance for everyone to prepare.

FireSmart BCs new campaign features a simple message: When it comes to wildfire, everyday chores, like trimming trees or cleaning gutters, can make a big impact. Taking action to FireSmart your property can dramatically decrease the risk of wildfire damaging your home and community. The best part is its surprisingly easy to do.

Click here (firesmartbc.ca/prepare/) to watch FireSmart BCs preparedness campaign video.

The launch of the campaign follows the completion of the successful Wildfire Resiliency and Training Summit in Vancouver last week. The event, formally known independently as the FireSmart BC Conference and the WUI Symposium, brought together more than 700 members of BCs FireSmart community, including First Nation members, provincial and local governments, fire departments, wildfire mitigation specialists, firefighters, researchers, emergency managers, wildfire scientists, and other industry partners.

The Summit was an incredible opportunity to bring together wildfire professionals and partners to share knowledge, says Rachel Woodhurst, Program Lead for FireSmart BC. The Summits theme, Partners in Progress, highlights the importance of collaboration in wildfire management. Wildfire prevention is a community effort  when everyone takes action to help protect their homes and communities, it goes a long way in keeping our province safe.

Following the three-day conference portion of the Summit, BC firefighting professionals participated in two days of training exercises in North Vancouver. Training activities focused on leadership and operational aspects of wildfire resiliency and response, with themes ranging from emergency preparedness to structure protection.

When fire is at your doorstep, thats not the time to prepare yourself, says Kurtis Isfeld, Director of Fire Centre Operations for BC Wildfire Service. Its so important that we work together and take steps in advance to keep wildfire risk levels within our control.

The FireSmart BC website has many helpful resources, including the FireSmart Begins at Home Manual and the interactive Landscaping Hub, which has an extensive list of fire-resistant plants and tips on how to create a FireSmart landscape.

Learn more at firesmartbc.ca

###

About FireSmart BC FireSmart BC helps build wildfire resiliency and reduce the negative impacts of fire for everyone in the province. The BC FireSmart Committee was initiated by the BC Wildfire Service in May 2017 to provide direction for wildfire prevention activities. Members of the committee include the BC Wildfire Service, the Office of the Fire Commissioner, the Union of BC Municipalities, the Fire Chiefs Association of BC Emergency Management BC, the Forest Enhancement Society of Fire Chiefs Association of BC and the First Nations Emergency Services Society of BC, Indigenous Services Canada, the Ministry of Forests - Regional Operations, Parks Canada, and BC Parks. Resources:Tips to FireSmart Your HomeLandscaping HubFireSmart BC TwitterFireSmart BC FacebookFireSmart BC Instagram

Attachments

Micheyla Mayne FireSmart BC 780-512-1490 [email protected]

Source: FireSmart BC
TORONTO, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canadas national capital region had the highest median employment incomes in the country in 2019the last year unaffected by COVIDwhile energy-centred census metropolitan areas (CMAs) also rank high, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

Metropolitan areas across Canada vary greatly in their employment incomes, but some regions and types of CMAs fair better than others, said Ben Eisen, a senior fellow with the Fraser Institute and co-author of Comparing Median Employment Incomes in Canadas Census Metropolitan Areas.

The study measures median employment incomewages, salaries and commissions from paid and net self-employment income before taxes and government transfersacross Canadas 41 census metropolitan areas for the year 2019, the last year unaffected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

CMAs containing capital cities are heavily concentrated at the top of the ranking of higher income CMAs. In fact, of the ten highest income CMAs, five include either a federal or provincial capital.

The Ottawa-Gatineau CMA topped the list at $45,500, followed by Edmonton ($45,470), Calgary ($43,870), and Regina ($43,760). Other CMAs connected to the energy sector also ranked high, including Red Deer, AB at 6th ($42,000), St. Johns, NL at 7th ($41,360), Saskatoon, SK (12th at $39,940) and Lethbridge, AB (13th at $39,470).

Conversely, Census Metropolitan Areas in Quebec (excluding Quebec City at 8th) and Atlantic Canada generally ranked low, with median employment incomes in Montreal, Moncton, NB and Saint John, NB falling below the national average of $36,960.

The lowest median employment income of Canadas 41 CMAs was $31,540 in St. Catharines-Niagara, ON. In fact, Ontario contains both the highest ranked CMA (Ottawa-Gatineau) and the lowest ranked nationally.

Capital cities across Canada rank very high when it comes to employment incomes, as do cities connected to Canadas energy sector, while many urban areas in southwestern Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic Canada continue to underperform, Eisen said

MEDIA CONTACT:

Ben Eisen, Senior Fellow Fraser Institute

To arrange media interviews or for more information, please contact:Drue MacPherson, Media Relations, Fraser Institute604-688-0221 ext. 721[email protected]

Follow the Fraser Institute on Twitter | Like us on Facebook

The Fraser Institute is an independent Canadian public policy research and educational organization with offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal and ties to a global network of think-tanks in 87 countries. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for Canadians, their families and future generations by studying, measuring and broadly communicating the effects of government policies, entrepreneurship and choice on their well-being. To protect the Institutes independence, it does not accept grants from governments or contracts for research. Visit www.fraserinstitute.org

Source: Fraser Institute
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (3rd L) speaks at a high-level special meeting on the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Nakba at the UN headquarters in New York May 15, 2023. (Mark Garten/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

UNITED NATIONS, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday demanded the suspension of Israel's UN membership unless it honors its commitment to implementing relevant UN resolutions.

The total number of resolutions regarding the Palestinians adopted by the UN General Assembly, the Security Council, and the Human Rights Council is "around 1,000," Abbas said at a high-level special meeting on the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Nakba, also known as the Palestinian Catastrophe. "To date, not one single resolution was implemented."

"Therefore, 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 in the UN, particularly since Israel never fulfilled its obligations and the prerequisite for its membership in this organization," he said.

The president also singled out Britain and the United States for responsibility for the Nakba in 1948 and continued Palestinian suffering till today.

"Britain and the United States specifically bear political and ethical responsibility directly for the Nakba of the Palestinian people, because they took part in rendering our people victim when they decided to establish and plant another entity in our historic homeland for their own colonial goals and objectives," said Abbas. "And Israel would not have continued its hostility and aggression without the support it receives from these two countries."

Nakba Day is marked annually by the Palestinians on May 15 to remember the expulsion of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their homes, towns, and villages in 1948 after the creation of the state of Israel. 

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (2nd L) speaks at a high-level special meeting on the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Nakba at the UN headquarters in New York May 15, 2023. (Mark Garten/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)
Terms of availability of preparatory documents

for the combined general meeting of shareholders on June 7, 2023

Saint-Remy-les-Chevreuse  May 16, 2023. GTT (Gaztransport et Technigaz) informs its shareholders that the combined (ordinary and extraordinary) general meeting of shareholders will be held on Wednesday June 7, 2023 at 3:00 pm.

The notice of meeting, including the agenda and the draft resolutions as well as the conditions and modalities of participation and voting at this meeting, was published on the website of the Bulletin des Annonces Legales Obligatoires "BALO" (www.journal-officiel.gouv.fr/balo) on April 24, 2023 in bulletin number 49. This notice can also be consulted on the GTT website (www.gtt.fr).

The notice of meeting, containing the agenda and the text of the amended resolutions, will be published on May 17, 2023 on the BALO website in bulletin n59 as well as in a legal gazette and will also be available on the GTT website.

In accordance with the provisions of article R. 225-88 of the French Commercial Code, any shareholder holding registered shares may request, as from the publication of the notice of meeting and up to and including the fifth day before the date of this general meeting, that the documents and information referred to in articles R. 225-81 and R. 225-83 of the French Commercial Code be sent to him. This request must be made using the form for sending additional documents attached to the notice of meeting brochure and must be sent by post to Uptevia - CTO Assemblees Generales - Grands Moulins de Pantin - 9, rue du Debarcadere, 93761 Pantin Cedex France.

Shareholders holding bearer shares may also obtain these documents by sending their request to Uptevia, whose contact details are given above, and by providing proof of their status as shareholders by sending a certificate of account registration issued by their authorized financial intermediary.

The preparatory documents for the general meeting of shareholders of June 7, 2023 will be made available to shareholders in accordance with the applicable legal and regulatory provisions (i) on the GTT website (www.gtt.fr) and (ii) at the registered office of GTT, located at 1, route de Versailles, 78470 Saint-Remy-les-Chevreuse and at Uptevia, whose contact details are mentioned above.

The communication of any information or document will be validly made by electronic message, provided that the shareholder indicates in his request the electronic address to which it can be made. Shareholders are therefore encouraged to provide their e-mail address when making a request.

The meeting will be broadcast in full - live and recorded - on the Company's website.

About GTT

GTT is a technological expert in containment systems with cryogenic membranes used to transport and store liquefied gases. For over 50 years, GTT has been designing and providing cutting-edge technologies for a better energy performance, which combine operational efficiency and safety, to equip LNG carriers, floating terminals, land storage, and multi-gas carriers. GTT also develops systems dedicated to the use of LNG as fuel, as well as a full range of services, including digital services in the field of Smart Shipping. The Group is also active in hydrogen through its subsidiary Elogen, which designs and assembles electrolysers notably for the production of green hydrogen.

GTT is listed on Euronext Paris, Compartment A (ISIN FR0011726835 Euronext Paris: GTT) and is notably included in SBF 120, Stoxx Europe 600 and MSCI Small Cap indices

Investor relations contact:

[email protected] / +33 1 30 23 20 87

Media contact:

[email protected] / +33 1 30 23 48 45

For more information, visit www.gtt.fr.

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Developers, Architects and CTOs Will Learn How to Enable Immediate Action on Data-in-Motion at Kafka Summit London

London, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hazelcast, Inc., home of the real-time stream processing platform, is proud to be a Silver Sponsor of Kafka Summit London 2023, an event that brings together developers, architects, data engineers and DevOps professionals to learn about streaming data.

Throughout the Summit, Hazelcast is hosting multiple events to showcase how its real-time stream processing platform enables companies to act immediately on data-in-motion and enhance Kafka-based solutions to facilitate better data-driven decisions and thrive in the real-time economy.

Most companies that use Kafka as a distributed streaming platform are not getting the measurable business benefits because they are not leveraging capabilities that can process data incrementally as it arrives, says Manish Devgan, Chief Product Officer at Hazelcast. Instead of acting immediately on streaming data as it flows through the Kafka cluster, they are building traditional data pipelines to store data first and act on it later. This approach results in delayed actions, alerts, insights and updates to business-critical applications, which translates into businesses are slower or unable to respond to opportunities and threats.

More than 80% of all Fortune 100 companies use Kafka, an open source distributed event streaming platform. It is primarily used to build real-time streaming data pipelines and applications that adapt to the data streams.

At the Hazelcast booth (S4), app developers, architects, data engineers and DevOps professionals will learn how to enhance streaming data from Kafka and accelerate business outcomes by using stream processing to enrich, analyze and act on streaming data.

Additionally, Hazelcast will highlight the advantages of its stream-processing capabilities as compared to other market alternatives. For example, in a real-world enterprise application benchmark by Hasso-Plattner-Institute on Enterprise Stream Processing, Hazelcast performed significantly better than Apache Flink, receiving top scores for its high throughput and low latency.

Hazelcast experts available at the booth will explain how to:

integrate transactional, operational, and historical data into Kafka applications

simplify and optimize real-time stream processing architectures; and

take advantage of high throughput and low latency to deploy fast, highly scalable applications for running large-scale calculations, simulations, and other data- and compute-intensive workloads.

At an after-hours craft beer tasting and networking event, senior solutions architect Jon Diamond will demonstrate how real-time machine learning enables companies to accelerate responsiveness for improving customer experience, creating opportunities and protecting themselves from threats. Diamond will demonstrate retail business processes during Black Friday, as an example, and share how real-time machine learning enables organizations to optimize tasks such as sales analysis for maximum profit and customer engagement.

The rise of the real-time economy has made it critical for business leaders to use streaming data as a competitive advantage.

In April, Hazelcast was recognized as a Leader in the 2023 GigaOm Radar Report for Streaming Data. Per GigaOm analyst and co-author of the report, Jelani Harper, In the streaming data space, its almost impossible to find a single platform that handles data preparation, reference data enrichment, streaming data processing, low latent storage, and machine learning inferences while supporting a handful of stream processing engines. Hazelcast is the rare vendor able to provide this functionality, and more, in a single solution.

From retail to finance to healthcare to manufacturing and beyond, Hazelcast enables companies to respond to customers immediately, delivering highly personalized and timely experiences and adapting in the moment to drive revenue, cut costs, and mitigate risk.

Join Hazelcast at Kafka Summit London 2023

May 16-17: Kafka Summit in London (Booth S4)

May 17 at 5:30 pm in The Green Room at the Good Hotel London: Hazelcast hosts an invitation-only craft beer tasting event with the London Java Community. Kafka Summit attendees can request an invitation to the limited-space event.

Additional Stream Processing Resources

About Kafka Summit

Kafka Summit in London is the premier event for developers, architects, data engineers, DevOps professionals, and anyone who wants to learn about streaming data.

About Hazelcast, Inc.

Hazelcast, Inc. is the home of the real-time stream processing platform that enables enterprises to capture value at every moment. With Hazelcast, enterprises can increase actionable insights by unifying event streams with contextual insights from traditional data stores at in-memory speeds. From the cloud to the data center to the edge, Hazelcast is unique in transforming processes to help its customers achieve a competitive advantage via material revenue generation, risk management or cost reduction. Hazelcast is headquartered in Palo Alto, CA, with offices across the globe. To learn more about Hazelcast, visit https://hazelcast.com.

###
Toronto, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- You could be forgiven for thinking that HRs role is limited to hiring and firing. But in reality, theres a lot more to a role in HR than that. And by a lot, we sure do mean A LOT.

In fact, in celebration of the upcoming International HR Day, we wanted to shine a spotlight on HR professionals everywhere for whom no two days are ever the same.

Peninsula Group provides HR services to over 120,000 SMBs around the globe. They have pulled together the wild and wackiest calls received by advisors from group companies in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and the UK.

Darren Chadwick, CEO at Peninsula Canada says, HR can get a bad rap, but the job is extremely varied and rewarding. Just when you think youve heard it all, we recently had a client call the advice line trying to sell his parrot  HR can handle most things, but maybe isnt the best port of call when trying to offload a feathered friend!

Believe it or not, its all in a days work for HR! Lets take a look at the craziest calls received by our advisors over the last year, and Ill give my advice on how best to handle them.

 An employee called in sick and told their employer that they would be off sick for the 5-day mandatory quarantine period. The employer requested reasonable proof of this absence, as the employee had a high level of absences already this year. The employer received a photo of the employees positive COVID-19 test but recognized it. After a bit of online investigating, they found the exact photo which had been circulating on Twitter.

In certain situations, it is acceptable for an employer to request reasonable proof of an absence of an employee. If it is confirmed that the proof submitted is fraudulent, and after a full investigation, you can move on to take disciplinary action.

 A new employee asked their employer where the toilets were and were directed to the location. Moments later, they noticed the employee walk out the front door. Thinking this was slightly strange, they kept watching as the employee then squatted down and began to use the toilet on the sidewalk outside the store.

Awkward situations like this are not as rare as you might think in HR. An employer should be comfortable addressing these uncomfortable topics whilst also considering why they may be happening. Once the employer is made aware of the reasoning, they can then make adjustments or accommodations to ensure that everyone is comfortable in the workplace. Although allowing employees to go to the toilet on the sidewalk will never be considered a reasonable adjustment.

 An employee was caught sleeping at their desk during working hours. The employer woke them up and confronted them, asking why they were asleep. The employee said he was not asleep but was meditating to reduce the stress caused by his workload which he had recently complained to his supervisor about, to no avail.

Its important for employers to not jump to conclusions whenever they come across a situation like this. Firstly, speak with the employees supervisor to find out what discussions have taken place and what support measures, if any, have been implemented to help manage the workload. Then, you should assess whether the employee requires time off, any medical accommodations in the workplace, or a review of role and workload. This should then be adequately monitored and managed moving forward.

 Two employees were on their break in the parking lot. They were engaging in sexual activities when, suddenly, one of the employees got bitten in the behind by a coyote. The employer had to call an ambulance and had questions as to why the employees behind was exposed

Although this sounds like something from a sitcom, it is a real-life call that we received at Peninsula Canada! There are several areas to look at here. Firstly, professional conduct. Whether on a break or not, employees are expected to conduct themselves professionally at all times when on workplace premises. Secondly, the employee has sustained an injury whilst on workplace premises. This means that the employer needs to document this injury and carry out a full investigation into how it happened. You should look at the behavior of both employees before taking any disciplinary action.

 A new manager refused to go into certain store areas alone, claiming that she could see ghosts wandering the aisles. When alone, she would wait at the front doors till a co-worker came by and avoid working near the areas where she claimed to see these apparitions.

In a situation like this, it is important to address concerns with the employee and make your expectations clear. If the employee brings up any medical issues that require adjustments, then ask for documentation from a healthcare provider in order to begin the accommodation process. If there are no medical reasons for the behavior, then any issues should be addressed using the disciplinary process. All employees should be capable of fulfilling the role as outlined in both their job description and contract of employment. If they are unable to do so, then there may be reason to let the employee go.

And if you think those are bad, now lets look at some of the calls heard by other Peninsula Group companies around the globe.

Australia

 Can I give my employee a warning for wearing the same perfume as me?

 We fundraised for our employees cancer treatment but found Facebook photos in Thailand when she took sick leave to receive treatment. This doesnt seem right what can I do?

 Can I pay my workers, half in cash and half in food, if I can prove that the value of food is of equal value? I can attach the food pricing to their payslip.

 My employee has called in sick because his cat is sick, and the vet has given him a med cert for the cat.

 My employee is a bit of a downer; can I terminate them for not being happy at work?

Ireland

 I need some support; one of my staff, an undertaker, was just run over by the priest.

 A member of staff is asking other staff to cover for her while she meets up with men, shes having affairs with on her lunch break. How do I manage this?

 My staff member said they were working from home, but it turns out they have been in Mexico for months. How do I make them come back?

 Our former staff member stole the company dog. How do we get it back?

UK

 Can I fire someone for playing hide and seek in the office?

 A colleague drove me to work the other day and was a terrible driver. Can I raise a grievance against them?

 Can I fire someone for stealing my lunch?

 A staff member swore at me, am I allowed to swear back?

 A staff member resigned recently, and I didnt say goodbye. Can they sue me?

Notes to editor:

*These are all real calls received this year by Peninsula UK, Peninsula Ireland, Peninsula Canada, Croner, and Employsure.

Darren Chadwick is available for an interview.

Contact: Sally Abu-Samra  Public Relations Specialist

T: 647-363-7978 | E: [email protected]

Sally Abu-Samra Peninsula Canada (647) 363-7978 [email protected]

Source: Peninsula Canada
Annual General Meeting of JCDecaux SE of 16 May 2023

Paris, 16 May 2023  The Combined Annual General Meeting of JCDecaux SE (Euronext Paris: DEC) was held on 16 May 2023 at the company's head office.

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) approved all the resolutions put to the vote.

In particular, the AGM:

approved the financial statements for the year ending 31 December 2022;

renewed the mandates of the seven members of the Supervisory Board: Benedicte Hautefort, Marie-Laure Sauty de Chalon, Leila Turner and Jean-Sebastien Decaux for three years as well as the mandates of Gerard Degonse, Jean-Pierre Decaux and Michel Bleitrach for one year;

approved the 2023 compensation policy for corporate officers and the compensation components paid or allocated in respect of 2022;

renewed the expiring financial delegations and authorisations granted to the Executive Board.

Following the Meeting, the Supervisory Board renewed the mandates of Gerard Degonse as Chairman of the Supervisory Board and Jean-Pierre Decaux as Vice-Chairman of the Supervisory Board for the duration of their terms as Supervisory Board members.

Replacing Pierre Mutz, who has decided not to renew his mandate as a member of the Supervisory Board, the Supervisory Board appointed Jean-Sebastien Decaux as a member of the Audit Committee and Benedicte Hautefort as a member of the Ethics and ESG Committee for the duration of their terms as Supervisory Board members.

The Supervisory Board also renewed, for the duration of their terms as Supervisory Board members, the mandates of:

Michel Bleitrach as a member and Chairman of the Compensation and Nominating Committee;

Gerard Degonse as a member of the Compensation and Nominating Committee;

Michel Bleitrach as a member and Chairman of the Ethics and ESG Committee.



The Supervisory Board appointed Jean-Francois Decaux as Chairman of the Executive Board and Jean-Charles Decaux as Chief Executive Officer for a period of one year, in accordance with the principle of alternating the Chief Executive Officer position at JCDecaux SE.

For commercial and public-representation purposes, Jean-Francois Decaux and Jean-Charles Decaux use the title of Co-Chief Executive Officer of JCDecaux.

Key Figures for JCDecaux

2022 revenue: 3,317m (a)

N1 Out-of-Home Media company worldwide

A daily audience of more than 850 million people in more than 80 countries

1,040,132 advertising panels worldwide

Present in 3,573 cities with more than 10,000 inhabitants

11,200 employees

JCDecaux is listed on the Eurolist of Euronext Paris and is part of the Euronext 100 and Euronext Family Business indexes

JCDecaux is recognised for its extra-financial performance in the FTSE4Good (3.6/5), CDP (A- Leadership), MSCI (AA) and has achieved Platinum Medal status from EcoVadis

1 st Out-of-Home Media company to join the RE100

Out-of-Home Media company to join the RE100 Leader in self-service bike rental scheme: pioneer in eco-friendly mobility

N1 worldwide in street furniture (604,536 advertising panels)

N1 worldwide in transport advertising with 153 airports and 205 contracts in metros, buses, trains and tramways (333,620 advertising panels)

N1 in Europe for billboards (101,976 advertising panels worldwide)

N1 in outdoor advertising in Europe (654,957 advertising panels)

N1 in outdoor advertising in Asia-Pacific (170,973 advertising panels)

N1 in outdoor advertising in Latin America (129,305 advertising panels)

N1 in outdoor advertising in Africa (24,198 advertising panels)

N1 in outdoor advertising in the Middle East (19,371 advertising panels)

(a) Adjusted revenue

For more information about JCDecaux, please visit jcdecaux.com.

Join us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Communications Department: Albert Asseraf

+33 (0) 1 30 79 79 10  [email protected]

Investor Relations: Remi Grisard

+33 (0) 1 30 79 79 93  [email protected]



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Lannion, 16/05/2023 - 7:30 am

LUMIBIRD ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE PRIMA INDUSTRIE'S HIGH POWER LASER AND SEMICONDUCTOR BUSINESSES IN ITALY AND THE UNITED STATES

The LUMIBIRD Group (FR0000038242 - LBIRD), the European leader in laser technologies, signed on May 15 an agreement with the Italian company Prima Industrie to acquire its subsidiary Convergent Photonics (Turin, Italy) and the Convergent assets of Prima Industrie North America (Boston, USA). This acquisition gives Lumibird a strategic advantage in high power semiconductor and fibre lasers and opens up new markets.

Convergent Photonics has over 50 years of experience in the design and manufacture of semiconductor lasers and laser diode packaging, as well as the design and manufacture of high-power fibre lasers for the medical sector (urology, surgery, etc.). 80 qualified and experienced people, divided between Italy and the USA, will join the Lumibird Group. The Convergent activities had a turnover of 15 million euros in 2022 for a negative EBITDA of 1.5 million euros.

This acquisition is a new step in the group's investment strategy and has a double strategic interest by strengthening its strategic positioning in semiconductors and very high power fibre lasers, and by opening up new market segments.

Strengthening sovereignty with semiconductors and very high power fibre lasers

This acquisition will enable Lumibird to further strengthen its sovereignty in the field of lasers and optronics. It also completes, with the arrival of the semiconductor, the strategic investments already made in optical fibre and derived components. It will enable Lumibird to become independent in the supply of critical components and will give it greater capacity for innovation in materials and components, while internalising the margins on expensive components.

Opening up new markets

The integration of these activities will enable the development of the medical branch in markets other than ophthalmology, where the group is already in a leadership position. In total synergy with the photonics branch, which will supply high-powered lasers, the path to applications in Urology and Gynaecology is open.

The parties expect the transaction to be completed in the second half of 2023, subject to regulatory approvals in Italy and the US.

Lumibird will finance its acquisition through its available cash or by drawing on the bank lines available to the group, in compliance with the covenants.

"Marc Le Flohic, Chairman and CEO of Lumibird, said: "This acquisition strengthens several of our technological pillars and is perfectly in line with Lumibird's strategy of verticalization and sovereignty. It allows us to vertically integrate critical semiconductor technologies, to strengthen our sovereignty over laser technologies in Europe, and to diversify into high growth markets.

Giovanni Negri, CEO of Prima Industrie commented: After many years of being successfully active in the development and production of laser sources, Prima Industrie has decided to dispose of laser source business unit, Convergent, in order to focus on main business of sheet metal machinery and systems. We are pleased to sell it to a player such as Lumibird that will undoubtedly allow Convergent to express all its huge potential, based on a high level of technological know how.

LUMIBIRD is one of the world's leading laser specialists. With 50 years of experience and mastering solid-state, diode and fibre laser technologies, the Group designs, manufactures and distributes high-performance laser solutions for scientific (research laboratories, universities), industrial (production, defence/space, Lidar sensors) and medical (ophthalmology, ultrasound diagnosis) applications.

The result of the merger in October 2017 between the Keopsys and Quantel Groups, LUMIBIRD, with more than 1,000 employees and more than 191m in turnover by 2022, is present in Europe, America and Asia.

LUMIBIRD shares are listed in compartment B of Euronext Paris. FR0000038242 - LBIRD www.lumibird.com

LUMIBIRD is part of Euronext Tech Leaders since 2022

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Strategic collaboration supports BEEAH in creating Jawaher Boston Medical District in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Boston, MA, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mass General Brigham and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute are collaborating with BEEAH Group, an organization pioneering sustainability and quality of life solutions in the Middle East, to advise in the development of the Jawaher Boston Medical District, a state-of-the-art health care system designed to deliver world-class, patient-centered care through innovation, technology, and sustainability. Mass General Brigham and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute are strategic partners, serving in an advisory capacity, on the project in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, which includes a multi-specialty flagship hospital for integrated, cutting-edge care.



The collaboration combines the depth and breadth of clinical expertise and innovation from Mass General Brigham and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, with BEEAHs vision to create a sustainable, advanced, patient-centered health system designed to deliver care to patients within  and beyond  hospital walls. BEEAH Group was founded in 2007 to tackle sustainability challenges in Sharjah and improve quality of life.



Focused on serving the unique needs of the people of Sharjah and the region, the Jawaher Boston Medical District will offer patients access to the latest clinical expertise across a wide variety of integrated clinical specialties, including lifestyle medicine and prevention, oncology, womens health, pediatrics, cardiovascular, neurosciences, behavioral health, and rehabilitation medicine. In addition to medical and research expertise, Mass General Brigham and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute will also collaborate with BEEAH Group to advise on best practices in workforce training, development, and public education to the community, with attention to developing local talent.



Mass General Brigham and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute are advising BEEAH Group in their development of multiple facilities, comprising the flagship hospital and ambulatory clinics across Sharjah, with integrated, innovative, and digital solutions, including app-based care and hospital-at-home.



Mass General Brigham has a deep history of global collaboration aimed at serving and improving the lives of patients around the world, said Raymond W. Liu, MD, Vice President, Mass General Brigham Global Advisory. In collaborating with BEEAH, we hope to contribute our decades of expertise to their development of a unique, innovative vision for a health system that builds on medicines leading edge, with an eye to the future.



Dana-Farber, a world leader in cancer treatment and research, is committed to advancing the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, cure, and prevention of cancer and related diseases locally and globally, said Adam Reich, Vice President of Business Initiatives at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. We are pleased to work with BEEAH and extend our expertise to this collaboration as part of our mission to enhance access to expert cancer care and reduce the burden of cancer worldwide.



By leveraging its expertise in quality-of-life solutions in Sharjah and the Middle East, BEEAH will create a new destination for the health, wellness and quality of life for the people of Sharjah and the region focused on patient outcomes and experience gleaned from a robust academic ecosystem pioneered, developed and refined over two centuries by Mass General Brigham and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute clinicians.



By pooling their combined medical, research and sustainability expertise, Mass General Brigham, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and BEEAH will develop innovative technologies, diagnostics, delivery models and patient care, ultimately fostering research, directly benefitting patients globally and providing valuable cross-institutional learnings in the United States. The outcome will enable BEEAH to create a comprehensive patient-centered health care system for the people of Sharjah and the UAE, integrating healthcare solutions into homes, schools, workplaces, and communities to help all patients and their families live healthier lives.



By partnering with Mass General Brigham and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, BEEAH Group is entering the healthcare industry and adding a new dimension to our purpose of pioneering a sustainable quality of life for the people of Sharjah, the UAE, and beyond, said Khaled Al Huraimel, Group CEO of BEEAH Group. Drawing from the expertise of our partners in Boston, we look forward to creating not just an integrated health network, but a future-ready healthcare ecosystem. The Jawaher Boston Medical District will provide patients in Sharjah access to world-class healthcare closer to home, while also serving as a hub for the development of cutting-edge treatments and medical advancement.



The project draws from Mass General Brigham and Dana-Farber Cancer Institutes medical and research expertise, as well as BEEAH Groups experience collaborating and innovating with international partners to create facilities that are sustainable, digitally-enabled and centered around the comfort and convenience of occupants.



Following a meeting of representatives from Mass General Brigham, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and BEEAH Group, Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi, Wife of the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of BEEAH Group, and Meghan Gregonis, United States General Consul in Dubai, the Jawaher Boston Medical District in Sharjah was approved to move forward.

###
Washington, D. C., May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A documentary has been released telling the stories of Catholic Universitys efforts to recruit and welcome Black students, especially from the Washington, D.C. area through its Partnership Program. Fifty years after the Universitys first graduates of the Partnership Program  created in the wake of the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.  the documentary examines its founding, its struggles, and the progress being made to create a more diverse campus community.

Catholic University admitted 30 Black students mainly from the local area through the Partnership Program. To mark its success and the work that has been done, the University bestowed honorary doctoral degrees to the program's first directors, Leon LeBuffe and Thaddeus Aubry at the University-wide Commencement ceremony on May 13.

The documentary, No Longer Out of Reach, was directed and produced by award-winning filmmaker and journalist Chris Jenkins. The documentary features four of the programs first participants along with Aubry and LeBuffe, both alumni, telling their stories. Additional voices from former students and archival footage complete the narrative about how Black students first faced significant struggles to get an education and how the University has been supporting the program since its founding in 1969. To screen the documentary, visit here.

I can think of no better way to mark the 50th anniversary of the Partnership Program than to shine a light on its history, celebrate its accomplishments, and award honorary degrees to the programs first directors, Leon LeBuffe and Thaddeus Aubry, said Dr. Peter K. Kilpatrick, president of Catholic University. Both of these extraordinary gentlemen offered their offices, homes, and time to students and were dedicated and welcoming.

The Partnership Program has helped scores of Black students from the Washington metropolitan area attend Catholic University. In 1968, the year before the program started, there were seven Black undergraduates on campus. Now total undergraduate and graduate enrollment of Black students accounts for approximately 10% of the total student body.

During LeBuffe and Aubrys tenure, they personally mentored every matriculating program student  from their first days on campus through graduation. Even the few who ultimately did not complete the program benefited from their attention. This impact was felt so strongly and had such a profound impact on program graduates that the group established an endowed scholarship  the Thaddeus F. Aubry Jr. and Leon LeBuffe Scholarship  to honor their legacy and help current and future Black students at Catholic University through financial grants.

No Longer Out of Reach features four of the original 30 Black students admitted in 1969: Elvira Wise Smith, Ronny B. Lancaster, Andrea Cullins, and Kenneth Walker. The partners recount their experiences and journeys as Black students on Catholic Universitys campus in the 70s. LeBuffe and Aubry discuss the role they played to bridge the gap and help students acclimate to the almost entirely white, and frequently unwelcoming, environment in which they found themselves.

ABOUT: The Catholic University of America is the national university of the Catholic Church and the only higher education institution founded by the U.S. bishops. Established in 1887 as a papally chartered graduate and research center, the University comprises 12 schools and 31 research facilities and is home to 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students.

Division of University Communications  Washington, D.C. 20064[email protected]  www.catholic.edu  202-319-5600

Nicole Germain The Catholic University of America 202-319-5786 [email protected]

Source: The Catholic University of America


Tuesday, May 16, 2023





Dear Shareholders and Investors,



Our first quarter 2023 earnings report will be released on Monday May 22, 2023 before NYSE opening.

Sincerely,

Herbjorn Hansson

Founder, Chairman & CEO

Nordic American Tankers Ltd. www.nat.bm

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts.

The Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words believe, anticipate, intend, estimate, forecast, project, plan, potential, will, may, should, expect, pending and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, our managements examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although we believe that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values, changes in demand in the tanker market, as a result of changes in OPECs petroleum production levels and worldwide oil consumption and storage, changes in our operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, the market for our vessels, availability of financing and refinancing, changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, vessels breakdowns and instances of off-hires and other important factors described from time to time in the reports filed by the Company with

the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the prospectus and related prospectus supplement, our Annual Report on Form 20-F, and our reports on Form 6-K.

Contacts:

Bjrn Giver, CFO

Nordic American Tankers Ltd

Tel: +1 888 755 8391

Alexander Kihle, Finance Manager

Nordic American Tankers Ltd

Tel: +47 91 724 171




Cincinnati, OH, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Osborne Coinage, America's oldest private mint, has designed a commemorative coin to honor the brave men and women who served in the U.S. Armed Forces and are buried at Hillcrest Cemetery in Cincinnati. The limited-edition coin features Hillcrest Cemetery on the front and military insignia on the back. On the reverse side of the coin, an outer rim lists the wars in which the interred veterans fought. The design is a direct transfer of a photo of the cemetery. The commemorative coin is a beautiful golden brass and is 1.54 inches in diameter, around the size of a silver dollar. Only 250 coins have been produced, making them a unique and special collector's item.

"We are honored to have had the opportunity to design this commemorative coin for Hillcrest Cemetery," said Gibson Olpp of Osborne Coinage. "It is a small but meaningful way to pay tribute to the many courageous individuals who have served our country and now rest at Hillcrest Cemetery."Hillcrest Cemetery holds historical and cultural significance as a final resting place for African American veterans, community leaders, and ordinary citizens who faced segregation and discrimination during their lifetimes. The cemetery reflects the cultural heritage and traditions of the African American community in Cincinnati. It provides a space for families to remember their ancestors, connect with their roots, and pay respects to their loved ones. The cemetery's existence and preservation efforts by dedicated volunteers helps preserve the cultural heritage of the African American community in the city.The volunteer group, Friends of Hillcrest Cemetery, hope that the commemorative coins can be used to build awareness around their efforts to preserve the dignity of the veterans plots in this cemetery, tucked away on the east side of Cincinnati.

The commemorative coin is available for purchase through Friends of Hillcrest Cemetery on their Facebook page, and all proceeds from the sale of the coin will go towards the maintenance and preservation of Hillcrest Cemetery.

"We are thrilled with the design of this simple, yet dignified commemorative coin," said Colonel Todd Mayer on behalf of Friends of Hillcrest Cemetery. "It is a beautiful representation of the cemetery, and it honors the veterans who are buried here. We are grateful to Osborne Coinage for their exceptional work in creating this special coin."

For more information about Hillcrest Cemetery or to purchase a commemorative coin, please visit the Friends of Hillcrest Cemetery Facebook page or contact Colonel Todd Mayer at [email protected].

Attachments

Gibson Olpp Osborne Coinage 5136815424 [email protected]

Source: Osborne Coinage
CALGARY, Alberta, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pan American Energy Corp. (CSE: PNRG) (OTC PINK: PAANF) (FRA: SS6) (the Company or Pan American) has welcomed a new member to its Board of Directors, Ms. Nicky Grant, who brings with her over 18 years of experience in investment banking. Nicky started her career in the US Institutional Desk at Goldman Sachs before moving to the Special Execution Group in Corporate Finance, where she specialized in debt capital markets. She then worked for UBS as part of their Transaction Management Team and focused on global capital markets, with a particular focus in Emerging Markets. She then re-joined Goldman Sachs as a Vice President and joined their Equity Capital Markets team covering UK companies.

In September of 2022, Nicky became Head of Corporate Advisory for Ocean Wall Limited., a market-leading investment house specializing in all aspects of niche alternative investing and advisory. As announced in the Companys press release on December 6, 2022, Ocean Wall currently serves as an advisor to the Company, providing global capital introduction and general corporate, business and strategic advisory services. Ms. Grant also holds roles as UK/European IR and Corporate Advisor to TSX-V and CSE listed companies in the critical minerals space, as well as a role as the sole UK/European Advisor to a NYSE-listed medical company.

Jason Latkowcer, Chief Executive Officer commented, We are thrilled to welcome Ms. Nicky Grant to the Board of Directors at Pan American. Her extensive experience in investment banking, specifically in capital markets, and her expertise in the lithium sector, make her an invaluable addition to our team. With the growing demand for lithium and our commitment to becoming a leader in the space, we believe that Nickys insights and guidance will be instrumental in helping us achieve our goals. We are confident that her contributions to the board will enhance our ability to deliver value to our shareholders and we look forward to working with her.

Pan American also announces that it has granted 200,000 stock options (Options), each with an exercise price of CDN$0.64, to Ms. Grant in connection with her appointment to the board of directors of the Company and 350,000 RSUs to Mr. Jason Latkowcer as partial compensation for his continuing service to the Company as President and Chief Executive Officer. 50,000 of the Options granted to Ms. Grant shall vest immediately, with the remaining 150,000 Options vesting in three equal installments on September 15, 2023, January 15, 2024 and May 15, 2024. The Options granted to Ms. Grant shall expire on May 15, 2026. The RSUs granted to Mr. Latkowcer vest in four equal installments of 87,500 RSUs on August 12, 2023, November 12, 2023, February 12, 2024 and May 12, 2024.

Each vested Option, upon payment of the exercise price, entitles Ms. Grant to receive one common share of the Company and each vested RSU, upon settlement, entitles Mr. Latkowcer to receive one common share of the Company. The Options and RSUs are governed by the terms and conditions of the Companys share-based compensation plan. The Options, the RSUs and any shares issued upon the exercise of the Options or the settlement of the RSUs will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day in accordance with the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange.

About Pan American Energy Corp.

Pan American Energy Corp. (CSE: PNRG) (OTC PINK: PAANF) (FSE: SS6) is an exploration stage company engaged principally in the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties containing battery metals in North America.

The Company executed an option agreement in Canada with Magabra Resources providing for the right to acquire up to a 90% interest in the drill-ready Big Mack Lithium Project, 80 km north of Kenora, Ontario. The Company has also entered a property option agreement with Horizon Lithium LLC providing for the right to acquire a 100% interest in the Horizon Lithium Project, located within the Clayton Valley  Tonopah Lithium Belt, Nevada, USA.

To register for investor updates please visit https://panam-energy.com.

On Behalf of the Board of DirectorsJason LatkowcerCEO & Director

ContactPhone : (587) 885-5970 Email: [email protected]

Forward-Looking Statement

Certain information contained in this press release constitutes "forward-looking information", within the meaning of Canadian legislation. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "anticipate", "will", "has", "now", "shall", "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", "offers the opportunity to", "occur", "be achieved" or "has the potential to". Forward looking statements contained in this press release may include statements which involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may not prove to be accurate. Actual results and outcomes may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in these forward-looking statements. Such statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations. Among those factors which could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: market conditions, our ability to continue to trade on the OTCQB Marketplace, our ability to increase visibility and liquidity, our ability to diversify our shareholder base, risks related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, including disruptions to the Company's business and operational plans, risks related to the global economic uncertainty as a result of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and other risk factors listed from time to time in our reports filed with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made as of the date of this press release and Fission 3.0 Corp. disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities legislation.

The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the contents of this press release.

Source: Pan American Energy Corp.
TOKYO, May 16 (Xinhua) -- A man died and another was injured on Tuesday after a large mobile crane toppled and hit nearby vehicles at a construction site in Tokyo, according to police.

Tokyo police said the crane was lifting an excavator when it toppled over onto a van, a truck and one other vehicle, and a man in his 50s became trapped in the van and was later confirmed dead, while a man in the truck was seriously injured with a broken leg.

The construction site for a nursing facility is located in a residential area in Tokyo's Shinagawa Ward. Police said an investigation is underway. 
DENVER, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pax8, the leading cloud marketplace, announced today it has been selected as a 2023 U.S. Best Managed Company. Sponsored by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal, the program recognizes outstanding U.S. private companies and the achievement of their management teams. A distinguished panel of independent judges assessed more than 500 U.S. applicants based on their excellence in four key areas  strategy, ability to execute, corporate culture, and governance/financial performance. Out of these 500 applicants, only 56 companies from the U.S. were selected, joining a prestigious global ecosystem of honorees from more than 46 countries worldwide, all of whom have been recognized by the esteemed Best Managed Companies program.

We are extremely proud and honored to be recognized as a U.S. Best Managed Company and we attribute this success entirely to our exceptional team of employees who consistently surpass expectations in delivering exceptional results for our partners and vendors, said John Street, Chief Executive Officer, and Co-founder, Pax8. This national recognition serves as a great motivator for us to continue striving for excellence, as we passionately pursue our vision to build the next generation of our cloud marketplace.

The 2023 designees are U.S. private companies that have demonstrated excellence in strategic planning and execution, a commitment to their people and fostering a dynamic culture, as well as strong financials. Designees propelled their businesses forward and remained true to their purpose and values by investing in their people, creating advantage through digital transformation, taking measurable action on sustainability, and demonstrating their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Being named a U.S. Best Managed Company not only acknowledges Pax8s commitment to excellence but also honors the principles and values that differentiate the company from its competitors. From its world-class people culture to its innovative marketplace and solutions, and a service culture with a high-touch experience for partners, vendors, and customers, Pax8 strives to be on the leading edge with its marketplace and products by placing its people first.

Our leading people culture of servant leadership empowers employees at all levels to innovate with new ideas, processes, and services, added Street. We continuously improve our business practices to deliver innovative solutions and provide an unparalleled partner, vendor, customer, and employee experience. Innovation is part of our culture and DNA, and it begins with our people.

When Pax8 was established in 2012, the concept of a cloud marketplace was early to market, and the company was not an immediate success. By 2016, Pax8 began to make significant progress in the dynamic IT industry as an increasing number of managed service providers (MSPs), vendors, and businesses adjusted their strategies by adopting cloud technology.

By 2020, Pax8 had become a pivotal player in the ecosystem, demonstrating resilience even during a global pandemic and the evolution of a remote workforce. In 2022, Pax8 experienced rocketship growth organically and through acquisitions and expanded its operations globally into the EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) and APAC (Asia-Pacific) regions. The company achieved a $1.7 billion valuation, raised $185 million from investors, and surpassed over $1 billion in annual recurring revenue (ARR). Pax8 was ranked 131 on 2022 Deloittes Technology Fast 500 based on its growth from 2018 to 2021 of 1,122%. In addition, Pax8 appeared on the Inc 5000 for five consecutive years.

In addition to their corporate headquarters in Greenwood Village, Colorado, and an office in Florence, Colorado, Pax8 maintains multiple offices around the globe. Pax8s EMEA locations include Bristol, Farnborough, and Derby in the United Kingdom; Zwolle, Netherlands; Frankfurt and Hamburg in Germany; Brussels, Belgium; Tallinn, Estonia; Vilnius, Lithuania; Riga, Latvia; and Stockholm, Sweden. Additionally, Pax8s offices in the APAC region, include Brisbane, Australia and Auckland, New Zealand. Lastly, Pax8 also is in Richmond, British Columbia and Liberty Hill, Texas.

Today, Pax8 has established a global brand that speaks for itself. Pax8 partners with more than 28,000 MSPs in 17 countries and 80+ vendors that serve more than 400,000 small and medium-sized businesses. Its global workforce has grown from 550 employees in 2020 to 1,600 in 2023.

Over the past three years, our companys growth has been nothing short of phenomenal, expressed Street. As a startup, weve consistently pushed the limits of whats achievable in the cloud technology industry. As we scale, were thrilled to announce that well be unveiling our vision for the future of Pax8 at our upcoming user conference, Pax8 Beyond in June in Denver. Our plan is to create a connective tissue for the cloud ecosystem that will bring together vendors, partners, and end-users in a way the IT channel has yet to experience. Witnessing the realization of the vision that my co-founders and I shared in 2012 is truly incredible, and we firmly believe the best is yet to come for Pax8.

For information about Pax8 Beyond or to register, visit Pax8 Beyond

To view the list of U.S. Best Managed Company honorees, visit 2023 U.S. Honorees

To learn more about Pax8, please visit www.pax8.com.

About Pax8Pax8 is the worlds favorite cloud marketplace for IT professionals to buy, sell, and manage best-in-class technology solutions. Pioneering the future of modern business, Pax8 has cloud-enabled more than 400,000 enterprises through its channel partners and processes one million monthly transactions. Pax8s award-winning technology enables managed service providers (MSPs) to accelerate growth, increase efficiency, and reduce risk so their businesses can thrive. The innovative company has ranked in the Inc. 5000 for five years in a row. Join the revolution at pax8.com.

Follow Pax8 on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

About the Best Managed Companies ProgramThe Best Managed Companies program is a mark of excellence for private companies. U.S. designees have revenues of at least $250 million. Hundreds of private companies around the world have competed for this designation in their respective countries through a rigorous and independent process that evaluates four key criteria in their management skills and practices  strategy, execution, culture and governance/financials. U.S. program sponsors are Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal. For more information, visit www.usbestmanagedcompanies.com.

Pax8 Media Contact:Melissa Gallegos, Communications Director[email protected]

Source: Pax8
Meeting adjourned to June 13, 2023 at 3:00 p.m.

Shareholders with questions or who require assistance voting their shares should contact Laurel Hill Advisory Group (Laurel Hill) toll free within North America at 1-877-452-7184 (1-416-304-0211 outside North America), or by email at [email protected] .

CALGARY, Alberta, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Peyto Exploration & Development Corp. (TSX: PEY) ("Peyto" or the "Company") today announces that it intends to adjourn the annual general meeting of shareholders (the "Meeting") currently scheduled for May 17, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. (Calgary time), and to reconvene the Meeting on June 13, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. (Calgary time) at +15 Level, 600  3rd Avenue S.W., Calgary, Alberta T2P 0G5 in order to give shareholders additional time to cast their votes at the Meeting. Beneficial shareholders who have yet to receive their Meeting materials including voting instruction form should immediately contact their financial advisor or broker.

To implement the adjournment, the Meeting will be convened on May 17, 2023 but the Company intends to then immediately adjourn the Meeting until June 13, 2023. Other than a motion to adjourn the Meeting, no other business is expected to be considered at the Meeting on May 17, 2023 and management's corporate presentation is now scheduled to occur after the formal portion of the adjourned Meeting on June 13, 2023.

Peyto is encouraged by the support of its shareholders and is committed to continuing its progress to increasing gender diversity on the board. The board has recruited two new independent female directors in the past year who are each standing for election at the Meeting and represent 25% of the current slate of board nominees. In addition, the board is committed to increasing the percentage of female directors on the board to 30% for the 2024 annual meeting of Peyto shareholders. The directors of Peyto are also committed to continuing their active engagement and contributions to the Company and have all committed to attend substantially all meetings of the board and applicable committees and in any case not less than 75% of all meetings as well as providing increased transparency in future meeting materials regarding these contributions.

The Company may use Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc.s QuickVote service to assist beneficial Peyto shareholders with voting. The Companys proxy solicitation agent, Laurel Hill, may contact certain beneficial Peyto shareholders who have not objected to the Company knowing who they are (non-objecting beneficial owners, or NOBOs) to conveniently obtain a vote directly over the telephone. Shareholders who have already voted do not need to recast their votes unless they wish to change their vote. Shareholders who have not already voted or wish to change their vote are strongly encouraged to do so promptly using the instructions provided in the Company's information circular and in the form of proxy or voting instruction form or by contacting Laurel Hill toll free within North America at 1-877-452-7184 (1-416-304-0211 outside North America), or by email at [email protected].

How to Vote

Shareholders of record of the Companys common shares at the close of business on March 28, 2023 may vote at the Meeting, vote by proxy by internet, over the telephone or by mail.

To vote through the Internet , go to www.investorvote.com (for registered shareholders) or www.proxyvote.com (for beneficial shareholders) to complete an electronic proxy card. You will be asked to provide the control number from the proxy card.

, go to www.investorvote.com (for registered shareholders) or www.proxyvote.com (for beneficial shareholders) to complete an electronic proxy card. You will be asked to provide the control number from the proxy card. To vote over the telephone , dial toll-free 1-866-732-8683 using a touch-tone phone and follow the recorded instructions. You will be asked to provide the company number and control number from the proxy card.

, dial toll-free 1-866-732-8683 using a touch-tone phone and follow the recorded instructions. You will be asked to provide the company number and control number from the proxy card. To vote by mail, use the proxy card, simply complete, sign and date the proxy card delivered to you and return it promptly in the envelope provided. A shareholder's proxy or voting instructions must be received no later than no later than 48 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays) before the adjourned Meeting on June 13, 2023.

Shareholders and interested investors are encouraged to visit the Peyto website at www.peyto.com to learn more about what makes Peyto one of North Americas most exciting energy companies. The website also includes a monthly report, which discusses various topics chosen by the President and CEO and includes estimates of monthly capital expenditures and production. For further information please contact:

Jean-Paul Lachance President and Chief Executive Officer Phone: (403) 261-6081 Fax: (403) 451-4100 [email protected]

Certain information set forth in this document, including the intention to adjourn the Meeting, the date the Meeting will be re-convened and matters with respect to changes to the Company's board and related targets, contains forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond these parties' control, including any changes in intentions or voting results at the Meeting and any changes to the size and composition of the Company's board. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. Peyto's actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and, accordingly, no assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits that Peyto will derive therefrom. The Toronto Stock Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the information contained herein.

Source: Peyto Exploration & Development Corp.
May 16, 2023

Amsterdam, the Netherlands  Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG; AEX: PHIA), today provides an update on the comprehensive test and research program of its subsidiary Philips Respironics to assess potential health risks related to the polyester-based polyurethane (PE-PUR) sound abatement foam in specific sleep therapy and ventilator devices under the voluntary June 2021 recall notification/field safety notice.*

The risk assessments have now been completed for the CPAP/BiPAP sleep therapy devices under the recall notification/field safety notice* i.e., the first-generation DreamStation, System One and DreamStation Go devices, representing approximately 95% of the registered devices globally. The assessments build on the previous updates in December 2021, June 2022, and December 2022. Additionally, tests and analyses have been completed for first-generation DreamStation devices that have been exposed to ozone cleaning.

The test and research program has been conducted together with five independent, certified testing laboratories, and the results have been reviewed and assessed by third-party qualified experts and Philips Respironics, as well as an external medical panel.

Philips Respironics has provided the summary of the completed set of test results and analyses for the CPAP/BiPAP sleep therapy devices to the FDA and other competent authorities. The FDA is still considering the data and analyses that Philips Respironics has provided and may reach a different conclusion.

The full press release is available here.

* Voluntary recall notification in the US/field safety notice for the rest of the world.

For media questions, please contact:

Steve KlinkPhilips Global Press OfficeTel.: +31 6 10888824E-mail: [email protected]

Elco van GroningenPhilips Global Press OfficeTel.: +31 6 81039584E-mail: [email protected]

About Royal PhilipsRoyal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and well-being through meaningful innovation. Philips patient- and people-centric innovation leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver personal health solutions for consumers and professional health solutions for healthcare providers and their patients in the hospital and the home. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, ultrasound, image-guided therapy, monitoring and enterprise informatics, as well as in personal health. Philips generated 2022 sales of EUR 17.8 billion and employs approximately 74,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter.

Forward-looking statements This statement contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of Philips and certain of the plans and objectives of Philips with respect to these items. Examples of forward-looking statements include statements made about the strategy, estimates of sales growth, future EBITA, future developments in Philips organic business and the completion of acquisitions and divestments. By their nature, these statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events and circumstances and there are many factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements.

Attachment

Source: Royal Philips
THE WOODLANDS, Texas, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ring Energy, Inc. (NYSE American: REI) (Ring or the Company) today announced its participation in an investor event hosted by Water Tower Research (WTR) on May 17, 2023 at 2:00 PM Eastern.

As part of WTRs ongoing Fireside Chat Series, Jeff Robertson, Managing Director at WTR, will lead an in-depth conversation with Paul McKinney, Rings Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Included in the discussion will be a variety of important topics, including the Companys targeting conventional reservoirs in the Permian Basin, the opportunities provided by Rings transformational acquisition of additional Central Basin Platform assets in the second half of 2022, the Companys commitment to enhancing the strength of its balance sheet, and managements strategy to further build long-term shareholder value.

Investors and other interested parties can access the event by registering in advance at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_k75PhFgBSyin4AE2EAv7Ug#/registration.

About Ring Energy, Inc.

Ring Energy, Inc. is an oil and gas exploration, development, and production company with current operations focused on the conventional development of its Permian Basin assets. For additional information, please visit www.ringenergy.com.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements involve a wide variety of risks and uncertainties, and include, without limitations, statements with respect to the Companys strategy and prospects. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties which are disclosed in the Companys reports filed with the SEC, including its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, and its other filings with the SEC. Readers and investors are cautioned that the Companys actual results may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.

Contact Information

Al Petrie AdvisorsAl Petrie, Senior PartnerPhone: 281-975-2146Email: [email protected]

Source: Ring Energy, Inc.
Atlanta, Georgia, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ScottMadden, Inc., one of North Americas leading management consulting firms specializing in energy, has released its latest edition of The Energy Industry Update (EIU). Themed, Just Cant Get Enough, this EIU examines integrated planning, resource adequacy, and lessons learned from Australias energy transition.

In this report, ScottMadden offers the latest on:

How an evolving energy system drives utilities toward more comprehensive planning approaches.

How in the past several years, weather events have highlighted grid operators challenges in balancing supply and demand at all hours on the bulk power grid.

A look at how Australias experience demonstrates that the energy transition will require major new investments and new operating methods.

For a summary of these topics, watch this video. If you are interested in scheduling an interview with one of our thought leaders, please contact us.

Complimentary Energy Industry Update Webcast

If you have not yet registered, we encourage you to join ScottMaddens complimentary webcast, ScottMaddens Energy Industry Update  Just Cant Get Enough, on Thursday, June 15, from 1:002:00 p.m. EDT to hear our energy experts share their views and field questions related to these topics and more. Ms. Lyons will serve as the webcast moderator. Register for this webcast here.

About ScottMaddens Energy Practice

We know energy from the ground up. Since 1983, we have served as energy consultants for hundreds of utilities, large and small, including all of the top 20. We focus on Transmission & Distribution, the Grid Edge, Generation, Energy Markets, Rates & Regulation, Enterprise Sustainability, and Corporate Services. Our broad, deep utility expertise is not theoreticalit is experience based. We have helped our clients develop and implement strategies, improve critical operations, reorganize departments and entire companies, and implement myriad initiatives.

About ScottMadden, Inc.

ScottMadden is the management consulting firm that does what it takes to get it done right. We consult in two main areasEnergy and Corporate & Shared Services. We deliver a broad array of consulting services ranging from strategic planning through implementation across many industries, business units, and functions. To learn more, visit www.scottmadden.com | Twitter | LinkedIn.

Source: ScottMadden, Inc.
Berlin, Germany , May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Berlin-based social enterprise, soulbottles, has announced their position as the highest rated B Corp company in Germany. The startup secured their impressive rank by prioritizing sustainable practices, charity, and other admirable initiatives.

B Corp conducts a holistic assessment of companies in five impact areas and applicants receive a detailed explanation of their rating for each category and subcategory. This precise level of reporting gives businesses clear feedback about their weaknesses and an opportunity to compare themselves against others undergoing the same certification. A score of 80 is required to become a B Corp company and their website calculates that an average organization would only reach 50.9.

The five impact categories are governance, workers, community, environment, and customers. Governance includes the company mission, social and environmental impact, and transparency. Workers is rated based upon the financial security, wellness, and satisfaction among employees. Community addresses DEI, economic impacts, charitable work, and supply chain management. Environment encompasses impacts on all facets of climate.

soulbottles has been rated by B Corp three separate instances and they have consistently raised their score. In 2015, soulbottles was given a score of 84.1 and was rated 106.8 in 2018. This year, it has been boosted to 167.5 and the company is very excited about that because supporting the environment has always been the top priority. The original motivation came when Paul Kupfer and his close friend were university students in Vienna. The pair saw a documentary about plastic waste and were determined to convince others to switch from single use bottles to reusable alternatives. They established the importance of charity from the moment soulbottles was founded by donating one euro for each bottle they sell. As the company grew, they were able to optimize their operations and maximize their impact. Namely, soulbottles acquired an ethical sourcing certificate for rubber gaskets, produced glass with 100% renewable energy sources, and reduced paper and cardboard use within packages. Additionally, they completed water, sanitation, and hygiene projects in Nepal and Zambia.

soulbottles main goal is to positively impact the environment and inspire individuals to adopt a sustainable way of living, but their next mission is to transform the glass industry. The company recently announced their Ultraglass product line, which is based on a unique technology for strengthening glass products, increasing the lifespan and reducing the industries carbon footprint.

When soulbottles achieved a B Corp rating of 167.5 that was extremely validating for myself and the whole team because we have always put sustainability first. That spirit of the company was present from the beginning and the bigger we get the more that spirit is able to grow and the more people we are able to help. We share our profits with people who don't have access to clean water, optimize our operations to be the most environmentally conscious, and work tirelessly to do something special for the world and the people in it, says co-founder Paul Kupfer.

Media Contact

Name: Reka Goebel

Email: [email protected]

Source: soulbottles
BARRANQUILLA, Colombia, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tecnoglass Inc. (NYSE: TGLS) (Tecnoglass or the Company), today announced the commencement of an underwritten public offering of an aggregate of 2,000,000 ordinary shares to be sold by Energy Holding Corporation (Selling Stockholder). In addition, the Selling Stockholder expects to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 300,000 ordinary shares. All of the ordinary shares to be sold in the proposed offering are being offered by the Selling Stockholder. The Company will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the ordinary shares being offered by the Selling Stockholder.

Baird, Raymond James and Stifel are acting as lead joint book-running managers for the proposed offering.

The securities described above are being offered pursuant to an automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on May 16, 2023. The offering will be made only by means of a prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus that forms part of the registration statement referred to above. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

Copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus related to the offering may be obtained from Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, Attn: Syndicate Department, 777 E. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53202, [email protected], telephone: (800) 792-2473; Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Attention: Equity Syndicate, 880 Carillon Parkway, St. Petersburg, Florida 33716, or by telephone at (800) 248-8863, or by e-mail to [email protected]; or Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, One South Street, 15th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202, Attention: Syndicate Department, email: [email protected]. You may also obtain these documents by visiting the SECs website at www.sec.gov.

About Tecnoglass

Tecnoglass Inc. is a leading producer of architectural glass, windows, and associated aluminum products serving the multi-family, single-family, and commercial end markets. Tecnoglass is the second largest glass fabricator serving the U.S. and the #1 architectural glass transformation company in Latin America. Located in Barranquilla, Colombia, the Companys 4.1 million square foot, vertically integrated, and state-of-the-art manufacturing complex provides efficient access to nearly 1,000 customers in North, Central and South America, with the United States accounting for 96% of total revenues. Tecnoglass tailored, high-end products are found on some of the worlds most distinctive properties, including One Thousand Museum (Miami), Paramount (Miami), Salesforce Tower (San Francisco), Via 57 West (NY), Hub50House (Boston), Aeropuerto Internacional El Dorado (Bogota), One Plaza (Medellin), and Pabellon de Cristal (Barranquilla).

Forward Looking Statements

This press release includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited to, statements regarding future financial performance, future growth, future acquisitions and the completion, timing and size of the proposed public offering that involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties related to market conditions and the satisfaction of closing conditions related to the proposed public offering. These statements are based on Tecnoglass current expectations or beliefs and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements herein due to changes in economic, business, competitive and/or regulatory factors, and other risks and uncertainties affecting the operation of Tecnoglass business. These risks, uncertainties and contingencies are indicated from time to time in Tecnoglass filings with the SEC, including those set forth in the risk factors section of the prospectus supplement used in connection with the offering. No assurance can be given that the offering discussed above will be completed on the terms described, or at all, or that the net proceeds of the offering will be used as indicated. The information set forth herein should be read in light of such risks. Further, investors should keep in mind that Tecnoglass financial results in any particular period may not be indicative of future results. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Tecnoglass is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events and changes in assumptions or otherwise, except as required by law. For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the Companys business in general, please refer to the Companys preliminary prospectus supplement to be filed with the SEC on May 16, 2023, including the documents incorporated by reference therein, which include the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 and its other periodic reports filed with the SEC.

Investor Relations:

Santiago GiraldoCFO305-503-9062[email protected]

Source: Tecnoglass Inc.
Wallace, La., May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- More than 2,000-plus people have signed a petition organized by the Descendants Project that urges the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to block the proposed Greenfield Terminal and protect the historic West Bank of St. John the Baptist Parish from the massive grain terminal project.

Last week, the National Trust for Historic Preservation named the 11-mile stretch that is home to many descendants of enslaved people from the nearby Whitney and Evergreen plantations as one of Americas 11 Most Endangered Places due to the proposed influx of toxic industry.

Greenfield Louisiana LLC, a company from Denver, wants to erase this vital history by building what would be one of the worlds largest grain elevators - the Greenfield Terminal - in the heart of this historic area, the petition reads. This towering structure, as tall as the Louisiana Superdome, would cause serious environmental harm, potentially disturb archaeological remains and burial grounds, and become a gateway for further industrialization by the oil and gas industry.

The petition notes that the areas survival as an agrarian landscape for over 300 years stands as a testament to its significance and resilience of the communities, especially the Black descendants and their ancestors. It calls on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to deny the permit for the Greenfield Terminal and respect the rich history and culture of this region.

The proliferation of industry in St. John the Baptist Parish has created an environmental health crisis where the cancer risk is higher than 95% of the U.S. despite the false promise of economic development and jobs. However, at the recent National Trust for Historic Preservation event held in West St. John the Baptist Parish, Whitney Plantation descendant and President of the National Urban League, Marc Morial spoke of a new vision of economic development, businesses, and healthy jobs centered around the rich stories and heritage of the community.

The Descendants Project was formed by sisters Joy Banner and Jo Banner of Wallace, La., to preserve and protect the health, land and lives of the Black descendant community in Louisianas River Parishes. The organization was in court on Thursday before Judge J. Sterling Snowdy of the 40th Judicial District in Louisiana battling a decades-old rezoning ordinance that illegally categorized the historic St. John the Baptist Parish in Louisiana as an industrial area.

Go to https://only.one/act/we-love-wallace to view and sign the petition.

The Descendants Project is a 501c3 nonprofit organization established to support descendant communities in river parishes working together to dismantle the legacies of slavery and to achieve a healed and liberated future.

Jo Banner The Descendants Project [email protected]

Source: The Descendants Project
HOD HASHARON, Israel, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Weebit Nano Limited (ASX: WBT), a leading developer of advanced memory technologies for the global semiconductor industry, announces its participation in the 15th IEEE International Memory Workshop (IMW) 2023. Sponsored by the IEEE Electron Devices Society, IMW is the premier international forum for technologists to share and learn about new developments in memory technology. The event will be held May 21 - 24, 2023 in Monterey, California.

During the poster session from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Monday, May 22nd, two paper presentations will highlight Weebits resistive random-access memory (ReRAM) technology:

Demonstration of SMT-reflow Immune and SCA-resilient PUF on 28nm RRAM device array Weebits VP of Technology Development Amir Regev will present this paper written with technologists from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, CEA-Leti and Weebit. It highlights the benefits of using Weebit ReRAM to provide PUF (Physically Unclonable Function) capability for enhanced on-chip security and cyber-security applications. The PUF project was led by Prof. Manan Suri from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and is an example of successful international collaboration between teams in India, Israel and France. The IIT-Delhi team, including student author Vivek Parmar and Prof. Suri, was supported by the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor.

Weebits VP of Technology Development Amir Regev will present this paper written with technologists from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, CEA-Leti and Weebit. It highlights the benefits of using Weebit ReRAM to provide PUF (Physically Unclonable Function) capability for enhanced on-chip security and cyber-security applications. The PUF project was led by Prof. Manan Suri from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and is an example of successful international collaboration between teams in India, Israel and France. The IIT-Delhi team, including student author Vivek Parmar and Prof. Suri, was supported by the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor. Benefits of Design Assist Techniques on Performances and Reliability of a RRAM MacroBastien Giraud, a research engineer from CEA-List, will present a paper written by CEA-List, CEA-Leti and Weebit which shares various design assist techniques used in development of the Weebit ReRAM module, and demonstrates their impact on enhancing intrinsic ReRAM performance.

The 15th IEEE International Memory Workshop (IMW) will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Monterey, California. To register for the event, visit: https://www.ewh.ieee.org/soc/eds/imw/06_Registration.htm.

About Weebit Nano LimitedWeebit Nano Ltd. is a leading developer of advanced semiconductor memory technology. The companys ground-breaking Resistive RAM (ReRAM) addresses the growing need for significantly higher performance and lower power memory solutions in a range of new electronic products such as Internet of Things (IoT) devices, smartphones, robotics, autonomous vehicles, 5G communications and artificial intelligence. Weebits ReRAM allows semiconductor memory elements to be significantly faster, less expensive, more reliable and more energy efficient than those using existing Flash memory solutions. As it is based on fab-friendly materials, the technology can be quickly and easily integrated with existing flows and processes, without the need for special equipment or large investments. See www.weebit-nano.com and follow us on https://twitter.com/WeebitNano.

Weebit Nano and the Weebit Nano logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Weebit Nano Ltd. in the United States and other countries. Other company, product, and service names may be trademarks or service marks of others.

InvestorsEric Kuret, Automic GroupP: +61 417 311 335E: [email protected]

Media  AustraliaTristan Everett, Automic GroupP: +61 403 789 096E: [email protected]

Media  USJen Bernier-Santarini, Weebit NanoP: +1 650-336-4222E: [email protected]

Source: Weebit Nano Ltd
Investing.com -- Shares in Vodafone (LON: VOD) slipped on Tuesday, slumping to their biggest intraday fall since November, after the British telecoms group unveiled forecasts for its 2024 fiscal year that were below projections.

The company said that it expects adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization after leases for its upcoming financial period to be "broadly flat" at 13.3 billion (1 = $1.0894). Analysts had estimated that the figure would come in at 13.69B. Projected free cash flow of 3.3B is also 8% under expectations, according to analysts at Morgan Stanley.

The outlook comes after the carrier reported a 3.6% year-on-year slide in full-year adjusted core income post-leases to 14.67B due in part to weakness at several of its core European markets. The number was seen at 14.73B.

Vodafone's key businesses in Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom all missed estimates for the 12 months ended on March 31, reflecting struggles caused by an uptick in energy and wage costs as well as currency headwinds.

Saying Vodafone's performance "has not been good enough," new chief executive officer Margherita Della Valle outlined new strategy changes. "We will simplify our [organization], cutting out complexity to regain our competitiveness," she said in a statement.

Vodafone now plans to reduce its headcount by 11,000 jobs over the next three years as part of the overhaul, while the firm's operations in Spain will be placed under strategic review. It also aims to turn around sliding returns in Germany, its biggest market.

Analysts at Goldman Sachs said Della Valle's proposal "hits the right notes," adding that execution will be key. However, analysts at Barclays argued that apart from the review of the Spanish business and a call for concrete actions, Vodafone did not announce a major pivot of its strategy.
BEIJING, May 16 (Xinhua) -- The militaries of China and New Zealand expressed their willingness to further promote relations under new circumstances during a recent strategic dialogue, a Chinese defense spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Tan Kefei, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks in response to an inquiry about the 11th strategic dialogue between the Chinese and New Zealand militaries held in China's northwestern city of Xi'an on May 10.

He said the two sides held "candid, in-depth and friendly discussions on the regional security situation and issues of common concern."

They also exchanged views on nuclear submarine cooperation between the United States, Britain and Australia, as well as views on maritime and airspace security, Tan said. 
Reflex (CSE: RFLX) (OTC: RFLXF) (FWB: HF2) today announced a partnership with Lone Star Tech Minerals (LSTM), a Texas-based graphite and industrial minerals marketing consulting firm, which will assist Reflex with competitive analysis, market research and marketing strategies. Under the partnership, LSTM will provide Reflex with a strategic production and marketing plan. We are excited to partner with Lone Star Tech Minerals and leverage their marketing and technical experience, said Paul Gorman, CEO of Reflex Advanced Materials Corp. Lone Stars extensive knowledge of the CSPG industry will be invaluable as we aim to deliver high-quality, custom graphite products to a wide range of industry uses and chemistries to the North American supply chain.

To view the full press release, visit https://ibn.fm/OmjXm

About Reflex Advanced Materials Corp.

Reflex Advanced Materials is a mineral exploration company based in British Columbia. Its objective is to locate and, if warranted, develop economic mineral properties in the strategic metals and advanced materials space. It is focused on improving domestic specialty mineral infrastructure efficiencies to meet surging national demand by North American manufacturers. The company is working to advance its Ruby Graphite Project, located in Beaverhead County, Montana, and ZigZag Lake Lithium Property, located in Thunder Bay Mining Division, Crescent Lake Area, Ontario. For more information, please review the companys filings available at www.SEDAR.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to RFLXF are available in the companys newsroom at https://ibn.fm/RFLXF

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Apple logo is seen in this illustration taken March 1, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department said on Tuesday that it had charged a former Apple Inc engineer with attempting to steal the firm's technology related to autonomous systems, including self-driving cars.

The engineer, whom Justice Department officials named as Weibao Wang, 35, in 2017 accepted a U.S.-based job with a Chinese company working to develop self-driving cars before resigning from Apple.

(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch, David Shepardson and Rami Ayyub)
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 15, 2023) - Aftermath Silver Ltd. (TSXV: AAG) (OTCQX: AAGFF) (FSE: FLM1) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed the second and final tranche (the "Second Tranche") of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement"), whereby the Company has completed the issuance of 7,045,200 units (each, a "Unit") at a price of $0.25 per Unit for gross proceeds of $1,761,300.00. Pursuant to both tranches of the Private Placement, the Company issued an aggregate of 33,005,467 Units for gross proceeds of $8,251,367.

Each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Common Share") and one-half of one non-transferable common share purchase warrant of the Company (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant is exercisable by the holder to acquire one Common Share for a period of 24 months from the date of closing of the Second Tranche of the Private Placement at a price of C$0.35 per share.

In connection with the Private Placement, the Company paid fees to eligible finders consisting of an aggregate of: (i) $328,782.50; (ii) 57,400 Common Shares (the "Finder's Shares"); and (iii) 200,410 Warrants (the "Broker Warrants"). Each Broker Warrant is exercisable by the holder to acquire one Common Share for a period of 24 months from the date of closing of the Second Tranche of the Private Placement at a price of C$0.35 per share.

All securities issued pursuant to the Second Tranche of the Private Placement, including the Finder's Shares, are subject to hold period expiring on September 16, 2023, in addition to such other restrictions as may apply under applicable securities laws of jurisdictions outside Canada.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Second Tranche for metallurgical and engineering studies on the Berenguela Silver-Copper-Manganese project in southern Peru ("Berenguela"), project payments related to the purchase of Berenguela and for general working capital purposes.

Certain directors, officers and other insiders of the Company ("Interested Parties") purchased or acquired direction or control over a total of 80,000 Units as part of the Second Tranche of the Private Placement. The placement to those persons constitutes a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the directors of the Company have determined that the Interested Parties' participation in the Second Tranche of the Private Placement will be exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 in reliance on the exemptions set forth in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(b) of MI 61-101. The Company did not file a material change report 21 days prior to the closing of the Second Tranche of the Private Placement as the details of the participation of Interested Parties had not been confirmed at that time.

Exercise of Warrants

The Company also wishes to announce the exercise of 3,068,400 previously issued Common Share purchase warrants of the Company exercisable at $0.25 per Common Share by certain shareholders of the Company, issued in connection with its private placement offering on May 7, 2020, for gross proceeds of $767,100.

About Aftermath Silver Ltd.

Aftermath Silver Ltd. is a leading Canadian junior exploration company focused on silver, and aims to deliver shareholder value through the discovery, acquisition and development of quality silver projects in stable jurisdictions. Aftermath has developed a pipeline of projects at various stages of advancement. The Company's projects have been selected based on growth and development potential.

Berenguela Silver-Copper project. The Company has an option to acquire a 100% interest through a binding agreement with SSR Mining. The project is located in the Department of Puno, in southern central Peru. A NI 43-101 Technical Report on the property was filed in February 2021 (available on SEDAR and the Company's web page). The Company is currently drilling at Berenguela and planning to advance the project through a pre-feasibility study.

Challacollo Silver-Gold project. The Company recently completed the acquisition of a 100% interest in the Challacollo silver-gold project from Mandalay Resources; see Company news release dated August 11, 2022. A NI 43-101 mineral resource was released on December 15, 2020 (available on SEDAR and the Company's web page). The Company is currently permitting road access in anticipation of an upcoming drill program.

Cachinal Silver-Gold project. The Company owns a 100% interest in the Cachinal Ag-Au project, located 2.5 hours south of Antofagasta. On June 10, 2022, Aftermath announced it had reached an agreement to sell Cachinal to Honey Badger Silver Inc. On September 16, 2020, the Company released a CIM-compliant mineral resource estimate and accompanying NI 43-101 Technical Report (available on SEDAR and on the Company's web page).

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"Ralph Rushton"

Ralph Rushton

CEO and Director

604-484-7855

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forwardlooking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements regarding discussions of future plans, estimates and forecasts and statements as to management's expectations and intentions with respect to, among other things, the Company's use of proceeds raised under the Second Tranche of the Private Placement including completing metallurgical and engineering studies at Berenguela.

These forwardlooking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, market uncertainty, that the Company will not utilize the proceeds raised under the Second Tranche of the Private Placement as currently anticipated including for the purpose of completing metallurgical and engineering studies at Berenguela.

In making the forward looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that the Company will use the proceeds of the Second Tranche of the Private Placement as currently anticipated.

Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor.

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/166243
Singapore, Singapore--(Newsfile Corp. - May 16, 2023) - AG Singapore, a leading accounting and audit firm, has launched its newly redesigned website to provide clients with an enhanced online experience. The new website features a user-friendly design, easy-to-navigate pages, and updated content that showcases the firm's expertise in accounting, audit, tax, and advisory services.

The newly launched website of AG Singapore aims to provide a one-stop solution for businesses looking for accounting and audit services in Singapore. With the introduction of this new website, AG Singapore has simplified the process of accessing their services, making it easier for businesses to contact them for their professional services.

The new website features a modern, clean, and easy-to-use design that makes it simple for visitors to access the information they need. The navigation is intuitive, and the website is optimized for both desktop and mobile devices. The website's content has been updated to provide visitors with comprehensive information about AG Singapore's services, industry insights, and resources.

"We are excited to launch our new website, which is designed to provide our clients with an enhanced user experience," said John Woo, Managing Director of AG Singapore. "Our new website showcases our commitment to our clients and our mission to provide top-notch accounting and audit services in Singapore."

The website also features a blog section that will provide visitors with valuable insights and information about the latest accounting and audit trends, tax regulations, and business advisory services. Visitors can access the blog section to gain industry insights and stay updated with the latest accounting and audit news.

"We believe that the blog section of our website will provide our visitors with valuable information that they can use to make informed decisions," added John Woo. "Our team of experts will regularly update the blog section with fresh, relevant, and insightful content to ensure that our visitors are well-informed about the latest trends and regulations in the accounting and audit industry."

The launch of the new website also coincides with the expansion of AG Singapore's services. The firm has recently added new services to its portfolio, including corporate secretarial services, payroll management, and business advisory services.

"Our goal is to provide our clients with a comprehensive range of services that will help them achieve their business goals," said John Woo. "We understand that running a business can be challenging, and that's why we offer a range of services to support our clients every step of the way."

With the launch of the new website, AG Singapore is poised to enhance its position as one of the leading accounting and audit firms in Singapore. The website is a testament to the firm's commitment to providing excellent client service and staying at the forefront of the latest industry trends.

AG Singapore

About AG Singapore

AG Singapore is a leading audit and accounting firm Singapore. The firm provides a wide range of professional services, including accounting, audit, tax, corporate secretarial, payroll, and business advisory services. AG Singapore's team of experts has extensive experience working with clients from various industries, including manufacturing, retail, construction, and professional services.

For more information about AG Singapore and its services, please visit https://ag-singapore.com/ or contact John Woo at [email protected].

Contact Details

Company Name: AG Singapore

Contact Person: John Woo

Website: https://ag-singapore.com/

Email: [email protected]

Phone No: +65 93832464

Address: 111 North Bridge Road #07-11 Peninsula Plaza, 179098

Country: Singapore

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/166036
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - May 15, 2023) - Baytex Energy Corp. (TSX: BTE) (NYSE: BTE) ("Baytex") is pleased to announce that shareholders of Baytex ("Baytex Shareholders") today approved the previously announced merger (the "Merger") with Ranger Oil Corporation ("Ranger"). Baytex also reports that all additional matters presented for approval at the annual and special meeting of shareholders held today were approved. A total of 204,407,281 common shares being 37.47% of Baytex's issued and outstanding shares were represented at the meeting.

1. Ordinary Resolution to Approve Issuance of Baytex Shares to Ranger Shareholders

At the meeting, Baytex Shareholders approved the issuance of the Baytex shares to be issued to Ranger pursuant to the Merger.

Votes For # % 174,624,233 95.45

The Merger is expected to close late in the second quarter of 2023 or early in the third quarter of 2023, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including receipt of requisite regulatory approvals and Ranger shareholder approval.

2. Election of Directors

At the meeting, all of the nominees proposed as directors were duly elected. Results of the vote are set out below:



Votes For Name of Nominee # % Mark R. Bly 177,994,215 97.30 Trudy M. Curran 177,589,205 97.07 Eric. T. Greager 175,881,715 96.14 Don G. Hrap 173,688,516 94.94 Angela S. Lekatsas 177,721,878 97.15 Jennifer A. Maki 177,816,227 97.20 David L. Pearce 178,327,443 97.48 Steve D.L. Reynish 174,085,368 95.16

3. Appointment of Auditors

KPMG LLP was appointed as Baytex's auditor until the next annual meeting of its shareholders, and the directors were authorized to fix their remuneration. The result of the vote is as follows:

Votes For # % 202,018,930 98.97

4. Approval of the Non-Binding Resolution on the Approach to Executive Compensation

A non-binding advisory resolution with respect to Baytex's approach to executive compensation was approved. The result of the vote is as follows:

Votes For # % 173,578,999 94.88

Forward-Looking Statements

In the interest of providing Baytex's shareholders and potential investors with information regarding Baytex, including management's assessment of Baytex's future plans and operations, certain statements in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "could", "estimate", "expect", "forecast", "intend", "may", "objective", "ongoing", "outlook", "potential", "project", "plan", "should", "target", "would", "will" or similar words suggesting future outcomes, events or performance. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof and are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements relating to: the Merger and its expected timing and closing.

Although Baytex believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements because Baytex can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed, projected or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the ability to obtain Ranger shareholder, and regulatory approvals of the Merger; the ability to complete the Merger on the anticipated terms and timetable and the risk factors discussed in our Registration Statement on Form F-4, initially filed with the SEC on April 7, 2023 (Registration No. 333-271191), as amended on April 28 and May 10, 2023, and our management information circular and proxy statement dated April 3, 2023 (the "Information Circular") filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.There may be additional risks that Baytex presently does not know, or that Baytex currently believes are immaterial, that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of the assumptions below prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on certain key assumptions regarding, among other things, the ability of Baytex and Ranger to satisfy all conditions to closing of the Merger; and the completion of the Merger on the timing anticipated. Readers are cautioned that such assumptions, although considered reasonable by Baytex at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect.

The above summary of assumptions and risks related to forward-looking statements has been provided in order to provide shareholders and potential investors with a more complete perspective on Baytex's current and future operations and such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. There is no representation by Baytex that actual results achieved will be the same in whole or in part as those referenced in such forward-looking statements and Baytex does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

No Offer or Solicitation

This communication relates to the proposed Merger between Baytex and Ranger. This communication is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval with respect to the Merger or otherwise, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities in the United States shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933.

Baytex has filed a copy of the merger agreement on its profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). Further, Baytex has filed the Information Circular, which contains important information about the Merger and related matters. Shareholders of Baytex are advised to read the Information Circulars in connection with Baytex's solicitation of proxies for the meeting of Baytex shareholders to approve the Merger. Baytex shareholders may obtain copies of the Information Circular on Baytex's SEDAR profile (www.sedar.com).

Important Additional Information and Where to Find it

In connection with the proposed Merger, Baytex has filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form F-4 (the "Registration Statement") to register the Baytex securities to be issued in connection with the proposed Merger (including a prospectus therefor). Baytex and Ranger also plan to file other documents with the SEC regarding the proposed Merger. This communication is not a substitute for the Registration Statement or the prospectus or for any other document that Baytex or Ranger may file with the SEC in connection with the Merger. U.S. INVESTORS AND U.S. HOLDERS OF BAYTEX AND RANGER SECURITIES ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE PROPOSED MERGER (INCLUDING ALL AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS) BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BAYTEX, RANGER AND THE PROPOSED MERGER. Shareholders will be able to obtain free copies of the Registration Statement, proxy statement/prospectus and other documents containing important information about Baytex and Ranger through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of such documents may also be obtained from Baytex and Ranger without charge.

Participants in the Solicitation

Baytex, Ranger and certain of their respective directors, executive officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Baytex's shareholders and the solicitation of proxies from Ranger's shareholders, in each case with respect to the Merger. Information about Baytex's directors and executive officers is available in the Annual Information Form published February 23, 2023, in the Information Circular and in the Registration Statement. Other information regarding the participants in the solicitations and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is contained in the Registration Statement, the proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials that have been and will be filed with the SEC regarding the Merger. Shareholders, potential investors and other readers should read the proxy statement/prospectus carefully before making any voting or investment decisions.

Baytex Energy Corp.

Baytex Energy Corp. is an energy company based in Calgary, Alberta. The company is engaged in the acquisition, development and production of crude oil and natural gas in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin and in the Eagle Ford in the United States. Baytex's common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BTE.

For further information about Baytex, please contact:

Brian Ector, Vice President, Capital Markets

Toll Free Number: 1-800-524-5521

Email: [email protected]

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/166224
Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - May 16, 2023) - Beauce Gold Fields(TSXV: BGF)(Champs D'Or en Beauce), ("BGF" or the "Company"): is pleased to announce that it has dredged 2.16 grams per cubic meter (g/m3) of placer gold on its Ditton Gold project located near the town of Chartierville in southern Quebec.

Patrick Levasseur, President and CEO of Beauce Gold Fields, said, "We are pleased to have found sample grades that are better than the average grades for placer gold in North America. This is a positive sign because we have discovered high-grade placers both at the surface and at a deeper levels in the quarry pit, which suggests that the Ditton placer gold channel could be a substantial deposit." Mr. Levasseur also stated, "This development has increased our goal to assess the possibility of an economically viable placer gold deposit, as well as to look for signs that could lead to future discoveries of bedrock lode gold."





Image: Samples SB-100, T-13-3, SB-101 and SB-102

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6198/166267_bditton.jpg.

Dredge Sampling Results

The industry reporting standard unit of quantity for placer gold is grams per cubic meter.

Trench Dredged Vol. Liters Grains Au g/m3 Fine - Non-Visible Au g/m3 Grade SB-100 28 0.453 1.71 2.16 g/m3 SB-101 30 0.596 0.0452 0.64 g/m3 SB-102 25 0.056 0.63 0.69 g/m3 T-13-3 32 0.61 - 0.61 g/m3





Grades are indicative only. Due to grade variability of placer deposits, a larger volume of samples is necessary to obtain a better representation of the gold content. Samples collected using a Keene Dredge model 2004 attached to a  screen, which could affect measured flowed volume.

North American Placer Mines

Projects Location Year Avg. Grade g/m3 Beauce Gold Fields - Beauce Gold Project Quebec 2018 0.87 Multiple private large placer operations Yukon 2020 0.30 NovaGold (TSX-NG), Nome Gold Project Alaska 2011 0.30

Source: Exploration Target = 0.87 g/m3 Sedar: 43-101 Report - Beauce July 4th 2018, , Author B. Violette,

Yukon Placer Mining Industry Reports 2010-2014, 2018-2020:Yukon Geological Survey

NovaGold Resources: TECHNICAL REPORT NOME PLACER PROPERTY, 2006, Norwest Corporation

This gold was dredged out of unconsolidated glacial till deposits from a ground-level trench (SB-100) located over the interpreted placer channel about 300m north of the operating Ditton (Blais) quarry-samples T-13-3, SB-101 and SB-102 was dredged out of three trenches in the quarry floor.

The Ditton quarry is approximately 20 meters deep in unconsolidated glacial till deposits. It is located north of Range X and about 300m southeast of the presumed Ditton placer channel. Samples were taken from water-filled trenches T-13-3, SB-101 and SB-102 in the quarry floor from cemented brown tertiary gravel in contact with sheared volcanic rock. The Company used a suction dredge and a sluice apparatus to collect and concentrate the samples.

The samples were processed at the Coalia Laboratory in Thetford Mines, Quebec. The process employed by Coalia was to sieve the concentrates through

Pending are the results from 10 sonic drill holes completed in the fall of 2022. Results will be reported as soon as the Company receives them.

Jean Bernard, B,Sc. Geo., is a qualified person, as defined by NI 43-101, who has reviewed and approved the technical information presented in this release.

A qualified person has not completed sufficient work to classify any mineral resources as defined by National Instrument (NI) 43-101; it is uncertain if future exploration will result in the delineation of mineral resources.





Exploration Map of the Ditton Project

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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About The Ditton Placer Channel

The placer channel is in the town of Chartierville, Quebec. The channel is 4 km east of the historical Mining Brook Placer gold mine and 6 km northwest of the US-New Hampshire border. It is also located 115 km south of the Company's Beauce Gold project in St-Simon-Les-Mine.

A sampling program by the Company recovered gold from every sample taken throughout the Ditton quarry (BGF press release January 20, 2022), bringing about the discovery of the Ditton placer gold channel. Further insights to the existence of a channel were gained from the 1980s historical exploration reports of the regional geology and geophysics. It also revealed that the quarry was an excavated pit of an exposed layer of a Tertiary placer channel. Results from the company's 2022 seismic refraction survey lines further support the existence of a paleochannel.

The channel trends southwest to northeast and is believed to open in both directions.

Potential for Lode Gold Discoveries

The recovered gold grains from showed delicate angular shapes suggesting little transportation. A proximal bedrock source of the placer channel could be from the eroded Eastern flank of the valley wall. The bedrock lithology holds a contact point between altered volcanic rock and schist rock. Historical surveys indicated strong magnetic lineaments favorable to hosting gold-bearing quartz lenses.

The Bella Fault line is estimated to run along strike 1 km east of the placer channel where Cache Exploration in 1985 put down 3 diamond drill holes (DDH) along Rang Dix road to test a strong shear zone. The holes intersected andesites containing numerous quartz stringers mineralized with pyrite and much tourmaline. Of interest, in the drill log for DDH number S-2 states that visible gold was noted at 240 meters (GM42843). Cache did not complete the recommended follow-up drilling to test this anomaly.

About Beauce Gold Fields

Beauce Gold Fields is a gold exploration company focused on placer to hard rock exploration in the Beauce region of Southern Quebec. The Company's objective is the trace old placer gold workings back to a bedrock source to uncover economic lode gold deposits. The Company's flagship property is the St-Simon-les-Mines Gold project site of Canada's first gold rush that pre-dates the Yukon Klondike. The Beauce region hosted some of the largest historical placer gold mines in Eastern North America that were active from 1860s to the 1960s It produced some of the largest gold nuggets in Canadian mining history (50oz to 71oz). (Source Sedar: 43-101 Report - Beauce July 4th 2018, , Author B. Violette).

Beauce Gold Fields website www.beaucegold.com.

Disclaimers:

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements containing the words "may", "plan", "will", "estimate", "continue", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "in the process" and other similar expressions which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current expectation and assumptions, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, our expectations regarding mineral exploration. Such statements reflect the current views of the Company with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and other risks detailed from time-to-time in the Company's on-going filings with the securities regulatory authorities, which filings can be found at www.sedar.com. Actual results, events, and performance may differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements either as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except 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.

For further information contact

Patrick Levasseur, President and CEO Tel: (514) 262-9239

www.beaucegold.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/166267
Winnipeg, Manitoba--(Newsfile Corp. - May 16, 2023) - Beyond Lithium Inc. (CSE: BY) (OTCQB: BYDMF) (the "Company" or "Beyond Lithium") is pleased to announce that, at the annual general and special meeting of the shareholders of the Company held on May 15, 2023 (the "Meeting"), shareholders voted in favour and approved all items of business.

The Company's shareholders elected all director nominees, being Allan Frame, Craig Gibson, Tom Provost, James Campbell, and Michelle DeCecco. The shareholders also re-appointed Clearhouse LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, as auditor of the Company; approved a special resolution to change the name of the Company from "Beyond Minerals Inc." to "Beyond Lithium Inc." (the "Name Change"); and adopted an ordinary resolution, approved by a vote of disinterested shareholders, to ratify and confirm the Company's new omnibus equity incentive plan to replace its current incentive stock option plan.

Effective at the opening of markets on Thursday, May 18, 2023, the Company's common shares will begin trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the new name. The Company's stock symbols will remain unchanged. Its new CUSIP will be 08863D100 and its new ISIN will be CA08863D1006.

Following the Meeting, articles of amendment were filed and the Company received a certificate of amendment giving effect to the Name Change. As a result of the Name Change, the Company's website domain name will change.

Shareholders can request replacement certificates with the new Company name from the Company's transfer agent and registrar, but new certificates are not required and will not be automatically issued. The Name Change does not affect the rights of the Company's shareholders and no further action is required by existing shareholders.

About Beyond Lithium Inc.

Beyond Lithium Inc. is the largest greenfield lithium exploration player in Ontario with 64 high potential greenfield lithium properties totalling over 150,000 hectares. The Company has adopted the project generator business model to maximize funds available for exploration projects, while minimizing shareholder dilution. Beyond Lithium is advancing certain of its projects with its exploration team and will seek to option other properties to joint venture partners. Partnering on various projects will provide a source of non-dilutive working capital, partner-funded exploration, and long-term residual exposure to exploration success.

Please follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

For more information, please refer to the Company's website at www.beyondminerals.ca

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding future capital expenditures, anticipated content, commencement, and cost of exploration programs in respect of the Company's projects and mineral properties, anticipated exploration program results from exploration activities, resources and/or reserves on the Company's projects and mineral properties, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking information. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by words such as "pro forma", "plans", "expects", "will", "may", "should", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", "potential" or variations of such words including negative variations thereof, and phrases that refer to certain actions, events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. In stating the forward-looking information in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that market fundamentals will result in sustained precious and base metals demand and prices, the receipt of any necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in connection with the future exploration of the Company's properties, the availability of financing on suitable terms, and the Company's ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws.

Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements of forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, statements as to the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, the proposed expenditures for exploration work on its properties, the ability of the Company to obtain sufficient financing to fund its business activities and plans, delays in obtaining governmental and regulatory approvals (including of the Canadian Securities Exchange), permits or financing, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, risks relating to epidemics or pandemics such as COVID-19, the Company's limited operating history, currency fluctuations, title disputes or claims, environmental issues and liabilities, as well as those factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's prospectus dated February 23, 2022 and other filings of the Company with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities, copies of which can be found under the Company's profile on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking information in this news release except as otherwise required by law.

For further information, please contact:

Allan Frame

President and CEO

Tel: 403-470-8450

Email: [email protected]

Jason Frame

Manager of Communications

Tel: 587-225-2599

Email: [email protected]

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/166254
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - Le 16 mai/May 2023) - Effective immediately, Terranueva Corporation will be reinstated for trading.

The Company has rectified the situation that gave rise to the suspension.

_________________________________

Avec effet immdiat, Corporation Terranueva sera reintegre aux fins de negociation.

La Societe a rectifie la situation ayant donne lieu a la suspension.

Date : Le 16 mai/May 2023 Symbol(s)/Symbole(s) : TEQ

If you have any questions or require further information please contact Listings at (416) 367-7340 or E-mail: [email protected].

Si vous avez des questions ou si vous avez besoin d'informations supplementaires, veuillez contacter le service des inscriptions au 416 367-7340 ou par courriel ladresse: [email protected].
London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - May 16, 2023) - Eco Tattoo London, which was founded by Chinese artist Lin Feng, has announced that it will begin offering new eco-friendly tattoo options at its Camden tattoo parlor. Lin Feng unveiled the new environmentally-friendly tattoo option earlier this month. The studio's eco-friendly tattoos will use unconventional inks created by several brands, including Crazyhorse. Eco Tattoo's eco-tattoos will be created using 100% handmade ink made using organic materials that are also vegan-friendly.





Eco Tattoo London

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The tattoo inks are primarily made in the United States and the United Kingdom. Founder Lin Feng spoke highly of the new eco-friendly tattoo option when announcing the new service.

"Eco Tattoo London is known for being cutting-edge and revolutionary so this was a logical step for our tattoo parlor. Our eco-tattoos will provide the same great quality without making our clients feel like they've done something wrong when they leave our studio."

The eco-friendly tattoo option will be available exclusively at the Eco Tattoo on Royal College Street in Camden. Eco Tattoo London hopes the move will create a roadmap for other local and international tattoo artists who want to embrace an environmentally-friendly work style. In addition to using eco-friendly tattoo ink, the studio will replace conventional single-use materials with sustainable options when requested by the customer.

Clinical waste will still be disposed of properly and according to local laws. Conventional products have been replaced with greener alternatives. Tattooists will now utilize earth-friendly razors, clip cord sleeves, ink caps, cling wrap, wipes, inks, ink cups, transfer paper, rinse cups, bandages, nitrile gloves, and more. Tattoo ointments, protective barriers, and numbing creams are sustainable and cruelty-free.

"We're thrilled to be offering our new earth-friendly tattooing. We hope our greener approach to permanent body art will not be the last in Camden. Our tattooists are completely on board with the eco-friendly transition, which was quite a process. Clients can expect to see significant changes in our process of tattooing," said Lin Feng, owner, and founder of Eco Tattoo London.

Eco Tattoo was born out of a passion for tattoos and the need to accommodate an environmentally-friendly consumer base. Lin Feng believes the latest announcement is another step in the right direction for the tattoo industry.

"Tattoo parlors tend to produce a lot of waste and some of it is unnecessary. While clinical waste must be disposed of accordingly, single-use supplies don't need to be trashed. I hope our eco-friendly approach can set the standard for the industry and encourage other artists to begin using eco-friendly practices."

About Eco Tattoo London

Eco Tattoo London is the first eco-inspired tattoo parlor in the Camden portion of London, England. The studio was founded by Lin Feng who has a rich history of traditional Chinese artistry. Eco Tattoo London uses eco-friendly products during the tattooing procedure. The studio, which is on Royal College Street, is open seven days a week with walk-ins being accepted.

Contact Information:

Eco Tattoo London

186 Royal College St

Camden

London

NW1 9NN

United Kingdom

07399 442272

[email protected]

www.ecotattoolondon.co.uk

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/165869
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 15, 2023) - Foremost Lithium Resource & Technology Ltd. (CSE: FAT) (OTCQB: FRRSF) (FSE: F0R0) (WKN: A3DCC8) ("Foremost Lithium", "Foremost" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has completed the previously announced acquisition of a 100% interest in the Lac Simard South property (the "Property"). This acquisition consists of 60 claims covering 8,612 acres/3,485 hectares and hosts 12 identified pegmatites via satellite imagery. In addition, Foremost independently staked and recorded 20 additional mineral claims which are contiguous with the borders of these 60 claims, which resulted in an increase of Lac Simard South land package to 80 mineral claims and to the total area to 11,482 acres/4,647 hectares. These pegmatites are located approximately 90KM southwest from the NAL Lithium Processing Plant, which just announced it produced its first batch of spodumene concentrate (SC6)1and 80 km southwest of Val-D'or, a logistics hub for mining services.

Pursuant to the property acquisition agreement, in consideration of the Property, Foremost paid the vendors cash consideration of $17,500 plus GST and issued 535,000 common shares (the "Shares") at a deemed price of $0.15 per share. The Shares are subject to a hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance. A further cash payment in the amount of $17,500 plus GST is due and payable to the Property vendors within four months after closing.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Jason Barnard, President and CEO

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +1 (604) 330-8067

The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release and accepts no responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy hereof.

About Foremost Lithium Resource & Technology Ltd.

Foremost Lithium is a hard-rock exploration company with over 42,000 acres located in Snow Lake, Manitoba. Its 5 Lithium Lane Projects, Zoro, Jean Lake, Grass River, Peg North and Jol, are strategically located to capitalize on the world's growing EV appetite and is perfectly positioned to become a premier supplier of North America's lithium feedstock. As the world transitions towards decarbonization, the Company's objective is the extraction of lithium oxide (LiO), and to subsequently play a role in the production of high-quality lithium hydroxide (LiOH), to help power lithium-based batteries, critical in developing a clean-energy economy. Foremost Lithium also has the Winston Gold/Silver Property in New Mexico USA. Learn More at www.foremostlithium.com.

Follow us or contact us on social media:

Twitter: @foremostlithium

Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/company/foremost-lithium-resource-technology/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ForemostLithium

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" (as defined under applicable securities laws), based on management's best estimates, assumptions, and current expectations. Such statements include but are not limited to, statements with respect to the plans for future exploration and development of the Company's properties and the acquisition of additional exploration projects. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expects", "expected", "budgeted", "forecasts", "anticipates" "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "aims", "potential", "goal", "objective", "prospective", and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "can", "could" or "should" occur. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to: risks related to the receipt of all necessary regulatory and third party approvals for the proposed operations of the Company's business and exploration activities, risks related to the Company's exploration properties; risks related to international operations; risks related to general economic conditions, actual results of current exploration activities, unanticipated reclamation expenses; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; fluctuations in prices of commodities including lithium and gold; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, increases in market prices of mining consumables, possible variations in resources; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes, title disputes, claims and limitations on insurance coverage and other risks of the mining industry; delays in the completion of exploration, activities, changes in national and local government regulation of mining operations, tax rules and regulations, and political and economic developments in jurisdictions in which the Company operates. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are made as of the date hereof and are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The Company disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such factors or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as require by law. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information. Please refer to the Company's most recent filings under its profile at www.sedar.com for further information respecting the risks affecting the Company and its business.

1https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/news/first-spodumene-concentrate-nal/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/166195
BEIJING, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu on Tuesday had a telephone conversation with Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada to exchange views on relations between the two countries and defense relations.

The call was made using a direct telephone line under the maritime and air liaison mechanism between the two defense authorities for the first time, according to an official statement.

The establishment of the hotline is a practical measure that follows the important consensus reached between the leaders of the two countries, the statement said.

It will effectively enrich the communication channels between the two defense authorities and help the two sides improve their management of crises on and above the sea, which is conducive to the maintenance of regional peace and stability, according to the statement. 
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 16, 2023) - Golden Independence Mining Corp. (CSE: IGLD) (OTCQB: GIDMF) (FSE: 6NNA) (the "Company" or "Golden Independence") is pleased to announce the mobilization for the first phase exploration program at the Napoleon project located in the Kamloops Mining Division of British Columbia. The exploration contractor, Tripoint Geological Services, will be on site during the first week of June 2023 to conduct the first phase of the exploration program which is focused on sampling and refining targets for the second phase. The two-phased program will be comprised of a grid sampling program (approx. 800 samples), rock sampling and prospecting, in addition to a 70-line-kilometre property-wide airborne magnetic geophysical survey and a 5-line-kilometre IP survey.

"We look forward to being able to get boots on the ground and advancing a meaningful exploration program for the Napoleon project," commented Jeremy Poirier, CEO of Golden Independence. "The Napoleon project represents only one of the exciting exploration projects within the Company's portfolio, along with the development-stage Independence project in Nevada which is currently undergoing preliminary site preparation in advance of a resource expansion drill program. We also recently attained a portfolio of highly prospective gold projects covering almost 8,000 hectares within the Upper Hyland River Gold Belt of the Yukon."

About the Napoleon Project

The Napoleon property occurs along the same northwest trending erosional exposure through Chilcotin basalts as the Bonaparte Mine. The Bonaparte Mine, located to the southeast, is comprised of several en echelon high-grade gold-bearing quartz veins with similar intrusive rocks mapped within the Napoleon property. Exploration within the region dates back to the 1970's and 1980's with the discovery of gold mineralization in several clusters of quartz vein float material over a diorite intrusion with grades varying from 3.4 to 547 g/t gold1. The adjoining Bonaparte deposit has been extensively explored including underground development, open pit mining, and a bulk sampling which yielded grades of 26.5 g/t gold from a 3,700 metric tonne bulk sample2.

Golden Independence cautions investors it has yet to verify the historical information and further cautions mineralization on the Bonaparte deposit is not necessarily indicative of similar mineralization on the Napoleon Gold Project.

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by R. Tim Henneberry, PGeo (BC) a Qualified Person under NI43-101 and a Director and the President of Golden Independence Mining Corp.

About Golden Independence Mining Corp.

Golden Independence Mining Corp. is a development company currently focused on the development-stage Independence project located adjacent to Nevada Gold Mine's Phoenix-Fortitude mine in the Battle Mountain-Cortez Trend of Nevada in addition to the wholly owned Napoleon gold project located in the Kamloops Mining Division of BC and Yukon gold claims in the Watson Lake district of the Yukon. The Independence project hosts an M&I resource of 334,300 ounces of gold and an Inferred resource of 847,000 ounces of gold with a substantial silver credit. A 2021 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) outlined a low-cost heap leach operation focusing on the near-surface resource with total production of 195,443 ounces of gold at an all-in sustaining cost of US$1,078 per ounce of gold. The Napoleon project is comprised of over 1,000 hectares and prospective for multiple forms of gold mineralization, with exploration in the area dating back to the 1970's with the discovery of high-grade gold. The Yukon gold projects are comprised of almost 8,000 hectares of quartz claims prospective for high-grade gold mineralization with historical grab sampling highlights of 144 g/t gold.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Jeremy Poirier, Chief Executive Officer

Telephone: 1.604.722.9842

Email: [email protected]

This press release contains forward-looking information (within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation) that involves various risks and uncertainties regarding future events. Such forward-looking information includes statements based on current expectations of management made in light of management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments. Forward-looking information is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties and, as such, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance of the Company. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, without limitation, statements regarding the commencement of the exploration program at the Napoleon project and the exploration potential of the Yukon Claims. There are numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information in this news release, including without limitation, inherent risks associated with the mining industry and the results of exploration activities and development of mineral properties, stock market volatility and capital market fluctuations, general market and industry conditions, as well as those risk factors discussed in the Company's most recently filed management's discussion & analysis. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. This forward-looking information is based on estimates and opinions of management on the date hereof and is expressly qualified by this notice. Risks and uncertainties about the Company's business are more fully discussed in the Company's disclosure materials filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada at www.sedar.com. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from such information unless required by applicable law.

1 ARIS 32930 BC Geological Survey Assessment Report

2 Bonaparte Gold Technical Report dated April 12, 2019

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/166189
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 16, 2023) - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. (CSE: HBFG) (OTCQB: VGANF) ("Happy Belly" or the "Company"), a leading consolidator of emerging food brands is pleased to announce it has launched an advisory arm of Happy Belly Group that will specialize in the development and growth of early-stage restaurant and CPG companies that need strategic, operational and financial guidance to grow and scale their businesses.



The Next Level Partners division will focus on Strategy, Growth Acceleration, Operational Efficiency, Capital Allocation and M&A Readiness for brands that need support and guidance to get their brand to the next level. We specialize our services to offer brands the guidance they need in order to help achieve their goals. The name of our division speaks to exactly how we will operate, as true partners.



Through growth modeling and operational excellence, our services will guide founders to focus on operational improvement to accelerate revenue and reduce costs. Services will hone in on the brands key business drivers to help shape management's objectives, goals and strategies. We guide and support management to set the foundation for growth.

Happy Belly is now positioned with opportunities in the food industry that range from early-stage companies (Next Level Partners Division), to mid-cycle equity based transactions (Happy Belly's 50/50 Model), to fully mature brand M&As (Full Acquisitions).

"This is a really exciting new division and revenue growth vertical for Happy Belly. This will allow us to work with brands that are just not ready for M&A today but do need our support. Our new division will entail working hand in hand with brand owners and their management team to support and shape growth paths during critical moments of their growth," said Sean Black, Chief Investment Officer of Happy Belly. "Our experienced operational knowledge will help leaders navigate the moments that matter most in their companies' journeys toward success. Our track records have multiple prominent exits that required operational excellence and disciplined growth factors as we previously sold to both MTY and Recipe."



"We are founders/management/owners/operators who have been through the startup journey from formation to exit. Our past success has been rooted in building brands from the ground level. We have personally overseen the growth and launch of over 400 restaurants across North America through several brands categories and each time have had successful exits. We have seen and lived the challenges that founders and operators go through, and we are here to help. I believe as we build trusted relationships with these early stage founders that it will also help us continue to build our M&A pipeline for years to come as some of these founders eventually look to exit with Happy Belly being able to deliver a frictionless friendly M&A transaction."

About Happy Belly Food Group

Happy Belly Food Group Inc. (CSE: HBFG) (OTCQB: VGANF) ("Happy Belly" or the "Company") is a leading consolidator of emerging food brands.

Happy Belly Food Group

Shawn Moniz

Chief Executive Officer

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT:

www: www.happybellyfg.com or email [email protected]

If you wish to contact us please call: (604) 737-2303



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 press release, which has been prepared by management.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking information" with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws. 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, and include the future performance of LumberHeads Food Co. 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. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the business plans for Happy Belly described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. 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. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure filings with Canadian securities regulators, which are posted on www.sedar.com.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/166263
Major field program set to begin for 2023

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 16, 2023) - Idaho Champion (CSE: ITKO) (OTCQB: GLDRF)(FSE: 1QB1) ("Idaho Champion" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the completion of a detailed desktop study of historical data and interpretation of the 2022 work programwhich provide the Company's technical team with priority targets for the upcoming field program at the Champion Electric Lithium Project (the "Project") located in the pegmatite-rich Eeyou Istchee James Bay territory of Quebec.

Desktop Study Summary and Interpretation Highlights:

Historical desktop study and 2022 field program was completed on the original 161 sq. km property package or now approximately 32% of the Company's total-controlled land holdings, which is now the largest land package in this new lithium pegmatite district at over 500 sq. km of favourable ground (Figure 1).

Over 190 known pegmatite outcrops are known to occur within the project that have never been analyzed for lithium.

Confirmation that the project contains comparable favorable host rock and geotectonic setting - comparable to neighboring Corvette and Cancet lithium-bearing pegmatite deposits.*

Major field program over expanded Project area set to begin with mapping and sampling campaign near term and drilling to be completed later in 2023. Targeting based on combined historical data review and 2022 exploration results.

"The historical information uncovered through the desktop study gives us excellent insight to some of the exploration potential on our project. We are excited to have at least 17 robust priority lithium pegmatite target areas to test and more than 190 pegmatite outcrops waiting to be sampled in an emerging Tier 1 region. It is also important to note that the property has now more than tripled in size to over 500 km2 of prospective ground since we completed the review. The on-going refinement of the interpretative layers will continue generating potential pegmatite targets for field follow-up, which is scheduled to start in early June. Contracts for all accommodation and necessary logistics are signed and in place, and our technical team is ready to undertake a highly anticipated and potentially game-changing 4-month-long field mapping and sampling campaign," stated President and CEO, Jonathan Buick.

2022 airborne survey results

The exploration program completed in 2022 included high-resolution magnetic, VLF-electromagnetic, radiometric and LiDAR/imagery airborne surveys covering approximately 2,188 line-kilometers (Figure 2). Final data were processed and interpreted to recognize the host rocks and structural architecture favorable for pegmatite emplacement. New rock outcrops and boulders were also identified and will be mapped during the upcoming field campaign. Additionally, some discrete conductive anomalies were identified within mapped ultramafic rocks that are deemed prospective for Cu-Ni mineralization. These targets have been followed up with detailed airborne electroma2netics (AEM) surveying and will be discussed further when final data have been received and interpreted.

Historical data review

The desktop historical data review revealed numerous positive indicators that the Company's Project has the potential to host lithium mineralization similar to the neighboring Corvette and Cancet deposits.

The Project covers the northern extension of the Lac Guyer Greenstone Belt (LGGB) which is host to the Corvette and Cancet lithium pegmatite deposits (Figure 3).

Historical sampling within the Project recorded anomalous geochemical values in lithium up to 107 ppm in rock sample and 28 ppm in lake sediments were recorded within the Project.

Drilling by the Quebec government (SOQEUM) in 2003 intercepted a 3m-thick pegmatite intercept from 19m depth (GM 61565), which demonstrates the potential of the Project to host shallow pegmatite swarms. The pegmatite intercept was not analyzed for lithium.

Regional airborne magnetics and satellite multi-spectral data were reprocessed and interpreted to assist the target generation exercise.

The target generation exercise defined a total of 17 priority areas for lithium pegmatite were defined by the target generation exercise (Figure 3).

Company compilation and review of historical company and government work programs identified more than 19 reports of pegmatite outcrops on the property, with the majority hosted within the prospective mafic sequence of the LGGB (Figure 3). These outcrops were never sampled and analyzed for lithium.





Figure 1: Champion Electric Lithium Project location map

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Figure 2. Detailed airborne magnetic data acquired in 2022 and current claims extents.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Figure 3. Historical mapped pegmatite outcrops and priority lithium pegmatite targets over regional geology.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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*The Projects are at an early stage of exploration, and the Company cautions that the qualified persons who have reviewed and approved this news release have not verified scientific or technical information produced by third parties, and proximity to projects containing lithium resources offers no assurance that the rock types or lithium resources reported by Patriot and others extend onto the Projects and such proximity is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization reported by third parties with projects in the district.

Qualified Person

Dr. Eric Hebert, P.Geo., Senior Geological consultant is a qualified person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release.

About Idaho Champion Gold Mines Inc.

Idaho Champion is a discovery-focused exploration company that is committed to advancing its highly prospective lithium projects in Quebec, Canada and cobalt projects in Idaho, United States. The Company's shares trade on the CSE under the trading symbol "ITKO", on the OTCQB under the trading symbol "GLDRF", and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol "1QB1". In addition, the Company owns the Baner gold project in Idaho County and the Champagne polymetallic project located in Butte County near Arco.

Idaho Champion takes its social license seriously, employing local community members and service providers at its operations whenever possible.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD,

"Jonathan Buick"

Jonathan Buick, President and CEO

To learn more, please visit the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com or the Company's corporate website at www.idahochamp.com.

For further information, please contact:

Nicholas Konkin, Marketing and Communications

Phone: (416) 567- 9087

Email: [email protected]

THIS PRESS RELEASE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION, NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY OFFER, SALE, OR SOLICITATION OF SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN THE UNITED STATES IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SALE, OR SOLICITATION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.

Cautionary Statements

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider has reviewed or accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release This press release may include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, concerning the business of the Company. Forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the management of the Company, including suggested strike extension. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based on are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/166164
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 16, 2023) - IMAGINE LITHIUM INC.(TSXV: ILI) (OTCQB: ARXRF)(the "Company" or "Imagine") is pleased to announce assay results from its ongoing drill program at the Jackpot lithium project, located within the rapidly emerging lithium camp in the Georgia Lake Area, approximately 140 km north-east of Thunder Bay, Ontario (see Figure 1).

Highlights of the assay results reported today include:

Hole JP-23-03: 9.23 m @ 1.04% Li 2 O

O Hole JP-23-04: 5.00 m @ 1.25% Li 2 O

O Hole JP-23-04B: 6.00 m @ 1.36% Li 2 O

O Hole JP-23-05: 7.00 m @ 1.19% Li 2 O

O Hole JP-23-08: 5.00 m @ 1.18% Li 2 O

The 2023 drill program to date has focused on the Jackpot Main Zone to increase the drill density. The 2022 drill program nearly doubled the mineralized lithium zone by increasing the strike length by 400 metres to the east. The gently dipping zone now extends a total of 900 metres along strike and 300 metres down dip, to a depth of 200 metres. The zone consists of multiple stacked spodumene-rich pegmatite dikes. The results reported today are from the Jackpot Main Zone (see Figure 2) and are summarized in Table 1 below.

J.C. St-Amour, President of Imagine, commented, "The results announced today continue to demonstrate the stacked nature of the pegmatites at Jackpot, with multiple intercepts in the majority of drill holes. With our recently closed financing, we expect to resume drilling in June following the spring break-up. We will be drilling several known untested mineralized pegmatite dikes beyond the Jackpot Main Zone with a view to identifying additional zones and adding lithium tonnage to the project. This summer promises to be a very active exploration season for Imagine Lithium with drilling, prospecting and geophysics all planned."





Figure 1:Jackpot Property located next to Trans Canada Highway, power, port, railroad and workforce.

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Figure 2:Assay Results from 2022 drill program. Drill holes highlighted in light green are related to the today's assay results.

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Table 1: Significant assay results from 2022 drill program.

DDH no. From (m) To (m) Int (m) Li 2 O (wt.%) JP-23-10 5.80 7.80 2.00 1.32 12.42 14.42 2.00 1.74 JP-23-09 99.15 104.60 5.10 0.87 JP-23-08 138.62 139.55 1.00 1.68 143.55 148.55 5.00 1.18 JP-23-07 2.50 6.50 4.00 1.02 8.45 10.45 2.00 1.24 18.65 22.65 4.00 1.04 29.65 31.65 2.00 1.70 JP-23-06 48.75 51.75 3.00 0.94 57.48 61.48 4.00 0.61 JP-23-05 36.15 39.75 3.60 0.89 46.72 53.75 7.00 1.19 JP-23-04B 4.80 10.80 6.00 1.36 JP-23-04 8.75 13.75 5.00 1.25 65.60 69.38 3.78 0.59 92.40 96.40 4.00 0.64 JP-23-03 0.60 4.00 3.40 1.10 88.57 96.80 9.23 1.04 JP-23-02 115.00 123.10 8.10 0.88 JP-23-01 7.56 9.56 2.00 2.02 105.90 110.65 4.25 1.00 117.90 120.00 2.10 1.13 123.00 126.00 3.00 1.25





*Apparent thickness

QA/QC Protocol

Imagine Lithium implemented a strict QA/QC protocol in processing all rock samples collected from the core material obtained from the Jackpot property. The protocol included the insertion and monitoring of appropriate reference materials, in this case high concentration and low concentration certified OREAS lithium standards, blanks and duplicates, to validate the accuracy and precision of the assay results. All collected rock samples were put in sturdy plastic bags, tagged, and sealed in the core shack under the supervision of professional geologists. Sample bags were then put in rice pouches and kept securely before being sent by road transport to the Actlabs laboratories in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lithium was analyzed by Peroxide Fusion ICP-OES method (8-Li package), whereas tantalum was determined by 4-acid "near total" digestion using the ultratrace ICP-MS method.

Qualified Person

The technical content of this news release was approved by Michel Boily, PhD, P.Geo, an Independent Qualified Person as defined by the National Instrument 43-101.

About Imagine Lithium Inc.

Imagine is a junior mining exploration company focused on seeking and acquiring world-class mineral projects. The company holds the Jackpot lithium property located in the Georgia Lake area about 140 km NNE of Thunder Bay, Ontario, is approximately 12 km by road from the TransCanada Highway (Hwy 11), and is in proximity to sources of power, railroads, and ports. The property contains known lithium-bearing granitic pegmatite dikes, of which two provided estimated historical resources of 2 million tons at 1.09% Li 2 O and 750,000 tons at 1.38% Li 2 O*.

* The estimates presented above are treated as historical information and have not been verified or relied upon for economic evaluation by the Company. These historical mineral resources do not refer to any category of sections 1.2 and 1.3 of NI-43-101 such as mineral resources or mineral reserves as stated in the 2010 CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. The explanation lies in the inability by the Company to verify the data acquired by the various historical drilling campaigns. The Company has not done sufficient work yet to classify the historical estimates as current mineral resources or mineral reserves.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"J.C. St-Amour"

J.C. St-Amour, President

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Telephone: +1-604-683-3995

Toll Free: 1-888-945-4770

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Investors are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. These forward -looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. All the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and by those made in our filings with SEDAR in Canada (available at WWW.SEDAR.COM).

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/166197
Valletta, Malta--(Newsfile Corp. - May 16, 2023) - Malta has launched the Malta Startup Residence Programme, inviting non-EU entrepreneurs to launch their new ventures or scale up their existing ones using Malta as their base. The new Programme is intended for third country nationals who are willing to use Malta's attractive and lucrative startup ecosystem for their highly innovative startup or scale-up venture.

The Malta Startup Residence Programme grants a 3-year residence permit to founders, co-founders, core employees and their respective immediate family members. The permit may then be renewed for a further 5 years by founders and co-founders, and for a further 3 years by core employees, given that the business is still ongoing and on track, and that the applicants still meet the Programme's eligibility criteria.

To be eligible, beneficiaries of the Malta Startup Residence Programme need to invest a minimum of 25,000 in tangible investment or paid-up share capital and have a tangible presence in Malta while paying taxes locally. After completing five years in Malta, beneficiaries will be able to apply for long-term residency.

Kurt Farrugia, CEO of Malta Enterprise, Malta's economic development agency, co-managing the programme with Residency Malta, is upbeat about this new proposition. "Malta is building the ideal ecosystem for startups. We boast a diverse economic landscape from high-end manufacturing to robotics, pharma, aviation, maritime, R&D, and medical devices, among others; a dedicated and talented workforce and a strong expatriate community who finds communication easy since English an official language. This is not to mention that Malta is one of the safest and most beautiful countries to live and raise a family in Europe with a world-class healthcare service and an education system that is second to none."

The Government of Malta is putting innovative startups at the heart of Malta's economic vision. Malta Enterprise offers a dedicated package for startups, including grants, loans, and other non-dilutive assistance that can significantly boost startups seeking early-stage financing and internationalisation.

Malta is an ideal breeding ground for new businesses to flourish. Its strategic location and concentration of industry players and talent offer the right conditions for startups to launch, grow and scale up products and services. The Mediterranean Island of Malta hosts booming industries like financial services, fintech, i-gaming, digital games, life sciences, pharma, R&D, maritime, aviation, and other niche sectors, such as medical cannabis, AI, Internet of Things, cyber security, and big data. The country constantly scores high and stable credit ratings and positive forecasts. Although small in size, Malta's connections are not limited to the EU's single market, but extend to African and Middle Eastern markets. It's size also makes it the ideal test base for new products and services, since it is also a fully developed market.

Charles Mizzi, CEO of Residency Malta, the agency which grants the residency permits, said: "Our product offering for this Programme offers founders, co-founders and core employees of highly innovative startups the peace of mind that comes with a medium-term residency permit, as this enables entrepreneurs to fully focus on their business. Our other offering is Malta. Malta is a country that has a lot to offer. From a pleasant climate to rich history and heritage, hospitable people, top-notch education, and world-class health services, beneficiaries of this Programme and their families can feel safe and at ease from the moment they land."

More information about the Malta Startup Residence Programme may be found at https://startup.residencymalta.gov.mt/or contact Chiara Vassallo from Malta Enterprise, via email [email protected].

The Malta Startup Residence Programme



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Glen Ellyn, Illinois--(Newsfile Corp. - May 16, 2023) - College of DuPage English instructor Mary Childers has been named the Collegewide Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Member for the 2022-2023 academic year.

College of DuPage English instructor Mary Childers

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Representing the Liberal Arts Division, Childers shares a lifelong love of writing and literature with her students. Her parents supported this passion from an early age, and she had a role model in her mom, who was a special education teacher for an elementary school.

"For as long as I could remember, I wanted to be like her," Childers said. "She began taking me with her to the teacher supply store when I was around 6, and when she bought supplies and grade books, she would buy duplicates for me. I then would pretend I had students.

"My parents encouraged me to explore the world through literature, and these became safe places for me to explore as a little girl. Writing was also essential to my own identity. I wanted to understand how words came together to create different meanings for different people. I started writing notes to my family all the time, and in the third grade that turned into poetry. I am now working on my first poetry collection and enjoy writing about the experiences I go through. I'm not good at writing fiction because I would rather make sense of my own life."

As a young adult, school was hard for Childers and she couldn't find her footing. She attended her local community college and transferred to the University of North Carolina-Wilmington, where she met teachers who made an impact on her.

"I thought about the difference this would have made had I met teachers like them during my formative years," she said. "I realized I wanted to be in a position to help students like they were in to help me."

After finishing her undergraduate degree, Childers moved to Chicago and fell in love with the city but returned to North Carolina for her master's degree. During her undergraduate and graduate work at UNC Wilmington, she applied for and received the Wentworth Travel Fellowship three times to explore the relationship between an artist and a specific place. She first came to Chicago to study Ernest Hemingway, then to New York City for Joan Didion.

The third was to East Sussex, England, for her master's thesis. Childers initially wanted to focus on Hemingway but decided to make a change to Winnie-the-Pooh at the last minute.

"My biggest interest in academics is origin stories. When you explore what the writer was like before the text became alive, you can get a deeper meaning of what it is," she said. "My parents read me Winnie-the-Pooh when I was a girl and I loved it. In Sussex, I went hiking in Ashdown Forest, which was the inspiration for the Hundred Acre Wood in A.A. Milne's stories. I was in the middle of the forest when I had this moment of realization: We create places of escapism based on our experiences and then go to those places. Winnie-the-Pooh emerged after the losses of World War I. I took a leap with my thesis and am most proud of this work, because I did it entirely for myself."

In 2017, as a second-year graduate student, Childers was a speaker on the Hemingway panel at the MLA (Modern Language Association) Conference. She participated in order to return to Chicago, where the conference was held, and first learned about COD.

"I sat next to Michelle Moore, who I found to be incredibly inspiring and composed," she said. "I later found out she was a professor at College of DuPage, so after I graduated, the only job I applied for was here.

"When I attended community college, I initially didn't want to be there. Coming to COD was like coming back to the place where I started and realizing it was a return to who I've always been."

Childers enjoys getting to know her students and helping them with their next steps, whether it is offering advice, writing a letter of recommendation or just listening to their dreams. She is appreciative of the outstanding faculty recognition as a validation of her work.

"Everything I do here is for the students. I believe in them so much and am just honored to be part of the COD English program."

Learn more about the English program at College of DuPage.

# # #

Contact:

Brian Kleemann

[email protected]

(630) 942-2370

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/166158
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 15, 2023) - The Mint Corporation (TSXV: MIT) ("Mint" or the "Company") announces that, it has been issued a Cease Trade Order ("CTO") by the Ontario Securities Commission on May 5, 2023 by virtue of having not filed the following periodic disclosure documents by the applicable filing deadlines:

Annual audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022;

Management's Discussion and Analysis for the period ended December 31, 2022; and

Certification of annual filings for the period ended December 31, 2022.

The delay is due to the complexity of having to obtain financial information from its operating subsidiary based in the United Arab Emirates resulting in the Company and its auditors not having adequate time and resources available to complete the audit in the allotted time. The Company is working diligently with its auditor, PKF Antares Professional Corporation, to complete the audit and issue the disclosures by May 31, 2023. The Company will issue advice by news release should any further delays be foreseen.

The Company continues to operate normally and reports that the cause of the delay is not material to the Company's operations. Mint will issue a news release announcing completion of the requisite filings once posted on SEDAR.

Despite the CTO, a beneficial security holder of the Company who is not, and was not at the date of the CTO, an insider or control person of the Company, may sell securities of the Company acquired before the date of the CTO if: (a) the sale is made through a "foreign organized regulated market", as defined in section 1.1 of the Universal Market Integrity Rules of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada; and (b) the sale is made through an investment dealer registered in a jurisdiction of Canada in accordance with applicable securities legislation. Holders of the Company's securities are urged to consult with their own investment advisors or legal counsel about the implications of the CTO.

About Mint

The Mint Corporation through its majority-owned subsidiaries (the "Mint Group"), is a globally certified payments company headquartered in Toronto, Canada with its primary business in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Mint Group intends to provide employers, employees and merchants with best-in-class financial services supported via payroll cards and the feature rich and linked Mint mobile application. Through its mobile enabled payments platform certified globally by MasterCard and UnionPay, Mint brings modern financial conveniences, at reasonable cost, to employers, merchants and consumers.

Mint Contacts

The Mint Corporation

Vishy Karamadam, Chief Executive Officer

647-352-0666

www.themintcorp.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements and information that are based on the beliefs of management and reflect the Company's current expectations. 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. There is no assurance that these transactions will yield results in line with management expectations. Such statements and information reflect the current view of the Company with respect to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risk factors are provided in the audited financial statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2021 and its publicly filed disclosure documents on www.sedar.com. 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. The Company does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws.

NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/166235
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - May 16, 2023) - OBSIDIAN ENERGY LTD. (TSX: OBE) (NYSE American: OBE) ("Obsidian Energy", the "Company", "we", "us" or "our") provides an update on operations and employees impacted by recent Alberta wildfires.

We continue to monitor the ongoing wildfire situation in Alberta as the protection and safety of our people, local communities, and the environment are of the highest priority. Resulting from further developments with the wildfires, we took the Peace River area fields at Seal, Walrus and Nampa offline on May 12th and shut-in the Peace River Harmon Valley South field on May 14th as a precautionary measure. The Harmon Valley South field is being restarted today as the wildfire threat has moved away from the vicinity. Approximately 1,200 boe/d of production in Peace River will remain temporarily curtailed until the remaining wildfire threat has subsided.

We were able to restore 2,500 boe/d of production in Pembina over the last few days, leaving 8,500 boe/d offline in the area. In total, approximately 9,700 boe/d of production is currently curtailed across Peace River and Pembina due to wildfires. To our knowledge, there has been no damage to the Company's key assets or infrastructure. The Company will continue to closely monitor the situation as it evolves and provide an update when appropriate.

We continue to support local officials, regulators, and industry partners in the response to the wildfires. We would like to thank our staff, industry partners and emergency responders for their ongoing and tireless work to protect our communities. Our thoughts are with our employees, their families, and our neighbors during this difficult time.

ADDITIONAL READER ADVISORIES

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements contained in this document constitute forward-looking statements or information (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the "safe harbour" provisions of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "forecast", "budget", "may", "will", "project", "could", "plan", "intend", "should", "believe", "outlook", "objective", "aim", "potential", "target" and similar words suggesting future events or future performance. In particular, this document contains forward-looking statements pertaining to, without limitation, the following: that we will continue to monitor the situation and provide an update when appropriate; our plans for when shut-in production can be restarted; and that we will continue to support local officials, regulators, and industry partners in the response to the wildfires.

With respect to forward-looking statements contained in this document, the Company has made assumptions regarding, among other things: our ability to restart production; that there has been no damage to key assets and infrastructure; that we are able to monitor the situation by getting accurate and timely information; our ability to execute our plans as described herein and in our other disclosure documents and the impact that the successful execution of such plans will have on our Company and our stakeholders; our ability to execute our capital programs as planned without significant adverse impacts from various factors beyond our control, including extreme weather events, such as wild fires and flooding, infrastructure access and delays in obtaining regulatory approvals and third party consents; our ability to conduct an investigation to better understand the situation; and our ability to obtain equipment and staffing in a timely manner to carry out plans and the costs thereof.

Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements contained in this document, and the assumptions on which such forward-looking statements are made, are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements included in this document, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which the forward-looking statements are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the forward-looking statements contained herein will not be correct, which may cause our actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any estimates or projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things: whether the Company will receive timely and accurate information regarding the wildfires; that there is damage to the Company's key assets and infrastructure; that production will be shut-in longer than expected or have to be shut-in again as wildfires return; whether the Company is in compliance with all regulatory requirements; the possibility that we change our 2023 capital plans in response to internal and external factors, including those described herein; the possibility that the Company will not be able to continue to successfully execute our business plans and strategies in part or in full, and the possibility that some or all of the benefits that the Company anticipates will accrue to our Company and our stakeholders as a result of the successful execution of such plans and strategies do not materialize; and unanticipated operating events or environmental events outside these wildfires that can reduce production or cause production to be shut-in or delayed (including extreme cold during winter months, wildfires and flooding in other areas). Additional information on these and other factors that could affect Obsidian Energy, or its operations or financial results, are included in the Company's Annual Information Form (See "Risk Factors" and "Forward-Looking Statements" therein) which may be accessed through the SEDAR website (www.sedar.com), EDGAR website (www.sec.gov) or Obsidian Energy's website. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive.

Unless otherwise specified, the forward-looking statements contained in this document speak only as of the date of this document. Except as expressly required by applicable securities laws, we do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this document are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

Obsidian Energy shares are listed on both the Toronto Stock Exchange in Canada and the NYSE American in the United States under the symbol "OBE".

All figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated.

CONTACT

OBSIDIAN ENERGY

Suite 200, 207 - 9th Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta T2P 1K3

Phone: 403-777-2500

Toll Free: 1-866-693-2707

Website: www.obsidianenergy.com;

Investor Relations:

Toll Free: 1-888-770-2633

E-mail: [email protected]

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/166323
Perth, Western Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 15, 2023) - Rumble Resources Ltd (ASX: RTR) 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 Rumble Resources Ltd

Rumble Resources Ltd is an ASX listed mining company that recently announced a globally significant 94mt Open Pit constrained maiden Zinc resource estimate at the Earaheedy Project in Western Australia, confirming it as one of the largest zinc sulphide discoveries over the last decade. The strength of the resource is the optionality, with a higher grade 41mt resource that could be part of a possible early development scenario, and a much larger 462Mt resource that could potentially be upgraded via beneficiation, providing the project with significant future flexibility. The Project has exceptional near-term growth potential with the deposits open in all directions and less than 35% of the 45km mineralised Unconformity Unit (host to the current resources) effectively drill tested, whilst none of the thick underlying geologically fertile formations which could host high-grade MVT deposits have been tested. The project has the potential for a Tier 1 scale 300mt super giant resource. The next phase of discovery drilling is set to commence over the coming weeks targeting high-grade feeders and resource expansion, whilst beneficiation and initial scoping studies will occur in parallel with the exploration campaign. The sheer scale, optionality, location and extraordinary growth potential of Earaheedy could see the Project stamp itself as a world class, multi decade asset and play a key role in the global renewable energy transition.

For additional Information, please contact:

Rumble Resources Ltd

Shane Sikora

Managing Director

+61406886590

[email protected]

www.rumbleresources.com.au
Washington, D.C.--(Newsfile Corp. - May 16, 2023) - The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced charges against 10 microcap companies for offering and selling securities in unregistered offerings that failed to comply with Regulation A, which provides a limited exemption from registration under the Securities Act to allow companies to raise money from the public as long as they meet specific requirements.

According to the SECs orders, between December 2019 and May 2022, each of the 10 microcap companies obtained qualification from the SEC for their securities offerings using Regulation A, but they subsequently made one or more significant changes to their offerings without meeting the requirements of the exemption. The SECs orders found that such changes included improperly increasing the number of shares offered, improperly increasing or decreasing the price of shares offered, failing to file updated financial statements at least annually for ongoing offerings, engaging in prohibited at the market offerings, or engaging in prohibited delayed offerings. As a result, each of the microcap companies offered and sold securities in violation of the offering registration provisions.

Companies that choose to benefit from Regulation A as a cost-effective way to raise capital must meet its requirements, said Daniel R. Gregus, Director of the SECs Chicago Regional Office. These actions stand as a reminder that companies which choose to circumvent Regulation As requirements by engaging in prohibited conduct or making fundamental changes to their offerings without qualification will face action by the SEC.

Each of the 10 microcap companies agreed to cease and desist from violations of Section 5 of the Securities Act and to pay the following civil penalties:

CW Petroleum Corp. , a Wyoming corporation based in Katy, Texas, agreed to pay a $5,000 civil penalty;

, a Wyoming corporation based in Katy, Texas, agreed to pay a $5,000 civil penalty; DNA Brands Inc. , a Colorado corporation based in Alpharetta, Georgia, agreed to pay a $10,000 civil penalty;

, a Colorado corporation based in Alpharetta, Georgia, agreed to pay a $10,000 civil penalty; Graystone Company Inc. , a Colorado corporation based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, agreed to pay a $25,000 civil penalty;

, a Colorado corporation based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, agreed to pay a $25,000 civil penalty; Green Stream Holdings Inc. , a Wyoming corporation based in New York, New York, agreed to pay a $75,000 civil penalty;

, a Wyoming corporation based in New York, New York, agreed to pay a $75,000 civil penalty; Hemp Naturals Inc. , a Delaware corporation based in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, agreed to pay a $50,000 civil penalty;

, a Delaware corporation based in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, agreed to pay a $50,000 civil penalty; LiveWire Ergogenics Inc. , a Nevada corporation based in Anaheim, California, agreed to pay a $50,000 civil penalty;

, a Nevada corporation based in Anaheim, California, agreed to pay a $50,000 civil penalty; Principal Solar Inc. , a Delaware corporation based in Dallas, Texas, agreed to pay a $40,000 civil penalty;

, a Delaware corporation based in Dallas, Texas, agreed to pay a $40,000 civil penalty; SFLMaven Corp. , a Wyoming corporation based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, agreed to pay a $25,000 civil penalty;

, a Wyoming corporation based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, agreed to pay a $25,000 civil penalty; The Marquie Group Inc. , a Florida corporation based in St. Petersburg, Florida, agreed to pay a $10,000 civil penalty; and

, a Florida corporation based in St. Petersburg, Florida, agreed to pay a $10,000 civil penalty; and Verde Bio Holdings Inc., a Nevada corporation based in Frisco, Texas, agreed to pay a $90,000 civil penalty.

The SECs investigations were conducted by Som P. Dalal, Jen Peltz, and Anne C. McKinley of the Chicago Regional Office and M. Lance Jasper, Ansu N. Banerjee, and Ana D. Petrovic of the Los Angeles Regional Office. Staff in the SECs Division of Examinations and Division of Corporation Finance assisted in the investigations.
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang holds talks with Sierra Leonean Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation David Francis in Beijing, capital of China, May 16, 2023. (Xinhua/Gao Jie)

BEIJING, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang held talks with Sierra Leonean Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation David Francis in Beijing on Tuesday.

Noting that this year marks the tenth anniversary of the principles of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith in China's ties with Africa, Qin said that these principles have led to the success of bilateral relations, and will also open up a bright future for bilateral relations.

Qin said that the two sides should jointly implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, continue to firmly support each other, strengthen practical cooperation, and maintain close coordination in international and regional affairs.

Echoing Qin's remarks, Francis said that Sierra Leone values its relations with China, adheres firmly to the one-China principle, and looks forward to strengthening cooperation with China for the benefit of the two peoples. 

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang holds talks with Sierra Leonean Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation David Francis in Beijing, capital of China, May 16, 2023. (Xinhua/Gao Jie)
Lagos, Nigeria--(Newsfile Corp. - May 16, 2023) - Tenece, a top technology solutions provider in Nigeria and Africa, is delighted to commemorate its 15th anniversary. Established in 2008 in Lagos, Tenece has evolved into a reliable partner for over 351 clients, delivering tailor-made software solutions, advisory services, and managed services.

In the last 15 years, Tenece has successfully executed more than 3000 advanced technology solutions and collaborated with 72 global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to achieve desired business outcomes. The company has broadened its presence to other African nations, including Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Ivory Coast, and Dubai, with a vision to become the leading enterprise technology consulting services firm in Nigeria and Africa by 2030.

Tenece's remarkable journey and success can be attributed to its dedicated team of over 350 staff members, including the senior management team of Kingsley Eze (Founder and CEO), Lina Eze (Managing Director, Tenece Holdings), and Okechukwu Eze (Managing Director, Tenece Cross-Border Subsidiaries).

Kingsley Eze, Founder and CEO of Tenece, stated, "We take pride in celebrating this milestone and are grateful for the opportunity to serve our clients for the past 15 years. Our success is a testament to our team's hard work and commitment, and we will continue to deliver top-notch, distinctive, premium, and cost-effective solutions to our clients."

Tenece's accomplishments have not gone unnoticed, as the company has been honored with several awards and recognitions, including the HP Partner of the Year Award, the Oracle Partner of the Year Award, and the African Quality Achievement Award for Excellence in Technology.

Looking ahead, Tenece is dedicated to expanding its operations across Africa and providing innovative technology solutions to its clients.

For more information about Tenece, visit www.tenece.com.

Media Contact:

Name: TENECE

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +2348086631919

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/166264
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 16, 2023) - Tres-Or Resources Ltd. (TSXV: TRS) (OTC Pink: TRSFF) ("Tres-Or" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has completed a non-brokered private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of CDN$100,000.05 through the sale of Treasury Shares (the "Private Placement"). In anticipation of completing the Private Placement Tres-Or also acquired a 100% interest in a private Brazilian company, Vaaldiam do Brasil Mineraao Ltda. ("Vaaldiam") which holds several mineral exploration permits covering five prospective diamond exploration properties in Brazil (the "Acquisition").

Private Placement

In connection with the closing of the Acquisition, the Company has completed a private placement of 2,000,001 treasury shares (the "Treasury Shares") with Ken Johnson at a price of $0.05 per Treasury Share, to raise CDN$100,000.05 (the "Offering"). The proceeds of the Offering will be applied to the Company's 2023 exploration programs including the completion of ground geophysical and geological surveys on five prospective diamond exploration properties that were recently acquired by Tres-Or in the Brazilian states of Minas Gerais, Bahia and Mato Grosso. Treasury Shares sold in the Offering will be subject to a 4 month hold period expiring September 16, 2023. No Finder's Fees were payable in connection with the Private Placement.

The Offering is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions as the fair market value of the Shares issued to or the consideration paid did not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization.

Brazilian Diamond Properties Acquisition

Tres-Or has also purchased all the shares of Vaaldiam from Diamond Hunters Ventures Inc. ("DHV"), a company controlled by Ken Johnson. As consideration for the Vaaldiam shares the Company issued 2,272,000 shares to DHV at a deemed price of $0.05 per share (CDN$113,600) which shares will be subject to a 4 month hold period ending September 3, 2023. As further consideration for the shares of Vaaldiam, Tres-Or also granted 2 one percent gross sales royalties on each of the five properties acquired, which Tres-Or has the right to repurchase for $1,500,000 per property.

As a result of the above transactions Ken Johnson holds, directly or indirectly, 4,272,001 shares of Tres-Or representing 16.9% of the outstanding shares. Mr. Johnson is a well-known diamond geologist who was responsible for the development of the Brauna diamond mine in Brazil.

The Company believes that the acquisition of Vaaldiam gives Tres-Or access to a specialized team with more than 20 years' experience in the exploration, evaluation, and development of diamond targets from primary sources in Brazil, Canada, and Africa.



About Tres-Or Resources Ltd.

Tres-Or Resources Ltd. is a Canadian resource company focused on exploring for diamonds and precious metals in the Temiscamingue and Abitibi regions of Quebec that is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol "TRS". Additional information related to the Company is available on SEDAR and on the Company's website (www.tres-or.com).

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Laura Lee Duffett"

Laura Lee Duffett

President and CEO

For further information:

Laura Lee Duffett, President & CEO: +1 (604) 541-8376 - [email protected]

Dean Claridge, Business Development: +1 (604) 688-8700

Website: www.tres-or.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected including, but not limited to, market conditions, availability of financing, actual results of the Company's exploration and other activities, environmental risks, future diamond prices, operating risks, accidents, labor issues, delays in obtaining governmental approvals and permits, and other risks in the mining industry. All the forward-looking statements made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those in our continuous disclosure filings available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances save as required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/166199
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 16, 2023) - Wealth Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: WML) (OTCQB: WMLLF) (SSE: WMLCL) (FSE: EJZN) (the "Company" or "Wealth") announces that starting June 1, 2023 it has engaged Francisco Lepeley to be CEO of Wealth Minerals Chile SpA. Mr. Lepeley has a long track record of top management experience at leading Chilean companies, having served for nine years as CFO for several of Antofagasta PLC mines in Chile, four years as CFO of the world's second largest salmon farming company ($1.4B in annual revenue), and most recently as CFO of CAP S.A., Chile's leading iron ore and steel producer. Mr. Lepeley will lead Wealth's in-country expansion as the Company ramps up activity at its Ollage and Atacama Projects. Marcelo Awad remains as Executive Director of Wealth Minerals Chile SpA.

Hendrik van Alphen, Wealth's CEO, commented: "We are honored to have someone of Francisco's caliber join our Company. We are at the stage where we need a more robust presence inside Chile and need Francisco's entrepreneurial and project development skills, and his experience in large M&A, equity and debt transactions. Now that Chile has a clear policy for lithium asset development (see press release of April 24, 2023) our team is working in overdrive to advance our Ollague and Atacama Projects both operationally with planned field work, and strategically with financial and development partners. Francisco is just the person to ensure Wealth capitalizes on this new phase of our Company's path."

Marcelo Awad, Executive Director of Wealth Minerals Chile SpA, noted: "I have known Francisco for many years and can attest to his professionalism and skill at managing challenging situations to emerge with successful outcomes. I look forward to him joining the Wealth team as the new Chilean lithium policy gives new impetus to our work."

About Wealth Minerals Ltd.

Wealth is a mineral resource company with interests in Canada and Chile. The Company's focus is the acquisition and development of lithium projects in South America.

The Company opportunistically advances battery metal projects where it has a peer advantage in project selection and initial evaluation. Lithium market dynamics and a rapidly increasing metal price are the result of profound structural issues with the industry meeting anticipated future demand. Wealth is positioning itself to be a major beneficiary of this future mismatch of supply and demand. In parallel with lithium market dynamics, Wealth believes other battery metals will benefit from similar industry trends.

For further details on the Company readers are referred to the Company's website (www.wealthminerals.com) and its Canadian regulatory filings on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of

WEALTH MINERALS LTD.

"Hendrik van Alphen"

Hendrik van Alphen

Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please contact:

Marla Ritchie, Michael Pound or Henk van Alphen

Phone: 604-331-0096 or 604-638-3886

For all Investor Relations inquiries, please contact:

John Liviakis

Liviakis Financial Communications Inc.

Phone: 415-389-4670

For all Public Relations inquiries, please contact:

Nancy Thompson

Vorticom, Inc.

Office: 212-532-2208 | Mobile: 917-371-4053

Follow Us:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/WealthMineralsLtd

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/wealth-minerals

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/WealthMinerals

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 press release, which has been prepared by management.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and US securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding the anticipated content, commencement, timing and cost of exploration programs, anticipated exploration program results, the discovery and delineation of mineral deposits/resources/reserves, the Company's expectation that it will be able to enter into agreements to acquire interests in additional mineral projects, 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: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, the state of the financial markets for the Company's equity securities, the state of the commodity markets generally, variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, variations in the market price of any mineral products the Company may produce or plan to produce, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required, including TSXV acceptance, for its planned activities, the inability of the Company to produce minerals from its properties successfully or profitably, to continue its projected growth, to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's latest interim Management Discussion and Analysis and filed with certain securities commissions in Canada. All of the Company's Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Company's mineral properties.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/166232
HONG KONG, May 16, 2023 - (ACN Newswire) - - To drive the strategic development of innovative financial services, Venture Smart Financial Holdings Limited (hereinafter referred to as "VSFG" or "the Group") officially announced the appointment of Dr. George Lam, BBS, JP ("Dr. Lam") as Honorary Chairman today. Dr. Lam will lead VSFG to integrate traditional wealth management with the future of finance, and fully support and collaborate with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government in promoting and facilitating Hong Kong family office businesses and developing the virtual assets sector. This is not only to support Hong Kong's development into an International Virtual Assets Centre and Green Finance Hub, but also more importantly, to shore up the leading position of Hong Kong as an international financial centre.

Dr. Lam has been championing digital transformation, financial technologies, innovation and entrepreneurship, sustainable development, green finance and environmental, social and governance (ESG) investments over the years. Dr. Lam had served as Chairman of Hong Kong Cyberport, a part-time member of the Central Policy Unit of the HKSAR Government, a member of the Committee on Innovation, Technology and Re-industrialisation, a member of the Sir Murray MacLehose Trust Fund Investment Advisory Committee, and a non-official member of the Financial Services Development Council New Business Committee. Currently, Dr. Lam is a member of the Governance Committee of the Hong Kong Growth Portfolio of the HKSAR Government, a non-official member of the HKSAR Government Development Bureau Common Spatial Data Advisory Committee, Chair of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP) Sustainable Business Network (ESBN), Chair of the ESBN Task force on Sustainable and Inclusive Finance, Vice Chairman of the Pacific Basin Economic Council (PBEC), a member of the Belt and Road and Greater Bay Area Committee of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, and Chairman of the Technology and Innovation Committee of the Belt and Road General Chamber of Commerce.

Dr. Lam said, "I have accepted the invitation from Mr. Lawrence Chu, Chairman of VSFG, because we share the same vision for the future development of Hong Kong's financial industry. We hope to create synergies to attract more family offices from overseas and the Mainland to set up in Hong Kong while also quickly driving the growth and development of virtual assets and green finance in Hong Kong, in order to help enhance the competitive edge of Hong Kong as an international financial centre." VSFG is the first virtual asset manager in Hong Kong licensed by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission ("SFC"). Far back in 2018, VSFG already initiated a discussion with the SFC on full compliance between traditional and virtual assets to develop innovative financial services. This is in line with Dr. Lam's view on enhancing Hong Kong's unique competitive advantages as an international financial centre and promoting and facilitating financial technologies.

Mr. Lawrence Chu, Chairman of VSFG, also expressed his sincere appreciation to Dr. Lam for joining and supporting VSFG, "As a farsighted visionary, Dr. Lam has always been driving the integration of the new and traditional economies without neglecting the importance of regulations and corporate governance. As we strive to integrate traditional wealth management with the future of finance, we must achieve full compliance first while effectively linking traditional and virtual assets together. It is of utmost importance to put in place sound internal controls. As a solicitor of the High Court of HKSAR (formerly a member of Hong Kong Bar), a Fellow of the Hong Kong Institute of Arbitrators, the Hong Kong Institute of Directors and CMA Australia, and an Honorary Fellow of CPA Australia, Dr. Lam not only provides us with valuable constructive suggestions on laws and regulations and corporate governance, but also delivers strategic advice on the Group's sustainable development policies, lifting our service offerings to the next level in a comprehensive manner."

With his extensive industry experience in corporate governance, strategy consulting, policy advocacy, international cooperation, investment banking, direct investment and asset management, Dr. Lam will provide leadership for VSFG to fully leverage its strengths in participating in the development of Hong Kong as an International Virtual Assets Centre and Green Finance Hub, integrating traditional wealth management with the future of finance, creating new milestones for Hong Kong's financial development going forwards.

About VSFG

Venture Smart Financial Holdings Limited (VSFG) is a global financial services platform headquartered in Hong Kong.

VSFG strives to integrate traditional wealth management with the future of finance. In 2020, Venture Smart Asia Limited, subsidiary of VSFG, became the first virtual asset manager in Hong Kong approved by HKSFC to manage portfolios that may invest up to 100% of assets in crypto assets. VSFG is dedicated to the research and development of products and services that can integrate traditional and virtual assets under a compliant regulatory framework, helping individuals and institutions to allocate their assets in an orderly manner in both traditional and virtual worlds. In addition, VSFG and its affiliated companies are committed to proactively developing and delivering relevant services to promote the development of both family office businesses and virtual assets, shoring up Hong Kong's position as a global financial centre . For further information on VSFG, please visit www.vsfg.com.

Media Contact

VSFG [email protected]

Strategic Financial Relations Limited

Cindy Lung / Brigid Lee / Cynthia Ng

[email protected]

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
NEW YORK (PRWEB) May 16, 2023

India L. Sneed, a Government Law & Policy Practice associate in global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP's New York office, was honored at the Women of Excellence Awards Ceremony May 11 at the Manhattan Penthouse in New York. City & State New York, Spectrum, and the NAACP New York State Conference sponsored the event, which salutes "some of the most prominent women in government, business and media in New York State who are making a difference in our communities."

Sneed is dedicated to giving back and involved in numerous organizations, including the National Black Prosecutors Association, the Metropolitan Black Bar Association, and serves on the Education Subcommittee of Greenberg Traurig's Justice Initiative.

Sneed advises clients on matters pertaining to government law and policy, election law, and investigations. She has vast experience as a leader in governmental and legislative roles, having served as deputy director of the New York City Mayor's Action Plan where she was responsible for interagency coordination of citywide programs and managing a multimillion dollar budget; chief of staff and legislative and budget director for two city council members where she led bill drafting and negotiations and allocated funds to community partners; and as executive director of the New York State Black, Latino and Asian Caucus engaging legislators statewide on a wide variety of matters. She also served as a prosecutor in the Kings County District Attorney's Office, leading investigations into officer misconduct and hate crimes and conducting bench and jury trials.

Additionally, Sneed has been listed in City & State's "Above & Beyond," "40 Under 40," and "Power of Diversity: Black 100"; The Best Lawyers in America; and Super Lawyers magazine New York Metro Super Lawyers.

About Greenberg Traurig's Diversity Initiative: From its inception, Greenberg Traurig has been committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. Greenberg Traurig is a uniquely empowering and diverse firm built on a foundation of fairness, equality, and authenticity. Through its Social, Racial, and Economic Justice Action Plan, the firm has committed $5 million over five years to help combat systemic racism and support impoverished communities. In addition, the firm's efforts have been recognized through its Mansfield Rule 5.0 Certification Plus, administered by The Diversity Lab, and by local, national, and global publications and organizations including Chambers and Partners. Web: https://www.gtlaw.com/en/general/our-firm/diversity Twitter: @GT_Drives.

About Greenberg Traurig's Government Law & Policy Practice: Greenberg Traurig's Government Law & Policy Practice combines the capabilities of its Federal Practice in Washington D.C. with its state and local practices across the country. The firm's national team of governmental affairs professionals and attorneys spans major political and commercial capitals throughout the United States, including: Albany, Austin, Denver, New York City, Philadelphia, Sacramento, Tallahassee, and Washington, D.C. Most recently, Greenberg Traurig's Government Law & Policy team was "Top Listed" for Government Relations in Best Lawyers in America's 2018 edition. The team was also named "Law Firm of the Year" for Government Relations by the U.S. News-Best Lawyers 2014 edition of "Best Law Firms." The practice also received the most first-tier Government Relations rankings in the U.S.

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. EPA's Green Power Partnership Program. The firm is known for its philanthropic giving, innovation, diversity, and pro bono. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com.

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Los Angeles CEO Patrick Nelson Gives Back to Future Leaders With Scholarship Fund



Patrick Nelson, an accomplished American entrepreneur and the CEO of Nelson Partners, LLC, is excited to announce the launch of the Patrick Nelson Scholarship 2023 for Student Entrepreneurs. This prestigious scholarship aims to empower the next generation of visionary business leaders who aspire to revolutionize the way we live and work.

The Patrick Nelson Scholarship is a one-time award of $1,000 available to aspiring student entrepreneurs throughout the United States. The scholarship will be granted to a single winner based on their response to an essay prompt, challenging them to envision a groundbreaking product or service that will shape our lives or work over the next decade. Eligible applicants must be currently enrolled at a university in the United States or current high school students with plans to launch a business in the future.

With over two decades of experience in the real estate industry, Patrick Nelson is highly regarded for his leadership in the field of student housing. As the CEO of Nelson Partners, LLC, a prominent real estate investment firm specializing in high-quality student housing facilities, Patrick demonstrates an ability to select properties that provide long-term value to investors while offering students top-of-the-line amenities.

To apply for the Patrick Nelson Scholarship, candidates must submit a creative essay of up to 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?" Applications can be submitted online through the official Patrick Nelson Scholarship website (https://patricknelsonscholarship.com/).

"The Patrick Nelson Scholarship encourages young entrepreneurs to think innovatively and explore solutions that have the potential to shape our future," said Patrick Nelson. "As someone deeply committed to fostering entrepreneurship and making a positive impact in the community, I am thrilled to support young visionaries on their journey to create meaningful change."

The deadline to apply for the scholarship is October 15, 2023. Following a thorough evaluation of all submissions, the winner will be announced on November 15, 2023, through the official scholarship website and shall be notified directly.

Patrick Nelson's reputation as a leader in both the business and philanthropic communities is founded on his unwavering commitment to excellence, integrity, and community service. In addition to his successful business ventures, he actively supports charitable organizations that make a positive impact on people's lives.

For more detailed information about the Patrick Nelson Scholarship 2023 for Student Entrepreneurs, including eligibility criteria and the application process, please visit the official scholarship website (https://patricknelsonscholarship.com/patrick-nelson-scholarship/).

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 a BBA from Brigham Young University and comes from a family with deep roots in the real estate business. His extensive industry knowledge has allowed him to carefully select properties that offer long-term value to investors while providing students with top-of-the-line amenities.

Nelson Partners, LLC is renowned for its premier portfolio of student housing facilities situated in close proximity to college campuses. These properties are designed to provide students with the ultimate college experience, featuring modern, comfortable spaces equipped with state-of-the-art technology, premium furnishings, and top-quality appliances.

Contact Info:

Name: Patrick Nelson

Email: Send Email

Organization: Patrick Nelson Scholarship

Website: https://patricknelsonscholarship.com



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New Eagle Hill Consulting Research Finds Government Employees Recognize Value of In-Person Work, But Concerned About Work-Life Balance and Commutes

ARLINGTON, Va. , May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly half (45 percent) of government employees indicate they will consider looking for a new job should their agency reduce remote and hybrid work flexibility, new Eagle Hill Consulting research finds. These findings come on the heels of new federal government guidance that calls for a substantial increase in meaningful in-person work, along with unprecedented challenges filling government jobs.

45% of government employees will consider a new job should their agency reduce remote and hybrid work flexibility.

The nationwide survey of government workers also finds that employees see the value of in-person work. More than half of government employees (54 percent) say those who work more in the office than remotely are more likely to be successful in their jobs. Eighty-five percent of workers say team building and integrating a new team member is managed better in person, as is managing teams (77 percent), onboarding (72 percent), training (72 percent), kicking off a new project (71 percent), getting a project back on track (70 percent), performance discussions (69 percent), giving and receiving feedback (64 percent), classified work (61 percent) and brainstorming (58 percent).

"Government leaders are on a tightrope when it comes to the new telework and organizational health guidance released by the Office of Management and Budget," said Melissa Jezior , president and chief executive officer of Eagle Hill Consulting. "While the guidance recognizes the need to balance organizational productivity and worker retention, crafting new Work Environment Plans will be complicated. Our research suggests that approaches to remote and hybrid government work must be nuanced and there is common ground."

Read Eagle Hill's new guide for federal agencies, Navigating OMB's New Organizational Health Guidance.

"Government employees know that some work is best accomplished in-person, especially work that requires collaboration or is classified. But government employees don't want in-person mandates because of concerns about work-life balance and commuting time. This means government leaders will need to focus on flexibility  perhaps allowing remote work for individualized tasks, re-imagining traditional work schedules, and having collaborative time in the workplace. The research is clear that most government employees want a certain degree of in-person work, but they don't like rigid rules on how they work. In the end, agencies that best navigate remote work will have a high level of trust between employees and managers, an environment that fosters good communication, and effective processes for managing performance outcomes," Jezior said.

The research also finds:

Fifty-nine percent of remote and hybrid government workers say their job satisfaction would decrease if their employer mandated a return to in-person work, and 44 percent say their productivity would decrease with such a requirement. Forty-five percent say a mandate would decrease how long they will stay with their current employer.

More than half of government employees (53 percent) prefer to work with an organization that offers hybrid and remote work flexibility.

Government employee concerns about more in-person work include work/life balance (45 percent), commute times (43 percent), higher costs (38 percent), and stress (34 percent).

Work that is better achieved remotely includes deep thinking (64 percent), research (61 percent), and focus time (58 percent).

In terms of the benefits of required in-person work, government employees say it's more socialization (42 percent), improved collaboration (34 percent), and the ability to leave work at the office (33 percent).

Government employees are almost evenly split as to whether they are more productive spending a full day in the workplace (53 percent) versus spending only part of the day (47 percent).

Sixty-five percent of government employees say remote work flexibility decisions lie with their immediate supervisors.

Most government employees (68 percent) say they trust the person who determines where they work understands how they can be most productive.

These findings are based upon the 2023 Eagle Hill Consulting Telework Survey conducted by Ipsos from April 27 -May 1, 2023 . The survey included 10013 respondents from a random sample of employees across the U.S. , including 511 federal, state, and local government workers. Respondents were polled about their views about working remotely.

Eagle Hill Consulting LLC is a woman-owned business that provides unconventional management consulting services in the areas of Strategy, Performance, Talent, and Change. The company's expertise in delivering innovative solutions to unique challenges spans across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. A leading authority on employee sentiment, Eagle Hill is headquartered in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, with employees across the U.S. and offices in Boston and Seattle . More information is available at www.eaglehillconsulting.com.

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SOURCE Eagle Hill Consulting
RALEIGH, N.C. , May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ADAMA, a leading global crop protection company providing solutions to combat weeds, insects and disease, announced that Jake Brodsgaard was promoted to Senior Vice President of the North America region for the company. The new North American Region consists of the existing business units of ADAMA US Ag, ADAMA Canada, and Consumer & Professional Solutions. In addition to this role, Brodsgaard will also be a part of the Global ADAMA Leadership Team.

Brodsgaard started with ADAMA 14 years ago, holding a variety of roles including regional sales leadership, VP of Sales, and most recently Vice President, US Ag with responsibility for all the ADAMA US Ag business.

Brodsgaard said "I will lean on my previous experience working with growers to guide the business decisions ADAMA North America makes to keep our customers front and center. My experiences over the last 14 years have provided me with the foundation from which to navigate a complex market with constantly shifting priorities."

When asked to share his goals for ADAMA North America, Brodsgaard stated "Our goal is to define and execute strategies that better serve our customers through commercial excellence and differentiated solutions. We will evolve and create a sustainable business that succeeds due to talented and passionate employees in North America . With the individual and shared strengths across these business units and Syngenta Group, ADAMA is uniquely positioned to deliver value to our North American customers and partners."

About ADAMA

ADAMA is one of the world's leading crop protection companies. We strive to Create Simplicity in Agriculture  offering farmers effective products and services that simplify their lives and help them grow. With one of the most comprehensive and diversified portfolios of differentiated, quality products, our 5,000-strong team reaches farmers in more than 100 countries, providing them with solutions to control weeds, insects, and disease, and improve their yields. For more information, visit us at www.adama.com.

ADAMA Contact

Michelle Blair

Strategic Marketing Communications Manager

984-272-7467

[email protected]

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SOURCE ADAMA US
Benchling partners with Allotrope, backing industry standards and making library of open source industry data converters freely available to the scientific community

SAN FRANCISCO , May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Benchling , the R&D Cloud powering the biotechnology industry, launched an initiative to standardize instrument data conversion in the scientific community today at the Bio-IT World Conference. The company's efforts are twofold: Benchling is contributing to industry standards as an active member of the Allotrope Foundation Partner Network (APN) and is also creating a library of open source converters that format instrument-generated data to the Allotrope Simple Model (ASM) standard to help organizations to put these standards into practice. By making these converters available in the open source, companies of all sizes will be able to easily standardize and connect instrument data within and across their labs, ultimately driving greater industry adoption of findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR) data.

Every company conducting scientific research and development, large or small, faces the same set of challenges when integrating lab instrument data into the scientific process. Lab instruments often produce proprietary data, leading to unnecessary and costly obstacles to data governance, standardization, and connectivity. Scientists are forced to manually transfer data and manage customized data pipelines, preventing them from using data at scale, creating burdens on IT and automation teams, and introducing regulatory compliance risk.

Industry leaders are showing support for Benchling's open source instrument data converters initiative.

"Today's news illustrates the industry's collective progress in reaching the goal of FAIR data in R&D," said Corey Bakalarski , Chairman of Allotrope Foundation. "Earlier this year, Allotrope realized an important milestone, launching publicly available data standards using the Allotrope Simple Model, knowing that access and ease of use are critical in driving standardization. As an Allotrope partner, Benchling is furthering this mission, providing innovative, openly available tools that put standards into action."

"The traditional approach to lab instrument data integration, where scientists and IT teams manually build and maintain customized data pipelines is time consuming and resource-intensive," said Mike Berke , Director of Automation at Amgen. "Benchling's announcement today shows the industry is making massive strides in standardizing the approach. IT teams can spend less time on maintaining the data infrastructure and focus more on making the data productive for science."

"The proliferation of data formats across different lab instruments and different teams has been a major pain point. It requires lab IT to solve the same problems with data conversion again and again, ultimately slowing down process development and biomanufacturing," said Mark Southern , Senior Informatics Engineer at Resilience. "The approach Benchling is taking helps solve this pervasive challenge and makes the integrations more adaptable for future use cases."

This is the first element of Benchling's Lab Automation product initiative to support wider adoption of FAIR data principles. Later this year, Benchling plans to build upon ASM and the open source converters to provide scientists with a complete solution to seamlessly communicate with instruments, ingest and harmonize data, and generate insights. As part of this, Benchling will continue to deliver high-demand instrument data converters for the scientific community. The first instrument data converters are for plate readers and will be available In July. Scientists and developers will also be encouraged to contribute to this open source library.

"The ability to effectively access and leverage the growing volume of R&D data is one of the most significant challenges that scientists face today. With the emergence of AI and ML, this has become even more pressing," said Shawna Wolverton , Chief Product Officer at Benchling. "Data standards from Allotrope are a great foundation. The data converters we're putting into the open source library add another critical component. The real power comes when we have both together, along with the platforms that enable flexible, adaptable ease of use with data across the end-to-end R&D lifecycle."

Benchling is sharing its vision for data standardization and lab automation, along with more details on its open source instrument data converters at the Bio-IT World Conference on May 18 . For instrument vendors interested in connecting with Benchling to participate in open source converters, please contact: [email protected] .

About Benchling

Benchling is the pioneer of the R&D Cloud, software that unlocks the power of biotechnology. More than 200,000 scientists at over 1,100 companies and 7,500 academic and research institutions globally have adopted the Benchling R&D Cloud to make breakthrough discoveries and bring the next generation of medicines, food, and materials to market faster. The Benchling R&D Cloud helps these organizations modernize their scientific processes and accelerate collaboration so they can convert the complexity of biology into world-changing results. For more, please visit Benchling.com.

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SOURCE BENCHLING
2023 American Business Awards Recognizes Efforts to Eliminate Paper Invoices and Checks While Achieving Workforce Inclusivity and Diversity

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. , May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Billtrust , a B2B accounts receivable (AR) automation and digital payments market leader, announced that was named the winner of a Silver Stevie  Award in the Environment, Social and Governance category in The 21st Annual American Business Awards. Recipients in this category demonstrated their commitment to reducing pollution, CO2 output and waste, as well as achieving a diverse and inclusive workforce.

The Silver Stevie Award recognizes Billtrust's global ESG efforts to focus on both our culture and our climate.

In recent years, Billtrust has taken significant steps in stakeholder engagement and has made investments in sustainability and diversity initiatives . It now supports over 2,600 customers in 36 countries, many of which use Billtrust's solutions to reduce paper and emissions associated with inefficient billing and invoicing processes. The company's eSolutions team exists to accelerate digital adoption and, in 2021, it hit a significant milestone by campaigning on behalf of its customers to eliminate 301 million paper invoices and 22 million paper checks from manufacture, distribution and disposal.

In 2022, Billtrust also introduced a sustainability award at its annual customer conference and created an environmental sales calculator for its sales teams to help educate customers on the impact of Billtrust products. The company strongly believes its commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) is critical in fulfilling its vision to retain exceptional talent and lift up the communities in which it operates. The brand works to continually advance its DEIB efforts in a range of areas, including introducing a supplier diversity program and introducing seven Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). Finally, in 2022, Billtrust launched its year-round community impact program, Billtrust for Good, to donate $100,000 and volunteer 2,500+ hours to community partners worldwide.

"We are especially proud to receive the Silver Stevie Award in this category, as it recognizes our efforts as a global company to focus on both our culture and our climate," said Sunil Rajasekar , Billtrust CEO.

The American Business Awards are the U.S.A.'s premier business awards program. All organizations operating in the U.S.A. are eligible to submit nominations  public and private, for-profit and nonprofit, large and small. More than 230 professionals worldwide participated in the judging process to select this year's Stevie Award winners. 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 .

About Billtrust

Finance leaders turn to Billtrust to control costs, accelerate cash flow and improve customer satisfaction. As a B2B order-to-cash software and digital payments market leader, we help the world's leading brands get paid faster while transitioning from expensive paper invoicing and check acceptance to efficient electronic billing and payments. With over 2,600 global customers and more than $1 trillion invoice dollars processed, Billtrust delivers business value through deep industry expertise and a culture relentlessly focused on meaningful customer outcomes.

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.

Media Contact

Paul Accardo

[email protected]

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SOURCE Billtrust
Iraq's Assyrian Community Experiencing Signs of New Life

Although the number of Christians in Iraq continues to be low, there are signs of rebirth of the Church in areas that were severely impacted by the Islamic State group's rule there almost a decade ago.

On a recent visit to the United States, Archbishop Bashar Matti Warda outlined ways in which the Church is overcoming the struggles brought about by the ISIS reign of terror. He said that Christians, like most Iraqis, continue to face challenges because of corruption in the government.

Warda, head of the Chaldean Catholic Archeparchy of Erbil, was in the United States for meetings with university officials and to receive an honorary doctorate at Walsh University, a Catholic institution in North Canton, Ohio. He said that plans are being discussed for collaboration between several U.S. Catholic universities and the Catholic University of Erbil, which he founded in the wake of the ISIS invasion.

Archbishop Warda oversees an Eastern Catholic archeparchy in Iraqi Kurdistan, where thousands of Christians from Mosul, Iraq's second largest city, and the Nineveh Plain, historic home to Iraq's Christians, took refuge as the Islamic State jihadists overran parts of the country and neighboring Syria. He has worked with other Iraqi Christian activists and groups, as well as Western aid organizations to rebuild and stabilize life for the Church there.

The Christian population in Iraq, which once exceeded a million, is down to about 200,000, he said. But some Iraqi Christians who fled to the West in recent years have opted to return, especially to Erbil, the major Christian city in the north. Asked why, Warda said that some have told him that it's because they want to rear their children in a Catholic environment.

"Because we live in the safe area of Kurdistan in northern Iraq," Warda said in an interview, Chaldean Christian growth in Erbil has doubled from 2,000 families to over 4,000 families since ISIS was defeated on the battlefield. "And also, we welcomed in the area Churches that had not been there before. So today, the Christian area of what we call Ankawa has the Assyrian Church, Syrian Catholic Eparchy, Syriac Orthodox Eparchy, Armenian Church, Latin Church, different Churches."

That, he said, brings the total Christian population of Erbil to over 8,000 families.

Effects of Pope Francis' visit

In addition to the university, the archeparchy was also able to open a hospital and four new schools, and the Syriac Orthodox Church has opened a school, for a total of 18 Christian schools. Many Muslim residents send their children to the schools, he said, because they trust them.

Asked what has changed in the wake of the liberation from ISIS, a group that used violent means to impose its version of Islam on all of society, the archbishop said, "First, everyone realized that using religion or using violence in the name of God and religion is a devastating fact and it's going to affect all. For example, 125,000 Christians were displaced because of ISIS but over 3 million Sunnis also were displaced because of ISIS, not to mention how many Shia were killed because of ISIS. So one [thing is] the awareness that enough [is] enough of using the name of God and religion and spreading violence."

In addition, he said Pope Francis' visit to Iraq in 2021 has had a lasting effect.

"No one has denied that his visit put Iraq in the news for the first time not [as an] Iraq of violence, not Iraq of kidnapping, not Iraq of killing and bombing. No no no, Iraq as a joyful people receiving a guest," said the 53-year-old archbishop, a member of the Redemptorist Order. "His visit, for example, made possible for Iraqi channels to speak about Christianity in Iraq, the history, the religious science, the persecution, the difficulties, the contribution of those Christians."

He hopes, though, that textbooks used in public schools will follow suit.

"What's not in the curriculum is the history of Christianity in Iraq, the contribution of Christian science in the 9th and 10th century, the contribution of the Christian translators who translated the ... first philosophical texts from Greek to Arabic, to make it possible for Arab people to read philosophy. It's not there, what we call the historical sites from the 7th and 8th century, some of the big monasteries, some of the big citadels, some of what we call historical facts of monks and monasteries that was spread all over, all over Iraq."

The archbishop expressed gratitude for the help of reconstruction provided by organizations such as Aid to the Church in Need, the Knights of Columbus, and Hungary Helps, as well as students and active and retired teachers who are volunteering to work in the Catholic University of Erbil and other schools for months at a time, but said that more help is always needed.

"We thank God that we passed the difficult times, but the challenges are still there, and we look on our Christian brothers and sisters [in the West] to really help us maintain this kind of help, support, solidarity so we can continue."
HANGZHOU, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) will constantly unleash new potential, a senior Chinese official has said.

Wang Yong, vice chairman of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made the remarks when addressing the opening ceremony of the 3rd China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair.

The 3rd China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair kicked off in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, on Tuesday.

During his opening remarks, Wang said that in recent years, China-CEEC economic and trade cooperation has yielded fruitful results thanks to the joint efforts of all parties.

The year 2023 marks the beginning of the second decade of China-CEEC cooperation, he said, noting that China will continue to uphold the principles of making decisions through consultation, delivering benefits to all cooperation partners, pursuing common development through openness and inclusiveness, and achieving better growth through innovation.

China will continue to promote the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative to constantly unleash the potential of China-CEEC cooperation, and will strive to work together to boost pragmatic China-CEEC cooperation so that all involved can sail steadily into the future, he added.

Wang also attended the opening ceremony of the 7th meeting of the China-CEEC Council on Monday afternoon. He said he hopes the council will keep playing its role as a bridge well and make positive contributions to promoting friendly exchanges and deepening cooperation between the two sides. 
Empowering ethics in response to rapidly evolving challenges in technology and public policies

NEW YORK , May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, new ethical questions are emerging at an exponential rate. Society faces significant challenges in the realm of international affairsfrom the impact of rapidly evolving technologies such as artificial intelligence to the rise of autocrats and accelerating climate change. Too often, new public policies, technologies, and products are developed, deployed, and co-opted with haste by actors who view ethics as an encumbrance rather than a requisite.

In response, Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs is pleased to announce the launch of the Carnegie Ethics Acceleratora new kind of incubator designed to empower ethics in the face of swiftly evolving challenges in technology and public policies. Each Accelerator will tap into the convening power of Carnegie Council to assemble a diverse community of experts and practitioners who will collaboratively and ambitiously push the discourse forward on a complex ethical question.

With generous support from the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, the inaugural series of Ethics Accelerators will take place over the next 12 months in New York City and focus on critical questions at the intersection of ethics and emerging technology. Led by Carnegie Council Senior Fellow Arthur Holland Michel , the first Accelerator will examine ethical questions regarding the adoption of software tools for correlating and fusing surveillance data from a growing web of sources.

"Crisis by crisis, we face accelerating growth in global challenges that face humanity. Emerging technologies that reflect the best of human ingenuity and innovation might provide critical new responses to these challengesbut only if built for public purpose instead of maximizing profits," said Vilas Dhar , president of the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation. "Carnegie Council brings a deep history and commitment to ethical decision-makingexperience and wisdom that is critical as we develop and deploy new tools. The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation is delighted to support the launch of the Ethics Accelerator to advance practices that center community interests, pose difficult questions about core values, and shape our best possible human-centered, tech-enabled future."

The Ethics Accelerator will seek to generate publicly available instruments and principles that policymakers and practitioners can immediately leverage and deploy. As the initiative expands to tackle additional novel issues within international affairs, so will Carnegie Council's library of available Ethics Accelerator assets, including ethical frameworks, multimedia educational materials, and governance blueprints.

"The Accelerator is Carnegie Council's answer to the need to be nimble in response to fast-moving issues in applied ethics," said Joel Rosenthal , president of Carnegie Council. "This new initiative enables us to convene and publish quickly to bring ethical issues into focus in real time, as debates are unfolding. The team and I are delighted to be working with the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation to meet this critical moment."

END

About Carnegie Council

Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs is an independent nonprofit that works to empower ethics by identifying and addressing the most critical ethical issues of today and tomorrow. Founded by Andrew Carnegie over a century ago, we set the global ethical agenda and work for an ethical future by convening leading experts, producing agenda-setting resources, and catalyzing the creation of ethical solutions to global problems. Join us in using the power of ethics to build a better world. Carnegie Council is a nonprofit 501(c) (3) institution. For more information, please visit CarnegieCouncil.org, subscribe to "Carnegie Council" wherever you get your podcasts, and engage with us on LinkedIn, YouTube , Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook .

Contact:

Kevin Maloney

[email protected]

Director of Communications

Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs

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SOURCE Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs
BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil , May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A COMPANHIA ENERGETICA DE MINAS GERAIS  CEMIG ("CEMIG"), a publicly held company with shares traded on the stock exchanges of Sao Paulo, New York and Madrid , hereby informs the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM), B3 S.A.  Brasil, Bolsa, Balcao ("B3") and the market in general that it has filed on May 16, 2023 , Form 20-F for the 2022 fiscal year ("2022 Form 20-F") with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").

2022 Form 20-F can be accessed on SEC's website, at www.sec.gov, or the Company's Investor Relations website, at http://ri.cemig.com.br.

Shareholders who wish to receive a free printed copy of the report, including the financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 , shall send an email to [email protected].

Contact:

Investor Relations Department

[email protected]

+55 31 3506-5024

Leonardo George de Magalhaes

Chief Financial and Investor Relations Officer

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SOURCE Cemig
MIAMI , May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- This week the Jackson County, Missouri legislature voted unanimously for the design and construction of a new detention center, which is set to modernize and improve the county's detention services and capabilities.

Faced with overcrowded, deteriorating facilities that posed significant safety concerns for both staff and inmates, the County realized in order to truly make a shift in its approach to detention, a new facility was necessary. Jackson County intends to meet the community's needs by planning and building a detention center that is safe, secure, efficient to operate, and incorporates thoughtfully designed long-term solutions for the Jackson County Justice System.

One of the key elements of planning, building, and operating a detention center, is respecting the dignity of detained individuals. To accomplish this, the new facility will provide evidence-based treatment and training opportunities that address the needs of the individual and the underlying causes of criminal behavior. The new detention center will boast high-tech security features, improved inmate housing and services, and ample space for staff and administrative offices. The facility will be equipped to meet the needs of both male and female detainees and will serve as a modern and secure detention center that meets all state and federal regulations.

"Working closely with our owner's representative and contractors, I have witnessed firsthand the incredible amount of patience and hard work that goes into bringing a project like this to fruition," said Jackson County Administrator Troy Schulte . "Collaborating with multiple stakeholders, managing complex timelines and ensuring all parties are working toward a shared vision can be challenging, but it is also very rewarding. I am incredibly proud of our team and believe that the dedication and perseverance that has been shown will be reflected in the final product  a first-class detention center we can all be proud of that meets the County's needs for many years to come."

A project of this scale requires the services of an Owners Representative who specializes in the development of large county jail facilities, understands the ins and outs of the design-build delivery method, and knows how to work effectively with the County to deliver the fullest measure of success. In the winter of 2020, the County engaged JCDC Partners, a proven partnership comprised of CGL Companies (CGL), the nation's leading justice facilities expert, and Newmark Grubb Zimmer (NGZ), a Jackson County -based commercial real estate firm with a proven history of success in working with Jackson County .

The Jackson County Board of Commissioners' decision to approve the new detention center is a testament to the county's commitment to improving and modernizing its facilities and services, as well as its dedication to public safety and the well-being of its residents. Construction is set to begin this year and is expected to be completed in 2025.

ABOUT CGL

CGL is the leading provider of justice facility planning, design, program management and maintenance solutions. Dating back to 1974, CGL has since grown into the largest, most comprehensive criminal justice consulting firm in the world. CGL offers services spanning an entire project and building lifecycle, providing the unique capability to help at any stage of the development process and well beyond completion. With CGL's vertically-integrated 360 Justice platform, Owners can expect:

Significant facility cost savings

Increased facility life

Total understanding of the facility and operations

Speed to market with a single-source solution

Reduced risk and comprehensive plans that work

To date, CGL has worked in more than 900 counties and municipalities, all 50 states, and more than 20 countries, delivering solutions on more than 1,900 projects. To learn more about CGL and 360 Justice, please visit: www.cglcompanies.com

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SOURCE CGL
Experienced leader brings deep expertise & strong record of performance in both national and regional banking

MINNEAPOLIS , May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Choice Bank has hired Tom Jasper to serve as Executive Vice President Chief Operating Officer. In this new role, Jasper will be directly responsible for enhancing Choice's traditional banking business, including its financial services products in insurance, wealth management and mortgage banking. Additionally, he will have executive responsibilities over finance, accounting, marketing and communications.

"We are excited to have Tom join the Choice leadership team. I am looking forward to the results of his focused attention and execution on our growth initiatives at Choice. His arrival is well-timed as we look to grow our lending portfolio and expand our product offerings." said Brian L. Johnson , Chief Executive Officer.

"For the last eight years Choice has been improving its capabilities and expanding its fintech business partnerships that are solely focused on core deposit growth," added Johnson. "Our strategic objective is simple - to create a long-term funding advantage that enhances our regional lending business. It is imperative during this unique time in the banking industry that we capitalize on our core funding capabilities  and Tom is here to help us do just that."

Jasper has worked in the banking industry for over 30 years. He spent eighteen years at TCF Financial Corporation (TCF), the parent company at TCF Bank. He was Vice Chairman Chief Operating Officer at TCF when he departed the company in connection with its merger with Chemical Bank back in 2019. Over the last several years Jasper has been providing strategic advisory services to several national financial services organizations.

"I am grateful for this opportunity to join the leadership team at Choice Bank," said Jasper. "The organization has great momentum built on its unwavering commitment to deliver great outcomes for its customers. I look forward to collaborating with others, taking on new challenges and leaning into our strategic plans to deliver opportunities and growth."

About Choice

Choice Bank provides innovative financial solutions with a People First approach. Since its founding in 2001, Choice has grown to $4.95 billion in assets. Choice delivers a broad range of products & services and authentic community banking through a team of trusted advisors. Choice is headquartered in Fargo, North Dakota , with 22 locations throughout Minnesota and North Dakota , and serves a broader customer base across the United States . For more on Choice visit www.bankwithchoice.com .

Contact Information:

Name: Brian L. Johnson

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 701.738.4340

Web: bankwithchoice.com

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SOURCE Choice Bank
COLUMBUS, Ohio , May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Condado Tacos, the award-winning taco joint specializing in unique tacos, margaritas and tequilas in a fun, high energy atmosphere, has announced a company-wide partnership with GreenPlaces, an action based sustainability partner who works with companies to achieve results toward making a tangible impact on its community, while helping its partner companies create a climate-positive future.

We are committed to this shared mission that business doesn't have to come at the cost of the planet.

"We are thrilled to join forces with GreenPlaces, and to build upon the principles that the Condado Tacos brand was originally created," said Joe Kahn , Founder and Chief Innovation Officer at Condado Tacos. "We are committed to this shared mission that business doesn't have to come at the cost of the planet."

Condado Tacos will work with GreenPlaces and focus on programs that track the company's footprint, remove carbon, reduce emissions and to tell the story of why this initiative is so core to Condado Tacos, as a growth focused NextGen restaurant company. This will be achieved through an analysis of the company's buildings, its land and space, through its employees, vehicles and its HVAC, refrigerants, appliances, electricity and natural gas utilized.

About Condado Tacos

Condado Tacos opened in 2014 with its first location in the Short North neighborhood near Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio . Since its founding, the award-winning taco joint has grown to 44 restaurants in 16 markets: in metro areas such as Cincinnati , Cleveland , Columbus , Detroit , Indianapolis , Lexington , Nashville , Pittsburgh , Charlotte, and now Knoxville and Louisville  with many more on the way in 2023  and was recently named Breakout Brand of the Year and Breakout Retailer. Condado Tacos is all about craveable, fresh, preservative free tacos, margaritas and tequilas in a colorful and social atmosphere, at a check average of $18-$19 per person. Condado has perfected the build-your-own model by enabling guests to choose exactly what they want  from toppings to proteins along with the creatively-stuffed taco shell and double deckers. Condado Tacos prides itself on fresh, high-quality ingredients and its vibe is embracing the community while celebrating the individuality of its staff and its guests.

Media Contact:

Roger J. Drake , Condado Tacos, [email protected], 631-495-2676

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SOURCE Condado Tacos
TORONTO , May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Denison Mines Corp. ("Denison" or the "Company") (TSX: DML) (NYSE American: DNN) is pleased to report that the nominees listed in the management proxy circular dated April 3, 2023 (the "Circular") for the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders held in Toronto today (the "Meeting") were elected as directors of the Company. View PDF version

The Company is also pleased to report that all other items of business presented to its shareholders at the Meeting, as more particularly described in the Circular, were approved.

Detailed results of the vote by proxy for the election of directors are set out below.

Nominee Votes For % For Votes Withheld % Withheld Byeong Min An 298,170,877 97.94 6,278,394 2.06 David Cates 298,089,738 97.91 6,359,534 2.09 Brian Edgar 292,545,013 96.09 11,904,259 3.91 Ron Hochstein 285,358,826 93.73 19,090,445 6.27 David Neuburger 298,154,071 97.93 6,295,201 2.07 Laurie Sterritt 297,508,820 97.72 6,940,452 2.28 Jennifer Traub 300,519,806 98.71 3,929,466 1.29 Patricia Volker 300,461,104 98.69 3,988,168 1.31



The Company has provided more details on the results of all matters considered at the Meeting in its Report of Voting Results which has been filed under its profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and will be filed on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.

About Denison

Denison is a uranium exploration and development company with interests focused in the Athabasca Basin region of northern Saskatchewan, Canada . The Company has an effective 95% interest in its flagship Wheeler River Uranium Project, which is the largest undeveloped uranium project in the infrastructure rich eastern portion of the Athabasca Basin region of northern Saskatchewan . A Pre-Feasibility Study was completed for Wheeler River in late 2018, considering the potential economic merit of developing Phoenix as an in-situ recovery ('ISR') operation and the Gryphon deposit as a conventional underground mining operation. Denison's interests in Saskatchewan also include a 22.5% ownership interest in the McClean Lake Joint Venture, which includes several uranium deposits and the McClean Lake uranium mill, which is contracted to process the ore from the Cigar Lake mine under a toll milling agreement, plus a 25.17% interest in the Midwest Main and Midwest A deposits and a 67.41% interest in the Tthe Heldeth Tue ('THT', formerly J Zone ) and Huskie deposits on the Waterbury Lake property. The Midwest Main, Midwest A, THT and Huskie deposits are located within 20 kilometres of the McClean Lake mill.

Through its 50% ownership of JCU, Denison holds additional interests in various uranium project joint ventures in Canada , including the Millennium project (JCU, 30.099%), the Kiggavik project (JCU, 33.8118%) and Christie Lake (JCU, 34.4508%).

Denison's exploration portfolio includes further interests in properties covering ~300,000 hectares in the Athabasca Basin region.

Denison is also engaged in post-closure mine care and maintenance services through its Closed Mines group, which manages Denison's reclaimed mine sites in the Elliot Lake region and provides related services to certain third-party projects.

Cautionary Statement Regarding ForwardLooking Statements

Certain information contained in this news release constitutes 'forward-looking information', within the meaning of the applicable United States and Canadian legislation concerning the business, operations and financial performance and condition of Denison. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as 'plans', 'expects', 'budget', 'scheduled', 'estimates', 'forecasts', 'intends', 'anticipates', or 'believes', or the negatives and/or variations of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results 'may', 'could', 'would', 'might' or 'will be taken', 'occur', 'be achieved' or 'has the potential to'.

In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information pertaining to the following: the composition of the Denison Board; expectations regarding Denison's joint venture ownership interests and the continuity of its agreements with third parties.

Forward looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made, and they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Denison to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Denison believes that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be accurate and results may differ materially from those anticipated in this forward looking information. For a discussion in respect of risks and other factors that could influence forward-looking events, please refer to the factors discussed in Denison's Annual Information Form dated March 27, 2023 under the heading 'Risk Factors'. These factors are not, and should not be construed as being, exhaustive.

Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Any forward-looking information and the assumptions made with respect thereto speaks only as of the date of this news release. Denison does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information after the date of this news release to conform such information to actual results or to changes in Denison's expectations except as otherwise required by applicable legislation.

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SOURCE Denison Mines Corp.
In a new industry resource, the firm explains that digital IDs can minimize businesses' cybersecurity risks and unlock revenue channels by providing a secure and efficient platform for value delivery.

TORONTO , May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - As a result of the pandemic, online services have become immensely popular, leading organizations to seek reliable security solutions to safeguard their digital interactions. However, implementing digital identity solutions comes with challenges, such as ensuring uniformity, interoperability, and protection against security threats. Despite the attention and investment the digital identity ecosystem has received, many organizations are still uncertain about its potential for secure authentication and authorization in both B2B and B2C transactions. To assist businesses in navigating these challenges, Info-Tech Research Group has published research in a new industry blueprint titled Navigate the Digital ID Ecosystem to Enhance Customer Experience.

As outlined in Info-Tech Research Group's new resource, a digital identity is an electronic representation of a unique entity, with all other identity attributes abstracted. It can exist in electronic and physical forms, with an identity certificate linked to an identifier representing the same entity. In essence, digital identity is a reliable means of identifying an individual or entity in the online world without revealing other sensitive information.

"The digital ID ecosystem has the power to transform laggard economies into global digital powerhouses," says Manish Jain , principal research director at Info-Tech Research Group. "Moreover, digital IDs can help businesses transfer some of their cybersecurity risks and unlock new revenue channels by enabling a foundation for secure and efficient value delivery."

The firm's research highlights the barriers organizations encounter when implementing digital identity solutions. One of the more significant obstacles is the limited understanding of the global digital ID ecosystem and the varying approaches across countries. These factors make it difficult for businesses to determine digital ID's potential benefits to customer interactions and overall business management. Additionally, organizations can face challenges balancing customer privacy, data security, and regulatory requirements while pursuing desired end-user experience and high customer adoption. Organizations are also still unsure if digital ID solutions can effectively lower operational costs and mitigate the risks associated with data transfers.

Info-Tech advises in the blueprint that organizations use the following approach for implementing digital identity:

Understand the digital ecosystem: Focus on the key principles of digital ID and prioritize critical success factors to drive adoption. Consider adoption success factors: Take affirmative actions to drive the adoption of digital ID, involving all players in the ecosystem, such as governing authorities, identity providers, and consumers. Follow the digital ID adoption journey: Realize the potential of digital identity and enhance customer experience by following specific steps toward digital ID adoption.

In the blueprint, Info-Tech explains that to enhance user experience and increase lifetime value (LTV) to an organization, customer touchpoints need to be prioritized and transformed using digital ID as a tool.

To learn more about the research and insights on customer-focused digital ID adoption, download the complete Navigate the Digital ID Ecosystem to Enhance Customer Experience blueprint.

For more information about Info-Tech Research Group or to access the latest research, visit infotech.com and connect via LinkedIn and Twitter.

About Info-Tech Research Group

Info-Tech Research Group is one of the world's leading information technology research and advisory firms, proudly serving over 30,000 IT professionals. The company produces unbiased and highly relevant research to help CIOs and IT leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. For 25 years, Info-Tech has partnered closely with IT teams to provide them with everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations.

Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software and over 200 industry analysts through the firm's Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact [email protected].

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SOURCE Info-Tech Research Group
ATLANTA , May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Edible , the world's largest franchisor of stores offering fresh fruit arrangements, baked goods, flowers, gourmet chocolates, and more, announced the appointment of Somia Farid Silber as President. In her new role, Silber will focus on developing innovative product collections and brand collaborations, optimizing the brand's delivery capabilities, and creating an enhanced Edible store that will offer a more modern and experiential way for people to interact with the brand. She will also build the Atlanta -based leadership team, while focusing on expanding the brand's consumer demographic and positioning Edible as the go-to company for celebrating life's sweetest moments.

Additionally, Silber's new responsibilities include managing e-commerce and day-to-day operations at the brand's corporate headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia , and overseeing the company's nearly one thousand franchise locations in the United States and Canada . Her extensive first-hand experience and deep understanding of the brand have given her a clear vision for the brand's future.

"I'm honored to take on the role of President at a company that has been a part of my family for over two decades," says Silber. "As Edible approaches its 25th anniversary, I look forward to shaping the next 25 years. I'm committed to continuing the legacy my father has built through our family-owned business and bringing in new ideas that elevate the brand and meet our next generation of customers where they are celebrating!"

Since joining Edible full-time in 2016, Silber has served in senior leadership roles across various departments, including as Vice President of E-Commerce and Vice President/General Manager of Netsolace, the brand's technology arm. In 2020, Silber was awarded a spot in What Franchise's "100 Influential Women in Franchising: Ones to Watch." In 2021, Silber was named one of the top 40 retail professionals under the age of 40 by Retail TouchPoints and design:retail, and as one of the most amazing women leading the e-commerce space by Yotpo. She holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Babson College and was appointed in 2021 to the school's distinguished Board of Trustees.

About Edible

Edible is the world's largest franchisor of stores offering fresh fruit arrangements, baked goods, flowers, gourmet chocolates, and more. Since its founding in 1999, the company has grown to nearly 1,000 locations and is uniquely capable of reaching more than 80% of households within one hour for delivery. The brand has been recognized as an industry leader in Entrepreneur's annual "Franchise 500," "Fastest Growing Franchises,'' and "America's Top Global Franchises," as well as Inc.'s list of the fastest-growing privately-held companies. For more information, visit edible.com.

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SOURCE Edible
STAMFORD, CT , May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Emeren Group Ltd ("Emeren" or the "Company") (www.emeren.com) (NYSE: SOL), a leading global solar project developer, owner, and operator, today announced that it will restate its previously issued unaudited consolidated financial statements for the three months ended September 30, 2022 that was issued in a press release on December 1, 2022 and included in the Company's Form 6-K that was filed on December 7, 2022 and the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2022 that was issued in a press release on March 28, 2023 and included in the Company's Form 6-K that was filed on March 30, 2023 .

The restatements of these financial statements are primarily due to timing of accounting recognition related to three transactions recorded in 2022 as a result of applying a more conservative assessment of when "change of control" occurred. These transactions pertain to:

50 MWp solar farm acquisition in Branston, U.K. where the consolidation date was determined to be September 30, 2022 , rather than April 1, 2022 as set forth in the previously issued unaudited financial statements for the three month ended September 30, 2022 . Such change will reduce previous reported revenue by $5.0 million , operating income by $3.7 million and the purchase price of the project by $4.5 million . The $4.5 million purchase price reduction represents the net operational results from the project for the period from April 1, 2022 to September 30, 2022 , partially offset the increase deferred tax liabilities due to fair value adjustment of Project Branston upon acquisition. Poland and Germany NTP project sales that were recognized in Q4 2022 is now expected to be recognized in the first half of 2023. This will reduce previous reported revenue for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2022 by $14.7 million and operating income by $5.4 million .

In addition, the Company also recorded a bad debt provision of $0.7 million relating to one of its NTP projects in Maine due to issues at the local utility. This will reduce previous reported net income for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2022 by $0.7 .

The restatement of these transactions will result in a total reduction of previously reported revenue and net income for the full year 2022 by approximately $20 million and $10 million , respectively, as well as related changes to the balance sheet and statement of cash flows.

The two NTP project sales in Europe that were previously recorded in Q4 2022 are now expected to be recorded in the Company's first half 2023 results. The Company now expects 2023 full year revenue and net income to be in the range of $154 million to $174 million and $22 to $26 million , respectively. As of December 31, 2022 , the Company's net book value was approximately $5.80 per ADS.

"We aim to conduct our operations with transparency and integrity," stated Yumin Liu , the Company's Chief Executive Officer. "The nature of our business in the solar industry creates unique and complex transactions. However, we are working diligently with our auditor to resolve this issue. Most importantly, there is no expected impact on our cash position, business operations or long-term economics of our commercial projects. Our priority remains on executing our strategies and continuing to expand our solar development and IPP business towards our goal of becoming a top global solar company."

The Company plans to file its Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022 , after market close on May 16, 2023 . As a result of the restatement, the Company's previously issued unaudited consolidated financial statements for three months ended September 30, 2022 that was filed in its Form 6-K filed with SEC on December 7, 2022 , and the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2022 that was filed in its Form 6-K filed with the SEC on March 30, 2023 should no longer be relied upon.

The Company plans to continue to execute on the previously announced share buyback program, with $17 million of current availability under such program.

About Emeren Group Ltd

Emeren Group Ltd (NYSE: SOL) is a leading global solar project developer, owner, and operator with a ~3 GW pipeline of projects and IPP assets across Europe , North America , and Asia . The Company focuses on solar power project development, construction management and project financing services with local professional teams across multiple countries. For more information, go to www.emeren.com.

Safe Harbor Statement: This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Whenever you read a statement that is not simply a statement of historical fact (such as when the Company describes what it "believes," "plans," "expects" or "anticipates" will occur, what "will" or "could" happen, and other similar statements), you must remember that the Company's expectations may not be correct, even though it believes that they are reasonable. Furthermore, the forward-looking statements are mainly related to the Company's continuing operations and you may not be able to compare such information with the Company's past performance or results. The Company does not guarantee that the forward-looking statements will happen as described or that they will happen at all. Further information regarding risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's annual report on Form 20-F. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made and the Company undertakes no obligation, beyond that required by law, to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made, even though the Company's situation may change in the future. As forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, caution should be exercised against placing undue reliance on such statements.

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SOURCE Emeren Group Ltd
Encora Holdings Limited, an Encora Group company, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Softelligence SRL, a Romanian software engineering services company

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. , May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Encora, a global next-gen digital engineering provider, today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Softelligence, a Romanian software engineering services provider, to establish Encora's first delivery centers in Europe . Encora's growing global presence enables the company to deliver nearshore services to clients in the Americas , Asia Pacific , Australia and now Europe as well.

"Softelligence is expected to greatly expand our global reach and strengthen our ability to provide high-quality, nearshore services for customers across the world," said Anand Birje , CEO, Encora. "We are delighted to welcome Adrian Blidarus and his team, as they will provide critical expertise to enhance our capabilities and further our mission of being the leading global engineering solutions provider."

Softelligence offers a comprehensive array of software engineering services and digital solutions for banking, insurance and other industries. Through its offices and delivery sites in Bucharest and Craiova ( Romania ) and in Skopje ( Macedonia ), Softelligence enables organizations in the Insurance and Banking industries to accelerate data-driven growth with next generation InsurTech, automation, AI, machine learning and software engineering.

"We're very pleased to become part of the Encora family and we feel that this partnership will greatly strengthen our ability to serve customers in the U.K , continental Europe and beyond," said Adrian Blidarus, founder and CEO, Softelligence. "Softelligence and Encora fit very well together culturally, and we feel that our capabilities will provide critical value to current and future customers."

"Today's announcement signals Encora's formal entry into the European market. We are thrilled to partner with the Softelligence team to bring world-class software engineering services to clients across every economic center in the world," said Venu Raghavan , Founder and Executive Chairman, Encora.

Encora has grown to more than 9,000 associates across the U.S. , Europe , Latin America , India and Asia Pacific . Softelligence will support Encora's strategic expansion into Europe and bolster its capabilities to serve clients in new markets.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Under the agreement, Softelligence will continue to operate with its existing leadership and staff as a wholly owned subsidiary of Encora. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approval and is expected to close in mid-2023. Upon the closing, Softelligence will begin implementing rebranding to operate under the Encora brand.

To learn more about Encora and its digital engineering services, please visit www.encora.com.

About Encora

Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona and backed by renowned private equity firms Advent International and Warburg Pincus , Encora is the preferred innovation partner to some of the world's leading technology companies. It provides award-winning digital engineering services including data science & engineering, generative AI, software product engineering, cloud services, devops, digital experience, quality engineering and cybersecurity. Encora has deep cluster vertical capabilities in HealthTech, FinTech, HiTech, IAM & Cybersecurity, Digital Commerce, Travel & Hospitality, Supply Chain & Logistics, Telecom and other specialized industries. With over 9,000 associates in 50+ offices and innovation labs across the U.S. , U.K. , Canada , Latin America , India , and Asia Pacific , Encora's global talent pool, industry vertical expertise and proprietary agile engineering capabilities enable clients to deliver superior business outcomes through accelerated innovation cycles. For more information, please visit www.encora.com.

About Softelligence

Softelligence enables organizations in Financial Services to accelerate growth with next generation InsurTech through Automation, AI and Machine Learning. It has extensive industry knowledge and a broad expertise in digital projects covering paperless quote-and-bind flows, automation of the claims process through AI, fraud detection using Machine Learning algorithms across personal and commercial lines, corporate and specialty as well as digital lending, Know Your Customer (KYC) and other digital banking flows. From data to insights with compelling dashboards, from manual processes and forms to pure digital customer journeys, Softelligence is the partner of choice for many top-tier insurance companies and banks in Europe .

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SOURCE Encora
ISLAMABAD, May 16 (Xinhua) -- A school girl was killed and six others, including five students and a teacher, injured in firing inside a school in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Tuesday, police said.

A policeman deployed at the security of the school in Swat district opened fire at the kids when they were returning home after attending classes, Divisional Police Officer of Swat Shafi Ullah Gandapur told media.

The nine-year-old girl's body and the injured were shifted to a nearby hospital, and two of the students were in critical condition, according to local media.

The suspect was arrested and an investigation was underway, he said, adding that apparently, the policeman had some psychological problems which made him commit the crime.

Talking to police during the arrest, the culprit said that the firing was accidental and he did not intentionally target the kids, school staff told media. 
NASHVILLE, Tenn. , May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Endeavor Business Media unveils Marketing Solutions Website that will serve as an educational hub and inspirational resource for business marketers who need solutions and guidance for engaging professionals from key market sectors and accelerating growth in the digital landscape. [Marketing Solutions Website]

With the ever-evolving nature of the B2B marketing industry, the need for creative, data-driven strategies has become more vital than ever. Endeavor has responded to this demand by investing in 1st party data, technology and building our SME network in niche and technical industries. Marketing professionals and their respective organizations will benefit from this new website that offers valuable insights, expert perspectives, and illustrations of successful marketing strategies that emphasize content development, amplification, lead generation, video and podcasting, data-driven marketing journeys, as well as research encompassing comprehensive analysis and insights throughout the entire marketing process, from planning to execution.

"We are thrilled to unveil our new website, marketingsolutions.endeavorb2b.com, as a resource for marketers driving business growth through innovative marketing strategies. We aim to empower businesses by providing them with the tools, resources, and expertise they need to excel in today's digital and data landscape," said Jacquie Niemiec , Chief Digital Officer .

Launching the Marketing Solutions Website marks a significant milestone for Endeavor B2B as the company continues redefining the possibilities of B2B marketing. By leveraging the power of cutting-edge technology, data-driven insights, and unparalleled expertise, Endeavor B2B is poised to revolutionize the way businesses approach marketing in the digital age.

Are you a marketing professional seeking to stay ahead in today's fast-paced and ever-evolving business landscape? Look no further than "Marketing Minds," the ultimate marketing newsletter designed to fuel your success! This resource delivers a curated selection of industry trends, strategies, and insider tips directly to your inbox monthly. Crafted by a team of seasoned marketing experts and powered by the latest advancements in AI technology, this newsletter is your go-to source for staying informed and inspired. Subscribe Now!

Endeavor Marketing Solutions harnesses the power of Endeavor's full capabilities, including Endeavor Business Intelligence, Endeavor's Data-Driven Business, and the over 90 media brands and 40 conferences that power a database of 12.4 million contacts in key sectors, including Aviation, Buildings & Construction, City Services, Commercial Vehicles, Dental, Design & Engineering, Digital Infrastructure, Energy, Healthcare, Infrastructure, Lighting, Manufacturing, Processing, Security, Vending, Vehicle Repair, and Water.

Learn more about Endeavor Business Media Marketing Solutions

Subscribe to Marketing Minds Newsletter

For more information, contact:

Jacquie Niemiec , Chief Digital Officer

[email protected]

About Endeavor Business Media

Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee , Endeavor Business Media was formed in 2017 to acquire and operate business media brands, events, and marketing solutions. Today the company is one of the largest B2B Media companies in the US, with over 700 employees, 10,000 customers, and a database of over 12 million business professionals. The company serves business professionals and marketers in key business sectors such as aviation, buildings, electronics, energy, healthcare, infrastructure, manufacturing, networking systems, public safety, transportation, and water. The company has offices in Nashville, TN ; Tulsa, OK ; Nashua, NH ; Birmingham, AL ; Sarasota, FL ; Skokie, IL ; Fort Atkinson, WI ; Houston, TX ; Independence, OH ; Fort Collins, CO , and Overland Park, KS. To learn more, visit www.endeavorbusinessmedia.com.

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SOURCE Endeavor Business Media
Boasting over 80 stores in Colombia , and Honduras , the acclaimed brand has officially opened its US doors.

MIAMI , May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Epeka, an internationally recognized brand has decided to open its first US store location in what many will consider the very best place to do so- Miami . Establishing a flagship US store is only the beginning of what the brand announced, with plans to open numerous stores by 2025. In time for Formula 1 in Miami , Epeka hosted a by invitation reception complete with ribbon cutting, which was attended by VIPS, influencers and celebrities including TV personality, author and Chef Ana Quincoces , Star of NBC's Young Rock Arlyn Broche, Actress and TV personality Adriana Catano , among other notables.

Epeka is a brand that offers total looks for babies, toddlers, and kids. The Epeka style is defined by an elegant and sophisticated, European silhouette, with a chic and accessible spirit. There is special care in the choice of materials used and significant work on cuts and details. Known to be popular with those who pay attention to quality and trend, the brand is synonymous with children in South America and intends to become the same in the United States .

Creative Director for Epeka Diana Janna stated: "With our visible presence in South America , we felt it was time to make this move. We love South Florida and its diversity. There was no better place to launch our multi-store expansion in the US. We know the potential in this market and fittingly chose Doral , in Miami , as our launchpad. We couldn't be more excited to welcome everyone to our first US store."

The decision to establish a presence in the US for Epeka was a natural one for CEO Samuel Tcherassi, known as a world-class business leader, entrepreneur, and visionary. His leadership, and ability to "think big" and long-term have resulted in [him] being recognized as a powerful, influential, and admired figure throughout the business world. Tcherassi is no new name in the fashion world in the US. Samuel's sister, and acclaimed designer, Silvia is considered one of the leading figures in fashion.

ABOUT EPEKA ( USA )

EPEKA is a children's clothing brand that accompanies the family in the task of dressing children from newborn to 14 years old. Its garments and accessories adapt to different occasions and designs offer elegant, creative, and accessible fashion with a European twist. With EPEKA, girls will always look well-dressed. Children will feel comfortable in each of their activities and babies will be able to freely explore the world they are just beginning to discover. #EPEKAUSA

Epeka USA is located at Miami International Mall at 1455 NW 107th Ave , Doral, FL 33172.

For more information: www.epekausa.com

On social media: @epeka_usa

Contact:

Liza Santana

3059682384

[email protected]

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SOURCE Epeka
New 36- and 44-Inch Multifunction Models Feature Integrated 36-Inch Wide Scanner

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. , May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Committed to delivering the new benchmark in high-speed CAD and graphics printing, Epson today announced availability of its production-class SureColor T-Series multifunction printers  the 36-inch SureColor T5770DM and 44-inch SureColor T7770DM. Leveraging the same innovative, compact design as their single-function counterparts, the technical multifunction printers feature an integrated 36-inch wide dual-light scanner that enables both high-speed scanning and copying for wide-format documents.

Epson announces availability of multifunction SureColor T-Series production printers for high-speed CAD and graphics.

"For many technical professions, the ability to scan and share documents is essential for efficient workflow and collaboration," said Jacob Hardin , product manager, Professional Imaging, Epson America, Inc. "The new multifunction SureColor T-Series production models include an integrated scanner to provide the ability to professionally scan, copy and share wide-format documents, without sacrificing space. The compact design with full-front operation fits in just about any office environment and makes in-house printing cost efficient and attainable."

The SureColor T5770DM and SureColor T7770DM deliver versatile high-speed scanning at up to 10 inches per second (black-and-white) and 4.5 inches per second (color),1 with no additional footprint versus single function printers.2 Featuring a space-saving design, the scanner lid flips up when scanning and copying functions are selected and closes when finished to keep the printer's top surface flat. The scanner's dual light source reduces the appearance of wrinkles in scanned documents, and predefined modes help optimize scan quality based on image type, enhancing renderings, blueprints, inverted blueprints, and tracing paper. With integrated wireless connectivity, the printers enable users to scan a variety of file formats to USB, mobile devices, PCs, network folders, and more, and easily preview and edit scans from virtually anywhere in the home or office using the Epson Smart Panel3 app.

Featuring industry-leading 2.64-inch PrecisionCore TFP printhead technology, the SureColor T5770DM and SureColor T7770DM deliver A1/D-size prints in as fast as 16 seconds.4 The models leverage UltraChrome XD3 six-color inks including dedicated Red ink to produce crisp lines and vibrant branding colors for graphics, signage, blueprints, documents, and more. Additional features designed to facilitate business productivity include:

Innovative design fits almost any workflow  Unique flattop design with complete front operation, simple automatic roll loading and dual roll/take-up reel integrated

 Unique flattop design with complete front operation, simple automatic roll loading and dual roll/take-up reel integrated Print on a wide range of media for various applications  Print on a variety of media, including glossy, technical, bond, matte and specialty media, and rigid posterboard up to 1.5 mm thick

 Print on a variety of media, including glossy, technical, bond, matte and specialty media, and rigid posterboard up to 1.5 mm thick Seamless, dual-roll productivity  Accommodate two media types or sizes, or use the second roll as a take-up reel for roll-to-roll production

 Accommodate two media types or sizes, or use the second roll as a take-up reel for roll-to-roll production Easy to use and maintain  Configurable 4.3-inch touchscreen control panel for simple operation, automated routine maintenance and convenient user self-service for long-term operation

 Configurable 4.3-inch touchscreen control panel for simple operation, automated routine maintenance and convenient user self-service for long-term operation No assembly required  Be up and printing in as little as 30 minutes

 Be up and printing in as little as 30 minutes Versatile connectivity  SuperSpeed USB 3.0, Gigabit Ethernet and Wi-Fi  connectivity (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) options to fit virtually any production workflow

 SuperSpeed USB 3.0, Gigabit Ethernet and Wi-Fi connectivity (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) options to fit virtually any production workflow Adobe Embedded Print Engine  High-speed processing and PDF printing convenience powered by a powerful Adobe Embedded Print Engine with four on-board Intel Atom CPUs; provides up to 3x faster processing of complicated data and accurate printing of transparent layers than previous generations, with PDF RIP resolution up to 1200 dpi 5

 High-speed processing and PDF printing convenience powered by a powerful Adobe Embedded Print Engine with four on-board Intel Atom CPUs; provides up to 3x faster processing of complicated data and accurate printing of transparent layers than previous generations, with PDF RIP resolution up to 1200 dpi Included Epson Software Suite and Epson Cloud Solution PORT6 help maximize productivity  Remotely manage and monitor your printer fleet from the convenience of your laptop or smart device

Pricing and Availability

The 36-inch SureColor T5770DM and 44-inch SureColor T7770DM are now available through Epson Authorized Professional Imaging Resellers. For additional information, visit https://epson.com/TSeriesProduction.

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).

* This product uses only genuine Epson-brand cartridges. Other brands of ink cartridges and ink supplies are not compatible and, even if described as compatible, may not function properly.

1 Based on scans at 300 dpi in Black-and-White or Color Mode.

2 When compared to the single-function SureColor T5770 and SureColor T7770 models

3 Requires Epson Smart Panel app download. Data usage fees may apply.

4 Print speeds are based on the print engine speed only. Total throughput time for any print depends on various factors including workstation configuration, file size, print resolution, ink coverage and networking. Actual print speeds will vary.

5 (At 600x600 dpi, 2 pass). At 300 x 300 dpi with 4 halftone layers.

6 All features of this system require an active Internet connection and the use of a supported browser.

EPSON, Epson Smart Panel, PrecisionCore, SureColor, TFP, and UltraChrome are registered trademarks of Seiko Epson Corporation. 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.

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SOURCE Epson America, Inc.
Offering Combines Company's Expertise in Unemployment Claims Management and Identity Theft Protection Services to Help Employees Take Greater Control Over Protecting Their Identities

ATLANTA , May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Equifax  (NYSE: EFX) has launched Unemployment Claims Fraud Watch , a new solution that leverages the market-leading Unemployment Cost Management services of Equifax Workforce Solutions along with the alerting capabilities of the company's award-winning identity theft protection services. Employers can add Unemployment Claims Fraud Watch as a benefit to help employees combat identity theft and have greater peace of mind, while helping reduce the administrative burden on their HR departments.

A recent U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report estimated that more than $60 billion may have been paid out in fraudulent unemployment insurance benefits during the pandemic. With the new Unemployment Claims Fraud Watch solution, an employee can receive a direct notification when a claim is submitted in their name, providing an early warning of potential fraud.

"By adding Unemployment Claims Fraud Watch to their benefits package, employers can help their employees take greater control over protecting their identities," said Ben Erdel , General Manager of Identity Theft Protection Services, Equifax Workforce Solutions. "Employees can feel more supported, and HR teams can be more confident since our identity theft protection and restoration experts are there to assist their employees if they are the victims of unemployment claims fraud."

Features of Unemployment Claims Fraud Watch include proactive monitoring for claims filed using employees' identities; direct notifications when a claim is submitted in their name; and support from identity experts to help employees report and resolve the fraud. In addition, employees enrolled in identity theft protection services receive ongoing support to help keep thieves from opening new, fraudulent accounts both now and in the future, helping mitigate the chance of repeat fraud.

Equifax is one of the nation's leading choices for unemployment management processes, with 65 years of experience and a dedicated team of approximately 500 professionals focused on unemployment insurance. Equifax is an award-winning provider of identity theft protection, offering innovative solutions to help defend against identity fraud, reduce stress, and provide greater peace of mind both directly to individuals and through employee benefits programs.

For more information on Unemployment Claims Fraud Watch, please click here .

ABOUT EQUIFAX INC.

At Equifax (NYSE: EFX), we believe knowledge drives progress. As a global data, analytics, and technology company, we play an essential role in the global economy by helping financial institutions, companies, employers, and government agencies make critical decisions with greater confidence. Our unique blend of differentiated data, analytics, and cloud technology drives insights to power decisions to move people forward. Headquartered in Atlanta and supported by nearly 14,000 employees worldwide, Equifax operates or has investments in 24 countries in North America , Central and South America , Europe , and the Asia Pacific region. For more information, visit Equifax.com .

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Daniel Jenkins for Equifax

[email protected]

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SOURCE Equifax Inc.
Nearly 100 youth gather in Washington D.C. to protest Altria's shareholder meeting and expose Big Tobacco's lies and schemes to addict kids



WASHINGTON , May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 18 , over 125 youth and advocates from 15 different states will protest tobacco giant Altria's annual shareholders meeting. These advocates will hold a demonstration outside Altria's Washington, D.C. office, while several youth activists have been made designees by shareholders to directly address Altria's executives and ask questions during the virtual shareholders' meeting.

This year marks the eighth consecutive year that Mobilize Against Tobacco Lies (MATL), a collaborative of youth programs and national partners, will gather to expose and fight back against the tobacco giant.

Altria and its Philip Morris USA subsidiary sell the number one most popular cigarette brand among kids, Marlboro, and its John Middleton subsidiary sells the second most popular brand of cigars among kids, Black & Mild. Altria has long targeted kids and other vulnerable groups with its products and also invested in Juul at the height of the youth e-cigarette epidemic. Altria claims to be "moving beyond smoking," but the truth is that they make most of their revenue from cigarettes and fight real efforts to reduce smoking like bans on menthol cigarettes.

Despite Altria and the tobacco industry's efforts, the United States has made great progress to reduce youth smoking. However, the latest government survey shows over 3 million U.S. middle and high school students still use tobacco products, including over 2.5 million who use e-cigarettes.

WHAT: Over 125 youth and other advocates will protest Altria's shareholder meeting to expose how Altria profits off cigarettes and other tobacco products, addicts kids, and fights real efforts to reduce tobacco use.



WHO: Mobilize Against Tobacco Lies is a collaborative of tobacco control youth programs and national partners, including seven youth programs and five national partners:

Reality Check of New York

Michigan Making It Count

Texas Say What

New Hampshire Dover Youth to Youth

Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii

Wisconsin FACT

Delaware Kick Butts Generation Indigenous Peoples Task Force

Corporate Accountability

Counter Tools

Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

Center for Black Health and Equity

Truth Initiative









WHEN: Thursday, May 18, 2023 , at 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM ET



WHERE: Altria's Lobbyist Office

101 Constitution Ave NW , #400W, Washington, D.C. 20001

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gen-z-fights-back-against-tobacco-giant-altria-301826355.html

SOURCE Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
Golden Gate Ventures makes its 6th AI investment as Startups and Enterprises turn to AI within their organizations

SINGAPORE , May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Golden Gate Ventures, a venture capital fund in Southeast Asia (SEA) founded by Silicon Valley natives, has injected a second round of investment into Locofy.ai, a platform that converts graphic designs into working code with AI. Other investors joined the round, including experienced SME technopreneurs from Dropbox, Lottiefiles and Zopim. The US$4.25m investment is one of SEA's largest pre-seed rounds into an AI startup.

Golden Gate Ventures first spotted Locofy.ai's potential early on, identifying the startup's ability to tap into the ever-growing low-code platform market and participating in Locofy.ai's first institutional investment round in 2021.

"The early-stage investment scene is all about identifying trends ahead of an inflection point, and to be the first in: the first institutional investor into the startup, at the right time. Our investments into the AI space pre-date the buzz around ChatGPT. Being FirstIN enables us to help founders ahead of anyone else and yields higher returns for our investors," said Vinnie Lauria , Founding Partner at Golden Gate Ventures.

Off the back of the firm's FirstIN strategy is a long list of successes including, Rukita, Bukuwarung, Homage, Vui and Multiplier  where Golden Gate Ventures was the first institutional investor and has continued to support the startups across multiple funding rounds.

What informs the firm's early investment strategy is the combination of the partners' SEA and Silicon Valley experience, coupled with Golden Gate Ventures' Brain  our data-driven market predictions platform based on data and insights the firm has amassed over a decade.

"We've used data to identify niche opportunities in the AI space. Golden Gate Ventures' Brain platform is designed to mine data points across markets, industries and changing economic conditions, uncovering unexpected patterns that our partners leverage to identify specific types of startups that we proactively search for in the market," said Jeffrey Paine , Founding Partner at Golden Gate Ventures.

"Based on our Golden Gate Ventures' Brain platform and partners' insights, we started investing in AI startups over five years ago when most of the market was skeptical about their return-on-investment. AI is going to dramatically transform go-to-market strategies and accelerate e-commerce development at an exponential rate. We will see an unrivalled rate of innovation, which coincides perfectly with the rising consumer class across SEA's fast-growing economies," Vinnie Lauria adds.

Locofy.ai is one of several strategic AI investments Golden Gate Ventures has made even before the AI fever caught on in the region.

"Low-code presents a huge opportunity as more people outside of IT leverage its vast potential and it becomes more ubiquitous. Locofy-ai has a strong first-mover advantage with a huge global user base that is continuously helping to improve the platform. The cross-section of users encompassing developers, enterprises, startups, freelancers and student communities already demonstrates its stickiness and ability to integrate seamlessly with other tools," said Justin Hall , Partner at Golden Gate Ventures.

Locofy.ai is a low-code development tool in public beta, which assists developers worldwide in building and managing their frontend at speed. It accelerates web and mobile app development by 5  10 times with its design-to-code conversion platform that helps designers automate frontend code directly from their designs and extend into existing workflows. It currently converts Figma and Adobe XD designs into React, React Native, HTML-CSS, Gatsby and Next.js code with AI.

Its latest round of funding, which brings Locofy.ai's total to $7.3m raised since its incorporation in 2021, will accelerate the startup's plans to simplify the design to code conversion significantly with AI, while adding more integrations to the platform to seamlessly fit in the workflows. With recent integrations with Storybook, Github, Netlify, Vercel and Snack, Locofy.ai bridges the chasm between designers and developers, enabling developers to iterate designs and code more naturally.

In addition to securing this latest round of funding, Locofy.ai has made strategic hires to support its ambitious development plans. Tien Nguyen , ex-CTO at Wego and Teko, will be joining as Vice President of Engineering; leading data scientist, ex-Founder of SWAT and AI advisor to top startups, Nick Jachowski, will be joining as Head of AI; and Nguyen Kien , ex-Director of Engineering at TIKI, will be taking on the role of Head of Engineering.

About Golden Gate Ventures

Golden Gate Ventures is a global venture capital firm powering technology and innovation from Southeast Asia . Founded in 2011, Golden Gate Ventures combines the knowledge and experience of Silicon Valley with the passion and dynamism of Southeast Asia . For over a decade we've proudly backed some of the region's most audacious founders and companies behind Southeast Asia's incredible growth story, such as Carousell, Coda Payments, Carro, Xendit, Paper.id, Alodokter, Homage, Hijra, Rukita, and Locofy. We empower the audacious. For more information, visit goldengate.vc .

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SOURCE Golden Gate Ventures
NEW YORK and TORONTO , May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - iAnthus Capital Holdings, Inc. ("iAnthus" or the "Company") (CSE: IAN) (OTCPK: ITHUF), which owns, operates, and partners with regulated cannabis operations across the United States , today reported its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023 . The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which includes its unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and the related management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations, can be accessed on the Securities and Exchange Commission's ("SEC's") website at www.sec.gov, the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com, and on the Company's website at www.iAnthus.com. The Company's financial statements are reported in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). All currency is expressed in U.S. dollars.

First Quarter 2023 Financial Highlights

Revenue of $36.8 million , a sequential decrease of 2.2% from Q4 2022 and a decrease of 14.1% from the same quarter in the prior year.

, a sequential decrease of 2.2% from Q4 2022 and a decrease of 14.1% from the same quarter in the prior year. Gross profit of $15.5 million , a sequential decrease of 3.6% from Q4 2022 and a decrease of 31.0% from the same quarter in the prior year.

, a sequential decrease of 3.6% from Q4 2022 and a decrease of 31.0% from the same quarter in the prior year. Gross margin of 42.2%, relatively flat when compared to Q4 2022 and a decrease of 1036bps from the same quarter in the prior year.

Net loss of $18.6 million , or a net loss of $0.00 per share, compared to a net loss of $43.7 million or a net loss of $0.01 per share in Q4 2022, and compared to a net loss of $10.1 million , or a net loss of $0.06 per share, in the same quarter in the prior year.

, or a net loss of per share, compared to a net loss of or a net loss of per share in Q4 2022, and compared to a net loss of , or a net loss of per share, in the same quarter in the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA(6) of $0.9 million , a sequential increase from ($1.0) million in Q4 2022 and a decrease from $3.4 million from the same quarter in the prior year. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures. Reconciliation tables of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as used in this press release to GAAP are included below.

Table 1: Financial Results in thousands of US$, except share and per share amounts (unaudited) Q1 2023 Q4 2022 Q1 2022 Revenue $ 36,753 $ 37,571 $ 42,790 Gross profit

15,512

16,092

22,492 Gross margin

42.2 %

42.8 %

52.6 % Net loss

(18,595)

(43,732)

(10,102) Net loss per share

(0.00)

(0.01)

(0.06)

Table 2: Reconciliation of Net Loss to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA in thousands of US$ Q1 2023 Q4 2022 Q1 2022 Net loss $ (18,595) $ (43,732) $ (10,102) Depreciation and amortization

6,991

6,602

9,029 Interest expense, net

3,731

3,514

5,834 Income tax expense (recovery)

3,799

(3,900)

4,875 EBITDA (Non-GAAP) (6) $ (4,074) $ (37,516) $ 9,636 Adjustments











Impairment loss

-

30,551

- Write-downs and other charges, net

516

82

57 Inventory reserves and write-downs

356

-

194 Accretion expense

978

1,029

766 Share-based compensation (1)

1,489

2,938

1,464 Non-monetary gain from MPX NJ acquisition

-

-

(10,460) Losses from change in fair value of financial instruments

33

48

102 Debt obligation fees (2)

-

-

414 Non-recurring charges (3)

529

2,441

1,243 Loss on debt extinguishment (4)

1,288

-

- Other income (5)

(220)

(562)

- Total Adjustments $ 4,969 $ 36,527 $ (6,220) Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP) (6) $ 895 $ (989) $ 3,416





(1) Q4 2022 reflects an additional $1.0 million of share-based compensation expense related to restricted share units issued as severance compensation to the Company's former Chief Financial Officer. (2) Reflects accrued interest on the exit fee with the Company's 13.0% senior secured convertible debentures and owed to the holders thereof. As the Recapitalization Transaction closed on June 24, 2022 , the Company will no longer incur debt obligation fees relating to such debentures. (3) Includes one-time, non-recurring costs related to the Company's Recapitalization Transaction, strategic review process, ongoing legal disputes, severance and other non-recurring costs associated with being a U.S. reporting company. These non-recurring costs are offset by insurance proceeds received as reimbursement for certain legal costs incurred. (4) One-time loss of $1.3 million on debt extinguishment related to the amendment of the $11.0 million senior secured bridge notes issued by iAnthus New Jersey, LLC. (5) Q1 2023 reflects $0.1 million related to tax refunds and accounts payable write-offs and vendor credits of $0.1 million . (6) See "Non-GAAP Financial Information" below for more information regarding the Company's use of non-GAAP financial measures.



Recent Business Updates

On April 20, 2023 , iAnthus' subsidiary in New Jersey (d/b/a MPX New Jersey) commenced adult-use sales at its Atlantic City dispensary, and subsequently entered the adult-use wholesale market in New Jersey .

, iAnthus' subsidiary in (d/b/a MPX New Jersey) commenced adult-use sales at its dispensary, and subsequently entered the adult-use wholesale market in . On April 26, 2023 , MPX New Jersey opened its second location in New Jersey , a medical dispensary in Gloucester Township .

, MPX New Jersey opened its second location in , a medical dispensary in . On May 3, 2023 , the Maryland governor signed a bill to regulate cannabis sales, opening a pathway to adult-use legalization with a target start date of July 1, 2023 . The Company continues to monitor the situation and prepare for the potential to convert its subsidiaries' medical licenses to licenses to operate both medical and adult-use cannabis businesses in the state of Maryland .

Non-GAAP Financial Information

This press release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures as defined by the SEC and the Canadian Securities Administrators. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP are included in the tables above. This information should be considered as supplemental in nature and not as a substitute for, or superior to, any measure of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.

In evaluating our business, we consider and use EBITDA as a supplemental measure of operating performance. We define EBITDA as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. We present EBITDA because we believe it is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties as a measure of financial performance. We define Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA before stock-based compensation, accretion expense, write-downs and impairments, gains and losses from changes in fair values of financial instruments, income or losses from equity-accounted investments, changes in accounting policy, non-recurring costs related to the Company's Recapitalization Transaction, and litigation costs related to ongoing legal proceedings.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not standardized financial measures defined under GAAP, and are not a measure of operating income, operating performance or liquidity presented in accordance with GAAP. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA have limitations as an analytical tool, and when assessing the Company's operating performance, investors should not consider EBITDA or Adjusted EBITDA in isolation, or as a substitute for net income (loss) or other consolidated income statement data prepared in accordance with GAAP. Among other things, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect the Company's actual cash expenditures. Other companies may calculate similar measures differently than us, limiting their usefulness as comparative tools. We compensate for these limitations by relying on GAAP results and using EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA only as supplemental information.

About iAnthus

iAnthus owns and operates licensed cannabis cultivation, processing and dispensary facilities throughout the United States . For more information, visit www.iAnthus.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Statements in this press release contain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made on the basis of the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of management, are not guarantees of performance and are subject to significant risks and uncertainty. These forward-looking statements should, therefore, be considered in light of various important factors, including those set forth in the Company's reports that it files from time to time with the SEC and the Canadian securities regulators which you should review including, but not limited to, the Annual Report filed with the SEC. When used in this press release, words such as "will," "could," "plan," "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "potential", "believe", "should" and similar expressions, identify forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements relating to the Company's financial performance, business development and results of operations.

These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as predictions of future events, and the Company cannot assure you that the events or circumstances discussed or reflected in these statements will be achieved or will occur. If such forward-looking statements prove to be inaccurate, the inaccuracy may be material. You should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by the Company or any other person that the Company will achieve its objectives and plans in any specified time frame, or at all. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company disclaims any obligation to publicly update or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission have reviewed, approved or disapproved the content of this press release.

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SOURCE iAnthus Capital Holdings, Inc.
Creator of World's Leading Privileged Access and Password Management Software Officially Opens Sales and Marketing Operations in Tokyo

CHICAGO , May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Keeper Security , the leading provider of zero-trust and zero-knowledge cybersecurity software, is expanding further into global markets with the opening of an Asia-Pacific headquarters in Tokyo that will serve Japan , East Asia , Australia and New Zealand . Keeper Security APAC KK is located in the Prime Terrace KAMIYACHO building in the Toranomon district of Minato. This expansion will accelerate Keeper's growth as an industry innovator in enterprise password management, secrets management, privileged connection management and privileged access management through its unified cybersecurity platform.

With an established APAC presence, Keeper is addressing the Asia-Pacific region's substantial growth in the consumer technology sector and enterprise demands for fortified cybersecurity strategies, including password and privileged access management solutions, to keep customers, data, and systems secure. Keeper's Japan team consists of management, sales, marketing, customer success, support and administrative personnel. The move continues the company's growth commitment in the region, following the opening of Keeper's secure cloud data center in Japan in 2022.

This announcement follows last week's news that global growth equity firm Summit Partners completed a strategic private equity investment in Keeper. The synergy between Keeper, Summit and existing investor Insight Partners will further accelerate product innovation and catalyze strategic expansion of the company's prominence as a cybersecurity leader around the world.

Key Partnerships

Keeper's new Tokyo headquarters builds upon the close collaboration and support of the US and Japanese governments. Keeper worked with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) a government organization that works to promote mutual trade and investment between Japan and the rest of the world. Keeper was also supported by the US Embassy and the International Trade Association, under the US Department of Commerce. Keeper has signed agreements to work through multiple established resellers in the region, with more partnerships to come.

"There are over 130 million small-to-medium sized businesses and home offices in the APAC region which are key targets for cybercriminal organizations. Given the rapid increase in cyberattacks and variants in attack vectors, it is essential to protect organizations of all sizes, across every industry sector," said Darren Guccione , CEO and Co-founder of Keeper Security. "The launch of our Tokyo -based headquarters was the culmination of several years of planning. We are excited to provide powerful cybersecurity software that is both cost-effective and easy-to-use to millions of organizations in this region."

Security Solutions

Keeper was co-founded in Chicago, IL in 2011 by CEO Darren Guccione and CTO Craig Lurey . The company now provides a full suite of award-winning consumer and business offerings in password, secrets and privileged connection management, as well as differentiators that set Keeper apart from its competitors including dark web monitoring, secure file storage, single-sign on integration, compliance reporting and detailed event logging. Keeper's solutions scale to organizations of all sizes from small home offices to multinational enterprises and the largest public sector organizations.

Its latest offering, KeeperPAM, provides a next-generation Privileged Access Management (PAM) solution that is disrupting the traditional PAM market. KeeperPAM delivers enterprise-grade password, secrets and privileged connection management within a unified SaaS platform that is cost-effective, easy-to-use and simple-to-deploy. KeeperPAM enables least-privilege access with zero-trust and zero-knowledge security. The patented cybersecurity solution enables organizations to achieve complete visibility, security, control and reporting across every privileged user on every device within an organization.

Keeper's worldwide locations now include: US ( Chicago, IL and El Dorado Hills, CA ), Ireland (Cork), Japan ( Tokyo ) and the Philippines (Cebu) with cloud data centers in the US, Canada , Europe , Australia and Japan . The grand opening of the APAC headquarters was marked with a ribbon cutting ceremony for Keeper, which is the first and only global password management company to establish APAC headquarters.

Click here for photos and video of the grand opening celebration and ribbon cutting ceremony. For more information about Keeper, please visit https://keepersecurity.com .

About Keeper Security

Keeper Security is transforming the way people and organizations around the world secure their passwords, secrets and confidential information. Keeper's easy-to-use cybersecurity platform is built on a foundation of zero-trust and zero-knowledge security to protect every user on every device. Our next-generation privileged access management solution deploys in minutes and seamlessly integrates with any tech stack to prevent breaches, reduce help desk costs and ensure compliance. Trusted by millions of individuals and thousands of organizations globally, Keeper is the leader for best-in-class password management, secrets management, privileged access, secure remote access and encrypted messaging. Protect what matters at KeeperSecurity.com.

Media Contact

Katherine Benfield

Lumina Communications

[email protected]

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SOURCE Keeper Security
New Chief Technology Officer, Chief Commercial Officer, and Chief of Staff Named to Drive Innovation and Growth

FORT WORTH, Texas , May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Koddi, a pioneer in advertising technology, today announced the appointment of three executives to lead key areas of the business. Nanda Lella has been named Chief Technology Officer, Harsh Jiandani has been named Chief Commercial Officer, and Trevor Narayan has been named Chief of Staff. The appointments bring a wealth of experience to Koddi and will contribute to expanding on Koddi's enterprise-grade capabilities and teams.

"Commerce media is quickly evolving towards more personalized, privacy-focused advertising both onsite and offsite," said Nicholas Ward , President at Koddi. "The brands we work with are prioritizing advertiser and user experiences, a solid foundation with fast and scalable infrastructure, and the ability to maximize new partnerships and opportunities quickly. With the addition of these senior executives to Koddi, we can deliver even more improvements and innovations in the areas our customers and partners are prioritizing while ensuring they receive unmatched value."

Lella brings more than 20 years of experience, having recently served as Director of Engineering at Meta where he was responsible for leading the team launching and building Meta's privacy and regulation framework and tools across their Ads business. Prior to this, Lella served as a senior engineering leader at Amazon where he was responsible for the product vision, roadmap, team strategy, and overall execution of Amazon Live, as well as building their video ads delivery platform. At Koddi, Lella is responsible for the product strategy, roadmap, and execution across the product, engineering, and data science teams.

"Koddi is at the forefront of technological innovation in the industry," said Lella. "As a part of Koddi's best-in-class team, I look forward to continuing to push the boundaries of what is possible in advertising technology and using AI to help our customers optimize their digital advertising efforts."

Jiandani brings global experience in the adtech industry, having recently served as the Chief Revenue Officer at PromoteIQ, a Microsoft company, where he was responsible for revenue generation, go-to-market strategy, customer delivery, and partnerships. Prior to this, Jiandani served as GM and Head of Sales at Xandr, formally AppNexus, where he successfully navigated one of AT&T's largest Ad Tech acquisitions in Xandr. In his role at Koddi, Jiandani is responsible for the marketing, sales, and partnership strategies and teams to drive revenue growth and market expansion.

"The Koddi team is continuously advancing advertising technology to help our customers succeed, and I am thrilled to be a part of the forward-thinking team to accelerate growth, build strong partnerships, and deliver innovative solutions to drive growth for our customers," said Jiandani.

Narayan brings vast experience in the technology industry, having recently served as a senior product manager at DoorDash where he was integral to building the DoorDash ads business. Prior to this, Narayan held positions at Google where he worked on the travel search team. Narayan's role at Koddi includes developing and implementing strategic plans for the company.

"I've known the Koddi team for 8 years and have closely followed their journey to become a leader in the advertising technology industry," said Narayan. "I am excited to now be part of the team and serve as a strategic partner for the leadership team to ensure that we are well-positioned for long-term success."

About Koddi

Koddi is a global technology company with software and services that empower advertisers and publishers to increase awareness, generate demand, and drive revenue. Our commerce media platform, Koddi Ads, enables retailers and CPG companies, marketplaces, and publishers to build their own media networks, powered by first-party data and next generation user experiences.

Our privacy-first, people-driven approach and nearly a decade of expertise equips us with the technology and strategy that generates best-in-class returns for advertisers, incremental revenue for publishers, and elevated on-site experiences for shoppers. Whether you know it as commerce media, retail media, native ads, or sponsored listings, Koddi's platform effectively and efficiently positions relevant ads in front of shoppers, creating new revenue streams and future-proofing your business in an unpredictable market. For more information, please visit koddi.com.

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SOURCE Koddi
Korn Ferry led seasoned board directors in a working group to develop five areas of focus for nominating and governance committees, now and in the near future.

Nominating and governance committees will play an Increasingly Important role as boards work to reinforce expectations of director behavior and board culture.

The blueprint provides guidance for board refreshment and succession planning:

Fostering continuous improvement in board performance and delegating oversight of cross-board matters are crucial to successful committees.

The working group outlined ways that the nominating and governance committee, working closely with the CEO, can help engage shareholders and stakeholders.

WASHINGTON , May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), the authority on boardroom practices representing more than 23,000 directors, in partnership with Korn Ferry , today published their Nominating and Governance Committee Blueprint as part of the NACD Future of the American Board initiative.

Keeping in mind evolving board workloads and agendas, the Future of the American Board Commission's Nominating and Governance Committee Working Group looked specifically at five areas of greatest importance to nominating and governance committees:

Setting board culture and expectations for directors . The committee should help define an inclusive board culture, set (written) expectations for directors, design a rigorous renomination process, and ensure that board leadership reinforces the agreed culture and expectations.

. The committee should help define an inclusive board culture, set (written) expectations for directors, design a rigorous renomination process, and ensure that board leadership reinforces the agreed culture and expectations. Aligning board composition with corporate strategy . The committee must ensure that board composition is aligned with long-term corporate strategy. To do this, the committee can create a long-term succession plan, enable regular refreshment of the board, and plan for board leadership succession.

. The committee must ensure that board composition is aligned with long-term corporate strategy. To do this, the committee can create a long-term succession plan, enable regular refreshment of the board, and plan for board leadership succession. Fostering continuous improvement in board performance. By ensuring that all board members have a thorough onboarding, enabling high-quality continuing education opportunities, and requiring rigorous board and committee self-evaluation, the committee can prepare the board to help the company deliver on its strategic objectives.

By ensuring that all board members have a thorough onboarding, enabling high-quality continuing education opportunities, and requiring rigorous board and committee self-evaluation, the committee can prepare the board to help the company deliver on its strategic objectives. Improving oversight of cross-board matters . Specifically, the nominating and governance committee may be responsible for CEO succession, oversight of sustainability matters including climate, and decisions about whether to form new committees.

. Specifically, the nominating and governance committee may be responsible for CEO succession, oversight of sustainability matters including climate, and decisions about whether to form new committees. Overseeing board involvement with shareholders and other key stakeholders. With a shift toward a more inclusive business environment, nominating and governance committees should work with their CEOs to oversee an engagement strategy for shareholders and stakeholders.

The Nominating and Governance Committee Working Group, a panel of leading nominating and governance committee chairs from NACD-affiliated organizations as well as senior leaders from Korn Ferry's Board and CEO Services Practice, created the Blueprint with the goal of helping nominating and governance committees to leverage their qualities in those five key areas to become strategic assets for their companies.

"The five themes that we focused on present the greatest opportunities for nominating and governance committees to help rise to the occasion of new and changing demands," said Phyllis Yale , a Nominating and Governance Working Group participant and board member at Aledade and Bristol-Myers Squibb, chair of the nominating and governance committee at DaVita, and vice chair of the nominating and governance committee at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. "From board culture and composition to improved performance and communication, the Blueprint touches on issues that are at the forefront of our committees today."

"One of the most compelling aspects of this Blueprint is the guidance to focus on board culture and director behavior, shifting our implicit expectations to explicit ones, with a primer on how to do so," said Peter Gleason , president and CEO of NACD. "This is something we will dig deeper into in our upcoming 2023 NACD Blue Ribbon Commission report on dynamics and culture within the boardroom."

"As new and emerging issues arise that require board oversightlike sustainabilitynominating and governance committees can either take on those responsibilities or coordinate them across other committees," said Anthony Goodman , head of Korn Ferry's Board Effectiveness Practice and convenor of the Nominating and Governance Committee Working Group.

Added Tierney Remick , vice chair and coleader of Korn Ferry's Board and CEO Services, also a member of the Working Group, "It is our hope that our Blueprint provides nominating and governance committees with actionable guidance to help them navigate the great changes and challenges facing boards as a whole and their committees specifically."

The Nominating and Governance Committee Working Group is the third of four Future of the American Board panels to publish Blueprint guides this year. In addition to the Nominating and Governance Committee Working Group, the Compensation Committee and Audit Committee Working Groups have published their work; the Risk Committee Working Group is set to release its Blueprint next month.

A digital version of The Future of the American Board: Nominating and Governance Committee Blueprint is available at NACDonline.org .

About NACD

The National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) is the premier membership organization for board directors who want to expand their knowledge, grow their network, and maximize their potential. As the unmatched authority in corporate governance, NACD sets the standards of excellence through its research and community-driven director education, programming, and publications. Directors trust NACD to arm them with the relevant insights to make high-quality decisions on the most pressing and strategic issues facing their businesses today.

NACD also prepares leaders to meet tomorrow's biggest challenges. The NACD Directorship Certification is the leading director credential in the United States . It sets a new standard for director education, positions directors to meet boardroom challenges, and includes an ongoing education requirement that prepares directors for what is next.

With an ever-expanding community of more than 23,000 members and a nationwide chapter network, our impact is both local and global. NACD members are driven by a common purpose: to be trusted catalysts of economic opportunity and positive changein business and in the communities we serve. To learn more about NACD, visit NACDonline.org .

About Korn Ferry

Korn Ferry is a global organizational consulting firm. We work with our clients to design optimal organization structures, roles, and responsibilities. We help them hire the right people and advise them on how to reward and motivate their workforce while developing professionals as they navigate and advance their careers.

Korn Ferry's board and CEO advisors have deep expertise in the matters that concern CEOs and boards the most as they navigate these dynamic changes from board consulting, board succession planning to board effectiveness. In addition, our team are specialists in CEO succession planning and can guide boardrooms on how to identify, develop, and support the CEOs for today and the future.

Visit kornferry.com for more information.

About the Future of the American Board

NACD convened the Future of the American Board Commissiona diverse, influential group of seasoned board leaders from top private and public companies and notable governance practitioners from across the investor, regulatory, and academic communitiesto help guide boards through an increasingly turbulent and unpredictable future. The Commission's perspectives and experiences shaped a comprehensive framework for board governance centered on 10 Key Principles that boards can use and adapt to ensure they are fit for the future. This framework, released in the fall of 2022, is accompanied by a set of practical blueprints, focused on the shifting roles of the key board committees, issued in the spring of 2023. Recognizing that committees are the engine of the American board and that good governance begins at the committee level, NACD tapped world-renowned firms to help lead the Future of the American Board Committee Working Groups. Partners leading these working groups are KPMG (Audit Committee), Marsh McLennan (Risk Committee), Pearl Meyer (Compensation Committee) and Korn Ferry (Nominating and Governance Committee). For more information, visit view.nacdonline.org/futureboard .

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SOURCE National Association of Corporate Directors
BEIRUT, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants on Tuesday condemned the attack on the Jordanian embassy in Khartoum a day earlier.

In a statement posted on its Twitter account, the ministry condemned the storming of the embassy building and the acts of vandalism, calling on all parties to respect international conventions and norms by refraining from attacking diplomatic facilities.

The ministry also expressed its "solidarity with the brotherly government and people of Jordan."

On Monday, Jordan's Foreign Ministry said its embassy in Khartoum was stormed and vandalized.

Sudan has been witnessing deadly armed clashes between the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in Khartoum and other areas since April 15. 
WASHINGTON , May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Following is a statement from Eileen O'Reilly , president of the National Press Club and Gil Klein , president of the National Press Club Journalism Institute on the murder of Mexican Photojournalist Gerardo Torres .

"Our hearts go out to the family and colleagues of Gerardo Torres who was shot dead by armed assailants in the Icacos neighborhood of Acapulco last weekend. We had hoped that the security situation for Mexican journalists was improving after a horrible 2022 where 13 journalists were killed according to Reporters Without Borders. Torres is now the 2nd Mexican journalist killed in 2023 following the murder of Abisai Perez Romero in February. We are carefully monitoring this situation and call on the government of Mexico to redouble efforts to keep journalists safe."

Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists. The Club's 3,000 members represent nearly every major news organization and is a leading voice for press freedom 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

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SOURCE National Press Club
Milestone achieved 20 years after Orbis began leading mass drug administrations

NEW YORK , May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Eye care nonprofit Orbis International today announced that it has distributed 100 million doses of azithromycin antibiotics in Ethiopia . This is part of ongoing efforts to eliminate trachoma, an infectious, painful, and blinding eye disease, by 2030, in line with World Health Organization goals.

In a symbolic moment, the 100 millionth dose was administered to six-year-old Hizkiel by Lelisa Amanuel , Senior Advisor to the State Minister, Ministry of Health. Derek Hodkey , President and CEO of Orbis International, was also in attendance. The dose was administered in Gacho Baba District , Gamo Zone, SNNPRS, Ethiopia. Local children performed a play during a celebration to mark the moment, and community leaders blessed the giving of the historic dose.

"Today is an historic moment," said Dr. Alemayehy Sisay, Country Director of Orbis Ethiopia. "We started by administering one dose of azithromycin in 2003. It has been a long journey to reach this 100 millionth dose 20 years later. So, while the work continues, today has a special meaning to all involved in working to eliminate trachoma in Ethiopia ."

The administration of the dose was part of a wider Orbis-led mass drug administration taking place in the Gacho Baba District. In 2022, Orbis and its partners distributed 3.4 million antibiotic doses for trachoma control and elimination within Ethiopia. This work will continue in the coming years to ensure that trachoma can be eliminated in the country by 2030.

Trachoma elimination

Trachoma is one of the world's oldest infectious diseases known to humans, with ice age skeletons from 8,000 years ago showing evidence of the disease. If left untreated, it can cause extreme pain with repeat infections as eyelashes turn inwards and scratch the eye, causing scarring that ultimately leads to permanent blindness. While we have made great strides in combatting trachoma, 1.9 million people today are blind or living with vision loss due to this tropical disease. In addition, 125 million people remain at risk in 42 affected countries. Nearly half of the people at risk in the world live in Ethiopia .

Trachoma is highly contagious, but it is easily treatable with antibiotics. 30 years ago in 1993, the World Health Organization endorsed the SAFE strategy to combat the disease in countries where trachoma continued to be prevalent. The SAFE strategy emphasizes S urgery for eyelashes turned inwards, A ntibiotics to stop or slow the spread, F acial cleanliness, which prevents transmission and infection, and E nvironmental improvement, particularly for water and sanitation to reduce transmission of infection. As of 2023, the WHO has validated the elimination of trachoma as a public health need in 15 countries.

Orbis's partnerships and work in Ethiopia

Orbis Ethiopia began implementing mass drug administrations, as part of the SAFE strategy, 20 years ago in 2003. A number of partners and funders through this time have helped make the vital work towards eliminating trachoma in Ethiopia possible, including FCDO/DFID, Irish Aid , Sightsavers, the Qatar Fund For Development, Jersey Overseas Aid Commission, The Clothworkers Foundation, Euromoney, CIFF, The End Fund as well as generous contributions from many other donors.

In 2021, Orbis and partners performed more than 16,000 surgeries in cases where trachoma infections had progressed to the later stages of infection called trachomatous trichiasis. To date, Orbis has conducted over 217,000 trachomatous trichiasis surgeries.

Good hygiene practices, such as face washing and handwashing, play a crucial role in combating trachoma because of its highly contagious nature. That is why Orbis has supported the construction of communal and school latrines as well as protected water points in SNNPRS, Sidama, and South West Ethiopia People's Region. Over the past 23 years, Orbis Ethiopia, in collaboration with local partners, has constructed a total of 130 latrine blocks with covered toilets and installed 36 water points throughout communities and schools.

About Orbis

Orbis is a leading global non-governmental organization that has been a pioneer in the prevention and treatment of avoidable blindness for over four decades. Orbis transforms lives by delivering the skills, resources and knowledge needed to deliver accessible quality eye care. Working in collaboration with local partners, including hospitals, universities, government agencies and ministries of health, Orbis provides hands-on ophthalmology training, strengthens healthcare infrastructure and advocates for the prioritization of eye health on public health agendas. Orbis operates the world's only Flying Eye Hospital , a fully accredited ophthalmic teaching hospital on board an MD-10 aircraft, and an award-winning telemedicine platform, Cybersight . For the past ten consecutive years, Orbis has achieved Charity Navigator 's coveted four-star rating for demonstrating strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency, placing Orbis in the top 3% of U.S. charities. For the past two years, Orbis has earned GuideStar 's platinum Seal of Transparency. In 2022, Orbis earned "accredited charity" status from the Better Business Bureau by meeting all 20 of their standards for charity accountability. To learn more, please visit orbis.org .

MEDIA CONTACTS

Orbis International

Jenna Montgomery

Manager, Global Communications and Marketing

[email protected]

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SOURCE Orbis International
KeyBanc Capital Markets Industrials & Basic Materials Conference

Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference

Baird Global Consumer, Technology & Services Conference

HOUSTON , May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Quanta Services, Inc. (NYSE: PWR) announced today that company management will participate in several institutional investor conferences in May and June, including the KeyBanc Capital Markets Industrials & Basic Materials Conference, the Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference and the Baird Global Consumer, Technology & Services Conference.

KeyBanc Capital Markets Industrials & Basic Materials Conference

Duke Austin , Chief Executive Officer, Jayshree Desai , Chief Financial Officer and Kip Rupp , Vice President  Investor Relations, will meet with institutional investors during the conference on May 31, 2023 .

Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference

Duke Austin , Chief Executive Officer and Kip Rupp , Vice President  Investor Relations, will meet with institutional investors during the conference on June 1, 2023 . Mr. Austin will also participate in a fireside chat hosted by Bernstein analyst Chad Dillard on the same day at 1:30 p.m. Eastern time, which will be broadcast live over the Internet. Live webcast links and archived replays of this presentation will be available in the "News & Events" area of the Investor Relations section of Quanta's website (https://investors.quantaservices.com/news-events ) .

Baird Global Consumer, Technology & Services Conference

Kip Rupp , Vice President  Investor Relations, will meet with institutional investors during the conference on June 6, 2023 . Mr. Rupp will also participate in a fireside chat hosted by Baird analyst Justin Hauke on the same day at 12:50 p.m. Eastern time, which will be broadcast live over the Internet. Live webcast links and archived replays of this presentation will be available in the "News & Events" area of the Investor Relations section of Quanta's website (https://investors.quantaservices.com/news-events ) .

About Quanta Services

Quanta is an industry leader in providing specialized infrastructure solutions to the utility, renewable energy, communications, pipeline and energy industries. Quanta's comprehensive services include designing, installing, repairing and maintaining energy and communications infrastructure. With operations throughout the United States , Canada , Australia and select other international markets, Quanta has the manpower, resources and expertise to safely complete projects that are local, regional, national or international in scope. For more information, visit www.quantaservices.com.

Kip Rupp , CFA, IRC

Quanta Services, Inc.

(713) 341-7260

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SOURCE Quanta Services, Inc.
Franklin Graham is coming to Amory to dedicate upgraded mobile homes that are being given to hard-hit families

BOONE, N.C. , May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Samaritan's Purse, an international Christian relief organization, is offering a mobile home replacement program for Mississippi families who lost everything in the March 24 tornado. The N.C.-based organization was on the ground in Mississippi less than 24 hours after the stormhelping homeowners begin to recover by salvaging personal belongings, clearing debris, tarping damaged roofs, and reminding families that God loves them and they are not forgotten.

On Friday, May 19 , Franklin Graham , president of Samaritan's Purse, will dedicate these homes to the Lord and pray for the families who will be receiving them. Local installers will then be able to set up the mobile homes in the coming weeks. To date, 35 families have been approved for mobile home replacement and others are actively in the application process. They will be given to residents in Amory , Rolling Fork , and Silver City, Mississippi who did not have insurance or were under-insured and in desperate need of help.

"The devastation that these families experienced can take years to recover from, and we want to help them get back on their feet quickly," said Franklin Graham , president of Samaritan's Purse. "While we can't make these mobile homes storm proof, we are making them safer and more durable by adding stronger roofing and floor joists, tempered glass, thicker walls, and other enhancements. We pray that these new homes are a blessing to each family, and that they remind them that God loves them."

Each mobile home has been specially built to be more durable and last longer. They are rated to a Wind Zone III, which means they can endure wind speeds up to 110 miles per hourthe average mobile home is built for winds up to 70 miles per hour. Additional enhancements include fiberglass insulation, continuous vinyl flooring, more durable decking material, and 10 times the amount of tie-downs to stabilize the homes during severe weather.

What: Franklin Graham Dedicates Mobile Homes



When: Friday, May 19 at 11:00 a.m. CT



Where: 60082 Puckett Drive

Amory, MS 38821

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:

Interview Franklin Graham , president of Samaritan's Purse

, president of Interview Luther Harrison , vice president of North American Ministries for Samaritan's Purse

, vice president of North American Ministries for High-quality photos and broadcast quality b-roll of the tornado response

During the initial disaster response, 1,145 Samaritan's Purse volunteers served more than 400 families with cleanup and recovery in Mississippi .

Samaritan's Purse is also offering mobile home replacement programs in Tennessee and Arkansas , following tornadoes that struck one week after the deadly Mississippi storm.

Based in Boone, North Carolina , Samaritan's Purse responds to the physical and spiritual needs of individuals in crisis situationsespecially in locations where few others are working. Led by President and CEO Franklin Graham , Samaritan's Purse works in more than 100 countries to provide aid to victims of war, disease, disaster, poverty, famine and persecution. For more information, visit SamaritansPurse.org.

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SOURCE Samaritan's Purse
TIANJIN, China , May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The seventh World Intelligence Congress (WIC), a major artificial intelligence (AI) event in China , will be held in north China's Tianjin Municipality from May 18 to 21, according to the Publicity Department of Tianjin Municipality.

Themed "Intelligence: Extensive Development Space, Sustainable Growth Driver", the event will focus on empowering economic and social development with smart technologies and building a global platform for exchange, cooperation, win-win outcomes and sharing in the field of intelligent technology.

Zhu Peng , vice mayor of Tianjin , said the event, highlighting the new trends, new technologies and new business forms of AI development, will invite politicians, entrepreneurs, experts and scholars from all over the world to discuss forward-looking subjects such as intelligent cars, generative AI, brain-computer interaction, as well as AI-related hot topics in the fields of economy, society and culture.

Covering an exhibition area of 120,000 square meters, the intelligent technology exhibition component of the four-day event will set up 10 themed exhibition areas, including information technology application innovation, AI and 5G+ industrial Internet, and two smart experience areas focusing on the likes of 5G and smart cars.

The exhibition also covers products, initiatives and technologies such as scientific research and application, smart city and transportation, international and regional collaboration, and intelligent manufacturing.

In addition, experts, scholars and entrepreneurs from 21 countries and regions, including the United States , Germany , Japan and the Republic of Korea , will come to Tianjin to strengthen cooperation in science and technology, trade and culture.

Since its inauguration in 2017, the event has offered a platform for scientists, entrepreneurs and economists from home and abroad to discuss the frontier trends of intelligence technology.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/seventh-world-intelligence-congress-to-open-in-chinas-tianjin-301824624.html

SOURCE The Publicity Department of Tianjin Municipality
Industry veteran Flynn Dekker to lead fast-growing, iconic brand

HOUSTON , May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Shipley Do-Nuts, a fast-growing franchisor of a leading do-nut, kolache and coffee concept, has named Flynn Dekker as its new CEO. Dekker succeeds Clifton Rutledge , who will return to the company's board of directors.

Dekker most recently served as CEO of Bonchon, a global franchisor of Korean chicken restaurants with more than 420 locations spanning nine countries. Before joining Bonchon, Dekker served as chief marketing officer of Wingstop Restaurants, where he led all strategic advertising, franchisee communication, branding, media and marketing efforts. Dekker has 30-plus years of executive leadership experience in the restaurant and retail industry and a strong track record of executing significant growth.

"Flynn is an exceptionally strong leader and brings an impressive background across numerous executive roles, and his experience and talent will help to continue driving significant growth in the business through new unit expansion, same-store sales growth and enhanced operations," said Robert Strauss , senior managing director at Peak Rock Capital and member of the Shipley board of directors. "We are also grateful for Clifton's leadership over the past two years as he drove transformational growth at Shipley. We look forward to his continued contributions on the board as Flynn takes the lead as CEO."

Since 2021, Shipley has added over 200 units to the development pipeline and executed multiple strategic initiatives to accelerate growth, including launching online ordering, rolling out new branding and establishing a new systemwide coffee program.

"I feel privileged to lead such an iconic company and support our continued expansion. Shipley has a strong foundation established over the last 87 years and a tremendous group of employees and franchisee partners," said Dekker. "I look forward to working with the team to further accelerate Shipley's growth trajectory by continuing to expand our footprint and invest in our franchisees' success with exceptional ingredients, equipment, technology and service."

"It has been my honor to serve as Shipley's CEO. We've accomplished so much as a brand, and I am confident that Flynn is the ideal person to build upon the momentum we've developed over the past several years," said Rutledge. "I look forward to continuing to support the company's strategic and transformational growth initiatives as I return to my role on the board."

ABOUT SHIPLEY DO-NUTS

Founded in 1936, Houston -based Shipley Do-Nuts is a leading do-nut restaurant franchisor and manufacturer of specialty food products. Shipley franchises over 330 restaurants to a diverse group of operators across 12 states and has served its do-nuts, kolaches and beverages to generations of guests. For information on franchising, visit ownashipleydonuts.com.

Media Contact:

Ashley Lennington , SPM Communications

[email protected]

214-379-7000

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SOURCE Shipley Do-Nuts
E Source NavigateOne methodology and experienced project leadership delivered definitive guidance throughout the software upgrade

BOULDER, Colo. , May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- E Source, a leading consulting and data authority for utilities, congratulates South Coast Water District (SCWD) for the successful migration of its customer information system (CIS) and the deployment of a new customer self-service (CSS) solution. In partnership with E Source's program management team, SCWD upgraded to the latest version of enQuesta CIS and deployed the new Capricorn CSS, both developed by Systems & Software.

SCWD partnered with E Source to modernize its systems and provide world-class customer service to its constituents. To take full advantage of its maintenance investment, SCWD continued its commitment to stay current with enQuesta, allowing the utility to deploy new functionalities for all customers. The E Source NavigateOne methodology guided the CIS and CSS project for the utility in cooperation with Systems & Software.

"This was a very important upgrade for our utility and our subscribers. We wanted to fully leverage the capabilities of enQuesta V6 and bring its efficiencies to our customer service area," says Bryon Black , IT manager at SCWD. "Managing these kinds of endeavors can be challenging for a utility with limited staff resources. We looked to E Source to lead our team in this project. E Source's experience with Systems & Software, proven methodology and project management tools, and utility-specific project management experience provided the right support for our team."

NavigateOne and iCue for Implementation project management tools empowered SCWD's successful software launch. NavigateOne is a completely scalable, customizable, and comprehensive approach that integrates proven processes, powerful tools and accelerators, proprietary templates, and software. NavigateOne is designed to meet the needs of any utility software initiative.

"We commend SCWD's executive leaders for their foresight and vision, along with the organization's commitment to the project," says Rick Cutter , vice president of Customer System Consulting at E Source. "We appreciate the district's confidence in E Source, allowing us to partner with them on this multisystem initiative. We also want to recognize Systems & Software for delivering exceptional support throughout the project."

With the new enQuesta CIS and Capricorn CCS solutions, the utility is better equipped to deliver on its strategic plan to serve its customers, provide more self-service options, and optimize service delivery.

About South Coast Water District

SCWD provides potable water, recycled water, and wastewater services to approximately 35,000 residents; 1,000 businesses; and 2 million visitors per year in South Orange County, California . SCWD's service area, divided into five districts, includes the communities of Dana Point and South Laguna Beach , and areas of San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano . A five-member elected Board of Directors oversees SCWD's policymaking, financial stewardship, rate-setting, capital programs, and long-term planning.

About E Source

E Source, the data authority for the utility industry, blends industry-leading research, predictive data science, and solution services to help utilities make better decisions to support their customers, their bottom line, and our planet. With a commitment to practical innovation, we use more than three decades of utility-focused experience and our unique solution set to help clients achieve their goal of becoming a Sustainable Utility. E Source is headquartered in Boulder, Colorado , with offices across the US. For more information, see www.esource.com.

About Systems & Software Inc.

Systems & Software Inc., based in Winooski, Vermont , is a leading provider of comprehensive integrated management information systems for water, wastewater, refuse, storm, electric, gas, and multiservice utilities. It offers a unique model of outsourcing that allows utilities to focus on business operations and rely on Systems & Software for complete technology, maintenance, and software support. Founded in 1973, the privately held company has focused exclusively on the utility industry. Customers include public and investor-owned utilities throughout the US.

Media inquiries:

Sannie Sieper

Director of Marketing, E Source

[email protected]

303-345-9138

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SOURCE E Source Companies LLC
Survivorship - For survivors of ritualistic abuse, extreme abuse and torture.

Survivorship of Extreme or Ritualistic Abuse 2023 Online Conference

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. , May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Since 1989, Survivorship has been helping survivors of severe abuse. Through advocacy, education, publications and support groups, Survivorship has provided research and important knowledge to help survivors and their helpers.

Survivorship Celebrates Its 34th Year Helping Survivors Survivorship Ritualistic Abuse 2023 Online Conference

Survivorship is announcing its Survivorship of Extreme or Ritualistic Abuse 2023 Online Conference. The Survivor Conference will be Saturday and Sunday May 20  21. The Clinician's Conference will be on Friday May 19 . These online conferences provide an opportunity for those around the world to attend at a low cost.

Conference information: https://survivorship.org/the-survivorship-ritual-abuse-and-mind-control-2023-online-conference/

Speakers

Researching Ritual Abuse and Mind Control in Art and Literature: One Art Historian's Journey Lynn Brunet PhD

Lynn is an art historian, artist and survivor of Masonic ritual abuse. Her talk will trace the series of case studies where she has uncovered traces of ritual abuse in the work of some key artists and writers from earlier in the 20th century.

The Effects of Social Movements on Survivor Support Systems and Survivor Recovery Neil Brick

Neil Brick will speak about the history of ritualistic abuse and the effects of social movements on survivors. Neil Brick is a survivor of ritualistic abuse. https://ritualabuse.us http://neilbrick.com

The Enmeshment of the British False Memory Society and the British Psychological Society Dr. Rainer Hermann Kurz

Discusses the response of the British Psychological Society in 1995 to the 'Memory Wars', subsequent 'policy capture' in 2008 through individuals associated with the British False Memory Society, and the battle to restore a credible position on Memory-Based Evidence. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rainer_Kurz2

Some Evidence-Based Practice Guidelines and Standards Relevant to the Psychological Care of Extreme Abuse Survivors Dr. Randall Noblitt

Reviews practice guidelines from the APA and the ISSTD and discusses the roles of common factors and empirically supported treatments in implementing guidelines and standards. Randy Noblitt is a professor of Clinical Psychology and a licensed psychologist.

Programmed and Internal Psychological Mechanisms that Perpetuate the Cycle of Extreme Abuse Ellen Lacter, Ph.D.

Presentation examines the psychological mechanisms that perpetuate the cycle of extreme child abuse, including ritualistic abuse, torture, production of sadistic child abuse materials, and sex-trafficking of young children to multiple perpetrators. Ellen Lacter , Ph.D., is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Registered Play Therapist and Supervisor.

Other speakers: Shelby Rising Eagle , Patricia Quinn

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/this-weekend-survivorship-celebrates-its-34th-year-helping-survivors---eleventh-weekend-conference-301825490.html

SOURCE Survivorship Ritual Abuse Conferences
Agreement strengthens cross-border co-operation on technology, research, and personnel

WASHINGTON , May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO), a Canadian not-for-profit organization tasked with the safe, long-term management of Canada 's used nuclear fuel, today signed a Statement of Intent (SOI) to Co-operate on Used Nuclear Fuel Management with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

The agreement reflects the U.S. and Canada 's shared commitment to safely managing used nuclear fuel, including that from small modular reactors (SMRs). It will foster information-sharing for consent-based siting, science and technology programs, engagement activities and joint technical studies. It also lays the groundwork for a program of exchanges and visits, enabling the NWMO and DOE leaders to learn from each other through hands-on experiences in each other's organizations.

After President Joe Biden and U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm visited Canada in March, Natural Resources Canada and the DOE issued a joint statement declaring both countries' commitment to co-operate on nuclear energy and achieve shared net-zero and energy transition goals. The statement also affirmed consent-based siting of used nuclear fuel as part of the U.S. and Canada 's common vision. Today's announcement strengthens bilateral efforts to realize this common vision and reflects the U.S. and Canada 's commitment to environmental responsibility and clean energy.

"For more than two decades, the NWMO has demonstrated our commitment to engaging with communities, conducting scientific research and developing innovative technologies for safely managing used nuclear fuel over the long term, which we are eager to share with our international partners," said Laurie Swami , CEO of the NWMO. "Today's agreement strengthens the system of international partnerships that support the development of consent-based siting strategies and ensures Canadians and Americans can work together on important shared priorities like protecting people and the environment."

The NWMO is implementing Canada 's plan for the safe, long-term management of the country's used nuclear fuel in a deep geological repository to protect people and the environment for generations to come. Canada 's plan will only proceed in an area with informed and willing hosts, where the municipality, First Nation and Metis communities, and others in the area are working together to implement it. The NWMO plans to select a site in 2024.

"As the U.S. develops our consent-based siting process, we need to hear from diverse perspectives to build a stronger approachand that includes lessons learned from our colleagues in Canada ," said Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy Dr. Kathryn Huff . "Sharing information and collaborating will bring a sustainable, clean energy future closer to reality."

"This statement of intent to collaborate between the NWMO and the US Department of Energy is a great example of how the international community can come together to support safe and responsible nuclear development and ensure that socially acceptable radioactive waste strategies are developed early. I am pleased to see the NWMO's leadership and expertise in consent-based siting and nuclear fuel waste disposal, and their work engaging with Indigenous peoples and Canadians, being recognized by my counterparts in the United States , and I look forward to seeing this collaboration in action," said Debbie Scharf , Assistant Deputy Minister, Natural Resources Canada.

A ceremony commemorating the signing of the agreement took place this afternoon at the Embassy of Canada in Washington, D.C. , where NWMO and DOE leaders committed to implementing the agreement and expanding co-operation through the specific, standalone agreements that the SOI permits.

About the NWMO

The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) is a not-for-profit organization tasked with the safe, long-term management of Canada 's used nuclear fuel inside a deep geological repository, in a manner that protects people and the environment for generations to come.

Founded in 2002, the NWMO has been guided for more than 20 years by a dedicated team of world-class scientists, engineers and Indigenous Knowledge Holders that are developing innovative and collaborative solutions for nuclear waste management. Canada 's plan will only proceed in an area with informed and willing hosts, where the municipality, First Nation and Metis communities, and others in the area are working together to implement it. The NWMO plans to select a site in 2024, and two areas remain in our site selection process: the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation-Ignace area in northwestern Ontario and the Saugeen Ojibway Nation-South Bruce area in southern Ontario .

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-doe-and-canadas-nwmo-sign-joint-statement-of-intent-to-co-operate-on-used-nuclear-fuel-management-301826620.html

SOURCE Nuclear Waste Management Organization
Business and carrier community will now have access to diverse fiber-optic network

LAS CRUCES, N.M. , May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Unite Private Networks (UPN), a leading provider of high-capacity, fiber-based communication networks, is pleased to announce a network expansion into Las Cruces, New Mexico .

The expansion will bring over 55 miles of new, high-count fiber-optic infrastructure, including a core ring configuration for network diversity, yielding over 2,433 serviceable locations throughout Las Cruces . UPN will also establish a network hub in the market and provision network capacity back to UPN's core point-of-presence in Albuquerque, NM .

Business and carrier customers will now have access to a full array of fiber services that are scalable from 100 Mbps to 100 Gbps, including dark and lit fiber, private line, optical Ethernet, Internet access, FiberVoice, DDoS Protection, Cloud Connect, SD-WAN, and other customized solutions powered by a low-latency, carrier-grade, 100 percent fiber-optic network. Beyond services, UPN will invest in the community and network by employing a local operations team to install and maintain service.

Mark Hallamore , Regional Vice President of Sales at UPN, expressed his enthusiasm about the expansion, stating, "We are thrilled to extend our network infrastructure into Las Cruces and are looking forward to working with the business and carrier community. We hope to empower growth throughout the community by providing reliable and efficient connectivity."

About Unite Private Networks: UPN provides high-bandwidth, fiber-based communications networks and services to schools, governments, carriers, data centers, hospitals, and enterprise business customers across a 21-state service area. Service offerings include dark and lit fiber, private line, optical Ethernet, Internet access, FiberVoice, DDoS Protection, Cloud Connect, SD-WAN, and other customized solutions. Headquartered in Kansas City, MO , UPN has been providing customer-focused communications solutions since 1998. For more information on UPN, please visit www.uniteprivatenetworks.com, or connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Media Contact:

Brandi Tubb

816-903-9400

[email protected]

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SOURCE Unite Private Networks
RAMALLAH, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Five years after the United States moved its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, the conflict between the Palestinians and Israelis has only been exacerbated, said Palestinian political analysts.

In respective interviews with Xinhua, Abdul Majid Sowailim and Khalil Shaheen, two Ramallah-based political analysts, said the "controversial" decision by former U.S. President Donald Trump only exacerbated the conflict.

The analysts said that as a result of U.S. biased positions, the Israelis increased their violations against the Palestinians, including speeding up settlement activity and intensifying operations against the Palestinians in the West Bank.

Sowailim accused the U.S. of "becoming a part of the political crisis between the Palestinians and Israel because of its endless and provocative bias towards the Israeli occupations."

Saying Joe Biden did not change any "controversial decisions issued by Trump," Sowailim condemned Washington for brazenly protecting Israel from any international punishment or accusation when it committed crimes against the Palestinians and violated international laws.

Sowailim was echoed by Shaheen, who said: "Since the U.S. moved its embassy to Jerusalem, Palestinians no longer have faith or hope in Americans."

Neither Biden nor any other U.S. president would change the American position towards the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Shaheen stressed, noting that the Palestinian people expect "no political benefits from the U.S. administration."

As for seeking a final solution to conflicts with Israel, the two analysts called on the Palestinian leadership to draw lessons from past experiences and turn to other powers that could push forward the Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations, so as to end the decades-long conflict based on human rights.

In the 1967 Middle East war, Israel occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which are claimed by the Palestinians. Since then, Israel has populated the area with Jewish residents. The international community considers the establishment of Israeli settlements in the occupied territories illegal.

The Palestinians have been seeking to establish a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. 
Get ready for an unforgettable weekend of music, yoga, workshops, and fun under the sun, featuring top acts such as Polo & Pan, Griz, Louis The Child, and Big Wild

Tweet It: Get ready for a festival adventure as @SSBDFest brings the party back to Lake Perris from September 28 to October 1 . Featuring headliners Polo & Pan, Griz, Louis The Child, and Big Wild, plus tons of amazing activities! Tickets on sale now at www.ssbdfest.com. #SSBD2023 #SameSameButDifferentFestival

SAN DIEGO , May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Same Same But Different (SSBD), the premier Southern California beachside music festival, is excited to announce its spectacular return to Moreno Beach at Lake Perris from September 28 to October 1 . This year promises to be better than ever, with an epic lineup featuring headliners Polo & Pan, Griz, Louis The Child, and Big Wild, alongside What So Not , Hippie Sabotage, Phantoms, Blu DeTiger , and many more.

The SSBD experience will be packed with four main stages of fantastic music across the beach, exciting workshops, yoga sessions, camping, swimming, and a focus on community. Over the weekend, festival-goers will enjoy a mix of established and emerging talents across various genres, creating a unique and memorable atmosphere.

This year, SSBD is introducing new camping options, including 80' x 80' Group Campsites, allowing your crew to camp together and arrive at their convenience. Shuttles will be available from Los Angeles and San Diego , hotel packages, and the new Flex Refund Ticket Guarantee. This pass gives you the assurance that if you can't make it for any reason, we'll refund your money in the form of credit towards SSBD 2024 or 2025.

In addition to the music, SSBD offers an array of fun activities such as yoga, wellness workshops, arts and crafts, and more, led by experts in their field.

Find more information about SSBD Fest at www.ssbdfest.com or connect with us @ssbdfest.

About Same Same But Different Festival

SSBD offers an unforgettable experience, featuring beach-side camping, RV hookups, and more lodging options that create a community atmosphere. In addition to musical acts, SSBD includes workshops, yoga, breath-work, meditation, dance classes, painting, crafting, and more led by field experts. More information on Same Same But Different Festival can be found at www.ssbdfest.com and on Facebook and Instagram at @ssbdfest.

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SOURCE Same Same But Different Festival
NASHVILLE, Tenn. , May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Chief Executive magazine's annual list of the Best and Worst States for Business has ranked Virginia the top-ranked mid-Atlantic state. According to the magazine's rankings, released in the Spring issue of Chief Executive, Virginia ranks as the 12th best state for business, up from its previous rank of 14th.

The ranking is based on a survey of more than 500 CEOs across the country who were asked to rate states based on their opinion of how easy it was to do business in that state versus others. Virginia's ranking this year reflects its strong business climate and commitment to attracting and retaining businesses.

"The rise in Virginia's ranking in our annual list is a testament to its pro-business environment and commitment to fostering innovation and economic growth," said Chris Chalk , Publisher, Chief Executive magazine. "The state's business-friendly policies, strategic location, and highly skilled workforce have made it a hub for businesses across various industries."

Virginia's diverse economy includes top companies in technology, healthcare, and defense industries, and its location in the mid-Atlantic region makes it a prime location for businesses looking to expand and grow, CEOs say.

Home to the third-largest port on the East Coast , numerous manufacturers and plenty of enterprise companies, IT and R&D facilities are also in abundance, taking advantage of the favorable business climate while also being near the movers and shakers in the District of Columbia . LEGO Group, Hitachi and IperionX Limited have announced projects here recently, and last May Boeing said it would relocate its headquarters from Chicago to Arlington .

Here's what some of the CEOs we surveyed had to say about why they ranked Virginia highly:

"Where our home office is and what I personally see compared to other states. Congenial, better overall roads and hard-working people." - Ralph Costen , Costen Family of Floors

, Costen Family of Floors "Lower biz taxes and less regulations." -

"Right to work, good schools, low taxes, good roads. Temperate climate. Positive Governor." -

"Low taxes and business-friendly policy." - $50 to 99 mil, tech

to 99 mil, tech "Accessibility to staff and business growth." - $100 to $250 mil , construction

to , construction "Well-developed peripheral services (law, accounting, etc.). Near federal government resources in my field."  Caroline Sigman , CCS associates

, CCS associates "Great available talent - low tax burden - incredible quality of life." - Don Yager , President / COO Mural Consulting Corporation

The Top 5 States for 2023:

1. Texas

2. Florida

3. Tennessee

4. North Carolina

5. Arizona

The Bottom 5 States for 2023:

46. Oregon

47. New Jersey

48. Illinois

49. New York

50. California

Biggest Gain, 2022-23:

Kentucky , + 5 to 18th place

Biggest Loss, 2022-23

New Hampshire , - 7 to 28th place

See the full list in the Spring Issue of Chief Executive: https://cloud.3dissue.com/124771/124993/223586/Spring2023ChiefExecutiveMagazine/index.html

Enhanced Coverage online: https://chiefexecutive.net/best-worst-states-business/

About Chief Executive/Chief Executive Group

Chief Executive Group, a leading community for business leaders worldwide, exists to improve the performance of U.S. CEOs, CFOs, CIOs, CHROs and corporate directors. We publish Chief Executive magazine, ChiefExecutive.net, Corporate Board Member magazine, BoardMember.com, StrategicCFO360.com, StrategicCIO360.com and StrategicCHRO360.com, and run some of the nation's most essential peer-networking communities, including The CFO Leadership Council, Chief and Senior Executive Networks, Corporate Board Member Network and The American College of Corporate Directors. Learn more at ChiefExecutiveGroup.com.

Media Contact:

Dan Bigman

203-889-4980

[email protected]

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/virginia-tops-mid-atlantic-states-in-chief-executive-magazines-2023-best-and-worst-states-for-business-ceo-survey-301825769.html

SOURCE Chief Executive Group
Leader in joint pain relief stands with caregivers help recognize their value and provide pain relief and movement resources.

WARREN, N.J. , May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 53 million Americans provide care to family members or loved ones,1 but an overwhelming 4 out of 5 Americans say that pain has affected their caregiving abilities.2 Caregivers dedicate so much time and energy  both emotionally and physically  to taking care of others, and the day-to-day realities of caregiving can involve a lot of physical labor and heavy lifting that may lead to aches and pains. In effort to help caregivers combat pain, Voltaren Arthritis Pain Gel is partnering with fitness instructor and TV personality Amanda Kloots to create a series of exercises designed specifically to help caregivers alleviate pain and discover the joy of movement.

As part of the initiative, Amanda is creating a series of three thoughtfully designed workout routines that target and strengthen different areas of the body that are susceptible to pain when caregiving, like legs and arms. Presented in bite-sized, snackable formats on Instagram Reels, the exercises are custom created to fit the needs of caregivers and can be incorporated easily into their daily routines.

"Caregivers do so much for others, and it's important to celebrate them and encourage them to give back to themselves through movement," Amanda Kloots said. "I'm excited to be working with Voltaren to develop these exercise routines. All of the moves will not only be effective at keeping them moving strongly and safety, but they are also super easy to incorporate into a caregiver's busy daily routine."

"The physical demands of caregiving tend to go overlooked, when in reality caregiving requires a wide range of physical movements that can bring on joint pain," said Stacey Harris , Vice President of Marketing, Pain at Haleon. "As a trusted, world leader in pain relief, Voltaren Arthritis Pain Gel is dedicated to helping people with arthritis, and is proud to support the 53 million unpaid caregivers1 in the U.S. "

Voltaren is on a mission to help unpaid family caregivers recognize their own value, leading to a renewed journey of physical health. In addition to their partnership with Amanda, Voltaren conducted a series of intimate interviews with caregivers using cutting edge neuro-technology to explore how they perceive their value. During the interview, the caregivers wore an EEG headset that mapped their brain responses, measuring wellbeing based on brain wave changes in levels of stress, relaxation, excitement, engagement and attention. Results of these interviews and brain scans found that caregivers experienced a 36% increase in their wellbeing after hearing from their loved ones about their value as a caregiver.*

Millions of Americans experience joint pain as a result of their arthritis. As a world leader in arthritis joint pain relief, Voltaren is dedicated to improving the quality of life for people living with joint pain due to arthritis. For powerful arthritis pain relief, Voltaren delivers the triple effect of relieving arthritis pain, reducing stiffness, and improving mobility.

Voltaren is proud to stand beside caregivers, hear their stories, and help them prioritize their own physical health and wellbeing to better care for others. To view the first of Amanda Kloots' three-part caregiver movement series, visit her Instagram, @AmandaKloots. To unlock more tools and resources for a renewed journey of physical health and to view the interviews and brain scans of two caregivers, Carol and Bill, visit VoltarenGel.com.

About Voltaren Arthritis Pain Gel

The active ingredient in Voltaren Arthritis Pain Gel, diclofenac sodium, is an effective medicine that is clinically proven to relieve joint pain due to arthritis. Voltaren penetrates through the skin at the application site to deliver arthritis pain relief. Voltaren offers consumers who suffer from OA a well-tolerated alternative to oral analgesics. For more information, visit www.VoltarenGel.com.

About Haleon US

Haleon (NYSE: HLN) is a leading global consumer health company with a portfolio of brands trusted daily by millions of people. In the United States , the organization employs more than 4,700 people who are united by Haleon's powerful purpose to deliver better everyday health with humanity. Haleon's products span five categories: Oral Health, Pain Relief, Respiratory Health, Digestive Health, and Wellness. Built on scientific expertise, innovation, and deep human understanding, Haleon's brands include Abreva, Advil, Benefiber, Centrum, ChapStick, Emergen-C, Excedrin, Flonase, Gas-X, Natean, Nexium, Nicorette, Parodontax, Polident, Preparation H, Pronamel, Sensodyne, Robitussin, Theraflu, TUMS, Voltaren, and more. For more information on Haleon and its brands, please visit www.haleon.com or contact [email protected].

About osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis. OA occurs when the cartilage between joints begins to break down and wear away, resulting in joint pain and stiffness. OA occurs more frequently with age, and the pain can gradually worsen over time. The most common symptoms associated with OA include joint pain, stiffness, and decreased range of motion.

Haleons's commitment to pain relief

With a portfolio of products to relieve pain and reduce inflammation, Haleon's range brings comfort and ease to millions. World-leading brands such as Panadol, Voltaren and Advil help people manage their symptoms so they can enjoy life to the fullest.

Important safety information about Voltaren Arthritis Pain Gel

Before using the product, consumers should read the Voltaren Arthritis Pain Gel Drug Facts Label.

References

AARP and National Alliance for Caregiving . Caregiving in the United States 2020. Washington, DC : AARP . May 2020 . https://www.aarp.org/ppi/info-2020/caregiving-in-the-united-states.html Study from researchers at The Ohio State University led by Amy Darragh , PhD, an occupational therapist at Ohio State's School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences . particularly among the estimated 14 million "high-burden" caregivers (defined by the National Alliance for Caregiving and the AARP as people who spend more than 21 hours a week assisting care recipients with activities of daily living).

*EEG used to indicate a change in wellbeing and analysis of brainwaves powered by EMOTIV. Results are not statistically significant due to small sample.

Media Inquiries

Haleon Meghan Sowa +1 919 864 0953 Warren Edelman Brittany Herrmann +1 917 244 0665 New York City

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/voltaren-partners-with-fitness-instructor-and-tv-personality-amanda-kloots-to-help-caregivers-discover-the-joy-of-movement-301826320.html

SOURCE Haleon
Conference Call to Be Held at 7:30 A.M. U.S. Eastern Time on May 16, 2023

GUANGZHOU, China , May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Yatsen Holding Limited ("Yatsen" or the "Company") (NYSE: YSG), a leading China -based beauty group, today announced its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023 .

First Quarter 2023 Highlights

Total net revenues for the first quarter of 2023 decreased by 14.1% to RMB765.4 million ( US$111.5 million ) from RMB891.0 million for the prior year period.

for the first quarter of 2023 decreased by 14.1% to ( ) from for the prior year period. Total net revenues from Skincare Brands [1] for the first quarter of 2023 increased by 34.2% to RMB245.1 million ( US$35.7 million ) from RMB182.7 million for the prior year period. As a percentage of total net revenues, total net revenues from Skincare Brands for the first quarter of 2023 increased to 32.0% from 20.5% for the prior year period.

for the first quarter of 2023 increased by 34.2% to ( ) from for the prior year period. As a percentage of total net revenues, total net revenues from Skincare Brands for the first quarter of 2023 increased to 32.0% from 20.5% for the prior year period. Gross margin for the first quarter of 2023 was 74.3%, as compared with 69.0% for the prior year period.

for the first quarter of 2023 was 74.3%, as compared with 69.0% for the prior year period. Net income[2]for the first quarter of 2023 was RMB50.7 million ( US$7.4 million ), as compared with net loss of RMB291.4 million for the prior year period. Non-GAAP net loss[3] for the first quarter of 2023 decreased by 83.2% to RMB25.8 million ( US$3.8 million ) from RMB153.6 million for the prior year period.

Mr. Jinfeng Huang , Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Yatsen, stated, "We started 2023 by continuing to execute our new five-year strategic transformation plan, focusing on building a healthy brand portfolio and capitalizing on rising opportunities as the consumer goods industry recovers. For our Skincare Brands, we are committed to increasing brand awareness and developing new products, while improving our current hero products' market position in their relevant sub-categories. For our Color Cosmetics Brands, we continued to introduce high-quality products and build a more sustainable business model. Additionally, we remained dedicated to strengthening our R&D capabilities as a core strategy for our future growth and product differentiation."

Mr. Donghao Yang , Director and Chief Financial Officer of Yatsen, commented, "Our first quarter financial results once again proved that we are on the right path to achieve our strategic goal. We recorded net revenues of RMB765.4 million , representing a 14.1% decline year-over-year and beating the guidance we provided previously. Revenue contribution from our Skincare Brands grew to 32.0% for the first quarter from 20.5% for the prior year period. Furthermore, gross margin improved significantly by 5.3 percentage points year-over-year to 74.3%. We recorded net income margin of 6.6%, as compared with net loss margin of 32.7% for the prior year period. With an ample cash reserve, we are well positioned to carry out our long-term development plan for 2023."

First Quarter 2023 Financial Results

Net Revenues

Total net revenues for the first quarter of 2023 decreased by 14.1% to RMB765.4 million ( US$111.5 million ) from RMB891.0 million for the prior year period. The decrease was primarily attributable to a 29.1% year-over-year decrease in net revenues from Color Cosmetics Brands[4], partially offset by a 34.2% year-over-year increase in net revenues from Skincare Brands.

Gross Profit and Gross Margin

Gross profit for the first quarter of 2023 decreased by 7.5% to RMB568.7 million ( US$82.8 million ) from RMB614.5 million for the prior year period. Gross margin for the first quarter of 2023 increased to 74.3% from 69.0% for the prior year period. The increase was driven by (i) increasing sales of higher-gross margin products from Skincare Brands, (ii) more disciplined pricing and discount policies and (iii) cost optimization across all of the Company's brand portfolios.

Operating Expenses

Total operating expenses for the first quarter of 2023 decreased by 37.6% to RMB575.9 million ( US$83.9 million ) from RMB922.5 million for the prior year period. As a percentage of total net revenues, total operating expenses for the first quarter of 2023 were 75.2%, as compared with 103.5% for the prior year period.

Fulfillment Expenses. Fulfillment expenses for the first quarter of 2023 were RMB51.9 million ( US$7.6 million ), as compared with RMB73.9 million for the prior year period. As a percentage of total net revenues, fulfillment expenses for the first quarter of 2023 decreased to 6.8% from 8.3% for the prior year period. The decrease was primarily attributable to a decrease in warehouse and logistics costs due to the outsourcing of most of the Company's warehousing and handling operations.

Fulfillment expenses for the first quarter of 2023 were ( ), as compared with for the prior year period. As a percentage of total net revenues, fulfillment expenses for the first quarter of 2023 decreased to 6.8% from 8.3% for the prior year period. The decrease was primarily attributable to a decrease in warehouse and logistics costs due to the outsourcing of most of the Company's warehousing and handling operations. Selling and Marketing Expenses. Selling and marketing expenses for the first quarter of 2023 were RMB459.0 million ( US$66.8 million ), as compared with RMB604.7 million for the prior year period. As a percentage of total net revenues, selling and marketing expenses for the first quarter of 2023 decreased to 60.0% from 67.9% for the prior year period. The decrease was primarily attributable to the closure of underperforming offline stores and a reduction in share-based compensation related to the decrease in selling and marketing headcount.

Selling and marketing expenses for the first quarter of 2023 were ( ), as compared with for the prior year period. As a percentage of total net revenues, selling and marketing expenses for the first quarter of 2023 decreased to 60.0% from 67.9% for the prior year period. The decrease was primarily attributable to the closure of underperforming offline stores and a reduction in share-based compensation related to the decrease in selling and marketing headcount. General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2023 were RMB40.7 million ( US$5.9 million ), as compared with RMB208.1 million for the prior year period. As a percentage of total net revenues, general and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2023 decreased to 5.3% from 23.4% for the prior year period. The decrease was primarily attributable to a reversal of recognized share-based compensation expenses of RMB109.4 million due to the forfeiture of unvested awards granted to our former chief technology officer upon his resignation, and a decrease of RMB42.2 million in recognition of share-based compensation expenses using the graded-vesting method over the vesting term of the Company's awards.

General and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2023 were ( ), as compared with for the prior year period. As a percentage of total net revenues, general and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2023 decreased to 5.3% from 23.4% for the prior year period. The decrease was primarily attributable to a reversal of recognized share-based compensation expenses of due to the forfeiture of unvested awards granted to our former chief technology officer upon his resignation, and a decrease of in recognition of share-based compensation expenses using the graded-vesting method over the vesting term of the Company's awards. Research and Development Expenses. Research and development expenses for the first quarter of 2023 were RMB24.2 million ( US$3.5 million ), as compared with RMB35.8 million for the prior year period. As a percentage of total net revenues, research and development expenses for the first quarter of 2023 decreased to 3.2% from 4.0% for the prior year period. The decrease was primarily attributable to the Company's efforts to maintain research and development expenses at a reasonable level relative to total net revenues.

Loss from Operations

Loss from operations for the first quarter of 2023 decreased by 97.7% to RMB7.2 million ( US$1.0 million ) from RMB308.0 million for the prior year period. Operating loss margin was 0.9%, as compared with 34.6% for the prior year period.

Non-GAAP loss from operations[5] for the first quarter of 2023 decreased by 63.3% to RMB62.4 million ( US$9.1 million ) from RMB170.1 million for the prior year period. Non-GAAP operating loss margin was 8.1%, as compared with 19.1% for the prior year period.

Net Income/Loss

Net income for the first quarter of 2023 was RMB50.7 million ( US$7.4 million ), as compared with net loss of RMB291.4 million for the prior year period. Net income margin was 6.6%, as compared with net loss margin of 32.7% for the prior year period. Net income attributable to Yatsen's ordinary shareholders per diluted ADS[6] for the first quarter of 2023 was RMB0.08 ( US$0.01 ), as compared with net loss attributable to Yatsen's ordinary shareholders per diluted ADS of RMB0.46 for the prior year period.

Non-GAAP net loss for the first quarter of 2023 decreased by 83.2% to RMB25.8 million ( US$3.8 million ) from RMB153.6 million for the prior year period. Non-GAAP net loss margin was 3.4%, as compared with 17.2% for the prior year period. Non-GAAP net loss attributable to Yatsen's ordinary shareholders per diluted ADS[7] for the first quarter of 2023 was RMB0.05 ( US$0.01 ), as compared with RMB0.24 for the prior year period.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

As of March 31, 2023 , the Company had cash, restricted cash and short-term investments of RMB2.54 billion ( US$369.2 million ), as compared with RMB2.63 billion as of December 31, 2022 .

Net cash used in operating activities for the first quarter of 2023 decreased by 80.6% to RMB20.2 million ( US$2.9 million ) from RMB104.1 million for the prior year period.

Business Outlook

For the second quarter of 2023, the Company expects its total net revenues to be between RMB761.4 million and RMB856.6 million , representing a year-over-year decline of approximately 10% to 20%. These forecasts reflect the Company's current and preliminary views on the market and operational conditions, which are subject to change.

Exchange Rate

This announcement contains translations of certain Renminbi ("RMB") amounts into U.S. dollars ("US$") at specified rates solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from RMB to US$ were made at a rate of RMB6.8676 to US$1.00 , the exchange rate in effect as of March 31, 2023 , as set forth in the H.10 statistical release of The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. The Company makes no representation that any RMB or US$ amounts could have been, or could be, converted into US$ or RMB, as the case may be, at any particular rate, or at all.

[1] Include net revenues from DR.WU (its mainland China business), Galenic, Eve Lom, Abby's Choice and other skincare brands of the Company. [2] The net income we recognized for the first quarter of 2023 was primarily attributable to a reversal of recognized share-based compensation expenses of RMB109.4 million due to the forfeiture of unvested awards granted to our former chief technology officer upon his resignation, and a decrease of RMB42.2 million in recognition of share-based compensation expenses using the graded-vesting method over the vesting term of the Company's awards. [3] Non-GAAP net loss is a non-GAAP financial measure. Effective from the third quarter of 2022, non-GAAP net loss is defined as net loss excluding (i) share-based compensation expenses, (ii) amortization of intangible assets resulting from assets and business acquisitions, (iii) revaluation of investments on the share of equity method investments, and (iv) tax effects on non-GAAP adjustments, and non-GAAP net loss for the prior year period presented in this document is also calculated in the same manner. [4] Include Perfect Diary, Little Ondine, Pink Bear and other color cosmetics brands of the Company. [5] Non-GAAP loss from operations is a non-GAAP financial measure. Non-GAAP loss from operations is defined as loss from operations excluding share-based compensation expenses and amortization of intangible assets resulting from assets and business acquisitions. [6] ADS refers to the American depositary shares, each of which represents four Class A ordinary shares. [7] Non-GAAP net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders per diluted ADS is a non-GAAP financial measure. Non-GAAP net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders per diluted ADS is defined as non-GAAP net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders divided by the weighted average number of diluted ADS outstanding for computing diluted earnings per ADS. Effective from the third quarter of 2022, non-GAAP net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders is defined as net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders excluding (i) share-based compensation expenses, (ii) amortization of intangible assets resulting from assets and business acquisitions, (iii) revaluation of investments on the share of equity method investments, and (iv) tax effects on non-GAAP adjustments, and non-GAAP net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders per diluted ADS for the prior year period presented in this document is also calculated in the same manner.

Conference Call Information

The Company's management will hold a conference call on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 , at 7:30 A.M. U.S. Eastern Time or 7:30 P.M. Beijing Time to discuss its financial results and operating performance for the first quarter 2023.

United States (toll free): +1-888-346-8982 International: +1-412-902-4272 Mainland China (toll free): 400-120-1203 Hong Kong , SAR (toll free): 800-905-945 Hong Kong , SAR: +852-3018-4992 Conference ID: 6310119

The replay will be accessible through May 23, 2023 , by dialing the following numbers:

United States: +1-877-344-7529 International: +1-412-317-0088 Replay Access Code: 6310119

A live and archived webcast of the conference call will also be available on the Company's investor relations website at http://ir.yatsenglobal.com/.

About Yatsen Holding Limited

Yatsen Holding Limited (NYSE: YSG) is a leading China -based beauty group with the mission of creating an exciting new journey of beauty discovery for consumers around the world. Founded in 2016, the Company has launched and acquired numerous color cosmetics and skincare brands including Perfect Diary, Little Ondine, Abby's Choice, Galenic, DR.WU (its mainland China business), Eve Lom , Pink Bear and EANTiM. The Company's flagship brand, Perfect Diary, is one of the leading color cosmetics brands in China in terms of retail sales value. The Company primarily reaches and engages with customers directly both online and offline, with expansive presence across all major e-commerce, social and content platforms in China .

For more information, please visit http://ir.yatsenglobal.com/.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company uses non-GAAP income (loss) from operations, non-GAAP net income (loss), non-GAAP net income (loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders and non-GAAP net income (loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders per diluted ADS, each a non-GAAP financial measure, in reviewing and assessing its operating performance. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The Company presents these non-GAAP financial measures because they are used by the management to evaluate operating performance and formulate business plans. Non-GAAP financial measures help identify underlying trends in its business, provide further information about its results of operations, and enhance the overall understanding of its past performance and future prospects. The Company defines non-GAAP income (loss) from operations as income (loss) from operations excluding share-based compensation expenses and amortization of intangible assets resulting from assets and business acquisitions. The Company defines non-GAAP net income (loss) as net income (loss) excluding (i) share-based compensation expenses, (ii) amortization of intangible assets resulting from assets and business acquisitions, (iii) revaluation of investments on the share of equity method investments, and (iv) tax effects on non-GAAP adjustments. The Company defines non-GAAP net income (loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders as net income (loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders excluding (i) share-based compensation expenses, (ii) amortization of intangible assets resulting from assets and business acquisitions, (iii) revaluation of investments on the share of equity method investments and (iv) tax effects on non-GAAP adjustments. Non-GAAP net income (loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders per diluted ADS is computed using non-GAAP net income (loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders divided by weighted average number of diluted ADS outstanding for computing diluted earnings per ADS.

However, the non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools as the non-GAAP financial measures are not presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP and may differ from the non-GAAP information used by other companies, including peer companies, and therefore their comparability may be limited. The Company compensates for these limitations by reconciling the non-GAAP financial measures to the nearest U.S. GAAP performance measure, all of which should be considered when evaluating performance. The Company encourages investors and others to review its financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure. Reconciliations of Yatsen's non-GAAP financial measure to the most comparable U.S. GAAP measure are included at the end of this press release.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking" statements which are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "aims," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "likely to," and similar statements. The Company may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs, plans, outlook and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, which include but not limited to the following: the Company's growth strategies; its future business development, results of operations and financial condition; its ability to continue to roll out popular products and maintain popularity of existing products; its ability to anticipate and respond to changes in industry trends and consumer preferences and behavior in a timely manner; its ability to attract and retain new customers and to increase revenues generated from repeat customers; its expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of its products and services; its ability to integrate newly-acquired businesses and brands; trends and competition in and relevant government policies and regulations relating to China's beauty market; changes in its revenues and certain cost or expense items; and general economic conditions globally and in China . Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

In China :

Yatsen Holding Limited

Investor Relations

E-mail: [email protected]

The Piacente Group, Inc.

Hui Fan

Tel: +86-10-6508-0677

E-mail: [email protected]

In the United States :

The Piacente Group, Inc.

Brandi Piacente

Tel: +1-212-481-2050

E-mail: [email protected]

YATSEN HOLDING LIMITED UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (All amounts in thousands, except for share, per share data or otherwise noted)





December 31 ,



March 31 ,



March 31 ,





2022



2023



2023





RMB'000



RMB'000



USD'000

Assets

















Current assets

















Cash and cash equivalents



1,512,945





1,349,734





196,536

Restricted cash



-





20,603





3,000

Short-term investment



1,072,867





1,144,712





166,683

Accounts receivable, net



200,843





186,144





27,105

Inventories, net



423,287





382,780





55,737

Prepayments and other current assets



292,825





299,933





43,674

Amounts due from related parties



5,654





12,576





1,831

Total current assets



3,508,421





3,396,482





494,566

Non-current assets

















Restricted cash



41,383





20,603





3,000

Investments



502,579





569,138





82,873

Property and equipment, net



75,619





63,288





9,215

Goodwill



857,145





866,945





126,237

Intangible assets, net



689,669





683,636





99,545

Deferred tax assets



1,951





1,295





189

Right-of-use assets, net



133,004





110,855





16,142

Other non-current assets



52,885





52,512





7,646

Total non-current assets



2,354,235





2,368,272





344,847

Total assets



5,862,656





5,764,754





839,413

Liabilities, redeemable non-controlling interests and shareholders' equity

















Current liabilities

















Accounts payable



119,847





94,505





13,761

Advances from customers



16,652





15,174





2,210

Accrued expenses and other liabilities



323,259





293,873





42,791

Amounts due to related parties



27,242





27,192





3,959

Income tax payables



21,826





20,883





3,041

Lease liabilities due within one year



79,586





74,785





10,890

Total current liabilities



588,412





526,412





76,652

Non-current liabilities

















Deferred tax liabilities



113,441





112,779





16,422

Deferred income-non current



45,280





41,221





6,002

Lease liabilities



52,997





37,240





5,423

Total non-current liabilities



211,718





191,240





27,847

Total liabilities



800,130





717,652





104,499

Redeemable non-controlling interests



339,924





339,924





49,497

Shareholders' equity

















Ordinary Shares ( US$0.00001 par value; 10,000,000,000 ordinary

shares authorized, comprising of 6,000,000,000 Class A ordinary

shares, 960,852,606 Class B ordinary shares and 3,039,147,394 shares

each of such classes to be designated as of December 31, 2022 and

March 31, 2023 ; 2,030,600,883 Class A shares and 666,572,880 Class

B ordinary shares issued; 1,569,677,384 Class A ordinary shares and

666,572,880 Class B ordinary shares outstanding as of December

31, 2022 and March 31, 2023 )



173





173





25

Treasury shares



(669,150)





(669,150)





(97,436)

Additional paid-in capital



12,038,802





11,971,404





1,743,171

Statutory reserve



24,177





24,177





3,520

Accumulated deficit



(6,600,365)





(6,550,307)





(953,799)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss



(74,195)





(72,897)





(10,614)

Total Yatsen Holding Limited shareholders' equity



4,719,442





4,703,400





684,867

Non-controlling interests



3,160





3,778





550

Total shareholders' equity



4,722,602





4,707,178





685,417

Total liabilities, redeemable non-controlling interests and shareholders' equity



5,862,656





5,764,754





839,413



YATSEN HOLDING LIMITED UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (All amounts in thousands, except for share, per share data or otherwise noted)





For the Three Months Ended March 31 ,







2022



2023



2023







RMB'000



RMB'000



USD'000



Total net revenues



890,954





765,396





111,450



Total cost of revenues



(276,408)





(196,667)





(28,637)



Gross profit



614,546





568,729





82,813



Operating expenses:



















Fulfilment expenses



(73,863)





(51,916)





(7,560)



Selling and marketing expenses



(604,726)





(459,048)





(66,843)



General and administrative expenses



(208,129)





(40,741)





(5,932)



Research and development expenses



(35,810)





(24,178)





(3,521)



Total operating expenses



(922,528)





(575,883)





(83,856)



Loss from operations



(307,982)





(7,154)





(1,043)



Financial income



8,103





26,988





3,930



Foreign currency exchange losses



(2,632)





(5,549)





(808)



(Loss) income from equity method investments, net



(2,330)





19,060





2,775



Impairment loss of investments



(4,416)





-





-



Other income, net



17,654





17,517





2,551



Loss before income tax expenses



(291,603)





50,862





7,405



Income tax benefits (expenses)



223





(186)





(27)



Net (loss) income



(291,380)





50,676





7,378



Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests and redeemable

non-controlling interests



465





(618)





(90)



Net (loss) income attributable to Yatsen's shareholders



(290,915)





50,058





7,288



Shares used in calculating loss per share (1):



















Weighted average number of Class A and Class B ordinary shares:



















Basic



2,526,753,316





2,236,250,264





2,236,250,264



Diluted



2,526,753,316





2,373,166,850





2,373,166,850



Net (loss) income per Class A and Class B ordinary share



















Basic



(0.12)





0.02





0.00



Diluted



(0.12)





0.02





0.00



Net (loss) income per ADS (4 ordinary shares equal to 1 ADS)



















Basic



(0.46)





0.09





0.01



Diluted



(0.46)





0.08





0.01









For the Three Months Ended March 31 ,







2022



2023



2023



Share-based compensation expenses are included in the operating

expenses as follows:

RMB'000



RMB'000



USD'000



Fulfilment expenses



1,523





651





95



Selling and marketing expenses



22,355





6,292





916



General and administrative expenses (income)



94,983





(76,320)





(11,113)



Research and development expenses



6,957





1,979





288



Total



125,818





(67,398)





(9,814)



























(1) Authorized share capital is re-classified and re-designated into Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares, with

each Class A ordinary share being entitled to one vote and each Class B ordinary share being entitled to twenty votes on all

matters that are subject to shareholder vote.

YATSEN HOLDING LIMITED UNAUDITED RECONCILIATIONS OF GAAP AND NON-GAAP RESULTS (All amounts in thousands, except for share, per share data or otherwise noted)





For the Three Months Ended March 31 ,







2022



2023



2023







RMB'000



RMB'000



USD'000



Loss from operations



(307,982)





(7,154)





(1,043)



Share-based compensation expenses (income)



125,818





(67,398)





(9,814)



Amortization of intangible assets resulting from assets and business acquisitions



12,083





12,176





1,773



Non-GAAP loss from operations



(170,081)





(62,376)





(9,084)



Net (loss) income



(291,380)





50,676





7,378



Share-based compensation expenses (income)



125,818





(67,398)





(9,814)



Amortization of intangible assets resulting from assets and business acquisitions



12,083





12,176





1,773



Revaluation of investments on the share of equity method investments



1,986





(19,146)





(2,788)



Tax effects on non-GAAP adjustments



(2,084)





(2,080)





(303)



Non-GAAP net loss



(153,577)





(25,772)





(3,754)



Net loss (income) attributable to ordinary shareholders of Yatsen



(290,915)





50,058





7,288



Share-based compensation expenses (income)



125,818





(67,398)





(9,814)



Amortization of intangible assets resulting from assets and business acquisitions



11,831





11,912





1,735



Revaluation of investments on the share of equity method investments



1,986





(19,146)





(2,788)



Tax effects on non-GAAP adjustments



(2,084)





(2,080)





(303)



Non-GAAP net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of Yatsen



(153,364)





(26,654)





(3,882)



Shares used in calculating loss per share:



















Weighted average number of Class A and Class B ordinary shares:



















Basic



2,526,753,316





2,236,250,264





2,236,250,264



Diluted



2,526,753,316





2,236,250,264





2,236,250,264



Non-GAAP net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders per Class

A and Class B ordinary share



















Basic



(0.06)





(0.01)





(0.00)



Diluted



(0.06)





(0.01)





(0.00)



Non-GAAP net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders per ADS

(4 ordinary shares equal to 1 ADS)



















Basic



(0.24)





(0.05)





(0.01)



Diluted



(0.24)





(0.05)





(0.01)





View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/yatsen-announces-first-quarter-2023-financial-results-301825641.html

SOURCE Yatsen Holding Limited
Explosion of a missile is seen in the sky over the city during a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine May 16, 2023. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich

By Gleb Garanich and Sergiy Karazy

KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine said on Tuesday it had shot down six Russian Kinzhal missiles in a single night, thwarting a weapon Moscow has touted as a next-generation hypersonic missile that was all but unstoppable.

When asked about the Ukrainian claim, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu dismissed it, the RIA news agency reported. His ministry said a Kinzhal had destroyed a U.S.-built Patriot surface-to-air missile defence system.

A high-precision strike by the hypersonic Kinzhal missile hit a U.S.-made Patriot anti-aircraft missile system in the city of Kyiv, the defence ministry said in a statement.

Two U.S. officials said a Patriot system likely suffered some damage but had not been destroyed, and one said discussions on repairing it were underway and it did not appear the system would have to be removed from Ukraine.

The commander-in-chief of Ukraine's armed forces, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, had said earlier that his forces had intercepted the six Kinzhals launched from aircraft, as well as nine Kalibr cruise missiles from ships in the Black Sea and three Iskanders fired from land.

Russia's Shoigu was quoted as saying the number of claimed Ukrainian missile intercepts in general is "three times greater than the number we launch".

"And they get the type of missiles wrong all the time. That's why they don't hit them," he said, without elaborating.

It was the first time Ukraine had claimed to have struck an entire volley of multiple Kinzhal missiles, and if confirmed, would be a demonstration of the effectiveness of its newly deployed Western air defences.

The United States and the European Union have supplied Ukraine with weaponry to defend itself since Russia invaded in February 2022.

EU and NATO member Hungary has refused, however, to provide any military equipment to neighbour Ukraine, and on Tuesday, the government said it had blocked the next tranche of the EU's off-budget military support known as the European Peace Facility.

Air raid sirens blared across nearly all of Ukraine early on Tuesday and were heard over the Ukrainian capital and the surrounding region for more than three hours.

"A year ago, we were not able to shoot down most of the terrorists' missiles, especially ballistic ones," President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in an address to the Council of Europe rights body in Iceland by video link.

"And I am asking one thing now. If we are able to do this, is there anything we can't do?"

The meeting of European leaders over two days was to focus on ways to hold Russia to account for its war, officials said.

Russia says its invasion was necessary to counter threats to its security posed by Ukraine's growing ties to the West.

Ukraine and its allies call it an unprovoked war of conquest and Ukraine says it won't stop fighting until all Russian forces leave its land.

FLASHES OF LIGHT AND DEBRIS

The six Kinzhals were among 27 missiles Russia fired at Ukraine over 24 hours, Ukraine's military said in its evening update on Tuesday, lighting up Kyiv with flashes and raining debris after they were blasted from the sky.

It was unclear which Western weapon Ukraine used to defend against the Kinzhals. The Pentagon had no immediate comment.

For its part, Russia's defence ministry said its forces delivered a concentrated strike with long-range air- and sea-based high-precision weapons at Ukrainian forces, "as well as at places of storage of ammunition, weapons and military equipment delivered from Western countries.

Kyiv authorities said three people were wounded by falling debris.

"It was exceptional in its density - the maximum number of attack missiles in the shortest period of time," Serhiy Popko, head of the city military administration, said on Telegram.

Ukraine's military said two S-300 missiles had also targeted infrastructure in Kostyantynivka, west of the embattled eastern city of Bakhmut.

HYPERSONIC SPEED?

This month, Ukraine said it had shot down a single Kinzhal missile over Kyiv for the first time using a newly deployed Patriot system.

The U.S. military confirmed that but did not say whether the Russian missile was flying at hypersonic speed at the time.

The U.S.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) says the Kinzhal rapidly accelerates to Mach 4 (4,900 km/h) after launch and may reach speeds of up to Mach 10 - or 10 times the speed of sound. Hypersonic weapons travel at least five times the speed of sound.

The Kinzhal missile, the name means dagger, can carry conventional or nuclear warheads up to 2,000 km. Russia used the weapon in war for the first time in Ukraine last year and has only acknowledged firing them on a few occasions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has frequently touted the Kinzhal as proof of world-beating Russian hardware, capable of taking on NATO.

With Ukraine set to go on the offensive against Russia's invasion for the first time in six months, Russian forces are launching longer-range air strikes at the highest frequency of the war.

Ukraine says it is shooting down most missiles and drones.

(Additional reporting by Aleksandar Vasovic, Dan Peleschuk, Maria Starkova, Lidia Kelly and Phil Stewart; writing by Peter Graff, Angus MacSwan, Mark Heinrich, Grant McCool and Simon Cameron-Moore; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel, Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Daniel Wallis)
Benjamin Castro, a 26-year-old non-binary Argentine musician and teacher, poses for pictures during an interview in Buenos Aires, Argentina May 4, 2023. Benjamin sought an abortion in 2020, before mifepristone was available, and received a single misopros

By Anna-Catherine Brigida

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - When Argentine trainee nursery teacher Lourdes, 24, went to the doctor in March seeking to end her pregnancy she was one of the first in the country to be prescribed abortion pill mifepristone after local regulators had approved it fully just weeks earlier.

Argentina is the latest country in Latin America to green light the drug, part of a two-pill abortion regimen, which now faces the threat of a ban in the United States.

Lourdes, who asked Reuters to only use her first name, said that knowing the medication was available made the tough personal decision a little easier after she had become pregnant and been kicked out of her home by an abusive partner.

It reflects a shift towards expanding reproductive rights in Argentina, which legalized abortion up to 14 weeks at the end of 2020, and more widely across traditionally Catholic, conservative Latin America. Abortion access has also expanded in recent years in Mexico, Colombia and Chile, although in countries including Brazil, Peru and El Salvador it remains prohibited or heavily restricted.

"Perhaps a few years ago, I wouldn't have been able to decide about my body, my life and my future, and decide if I wanted this or not," Lourdes, who was accompanied by her sister and a social worker to the doctor in March, told Reuters.

"I got pregnant and I separated from my partner in a violent way," she said. "I want to be a mother but it wasn't the right moment in my life for that to happen."

In the United States, abortion access has been shrinking since the overturning of the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling last year that recognized women's constitutional right to abortion.

Anti-abortion groups in the U.S. are now seeking to ban mifepristone, arguing that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration disregarded health risks of the drug when they approved it in 2000. The FDA says the drug is safe and has been properly tested.

The next legal hearing is set to take place on Wednesday, when a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will decide whether to allow an injunction suspending the drug's approval to go ahead.

Mifepristone, when combined with second pill misoprostol, boosts the effectiveness of medical abortions to over 96% from 84% with only misoprostol, according to two peer-reviewed studies. It is used in over half of all U.S. abortions.

Not everyone in Argentina supports its use.

Anti-abortion groups filed a lawsuit against the approval of misoprostol in 2019, arguing that it put the lives of mothers and their unborn children at risk. Ignacio de la Riva of the Prodeci group said it had concerns over possible risks that the drug's "indiscriminate use outside of hospitals may entail for public health."

The Derqui X La Vida group said in a statement that the state should be "supporting or assisting vulnerable pregnant women" rather than providing abortion resources.

MATERNAL MORTALITY FALLS SHARPLY

But most doctors and officials say having the medication widely available has made abortions safer and reduced the likelihood of terminations though riskier channels, which were relatively common until the new abortion law took effect in 2021 and which still sometimes take place in rural, conservative regions.

Maternal mortality from abortions has fallen by 40% since the 2021 law was passed, according to health ministry data.

"I've seen young women die who arrived with septic abortions and with acute kidney failure who were impossible to save," said Marcela Paz, medical director at Laboratorio Dominguez that is now producing mifepristone locally.

"When you have this life experience it impacts you and that's why you look for a solution."

Valeria Isla, director of sexual and reproductive health at Argentina's health ministry, said the government was aiming to offer all medical abortions using the mifepristone-misoprostol combination by the end of 2023.

"Having mifepristone available is key for ensuring abortions that are safe and high quality," she said.

The two-pill regimen means that riskier surgical abortions are less likely to be needed, and it has fewer side effects than taking the single misoprostol treatment, said Sandra Vasquez, a gynecologist and executive director of Argentine health NGO FUSA.

For Benjamin Castro, a 26-year-old non-binary Argentine musician and teacher, mifepristone access came too late.

Castro, who was assigned female at birth and uses male pronouns, sought an abortion in 2020 during the pandemic, before mifepristone was available, receiving only misoprostol pills. The aborted fetus remained in the uterus and he had to repeat the treatment before it was successful.

"It's incredibly difficult to spend a month  20 days  with a dead fetus in your uterus and have to live with this and go on with your life," Castro said.

"I don't want anyone else to have to go through what I went through."

(Reporting by Anna-Catherine Brigida; Editing by Adam Jourdan and Rosalba O'Brien)
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Joe Biden answers a question about the Republican position on the U.S. debt limit as he walks away from the podium at the conclusion of a joint news conference with South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol in the Rose Garden of the

By Jason Lange and James Oliphant

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Joe Biden continues to hold an edge over potential Republican challengers Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis as the 2024 U.S. presidential election draws closer, according to the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll.

But there are potential hazards ahead for Biden should the situation at the U.S. southern border worsen, the poll shows.

Among registered voters, Biden led Trump, his predecessor as president, by six percentage points in a hypothetical match-up, 44% to 38%, holding an advantage that has opened up in recent few months. In a mid-March Reuters/Ipsos poll, Biden led Trump by five points after trailing him by three points in February.

The latest poll collected responses nationwide from 4,410 U.S. adults. For registered voters, it had a credibility interval, a measure of precision, of two percentage points.

In the 2024 Republican primary, Trump maintains a commanding lead over DeSantis, the Florida governor who is expected to announce his candidacy within the next few weeks.

Forty-nine percent of registered Republicans picked the former president, more than double DeSantis' 21% support. Former Vice President Mike Pence was backed by 5% of Republicans, with former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy and others garnering even less. About 10% percent said they did not know which candidate they would support.

Biden, a Democrat who announced his re-election bid last month, would hold a slight edge with independent voters over a Republican opponent, the poll showed, buoyed by his positions on abortion and gun violence.

Sixty-three percent of registered voters - including 73% of independents - said they were less likely to support a presidential candidate who backs severe restrictions on abortion.

Democrats' views on gun policy also scored better among respondents, with 67% of registered voters saying they were more likely to back a candidate who backed stricter gun laws.

But the issue of migrants crossing into the U.S. from Mexico holds potential peril for the president.

His administration last week lifted Title 42, a pandemic-era policy that blocked many migrants from applying for asylum, prompting fears of a surge of attempted border crossings. U.S. officials say tougher penalties for illegal crossings and new asylum procedures should deter some migration.

In the poll, 64% of Democrats and 93% of Republicans said they favor a presidential candidate who supports tougher measures to secure the border. Majorities of both parties also said they were concerned that immigration could surge because of the lifting of Title 42.

Arizona, which sits on the U.S. border with Mexico, was a key state in the 2020 presidential election. Biden won it over Trump by 0.3 percentage points. Polls show immigration to be a leading issue in the state.

Trump continues to face myriad legal woes. Last week, a New York jury found Trump had sexually abused and defamed writer E. Jean Carroll nearly 30 years ago and awarded her $5 million in damages. He was indicted in New York in April in a scheme concerning hush money payments to former porn star Stormy Daniels.

Respondents to the poll who styled themselves independents remain unhappy with the potential 2024 matchups.

In a hypothetical Biden-Trump contest, 15% of registered independents said they would vote for some other candidate and 9% said they would not vote.

(Reporting by Jason Lange and James Oliphant; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and David Gregorio)
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Joe Biden talks with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) as they depart following the annual Friends of Ireland luncheon at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., March 17, 2023. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A debt limit meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and top lawmakers including Republican House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy has been scheduled for 3 p.m. ET (1900 GMT) on Tuesday, a senior administration official said.

The meeting was previously scheduled for last Friday, but was postponed.

Aides from both sides have been discussing ways to limit federal spending, as talks on raising the government's $31.4 trillion debt ceiling to avoid a catastrophic default creep forward.

(Reporting by Steve Holland in Washington; Editing by Leslie Adler)
FILE PHOTO: The BlackRock logo is pictured outside their headquarters in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., May 25, 2021. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri

(Reuters) - BlackRock Inc, the world's largest asset manager, has asked its staff to return to office at least four days a week, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters.

"We will shift to at least four days per week in the office, with the flexibility to work from home one day per week," the memo said. "This new approach begins on the 11th of September."

The New York-based asset manager joins other major Wall Street firms in changing its work-from-home policy as financial institutions start to look beyond COVID-19-induced restrictions.

Last month, J.P.Morgan Chase & Co, the United States' largest bank, asked its managing directors to work from office five days a week.

J.P.Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon, along with Wall Street counterparts at Goldman Sachs Group Inc and Morgan Stanley, has been a strong advocate of in-office work.

(Reporting by Jaiveer Singh Shekhawat in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai)
By Farah Master

HONG KONG (Reuters) - China needs to focus on education, science and technology to develop a better-skilled population, the state-backed People's Daily said on Tuesday, adding that the country will strive for a "moderate fertility" level to support economic growth.

President Xi Jinping recently attended a meeting concerned with population development, it added with the newspaper describing population development as a major event linked to China's "great rejuvenation".

Concerned about China's first population drop in six decades last year and its rapid ageing, the government has urgently embarked on measures to lift the country's birth rate including financial incentives and boosting childcare facilities.

China will double the number of childcare centres by 2025, state-backed broadcaster CCTV said on Tuesday, with the headline "It is no longer difficult to take care of a baby".

The number of caregivers per 1,000 people will increase to 4.5 by 2025 from 2.5 in 2022, it added.

Many Chinese women are reluctant to have more than one or even any children due to the high costs of child-rearing and as the lack of childcare means becoming a parent often entails giving up a career. Gender discrimination and traditional thinking that places the burden of caring for children mostly on women are still widespread throughout the country.Authorities have in recent months increased rhetoric about sharing child-rearing duties but paternity leave is still limited in most provinces.

Opening up fertility services to unmarried women may help to boost the country's fertility rate, the government's political advisers proposed in March.

(Reporting by Farah Master and the Beijing newsroom; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)
KOH KONG, Cambodia, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Tuesday called for collective action from stakeholders ranging from relevant organizations, local authorities, private sector and local communities to protect wildlife and other natural resources.

"The Ministry of Environment calls on all people to stop selling, buying, and consuming wild meat as these activities are destroying Cambodia's wildlife and biodiversity of global significance," Ministry of Environment's Secretary of State Neth Pheaktra said during the launch of the Zero-Snaring Campaign phase-2 in southwest Koh Kong province.

"When the snaring stops, the killing of wildlife will end too," he said. "Ending the snaring crisis requires our concerted commitment and participation."

Seng Teak, World Wildlife Fund (WWF)-Cambodia country director, said to bend the curve of wildlife loss due to snaring and illegal hunting requires truly transformational change and unprecedented conservation interventions through a new and bold innovative approach.

Christel Griffioen, country director of the Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity (ACCB), said snares are indiscriminative and responsible for killing and severely injuring a wide range of species in our environment. 
FILE PHOTO: Flags of China and U.S. are displayed on a printed circuit board with semiconductor chips, in this illustration picture taken February 17, 2023. REUTERS/Florence Lo/Illustration

BEIJING (Reuters) - China will resolutely object if the U.S. restricts its firms from investing in Chinese semiconductor industry, said Shu Jueting, a spokesperson at China's commerce ministry on Thursday.

Shu said at a news briefing that such U.S. behaviors will affect companies' normal operation and damage the international economic and trade order.

(Reporting by Beijing Newsroom; Editing by Toby Chopra)
FILE PHOTO: Former British Prime Minister, Liz Truss delivers a speech at a symposium of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), in Tokyo, Japan, February 17, 2023. REUTERS/Androniki Christodoulou/File Photo

LONDON (Reuters) -Former British Prime Minister Liz Truss's visit to Taiwan was on Tuesday described as a "dangerous political show which will do nothing but harm to the United Kingdom" by a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in London.

"We urge the relevant British politician to correct her wrongdoing, stop making political shows with the Taiwan question, and stop conniving at and supporting 'Taiwan independence' secessionist forces," a statement by the spokesperson published on the embassy website said.

Truss is the most well-known British politician to visit Taiwan since former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the 1990s, and her trip comes at a time when relations between Britain and China are the worst in decades.

She represents a section of the governing Conservative Party who oppose the British government's approach to China, which involves seeking to engage in areas such as trade and climate change while trying to limit national security threats.

(Reporting by Farouq Suleiman and Andrew MacAskill, editing by William James)
FILE PHOTO: The Grupo Sura logo can be seen at its headquarters in Medellin, Colombia February 27, 2018. REUTERS/Fredy Builes

(Reuters) - Net profit at Grupo SURA, Colombia's largest investment company, almost doubled in the first quarter compared to the year-ago period, the company said in a filing on Monday, pointing in part to favorable exchange rate fluctuations.

Net profit for the quarter totaled 834.3 billion pesos.

Quarterly revenue rose almost 40% to reach 9.6 trillion pesos, driven by a 30% increase in premiums and a surge in commissions, according to the company's earnings report.

"The results of this period reflect the greater devaluation of the Colombian peso against the rest of the currencies in the region and the consolidation of the AFP Proteccion (pension fund)," the company said in its quarterly earnings report.

The report noted that the weaker Colombian peso against other currencies SURA operates in generated "higher growth in all the lines of the financial statements" for its Suramericana y SURA AM units.

Operating expenses, meanwhile, grew 40% from the year-earlier period, mostly hit by exchange rate changes.

Grupo SURA operates in more than 10 countries via holdings in financial services, foodstuffs, cement, energy and infrastructure, as well as investment firms.

(Reporting by Valentine Hilaire and Luis Jaime Acosta; Editing by David Alire Garcia)
FILE PHOTO: Ecuadorean President Guillermo Lasso speaks during a press conference with Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves (not pictured) in San Jose, Costa Rica. March 1, 2023. REUTERS/Mayela Lopez

By Alexandra Valencia

QUITO (Reuters) -Ecuador's National Assembly on Tuesday began an impeachment hearing against President Guillermo Lasso, who could be removed from his post, though the process increases the likelihood he will dissolve the legislature to avoid a final vote.

Ninety-two votes from the 137-member assembly are needed to remove Lasso, who opposition politicians say disregarded warnings of embezzlement related to a contract at state-owned oil transportation company Flopec.

Lasso denies the accusation, saying his administration made changes to the contract signed years before he took office. in order to benefit the state, on advice from Ecuador's comptroller.

"They've created a fictitious situation that doesn't solve the problems of the country or anyone else," Lasso said while making his defense, referring to his opponents.

"The same rancor they profess against me is the greatest proof of my innocence," he added.

The opposition, including members of the party of ex-President Rafael Correa - himself accused of corruption - has been invigorated following the re-election of Virgilio Saquicela as president of the National Assembly on Sunday.

To avoid impeachment, Lasso could call for the so-called "two-way death," a constitutional quirk that allows Ecuadorean presidents to call early elections for both their office and the National Assembly under certain circumstances, such as when the legislature blocks the functioning of government.

"That option has always been under consideration and it's available, and the decision is up to the president," Juan Pablo Ortiz, legal secretary of the presidency, told a local digital media outlet on Monday.

If Lasso is removed from office he will be replaced by Vice President Alfredo Borrero.

If Lasso instead opts to dissolve the assembly, he will govern with laws issued via decree until new elections are called, according to Ecuador's constitution.

Hundreds of Lasso's supporters took to the streets surrounding the assembly.

CONAIE, Ecuador's largest indigenous organization, backed the measure to remove Lasso in a statement, saying that "with Guillermo Lasso Ecuador doesn't have a future, only fear and uncertainty."

Ecuador's electoral court must decide on a date for new elections within seven days of the assembly's dissolution.

The assembly voted to continue with the impeachment process last Tuesday with 88 votes in favor out of 116 legislators present.

Some lawmakers have said any dissolution would be unconstitutional and would refuse to comply. The government and its allies have questioned the legality of the impeachment process.

(Reporting by Alexandra ValenciaWriting by Oliver Griffin; Editing by Aurora Ellis and David Gregorio)
Rupert Stadler, former CEO of German car manufacturer Audi, sits in a regional court room in Munich, Germany, May 16, 2023. Stadler plans to plead guilty in connection with the 'Dieselgate' emissions cheating scandal. Matthias Schrader/Pool via REUTERS

MUNICH (Reuters) - Former Audi boss Rupert Stadler accepted his role in committing fraud by negligence in the diesel emissions scandal, according to a statement made in German court on Tuesday, having agreed early in May to a deal which would get him a suspended sentence.

The former CEO has been on trial for fraud since 2020 over his role in the scandal after parent group Volkswagen and Audi admitted in 2015 to having used illegal software to cheat on emissions tests. Stadler had previously rejected the allegations.

Stadler's defence lawyer Ulrike Thole-Grolle read a statement to the court, saying the defendant did not know that vehicles had been manipulated and buyers had been harmed, but he recognised it was a possibility and accepted that.

"I understand that for my part, there was a need for more care," said the lawyer on Stadler's behalf.

Asked by the judge whether the words were his own, Stadler replied: "Yes".

The statement had been widely expected after the judge said earlier this month that Stadler would face a suspended prison sentence of 1.5-2 years and a fine of 1.1 million euros if he were to confess to a charge of fraud by negligence. The verdict is expected in June.

The trial is one of the most prominent court proceedings in the aftermath of the diesel scandal at Volkswagen and its subsidiary Audi. Revelations that millions of emissions tests had been manipulated emerged in September 2015.

(Reporting by Joern Poltz; Writing by Madeline Chambers; Editing by Friederike Heine and Bernadette Baum)
By Andreas Rinke and Michel Rose

REYKJAVIK (Reuters) -Ways to hold Russia to account for its war against Ukraine, including keeping a tally of losses and damage inflicted by Moscow's forces, were the focus of talks as European leaders met in Iceland on Tuesday for a two-day summit.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak are among the leaders who are underscoring their support for Ukraine in a

rare meeting of the Council of Europe (CoE) rights body.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is expected to address the gathering remotely following his tour of European capitals to secure more weapons and aid prior to an anticipated counteroffensive to push back Russian forces.

"A big topic will be the accountability of Russia for the crime of aggression it is constantly committing by waging war in Ukraine," President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen told reporters.

The leaders are expected to approve a new Register of Damages, a mechanism to record and document evidence and claims of damage, loss or injury incurred as a result of the Russian invasion.

Russia has denied deliberately targeting civilians in bombing Ukrainian cities, although dozens of town and cities have been laid to waste by its air strikes and artillery since the invasion began in February last year.

Macron's office said the council is looking at how the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) could help meet the needs of struggling Ukrainians.

Ahead of the leaders' arrival, several Icelandic public institutions and private sector websites, including the parliament, government and supreme court, were briefly hit by cyber attacks.

The pro-Russian hacker group NoName057 claimed responsibility for the attacks in a post on Telegram, mentioning specifically the Council of Europe meeting and Zelenskiy's scheduled speech.

An Icelandic police spokesperson said they did not affect the council meeting.

RESPECTING THE RULES

It is only the fourth summit of the 46-member Council of Europe since it was founded after World War Two.

Its democratic values are upheld by the Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights, where citizens can take governments to court in case of human rights violations.

Russia's membership was suspended the day after it invaded Ukraine. Moscow then left the body hours before a vote to expel it.

Turkey, which is in the middle of a presidential election fought by President Tayyip Erdogan, faces removal from the CoE after it failed to implement a 2019 court ruling to release jailed businessman and philanthropist Osman Kavala.

The Icelandic organisers said that as well as showing support for Ukraine through "concrete measures", the meeting will also boost initiatives to address emerging threats to democracy, from climate change to artificial intelligence.

Meanwhile, Sunak will use the meeting to urge other leaders to stop what he called "the humanitarian disaster caused by illegal immigration," his office said.

The British prime minister will make the case for reforming the European Court of Human Rights' power to block British migrant deportation flights to Rwanda - plans that have been criticised by opponents, charities and religious leaders as inhumane.

(Additional reporting by Andrew MacAskill, Johannes Birkebaek, Tassilo HummelWriting by Michel Rose and Matthias Williams; Editing by Christina Fincher and Angus MacSwan)
FILE PHOTO: An Amgen sign is seen at the company's office in South San Francisco, California October 21, 2013. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith/

(Reuters) - Commissioners at the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have not yet met to discuss Amgen's acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics, CNBC reported on Tuesday.

The news comes a day after reports that the FTC is expected to file a lawsuit as early as Tuesday to block the $27.8 billion deal.

(Reporting by Leroy Leo in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur)
FILE PHOTO: The General Electric logo is seen in a Sears store in Schaumburg, Illinois, September 8, 2014. REUTERS/Jim Young

By Blake Brittain

(Reuters) - A group of companies including General Electric Co, Ikea Supply AG and Home Depot Inc on Tuesday defeated a request by the University of California for a U.S. appeals court to block imports of light bulbs that allegedly infringe its patents.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed the U.S. International Trade Commission's decision that the companies' light bulbs did not include a key element of the university's patented technology.

An attorney for GE and co-defendant Savant Technologies LLC said the companies were pleased with the decision. Home Depot declined to comment. Representatives for Ikea and the university did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The university lodged the ITC complaint in 2020. It also filed related patent infringement lawsuits in federal court in 2019 against the companies and others including Amazon, Walmart and Target.

Those cases have been paused for the ITC proceedings.

The school accused the companies of violating its patent rights in "filament" LED light bulbs, which use less energy and last longer than traditional light bulbs.

The commission entered a final decision against the university last year. The Federal Circuit agreed Tuesday that the companies' light bulbs did not infringe because they lacked a "molding" around the LED described in the university's patents.

(Reporting by Blake Brittain in Washington)
TBILISI (Reuters) -Georgian Airways will resume direct flights to Russia from Saturday, the country's civil aviation authority said, drawing criticism from Ukraine and the European Union.

The move comes after Moscow lifted a flight ban last week in a significant warming of ties with Georgia, with which it has had no formal diplomatic relations since Russia defeated its southern neighbour in a short war in 2008.

"The world is isolating Russia to force it to stop the war, but Georgia is welcoming Russian airlines and sending its own to Moscow. All while 20% of Georgian territory remains occupied by Russia with impunity," Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko said on Twitter.

"The Kremlin will surely be delighted with such a result."

Georgia has in recent months tried to balance rapprochement with its giant neighbour and its aspirations to join the EU.

The country was rocked by protests in March after lawmakers moved to adopt a Russian-style bill requiring non-government organisations receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as "agents of foreign influence".

Brussels said the plan was incompatible with EU membership and the bill was later withdrawn.

The EU said it regretted that Georgia was resuming flights to Russia at a time when the bloc has closed its airspace to Russian planes in response to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

"This latest decision by Georgia's authorities raises concerns in terms of Georgia's EU path," EU foreign affairs spokesman Peter Stano said.

(Writing by Caleb Davis and Mark Trevelyan, additional reporting by Timothy Heritage, editing by Christina Fincher)
FILE PHOTO: Souvenir tokens representing cryptocurrency Bitcoin and the Ethereum network, with its native token ether, plunge into water in this illustration taken May 17, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File Photo

LONDON (Reuters) - Global regulators will shortly propose the first set of international rules for cryptoassets, including how existing norms could apply to the sector, a top regulator said on Tuesday.

Cryptoasset companies are calling for a globally-coordinated approach to give certainty to the sector as they face a "fire hose" of differing approaches.

The European Union on Tuesday approved a first set of comprehensive rules, a step firms said would attract them to set up shop in the bloc.

"Once finalised the recommendations will deliver a first globally coordinated set of rules for crypto-assets," Jean-Paul Servais, chair of global securities regulatory body IOSCO told an event held by the Managed Funds Association in Paris.

IOSCO members, such as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Japan's Financial Services Authority and regulators in Britain, Germany and France commit to applying the body's recommendations.

The collapse of large crypto players, such as FTX, and recent market events have supercharged "my determination to deliver on this agenda", Servais said.

"As I have repeatedly said, the IOSCO recommendations will clarify the extent to which existing principles and guidance could apply to cross border virtual assets and services providers," Servais said.

Servais, who also chairs Belgium's securities watchdog, also said that private finance will be a new priority for IOSCO's work this year.

"The renewed regulatory interest in this area comes from the unprecedented growth of private finance, its increasing role in funding the real economy, and its increasing interconnectivity with regulated public markets," Servais said.

(Reporting by Huw Jones; Editing by Christina Fincher)
People rally in front of the headquarters of Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) to protest against the Japanese government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the sea in Tokyo, Japan, May 16, 2023.

Hundreds of Japanese people on Tuesday gathered at multiple locations in Tokyo to protest against the government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the sea, demanding immediate suspension of such plan. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

TOKYO, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of Japanese people on Tuesday gathered at multiple locations in Tokyo to protest against the government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the sea, demanding immediate suspension of such plan.

On Tuesday morning, residents from prefectural regions, including Tokyo, Fukushima and Nagasaki, gathered in front of the headquarters of Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), shouting slogans such as "Don't pollute the ocean," "Protect fisheries" and "Guard the future" in unison.

Seen on-site were various banners and flags with slogans that read "Don't discharge polluted water into the sea," "Don't pollute the ocean for all," and "The sea is not the toilet for nuclear power plants."

The Japanese government, which regarded discharging nuclear-polluted water into the sea as the initial conclusion, has been making all kinds of excuses stressing that other discharge methods would not work or could not preserve nuclear-polluted water on land, said Kazuyoshi Sato, co-director of KOREUMI, a Japanese citizens' conference to condemn further pollution of the ocean and one of the rallies' organizers.

Sato, also a resident of Fukushima prefecture, said in his speech that the Japanese government is now spending tens of billions of yen to publicize the discharge plan through various media platforms, but the public, not convinced of such wrong propaganda, will not agree to the decision.

"Through today's actions, we are raising our voice against the dumping plan to the whole world," he said.

Chiyo Oda, another co-director of the group, read and submitted a petition to a TEPCO representative, demanding the company to abide by the agreement with local associations such as Fukushima Prefectural Federation of Fisheries Co-operative Associations and not to discharge nuclear-polluted water into the ocean without the understanding and consent of relevant parties.

The petition required disclosure of information such as the concentration and total amount of all radionuclides and reassessment of the radiation's impact on the marine environment and creatures.

It also demanded fundamental countermeasures from TEPCO, such as exploring the construction of large water storage tanks for long-term nuclear-polluted water preservation and promoting the practical application of tritium separation technology.

The rally held in front of the Second Members' Office Building of the House of Representatives later during the day was joined by five Japanese lawmakers from opposition parties, including the Constitutional Democratic Party and the Social Democratic Party.

Mizuho Fukushima, head of the Social Democratic Party, told the crowd that radioactive materials, once discharged, cannot be retrieved, so they must be intensively managed.

"Such materials would be beyond management if they are discharged into the ocean. We can't allow such a thing to happen," she said. 

South Koreans rally in front of the headquarters of Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) to protest against the Japanese government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the sea in Tokyo, Japan, May 16, 2023.

Hundreds of Japanese people on Tuesday gathered at multiple locations in Tokyo to protest against the government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the sea, demanding immediate suspension of such plan. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

People rally in front of the Second Members' Office Building of the House of Representatives to protest against the Japanese government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the sea in Tokyo, Japan, May 16, 2023.

Hundreds of Japanese people on Tuesday gathered at multiple locations in Tokyo to protest against the government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the sea, demanding immediate suspension of such plan. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

Chiyo Oda (C), co-director of KOREUMI, a Japanese citizens' conference to condemn further pollution of the ocean, reads a petition to a representative of Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) in front of TEPCO headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, May 16, 2023.

Hundreds of Japanese people on Tuesday gathered at multiple locations in Tokyo to protest against the government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the sea, demanding immediate suspension of such plan. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

Chiyo Oda (C), co-director of KOREUMI, a Japanese citizens' conference to condemn further pollution of the ocean, submits a petition to a representative of Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) in front of TEPCO headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, May 16, 2023.

Hundreds of Japanese people on Tuesday gathered at multiple locations in Tokyo to protest against the government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the sea, demanding immediate suspension of such plan. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

This photo taken on May 16, 2023 shows the gate of the headquarters of Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) in Tokyo, Japan.

Hundreds of Japanese people on Tuesday gathered at multiple locations in Tokyo to protest against the government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the sea, demanding immediate suspension of such plan. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

People rally in front of the headquarters of Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) to protest against the Japanese government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the sea in Tokyo, Japan, May 16, 2023.

Hundreds of Japanese people on Tuesday gathered at multiple locations in Tokyo to protest against the government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the sea, demanding immediate suspension of such plan. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

People rally in front of the Second Members' Office Building of the House of Representatives to protest against the Japanese government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the sea in Tokyo, Japan, May 16, 2023.

Hundreds of Japanese people on Tuesday gathered at multiple locations in Tokyo to protest against the government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the sea, demanding immediate suspension of such plan. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

Kazuyoshi Sato (C), co-director of KOREUMI, a Japanese citizens' conference to condemn further pollution of the ocean, speaks during a rally in front of the Second Members' Office Building of the House of Representatives in Tokyo, Japan, May 16, 2023.

Hundreds of Japanese people on Tuesday gathered at multiple locations in Tokyo to protest against the government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the sea, demanding immediate suspension of such plan. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

People rally to protest against the Japanese government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the sea in Tokyo, Japan, May 16, 2023.

Hundreds of Japanese people on Tuesday gathered at multiple locations in Tokyo to protest against the government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the sea, demanding immediate suspension of such plan. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

People rally to protest against the Japanese government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the sea in Tokyo, Japan, May 16, 2023.

Hundreds of Japanese people on Tuesday gathered at multiple locations in Tokyo to protest against the government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the sea, demanding immediate suspension of such plan. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

People rally to protest against the Japanese government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the sea in Tokyo, Japan, May 16, 2023.

Hundreds of Japanese people on Tuesday gathered at multiple locations in Tokyo to protest against the government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the sea, demanding immediate suspension of such plan. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

People rally to protest against the Japanese government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the sea in Tokyo, Japan, May 16, 2023.

Hundreds of Japanese people on Tuesday gathered at multiple locations in Tokyo to protest against the government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the sea, demanding immediate suspension of such plan. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

A woman protests against the Japanese government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the sea at Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall in Tokyo, Japan, May 16, 2023. Hundreds of Japanese people on Tuesday gathered at multiple locations in Tokyo to protest against the government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the sea, demanding immediate suspension of such plan. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

People rally at Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall to protest against the Japanese government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the sea in Tokyo, Japan, May 16, 2023. Hundreds of Japanese people on Tuesday gathered at multiple locations in Tokyo to protest against the government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the sea, demanding immediate suspension of such plan. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

People rally at Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall to protest against the Japanese government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the sea in Tokyo, Japan, May 16, 2023. Hundreds of Japanese people on Tuesday gathered at multiple locations in Tokyo to protest against the government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the sea, demanding immediate suspension of such plan. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)
FILE PHOTO: Artificial Intelligence words are seen in this illustration taken March 31, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/

By Krystal Hu

(Reuters) - Hippocratic AI, a startup building artificial intelligence models for the healthcare industry, has raised $50 million in a larger-than-usual seed funding round, signaling strong investor interest in betting on AI models for specific industries.

Silicon Valley venture firms General Catalyst and Andreessen Horowitz (A16z) co-led the round, which funded the cost of hiring and training large language models since entrepreneur Munjal Shah founded Hippocratic earlier this year.

Large language models are AI systems that mine vast amounts of data to summarize information and generate content. They gained mainstream attention since ChatGPT, a chatbot built on a model developed by OpenAI, went viral.

Also known as foundation models, large language models can perform tasks from writing essays to generating codes. Hippocratic AI hopes its model stands out in healthcare-specific use cases by training it with deep medical knowledge and having healthcare workers provide human feedback.

"Hospitals are actively looking for solutions that can help them, and they don't have enough nurses. Our focus is to build the safest language model for healthcare," said Shah, who previously founded insurance startup Health IQ.

Shah said Hippocratic will focus on non-diagnostic tasks, and its model will be able to meet the criteria to obtain certification in multiple areas of healthcare, as well as use reassuring bedside manners when communicating with patients.

General Catalyst, which incubated Hippocratic, says its existing partnerships with healthcare providers will help the startup train and deploy its model.

"It made sense to help create a platform that is focused on the industry, and that is built in collaboration with the industry, so it's a trusted platform," said Hemant Taneja, CEO at General Catalyst.

A16z said it is one of the largest seed checks it has written in the healthcare industry.

"We're only comfortable making the bet given the fact that they're being so rigorous about the safety, compliance and privacy aspects of the system that they're building, which takes more money," said Julie Yoo, a partner at the fund.

(This story has been corrected to rectify startup's name from Hippocratic Health to Hippocratic AI)

(Reporting by Krystal Hu in New York)
BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungary did not approve the disbursement of the next tranche of military support for Ukraine provided under the EU's European Peace Facility (EPF), a government spokesman's office said on Tuesday.

The EPF, created in 2021, is an off-budget instrument aimed at enhancing the EU's ability to prevent conflicts, build peace and strengthen international security.

"Hungary does not agree with the fact that the European Union, along with other existing tools, uses the European Peace Facility solely with regard to Ukraine as this does not allow sufficient funds to be channelled to promote the EU's interests in other areas," the government spokesman's office said in an email response to Reuters about an Italian media report on the matter.

It said other areas where the funds could be used included the Balkans or North Africa.

"For the Hungarian government it is crucial that these issues should be clarified, and that's why it did not approve the disbursement of the next tranche from the EPF," the spokesman's office added.

The EU has provided a total of about 3.6 billion euros for military support for Ukraine so far under the EPF.

Hungary, which is member of the EU and also NATO, has refused to provide any military equipment to its neighbour Ukraine, which was invaded by Russian forces in February 2022.

Hungary has also repeatedly criticised EU sanctions against Russia, which all 27 EU countries must also unanimously approve, but eventually supported all the agreed measures so far.

Hungary has been in a dispute with Brussels, as the bloc has suspended any payments of EU recovery funds until Budapest's nationalist government implements reforms to improve judicial independence and tackle corruption.

In power since 2010, Prime Minister Viktor Orban has clashed with the EU and its executive arm, the European Commission, over Budapest restricting the rights of migrants, as well as tightening state controls over non-governmental organizations, academics, media and courts.

(Reporting by Krisztina Than; Editing by Chris Reese and Grant McCool)
By Tom Bateman and Akiko Okamoto

HIROSHIMA, Japan (Reuters) - Standing at the front of a dimly lit room in the basement of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, Teruko Yahata's voice broke as she recalled the morning her world changed, on August 6, 1945.

"All of a sudden, the entire sky flashed and was illuminated in bluish-white, as if the heavens had become one huge, fluorescent light," the 85-year-old, speaking in English, told an audience of British tourists on a recent Tuesday.

"I immediately fell to the ground and lost consciousness."

Yahata is a 'hibakusha', a survivor of the atomic bomb dropped on the city of Hiroshima by the United States. The bomb killed tens of thousands instantly; scores more suffered long-lasting injuries.

While talks by hibakusha have become a regular feature of the city's memorial sites, Yahata stands out for her presentations in English.

Yahata, who was eight when she witnessed the nuclear destruction of her hometown, started travelling the world in 2013 to tell her story through an interpreter, but felt the experience lacking.

"I had this vague dream of learning English so that I would be able to communicate in my own words, in my own voice, the dreadful power of that horrific atomic bomb and bring to life my own experience of that tragic, miserable scene, and sorrow," she said, speaking in Japanese.

Resolving to learn English, she began taking classes at the YMCA as she headed into her 80s, and by 2021, was giving her presentations exclusively in English.

Yahata's presentation is from a script translated by her English teacher, which she rehearses by reading along to a recording made by a native speaker. The script is covered in notes and prompts on correct pronunciation and intonation.

Yahata's English ability is mostly limited to reading the script, but the impact of her spoken words on the audience is undeniable, moving some to tears.

"It feels very real still, when she speaks; she brings it like it's happening today. She makes you feel that way," said Briton Denise Hickson, visiting from Bristol.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is hosting the G7 summit in Hiroshima, his home constituency, starting on Friday. He is expected to give his guests a tour of the peace memorial and have them meet with atomic bomb survivors, as part of his efforts to convey a vision for a world free of nuclear weapons.

Although that vision seems more distant now with Russia threatening to resume nuclear tests and neighbouring North Korea developing its own nuclear arsenal, Yahata's expectations for G7 leaders are lofty.

"I want the G7 leaders to bring with them the vision of abolishing nuclear weapons," she said. "I don't want them to just talk about ideals or release a written resolution. I want them to take the first concrete step."

(Reporting by Tom Bateman and Akiko Okamoto; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim and Lincoln Feast.)
By A. Ananthalakshmi and Rozanna Latiff

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Stranded without work for months, hundreds of South Asian migrants in Malaysia say they are losing hope after failing to find jobs promised to them by recruitment agents in exchange for thousands of dollars in fees.

At a students' dormitory about 40 km (25 miles) from the capital, Kuala Lumpur, about 500 migrants  mostly young men from Nepal and Bangladesh who had arrived in Malaysia since December  spend their days in crowded rooms or at an open-air cafeteria.

They say they arrived in the country on a three-month work visa that was meant to be upgraded to a work permit, but never was. Because their legal status is unclear, they are afraid to leave the premises, the workers told Reuters at the facility where they are staying.

Many say recruitment agents took their passports and continue to promise them jobs.

"We are all depressed and helpless. We already paid a huge amount for the job. How can I pay that back if I do not have a job?" a Nepali migrant at the dormitory told Reuters.

The 23-year-old, who declined to be identified for fear of backlash from recruitment agents, signed a two-year contract with a Malaysian cleaning company but has not started work. He said he, like others there, had borrowed 300,000 Nepali rupees ($2,300) to pay an agent for the job. He was promised a monthly salary of 2,062 ringgit ($464.94) per month.

The workers at the facility all tell similar stories: upon arriving in Malaysia, recruiting agencies told them no jobs were immediately available and took them to accommodation facilities to wait. They were then told they would eventually be employed; in the meantime, they must pay for their own food without a salary.

It is unclear how the workers ended up without jobs despite arriving in Malaysia with employment contracts and promises that their temporary work visas would become permanent on arrival. Malaysia last month launched an investigation.

Puncak Jupiter Management Services and Star Domain Resources, listed as employers on some of the workers' travel documents, did not respond to requests for comment. Amial International, one of the recruitment agencies the workers used, did not respond to requests for comment.

Malaysia's Human Resources Ministry and the labour department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The ministry has promised to find jobs for a separate group of 226 stranded workers from Bangladesh and Nepal.

Migrants form the backbone of Malaysia's export-reliant economy, making up about 15% of the country's 15 million workforce. Malaysian companies have faced U.S. bans in recent years over use of forced labour.

Rights activists say migrant workers have been at greater risk after Malaysia eased recruitment processes this year in a bid to fill a 1.2 million job shortage across its plantation, manufacturing and construction industries.

"It's a bigger problem now," said Adrian Pereira, the executive director of migrant rights' group North South Initiative, adding that his team had received reports of about 1,200 other workers across Malaysia caught in a similar plight.

The Bangladesh embassy in Kuala Lumpur last month called for more transparency by Malaysia to prevent its citizens from being cheated of jobs.

A Bangladeshi official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation, told Reuters a "few hundred" of its citizens were stuck in Malaysia without jobs.

The Nepal embassy has also said it received such complaints.

At the facility visited by Reuters, the migrants lived four to six in small rooms with bunk beds and one shared bathroom.

Two workers - Nepali citizens aged 43 and 46  died by suicide between February and April at the facility, the Nepalese embassy in Kuala Lumpur said, citing reports from the Malaysian police and hospitals. Reuters could not determine why the two men killed themselves.

Without income, the migrants find it difficult to buy food and pay back loans back home.

"We still don't know whether we will get a job or not. The agent keeps asking us to wait... it's been three months," one Bangladeshi worker said.

($1 = 4.4350 ringgit)

(Reporting by Rozanna Latiff and A. Ananthalakshmi; additional reporting by Hasnoor Hussain; Editing by Gerry Doyle)
FILE PHOTO: Members of the European Parliament vote on lifting immunity for Italian lawmaker Andrea Cozzolino and Belgian lawmaker Marc Tarabella, both of the centre-left Socialists and Democrats, who Belgian investigators want to question over a cash-for

MILAN (Reuters) - An Italian court on Tuesday agreed to extradite to Belgium an EU lawmaker under investigation in a cash-for-influence corruption scandal at the European Parliament, one of his lawyers said.

The scandal, the biggest to rock European Union politics in decades, hinges on suspicions that Qatar and Morocco bribed politicians, parliamentary assistants and NGOs to influence decision-making in the EU assembly.

Andrea Cozzolino, European parliamentarian for Italy's centre-left Democratic Party, has been under house arrest in the southern city of Naples since Feb. 10, after he was detained on the basis of a European warrant issued by Belgium.

The 60-year-old lawmaker has denied any wrongdoing.

A court in Naples ruled on Tuesday that Cozzolino could be sent to Belgium. The MEP's lawyer Federico Conte told Reuters he planned to appeal the decision in the Supreme Court.

According to the Belgian arrest order, Cozzolino is accused, in association with former MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri, former Vice-President of the EU Parliament Eva Kaili and others, of receiving illicit payments from Morocco.

Kaili has denied any wrongdoing. Morocco has complained of "judicial harassment" since news of the graft probe broke. Qatar has said it had no involvement in the corruption scandal.

Panzeri, who was arrested in Brussels in December, has agreed to cooperate with investigations in exchange for a reduced sentence.

(Reporting by Emilio Parodi, editing by Crispian Balmer)
FILE PHOTO: Abortion rights supporters gather to witness North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper vetoing the SB20 legislation limiting most abortions to the first trimester of pregnancy, a sharp drop from the states current limit of 20 weeks gestation, in R

By Julia Harte

(Reuters) - South Carolina's state House on Tuesday began a days-long debate over a bill to ban most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, while state lawmakers in North Carolina and Nebraska took up separate legislation to restrict abortion in those states.

In North Carolina, the Republican-controlled state legislature voted to override Democratic Governor Roy Cooper's veto of a bill banning most abortions after 12 weeks, allowing it to become law.

In Nebraska, where lawmakers in April narrowly voted down a ban on most abortions after six weeks, the unicameral legislature was set to debate a bill restricting gender-affirming care for minors that was amended to also prohibit abortions for pregnancies beyond 12 weeks.

The legislative battles underway on Tuesday were the latest in a nationwide wave of Republican-dominated state legislatures that have advanced abortion bans over strong opposition from Democrats since the Supreme Court revoked federal abortion rights in June 2022.

Near-total abortion bans have taken effect in 14 states since the Supreme Court ruling, according to the Guttmacher Institute, an abortion rights advocacy research group.

South Carolina's House took up the abortion restriction legislation on Tuesday in a special session called by the state's Republican governor, just weeks after five women in the state Senate banded together to block a proposed near-total abortion ban.

The South Carolina state Senate did pass a six-week abortion ban in February, which failed to become law because it was not passed by the House, where Republicans wanted to push through the near-total ban. The bill under consideration by the state House on Tuesday was a heavily amended version of that measure.

Some South Carolina state Senators who supported the original six-week ban have expressed their opposition to the House version, however, leaving its fate uncertain if the House votes to send it back to the Senate.

Republican Representative John McCravy defended the House bill as an improvement over the Senate version, noting that it toughened penalties for providers who violated the law and required minors to obtain a court order before getting an abortion in the first trimester.

Democratic lawmakers last week filed 1,000 amendments to the House version, ensuring that debate would last for dozens of hours, since lawmakers may speak for six minutes for and against each amendment.

One amendment from Democratic Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter would have replaced the legislation with a statewide referendum over whether abortion should be protected in the state constitution. Republicans quickly rejected the proposal on Tuesday.

"What are y'all afraid of?" asked Cobb-Hunter. "Why won't you allow the voters to tell you what you claim ... they believe?"

(Reporting by Julia Harte; Editing by Deepa Babington)
BEIRUT (Reuters) -French prosecutors have issued an arrest warrant for Lebanon's central bank governor Riad Salameh, a person familiar with the matter said on Tuesday, a move the governor said he would challenge through an appeal, calling it a violation of law.

The warrant was issued after Salameh failed to attend a hearing in Paris where prosecutors had been expected to press preliminary fraud and money laundering charges against him.

Salameh said in a statement he would appeal against the warrant. He accused the French investigative judge Aude Buresi of taking a decision based on "presumptuous ideas", saying "this is justice based on double standards".

The governor, alongside his brother and an assistant, are being investigated in Lebanon and at least five European countries for allegedly taking hundreds of millions of dollars from the central bank to the detriment of the state.

French prosecutors had set a hearing for him at 9:30 a.m. on May 16, according to court documents seen by Reuters. French prosecutors intend to press the preliminary charges and formally name him a suspect during that hearing.

Two sources with knowledge of his travel plans told Reuters on Tuesday that Salameh had remained in Beirut. Neither Salameh nor his lawyer in Lebanon responded to requests for comment from Reuters.

A French lawyer for Salameh said French prosecutors didnt follow the rules upon summoning the central bank governor to France.

"By having notified the summons less than 10 days before the scheduled date of the interrogation, the rules were not respected," the lawyer, Pierre-Olivier Sur, told Reuters. "The summons is therefore null and void."

The office of French prosecutors didn't respond to a message seeking comment.

A senior judicial source said Lebanon's judiciary was unable to deliver the summons to attend the Paris hearing as it was addressed to Salameh at the Central Bank and he was unavailable to receive it.

Another judicial source said the defence attorneys for the Salamehs and for the central bank chief's assistant Marianne Hoayek had submitted an objection to Lebanon's judiciary over the French case, saying France should not be allowed to try a case already being investigated in Lebanon.

The three have been charged in two separate cases in Lebanon. Riad and Raja Salameh have denied diverting public funds and neither Hoayek nor her lawyer have spoken publicly about the charges.

Lebanon's top public prosecutor said in January that Beirut could delay cooperating with foreign investigations pending progress on the local probes.

(Reporting by Laila Bassam in Beirut, David Gauthier-Villars in Istanbul, Jana Choukeir and Nayera Abdallah in Dubai; Writing by Maya Gebeily; Editing by William Maclean)
By Alexander Tanas

CHISINAU (Reuters) - The assembly in a pro-Russian region of Moldova on Tuesday endorsed the election of a local leader intent on improving ties with Moscow, a move that set up a clash with the country's pro-European government.

Moldova, a small, poor state bordering Ukraine and Romania, has denounced Russia's invasion and accused Moscow of trying to destabilise the administration of President Maia Sandu.

The southern Moldovan region of Gagauzia elected a new "bashkan", or leader, last weekend in a race featuring only pro-Russian candidates. The assembly endorsed that result.

But Moldova's prime minister and other officials have suggested central authorities will try to annul the results on grounds of widespread irregularities.

Prime Minister Dorin Recean said the results of the election were uncertain.

"The police and prosecutors have made public irregularities noted in the course of the vote," he told Moldova's Pro TV.

Yevgeniya Gutul, the new bashkan, wants "further friendship" with Moscow. She represents the Sor Party, which for months has staged protests demanding Sandu's resignation.

Over 30 years of independence, Moldova has had to live with a pro-Russian separatist statelet of Transdniestria in the east and recurrent discontent in Gagauzia, dominated by ethnic Turks who adhere to the Russian Orthodox church and have long backed pro-Russian parties.

As the Gagauzia assembly unanimously approved the election outcome, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the building shouting "Down with Dictatorship, down with Maia Sandu!"

Moldova's Constitutional Court is expected to issue a ruling on Wednesday on barring the Sor party.

Its leader, business magnate Ilan Sor, had his sentence increased in absentia last month to 15 years in prison in connection with the theft of $1 billion from Moldovan banks in 2014-2015, the equivalent of one eighth of national annual output. Sor lives in Israel.

(Writing by Ron Popeski, editing by David Ljunggren and Bill Berkrot)
WINDHOEK (Reuters) - Namibia's Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that the government must recognise the unions of same-sex couples who married in countries where it was legal for them to do so, even though same-sex marriage remains illegal in Namibia itself.

The ruling, which drew mixed reactions in the socially conservative country, was in sharp contrast to developments in Uganda, where one of the world's most draconian anti-LGBT laws is expected to come into force imminently.

The Namibian case stemmed from the residency applications of a German woman who married a Namibian woman in Germany, and of a South African man who married a Namibian man in South Africa, the only country on the continent that allows same-sex marriage.

The government refused to give the non-Namibian spouses residency rights in the country, on the grounds that their marriages could not be recognised in Namibia, which prompted them to take legal action.

"The approach of the (interior) ministry to exclude spouses...in a validly concluded same-sex marriage ... infringes both their interrelated rights to dignity and equality," the Supreme Court said.

A spokesperson for the interior ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Gay rights activist Linda Baumann welcomed the ruling as a step in the right direction.

"Today's verdict and outcome clearly indicates that Namibia is moving towards recognising diversity in this country irrespective of people's political or social positioning," she said.

But an opposition political party, Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters, said the Supreme Court was forcing foreign cultural views on Namibians - echoing arguments raised by other African opponents of LGBT rights who call them "un-African".

Sexual contact between men is a criminal offence in Namibia, though the law is seldom enforced.

Like Namibia, many other African nations still ban same-sex relationships, with couples risking jail and public scorn.

(Reporting by Nyasha Nyaungwa; Writing by Anait Miridzhanian; Editing by Estelle Shirbon and Angus MacSwan)
Law enforcement officers from the Farmington Police Department, San Juan County Sheriff's Office and New Mexico State Police deploy at the scene of a fatal shooting in Farmington, New Mexico, U.S. May 15, 2023. Mike Easterling/USA Today Network via REUTE

By Andrew Hay

TAOS, New Mexico (Reuters) -The gunman who shot dead three elderly women as he prowled a New Mexico neighborhood firing at cars this week had legally purchased an assault-style rifle, one of three weapons he used in the rampage, a month after he turned 18, police said on Tuesday.

The suspect, whose shooting spree on Monday morning through a residential area of Farmington, New Mexico, ended when police shot him dead, was publicly identified on Tuesday as 18-year-old Beau Wilson, a student at Farmington High School.

Police said Wilson stalked a quarter-mile stretch of roadway on foot firing indiscriminately at cars, with some homes also being hit, before police confronted him outside a church, exchanging gunfire with Wilson to halt his advance.

Video footage showed Wilson, dressed in black, pacing around the church driveway holding what appeared to be a handgun with an extended, high-capacity magazine before he was killed.

The minutes-long burst of violence stirred hours of fear as police searched the area to ensure order was restored in the town, a major retail center and fossil energy hub about 180 miles (290 km) northwest of Albuquerque in an area known as the Four Corners because it is where four southwest states intersect.

The gunman's actions "appear to be purely random and had no specific targets or motives that we can identify at this time," Farmington Deputy Police Chief Kyle Dowdy told a media briefing on Tuesday.

The women slain were identified as Gwendolyn Schofield, 97, and Melody Ivie, 73, a mother and daughter who were struck by gunfire together in their car, and Shirley Voita, 79, who was in a separate car.

Four other people in cars struck by gunfire or shrapnel were wounded, police said, along with two police officers who have since been released from a local hospital.

Wilson was staying at an address in the neighborhood where the shootings took place, but there was no indication he knew any of his victims, Dowdy said. Wilson had a history of "minor infractions as a juvenile" and was believed to have suffered from an unspecified mental illness, Dowdy said.

In addition to obtaining the assault-style rifle legally a month after he turned 18 in October 2022, Wilson is believed to have obtained two other firearms used in the shooting from family members, police said.

New Mexico has some of the least restrictive gun ownership laws in the country, with no minimum age to possess rifles and shotguns. The state generally prohibits anyone under age 19 to possess a handgun, according to the Giffords Law Center gun control organization.

Proposed legislation to ban the sale of many semi-automatic firearms, limit the capacity of ammunition magazines and impose a mandatory waiting period on gun purchases all failed to pass New Mexicos legislature during its 2023 session.

(Reporting by Andrew Hay in Taos, New Mexico; Writing and additional reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by Bill Berkrot and Leslie Adler)
COPENHAGEN, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Denmark's Ministry of Foreign Affairs released its new Foreign and Security Policy Strategy on Tuesday, which, among other things, aims at pursuing a pragmatic and balanced approach to China.

While the document is alert to potential risks associated with Denmark's relationship with China, it is also aware that current economic ties with China provide substantial growth potential for Danish exports.

"We will often have to strike a balance... it is also not in Denmark's or the EU's interest to decouple ourselves from China or to disregard the growth potential for Danish exports," said the strategy.

Recognizing that the world's economic and geopolitical center of gravity is shifting towards Asia and the Indo-Pacific region, the document calls for Denmark to increase its own diplomatic and economic engagement there.

According to the strategy, such engagement would allow Denmark to seize the growth opportunities offered by the region, particularly in green transition, sustainability and digital transformation, "thereby strengthening existing partnerships and establishing new strategic collaborations." 
Firefighters try to douse a bus that caught fire during clashes with the supporters of Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad, Pakistan, May 12, 2023. REUTERS/Stringer

By Asif Shahzad

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan's civilian and military leaders on Tuesday said that rioters and their backers who attacked state assets and military installations to protest the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan will be tried under army laws.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the National Security Committee chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. It is an endorsement of the military, which said on Monday that the rioters and their handlers had been identified, and would be tried under army laws.

It has previously said that the May 9 attacks against the military were "pre-planned" and ordered by Khan party's leaders. Khan has denied the allegation and demanded an investigation.

"The meeting endorsed to bring the miscreants, the planners who incited for violence and their facilitators to dock by trying them under constitutional provisions of concerned laws, including Pakistan Army Act and Official Secrets Act," said a statement issued by Sharif's office.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), an independent civil rights group, said it strongly opposes the use of those two laws to try civilians.

"While those responsible for arson and damaging public and private property during the recent protests should be held to account, they remain entitled to due process," the group said in a statement after Tuesday's announcement.

Military courts which proceed under the army act and related legislation do not have to hold to the standard of evidence and process that regular courts are obligated to uphold, said Abdul Moiz Jaferii, a lawyer.

The premier condemned the violence, saying, even the army's headquarters, an air force base and an office of the Inter-Services Intelligence agency were not spared by the protesters, adding it comes under the category of terrorism.

"Whoever are the planners and whoever incited these miscreants ... they don't deserve any leniency," Sharif said.

Thousands of Khan's supporters took to streets after his arrest in a graft case, burning and attacking police, government buildings, official and public vehicles, military assets and installations, that killed at least eight people.

(Additional Reporting by Ariba Shahid in Karachi; editing by Grant McCool)
A security guard stands next to the Trinity icon at the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius in the town of Sergiyev Posad, Russia, July 18, 2022. The famous icon, which was created by Russian painter Andrei Rublev in the 15th century, was delivered from the Stat

By Lucy Papachristou

(Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided to hand over the historic 15th-century Trinity icon from a museum to the Russian Orthodox Church because of its importance to believers, the Kremlin's spokesman said on Tuesday.The Church, whose conservatism Putin has espoused as part of his vision for Russia's national identity, is one of the most ardent institutional supporters of Russias war in Ukraine.

Its head, Patriarch Kirill, said last year that those who died fighting in Ukraine would be purged of their sins.

Icons are stylised, often gilded religious paintings considered sacred in Eastern Orthodox Churches.

Andrei Rublyov's Trinity, one of the holiest and most artistically important Russian icons, is thought to have been painted to honour Saint Sergius of Radonezh in Sergiyev Posad, near Moscow. It depicts three angels who visited Abraham at the Oak of Mamre in the Book of Genesis, the first of the Bible.

The icon has been transferred several times during periods of internal strife.

In 1929, the authorities of the officially atheist communist Soviet Union put it in Moscow's Tretyakov Gallery. During World War Two it was put into safe storage for a time.

In 2022, the work was moved for religious celebrations back to a monastery in Sergiyev Posad: the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, spiritual centre of the Russian Church and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. "We could only dream that this sacred object would be returned to the Church, so that our people could pray before [it]," Kirill said in an address to the Church's ruling Holy Synod, expressing his "deepest gratitude" to Putin.

The Moscow Patriarchate said in a statement that the icon would be displayed for a year at the Christ the Saviour Cathedral in central Moscow before returning to Sergiyev Posad.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters: "This concerns a large number of believers in our country, for whom this is a very sacred object. For these, our believers, of course, hiding it in a museum doesn't fulfil their desire."

On Sunday, the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg said it would transfer the tomb of Alexander Nevsky, a 13th-century prince and saint of the Russian Church, to another Russian monastery, in an effort to bolster national unity.

(Writing by Lucy Papachristou; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
FILE PHOTO: Presidential candidate Ousmane Sonko speaks during a campaign rally in Pikine, on the outskirts of Dakar, Senegal February 21, 2019. REUTERS/ Zohra Bensemra/File Photo

By Ngouda Dione

DAKAR (Reuters) - The rape trial of Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko started in a court in the capital Dakar on Tuesday, following violent protests by supporters who say it is a political plot.

Sonko is accused of sexually assaulting and making death threats to a woman who worked in a massage parlour in 2021.

He has denied the charges, saying they are a scheme by President Macky Sall to disqualify him from the 2024 presidential election. Sall denies this.

Sonko was not in court when the trial started around 1000 GMT. His alleged victim appeared with her lawyers.

A judge opened the case before almost immediately postponing it to next week, following a debate between the two sides. Sonko's lawyers said they needed more time to prepare given the complexity of the case, while lawyers for the alleged victim objected.

"For two years we have been ready. Everything is ready. We have to judge this case today and be done with it," her attorney El Hadj Diouf told the court.

The case has been adjourned until May 23.

The charges against Sonko have sparked sporadic and sometimes violent protests in Senegal over the last two years. The politician enjoys widespread support among the country's youth, who are frustrated with the current government and believe Sall is trying to cling to power.

Fresh clashes broke out on Monday in parts of Dakar and in the southern city of Ziguinchor, of which Sonko is mayor, where a crowd had barred access to Sonko's house to prevent security forces from taking him to court.

Two young people were found dead after the protests, one from knife wounds in Dakar and one in Ziguinchor, Senegal's Interior Ministry said in a statement.

Sonko has been convicted of libel in a separate case which could also threaten his presidential bid. He received a suspended six-month sentence last week and has appealed against the conviction.

Sall is widely expected to seek a third term in 2024, which his opponents say is unconstitutional since he has already served two. He has not yet said whether he will run again.

(Reporting by Ngouda Dione; Writing by Nellie Peyton; Editing by Alison Williams)
FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence addresses the National Review Institute's 2023 Ideas Summit in Washington, U.S., March 31, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Allies of Mike Pence launched a Super PAC on Tuesday to garner support for the former vice president as he moves toward an expected run for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

The political action committee will be led by former U.S. Representative Jeb Hensarling and longtime Republican strategist Scott Reed, the group said in a statement.

"Mike Pence is the conservative leader our nation needs at this critical time," said Hensarling, a Texan who served eight terms in Congress.

Reed, who managed former Senator Bob Dole's 1996 campaign and was a senior strategist for the U.S. Chamber of Congress, praised Pence's experience and policy credentials as "unmatched in the Republican field."

Super PACS are allowed to raise unlimited sums for political purposes, provided they do not coordinate directly with campaigns.

Committed to America will begin with offices in Iowa and Dallas with Bobby Saparow, who managed Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp's successful 2022 re-election campaign, as executive director.

Pence was in the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, when supporters of his then-President Donald Trump stormed the building in an attempt to stop the certification of Democrat Joe Biden's presidential election victory.

Pence drew Trump's wrath for not supporting his false claims that the election was stolen and has since criticized his former boss for his role in the deadly riot.

Standing up to Trump has not won him broad support among the Republicans who remain loyal to the former president.

Last month, Pence was booed in his home state of Indiana at a gathering of the country's largest gun rights lobby as he sought to present himself as a more ardent defender of gun rights than Donald Trump.

The latest Reuters/Ipsos poll shows Trump maintaining a commanding lead in the 2024 Republican primary race, with the support of 49 percent of registered Republicans. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, an expected candidate, drew 21% support, while Pence was backed by 5% of Republicans.

(This story has been refiled to delete extraneous matter in paragraph 5)

(Reporting by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Nick Zieminski)
FILE PHOTO: Taiwan's Parliament Speaker You Si-kun speaks during a news conference with Michael McCaul, Chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, who is leading a delegation of US lawmakers visiting Taiwan, at the parliament in Taipei, Taiwan

By David Brunnstrom and Michael Martina

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The speaker of Taiwan's parliament praised Japan, South Korea and the Philippines on Tuesday for helping to create a "crescent of defense" with Taiwan and the U.S. against China's ambitions in the Indo-Pacific region.

Speaking in Washington, You Si-kun told the Hudson Institute think tank that China's ruling Communist Party (CCP) and leader Xi Jinping saw Taiwan as just a "stepping stone" to global hegemony.

"The CCP wants to see the East rise and the West to decline," You said. "We can say that protecting Taiwan equates to defending both Europe and the United States."

You belongs to Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party, but does not speak for President Tsai Ing-wen.

You praised Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol for calling Taiwan a global issue and opposing a change to the status quo by force. He said this had "offset" remarks by French President Emmanuel Macron that a conflict in the Taiwan Strait had nothing to do with Europe.

You said Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr had also said that granting the U.S. access to Philippine military bases was a defensive measure that would be useful if China were to attack Taiwan.

"The crescent of defense formed by Korea, Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines will, with American support, be a key stabilizer of peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region," he added.

The staunch support democracies have provided Ukraine should act as a deterrent to Xi "to prevent him from taking any reckless action so that he will not become a second Putin," You said.

"To ensure Taiwan's security is to ensure the global public interest," he added. "If we do not take China's threats seriously, a dark future awaits all of mankind."

China has been stepping up its military activities around Taiwan to try and force the democratically governed island to accept Beijing's sovereignty. It has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control.

(Editing by Don Durfee and Marguerita Choy)
FILE PHOTO: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during Prime Minister's Questions, at the House of Commons in London, Britain, April 26, 2023. UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/Handout via REUTERS

LONDON (Reuters) -Britain's departure from the European Union has not been a failure, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's spokesperson said on Tuesday, rebuffing criticism from prominent eurosceptic politicians about how Brexit had been implemented.

Nigel Farage, the British politician who helped force a Brexit referendum in 2016 and successfully campaigned to leave the European Union, said on Monday "Brexit has failed".

Asked if Sunak agreed with Farage, that Brexit had failed because politicians had mismanaged the exit from the EU, Sunak's spokesman said: "No. The prime minister has talked about the benefits of Brexit on a number of occasions."

William Cash, a well known eurosceptic in the governing Conservative Party, accused the government on Monday of making "trivial" and "obsolete" changes by announcing plans to remove around 600 of the almost 4,000 EU laws by the end of this year.

Almost seven years after Britain voted to leave the EU, opinion polls show a majority of the public regret leaving the bloc. Britain's economy is expected to grow more slowly than other major economies this year, although economists say Brexit is not the sole cause of the problems.

The government, led by Brexit-supporting Sunak, says Britain is prospering with new-found freedoms, while the opposition Labour Party does not plan to apply to rejoin the bloc if it wins the next general election due next year.

Farage has criticised how the Conservative government has handled its implementation.

"Arguably, now we're back in control, we're regulating our own businesses even more than they were as EU members. Brexit has failed," Farage told the BBC, adding that takeover regulation and corporation tax were driving businesses away. "We've mismanaged this totally."

Asked if the prime minister had sympathy with the concerns of businesses who said they were struggling to deal with government bureaucracy, Sunak's spokesman said the prime minister wanted to "ensure that the UK remains a business-friendly country to invest in".

(Reporting by Andrew MacAskill and Alistair Smout; editing by William James and Nick Macfie)
FILE PHOTO: Vsevolod Kniaziev, president of Ukraine's Supreme Court, takes part in a meeting hosted by Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), co-chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, with Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin, Ukrainian Ambass

(Reuters) - Ukrainian anti-graft authorities said on Monday they were investigating large-scale corruption in the country's Supreme Court system and shared a photograph of piles of dollars neatly lined up on a sofa.

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) did not name anyone accused of corruption, but two local media organizations reported Supreme Court Chief Justice Vsevolod Kniaziev had been detained on suspicion of receiving a $3 million bribe.

Reuters could not independently verify the reports.

The country's anti-graft authorities displayed the photograph on its Facebook page, which said the discovery followed investigations by NABU and the office of the Special Anti-corruption Prosecutor (SAP).

"NABU and SAP have exposed large-scale corruption in the Supreme Court, namely a scheme for the leadership and judges of the Supreme Court to receive bribes," the bureau said in the post. "Emergency investigative actions are under way."

Brussels has made fighting corruption a precondition for Kyiv to join the 27-member European Union. Despite progress in recent years, Ukraine ranks 116th out of 180 countries in Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index.

Dzerkalo Tyzhnia, a local news website, and online outlet Ukrayinska Pravda both quoted unnamed officials saying Kniaziev had been detained without providing further details.

Reuters was not immediately able to contact Kniaziev for comment after normal business hours.

Dzerkalo Tyzhnia quoted its source as saying the money came from backers of Ukrainian billionaire Kostyantyn Zhevago, who was arrested in France in December at Kyiv's request in relation to embezzlement charges.

The businessman told the court he did nothing wrong and should not be extradited.

The money had come from supporters of a court decision in April that favored pellet producer Ferrexpo Plc, Dzerkalo Tyzhnia quoted its source as saying. It said another 18 Supreme Court judges who heard the Ferrexpo case were now being searched.

The case addressed a repurchase of about 40.2% of shares in the company's Ukraine subsidiary, Ferrexpo Poltava Mining, which was sold to Zhevago and other parties.

(Reporting by Elaine Monaghan; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
By Elida Moreno

PANAMA CITY (Reuters) -The number of U.S.-bound migrants who cross the dangerous jungle separating Panama and Colombia could rise to a record this year, according to a senior U.N. refugee official.

The forecast for migrants crossing the Darien Gap on their way north comes as U.S. authorities have observed a recent drop in arrivals at their southern border with Mexico after a major policy shift.

"The number of people crossing through Darien has been higher," U.N. Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees Kelly Clements told Reuters in an interview on Monday, comparing the number of migrant crossings to last year's level.

"If that pace was to continue, we would see a record number of people crossing," she said.

To the north, the number of migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border had dropped sharply since midnight Thursday, following the end of Title 42, a COVID-19 pandemic-era deportation policy that prevented many from seeking asylum on U.S. soil.

The U.S. government subsequently implemented tough new rules for asylum seekers.

The number of Darien crossings increased six-fold during the first four months of this year, according to official Panama data, underscoring the stiff challenge the United States faces as it seeks to curb surging migration.

"The reasons that people have picked up their families and lives to try to rebuild elsewhere have not changed," said Clements, stressing that "root causes" including violence and political persecution must be addressed.

Clements also expressed support for a regional approach to migration that would include allowing other countries to take in asylum seekers while they wait for a response from the United States.

In December, the U.N. estimated that it needed $1.72 billion to help Venezuelan refugees and migrants in Latin America and the Caribbean.

But last year, only a quarter of the needed funds were allocated, forcing a reduction in U.N. assistance programs.

(Reporting by Elida Moreno; Writing by Valentine Hilaire; Editing by David Alire Garcia, Robert Birsel)
FILE PHOTO: An entrance to the U.S. Steel Great Lakes Works plant is seen in Ecorse, Michigan, U.S., September 24, 2019. Picture taken September 24, 2019. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook

By David Lawder

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said on Tuesday the Biden administration was "extremely focused" on reaching a "green steel" arrangement with the European Union and other partners that disadvantages carbon-intensive steel from China and elsewhere.

Raimondo told an American Iron and Steel Institute conference in Washington that she was fully committed to ensuring that "Section 232" tariffs on global steel and aluminum imports, first imposed by the Trump administration, protect U.S. steelmakers and U.S. national security interests.

The Commerce chief said a green steel arrangement being negotiated by U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai will be a "game changer" for the industry's efforts to deal with Chinese excess steel manufacturing capacity. The negotiations are aimed at erecting trade barriers to steel produced with higher carbon emissions.

U.S. steelmakers are among the world's lowest carbon emitters, because of their heavy reliance on electric-arc furnaces that make steel largely from scrap, as opposed to smelting iron ore in coal-fired blast furnaces.

"China doesn't have the clean steel. We're pushing our industry to have higher environmental standards and cleaner steel, as is Europe," Raimondo said.

"We need a global steel arrangement that preferences higher quality, green steel and aluminum. That's the right way to disadvantage China in a way that lifts everything."

Raimondo declined to say whether she thought it was realistic to meet an October deadline for reaching a deal, referring such questions to Tai's office.

AISI President Kevin Dempsey told reporters that a key hurdle to overcome is the EU's demand that 25% tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump under Section 232 of a 1962 trade law, including a quota agreement for EU producers, be ended, and effectively replaced by the green steel deal. The U.S. side, with backing from the trade group, wants to keep some trade restrictions on steel as part of that deal.

Dempsey said the Section 232 tariffs were still needed because of growing global excess steelmaking capacity, largely centered in China but expanding to other countries in Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, where Chinese steelmakers are building mills with government subsidies.

The Commerce Department this month proposed a new rule that would allow it to consider such transnational subsidies in its anti-dumping and countervailing duty cases.

Raimondo said such changes were needed to keep up with the changing nature of circumvention threats, and that it was important for the Commerce Department to maintain a strong trade anti-dumping and anti-subsidy enforcement capacity. She criticized Republicans' proposed debt ceiling cutbacks in discretionary spending to 2022 levels, which she said would result in "hundreds" fewer enforcement staff.

"We need every bit of enforcement capacity that we have and then some," Raimondo said. "So part of it is on us to be aggressive, vigilant and disciplined in our enforcement."

(Reporting by David Lawder; Editing by Ed Osmond and Paul Simao)
FILE PHOTO: A sign on an insurance store advertises Obamacare in San Ysidro, San Diego, California, U.S., October 26, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Blake

(Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court has temporarily halted a federal judge's ruling that struck down the Affordable Care Act's mandate requiring insurers to cover preventive care, the New York Times reported on Monday.

The ruling stems from one of several legal challenges Republicans have brought against the 2010 healthcare law, former President Barack Obama's signature domestic achievement popularly known as "Obamacare."

U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor in March struck down the Affordable Care Act's mandate that health insurance plans cover preventive care, including screenings for certain cancers and pre-exposure prophylaxis against HIV, or the so-called PrEP mandate, at no cost to patients.

Reed ruled that the PrEP mandate violated a federal religious freedom law and that other no-cost preventive care mandates were based on recommendations by an illegally appointed task force.

The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans put Reed's decision on hold, the Times reported, leaving the mandate in place for now.

(Reporting by Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Edmund Klamann)
ABUJA, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria's secret police have uncovered a disturbing plot hatched by terrorist organizations operating in the country to regroup in the northwest region, an official said Tuesday, citing a security intelligence.

The revelation, made in a statement by Peter Afunanya, the spokesman for the Department of State Services (DSS), underscored the urgent need for enhanced counterterrorism efforts by security agencies in the country.

Afunanya said the steady military operations in the northeastern part of the country had necessitated the terrorists' escape to the northwest and central regions, where the terrorist groups were allegedly regrouping and establishing active cells.

In light of this development, the secret police official said security operatives from the military and police force, as well as the DSS, on Monday arrested five terror suspects during raids of their hideouts in parts of the northwestern states of Kaduna and Kano.

The raids of the suspected terrorists' hideouts in the two states were simultaneously carried out in the early hours of Monday, he said, explaining that the terrorists deployed improvised explosive devices against the fighting forces.

Afunanya said one of the terrorists, who wore a suicide jacket, blew himself up while three suspects were arrested in Kaduna. Meanwhile, in Kano, two other suspects were arrested.

According to the secret police official, the intelligence had revealed that high-profile terrorist targets were regrouping in the northwest region to carry out dastardly acts in the area.

While commending the efforts of the military and police for their resilience and support, which led to the success of the recent operation against the terrorists, the DSS official said the sustained interagency synergy has proved to be "a game changer in the counter-threat actions."

He added the security agencies were collaborating with determination to dismantle the remaining structures of terrorist groups and ensure the complete restoration of peace and stability in the country at large. 
CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezeula's political opposition - recognized by the U.S. as the country's legitimate government - was asked by a key creditor group on Monday to back the suspension of a statute of limitations on repayments for defaulted government bonds.

President Nicolas Maduro's government in March proposed a five-year suspension through 2028 or until the United States lifts sanctions that impede a debt restructuring.

A deadline on some bonds is set to expire in October, six years after the Venezuelan government stopped paying down the debt, meaning those bond holders could lose their right to ask courts to order repayment.

The Venezuela Creditors Committee (VCC) which holds billions of dollars in defaulted Venezuelan bonds said in a statement it wanted the opposition to lend its support to the proposal.

The opposition has yet to take a stance on the issue.

"Without such an agreement... significant risks remain," the statement said, noting the potential for additional litigation that could disrupt trade and other efforts to boost Venezuela's ailing economy.

The opposition-controlled national assembly this month received a license from the U.S. Department of the Treasury to carry out debt settlement deals with the Maduro government and state oil company PDVSA.

Venezuela and PDVSA owe more than $60 billion in bonds that they stopped payment on in late 2017, triggering the default. The VCC represents creditholders for some $10 billion of that debt.

The bonds were issued under New York state law and include a statute of limitations clause stating that the interest payments due to bondholders is not legally enforceable after six years of non-payment.

(Reporting by Mayela Armas; Editing by David Alire Garcia and Edwina Gibbs)
FILE PHOTO: WestJet airline signage is pictured at Vancouver's international airport in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, February 5, 2019. REUTERS/Ben Nelms

By Allison Lampert

(Reuters) - Higher pay remains an obstacle for Canada's WestJet Airlines and its pilots to secure an agreement and avert a possible work stoppage on Friday, as a smaller rival on Tuesday said it was adding flights in case of a strike or lockout.

Pilots at Onex Corp-owned WestJet gave notice on Monday that could allow for strike action as early as May 19, raising fears of travel disruptions during Canada's Victoria Day holiday weekend. The carrier has similarly issued a lockout notice.

North American pilots are pressing for higher salaries and better scheduling after aviators made big gains in a recent deal with Delta Air Lines that delivers a 34% pay increase over four years.

"There is a path for a deal I think on job protection. We're getting closer on scheduling. Pay is still the outlier," said Bernard Lewall, a union representative with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA).

"We need to narrow that gap between the North American carriers and WestJet," he said on Tuesday in an interview.

Lewall declined to give a specific wage target, but said the airline must pay more to retain pilots.

Calgary-based WestJet wants an agreement that is competitive within Canada's airline industry.

"The union maintains its expectation of closing in towards U.S.like wages, despite living and working in Canada," the carrier said in a statement on Monday.

Calgary-based WestJet narrowly averted a pilot strike in 2018.

Canadian Transport Minister Omar Alghabra on Twitter urged both sides to find a "fair and reasonable deal."

Canadian budget carrier Flair Airlines said on Tuesday it was adding additional domestic flights between Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton starting May 19.

"We hope this measure will help WestJet passengers who otherwise could not travel due to the pilots strike, said Flair CEO Stephen Jones.

WestJet's larger rival Air Canada said its fleet was already fully deployed and had minimal ability to increase capacity further.

WestJet has said impacted travelers would be refunded or re-accommodated, as applicable.

(Reporting by Allison Lampert in Montreal; Editing by Mark Potter)
FILE PHOTO: Congolese police officers stand under a banner for 2018 Nobel Peace Prize Denis Mukwege after a political rally of Martin Fayulu, the runner-up in Democratic Republic of Congo's presidential election in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo,

By Sonia Rolley

KINSHASA (Reuters) - The World Bank has suspended funding for humanitarian and development projects in Democratic Republic of Congo worth more than $1 billion after the government dissolved the project fund without warning, the lender said.

The suspension will affect more than 600,000 beneficiaries, including victims of sexual violence, the World Bank told Congo's finance minister last week in a letter seen by Reuters. A World Bank spokesperson confirmed its authenticity.

The letter also said that the bank was still waiting for documentation on the status of $91 million which had already been advanced for the projects out of the total $1.04 billion.

On May 4, Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi dissolved the structure, the "Social Fund of the Democratic Republic of Congo", by presidential order and created another public fund.

The change was due to "the evolution of the legal framework governing public institutions," according to his statement.

In the letter dated May 12, the World Bank's director of operations for the country, Albert Zeufack, said the institution had found out about the decision in the press.

"Before being able to continue to commit the project funds, the government and the World Bank should agree on transitional measures... in order to ensure that the funds are used for the intended purposes," he said in the letter.

A spokesperson for Congo's finance ministry said he was waiting for the go-ahead from the presidency before he could comment.

Presidential spokesperson Tina Salama denied any suspension of funding and said there would be transitional management of the fund. "I think arrangements have been made," she said. She did not respond to questions about the $91 million.

One of the fund's beneficiaries was the Panzi Foundation led by Denis Mukwege, a Congolese gynaecologist who won the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize for his work with victims of sexual violence.

"It's a catastrophe for the victims," Mukwege told Reuters. He said he had been warned a few days before that expenses incurred on his programme would stop being reimbursed. A programme coordinator said that he had had to turn victims away.

The abrupt decision to change the financing structure was an example of poor governance, said Valery Madianga, the director of a Congolese organisation specialising in public finance auditing.

"How can it be ... that a public service, which signed a $1 billion programme contract with the World Bank, has been dissolved or has changed its social purpose without the latter being aware of it?" he said.

Four of Congo's main opposition politicians wrote to the leaders of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the African Development Bank last week asking them to conduct an audit of their funds in Congo, saying they suspected misuse.

(Additional reporting by Stanis Bujakera and Ange Kasongo; Editing by Nellie Peyton, Alessandra Prentice and Nick Macfie)
FILE PHOTO: Writers Guild of America members and supporters picket outside Sunset Bronson Studios and Netflix Studios, after union negotiators called a strike for film and television writers, in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 3, 2023. REUTERS/Mario An

By Dawn Chmielewski, Helen Coster and Sheila Dang

NEW YORK (Reuters) - An animated appearance by Ted, the foul-mouthed teddy bear from the movie of the same name, a gaggle of Real Housewives and a NBC News political correspondent appeared at NBCUniversals annual ad-selling upfront presentation, as a writers strike prompted high-wattage acting talent to shun the event.

The annual series of glitzy presentations, held in May in New York City by major television broadcasters, is one of the most important advertising sales periods, with nearly half of an advertisers video budget allocated for the next television season.

The backdrop of this year's presentations was different. Ad buyers were greeted by picket lines outside Radio City Music Hall on Monday, celebrities like Pete Davidson and Edie Falco, who attended last year's NBCU presentation, were replaced by news personalities like "Squawk Box's" Andrew Ross Sorkin.

An estimated $18.79 billion in ad spending could be committed for the upcoming season, up a modest 0.8% from the current season, according to researcher Insider Intelligence.

This year, advertisers and ad agencies may well use the strike as a bargaining tool, said Erin Firneno, vice president of business intelligence for researcher Advertiser Perceptions.

While it won't necessarily cause them to allocate fewer dollars upfront, it will help buyers get more flexibility in their contracts, something buyers have been pushing for, said Firneno.

The writers strike, which has entered its third week, is also injecting a new element of uncertainty for ad buyers, at a time when television viewership is declining and the possibility of recession looms. The walkout that began May 2 caused most late-night shows to go dark and halted or delayed production on such high-profile series as Netflixs Stranger Things and HBO's "Hacks."

A protracted dispute may jeopardize the programming lineup for the fall season. And contracts with two other major Hollywood unions, the Directors Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, expire on June 30.

While the TV networks have long contended with splintered viewership amid the rise of social media and streaming, the writers' strike puts content production at risk, said Rishad Tobaccowala, a former executive at advertising and public relations giant Publicis Groupe and advisor on business transformation.

"Marketers just want to sell stuff and build brands, he said. TV networks are becoming less and less of a driver for that."

In his opening remarks Mark Lazarus, the head of Comcast Corp's NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, acknowledged the picketers.

We are grateful for the contribution writers made to our company and respect their right to demonstrate, Lazarus said, acknowledging a resolution may take time.

Last year, NBCs upfront presentation emphasized star power as the network returned to a live event after a COVID-19-imposed hiatus. The all-star lineup included a performance by Kelly Clarkson and appearances by Jimmy Fallon and Mariska Hargitay, among others.

Because of the strike, NBCUs presentation this year relied more heavily on its news talent including "Today" show co-hosts Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb; as well as musical performances by Nick Jonas and Reba McEntire.

Ahead of the upfront presentations, media executives sought to reassure investors about the strikes impact. On May 9 Fox Corp Chief Executive Lachlan Murdoch said that the timing of the strike created some hesitancy, adding that Fox is well-positioned because it focuses on two areas not likely to be impacted  news and sports.

Paramount Global Chief Executive Bob Bakish told investors on May 4: We've been planning for this. We do have many levers to pull. And that will allow us to manage through the strike even if it's for an extended duration.

(Reporting by Dawn Chmielewski in Los Angeles, Helen Coster in New York and Sheila Dang in Dallas; Editing by Anna Driver)
UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549





FORM 6-K

Report of Foreign Private Issuer

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report: May 16, 2023

Commission File Number: 001-39307

Legend Biotech Corporation

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)





2101 Cottontail Lane

Somerset, New Jersey 08873

(Address of principal executive office)





Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:

Form 20-F  Form 40-F 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): 





Legend Biotech to Demonstrate Progress in Advancing Treatment Options for Patients with Multiple Myeloma at ASCO and EHA Annual Meetings





On May 16, 2023, Legend Biotech Corporation (Legend Biotech or the Company) issued a press release announcing that new and updated data from the CARTITUDE Clinical Development Program evaluating ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel) will be presented at the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting and the European Hematology Associations (EHA) 2023 Hybrid Congress, which is attached to this Form 6-K as Exhibit 99.1. Five-year follow-up data from Legend-2 (NCT03090659), an investigator-initiated trial that has been assessing a similar CAR construct since 2015, will also be presented at the meetings.



This report on Form 6-K, including Exhibit 99.1, is hereby incorporated by reference in the registration statements of Legend Biotech on Form F-3 (Nos. 333-257609 and 333-257625) and Form S-8 (No. 333-239478), to the extent not superseded by documents or reports subsequently filed.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements



Statements in this report on Form 6-K about future expectations, plans and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to CARVYKTI (ciltacabtagene autoleucel) and expected results of clinical trials involving CARVYKTI. The words anticipate, believe, continue, could, estimate, expect, intend, may, plan, potential, predict, project, should, target, will, would and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors. Legend Biotechs expectations could be affected by, among other things, uncertainties involved in the development of new pharmaceutical products; unexpected clinical trial results, including as a result of additional analysis of existing clinical data or unexpected new clinical data; unexpected regulatory actions or delays, including requests for additional safety and/or efficacy data or analysis of data, or government regulation generally; unexpected delays as a result of actions undertaken, or failures to act, by our third party partners; uncertainties arising from challenges to Legend Biotechs patent or other proprietary intellectual property protection, including the uncertainties involved in the U.S. litigation process; competition in general; government, industry, and general product pricing and other political pressures; the duration and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic and governmental and regulatory measures implemented in response to the evolving situation; as well as the other factors discussed in the Risk Factors section of Legend Biotechs Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 2023. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in this report on Form 6-K as anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Any forward-looking statements contained in this report on Form 6-K speak only as of the date of this report on Form 6-K. Legend Biotech specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.









EXHIBIT INDEX









SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

LEGEND BIOTECH CORPORATION Date: May 16, 2023 By: /s/ Ying Huang Name: Ying Huang, Ph.D. Title: Chief Executive Officer








UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 6-K

Report of Foreign Private Issuer Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the Month of May 2023

Commission File No.: 001-41083

TELESAT CORPORATION

(Name of Registrant)

160 Elgin Street, Suite 2100, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2P 2P7

(Address of Principal Executive Office)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Form 20-F  Form 40-F 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): Yes  No 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): Yes  No 

EXHIBITS

In connection with Telesat Corporations Annual General Meeting, the following information is furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of this report on Form 6-K:

1

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

TELESAT CORPORATION Date: May 16, 2023 By: /s/ CHRISTOPHER S. DIFRANCESCO Name: Christopher S. DiFrancesco Title: Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

2

ATTACHMENTS / EXHIBITS

NOTICE OF MEETING

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS REQUEST FORM

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR TELESAT CORPORATION FOR TELESAT CORPORATION ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CIRCULAR

CLASS A&B FORM OF PROXY

CLASS C FULLY VOTING SHARE FORM OF PROXY

VOTING INFORMATION FORM
UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549



FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT



Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934



Date of report (Date of earliest event reported):



Verastem, Inc.



(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)



     Delaware  001-35403  27-3269467 (State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)  (Commission

File Number)  (IRS Employer

Identification No.) 



   117 Kendrick Street , Suite 500 , Needham , MA  02494 (Address of Principal Executive Offices)  (Zip Code) 



Registrants telephone number, including area code: ( 781 ) 292-4200



(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)



Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:



 Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))



Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:



     Title of each class  Trading

Symbol(s)  Name of each exchange on which registered Common stock, $0.0001 par value per share  VSTM  The Nasdaq Capital Market 



Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company 



If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. 


0001817825 true 000-00000 0001817825 2023-05-01 2023-05-01 iso4217:USD xbrli:shares iso4217:USD xbrli:shares

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K/A

(Amendment No. 1)

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):

Steele Creek Capital Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

Maryland 85-1327288 (State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or registration) (I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.) 201 S. College Street , Suite 1690 , Charlotte , NC 28244 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

( 704 ) 343-6011 (Registrants telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR 230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR 240.12b-2).

Emerging growth company 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None

Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Amendment No. 1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (this Amendment) is being filed by Steele Creek Capital Corporation (the Company) for the purpose of amending Item 3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities of that certain Current Report on Form 8-K originally filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on May 2, 2023 (the Original Form 8-K) As indicated in the Original Form 8-K, this Amendment is being filed to provide the determination of the per share purchase price and number of shares sold in connection with a sale of common stock on May 1, 2023.

1

Item 3.02. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

On May 1, 2023, the Company sold 31,900.281 shares of the Companys common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the Common Stock), for an aggregate offering price of $297,393.57, and a per share purchase price of $9.3226.

The sales of the above-referenced shares of Common Stock were made pursuant to subscription agreements entered into by the Company and its investors. Under the terms of the subscription agreements, investors are required to pay such amounts at the time of subscription.

The issuance of the above-referenced shares of Common Stock is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) thereof and Regulation D thereunder.

2

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Steele Creek Capital Corporation By: /s/ Douglas S. Applegate, Jr. Name: Douglas S. Applegate, Jr. Title: Chief Financial Officer May 16, 2023

3

ATTACHMENTS / EXHIBITS

XBRL SCHEMA FILE

XBRL LABEL FILE

XBRL PRESENTATION FILE

IDEA: R1.htm

IDEA: ea178738-8ka1_steelcreek_htm.xml

IDEA: Financial_Report.xlsx

IDEA: FilingSummary.xml

IDEA: MetaLinks.json
UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM F-N

APPOINTMENT OF AGENT FOR SERVICE

OF PROCESS BY FOREIGN BANKS AND FOREIGN INSURANCE

COMPANIES AND CERTAIN OF THEIR HOLDING COMPANIES

AND FINANCE SUBSIDIARIES MAKING PUBLIC OFFERINGS

OF SECURITIES IN THE UNITED STATES

A. Name of issuer or person filing (Filer): Banco Santander, S.A.

B. This is (select one):

 an original filing for the Filer

 an amended filing for the Filer

C. Identify the filing in conjunction with which this Form is being filed:

Name of registrant Banco Santander, S.A. Form type Registration Statement on Form F-3 (Form F-3) File Number (if known) 333-271955 Filed by Banco Santander, S.A. Date Filed (if filed concurrently, so indicate) May 16, 2023 (filed concurrently)

D. The Filer is incorporated or organized under the laws of (Name of the jurisdiction under whose laws the filer is organized or incorporated)

The Kingdom of Spain

and has its principal place of business at (Address in full and telephone number)

Ciudad Grupo Santander, Avenida de Cantabria s/n, 28660 Boadilla del Monte, Madrid, Spain. Telephone: (011) 34-91-259-6520

E. The Filer designates and appoints (Name of United States person serving as agent)

Banco Santander, S.A., New York Branch (Agent)

located at (Address in full in the United States and telephone number)

437 Madison Ave., New York, New York 10022. Telephone: (212) 350-3500

as the agent of the Filer upon whom may be served any process, pleadings, subpoenas, or other papers in:

(a) any investigation or administrative proceeding conducted by the Commission, and

(b) any civil suit or action brought against the Filer or to which the Filer has been joined as defendant or respondent, in any appropriate court in any place subject to the jurisdiction of any state or of the United States or any of its territories or possessions or of the District of Columbia,

arising out of or based on any offering made or purported to be made in connection with the securities registered by the Filer on Form F-3 filed on the date hereof or any purchases or sales of any security in connection therewith. The Filer stipulates and agrees that any such civil suit or action or administrative proceeding may be commenced by the service of process upon, and that service of an administrative subpoena shall be effected by service upon, such agent for service of process, and that the service as aforesaid shall be taken and held in all courts and administrative tribunals to be valid and binding as if personal service thereof had been made.

F. Each person filing this Form stipulates and agrees to appoint a successor agent for service of process and file an amended Form F-N if the Filer discharges the Agent or the Agent is unwilling or unable to accept service on behalf of the Filer at any time until six years have elapsed from the date of the Filers last registration statement or report, or amendment to any such registration statement or report, filed with the Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 or Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Filer further undertakes to advise the Commission promptly of any change to the Agents name or address during the applicable period by amendment of this Form referencing the file number of the relevant registration form in conjunction with which the amendment is being filed.
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

_______________________

SCHEDULE 13D

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

_______________________

WHEELER REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST, INC.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share

(Title of Class of Securities)

963025705

(CUSIP Number of Class

of Securities)

_______________________

Calgary Leveen

185 Wythe Avenue Suite 9D

Brooklyn, NY 11249

(212) 548-6504

______________________________________________________________________

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person

Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

April 22, 2023

(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition which is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of  240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the following box S .

Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See Rule 13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting persons initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover shall not be deemed to be filed for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Act) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

(continued on next page(s)) Page 1 of 10

CUSIP No. 963025705 13D Page 2 of 10

1 Name of Reporting Person S.S. or I.R.S. Identification No. of Above Person Anhinga Investment Partners LLC I.R.S. I.D. No. 2 Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group * (a)  (b)  3 SEC Use Only 4 Sources of Funds * WC 5 Check Box if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings is Required Pursuant to Items 2(e) of 2(f)  6 Citizenship or Place of Organization Delaware Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With 7 Sole Voting Power -0- 8 Shared Voting Power 250,979.1 9 Sole Dispositive Power -0- 10 Shared Dispositive Power 250,979.1 11 Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 250,979.1 12 Check Box if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares*  13 Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11) 2.5% 14 Type of Reporting Person* IA

*SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!

CUSIP No. 963025705 13D Page 3 of 10

1 Name of Reporting Person S.S. or I.R.S. Identification No. of Above Person Banyan Advisors LLC I.R.S. I.D. No. 2 Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group * (a)  (b)  3 SEC Use Only 4 Sources of Funds * WC 5 Check Box if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings is Required Pursuant to Items 2(e) of 2(f)  6 Citizenship or Place of Organization Delaware Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With 7 Sole Voting Power -0- 8 Shared Voting Power 686,356.4 9 Sole Dispositive Power -0- 10 Shared Dispositive Power 686,356.4 11 Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 686,356.4 12 Check Box if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares*  13 Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11) 6.9% 14 Type of Reporting Person* OO

*SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!

CUSIP No. 963025705 13D Page 4 of 10

1 Name of Reporting Person S.S. or I.R.S. Identification No. of Above Person Calgary Leveen I.R.S. I.D. No. 2 Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group * (a)  (b)  3 SEC Use Only 4 Sources of Funds * WC 5 Check Box if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings is Required Pursuant to Items 2(e) of 2(f)  6 Citizenship or Place of Organization USA Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With 7 Sole Voting Power -0- 8 Shared Voting Power 937,335.5(1) 9 Sole Dispositive Power -0- 10 Shared Dispositive Power 937,335.5(1) 11 Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 937,335.5(1) 12 Check Box if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares*  13 Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11) 9.4% 14 Type of Reporting Person* IN

*SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!

(1) Comprised of securities held through Anhinga Investment Partners LLC and Banyan Advisors LLC.

CUSIP No. 963025705 13D Page 5 of 10

Item 1. Security and Issuer

This Schedule 13D relates to Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the Common Shares) of Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the Issuer). The principal executive offices of the Issuer are located at 2529 Virginia Beach Boulevard, Suite 200, Virginia Beach, VA 23452.

Item 2. Identity and Background.

(a) This statement is being filed by jointly by each of Anhinga Investment Partners LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (Anhinga), Banyan Advisors LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (Banyan), and Calgary Leveen (Leveen). Leveen controls each of Anhinga and Banyan and has sole voting and investment control over the securities held by Anhinga and Banyan in the Issuer. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the filing of this statement shall not be deemed an admission that any of the Reporting Persons is the beneficial owner of any Common Shares.

Each of the foregoing is referred to as a Reporting Person and collectively as the Reporting Persons. Each of the Reporting Persons is party to that certain Joint Filing Agreement, as further described in Item 6. Accordingly, the Reporting Persons are hereby filing a joint Schedule 13D.

(b) The principal business address of the Reporting Persons is 185 Wythe Avenue Suite 9D Brooklyn, NY 11249.

(c) The principal business of Anhinga is investment advising. The principal business of Banyan is wealth management advising. The principal business of Leveen is the Managing Member of Anhinga and Banyan.

(d)  (e) Legal Proceedings

During the past five years, none of the Reporting Persons has been (a) convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors) or (b) a party to any civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as a result of which such person was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws, or finding any violation with respect to such laws.

(f) Citizenship

Each of Anhinga and Banyan are entities formed under the laws of the State of Delaware. Leveen is a United States citizen.

Item 3. Source and Amount of Funds of Other Consideration.

The total amount of funds required to acquire the Common Shares, Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, Series D Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock and 7.00% Subordinated Convertible Notes due 2031 (as hereinafter defined), acquired by Anhinga and Banyan were $808,296.30 and $2,455,671.04, respectively. This amount excludes brokerage commissions. Such shares were purchased with working capital in open market purchases, except as otherwise noted in Schedule A, which is incorporated herein by reference.

CUSIP No. 963025705 13D Page 6 of 10

Item 4. Purpose of Transaction.

Each of the Reporting Persons acquired the securities reported herein with a view to making a profit on its investment. Each of the Reporting Persons intends to review its investment in the Issuer on a continuing basis and may engage in discussions with management, the Issuer's board of directors, other shareholders of the Issuer and other relevant parties concerning the Issuer's business, operations, governance, management, strategy and future plans. Depending on various factors including, without limitation, the Issuer's financial position, future actions taken by the Issuer's board of directors, price levels of the securities, other available investment opportunities, conditions in the securities market and general economic and industry conditions, each of the Reporting Persons may in the future take such actions with respect to their investment in the Issuer as they deem appropriate including, without limitation, communicating with management or third parties about, and may enter into negotiations and agreements with them, seeking representation on the Issuers board of directors, changes in management of the Issuer and potential strategic and other transactions by the Issuer.

Item 5. Interest of Securities of the Issuer.

(a) and (b) Beneficial ownership

As of the date of this Schedule 13D, Anhinga directly owns 193,000 Common Shares, 12,684 Series B Convertible Stock, no par value per share (Series B Preferred Shares) and 33,955 Series D Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, no par value per share (Series D Preferred Shares). Each Series B Preferred Share is convertible into approximately .625 Common Shares and Series D Preferred Share is convertible into approximately 1.47 Common Shares. Accordingly, Anhinga beneficially owns 250,979.1 Common Shares, representing 2.5% of the outstanding Common Shares, assuming conversion of all of Anhingas Series B Preferred Shares and Series D Preferred Shares.

Banyan directly owns 526,975 Common Shares, 17,831 Series B Preferred Shares, 94,784 Series D Preferred Shares and 2,130 7.00% Subordinated Convertible Notes due 2031 (Convertible Notes). Each Series B Preferred Share is convertible into approximately .625 Common Shares, each Series D Preferred Share is convertible into approximately 1.47 Common Shares and each Convertible Note is convertible into approximately 4 Common Shares. Accordingly, Banyan beneficially owns 686,356.4 Common Shares, representing 6.9% of the outstanding Common Shares, assuming conversion of all of Banyans Series B Preferred Shares, Series D Preferred Shares, and Convertible Notes.

Leveen, as the sole controlling person with respect to the Issuers securities held by Anhinga and Banyan, which securities are held by Leveen, his immediate family members and entities controlled by Leveen. As such, Leveen may be deemed to beneficially own all such securities.

CUSIP No. 963025705 13D Page 7 of 10

The percentages set forth above and on the cover pages hereto represent percentages of the outstanding Common Shares based on a total of 10,017,571 Common Shares outstanding on March 31, 2023, which amount is derived from amount reported in the Issuers Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2023 and the conversion of each of Anhinga and Banyans Series B Preferred Shares, Series D Preferred Shares and Convertible Notes into 217,360 Common Shares.

By virtue of their status as a "group" for purposes of Rule 13d-5, each of the Reporting Persons may be deemed to have shared voting and dispositive power over the Common Shares owned by the other Reporting Persons. Each Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of the Common Shares owned by the other Reporting Persons.

(c) Transactions during the past sixty days

Information with respect to the each of the Reporting Persons transactions effected during the past 60 days are set forth on Annex A hereto.

(d) Right to receive dividends or proceeds

Not applicable.

(e) Beneficial ownership of less than five percent

Not applicable.

Item 6. Contracts, Arrangement, Understandings or Relationships With Respect to Securities of the Issuer.

On May 16, 2023, the Reporting Persons entered into a Joint Filing Agreement in which the Reporting Persons agreed to the joint filing on behalf of each of them of statements on Schedule 13D with respect to securities of the Issuer, to the extent required by applicable law. The Joint Filing Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Except as otherwise provided in this Schedule 13D, there are no contracts, arrangements, understandings or relationships between the Reporting Person and any persons with respect to any securities of the Issuer.

Item 7. Materials to be Filed as Exhibits.

99.1 Joint Filing Agreement

CUSIP No. 963025705 13D Page 8 of 10

Signatures

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Pursuant to Rule 13d-1(k), this Schedule 13D is filed on behalf of each of the Reporting Persons.

Dated as of: May 16, 2023

ANHINGA INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC By: /s/ Calgary Leveen Calgary Leveen Managing Member BANYAN ADVISORS LLC By: /s/ Calgary Leveen Calgary Leveen Managing Member /s/ Calgary Leveen Calgary Leveen

Attention: Intentional misstatements or omissions of fact constitute Federal criminal violations (See 18 U.S.C. 1001).

CUSIP No. 963025705 13D Page 9 of 10

ANNEX A

Schedule of Transactions in Common Shares of the Issuer

During the Past 60 Days

(unless otherwise noted, transactions represent purchases of Common Shares)

Anhinga

Date of Transaction Quantity Purchased (Sold) Price per Share 3/17/2023 3/20/2023 3/20/2023 3/20/2023 3/20/2023 3/20/2023 3/20/2023 3/20/2023 3/20/2023 3/27/2023 3/27/2023 3/28/2023 4/11/2023 4/14/2023 4/14/2023 4/14/2023 4/14/2023 4/14/2023 4/14/2023 4/14/2023 4/14/2023 4/14/2023 4/14/2023 4/17/2023 4/17/2023 4/17/2023 4/18/2023 4/19/2023 4/19/2023 4/24/2023 4/24/2023 4/25/2023 4/25/2023 5/02/2023 5/09/2023 1,000 1,000 100 100 800 500 100 400 500 500 1,000 206 (3,000)(2) (206) (99) (99) (99) (99) (99) (99) (99) (99) 340(1) (99) (100) (9) (11)(2) (989)(2) (1,091) (1,909) (1) (1) (45) 2 1,000 $1.45 $1.40 $1.40 $1.39 $1.41 $1.39 $1.37 $1.35 $1.31 $1.23 $1.20 $1.18 $12.25 $1.30 $1.30 $1.30 $1.30 $1.30 $1.30 $1.30 $1.30 $1.28 $1.50 $1.29 $1.30 $1.29 $12.25 $12.20 $1.30 $1.26 $1.29 $1.30 $12.25 $1.09 $0.79

CUSIP No. 963025705 13D Page 10 of 10

Banyan

Date of Transaction Quantity Purchased Price per Share 3/20/2023 3,150 $1.36

Leveen

None.

All purchases were effected through open market or privately negotiated transactions.

(1) Represents purchase of Series B Preferred Stock.

(2) Represents purchase of Series D Preferred Stock.

ATTACHMENTS / EXHIBITS

e618637_ex99-1.htm
GENEVA, May 16 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for caution when deploying large language model tools (LLMs) generated by artificial intelligence (AI).

In a statement released Tuesday, WHO said it was imperative for the risks of LLMs to be carefully examined.

LLMs are used to improve access to health information, as decision-support tools, and to enhance diagnostic capacity in under-resourced settings.

WHO has warned that the caution normally exercised for new technologies is not being consistently applied to LLMs.

WHO notes that precipitous adoption of untested systems could lead to errors by healthcare workers, cause harm to patients, and erode trust in AI. This could undermine or delay the potential long-term benefits of such technologies.

Therefore, WHO has called for rigorous oversight of LLMs, to ensure they are used in safe, effective, and ethical ways.

As technology firms work to commercialize LLMs, policy-makers must ensure patient safety and protection, WHO noted.

Clear evidence of the benefits of LLMs must be measured before they can be used on a large scale in routine healthcare and medicine - whether by individuals, care providers or health system administrators and policy-makers.

The WHO's guidance on the ethics and governance of AI for health, released in June 2021, emphasizes the importance of applying ethical principles and appropriate governance when designing, developing, and deploying AI for health. 
UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13G





Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934





MoneyGram International Inc. (Name of Issuer) Common Stock (Title of Class of Securities) 60935Y208 (CUSIP Number) March 24, 2023 (Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)





Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:





[X] Rule 13d-1(b)





[_] Rule 13d-1(c)





[_] Rule 13d-1(d)





*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting persons initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.





The amendment is being filed only for formatting purposes.





The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be filed for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Act) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes ).

SCHEDULE 13G

CUSIP No. 60935Y208





1 Names of Reporting Persons Sand Grove Capital Management LLP 2 Check the appropriate box if a member of a Group (see instructions) (a) [ ]

(b) [ ] 3 Sec Use Only 4 Citizenship or Place of Organization Sand Grove Capital Management LLP is a limited liability partnership organized under the laws of England and Wales Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With: 5 Sole Voting Power 0 6 Shared Voting Power 0 7 Sole Dispositive Power 0 8 Shared Dispositive Power 0 9 Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 0 10 Check box if the aggregate amount in row (9) excludes certain shares (See Instructions) [ ] 11 Percent of class represented by amount in row (9) 0.00% 12 Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions) OO, IA





Page 2 of 6

Item 1.

(a) Name of Issuer: MoneyGram International Inc.

(b) Address of Issuers Principal Executive Offices: 2828 North Harwood Street Floor 15 Dallas, TX 75201 USA

Item 2.

(a) Name of Person Filing: Sand Grove Capital Management LLP

(b) Address of Principal Business Office or, if None, Residence: 5 Hanover Square, 6th Floor, London, W1S 1HE

(c) Citizenship: Sand Grove Capital Management LLP is a limited liability partnership organized under the laws of England and Wales

(d) Title and Class of Securities: Common Stock

(e) CUSIP No.: 60935Y208

Item 3. If this statement is filed pursuant to  240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:



(a) [_] Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act;



(b) [_] Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act;



(c) [_] Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Act;



(d) [_] Investment company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940;



(e) [X] An investment adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);



(f) [_] An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);



(g) [_] A parent holding company or control person in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);



(h) [_] A savings associations as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813);

Page 3 of 6







(i) [_] A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940;



(j) [_] A non-U.S. institution in accordance with Rule 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J);



(k) [_] Group, in accordance with Rule 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(K). If filing as a non-U.S. institution in accordance with Rule 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J), please specify the type of institution: ____

Item 4. Ownership

Sand Grove Opportunities Master Fund Ltd and other funds for which Sand Grove Capital Management LLP serves as investment manager hold 0 shares.

Sand Grove Capital Intermediate Ltd is a member of the Reporting Person, and Sand Grove Cayman L.P. is its sole member. Simon Alfred Noel Davies is the chief investment officer of the Reporting Person and the controlling member of the group.

(a) Amount Beneficially Owned: 0



(b) Percent of Class: 0.00%







(c) Number of shares as to which such person has:


TAMPA, Fla. (Tribune News Service)  Whats the proper penalty for the retired Air Force intelligence officer who kept more than 300 classified defense documents among his personal belongings?

A federal judge mulled that question Monday as Robert Birchum stood before her for sentencing.

A prosecutor wanted 6 1/2 years in prison. A probation investigator recommended four. Birchums defense attorney asked for probation only.

U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle couldnt decide. She said she wanted more time to research the handful of similar cases that have come before other courts, and their resulting sentences.

Amid the legal tug-of-war came mention of cases involving other prominent individuals. They werent mentioned by name, but Birchums defense attorney in a sentencing memo alluded to investigations involving classified material held by former President Donald Trump, former Vice President Mike Pence, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and current President Joe Biden.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cherie Krigsman mentioned the comparison. But she could not offer any insights, she said, because none of those scandals has produced federal charges or sentences.

Defense attorney Eric Roper also alluded in the sentencing memo to the cases of former National Security Adviser Sandy Berger and retired U.S. Army General and CIA Director David Petraeus, who both received fines and probation sentences for mishandling classified material.

Krigsman noted that Berger and Petraeus both pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges, but that Congress in 2018 made the retention of classified material a felony.

Birchum is due back in court June 1.

The career airman once served at Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base. He pleaded guilty earlier this year to a charge of unlawful retention of national defense information.

Standing before the judge Monday in a formal Air Force uniform, Birchum clutched a lectern and sobbed. He offered apologies and explanations. But he also questioned the vigorousness with which hed been prosecuted.

There was no malicious intent, he said. And I did not disclose the information to any unauthorized individual.

Birchum, 55, served in the Air Force for 29 years, retiring at the rank of lieutenant colonel in 2018. As a military intelligence officer, he was trusted to handle classified information while working at the Joint Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

Some of the information he had access to included details about Defense Department locations throughout the world, explanations of the Air Forces capabilities and vulnerabilities, and methods they use to gather and transmit intelligence, according to court records.

In court, it was revealed that Birchums wife, Cristina, in 2017 discovered a classified document while looking through her husbands belongings for a photo of his son. She brought it to the attention of the Air Force, the defense lawyer said. A civilian intelligence analyst, she had her own security clearance revoked and was suspended without pay as a result of the investigation.

Investigators later searched the home and seized a thumb drive, a Dell hard drive and numerous paper documents. The items contained hundreds of pieces of information relating to national defense, including some labeled Top Secret and others labeled Secret.

The top secret designation is applied to information that is considered so sensitive that its release could be expected to cause exceptionally grave damage to national security, according to court records.

The files included presentations from the National Security Agency detailing the organizations capabilities, methods of intelligence collection and identifying targets vulnerabilities. A further search turned up an additional hard drive in Birchums overseas living quarters, which held more than 100 classified files that were designated top secret, secret and confidential. A search of a storage pod in the driveway of Birchums Tampa home turned up 28 more files deemed secret.

The release of such information could put lives and Americas allies at risk, Krigsman said. The prosecutor suggested the reason Birchum retained the information was rooted in hubris. She accused him of flouting rules and substituting his own judgment for that of his superiors.

He abused the trust the Air Force bestowed upon him, Krigsman said.

Mizelle, who was appointed by Trump near the end of his term, questioned why it took six years for investigators to bring a criminal case against Birchum.

Krigsman cited several factors, among them the detailed process federal investigators took to pin down the original classification of many of the documents, which originated from different agencies.

These cases are hard and complicated to work, she said.

Roper, the defense lawyer, said the last documented investigative steps were completed by the Air Force in 2017. The military declined to pursue a criminal case at court martial. Birchum received an administrative censure from the military before an honorable discharge the following year.

There was no evidence that Birchum had a nefarious motive for keeping the documents, Roper said. Ever since, he has lived with the constant anxiety of potential criminal charges.

His attorney noted Birchums many combat deployments, and the toll that his service has had on his mental health.

Birchum met his wife when they both worked at the Pentagon in 2001. They were there on Sept. 11, when a hijacked airliner slammed into the building. She wrote a letter of support for him ahead of the sentencing hearing.

He completed several missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. He twice tried to end his life, according to a sentencing memo. He was twice held for an involuntary examination under Floridas Baker Act, and was given psychotropic medications, the memo stated. He continues to struggle daily with service-related disabilities, the memo stated.

Prosecutors noted that Birchum signed non-disclosure agreements throughout his career, acknowledging that he understood the responsibilities and requirements of handling classified information, including precautions he had to take to ensure that such material did not fall into the wrong hands.

In court, though, he claimed his retention of the items was due to a series of mistakes on my part.

He mentioned changes in security procedures. He spoke of having memory problems, and psychological struggles.

Its a challenge, he said, for him to get out of bed each day.

There is a saying at the V.A.  to get out of hell you must go through misery, he said. Well Ive been stuck there a long time. And Im still stuck.

2023 Tampa Bay Times

Visit at tampabay.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC
CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea  The former director of Army Aviation, taking command of the services only combined division on Tuesday, described the United States relationship with South Korea as the greatest alliance in the world.

Maj. Gen. William Taylor made the comment after taking charge of the 2nd Infantry Division from Maj. Gen. David Lesperance on Robertson Field in front of the divisions headquarters at Camp Humphreys.

Taylor, speaking to roughly 300 people, said serving in Korea as a part of the greatest alliance in the world is truly an amazing opportunity. We have a real mission that brings us all together with a common purpose for good.

The 12,100-strong 2nd ID is the Armys only division that combines U.S. units with those of another nation, in this case South Korea.

Lesperance, who had led 2nd ID since May 18, 2021, will become director of operations for U.S. Forces Korea, the Combined Forces Command and United Nations Command at Humphreys.

During his farewell speech, Lesperance said he and his wife, Kelly, were honored to call Korea our home.

Each of you are key members of the combined division team, sharing the camaraderie that makes us warriors, he said.

In March, Lesperance oversaw 2nd IDs largest joint field exercise in six years. Warrior Shield included 1,200 U.S. and South Korean soldiers from six locations on the peninsula.

U.S. and South Korean military officials described Warrior Shield and similar joint exercises as defensive measures against North Korea, which has fired 12 ballistic missiles so far this year.

Under Lesperance, 2nd ID last year began replacing its rotational armored brigade combat teams with Stryker teams.

The divisions efforts set a standard for how units should prepare for and be ready for combat and allow the U.S. military to develop bilateral response options to deter North Korea, Lesperance said in his speech.

To all the warriors, I want you to always remember your personal efforts contribute directly to the stability and prosperity here in [South Korea], he said.

Taylor most recently was the director of Army Aviation under the Armys deputy chief of staff in Washington, D.C.

He was commissioned as an infantry officer in 1990 and graduated from Brigham Young University a year later, according to his Army biography.

Around 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea, the majority of them at Humphreys, roughly 40 miles south of Seoul.
WASHINGTON  An Army AH-64 Apache helicopter crashed during a training exercise in Washington state over the weekend and investigators are still trying to determine what went wrong, service officials said Tuesday.

The helicopter was carrying two soldiers from the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade from Joint Base Lewis-McChord when it went down near the Yakima Training Center late Saturday, the service said. It was the second Army helicopter to crash in less than three weeks.

The crash took place during training, the base said, and both soldiers were rushed to a hospital. One was released early Sunday, and the other remains in the hospital, an Army statement said. That soldiers condition was not disclosed.

Our No. 1 priority at this time is ensuring our pilots receive the medical care they need, while simultaneously caring for their families, said Army Col. Derek Smith, commander of the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade.

Joint Base Lewis-McChord is about 10 miles southwest of downtown Tacoma and 35 miles southwest of Seattle. The base is home to several Army and Air Force units and the Yakima Training Center  a 327,000-acre complex that has 25 ranges and a shoot house that allows service members to train individually or in groups, according to its website.

The base did not identify the two soldiers who were aboard the helicopter when it crashed.

We are prepared to support these soldiers and their family members with all the resources at our disposal while we conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of this training accident, Smith said.

The AH-64 Apache is one of the Armys most widely used attack helicopters since it entered service in the mid-1980s, and Saturdays crash was the second involving an AH-64 Apache in just 16 days.

Two Apache helicopters collided in midflight and crashed in east-central Alaska on April 27 while returning to Fort Wainwright from a training mission, killing all three aboard. That accident came just weeks after another deadly collision in Kentucky between two Army Black Hawk helicopters that killed nine.

After the deadly crashes, the Army grounded all its helicopters until pilots underwent extra training. Joint Base Lewis-McChord said both pilots involved in Saturdays Apache crash did complete that supplemental training. An investigation team from the Army Combat Readiness Center at Fort Novosel, Ala., has been dispatched to examine the crash, the base said. The same investigation unit has not yet announced the causes of the crashes in Alaska and Kentucky.

The AH-64 Apache carries a maximum of two people in its tandem cockpit and can fly faster than 170 mph in level flight. The helicopter, produced by Boeing, can carry a chain gun between its landing gear and various missiles for a wide scope of missions. Boeing also makes several variants  labeled as letters A through E  that feature different capabilities and technologies. The helicopter that crashed in Washington state Saturday was an AH-64E  the newest variant, which has more powerful engines and can operate drones in flight.

The Army has said it intends to keep flying its Apache helicopter fleet until at least 2040. Boeing said there are about 1,300 of the helicopters presently flying in service around the world.

The Armys use of its Yakima Training Center goes back to the 1940s, and the service calls it the military's premier training destination in the Pacific Northwest. The Marine Corps, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, Special Operations Command, federal and local law enforcement agencies, and security forces from Canada and Japan have all used the Army training complex.
STUTTGART, Germany  U.S. European Commands Gen. Christopher Cavoli said Russias total military force has sustained less damage during the war in Ukraine than its battlefield failures might suggest, and that some of its capabilities remain untouched since last years invasion.

Cavoli, speaking Sunday during a security conference in Estonia, said Russian air power, sea power and cyberwarfare units have continued mostly intact in the time since Moscows full-scale attack in February 2022.

It's very easy to look and to think that the Russian military has collapsed or is in dire trouble, but in fact, it's been uneven, Cavoli said during the Lennart Meri Conference in Tallinn.

During more than a year of fighting, Russias army has been hard hit. The U.S. estimates that Russian casualties have been as high as 100,000 killed or injured in just the last several months of the war alone. Yet Moscow has been able to replenish its ground force ranks, Cavoli said.

"The ground forces are greatly eroded. They have run into big problems.  On the other hand, they've also ingested a lot of people, Cavoli said. And you know, the Russian army, the ground force, today is bigger than it was at the beginning of this conflict.

Meanwhile, Russias air force has lost fewer than 100 fighters and bombers, with about 1,000 such aircraft remaining, he said.

The navy has lost almost nothing, cyber has lost nothing, space lost nothing, Cavoli said. So really, when we talk about the Russian military, we have to study it across all domains. And we have to be ready to deal with the Russian military into the future in all domains."

Cavolis comments come as the U.S. and its allies in Europe prepare for a NATO summit this summer that will focus on how the alliances defense plans for the Continent need to be enhanced to deal with the threat posed by Russia.

Still, there is an ongoing debate about whether Russias military failures in Ukraine are an indication that the country poses less of a threat to the alliance than previously thought.

At the outset of the war, many security analysts expected a quick victory for Moscow. But Ukraines effectiveness on the battlefield and an influx of Western arms turned the tables on the larger Russian force.

A bipartisan group of senators in March called on the Pentagon to update its requirements for confronting Russia in Europe, citing Moscows failures in Ukraine as the reason.

Maintaining outdated plans and assumptions represents a potential threat not only to our objectives in Europe, but also to our allocation of resources in dealing with our security interests elsewhere in the world, the lawmakers wrote.

The senators, which included Army veteran Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said Russia casualties in the range of 200,000 troops overall and the large-scale loss of Russian battle tanks and other fighting vehicles suggest the Russian military has been significantly degraded.

Russias military is not the same as it was in 2021, and shows no signs of returning to its pre-invasion state in the near term. Our European warfighting requirements should reflect this new reality, the senators wrote.

Cavoli, however, said Russia maintains a wide range of military firepower that demands allies stay on guard.

"How long will it take (Russia) to rebuild? The question is, how long will it take to rebuild to do what? They're capable of doing things today, Cavoli said. I think there's not going to be a light switch that goes on or off now. We need to know we need to be prepared.
Marines who served at Camp Lejeune, N.C., in the 1970s and 1980s have developed Parkinsons disease at a much higher rate than those who served at Camp Pendleton, Calif., a study published Monday in the Journal of the American Medical Association found.

Medical researchers looking at the link between trichloroethylene, a widely spread toxic chemical known as TCE, and Parkinsons disease found Marines and Navy sailors who served at Camp Lejeune between 1975 and 1985 were 70% more likely to develop Parkinsons than those who served at the California base, according to the study. Though Camp Lejeunes water supply was known to be contaminated at that time with TCE among other toxic chemicals, Camp Pendletons water supply was clean, the researchers wrote.

The study is the latest to spotlight the toxic water supply at Camp Lejeune from the 1950s into the late 1980s that exposed as many as 1 million service members and civilians to contaminants linked to neurological disorders, including Parkinsons, cancers, reproductive issues and other health defects.

Researchers analyzed medical records for more than 340,000 troops in the study, which were provided by the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, or ATSDR. They wrote that they looked at data for those who served between 1975 and 1985 because it was the period when the water at Camp Lejeune was the most contaminated  with median levels of TCE in base water more than 70-fold higher than considered safe by the federal government.

TCE is a solvent used for dry cleaning clothes, degreasing metals and decaffeinating coffee. It has been linked to neurological disorders since the 1960s, according to the American Medical Association. TCE has been banned in New York and Minnesota and parts of Europe. The study describes it as an ubiquitous environmental contaminant that could have exposed millions of people worldwide to elevated Parkinsons risk and could have contributed to a global rise in the disease, which causes uncontrollable movements such as shaking and stumbling.

Camp Lejeune veterans who have developed Parkinsons after serving at least 30 days at the base can be compensated by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Civilian employees and military family members, however, must file a lawsuit against the government to receive compensation through the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act, or PACT Act, passed last year.

The study published Monday did not look at civilian data.

The VA and the Defense Department were listed as providing funding for the new study, but those departments did not participate in the research, according to the study.

The VA has encouraged veterans who served at least 30 days at Camp Lejeune between Aug. 1, 1953, and Dec. 31, 1987, and their family members to apply for care and benefits at VA.gov/CampLejeune.

Briana De Miranda, an assistant professor of neurology and pharmacology and toxicology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, told the Journal of the American Medical Association that the new study was really, really valuable and could help family members and civilians connected to Camp Lejeune who have or do develop Parkinsons. She said she suspected disease rates among those linked to the base would continue to rise in the coming years.

I suspect there is probably more Parkinsons disease [connected to Camp Lejeune], she said. And I think theres a lot more to come.
CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa  A Marine on Okinawa faces up to 20 months in prison after pleading guilty to driving recklessly prior to a crash that killed a Japanese pedestrian last year.

Cpl. Joshua David Siegel, 21, of Camp Foster, entered his plea Thursday in Naha District Court to a charge of negligent driving resulting in injury or death for the May 8 crash on Route 58 in Chatan, the Okinawa Times reported Saturday.

Prosecutors alleged Siegel was traveling upwards of 55 mph on the main thoroughfare in slick conditions when his car jumped the curb and struck Katsuya Ishikawa, 61, of Ginowan, the paper reported. Siegel is scheduled to be sentenced Monday.

A spokeswoman from Naha District Court declined to confirm details of the proceedings when reached by phone Tuesday.

Siegel was southbound in his white, four-door sedan at approximately 7:30 a.m. when he lost control and first struck Ishikawa, and then a pedestrian guard rail that runs between the sidewalk and Fosters perimeter fence, Okinawa police said at the time. The Wyoming native was reportedly driving about 20 mph over the speed limit at the time of the crash.

Ishikawa was pronounced dead at a central Okinawa hospital around 11:30 a.m., police said. Siegel suffered an injured right foot.

The Marine was not on duty at the time, nor had he been drinking, according to police. He was not arrested but was later called in for questioning and then summoned to court.

At Thursdays hearing, prosecutors called the crime particularly egregious and requested jail time, according to the Okinawa Times. Attorneys for Siegel argued that he was remorseful and requested a suspended sentence.

Siegel is an aviation intelligence specialist with Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 1 at Foster, Marine Corps Installations Pacific spokeswoman 1st Lt. Ashleigh Fairow said in an email Tuesday. He was not taken into custody prior to trial but was restricted to base until Oct. 18 and ordered not to operate a personally owned vehicle.

The Marine Corps takes these incidents seriously, and we would like to offer our condolences to those that are still affected, Fairow said.
(Tribune News Service)  In his capacity as site manager for the Fort Necessity National Battlefield, Brian Reedy has spent many years telling visitors that he and fellow National Park Service employees were "reasonably certain" they knew the site where the skirmish at Jumonville Glen unofficially kicked off the French and Indian War in the mid-1700s.

Last week, thanks to a recent archaeological dig at the site in North Union, Reedy was able to confirm with certainty where the fighting occurred.

In 1754, a young George Washington was dispatched by Virginia Lt. Gov. Robert Dinwiddie first as a diplomat, and then on a military expedition with a small group of soldiers, when he reported back that French soldiers did not appear to have any intention of leaving the upper Ohio River Valley.

Informed of a French encampment in modern-day Fayette County by Mingo Native American allies who also aided in the fighting, Washington's group engaged the French on May 28, 1754, killing 10 and capturing 21, according to the Washington Library.

"The 15-minute skirmish that occurs here will change the world," Reedy said.

National Park Service archaeologist William Griswold said the dig, which took roughly a month, uncovered five musket balls and "quite a few artifacts."

"I have to sort of be intentionally vague," he said, "Because we do occasionally have bad actors who will try to take things out of the national park."

But while Griswold could not point to specific areas where items were found, he is planning to analyze them and try to find out more about the skirmish.

"We identified the site of the battle, and it happened much the way it's depicted (in NPS literature)," he said. "Scientific analysis is going to continue here as we try and pull apart the information from these ballistics to figure out who fired what."

The musket balls will undergo portable X-ray fluorescence, which Griswold said helps to develop a "fingerprint" that could help determine which are French and British in origin.

"It was really an extraordinary project," Griswold said.

In addition to NPS personnel, a group of veterans from the American Veterans Archaeology Recovery organization also helped on the dig.

"We try to give veterans an opportunity to excel in the sometimes challenging world of field archaeology in a unique and supported environment," said the group's CEO, Stephen Humphreys. "This group learned a lot of valuable skills that can be used in a tangible way. They really came together around shared experiences both in the military and at this site. Those are connections they can reach to in the future if they're having a hard time."

Humphreys said an ongoing mental health study is showing most veterans participating in the program have shown decreased levels of stress, anxiety and depression.

Reedy said that is just one of the ways in which the dig has been a great success.

"There was our curiosity in finding out more details about the site, and also the legitimate threat to the historical resources that are here," he said. "When archaeological artifacts are taken, it's a loss for everyone. So we wanted to preserve the integrity of what's here and protect the site."

The musket balls and other artifacts will eventually become part of the Fort Necessity Interpretive and Education Center's collection, where they will be available for historical researchers.

For more on Fort Necessity, see NPS.gov/fone.

pvarine@triblive.com

(c)2023 Tribune-Review (Greensburg, Pa.)

Visit at www.triblive.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Al Fahr, Iraq, March 29, 2003: Marines rush through Al Fahr's schoolhouse, clearing each room. They recovered an AK-47 from the school as well as stumbled across children's drawings of a conquering Iraq over U.S., British and Israeli flags.

Read the original 2003 article Raiders of Al Fahr here.
TOKYO  Amid the high-level efforts to deal with a raft of global emergencies, this weekend's Group of 7 summit of rich democracies will also see an unusual diplomatic reconciliation as the leaders of Japan and South Korea look to continue mending ties that have been marked for years by animosity and bickering.

At first glance the two neighbors would seem to be natural partners. They are powerful, advanced democracies and staunch U.S. allies in a region beset with autocratic threats. The continuing fallout, however, from centuries of complicated, acrimonious history, culminating in the brutal 1910-1945 Japanese colonization of the Korean Peninsula, has resulted in more wariness than friendship.

A big part of the sudden recent shift in tone is a shared focus on China's growing aggressiveness, t he threat of North Korea's fast-improving arsenal of nuclear-capable missiles  and deep worry about how Russia's war in Ukraine is influencing both issues. Some diplomatic nudging by Washington, which provides military protection for both its allies and wants them to more strongly counter China's rising global influence, has also helped.

Tokyo and Seoul "understand that their survival, both nationally and politically, depends on subordinating themselves to the U.S. President Joe Biden administration's global and regional priorities," according to Daniel Sneider, an East Asia lecturer at Stanford University.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's invitation for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to be a guest at the G-7 talks in Hiroshima is only the most recent sign of these reset ties. It follows back-to-back summits by the leaders, which hadn't happened in years. Japan also agreed to South Korea's request to send an experts' team later this month to visit the destroyed Fukushima nuclear power plant to view preparation for a planned release into the ocean of treated but still slightly radioactive wastewater.

The G-7 summit, which runs Friday through Sunday, will allow the leaders to deepen their burgeoning relationship  Kishida, Yoon and Biden plan to meet on the sidelines  while also working to persuade the world's most powerful leaders to tighten defense cooperation as China and North Korea expand their military postures in the region.

History issues have long harried Seoul and Tokyo. Ties worsened in 2018, for instance, after South Korean court rulings ordered two Japanese companies to compensate a group of Korean plaintiffs who the companies had used for wartime slave labor. Disagreement over the rulings later spilled over to trade and military cooperation issues. Japan insists all compensation issues were settled by a 1965 treaty that normalized relations.

Yoon's summits with Kishida came after his government announced a domestically unpopular plan in March to use South Korean corporate funds to compensate the forced laborers. The move was aimed at preventing the courts from liquidizing the Japanese companies' local assets, which would cause a further diplomatic rupture.

Kishida agreed to a resumption of defense, trade and other talks in his meetings with Yoon, and Japan recently announced that it is negotiating an agreement with Washington and Seoul on sharing real-time data on North Korean missile launches.

Seoul and Tokyo are both worried about the geopolitical uncertainty created by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has raised fears about similar Chinese aggression in the South and East China Seas and against Taiwan, the democratic, self-governing island that Beijing claims as its own. North Korea also used the global focus on the invasion to ramp up its tests of nuclear-capable missiles.

Japan is one of many nations in Asia that has territorial disputes with China, something that has strongly figured into Kishida's push to distance Japan from its post-World War II principle of self-defense only. Last year, Tokyo adopted a new national security strategy that includes the goals of acquiring preemptive strike capabilities and cruise missiles to counter threats from North Korea, China and Russia.

Alarmed by the growing North Korean threat  Pyongyang has test-launched around 100 missiles since the start of 2022  Yoon may be using better relations with Japan as a way to forge a stronger alliance with the United States.

Yoon's government has expanded its combined military exercises with the United States, which also included three-way drills with Japan, while seeking greater assurances from Washington that it would swiftly and decisively use its nuclear weapons to protect its allies in the event of a North Korean nuclear attack.

"There's growing recognition (in both Tokyo and Seoul) that the region's various security issues are becoming increasingly interconnected," which is leading the countries to reassess their importance to each other, said Jin Chang Soo, an analyst at South Korea's Sejong Institute.

During a recent meeting in Washington, Yoon and Biden agreed to a declaration that includes more nuclear information-sharing and regular visits to South Korea by a U.S. nuclear-powered sub.

The Biden administration may now be pushing for an extended deterrence dialogue among Washington, Seoul and Tokyo that "would convey a formidable response both to North Korea and to China, and even to a potential ChineseRussian military axis," Sneider recently wrote.

Hiroshima, the first target of a nuclear weapon in history, could provide a symbolic backdrop for Kishida and Yoon to raise awareness about the North Korean threat while underlining goals for nuclear non-proliferation.

In another trust-building gesture, Kishida and Yoon plan to pay their respects at a Hiroshima memorial for Korean atomic bomb victims.

Despite the improving ties, however, there's no certainty how long reconciliation will last.

After decades of poverty and dictatorship following the 1950-53 Korean War, South Korea has become a developed economic and military power. But there are large policy swings between conservative governments, like the one in power now, and liberal governments that are more wary of stronger ties with Japan and the United States.

And then there are the historical issues, including continuing court hearings on forced labor, which remain "buried like landmines, not far from the surface and ready to be set off," Sneider said.

Kim reported from Seoul.
ABUJA, May 16 (Xinhua) -- The government in Nigeria's central Plateau state on Tuesday imposed a 24-hour curfew after gunmen attacks on two neighboring villages claimed dozens of lives.

The overnight attacks, which occurred in the Fungzai and Kubat villages in the Mangu local government area of the state, targeted residents late Monday, Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau state said in a statement.

Lalong, who described the attacks as "seriously disturbing," said women and children were among the dead casualties. No official death figure has been given so far, but local media reported more than 20 people were killed in the attacks.

"This is yet another attempt by crises merchants and criminals to return the state to the dark days of pain and agony," the state governor said.

In light of the alarming situation, the Plateau state government declared a 24-hour curfew in the affected areas, with an aim to restrict movement and ensure the safety of residents.

Minister Daput, head of the Mangu local government area, said in a separate statement that the curfew was agreed on after consultation with security heads as means of restoring law and order in the affected communities, particularly to douse tension, considering the number of casualties involved in the attack.

The police have taken charge of the investigation of the attacks, Alfred Alabo, a spokesman for the police Plateau, told local media, adding more policemen had been deployed to the affected areas to restore normalcy.

Armed attacks have been a primary security threat in Nigeria's northern and central regions, leading to deaths and kidnappings in recent months. 
BEIJING  China is prepared to "resolutely smash any form of Taiwan independence," its military said Tuesday, as the U.S. reportedly prepares to accelerate the sale of defensive weapons and other military assistance to the self-governing island democracy.

A recent increase in exchanges between the U.S. and Taiwanese militaries is an "extremely wrong and dangerous move," Defense Ministry spokesperson Col. Tan Kefei said in a statement and video posted online.

China's People's Liberation Army "continues to strengthen military training and preparations and will resolutely smash any form of Taiwanese independence secession along with attempts at outside interference, and will resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity," Tan said, in a reference to Taiwan's closest ally, the United States.

China claims the island of 23 million people as its own territory, to be brought under its control by force if necessary.

With the world's largest navy, latest-generation fighter jets and a huge arsenal of ballistic missiles, China has been upping its threats by sending planes and warships into waters and airspace around Taiwan. With more than 2 million members, the PLA also ranks as the world's largest standing military, although transporting even a portion of the force in the event of an invasion is considered a huge logistical challenge.

Along with daily air and sea incursions around Taiwan, Beijing has held military exercises in and around the Taiwan Strait dividing the sides, seen in part as a rehearsal for a blockade or invasion that would have massive consequences for security and economies worldwide.

Such actions seek to harass Taiwan's military and intimidate politicians and voters who will choose a new president and legislature next year.

The moves appear to have had limited effect, with most Taiwanese firmly in favor of maintaining their de facto independent status. Politicians and other public figures from Europe and the U.S. have also been making frequent trips to Taipei to show their support, despite their countries' lack of formal diplomatic ties in deference to Beijing.

Tan's comments were prompted by a question from an unidentified reporter about reports that U.S. President Joe Biden is preparing to approve the sale of $500 million in arms to Taiwan, as well as sending more than 100 military personnel to evaluate training methods and offer suggestions for improving the island's defenses.

Taiwan enjoys strong support from both the U.S. Democratic and Republican parties, which have called on the Biden administration to follow through on nearly $19 billion in military items approved for sale but not yet delivered to Taiwan.

Administration officials have blamed the delayed deliveries on bottlenecks in production related to issues from the COVID-19 pandemic to limited capacity and increased demand for arms to assist Ukraine. Biden's move would allow the export of items from existing U.S. military stockpiles, speeding up the delivery of at least some of the hardware Taiwan needs to deter or repel any Chinese attack.

Among the items on backorder are Harpoon anti-ship missiles, F-16 fighter jets, shoulder-fired Javelin and Stinger missiles and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, a multiple rocket and missile launcher mounted on a truck that has become a crucial weapon for Ukrainian troops battling Russian invasion forces.

Tan's comments were in line with Beijing's standard tone on what it calls the "core of China's core interests." The two sides split at the end of a civil war in 1949 and Beijing considers bringing Taiwan under its control as key to asserting its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Attempts to "seek independence by relying on the United States" and "seek independence by military might" are a "dead end," Tan said.

With China-U.S. relations at a historic low and Taiwanese unreceptive to Beijing's demands for political concessions on unification, concerns are rising about the likelihood of an open conflict involving all three sides and possibly U.S. treaty allies such as Japan.

China's diplomatic and economic support for Russia following its invasion of Ukraine has also increased tensions with Washington. Beijing is believed to be closely studying Moscow's military failures in the conflict, while the Western will to back Kyiv is seen by some as a test of its determination to side with Taiwan in the event of a conflict with China.
CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa  Japanese police this week arrested a protester opposed to the U.S. military presence on the island with a suspected pipe bomb outside the U.S. Consulate.

The same protester, Akino Miyagi, 44, of Higashi village, reportedly attempted to take a rifle from a U.S. Marine whose squad wandered into the village from the Jungle Warfare Training Center at Camp Gonsalves in December.

Okinawa prefectural police took Miyagi into custody at 10:22 a.m. Monday, a police spokesman told Stars and Stripes by phone Tuesday. Police said Miyagi brandished a metal pipe and threatened to throw it.

She was wearing a T-shirt that read, A present to America, made with gunpowder from U.S. military waste in the World Heritage site in Yanbaru, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported Tuesday.

No one was hurt in the incident, according to Beatrice Camp, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Consulate General Naha.

"We are grateful to the police for their quick response," she said in an email Tuesday.

Miyagi, a writer and self-described "butterfly scientist," was still in custody Tuesday and could face a charge of obstructing police in performance of their public duties, the police spokesman said. The case was expected to be sent to prosecutors on Tuesday.

A bomb squad seized and analyzed the pipe, which was hollow and filled with unused bullets collected from former U.S. training areas, Okinawa Times reported Tuesday. The device did not contain a detonator, according to NHK.

An attorney for Miyagi said the device was a flare she collected from a former U.S. training area in the northern part of the island, Okinawa Times said.

Miyagi has denied the obstruction charge, the police spokesman said. If convicted, she faces up to three years in prison and $3,700 in fines, according to the Japanese penal code.

Some government officials in Japan speak to the media on condition of anonymity as a requirement of their employment.
TOKYO  Dozens of anti-nuclear activists protested Tuesday to demand Japan scrap its plan to release treated but still radioactive water from a tsunami-damaged nuclear power plant into the sea, which may begin this summer.

"Don't dump contaminated water into sea!" protesters chanted outside the Tokyo Electric Power Company Holding's headquarters in Tokyo, holding banners with their demands such as "Don't nuke the Pacific," and "Stop contaminated water."

The utility that operates the plant wrecked in the 2011 disaster has almost finished building the needed facilities to release the massive amounts of water, which has been speculated to begin sometime after June.

"Even after treatment, some radiation stays in the water," said Harumichi Saito, an activist from Iwaki, a city south of the wrecked plant. "It's a decades-long, multi-generational project that must get public consensus."

The tsunami and earthquake on March 11, 2011, damaged the Fukushima Daiichi plant's cooling systems, damaging three nuclear reactors, causing their cooling water to become highly radioactive and leak into the basements of the buildings. The water is collected, treated and stored in tanks that cover much of the plant.

The government and TEPCO say the tanks must be removed to make room for the plant's decommissioning and to minimize the risk of leaks in case of another disaster.

The plan has faced fierce protests from local fishing communities concerned about safety and reputational damage. Neighboring countries, including South Korea, China and the Pacific Island nations, have protested.

Japanese officials say the water will be filtered to far below international releasable levels and further diluted by large amounts of seawater before release, making it harmless. However, some scientists say the impact of long-term, low-dose exposure to tritium and other radionuclides on the environment and people is still unknown and the release should be delayed.

Several activists from South Korea joined Tuesday's rally.

"The Pacific Ocean does not belong to Japan. It belongs to all living things in the ocean and everyone who depends on it for their livelihoods," said Kyoungsook Choi, a Korea Radiation Watch coordinator. "We are here today to send the message that Japan does not have the right to dump the radioactive water."

Tokyo and Seoul agreed recently for a South Korean delegation to visit the plant in late May to observe preparations for the release, as the two sides worked to improve ties strained by historical disputes.

Associated Press journalist Chisato Tanaka contributed to this report.
HONG KONG  The life sentence imposed by China on a 78-year-old U.S. citizen, who was also a Hong Kong permanent resident, on spying charges shows the city should "stay vigilant" to security risks, its leader said Tuesday.

Chief Executive John Lee answered none of the lingering questions about why John Shing-Wan Leung was prosecuted. The sentence was announced Monday but neither the Hong Kong government nor the court in the eastern Chinese city of Suzhou that tried Leung have released details of the charges.

"This incident showed us that national security risks could be hidden in society. That's why we repeatedly stressed that, although Hong Kong's situation appears to be largely stabilized, we can't let down our guard over national security risks and have to stay vigilant," Lee said.

The government said mainland Chinese authorities had informed Hong Kong of his arrest in 2021. Hong Kong's government was prepared to provide assistance to anyone arrested by mainland authorities upon request but had not yet received any in Leung's case, authorities said.

Lee, a former police officer and ex-head of security in the city, was effectively appointed to lead Hong Kong last year after running unopposed in an election choreographed by Beijing. In his previous posts, he oversaw a campaign that crushed the pro-democracy camp.

In an echo of party propaganda, Lee referred to the 2019 pro-democracy protests that triggered the crackdown as "black violence" and Hong Kong's version of "color revolution," a phrase used by China and Russia to describe political movements seeking to overturn authoritarian regimes. Lee said the protest movement was an alarm bell that reminds the city to keep monitoring such risks.

Leung's sentencing threatens to further exacerbate already strained ties between Beijing and Washington.

Leung was detained April 15, 2021, by the local bureau of China's counterintelligence agency in 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 lockdowns affecting tens of millions to fight the spread of COVID-19.

Such investigations and trials are held behind closed doors and little information is generally released.

The harsh sentence given Leung was especially notable because of his previous affiliations with pro-Communist Party organizations, including one seeking overseas support for Beijing's goal of unification with self-governing Taiwan.

Relations between Washington and Beijing are at their lowest in decades amid disputes over trade, technology, human rights and China's increasingly aggressive territorial claims toward Taiwan, the South China Sea and elsewhere.

High-level government exchanges between the sides have been placed on hold and U.S. companies are delaying major investments amid mixed messaging from Beijing. Many Chinese firms, most notably telecoms giant Huawei, have been effectively shut out of the U.S. market due to legal bans and high tariffs.

The sentencing comes as U.S. President Joe Biden is traveling to Hiroshima, Japan this weekend for the summit of the Group of Seven major industrial nations, followed by a visit to Papua New Guinea, a Pacific island nation in a region where China has sought to expand its economic, military and diplomatic influence.

While the Suzhou court offered no indication of a link between Leung's case and overall China-U.S. relations, spying charges in China often appear highly selective and evidence backing them up is held in secret. The party's rigid control over courts, civil society and the media effectively blocks efforts to gain further information or mount legal appeals.

The U.S. Embassy in Beijing said Monday it was aware of Leung's 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.

A former British colony, Hong Kong was promised it would retain its financial, social and political liberties when returned to China in 1997. Beijing has since torn up that commitment through progressively harsher restrictions on public gatherings, free speech and political participation, while still promoting the city as an efficient and corruption-free center for trade and finance.

Meanwhile, on the mainland, Chinese national security agencies have 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.

The pressure on foreign companies appears to clash with attempts by Beijing to lure back foreign investors after draconian COVID-19 pandemic restrictions were lifted at the beginning of the year.

It wasn't clear who represented Leung at his trial and his family has not commented on the sentence. Friends and former colleagues declined The Associated Press' requests for comment.

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 China's 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. Online commentary and independent information sources have been muzzled and universities 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 a Canadian diplomat to leave at short notice in retaliation for Ottawa's expulsion of a staffer at the Chinese Embassy who was accused of threatening a member of the Canadian Parliament and his family members living in Hong Kong.

China's leader for a decade who faces no term limits, Xi has taken a highly confrontational stance toward the U.S. and other democracies, while backing Russian President Vladimir Putin in his invasion of Ukraine and supporting other autocratic governments from Nicaragua to Myanmar.
BANGKOK  Pacific Island leaders are criticizing 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.

Leaders and representatives from Pacific Island nations demanded at a U.N. climate change conference Monday in Bangkok that the world make more effort to put aside differences in combating the environmental impact, especially as their countries emerge from the economic devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prime Minister Mark Brown of the Cook Islands said the finance model for combatting climate change  giving out loans to reduce the impact  is "not the way to go" for countries in his region with such small populations that produce "inconsequential amounts of carbon emissions" but suffer the most from the effects.

He encouraged a shift toward grants or interest-free loans to help ease the financial burden on poorer countries.

"All we're doing is adding debt to countries that have come out of COVID with increased debt, and to me it is actually quite offensive that we would be required to borrow money to build resilience, and to borrow from the very countries that are causing climate change," he told The Associated Press.

Brown said his country lost an estimated 41% of its GDP because of the pandemic, "a loss of a decade's worth of prosperity."

He said he will give this message to leaders when he represents his tiny South Pacific nation with a population of about 17,000 at a summit later this week of the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations in Japan, where he hopes to be able to speak on a more equal footing to the leaders than as "a grateful recipient" to "benevolent donors."

Palau President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. agreed that financing opportunities are "few and difficult," and criticized wealthy countries for failing to commit to provide the financial help they had promised, which he said represents only a tiny portion of their prioritized expenditures such as the military.

"We didn't cause the problem, but now they're going to make money off of us by giving us a loan so we can pay back with interest," he told The Associated Press. "So now you have to adapt, but we'll give you money and make money off of you by giving you that money to adapt. That doesn't make sense."

Whipps said Palau's economy relies heavily on tourism, which is greatly threatened by the impact of climate change. The country's economic security is also a major issue in Palau's negotiations with the U.S. on the "Compacts of Free Association," a broader agreement that will govern its relations with Washington for the next two decades. Those ties grant the U.S. unique military and other security rights in the islands in return for substantial aid.

Whipps said the administration of President Joe Biden has promised approximately $900 million over the 20-year period. While the amount is "definitely less" than what his country would have wanted, Whipps said he is largely satisfied with the terms, renegotiated from what was achieved during the administration of former President Donald Trump.

While there are some concerns that the U.S. Congress will cut foreign aid and in turn affect this funding, Whipps said he expects Washington will honor the agreement, which he hopes can be signed by both sides in Papua New Guinea next week.

Brown said efforts to tackle climate change and build resilience to its impact, such as better infrastructure and greater water and food security, require lots of money, especially for island nations with small populations. He said $1.2 billion a year for the region to spend on climate adaptation and mitigation measures would be "a starter."

"The fact remains that the underlying solution to assist countries that are facing the impacts of climate change is to build resilience, and building resilience takes money," he said.
STUTTGART, Germany  A Russian fighter jet collided with a U.S. drone Tuesday over the Black Sea, forcing the unmanned aircraft to crash into international waters, U.S. European Command said.

At about 7 a.m., two Russian Su-27 aircraft conducted an unsafe and unprofessional intercept with a U.S. Air Force drone, the Stuttgart, Germany-based EUCOM said.

One of the Su-27s struck the propeller of the MQ-9 during the incident, EUCOM said. That forced the aircrafts controllers to bring it down into the Black Sea, the command said.

Several times before the collision, the Su-27s dumped fuel on and flew in front of the MQ-9 in a reckless, environmentally unsound and unprofessional manner, the EUCOM statement said.

"Our MQ-9 aircraft was conducting routine operations in international airspace when it was intercepted and hit by a Russian aircraft, resulting in a crash and complete loss of the MQ-9," Gen. James Hecker, U.S. Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa commander, said in a statement. "In fact, this unsafe and unprofessional act by the Russians nearly caused both aircraft to crash."

Russias Defense Ministry said the U.S. drone maneuvered sharply and crashed into water following an encounter with Russian fighter jets scrambled to intercept it near Crimea, but insisted its warplanes didnt fire their weapons or hit the drone, according to the Associated Press.

EUCOM said the incident follows a pattern of dangerous actions by Russian pilots in international airspace, including over the Black Sea.

These aggressive actions by Russian air crew are dangerous and could lead to miscalculation and unintended escalation, EUCOM said.

In recent years, there have been repeated close encounters between U.S. and Russian aircraft, after which the American military accused the Russians of carrying out unsafe maneuvers or harassing naval vessels on patrol.

However, none of those encounters resulted in a collision.

EUCOM did not say where the MQ-9 was flying from, but the U.S. operates out of various locations in the Black Sea region, including Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base in Romania.

The U.S. Air Force also flies surveillance aircraft out of Campia Turzii Air Base in central Romania.

The collision over the Black Sea comes more than a year after Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine and at a time of high tension between Moscow and the West.

While the Kremlin has complained about the weaponry the U.S. and other allies are sending into Ukraine, it also has taken issue with the increased number of U.S. troops that have been dispatched along NATOs eastern flank.

The Air Force said it routinely flies throughout Europe in accordance with international laws.

"U.S. and Allied aircraft will continue to operate in international airspace and we call on the Russians to conduct themselves professionally and safely," Hecker said.

The AP reported that U.S. President Joe Biden was briefed on the incident by national security adviser Jake Sullivan, according to White House National Security spokesman John Kirby. He added that U.S. State Department officials would be speaking directly with their Russian counterparts and expressing our concerns over this unsafe and unprofessional intercept.

State Department spokesman Ned Price said the U.S. summoned the Russian ambassador to lodge a protest and the U.S. ambassador to Russia, Lynne Tracy, has made similar representations in Moscow.

Kirby emphasized that the incident wouldnt deter the U.S. from continuing their missions in the area, the AP reported.

If the message is that they want to deter or dissuade us from flying, and operating in international airspace, over the Black Sea, then that message will fail, Kirby said, adding that is not going to happen.

Were going to continue to fly and operate in international airspace over international waters, he said. The Black Sea belongs to no one nation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday dismissed a report in The Washington Post that the founder of Russia's Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeniy Prigozhin, offered to reveal information about Russian military positions to Ukraine, calling the report, which was based on classified U.S. intelligence files, "yet another hoax."

"I can't comment, but it looks like yet another hoax," Peskov replied in response to a question during his daily call with journalists. "Unfortunately, even this respected publication has allowed itself to publish such hoaxes in recent years."

Peskov did not offer any basis for his assessment. In recent weeks, Prigozhin has angrily criticized leaders of Russia's regular military, including Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and the Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, saying they had failed to provide adequate ammunition to Wagner forces seeking to seize the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut.

According to the U.S. intelligence documents, which were leaked on the group-chat platform Discord, Prigozhin told Ukraine's military intelligence in late January that he would disclose information on Russian troop positions if Kyiv agreed to withdraw its own troops from Bakhmut.

Wagner for months has led Russia's onslaught in Bakhmut but has so far failed to capture the city.

According to Ukrainian and U.S. officials, Prigozhin reportedly conveyed the proposal to contacts in Ukraine's military intelligence directorate, known as HUR, with whom he has maintained secret communications throughout the war.

Prigozhin lashed out at The Post over the report on Monday, but he did not address the specific allegations against him. Instead, in a sarcastic and obscenity-filled audio message posted to the Telegram messaging app, Prigozhin compared The Post to a prostitute and accused the newspaper of spreading disinformation.

"Of course they will try to pour s--- over me as long as they have the energy for it," Prigozhin said, referring to the newspaper. "It turns out I am fighting for Russia but Zelensky is also doing my bidding as well. So the left hand is fighting the right hand."

Prigozhin accused The Post of repeatedly trying to smear him.

He denied meeting Ukrainian intelligence officials in Africa, as one intelligence document indicated, but did not explicitly respond to the claim that he had offered to provide information in exchange for Ukraine's withdrawal from Bakhmut.

Prigozhin also speculated that the leak was planted by members of the Russian elite seeking to sabotage him and Wagner.

Prigozhin's frustrations over the course of the war and the battle for Bakhmut have been on public display.

He has published furious public statements openly criticizing Shoigu, Gerasimov and other officials and accusing them of failing to equip and resupply Wagner with sufficient ammunition, which he said led to high and unnecessary casualties.

In a separate statement, Prigozhin told the Daily Storm, a Russian outlet, that he was "absolutely sure" that the information in The Post report had been planted by "Russian-speaking citizens."

"I think  they've been stealing for years the funds that were meant to be spent on defense and the greatness of the country and now they have to face it and be accountable for it in front of the people," he said. "So that's why they are trying to smear s--- all over the place thinking that this will help them."

Two Ukrainian officials confirmed to The Post that Prigozhin had spoken several times with the HUR. One official said that Prigozhin extended the offer regarding Bakhmut more than once, but that Kyiv had rejected it because officials did not trust Prigozhin and considered his proposals disingenuous.

A U.S. official also cautioned that there were similar doubts in Washington about Prigozhin's intentions. The Ukrainian and U.S. officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive information.

Prigozhin earned a fortune, and the nickname "Putin's chef," off government catering contracts. Wagner mercenaries have been active in Syria and numerous African countries where they have been accused of destabilizing governments.

The Washington Post's Robyn Dixon and Natalia Abbakumova in Riga, Latvia, contributed to this report.
KYIV, Ukraine  Loud explosions sounded above Kyiv early Tuesday as Russia launched an intense air attack on the capital using a combination of missiles launched from the air, sea and land.

Russia's latest attack on Kyiv was "exceptional in its density  the maximum number of attacking missiles in the shortest period of time," said Serhii Popko, the head of the Kyiv military administration.

It is the eighth time this month that Russian air raids have targeted the capital, a clear escalation after weeks of lull and ahead of a much-anticipated Ukrainian counter-offensive. It also comes as President Volodymyr Zelenksyy concludes a whirlwind European tour to greet Ukraine's key wartime allies, which spurred an additional tranche of pledged military aid.

"According to preliminary information the vast majority of enemy targets in the airspace of Kyiv were detected and destroyed," said Popko.

Ukraine's Air Force said 18 missiles of various types were launched, including drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles. All were intercepted and shot down, said Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat.

Six "Kinzhal" aero-ballistic missiles were launched from MiG-31K aircraft, nine cruise missiles from ships in the Black Sea and three land-based S-400 cruise missiles targeted the capital, said Ihnat in a statement on Telegram.

After the first onslaught, Russia also launched Iranian-made Shahed attack drones and conducted aerial reconnaissance, Ihnat said.

Debris fell across several districts in the capital. In the Solomyansky district, causing a fire in a non-residential building. The fire was extinguished.

Debris set cars on fire and fell on the grounds of a zoo, but no losses were reported, said Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
KYIV, Ukraine  Ukrainian air defenses, bolstered by sophisticated Western-supplied systems, thwarted an intense Russian air attack on Kyiv early Tuesday, shooting down all missiles aimed at the capital, officials said.

The bombardment, which targeted locations across Ukraine, included six Russian Kinzhal aero-ballistic hypersonic missiles, the most fired in a single attack in the war so far, according to Ukrainian air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly touted the Kinzhals as providing a key strategic competitive advantage and among the most advanced weapons in his country's arsenal. The missiles are difficult to detect and intercept because of their hypersonic speed and maneuverability.

If Ukraine's claim of having shot down six fired Tuesday is confirmed, it would mark another blow to Putin's war efforts and show the increasing effectiveness of the country's air defenses.

Air force spokesman Ihnat, who said in March that Ukraine lacked the equipment to intercept the Kinzhals, didn't explain Tuesday what systems were used to knock them down. Since March, Western countries have supplied Ukraine with various air defense systems.

Russia fired the Kinzhals from MiG-31K warplanes, along with nine cruise missiles from ships in the Black Sea and three S-400 cruise missiles launched from the ground, Ihnat said. In all, Ukraine's military said later, Russia had targeted Ukraine with 27 missiles in a day and launched 37 airstrikes.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu late Tuesday contested the Ukrainian claims, telling the state-run RIA-Novosti news agency: "We have not launched as many Kinzhals as they allegedly shoot down every time with their statements."

Loud explosions boomed over Kyiv in the major nighttime attack apparently aimed at overwhelming Ukraine's air defenses. Kyiv's mayor reported three people were wounded.

The barrage came as European leaders sought new ways to punish Russia for the war and a Chinese envoy sought traction for Beijing's peace proposal, which appears to have made little impression on the warring sides. It also came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy returned home from a whirlwind European tour to seek more military aid.

The overnight attack on Kyiv was "exceptional in its density  the maximum number of attacking missiles in the shortest period of time," said Serhii Popko, the head of the Kyiv military administration.

Kyiv resident Valentyna Myronets, 64, said she felt "pain, fear, nervousness, restlessness" amid the assaults. "God, we are waiting for victory and when all this is over," she said.

U.K. Ambassador Melinda Simmons tweeted that the barrage was "pretty intense."

"Bangs and shaking walls are not an easy night," she wrote.

It was the eighth time this month that Russian air raids had targeted the capital, a clear escalation after weeks of lull and ahead of a much-anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive using newly supplied advanced Western weapons.

After the first onslaught, Russia also launched Iranian-made Shahed attack drones and conducted aerial reconnaissance, Ihnat said.

Debris fell across several districts in the capital, starting fires, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.

Sophisticated Western air defense systems, including American-made Patriot missiles, have helped spare Kyiv from the kind of destruction witnessed along the main front line in the country's east and south. While most of the ground fighting is stalemated along that front line, both sides are targeting other territory with long-range weapons.

Associated Press reporters saw a metal fragment that landed inside the Kyiv zoo labeled Lockheed Martin and Boeing, two of the companies involved in manufacturing the Patriot missile system.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said a Kinzhal destroyed a Patriot missile battery in Kyiv but he didn't provide evidence, and the statement couldn't be independently verified. Ihnat, the Ukrainian air force spokesman, refused to comment on the claim.

Russia began using the Kinzhal to strike targets in Ukraine early in the invasion but has used the expensive weapon sparingly and against priority targets, apparently reflecting limited availability.

The Russian military says the missile's range is up to about 1,250 miles and it can fly at 10 times the speed of sound. Its speed and heavy warhead allow the Kinzhal to destroy heavily fortified targets, such as underground bunkers or mountain tunnels.

Ukraine's bolstered air defenses have deterred Russia's aircraft from going deep into the neighbor country and helped shape the course of the war, military experts say.

In Iceland, European leaders are taking part in a rare summit of the 46-nation Council of Europe, the continent's main human rights body, to discuss how to manage claims for compensation from Russia's damage to Ukraine.

Meanwhile, a Chinese envoy is preparing to visit Ukraine and Russia as Beijing advocates a peace plan it released in February. Li Hui, a former ambassador to Moscow, also will visit Poland, France and Germany, according to the Chinese foreign ministry.

Ukraine has cautiously welcomed China's proposal while saying it would wait to see what specific actions China takes. Chinese leader Xi Jinping's government says it is neutral and wants to mediate in the war, but has given Moscow political support, and a breakthrough appears unlikely.

In Russian-occupied southern Ukraine, about 300 miles from Kyiv, Russian officials began training to evacuate 3,100 staff members of the shut-down Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and their families, a representative of Energoatom, Ukraine's state nuclear company, said Tuesday.

The plant, Europe's largest nuclear power station, employed around 11,000 people before the war, some 6,000 of whom remain at the site and in the surrounding town of Enerhodar.

More Russian military units have arrived at the plant and are mining it, the representative told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. Russian troops have barred remaining workers from communicating with each other or leaving, Energoatom said on Telegram.

In other developments:

Ukrainian forces recaptured around 7.7 square miles of territory north and south of Bakhmut since last week, but Russian troops continue their grinding advance within the city, Ukraine's deputy defense minister said Tuesday. "Heavy battles continue with differing results," Hanna Malyar said on Telegram. The Russian-installed head of the partially occupied Donetsk region, Denis Pushilin, told Russian state TV that Russian forces near Bakhmut have reinforced their flanks in the face of Ukrainian successes.

Ukraine's intelligence chief made a rare acknowledgement Tuesday of his country's involvement in assassinations of Russian officials. In an interview posted on YouTube with a Ukrainian journalist, Kyrylo Budanov responded to a question about the deaths of "Russian propagandists" by saying: "We have already got a lot of people." He declined to provide any details.

 In Ukraine's latest corruption scandal, which saw the head of the Supreme Court detained for alleged bribery on Monday, the chief of Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau, Semen Kryvonos, identified the main suspect in the case as mining magnate Kostiantyn Zhevago. Zhevago was arrested in the French Alps in January on suspicion of embezzling tens of millions of dollars.

 South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts have agreed to separate meetings with a delegation of African leaders to discuss a possible plan to end the war. Ramaphosa's office said he spoke with Putin and Zelenskyy by phone over the weekend and they agreed to host "an African leaders peace mission" in Moscow and Kyiv, respectively.

Vasilisa Stepanenko in Kyiv, and Yuras Karmanau in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed to this report.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared himself very pleased as he capped off a whirlwind tour of western Europe, during which he secured new pledges of weapons, military aid, training and support ahead of a planned counteroffensive.

After meeting with leaders in Italy, Germany, France and the United Kingdom, Zelenskyy said he was returning home Monday with more new and powerful weapons for the front line, more protection for our people and more political support.

The new aid packages include artillery, combat vehicles, missiles, drones and more  but, perhaps equally important, commitments for sustained aid over time, even as the conflict risks becoming a war of attrition. It was important for [Zelenskyy] to come back with a message that the European support would be there and would continue to grow both in volume and in quality, said Camille Grand, a distinguished policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

Here is a guide to some of the latest pledges allies have made to Ukraine.

United Kingdom

Zelenskyy arrived in the United Kingdom Monday morning  the last stop on his European tour. He met with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at his country estate, Chequers, and the government committed to sending Ukraine hundreds of air defense missiles and hundreds of new long-range attack drones with a range of over 124 miles, among other unmanned aerial systems. It said the new weapons would be delivered to Ukraine in the next few months, as Ukraine prepares to intensify its resistance to the ongoing Russian invasion.

The government also said it planned to open a school to train Ukrainian pilots to handle different types of aircraft. Zelenskyy in his nightly address highlighted this pledge, thanking the United Kingdom for agreeing to train our pilots and stating his intention to create a coalition of countries willing to help train Ukrainian pilots to fly modern Western aircraft.

The latest aid announcement came after Defense Secretary Ben Wallace announced the donation of Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Ukraine last week.

Russia said those missiles  which have a range of 155 miles, as well as infrared targeting and stealth capability  were used in recent days to strike the eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk, which Russia illegally claimed to annex. On Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov threatened Britain with retaliatory actions for its renewed support of Kyiv.

The decision to deliver Storm Shadows to Ukraine was potentially a ... game changer, said Grand, the analyst. The missiles could enable Ukrainian forces to strike Russian logistics hubs deep behind the front line. And, since they are both English and French, Britains move could pave the way for France to also send the missile  known there as the SCALP EG  to Ukraine in the future, he added.

France

Zelenskyy arrived in France on Sunday for his second trip to the country since the war began. He met with President Emmanuel Macron in Paris as the government announced new military commitments, with a focus on training troops and on refurbishing existing weapons.

France said that in the next few weeks it would train and equip several battalions with tens of armored vehicles and light tanks including AMX-10RC. France also pledged to send new ammunition to Ukraine and to help repair armored vehicles and guns damaged in the war, Macron said in an interview with French public television station TF1.

Macron said France would also train Ukrainian battalions fighting in the east ahead of the anticipated counteroffensive. And he said that France had opened the door to training Ukrainian pilots to use fighter jets  even though France and many other European countries have so far resisted Ukraines calls to send advanced aircraft. The agreement to train pilots to fly fighter jets paves the way to the delivery of Western aircraft at some point in the future, said Grand. Until now, only Poland and Slovakia had sent Ukraine fighter jets.

In the interview, Macron insisted the new pledges were consistent with existing French policy. France still has the same position  to help Ukraine to resist  and now a lot is at stake, because the success of this counteroffensive will be decisive for the ability to build a lasting peace. He said the training of Ukrainian pilots can start now.

Germany

Earlier on Sunday, Zelenskyy visited Berlin  the Ukrainian leaders first trip to Germany since the war  where met with Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Ahead of his visit, the German government unveiled a new package for Ukraine totaling $2.95 billion, which almost doubles Berlins total commitment since Russia invaded in February 2022.

The aid package included more than 100 combat vehicles, 200 reconnaissance drones, 30 Leopard 1 A5 tanks, 20 Marder armored personnel carriers, 18 self-propelled howitzers and, crucially, IRIS-T air defense systems.

The new German aid package is very substantial, said Grand. Because it includes air defense systems, it could prove critically important for Ukraine as the country faces a protracted campaign of aerial bombing and missile strikes. It is also a signal that Germany, after being quite hesitant for many, many months, is now full-fledged engaged in the support to Ukraine.

Italy

Zelenskyy kicked off his trip with Italy. He met with President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome and later had a private discussion with Pope Francis at the Vatican.

There were no major new military aid announcements on this stop, however. In his nightly address, Zelenskyy said he had good talks with Meloni and thanked 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.

While Meloni, a far-right politician who became prime minister last October, has been vocal in her support for Ukraine in the face of Russias invasion, members of her governing coalition are more divided. Domestic politics may have hindered her ability to announce new aid for Ukraine, while Italys armed forces are also limited by capacity and budget constraints, Grand said. And Meloni announced new military aid in late February during a visit to Kyiv.

Still, Grand said, as the fourth-largest European power, one would expect Italy to be punching a little bit above their current share of all of this.

The Washington Posts Loveday Morris, Kate Brady, Adam Taylor and Serhiy Morgunov contributed to this report.
Commentary: Solid foundations for China-Central Asia community with shared future

Xinhua) 08:03, May 16, 2023

A China-Europe freight train arrives at Xi'an international port in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Aug. 31, 2022. The freight train loaded with raw materials of liquorice, a Chinese medicinal herb, departed from Turkmenistan. (Xinhua/Li Yibo)

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.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
UNITED NATIONS, May 16 (Xinhua) -- The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on Tuesday to designate Nov. 26 every year as World Sustainable Transport Day.

The resolution invites all UN member states, organizations of the UN system, international and regional organizations and civil society to mark World Sustainable Transport Day by means of education and the holding of events aimed at enhancing the knowledge of the public on sustainable transport issues, in particular enhancing intermodal transport connectivity, promoting environmentally friendly transportation, developing socially inclusive transport infrastructure and other aspects of transport sustainability.

It invites the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, in collaboration with the UN regional economic commissions, to facilitate the observance of World Sustainable Transport Day.

It requests the president of the General Assembly to consider convening a half-day high-level meeting in New York during the next session of the General Assembly to promote sustainable transport cooperation.

The resolution emphasizes the contribution of sustainable, low-emission and energy-efficient modes of transport to climate change mitigation and adaptation and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the importance of long-term strategies and multi-stakeholder partnerships in delivering such sustainable modes of transport. 
Israels immigration authorities are illegally storing millions of photos of citizens and foreign nationals, according to a government audit released Tuesday that raised concerns about the countrys use of mass surveillance.

The cybersecurity report highlighted the challenges regulators face as artificial intelligence-based facial recognition technologies become increasingly sophisticated and undermine existing legal guardrails.

The state comptroller review only examined civilian border control practices rather than those at military checkpoints, which came under scrutiny this month when human rights group Amnesty International said the Israeli army was using facial recognition to restrict travel by Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

According to a law passed more than a decade ago, the Population and Immigration Authority can retain low-resolution facial images in its databases but must discard any photos with biometric markers that could be used to identify an individual.

However, advances in technology have largely eliminated this distinction, as biometric data can now be gleaned from low-resolution images, according to the state comptroller. Therefore, the practice of saving low-quality facial images is illegal, Ombudsman Matanyahu Englman said in the report.

The Population and Immigration Authority said in a statement it was familiar with the issues raised by the comptroller and would form a committee to review its border control procedures.

The audit found that the immigration authorities hold millions of low-resolution photos in two nonsecure databases, one of Israelis and the other which includes both citizens and foreign nationals who went through passport control. The ombudsman said other government ministries also possess millions of photos of Israelis.

Rachel Aridor-Hershkovitz, a researcher at the Israel Democracy Institute think tank who was given an advance copy of the report, said these databases could be exposed to hackers, presenting a serious privacy risk.

The moment someone carries out identity theft based on biometric data, its very difficult to fight it, she said.

The practice continues despite a warning by the government office overseeing biometric privacy in 2020 that the domestic databases are illegal and in January 2022 that collecting images drawn from border control also violates privacy laws.

The government report also determined that for nearly seven years, the immigration authorities shared images of Israeli citizens taken at the airport with a different government agency, in another legal violation. That agency, which was not identified, was ordered to destroy photos it received from 2015 until early 2022. It was consulting with officials to keep some photos for security reasons, the audit said.

Englman said the audit also uncovered real loopholes in security at Ben Gurion Airport, Israels biggest, that were likely being exploited by criminals and members of designated terrorist organizations to enter and leave the country undetected.

Israels social security agency is frequently the subject of malicious cyber activity, according to the report. The agency holds information on all Israelis, including health records and employment data, and is responsible for dispensing over $33 billion in government benefits every year.

Israel has encountered a range of digital threats of late, with suspected Iranian hackers shutting down key systems at an Israeli university. A ransomware attack in 2021 shut down the computer systems of a major Israeli hospital, while hackers that year threatened to release sensitive data from an Israeli LGBTQ dating app, highlighting the insecurity of personal information.

Bloombergs Jeff Stone contributed to this report.
A prominent Instagram influencer from Ghana has been accused of posing as a U.S. soldier as part of a scheme to bilk elderly Americans out of $2 million, the Justice Department said.

Mona Faiz Montrage, 30, is charged with six felony counts related to fraud, money laundering, and the receiving and selling of stolen money, federal prosecutors said Monday.

She pleaded not guilty to all counts in a New York federal court Monday.

One of several schemes involving Montrage and her conspirators tricked people into believing they were sending money to a lover who was an officer in Afghanistan, a recently unsealed indictment said.

Montrage, an Accra, Ghana-based social media influencer with 4.2 million followers on Instagram, arrived in America last Friday, a statement from prosecutors in the southern district of New York said Monday.

She had been extradited from the United Kingdom, where she had been arrested in November, the statement said.

As alleged, Mona Faiz Montrage was a member of a criminal conspiracy that specifically targeted older Americans through romance scams, U.S. attorney Damian Williams said.

From 2013 to 2019, members of the group assumed false identities to build faux-romantic relationships with victims, before asking them to send money, the unsealed indictment said.

Victims were told that they needed to send money to help a U.S. Army officer retrieve funds from Afghanistan, to help transport gold to America from overseas and to provide payments to resolve an FBI investigation, the indictment said.

Montrage at one point sent a victim a tribal marriage certificate purporting to show that they had been married in Ghana, the indictment said. It was part of correspondence that led to approximately 82 wire transfers totaling about $89,000 that the victim hoped would help with costs at Montrages familys farm, the document said.

Sometimes, the elderly victims received money from the schemes, court documents said. It was part of a system to launder the money by sending gains from other scams into a victims bank account, which would then lead to a request to send that money elsewhere.

Money from the schemes flowed into Montrages bank accounts in New York, including into accounts with the same name as her clothing company, the indictment said.

Montrage faces charges with a maximum sentence of 35 years in prison.
An F-15D Eagle experienced an in-flight emergency around 3 p.m. Monday and exited a runway while landing at Kingsley Field in Klamath Falls, Ore., according to the Air Force.

The pilot exited the aircraft safely, and is being transported to Sky Lakes Medical Center for precautionary measures and evaluation, the Oregon Air National Guards 173rd Fighter Wing said in a Facebook message shortly after the incident.

The 173rds mission involves training F-15 pilots under the Air Education and Training Command, according to the units official website.

A number of F-15C/D fighters from Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, were sent to Kingsley Field starting in December, according to a news release by the 173rd that month.

Two F-15 squadrons at Kadena  nearly 50 fighters  are being phased out over two years and replaced by rotational fighters.

Kingsley Field is the ideal place to receive the jets departing Okinawa, according to the 173rd news release.

Kingsleys geographic location on the West Coast makes it an easy choice due to the proximity of the stop-over location, Hickam Air Force Base, (Hawaii), Col. Adam Gaudinski, the 173rd Maintenance Group commander, said in the release. Additionally, we were chosen due to our vast maintenance experience, unique capabilities, and our immense ramp and hangar space.

More information on the emergency will be shared as it becomes available, the wing said in its Facebook message.
(Tribune News Service)  U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III will deliver the keynote speech during the U.S. Naval Academy graduation and commissioning ceremony later this month, the Pentagon announced Monday.

Austin is scheduled to address the Class of 2023 at 10 a.m. May 26 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

The ceremony is open to invited guests only. The proceedings will be livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube. Most of the roughly 1,000 midshipmen from the 2023 graduating class will be commissioned as officers in the Navy or Marine Corps.

The graduate and faculty procession will begin at 9 a.m. with the ceremony starting at 10 a.m., according to the academys Commissioning Week schedule. The Blue Angels are scheduled for a flyover at 10:04 a.m. The flight demonstration squadron will be practicing and performing on the days leading up to the ceremony.

Austin was sworn in as Pentagon chief on Jan. 22, 2021.

The 69-year-old retired four-star general served more than 40 years in the military with responsibilities for Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen and Syria. Austin held the job from 2013 until his retirement in 2016.

Born in Mobile, Alabama, in 1953, Austin was raised in Thomasville, Georgia. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1975. He also holds masters degrees in education and business management and is a graduate of the Army War College.

After being commissioned as a second lieutenant upon graduation from West Point, Austins career took him to assignments across the U.S., Europe and the Middle East. In 2012, President Barack Obama nominated Austin to become the commander of Central Command.

President Joe Biden delivered the graduation keynote speech last year. In his first visit to the academy as president, Biden urged the Naval Academys Class of 2022 to defend the country in a rousing graduation speech that began with a series of inside jokes and ended with a grave sense of global foreboding.

The keynote typically rotates between the vice president, president and the secretary of defense.

The last secretary of defense to speak at graduation was Mark Esper in 2020 when the ceremony was held virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Vice President Kamala Harris spoke at the ceremony last year.

(c)2023 The Capital (Annapolis, Md.)

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WASHINGTON  Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Tuesday that the U.S. will soon provide Taiwan with significant military aid from its own inventories and urged lawmakers to resist calls for spending cuts amid increasing competition from China.

Austin confirmed the pending Taiwan aid and defined the Pentagons $842 billion budget request for fiscal 2024 to the Senate Appropriations Committee as congressional leaders held new talks with President Joe Biden over a looming government debt default.

House Republicans are pushing for a return to 2022 federal budget levels in exchange for raising the nations borrowing limit but Austin said such reductions would hurt the militarys ability to keep up with Chinas growing power.

Reducing funding to [fiscal year] 2022 levels across the government would hamstring our ability to compete, even if the Defense Department is exempted from cuts, he said. We succeed as a team and our Department of Defense succeeds when our interagency partners succeed.

That assessment was echoed by Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., the panels chairwoman.

Lets be clear: China isnt debating whether to pay its debts or wreck its economy. China isnt debating whether to invest in its future or cut and cap the investments that keep it competitive, she said.

Austin warned Congress unpredictable government funding process, including its yearslong inability to pass annual spending bills on time, will undermine the edge the U.S. still maintains over China. It will delay the ability of the U.S. to obtain munitions such as guided rocket systems and submarine torpedoes for itself as well as its allies, he said.

The coming aid to Taiwan is part of a $1 billion effort to transfer weapons to the island nation in preparation for a possible invasion by China. Austin told appropriators that the Pentagon will absolutely need Congress to eventually provide more funds to replace the equipment sent to Taiwan from the militarys own stocks.

This is part of our long-standing commitment to upholding our obligations under the Taiwan Relations Act and other U.S. policies and to doing our part to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, he said. We need to remain a reliable partner.

The Defense Department is planning to invest heavily in the Indo-Pacific region in the next fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1. Spending on the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, a program designed specifically to counter China by strengthening U.S. presence in the area, is expected to spike by 40% to a record $9.1 billion.

Austin stressed the U.S. cannot afford to wait to pour more resources into the region.

No amount of money can buy back the time that we lose, he said.

Austin detailed Chinas sharp rise in military and economic dominance on Tuesday alongside Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, who said China presents the largest challenge facing the United States. The Asian nation now boasts the largest Army and Navy in the world.

Beijing has increased its bullying and provocations in the Indo-Pacific, Austin said. Of course, war is neither imminent nor inevitable. But we must face up to the [Peoples Republic of Chinas] growing assertiveness.

Congressional leaders emerged from the debt ceiling meeting on Tuesday with renewed hope that an agreement could be struck soon. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., told reporters a deal was possible by the end of the week while the White House said Biden was optimistic about a path forward.
(Tribune News Service)  Late last summer, the mpox outbreak in California peaked, with the state reporting an average of nearly 100 new cases per day in August.

Amid a robust vaccination campaign, new infections dropped sharply and quickly.

By September, California was reporting an average of about 50 new cases per day, with that rate dropping below 10 by the end of the next month.

As case rates fell, so did vaccination rates. Health officials across the state are now renewing their push to vaccinate vulnerable people, including members of the LGBTQ+ community, ahead of June Pride Month and summer events.

Mpox is rarely fatal but can cause painful rashes and lesions, as well as flu-like symptoms. It typically spreads through close skin-to-skin contact, which can include sex.

As of Friday, nearly 250 people in California have been hospitalized with mpox. Nationwide, roughly 30,400 cases have been reported, along with 42 deaths.

"As we head into the summer months, and as we're heading into these celebrations, there may be more of these events that are happening that could potentially facilitate mpox transmission," said Andrea Kim, director of the vaccine preventable disease control program at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

Kim said that the outbreak began around the time of last year's Pride celebrations. As that part of the calendar rolls around again, health officials are emphasizing the need to get more people vaccinated.

Though anyone can catch the virus, many of the cases confirmed during last year's outbreak were among men who have sex with men.

"If we've learned anything from COVID, it's that if we all did the right thing in the first place, it makes it a lot harder for these things to reemerge," said Craig Bowers, chief marketing and external affairs officer for APLA Health, a Los Angeles nonprofit that provides healthcare to the LGBTQ+ community.

Mpox cases have continued to decline since last summer. Most recently, L.A. County has been reporting about two new infections per week.

The World Health Organization on Thursday said that mpox should no longer be deemed a public health crisis.

But the disease can still spread. A recent, small cluster of cases has broken out in Chicago. The city reported 20 cases over the past four weeks after reporting none in the four weeks prior.

As the infection curve flattened, so did demand for shots, health officials said. Statewide as of Friday, nearly 300,000 people have received at least one dose of the recommended two-shot regimen, according to the California Department of Public Health. People who have received two shots are considered fully vaccinated and need no further shots.

"Right now, in the last few months, we really have only been vaccinating about 100 to 150 people a week," Kim said. "At our peak, we were at about 8,000 first doses in a week."

The low case rates and perceived lack of risk may be one reason that vaccination rates dropped so sharply, said Bowers of APLA Health, which has vaccinated around 4,000 people.

"Those are the people this time around that we'd like to reach  the people that never got it in the first place. They're the most vulnerable," Bowers said.

APLA will be at around 60 events between now and the fall to get more people vaccinated, Bowers said. Kim said the L.A. County health department will ramp up its messaging and presence at events.

The Los Angeles LGBT Center said it would also be hosting pop-up vaccine clinics.

"We're also trying to promote the message that the vaccine is, first of all, safe and effective," Kim said. "There's more and more data out there that the vaccine effectiveness is really high."

Public health officials in San Francisco and L.A. County are also renewing their mpox vaccination pushes.

"We want to make sure that everyone can enjoy a happy and healthy Pride," San Francisco health officer Dr. Susan Philip said in a recent statement. "If you received your first dose of the mpox vaccine, even if it was in the fall, it is not too late  now is a great time to get your second dose."

2023 Los Angeles Times

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AUSTIN, Texas  Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is sending 800 of the states National Guard troops to work for one month along the Texas border with Mexico as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called on non-border states to do more to help with an expected increase in migration in the coming weeks.

Abbott thanked DeSantis, both Republicans, in a letter that called on other governors to provide help at the border following last weeks end of a pandemic-era public health policy, known as Title 42, that allowed federal border agents to quickly expel migrants over concern they would spread the coronavirus. That policy ended Thursday as the country continues to move away from the emergency pandemic measures put into place in 2020.

Department of Homeland Security officials feared the lifting of Title 42 would lead to an increase in legal and illegal border crossings. However, Homeland Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union" program that migration dropped about 50% in the two days immediately following the policy change.

In addition to returning to laws that allow for criminal punishments for those who cross into the U.S. between legal ports-of-entry, President Joe Biden has also introduced paths to seek asylum that encourage migrants to follow the law.

In Abbotts letter to governors, he wrote he is still preparing for the increase that even the federal government has predicted could reach 150,000 and will include an increase in the smuggling of drugs and people across the border.

The flood of illegal border activity invited by the Biden administration flows directly across the southern border into Texas communities, but this crisis does not stop in our state, Abbott wrote. Emboldened Mexican drug cartels and other transnational criminal enterprises profit off this chaos, smuggling people and dangerous drugs like fentanyl into communities nationwide.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little has also announced he will send resources to Texas. The Republican pledged last week to send a team of law enforcement officials who will spend one month stopping drugs from crossing the border, according to a news release.

I thank these states for proactively addressing this crisis and request other states follow their lead in helping to secure Americas border, Abbott wrote.

Floridas Guard troops will join roughly 5,500 Texas National Guard members already deployed to the border as part of a 2-year-old state mission dubbed Operation Lone Star, according to information the Guard provided lawmakers earlier this year.

Floridas Guard will begin to deploy Wednesday morning from Florida to El Paso, Del Rio and the Rio Grande Valley in south Texas, according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management. The support is through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, which allows states to provide resources to each other during emergencies.

Texas requested assisting states absorb costs associated with the mission in support of the entire country, according to the compact request. The Florida troops will be armed and support observation points. They will deploy in two rotations of about 16 days each, totaling 31 days of support.

The Texas Military Department said in a statement that the Florida troops will prevent, deter and interdict transnational criminal behavior between points of entry.

In addition, DeSantis authorized about 300 law enforcement officers to travel to Texas and will provide five fixed-wing aircraft, 17 drones, 10 water vessels and two mobile command vehicles, according to a news release.

The impacts of Bidens border crisis are felt by communities across the nation, and the federal governments abdication of duty undermines the sovereignty of our country and the rule of law, DeSantis said in a statement.

The Defense Department also has deployed about 2,500 National Guard troops working along the entire southwest border with Mexico as part of an ongoing federal mission to support U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The department is deploying an additional 1,500 active-duty troops to spend 60 days at the border to help with the expected increase following Title 42.
(Tribune News Service)  A retired U.S. military veteran from Idaho helping Ukraine combat Russias invasion is believed to have been killed on the front lines in eastern Ukraine.

Nick Maimer, 45, of Boise, had for the last year been training civilian volunteers in Ukraines ongoing effort to defend its borders. Maimer, a former Army Green Beret, died when a Russian artillery shell destroyed a building where he was positioned during intensified fighting in the city of Bakhmut, according to Perry Blackburn, who helped recruit Maimer to Kyiv last May.

From what I understand, he was providing them with firsthand training in that area so that they can continue to do the fight, and he got caught behind enemy lines, Blackburn, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, told the Idaho Statesman by phone. Its just a crazy, crazy time right now. And then having Nick die over there, its just brutal.

A video posted Tuesday by a pro-Russian military blogger on Telegram shows Yevgeny Prigozhin, chief of the Russian private military company Wagner, surveying a body in what appears to be Bakhmut, CNN reported. U.S. documents belonging to Maimer appear to be shown in the video.

Blackburn and Maimers uncle, Paul Maimer, each identified the body in the video as Maimers, they told the Statesman on Tuesday.

He never let anything in front of him stop his goals, Paul Maimer told the Statesman by phone. He persevered through a lot in his life. I had the utmost respect for him. A lot of people can learn from who he was and what he had accomplished in his short life. In 45 years, he lived a lot. He went over there as a humanitarian trying to do good for this world.

Russia stepped up shelling in the past days in Bakhmut, a city at the eastern front of the Russia-Ukraine war. The State Department could not confirm Maimers death, but acknowledged hearing word of an American killed in warfare in Ukraine.

We are aware of the reports of the death of a U.S. citizen in Bakhmut and are seeking additional information, a State Department official said. Our ability to verify reports of deaths of U.S. citizens in Ukraine is extremely limited. We offer our condolences to the families of all whose lives have been lost as a result of Russias unprovoked and unjustified war against Ukraine.

Maimers death would mark at least the ninth American killed in Ukraine since Russia invaded its neighboring country in February 2022, a U.S. official said, on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the matter.

Were just trying to get him home for proper burial, Paul Maimer said. I think hes deserving to be put to rest in a veterans cemetery. He might not have been fighting for our country, but he was fighting for the right reasons.

Retired U.S. Army Sgt. First Class Nick Maimer was a 20-year military veteran, including time spent serving in the Army Special Forces, and a 1995 graduate of Borah High School in Boise, he previously told the Statesman. After retiring from the Army in 2018, Maimer worked in the IT department for the Saint Alphonsus Health System, he said.

Just two months before Russia invaded Ukraine, Maimer moved to Spain to teach English, he said. After Russia invaded  what President Vladimir Putin has continued to call a special military operation in its neighbor state  Maimer told the Statesman he felt compelled to join the effort to uphold democracy. He had his family ship his combat gear to Poland, Maimer said.

Its really obvious to everybody that its an unjustified invasion, he said in a phone interview in June 2022. So I felt like my moral compass just pointed me toward it.

In May 2022, Maimer showed up in Kyiv to join Blackburn, founder of the nonprofit AFGFree, which worked to get supplies into Ukraine and helped with evacuations. Maimer was committed to remaining in Ukraine for the foreseeable future, he said.

Im out here indefinitely as long as Im still useful, I think, Maimer told the Statesman. Im used to an acceptable amount of risk. I say my stress inoculation is pretty high.

Last year, Maimer met U.S. Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, in downtown Kyiv. Risch, the ranking member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, traveled to Ukraine to see the wars destruction and to meet President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Hes providing a service that Ukrainians really need, to a lot of volunteers trying to provide for their fellow Ukrainians, Risch told the Statesman at the time. Its kind of a mixed bag, with some who are competent, and some who are not. But my judgment of what hes doing is, its very much appreciated and much needed.

The State Department urged Americans to exit Ukraine.

We reiterate our message that U.S. citizens should not travel to Ukraine due to the active armed conflict and the singling out of U.S. citizens in Ukraine by Russias security officials, the State Department official said. U.S. citizens in Ukraine should depart immediately if it is safe to do so using any commercial or other privately available ground transportation options.

2023 The Idaho Statesman.

Visit idahostatesman.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Tunisian President Kais Saied (R) meets with Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi (L) in Tunis, Tunisia, on May 15, 2023. Saied on Monday discussed with visiting Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi bilateral ties and the illegal immigration problem, according to a statement issued by the Tunisian Presidency. (Tunisian Presidency/Handout via Xinhua)

TUNIS, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Tunisian President Kais Saied on Monday discussed with visiting Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi bilateral ties and the illegal immigration problem, according to a statement issued by the Tunisian Presidency.

The Tunisian president pointed out that the number of victims of illegal immigration attempts is multiplying on a daily basis, noting that "There are criminal networks that take advantage of the inhumane conditions of those stranded as a result of poverty and despair."

Saied reiterated that security solutions alone are not enough to eliminate this scourge, calling for a new collective approach based mainly on alleviating poverty and unemployment in the countries of origin.

Saied suggested that an international meeting that includes all concerned countries must be held as soon as possible.

Earlier on Monday, the Italian guest met with his Tunisian counterpart Kamel Feki at the ministry headquarters in the Tunisian capital Tunis.

According to a ministry statement, Piantedosi praised the Tunisian authorities' efforts in curbing illegal immigration.

He affirmed Italy's commitment to sharing responsibilities and an integrated program in the field of training in order to activate legal migration channels.

Located in the central Mediterranean, Tunisia is one of the most popular transit points for illegal immigration to Europe.

Although Tunisian authorities have adopted rigorous measures to tackle the problem, the number of illegal immigrants from Tunisia to Italy has been on the rise. 

Tunisian President Kais Saied (L) shakes hands with Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi during their meeting in Tunis, Tunisia, on May 15, 2023. Saied on Monday discussed with visiting Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi bilateral ties and the illegal immigration problem, according to a statement issued by the Tunisian Presidency. (Tunisian Presidency/Handout via Xinhua)
Cork man Karl Humphries was jailed for eight years in 2021

A Cork man, who claimed he was out scouting fields for rabbit hunting when he was caught with almost 10kg of cannabis after a Garda sting operation, has failed in a bid to overturn his conviction.

Karl Humphries, 40, last of Curraheen Drive, Bishopstown, Co Cork, was convicted of three counts of possession of cannabis worth around 58,000 for sale or supply by a Cork Circuit Criminal Court jury in July 2021.

Humphries had told gardai that he was hunting rabbits, which included dazzling or lamping rabbits in the vicinity of Watergrasshill, Co Cork, on the night of July 25, 2012  nine years before his trial  when gardai had placed a large bag of cannabis found earlier in the day under surveillance.

The bag was found to contain 9.74kg of cannabis resin and gardai had concealed themselves by a nearby hedge. A car later pulled up and Humphries got out and began to search for the bag, which he found.

Detective Garda Michael OHalloran said gardai discovered and returned the black bag of drugs to the concealed position under an old tyre and that he was keeping it under surveillance when Humphries arrived.

I had him (Humphries) by the arm. He had a black bag in his possession.

He dropped it at his feet. I called for assistance on the radio. He froze.

He was in shock, shaking, said the detective.

Humphries denied being involved in the drugs trade at any level and had pleaded not guilty to the three charges and maintained he never touched the bag.

Humphries gave evidence that he saw Det Gda OHalloran lying in the ditch before the detective ever approached him and had said hello to him before the detective pounced on the accused.

Judge Sean O Donnabhain asked: Where was Fido (dog)? to which Humphries said he would scout the field first and then go home to bring out his dogs.

Humphries was convicted by a 10-2 majority verdict and the jury in the case was told the delay in prosecution was due to the accused moving to Australia for work.

After the jury found Humphries guilty Judge O Donnabhain told his barrister: Your fella is facing 10 years. You can be blinding the jury with Fido, but I dont know where the defendant was going It is really throwing pepper in my eyes. Someone would want to pull themselves together.

The judge sentenced Humphries to 10 years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended.

In dismissing Humphries' appeal on Monday at the three-judge court, Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly outlined the appellant's grounds of appeal.

Ms Justice Donnelly said there were three grounds undertaken by Humphries arising from the trial judge's refusal to recharge the jury on the basis of requisitions made by his counsel.

The first was to the effect that the trial judge inadequately explained the concept of drawing inferences from evidence, said Ms Justice Donnelly.

The second was that the trial judge incorrectly charged the jury as to the standard of proof in criminal trials and the final requisition was that the judge failed to adequately explain the ingredients of the offences, namely the element of possession with intent to sell or supply, said the judge.

Regarding the burden of proof argument, Ms Justice Donnelly said the trial judge had not erred in telling the jury that the stand of proof was a step above probabilities and a step below absolute certainty.

She said the judge's remarks were preceded by and succeeded by several clear explanations of the concept of proof beyond a reasonable doubt which was described as a high standard and was compared with the lower civil standard at the trial.

Ms Justice Donnelly said the three-judge court could not find anything wrong with how the judge dealt with inferences in the case. It had been claimed by Humphries' lawyers that the judge did not go into sufficient detail when explaining inferences beyond a theoretical level.

Ms Justice Donnelly said the judge had directed the jury sufficiently that they were entitled to draw inferences and gave common sense instructions on the difference between inference and speculation.

Humphries' lawyers argued that the jury should also have been given an express charge in relation to the required elements of sale or supply as opposed to simple possession.

Ms Justice Donnelly said the appellant's concerns in this matter bear no relation to the running of the trial and the central issue that the jury had to decide; whether the appellant was in possession of the drugs.

Any issue about this being a case of 'simple possession' for personal use was simply fanciful in the circumstances present here, she said.

There was simply nothing in the case that could have satisfied a jury to the contrary that possession was only for the immediate personal use of the appellant, said Ms Justice Donnelly.

Ms Justice Donnelly said the court was satisfied that all three grounds relied on by the appellant were to be rejected and then dismissed the appeal.
William Gracey (45) was once shot by the IRA in the early 1990s for dealing drugs

This is the Ulster Mr Big drug dealer whos just been banged up in Liverpool after cops found ten kilos of heroin hidden in his cupboard.

William Gracey was sentenced last week to ten and a half years for serious drugs offences connected to a Merseyside-based drug gang.

The 45-year-old was snared by Merseyside Police just a few months ago after they raided his flat and found almost 600,000 worth of smack in a cupboard.

We can reveal Gracey, pictured here for the first time, was once shot by the IRA in the early 1990s for dealing drugs.

Sources in Antrim who knew him well said he told everyone he was shot in the leg because he was a Protestant and he was seeing a Catholic from the nationalist Ardoyne are of north Belfast area.

Truth was he was shot for dealing drugs back in the 90s, said a source. He was a low-level dealer back then but hes clearly climbed up the ladder to have got ten years in England.

The Provos shot him in the leg and warned him not to be dealing drugs in nationalist areas again.

Liverpool fan William Gracey poses with the European Cup

But despite a number of convictions for dealing drugs, Gracey continued to ply his trade in selling deadly illegal drugs, and he specialised in trafficking heroin and cocaine.

Sources have told the Sunday World Gracey was believed to be one of Merseysides biggest heroin smugglers.

The Merseyside Police have been after Gracey for years and couldnt believe their luck when they found 10k of smack in his flat, said a source.

He was caught bang-to-rights. They only found the heroin three months ago and hes already held his hands up and started a lengthy jail term but no doubt he wont learn his lesson this time either.

Hes a remorseless drug dealer who just cant stop pushing deadly drugs which cause nothing but misery, pain and often death.

They are delighted to have him off the streets of Liverpool. He deserves to be locked up for a long, long time.

Merseyside Police told the Sunday World a huge stash of heroin was found in a cupboard in Graceys Liverpool flat in February.

They told us: At around 1am on Wednesday 8th February 2023, a warrant was executed on a flat on Tithebarn Street in Liverpool city centre.

Officers conducted a search of the address and found 10 kilograms of heroin hidden in a cupboard. William Gracey, 45 years, of Altmore Close, Antrim, Northern Ireland was charged with possession with intent to supply Class A (heroin and diamorphine) and B drugs (cannabis). He was remanded into custody.

He pleaded guilty at a court hearing at Liverpool Crown Court and on Monday 24th April, Gracey was sentenced to 10 years and six months years in prison.

But we can reveal Gracey has form for working with Liverpool drug gangs and had been living between Antrim and Liverpool for over a decade.

He was convicted and jailed in 2015 at Belfast Crown Court after he was part of a plot to smuggle huge quantities of cocaine into Northern Ireland from England.

The shameless dealer was caught in 2013 with 100,000 worth of cocaine but the case stood out after it emerged a female drug mule had concealed half of the massive stash in her body.

The court was told the woman, who had travelled to Belfast on the Liverpool ferry with the drugs stashed internally, was lucky to have survived as the package of coke had burst inside her.

Gracey was arrested and charged along with two other men and a woman after police swooped on a house in the towns Greystone area in 2013.

Apart from Gracey, all of the other suspects are from Liverpool and they all travelled on the ferry before Gracey took them to an address in Antrim, where the drugs were discovered.

The court heard that one package was discovered in the property and a second hidden inside the 42-year-old woman.

Prosecution counsel said: When hospital staff removed the drugs from her the package was literally about to open and she could have been in some danger.

Gracey was the mastermind behind the smuggling operation, according to police.
Hongbin Liu was jailed for raping patients in the UK before moving to Ireland where worked under a fake name

Poet Liu said he came here because of Irelands literary heritage

This is the Chinese medical practitioner and acclaimed poet jailed for raping and sexually assaulting patients in the UK before moving to Ireland where he treated unsuspecting patients under a fake name until he was arrested by gardai two weeks ago.

Hongbin Liu (60), who is originally from China but has lived in exile since 1989, told the Sunday World yesterday that he maintains his innocence in relation to his sex convictions despite pleading guilty to all of them.

He also said he was unhappy with how he was treated while in garda custody and claimed he frequently urinated in his trousers while handcuffed when gardai took him to hospital.

Liu, who has previously been feted for his poetry and freelance journalism while living in exile from China following the Tiananmen Square protests, was jailed for seven years in England in 2016 after raping and sexually assaulting patients at two separate Chinese health centres in London.

Police said Liu, who performed acupuncture, massage, and other therapies, preyed on the vulnerabilities of his patients as he carried out the string of attacks.

He was placed on the sex offenders register and banned from working as a therapist as part of his sentence.

However, he recently got a job at an acupuncture centre in Dublin city centre, where he used the name Harry Liu before being arrested by gardai for failing to register as a sex offender while living here.

A colleague at the centre told the Sunday World this week that they were also unaware of Lius history when they hired him and he did not inform them he had raped and sexually assaulted patients.

He didnt tell anything [about] this and [just said] he was looking for a job in Dublin.

She said he had been working at the centre for around three weeks and was popular with customers before gardai arrived at the business at the end of last month to arrest him.

Poet Liu said he came here because of Irelands literary heritage

It was a surprise, you know. We didnt know what was happening. The police explained to us privately [afterwards].

He pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court on Monday to failing to notify gardai of his details under the Sex Offenders Act.

Liu told the court he came here to take the opportunity to see Dublin, a great city of literature and claimed he did not know he was required to notify the gardai here of his registration.

I have a conviction in the UK for a sexual offence but I have always maintained my innocence, Liu claimed, despite the fact that he pleaded guilty to multiple sexual offences in the UK.

If I knew I was required to register with the police, I would have done so.

He also claimed he wasnt trying to hide his identity as Harry was his professional name. He pleaded guilty and was given the Probation Act and said he was returning to the UK.

Speaking to the Sunday World yesterday Liu once again claimed he had not committed any crime despite his guilty pleas.

I have consistently maintained my innocence and have not committed any crime.

Our reporter asked him a number of times to clarify how he was maintaining his innocence despite pleading guilty but he was unable to do so.

He said he wet himself after he had been brought to hospital with high blood pressure while under arrest in Dublin.

Due to my prostate issues, I frequently urinated and wet my trousers while handcuffed, which caused deep bruises on my left wrist. The communication from the garda was inadequate. Upon returning to the station, I made a verbal complaint about the degrading treatment.

Hongbin Liu raped and sexually assaulted women

A sergeant asked me to sign a paper stating that I agreed to be taken to the hospital, which I refused as I knew it was a ploy to extend my detention.

He told the Sunday World he came to Ireland because of our literary heritage.

I have a deep appreciation for the warm and friendly people of Dublin and the citys rich literary heritage, with authors like James Joyce, WB Yeats, Samuel Beckett, George Bernard Shaw, and Oscar Wilde. However, I have also had some unpleasant experiences there. I hope you understand how I feel.

His colleague in Dublin said customers did not make any complaints about him while he was working here in recent weeks.

Most customers were treated by him and most people found he was good. There were no complaints. Even since he went back to England some customers have asked wheres Harry hes very good. They said he balanced their emotions, was good for treatment, and was good talking, very nice.

Despite his claims of innocence in relation to UK sex offences, Liu pleaded guilty to one count of rape, one count of assault by penetration and two counts of sexual assault, at Wood Green Crown Court in London.

Police first launched an investigation into Liu in the UK in February 2015 after a woman was raped by him at the Chinese Traditional Medicine Centre in Haverstock Hill in Camden, north London.

When the woman arrived her usual therapist wasnt working, so she agreed to see Liu for an acupuncture and massage consultation.

Twisted Liu then raped and assaulted her. The woman, who was aged in her 40s, immediately went to police to report the attack,

The following month two more women came forward to say they had been sexually assaulted by him at the Shu Jun Healthcare Centre on Wells Street, in Westminster.

One of his victims told police officers that while Liu was giving her a massage she believed he took a picture of her with his phone, but cops were unable to recover the photos.

Detective Constable Jane Tunnicliff, of the London Metropolitan Police Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command said: This is a man who betrayed the patient-doctor relationship. Dr Liu preyed on the vulnerabilities of his patients.

Liu has lived in the UK in exile from China since 1989. He is originally from the city of Qingdao in China and said his father had been arrested and executed during the Cultural Revolution in China.

Liu later became a poet critical of the government and said he was forced to leave China after posting poems around Tiananmen Square around the time of the student-led protests which led to the infamous Tiananmen Square massacre.

He returned to China in 1997 but was arrested and expelled.

As well as writing poetry he also worked as a freelance radio journalist and was featured by groups, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, Index on Censorship and Human Rights Watch.
Mr Deacy (21) was discovered lying on the ground outside a house by a passing cyclist

Gardai are continuing to follow many lines of inquiry into the violent death of a young man from England while he was on holiday in the west of Ireland six years ago, an inquest has heard.

A brief sitting of Dublin District Coroners Court heard an application by gardai for a further adjournment of the inquest into the death of Joe Deacy at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin on August 13, 2017 from injuries sustained the previous day in Swinford, Co Mayo.

Mr Deacy (21) from St Albans in Hertfordshire, had initially been treated at Mayo University Hospital in Castlebar for serious injuries where he was brought after being discovered lying on the ground outside a house at 6.30am on August 12, 2017 by a passing cyclist.

Gardai launched a murder investigation after post-mortem results showed he had suffered a blunt force trauma to the head.

Inspector Naomi de Ris told Coroner Crona Gallagher on Tuesday that the investigation into the young mans death was ongoing.

Insp de Ris said Mr Deacys family had been briefed on progress in the case and the senior investigating garda had travelled to the UK to meet his relatives.

Many lines of inquiry are ongoing, she added.

Joe Deacys relations last week near the spot where he was found dead. Picture by Conor McKeown

At a previous hearing of the case last November, Insp de Ris said several witnesses who were living outside Ireland still had to be interviewed by gardai.

Dr Gallagher granted an application for a further adjournment of the inquest under Section 25.1 of the Coroners Act on the basis that criminal proceedings in relation to Mr Deacys death are being considered.

The coroner adjourned the case for mention to November 16 but asked gardai to come back before the court if there were any developments in the case before then.

Mr Deacy, who considered himself to be from Mayo  the home county of his paternal grandparents  was a regular visitor to the west of Ireland where he stayed with relatives and had applied for an Irish passport shortly before his death.

He had spent the evening before he was assaulted socialising in Kiltimagh, Co Mayo before being dropped with his friend to the house in Swinford where he was later found.

He had sent a video via social media to his second cousin, Michelle Deacy with whom he had been staying, at around 3.45am but what happened over the next few hours remains unclear.

The deceaseds father, Adrian Deacy, has issued a number of public appeals for people with information about his sons death to pass on details of what they know to gardai.
Daniel Stepien (27) of Clonsilla, Dublin 15, threatened to send the photographs to her father, family, school headmaster and friends if she didnt pay him 10K

Two men who took part in a scheme to blackmail a teenage girl by threatening to send explicit photos from her 'OnlyFans' account to her family and headmaster if she did not give them 10K have failed in appeals against the length of their jail sentences.

David Ostrowski (21) told his older brother Daniel Stepien (27) about the account that his friend, the injured party, had set up. The victim, who was then 18, had told a select group of trusted friends and had set the account up so it could not be accessed in Ireland.

Stepien, who had a gambling addiction at the time, then began to message the teenager and threatened to send the photographs to her father, family, school headmaster and friends if she didnt pay him 10K. Stepien then sent her screenshots of her fathers Facebook page and photographs of her home to her.

David Ostrowski (21) leaving Dublin Circuit Criminal Court (PIC: Collins Courts)

At the trial, Garda Des Mulvihill told Eoghan Cole BL, prosecuting, that the teenager ultimately contacted the gardai, who then launched a sting operation. They advised the woman to contact her blackmailer and arrange to meet up to pay the 10K.

The woman went to a bank, pretended to withdraw the cash and went to a location in Clonsilla, Dublin, where she had been told that a certain car would be parked. She was instructed to leave the envelope of cash by the car and a third man, Dawid Michalik, was later seen arriving at the car to pick up the envelope.

The envelope was not where Michalik expected it to be and gardai kept the vehicle under surveillance until both Ostrowski and Stepien arrived. All three were then arrested.

Stepien, of Annfield Court, Clonsilla, Dublin 15, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to making an unwarranted demand for 10K with menaces on dates between March 6 and March 9, 2021. He had six convictions for minor offences.

Michalik (37), of Parklands, Northwood, Dublin 9, pleaded guilty to the same offence of making demands of 10K and had nine convictions for road traffic offences.

Ostrowski, also of Annfield Court, Clonsilla, Dublin 15, pleaded guilty to demanding money with menaces. He had no previous convictions.

In November last year at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martin Nolan jailed Michalik for two years and Stepien received a sentence of three-and-a-half years. Ostrowski's age in March 2021 meant that he did not receive a custodial sentence and was given 150 hours of community service in lieu of 21 months' imprisonment.

Stepien and Michalik, who both had cannabis possession charges taken into account, appealed the length of their sentences.

At the Court of Appeal on Monday Kitty Perle BL for Michalik argued that her client's role in the plan was "minimal" in that he was providing the car that was to be parked in Dublin 15, where the complainant was to leave the money demanded. Michalik was to receive 1,500 for the use of the car in the plot.

Ms Perle said the "orchestrator and main brain" was Stepien and that this had been the State's case at the trial. The barrister said Stepien had come up with the plan after his younger brother, Ostrowski, who was in school with the injured party, had been made aware of her source of income.

Mr Justice Edwards said that Michalik knew he was being asked to provide a car for a "sinister and illegal" act.

Ms Perle said her client told gardai he did not know the details of the plan "but he knew there was something". The barrister said the "totality of his involvement was to drive the car to the location". Ms Perle said the learned sentencing judge did not afford any credit for Michalik's guilty plea which was entered at the "earliest opportunity". She added that no rehabilitation was factored into the sentence and that no portion had been suspended.

Ms Perle said her client had never been in prison before being sentenced and had nine road traffic offences to his name but was "otherwise of good character".

Ms Justice George Birmingham said Michalik had "limited respect for the law" and "could not represent himself as an exemplary character".

Ms Justice Birmingham remarked that it could be said Michalik "did very well because it is a particularly nasty offence".

Ms Perle said Michalik was not involved in a "sustained campaign" against the injured party.

Mr Justice Birmingham said Michalik's role "can't be that minimal if he was expecting 15% of the expected proceeds".

Ms Perle said Michalik had been in full-time employment, was the sole bread-winner for his family, that his partner had just given birth and he was also responsible for her other three children.

Ian Woodland BL, for Stepien, said his client was not seeking to minimise his role in organising the blackmail plot but that it was not a sophisticated one and there had been no prolonged campaign against the injured party.

Mr Woodland said his client had entered an early plea of guilty which hopefully provided the injured party with some comfort.

The barrister said that the trial judge did not nominate a pre-mitigation headline sentence but that if a headline of four years had been nominated for what he described as offending belonging to the medium category, then the three-and-a-half years' imprisonment could be seen as "excessive".

The barrister said Stepien had been suffering with a "serious" addiction to gambling for which he is seeing a counsellor and had shown remorse for what he had done.

Mr Woodland said Stepien did not deny what he had done, had been "upfront and honest with investigating gardai" and that there had been no threat or use of violence.

Mr Justice Birmingham said the threat of revealing the images had been "insidious" and that Stepien had "identified a pressure point and applied the pressure".

Mr Cole, for the State, said there was an "air of unreality" to the blackmail being presented as a "foolish escapade" when the offending was "fundamentally serious".

Mr Cole said the nature of the blackmail was "disturbing" and had been "nothing other than a sophisticated plan".

The barrister said the offence had been a "very specific way to target a person in her own life, through her headmaster and her father".

Mr Cole said the injured party had been sent images to make sure she knew the group were aware of where she lived after she had tried to block the blackmailer online.

The barrister said the blackmail plot concerned "a significant amount of money" and that the operation had been a "campaign" that had only been foiled due to "good policing".

In dismissing the appeal, Mr Justice Birmingham said the girl did not widely disclose that she had an OnlyFans account on which those who paid for access could view her intimate photos.

Mr Justice Birmingham said the girl's effort to restrict access to the account from Irish users was unsuccessful which resulted in the demand for the 10K. The judge said she then "sensibly and properly" reported the matter to gardai who put together a plan that would lead the three men to believe the money would be paid.

Mr Justice Birmingham said the court agreed with the DPP who said that a "sophisticated plan was researched and then executed".

The judge said the plan was structured to have the "maximum intimidating effect" on the girl.

Mr Justice Birmingham said Stepien's offending was on the borderline of the mid-to-high range for offending.

The judge said both men had been placed in the appropriate category for the offence and noted that both men had cannabis possession charges taken into account by the trial judge.

He said both men had previous convictions and that the court was "clear in our view that the sentences cannot be unduly severe".

Mr Justice Birmingham then dismissed both appeals.
He is accused of failing to notify gardai of a change to his home address on April 2 last.

A convicted rapist and senior associate of the Kinahan crime gang has appeared in court for breaching the Sex Offenders Act.

Dublin man Barry Finnegan (42) was brought before a sitting of the Dublin District Court on Tuesday evening.

He is accused of failing to notify gardai of a change to his home address on April 2 last.

The offence he is charged with is contrary to Section 12 of the Sex Offenders Act 2001.

A person guilty of an offence under that section is liable, on summary conviction, to a fine of up to 1,500 or a maximum sentence of 12 months' imprisonment.

Finnegan, of Hardwicke Street in Dublin 1, has a previous conviction for rape under the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act 1990.

Garda Shane McGrath, of Mountjoy Garda Station, gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution to Judge John Cheatle.

The accused was subsequently granted bail subject to a number of conditions.

These include that he signs on at a garda station three times a week, surrender his passport, provide gardai with a phone number, and abide by a curfew.

It is understood he was recently refused leave to land in Turkey because of his sexual offending convictions and subsequently returned to Dublin via Belfast.

Finnegan was brought before the Criminal Courts of Justice this evening after being questioned over the murder of the 'The Monk's brother.

Gerry Hutch's brother Eddie, who was shot dead in 2016

Eddie 'Neddy' Hutch, the older brother of Gerard, was shot dead outside his inner-city home in February 2016.

Finnegan was detained last Friday by detectives investigating that murder and held under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007.

He was subsequently released without charge and a file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Finnegan has also previously described in the High Court by the Criminal Assets Bureau as a "senior member of the Kinahan Organised Crime Group".
Lena Clerc (22) was being stopped at the door of The Academy on Abbey Street when she held on to the female security guards arm and bit it

A French student who bit and injured a Dublin nightclub doorwoman in a nasty attack has been spared a criminal record.

Lena Clerc (22) was being stopped at the door of a Dublin city centre club when she held on to the female security guards arm and bit it.

Judge Bryan Smyth struck the case out after she pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court.

Clerc admitted assault causing harm to the woman at The Academy nightclub, Abbey Street, on January 21 this year.

Lena Clerc admitted assault causing harm to the woman

The court heard the accused had been refused entry to the club when she became aggressive and attempted to run past the victim, a member of security staff.

She was attempting to gain entry and the victim stopped her.

In a rage, Clerc held on to the injured partys arm, biting it and causing the skin to break.

There was no medical report available to the court as the victim had sought medical assistance but then declined to go to hospital.

Lena Clerc (22)   Collins Courts

The accused accepted it was a nasty offence to bite someone and she was very ashamed and embarrassed, her lawyer said. Clerc apologised to the victim.

She was from a good family, had never been in trouble before and had no excuse for what she did.

Clerc, from a small village near the Swiss border, was educated to bachelor level in France and had come here for four months to improve her English. She was about to start her masters in Lyon.

Her lawyer asked the judge for leniency.
The woman was one of four people arrested yesterday by gardai investigating the fatal shooting

Gardai at the scene of the June 2022 shooting of Gary Carey. Carey (41) died in August. Photo: Collins Dublin

Detectives are investigating whether a female associate of Gary Carey was involved in setting up the murdered Dublin criminal.

The woman was one of four people arrested yesterday by gardai investigating the fatal shooting at the Hilton Hotel in Kilmainham last year.

Carey (41) was shot a number of times in the hotels car park on June 24 and died over six weeks later.

Gardai made their first arrests as part of the murder investigation yesterday morning.

One woman and two men, all aged in their 20s, as well as another woman, aged in her 30s, were detained and last night remained in custody in separate garda stations.

The Sunday World has learned that one of the women was known to Carey and detectives are probing if she played a role in the lead up to the murder.

A senior source said: Its being investigated if this person was involved in setting him up as he would have trusted her

These arrests have been made following an extensive investigation that is continuing.

It is understood that the other suspects detained are being investigated for providing logistical support in the shooting.

Gardai at the scene of the June 2022 shooting of Gary Carey. Carey (41) died in August. Photo: Collins Dublin

A garda spokesperson announced details of the operation saying: Four people were arrested on the morning of Monday, 15th May, 2023 as part of the investigation into the fatal shooting of a man in his 30s that occurred at an underground car park of a premises on the South Circular Road in Kilmainham, Dublin 8, on Friday, 24th, June 2022.

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.

The four can be detained for a period of up to seven days before they must either be charged or released from garda custody.

At the time of the shooting Carey had been under threat from different criminal groups in the city, including criminals aligned to Brian Rattigan, associates of Derek Dee Dee ODriscoll, and the gang known as The Family.

Carey was originally from the Islandbridge area of the city and had been heavily linked to organised crime.

TheSunday World previously reported that a motive being probed for the shooting was a bitter turf war over drugs and cash in west Dublin.

Witnesses reported hearing up to eight shots at the time of the attack during which Carey was shot in the shoulder, arm, chest and leg.

His younger brother Darren was just 20 years old when he and his friend, Patrick Murray (19), were killed in the gruesome Canal Murders in early 2000.

Notorious criminal Mark Desmond, known as the Guinea Pig, was charged with the murders but these charges were later dropped. He was shot dead in 2016.

Gary Carey was buried next to his brother, but his grave was attacked in October with vandals smashing up the marble gravestone and using a screwdriver to prise off a family photo.

The shooting last June was the third attack on Carey in just over a year.
We were verbally abused and received death threats.

The CEO of Streetlink Homeless Support (SHS) has described how the groups car was attacked by a crowd of thugs on Dublin city as volunteers removed refugees personal belongings.

On Friday, a homeless encampment in Sandwith Street, an alleyway off Pearse Street was burned down following tense stand-off between anti-immigration demonstrators and counter-protestors.

Speaking to the Sunday World, SHS chief Padraic Drummond said their car was repeatedly booted by anti-immigration protestors during the tense incident.

SHS are a Dublin-based homeless welfare organisation who support rough sleepers in the city.

Our outreach vehicle was hemmed in on Sandwith Street for half an hour, they were booting our car and throwing missiles, Padraic said.

The wrecked encampment on Sandwith Street   Fergal Phillips

Padraic said the authorities need to take action urgently to prevent further escalation of tensions.

He said volunteers on the ground had warned him there was a risk of violence in advance of Fridays protest.

"On Thursday last we were contacted by activists concerned about the safety of those at Sandwith Street - that local youths had been stirred up by right wing agitators- and that they had been pestering the homeless at the encampment.

We strongly advised those present to leave when we heard there was a protest planned. We knew the agitators involved.

Weve known them over the past three to four years so we strongly advised those present to leave, that large numbers could turn up and it could turn ugly.

Gardai separate the two groups

We provided assistance in getting the homeless out, their belongings, to a safe location.

Unfortunately, when we were leaving, our car  our outreach vehicle- was hemmed in on Sandwith Street for half an hour, they were booting our car and throwing missiles, Padraic said.

The charity group were quick to identify themselves to the mob by showing identification.

However, this attempt to get those involved to refrain from violence was in vain.

We had high-vis bibs hanging over the seats, I showed them my IDs - that we were a charity. They wouldnt let us leave. We received death threats and verbal abuse, we had to be escorted out by the gardai.

The gardai I think have dealt with the situation as best they could. The location was burned down after activists were escorted out.

The agitators wouldnt leave until they were satisfied, until they confirmed the place was empty.

Theres 28 from Sandwith Street currently being accommodated at a new location, we are negotiating on their behalf with state bodies.

From those that arrived in March, they will be accommodated first. The Refugee Council of Ireland is advocating on behalf of Roderic OGorman.

We are really worried about agitators coming and laying siege to the new location. We urgently need this wrapped up as quick as possible, Mr Drummond said.
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. 
Inmates share crowded cells with mice, rats and cockroaches

Limerick mobster Ger Dundon has been behind bars in Englands worst prison where violence is rife and cells are infested with rats, mice and cockroaches.

His Majestys Prison Pentonville in north London, originally built with a capacity for 520 inmates, now holds almost 1,200 prisoners.

Campaigners have criticised conditions at the prison, which was built 10 years before Mountjoy in 1840 using the same original design as its Dublin counterpart.

Dundons location in the UK prison system emerged in court last week where he was sentenced to a total of 15 years for his part in a failed bid to extort money from a convicted drug dealer.

Pentonville prison in London

Dundon was caught red-handed by armed police with his victim in the back of his van at a Traveller site in Cambridgeshire in July 2020.

The Limerick thug was the only one of six defendants found guilty after a lengthy trial in which it was heard how two victims were threatened and humiliated in a seven-day ordeal.

At last weeks Crown Court hearing, Judge John Dodds wanted to know if prison authorities had taken action against Dundon after it was discovered he had hidden a phone internally.

He remarked how Dundon had somehow managed to secrete a mini phone inside your anus which highlighted his total disregard for the law.

No disciplinary action was taken by authorities at Pentonville against Dundon, who denied being in possession of the phone, it was heard in court.

A former inmate recently told the BBC how prisoners cells are infested with rats and cockroaches, and inmates are often locked up for 23 hours a day.

It doesnt matter how much you clean the cell, the cockroaches dont ever go away; the ground-floor wing has rats and mice, the former prisoner said.

He described the Victorian-era cells as dilapidated, tiny, the size of a bathroom, and who you share with it is luck of the draw.

In the most recent annual report of the prison, Pentonville was described as struggling with overcrowding and in poor physical condition.

A survey by the UKs Inspectorate of Prisons also found that 69pc of Pentonville inmates said they spent less than two hours a day outside their cells.

Dundon could apply to serve his sentence in Ireland, where three of his brothers  Dessie, John and Wayne  are all serving life sentences for gang-related murders.

However, remission rates are higher in the UK and Dundon could be eligible for release after serving seven-and-a-half years there, a term which would not be available to him in Ireland.

Dundon, who was tried under his new name of Darren McClean, spent over a year on remand in Pentonville after a series of criminal offences while on bail.

This included possession of a 9mm gun and ammo, spitting at an arresting police officer and stealing an electric bike from a woman.

He was given a 10-year sentence for conspiracy to kidnap and a consecutive five years for the gun, which had been found in a bag near his home in Hackney.

The trial, in which gang boss Cornelius Price had also been charged before his death, laid bare Dundons extensive criminal contacts.

The two brothers who were targeted for extortion had been sending Xanax tablets to Warren Crossan in Belfast, who had been shot dead just weeks earlier.

The two victims were told they owed Stg330,000 to the gang which had taken over Crossans debts following his murder.
Locals told RTE their aim was to ensure that no further buses carrying refugees would be allowed through

A local councillor has said that asylum seekers who are to be housed at a hotel in Co Clare will be like prisoners after protesters blocked the road last night.

Some 50 local people blocked both ends of the road leading to the former hotel and restaurant Magowna House in Inch after around 34 asylum seekers arrived by bus yesterday evening.

Tractors and cars are being used to completely block access to the building, RTE has reported.

Local people had known that Magowna House, which has been closed since 2019, was likely to be used as an emergency accommodation centre.

But when some asylum seekers arrived unexpectedly last night, the road leading to Magowna House was blocked.

Locals told RTE their aim was to ensure that no further buses carrying refugees would be allowed through.

Two uniformed gardai arrived on the scene about 30 minutes after the road was blocked and maintained an overnight presence as the protest continued.

Locals have said that they are going to maintain the protest until they "get answers" as to why the hotel is being used for emergency accommodation and also why they were not consulted about the decision.

An emergency community meeting has been held at the Kilmaley Inn, where residents have expressed their concerns over the imminent arrival of up to 69 Male International Protection Applicants to Magowna House.

The facility at Magowna had been deemed unsuitable for the accommodation of Ukrainian families last year, while parishioners fear the lack of local services renders the area incapable of handling a significant population influx.

Lissycasey-based Fianna Fail Councillor, PJ Kelly believes the incoming Asylum seekers will be virtually imprisoned.

Not only is it under to the people of the area, but its also unfair to the 69 who are moving in, he said. Many of them may have language difficulties, they may have come from an urban area and so on.

We had no role in it, as a council, in the decision of the Minister for Children, he added. I can't understand why he ignored the previous decision and I can't understand why the members of the Oireachtas were not informed or their views were not heard before it happened.

"This situation is totally unreasonable, it's dictatorial, it's arrogant, it's contempt, not alone for the people in the Magowna area but also for the people who (were) brought there because they will be like prisoners no doubt in the world about it.
He was arrested in the Iranian city of Mashhad in October during a wave of anti-government protests.

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.

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.

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.
The young white heifer appeared at Roscommon Garda Station over the weekend, much to officers surprise.

The cow found itself at Roscommon Garda Station over the weekend

Residents in Roscommon were stunned after a lost cow was spotted meandering the streets of the county town.

The young white heifer was on the loose and it fell to local gardai who were dispatched to round her up.

They ushered her in the back gate of the Roscommon Garda Station, which is based in the centre of the town, and contacted a local vet.

Gardai were able to locate her owner by scanning her ear tag which revealed the herd number and subsequently, the herd owner.

Taking to social media, the Garda Siochana North Western Region page shared a photo of the confused animal outside the station complete with some bovine-inspired puns that had followers creasing with laughter.

Despite this heifer pulling a Moo-dini at the weekend, Gardai in Roscommon were eventually able to moove her on from the station, a spokesperson wrote.

She's been released on bale to appear before the Hide Court at a later date. #HeretoHelp.

One social media user hit back with their own clever pun, writing: An udder disgrace lads, ye are milking it now.

And another added: Bet the judge will take no bull(s**t) there!
The body of missing Sligo man Justin Flannery (26) has been found following a search operation in Switzerland.

Mr Flannery was touring the country last weekend when it is believed he fell into a river in Lauterbrunnen, a village in the Swiss Alps, and was swept away.

An extensive search operation was conducted by Swiss search and rescue teams in recent days and members of his family flew to Switzerland in the hope of locating Justin.

In a statement issued by the Bern Cantons police force on Tuesday, it confirmed they had located the body of a 26-year-old Irish tourist. The police said Justins body was recovered from the Lutschine river on Monday evening.

Mountain specialists and other employees of the Bern Canton police were deployed. A search dog was also brought in. Due to indications that the missing person could be in the Lutschine, employees of the maritime police were also called out. Third parties also took part in the search on the following days, Swiss police said.

The Care Team of the Canton of Bern was deployed to look after the relatives. Investigations to clarify the events were started under the direction of the regional public prosecutor Oberland, the police statement said.

A GoFundMe set up by Justins twin brother, Johnathan, to raise funds for specialist equipment to search the river had raised over 60,000 by Tuesday evening.

The family were advised to steer clear of the river itself owing to the strong current and extremely cold water.

"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 before the tragic news of Justins death was confirmed.

Justin was a native of Bunninadden in Sligo.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has been contacted for comment.
"On reflection, poor judgment on my part. Unreservedly apologise for any offence caused," Mr Barrett said on Twitter.

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.

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.
The two agents were due to fly from Tenerife to Madrid on July 28, 2022.

A court in Spain has ordered Ryanair to pay 1,836 to two on-duty police officers who were not allowed board a flight last year with their firearms.

The two agents were due to fly from Tenerife to Madrid on July 28, 2022 but were stopped at the boarding gate and prevented from entering the aircraft with their weapons despite having filled out the necessary paperwork.

Both had to buy new tickets the next day given the need to reach their destination because of their profession, the Madrid court heard.

The lawyers for the two officers and representatives of the Jupol police union argued that the budget airline was abusive to the agents by failing to let them board.

They added that the police officers carried all the regulatory documentation and limited themselves to carrying out a service.

The court ruled in favour of the Spanish police and ordered Ryanair to pay damages of 1,836.

Ryanair agreed to pay 1,436 euros to the agents, recognizing, therefore, the unjustified nature of denying them to board, as well as the material damages but disputed the additional payment of 400 for moral damages, claiming that this amount was not justified under European compensation law.

However, the Spanish Supreme Court last year ruled that compensation for moral damage, in cases of delays or cancellations of flights, can be given independently of already agreed amounts.

Not only is it that the denied boarding had no legal justification, but it is clear that everything that happened caused passengers the need to have to endure the physical and mental fatigue derived from having to look for other alternative flights, with the consequent anxiety and anxiety derived from the uncertainty that this entails; assume unforeseen expenses, lose a day on arrival at destination and have to spend a night in another city, the sentence states.

It added that the agents have been forced to file a lawsuit and follow a judicial procedure until issuing a sentence, which only abounds in moral damage... as a result of the unjustified action of the defendant.

sundayworld.com has contacted Ryanair for comment.
New research using remote sensing technology has delivered promising results to scientists looking for innovative ways to help nurseries combat the spread of myrtle rust.

Scientists at Crown Research Institute Scion have found a way to quickly detect myrtle rust days before plants show signs of infection, providing hope that nurseries in the future can start control treatment much sooner and stop disease outbreaks in their tracks.

Working in a containment laboratory, the Scion team, led by data scientist Elizaveta Graevskaya, used high precision equipment to detect myrtle rust infection in leaves of rose apple deliberately inoculated with the myrtle rust pathogen.

Using thermal imaging the team detected decreases in leaf temperature in infected plants at least a day before symptoms could be seen. Transpiration measurements showed the temperature drop was caused by higher rates of water evaporation from the leaves as the fungal infection punctures individual cells, which cooled the leaves down.

The researchers also used a hyperspectral sensor to look at changes in the wavelength of light reflected from infected leaves.

Measurements made using hyperspectral cameras can include visible light to shortwave infrared and have proved particularly useful for early detection of diseases.

For example, the ratio of blue/green light reflected by infected leaves was noticeably different from healthy leaves up to three days before symptoms were visible.

This change suggests that myrtle rust reduces the amount of chlorophyll in infected leaves. Chlorophyll is the green pigment that gives leaves their colour, and which absorbs energy from the sun during photosynthesis.

These exciting results have prompted the team to expand their research to include other vulnerable species from the myrtle family, starting with eucalyptus in spring.

Field instrument technician Warren Yorston scans plants as part of the collaborative myrtle rust research project with Scions pathology team.

The lead author of this research and Scion principal scientist Mike Watt presented the findings as part of a webinar series delivered by Beyond Myrtle Rust  a collaborative research programme that Scion contributes to.

This sophisticated technology has allowed us to detect myrtle rust infection before it can be seen visually in leaves, Dr Watt says.

We hope this research can be used to develop a robust detection methodology that will benefit commercial nurseries in the future.

Scion pathologists, who are some of New Zealands leading experts in myrtle rust, have been involved in research to understand the impact of the disease since it was first detected in mainland New Zealand in 2017.

While myrtle rust will be impossible to eradicate, Scion forest geneticist Heidi Dungey says this latest research is a major step towards arming nurseries with the tools they need to make better disease management decisions.

We are several years away yet, but we can see a time when nurseries will be using hand-held, mobile technology that will be able to detect myrtle rust infections before they are visible, Dr Dungey says.

The technology also has potential to be used in the field, and at a much larger scale.

Because the thermal and hyperspectral equipment used by the Scion researchers can be mounted on drones, the team hopes to one day develop field-based methods to detect myrtle rust infections rapidly and remotely.

Forest pathologist and research group leader Stuart Fraser leads the Ecology and Environment team investigating myrtle rust. He describes the latest research as incredibly promising.

As part of a wider programme of research, weve been monitoring myrtle rusts impact and seasonal progression across the North Island for several years, he says.

Its important that we throw everything at it and use a range of available technologies to accelerate research and management, so we can reduce myrtle rust damage to our most vulnerable plants and landscapes.

Myrtle rust poses a threat to the countrys most iconic plants, including pohutakawa, manuka, and rata, as well as commercially grown species such as eucalyptus.

Currently, myrtle rust has an uneven distribution across the North Island, and on the top part of the South Island. It has also been reported from Christchurch. It is most likely to be seen during warm, wet conditions.

The disease causes bright yellow-orange powdery pustules on young leaves, shoots, fruits and flowers in the myrtle family, causing deformation of the leaves, and twig dieback. Repeated severe infection can cause decline or death of large trees.

Beyond Myrtle Rust programme leader Mahajabeen Padamsee says the research illustrates how technology is an important tool for the detection and monitoring of plant pathogens, which is vital for disease management.

The research findings have been published in the respected international journal Phytopathology.
KABUL, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Afghan security forces have seized a huge quantity of arms and ammunition including 35 pieces of AK-47 assault rifles in the eastern Ghazni province, said a statement of the General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) on Tuesday.

The recovered arms and ammunitions, according to the statement, also include a PK machine gun, three pistols, an 82 mm caliber anti-tank gun, thousands of bullets, and explosive objects. The weapons were seized in operations in parts of the eastern Ghazni province.

The statement didn't say if anyone has been arrested.

In other developments, Afghan security forces had also discovered and seized several weapon caches in Parwan, Nangarhar, and Nimroz provinces a couple of weeks ago. 
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Police are making enquiries after three students at a local school reported suspicious behaviour by a man on 19th and 20th Avenue.

These incidents are alleged to have occurred on the evening of May 10 and the morning of May 11, says a police spokesperson.

Police are undertaking a number of enquiries in relation to this report, including reviewing available CCTV footage from the area.

"Officers have also been tasked to visit schools to provide some reassurance and general safety advice.

"We know that reports of incidents such as these can cause considerable concern for parents and other members of our community.

"We would urge everyone to be alert, not alarmed, and to take the opportunity to have conversations with your children about what they should do should they feel unsafe.

"Police would like to hear from anyone who has information which could assist our enquiries in relation to this matter."

The incidents are reported to have happened around 19th and 20th Avenue. Image: Google Maps.

If you can help, please contact Police via 105 or online at https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105, using Update My Report.

Please reference file number 230511/8498.
Ignacio Lillo Malaga Compartir Copiar enlace

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It is a classic sea-going vessel, built in 1962, and intended for luxury cruise charters. Measuring some 65 metres in length it has capacity for 12 guests in seven cabins, plus 20 crew. So far, it is the description of just one more craft that calls at the megayacht marina in Malaga. But La Sultana has a back story that makes it very special.

The vessel was originally built under the name of Aji Petri at the Georgi Dimitrov shipyard in Varna (Bulgaria) in 1962. The order for the Russian fleet was part of a series of 12 identical ships, intended for the transport of goods and passengers. Initially, the ship carried up to 102 passengers in cabins on routes through the Black Sea.

Subsequently, the craft was sent to the North Atlantic, where it became one of the last Russian spy ships of the Cold War, according to data available on various specialist web pages. Its official use at the time was as a radio repeater for the International Telecommunication Union, although the general suspicion is that its operators were eavesdropping for the Soviet secret services.

After a brief period being operated by a Bulgarian shipping company, in 2007 the ship was acquired by the La Sultana hotel group and underwent a total refit over a seven-year period which was carried out by Orion Naval Engineering. The reformed luxury craft, La Sultana, which sails under a Panama flag, is now equipped with the most modern navigation technology, which is incorporated into the Art Deco style interior, with oriental influences and expensive woods.

Among the top-end amenities it has an indoor pool, seawater jacuzzi, helicopter lift area and a bathing platform with a hydraulic hatch on the starboard side of the ship, near the bow, which gives direct access to the sea. The large upper deck can host up to 150 party guests.

In its new luxury life, the craft is a regular summer visitor to the Balearic Islands and Moroccan coast, although it has also been seen before in Malaga and the Costa del Sol.
In pictures: Costa del Sol transforms itself into Hollywood film set The WWII drama We Were the Lucky Ones began filming in Marbella before moving to Malaga city, together with Machos Alfa and Kaos

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A stroll through Malaga over the next two weeks promises more than just shop windows and a good atmosphere: theres also a high probability of coming across a film shoot. Up to three series, both national and international, have booked time and space in the city centre for the filming of their new seasons.

Netflix is once again back with the filming of the second season of the Spanish comedy, Machos Alfa, as well as its new big production venture Kaos, which returns to Malaga to film additional scenes to those already shot last year.

The third series is We Were the Lucky Ones, a series about the holocaust by the American streaming platform Hulu (Disney Group). In addition to the old town, the crews are also in Marbella, where the Hulu series began filming its World War II drama on Monday 15 May.

The first to arrive in the centre of Malaga today Tuesday 16 May is Machos Alfa, the franchise created by siblings Laura and Alberto Caballero (La que se Avecina) for Netflix. In the second season the original characters; the four friends overwhelmed by today's society of empowered women, are back with humour, cliches and controversial topics that explore themes including masculinity, the end of patriarchy, toxic relationships and role reversal under the prism of equality.

Filming of We Were the Lucky Ones in Marbella. JOSELE

The series is in the centre of Malaga and in a beach bar in Pedregalejo, before moving to an exclusive beach club in Marbella on Wednesday 17 May, while on Friday they plan to shoot at night in a mansion on the Costa del Sol. In addition, the schedule also includes a brief stop in Tarifa (Cadiz) to complete the filming in Andalucia.

Next on the filming list is the adaptation of the novel We Were the Lucky Ones, in which the writer Georgia Hunter tells the story of her family during the Second World War and the Jewish Holocaust. This project, produced in Spain by the Malaga-based company Fresco Film for Old 320 Sycamore and the Twentieth Television studio, plans to turn Calle San Juan into a corner of Brazil this Thursday 18 May with the filming of street scenes.

As such, one of the establishments on the central street has been transformed into a bookbinding and leatherwork workshop, as can be read on the striking signs in Portuguese that the series' art team has already painted on the shop's facade.

Ampliar A film crew on Calle San Juan in Malaga city centre. Marilu Baez

The series, which like the others, has the support of the Malaga Film Office, arrives in the city after a visit to Marbella on Monday 15 May, where filming began on this ambitious international production which used the famous wooden pontoon of the Marbella Club Hotel for the arrival of a boat to a Brazilian coastal setting.

A number of extras dressed in period costumes and soldiers from the 1940s could be seen strolling around the club as well as Lihi Kornowski (Crimes of the Future) and Logan Lerman (star of the Percy Jackson saga). Although the main character, played by American actor Joey King (Bullet Train), were not present.

This mini-series arrives in the Malaga after filming most of its scenes in Romania to conclude the shooting of this story about a Jewish family from Poland who, after the invasion of their country by the Nazis, faces extermination when they are separated into German ghettos, farms and factories, a fate from which all its members try to escape.

The third series is Kaos, the Netflix series which mixes thriller and Greek mythology is back in Malaga having filmed the second series here. It stars Jeff Goldblum (Jurassic Park and The Fly), following the departure of Hugh Grant from the project.

All3Media and Brightstar are producing this new title, which has also entrusted the Malaga-based company Fresco Film with this extension of filming, after six months last year when it directed the filming on the Costa del Sol, Seville, Jerez, Valencia and Madrid.

Kaos was the most expensive international production filmed in Spain last year. In Malaga it transformed Calles Carreteria, Parra, Paseo del Parque and Alameda de Colon into Greek settings, while for this series the Lagunillas neighbourhood will be one of the locations used in the city, along with other areas of the province.
BISHKEK, May 16 (Xinhua) -- The upcoming China-Central Asia Summit will provide a new platform and open a new chapter for the cooperation among the six participating countries, a renowned Kyrgyz expert has said.

Central Asia is not only geographically adjacent to China, but also very closely connected with China, especially in the fields of economy, trade, finance and credit, said Kubanychbek Taabaldiev, a Kyrgyz political scientist and professor of international relations at Ala-Too International University, in a recent exclusive interview with Xinhua.

"Central Asia is located along the ancient Silk Road, and all countries in the region have participated in the Belt and Road Initiative in different ways," he said. "All countries in the Central Asian region are implementing bilateral projects with China, which benefits all parties."

For example, preparations for the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway have begun, which testified to the common aspiration of China and Central Asia to improve transportation, energy and other infrastructure along the Silk Road, he said.

Another important reason for the close ties between countries in the region and China is China's success, not only in the economic field or the introduction of new digital technologies, but also in poverty eradication and the improvement of civil society conditions.

"Uzbekistan, for example, is very interested in learning from China's experience in poverty reduction. Over the past 40 years, China has lifted more than 700 million people out of poverty."

The huge Chinese market is becoming increasingly attractive for manufacturers of all kinds of goods, he noted, the export of Central Asia's green agricultural products to China is gradually increasing.

Uzbekistan has become a leading exporter of cherries to China, and Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are gradually increasing food exports, including meat, honey and dried fruit, to China as well. Trade between Kazakhstan and China is also booming, the expert said.

"I firmly believe that after the Xi'an summit, the relations and interconnections between China and the five Central Asian countries will be strengthened and reach a higher level," said Taabaldiev. 
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After 15 years as president and CEO of the Central New York Community Foundation, Peter A. Dunn is stepping down in June to take a similar position in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Over Dunns tenure, the foundations assets grew from $110 million to $399 million, annual grantmaking grew from $5.2 million to $18.1 million, and the staff grew from 16 to 25 employees.
Correction: Syracuse police originally reported a 14-year-old boy was charged with making a terroristic threat, a felony. He was charged with making a threat of mass harm, a misdemeanor. The article below has been corrected.

Syracuse, N.Y.  A 14-year-old boy was arrested Monday after police say he made a shooting threat against Roberts Pre K-8 School in Syracuse, police said.

The boy made the threat on Snapchat to shoot up the school, said Lt. Matthew Malinowski, a spokesperson for Syracuse Police.
HANOI, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam is slated to establish its first market for trading carbon dioxide emissions in 2028 in a move to enhance the exchange of carbon credit between local and international markets, Vietnam News reported on Tuesday.

Under the plan proposed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Vietnam is preparing to develop regulations on carbon credit management and exchange of greenhouse gas emission quotas and carbon credits. The process is due to complete in 2027.

The operation of the carbon trade exchange is expected to create a framework for Vietnam to monetize reduced emissions while working toward carbon neutrality by 2050.

To participate in the carbon market, businesses should develop mitigation measures and meet requirements of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2026, said Nguyen Tuan Quang, deputy director of the Department of Climate Change, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

A carbon credit is a permit that represents one ton of carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere, usually bought to make up for carbon dioxide emissions.

With 14.7 million hectares of forest, Vietnam can sell 57 million carbon credits to international organizations annually with each of credit priced as much as 5 U.S. dollars.

The authorities hope that the market will encourage more companies to participate in emissions trading and foster de-carbonization in the country.

The Quang Nam province has asked for the government's permission to be the first in the country to join the voluntary carbon market. It expects to sell some 6 million carbon credits for about 30 million U.S. dollars by 2025. 
New Hartford, N.Y.  An Oneida County man has been arrested and charged with raping an underaged girl, deputies said.

The Oneida County Child Advocacy Center was alerted Friday that a man had sexual contact with a 16-year-old girl, according to the Oneida County Sheriffs Office.

An investigation led officers to Joseph R. Steele, 49, of New Hartford, who they said had contact with the girl earlier in the week, deputies said.

Steele was charged Friday with third-degree rape, a felony, and taken to the Oneida County Correctional Facility. He was arraigned at CAP Court and is being held on $15,000 bail, $30,000 bond.

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
City of Oswego, N.Y.  A city of Oswego deputy fire chief who was suspended after admitting he had sex in his office while on duty is now back on the city payroll while the city tries to fire him, the mayor said.

Joseph Smegelsky was given disciplinary charges from the fire department on April 7, resulting in a suspension pending a possible firing, Oswego Fire Chief Paul Conzone said Monday.

Smegelsky was initially suspended without pay but had to be reinstated to the payroll after 30 days, Conzone said.

During an unrelated investigation, it was discovered that Smegelsky had a woman come to his office -- on fire department property -- to have sex while on duty at least one time, Conzone said.

Smegelsky later admitted to the allegations, said Oswego Mayor Billy Barlow.

Barlow said he fired Smegelsky but the local firefighters union is fighting the termination which led to the suspension while they await arbitration between the city and the union.

Barlow said he is surprised the union is fighting on Smegelskys behalf because he is connected to an investigation of missing union money that led to the discovery of his other misconduct.

The union approached the city after they found that around $500 they raised was missing, Barlow said. The money came from a sale of fire department hats and t-shirts, Conzone said.

Smegelsky became the center of that investigation after he was the only member of the department who was not cooperating, Barlow said.

Barlow said he finds it ironic that the union would defend someone who is potentially connected to money stolen from the same organization.

Nathaniel Lambright, attorney for the Oswego Firefighters Association Local 126, made a statement on behalf of the union.

Various disciplinary procedures and required actions are specifically outlined in the unions collective bargaining agreement with the city, Lambright said. Our legal obligation to each member we represent is to ensure the city comply with these mutually agreed upon practices.

Barlow also noted that Smegelsky previously pleaded guilty to misusing $22,000 allocated to the Minetto Volunteer Fire Company when he was that departments chief. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor after being charged with felony third-degree grand larceny following an audit by the state Comptrollers Office.

Conzone and Barlow said they are both hopeful that the arbitrators will side with the city and fire Smegelsky for his actions.

Conzone said that as soon as they found out about the misconduct they sought the strictest possible disciplinary action.

Barlow said that if someone cant be fired for this he is not sure what would constitute a fireable offense.

Until the arbitration is complete, Smegelsky will remain on the city payroll but is not currently working in the department.

Smegelsky was paid $92,103 in 2022, according to online payroll records for public employees.

Staff writer Anne Hayes covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at ahayes@syracuse.com.
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.

When Brian Stark found out his application for a cannabis retail dispensary license was one of the first to be approved in New York, he was thrilled.

Then came zoning limbo.

The state approved Starks application and 27 others in November through the Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary program, which offers licenses to business owners impacted by past cannabis convictions.

But six months later, Stark is still struggling to find a good retail location in Long Island.

Out of the few Long Island towns that did not opt-out of having dispensaries, many of them have local zoning restrictions that make setting up shop nearly impossible, Stark said.



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Theres probably not enough real estate for 40 of us, he said. Its not even enough real estate, probably, for 20 of us.

As of its May 11 meeting, the states Cannabis Control Board has approved 215 CAURD licenses, with 39 of them in Long Island.

Some Long Island towns, like Brookhaven, will only approve dispensary locations in industrial spaces, pushing cannabis businesses away from prime residential areas with steady customer traffic, said Stark, who has lived on Long Island for most of his life and now resides in Merrick.

At other locations, landlords werent comfortable with cannabis being in the building or there werent enough parking spaces available for a retail location, he said.

Stark could opt to settle in an industrial area, but without clarity on when local zoning regulations could ease up or tighten further, choosing a bad location now seems risky, he said.

We dont know where to go, Stark said. Everybodys worried. Even if they have a location, theyve still got a question mark: do they want to go forward? Because it might not be an available location in six months to a year depending on what happens in the next few months.

Stark decided to pivot his business strategy to be a delivery service to avoid more hold ups, he said.

New Yorks Office of Cannabis Management approved Starks application for a delivery service and newly picked location in Babylon on May 4. He has a vision and a website ready to go for his business, which hell rename Metropolis Cannabis instead of Brian Stark Enterprises LLC.

All thats left to do is to see what the towns zoning requirements will be, Stark said.

The OCMs guidance for retail dispensaries, including guidance on locations, is still unofficial because the regulatory process is ongoing, said OCM Executive Director Chris Alexander.

With another 45-day public comment period ahead for the draft regulations, it could be months before the guidance is official, Alexander said in an April interview.

It is currently an issue that our regs are not yet final, and so the ability of the board to identify any of these local schemes as unpractical or unreasonable  is not yet in effect, he said.

The OCMs guidance would allow municipalities to establish areas for dispensaries to operate as long as municipalities dont marginalize them into disadvantageous spaces, but part of the problem is cannabis stigma, Alexander said.

The OCM cant change the minds of individual landlords, but they can make sure localities know how and why they want to create space for new dispensaries, he said. The OCM launched a public education campaign in April to prepare the market for these new businesses on the way.

As local planning boards and the public see other dispensaries thrive across New York, Alexander hopes more towns will opt in and change their positions.

Our job is to make sure this program can roll out effectively, he said. The stigma can get in the way of that, but weve got to work through it.

Alexander added that New Yorks latest dispensary licensees are creative and persistent, and licensees might start advocating to local planning boards themselves to effect change, too.

Stark said he found his footing throughout the past months through mentorship and community.

Police first arrested him for a cannabis sale and possession in high school, but other cannabis-related charges qualified him for CAURD, he said.

Now, Stark attends weekly meetings with other new licensees through Our Academy, a nonprofit mentorship program for cannabis businesspersons affected by the War on Drugs.

It feels good, its a full circle, Stark said. I think in some way, I actually deserve this, so maybe it was always meant to be. All the little trouble I got in as a kid worked out.

Stark believes New Yorks legal cannabis industry can go far if dispensaries can find good locations.

Its just getting in a location thats going to be viable down the road, he said.
Syracuse, N.Y.  Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said today that he will recommend against a controversial property tax break for upscale suburban apartments in Lysander that previously looked likely to be approved.

McMahon had spoken favorably about the tax break in the past, without explicitly endorsing it. His economic development director supported granting the incentive.

But McMahon said he took a closer look at the proposal for Drakes Landing Apartments, a 162-unit complex in the Radisson community, following a public hearing last week at which 15 people spoke against granting the project a 10-year payment in lieu of taxes, or PILOT.

The county executive said he agreed with criticism that the builders plan to collect an upfront development fee of $5.4 million  a whopping 12.4% of the total $44 million project cost  indicated they did not need a PILOT to proceed.

The PILOT sought by the developers would save them $1.3 million in school, town and county property taxes over a decade.

OCIDA will not approve the deal, McMahon predicted today.

Thats news to Pat Hogan, chairman of the OCIDA board, who had previously said he was leaning toward granting the incentive. Hogan said he has not heard from McMahon and is still inclined to vote yes on the PILOT.

I havent talked to him at all about this, Hogan said today. Zero. Nothing.  Are you sure he said hes lobbying against this?

McMahon last week had defended OCIDAs consideration of the tax break, although he stopped short of an explicit endorsement. He decided to oppose the PILOT after looking at the project in detail, he said today.

Tax breaks for purely residential developments in the suburbs are rare. In the last 10 years, OCIDA has given property tax exemptions to only one apartment project that was not part of a mixed-use complex or redevelopment of a blighted property, a syracuse.com review showed. That tax exemption went to the same developers who are behind Drakes Landing.

Criticism of the builders development fee was raised at the May 9 hearing by Don Western, who was the countys economic development director from 1992 to 2008. Western said development fees  money paid out of the project financing to compensate the developer for managing the project  are typically between 3% and 9%.

After seeing the development fee, it is clear they dont need a PILOT, McMahon said today in a text message. It seems like a good project that will happen without a PILOT.

But a month ago, when the Drakes Landing project was first presented to the OCIDA board, Robert Petrovich, the executive director of OCIDA, expressed support for the tax break. Petrovich also serves as McMahons economic development director.

Petrovich told the OCIDA board that county officials had worked with developers Frank Fava and Patrick Basset to modify their plans to promote walkability. Thats a key feature of the county executives overall objectives for increasing housing in Onondaga County, he said.

The builders agreed to add walking paths within the complex and to connect them with Radissons trail system, he said.

Theyve done additional design work and, obviously, construction to facilitate that, Petrovich told the board. We thought that, its our feeling, that supporting the PILOT makes sense.

McMahon said Petrovich was speaking as IDA director, not as a representative of his administration.

The IDA director doesnt speak for my administration, he said. I do.

McMahon said today that in recent days he has lobbied OCIDA board members against granting the property tax break. He did not specify who he talked to.

The reality is this project wont get a PILOT because I lobbied members of the board, he said.

Before the public hearing last week, McMahons comments indicated he saw Drakes Landing as a good example of the kind of suburban development that OCIDA should consider supporting.

In an interview May 8, a day before the public hearing, McMahon pointed out a myriad of reasons why OCIDA should consider a PILOT for the project. He said the developers had complied with the countys request to support walkable neighborhoods. He pointed out that the projected range of rents, $1,250 to $1,400, was modest.

And he emphasized that the county urgently needs to develop suburban housing to combat high housing costs, especially in light of the burgeoning demand expected from Micron Technologys planned chip fabs in Clay.

Asking more concessions from suburban developers in return for tax breaks, such as requiring them to include affordable housing, could inhibit development, McMahon said.

Some critics of the Drakes Landing tax break said OCIDA should not give taxpayer-funded incentives to projects unless they include some public benefit, such as affordable apartments.

McMahon said he only delved into the details of the Drakes Landing PILOT last week. He said he does not take a position on whether OCIDA should grant the project other exemptions.

The developers have requested $1.5 million in exemptions from sales taxes on construction materials; and a $258,750 exemption from the mortgage recording tax.

In response to the number of comments during the public hearing, OCIDA put off considering the Drakes Landing proposal until its June 8 meeting, Hogan said last week.

Do you have a news tip or a story idea? Contact reporter Tim Knauss: email | Twitter | | 315-470-3023.

Read more:

Onondaga Countys plan for Micron housing surge: Put more people closer together

Some object as Onondaga County considers rare property tax breaks for apartment complex

Onondaga County demands little in return for upscale apartment projects big tax break

Proposal would turn suburban YMCA site into large apartment complex
The first round of results for Syracuses new city flag are in.

Adapt CNY, a local non-profit, released four semifinalist flag designs and are looking for feedback from city residents. The four designs are shown above. To submit your ranked vote and to provide feedback, go to syracuseflag.com/feedback and fill out the form by June 6. For more information about the flags, go to syracuseflag.com/semifinalists.

The Flag Committee of the Syracuse Redesign Initiative received nearly 300 design submissions from around the world, and it came down to the four above, said Adapt CNY member Andrew Fraiser. The committee will review the public vote and submit the most popular flag as their recommendation to the Syracuse Common Council.

The council will then review the recommended design on June 14, National Flag Day. They can approve, reject or make recommendations on the flag.

The old design had been the target of criticism from the nations top flag design enthusiasts, including radio host Roman Mars, who in a 2015 TED Talk included the Salt Citys flag as one example of how not to make a flag.

The current flag of the City of Syracuse, designed in 1915.

What Adapt CNY wanted from its submissions, and what the flag scholars at the North American Vexillological Association (NAVA) advise, is a simple, meaningful design with basic coloring and no lettering or seals.

(Another flag of this region, the flag of the Haudenosaunee, made it into NAVAs design book, Good Flag, Bad Flag, as an example of a good design.)

The current Syracuse flag, designed in 1915 (also through a contest), is a tri-bar design with the busy city seal in the center. Its hard to make out from the foot of a flag pole, and was called objectively ugly by Syracuse common councilor Michael Greene.

Greene kickstarted the flag redesign movement in 2019. Now, theres a Flag Committee, backed by Adapt CNY, and comprised of local community members and artists. They took the last three months to sift through the submissions for their four semi-finalists.

The committee members are volunteers. Each of the four semi-finalists received $250, financed by Adapt CNY. The finalist will also receive a chunk of money, as yet undetermined by the non-profit.

READ MORE:

Councilor: Syracuses flag is objectively ugly so lets replace it

Flag redesign group has more than 70 submissions for a new Syracuse flag, with more on the way

If you want a hand in designing Syracuses new city flag, now is the time to sign up

Group seeking redesign of Syracuses objectively ugly flag asks for public submissions
On Saturday morning a 39-year-old angler from Canada was fishing the Flume Trail System section of the Ausable River when his foot got wedged under a rock in the rapids. As he tried to pull it out, he broke his leg.

The angler dragged himself from the water to the riverbank and waited two hours until a passing hiker found him and called 911. Four New York State Department of Environmental Conservation forest rangers, along with Wilmington Fire and Wilmington EMS, packaged the injured angler into a litter and carried him to an ambulance.

The following reports are excerpted from DEC:

A wildfire flared up in the Warren County town of Horicon last week. The fire began as a structure fire, but spread into the woods. Rangers joined three fire departments to get the fire under control.

A brushfire burned nine acres in the Schoharie County town of Fulton on May 13 before rangers contained it. The fire was started by residential debris burning, and the landowner was cited for violating the states burn ban. Two days later, another wildfire flared up in the Warren County town of Horicon. The fire began as a structure fire, but spread into the woods. Rangers joined three fire departments to get the fire under control later that day.

On the afternoon of May 13, a 64-year-old Albany man fell ill while hiking up Plateau Mountain, in Greene County. The man complained of nausea, lethargy, sleepiness, and cramping. Two members of the mans group called for help and waited with him until rangers arrived and provided him with electrolytes and fluids. Feeling better, he walked out with the help of rescue crews, reaching the trailhead at 10:30 p.m. He required no further medical care.

On May 14, a group of hikers from Long Island got lost on their way up Overlook Mountain. New York State Police, Ulster County Sheriffs, and Woodstock Police began searching while a ranger pinpointed the groups coordinates. Within an hour the ranger reached the lost hikers, who ranged in age from 13 to 46, in dense mountain laurel approximately a quarter of a mile off the trail. They were in good condition, and the ranger guided them back to the trailhead.

A three-year-old went missing on the morning of May 15 in the Otter Lake area on the border of Herkimer and Oneida counties. Rangers led the incident command, while ten rangers searched alongside state police, assisted by a drone and K9 support. A passerby spotted the missing child at a camp across Lake View Road and called 911. A volunteer searcher found the boy and brought him to his parents. Herkimer County Sheriffs, Inlet Police, Old Forge Fire, Otter Lake Fire, Webb Police, Woodgate Fire, the State Office of Fire Prevention and Control, and DECs Division of Law Enforcement were also involved in the search.



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READ MORE

Rangers search for body of Clarkson University student who jumped from bridge, rescue injured hikers - syracuse.com

Rangers rescue ADK climber severely injured in 40-foot fall - newyorkupstate.com

Rangers find body of missing Upstate NY man, squelch brush fires - newyorkupstate.com

Rangers assist rescue efforts in two Upstate NY drownings, nab sap stealers - newyorkupstate.com

Rangers recover two bodies in separate incidents; rescue injured hikers - newyorkupstate.com

Steve Featherstone covers the outdoors for The Post-Standard, syracuse.com and NYUP.com. Contact him at sfeatherstone@syracuse.com or on Twitter @featheroutdoors. You can also follow along with all of our outdoors content at newyorkupstate.com/outdoors/ or follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/upstatenyoutdoors.
By Raga Justin | Times Union, Albany

Albany, N.Y.  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 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.

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.

___

(c)2023 the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.)

Visit the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.) at www.timesunion.com
Former New York State Fair Director Troy Waffner has taken a new job as chief executive officer of the Central New York SPCA.

Waffner, 50, began running the nonprofit agency that provides cruelty investigations, adoptions, dog control and other services on May 1.

He had a long career at the State Fair, becoming acting director in 2014 and then being named to the permanent directors job in 2018. Last year, he accepted a newly created post as liaison for county fairs around the state, after a period in which he had been on a leave of absence. He left the county fair liaison position in late April.

When Waffner took the county fair job last year, the State Fair promoted a recently hired assistant director, Sean Hennessey, into the post of interim State Fair director. Hennessey continues to serve as interim director while the fair, a division of the state Department of Agriculture & Markets, conducts a search for a permanent director. That search has been underway since the end of last years fair.

The county fair liaison position is now being filled by other department staff, said State Fair spokeswoman Alice Maggiore. The department is recruiting for that post, she said.

Waffner was paid $140,485 in that job last year. The salary for the new person in that job will be determined based on experience, Maggiore said.

In his new job, Waffner oversees an agency with a $1.4 million annual budget serving all of Madison and Oneida counties and most of Onondaga County. The agency has not had a CEO in several years, and has been run instead by its board of directors, Waffner said.

Waffner said today hes looking forward to his new job, and has even accompanied some cruelty investigators on recent assignments.

All my life, I said my dream job was to work at an animal shelter or run an ice cream stand, he said. Now Ive been able to accomplish at least one of those dreams.

He also said the county liaison job, which was intended to boost marketing and promotion for the states 50 county fairs, was rewarding.

It involved lots of travel to all corners of the state, from Cattaraugus County to St. Lawrence County and everywhere in between, he said. The county fairs are terrific, a real slice of Americana. They deserve support and recognition.

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.
Miami  Five people have pleaded guilty in South Florida to participating in a wire fraud scheme that created an illegal shortcut for aspiring nurses to get licensed and find employment.

Krystal Lopez and Damian Lopez, both of Palm Beach County, Florida; Francois Legagneur, of Nassau County, New York; Reynoso Seide, of Union County, New Jersey and Yelva Saint Preux, of Suffolk County, New York pleaded guilty last Wednesday in Miami federal court to wire fraud conspiracy. They each face up to 20 years in prison at a July 27 hearing.

A total of 25 people were charged earlier this year in a scam that sold more than 7,600 fraudulent nursing degree diplomas from three Florida-based nursing schools, according to grand jury indictments. The schools involved  Siena College, Palm Beach School of Nursing and Sacred Heart International Institute  are now closed.

During guilty plea hearings, Damian Lopez, Legagneur, Seide and Saint Preux admitted to soliciting and recruiting people who sought nursing credentials that would allow them to work as registered, licensed practical or vocational nurses. Krystal Lopez admitted that, in her role as the Palm Beach School of Nursings finance director, she processed applications for individuals who were issued fraudulent nursing school diplomas and transcripts and that each student paid the school $15,000 for the documents.

The fake diplomas and transcripts qualified those who purchased them to sit for the national nursing board exam. If they passed, they were able to obtain licenses and jobs in various states, prosecutors said.

About 2,400 of the 7,600 students eventually passed their licensing exams  mainly in New York, federal officials said. Nurses certified in New York are allowed to practice in Florida and many other states. Many of those people may lose their certification but likely wont be criminally charged, federal officials said.
The head of the artificial intelligence company that makes ChatGPT told Congress on Tuesday that government intervention will be critical to mitigate the risks of increasingly powerful AI systems.

As this technology advances, we understand that people are anxious about how it could change the way we live. We are too, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman testified at a Senate hearing Tuesday.

Altman proposed the formation of a U.S. or global agency that would license the most powerful AI systems and have the authority to take that license away and ensure compliance with safety standards.

His San Francisco-based startup rocketed to public attention after it released ChatGPT late last year. ChatGPT is a free chatbot tool that answers questions with convincingly human-like responses.

What started out as a panic among educators about ChatGPTs use to cheat on homework assignments has expanded to broader concerns about the ability of the latest crop of generative AI tools to mislead people, spread falsehoods, violate copyright protections and upend some jobs.

And while theres no immediate sign that Congress will craft sweeping new AI rules, as European lawmakers are doing, the societal concerns brought Altman and other tech CEOs to the White House earlier this month and have led U.S. agencies to promise to crack down on harmful AI products that break existing civil rights and consumer protection laws.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, the Connecticut Democrat who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committees subcommittee on privacy, technology and the law, opened the hearing with a recorded speech that sounded like the senator, but was actually a voice clone trained on Blumenthals floor speeches and reciting a speech written by ChatGPT after he asked the chatbot to compose his opening remarks.

The result was impressive, said Blumenthal, but he added, What if I had asked it, and what if it had provided, an endorsement of Ukraine surrendering or (Russian President) Vladimir Putins leadership?

Blumenthal said AI companies ought to be required to test their systems and disclose known risks before releasing them, and expressed particular concern about how future AI systems could destabilize the job market.

Pressed on his own worst fear about AI, Altman mostly avoided specifics. But he later proposed that a new regulatory agency should impose safeguards that would block AI models that could self-replicate and self-exfiltrate into the wild  hinting at futuristic concerns about advanced AI systems that could manipulate humans into ceding control.

Co-founded by Altman in 2015 with backing from tech billionaire Elon Musk with a mission focused on safety, OpenAI has evolved from a nonprofit research lab into a business. Its other popular AI products including the image-maker DALL-E. Microsoft has invested billions of dollars into the startup and has integrated its technology into its own products, including its search engine Bing.

Altman is also planning to embark on a worldwide tour this month to national capitals and major cities across six continents to talk about the technology with policymakers and the public. On the eve of his Senate testimony, he dined with dozens of U.S. lawmakers, several of whom told CNBC they were impressed by his comments.

Also testifying will be IBMs chief privacy and trust officer, Christina Montgomery, and Gary Marcus, a professor emeritus at New York University who was among a group of AI experts who called on OpenAI and other tech firms to pause their development of more powerful AI models for six months to give society more time to consider the risks. The letter was a response to the March release of OpenAIs latest model, GPT-4, described as more powerful than ChatGPT.

Artificial intelligence will be transformative in ways we cant even imagine, with implications for Americans elections, jobs, and security, said the panels ranking Republican, Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri. This hearing marks a critical first step towards understanding what Congress should do.

A number of tech industry leaders have said they welcome some form of AI oversight but have cautioned against what they see as overly heavy-handed rules. In a copy of her prepared remarks, IBMs Montgomery asks Congress to take a precision regulation approach, and disagreed with proposals by Altman and Marcus for an AI-focused regulator.

This means establishing rules to govern the deployment of AI in specific use-cases, not regulating the technology itself, Montgomery said.
SEOUL, May 16 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's automotive export logged a double-digit growth last month due to robust demand for eco-friendly vehicles, government data showed Tuesday.

Car shipment soared 40.3 percent from a year earlier to 6.16 billion U.S. dollars in April, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

The number of exported vehicles was 247,399 in April, up 25.3 percent from the same month of last year.

Export for eco-friendly cars jumped 55.8 percent to 2.05 billion dollars, while the number of exported such vehicles surged 33.7 percent to 63,824.

The number of vehicles manufactured in local factories gained 24.7 percent from a year earlier to 382,265 in April.

The number of cars sold in South Korea, including locally-made and imported vehicles, was 149,374 in April, up 4.3 percent from a year earlier. 
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Taos County is investigating another death of a detainee at its jail, the third in a month's time.
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by Ghislain Zobiyo and Pan Geping

BRUSSELS, May 15 (Xinhua) -- In the run-up to International Museum Day on May 18, the AfricaMuseum in Tervuren, on the outskirts of Brussels, inaugurated recently a new space on racism entitled "Let's talk about racism!"

On this occasion, the museum organized a MuseumTalk on its contribution to racism and anti-racism in Belgian society during the colonial era and after the independence of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda and Burundi.

This event was part of the celebrations after a five-year renovation of the museum's 125th anniversary -- hence the title "125/5 years."

The AfricaMuseum, also known as the Royal Museum for Central Africa, was established in 1898 with the initial aim of exhibiting the wealth and culture looted by King Leopold II. Today, the museum houses works of art, handicrafts, animal and plant specimens and historical documents from countries such as the DRC, Rwanda and Burundi.

As a tool of colonial propaganda, the institution, once called "the last colonial museum in the world," contributed to the propagation of racist stereotypes. Since renovation work began in 2013, the museum has engaged in critical reflection on the influence of colonialism to address external criticism.

The museum reopened in 2018 after its renovation. It was officially renamed AfricaMuseum and now presents a new approach. It aims to be a space for discussion and reflection on colonial history and its links to racism.

How does one represent a contemporary and decolonized scene from Africa in a museum with a colonial history? The transformation of the Rotunda Room of the AfricaMuseum maybe a good example.

In the past, this room housed 16 sculptures reflecting colonial ideology and propaganda celebrating the Belgians, while at the same time demeaning the Africans. After the renovation, the sculpture of King Leopold II was replaced by works that symbolize the liberation of the Congolese people from the shadow of colonialism and the hope of a better future.

The desire to decolonize the museum is also reflected by other works that offer visitors a new look at the pre-colonial and colonial era and African culture.

In an interview with Xinhua, Bart Ouvry, director general of the AfricaMuseum, said the museum also has other works by contemporary African artists. "We have a partnership with about ten African countries, such as the DRC, Burundi and Rwanda, to conduct joint scientific research and share our professional skills and knowledge."

The museum regularly welcomes schools and students to learn about African history and culture. Educational tools are developed and made available to teachers to teach students about colonial and post-colonial history.

"It was important for us to develop these tools, but I would say that the most important thing is to share our capacities, to share our tools with others, to 'train the trainers'," he said.

The museum also seeks to strengthen its ties with the African diaspora, notably by involving them in its activities, exhibitions and projects, said Ouvry.

"The aim is to create a space where the African diaspora feel represented and valued," he said.

Nevertheless, the decolonization of the museum is a complex and long-term process, which requires continuous efforts and dialogue. It is in this context that the "125/5 years" event takes a critical look at colonial history, questions the past and the role of the museum back then and today, and also in the future.

"Today, it is clear that colonial work is no longer acceptable, certainly from the point of view of our values as they are today. And so we have changed the museum from top to bottom. But in the future, it is clear that we have to go further because society is still changing," said Ouvry.

"What has happened in the last few years with Black Lives Matter has accelerated this process and changed people's minds. It is important to engage in a dialogue, showing Africa as it is today and pointing the way to a better future, for future generations," he said. 
DicKy Senior - BHPian



Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Thiruvanthapuram Posts: 3,363 Thanked: 9,369 Times

re: Pics: Force Gurkha Pickup Truck Quote: condor Originally Posted by Looking at the rear-view, I think they could have placed the rear indicators in the bumpers and widened the load-bay door. A slim LED indicators in the present position could also have been done, but may be perceived as too narrow to be seen (though wont be that bad in actual use).



Quote: DRPSREDDY Originally Posted by Secondly as a pickup, the load bay is merged with the cabin. Don't you think it will cause a problem with the body structure though the chassis is the same? Quote: DRPSREDDY Originally Posted by ...I feel that TATA should re-enter the Body on Ladder frame segment with a 4X4 THAR like SUV, a 7 seater bigger SUV, and a HEXA like SUV...They have just cut down the existing product, the FORCE CRUISER and converted it into a load bay. If you closely look, the load bay and cabin is attached. That is why they have avoided huge changes to the load area to avoid cost escalations by using the existing door with the hinges.....Anyone who is a structural engineer, please update us if the body can take the stress, if we load heavy material in that bay, or will it create body issues? lifestyle pickup won't be seeing much of heavy use, so went ahead with the integrated bed? Or like how the tailgate is carried over, they just chopped off the roof?



Other than monocoque pickups, the GMC Avalanche was one of the few BoF pickup trucks that had an integrated load bed. Unlike their pickup trucks, the Avalanche was a pickup version of the Suburban/Yukon. The rear section of the cabin could be opened so as to make the cab and load bed as one single load area. So they had the roll bar like structure for the lost structural rigidity. So guess, Force would have designed it for normal usage and not overloading/loadbearing scenarios.



It would be a dream come true if TATA re-enters the BoF product segment. But with their current strategy and lack of big in-house engines, fear it would stay a dream. Looking at the rear tailgate, looks like a chop job. Otherwise why would a pickup have side opening tailgate?Thanks for pointing out that the loadbay is not separate. So Force did their study and came to a conclusion that thispickup won't be seeing much of heavy use, so went ahead with the integrated bed? Or like how the tailgate is carried over, they just chopped off the roof?Other than monocoque pickups, the GMC Avalanche was one of the few BoF pickup trucks that had an integrated load bed. Unlike their pickup trucks, the Avalanche was a pickup version of the Suburban/Yukon. The rear section of the cabin could be opened so as to make the cab and load bed as one single load area. So they had the roll bar like structure for the lost structural rigidity. So guess, Force would have designed it for normal usage and not overloading/loadbearing scenarios.It would be a dream come true if TATA re-enters the BoF product segment. But with their current strategy and lack of big in-house engines, fear it would stay a dream.
Dr.AD Distinguished - BHPian



Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Bangalore/Pune Posts: 1,561 Thanked: 14,258 Times

re: 10 years with my beloved "wrong car" - My Maruti SX4 ZXi | Now SOLD 13 years, 137,000km, and Sold!



Feels like end of an era for me.



I finally sold this car after using it for close to 13 years (July 2010 to May 2023), and after driving more than 137,000km.



I hadn't updated this thread for a while. The reason was that there was nothing to much to update in an "old faithful" Maruti. The car continued to serve me well, with minimal maintenance and no serious issues, even for such an old car.



Although I used this car primarily as a beater car, I still did (and thoroughly enjoyed) a few long drives in this car in 2022 and also in 2023. It came handy when the conditions were tough. When last year in the monsoon, I did a long road trip across the ghats of Maharashtra, where the monsoon scenery is breathtaking but the road surfaces are terrible, the car that handled it all for me was Dusty, my old SX4!



Quote: Dr.AD Originally Posted by Dusty - the name I gave her after a week-long monsoon drive in 2016 in which she was covered in mud and dust - on the Konkan coast in 2016, in my most memorable solo drive ever!



Before wrapping this thread up, please allow me to share a few parting photos of Dusty in this Maharashtra drive in the monsoons of 2022.



Somewhere on the rural roads of Maharashtra:







Dusty loved such monsoon drives:







At Mulshi lake, under pouring rain:







Mild off-roading to manage the overflowing parking lots at Kaas:







She enjoyed such small rural roads, no matter what road surface looked like:







A parting shot from that drive:





Overall, the car served me well. In 2022, even in her final full year with me, the car required nothing much apart from the routine service. Oh yes, I changed the tyres in 2022. I bought her brand new Michelin Primacy 4 ST in the stock size (205/60/R16) in September 2022. And when the car was finally sold in May 2023, the tyres were still quite new with just around 5000km run on them.



In 2023, just a couple of months before selling the car, I did my last complete service on the car. And this time, apart from the usual oil and other fluids change, I got the front brake pads and brake discs replaced. The engine mounts were also replaced this time.



When the car was sold, she was still in very good mechanical condition with recent service done, reasonably new Michelin Primacy 4 ST tyres, new brake pads and discs at front, new engine mounts, and generally in good health.



The final odometer at the time of selling:





I have always felt, from my own experience, that the bond between the driver and his car becomes much stronger during solo drives. If you do plenty of solo drives, especially through not very easy conditions, and spend days with your car alone on the road, the car talks to you. She becomes your family.



I did plenty of solo drives with Dusty, and she indeed used to talk to me. We have had long and philosophical conversations for hours and days, out on the open road, in rural areas as well as on the highways, with sometimes rain and sometimes sun for company. Those are all the wonderful memories I will cherish.



Of course, although Dusty was not my primary car for last 4 to 5 years now (that role was taken by other very talkative car, my Red 320d), it was a very emotional moment for me to say good bye to Dusty.



What next?



Although Dusty is gone, the spirit of Dusty still lives me, and thankfully for me, that spirit has reincarnated itself in a new avatar. My new Dusty is 4x4, has 150hp of turbopetrol engine instead of the 103hp, NA engine of the old Dusty. If the old Dusty could tackle bad roads on the hills, the new Dusty can tackle the hills without any roads. Instead of the 5-speed manual transmission in the old Dusty, the new one comes with a smooth 6-speed automatic transmission. The only things that remain the same are the color and the spirit to go on drives through tough conditions. In fact, I am hoping that the driving spirit reaches new heights with this new replacement of Dusty.



Please allow me to introduce the replacement of Dusty (please pardon me for sharing a photo from the delivery time and not from a road trip - that is yet to happen), my 2023 Mahindra Thar Petrol AT 4x4:





As much as I miss the old Dusty, I am super thrilled with the new driving possibilities that this new Dusty will offer. The moment I get free from my current work schedules, I will start road tripping with the new avatar of Dusty. Of course, toad tripping with the 320d will continue too. These two cars are so different from each other, and they have such minimal or no overlap, that they both offer unique driving experiences and road trip opportunities, and I plan to use them both to the fullest.



I will, at the right time, create a new thread and share new stories with this new avatar there. That may take a month or two.



But it is time to wrap up this old thread. 13 years is the longest I have owned any one car, and full credit to Dusty's reliability and utility value for that record.



With that, let me call this "The End" to this Dusty story. Thank you very much for reading this, and for being with me throughout this decade long story! Feels like end of an era for me.I finally sold this car after using it for close to 13 years (July 2010 to May 2023), and after driving more than 137,000km.I hadn't updated this thread for a while. The reason was that there was nothing to much to update in an "old faithful" Maruti. The car continued to serve me well, with minimal maintenance and no serious issues, even for such an old car.Although I used this car primarily as a beater car, I still did (and thoroughly enjoyed) a few long drives in this car in 2022 and also in 2023. It came handy when the conditions were tough. When last year in the monsoon, I did a long road trip across the ghats of Maharashtra, where the monsoon scenery is breathtaking but the road surfaces are terrible, the car that handled it all for me was, my old SX4!Dusty got her name in a similar monsoon drive back in 2016. And then even in 2022, she faithfully supported me in another such drive.Before wrapping this thread up, please allow me to share a few parting photos ofin this Maharashtra drive in the monsoons of 2022.Somewhere on the rural roads of Maharashtra:Dusty loved such monsoon drives:At Mulshi lake, under pouring rain:Mild off-roading to manage the overflowing parking lots at Kaas:She enjoyed such small rural roads, no matter what road surface looked like:A parting shot from that drive:Overall, the car served me well. In 2022, even in her final full year with me, the car required nothing much apart from the routine service. Oh yes, I changed the tyres in 2022. I bought her brand new Michelin Primacy 4 ST in the stock size (205/60/R16) in September 2022. And when the car was finally sold in May 2023, the tyres were still quite new with just around 5000km run on them.In 2023, just a couple of months before selling the car, I did my last complete service on the car. And this time, apart from the usual oil and other fluids change, I got the front brake pads and brake discs replaced. The engine mounts were also replaced this time.When the car was sold, she was still in very good mechanical condition with recent service done, reasonably new Michelin Primacy 4 ST tyres, new brake pads and discs at front, new engine mounts, and generally in good health.The final odometer at the time of selling:I have always felt, from my own experience, that the bond between the driver and his car becomes much stronger during solo drives. If you do plenty of solo drives, especially through not very easy conditions, and spend days with your car alone on the road, the car talks to you. She becomes your family.I did plenty of solo drives with Dusty, and she indeed used to talk to me. We have had long and philosophical conversations for hours and days, out on the open road, in rural areas as well as on the highways, with sometimes rain and sometimes sun for company. Those are all the wonderful memories I will cherish.Of course, although Dusty was not my primary car for last 4 to 5 years now (that role was taken by other very talkative car, my Red 320d), it was a very emotional moment for me to say good bye to Dusty.Although Dusty is gone, the spirit of Dusty still lives me, and thankfully for me, that spirit has reincarnated itself in a new avatar. My new Dusty is 4x4, has 150hp of turbopetrol engine instead of the 103hp, NA engine of the old Dusty. If the old Dusty could tackle bad roads on the hills, the new Dusty can tackle the hills without any roads. Instead of the 5-speed manual transmission in the old Dusty, the new one comes with a smooth 6-speed automatic transmission. The only things that remain the same are the color and the spirit to go on drives through tough conditions. In fact, I am hoping that the driving spirit reaches new heights with this new replacement of Dusty.Please allow me to introduce the replacement of Dusty (please pardon me for sharing a photo from the delivery time and not from a road trip - that is yet to happen), my 2023 Mahindra Thar Petrol AT 4x4:As much as I miss the old Dusty, I am super thrilled with the new driving possibilities that this new Dusty will offer. The moment I get free from my current work schedules, I will start road tripping with the new avatar of Dusty. Of course, toad tripping with the 320d will continue too. These two cars are so different from each other, and they have such minimal or no overlap, that they both offer unique driving experiences and road trip opportunities, and I plan to use them both to the fullest.I will, at the right time, create a new thread and share new stories with this new avatar there. That may take a month or two.But it is time to wrap up this old thread. 13 years is the longest I have owned any one car, and full credit to Dusty's reliability and utility value for that record.With that, let me call this "The End" to this Dusty story. Thank you very much for reading this, and for being with me throughout this decade long story!
BERLIN, May 16 (Xinhua) -- A German court has handed down tough prison sentences to a gang convicted of a spectacular jewel heist at Dresden's historic Green Vault museum.

The regional court of Dresden on Tuesday gave the five men sentences ranging from four to over six years.

The men, who are all members of the Berlin-based Remmo criminal gang, pleaded guilty to the jewel theft and expressed remorse for their actions.

They were found guilty of especially aggravated arson, dangerous bodily injury, theft with weapons, damage to property, and intentional arson.

The theft from the Green Vault, which contains Europe's largest treasure collection, is considered one of the most spectacular robberies in German history.

The gang looted 21 pieces of diamond and brilliant-cut jewelry worth 117 million euros (127.5 million U.S. dollars), and caused serious damage when they set fire to an electricity distribution box and a getaway car to cover their tracks.

German authorities subsequently arrested the men during multiple raids in Berlin. After most of the stolen jewels had been returned just before Christmas 2022, some damaged, a plea bargain was struck between the defense, the prosecution, and the court.

Barbara Klepsch, culture minister for the German state of Saxony where Dresden is located, said the verdict had "closed a wound." She added that the museum's security strategy had been improved after the heist. (1 euro = 1.09 U.S. dollar) 
What just happened? Microsoft just got approval from the European Commission to buyout Activision Blizzard King. However, it still has a long way to convince US and UK authorities. However, one has to give the Redmond tech giant credit for sticking to it. Never in my life have I seen more friction directed at two companies that willingly want to merge. But is that tenacity stemming from commitment to the deal or desperation to catch up to Sony in the console wars?

The European Union has approved Microsoft's $69 billion Activision Blizzard acquisition, allowing it to hurdle another obstacle in its very long road to deal closure. The European Commission said it would hold Microsoft to honor its suggested concessions.

"The approval is conditional on full compliance with the commitments offered by Microsoft," the EC said in its press release.

The Commission said that Microsoft's compromises "satisfied" the EC's primary concerns, which revolved around the cloud gaming space. It believes that the merger would not harm the console or multi-game subscription services competition. Instead, it fears the deal significantly impacts growth and innovation in the burgeoning cloud-gaming market. It also argued that if the Redmond firm made Activision games exclusive to its streaming platform (formerly xCloud), it would, by extension, "strengthen" the Windows operating system to an unfair degree.

Microsoft's proposals, accepted by the European Commission today, would allow Microsoft to set the terms and conditions for this market for the next 10 years.



[3/5]  Competition & Markets Authority (@CMAgovUK) May 15, 2023

To quell the EC's fears, Microsoft agreed to allow consumers in European states to stream current and future Activision titles on any cloud gaming platform they choose for the next 10 years. It also grants the same 10-year allowance to game-streaming providers. So for at least the next decade, Redmond has to allow other platforms, like GeForce Now and Sony's now-integrated PSN Now, to stream Activision and Blizzard titles, at least in Europe.

This is one of the reasons the CMA's independent panel group rejected Microsoft's proposals and prevented this deal.



While we recognise and respect that the European Commission is entitled to take a different view, the CMA stands by its decision.



[5/5]  Competition & Markets Authority (@CMAgovUK) May 15, 2023

Microsoft is happy with the EC's decision, but the fight remains unresolved. The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) came to the same conclusions as the EC regarding how the merger would hurt cloud gaming. However, in a five-part Monday tweet, the CMA stated that Redmond's concessions do not satisfy its concerns. As such, the CMA's blocking of the deal remains.

"The CMA concluded that cloud gaming needs to continue as a free, competitive market to drive innovation and choice in this rapidly evolving sector. Microsoft's proposals, accepted by the European Commission today, would allow Microsoft to set the terms and conditions for this market for the next 10 years ... This is one of the reasons the CMA's independent panel group rejected Microsoft's proposals and prevented this deal. While we recognise and respect that the European Commission is entitled to take a different view, the CMA stands by its decision."

On the other side of the pond, the US Federal Trade Commission filed a suit to block the merger last December. The FTC's findings were slightly broader than the CMA's and EC's, saying that the deal would harm competition in the streaming, console, and subscription services markets.

Navigating through the CMA and FTC blockades could take several months. The FTC lawsuit doesn't commence until early August. The CMA only issued its reservations last month, so that's just getting going. It's hard to say if the EC approval will bear any weight with US regulators. There could be even more concessions, especially since the CMA made it clear that Microsoft's compromises are insufficient.
In a nutshell: For many companies, 2023 was supposed to be when employees got back into the office, and working life returned to the pre-pandemic status quo. But despite offices in cities reaching 50% residency rates at the start of the year, that figure has barely increased as most firms opt for a hybrid work strategy.

While plenty of companies are telling their employees to get back into the office following the enforced work-from-home mandates that arrived in 2020, most aren't asking them to return full-time. According to Scoop Technologies (via The Wall Street Journal), a software firm that monitors almost 4,500 workplace strategies, about 58% of companies allow employees to work some of the week from home. Interestingly, the number of companies that require full-time work from employees has shrunk from 49% to 42% in three months.

Scoop added that employees at companies with hybrid strategies work an average of 2.5 days per week in the office.

There has been plenty of pushback against employers calling their workers back. Apple staff were so against Cupertino's return-to-work mandate that they launched a petition. Amazon employees, meanwhile, raged so hard that one of its executives had to plead for calm.

The most recent example of this outcry was at Dell, which is demanding people come into the office three days per week, though some say this is just a soft layoff as many would rather quit than return.

Scoop says that as long as unemployment remains low, workers have the leverage to push hard against being asked back into the office full-time (or even part-time) without fear of being fired.

While working from home might be a dream come true for many people, it's causing plenty of problems in US cities due to lost taxes. In New York, property taxes account for one-third of the city's revenue, and office buildings make up a fifth of that source. Manhattan is an area being hit particularly hard, having seen a $5.24 billion decline in tax revenue since 2019.

There's also the impact that fewer commuters have on local businesses. It's estimated that each employee working from home rather than in the office costs New York City businesses about $4,600 in sales annually, according to WFH Research.

The amount of money it's costing the city has seen New York launch initiatives to try to get workers back into the office, including tax incentives for building owners to upgrade properties constructed before 2000. "Every office sitting empty means less funding for everything from schools to affordable housing," said New York Mayor Eric Adams.

While some cities, especially those in Texas, are seeing higher than average rates of workers returning full-time, most companies are sticking with a hybrid plan. It might not be full-time remote work, but firms see it as a comprise that offers the benefits of in-person work and the satisfaction that comes from being at home.

Masthead: Marc Mueller
In context: Some unfortunate AMD Ryzen 7000X3D CPU owners have had to deal with unexpected processor and motherboard failures while using heavily-advertised memory overclocking features like AMD EXPO on high-end AM5 motherboards. Asus was quick to respond to the issue, but it did so in a way that caused confusion for affected users and prompted a mountain of criticism from independent media. Now the company is taking the first step in repairing its reputation with better warranty coverage for AM5 motherboards.

Last month, several people using Ryzen 7000X3D processors in their systems reported their CPUs were burning out for no apparent reason. The problem turned out to be related to poorly-tested BIOS releases that companies like MSI and Asus released as "stable" versions even though they were causing AM5 processors to operate at unsafe voltages.

Following a thorough investigation by Gamers Nexus that criticized Asus for the way it handled the whole situation, some high-profile YouTube channels announced they were pausing their Asus sponsorships. On one hand, the Taiwanese company was quick to react to reports of burning Ryzen CPUs with BIOS revisions. On the other hand, the new versions were not meant for public use and the release notes didn't clearly mention they would void your warranty.

This meant that many users could upgrade to a newer BIOS and still face the risk of their CPUs and motherboards failing. Meanwhile, the company kept recommending that users avoid using heavily-advertised features like AMD EXPO on its AM5 motherboards as doing so would void their warranty.

The good news is that Asus seems to have bowed to public pressure after realizing the mixed messaging around overheating Ryzen CPUs on its high-end motherboards and BIOS revisions was damaging the brand. The company has issued a statement that promises all affected users will get motherboard coverage, including those of you who use beta BIOS releases or memory overclocking features like AMD EXPO/DOCP and Intel XMP.

Also read: Guide to AMD Ryzen 7000 Motherboard Chipsets

Asus has listed support phone numbers for customers in the US, EU, UK, and Australia who need help with their AM5 motherboard troubles. The company also notes that it has removed BIOS updates that don't follow AMD's latest voltage guidelines for AMD's Ryzen 7000 series processors.

Overall, this is a big win for consumers, some of whom paid for expensive X670 motherboards thinking they would get the best that the AM5 platform has to offer. At the same time, Asus could have avoided the public backlash with better messaging, and we're hoping the company will deliver on its promise of "supporting the AMD AM5 platform and our customers."
A small space company is now selected to headline the development of a rescue program for the NASA Spitzer Space Telescope after it stopped its functions due to issues and is left drifting in space. Rhea Space Activity is developing a "Spitzer Resurrector Mission" that aims to repair the spacecraft and help it regain its functions for further operations.

Rhea Space Activity has multiple partners on this, and it was recently awarded a contract from SpaceWERX to help resurrect one of NASA's remaining "Great Observatories."

(Photo : NASA)

Rhea Space Activity and Partners to Rescue NASA's Spitzer

In the latest press release, Rhea Space Activity has been granted a Phase I Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) award and is now pursuing a Phase II STTR under the SpaceWERX Orbital Prime Program. The company aims to develop the groundbreaking Spitzer Resurrector Program, a mission that involves traveling to NASA's Spitzer Telescope currently drifting in space, and restoring it to operational status.

The Spitzer Resurrector Program is set to revolutionize the field of space technology and exploration. According to Ars Technica, this is by utilizing state-of-the-art "In-space Service Assembly and Manufacturing" (ISAM) techniques, which are being explored by the Department of the Air Force (DAF) and the United States Space Force (USSF), Rhea Space Activity plans to refurbish the Spitzer Telescope and bring it back to life.

Once the Spitzer Resurrector reaches the drifting telescope, it will perform meticulous repairs, install advanced components, and enhance the telescope's capabilities. Rhea Space Activity has received a total of $250,000 for this development.

Read Also: NASA's Spitzer Takes Stunning 'Family Photo' Of Cepheus Stars

Rhea's Spitzer Resurrector Mission to Launch by 2026

The company envisions launching the Spitzer Resurrector by the year 2026.

To accomplish this ambitious goal, Rhea Space Activity has partnered with several renowned institutions and industry leaders. The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Blue Sun Enterprises, and Lockheed Martin have all joined forces to support the project.

NASA's Spitzer Telescope and its Mission

NASA's Spitzer Telescope, originally launched in 2003, has made significant contributions to our understanding of the universe. However, after more than two decades in space, the telescope is showing signs of aging and technical difficulties.

The Spitzer Resurrector Program aims to overcome these challenges by implementing cutting-edge repair and upgrade strategies.

Once the Spitzer Resurrector reaches the drifting telescope, it will perform meticulous repairs, install advanced components, and enhance the telescope's capabilities. This mission not only holds the potential to revive the Spitzer Telescope but also serves as a valuable testbed for future in-space servicing missions.

The successful restoration of the Spitzer Telescope will mark a significant achievement in space technology and pave the way for future missions that rely on in-space servicing and repair capabilities. Moreover, it will extend the lifespan of a valuable scientific instrument, enabling further exploration of distant galaxies and deep space phenomena.

Related Artice: Spitzer Space Telescope Detects A Debris Field From Two Planets That Crashed Into Each Other

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
As the company continues to develop its moon and Mars rocket called Starship, SpaceX hired a new head to oversee the launching system. This represents another key hire for the company, as it races to produce and use the rocket for landing astronauts on the moon.

(Photo : Gerardo Mora/Getty Images)

CAPE CANAVERAL, FL - SEPTEMBER 16: Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana (L) and Commercial Crew Program Manager Kathy Lueders attend a NASA press conference at the Kennedy Space Center on September 16, 2014 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. NASA announced the return of human spaceflight launches to the United States.

Hiring NASA's Former Head

NASA's former Human Spaceflight Head Kathy Lueders has been hired by SpaceX to oversee the development of Starship. According to a report from CNBC, her role will be General Manager as she will work out of the company's Starbase facility, located in Texas. Lueders will directly report to SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell.

This follows after announcing her retirement from the agency only a couple of weeks ago. It represents a key hire for the company, especially since Lueders has been very familiar with the company's human spaceflight work to date. SpaceX did not confirm any information regarding Lueders' hiring.

Lueders becomes the second head of NASA to announce retirement and join SpaceX, following former NASA Head Bill Gerstenmaier. He retired from the agency in 2020 as its human spaceflight chief to join the company for a similar role to his previous job overseeing Starship.

Previous Role in NASA

Reuters reported that Lueders spent 31 years in the company, following the announcement of her retirement only last month. She took responsibility as NASA's source selection official, who picked the SpaceX Starship rocket for a $3 billion contract from Artemis in order to land its first US astronauts on the moon since 1972.

She was also part of the team credited for NASA's shift to public-private contracting models, which saved a lot to help fund the development of private spacecraft and purchase rides for astronauts as a service, rather than managing the spacecraft as its owner.

However, Lueders moved away from overseeing the moon program as part of a major reorganization in 2021. NASA placed her as the Space Operations Chief to oversee ISS Activities.

Also Read: [STUDY] SpaceX Starlink Negatively Affects NASA Hubble Space Telescope! Will HST Become Useless?

During her stay at NASA as the head of the Human Spaceflight Wing, TechCrunch reported that the former chief oversaw the development of the Crew Dragon, which is SpaceX's flagship cargo and astronaut taxi. This has become the primary ride of the agency from the International Space Station.

SpaceX is considering upping the ante with Starship despite completing six astronaut transportation missions to and from the ISS and already proved its human spaceflight heritage with NASA. The launch system will be used to land humans on the moon as part of the Artemis progam.

Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk stated that he also envisions it as space transportation that may possibly help people to reach Mars.

Related Article: SpaceX Starship Launch: FAA Faces Lawsuit from Environmental Groups for Polluting the Nearby Areas

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Kuwait City: The residence of Kuwait's military office chief at the embassy in the capital of Sudan, Khartoum, was reportedly broken into and vandalised on Monday, according to the Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The ministry issued a statement that was distributed by the national news agency KUNA in which it expressed "the State of Kuwait's condemnation and denunciation of the attack on the headquarters of the head of the military office and all forms of violence and vandalism."

The attack, the ministry continued, was in "flagrant violation of all international norms and rules of international law and the Vienna Convention."

Also Read: Erdogan is expected to win the election

Furthermore, it reaffirmed its appeals for Sudan's official authorities and all parties concerned to "take prompt measures to ensure full protection for the headquarters of diplomatic missions and to punish the perpetrators."

Also Read: Japan gives Syria $14.3 million, but there are no plans to reopen the embassy

The Jordanian Foreign Ministry reported on Monday that its embassy in Khartoum had been broken into and vandalised.

Also Read: As military groups clash in the capital of Sudan bombings increase
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?
Highlights: The China-Central Asia Summit will be held in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province on May 5-18. The presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan will be invited to attend the meeting. This is the first time since the establishment of diplomatic relations 31 years ago that the heads of state of the six countries have held a summit in physical form. People from many countries believe that the summit will draw a blueprint for deepening cooperation between the two sides.

Beijing, 5 May (Xinhua) -- Deepening Pragmatic Cooperation and Promoting Common Prosperity -- Looking forward to the China-Central Asia Summit opening a new era of cooperation between the two sides

Xinhua News Agency reporter

The China-Central Asia Summit will be held in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province on May 5-18. President Xi Jinping will preside over the summit. The presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan will be invited to attend the meeting.

This is the first time since the establishment of diplomatic relations 31 years ago that the heads of state of the six countries have held a summit in physical form, which has attracted much attention from the international community. In an interview with Xinhua News Agency, people from the five Central Asian countries and surrounding countries said that the summit is a milestone in the history of the development of relations between China and Central Asian countries, and will draw a new blueprint for China-Central Asia relations and open a new era of cooperation between the two sides.

Promote the relationship between the two sides to a new level

During the summit, the heads of state will review the development of China-Central Asia relations and exchange views on the building of China-Central Asia mechanisms, cooperation in various fields and major international and regional issues of common concern. People from many countries spoke highly of the development of relations between China and Central Asian countries, and believed that the summit will push their relations to a new level.

Yeltan Ransetov, a researcher at the Kazakhstan Institute of World Economy and Politics, said that the summit will open a new chapter in the relations between Central Asian countries and China, inject new impetus into the good-neighborliness, friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two sides, and look forward to important results of the summit. He said that the cooperation between Central Asian countries and China is based on equal treatment, mutual benefit and win-win results, and Kazakhstan and other countries are all beneficiaries of China's opening up. Further strengthening of interaction between Central Asian countries and China under the framework of jointly building the "Belt and Road" and building a community with a shared future for mankind will promote economic and trade cooperation between the two sides, benefit the people of all countries, and contribute to regional peace and stability.

Professor Kubanechibek Taabardiev of Kyrgyzstan's Alatau International University said that Central Asian countries and China have very close ties in various fields, especially in the fields of economy, trade and finance, and the trade volume between the two sides has increased significantly in recent years. Central Asian countries and China both hope to further strengthen their relations and believe that this summit will push bilateral relations to a new level.

For Shoazim Shazamanov, associate professor at the State University of the East in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the summit is of historic significance. He is particularly concerned with issues such as infrastructure, energy, and regional security. He said that China's development experience in infrastructure construction, education, culture and other fields is worth learning from Central Asian countries, and he looked forward to the two sides taking the summit as an opportunity to open a new chapter of cooperation.

"In recent years, China's relations with Central Asian countries have made great progress, and China's development has provided assistance to regional countries to achieve development and prosperity." Selcuk Chorakoglu, director of Turkey's Asia-Pacific Research Center, which has long been concerned about relations between China and Central Asian countries, said. He believes that the summit is a milestone in the history of bilateral relations, "jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative has pointed out the direction for regional economic cooperation, and I believe that this summit will further promote cooperation between China and Central Asian countries."

Promote the further deepening of practical cooperation

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and the five Central Asian countries have continued to deepen pragmatic economic and trade cooperation, achieving solid and heavy cooperation results for the benefit of the people of all countries. People from many countries believe that the summit will draw a new blueprint for deepening practical cooperation between the two sides.

"Central Asian countries have all participated in the Belt and Road Initiative in different ways, which has benefited all parties." Kubanechbek Taabardiev cited the China-Kyrgyzstan-Ukraine railway as an example and said that after the construction and opening of this railway, it will help improve regional infrastructure and shorten the time for cargo transportation between regional countries.

Taabaldiev said that China exports high-quality goods to Central Asian countries, while high-quality agricultural products such as cherries, honey and dried fruits from Central Asian countries continue to enter the Chinese market. Strengthening economic and trade cooperation is an important direction for the current development of relations between Central Asian countries and China, and "I believe that with the holding of this summit, the cooperation between the two sides will open a new chapter."

Dovletmerad Mamedov, an expert at the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, said that the cooperation mechanism established between Central Asian countries and China benefits all participants, and all parties are full of confidence in the prospects of cooperation. In recent years, Central Asian countries and China have achieved fruitful results in cooperation in transportation, energy and other fields, promoting the development of regional logistics and tourism. It is expected that the two sides will take this summit as an opportunity to further deepen cooperation and carry out more mutually beneficial cooperation projects.

Speaking of the practical cooperation between Tajikistan and China in recent years, Guzel Matkinnova, director of the Center for Geopolitical Research of Russia-Tajikslav University, said that with China's support, a large number of good projects to promote development and benefit people's livelihood have taken root in Tajikistan, promoting local economic development and the construction of strategic transportation facilities. She believes that this summit will promote the alignment of the "Belt and Road" initiative with the development strategies of Central Asian countries, which is of great importance to the greater development and further modernization of Central Asian countries.

Mahmoud Hassan Khan, executive director of the Center for South Asian and International Studies in Islamabad, Pakistan, said that the current challenges brought by the food and energy crisis, climate change and terrorism highlight the need to strengthen cooperation. It is expected that relevant parties will reach more consensus on promoting regional connectivity, combating terrorism, addressing climate change, and maintaining regional security at this summit, so as to inject new impetus into China-Central Asian cooperation.

Maintain regional and world peace and security

In the face of a chaotic and intertwined world, promoting relations between China and Central Asian countries is crucial to the peaceful development of both sides and the region. People from many countries expect that the participants will exchange views on regional and international hotspot issues during the summit, and voice a common voice to defend multilateralism and jointly safeguard regional and world peace and security.

Russian political commentator Mikhail Kirillov said that maintaining security, stability and peaceful development in the Central Asian region is very important for Central Asian countries and neighboring countries such as Russia. It is hoped that at this summit, all parties will have in-depth discussions on how to jointly cope with challenges and maintain regional security under the current international and regional situation.

"China's close cooperation with Central Asian countries plays an important role in maintaining regional peace and stability and promoting regional development and prosperity." Selcuk Chorakoglu said that how to make Afghanistan stable and develop is the key to solving the Afghan issue, and hoped that China and Central Asian countries will further cooperate and jointly help solve the Afghan issue.

Najibullah Jami, a scholar at Kabul University in Afghanistan, said he looked forward to reaching more consensus on issues such as cooperation to combat terrorism at the summit. He said that cooperation between China and Central Asian countries also has an important impact on neighboring countries. At present, Afghanistan is in a critical period of post-war reconstruction and waiting for reconstruction. "I hope that the outcome of this summit will bring new opportunities to solve the Afghan problem."

Professor Sayed Shafiq Sadat, a professor at the Afghan National Vocational and Technical College, pointed out that the "three forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism threaten peace and stability in Central Asia. China, Central Asian countries and Afghanistan share the same position on combating the "three forces" and other issues, and cooperation in related fields benefits the peoples of all countries. It is hoped that this summit will create a peaceful and stable development environment for Central Asia and benefit the people of countries in the region, including the Afghan people. (Comprehensive Xinhua News Agency foreign correspondent report, written by: He Mengshu)
London: According to a Monday article in The Guardian, Dr. Krish Kandiah, one of the designers of the UK's Homes for Ukraine programme, is pleading with the government to revive the programme for Sudanese refugees.

According to Kandiah, the director of the Sanctuary Foundation, "The Homes for Ukraine and Ukraine Family scheme have been an incredible success, welcoming over 173,500 refugees to the UK, frequently being hosted in people's homes."

As with Ukrainian refugees, Kandiah wished for the nation to extend the "same generosity of spirit" to Sudanese refugees.

Also Read: UK Home Secretary claims that the country can train lorry drivers and fruit pickers

Within days of publicising the idea online, over 100 people have formally registered with the organisation as being willing to host Sudanese families escaping the civil war.

"We are not requesting an infinite number. As long as a Sudanese person can find a sponsor and a host, they too will have the same opportunity that was given to Ukrainians, Kandiah continued.

If a visa route is established, Chris Willmott, a retired university lecturer, and his wife, Anne Willmott, a doctor, are among those who have agreed to host at their Leicester home.

Also Read: American replaces her European boss as the first female director of the UN Migration Agency

They are fellow humans running away from challenging circumstances, Chris said. And if we are able to assist them, we ought to do so. They face a chicken-and-egg problem if we don't have a Homes for Sudan-style programme because you can't apply for asylum until you're here, and we don't have the resources to bring them here.

The Sanctuary Foundation also suggested that Sudan adopt the family visa programme designed for Ukrainian relatives of people already residing in the UK. Many Sudanese families who have emigrated to the UK are worried about their relatives and would like the chance to bring them back home.



Mohammed Amin, who fled Sudan and was given asylum, arrived as a refugee by boat through the Channel in 2020. He wants to give his sister and nephew the opportunity to live with him after they recently left Khartoum. "The circumstance is terrible. The 40-year-old told The Guardian, "We need to do the same things that were done for Ukraine.

"I'm trying to help them, but it's hard," Amin continued. They left Khartoum and now have nowhere to go and nothing to eat. I'm trying to send them money from here, but the banks aren't operating.

Also Read: Macron declares that France will train Ukrainian fighter pilots

According to a government spokesperson, there are no plans to create a "bespoke resettlement route" for Sudan; instead, the government is concentrated on averting a humanitarian emergency by "working with international partners and the United Nations to bring an end to fighting."

The spokesperson continued, "Since 2015, we have provided a safe and legal route to the UK to almost 500,000 people seeking safety, but our approach must be considered in the grand scheme of things, rather than on a crisis-by-crisis basis.
Doha: On Monday, the Islamic Jihad movement in Gaza and Israel have reached an agreement on a ceasefire, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has praised Egypt, Qatar, Lebanon, and the US for their contributions to this outcome.

The agreement was welcomed by Guterres, who urged all parties to abide by its terms.

The secretary-general expressed his sincere condolences to the families of the victims of the violence, noting that the hostilities had resulted in unjustified human suffering.

Also Read: Returning to the West Pacific for live-fire training are Chinese warships

A two-state solution is something that Guterres also reaffirmed the UN's commitment to achieving in light of pertinent UN resolutions, international law, and prior agreements. In addition, he emphasised the significance of reestablishing the political horizon and ending conflict cycles.

The worst incident of cross-border fire since a 10-day war in 2021 will come to an end at 10 p.m. (1900 GMT) thanks to an agreement between Israel and the militant Islamic Jihad movement in Gaza.

According to the Al-Qahera News television channel in Egypt, which mediated the cease-fire, Egypt urged all parties to abide by the agreement.

Also Read: Local authorities report a minimum 41 cyclone fatalities in Rakhine, Myanmar

According to a text of the agreement seen by Reuters, "In light of the agreement of the Palestinian and the Israeli side, Egypt announces a cease-fire between the Palestinian and the Israeli side has been reached," adding that the truce would start at 10 p.m.

"The two sides will abide by the cease-fire which will include an end to targeting civilians, house demolition, and an end to targeting individuals immediately when the cease-fire goes into effect," it stated.

The two sides continued to fire as the cease-fire was being formalised; warning sirens sounded in southern Israel and Israel's military reported hitting six operational Islamic Jihad command posts.

Also Read: Kuwaiti military office chief's residence at the embassy in Khartoum was raided and vandalised

Early on Tuesday, Israel announced that it was launching the most recent round of airstrikes against Islamic Jihad commanders who had planned attacks against Israel.

In retaliation, the group supported by Iran launched hundreds of rockets, forcing 1.5 million Israelis into air raid shelters.

Israel destroyed several military facilities and killed six senior Islamic Jihad commanders during the five days of the campaign, but the airstrikes also claimed the lives of at least 10 civilians, including women and children
The global publisher Vice Media, which licensed its Australian web operation to Nine and a TV channel to SBS, has filed for bankruptcy protection in the US and struck a deal to sell itself to creditors, punctuating a precipitous fall for the media upstart that once boasted a $US5.7 billion ($8.5 billion) 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.

Vice Media founder Shane Smith. The company grew quickly after beginning as an alternative magazine in Montreal nearly three decades ago. Credit: Stephen Lovekin/FilmMagic

Nines Pedestrian Group operates Vice AU and Refinery 29 Australia under a licence agreement with Vice after it made almost all of its own Australian staff redundant in 2020. SBS second channel is called Viceland, which airs several shows from Vice as well as drawing on its name. Both Nine, which also owns this masthead, and SBS said there had been no change to their Vice-branded outlets, but the Vice that emerges from bankruptcy is likely to be a much smaller media player than it has been in the past.

Vices rapid downfall underscores the challenges facing digital media companies, which are struggling as advertisers cut spending during an uncertain economy and route marketing towards tech platforms from Facebook and Google to TikTok.
A Tricky Game for the Kremlin? Now it is Clear what Putin is Doing  opinion 16 May, 02:20 PM Putin (Photo:Getty Images)

On May 10, the President of the Russian Federation made a decree that called on citizens in the military reserve to appear for training in 2023.

The Russians are starting a new wave of mobilization, though it is now being hidden under the guise of simply calling up reservists for training. This is Putin's belated holiday greeting to Russians for May 9. At the same time, two points of this decree are still secret. For what reason? This training may be held in the occupied territories of Ukraine.

Video of day

But what humanism by the Russian authorities! Simultaneously with the pseudo-mobilization decree, direct air traffic with Georgia is opening back up after a three-year interruption. This is probably for the Russian citizens who would rather go to Georgia as a tourist than to a military training camp. And Georgians are offered to come to work in Russia. It is necessary to replenish the labor shortage in Russia, which arose due to the war and the mass flight of Russians abroad. For this purpose, they are creating a visa-free regime with Georgia. This is in the absence of diplomatic relations between Russia and Georgia. Such are the paradoxes of Russian-Georgian relations.

One decree kills two birds with one stone

But what a tricky game for the Kremlin! One decree kills two birds with one stone. On the one hand, Russian emigration to Georgia will increase dramatically. I wonder how many agents of the FSB and GRU will be among the "war refugees" who went to Georgia. At the same time, they want to attract Georgian citizens to Russia. Here is the improvement of the demographic balance in Russia and the political adjustment of the demographic balance in Georgia. But this is only if Georgians agree to accept such a gift from Moscow.

Regarding improving Russias demographic, the motivation behind Putin urgently summoning the presidents of the Central Asian states to Moscow becomes clear. Parade after parade, but someone has to get up to operate the machine, and Russian women must give birth. Russian men are sent to war by Putin, and their deficit must be filled by wage earners from the Central Asian countries.

You are laughing, but statistics show that the flow of migrants from Central Asia to Russia is increasing. But more is needed. This is probably what Putin discussed with his colleagues from the Central Asian countries. State Duma deputies are already proposing mobilizing Central Asians, with or without Russian passports. After all, how are migrant workers worse than Prigozhin's prisoners? If it is possible, despite the law, to take Russian convicts to the war against Ukraine, then you can also recruit immigrants from Central Asia.

Stalin made heavy use of deportations to relocate many peoples of the USSR, and now we are witnessing the beginning of Putin's resettlement of nations. I wonder how many Russians will remain in Russia as a result.

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Regional retail property deals are taking centre stage with close to $292 million worth of assets changing hands as investors look for highly occupied, food-anchored malls.

One of the latest sales was the Bathurst Chase for $17.5 million which property investment and development firm Mintus bought from Quanta Investment Funds, on a passing yield of 7.36 per cent.

It comes hot on the heels of the divestment of the Deepwater Plaza in Woy Woy, to the private property group Raptis Investments for $111.0 million.

The Bathurst Chase Shopping Centre in regional NSW has been sold by Quanta Investment Funds.

It was sold by a Dexus-managed fund and follow the sale of Shepparton Marketplace, Victoria for $88.1 million and Beenleigh Marketplace in Queensland for $85 million in 2022, all negotiated off-market by CBRE. The yields were 6.25 per cent and 6.75 per cent respectively.
The federal, South Australian and Northern Territory governments will conduct a joint investigation into claims that Indigenous artworks created at the highly regarded APY Art Centre Collective had been altered by white staffers to make them more collectable.

The inquiry will be jointly funded by the federal and South Australian governments but led by the latter, which is the principal funder of the collective. It has yet to set a timeframe or terms of reference, but is expected to address as a matter of urgency questions of authenticity in the lucrative First Nations art market.

Federal arts minister Tony Burke. Credit: James Brickwood

South Australian arts minister Andrea Michael said in a statement on Tuesday that following a meeting on Monday with federal arts minister Tony Burke and Northern Territory arts minister Chanston Paech, the three governments had resolved to act.

We determined there will be a review into the organisation led by the South Australian government, jointly funded by the Commonwealth, with the support of the Northern Territory government. We will work closely with the Anangu people, including those working in the Adelaide studio, as the review gets underway, she said.
For most people, part of the joy of owning a musical instrument is the challenge of mastering it. But for some, reading music, let alone playing it, is not on the agenda. Simply owning one of the best pianos in the world is its own reward.

Billionaire trucking magnate Lindsay Fox is among them. He owns several pianos, though he doesnt play. But he certainly knows the value, and the price, of a Steinway when he sees one.

A crowd gathers on the footpath as Emerson Hsu plays a grand piano at the Lindsay Fox-backed Steinway Gallery in Armadale. Credit: Joe Armao

On Wednesday night, Fox will open Steinway Galleries, a new showroom dedicated to the Steinway & Sons brand, including a performance area regularly used for recitals. It also showcases the Spirio, a cutting-edge instrument that uses technology reminiscent of the old-school pianola to play itself, a grand piano which sells for between $350,000 and $1 million apiece; a baby grand version is available for $250,000.

According to Mark OConnor, chief executive of the Exclusive Piano Group, which is behind the Steinway Gallery, between 60 and 70 per cent of the prestigious pianos sold in Australia last year were bought by people who dont play.
Opera Australia has paid out an extra $1 million to executives in a year that had a number of high-profile departures from the company in the wake of allegations of a toxic culture.

The extra payment pushed the company into a deficit of $447,878 for the financial year, show its latest financial statements, issued in conjunction with its annual report.

Sae-Kyung Rim as Cio-Cio-San in Opera Australias 2022 production of Madama Butterfly at the Sydney Opera House. Credit: Guy Davies

In 2020-21, key management personnel compensation cost the company $2,459,291, in line with the prior five years. But in 2021-22, it jumped to $3,598,251, a rise of more than 46 per cent.

When asked about the sudden and significant increase, Opera Australias chief executive Fiona Allan responded that none of us are authorised to speak about that.
MARGARET BOWMAN OAM January 28, 1920-February 25, 2023

The distinguished Melbourne academic and writer Dr Margaret Bowman  who died in late February 2023 aged 103  was born in Leeds but embraced Australia and the opportunities it offered when she and her large family arrived in Melbourne in 1959. Her husband John Bowmans appointment as the inaugural professor of Middle Eastern studies at Melbourne University, prompted the move.

Melbourne was good to us, she often said. She was well aware she would not have had such an interesting life and career anywhere else. In 1961, Margaret became an Australian citizen, writing in a family memoir she hoped that as citizens we have earned our keep. Her OAM was for services for local government and community.

In 1960, with her youngest child still a toddler, she was one of the first people to benefit from the opportunity to study for a degree part-time, choosing politics because it provided insights into the way society was structured and because the lectures fitted in with her complex childcare commitments.

With a first-class degree, Margaret was offered a lectureship at Monash University. While teaching there, she completed a PhD in local government, exploring the community of Box Hill, the municipality she lived in, published as Box Hill: the suburban political process (1978).
Veteran Melbourne socialite Peter Janson is back on his feet and ready to party, and were tipping the 200 or so friends due to descend on his famous Rutherglen House in the city on Wednesday for one of his legendary birthday bashes will give the evening a fair nudge. Its tradition.

Peter Jansons birthday parties are legendary affairs. Credit: Joe Armao

Janson, a Kiwi native, arrived in Melbourne in the 1960s as a racing car driver, but describes his occupation as gentleman. He created a playboy penthouse in the tower of the now-demolished Federal Hotel and later moved into the twin towers atop the Windsor Hotel, where many an outrageous party was held.

The former Indian Army officer was a driving force in the growth of the Birdcage marquee scene at the Melbourne Cup, helping transform the race into a major event on the social calendar.

Janson has been laid up recovering from a leg injury, but he told CBD that he was walking again and looking forward to pulling on his signature red dinner jacket and holding court for a crowd that will include former premier Ted Baillieu, legendary barrister and Supreme Court judge Jack Rush and former racing driver and V8 Supercar team owner Larry Perkins.
It was such a frightening thing to arrive to ... [Our parents] are undeniably very distressed. Members of the school community arrived with large bouquets and balloons at the school on Wednesday morning. Shahid Munir, whose daughter is in grade 2 at Exford Primary but wasnt on the bus, said the injuries from truck collision  which pushed the bus sideways before it violently tipped onto a grass shoulder  was heartbreaking. [Theyre] just like my kids  so I feel really emotional and sad, he said, praising the school for supporting the affected families.

Its a big drama for us. We feel very sorry for them and feel very sad for them because they were just kids. Nicole Kirk, speaking to Nine News at the scene on Tuesday night, said her daughter, 11, was on the bus but was unharmed. A screenshot of Nicole Kirk, the mother of a grade 5 girl who was on the bus when it crashed, speaking to a Nine News reporter at the scene. Credit: Nine News We raced down here, there were tears and emotion, [my daughter] was frightened, she has scratches, blood on her hands, Kirk said. We are one of the lucky ones. Police have charged the truck driver, Jamie Robert Gleeson, 49, of Balliang East, with four counts of dangerous driving causing serious injury after he spent Tuesday night in police custody.

Gleeson was granted bail during a hearing in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday afternoon after the court heard he told police the sun was in his eyes shortly before the crash. I tried to take evasive action. I couldnt, he reportedly told police. If I couldve swerved around it, I wouldve. Superintendent Michael Cruse has said it was likely more charges would be laid against the truck driver. Investigators earlier said they believed inattention could have played a role in the crash. Its sort of unimaginable ... the children were in their classrooms, and just a short time later were seriously injured so close to school, he said.

Loading Senior Sergeant Paul Lineham, of the major collision investigation unit, said early investigations suggested the bus driver had seen the truck approaching from behind and tried to accelerate to get out of its path. That may have lessened the actual impact of the truck itself, Lineham told 3AW. We dont use the term lucky because obviously, theres an incredibly unfortunate set of circumstances, but this had the potential to have multiple fatalities. Its not known how many students were wearing seatbelts at the time, but witnesses said most appeared to be strapped to their seats. Windscreen fitter Brent Ferguson was heading home after attending a job in Melton when he saw the bus topple over and called triple zero.

Ferguson, who stayed on the line with emergency services operators until the ambulances arrived, said more than a dozen people, mostly tradies, began pulling the children out of the bus through a hatch door in the roof. No one knew if the bus was going to catch fire or anything, he said. The tradies that were there were unbelievable. They all took their jumpers off and gave them to the kids because it was getting cold, and they were all shaking and that. Ferguson said it took about 15 minutes for emergency services to arrive at the scene and begin to free the remaining children trapped in the wreckage. Local man Dean, who says he has lived on Murphys Road for 25 years, even before it was sealed, said trees partly obscured the road for drivers approaching from the east along Exford Road, making the turn-off tricky to spot, particularly at night.

He said some residents had asked council to add a slip lane to allow Exford Road traffic to pass while drivers slowed to turn right onto Murphys Road. Weve got cars up our butt ... If I dont hog the road, if there are oncoming cars, [vehicles behind] go onto the side and flick stones up, he said. Its just a bit of a hazard. I actually veer onto the right so they can pass easily, but its still risky, and its not the right thing to do. Dean said because there were only about 15 properties along Murphys Road, he didnt think council had been willing to add the slip lane. But, he believed Tuesdays accident could prompt action. Exford Primary School parent Munir also said he thought the speed along Exford Road  a single-lane country back road now experiencing higher traffic thanks to Melbournes growth  should be reduced. While limits are lowered outside the school as children arrive and depart, it soon picks up to 80 km/h within a few hundreds metres of the campus.

Its very weird, very few people care about the speed, Munir said. The rolled bus was righted by a tow truck about 11.20am on Wednesday. Childrens school bags, drink bottles and jumpers tumbled out of the vehicles storage when it was put back on its wheels. The windows on the side the bus tipped onto were smashed during the crash, while half of the front windscreen was cracked and partly removed to help the students exit. The metal at the rear of the bus was significantly warped, while the front of the truck was dented and the front left headlight was hanging just by wires.

Investigators could be seen checking and photographing the seatbelts on the bus after it was righted. The Age approached Bacchus Marsh Coaches on Wednesday, but the company declined to comment. The bus driver was taken to hospital in a stable condition. McDonald, from the Royal Childrens Hospital, said surgeons operated until late Tuesday night and two children entered theatre on Wednesday. Some of these patients will require returns to theatres and multiple surgeries in the coming days and the coming weeks, she said.

This is traumatic for every single person that was involved. We have some very traumatised families and children in our hospital at the moment. Were working extremely hard to provide that trauma support and care that they will need not just now, but in the coming weeks. McDonald said a code brown was called at the hospital, which defers less urgent care. Specialist plastic and vascular surgeons were brought in from the Royal Melbourne Hospital to assist with surgeries overnight. A tow truck rights the school bus on Wednesday. Credit: Jason South Our emergency department, our theatre teams, and our trauma team did beautifully, as well as every staff member in the hospital, she said. I couldnt get people to go home last night, they were all wanting to stay and actually help in any way possible. Senior Sergeant Lineham, who arrived at the intersection as the children were being freed, described the scene as absolutely horrific.

As a parent of a primary school-aged child myself, I can only imagine the absolutely paralysing feeling that those parents had when I first notified this bus rolled over, he said. Lineham said several students were taken to the school to be reunited with their parents, but some families were unable to see their children before they were rushed to the hospital. This is a sort of incident that resonates with the community, he said. If this is not a time for some people in the community to actually say, we need to reduce [the speed] we do on our roads to reduce the road toll, I dont think that the message is ever gonna get across. Education Minister Natalie Hutchins said the government and Education Department was ready to support Exford Primary School in any way the community needed, including by offering counselling services.

Our thoughts are absolutely with the families, Hutchins said on Wednesday. Loading Its a parents worst nightmare to get a call or to read on social media that theres been a crash like this. Certainly, well be wrapping every service we can around the school ... Well be looking at what psychological support the broader school community includes, as well as those individuals that were affected by this. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also sent his support to the families involved in the crash. Any accident is just horrific of this nature. The fact that it involves school students just breaks your heart, he said. My heart goes out to them and their families.
Deciphering Vladimir Putins unspoken Victory Day message 16 May, 10:42 PM The military parade of 2023 turned out to be the most miserable in its history for the Russian Federation (Photo:Photo:NV)

During the Cold War, Kremlinologists would famously attempt to decipher the mood within the Soviet elite by studying the seating plans on public holidays for hints of who was politically in favor and who was potentially on the way out.

This half-forgotten art is now once again in demand as analysts seek insights into the equally impenetrable Putin regime. A look at the seating arrangements during this weeks Victory Day parade in Moscow provides some indication that despite the military setbacks of the past fifteen months, Vladimir Putin is doubling down on his goal of subjugating Ukraine.

Video of day

At first glance, Russias annual Victory Day parade on May 9 was a non-event at best and an embarrassment at worst. Putins short speech held no surprises, while the presence of just one antique tank during the military parade itself could only be interpreted as evidence of the dire state of the Russian armed forces.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the event was the identity of the people selected to sit directly alongside Putin on the Red Square podium. While Victory Day marks the Soviet contribution to the defeat of Adolf Hitler, neither of the elderly gentlemen sitting alongside Putin actually fought against Nazi Germany. Instead, they were both veterans of the Soviet security services who had respectively participated in efforts to suppress Ukraines independence movement and crush Czechoslovakias 1960s anti-Soviet uprising.

To Putins right sat the 98-year-old Yuri Dvoikin, who volunteered for the Red Army during World War II but never actually made it to the front lines. Instead, after training as a sniper in 1944, he was dispatched by the Soviet secret police to Lviv in western Ukraine, where his job was to assist in the liquidation of the Ukrainian nationalist underground. The campaign against Ukraines independence movement was particularly brutal, with the Soviet authorities employing terror tactics and large-scale deportations. Although the Ukrainians were able to inflict significant casualties on Soviet forces, they were ultimately defeated by the early 1950s.

On Putins left sat the 88-year-old Gennady Zaitsev, who, like Dvoikin, never served in what Russia still refers to as the Great Patriotic War. He was drafted into the Red Army in 1953 and joined the KGB six years later after completing his military service. In 1968, he helped suppress the Prague Spring by, among other things, capturing the Czechoslovak Ministry of Internal Affairs. In the 1970s, KGB chief Yuri Andropov appointed Zaitsev to lead the elite Alfa anti-terrorist unit.

Putin did not have to sit between these two former secret policemen. Indeed, on Victory Day of all days, it would have been far more natural to appear alongside veterans of the war against Hitlers Germany. It is therefore reasonable to assume that Putins choice of neighbors was a deliberate and symbolic move.

For many within the Russian and Ukrainian elites, Putins unspoken Victory Day message would have been crystal clear. The Russian dictator was signaling that despite widespread criticism of the Federal Security Service and its bungling role in the invasion of Ukraine, he continues to value his secret police and sees them as the linchpin of his authoritarian regime.

Putin was indicating his approval of their actions and his readiness to embrace similar methods.

Putin was also signaling to Ukrainians and domestic critics of his invasion that he is willing to do whatever it takes to win. Soviet forces committed innumerable crimes in their suppression of the Ukrainian nationalist movement during the 1940s and 1950s. In 1968, they had no qualms about crushing a country that, like todays Ukraine, sought to go its own way. By sitting alongside decorated veterans of these two criminal Soviet campaigns,

The good news is that Putin does not currently appear capable of replicating the bloody Soviet-era crackdowns in western Ukraine and Czechoslovakia. This was all too evident on Victory Day, with the lone T-34 tank rumbling across Red Square serving as the perfect metaphor for Russias reduced military might after suffering catastrophic losses in Ukraine. However, the Russian dictator remains defiant and is clearly keen to signal that he has no intention of backing down.

This column was first published by the Atlantic Council. NV is publishing it with the permission from the author.

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A major global test of year 4 students reading abilities has found a decline in performance among Victorian schoolchildren, even as results in other states held steady.

Victoria was the only Australian state or territory to register a statistically significant decline in the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), a test that is held every five years and involves more than 50 countries.

Victorian year 4 students results in a major global literacy test have declined. Credit: Michael Clayton-Jones

The decline was attributed to a drop in the proportion of year 4 students whose results indicated advanced reading abilities for their age, rather than a decline among children in the middle or lower bands of proficiency.

The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), which ran the assessment locally, also noted that Victorian students had recently emerged from another period of remote learning when they sat the test in 2021.
Human remains have been found in remote bushland near Nannup, close to where 26-year-old Bunbury man Corey OConnell went missing two years ago.

Police said forensics were combing an area near Jalbarragup after a member of the public made the grim discovery on Monday morning.

Corey OConnell has been missing since July 2021.

While the identity of the remains wouldnt be confirmed for some time, police said the body was found close to the search area of a missing person investigation from 2021, which is when OConnell was last seen.

The bakery worker from Bunbury was believed to have been driving to Manjimup when his car was found abandoned on a remote stretch of the Brockman Highway just outside Nannup.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has dismissed calls to reform negative gearing to address the housing crisis, as the Reserve Bank warned higher rents driven by strong population growth could drive up inflation and trigger further interest rate rises.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton and Greens housing spokesman Max Chandler-Mather both rounded on Albanese Tuesday. Dutton claimed the federal government planned to change the tax policy in the next term, while the Greens MP claimed government MPs wanted to back his partys policies.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Melbourne on Tuesday. Credit: Joe Armao

The RBA expects rental inflation to keep rising this year after recording the largest annual rise in 20 years of nearly 5 per cent through 2022, partially due to the recent bump in overseas migration. That will materially add to inflation, the board minutes said.

Albanese told reporters in Melbourne he would not revisit Labors negative gearing policy before the next election, despite calls from five Labor backbenchers to consider clawing back the tax break as part of a housing policy revamp.
Ukraine is intensifying its campaign for the Albanese government to send a batch of Australian-made mobility vehicles to the front lines of its war with Russia by enlisting its 2023 Eurovision finalists to make the case for more assistance.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to announce a joint package of military assistance for Ukraine with the United States during President Joe Bidens visit to Australia next week, but it will not include the Hawkei vehicles Ukraine has been requesting for eight months.

In a video uploaded to social media by Ukraines Ministry of Defence on Tuesday, popular electronic music duo Tvorchi urges Australia to send the four-wheel drives to Ukraine as it prepares for a crucial counteroffensive against Russia.

The Defence Ministry last month uploaded a similar video set to a soundtrack of AC/DCs Back in Black that described the Hawkei as Ukrainian soldiers new crush.
Its independent in that government is not involved in it. These were the words of Water Minister Harriet Shing when asked about the decision to put Melbourne Water, a government-owned statutory authority, in charge of a review into the Maribyrnong River flood of October 2022.

From the outset, The Age has questioned whether Melbourne Water reviewing its own work was an appropriate response to the flood, which damaged hundreds of homes. That the reviews terms of reference excluded consideration of the warning procedures in place at the time of the flood  procedures that manifestly failed  was of particular concern.

At the first public meeting with a Melbourne Water representative, flood-affected residents were told to ask questions privately, feeding the impression that the review was about damage limitation rather than addressing what went so badly wrong.

When our reporting revealed that the head of the review, Nick Wimbush, had been responsible for 2015 changes to planning rules that allowed homes for retirees to be built on what had been designated part of the rivers floodplain, he resigned from the role in what Melbourne Water described as a mutual decision to demonstrate the integrity of the review process.
Charlie Chaplin in a scene from the 1936 film Modern Times. Credit: Universal Pictorial Press Photo

A Pole and a Bulgarian have been arrested.

LAUSANNE, May 17  Charlie Chaplins coffin and body, stolen from his grave 10 weeks ago, have been recovered.

First published in The Age on May 18, 1978

They have been charged with disturbing the peace of the dead.

The examining magistrate in charge of the case, Mr Tenthorey, said the coffin was found buried in a field outside the Lake Geneva village of Noville.

The coffin was found and the two men arrested after they made a ransom demand, he said. The motive was money, not political.

Chaplin, 88, died on Christmas day.

He was buried on December 27 but the coffin and the actors remains were stolen on March 2.
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.


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; 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.)
" " Cast members of the '90s "Friends" are shown in the episode "The One Where They All Turn Thirty." The show has been off the air for decades but the cast still earns millions in residuals. Warner Bros. Television/Getty Images

Most of us assume that between "starving actor" and "celebrity," there has to be a sweet spot where thespians can find modest work and still make a respectable income. But what happens when a show is canceled? Can an actor who played a small part on a modestly successful show move to the Caribbean and live off the television royalties forever?

Maybe. Most television actors don't live like royalty off their royalties  but some make a decent living. Royalties are referred to as "residuals" in the television world. A residual is a payment an actor is due when a show plays in reruns or is sold to syndication, released on DVD or streamed online. Calculating residuals is a tricky business, one that the TV industry leaves to its trade union, Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). Much like BMI or American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers in the music world, SAG-AFTRA collects and pays out any residuals that are due to members.

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SAG-AFTRA calculates residuals based on formulas that consider an actor's contract, time spent on the production, the production type and the market where the show appears. The amount paid out decreases after each rerun  so by the 13th rerun, the amount has decreased to 5 percent of the original fee the actor was paid for her appearance in an episode. This 5 percent will be paid every time an episode is run forever. In general, only "principal performers" receive residuals [source: Andres]. Background actors or "extras" (random storm troopers on "The Mandalorian," for instance) do not usually receive residuals.

According to one rough calculation, if each of the stars of the hit '90s sitcom "Friends" received residuals at the normal SAG-AFTRA rates, they would get around $10,000 in residuals for each episode of the show in syndication [source: Andres]. With 236 episodes in reruns, that would add up to a handsome residual check of $2,360,000 per actor. In actuality, the "Friends" cast negotiated even higher residuals, with one estimate earning them closer to $20 million a year in syndication [source: Farrow].

Getting a big residual depends a lot on what the stars of the show negotiated during their time on the series. In 2016, Dawn Wells, star of '60s hit and perennial rerun "Gilligan's Island" said that a "misconception is that we must be wealthy, rolling in the dough, because we got residuals. We didn't really get a dime. Sherwood Schwartz, our producer, reportedly made $90 million on the reruns alone" [source: Farrow].

Actors who play bit roles, or even leading actors whose shows are less successful, also receive residual income, but the amounts are often small  sometimes laughably so. The mega-rich rapper Drake started off as a teen actor with a starring role on "Degrassi: The Next Generation" from 2001 to 2007. In 2016, he posted a pic on Instagram of a check for $8.25 (Canadian dollars or U.S. $6.58) that he claimed was a residual check from the show [source: Chin]. "Degrassi money still coming in don't sleep..." posted Drake sarcastically.

Actor Jeff Cohen, who appeared in one episode of the 1980s sitcom "The Facts of Life," wrote an article for Backstage magazine describing how he spent a $0.67 residual check. He took it to Maeve's Re$iduals, a pub that once traded a free drink for any SAG-AFTRA check of $1 or less. Maybe actors who can't live off their royalties can at least drink off their royalties forever?

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Originally Published: Jun 18, 2015
" " Closed captioning and subtitles are two different things. This scene from 1963's "Charade" shows an example of closed captioning. Wikimedia/(CC BY-SA 4.0)

In 1972, regular viewers of Julia Child's cooking program, "The French Chef," watched for the first time as a series of sentences scrolled across the bottom of their television screens. Just as words like "I think every woman should have a blowtorch" rolled off Child's lips, the same words appeared as text to every wannabe Julia watching her program.

This was the first TV program to air with closed captions appearing automatically on the television screen. Like those on "The French Chef," closed captions were some of the earliest efforts to bring the joy of television to hearing-impaired audiences.

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Today, there are two ways that viewers can read what's going on in their favorite videos: subtitles and closed captions. Though the terms are used interchangeably, there is a notable difference between the two. Once you understand the distinction, you'll be able to spot it every time.
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Hiroshima (Japon), 19 may (EFE).- La primera sesion de la cumbre del G7 comenzo este viernes en la ciudad de Hiroshima (oeste de Japon) con el foco en la economia mundial y despues de que los lideres visitaran el Museo y Parque de la Paz y presentaran sus respetos a las victimas del bombardeo atomico. Esa primera sesion del G7 consiste en un almuerzo de trabajo entre los lideres de Japon, Estados Unidos, Canada, Alemania, Francia, Reino Unido e Italia, en el lujoso Grand Prince Hotel, situado en la isla de Ujina, a cinco kilometros del centro de Hiroshima. "Al celebrar la cumbre en esta ciudad, quiero que hablemos de los problemas a los que se enfrenta el mundo de una forma franca, incluida la crisis del cambio climatico, la pandemia y la invasion rusa de Ucrania", dijo el primer ministro japones, Fumio Kishida, durante unas declaraciones al inicio del encuentro y en presencia de los medios de comunicacion. Hiroshima, la primera ciudad en ser bombardeada con un arma nuclear el 6 de agosto de 1945, es la sede de la 49 reunion del Grupo de los Siete, que se celebra entre el 19 y el 21 de mayo y donde se pretende mandar un fuerte mensaje por la paz y en contra de las armas nucleares en el contexto de la guerra de Ucrania. El mandatario, originario de la ciudad, llamo a sus homologos a "liderar el mundo tomando medidas efectivas basadas en los valores compartidos" y dijo que el objetivo del encuentro es "confirmar la union de la comunidad internacional y la armonia en vez de la division y el enfrentamiento". Los lideres del G7 realizaron este viernes tambien una historica visita al Museo y al Parque de la Paz de Hiroshima, en un gesto dirigido a enviar un mensaje contra el uso de armas atomicas y ante la retorica nuclear de Moscu. Tras la visita al museo, que segun medios locales habria durado unos 30 minutos y donde los lideres firmaron el libro de visitas y se reunieron con una "hibakusha" -superviviente-, los mandatarios presentaron unos arreglos florales blancos en respeto a las victimas. El presidente ucraniano, Volodimir Zelenski, tambien tiene previsto viajar a Hiroshima para participar en la cumbre, segun informaron hoy medios locales citando a fuentes del Ejecutivo. (c) Agencia EFE
Governor Mark Gordon, in partnership with the Wyoming Department of Education, has awarded the 2022 Wyoming Recognizing Inspirational School Employees (RISE) Awards. Passed by Congress in 2019 and overseen by the U.S. Department of Education, the award honors classified school employees who provide exemplary service. Governor Gordon and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder presented the Wyoming winners with the awards today.

The 2022 Wyoming RISE Award recipients are Gwen Walker, Lovell Elementary Library Paraprofessional in Big Horn County School District #2 (BHCSD #2), and Mickey Anderson, Food and Nutrition Services Kitchen Manager in Natrona County School District #1 (NCSD #1).

Im proud to highlight the role these individuals play in our schools and recognize their service to our education community, Governor Gordon said. Staff members like Gwen and Mickey help make sure our teachers can educate and our students can learn in a healthy and supportive environment.

The education of our children takes a team- from teachers in the classroom to office, food service, and paraprofessional staff. Without the efforts of exemplary classified staff like Mickey and Gwen, Wyoming students would not have the tools to best succeed in the classroom said State Superintendent Megan Degenfelder. They have both been leaders in their schools and communities to ensure students are successful.

Walker was praised by BHCSD #2 Superintendent Doug Hazen for her dedication to not only students, but to her fellow colleagues as well.

Gwen is viewed as a hard-working leader within her building, said BHCSD #2 Superintendent Hazen. She is an exemplary classified staff member, who puts great effort into her job. Gwen elevates the expectations of all employees she works with.

NCSD #1 Superintendent Michael Jennings describes Anderson as someone who provides outstanding service to both students and staff.

We are incredibly proud of Mickey Anderson for being recognized with the Governor's RISE Award. Mickey's dedication and service to the students and staff of Midwest School is commendable, said Superintendent Michael Jennings. Our exceptionally talented and professional employees in the Natrona County School District work diligently each day to provide and support exceptional learning environments for all students. Mickey is an outstanding example of the hard work and commitment our classified employees put forth daily to ensure educational excellence in Natrona County.

The 2023 RISE Award nominations are now open. Parents, students, local educational agencies, school administrators, professional associations, labor organizations, educational service agencies, nonprofit entities, private schools and their representatives, and other groups are eligible to nominate individuals for this award. Nominations for the 2023 RISE award may be submitted until June 30, 2023 by using this application.
Batavia, NY (14020)

Today

Partly cloudy this morning, then becoming cloudy during the afternoon. High 73F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

A few showers early becoming a steady rain overnight. Low 57F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
This acquisition solidifies 10Pearls presence in Colombia and commitment to spearheading innovative solutions in emerging technologies and product development across verticals.

WASHINGTON, May 16, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--10Pearls, a leading digital transformation company, has acquired Oiga Technologies, a high-tech product development company based in Colombia specializing in artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, and blockchain. This strategic alignment strengthens 10Pearls' capabilities in emerging technologies and product development, providing its clients with innovative solutions across industry verticals.

Founded in 2017 by Michael Puscar, a renowned data scientist and inventor, Oiga Technologies is a global software development company that combines cutting-edge technologies with data to deliver customized solutions. The Oiga team of 120 data scientists, product innovators, software developers, and inventors will become a part of 10Pearls' product development team. Puscar will play a vital role as a strategic advisor, while Bob Reisenweber, Oiga Technologies current CEO, will take on the role of Managing Director, LATAM within 10Pearls.

"We are delighted to welcome Oiga Technologies to our team at 10Pearls. We share a vision of leveraging advanced software technologies to disrupt the economics of innovation and increase competitiveness for our clients globally," said Imran Aftab, CEO of 10Pearls. "Above all, both companies are aligned with values of creating a positive impact and making a difference in the world."

"Our customers are constantly looking for tech-forward solutions, and we believe that 10Pearls global engineering scale will provide the technological depth and ability to execute in an agile manner to meet their ever-evolving needs," said Michael Puscar, Founder of Oiga Technologies "This brings two digitally innovative companies leveraging emerging technology to deliver end-to-end digital transformation services and software engineering at scale."

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This marks 10Pearls' third global acquisition in 2023 as it deepens its capabilities in advanced technologies. This acquisition brings 10Pearls headcount to more than 1,600 contributors with 400 contributors in Latin America

About 10Pearls

10Pearls is a global, purpose-driven digital technology partner helping businesses re-imagine, digitalize and accelerate. As an end-to-end digital partner, 10Pearls helps businesses create transformative digital products incorporating exponential tech (AI/ML, Blockchain, IoT, AR/VR). Our broad expertise in product management, user experience/design, cloud architecture, software development, data insights and intelligence, cybersecurity, emerging tech, and quality assurance ensures that we deliver solutions that address business needs. 10Pearls' clients include Global 2000 enterprises, high-growth mid-size businesses, and some of the most exciting start-ups across several industries, including healthcare, financial services, energy, education, real estate, retail and hi-tech. Headquartered in the Washington DC metro area, 10Pearls has delivery centers in North America, Latin America, Europe, and South Asia. The Washington Post has referred to 10Pearls as a double-bottom-line company that balances profits with a social cause.

To learn more about 10Pearls, visit https://10pearls.com.

About Oiga Technologies

Oiga Technologies is a high-tech product development company based in Colombia that specializes in advanced software technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, and blockchain. Oiga is a team of global veteran software developers, data scientists, and technologists who embrace emerging technology trends to enable clients to increase competitiveness, disrupt the economics of innovation, and improve user experience. Oiga Technologies is a double-bottom-line company that focuses on giving back to the community.

To learn more about Oiga Technologies, visit https://oiga.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516005057/en/

Contacts

Gerlynn Ha

Marketing Manager

gerlynn.ha@10pearls.com

+1 202.807.9590
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.
Shane Myers Photography / Shutterstock.com

There's not a state in America where the average saver has enough put away for retirement.

Find Out: What Is the Average Social Security Benefit at Every Age?

See: 3 Ways To Recession-Proof Your Retirement

Personal finance provider DollarGeek compared data from the Federal Reserve System's Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) to national recommended savings benchmarks. The results showed that the average person is only three-fifths of the way to ideal savings, or 44% short of the target. Each state's ideal amount is based on its current cost of living, which includes housing, healthcare, utilities, groceries and transportation.

The following is a look at the 10 states that are farthest from healthy average savings. All of them are more than 50% short of the goal, but those in the worst shape have a gap of more than $1 million between what they have and what they need.

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

North Dakota

The average North Dakota resident has $319,609 in the bank, which is 53% less than the $682,577 needed to contend with the state's living costs.

Retirement Savings: Here's How Much Cash Baby Boomers Need To Retire in the Next 5 Years

Find Out: Retirees Confess What They Wish They'd Done With Their Money

4kodiak / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Utah

The recommended retirement fund in Utah is $692,093, yet the average resident is 54% short with just $315,160.

See: 6 Big Shakeups to Social Security in 2023

SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Maine

The ideal retirement savings amount in Maine is $882,409, but the average Mainer is 54% short with just $403,751.

Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Rhode Island

The average Rhode Islander has $392,622 in a retirement fund, which is 57% less than the hefty recommended amount of $908,578.

Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Oregon

Oregon is one of five states with seven-figure recommended retirement benchmarks. The average Oregonian's $452,558 falls 57% shy of the $1,062,020 target.

Find Out: Dave Ramsey Says 401(k)s Have a Big Tax Downside - Pick This Retirement Plan Instead

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

Massachusetts

The target benchmark in Massachusetts is even higher than Oregon's. You'd need $1,120,304 to get by there, but the average saver is 57% short with just $478,947.

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Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto

District of Columbia

Washington D.C. is the last entry on the list with a sub-$1 million target and the last where the average is less than 60% off the mark. The typical D.C. resident has $347,582, which is 59% off the recommended $841,967.

Dancestrokes / Shutterstock.com

California

The average saver in California has $452,135 tucked away for retirement, 63% shy of the recommended $1,205,946.

Social Security: Proposal for $2,400 Extra in Checks Expanded and Reintroduced in Congress

Davel5957 / Getty Images/iStockphoto

New York

New York is tied for the highest savings aspiration on the list. The target there is $1,813,768, but the average resident is 70% short with just $382,027.

ejs9 / Getty Images

Hawaii

Like New York, Hawaii's ideal savings benchmark is $1,813,768. But the average retirement fund there contains just $366,776. That's 80% off the mark, which leaves a deficit of $1,446,992 between what Hawaiians have and what they need.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: All 50 States Are Behind on Their Retirement Savings  These 10 Are in the Worst Shape
One Hong Kong-based U.S. citizen, nearly 80 years old and facing a life sentence, has just been convicted by a Chinese court. He was found guilty of spying and stripped of his political rights after heading off a number of pro-China groups overseas and visits with Beijing officials. It all started back in spring 2021, though few details are available.

Topics in this episode:

78-Year-Old U.S. Citizen Sentenced to Life by Chinese Court Beijing Unaware of S. Korean Athlete Held in China Ex-NBA Star Hit with Backlash for Taiwan Promo Former Exec. Files Lawsuit Against ByteDance Germany Greenlights Hamburg Deal with China Chinese Graduates Struggle with Rising Unemployment Tortured in China for Practicing Falun Gong Engineer Smuggles Out Info, Finds New Life in Germany the Future of the Intl Order: China Vs. America

China in Focus is sponsored by Preserve Gold. Click here to claim your $200 and 1% cash-back in free gold and silver*: http://offers.preservegold.com/ntd
Afghan on Terror Watchlist Arrested After Attempting to Cross Into US From San Diego

A US Border Patrol agents monitor from a vehicle a section of the US-Mexico border wall near Otay Mesa between San Diego and Tijuana in San Diego County, Calif., on Jan. 12, 2022. - When (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)

An unnamed Afghan on the terror watchlist was arrested by the U.S. Border Patrol on May 10 at the U.S.-Mexico border near Otay Mesa in Southern California, when trying to enter with a group of migrants.

San Diego Supervisor Jim Desmond said the incident was a stark reminder that the federal government should be doing more to maintain a secure border.

As a nation, we must remain steadfast in our commitment to protect the safety and security of our citizens, he said in a May 14 press release. A strong and orderly border process is crucial in preventing individuals with nefarious intentions from entering our country.

Desmond additionally said in the release that he believes the countrys approach to border protection has allowed fentanyl to pour into the country, asylum seekers to be human trafficked, and terrorists to attempt entry.

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Escondido) additionally reported his attempts to confirm the news of the arrest were met with denials from the Biden Administration, according to a post he made on Twitter on May 15.

This is a good example of why we needed to have a system to allow people to come here legally, he wrote.

The arrest came just days after news outlets reported a leaked email showing the border patrol had released a record number of illegal migrants into the United States.

Agents were instructed in the email to release migrants without a way of tracking them after five of nine border patrol sectors were at 125 percent capacity, according to ABC News.

The increase of recent migrants into the United States came before the lifting of Title 42, which heightened restrictions on asylum seekers from entering the country during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Alberta UCP Campaigns on Promise of Mandatory Drug Rehab for Addicts

People wait to enter the Safeworks supervised consumption site at the Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre in Calgary, Alta., on Aug. 26, 2021. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)

United Conservative Party Leader Danielle Smith, running for reelection as premier of Alberta, announced she will introduce a Compassionate Intervention Act to allow family members of drug addicts to petition the court for involuntary treatment.

The sad reality is that despite the opportunity created by a booming economy, Alberta is also grappling with the effects of untreated mental health issues and the ongoing addiction crisis that jurisdictions are experiencing all over North America, Smith said at a May 15 news conference in Calgary.

Smith said the Compassionate Intervention Act would allow for a family member, doctor, psychologist, or police officer to make a petition to a specially-appointed, non-criminal judge to issue a treatment order.

The court would be able to divert an addict in imminent danger to themselves or others to treatment instead of jail. This step would be a last resort in order to save lives, and to prevent the overdose deaths, assaults, and attacks happening as a result of drug use, she said.

Addiction touches almost everyone. People struggling with addiction are on our streets and no family is being spared. Each and every one is someones son, daughter, husband, wife, mother, or father, she added. Smith called addiction a deadly and destructive illness that destroys potential and endangers lives, while contributing to social disorder and out-of-control violence.

Besides campaign promises for more police, targeting the illegal drug and gun trades, and ankle monitoring bracelets for violent criminals out on bail, Smith said people with addiction need the opportunity to get treatment and support. She said this is part of the UCPs focus on a recovery oriented system of care.

We need to have an honest conversation about how to help people who suffer from mental illness and addiction, especially when it crosses the line and impacts other peoples right to be safe in our province, said Smith.

Smith had harsh words for Vancouver, which provides supply and distribution of drugs to addicts at taxpayer expense and funds supervised consumption sites where drug addicts can use hard drugs with free needles.

The answer to addiction and public safety is not more drugs or ignorance or looking the other way and hoping for the best. Its stepping forward with compassion, intervention, treatment, and recovery, while also having zero tolerance for actual crime, Smith said.

An accompanying news release on May 15 provided more details of the plan, noting that the UCP government has added 10,000 fully funded addiction treatment spaces since being elected in 2019 and can now provide detox and drug addiction recovery for up to 29,000 Albertans each year at no charge. A previous user fee of $40 a day in place during the NDP government prior to 2019 was also eliminated, said the news release.

Treatment orders would vary depending on the individual and their needs and circumstances and could include evidence-based medication treatment (Opioid Agonist Treatment or OAT), outpatient counseling, medical detox, inpatient addiction treatment, recovery communities, etc., said the UCP.

If someone is a danger to themselves or others we need to intervene and provide treatment and support for recovery. Voluntary treatment will continue to be our priority, but for some this is necessary. Its more successful than doing nothing and waiting for them to die of an overdose or hurt someone else. Weve also seen great success with treatment orders in drug courts, the UCP stated.

The NDP did not respond to requests for comment from The Epoch Times, but on June 30, 2022, former NDP health critic David Shepherd told CTV News he wanted the government to approve a prescription safe supply program, and expand and open supervised drug injection sites.

At the time, he said the UCP government had an awful lot of toxicity toward reasonable steps in harm reduction, in general.

Affects Families

Smith was joined at the news conference by First Nations elders, parents, and recovering addicts.

One mother said her son was only alive today due to assertive intervention when he could no longer make decisions to keep himself safe.

By the age of 17, he had been admitted to mental health wards 14 times, stayed at six group homes, and a court-ordered stay at a safe house, said the mother.

He had overdosed multiple times as addiction took control of his and our lives. And the two weeks prior to attending treatment, our heart said goodbye to him twice as he was resuscitated and placed on life support. The pain was unbearable. She said the family spent seven years in consuming worry.

Intervention was our only option. It is hard to understand the anguish of this journey until you love somebody who struggles with addiction.

Desere Pressey said both her daughters fell into addiction. Our lives were consumed by fear and desperation, she said. My daughters were literally dying in front of my eyes. No matter how dark it got, including a suicide attempt and multiple overdoses, my daughters were still convinced they were in control of their drug use, said the mother. Every morning I opened their bedroom doors, I was braced for the very real possibility that they might have overdosed.

Pressey told the news conference her daughters would not be alive today, if it was not for a judge who granted an emergency order to place her unwilling children into treatment.

Today, Im proud to say that my daughters have emerged from the depths of addiction as resilient warriors. They are living proof that intervention and long term drug treatment can lead to incredible personal growth and lasting recovery, said Pressey. Recovery is not an individual effort, she added. She said it takes a community willing to step into someones addiction.

Every parent out there deserves to have the ability to save their childs life no matter what it takes, she added.

Abby Plesa, 19, who said she was an addict now in recovery, also shared her story. She said her family saved her life by forcing her into treatment.

Before my parents intervened, I was struggling with addiction for a total of six years. It started with the use of marijuana at 12 years old and quickly progressed to using methamphetamines and opioids at the age of 14. I was lost, alone, and hopeless. I experienced multiple overdoses, suicide attempts, trips to the police station and psych ward.

I hated anyone or anything that stood between myself and my drug use, and I was a danger to myself and others living in a world of darkness without a way out, Plesa said.

When she was 16, she said her family had finally experienced enough pain. They had the courage to step into my addiction and get a court order that placed me into detox before entering a long-term treatment program. My parents were scared for my life and had no other choice, she said.

Plesa is now three years sober and attending school for a degree in nursing. This final intervention saved my life, she said.

Earl Thiessen, an executive director of Oxford House, a pre-addiction treatment recovery centre, also shared his story. He said he was in long-term recovery for 15 years, after spending seven years homeless on the streets of Calgary due to a 20-year addiction.

I would not be here today if it were not for the intervention and support of a Provincial Court judge, said Thiessen, who said he is Indigenous and pleased that the First Nations Community was being involved in the proposed program.

My wife and I are now raising my sister-in-laws baby after she lost her life to a fatal overdose  She left behind a one-year-old baby and a teenage son. We knew she was in trouble with addiction and we had no way to intervene, he said. If this Act had been in place, then she may still be alive today.

Many people are so entrenched in their addiction that they cannot consciously decide to get help, Thiessen added.

The UCP has committed to creating more than 700 new treatment beds across 11 new treatment centres called recovery communities if reelected. Four of the new recovery centres will be built in partnership with Indigenous communities including Kainai Nation, Enoch Cree Nation, Siksika Nation, and Tsuutina Nation.

The UCP said mental health treatment is a key priority, and committed to building five new 75-bed mental health wellness centres, adding 375 additional inpatient beds.
ANALYSIS: Chinas Heightened Use of Exit Bans Creates Hostile Environment for Foreign Firms

Beijings move may accelerate exodus of foreign companies, expert says

Chinese paramilitary police in the Daxing International Airport in Beijing on Sept. 28, 2019. (Noel Celis /AFP via Getty Images)

A growing number of Chinese laws that enable exit bans has heightened fears of a more hostile environment for foreign companies operating in China.

Experts say that Beijings tactics go against its professed desire to bolster business confidence and foreign investment in the country and may trigger an accelerated exodus of foreign companies.

The Chinese regime has long banned dissidents from leaving the country, but in the years since Xi Jinping came to power (2012), the authorities have passed more laws to allow such bans and have applied them more broadly.

According to a recent report (pdf) by the Spain-based rights group Safeguard Defenders, there are currently 15 such laws in place, five of which have passed in just the last five years.

The increased scrutiny also comes as Chinas rubber-stamp legislature, the National Peoples Congress, passed an amended anti-espionage law and published it on its website on April 26. The legislation, which will be enacted on July 1, allows the authorities to impose exit bans on anyoneChinese and foreigners alikeunder investigation.

The report contends that the bans affect at least tens of thousands of Chinese nationals and millions if counting ethnicity-based cases for people such as the Uyghurs.

Foreign nationals are also increasingly targeted or threatened with exit restrictions, even if they are not suspected criminals.

At least two dozen U.S. citizens had been barred from leaving China over the past two years due to the exit bans, the report said, citing a 2021 estimation by John Kamm, founder and executive director of San Francisco-based Dui Hua Foundation, adding that the number may be grossly underestimated.

Search, Seize, and Detain

With the complex, vague, ambiguous and expansive local laws, any government body for any reason may issue an exit ban, the Safeguard Defenders report said.

Deliberately vague wording in the Civil Procedure Law means that individuals not even connected to the dispute can be trapped in China, the report said.

Irish businessman Richard OHalloran was barred from leaving China for more than three years (2019 to 2022) because the company he worked for was involved in a commercial dispute, even though he wasnt even working for the firm when the dispute began.

There are also expatriates who have fallen victim to Beijings hostage diplomacy. The report said the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) uses this as a tit-for-tat retaliation against foreign governments or a tactic to extract concessions.

Often, the action is more serious, such as arbitrary detention, or sometimes exit bans are used in the initial stages. For several years now, the US State Departments travel advisory on China has warned that Beijing uses exit bans to gain bargaining leverage over foreign governments, it said.

The targeting of some foreign journalists falls under this category, it added.

The recent passage of the CCPs new anti-espionage law is particularly worrisome for international companies in China. The law expands the definition of espionage and increases the states power to search, seize and ban individuals from entering and leaving the country.

Matthias Kamp, the China correspondent with Swiss daily Neue Zurcher Zeitung, wrote that most of the laws enacted by Beijing are very vague, which gives the authorities maximum flexibility in enforcing them. And for foreign companies in China, the revised anti-espionage law may also have serious consequences.

Even ordinary market research or collecting information on competitors may fall into the scope of the anti-espionage law in the future. The atmosphere of anxiety has spread among enterprises. The heads of enterprises in China are worried that the company may be searched, and computers and mobile phones may be confiscated, Kamp wrote.

Chinese paramilitary police officers secure an area at Daxing international airport in Beijing on Feb. 14, 2020. (Nicolas Asfouri/AFP via Getty Images)

Arbitrary Charges

Even before the new laws, foreign firms have been targeted by the CCP.

A recent victim was Bain & Co, a U.S. global management consulting firm. In April, the firms Shanghai office was raided, and its staff interrogated, a spokesperson confirmed with The Epoch Times on April 27.

The Chinese authorities reportedly confiscated the company staffs computers and phones, while the raids purpose remains unclear.

The incident came after U.S. due diligence firm Mintz Groups office in Beijing was raided by Chinese police in March. Authorities detained five Chinese nationals working for the company. Mintz is a major legal firm involved in corporate analysis, due diligence, and corruption investigations.

The New York-based firm told Reuters on March 24 that it has not received any official legal notice regarding a case against the company and has requested that the authorities release its employees.

Days later, Mao Ning, spokesperson of Chinas Foreign Ministry, told reporters that Mintz Group is suspected of illegal business operations.

In the same month, the Chinese authorities announced a cybersecurity audit of Micron Technology, a U.S. computer memory manufacturer. According to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, cybersecurity audits of network products that affect or may affect national security are standard regulatory measures taken to safeguard national security.

However, the move is widely perceived as Beijings retaliatory tactic against Washington amid intensified U.S.-China rivalry.

The CCP is not only cracking down on U.S. companies in China.

In March, the Chinese authorities announced the detention of an executive of Japanese pharmaceutical company Astellas Pharma Inc. on suspicion of espionage. The arrest sent shockwaves through the Japanese business community in China and prompted a strong reaction from Tokyo, where the Japanese government demanded the drug companys executive be released.

Since 2015, at least 17 Japanese nationals have been detained by the CCP on similar charges.

Trust Issues

Since lifting the countrys draconian COVID-19 measures, senior Chinese officials have frequently expressed a strong desire to bolster business confidence and encourage investment and growth.

Speaking at the annual meeting of the China Development Forum on March 26, Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang pledged to continue to expand market access, optimize the business environment across the board, and implement national treatment for foreign-invested enterprises, among other things.

(L-R) Yu Bin, Vice President Development Research Center of the State Council, Han Wenxiu, Executive Deputy Director of the General Office of the Central Financial, Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates LP, during China Development Forum 2023 at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse on March 25, 2023, in Beijing, China. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

Fang Qi, a U.K.-based senior financial consultant, told The Epoch Times on May 7 that Beijings heightened use of exit bans appears to go against its professed desire to bolster business confidence and foreign investment in the country.

The Chinese Communist Party is often contradictory in its actions. It would usually say one thing but do another. In this case, it needs foreign companies capital, but on the other hand, it does not trust them. This is why there are essentially no new foreign companies entering China, Fang said.

As geopolitical conflicts intensify and foreign companies profits in China plummet, [companies] are reluctant to choose China as a place to invest or operate. It wouldnt make sense either from a business point of view or from a risk point of view.

He added that even for foreign companies already in China, many would be forced to de-couple, some manufacturing industries would move their supply chains out of China, and only companies with a certain scale of operation in China may stay as they have invested too much.

Dorothy Li and Ellen Wan contributed to this report.
Anti-Capitalist Pay What You Can Cafe Goes Bust

Masked demonstrators take part in an anti-capitalist protest on May Day in Montreal, on May 1, 2016. (The Canadian Press/Graham Hughes)

A coffee shop in Canada that operated on a pay what you can model has decided to shut down just a year after starting operations as the business failed to generate enough revenue.

The Anarchist coffee shop is located in Toronto and began operations in March 2022. In an update on the shops website, owner Gabriel Sims-Fewer announced that The Anarchist would shut down on May 30. Sims-Fewer termed running The Anarchist an amazing experience that sparked desperately needed debate while raising the blood pressure of Conservatives. The Anarchist sought to operate in ways that did not enthusiastically embrace the pure misanthropy of Capitalism, the owner said while blaming a lack of wealth for the shops failure.

Unfortunately, the lack of generational wealth/seed capital from ethically bankrupt sources left me unable to weather the quiet winter season, or to grow in the ways needed to be sustainable longer-term, the announcement said. [Expletive] the rich. [Expletive] the police. [Expletive] the state. [Expletive] the colonial death camp we call Canada.

In an FAQ on the website, Sims-Fewer said that the reason why he went ahead with the pay what you can model is because he hated how how everything in specialty coffee is so inaccessible to working-class people and inhospitable to everyone but the white upper middle class.

The pay what you can model was applicable to drip coffee, which lost the shop money. The system was subsidized by more expensive drinks.

Sims-Fewer also insisted that in a lot of his pay what you can initiatives, more wealthy people were found to be less willing to pay. I get people in designer suits paying $1 for a coffee, and unhoused people trying to give me $10.

A White Male

Sims-Fewer has earlier made posts apologizing for being a white man. On the website, he characterized his gender and race as being privileged and offered to compensate for it by hiring people from minority identities.

I am a white, cisgender, queer man. When I used to daydream about opening my own cafe, the idea always left a bad taste in my mouth because I also feel that the world doesnt need more things owned by people at my particular intersection of privileges, he wrote.

The best thing I think I can do is hire people who arent white, cisgender, heterosexual men, make them equal owners, and follow their lead in making the place less white-male-centered than the industry standard.

A July 2022 post on The Anarchists Instagram said that White cis men aged 4565 should require a Basic Human Decency qualification to be allowed to interact with service workers.

Another post took a dig at Christianity and the Canadian government. Wishing the Pope, the Catholic clergy, and the Canadian government the centuries of suffering and death that is all they have ever given the world. Never forgive the unforgivable.

Employee Revolt

The Anarchist is not the first woke business to shut shop. In July last year, a cafe in Philadelphia that prided itself on being queer-owned shut down after employees revolted against the owners.

The cafe, Minas World, was owned by two queer activists, Sonam Parikh and Kate Egghart. Minas World promised to treat black and trans employees better than other coffee shops which had white owners.

However, employees at the cafe soon turned against the owners. In an Instagram post last year, the employees claimed they were facing systemic employer opposition, manipulation, abuse of power, exploitation, anti-blackness, ableism, hostility, and complete disregard for our livelihoods.

Employees also demanded that owners redistribute their business to the workers. The workers attempted to raise $200,000 through GoFundMe to buy the building where the shop was located as well as a share of the business. However, the effort only raised nearly $11,000. Minas World eventually shut down.
Apple Faces Planned Obsolescence Investigation in France

The Apple Inc. logo hanging at the entrance to the Apple store on 5th Avenue in Manhattan, New York, on Oct. 16, 2019. (Mike Segar/Reuters)

The Paris Prosecutors Office on Monday announced an investigation into Apple over allegations the company deliberately renders its devices obsolete in order to coerce users into purchasing newer models.

The prosecutors office said in a statement that an investigation was launched in December 2022 in response to a complaint filed by the advocacy group known as Halte a LObsolescence Programme (HOP), citing concerns over deceptive marketing practices and programmed obsolescence.

At the core of HOPs complaint lies the practice of serialization, which involves linking spare parts such as microchips or speakers to specific generations of iPhones through serial numbers. This system effectively hampers third-party repair services from using generic components. As Apple gradually phases out older iPhone models, the corresponding spare parts also become unavailable, thereby pressuring customers to purchase newer devices.

HOP, which refers to the issue as batterygate, further alleges that Apple possesses the capability to detect unauthorized repairs on iPhones and can remotely diminish their performance. This alleged degradation serves as an additional incentive for users to abandon repaired devices and opt for newer models.

The advocacy group welcomed the investigations announcement coming ahead of Apple CEO Tim Cooks visit to Paris in June for the VivaTech event. HOP said its calling on Apple to guarantee the right to repair its devices.

HOP is delighted to learn about the investigation opened by the Public Prosecutor and hopes that it will enable the Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs, and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) to enforce sanctions and demonstrate the illegal nature of the serialization practices challenged by the association, the group said in a statement translated from French.

HOP argues that these alleged practices infringe on the right to repair devices and hinder the democratization of refurbishment and the development of the circular economy.

This is not the first time Apple has faced legal repercussions for such practices. The company has been fined in France and Italy. However, not all attempts to sue Apple over planned obsolescence have been successful. In February, a South Korean court dismissed a lawsuit without explanation, ruling against the plaintiffs and even ordering them to cover Apples legal fees.

The Epoch Times contacted Apple for comment.

Apple Fined by Russia, France, Italy

In March, Apple paid a 906 million ruble ($12.12 million) fine in a Russian antitrust case alleging abuse of its dominance in the mobile apps market, according to Russias Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS).

Apple said it respectfully disagreed with the FAS ruling, which stated that Apples app distribution through its iOS operating system gave its own products an unfair advantage.

In August 2020, FAS concluded that Apple had engaged in abusive practices and subsequently issued a directive requiring the removal of provisions that allowed Apple to reject third-party apps from its App Store.

This action was prompted by a complaint from cybersecurity company Kaspersky Lab, which claimed that Apples operating system had rejected a new version of its Safe Kids application.

Apple has paid a 906 million rouble antitrust fine, the FAS said in a statement on its Telegram channel.

Apple had pursued appeals against the decision at various stages but was unsuccessful. Ultimately, the company complied with the order, as confirmed by FAS.

In 2020, Apple paid a $27 million fine in France after a French consumer watchdog complaint lodged by HOP. The complaint centered around a controversial iOS update that intentionally limited the performance of older devices.

Italys antitrust authority had taken similar action a year prior, imposing a fine of $10.8 million on the California tech giant.
Arizona House Adopts Legislation Targeting Sex Dolls That Look Like Children

Sex toys are on sale barely three yards away from children's toothbrushes in a Hixson, Tennessee, Walmart on Dec. 18, 2022. (Jackson Elliott/The Epoch Times)

Arizonas Republican-led House gave final approval to a bill making it a felony crime to possess, import, or traffic in sex dolls that resemble infants or children.

House Bill 2169 received solid bipartisan support before passing 58-0 in the third and final reading on May 15.

The bill will be sent to Democrat Gov. Katie Hobbs for her signature or veto.

The law would take effect immediately with the governors approval.

Arizona Rep. Quang Nguyen, a Republican, was the lead sponsor of the bill to establish new Class 4 felony criminal offenses for possession, trafficking, or importation of child sex dolls.

The legislation defines child sex dolls as objects anatomically resembling infants or children under 12 for sexual stimulation or gratification.

Of all the horrible things, I never expected to learn that there are sex dolls made to resemble the likeness of children, Nguyen said in a press release following the bills final passage.

These dolls are a gateway to victimizing children, serving no value or purpose other than feeding some individuals dangerous desire to molest young children.

We live in a civilized nation, and theres no room for such an extreme perversion to existchildren must be protected.

As chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Nguyen is a staunch advocate of legislation to reduce crimes against children and the exploitation of minors.

The bill changes two felony crimes against children by including conduct involving child sex dolls that use the face, image, or likeness of a real infant or minor under the age of 12.

Both offenses are punishable by a year in jail.

Disturbing Issue

Nguyen said Pinal County officials first made him aware of the disturbing issue of child sex dolls through increasing encounters between law enforcement and individuals found in possession of these sexual objects.

He said there was previously no legal authority to charge suspects who possess or deal in them.

The Federal Bureau of Investigations issued an alert in February to raise public awareness of the issue, Nguyen said.

In 2019, the Kentucky Senate approved legislation making child sex doll possession a felony offense.

If Arizonas governor signs the new legislation, Arizona will join five other states that ban child sex dolls, including Florida, Hawaii, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Utah.

Florida Rep. Vern Buchanan, a Republican, and Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a Democrat, recently filed legislation that takes aims at electronic sex dolls called CREEPER (Curbing Realistic Exploitative Electronic Pedophilic Robots) Act 2.0.
Australian PM Believes Breakthrough in Trade Relationship with China Is Possible

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reacts during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on March 30, 2023. (Martin Ollman/Getty Images)

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese believed Australia would be able to make a breakthrough in resolving the trade war with China following a recent delegation to Beijing.

Trade Minister Don Farrell has returned after visiting China on the week ending May 14 to discuss with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao the possibility of Beijing lifting trade tariffs on some Australian commodities, such as barley, wine and lobster.

Despite no major development achieved during the trip, the prime minister said the in-person talks were a positive sign.

The first step towards getting understanding and getting agreements is to have dialogue, he told Adelaide radio station 5AA.

It is a very positive thing that our Trade Minister Don Farrell  was up there spruiking the benefit, which is a mutual benefit for Australia and China, of removing any impediments.

Albanese noted that Farrells trip to China represented progress in resolving the two countries years-long diplomatic and trade disputes.

Trade with China is worth more than the trade combined with the United States, Japan and South Korea. They are an important relationship for us, he said.

We are working cooperatively wherever we can, we will disagree where we must, but we are engaging in our national interest.

Farrells Perspective on the Visit

In an interview with ABC Radio after returning from China, Farrell said he had a warm and constructive meeting with Wang.

While the minister believed it would not be long before Australia resumed the normal trade relationship with China, he said the disputes were not solved overnight.

I dont think theyll mysteriously disappear. I think if things go to plan, therell be a decision by the Chinese government, he said.

Were hopeful that that decision will remove those tariffs, and we can get back to work to normal trade with barley.

Farrell also declined to put any date on the process, saying there were many issues that Australia needed to work on, including biosecurity.

My objective in this process is to simply persevere and persist so that at the end of the day, all of the trade impediments are removed, he said.

Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell (left) speaks to Chinas Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao during a meeting via teleconference at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on Feb. 6, 2023. (Lukas Coch  Pool/Getty Images)

In addition, Farrell said Wang raised concerns about whether Chinese companies were treated fairly in Australia.

In recent years, the Chinese regime has been criticising Australia for blocking Chinese investment in important resources such as rare earth on the grounds of national interest.

He (Wang) raised a series of pretty well-known issues. I think, on the Chinese side, hes entitled to do that, Farrell said.

I pointed out to him that in the last financial year, we approved over 270 Chinese investments in Australia, totalling $4.28 billion (US$2.86 billion).

Its very clear that we welcome foreign investment from all countries overseas, and the Chinese are continuing to invest in Australia.

Response from Relevant Parties

While Opposition trade spokesman Kevin Hogan said it was disappointing to see no major breakthrough, he noted that Farrells trip was a positive move towards resolving the trade disputes between the two countries.

I publicly supported the trade ministers visit to China as a positive step in the trade relationship thaw but nevertheless join the many exporters who are disappointed that it delivered no dividend in sanction relief, he said.

Australia has been a good faith actor in its engagement with China, reflecting the importance of the trade relationship and the longevity of our diplomatic relations.

Meanwhile, Business Council chief Jennifer Westacott welcomed Farrells visit to China, saying it was important for the relationship to get back on track.

Chinas a different country than it used to be. But its a hugely important part of our economic future, she said.

Westacott said while Australia needed to acknowledge the advantages of a vast Chinese market when enforcing its principle, it also should diversify into other markets.

Weve got to look at places like India and Indonesia, these huge markets that are growing, she said.

But China is a really important part of our future.

On a related development, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang is expected to travel to Australia in July despite the Chinese regime not having made any official announcement.
Bankrupt Crypto Lending Platform Opts for Liquidation

Figurines with smartphones and computers in front of the BlockFi logo in this illustration, on Nov. 28, 2022. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters)

Bankrupt crypto lender BlockFi has decided to liquidate its cryptocurrency lending platform in a bid to repay its more than 100,000 creditors.

In a company filing on May 12, BlockFi claimed that liquidation would be the best option for creditors. According to the company, the amount of funds clients can recover from the liquidation largely depends on the outcome of pending litigation the company has against its commercial counterparties. Collectively, the success or failure of this litigation will make a difference of in excess of $1 billion to clients, the filing said. BlockFi is estimated to owe almost $1.3 billion to its top 50 creditors.

Founded in 2017, New Jersey-based BlockFi filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November 2022 following the collapse of FTX in the same month. BlockFi has liabilities ranging between $1 billion and $10 billion.

Earlier in July 2022, crypto lender Nexo had offered to acquire BlockFi for an estimated $850 million. However, BlockFi rejected that offer in favor of a revolving credit offer of $400 million from FTX US. But as FTX collapsed, BlockFi was left financially struggling and eventually filed for bankruptcy.

In a filing (pdf) on May 15, the BlockFi Creditors Committee slammed the company for portraying itself as a victim of FTX and Alameda Research, calling it a false case narrative. The committee blamed BlockFis failure on poor management decisions.

In the days following FTX collapse, when crypto markets were crashing, BlockFi converted around $240 million in cryptocurrencies into U.S. dollars. This ended up creating major losses for BlockFi as well as potential tax issues.

BlockFi then went on to place most of their cash, amounting to more than $250 million, with the Silicon Valley Bank (SBV), which also later collapsed.

SVB was not a depository institution of sufficient strength to meet the Bankruptcy Codes protective requirements, prompting the United States Trustee to object to estate money being deposited there. Eventually, an arrangement was reached whereby SVB would post sufficient collateral (in the form of a bond) should there be a bank failure. There was a bank failure, the creditors wrote.

But, it seems, no one at BlockFi (including those in the restructuring and finance wings of the C-Suite) ensured that the bond was posted. It wasnt. Good thing the federal government stepped in to bail out all SVB depositors, including BlockFi.

The Liquidation

According to BlockFis filing, it engaged with potential bidders and received a number of indications of interests for some or all components of the BlockFi platform. However, the firm concluded that there may be a lack of meaningful value to be generated from such a sale due to regulatory developments and other factors.

Because it was decided that selling the platform would not be a value-maximizing transaction that benefits the creditors, the firm decided to liquidate its cryptocurrency lending platform.

Some of the major commercial counterparties that BlockFi has litigation against include collapsed cryptoexchange FTX, trading firm Alameda Research, crypto miner Core Scientific, and cryptocurrency hedge fund Three Arrows Capital.

The companys plan also detailed projected recoveries, including liquidating roughly $1.06 billion in BlockFi Inc. Interest Account Claims, $371 million in BlockFi International Ltd. Private Client and Interest Account Claims, and $216 million in BlockFi Lending LLC Private Client Account Claims.

The filing was made with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Trenton, New Jersey. The court will now determine on June 12 as to which creditors that have repayment claims will be eligible to vote on the companys plan. These creditors will then have time until July 28 to either support or reject BlockFis plan.

Crypto Collapses, BlockFi Creditors

In addition to BlockFi, multiple other crypto companies have filed for bankruptcy over the past months, including FTX, Alameda, Core Scientific, Voyager Digital, Celsius Network, and Three Arrows Capital. As some of these firms were unable to close deals that would pull them out from Chapter 11 bankruptcy, they have decided to liquidate assets to pay back their customers.

Alameda had listed liabilities in the range of $10 billion to $50 billion in its bankruptcy filing, with over 100,000 creditors. FTX US also reported similar liabilities. Core Scientific estimated $1 billion to $10 billion in liabilities and between 1,0005,000 creditors.

Celsius reported liabilities in the range of $1 billion to $10 billion and over 100,000 creditors. Voyager also gave similar numbers. Three Arrows reported owing $3.5 billion to 27 companies.

BlockFis largest creditor is Ankura Trust, a business that manages creditors in stressed situations, to which BlockFi owes $729 million. The company also owes $275 million to FTX, which is its second-largest creditor.

In February, a subsidiary of BlockFi had agreed to pay $100 million to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and 32 states as a settlement related to a crypto lending product. The SEC is listed as a creditor to which BlockFi owes $30 million.
Beijing Snares Top UK Physicist to Assist With Hypersonic Weapons Research

The U.S. Department of Defense launches a sounding rocket from NASA's launch range at Wallops Flight Facility carrying hypersonic weapon experiments that will inform the development of the hypersonic class of weapons, on Wallops Island, Virginia, on Oct. 26, 2022. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)

Beijing has reportedly lured one of the United Kingdoms (UK) top physicists and leading experts in the fields of multiscale gas, liquids, and solid systemscritically important for hypersonic research.

Zhang Yonghao, who worked in the UK for more than 20 years in leading universities, also held the Weir Professor of Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics chair position at the University of Strathclyde.

From 2020, he was also the Jason Reese Chair in Multiscale Fluid Mechanics at the University of Edinburgh.

In the UK, a chair professorship is the highest academic rank that can be achieved. It is regarded as a prestigious title only awarded to individuals making important contributions to their area of research.

An expert like Zhang is expected to help Beijing fast-track its hypersonics programs, particularly with his experience in rarefied gas dynamics and multiscale fluid mechanics.

Zhangs contract with the Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Mechanics is reported, by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), to have begun immediately after leaving the University of Edinburgh in October 2022.

The Institute of Mechanics says Zhangs experience in organising large-scale projects and managing teams would be valuable for coordinating the efforts of researchers, the SCMP reports.

Hypersonics the New Focus of Modern Warfare

Currently, Russia, the United States, and China are locked in a race to create the most advanced hypersonic weapons.

There are concerns the United States is trailing behind both Russia and China in this field. So far, the United States has announced that in December 2022 it successfully launched its first hypersonic missile, the AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) from a B-52H Stratofortress bomber while in the air.

According to the U.S. Air Force, the missile can travel at over five times the speed of sound.

Read More 1st Full Test of Hypersonic Missile Successful: US Air Force

Meanwhile, Beijing revealed in 2021 that it had launched a hypersonic weapon that circled the earth and struck a target. While Russia has reported that it has used hypersonic missiles to destroy a massive underground storage site for missiles and aircraft ammunition in Ukraines Ivano-Frankivsk area.

West Concerned Over Beijing Recruitment

The recruitment of Zhang comes after revelations Beijing had been recruiting former fighter pilots from the United States, UK, and Australia to train its pilots in Western air fighting techniques.

According to an intelligence alert from the UKs Ministry of Defence (MOD), up to 31 former UK military pilots have been recruited to train Peoples Liberation Army Air Force pilots in the use of fast jetslike the Typhoon, Jaguar, Harrier, and Tornadoin South Africa.

A MOD spokesperson said, We are taking decisive steps to stop Chinese recruitment schemes attempting to headhunt serving and former UK armed forces pilots to train Peoples Liberation Army personnel in the Peoples Republic of China.

All serving and former personnel are already subject to the Official Secrets Act, and we are reviewing the use of confidentiality contracts and non-disclosure agreements across defence, while the new National Security Bill will create additional tools to tackle contemporary security challengesincluding this one.

Meanwhile, Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles has launched an investigation into the issue.

In an email to The Epoch Times, Marles said that he had asked the [defense] department to investigate these claims and come back to my office with clear advice on this matter.

When our [Australian Defence Force] personnel sign up to the Defence Force, they do so to serve their country, and we are deeply grateful of that, he said. I would be deeply shocked and disturbed to hear that there were personnel who were being lured by a paycheck from a foreign state above serving their own country.

US Fighter Pilot Currently Held in Australia on Conspiracy Charges

Currently, only one Australian individual is being investigated over links to Beijing.

Former U.S. fighter pilot Daniel Edmund Duggan is facing charges of conspiracy to unlawfully export defence services to China and violating the U.S. Arms Export Control Act, according to a 2017 indictment that was unsealed by a U.S. District Court in Washington on Dec. 9, Reuters reported.

Duggan, who holds both American and Australian citizenship, was arrested in October 2022 in the Australian regional city of Orange in New South Wales.

He served in the Persian Gulf during operations in Kuwait and spent time in the Spanish Navy, where he flew a range of military aircraft, including the AV-8B Harrier Jump Jet, T2C Buckeye, A4J Skyhawk, Hawk, and Mig29. He is also said to have worked as a senior tactical instructor for weapons and tactics, air combat, and low-altitude flying.

United States authorities allege that Duggan broke U.S. arms control laws by training Chinese military pilots to land on aircraft carriers on three separate occasions in 2010 and 2012.

The indictment also lists three unnamed co-conspirators from the UK, South Africa, and China, who it alleges were executives of a test flying academy based in South Africa with a presence in the PRC, and a Chinese national who acquired military information for the Chinese military.

It further alleged that Duggan was contracted by the unnamed Chinese national to provide services to a Beijing state-owned enterprise and evaluate trainee pilots in the Peoples Liberation Army, test naval aviation equipment, and provide instruction on tactics related to landing aircraft on carriers.
Key Insights

Institutions' substantial holdings in Citigroup implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price

44% of the business is held by the top 25 shareholders

Insiders have sold recently

Every investor in Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 72% to be precise, is institutions. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company.

Since institutional have access to huge amounts of capital, their market moves tend to receive a lot of scrutiny by retail or 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 Citigroup, beginning with the chart below.

See our latest analysis for Citigroup

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Citigroup?

Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index.

Citigroup already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of Citigroup, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too.

Investors should note that institutions actually own more than half the company, so they can collectively wield significant power. Citigroup is not owned by hedge funds. The Vanguard Group, Inc. is currently the company's largest shareholder with 8.6% of shares outstanding. Meanwhile, the second and third largest shareholders, hold 8.4% and 4.4%, of the shares outstanding, respectively.

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.

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 plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too.

Insider Ownership Of Citigroup

The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it.

Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group.

Our information suggests that Citigroup Inc. insiders own under 1% of the company. It is a very large company, so it would be surprising to see insiders own a large proportion of the company. Though their holding amounts to less than 1%, we can see that board members collectively own US$151m 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

With a 25% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Citigroup. This size of ownership, while considerable, may not be enough to change company policy if the decision is not in sync with other large shareholders.

Next Steps:

While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Citigroup you should know about.

Ultimately the future is most important. You can access this free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

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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Biden Family Business Transactions Made Intentionally Difficult to Understand Where Money Came From: Legal Scholar

Horace Cooper, senior fellow with the National Center for Public Policy Research, and a former constitutional law professor, in a still released by NTD on May 15, 2023. (NTD)

President Joe Bidens family members moved around money from their international business transactions in a way that, according to legal scholar Horace Cooper, was meant to obscure what they were really doing.

On May 10, House Republicans shared preliminary findings from an ongoing investigation of business transactions by members of Bidens family. At a press conference, the Republican lawmakers described nearly two dozen Limited Liability Corporations (LLCs) established by the Biden family members to receive payments from private clients, corporations, and foreign governments, including China, Ukraine, and Romania.

Cooper, a former constitutional law scholar and current senior fellow with the National Center for Public Policy Research, said this network of Biden business entities is worthy of scrutiny.

These funds were forwarded in ways that clearly were intended to make it difficult to understand where the money was coming from, and where the money was going, Cooper told NTDs Capitol Report. That constitutes fraud, that constitutes a behavior that had to have a number of participants to make sure that it occurred.

House Republicans unveiled their findings after gaining access to several Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs), which are records generated by banks to flag transaction behavior commonly associated with fraud and money laundering. Joe Bidens son, Hunter Biden, has been under federal investigation for years for possible tax fraud and money laundering.

Media Should Investigate: Cooper

While Republicans have detailed $10 million in transactions between the Biden family businesses and entities belonging to foreign nationals, that information alone may not prove a crime took place.

The Biden White House has pushed back on the Republican investigation, describing it as part of a pattern of unproven, politically motivated attacks.

For going on five years now, Republicans in Congress have been lobbing unfounded, unproven, politically motivated attacks against the president and his family without offering evidence for their claims or evidence of decisions influenced by anything other than U.S. interests, White House spokesman Ian Sams said in a recent statement to The Epoch Times.

When asked about the burden of proof needed to demonstrate the Biden family members engaged in criminal activity, Cooper noted President Jimmy Carters brother Billy Carter became the subject of scrutiny over his ties to the government of Libya. Billy Carters ties to the Libyan government became known after he registered as a foreign agent of Libya and disclosed a $220,000 payment he had received. The Carter administration admitted it had relied on Billy Carters Libyan ties to arrange a meeting with Libyan officials in hopes of gaining their help to negotiate an end to the Iran hostage crisis.

That was a huge scandal, because our media recognized that someone that close to the president engaging in side-deals with a country which at the time was not a friend of the United States was something worth exploring, Cooper said of the scandal involving the Carter family.

Cooper said the news media should apply a similar level of scrutiny to the Biden family transactions in countries where Joe Biden had high-level interactions while serving as the vice president.

The bar here is we should have the mediamainstream, otherwise mediaasking important questions about how this came about, Cooper said Why does it coincide with the period of time that youre vice president? Oh, and also, why does it appear to correlate with the areas that you particularly had a lot of influence over when you were serving as vice president.

Theres more to be seen about during the period when [Biden] was a senator, and theres also more to be seen about during the period now that he is a president, Cooper added. Our mainstream media should recognize that the bar has been met for them to engage for them to ask questions.

The FBIs Role

In addition to sharing their own investigative findings, Republican lawmakers have raised whistleblower claims that the FBI has an unclassified record alleging a criminal scheme involving Joe Biden and a foreign national during his time as vice president.

In a May 3 letter, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) and Senate Budget Committee ranking member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) called on Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray to turn over this alleged document. Christopher Dunham, the FBIs acting assistant director for congressional affairs, wrote a letter (pdf) to Comer on May 10 explaining the FBIs confidentiality interests but did not turn over the requested document.

Cooper suggested an impeachment process could compel the FBI to turn over the alleged documents.

Let me just suggest this: if the stonewalling continues, there is one way to ensure that every court in the land is going to give to the investigating committee whatever it asks for, and thats for articles of impeachment, he said. If this president does not wish for that type of intrusive investigation to occur, he should direct his subordinates to answer these important questions.

From NTD News
Biden NIH Pick Under Scrutiny for Funding From Pfizer

From left to right: National Cancer Institute Director Dr. Monica Bertagnolli, first lady Jill Biden (C), and Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) at the University of California, San Francisco Helen Diller Comprehensive Care Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Oct. 7, 2022. (John G. Mabanglo/Pool/Getty Images)

President Joe Bidens choice to head the U.S. National Institutes of Health has hauled in hundreds of millions of dollars from the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer in recent years, raising concerns about whether shed serve the public independently.

Dr. Monica Bertagnolli received $247 million in research funding from Pfizer from 2016 to 2021, according to disclosures filed Open Payments, a government-run program that collects and publishes data on payments from drug companies to doctors and others.

Bertagnolli has also received funding from other pharmaceutical companies like Janssen, a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary, and AstraZeneca, totaling more than $21 million since 2016.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., a Democrat running for president, said the immense funding amounts illustrated the revolving door between well-connected scientists and government positions.

So basically Joe Bidens nominating Pfizer to run the National Institutes of Health. This is open, evil Big Pharma corruption. The science will be what Pfizer wants it to be, former Republican congressional candidate Robby Starbuck said.

The White House and Pfizer did not respond to requests for comment.

Biden in a statement announcing Bertagnollis nomination said she 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.

Bertagnolli became director of the National Cancer Institute, which is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), in 2022. Before that, she chaired the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology, which develops and carries out clinical trials for potential cancer treatments.

Bertagnolli, who did not return an inquiry, previously told the Daily Signal that the funds shes listed as receiving were actually contracts between the pharmaceutical companies and the alliance.

All industry contracts were used by the Alliances 3,000+ member clinical trials group to conduct cancer clinical trials. Importantly, virtually all of the funding from Pfizer was for a single large international breast cancer clinical triala very high $$ total because it enrolled over 6,000 patients over quite a number of countries, Bertagnolli said at the time. The funding was distributed across many different health care institutionsboth academic and communityto conduct the trial. Alliance overall does not have more involvement with one industry partner over anotherits just that this one Pfizer trial was very large and therefore very expensive.

The U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions will take up Bertagnollis nomination.

Senators have blocked some of Bidens nominees over conflict of interest concerns.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), chairman of the panel, told the Washington Post this month that he would oppose any nominated health experts who were not prepared to stand up and fight the drug industry. Sanders said in a letter to Biden that he voted against Dr. Robert Califf, picked to head the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, because of his unwillingness to stand up to the greed of the pharmaceutical industry.

The committee in total voted 138 to advance the nomination of Califf and the full Senate confirmed him in a 5046 vote.

Sanders did not respond to a request for comment. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), the ranking member of the panel, declined to comment.

Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in Washington on April 20, 2023. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

The nomination was praised by some, including Dr. Clifford Hudis, CEO of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Her experience in all aspects of medical research, clinical care, and commitment to advancing science, as well as her own experience as a patient, make her an ideal leader for the nations top federal medical research agency at this exciting time in science, he said in a statement.

Others said the doctor would need to rebuild trust in an agency that has spread misinformation about the origins of COVID-19 and other matters during the pandemic, in addition to withholding information from members of Congress.

I congratulate Dr. Bertagnolli on her nomination. If confirmed, she has an opportunity to begin rebuilding public trust in NIH so it can effectively conduct important and potentially life-saving research, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), chairwoman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said in a statement.

Dr. Francis Collins, the last Senate-confirmed NIH director, exited the agency in late 2021. Collins and Dr. Anthony Fauci, one of his top deputies, spread the lie that the NIH did not fund gain of function research at the Chinese laboratory situated in the city where the first COVID-19 cases appeared. They also downplayed natural immunity while hyping the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines.

Fauci, who left the government around the end of 2022, told the Post that he recommended Bertagnolli as the next NIH director.

Shes got the kind of personality that I think is important for the director of NIH, Fauci said. Shes firm in her principles, but she is very likable, easy to get along with, people person.

Bertagnolli wrote on Twitter, after Fauci announced he was stepping down, that no words can sufficiently capture Dr. Faucis impact on our nations public health.
Biden Pushes Police Funding, Gun Restrictions in Message Honoring National Police Week

President Joe Biden gives remarks at an executive order signing event for police reform in the East Room of the White House in Washington, on May 25, 2022. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

President Joe Biden boasted that he had increased funding for law enforcement while tightening gun control in a video statement for Peace Officers Memorial Day on May 15. Biden said he had one objective in pushing for wider gun restrictions.

I want to make sure officers are not outgunned on the streets. Lets be very clear; the answer is not to defund the police, Biden said during the almost three-minute video released on the presidents Twitter thread that morning.

Biden praised law enforcement officers and first responders whom he said put their lives on the line to keep their communities safe.

Every day, you pin on that shield and walk out the door, running toward danger to keep the rest of us safe, Biden said. Being an officer isnt just what you do; its who you are.

President Joe Biden, first lady Jill Biden, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, FBI Director Christopher Wray, and others attend the Annual National Police Officers Memorial Service at the U.S. Capitol on Oct. 12, 2021. (DHS Photo/Benjamin Applebaum)

According to the National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), 443 law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty in 2022.

The past year has been one of the most dangerous years for law enforcement in recent history due to the increase of violence directed towards law enforcement officers as well as the nationwide crime crisis, FOP National President Patrick Yoes wrote in a statement on the groups website.

According to the FOP, 63 officers died of illnesses they contracted while responding to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Information from the FOP shows that 23,000 police officers have been killed in the line of duty since the first recorded death in 1792.

The FOP shows that 2021 was the deadliest year for law enforcement, with 623 officers killed. Of that number, 436 deaths were COVID-19 related, the FOP statement reads.

Activists march on the one-year anniversary of George Floyds death in Los Angeles on May 25, 2021. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)

Seventy-five of the officers killed in the line of duty last year were shot. Biden said he has been working to address that particular issue.

Biden Touts Mental Health Funding

The president said his plans had dedicated $350 million to states and cities to pay for more police and first responders. The money is meant to finance mental health services, expanded background checks, and investigate so-called ghost guns. These firearms are built by individuals and dont have serial numbers.

They are part of his wider 37 billion Safer America Plan that will help to hire 100,000 new officers and train them in community policing. This includes providing the mental health resources police often need when dealing with the public. The president said this is an essential service that government must provide.

There is no greater responsibility of government than to keep society safe, he said.

This National Police Week  and on Peace Officers Memorial Day  we recognize the absolute courage of officers across America. pic.twitter.com/1UGNR0bGMW  President Biden (@POTUS) May 15, 2023

Biden said he understands that the families of fallen officers are grieving. But he told them that there will come a time when their memory would bring a smile again. He assured them that Americans are aware of their sacrifice.

The nation owes its officers a debt of gratitude. May God bless them all, may God protect law enforcement, he said.
Biden Shortening Overseas Trip to G7 Summit Amid Debt Ceiling Fight

President Joe Biden speaks about the situation in Poland following a meeting with G7 and European leaders on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Nusa Dua on the Indonesian resort island of Bali on Nov. 16, 2022. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

President Joe Biden will shorten his upcoming overseas trip amid the debt limit fight, the White House announced on May 16.

Biden is scheduled to depart for Hiroshima, Japan, on May 17 for the annual G7 summit and return to the United States on May 21.

The G7 includes the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, Germany, and France.

President Biden will return to the United States on Sunday, following the completion of the G7 summit, in order to be back for meetings with Congressional leaders to ensure that Congress takes action by the deadline to avert default.

The president spoke to Prime Minister [Anthony] Albanese earlier today to inform him that he will be postponing his trip to Australia, said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre in a statement.

Following the G7 summit, Biden was scheduled to stop in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and then Australia. No sitting U.S. president has visited Papua New Guinea, where Biden was to talk with Pacific island heads.

In Australia, the president was scheduled to gather with fellow heads of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, colloquially known as the Quad, that, in addition to the United States, includes Australia, Japan and India.

Jean-Pierre noted that Biden invited Albanese to visit the White House and that his team informed the team of Papua New Guineas prime minister, James Marape, that he would not be able to make the trip.

In her statement, Jean-Pierre said that Bidens cancellations do not deter from his commitment to the Indo-Pacific.

Revitalizing and reinvigorating our alliances and advancing partnerships like the Quad remains a key priority for the president, she said. This is vital to our ability to advance our foreign policy goals and better promote global stability and prosperity.

We look forward to finding other ways to engage with Australia, the Quad, Papua New Guinea, and the leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum in the coming year.

Jean-Pierres announcement comes as Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned that the United States could default on June 1 if it does not raise the debt ceiling.

A meeting at the White House between Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) was held on May 16, the second one in two weeks, to negotiate on the debt ceiling. (Harris was absent from the May 9 meeting).

McCarthy said the GOP and Democrats remain far apart on an agreement.
Biden Vetoes Bill Restoring Tariffs on Some Chinese Solar Panels

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks at an event at the White House in Washington on May 8, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)

President Joe Biden kept his promise to veto legislation reversing his temporary suspension of tariffs on some solar panels from China.

Passage of this resolution bets against American innovation. It would undermine these efforts and create deep uncertainty for American businesses and workers in the solar industry, Biden wrote in a May 16 message to the House.

The president promised to veto the measure several weeks ago.

The bill, a joint resolution of disapproval, received bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate.

It targets a rule from the Commerce Department in September 2022.

Earlier that year, the commander-in-chief had declared an emergency over what he claimed was an urgent need for additional solar panels.

The Commerce Departments rule specified that tariffs would be suspended for 24 months on panels made in China that undergo final assembly in Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia.

It came during an investigation by the Commerce Department into alleged tariff evasion by companies that manufacture solar cells and other components in China.

Workers are making solar photovoltaic modules used for small solar panels at a factory in Haian, in Chinas eastern Jiangsu Province, on Jan. 7, 2022. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

In a preliminary determination last December, the Commerce Department found that four firms with operations in China are attempting to bypass U.S. duties by doing minor processing in one of the Southeast Asian countries before shipping to the United States.

In his veto message, Biden said he wont extend the tariff suspension. He argued that it is part of a multi-pronged strategy to stimulate the domestic solar power industry, including new solar panel factories.

A Korean firm in January announced its intentions to site production in Georgia, promising over $2.5 billion in spending in the United States.

The U.S. solar forecast may not be so sunny for other players.

Just days ago, federal agents raided Florida and California facilities of Chinas Jinko Solar Holdings Co., Ltd.

The Department of Commerces rule supports American businesses and workers in the solar industry and helps provide sufficient, clean, and reliable electricity to American families, while continuing to hold our trading partners accountable, Bidens veto message reads.

The rule implements a temporary, 24-month bridge to make sure that when these new factories are operational, we have a thriving solar installation industry ready to deploy American-made solar products to homes, businesses, and communities across the Nation, it continues.

The House and Senate would both need two-thirds majorities to overcome the presidents veto.

Biden Vetoes Preserve Agenda on Energy, Environment

The veto is just the third of Bidens presidency, which began under a fully Democrat-controlled Congress.

After the midterm elections, the legislative branch split between the Republican-run House, now targeting the Biden familys alleged ties to Chinese money, and the narrowly Democratic Senate, where Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has proven to be a solid ally of the president despite some recent failures to unify his caucus.

Whether theres a two-year [tariff] extension or not, the chip manufacturing and battery manufacturing is flocking to the United States, Schumer told NTDs Melina Wisecup in comments before his chambers May 3 vote on the bill. It passed 51 to 41, with 12 Democrats joining their Republican colleagues in support of the resolution.

Bidens first and second vetoes were also aimed at joint resolutions disapproving of moves hes made that bear on energy and the environment.

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investinga major concern for many Republicans and opponents of Davos-style stakeholder capitalismsparked bipartisan legislation earlier this year, after Bidens Department of Labor acted to let pension fund managers consider ESG.

Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Klaus Schwab is seen at the opening of the WEF Davos Agenda in Cologny near Geneva on Jan. 17, 2022. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images)

Biden vetoed that measure in March.

Just weeks later, the presidents second veto maintained his new Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule.

Thats a win for many environmental groups that want a broader WOTUS definition to limit development on a wider range of water bodiesbut many farmers, ranchers, and other large landowners worry that the rule amounts to government overreach.
China-Based Network Conspired to Deliver WMD Components to Iran, DOJ Charges

The DOJ is unsealing charges against a Chinese citizen who, it claims, helped to operate a network that provides WMD components to Iran.

Authorities in New York unsealed the indictment May 16, charging Xiangjiang Qiao with sanctions evasion, money laundering, and bank fraud, alleging that Qiao participated in a scheme to use a sanctioned Chinese company to provide WMD materials to Iran in exchange for payments made through the U.S. financial system.

The Iranian regime of terror and repression, and those who facilitate it, pose a grave threat to our national security, said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams in a prepared statement.

This office will continue to work relentlessly to bring to justice those who advance the interests of the Iranian regime and thereby threaten the safety and security of the American people.

Building Iranian WMDs

Qiao, who is a Chinese citizen, allegedly participated in a scheme to use the China-based company Sinotech Dalian Carbon and Graphite Manufacturing Corporation (Sinotech Dalian) to supply isostatic graphite to Iran for the production of WMDs from at least 2019 through 2022.

The assistance, charging documents say, was particularly focused on the procurement of materials needed for Irans ballistic missile program.

The defendant tried to arrange the sale using Chinese companies that the U.S. has sanctioned for supporting Irans ballistic missile program, said Assistant Attorney General for National Security Matthew Olsen during a press conference announcing the charges.

Sinotech Dalian was previously sanctioned in 2014, a DOJ statement said, and is part of a network of China-based entities used to proliferate WMDs and aid in Iranian ballistic missile procurement more broadly.

Qiao himself is an associate of Li Fangwei, who managed the Sinotech Dalian network of companies and who was charged in 2014 with sanctions evasion and other offenses based on his alleged activities as a principal contributor to Irans ballistic missile program through China-based entities.

The DOJ contends that Qiao conspired to send isostatic graphite, a fine-grained material used in the rocket nozzles and nose tips of intercontinental ballistic missiles, to Iran in violation of those U.S. sanctions.

Further, Qiao allegedly worked to conceal Sinotech Dalians involvement in the transactions by creating a bank account in the name of a front company which then received two transfers from a U.S. bank totaling over $15,000.

Both Qiao and Li are at large and believed to be in China.

Democracy at Stake

The charges were announced as part of a wider suite of actions taken by the Disruptive Technology Strike Force, a joint program led by the Commerce and Justice Departments and intended to counter efforts by hostile nations to illicitly acquire sensitive U.S. technologies.

Also announced were charges against the Greek Nikolaos Bogonikolos for smuggling U.S.-origin military and dual-use technologies to Russia, charges against Russian nationals Oleg Sergeyevich Patsulya and Vasilii Sergeyevich Besedin for conspiracy to commit international money laundering and send aircraft parts to Russian airline companies, and charges against Liming Li and Weibao Wang of China, for their alleged roles in stealing sensitive technologies from American companies for use in China.

These cases demonstrate the breadth and complexity of the threats we face, as well as what is at stake, Olsen said.

We are committed to doing all we can to prevent these advanced tools from falling into the hands of our adversaries, who wield them in ways that threaten not only our nations security, but democratic values everywhere.
Condolences to Liberal Studies

Commentary

The last examination of Liberal Studies was held on April 27, bringing an end to 30 years of liberal studies education in Hong Kong. Naturally, the pro-establishment camp breathed a sigh of relief as their decade-long mudslinging brought an end to this subject, which supposedly heralded a new age of independent study but was heavily criticized after 2012 as a scapegoat of the governments governance failure.

There was not much public discussion about the exam paper, nor was there any expression of regret, probably because all the topics were popular and the questions were easy. No one made any rude comments on someones Instagram like some English Language candidates previously did on Michelle Obamas.

Exam experts regarded the paper as unprofessional. For example, Lo Ka-yiu, who has managed the Liberal Studies exam in Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) for 20 years, wrote on his Instagram that the exam paper was too easy as it accepts as answer whatever candidates wrote. It fits the slogan Happy Hong Kong, but it cannot discriminate candidates of different calibers.

He commented, The soul of Liberal Studies rests on independent inquiry, a project-based learning unit, which was got rid of in 2021. The subject now has become soulless, as multi-perspective analyses, critical thinking, and issue-based learning cannot be conducted both in class and in the exam.

Liberal Studies appeared as a herald of educational reform back in the 1980s when the division of arts, science, and commerce streams in the matriculation curriculum made students know nothing beyond their subjects. Hence the matriculation reform introduced an advanced supplementary level on top of the existing advanced level to allow students to study more subjects of different natures. One such subject was Liberal Studies which had six modules covering Hong Kong, China, the modern world, environmental education, human relations, and science, technology, and society.

Such modules are aimed at fostering an understanding of knowledge of different branches. They were intended to help students learn skills expected of educated people. The government tried to persuade local universities to accept it as an entrance requirement but without avail.

What failed in the advanced supplementary level reform became a success in the new secondary school reform almost ten years later. The government succeeded in making Liberal Studies one of the four compulsory subjects, alongside English Language, Chinese Language, and Mathematics. It marked a great success in educational reform, as it meant that values such as critical thinking and multi-perspective thinking that Liberal Studies taught would prevail. However, the timing of reform was inopportune.

The 2010s turned out to be much more politicized than anyone could have expected. Shortly after the first examination in 2012, there broke out the incident of national education, followed by the Umbrella Movement, Fish Ball Revolution, and the Anti-Extradition Campaign. As expected, the pro-establishment camp would not face up to governance failure; rather, they were more willing to turn the heralding Liberal Studies into a scapegoat. The pro-establishment camp blatantly shouted, No Liberal Studies, No Joshua Wong Chi-fung; Regina Ip, now convener of the Executive Council, made the Education Bureau rename critical thinking to cautious thinking because the former allegedly suggests that learners will only know how to criticize.

Finally, the advent of the national security law announced the bone scraping campaign in the education sector for the sake of uprooting the social basis of the black-clad mobsters, and Liberal Studies became a victim.

From hindsight, its birth and demise marked the beginning and end of an era of enlightenment and tolerance, when views of any position in the political spectrum could be discussed in class and exams. Now, this has become history. Only pro-Beijing views can be taught in school. The promise of being unchanged for 50 years has become a big joke.

Recently, in the Lets Praise the Basic Law speech contest organized by the Hong Kong Basic Law Foundation, participants, all dressed in full school uniforms, looked wearing an invisible red scarf around their heads and necks (a symbol of communist youth in mainland China), judging from what they said.

In the space of several generations, Liberal Studies turned from a subject feared by all to one warmly welcomed by Hongkongers. In the space of just a few years, the culture of independent thinking has been turned into ashes. The invisible red scarf perfectly matches the sunset in Victoria Harbour, stained equally red. Coupled with the unfolding silence of the twilight are the five stars (on the red flag) that are the only things left in the sky of Hong Kong.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
COVID Patient With Lungs Destroyed by Ventilator Passes Away After Long Fight Against Hospital Protocol

Mark Boudreaux before he contracted COVID-19, which eventually led to his death. (Supplied)

Toy designer Mark Boudreaux has died after being left on a ventilator by a Cincinnati hospital for more than a year following his diagnosis with COVID-19.

We lost Mark this morning, his wife, Judy Boudreaux, said in a text sent to The Epoch Times on May 14.

Mark Boudreaux designed some of Americas most iconic toysincluding the beloved Millenium Falcon spaceship from Star Wars and the sail barge known well among fans as the Khettana.

For fun, he gave characters from the iconic movie franchise, such as Stormtroopers, Endor Rebels, and an AT-ST driver, his own face.

Mark Boudreaux wrote I want to live just days before he was to be taken off a life-saving machine on March 17. (Courtesy of Judy Boudreaux)

The Cincinnati native also designed action figures, including a Batman figure, and playsets based on the movies Transformers, Ghostbusters, and Jurassic Park.

As reported in previous stories by The Epoch Times, a long trail of medical and court records chronicles the 16-month battle as the Toy Hall of Famer fought to live, during which his devoted wife Judy waged her own galactic battle to save him.

Judy Boudreaux went from trying to get him weaned from the mechanical ventilator to fighting to keep him on it after he suffered so much ventilator damage to his lungs that he couldnt breathe without it.

When doctors declared that the only way Mark Boudreaux would breathe on his own again was with a lung transplant, she called dozens of transplant centers around the United States, but none of them would even consider his case.

No one would help us, Judy Boudreaux told The Epoch Times.

Bethesda North Hospital, where Mark Boudreaux had been hospitalized since February 2022, never responded to repeated inquiries from The Epoch Times about the case. Its parent company, TriHealth, also never responded to repeated inquiries from The Epoch Times.

Breach of Hippocratic Oath

Following news of Mark Boudreauxs death, nationally recognized physician Dr. Pierre Kory, who got involved in Boudreauxs case after The Epoch Times stories ran, said he has never seen a hospital so unwilling to help a patient.

According to Kory, when he lined up a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatment that has shown promising results for patients such as Mark Boudreaux, the hospital refused to sign the forms to authorize it.

No one there was willing to help him, to do anything for him, Kory said. It was basically a complete failure of the Hippocratic Oath.

The hospital also sought a court order to take Boudreaux off a dialysis machine he was on after his kidneys were damaged from prolonged ventilation use.

Court records show that the hospital argued that Mark Boudreauxs living will indicated that he didnt want his life artificially prolonged.

His living will does say that, but it specifies that he didnt want his life sustained through an artificial feeding tubewhich is what he was on during his entire hospitalization.

But as Judy Boudreaux pointed out to The Epoch Times, Marks living will stated that he only wanted an attending physician to have the power to withhold life-saving treatment if he was unable to make decisions regarding his medical treatment.

Although bedridden and no longer able to talk, Mark Boudreaux wrote several times on a piece of paper I want to live.

Mark Boudreaux and his wife, Judy Boudreaux. (Courtesy of Judy Boudreaux)

His living will also stated that he wanted his life ended only if he had an incurable or irreversible condition.

The treatment Kory had lined up for Boudreaux is a type of therapy containing stem cells and exosomesa fatty sac found inside a cell that has properties that can locate and reduce inflammation and promote healing.

The exosome and stem cell therapy has performed well enough to win approval from the FDA as an investigational new drug (IND).

Kory said he and other medical practitioners have used it successfully to treat COVID-19 patients and others suffering from substantial pulmonary distress.

We started treating a few patients, and our first patient within two days already showed significant benefits, he said.

Kory also said the drug is easy to administer. It involves three intravenous doses over the course of a week.

Bethesda North Refused Release

Its only drawback is that the therapy is expensive and not covered by insurance, Kory said. But that wasnt an issue for Mark Boudreaux.

The problem, according to Kory, was that Mark Boudreauxs treating physicians refused to sign off on a compassion use form, which is required to administer an IND treatment.

Dr. Charles Thurston, a retired doctor and now a patient advocate, who also got involved in Mark Boudreauxs case, told The Epoch Times that when he found a long-term acute care facility in Missouri willing to take him, Bethesda North wouldnt sign the release unless Judy Boudreaux, Mark Bourdeauxs legal guardian, agreed to a variety of conditions.

They included inoculating Mark with the COVID-19 vaccine, something Judy Bourdeaux previously told The Epoch Times that both she and Mark Bourdeaux were opposed to and that she constantly fought with the hospital over.

I feel like they just really wanted him to die, Thurston said.

Kory called Mark Bourdeauxs death a result of pure arrogance on the part of his treating physicians.

Fans Bid Farewell to an Icon

Had he had a real doctorand when I use the saying real doctor, I mean someone who puts the patient as the primary consideration, not the rules, not the protocolsand decides whats the best thing that you can do for them on a risk-benefit basis and follow that and do everything you can for the patient, Kory said.

However, Mark Bourdeaux did have his cheerleaders.

After learning of his situation, complete strangers started online petitions asking Bethesda North to seek every avenue possible to save Mark Bourdeaux.

A group of colleagues from Hasbro, where Mark Bourdeaux worked for more than four decades, was working on a fundraiser for him.

Star Wars fans also paid homage to him on social media and on a variety of fan outlets, including Jedi Temple Archives, which headlined the sad news: The Passing of an Icon: Star Wars Designer Mark Boudreaux Is One With the Force.
Damning Indictment: Sen. Graham Calls for Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on Durham Report Findings

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) speaks during the Vision 2024 National Conservative Forum at the Charleston Area Convention Center in Charleston, South Carolina, on March 18, 2023. (Logan Cyrus/AFP via Getty Images)

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) called on the Senate Judiciary Committee chairman to have a hearing on the report by John Durham, a special counsel tasked with probing the FBIs 20162017 investigation into Trumps campaign.

The Durham Report is a damning indictment of the FBI under James Comey and the operations of the Department of Justice, Graham, a ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said in a statement on Monday.

I am calling on Chairman [Dick] Durbin to quickly hold a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the Durham Report to fulfill the Committees oversight obligations.

The senators call echoed the request of his counterpart in the House. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said on Monday that they have reached out to the DOJ to have Durham testify about the report next week.

Durham concluded the three-year-long examination of the FBIs conduct in the run-up to the 2016 presidential election, finding that the FBI and the Department of Justice (DOJ) failed to uphold their important mission of strict fidelity to the law.

Durham submitted the 300-page report (pdf) to Attorney General Merrick Garland on May 12. The unclassified document (pdf) was delivered to the Senate and House Committee on the Judiciary on May 15 before it was made available to the public later that day.

Special counsel John Durham arrives at federal court in Washington on May 18, 2022. (Teng Chen/The Epoch Times)

According to Durhams report, the FBIs rush to open the investigation into Trumps campaign was based on raw, unanalyzed, and uncorroborated intelligence and reflects a departure from how the bureau approached other politically sensitive investigations in 2016.

One example of this was the FBIs handling of former Secretary of State Hillary Clintons unauthorized use of a private email server to transmit top-secret government emails, the report indicated. It noted that the FBI and DOJ restricted an inquiry into the Clinton Foundation so that little to no investigative activity could occur in the months leading up to the election.

But the agency had a different attitude toward Trump, Durham concluded, as evident by his observation 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 was the codename for the FBIs investigation into the Trump campaign.

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, the report found.

In the Monday statement, Graham said the report underscores a trend that the Rule of Law in America is subservient to political outcomes.

Unfortunately, when it comes to the American Left you will not hear about the Durham Report. The American Left celebrates bad actors like these because they had a noble causetaking down a political opponent. It is a case of the ends justifying the means, the congressman said.

I hope they will prove me wrong and come out and make clear that the FBI and DOJ violated the constitutional protections of many, including Donald Trump, but I am not holding my breath.

Graham said his advice to those affected by the Crossfire Hurricane investigation was to hire a good lawyer to file lawsuits.

Those responsible for Crossfire Hurricane destroyed reputations and lives, all in the name of politics. Someone needs to be held accountable for using the law as a political weapon and ruining innocent peoples lives.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas, on August 6, 2022. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Trump also responded to the findings of Durhams report, describing the FBIs investigation of him as a disgrace.

I, and much more importantly, the American public have been victims of this long-running and treasonous charade started by the Democratsstarted by Comey, Trump said in an interview with Fox News on Monday. There must be a heavy price to pay for putting our country through this.

In a statement released on Monday, the FBI acknowledged mistakes in its 20162017 investigation of the Trump campaign, saying the bureau had rolled out multiple reforms to address them.

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 wrote in the statement.

Had those reforms been in place in 2016, the missteps identified in the report could have been prevented.

Ivan Pentchoukov contributed to this report.
Dershowitz: Durham Report Shows Americans Are Right to Distrust Government

Alan Dershowitz speaks at The Epoch Times' Defending the Constitution event in New York City, on July 19, 2021. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Special counsel John Durhams report is a prime example of why Americans lack confidence in the government, according to prominent legal scholar Alan Dershowitz.

I think it reveals that Americans are right to distrust the governmenteven civil servants people in the government, Dershowitz told The Epoch Times on May 15. This case demonstrates that people are prepared to distort the Constitution to get their wayget their partisan, political way.

Durham, appointed by then-Attorney General William Barr in October 2020 to review the 201617 FBI investigation of alleged ties between former President Donald Trump and Russia, concluded in a report that authorities had no basis to launch the probe.

[N]either 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, Durham wrote in the report. Crossfire Hurricane is the FBI codename for the agencys investigation into the Trump campaigns ties to Russia.

Durham wrote that the FBI relied on raw, unanalyzed, and uncorroborated intelligence for its investigation. The objective facts show that the FBIs handling of important aspects of the Crossfire Hurricane matter were seriously deficient, he added.

Special counsel John Durham arrives at federal court in Washington on May 18, 2022. (Teng Chen/The Epoch Times)

Dershowitz, professor emeritus at Harvard Law School, said that the U.S. intelligence community, including the FBI and the CIA, saw Trump as a danger, a view that the scholar said drove their conviction to get Trump, echoing the name and theme of his book, Get Trump. In that book, Dershowitz argues that Trumps political enemies have waged an unconstitutional campaign to prevent Trump from retaking the presidency and, in the process, challenging the foundational American principles such as due process and free speech.

I think it was who he waswhat kind of an outsider he was. He was a disruptive outsider who had no respect for the Washington, D.C. permanent government.

Good People Can Do Bad Things

Ultimately, Dershowitz believes good people were motivated by a biased mindset about Trump.

I think the Durham report shows that good people can do bad things, when they decide they have to get Trump, that the Trump derangement syndrome really affects decent people, he said.

He continued: These are decent people who honestly believe that there was a higher duty than truth or principle in getting Trump and preventing him from winning as president. And that just distorts our Constitution, our rule of law, and our civil liberties.

So they use the apparatus of the Intelligence Community and the national security community, to distort reality and try to get him. And thats what happens when good people do bad things, Dershowitz said.

The scholar also commented on the recent revelation that an open letter signed by dozens of former senior intelligence officials ahead of the 2020 presidential election turned out to be false. The letter framed the Hunter Biden laptop story published by the New York Post as Russian disinformation.

These people should have known better. And they didnt use their intelligence. They didnt use their thoughtfulness, because they were so determined to get Trump, they were prepared to sign on to something which they never would have signed on to, had the shoe been on the other foot, he said.

Dershowitz served on Trumps defense team during the first impeachment against the former president.

Extraordinarily Dangerous

The FBI investigation into the Trump campaign is unprecedented in our history, Dershowitz said, and he warned that the probe even happening is extraordinarily dangerous.

I think there has to be consequences to the people who were involved. And thats why Im glad there are going to be hearings, he said. People have to know they cant do this.

On Monday, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) announced that he had sent a letter to Durham, asking the special counsel to testify at a hearing on May 25. He asked Durham to be prepared to answer questions from committee members.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) presides over a hearing of the Weaponization of the Federal Government Subcommittee in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington on Feb. 9, 2023. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released a statement calling on the committees Chairman, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), to quickly hold a hearing on the Durham report.

Another senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), called on the FBI to start cooperating with a GOP subpoena for documents about then-Vice President Joe Biden.

We know the FBI relied on unverified claims to relentlessly target a Republican president. What did the FBI do to investigate claims involving a Democrat President? Its time for the FBI to cooperate and show its work to the American people, Grassley said.

In response to the Durham report, the FBI acknowledged mistakes in its investigation of the Trump campaign.

Had those reforms been in place in 2016, the missteps identified in the report could have been prevented, the FBI said.

Trump said that the American Public was scammed in a statement on Truth Social following the release of the report.

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 added.
Key Insights

Significantly high institutional ownership implies Eli Lilly's stock price is sensitive to their trading actions

51% of the business is held by the top 11 shareholders

Analyst forecasts along with ownership data serve to give a strong idea about prospects for a business

A look at the shareholders of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) can tell us which group is most powerful. We can see that institutions own the lion's share in the company with 84% ownership. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn).

Since institutional have access to huge amounts of capital, their market moves tend to receive a lot of scrutiny by retail or individual investors. As a result, a sizeable amount of institutional money invested in a firm is generally viewed as a positive attribute.

In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of Eli Lilly.

Check out our latest analysis for Eli Lilly

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Eli Lilly?

Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index.

We can see that Eli Lilly does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of Eli Lilly, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too.

Institutional investors own over 50% of the company, so together than can probably strongly influence board decisions. We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Eli Lilly. Our data shows that Lilly Endowment, Inc, Endowment Arm is the largest shareholder with 11% of shares outstanding. The Vanguard Group, Inc. is the second largest shareholder owning 7.7% of common stock, and BlackRock, Inc. holds about 6.9% of the company stock.

Story continues

A closer look at our ownership figures suggests that the top 11 shareholders have a combined ownership of 51% implying that no single shareholder has a majority.

Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. There are a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future.

Insider Ownership Of Eli Lilly

The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it.

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 Eli Lilly and Company insiders own under 1% of the company. It is a very large company, so it would be surprising to see insiders own a large proportion of the company. Though their holding amounts to less than 1%, we can see that board members collectively own US$631m worth of shares (at current prices). It is always good to see at least some insider ownership, but it might be worth checking if those insiders have been selling.

General Public Ownership

With a 16% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Eli Lilly. This size of ownership, while considerable, may not be enough to change company policy if the decision is not in sync with other large shareholders.

Next Steps:

While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for Eli Lilly that you should be aware of.

Ultimately the future is most important. You can access this free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

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.

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DeSantis Blasts Weaponized Federal Agencies for Egregious Abuse of Power in TrumpRussia Probe

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis delivers remarks during the New Hampshire GOP's Amos Tuck Dinner in Manchester, N.H., on April 14, 2023. (Scott Eisen/Getty Images)

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has weighed in on the newly released report by special counsel John Durham, demanding accountability from weaponized federal agencies that he accused of egregious abuse of power in manufacturing a false conspiracy theory about TrumpRussia collusion.

DeSantis made the remarks after Durham released his 306-page report on the origins of the FBIs investigation into the campaign of then-presidential candidate Donald Trump, which the special counsel said should never have been launched.

The Durham Report confirmed what we already knew: weaponized federal agencies manufactured a false conspiracy theory about Trump-Russia collusion, DeSantis wrote on Twitter. It reminds us of the need to clean house at these agencies, as theyve never been held accountable for this egregious abuse of power.

In his much-anticipated report (pdf), Durham faulted the FBI for various flaws in pursuing surveillance of the Trump campaign ahead of the 2016 presidential election, while concluding that the agency should never have launched its investigation into alleged collusion between Trumps campaign and Russia.

Durham said there appeared to be anti-Trump bias on the part of some FBI agents intimately involved in the matter, who he said had a predisposition to launch the probe, which eventually became known as Crossfire Hurricane.

The special counsel also found that the FBI relied too much on unvetted investigative tips from Trumps political opponents and did not rigorously analyze the information it received, and that the agency used a different standard when considering investigating allegations of election interference by then-candidate Hillary Clintons campaign.

While DeSantis has not officially announced his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election, there are signs hes preparing to run.

Meanwhile, two Republicans who have thrown their hats in the ringVivek Ramaswamy and Perry Johnsonboth said theyre glad the Durham report came out and were sharply critical of the FBI for its handling of the TrumpRussia probe.

Although I am running for president as a Republican alternative to Donald Trump, I am thrilled that our former president has been rightfully exonerated by report findings, Johnson told The Epoch Times. We must unite against corruption and celebrate when truth prevails.

Ramaswamy told The Epoch Times in a statement: Enough is enough. Root out the corruption and shut down the FBI.

Trump reacted to the Durham report by saying it proves the existence of a plot on the part of his political opponents to interfere in the 2016 election, while calling for congressional action.

The Durham Report spells out in great detail the Democrat Hoax that was perpetrated upon me and the American people, Trump wrote on Truth Social.

This totally illegal act had a huge impact on the Election, the former president added, describing it as the Crime of the Century.

Former President Donald Trump speaks at a CNN Town Hall at St. Anselm College in Manchester, N.H., on May 10, 2023, in a still from video. (CNN/Screenshot via The Epoch Times)

FBI Responds

The FBI said in a letter to Durham (pdf) that it agrees with the flaws the special counsel identified in his report, while detailing a series of steps to identify shortcomings and prevent similar errors in the future.

In a statement responding to Durhams report, the FBI said that the missteps identified by the special counsel could have been prevented if the dozens of corrective actions that have since been implemented at the agency had been in place back in 2016.

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.

Some of the reforms the FBI has since implemented include, according to its letter to Durham, installing more rigorous requirements for applying for surveillance; requiring personnel training for surveillance applications; updating agency guidelines on vetting confidential human resources; requiring additional approval for opening sensitive investigative measures; and expanding its internal oversight and auditing programs.

The FBI also said that the questionable conduct uncovered in Durhams report occurred under the previous leadership and that all senior executives overseeing the Crossfire Hurricane investigation have left the FBI as a result of termination, resignation, retirement.

In 2019, Durham was tasked with investigating the origins of the FBIs probe into allegations of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia to sway the 2016 election.

A year later, then-Attorney General William Barr appointed Durham as special counsel on the investigation, which culminated in the newly released report.

Building on the findings of Durhams report, the House GOP has requested that he provide congressional testimony about his findings and answer questions.

Durham is expected to testify before the House Judiciary Committee, which is chaired by Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), on May 25.

Savannah Hulsey Pointer and Ivan Pentchoukov contributed to this report.
DeSantis Cuts Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Spending From Florida Universities

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks to a crowd at the North Charleston Coliseum in North Charleston, S.C., on April 19, 2023. (Sean Rayford/Getty Images)

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has just signed bills that will cut the legs out from under woke education programs at state colleges and universities.

In a signing ceremony on May 15 at Sarasotas New Collegewhose recent reform has been a hallmark of DeSantiss anti-woke campaignthe governor signed one bill, Senate Bill 266, that eliminates funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in the state system.

Another bill he signed, House Bill 931, prohibits political loyalty tests at universities.

A third bill, Senate Bill 240, strengthens workplace education, with the goal of increasing access to career-related and technical education.

About 100 students at the University of Florida gather at the Marston Science Library on the campus in Gainesville, Fla., on Feb. 23, 2023 as part of a planned walkout to protest against Republican Gov. Ron DeSantiss efforts to curb diversity, equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs in public universities and colleges around the state. (Nanette Holt/The Epoch Times)

If you look at the way [DEI] 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, DeSantis said.

Demonstrators chanted noisily outside the building where he spoke. A legislator who also spoke riffed on DeSantiss frequent statement, Florida is where woke goes to die.

You hear whats going on outside. Thats what woke sounds like when it dies. The last gasp of dying, the legislator said.

DEI has not been used to promote intellectual diversity on campus, to debate different viewpoints, or to have robust discussions, DeSantis said.

Florida Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran speaks at a press conference in St. Petersburg, Fla., on March 15, 2022. (The Florida Channel/Screenshot via The Epoch Times)

In reality, what this concept of DEI has been is the attempt to impose orthodoxy, not just in the classroom but through university administrations, the governor said. It has been used as a veneer to impose an ideological agenda, and that is wrong.

House Bill 931 prohibits loyalty oaths and so-called diversity statements, DeSantis said, that are really requiring you to sign up to support an ideological agenda that you may not be supportive of.

The whole experiment with DEI is coming to an end in the state of Florida. We are eliminating the DEI programs. We are going to treat people as individuals. Were not going to treat people as members of groups.

The Legislatures budgetnot yet signed by DeSantis who has a line-item vetoincludes $100 million for faculty recruitment at the states colleges and universities, he said. The bill increases the decision-making power of university presidents, including the right to hire faculty directly without going through the academic departments. University presidents, along with their boards of trustees, are more accountable to taxpayers than faculty members, he said.

New College received $15 million in a special session earlier this year in which DeSantis replaced its president and trustees. It is getting another $35 million in this budget, he said. The money will go to faculty hiring and other improvements.

New College President Richard Corcoran said the liberal arts colleges enrollment had been dropping but is now on track for its largest-ever incoming class this fall. He called the states grants an amazing amount of money and more than New College has received in more than 20 yearscombined.

I would love for this to be, and I think it will be, the top classical liberal arts college in America. Certainly to be the top state liberal arts college in America, DeSantis said.

Returning education in the classics to the states universities is another part of the legislation signed today.

New College is having its curriculum reoriented toward a classical education, one definition of which is a tradition of education that seeks truth, goodness, and beauty through the study of the liberal arts and the great books.

DeSantis has also prioritized a return to civics education so that high school and college students have a better idea of how the American classical liberal democratic system works.

In the service of both of these priorities, the budget has allocated $30 million for the University of Floridas Hamilton Center for Classical Civic Education.

It has another $8 million for Florida States Florida Institute of Politics, which will be renamed the Florida Institute of Governance and Civics.

And another $5 million has been marked for Florida International Universitys Adam Smith Center for the Study of Economic Freedom. University presidents will be able to recruit faculty directly to those programs, he said.

Inherently, theres nothing wrong with the concept of diversity or equity or inclusion, said Ray Rodrigues, chancellor of the university system. However, the programs that have been created and their applications have no connection with a common definition of those words.

One study of hiring and tenure practices nationally, he said, found that 20 percent of them required a DEI statement with the application. These statements serve as a litmus test to weed out those who have diverse thought.

Our universities are supposed to be a marketplace of ideas. When you only have one, you have a monoculture. Creating a monoculture is not diversity.

Read More Famous Scholars Call for End to Academic Censorship

Many university DEI departments have instituted bias-related incident reporting. The complaints can be made anonymously, and they can target behavior that not only isnt a crime or violation of university policy but even a violation of the student code of conduct, he said.

Students can be accused, found guilty, and counseled on restorative steps they should take.

A quasi-judicial proceeding that tramples on rights of due process is not equity, Rodrigues said. He criticized as divisive the proliferation of separate graduation ceremonies for black, Hispanic, Asian, and other minority students.

Its important we recognize that segregating students by race isnt afinity. Its called segregation, he said. Martin Luther King and others fought for, and in some cases died for, the struggle for civil rights to end segregation.

No individual paid for by the taxpayer on a higher-education campus should be reconstructing segregation, no matter what they call it.

Read More Bob Woodson and the Birth of the 1776 Initiative

Christopher Rufo, one of New Colleges new trustees and a nationally known voice criticizing the influence of DEI and critical race theory (CRT) on campuses, said hes done a review of the academic priorities of five Florida universities.

The University of Florida had launched more than a thousand separate DEI initiatives, including some denouncing the United States as a system of white supremacy, he said.

They even encouraged white faculty to participate in something called Racists Anonymous, which I didnt even know existed, Rufo said.

The University of Central Florida released what they called, an inclusive faculty hiring guide, he said. They said that merit in faculty hiring was a myth, and advocated for explicit racial discrimination and racial quotas all in the interest of promoting left-wing political concepts.

Florida International University turned its DEI programs explicitly into a ground for left-wing activist recruiting, even training students for participating in violent BLM protests, and teaching them how to handle tear gas and getting arrested by police, he said, all funded by many of the people in this room with taxpayer dollars.

This legislation that will be signed momentarily will immediately abolish all of these programs. Done.

Rufo said that the reformed New College will put the pursuit of knowledge and truthnot political activismback at the center of higher education in Florida.

And what youll hear from the media, what youll hear from maybe the protesters is that somehow this is destroying democracy, Rufo said. Anyone heard that line of attack? But in fact, they have it exactly backward. This is about restoring democracy.

The basic premise of this legislation is that our public institutions should reflect the values of the public. That Floridas farmers and waitresses and truck drivers should not be subsidizing a pure permanent bureaucracy of left-wing activists who hate them and hate their values, but of course, are happy to take their money.
DeSantis Spokesmans Resignation Telegraphs 2024 Presidential Race Announcement

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis reacts after signing a copy of his new book, "The Courage to Be Free: Florida's Blueprint for America's Revival," at the North Charleston Coliseum on April 19, 2023 in North Charleston, South Carolina. (Sean Rayford/Getty Images)

Bryan Griffin, press secretary for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, has resigned so he can pursue other avenues of helping to deliver the governors success to our country.

Griffin released his two-page resignation letter in a May 15 tweet. A number of Twitter users commented that Griffins departure appears to signal that DeSantis long-awaited presidential campaign announcement is on the horizonand that Griffin will most likely play a role in DeSantiss political organization.

Some Twitter commenters noted that the final sentences of Griffins resignation appear to strongly suggest that a presidential run is imminent.

I believe that Governor DeSantis is the only leader who can see us to victory at this critical moment in American history, Griffin declared.

The nation faces historic challenges, Griffin wrote, including a national demoralization and abandonment of our shared values and purpose.

Revival and Restoration

Bryan Griffin stepped down on May 15, 2023, to take a new role as press secretary for DeSantiss political operations. (Courtesy of Bryan Griffin)

Griffin pledged to help DeSantis overcome those challenges, adding, America is worth the fight  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.

Working as DeSantis press secretary was the honor of a lifetime, Griffin added. The woman who formerly held that position, Christina Pushaw, resigned last August to assist DeSantiss political operation.

DeSantiss anticipated entry into the 2024 presidential race had been complicated by the states resign-to-run law. But a recent change has cleared the path for DeSantis to seek federal office without resigning from his governorship.

Meanwhile, DeSantis is on a speaking tour to promote his recently released book, The Courage to Be Free: Floridas Blueprint for Americas Revival. Critics have denounced the book tour as a shadow campaign for a presidential run.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis hawks his book at a book tour speech in Smyrna, Ga., on March 30, 2023. (Phil Mistry/The Epoch Times)

Presumed Challenger to Trump

While still undeclared as a presidential contender, DeSantis is the closest potential challenger against the current frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination.

Former President Donald Trump, the two-time defending GOP nominee, is far ahead of DeSantis in political polls; all other potential or declared challengers have been polling in the single digits.

Trump has widened his polling lead in recent weeks despite a spate of legal battles.

Because Trump endorsed DeSantis first gubernatorial run in 2018, Trump has repeatedly stated that he would consider it disloyal for DeSantis to run against him.

True Conservative

Griffin praised DeSantis for setting the stage to ensure that Florida will be a safe, prosperous, exceptional, and successful place for our children and posterity to live for generations.

Together, we have irrevocably enshrined freedom and truth into Floridas institutions and law, Griffin wrote.

He called DeSantis and his wife, Casey, principled leaders and courageous fighters.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, second from left, waves as he arrives with his wife Casey, right, and their children Mason, Madison, and Mamie during his inauguration ceremony outside the Old Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla., on Jan. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

I have seen Governor DeSantis presented with many choices over my tenure, and I can confidently say he consistently chose to do what was right, Griffin wrote.

DeSantis is a true conservative and has surrounded himself with people who share those values, Griffin said.

The team here is a group of people I am now proud to call my friends. They are extraordinarily good and committed people who are dedicated to serving Floridians and who have exceeded every expectation I held upon joining state government, he said.

Accomplishments Touted

Griffin said DeSantiss list of accomplishments is long, and gave a few examples.

Under DeSantis leadership, the state rejected politicized education, has unapologetically stood for families, parents, and children, and became the nations optimal destination to live, have a family, and raise children who will be safe from both physical harm and nefarious radicalization.

Florida has refused to accept the ideological capture of its institutions and has systematically battled the entrenched ideologues to wrest back the control of academia, enterprise, and the health care industry and return it to the people, Griffin wrote.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (C) issues updates on Hurricane Ian, flanked by with Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie (L) at the State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee, Fla., on Sept. 29, 2022. (Florida Governors Office via Reuters/Screenshot via The Epoch Times

Griffin also touted the governors leadership in the wake of Hurricane Ian, which caused widespread damage to the state in September 2022.

Finally, Floridas example under Governor DeSantis during and after COVID in rejecting power grabs and falsehoods served as the impetus that turned the tide and pushed our country back towards freedom and sanity, Griffin wrote.

Without Florida and without Governor DeSantis, the courage to stand up, fight back, and speak truth against the establishment narrative might not have prevailed within our nation for years.

And, Griffin said, All of these things that Governor DeSantis has accomplished in Florida can be replicated nationwide.
Tens of millions of people with diverse spiritual and cultural backgrounds have embraced the guiding virtues of to be true, good, and endure.

These peoplewho are from almost every professional and educational fieldbelieve that this moral philosophy is the foundation of humanity, and if applied in practical life, it can make our world a better place.

It has been 31 years since Falun Gong (or Falun Dafa)a self-cultivation discipline rooted in the traditional morals of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance (or to be true, good, and endure)was first introduced to the public in 1992. In the past three decades, many governments across the world have recognized the positive aspects of Falun Gong cultivation system like upholding morality and tradition, and have honored the practice with hundreds of proclamations and awards. Recently, on April 25, the New York State Senate adopted Resolution 821 to commemorate the 24th annual World Falun Dafa Day, which is celebrated across the world on May 13 every year, to name just one.

Heres what some of the adherents shared with The Epoch Times about the practices core moral teachings and its 24-year-long persecution at the hands of the Chinese Communist Party.

Falun Gong Has Achieved a Miracle

Chinese native Tom Leung fled to New Zealand in 2003 after being persecuted and detained multiple times in China. Leung, who began practicing Falun Gong in the early 1990s, says the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance give people a moral compass to lead their lives in the right direction.

Truthfulness-compassion-tolerance is the foundation of the world, he said, adding that living by these values can benefit the society.

Leung says the Chinese communist regime has employed all and every means to persecute Falun Gong.

Theres a lot of torture [methods], for example, severe beatings, sleep deprivation, force-feeding  and other strange tortures that you cant imagine. They fill the toilet with a lot of dirty water and push your head into it. They force you to work without pay in a horrendous environment for more than 20 hours a day. They pressurize your family or just break into your home and harass you.

They have money, they have all the troops, and they control all the media at home and aboard to persecute Falun Gong. They also coerce or buy off Western media companies, IT companies, and even governments. So [these governments] then turn a blind eye to the persecution.

Falun Gong (or Falun Dafa) is based on the universal values of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance, or in Chinese, zhen  shan  ren . (The Epoch Times)

However, Falun Gong practitioners never gave up, and they never resorted to violence, he said. Instead, they peacefully stepped forward to resist this persecution and awaken people to the imminent threats of communism.

The whole world clearly sees the ugly and evil nature of the CCP. The communist regime now is fighting a losing battle, he said. Falun Gong has achieved a miracle in history.

If Everyone Followed These Principles, Would There Be Wars?

A Russian native who moved to the United States 30 years ago, Marina, 67, had spent her adulthood living in the Soviet Union during the rule of the communist party.

Marina, who has been practicing Falun Gong for 25 years, says its so important for the world today to follow these principles and teachingswhich do not have any religious form, but its adherents do believe in the divine origin [of humanity].

Just imagine if everyone followed these principles, would there be wars? Would people need these terrible weapons? We would then live in a beautiful clean world, she said.

Contrasting the virtues of Falun Gong with the horrors of communism, Marina said that the basic principles of Falun Gong are completely opposite to what the communist party teaches.

Marina, 67, originally from Russia. now lives in the United States. (Courtesy of Marina)

Arrests, torture, dark lies, thats the way the communist party operatesregardless of what country it rules. It does not change its methods! she said.

Since my childhood, I remember well all the methods that [the] communist party used to brainwash its citizens. Newspapers, radio, and television constantly brainwashed people that the Soviet Union is the most powerful and fair country in the whole world, all supposedly thanks to the ideas of communism.  I love the country in which I was born and raised, and with all my heart, I want Russia to choose a righteous and peaceful path. I wish you never again take the bloody communist path.

One of Marinas heartfelt wishes is for the people of the world to read a short article published by Falun Gongs founder, Mr. Li Hongzhi, titled How Humankind Came To Be.

After reading this article, I felt the power of great compassion. With all my heart, I want every person to read this article, she said, adding that she feels that through this article Mr. Li Hongzhi has expressed a hope, during the times when moral depravity abounds, that humanity will be able to stay compassionate and find inner peace in the face of strife between countries, ethnic groups, and social chaos.

If an Educated Persons Mind Is Not Right, Then a Dacoit Is Better Than Him

Dr. Utpal Kumar Bit, 65, the head of the plastic surgery department at the Kolkata Medical College, West Bengal, India, has decades of experience working in the field of medicine. But it saddened him that as a doctor, who deals with emergency cases almost daily, he couldnt heal his own multiple health problems, which ranged from different allergies to hypertension and chronic osteoarthritis to aggravated asthma.

He was nearing death when his bronchitis asthma became terminal. Due to his extreme discomfort, he had to sleep sitting upright, even walking for him was painful.

I was dying and could do nothing. I had been repeatedly admitted to hospitals, and sometimes, my condition was so bad that I might have died any moment. I was on heavy steroids and in very bad shape, Dr. Bit said. That is when I came across Falun Gong. It gave me a new life.

Dr. Utpal Kumar Bit, 65, the head of the Plastic Surgery Department at the Kolkata Medical College, West Bengal, India. (Courtesy of Utpal Kumar Bit)

One of his old acquaintances, residing in the United States, introduced him to the practice over a phone call after experiencing the health benefits himself. Dr. Bit was a bit reluctant to give it a try thinking that there was no hope as he might be put on a ventilator soon. But seeing how confident his colleague was, he purchased the book Zhuan Falun and went to a nearby practice site to learn the meditative exercises.

That night, I had a very good sleep. Surprisingly, from the next day on, I didnt have any asthma, he said. I was totally free of my illnesses. I was happy like a child. It really is a new life for me.

Dr. Bitwho has helped translate the Falun Gong books into the Bengali languagesays the teachings go beyond the surface-level healing methods taught in other alternative therapies, and the practices moral principles can truly guide humanity back to the path of traditional wisdom. If people follow the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance, their mental health will be good, the society will be good, and the real advancement of society will occur.

Dr. Bit believes in moral integrity as much as he does in being professional. His heart goes out to the victims who lost their lives in the Chinese regimes forced organ harvesting. You can call those Chinese doctors a doctor, but they are worse than criminals. What they are doing is truly heinous, he said.

A man may be intelligent, a man may be famous and very powerful, but it is not necessarily that he has the right mind. If an educated persons mind is not right, then a dacoit is better than him.

Its Simply Impossible to Work in the Medical Profession Without Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance

A healthy lifestyle cannot be spontaneous or temporary, says Swetlana Arhipenko, a senior anesthetist and resuscitation nurse from Russia with over 29 years of experience.

A graduate of the Moscow Department of Healths program Mentoring in Health Care, the renowned medical psychologist received a laureate in 2022. Arhipenko says she has devoted her entire life to the most compassionate professionmedicine.

Swetlana Arhipenko, a senior anesthetist and resuscitation nurse from Russia. (Courtesy of Swetlana Arhipenko)

For Arhipenko, a healthy lifestyle is life itself. She always wondered how to maintain her health and youth, and, most importantly, find the answer to one of lifes core questions: why do we exist?

I have always believed that mental health is an important component of human health, and in all my work, I put mental health first. But, despite my fairly deep knowledge of psychology, I did not find the answers I needed for myself, she said.

In 2007, she came across the book Zhuan Falun, and after reading the first few sentences, she realized that this is what she had been looking for, for all the years. Since then, this book has been my guide to life. Everything that was incomprehensible to me was revealed to me, she said.

Earlier I perceived tolerance as being persistent in enduring lifes sufferings. But now, I understand tolerance as tolerance for the people around me and the world. Similarly, compassion to me was an emotion of pity. Now I see compassion as the ability to empathize with people, to understand them, and to give them my support.

Are These Moral Values Really Not Practical in Todays World?

Victor Sia, 51, works in the field of cyber security presale in Singapore and has been practicing Falun Gong since 2005.

He says our modern world is already in chaos, where the concept of right or wrong has been distorted: the criteria now are based on what one gains or loses, or if others align with our personal views. While people in the past had moral integrity and faith in the divine.

Reflecting on if Falun Gongs moral values really are not practical in todays world, he said that it seems the advancement of sophisticated CCTV surveillance, AI, and machine-learning technology would enable us to keep law and order in society. But, he asks how does one stop someone who is stubbornly and intellectually bent on plotting to evade all these technologies?

He said: On the contrary, what if people can start to conduct themselves morallylittle by little, day by day, working towards truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance? Do you think theres still a need for never-ending upgrades to technologies to keep up with the sophisticated threat actors, and implementing comprehensive law and policies?

Victor Sia, 51, participates in the celebration of World Falun Dafa Day in Singapore on May 5, 2023. (Jocelyn Neo/The Epoch Times)

Twenty years ago, before Sia understood the facts about Falun Gong, he, like most of his fellow citizens, was misled by the Singaporean medias rebroadcast of the hate propaganda by China Xinhua News agency. Later on, he learned the real reason behind the propaganda and persecution:

Their justification of the persecution is that communist Chinas ideology of atheism and struggle do not align with Falun Gongs truthfulness, compassion and tolerance.'

A Guide on Character Cultivation

Marten Hernebring, 37, works as a programmer at an IT company in Gothenburg, Sweden, and has been practicing Falun Gong for 13 years. He says the teachings of Falun Gong can guide anyone on how to become a good person.

Todays world doesnt provide many good role models, so the book Zhuan Falun can take that guiding role, he said. Truthfulness, compassion and tolerance can guide us when we feel down and are looking for hope. They can make you see things from other peoples perspective and smile even when facing troubles in everyday life.

Being an IT professional, Hernebring understands the data security threats posed by totalitarian regimes. He believes there is a dire need for alternatives to the Made-in-China apps like TikTok.

Marten Hernebring, 37, a programmer at an IT company in Gothenburg, Sweden. (Courtesy of Marten Hernebring)

When I was a consultant at another IT company, they were forcing everyone to sign that they allowed pictures taken to be sent to mainland China. I refused to sign it at the reception and he said I would need to sign many non-disclosure agreements later, so we decided to stop our cooperation due to those issues, he said.

I use Gan Jing World myself and have never needed to use any Chinese Communist Party manufactured apps. But I am worried about the computer market though, because many computers are manufactured in China making them less safe.

It Totally Changed My Perspective of the World for the Better

A mobile app developer, Jin Ang, 38, from Singapore, took up the practice three years ago. He also has a unique story to tell. He says he now experiences higher energy levels when performing his everyday tasks.

When I first read Zhuan Falun, it gave me deep insights into the universe and the true meaning of being a human. It totally changed my perspective of the world for the better. On subsequent reads, it unveils its deeper meanings little by little. Its really a book on self-cultivation, enabling a person to cultivate goodness, he said.

With society and human morals deteriorating day by day, its important that everyone has truthfulness, compassion, tolerance as their guiding light. Doing so would greatly benefit society as people will align with the truth and be more kind and tolerant to one another.

Jin Ang, 38, participates in the celebration of World Falun Dafa Day in Singapore on May 5, 2023. (Jocelyn Neo/The Epoch Times)

I Went From Being Self-Absorbed to Thinking of Others First

Elliott Rodriguez, 27, a software developer from St. Louis, based out of Boulder, Colorado, became fascinated with philosophy and research on the mind during his college years and did an in-depth study of many famous philosophers and religions.

He stumbled upon the book Zhuan Falun while surfing the internet in 2021. Every word and every sentence moved me, and I felt that this book contained answers to everything I could ask for, and more, he said.

Rodriguez says that the three words of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance, though seemingly very simple on the surface, contain boundless principles at deeper levels.

Elliott Rodriguez, 27, a software developer from St. Louis. (Courtesy of Elliot Rodriguez)

My understanding of practicing truthfulness is learning what is true and living by it. It can be difficult to discern truth and falsehood amidst a society filled with false information. Only by valuing and preserving the truth can we maintain a functioning society. This requires one to live honestly and stand up for the truth even when met with opposition, he said.

Compassion is our ability to love and serve others. Thinking of others first can be difficult when faced with self-interest.  And tolerance is when people say negative things about you or say something that really hurts or angers you deep down, if you can forgive the other person and not let it weigh on your mind, then you will truly be growing into a better person.

Those Who Can Align With Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance Are the Most Fortunate Beings

Visual artist Duong Pham, from Vietnam, experienced unimaginable health benefits with regular practice of the five meditative exercises of Falun Gong.

Pham had injured his spine in an accident, resulting in hemiplegia. He was bedridden due to multiple herniated discs. He was looking for traditional alternative therapies.

After learning that Falun Gong was a qigong practice with five simple exercises, which didnt take much time to do, I felt excited and started to practice. In around three months, my health suddenly improved. My sinusitis became less severe, the herniated discs in my back and neck were pain-free, and my body movements improved, he said.

His mother, who suffered memory loss and paralysis from a stroke, recovered completely only within 10 days.

Duong Pham, 45, an artist from Vietnam. (Courtesy of Pham Ngoc Duong)

Narrating how he came across Falun Gong, he said he saw a social media post about it in 2015, with the caption that read: For predestined people.

He said: Out of curiosity, I clicked on and learned about the qigong (energy) practice of Falun Gong. The authors [Mr. Li Hongzhi] easy-to-understand and profound explanations about the mysteries of the universe and humanity impressed me. My mind was unwound and I had a sense of peace after reading the book.

Zhuan Falun is a heavenly book, and I feel so fortunate to find it in my life. I am an avid reader, since I was a child I have collected many books and studied many kinds of teachings, but none have kept my passion for long. Yet Zhuan Falun, a book written in such a simple and coherent manner, amazed me. Master Li Hongzhis teachings and words made me want to change my mind, habits, and lifestyle.

Everything That Is Contrary to Virtue, Will Surely Get the Retribution It Deserves

Prema Narayani, 19, from Indonesia, says her entire family started practicing Falun Gong in 2011 after witnessing how it improved her mothers health.

My mother had heart disease and appendicitis and had been treated everywhere but there was no significant improvement in her condition. She was very thin and pale, and her legs trembled every time she walked, she said.

However, after two weeks of practicing the meditative exercises, her mother could already drive herself to the practice site. Since I was the one who always accompanied my mother when she was sick and also accompanied her to the practice site after school, I was very surprised to see such a drastic change.

Prema Narayani, 19, a college student from Bali, Indonesia. (Courtesy of Prema Narayani)

For Prema, Zhuan Falun is a book that can guide her in a righteous direction while trying to build a future for herself amidst the corrupt materialistic society. And the young college girl is well aware of the reality of authoritarian regimes.

Communism is always followed by brutality and lies to cover up its evil guise. Today, the CCP may still be able to manipulate, spread lies, and hide facts, but in the end, people will find out [the truth].
The report from special counsel John Durham has finally been released to the public, and the American people are now learning the truth about the FBIs Crossfire Hurricane investigation into Donald Trump, both when he was a candidate and when he became president of the United States. It turns out that the TrumpRussia claims were false, and that the investigations were deeply flawed. Well discuss what these new findings mean for the country.

Meanwhile, Lee Smith joins us to comment on the Durham report and on what it will mean for the FBIs other investigations into Trump leading into the 2024 elections. Hes the host of Over the Target on EpochTV, and author of The Plot Against the President: The True Story of How Congressman Devin Nunes Uncovered the Biggest Political Scandal in US History.

Weve also invited Jeffrey Tucker to speak with us about the federal government hitting the debt ceiling. Would it really be so bad? And what can be done to avoid the crisis? Tucker is founder and president of the Brownstone Institute.



Q&A with Josh: Why Durham Report Proves America Was Defrauded



TRANSCRIPT:

Good evening, and welcome to Crossroads!

The American people were defrauded in one of the greatest disinformation campaigns ever perpetrated. News outlets that pushed the fake news were given awards, while journalists who reported the truth were censored and harassed. Politicians used this to grandstand about foreign threats and the attacks on democracy, all while peddling false information to undermine Americas elections. And to top it off, politicized investigations, using fraudulent information, were used in an attempt to remove a sitting president from office.

This is of course about the fake claims that Trump had colluded with Russia to undermine the 2016 elections. Weve now learned that the evidence in the case was just fabricated opposition research. Weve now learned that many people knowingly peddled this false information, and even lied to make it seem evidence existed when it did not. And weve just recently learned that the FBI launched its investigations on false premises. Thats right, false premises. We also saw how this was used to appoint Special Counsel Robert Mueller to investigate then-President Trump. And we even saw how all of this was used for election interference, and for a scheme to try to remove President Trump from office.

In other words, what was just watched was a palace coup, in the truest sense of the phrase. Or at least, an attempted palace coup. A coup detat is a seizure and removal of a government and its power. A place coup is a specific form of coup deta that involves an overthrow of a government from the inside. Its where one faction of the government displaces another faction.

I was among the first journalists to call out the scandal for what it was. This started with an Epoch Times article in May 2017 titled Despite Allegations, No Evidence of TrumpRussia Collusion Found.

This was followed by deeper investigations myself and others did at The Epoch Times, which revealed the full story. We also published several now-famous investigative infographics, authored by Epoch Times host Jeff Carlson, detailing how the scandals unfolded, and who was involved. For doing this we were attacked. We were labeled as a news outlet of QAnon conspiracies. We were censored by social networks and by ad networks. But what we reported has since been proven true.

Establishment news outlets, meanwhile, did the opposite. New York Times and Washington Post even won Pulitzers for their investigations into the now-debunked Trump-Russia story.

New York Times even wrote in 2019in a statement I think they should now seriously consider retractingWere proud of our Pulitzer-prize winning reporting on Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election. Every @nytimes article cited has proven accurate.

Trump, meanwhile, had called for their Pulitzer prizes to be rescinded. He wrote on Twitter in 2019 So funny that The New York Times & The Washington Post got a Pulitzer Prize for their coverage (100% NEGATIVE and FAKE!) of Collusion with Russia  And there was No Collusion! So, they were either duped or corrupt? In any event, their prizes should be taken away by the Committee!

And in case youre wondering what Adam Schiff had to say about all this, The Epoch Times asked him today. And yes, he said that there was, in fact, evidence of Trump-Russia collusion.

He told us If you read Mr. Durhams report, what he said is that there wasnt evidence of collusion before they began the investigation. Thats obviously a very important distinction.

So what actually took place? Lets dig into this. Before Trump left office in 2020, his Attorney General Bill Barr appointed a Special Counsel to investigate Crossfire Hurricane.

Crossfire Hurricane was the codename for the counterintelligence investigation of the FBI that was looking into the alleged links between Russian officials and associates of Donald Trump. It led to spy operations and fake media hit pieces against Trump and his associates, and even to arrests of people close to him. Like for example, the pre-dawn raid on Trumps former campaign manager Paul Manafort.

This all started when Trump was still a Presidential candidate, and it continued through most of his presidency. It undermined his campaign, and undermined his ability to govern as president.

It turned out though that the FBIs Crossfire Hurricane investigation was launched using the Steele Dossier, which it turned out was phony opposition research from the Clinton Campaign and the DNC, the Democratic National Committee. In other words, fake and partisan opposition research was used to weaponize the FBI to mislead voters in the 2016 elections, and to shroud Trumps presidency in manufactured controversy.

Then they used the FBIs fraudulent investigation to get Special Counsel Robert Mueller appointed from 2017 to 2019, in an outright attempt to remove a sitting President from office, or to possibly even recommend criminal charges against him. In most countries, again, this would be considered an attempted palace coup.

And then Muellers fraudulent investigation was used to mislead American voters on the next two elections.

First was the midterm elections in 2018, where Democrats won 41 seats in the House of Representatives. Again, what do you call it when a faction uses a stratagem to displace another faction? And their displacement wasnt even satisfied with the taking of congress. This gave them the majority they needed to impeach Trump, and impeach Trump they did. In fact, he became the first president to be impeached twice.

Then there was the 2020 elections. Everything else aside, the Russian disinformation narrative was extended by the Biden campaign, and by former leaders in the intelligence community, to again mislead American voters, and to censor the American press. They concocted fraudulent claims that the stories on Hunter Bidens laptop, thats the laptop of President Joe Bidens son, looked like Russian disinformation. This was used to suppress legitimate news reports on the story, which polls showed could have flipped enough votes to change the outcome of the elections.

And this all brings us to where we are now. Special Counsel John Durham just released his report, four years in the making, into what just took place. And his conclusion is that the FBI launched the Crossfire Hurricane investigation on false premises. They didnt interview people connected before launching the investigation. They used unvetted claims, they rushed it, they mishandled it, and they violated their own standards.

The 316 page report details serious abuses of power, and serious abandonment of common practice. It notes in particular that There was a complete lack of information from the Intelligence Community that corroborated the hypothesis upon which the Crossfire Hurricane investigation was predicated. It shows that The FBI was willing to make use of the completely unvetted and uncorroborated Steele reporting in its multiple spy requests on American citizens. It says they were unable to corroborate any claims from the Steele dossier, in fact. It also shows that the Clinton campaign financed and pushed much of the evidence, including false evidence, which the FBI just accepted.

The list of problems goes on and on. What it essentially says is that the whole thing was fake. Of course, it also doesnt recommend any charges. So well see what, if anything gets changed. But changed or not, the impact on public opinion could be big. And theres still a chance for accountability.

President Trump reacted on Truth Social, stating 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!

The FBI, meanwhile, publicly acknowledged the problems in the investigation. But it doesnt sound like they plan to change anything else. They claimed in a public statement, 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 problem with that? Well, weve seen ongoing issues with the FBI. This is part of the reasons why House Republicans are leading investigations into the FBI and the alleged weaponization of the government. And you can expect this to play big in the 2024 elections. Especially when many Republican candidates are calling for the reform, or outright shutdown, of the FBI.

And again, this goes right back to the big elephant in the room. This wasnt just a fumbled investigation. This was a political scandal perpetrated through collusion between a political campaign, a political party, the intelligence community, the media establishment, and by big tech that worked hand in hand to undermine elections, launch political takeovers, and attempt to remove a sitting President from office. If this happened in any other country, we have a name for operations like this. Wed call it a palace coup.

Stay tuned after the break. Were speaking with Lee Smith, author of The Plot Against the President, about the Durham report, and what its findings will mean for the 2024 elections.



Welcome back!

After four years of waiting, the report from Special Counsel John Durham is now public. Weve now seen how the Trump-Russia investigation was falsely manufactured. The big question now is what it means for the country, and the many ongoing investigations into now-Candidate Trump ahead of the 2024 presidential elections.

To help answer this question and others, we have Lee Smith. Hes the host of Over the Target on Epoch TV, and hes the author of The Plot Against the President: The True Story of How Congressmen Devin Nunes Uncovered the Biggest Political Scandal in US History.



Welcome back!

The federal government is about to run out of money. Theyve hit the limit on how much debt they can get us into. President Biden wants two more years of deeper debt, which is long enough to pass the problem beyond the 2024 elections. Republicans dont seem like theyre gonna budge. And now the United States is facing a very real possibility of hitting the debt ceiling. So what does this mean, and would it really be so bad?

To answer these questions we have with us Jeffrey Tucker, founder and president of the Brownstone Institute.



Thats all for tonight, folks. Thanks for joining us and as always, Stay informed, and stay free.
Join us for this recap and live Q&A with Joshua Philipp on the previous episode of Crossroads Tonight!



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.
Elder Abuse: I Feel for the Families, Says Seniors Support Consultant

Financial abuse is the most common form of elder abuse in Canada.(Shutterstock)

When 81-year-old David Jansen ended up in hospital last year, a friend and a relative visited regularly and offered to look after his affairs and serve as his power of attorney.

I was very sick with a high fever and could hardly breathe or see, Jansen told The Epoch Times, using a pseudonym due to privacy concerns. So they said heres the documents, sign it, its about us looking after things for you, and I believed them.

Now, as he begins to recover, Jansen is shocked to learn the people he trusted have taken control of almost everything he owns, including his home, income from rental properties, and bank account.

Im running very short of money, he said, adding hes cashed in his retirement savings plan, which is about all he has left.

The two visitors who came to see him daily in the hospital now wont return his calls or give him a copy of the document he signed.

Hes hired a lawyer but has learned that the courts are backlogged because of the pandemic. The police promised to investigate but now say they wont take action since the matter is before the court.

Stories like this are all too familiar to Christine Chan, a seniors support consultant with the York-Fairbank Centre for Seniors in York, Ontario.

Most Ontarians think there must be a system in place  that will respond to these situations, and they suffer deep disappointment when they realize theyre on their own, she said in an interview.

Chan says governments at all levels rarely fund elder abuse response. What they do fund is senior support services that sometimes have a little team that may deal with vulnerable seniorsand youll be very lucky to find that type of program.

A Nightmare

Doreen Risler, who is also using a pseudonym due to privacy concerns, told The Epoch Times that its been a nightmare advocating for her elderly parents, still with no end in sight.

Her parents had been living in their own home with help from a live-in caregiver. After her father became ill, one of Rislers sisters offered to bring him to her home for a few days, but later refused to let him return to his own house.

The same thing then happened to her mother, and Risler and her other siblings were denied access to their parents.

I had to get a lawyer to write a letter, she said. The heat got turned up when [two of the siblings] decided to sell my parents home, using a fraudulent power of attorney.

She also discovered that a large sum of money had been transferred out of her parents joint bank account without explanation.

Risler says she received no help.

I notified everyone I could: the bank, the real estate council. I contacted the public guardian and got the runaround there.  I wrote to the minister responsible.

Few Services

The perception, based in part on public messaging, is that help in such situations is a phone call away.

However, Chan says there are actually very few services, and those that exist have got criteria that are so tight that it only serves a small proportion of people.

The Ontario governments Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee, for example, will only consider helping abused seniors if theyre mentally incapable. Chan says most seniors being abused are mentally capable.

At the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly, the senior must have a low income. Chan says many abused seniors are not poor enough to qualify for our free government services and not rich enough to hire their own lawyer.

Others have called Legal Aid Ontario only to learn it doesnt take cases involving elder abuse.

Your chance of getting police assistance is better if you live in a city or region with a police department that has an elder abuse unit or senior support officer, notes Chan, but very few do. Toronto, for example, doesnt.

A complicating factor is that cases involving elder abuse can be murky and complex.

Even though they may be sympathetic, there will be very little action from the police because they may deem it as a family conflict, and a domestic dispute, Chan says.

Other barriers include societal ageism and professionals lacking experience with elder issues.

Chan says police officers, or care providers straight out of school, may not have gone through the life stages to realize what its like to have an older parent or deal with a sibling whos now managing your parents money.

To then ask them to come in and understand the situation, it requires some kind of a leap of imagination because our society is very poor at sharing those stories, she said.

On a positive note, she applauds the Crisis Outreach Services for Seniors program for Toronto residents run by Reconnect Community Health Services.

Meanwhile the service provided by Chan with help from two colleagues at the York-Fairbank Centre for Seniors, has so far assisted 78 seniors. But the work is only part-time and the service operates on a one-year New Horizons grant of $25,000, with no guarantee it will continue.

Financial Abuse Most Common

Chan says she feels honoured to be entrusted with the stories seniors share with her but is disheartened by their experiences. The most common scenarios involve adult children taking financial advantage of their elderly parents, which often goes unreported for years.

Their abuse has been normalized. They accept what their abusers do to them, Chan said. Theyll say I dont want to upset my son. I dont want to make him angry.

She sees it as her job to awaken them to the abusive behaviour. They think their child will magically correct.

By the time many seniors finally reach out for help, the situation is threatening their survival, Chan said. If it didnt, they wouldnt tell anybody. They are long-suffering, especially those in their 70s to 90s.

Seniors may often feel a sense of shame about the abuse or worry about possible isolation if they report the abusing family member, she said.

Scams are another common form of elder abuse, which may originate with people the senior knows, such as a real estate agent, financial adviser, or tradesperson.

One man told me he paid $8,000 for a will and a power of attorney, Chan said. He still doesnt realize hes been overcharged.

She says the two settings where reports are taken more seriously are in long-term care and retirement homes, which are governed by the Fixing Long-Term Care Act and the Retirement Homes Act. In these cases, the forms of abuse are defined along with associated penalties.

But she said only 7 percent of seniors live in those settings.

It Takes a Toll

Jansen may be in a better position than many, with the resources to hire a lawyer, but even thats no guarantee of a quick resolution, as hes learned. Hes been told a court date could be two to three years away.

In the meantime, his finances continue to dwindle while the problems seem never-ending. When Jansen discovered charges being rung up on his credit cards, for example, he tried to cancel the cards but was told he would have to do so in person, something hes unable to do due to his poor health.

Risler, in her fourth year since her ordeal began, says its been a long, painful road.

Her father has died, and shes now focusing on trying to get access to her mother before its too late.

The banks, and others, theyre not going to look out for us, no matter what they say about taking elder abuse seriously, she said. It takes a toll on you emotionally.

While the public often hears of elder abuse occurring in care facilities, the reality is its much broader than that, Chan says.

Its happening in our families, neighbourhoods, and communities. Its a problem we need to own and face.

Sadly, complete elimination of abuse in any given case is difficult to achieve, she says, in part because of the dynamics involved. Sometimes the senior doesnt even want to fight because they dont want to spend their golden years tied up in a court case or an altercation.

It seems the best outcome one can hope for is some sort of improvement in the seniors current situation.

I just learned of two new cases today, Chan said. When I hear the stories, I take a deep breath, because I feel for the families and I brace myself because I wonder, do they know whats coming up?

Editors Note: This article has been updated to reflect that the one-year $25,000 grant for a service at the York-Fairbank Centre for Seniors was from New Horizons.
Energy Department to Buy 3 Million Oil Barrels to Replenish Strategic Reserves

In an aerial view, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve storage at the Bryan Mound site is seen in Freeport, Texas, on Oct. 19, 2022. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced that it intends to buy oil to replenish the countrys Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), which has been depleted to multi-decade-low levels.

According to the DOEs Request for Proposal (pdf) issued on May 15, the department is seeking to purchase up to three million barrels of sour crude oil produced in the United States. As of the week ending May 5, SPR stood at just 362 million barrels, a decline of 43 percent from when Biden assumed office. This is the lowest SPR level since the 1980s. Since 2000, the SPR has usually remained above 600 million barrels.

When Joe Biden became president in January 2021, Americas SPR reserves stood at 638 million barrels. In 2022, the administration sold a record 180 million barrels from the reserves in a bid to tame rising gasoline prices.

The SPR sales had angered GOP members who blamed the administration for leaving the country vulnerable to a potential oil supply crisis.

DOEs three million barrels of oil purchase is part of the Biden administrations three-part replenishment plan, said a DOE May 15 press release.

The three-part replenishment strategy includes: (1) Direct purchases with revenues from emergency sales; (2) Exchange returns that include a premium to volume delivered; and (3) Securing legislative solutions that avoid unnecessary sales unrelated to supply disruptions so as to strategically maintain volume.

The DOE claims that it is aiming to repurchase crude at a lower price than the average of roughly $95 per barrel the SPR reserves were sold in 2022.

Meanwhile, the department has also secured the cancellation of 140 million barrels of oil per congressionally mandated sales scheduled for fiscal years 2024 through 2027.

This cancellation has already led to significant progress toward replenishment and will allow the SPR to have the same number of barrels in reserve by the end of FY 2027 that it would have had emergency barrels not been sold in 2022, the DOE said.

The Right Price

There has been a significant delay in replenishing the nations strategic reserves. The reason for the delay was attributed by administration officials to waiting for the right price.

Biden is still committed to replenishing the SPR after extraordinary draws last year, Special Presidential Coordinator for Global Infrastructure and Energy Security Amos Hochstein said in a March interview with Bloomberg. Nothing happens overnight. You have to decide that this is the right environment, so therefore, you wait to see where the prices are going to be landing.

The administration had earlier stated that it would refill the SPR if oil could be purchased at around $70 per barrel.

The price of oil per barrel was $70.79 as of 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday. The prices have not risen considerably this year following weak economic growth in China but circumstances could change as recent forecasts predict increasing demand from the nation.

DOE Mismanagement of SPR

On May 8, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) and Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) sent a letter (pdf) to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) asking that the agency evaluate the DOEs mismanagement of SPR that has undermined Americas energy security.

The letter pointed out that under the Biden administration, the DOE has overseen the largest SPR drawdown in American history by selling off over 250 million barrels of oil without having a credible plan to replenish the stockpile.

We are concerned that the rapid depletion of the SPR may have caused structural damage to the SPRs pipelines and caverns, compromising its ability to meet its energy security mission in the event of a true energy supply disruption, the letter said.

The SPR consists of subterranean salt caverns filled with oil, and a complex system of wells, pipelines, and pumps that use water and brine to direct the flow of oil to where it is needed. Each drawdown has the potential to degrade the SPRs storage and distribution capabilities, as pressurization, corrosion, and consequences of repeated use erode the SPRs physical integrity.

The letter also criticized the DOE for putting on hold the Life Extension II program sanctioned by Congress in 2015. Life Extension II authorized $1.4 billion so that the DOE can conduct an SPR modernization program.

Todays announcement advances the Presidents replenishment strategy following his historic release from the SPR to address the significant global supply disruption caused by Putins war on Ukraine and provide a wartime bridge for domestic production to increase, said the DOE press release.

Although Biden has placed the blame for high oil prices on the Russia-Ukraine war, experts have pointed to several policies the administration has undertaken that have contributed to price hikes, including the cancellation of the Keystone XL pipeline, restricting domestic production through increasing regulatory costs and issuing moratoriums on leasing activities, and enforcing climate change agenda initiatives, while depending excessively on foreign oil producers.

Earlier in the year, the nonprofit American Energy Alliance released a list of 125 things (pdf) the administration did that have negatively affected the oil industry.
EXCLUSIVE: Leaked Pentagon Report Forensically Dismantled Fauci-Led Natural Origin Study

The U.S. Department of Defense seal is seen on the lectern in the media briefing room at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 12, 2013. (Paul J. Richards/AFP/Getty Images)

News analysis

Researchers at the Department of Defense wrote a devastating takedown of the Proximal Origin study, which was used by Dr. Anthony Fauci as proof that the COVID-19 virus had come from nature.

The takedown, dated May 26, 2020, was written in the form of a working paper called Critical analysis of Andersen et al. The proximal origin of SARS-CoV-2. It was authored by Commander Jean-Paul Chretien, a Navy doctor working at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and Dr. Robert Cutlip, a research scientist at the Defense Intelligence Agency. The paper came to light on May 15, when it was leaked to the public via virus origins search group DRASTIC (Decentralized Radical Autonomous Search Team Investigating COVID-19).

The working paper forensically dismantles the natural origin case made in Proximal Origin and concludes, The arguments that Andersen et al. use to support a natural-origin scenario for SARS-CoV-2 are based not on scientific analysis, but on unwarranted assumptions.

The existence of this internal Pentagon paper is crucial, as it proves that government officials were well aware in the early months of the pandemic that there was no evidence in support of a natural origin of the COVID-19 virus. Additionally, given the crushing discrediting of Proximal Origin, Pentagon officials would also have been aware of Faucis efforts to seed a false narrative about the origin of COVID-19.

Proximal Origin was initially conceived by Fauci during a secret teleconference held on Feb. 1, 2020. The ostensible purpose of the teleconference was to deflect attention from a possible lab origin of COVID-19 and to shift the focus to a natural origin theory. Fauci directed a number of scientists, led by Kristian Andersen of Scripps Research and Robert Garry of Tulane Medical School, to pen a study that could be used to discredit the lab leak theory. Despite being directly involved in the inception of the paper, as well as in shaping its arguments, Faucis role was concealed from the public. Fauci later bestowed Andersen and Garry with lavish taxpayer-funded grants.

The defects in Proximal Origin were immediately noticed by reviewers at science journal Nature. This fact only became known late last year from emails obtained via the Freedom of Information Act by independent journalist Jimmy Tobias. However, with the help of Jeremy Farrar, who now is the chief scientist of the World Health Organization and who had helped Fauci shape the natural origin narrative, Proximal Origin was accepted for publication in Nature Medicine on March 17, 2020. It boldly concluded that no laboratory-based scenario is plausible.

On April 17, 2020, President Donald Trump confirmed that the COVID-19 pandemic likely started in a Wuhan laboratory in China. On the same day, while attending a White House press conference, Fauci categorically dismissed the possibility of a lab origin of COVID-19, citing Proximal Origin as corroboration. Fauci feigned independence, telling reporters that he could not recall the names of the authors. What was not known at the time was that Fauci not only knew the authors well, but had personally led the effort to have Proximal Origin written.

Proximal Origin became the medias go-to natural origin authority, repeating Faucis claim that the paper provided dispositive proof that COVID-19 had come out of nature. It also became the most-read article on COVID-19 and one of the most cited academic papers of all time.

Yet, while the public was being told by Fauci and the media that Proximal Origin had settled the origin debate, Pentagon researchers came to a very different conclusion.

Chretien and Cutlip found that COVID-19s features, which Proximal Origin ascribed to natural evolution, were actually consistent with another scenario: that SARS-CoV-2 was developed in a laboratory, by methods that leading coronavirus researchers commonly use to investigate how the viruses infect cells and cause disease, assess the potential for animal coronaviruses to jump to humans, and develop drugs and vaccines.

One of those features is COVID-19s furin cleavage site, which makes the virus particularly infectious in humans. This feature has never been observed in any naturally occurring betacoronaviruses. Proximal Origin claimed that since this feature was not part of any known laboratory-generated virus, it had to have arisen through a natural evolutionary process. As Chretien and Cutlip point out, this argument is not based on scientific analysis but on an assumption that the prior work would have been published if it had been done.

According to the Pentagon report, a similar argument made in Proximal Origin about COVID-19s receptor binding domain, the part of a virus that allows it to dock to cells in humans or animals, was not a scientific argument but rather an assumption of intent and methodology for a hypothesized scientist.

The Pentagon report also highlights a major logical flaw in Proximal Origin in that it relies on a lack of publications about particular aspects of coronavirus engineering as a reason to conclude that such engineering did not take place. For instance, Proximal Origin claims that the genetic data irrefutably show that SARS-CoV-2 is not derived from any previously used virus backbone. As Chretien and Cutlip point out, The absence of a publication does not mean that the research was not done.

In what is perhaps the most notable portion of the Chretien and Cutlip paper, the authors note the collaboration between Ralph Baric of the University of North Carolina, a pioneer of gain-of-function experiments, and Shi Zhengli, the director of the Wuhan Institute of Virology. As Chretien and Cutlip point out, Baric and Shi carried out an experiment in 2015 that mirrored how the COVID-19 virus would have been engineered in a laboratory. The direct link between the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the know-how needed to make COVID-19 was not mentioned in Proximal Origin.

While Chretien and Cutlip did not offer a definitive answer on the origin of COVID-19, they concluded that none of the arguments in Proximal Origin lessened the plausibility of a laboratory origin. Proximal Origin claimed to have done the exact opposite.

Given the sweeping nature of the takedown of Proximal Origin, the question is why the public was not told about the Pentagons paper, which was fully paid for by taxpayers?

Instead, the Pentagon, which was led at the time by Trump appointee Mark Esper, allowed Faucis false origin narrative to fester. One of the two authors, Cutlip, left the Department of Defense in 2021. The circumstances of his departure are not known. Cutlips bio states that he is currently a visiting professor at Fairmont State University in West Virginia. The bio also states that Cutlip was part of the Corona Virus Task Force, providing intelligence to the President of the United States. It is not known whether Cutlip shared his insights with either Trump or President Joe Biden.
EXCLUSIVE: Rep. Adam Schiff Still Insists Trump Conspired With Russia After Durham Report Further Discredits FBI Probe

House managers Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas) and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) walk to the Senate Chamber on the 10th day of the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump at the Capitol in Washington on Jan. 31, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

WASHINGTONRep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif), the past chairman of the House Select Committee on Intelligence who now hopes to be Californias next Democratic senator, remains unswayed by the newly released Durham Report in his conviction that members of former President Donald Trumps campaign conspired with Russian intelligence operatives to steal the 2016 election against Hillary Clinton.

When asked by The Epoch Times about the Durham Reports conclusion of no collusion between Trump and Russia and whether the lawmaker stood by his claims to the contrary, Schiff replied, If you read Mr. Durhams report, what he said is that there wasnt evidence of collusion before they began the investigation. Thats obviously a very important distinction.

The California Democrat then pointed to what he described as secret meetings between Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort and a Russian intelligence agent. Schiff accused Manafort of providing that agent with internal polling data with their strategy for key battleground states, while that unit of Russian intelligence was engaged in trying to help Donald Trump win.

Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort arrives to his arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City on June 27, 2019. (Yana Paskova/Getty Images)

Schiff said that for most Americans that looks like plain collusion.

But the Durham Report described the FBIs top expert on Russian intelligence as finding no such evidence.

The FBI Intelligence Analyst who had perhaps the most in-depth knowledge of particularly sensitive Russian intelligence information in FBI holdings during the relevant time period disclosed that she never saw anything regarding any Trump election campaign conspiracy with the Russians, nor did she see anything in FBI holdings regarding Carter Page, Michael Flynn, George Papadopoulos, or Paul Manafort engaging in any type of conspiracy with the Russians regarding the election, the report said.

Manafort was convicted in 2019 on tax and bank fraud charges unrelated to allegations of cooperation between the Trump campaign and Russian intelligence.

Schiff further claimed that Donald Trump Jr. was closely connected with Russian intelligence.

But you also had the Russians reaching out through an intermediary to Donald Trumps son, offering dirt on the Democratic candidate for president as part of what was described as the Russian governments effort to help elect Donald Trump. And rather than refuse it, Don Jr. said that [if] its what was represented, they would love it, Schiff told The Epoch Times.

So the best time for it would be late summer. [They] arranged a secret meeting in the Trump headquarters [and] invited the campaign chairman [and] the presidents son-in-law to receive this help from the Russian government  And most Americans will also call that collusion, Schiff added.

Trump Jr. appears only once in the 306 page Durham Report, in a lengthy footnote that explained on June 9, 2016, senior representatives of the campaign met briefly with a private Russian lawyer, Natalia Veselnitskaya, and others at the Trump Tower.

The report quoted an FBI document that claimed Veselnitskaya had previously worked for the Russian government and maintained a relationship with that government throughout this period of time.' The initial email to Trump Jr. proposing the meeting said that the Crown prosecutor of Russia was offering to provide the campaign with documents and information that would incriminate Clinton.

The Durham report said the June 9, 2016, meeting lasted only briefly, perhaps because, as Schiff suggested, the information allegedly promised did not match the expectations that had been encouraged. Durham found no other information regarding Trump Jr. that merited mention in the report.

Finally, Schiff said former Trump National Security Adviser Michael Flynn was involved in the campaigns collusion.

Let me just add that the Presidents National Security Adviser, Mike Flynn, [was meeting] secretly with the Russian ambassador; they were having conversations secretly with the Russian ambassador to undermine bipartisan sanctions on Russia for its interference in the election. And then lying about it. Most Americans again, [would say] this is collusion, Schiff said.

The conversations between Flynn and then-Russian Ambassador to the United States Sergey Kislyak regarding U.S. sanctions, however, took place weeks after Trump was declared the winner of the 2016 presidential election and as part of Flynns preparation for taking over his White House duties following the inauguration of the new Chief Executive.

Flynn pleaded guilty in 2017 to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Kislyak, but subsequently sought to withdraw his plea and the DOJ withdrew the charges. Trump pardoned Flynn shortly after losing his reelection effort in the 2020 campaign.

Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly described Michael Flynns plea. He pled guilty to lying to the FBI. The Epoch Times regrets the error.
(Bloomberg) -- The initial public offering of Adnoc Logistics & Services got enough orders to cover all shares within minutes, showing continued strong demand for listings in the Middle East.

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Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. is selling about 1.11 billion shares in its maritime logistics unit at 1.99 dirhams ($0.54) to 2.01 dirhams each, valuing the company at as much as $4.05 billion, according to a statement Tuesday.

Order books for the IPO, which could raise as much as $607 million at the top end, were covered throughout the range and indicated demand exceeded deal size, according to a message to investors seen by Bloomberg News.

Al Seer Marine Supplies & Equipment Co PJSC, National Marine Dredging Co PJSC, Alpha Oryx Ltd.  ultimately owned by Abu Dhabi wealth fund ADQ  and Abu Dhabi Pension Fund have committed to become cornerstone investors and subscribed for about $180 million combined.

The deal is the second listing of a unit by state-owned Adnoc this year, after it raised $2.5 billion in the IPO of its gas business in March. Its also set to be the second-biggest IPO in the Middle East so far this year.

Proceeds from initial public offerings in the Middle East have dropped 69% from the same period a year ago and stand at $3.5 billion, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Lower oil prices and concerns about slower economic growth globally have weighed on the market, and the MSCI GCC Countries Index has fallen almost 17% in the past year.

Still, the Middle East is faring a lot better than other regions like Europe, where IPOs are still struggling to get off the ground. Abu Dhabi has so far dominated listing activity in the Gulf, mainly thanks to Adnoc Gass IPO, while Saudi Arabia has been quiet and Dubai has not seen any of the large privatizations that made it busy last year.

Story continues

Adnoc has been selling stakes in its units since about 2017 as part of a strategy to help fund the diversification of the economy and reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. It listed chemicals firm Borouge last year and has previously sold shares in its drilling unit and fertilizer company Fertiglobe, among others.

Adnoc L&S plans to pay an annualized 2023 cash dividend of $260 million and expects to increase this by at least 5% annually. The firm, which has been expanding its fleet to cope with increased demand from the state-owned firms businesses, is targeting capital expenditure of $4 billion to $5 billion in the medium term.

Its also planning a compound annual growth rate of at least 10% for its revenues in the mid-term.

The institutional bookbuilding period runs until May 24, with pricing set for May 25. The retail offering will close on May 23 while the shares are expected to start trading on June 1.

Citigroup Inc, First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC, HSBC Holdings Plc and JPMorgan Chase & Co. have been appointed as joint global coordinators and joint bookrunners. Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank PJSC, Arqaam Capital Limited, Credit Agricole SA, EFG-Hermes, International Securities and Societe Generale SA are joint bookrunners for the offering.

Moelis & Co. is the independent financial adviser.

(Updates with details on books)

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
EXPLAINER: What Rights Do Air Passengers Have Amid the Looming Westjet Strike?

WestJet Airlines pilots assemble for a group photo after standing on a picket line at Toronto's Pearson Airport on May 8, 2023. The picket is one of three at Canadas largest airports to show WestJet management they remain committed to negotiating a North American industry-standard contract. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press)

With a looming May 19 strike threatened by approximately 1,600 pilots of WestJet Airlines and its subsidiary Swoop, thousands of passengers travelling on the May long weekend could be affected by a work stoppage.

Air Passenger Rights, an advocacy organization headed by Gabor Lukacs, provided a statement on May 7 to advise Canadian passengers of their rights if pilots go on strike. It says that specific rights for compensation and rebooking of flights depend on the itinerary, but Canadian legislation dictates that the airline must always offer a choice between continuing to travel or receiving a refund.

If a passenger wants to continue their travel they must be rebooked free of charge on the next available flight operated by any carrier to the planned destination on the original ticket; this includes Westjet or Swoop competitors on any reasonable air route from the passengers closest airport or one that is a reasonable distance away.

The airline must also provide transportation to a different airport if required for a new departure.

Air travellers can also request a refund within 30 days of any unused flight. If they can no longer travel because of the cancellation, they can request transportation to the passengers point of origin free of charge.

Additional compensation for out-of-pocket expenses (meals, hotels, lost wages) and inconvenience may be owed to you depending on your travels origin and destination, said the statement from Air Passenger Rights.

The group recommends that passengers record their interactions with WestJet, which may be needed to enforce compensation rights under the existing legislation, the Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR). Some passengers end up having to proceed to small claims court, according to the group.

A pilot strike is considered to be an event outside the airlines control under Canadas existing regulations.

International Travel

For passengers that have a flight that is part of an international itinerary of travel, Westjet must legally compensate them for meals, ground transportation, accommodation, lost wages, telecommunications, and any other losses due to the delay, according to the advocacy group.

International travel rights fall under the Canadian Carriage by Air Act, also known as the Montreal Convention. According to Air Passenger Rights, the only way the airline can avoid liability for delays is to prove they took all reasonable measures to prevent the delay or there were no options available.

While WestJet may attempt to deny compensation on the basis of this exception, it is unlikely to succeed in court given that pilots are agents and servants of WestJet; the strike was announced weeks in advance, and thus was not unforeseeable; and there is a judicial determination that a strike is not an extraordinary circumstance, says the advocacy group.

Canadians departing on a WestJet flight in the European Union or the United Kingdom and returning to Canada have additional rights to cash compensation, meals, accommodation, and ground transportation, under European regulations.

Members of the Air Line Pilots Association demonstrate amid contract negotiations outside the WestJet headquarters in Calgary, Alta., Friday, March 31, 2023.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Strike Deadline

Westjet issued a statement on May 15 warning passengers of a potential work stoppage as early as May 19 at 3:00 a.m. MT. The carrier also issued a lockout notice to the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), the union representing pilots, on needing to minimize the risk of stranding our guests, our crews and our aircraft.

The airline said it was continuing negotiations with the union, and preparing to operate at a reduced schedule. Westjet, owned by privately held company Onex Corp. since 2019, also committed to providing flexible change and cancel options for those who wish to make alternate arrangements.

Should flight delays or cancellations occur, impacted guests will be refunded or reaccommodated, as applicable, Westjet said.

If the strike goes ahead, the airline is at a disadvantage, said Jacques Roy, professor of transport management at HEC Montreal business school.

If WestJet was to go on strike because of an issue with pilots, it will be, of course, detrimental to the industry overall, [and] to the travellers, he said. Its a market where the supply is less than demand. So basically, they are in the drivers seat.

In the case of Westjet, the union said on May 11 it had received a 93 percent strike mandate.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
FBI Responds to Durham Report, Acknowledges Missteps

FBI Director Christopher Wray speaks during a press conference to announce an international ransomware enforcement action, at the Justice Department in Washington, on Jan. 26, 2023. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) responded to Special Counsel John Durhams report on Monday by acknowledging mistakes in its 2016-2017 investigation of the Trump campaign and noting that the agency had rolled out reforms in response to the mistakes.

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 wrote in a statement published hours after the Department of Justice (DOJ) published the Durham report (pdf) on its website on Monday.

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 wrote in acknowledging the findings of Durhams report.

In his report, the special counsel found flaws in the FBIs decision to surveil the Trump campaign ahead of the 2016 presidential election, from July 2016 to May 2017, in an investigation codenamed Crossfire Hurricane over alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian entities.

Durham indicated that what caused the FBI to break its own rules in pursuing this unjustified surveillance included agency personnels confirmation bias against then-Republican candidate Donald Trump, over-reliance on information provided by Trumps political opponents, and a lack of attention to accuracy and completeness in pursuing surveillance measures.

Durham recommended that the FBI can take potential reforms to improve sourcing practices, and put checks and balances on potential bias in agency personnel.

Special counsel John Durham arrives at federal court in Washington on May 18, 2022. (Teng Chen/The Epoch Times)

In response to a press inquiry, the FBI sent to The Epoch Times a letter (pdf) that it wrote to Durham in response to the special counsels report.

In that letter, the FBI agreed with the flaws identified in Durhams report and detailed the steps the agency has taken, under Director Christopher Wray, to identify shortcomings and prevent similar incidences going forward.

These include reforms recommended by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), an oversight body for the Department of Justice (DOJ), in following a probe into Crossfire Hurricane in 2019 (pdf). Both the Durham Report and the FBIs response acknowledged that the FBI had taken steps to address the concerns in the OIG report.

According to the FBIs letter, these improvements included: installing more rigorous requirements for applying for surveillance, requiring personnel training for surveillance applications, updating agency guidelines on vetting confidential human resources, requiring additional approval for opening sensitive investigative measures, and expanding its internal oversight and auditing programs.

The FBI added that the questionable conduct uncovered in Durhams report occurred under the previous leadership and that all senior executives overseeing the Crossfire Hurricane investigation have left the FBI as a result of termination, resignation, retirement.

(LR) Former FBI agent Peter Strzok; former FBI Director James Comey; and former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe. (Getty Images/Illustration by Epoch Times)

Durham was tasked in 2019 with reviewing the 201617 FBI investigation of alleged nefarious ties between candidate and later President Donald Trump and Russia. In October 2020, then-Attorney General William Barr appointed Durham as a special counsel on the 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.

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.

In a statement published on Truth Social following the release of the Durham report, former President Donald Trump called for congressional action in response to the Durham report, which he says shows the existence of an effort to interfere in the 2016 election.

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. This totally illegal act had a huge impact on the Election. With an honest Media, we are looking at the Crime of the Century!

Around the time of the Durham reports publication on Monday, House Judiciary Republicans requested testimony from Durham in a hearing planned for next week.

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, indicated in a letter (pdf) published on Twitter on Monday that the hearing would occur on May 25. The lawmaker asked Durham to summarize his findings in a ten-minute opening statement and answer questions from Committee Members.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, called for accountability over 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 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.
Federal Government Tables Bill to Reform Canadas Bail System

Justice Minister David Lametti speaks during a federal, provincial, and territorial ministers press conference on bail reform in Ottawa on March 10, 2023. (The Canadian Press/Spencer Colby)

The federal government tabled Bill C-48 on May 16, which aims to bring reforms to Canadas bail system amid calls from Canadian premiers for changes to prevent repeat violent offenders from being let out on bail.

We all have a role to play so that Canadians will feel safe throughout the country, and we are aware that too many Canadians do not feel safe. I think all of us know that there is a feeling that crime has worked its way into places we all thought were safe, Justice Minister David Lametti said during a press conference.

Bill C-48 will amend Canadas criminal code to create a reverse onus provision for any person charged with a serious offence involving violence and the use of a weapon, who was convicted in the last five years of a similar offence. It will also add specific firearms offences to an existing reverse onus provision, which are often offences linked to organized crime.

The bill will also expand the reverse onus provision for offences involving intimate partner violence, requiring courts to consider if an accused person has any previous convictions involving violence.

In Canadas justice system, the burden of proof usually rests on prosecutors to convince judges why offenders should stay behind bars. With the provisions of Bill C-48, in these cases, the onus will be on the offender to prove in court why they should be released on bail.

Crucially, these proposed reforms signal that repeat violent offenders pose a risk to community safety and should not be released while awaiting trial, Lametti said.

Lametti said while C-48 is important for increasing public safety, the federal government wants to ensure the law reforms do not make things worse for indigenous and black Canadians, who are overrepresented in Canadas criminal justice system.

The proposed changes to the Criminal Code come after months of pressure from the provinces and territories to reduce the number of repeat violent offenders who are granted bail. Premiers had unanimously asked the government to expand the reverse-onus provisions.

Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc said Bill C-48 directly responds to the concerns raised by the provinces regarding their ability to hold repeat violent offenders accountable.

Were creating additional safeguards which will make it harder for individuals with extensive criminal historiesparticularly when it comes to violence with weapons and intimate partner violenceto be released while they await trial, he said.
Flags Flown Over US Capitol in Honor of World Falun Dafa Day

Two U.S. flags were flown over the U.S. Capitol on May 13, in honor of World Falun Dafa Day and Mr. Li Hongzhi, the founder of the spiritual practice.

On that day 31 years ago, Mr. Li introduced Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong, to the public in northeast China. The spiritual discipline, which involves meditative exercises and moral teachings rooted in the Chinese traditions of body and mind improvement, is now practiced in more than 100 countries.

The office of Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), congressional representative of practitioner Jennie Sheeks of Philadelphia, sponsored the celebration, which recognizes Falun Dafa for its spiritual values and its adherents contributions to communities.

The flags, which were flown on special poles on the building that arent visible to the public because of construction, were presented by Fitzpatrick to the Greater Philadelphia Falun Dafa Association.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro also authorized a U.S. flag to be flown over the state Capitol in Harrisburg to recognize Mr. Li for teaching Falun Dafa and its core values of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance to the state and the rest of the world.

A U.S. flag was flown over the Pennsylvania state Capitol in honor of the founder of Falun Dafa, Mr. Li Hongzhi, for teaching the spiritual practice and its core values of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance to Pennsylvania and the rest of the world in Harrisburg, Pa., on May 13, 2023. (Steve Wen/The Epoch Times)

Meanwhile, the Massachusetts state Senate issued a citation for World Falun Dafa Day, noting that it was the 31st anniversary of the spiritual practices introduction to the public. State Sen. Michael Moore, one of the sponsors of the citation, presented the document to Falun Dafa practitioners in Worcester. The city, which is about 50 miles west of Boston, also raised the World Falun Dafa Day flag outside City Hall in a ceremony on May 13.

A World Falun Dafa Day flag outside the city hall in Worcester, Mass., on May 13, 2023. (Learner Liu/The Epoch Times)

Falun Gong practitioners do group exercises to commemorate World Falun Dafa Day outside City Hall in Worcester, Mass., on May 13, 2023. (Learner Liu/The Epoch Times)

From Changchun to the World

On May 13, 1992, Mr. Li held his first public lecture in Changchun, the capital of Jilin Province in northeast China. The citys name in Chinese means eternal spring.

The theater classroom of Changchuns No. 5 Middle School hosted the first group of students, which numbered fewer than 200. Most were enthusiasts of qigongphysical exercises developed in ancient China as part of traditional Chinese medicineat the citys Triumph Park, according to Falun Dafa informational website Minghui.org.

As Mr. Li taught more, adherents began to understand Falun Dafa beyond the physical exercises and emphasized following the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance.

Between May 13, 1992, and Dec. 30, 1994, Mr. Li held 56 series of lectures in more than 15 provinces and municipalities in China for more than 60,000 students, according to Minghui.org.

Zhang Ze, an architectural designer, attended Mr. Lis seminars in Changchun in May 1993 and May 1994, after one of his relatives told him that Falun Dafa might help with his chronic heart disease. He was 35 and worked in the propaganda department of a big state-owned enterprise, where he was in charge of taking photos and filming videos.

Zhang said that he liked the healing benefits of the practice. It took him a few years to understand that it was much more profound than just its physical exercises, and as a result of following the core principles, he learned to be a better person, he said.

He still remembers those morning group exercises with tens of thousands of fellow adherents in a single park in Changchun.

You could see Falun Dafa practitioners in every park and on every corner, he told The Epoch Times about the practices popularity.

People gather at a park in Changchun in Jilin Province, China, to practice Falun Gong in 1998, prior to the persecution. (Courtesy of Minghui.org)

Through word-of-mouth, the practice grew to have as many as 100 million adherents in China by 1999. That year, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which perceived the practices popularity to be a threat to its absolute grip on power, initiated a nationwide campaign of persecution that included torture, psychiatric abuses, and the killing of practitioners for their organs.

Zhang said he knew even more that Falun Dafa was good after the persecution began. From his propaganda work experience, he knew the CCPs programs were fabricated. He gave the example of the regime staging a self-immolation incident in Beijings Tiananmen Square in an attempt to vilify the spiritual group.

After five people set themselves on fire on Chinese New Years Eve on Jan. 23, 2001, the CCP said that they were Falun Dafa practitioners. However, Zhang knew it was fake news because he could tell that the news clip was a directed product, including the different roles each of the five people played and the camera positions.

Zhang wasnt alone in questioning the veracity of the self-immolation news production. The 2003 film False Fire, which examines the suspicious points of the Tiananmen self-immolation incident, won an honorary award at the 51st Columbia International Film Festival for its analytical exposure of the tragic event.

According to Zhang, like the fake Falun Dafa self-immolators, most of the CCPs heroes arent real. He offered the example of a famous campaign in the 1960s about a model citizen named Lei Feng, who was said to be an orphan and an average soldier. Meanwhile, Leis photos showed professional lighting and master-level skills, according to Zhang, who wondered how an average soldier could enjoy such rare resource of professional photographing in those days.

So I know Falun Dafa is exactly the opposite of the CCP. What Falun Dafa requires is real goodness, he said. Once I made the comparison, whos good and bad was obvious.

Designing Parade Floats in Celebration

Zhang came to the United States with his wife and daughter in October 2015 on tourist visas and was approved for asylum. Before he left China, he had become a successful architectural designer, with projects including prominent hotels and colleges in Changchun.

By the time he arrived in the United States, many people outside China had come to know about the persecution and the benefits of Falun Dafa because of adherents efforts to dispel falsehoods about the practice disseminated by the CCPs propaganda machine.

One such effort is the annual World Falun Dafa Day celebration in New York, for which Zhang helps to create a parade float each year.

Zhang said he has wanted to showcase the beauty of the practice more in recent years. So he changed his design concept from boatssymbolizing the traditional Buddhist idea of a boat rescuing kind people from the sea of sufferingto heavenly scenes in 2022 and this year.

I dont know how to describe my feelings in words, Zhang said. I am thrilled to see the parade spectators applauding, taking photos of us, and welcoming us. I want to show them the beauty of Falun Dafa and bring goodness to people.

Zhang Ze (R in a yellow T-shirt) with other Falun Gong practitioners on the float he created in a World Falun Dafa Day parade in New York on May 12, 2023. (Mark Zou/The Epoch Times)

A float in a World Falun Dafa Day parade in New York on May 12, 2023. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

As World Falun Dafa Day approached, U.S. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) sent a letter of support to practitioners in Washington and around the world on May 1, saying: For over two decades, Falun Gong practitioners have suffered from forced detention, torture, and organ harvesting committed at the hands of the Chinese government.

The only crime of those who practice Falun Gong is to be born into a society of intolerance. I stand in solidarity with the many Falun Gong practitioners who fight for the freedom to speak and to practice the religion of their choice.
Gender Expression May Become a Protected Right in Maine Constitution

Transgender rights group members protest against an Our Bodies, Our Sports rally at the Freedom Plaza in Washington, on June 23, 2022. (Terri Wu/The Epoch Times)

The recent shifting of majorities in the Maine Legislature from the GOP to the Democrats has encouraged Democrat lawmakers to try to protect the rights of transgender people by enshrining gender expression in the state Constitution.

Gender expression is the way a person shows their gender identity by means of dress, appearance, and behavior.

Though Democrats won control of both houses in the 2022 election, their state legislative leadership is aware that the pendulum may swing the other way in the future.

Long-serving Rep. Lois Galgay Reckitt (D-South Portland) said she is worried about the durability of current and future civil rights statutes.

Maine State Rep. Lois Galgay Reckitt (D-South Portland). (Courtesy of Lois Galgay Reckitt)

To make their repeal more difficult, on March 30, Reckitt introduced a resolutionLegislative Document 1412proposing to amend the Constitution of Maine to ostensibly establish equal rights under the law for all Maine residents.

Stung by last years overturning of Roe v. Wade by the conservative-leaning majority on the U.S. Supreme Court, Democrats are also using a variety of strategies to protect abortion access in Maine alongside their efforts to create, further, and preserve the rights of transgender individuals.

The language of the resolution is almost identical to that of the Maine civil rights laws already on the books, leading some people to question the necessity of the amendment.

Maines present civil rights law is among the most comprehensive in the country.

The current laws stated purpose is to prevent various types of discrimination on account of an individuals actual or perceived race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry or national origin, age, or familial status.

Words Have Power

The proposed amendment adds the words gender expression to the list.

Reckitt told The Epoch Times that the two words were included to clarify and strengthen already existing anti-discrimination protections for trans people which may be subject to varying interpretations.

Gender identity is an inward recognition of ones true self. Sexual orientation is an inward attraction to another. Gender expression is the outward demonstration of ones gender identity. This involves clothing, appearance and behavior, she said.

One of the major areas affected would be what a person chooses to wear to work, according to Reckitt.

She pointed out that presently, all it would take to change the civil rights statutes is a majority vote of both houses of the Legislature and a signature from the governor.

Reckitt said amending the state constitution would make changing the law much harder to do.

In Maine, any constitutional amendment must be approved by two-thirds of the state House and Senate, and then submitted for a majority vote of the people before it could take effect.

Maine Gov. Janet Mills in 2019. (Rebecca Hammel/U.S. Senate/Public Domain)

Passage of a joint resolution to amend the state Constitution is not subject to a governors veto.

My position is to let the people vote. If they believe the decision is wrong, they have the final say, Reckitt said.

Reckitt says the resolution has the strong backing of Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat, and Speaker of the House Rachel Talbot Ross (D-Portland).

A Trojan Horse

Among the opponents of the resolution and the proposed constitutional amendment is the Christian Civic League of Maine (CCLM).

The rights of all Mainers are already protected in the U.S. Constitution and the Maine Constitution, the group said in a recent online statement.

The CCLM warned that, though the amendment sounds innocuous and even fair, it contains some real unintended consequences.

Among the possible repercussions are constitutional protection for biological men to compete in womens sports, use female restrooms and locker rooms, and be incarcerated in womens prisons, according to the statement.

The group stated that after similar amendments were passed in other states, the courts interpreted the new law as guaranteeing women access to unrestricted, on-demand abortion up to the birth of the baby.

The rights of the unborn are completely ignored by the proposed amendment, the CCLM statement said.

Before the November 2022 elections, an analysis by the left-leaning online news organization Truth Out reported, At least nine states provide a right to abortion in their state constitutions as interpreted by court rulings.

None contain an explicit constitutional right to abortion but courts have implied the right by construing provisions that protect privacy, liberty, and equality.

Those states are Alaska, California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, and New Jersey, according to the study.

Freedom of Conscience in Jeopardy

In Michigan, a broad expansion of the civil rights of transgender individuals has prompted insurers providing coverage to churches to warn their customers to carefully review their by-laws and beef up their liability coverage in case the exercise of their religious beliefs in such things as hiring and the conduct of weddings are challenged in court by transgender activists.

The Maine amendment would similarly threaten religious liberty and conscience protections, according to the Christian Civic League.

Other opponents of the amendment have expressed concern, not just over possible future judicial interpretation, but they fear the new law would give the Democrat-dominated executive branch a blank tablet in determining how it would be administered.

LD 1412 is still pending in the Maine Legislature.
Georgia Court of Appeals Revives 2020 Fulton County Counterfeit Ballot Inspection Case

The Georgia Court of Appeals on May 11 revived a lawsuit alleging that fraudulent or counterfeit ballots were found in Fulton County during the 2020 general election.

The appeals court issued an order (pdf) remanding the ballot case back to the Superior Court. However, the order only applies to petitioners who are residents of Fulton County.

Nine plaintiffs, among them Garland Favorito, founder of the group Voters Organized for Trusted Election Results in Georgia (VoterGA), initially filed the lawsuit against members of the Fulton County Board of Registration and Elections in December 2020.

As part of their lawsuit (pdf), the plaintiffs produced sworn affidavits from multiple senior poll managers who participated in the ballot counting process and contended they saw mail-in ballots that had no fold marks from being mailed, not marked with a writing instrument, and printed on different paper stock, leading them to believe there were additional absentee ballots added in a fraudulent manner.

Plaintiffs in the lawsuit had called for an inspection of all 147,000 absentee ballots cast in the states election.

Superior Court Judge Brian Amero had previously dismissed the case in October 2021, stating that petitioners did not have proper standing to pursue their case.

However, a state Supreme Court decision in December widened the definition of standing, concluding that Georgians can have standing to sue if theyre community stakeholders who suffer an injury when their local government fails to follow the law, paving the way for several of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit to pursue the case.

Garland Favorito, co-founder of Voters Organized for Trusted Election Results in Georgia, in the Georgia World Conference Center in Atlanta, Ga., on Dec. 1, 2020 (Roger L. Simon/Epoch Times)

Appeals Court Order

According to the order from the appeals court, five of the plaintiffsMichael Scupin, Sean Draime, Stacy Doran, Brandi Taylor, and Robin Sotirare not Fulton County residents, but are residents of other counties, and thus their claims lack standing because they did not allege that they are citizens, residents, or taxpayers of . . . the count[y] that they sued[ and] have set forth no allegations showing that they are community stakeholders.

The four other plaintiffs in the suitGarland Favorito, Caroline Jeffords, Trevor Terris, and Christopher Peckhave all asserted that they are residents of Fulton County, court documents show.

Accordingly, we vacate the dismissals of their claims and remand to the trial court for further consideration in the first instance of their standing, presiding judge Christopher McFadden wrote. We note our Supreme Courts admonition regarding federal authority.

While the order does not automatically mean that a judge will grant the ballot inspection, the decision was welcomed by Favorito.

The citizens of Georgia have been victimized for well over two years by false claims that there is no evidence of election fraud, Favorito said of the 28-month legal battle in a press release (pdf).

This inordinate delay is attributable to lower court rulings that falsely claimed we had no standing. The Secretary of State and Attorney General should have helped us all this time instead of fighting against us. It is critical that Georgians quickly know how many counterfeit ballots were included in the 2020 Fulton election results so we can implement more fraud protection measures prior to the next election, Favorito continued.

He added that he and other eligible petitioners fully expect the lower court to move expeditiously since it had already ordered a ballot inspection before Fulton County hired criminal defense attorneys to prevent us from looking at the ballots.

If there is nothing to hide, all involved should be willing to show us the ballots, he said.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger gives an update on the state of the election and ballot count during a news conference at the State Capitol in Atlanta, Ga., on Nov. 6, 2020. (Dustin Chambers/Reuters)

Huge Win for Georgia, American People

Elsewhere, attorney Bob Cheeley, who represents plaintiffs Jeffords and Sotir, called the decision a huge win, not only for the people of Georgia, but also the rest of the United States, adding that it recognizes that, in a democracy, the people control the government, not the other way around.

Standing should be inherent in the constitution of every state and we are very pleased that the Georgia Supreme Court and the Georgia Court of Appeals have officially recognized that citizens have the right to demand accountability and transparency from their government, Cheeley told Just The News.

We intend to go forward and examine the many irregularities that have been identified and associated with Fulton Countys handling of the election, both in the way they tabulated ballots and we want to see the envelopes that should have accompanied all the absentee ballots, he added.

Cheeley also told the publication that both he and his clients have recently discovered another 17,000 votes in the final tally that do not have the relevant underlying documentation or corresponding scanned ballot images needed to support their existence.

Fulton County officials, including Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, have repeatedly said they have found no evidence substantiating election fraud claims in the 2020 election count following multiple investigations, including a hand count.

Raffensperger previously called such allegations nothing more than conspiracy theories and innuendo, in a statement to the Epoch Times.

However, former President Donald Trump, who lost to Democratic rival Joe Biden in Georgia by fewer than 12,000 votes, out of over 4.9 million cast, has claimed that thousands of ballots were illegally cast and counted in the state.

He previously called the hand recount in Fulton County a total fraud.

The Epoch Times has contacted Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffenspergers office for comment.
Gerber Baby Formula Potentially Contaminated With Bacteria Distributed to Stores Across US Despite Recall: FDA

A photo of the powdered infant formula impacted by the voluntary recall. (Courtesy of FDA)

Gerber baby formula that was recalled in March due to a possible link to Cronobacter sakazakii contamination was distributed to multiple retailers even after the initial recall notice was published, federal health officials said on May 14.

Gerber parent company Perrigo on March 17 announced the voluntary recall of certain lots of Gerber Good Start SoothePro Powdered Infant Formula that was manufactured in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, between Jan. 2 and Jan. 18.

At the time, the Dublin-based company said the product recall was being conducted out of an abundance of caution due to the potential presence of Cronobacter sakazakii, but that none of the products distributed to stores had tested positive for the presence of the bacteria and that no adverse events had been reported.

It noted that the products being recalled were sold at retailers across the United States and urged customers who purchased the product after March 5, 2023, to stop using the product and dispose of it.

However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said on Sunday that Associated Wholesale Grocers Inc.a wholesaler that distributes to independently owned supermarkets across more than 3,100 locationsis releasing an additional notice due to certain lots of the recalled product being distributed to its Nashville division retailers after the initial recall notice was announced.

According to the FDA, the recalled product was distributed from its Nashville division only to independent retailers located in Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Affected Products

Retailers included Belle Foods, Cash Saver, Food Giant, Food World, Price Cutter, Quality Foods, Stop to Save, and dozens more.

According to the FDA, the following lot codes were affected by the recall:

Gerber Good Start SootheProTM 12.4 oz:

300357651ZUSE BY 04JUL2024

300457651ZUSE BY 05JUL2024

300557651ZUSE BY 06JUL2024

300557652ZUSE BY 06JUL2024

300757651ZUSE BY 08JUL2024

300857651ZUSE BY 09JUL2024

301057651ZUSE BY 11JUL2024

301057652ZUSE BY 11JUL2024

301157651Z USE BY 12JUL2024

Consumers who purchased the product can check the formulas Lot Codes and use by dates, which can be found at the bottom of the package.

Any consumers who purchased product with matching codes should discontinue use and dispose of the product, the FDA said.

Consumers can also request a refund for impacted products by contacting the Gerber Parent Resource Center, the agency added.

What Is Cronobacter Sakazakii?

Cronobacter sakazakii is a germ found naturally in the environment that can live in various dry foods, such as powdered infant formula and powdered milk as well as in various starches and herbal teas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Although rare, Cronobacter infections can become life-threatening and can cause severe sepsis or meningitis in infants, particularly those who are born prematurely or who have weakened immune systems.

Symptoms in infants usually begin with a fever and a lack of hunger along with excessive crying, or very low energy, according to the CDC. In some cases, infants may have seizures.

Cronobacter infections in infants less than 12 months old are often linked to powdered infant formula, according to the CDC, which says it receives reports of about two to four cases of Cronobacter illness in infants annually. However, the health agency noted that this figure may be higher because the majority of hospitals and laboratories are not required to report Cronobacter infections to health departments.

The latest recall comes after nutrition product maker Reckitt voluntarily recalled 145,000 cans of baby formula in February due to possible cross-contamination with the potentially deadly bacteria.

Last year, major U.S. formula manufacturer Abbott Laboratories recalled all of its products that were made at its Michigan plant amid an investigation into rare bacterial infections that were potentially linked to the contamination, which led to several deaths.

However, the investigation was unable to determine if there was a definitive connection between the illnesses and Abbotts products.

Abbott maintains that none of the baby formula it distributed tested positive for Cronobacter, but the recall and investigation triggered a temporary shortage of baby formula.
Giuliani Sued for $10 Million by Former Employee Alleging Sexual Assault, Harassment, Abuse of Power

Rudy Giuliani, personal lawyer of President Donald Trump, looks on during an appearance before the Michigan House Oversight Committee in Lansing, Michigan on Dec. 2, 2020. (Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images)

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has been accused of sexual assault, abuses of power, and other misconduct by a former employee, according to a lawsuit filed on May 15.

The 70-page lawsuit (pdf), filed in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, lists Noelle Dunphy, allegedly a former director of business development for a number of Giuliani-owned companies, as the plaintiff.

According to the lawsuit, Dunphy began working for Giuliani in 2019, when the latter was at the height of his influence, having served as former President Donald Trumps attorney for legal challenges in several states.

Dunphy was to be paid an annual salary of $1 million plus expenses for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, her lawyers said.

(L-R) Noelle Dunphy, Julianne Michelle, and Marc Leder attend Mommys Heart Winter Fete in Boca Raton, Florida, on Jan. 18, 2023. (Aaron Davidson/Getty Images for Mommys Heart)

Additionally, Giuliani, 78, offered to provide pro bono legal representation to Dunphy in connection with an ongoing dispute involving an abusive ex-partner, her lawyers said.

However, lawyers for the plaintiff claim that Giuliani was motivated to hire Dunphy owing to a secret desire to pursue a sexual relationship with her and that he allegedly began abusing her almost immediately after she started working for him.

He had fashioned himself publicly as a major player in American politics, a successful businessman, and an important powerbroker who wielded enormous control over others, lawyers for Dunphy wrote of Giuliani. He made clear that satisfying his sexual demandswhich came virtually anytime, anywherewas an absolute requirement of her employment and of his legal representation.

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, they continued.

Dunphys Employment Kept Secret

According to the lawsuit, which also names three of Giulianis companies, Dunphy was hired by Giuliani while he was in the midst of an acrimonious divorce from his third wife Judith and he told Dunphy that her employment would need to be kept secret until the divorce proceedings were over.

He claimed that his crazy ex-wife and her lawyers were watching his cashflow and that his ex-wife would attack and retaliate against any female employee that Giuliani hired, the lawsuit states, adding that Giuliani promised Dunphy that his divorce would be resolved any day now.

Lawyers for Dunphy claimed that on the very first day she began working for Giuliani, he kissed her in the back seat of a limo and asked if he could enter her home.

Ms. Dunphy was stunned and shaken, her lawyers wrote. She politely declined and thanked him for her new job and his legal representation. As he was preparing to leave, Giuliani told Ms. Dunphy that since they would be working from different locations that week, he would like it if Ms. Dunphy sent him some flirtatious photos.

According to lawyers, Giulianis behavior toward Dunphy worsened over time and he began asking her extremely personal details relating to her past, including explicit details about prior sexual encounters.

He later forced her to perform oral sex on him, which she did against her will, before forcing her to have sexual intercourse with him for the first time a month after she began working for him, lawyers claim.

The lawsuit states that Giuliani took Viagra constantly and that Dunphy worked under the constant threat that Giuliani might demand sex from her at any moment.

Trump lawyer and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani speaks to media while flanked by Trump campaign lawyer Sidney Powell (L) and Trump campaign senior legal adviser Jenna Ellis at a press conference at the Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington on Nov 19, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

Racist, Antisemitic Remarks

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, lawyers for Dunphy wrote.

Giuliani also allegedly demanded often that Dunphy dress as conservatively as possible when out in public or at work events and forbade her from seeing or talking on the phone with anyone without his approval, lawyers said.

The lawsuit states that Dunphy has recordings of her interactions with Giuliani and that he gave her permission to record her interactions with him, as well as his interactions with others anytime, anywhere.

Dunphy was fired in January 2021 without pay, according to her lawyers.

In a text message to Dunphy at the time of her termination, Giuliani allegedly told her it was best if they not communicate, adding, you have nothing to be afraid of and nothing to sue me for.

I have no animosity to you. You can feel safe that I would do nothing to hurt you and I feel sorry for you. I had hoped you got over your unjust claims of being afraid and wanting to sue. This is just not a basis for any form of communication. Sorry, I tried to make it sensible, he wrote.

Giuliani Unequivocally Denies Allegations

Giuliani and his companies committed unlawful abuses of power, wide-ranging sexual assault and harassment, wage theft, and other misconduct, lawyers for Dunphy said.

Dunphy is seeking $10 million in compensation from Giuliani.

Giulianis communications adviser, Ted Goodman, said in a statement to CBS News on Monday that Giuliani unequivocally denies the allegations made by Dunphy.

Goodman added that every news outlet covering this story must include the fact that an ex-partner accused her of being, an escort that fleeces wealthy men.'

He [Giuliani] claimed shes taken part in prior schemes to defraud high net-worth men, according to a 2016 New York Post story. He also claimed she, bragged about extorting $5 million from the son of a successful Wall Street investor, with a fake rape claim in 2011. Mayor Giulianis lifetime of public service speaks for itself and he will pursue all available remedies and counterclaims, Goodman said.

In a separate statement to the New York Daily News, a Giuliani representative said that the former Trump lawyer and Dunphy dated for a while but that Dunphy was never employed by Giuliani or any of his entities.

They added that the lawsuit is pure harassment and an attempt at extortion.

Dunphy also filed a related summons with notice against Giuliani in January, seeking $3.1 million.

The Epoch Times has contacted Giulianis communications adviser for further comment.
Gloria Molina, Trailblazing Los Angeles Politician, Dies at 74

Former supervisor Gloria Molina (L) and former council president Herb Wesson speak during President Bill Clinton Pays Tribute to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa at Celebrate LA! in Los Angeles, on June 7, 2013. (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELESActivist-turned-politician Gloria Molina, the first Latina to serve on the Los Angeles City Council and the countys Board of Supervisors, as well as in the State Assembly, died May 14 of cancer at age 74, and political and religious leaders recalled her accomplishments Monday.

It is with heavy hearts that our family announces Glorias passing this evening, Molinas daughter, Valentina Martinez, said Sunday in a statement. She passed away at her home in Mt. Washington, surrounded by our family.

Molina had been battling terminal cancer for the past three years, according to the statement.

She faced this fight with the same courage and resilience she lived her life. Over the last few weeks, Gloria was uplifted by the love and support of our family, community, friends, and colleagues. Gloria expressed deep gratitude for the life she lived and the opportunity to serve our community.

Martinez said that while Molina will be remembered as a trailblazer, the family will remember her as our loving mom and grandmother, protective oldest sister, wise tia and loyal friend. We will miss celebrating with her on Christmas Eve, hosted at her home decked out in a new theme for the holidays and nourished with handmade tamales and a holiday feast with all the trimmings.

The statement described her as the strong and selfless matriarch of our family.

Former Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina (L) and daughter Valentina Martinez attend the Inaugural Gala of LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes in Los Angeles, on April 9, 2011. (David Livingston/Getty Images)

Molina, who grew up in Pico Rivera, was active in the early days of the Chicano movement, becoming an advocate for womens health issueswhich she continued into her elected offices. At one point, she founded a Nurse Mentoring Program through local community colleges to address a nurse shortage.

She first won elective office in 1982, winning the 56th Assembly District seat and eventually leading a fight to quash a proposed prison in East L.A.

Molina won the city councils First District seat in 1987 and was elected to the Board of Supervisors representing the countys First District in 1991.

She was the first woman elected to the boardonce known as the Five Little Kingsthough Yvonne Brathwaite Burke, who was appointed to fill a vacancy, was the first woman to actually serve on the board.

Known as a sharp fiscal watchdog, Molina served as a supervisor until 2014, forced out by term limits enacted in 2002. On her exit in 2014, she recalled her early years on the board, by saying, Everything seemed like a battle.

Prior to her elected positions, she worked as a deputy for presidential personnel in the Jimmy Carter White House.

In recognition of her leadership, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors earlier this year renamed Grand Park in honor of Molina, which is now called Gloria Molina Grand Park.

Leaders Tribute

In a statement Sunday night, Los Angeles Mayor Karen 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. She shaped Los Angeles in a lasting way while paving the way for future generations of leaders.

Bass tribute was just one of many.

Words cant express the loss of Gloria Molina, said Supervisor Hilda Solis, who introduced the motion to rename Grand Parka park that Molina championed as an urban green space.

She was a beacon of hope to manyincluding myself. Seeing her break several glass ceilings throughout her public service career inspired me to follow in her footsteps and be of service to our community.  I am heartbroken to lose a champion for Latinos, for mujeres, and for the Eastside. While she may no longer be physically with us, we will forever feel her impact.

Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement that Molina improved the lives of countless Angelenos and Californians and opened doors for generations of women in politics and public service.

Never losing sight of her roots in community organizing and advocacy, Molina was not afraid to clash with prominent politicos in her fight for working-class neighborhoods, Newsom said. Her leadership delivered lasting results advancing social justice for Eastside communities, creating parks and community centers and expanding public transit, among other accomplishments.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom listens to a question during a press conference in Los Angeles on Nov. 10, 2021. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)

L.A. City Councilman Tim McOsker said the date of Molinas passing was significant.

Its deeply moving that on Mothers Day, the mother of the Los Angeles Latina political movement has passed, McOsker said. Molina was not only a trailblazer, but she held the door open for other Latinas in government to walk through.

LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes issued a statement describing Molina as a champion for social justice, who was committed to creating public spaces for Angelenos. The organization also said it will host a public celebration of life for Molina on July 8.

Molina is survived by her husband, Ron Martinez; daughter; Valentina Martinez; son-in-law, Brendan Curran; grandson, Santiago; as well as nine siblings: Gracie, Irma, Domingo, Bertha, Mario, Sergio, Danny, Olga and Lisa.

In lieu of flowers, Molinas family requests that donations be made to Casa 0101 and LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes in her memory to inspire and empower future generations through the arts.

Funeral services were pending.
Goldman Fined $7 Million by ECB Over Credit Risk Reporting

A screen displays the trading information for Goldman Sachs on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York on Oct. 17, 2022. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters)

FRANKFURTThe European Central Bank (ECB) said on Monday it had fined Goldman Sachs European unit 6.63 million euros ($7.3 million) for underreporting the risk associated with some corporate credit, thereby flattering its balance sheet.

Goldman Sachs said in a statement it had closely cooperated with the ECB and taken all necessary steps to resolve the issue.

The ECB, the euro zones top banking supervisor, said Goldman Sachs Bank Europe misclassified some corporate exposures for eight straight quarters in 20192021, assigning a lower risk to them than the rules prescribe.

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.

A spokesperson for Goldman Sachs said the bank recognized the critical importance of [its] regulatory reporting obligations and had fully remedied what it described as a legacy issue.

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.

Goldman Sachs could still challenge the ECBs decision before the Court of Justice of the European Union.

($1 = 0.9084 euros)
For many, the main point of investing is to generate higher returns than the overall market. But the main game is to find enough winners to more than offset the losers At this point some shareholders may be questioning their investment in AF Global Limited (SGX:L38), since the last five years saw the share price fall 61%.

So let's have a look and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business' progress.

See our latest analysis for AF Global

AF Global isn't currently profitable, so most analysts would look to revenue growth to get an idea of how fast the underlying business is growing. Generally speaking, companies without profits are expected to grow revenue every year, and at a good clip. As you can imagine, fast revenue growth, when maintained, often leads to fast profit growth.

In the last five years AF Global saw its revenue shrink by 30% per year. That puts it in an unattractive cohort, to put it mildly. Arguably, the market has responded appropriately to this business performance by sending the share price down 10% (annualized) in the same time period. It's fair to say most investors don't like to invest in loss making companies with falling revenue. You'd want to research this company pretty thoroughly before buying, it looks a bit too risky for us.

You can see how earnings and revenue have changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values).

You can see how its balance sheet has strengthened (or weakened) over time in this free interactive graphic.

What About The Total Shareholder Return (TSR)?

We'd be remiss not to mention the difference between AF Global's total shareholder return (TSR) and its share price return. Arguably the TSR is a more complete return calculation because it accounts for the value of dividends (as if they were reinvested), along with the hypothetical value of any discounted capital that have been offered to shareholders. AF Global's TSR of was a loss of 37% for the 5 years. That wasn't as bad as its share price return, because it has paid dividends.

Story continues

A Different Perspective

Investors in AF Global had a tough year, with a total loss of 12%, 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. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 6% over the last half decade. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 3 warning signs with AF Global (at least 1 which doesn't sit too well with us) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

If you are like me, then you will not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Singaporean 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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GOP Presidential Candidates React to Durham Report: Shut Down the FBI

Two Republican presidential candidates have responded to news that special counsel John Durhams report further discredits the FBIs investigation of the Trump campaign ahead of the 2016 presidential election, saying theyre glad the facts have come out and that theres a case to argue for shutting down the FBI.

According to Durham, who has spent nearly three years probing the origins of the FBIs investigation into the Trump campaign, the bureau hurried to initiate the initial investigation based on unvetted intelligence from the Australian government and the FBI did not interview the individuals connected to the intelligence used to launch a comprehensive investigation.

Ramaswamy responded to the report telling The Epoch Times, Enough is enough. Root out the corruption & shut down the FBI.

This is achievable, the Republican presidential candidate went on. At the local level, we have police & prosecutors. At the federal level, we have U.S. marshals & the DOJ. An intermediary bureaucracy is rife with risk for politicized corruption & its been happening since J. Edgar Hoover in the 60s.

Fellow businessman and Republican candidate Perry Johnson told The Epoch Times that even though this exonerated his political opponent, hes glad the truth has come out on this issue.

Although I am running for President as a Republican alternative to Donald Trump, I am thrilled that our former president has been rightfully exonerated by report findings, Johnson said. We must unite against corruption and celebrate when truth prevails.

The Michigander also noted that, Democrats have never shied away from weaponizing the law for their own benefit. The Trump-Russia probe was nothing more than partisan political targeting and abuse of our legal system by the FBI.

Republican presidential candidate Perry Johnson speaks at the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition in Clive, Iowa, on April 22, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has made preparations for a presidential run in 2024 but has yet to formally announce his candidacy, expressed a similar sentiment on Twitter.

He wrote, The Durham Report confirmed what we already knew: weaponized federal agencies manufactured a false conspiracy theory about Trump-Russia collusion. It reminds us of the need to clean house at these agencies, as theyve never been held accountable for this egregious abuse of power.

Durhams Findings

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 Hurricanethe FBI codename for its investigation of the Trump campaign.

[T]he 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 bureau also failed to examine its own databases, check with other intelligence agencies, interview essential witnesses, and did not use any of the standard analytical tools typically employed by the FBI in evaluation raw intelligence, the report states.

Had the FBI followed its own rules, the bureaus agents would have discovered that neither the bureau or the CIA had any evidence to show that candidate Donald Trump or anyone in his campaign had been in contact with any Russian intelligence officials at any time during the campaign, according to the report.

FBI Response

The FBI released a public statement after the report was released, saying, 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 FBI responded to The Epoch Timess request for comment on the subject by including a copy of the letter (pdf) they sent to Durham in response to the report, which included their agreement that it is important to examine past conduct to identify shortcomings. The letter further outlined steps that the agency has taken to secure the integrity of its national security investigations and other processes.

In addition to the external oversight conducted by the Department of Justice, FBI considerably strengthened and expanded its internal oversight and auditing program  We also share your concern with any proposals that would curtail the scope or reach of FISA or theFBIs investigative activities  in a time of aggressive and hostile terorist groups and foreign powers.

Janice Hisle contributed to this report.
Gov. Greg Abbott Threatens Special Session If Lawmakers Fail to Expand School Choice Bill

Texas state lawmakers could be headed back to Austin this summer if they fail to pass school choice legislation for millions of students before the close of session on May 29, warned Gov. Greg Abbott.

Parents and their children deserve the time and effort this will take, Abbott said in a statement posted on Twitter May 14.

Abbott posted the statement after the Texas House Committee on Public Education proposed a significantly altered version of Senate Bill 8, a school choice bill that would provide up to $8,000 per year per student to Texas families who want to move their children into private schools or other alternatives.

Senate Bill 8 passed along party lines in the upper chamber in April.

Under the original bill, about 5.5 million students would qualify for the ESA program. The original House version of the bill proposed the last week reduced this to about 4 million students.

But under the latest version of the House proposal, only about 800,000 students would qualify, Abbott said. It also provides less funding for special education and denies school choice to low-income families, he said.

Failure to expand the scope of school choice to something close to the Senate version or the original House version of the Senate bill will necessitate special sessions, Abbott said. Parents and their children deserve no less.

Abbotts warning came hours before the House Committee on Public Education was set to vote on the pared-down legislation. The Republican governor vowed to veto the Houses substitute version of Senate Bill 8 (pdf), which limits the eligibility pool and offers less funding to low-income students and those with special needs.

The original version of Senate Bill 8 would be available to most K12 students, allowing parents who opt out of public school to apply $8,000 per student per year toward their childs private education, including textbooks and tutoring. The average cost of private school tuition in Texas is $10,454 per year, according to Private School Review.

It would also restrict public and charter schools from providing lessons, campus activities, or programs regarding sexual orientation or gender identity.

The governor has spent the last several months traveling across the state promoting GOP legislation to expand school choice through education savings accounts (ESAs), also known as school vouchers, which would allow parents to access state money to fund K12 education, tutoring, and other educational materials outside the public school system.

This latest version does little to provide meaningful school choices, and legislators deserve to know that it would be vetoed if it reached my desk. Instead, the original House version of the Senate bill provides a more meaningful starting point to begin House-Senate negotiations, Abbott said.

Republican state Sen. Brandon Creighton authored the original version of Senate Bill 8 (pdf). The House has yet to clear either the original bill or substitute versions with less than two weeks left in the session.

Committee Substitute to Senate Bill 8

House Public Education Committee Chairman Rep. Brandon Buckley revised the proposal, known as Committee Substitute to Senate Bill 8, which would limit ESA availability to children who have a disability, are educationally disadvantaged, or attend a school that has received a D rating or lower for the prior two years. Eligibility would also be open to siblings of those in the program.

Roughly 800,000 students statewide would qualify under the substitute bill.

In Texas, about 56 percent of the states 5.5 million students in public schools qualify for free or reduced lunch, according to Public School Review. About 11 percent of students are enrolled in special education programs, according to The Annie E. Casey Foundation data for 202021. During the same period, 6.7 percent of public campuses statewide received a D or lower rating from the Texas Education Agency, but they were labeled as not rated due to interruptions caused by the pandemic.

An explainer page about the bill says it would eliminate the states STAAR test, a once-a-year test that assesses students knowledge of the states curriculum (pdf). However, while the committee substitute bill would eliminate the STAAR, the annual test would be replaced by multiple tests throughout the school year.

Bob Popinski is the senior director of policy for Raise Your Hand Texas, an education advocacy organization.

The testing provision included in the committee substitute [does] need discussion, but not in conjunction with a voucher proposal, Popinski said in a statement to The Epoch Times. Raise Your Hand Texas believes in a robust assessment and accountability system, with no more than 50 percent of a state assessment being counted for a campus of district A-F letter grade.

Popinski said the House version of CSSB 8 does not abolish the state test.

Annual testing is still required under federal law, he said. The provisions of the bill rebrand STAAR and do not improve how campus and district A-F letter grades are determined.

A late-night meeting to consider the plan was blocked by Republican Rep. Ernest Bailes, who objected to Buckleys motion for the committee to meet.

This is not the right way to do this, Bailes said, the Texas American Federation of Teachers reported. Our kids matter in the state of Texas, and they are better than backroom shady dealings, which is what this is right here.

The chamber denied his request to vote on the bill.

May 15 Hearing

On May 15, the House education committee reconvened to debate and hear hours of testimony from invited school officials, both public and private.

Temple Independent School District Superintendent Bobby Ott told the committee that he opposes ESAs for a number of reasons, including the lack of funding for special education in public schools.

I will tell you there are no higher service requirements found anywhere for special needs children than in public schools, Ott told the committee. But you will also find no program more underfunded in public schools than special education.

The Texas Commission on special education shows that local school districts and taxpayers are subsidizing special educationalmost $1.9 billion. An alternative would be to appropriately fund special ed in our public schools because this would actually impact more children, he continued.

Democrat state Rep. Alma Allen, vice chair of the education committee, argued that vouchers would not solve the problems in public education.

If you want to solve the problem, you fix the school, Allen said during the hearing. Fix the school by putting in good teachers. You pay teachers. You upgrade the profession so that those children get the same education, adding that the vouchers would not help the families who are living in poverty.

The committee was scheduled to continue its discussions of the proposal on May 16.
Vaccine developers at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) are enrolling healthy adult Americans to test an experimental universal influenza vaccine using mRNA technology.

The Phase 1 trial will be conducted at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, the NIAID said on Monday. Researchers will test the experimental vaccine, dubbed H1ssF-3928 mRNA-LNP, for safety and its ability to induce an immune response.

For this early-stage trial, the federal research agency is looking for up to 50 healthy volunteers aged 18 through 49. There will be three 10-participant groups receiving 10, 25, and 50 micrograms of the experimental vaccine, respectively. After evaluation of the data to determine an optimum dosage, an additional 10 participants will be administered with the optimum dosage.

The study also will include a group of participants to receive a currently available flu vaccine that protects against the four most common flu virus strains in circulation.

The NIAID said it expects to collect all the data needed by March 15, 2024, and conclude the study by Aug. 30, 2024.

The name H1ssF is an abbreviation of H1 hemagglutinin stabilized stem ferritin, meaning that the vaccine uses the stem part of the influenza hemagglutinin protein displayed on the surface of a ferritin nanoparticle as the immunogen. The stem remains largely unchanged throughout influenza mutations, as compared to the head, which constantly changes as the virus mutates into different strains in a process called antigenic drift.

Most of the bodys immune response to the influenza virus is directed toward the ever-changing head of the hemagglutinin protein, and hence seasonal influenza vaccines must be updated each year. NIAID researchers believe that a vaccine that targets the stem without the distraction of the head could offer stronger and longer-lasting immunity.

The other part of the experimental vaccines name, mRNA-LNP, means that the messenger RNA-encoded immunogen is delivered inside a lipid nanoparticle (LNP). The vaccine doesnt contain the immunogen, but uses LNP-coated mRNA to instruct the host cells to assemble the immunogenic proteins that can trigger the production of effective antibodies.

Safety Risks

The same mRNA technology is used to make both Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, two of the most administered vaccinations in the world. Despite their widespread use, championed by governments of many countries under the premise that the shots are safe and effective, the mRNA vaccines continue to spur concerns about serious side effects, including a heightened risk of cardiac-related deaths in healthy teenagers and young adults after vaccination.

Last October, the Florida Department of Health issued a warning against giving young men mRNA COVID shots, citing an analysis (pdf) that found an 84 percent increase in the relative incidence of cardiac-related death among males 18-39 years old within 28 days following the jab.

With a high level of global immunity to COVID-19, the benefit of vaccination is likely outweighed by this abnormally high risk of cardiac-related death among men in this age group. Non-mRNA vaccines were not found to have these increased risks, said Dr. Joseph Ladapo, Floridas surgeon general.

There are also concerns over how long it takes the mRNA sequences to break down after doing their intended job. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for instance, has claimed that the mRNA is broken down within a few days. A study published earlier this year, however, suggests that mRNA fragments can linger in the blood for almost a month.

The H1ssF-3928 mRNA-LNP is not the only mRNA-based flu shot candidate in the works. In January, Pfizer chief executive Albert Bourla said in Davos, Switzerland during the World Economic Forum that his company is working on a combination mRNA vaccine for both influenza and COVID.

I think we are coming this year, in 23, Bourla told Bloomberg, noting that while he cant guarantee a timeline, it will hopefully come out by the first half of the year.

Moderna also has a candidate, called mRNA-1010, in the race to put the first mRNA flu shot onto the market. In April, however, the company told investors that mRNA-1010 did not meet the statistical threshold necessary to declare early success due to a lack of sufficient cases at the interim efficacy analysis of a phase 3 trial conducted in Northern Hemisphere countries.

The findings of that study mirrored those from a separate phase 3 trial in the Southern Hemisphere, which showed in February that the vaccine was effective against two influenza A strains but didnt check off two B strains. Moderna also reported a higher rate of solicited adverse reactions in participants taking mRNA-1010 (70 percent) than those who received an already available vaccine (48 percent).
House GOP Says Politics Is Behind Lack of Consequences for Pro-Abortion Extremists

With attacks on pro-life organizations around the country on the rise, Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee have charged that the Department of Justice is unequally enforcing the law to the detriment of such groups.

Politics is driving the agenda in far too many agencies in our government, and today, its not limited to presidential campaigns, said Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) at a May 16 committee hearing. Today, they come after American citizens.

You could be a Catholic attending a Mass. You could be a parent showing up at a school board meeting. Or, you could be like Mr. Houck, a pro-lifer praying at a clinic, and you  could be targeted by our government. That is how scary the situation has become.

Traumatized

Mark Houck, a Catholic pro-life advocate, was one of several witnesses invited to testify before the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government regarding the Justice Departments enforcement of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, a law that prohibits the use or threat of force to intimidate or obstruct those seeking to obtain or provide reproductive health services.

In October 2021, Houck was involved in an altercation with a clinic escort at a Philadelphia Planned Parenthood clinic. But while local law enforcement declined to pursue charges in the case, in September 2022, the FBI arrested Houck in front of his wife and children during an early morning raid on his home.

My children were down-range of many guns, and they screamed through the whole process.  They were traumatized, he recounted at Tuesdays hearing.

Jordan, noting that Houck had volunteered to turn himself in to police, asked the father of seven why he thought he had received such treatment from the FBI.

Ive been thinking about that for many months, and I can only come up with that the intention was to humiliate me, to scare my children, and to instill fear in pro-life America, Houck replied.

Selective Enforcement

Despite the Justice Departments zealous enforcement of the FACE Act in Houcks case, Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.), the subcommittee chairman, noted that the Biden administration has rarely enforced the law in defense of pro-life pregnancy centers and churches, which are also protected under the statute.

The Justice Department to date has brought only four indictments against pro-abortion activists, all of which were related to a single Janes Revenge attack in Florida, Johnson said, referencing a pro-abortion extremist group.

Those four indictments, he contended, were not even a drop in the bucket considering the hundreds of attacks on pro-life organizations and churches that have occurred since the FACE Act was passed in 1994.

Over the past year, such attacks have ramped up considerably in light of the Supreme Courts Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization ruling that abortion is not a constitutionally protected right.

According to the Family Research Council, between the leak of the Supreme Courts Dobbs decision in May 2022 and March 2023, more than 100 attacks on pro-life organizations and churches occurred.

New Life Family Services, an organization in Minnesota that oversees First Care Pregnancy Centers, is just one pro-life organization to have recently experienced such an attack.

On March 4, a First Care in Minneapolis was vandalized by Janes Revenge, which smashed windows and spray-painted graffiti on the outside of the facility, including such phrases as Jane was here and If abortions arnt [sic] safe neither r u.

The vandals caused more than $30,000 worth of damage in just two minutes, according to New Life Family Services Executive Director Tammy Kocher, who also advised that the culprits had yet to be held to account.

We have been in touch with the FBI, but there have been no arrests. Nobody has been identified, to my knowledge.

Further noting that other pregnancy centers in her state had faced similar threats and attacks, Kocher added: While these attacks are meant to intimidate and hurt us, the people who are ultimately hurt are our clientssingle moms, families who are struggling to make ends meet, and young women who are being pressured into an abortion. They are the real victims here.

Democrats Push Back

While Republicans argued that the Justice Department had been selectively applying the law, the Judiciary Committees top Democrat asserted that his GOP colleagues had been selective in their condemnation of politically motivated violence.

Since 1977, anti-abortion extremists have been responsible for 11 murders, 42 bombings, 200 arsons, 531 assaults, and thousands of incidents of criminal activities directed at patients, providers, and volunteers, Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) said, noting that the FACE Act was passed in response to such violence.

Condemning all acts of violence, Nadler charged that the Republican committee members were ignoring attacks against abortion providers and patients to focus on a false narrative of malevolent law enforcement.

The Democrat added, Todays hearing will inadvertently send the wrong message to anti-abortion extremists at a critical moment in our nation where reproductive freedom and abortion access is in crisis.
House Panel Advances Police Bills in Party-Line Vote After Contentious Hearing

House Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) presides over a markup of the impeachment process resolution at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Oct. 30, 2019. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

The House Rules Committee approved three resolutions to kick off National Police Week on Monday, May 15. While committee members unanimously voiced support for the police, the vote was split along party lines.

The Republican majority outvoted the Democrats 8 to 3. The Democrats accused the Republicans of ingratitude toward law enforcement. The Republicans accused the Democrats of hypocrisy.

Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) claimed that Republicans want to defund law enforcement through federal budget cuts. Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) asked Nadler if he stood by comments that he previously made to The New York Post to defund the New York City Police Department. Nadler said he did. Norman added that New York has become more dangerous because of those budget cuts.

I dont know how you can sit there and make the statements youre making when your record is so dismal, Norman said.

Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, attends the committees Victims of Violent Crime in Manhattan field hearing at Jacob K. Javits Federal Building in New York City on April 17, 2023. (Chung I Ho/The Epoch Times)

Nadler responded that New York is safer because money taken from police is used for mental health services.

Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) serves on the Judiciary Committee with Nadler.

You asked if Ive ever heard this before, Biggs said to Norman.

Yeah, I serve on the judiciary committee; I hear it all the time.

The three resolutionsHR 2494, HR 3091, and CR 40will now go to the House floor.

The bills make illegal aliens who assault police automatically subject to deportation, allow federal law enforcement officers to purchase their service weapons when the guns are retired, and express support for local law enforcement while condemning efforts to defund or dismantle police departments.

Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okl.) leaves the office of U.S. Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-Cali.) in the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 27, 2023 in Washington. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

The House of Representatives will be making clear where we stand. Above all, we honor the memory of all who have fallen in the line of duty, said Committee Chairman Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.).

Nadler, ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, and Biggs testified before the Rules Committee.

Nadler criticized the resolutions, which he said would not help police while demonizing immigrants and slighting federal law enforcement.

Together, they are the perfect encapsulation of a Republican majority, Nadler said.

According to Nadler, HR 2494 is unnecessary because illegal aliens that assault police can already be deported. Nadler said the proposed law doesnt require actual harm or injury.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested an illegal alien in New York City on Apr. 11, 2018. (John Moore/Getty Images)

This could lead to absurd results, Nadler said.

He said the legislation would subject non-violent people to deportation for such innocuous actions as shoving a firefighter or police officer out of danger in a fire.

Biggs agreed that the situation Nadler described was absurd. According to Biggs, Nadlers situation was absurd because it wouldnt happen because in every jurisdiction, the state must prove intent to harm, whether or not there is actual harm. Rep. Michelle Fischbach (R-Minn.) agreed.

Mr. Nadler, thats a little farfetched, she said.

A Capitol Police officer watches supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump gather outside the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. (Cheriss May/Getty Images)

Nadler and other Democrats were especially critical of HR 3091. They said the resolution thanking local law enforcement intentionally left out federal agencies. Rep. James McGovern (D-Mass.) grilled Biggs on who made that decision and why. He said it was a slap at the Capitol Police who protected Congress on Jan. 6.

Biggs denied there was any intent to slight federal law enforcement. He said those agencies were mentioned in the other bills. McGovern was unmoved. He said early versions of the resolution included the federal agencies.

Somewhere along the line, a decision was made to change that. Why would you do that? McGovern asked.

McGovern said Republicans are getting back at federal law enforcement for its prosecution of former President Donald Trump. McGovern rattled off a list of indictments handed down against Trump, his staff, and associates.

I dont think it was an accident that you wanted to change (the resolution), McGovern said.

Pages from the Durham report, a copy of which was obtained by The Epoch Times. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Biggs pointed out that the freshly released Durham report was critical of the FBIs handling of the investigations that McGovern had referenced. McGovern responded that there are no indictments from the Durham Report.

Trying to get an indictment out of (Attorney General) Merrick Garland will be pretty darn hard unless youre a Republican, Biggs shot back.

Democratic opposition to HR 3091 was not as stiff but McGovern said the bill still has problems.Nadler said a version of the bill introduced during the last session included a requirement that the officers pass a background check and that money raised from the purchases be used to finance gun violence prevention programs.

Biggs said the plan was more fiscally responsible than most legislation from Congress. He pointed out that the government would recoup some of the money spent when the firearms were first purchased and reduce the cost of destroying the weapons as required by current law.

This bill is not only pro-law enforcement, it is pro-taxpayer as well, Biggs said.
House Debates 3 Pro-Law Enforcement Resolutions

The U.S. House of Representatives on May 16 agreed to move forward with a vote on three pro-law enforcement resolutions for National Police Week.

The bills allow federal law enforcement officers to purchase their service weapons at retirement, make assaulting a law enforcement officer a deportable offense for illegal aliens, and expressed gratitude for local law enforcement departments while condemning efforts to defund them.

House Democrats hammered away at the language in a House Resolution they say belies Republicans true feelings about federal law enforcement officers during National Police Week.

During debate on three resolutions in the House of Representatives on May 16, 2023, Rep. James McGovern (D-Mass.) said language in one of the bills is a slap at Capitol Police who protected Congress on Jan. 6.

I guess it just shows that Republicans only support some of the police, McGovern said.

A Louisville Metro Police cruiser in Louisville, Ky., on Sept. 1, 2021. (Jon Cherry/Getty Images)

The U.S. House of Representatives debated three bills in observance of National Police Week.

HR 2494, HR 3091, and CR 40 make illegal aliens who assault police automatically subject to deportation, allow federal law enforcement officers to purchase their service weapons when the guns are retired, and express support for local law enforcement while condemning efforts to defund or dismantle police departments, respectively.

Much of the debate focused on CR 40 and the Democrats claim that Republicans were slighting federal law enforcement.

CR 40 expresses gratitude for local law enforcement and condemns efforts to defund or dismantle police departments. The legislation is a response to the defund the police movement that grew from the riots after the 2020 protests over the death of George Floyd.

McGovern said Republicans had previously introduced CR 5, a bill to honor all law enforcement officers. He said CR 40s language honoring local law enforcement was a conscious decision to exclude federal law enforcement. He said no Republicans could or would explain the change.

A protester affiliated with the Occupy Wall Street movement is arrested by members of the Des Moines police department for blocking an entrance to the Iowa Democratic Party headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa, on Dec. 29, 2011. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

Nobody will help us solve this mystery. I find it disgraceful, McGovern said.

Rep. Michelle Fischbach (R-Minn.), and other Republicans, countered that several Democrats backed the defund the police movement that grew out of the 2020 George Floyd protests. Fischbach said the other side of the aisle was playing word games to draw attention away from that fact.

She pointed out that at this same point in the 117th Congress, Democrats were accusing police of racist policies, outlawing policing methods that kept officers safe, and voting to remove qualified immunity from police.

Qualified immunity is the legal principle that protects government officials, including the police, from being sued for actions taken during their regular duties.

The brave men and women who risk their lives every day need to know that we support them, Fischbach said.

It is time for leaders to stand up for law enforcement and to stop the anti-police rhetoric.

McGovern responded that the Republicans proposed spending cuts two weeks ago that would result in actual cuts to local law enforcement.

Theyre the ones who voted to defund the police, McGovern said.

HR 2494 makes the assault of a law enforcement officer an automatically deportable offense. According to the legislation, making assault of an officer a specifically deportable offense will reduce the kind of legal analysis that can keep a case tied up in court for months.

Rep. John Rutherford (R-Fla.) said that prior to passage of this resolution, it could take months to deport an illegal alien who had assaulted an officer. This legislation sends a clear message, he said.

If you assault one of our officers were kicking you out of our country, Rutherford said.

The House also debated HR 3091, which allows federal law enforcement officers to purchase their duty weapons when they retire or when the weapon is deemed surplus. Prior to passage of this law, the firearms had to be destroyed. Fischbach said this meant the government paid twice for the weapon.

Now, the government will recoup part of its cost. Rutherford, a retired law enforcement officer, said for a police officer his duty weapon is more than just a gun.

Your sidearm is more than just a sidearm, he said.

A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that the bills were passed. The Epoch Times regrets the error.
House Unanimously Passes Bill Limiting Federal Government Access to Phone, Email Data

The U.S. flag at the dome of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington on May 12, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)

The U.S. House of Representatives on May 15 passed a bill that would place restrictions on the federal governments access to personal cell phone and email data.

The bill passed the lower chamber in a unanimous 4120 vote, including 212 Republicans and 200 Democrats. The legislation was sponsored by Reps. Scott Fitzgerald (R-Wis.) and Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.).

Under current law, prosecutors can request email and cell phone records from those not suspected of any criminal behavior. Often, these requests to service providers are accompanied by Non-Disclosure Orders (NDOs).

NDOs came under special scrutiny in 2021, after it was revealed that such NDOs had been used by prosecutors in searches of major outlet journalists and members of Congress.

But Nadler said in a press release that abuse of secrecy orders is not limited to Congressschools, local governments, Fortune 500 companies, and countless others have had their data swept up by investigators looking to sidestep the basic protections afforded to Americans in criminal investigations.

The bill, dubbed the NDO Fairness Act, would strengthen legislative safeguards against such uses of NDOs by prosecutors by requiring them to prove to a court that a substantially adverse event would be likely from failure to issue an NDO (pdf). It would require stricter scrutiny of such gag orders, and would limit them to a 30 day window, with opportunities for additional 30 day extensions as needed.

The federal government has abused its authority to access the personal data of individuals under investigation, Fitzgerald said in a press release. Unfortunately, those under investigation are neither informed of the search nor given a remedy to defend themselves and their data privacy rights. This legislation would bolster privacy protections to be comparable to those in a physical office or workplace while providing a much-needed check on the federal governments surveillance authorities.

Nadler said of the bill, In the 21st century, federal prosecutors no longer need to show up to your office. They just need to raid your virtual office. They do not have to subpoena journalists directly. They just need to go to the cloud.

And rather than providing Americans with meaningful notice that their private electronic records are being accessed in a criminal investigation, the Department hides behind its ability to ask third-party providers directly. They deny American citizens, companies, and institutions their basic day in court and, instead, they gather their evidence entirely in secret.

The Houses bipartisan passage of H.R. 7072 is a crucial step towards limiting the Department of Justices ability to abuse a little-known process that allows prosecutors to obtain gag orders when secretly trying to obtain a persons electronic communications data.

The bill comes as Republicans in the House mount an investigation into what they have called the Weaponization of the Federal Government. Republicans allege that President Joe Biden and his administration have weaponized federal law enforcement against their political enemies.

Fitzgerland connected the two issues in another statement: As a member of the Judiciary Committee, fighting back against bureaucracy and Americans right to privacy from their government has been one of my top priorities. I introduced these two pieces of legislation last Congress and  I look forward to advocating for their consideration on the House floor.

Last year, the same legislation was sponsored by Nadler and passed by the House.

However, it ultimately died in the Senate Judiciary Committee without further action, leaving the bills fate uncertain. Its also unclear if Biden will sign the legislation.
Huntington Beachs $5.4 Million Settlement for Pacific Airshow Can Avoid Huge Budget Hole for City, Officials Say

The United States Air Force Thunderbirds fly over the Huntington Beach Pier during the Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach, Calif., on Oct. 1, 2021. (Michael Heiman/Getty Images)

Surf Citys newly elected conservative majority says the citys recent settlement of more than $5.4 million with the annual Pacific Airshow, which has brought millions of visitors from around the world since 2016, was necessary because of the events tremendous positive impact on the local economy.

Mayor Tony Strickland told The Epoch Times the city would have had a huge budget hole had the showa spectacular of military and civilian flight demonstrationsnot continued.

When you get that kind of event here it helps us fund essential services like parks, road maintenance, and road construction. Its an unbelievable three-day event, he said.

Some of the organizers disputes with the city erupted in 2021, after the shows final day was called off due to an oil spill where 25,000 gallons of crude oil was leaked through a cracked pipeline into the ocean.

Attorneys for the event filed a lawsuit against the city later that year arguing doing such was a breach of contract, and harmful to the shows relationships with its vendors amid other concerns.

During a May 9 press conference, city leaders announced an agreement to settle the citys portion of the lawsuit.

The city will pay $5 million to the Pacific Air Show, waive $195,000 in fees owed from the 2021 show, and refund an additional $149,000 in fees from last years event in the form of a credit, according to city officials.

A payment of $1,999,000 is required by July 31 or earlier, and $500,000 is due by Jan. 30, 2024 and for each of the following five years.

According to the settlement agreement, up to an additional $2 million could also be dished out in related funds if the city files its own lawsuit against Amplify Energythe pipeline operator involved in the oil spill, which mostly affected Huntington Beach.

Strickland said he believes if it wasnt for the efforts of the recently elected Fab Fourthe councils conservative majority, which also includes Mayor Pro Tem Gracey Van Der Mark and councilors Pat Burns and Casey McKeonthe Air Show would have been canceled indefinitely.

It was already gone. The organizer was done dealing with the city, he said. We brought him back to the table, and we resolved the conflict.

Strickland pointed to a study facilitated by Visit Huntington Beach over last years air show, which demonstrated astronomical financial benefits the event brought to the city, which he said shows the importance of continuing the yearly event.

According to the study conducted by Destination Analystsa market research company for travel and tourismthe Air Show generated $70.4 million in direct spending in 2022 and attracted 690,000 attendees.

Of the total visitors, 520,000 were from outside of Huntington Beach and 91 percent were return visitors specifically because of the show.

The shows organizer told The Epoch Times the events survival in Huntington Beach has been challenged in recent years.

The last few years have been very challenging dealing with the prior [city] council, who were very unfriendly towards business, and certainly very unfriendly towards the air show, said Kevin Elliot, CEO of Code Four, the company which organizes the show.

Additionally, the lawsuit argued the previous city council voted last September to stop offsetting some of the events costs through parking fees as was done in previous years, which Elliot said was an act of punishment for the organizers voicing concerns over the cancellation.

The city always increased the parking on air show weekend. Its just rather than using that incremental revenue to help offset some of the public safety costs last year, the city opted to keep the money instead, Elliot said.

A lifelong resident of Huntington Beach, Elliot got involved as an investor and vendor in 2017 for the show and took it over fully in 2018.

Ive taken this event on to originally save it and then ultimately grow it and keep it in our community because its a great local driver of economic benefit, he said. Luckily for us, the residents elected new leadership in the city, and they are very supportive of the air show.

Elliot said he was pleased the current council decided to stay true to previous years negotiations and offset some costs through parking fees, which will save the show at least $110,000 for its Special Event Permit fee.

I am very happy that we were able to make it all work, he said.

Councilors Dan Kalmick, Natalie Moser, and Rhonda Boltonwho are the citys longest-standing councilors and part of the criticized previous councildid not respond to a request for comment by press time.

According to Strickland, the show has also helped unite the city with local leaders in Australia, who have been planning to host similar events.

Government dignitaries from Australia were here [last year] at the air show, and it gives us energy for us to be working with [a city] in Australia  as a city here in Huntington Beach, the mayor said.

After working up a deal for the past few years, the Pacific Airshow will debut from Aug. 18 to 20 in Gold Coast, a coastal city in the state of Queensland, Australia.

In Huntington Beach, tickets will be on sale starting June 1, and the show will run from Sept. 29 through Oct. 1, featuring the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, Canadian Forces Snowbirds, and an F-22 Raptor demonstration team, which is part of the Air Force and joining the event this year for the first time.

The full list lineup has yet to be released.
Illegal Immigrants Bused to Vice Presidents Home Once Again as Title 42 Ends

Illegal immigrants from Venezuela, who boarded a bus in Texas, wait to be transported to a local church by volunteers after being dropped off outside the residence of Vice President Kamala Harris, at the Naval Observatory in Washington, on Sept. 15, 2022. (Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

A busload of illegal immigrants was dropped off late on May 14 outside the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, where Vice President Kamala Harris residence is located.

According to ABC7, the bus arrived at around 8:30 p.m. on Mothers Day carrying dozens of illegal immigrants from Del Rio, Texas.

The outlet shared videos on Twitter of the individuals being greeted by humanitarian workers as they disembarked the bus.

The bus is not the first to arrive near Harriss home.

In September, Gov. Greg Abbott sent two buses of illegal immigrants to the border czars residence in protest of her management of the crisis at the U.S.Mexico border.

The Biden-Harris administration continues ignoring and denying the historic crisis at our southern border, which has endangered and overwhelmed Texas communities for almost two years, Abbott said in a Sept. 15 statement.

Our supposed border czar, Vice President Kamala Harris, has yet to even visit the border to see firsthand the impact of the open border policies she has helped implement, even going so far as to claim the border is secure. Texas will continue sending [illegal] migrants to sanctuary cities like Washington, D.C., until President [Joe] Biden and Border Czar Harris step up and do their jobs to secure the border.

True to his word, Abbott sent additional buses of illegal border crossers to Harris residence in October and on Christmas Eve, capping off the year by bringing the total number of illegal immigrants bused from Texas to Washington in 2022 to more than 9,000.

And with the recent expiration of Title 42, it would appear Abbott has resumed the practice.

According to the ABC affiliate, additional buses of illegal immigrants arrived outside the Naval Observatory late on May 10 and at around 6:30 a.m. on May 11, just hours before the public health orderwhich has allowed for the speedy removal of millions of illegal immigrants since the start of the COVID-19 pandemicwas set to expire.

Texas Takes Action

Last week, in preparation for the policys sunsetting, Abbott announced the deployment of the new Texas Tactical Border Force to help stem the flow of illegal immigrants into his state.

With the ending of Title 42 on Thursday [May 11], President Biden is laying down the welcome mat to people across the entire world, but Texas is deploying our new Texas Tactical Border Force, Abbott said in a May 8 statement.

The Texas National Guard is loading Blackhawk helicopters and C-130s and deploying specially trained soldiers for the Texas Tactical Border Force, who will be deployed to hotspots all along the border to help intercept and repel large groups of migrants trying to enter Texas illegally.

The end of Title 42, he said, would cause chaos at the bordera fact even the Biden administration has been forced to acknowledge.

This is a challenge, and we are going to meet this challenge, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas noted at a White House press briefing on May 11.

Were going to meet it within a broken immigration system while adhering to our values.

While Mayorkas said his department was clear eyed about the difficulties they would face after Title 42 expired, he nonetheless asserted that the administration was prepared to meet the anticipated influx of illegal migrants at the border, noting that the transition to Title 8 processing would be swift, immediate.

We have surged 24,000 Border Patrol agents and officers, thousands of troops, contractors, and over 1,000 asylum officers and judges to see this through, he said.

Abbott, however, has been unimpressed by the Biden administrations efforts.

Referencing reports earlier this month that the administration was sending an additional 1,500 troops to the border to fill administrative roles, Abbott noted in a post on Twitter: Biden sent 1,500 troops to the border to do paperwork. Texas deployed trained soldiers and troopers to take real action and respond to this crisis.

Additionally, in a statement emailed to The Epoch Times, Abbotts office noted that his border bus mission, launched in April 2022, has helped to ease the burden on border towns that have been overwhelmed by illegal immigrants.

Texas has since bused over 18,300 migrants to self-declared sanctuary cities Washington, D.C., New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia, providing much-needed relief, noted Andrew Mahaleris, a spokesperson for the governors office.

Meanwhile, the Biden administration has been solidifying plans to release some illegal immigrants into the United States without court dates under a new policy that a federal judge has temporarily blocked.

Now that President Biden has ended Title 42, one of the Biden administrations supposed solutions to the growing border crisis is to mass-release migrants into our border communities with no way to track them and hand them court dates scheduled for more than a decade from now, Mahaleris said.

These safe mass releases will only further burden and overwhelm small Texas border communities already at their breaking points thanks to President Bidens reckless open border policies.

Until President Biden steps up and does his job to secure the border, Texas will continue busing migrants to sanctuary cities to provide relief to our overwhelmed border towns.

The Epoch Times has contacted Harriss office for comment.
IN-DEPTH: Durham Report Shows FBI Repeatedly Hamstrung Clinton Investigations

FBI officials intervened again and again ahead of the 2016 election to limit agents ability to investigate potential criminal activity related to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton or her presidential campaign, according to a recent report by special counsel John Durham.

The report contrasts the bureaus treatment of Clinton-related matters with those related to her opponent, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.

The Clinton-related cases emerged from local field offices only to run into delays and pushback when seeking approval and cooperation from the headquarters in Washington. Top FBI officials responded to the probes with hostility and tried to pick apart their predication, the report details.

By contrast, the investigation of Trumps campaign members was quickly and unanimously approved at the highest levels and pushed forward by the officials despite them being predicated on vague, unverified claims, according to the report.

Foreign Influence Campaign

In late 2014, the FBI learned from an informant that a foreign government was planning to contribute to Clintons anticipated presidential campaign, as a way to gain influence with Clinton should she win the presidency, the report said.

Not only was the informant well-placed, but the FBI was able to independently corroborate the information, it said.

The field office handling the informant almost immediately sought a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrant to monitor the foreigner. It tried to get the warrant quickly approved, but headquarters left the application in limbo for four months, the special agent in charge (SAC) at the field office said, according to the report, which noted that the delay was also in part due to waiting for confirmation of a new attorney general.

Everyone was super more careful and scared with the big name [Clinton], another agent said.

They were pretty tippy-toeing around [Clinton] because there was a chance she would be the next president.

The higher-ups suggested to the SAC that they did not want a presidential candidate on a tape, the report said, noting that, in the SACs view, that was a very remote possibility.

Ultimately, the FISA was conditioned on the FBIs giving defensive briefings to the Clinton campaign and other candidates targeted by the same foreign government. The briefings serve to warn an American that hes being targeted by a foreign government operation.

Another Foreign Influence Campaign

In November 2015, the same informant told the FBI that he was approached by an insider of another foreign government who asked him to set up a meeting with Clinton in order to propose something. The informant understood it meant campaign contributions on behalf of the foreign government in exchange for protection of [the governments] interests should Clinton become president, the report said.

The FBI knew that the insider had foreign intelligence and criminal connections and the proposed campaign contributions allegedly involved a significant sum of money, according to Durham.

The insider wanted to attend a November 2015 Clinton fundraiser, but ultimately didnt and asked the informant to instead deliver a message of support for Clinton at another fundraiser in January 2016. The informant was authorized by the FBI to deliver the message, but after the fact the informant reported that he also made a $2,700 contribution to the campaign on behalf of the insider. Giving to a campaign on behalf of a foreigner is illegal, Durham noted.

They [the campaign] were ok with it, the informant reported. Yes, they were fully aware from the start.

The illegal campaign donation wasnt documented in the case file and nobody, from the handling agent to the higher-ups at headquarters, could provide Durham with any explanation whyif they admitted remembering anything about the donation at all.

But Durham uncovered some internal messages that showed some higher-ranking agents at the headquarters were aware of the donation and were at the time urgently seeking more information about it.

In the end, however, the investigation appeared to have been snuffed out, the report indicates.

The handling agent, responding to direction, the report said, told the informant:

Do NOT attend any more campaign events, set up meetings, or anything else relating to [Clintons] campaign. We need to keep you completely away from that situation. I dont know all the details, but its for your own protection.

The FBI effectively removed their sole source of insight into this threat, the report said.

Clinton Foundation Probes

Starting in January 2016, the FBI field offices in Washington, New York, and Little Rock, Arkansas, launched investigations of possible criminal activity related to the Clinton Foundation.

The Little Rock office based the probe on an intelligence product and corroborating financial reporting, the report said, indicating that an industry likely engaged a federal public official in a flow of benefits scheme, namely, large monetary contributions were made to a non-profit, under both direct and indirect control of the federal public official, in exchange for favorable government action and/or influence.

The Little Rock and New York offices also had an allegation from an informant that foreign governments had made, or offered to make, contributions to the Foundation in exchange for favorable or preferential treatment from Clinton, the report said.

The Washington one was based on allegations made by author Peter Schweizer in his book Clinton Cash.

The New York and Washington probes were only preliminary, Durham wrote, because their basis hadnt been verified.

On Feb. 1, 2016, the offices held a meeting with each other, headquarters officials, as well as Department of Justice (DOJ) and local prosecutors.

One of the DOJ officials involved, Ray Hulser, derided the investigations as poorly presented and otherwise downplayed some of the information when he later talked to Durhams team. He claimed the information from financial records involved de minimis sums of money, according to the report. In fact, the sums involved went into the hundreds of thousands, Durham noted.

Another official recalled the DOJs reaction to the investigations was hostile, the report said.

Three weeks later, another meeting took place at the FBI headquarters, this time led by then-Deputy Director Andrew McCabe.

McCabe initially told the offices to shut the cased down, but relented upon some pushback.

One official from the Washington Field Office, Paul Abbate, later described McCabe as negative, annoyed, and angry during the meeting.

[The DOJ] say theres nothing here, McCabe said, according to Abbate. Why are we even doing this?

In the end, the offices were ordered to seek approval directly from McCabe before taking any overt investigative steps.

The restriction essentially remained in place until August 2016, the report said.

Local agents left the meeting frustrated with the restrictions, Abbate said.

Diego Rodriguez, then-head of the New York Field Office, recalled that one of the top FBI officials called him in May 2016 on behalf of then-Director James Comey and told him to cease and desist from the Clinton Foundation probe due to an undisclosed counterintelligence reason. Durham, however, couldnt find any such reason.

There was another meeting in August, this time a videoconference. The Little Rock and Washington offices were told to shut down the probes and turn them over to the New York office, which was also authorized to seek subpoenas in the case from the New York federal prosecutors in their area.

But when the office tried to get the subpoenas, the prosecutors refused to do it, the report said.

Contrast

Durham repeatedly pointed out the contrast between the probes involving Clinton and the one involving Trump.

The FBI opened an investigation into Trump campaign staff on July 2016 based on a single uncorroborated claim that a campaign aide, George Papadopoulos, suggested during a casual talk with an Australian diplomat the campaign received some kind of suggestion that Russia may help it by releasing info damaging to Clinton. Durham later learned that Papadopoulos may have never made any such suggestion to begin with.

Despite the flimsy basis, FBI leadership, including Comey and McCabe, were unanimous in launching the probe as a full investigation right off the bat, a fact that Durham criticized.

Moreover, most of the officials involved didnt recall even discussing whether to give the Trump campaign a defensive briefing, the explanation being that they didnt want to tip off the campaign because the FBI didnt know whether Trumps team was in fact colluding with Russia.

Durham pointed out that in one of the cases involving Clinton, the FBI also didnt know whether her campaign was colluding with the foreign government involved, but still gave Clinton, through her lawyer, a defensive briefing.

Furthermore, the FBI didnt hesitate to seek a FISA warrant on another Trump campaign aide, Carter Page, using unverified claims from the infamous Steele Dossier, which they knew was being pushed into the FBI by the Clinton camp.

FBI officials put the dossier claims into a FISA application just two days after obtaining them, before even attempting to verify them. The warrant was pushed through in a month.

The dossier was a mishmash of public information and fabrications, the report indicated. The FBI later acknowledged that at least the later renewals of the FISA warrant were invalid and resulted in illegal surveillance.
The search for the next Akron Public Schools superintendent has hit a delay, but just how much of a delay is yet to be determined.

The school board voted last week to pick a search firm, but Monday a motion to approve a contract with that firm failed by a vote of 3-3. The board was down one member for the vote.

The board will meet again on Wednesday to discuss the next moves and has not decided to postpone the search until next school year, Board President Derrick Hall said.

The Akron Public Schools Sylvester Small Administration Building.

"There will be more discussion the board's going to have to have," Hall said following the vote.

The board has decided to delay selecting a new treasurer until there is a new superintendent, Hall said. The board has twice halted a search for a replacement for Ryan Pendleton, who left the district in September but stayed on as the treasurer of record through the end of December. Todd Atkins has been serving as interim treasurer. Mary Outley is the interim superintendent.

The board selected a new member Monday night, educator Rene Molenaur, who will be sworn in Wednesday ahead of another likely vote on the superintendent search firm contract. It could come down to Molenaur whether the board moves forward with a superintendent search on a tight timeline or waits a year to restart the process.

"We'll bring it back for our board to consider again," Hall said.

The contract in front of the board was for $30,200 with Ray & Associates, a firm out of Iowa but with Ohio-based associates. The firm presented to the board last week and was selected by a 4-0 vote with two board members absent.

On Monday, the board had little discussion before the vote on the contract.

Board member Job Esau Perry, the only speaker on the matter, encouraged his fellow board members to vote against the contract and to wait until next year to do the search.

"I would encourage my colleagues to think about whether we should do that now," Perry said. "I would suggest holding off on that point until we become more stable as a board and as a district."

Story continues

Perry voted against the measure, along with Bruce Alexander and Carla Jackson. Hall and Vice President Diana Autry voted for the contract, along with board member Valerie McKitrick.

When former Superintendent Christine Fowler Mack left the district in February, the board said there would be a search for her replacement but did not narrow down search firms until last week.

Hall said the timeline is tight but the firm has assured them it is doable to have a person in the job before the next school year.

Contact education reporter Jennifer Pignolet at jpignolet@thebeaconjournal.com, at 330-996-3216 or on Twitter @JenPignolet.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron Public Schools superintendent search hits snag, could be delayed
IN-DEPTH: International Community Allowed Chinese Regime to Expand Suppression of Religious Freedom, USCIRF Chair Says

Business interests superseded human rights, said Nury Turkel

Nury Turkel, the chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, speaks at a virtual hearing on Chinas religious freedom violations on Dec. 14, 2022. (USCIRF/screenshot via NTD)

The Western strategy of decoupling trade negotiations from human rights abuses allowed the Chinese communist regime to ratchet up its repressive policies against religions and people of faith, said a U.S. religious freedom official, calling this policy a strategic blunder.

Nury Turkel, chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), said the commissions 2023 annual report on international religious freedom (pdf) highlighted China once again for violations of religious freedom and religious persecution.

Since 1999, China has been recommended by USCIRF to the State Department for designation as a country of particular concern(CPC) due to its deteriorating record on religious freedom, Turkel said in an interview for EpochTVs American Thought Leaders program.

This CPC status is assigned by the State Department to countries that commit systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom, according to the commissions website. The State Department can impose sanctions or take other action on a designated country.

Strategic Blunder

Turkel believes that an essential factor that contributed to the escalation of religious repressions in China was delinking human rights from the 1990s trade negotiations facilitating Chinas accension to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Its a strategic blunder in multiple ways, the chairman said.

Some in the government, starting from the presidency of George H. W. Bush, had good intentions, believing that admitting China to the WTO would help the Chinese people and China to become economically prosperous and improve technology and education in China, Turkel asserted.

The policymakers thought that China would become one of us, or [a] member of the free worldthe opposite has happened.

Instead of us changing them, they are changing us, Turkel said.

As a result, business interests and American global interests had a much more important role than peoples rights, Turkel said.

That made it even more difficult to advocate religious freedom for repressed [and] oppressed religious groups, like the Falun Gong practitioners or Tibetan Buddhists, Chinese Catholics, and Uyghur Muslims.

To the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), two things are very important: economic development and the public perception of the regime, Turkel said.

Delinking human rights from the trade negotiations took that one important factorhuman rightsoff the table, he said. Therefore, the regime continues its abuses and persecution with impunity, he added.

The international community bears some responsibility for helping the Chinese regime to develop from a religious persecutor and human rights abuser into a genocidal regime, Turkel said.

War on Faith

One reason for the war on people of faith carried out by the CCP is that the Chinese communist leadership sees people of faith as a potential threat for political upheaval, Turkel said.

The second reason is the CCP perceives religious practitioners as a group of people showing signs of disloyalty to the party, which makes the CCP leadership believe that they will eventually undermine the Communist Partys power, though it is not said publicly, Turkel explained.

The Chinese regime paints rosy pictures of its treatment of people of faith, Turkel continued.

They have a nicely written constitution. They have religious affairs regulations, but that has been only in paper.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping attends the opening of the first session of the 14th National Peoples Congress in Beijing on March 5, 2023. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

Since rising to power in 2012, Chinas leader Xi Jinping has floated an idea of foreign encirclement, which he treats as a threat to the country, Turkel said.

Xi considered the sanctions imposed by the United States government, including the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, as a form of foreign encirclement, Turkel added.

The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act is a law enacted in 2021 that bars importing to the United States goods that have been produced using forced labor of Uyghurs or other persecuted groups in Xinjiang.

The Chinese regime defines foreign encirclement as a foreign influence and counts the following concepts as forms of foreign influence: religious freedom, freedom of assembly, freedom of worship, and teaching the faith to the next generation, Turkel said, adding that these freedoms are also considered a national security threat by the Chinese leadership.

The national security strategy of communist China calls specifically to take preemptive action, with or without justification, and if necessary, with a brutal method, Turkel explained.

The CCP treats people of faith as though they have a mental illness or carry an infectious disease, he said, adding that the view of the CCP is that this disease needs to be cured in order to prevent it from spreading or metastasizing on the population.

This is why Falun Gong practitioners in China are often sent to mental hospitals, and millions of Uyghurs and Tibetans are being subjected to indoctrination or so-called reeducation, Turkel pointed out. The reeducation is a code word for human reengineering. And this is how they have been accomplishing that preemptive treatment method.

Need for Strategy Change

When a country respects peoples rights to practice their religion or adhere to their spiritual beliefs, it will naturally achieve social stability, harmony, and peace, Turkel said.

When a country suppresses religious freedom, it needs to spend money on domestic security and police forces, Turkel said. China spends more money on domestic security than on the national defense, he added.

Rounding up religious practitioners or sending them to [a] mental hospital or engaging in organ harvesting is not the way to deal with your own population, he said.

Turkel recommended that the United States, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and the European Union should revisit their China policies and come up with coherent strategic policies to stop these egregious human rights violations in China.

Starting with the Trump administration, people understood the need to change ways of dealing with communist China, Turkel noted, but this is only recognizing the symptoms.

There has not been a prescription to cure the problem, he said.

Persecution Methods

Among the groups specifically targeted by the Chinese regime, Turkel listed Uyghur Muslims, whose genocide is still underway. About 3 million Uyghurs, including religious leaders, have been detained in concentration camps, where they undergo political indoctrination day in and day out and are being forced to denounce their God, the chairman said.

Another persecuted religious group, Tibetan Buddhists, are also forced to undergo brainwashing sessions, Turkel said. Their Panchen Lama, the second highest spiritual leader, has been missing after being kidnapped as a child by Chinese authorities in 1995.

The Falun Gong practitioners are a specific target for the persecution that has never loosened up, the chairman said.

The 2023 USCIRF report cites that in 2022, among Falun Gong adherents, there were 172 documented deaths due to the persecution, 7,331 cases of harassment and arrest, and 633 prison sentences.

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual practice involving meditative exercises and moral teachings rooted in traditional Chinese beliefs in body and mind improvement. It was introduced to the public by its founder, Li Hongzhi, in 1992 and is now practiced in more than 100 countries.

Falun Gong has been violently persecuted since 1999 when the Chinese communist regime unleashed a bloody campaign aimed at eradicating the faith.

The Chinese regimes targeted attack on the Catholic community is of equal importance, Turkel said.

The Catholic Church around the world, including the Vatican, has not shown a willingness to make it better for the Catholics in China.

The bishops in China are not Catholic bishops, and they have not been approved or endorsed by the Vatican despite an agreement between China and the Vatican, Turkel said.

The ChinaVatican agreement, originally reached in 2018 and renewed twice in 2020 and 2022, remains secret and controversial.

We only know one provision, which is that China agrees with Vaticans involvement in the bishop appointment, Turkel said. Instead, theyre forcing the Chinese bishops to sign up a pledge of allegiance to the Catholic Patriotic Association.

The Catholic Patriotic Association in China is a regime-controlled Catholic Church separated from the Vatican.

Sanctioned for Defending Freedom

Turkel said he had been sanctioned by the Chinese regime for his service to the American people as the USCIRF chair. Due to these sanctions, Turkel was banned from going to China, so he could not visit his parents living in China and pay respect to his late father.

The regime imposed sanctions on him and three other commissioners of the USCIRF in retaliation for the sanctioning of Chinese officials by the United States government under the Magnitsky Act (pdf), a law that imposes sanctions on foreigners for human rights abuses, Turkel explained.

Moreover, the Chinese regime, in an attempt to silence him, does not allow Turkels mother to leave China and reunite with her American family, the chairman said. Despite that hardship, his parents have never expressed any concern or regret due to their sons human rights advocacy work.

Turkel stated the regime could not silence him.

I have a historical task assigned to me, he said. I will continue to speak out through my tears.

Eva Fu and Terri Wu contributed to this report.
IN-DEPTH: Nothing to Stop FBI From Mistreating Trump Campaign Again in 2024, Durham Report Suggests

News Analysis

Months before Hillary Clinton declared her presidential candidacy, the FBI learned from a well-placed source that a foreign government planned to send an operative to donate to the Clinton campaign in order to gain influence if the former secretary of state triumphed in the upcoming 2016 election.

The bureau opened an investigation, but an application for a warrant to surveil the foreign operative sat in limbo at a field office for four months. An FBI agent told investigators with special counsel John Durhams office that everyone was super more careful and scared with the big name. The higher-ups in the bureau said they didnt want a presidential candidate to end up on tape, even if the chances were remote. The surveillance warrant was eventually approved under the condition that Clinton and other officials and candidates would be briefed and warned about the foreign national.

The bureau acted differently when it received a tip about Donald Trumps campaign a year later. The FBI opened a full investigation and commenced surveillance activity, but it never offered or seriously considered providing defensive briefings. The Trump investigation was prompted by a vague tip from the Australian government about a Trump campaign associate speaking in public about an alleged offer from Russia to hand over Hillary Clintons emails to help elect Trump.

While not an apples-to-apples comparison, the treatment of the Trump and Clinton probes perplexed special counsel John Durham, who released his final report on May 15.

Durham dismissed the FBIs various explanations for the disparate approaches to the Trump and Clinton investigations and said it was not clear how the bureaus rationale could be reconciled with the facts. The Durham report details three more investigative referrals concerning Clinton that the bureau failed to pursue with the same rigor, speed, and intensity it focused on Trump.

Today, the FBI is in a similar situation to that of 2016, with former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden both facing criminal inquiries while running for office in 2024. Although the bureau undertook a lengthy list of reforms in response to the failures of the Trump campaign investigation, Durhams report suggests that little can be done to prevent a repeat of 2016 if the people running the show dont play by the rules they swore to follow.

Ultimately, of course, meeting those responsibilities comes down to the integrity of the people who take an oath to follow the guidelines and policies currently in place, the report states.

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 are not engrained in the hearts and minds of those sworn to meet the FBI s mission, to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution.

Trump and Biden are both subjects of special counsel inquiries into their handling of classified documents. Bidens son, Hunter Biden, is under investigation for tax and gun crimes. Republicans are also watching closely to see whether the FBI will act on evidence of millions of dollars worth of payments that appear to have been sent from foreign entities through a network of shell corporations to members of the Biden family.

Given the FBIs history of handling the Trump and Clinton investigations, there is little to suggest the bureau has any safeguards in place to ensure that it will afford Trump and Biden equal treatment.

In response to Durhams report, the FBI noted that the agencys leadership has changed since the events Durham examined and pointed to dozens of corrective actions the bureau undertook.

Since assuming the position in August 2017, Director Christopher Wray has repeatedly emphasized the importance of doing the right thing the right way, the FBI letter states. The FBI is committed to that bedrock principle and to discharging our responsibilities objectively and free from political bias.

The actions listed in the letter, signed by Jason Jones, general counsel of the FBI, consist largely of new and updated forms and guidance documents, paperwork and process updates, and other policy and procedure changes. None of the changes appear designed to directly thwart the misfeasance before and after the 2016 election.

Durhams four examples of disparate treatment, each favoring Clinton, are in addition to the distinct treatment afforded to the former secretary of state as part of the FBIs probe of her use of an unauthorized email server. The bias and special treatment of Clinton in that investigation has already been exposed by the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General.

The handling of the email server and TrumpRussia investigations is closer to an apples-to-apples comparison because they were run by the same Trump-hating FBI agent, Peter Strzok, who was fired from the bureau for his conduct in the Trump probe, used a government-issued phone to discuss preventing Trump from being elected, and mentioned an insurance policy in the event Trump won.

Illegal Donation Ignored

The new examples of divergent treatment of Trump and Clinton unearthed by Durham show that the well-examined Strzok saga was not an aberration. In November 2015, the FBI received a tip from a confidential source that a foreign government insider was seeking to set up a meeting with Clinton. The confidential source believed that the topic of the meeting was a potential donation to the Clinton campaign in exchange for protection from the foreign government, the Durham report states.

In that case, the FBI permitted its source to continue interacting with the foreign government insider until the source made an illegal campaign contribution of $2,700 on behalf of the foreigner. The source told the FBI that the campaign staff were okay with the illicit payment and were fully aware from the start.

The source offered to provide a copy of the credit card receipt as proof, but the FBI appears to never have collected the evidence. The handling agent couldnt explain to Durhams investigators why he never documented the illegal donation in FBI records. Instead of following up on the investigation, the agent warned the confidential source to stay away from Clinton campaign events.

Do NOT attend any more campaign events, set up meetings, or anything else relating to [Clintons] campaign. We need to keep you completely away from that situation. I dont know all the details, but its for your own protection, the FBI agent wrote to the confidential human source.

Clinton Foundation Investigations Frozen

The FBI field offices in Washington, New York, and Little Rock opened investigations in January 2016 into potential criminal activity at the Clinton Foundation. The investigations appear to have been prompted by a book titled Clinton Cash, which showed that tens of millions of dollars poured into the foundation from foreign sources who ultimately benefited from a decision made by the Obama administration during Clintons tenure.

In one of the meetings of the three offices in February 2016, Andrew McCabe, the deputy director of the FBI, directed the three investigations to be closed but received pushback. McCabe instead required the three offices to obtain his permission for any overt investigative activity, virtually freezing the inquiries.

Three months later, in May 2016, FBI Director James Comey directed the New York field office to cease and desist its Clinton Foundation probe. Comey cited a counterintelligence concern as the reason. Durhams investigator couldnt determine what the concern was. In August, a call was held during which the Little Rock and Washington offices were directed to close their investigations and merge them into the already dormant New York case, according to Durham.

The special counsel underlined that the investigations by the New York and Washington field offices were opened as preliminary because of the unvetted nature of the information, but the Trump campaign probe was opened immediately as a full investigation, even though it was similarly predicated by unvetted hearsay.

The Clinton Plan

Durhams most poignant example concerns an investigation the FBI never opened. In the summer of 2016, U.S. intelligence agencies obtained a Russian intelligence analysis that stated that the Clinton campaign had approved a plan to smear Trump by connecting him with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian hackers looking to interfere in the election.

Then-CIA Director John Brennan personally received the intelligence and relayed it to the president, the FBI director, and the director of national intelligence.

Durham investigated the referral because its details matched the flow of Clinton-funded and Clinton-connected information into the FBI in 2016 and suggested that the different pieces may have been part of a plan. The special counsels investigators found that some of the FBI personnel working on the Trump investigation never learned of the referral.

One investigator, when shown the Clinton Plan memo, became visibly upset and emotional, left the interview room with his counsel, and subsequently returned to state emphatically that he had never been apprised of the Clinton Plan intelligence and had never seen the [memo], the report states.

The memo didnt reach even some of the highest-ranking officials in the bureau, including FBI general counsel James Baker. When interviewed by Durhams team, Baker said he would have been much more skeptical about the Steele Dossier and the Alfa Bank allegations had he seen the memo.

Durham called the FBIs failure to factor in the Clinton Plan intelligence into its decision-making in the Trump investigation a rather startling and inexplicable failure.

The FBI thus failed to act on what should have beenwhen combined with other, incontrovertible factsa clear warning sign that the FBI might then be the target of an effort to manipulate or influence the law enforcement process for political purposes during the 2016 presidential election, the report states.
IN-DEPTH: UK Intel, FBI Line Agents Scoffed at Trump-Russia Investigation Since Beginning, Durham Report Notes

Special counsel John Durham arrives at federal court in Washington on May 18, 2022. (Teng Chen for The Epoch Times)

Several FBI agents and United Kingdom intelligence officers were dumbfounded by the decision by FBI higher-ups to start an investigation of Trump campaign aides for supposed collusion with Russia in 2016.

Early on, UK intelligence officers pointed out that the justification for opening the probe was flimsy. Later, they saw its continuation as fruitless. Ultimately, UK intelligence refused FBI requests for assistance, according to the recently issued final report by special counsel John Durham.

The report (pdf) describes candid conversations among FBI agents involved in the investigation and the UK agents kept abreast of it.

Dude, are we telling them [UK intelligence] everything we know, or is there more to this? asked the FBI agent then-assigned to the U.S. embassy in London in August 2016, shortly after the probe was opened, in an internal message.

Thats all we have. Not holding anything back, replied Joe Pientka, identified in the report as the then-supervisory special agent assigned to the investigation.

Damn thats thin, commented the agent at the embassy in the position of assistant legal attache (ALAT).

I know. It sucks, Pientka responded.

The probes justification, according to its July 31, 2016, opening document, was that the FBI learned from the Australian government that two of its diplomats had talked to Trump campaign aide George Papadopoulos, who suggested that the campaign received some kind of suggestion that Russia could help it by anonymously releasing some information that would be damaging to Donald Trumps opponent, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Durham noted that the bureau failed to examine in any way the credibility of this information before initiating the sprawling probe that ensnared Trump and his aides for years to come.

Two days after opening, Pientka and Peter Strzok, then a higher-ranking counterintelligence agent who authored and approved the opening document, met in London with the two Australian diplomats, then-High Commissioner to the UK Alexander Downer and then-political counselor Erika Thompson.

FBI agent Peter Strzok during testimony before Congress on July 12, 2018. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Durham noted that, according to an FBI report documenting the interview, Papadopoulos made his comments only to Thompson on May 6, 2016, when she was introduced to him. She said that the description of the comments was written in an intentionally vague way because of what Papadopoulos did and did not say and that he specifically did not say he had contact with the Russians, according to the Durham report.

When Durhams team talked to Downer and Thompson separately in 2019, they significantly corrected the record. They said that Papadopoulos in fact made the comments to both of them on May 10, 2016. Downer recalled that Papadopoulos simply stated the Russians have information and that is all, according to Durham.

Downer also recalled the Papadopoulos conversation in several media interviews, never mentioning any suggestion supposedly made by Papadopoulos about any suggestion to the campaign by Russia.

Former foreign policy adviser to President Donald Trumps election campaign, George Papadopoulos, leaves U.S. District Court in Washington on Sept. 7, 2018. (MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)

The opening document stated that the Papadopoulos information related to the hacking of the Democratic National Committees website/server in the spring of 2016.

But according to Durham, the FBI had no evidence of any such link. Papadopoulos made no mention of hacking, emails, or the DNC, according to Downer.

When the ALAT briefed UK intelligence on the information, they expressed real skepticism about the motivations and reliability of Papadopoulos and did not assess the information  to be particularly valuable intelligence, according to the Durham report.

The British could not believe the Papadopoulos bar conversation was all there was, the ALAT said, explaining that they were convinced the FBI was holding back on them.

One UK intel official was openly skeptical and told the ALAT that the FBIs plan for an operation made no sense, the report states.

The official asked why the FBI didnt simply go ask Papadopoulos; the ALAT wondered the same, according to the report.

After the FBI ran one of its informants on another Trump campaign aide, Carter Page, in August 2016, the British were again unimpressed, according to the ALAT.

After the UK agents watched a video of the informant talking to Page, one of them told the ALAT: For [expletive] sake, man. You went through a lot of trouble to get him to say nothing.

Special counsel Robert Mueller walks after attending church in Washington on March 24, 2019. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

After the investigation was taken over in May 2017 by special counsel Robert Mueller, the Brits finally had enough, the ALAT said. In response to a request for assistance, a UK intelligence officer basically said there was no [expletive] way in the hell they were going to do it, he said.

The ALAT said he was just following orders because the bureaus upper management was pushing it.

There was no stopping the train, he said. I mean it was  this thing was coming. So my job was to grease the skids for it, and thats what I did.

Durham noted that at least some FBI personnel involved in the investigation, including Strzok, demonstrated a rather clear predisposition  to open an investigation of Trump, pointing to the cursing and demeaning of Trump in text messages from Strzok to his then-mistress Lisa Page, who was special counsel to then-FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe.

Durham didnt recommend any new policies for the bureau in his report.

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 are not 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, the report reads.

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 responded in a 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.
IRS Whistleblower Removed From Hunter Biden Criminal Investigation at Request of DOJ, Attorneys Say

Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, attends an event at the White House in Washington on April 18, 2022. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

The IRS has removed a whistleblower and his team from a criminal investigation into Hunter Bidens taxes and business dealings at the request of the Department of Justice, according to the whistleblowers attorneys.

Today, the [IRS] Criminal Supervisory Special Agent we represent was informed that he and his entire investigative team are being removed from the ongoing and sensitive investigation of the high-profile, controversial subject about which our client sought to make whistleblower disclosures to Congress, the whistleblowers lawyers said in a May 15 letter (pdf) addressed to multiple congressional lawmakers, first obtained by Just the News.

He was informed the change was at the request of the Department of Justice.

Hunter Biden, President Joe Bidens son, has been under federal investigation for alleged tax fraud, lobbying crimes, and money laundering.

He confirmed in December 2020 that his business deals were being investigated. Few details have been revealed about the probe since then.

The Epoch Times has reached out to the Department of Justice for comment.

Clearly Retaliatory Move

The unnamed IRS agent had been overseeing an ongoing and sensitive investigation of a high-profile, controversial subject since early 2020, his lawyer, Mark D. Lytle, a former DOJ lawyer, told Congress in an April 19 (pdf) letter.

Although that letter didnt mention Hunter Biden by name, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said in an April 20 interview on Fox News that the whistleblower was bringing information about a potential conflict of interest with the Hunter Biden investigation.

The IRSs removal of the whistleblower from the criminal probe into Hunter Biden is clearly retaliatory and may also constitute obstruction of a congressional inquiry, Lytle and another attorney, Tristan Leavitt, told lawmakers in the May 15 letter.

The May 15 letter was addressed to Democrat chairmen and top Republicans on the Senate Finance and Judiciary committees, and the Republican chairman and top Democrats on the Judicial and House Ways and Means committees.

Internal Disclosures to Federal Agencies

In the April 19 letter, Lytle said his client would like to make protected whistleblower disclosures to Congress.

Lytle said at the time that his client had already provided legally protected disclosures internally at the IRS, the U.S. Treasury Inspector General, the Office of Inspector General, and the Department of Justice.

The disclosures alleged that federal prosecutors had, in part, failed to mitigate clear conflicts of interest in the ultimate disposition of the case, he wrote.

The Biden administration also engaged in preferential treatment and politics improperly infecting decisions and protocols that would normally be followed by career law enforcement professionals in similar circumstances if the subject were not politically connected, he added.

By late April, lawmakers in Congress were reviewing the whistleblowers allegations. And by early May, they were also making plans to carry out a transcribed interview with him in the coming days, Just the News reported.

Attorneys Urge Congressional Action

The whistleblowers two lawyers said the IRSs move contradicts what IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel testified in Congress on April 27that there will be no retaliation for anyone making an allegation or a call to a whistleblower hotline.

We respectfully request that you give this matter your prompt attention. Removing the experienced investigators who have worked this case for years and are now the subject-matter experts is exactly the sort of issue our client intended to blow the whistle on to begin with, they told the lawmakers.

Lytle and Leavitt also noted that under federal law, the IRS whistleblower is protected  from retaliatory personnel actionsincluding receiving a significant change in duties, responsibilities, or working conditions (which this clearly is) because of his disclosures to Congress.

Any attempt by any government official to prevent a federal employee from furnishing information to Congress is also a direct violation of longstanding appropriations restrictions, they added. Furthermore, [federal law] makes it a crime to obstruct an investigation of Congress.

The May 15 letter was also sent to Werfel, Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz, Attorney General Merrick Garland, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration Russell George, and special counsel at the U.S. Office of Special Counsel Henry Kerner.

Savannah Pointer contributed to this report.
Leaders of Islamic Centre Stripped of Powers by Charity Chiefs

General view of the scene where protesters clashed with police outside the Islamic Centre in London, on Sept. 25, 2022. (David Parry/PA Media)

Leaders of a London Islamic centre described as a cut-out of one of Irans deadliest military forces, have been stripped of their powers by the Charity Commission.

The regulator has appointed an interim manager to oversee running the Islamic Centre of England after its trustees failed to comply with legal duties, and to protect the registered charitys assets.

The centre has been the subject of a statutory inquiry over serious governance concerns following what the commission described as extensive engagement in recent years.

In 2020 it was issued with an official warning after centre chiefs held a candlelit vigil to commemorate a high-ranking member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimanikilled by a U.S. attack drone in Iraqwas accused of having close ties with the Taliban and was subject to UK financial sanctions over his terror links.

It also held another event in which a speaker urged support for Soleimani.

The commission said at the time that the trustees failures to intervene or provide a counter narrative put the charitys reputation at risk.

In a statement released on Friday, the regulator said it had appointed solicitor Emma Moody of Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP to oversee the running of the centres affairs.

As part of the appointment, Moody will conduct a review of the charitys governance and administration and make recommendations to the commission based on her findings.

Threats

Announcing the latest action, Charity Commission Chair Orlando Fraser, KC said the regulator needed to act robustly where serious concerns about a charity exist.

The investigators leading this inquiry are assessing all information thoroughly, Fraser said.

The appointment of an interim manager will help the commission ensure the charitys governance is restored and is improved to a better standard.

Reacting to the news on Twitter, Conservative MP Alicia Kearns wrote: This is a significant sanction and one of the most powerful interventions they have.

This is the first step for all of us who have long campaigned for the closure of this cut-out of the IRGC.

It makes clear that all is not well, and I hope the inquiry will conclude that the IRGC has no place operating on British soil.

In February, MI5 revealed it had thwarted at least 15 Iran-backed kidnap and death plots against British-based individuals in the past year.

The attempted assassinations and abductionslinked to the IRGCwere made public hours after a London-based Persian broadcaster announced it had been forced to move its operations to the United States after safety concerns.

Acting on advice from the Metropolitan Police, Iran International TV reluctantly closed its Chiswick studios after police advised it was no longer possible to protect the channels staff and the surrounding public.

The increasing threats from Iran led to mounting pressure on the government to proscribe IRGC.

However, Minister for Security Tom Tugendhat has so far failed to do so, despite numerous calls from party and political colleagues.

Members of Irans Revolutionary Guards Corps march in a military parade in Tehran on Sept. 22, 2018. (Stringer/AFP/Getty Images)

IRGC Links

In March, several MPs called for the Maida Vale based premises to be shut down after a Times of London investigation showing that some of the sheikhs it promotes have called for the downfall of Western democracies and the compassionate killing of gay people.

The religious organisation is run by a direct representative of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and is one of many across the UK with apparent links to the IRGC, according to the newspaper.

Referring to the reports in Parliament, Labour MP Christian Wakeford asked the security minister whether it was now time to proscribe the IRGC.

Tugendhat replied that the work the government has been doing against the Iranian threat in the United Kingdom has not diminishedin fact, it has increased in recent months.

He said that the Islamic Centre of England is not alone and the work of the IRGC is not limited to those Iranian proxy organisations.

Tugendhat added that the government is pulling together the resources and the attitude to deploy against the vile threat from Iran.

Responding to a similar question from Kearns about the proscription of the IRGC, the security minister again avoided confirming the governments intention to do so.

Kearns said: There are threeif not sevencut-outs of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps operating here in the UK, silencing critics of the ayatollah, inciting hate, celebrating terrorists, and recruiting for a terrorist state.

The government know that this House wants the IRGC proscribed, but in the immediate term, will they please protect us from transnational repression by shutting down these cut-outs of the Iranian state?

Tugendhat replied that the government has had this work ongoing for a number of months now, but asking for actions to be taken means we must be legally compliant with the responses.

That is where we are getting towe are increasingly at the point where we are taking more and more action against the IRGC, he said.

The Islamic Centre of England has charitable purposes which include advancing the religion of Islam and promoting education and welfare among the Muslim community, according to the commission.

The regulator said that an inquiry into the centre remains ongoing, with a report expected in the next number of months.

The Epoch Times has contacted the Islamic Centre of England for comment.
Liberals New Bail Reform Bill Doesnt Change Current Catch-and-Release System, Says Poilievre

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre speaks at a news conference in the Foyer of the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Mar. 12, 2023. (The Canadian Press/Justin Tang)

Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre says the Liberal governments newly introduced legislation aimed at reforming Canadas federal bail policies will not solve the current issue of violent, repeat offenders being released back into society before serving their entire prison sentence.

Speaking to reporters in Ottawa on May 16, Poilievre said the Liberal governments tabled Bill C-48 does not raise the bar of requirements to be met before criminals can be released on bail, but only introduces a bunch of lower bars underneath the bar that is already there.

They have not reversed catch and release, Poilievre said, later adding that the proposed legislation does not guarantee that a repeat violent offender who is newly charged with a violent crime would stay in jail until the sentence is completed.

The Liberal governments Bill C-48 proposes a number of changes to the Criminal Code that includes adding a clause that would create a new reverse onus for serious repeat violent offending involving weapons where the accused had been convicted of a similar offence within the past five years.

Another proposed change would expand the current reverse onus for firearms convictions to include other indictable offences such as unlawfully possessing a loaded or restricted weapon and robbery to steal firearms.

The bill also proposes a change to the Criminal Code that would require courts to consider an accused persons violent criminal history and community safety record when making bail decisions, along with adding clarification to the Criminal Code for the meaning of prohibition order for the purpose of an existing reverse onus.

Criticism and Defence

Poilievre criticized the bill for not proposing Criminal Code changes addressing recent situations where criminals on bail have repeated similar offences, citing the death of Ontario Provincial Police Const. Grzegorz Pierzchala as an example.

Pierzchala was shot and killed in late December 2022 while responding to a routine call about a vehicle in a ditch near Hagersville, Ontario.

Randall McKenzie, the primary suspect who was charged with first-degree murder in Pierzchalas death, was out on bail at the time. He was also prohibited from owning firearms by court orders issued in 2016 and 2018.

Poilievre said McKenzie wouldve still been out on bail even if the new provisions proposed in Bill C-48 had been in place at the time.

The Conservative leader also referenced the case of Myles Sanderson, who was one of the suspects accused of killing 10 people during a stabbing spree at several locations around the James Smith Cree Nation in Saskatchewan in September 2022.

Sanderson had been granted parole seven months earlier.

Federal ministers defended Bill C-48 after introducing it on May 16, with Justice Minister David Lametti saying it will respond to the challenges posed at the bail stage by repeat violent offending.

We know this law reform is only part of the solution, Lametti added in a news release. We are working closely with our colleagues across all levels of government to ensure that people are safe and feel safe wherever they live in Canada.

Andrew Chen contributed to this report.
Temperance is a very undervalued and much ignored virtue. Though we usually associate temperance with food and drink, we should apply it to everything else in our lives for it brings clarity and order.

In his short story, Hunting the Deceitful Turkey, Mark Twain shows that surfeit, or excess, in anything leads to trouble. When young Mark hunts a turkey, he learns that giving in to excess gets him lost.

Young Mark Twain likes to go hunting with his uncle and his cousins. He admires their skill and aptitude, for they can shoot birds in the air and stun squirrels out of the trees. They hunt deer, turkey, and other big game.

Young Mark and his cousin Fred uses a small single-barreled shotgun which was properly suited to [their] size and strength; it was not much heavier than a broom. He and Fred hunt smaller birds. However, unlike his uncle and cousins, Mark is not a good shot.

Deceitful Turkey

One hunting trip, young Mark sees a female turkey that is lame. Little does he know that the turkey is feigning lameness, for female turkeys pretend to be lame as a tactic to protect their young.

Mark cannot believe his luck and decides to hunt the turkey. Even though he carries the shotgun, he decides to catch it alive.

Mark thinks that he will catch the lamed turkey quite easily, for all he has to do is run, jump, and catch it. However, this endeavor proves worthless. Once Mark jumps, the turkey quickly scurries past his reach. She allows him to touch her tail feathers, but not catch her.

Again and again Mark lunges for the turkey, and again and again the turkey evades his grasp. Yet he still thought her honest long after [he] ought to have begun to doubt her. With each new attempt, Mark thinks that she looks just a little more tired than before, so he keeps chasing her.

Lost in Excess

After a while, Mark feels fatigued and hungry. He has now been chasing the deceitful turkey for 10 hours and still has not caught her.

A few times Mark has contemplated shooting her, but he fears that, if he misses, he will be rebuked. The turkey even seems to know of his bad shot, for she poses whenever he takes aim.

Mark follows the deceitful turkeys trail until she finally tires of the chase, flies up into a tree, and leaves poor Mark confused and hurt. He has not caught the turkey and soon realizes that, in his excess desire to catch her, he has lost his way.

In this story, Twain shows, as Cicero says: Never go to excess, but let moderation be your guide. Young Mark lets excess, not moderation, guide him and he gets lost.

When we let ourselves be ruled by temperance, we can better navigate through lifes temptations. With this virtue, we can take charge of ourselves and our lives, so that we can pursue the proper goals that lead to true joy and happiness.
Mayor Laments Crime in DC at House Oversight Hearing: No One Can Be Satisfied

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser attends the March for Our Lives 2022 in Washington on June 11, 2022. (Paul Morigi/Getty Images for March For Our Lives)

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, lamented the state of crime in the nations capital amid House Republican oversight.

Bowser testified before the House Oversight Committee on May 16 that the status quo in crime in the District of Columbia is unacceptable.

No one can be satisfied with increasing crime trends in any category, she said. I certainly am not.

In the nations capital, according to the Metropolitan Police Department, violent crime is up 13 percent in 2023 compared to the previous year. There has been an 11 percent increase in homicides, a 45 percent rise in sex abuses, a 2 percent increase in assaults with a dangerous weapon, and a 19 percent jump in robberies.

According to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), burglaries have decreased 10 percent in Washington this year compared to 2022, but there has been a 30 percent overall increase in property crimes. Motor vehicle thefts have gone up by a staggering 114 percent. There has been a 6 percent rise in thefts from automobiles, a 24 percent jump in other thefts, and a 300 percent increase in arsons.

We see more illegal guns on our streets and more repeat violent offenders using them, said Bowser. Those guns are being used in violent crimes like homicides and carjackings.

For me, these trends are unacceptable, and we do not accept this as our new normal, she added.

Bowser noted that she announced a legislative package on May 15 that will enhance penalties for violent crime and modify recently enacted early release legislation to ensure the voices of victims and the judgment of the courts are not thrown by the wayside.

Matthew Graves, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, testified alongside Bowser in front of the House Oversight Committee.

D.C. City Administrator Kevin Donahue and outgoing MPD Police Chief Robert Contee joined Bowser to help her answer questions.

Graves office has come under fire recently as it has, according to the Substack blog DC Crime Facts, refused to prosecute 67 percent of those arrested by MPD, or 52 percent of felony apprehensions, and 72 percent of misdemeanor apprehensions.

Graves told The Washington Post that his office has been prosecuting most cases involving violent felonies.

The Senate is scheduled on May 16 to vote on a disapproval resolution to block the District of Columbias Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022. The House passed the disapproval resolution on April 19. The White House has said that President Joe Biden would veto the resolution if it came to his desk.

The D.C. legislationwhich the city council passed in December 2022would prohibit the Metropolitan Police Department and other local law enforcement personnel from using neck restraints or any other technique that causes asphyxiation, presents an unnecessary danger to the public, and constitutes excessive force.

The measure also approves the use of police body camera footage and requires, with a couple of exceptions, the mayor to release such footage with the names of the officers behind the footage where officers [were] directly involved in the officer-involved death or serious use of force.

Biden signed a GOP resolution on March 20 overturning a Washington crime bill.

The GOP-controlled House and Democrat-controlled Senate both passed the resolution on a bipartisan basis, and Biden said that he would sign the bill, pitting himself against progressives and his own belief that the District of Columbia should be a state. The conundrum also put Biden on the spot amid GOP criticisms of his fellow Democrats being soft on crime. Bowser vetoed the billonly for the city council to override her veto. The resolution was the first time in decades that Congress voted to override a D.C. bill.

I support D.C. Statehood and home-rulebut I dont support some of the changes D.C. Council put forward over the Mayors objectionssuch as lowering penalties for carjackings. If the Senate votes to overturn what D.C. Council didIll sign it, posted Biden on Twitter on March 2. This was a reversal from the administration saying that Biden would veto the resolution.
McCarthy Says Delayed Debt Ceiling Talks Not In a Good Place Ahead of Tuesday Meeting

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) speaks at a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on May 15, 2023. House Republicans were recognizing National Police Week. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said on Monday that debt limit talks with Democrats and President Joe Biden are not in a good place, saying that Biden had delayed talks for 100 days.

A debt ceiling meeting has been scheduled for 3 p.m. ET on Tuesday. The meeting was originally set for last Friday but was postponed.

Adding to the pressure, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a letter to the congressional leadership on Monday that her department wont be able to pay the federal governments debts if the debt ceiling is not raised or suspended by June 1an estimated deadline she provided in May but has now confirmed.

Republicans and Democrats have a little more than two weeks to make a deal or the United States government will catastrophically default on its $31.4 trillion in debt.

We only have so many days left, McCarthy told reporters on Monday. Compounding the pressure to finalize a deal before the deadline, Biden is also scheduled to leave the country on Wednesday for Group of Seven meetings in Japan.

The president decided to wait 100 days before he would negotiate. He treated this the same way he treated the border [crisis]he wanted to ignore the problem, McCarthy added.

McCarthy said Biden and the Democrats would have to get serious about negotiating before hed feel like their meetings are successful. They would have to really talk about where theyre going to go, McCarthy said.

I dont think were in a good place, I know were not. This ignoring the problem, thinking it will go away  he could bumble his way into a default just like he did on the border.

McCarthy has sought to use the threat of defaulting on the nations debts to force Democrats to limit their spending. Save, and grow, he said of the GOPs economic strategy.

Time is of the essence, was McCarthys message for Biden on Monday. He has argued that the 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 the policies and legislation what Congress has already approved.

Im really concerned that the Senate hasnt passed anything. Im really concerned that the president waited 100 days before hed even talk to us. Im really concerned about the presidents continued spending, of what it will do to Medicare and social security, McCarthy said on Monday. Im really concerned about  instead of the Democrats sitting down, realizing we have a division in government, and being honest and adult and discussing this but simply lying about what were doing.

Yellen Confirms Deadline, Says Impasse Can Hurt Americans

Yellon said on Monday in her letter to the congressional leaders that the Treasurys borrowing costs have already increased substantially as time draws nearer to the June 1 deadline to resolve the impasse.

We have learned from past debt limit impasses that waiting until the last minute to suspend or increase the debt limit can cause serious harm to business and consumer confidence, raise short-term borrowing costs for taxpayers, and negatively impact the credit rating of the United States, Yellen wrote in her letter.

In fact, we have already seen Treasurys borrowing costs increase substantially for securities maturing in early June. If Congress fails to increase the debt limit, it would cause severe hardship to American families, harm our global leadership position, and raise questions about our ability to defend our national security interests.

Yellens assessment has left open a possible time extension on a national default.

The actual date Treasury exhausts extraordinary measures could be a number of days or weeks later than these estimates, she wrote. I will provide an additional update to Congress next week as more information becomes available.

Biden has expressed hope that an agreement can be reached with McCarthy and other congressional leaders at their Tuesday meeting.

I remain optimistic because Im a congenital optimist, Biden told reporters while out for a bike ride on Sunday 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.
Melbourne Drag Storytime Moved Online After Alleged Threats of Violence

Drag storytime events prevalent across Australian capital cities

Prep students enjoy the schoolyard at Lysterfield Primary School in Melbourne, Australia, on Oct. 12, 2020. (Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

A Melbourne-based drag storytime event has been moved online after state police warned organisers of alleged threats of violence.

A Rainbow Storytime event with cross-dresser Frock Hudson was supposed to be held at the Eltham Library on May 17 in the northeast of the city.

Organisers will now hold the event, geared towards babies, toddlers, and preschoolers, online via Zoom, according to the Rainbow Community Angels group.

The wonderful Eltham Library have been forced to move their Drag Storytime online due to Victoria Police advice, the group wrote on Facebook.

The Epoch Times has reached out to the Yarra Plenty Regional Library for a response but did not receive one in time for publication.

Community Uproar Over Events

The change comes just over a week after Monash City Council cancelled its drag storytime event at the Oakleigh Library.

Victorian Senator Ralph Babet said there was overwhelming public displeasure with the event, with locals airing their concerns at a council meeting on April 26.

Public concern centred around the use of ratepayer money to host what many residents believe is inappropriate content for children aged one to six, the senator said in a statement.

The cancellation drew a critical response from Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, who said it was shameful.

My message to those people is very [clear], if you want to behave like the worst elements of the Floridian Republican Party, well, get to Florida. Get over there where your hateful views might be worth something. Theyre worth nothing here, he told sitting MPs on May 4.

But former Victorian Liberal MP Neil Angus said the premier was pandering to the left wing of his party.

[Premier Andrews] continues to pander to the hard left of his party, as evidenced by his repeated strong support for what are, in reality, minority views, especially in the area of sexual identity, he previously told The Epoch Times.

In March, the Labor government flew the transgender flag following a rally in the Melbourne city centre against transgenders entering womens spaces and sports.

Some of Andrews comments could be an attempt by the premier to try and attract far-left voters, who would often be Greens voters, Angus said.

Events Now Nationwide

Drag storytime events have popped up all around Australia, sparking a strong response from local communities.

In January 2020, students from the University of Queenslands Liberal National Clubheaded by Wilson Gavinprotested such an event at the Brisbane Square council library located in the CBD.

Yet local council member, Vicki Howard, criticised the group calling them narrow-minded and reiterating that the Club no longer had an affiliation with the states opposition Liberal-National party.

This is a very successful event that has been held four times in Brisbane over the past two years, and staging this event reflects the values of Brisbane City Council, she wrote on Facebook.

In August 2022, councillors from both sides of the aisle stood by the events in response to a petition from the Australian Christian Lobby that garnered 7,000 signatures opposing drag storytimes for kids.

Meanwhile, in Adelaide in March, death threats were issued against staff at the Mount Gambier Library over a drag storytime event featuring Dolly Diamond.

Threats to any member of the community are unacceptable, and any acts of violence will be responded to accordingly, said South Australia Police, in comments obtained by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

In the same month, the CEO of the City of Bayswater in Perth stood by drag performer Cougar Morrison after protest flyers were dropped in the area surrounding the Maylands Library, where Morrison was set to perform.

While in Sydney, protestors in February rallied outside an event in the citys Northern Beaches at the Manly Library while holding signs that read: Drag Queens are not for kids and Protect little kids from sexualisation and adult themes.
(Bloomberg) -- A Russian man was charged by US authorities in connection with his alleged role with multiple ransomware gangs that attacked hospitals, schools and police departments.

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Mikhail Pavlovich Matveev, who was known online as Wazawaka, was an active member of three ransomware gangs that collectively demanded $400 million from victims and received nearly $200 million in ransom payments, according to the Department of Justice.

Ransomware groups typically hack into computer networks and deploy malicious software that encrypts computers and makes them unusable. The groups demand extortion payments in cryptocurrency and threaten to leak stolen data online if the ransom is not paid.

Matveev was allegedly a member of the Lockbit, Babuk and Hive ransomware gangs. Those groups are ranked among the most active and destructive cybercriminal threats in the world, Philip Sellinger, the US attorney for the district of New Jersey, wrote in an indictment. Matveev, along with other members of the ransomware gangs, attacked as many as 2,800 victims in the US and around the world, Sellinger wrote.

The alleged victims include the Metropolitan Police Department in the District of Columbia, which was attacked with ransomware in 2021. The hackers proceeded to publish dozens of stolen personnel files.

The groups also targeted churches and nonprofits, the Department of Justice said.

Matveevs identity was previously revealed by cybersecurity journalist Brian Krebs in January 2022. At the time, Krebs reported that Matveev had claimed affiliation with the Darkside ransomware group, which claimed responsibility for the attack on Colonial Pipeline Co. in May 2021.

Story continues

From his home base in Russia, Matveev allegedly used multiple ransomware variants to attack critical infrastructure around the world, including hospitals, government agencies, and victims in other sectors, said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Departments Criminal Division.

In addition the the indictment, Matveev was sanctioned by US Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control for his role in launching ransomware attacks against US law enforcement, businesses, and critical infrastructure, the Department of Justice said in a press release.

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Michigan Boy, 14, Uses Slingshot to Prevent Sister, 8, From Being Kidnapped

A heroic Michigan teenager was able to prevent his younger sister from being kidnapped by firing off a slingshot at the would-be kidnapper, according to Michigan State Police.

Police said at a May 15 press conference that the 8-year-old girl, who has not been identified, was hunting for mushrooms in her backyard in the city of Alpena on May 10 when she felt the alleged assailant grab her.

According to Lt. John Grimshaw with the Michigan State Police Alpena Post, the 17-year-old suspect entered through the woods onto the young girls property, and came up behind her before grabbing her like youd see in a movie, his hand over the mouth, arm around the waist.

He then attempted to pull the victim into the woods, Grimshaw said.

However, the girls older brother, 14, who has also not been identified, saw a commotion occurring outside and grabbed his slingshot and any ammunition he could find before approaching the suspect and firing two shots at him, hitting him in the head and chest.

Thanks to the young boys quick-thinking actions, his sister was able to escape the would-be kidnapper, police said.

He really is the one that I believe saved his sisters either life or from something seriously bad happening to her, Grimshaw said. For a 14-year-old to see that and to pop into action that quickly is extraordinary and he should be commended for it.

Police found the suspect hiding in a gas station later that same day after being informed about the attempted kidnapping by the girls family, Grimshaw said.

He was subsequently arrested, according to officials.

Slingshot Wounds Help Police Identify Suspect

Grimshaw said the would-be kidnapper was easily identifiable owing to the multiple injuries he had sustained from the slingshot.

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, Grimshaw said of the young boys actions.

The suspect has not been named. He allegedly told police during interviews that he planned on severely beating the child, local news outlet Mlive reported.

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, according to the publication.

His bond was set at $150,000 and he is set to appear in court on May 17.

It is unclear if he has legal representation.

The Epoch Times has contacted Michigan State Police for further comment.

Newsweek reported that the siblings uncle posted about the incident on Facebook and said the young girl was left traumatized by the attempted kidnapping.

In the United States, an estimated 2,300 children are reported missing every day, according to the non-profit organization, Child Find of America.

You wouldnt think in this world that when youre playing in your own backyard or on your own property that you would be concerned about something like this but it just goes to show that there is evil out there and it can find anybody, anywhere, Grimshaw said.
Michigan Boy Uses a Slingshot to Save His Sister From Being Abducted From Backyard, Police Say

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-olds 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 girls 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 members description of the suspect. Authorities also said the teenager had visible wounds from the slingshot.
Mississippi Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Challenging Constitutionality of State Crime Bill Establishing Unelected Judges

The Mississippi State Capitol Building in Jackson, Miss., as seen on March 11, 2022. (Peter Forest/Getty Images for MoveOn & Emmett Till Legacy Foundation)

A Mississippi judge has dismissed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of legislation supporters say was written to combat crime while opponents call the bill a racist power grab in the state capital.

On Monday, Hinds County Chancery Judge Dewayne Thomas ruled that the process by which judges would be appointed written in the legislation doesnt violate the state Constitution.

On April 21, Gov. Tate Reeves signed House Bill 1020set to become law on July 1which increases funding and expands the jurisdiction for the Capitol Police, and sets up a municipal court to hear cases in the Capitol Complex Improvement District, the 17.5 square mile area surrounding the Capitol building in Jackson, Mississippi.

The independent, state-controlled judicial system will rely on judges not elected but appointed by Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Michael Randolph.

The lawsuit was brought by three Jackson residents who testified on May 10, arguing that the creation of an unelected court system infringes upon their rights to elect judges.

The attorney for the plaintiffs asked Thomas to issue a preliminary injunction, which would prevent the bill from becoming law until all legal challenges have been resolved.

Thomas had already issued a restraining order halting the bill until a hearing could be held on the merits of the challenge.

The Clarion-Ledger reported Thomas statement in court in which he said hes treating the case like its his most important to date.

Please rest assured that I have gone through all of the material that you have submitted, prior to yesterday, at least 10 to 15 times, and I have read every case youve submitted that I thought was pertinent, every statute thats important, plus our 1890 Constitution, Ive gotten more familiar with it now than I ever have, Thomas said.

Later in court, Thomas said any decision would leave one side unhappy and alluded to the Biblical story Solomon.

I know that I cannot please everybody here today, and I cannot be as smart as Solomon and split the baby, because this baby cannot be split, Thomas said. It just cant.

Federal Case

Though Thomas denied the plaintiffs request to grant an injunction on Monday, a federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked the appointments of the judges.

At the request of the NAACP, on May 12 U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate issued a temporary restraining order on the appointment process outlined in the bill and set a hearing on May 22 to consider extending the order.

Thanks to an emergency motion we filed late last night, Chief Justice Randolph cannot begin any undemocratic court-packing in Jackson until NAACP v. Reeves moves forward, the NAACP said Friday on Twitter. We are prepared to fight for our freedom. See you in court on the 22nd @GovReeves.

The NAACP filed the federal lawsuit on April 21, just hours after Reeves signed the law, arguing that it violates the Equal Protection Claus of the 14th Amendment by targeting black residents with a separate and unequal policing structure and criminal justice system to which no other residents of the State are subjected.

Under this new regime and unlike in any other jurisdiction in Mississippi, in certain areas of Jackson, a citizen can be arrested by a police department led by a State-appointed official, be charged by a State-appointed prosecutor, be tried before a State-appointed judge, and be sentenced to imprisonment in a State penitentiary regardless of the severity of the act, the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit argues that the legislation is designed to take power from the citys longstanding black leadership and singles out the black population.

Begging for Help

In response to the lawsuit, Reeves tweeted that though the Democrat politicians, and the defund the police activists may be willing to stand by and do nothing. I am not.

Families in Jackson are begging for help restoring law and order to a city that desperately needs it, Reeves said.

Reeves tweeted on Monday that most Mississippi residents want Jackson to be a thriving, safe community.

Public safety and law and order are critical to that goal. All those who desire safe streets are working togetherregardless of race, creed, or religion, Reeves said. Adding more Capitol Police, more prosecuting attorneys, more public defenders, and an inferior court will complement the efforts of the others.
More Than 4,000 Illegal Immigrant Gotaways Since Title 42 Ended: Border Patrol Chief

Honduran immigrants walk along the U.S. side of the Rio Grande and past an emptied-out migrant camp after crossing over from Mexico to El Paso, Texas, on May 13, 2023. (John Moore/Getty Images)

United States Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz has reported that approximately 4,316 illegal immigrants crossed the U.S. southern border and evaded Border Patrol authorities in the first three days after Title 42 expired on May 11.

On Monday morning, Ortiz tweeted a summary of the Border Patrols enforcement activity in the first 72 hours after the end of Title 42a pandemic-era authority that allowed border officials to turn away and expel migrants from the United States for public health reasons.

Ruiz reported that Border Patrol agents apprehended 14,752 illegal immigrants, while estimating that another 4,316 got away over the course of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Among those apprehended, Border Patrol agents identified five sex offenders and a wanted felon, while seizing four pounds of marijuana, one pound of cocaine, two firearms, and $58,758. The Border Patrol chief reported that three of his agents were also assaulted in that 72-hour period.

A busy weekend for our workforce! Thank you! Ruiz tweeted.

Before and After Title 42

In the fiscal year 2022, while Title 42 was still in effect, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recorded more than 600,000 gotawaysthe agencys official term for a person who is not turned back or apprehended after making an illegal entry into the United States. This reported number of gotaways over the course of 2022 amounted to an average of 1,644 gotaways per daycompared to an average of 1,439 gotaways in the first three days after Title 42 ended.

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the number of migrants encountered at the southern border over the last three days fell by about 50 percent compared to the days leading up to the end of Title 42.

Its still too early to draw firm conclusions. We are closely watching whats happening, said Blas Nunez-Neto, the DHS assistant secretary for border and immigration policy on Monday. We are confident that the plan that we have developed across the U.S. government to address these flows will work over time.

DHS officials have insisted they have been preparing for months for Title 42 to end, and have allotted resources to address a potential surge in cross-border traffic. Under Title 42, border officials could quickly expel illegal border crossers, though those expulsions did not carry consequences for those who illegally entered the country.

President Joe Bidens 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.

Many migrants, worried about tougher enforcement measures, began arriving at the border before Title 42 expired.

Republicans Skeptical of Border Claims

While Biden administration officials reported a comparative drop in migrant encounters at the border, several Republican officials have expressed skepticism that the situation there is under control.

In a Sunday interview with CBS Face the Nation, Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) said he had heard assertions from border officials, local mayors, and members of the media saying the current border situation is not that bad.

So, on Friday, I visited El Paso and went to the Central Processing Center. And youre seeing these videos, and this is what not that bad looks like, Gonzales said. Therere over 6,000 people that are in custody in this particular facility. Its meant to house 1,000 people, its housing over 3,000. In one of these rooms  the max capacity is 90 people, there [were] over 400 in here, thats a 450 percent capacity. In another room meant to house 120 people, there [were] over 700 people in there.

We cant allow not that bad to be the normal, Gonzales added.

In an interview with Fox News on Saturday, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is lying when he claims the border is secure. Graham also said the Biden administration has done nothing substantially to address the traffic at the U.S. southern border.

Last week, Republicans in the House of Representatives passed legislation to resume border wall construction and increase the number of Border Patrol agents at the border. The legislation also applies more strict standards to the asylum process by mandating that asylum seekers enter the United States legally, pay a $50 fee, and meet more stringent standards to demonstrate they have a legitimate need for asylum.

The bill, which passed without any Democrat support in the House, faces tougher odds of passing in the Democrat-controlled Senate, let alone gaining Bidens signature.

My Republican colleagues are trying to take us back to the failed, illegal, and immoral policies of the Trump administration, said Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) of the Republican immigration bill during a floor debate last week.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

From NTD News
Most Canadians Named in Panama Papers Tax Evasion Scandal Paid Their Taxes, Says CRA

A security guard sit outside the Mossack Fonseca law firm in Panama City, April 3, 2016. Approximately 11 million documents with information on offshore bank account holders were leaked from the office of the law firm in 2016.(AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco)

The majority of Canadians named in the Panama Papers tax evasion scandal in 2016 had paid their owed taxes, according to an official with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

Cathy Hawara, assistant revenue commissioner of the Compliance Programs Branch of CRA, provided testimony on potential tax revenue loss resulting from non-compliance and tax evasion before the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance on April 26.

Senators asked questions about the 2016 Panama scandal in which approximately 11 million files with information on offshore bank account holders were leaked from the office of Panama law firm Mossack Fonseca to the German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung.

The committee heard how the disclosure caused a global scandal and included high-profile politicians, athletes, celebrities, and mobsters. At the time, CRA went to Federal Court to force Canadian bankers to disclose accounts of depositors named in the Panama Papers, according to Blacklocks Reporter on April 28.

Testifying before the committee, Hawara said, We opened five criminal investigations in relation to taxpayers linked to the Panama Papers. Three investigations have been closed, and two are still ongoing.

The federal government initially said 2,600 files related to Canadian taxpayers were being investigated by auditors, according to Blacklocks Reporter on April 28. Hawara told the committee that 900 Canadian individuals, corporations, and trusts were identified in the governments review of the papers.

In the end, 65% of the Canadians who were identified in the Panama Papers were found to be compliant, said Hawara. They had met their tax obligations, so it is important to remember that just because a Canadian individual or company has their name in a leak, it doesnt necessarily mean that they have not met their tax obligations.

She told the committee that the federal government has closed 280 audits in relation to the subject and assessed $77 million in taxes and penalties from those investigations as of December 2022.

I dont have more up-to-date statistics, unfortunately. We have 140 audits still underway. This is also information that we release publicly on our website, and we will continue to provide updates on our efforts in relation to all of the leaks, she said.

The CRA has a number of proposed measures to address aggressive tax avoidance and tax evasion, Hawara testified. As an example, she cited CRAs request of $25 million in federal funding to expand our capacity for our criminal investigations program, and an associated $2.7 million for the Public Prosecution Service of Canada.

In government affidavits filed in Federal Court at the time, auditors said they relied on media reports to investigate and track Panama Papers clients.

I rely on media reports throughout my affidavit and I believe these media reports to be true, said one 2016 affidavit by CRA auditor Rachid Fizazi.

In the CRAs 2022 Overall Federal Tax Gap report, the government set the value of unpaid taxes at up to $40.4 billion annually, including $4.2 billion lost to offshore transfers.

Eliminating the potential tax loss from offshore activities can be difficult, the report said.
Most Expensive: Energy Minister Says Nuclear Makes No Sense for Australia

Australian Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen launches the National Electric Vehicle Strategy at a press conference outside Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on April 19, 2023. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)

Nuclear is not on the table as an option to add to Australias energy mix amid a push for net-zero due to the huge initial costs, the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, has said.

As Australia lacks existing nuclear infrastructure due to its nuclear ban since 1998, the costs required to set up an industry from scratch make it the most expensive form of energy for the country.

Bowen told the Committee for Economic Development of Australia on May 15 that it made no sense to introduce nuclear into the energy mix when they would need to create an entire industry.

There is no nuclear facility around the world under construction which isnt currently taking major delays and major cost blowoutsfrom $5 billion to $9 billion. Even proponents of small modular reactors concede they cost $5 billion, he said, The Australian reported.

Which is a lot of billions for not many megawatts. It makes no sense to me whatsoever.

Thats before you even get to talk about social licence. You have transmission, and then you have the social licence of nuclear power plants. So its not an option for Australia.

Bowen prefers sticking with renewables, which he calls the cheapest form of energy available.

The comments come after Opposition leader Peter Dutton called for the introduction of nuclear as a cost-effective, low-emission, and safe form energy option in his Budget Reply speech.

In the 21st century, any sensible government must consider small modular nuclear as part of the energy mix, he said. Thirty-two countriesincluding Canada, China, France, the United States, and the United Kingdomuse zero-emission nuclear power today, including to firm-up renewables.

Dutton noted that with the government against coal and nuclear, the only remaining energy is gas.

Yet Labor wants gas gone too, he said.

Nuclear vs. Renewable Costs

Australias government scientific research centre, the CSIRO, said on May 11 that nuclear power did not provide an economically competitive solution for the country.

Paul Graham, a CSIRO energy economist, said there was a lack of robust data for calculating nuclear costs, particularly around small modular reactors (SMR).

The main area of uncertainty with nuclear is around capital costs, Graham said. Generally, we like to use hard data from commercially proven technologies, and when we dont have that, it can be very tricky.

CSIRO found that the two SMRs known to operate in the world are found in China and Russia, which both faced huge cost blow-outs.

We dont disagree with the principle of SMRs, Graham said.

They are an attempt to speed up the building process of nuclear plants using standardised components in a modular system, and it may well be possible to achieve cost reductions over time.

However, because of [the reports] data-driven approach, it is not feasible to derive any plausible costings with the current limitations of existing SMR sources outside of those already cited.

For the annual CSIRO report with the Australian Energy Market Operator that details projected costs for energy generation and storage, it concluded that renewables, led by onshore wind and solar, were the cheapest energy generator technologies.

Costs for wind and solar was calculated to be at a maximum of $83 per megawatt hour in 2030, while SMRs were around $130 to $331 per megawatt hour.

Graham noted that calculations take into account initial capital financing and ongoing fuel, operation, and maintenance costs but do not include costs for bird strikes at wind farms, site remediations or nuclear storage.

For wind and solar calculations, they do include additional storage and transmission costs. Meanwhile, for nuclear, it includes hard infrastructure and annual loan repayments.

However, leading eco-modernist Michael Shellenberger, who is the founder of Environmental Progress, has disputed the claim that renewables are cheap and clean.

The reason is easy to understand, he said in October. Solar and wind produce too much energy when you dont need them, and not enough energy when you do, and both of those impose costs on the electrical grid.

Every time you take electricity off the grid and put it back on, youre paying energy penalties, which increase the cost of that energy somewhere between 20 to 40 percent.

Shellenberger also noted that renewables produce 300 times more waste than nuclear plants doevery solar panel is a piece of hazardous waste.

However, when solely considering economic costs, coal remains the cheapest energy option for Australia.
Last month, for the first time ever, 3 people received compensation from the US government for the injuries that they sustained from the COVID-19 vaccine.

However, at the moment, there are still over 7,700 people still awaiting a decision regarding their compensation cases.

To this day, 362 applications have been flatly denied.

However, what appears to be happening is that government officials are superseding the medical opinions of actual doctors in order to deny compensation to the vast majority of applicants.

In fact, according to government documents that we here at the Epoch Times were able to review, it turns out that U.S. bureaucrats within this compensation program have been rejecting these peoples vaccine injury applications, despite the fact that medical doctors have diagnosed these people with having vaccine injuries.

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Musk Says Woke Ideology Turned Once-Thriving San Francisco Into Derelict Zombie Apocalypse

A homeless man lies passed out on the streets of the Tenderloin District of San Francisco, Calif., on Feb. 23, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

An article blaming San Franciscos problems of crime and rampant homelessness on progressive policies drew a scathing reaction from Twitter CEO Elon Musk, who said that the woke mind virus had driven the once beautiful and thriving area to ruin.

Musk was responding to a post on Twitter about a recent performance at a San Francisco venue by comedian Dave Chappell, who lamented that the city had taken a sharp turn for the worse.

What the [expletive] happened to this place? Chappelle said during the show before mocking a situation in which a homeless person had defecated in front of a restaurant the comedian was eating at in the Bay Area earlier in the week.

In satirizing the rapid decline of San Francisco, Chappelle blamed the citys problems on progressive local politicians, per the article, which was published by the right-leaning news outlet Rebel News and tweeted out by political commentator Ian Miles Cheong.

Rightly so, Musk responded to Cheongs tweet. The disaster that is downtown SF, once beautiful and thriving, now a derelict zombie apocalypse.

Musk added that the downfall of San Francisco is due to the woke mind virus.

The Twitter chief has on previous occasions used the term woke mind virus to refer to radically progressive ideologies that he said were driving society to collapse.

Spencer, a homeless person, in San Francisco on Feb. 23, 2023. He overdosed and died on March 2. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Out Of Control

Musks take on the downward spiral in San Francisco dovetails with the view expressed by Angela Alioto, former president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, who told The Epoch Times California Insider program that progressive local district attorneys are partly to blame.

San Francisco is absolutely gorgeous, the landscape, the panorama cannot be beaten. Its one of the most beautiful cities in the world, she said in the wide-ranging interview, To see the amount of rampant decay  is a horrible experience, and its out of control.

Alioto said that crime, open drug use, and homelessness have taken a toll on the city, with residents and businesses leaving in record numbers in recent years.

Theyre not coming back because the streets are filthy, and the homeless situation is heartbreaking, she said.

Michael Shellenberger, author of the book San Fransicko: How Progressives Ruin Cities, told The Epoch Times in an interview last year that, besides the homeless problem, the city has also become besieged by rising amounts of crime and violence.

A homeless man sits passed out in San Francisco, Calif., on Feb. 23, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Woke Mind Virus Pushing Civilizational Suicide

Musk said during an interview with Real Time host Bill Maher in April that the woke mind virus had been brewing in society for a long time.

You have talked about this woke mind virus in really apocalyptic terms, Maher said to Musk. You should explain why you dont think its hyperbole to say things like its pushing civilization toward suicide. First of all, what is the woke mind virus?

Musk replied by identifying two aspects of the woke mind virus, namely anything that is anti-meritocratic and the suppression of free speech.

Almost synonymous would be cancel culture, he added.

Asked where it came from, Musk pointed to leftist indoctrination in the education system.

I think its actually been a long time brewing, Musk said. The amount of indoctrination thats happening in schools and universities is I think far beyond what parents realize, he added.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk leaves the Phillip Burton Federal Building in San Francisco, Calif., on Jan. 24, 2023. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Musk then argued that the educational experience present-day children are going through is vastly different from what he and others of his generation experienced, noting that thereve been fundamental changes in educational policies over the last decade.

The trend of public schools expanding their educational handbooks to include gender ideology-infused lessons, race essentialism, and other politically sensitive topics has become a hot-button issue in recent years after many parents began protesting the inclusion of such topics in the classroom.

In an interview with EpochTVs American Thought Leaders program Jeffrey Tucker, founder and president of The Brownstone Institute, argued that woke ideology had infiltrated not just classrooms but corporate boardrooms.

I once thought woke ideology would stay trapped in the universities among professors speaking nonsense to a bunch of incredulous students, that once students got into the free market, they would forget about it, Tucker said.

That didnt happen, he added. Those ideologies bled out of the academy and into all the institutions, the corporate boardrooms, the investment stock portfolios, the government, and the media.

It became a fast-spreading cancer, he added.

Theres been some backlash to progressive ideologies, with businesses springing up catering to those who oppose the woke mind virus.

RedBalloon, a conservative-leaning job services company, has promoted an employee bill of rights to protect employees from woke ideology in the workplace.

Andrew Crapuchettes, the founder and CEO of Red Balloon, told The Epoch Times in a recent interview that thousands of conservative Americans across the country have reported work discrimination because of their privately held beliefsor been pushed out of their jobs entirely.

RedBalloon recently released what it calls The Employee Bill of Rights and Responsibilities, a pledge that partner businesses sign onto in vowing not to discriminate against employees personal beliefs in the workplace.

Companies requesting access to RedBalloons job board are encouraged to pledge to not discriminate against employees over their private opinions, violate their constitutional rights, invade their medical privacy, or enforce vaccinations without their consent, according to Crapuchettes.

Jamie Joseph, Lorenz Duchamps, and Travis Gillmore contributed to this report.
Musks Request to Modify Deal Requiring Vetting of His Twitter Posts Denied by Appeals Court

Elon Musk, founder and chief engineer of SpaceX speaks at the 2020 Satellite Conference and Exhibition in Washington on March 9, 2020. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

A federal appeals court has rejected Elon Musks plea to dismiss or amend the 2018 fraud settlement he reached with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The settlement, which established a consent decree mandating that Musks tweets be vetted by a lawyer before posting, will remain in effect.

The decision raises questions about Musks compliance with the order, given the sheer frequency and volume of his tweets, especially considering his recent acquisition of Twitter. Nevertheless, the court dismissed Musks contention that the SEC was exploiting the consent decree to engage in bad-faith, harassing investigations of his protected speech, deeming his argument devoid of merit.

Contrary to Musks claims, the court highlighted that the SEC had only scrutinized three of his tweets to date. These include the notorious 2018 tweet about securing funding for Tesla, which led to the consent decree, a subsequent $40 million fine, and Musks removal as Teslas chairman. The other two tweets under investigation contained misleading information about Teslas vehicle production and a proposal by Musk to sell 10 percent of his Tesla stock.

The court finds plausible grounds to believe that each tweet violated the terms of the consent decree, stated the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in New York City, as outlined in its ruling (pdf).

The saga began on Aug. 7, 2018, with Musk claiming in a tweet that he had secured funding to take Tesla private at $420 per share. (Tesla has been a publicly traded company since 2010.) The SEC immediately launched an inquiry and ultimately determined that Musk had not discussed such a transaction at the mentioned price with any potential funding source, despite having held a few meetings with Saudi Arabias sovereign wealth fund.

The settlement with the SEC led to Musk relinquishing his position as Teslas chairman and introduced the requirement for a Twitter sitter.

Last February, Musk emerged unscathed in a case where investors accused him of fraud based on his August 2018 tweets about taking Tesla private. Had the jury found him liable, Musk could have faced potential damages amounting to billions of dollars.

However, since agreeing to the SEC settlement, Musk has persistently sought to escape the consent decrees provision of having a lawyer review tweets that could materially impact Tesla before their publication. If the Twitter sitter exists, their identity remains shrouded in mystery, as Tesla has declined to disclose their name.

Undeterred by Musks arguments for unrestricted tweeting, the court remained resolute in its decision.

Musk had the option to litigate and defend against the SECs charges or negotiate an alternative agreement if he wanted to preserve his right to tweet without even limited internal oversight regarding certain Tesla-related matters. However, he consciously chose not to take either route, emphasized the court of appeals.

Having made that choice, he cannot use Rule 60 to reopen a final judgment merely because he has since changed his mind.
Nathan Fletcher Officially Resigns From San Diego County Board of Supervisors

SAN DIEGOIn his first public statement since leaving the state to enter a rehabilitation clinic, former San Diego County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher officially resigned from the position on May 15, apologizing for his actions but denying he committed any crimes.

Fletcher announced on March 29 his plans to resign, while also admitting to an affair with a Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) employee who is suing him for alleged sexual assault and harassment.

I own, unequivocally, the responsibility for making the mistake of engaging in consensual interactions with someone outside of my marriage, he said in a statement to constituents on May 15. And while I strenuously deny the allegations you have no doubt heard levied against me, I apologize for letting down so many people important to memy family, staff, constituents, supporters, and friends.

I failed to live up to the standards I expect of myself, and those which are rightly demanded of our elected officials, Fletcher said.

Fletcher was one of the most powerful politicians in the county when he announced on March 26 that he was entering a treatment center for post-traumatic stress, trauma, and alcohol abuse, and was abandoning a planned run for state Senate. Days later, he announced plans to resign his seat altogether, setting his departure date for May 15.

The plaintiff in the lawsuit against Fletcher, former Metropolitan Transit System Public Information Officer Grecia Figueroa, alleges that Fletcher groped her on two occasions and pursued a sexual relationship with her for months before she was abruptly fired on the day Fletcher announced his state Senate candidacy.

Figueroa alleges that beginning in 2021, Fletcher began stalking her social media account, then sought to meet with her privately on several occasions. On two of those occasions, she claims he assaulted her.

The complaint alleges Figueroa was intimidated by the dynamic Fletcher had created and says she felt pressured to reciprocate Fletchers advances because she knew he had authority as both a career politician and as chair of the MTS Board to destroy her career at MTS and to potentially humiliate her publicly if she made him angry.

She alleges that on Feb. 6, she was fired during a closed-door meeting and believes that MTS terminated her employment because she was sexually harassed by defendant Fletcher.

The lawsuit filed in San Diego Superior Court alleges sexual assault and battery and sexual harassment by Fletcher. It also names the MTS as a defendant and alleges sexual harassment, failure to prevent sexual harassment and retaliation, and whistleblower retaliation.

Fletcher denied Figueroas charges, claiming the affair was consensual.

Fletcher resigned on April 4 as MTS chair.

I fully support the independent investigation underway by MTS and know it will show that I had absolutely nothing to do with this individuals employment or termination, he said. However, due process and legal proceedings do not move at the speed of public opinion, and this issue will take several years to fully resolve. It is most important that the vital work of the county government continue without distraction.

The other four members of the County Board of Supervisors earlier this month voted unanimously to hold a special election on Aug. 15 to fill the District 4 seat vacated by Fletcher on May 15.

If no candidate receives a majority vote in the Aug. 15 primary election, a special general election would be held on Nov. 7, according to county officials. Costs could range between $3 million and $5.2 million if the county conducts a primary and general special election.

My colleagues and I voted to hold a special election to fill the vacancy on the board and now its time for the residents of District 4 to decide who they want to represent them, said Supervisor Joel Anderson.

Monica Montgomery Steppe, a San Diego city councilwoman who recently announced that she was seeking the District 4 seat, said a special election was the best choice despite the lack of direct representation for the next few months.

I know its hard in this moment, but I ask you not to change course today, she added.

Along with Montgomery Steppe, Marine Corps veteran Janessa Goldbeck is also a candidate for the District 4 seat.

Following Mondays news, ReOpen San Diego founder Amy Reichert officially declared her candidacy for the position.

The foundation of my campaign rests upon the fundamental values and interests of the community I proudly represent, she said in her campaign announcement. Every voice deserves to be heard, and every person must be treated with unwavering dignity and respect. This commitment to bringing people together will be the guiding light that illuminates every decision and action I take as your supervisor.
(Bloomberg) -- This years rally in Japanese stocks, which has driven the Topix to its highest level in more than three decades, is set to extend as earnings growth, share buybacks and still-low valuations lure buyers.

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Thats the view from CLSA Securities Japan Co. and Monex Inc. A promising earnings season has been the latest catalyst for Japan equities, which were boosted by Warren Buffetts renewed endorsement and corporate governance improvements. Though not spectacular, Topix firms are forecasting operating profits to rise about 6% in the fiscal year ending March 2024. History shows that companies tend to be conservative.

Earnings seem pretty good, with the important auto sector expecting profit growth, said Takashi Hiroki, chief strategist at Monex, Japans third-largest online broker. Domestic demand-oriented companies are benefiting from the prospects of an increase in inbound tourism while big banks also had bumper earnings. Hiroki expects further gains of 10% or more by the end of the year.

Up more than 12% in 2023, the Topix is already among the best performing national equity gauges in Asia and is beating a broader regional index by more than 8 percentage points. Data on Wednesday showing the economy is expanding more quickly than expected is likely to help fuel further gains.

While the Japanese gauge is at a 33-year high, it is hardly expensive given a price-to-book ratio of 1.3 times, compared with 4 for the S&P 500 Index and 1.8 for the Stoxx Europe 600. Cheap valuation is the key reason why Nicholas Smith, a strategist at CLSA, is predicting a further rally of at least 10%.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc.s chief Japan equity strategist, Bruce Kirk, is also bullish. He told Bloomberg Television on Wednesday that a perfect alignment between the interests of government, regulators and the exchange, along with foreign and domestic investors, could create one of these policy-driven sustainable bull markets that we get in Japan once a decade.

Story continues

To be sure, the global backdrop poses a risk for Japans export-driven market. Rie Nishihara, chief Japan equity strategist at JPMorgan Chase & Co., said the debt-ceiling issue in the US could pose a setback.

For now, foreign funds are piling in as concerns about recession in the US and Europe, as well as geopolitical risks surrounding China, turn Japanese stocks into some sort of a haven trade. Share buybacks remain at record levels, with investors expecting more to follow as the countrys stock exchange pushes companies to lift their market values. Buybacks in the US have slowed.

I dont expect a runaway bull market, but the market is well backed by fundamental value, said Peter Tasker, co-founder and strategist at Arcus Investment.

READ: Goldman Sees More Japan Upside as Topix Approaches 33-Year High

Since global stock prices bottomed out on March 15, the Topix has gained 8.5%, the best performance among major markets. The S&P 500 index advanced 5.6% while the MSCI Asia Pacific index added 3.4% in that span.

Masayuki Murata, a general manager of balanced portfolio investment at Sumitomo Life Insurance Co., is taking the long view when it comes to Japan.

Given that the P/B ratio is still around 1.2 times, even if there is some sort of crisis in markets, it would be a big buying opportunity for long-term investors like us, Murata said.

--With assistance from Winnie Hsu and Yasutaka Tamura.

(Updates with growth data in fourth paragraph, adds Goldman comments as sixth paragraph.)

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Newsom Signs Bill to Provide Aid to Struggling California Hospitals

A lab technician works in the Emergency Department at Providence St. Mary Medical Center in Apple Valley, Calif., on March 11, 2022. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Gov. Gavin Newsom, alongside members of the California Legislature, signed the Distressed Hospital Loan Program bill into law on May 15, which will provide aid to struggling California hospitals.

The $150 million program provides zero-interest loans to nonprofit or public hospitals experiencing extreme financial distress and will help struggling hospitals remain open or assist hospitals that have closed to reopen their doors.

The Department of Health Care Access and Information, in coordination with the California Health Facilities Financing Authority, will create eligibility criteria, with priority given to hospitals with a high proportion of Medi-Cal patients.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announces a proposed 2024 ballot initiative to treat people at risk of homelessness at Alvarado Hospital in San Diego on March 19, 2023. (Courtesy of Office of Governor Gavin Newsom)

This new program will help hospitals in extreme financial distress get the assistance they need as quickly as possible, Newsom said in a statement. My administration has been working closely with hospitals across the state, and we will continue to do all we can to ensure communities can continue to access the care and services they need without disruption.

Qualifying hospitals would be required to submit a plan detailing how the hospitals will return to financial viability and continue to operate long term.

Democrat Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia, who was at the signing ceremony for the bill, supports the financial aid program to help get hospitals back on their feet.

We jumped in to support the Distressed Hospital Loan Program to ensure an eligible source of relief for our districts urgent healthcare concerns. This legislation would open up $150 million in critical loan resources to prevent the closures of financially distressed hospitals, like those in our district struggling to keep their doors open, Garcia said in a statement.

Democrat state Sen. Anna Caballero says the new relief program helps hospitals in rural communities stay open despite limited resources.

In a statement about the new loan program, Caballero mentioned the closure of Madera Community Hospital in Madera, California, in January after the hospital filed for bankruptcy. Three rural health clinics were also forced to close, and over 700 people lost their jobs, she said.

Our healthcare system is in crisis, Caballero said. We need to continue working to ensure that there is a process to evaluate the healthcare services provided to the community by our struggling hospitals, analyze fiscal stability and oversight by hospital boards, and ensure that these hospitals have a viable plan to avoid bankruptcy.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced many hospitals to use their reserve funds as the cost of prescriptions increased and supplies became more expensive.

Hospitals were also forced to hire traveling nurses after hundreds of nurses left the profession during the pandemic.

California Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones praised the governor after the signing of AB 112.

Good news! Governor Newsom listened to our calls and signed AB 112! This is a step forward in ensuring all Californians have access to quality medical care by keeping our hospitals open, Jones wrote on Twitter.

Democrat state Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria said the funding program is critical to restoring emergency health care for Californians.

I am grateful to the Governor for prioritizing state assistance so Madera Community Hospital, and other struggling hospitals, have access to emergency funding, Soria said in a statement. Reopening Madera Community Hospital has been my top priority this year and todays action gives me hope towards restoring emergency health care, labor and delivery services, and preventative care access that is critical to the community.
NZ Hostel Fire That Claimed 6 Lives a Dreadful Human Tragedy: Australian PM

A general view of the scene after a fire at Loafers Lodge in Wellington, New Zealand on May 16, 2023 (Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

The deadly hostel fire in New Zealands capital has been described by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as a dreadful human tragedy.

The fire, which engulfed parts of the fully booked 92-room Loafers Lodge hostel in Wellington, claimed the lives of six people, with several others unaccounted for.

Albanese said he had spoken with New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and had offered assistance.

I expressed my condolences on behalf of Australia to our friends in New Zealand at this very difficult time, Albanese told reporters in Melbourne on May 16.

Any assistance, of course, will, as always, be available from Australia to New Zealand at what is a very difficult time, he said.

Firefighters rinse off after a fire at Loafers Lodge in Wellington, New Zealand on May 16, 2023. (Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

It is clear that there have been a number of deaths, the exact number may well rise.

NZ PM Hipkins expressed support for the victims of the blaze and an investigation would occur soon.

For our fire and emergency crews who are on the sceneclearly this is a traumatic incident for them as well, Hipkins told reporters on May 16.

I know that they put everything they could into getting people out of the building, he said. It is an absolute tragedy whats happened here.

Weve not seen something on this scale in recent times. Wellingtonians will feel this  Its a very tight-knit community.

A general view of the scene after a fire at Loafers Lodge in Wellington, New Zealand on May 16, 2023. (Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

Hipkins said the death toll could rise but did not expect the number to rise above 10.

Tala Sili was staying in the building when he saw smoke coming through his door, reported the New Zealand Herald. He then made the decision to jump from a window onto a roof two storeys below.

I was on the top floor and I couldnt go through the hallway because there was just too much smoke so I jumped out the window, he said.

In March, the Loafers Lodge passed a building inspection with no concerns being raised by an independent inspector, according to the Wellington City Council.

The building was not fitted out with safety sprinklers, which is not necessary under local law.

Meanwhile, the council is currently offering food, clothing, and showers to 50 people displaced by the fire.

The team is also working to provide temporary accommodation for people who need it, the council said.

Australias Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said officials were working to determine if any Australians were impacted.

The Australian high commission is in contact with the New Zealand Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade and local authorities to determine whether any Australians are affected, a spokesman said.

We are deeply shocked and saddened by news of a fire at the Loafers Lodge Hostel in Wellington overnight.

Australians in need of emergency consular assistance should contact the Australian government 24-hour consular emergency centre 1300 555 135 (within Australia) and +61 2 6261 3305 (from overseas).

AAP contributed to this report.
Oregon Bill Would Require Insurers to Cover Sex Changes, Not Detransitions

It also would allow abortions, transgender modifications for minors without parental consent and make the state a gender-surgery sanctuary for children

A proposal in Oregon that would require insurance coverage for transgender changes without requiring coverage for those who change their minds to detransition has outraged some state lawmakers.

Even more upsetting to the lawmakers is that the measure would allow children to transition without requiring parental knowledge and consent.

Oregon House Bill 2002 has been approved by the state House and is now under consideration by the state Senate, where Republican lawmakers have walked out in an attempt to prevent its passage, according to state Rep. Ed Diehl, a Republican.

Ive got transgender people who think its crazy what were doing to kids who arent happy with their biological sex and want to make an aesthetic change, Diehl said.

Lesbians, gay men, just hardcore leftiststhese are all Oregonians. And theyre saying this is crazy. This makes no sense to be doing this to our children.

If enacted, the measure would allow abortion for children of any age without parental knowledge and also make Oregon a sex-change surgery sanctuary state for minors.

Oregon state Rep. Ed Diehl. (Courtesy of Rep. Ed Diehl)

They could have written this so many different ways to acknowledge what parents believe they have a constitutional right for, which is to direct the care and upbringing of their child, Diehl told The Epoch Times. But they wrote it without any consideration of that at all.

The proposal states that gender-affirming treatment means a procedure, service, drug, device, or product that a physical or behavioral health care provider prescribes to treat when a persons gender identity and sex assignment at birth are different.

The bill mandates that health benefit plans may not deny or limit coverage for gender-affirming treatment. However, the bills text doesnt mandate coverage for people who want to undo their sex-change surgeries and treatments.

The bill, the way its written, is very clear that it doesnt mandate that kind of coverage, Diehl said.

Meaningless Definition

Because of that, Diehl asked in April for an amendment to the bill.

In response, the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services sent him a letter saying that Oregon law defines gender identity as an individuals gender-related identity, appearance, expression or behavior, regardless of whether the identity, appearance, expression or behavior differs from that associated with the gender assigned to the individual at birth.

Diehl posted the relevant chapter of law on Twitter and asked, If your gender-related identity is male, and your appearance is female, what is your gender identity?

The definition is so broad, its meaningless, he said.

In one case, theyre saying the incongruence is between how you feel and your biology, Diehl said. And in the other case, the incongruence is between how you appear and your biology.

Detransitioner advocates protest outside of the annual Pediatric Endocrine Society conference held in San Diego on May 6, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

He proposed an amendment to the bill covering health care for detransitioners, but House Democrats voted it down, he said. committee chair Rep. Rob Nosse, a Democrat, also opposed the measure, according to Diehl.

The chair told me, My people dont like this. Its very controversial. I dont want you to bring it up,' Diehl said.

Parental Notification

On transgenderism and abortion, HB 2002 puts parents out of the loop, Diehl said.

A minor of any age may give consent, without the consent of a parent or guardian of the minor, to receive reproductive health care information and services, the bill reads.

The bill suggests that children as young as 15 could choose to be sterilized.

Reproductive health care does not include the voluntary sterilization of a minor under 15 years of age, the bill reads.

The bill is especially troubling because it may help cloak sex trafficking or other sexual abuse, Diehl said. Most 10-year-old girls arent getting pregnant because theyre interested in having sex, he said.

Lets say youre a young girlyoure being trafficked and sexually abused [and] your abuser brings you in and tells you, Tell them exactly what they want to hear, [that] my 14-year-old boyfriend got me pregnant. And they go in, and they have an abortion, he said.

Nothing in the bill requires an investigation if a very young girl gets pregnant and wants an abortion, and thats a problem, Diehl said.

HB 2002 would also allow children as young as 15 to make medical decisions on transgender surgery without parental knowledge or consent. The law would allow children to use their parents insurance for the procedures.

The age of medical consent in Oregon is 15, Diehl said. A 15-year-old is not in a position to provide informed consent on medications and surgeries that are permanently life-altering.

Chloe Cole speaks about detransitioning at the California State Capitol building in Sacramento on March 10, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Finally, the bill guts parental rights in other states, he said.

If children travel to Oregon to get abortions and sex-change surgeries, the bill protects doctors who do the procedures from prosecution under the laws of other states.

Transitions Funded by Taxpayers

The Oregon Health Authority reported that 7,842 people have received sex-change treatments in 2022 from Medicaid insurance, paid with state and federal taxpayers dollars, according to an email to Diehl reviewed by The Epoch Times.

In 2022, 1,218 of those sex-change patients were younger than the age of 18. The cost of care was more than $2.3 million, an Oregon Health Authority report shows.

Protestors with Rise Up 4 Abortion Rights call for unrestricted access to abortion outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington on June 15, 2022. (Jackson Elliott/The Epoch Times)

Theres one place that the bill offers parents the ability to do whatever they want, Diehl said.

Currently, its a crime in Oregon to conceal the corpse of a newborn child with intent to conceal the fact of its birth or to prevent a determination of whether it was born dead or alive, according to an existing state law.

HB 2002 would remove that language, making it so concealing an infants death wouldnt be a crime.

Partisan Battle

Of 37 Democrats in the state House, 22 sponsored the bill, while all 17 Democrats in the Senate sponsored the proposal. But Republican senators are trying to stop its passage.

Oregons legislative bodies require two-thirds of their members to be present for legislation to be approved. So to block a vote, Republicans walked out of the state Senate on May 3, Diehl said.

Fourteen days later, 12 Republican senators have refused to return to the chamber, putting all legislative business on hold.

At a press conference on May 4, the Republican lawmakers said they walked out because HB 2002 isnt written at an eighth-grade reading levela requirement of all Oregon laws.

Unfortunately, what has happened is the law that passed in 1979, at some point stopped being followed, Sen. Tim Knopp, a Republican and the state Senate minority leader, said at a press conference. Not following a law is not an excuse for continuing to break the law.

Knopp didnt respond by press time to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.

While most Oregon laws fail to pass that readability test, Diehl said, the boycott is about stopping HB 2002.
Pair Accused of Stealing Technology for China in New DOJ Charges

The Department of Justice in Washington on Jan. 14, 2020. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

The Justice Department has charged two men for their alleged roles in separate schemes to steal and reproduce 3D modeling and autonomous vehicle technology for communist China.

The two cases were announced with three others on May 16, as part of a tranche of prosecutions aimed at squashing crimes related to export violations, smuggling, and thefts of trade secrets.

Each of the cases was brought by the Disruptive Technology Strike Force, a joint program led by the Commerce and Justice departments and intended to counter efforts by hostile nations to illicitly acquire sensitive U.S. technologies.

Protecting sensitive American technology like source code for smart automotive manufacturing equipment or items used to develop quantum cryptography from being illegally acquired by our adversaries is why we stood up the Disruptive Technology Strike Force, Commerce Department Assistant Secretary Matthew Axelrod said in a statement.

The Strike Force actions announced today reflect the core mission of our Export Enforcement team: Keeping our countrys most sensitive technologies out of the worlds most dangerous hands.

Tech for Nuclear Submarines, Aircraft

From 1996 to 2019, Liming Li worked in various engineering, management, and software development roles for two companies in southern California. The U.S. companies werent identified.

During that time, its alleged he systematically stole key secrets and source code for proprietary software from both companies in order to build his own competing company in China.

The software programs he allegedly stole and tried to reproduce involved high-precision measurement technologies often used in the creation of 3D models for sensitive manufacturing projectsincluding the building of parts for nuclear submarines and military aircraft.

Because of that military application, the software is subject to U.S. export controls and federal law mandates that it cant be exported to China without a license.

Nevertheless, thats exactly what prosecutors say Li did.

Li stole thousands of files of sensitive technology that did not belong to him and used it to help foreign companies build competing technology, technology that could be used in the manufacture of nuclear submarines and military aircraft, U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said.

Protecting our nations national security is paramount, and my office will aggressively investigate and prosecute those who misappropriate sensitive intellectual property to the benefit of foreign actors.

Stealing for the CCP



Li was arrested after arriving in Ontario via Taiwan on May 6 and is currently in custody awaiting a May 22 hearing.

Perhaps more concerning than Lis alleged theft of trade secrets, however, is his apparent desire to ensure those secrets benefited Chinas communist regime, prosecutors said.

After the second company that Li worked for in California fired him, its security department discovered that he had been using a company-issued laptop to attempt to download files from the organizations root directory onto a personal hard drive.

Company security subsequently searched the laptop and soon found a folder labeled simply ChinaGovernment.

That folder allegedly contained documents demonstrating Lis efforts to participate in Chinas Thousand Talents Program, which is used by Beijings communist leaders to send workers throughout the world to access critical research and return with it.

The folder also allegedly contained evidence that Li used his China-based company to provide services and stolen technology directly to Chinese government entities, though it was unclear whether these were civil or military.

Former Apple Engineer



Like Li, Weibao Wang is facing charges related to his alleged theft of trade secrets from his former employer.

For two years, Wang worked for Applewhere he was assigned to a team designing and developing hardware and software for autonomous systems for use in self-driving cars and other products.

The tech giant hired Wang as a software engineer in 2016, at which point, he signed a confidentiality agreement with Apple and received in-person secrecy training on how to handle the companys confidential materials, including rules prohibiting the transfer of the companys intellectual property without consent.

Yet, in November 2017, Wang signed a letter accepting a full-time job as a staff engineer with the U.S.-based subsidiary of a company headquartered in China, where he would also be working to develop self-driving cars.

Four months after accepting the position, the charging documents say, Wang notified Apple that he intended to resign.

After Wangs last day at Apple, company representatives reviewed computer logs documenting historical activity on the companys network and identified Wang as having accessed large amounts of sensitive proprietary and confidential information in the days leading up to his departure.

In mid-2018, law enforcement searched Wangs California residence looking for evidence of a scheme to access, download, and steal Apple technology related to autonomous systems and discovered large quantities of data taken from Apple.

Wang was present at the time, and assured agents that he had no plans to travel and would cooperate fully.

That night, after security services had left, Wang purchased a one-way ticket for a flight to Guangzhou, China, where he remains at large, from San Francisco.

Also charged was a Chinese man who is accused of seeking to provide Iran with materials used to produce weapons of mass destruction.

Other criminal cases involved the dismantling of alleged procurement networks that helped Russias intelligence services obtain sensitive U.S. military technology and aircraft parts, U.S. officials said.
Pence Allies Launching Super PAC to Fund Anticipated 2024 Bid

Former Vice President Mike Pence meets with guests at the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition in Clive, Iowa, on April 22, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)

Allies of former Vice President Mike Pence are launching a new super PAC backing him as a 2024 presidential candidate, officials have confirmed.

Known as Committed to America, the PAC will be co-chaired by former Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) and longtime Republican strategist Scott Reed, who ran former Kansas Sen. Bob Doles 1996 presidential campaign, according to reports.

Bobby Saparow, who managed Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemps successful 2022 reelection campaign, will serve as the groups executive director, and Mike Ricci, who previously served as communications director to former Maryland GOP Gov. Larry Hogan, will oversee communications, according to The Associated Press

Mike Pence is the conservative leader our nation needs at this critical time, Hensarling, former chair of the Financial Services Committee, said in a statement to multiple media publications.

From chairing the House Republican Conference to leading the state of Indiana, to serving as vice president, Mike has consistently demonstrated an unparalleled commitment to conservative principles and the Constitution. Mike can win, he is ready to lead, and I am proud to help lead the effort that will send him to the White House, Hensarling added.

The PAC will reportedly be publicly launching on May 16.

Pence has not yet officially announced if he is running for president in 2024 but has hinted that he will likely enter the race on multiple occasions, most recently telling NBC News that he expects to let people know of his decision before the end of June.

If we choose to go forward, this race doesnt really start until the August debate in Milwaukee, he said during the May 10 interview.

Then-President Donald Trump looks on after a news conference with then-Vice President Mike Pence in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington on Feb. 26, 2020. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Nation At a Crossroads

Veteran GOP consultant Reed touted Pence as a strong conservative candidate who can win at a time when the United States is at a real crossroads.

Pence has the experience, the unparalleled character, communication skills, and the conservative credentials to win both the nomination and a general election, Reed said, according to The Associated Press. People know Mike Pence, they just dont know him well, Reed said.

This campaign is going to reintroduce Mike Pence to the country as his own man, not as vice president, but as a true economic, social, and national security conservative  a Reagan conservative, he added.

The PAC is already preparing to organize all 99 counties in Iowa like it is running Pence for county sheriff, Reed added. It then plans to expand to other states, including New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada.

Saparow said the PAC will use Kemps 2022 Georgia primary win as a blueprint for Pence.

We have all the confidence in the world that the results that we were able to garner for Gov. Kemp we can duplicate for the vice president, Saparow said, according to Axios. We will also be doing a very extensive paid voter contact program through Committed to America, he said.

Pence, a former governor of Indiana, served as vice president under President Donald Trump for four years and was largely seen as a close ally of the former president.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas, on Aug. 6, 2022. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Polling Shows Trump Leading in GOP Race

However, after the 2020 election, relations between Trump and Pence became increasingly strained when Pence declined to reject the election results as he presided over their certification in his capacity as president of the Senate on the day of Jan. 6, 2021.

Pence has defended his decision, stating that the Constitution constrains him from claiming unilateral authority to determine which electoral votes should be counted and which should not.

Last month, Pence was booed in his home state of Indiana when he appeared on stage at the National Rifle Associations annual meeting to give remarks.

In response, Pence told the crowd, I love you too.

The announcement of the upcoming PAC comes as a Quinnipiac University national poll released in May found 36 percent of Republicans nationwide view Pence unfavorablyfar more than Trump or Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is widely expected to announce a run in the coming weeks.

Separate RealClearPolitics polling averages place Trump in the lead in the Republican race, followed by DeSantis in second place, and Pence in third.

Pence is scheduled to return to New Hampshire this week for various speaking engagements, The Hill reported.

He confirmed on Twitter on May 14 that he will head to Iowa in June for Sen. Joni Ernsts (R-Iowa) annual Roast and Ride fundraiser, which raises funds for Iowas Freedom Foundation, a Cedar Rapids-based non-profit that provides programs and services to veterans.
Philippines Warns China Not to Remove Buoys or Face Serious Repercussions

Personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard ship BRP Malabrigo aboard their rigid hull inflatable boat preparing to conduct a survey in the waters of Second Thomas shoal in the Spratly Islands in the disputed South China Sea, on April 23, 2023. (Red Ajibe/AFP via Getty Images)

The Philippines on Monday warned of serious repercussions if China removes navigational buoys installed within the countrys exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the disputed South China Sea.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) installed five navigational buoys last week to mark its sovereignty over the countrys EEZ in the South China Seawhich Manila refers to as the West Philippine Seaamid Beijings increased presence in the region.

The PCG has not reported any reaction from Beijing after installing the buoys. Vice Adm. Joseph Coyme, chief of the PCGs Maritime Safety Services Command, said the buoys remained in position based on aerial surveillance conducted on May 13.

If we have evidence that they deliberately take out our installed buoys, which we believe are legitimate, there will be serious repercussions, Coyme said, according to local media Benar News.

Coyme did not specify the nature of the repercussions, only stating that they will need to discuss thoroughly in consultation with the National Task Force for the South China Sea if such issues arise.

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 added.

Beijings claim of sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea was invalidated by an international arbitration ruling in 2016, but the ruling did not see the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) change its behavior.

The CCP has been behaving more aggressively in the South China Sea in recent months, as evidenced by the presence of over 100 Chinese militia maritime vessels within the Philippines EEZ from April 14 to April 24.

The PCG said that one of the Chinese ships carried out dangerous maneuvers at a distance of 50 yards from its patrol ship, posing a significant threat to the safety of its crew.

A Chinese Coast Guard ship with bow number 5201 blocks Philippine Coast Guard ship BRP Malapascua as it maneuvers to enter the mouth of the Second Thomas Shoal, locally known as Ayungin Shoal, in the South China Sea on April 23, 2023. (Aaron Favila/AP Photo)

The United States has urged China to stop harassing Philippine vessels in the South China Sea and warned that any armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft would invoke its mutual defense treaty.

Philippines Maritime Domain Awareness

National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano, chairman of the National Task Force for the South China Sea, said Monday that the Philippines plans to install six more buoys this year but did not specify the locations.

These cardinal buoys will indicate the direction of safe waters to prevent passing ships from running aground in these shallow areas, Ano said.

The five recently-installed navigational buoys were placed near Patag Island, Balagtas Reef, Kota Island, Panata Island, and Juan Felipe Reef.

The PCG also installed five buoys near Lawak Island, Likas Island, Parola Island, and Pag-asa Island last year to expand the Philippines maritime domain awareness in the South China Sea.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has previously urged Beijing to establish a direct communication line between their officials to prevent dangerous collisions between vessels in the disputed waters.

The Philippines goal is simple: We work for peace. We will not encourage any provocative action  We will not allow that to happen, Marcos told reporters on April 30.

Marcos has sought to strengthen his nations security alliance with the United States. Most recently, on May 1, the two countries reaffirmed the need for peace across the Taiwan Strait amid the CCPs intimidating actions against the self-ruled island.

The United States also secured four new military bases in the Philippines under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), all of which are located near Taiwan.

Mimi Nguyen Ly contributed to this report.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this article stated the wrong dates for the presence of over 100 Chinese militia vessels within the Philippines EEZ. The Epoch Times regrets the error.
Police Banned From Fishing Expeditions in Rape Cases

Metropolitan Police officers outside the Houses of Parliament, in London, on March 21, 2023. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

The police will no longer be allowed to request unnecessary and invasive access to rape victims personal materials such as therapy notes, under legislation put forward by the government.

Under an amendment to the governments Victims and Prisoners Bill, police should only request material that is absolutely necessary and proportionate to ensure that vulnerable victims are not put off seeking vital support.

The amendment is intended to end expansive fishing expeditions for information that is often not relevant to the investigation and used to undermine the credibility of the victim, said the Ministry of Justice in a statement.

It will provide victims with the confidence to access therapy earlier without fear notes could be used against them in court, the ministry said.

Simply Unacceptable

In a statement, Home Secretary Suella Braverman said: It is simply unacceptable that victims of some of the most traumatic crimes have had significant amounts of their personal records unnecessarily requested.

We have been clear that this issue must be addressed through legislation and thats why were making this vital amendment to the bill. This is just one of the ways we are working across government to improve how the criminal justice system deals with these horrendous crimes.

Justice Secretary Alex Chalk leaving 10 Downing Street in London, on April 21, 2023. (Aaron Chown/PA Media)

Opening a House of Commons debate on the bill on Monday, Justice Secretary Alex Chalk said: I know that routine police requests for therapy notes or other personal records can be incredibly distressing for victimsthey can feel as if they are the ones under scrutiny. Some may even be deterred from seeking support for fear of their personal records being shared.

Our bill will make sure that these requests are only made when strictly necessary for the purposes of a fair trial.

New Safeguard

The bill also grants new powers to protect the public from dangerous prisoners, including allowing the justice secretary to block their release.

Chalk said the bill would impose a new safeguard, a new check and balance in respect of the top tier of the most serious offenders drawn from murderers, rapists, child killers, and terrorists.

He added: In those cases, where there is a Parole Board recommendation to release a prisoner, the bill will allow the secretary of state to intervene on behalf of the public to stay that release to enable ministers to take a second look.

The bill would also introduce a new independent public advocate to represent the families and victims of disasters which have involved public authorities, like the Grenfell Tower fire or the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.

Wasted Opportunity

But the opposition Labour Party called the bill a wasted opportunity.

Shadow justice secretary Steve Reed said: Its eight years and eight justice secretaries since the Conservatives first promised legislation to support victims.

For all that time, Labour has been telling them to act. Now, finally, we have a bill, but I am afraid it is a wasted opportunity because it fails in so many ways to rebalance the scales of justice and make a real difference for victims.

The bill lets down rape survivors. It offers no specialist legal advice or advocacy that will help them to navigate the justice system.

Reed said Labour will propose an amendment offering free legal advice for rape survivors, adding: We want to make sure that survivors are supported every single step of the way, from when they first report a rape at a police station right through to trial.

It cant be right that so many rape survivors describe their experience in court as so traumatising that it feels like they are the ones who are on trial.

PA Media contributed to this report.
House Judiciary Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government Mike Johnson (R-La.), joined by Reps. Chip Roy (R-Texas), Dan Bishop (R-N.C.), and pro-life groups, hold a press conference to discuss recent attacks on pregnancy centers, pro-life facilities, and the Biden administrations misuse of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act.
Republicans Vow Accountability for FBI Politicization Detailed in Durham Report as Democrats Mostly Mum

Special counsel John Durham arrives at federal court in Washington on May 18, 2022. (Teng Chen for The Epoch Times)

House Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Mike Turner (R-Ohio) is calling for Congress to enact new guardrails to prevent a recurrence of the serious errors and shortcomings described in the Durham reports analysis of the FBIs highly politicized investigation of allegations that Donald Trumps 2016 presidential campaign colluded with the Russian government.

The Durham Report underscores what former Chairman Devin Nunes and Republican members of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence have been saying for years: There were serious errors and shortcomings with the Federal Bureau of Investigations probe into the alleged connections between the Russian government and the Trump campaign during the 2016 presidential election, Turner said in a statement to The Epoch Times.

The report confirms that FBI personnel repeatedly disregarded critical protections established to protect the American people from unlawful surveillance, he said. Such actions should never have occurred, and it is essential that Congress codifies clear guardrails that prevent future FBI abuses and restores the publics trust in our law enforcement institutions.

Democrats Mostly Silent

Congressional Democrats were mostly quiet in the wake of the May 15 release of special counsel John Durhams long-awaited report on the conduct of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the FBI in probing the TrumpRussia allegations during and in the years following the 2016 election.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) condemned Durham for revealing little new substantive information on the FBIs politicized activities.

The Durham Report offers no meaningful recommendations on how the FBI can improve the application of its considerable surveillance authorities in its investigations, Durbin said in a statement following the release of the report, which was nearly four years in the making.

Donald Trump once predicted that special counsel Durham would uncover the crime of the century, Durbin said. Instead, we were given a report that cost taxpayers more than $6.5 million over four years, just for it to reiterate the conclusions of the IGs 2019 report.

The Illinois Democrat, who is the Senate majority whip, was referring to DOJ Inspector General (IG) Michael Horowitzs 2019 report on several of the same issues covered by the Durham investigation.

But Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), the ranking Republican on the Senate judiciary panel, scoffed at Durbins assessment, telling Fox News that Durbin is completely, absolutely wrong.

The IG said there was reason to open the [FBI] investigation. The Durham Report said there was no corroborating evidence to suggest the Trump team colluded with the Russians in any fashion.

Graham, who preceded Durbin as chairman of the committee, commented in a May 15 statement that not only could the FBI not verify the Steele Dossierthe essential foundation for surveillance warrantsthey ignored exculpatory evidence and illegally altered evidence to continue the investigation. The facts confirm that the investigation was launched and continued as part of a political agenda.

Sadly, this reportthat shines a bright light on problems at the FBI and DOJreinforces the narrative that the Rule of Law in America is subservient to political outcomes. It is a very dangerous development and moment in American history.

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) speaks during Judge Brett M. Kavanaughs confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee to serve as an associate justice on the Supreme Court, in Washington on Sept. 4, 2018. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Graham called on Durbin to quickly hold a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the Durham Report to fulfill the committees oversight obligations. A Durbin spokesman didnt respond by press time to a request by The Epoch Times for comment on Grahams call for a hearing.

Other congressional Democrats maintained a studied silence about the report, with neither Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) nor House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) issuing statements.

Republicans Fume

Republicans on both sides of Capitol Hill, however, were outraged by Durhams findings.

Calling it one of the dirtiest smears in American history, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), former chairman and currently a senior member of the Senate Judiciary panel, denounced the governments political manipulation of evidence, as described in the report.

The baseless and politically motivated Russia collusion lie robbed the American people of three years and tens of millions in taxpayer dollars. This lie, perpetrated by the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and [former Secretary of State Hillary] Clintons campaign, was aided and abetted by senior FBI and DOJ officials who, at best, consciously avoided their duty of due diligence and, at worst, knowingly and willingly participated in one of the dirtiest smears in American history, Grassley said in a statement.

The Durham report validates the concerns Ive raised since we first learned of the bogus investigation in 2017, he added. The FBI allowed itself to be hijacked and weaponized by political actors to target a political rival during a presidential election and administration. Restoring its integrity, if thats even possible, will take humility, transparency, and accountability.

Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) speaks in Washington on March 22, 2022. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

The Iowa Republican joined House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) in demanding the FBI provide them a copy of an internal bureau document that an FBI whistleblower told them details a bribery scheme involving then-Vice President Joe Biden.

Comers panel has subpoenaed the document, an FD-1023 statement describing the information that was given to the government.

The FBI can start today by cooperating with a congressional subpoena about its handling of another politically sensitive matter involving then-Vice President Biden. We know the FBI relied on unverified claims to relentlessly target a Republican president. What did the FBI do to investigate claims involving a Democrat president? Its time for the FBI to cooperate and show its work to the American people, Grassley said in his comments on the Durham report.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, said the report details conduct at the highest levels of the FBI that is serious and unforgivable, and he called for more rigorous congressional oversight of the bureau.

The Durham Report details serious and unforgivable breaches by federal law enforcement. 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, Rubio said in a statement.

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. Rigorous oversight of the FBIs intelligence activities must be a top priority for the congressional intelligence committees.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) said there must be accountability for officials at DOJ and the FBI named for misconduct in the report.

As a former U.S. attorney, I know that justice, equality, and impartiality are the bedrock of our legal system. Special counsel Durhams report shows just how miserably the DOJ and FBI failed in upholding those values when they launched this investigation into former President Trump without predication, he said.

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) makes a point to delegates during the evening session of the Republican National Convention at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland on July 18, 2016. (Dominick Reuter/AFP via Getty Images)

Its shameful that a select group of individualsthrough this irresponsible and deceitful probehave risked the reputation of some of our most crucial federal agencies, whose rank and file members serve our nation with integrity. To ensure Americans can maintain faith in our legal system, those responsible for this miscarriage of justice must be held accountable, he said.

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-Mo.) promised House action to ensure the actions detailed in the Durham report arent repeated.

The Durham report confirms what most Americans knew all along: The TrumpRussia investigation was nothing more than a political witch hunt. Whether youre a Democrat, Republican, or independent, every American should be outraged that leaders at the FBI and DOJtwo incredibly powerful agenciesabused their authority by using the federal government as a weapon to try and take down a political opponent, he said.

While Im glad this report debunks yet another false narrative pushed by the Left and liberal media, the House will conduct vigorous oversight and do everything within its power to ensure this never happens again.
Russia Renounces Cold War-Era Treaty Limiting Force Deployments in Europe

Russian lawmakers attend a session of the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, in Moscow on Jan. 16, 2020. (Evgenia Novozhenina/Reuters)

The State Duma, the lower house of Russias parliament, has adopted a bill paving the way for Moscows withdrawal from the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE).

Signed in 1990, the CFE treaty sought to limit the deployment of conventional military forces in Europe by both the Western NATO alliance and the Soviet-Era Warsaw Pact.

We have already written it [the treaty] off. It is a relic of the past, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said at a plenary Duma session on May 16.

What other [signatory] states will do is up to them to decide.

The bill was introduced last week by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who appointed Ryabkov to represent him at parliamentary discussions on the issue.

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russias Security Council and a former president, said the move would let Russia deploy forces wherever necessary to ensure its security.

The State Duma has renounced the CFE treaty. Good riddance, he said on his Telegram channel. This document became irrelevant for us back in 2007.

Now, none of the previously suspended international commitments can prevent us from placing our weapons wherever we want  including parts of Russia that are in Europe.

A U.S. State Department spokesperson told The Epoch Times that the move further demonstrates the Russian governments disregard for arms control and is the latest in a series of actions to undermine Europes security architecture.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and deputy security council chief Dmitry Medvedev attend a meeting with members of the government in Moscow on Jan. 15, 2020. (Sputnik/Dmitry Astakhov/Pool via Reuters/File Photo)

Washington: Move Changes Nothing

The CFE treaty was originally intended to maintain a balance of forces in Europe between members of NATO and Warsaw Pact states.

The Warsaw Pact was a collective defensive treaty between the Soviet Union and seven eastern and central European socialist republics. It came into being in 1955six years after the creation of NATOat the height of the Cold War.

In 1991, shortly before the Soviet Unions dissolution, the Warsaw Pact was officially disbanded. However, it was succeeded by the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a six-country military alliance led by Moscow.

In addition to Russia, current CSTO members include Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.

In 2007, Moscow declared a moratorium on the implementation of CFE treaty provisions. In 2015, it suspended its participation in the CFE Joint Consultative Group while remaining a party to the treatyalbeit in name only.

Since then, Belarus, a key Russian ally, has represented Moscows interests at meetings of the Joint Consultative Group.

According to the U.S. State Department spokesperson, Moscows decision to withdraw from the treaty changes nothing on the ground.

Since 2007, Russia has suspended its implementation of the CFE treaty without a valid legal basis, the spokesperson said.

And it was failing to fully live up to its obligations under the treaty even before that suspension.

A picture released on May 13, 1955, shows a general view of the Communist Bloc Conclave bringing together the eight East European countries prior to the signature of the mutual defense Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance commonly known as the Warsaw Pact. (AFP via Getty Images)

US Forces Loom over St. Petersburg

In line with the treatys terms, the withdrawal process will take roughly six months, Ryabkov was quoted as saying by Russias TASS news agency.

The first step is to notify all member states of our intention to withdraw, he said.

Three weeks after notification, a summit of CFE member states will be convened to review issues pertaining to the withdrawal, according to Ryabkov.

There, we will once again reiterate  that it was the West, by its destructive actions, that has made our commitment to the CFE untenable.

According to Ryabkov, Finlands recent accession to NATOand its willingness to host U.S. forces on its territoryhave significantly deteriorated the military and political situation in Europe.

Now U.S. and NATO forces will loom over St. Petersburgnot only from the southwest  but also from the northwest, Ryabkov said, noting that U.S. deployments in Finland werent restricted under the CFE treaty.

In April, Finland officially became NATOs 31st member.

Early this month, reports emerged that Washington and Helsinki were negotiating a defense cooperation agreement that would let the United States deploy troops and equipment on Finnish territory.

Russia and Finland share a border approximately 830 miles in length.

Sweden is also on track to join the Western alliance, pending the approval of NATO member Turkey.

A view of the flags of Finland, NATO, and Sweden during a ceremony to mark Swedens and Finlands application for membership in Brussels on May 18, 2022. (Johanna Geron/Pool/Reuters)

Expanding Eastward

Ryabkov also claimed that Moscow had evidence that certain East European stateswhich he didnt namehad directly violated the CFE treatys terms.

Under these circumstances, even the formal preservation of Russias status as a party to the treaty  contravenes our national security interest.

According to the U.S. State Department spokesperson, Moscows decision to withdraw from the Soviet-era contract contrasts with [NATO] allies efforts to sustain the CFE treaty.

Russian arguments that attempt to justify withdrawal with reference to circumstances in Ukraine, or Finnish and Swedish accession to NATO, are not credible, the spokesperson said.

Early last year, Russia invaded Ukraine, which also aspires to join the NATO alliance. Kyiv and its allies decry the invasion as an unprovoked war of aggression.

Moscow says its special military operation was necessary to protect Russian speakers in eastern Ukraine and halt the further eastward expansion of NATO.
TopLine Financial Credit Union

TopLines Diaper and Wipe Drive Benefits Local Families

Baby Supplies Donated by TopLine Financial Credit Union Members and Employees

Baby Supplies Donated by TopLine Financial Credit Union Members and Employees

MAPLE GROVE, Minn., May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TopLine Financial Credit Unions second annual baby care supply drive held during the month of April benefited three local non-profits, Avenues for Youth, Keystone Community Services and YMCA of the North Youth and Family Services. TopLine members and employees generously donated diapers, wipes, and other baby care items to help bring comfort to families in need in our local communities.



Employees were able to participate by donating baby care items and money in exchange for a Foundation Friday/Saturday sticker, allowing them to wear jeans to work. TopLine and community members could also purchase items from our Amazon Wishlist or Target Registry and have them delivered directly to TopLine, and in return we delivered to our charitable partners. When the program ended employees and members had donated 3,768 diapers, over 100 wipe packs and $790 in cash to assist local families.

We are committed to strengthening our communities and providing much needed in-kind and monetary donations to improve the quality of life for individuals and families, says Mick Olson, TopLine President and CEO. We are grateful to all of our kindhearted members and employees who contributed to our baby supply drive.

Avenues for Youth provides emergency shelter, short-term housing and supportive services for homeless youth in a safe and nurturing environment. There are over 6,000 homeless youth in Minnesota each night. Avenues shelters in Brooklyn Park and Minneapolis help over 300 youth. Visit www.avenuesforyouth.org to learn more.

Keystone Community Services is a community-based volunteer organization in St. Paul that helps thousands of low-income individuals and families in the East Metro Area. Keystones mission is to strengthen the capacity of individual and families to improve their quality of life. Visit www.keystoneservices.org to learn more.

Story continues

The YMCA of the North Youth and Family Services is a leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. To learn more about the Ys mission and work, visit ymcanorth.org/youthandfamilyservices.

TopLine Financial Credit Union, a Twin Cities-based credit union, is Minnesotas 11th largest, with assets of more than $770 million and serves over 50,000 members. Established in 1935, the not-for-profit cooperative offers a complete line of financial services from its five branch locations  in Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Maple Grove, Plymouth and in St. Pauls Como Park  as well as by phone, mobile app and online at www.TopLinecu.com. Membership is available to anyone who lives, works, worships, attends school or volunteers in Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Washington and Wright counties in Minnesota and their immediate family members. Visit us on our Facebook or Instagram. To learn more about the credit unions foundation, visit www.TopLinecu.com/Foundation.

CONTACT:

Vicki Roscoe Erickson

Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer

TopLine Financial Credit Union

verickson@toplinecu.com

763.391.0872

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e6796cf1-1b37-42c2-ba94-f3612ba9b0ac




San Diego Man Convicted of Murdering Girlfriend, Dumping Body in Mexico

SAN DIEGOA San Diego man charged with killing his girlfriend, who disappeared and was later found dead in Mexico, has been convicted of her murder.

A jury convicted Nery Roberto Garcia, 36, last week of first-degree murder for the 2021 death of 48-year-old Faviola Calderon.

Calderon was reported missing on July 29, 2021, after she didnt show up to work, San Diego police said.

In her closing argument at Garcias trial, Deputy District Attorney Carrie Johnson told jurors that Garcia strangled and stabbed Calderon in National City in the early morning hours of July 28, then drove her body across the border.

Jurors also convicted Garcia of attempted murder and domestic violence charges stemming from two other incidents, both involving Calderon.

For the attempted murder count, Johnson alleged that around two months prior to Calderons death, Garcia poured rat poison into her water, which caused her to fall ill and sent her to the hospital.

The prosecutor alleged that in the months prior to Calderons death, Garcia had sent messages to a friend of his detailing his desire to kill Calderon because he believed she had cheated on him. One of those messages described strangling Calderon with a chain.

According to the prosecutor, Garcia admitted to his friend that he killed Calderon, and similarly confessed to investigators after his arrest.

Garcias defense attorney, John OConnell, alleged Garcias confession was erroneous. The attorney said investigators suggested certain details to Garcia during their interrogation, including strangulation and the idea that the killing took place in National City.

Theyre telling him that he has to do this for Faviolas family, that they need justice, according to OConnell, who told jurors Garcia was parroting back what theyre asking him to say.

OConnell also said the evidence contradicted the prosecutions theory and the details in Garcias admissions to detectives.

He said Calderon had undergone two autopsies by medical examiners in both Mexico and the United States and neither one yielded concrete evidence that she had been strangled.

Regarding the poisoning, OConnell said testing did not reveal the presence of poison in Calderon or her drink. Instead, the tests showed there was a chemical compound that is found in poisons, but also in many common household foods and drinks.
San Diego Reports Highest Violent Crime Rate in a Decade

A San Diego Police officer controls traffic outside Naval Medical Center San Diego after reports of gunfire inside the Military Hospital on Jan. 26, 2016. (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Violent crime in San Diego County increased by 2 percent last year, according to a report released on May 9 by the San Diego Association of Governments.

The 2022 analysis compared data to 2021 and found the rate of such crimes was the highest in a decade.

Arson rose by 20 percent, robberies increased by 10 percent, violence against seniors rose by 8 percent, and motor vehicle thefts increased by 2 percent, according to the report.

Although the report found a 9 percent decrease in homicides, the motives behind such have been less random, according to the report, with 51 percent due to an argument and 15 percent identified as gang related.

Sixty percent of homicides were carried out with guns and 59 percent of victims knew their killers, according to the report.

Despite the increase, the surge in violent crime was relatively low compared to other metropolitan cities in the U.S. The San Diego region is still among the safest in the country, Octavio Rodriguez Ferreira, the agencys principal criminal justice researcher, said in a May 9 press release announcing the report.

The study also included statistics from the countys individual cities.

The city of San Diego saw an 18 percent increase in robberies, a 3 percent increase in motor vehicle theft, and a 1 percent increase in aggravated assault, the report found.

Escondido experienced the most dramatic rise in crime, with burglaries up 26 percent and rape rising by 25 percent between 2021 and 2022.

Property crimes rose the most in Vista, according to the analysis, with a 27 percent increase in burglaries, 15 percent increase in motor vehicle thefts, and 14 percent increase in larceny.

Unincorporated areas of the county saw a decrease in property crimes, but an 11 percent increase in rape and aggravated assault, according to the report.

Data in the report were gathered from statistics reported by local law enforcement and the Uniform Crime Reporting program, an international program that compiles crime data across the United States.

The Association of Governments is a metropolitan planning organization and council of local decision-makers who determine solutions for the regions issues such as housing, transportation, economy, and the environment. It has been reporting on crime annually since 1980.
San Diego to Open Safe Sleeping Sites for the Homeless

Homeless tents sit on the park lawn in a file photo in Venice, Calif., on Feb. 18, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and City Councilman Steve Whitburn announced last week that the city is opening two safe sleeping sitesmeaning land where the homeless can set up tents and receive servicesnear Balboa Park.

The cost to do so is $5 million and is part of Glorias 2023-24 fiscal year budget.

The locations will have restrooms, 24-hour security, free meals, and social service agencies, according to Gloria.

The ultimate goal is to help people get back onto their feet and moved into long term housing, Gloria said during a May 8 press conference.

The first sitewhich will open in Julywill be located at 20th Street and Avenue B, a few miles outside Balboa Park. It can accommodate 150 tents, according to city officials.

The second is larger, with space for 500 tents and will be available in the fall in a parking lot known as Lot O just south of the Naval Medical Center also in Balboa Park.

A San Diego Police officer controls traffic outside Naval Medical Center San Diego on Jan. 26, 2016. (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

The sites were approved by the Balboa Park Cultural Partnershipa nonprofit collaborative of institutions inside Balboa Park.

The locations were offered by Whitburn as a solution to his proposed ordinance banning the homeless from public property near parks, schools, and outside homeless shelters if a bed is available.

Whitburn has been pushing for safe sleeping sites since he visited Denver, Colorado and saw how successful their sites were, according to his spokesperson, Bridget Naso.

Safe sleeping sites are a win-win for people who are homeless and living in our neighborhoods, Whitburn said during the press conference. The homeless will have a safer, healthier alternative to living in encampments.

Whitburn said with the sites he believed the public will see fewer homeless living on the streets, since the sites are a more desirable alternative for some compared to homeless shelters.

I have spoken to a number of people who are tired of living in squalor on the sidewalk and who want to be in a better place but dont want to go into an enclosed shelter, Whitburn said. They have told me they will happily move to a safe sleeping site.

Gloria praised the sites, saying they would create safer neighborhoods and clear sidewalks for the city.

People cannot have tent encampments when we have a place for them to go, Gloria said during the press conference. No will not be an acceptable answer when the taxpayers of the city are paying tens of millions of dollars on homelessness services.

A homeless man sleeps near tents in a file photo in downtown Los Angeles on Nov. 18, 2018. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

To help clean homeless encampmentsoften riddled with needles, human waste, and rotting foodthe city has added $1.4 million to its 2024 budget.

The additional funding, according to Naso, will be used to remove waste left after encampments have been removed.

According to Gloria, the city removed over 500 tons of trash and debris from public property impacted by homeless encampments since last fall.

Currently, there are about 4,800 homeless people in San Diego, with about 52 percent unsheltered.

According to city spokesperson Naso, management details of each siteincluding the process to be approved to live in onehas yet to be determined.

The sites will not allow drug or alcohol use.
Senate Votes to Overturn DC Police Reform Bill, Sending Measure to Bidens Desk

The Senate passed a disapproval resolution on May 16 to block the District of Columbias police reform law.

The Democratic D.C. council has said the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022, which was passed by the city council last year and took effect in April, aims to boost police accountability and transparency. Republicans have argued that the law puts unnecessary restrictions on police as the city grapples with crime problems.

In a 56-43 vote, Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Angus King (I-Maine) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined 48 Republicans in voting for the resolution. Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) did not vote. The House passed the disapproval resolution on April 19, when 14 Democrats joined all 215 Republicans in voting for the resolution.

The White House has already said that President Joe Biden would veto the resolution if it came to his desk, where the resolution now heads.

The president believes we have an obligation to make sure all our people are safe and that public safety depends on public trust. It is a core policy of this Administration to provide law enforcement the resources they need for effective, accountable community policing, the White House said in an April 17 statement.

While President Biden does not support every provision of the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022, he will not support congressional Republicans efforts to overturn commonsense police reforms such as: banning chokeholds; limiting use of force and deadly force; improving access to body-worn camera recordings; and requiring officer training on de-escalation and use of force, it stated. Congress should respect the District of Columbias right to pass measures that improve public safety and public trust.

The D.C. law bans the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and other local law enforcement personnel from using chokeholds. It also approves the use of police body camera footage and requires, with a couple of exceptions, the mayor to release such footage with the names of the officers behind the footage where officers [were] directly involved in the officer-involved death or serious use of force.

However, the mayor cant release footage if the next of kin of an officer-involved death or the individual against whom the serious use of force was used, or if the individual is a minor or unable to consent, the individuals next of kin doesnt agree to its release.

Additionally, the act authorizes District of Columbia Housing Authority Police Department (DCHAPD) members to make arrests, carry a firearm, and perform other functions normally reserved to members of the Metropolitan Police Department.

It also allows personnel of D.C.s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to carry a firearm, make warrantless arrests for felony violations of the law, and serve as affiants for search warrants. The law subjects DCHA and OIG to the same oversight and process that is used in dealing with complaints against MPD officers.

The act would establish a police complaints board consisting of nine members, including a representative from one of D.C.s eight wards and one at-large member. The members are appointed by the mayor and require confirmation by the D.C. council, which has 90 days to act on the nomination.

If there is no vote on the nominee within that time frame, then the appointee is rejected. The act would strip the mayors power to appoint the boards chairperson, giving it to the board. However, the mayor can remove a board member for cause.

Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) introduced a motion to put forth the disapproval resolution before the Senate.

Congress must exert our constitutional authority to keep our nations capital safe, said Vance ahead of the vote. Its a disgrace that the capital of the most powerful nation on earth has become so dangerous, but this sad reality is exactly what we should expect when far-left activists are calling the shots.

In the nations capital, according to the Metropolitan Police Department, violent crime is up 13 percent in 2023 compared to the previous year. There has been an 11 percent increase in homicides, a 45 percent rise in sex abuses, a 2 percent increase in assaults with a dangerous weapon, and a 19 percent jump in robberies.

According to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), burglaries have decreased 10 percent in Washington this year compared to 2022, but there has been a 30 percent overall increase in property crimes. Motor vehicle thefts have gone up by a staggering 114 percent. There has been a 6 percent rise in thefts from automobiles, a 24 percent jump in other thefts, and a 300 percent increase in arsons.
Soros-Backed Prosecutors Sudden Departure Creates Unprecedented Situation: Missouri AGs Office

St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner appears at her disciplinary hearing in St. Louis, Mo., on April 11, 2022. (T.L. Witt/Pool via Missouri Lawyers Media/AP Photo)

Hours before facing another hearing exploring her official conduct, a Missouri prosecutor suddenly left office on May 16 instead of waiting until June 1.

Effective immediately, Kimberly M. Gardner will end her service as the City of St. Louis Circuit Attorney, a tweet from her office said.

That announcement came shortly before a court hearing in Missouri Attorney General Andrew Baileys attempt to persuade a judge to oust her from office. Bailey continued that battle despite Gardners resignation announcement earlier this month.

St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner (circuit attorney.org)

His reasoning: While Gardner has announced her intention to resign on June 1, 2023, she has not yet resigned, Bailey said in a May 15 court filing. He added that Gardner had left open the potential to change her mind and remain in office beyond the stated departure date.

However, Gardners May 4 resignation letter expressly stated: It is with a heavy heart but steadfast resolve that I am resigning my position as your Circuit Attorney, effective June 1st.

Visiting Judge Thomas Chapman briefly convened a hearing in the Bailey-Gardner case on May 16; both sides agreed to put all related matters on hold for a week. Deputy Attorney General William Corrigan said it was likely that the case would become moot because of Gardners decision to vacate her post right away.

However, he said the situation was unprecedented because Gardners immediate departure left the city without a prosecutor.

Baileys office was informed of Gardners decision to leave the office less than two hours before the hearing. The situation was very evolving and fluid, Corrigan said during a live broadcast of the hearing on KSDK-TV in St. Louis.

Bailey, in a statement emailed to The Epoch Times, said he was sending Corrigan and his team to immediately receive referrals from police and start the process of clearing the backlog of cases until the Governor appoints the newest Circuit Attorney.

Replacement Sought

Prior to Gardners departure, Gov. Mike Parson received 18 applications from people interested in fulfilling the circuit attorneys role, KSDK reported.

Last week, Gardner announced she had been working with St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell to ensure a smooth transition of all cases.

No further comment would be made until the transition is firmly in place and discussed with the courts, a tweet from her office said.

Her departure comes just days after she filed a motion to set a conviction aside for a man who claims he was wrongfully imprisoned for 33 years in a fatal shooting.

That is just one of many issues that Gardners successor will handle.

Bailey has stated that Gardners office has been understaffed and demoralized for some time. While he blames her for a failure of leadership, Gardner has complained that her office was underfunded in an attempt to sabotage her.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey (2nd R) speaks at a news conference with Gov. Mike Parson (R) on Feb. 24, 2023. (Courtesy of the Missouri Governors Office)

Gardner is among dozens of American prosecutors who reportedly received financial support from billionaire George Soros. He advocates criminal justice reform to improve fairness. But critics allege that Soros-backed prosecutors allow criminals to go unpunished, fostering lawlessness.

In her resignation letter, Gardner said she had the citizens best interests at heart.

Unfortunately, since the time I took office, as the first black female prosecutor in the state, people outside of the city have targeted me and, to advance their goals, have also targeted the fundamental rights of the citys voters, she wrote.

Gardner said she was the victim of a coordinated, long-standing strategy to undermine me and my efforts to make the City of St. Louis safer and fairer.

Since Day One of my tenure as Circuit Attorney, I have experienced attacks on my reforms, on my judgment, on my integrity, on my prosecutorial discretion, on my responsibility to direct the limited resources of this office, and more, she wrote.

Other Activity Scrutinized

Meanwhile, court records also reveal that Gardner, whose duties require full-time work under the law, had been enrolled in nursing classes since 2021. Bailey took issue with that.

On April 27, when Gardner faced a contempt-of-court hearing for her offices failure to show up for a criminal case, Gardner was inside the Family Care Health Center in St. Louis. Instead of attending the contempt hearing, Gardner sent her lawyer, Michael Downey, and a representative from her office.

An investigator from Baileys office reported seeing a city-owned vehicle, issued to Gardner, parked at the center, court records show. The investigator witnessed her getting into the car and driving away.

During the April 27 hearing, Judge Michael Noble called Gardners office a rudderless ship of chaos. He found reason to advance an accusation of indirect criminal contempt against her; Noble said he would appoint a special prosecutor to handle the matter.

Missouri 22nd Circuit Judge Michael Noble holds a hearing on a contempt allegation against St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner and one of her assistants during a hearing in St. Louis, Mo., on April 27, 2023. (Janice Hisle/The Epoch Times via screenshot of pool video provided by KMOV-TV)

It was unclear whether Gardners immediate departure from office would affect that case. Its also unknown whether Gardner could face any additional action relating to her nursing coursework. The Epoch Times has requested clarification from Baileys office.

Gardners office earlier this month issued a statement defending her nursing activities. The statement said she became a registered nurse before becoming a prosecutor in 2017 because criminal justice and health care issues can intertwine.

She continues to stay current with classes at Saint Louis University to add to her training and advance her mission at the [circuit attorneys office], the statement said. The Circuit Attorney has done this at great personal cost to her time with her family and loved ones. Any suggestion that she is not fully committed to her duties as Circuit Attorney is blatantly false.

Origin of Controversy

Gardner first came under fire in February after a visiting teen athlete, Janae Edmondson, suffered the loss of both legs. An alleged probation violator is accused of causing the crash that injured her.

That case sparked community outrage and served as the impetus for Bailey to seek Gardners ouster.

Gardner, a Democrat, alleged that Bailey, a Republican, was targeting her as a political stunt. Bailey retorted that he must protect the public from alleged willful neglect of Gardners prosecutorial duties.

Janae Edmondson, a Tennessee teen athlete, lost both legs after a speeding vehicle caused a crash as she walked with her parents in St. Louis, Mo., on Feb. 18, 2023. (Rhonda Ross/GoFundMe)

He asserts that Janaes case was an example of the prosecutor shirking her responsibilities; he said the driver who hit Janae would never have been behind the wheel if Gardner had done her job and gotten him locked up.

But Gardner retorted that courts either ignored or turned down her offices attempts to crack down on the motorists alleged probation violations.

After a two-week hospital stay, Janae returned to her home in Smyrna, Tenn., to continue her recovery and rehabilitation.

According to her GoFundMe.com page, Janae graduated from high school on May 13; more than $810,000 has been raised to cover medical and related costs, about $90,000 short of the fundraising goal.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.
State Supreme Court Allows Mother to Vaccinate Children for COVID-19 Against Fathers Objections

Two children received COVID-19 vaccines this month despite objections from their father after their mother won a court case that made it to the states highest court.

Rhode Island Supreme Court justices on May 5 sided with Lauren Nagel, who argued that the girls needed to receive COVID-19 vaccines even though theyve recovered from COVID-19, and upheld an earlier ruling by Rhode Island Family Court Associate Justice Sandra Lanni.

At issue is the divorce settlement, which states both parties would jointly decide on major decisions affecting the health of the children and that neither party shall unreasonably withhold his or her consent to medical treatment for the children or the administration of medication recommended by the pediatrician of the children.

Dr. Colleen Ann Powers, the childrens pediatrician, recommended the kids receive a COVID-19 vaccine, largely relying on recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics, two entities that have promoted misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines and recommend them for virtually all unvaccinated people.

Lanni ruled that based on a totality of the evidence before it and the best interests of the parties children in this case, that it is in their best interest to give plaintiff decision-making authority regarding vaccination of the children for COVID, including future boosters, as long as she follows the recommendations of Dr. Powers at the time, because those recommendations could change.

Joshua Nagel, the girls father, appealed, arguing that because the judge found his concerns were not unreasonable that he should have ruled in his favor. The actual ruling improperly changed the custody agreement, he said.

Justices disagreed.

Contrary to defendants argument that an objecting parent may veto a decision regarding their childrens medical treatment, we conclude that neither the marital settlement agreement nor the final judgment requires the Family Court to defer to, and automatically rule in favor of, an objecting party, Justice Melissa Long, writing for the court, said.

When parents disagree on a matter, their recourse is to return to the Family Court, which has an obligation to decide and resolve the stalemate by considering the best interests of the children, she added later.

The ruling was 50.

The states top court said Lanni fairly considered the wishes of both parents and only ruled in favor of the mother after taking into account how Powers has been the childrens doctor while Dr. Andrew Bostom, the fathers expert witness, has not examined them.

Bostom had noted that people who recover from COVID-19 enjoy a protection known as natural immunity that many studies have found is similar to or superior to the shielding bestowed by vaccination.

The ruling lifted the stay the court had entered as it considered the case.

Precedent?

The girls have since been vaccinated, Gregory Piccirilli, a lawyer representing Joshua Nagel, told The Epoch Times. The girls would have faced getting a two-dose primary series and a booster under the old Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, but they are slated to receive no additional doses under the updated guidance from the agency.

State law gives the Rhode Island Family Court the authority to hear and rule on motions that concern equitable matters arising out of the family relationship and was cited by justices in determining the family court judge could decide for one parent.

Piccirilli said he viewed the ruling as determining regardless of what the parties agreed to, a family court judge could override that.

He fears the ruling will set a precedent moving forward that could lead to judges overruling the wishes of both parents.

Its going to have implications far beyond this case, he said.

Jesse Nason, a lawyer representing Lauren Nagel, did not respond to a request for comment.

The court rejected an amicus brief authored by University of Notre Dame Law Professor Gerard Bradley and signed by dozens of doctors and others that advocated against vaccinating the children. The brief noted that the vaccines present little benefit to young, healthy children and can cause side effects like severe allergic shock.

Three of the five justices on Rhode Islands Supreme Court were appointed by a Democrat governor. The other two were appointed by a Republican governor. Democrats have controlled Rhode Islands legislature for decades and they currently hold all statewide positions such as governor and all congressional seats.

Bostom, a retired professor of medicine, said he thinks the decision would have been different in a different state.

In a red state, these kids would never have gotten vaccinated. I mean, its that simple. Thats how arbitrary this has become, its really terrible, Bostom told The Epoch Times. Were all convinced to that. If this had happened in Florida, heres no way these these healthy young girlswith two bouts of COVID, doing finetheres no way they would have been made to get vaccinated by a court.
Supreme Court Sides With Inmate Who Wants to Be Executed With Nitrogen Gas

Attorney General of Alabama Steve Marshall speaks to members of the press after the oral argument of the Merrill v. Milligan case at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 4, 2022. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

The Supreme Court sided on May 15 with a condemned man in Alabama who wants to be executed by nitrogen gas instead of lethal injection, refusing to set aside a stay of execution by lethal injection previously granted by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit.

Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented from the Supreme Courts new unsigned order in Hamm v. Smith, court file 22-580. The court did not explain why it declined to grant the petition filed by the state.

Alabama was prepared to execute Kenneth Eugene Smith, 57, on Nov. 17, 2022, by lethal injection. But state officials struggled to gain adequate access to his veins before the death warrant expired.

Alabama has had problems with its lethal injection procedures. Last year, the state put executions on hold while it reviewed various difficulties it experienced in multiple cases when it tried to carry out lethal injections.

In November 2022, Republican Gov. Kay Ivey said the pause was needed to make sure that we can successfully deliver that justice and that closure for victims families. In February of this year, Ivey said the review was complete and called for executions to resume.

At the time, Department of Corrections Commissioner John Hamm said his agency added medical personnel and conducted trainings. In addition, the Department has ordered and obtained new equipment that is now available for future executions, he said, according to CNN.

Under new rules, courts will allow the governor to establish a time frame for the execution that state officials say will make it harder for inmates to run out the clock with last-minute appeals and requests for stays of execution.

As you know, this caused unnecessary deadline pressure for department personnel as courts issued orders late into the night in response to death-row inmates last minute legal challenges, Hamm said.

Smith and an accomplice were convicted in the 1988 murder of Elizabeth Sennett. The two individuals were hired by the victims husband who had taken out a sizable insurance policy on his wife.

Kenneth Eugene Smith in an undated photo. (Alabama Department of Corrections via AP)

Smith claimed the attempted execution by lethal drugs was botched and went to court, arguing that he should be put to death by nitrogen hypoxia. That new method of execution has been approved by the Alabama legislature but protocols for carrying it out have not yet been finalized.

The 11th Circuit sided with Smith in the method-of-execution appeal, concluding he had plausibly alleged that nitrogen hypoxia was a feasible, readily implemented alternative method of execution.

Alabama filed a petition with the Supreme Court on Dec. 20, 2022, asking the Supreme Court to review the 11th Circuit decision, which the state said obviously and inexplicably contravenes this Courts precedent and warrants summary reversal.

The petition quoted the Supreme Courts 2019 decision in Bucklew v. Precythe, which held that an inmate must show that his proposed alternative method is not just theoretically feasible but also readily implemented.

Nitrogen hypoxia has never been used in capital punishment in the United States, even though Alabama, Mississippi, and Oklahoma reportedly have laws on the books allowing it.

In the Bucklew case, the Supreme Court voted 5-4 to reject a request from a condemned man in Missouri who asked for a nitrogen hypoxia death instead of lethal injection because he suffered from a rare and painful medical condition that he said made lethal injection problematic, as The Epoch Times reported at the time. The court found that lethal injection does not violate the Eighth Amendments ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

The burden, in such a case, is on the death row inmate to provide the State with a veritable blueprint for carrying the death sentence out and to persuade a court that the State could readily use his proposal to execute him.

An execution method that is unproven and that lacks an established protocol is not one that can be readily implemented, the petition stated.

Inmate Russell Bucklew was executed by lethal injection in Missouri in October 2019.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, a Republican, was not pleased with the Supreme Courts decision.

Marshall is disappointed in the denial by the U.S. Supreme Court. The Office is reviewing the decision to determine the next steps, his communications director, Amanda Priest, told The Epoch Times by email.

In his dissent (pdf), Justice Thomas said he would summarily reverse the 11th Circuits holding that Smith had pled a viable Eighth Amendment claim. Justice Alito joined the dissent.

The judgment below rests on flawed Circuit precedent that is irreconcilable with our method-of-execution case law, he wrote.

The Constitution allows capital punishment and does not guarantee a prisoner a painless death, Thomas wrote, quoting the Bucklew decision.

The Epoch Times reached out to Smiths attorney, Robert M. Grass of Arnold and Porter, but had not received a reply as of press time.
Whatever the position or salary, a good work ethic will make an employee stand out

I happened to be on the outskirts of a conversation between a 17-year-old young man and a middle-aged married couple a few weeks ago. About to graduate from high school, the 17-year-old politely inquired as to what the husband of the couple did for work.

Soon, the two were setting up a time for the high schooler to come out and see the inner workings of the mans business. Given earlier conversations with this man about how eager he was for good help, I imagined I could see wheels turning in his head at the prospect of the diligent, untapped talent that stood before him.

The need for good workers these days extends far beyond this one mans business. And judging from a recent Wall Street Journal article, finding good help in young people like my 17-year-old friend above isnt an option thats out there for most employers. In response, employers are rejecting ageism and embracing workers closer to retirement than high school, hoping that the more mature worker will at least give a good, solid eight hours per day of honest, diligent work, even if he or she is a bit harder to train when it comes to technology.

Theres a willingness from this group to work the opening shift or to close down for the day, to cover during lunches and breaks or even be on call as needed, one employer told The Wall Street Journal.

In addition to being flexible and diligent, older workers arent necessarily looking for huge salaries, nor are they quick to move on to a new position in order to climb the career ladder, making them further attractive to employers.

Having done a fair amount of hiring in the past decade, I can sympathize. While Ive unearthed some very good workers among the younger generation, Ive also been somewhat taken aback by the things some younger hires ask for, as well as the lack of loyalty some exhibit once they join a company. So much so that I, too, began thinking of older hires as more desirable.

Employers see young people who are diligent, hard workers as brimming with untapped potential. (Biba Kayewich)

As Im somewhat still a member of the younger generation myself, such a predicament challenges me. Where did we lose the principles of hard work, and how can we regain them? The writings of the late U.S. President Teddy Roosevelt have some insight to shed on that question.

According to Roosevelt, one of the first things that makes a good worker is the willingness to put the company before ones own personal time. In an 1899 letter to Anna Roosevelt Cowles, Roosevelt explained how difficult it was to get away from his job as governor of New York. He didnt discount the need for some rest time, but he did realize that duties need to come before desire.

I have just got to make up my mind that while I am Governor, everything has got to bend to my being such, and I can simply snatch occasional holidays as the opportunities arise, his letter reads.

In that same letter, Roosevelt revealed another element of a good worker: namely, eagerness to work on a job that gives purpose.

I am so glad to be Governorthat is, to be at work doing something that counts, that all the bothers and worries are really of small consequence, he wrote.

In essence, a good worker isnt necessarily out to make the most money and get continual raises; instead, hes fulfilled if he knows hes working for a good cause, even if it doesnt bring in a lot of money.

Similarly, a good worker is willing to start small and do the little things well.

I ask of you the straightforward, earnest, performance of duty in all the little things that come up day by day in business, in domestic life, in every way, and then when the opportunity comes if you have thus done your duty in the lesser things, I know you will rise level to the heroic needs, Roosevelt said in a 1903 address at the University of CaliforniaBerkeley.

In essence, Roosevelt was reminding us that we dont have to start with a big salary right off the bat, nor a big office or cushy benefits package. Being faithful in the little things will eventually open doors to big opportunities.

One cant have a prescription for a good worker without including character, and in this respect, Roosevelt doesnt disappoint.

I believe thoroughly in the sound and vigorous body, he said during a speech at the University of Minnesota. I believe still more in the vigorous mind. And I believe most of all in what [counts] for more than body, for more than mind, and that is character.

What kind of character produces success on the job, not only for the employee but also for the employer? Honesty, courtesy, kindness, and diligence are a few good traits to start with.

Finally, a good worker is one who doesnt give up just because the formative years of his career are over. He continues looking forward, and not back, as Roosevelt wrote in 1908. Nor does he consider a position as beneath him if it pays less or is lower on the career ladder than one he had earlier.

I have never sympathized in the least with the kind of man who feels that because he has been fortunate enough to hold a big position he cannot be expected to enjoy himself afterward in a less prominent position, he wrote.

If the economy hits a downturn soon, as many have predicted, a paycheck wont be so easy to come by. When that time comes, itll be those who have learned Roosevelts principles of a good work ethic who will have a leg up when it comes to landing those jobs.

Lets not miss the boat by ignoring them.
From the terrace of his home on the crest of a hill, an old professor peers through a spyglass at the scene unfolding below on the sand and waters of the Riviera. Calgues is his namehis ancestors built this house 300 years earlierand he is studying the beginning of an extraordinary invasion: 100 ships and hundreds of thousands, perhaps a million, refugees from Calcutta and other cities in India. Soldiers have lighted bonfires on the beaches to dispose of the dead cast overboard from the ships, but the French army stationed there to guard against the coming invasion is melting away.

Then a young French radical appears on the terraceFeet bare, hair long and dirty, flowered tunic, Hindu collar, Afghan vest. In his ensuing conversation with the professor, he spews venom on Western civilization, France, the middle class, his family. The professor replies with a few counterarguments and questions, but his visitor remains undeterred in his bitter hatred of the culture that made him.

Finally, the professor says, When they go smashing everything to bits, they wont know any better. But why you?

Why? Because Ive learned to hate all this. Because the conscience of the world makes me hate all this, thats why.

At that point, Professor Calgues politely excuses himself, disappears inside his house, and returns to the terrace with his shotgun.

Whats that for? the young man asks.

Why, Im going to kill you, of course!

And after delivering a little speech on past battles fought by the West against invaders, Calgues keeps his word and pulls the trigger.

The Big Picture

Cover of the 1975 edition of The Camp of the Saints by Jean Raspail. Internet Archive. (Public Domain)

This confrontation opens Jean Raspails apocalyptic novel The Camp of the Saints, first published 1973. Here we learn that political radicals, the Catholic Church, sympathetic officials, and those who blithely support them, whom Raspail calls fellow travelers, have hammered together and supported this flotilla of the poor and wretched. They spill onto the French beaches, sweeping the last vestiges of resistance before them as they make their way inland. European culture and government are soon eradicated, with little Switzerland being the last domino to fall before this tidal wave of immigrants.

The incursion, as the French president euphemistically terms this invasion, has consequences worldwide. Hordes of Chinese swarm into Siberia, resisted only by one drunken Russian soldier. America becomes a land of mob rule. South Africa, still apartheid in this novel, swiftly falls to a massive peoples army from the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa.

Critics have either viciously assailed or vigorously applauded The Camp of the Saints. The former call it a racist tract, a handbook for white supremacists, a novel of xenophobic hatred and fear. Its defenders salute the authors courage in speaking out against mass immigration into Europe, for turning the spotlight on the gulf between the worlds rich and poor, and for underscoring the ongoing destruction of the customs and beliefs of the West.

Take your pick. This dystopian novel provides ample evidence supporting both sides.

And yet both sides often miss the more profound points of this highly controversial story.

The Masters of Disaster

The complexities regarding emigration of social class, race, and gender in The Parting Cheer, 1861, by Henry Nelson ONeil. Oil on canvas. Royal Museums Greenwich, London. (Public Domain)

The Camp of the Saints is no casual read, and not just because of its take on race and immigration. The paragraphs are plump and thick with detail, in some cases extending to a page or more. Though the real action takes place in a relatively short time, Raspail references historical events, heroes, and old wars that may be unfamiliar to readers. Finally, even in its English translation the novel retains a Gallic flair for polemics, intellectual wit, irony, and satire. The dozen or more characters who play major roles in this drama are primarily distinguished one from the other by their politics and ideology.

On the side of the young man killed by the professor, for example, are fanatics like Ballan, the atheist who initiates the idea of the fleet and is trampled to death when the mob rushes to board the ships. Jean Orelle, official voice of the French government, uses liberty, equality, fraternity as a propaganda tool, welcoming immigrants and condemning those opposed until the full import of the impending disaster finally makes itself evident. Just before the presidents address to France, in which he leaves it to the conscience of each soldier whether to resist the invasion, and so assures the utter collapse of the military, the despairing Orelle commits suicide.

Perhaps worst of all is the pompous and repulsive Clement Dio, a journalist with a huge following who for personal reasons bitterly condemns racism while promoting hatred for the West. Both he and his wife perish in the violent chaos that his rhetoric has helped bring into existence.

Opposed to this bunch is a small band of soldiers and civilians, not all of them white, who end the novel under the command of a Colonel Dragases. This tiny remnant includes Machefer, publisher and editor for a newspaper that aimed to speak the truth about French politics. These men wind up encamped at the professors villa, where they create a last bastion of civilization in miniature, awarding each other titles like mayor, minister, and commander-in-chief, keeping up their spirits with rough jokes and songs, and partaking of the wine and gourmet foods supplied to them by Professor Calgues. After wreaking death and destruction on the radicals, fellow travelers, and migrants surrounding them, they die under the bombardment of a revived air force.

Unforeseen Consequences

Goodwill and generosity unbuttressed by prudence can lead to evil and death. Allegory of Prudence, circa 1682, by Luca Giordano. Oil on canvas. Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. (Public Domain)

Tenderness leads to the gas chambers, Flannery OConnor once wrote. Later, Walker Percy used her words in his novel The Thanatos Syndrome, which demonstrates the truth of this shocking aphorism.

OConnor and Percy knew that tenderness, the kindness and gentle love we show to others, can have unexpected and dire consequencesincluding deathwhen unaccompanied by such virtues as prudence and wisdom. To cite an example from todays news, the mother of an opioid addict may shower her son with affection and sympathy, but unless she insists that he seek treatment or otherwise abandon his habit, her compassion is false and useless, and is in fact enabling his death.

This idea that goodwill and generosity unbuttressed by prudence can lead to evil and death is key to fully understanding The Camp of the Saints. Many of the fellow travelers who welcome their invaders with open arms, the soldiers who from pity throw away their weapons rather than defending their country, and the politicians and media who have spurred this mass migration act from motives of guilt and sympathy. Unfortunately, they are blind to the consequences. The migrants they welcome care nothing for liberte, egalite, fraternite, nor for the churches, libraries, monuments, universities, and courts given birth under that banner. They pack their own set of beliefs, and they are in search of a better material life and the goods they so appallingly lack.

Moreover, with the exception of men like Professor Calgues, most of the characters make only a vague connection between their customs and institutions, and the wealth these have created. They fail to understand that when this avalanche of humanity buries rights, laws, and customs, it will kill off the very sources that produce these commodities and goods they seek. Soon the lives of the invaders will be no better than when they first set sail from Calcutta.

In his 1982 Afterword to the book, Raspail described this Western phenomenon as the cancerous progression of compassion.

And the Debate Rages On

Jean Raspail, author of The Camp of the Saints, on Oct. 31, 2005. (Stephane de Sakutin/Getty Images)

In a 2005 appraisal of The Camp of the Saints, the reviewer concludes that its so loony that its impossible to take very seriously, like the worst of colonialist- or Nazi-fiction.

Oddly, however, this same review begins by citing a clip from another analysis that reaches an entirely different conclusion.

In their digital Atlantic Monthly article Must It Be the Rest Against the West? Yale University professor of history Paul Kennedy and Ph.D. candidate Matthew Connelly offer a lengthy, balanced look at Raspails novel. Moreover, using the novel as a springboard, the two scholars examine as well the global issues of race, migration, and wealth raised by The Camp of the Saints. Here is their conclusion:

For the remainder of this century, we suspect, the debate will rage over what and how much should be done to improve the condition of humankind in the face of the mounting pressures described here and in other analyses. One thing seems to us fairly certain. However the debate unfolds, it is, alas, likely that a large part of iton issues of population, migration, rich versus poor, race against racewill have advanced little beyond the considerations and themes that are at the heart of one of the most disturbing novels of the late twentieth century, Jean Raspails The Camp of the Saints. It will take more than talk to prove the prophet wrong.

Kennedy and Connelly published their essay in 1994.

Notes: The Camp of the Saints is no longer in print in English, but it may be found in secondhand online bookstores. Furthermore, were I to rate this book as we do films, it would receive an R for profanity, some scenes with sexual content, and violence. Given its explosive subject matter, I would also rate its general content as suitable for Mature Adults Only.
Tribes Land Cut Between US and Mexico Amid Border Crisis

The U.S.-Mexico in the Tucson Sector near Yuma, Ariz., on May 25, 2018. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

The Pascua Yaqui Tribe is caught between the U.S. and Mexican border, as their land stretches beyond the border wall in Arizona.

Raymond V. Buelna, a cultural leader for the tribe, has been separated from tribal members who are stuck living on the Mexican border side after being detained by border patrol agents.

It was February 2022, and Buelna, a U.S. citizen, was driving the pairboth from the sovereign Native American nations related tribal community in northwestern Mexicofrom their home to the reservation southwest of Tucson. U.S. officials had authorized them to cross the border. But when Buelna asked an agent why they were detained, he was told to wait for the officer who brought him in.

They know that were coming, Buelna told The Associated Press. He has made the trip for various ceremonies for 20 years. We did all this work and are still sitting there.

Native Americans join others in a ceremony to mark the first Indigenous Peoples Day, in place of previously celebrated Columbus Day in Los Angeles, Calif., on Oct. 8, 2018. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)

Many tribal members use natural resources like rivers and streams for daily water. They cross the border for basic necessities and to attend burials and visit relatives.

Tribal officials have drafted regulations to formalize the border-crossing process, working with the U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys recently formed Tribal Homeland Security Advisory Council, comprised of 15 Native officials across the United States.

If approved, the rules would become the first clearly established U.S. border crossing procedures specific to a Native American tribe that could then be used by others, according to Christina Leza, associate professor of anthropology at Colorado College. The regulations would last five years, to be renewed and amended as needed, and require training local U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents on the tribes cultural heritage, language, and traditions. This would require close coordination with the tribes, which would ease tribal members border crossings.

This is just something that will help everybody, said Fred Urbina, attorney general for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. It will make things more efficient, he told AP.

When family members, deer dancers, or musicians living in Sonora, Mexico, make the trip to the United States for ceremonies, tribal recognition celebrations, or family events, they are typically issued an ID card from the tribe and a visitor visa or parole permit from the U.S. government.

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs visited the Tohono Oodham Nation last month to support local tribes continuing their native traditions and customs, even along the border walls.

We are proud to welcome Governor Hobbs to the ancestral lands of the Tohono Oodham Nation. It was refreshing to have the opportunity to sit down together for true government-to-government conversations. As her first hundred days in office come to a close, Governor Hobbs has made it clear she is serious about addressing the important issues facing Arizona and Indian Country, Tohono Oodham Nation Chairman Ned Norris, Jr. said in a statement.

Tribes have met challenges as many illegal immigrants have been crossing the border in droves, which has overwhelmed local, state, and federal officials. Hobbs acknowledged this challenge when Title 42 ended last week.

While we are prepared to take state action in any way we can, we cannot manage this influx alone, Hobbs said. Without much more robust action from the federal government, the current situation will only get worse.

Jacob Serapo, a Tohono Oodham rancher, believes a wall will not solve Americas immigration issues.

A wall built on the border, we believe, is not the answer to securing America. Walls have been proven to not be 100 percent effective, Serapo said in a video statement. We believe in continued cooperation and working together with local law enforcement to secure and protect our shared native lands.

Native Americans should be able to cross the border to preserve the ceremonial life of their communities, Leza told AP.

If the federal government is saying our particular priorities, our interests in terms of securing our borders, trump your interests as a sovereign nation, then thats not really a recognition of the sovereignty of those tribal nations, she said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
(Bloomberg) -- Baidu Inc.s revenue rose a stronger-than-expected 10% after its advertising and cloud businesses benefited from Chinas post-pandemic reopening.

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Chinas internet search leader reported revenue of 31.1 billion yuan ($4.5 billion) for the three months ended March, versus the 30 billion yuan average of analysts projections. Net income came in at 5.8 billion yuan, beating estimates thanks to fair value gains on investments.

Baidus results suggest Chinas largest internet firms are making some headway in revival efforts after two years of regulatory crackdowns and Covid restrictions. The company this year delivered Chinas first major riposte to OpenAIs ChatGPT, igniting a race by domestic rivals from Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. to SenseTime Group Inc. to show off their own generative AI platforms.

Baidus advertising business saw a nice rebound in demand especially post Chinese New Year, and the recovery might have accelerated as we are heading into 2Q, Barclays analysts wrote ahead of the results. We remain optimistic on Chinas economic recovery and on advertising industry outlook for 2023.

Beijing-based Baidu has in past years sought to move beyond its roots as a search and marketing firm toward a provider of technology like AI and autonomous driving. The cloud computing arm became a growth engine during Chinas downturn, while its driverless taxis expanded into more cities like Wuhan and Chongqing.

Baidus ChatGPT-style service, called Ernie Bot, could now become the crown jewel of its AI endeavors, permeating into major business lines from search to smart speakers and self-driving.

Story continues

We can buy computing power but not the ability to innovate, Baidus billionaire founder Robin Li said in an internal speech this month. Its just the beginning of this arena for tech competition.

In March, Li introduced Ernie using a prerecorded demo at a Beijing event, initially underwhelming investors and analysts who were hoping for a more lively interaction. But the Chinese chatbot then scored positive reviews among Baidus selected testers, lifting the companys stock.

Its still too early to tell whether Ernie Bot could rise to the level of so-called killer apps like Tencent Holdings Ltd.s ubiquitous WeChat. Chinas top internet regulator has said it will require security reviews of generative AI tools before they can be put into action. And US sanctions have deprived Chinese tech firms of the best chips to train their AI models, which could widen gaps between services like Ernie and their Western counterparts.

Investors had bet that the tech sector would rebound as Beijing lifted years of sweeping restrictions that hammered consumer spending and business activity. Chinas economy expanded 4.5% in the first quarter of 2023, the fastest pace in a year, with economists expecting growth this quarter to be even stronger. Slowing trade, however, is one of several signs that the nascent recovery may be losing steam.

For now, Baidu still counts on its bread-and-butter advertising sales to generate cash and fund riskier projects. Its smart-speaker unit is set to unveil a new phone this week, building out a hardware ecosystem to complement its internet services.

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Union Pushes Australian Government to Tax Critical Mineral Exports to China

Worker with car batteries in Nanjing, China, on March 12, 2021. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

One of Australias largest unions is calling on the federal government to impose a punitive tax on exports of unprocessed critical minerals to China to protect the countrys national interest.

On May 16, Daniel Walton, the national secretary of the Australian Workers Union (AWU), warned of the risks of exporting raw materials to China without a plan to build up domestic processing capacity.

Australia has been blessed with the worlds most enviable supply of critical minerals, but simply digging these precious materials up and loading them on ships is an incredibly limited way to view the opportunity, he said.

We lack a substantial national capacity to turn our critical minerals, like lithium, into anything useful. We are relying on the idea that we can just export these raw minerals to China, and they will send us back the components and goods we need.

The union secretary argued that it was risky to believe that the Chinese regime would be happy to ship processed minerals back to Australia if the country wanted to compete with China in battery manufacturing.

Do we really want to assume that we can keep digging up critical minerals, shipping them to China for processing, and China will just keep shipping them back to us to manufacture batteries? Its not a bet Id feel confident about, Walton said.

If we continue to just let the market rule, it will mean only one thing: Australias raw materials will be shipped off to China, and China will be the only player in our region with the sovereign capacity to turn them into anything useful.

Australia is one of the worlds top exporters of lithium and rare earth minerals, which are crucial for battery production.

However, the country lacks the industrial capacity to convert raw materials into higher-value products.

Meanwhile, China controls nearly 60 percent of the worlds lithium chemical supply chain, according to the International Energy Agencys World Energy Outlook 2022 report.

AWUs Push for A Punitive Tax

As Walton pointed out the risks of Australias current approach to its critical mineral reserves, the union secretary announced that the AWU would push for a tax on exports of raw critical minerals.

He also recommended the government establish a subsidy scheme to support the local processing industry.

We need to apply a significant, punitive tax on the export of raw critical minerals from Australia, Walton said.

And we need the revenue raised to be pumped directly back into subsidies for the manufacturing and processing of critical minerals onshore.

Lithium batteries displayed in the workshop of a lithium battery manufacturing company in Huaibei, eastern Chinas Anhui Province, on Nov. 14, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

As Walton acknowledged that Australia lacks the financial means to subsidise the local industry, he said the government should adopt the stick approach.

We know the demand from the world for our critical minerals is astronomical, he said.

We have the power to create the rules under which they can have them.

Treasury doesnt have access to enough carrots to encourage the change we need here. We need to get out the stick.

The AWU is expected to move a resolution at the Labor Partys national conference in August to push the government to introduce the tax.

The government said it was developing a strategy for the critical mineral sector, which would be announced later this year.

The strategy will outline the governments priorities for the development of the critical minerals sector, including how Australia can create economic opportunities across the nation, seize the opportunities of the net zero transformation and establish robust, sustainable and diverse supply chains, the discussion paper on critical minerals strategy 2023 said.

The Epoch Times has reached out to Shadow Resources Minister Susan McDonald for comment but has yet to receive a reply in time for publication.

Waltons remarks come after Allkem, one of Australias largest lithium producers, has agreed to enter into a US$10.6 billion ($15.7 billion) merger of equals with U.S.-based Livent.

The merger will result in an entity that ranks third in the worlds lithium supply chain and is expected to be finalised by the end of 2023.
University of Montreal Signed Agreements in 2019 With Chinese Tech Institute Tied to Chinas Military

View of the campus of the Universite de Montreal on Sept. 16, 2022. (Shutterstock)

The University of Montreal (UdeM) says two 2019 memorandums of understanding (MOUs) it signed with a China-based educational institution linked to the Chinese military never moved forward to begin actual work.

The China-based school, the Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT), is on the U.S. Commerce Departments Entity List, added for acquiring and attempting to acquire U.S.-origin items in support of programs for the Peoples Liberation Army, activity thats contrary to national security and foreign policy interests.

When contacted by The Epoch Times, UdeM spokeswoman and senior adviser Genevieve OMeara said, These MOUs stated that they wanted to explore what could be done jointly between the two institutions, one related to data governance, the other related to student exchanges.

Both protocols have expired since and there has been no follow-up, OMeara said, noting that the laboratory never saw the light of day and no work was begun.

She further explained that laboratory didnt refer to an infrastructure but to bilateral workshops, for example. The pandemic meant that student exchanges could not take place. UdeM does not intend to reactivate these protocols.

Wu Huishu, whose LinkedIn page indicates he was a law student at UdeM studying for a masters degree in 2015-16 and a doctoral degree in 2017-20, reportedly spoke at an academic symposium in in Guangzhou, China, in 2021 where he was described as a researcher of the joint lab.

OMeara responded by saying, As far as we know, there has been no follow-up after 2019. Wu Huishu was indeed one of our students, later adding, We are doing verifications. Our students records are confidential, so I cant tell you more at this time.

Joint Laboratory on Data Governance

A Contract-Signing Ceremony of BIT-UdeM Joint Laboratory for Data Governance and International Seminar on Data Governance took place at the BIT in Beijing on Nov.1, 2019, according to an article by BIT staffer Gai Keke on the BITs news site published Nov. 13 that year.

BIT vice-president Li Hezhang and UdeM vice-rector Guy Lefebvre signed the agreement, the article reported.

The event was also reported, with accompanying photos, on the Twitter account of Catherine Villemer, assistant to Lefebvre at the time and now assistant to the current vice-rector. Lefebvre was vice-rector from 2014 to 2020 and is now an emeritus professor at UdeMs Faculty of Law.

The BIT article said attendees also witnessed the joint laboratorys inauguration by Lefebvre and Ding Gangyi, secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Committee at the BITs School of Computer Science and Technology. Certificates were also presented to the members of the joint labs technical committee.

In addition to Lefebvre, the conference was attended by Villemer, and UdeM law professor Jiao Jie, described as head of UdeMs China program. Wu Huishu, a doctoral researcher at UdeMs law school at the time, gave a speech on data governance.

Also at the event was Yang Chunhui, an official from Chinas Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the department that oversees cybersecurity for the Chinese regime.

One of the reasons for launching the joint lab was the recognition of data as a basic national strategic resource, given the rapid development of technologies and application such as big data, cloud computing, the internet of things, artificial intelligence, and blockchain in recent years, according to the BIT article.

The article said the event symbolized that the joint lab has entered the operational stage in substance and that it will carry out in-depth cooperation to build a world-class data governance platform and international exchange platform through methods such as seminars, exchange visits among key members, collaborative education, and joint applications to undertake international cooperation projects.

Lefebvre had visited the BIT in June 2019 and discussed possible cooperation between the two schools with BIT executive vice-president Mei Hong, according to a June 17, 2019, BIT article.

Zhu Liehuang, a professor at BIT, identifies himself as director of the BIT-UdeM Data Governance Joint Laboratory on his profile page on ScholarMate.com, a Hong Kong-based social network platform for researchers.

Zhu and Wu have co-authored several research papers, some of which were published in April 2020 or later, according to Researchgate.net.

Very High Risk Institution

Founded by the CCP in 1940 in Yanan, the wartime stronghold of the Chinese communists from the mid-1930s to 1949, BIT plays a critical role in supporting Chinas military and its defence sector.

BIT is one of the Seven Sons of National Defence, a group of seven Chinese national public research universities affiliated with and funded by the MIIT, according to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI).

According to the China Defence Universities Tracker, a database developed by the ASPI that identifies institutions as very high, high, medium, or low risk, BIT is designated as very high risk for its top-secret security credentials, high number of defence laboratories and defence research areas, and deep involvement in weapons research. The database said BIT has 10 major defence laboratories and 34 defence research areas.

In May 2020, former U.S. president Donald Trump issued an executive order, effective June 1 that year, to restrict entry to the United States for Chinese graduate students and researchers with ties to the Peoples Republic of Chinas strategy for acquiring foreign technologies to advance the regimes military capabilities. BIT graduates are reported to be among those who have been targeted by this order.

BIT was added to the U.S. Entity List in December 2020. The list is regularly updated by the U.S. Commerce Departments Bureau of Industry and Security to identify foreign entities and individuals involved in activities contrary to U.S. national security or foreign policy interests or both.

The Epoch Times reached out to BIT and Lefebvre through several emails but did not receive a response by publication time. Lefebvre had claimed previously that he was instrumental in securing a large sum of donation to UdeM from two CCP-linked businessmen, who also donated to the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation.

Zhu Liehuang and Gai Keke at BIT also did not respond to emails from The Epoch Times requesting comment.

A number of Canadian universities, including the University of Montreal, University of Waterloo, and McGill University, have said that they are ending their partnerships with Chinas Huawei. The telecom giant, which was founded by a former Chinese military officer, is said by intelligence agencies to have close ties to the Chinese regime.

Noe Chartier and Andrew Chen contributed to this report.
US Citizen and Pro-Beijing Overseas Chinese Leader Sentenced to Life in Prison in China

Policemen secure a side entrance following the arrival of police vehicles at the Dandong Intermediate People's Court in China's northeast Liaoning province on March 19, 2021. (Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images)

John Shing-Wan Leung, a U.S. citizen and Hong Kong resident, was sentenced to life in prison on espionage charges on May 15 by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. According to public information, the 78-year-old Leung, a pro-CCP overseas Chinese leader in Texas, served as president of the China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification, among other positions.

The Suzhou Intermediate Peoples Court found Leung guilty of espionage and sentenced him to life imprisonment, deprivation of political rights for life, and confiscation of personal property of 500,000 yuan (about $71,916), according to Chinese state media.

Chinese authorities publicized great details of Leungs personal information, such as his date of birth, May 1, 1945, his Hong Kong permanent resident identity card number, two-way permit number for traveling to Macau, and his U.S. passport number.

However, no details have been disclosed as to what espionage he had done.

Leung Actively Helped With the CCPs United Front Effort

According to various media reports in the past, Leung had served as pro-CCP association leaders such as the Texas branch president of China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification and president of the U.S.-China Friendship Promotion Association.

When the CCP introduced the Hong Kong National Security Law in Hong Kong in 2020, both organizations issued statements in support of it.

There were also online pictures of Leung with a number of senior CCP officials, including former Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.

According to Chinas state-run Xinhua News, in May 2015, a symposium was held in Houston for local overseas Chinese. During the event, Leung claimed that the one country, two systems policy has not only maintained the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, but can also be applied to Taiwan to promote and maintain the prosperity and stability of the Taiwan region.

In 2004, the overseas edition of the state-run Peoples Daily praised some of Leungs patriotic deeds. According to the article, Leung was born in Hong Kong, went to study in the United Kingdom at the age of 16, and later worked as a civil servant at the United Nations headquarters in the United States, where he has lived ever since but traveled to China frequently. Leung was arrested in China on April 15, 2021.

He founded the Oklahoma City-Guangzhou Friendship Association in 1985, and established and chaired the Leung Cultural Exchange Foundation in 1997.

Peoples Daily described him as deeply loving China and supporting Chinas reunification. Since 1999, he has been actively promoting the U.S.-China cultural exchange activities, arranging visits and exchanges between Chinese and American artists and teachers, and providing financial support for these activities. His deeds had been fully affirmed by relevant Chinese departments and leaders  As an outstanding Chinese American, he has been received by Chinese leaders many times when they visit the United States, Peoples Daily said.

Vague and Broad Definition of the Updated Anti-Spying Law

The CCPs Standing Committee recently approved the amendments to the Anti-Espionage Law, which will go into effect on July 1. The new law expands the definition of espionage from 40 to 71 articles, broadens the target of espionage to include other documents, data, information, and objects related to national security and interests, and gives the Chinese national security agencies the authority to inspect the belongings of suspected individuals.

Former Beijing lawyer and current affairs commentator Lai Jianping told The Epoch Times that under the amended Anti-Espionage Law, the definition of the crime has been expanded and become increasingly vague, subject to the authorities arbitrary interpretation. He expressed worries that even when foreigners are doing normal business, it can be categorized as collecting intelligence.

Miserable Outcome for CCP Cronies

Wong Wai-kwok, a UK-based political scholar, points out three unusual aspects of Leungs case.

One is that Leung is not a Hong Kong citizen but a U.S. citizen, and he was arrested in China and sentenced to life imprisonment for so-called espionage by the Chinese judiciary. Second, in the CCPs eyes, Leung himself is a Hong Kong patriot. When even a person like him is accused of espionage, it has a cautionary effect on other so-called patriots in Hong Kong. Third, there are also those who are CCP spies, who are involved in anti-Taiwan independence and support the CCPs unification of Taiwan. These people would also feel scared upon seeing the sudden arrest of Leung.

These are the Chinese who have foreign passports and work for the CCP. In the past, they believed they still have value for the CCP, and that the CCP would not do anything against them. I think now they are getting scared, because they dont know why they are suddenly arrested and then secretly tried without a word, and then sentenced to life imprisonment or even prevented from leaving the prison for life. That is to say, if you work for the CCP, you may not end up well, Wong said.

Last year, the editor-in-chief of a CCPs mouthpiece newspaper was also charged with espionage.

Dong Yuyu, a former senior editor of Guangming Daily, was arrested by Beijing authorities in 2022 while having lunch with a Japanese diplomat and charged with espionage. The Japanese diplomat was later released after several hours of questioning. Dong, however, has remained in custody.

In March 2023, Dongs family was informed that the case had been sent to a court in Beijing for trial. On April 24, 2023, Dongs family made its first public remark on the case, saying that the charges were fabricated and may have been intended to suppress dissent.
US Presidents Visit to Australia Officially Cancelled

(L-R) Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attend the Quad Fellowship Founding Celebration event in Tokyo, Japan, on May 24, 2022. (Yuichi Yamazaki/Getty Images)

US President Joe Bidens planned visit to Australia next week has been cancelled.

The leaders of Australia, the US, Japan and India were all scheduled to meet in Sydney on May 24 for a Quad meeting.

Biden was due to address the federal parliament in Canberra the day before.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he took a call from Biden early on Wednesday morning.

The president apologised that he would now have to postpone this visit because of the unfolding difficulties he is facing in his negotiations with the US Congress over the US government debt ceiling, Albanese said in a statement.

These negotiations are scheduled to enter their critical and concluding phase during the last week of May.

Regrettably, this conflicts with the Presidents visits to Sydney and Canberra  including the Quad Summit scheduled for 24 May.

Albanese said the two leaders had agreed to reschedule his visit to Australia as soon as possible.

Earlier, White House national security spokesman John Kirby confirmed Biden was going to Japan for the G7 summit at the end of the week.

He noted Biden would meet the Quad leaders  including Albanese, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi  at the three-day G7 summit in Hiroshima.

Albanese told ABC Radio he was hopeful a time could be arranged for the four leaders to meet together on the sidelines of the G7.

The government is in discussions with Tokyo and Delhi about Prime Minister Kishidas and Prime Minister Modis planned travel to Australia.

Once those discussions are concluded, we will make a further announcement on their travel, Albanese said in his statement.

In the meantime, I look forward to meeting with both prime ministers and the president at the G7 Summit in Hiroshima on 20-21 May.

The wrangling in Washington between the White House and Congress Republicans revolves around a deal to raise the US governments $US31.4 trillion ($A46.9 trillion) debt ceiling and avert an economically catastrophic default.

It would have been the first visit by a US president to Australia in almost a decade and the fifth time a US president had addressed MPs and senators.

Albanese said the cancellation of Bidens visit did not downplay the significance of the Quad.

President Biden emphasised the importance of the Quad. He was very disappointed at some of the actions of some members of Congress and in the US Senate, he told ABC Radio.

Obviously, the domestic priority for the president, understandably, is to play a role in resolving those issues.

The prime minister said the Quad summit in Sydney was still on the cards, with the US likely to send a senior representative in Bidens place.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said the presidents cancellation was disappointing but understandable.

There are domestic issues that the president has to attend to, and hed be a welcome guest into our country at any time, he told Sky News on Wednesday.

This was going to be an opportunity on a bipartisan basis to welcome him to our country. The AUKUS arrangement is historic.

Dutton said he hoped there was the possibility Biden could attend the Quad meeting virtually.

Were more used than ever to speaking to people down the television screen, and there will be plenty of opportunity for him, I suspect, to join the Quad and all of those logistics will be put in place because its important to turn the meeting go ahead, he said.

The Quad is incredibly important for our region, and theyre important partners, and Im sure the US president can join via video.

The Quad is not a military alliance and was set up to counter Chinese influence in the region.
Victorian Liberal Party Willingly Plunges Itself Into the Dark Ages

Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto arrives at the Parliament of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia, on May 12, 2023. (AAP Image/Diego Fedele)

Commentary

The study of history reveals that the period in Europe from around 600 to 1500 AD is known as the Dark Ages. The person credited with this designation is the Italian poet Francesco Petrarca (aka Petrarch) who, however, was complaining about the appalling lack of quality of literature in his own time in Italy. Nevertheless, the term persisted and historians started using dark as a pejorative term to mean a period of superstition and stagnation in art, literature, and science.

These historical ruminations came to our mind when reflecting on the chaos and imbroglio that the Victorian Liberal Party, in Australia, has created for itself.

The appalling treatment of MP Moira Deeming is one the darkest chapters in the history of this once great party. The Victorian Liberal Party is basically experiencing its own Dark Ages.

By now, the facts of the Deeming saga are well-publicised. She attended a Let Women Speak Group protest in Melbourne on March 18.

Organised by womens rights campaigner Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull (Posie Parker), it rallied against trans-women participating in female sporting events; gender activism in schools; and accommodating trans-women in female prisonsa practice that, according to the group, might facilitate rapeand using women-only facilities.

However, a group of neo-Nazis gate-crashed their event and proceeded to perform the Nazi salute in front of the Victorian Parliament.

Police remove a protester during a transgender rights rally, involving opposing neo-Nazi protesters, outside Parliament House in Melbourne, Australia, on March 18, 2023. (James Ross/AAP Image)

For having merely attended the rally, Deeming was then vilified by some members of her own party as a Nazi sympathiser, which left her with no other choice than to take legal action against the leader of her own party, John Pesutto, in an attempt to clear all the false accusations against her.

So lets be crystal clear on the facts: A group of women legally gathered to speak out for womens rights in Australia, which was crashed by a group of Neo-Nazi males. The states Liberal leader and premier refused to listen to that group of women. Instead, they insisted that the Neo-Nazi males who crashed the rally represented and speak for those women.

Deeming, who was verbally and physically attacked at the rally on the steps of Parliament House, was held responsible for the actions of those Neo-Nazi men.

The Victorian Liberal leader then moved a motion to expel Deeming from the parliamentary Liberal Party for attending the event.

The motion was initially unsuccessful because Deeming gave an impassioned speech, indicating her total abhorrence of Nazi practicesshe was raised by a Holocaust survivorand was given a suspension of nine months.

And then, on May 12, Deeming was finally expelled from the Parliamentary Liberal Party, with a vote of 19 to 11. Although she will remain a member of the broader party, Pesutto says even this is currently under review.

My understanding is the administrative wing of the party is considering the matter, he said.

Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto (2nd R) leaves his party room at the Parliament of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia, on May 12, 2023. (AAP Image/Diego Fedele)

Bad Government, Worse Opposition

It is completely mind-boggling how it is possible for anyone to think that this course of action will help the Liberal Party to win any election in the future.

The Deeming imbroglio will haunt this party for a long time and prevent it to serve as an effective opposition to one of the countrys worst Labor governments.

The expulsion will undoubtedly be a constant reminder that the Victorian Liberals are unwilling to stand by their partys principles and effectively assist, even condoning, the Labor Partys creation of a social engineering nirvana.

In a recent opinion piece, Prof. James Allan summarises the alarming state of the Victorian Liberal Party well:

If Pesutto and the bulk of the party room cannot see that they are on the wrong side of this disputein free speech terms, in terms of travelling down the guilt by association road, in preferencing the transgender activists over women, by responding almost immediately in line with the lefty social media framing of issues  then it deserves to lose and lose badly.

Lost Sight of Its Roots

Unfortunately, that is not the first time the Victorian Liberals have behaved in such an appalling manner towards one of their most competent parliamentary members.

On May 24, 2022, Victorian MP Bernie Finn was expelled from the Liberal Party following a motion that was triggered by a series of anti-abortion comments on social media. In addition to these comments, cited also as a reason for being expelled from the Liberal Party, was a Facebook post in which he compared the Victorian Labor premier with Hitler.

Police gather near Flinders Station in Melbourne, Australia. (Melanie Sun/The Epoch Times)

There are numerous other notorious examples that would horrify Sir Robert Menzies, Australias longest-serving prime minister and the founder of the Liberal Party of Australia.

As Menzies once declared: To be a good Liberal, to be a good Labor man, to be a good Country Party man, you will be all the better if you are a Christian.

Apparently, no longer, as the message would seem to be clear: If youre conservative or have traditional values, the Liberal Party doesnt want you.

The Victorian Liberal Party is almost entirely run by those who oppose Christian moral values. Bit by bit, they have taken control of every facet of the party. Now, very few true conservatives remain.

Apparently, if you believe that killing babies in the womb is just plainly wrong and that men and women are not fully interchangeable, you will have no future in the Liberal Party of Victoria.

As such, the only crime committed by Moira Deeming is to have participated in a rally with women who actually believe that women are women and men are men!

Surely, the Victorian Branch of the Liberal Party has created and lives in its own Dark Ages.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Virgin Islands Subpoenas Documents From Elon Musk in JPMorgan, Jeffrey Epstein Lawsuit

The U.S. Virgin Islands has subpoenaed documents from Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of Twitter, Tesla, and SpaceX, as part of its case against JP Morgan, linked to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein and allegations of sex trafficking.

The subpoena, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, requests documents reflecting or regarding communications between Musk and Epstein concerning JPMorgan and Musks accounts, transactions, or relationships at the financial institution.

The Virgin Islands is also seeking communications between Musk and JPMorgan about Epstein and the convicted sex traffickers role with respect to Musks accounts, transactions, or financial management. The subpoena also requests information on any fees Musk paid to Epstein and/or JPMorgan, dating back to 2002.

The subpoena additionally aims to obtain all Documents reflecting or regarding Epsteins involvement in human trafficking and/or his procurement of girls or women for commercial sex for the same period.

In its recent filings, the Virgin Islands does not level any accusations of wrongdoing against Musk. However, they regard him as a high-net-worth individual who Epstein may have referred or attempted to refer to JPMorgan.

Little St. James Island, one of the properties of financier Jeffrey Epstein, near Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands, on Aug. 17, 2019. (Marco Bello/Reuters)

Idiotic on So Many Levels: Musk Responds

Responding to reports of the subpoena, Musk took to his own social media platform.

This is idiotic on so many levels, Musk wrote, going on to list three points.

1. That cretin never advised me on anything whatsoever, he added. 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 Teslas global commercial banking business, which we then withdrew. I have never forgiven them.

The Virgin Islands filed its lawsuit against the banking giant on Dec. 27, 2022, over allegations that, for roughly a decade, it turned a blind eye to Epsteins illegal activities on his Little St. James Island after he had been convicted of sex charges and concealing suspicious wire and cash transactions.

Accusing JPMorgan in a lawsuit, the government of the Virgin Islands claims that the bank played a role in facilitating the sexual abuse of minors by Epstein and knowingly gained advantages from his illicit actions. Epstein was a client of the bank for around 15 years.

JPMorgan has argued that it should not bear responsibility for the association between a former senior executive and Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 while in jail and awaiting trial on charges related to sex trafficking.

Epsteins associate Ghislaine Maxwell was found guilty and sentenced for her involvement in grooming young girls for Epsteins abuse. Musk was pictured alongside Maxwell at a 2014 Vanity Fair Oscars Party. However, in a 2020 tweet, Musk said he does not know Maxwell and characterized her presence in the photo as a photobomb during the event, distancing himself from any personal acquaintance with her.

The Virgin Islands initially attempted to subpoena Musk for the requested documents in April but encountered difficulties in obtaining his address. Earlier in May, the court also granted a subpoena for Google co-founder Larry Page as part of its lawsuit, but the Virgin Islands had difficulty physically locating him, a federal court filing revealed.

JPMorgan Turned a Blind Eye

According to then-Virgin Islands Attorney General Denise George, the bank was indispensable to the operation and concealment of the Epstein trafficking enterprise and continued to offer its services to Epstein despite a sex abuse conviction in 2008 and the fact that employees at the bank had raised concerns over its relationship with him.

Upon information and belief, JP Morgan turned a blind eye to evidence of human trafficking over more than a decade because of Epsteins own financial footprint, the lawsuit alleged, and because of the deals and clients that Epstein brought and promised to bring to the bank.

These decisions were advocated and approved at the senior levels of JP Morgan, the lawsuit adds.

George also accuses the bank of having unfairly profited from its business with Epstein.

The lawsuit is pursuing unspecified damages based on allegations of violations of sex trafficking, bank secrecy, and consumer laws. It also asks for a court order compelling the bank to surrender the profits it obtained through its interactions with Epstein and his affiliated entities. The specific amount of damages sought is not specified in the lawsuit.

George said the lawsuit is part of an ongoing effort to hold accountable the individuals who helped aid Epsteins activities at his residence on the private and secluded island of Little St. James.

George was fired by Democrat Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. just days after filing the lawsuit amid reports that he was blindsided by the lawsuit. George had served under the administration of Bryan Jr. for four years.

I relieved Denise George of her duties as attorney general this weekend, Bryan told news outlets in a statement at the time. I thank her for her service to the people of the territory during the past four years as attorney general and wish her the best in her future endeavors.

A reason for Georges dismissal was not provided. Chief Deputy Attorney General Carol Thomas-Jacobs was appointed acting attorney general in the wake of Georges departure.

This report was updated with Musks comments.
What Durham Didnt Tell Us

Durhams report is deeply flawed, providing no convictions and no accountability

Commentary

The FBI is fatally corrupt. The justice system is totally broken.

Thats what we can conclude from the Durham report. Special counsel John Durhams report hammers home two separate points time and again: The FBI opened an investigation of the Trump campaign entirely without reason or any underlying predication, and the FBI protected Hillary Clintons campaign at the same time that the agency aggressively pursued Donald Trump.

But the Durham report also is deeply flawed. There are no convictions, or referrals of major Russiagate plotters and players.

Democrats will be able to rebut Durhams report simply by saying, If Durhams findings were so damning, why was no one convicted?

And why were so many major figures such as former FBI Director James Comey, former FBI agent Peter Strzok, and Fusion GPS co-founder Glenn Simpson not compelled to sit for interviews?

Why did Durham fail to utilize classified information in his analysis? Why did he limit his scope primarily to the actions of the FBI? And why did he fail to examine events beyond early 2017, when Crossfire Hurricane morphed from a relatively quiet pre-election investigation into a full-blown public investigation of the president?

While the report fleshes out further details and reinforces points already made, theres very little that we didnt already know or hadnt already reported.

There is a sense of vindicationeverything wed long thought of as fact has now been verified or proven. But the hard reality is that theres very little in the way of new information contained in the report.

In many ways, Durhams report appears to be a more detailed rehash of his previously released speaking indictments relating to Clinton campaign lawyer Michael Sussmann and his entanglements with the FBI and many other Clinton affiliates.

Theres something of even greater importance noticeably missing from Durhams report: a complete lack of any criminal referrals or pending indictments of those who were involved in the Russia collusion hoax. Theres no accountability. And without that, there will be no change.

I see the report from several different angles. First, Durham doesnt cover anything that we didnt already have at least some working knowledge of. It does confirm our previous understanding of Russiagate and the FBIs efforts to hinder the Trump campaign in order to help Hillary Clinton.

But we expected that to be the case.

However, a deeply disappointing feature of Durhams report is that it appears to be far too narrowly focused. The report zeros in on the many faults of the FBI, including the lack of predication behind the opening of the Crossfire Hurricane investigation and the FISA warrant to surveil Trump adviser Carter Page.

Durham also covers the Alfa Bank allegationswhich he already covered in detail in his Sussmann indictmentalong with the actions of Christopher Steele and his primary subsource, Igor Danchenko.

But its what Durham doesnt cover thats far and away most notable. Durham doesnt appear to even touch on notable high-level events such as the White House meeting on Jan. 5, 2017, that included then-President Barack Obamaa meeting that appears to directly implicate both Obama and now-President Joe Biden in the coming attacks on Trumps administration.

Theres also no effort to address the NSAs collection of data and the unmasking of members within the Trump campaign that were highlighted by then-Rep. Devin Nunes in early 2017. While we know that some of the actions taken by the FBI and other three-letter agencies required high-level decision-making, Durham not only failed to address the actions of these high-level individuals, he didnt even identify them.

Durham didnt even address the supposed hack of the Democratic National Committee servers. This lack of information is made all the more frustrating by the fact that Durhams team conducted more than 480 interviews and reviewed more than six million pages of documents. It seems clear that a big part of the story remains untold.

Theres also a generalized absence of information on anything post-January 2017. We didnt find anything material on the intelligence community assessment that was used to push the narrative that President Trump had been compromised by Russia. We also didnt find anything regarding the Obama administrations targeting of Trumps national security adviser, Gen. Michael Flynn.

Nor did Durham address the FBIs leadership briefing of the Justice Department (DOJ) and Congress in March 2017, in which James Comey not only misrepresented the entirety of the FBIs investigation, but also failed to disclose Danchenkos information and his complete lack of suitability as a confidential human sourcewhich invalidated the entirety of the Steele dossier.

Importantly, theres a complete failure on the part of Durham to provide any measure of accountability. There are virtually no criminal referrals contained in Durhams report, nor are there any material recommendations for criminal investigations of these individuals.

Once again, theres no accountability for those who are truly guiltyand those who are truly privileged.

In tandem with these questions and observations, we find ourselves wondering about the speed with which Durhams report was delivered to the DOJ and then provided to the public.

Durham submitted his report to the DOJ and Attorney General Merrick Garland on May 12. The report was released publicly on May 15. How is that possible?

The answer may lie in a section of his letter that notes that thorough, coordinated reviews of the information contained therein were made by the appropriate authorities within the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the National Security Agency. In other words, Durham appeared to coordinate his work on the report with those agencies. The report had already been formally vetted before he ever delivered it to Garland.

One thing that immediately stands out in Durhams report is that the FBI knew almost from the outset that the Crossfire Hurricane investigation had been opened on virtually no evidence.

Durham found that the FBI discounted or willfully ignored material information that did not support their budding narrative of a collusive relationship between Trump and Russia. Durham also noted that Crossfire Hurricane was opened as a full investigation without the FBI ever having spoken to the persons who provided that information.

Furthermore, Durham noted that the FBI did so without any significant review of its own intelligence databases, without the collection and examination of any relevant intelligence from other U.S. intelligence entities, without interviews of witnesses that were essential to understanding the raw information the FBI had received, and without the use of any of the standard analytical tools typically used by the FBI to evaluate raw intelligence.

At the time of the opening of Crossfire Hurricane, Durham notes, the FBI did not possess any intelligence showing that anyone associated with the Trump campaign was in contact with Russian intelligence officers at any point during the campaign. Durham pointed out that if the FBI had done even the most rudimentary of standardized work, the agency would have learned that its own experienced Russia analysts had no information about Trump being involved with Russian leadership officials nor were others in sensitive positions at the CIA, the NSA, and the Department of State aware of such evidence concerning candidate Trump.

To make matters even worse, records prepared by the FBIs Strzok in February and March 2017 showed that at the time of the opening of Crossfire Hurricane, the FBI had no information indicating that anyone in the Trump campaign had been in contact with any Russian intelligence officials.

But its even worse than that. Keep in mind that by July 26, 2016, our intelligence agencies had obtained insight into Russian intelligence analysis alleging that Clinton had approved a campaign plan to vilify Trump by tying him to President Vladimir Putin and the Russians hacking of the DNC servers.

CIA Director John Brennan subsequently briefed Obama and other senior national security officials on July 28, 2016, regarding the intelligence, known in Durhams reports as the Clinton plan intelligence. Brennan briefed FBI Director Comey the following day. Brennan and other agency officials then took steps to ensure that dissemination of the Clinton plan intelligence would be limited in order to protect sensitive information and prevent leaks. This information should have ended the FBIs Crossfire Hurricane investigation before it even began, just days later, on July 31, 2016.

Instead, Brennan acknowledged to Durham that an interagency fusion cell, a team ostensibly created to synthesize and analyze pertinent intelligence on Russian malign influence activities related to the presidential election, was put in motion after his meeting with Obama on July 28. Durham stated that some CIA personnel believed that the Clinton plan intelligence led to the decision to set up the fusion cell.

In other words, Brennan and Obama were working to protect Clintonand they were doing so at the expense of Trump.

But Brennans work didnt end there. On Aug. 3, 2016, Brennan met with Obama, then-Vice President Biden, and other senior administration officials, including Comey and Attorney General Loretta Lynch. At that meeting, Brennan briefed the entire group on the Clinton plan.

Despite these briefings on the Clinton plan intelligenceincluding at least two briefings to ObamaDurham noted that when interviewed, Brennan generally recalled reviewing the materials but stated he did not recall focusing specifically on its assertions regarding the Clinton campaigns purported plan, despite having briefed Obama and written notes of the Clinton intelligence.

Brennan recalled instead focusing on Russias role in hacking the DNC.

Meanwhile, the FBI steadfastly refused to investigate the Clinton campaign for its plans to vilify Trump. The agency refused because it was now part of the Clinton plan. Remember, the FBI was using the Steele dossier, paid for by the Clinton campaign, as the backbone of its investigation.

It was an entirely politicized attack on a Washington outsider by members of the intelligence community who had aligned themselves politically with the Clinton campaign. That alignment was further highlighted by the FBIs treatment of the Clinton campaign, which differed dramatically from the manner in which it treated Trump.

The FBI was faced with a number of proposed investigations of the Clinton campaign that had the potential to affect the election. As Durham notes in each of those instances, in contrast to the agencys approach in its investigation of Trump, the FBI moved with considerable caution in any investigation even remotely related to the Clinton campaign.

In one instance, FBI headquarters required that defensive briefings were provided to Clinton and other officials who appeared to be targets of foreign interference. In other words, the FBI warned the Clinton campaign, rather than opening an investigation of the campaign as it did with Trump.

In another instance, the FBI elected to end an investigation after one of its longtime and valued confidential human sources took actions that went beyond what was authorized, making an improper and possibly illegal financial contribution to the Clinton campaign on behalf of a foreign entityand as a precursor to a much larger donation being contemplated.

Despite all the noise surrounding Trumps supposed connection to Russia, it was the Clinton campaign that was facing foreign influence efforts by a foreign government. Durhams report notes that a confidential human source (CHS) provided information to the FBI about election influence efforts that were targeting the Clinton campaign in November 2015.

Durham notes that a foreign government insider who was known to the FBI to have foreign intelligence and criminal connections had solicited the FBIs CHS to set up a meeting with Clinton, to propose what the CHS understood to be campaign contributions on behalf of the unnamed foreign governmentin exchange for the protection of that governments interests should Clinton become president.

Although it doesnt appear that a meeting with the foreign government insider actually took place, the CHS made a $2,700 campaign contribution to the Clinton campaign on the insiders behalf.

Moreover, the CHS told both the FBI and Durham that the Clinton campaign was okay with it and that they were fully aware from the start of the contributions being made.

But despite that admission to the FBIalong with the offer of a credit card receiptthe handling agent refused to document the information in the case file, going so far as to tell the CHS to stay away from all events relating to the Clinton Campaign, thereby removing the FBIs sole insight into the election influence efforts of the foreign government in the process.

Also, unlike what was seen in the FBIs rapid and aggressive opening of Crossfire Hurricane, the FBI appears to have made no effort to investigate the illegal contribution to Clintons campaign.

But thats not all. Beginning in January 2016, FBI field offices in New York, Washington, and Little Rock, Arkansas, each opened an investigation into possible criminal activity involving the Clinton Foundation.

Two of these investigations were opened based on source reporting that identified foreign governments that had made, or offered to make, contributions to the Foundation in exchange for favorable or preferential treatment from Clinton.

On Feb. 1, 2016, a meeting was held to discuss the investigations of the Clinton Foundation. Three weeks later, on Feb. 22, 2016, another meeting was held at FBI headquarters to discuss the investigations. Unlike the others, that meeting was chaired by Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe, who issued instructions that the investigations be shut down.

Although McCabes instructions were met with objections, the meeting concluded with the formal direction that any further investigative steps would require his direct approval.

Durham noted that this restriction on overt investigative activity essentially remained in place until August 2016. But the effort to shut down any investigation of the Clinton Foundation didnt end there. A call was placed from a senior FBI official on behalf of Comey around May 2016, directing the FBIs New York field office to cease and desist the Foundation investigation because of some undisclosed counterintelligence concern.

The New York field office was never able to determine what the counterintelligence issue raised by Comey was.

All three investigations were ultimately folded into the New York field office, but the U.S. attorneys offices in the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York both declined to issue subpoenas to the New York field office, despite previously expressing support for the investigation.

The FBIs stonewalling of any investigation of Clinton, combined with the zealousness that the FBI demonstrated in pursuing Trump, proves one thing: The agency wasnt conducting an investigation, it was conducting an operation.

Watch Truth Over News on Friday, May 19, for the full episode on the Durham report.
White House Turns Up Heat on Debt Negotiation Ahead of May 16 Meeting

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen listens during an open session of a Financial Stability Oversight Council meeting at the Department of the Treasury on April 21, 2023 in Washington. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

The Biden administration turned up the heat on budget ceiling negotiations set for May 16 by releasing a pair of statements highlighting the urgency of a possible default on the nations financial obligations and detailing the spending cuts necessary to meet Republican budget targets.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen had notified Congress on May 15 that the Treasury would lack the funds to meet all U.S. financial obligations by early June, and potentially as early as June 1 if the debt ceiling were not increased. She raised the temperature further in remarks to a group of independent community bankers on May 16.

In my assessmentand that of economists across the boarda U.S. default would generate an economic and financial catastrophe, Yellen said.

We are already seeing the impacts of brinksmanship: Investors have become more reluctant to hold government debt that matures in early June. And the impasse has already increased the debt burden to American taxpayersas the leaders of the Treasury Borrowing Advisory Committee said last week, she added.

Traders work on the trading floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York on Jan. 27, 2023. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters)

The U.S. economy hangs in the balance. The livelihoods of millions of Americans do, too. There is no time to waste. Congress should address the debt limit as soon as possible.

President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) have been in a standoff over the $31.4 trillion debt ceiling since January. Biden has insisted that it must be raised without condition to preserve the full faith and credit of the United States. McCarthy has said there will be no increase without an agreement to cut spending. Republicans have proposed lowering discretionary spending to the 2022 level while increasing spending for defense, veterans affairs, and homeland security.

Less than 24 hours after Yellens letter to Congress, Shalanda Young, director of the Office of Management and Budget, issued a memo stating that the GOP plan would require cutting nearly all non-defense discretionary spending by nearly one-third.

Young said Republicans appear to be withholding information about their proposal but that their position will become clear when appropriations bills are released next week.

House Republicans are likely hoping that by releasing the first few appropriations bills without enormous cuts, they will avoid having to defend the unrealistic and damaging positions they support. But the opposite is true, Young wrote.

Next week, those first few bills will make it plain and inescapable that Republicans do, indeed, support enormous and unpopular cuts to vital services and investments. House Republicans may protest, but the math is what the math is.

Shalanda Young, then the acting director of the Office of Management and Budget, answers questions during a Senate Budget Committee hearing in Washington on June 8, 2021. (Greg Nash-Pool/Getty Images)

According to Youngs analysis, the GOP plan calls for an overall 9 percent decrease in discretionary spending. That would reduce all discretionary spending from $1.61 trillion in 2023 to $1.47 trillion in 2024. At the same time, the plan calls for increases in defense spending, military construction and veterans affairs, and homeland security. Those areas would increase from a total of $1.02 trillion in 2023 to $1.05 trillion in 2024.

To achieve the overall 9 percent reduction from $1.61 trillion to $1.47 trillion, all other discretionary spending categories would have to be reduced from $602 billion in 2023 to $421 billion, a decrease of 30 percent, according to Young.

That would mean cutting funding for schools with low-income students and students with disabilities, a possible reduction of teaching staff members by up to 150,000, the elimination of opioid treatment for some 30,000 people, increased housing costs for 800,000 households, and a reduction in rail safety inspections, Young said.

Biden and McCarthy are scheduled to meet on May 16 for a second round of negotiations to resolve the impasse between the two parties. They will be joined by Vice President Kamala Harris, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.).
Why I Wont Be Reading the Durham Report

Commentary

Sometime around early afternoon on May 15, I heard that the Durham report had finally made its appearance. I was surprised. I had forgotten all about it.

I had also pretty much forgotten about its author, special counsel John Durham, ever since he failed in his attempts to convict some minor miscreants in the TrumpRussia affair, including Clinton campaign lawyer Michael Sussmann, who was found not guilty of making a false statement to the FBI about not representing a client he clearly did represent.

Durham didnt do much either to see a whole raft of evildoers too long to list get anything even approximating their just desserts. In fact, from former CIA chief John Brennan to former FBI head James Comey, it seems they all will get off scot-free as their malign actions disappear in the ether of the statute of limitations.

I had been following all this closely for some time, especially here at The Epoch Times in the excellent detailed discussions at Kashs Corner, with Jan Jekielek interviewing attorney and former government official Kash Patel, whose knowledge of the investigation was among the most complete. For a while, I was optimistic, but as these trials misfired and no new information of substance emerged, I began to lose confidence in Durham and in our system. Alas, it was already waning.

Its safe to say that, for now anyway, justice is dead in the United States, and therefore actually wading through the 300-plus pages of Durhams report is time poorly spent, even though it evidently says what we have all known for a long timethat the investigation known as Crossfire Hurricane should never have happened.

Im sure its also a scathing indictment of the FBI but, like Durham himself, ultimately a toothless one.

This is more like pallid wrist-slapping, and reminiscent of another report on FBI malfeasances that I did read by Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz. The IG detailed 17 examples in which Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act decisions tilted left but drew no conclusion of bias from that, despite the astronomical odds.

Both reports are in essence a new form of whitewash, a way of looking like things are being investigated and dealt with, while actually helping to sweep them down the now-famed memory hole. Nothing changes.

And both, of course, arrived late, particularly Durhams. What took him so long? Im not going to say this is deliberate, because it probably isnt, but the result is the sameless impactand that should have been taken into consideration.

The morning after, the FBI admitted some mistakes, reminded us that they have new personnel (scoff), and then went, in Paul Simons lyrics, Slip Slidin Away.

The report also inadvertently gives ammunition to the mainstream media that has the status quo as its goal. Heres how The New York Times described the Durham Report minutes after its appearance:

John H. Durham, the Trump-era special counsel who for four years has pursued a politically fraught investigation into the Russia inquiry, accused the F.B.I. of having discounted or willfully ignored material information that countered the narrative of collusion between Donald J. Trump and Russia in a final report made public on Monday.

Mr. Durhams 306-page report revealed little substantial new information about the inquiry, known as Crossfire Hurricane, and it failed to produce the kinds of blockbuster revelations accusing the bureau of politically motivated misconduct that former President Donald J. Trump and his allies suggested Mr. Durham would uncover.

Got it? The whole thing is ho-hum. It took four reporters to write that.

The NY Times goes on to note that the report was sent to Attorney General Merrick Garland on May 12 and released on May 15 without redaction, implying again that it was no big deal. And, considering what it could have been, it wasnt.

The NY Times, as a reminder, was the news organization that won a Pulitzer for its reporting, by multiple reporters, on the TrumpRussia collusion that never happened, that was a politicized disgrace and a desecration of journalism. Needless to say, they dont mention that in their Durham overview, nor do they mention that they have yet to return the prize they got for lying.

So where are we after all this?

In light of the report, Trump has called for the punishment of the likes of Brennan and Comey, something he has done for some time. May it happen someday.

As I was writing this, outsider presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy made the following statement, On March 5, I announced that I would shut down the FBI, and the Durham Report findings reaffirm my reason for why: when an agency becomes so corrupt and politicized, you cannot merely reform it.

True enough. But as of now, it seems nothing much is going to happen until the 2024 election.

The FBI remains under the control of Garland and Director Christopher Wray. Stonewalling of congressional committees and others will continue. Selective prosecutions also will continue, with major crimes at the highest levels of our government ignored.

Read the Durham report if you wish. I wont. Im too deep into Dennis Pragers fascinating book The Rational Bible: Exodus to be distracted.

But remember this if you do read Durham. It was then-Attorney General Bill Barr who gave him his job.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
SINGAPORE, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Banpu NEXT, a leading smart energy solutions provider in Asia-Pacific, is making its full foray into its battery business as the company joins forces with its subsidiary Durapower Holdings Pte Ltd ("Durapower" and together with its subsidiaries, Durapower Group), a global leader in performance lithium-ion battery storage solutions, to become a vertically-integrated player in the battery business and build up its capabilities to offer a wider range of products and services, while also expanding its customer base across the Asia-Pacific region. Leveraging on the company experience with Battery Energy Storage System ("BESS") deployments in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, Durapower partnered Banpu NEXT to achieve a new milestone with a successful first rollout of the BESS installed at the Solar Hybrid Power Plant for self-consumption at an Indonesian mining site. Banpu NEXT is now set to introduce BESS to other business operations of Banpu Group and offer this solution to enterprise customers to support the growing market demands and drive sustainable growth of the company's battery business.

Durapower's BESS, a high-performance, liquid-cooled, lithium-ion based containerised BESS, was established at Banpu NEXT's Solar Hybrid Power Plant for self-consumption at an Indonesian mining site to meet operational demands. The systems are backed by stringent safety performance with multi-tier safeguards, and International Electrotechnical Commission ("IEC") and United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Regulation ("UN ECE") certified cells and modules.

Solar Hybrid Power Plant for self-consumption at an Indonesian mining site where Durapower's Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) was successfully rolled out Image: Banpu NEXT

A BESS integrated in a solar hybrid system is an effective opportunity for commercial and industrial operators to meet emission reduction and decarbonization targets. The BESS is the culmination of customisation expertise from Durapower's extensive electric vehicle and ESS experience, and regionalised supply chain access to help our customers meet their rigorous operational targets while optimising budgets and timelines.

Story continues

Over the years, Banpu NEXT and Durapower have jointly expanded multiple aspects of their energy storage business. For example, lithium-ion batteries have been sourced from Durapower for solutions and energy services provided by Banpu NEXT, including MuvMi e-Tuk Tuk for Ride Sharing, electric cars for mobility sharing and e-Ferry services. To support inroads into the ESS market, the two companies also increased battery production capacity at their China manufacturing plant and established a new battery assembly plant in Thailand. Earlier this year, Banpu NEXT also increased its existing shareholding in Durapower to 65.10%, turning its status into Durapower's parent company.

Mr. Sinon Vongkusolkit, Chief Executive Officer of Banpu NEXT, said "With our commitment to become the Net-Zero Energy Provider for all enterprises, we continue to strengthen our business ecosystem in alignment with Banpu Group's 'Greener & Smarter' strategy. The increase in shareholding in Durapower, our subsidiary, will boost our competitiveness in the battery value chain, providing high power battery solutions for electric vehicles ("EV") and energy storage systems ("ESS") with internationally recognized standards to our customers. Recently, we installed a 1 MWh Durapower BESS at our Bunyut Solar PV Hybrid power plant for self-consumption at an Indonesian mining site to transition towards more renewable sources to decarbonize the mine site operations for ITMG (Banpu Group's subsidiary).

We are pursuing opportunities to integrate Durapower's battery technology into our Smart Energy Solutions offering, such as EV fleets, smart microgrids, and battery farms. Furthermore, we will continue to scale up our Energy Storage business and offer closed-loop end-to-end battery solutions to our customers across the region." Mr. Sinon concluded.

Mr. Kelvin Lim, Group Chief Executive Officer of Durapower, said "Our expertise in the development of battery materials, design and manufacturing of battery systems as well as lithium-ion battery technologies will propel business expansion with Banpu NEXT. With a strong focus and attention on sustainable energy transition, we are extending our proven products and service offerings to commercial and industrial operators of renewable energy power plants across the Asia-Pacific region to help them meet their emission reduction and decarbonization targets. Durapower's BESS, designed with strong an engineering focus to achieve high power and high energy performance, has maintained a perfect safety track record over the past decade."

To find out more about Durapower's battery energy storage solutions and related technologies, please visit Durapower's Booth MC21, Hall 3 at Future Mobility Asia 2023 which takes place from 17 to 19 May 2023 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok.

#BanpuNEXT #TotalSmartEnergySolutions #EnergyStorageBusiness

About Banpu NEXT

Banpu NEXT Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Banpu PCL., is a leading smart energy solutions provider in Asia-Pacific. The company supports the transition to Net-Zero society. The five core businesses group of Banpu NEXT are Renewable Power, Energy Storage, Energy Trading, e-Mobility, and Smart City & Energy Management. With all these five businesses, the company boasts the capability to offer "Total Smart Energy Solutions". Banpu NEXT is positioned as the long-term partner who combines technology and digital platform with its energy expertise to provide the best tailor-made solutions, empowering organizations to tap into infinite of clean energy, accelerate smart business transformation, while building up sustainable growth along with contribution to betterment for end-users' life and society at large. For the Durapower shares, Banpu NEXT has invested approximately 65.10% shares.

For more information, visit www.banpunext.co.th , www.facebook.com/banpunext , or www.linkedin.com/company/banpu-next-company-limited/

About Durapower Group (www.durapowergroup.com)

Headquartered in Singapore, Durapower offers closed-loop, end-to-end energy storage solutions for the electric mobility and renewable energy applications including on and off-road Electric, Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles, electric marine vessel and stationary energy storage solutions. Since 2009, Durapower has been a leading innovator of Lithium-Ion cell technology, focusing on the research and development of battery materials, battery cell manufacturing and system integration. With a global presence spanning 24 countries and 49 cities, including European Countries, China, India and Southeast Asia. Durapower Group strives to make scalable, sustainable batteries that support the circular economy, empowering lives and transforming the future towards a carbon neutral economy.

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/banpu-next-forays-into-asia-pacific-market-for-battery-energy-storage-system-spearheaded-by-durapower-to-capture-growing-demands-across-region-301825293.html

SOURCE Durapower Group
Dr Brijesh Dixit relieved as MD of Maha Metro





Staff Reporter

Flamboyant Managing Director of Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) Brijesh Dixit has been relieved of his charge. The decision comes after Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) rejected decision of Maharashtra Government to grant another five-years extension to Dixit. As such, Dixit handed over the charge to senior most Director of MMRCL Nitin Karir, Additional Chief Secretary, Finance, on Monday, at Mumbai.

Earlier, in a flurry of development, Dixits bid to oversee second phase of Nagpur Metro and that of completing the ongoing expansion of Pune Metro failed to materialise. In a communication to Additional Chief Secretary, Urban Development Department, Maharashtra Government, the MoHUA informed about rejection of formers endorsement of extension to Dixit. The letter bearing signature of Vikash Kumar, Under Secretary, Government of India, informed the UDD that as per stated policy, no officer working with any of the Metro corporation in country has been granted extension beyond the age of 65 years.
Gadkari requests Dy CM to shift 2x660 MW project proposed at Koradi to Parseoni





By Kaushik Bhattacharya

iN A big setback for Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited (MahaGenco), Union Minister for Road Transport and Shipping Nitin Gadkari has supported the demand of environmental activists of Nagpur on Monday, for shifting of proposed Koradi 2x660 MW coal based Super Critical Thermal Power Plant from Koradi.

The Union Minister wrote a letter to Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis requesting him to reconsider site for the the project proposed at Koradi, on Monday. In the letter, Gadkari said, The existing units at Koradi (2,600 MW) are adding to the health problems of the local residents. The installation of the new two units with power generation capacity of 1,320 MW may create severe health hazards for the people.

Mentioning the demand of NGO Vidarbha Connect, Gadkari said in the letter, In support of the demand, the NGO has said that the power generation capacity of Koradi and Khaperkheda has reached the upper pitch and the proposed power station can be installed at Parseoni. This may help to generate employment in Parseoni tehsil, and find solution to the pollution problems at Koradi. Local NGOs and people residing near Koradi are opposing the proposed project from the beginning. This is the second attempt by MahaGenco to set up new units of 1,320 MW by closing down only one 200 MW unit. In July 2019, when Government of Maharashtra announced new 1,320 MW project at Koradi, many NGOs of Nagpur opposed the project which was raised before the state government, Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB).
Pune-bound IndiGo flight cancelled due to bird strike





Staff Reporter

A Nagpur-Pune IndiGo flight had to be landed immediately after take off at Nagpurs Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airpot on Monday after a bird hit it. The afternoon flight number 63135 took off from Nagpur for Pune during which, a bird hit the aircraft and it was landed back at Nagpur airport. There were 150 passengers and four crew members. Though the company claimed that the aircraft developed some technical snag owing to bird hit due to which it had to be landed, according to sources, the aircraft did have some technical problem earlier. It had come from Pune to Nagpur carrying some technical issue in the engine.
Will have to first recognise which Senafaction is the political party: Mah Speaker





MUMBAI :

MAHARASHTRA Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar on Monday said that after the Supreme Courts 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. He was speaking to reporters here 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 whips 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 cant 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 cannotordinarilyadjudicate disqualification petitions under theanti-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.Forthat,Ineedtoconducthearingswithbothsides 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 Gogawales appointment as Senas chief whip by Shinde illegal, Narvekar said, It is notpermanently illegal. Afterfollowingdueprocedure, Gogawale can still become the chief whip of the party. During last years Maharashtra political crisis, ThackereycontrolledtheShiv Senapartyorganisation,while the Shinde faction claimed thesupport of themajorityof elected legislators.
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The head of the artificial intelligence company that makes ChatGPT told Congress on Tuesday that government intervention will be critical to mitigating the risks of increasingly powerful AI systems.

As this technology advances, we understand that people are anxious about how it could change the way we live. We are too," OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said at a Senate hearing.

Altman proposed the formation of a U.S. or global agency that would license the most powerful AI systems and have the authority to take that license away and ensure compliance with safety standards.

His San Francisco-based startup rocketed to public attention after it released ChatGPT late last year. The free chatbot tool answers questions with convincingly human-like responses.

What started out as a panic among educators about ChatGPT's use to cheat on homework assignments has expanded to broader concerns about the ability of the latest crop of generative AI tools to mislead people, spread falsehoods, violate copyright protections and upend some jobs.

And while there's no immediate sign Congress will craft sweeping new AI rules, as European lawmakers are doing, the societal concerns brought Altman and other tech CEOs to the White House earlier this month and have led U.S. agencies to promise to crack down on harmful AI products that break existing civil rights and consumer protection laws.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, the Connecticut Democrat who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committees subcommittee on privacy, technology and the law, opened the hearing with a recorded speech that sounded like the senator, but was actually a voice clone trained on Blumenthal's floor speeches and reciting ChatGPT-written opening remarks.

The result was impressive, said Blumenthal, but he added, What if I had asked it, and what if it had provided, an endorsement of Ukraine surrendering or (Russian President) Vladimir Putins leadership?

The overall tone of senators' questioning was polite Tuesday, a contrast to past congressional hearings in which tech and social media executives faced tough grillings over the industry's failures to manage data privacy or counter harmful misinformation. In part, that was because both Democrats and Republicans said they were interested in seeking Altman's expertise on averting problems that haven't yet occurred.

Blumenthal said AI companies ought to be required to test their systems and disclose known risks before releasing them, and expressed particular concern about how future AI systems could destabilize the job market. Altman was largely in agreement, though had a more optimistic take on the future of work.

Pressed on his own worst fear about AI, Altman mostly avoided specifics, except to say that the industry could cause significant harm to the world and that if this technology goes wrong, it can go quite wrong.

But he later proposed that a new regulatory agency should impose safeguards that would block AI models that could self-replicate and self-exfiltrate into the wild  hinting at futuristic concerns about advanced AI systems that could manipulate humans into ceding control.

That focus on a far-off science fiction trope of super-powerful AI could make it harder to take action against already existing harms that require regulators to dig deep on data transparency, discriminatory behavior and potential for trickery and disinformation, said a former Biden administration official who co-authored its plan for an AI bill of rights.

Its the fear of these (super-powerful) systems and our lack of understanding of them that is making everyone have a collective freak-out, said Suresh Venkatasubramanian, a Brown University computer scientist who was assistant director for science and justice at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. This fear, which is very unfounded, is a distraction from all the concerns were dealing with right now.

OpenAI has expressed those existential concerns since its inception. Co-founded by Altman in 2015 with backing from tech billionaire Elon Musk, the startup has evolved from a nonprofit research lab with a safety-focused mission into a business. Its other popular AI products include the image-maker DALL-E. Microsoft has invested billions of dollars into the startup and has integrated its technology into its own products, including its search engine Bing.

Altman is also planning to embark on a worldwide tour this month to national capitals and major cities across six continents to talk about the technology with policymakers and the public. On the eve of his Senate testimony, he dined with dozens of U.S. lawmakers, several of whom told CNBC they were impressed by his comments.

Also testifying were IBM's chief privacy and trust officer, Christina Montgomery, and Gary Marcus, a professor emeritus at New York University who was among a group of AI experts who called on OpenAI and other tech firms to pause their development of more powerful AI models for six months to give society more time to consider the risks. The letter was a response to the March release of OpenAI's latest model, GPT-4, described as more powerful than ChatGPT.

The panel's ranking Republican, Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, said the technology has big implications for elections, jobs and national security. He said Tuesday's hearing marked "a critical first step towards understanding what Congress should do.

A number of tech industry leaders have said they welcome some form of AI oversight but have cautioned against what they see as overly heavy-handed rules. Altman and Marcus both called for an AI-focused regulator, preferably an international one, with Altman citing the precedent of the U.N.s nuclear agency and Marcus comparing it to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. But IBM's Montgomery instead asked Congress to take a precision regulation" approach.

We think that AI should be regulated at the point of risk, essentially, Montgomery said, by establishing rules that govern the deployment of specific uses of AI rather than the technology itself.
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OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP)  Washington lawmakers approved and Gov. Jay Inslee quickly signed a major new drug policy Tuesday that keeps controlled substances illegal while boosting resources to help those struggling with addiction.

A compromise reached a day earlier by Democratic and Republican leaders sought to bridge a gap between liberals who believe drugs should be decriminalized and conservatives who insist the threat of jail is necessary to force people into treatment.

The law retains criminal penalties for drug possession, making it a gross misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail for the first two offenses and up to a year after that. But police and prosecutors would be encouraged to divert cases for treatment or other services, and the measure provides $44 million for investments that include methadone mobile units, crisis centers and short-term housing for people with substance-use disorders.

It is our deep hope that this will help people away from the scourge of addiction, that it will reduce crime overall in our communities and will help our children be safe from the scourge of drug addiction, Inslee said before signing the bill.

The Senate voted 43-6 in favor; the House 83-13 in favor.

Lawmakers said the bill struck a balance between public order and compassion for those struggling with substance abuse.

Legislators were under pressure to pass a bill not just because of the soaring addiction crisis, but because of a self-imposed deadline: A temporary, 2-year-old law that makes intentional drug possession illegal is due to expire July 1.

Unless the compromise became law, drug possession  even of fentanyl and other dangerous opiates  would have become decriminalized under state law. The only other state that has tried decriminalizing drug possession is neighboring Oregon, where the experiment is off to a rocky start.

Several lawmakers made emotional statements about losing close relatives to addiction. Sen. Ron Muzzall, an Oak Harbor Republican, broke up as he described how his niece, Rachel Marshall  the creator of the popular Seattle company Rachels Ginger Beer  died last month.

If we cannot offer hope for these people that are in the throes of addiction, what good are we? he said. I failed. My niece, whom I loved and had a great relationship. She hid that addiction from me.

Another Republican, Sen. John Braun, of Centralia, lost a nephew two years ago and said in recent weeks he has often thought of him and what the state could do differently to help others.

If we want to save peoples lives, if we want to help people - and I think everyone in this chamber does - we have to try something different, he said.

Sen. Yasmin Trudeau, a Tacoma Democrat, said she supported the bill as a first step. But she urged her colleagues to be ready to do more to shore up housing and behavioral health resources.

Weve got so much work to do beyond this bill to actually achieve anything thats in it, Trudeau said. Were not going to achieve it with one bill.  And we are not going to achieve it by simply criminalizing those that are deep in their addiction, deep in poverty, and deep in pain and trauma.

Under the law, the sale of drug paraphernalia, such as glass tubes for smoking fentanyl, is a civil infraction. But possession is not banned, and public health programs are allowed to distribute such materials as well as test strips that can detect the presence of fentanyl or other substances in drugs.

The law allows cities and counties to ban drug paraphernalia and allows them to regulate recovery residences and harm-reduction programs such as those that provide methadone or other medication to treat addiction, just as they regulate other essential public services.

In 2021, the Washington Supreme Court struck down the state law making drug possession a felony as unconstitutional because it did not require prosecutors to prove someone knowingly had the drugs. Washington was the only state in the country without that requirement.

In response, lawmakers made intentional drug possession a misdemeanor and required police to refer offenders to evaluation or treatment for their first two offenses. But there was no obvious way for officers to track how many times someone had been referred, and the availability of treatment remained inadequate. Lawmakers made the measure temporary and gave themselves until this July 1 to come up with a long-term policy.

Inslee called lawmakers back to the Washington Statehouse for the special session after they failed to pass a new drug law last month.

This has been a longer period than many bills to get to my desk," Inslee said. But I do believe this process produced a better bill.
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SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol vowed to expand the country's non-lethal aid to Kyiv when he met with Ukraines first lady Tuesday in Seoul.

Olena Zelenska visited South Korea as a special envoy of President Volodymyr Zelensky. During her meeting with Yoon, Zelenska requested South Korea expand its support of non-lethal military supplies, including equipment for detecting and removing mines and ambulance vehicles, according to Yoons office.

Yoon replied that his government would closely coordinate with NATO and other international partners to actively support the Ukrainian people, his spokesperson Lee Do Woon said during a briefing.

Yoon also condemned Russias invasion of Ukraine, saying the horrific losses of innocent lives, especially women and children, are unacceptable under any circumstances, according to remarks shared by his office.

Lee said Zelenska made no request for South Korean weapons supplies during her conversation with Yoon.

South Korea, a growing arms exporter with a well-equipped military backed by the United States, has provided humanitarian aid and other support to Ukraine while joining U.S.-led economic sanctions against Moscow. But it has not directly provided arms to Ukraine, citing a long-standing policy of not supplying weapons to countries actively engaged in conflict.

During a visit to South Korea in January, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called for South Korea to provide direct military support to Ukraine, saying Kyiv is in urgent need of weapons to fight off the prolonged Russian invasion.

Since Russias invasion of Ukraine, South Korea has reached billions of dollars worth of deals to provide tanks, howitzers, fighter jets and other weapons systems to Poland, a NATO member. An American official said in November that the United States has agreed to buy 100,000 artillery rounds from South Korean manufacturers to provide to Ukraine, although South Korean officials have maintained that the munitions were meant to refill depleted U.S. stocks.
By Milana Vinn

NEW YORK (Reuters) -Ed Wehle, a senior Barclays Plc technology banker, has resigned to join U.S. rival Citigroup Inc in New York, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters, adding to an exodus of top investment bankers from the London-based bank.

An investment banking veteran of nearly three decades, Wehle will join Citigroup as its global head of technology services, Mark Keene, Citigroup's global head of technology investment banking, wrote in the memo to employees on Tuesday.

"Technology services complements Citis unparalleled global client position, and Ed will work closely with partners in Asia, EMEA and Latin America," said Philip Drury, global head of technology & communications banking, capital markets & advisory at Citi.

Barclays declined to comment.

The move marks a return to Citigroup for Wehle, where he spent most of his career. He was previously head of global technology services banking at Barclays, which he had joined in 2018 from Deutsche Bank AG. He joined Salomon Brothers in 1994, which subsequently became part of Citigroup.

Reuters reported on Monday that at least seven top Barclays technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) bankers have resigned to join UBS Group AG in the U.S. in the last few days. They followed a trio of Barclays U.S. bankers who decamped for UBS in April.

(Reporting by Milana Vinn in New York; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
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EDWARDSVILLE  An accident that resulted in two deaths in the area of South Moreland and Buchta roads Sunday is under investigation by the Madison County Sheriffs Department and Coroners Office.

Reid S. Brice, 20, of Alton, and Kenneth L. Quinlan, 77, of Bethalto, died as a result of the crash, which occurred about 9:56 p.m. in the area of South Moreland Road and Buchta Road.

According to Chief Deputy Marcos Pulido, a tan Chevrolet Impala was traveling southbound on South Moreland near Buchta Road when it crossed into the northbound lanes into the path of a red Hyundai Tucson. After the collision, the Impala became engulfed in flames.

A passerby called 911 and remained at the scene to assist.

A Wood River police officer was the first to respond to the scene, and arrived to find the Impala on fire and the driver trapped inside.

The officer broke a window and extracted the driver, later identified as Brice.

The Meadowbrook and Wood River fire departments arrived and extricated the occupants of the Tucson. Quinlan, the front seat passenger, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the Tucson sustained serious injuries and was later airlifted to a St. Louis area hospital for treatment.

Pulido said the sheriffs office is very thankful to the passerby and first responders.

Although this is never an outcome that anyone wants, we are appreciative of everyones efforts, he said.

The accident remains under investigation.
EDWARDSVILLE  A Glen Carbon man was charged Monday with exposing himself to a 7-year-old girl on Friday.

Thomas E. Thompson, 70, was charged May 15 with sexual exploitation of a child, a Class 4 felony.

The case was presented by the Glen Carbon Police Department.

According to court documents, on May 12 Thompson allegedly exposed himself to a 7-year-old girl.

Bail was set at $100,000.

Other felony cases filed Monday by the Madison County States attorneys Office include:
EDWARDSVILLE  A Granite City woman faces a felony DUI charge after an incident Friday.

Anquinette Alexander, 52, was charged May 15 with aggravated driving under the influence while license revoked/suspended, and driving while license revoked, both Class 4 felonies.

The case was presented by the Collinsville Police Department.

According to court documents, on May 13 Alexander allegedly was driving on North Bluff Road, Collinsville, while under the influence of alcohol and with a revoked drivers license.

Her license was revoked after a 2014 conviction for DUI; she has a prior conviction for driving while license revoked in 2016.

Bail was set at $25,000.

Also this week, drug-related charges filed May 15 by the Madison County States Attorneys Office include:
EDWARDSVILLE  A Moro man is accused of entering a Granite City home and beating the resident there.

Alex C. Moore, 27, was charged May 15 with home invasion, a Class X felony; and aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony.

The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department.

According to court documents, on May 13 Moore allegedly entered a home in the 2600 block of Carolyn Boulevard in Madison County, knowing the resident was present, and repeatedly struck the victim about the head and body, causing an injury.

Bail was set at $250,000.

In an unrelated case, an East St. Louis man was charged with multiple felonies after a May 14 incident in Collinsville.

Isaiah D. Monigan, 18, of East St. Louis, was charged with aggravated battery and two counts of unlawful possession of a stolen firearm, all Class 2 felonies, and aggravated unlawful use of weapons and aggravated fleeing causing bodily injury, both Class 4 felonies.

The case was presented by the Collinsville Police Department.

According to court documents, on May 14 Monigan allegedly struck a Collinsville police officer with his car and had a stolen .45 ACP Glock 30 and a stolen 9 mm Taurus handguns. He allegedly had a loaded and accessible .357 Glock 31 pistol in a motor vehicle without a Firearm Owners Identification Card or concealed carry permit and attempted to flee from the Collinsville police officer. Bail was set at $150,000.

Other felony charges filed May 15 by the Madison County Sheriffs Department include:
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ALTON  Two men have been charged in connection with the fatal shooting of an Alton man last week.

One of them is a 23-year-old from Glen Carbon.

Alton Police Department Chief Jarrett Ford said police arrived at 7:34 p.m. May 10 at a residence in the 1600 block of Rock Springs Drive 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 2019-23 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 frequently be seen in 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 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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Linkedin AFP New York, United States  Tue, May 16, 2023 10:41 3 5fceed71997e5776a1634d25dc6ad222 2 Archipelago Indonesia,aceh,human-rights,torture,TNI,lawsuit Free

ExxonMobil settled Monday a long-running lawsuit brought by Aceh 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 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."
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Linkedin Nina A. Loasana (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, May 16, 2023

A recent report from Amnesty International suggests that Indonesia's revised Criminal Code is a step in the right direction toward abolishing capital punishment, even as the countrys justice system continues to hand down high numbers of death sentences.

Passed at the end of last year, the revised Criminal Code introduced an automatic 10-year probation for convicts on death row to demonstrate good behavior for the possibility of having their sentences commuted. After the probation elapses, the sitting president may decrease the sentence to life in prison or 20 years in prison. The policy will take effect in 2026.

Amnesty International Indonesia researcher Ari Pramuditya said that although Indonesia still had a long way to go before the death penalty was completely abolished, the new penal code was "a positive step" that deserved recognition.

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The state-owned electricity company PLN in its 2021-2030 electricity procurement plan has targeted renewable energy capacity in the national energy mix to reach 52 percent or 20.92 gigawatts (GW), while coal-fired plants are expected to fill-in only 13.81 GW or 34 percent.

However, renewable infrastructure progress in Indonesia is painstakingly slow.

Renewable energy share in Indonesias primary energy mix has reached only 14.11 percent in 2022. Coal share, on the other hand, increased to 67.21 percent in the same year, representing the 42.1 GW of installed capacity of coal power plants in the country, the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry data show.

Meaning, unless a user is lucky enough to get all their electricity from residential solar panels, an electric vehicle in Indonesia is actually powered by coal.

Factors affecting solar panel price include the size of the user's roof. In Indonesia, a larger system will cost more in total, but the unit cost per kilowatt-peak (kWp) will be lower and more cost-effective, according to Singapore-based solar panel installer Solar AI.

The company source estimated a 6 kWp system to cost a user approximately Rp 15 million per kWp, but that installing a larger 20 kWp system would cost around Rp 12 million per kWp.

It will take massive investment. Will consumers pay for this?

Yes, Im trying to get the best deal to install rooftop solar panels and I know a lot of people from the electric-car community who are interested in them as well, Arwani said.

Amid an unprecedented expansion in the renewable energy sector, some businesses and individuals have shifted to solar power systems.

The government expects solar power, one of the worlds fastest growing renewable energy technologies, to lead the way to achieving at least 23 percent renewable energy in the country by 2025 and at least 31 percent by 2050, as dictated by the National General Energy Planning (RUEN) road map.
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Linkedin Editorial board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, May 17, 2023 04:16 2 d5259e4d93052b0e76bee70b056b1480 1 Editorial Thailand,election,opposition,military,Royal-Family,Coup,Constitution,parliament,Thaksin-Shinawatra,Prayut-Chan-o-cha Free

Thai voters have sent a loud and clear message that enough is enough for the militarys domination in politics and the decades-long control of the royal family on their lives. The military and political elites, however, look set to search for ways  legally or illegally, ethically or unethically  to ensure they will stay in power regardless of the peoples wishes.

Leaders and the people of ASEAN are watching the developments in Thailand, one of the regional blocs cofounders, and one which is seen as a role model in developing agriculture and the tourism industry in the region. Dictators or semi-dictators in the region are keen to see Thailand maintain the status quo as long as possible.

The military-drafted constitution of Thailand makes sure that the military has the final say in the countrys national leadership. Of the 750 parliament seats, the military fully controls 250 Upper House seats, with the remaining 500 Lower House seats up for grabs in elections.

The Thai military is known for its propensity to launching coups  a record 22 times, 19 of them successful, since 1932, therefore it is unlikely they will easily accept the election results unless they could reap benefits from the poll winners. Such a scenario looms large after the Sunday election.

The Thai military-backed political parties suffered a humiliating defeat to the antimonarchy and antiroyal establishment, the Move Forward Party (MFP). The outcome reflects the Thai peoples demand for change that they entrusted a relatively new political party to realize their expectations.

The high turnout rate in the May 14 election is another message that the Thai people want their country to adopt a universally accepted system of democracy and end the excessive protection of the royal family. Democracy as we know is an antithesis to military-dominated politics. For one, Thailands constitution has been amended 18 times to serve the interests of the military and royal family.

Winning 151 Lower House seats, the MFP outshone former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatras Pheu Thai Party which could only get 141 seats despite its populist and antimilitary stance. Prior to voting day, Thaksins 36-year-old daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra was widely tipped to win the prime ministerial post to emulate her father and aunt Yingluck Shinawatra.

Following the victory, the MFPs chairman, 42-year-old Pita Limjaroenrat, declared his readiness to assume the PM job and claimed that opposition parties had agreed to form a coalition with him. Thaksins side has confirmed the alliance plan, but as Thailand does not have a strong tradition of united opposition force, the coalition is likely to collapse soon.

Incumbent PM Prayuth Chan-ochas United Thai Nation Party could only win 36 seats. Prayuth, who came to power through a coup in 2014, has refused to concede defeat, perhaps because he sees loopholes to hold on to power.

Thai army chief Gen. Narongpan Jitkaewthae has stated the military would accept the election results and refrain from perpetrating a coup. Hopefully the general and other army top brass will fulfill their promise, or else they will betray the Thai people.

The opposition government may also lead Thailand to become a constitutional monarchy as practiced in the United Kingdom and some other European countries. In fact, the Thai monarchy has lost its charm following the passing of King Maha Bhumibol Adulvadej Maharaj in October 2016. The late King Bhumibol, the longest-serving monarch, was known for his wisdom and care about Thai development.

People have long demanded the abolition of the draconian lese-majeste law, which prohibits any disparaging statements or opinions about the king and the royal family. Any violation of the law can send one to prison for up to 15 years. More than 200 people were charged with the law when massive street protests took place in 2020.

The people have spoken. The question is whether the military and the royal establishment will respect the vox populi. ASEAN and the world are watching them now.
Sameer Adam joins Bestfly Aviation Group as Executive Board Director

Stephan Krainer named Executive Board Director

ORANJESTAD, Aruba, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Earlier today, Bestfly announced a change in its board and leadership structure by appointing Sameer Adam and Stephan Krainer as Executive Board Directors to support the company's strong growth and expand the group's aviation businesses.

Sameer Adam joins Bestfly Aviation Group as Executive Board Director (CNW Group/Bestfly)

"In 2009, Bestfly started as a ground handling company in Angola and has since grown into a global aviation group with operations by end of 2023 out of Aruba, Portugal, Cape Verde, Austria, UAE, Congo, Guyana, and Senegal. We have built a solid foundation with a diversified business in the VIP executive aircraft, commercial aircraft, oil & gas support, and ground support segments." said Nuno Pereira, Chairman & Group CEO, Bestfly . "This has led to strong revenue verticals , which is why we are adding two great individuals to an already strong executive board and leadership, who will further enhance our activities with their valuable experiences."

As part of the leadership structure changes, the new Board Directors will be engaged in their respective executive capacities as follows:

Sameer Adam (Canadian) joins Bestfly as Executive Board Director to oversee all aspects of fleet strategy, business development, and aircraft financing for the business aircraft, commercial aircraft, and helicopter operations. Bestfly has expanded its operations in recent years, building a strong base of customers in various markets, which requires an added level of experience to grow our fleet based on the optimal approach that fits our growth strategy.

Stephan Krainer (Austrian) adds to his duties as CEO of Primus Aero, Executive Board Director for Bestfly. An Austria-based company, Primus Aero delivers CAMO and other maintenance services to various operators, including Bestfly. The increased efficiencies brought about by an in-house CAMO partner have added to the group's ability to manage a diverse fleet based across multiple continents.

Story continues

Sameer Adam and Stephan Krainer join current board directors Nuno Pereira (Chairperson), Alcinda Pereira (Vice Chairperson), Helder Rosa, Nuno Sandao, and Americo Borges.

About Bestfly

Bestfly was established in 2009 as an Angolan company for ground handling services and has since grown into a global aviation group with and several new markets and business segments. The company has expanded its presence from Angola into Aruba, Portugal, Cape Verde, Austria, UAE, Congo, Guyana, and Senegal. Bestfly has assembled a very experienced team to ensure the highest operational standards, organizational efficiency, and commercial agility.

The group's current fleet stands at 27 aircraft based on an assortment of Bombardier, Falcon, Gulfstream, Hawker and Cessna Citation business jets, Beechraft Kingair turboprops, Leonardo and Bell helicopters, Embraer commercial jets, and ATR72 turboprop aircraft. The diverse fleet is optimized to serve key commercial markets and long-term contract customers throughout Europe, Africa, Middle East, and the Caribbean.

As a founding member of the African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA), Bestfly is also a current member of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA).

https://bestfly.aero/

Stephan Krainer named Executive Board Director (CNW Group/Bestfly)

Bestfly Logo (CNW Group/Bestfly)

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bestfly-chairman--group-ceo-nuno-pereira-announces-renewed-board-and-leadership-structure-building-on-bestflys-continuing-growth-301825439.html

SOURCE Bestfly
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Linkedin Sylviana Hamdani (The Jakarta Post) Contributor/Jakarta  Tue, May 16 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 Rosalia Sciortino (The Jakarta Post) Bangkok  Wed, May 17 2023

For months, predictions have been made of the possible change-making results of the general election held in Thailand on May 14. The common conviction of pundits of different faiths as well as of the majority of ordinary citizens was that the voters may challenge the unpopular leadership of Prayut Chan-o-cha.

The former general seized power almost a decade ago with a coup that installed the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) military government in 2014 and was appointed as prime minister in 2019 following a heavily rigged election in favor of the pro-army parties.

The power seizure was just the last of a series of coups interrupted by shaky returns to democracy, the first initiated in 2006 to oust populist prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra  a billionaire tycoon admired for his pro-poor policies, especially among the rural population in Northern Thailand. who left into exile to avoid a raft of corruption charges.

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Linkedin Reuters Brussels, Belgium  Tue, May 16, 2023 12:25 3 d5259e4d93052b0e76bee70b056aa8c7 2 Europe Josep-Borell,EU,India,Russia,oil,crackdown Free

The European Union (EU) should crack down on India reselling Russian oil into Europe as refined fuels including diesel, the EU's high representative for foreign policy, Josep Borrell, said in an interview with the Financial Times.

India has in the past year emerged as a top buyer of Russian oil, which has been rejected by Western nations amid sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Access to cheap Russian crude has boosted output and profits at Indian refineries, enabling them to export refined products competitively to Europe and take bigger market share.

"If diesel or gasoline is entering Europe ... coming from India and being produced with Russian oil, that is certainly a circumvention of sanctions and member states have to take measures," the bloc's chief diplomat said.

"That India buys Russian oil, it's normal ... But if they use that in order to be a centre where Russian oil is being refined and by-products are being sold to us ... we have to act," Borrell said.

India's imports of Russian crude in March rose for the seventh straight month to end out the fiscal year as top supplier to India, displacing Iraq for the first time.

India typically exported an average of 154,000 barrels per day (bpd) of diesel and jet fuel to Europe before Russia's invasion of Ukraine. However, that has increased to 200,000 bpd after the EU banned Russian oil products imports from Feb. 5 this year, data from Kpler shows.

Any mechanism to stem the flow of Russian oil would need to be implemented by the national authorities, Borrell told the FT, suggesting that EU could target buyers of Indian refined fuels they believe are derived from Russian crude.

"If they sell, it is because someone is buying. And we have to look at who is buying," he said.
Shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE:ARE  Get Rating) gapped up prior to trading on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $120.81, but opened at $123.68. Alexandria Real Estate Equities shares last traded at $119.72, with a volume of 71,216 shares trading hands.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts recently commented on the company. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price target on Alexandria Real Estate Equities from $198.00 to $166.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 4th. JMP Securities reissued a buy rating and issued a $180.00 price objective on shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities in a research note on Tuesday, January 31st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on Alexandria Real Estate Equities from $176.00 to $177.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, February 2nd. Mizuho reduced their price objective on Alexandria Real Estate Equities from $180.00 to $145.00 in a research note on Monday, April 24th. Finally, Evercore ISI reduced their price objective on Alexandria Real Estate Equities from $155.00 to $144.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, March 27th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $164.00.

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Alexandria Real Estate Equities Stock Down 0.9 %

The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $123.55 and a 200-day simple moving average of $142.18. The company has a market capitalization of $20.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.67, a P/E/G ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.93. The company has a quick ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51.

Alexandria Real Estate Equities Dividend Announcement

Alexandria Real Estate Equities ( NYSE:ARE Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 25th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.44 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.15 by ($1.71). The firm had revenue of $700.80 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $686.70 million. Alexandria Real Estate Equities had a return on equity of 3.77% and a net margin of 28.01%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 13.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.05 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts expect that Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. will post 8.94 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 31st were given a dividend of $1.21 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 30th. This represents a $4.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.04%. Alexandria Real Estate Equitiess dividend payout ratio is currently 106.84%.

Insider Transactions at Alexandria Real Estate Equities

In related news, Chairman Joel S. Marcus sold 7,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $122.20, for a total transaction of $916,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chairman now directly owns 351,354 shares of the companys stock, valued at $42,935,458.80. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. 1.60% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Alexandria Real Estate Equities

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in ARE. First Trust Advisors LP increased its stake in shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 132.1% during the first quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 53,608 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $6,733,000 after purchasing an additional 30,514 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 7.3% during the first quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 3,604,252 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $451,738,000 after purchasing an additional 245,322 shares during the period. Greenland Capital Management LP bought a new position in shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities during the first quarter worth approximately $942,000. HBK Sorce Advisory LLC bought a new position in Alexandria Real Estate Equities during the 1st quarter worth $2,837,000. Finally, AQR Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 2.4% during the 1st quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 18,947 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $2,349,000 after acquiring an additional 445 shares during the period. 89.81% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Alexandria Real Estate Equities

(Get Rating)

Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc engages in the business of providing space for lease. The firm is also an owner, operator, and developer of life science, agrotechnology, and technology campuses in Greater Boston, the San Francisco Bay Area, New York City, San Diego, Seattle, Maryland, and Research Triangle.

Further Reading

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Bank of Nova Scotia decreased its holdings in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO  Get Rating) by 56.8% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 776,283 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,020,728 shares during the period. Bank of Nova Scotias holdings in Altria Group were worth $35,484,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Great Lakes Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Altria Group by 5.5% during the 4th quarter. Great Lakes Advisors LLC now owns 58,859 shares of the companys stock worth $2,690,000 after purchasing an additional 3,048 shares during the period. Intech Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in Altria Group by 392.8% during the 4th quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 302,897 shares of the companys stock worth $13,845,000 after purchasing an additional 241,437 shares during the period. Semmax Financial Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in Altria Group by 2.1% during the 4th quarter. Semmax Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 27,914 shares of the companys stock worth $1,261,000 after purchasing an additional 567 shares during the period. Tocqueville Asset Management L.P. boosted its stake in Altria Group by 3.7% during the 4th quarter. Tocqueville Asset Management L.P. now owns 8,535 shares of the companys stock worth $390,000 after purchasing an additional 303 shares during the period. Finally, Cibc World Markets Corp boosted its stake in Altria Group by 793.4% during the 4th quarter. Cibc World Markets Corp now owns 244,115 shares of the companys stock worth $11,158,000 after purchasing an additional 216,790 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 58.68% of the companys stock.

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Altria Group Stock Down 0.1 %

Shares of NYSE MO opened at $45.50 on Tuesday. Altria Group, Inc. has a 52 week low of $40.35 and a 52 week high of $54.89. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $45.76 and a 200 day moving average price of $45.89. The stock has a market capitalization of $81.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.30 and a beta of 0.59.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

Altria Group ( NYSE:MO Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The company reported $1.18 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.19 by ($0.01). Altria Group had a net margin of 22.44% and a negative return on equity of 245.43%. The business had revenue of $4.76 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.89 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.12 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was down 1.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts expect that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.06 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 24th were issued a dividend of $0.94 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 23rd. This represents a $3.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 8.26%. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 120.90%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

MO has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on shares of Altria Group from $43.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, January 23rd. Stifel Nicolaus began coverage on shares of Altria Group in a research note on Thursday, April 13th. They issued a buy rating and a $52.00 target price for the company. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Altria Group in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Finally, Citigroup reduced their target price on shares of Altria Group from $49.50 to $47.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 17th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $44.67.

Altria Group Profile

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Altria Group, Inc operates as a holding company, which engages in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes in the United States. It operates through the following segments: Smokeable Products, Oral tobacco products, and Wine. The Smokeable Products segment consists of cigarettes manufactured and sold by PM USA and machine-made large cigars and pipe tobacco manufactured and sold by Middleton.

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Shinhan Financial Group (NYSE:SHG  Get Rating) and First Resource Bancorp (OTCMKTS:FRSB  Get Rating) are both finance companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, earnings, valuation, profitability, dividends, risk and analyst recommendations.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent recommendations and price targets for Shinhan Financial Group and First Resource Bancorp, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Shinhan Financial Group 0 2 0 0 2.00 First Resource Bancorp 0 0 0 0 N/A

Shinhan Financial Group presently has a consensus price target of $32.31, indicating a potential upside of 22.85%. Given Shinhan Financial Groups higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Shinhan Financial Group is more favorable than First Resource Bancorp.

Profitability

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Shinhan Financial Group 17.86% 9.65% 0.71% First Resource Bancorp 23.70% N/A N/A

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Shinhan Financial Group and First Resource Bancorps net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

This table compares Shinhan Financial Group and First Resource Bancorps top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Shinhan Financial Group $23,181.98 billion 0.00 $3.25 billion $6.53 4.03 First Resource Bancorp $21.79 million 1.59 $5.63 million $1.90 6.21

Shinhan Financial Group has higher revenue and earnings than First Resource Bancorp. Shinhan Financial Group is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than First Resource Bancorp, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

2.6% of Shinhan Financial Group shares are held by institutional investors. 1.0% of Shinhan Financial Group shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Volatility & Risk

Shinhan Financial Group has a beta of 0.84, indicating that its share price is 16% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, First Resource Bancorp has a beta of 0.6, indicating that its share price is 40% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Shinhan Financial Group beats First Resource Bancorp on 9 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Shinhan Financial Group

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Shinhan Financial Group Co., Ltd. engages in the provision of management and financial support services to its subsidiaries. The company was founded on September 1, 2001 and is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea.

About First Resource Bancorp

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First Resource Bancorp, Inc. is a holding company that engages in the provision of community banking services through its subsidiary, First Resource Bank. Its subsidiary offers lending and depository services for businesses, professionals, and individuals in the Delaware Valley. The company is headquartered in Exton, PA.

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Asset Allocation & Management Company LLC lowered its holdings in Cummins Inc. (NYSE:CMI  Get Rating) by 23.1% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 3,695 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,113 shares during the period. Asset Allocation & Management Company LLCs holdings in Cummins were worth $895,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the business. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Cummins by 1.7% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 13,203,832 shares of the companys stock worth $2,687,113,000 after buying an additional 226,774 shares during the period. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its position in shares of Cummins by 39.5% in the 3rd quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 5,240,383 shares of the companys stock worth $1,067,213,000 after acquiring an additional 1,484,171 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Cummins by 7.9% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,370,151 shares of the companys stock worth $486,142,000 after acquiring an additional 173,139 shares in the last quarter. LSV Asset Management raised its position in shares of Cummins by 0.3% in the 3rd quarter. LSV Asset Management now owns 2,082,812 shares of the companys stock worth $423,873,000 after acquiring an additional 6,089 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Eagle Investment Management LLC raised its position in shares of Cummins by 2.8% in the 4th quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC now owns 2,055,849 shares of the companys stock worth $498,112,000 after acquiring an additional 55,502 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.94% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity at Cummins

In related news, VP Sharon R. Barner sold 5,929 shares of Cummins stock in a transaction on Friday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $257.13, for a total transaction of $1,524,523.77. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 16,144 shares in the company, valued at $4,151,106.72. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other Cummins news, Director Georgia R. Nelson sold 1,933 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $251.64, for a total transaction of $486,420.12. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 21,742 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,471,156.88. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, VP Sharon R. Barner sold 5,929 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $257.13, for a total value of $1,524,523.77. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 16,144 shares in the company, valued at $4,151,106.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 16,709 shares of company stock worth $4,245,545. Corporate insiders own 1.12% of the companys stock.

Cummins Stock Performance

Shares of CMI stock traded down $3.24 on Tuesday, reaching $215.51. The stock had a trading volume of 87,628 shares, compared to its average volume of 999,461. The stock has a market cap of $30.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 1.00. Cummins Inc. has a 1 year low of $184.27 and a 1 year high of $261.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a current ratio of 1.29. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $230.79 and a 200 day simple moving average of $240.66.

Cummins (NYSE:CMI  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The company reported $5.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $4.70 by $0.85. The firm had revenue of $8.45 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.13 billion. Cummins had a return on equity of 25.94% and a net margin of 8.37%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 32.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted $4.04 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that Cummins Inc. will post 19.55 EPS for the current year.

Cummins Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 1st. Investors of record on Friday, May 19th will be given a dividend of $1.57 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 18th. This represents a $6.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.91%. Cumminss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 35.40%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on CMI shares. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on Cummins from $264.00 to $262.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 20th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their target price on Cummins from $231.00 to $227.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 12th. Credit Suisse Group increased their target price on Cummins from $287.00 to $291.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 7th. UBS Group increased their target price on Cummins from $247.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, February 16th. Finally, VNET Group reaffirmed a maintains rating on shares of Cummins in a research report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Cummins currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $254.25.

Cummins Company Profile

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Cummins, Inc engages in the design, manufacture, and market of diesel and natural gas engines. It operates through the following segments: Engine, Distribution, Components, Power Systems, and New Power. The Engine segment manufactures and markets diesel and natural gas-powered engines under the Cummins brand name, for the heavy- and medium-duty truck, bus, recreational vehicle, light-duty automotive, construction, mining, marine, rail, oil and gas, defense, and agricultural markets.

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Bank of Hawaii Co. (NYSE:BOH  Get Rating) saw unusually-high trading volume on Tuesday . Approximately 911,711 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 46% from the previous sessions volume of 625,955 shares.The stock last traded at $36.40 and had previously closed at $34.54.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

BOH has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. DA Davidson reduced their target price on Bank of Hawaii from $76.00 to $55.00 in a research note on Monday, March 20th. StockNews.com upgraded Bank of Hawaii to a sell rating in a research note on Friday. Compass Point lowered Bank of Hawaii from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $71.00 target price for the company. in a research note on Tuesday, January 24th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their price objective on Bank of Hawaii from $83.00 to $60.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. Finally, TheStreet lowered Bank of Hawaii from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 4th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and three have assigned a hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $66.25.

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Bank of Hawaii Trading Up 1.6 %

The company has a market capitalization of $1.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.65, a PEG ratio of 1.23 and a beta of 0.97. The company has a fifty day moving average of $49.71 and a 200-day moving average of $67.71. The company has a current ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 0.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43.

Bank of Hawaii Announces Dividend

Bank of Hawaii ( NYSE:BOH Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Monday, April 24th. The bank reported $1.14 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.23 by ($0.09). The company had revenue of $229.07 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $177.67 million. Bank of Hawaii had a return on equity of 19.01% and a net margin of 26.90%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.32 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Bank of Hawaii Co. will post 4.37 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, June 14th. Investors of record on Wednesday, May 31st will be issued a $0.70 dividend. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.98%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 30th. Bank of Hawaiis dividend payout ratio is presently 52.83%.

Insider Activity at Bank of Hawaii

In other news, Director Alicia E. Moy bought 4,200 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, May 1st. The shares were bought at an average price of $47.90 per share, with a total value of $201,180.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 10,482 shares in the company, valued at $502,087.80. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 2.11% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Bank of Hawaii

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. State Street Corp grew its stake in shares of Bank of Hawaii by 1.8% during the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,538,067 shares of the banks stock worth $80,103,000 after purchasing an additional 27,802 shares in the last quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC boosted its stake in Bank of Hawaii by 218.0% in the first quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC now owns 12,991 shares of the banks stock valued at $677,000 after acquiring an additional 8,906 shares in the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP boosted its stake in Bank of Hawaii by 12.2% in the first quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 65,640 shares of the banks stock valued at $3,419,000 after acquiring an additional 7,147 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in Bank of Hawaii by 3.8% in the first quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 557,767 shares of the banks stock valued at $29,049,000 after acquiring an additional 20,542 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Balyasny Asset Management L.P. boosted its stake in Bank of Hawaii by 221.0% in the first quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. now owns 34,500 shares of the banks stock valued at $1,797,000 after acquiring an additional 23,751 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.29% of the companys stock.

Bank of Hawaii Company Profile

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Bank of Hawaii Corp. is a bank holding company, which engages in the provision of financial services. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Banking, Commercial Banking, and Treasury and Other. The Consumer Banking segment offers financial products and services, including loan, deposit and insurance products, private banking and international client banking services, trust services, investment management, and institutional investment advisory services.

Further Reading

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Boyar Asset Management Inc. lessened its stake in American Express (NYSE:AXP) by 1.8% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 5,392 shares of the payment services companys stock after selling 100 shares during the period. Boyar Asset Management Inc.s holdings in American Express were worth $797,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Sterling Investment Advisors Ltd. boosted its holdings in American Express by 3.5% during the 4th quarter. Sterling Investment Advisors Ltd. now owns 1,759 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $260,000 after acquiring an additional 59 shares during the last quarter. My Legacy Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of American Express by 2.9% in the 4th quarter. My Legacy Advisors LLC now owns 2,178 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $390,000 after buying an additional 61 shares during the last quarter. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC boosted its stake in shares of American Express by 1.2% in the 1st quarter. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC now owns 5,566 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $1,041,000 after buying an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. Prospera Financial Services Inc boosted its stake in shares of American Express by 1.6% in the 4th quarter. Prospera Financial Services Inc now owns 4,064 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $601,000 after buying an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sage Rhino Capital LLC boosted its stake in shares of American Express by 1.4% in the 4th quarter. Sage Rhino Capital LLC now owns 4,999 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $739,000 after buying an additional 67 shares during the last quarter. 83.30% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Buying and Selling at American Express

In other American Express news, insider Monique Herena sold 15,217 shares of American Express stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $173.18, for a total transaction of $2,635,280.06. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 13,712 shares in the company, valued at $2,374,644.16. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other American Express news, insider Howard Grosfield sold 5,456 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $174.52, for a total transaction of $952,181.12. Following the sale, the insider now owns 7,045 shares in the company, valued at $1,229,493.40. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Monique Herena sold 15,217 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $173.18, for a total transaction of $2,635,280.06. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 13,712 shares in the company, valued at $2,374,644.16. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.12% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

American Express Price Performance

American Express stock traded down $0.68 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $149.32. 829,854 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,465,777. The companys fifty day moving average is $160.02 and its 200-day moving average is $159.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.58, a quick ratio of 1.55 and a current ratio of 1.55. The firm has a market cap of $110.98 billion, a PE ratio of 15.77, a PEG ratio of 0.94 and a beta of 1.18. American Express has a 52 week low of $130.65 and a 52 week high of $182.15.

American Express (NYSE:AXP  Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 20th. The payment services company reported $2.40 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.66 by ($0.26). American Express had a return on equity of 29.44% and a net margin of 13.00%. The firm had revenue of $14.28 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.02 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $2.73 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 21.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that American Express will post 11.15 EPS for the current year.

American Express declared that its Board of Directors has approved a share repurchase plan on Wednesday, March 8th that allows the company to buyback 120,000,000 outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the payment services company to purchase shares of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are typically a sign that the companys board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

American Express Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 7th will be given a dividend of $0.60 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 6th. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.61%. American Expresss payout ratio is presently 25.24%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have recently commented on AXP. Stephens lowered their target price on American Express from $149.00 to $146.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, April 21st. BMO Capital Markets lowered their target price on American Express from $194.00 to $185.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Barclays raised their price target on shares of American Express from $158.00 to $178.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, January 30th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of American Express in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating for the company. Finally, Credit Suisse Group lifted their price objective on American Express from $132.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock an underperform rating in a report on Monday, January 30th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $177.41.

About American Express

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American Express Co engages in the provision of charge and credit card products and travel-related services. It operates through the following segments: U.S Consumer Services (USCS), Commercial Services (CS), International Card Services (ICS), Global Merchant and Network Services (GMNS), and Corporate and Other.

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Boyar Asset Management Inc. lowered its holdings in shares of The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO  Get Rating) by 10.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 26,532 shares of the companys stock after selling 3,017 shares during the period. Coca-Cola comprises about 1.4% of Boyar Asset Management Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 21st biggest position. Boyar Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Coca-Cola were worth $1,688,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in KO. BlackRock Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Coca-Cola by 1.7% during the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 301,952,085 shares of the companys stock valued at $16,915,357,000 after purchasing an additional 4,994,047 shares during the last quarter. Capital World Investors grew its holdings in Coca-Cola by 61.4% in the 1st quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 10,764,084 shares of the companys stock worth $667,373,000 after acquiring an additional 4,095,881 shares during the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC grew its holdings in Coca-Cola by 141.0% in the 3rd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 6,834,434 shares of the companys stock worth $382,865,000 after acquiring an additional 3,998,128 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in Coca-Cola by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 363,258,425 shares of the companys stock worth $20,349,737,000 after acquiring an additional 3,864,004 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Two Sigma Investments LP bought a new stake in Coca-Cola in the 3rd quarter worth $169,838,000. Institutional investors own 68.74% of the companys stock.

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Coca-Cola Stock Down 0.8 %

NYSE KO traded down $0.53 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $63.41. 3,430,770 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 12,727,964. The Coca-Cola Company has a 52-week low of $54.01 and a 52-week high of $66.10. The firm has a market cap of $274.22 billion, a PE ratio of 28.02, a PEG ratio of 3.62 and a beta of 0.54. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $62.34 and a 200 day simple moving average of $61.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.34, a current ratio of 1.15 and a quick ratio of 0.95.

Coca-Cola Dividend Announcement

Coca-Cola ( NYSE:KO Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Monday, April 24th. The company reported $0.68 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.65 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $11 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.78 billion. Coca-Cola had a net margin of 22.69% and a return on equity of 42.96%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 4.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.64 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts anticipate that The Coca-Cola Company will post 2.6 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 3rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 16th will be issued a $0.46 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 15th. This represents a $1.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.90%. Coca-Colas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 80.70%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

KO has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Citigroup raised their price target on shares of Coca-Cola from $71.00 to $74.00 in a report on Monday, April 24th. Credit Suisse Group set a $70.00 price target on shares of Coca-Cola in a report on Wednesday, February 15th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. set a $67.00 target price on shares of Coca-Cola in a research report on Tuesday, February 14th. UBS Group raised their target price on shares of Coca-Cola from $68.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, February 13th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada set a $69.00 target price on shares of Coca-Cola in a research report on Tuesday, February 14th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $67.80.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Coca-Cola news, SVP Nancy Quan sold 74,000 shares of Coca-Cola stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $58.71, for a total value of $4,344,540.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 219,790 shares of the companys stock, valued at $12,903,870.90. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, CEO James Quincey sold 46,421 shares of Coca-Cola stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.50, for a total value of $2,808,470.50. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 592,546 shares in the company, valued at $35,849,033. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Nancy Quan sold 74,000 shares of Coca-Cola stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $58.71, for a total transaction of $4,344,540.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 219,790 shares of the companys stock, valued at $12,903,870.90. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 523,523 shares of company stock valued at $32,907,391. Insiders own 1.00% of the companys stock.

Coca-Cola Profile

(Get Rating)

The Coca-Cola Co engages in the manufacturing and marketing of non-alcoholic beverages. It operates through the following segments: Europe, Middle East and Africa, Latin America, North America, Asia Pacific, Global Ventures, and Bottling Investments. The company was founded by Asa Griggs Candler on May 8, 1886 and is headquartered in Atlanta, GA.

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(Bloomberg) -- Jennie Bennett spent four years as Chicagos chief financial officer, faced with structurally imbalanced budgets and plummeting revenue during the pandemic. She led the push to build the citys first casino and her work helped the city make fiscal improvements to shed its one junk credit rating from Moodys Investors Service last year.

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She hands the keys to the citys coffers over to Jill Jaworski, a 25-year veteran of municipal finance, after new mayor Brandon Johnson was inaugurated on Monday.

Chicago is on more stable financial footing than where it stood just a few years ago, with the outgoing administration projecting a $698 million surplus in 2022 and 2023 that will go toward chipping away at its massive pension liability until revenue from its first casino starts flowing. The threat of an economic downturn, however, looms for the third-largest US city and millions in costs are adding up to care for an influx of migrants from the US borders.

Bloomberg News spoke with Bennett during her last week as CFO. The following comments have been edited and condensed.

What are the biggest challenges facing Chicagos next CFO?

Walking the path of fiscal discipline can be very difficult, and can be very difficult layered in with the various financial stakeholders that you need to balance.

Within the mid-year budget forecast, one of the things we talked about are the set of lagging revenues that still continue to lag the pre-pandemic levels and that baseline that we project from. Thats roundly about $192 million of revenues.

They are largely three categories of revenues. There is work-from-home revenue. There is tourism based revenues. There is business activity revenues. To the extent those revenues dont recover, it effectively represents a nearly $200 million loss in our revenue portfolio, which isnt insignificant in the context of a $5 billion corporate fund budget.

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Thats a challenge that we had started to take up, had we had a second term, we would have spent a lot of time on and that shell want to spend time on as shes considering her financial plan going forward.

One of the things that the mayor did throughout the course of the last year of the term was to increase investments in the downtown area.

So, to the extent that work from home continues to be a permanent part of our work-life balance, we can still capitalize on the downtown area as a vibrant place for people to work, live and play.

Read More: Chicagos Empty Towers Threaten Future of Trading Empire (1)

What have been your biggest accomplishments as CFO?

The biggest accomplishments can be encapsulated in the 13 rating upgrades that the city has achieved over the last eight months and three positive outlooks, the first rating upgrades for the city of Chicago in as much as a quarter of a century. With the three positive outlooks weve set the city on a path to continued financial improvements. The city should see, based on those positive outlooks, another rating upgrade in 2023 or 2024 as long as it continues on the path of fiscal stability that we started.

What those rating upgrades ultimately mean, is weve walked the path of fiscal discipline, toward the financial turnaround that Ive spent a lot of time talking to folks about. That financial turnaround and fiscal stability ultimately pays for city investments.

One really specific example is the billion-dollar pension ramp that we climbed and the quarter-of-a-billion dollar debt ramp that we climbed due to the end of scoop and toss.

Read More: Chicagos Shaky Pension Funds Face New Hit From Looming Downturn

How was a downgrade avoided in the early months of the pandemic?

At the beginning of the term, before the pandemic actually occurred, one of our rating reports listed about eight different factors that would warrant a downgrade. There wasnt a very wide array of pathways that we could walk to structural balance that were available to us and then the pandemic hit. During the pandemic, we lost $1.5 billion in revenue between 2020, 2021 and 2022.

They were very difficult circumstances and a number of issuers did get downgraded.

When we started in 2020, before the pandemic, we provided the rating agencies with a three-year financial plan. We said this is our pathway to structural balance in three years, transparency with the rating agencies that hadnt been done in at least a couple of decades.

Similar to the discussion we had about improvement in pricing with bondholders, we were able to navigate the credit challenges with rating agencies in large part because of the transparency we provided them.

How has selling the citys bonds changed since you first became CFO?

Number one, we saw tightening of the credit spreads because of the rating upgrades. What Ive said often in support of fiscal stability and discipline is that that for each rating upgrade that the city receives we will see approximately $100 million in savings for every $1 billion in bonds that we issue. The city issues somewhere between $1 billion to $2 billion a year. Fiscal stability pays for city investments.

Read More: Chicagos Improved Finances Reflected in Bond Investor Sentiment

And even more importantly, we are starting to see investors come in on our bonds sales that are normally investors who invest mostly in high grade credits.

We have also changed the way that we market our bonds as well as the way we conduct our pricing that we think maximizes investor participation. Since day one under Mayor Lightfoots term, weve held transparency as a really important part of building trust with investors and selling the credit story.

We have also as part of our bond sales increased the participation and opportunity for participation for retail investors which was very helpful for the retail offering and pricing for the waste water bonds and the social bonds.

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Shares of Southern Copper Co. (NYSE:SCCO  Get Rating) have been given an average rating of Hold by the nine analysts that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, three have issued a hold recommendation and two have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 1 year price target among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $62.29.

SCCO has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered shares of Southern Copper from a neutral rating to a sell rating and boosted their target price for the company from $65.00 to $66.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 9th. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Southern Copper from $53.00 to $64.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, April 21st. StockNews.com downgraded Southern Copper from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, May 9th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their target price on Southern Copper from $55.00 to $56.00 in a report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley downgraded Southern Copper from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and set a $70.00 target price for the company. in a report on Wednesday, March 29th.

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Southern Copper Stock Performance

Shares of SCCO stock opened at $72.30 on Tuesday. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $75.09 and its 200 day simple moving average is $68.99. Southern Copper has a one year low of $42.42 and a one year high of $82.05. The stock has a market capitalization of $55.90 billion, a PE ratio of 20.96, a PEG ratio of 16.83 and a beta of 1.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a current ratio of 4.17 and a quick ratio of 3.38.

Southern Copper Cuts Dividend

Insiders Place Their Bets

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 23rd. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 9th will be paid a dividend of $0.95 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, May 8th. This represents a $3.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.26%. Southern Coppers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 115.94%.

In other news, Director Bonilla Luis Miguel Palomino sold 500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $78.97, for a total transaction of $39,485.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 6,514 shares of the companys stock, valued at $514,410.58. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, Director Bonilla Luis Miguel Palomino sold 500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $78.97, for a total value of $39,485.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 6,514 shares of the companys stock, valued at $514,410.58. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Andreve Vicente Ariztegui sold 1,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.11, for a total value of $114,165.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 4,400 shares of the companys stock, valued at $334,884. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 2,500 shares of company stock worth $192,900. Insiders own 0.08% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Southern Copper

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in SCCO. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its stake in shares of Southern Copper by 200.6% in the 2nd quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 4,179,899 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $208,201,000 after acquiring an additional 2,789,376 shares in the last quarter. Mawer Investment Management Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of Southern Copper by 761.9% in the 1st quarter. Mawer Investment Management Ltd. now owns 2,756,533 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $210,186,000 after buying an additional 2,436,727 shares during the last quarter. abrdn plc boosted its stake in shares of Southern Copper by 134.8% in the 1st quarter. abrdn plc now owns 2,702,309 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $206,051,000 after buying an additional 1,551,189 shares during the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Southern Copper by 43.3% in the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 2,763,612 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $209,759,000 after buying an additional 835,044 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BlackRock Inc. raised its stake in shares of Southern Copper by 10.7% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 7,797,970 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $594,595,000 after purchasing an additional 756,555 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 7.03% of the companys stock.

About Southern Copper

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Southern Copper Corp. engages in the development, production, and exploration of copper, molybdenum, zinc, and silver. It operates through the following segments: Peruvian Operations, Mexican Open-Pit Operations, and Mexican Underground Mining Operations. The Peruvian Operations segment focuses on the Toquepala and Cuajone mine complexes and the smelting and refining plants, industrial railroad, and port facilities that service both mines.

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Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund (OTCMKTS:CGIFF  Get Rating) had its price objective increased by Desjardins from C$12.50 to C$13.00 in a research note released on Friday, The Fly reports.

A number of other equities analysts also recently issued reports on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective on shares of Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund from C$10.00 to C$11.00 in a report on Friday, February 24th. CIBC lifted their price objective on shares of Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund from C$11.00 to C$12.00 in a report on Thursday, January 12th. National Bank Financial cut their price objective on shares of Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund to C$11.50 in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on shares of Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund from C$10.50 to C$11.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 17th. Finally, Scotiabank cut their price objective on shares of Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund from C$10.50 to C$10.00 in a report on Thursday, March 9th.

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Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund Stock Performance

Shares of CGIFF stock opened at $6.12 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $5.80 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $6.48. Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund has a 12 month low of $4.93 and a 12 month high of $7.64.

About Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund

Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund engages in the provision of portfolio of industrial chemicals and value-added services. It operates through the following segments: Sulphur and Water Chemicals, Electrochemicals, and Corporate. The Sulphur and Water Chemicals segment markets sulphuric acid, liquid sulphur dioxide, sulphur, sodium hydrosulphite, sodium bisulphate, zinc oxide and a variety of inorganic coagulants used in water treatment.

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Aviva (OTCMKTS:AVVIY  Get Rating) and FOXO Technologies (NYSE:FOXO  Get Rating) are both finance companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, risk, institutional ownership, dividends, analyst recommendations, valuation and earnings.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Aviva and FOXO Technologies gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Aviva $45.63 billion 0.32 $2.70 billion N/A N/A FOXO Technologies $511,000.00 19.67 -$95.25 million N/A N/A

Aviva has higher revenue and earnings than FOXO Technologies.

Risk and Volatility

Profitability

Aviva has a beta of 1.2, meaning that its share price is 20% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, FOXO Technologies has a beta of 2.22, meaning that its share price is 122% more volatile than the S&P 500.

This table compares Aviva and FOXO Technologies net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Aviva N/A N/A N/A FOXO Technologies N/A -18,881.06% -90.78%

Institutional and Insider Ownership

73.9% of FOXO Technologies shares are held by institutional investors. 16.9% of FOXO Technologies shares are held by company 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.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current recommendations and price targets for Aviva and FOXO Technologies, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Aviva 0 3 0 0 2.00 FOXO Technologies 0 0 0 0 N/A

About Aviva

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Aviva Plc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of long-term insurance and savings, general and health insurance, and fund management products and services. It operates through the following segments: United Kingdom and Ireland; Canada; France; Italy; Poland; and Other. The United Kingdom and Ireland segment offers risks associated with motor vehicles, property and liability, and medical expenses insurance cover to individuals and businesses. The Canada segment refers to the personal and commercial lines insurance products distributed through insurance brokers. The France segment consists of long-term and general insurance businesses. The Italy segment provides savings, investments, pension, and protection products to the life and non-domestic insurance markets. The Poland segment comprises of long-term business and general insurance business in Lithuania. The Other segment includes the long-term business operations in China, India, and Singapore; and life operations in Turkey. The company was founded in 1696 and was headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

About FOXO Technologies

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FOXO Technologies Inc., a technology platform company, focuses on commercializing longevity science through products and services that serve the life insurance industry. The company is developing products and services that combine longevity science with life insurance to support the consumer health and wellness engagement, and to simplify the consumer underwriting journey. It offers FOXO Labs, a services platform that integrates saliva-based epigenetic biomarkers into accelerated underwriting protocols to improve the customer underwriting journey; and FOXO Life, an insurance products platform that offers proprietary life insurance products and third-party life insurance carrier products based on bundling longevity science with life insurance. The company was founded in 2019 and is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

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Mesabi Trust (NYSE:MSB  Get Rating) and Scully Royalty (NYSE:SRL  Get Rating) are both small-cap basic materials companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, analyst recommendations, valuation, institutional ownership, dividends, earnings and risk.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current ratings and target prices for Mesabi Trust and Scully Royalty, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Mesabi Trust 0 0 0 0 N/A Scully Royalty 0 0 0 0 N/A

Volatility and Risk

Institutional & Insider Ownership

Mesabi Trust has a beta of 1, indicating that its stock price has a similar volatility profile to the S&P 500.Comparatively, Scully Royalty has a beta of 0.87, indicating that its stock price is 13% less volatile than the S&P 500.

34.7% of Mesabi Trust shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 40.0% of Scully Royalty shares are held by institutional investors. 0.3% of Mesabi Trust shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 1.9% of Scully Royalty shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares Mesabi Trust and Scully Royaltys net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Mesabi Trust N/A 29.70% 21.31% Scully Royalty N/A N/A N/A

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Mesabi Trust and Scully Royaltys revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Mesabi Trust $7.50 million 32.92 $5.31 million $3.22 5.84 Scully Royalty $63.69 million 1.71 -$18.00 million N/A N/A

Mesabi Trust has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Scully Royalty.

Dividends

Mesabi Trust pays an annual dividend of $3.36 per share and has a dividend yield of 17.9%. Scully Royalty pays an annual dividend of $0.59 per share and has a dividend yield of 8.0%. Mesabi Trust pays out 104.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Scully Royalty has raised its dividend for 1 consecutive years.

Summary

Mesabi Trust beats Scully Royalty on 6 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Mesabi Trust

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Mesabi Trust engages in the business of collecting income, paying expenses and liabilities, distributing net income to the holders of Trust certificates after the payment of, or provision for, such expenses and liabilities, and protecting and conserving the assets held. The firm is also involved in iron ore mining activities. The company was founded on July 18, 1961 and is headquartered in New York, NY.

About Scully Royalty

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Scully Royalty Ltd. is a merchant bank company, which engages in the provision of financial services and facilitates trading of corporations and institutions. It operates through the Industrial and Merchant Banking segments. The Industrial segment includes projects in resources and services. The Merchant Banking segment consists of the European merchant banking business. The company was founded on June 28, 1951 and is headquartered in Shanghai, China.

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Sawgrass Asset Management LLC lessened its holdings in shares of Danaher Co. (NYSE:DHR  Get Rating) by 3.0% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 42,630 shares of the conglomerates stock after selling 1,316 shares during the quarter. Danaher makes up about 1.6% of Sawgrass Asset Management LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 26th biggest holding. Sawgrass Asset Management LLCs holdings in Danaher were worth $11,315,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in DHR. My Personal CFO LLC acquired a new position in shares of Danaher during the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Private Ocean LLC boosted its position in shares of Danaher by 1,485.7% during the 4th quarter. Private Ocean LLC now owns 111 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 104 shares during the last quarter. Bellwether Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Danaher by 157.7% during the 3rd quarter. Bellwether Advisors LLC now owns 134 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $34,000 after acquiring an additional 82 shares during the last quarter. WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new position in shares of Danaher during the 4th quarter valued at about $36,000. Finally, Concord Wealth Partners acquired a new position in shares of Danaher during the 4th quarter valued at about $39,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.26% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, SVP Georgeann Couchara sold 695 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $245.27, for a total transaction of $170,462.65. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 1,565 shares of the companys stock, valued at $383,847.55. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, SVP Georgeann Couchara sold 695 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $245.27, for a total transaction of $170,462.65. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 1,565 shares of the companys stock, valued at $383,847.55. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, SVP Jose-Carlos Gutierrez-Ramos sold 500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, May 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $242.19, for a total value of $121,095.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 7,529 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,823,448.51. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 14,619 shares of company stock valued at $3,568,741 over the last three months. 11.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Danaher Stock Down 0.6 %

DHR traded down $1.38 on Tuesday, reaching $225.56. The companys stock had a trading volume of 549,116 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,818,728. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $244.67 and a two-hundred day moving average of $255.83. The company has a quick ratio of 1.51, a current ratio of 1.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. The company has a market capitalization of $166.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.35, a P/E/G ratio of 2.42 and a beta of 0.80. Danaher Co. has a fifty-two week low of $224.86 and a fifty-two week high of $303.82.

Danaher (NYSE:DHR  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 25th. The conglomerate reported $2.36 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.26 by $0.10. The business had revenue of $7.17 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.06 billion. Danaher had a return on equity of 16.70% and a net margin of 22.40%. The companys revenue was down 6.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.76 earnings per share. As a group, analysts forecast that Danaher Co. will post 9.54 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Danaher Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 28th. Investors of record on Friday, June 30th will be issued a dividend of $0.27 per share. This represents a $1.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.48%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 29th. Danahers dividend payout ratio is presently 11.64%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. SVB Leerink reissued an outperform rating on shares of Danaher in a research report on Monday, May 1st. Cowen decreased their target price on shares of Danaher from $340.00 to $320.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 25th. Wells Fargo & Company raised shares of Danaher from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and upped their target price for the company from $275.00 to $285.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 18th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their target price on shares of Danaher from $310.00 to $275.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 27th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group cut their price target on shares of Danaher from $300.00 to $270.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 26th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $294.06.

Danaher Profile

(Get Rating)

Danaher Corp. engages in the design, manufacture, and marketing of professional, medical, industrial, and commercial products and services. It operates through the following segments: Biotechnology, Life Sciences, Diagnostics, and Environmental and Applied Solutions. The Biotechnology segment includes the bioprocessing and discovery and medical businesses and offers a range of tools, consumables, and services.

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Quaker Chemical Co. (NYSE:KWR  Get Rating) SVP David Slinkman sold 3,683 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $204.20, for a total value of $752,068.60. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 4,682 shares in the company, valued at approximately $956,064.40. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink.

Quaker Chemical Trading Down 0.4 %

NYSE KWR traded down $0.78 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $200.87. The company had a trading volume of 73,333 shares, compared to its average volume of 89,613. The company has a current ratio of 2.79, a quick ratio of 1.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $191.73 and a 200 day moving average of $187.64. Quaker Chemical Co. has a 1-year low of $129.06 and a 1-year high of $216.45. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.61 billion, a P/E ratio of -557.97 and a beta of 1.43.

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Quaker Chemical (NYSE:KWR  Get Rating) last issued its earnings results on Friday, May 5th. The specialty chemicals company reported $1.89 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.35 by $0.54. Quaker Chemical had a negative net margin of 0.32% and a positive return on equity of 8.74%. The firm had revenue of $500.15 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $485.29 million. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.42 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 5.5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Quaker Chemical Co. will post 6.47 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Quaker Chemical Dividend Announcement

Analyst Ratings Changes

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, July 17th will be given a dividend of $0.435 per share. This represents a $1.74 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.87%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 14th. Quaker Chemicals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -483.33%.

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on KWR shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their target price on shares of Quaker Chemical from $220.00 to $235.00 in a research report on Monday, May 8th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Quaker Chemical in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised their price objective on shares of Quaker Chemical from $203.00 to $227.00 in a research note on Monday, May 8th.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Quaker Chemical

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Belpointe Asset Management LLC raised its stake in Quaker Chemical by 65.0% during the 1st quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 193 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $38,000 after acquiring an additional 76 shares in the last quarter. Strs Ohio acquired a new position in Quaker Chemical during the first quarter worth $39,000. Venturi Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Quaker Chemical during the first quarter worth about $59,000. Quadrant Capital Group LLC grew its holdings in Quaker Chemical by 327.5% in the third quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 436 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $63,000 after purchasing an additional 334 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Tower Research Capital LLC TRC grew its holdings in Quaker Chemical by 17.6% in the first quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 327 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $64,000 after purchasing an additional 49 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.91% of the companys stock.

Quaker Chemical Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Quaker Houghton engages in the business of developing, producing, and marketing formulated chemical specialty products. It operates through the following geographical segments: Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific, and Global Specialty Businesses. Its products include can making lubricants, cleaners, coatings, cold rolling oils, corrosion preventives, die casting lubricants, dust suppressants, greases, ground control agents, hot rolling oils, hydraulic fluids, industrial lubricants, longwall fluids, metal forming fluids, metal removal fluids, pickle oils, surface treatments, temper fluids, and tin plating.

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Fiverr International (NYSE:FVRR  Get Rating) had its target price lowered by Royal Bank of Canada from $40.00 to $32.00 in a research note released on Friday morning, The Fly reports. The brokerage currently has a sector perform rating on the stock.

Other equities research analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Needham & Company LLC lowered their target price on shares of Fiverr International from $50.00 to $40.00 in a report on Friday. BTIG Research assumed coverage on shares of Fiverr International in a research note on Monday, April 10th. They set a buy rating and a $50.00 price objective on the stock. Citigroup cut their target price on shares of Fiverr International from $58.00 to $48.00 in a research note on Friday. Finally, JMP Securities increased their price target on Fiverr International from $50.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 23rd. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $42.88.

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Fiverr International Stock Up 2.4 %

NYSE FVRR opened at $28.60 on Friday. Fiverr International has a 1-year low of $26.16 and a 1-year high of $47.66. The company has a market capitalization of $1.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -18.10 and a beta of 1.73. The stocks 50 day moving average is $33.60 and its two-hundred day moving average is $34.31. The company has a current ratio of 3.17, a quick ratio of 3.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.73.

Institutional Trading of Fiverr International

Fiverr International ( NYSE:FVRR Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 22nd. The company reported ($0.19) EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.23) by $0.04. Fiverr International had a negative return on equity of 30.27% and a negative net margin of 21.19%. The business had revenue of $83.13 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $82.98 million. Equities analysts forecast that Fiverr International will post -0.51 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Captrust Financial Advisors increased its position in shares of Fiverr International by 30.6% during the second quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 1,612 shares of the companys stock worth $55,000 after acquiring an additional 378 shares in the last quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System increased its holdings in Fiverr International by 3.1% during the 3rd quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 35,176 shares of the companys stock worth $1,076,000 after purchasing an additional 1,059 shares in the last quarter. Industrial Alliance Investment Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Fiverr International in the 1st quarter valued at about $134,000. Taylor Frigon Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Fiverr International by 3.6% in the third quarter. Taylor Frigon Capital Management LLC now owns 55,346 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,693,000 after purchasing an additional 1,918 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Hudock Inc. boosted its position in shares of Fiverr International by 1,856.4% during the third quarter. Hudock Inc. now owns 2,739 shares of the companys stock worth $83,000 after buying an additional 2,599 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 47.70% of the companys stock.

About Fiverr International

(Get Rating)

Fiverr International Ltd. develops an e-commerce platform that allows people to buy and sell digital services. It operates through the following geographical segments: U.S., Europe, Asia Pacific, Rest of the World and Israel. The firm offers digital marketing, graphics and design, video and animation, writing and translation, and music and audio.

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Gilbert & Cook Inc. lessened its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Get Rating) by 2.4% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 5,537 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after selling 138 shares during the quarter. Gilbert & Cook Inc.s holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $608,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC lifted its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 2.4% during the 3rd quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC now owns 21,523 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $2,083,000 after buying an additional 495 shares in the last quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 6.8% in the 4th quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC now owns 6,141 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $674,000 after buying an additional 389 shares during the last quarter. Oak Family Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 15.4% in the 4th quarter. Oak Family Advisors LLC now owns 12,735 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $1,398,000 after buying an additional 1,703 shares during the last quarter. Calton & Associates Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 24.4% in the 4th quarter. Calton & Associates Inc. now owns 2,859 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $314,000 after buying an additional 561 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Prudential PLC increased its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 20.1% in the 4th quarter. Prudential PLC now owns 136,388 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $14,974,000 after buying an additional 22,858 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 72.93% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In other Abbott Laboratories news, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 679 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.70, for a total transaction of $68,375.30. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 70,427 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,091,998.90. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 679 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.70, for a total value of $68,375.30. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 70,427 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,091,998.90. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Daniel J. Starks sold 50,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $111.02, for a total transaction of $5,551,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 6,825,316 shares in the company, valued at $757,746,582.32. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 60,197 shares of company stock valued at $6,659,607. Corporate insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Abbott Laboratories Stock Performance

ABT has been the topic of a number of research reports. Wolfe Research reduced their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $107.00 to $103.00 and set an underperform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 20th. BTIG Research upped their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $125.00 to $130.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, April 17th. Mizuho upped their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $105.00 to $110.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, January 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $118.00 to $122.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, Bank of America cut their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $125.00 to $115.00 in a report on Thursday, March 30th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $122.37.

Shares of NYSE:ABT traded down $0.47 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $109.37. The companys stock had a trading volume of 164,263 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,095,640. The firm has a market capitalization of $190.19 billion, a PE ratio of 33.39, a P/E/G ratio of 4.99 and a beta of 0.67. Abbott Laboratories has a twelve month low of $93.25 and a twelve month high of $118.23. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $104.28 and a 200 day moving average of $106.02. The company has a quick ratio of 1.22, a current ratio of 1.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 19th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.03 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.98 by $0.05. The firm had revenue of $9.75 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.64 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 13.98% and a return on equity of 22.36%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 18.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.73 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts expect that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.38 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Abbott Laboratories Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 15th. Investors of record on Friday, April 14th were issued a dividend of $0.51 per share. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.87%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, April 13th. Abbott Laboratoriess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 62.01%.

About Abbott Laboratories

(Get Rating)

Abbott Laboratories engages in the discovery, development, manufacture, and sale of a broad and diversified line of health care products. It operates through the following business segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. The Established Pharmaceutical Products segment refers to the international sales of a line of branded generic pharmaceutical products.

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Great Lakes Advisors LLC lowered its stake in shares of Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU  Get Rating) by 3.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 364,553 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 12,604 shares during the quarter. Great Lakes Advisors LLC owned 0.10% of Prudential Financial worth $4,601,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in PRU. Exos TFP Holdings LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Prudential Financial during the 3rd quarter valued at $36,000. Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd raised its position in Prudential Financial by 160.3% in the 4th quarter. Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd now owns 367 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 226 shares during the period. Fairfield Bush & CO. purchased a new position in Prudential Financial in the 1st quarter worth $36,000. VitalStone Financial LLC purchased a new position in Prudential Financial in the 4th quarter worth $37,000. Finally, Archer Investment Corp raised its position in Prudential Financial by 66.7% in the 4th quarter. Archer Investment Corp now owns 375 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 150 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 56.33% of the companys stock.

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Prudential Financial Trading Up 0.6 %

NYSE:PRU opened at $79.40 on Tuesday. Prudential Financial, Inc. has a one year low of $75.37 and a one year high of $110.96. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 0.07 and a quick ratio of 0.07. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $83.43 and its 200 day simple moving average is $95.71. The firm has a market capitalization of $28.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 882.22, a PEG ratio of 0.61 and a beta of 1.38.

Prudential Financial ( NYSE:PRU Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 2nd. The financial services provider reported $2.66 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.02 by ($0.36). Prudential Financial had a return on equity of 14.05% and a net margin of 0.09%. The business had revenue of $15.10 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $13.29 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $3.17 EPS. As a group, analysts forecast that Prudential Financial, Inc. will post 12.04 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Prudential Financial declared that its board has authorized a stock repurchase plan on Tuesday, February 7th that authorizes the company to buyback $1.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the financial services provider to repurchase up to 2.6% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are typically a sign that the companys leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Prudential Financial Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 23rd will be issued a $1.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, May 22nd. This represents a $5.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.30%. Prudential Financials dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 5,555.56%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Prudential Financial news, EVP Andrew F. Sullivan sold 4,126 shares of Prudential Financial stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $99.20, for a total value of $409,299.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 12,241 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,214,307.20. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other Prudential Financial news, EVP Andrew F. Sullivan sold 4,126 shares of Prudential Financial stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $99.20, for a total value of $409,299.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 12,241 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,214,307.20. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Andrew F. Sullivan sold 11,405 shares of Prudential Financial stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $100.95, for a total transaction of $1,151,334.75. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 12,300 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,241,685. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.31% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

PRU has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Prudential Financial in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. 92 Resources restated a maintains rating on shares of Prudential Financial in a research report on Thursday, May 4th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price objective on shares of Prudential Financial from $99.00 to $89.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Prudential Financial from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and set a $114.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, April 4th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of Prudential Financial from $97.00 to $100.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Monday, February 13th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $99.83.

Prudential Financial Profile

(Get Rating)

Prudential Financial, Inc engages in the provision of insurance, investment management, and other financial products and services to both individual and institutional customers. It operates through the following segments: PGIM, U.S. Businesses, International Businesses, Closed Block, and Corporate and Others.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:IR  Get Rating) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report issued on Saturday.

A number of other research analysts also recently weighed in on the company. Citigroup raised their price target on Ingersoll Rand from $62.00 to $64.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, April 10th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on Ingersoll Rand from $62.00 to $61.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 13th. Robert W. Baird raised their price target on Ingersoll Rand from $62.00 to $66.00 in a research note on Friday, May 5th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their target price on Ingersoll Rand from $55.00 to $56.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 12th. Finally, Barclays boosted their target price on Ingersoll Rand from $64.00 to $65.00 in a report on Friday, May 5th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $60.36.

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Ingersoll Rand Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE IR opened at $58.93 on Friday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $56.24 and a 200 day simple moving average of $55.28. Ingersoll Rand has a one year low of $39.28 and a one year high of $60.39. The firm has a market capitalization of $23.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.38 and a beta of 1.42. The company has a current ratio of 2.16, a quick ratio of 1.50 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29.

Ingersoll Rand Dividend Announcement

Ingersoll Rand ( NYSE:IR Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 21st. The industrial products company reported $0.72 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.59 by $0.13. Ingersoll Rand had a return on equity of 10.69% and a net margin of 10.66%. The company had revenue of $1.62 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.54 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.64 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 14.4% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts expect that Ingersoll Rand will post 2.39 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 22nd. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 24th will be given a $0.02 dividend. This represents a $0.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.14%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, May 23rd. Ingersoll Rands dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 4.94%.

Insider Activity at Ingersoll Rand

In other news, insider Vicente Reynal sold 25,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.00, for a total value of $1,500,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 102,856 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,171,360. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.75% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ingersoll Rand

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Quintet Private Bank Europe S.A. acquired a new stake in shares of Ingersoll Rand during the first quarter worth $26,000. Scissortail Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Ingersoll Rand in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $839,549,000. Compass Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Ingersoll Rand during the 4th quarter worth $32,000. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. raised its stake in Ingersoll Rand by 81.3% during the 3rd quarter. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. now owns 638 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 286 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Field & Main Bank raised its stake in Ingersoll Rand by 42.3% during the 1st quarter. Field & Main Bank now owns 673 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $39,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. 99.73% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Ingersoll Rand

(Get Rating)

Ingersoll Rand, Inc provides a broad range of mission critical air, fluid, energy, specialty vehicle and medical technologies, providing services and solutions to increase industrial productivity and efficiency. It operates through the following segments: Industrial Technologies and Services, Precision and Science Technologies, High Pressure Solutions, and Specialty Vehicle Technologies.

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FILE PHOTO: The BlackRock logo is pictured outside their headquarters in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., May 25, 2021. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri/File Photo - REUTERS/Carlo Allegri

The worlds largest money manager has ordered its staff back to the office for four days a week as finance companies abandon home working.

BlackRock, which has more than $8 trillion (6.4 trillion) in assets under management, told its employees on Tuesday that they must return to their desks more frequently from September.

In a memo, executives at the asset manager said: Career development happens in teaching moments between team members, and it is accelerated during market-moving moments, when we step up and get into the mix. All of this requires us to be together in the office

We will shift to at least four days per week in the office, with the flexibility to work from home one day per week. This new approach begins on the 11th of September."

In late 2021, BlackRock piloted a new post-pandemic Future of Work programme, which required staff to be in the office for only three days a week.

The new policy comes weeks after fellow Wall Street giant JP Morgan told its senior bankers to return to the office for a full five days, adding that slackers would be punished for poor attendance.

At the time, the company said: As weve returned to more normal patterns in our lives and work, we can all appreciate the many benefits of in-person engagement.

We believe this is especially true when it comes to the importance of being in the office  being together improves the speed of decision making, while also providing valuable opportunities for spontaneous learning and creativity, as well as allowing our professionals to learn through our apprenticeship model.

Larry Fink, chief executive officer of Blackrock Inc., speaks an event on the sidelines on day three of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023. The annual Davos gathering of political leaders, top executives and celebrities runs from January 16 to 20. Photographer: Stefan Wermuth/Bloomberg - Stefan Wermuth/Bloomberg

The move back to the workplace suggests the pandemic-induced shift to remote working could be fading as bosses seek to return to pre-Covid norms.

The BlackRock memo added: We have felt the energy generated by being together, in our larger offices, our newer spaces, as well as our smaller tight-knit communities, all around the world. This energy, and the horizontal collaboration powers, are what make BlackRock so special

Story continues

Bringing our people into the room to observe and contribute is how we grow the next generation of leaders and stay ahead of our clients' needs.

When fast-moving, high-client-interest events are happening, having our teams physically together to find solutions, seize opportunities and learn from each other makes a difference.

BlackRock employs nearly 20,000 staff in more than 30 countries.

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.
JGP Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in Hormel Foods Co. (NYSE:HRL  Get Rating) by 1.9% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 113,668 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 2,129 shares during the period. JGP Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Hormel Foods were worth $5,178,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in HRL. Independence Bank of Kentucky bought a new position in Hormel Foods in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Spire Wealth Management lifted its position in Hormel Foods by 1,673.3% in the 4th quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 798 shares of the companys stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 753 shares in the last quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. lifted its position in Hormel Foods by 110.6% in the 4th quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 872 shares of the companys stock valued at $40,000 after acquiring an additional 458 shares in the last quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd bought a new position in Hormel Foods in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $41,000. Finally, Intelligent Financial Strategies raised its stake in Hormel Foods by 133.0% during the 4th quarter. Intelligent Financial Strategies now owns 1,002 shares of the companys stock valued at $46,000 after buying an additional 572 shares during the last quarter. 39.74% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Hormel Foods news, Director Becerra Jose Luis Prado sold 5,200 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, March 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $39.01, for a total value of $202,852.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 18,410 shares in the company, valued at approximately $718,174.10. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other Hormel Foods news, Director Elsa A. Murano sold 6,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $40.50, for a total transaction of $243,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 102,698 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,159,269. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Becerra Jose Luis Prado sold 5,200 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $39.01, for a total transaction of $202,852.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 18,410 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $718,174.10. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.81% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Hormel Foods Stock Performance

HRL has been the subject of a number of research reports. Bank of America decreased their target price on shares of Hormel Foods from $45.00 to $41.00 in a research note on Monday, March 6th. Credit Suisse Group decreased their target price on shares of Hormel Foods from $44.00 to $41.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Friday, March 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered shares of Hormel Foods from a neutral rating to an underweight rating and decreased their target price for the company from $47.00 to $38.00 in a research note on Friday, March 3rd. Barclays decreased their target price on shares of Hormel Foods from $48.00 to $45.00 in a research note on Friday, March 3rd. Finally, Argus lowered shares of Hormel Foods from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, March 30th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and five have issued a hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $44.14.

Shares of NYSE:HRL traded down $0.38 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $39.24. The company had a trading volume of 698,793 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,961,469. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43, a current ratio of 2.33 and a quick ratio of 1.07. The company has a market cap of $21.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.80, a PEG ratio of 4.07 and a beta of 0.17. Hormel Foods Co. has a 12-month low of $37.78 and a 12-month high of $53.40. The company has a fifty day moving average of $39.80 and a two-hundred day moving average of $43.83.

Hormel Foods (NYSE:HRL  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 2nd. The company reported $0.40 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.45 by ($0.05). Hormel Foods had a return on equity of 13.10% and a net margin of 7.90%. The company had revenue of $2.97 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.08 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.44 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts expect that Hormel Foods Co. will post 1.74 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Hormel Foods Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 17th were paid a $0.275 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, April 14th. This represents a $1.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.80%. Hormel Foodss payout ratio is presently 61.45%.

Hormel Foods Profile

(Get Rating)

Hormel Foods Corp. engages in the production of meat and food products. It operates through the following segments: Grocery Products, Refrigerated Foods, Jennie-O Turkey Store, and International and Other. The Grocery Products segment focuses on the processing, marketing, and sale of shelf-stable food products sold in the retail market.

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OppFi (NYSE:OPFI  Get Rating) had its target price increased by Needham & Company LLC from $2.50 to $3.50 in a report released on Friday morning, The Fly reports.

A number of other analysts also recently commented on the company. JMP Securities restated a market outperform rating and issued a $3.00 target price on shares of OppFi in a research note on Tuesday, March 28th. DA Davidson lowered their target price on OppFi from $3.00 to $2.50 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, March 24th.

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OppFi Stock Down 2.4 %

Shares of NYSE:OPFI opened at $2.07 on Friday. OppFi has a 52-week low of $1.70 and a 52-week high of $3.72. The stock has a market cap of $227.26 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -25.88 and a beta of 0.70. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $1.97 and a 200-day moving average price of $2.14.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On OppFi

OppFi ( NYSE:OPFI Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 23rd. The company reported ($0.19) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.06) by ($0.13). The business had revenue of $120.03 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $109.92 million. OppFi had a return on equity of 0.25% and a net margin of 1.57%. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that OppFi will post 0.27 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of OPFI. Arete Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in OppFi in the 4th quarter valued at $42,300,000,000. Family Management Corp acquired a new stake in OppFi in the 3rd quarter valued at $653,000. CWA Asset Management Group LLC acquired a new stake in OppFi in the 3rd quarter valued at $315,000. State Street Corp grew its stake in OppFi by 204.5% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 135,899 shares of the companys stock valued at $447,000 after acquiring an additional 91,265 shares during the period. Finally, Northern Trust Corp grew its stake in OppFi by 371.6% in the 2nd quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 108,227 shares of the companys stock valued at $356,000 after acquiring an additional 85,276 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 3.23% of the companys stock.

OppFi Company Profile

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OppFi Inc operates a financial technology platform that allows banks to offer lending products. Its platform facilitates the OppLoan, an installment loan product; SalaryTap, a payroll deduction secured installment loan product; and OppFi Card, a credit card product. The company is based in Chicago, Illinois.

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Nordic American Tankers Limited (NYSE:NAT  Get Rating)s stock price rose 3.7% during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $3.69 and last traded at $3.69. Approximately 612,447 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 80% from the average daily volume of 3,127,486 shares. The stock had previously closed at $3.56.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

NAT has been the subject of several research reports. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on shares of Nordic American Tankers from $4.50 to $5.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, February 27th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Nordic American Tankers from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Friday. Finally, B. Riley raised their price target on shares of Nordic American Tankers from $5.00 to $5.50 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 28th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Nordic American Tankers currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $5.25.

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Nordic American Tankers Price Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 1.62, a current ratio of 1.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49. The companys 50 day moving average price is $3.73 and its 200-day moving average price is $3.49. The stock has a market cap of $751.67 million, a P/E ratio of 59.33 and a beta of 0.09.

Nordic American Tankers Increases Dividend

Nordic American Tankers ( NYSE:NAT Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 27th. The shipping company reported $0.17 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.22 by ($0.05). Nordic American Tankers had a return on equity of 2.96% and a net margin of 8.95%. The firm had revenue of $71.10 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $83.48 million. During the same quarter last year, the company earned ($0.12) earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Nordic American Tankers Limited will post 0.57 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 14th were given a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 13th. This is a boost from Nordic American Tankerss previous quarterly dividend of $0.05. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 16.67%. Nordic American Tankerss dividend payout ratio is 1,000.00%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Nordic American Tankers

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC acquired a new stake in Nordic American Tankers in the first quarter worth $25,000. Arete Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Nordic American Tankers in the third quarter worth $27,000. American National Bank acquired a new stake in Nordic American Tankers in the first quarter worth $28,000. Quantbot Technologies LP acquired a new stake in Nordic American Tankers in the second quarter worth $30,000. Finally, B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in Nordic American Tankers in the third quarter worth $31,000. 40.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Nordic American Tankers

(Get Rating)

Nordic American Tankers Ltd. operates as an international tanker company. It owns and operates Suezmax crude oil tankers. The company was founded by Herbjorn Hansson on June 12, 1995 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda.

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PerkinElmer (NYSE:PKI  Get Rating) had its target price decreased by Stifel Nicolaus from $145.00 to $135.00 in a report released on Friday morning, The Fly reports.

A number of other research analysts have also weighed in on PKI. Barclays dropped their target price on PerkinElmer from $140.00 to $125.00 in a report on Friday. Robert W. Baird dropped their target price on PerkinElmer from $182.00 to $165.00 in a report on Friday. TheStreet upgraded PerkinElmer from a c+ rating to a b rating in a report on Tuesday, February 14th. Credit Suisse Group reiterated a neutral rating and set a $160.00 price target on shares of PerkinElmer in a report on Wednesday, February 15th. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on PerkinElmer in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $158.60.

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PerkinElmer Trading Down 0.9 %

Shares of PerkinElmer stock opened at $115.24 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53, a quick ratio of 1.87 and a current ratio of 2.13. PerkinElmer has a 52 week low of $113.46 and a 52 week high of $170.00. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $128.46 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $133.45. The stock has a market capitalization of $14.57 billion, a PE ratio of 15.01, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.55 and a beta of 1.10.

PerkinElmer Announces Dividend

PerkinElmer ( NYSE:PKI Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, May 11th. The medical research company reported $1.01 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.07 by ($0.06). PerkinElmer had a net margin of 14.69% and a return on equity of 13.94%. The company had revenue of $674.87 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $686.30 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.41 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that PerkinElmer will post 5.06 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 11th. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 21st will be given a $0.07 dividend. This represents a $0.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.24%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 20th. PerkinElmers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 3.65%.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Daniel R. Tereau sold 10,741 shares of PerkinElmer stock in a transaction on Monday, March 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $123.72, for a total value of $1,328,876.52. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 11,611 shares in the company, valued at $1,436,512.92. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, insider Daniel R. Tereau sold 10,741 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $123.72, for a total transaction of $1,328,876.52. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 11,611 shares in the company, valued at $1,436,512.92. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, insider Maxwell Krakowiak sold 322 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $130.00, for a total value of $41,860.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 7,202 shares of the companys stock, valued at $936,260. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 15,349 shares of company stock worth $1,953,042. 0.52% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in PerkinElmer by 1.1% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 14,071,112 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $1,693,176,000 after purchasing an additional 151,569 shares during the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of PerkinElmer by 243,398.1% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 11,877,835 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $1,665,510,000 after acquiring an additional 11,872,957 shares during the period. Select Equity Group L.P. grew its holdings in shares of PerkinElmer by 11.7% during the 4th quarter. Select Equity Group L.P. now owns 9,777,698 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $1,371,029,000 after acquiring an additional 1,020,617 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. grew its holdings in shares of PerkinElmer by 1.2% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 8,579,355 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $1,143,285,000 after acquiring an additional 105,510 shares during the period. Finally, State Street Corp grew its holdings in shares of PerkinElmer by 0.6% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 5,204,232 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $626,225,000 after acquiring an additional 32,829 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 85.22% of the companys stock.

PerkinElmer Company Profile

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PerkinElmer, Inc engages in the provision of products, services, and solutions for diagnostics, food, environmental, life sciences, and applied markets. It operates through the following segments: Discovery & Analytical Solutions and Diagnostics. The Discovery & Analytical Solutions segment consists of technologies that help life sciences researchers better understand diseases and develop treatments.

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PNM Resources (NYSE:PNM  Get Rating) was upgraded by analysts at Siebert Williams Shank from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report issued on Tuesday, FinViz reports. The brokerage currently has a $55.00 target price on the utilities providers stock, up from their previous target price of $53.00. Siebert Williams Shanks target price points to a potential upside of 20.96% from the stocks previous close.

Separately, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of PNM Resources in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock.

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PNM Resources Stock Performance

Shares of PNM Resources stock traded up $0.35 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $45.47. The company had a trading volume of 1,232,926 shares, compared to its average volume of 641,095. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $48.56 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $48.66. The stock has a market cap of $3.90 billion, a PE ratio of 18.79, a P/E/G ratio of 4.32 and a beta of 0.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a current ratio of 0.29 and a quick ratio of 0.39. PNM Resources has a 1-year low of $43.43 and a 1-year high of $49.60.

Institutional Trading of PNM Resources

PNM Resources ( NYSE:PNM Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, May 5th. The utilities provider reported $0.55 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.39 by $0.16. PNM Resources had a net margin of 8.89% and a return on equity of 10.55%. The firm had revenue of $544.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $460.14 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.50 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 22.5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts predict that PNM Resources will post 2.66 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of PNM Resources by 5.4% during the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,635,723 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $79,627,000 after purchasing an additional 83,654 shares during the period. Hotchkis & Wiley Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of PNM Resources by 3.3% during the 1st quarter. Hotchkis & Wiley Capital Management LLC now owns 207,185 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $10,086,000 after purchasing an additional 6,715 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of PNM Resources by 2.7% during the 1st quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 31,946 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,555,000 after purchasing an additional 852 shares during the period. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership bought a new stake in shares of PNM Resources during the 1st quarter worth $1,887,000. Finally, Meeder Advisory Services Inc. raised its stake in shares of PNM Resources by 114.0% during the 1st quarter. Meeder Advisory Services Inc. now owns 9,207 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $448,000 after purchasing an additional 4,905 shares during the period. 89.88% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

PNM Resources Company Profile

(Get Rating)

PNM Resources, Inc operates as an investor-owned holding company, which provides electricity and electric services in New Mexico and Texas. It operates through the following segments: Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM), Texas-New Mexico Power Company (TNMP), and Corporate and Other. The PNM segment includes the retail electric utility operations of the company.

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Qsemble Capital Management LP acquired a new stake in Southern Copper Co. (NYSE:SCCO  Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 15,300 shares of the basic materials companys stock, valued at approximately $924,000.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of SCCO. Affinity Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Southern Copper during the 4th quarter worth approximately $242,000. Saturna Capital CORP lifted its stake in shares of Southern Copper by 5.9% during the 4th quarter. Saturna Capital CORP now owns 36,000 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $2,174,000 after acquiring an additional 2,000 shares during the last quarter. Scotia Capital Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Southern Copper by 14.8% during the 4th quarter. Scotia Capital Inc. now owns 15,939 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $963,000 after acquiring an additional 2,053 shares during the last quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of Southern Copper by 1.2% during the 4th quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 1,434,262 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $86,615,000 after acquiring an additional 17,405 shares during the last quarter. Finally, FineMark National Bank & Trust purchased a new position in Southern Copper during the 4th quarter worth $218,000. 7.03% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Southern Copper Stock Down 3.3 %

Shares of Southern Copper stock traded down $2.40 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $69.90. The companys stock had a trading volume of 292,993 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,318,664. The company has a quick ratio of 3.38, a current ratio of 4.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76. The company has a market cap of $54.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.96, a P/E/G ratio of 16.83 and a beta of 1.23. Southern Copper Co. has a 1-year low of $42.42 and a 1-year high of $82.05. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $75.09 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $68.99.

Southern Copper Cuts Dividend

Insiders Place Their Bets

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 23rd. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 9th will be given a dividend of $0.95 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, May 8th. This represents a $3.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.44%. Southern Coppers dividend payout ratio is currently 115.94%.

In other Southern Copper news, Director Andreve Vicente Ariztegui sold 1,500 shares of Southern Copper stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.11, for a total transaction of $114,165.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 4,400 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $334,884. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, Director Bonilla Luis Miguel Palomino sold 500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $78.97, for a total value of $39,485.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 6,514 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $514,410.58. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Andreve Vicente Ariztegui sold 1,500 shares of Southern Copper stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $76.11, for a total value of $114,165.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 4,400 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $334,884. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 2,500 shares of company stock valued at $192,900. 0.08% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have commented on SCCO shares. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded Southern Copper from a neutral rating to a sell rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $65.00 to $66.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 9th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price objective on Southern Copper from $55.00 to $56.00 in a report on Wednesday, May 3rd. UBS Group lifted their price target on Southern Copper from $48.00 to $51.00 and gave the company a sell rating in a report on Thursday, February 23rd. StockNews.com downgraded Southern Copper from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, May 9th. Finally, Morgan Stanley downgraded Southern Copper from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and set a $70.00 price target on the stock. in a report on Wednesday, March 29th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $62.29.

Southern Copper Profile

(Get Rating)

Southern Copper Corp. engages in the development, production, and exploration of copper, molybdenum, zinc, and silver. It operates through the following segments: Peruvian Operations, Mexican Open-Pit Operations, and Mexican Underground Mining Operations. The Peruvian Operations segment focuses on the Toquepala and Cuajone mine complexes and the smelting and refining plants, industrial railroad, and port facilities that service both mines.

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StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Renren (NYSE:RENN  Get Rating) in a research note released on Saturday. The brokerage issued a hold rating on the technology companys stock.

Renren Stock Down 1.0 %

Shares of RENN opened at $1.01 on Friday. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $1.32 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $10.13. Renren has a 12 month low of $1.01 and a 12 month high of $33.91.

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Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Quadrant Capital Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Renren during the third quarter valued at approximately $32,000. UBS Group AG lifted its holdings in shares of Renren by 33.2% during the second quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 4,453 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $129,000 after purchasing an additional 1,111 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Renren by 1,034.6% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 1,736 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $38,000 after purchasing an additional 1,583 shares during the last quarter. US Bancorp DE lifted its holdings in shares of Renren by 1,401.2% during the third quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 2,477 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $73,000 after purchasing an additional 2,312 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lifted its holdings in shares of Renren by 103.0% during the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 7,350 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $161,000 after purchasing an additional 3,730 shares during the last quarter. 21.71% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Renren Company Profile

Renren, Inc engages in the Software as a Service (SaaS) business, which includes an all-in-one real estate solution provider and a large community for the trucking industry in the United States. The company was founded by Chen Yi Zhou in November 2002 and is headquartered in Phoenix, AZ.

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Community Healthcare Trust Incorporated (NYSE:CHCT  Get Rating) saw a large drop in short interest in the month of April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 431,600 shares, a drop of 16.9% from the April 15th total of 519,200 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 108,300 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 4.0 days.

Insider Transactions at Community Healthcare Trust

In related news, Director Claire M. Gulmi purchased 2,042 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 9th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $36.77 per share, with a total value of $75,084.34. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 26,140 shares in the company, valued at $961,167.80. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 7.20% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

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Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its holdings in Community Healthcare Trust by 1.3% during the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 684,945 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $28,911,000 after buying an additional 8,921 shares in the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Community Healthcare Trust by 19.8% in the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 4,822 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $203,000 after acquiring an additional 796 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can grew its holdings in Community Healthcare Trust by 528.2% during the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 54,637 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $2,309,000 after acquiring an additional 45,939 shares in the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in Community Healthcare Trust by 53.8% during the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 12,350 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $521,000 after purchasing an additional 4,320 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS increased its position in shares of Community Healthcare Trust by 14.1% during the first quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 20,245 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $855,000 after purchasing an additional 2,496 shares in the last quarter. 87.68% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Community Healthcare Trust Stock Performance

Community Healthcare Trust Increases Dividend

Shares of NYSE CHCT traded down $0.13 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $35.22. The stock had a trading volume of 25,745 shares, compared to its average volume of 106,105. The company has a market capitalization of $926.43 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 121.90, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.49 and a beta of 0.74. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $35.94 and a 200-day moving average of $37.03. Community Healthcare Trust has a 12-month low of $30.38 and a 12-month high of $43.88.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 26th. Investors of record on Friday, May 12th will be paid a dividend of $0.45 per share. This is a positive change from Community Healthcare Trusts previous quarterly dividend of $0.45. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.11%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 11th. Community Healthcare Trusts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 620.69%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms recently commented on CHCT. Piper Sandler lifted their target price on shares of Community Healthcare Trust from $41.00 to $45.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 17th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Community Healthcare Trust in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Robert W. Baird increased their target price on shares of Community Healthcare Trust from $38.00 to $43.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, February 16th. TheStreet downgraded Community Healthcare Trust from a b- rating to a c rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Finally, Truist Financial boosted their price objective on Community Healthcare Trust from $43.00 to $48.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 17th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $43.50.

Community Healthcare Trust Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Community Healthcare Trust, Inc engages in the acquisition of real estate properties that are leased to hospitals, doctors, healthcare systems, and other healthcare services providers. It invests in healthcare properties including outpatient treatment and diagnostic facilities, urgent care centers, acute care hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, assisted living and long-term care facilities, medical office buildings, clinics, specialty hospitals and treatment centers.

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LG Display Co., Ltd. (NYSE:LPL  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 774,900 shares, a decline of 6.0% from the April 15th total of 824,100 shares. Approximately 0.1% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 210,900 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 3.7 days.

Institutional Trading of LG Display

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. BlackRock Inc. lifted its stake in shares of LG Display by 82.7% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 779,380 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $6,438,000 after buying an additional 352,719 shares in the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its position in shares of LG Display by 77.5% in the 4th quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 494,478 shares of the electronics makers stock worth $2,453,000 after purchasing an additional 215,950 shares during the period. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. lifted its position in LG Display by 126.1% during the 3rd quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. now owns 267,565 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $1,092,000 after acquiring an additional 149,248 shares during the period. First Trust Direct Indexing L.P. increased its stake in LG Display by 26.3% during the 1st quarter. First Trust Direct Indexing L.P. now owns 269,952 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $1,722,000 after purchasing an additional 56,205 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CI Private Wealth LLC bought a new stake in LG Display during the 4th quarter valued at about $261,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 2.00% of the companys stock.

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LG Display Stock Up 0.2 %

NYSE LPL traded up $0.01 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $5.70. 83,853 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 203,320. LG Display has a 12 month low of $4.08 and a 12 month high of $7.09. The company has a market capitalization of $4.08 billion, a P/E ratio of -1.73 and a beta of 1.43. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $5.88 and a 200 day simple moving average of $5.58. The company has a current ratio of 0.68, a quick ratio of 0.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

LG Display ( NYSE:LPL Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 17th. The electronics maker reported ($1.92) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.58) by ($1.34). LG Display had a negative return on equity of 22.16% and a negative net margin of 11.31%. The company had revenue of $5.38 billion during the quarter. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that LG Display will post -2.93 EPS for the current year.

Several research firms have issued reports on LPL. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of LG Display in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised LG Display from a neutral rating to an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 12th.

About LG Display

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LG Display Co, Ltd. engages in the manufacture and sale of thin film transistor and organic light-emitting diode display (OLED) products. Its products include television, commercial, monitor, notebook, mobile, auto, and OLED display. The company was founded on February 28, 1985 and is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea.

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Duolingo, Inc. (NYSE:DUOL  Get Rating) General Counsel Stephen C. Chen sold 669 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $140.83, for a total transaction of $94,215.27. Following the transaction, the general counsel now directly owns 25,884 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,645,243.72. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website.

Duolingo Stock Performance

NYSE:DUOL traded up $0.50 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $143.59. 535,001 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 606,042. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -114.87 and a beta of 0.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04, a current ratio of 3.84 and a quick ratio of 3.84. The companys 50 day moving average price is $133.91 and its 200-day moving average price is $99.78. Duolingo, Inc. has a 52-week low of $64.73 and a 52-week high of $150.00.

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Duolingo (NYSE:DUOL  Get Rating) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, May 9th. The company reported ($0.06) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of ($0.24) by $0.18. The company had revenue of $115.66 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $112.86 million. Duolingo had a negative return on equity of 11.22% and a negative net margin of 16.12%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 42.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted ($0.31) EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Duolingo, Inc. will post -0.85 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Duolingo

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its holdings in shares of Duolingo by 112.9% during the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 59,291 shares of the companys stock worth $5,640,000 after purchasing an additional 31,446 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its stake in shares of Duolingo by 40.7% in the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 9,201 shares of the companys stock worth $876,000 after buying an additional 2,661 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Duolingo by 95.6% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 822,978 shares of the companys stock worth $78,275,000 after buying an additional 402,222 shares during the last quarter. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC boosted its stake in shares of Duolingo by 73.8% in the first quarter. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC now owns 216,817 shares of the companys stock worth $20,621,000 after buying an additional 92,031 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board purchased a new stake in shares of Duolingo in the first quarter worth about $342,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 63.16% of the companys stock.

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on DUOL shares. Raymond James upped their price target on shares of Duolingo from $109.00 to $117.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 1st. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on Duolingo from $92.00 to $109.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. Bank of America lifted their price target on Duolingo from $105.00 to $160.00 in a report on Thursday, April 6th. Piper Sandler increased their price target on shares of Duolingo from $127.00 to $167.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 10th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC increased their price target on shares of Duolingo from $115.00 to $160.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 10th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five 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 $142.38.

Duolingo Company Profile

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Duolingo, Inc develops a language-learning website and mobile app in the United States and China. The company offers courses in 40 different languages, including Spanish, English, French, Japanese, German, Italian, Chinese, Portuguese, and others. It also provides a digital language proficiency assessment exam.

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JAKARTA, Indonesia, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In line with the investor growth target set by the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) in 2023, namely 13.5 million investors, and with the same passion for developing the Indonesian Capital Market, PT CGS-CIMB Sekuritas Indonesia continues to consistently introduce and increasing public literacy and inclusion in the capital market with sufficient investment products for the younger generation who are familiar with technology, namely stock investment. As a form of this commitment, particularly in reaching retail investors, PT CGS-CIMB Sekuritas Indonesia has again launched a new breakthrough in the world of capital markets which is in line with the program from the Indonesian Stock Exchange (IDX), namely "Synergy for Sustainability and Beyond" in collaboration with BMoney.

CEO BukaFinancial & Commerce, PT Bukalapak.com, Tbk, Victor Lesmana (left), Director Trading & Membership Indonesia Stock Exchange, Irvan Susandy (middle) and Group COO CGS-CIMB Securities Carol Fong (right) exchanged tokens of appreciation with the Board of Directors of CGS-CIMB Sekuritas Indonesia, Ashmore Assets Management, and PT Buka Investasi Bersama to mark the launch of BMoney Saham feature.

BMoney, an online investment application owned by Buka Investasi Bersama, a financial technology company in collaboration with Bukalapak and Ashmore Asset Management Indonesia, in collaboration with well-known securities company CGS-CIMB Sekuritas Indonesia, launched a share feature and a special program for the premium user segment called BMoney Privilege. Through the share feature, BMoney users can buy and sell shares of various issuers in the country easily and safely. This collaboration is the first collaboration between a technology platform and a security company in Indonesia.

CGS-CIMB Sekuritas Indonesia itself is a securities company that has been operating since 1990 and one of the top 3 brokers based on market share data in Indonesia as of January 2023.

Meanwhile, BMoney Privilege is an investor priority program that can be enjoyed by premium BMoney users to transact various BMoney products digitally with the support of experienced marketers and access to various additional features that can better meet the investment needs of users of this service, as well as providing inclusive investment experience to all Indonesians with various investment goals through appropriate products.

Story continues

As a partner of BMoney in launching the stock trading feature, CGS-CIMB Sekuritas Indonesia welcomes this collaboration because it is an opportunity for CGS-CIMB Sekuritas Indonesia to support the enthusiasm for stock investment in the country while at the same time contributing to the dynamics of investment in Indonesia. "By combining CGS-CIMB Sekuritas Indonesia's experience and expertise with the robustness of the BMoney technology platform in facilitating the investment needs of its users, we see this partnership as a strategic step in encouraging appropriate and safe stock investment habits in Indonesia. From here, national economic growth can also be positively affected, of course," said Lim Kim Siah, President Director of PT CGS-CIMB Sekuritas Indonesia.

"Buka Investasi Bersama as part of Bukalapak carries the same spirit that we have carried so far, which is to provide equal opportunities for everyone through the power of technology, including the opportunity to invest easily and safely. BMoney from BIB is our platform to realize this passion and mission. Through the presence of the Shares and BMoney Privilege features, BMoney can provide inclusive services for more Indonesians who have various investment needs. This is also part of BMoney's goal to assist the public in finding investment product choices that are safe and catering to to their needs," said Victor Lesmana, CEO of BukaFinancial & Commerce at the Press Conference: Launch of BMoney Shares (16/5).

On the same occasion, Dhinda Arisyiya, COO of PT Buka Investasi Bersama, conveyed the launch of the Shares and BMoney Privilege features as a form of BMoney's commitment to expanding its support for investors with ever-increasing needs. "BMoney has successfully served nearly one million investors since its launch in 2020 with a total managed fund of more than 1 trillion Rupiah where the managed fund has experienced a triple digit increase throughout 2022. Departing from this growth, we want to expand our services in facilitating many more investment needs of the community. Based on data from IDX until the end of December 2022, it was recorded that the number of domestic investors in the Indonesian capital market grew significantly during 2022 to reach 10 million single investor identification (SID) and the number of stock investors was 4 million SID registered in Indonesia. Referring to these data and our internal data, we see high interest in stock investment, especially among non-investors and the potential is still very large in increasing the penetration of stock investors in the country. Therefore, we have designed the share transaction feature at BMoney to accommodate user needs and increase healthy investment habits for users in achieving their financial goals", she said.

Through the BMoney Privilege, BMoney provides an easy investment experience to help investors in developing their assets. BMoney Privilege will give its users access to portfolios, real-time data insights and the latest news about the stock market, support from marketers, opportunities to expand the network, as well as investment options consisting of choices of Mutual Funds from various asset classes.

For more information about the Shares feature in BMoney and BMoney Privilege, visit bmoney.id. Also follow BMoney Instagram (@bmoney.id) to get the latest news about BMoney.

For seamless investment experience with BMoney, download BMoney app.

About Buka Investasi Bersama

PT Buka Investasi Bersama ("BIB"), which is a financial technology company in collaboration with PT Bukalapak.com Tbk ("Bukalapak") and PT Ashmore Asset Management Indonesia Tbk ("Ashmore"), was established on June 12 2019 and registered with the Indonesian Financial Services Authority. Finance ("OJK"(with license number Mutual Funds Selling Agent ("APERD") KEP-9/PM.21/2020 and Level II Securities Brokerage Marketing Partner ("PPE Level II Partner") 03/D.04/ STTD/MPPPE/2022 is registered and supervised by the Financial Services Authority (OJK).

This is based on our understanding while providing financial products, especially investment products, since 2017, that investment and financial services play an important role in creating a better life for every individual.

For more information about Buka Investasi Bersama, visit BMoney website.

About PT CGS-CIMB Sekuritas Indonesia

PT CGS-CIMB Sekuritas Indonesia (formerly known as PT CIMB Sekuritas Indonesia) is a company formed by a Joint Venture ("JV") between China Galaxy International Financial Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Galaxy Securities Co.,Ltd ("CGS ") with CIMB Group Sdn Bhd ("CIMB").

With this Joint Venture, we are currently in a strategic position to tap into the extensive network of two shareholders, namely CGS and CIMB. Where this is expected to strengthen the foundation of our business network which is spread through branch offices and partners in more than 20 countries and branch offices in Indonesia located in 9 major cities in meeting the investment needs of retail customers.

PT CGS-CIMB Sekuritas Indonesia, which has received various international awards and is also present in the top 3 securities companies in Indonesia based on market data in Indonesia in January 2023, continues to support the Indonesian capital market.

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/bmoney-launches-stocks-trading-feature-and-special-programs-for-the-premium-user-segment-301825733.html

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Suncor Energy Inc. (TSE:SU  Get Rating) (NYSE:SU) has been assigned an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the fourteen ratings firms that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is C$53.71.

A number of research analysts have commented on the company. Raymond James reduced their target price on Suncor Energy from C$53.00 to C$50.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 16th. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their target price on Suncor Energy from C$54.00 to C$52.00 in a report on Wednesday, May 10th. Scotiabank dropped their target price on shares of Suncor Energy from C$50.00 to C$47.00 in a report on Thursday, April 13th. CIBC increased their target price on shares of Suncor Energy from C$60.00 to C$62.00 in a report on Monday, May 1st. Finally, National Bankshares raised shares of Suncor Energy from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating and increased their target price for the stock from C$60.00 to C$61.00 in a report on Friday, April 28th.

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Suncor Energy Price Performance

SU opened at C$39.16 on Tuesday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of C$41.77 and a 200 day simple moving average of C$43.68. The firm has a market cap of C$51.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.00, a PEG ratio of 0.15 and a beta of 1.67. Suncor Energy has a twelve month low of C$36.38 and a twelve month high of C$53.62. The company has a current ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 40.72.

Suncor Energy Dividend Announcement

Suncor Energy ( TSE:SU Get Rating ) (NYSE:SU) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 14th. The company reported C$1.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of C$1.68 by C$0.13. The company had revenue of C$13.86 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of C$12.92 billion. Suncor Energy had a return on equity of 23.89% and a net margin of 15.56%. Equities research analysts expect that Suncor Energy will post 6.0843558 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 26th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 5th will be issued a $0.52 dividend. This represents a $2.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.31%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 2nd. Suncor Energys payout ratio is 31.85%.

Suncor Energy Company Profile

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Suncor Energy Inc operates as an integrated energy company. The company primarily focuses on developing petroleum resource basins in Canada's Athabasca oil sands; explores, acquires, develops, produces, transports, refines, and markets crude oil in Canada and internationally; markets petroleum and petrochemical products under the Petro-Canada name primarily in Canada.

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Tronox Holdings plc (NYSE:TROX  Get Rating) has been given a consensus rating of Hold by the nine brokerages that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $16.75.

Several brokerages recently issued reports on TROX. Credit Suisse Group reiterated an underperform rating and set a $10.00 price target on shares of Tronox in a research report on Thursday, February 16th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut their target price on shares of Tronox from $18.00 to $17.00 in a research report on Tuesday, May 2nd. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Tronox in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock.

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Tronox Stock Up 1.1 %

TROX opened at $11.31 on Tuesday. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $13.45 and its 200-day simple moving average is $14.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.02, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a current ratio of 2.21. Tronox has a twelve month low of $10.97 and a twelve month high of $19.91. The firm has a market cap of $1.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 3.53, a PEG ratio of 1.01 and a beta of 1.88.

Tronox Dividend Announcement

Tronox ( NYSE:TROX Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The company reported $0.15 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.12 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $708.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $683.96 million. Tronox had a net margin of 15.77% and a return on equity of 10.12%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 26.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.60 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Tronox will post 1.42 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 16th. Investors of record on Monday, May 15th will be given a $0.125 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 12th. This represents a $0.50 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.42%. Tronoxs dividend payout ratio is 15.63%.

Insider Activity at Tronox

In related news, CEO Jean Francois Turgeon sold 93,942 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $15.51, for a total value of $1,457,040.42. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 756,732 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,736,913.32. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In related news, CEO Jean Francois Turgeon sold 93,942 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $15.51, for a total transaction of $1,457,040.42. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 756,732 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $11,736,913.32. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, SVP John Srivisal sold 40,026 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $15.52, for a total value of $621,203.52. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 115,051 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,785,591.52. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 195,487 shares of company stock worth $3,032,725 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 1.80% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Tronox

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of TROX. 44 Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Tronox by 1.8% during the 1st quarter. 44 Wealth Management LLC now owns 48,325 shares of the companys stock worth $695,000 after acquiring an additional 843 shares in the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System grew its stake in shares of Tronox by 2.7% during the 1st quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 33,567 shares of the companys stock worth $483,000 after acquiring an additional 884 shares in the last quarter. Mendota Financial Group LLC grew its stake in shares of Tronox by 37.7% during the 1st quarter. Mendota Financial Group LLC now owns 3,322 shares of the companys stock worth $66,000 after acquiring an additional 910 shares in the last quarter. Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Tronox by 0.6% during the 1st quarter. Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC now owns 192,092 shares of the companys stock worth $2,762,000 after acquiring an additional 1,075 shares in the last quarter. Finally, US Bancorp DE grew its stake in shares of Tronox by 41.5% during the 1st quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 3,773 shares of the companys stock worth $54,000 after acquiring an additional 1,106 shares in the last quarter. 67.30% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Tronox

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Tronox Holdings Plc engages in the mining and inorganic chemical business. Its products include Titanium Dioxide Mineral Sands. The firm also mines and processes titanium ore, zircon and other minerals, and manufactures titanium dioxide pigments. The company was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Stamford, CT.

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Trust Co. of Vermont boosted its holdings in McKesson Co. (NYSE:MCK  Get Rating) by 15.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 419 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 55 shares during the quarter. Trust Co. of Vermonts holdings in McKesson were worth $157,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in MCK. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new position in shares of McKesson during the 1st quarter valued at $46,000. Synovus Financial Corp lifted its holdings in shares of McKesson by 4.0% during the 1st quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 2,192 shares of the companys stock valued at $673,000 after buying an additional 85 shares during the period. Prudential PLC bought a new position in shares of McKesson during the 1st quarter valued at $1,610,000. Cetera Investment Advisers lifted its holdings in shares of McKesson by 17.8% during the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 9,839 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,012,000 after buying an additional 1,490 shares during the period. Finally, Moors & Cabot Inc. bought a new position in shares of McKesson during the 1st quarter valued at $598,000. 85.23% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Activity

In other news, CEO Brian S. Tyler sold 18,542 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $386.04, for a total transaction of $7,157,953.68. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 75,737 shares in the company, valued at $29,237,511.48. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.21% of the companys stock.

McKesson Stock Up 0.3 %

Shares of McKesson stock opened at $391.15 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $53.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.58, a PEG ratio of 1.34 and a beta of 0.58. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $358.36 and a 200-day moving average price of $368.49. McKesson Co. has a twelve month low of $298.69 and a twelve month high of $401.78.

McKesson (NYSE:MCK  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 8th. The company reported $7.19 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $7.16 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $68.91 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $67.94 billion. McKesson had a negative return on equity of 216.12% and a net margin of 1.15%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 4.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $5.83 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts expect that McKesson Co. will post 25.94 EPS for the current fiscal year.

McKesson Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 3rd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 1st will be given a dividend of $0.54 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 31st. This represents a $2.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.55%. McKessons payout ratio is 8.60%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on MCK shares. 58.com reissued a maintains rating on shares of McKesson in a report on Tuesday, May 9th. Credit Suisse Group raised their target price on McKesson from $430.00 to $450.00 in a report on Friday. Citigroup started coverage on McKesson in a report on Friday, March 31st. They issued a buy rating and a $420.00 target price on the stock. Mizuho raised their target price on McKesson from $376.00 to $390.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 9th. Finally, Bank of America raised their target price on McKesson from $450.00 to $470.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 9th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $430.17.

McKesson Company Profile

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McKesson Corp. engages in the provision of supply chain management solutions, retail pharmacy, community oncology and specialty care, and healthcare information technology. It operates through the following segments: U.S. Pharmaceutical, International, Medical-Surgical Solutions, and Prescription Technology Solutions (RxTS).

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Trust Co. of Vermont boosted its position in iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF (NYSEARCA:SUSA  Get Rating) by 17.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 5,369 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 791 shares during the quarter. Trust Co. of Vermonts holdings in iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF were worth $442,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Hengehold Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF by 10.8% during the 4th quarter. Hengehold Capital Management LLC now owns 5,397 shares of the companys stock valued at $444,000 after acquiring an additional 528 shares during the period. MML Investors Services LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF by 1.2% during the 3rd quarter. MML Investors Services LLC now owns 33,725 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,560,000 after acquiring an additional 410 shares during the period. Lincoln National Corp lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF by 64.7% during the 3rd quarter. Lincoln National Corp now owns 14,428 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,095,000 after acquiring an additional 5,668 shares during the period. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF by 0.6% during the 4th quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 19,957 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,643,000 after acquiring an additional 127 shares during the period. Finally, Concord Wealth Partners bought a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF during the 4th quarter valued at $58,000.

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iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF Stock Performance

NYSEARCA:SUSA opened at $87.50 on Tuesday. iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF has a fifty-two week low of $73.86 and a fifty-two week high of $93.06. The company has a market cap of $3.25 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.19 and a beta of 1.02. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $86.32 and a 200-day moving average price of $85.61.

iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF Profile

The iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF (SUSA) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI USA Extended ESG Select index. The fund tracks an index of US companies with high environmental, social and governance (ESG) factor scores as calculated by MSCI. SUSA was launched on Jan 24, 2005 and is managed by BlackRock.

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Virgin Money UK PLC (LON:VMUK  Get Rating) announced a dividend on Thursday, May 4th, Upcoming.Co.Uk reports. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 18th will be paid a dividend of GBX 3.30 ($0.04) per share on Wednesday, June 21st. This represents a dividend yield of 2.15%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 18th. The official announcement can be viewed at this link.

Virgin Money UK Trading Up 0.7 %

LON:VMUK opened at GBX 155.05 ($1.94) on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of 2.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 455.29, a PEG ratio of -0.56 and a beta of 1.97. Virgin Money UK has a 1-year low of GBX 117.25 ($1.47) and a 1-year high of GBX 200 ($2.51). The businesss fifty day moving average price is GBX 150.25 and its 200 day moving average price is GBX 166.92.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms recently weighed in on VMUK. Barclays dropped their price target on Virgin Money UK from GBX 230 ($2.88) to GBX 200 ($2.51) and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on Virgin Money UK from GBX 180 ($2.25) to GBX 200 ($2.51) and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, February 2nd. Citigroup restated a buy rating on shares of Virgin Money UK in a research note on Friday, March 10th. Shore Capital restated a buy rating on shares of Virgin Money UK in a research note on Wednesday, February 1st. Finally, Berenberg Bank boosted their target price on Virgin Money UK from GBX 170 ($2.13) to GBX 195 ($2.44) and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Friday, February 3rd. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of GBX 209 ($2.62).

Virgin Money UK Company Profile

Virgin Money UK PLC provides banking products and services for consumers, and small and medium sized businesses under the Clydesdale Bank, Yorkshire Bank, and Virgin Money brands in the United Kingdom. The company offers savings and current accounts, mortgages, credit cards, and home loans; business loans, overdraft facilities, treasury solutions, and corporate and structured finance; asset and invoice finance services; risk management; international trade services; and home, car, and life and critical illness insurance products.

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FILE PHOTO: A woman poses with a smartphone showing the Boohoo app in front of the Boohoo logo on display in this illustration

By James Davey

LONDON (Reuters) - Struggling British online fashion retailer Boohoo said this year's opening of a first distribution centre in the United States has the potential to transform its fortunes in that market as it will slash delivery times to American shoppers.

Currently, orders placed in the United States, Boohoo's largest overseas market, are picked and packed in the United Kingdom then sent by plane to the United States, with delivery taking eight to 10 days.

"Once we're up and running in the U.S., 95% of the U.S. we will cover in three days," Boohoo CEO John Lyttle told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday.

"It's a complete gamechanger for us," he said.

The warehouse in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, will open in late northern hemisphere summer, with the PrettyLittleThing brand, Boohoo's most popular in the United States, the first to go live.

A second brand will follow before the peak Christmas trading period, with Boohoo's other brands following in late spring and early summer 2024.

Boohoo made U.S. sales of about $400 million in its 2022/23 financial year.

"We've got lots of opportunity there," said Lyttle.

He was speaking after Boohoo forecast a better performance in its new financial year after profit halved in 2022/23 when shoppers were hit by a cost-of-living crisis and many returned to physical stores post-pandemic.

Shares in Boohoo were up 9% in late morning trading, paring losses over the last year to 47%.

Boohoo expects sales to fall by 10% to 15% in the first half, before a return to growth in the second half.

"We see that growth coming back towards the end of this summer as we get into the first normalised trading period in (over) three years," Lyttle said.

He noted that 2020 and 2021 were COVID years with trade skewed to athleisure wear, while trade in 2022 was skewed to occasion wear with post-COVID pent-up demand for events such as weddings.

(Reporting by James Davey; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government has granted approval of operation to no fewer than 37 new universities across the country.

The approval was granted at the emergency Federal Executive Council meeting which was presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday.

The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, announced this after the extra-ordinary Council meeting on Monday.

Adamu said that latest development brings to 72 the total number of universities licensed by the Buhari administration since 2015.

Although the Minister did not name the universities, but revealed that one of them is an online university, the first of its kind in Nigeria, and owned by a woman from Bauchi State, with expectation that it will cater for the likes of northern Muslim women who feel reluctant or are restrained from attending physical campus education.

Meanwhile, this development is coming in spite of complaints of proliferation of universities in Nigeria which are mostly underfunded.

Responding to questions on the expediency of additional universities given funding challenges of the existing ones, Adamu explained that these ones are all private, with enough funds to run them and they should not be denied the opportunity to exist.

The Minister further explained that Nigeria actually needs more universities as the available ones are not adequate to take up all those yearning for higher education.
Missy McLean spoke at the 2021 International Overdose Awareness Day Vigil in Cobourg.



Local advocate Missy McLean says shes hurt after being uninvited to a speaking engagement at Cobourg Collegiate Institute (CCI) next month.

The Cobourg resident was among three guest speakers  Cobourg Deputy Mayor Nicole Beatty and business owner Elsa Deperasinski being the others  invited by the CCI student group Cheer Her On to an event entitled "A Day of Empowerment "on June 2 for current Grade 8 female-identifying students who would be attending Grade 9 in the fall. The days focus is on goal-setting, empowerment and leadership.

McLean said the invitation was proffered on April 16 by Cheer Her On, which she said was a female-identifying group working under the supervision of CCI teachers toward creating programming and spaces to empower female-identifying students, with the June 2 event being one of the groups big events.

However, on May 11, McLean said she received a short phone call from someone who identified himself as Jamie (James Patenall is the CCI principal), who essentially notified her that it would be inappropriate for me to participate.

He caught me off-guard because he talked so quickly and I didnt know who he was at first, said McLean, of the call from Patenall. And, then he said that the school was unaware of all of my advocacy work and that they needed to take a trauma-informed approach to this event and that required them to adjust the scheduling and that meant moving to two speakers instead of three.

McLean suspects being uninvited to the CCI event was directly related to her advocacy in the area of substance use and harm reduction.

Absolutely, it does, said McLean, a registered social worker who was also among a volunteer-powered group which operated an overdose prevention site in Cobourg in March. Cobourg council voted in opposition to the unsanctioned site at its March 20 meeting.

McLean said her work as full-time social worker includes supporting victim survivors of intimate partner violence and domestic violence and working with folks who are experiencing homelessness and those who are marginalized.

Greg Kidd, executive officer, corporate affairs, with the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, said in an emailed statement that upon reflection about the nature of the advocacy work by one of the planned speakers of the event, and given that it may not be possible to provide the Grade 8 students attending with appropriate learning opportunities and context for some of the work associated with this individual, organizers are reflecting on the speaker program.

The statement further detailed that revised information would be shared with schools soon.

McLean lamented that she was not given the chance by the CCI principal to have a conversation regarding what she would have spoken about at the event.

I wasnt asked to come to the school to talk about substance use. That wasnt the topic of the talk I was asked to give. I was asked to come and talk to Grade 8 female-identifying students about leadership, empowerment and goal-setting, which I was excited to do.

I hadnt spoken to any staff or administrators at all. If they had asked me what I plan on talking about or if they had said were worried about you talking about X, Y and Z, thats a dialogue we can have. But to immediately make an assumption that (I) would come into the space and not understand the assignment of the talk I was asked to give is a hurtful assumption, she said.

McLean said she suspects a flyer that was distributed to elementary schools, to promote the event with students and parents, led to complaints to the school and ultimately her being uninvited to the event.

She also said members of a No Hard Drugs in Cobourg Facebook group, which came together during the overdose prevention site work, also likely played in a role.

People saw my face and name on that flyer; thats what triggered the complaints to the school and my understanding is thats what led to me being uninvited.

Members of (the) No Hard Drugs in Cobourg group began to formulate a plan to complain and they have every right to express their concerns. It would have been nice to have been given an opportunity to respond to those concerns, she said.

McLean said she only knows about the No Hard Drugs in Cobourg Facebook group as people have concerns for her safety and have sent her screenshots of material posted on the site.

Im not part of the group; I dont engage with it. I try not to engage with a lot of the online rhetoric around these things for my own mental health. When people are worried about my own personal safety, then I pay attention and felt like I needed to have information, she said.

In the aftermath of being uninvited to the A Day of Empowerment event, she hopes it will be success, filled with useful information for female-identifying students as they transition to high school.

Ultimately, I hope that this event continues on to be successful and achieves all of the goals it has set out for these students because (the) students are the priority, she said.

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A new co-working, collaborative workspace in Port Hope  OfficeLinx  is hosting a meet and greet open house to showcase its new space to the community.

All are welcome to the open house event, which will be held May 17 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the OfficeLinx located at 115 Toronto Rd.

The meet and greet open house event is designed to introduce the community to the newly opened co-working space, provide an opportunity to network with other professionals in the area, tour the spacious facility and learn more about what OfficeLinx can do for you, said OfficeLinx, in a recent release.

Attendees will have the chance to meet some current OfficeLinx members and learn about the various amenities and services offered at the space, as well as enjoy light refreshments and some swag while supplies last.

In addition to taking tours, guests can hear about upcoming features, and learn about flexible membership options and room booking options available, added the company.

OfficeLinx features memberships for private offices, shared offices, flex desks, as well as conference rooms, and most importantly, high-speed internet, said OfficeLinx.

A ribbon cutting with the chamber if commerce is set for 2 p.m.; the event official starts with tours at 3 p.m.; at 4 p.m., theres a presentation of OfficeLinx.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information about OfficeLinx, people can visit officelinx.com or contact Dan Koomen at Dan@OfficeLinx.com.

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A Cambridge man has been charged for allegedly attempting to cash a fraudulent cheque at a Lindsay bank.

On Monday, May 15, at approximately 2:50 p.m., Kawartha Lakes Police says officers were called to a Kent Street West financial institution for a report of fraud.

Staff contacted police when a customer allegedly attempted to cash a fraudulent cheque.

Police attended the institution and arrested the suspect, say police.

As a result of the investigation, a 21-year-old Cambridge man has been charged with fraud over $5,000.

The accused will appear at the Ontario Court of Justice located at 440 Kent Street West in Lindsay on June 22.





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Investors dont always think about social issues impacting stock prices. But it can happen, even when a brand tries to do the right thing and support under-represented and often ostracized communities. Fortunately, the impact may not be as dramatic as youd imagine  even in the case of successful boycotts.

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Anheuser-Busch came under fire recently for launching an ad campaign and a custom Bud Light can design featuring transgender individual Dylan Mulvaney, an influencer who is celebrating one year since her transition.

Anheuser-Busch did not release the custom cans featuring Mulvaneys face; they were designed for the campaign only and given as a gift to Mulvaney. But Anheuser-Buschs marketing team announced that it was planning a line of Pride-themed cans.

However, not every Bud Light drinker appreciated the companys inclusiveness. Right-wing politicians and celebrities, alike, called for a boycott of Anheuser-Busch brands, including Bud Light. Some bars stopped carrying the beer, whether to dodge controversy or avoid losing business from their clientele.

After days of radio silence on social media, CEO Brendan Whitworth tweeted that the company never intended to be part of a discussion that divides people. Anheuser marketing executives Alissa Heinerscheid and Daniel Blake took leaves of absence following the backlash over the campaign.

The week of the campaign, Americas best-selling beer saw sales plummet by 17%, year-over-year. But numbers show Americans werent drinking less beer, overall. In fact, Coors Light and Miller Lite both saw a 17.6% increase in sales in the same week. Both brands are owned by Molson Coors Beverage Company.

RiverNorthPhotography / Getty Images

While Bud Light taking a stand to help a marginalized group seems to have affected sales, how has the Bud Light controversy affected its stock prices a month later? Its hardly a blip.

Story continues

A quick look at the Anheuser-Busch stock chart shows the company at its one-year high of $66.57 on April 3, 2023. By April 12, the price dropped to $63.38. However, the retail investors  just like the beer-buying public  apparently have a short memory. By May 4, stocks were back up to $65.90. In all, Anheuser-Busch is up by nearly 11% over the past six months, meaning the brouhaha and boycott had little impact on the companys overall success or market cap.

Anheuser-Buschs counterpart and competitor, Molson Coors Beverage Company, gained more than 22% in the past six months. Its price rose from $52.12 on April 3 to $54.27 on April 12 and continued to rise to more than $65, approaching its 52-week high, on May 2 before starting to lose ground. Certainly, the company benefited from the Bud Light boycott. But the effects may not be long-term.

For retail investors, the time to take advantage of Molsons good fortune may have passed. Out of 13 analysts, only two recommend the stock as a strong buy, one calls it a buy now, and seven tap TAP as a hold. That means the stock has plenty of growing room.

However, in spite of recent stumbles, Anheuser-Busch could be the better investment over the long haul. The companys history, its passionate fan base and its market penetration have helped the stock weather the storm. Zacks says that Anheuser-Busch is currently undervalued and is a good pick for value investors.

Anheuser-Busch seems to have the staying power and name recognition of brands like Coca-Cola, Disney and Verizon, at a much lower price point. Investors are labeling Anheuser Busch as a strong buy.

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If youre looking for a growth stock, it may take Anheuser-Busch a while to rebound, based on expert projections. However, public reaction to the companys choices during the upcoming Pride Month could lead to another dip in sales and stock, which would be good news for those looking to increase their position or buy for the first time.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How the Bud Light Can Controversy Has Affected The Companys Stock Price
Alumni from the St. Josephs School of Nursing celebrated the Class of 1973 at their annual gathering at the St. Alphonsus Liguori Church in Peterborough on Monday.

We honour the 1973-year class who is celebrating 50 years today, said Ruth Stedall, a 60-year alumni of the nursing school that was based at the former St. Josephs Hospital on Rogers Street in East City.

While a nurses 50-year anniversary is the first big milestone celebrated by the alumni, years 55, 60, 65, 70, and 75 years are all recognized as well by the group, according to Stedall. Classes of 1948, 1953, 1958, 1963, and 1968 were also celebrated at Mondays event.

Weve been celebrating the graduating class milestones for over 50 years, she said.

But next year will mark the last class of 50-year graduates from the St. Josephs School of Nursing program. After 1974, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Colleges and Universities transitioned all diploma nursing programs from hospitals and into community colleges in Ontario.

Undoubtedly there will be changes to the alumni going forward. Sadly, many schools have already dissolved, she stated in a newsletter. Through determination and close-knit friendships and connections we should be proud that the alumni has been in existence for 103 years.

Mondays gathering drew 112 nurses, with 14 of them celebrating their 50-year anniversary.

There were 36 graduates from the 1973 class, Stedall said. But weve only got 14 here today. Many now live far away or have since passed.

Following a service at the church, a reunion lunch was held, and those celebrating the 50-year milestone were invited up to receive a diploma and a rose.

Mondays gathering was also the first in-person alumni celebration in four years, as COVID-19 pandemic restrictions had forced the group to hold virtual ceremonies for the past three years.

Its also the first time the celebration has been held at St. Alphonsus Liguori, with previous celebrations before the pandemic taking place at Peterboroughs Navy Club, which dissolved in 2020.

Let us acknowledge the nurses from any of the 50-year classes who are here today, who celebrated while were unable to gather during COVID in the past few years, she said.

Stedall credits St. Josephs School of Nursing Alumnis continued existence to the newsletters and family-like mindset shared by the graduates.

Everyone has treasured memories of instructors and staff. Fifty years later the majority of us are retired and some predeceased us, stated Linda Sanders, graduate of the 1973 class of St. Josephs Hospital School of Nursing.

May God Bless all my classmates with health and happiness in your future.

aschummer@peterboroughdaily.com

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The North Hastings Hospital in Bancroft is counting on support from northeastern Peterborough County in raising $300,000 from the public for a CT scan after receiving the go-ahead for the project from the province in April.

Support was given by North Kawartha Township council at its Tuesday meeting with the donation of $11,000 to the Back the Cat campaign following a request from North Hastings medical workers who said the equipment will save lives.

This has been a dream for all of us for a number of years, Kim Bishop, chair of the North Hastings fund development committee for Quinte Health North Hastings, told councillors.

Most of the $2.6-million price tag has already been secured and the hospital is now asking community members to pitch in and raise $300,000, Bishop said.

The equipment will serve an area far beyond Bancroft, including North Kawartha.

Bishop and Tammy Davis, site manager for the hospital, displayed a map which showed residents of the hospitals catchment area now have to travel to Pembroke in the north, Peterborough or Belleville in the south, Bracebridge in the west or Renfrew in the northeast to access a CT scan.

Davis said it will eliminate travel for in-patients, outpatients and emergency patients who visit the small rural Bancroft hospital which has 10 medicine beds, an emergency room, and X-ray and ultrasound services.

CT scans are used frequently to diagnose an injury and determine medical treatment, often in emergency situations. They can detect everything from life-threatening blood clots in the lungs, to brain hemorrhaging, acute appendicitis, or internal bleeding caused by trauma.

The goal is to bring better care closer to home for the people of North Hastings and surrounding areas, both full-time, seasonal residents and tourists.

No trauma bypasses our door. No heart attack bypasses our door, Davis said.

Currently, all North Hastings Hospital patients who need a CT scan are transferred to other hospitals, often Belleville General Hospital, 120 kilometres away.

The patient is transferred with a nurse escort for the one-and-a-half-hour trip by ambulance or a transfer service for their scan before treatment can begin, the website states.

When that happens, the Bancroft hospital could be without an ambulance and nurse for six hours, Bishop said.

A CT scan will also help draw physicians to the hospital, she said.

Were very, very short of doctors here. The new grads are coming out of school and they expect a CT scan in the emergency department in the hospital they are choosing to work in. This will make a huge difference for us.

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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The Peterborough-Hastings Trans Canada Trail Association hosted a special 10th anniversary celebration on May 6 along a section of the Trans Canada Trail known as the Lang Hastings Trail.

The Peterborough-Hastings Trans Canada Trail Association is an incorporated, non-profit charity originally founded in 2012; this army of volunteers and supporters are dedicated to the operation, maintenance and promotion of the Lang Hastings Trail, a 33-kilometre stretch developed on the abandoned Canadian National Railway rail bed between Peterborough and the Trent River at Hastings.

The process of bridging the gap in the Trans Canada Trail by opening up this scenic and desired section between Peterborough and Hastings was actually many years in the making however the goal was accomplished on May 2, 2013.

The property on which the trail is situated is leased by the association from the Province of Ontario and The Cowan Family Foundation.

The 10-year anniversary celebrations were of course held to commemorate the original opening of the trail in 2013, however the festivities were also an opportunity the recognize the valuable contributions of volunteers and donors who are indispensable for the improvement of trail sections through essential seasonal maintenance activities, infrastructure upgrades and the installation of new amenities and informational signage.

Each year, volunteers contribute hundreds of hours of work to ensure that all users can safely access the Lang Hastings Trail and reap the benefits of outdoor recreation in the county.

The Trans Canada Trail would not be the tremendous national asset that it is without the dedication and commitment of tens of thousands of volunteers across the nation, who play a critical role in the development, care, and maintenance of the trail.

The Peterborough-Hastings Trail Association will also be launching a new trail monitor and trail steward volunteer program this year. To learn more please email Christine Painter at langhastingstct@gmail.com or visit langhastingstrail.ca.

The festivities took place on-trail at the shelter gazebo between Heritage Line and Nelson Road/Base Line. The shelter, which contains an informational plaque and a park bench to give the weary wanderer a chance to rest was constructed last year on the historical site of the original Grand Trunk Railway Keene Station.

Projects such as the shelter are funded by Trans Canada Trail Trail Care Grants. A total of 192 trail groups received funding from the grants this year to help them prepare the trail for the 2023 spring and summer seasons. These grants are supported by Hydro Ones Energizing Life Community Fund and by Columbia Sportswear.

Blue whales and yard sales

The Norwood Lions Club will once again be hosting their traditional Victoria Day events at the Lions Park (The corner of Alma and Highway 45) this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The club has preparations well in hand to host their traditional barbecue and Yard Sale, also joining them again will be the Norwood Swans (formerly The Lioness) with their traditional bake sale of homemade goodies and the Norwood Library will also be hosting a book sale alongside the Lions yard sale.

The Lions annual Blue Whale Race down the Ouse River is also set to go again. The pod of bath time play toys will be released to the raging water around 12:30 p.m. with the speediest arriving at the park around 1 p.m. to claim a top prize of $1000.

The eager bargain hunter will also find a number of community yard sales happening throughout the village over the weekend. Anyone not hosting their own sale and would like to donate items to the Lions yard sale can drop them off at the Park between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. on Saturday morning or call Lion Bob Brickell at 905-715-5416 for more information

Norwood Legion

As mentioned above the village of Norwood has long standing tradition of hosting plenty of yard sales over the Victoria Day weekend. The Norwood Legion will join in the tradition this year hosting a large indoor yard sale on May 20 from 8 a.m. to noon.

Other events at the local legion (on the corner of King and Alma Streets) include Wing Night every Thursday from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Up until recently kitchen renovations had placed wings nights on hiatus and while there is still work to be done they are pleased to announce the return of the popular deep fried delicacies.

The legion is also hosting Bingo every Sunday. Doors open at 5 p.m. games start at 6:30 p.m. and food from the kitchen will be available.

They also have their Catch the Ace Draw running; proceeds from the draw go to kitchen renovations.

Church Rummage sale

St. Georges Anglican Church next door in Hastings, 38 Bridge St. is hosting a rummage sale on May 26 and 27 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The church has decided to host the sale a week after their Norwood neighbours.

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The Peterborough Health Coalition joined with provincial health coalitions across Canada who held an online press conference on Tuesday to express opposition to privatized health care.

Bill 60, the Your Health Act, approved May 8 in the Ontario Legislature, aims to speed up access to health care services by having private clinics offer more OHIP-paid surgical and diagnostic services, such as cataract, knee and hip surgeries, and giving pharmacists power to prescribe medications for some illnesses, to free up hospitals to concentrate on other services.

The Ontario Health Coalition has vowed to push back against the new measures.

Its the underfunding of the system, in my opinion, that is driving and creating a crisis, said Marion Burton, co-chair of the Peterborough Health Coalition.

And thats what they (the Ontario government) want, because they want to be able to say, look what the private system can offer to support this system thats not giving us everything we need.

At Tuesdays press conference, members of various provincial health coalitions from provinces where for-profit clinics have been established argued the clinics have not reduced wait times and have cost patients more money.

Just this morning, the Parkland Institute at the University of Alberta released a new report, looking at the last three years, called the Alberta Surgical Initiative and Declining Surgical Capacity, said Chris Gallaway, of Friends of Medicare.

Some of the conclusions I want to highlight include the Alberta Surgical Initiative increased staffing shortages and destabilized our public hospitals. The government of Alberta repeatedly said it would increase the number of surgeries performed in Alberta, it did not.

The Peterborough Health Coalition does not want private clinics in the Peterborough area, Burton said.

Primary care is significantly lacking with the retirement of many of our family physicians, but theres great multidisciplinary models out there that support the needs of patients of all ages in communities, she said.

Staffing and wait time problems would be better addressed by putting this funding into the public sector, as opposed to private businesses that are only there to make a profit, she said.

If they would invest more in those models, I think it would attract a lot more doctors, nurse practitioners, social workers, physiotherapists, she said. Because it spreads the burden of care over a larger group of workers.

Burton said she hopes the legislation will be overturned after provincewide voting in the provincial health coalitions citizen-run referendum on May 26 and 27, including at 20 voting stations in Peterborough city and county.

It will maybe force the government to slow down this road that its going on, she said. And take a look at what the people really want, as far as what their public health care system can provide.

aschummer@peterboroughdaily.com

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MILAN (AP)  U.S. designer Rhuigi Villasenor is leaving his position as creative director of Swiss fashion house Bally, a move announced Tuesday as a joint decision.

Villasenor has led the creative team at Bally since January 2022, helping boost the brands visibility with a return to the runway after 20 years and front-row celebrity guests including Adrien Brody, Emily Ratajkowski and Ella Emhoff.

The Filipino-American designers debut in Milan in September coincided with a flurry of ethnically diverse designers showing collections in Italys fashion capital.

In a statement, Villasenor called his tenure at Bally an incredible honor.

Bally CEO Nicolas Girotto said Villasenors passion energy and creativity helped catapult Bally back into the spotlight, citing his modern, glamorous lens.

An in-house team at the 170-year-old brand will design collections until a new creative organization is announced, the fashion house said. Bally plans to present a co-ed collection during Milan Fashion Week in September.

Villasenors departure comes as the brand reports that sales so far this year are up 20% over the previous year. As part of the brands relaunch, it reopened its New York flagship store and announced a series of capsule collections with Brody, which are set to debut in January 2024.

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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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The number of irregular migrants entering Canada via the United States has fallen significantly since a new border rule was implemented to tighten access to asylum between the two countries, according to new data obtained by the Star.

Since 12:01 a.m. on March 25 and up until May 11, a total of 546 cases of people crossing between the Canadian designated ports of entry have been processed, says the Canada Border Services Agency. Some 300 of them were intercepted by the RCMP during that 48-day period.

The numbers suggest a huge drop in monthly arrivals in Canada from the first two months of this year  4,994 in January and 4,581 in February. In April of last year alone, 2,805 irregular migrants were admitted for asylum in the country.

The number of irregular crossings at Roxham Road has dropped significantly, said Canadian immigration department spokesperson Michelle Carbert, referring to the Quebec border crossing popular among migrants. The government continues to monitor trends closely.

On March 25, Washington and Ottawa expanded the Canada-U.S. Safe Third Country Agreement across the entire northern border  not just at the official ports of entry  to close a loophole used by irregular migrants to sneak into the other country for asylum.

The updated accord means any foreign national who attempts to cross into Canada at any point of the 8,891-kilometre shared border without authorization will be denied access to asylum and be turned back to the U.S. unless they meet one of the exceptions to the rule.

The majority of irregular migrants continued to enter Quebec, which has reported 484 cases since the new rule took effect, followed by 55 cases in British Columbia, six in the Prairies and one in Northern Ontario.

Of the 546 cases reported, 256 have been removed; 224 deemed to have met an exception and been allowed to proceed through the asylum process; and one voluntarily returned to the U.S. The rest are still being processed for refugee eligibility.

The expanded bilateral border pact also applies to those who successfully cross between official ports of entry without being detected and unwisely make a refugee claim less than 14 days after the day of entry into Canada.

Its not known how many of the irregular migrants were permitted to file for asylum outside the so-called two-week turn-back window. The border agency said it coordinates with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol to ensure safe return of those being removed, including arranging for transportation as required.

It is illegal to enter between ports of entry and it is not safe. We encourage asylum seekers to cross the border at designated ports of entry, noted CBSA spokesperson Maria Ladouceur.

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Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Russian mercenary leader and thuggish businessman, has cursed the failures of his countrys army, picked fights with high-ranking politicians and, according to leaked U.S. documents, held treasonous talks with the Ukrainian enemy.

In Vladimir Putins Russia, people have been jailed, poisoned and suffered mysterious deaths after such acts. Yet from the Ukrainian front lines to the backrooms of Moscow and St. Petersburg, Prigozhin  founder of the Wagner Group, a private military company  continues to push the boundaries of what is acceptable in a time of war, leaving observers to guess whether he is Putins ultimate tool or a Kremlin creation that can no longer be controlled.

In the murky world of internal Russian power politics, Prigozhins dauntlessness could indicate the growing strength of the man whose contribution to the war effort has become indispensable. However, some see signs  in his continued denunciations of bureaucrats, generals and, in particular, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu  of the dire state of affairs behind Putins red Kremlin walls.

The situation is changing dramatically, and the things that were previously unimaginable are now becoming realistic, says Abbas Gallyamov, a political analyst and former Putin speech writer now living in Tel Aviv.

In such a tightly controlled regime, the right to speak freely and critically has traditionally been one granted by Putin alone. So Prigozhins virulent and repeated criticisms of the Russian militarys battlefield failings have confounded those trying to understand how the man who used his catering and restaurant businesses to build political connections at the highest levels is still standing.

With Russias military efforts stalled and on the eve of a Ukrainian counteroffensive aimed at retaking occupied territory, only one explanation makes sense to Gallyamov: Putin depends on Prigozhin more than Prigozhin depends on Putin.

It wasnt always thus. The bald and perpetually scowling Saint Petersburg native started off in the food industry, eventually establishing a high-end restaurant that was a haunt for post-Soviet Russias rich, powerful and famous.

He parlayed that into catering companies that won school lunch contracts before going on to feed the military  a line of work that led to Prigozhin being dubbed Putins chef.

More recent roles cast him as something like the Russian presidents underhanded handyman.

Prigozhin, now 61, was tapped to run the Internet Research Agency, the Russian troll farm behind the effort to sway the results of the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The Wagner Group, meanwhile, was founded in 2014 to support pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine, though Prigozhin only owned up to his role with the mercenary group last year.

The state of grace he has enjoyed could now be in jeopardy following an explosive report in the Washington Post, in which Prigozhin allegedly offered to provide Ukrainian intelligence contacts with Russian troop positions in January, in the hope of saving his own mercenary troops in the besieged town of Bakhmut.

The information in the report, which was based on leaked U.S. intelligence documents, could not be independently verified.

Prigozhin commented sarcastically on the article, without explicitly denying the essence of the report. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov suggested the report was based on fake information, while the Ukrainians refused to comment.

This is a matter of (military) intelligence, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded in an interview with the Post.

Do you want me to be convicted of state treason?

The article went on to say that the Ukrainians did not take up Prigozhins offer or agree to go easy on Wagner troops in Bakhmut, mainly because they did not trust him to deal fairly. The fight in Bakhmut continues to this day, with Ukrainian troops reportedly making small advances in recent days.

While the destroyed town in eastern Ukraine is said to hold little strategic significance for either side, it has served as a brutal and bloody backdrop for expletive-laden videos on Prigozhins Telegram channel. In the most virulent, he shines a flashlight on the bodies of his dead soldiers and attributes their fate to the Russian military leaders who failed to properly supply his forces.

Earlier this month, Prigozhin took angry aim at both Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian militarys general staff, and threatened to withdraw Wagner troops, which have included thousands of Russian prisoners freed in exchange for service in Ukraine, after being left at the front in what he called an ammunition famine.

While he dresses in combat fatigues and rants amid the echoes of artillery fire, his ultimate aim is thought to be a smooth transfer from the battlefield to the Russian political arena. Its a sphere from which he has long been excluded due to a black mark on his record  a nine-year Soviet-era prison sentence for assault and theft.

Hes a cunning man. He has this animal instinct but, politically, hes not professional at all, Gallyamov says.

He says that Prigozhin has played the dispute with the Russian military establishment masterfully, and ensured that they  not he  will bear responsibility for any future defeat. Nevertheless, Gallyamov continues, the Wagner boss has alienated many powerful figures and factions, and now finds himself with a great number of unnecessary enemies, among them members of Putins inner circle, the security services, state deputies and regional governors.

Other observers see a vast conspiracy at play in the Kremlin Palace, with Prigozhin acting as a pawn for more powerful actors, such as media oligarch Yury Kovalchuk (a close Putin confidante) and Sergey Kiriyenko, a senior official in Putins presidential administration.

After filling the bellies of students and soldiers, attempting to sway elections and sending his Wagner fighters off to do the Kremlins dirty military work in foreign lands like Mali, Central African Republic, Sudan, Libya and Syria, in this view, Prigozhin is simply fulfilling a different mission.

Writing for the Royal United Services Institute in March, Ukrainian military intelligence analyst Oleksandr Danylyuk said that a prolonged public spat between Prigozhin and the military leadership could be a plot to have the defence minister and chief of staff replaced, or to convince Ukrainian military planners and intelligence analysts that the Russians are in disarray.

Danylyuk, an expert in Russian hybrid warfare and its special services, also argued that Prigozhins angry, madman persona also benefits Putin personally, as it supports his strategic narrative that regime change in Russia would also be bad for the West, given that even more aggressive individuals may come to power.

Its suggested that Prigozhin may have hopes of founding a conservative political movement. The Russian news agency Meduza, citing sources, reports that there are plans to launch a party that seizes on the antielite sentiment in the country.

But he might have to tone down his hard-charging image if he hopes to endear himself to the Russian public.

The majority of Russian supporters of the authority, they are quite conservative and a politician, in their opinion, should be much more respectable gentlemen  even a little dull, Gallyamov said. The way Prigozhin behaves is killing the idea of stability. This is like a thug from the forest who is trying to become like a czar.

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SEATTLE (AP)  Democratic and Republican leaders in the Washington Statehouse reached a tentative deal on a major new drug policy Monday, one that would avoid making the state the second to decriminalize the possession of controlled substances.

Lawmakers will consider the compromise Tuesday when they return to Olympia for a special session. Gov. Jay Inslee called them back after they failed to pass a new drug policy before adjourning late last month.

Under the deal, intentional possession or public use of small amounts of illegal drugs would be a gross misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail for the first two offenses and up to a year after that.

But police and prosecutors would be encouraged to divert cases for treatment or other services, and the measure provides millions of additional dollars for diversion programs and to provide short-term housing for people with substance use disorders. Prosecutors would be allowed to ask courts to end pretrial diversion in cases where the defendant fails to make substantial progress.

A temporary, 2-year-old law that makes intentional drug possession illegal is due to expire July 1. So unless the compromise passes, drug possession  even of fentanyl and other dangerous opiates  will become decriminalized under state law. The only other state thats tried decriminalizing drug possession is neighboring Oregon, where the experiment is off to a rocky start.

Lawmakers on both sides said the agreement strikes a balance between compassion and accountability for those struggling with substance abuse disorder. Rep. Roger Goodman, D-Kirkland, called it a fair compromise that addresses urgent concerns about public disorder but follows evidence-based practices in helping people in need.

Both Goodman and Republican Rep. Peter Abbarno, of Centralia, said much work will remain even if the compromise is approved, because even with additional funding, the state doesnt yet have the treatment or diversion program capacity it needs to deal with the addiction crisis.

The state of Washington is a decade behind in having treatment providers and having adequate bed space and treatment facilities, Abbarno said. Even when we pass this policy, were still not going to see an immediate drop in crime or substance abuse, because we dont have the workforce development and infrastructure to deal with the off-ramps that this bill creates.

In 2021, the Washington Supreme Court struck down the state law making drug possession a felony. It was unconstitutional, the court said, because it did not require prosecutors to prove someone knowingly had the drugs. Washington was the only state in the country without that requirement.

In response, lawmakers made intentional drug possession a misdemeanor and required police to refer offenders to evaluation or treatment for their first two offenses  but there was no obvious way for officers to track how many times someone had been referred, and availability of treatment remained inadequate.

Lawmakers made the measure temporary and gave themselves until this July 1 to come up with a long-term policy.

But as this years session ended late last month, a measure billed as a compromise was voted down in the Democratic-controlled House 55-43.

The standstill put lawmakers against a ticking clock to pass a compromise before that temporary law making possession of small amounts of drugs a misdemeanor expires in July.

Without a major new drug measure passed in Washington, cities and counties would be free to adopt their own approaches to drug possession and paraphernalia, creating a patchwork of laws that could undermine efforts to treat addiction as a public health issue.

Under the agreement, the sale of drug paraphernalia, such as glass tubes for smoking fentanyl, is a civil infraction, but possession is not banned, and public health programs would be allowed to distribute such materials as well as test strips that can detect the presence of fentanyl or other substances in drugs.

Cities and counties would not be allowed to ban drug paraphernalia, but they would be allowed to regulate recovery residences or harm reduction programs such as those that provide methadone or other medication to treat addiction, in the same way that they can regulate other essential public services.

Republican Rep. Gina Mosbrucker, of Goldendale, called the tentative deal a good compromise that sets lawmakers up to send a new policy to the governors desk within several days.

This bill stops hard drugs in Washington from becoming legal, so I think its critical that we move forward, Mosbrucker said. That doesnt mean we cant have amendments and things that we dont anticipate that might change that.

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(Bloomberg) -- C3.ai Inc. shares gained 23%, the most in 10 weeks, after the company released preliminary earnings exceeding analysts estimates and said an investigation following accusations from short-sellers found no wrongdoing.

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The business environment for enterprise AI is more active than we have seen since the companys inception and seems to be accelerating, Redwood City, California-based C3.ai said Monday in a statement.

Revenue in the quarter that ended April 30 was as much as $72.4 million, the company said. Analysts, on average, projected $71.3 million, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Free cash flow was unexpectedly positive for the first time since 2021, though the firm said it will post an adjusted quarterly loss of $23.7 million to $23.9 million.

The shares had tripled in the first quarter of the year as enthusiasm for companies tied to artificial intelligence swept Wall Street, until plunging 26% on April 4 after short-seller Kerrisdale Capital alleged serious accounting and disclosure issues at the enterprise software developer. The stock closed at $23.97 Monday in New York.

Releasing fiscal fourth-quarter results early had nothing to do with the short-sellers, Chief Executive Officer Tom Siebel said in an interview. It was done to avoid any selective disclosures, as an unusual number of people knew the figures due to year-ahead planning, he said.

In a separate statement, C3.ais board audit committee said that an investigation following reports from Kerrisdale and Spruce Point Capital found that that none of the allegations or insinuations of wrongdoing were supported by the facts. Siebel said no company executives outside of the audit committee were involved in the review.

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The software maker announced in December that it would switch all new business to consumption model pricing  a pay-as-you go system similar to a homeowners utility bill  in the hopes of making it more attractive to new customers. Commentary about accelerating demand in the results is a positive sign for the transition, Arvind Ramnani, an analyst at Piper Sandler, wrote in a note.

Despite the sales increase, there is still uncertainty over how much revenue came from major customer Baker Hughes Co., as well as the conversion rate of new customers, wrote Joshua Tilton at Wolfe Research.

Sahm Adrangi, chief investment officer at Kerrisdale Capital, said C3.ais preliminary results dont answer questions about over-reliance on revenue from Baker Hughes, a jump in unbilled receivables and other issues. Kerrisdale is still short C3.ai shares, he said.

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FARMINGTON, N.M. (AP)  The gunman who killed three people and wounded six others as he fired randomly while roaming his northwestern New Mexico neighborhood was a local high school student and his victims include a 97-year-old woman and her daughter, police said Tuesday.

Investigators were still trying to determine a motive for the attack by Beau Wilson, 18, in the Farmington neighborhood where he lived. They say he opened fire Monday, killing Gwendolyn Schofield, her 73-year-old daughter, Melody Ivie, and 79-year-old Shirley Voita.

Voita had worked as a nurse and was a devoted parishioner at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, said former state Rep. James Strickler, who was her friend.

She was just a dynamite lady. She was well-loved and Im still shocked over it, said Strickler, who heard gunfire ring out on Monday before learning the circumstances of Voitas death.

Witnesses and police say Wilson walked through the neighborhood a short drive from downtown Farmington spraying bullets until police arrived within minutes and fatally shot him. Two police officers were among the wounded.

Farmington Deputy Police Chief Baric Crum said at least 150 bullets were fired but that number was expected to go up as the investigation continued.

The amount of violence and brutality that these people faced is unconscionable to me, Deputy Police Chief Kyle Dowdy said.

Deputy Police Chief Baric Crum said Wilson was indiscriminately shooting at vehicles, but that some rounds also hit homes.

Dowdy said investigators do not believe Wilson knew anyone he shot.

Weve discovered nothing that leads us to believe that the suspect knew the victims, he said. Were pretty confident in that this was completely random.

Bryan Brown and Brandi Dominguez were home Monday morning with their five children when the shooting began. Their doorbell camera captured yelling and the repeated pops of gunfire. Brown said it was loud and sounded as if it were coming from two different directions.

Brown was among those who ran into the street to help the victims. He said one woman had gunshot wounds to the leg and head. She asked for help and he said he tried to stop the bleeding.

I feel bad for her family, he said Tuesday. I dont even know, this kind of stuff is just uncalled for.

Before Brown came outside, he told Dominguez and the kids to stay inside and stay down. Bullets hit the familys home and vehicle.

Brown said his teenage son knew Wilson from school and had texted him, knowing that he lived down the street. It was only later they found out that authorities identified Wilson as the shooter.

It just goes to show you never really know somebody until something happens, Brown said. He seemed like an OK kid.

The tragedy was noted Tuesday night during otherwise exuberant graduation ceremony for 374 students on the Farmington High School football field. Speakers spoke of resilience and hope.

Principal Rocky Torres noted that there was an empty chair with a bouquet of white roses on it at the back of the student rows in recognition of our fellow graduates, family members and friends that cannot be here with us tonight. He led a moment of silence.

The main speaker, retired principal Ttimothy Kienitz, told students that there was no better message for them and the community than find a way to win.

This is a strong, tough and tenacious community and we will overcome, he said.

Wilson was a senior at the school but it wasnt immediately known whether he was due to graduate with his class.

In November, after he turned 18, Wilson legally purchased at least one gun used Monday, police said. He carried three firearms in the attack, including an assault-style weapon.

Four officers fired a total of 16 rounds at Wilson, including one of the wounded officers, said San Juan County Sheriff Shane Ferrari.

Mayor Nate Duckett said Tuesday that the Farmington officer and state police officer were treated for their wounds and released from a hospital.

Authorities began receiving reports of gunshots at 10:57 a.m. and the first officer arrived at 11:02 a.m., police Chief Steve Hebbe said Monday in a video statement. Three minutes later, the gunman had been killed.

Joseph Robledo, a 32-year-old tree trimmer, said he rushed home after learning that his wife, Jolene, and their year-old daughter had sought shelter in the laundry room when gunshots rang out. A bullet went through his daughters window, without hitting anyone.

Jolene Robledo said they had just finished breakfast when she heard pop, pop, pop, pop, which she first thought was a car backfiring. She said they were going to run out the back door until she heard a man curse right outside, so she quietly shut the door and hid with her daughter between the washing machine and dryer.

I mean it was crazy. I called my husband and he could hear the gunshots over the phone, she said. He was freaking out and I was like, dont hang up, dont hang up!

Joseph Robledo said he 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 a 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.

Downtown Farmington, a short drive from the neighborhood, has undergone a transformation of sorts in recent years, with cafes and breweries cropping up alongside decades-old businesses that trade in Native American crafts from silver jewelry to wool weavings.

On Tuesday, orange circles of spray paint still marked the ground where police had collected evidence. Authorities were using metal detectors to search the grass in front of one of the churches along the street where gunfire erupted.

As night approached Monday, dozens of people gathered at Hills Church, a few miles (kilometers) from the attack scene, to pray at the base of a tall metal cross. Lead pastor Matt Mizell talked about living in a dark and broken world but told the crowd there was still hope and asked God to provide them strength.

New Mexico enacted a red-flag law in 2020 that can be used to seize guns from people who pose a danger to others or themselves. Dowdy said relatives expressed concern about Wilsons mental health when interviewed by police but that he didnt have enough information at this time to further elaborate.

___

Lee reported from Santa Fe and Yamat reported from Las Vegas. Associated Press writer Terry Tang in Phoenix contributed.

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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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OTTAWA - The Liberals new bail-reform legislation includes new measures that would make it more difficult for some repeat violent offenders to get released on bail.

Justice Minister David Lametti introduced the bill Tuesday morning amid an ongoing plea from premiers, police associations and victims rights groups to strengthen the law.

He said the bill responds directly to their concerns.

The legislation introduces reverse-onus bail conditions for people charged with serious violent offences involving a weapon, in cases where the person was convicted of a similar violent offence within the past five years.

It will also add some firearms offences to existing reverse-onus provisions, and expand the provision of that measure in cases where the alleged crimes involve intimate partner violence.

While the burden of proof usually rests on prosecutors to convince judges why offenders should stay behind bars, this means that in some cases, the offender will now be the one who has to prove in court why they should be released on bail.

You are innocent until proven guilty, and this is a critically important part of our legal system, Lametti said during a news conference on Tuesday.

But what were doing for certain violent offences is changing the default position and making sure that it is only in cases where there isnt a threat to security.

Lametti said he hopes the law will pass with unanimous consent from other political parties.

This bill responds directly to concerns raised by the premiers, as well as police chiefs and victims advocates, he said.

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said the announcement is about keeping communities safe and zeroes in on offenders who use guns and other weapons.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said during his own press conference that he would go a step further if he was prime minister and waive such offenders rights to a bail hearing in the first place.

Poilievre said he would bring in laws that would require repeat violent offenders who are newly arrested for violent crimes to remain behind bars throughout their trial  jail, not bail.

He went on to say that the proposed laws would not raise the bar to access bail and instead they create a series of lower bars and will continue to allow repeat violent offenders to be released on bail.

A common sense Conservative government will reverse Trudeaus catch and release, he said.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said bail reforms cannot be the only thing considered to keep communities safe, and called for better supervision of people who are released on bail.

We also know that there are serious concerns around mental health and addictions that are also creating serious problems around safety, and that has to be addressed as well, he said.

The proposed changes to the Criminal Code come amid pressure from the provinces and territories to reduce the number of repeat violent offenders who are granted bail. Premiers had unanimously asked the government to expand the reverse-onus provisions.

B.C. Premier David Eby said his counterparts from across Canada are counting on Parliament to pass the legislation swiftly.

He said bills can often become locked in partisan political debate in the House of Commons or move slowly through the Senate, but this shouldnt happen with bail reform.

This cant be one of those bills, said Eby.

This cant be a bill that is partisan in nature. It needs to be all hands on deck to ensure its responsive to the concerns that were seeing across the country. The premiers across the country have spoken out and I dont think it will be acceptable to anybody from any political party if this bill becomes a political football or gets stuck in the Senate.

The provinces attorney general, Niki Sharma, said in a statement that she is glad to see the government taking B.C.s concerns seriously.

While well be looking closely at the details of the federal legislation, the amendments broadly cover the types of violence we are seeing in our communities.

In a statement, Ontarios Solicitor General Michael Kerzner and Attorney General Doug Downey said too many innocent people have lost their lives due to dangerous criminals not being behind bars.

If passed, the federal governments proposed legislation will bring meaningful and much-needed changes to Canadas bail system, the statement said.

High-profile cases have recently brought attention to the issue, including the stabbing deaths of a woman and her daughter in Edmonton earlier this month.

The accused killer, whom police did not name but who has been identified in media reports, had reportedly been released on bail for a different crime less than three weeks earlier. The charge in that separate case was reportedly stayed a few days before the stabbings, and the man died in hospital last week.

Calls for change had intensified in response to the late December death of Ontario Provincial Police officer Const. Greg Pierzchala.

Court documents showed one of the two people facing a first-degree murder charge in his death, Randall McKenzie, was initially denied bail in a separate case involving assault and weapons charges but was released after a review.

The documents show a warrant was issued for McKenzies arrest after he didnt show up for a court date in August.

After meeting with provincial and territorial justice ministers in March, Lametti called Pierzchalas death a catalyst for change.

Lametti promised at the meeting that he would bring in targeted reforms, but that they would respect the fundamental rights of accused people.

The Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees that anyone who is charged with a crime will not be denied reasonable bail without just cause.

Manitoba Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen said Tuesday that he had not gone through the details of the bill yet, but at first blush, it appeared to be hitting on a lot of the themes that ministers were concerned about when they met with Lametti.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 16, 2023.

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version incorrectly stated that police said the Edmonton stabbings were committed by a person who was out on bail at the time.

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Cruise liner Mein Schiff 5 stops off in Phuket

PHUKET: The cruise liner Mein Schiff 5, operated by TUI Cruises, arrived in Phuket yesterday (May 15), bringing more than 2,000 tourists to the island.

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By The Phuket News

Tuesday 16 May 2023, 06:56PM

The ship, stretching 295 metres long and some 36 metres across, anchored in Ao Makham, off Cape Panwa.

Present in person to welcome the ship and all the guests arriving on the island was Phuket Marine Chief Natchapong Pranit and a team of Marine Office officials.

Mr Natchapong said that Phuket welcomed the first post-pandemic cruise liner visit in October last year.

Since then, Phuket has welcomed some 160,000 tourists arriving by cruise liner, bringing a welcome boost to the islands economy.

The cruise liners usually drop anchor at Ao Makham and Patong, and are considered a good sign for the Phuket tourism industry, he said.

Launched in 2016, the Mein Schiff 5 can carry a full complement of 2,534 passengers and 1,030 crew.

The ship arrived in Phuket from Langkawi as it is currently serving a 60-day transit from Hong Kong to Heraklion on the island of Crete, in Greece.

The Mein Schiff 5 stopped off at Samui earlier this month.

The ship has already departed Phuket. As of late this afternoon (May 16) the ship was rounding the northern tip of Sumatra as it headed back to the Mediterranean.

According to Phuket Immigration, Phuket welcomed 12 cruise liners in March. However, as Phuket starts to enter its rainy season, Phuket welcomed only six cruise liners in April, Phuket Immigration reported.
Leaders of wider Europe unite against Russia

REYKJAVIK: A year after kicking Russia out of the Council of Europe (CoE), the leaders of the 46-nation pan-continental rights body gather today (May 16) in Iceland to show a united face against Moscow.

RussianUkraineviolencedeathpolitics

By AFP

Tuesday 16 May 2023, 12:54PM

Britains Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (right) and Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky talk during a joint press conference in the garden at Chequers, the prime ministers official country residence, in the UK yesterday (May 15). Photo: AFP

Firming up ways to hold Russia legally responsible for the death and destruction it has wrought in Ukraine will dominate the summit in Reykjavik, only the fourth to be held in the CoEs seven-decade history.

As of late yesterday, there was no official word as to whether Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would take part in the summit.

But he has been on a tour of major European capitals, with each stop publicly announced only just before arrival.

Along the way, Berlin, Paris and London all pledged to step up arms deliveries to Kyiv, deepening a military arrangement between the West and Ukraine that has helped put Russia on the back foot.

Ukraine is expected to mount an offensive against Russian forces in the east of its territory in coming weeks.

Zelensky tweeted that he was returning home with new defence packages.

The CoE focuses on its mission to promote human rights, democracy and rule of law in its member states, which include all 27 European Union nations plus Britain, Turkey, Western Balkan countries, Georgia and Armenia.

Russia was kicked out of the CoE in March 2022, because of its invasion of Ukraine, just ahead of its plan to withdraw from the Strasbourg-based body.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, who is attending the summit, said yesterday the EU will keep supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes.

She said that, in Reykjavik we will discuss how to hold Russia accountable and I will support the creation of a dedicated tribunal to bring Russias crime of aggression to trial.

Notably, she said, the summit will look to set up a register of damage in The Hague, where a special court could be set up as a first step, and a good step, towards Russian compensation.

Russia isolated

The commission and EU countries are in favour of setting up a special tribunal, likely in The Hague in the Netherlands where the International Criminal Court already sits, to judge Russian leaders and commanders.

That prospect, though, is pushed off to after what looks like it will be a long war, with Russia digging in and perhaps preparing its own spring attack on Ukrainian positions.

The two-day Council of Europe summit will be an opportunity for almost the entire European family to portray Russia as isolated on its own continent.

Emmanuel Macron of France, Rishi Sunak of Britain and Olaf Scholz of Germany are among the heads of state and government set to attend.

But for all the projected unity there are fissures in that CoE family.

Britain, for instance, is antagonistic towards the CoEs European Convention of Human Rights, which is a barrier to its plans to stem the irregular arrival of asylum-seekers by deporting them to Rwanda or pressing for European countries that served as transit points to take them back.

The convention is backed by a European Court of Human Rights which has made rulings that have already stymied Britains efforts in that direction.

It is clear that our current international system is not working, and our communities and the worlds most vulnerable people are paying the price, Sunak said late yesterday.

The British leader was a late addition to the list of summit attendees, after his office initially told journalists he would not attend.

Britains ruling Tories, who took their country out of the European Union after a Brexit referendum, are determined to fight what they describe as the scourge of illegal migration.

The leaders gathering is also a key moment for the heads of European heavyweights Germany, France, Italy and Britain to meet before a G7 summit starting Friday in Japan.

The United States, the major military supporter of Ukraine, has observer status at the CoE and will be represented in Reykjavik by its UN ambassador, Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
Proposed coalition government faces senate hurdle

BANGKOK: Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of The Move Forward Party (MFP), announced a plan yesterday (May 15) to form a coalition government comprising five former opposition parties and one new party, with a combined 310 MPs and himself as prime minister.

politics

By Bangkok Post

Tuesday 16 May 2023, 10:29AM

Members of the Move Forward Party, with leader Pita Limjaroenrat in the middle, wave from an open-top vehicle on Ratchadamnoen Avenue near Democracy Monument yesterday (May 15), where they thanked supporters after the MFP scored a resounding victory in Sundays election to become parliaments largest party. Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul

However, the move may not be plain sailing after a number of senators made it clear they will not support its prime ministerial candidate.

Mr Pita made the announcement after the Election Commission declared the MFP as the winner of the most seats in Sundays general election with 152 MPs - 113 from constituencies and 39 from the party list.

He said he took the victory as a mandate from the people for his party to be the leader in forming the next government, reports the Bangkok Post.

Mr Pita said he called Paetongtarn Shinawatra, a Pheu Thai prime ministerial candidate, and congratulated her for her determination during the campaign and invited her party to join a coalition.

Ms Paetongtarn, in return, congratulated Move Forward and said the media should be informed that the two parties had talked in the interests of transparency, he added.

Ms Paetongtarn attended a press conference yesterday with Pheu Thai party leader Cholnan Srikaew and fellow prime minister candidate Srettha Thavisin to announce the partys stance and confirming that it has no plans to compete with the MFP to form a new government.

[Pheu Thai] accepts the fact that the MFP will lead the formation of the new government and further agrees with the invitation it has extended to parties from democratic alliances to join the new government, a statement released by Pheu Thai said.

The party is of the opinion that the issues and process relating to the formation of the new government are for the MFP to decide.

When asked if the party would back Mr Pita as the prime minister, Ms Paetongtarn said Pheu Thai would accept the peoples decision.

She affirmed the partys stance against abolishing the lese majeste law, saying it is not against discussing the law in the House.

When asked if her father, fugitive ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra would return home as planned, she said there would be no changes to the plan unless announced otherwise. However, she insisted her fathers planned return to Thailand had nothing to do with the party.

The three other former opposition parties Mr Pita had contacted were Thai Sang Thai, Prachachart and Seri Ruam Thai. The five parties won 309 MP seats combined.

Mr Pita said he was contacting Pen Tham, or the Fair Party, which had one party-list MP, to join the coalition. He said it was a party which had worked hard for peace in the three southernmost border provinces.

The six parties would have 310 MPs in total, enough to be a majority government, he said.

We would form the government as soon as possible so that there will not be a political and economic vacuum. Please be assured that Move Forward will be fast and meticulous, Mr Pita said.

Asked whether Move Forward worried that senators would not vote in support of the coalition to meet the required 376 votes of endorsement for prime minister, Mr Pita said he was not concerned about it as the party has a mandate from the people.

Senate hurdle

However, the move has opposition in the senate.

Under the constitution, the 250 senators appointed by the now-defunct National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) are allowed to join MPs in electing a prime minister in parliament.

It will be the second and last time they will co-elect a prime minister after Sundays election. In the 2019 election, they joined MPs in voting for Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha to become prime minister.

However, Senator Jadet Insawang said that upon assuming the post of a senator, he took an oath to protect the constitutional monarchy.

The MFP and Mr Pita once announced they would scrap Section 112 [the lese majeste law], which will affect the monarchy. This is unacceptable, he said.

If the MFP gathers the support of 376 MPs [more than half of the 750 members of the Lower and Upper Houses,] there is no need to seek the Senates support for [a prime ministerial candidate]. But if they only get 309, theyll have to.

For me, if Mr Pita, the MFPs prime ministerial candidate, is nominated for a vote in parliament, he wont get my vote, Mr Jadet said.

Senator Kittisak Rattanawaraha said that the senators would look at the qualifications of any prime ministerial candidate nominated for a vote in parliament.

One of the qualifications is that the candidate must be loyal to the country, religion and the monarchy, he said.

He went on to say that it is premature to comment on the makeup of a coalition government.

Senators only consider how the country will be, whether problems, conflicts or protests will follow if they vote for someone to become prime minister. We have to look at several dimensions.

The senators will make a decision in the countrys best interests, Mr Kittisak said.

Another senator, Chalermchai Fuengkorn, said that any party that wins the most seats must gather the support of 376 MPs so they can nominate a prime ministerial candidate and bypass the Senate.

If they can also bring some other parties, such as Bhumjaithai, into their coalition, the Senate will be rendered meaningless, he said. But if they cannot gather enough support and some senators abstain from voting, their bid to form a coalition will fail.

Laddawan Tantivitayapitak, secretary-general of the Open Forum for Democracy Foundation (P-Net), called on all sides to respect the peoples mandate in the poll and for the Senate to comply with the result of a majority vote by the House of Representatives to nominate a PM candidate.
Plan your trip before youre in your car: The Ministry of Transportation has scheduled three closures in Waterloo on May 16, 2023 for roadwork on Highway 6 and Highway 8.

Highway 6 northbound between Wellington Road 34 / County Road 34 and Maltby Road / Concession 4, Guelph: one alternating lane closed until May 19 at 5 p.m.

Highway 6 southbound between Currie Drive / Telfer Glen, Morriston and Highway 5, Hamilton: one alternating lane closed until May 19 at 5 a.m.

Highway 8 eastbound between Branchton Road and Highway 5 / Peter's Corners, Hamilton: one alternating lane closed until May 19 at 6 a.m.

Have further to travel? Highway closures for planned roadwork outside Waterloo

About this story

This story was automatically generated using open data from Ontario 511. These closures are scheduled for short-term or emergency repairs and maintenance of provincial highways around Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo. The disruptions may be intermittent or ongoing and can change due to weather, emergencies and other factors.

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KITCHENER  Waterloo Region Community Legal Services and grassroots groups are calling on Waterloo Regional Police to drop charges against people who rallied in support of unsheltered residents living on Roos Island in Victoria Park and on the city to rescind its move to keep people from living there.

Police said a peace officer sustained a minor physical injury at the April 27 protest when protesters and bylaw officers tussled after protesters opened a gate barring access to the island.

Three people were charged with forcible entry, assaulting a peace officer and mischief  interfere with lawful use, enjoyment, or operation of property, in connection to the protest.

Waterloo Region Community Legal Services and the Social Development Centre Waterloo Region, who had members at the April 27 rally, criticized police in a news release Friday.

These charges are an extension of the criminalization of homelessness, which is antithetical to the human rights-based approach to encampments that the City of Kitchener had previously endorsed, the release said. These charges are furthering the harm that the island residents and their supporters are experiencing.

In the release, the groups ask that the city to rescind its decisions not to allow any more campers to set up on the island or elsewhere in Victoria Park, and for Waterloo Regional Police and the Crown to drop charges.

In another release Wednesday, four grassroots groups  FightBackKW, Land Back Camp, Housing Now! Tent City Associates and the Alan Ryan Peoples Community Defence Brigade  said the charges should be dropped.

These charges are intended to scare us into silence and scare the community away from doing anti-poverty work, the release said.

Paige Desmond is a Waterloo Region-based reporter focusing on municipal issues for The Record. Reach her via email: pdesmond@therecord.com

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By Steve Scherer

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada has increased its planned support to carmaker Stellantis to build a battery plant in Windsor, Ontario, the industry minister said on Tuesday, but it wants the Ontario provincial government to help pay for it.

To break the "stalemate," it is important that Ontario "pay its fair share," Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne told reporters at a news conference in Seoul.

Stellantis on Monday stopped construction at a C$5 billion ($3.7 billion) electric-vehicle battery plant in Canada, which is being built in partnership with South Korea's LG Energy Solution (LGES).

Canada has not delivered what it already promised and there are no new talks under way, Stellantis spokesperson LouAnn Gosselin said.

Stellantis and LGES announced their battery plant investment in March last year, but tensions emerged when the United States in August passed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a massive package of clean-tech incentives for companies, Champagne said.

"The company asked us to come back to the table," Champagne said. "In the spirit of fairness ... we said we would level the playing field with the United States, that we would offer them a fair deal quite similar to what we have offered to Volkswagen."

Stellantis confirmed that an increase in support was negotiated after the IRA was adopted, and it is that deal that Canada has yet to deliver on, Gosselin said.

In April, Canada agreed to provide up to C$13 billion in manufacturing tax credits and a C$700 million grant to lure German automaker Volkswagen AG to build its North American battery plant in the country. It was the biggest single investment ever in Canada's electric-vehicle supply chain.

Ontario's provincial government pledged C$500 million in direct investment to the German carmaker, the same amount it offered to Stellantis last year.

Canada is offering Stellantis manufacturing tax credits now, Champagne said, adding, "there's going to be a lot of economic benefits to the people in Ontario, and that's why we think it's only fair ... that the province will pay their fair share."

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Ontario Premier Doug Ford, speaking on Monday, said the federal government must put up the new funds, not the province. His office declined to comment on Tuesday.

Champagne said he would likely meet LGES management at an official dinner during his visit to South Korea this week, and added that he was "confident" the issue would be resolved. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is also making an official visit to South Korea this week before heading to the G7 in Japan.

(Reporting by Steve Scherer in Ottawa; Editing by Nick Zieminski and Matthew Lewis)
KITCHENER  The Waterloo Region District School Board has voted to fill two vacant trustee positions by appointment instead of a costly byelection.

The board was faced with filling two vacancies after the sudden death of trustee Fred Meissner earlier this month and trustee Marie Snyders resignation for health reasons.

At Mondays meeting, board chair Joanne Weston explained the board would have to cover all costs of a byelection. The two vacancies would require byelections in Waterloo, Wilmot, Woolwich and Wellesley.

The City of Waterloo said it would cost $214,000 to host its portion of the byelection. Costs for the townships had not been received by Mondays board meeting.

I think that a byelection would be prohibitively expensive. We know that we are in a tight budget environment, said trustee Scott Piatkowski, who put forward the motion for an appointment process. Extrapolating on the City of Waterloo figure, I think were looking at over a half-million dollars to run two byelections, and certainly I cant justify that.

Legislation would require the byelection be held in either July or August, he said, which is generally considered a time to avoid holding elections due to low voter turnout.

Theres also a precedent for appointing new trustees, said Weston.

On the last three occasions when the board had a vacancy, it filled them by appointment  two through an interview process and one by appointing the first runner-up in the previous election.

The board voted Monday in favour of an appointment process, after a long discussion in which trustees Cindy Watson and Mike Ramsay said an appointment process was undemocratic.

Someone could come in and get the position, and yet they didnt even run for the position, said Watson. Since its only been six months, it only makes sense to go with the person next in line.

RELATED STORIES Waterloo Region Public school board mourns sudden death of trustee Fred Meissner

Several trustees cited the high cost of a byelection along with historically low voter turnout for standalone trustee byelections as reasons for voting in favour of appointment.

If I thought we could get a reflection of the democratic process in a result, I might be willing to discuss the idea of spending that kind of money on a byelection, said trustee Carla Johnson. But at this point it feels its not going to be, so Im voting in favour of appointment.

An ad hoc committee will determine how the new trustees are appointed. That committee is to report back to the board on May 29.

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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.
A ceremony was held May 5 at St. Elizabeth Village to recognize the efforts of Canadian soldiers in the liberation of Holland during the Second World War.





Hamilton resident Doug Iverson was a 19-year-old signalman in the Canadian Army fighting behind enemy lines in the Netherlands during the Second World War.

Iverson was hiding behind trees and barns and was on the move every night because the Germans would pick up the radio signal his unit was sent.

We were up to our knees in mud, he said.

Iverson, with the rest of the Canadian, United States and Polish military units, were fighting the Germans in Holland. He was part of the Canadian contingent that captured a German naval base at the end of April 1945. The Germans were supplying soldiers with electronic subs that were continuing to evade U.S. and British destroyers.

Iverson, 98, who was accompanied by his daughter, Jan Gallo of Ancaster, to the service commemorating the 78th anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands May 5 at St. Elizabeth Villas chapel, said he served in France, Belgium and Germany, but the love and respect and the attitude of the Dutch people with the hell they went through have been overwhelming."

They shared compassion and excitement when we drove through (Holland), he said. They were so grateful.

Iverson is one of the handful of living Canadian veterans who still attend the annual commemoration of the liberation of the Netherlands hosted by the Dutch Canadian Veteran Association.

There used to be about 700 veterans, said Ancaster resident Chris Kruter of the association, who has organized the event since 1990. Now there are only about six.

This used to be a really big event, said Kruter, who arrived in Ancaster in 1965 and established a construction company. One year, we had the Royal Dutch Orchestra come over here.

There are very few (veterans) left now.

Kruter was born in Roosendaal, a small village near where members of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders drove back the German invaders in September 1944.

When asked why he continues to organize the event, Kruter, who had been in the hospital the day before the event, said with his voice cracking If it wasnt for them (Canadians), I wouldnt be sitting here today.

The service featured Rev. Dr. Francis Chisholm, 97, Padre of Branch 163 Royal Canadian Legion and member of the Dutch Canadian Veteran Association, who said there is no celebration without commemoration.

Freedom is never free, he said, reminding the audience that had gathered in the chapel that 7,600 Canadians lost their lives fighting the Germans in the Netherlands during the eight-month campaign.

Also attending the event were representatives from Hamilton Mountain NDP MPP Monique Taylors office, Mayor Andrea Horwaths office, Flamborough-Glanbrook Conservative MP Dan Muys and the Dutch consul general.

The First Canadian Army played a major role in liberating the Dutch people, but it also helped to open up waterways in Belgium and the Netherlands Scheldt estuary, the gateway to the port of Antwerp.

At the end of April 1945, Iverson was listening to the BBC in his barracks when an announcement was made that Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery was meeting with the German leader for their unconditional surrender.

I was so excited, I put my mouthpiece on the microphone, and (the soldiers) all threw their helmets into the air. Ceasefire it was, said Iverson.

The then 20-year-old Iverson was shipped home in July 1945. In April 1946, he was officially discharged.

It was quite the experience, he said.

Iverson and his daughter have been attending the liberation service since it was held at Marritt Hall at the Ancaster Fairgrounds.

He met Kruter and they have become fast friends.

We are so grateful for Chris, he said. He is an amazing person. What he has gone through, its incredible.

STORY BEHIND THE STORY: We wanted to learn more about local efforts to celebrate the liberation of Holland and the surviving veterans who continue to mark the event.





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City of Hamilton staff received just one bid for a 17-project tender for new traffic control infrastructure, including traffic lights at York Road and Olympic Drive in Dundas.

Decew Construction Inc. of Hamilton submitted the sole bid, of $1,390,700, by the May 5 tender closing date.

A total of $275,000 was budgeted in 2022 for traffic lights at the York-Olympic T-intersection currently controlled by a stop sign for eastbound traffic approaching from York Road.

City spokesperson Lauren Vastano said May 11 the single bid is currently in processing with final results or approval pending.

Once the bid is processed, staff will be able to relay more information concerning schedule and order of delivery, Vastano said. This is expected to take a few weeks.

The tender states the city can reject any bid  including the lowest bid, and can require the submission of new bids.

Its not clear how much the city budgeted for the tenders other 16 projects.

According to the tender, the York-Olympic work includes conversion of a one-way stop-controlled intersection to a traffic signal-controlled intersection. The scope of design for this location will include concrete works, AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act) infrastructure, traffic signal pole bases, underground infrastructure, street lighting and pavement marking.

Tender drawings indicate a north-south pedestrian crossing of York Road but no east-west crossing of Olympic.

The tender called for work to be completed before the end of September 2023.

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A Burlington man was killed in a collision involving a motorcycle outside of Waterdown on Monday evening.

In a media release, Hamilton police said at around 4:40 p.m. on May 15, a Kawasaki motorcycle and Dodge Caravan collided in front of Aldershot Greenhouses Ltd. on Concession 5 Road East.

The rider of the motorcycle, a 32-year-old Burlington man, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the van, a 37-year-old non-Canadian resident, stayed at the scene and is co-operating with investigators, according to police.

The collision reconstruction unit has taken over the investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Const. Wes Wilson at 905-546-4753.

To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit anonymous tips online at crimestoppershamilton.com.

The crash marks the sixth traffic fatality of 2023 and the third involving a motorcycle.

It comes days after a Hamilton man riding an allegedly stolen motorcycle died following a two-vehicle collision on the Mountain in the early evening hours of May 12.

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PHILADELPHIA  The Philadelphia Inquirer says a weekend cyberattack caused the biggest disruption to its operations in 27 years and prevented it from publishing its Sunday print edition.

The attack was detected Saturday morning when employees found that the paper's content-management system wasn't working, the Inquirer reported on its website.

The paper discovered anomalous activity on select computer systems and immediately took those systems offline, Inquirer publisher Lisa Hughes said.

The cyberattack caused the largest disruption to the publication of Pennsylvanias largest news organization  the company publishes The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Philadelphia Daily News  since a blizzard in January 1996, the company reported.

Weekend editor Diane Mastrull said Monday that the newspaper had been dealing with an extraordinarily busy weekend, with three nights of Taylor Swift concerts, the Philadelphia 76ers playing a playoffs game 7 and mayoral candidates making their final pitches to voters.

Im amazed to say we got all of that coverage on our website in our electronic edition on Sunday and then in the papers today, Mastrull said. She called that an extraordinary feat by systems personnel and one that required patience from reporters and editors using workarounds to write and edit stories  as well as being in the awkward position of having to report on the paper itself.

On Sunday, subscribers were sent the early bulldog edition of the paper that didn't include stories written Saturday, Mastrull said. On Monday, however, subscribers got the full Monday paper on their doorstep," she said, Mastrull added that workers assume that will be the case Wednesday morning, when people will be looking for election results. Classified advertisements, including death notices, will not appear until Wednesday, officials said.

We asked questions and did not get many answers, and that has frustrated the staff, but I understand its a very complex situation, said Mastrull, who is also president of the newspaper's guild. She added that employees and subscribers remain concerned about whether their personal data may have been compromised.

Employees have been barred from working in the newspaper offices at least through Tuesday, with the company saying that was necessary because access to company internet servers has been disrupted, Mastrull said. Hughes said the company was looking into co-working arrangements for Tuesday.

Mastrull serves as president of the NewsGuild of Greater Philadelphia, which represents workers at The Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News, as well as some suburban papers. She said that when ongoing contract talks resume, guild officials want to ensure that the contract reflects what company needs to do to protect us against cyberattacks and other things we have to worry about in this new age.

An investigation is ongoing into the extent and specific targets of the attack, and the company has contacted the FBI, Hughes said. The FBI in Philadelphia declined to comment in response to questions from Inquirer journalists, the newspaper reported.

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WHITEHORSE - The Yukon government says its focused on protecting the environment after taking control of the Minto Mine located on Selkirk First Nation territory.

Stephen Mead, the governments assistant deputy minister of mineral resources and geoscience services, says the government was informed on Friday by Minto Metals Corp. that it intended to cease operations of the mine and remove its staff over the weekend.

Mead says the government hired JDS Mining to take over the site as a contractor, deploying the firm within 24 hours to secure critical employees and infrastructure.

He says the mine had around 180 staff and contract employees before the decision Friday by Minto, and that so far JDS has approached around 50 staff members with the intent to hire them to continue working on the site.

Mead says the government had already been monitoring the mine from an environmental perspective, and while its too soon to comment on the future of the mine, the current priority is on maintaining the pits that store contaminated water.

Whitehorse-based Minto said in a news release Saturday that its working with the government and that it has invested a significant amount of money into improving the water treatment plants at the mine.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 15, 2023.

Companies in this story: (TSX:MNTO)

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Signage is seen outside a Capital One Bank in Manhattan, New York

By Chibuike Oguh, Niket Nishant and Chuck Mikolajczak

(Reuters) -Shares of Capital One Financial Corp rose on Tuesday, rebounding from two weeks of losses after billionaire investor Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc disclosed it had taken a stake of nearly $1 billion in the credit cards-focused bank.

Berkshire acquired 9.92 million shares in Capital One, a stake worth $954 million based on the closing price on March 31, regulatory filings showed on Monday.

Famous for its credit-card advertising slogan "What's in your wallet?", McLean, Virginia-based Capital One also has a huge auto lending and commercial banking business. Its peers include American Express Co and Bread Financial Holdings Inc.

Capital One's stock rose 2.1% to $90.95 per share, its highest since May 1. The bank's shares have shed around 17% since early March as the banking crisis has clobbered shares of U.S. regional lenders.

Morgan Stanley analysts said the selloff of U.S. regional bank stocks was overdone as markets have focused on deposit outflows instead of deposit costs, a better gauge of their financial stability.

Since regional bank deposits are quite sticky and data does not show outflows accelerating, the analysts said their shares are now cheap and are headed for a rebound in coming months.

"Recent declines seem overdone as quarter-to-date deposit outflows are tracking in-line with seasonality," the analysts said.

Bank of America Global Research analysts changed their rating of Western Alliance Bancorp to "buy" from "no rating," relying on the bank's huge share of insured deposits and ability to absorb deposit outflows with strong profitability.

Western Alliance "does not share a ton in terms of business model and balance sheet characteristics relative to the three failed banks," the analysts said. Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank, and First Republic Bank have collapsed during the crisis.

Story continues

Western Alliance shares gained 2.7% while PacWest Bancorp lost 14.6%, nearly reversing all the gains from Monday's session The KBW Regional Banking Index fell 1.9%.

After the closing bell, Western Alliance shares shot up 7.5% to $33.95 after the company disclosed in a filing that it has sold $2.3 billion out of $3 billion in loans on sale in the quarter-to-date. PacWest shares climbed 5.7% to $4.83 after the closing bell.

The Federal Reserve will unveil its plan to ratchet up capital rules for banks this summer and will ensure supervisors more aggressively police lenders following several recent bank failures, its top regulatory official told Congress.

Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Michael Barr said the central bank was "carefully considering" rule changes for larger regional banks.

(Reporting by Niket Nishant in Bengaluru and Chibuike Oguh in New York; Additional reporting by Saeed Azhar in New York; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri and David Gregorio)
An Amber Alert issued for an eight-year-old boy who police believe was abducted in Thunder Bay, Ont., has been found safe.

Thunder Bay police said in a statement issued late Tuesday that the 28-year-old suspect was found in a rural area of the citys north side that evening.

Police say an exhaustive search was conducted with help from the Ontario Provincial Polices aviation services and its emergency response team.

Police had said earlier that the boy and the suspect had last been seen in Thunder Bay around 11 p.m. on Monday and might have been heading toward Prince Albert, Sask.

They say the suspect was arrested without incident and faces charges of abduction, forcible confinement and breach of release order.

Police say the suspect is expected to make a court appearance Wednesday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 16, 2023.

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Heres some good news for those taking a staycation this summer: the annual Canadas 100 Best Restaurants list is out Mondayand a fifth of them are in the GTA.

While the top spot went to Mon Lapin in Montreal, the Top 10 has the usual contenders representing Toronto such as Alo (coming in at No. 2 for the second year in a row); Edulis moved up from seventh last year to fourth this year; Restaurant at Pearl Morissette in Ontarios wine region was fourth last year and is now fifth; 20 Victoria was 64th last year and is now 11th.

New entries include chef Matty Mathesons Prime Seafood Palace (17th), which opened last year.

Out of the 100 restaurants on the list, 20 are from the surrounding GTA (including day trip destinations Collingwood and Cambridge), 15 in Vancouver, seven in Calgary, four in Halifax, two in Winnipeg and two in Edmonton. As with previous years, no restaurant in the countrys northern territories made the list.

However its Montreal restaurants that got the most nods, with 27 restaurants.

This is the first year of judging since the 2020 list that reflected a whole year of uninterrupted business, said Jacob Richler, editor-in-chef of the publication that launched in 2015. Weve had more judges than ever (with) a greater diversity of opinion. Theres 135 (judges). Last years (list) was difficult because of travel restrictions and some people just didnt go out to eat much. Montreal always depended on Ontario(-based) judges becuase they travel there a lot for business, so a lot of them vote for Montreal restaurants.

The judges are a mix of food writers and critics; restaurant owners, sommeliers and chefs; and those who have the means to travel and eat throughout the country, Richler said. The judges are volunteers and pay for their own meals, and each rank their Top 10 restaurants, which is then tabulated into the list of 100.

Richler describes Mon Lapin, which was sixth last year, as a highly seasonal restaurant that is a departure from the usual white tablecloth and stuffy service often associated with fine dining. Just looking at the plate, I know where I am and when I am, he says, giving an example of razor clams paired with white asparagus. The staff know the food and wine list inside out. Theres a fundamental casualness and a contagious joie de vivre.

Located in Montreals Little Italy, Mon Lapin opened in 2018 as part of the Joe Beef restaurant group before it branched out on its own a year later. The original 36-seat restaurant went under a renovation in 2020 to double its seating and start taking reservations, which will now come in handy to diners trying to snag a seat.

If you come right now to the restaurant, youll be eating all the things were eating this time of year: Quebec lobster, Quebec snow crab, asparagus, were getting whelks this week, said executive chef and co-owner Marc-Olivier Frappier. The menu changes frequently with the only constant being a buckwheat and honey cake on the dessert menu.

Its very overwhelming and were grateful and shocked, said sommelier and co-owner Vanya Filipovic, who along with the restaurants four other co-owners are in Toronto for the Canadas 100 Best list announcement Monday evening. We look up to a lot of people on the list and its an honour.

Here are all the Toronto-area restaurants in this years list and where they ranked.

The full list is on the Canadas 100 Best site.

Alo, second place, French, 163 Spadina Ave.

Edulis, fourth place, contemporary, 169 Niagara St.

The Restaurant at Pearl Morissette, fifth place, French-influenced, 3953 Jordan Rd., Jordan Station, Ont.

Langdon Hall, seventh place, contemporary, 1 Langdon Dr., Cambridge

20 Victoria, 11th place, contemporary, 20 Victoria St.

Giulia, 14th place, Italian, 134 Avenue Rd.

Prime Seafood Palace, 17th place, seafood, 944 Queen St. W

Canoe, 18th place, contemporary, 66 Wellington St. W.

Sushi Masaki Saito, 19th place, Japanese, 88 Avenue Rd.

Mimi Chinese, 25th place, Chinese, 265 Davenport Rd.

Quetzal, 26th place, Mexican, 419 College St.

Dreyfus, 29th place, French-influenced, 96 Harbord St.

Giulietta, 32nd place, Italian, 972 College St.

Hexagon, 34th place, contemporary French, 210 Lakeshore Rd. E., Oakville

Don Alfonso 1890, 35th place, Mediterranean, 1 Harbour Square

Bernhardts, 38th place, contemporary, 202 Dovercourt Rd.

Shoushin, 40th place, Japanese, 3328 Yonge St.

Pompette, 46th place, French, 597 College St.

The Pine, 47th place, contemporary, 203 Hurontario St., Collingwood

Cafe Boulud, 65th place, French, 60 Yorkville

Richmond Station, 100th place, contemporary, 1 Richmond St. W.

Correction  May 16, 2023: This article was updated to include Richmond Station to the list of Canadas 100 Best Restaurants.

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Toronto police are looking for three suspects wanted in connection with a violent attack in a mosque parking lot in Scarborough on May 10.

Police said the attack, which was caught on video, happened at around 7:45 p.m. in the area of Danforth and Victoria Park Avenues at the parking lot of the Baitul Aman Masjid.

Police said a man was walking to his vehicle from a nearby grocery store in a mosque parking lot when two people approached him from the rear of the vehicle. One, who appears to be holding a bat in the video, struck the man while the other kicked him, which caused the victim to fall to the ground. In the video, the attack continued with stomping and hitting as another car driven by a third suspect slowly pulled up a short distance from the assault. The suspects then walked toward the vehicle, entered it and drove away.

The victim has been identified in media reports as 67-year-old Mahbubul Alam Chowdhury, who was taken to hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

Police said the hate crimes unit had been notified. After investigating and speaking with Chowdhury, the assault was deemed not to be hate-motivated.

Police described the first suspect as a man with a thin build wearing a black hat, dark clothing, a black mask and red gloves.

The second suspect is described as a man with a medium build and dark clothing.

Police have yet to release a description of the third suspect.

Investigators are asking anyone with information, or who can identify the suspects, to contact police. The public can provide information by contacting police at 416-808-4100, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com.

With files from Thea Gribilas

MH Mahdis Habibinia is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Reach her via email: mhabibinia@thestar.ca

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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.

Once the tallest building in the British Empire, the stately former home of the Canadian Pacific Railway has slumped into its second century, struggling to find tenants for its office spaces.

The Beaux Arts-style tower at the corner of Yonge and King streets was languishing even before the pandemic rearranged the rhythms of work in Torontos Financial District. Its small, dated floor plans were a hard sell compared to the sleeker, expansive offices emerging nearby.

Now, on a good day, 11 per cent of office users are swiping their cards to enter, said Matthew Kingston, an executive with the real estate investment trust that has owned the property for decades.

On quieter days, its closer to four per cent, he said. And hes not expecting a renaissance any time soon. In the last 100 years, what people are looking for has just changed dramatically, Kingston said.

So, the owners are proposing a major change of their own.

The pitch is a conversion from office space to housing, which would also see five storeys added to the existing 15, with commercial space remaining at the towers base.

Its a concept that seems to be picking up steam in a post-pandemic Toronto, informally if not yet officially, as offices have struggled to lure workers back full-time. Could some of these underused offices be reformed into homes, particularly as Toronto battles a housing crisis?

What looks like an elegant fix for two problems at once does, however, pose some thorny engineering and political problems. Few existing offices are easily convertible, planners and architects point out.

For example, larger floor plans are hard to carve up in a way that offers window access in each unit without veering into impossibly skinny layouts. And city policy currently dictates that any lost office space in areas like the Financial District must be replaced.

That last point is something of a deal-breaker, Kingston and others working on the 69 Yonge St. project say. They argue the cost of a conversion on a heritage site is just too steep to consider also building office space somewhere else, or keeping underused space in the new design.

A lot of the discussions that we have are around that one piece, said Alex Savanyu, an associate with the planning firm Bousfields working on proposal for Kingstons team, H&R REIT.

Its not impossible to get an exemption, Savanyu said, pointing to 1255 Bay St.  where lost office space was recently waved off for a 35-storey mixed-use building. But it would be the exception rather than the rule.

For now, Savanyu said theyre trying to work with city halls planners to reach some kind of agreement before trying to push the proposal ahead, leaving its timelines yet unclear. This has been such an amazing building for the past hundred-plus years  and what were trying to do is ensure its longevity.

The conversion vision

While Kingston rhapsodizes about the early life of the old Canadian Pacific Railway headquarters  after its construction in 1913, he conjures an image of travellers crossing its marble lobby to the ticket office to arrange rail or steamship journeys  that former sheen has faded.

Its modest floor plans couldnt compete with the tens of thousands of square feet per floor that were built nearby. The ceilings and floors of the building were made of fragile terracotta, Kingston said, which made it harder to update its information technology infrastructure or its mechanical systems to improve air filtration. It didnt offer many other amenities.

Just because a building is struggling to attract office tenants doesnt mean it would work as housing instead  but Kingston thinks theyre in a decent position with 69 Yonge.

While the towers small floor plate made it hard to compete as an office, it makes it easier to turn into housing. When considering a conversion, planners will look at the distance between a buildings windows and the centre of the building. The closer the distance, the more light will be able to reach the ends of an apartment. The larger the office space youre working with, the skinnier any resulting units would need to be to ensure each one had window access.

Its a challenge that doesnt exist with office design in the same way, because offices can include areas like boardrooms or mechanical rooms in the middle that dont need natural light. For housing, Kingston says the ideal distance from windows to interior walls is about 30 feet.

Even starting with that smaller floor plate, the REIT will need to make major changes. All the windows, currently single-paned, will have to be replaced in order to meet the Toronto Green Standards requirements around energy efficiency, Kingston said, since the current ones are leaky. Three thinner existing elevators would also be swapped for two wider ones, since the smaller lifts are seen as dated.

The trust is promising a heritage restoration at the same time, vowing to repair the buildings granite and limestone cladding, and restore the old metal Canadian Pacific Railway lettering on the outside, the outline of which is still visible today.

Parking will be a question, with the trust currently proposing none for the new development.

Then there is the host of plumbing, mechanical and electrical overhauls required to go from shared office amenities to bathrooms and kitchens in each of the 127 proposed homes.

Its a costly proposal, Kingston said, though he declines to specify the price tag  or the expected price for each unit. Documents filed so far do not indicate plans for affordable units, and Kingston stresses a conversion of this scale and vintage comes at a premium.

Its all a non-starter, though, if they cant get an exemption to the office replacement rule.

The planning problem

Under Torontos Downtown Plan, any development in the Financial District  as well as some surrounding areas like the Bloor-Bay office corridor  should provide a net gain of floor area for office use, and ensure no net loss of other non-residential space.

Its a policy that Torontos chief planner, Gregg Lintern, said was established to recognize how businesses in the Financial District contribute to the local and national economy. He recognizes the office vacancy rate has been rising, but notes that it was higher in the 1990s.

His team often speaks with developers about pursuing designs that integrate existing office space into a mixed-use design with a housing component. He noted that 69 Yonge St. was already zoned to allow this kind of mix. Right now, he said the conversion proposal was under review  but conceded the office space wasnt as well designed as others.

Its one of those B or C office buildings. And thats typically, in the past, where weve seen pressure to convert, he said. The lower tier, or the more aged-out office buildings.

Bousfields, in materials submitted to city hall, also described the tower as a class B office  and in doing so, argued that boosting Torontos housing supply and restoring a heritage property were more critical motivations than retaining office space no longer in its prime.

The stakes

As H&Rs case moves ahead, some others are keeping a close eye.

Steven Paynter, principal at the design and architecture firm Gensler, said interest in converting commercial spaces into housing seems to have exploded since the pandemic.

Its really taken off in the last six months, and thats literally because people have started losing money on their office buildings, Paynter said. They thought that people would come back more, and that rents would start going up again  and they havent.

Paynter sees 69 Yonge as a test for the citys decades-old office replacement policies, and the priorities of city hall  as well as potentially the Ontario Land Tribunal. The city will have to give them an answer, he said.

The city has pursued some of its own conversion projects in recent years, since the federal government launched a new program in 2020 that funds conversions and certain kinds of new construction for affordable housing. But city hall has turned to a wider variety of properties than its limping office spaces, including hotels and a former seniors residence.

As the conversation about office conversions is percolating through major cities around the world, Kingston and Savanyu dont believe that overhauling 69 Yonge will trigger a sudden surge of similar projects  noting the century-old structures uniqueness downtown.

But Savanyu does see interest in conversions picking up steam. As for the CPR building, he sees housing as the towers second wind. We are bringing this site back to life, he said.

With files from May Warren and Tess Kalinowski

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Millions of new homes are needed over the next few years, but they will have a huge impact on Canadas greenhouse gas emissions  and we need to start thinking about what we can do about this now, warns a new report from RBCs Climate Action Institute.

The report finds the 5.8 million homes the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) says are required nationally by 2030 to address the housing crisis will generate as much as 18 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions if built according to current practices.

Unfortunately, with a few exceptions most of the cranes in the sky and concrete being set in Toronto right now is for condos built to a terrible standard, said Luigi Ferrara, chair and CEO of the Brookfield Sustainability Institute, which collaborated on the report.

Glass facades, for example, will need to be replaced in 10 to 15 years, and some of these new condos will be even less energy-efficient than the older apartment towers of the 50s, which historically have been the toughest type to retrofit.

(These condos) are designed to become our building problem of the future, said Ferrara, who is also the dean of the Centre for Arts, Design and Information Technology at George Brown College.

At the same time, new homes can be a tremendous opportunity, he said. You can build to a higher standard than you can, necessarily, when youre retrofitting a building.

The report presents seven recommendations to help reduce emissions from both new and existing buildings, including tightening building codes across provinces, partnering with other cold countries to improve and lower costs of heat pumps, and creating demonstration districts that show more carbon-friendly neighbourhood are possible.

There are a handful of such demonstration districts around the world, such as BedZED in London, a sustainable community with 100 homes as well as office, community and educational space, Ferrara said, built with carbon neutral materials, smaller shared spaces, proximity to transit, and community energy and waste systems.

Thats the kind of neighbourhood that we need to be building and every single subdivision should be moving in that direction, he said.

One such project closer to home is George Brown Colleges Limberlost Place, a 10-storey building made out of mass timber currently under construction at Queens Quay East and Dockside Drive that promises to be net zero.

Carol Phillips, design leader and partner at Moriyama Teshima Architects, which designed the building along with Acton Ostry Architects, said she hopes other developers and builders can learn from the project.

In a lot of ways, I hope that everyone keeps iterating and improving on this, she said.

There are no more excuses, were proving out in real construction that these buildings are achievable.

Carbon emissions can come in the form of operational emissions from heating and cooling, but also be produced in the making of the materials used in construction such as steel and concrete, said Colin Guldimann, senior economist at the RBC Climate Action Institute and lead author of the report.

Complicating matters is that materials such as steel that come from other countries arent captured in Canadas carbon footprint because they are imported, he said.

Estimates vary but according to the World Green Building Council, buildings account for 39 per cent of global energy-related carbon emissions, 28 per cent from operational emissions and 11 per cent from materials and construction.

There are a lot of good reasons to build new housing, Guldimann said, so we need to figure out how do we do that in a way that doesnt ignore emissions.

If not than youre ignoring a significant part of the emissions puzzle.

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Toronto police are looking for a man in connection with a sexual assault in the Cliffside area in the citys east end.

Police said that on May 14 at around 1:15 p.m. a woman was walking on the trails at the south end of Chine Drive. A man then allegedly emerged, they had a verbal interaction and the man subsequently sexually assaulted her.

It is further alleged that on May 15 at around 10:30 a.m. a different woman was walking on the same trail when the same man allegedly approached her and spoke with her. Police said the woman was made uncomfortable by the interaction and she fled the area.

The man is described by police as 20 to 30 years old, with medium length black hair and unshaved.

Police are asking anyone with information to contact them at 416-808-4100, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com.

TG Thea Gribilas is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Reach her via email: tgribilas@thestar.ca

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TORONTO - Neither Bell Canada nor the Ontario government will say how much money they made from a jail phone system that charged what lawyers describe as exorbitant rates for inmate calls over eight years.

Bell operated the Offender Telephone Management System from 2013 to 2021  which allowed inmates to only place collect calls  at a flat rate of $1 for local calls, but about $1 per minute plus a $2.50 connection fee for long-distance calls, according to a recent Appeal Court decision.

The rates were four times higher than those charged to inmates in other provinces, a lower court judge found. The new phone system now in place under a different company includes long-distance rates of a few cents a minute.

As well, the province took a commission on the money Bell made from those calls  which the court said numbered about 15,000 a day. The government declined to provide the amount collected or explain why it collected a commission, in response to queries from The Canadian Press.

But a request for proposals for the phone system, issued in 2012 under the Liberal government of the day, called for proponents to include a monthly commission rate of no less than 25 per cent of the gross revenue.

It makes me feel sick to my stomach, former inmate Vanessa Fareau said of the profits generated from the phone calls.

Most people are calling their loved ones ... Their loved ones didnt commit a crime. You know what I mean? And this is who ends up paying for these phone bills and having to go into debt, having to struggle financially.

Fareau has been incarcerated a few times in the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre  largely, she says, on remand or for breaches of probation  and needed to make calls to arrange child care and keep in touch with her kids. She alleges her calls were subject to long distance rates as she lives on the Quebec side of the National Capital Region.

Fareau is one of two representative plaintiffs in a proposed class-action lawsuit against Bell and the province. The other is Ransome Capay, the father of Adam Capay, an Indigenous man held in solitary confinement in northern Ontario jails for more than four years.

Capay frequently spoke with his son while he was in solitary, with the charges from the collect calls leading to phone bills between $250 and $500  some over $1,000, he wrote in an affidavit.

I live on the Lac Seul reserve and my son was being held in Kenora and Thunder Bay, Capay wrote. Phone calls were the only way to maintain basic contact with my son over the 4.5 years he was held in solitary confinement.

More than 70 per cent of the people in Ontarios correctional facilities are on remand  accused but not convicted of a crime, awaiting bail or trial  according to a 2019 auditor general report.

The recent Appeal Court ruling on the proposed class action put a temporary stay on the case. The ruling said the case should instead go before the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission to assess the reasonableness of the rates.

If the CRTC decides it doesnt have jurisdiction, the case could go back to the courts, the judges ruled.

Lawyer David Sterns said he and his team will pursue the case to the end, no matter the venue.

You cant get family members to, in a sense, subsidize the government because they have relatives who are incarcerated, he said in an interview.

The telephone lines are a lifeline for prisoners mental health. You cant bring a cellphone into a prison, and so the only way you can get to talk to your family and loved ones is by using the Bell system, and Bell could effectively charge them whatever they wanted to charge them and they would still have demand, because when youre desperate, you pay whatever you have to pay.

The proposed class action seeks more than $150 million in damages and restitution equal to the money paid by those affected.

To maintain phone contact with family and the outside world, prisoners had one option, and one option only: collect calls to landlines at exorbitant and unconscionable prices extracted from anyone who accepted the calls or otherwise paid for them, lawyers argue in the statement of claim.

The claims have not been proven in court.

Bell Canada largely directed all questions about the phone system and ensuing court case to the province.

The provincial government sets the terms of service for the calling system provided in Ontario correctional facilities, a spokesperson wrote in a statement.

Fareau said she bristles whenever she sees the Bell Lets Talk mental-health campaign.

People who are incarcerated are at their lowest point in their mental health, lowest, and youre taking advantage of them by having them or their loved ones be overcharged for collect calls on phone calls that dont even work, function properly, she said, describing spotty or low-quality service at times.

They should be ashamed.

In about May 2020 the phone system was changed to allow inmates to make prepaid calls, instead of just collect, which the lawyers argue shows Bell and the government had the ability to do that since 2013.

Solicitor General Michael Kerzner wrote in a statement that updating the phone system, including the new lower rates, is part of modernizing the justice system.

Telephone communication between inmates and their families is important for their overall well-being and eventual reintegration back into our communities, and these changes will help do exactly that, he wrote.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 16, 2023.

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Toronto police have identified the victim and arrested a Toronto man after Mondays fatal stabbing at a laneway near Church-Wellesley Village.

In a news release, police said the victim is 39-year-old Marcus Roberts of Toronto.

Police allege that Roberts was involved in an altercation with the 49-year-old suspect.

The altercation happened at a laneway at around 4:15 p.m. near Charles Street and Yonge Street.

According to police, the suspect stabbed Roberts with a sharp edged weapon.

Roberts sustained life-threatening injuries and died in hospital, police said.

The suspect is charged with first degree murder and was set to appear in court Tuesday.

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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A Toronto teen is suing the public school board and the police, alleging he was the victim and not the perpetrator of an assault during a chaotic incident at a high school that was plunged into lockdown amid reports that a gun was seen.

The lawsuit comes at a time of growing concern about safety in schools during a turbulent year that has left educators, parents and students shaken by the rise in violence.

I want my story to be heard, Ahmaud Benjamin Cockburn told the Star about a day in January when he says he tried to break up a fight between students at Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute, who then turned on him, allegedly pummelling him in a violent attack that culminated with someone yelling, mistakenly, that he had a gun, leading to his arrest.

I dont want this to happen to anybody who is wrongfully accused, wrongfully arrested and thrown in jail for something that they didnt do.

According to a statement of claim recently filed in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Cockburn, 18, is suing the Toronto District School Board and the Toronto Police Services Board for negligence. Hes also suing six students  four are identified and two are listed as John Doe because he didnt know their names  for assault and battery causing bodily injury.

None of the allegations have been tested in court. And no statements of defence have yet been filed.

As this is currently before the courts, were not in a position to comment further at this time, said TDSB spokesperson Ryan Bird. However, external counsel retained by the TDSB will be responding to the lawsuit in short order.

Similarly, police spokesperson Const. Laura Brabant said, As this is before the courts it would be inappropriate for us to comment.

The lawsuit comes during a year in which school lockdowns and gun violence have garnered headlines, with 2022-23 on track to having the highest number of violent incidents on school premises since the TDSB started collecting data in 2000. There have been calls for action and the board is addressing school safety in various ways, including the creation of an expert panel, the allocation of more resources in some schools and working with community groups to offer more youth-focused programs. It also plans to replace all TDSB school cameras with state-of-the-art devices in upcoming years.

Mahdi Hussein, Cockburns lawyer, said, The hard truth is that some of these high schools are not safe.

One of the factors is the need for additional funding to address safety issues, including having a plan to address conflicts and to investigate conflicts once they happen, and to prevent them in the first place, Hussein told the Star. Something needs to change.

Media descended on the school

The statement of claim sets out what allegedly transpired on Jan. 19, when police responded to reports of a gun and media descended on the school, located on Overlea Boulevard near Don Mills Road.

It says that Cockburn, who started at the school in the fall, was having lunch in the gymnasium when a group of boys started fighting and using racially charged epithets. He did not see any teacher, supervisor, or lunch monitor on duty, and intervened.

He told the Star that the boys were not Black and he heard them use the N-word. When Cockburn, who is Black, broke up the fight, their focus shifted to him.

They start attacking me, calling me racial slurs, calling me the N-word, recalled Cockburn.

According to the statement of claim, the boys blows to Cockburn led to serious injuries, including a broken nose and after leaving him in a bloody and seriously injured state, they ran out of the gym. At no point did any student, teacher, supervisor, or lunch monitor come to the aid or rescue of (Cockburn), it reads. And when Cockburn went to pick up his belongings, a student erroneously began yelling that he had a gun, which unleashed a frenzy.

Cockburn told the Star that a girl yelling about a gun sent the whole school into a panic  part of it was captured by a student who posted a video to social media, showing shaky images of kids running and the sound of a female student shouting, He has a gun. Cockburn says he darted for the office to get help and told a teacher and administrator that he had been assaulted.

The statement of claim alleges the TDSB was negligent, in part, because it failed to properly supervise students, attend to Cockburn after he was allegedly assaulted and ensure its security cameras were operational. It states that if the security camera facing the gym had been working that day, it would have recorded the boys fleeing from the gym after the alleged assault, which would have corroborated Cockburns story and could have avoided him being detained.

While Cockburn was in the school office, explaining what had happened, he says someone called police to report a gun and gave his description. When officers arrived, Cockburn was questioned and searched, he says. No gun was found. He says he explained what had happened in the gym, but believes anti-Black racism, which he says is an issue at the school, played a part in why he wasnt believed.

The statement of claim also alleges that the police did not give the teen needed medical attention for his injuries. Cockburn told the Star he declined medical attention from paramedics at the school because police had assured him that when he was done answering questions he could go to the hospital. And, he says, paramedics told him that if any concussion-related symptoms surfaced later, police would get him medical help.

After a few hours of being detained at the school, Cockburn says he was taken to 55 Division, and while in a cell, he told an officer that he was feeling dizzy and nauseous, and requested medical attention, but says he was denied. Cockburn says he was released that night without charges.

Suffered broken nose

The statement of claim alleges police were negligent because despite the obvious injuries to (Cockburns) face, which included a broken nose, and other injuries to his head, they did not offer him medical attention, nor did they follow a concussion protocol, or permit him to be transported to the hospital. It also alleges his injuries were exacerbated when police restrained him and put him in a headlock, which Cockburn says occurred when he was being taken to a cell.

Cockburn told the Star he saw a doctor the next day and stayed home for a couple of weeks before returning to school. He says he still gets lots of looks from students at school and while out in the community, with some even allegedly pulling out their phones to videotape or photograph him.

Four of the six students who allegedly assaulted Cockburn were charged by police and faced repercussions by the board, according to the statement of claim. (Cockburn says that as part of the conditions imposed on the four youth, they must stay 200 metres away from him and are no longer at the school.) Because the four are minors, the Star is not identifying them.

Cockburn, who says he never had a run-in with police prior to Jan. 19, notes the events of that day have left him shaken and hes currently in therapy. His sleep is restless and a police siren rattles him. Even when detectives, at a later date, were investigating the alleged assault on him by the kids inside the gym, Cockburn refused to go to the police station to speak with officers. Instead, they spoke with him at school.

The way that he reacted to the idea of going to the station  it was horrible, recalls Andrew Kizik, who for the past year has acted as the teens guardian. (Cockburn is a longtime friend of Kiziks sons and lives with the family.) The level of fright and anxiety that came out of him  was unbelievable.

Kizik describes Cockburn as kind and good-natured  the kind of teen whos quick to help with household chores and cooks for the family. Prior to the incident, he says Cockburn was outgoing, adventurous, easily made friends and was keen to do things on his own, like go for a bike ride. Now, hes closed himself off ... hes more of a homebody.

According to the lawsuit, Cockburn is suffering from injuries such as anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and irritability, which will limit his job prospects  hed like to go into the trades. He is seeking $2 million in damages.

Cockburn told the Star he hopes that by going public, he can shed light on what happened, noting, Im just hoping to move on from this.

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Toronto police have set up a command post at Oakdale Community Centre to assist in the search for a man who has been missing since last Friday.

Nathan, who is 37-years-old, was last seen in the Jane Street and Sheppard Avenue area on May 12 at 7 p.m. The search for Nathan has now been elevated to level three, which police said is the highest.

Nathan is described as 4'6, 170 lbs, with a full beard and moustache.

Police said they are concerned for Nathans safety.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-3100, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com.

TG Thea Gribilas is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Reach her via email: tgribilas@thestar.ca

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(Bloomberg) -- Quest Global Services Ptes co-founder and Carlyle Group Inc. are in talks to buy separate minority stakes in the engineering services firm worth a combined $640 million, according to people familiar with the matter.

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The US investment firm and Quest Chief Executive Officer Ajit Prabhu are lining up financing for a deal that would value the Singapore-based company at about $1.8 billion, the people said, asking not to be identified as the information is private.

An agreement to buy the stakes from Bain Capital and Advent International Corp. could be reached within weeks, one of the people said. Carlyle would acquire about a 25% stake in the company while Prabhus ownership would increase to around 42%, one of the people said.

Discussions are ongoing and could still fall apart at the last minute, the people said. Other suitors for the stakes could still emerge, they added.

Investments by private equity firms are an integral part of Quests growth strategy and part of the normal course of business, a spokesperson for Quest said on behalf of both the firm and the CEO in response to a Bloomberg News query. Investments and exits by private equity firms fluctuate and are prudently planned, the spokesperson added.

Representatives for Advent, Bain and Carlyle declined to comment.

Founded in 1997, Quest offers engineering services including product engineering, software engineering and after-market services, according to its website. It has more than 17,000 employees in 17 countries, and serves clients in sectors including aerospace and defense, automotive, energy and health care. In 2016, Bain, Advent and Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC Pte bought minority stakes in Quest for around $350 million, according to a press release at the time.

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Plan your trip before youre in your car: The Ministry of Transportation has scheduled four closures in Ottawa Valley on May 16, 2023 for roadwork on Highway 7.

Highway 7 eastbound between Cameron Side Rd, Wemyss and Lanark Cr 511, Perth: one alternating lane closed from May 16 at 6:30 a.m. until May 16 at 7:30 p.m.

Highway 7 eastbound between Dufferin Road, Perth and Drummond Concession Road 9a, East / Perth: one alternating lane closed from May 16 at 6:30 a.m. until May 16 at 7:30 p.m.

Highway 7 westbound at Mississippi River Bridge, Innisville: one alternating lane closed until May 19 at 6 a.m.

Highway 7 westbound between Highway 15, Carleton Place and Townline Road W, West / Carleton Place: one alternating lane closed until May 19 at 6 a.m.

Have further to travel? Highway closures for planned roadwork outside Ottawa Valley

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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 North Grenville, Smiths Falls, Perth, Carleton Place, Mississippi Mills, Arnprior and Renfrew. The disruptions may be intermittent or ongoing and can change due to weather, emergencies and other factors.

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Ontarios Divisional Court has resoundingly rejected a plea to intervene in a bitter dispute over Chief Forensic Pathologist Dr. Michael Pollanens conduct in a controversial case involving the death of an infant.

In a ruling against Dr. Jane Turner, a panel of judges took aim at the former Hamilton forensic pathologists accusation that Pollanen abused his power to overrule some colleagues and change the cause of the childs death to abuse.

Turner used the court process to air a personal grievance pointed at Pollanen because the oversight body that probed Turners complaint against him failed to accept her analysis as to the cause of death, the May 8 decision reads.

Her application for a judicial review of the Death Investigation Oversight Council was ill-considered and should never have been brought, the court concluded.

The case involving baby Alexander raised questions about the integrity of Ontarios death investigation system and concerns about the objectivity of Pollanen. The boys family has said they were wrongly punished as abusers.

Pollanen has denied Turners accusations. He has said that he had a duty to oversee the debate between medical experts over the cause of Alexanders death. He said he did not conclude that the baby had been abused, but rather that the underlying cause of mysterious fractures found on his body after he died had not been explained.

He wrote in his final report: Inflicted injury has not been excluded in this case.

Turners lawyer, Sujit Choudhry, said: Dr. Turner does not agree with the factual conclusions reached by the Divisional Court. We continue to carefully review the judgment and will have no further comment at this time.

Turner believed boys fractures were likely from disease, not abuse

Turner, then-director of the former Hamilton forensic pathology unit, performed the autopsy on the seven-week-old boy after he died suddenly in 2017. She believed mysterious fractures found on the infant were most likely caused by a bone disease, and attributed his death to bacterial sepsis. The police did not find evidence of abuse.

Pollanen became involved after a Hamilton child abuse pediatrician disagreed with Turner. The ensuing battle led Turner to resign, saying she felt her integrity was being threatened. She complained to the Death Investigation Oversight Council in 2019.

The oversight council reviewed Turners complaint and issued 13 systemic recommendations, mostly aimed at improving the forensic pathology service. But she believed the council did not take appropriate action, including failing to make any factual findings whatsoever, despite having the power to do so.

Turner then took the fight to Divisional Court  the first-ever challenge of the effectiveness of the council, which the province created to shore up public confidence in the death investigation system following the tragic scandal involving disgraced pathologist Charles Smith.

In a hearing in February, she alleged the oversight council failed to fulfil its legislated purpose and had instead shielded Pollanen from accountability.

She implored a panel of three judges to send her complaint back to the oversight council for reconsideration, allow her to present new evidence and to direct the council to refer to Pollanens superiors any portion of the complaint  which are more appropriately dealt with by them.

Court issued a resounding rebuke

In a scathing rebuke issued last week, the court dismissed Turners application.

Superior Court Justice Thomas Lederer, who wrote on behalf of the panel, said Turners application stands as an impediment to accepting the advice the oversight council provided in the recommendations it issued after investigating her complaint. In doing this, it impugned the participation of virtually every professional involved.

In response to questions from the Star for this story, Pollanens lawyer pointed to these findings by the court, as well as its conclusion that the root of Turners application was not the concern for the treatment of the death of the child but an effort seeking the removal of Dr. Michael Pollanen from his position as the Chief Forensic Pathologist.

Dr. Pollanen has faithfully served the people of Ontario as Chief for many years, the top pathologists lawyer, Wayne Cunningham, added. He looks forward to continuing his work, implementing (the oversight councils) recommendations and strengthening the death investigation system.

Pollanen was entrusted to repair the system after Smiths flawed autopsy analyses tainted more than a dozen criminal cases and led to parents being wrongfully convicted of killing their children.

The system failed us

Baby Alexanders parents were initially kept in the dark about the battle between medical experts investigating the case, as the Star has reported. They lost custody of the boys surviving siblings for 20 months. (Their names have been changed to protect their identities as required under the law governing child protection cases.)

In January 2020, several months after the parents got their children back, Ontarios Chief Coroner Dr. Dirk Huyer overruled the investigating coroner, who had sided with Turner, and deemed Alexanders death a homicide, to the shock of police and some medical experts involved. The police found no criminality and closed the case.

The veteran detective on the case has said that it seemed that among some of the medical experts involved in the death investigation, there was just some determination to find abuse.

The familys child protection proceedings dragged on until last fall, when the matter was finally closed, nearly five years after Alexander died.

The system failed us  and again, they failed the community as a whole with this (decision), Alexanders father said. It just goes to show that these people in power are able to do as they please. Thats what disappoints me the most.

The familys lawyer said the decision has had the unintended consequence of doing serious harm to the familys recovery from this tragic loss.

The wound has been reopened for them, James Mountford said. (They) fear that other families may have to endure the same trauma as they have because nothing will change.

A spokesperson for the ministry of the solicitor general, speaking on behalf of the oversight council, declined to comment while the matter remains within the appeals period.

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UNITED NATIONS (AP)  Africas Sahel region has become a hot spot for violent extremism, but the joint force set up in 2014 to combat groups linked to the Islamic State, al-Qaida and others has failed to stop their inroads, and a senior U.N. official warned Tuesday that without greater international support and regional cooperation the instability will expand toward West African coastal countries.

Resolute advances in the fight against terrorism, violent extremism and organized crime in the Sahel desperately need to be made, U.N. Assistant Secretary-General for Africa Martha Pobee told a U.N. Security Council meeting.

The counterterrorism force, now comprised of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mauritania and Niger, lost Mali a year ago when its ruling junta decided to pull out. Pobee said the force hasnt conducted any major military operations since January.

She said the force is adjusting to new realities: France moving its counterterrorism force from Mali to Niger due to tensions with the junta and Malis decision to allow Russian mercenaries from Wagner to deploy on its territory.

She said Burkina Faso and Niger have recently strengthened military cooperation with Mali to counter an upsurge in extremist attacks, but despite these efforts, insecurity in the tri-border area continues to grow.

Pobee criticized the international community, saying a lack of consensus among donors and partners left the joint force without sufficient funding and other needed support to become fully operational and autonomous so it could have the capacity to help stabilize the Sahel region.

An agreement between the U.N., EU and the force under which the U.N. peacekeeping force in Mali supplied fuel, rations, medical evacuation and engineering support to the joint force is expected to end in June, she said, expressing hope that the Security Council will consider the issue of U.N. financing for African peace operations.

Eric Tiare, executive secretary of the force known as the G5 Sahel, said experts have finalized a new concept of operations, which will be submitted to its defense council and then to the African Union to be endorsed.

Given that the Sahel is at a crossroads, as it is seeing many threats to international peace and security, its absolutely vital that we provide support to the force, he said. The force needs what it has always lacked and what it has always sought. That is sustainable funding and equipment as we seek to counter terrorism.

U.N. experts have reported in recent years that Africa has been the region hardest hit by terrorism, and U.N. counterterrorism chief Vladimir Voronkov told the Security Council in January that the Islamic State groups expansion in Africas center, south and Sahel regions is particularly worrying.

Last August, African security expert Martin Ewi said at least 20 African countries were directly experiencing activity by the Islamic State group, and more than 20 others were being used for logistics and to mobilize funds and other resources.

Ewi, who coordinates a transnational organized crime project at the Institute for Security Studies in South Africas capital, Pretoria, told the Security Council that the Islamic State threat was growing by the day in Africa and the continent could be the future of the caliphate, which is what the Islamic State called the large swath of Syria and Iraq it seized in 2014 but lost in 2017.

Ewi said the Lake Chad Basin  which borders Chad, Nigeria, Niger and Cameroon  was the extremist groups biggest area of operation and areas in the Sahel were now ungovernable.

Pobee warned that without significant gains in fighting terrorism, it will become increasingly difficult to reverse the security trajectory in the Sahel, and the further expansion of insecurity towards coastal West African countries.

She said the recent instability in Sudan was an additional cause for concern. The devastating effects of the continuing destabilization of the Sahel would be felt far beyond the region and the African continent, Pobee said.

The U.S. deputy ambassador, Jeffrey DeLaurentis, said the United States is especially concerned by the security, humanitarian and political crises unfolding in the Sahel, which stem primarily from governance failures.

He criticized state-led military operations in Burkina Faso and Mali, and Malis operations with the Wagner mercenaries, which he said have led to large-scale civilian casualties and reports of human rights violations.

DeLaurentis urged Mali to rejoin the G5 Sahel, saying regional efforts are needed to fight terrorism, criminal networks and climate change. And he extended U.S. support to Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali to complete their transitions to democratically elected civilian governments.

We and other partners are keen to consider restarting currently restricted support, he said. The election of democratic governments would help us resume such assistance.

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TUNIS, Tunisia (AP)  A court has sentenced moderate Tunisian Islamist leader Rached Ghannouchi to a year in prison for allegedly referring to police officers as tyrants in what his party said Tuesday amounted to a sham trial.

Ghannouchi, 81, founder of the Ennahdha party, has refused to be removed from his place of detention for questioning or to attend Mondays trial, considering that the cases are political settling of scores targeting opponents of the regime, lawyer Samir Dilou, a former party leader, said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Ghannouchi, a former speaker of parliament, is the most prominent critic of Tunisian President Kais Saied. He has maintained that Saieds move in 2021 to take all powers into his hands amounted to a coup detat.

Ghannouchi was detained in mid-April on the charge of plotting against the security of the state. He has been called in numerous times for questioning on various matters, but this was the first time he wasnt released.

Mondays case grew out of a complaint by a security union member claiming that Ghannouchi used the word taghout, or tyrant, while eulogizing a member of his party at a February 2022 funeral. According to a tweet by his daughter Soumaya, he said that the deceased did not fear poverty, ruler or tyrant.

Ennahda condemned the decision to prosecute as an unjust political ruling and called for his immediate release.

Ghannouchi is also being investigated for what his party says is another case of twisting words  allegedly evoking the threat of civil war if Ennahdha and other opposition parties are excluded from the political scene.

His party said on its English-language Twitter account that Ghannouchi was charged with conspiracy against state security and ordered to remain in prison pending trial.

Kais Saied is making a mockery of the judiciary, using it as a tool for political revenge and persecution, his daughter tweeted.

About 20 other people, including the director of the respected radio Mosaique, Noureddine Bouttar, are currently detained on a variety of charges.

The crackdown on opponents comes amid growing social tensions and deepening economic troubles in Tunisia, the birthplace of the Arab Spring pro-democracy movement more than a decade ago.

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MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP)  Floods caused by the annual rains have left a trail of destruction across Somalia, a United Nations spokesman said, citing inundated homes and farmland as well as the shutdown of health facilities.

According to early estimates by our partners, more than 460,000 people have been impacted, including nearly 219,000 men, women and children who have been displaced due to this (flooding), Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

At least five people, including three children, have been killed in the flooding, Mohamed Moalim of the Somalia National Disaster Management Agency told The Associated Press.

The destruction is greatest in the Hiiraan region of the central Somali state of Hirshabelle. Thousands of families have been displaced in Beledweyne, the regional city with the highest population density. The Shabelle river running through the town burst its banks amid heavy rainfall.

If the rains persist in Somalia and in the Ethiopian highlands, we estimate that up to 1.6 million people could be impacted, with more than 600,000 displaced, Dujarric said.

Rising water levels in Beledweyne forced the closure of many important facilities, including government offices and the main hospital, residents said. Some said the flooding was the worst they had ever seen.

It was very difficult for me to walk this morning because of the amount of water, said Beledweyne resident Abdifitah Ahmed. As you can see, this situation is getting worse as the amount of water increases.

Another resident, Hussein Yusuf, said that the damage to property is extensive. This flood is larger than any flooding in recent memory that has ever occurred in this region, he said.

The Horn of Africa nation, one of the worlds poorest, faces multiple crises. Other parts of Somalia face drought conditions, and theres an ongoing insurgency by Islamic extremist fighters opposed to the federal government in the capital, Mogadishu.

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JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP)  Executions worldwide increased by 53% in 2022 from a year earlier, with a significant rise in Iran and Saudi Arabia, Amnesty International said in an annual report Tuesday that also criticized Indonesia as having one of the highest numbers of new death sentences in Asia.

Amnesty said 70% of the executions in the Middle East and North Africa were carried out in Iran, where their numbers rose by 83% from 314 in 2021 to 576 in 2022. The number of executions in Saudi Arabia tripled from 65 in 2021 to 196 in 2022.

Notable increases compared to 2021 were also recorded in Kuwait, Myanmar, the Palestinian territories, Singapore and the United States, it said. In all, 20 countries are known to have executed a total of 883 people, compared to 579 in 18 countries in 2021.

Secrecy and restrictive state practices continued to impair an accurate assessment of the use of the death penalty in several countries, including China, North Korea and Vietnam, it said.

The group said 94% of 112 new death sentences in Indonesia in 2022 were based on drug-related offenses that are categorized as crimes that did not involve intentional killing, and therefore did not meet the threshold of most serious crimes under international law.

Amnesty recorded at least 169 people sentenced to death in Bangladesh, the highest rate in the Asia-Pacific region, followed by India with 165 and Pakistan with 127.

Indonesia has the death penalty for crimes such as murder, terrorism and drug trafficking, which it carries out by firing squad. Its last executions were in July 2016 when three Nigerians and one Indonesian convicted of drug offenses were shot on the Nusa Kambangan prison island.

There are currently more than 450 death row inmates in Indonesia, with convicted drug traffickers accounting for around 60%, including 88 foreign nationals from 18 countries.

According to the report, China, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Singapore carried out at least 325 executions in total for drug-related offenses, more than double the number recorded in 2021.

Amnesty said the number of countries that abolished the death penalty last year reached 112, including Papua New Guinea, Indonesias neighbor. In Malaysia, took steps toward reforming the mandatory death sentences.

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BEIJING (AP)  China is prepared to resolutely smash any form of Taiwan independence, its military said Tuesday, as the U.S. reportedly prepares to accelerate the sale of defensive weapons and other military assistance to the self-governing island democracy.

A recent increase in exchanges between the U.S. and Taiwanese militaries is an extremely wrong and dangerous move, Defense Ministry spokesperson Col. Tan Kefei said in a statement and video posted online.

Chinas Peoples Liberation Army continues to strengthen military training and preparations and will resolutely smash any form of Taiwanese independence secession along with attempts at outside interference, and will resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, Tan said, in a reference to Taiwans closest ally, the United States.

China claims the island of 23 million people as its own territory, to be brought under its control by force if necessary.

With the worlds largest navy, latest-generation fighter jets and a huge arsenal of ballistic missiles, China has been upping its threats by sending planes and warships into waters and airspace around Taiwan. With more than 2 million members, the PLA also ranks as the worlds largest standing military, although transporting even a portion of the force in the event of an invasion is considered a huge logistical challenge.

Along with daily air and sea incursions around Taiwan, Beijing has held military exercises in and around the Taiwan Strait dividing the sides, seen in part as a rehearsal for a blockade or invasion that would have massive consequences for security and economies worldwide.

Such actions seek to harass Taiwans military and intimidate politicians and voters who will choose a new president and legislature next year.

The moves appear to have had limited effect, with most Taiwanese firmly in favor of maintaining their de facto independent status. Politicians and other public figures from Europe and the U.S. have also been making frequent trips to Taipei to show their support, despite their countries lack of formal diplomatic ties in deference to Beijing.

Tans comments were prompted by a question from an unidentified reporter about reports that U.S. President Joe Biden is preparing to approve the sale of $500 million in arms to Taiwan, as well as sending more than 100 military personnel to evaluate training methods and offer suggestions for improving the islands defenses.

Taiwan enjoys strong support from both the U.S. Democratic and Republican parties, which have called on the Biden administration to follow through on nearly $19 billion in military items approved for sale but not yet delivered to Taiwan.

Administration officials have blamed the delayed deliveries on bottlenecks in production related to issues from the COVID-19 pandemic to limited capacity and increased demand for arms to assist Ukraine. Bidens move would allow the export of items from existing U.S. military stockpiles, speeding up the delivery of at least some of the hardware Taiwan needs to deter or repel any Chinese attack.

Among the items on backorder are Harpoon anti-ship missiles, F-16 fighter jets, shoulder-fired Javelin and Stinger missiles and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, a multiple rocket and missile launcher mounted on a truck that has become a crucial weapon for Ukrainian troops battling Russian invasion forces.

Tans comments were in line with Beijings standard tone on what it calls the core of Chinas core interests. The two sides split at the end of a civil war in 1949 and Beijing considers bringing Taiwan under its control as key to asserting its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Attempts to seek independence by relying on the United States and seek independence by military might are a dead end, Tan said.

With China-U.S. relations at a historic low and Taiwanese unreceptive to Beijings demands for political concessions on unification, concerns are rising about the likelihood of an open conflict involving all three sides and possibly U.S. treaty allies such as Japan.

Chinas diplomatic and economic support for Russia following its invasion of Ukraine has also increased tensions with Washington. Beijing is believed to be closely studying Moscows military failures in the conflict, while the Western will to back Kyiv is seen by some as a test of its determination to side with Taiwan in the event of a conflict with China.

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SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  A South Korean court on Tuesday ordered the countrys biggest adoption agency to pay 100 million won ($74,700) in damages to a 48-year-old man for mishandling his adoption as a child to the United States, where he faced legal troubles after surviving an abusive childhood before being deported in 2016.

However, the Seoul Central District Court dismissed Adam Crapsers accusations against the South Korean government, which he saw as responsible for creating an aggressive, profit-driven adoption industry that carelessly removed thousands of children from their families during a child export frenzy in the 1970s and 80s.

The civil case, tried for over four years, was the first in which a South Korean adoptee sued the countrys government and a domestic adoption agency over fraudulent paperwork and screening failures.

Holt Childrens Service, which handled Crapsers adoption to American parents in 1979, and South Koreas Justice Ministry, which represents the government in lawsuits, did not immediately comment.

In reading out the verdict, Judge Park Jun-min did not elaborate on why the court refused to hold the government accountable. Crapsers lawyers said they will review the full version of the ruling, which the court didnt immediately release, before deciding whether to appeal.

We want to express our very serious regret, said Kim Soo-jung, one of Crapsers lawyers.

The (government) knew that children procured for adoptions were not being (properly) protected, that their human rights were being violated  they should have done something about it, but they didnt.  It seems that the court simply saw the government as a monitoring institution, and not as an actor that directly committed illegal acts.

Crapser, who left South Korea last year and currently lives in Mexico, did not attend the ruling.

It remains to be seen whether Crapsers case inspires more lawsuits by adoptees, who are becoming more vocal with their criticism of past South Korean corruption in adoption practices, which caused a huge but unknown number of wrongful family separations and stymied thousands from reconnecting with their roots.

Tuesdays verdict came months after hundreds of Korean adoptees from Europe and North America asked South Koreas Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate their adoption circumstances. They say their status and identities were laundered to facilitate marred adoptions.

The commission has opened investigations of dozens of those applications and may take more cases in the coming months, as it proceeds with the most far-reaching inquiry into South Koreas foreign adoptions yet.

The commissions potential findings could allow more adoptees to launch legal actions against agencies or the government, which would otherwise be difficult because South Korean civil courts put the burden of proof entirely on plaintiffs, who often lack information and resources.

Crapser, who was named Shin Seong-hyeok by his South Korean mother, had sought 200,000 won ($149,000) in damages from South Koreas government and Holt. His lawsuit, filed in 2019, accuses the defendants of manipulating his paperwork, employing poor background checks that failed to weed out his abusive adopters, and not following up on whether he obtained U.S. citizenship.

While describing Crapsers plight as unfortunate, the government and Holt denied any legal wrongdoing, saying his adoption went according to procedure and it was the responsibility of his American adopters - not theirs - to ensure that he obtained U.S. citizenship.

Crapsers lawyers have claimed that his case exposes how South Korea failed to protect its most vulnerable citizens from an adoption industry that sent thousands of children abroad every year to meet Western demands during its heyday, and how often those adoptions amounted to child selling.

Crapser revealed his plans for his lawsuit during an interview with The Associated Press in 2019, in which he described being abused and abandoned by two different sets of U.S. parents and then being deported after run-ins with the law because none of his guardians filed citizenship papers for him.

Forcibly separated from his then-wife and children and friends in America, Crapser said he struggled with intense anxiety and depression in South Korea, where he found himself isolated by language and culture four decades after being sent to his initial adopters in Michigan at age 3.

Crapser said he definitely didnt win the lottery when it came to his two American families. Flown out of South Korea, he and his sister were first sent to what he described as an abusive couple in 1979. Seven years later the couple abandoned the siblings, who were then separated by the foster care system.

Crapser was housed in several foster and group homes before ending up with Thomas and Dolly Crapser when he was around 12. He said the Oregon couple would sometimes slam their childrens heads against walls, strike them with kitchen utensils and burn them with heated objects.

In 1991, the couple was arrested on charges of physical child abuse, sexual abuse and rape. They were reportedly convicted in 1992 on multiple counts of criminal mistreatment and assault. Kicked out of his parents house after an argument, Crapser pleaded guilty to burglary after he said he later broke into their home to retrieve a Korean-language Bible and a stuffed dog that came with him from a Korean orphanage. He was later convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm and assault.

Crapser thought he had turned a corner, opening a barber shop and an upholstery business and starting a family, before being served his deportation paperwork in 2015 after a green card application triggered a background check.

About 200,000 South Koreans were adopted overseas during the past six decades, the majority to white families in the West, representing whats now the worlds largest diaspora of adoptees. More than 4,000 Korean children were sent abroad in 1979, the year Crapser arrived in the United States.

South Koreas foreign adoption boom from the late 1970s to the 1980s was driven by Seouls then-military dictatorships, which were focused on economic growth and reducing the number of mouths to feed.

Adoption agencies, governed by board members close to the military leaders, were notorious for aggressive child-gathering activities and falsified paperwork that manipulated childrens origins as they raced to send more adoptees abroad.

It wasnt until 2013 that South Korea required foreign adoptions of children to be vetted at family courts, ending a decades-long practice of allowing the private agencies to dictate the cross-border transfers of custodies.

Crapser was among thousands of South Korean adoptees who were described in their paperwork as abandoned orphans, despite their having known Korean relatives who could be easily identified and found, which made them easily adoptable under U.S. laws.

Crapsers birth mother, Kwon Pil-ju, told the AP that she was single, disabled and desperately poor, and that she finally decided to give Crapser and his sister away because of fears that theyd starve.

Crapsers lawsuit cited the government as responsible for allowing adoptions to be controlled by profit-driven agencies that ran on fees collected from foreign parents, and also for allowing foreigners to adopt children without actually coming to South Korea, which he blames for screening failures that matched him with abusive parents.

His case also highlights the shaky legal status of many South Korean adoptees in the United States whose parents may have failed to get them citizenship, potentially leaving them vulnerable to deportation if they acquire a criminal record.

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HONG KONG (AP)  The life sentence imposed by China on a 78-year-old U.S. citizen, who was also a Hong Kong permanent resident, on spying charges shows the city should stay vigilant to security risks, its leader said Tuesday.

Chief Executive John Lee answered none of the lingering questions about why John Shing-Wan Leung was prosecuted. The sentence was announced Monday but neither the Hong Kong government nor the court in the eastern Chinese city of Suzhou that tried Leung have released details of the charges.

This incident showed us that national security risks could be hidden in society. Thats why we repeatedly stressed that, although Hong Kongs situation appears to be largely stabilized, we cant let down our guard over national security risks and have to stay vigilant, Lee said.

The government said mainland Chinese authorities had informed Hong Kong of his arrest in 2021. Hong Kongs government was prepared to provide assistance to anyone arrested by mainland authorities upon request but had not yet received any in Leungs case, authorities said.

Lee, a former police officer and ex-head of security in the city, was effectively appointed to lead Hong Kong last year after running unopposed in an election choreographed by Beijing. In his previous posts, he oversaw a campaign that crushed the pro-democracy camp.

In an echo of party propaganda, Lee referred to the 2019 pro-democracy protests that triggered the crackdown as black violence and Hong Kongs version of color revolution, a phrase used by China and Russia to describe political movements seeking to overturn authoritarian regimes. Lee said the protest movement was an alarm bell that reminds the city to keep monitoring such risks.

Leungs sentencing threatens to further exacerbate already strained ties between Beijing and Washington.

Leung was detained April 15, 2021, by the local bureau of Chinas counterintelligence agency in 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 lockdowns affecting tens of millions to fight the spread of COVID-19.

Such investigations and trials are held behind closed doors and little information is generally released.

The harsh sentence given Leung was especially notable because of his previous affiliations with pro-Communist Party organizations, including one seeking overseas support for Beijings goal of unification with self-governing Taiwan.

Relations between Washington and Beijing are at their lowest in decades amid disputes over trade, technology, human rights and Chinas increasingly aggressive territorial claims toward Taiwan, the South China Sea and elsewhere.

High-level government exchanges between the sides have been placed on hold and U.S. companies are delaying major investments amid mixed messaging from Beijing. Many Chinese firms, most notably telecoms giant Huawei, have been effectively shut out of the U.S. market due to legal bans and high tariffs.

The sentencing comes as U.S. President Joe Biden is traveling to Hiroshima, Japan this weekend for the summit of the Group of Seven major industrial nations, followed by a visit to Papua New Guinea, a Pacific island nation in a region where China has sought to expand its economic, military and diplomatic influence.

While the Suzhou court offered no indication of a link between Leungs case and overall China-U.S. relations, spying charges in China often appear highly selective and evidence backing them up is held in secret. The partys rigid control over courts, civil society and the media effectively blocks efforts to gain further information or mount legal appeals.

The U.S. Embassy in Beijing said Monday it was aware of Leungs 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.

A former British colony, Hong Kong was promised it would retain its financial, social and political liberties when returned to China in 1997. Beijing has since torn up that commitment through progressively harsher restrictions on public gatherings, free speech and political participation, while still promoting the city as an efficient and corruption-free center for trade and finance.

Meanwhile, on the mainland, Chinese national security agencies have 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.

The pressure on foreign companies appears to clash with attempts by Beijing to lure back foreign investors after draconian COVID-19 pandemic restrictions were lifted at the beginning of the year.

It wasnt clear who represented Leung at his trial and his family has not commented on the sentence. Friends and former colleagues declined The Associated Press requests for comment.

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. Online commentary and independent information sources have been muzzled and universities 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 a Canadian diplomat to leave at short notice in retaliation for Ottawas expulsion of a staffer at the Chinese Embassy who was accused of threatening a member of the Canadian Parliament and his family members living in Hong Kong.

Chinas leader for a decade who faces no term limits, Xi has taken a highly confrontational stance toward the U.S. and other democracies, while backing Russian President Vladimir Putin in his invasion of Ukraine and supporting other autocratic governments from Nicaragua to Myanmar.

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In order to justify the effort of selecting individual stocks, it's worth striving to beat the returns from a market index fund. But even the best stock picker will only win with some selections. So we wouldn't blame long term China Yuchai International Limited (NYSE:CYD) shareholders for doubting their decision to hold, with the stock down 62% over a half decade. Furthermore, it's down 15% in about a quarter. That's not much fun for holders. This could be related to the recent financial results - you can catch up on the most recent data by reading our company report.

With that in mind, it's worth seeing if the company's underlying fundamentals have been the driver of long term performance, or if there are some discrepancies.

Check out our latest analysis for China Yuchai International

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 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).

Looking back five years, both China Yuchai International's share price and EPS declined; the latter at a rate of 24% per year. The share price decline of 18% per year isn't as bad as the EPS decline. So the market may previously have expected a drop, or else it expects the situation will improve.

You can see below how EPS has changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image).

Dive deeper into China Yuchai International's key metrics by checking this interactive graph of China Yuchai International's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

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 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 China Yuchai International the TSR over the last 5 years was -46%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. This is largely a result of its dividend payments!

Story continues

A Different Perspective

While the broader market gained around 3.8% in the last year, China Yuchai International 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. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 8% per year over five years. Generally speaking long term share price weakness can be a bad sign, though contrarian investors might want to research the stock in hope of a turnaround. 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 risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for China Yuchai International you should know about.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of companies we expect will 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.

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PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP)  A police officer tasked with protecting a private school for girls in northwestern Pakistan on Tuesday opened fire at a school bus carrying teachers and students, killing an 8-year-old girl and injuring five others, officials said.

The shooting happened in the Swat Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Senior police official Nasir Satti said officer Alam Khan was immediately arrested. He said the shooting was not a militant attack.

Satti said officers were questioning Khan to determine what prompted him to fire at the bus as it was leaving the school that serves girls up to age 17. He said four students and a woman who was on the bus were injured in the shooting.

Satti said Khan was on security duty at the school because of concerns of possible militant attacks.

The Swat Valley was the stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban, formally called the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, until 2019 when security forces cleared the region of militants after military operations.

Gun violence targeting children is rare in Pakistan. However, nearly 150 people, mostly students, were killed in 2014 when TTP militants attacked a school in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Since then, authorities have deployed police at schools across the country, especially in the volatile northwest where the Pakistani Taliban have stepped up attacks on security forces in recent months.

The Pakistani Taliban are a separate group but also a close ally of the Afghan Taliban, who seized power in neighboring Afghanistan in August 2021 as U.S. and NATO troops were in the final stages of their pullout from the country after 20 years of war.

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REYKJAVIK, Iceland (AP)  Leaders from across the continent were heading toward Iceland early Tuesday for a rare summit of the 46-nation Council of Europe that will once more step up support for member state Ukraine and condemn expelled Russia for inflicting war on its neighbor.

And after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stocked up on promises of military hardware throughout a long weekend of diplomatic hobnobbing with the continents major leaders, the two-day summit of Europes main human rights body will be centering on providing legal and judicial means to go after the Kremlin.

By Wednesdays conclusion, leaders at the summit want to have the outlines of a system in place that will set up a register of all the damage already caused by Russian forces, so Moscow can be held liable for compensation to the victims later. They are hoping that the United States, which has observer status at the summit, will also back that initiative.

The register is just one of a number of international initiatives set up to ensure accountability for the crimes inflicted in Ukraine, said British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

The Council also wants to make sure that Russia can be held accountable for what it sees as a plethora of crimes committed during the invasion.

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. Plans for such a court in The Hague have yet to bear fruit.

In Kyiv, the words of support were no match for Moscows military might, as Russia launched an intense air attack on the capital using a combination of drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles.

In the Icelandic capital, Reykjavik, diplomacy was seeking a counterweight, with keynote speeches by Sunak, von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Zelenskyy headed home Tuesday after a fruitful three-day tour through Europe where leaders promised him an arsenal of missiles, tanks and drones to replenish Ukraines weapons supplies ahead of a long-anticipated spring offensive.

There will be no escaping the plight of Ukraine during the two-day summit of the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe. 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.

The summit will also want to focus on the plight of children that have been moved from Ukraine to Russia during the invasion. In March, the International Criminal Court 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 and it is not known where they are now.

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Casert reported from Brussels

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Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

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TEL AVIV, Israel (AP)  An unexpected visitor spotted sunbathing on a beach in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv is turning heads and causing a media buzz.

But its not American film director and Tel Aviv mainstay, Quentin Tarantino, or another Hollywood celebrity  its Yulia, an endangered Mediterranean monk seal.

The seal cow first appeared south of Tel Avivs main beachfront last Friday. On Tuesday, Yulia  so named by Israels Nature and Parks Authority  drew clusters of curious onlookers to the rocky beach south of Jaffas historic center.

These seals are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, with as few as 350 mature specimens estimated to exist in the wild. Its populations have dwindled due to historic seal hunting, fishing, and habitat destruction.

Rarely spotted on Israels shores, the dwindling Mediterranean monk seal populations are believed to survive only in a handful of places in the Mediterranean Sea.

Israels Parks Authority has fenced off the section of beach where Yulia has come ashore to rest, and dispatched volunteers to monitor her from a distance.

Still, her appearance is a sensation.

This is a very rare event that a monk seal stays for such a long time on the shore, said Aviad Scheinin, a marine biologist from University of Haifa.

Yulia is molting, a multi-day process of shedding her winter coat, he explained, during which time she has been resting on the shore and taken occasional excursions out to sea.

Scheinin said fellow researchers from around the eastern Mediterranean have previously spotted Yulia in Turkey and Lebanon in recent years. She is estimated to be around 20 years old.

Im researching marine mammals for 20 years; this is the first time that Im actually seeing such a thing, and I can hardly sleep at night because of that, he said.

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SINJAR, Iraq (AP)  An airstrike targeted a militant group in northern Iraqs Yazidi heartland of Sinjar on Tuesday, according to local officials, who attributed the strike to Turkey.

Officials gave conflicting reports regarding the number of casualties. The semi-autonomous Kurdish regions counter-terrorism service said in a statement that three fighters were killed in the attack, and one wounded. Ali Hamed, a member of the militia-affiliated town council, however, denied that there were any deaths, saying one civilian was lightly injured in the attack.

A drone strike around noon in the Sinjar district hit a house frequently used by leaders of the Shingal Resistance Units, or YBS, Hamed said.

The group made up of mostly minority Yazidis was instrumental in driving out Islamic State group militants from the area after the collapse of the Iraqi army and withdrawal of the semi-autonomous Kurdish regions forces in 2014.

The YBS has been a frequent target of Turkish attacks in recent years for its ties to the insurgent Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, a separatist movement banned in Turkey and operating in northern Iraq.

A spokesperson for the Turkish Defense Ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

The continued violence has stunted beleaguered efforts to return Yazidis to their ancestral homeland after years of violence and displacement.

Violent clashes last year between the Yazidi militia and the Iraqi army in heavily populated areas of the war-scarred district caused as many as 10,000 people to flee the area, many who had returned from displacement, according to Kurdish officials.

The YBS was created in 2014 with support from the PKK in response to ISs takeover of Sinjar, during which about 10,000 Yazidis were killed and captured in what the United Nations has classified a genocide.

Today, if they hit us with a missile, ten missiles, or a hundred missiles, we will continue our return to our land, houses, and properties, said Hamed.

Tensions remain high between the maze of security forces operating in Sinjar. A power-sharing agreement brokered by the United Nations in October 2020 between Baghdad and the Kurdish-run government, where the federal police are the sole state authority, has failed to take hold.

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Associated Press writer Salar Salim in Erbil, Suzan Fraser in Istanbul, and Qassim Abdul-Zahra contributed to this report.

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MIAMI (AP)  Five people have pleaded guilty in South Florida to participating in a wire fraud scheme that created an illegal shortcut for aspiring nurses to get licensed and find employment.

Krystal Lopez and Damian Lopez, both of Palm Beach County, Florida; Francois Legagneur, of Nassau County, New York; Reynoso Seide, of Union County, N ew Jersey; and Yelva Saint Preux, of Suffolk County, N.Y.; pleaded guilty last Wednesday in Miami federal court to wire fraud conspiracy. They each face up to 20 years in prison at a July 27 hearing.

A total of 25 people were charged earlier this year in a scam that sold more than 7,600 fraudulent nursing degree diplomas from three Florida-based nursing schools, according to grand jury indictments. The schools involved  Siena College, Palm Beach School of Nursing and Sacred Heart International Institute  are now closed.

During guilty plea hearings, Damian Lopez, Legagneur, Seide and Saint Preux admitted to soliciting and recruiting people who sought nursing credentials that would allow them to work as registered, licensed practical or vocational nurses. Krystal Lopez admitted that, in her role as the Palm Beach School of Nursings finance director, she processed applications for individuals who were issued fraudulent nursing school diplomas and transcripts and that each student paid the school $15,000 for the documents.

The fake diplomas and transcripts qualified those who purchased them to sit for the national nursing board exam. If they passed, they were able to obtain licenses and jobs in various states, prosecutors said.

About 2,400 of the 7,600 students eventually passed their licensing exams  mainly in New York, federal officials said. Nurses certified in New York are allowed to practice in Florida and many other states. Many of those people may lose their certification but likely wont be criminally charged, federal officials said.

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SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP)  A Georgia sheriff has agreed to review his departments policies on bias-free policing and other practices to settle a race discrimination complaint filed by a historically Black college on behalf of students whose bus was pulled over and searched for drugs, the U.S. Justice Department said Monday.

The April 2022 traffic stop by sheriffs deputies in Liberty County caused outrage at Delaware State University, with campus President Tony Allen saying the womens lacrosse team had been humiliated and intimidated by deputies searching their bus.

University administrators filed a complaint with the Justice Department, saying the traffic stop along Interstate 95 south of Savannah had been racially motivated and had violated the students civil rights.

The Justice Department said in a statement that the Liberty County Sheriffs Office had agreed to examine its departments traffic stop and search policies and make necessary updates, as well as develop and enact new data collection procedures.

Delaware State spokesman Carlos Holmes said the university hopes the Justice Department will closely monitor and evaluate the sheriffs office and reopen its investigation if the department failed to comply with the terms of the agreement. He said the university disagrees with the conclusion of an internal investigation by the sheriffs office that found deputies involved in the traffic stop acted legally.

Liberty County Sheriff William Bowman, who is Black, insisted his department doesnt practice racial profiling after being criticized by Delaware State students and administrators last year.

Bowman said the students bus was pulled over for traveling in the highways left lane, which is illegal in Georgia. He said the search was conducted after a drug-sniffing dog outside the bus signaled there could be drugs on it.

Georgia courts have held that the odor of marijuana is enough to give police probable cause to search vehicles without a warrant.

No one was arrested or charged. The sheriff said the bus driver was given a warning.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  An investigation into the origins of the FBIs probe into ties between Russia and Donald Trumps 2016 presidential campaign has finally been concluded, with the prosecutor leading the inquiry 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 for the FBI but few significant revelations. Nonetheless, it will give fodder to Trump supporters who have long denounced the Russia investigation, as well as Trump opponents who say the Durham teams meager court record shows their 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 FBIs cozy relationship with mobsters in Boston and the CIAs 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 Trumps presidential campaign.

Despite skimpy results  one guilty plea and two acquittals  that failed to live up to Trumps 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 Barrs 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 Trumps behalf and that the campaign welcomed, rather than discouraged, the help.

From the start, Barr was deeply skeptical of the investigations 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 prosecution 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 and that the Trump campaign had welcomed, rather than discouraged, the help.

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 FBIs 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 didnt 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, saying it showed how the American public had been scammed.

Though the FBI says its already taken some steps, Durham did say its 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 FBIs 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

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NEW ORLEANS (AP)  Three conservative appeals court judges, each with a history of supporting restrictions on abortion, will hear arguments May 17 on whether a widely used abortion drug should remain available.

The case involves a regulatory issue  whether the Food and Drug Administrations approval of mifepristone, and subsequent actions making it easier to obtain, must be rolled back. The appellate hearing follows an April ruling by a federal judge in Texas, who ordered a hold on federal approval of mifepristone in a decision that overruled decades of scientific approval. His ruling was stayed pending appeal. The case was allotted to a panel made up of Jennifer Walker Elrod, James Ho and Cory Wilson.

The three judges of the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals wont rule immediately. Their decision, whatever it is, is also unlikely to have an immediate effect pending an expected appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Heres a look at who the judges are and their track records.

JENNIFER WALKER ELROD

Nominated to the court in 2007 by Republican President George W. Bush, Elrod was among several 5th Circuit judges allowing Texas to temporarily ban abortions as the coronavirus pandemic took hold in early 2020.

Elrod also was co-author of the opinion when the full 5th Circuit upheld in 2021 a Texas law outlawing an abortion method commonly used to end second-trimester pregnancies.

That same year, she wrote for a panel that refused to order Louisiana to issue a long-stalled license for a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic in New Orleans, saying there is no free-standing federal right to receive an abortion-clinic license.

In the Texas case involving pandemic restrictions, she was part of a panel allowing what amounted to a ban on abortions  including medication abortions  by classifying them as non-essential procedures legally postponed under an order by Gov. Greg Abbott. The 2020 order was in effect for about a month.

Elrod was in favor of decisions upholding Texas and Louisiana laws requiring doctors at abortion clinics to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals  a move abortion rights advocates said would force some clinics to close.

When the full court narrowly refused to let Louisiana officials cut off Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood facilities in the state, Elrod wrote the dissent.

Elrod also boasts a high profile in 5th Circuit decisions on regulatory issues. One, if upheld by the Supreme Court, could limit the authority of the Securities and Exchange Commission to impose hefty fees and fines. Another, eventually struck by the Supreme Court, held that the individual mandate in former President Barack Obamas signature health care law had been rendered unconstitutional by congressional action.

JAMES HO

A former Texas solicitor general, Ho is the first Asian-American to serve on the 5th Circuit and is a former clerk for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. He was nominated to the 5th Circuit in 2017 by Republican President Donald Trump. His opposition to abortion and abortion rights was clear early in his tenure, including referring to abortion as a moral tragedy in one 2018 opinion.

In 2019, he wrote a 15-page grudging concurrence in a ruling that said a Mississippi abortion ban had to be struck down under then-existing court precedent. Nothing in the text or original understanding of the Constitution establishes a right to an abortion, he wrote.

He went on to cite the racial history of abortion advocacy as a tool of the eugenics movement. He harshly criticized a lower court for declining to consider arguments that a fetus can feel pain, and for displaying an alarming disrespect for the millions of Americans who believe ... that abortion is the immoral, tragic, and violent taking of innocent human life.

That opinion was written in the case the Supreme Court ultimately used to overturn Roe v. Wade.

CORY WILSON

Nominated to the federal appeals court in 2020 by Trump, Wilson is a former Mississippi appeals court judge who had a strong anti-abortion record when he served in the Mississippi House from January 2016 to February 2019 as a Republican. Abortion rights supporters opposed his confirmation to the federal appeals court. They noted he had expressed support for complete and immediate reversal of the Roe v. Wade decision in a questionnaire from Mississippi Right to Lifes political action committee.

Wilson voted for anti-abortion measures in 2016, including one to stop Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood facilities in the state  a measure rejected in court. In 2018 he voted for the Mississippi law that ultimately led to the demise of Roe v. Wade in 2022. The law prohibited most abortions after 15 weeks.

At the 5th Circuit, Wilson joined Elrod, Ho and a majority of the full court in 2021 in upholding a Texas law outlawing an abortion method commonly used to end second-trimester pregnancies. He had voted for a similar law in the Mississippi Legislature.

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Associated Press reporter Emily Wagster Pettus in Jackson, Mississippi, contributed to this report.

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The big number 95 per cent the percentage of park ranger visits where people drinking alcohol were found to be respectful and responsible under a 2021-2022 Vancouver pilot project.

I had two major thoughts last week while watching members of Toronto city council debate  yet again  the notion of allowing people to drink a beer or a glass of wine in city parks.

The first was that this debate is very, very silly.

The second was that this kind of silly debate at Toronto city council is exactly what Torontos next mayor will need to know how to deal with if they really want to get anything done fast.

Lets start with the silliness. Councillors continue to regard the notion of permitting some alcohol consumption in public parks like its some radical untested idea rife with a long list of potentially disastrous impacts.

Coun. Jaye Robinson, who represents Don Valley West, worried that it would encourage more people to drive drunk. Coun. James Pasternak of York Centre fretted that allowing alcohol in parks would be a major blow to Torontos restaurant and bar industry. Etobicoke Centre rep Coun. Stephen Holyday suggested the government dropping its park prohibition would in fact be a move to expand government, as the city would need to build more public washrooms and hire more park workers to clean up. The horror.

The reality, of course, is that city council could change its bylaws to allow responsible alcohol consumption in parks tomorrow and everything would be fine. By the citys own admission, the current rules against alcohol in parks are rarely enforced. This change wouldnt be likely to incentivize a wave of park boozing. Instead, it would make it so people already planning to have a beer in a park this summer  many of whom dont have access to a private backyard  can relax and not fear an overzealous officer coming by.

This is something that has been thoroughly tested by other big cities  both internationally and closer to home. Recently, Vancouver conducted a pilot over two summers where it allowed alcohol consumption in some parks. It was successful enough that it will now permanently allow alcohol in 47 parks and on seven public beaches this summer.

Were there problems? Not a lot. The findings from the 2021-2022 summer pilots indicated that over 95% of total Park Ranger visits to pilot sites reported that park users consuming alcohol were respectful and responsible, reads a report to the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation released last month.

It turns out allowing a bit of booze in parks might be good for Vancouvers bottom line too. As part of a new revenue strategy, the parks board has been directed to look at partnerships with local breweries, restaurants and food trucks with the goal of turning park concessions into destination attractions providing unique experiences for users. These kinds of concessions could generate a decent revenue stream through permit and licensing fees.

But despite everything, Toronto city council  temporarily led by Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie as Toronto waits to elect a new mayor in a byelection on June 26  couldnt bring itself to take real action last week.

A motion from Coun. Josh Matlow for a report on recommendations to allow alcohol on parks on a citywide basis this summer was defeated. Instead, councillors opted for an approach where there will be a report, then maybe a limited pilot project in specific parks in specific wards this summer, then maybe some expansion of that pilot next year, then maybe  eventually  some sort of permanent policy change.

To be fair, that was the basic process Vancouver went through with its pilot, but thats the point: other cities have already done the kind of studies and test projects Toronto council wants to do and have published their results. Toronto could just learn from their experiences and skip right to the end.

Which brings me back to the mayors race. One of the key roles for whoever wins next month will be to shut down this kind of council silliness and push things forward.

Among some leading candidates for the job, theres reason for optimism. As both a mayoral candidate and a city councillor, Matlow stuck to his conviction on the drinking-in-parks issue, despite some councillors reportedly thinking that by forcing him to make a public stand on the issue during the campaign theyd hurt his chances in the byelection. (Some internal campaign polling has suggested the notion of doing away with park prohibition is unpopular with voters in the inner suburbs.)

Fellow candidate Coun. Brad Bradford deserves credit too. He voted for Matlows motion  backing his political opponent  and later provided me with a statement offering unqualified support on the issue: Torontonians already responsibly enjoy a beer or glass of wine in our parks regularly. Its time politicians at city hall wake up to this reality and create a framework to permit what already takes place everyday, the Beaches-East York rep wrote.

Bradford also noted that city hall must avoid creating some complicated bureaucratic process that makes an even bigger joke of the status quo. Well said.

Candidates with city hall experience will have a leg up in understanding just how overly complicated and bureaucratic city hall can make things. Time spent as a councillor has tended to be an asset for those who seek the mayors chair.

But having experience with the complicated bureaucracy (and the city council that tends to create it) is only half the battle. The other half is having a desire  and a plan  to knock it back.

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By Eduardo Baptista and Yuvraj Malik

(Reuters) - Search engine giant Baidu Inc beat first-quarter revenue and profit estimates on Tuesday as businesses spent more on advertising amid China's post-COVID reopening, and said it was awaiting regulatory approval to launch its ChatGPT-like Ernie bot.

Business momentum in China is building after it dropped most of its strict COVID-19 curbs late last year, with consumers and companies reviving spending.

China's economy grew a faster-than-expected 4.5% year-on-year in the three months through March, according to the latest official data.

Baidu CEO Robin Li said on Tuesday that after the Lunar New Year in late January, there was a quick economic recovery that especially benefited the company's advertisers in offline sectors such as travel and healthcare.

"Some of these verticals have already rebounded to above pre-pandemic levels, indicating solid signs of recovery," Li said. Baidu's revenue rose 10% to 31.14 billion yuan ($4.54 billion) in the quarter to March 31, surpassing analysts' estimates of 29.97 billion yuan, according to Refinitiv data.

Revenue from Baidu Core, which includes search-based advertising sales, cloud offerings and its autonomous driving initiatives, grew 8% to 23 billion yuan.

Of this, revenue from Baidu's largest segment, online marketing, accounted for 16.6 billion yuan, up 6%. Revenue at its streaming service iQIYI rose 15% to 8.3 billion yuan, driven by 28% growth in its subscriber base.

Baidus U.S.-listed shares were up 3% intra-day on Tuesday.

It reported net income of 5.83 billion yuan, compared to net loss in the year-ago quarter. Excluding items, it earned 16.10 yuan per American Depository Share (ADS), higher than Wall Street's estimate of 12.46 yuan.

PLANS LARGE SCALE ROLL-OUT OF ERNIE BOT

The company's much-touted rival to ChatGPT, Ernie bot, has yet to be officially launched, despite having been partially unveiled to the public in mid-March.

Story continues

Baidu CEO Li said in a press release on Tuesday that the company planned to "steadily incorporate" the generative AI-driven chatbot into all of the search engine giant's businesses, without giving a specific timeline.

Li later said on a call with analysts that the company had applied for government review and approval of Ernie bot, and would roll it out large scale once it gets the "green light" from regulators.

"During our testing of Ernie bot, we have engaged in close discussions with the regulators," Li said.

Li added that despite the entry of many new players in the Chinese generative AI and large-language model industry, there was a "very high barrier to entry" that meant Baidu expected a "highly concentrated market with probably 2-3 major players emerging in the end".

"To establish a significant presence in this market ... the requirements include substantial upfront investment, robust AI capability expertise and vast data for model training," Li said.

On concerns that U.S. curbs on China's access to certain chips could set back the development of its AI industry, the Baidu CEO said that the company had secured a "substantial amount of computing power", including "the most advanced GPUs", in order to continue training and improving Ernie bot.

(Reporting by Eduardo Baptista in Beijing, Yuvraj Malik in Bengaluru; Editing by Jan Harvey, Mark Potter and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
I have lived in Alberta for a long time, through many elections  most of them easy conservative wins.

Conservatives were so sure of themselves they barely paid attention to opposition parties nipping at their heels. But this election is different. So different that some of those once confident conservatives are denouncing United Conservative Party (UPC) Leader Danielle Smiths version of right-wing politics; some are even urging Albertans to vote for Rachel Notleys NDP.

Take for example former Progressive Conservative MP Lee Richardson, a true blue conservative for decades. Before being elected as a Progressive Conservative MP he worked in Premier Peter Lougheeds office. He was principal secretary to PC premier Alison Redford. But this year he organized a fundraiser for the NDP candidate in his constituency. Among those attending was Ron Ghitter, former Lougheed cabinet minister and PC Senator appointed by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.

Tom Lukaszuk, another former PC cabinet minister, has been urging Albertans to vote NDP for months.

Ken Boessenkool, a well known Conservative strategist  he has worked with Preston Manning, Ralph Klein, Stephen Harper and Stockwell Day  told a Calgary Herald columnist that Smith represents things that are not conservative. She represents things that will ultimately harm the party.

Last week, Jeromy Farkas, a well-known Calgary conservative, former city councillor and a mayoralty candidate in 2021, levelled a blistering attack on Smiths brand of conservatism: What we are seeing right now, its serious and its dangerous, he said on CBC Radio.

Farkas pointed out that even though conservatives are supposed to believe in the rule of law Smith has been picking and choosing what laws apply and shown that its OK for politicians to meddle with prosecutors to help insider friends beat the rap.

The UCP is a merger, engineered by Jason Kenney, of Alberta Progressive Conservatives and the more right-wing Wildrose Party. But many moderate conservatives were leery of the deal from the beginning because the Wildrosers seemed to have the upper hand.

With Smith at the helm, the Wildrose faction is not only in control but has veered off into extremely radical territory.

What else do you call it when Smith proclaims that anti-vaxxers faced more discrimination than anyone in her lifetime?

Or when she says that the 75 per cent of Albertans who got vaccinated were akin to those who were swayed by Adolph Hitler?

Or when she says the Freedom Convoys blockade of the Alberta/U.S border was a win for Alberta?

Or when she takes a call from one of the most notorious blockaders and offers to talk to prosecutors about his upcoming court case?

And then there is her clueless babbling about health care when she was a talk show radio host. Such as physicians would provide better care if they knew the patient had personally paid for his or her services; hospitals should be contracted out; people shouldnt need treatment for late stage cancer because there are so many ways to cure yourself at earlier stages of the disease.

Her ties to an activist group called Take Back Alberta (TBA) are also raising alarm. TBA was instrumental to her UCP leadership win and has taken over many UCP constituency associations. Its leader, David Parker, is anti-abortion and believes women should forgo careers in favour of raising children.

You can vote your way into socialism, Parker told a gathering in Grande Prairie recently. You almost always have to shoot your way out.

No wonder moderate conservatives dont recognize the party they were once so proud of.

How many of them will stay home rather than vote, or vote NDP, is another question. But this election is so close, especially in Calgary where the NDP needs close to a sweep if they are to take up the reins of government.

In the end it may be these lifelong conservatives who tilt the election in the NDPs favour.

GS Gillian Steward is a Calgary-based writer and freelance contributing columnist for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @GillianSteward

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Should NDP Leader Rachel Notley win the Alberta election and regain the premiers chair she lost in 2019, she is promising to be more assertive with the federal government, no matter who is prime minister.

Call it Premier Notley 2.0.

Its not about who is leading the federal government, its about what I believe is the best role for an Alberta premier to take with respect to the federal government, Notley said in an interview.

Notley is campaigning on a tightrope. She is a New Democrat trying to woo fence-sitting Conservatives in an election campaign with so many twists and turns it must be giving voters whiplash. She is trying to assure Albertans that she will champion the energy industry while also leading the fight against climate change; that she will invest heavily in social issues but also balance the provincial budget; that she will stand up to Ottawa while working co-operatively with the federal government.

When she became premier in 2015, Notley worked closely with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to kickstart the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion. That relationship soured when the expansion was stymied by the Federal Court in 2018  and Notley began to distance herself from the unpopular-in-Alberta Trudeau as she headed into the 2019 provincial election. She lost to Jason Kenney, who in turn was replaced last year as UCP leader and premier by Danielle Smith.

If elected this time, Notley says shed be more forceful from the get-go. Even before the election campaign began, Notley spoke out against Trudeaus just transition program, pointing out that it was announced with no provincial input. She remains critical of any Ottawa-imposed emissions cap on Albertas oilsands. She says the federal government is indeed overstepping its bounds at times but says the Alberta UCP government allowed that to happen by refusing to work with Ottawa.

For the last three-and-a-half years there has been a provincial government that has used the federal government in a very simplistic way as a political pinata, said Notley, taking shots at Kenney as well as Smiths Sovereignty Act and her anti-Ottawa initiatives, such as taking Alberta out of the Canada Pension Plan to set up a provincial plan.

Notley says an NDP government will stand up to Ottawa but not at the expense of the rest of Canada.

We dont constantly threaten the break-up of the country, said Notley. What we do is say, Listen, if Alberta does well, heres the people across the country who will also do well. Lets build on those strong relationships. 

What Canadians outside Alberta might not realize is that Notley is not your typical New Democratic leader. In fact, shes happy to subtly compare herself with an icon of Alberta Conservative politics, Peter Lougheed, who earned a reputation as a strong defender of Alberta within a strong Canada.

This province has punched above its weight economically and, I would argue, culturally on many fronts, said Notley, who promises to return Alberta to its former status as a national leader.

One of the obstacles she has to overcome is the negative impression among Conservatives of her premiership when the province hit an oil-price recession.

To win over Smith-averse Conservatives, Notley is promising to freeze personal income tax rates, eliminate taxes for most small businesses, and balance the provincial budget.

She is also happy to point out she doesnt have a strong relationship with Jagmeet Singh and the federal NDP, when it comes to championing Albertas energy industry.

She is doing that to parry jabs from UCP leader Smith, who has referred to Singh as Notleys boss.

Smiths attack is part of the UCPs unofficial campaign slogan that goes along the lines of: A Conservative government under an unpopular Smith is better than an NDP government under a Notley-Singh alliance.

Notley has in fact been at odds for years with Singh and/or the federal NDP over pipelines and the energy industry.

In 2016, she called the federal NDPs anti-oil Leap Manifesto naive, ill-informed and tone-deaf.

As premier in February 2018, Notley banned B.C. wine when British Columbias NDP government tried to fight the expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline.

In August of that year, she called Singh elitist for opposing the pipeline expansion.

On Sunday, Notley told CTVs Question Period that she disagreed completely with Singh over his opposition to subsidies for energy companies because the energy sector is still playing such an important role in our economy.

Notley might be walking a tightrope, but so is Smith. The difference is that Smith is dangling over a shark tank trying to reassure moderate Conservatives she is not a fringe politician while assuring her right-wing fringe supporters she hasnt changed.

So, whose tightrope act is working best?

Nobody seems to know.

A new Abacus poll released last week indicates Notley is pulling ahead of Smith among decided voters, leading 51 per cent to 41 per cent.

However, a new poll from respected Calgary-based pollster Janet Brown indicates the UCP could win 56 seats to 31 for the NDP.

Alberta voters should be given neck braces.

Horse races come and go, said Notley, falling back on the adage that the only poll that counts is the one on election day.

But one trend that has appeared in numerous opinion polls is that Notley scores higher than Smith on the issues of trust and leadership.

What were seeing in the polls is that Albertans are saying theyre concerned about health care, theyre concerned about leadership, and theyre concerned about affordability, said Notley.

When it comes to horse races, this election campaign feels like its been in the homestretch for eons. And based on conflicting opinion polls, its a race that might come down to a photo finish.

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The dream of affording to buy a home is proving a nightmare, and the need for homes that are accessible for people of all ages with a disability is dire.

Universal design will accommodate all of us  regardless of age and ability.

Rather than cry red tape! when hearing of universal design standards, builders must see it as an opportunity to radically change the way they build homes. We must not allow them to build homes only for the able-bodied, while largely ignoring the needs of one in four Canadians who self-identify as disabled in the census.

Canada needs to start building homes according to the universal design standard, as Australia is doing. And it must do so wholeheartedly because universal applies to all homes, not just a few of them.

By adopting standard plumbing, we saw outhouses virtually disappear. By adopting universal design for all new homes, we can build a stock of accessible housing for future generations. Nobody should be homeless as a result of a lifelong disability, accident or illness.

Mayoral candidates are talking a lot about affordability, but hardly at all about accessibility. This must change.

Salvatore Amenta, Stouffville

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Candidates clash over bike lanes, traffic, May 10

How far behind the rest of the world can some candidates be when it comes to addressing gridlock in the core of Toronto?

Other major cities, such as London, have instituted congestion levies and environmental charges for driving vehicles in their downtown core. In Madrid there has been recognition that air pollution has been reduced by such measures, and the health of citizens has improved. Similar actions by TransformTO could reduce greenhouse gas emissions and make a healthier environment for all of us in Toronto.

Some candidates for mayor of Toronto are going in the opposite direction proposing measures to make it easier to drive a vehicle downtown. What planet do they think we are living on?

Allan Baker, Scarborough

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If English-Canadas biggest private media organization were to launch a full-scale, no-holds-barred campaign warning the country was in danger of being drowned by massive waves of immigrants (complete with cartoon renditions of said waves) there would, I have no doubt, be a massive backlash against it for trafficking in xenophobia, alarmism, even racism.

But in Quebec, as we know, things are different. So when that provinces biggest media organization (Quebecor) unleashes just such a campaign in its flagship newspaper (Le Journal de Montreal), there is no such backlash.

Instead, the premier agrees the threat is real. The National Assembly adopts a unanimous motion condemning federal plans to ramp up immigration. And columnists in other newspapers join the chorus.

English Canada used to keep a close eye on political currents in Quebec, back when the province brandished its infamous knife to the throat in the form of a credible threat of separation. But the threat has long receded, Quebec news is deemed far less newsworthy, and so the latest collective panic attack among the provinces political class has taken a bit of time to register in these parts.

And what a panic attack it is. The weekend before last the tabloid Journal (the bestselling paper in Quebec) kicked it off with an eight-page section under the headline Le Quebec pris au piege (Quebec caught in a trap).

The gist of its massive dossier is that the Trudeau government, with Dominic Barton of McKinsey consulting fame pulling strings, has ratcheted up Canadas immigration intake with the goal of increasing the countrys population to 100 million by the year 2100.

As a result, the paper argues, Quebec will face two deadly choices. Either go along and accept millions of immigrants who do not integrate culturally so that the Quebec people will be demographically drowned. Or see its population shrink relative to that of English-Canada, to the point where Quebec will be condemned to political insignificance.

This is the basic argument, and theres a logic to it. But you really have to read this stuff to get the full emotional and political effect.

Columnist Denise Bombardier, for example: Lets go into the streets of the towns and villages of Quebec to save our honour and loudly proclaim our desire to live in the respect of our collective identity, which is being diluted  annihilated. Or the many comparisons of Ottawas immigration targets to the infamous (in Quebec) report of Lord Durham, which back in 1839 recommended assimilating French-Canadians to the new British reality of Canada.

As I said, theres a logic here. The federal government is increasing immigration targets (to 500,000 by 2025). And Quebec does face choices. If it accepts more immigrants, there will be challenges to its historical identity (immigration does that everywhere). If it refuses immigration, it will shrink relative to other provinces.

The answer for the separatists (like the Journals columnists) is of course separation. They see the real or imagined threat of large-scale immigration as their ticket to reviving that long-dormant debate. Perhaps theyll succeed, so English-Canada needs to get its head around the possibility.

The more realistic answer is that Quebec  like every other society  is going to have to figure out ways to change without having an existential meltdown. It could start by getting clearer in its collective mind what its core identity really is. Is it the French language? Or is it something deeper, more cultural, more linked to the historical French-Canadian majority?

The question is particularly relevant because Quebec is having trouble accepting French-speaking immigrants as well as those of other languages. I was struck by a report in La Presse the same weekend as the Journal dossier, which found its easier for francophones to be accepted as immigrants to English-Canada than to Quebec.

Quebec, say those immigrants, makes it difficult to qualify. So the paper reported on a Moroccan who settled in Halifax, and a francophone from Togo who ended up in the Northwest Territories.

Quebec is shooting itself in the foot by pushing away such newcomers. It must adapt, not take refuge in collectivist fantasies  or nightmares.

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Battlelines have been drawn in Pakistan. The two warring factions have firmed up their strategies and launched their first strikes. Imran Khan backed by the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) and the President, Dr Arif Alvi, is on one side while the government supported by the army chief, General Asim Munir, is on the other.

Neither is willing to back down. Every case pertaining to Imran is personally heard by the CJP and immediate relief is granted. The President briefs Imran on the goings on within the government while refusing to sign orders which could damage Imrans position.

The CJP displays happiness on meeting Imran in court, stating, Good to see you, while the President writes to the government criticising his arrest, mentioning, The clumsy hubris in which his (Imrans) arrest was carried out, tarnished the image of Pakistan in the international community.

A confident Imran instructs his lawyers to approach the SC directly, aware his cases will be heard on priority and relief assured. The bail judgement by the Islamabad court was a fall-out of the SC order. The CJPs orders for conduct of Punjab elections on 14 May was not implemented by the government on which he could do nothing.

On the contrary, the bill passed by the national assembly curtailing the powers of the CJP on suo-moto cases was declared null and void even before it became law, for which the government had no answer. Directions of the President are ignored while he refuses to cooperate with the government.

The army chief is anti-Imran and Imran rightly believes him to be his personal enemy. His selection was made solely on this criterion and with the intent of keeping Imran away from the PMs chair. He is aware that it could impact his own appointment. Pakistani generals, despite all social media rumours, have their first loyalty to their kin, rather than any politician.

They have never been subservient to any civilian leader and would never be so. Imran is seeking to nominate a chief who would follow his diktat. Munir is busy creating his own team of confidants to push through his antiImran agenda.

The leaders of the PDM, the coalition currently ruling Pakistan, were targeted by Imran when he was in power, but never received favourable treatment from the courts. Hence, they term the courts as biased and accuse them of granting extraordinary relief to Imran.

They are aware that Imran has a cult following which will ensure his return to power, pushing them into jail and oblivion in case elections are held. They are working to debar Imran from politics employing the legal route.

Everything has a cut off date and so has the fight in Pakistan. The target is the forthcoming elections. As per Pakistans constitution, elections are to be held within 60 days of dissolution of the national assemblies, the last date for which is 13 August, implying elections must be held by 13 October, under a caretaker government. With Shehbaz and Imran at loggerheads, the caretaker PM would be appointed by the President in consultation with the election commission. Both President Alvi and the CJP retire in mid September this year.

While Shehbaz will seek to delay announcing elections beyond the retirement of the two, they will work in unison to ensure it does not happen. Hence, there is discussion of declaring an emergency. An emergency can only be declared under severe internal crisis or a war.

Will Pakistan risk a war with India only to keep Imran at bay? The next president is unlikely to be Imrans choice as also the next CJP will be the anti-Imran, Faez Isa. It was during Imrans tenure that the government attempted to sideline Faez by accusing him of amassing wealth beyond known sources of income. However, they failed. If Imran is unable to push through elections by then, he will be at the receiving end.

The importance of President Alvi and CJP not resigning before their due dates cannot be understated. Any attempt to delay dissolution of assemblies or holding of elections would come under scrutiny of law for which both the CJP and President hold the key.

Strategies of both sides have been firmed up. Imran will continue to attack the army, directly in his addresses and through social media, taking names, maligning them and increasing the distance between the public and powerful generals, while creating fissures within, thereby reducing the ability of General Munir and the ISI to target him. By pushing his supporters to attack army camps, Imran has warned that any arrest would lead to the battle being fought in cantonments.

The President and the CJP will simultaneously keep the government under check. On the other side, Shehbaz and Munir will attempt to bring Imran to heel by pushing at least one of the multiple cases currently being investigated by their designated agencies thereby debarring him from elections and placing him behind bars.

They will seek to arrest Imran by bypassing stay orders and bail granted by the courts while discrediting his primary supporters by selective audio leaks. By ordering an investigation into the recent violence, the government will attempt to term Imrans PTI as a terrorist organization, preventing it from participating. Crackdown on the PTI has begun alongside protests and counter-protests across the country. Imran targets the army, forcing it to respond, while it, in turn, releases audio tapes displaying that it was his party members which led rioters to target army institutions.

Imran is not the first politician who attempted to subdue the Army. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto tried and was executed; Benazir Bhutto became too popular and was assassinated, while Nawaz Sharif was sent into exile. Whether Imran will be the first to bring the army to heel remains to be seen. Imran has a cult following in this age of social media, which none of the others had. Each side has its strengths and limitations.

What remains to be seen is whether Imran along with his allies, the CJP and President, is able to force the government to concede or will the government, supported by the army chief, push Imran to pasture. The coming days will determine which side wins the war. Till then, battles between both sides will continue.

(The writer is a retired Major-General of the Indian Army.)
Whether the 42-year-old, Harvard educated Pita Limjaroenrat becomes Thailands Prime Minister or not may still be in the realm of conjecture, given the countrys complex constitutional provisions. But the outcome of the countrys general election makes certain things clear.

First, Thailand has overwhelmingly rejected military backed political dispensations, having decimated incumbent Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ochas United Thai Nation party; it won 36 of the 500 seats on offer, and not even the powerful military may be able to come to his rescue. Second, with a record turnout, Thailands voters have sought decisive changes in the way they are governed. But Mr.

Pitas ascension to the top job hinges on several factors. His Move Forward party, which claimed 151 seats, was by far the biggest winner in the election, but will need the support of other parties to have a credible chance to form government. Mr. Pita is learnt to have received an assurance of support from the Phue Thai party led by Ms. Paetongtarn Shinawatra which came in second with 141 seats, and has said he is in talks to put together a five-party coalition that will together have more than 300 MPs.

While that is enough to secure a majority in the lower house, the countrys Prime Minister is chosen by the 500 MPs and 250 Senators, and the latter group is made up entirely of members nominated by the military. This means that a potential leader will have to secure the support of at least 376 members, a daunting task given that Move Forwards agenda calls for rewriting the countrys constitution, a change in lese majeste laws and dilution of the powers of the military. This will mean Mr. Pita will have to water down commitments made in his manifesto and reach accommodations that are acceptable to his alliance partners.

That is not the only challenge he faces; an investigation into his ownership of shares in a media company is underway and an adverse outcome could lead to disqualification. The election outcome must have surprised Ms. Shinawatra, a daughter and niece of two former Prime Ministers who was projected by pollsters to be in pole position. While her Phue Thai party did not get a majority of the seats, largely because Move Forwards pledge to bring about sweeping reforms struck a chord with young, urban voters (the party won 32 of 33 seats in Bangkok), it has done well in its traditional strongholds in rural Thailand.

The election outcome will make it very difficult for the powerful Thai establishment, comprising the monarchy and the military, to resist calls for change that provoked youth-led pro-democracy protests two years ago, and sought curbs on the powers of the monarch and cuts in his spending. But the military has intervened in the political process in the past, and Thailands voters must hope it does not choose to do so again.
A New York City woman has reportedly sued Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT), accusing them of misleading consumers into believing its PediaSure nutrition drinks were "clinically proven" to increase children's height.

In the lawsuit, Joanne Noriega said that 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.

Also Read: Republicans Seek Documents, Schedule Hearing Related To FDA's Response To Baby-Formula Shortage.

Noriega dismissed PediaSure as "just a flavored sugar and milk-based drink that contains vitamins, which cannot cure for shortness."

She also added that Abbott "knows from its own studies that its Clinically Proven Claim is false and misleading."

"This case is without merit," Reuters reported citing Abbott's statement. "PediaSure is a scientifically designed complete and balanced nutrition solution for children to help support growth and development."

Price Action: ABT shares are down 0.15% at $109.68 on the last check Tuesday.

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 Claims of PediaSure Boosting Children's Height Challenged in Lawsuit Against Abbott Laboratories originally appeared on Benzinga.com

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The Kolkata Municipal Corporation is to start public awareness on the dos and donts during the upcoming monsoon season. The civic body is to make use of mikes in all its 144 wards for an intensive awareness campaign on the subject during the rainy season.

Notably, two women were electrocuted to death while a man was admitted to hospital in Ekbalpore area yesterday after coming into contact with a live wire. Locals alleged that the mesh of wire posed a threat to life because of rampant power theft of CESC lines.

Mayor of KMC and the local MLA, Firhad Hakim visited the area and expressed possibilities of power theft recommending action against those involved in the illegal activity.

Considering the incident, the civic body, like every year, is considering going for a program with the use of mikes to make citizens aware of the steps that need to be taken during rains. Meanwhile, the KMC is also planning to launch an app having information on citys hotspots.

The app is supposed to bring convenience not only for the people of Kolkata but also tourists visiting the city. The idea was proposed by a caller during the civic bodys weekly Talk to Mayor programme held last Saturday.

The proposal was given by a resident of Behala, who claimed to have enjoyed visiting the Jail Museum at Alipore and suggested the mayor Firhad Hakim to launch an app, where information about tourist attractions could be available at one platform.

The mayor, impressed with the idea, urged the MMiC of the IT wing of the civic body, Sandipan Saha, to take steps to develop the facility. The app, according to the mayor, would help the foreign tourists particularly.

As elaborated by Mr Hakim, there are several new hotspots that have been added to the citys map in the recent past. The app would also include information on the operational hours of those destinations to help the tourists.
An evening thunderstorm, accompanied by rain lashing the city, brought respite from the blistering heat and humidity while leading to the injury of a person who was unfortunate to come under a falling tree.

Kolkata and its adjoining districts got respite after the thunderstorm and rain lashed the city during evening hours today. The city turned darker than usual during sunset with an overcast sky and speedy winds gripping Kolkata. As dusk descended, Kolkata saw heavy downpour for about half-an-hour.

According to the Regional Meteorological Centre, a squall passed over Kolkata from northwesterly direction at around 5.41 pm with maximum wind gust 84 kmph. The squall lasted over the city for three minutes, uprooting several trees in various parts of the city. Like the Alipore observatory, the squall is said to have passed over Dum Dum at around 6 pm from the westerly direction at a speed of 62 kmph that lasted for about a minute.

Two persons were trapped under an uprooted tree in the district magistrates office at Alipore after the thunderstorm. The two men, according to sources in the DM office, were trapped inside a car that was parked in the premises. A tree getting uprooted during the thunderstorm fell on the car causing injuries to one of them while the other person was rescued safely.

The injured was rushed to the Bangur Hospital where he was declared stable after initial treatment. Another tree got uprooted and came crashing on a parked car near Victoria Memorial in the Maidan area damaging the vehicle. Traffic snarls due to uprooted trees were also reported in some parts of the city. Apart from this, the evening showers and squall also caused train disruption in some of the lines of Sealdah division.

According to sources, train services in the citys crucial circular railway were partially disrupted after a tree was uprooted at BBD Bagh. Similar disruptions were reported in two other lines following uprooting of trees and foreign material falling on overhead wires of the railways.

While bringing disruptions, the thunderstorm and the rainfall, however, also pulled down the mercury by a few notches, taking the lowest temperatures to around 26.1 degrees Celsius, one degree below the normal. Even the maximum temperature that the city registered hovered over just one degree above normal today remaining at 36.7 degree Celsius.

According to the weather office, the rainfall and thunderstorm was triggered due to the presence of an upper air trough from Bihar to Odisha and strong moisture incursion from Bay of Bengal.

The enhanced thunderstorm with lightning activity along with gusty wind is very likely to prevail over the districts of West Bengal, including Kolkata from 15-20 May. The thunderstorm activity is anticipated to see a peak during 18-20 May in south Bengal.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday reviewed the progress of departmental schemes being run for the public with senior officials of the government and issued necessary guidelines.

While reviewing the progress of departmental schemes, CM Yogi noted that major reforms are required in the functioning of tehsils and guided to make concerted efforts regarding transparency and timeliness. We have to make concerted efforts regarding transparency and timeliness.

The complaints/problems should be redressed within a time limit. Digitization should be promoted. Cases related to inheritance/succession should not be kept unnecessarily pending. Keeping in mind the expectations of the common man, a detailed action plan should be prepared and presented for improvement in the functioning of tehsils, he said.

The Chief Minister also issued guidelines to increase the facilities of teleconsultation and health ATMs for easy availability of health services in rural areas.

He said, With this, people in remote areas will be able to get advice from good doctors in cases of illness. Trained manpower should be deployed for health ATMs. People should be made aware of this while expanding the teleconsultation service.

He said that incentive is being provided to encourage investors in setting up industrial units in the state and all these case should be reviewed and resolved without any delay.

Incentive is being provided by the state government to encourage investors setting up industrial units in the state. All such cases should be thoroughly reviewed and resolved appropriately without delay. The Industrial Development Department should accord top priority to the disposal of such cases, he said.

Highlighting the Communicable Diseases Campaign conducted in April, the chief minister said that the campaign has sent a positive message to the common people, increasing awareness about communicable and infectious diseases.

The Communicable Diseases Campaign conducted in the month of April has sent a positive message among the common people. Awareness about infectious, communicable diseases has increased among people. Such efforts must be continuously made, he said.

Activity should be further increased to prevent encephalitis in Gorakhpur, Basti and Devipatan divisions, malaria in Bareilly and neighbouring divisions and chikungunya in Bundelkhand. Similar efforts should be made in these areas to prevent encephalitis. Make people aware of the importance of cleanliness and consumption of pure drinking water. Take the help of paediatricians as well, he added.

CM Yogi further noted that illegal taxi stand, bus stand/rickshaw stands should not operate in any district of the state.

Such stands encourage illegal income, which is used in anti-social activities. Such activities, wherever being conducted, must be stopped immediately. It is necessary to fix the route for e-rickshaws in the cities, the Chief Minister said.

He appreciated the property surveys programs such as SVAMITVA, Gharauni, and Varasat for providing great convenience to the general public.

He said, Programs like SVAMITVA, Gharauni, and Varasat have achieved success in providing great convenience to the general public. So far, houses have been distributed to more than 56.17 lakh villagers. Survey work, which remains to be done in only 15 revenue villages, should also be completed as soon as possible. Our target should be that by the end of this year, all the eligible villagers get Gharauni certificates, that give them ownership rights of their houses.

CM Yogi said, The system should be kept smooth in all the cow shelters. There should be proper arrangements for green fodder straw etc. Arrangements should be made to keep the cattle safe from heat or sunlight. There is a huge potential for employment generation in the dairy sector. Keeping this in view, innovations should be encouraged. Efforts should be made to connect more and more youth with the dairy sector.
The North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH) has failed to ready a facility that was to be handed over to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (NICED) for a proposed model rural health research unit (MRHRU).

NBMCH authorities had on 8 May claimed that they would hand over the three-storied building today.

A visit to the building used as the record section today revealed stacks of papers piled on the second floor. An employee was supervising their arrangements of those.

We have been asked by the NBMCH authorities to clear the floor within a few days, the employee said.

According to NBMCH superintendent Dr Sanjay Mallik, work was underway to rearrange the important documents. Dr Mallik said he was hopeful that the building would be handed over within this month.

There had been allegations against the NBMCH of delay in handing over the facility to the ICMR-NICED after completion of the necessary formalities.

NBMCH patient welfare committee chairman Gautam Deb had said on 8 May that the building would be handed over on 15 May, after a meeting with the ICMRNICED representatives and NBMCH authorities.

The process is on to vacate the building for the MRHRU. The second floor is used to maintain all the records of the hospital including, the wards, births, deaths. Police records are also maintained there. We have already vacated the ground floor and first floor. Therefore, it is taking some time, because we are working carefully so that no record is misplaced. We are hopeful about handing over the building within this month, Dr Mallik said.

NBMCH sources said that a few months ago, the ICMRNICED had sought the ground and first floors, but later the second floor was added to this.

Sources at the ICMRNICED said that following the handover, the Central Public Works Department will undertake the infrastructure development work there. Once functional, the MRHRU will conduct medical research oriented work and play an important role if there is emergence of an outbreak of any unknown disease in the region.
The Congress high command was busy on Tuesday in resolving the leadership issue in Karnataka with both former chief minister Siddaramaiah and Pradesh party chief D K Shivakumar refusing to back down on their respective claim to become the next chief minister of the state.

AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge held parleys with Shivakumar soon after he arrived in the National Capital. Earlier in the day, Kharge and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met a number of party MLAs at the residence of the Congress chief. Siddaramaiah, who reached Delhi yesterday, had held talks with party leaders yesterday. There are indications that he might meet the central leadership again.

Shivakumar, before arriving in Delhi, said; We have built this party (Congress), we have built this house. I am a part of itA mother will give everything to her child. He categorically told a news agency that he would not resort to backstabbing or blackmail regardless of the partys decision.

If the party wants they can give me the responsibilityours is a united house, our number is 135. I dont want to divide anyone here. Whether they like me or not, I am a responsible man. I will not backstab and I will not blackmail, he said.

Siddaramaiah spent much of yesterday in Delhi, where he met senior Congress leaders amid speculation that he was the firm favourite for the top post in the state. Most of the MLAs have voted in favour of me for the chief ministership. Lets wait and see. I dont know, he told reporters.

Senior Congress leader B K Hariprasad refuted suggestions that there was an inordinate delay in announcing the new leader of Karnataka. Congress President will take a decision based on the observers report. There is no delay, we are following the process, he said.

Yesterday, the partys leadership was briefed by the team of observers on the views of the newly elected MLAs. Kharge, Rahul and party General Secretary K C Venugopal later held talks on the issue.

The Congress leadership is facing a dilemma as naming either of them as the next chief minister might lead to alienating the other which the party could ill-afford in view of the Lok Sabha elections next year. While Siddaramaiah is considered an experienced leader with mass appeal, Shivakumar is known for his strong organisational capabilities, is resourceful and has on several occasions acted as the partys troubleshooter.
Dr Atul Chag, who hanged himself in Veraval on 12 February, had mentioned in his suicide note that the BJP MP and his father were harassing and threatening him for demanding the money he had loaned to them earlier.

The BJP MP and his father have been charged with abetment to suicide and intimidation under relevant Sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). But they have not been arrested as yet.

The district police had initially refused to take note of the suicide note of Dr Chag, who was a well-known doctor in Veraval region.

Dr Chags son Hitarth had moved the Gujarat High Court seeking action against the police for not booking the BJP MP, but the petition was dismissed earlier this month.

Chudasama is the second BJP MP from Junagadh to face criminal procedures. BJPs earlier MP from Junagadh, Dinu Solanki has been convicted for the 2010 murder of RTI activist Amit Jethwa, who had exposed his illegal mining activities near Gir reserve forest.

Solankis appeal against his conviction is currently pending in the High Court.

The BJP MP and his father, known Dr Chag for 20 years, had borrowed nearly Rs 1.75 crore from him in instalments since 2008. They had refunded some money but later stopped responding to Dr Chags repeated requests to return the money.

Following dishonouring of a cheque of Rs 90 lakh, the MP and his father had abused Dr Chag and threatened to kill his son Hitarth if he still demanded the money back.

This threat allegedly upset the doctor who took the extreme step out of shock and fear, the FIR against the BJP MP and his father stated.
In another setback to Laloo Yadavs ruling RJD, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted raids on an RJD MLA and a Rajya Sabha MP. The investigation agency carried out searches in nine locations across the state since Tuesday morning.

The Central agency, on the basis of evidence, has conducted searches on the premises of the MLA and MP in cases related to land for jobs scam in railways during the tenure of Laloo Yadav as railway minister in the UPA government.

The premises of sitting RJD MLA from Sandesh assembly seat in the Bhojpur district Kiran Devi (said to be the close of Laloo family), located in Agiaon in her constituency and in Patna, are being raided by the CBI since morning.

According to official sources, the agency also conducted searches on the premises of another close confidant of Yadav, RJD Rajya Sabha MP Prem Chand Gupta at a total of nine locations including Patna Ara, Delhi, Gurugram, NOIDA and Rewari in connection with the land for Jobs scam case.

According to official sources, during Laloo Yadavs tenure as railway minister (2004-09), appointments were made in railways in violation of norms and procedures of recruitment. No advertisements and notices were issued for recruitments.

Sources further said that over a dozen people were given group D jobs in the railways in lieu of plots of land at Mumbai, Jabalpur, Kolkata, Chennai, Hajipur and Jaipur.

Recently, RJD supremo Laloo Yadav and his wife Rabari Devi were quizzed by the CBI in connection with a similar case. The CBI filed a chargesheet in this case against both of them and 14 others under the charge of criminal conspiracy and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

In March 2023, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had also searched Laloo Yadavs younger son, state Deputy CM Tejshwi Prasad Yadavs Delhi residence and 15 another locations in connection with the land for jobs scam.

RJD spokesman Shakti Singh Yadav, while commenting on the CBIs raids, told media persons that the BJP was nervous over the recent developments on the Opposition unity mission led by the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The Centre is busy targetting those who are opposing their government. Ge asked as to why the Modi Government is keeping mum on Adani.

The former deputy CM and BJP Rajya Sabha MP, Sushil K Modi, told the media: Laloo Yadav is the biggest zamindar in Bihar now. It was JDU president Lallan Singh who had first given a memorandum enlisting all these details about land for jobs scam to the then PM Manmohan Singh in 2007.

Tum Mujhe zamin do. Main tumhe Naukari doonga, was the popular slogan during that time, Modi said and alleged that Tejshwi Yadav also owns over 50 prime properties across the state.

Inquiries revealed that the former RJD MLA Arun Yadav, husband of Kiran Devi, is accused of raping a minor girl in 2019 and has surrendered before the Special POCSO court in Ara in July 2022. He is currently in jail.

The searches were conducted after the alleged role of two RJD leaders emerged in the scam. Besides, the CBI is probing their disproportionate asset (DA) case because the former RJD MLA Arun Yadav is said to be one of the biggest sand mafia of the Bhojpur region.
Ruling out any alliance with the BRS or AAP in either Telangana or Punjab, Congress leader Pawan Khera on Tuesday said in certain states his party will fight head on with regional parties.

Pawan Khera, however, deflected similar queries on West Bengal, particularly on TMC chief Mamata Banerjees statement of proposing to support the Congress in areas where the party was strong, saying they will take inputs from the state unit before reaching a decision.

There are certain states where we are fighting the regional party head on. Take them head on and defeat them. Telangana is one such state. Punjab is another such state. We cant think of an alliance with AAP in Punjab. So, out of question, head on, direct fight which we will win, said the AICC spokesperson.

Asked about Ms Banerjees statement offering support to Congress where the party was strong, he said, In West Bengal there was a by-election last month which the Congress won after 51 years. So as a party it is our responsibility to strengthen ourselves where we are weak and consolidate ourselves where we are strong and ensure we win all these states. So, when you are talking about West Bengal we will consult our state unit, PCC president, our leaders in WBCC we will go by their inputs and then make a decision.

He also claimed that the Congress, which was witnessing tremendous infighting in Rajasthan, was coming back to power. In Rajasthan, you can see only two faces  Ashok Gehlot and Sachhin Pilot there. Can you see BJP there? Look at the strategy. The BJP that is in Opposition should be making news six months ahead of elections. There are nine groups in BJP in Rajasthan. They fought so badly that they finished the party in the state, claimed Khera.

He also denied that there was infighting within the Congress, be it in Rajasthan, Karnataka or Telangana, which is witnessing a tussle between the old guard and the new entrants.

According to Khera, it was merely a sign of healthy competition within the party. Following the victory of Congress in Karnataka, the state unit is hoping this will revitalise the party in Telangana as well where elections will be held in December.

The Congress Central leadership also seems to be turning their focus on the state with Priyanka Gandhi visiting it right after the campaign ended in Karnataka.
Even as the Congress is expected to take a decision on chief minister in Karnataka in a day or two, AICC spokesperson Pawan Khera took a dig at the BJP wondering how many days will the party take to decide on leader of Opposition in the state after 11 of its ministers bit the dust in the recently-concluded polls.

Hitting out at the BJP, Khera pointed out that the saffron party took seven days to decide on the chief minister in Uttar Pradesh, nine days in Assam and in Maharashtra it took a month to set up a cabinet.

On being repeatedly asked as to who would be the next chief minister of Karnataka, the Congress leader reminded that the process was on and that a decision cannot be imposed from Delhi. Everyones view will have to be considered before deciding on the chief minister.

We have to engage every stakeholder. And the process is on. The observers have gone and met the MLAs, they have given their reports. All these have gone to the Central leadership. In a day or two, you will know, said the AICC spokesperson.

He, however, attacked the BJP for commenting on the delay in appointing a chief minister by the Congress in Karnataka. He pointed out that the role of the leader of the Opposition was no less than a chief minister and wondered why the BJP has so far failed to choose one after their disastrous performance in the sole southern state where they were in power.

Why are they (the BJP) unable to appoint a Leader of Opposition in Karnataka, they cant even find one. 11 of their ministers have lost. Who are they to comment, Khera asked, adding, How many days will you take to appoint a leader of Opposition in Karnataka?

Khera also said that the Congress will again approach the Election Commission of India (ECI) over VVPAT and EVMs even though they won the elections in Karnataka.
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Tuesday participated in the Digital and Clean Energy Stakeholder Event in Brussels.

Began the day in Brussels with a Digital & Clean Energy Stakeholder Event. Thank European Commission Executive VP @vestager for convening the meeting, the EAM tweeted on Tuesday. In this Techade, TTC can promote Trusted Collaboration so essential to Re-Globalisation. Stakeholders are key to delivery, Jaishankar further wrote.

Earlier on Tuesday, Jaishankar thanked President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen for meeting the Indian ministerial team.

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, Jaishankar tweeted.

Jaishankar on Monday arrived in Brussels for the last leg of his three-nation visit covering Bangladesh, Sweden and Belgium.

Jaishankar visited Brussels for the first meeting of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council scheduled for Tuesday. He arrived in Belgium after a three-day tour of Sweden.

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, Jaishankar tweeted.

He also shared his thoughts about visiting Sweden and engaging in EU-Indo Pacific Ministerial.

I visited Stockholm for a meeting of the European Unions 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.
The battle between crypto exchange Coinbase and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rages on.

The latest twist occurred on Monday when the SEC sought a court order to dismiss Coinbase's plea for the agency to clarify its stance on crypto regulations.

The exchange publicly voiced its grievances against the American financial watchdog on April 27, also revealing that it had initiated legal proceedings.

The crux of their argument was the SEC's non-response to a petition filed in July 2022. The petition urged the SEC to clarify whether the existing regulatory frameworks for securities should extend to the cryptocurrency industry.

Coinbase petitioned a federal judge to compel the regulator to respond.

The firm's Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal expressed the company's frustration in a Twitter thread last month.

"Coinbase does not take any litigation lightly, especially when it's with one of our regulators, he wrote. Yet we, like other companies in the industry, are facing potential punitive actions from the SEC without clear understanding of how the SEC interprets the law in relation to our business.

The SEC finally responded on Monday, dismissing Coinbase's request outright.

"Coinbases preference for faster or different regulatory action by the commission does not entitle it to extraordinary relief from this court," wrote the Commissions lawyers in the filing. "The petition should be denied."

Reacting to the SEC's statement, Grewal commented that it was "the first time the SEC has transparently communicated its stance on setting rules for the crypto industry.

He also expressed disappointment at the SEC's timeline for rule implementation and its apparent lack of urgency.

Grewal further stated that the SECs answer "reinforces Coinbases longstanding concern that our industry does not have clarity on what the SEC may consider to be within or outside its jurisdiction at any time, and it is likely to continue changing its mind along the way."

Story continues

He concluded by announcing that Coinbase plans to respond officially to the SEC in the following week.

Coinbase versus the SEC

This incident adds a new chapter to the ongoing conflict between Coinbase and the SEC, which escalated in March when Coinbase received a Wells notice from the SEC.

This formal warning indicated the SEC's intention to take legal action against Coinbase.

Coinbase Launches International Exchange with Bitcoin and Ethereum Perpetual Futures

The friction between Coinbase and the SEC can be traced back to 2021 when the SEC first warned it would sue the company over its plans to launch a lending product. The platform ultimately shelved the product due to the threat of legal action.

Coinbase's CEO, Brian Armstrong, has consistently criticized the lack of regulatory clarity, even suggesting that he might move the company out of the United States in the absence of a clear SEC stance within a few years.
India and the European Union on Tuesday emphasised the need for expediting the ongoing FTA negotiations by finding convergence on all issues after due consideration to mutual sensitivities, including on market access, for meaningful outcomes that would support the economies and employment on both sides.

Union Minister for Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal and Executive Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for an Economy that Works for People, and European Commissioner for Trade Valdis Dombrovskis also affirmed their commitment to work together on common priorities for WTO reforms.

The issues were discussed during the bilateral meeting between the leaders of the two sides on the sidelines of the first ministerial meeting of the India-European Union Trade and Technology Council (TTC) in Brussels.

During the discussions, the two sides recalled the long-standing partnership between them and underlined the need to work together to deepen the association given their commitment to democracy and rule-based international systems.

Both sides recognised the need to build on their common goals to pursue consensus-based solutions that would support the livelihoods and food security for millions in India as well as in large parts of the developing world. They expressed hope that their joint efforts would enable finding meaningful solutions in the upcoming WTO ministerial conference.

At a roundtable, Goyal underscored that there must be a level playing field for both the developed and emerging economies while addressing global challenges such as climate issues. While India was committed to achieving its targets of net zero emissions, there should be meaningful contributions by all concerned and commitments made under the Paris agreement must be adhered to by all countries, he said.

He also expressed the hope that the mechanism of India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) could emerge as an effective platform for finding solutions to these challenges.

The minister also noted that Indian and the EU share several common concerns with respect to WTO issues where their positions are largely aligned and therefore, through their collective efforts, could jointly contribute to finding consensus-based solutions in the upcoming WTO Ministerial Conference.
The government on Tuesday rejected the objection raised by the UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues over New Delhis decision to hold a G20 meeting in Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that it was Indias prerogative to host meetings in any part of the country.

The Indian mission to the UN in Geneva tweeted: We @IndiaUNGeneva strongly reject the statement issued by SR on minority issues @fernanddev & the baseless & unwarranted allegations in it. As G20 President, its Indias prerogative to host its meetings in any part of the country.

It added, We are aghast that @fernanddev has acted irresponsibly to politicise this issue, misused his position as SR to publicise on social media his presumptive and prejudiced conclusions in a gross violation of the Code of Conduct for SRs.

Earlier, UNs Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues Fernand de Varennes tweeted that holding a G20 meeting in Jammu and Kashmir, while massive human rights violations were ongoing, was lending support to attempts by India to normalise the denial of democratic and other rights of Kashmiri minorities.

G20 should on the contrary uphold International human rights obligations & the #UN Declaration of Human Rights should be upheld and the situation in Jammu and Kashmir should be decried and condemned, not pushed under the rug and ignored with the holding of this meeting, he added.

Srinagar will be hosting the G20 meeting of the working group on tourism from 22-24 May.
Outgoing Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday thanked senior state government officials for extending full cooperation and for taking several bold decisions during his tenure.

In a informal interaction with officials at a high tea here, he said that in the administration, the legislature and executive play important roles and they work under them.

Bommai recalled that soon after assuming the office, he faced the Covid pandemic and unprecedented floods and everything was effectively managed. In the last four years, no violence had been reported from any part of the state and even the Assembly elections also passed off peacefully for which the Home Department must be congratulated, he said.

He said several important decisions have been taken such as a hike in the reservation, on challenges of the government employees, and new policies. The officials played a vital role in the implementation of the employment and industrial policies and their cooperation was very important, he noted.

We come once in five years but you will be in power for a long time. Everyone must strive for the development of the state. I might have said things loudly but it is only to speed up the work. But it is nothing personal. The state of Karnataka is ahead in many issues such as the GST and in attracting investments. The role of officials is very important in the states development. Let us all work for the all-round development of Karnataka, he noted.
Alleging that the TDP is on ventilator, YSRCP president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said the party has lost its ability to field candidates in all the 175 seats in the state Assembly elections. He accused the two parties (BJP and TDP) of resorting to match fixing instead.

Reddy reminded the people of TDPs disastrous past alliances, including with the BJP, Congress and the communists, in their desperation to come back to power. He said that the TDP, the principal Opposition party will not even get second position in the next elections.

Addressing a public rally at Nizampatnam in the Bapatla district after releasing Rs 123.52 crore for fishermens families, the chief minister launched a frontal attack on the Opposition, particularly targeting the TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu and Jana Sena president Pawan Kalyan. Ever since the TDP and the Jana Sena are in talks about possible alliance, he has been criticising both the parties, often referring to Pawan Kalyan as the adopted son of Naidu.

He claimed that the TDP was on ventilator while all that Pawan Kalyan does was to say Ji Huzoor to whatever Naidu does, following in his footsteps. He went on to add that neither party can field candidates in all the 175 seats in the upcoming Assembly elections.

Pawan Kalyan talks about politics only when he is on a break from shooting films. He will come and throw four stones at me according to script written by Naidu. If they come to power only then they will stay in Amaravati otherwise they will stay put in Jubilee Hills, said the chief minister.

He went on to point out the difference between him and N Chandrababu Naidu. When I meet PM Modi or the governor, it is primarily for peoples interest. But the TDP and the JSP only meet them for politics or to resort to match fixing, said Reddy.
In a major breakthrough into the high-profile assassination of Kashmirs head priest Moulvi Farooq, the State Investigation Agency (SIA) of J&K Police on Tuesday arrested two Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists allegedly involved in his killing after 33 years of the crime.

Moulvi Farooq was killed at his residence in Srinagars Nigeen on 21 May 1990.

Javaid Bhat and Zahoor Ahmed Bhat were hiding in Pakistan and Nepal all these years to evade arrest. Both have been arrested and handed over to the CBI as proclaimed offenders, said RR Swain, special DGP CID.

They had barged into the bedroom of the Mirwaiz and opened indiscriminate firing leading to the death of Mirwaiz.

Swain said on May 21, 1990, a case on the killing of the Mirwaiz was lodged in police station Nigeen under FIR 61/1990. The case was later transferred to the CBI. The CBI had presented a chargesheet against one accused after arresting him before the TADA court after which the court awarded a life sentence to him.

He said that investigation into the case revealed that Hizbul Mujahideen commander Abdullah Bangroo had hatched a conspiracy to kill Mirwaiz. Bangroo and his associate, another Hizb commander, were killed in encounters while one accused was serving a life sentence.

One of the two arrested Hizb militants, Zahoor Ahmed Bhat, was the one who had entered into the bedroom of Mirwaiz and opened fire at him, the top CID officer said. He, however, did not disclose where the two were arrested.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving appointment letters to 71,000 youths recruited across the country through Employment Fairs (Rozgar Mela).

The recipients of appointment letters included hundreds of youths from Uttar Pradesh selected during employment fairs held in different districts of the state.

Thanking the PM on his official Twitter handle, CM Yogi wrote, Under the guidance of respected PM Modi ji, new opportunities are being created continuously to connect the youth with the development journey of the nation. Many congratulations to more than 71,000 newly-selected youths on receiving appointment letters through the PM Rozgar Mela! Thank you Prime Minister!

Notably, these employment fairs were organised at 45 different places across the country, which included Lucknow, Varanasi, Agra, Moradabad and Gorakhpur districts of UP. Youths of UP selected through the employment fairs held in these districts received the appointment letters today along with others during the video conferencing of the prime minister.

To distribute these appointment letters, Smriti Zubin Irani, Union Minister for Women and Child Development and Minority Affairs, was present in Lucknow. Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey, Union Heavy Industries Minister in Varanasi, Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma, the Union Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Moradabad, Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Balyan, the Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying in Agra and Ajay Kumar, the Union Minister of State in Gorakhpur were also present on the occasion.
This year, LOreal Paris celebrates its 26th year as the Official Makeup Partner to the Festival de Cannes, from May 16 to 27. The beauty brand with women empowerment, scientific innovation, and Parisian luxury at its core, presents the LOreal Paris Lights on Women Award.

Founded to celebrate women in cinema, this award honours one promising female short-film director from among the official Cannes Short Films selection, a category created with La Cinef. Academy Award-winner, juror and LOreal Paris ambassador Kate Winslet will once again announce the 2023 laureate on May 26, at the Cinema de Demain dinner.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, LOreal Paris global spokesperson, has been gracing Cannes Film Festival for over 20 years. A global icon, she was the first Indian female actor to be a Cannes jury member and has since become synonymous with this prestigious festival. Also representing the Indian Film Industry and LOreal Paris, Anushka Sharma and Aditi Rao Hydari will be making their highly anticipated debut at Cannes.

The brand ambassadors are not only known for their versatility and talent in showbiz but also for their advocacy on inclusivity and representation. Their personal goals and objectives resonate seamlessly with the brands core values and cause initiatives. Through this association with LOreal Paris, they will further spread the message and encourage millions of people to value and accept their individuality. The festivals 2023 theme, Walk Your Worth, is a nod to the brands ethos, which encourages individuals to embrace their confidence and celebrate themselves  because they are all worth it.

Aditi Rao Hydari  LOreal Paris X Cannes 2023

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, on occasion of the 76th edition of Festival de Cannes says, I look forward to returning to Festival de Cannes as a global spokesperson for LOreal Paris. I have been honoured with the privilege of experiencing female artists showcase their talent on a global platform of this stature. The brands unwavering dedication to empower women has been a constant throughout its illustrious history, and this years theme serves yet another impactful step in that direction. It has always been a pleasure to celebrate my long-standing association with the brand and the values it upholds.

Anushka Sharma said, I am looking forward to represent LOreal Paris at the Cannes red carpet. I firmly believe that women must embrace their individuality with sheer confidence, and I feel truly aligned with the brands key principles. This years theme, Walk Your Worth, couldnt be more appropriate as it highlights the value of recognising and commemorating oneself. Im happy to be a part of this progressive change towards inclusivity and to support millions of women all over the world to value and appreciate themselves. Together, lets celebrate self-worth in all its glory!

Aditi Rao Hydari, added, I am elated to be a part of this years Festival De Cannes as LOreal Paris spokesperson. It has truly been a privilege to have been associated with a brand that has always led the path to women empowerment and has worked towards enabling women to be confident and growth-oriented in every aspect of their lives. This years theme of Walk Your Worth truly aligns with what the brand stands for, encouraging women across the globe to accept themselves and walk their worth with confidence.

The brand stands for womens empowerment in cinema through a privileged relationship with the actress ambassadors who embody the values of the brand. As official Festival de Cannes makeup partner, it invites actors, actresses and ambassadors to bring this vision of empowered beauty to walk their worth on the red carpet. From the opening to the closing ceremony, it reveals the new season of beauty and innovation, unveiling the brands new looks created by 30 international makeup artists under the creative direction of Global Makeup Artist Val Garland.

Festival de Cannes partner since 1997, LOreal Paris goes further in supporting women in cinema with the Lights on Women Award launched in 2021 to rebalance inequality in the movie industry. Underrepresented in the global film industry, only 17 per cent of those in directorial positions on leading films are women, and just 25 per cent of those behind-the-scenes. In response, LOreal Paris created the yearly Lights on Women program, a dotation and full support ecosystem for promising female film directors.

LOreal Paris acts for a representation of beauty as inclusive as the women following around the world. Attending Cannes 2023 as guests of the brand are iconic actors and actresses who embody beauty in all its diversity:

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Anushka Sharma

Aditi Rao Hydari

Lela Bekhti

Cindy Bruna

Gemma Chan

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau

Viola Davis

Elle Fanning

Jane Fonda

Luma Grothe

Liya Kebede

Aja Naomi King

Katherine Langford

Gong Li

Eva Longoria

Andie MacDowell

Helen Mirren

Kate Winslet

Yseult

These exceptional individuals of different backgrounds reflect the diversity of LOreal Paris customers  whatever their age, whatever their origin  and uphold the feminist values at the heart of the brand.
Delicious South Indian Filter Coffee, Masala Chai, Elaichi Chai, and a range of exciting Signature Milkshakes, have been introduced at TATA Starbucks Pvt. Ltd. The series of Indian-inspired new beverages and new offerings have been launched as the brand continues its long-term commitment to the growth of one of its fastest-growing markets and to deliver the signature Starbucks experience.

The beverage giant has introduced a number of new options for consumers at its more than 341 Starbucks locations in India including an intriguing lineup of new beverages with local inspiration, a completely updated food menu, and a new small cup size called Picco.

Customers seeking delicious food alongside their favorite beverages will also be able to enjoy a new food selection featuring bite-sized snacks, shareable food such as Hazelnut Triangle, Chicken Puffin, and Chocolate Eclair. The new food menu also offers a range of freshly assembled sandwiches that are inspired by the local cultural taste and regional favourites such as the Tandoori Chicken Panini Sandwich, Spiced Cottage Cheese Focaccia Sandwich, Herbed Chicken Focaccia Sandwich and more.

For first time coffee drinkers and customers new to Starbucks, the new 6oz small cup size Picco offered in 6 hot beverages including Cappuccino, Latte, Filter Coffee, Masala Chai, Elaichi Chai and Hot Chocolate, is the perfect option to kick start their Starbucks journey.

We have had a great year in F23 with strong revenues and are now present in 43 cities of India. As we expand our presence in Tier 2 and 3 cities, we need to become a more familiar and accessible brand for our consumers. Our pilot where we introduced a range of familiar beverages and a revamped food menu yielded fantastic results from both new and existing customers, which gave us the confidence to expand and go national. As we look ahead, we remain dedicated to our vision of being the coffee destination of choice for customers in India. Our unwavering commitment to delivering personalized experiences has propelled Starbucks to become one of the most loved brands in India. We recently celebrated 10 years of TATA Starbucks, and as we gear up for the next stage of growth in India, we continue to look at ways to elevate the Starbucks experience for customers in India, said Sushant Dash, CEO, TATA Starbucks Pvt Ltd.

Following a successful trial of localised menus in Bengaluru, Bhopal, Gurgaon, and Indore in July of last year, which received favourable feedback from customers, TATA Starbucks has now expanded the new offers nationally. The announcement also serves as the official start of the brands new #ItStartsWithYourName campaign across the country. The advertising campaign honours the welcoming, friendly, and personalised atmosphere that everyone experiences when they enter a Starbucks location. It honours the bond of love that unites Indian families.
Google has released a new update to its AI chatbot Bard, improving the ability to provide summaries of information and tell users where that information has come from.

Weve updated Bard with better summarisation capabilities by incorporating advances weve developed in our large language models, Google said.

With the new update, users will be able to ask Bard to summarise a specific article or story, or to provide a quick explanation of a topic without going into too much detail.

Moreover, the tech giant is also making sources more useful.

Bard can now help you identify which parts of a response match a source. For the responses with sources, youll see numbers alongside the response. By clicking on the numbers you will now be able to identify the section of the text that matches the source and easily navigate to it, Google stated.

This is the third update to Bard released this month.

Meanwhile, Google has now removed the waiting list and opened the AI chatbot to over 180 countries and territories, including India, after initially rolling out Bard in the UK and the US.

Apart from English, Bard is now available in Japanese and Korean, and the company said its on track to support 40 languages soon.
Kerala will distribute 12,000 robotic kits to school students under the governments 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.
(Bloomberg) -- MicroStrategy Inc., a software maker thats better-known for being the largest public holder of Bitcoin, looks like a stronger bet for investors to make when compared to cryptocurrency-trading platform Coinbase Global Inc.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Thats according to Berenberg Capital Markets analyst Mark Palmer, who believes that the US Securities and Exchange Commission will likely file an enforcement action against the trading platform after the regulator sent it a Wells notice in March.

Given the heightened uncertainty that Coinbase faces, we believe investors would be much better served investing in shares of MicroStrategy, Palmer wrote in his initiation note on Coinbase.

Over the past year, MicroStrategy has risen about 36%, while Coinbase has fallen 6%. But both firms slid on Tuesday, as a dip in Bitcoin prices weighed on cryptocurrency-linked stocks. The worlds largest cryptocurrency by market value declined about 1.5% to trade below $27,000 as of 4 p.m. in New York.

Palmers one of two analysts tracked by Bloomberg with a buy rating on MicroStrategy and maintains a Street-high price target of $430. He initiated coverage on the firm in late April saying it offers a unique business model focused on the acquisition and holding of bitcoins.

MicroStrategy has benefited from Bitcoins rebound in recent months. The company is an attractive alternative to Coinbase given the regulatory pressures on the latter, Palmer wrote.

Read More: MicroStrategy Posts Profit on Benefit Tied to Bitcoin Stash

The SEC has characterized bitcoin as a commodity while asserting that most (if not all) other crypto tokens are unregistered securities, putting bitcoin and MSTR in advantaged positions amidst the regulatory onslaught, he wrote.

Story continues

Read More: Coinbase Fights an Existential Risk as SEC Takes on Crypto

At least 37% of Coinbases $736 million in net revenue the company reported from transaction fees and spreads it posted by trading crypto tokens other than Bitcoin in the US and fees generated by its US staking service could be at risk if the SEC takes action, according to Palmer. He said actions against crypto platforms Bittrex and Kraken earlier this year could be a preview of the regulators approach to Coinbase.

We believe investors should be focusing on whether the company would have the ability to successfully pivot its business model and geographic focus if it were forced to curtail or cease a large portion of its activities in the US, Palmer wrote.

Responding to a request for comment, a spokesperson for Coinbase pointed to public remarks by the firms chief financial officer from the latest earnings call and to a March statement on the Wells notice in which the company said it was confident in the legality of our assets and services.

Read more: Coinbase Warns SEC of Plans to Exhaust All Avenues If Sued

We have many different revenues that we are looking to grow on our platform, and were looking for revenue diversification, said Coinbase Chief Financial Officer Alesia Haas in an earnings call earlier this month.

--With assistance from Philip Sanders.

(Updates to add closing shares and chart.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
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 worlds 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.

Its old technology, The idea of ablative heat shields, something that eats itself as it returns, its [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 Orbits January mission, Space Forge now plans to test the reentry capabilities with the ForgeStar-1A satellite later this year. Virgins 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.
South Sudan has opened a new refugee camp in its northern region to receive people fleeing conflicts in neighbouring Sudan, a senior official said.

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 on Monday.

He said the government is coordinating with humanitarian partners on the ground to start relocating the refugees from the reception centre near the border with Sudan to the new refugee camp, Xinhua news agency reported.

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 Organisation 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 kilometre by 10 kilometre that can accommodate hundreds of thousands of refugees who can as well practice small-scale agriculture for their livelihood.
Turkeys election watchdog has announced that the countrys presidential election will go to runoff on May 28 as no candidate secured more than 50 per cent of vote in the initial round.

According to the results, it has been observed that no presidential candidate could get enough votes to be elected as the President. Our board decided to go to the second round of polls on May 28 in line with the laws, Ahmet Yener, head of the Supreme Election Board, told reporters on Monday.

Incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan led with 49.51 per cent while his rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu gained 44.88 per cent, said Yener, adding Sinan Ogan, the third candidate, had 5.17 per cent of vote, Xinhua news agency reported.

After the second round of polls between Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu on May 28, the one who secures more votes will be the next Turkish president, according to Turkish law.

The voter turnout was 88.92 per cent in Sundays presidential and parliamentary polls, Yener noted.

Nearly 61 million voters are registered to cast their ballots in the Turkish elections.
Saint-Laurent, CA (H4T1V6)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. High near 75F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy with showers. Low 56F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
FORT STOCKTON, Texas, May 16, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cormint Data Systems, Inc. ("Cormint"), an emerging Bitcoin miner focused on mining low-cost Bitcoin at scale while supporting a reliable and renewable power grid, announced today that it has successfully raised $30,000,000 in Series A equity. The raise was co-led by its President, Jamie McAvity, and Silicon Laboratories, Inc's ("Silicon Labs") (NASDAQ: SLAB) Chairman Nav Sooch, with strong participation from existing investors. Silicon Labs former CTO, Alessandro Piovaccari, also joined the round alongside Mr. Sooch, becoming advisors to Cormint as well as investors.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516005056/en/

Aerial view of Cormint's Fort Stockton flagship Bitcoin mine (Photo: Business Wire)

The capital from the Series A round adds to the capital raised through BTC denominated promissory notes issued in late 2022 and allows Cormint to rapidly expand its footprint at its flagship site in Fort Stockton towards its goal of 2.4 EH of self-mining capacity by the end of 2024. Cormint continues to innovate with its own proprietary immersion solution and power optimization software and expects to be amongst the lowest cost Bitcoin miners in North America.

"We are thrilled to have received such strong support from our investors," said Jamie McAvity, Cormints President. McAvity has personally led the equity and debt rounds into Cormint on the heels of a successful exit of his previous SaaS business, Knock, Inc to Texas-based Realpage in 2022. "I am going all in on Bitcoin mining in West Texas. Pecos County is our home and we are proud to be here. We have assembled one of the most talented teams in the industry with a mission to become the most efficient mining company in North America. In my view, Texas is the best place to be a Bitcoin miner, having set the playing field with transparent and fair regulation for the fast growing Bitcoin mining industry that is proven to be supportive of grid stability and the renewable energy transition," said McAvity.

Story continues

Cormint believes its prowess in engineering, energy and financial management position it to achieve sustainable growth and deliver outstanding returns to investors throughout economic cycles. Cormint was founded in 2018 and is led by four committed co-founders who are long-time devoted Bitcoiners. Through its most recent financial quarter, Cormint delivered operating free cash flow and expects its operating margins to continue to improve for the foreseeable future as the business scales.

"West Texas has set the standard for the electricity grid of the future. With 87% renewable energy installed and a fast growing Bitcoin mining sector, the region highlights its continued commitment to supporting new industry," added McAvity. "With this new funding, we are well-positioned to take advantage of the many opportunities that lie ahead for companies like ours who are capable of delivering best-in-class cost of production."

For more information, please visit Our Website, see us at Bitcoin Miami 23, or contact us: investors@cormint.com

Please note that this press release is for informational purposes only and it does not represent an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any of Cormints securities.

This press release contains a number of forward-looking statements. Words such as "expect," "will," "working," "plan" and variations of such words and similar future or conditional expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect Cormints current views with respect to, among other things, future events. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and beyond Cormints control. Important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to Cormints ability to deliver and execute on its strategic plans; Cormints ability to maintain free cash flows and increase its operating margins; and other risks related to Bitcoin mining.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516005056/en/

Contacts

investors@cormint.com
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WASHINGTON (AP)  The Justice Department announced a series of criminal cases Tuesday tracing the illegal flow of sensitive technology, including Apple's software code for self-driving cars and materials used for missiles, to foreign adversaries like Russia, China and Iran.

Some of the alleged trade secret theft highlighted by the department dates back several years, but U.S. officials are drawing attention to the collection of cases now to highlight a task force created in February to disrupt the transfer of goods to foreign countries.

We are committed to doing all we can to prevent these advanced tools from falling into the hands of adversaries who wield them in a way that threatens not only our nation's security but democratic values everywhere, said Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen, who heads the Justice Department's national security division.

One of the newly unsealed cases, in federal court in San Francisco, accuses a former Apple software engineer of taking proprietary data related to self-driving cars before his last day at the company in 2018 and then boarding a one-way flight to China on the night that FBI agents were conducting a search at his house. Prosecutors say the defendant, identified as Weibao Wang, is believed to be now working at a China-based autonomous vehicle competitor.

Other cases disclosed Tuesday have resulted in arrests.

One defendant, Liming Li, 64, was arrested earlier this month on charges that he stole thousands of sensitive files from his California employer, including technology that can be used in the manufacturing of nuclear submarines and military aircraft, and used them to help competing Chinese businesses.

Li has been in custody since his arrest. A lawyer who has been representing him declined to comment.

Additionally, two Russian nationals, Oleg Sergeyevich Patsulya and Vasilii Sergeyevich Besedin, were arrested in Arizona this month on charges of conspiring to send aircraft parts to Russian airline companies. Lawyers for both men did not immediately return phone messages seeking comment.

The Justice Department also unsealed a separate criminal case accusing a Chinese national of conspiring to transmit isostatic graphite, a material that can be used in the nose of intercontinental ballistics, to Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions. And it charged a Greek national with participating in the smuggling of dual-use technology with a military application, including quantum cryptography, to Russia.

The departments of Justice and Commerce and other agencies earlier this year launched the Disruptive Technology Strike Force as a way to prevent U.S. adversaries from acquiring sensitive technology and address what officials said is a growing problem.

Our greatest national security concerns stem from the actions of nation-states like China, Russia, Iran and North Korea  nation-states that want to acquire sensitive U.S. technology to advance their military capabilities with their ultimate goal being to shift the world's balance of power, said Matthew Axelrod, an assistant secretary at the Commerce Department.

_____

Follow Eric Tucker at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP
Community Hospital of Staunton

STAUNTON  Sara Angel, RN, of Community Hospital of Staunton (CHS) was recently honored with The DAISY Award For Extraordinary Nurses. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation's programs to recognize the super-human efforts nurses perform every day.

Angel, with the Med/Surg Unit at CHS, was nominated by an appreciative husband whose wife with special needs was cared for with compassion by Angel.
EDWARDSVILLE  A Granite City woman faces a felony DUI charge after an incident Friday.

Anquinette Alexander, 52, was charged May 15 with aggravated driving under the influence while license revoked/suspended, and driving while license revoked, both Class 4 felonies.

The case was presented by the Collinsville Police Department.

According to court documents, on May 13 Alexander allegedly was driving on North Bluff Road, Collinsville, while under the influence of alcohol and with a revoked drivers license.

Her license was revoked after a 2014 conviction for DUI; she has a prior conviction for driving while license revoked in 2016.

Bail was set at $25,000.

Other drug-related charges filed May 15 by the Madison County States Attorneys Office include:

 Joseph A. Homan, 49, of Granite City, was charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. According to court documents, on May 12 Homan allegedly had less than five grams of methamphetamine. Bail was set at $20,000.

 Michel S. Cummings, 44, listed as homeless out of Alton, was charged with unlawful possession of cannabis with intent to deliver, a Class 4 felony, and being a sexual predator in a public park, a Class A misdemeanor. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. According to court documents, on May 14 Cummings allegedly had more than 10 grams of cannabis with intent to deliver; and was a registered sexual predator in Riverfront Park, Alton. According to the Illinois State Police sex offender database, Cummings is listed as a homeless sexual predator with convictions for aggravated criminal sexual abuse, failure to report, and criminal sexual assault. According to the database the victim was 33 at the time of the incident and Cummings was 38. Bail was set at $40,000.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

WINFIELD  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis District, will hold a groundbreaking ceremony at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 18, for the new 1,200-foot lock chamber thats being constructed at Lock and Dam 25 near Winfield, Missouri.

The lock and dam are located on the river near Batchtown, about 40 miles upriver from Alton.
WOOD RIVER  Skeletal remains found on the former Chemetco property have been identified as Vernon L. Law, 36, of Wood River, who was reported missing in July 2022.

His remains were found Thursday on the former Chemetco copper smelting site, 3754 Chemetco Lane, Hartford.

According to Madison County Coroner Steve Nonn, a forensic anthropological examination was conducted Monday afternoon on the remains, and preliminary results from the examination do not indicate any sign of trauma that would indicate foul play.

The skeletonized remains were discovered by a person doing aerial mapping of the property on Thursday afternoon, Nonn said. He added the person promptly reported his finding to local law enforcement.

Madison County Coroners Investigator Kelsey Jones confirmed the remains to be human and death was pronounced at 3:45 p.m. Thursday. According to Nonn, clothing and other property were recovered from the site Thursday.

The incident was investigated by the Hartford and Wood River police departments.

We express sympathy to the family and friends of Vernon Law, Wood River Police Chief Brad Wells said in a prepared statement. Detective Sgt. Brent Rombach coordinated the investigation for the Wood River Police Department. We appreciate the assistance of those who helped the Wood River Police Department in the early stages of the investigation. We appreciate the work of the Illinois State Police Crime Scene Unit, Hartford Police Department, and Madison County Coroner Steve Nonns Office for bringing this case to a conclusion.

Chemetco was a secondary copper smelter operating on 41 acres from 1969 to 2001, when it filed for bankruptcy and shut down after the plant and owner Denis Feron were convicted on multiple environmental violations. A number of employees had also pled guilty to federal charges as part of the investigation.

Although there had been numerous environmental concerns about the plant over the years it was the discovery in 1996 of a hidden pipe discharging toxic waste into Long Lake that led to the plant's closure. The pipe had been discharging contaminated waste water for about 10 years.

Feron, who had fled the country and went to Belgium, was placed on the EPA's 10 Most Wanted List in 2008, but charges were eventually dropped after he paid a $500,000 fine.

The site was placed on the Superfund National Priorities List in March 2010 and is currently still listed as being under remediation.
GODFREY  On Monday, Lewis and Clark community College (L&C) held the inaugural State of Trailblazer Nation overview of its strategic plan and progress toward goals over the past year.

L&C President Ken Trzaska said that when he started at the college, he and his team took a "hard look" at L&C and how to strengthen "an already strong foundation."

"With everything we do, the 'why' has to be our students," Trzaska said. "If we're going to make a change to a policy, if we're going to restructure, how is that going to affect the student experience?"

The colleges strategic plan is a three-year rolling plan that is refreshed annually. It is grounded in four "key directions," or KDs, each of which comprises a list of measurable aspirations to move the college forward:

 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

The plan was originally approved in 2021.

KD 1: Expect Enrollment and Retention Improvements

Vice President of Student Affairs Cherise Jackson, who co-chairs KD1 with Vice President of Administration Lori Artis, gave the teams highlights for the year. Jackson said her team is focused on two main aspirations  one being enrollment growth, and the other, increased retention. Highlights from this year include:

 The addition of a new full-time advisor to help students through enrollment processes.

 The posting of a new Director of Admissions and Enrollment Management position to help move the colleges Enrollment Management Plan forward.

 A bigger investment in the new high school liaison program, which puts L&C advisors into the high schools, at least part time. Participating schools are seeing the value of having that presence, and some are even interested in sharing a paid position to continue supporting that work, she said.

 Interdepartmental training on the colleges CRM, Ellucian Recruit, to better communicate with onboarding and continuing students.

 Progress toward the launch of the colleges new website, designed to streamline the digital experience for students, due later this summer.

 The reimagining of New Student Orientation and Welcome Week into interactive opportunities for incoming students to mingle with current students and see what Lewis and Clark has to offer inside and outside the classroom.

 The addition of open house events, outside of existing Discover Days, to cater more toward adult and non-traditional potential students.

 Continuing support for Career and Veteran Services, following the retirement of Director Terry Lane.

Jackson said the college is in its 11th straight year of outperforming its IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) cohort in full-time student retention. She attributes that success to continued efforts in intrusive advising and tutoring services, and said the college is really working now to identify those populations that dont retain as well to work on solutions to better accommodate them.

KD2: Invest in Program and Curriculum Development

Vice President of Academic Affairs Sue Czerwinski spoke on the successes of KD2, which she leads with Dean of Liberal Arts, Business and Information Technology Randy Gallaher. Weve gone back and forth with different ideas to reach students, she said. We tend to make things complicated, so were focusing on simplifying processes. KD2s highlights include:

 Work toward creating a new rubric to determine if a new program, credit or non-credit, is a good fit for the college/district community.

 Work toward creating a process for determining the health of an existing academic program  whether it needs more of an investment, either financial or otherwise, to become more successful. One example was changing the name of our Instrumentation and Control Systems program, Czerwinski said. People would go to school elsewhere because they didnt know we offered an electricity program. We doubled the program in size when the name changed to Industrial Electricity.

 Continued investments in efforts to increase access for students, including offering more courses and programs in Blendflex/Hyflex course modes, and a continuing investment in competency-based education. Czerwinski said its also important to note that CBE might not look the same program to program.

 The creation of the TEM (Teaching and Engagement Model) model to encourage faculty members to take time out of their course schedules to innovate and try new things.

 An investment in more instructional design help to support faculty.

KD3: Build a Transparent and Inclusive Campus Culture

Campus Logistics Supervisor Cody Zippmann, who leads KD3 alongside OTA Coordinator Debbie Witsken, presented on the highlights from their team, along with Mya Lawrence, director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusive Excellence. Zippmann hyped the crowd and expressed the importance of building a strong campus and team culture.

KD3 is you, across the entire campus, he said. If we make this place a home, well never work a day in our lives.

This key direction has been focused improving communication, building a strong campus culture, including a sense of belonging for everyone at L&C, and supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts across campus. This years highlights include:

 Kick-or-treat, a faculty v. staff v. students kickball tournament, sponsored by Human Resources in the fall.

 The annual Summer Garden Show, sponsored by the horticulture team and L&C Foundation.

 Hiking through the Holidays, a lighted holiday trail made possible by a volunteer interdepartmental team from across campus.

 Trailblazers Day at the Docks, an outing for team members and their families with ice skating at the Loading Dock in Grafton.

 The establishment of the colleges monthly team member Recognition Report at each Board meeting, which highlights team members who have gone above and beyond their duties at the college.

 The Pantone 286 Award, the highest achievement for one team member who lives and breathes Trailblazer Blue and supports the culture, above and beyond their duties.

 The creation of more opportunities for team members and others to give feedback; i.e. suggestion boxes, focus groups, annual climate survey, and pulse surveys.

 Catch Up with Dr. T meet and greet events with the president.

 Board, student and faculty receptions to encourage more communication and collaboration between those groups.

 Increased all-team meetings and more academic affairs town halls for team members to share their successes, concerns and ideas.

Were open to more ideas, Witsken said. One recent effort is the creation of a campus Discord server as a space to communicate with students and team members. Students already use it, so its another way for us to connect.

Lawrence said her work in DEI is integrated throughout the strategic plan, but she has been working closely with KD3 to really bring DEI into the campus culture.

The colleges DEI work is spelled out in a DEI Blueprint, which is slated to go to the Board of Trustees in June for approval. It has five objectives  to implement shared definitions of DEI across campus; increase DEI communications, all team trainings and professional development opportunities; strengthen DEI in both student and team member recruitment, hiring, and retention practices; work toward eliminating student equity gaps; and allow team members to prioritize DEI in their everyday work.

Upon approval of the blueprint, a DEI team will come together to put the work into action. Anyone interested in participating should contact Lawrence directly.

KD4: Broaden Community and Educational Collaboration

Associate Dean of Adult Education Val Harris and Professor of Communications Elizabeth Grant lead KD4, which works closely with KD3 in culture building, but with more of a focus on collaborating with the external community. Harris framed her update in gratitude toward the team members who contribute to KD4s work every day, including Alice Bunjan, who leads the colleges Trailblazers Give Back team. Their highlights include:

 Donations through Trailblazers Give Back to the Trailblazer Snack Pantry and holiday food giveaway for hungry students. The snack pantry and SGA Hygiene Closet are going to be strong priorities moving forward, Harris said.

 Team member volunteer work with the Edwardsville Habitat for Humanity, Alton Tax Project and more, throughout the year.

 Donations to other community organizations, such as Oasis Womens Shelter (collected at Trailblazers Day at the Dock, for example).

 The creation of a template for team members to request funds or volunteer help for other organizations through Trailblazers Give Back.

 Support for collaborations like Coffee for Life, the Criminal Justice Open House event, a bench dedication for former Monticello College students, Lizzie Project inspirational posters by graphic design students, Water Festival, Building Futures YouthBuild home renovations, and more.

Harris said alumni is one group in the community her team really wants to engage with and that the college is working on getting a coordinator to guide that effort. In the meantime, her team has held a few alumni focused events, and plan to hold more in the future.

Cherise Jackson, Vice President of Student Affairs, said steps taken to improve enrollment and recruitment include adding an additional full time advisor, drafting an enrollment management plan, starting recruitment training.

According to Trzaska, 3,992 new students enrolled in the college this last year, which is a 9.2% increase from last year. This is the first growth in enrollments since 2016.

"We expect to continue to grow," he said. " It's not going to be easy, but we are continuing to try to make decisions that allow us to remain relevant and sustainable in our processes and practices."

Sue Czerwinski, Vice President of Academic Affairs, said that changes can have an effect on enrollment. An example she gave was a program called Instrumentation and Controls.

"We had very little enrollment in it until we changed the name to Industrial Electricity," she said.

Once the name was changed, she said, enrollment doubled.

Mya Lawrence, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusive Excellence, Student Activities, spoke about a reconnect summit earlier this year to bring the campus together and discuss issues that people may not feel comfortable taking about.

"We want to work on eliminating student equity gaps and to build a capacity for all team members to prioritize DEI (diversity, equity and inclusiveness) in their day to day work," Lawrence said.

Trzaska also spoke about work planned at the college's Main Complex.

According to Trzaska, the college has been working over the past 10 years to secure the funding needed to bring the complex to current code and modernization. In March 2022, Gov. J.B. Pritzker came to the college to announce a $37.5 million state grant through Rebuild Illinois.

"As most thing go, it takes time," he said. "It takes commitment. It takes dedication. It takes perseverance."

He said the college currently is in the final design phases, working with Hastings + Chivetta Architects based in St. Louis. He said he hopes that ground will be broken within the next year.
LEXINGTON, Virginia  Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society, welcomed 1,869 new initiates from 78 universities during April 2023.

Students initiated into the society must be sophomores, juniors, seniors, or graduate/professional students in the top 35% of their class, demonstrate leadership experience in at least one of the five pillars, and embrace the ODK ideals. Fewer than five percent of students on a campus are invited to join each year.
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ALTON  One person suffered a gunshot wound in a Tuesday afternoon incident in Alton.

At about 2:59 p.m. Tuesday, the Alton Police Department received a report of a gunshot fired in the 2600 block of Maxey Street, according to Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford. Officers responded and located one male subject who had been shot.

Ford said the man was transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries and later sent to a St. Louis area hospital for additional medical care.

While at the Maxey Street scene police encountered an armed suspect, according to Ford. He said officers "showed great restraint" in safely taking the suspect into custody and physical evidence related to the shooting was recovered.

Ford did not not name the suspect Tuesday night but said the suspect was in custody at the Alton City Jail.

Police on Tuesday afternoon were seen removing two men from the home. Police also were seen talking with two young children at the home.

Alton Middle School was placed on a brief lockdown during the incident out of an abundance of caution until officers could determine the area was safe, Ford said. He added there was never any active threat to the school, students or staff.



The investigation is still ongoing but the incident has been determined not to be a random act, according to Ford.

East Alton and Bethalto Police assisted Alton officers in securing the scene, Ford said, adding their assistance was greatly appreciated.

On May 2, Alton Police were called to the same block of Maxey Street for reports of a gunshot victim.

Police later announced a 15-year-old boy was fatally shot in that incident. Authorities have not released the name of the boy who died.
A Confederation of British Industry (CBI) logo - REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo

An executive who once criticised diversity messaging for alienating men has been brought in to overhaul the culture of the scandal-hit Confederation of British Industry (CBI).

Elizabeth Warren was on Tuesday confirmed as the business lobbying groups new interim chief people officer, a position created in the wake of sexual misconduct claims that have triggered an exodus of members.

She is a talent recruitment specialist who previously worked at the asset manager Blackrock and private equity house Hg, according to her LinkedIn profile.

As part of her role, Ms Warren will sit on the CBIs executive team and report directly to the board  but will not have a seat on it.

She has been tasked, among other things, with ensuring a zero tolerance approach to sexual harassment and bullying is put in place at the lobbying group.

In an interview to discuss diversity in 2021, Ms Warren described working in the sometimes old-fashioned world of private equity and said it was unhelpful to use the phrase male, pale and stale when describing boardrooms dominated by white men.

Speaking to the Recruiting Future podcast with Matt Alder, she said: This line that is out there is really unfair, this 'male pale, stale' narrative  I think that's really wrong,

Everybody should be included, right? An inclusive environment includes everybody, no matter what you identify as.

You know, in tech and private equity, there are a lot of males in our organisations. And I don't like that narrative, [because] it makes people feel like they're shoved into an 'out' group. And that's really wrong.

Asked about diversity in the workplace, she added: What I really feel strongly about is that it can't just be talking about, 'I need to hire more women'.

Look, that's a start. But you've got to have an equitable workplace, where there's equity, equality and diversity together.

It is about, Is this an equal workplace, where people have their voices heard? It doesn't matter where you come from, what your ethnicity is, what you identify as sexually, it doesn't matter if you're a Martian, a female, a male, non binary  you know, it doesn't matter  you have an equal platform, equal opportunities within that organisation.

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Because there's nothing worse than an organisation dominated by the in group, and then you bring in folks from the out group.

Following allegations against managers of inappropriate touching and two claims of rape, an independent review found that the CBI had failed to sack toxic sexual predators and lost the confidence of female staff members.

The police are now investigating individual claims.

The scandal triggered an exodus of businesses from the lobbying group, led by Natwest, John Lewis, and Aviva.

With its future in doubt, the CBI is currently undergoing a 60-day review before a vote next month where members will decide whether it should continue to exist.

On Tuesday Rain Newton-Smith, the CBIs new director general, said Ms Warrens appointment was a key step towards rebuilding trust.

She added: Her role will be integral in reforming our people strategy- defining our shared values as we collectively recover from the challenges of recent weeks.

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SPRINGFIELD  Illinois' new law banning the sale of select weapons and accessories can remain in place, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Wednesday.

The high court denied an emergency request from people challenging the law which bans so-called assault weapons. The laws opponents had asked the top court to put the law on hold while a court challenge continues.

The court did not comment and no justice publicly dissented.

Illinois' law bans the sale of a series of guns, including the AR-15 and AK-47, as well as magazines of more than 15 rounds of ammunition for handguns and more than 10 rounds of ammunition for a long gun.

People who legally owned the now-barred guns and magazines ahead of the laws enactment can continue to keep them but must registered them with law enforcement.

The Illinois legislation was driven largely by the killing of seven people at a 4th of July parade last year in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park. The shooter was armed with an AR-15 rifle and 30-round magazines.

In April, a federal judge in East St. Louis issued a temporary order blocking enforcement of Illinois' weapons ban while three cases consolidated in the Southern District of Illinois were being heard. Meanwhile federal judges in the Northern District that were hearing similar challenges declined to issue injunctions.

A week after the Southern District judges order, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals put a hold on it. The appellate court has since said it will hear a consolidated appeal in five cases dealing with the Illinois law, and it will do so on an expedited schedule.

Oral arguments before the Seventh Circuit are scheduled for June 29.

Plaintiffs in the Southern District cases had filed an application with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett seeking an emergency injunction to block enforcement of the law while the appeals are being heard.

On Wednesday the U.S. Supreme Court said, for now, Illinois can keep in place the new law banning the sale of certain semi-automatic guns and large-capacity magazines.

The Supreme Courts conservative majority just last year handed gun rights activists a major victory, ruling that Americans have a right to carry firearms in public for self-defense. But the decision left open whether various restrictions states might impose would be constitutional.

On Tuesday, the Illinois Supreme Court heard arguments on whether the weapons ban violates provisions of the Illinois Constitution.

In March, a circuit court judge in Macon County sided with a group of plaintiffs led by state Rep. Dan Caulkins, R-Decatur, and declared the law unconstitutional. The state appealed directly to the Supreme Court, which put a hold on the Macon County decision and put the case on an expedited schedule.

The court heard oral arguments Tuesday in the case. Plaintiffs said the law is unfair because it allows certain people, but not others, to continue buying and selling a category of firearms defined as assault weapons.

Plaintiffs attorney Jerry Stocks argued that, because the law allows some people to continue owning the banned weapons  law enforcement officers, certain security guards, active-duty military personnel, and people who already owned those weapons before the law took effect, among others  it violates the state constitutions equal protection clause. He also argued it violated a ban on special legislation, or legislation written for the benefit of one person or group of people.

The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Article 1, Section 22 of the Illinois Constitution both deal with the right to bear arms. But the state constitutions language is different because it says the right is subject to the police power of the state, meaning it can be regulated to protect public health and safety or law and order.

The purpose of this legislation is to freeze the supply of assault weapons, reduce their further proliferation throughout the state to increase public safety, Assistant Attorney General Leigh Jahnig said.

Stocks argued that in more recent case dealing with the Second Amendment, the U.S. Supreme Court has moved beyond the rational basis vs. strict scrutiny question. In a decision last summer, the U.S. Supreme Court began using a new standard that requires the state to show that a regulation is consistent with the nations historical tradition of firearm regulation.

The state, however, argued that the federal standard for judging Second Amendment issues should not apply in the Illinois case because the plaintiffs did not make a Second Amendment claim in their initial suit. And Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis appeared to agree.

That's not what you brought, she told Stocks about his Second Amendment claims. You frame this in a totally different way. You could have joined the three federal cases. You chose to shape it in a different way around special legislation and an equal protection. Its a much different analysis.
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.
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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.
Amid all of the partisan wrangling that characterizes lawmaking in Springfield, there are examples of bipartisan teamwork that yield resounding successes.

The Invest in Kids scholarship program is one of them. The programs worth is undeniable.

Enacted in 2017, the initiative gives low-income and working-class parents who cannot otherwise afford to send their children to private and parochial schools the means to do so. The program is funded by donors who get a state tax credit of 75 cents on every dollar donated to the scholarship fund.

Since its passage, the program has awarded more than 40,000 scholarships amounting to more than $330 million, according to Empower Illinois, one of the largest scholarship-granting organizations associated with Invest in Kids. Families helped by the effort have an average of $45,046 in yearly household income. More than 60% of recipients are from nonwhite families.

Many of the children benefiting from the program had been attending ineffective, underperforming public schools until they got a chance at an alternative. As a result, demand for the program is sky-high; only 22% of families applying were able to secure a scholarship.

So why does Invest in Kids once again find itself facing extinction?

The program was enacted as a pilot effort. It received an extension in 2021 but is at risk of expiring in December if lawmakers dont renew it.

Even an extension wouldnt be enough, we believe. Springfield should make Invest in Kids permanent.

The programs benefit reaches far beyond participating families. When kids in long-neglected neighborhoods get access to a strong, well-rounded education, those neighborhoods are better off, as is Chicago as a whole.

Anita Andrews-Hutchinson, co founder of It Takes A Village Family of Schools which serves mostly Black and Latino children on Chicago's Near West and South sides, wrote in April that the initiative isnt just an investment in education; its also an investment in violence prevention, poverty reduction and economic acceleration.

In the last three years, the program has allowed Andrews-Hutchinsons schools to award 88 scholarships worth more than $1 million to students and their families.

Predictably, the powerful Chicago Teachers Union sees Invest in Kids as anathema to improving education, not to mention its own interests, and wants to see the programs demise. When Invest in Kids was enacted in 2017, CTU called it a ticking time bomb of a voucher scheme. In 2021, Gov. J.B. Pritzker labeled Invest in Kids a corporate loophole and proposed to gut it by slashing the tax credit from 75 cents on the donated dollar to 40 cents.

The governor didnt get very far. Though Pritzkers fellow Democrats control Springfield, the General Assembly left the tax credit alone. They went further  extending the program through December 2023 and expanding it to include scholarships to career and technical academies.

Thats not enough, however. State lawmakers on both sides of the aisle must realize the importance of making Invest in Kids a permanent fixture in Illinois education landscape.

Shutting down Invest in Kids would force an unacceptable level of uncertainty on parents and their children, who would have their academic journeys upended and their futures suddenly jeopardized. Schools that participate in the scholarship program would see their enrollments drop. Conversely, local school districts would have to absorb the thousands of students who benefited from the program.

We have pointed out in the past that the cost of that absorption would exceed the costs to the public till generated by the tax credits.

For so long, Invest in Kids has been one of the General Assemblys prized initiatives. Its demise would constitute one of Springfields biggest legislative blunders. As Empower Illinois President Anthony Holter told us, Invest in Kids had to pass muster during its five-year pilot phase. Its clear it exceeded expectations.

You do a pilot program to see if something works, Holter said. And we know it works for the families its designed to help.

Precisely. And dont get us started on the hypocrisy of those who choose to send their kids to private or parochial schools and yet dont support a similar option for families with the income level thats typical of participants in Invest in Kids.

The state legislature wraps up its spring session May 19. That leaves lawmakers with precious little time to act. Springfield should prevent the programs expiration, and that rescue should entail making the pilot effort permanent. Invest in Kids is all about giving every child in Illinois a chance at an effective, enriching education  not just kids from families with deep pockets.

Springfield, the clock is ticking. Ensure that Invest in Kids remains a legislative success story.
New uncertainty on multiple fronts is clouding the path to a debt-ceiling deal as President Joe Biden prepares to sit down with Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other congressional leaders Tuesday afternoon.

McCarthy offered multiple dour assessments Monday of where things stand. He said both sides remained far apart and then doubled down later in the day: I dont think were in a good place.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen reiterated in a new letter Monday night that the government could no longer be able to satisfy all of its obligations as soon as June 1. She also warned in a speech Tuesday morning that "it is very conceivable that wed see a number of financial markets break" if no deal is struck.

Today's meeting is the first gathering of the leaders since conversations among aides made tentative progress on issues like permitting reform and work requirements for social programs.

All sides agree there is a long ways to go and an unforgiving calendar in the weeks ahead between a planned Biden trip to Asia and Australia that is scheduled to begin tomorrow as well as Congressional recesses set for coming weeks.

I think there are a couple of areas that theres an opening to an agreement, said Stifel Chief Washington Policy Strategist Brian Gardner in a Yahoo Finance Live appearance Monday. But he added that a deal is far from assured and the possibility of failure is not priced into equity markets.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) speaks at a news conference at the Capitol on Monday evening. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

McCarthy says an agreement needs to be struck by as soon as this weekend in order to pass Congress in time. We only have so many days left in session to deal with this, he said Monday night.

Tuesdays 3 pm ET meeting is set to again take place in the Oval Office and feature Biden and McCarthy as well as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).

Uncertainty over the X-date

Yet another ingredient adding to the uncertainty is a debate over when the government is likely to default on its debt. While Yellen has repeatedly focused negotiators on a June 1 deadline, she also again noted in Monday's letter that it could be a number of weeks later than that before the government actually runs out of cash.

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Other recent outside investigations into the issue have given even wider timelines. Analysts from the Bipartisan Policy Report last week said default is possible between early June and early August. The Congressional Budget Office likewise finds significant risk in early June but also a scenario where the government stays afloat until at least the end of July.

The debt ceiling outlook remains stubbornly indeterminate, is how the analysts at Wrightson ICAP - another group that watches things closely - put things Monday.

The uncertainty is a result of a host of factors. One is an important June 15 deadline when taxpayers will pay their second installment of estimated taxes for 2023. There is also volatility in the US tax system overall, with capital gains revenue coming in well below expectations in recent months. Another factor is California, which has offered a tax extension to many of its citizens in the wake of recent severe weather.

Shai Akabas, the Bipartisan Policy Center's director of economic policy, said last week that the California delay as well as lower revenues was a key reason why this early June timeframe [for possible default ] is now more of a risk than we foresaw back in February before these events took place."

President Joe Biden salutes Monday while boarding Air Force One at Philadelphia International Airport. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

Tuesdays high stakes meeting

The last time Biden and McCarthy met face to face, that meeting ended with few signs of progress and personal acrimony spilling over into public view. Biden said the meeting was sometimes tense and claimed McCarthy occasionally made over the top assertions.

In the days since, staff-level talks have produced tangible signs of progress, less drama, and positive comments from President Biden.

I really think theres a desire on their part, as well as ours, to reach an agreement, and I think we'll be able to do it, he said Sunday.

Those developments have led some observers to hope that the shape of a deal could form around some compromise on spending cuts and other provisions like clawing back COVID money and side priorities like energy-permitting reform.

But that progress has yet to be echoed publicly by both McCarthy and Biden, raising the stakes for comments they are expected to deliver expected after Tuesday's meeting.

Ben Werschkul is Washington correspondent for Yahoo Finance.

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The U.S. Treasury recently came out with its 2023 DeFi Illicit Finance Risk Assessment, which outlined the need for the decentralized finance industry to comply with anti-money laundering (AML) requirements. This is to prevent bad actors, such as cybercriminals, ransomware attackers, scammers and agents of sanctioned governments, from laundering funds through decentralized finance. First, its worth noting that far more illicit finance occurs in traditional financial systems compared to DeFi, but with the help of zero-knowledge (ZK) technology, its also very feasible for DeFi applications to comply with AML laws while retaining user data privacy.

Crimes smear the whole industry

The implosion of centralized finance lending platforms like Celsius in 2022 followed by the FTX disaster did not do crypto any favors in terms of its public perception. In the United States, the Biden administration seems intent on quashing any and all crypto innovation through what has been termed Operation Chokepoint 2.0. Harsh regulations like this have proven difficult to enforce and can do more harm than good  driving talent, money and tech innovation outside of the U.S.

While cryptos reputation as a playground for criminals and scammers is very much a misrepresentation, with illicit transactions accounting for just 1% of all crypto activity last year, it doesnt mean we still shouldnt be concerned about crypto crimes. In 2022, illicit transaction volume hit an all-time high of US$20.1 billion  no small number  with 44% of these illicit transactions originating from sanctions evasions. Despite this, most mainstream blockchains are inherently less opaque and more transparent than most existing financial networks today, actually making it more difficult to hide illegal activity. As shown by the below chart from Chainalysis, sanctions, scams and stolen funds accounted for the top three crypto crimes in terms of value.

Infographic by Chainalysis

This was due, in large part, to the Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) making decisions that were difficult to enforce, such as the blacklisting of cryptocurrency mixer Tornado Cash and the Russian-based exchange Garantex.

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Where regulations and crypto meet

Its important for the crypto community to be reminded that the purpose of regulations is to protect people and businesses against scams and create strong enforcement deterrents against crimes like the financing of terrorism. The challenge is that regulators are accustomed to a certain modus operandi in the realm of traditional finance, which relies on systems that sometimes conflict with the core values of crypto and its underlying thesis that people  not government or banks  should own and control their own data and value.

In the United States, the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), created by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) is meant to prevent money laundering by requiring banks and other registered money service businesses to share details about the transactors when the value being transferred exceeds US$10,000 cumulatively for a given day.

At the global level, the international money laundering watchdog the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) instituted guidelines suggesting that for digital asset businesses, any amount exceeding US$3,000 needs to be reported to the appropriate regulatory agency. There is, of course, a whole other discussion to be had about whether the lower threshold for cryptocurrency transactions is fair or biased, but regardless, these guidelines do exist and are increasingly being implemented and upheld by various jurisdictions around the globe. In the U.S. the BSA took it a step further and proposed lowering the threshold from US$3,000 to US$250 for international transfers, but this has yet to be implemented.

Advent of ZK for compliance

Whether the minimum threshold for businesses and decentralized apps to share transactor data is US$10,000 or US$250, there is a way to meet regulatory requirements while also staying true to the ethos of crypto: zero-knowledge (ZK) technology.

Zero knowledge is a mathematical concept that can be encoded to enable an entity to demonstrate the validity of information to another party without revealing the information itself. For example, with the help of ZK, users can prove they are not on international sanctions lists without sharing their personal details like their legal name, address or passport. This can also be applied to proving a user is know-your-customer (KYC) or AML compliant. In this way, ZK is a key element to enabling institutional adoption of crypto and blockchain technology, given the need for traditional finance players to demonstrate abidance with regulatory standards.

This use case for zero knowledge is already gaining attention. In February, the European Unions Research and Energy Committee announced it would be incorporating ZK into its framework for digital identity. According to its press release, It would also give users full control of their data and let them decide what information to share and with whom. Identity is an essential spoke within the traditional financial system, as a verified ID, whether for an individual or business, is what gives permission to open a bank account, take out a loan or make investments.

DeFi is much more accessible with fewer baseline requirements to invest or benefit from interest-generating opportunities, but at certain transaction amounts, per the FATF standards, regulatory requirements kick in. This is where ZK can make a big difference: It allows for decentralized apps to be compliant while remaining true to crypto ideals and collecting personal information about their users. Instead, users can simply provide a zero-knowledge generated proof (ZKP) demonstrating that they are eligible to use the platform (i.e., have passed KYC/AML, or are not on sanctions lists) without making themselves vulnerable to scams and hacks through the sharing of personally identifiable information.

Vitalik Buterin himself posted in October 2022 on Twitter, ZKPs offer lots of new opportunities to satisfy reg policy goals and preserve privacy at the same time, and we should take advantage of this!

We have the tools. Now regulators and innovators need to communicate about implementations that satisfy each partys objectives, which are not as far apart as they seem. Regulators and crypto insiders want the crypto industry to be a safe place for users and businesses. ZK can be leveraged to make this shared goal a reality.
This article expresses the opinion of Marc Cuniberti and is not meant as investment advice, or a recommendation to buy or sell any securities, nor represents the opinion of any bank, investment firm or RIA, nor this media outlet, its staff, members or underwriters. Mr. Cuniberti holds a B.A. in Economics with honors, 1979, and California Insurance License #0L34249. His insurance agency is BAP INC. that can be contacted at (530)559-1214. Marc was voted best financial advisor in the county 2021.
Technology hasn't made it easy! Deepfake, fake stories, misinformation, and AI-generated images have made it increasingly difficult for an internet user to know if the image or video one is watching is fake, doctored, manipulated, or real. It is this Gordian knot that Google seeks to solve with its new feature 'About this image'.



Cory Dunton Google product manager, search, in a recent blog post announced the launch of the tool.



Citing a 2022 Poynter study which said 62 per cent of people believe they come across misinformation daily or weekly, he said this is why Google continues to build easy-to-use tools and features on Google Search to help users spot misinformation online, quickly evaluate content, and better understand the context of what they are seeing.



"But we also know that its equally important to evaluate visual content that you come across. Thats why were expanding our ongoing work in information literacy to include more visual literacy and help people quickly and easily assess the context and credibility of images. In the coming months, were launching a new tool called About this image," the blog post read.



The feature, which will be first made available in the US in English, will help users to find important aspects of a photo they come across. These include when the image in question and similar images were first indexed by Google, where it may have first appeared, and where else it has been seen online.



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, he wrote.



Users will be able to find this tool by clicking on the three dots on an image in Google Images results, searching with an image or screenshot in Google Lens, or by swiping up in the Google App when you are on a page and come across an image you want to learn more about.



Later this year, Google users will also be able to use it by right-clicking or long-pressing on an image in Chrome on desktop and mobile.



"...we're also announcing that as we begin to roll out generative image capabilities, we will ensure that every one of our AI-generated images has a markup in the original file to give you context if you come across it outside of our platforms. 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," Dunton wrote.
Amid intense lobbying for the Chief Minister's post in Karnataka, senior Congress leader G Paraeshwara on Tuesday said he was ready to take up the responsibility if the party high command asked him to run the government.

The former state Congress President said, the high command is aware of his service to the party, and he doesn't feel the need to lobby for the post.

"If the high command decides and asks me to run the government, I'm ready to take up the responsibility," the former Deputy Chief Minister told reporters here.

"I have faith in the party high command. I have certain principles. I can also take about 50 legislators and do the shouting, but for me the discipline of the party is important. If people like us don't follow things, there won't be any discipline in the party. I have said that if the high command gives me the responsibility, I will take it up. I have not said I won't.", he said.

"They (high command) too are aware that I have worked for the party, served it for eight years (as KPCC President) and brought it to power (in 2013). Also I have served as the Deputy Chief Minister. They know everything, there is nothing for us to say afresh. So I feel there is no need for me to ask for the post or lobby for it, and I'm quiet. That doesn't mean i'm incapable, I'm capable and if given an opportunity will do the job," he added.

State Congress President D K Shivakumar and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah are locked in an intense power struggle over who will lead the government, after the Congress stormed to power by winning 135 seats in the May 10 elections to the 224-member Karnataka Assembly.

Both the leaders are in Delhi to discuss with the party central leadership on the government formation and the next CM.

The three central observers of the Congress, who interacted with newly elected party MLAs on their choice for Chief Minister, briefed party chief M Mallikarjun Kharge and submitted their report on Monday.

The Congress Legislature Party (CLP), which met at a hotel in Bengaluru on Sunday, had passed a unanimous resolution authorising Kharge to pick the next Chief Minister.

Noting that the party had faced the elections under collective leadership, but Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah were at the front, as someone has to lead, Parameshwar said, the high command will decide on the next CM, and felt it won't be a difficult task.

He said, the party has the responsibility to deliver to the people, with the huge mandate in hand.

Parameshwara, a Dalit, was Deputy Chief Minister during Congress-JD(S) coalition government led by H D Kumaraswamy.

He was also the longest-serving KPCC chief (eight years) and has a PhD in plant physiology from the Waite Agriculture Research Centre of the University of Adelaide.

Parameshwara, who represents Koratagere in Tumakuru district, had lost the 2013 assembly polls, when he was KPCC president. He was a contender for the chief minister's post then, but as he lost the elections, he was made an MLC and a minister in the Siddaramaiah government.
The deliberations over who will helm the Karnataka government will continue on Tuesday too, as one of the front-runners, D K Shivakumar, will fly to Delhi on Tuesday. Though the AICC leadership had called him to the national capital on Monday, he opted not to go citing health issues.

Amid speculations that the party High Command may pick him for the coveted post, Siddaramaiah opted to remain tight-lipped. The 75-year-old leader refused to answer queries regarding the top post on Monday, stating "Lets wait and seeI dont know"



However, Shivakumar cancelled his visit to Delhi on Monday, citing ill health. "I have some problem in my stomach. The doctor is coming in 10 minutes. It's burning. It looks like some infection and I have a fever..... please let me be free...," he told reporters.



However, Shivakumar's brother and Congress MP D K Suresh met party president Kharge at the latter's residence in Delhi late on Monday. "I have met the AICC chief. I meet him whenever I come to Delhi. The same way I met him today. Our AICC general secretaries will let you know about other issues," Suresh told reporters.



Suresh, however, confirmed to reporters that Shivakumar would be coming to Delhi on Tuesday.



Shivakumar had earlier claimed that he had the support of all MLAs as the election was won under his presidency. "Sonia Gandhi told me, 'I have confidence in you that you will deliver Karnataka'. I am sitting here, doing my regular responsibility. You should have the basic courtesy, a bit of gratitude. They should have the courtesy to acknowledge who is behind the win," he told NDTV in an exclusive interview.



On whether his move would be seen as a rebellion, Shivakumar said he was not someone who would blackmail. "Don't perceive anything. I have my own presence of mind. I am not a child. I won't fall into a trap", he added.

However, party sources said it will not be "blackmailed" by anyone and that all MLAs belong to the Congress and not any individual.



The Congress top brass is likely to reach a decision today. Congress leader HK Patil said on Monday, "In my view, it (the name of the next Karnataka CM) will be decided by tomorrow evening. Our process is still on."



AICC in charge of Karnataka, Randeep Singh Surjewala too said the decision would come soon. "Congress party will stand up to the pledge made to 6.5 crore Kannadigasthe observers have submitted their written report to the Congress Presidenthe will look into the report, will hold deliberations with state leaders & other central leaders and will take an appropriate call," he told the reporters.



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.


Even as suspense remains on who the Congress will choose for the Karnataka chief minister's post, Siddaramaiah and D.K. Shivakumar, the two strong claimants for the coveted post, met party president Mallikarjun Kharge separately in Delhi.

Shivakumar, who arrived in the national capital this morning from Bengaluru, reached Kharge's residence a little after 5 pm and held deliberations over the post of chief minister of Karnataka. Soon after Shivakumar left, Siddaramaiah arrived at Kharge's residence at 10, Rajaji Marg after 6 pm, and the two leaders held discussions on the top post.

Earlier in the day, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met Kharge and held discussions over government formation in the southern state.

On Monday evening, Kharge held a meeting with the three central observers who had interacted with newly elected MLAs and sought their views on the chief minister selection. Sushilkumar Shinde, Jitendra Singh and Deepak Babaria met Kharge at his residence where general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal and general secretary in-charge for Karnataka Randeep Surjewala were also present.

After the meeting, Surjewala told reporters the party will announce its decision by Tuesday evening.

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.

Congress stormed to power in the state in the May 10 elections after winning 135 seats. The BJP was reduced to 66 seats while the JD(S) could bag just 19 seats.
Final touches are being given to the new Parliament building and it is likely to be ready by the end of this month, sources said on Tuesday.

Although there is no official word from the government yet, sources said that it may be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the last week of May to mark nine years of his government.

"The new Parliament building is almost ready and final touches are being given to it. The building will be ready by May 28," a source said.

Construction of the new Parliament building began two years ago.

The new building is part of the redevelopment of the Central Vista, the nation's power corridor.

Revamping the three-km road from the Rashtrapati Bhavan to the India Gate, constructing a common central secretariat, a new office and residence of the prime minister, and a new vice-president enclave are also part of the project being executed by the Cental Public Works Department.

"The new Parliament building will be ready before the end of this month. However, there is no official date yet for its inauguration," the source said.

Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had said in November last year that it was up to the government to select the date of the building's inauguration.

In December 2020, Prime Minister Modi had laid the foundation stone of the new Parliament building which will have modern facilities.

The new Parliament building, constructed by Tata Projects Ltd, will have a grand constitution hall to showcase India's democratic heritage, a lounge for members of Parliament, a library, multiple committee rooms, dining areas and ample parking space.

The tender to construct the new Parliament building was awarded to Tata Projects in September 2020 at an estimated cost of Rs 861 crore and later, the cost rose to around Rs 1,200 crore due to additional works.

The original deadline for completing the project was November last year.

To mark the ninth anniversary of its government at the Centre, the BJP has planned a month-long outreach exercise, including a rally by Prime Minister Modi and 51 public meetings by its senior leaders.

The campaign is expected to start from May 30, the day Modi took oath for his second term as prime minister in 2019, and will continue till June 30, sources said.

Modi is likely to address a rally on either May 30 or May 31 to kickstart the exercise.
Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijaya Singh said he is ready to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha polls against Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia from Guna constituency if the party asks him to.



Singh was answering a query in this regard during a press conference in Seoni on Tuesday. The Congress leader is currently on a tour to the 66 assembly constituencies in Madhya Pradesh where Congress lost three or more times, in a bid to strengthen the party's presence in these areas.



Currently, both Scindia and Singh are Rajya Sabha members elected from Madhya Pradesh in June 2020 and will still have more than a year of membership when the Lok Sabha polls are scheduled to be held in April/May 2024.



Guna is a former bastion of Scindia, but he lost the 2019 Lok Sabha polls by more than a lakh votes as a Congress candidate to BJPs K.P. Yadav, his former protege. Yadav had joined the BJP ahead of the LS polls after falling out with Scindia.



This Lok Sabha loss of Scindia was considered to be one of the major factors that led him to defect to the BJP with 22 Congress MLAs in March 2020. He was immediately offered a Rajya Sabha candidature by the BJP and was later made a Union minister  something the Congress claims was part of a deal for the defection.



Singh himself had contested from the Bhopal Lok Sabha constituency, a BJP bastion, in 2019. Though Singh was considered a tough contender, the BJPs step to pitch Pragya Bharti  a staunch right-winger  against him had paid off with Bharti winning the seat by a huge margin.



While answering the query on whether he would be willing to contest the Lok Sabha elections against Scindia from Guna in 2024, Singh quipped, I will do anything the party orders me to. He then added that he was a Rajya Sabha member and did not have to contest the general elections, but was a true soldier of the party and would do whatever the party directed him to do.



During the press conference, Singh exuded confidence that the Congress will form government in the state after voting in November 2023 as people are very angry with the current BJP dispensation. People are angry with (chief minister) Shivraj Singh Chouhan, with BJP, with the corrupt practices in BJP, with price rise, unemployment, injustice, and harassment. Innocent Congress leaders are being harassed, their land grabbed, houses demolished, and they are arrested for false criminal cases. People are angry because of all of these, he claimed.



He further said the BJP government does not administer but does business that too in partnership; with CM, ministers, senior officers, BJP brokers, BJP MLAs and leaders as partners. There is a commission taken for everything at every level. There has been no action against the corrupt people. Those who gave money in the Vyapam scam were arrested, but the investigation against those who took the money was not completed, Singh said.
Even as suspense continues on who will helm the new government in Karnataka, reports said that the Congress leadership was considering a power-sharing formula between Siddaramaiah and D.K. Shivakumar, the two strong claimants for the chief minister's post.

As per the agreement, reports claimed, Siddaramaiah will take over as the chief minister while Shivakumar will continue as the KPCC president for the first two and a half years. In the second term, Shivakumar will be elevated to the CM post, they said.

An official announcement is likely after Sonia Gandhi, who is currently in Shimla, reaches Delhi.

According to local media, even though Shivakumar was offered the deputy chief minister post, he is unlikely to accept it.

Both Siddaramaiah (75) and Shivakumar (60) met party president Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence on Tuesday evening. Kharge is now scheduled to have another round of discussions with the central leaders as also leaders from the state before a decision is made official.

According to party sources, what is working for Siddaramaiah are his OBC identity, the support he has among the backward classes, dalits and minorities, his pan Karnataka acceptance and his experience in administration.

However, Shivakumar is learnt to have made a strong claim, citing the fact that he had taken over the organisation when the party was in dire straits and, as promised to the high command, delivered Karnataka.

Earlier in the day, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met Kharge at his residence and held discussions over government formation in the southern state.

Kharge had held a meeting with the three central observers, who had interacted with newly elected MLAs and sought their views on the chief minister selection, on Monday evening. Sushilkumar Shinde, Jitendra Singh and Deepak Babaria met Kharge at his residence where general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal and general secretary in-charge for Karnataka Randeep Surjewala were also present.

After the meeting, Surjewala told reporters the party would announce its decision by Tuesday evening.

Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar 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.

Congress stormed to power in the state in the May 10 elections after winning 135 seats. The BJP was reduced to 66 seats while the JD(S) could bag just 19 seats.
Two militants who were involved in the killing of Mirwaiz Molvi Muhammad Farooq, father of Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, have been arrested after more than three decades, the Jammu and Kashmir Police said on Tuesday.

Mirwaiz Farooq was shot dead in his house at Nigeen in Srinagar on May 21, 1990.

Special Director General of Police (CID) R.R. Swain told the media in Srinagar that the arrested militants included the one who entered the bedroom of Mirwaiz Farooq and fired at him.

The Nigeen police had filed an FIR, but the case was later transferred to CBI, Swain said. The CBI arrested one of the accused and filed a chargesheet against him at a TADA court which awarded him a life sentence.

The officer said the investigations into the case revealed that the plot to kill Mirwaiz was planned by Hizbul Mujahideen commander Abdullah Bangroo.

Bangroo and his associate were killed in encounters while one accused was serving a life sentence, he said. Two other accused, Javaid Bhat and Zahoor Ahmed Bhat, both residents of Srinagar, were evading arrest and were hiding in Pakistan and Nepal. They have been arrested by the State Investigating Agency (SIA) and handed over to the CBI.

Swain said Bhat was the one who had shot Mirwaiz in his bedroom .

He, however, didnt reveal where the duo were arrested from.

The killing of Mirwaiz had sparked widespread anger in Kashmir and accentuated the political and security crisis due to the eruption of militancy. Several people were killed after security forces opened fire on a procession during the funeral of Mirwaiz.

After the killing of Mirwaiz, who was widely revered and respected in Kashmir and outside, the Centre removed then governor Jagmohan Malhotra due to worsening situation in Kashmir.

The Mirwaiz family is the custodian of Jama Masjid, the most important and historic mosque in Kashmir, which has remained mostly shut for congregational prayers after the removal of Article 370.
West Bengal chief minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee on Monday lend support to Opposition unity ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha polls by extending support to Congress "where it is strong." Her statement came after Congress's stunning performance in Karnataka.

"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, too," she told reporters at the state secretariat, suggesting that the Congress shouldn't fight TMC in Bengal.



However, Mamata's conditional support did not go down well with Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who said the party will definitely fight the election in West Bengal. "We will definitely fight elections; we will fight wherever it is needed," Chowdhury was quoted by ANI.



He added that Mamata was giving such statements as she feels her party would not survive without aligning with Congress.



"With Congress victory, Mamata Banerjee now feels that she will not be able to work at any cost without doing compromise with Congress, ahead of Karnataka elections have you ever heard Mamata Banerjee saying, vote for Congress to defeat BJP. She is the same Mamata Banerjee who visited Bihar and Uttar Pradesh to support those who are fighting against BJP, but why did not she visit Karnataka to support Congress?" questioned Chowdhury.

This is the first time that Mamata cleared the air on TMC's stand on a possible strategy for opposition unity in the upcoming 2024 elections. The chief minister's stance came despite her not supporting Congress's Bharat Jodo Yatra.



"I am giving you the support in Karnataka, but you are fighting against me every day. That should not be the policy," Mamata said. She added 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. Wherever a regional party is strong, the BJP cannot put up a fight... People are very demoralised, frustrated," said Mamata.



However, Chowdhury hit out at Mamata for ignoring Rahul Gandhi after the Karnataka victory and during Bharat Jodo Yatra. He said the TMC leader has not mentioned Rahul Gandhis name even once after the partys victory in the Karnataka assembly elections.



"We emerged as winner in Karnataka but she did not mention Rahul Gandhis name even for once. Even during, the Bharat Jodo Yatra she didnt say anything. That time also, when all the opposition leaders praised him, Mamata did not utter a word from her mouth. When he got disqualified from the Parliament she didnt say anything," he alleged.



The Congress MP said Mamata came to power in Bengal because of former Congress president Sonia Gandhi but the former "tried everything to make Congress out of Bengal politics."


Florida 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 former President Donald 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 President Joe 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.

What we know 2 Connolly staffers assaulted in his Fairfax, Va. office

Florida DeSantis signs bill banning funding for diversity programs at public colleges

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 and could complicate his message that he is more electable.

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.

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 City, 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."

Story continues

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: Florida: DeSantis doesn't want to talk about Trump voter fraud claims
Russia launched an overnight air strike of exceptional intensity on Kyiv, according to the Kyiv City Military Administration. The administration defined exceptional intensity as the maximum number of missile attacks in the shortest time span.



The Russian forces used drones, ballistic, and cruise missiles in the attack from multiple directions, according to the administrations Telegram post. Tonight's very loud fireworks over Kyiv cost Russia over $150 million. All 17 costly missiles were destroyed, including 6 "hypersonic" Kinzhal Dagger missiles that Russia positioned as an uninterceptable wonder weapon.

Apart from the Kinzhal missiles, nine Kalibr cruise missiles, and three Iskander land-based cruise missiles, Zaluzhnyi were launched. It isn't yet clear if any of them managed to hit their target.

No casualties were reported. The British ambassador to Ukraine, Melinda Simmons, tweeted that the barrage was pretty intense. It was the eighth time this month that Russian air raids had targeted the capital, a clear escalation after weeks of lull and ahead of a much-anticipated Ukrainian counter-offensive. It also came as President Volodymyr Zelenksyy concluded a whirlwind European tour to greet Ukraine's key wartime allies, which spurred an additional tranche of pledged military aid.

Ukraines minister of defence Oleksii Reznikov celebrated in a tweet the unbelievable success in shooting down the hi-tech Russian Kinzhal and other missiles.

 With PTI inputs
As voices seeking resignation of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Ata Bandial alleging 'misconduct' over granting bail to former Prime Minister Imran Khan, the national assembly pitches in against the CJP. A resolution to set up a five-member committee to prepare and file cases against Bandial in the Supreme Judicial Council was passed by the parliament on Monday.

Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Pakistan Peoples Party leader Dr Shazia Sobia tabled the resolution in the National Assembly for the formation of the committee against any judge or judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The lower house unanimously adopted the motion.

The Supreme Judicial Council is the only forum to proceed against any sitting judge.

Meanwhile, Maryam Nawaz, the chief organiser of the ruling PML-N and daughter of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif demanded the resignation of CJP for acting as a "facilitator" of Imran Khan.

The multi-party ruling alliance had organised a sit-in protest outside the court in the Red Zone targetting Bandial's decision.

The three-member bench headed by the Chief Justice Bandial on Friday granted bail to Imran Khan after he was arrested on charges of corruption.

During the sit-in protest, Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) warned the top judge of 'dire consequences' if Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was disqualified "on the pretext of contempt of the court" for refusing to comply with the court ruling regarding Punjab elections on May 14.

The leaders of the alliance was unanimous and they said that they would not accept 'engineered verdicts' and also accused the CJP of misconduct.

"Mr CJP you have been committing misconduct for the last month and revealed that you will announce PM's disqualification. The PM has safeguarded the constitution and if any attempt is made against the government, we will defend the National Assembly and the PM," PDM chief Fazl while addressing the sit-in.

"We will not tolerate if courts will make engineered decisions. The court had ousted former chief minister Hamza Shehbaz and established Parvez Elahi's government (Punjab). We give you due respect but we will never allow you to disgrace people politicians and parliament," Maulana Fazl was quoted by Al Jazeera.

"If you want to do politics come out of the building," Fazl told CJP.

"We want to restore the prestige of the judiciary. Its prestige is so high that the removal of two or three will not make any difference," said the PDM chief.

While speaking in the National Assembly, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said that the time has come for Parliament to play its constitutional role in this situation. Pakistan minister also alleged that a section of the judiciary is giving "unprecedented concessions" to Imran Khan.

"In the 75-year history of the country's judiciary, there had been incidents that have had a profound impact on the country, but recently a group in the judiciary started supporting a political group, said Asif.

"The time has come for the Parliament to send a reference of misconduct to the Supreme Judicial Council, under the authority and law given to it by the Constitution, Asif added.

(With agency inputs)
Jaipur, May 16 (PTI) Union Minister of State for Power Krishan Pal Singh on Tuesday said that the people of Rajasthan are facing a power crisis due to the failure of the state government.

He said that there is no shortage of electricity in the country as in the neighbouring state Haryana, 24 hours electricity is being made available in the villages and cities.

"The production of electricity in the country is double its consumption. There is no shortage of electricity. The centre is ready to provide as much electricity as Rajasthan wants, but due to the failure of the state government, the people of Rajasthan are facing a power crisis," the minister told reporters here.

He was here to take part in an 'unemployment fair' under which 71,000 appointment letters in different government departments were given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi through video conferencing.

"In the neighbouring state of Haryana, 24-hour electricity is available in the villages and cities. Then why is the crisis in Rajasthan only? That is because the management of your government is not good," the minister said.

He said that the state government needs to improve and worry about the farmers and poor people in the village.

Hitting out at paper leaks of government recruitment exams in the state, the Union minister said that the way papers have been leaked 18 times in the state, no action has been taken till date. "The government should get the CBI inquiry done. Such a government has no right to remain in power even for a moment. The future of unemployed youth is being played with. This government is running on the mercy of God," he said.
Panaji, May 16 (PTI) Low-cost airline IndiGo will run a direct flight from Goa to Dehradun (Uttarakhand) connecting both the tourist destinations from May 23.

The flight between Manohar International Airport (Mopa) in Goa and Jolly Grant Airport (Dehradun) in Uttarakhand will be operated by IndiGo.

Goa tourism minister Rohan Khaunte is scheduled to board the first direct flight on May 23 to mark the beginning of a collaboration between the two states, an official of Goa tourism department said.

"The new direct flight route is set to provide an easy and convenient way for tourists to travel between Goa and Uttarakhand and explore the unique cultural and natural attractions of both states," the official said.

In a media statement released here, Khaunte said, "I am delighted about the commencement of direct flights between Goa and Uttarakhand, which will help in promoting spiritual tourism in Goa under the vision of Dakshin Kashi."

He said that Goa has several archaeologically important temples that tourists will now be able to easily access.

"Similarly, this will also benefit tourists from Goa visiting Uttarakhand for the state's splendid natural beauty. The launch of this new direct flight will enhance the connectivity between the two states, allowing tourists to explore the diverse cultural heritage, natural beauty, and adventure tourism opportunities that both Goa and Uttarakhand have to offer," he added.

Khaunte said that the collaboration is aligned with the 'Dekho Apna Desh' initiative that was launched as an appeal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to people to give preference to domestic tourism over international travels.

"The initiative aims to encourage people to witness and experience the rich heritage and vivid culture of India," he added.

According to the India Tourism Statistics 2022, Goa witnessed 33 lakh domestic visitors, while 1.9 crore domestic tourists visited Uttarakhand in 2021.
New Delhi, May 16 (PTI) Billionaire Gautam Adani arranged for an air ambulance to help transfer mountaineer Anurag Maloo, who was rescued after falling into a deep crevasse in Nepal's Mount Annapurna last month, from Kathmandu to the AIIMS in New Delhi.

Mountaineer's brother Aashish Maloo on Tuesday took to Twitter to express gratitude for the timely action by Adani to airlift the injured.

"Grateful beyond words for the timely airlifting! Heartfelt thanks to @gautam_adani and @AdaniFoundation for their invaluable support in repatriating @AnuragMaloo safely," he tweeted.

A resident of Kishangarh in Rajasthan, Maloo went missing on April 17 after falling from an altitude of 5,800 meters while descending from Camp III on Mount Annapurna - the 10th highest mountain in the world, which is known for its treacherous terrain.

He survived in the avalanche-prone crevasse for three days before being rescued on the morning of April 20. He was in critical condition and was first taken to a nearby medical camp, then to Manipal Hospital in Pokhara, and later to Kathmandu's Medicity Hospital.

His family requested the Adani Foundation's assistance to arrange and bear the cost of the airlift and ground transfer from Nepal to India as the cost seemed to be beyond their means.

Adani group founder and chairman Gautam Adani promptly acted and his philanthropy arm, Adani Foundation arranged an air ambulance and transfer.

Anurag was rescued and airlifted to the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi for medical treatment and is currently undergoing treatment.

Replying to Aashish's tweet, Adani said it was a privilege for him and his wife, who heads Adani Foundation, to help the injured mountaineer.

"Priti and I are privileged to be of help. We are happy to learn that Anurag is safe and are praying for his speedy recovery. We are confident that he will soon be ready to conquer more of life's peaks," he tweeted.

After being airlifted from Kathmandu, Maloo was taken to AIIMS's Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Centre, where he was admitted to the ICU. His condition is said to be stable.
London, May 16 (PTI) UK police detectives are re-examining the case of an 8-year-old Indian-origin schoolboy who went missing on his walk back home more than four decades ago.

Vishal Mehrotra vanished from south London on 29 July 1981, incidentally on the day of the royal wedding between King Charles and Diana, the late Princess of Wales.

Seven months later, his remains were found in woodland near the village of Rogate, West Sussex.

No one has been convicted of his murder so far.

Sussex Police said that senior detectives from the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team met with Vishals father Vishambar Mehrotra last week to discuss a recent documentary and podcast series aired in the UK related to the historic case.

The sleuths also informed him that further inquiries are being carried out in this case.

Mehrotra has been campaigning ever since for a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to his sons disappearance and killing.

We acknowledge the ongoing distress to Mr. Mehrotra and Vishals wider family and their need to find answers to what happened to him in 1981, said Sussex Police Detective Superintendent Mark Chapman.

The force is committed to identifying those responsible for Vishals tragic death and to delivering justice for him and his family. Extensive police inquiries have been completed to date but we remain open to and welcome any new information, and officers will continue to follow-up on any reasonable and viable lines of inquiry, he said.

The force also apologised for an oversight during an investigation conducted in the mid-1990s by Sussex Police, which had a potential link to Vishals death.

It concerned a document titled Vishal that was found as part of an investigation into the historic child sexual abuse at Muntham House School in West Sussex.

The document was found by police in 1996 and inquiries were carried out in the context of the Muntham House investigation, but it wasnt until 2019 during the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse that any potential link was made to the murder of Vishal.

Sussex Police apologised to Vishals father that this link was not made sooner, the force said.

The police said it continues to assess further lines of inquiry for criminal investigation as a result of the recently broadcast Channel 4 documentary and a BBC podcast and made a public call for anyone with any information related to the case entitled Operation Moor.
Bangkok, May 16 (AP) Pacific Island leaders are criticising 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.

Leaders and representatives from Pacific Island nations demanded at a UN climate change conference on Monday in Bangkok that the world make more effort to put aside differences in combating the environmental impact, especially as their countries emerge from the economic devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prime Minister Mark Brown of the Cook Islands said the finance model for combatting climate change  giving out loans to reduce the impact  is not the way to go for countries in his region with such small populations that produce inconsequential amounts of carbon emissions but suffer the most from the effects.

He encouraged a shift toward grants or interest-free loans to help ease the financial burden on poorer countries.

All we're doing is adding debt to countries that have come out of COVID with increased debt, and to me it is actually quite offensive that we would be required to borrow money to build resilience, and to borrow from the very countries that are causing climate change, he told The Associated Press.

Brown said his country lost an estimated 41 per cent of its GDP because of the pandemic, a loss of a decade's worth of prosperity.

He said he will give this message to leaders when he represents his tiny South Pacific nation with a population of about 17,000 at a summit later this week of the Group of Seven leading industrialised nations in Japan, where he hopes to be able to speak on a more equal footing to the leaders than as a grateful recipient to benevolent donors.

Palau President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. agreed that financing opportunities are few and difficult, and criticised wealthy countries for failing to commit to provide the financial help they had promised, which he said represents only a tiny portion of their prioritised expenditures such as the military.

We didn't cause the problem, but now they're going to make money off of us by giving us a loan so we can pay back with interest, he told The Associated Press. So now you have to adapt, but we'll give you money and make money off of you by giving you that money to adapt. That doesn't make sense.

Whipps said Palau's economy relies heavily on tourism, which is greatly threatened by the impact of climate change. The country's economic security is also a major issue in Palau's negotiations with the US on the Compacts of Free Association, a broader agreement that will govern its relations with Washington for the next two decades.

Those ties grant the US unique military and other security rights in the islands in return for substantial aid.

Whipps said the administration of President Joe Biden has promised approximately USD 900 million over the 20-year period. While the amount is definitely less than what his country would have wanted, Whipps said he is largely satisfied with the terms, renegotiated from what was achieved during the administration of former President Donald Trump.

While there are some concerns that the US Congress will cut foreign aid and in turn affect this funding, Whipps said he expects Washington will honour the agreement, which he hopes can be signed by both sides in Papua New Guinea next week.

Brown said efforts to tackle climate change and build resilience to its impact, such as better infrastructure and greater water and food security, require lots of money, especially for island nations with small populations.

He said USD 1.2 billion a year for the region to spend on climate adaptation and mitigation measures would be a starter.

The fact remains that the underlying solution to assist countries that are facing the impacts of climate change is to build resilience, and building resilience takes money, he said. (AP) PY

PY
Washington, May 16 (PTI) Describing India as one of its most consequential partners, the Biden administration has said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to the US next month is an opportunity to enhance partnership on several vital priorities, including ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific, and strengthen trade and security partnership.

Prime Minister Modi will embark on his first state visit to the US next month on an invitation by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. The US President and the First Lady will also host Modi at a state dinner on June 22.

"Our partnership with India is one of our most consequential relationships and we work closely with India on a number of vital priorities," state department's Deputy Press Secretary Vedant Patel told reporters at his daily news conference on Monday.

The state visit is an opportunity to deepen some of these partnerships, whether it be 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, Patel told reporters at his daily news conference.

Patel's reference to the Indo-Pacific came amidst China's aggressive behaviour in the region where it is engaged in hotly contested territorial disputes in both the South China Sea and the East China Sea.

China claims sovereignty over all of the South China Sea. Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Taiwan have counterclaims.

Beijing has also built up and militarised many of the islands and reefs it controls in the region. Both areas are stated to be rich in minerals, oil and other natural resources and are also vital to global trade.

The US, Japan, India and Australia had in 2017 given shape to the long-pending proposal of setting up the Quad or the Quadrilateral coalition to counter Chinas aggressive behaviour in the Indo-Pacific region.

"Obviously, between India and the United States, there exists an opportunity to deepen trade issues, deepen security partnerships. There is an opportunity to address some shared global challenges like global health and addressing the climate crisis. So again, I am not going to get ahead of the state visit, but we very much look forward to hosting the Indian government," Patel said in response to a question.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, he said, is the country's and the president's chief diplomat and one of his most trusted and longest-serving foreign policy advisors.

"We of course are in constant communication with our partners at the White House on things like state visits and visits by foreign dignitaries and things of that sort," Patel said.

"But I am not going to get into the specific deliberations beyond that. And like I said, our partnership with India is one of the most consequential and it is why we are very much looking forward to hosting them in a state visit next month," he added.

"Our partnership with India is one of our most consequential and of course, deepening our trade relationship is a key priority and has been one as it relates to our partnership with India. Of course, another key component of this is our deep cultural exchanges and people-to-people ties as we are both democracies," Patel said in response to another question.

"We are eager to welcome Indian students interested in studying here through the appropriate visa systems and otherwise," he said.
London, May 16 (AP) -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. (AP)



NSA
Seoul, May 16 (AP) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrived in South Korea on Tuesday for a meeting with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol at which they are expected to discuss expansion of trade and challenges posed by North Korea.

Trudeau, the first Canadian leader to visit South Korea in nine years, will meet with Yoon on Wednesday, hours after he delivers a speech at the National Assembly in Seoul.

Yoon's office said they will discuss North Korea's dismal human rights record and cooperation over security and critical minerals.

It was apparently referring to Canadian materials used by South Korean companies to manufacture electric car batteries or semiconductors, which are major products in South Korea's export-driven economy.

On Tuesday, South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin and Minister for Trade Ahn Duk-geun met with Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly and Minster of Innovation, Science and Industry Francois-Philippe Champagne to discuss economic security, Park's ministry said.

Yoon has been trying to increase international pressure on North Korea, which has been expanding its arsenal of nuclear-capable missiles, and strengthen Seoul's voice in supply chain issues. He has also met this year with US President Joe Biden and twice with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

Yoon and Trudeau will travel later this week to Japan to attend the summit of the Group of Seven industrialised nations, where North Korea's nuclear threat is expected to be a key agenda item along with Russia's war with Ukraine and China's increasingly assertive foreign policy. (AP)



GRS
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law yesterday that will defund diversity and inclusion initiatives at the states public colleges and solidify his quest to prevent the teaching of race, identity, and history in the classroom.

More from Fortune: 5 side hustles where you may earn over $20,000 per yearall while working from home Looking to make extra cash? This CD has a 5.15% APY right now Buying a house? Here's how much to save This is how much money you need to earn annually to comfortably buy a $600,000 home

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 said at a news conference discussing the bill. 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 consistently whipped up public sentiment against what he calls the state-sanctioned racism that is critical race theory while triggering nationwide alarm with Floridas 2022 Parental Rights in Education bill, which prohibited discussion of gender and sexual identity in early grades and was later expanded by the state board of education to include grades through 12th. All of this has had a chilling effect on educators, who have canceled classes in increasingly vain attempts to hang on to their jobs.

There are reasons to be hopeful.

In what will likely be a harbinger of more legal action, last November, a Florida judge issued a temporary injunction against DeSantiss Stop WOKE Act," legislation designed to curtail discussion of race in Florida schools and businesses. While the injunction didn't last, the judge framed the debate for future action by blasting the bill as unconstitutional, Orwellian, and positively dystopian."

On another front, a powerful corporate player appears poised to give DeSantis a real fight.

DeSantis has picked a series of expensive legal battles with Disneyand CEO Bob Iger specificallyafter the two publicly clashed over the education bill in 2022. DeSantis has now turned Disney into a woke leadership talking point and punching bag. Disney, which recently sued the DeSantis administration for political retaliation, seems unlikely to tolerate the administrations attacks on its business or inclusion much longer. Iger never loses, Yale management professor Jeffrey Sonnenfeld tells the Washington Post. He wont miss his moment when it comes up.

Story continues

But until then, the battles are personal.

Florida fifth-grade teacher Jenna Barbee is under investigation after a parent complained that she showed her students a Disney movie featuring a gay character. The film, Strange World, is about the fragile relationship between humans and the environment and was screened as part of a teaching module on ecosystems and interconnectedness. In a minor subplot, the character has a crush on another boy, which Barbee says she missed.

But that's not the point, she says.

"[The module] talks about love to all things, and that's literally what this movie represents," the Hernando County School District teacher tells NPR. "I find it interesting that now I'm getting in trouble for a similar topic."

Ellen McGirt

@ellmcgirt

Ellen.McGirt@fortune.com

This edition of raceAhead was edited by Ruth Umoh.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com

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Buying a house? Here's how much to save

This is how much money you need to earn annually to comfortably buy a $600,000 home
Islamabad, May 16 (PTI) The Pakistan Army's top brass has vowed to bring to justice the "spoilers" involved in the recent attacks on military installations, including the storming of its General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, through trials, including stringent the Pakistan Army Act and the Official Secret Act.

Former prime minister Imran Khan's arrest by the Rangers at the Islamabad High Court 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, Khans supporters stormed the Army headquarters in Rawalpindi and torched the historic Corps Commander's House in Lahore in retaliation to his dramatic arrest.

The Pakistan Army's move to include the tough Army Act and the Official Secrets Act is a serious provision in which Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters could be slapped with charges that can lead to either a death sentence or life imprisonment.

A Special Corps Commanders Conference, chaired by Army chief General Asim Munir at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, also resolved that restraint will no longer be exercised against perpetrators who attack military installations, according to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) -- the media wing of the Pakistan Army on Monday.

The participants of the Special Corps Commanders Conference condemned the politically motivated and instigated incidents against military installations and public and private properties, the statement said.

"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 the 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 meeting decided that "restraint will no longer be exercised against perpetrators, spoilers, and violators who attack military installations and setups under any circumstances."

The meeting emphasised the need for national consensus amongst all stakeholders to address ongoing political instability as a priority to restore public confidence, reinvigorate economic activity and strengthen the democratic process.

The military commanders also resolved to support all such efforts to reach this much-needed consensus.

Meanwhile, in response to the Pakistan Armys statement, PTI tweeted that as a "responsible & the largest political institution in the federation of Pakistan, PTI has an unwavering commitment to the constitution & democracy."

The opposition party said it believes that the "Constitution is a beacon of light for all of us at the individual as well as collective levels and solutions to the most intricate problems lie within the ambit of Constitution and bounds of laws, it said.

"Peaceful protest after Chairman PTIs illegal abduction through paramilitary troops of Rangers from within the premises of Islamabad High Court on May 9, was a natural & foreseeable reaction guaranteed by the constitution as a basic right to peaceful protest to the public," a statement issued by the Central Media Department of Khan's party said.

The statement also claimed that "a plethora of irrefutable evidence is available to establish that armed miscreants had been entered into the peaceful gatherings, who had indulged into arson and firing live bullets on the peaceful protestors leaving dozens killed and hundreds injured."

The statement also underlined that it is critical that the right to decision-making should be routed back to the people of Pakistan through instantly held "free, fair & credible elections" so that the future of the nation is anchored upon harmony instead of lasting confrontation.
Calgary (Canada), May 16 (AP) The union for Canada's second-biggest airline have issued a 72-hour strike notice to WestJet, and they warn the airline could be shut down before the weekend.

The Air Line Pilots Association said in a statement late Monday that pilots plan to begin lawful job action early Friday, which could include grounding all aircraft and effectively shutting down operations.

The Calgary, Alberta-based airline flies to more than 110 destinations including the United States, Central America, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia. It has a fleet of more than 180 aircraft.

The WestJet Group responded with a lockout notice, saying a work stoppage could occur as early as Friday at 3 a.m. MDT (0900 GMT).

The decision to issue a lockout notice, in response to the actions taken by the union today, was not one that was made lightly, and we sincerely regret the inconvenience and uncertainty this continues to cause for our guests, WestJet Group CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech said in a statement.

The statement noted the lockout notice doesn't mean a work stoppage will occur, and that both parties remain at the bargaining table. But it said the company would begin preparations to operate a reduced schedule and warned it would be a significant reduction from WestJet and Swoop's current networks.

WestJet said that travellers impacted by flight delays or cancellations will be refunded or reaccommodated as applicable.

The union represents about 1,600 flight crew at WestJet and subsidiary Swoop, and had warned Friday that a walkout could come as early as this week as talks dragged on.

The workers' issues revolve around job protection, pay and scheduling. WestJet said its pilots are among the best paid in Canada, but that a contract on par with those recently secured by some US pilot groups would be financially unworkable and put the company's future at risk.

The union said in its statement that it could have filed the strike notice over the weekend, but in a bid to keep the airline operating, it agreed to extend negotiations. (AP)



GRS
Washington, May 16 (PTI) Amidst a domestic turmoil in Pakistan, the United States on Monday voiced support to freedom of expression without any violence and reiterated that a strong, stable and prosperous Pakistan is crucial to its ties with the country.

"Our belief is that individuals should have the freedom to express themselves, but do so without participating in any violence, violence that would put government employees in government buildings in harm's way. And specifically on the arrest, I spoke a little bit to this last week," state department's Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters at his daily news conference, referring to former prime minister Imran Khan's arrest last week by the Pakistani Rangers.

"The US does not have a position on one political party or one candidate or other. Our view is a strong, stable and prosperous Pakistan is crucial to US-Pakistan relations and that for any arrest that such an individual is affronted basic human rights in accordance to their laws," he said, responding to a question on the ongoing developments in Pakistan.

Asked about the freedom of press in Pakistan, Patel said he is not going to be prescriptive about the current situation.

"I do not have an assessment to offer from here. But broadly, we are very clear about the need for access for media and the access for information and the free flow of information between the government and journalists," he said.

Khan's arrest from the Islamabad High Court 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 Pakistan'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.

On Monday, Khan 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.
Islamabad, May 16 (PTI) Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday that the incidents of May 9 will be remembered as the "darkest chapter" in Pakistan's history and vowed to bring to justice the planners and leaders of the violent protests that targeted military installations and "disrespected martyrs".

"I believe that whoever planned this and incited the vandalism  they are certainly guilty of terrorism, but they also managed to do what Pakistan's real enemy could not do in the last 75 years," Sharif told the National Security Committee meeting, which was attended by top civilian and military leadership, including Army chief Gen Asim Munir.

The Prime Minister was referring to the violent protests following the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan on May 9 that led to several deaths and dozens of military and state installations being destroyed by the protesters.

For the first time in Pakistan's history, the protesters stormed the army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi and also torched the Corps Commander's house in Lahore.

"Whatever happened on May 9 will be remembered as the darkest chapter in the country's history," he said.

"We never saw such a heinous scheme (playout) in the last 75 years," Sharif said, adding that the protesters went to the army headquarters, the air force base in Mianwali and the spy agency ISI's office in Faisalabad.

"Jinnah House is not just a building  It housed the sons that protected Pakistan. But they destroyed it - in fact, reduced it to ashes," he said, referring to the attack on the Lahore Corps Commander's house by Khan's supporters.

Prime Minister Sharif vowed that the planners and leaders of the May 9 events, who attacked military installations and "disrespected our martyrs", will be punished and brought to justice.

He also called for preparing legal, constitutional and administrative measures to prevent a repeat of such incidents.

"I believe that the NSC meeting today expresses solidarity with the Pakistan Army, condemns these incidents and law will take its course  no one will be given undue punishment but those who are guilty wont be spared," he said.

"All of us are compelled to think that what was the ideology, group or person behind setting on fire the love of Pakistan," he said, adding that such gruesome events have shamed Pakistan and brought a lot of disgrace and infamy.

Punjab Inspector General Police Dr Usman Anwar told a press conference on Sunday that over 3,500 people have been arrested in Punjab province for their involvement in the violence that erupted after Khan's arrest. He said most of them will be tried in anti-terrorism courts.

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 stringent Pakistan Army Act and the Official Secret Act.

The army's move to include the tough Army Act and the Official Secrets Act is a serious provision in which Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters could be slapped with charges that can lead to either a death sentence or life imprisonment.

Khan was ousted from power in April last year after losing a no-confidence vote in his leadership, which he alleged was part of a US-led conspiracy targeting him because of his independent foreign policy decisions on Russia, China and Afghanistan.
Islamabad, May 16 (PTI) Pakistan's National Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed a bill which recommends up to six months imprisonment or Rs one million fine or both for individuals found guilty of insulting the parliament.

The Contempt of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) Bill was moved by Chairman Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges, Rana Muhammad Qaim Noon.

It provides that the National Assembly Speaker or Chairman of the Senate can refer such matters to a special Contempt Committee to determine if a person should be charged with contempt.

Within 30 days of the Act's commencement, the Speaker will establish a Contempt Committee consisting of twenty-four members with equal representation from two houses of the parliament.

Fourteen members will be nominated by the Leader of the House, while 10 members will be nominated by the Leader of the Opposition. The Secretary of the National Assembly Secretariat will act as the Secretary of the Contempt Committee, and decisions will be made by a majority vote.

Upon the Committee's recommendations, a House will have the power to impose punishments prescribed under the Act.

Individuals found guilty of contempt may face up to six months of simple imprisonment, a fine of up to one million rupees, or both. The execution and enforcement of decisions will be carried out by a judicial magistrate, and appeals can be filed within thirty days of a House's decision.

The bill's statement of objects and reasons highlights the duty of citizens to remain loyal to the state and emphasises the importance of parliamentary oversight.

"The bill aims at condemning and awarding punishment for the actions that account for breach of the sovereignty and integrity of the prestigious House of the Majlis-e Shoora (Parliament) in any form or shade.

Education Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain commended the bill, stating that it would enhance the oversight role of the Parliament.

"The legislation is seen as a historic moment in the country's parliamentary history and signifies a significant step toward ensuring the supremacy of parliament as the mother of all institutions," he said.
Mumbai, May 16 (PTI) The Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested a notorious gangster wanted by police in Jharkhand in a joint operation, an official said on Tuesday.

Aman Sushil Shrivastav alias Rohan Vinod Kumar (31) was held by officials of the Navi Mumbai unit of the ATS and Jharkhand ATS from the premises of Vashi railway station, an official said.

Since 2015, Shrivastav was allegedly wanted in at least 40 serious cases including extortion, murder and offences under the Arms Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, he said.

Jharkhand ATS was trying to trace him for the last nine years but he evaded arrest by moving from state to state and adopting different aliases, the official said.

The Navi Mumbai unit of the Maharashtra ATS received a tip-off about him following which a trap was laid and Shrivastav was held, he said.
Indore, May 16 (PTI) Tribal outfit Jai Adivasi Yuva Shakti (JAYS), which will contest 80 seats in the upcoming Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, on Tuesday said they would not have a truck with any political party for an electoral alliance.

JAYS national patron Hiralal Alawa told PTI in Indore they are preparing to contest on their strength.

"Tribals are self-respecting. You will not see a single person from our community begging with a bowl. We will not extend our hand to any party for an alliance in the upcoming assembly elections. We are preparing to contest the elections on our own to build tribal leadership in the state, he said on the occasion of the JAYS' 10th foundation day.

JAYS plans to contest 80 assembly seats (out of 230) by fielding Independent candidates, including 47 reserved for the tribal community, he said.

There are another 33 seats where the number of tribal voters ranges between 30,000 and 50,000, he said.

JAYS had forged a political alliance with Congress in the 2018 Assembly elections. Alawa was elected on a Congress ticket from the Manawar seat in the tribal-dominated Dhar district.

However, as the countdown for the assembly polls, due later this year, has begun, Alawa evaded a direct reply to a question on whether JAYS would remain with Congress or switch sides to go with BJP.

"Right now, we are working as independent leaders of tribals. If we form an electoral alliance with any party, the decision will be based on considering the tribal interest," he said.

Alawa dismissed "rumours" about his growing proximity with BJP. We are not close to any political party."

The organisation formed by highly-educated tribal youth is not currently registered with the Election Commission as a political party.

The 2018 elections in MP threw up a hung Assembly, with the Congress emerging as the largest party with 114 seats in the 230-member House. The BJP won 109 seats.

The Congress formed a coalition government under Kamal Nath, but it fell in March 2020 after several MLAs loyal to Jyotiraditya Scindia walked out and joined the BJP, paving the way for Shivraj Singh Chouhan to return as chief minister.
Mumbai, May 16 (PTI) The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 3,535 grams of gold worth Rs 2.23 crore from two Indian passengers who had returned from Dubai at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport here, an official said.

The duo, who arrived from Dubai on Monday, were part of a syndicate involved in the smuggling of substantial quantities of gold on a daily basis, he said.

Gold in the form of paste was found concealed in four plastic pouches in their luggage, the official said.

The accused were arrested and further probe was on, he said.
Mumbai, May 16 (PTI) BJP president J P Nadda will be on a two-day visit to Maharashtra from Wednesday, the party said here.

State BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule said Nadda will attend a few events in Mumbai including a meeting with beneficiaries of the Union government's schemes.

He will address the state-level executive committee of the party in Pune on Thursday, Bawankule added.
Mumbai, May 16 (PTI) Maharashtra State Commission for Woman (MSCW) chairperson Rupali Chakankar has asked the state home department to set up a panel to find out women missing from the state and submit a report every fortnight on its progress.

Between January 1 and March 31 this year, 3,594 women went missing and some of them were traced. It is a serious matter that women and girls were going missing from the state, Chakankar said on Monday.

She was speaking to reporters after a meeting with Special Inspector General of Police (women and child crime prevention) Deepak Pandey, state home department's assistant secretary Rahul Kulkarni, MSCW deputy chairperson Deepa Thakur and legal expert Virendra Neve.

A statement issued by the MSCW said Chakankar has instructed the home department to set up a search committee for the missing women and the department should submit its report every fortnight about the panel's progress.

She said no police officials are part of the existing search committees for missing women.

Between January 1 and March 31 this year, 3,594 women went missing and some of them were traced. It is still a serious matter. Two agents from Sakinaka area of Mumbai have been booked for luring women and sending them abroad. However, the cartel is huge and strong action is needed, Chakankar said.

The bharosa cell and missing cell are active only on paper, she said.

It is a serious matter that women and girls are going missing from the state. Among the missing girls and women, a sizeable number is of those in the age group of 16 to 35 years, Chakankar said.

There have been instances where missing women, if not tracked immediately, were found in West Asian countries, she said.

Women from 82 families in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad areas have gone abroad and are now untraceable. There is no contact with them, she added.
We think intelligent long term investing is the way to go. But along the way some stocks are going to perform badly. To wit, the Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad (KLSE:DLADY) share price managed to fall 63% over five long years. We certainly feel for shareholders who bought near the top. And it's not just long term holders hurting, because the stock is down 24% in the last year. The falls have accelerated recently, with the share price down 13% in the last three months. This could be related to the recent financial results - you can catch up on the most recent data by reading our company report.

It's worthwhile assessing if the company's economics have been moving in lockstep with these underwhelming shareholder returns, or if there is some disparity between the two. So let's do just that.

View our latest analysis for Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad

To quote Buffett, 'Ships will sail around the world but the Flat Earth Society will flourish. There will continue to be wide discrepancies between price and value in the marketplace...' One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price.

Looking back five years, both Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad's share price and EPS declined; the latter at a rate of 17% per year. Notably, the share price has fallen at 18% per year, fairly close to the change in the EPS. This suggests that market participants have not changed their view of the company all that much. Rather, the share price change has reflected changes in earnings per share.

The company's earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers).

Dive deeper into Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad's key metrics by checking this interactive graph of Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

What About Dividends?

When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. We note that for Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad the TSR over the last 5 years was -60%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. This is largely a result of its dividend payments!

Story continues

A Different Perspective

We regret to report that Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad shareholders are down 23% for the year (even including dividends). Unfortunately, that's worse than the broader market decline of 1.5%. Having said that, it's inevitable that some stocks will be oversold in a falling market. The key is to keep your eyes on the fundamental developments. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 10% per year over five years. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad better, we need to consider many other factors. Take risks, for example - Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad has 1 warning sign we think 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 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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Bhubaneswar, May 16 (PTI) In a major embarrassment to the ruling BJD in Odisha, at least two senior leaders of the party are embroiled in alleged domestic violence and dowry torture cases even as Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik bats for women empowerment in Odisha.

The two are Rajya Sabha MP of A U Singhdeo, who is from the erstwhile royal family of Bolangir, and Kendrapara MLA Shashi Bhusan Behera. Both leaders and their families have been accused by their respective daughters-in-law.

Singhdeo's daughter-in-law Adrija Manjari Singh has lodged a complaint with Dehradun police alleging domestic violence and dowry torture against her husband Arkesh Narayan Singh Deo and her in-laws.

Arkesh is a well-known model. He had unsuccessfully contested the Bolangir assembly seat in 2019. Adrija is the granddaughter of former prime minister V P Singh.

The MP's father R N Singh Deo was the last ruler of the princely state of Patna in Odisha before Independence and was the state chief minister from 1967 to 1971.

Adrija is currently residing in Dehradun with her family. As no action was taken in response to her complaint, she met the Uttakhand director general of police and the case has now been transferred to the Dehradun additional superintendent of police, sources said.

In a video message that has gone viral in Odia television news channels, she said, My husband sought divorce in August of 2022. In September 2022, I filed a complaint at the Rajpur police station in Dehradun against my father-in-law Ananga Udaya Singh Deo, mother-in-law Bijayalaxmi Devi, my brother-in-law Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, his wife Meghna Rana and my husband.

"They wanted to remove me from the house and stopped my entry to Odisha. I am the daughter-in-law of that family and have the right to stay there, Adrija said.

Arkesh has refuted the allegations. The charges are false. The matter is currently sub-judice in Dehradun Court. I have complete faith in the judiciary. The truth will come to the fore soon, he said.

Behera's daughter-in-law Ronali(31) too has lodged a complaint against the lawmaker and his family members at Banki police station in Cuttack district accusing them of torturing her mentally and physically for a dowry of Rs 40 lakh.

Ronali is married to Behera's son Satyaprakash since March 2021.

She has in her complaint also accused her husband of being in an illicit relationship with a married woman. The charge has been denied by Behera.

The lawmaker, who had formally requested invitees not to carry gifts for his son's wedding, said There might be some personal problem between my son and daughter-in-law. But, the allegation of dowry torture is absolutely false.

"People of Odisha know me very well. I have never promoted dowry in my life. While inviting guests to my sons wedding party, I had requested all not to bring any gifts, he added.

Ronali, who has shifted to her parent's house at Banki in Cuttack district, insisted that Behera had remained silent all along. I was subjected to mental and physical abuse by my husband as well as parents in-law, sister-in-law and others, she alleged.

She also alleged that she was being constantly harassed to meet their financial demands.

BJD MP from Kendrapara Anubhav Mohanty too has been accused of alleged domestic violence and is fighting a legal battle against his actor wife Barsha Priyadarshini. Following it has been sidelined in the party, BJD sources said.

Barsha had campaigned for the party's candidates in different elections.

In the past BJD veteran and the state's former law minister Raghunath Mohanty was arrested and imprisoned in connection with a domestic violence case filed by his daughter-in-law Barsa Swony Choudhury in 2013. After being sidelined in BJD, he has now joined BJD.

In another instance in 2021, the Bhopal police had registered a case of dowry harassment against BJDs six-time MP Bhartruhari Mahatab, his wife Maheswata and son Lokranjan on the complaint of the daughter-in-law Sakshi. Bhartuhari Mahtab is the son of Odishas first chief minister Harekrushna Mahatab.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik while celebrating victory of Dipali Das over her victory in the Jharsuguda by-poll last week, had said that girls are the "pride of Odisha and his government works for the empowerment of women.

The party, however, declined to make any comment when contacted.
Patna, May 16 (PTI) The JD(U) on Tuesday threatened legal action against the Bihar BJP chief for alleging that liquor was served at a feast organised by the ruling party's national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan, notwithstanding the state's stringent prohibition law.

At a meeting chaired by state JD(U) chief Umesh Singh Kushwaha, a "ninda prastav" (censure resolution) was passed against Samrat Choudhary, the Bihar BJP president, who had on Monday made the allegation.

Lalan had organised a feast on Sunday at Munger, his Lok Sabha constituency, where the guests were treated to a sumptuous lunch of rice and mutton curry.

However, the number of visitors had reportedly far exceeded expectations, and security personnel had to step in and shove many people away to maintain order at the venue.

Choudhary had sneered at the episode and alleged that even liquor was on offer, in an obvious bid to put on the spot Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the JD(U)'s supreme leader, who, though not present at the feast, has been propagating the virtues of prohibition with a missionary zeal.

The state government imposed a ban on the sale and consumption of alcohol in 2016.

"Despite coming from a reputed political family, Samrat Choudhary lacks decency. He should remember that he had himself enjoyed mutton curry at a similar feast hosted by Lalan at Munger in 2019," Kushwaha said.

Notably, Choudhary's father Shakuni Choudhary was an old associate of Nitish Kumar and a founding member of Samata Party, as the JD(U) was known in an earlier avatar.

Samrat Choudhary started his political career with brief stints in JD(U) and RJD and, since 2017, he has been with BJP, which was an ally of Nitish Kumar till August last year.

Kushwaha said, "The party's Munger unit president is directed vide this censure resolution to lodge a defamation case against Samrat Choudhary, unless he tenders a public apology or comes out with some evidence in support of his allegation."

Meanwhile, the BJP chose to twist the knife. Leader of the Opposition Vijay Kumar Sinha came out with a stinging statement.

"Instead of issuing pointless statements, the JD(U) would do well to ask its government to also probe the quality of meat served in Munger. We have learnt that since the feast, there has been a drop in the number of stray dogs," Sinha said.

"Let there be a timely inquiry which could prevent an outbreak of diseases caused by meat not fit for human consumption", said Sinha, adding "JD(U)'s links with liquor smugglers is well-known. Let the Nitish Kumar government get Samrat Choudhary's allegation probed by a sitting judge of the high court".
Patna, May 16 (PTI) The Bihar government on Tuesday warned teachers appointed through Panchayati Raj Institutions(PRIs) of disciplinary action if they organise or participate in any protest against new rules for recruitment in government-run schools.

The state cabinet had on May 2 approved a proposal to recruit 1.78 lakh teachers for primary, middle, and upper schools through the Bihar Public Service Commission.

A day after the council of state ministers green-lighted the proposal, protests started over the modalities of appointments.

Several associations of teachers termed the move as a "clear departure from the current mechanism" and also alleged that it would be against 3.5 lakh PRI teachers in the state.

In a letter sent to district administrations, Additional Chief Secretary Dipak Kumar Singh said, All district education officers in the state must ensure that disciplinary action should be initiated against teachers, appointed through Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), or its employees who organise or participate in any protest against new rules for the appointment of teachers in government schools."

PRIs are reportedly planning to hold protests against the fresh rules for the appointment of government teachers, he said.

The Bihar State School Teachers (appointment, transfer, disciplinary action and service condition) Rules, 2023 entails a standardised process for the appointment of school teachers, who will have status equivalent to the state government employees, with separate district cadres.

Those appointed since 2006, including PRIs, would also have the option of joining this cadre, but for that, they would also have to appear for exams, which has now become the central point of contention.
New Delhi, May 16 (PTI) Amid a race for the Karnataka chief minister's post, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday met party president Mallikarjun Kharge and is reported to have held discussions over government formation in the southern state.

Gandhi drove to Kharge's residence and held a closed-door meeting with the Congress chief. Congress General Secretary Randeep Surjewala, who is in charge of the party's affairs in Karnataka, was also present at the meeting.

Kharge has held discussions with party leaders from Karnataka and the three observers appointed by him to oversee the Congress Legislature Party meeting in Bengaluru on Sunday.

Both Siddaramaiah and state Congress president D K Shivakumar are front runners for the chief minister's post and both are lobbying for it.

While former chief minister Siddaramaiah is in Delhi, Shivakumar cancelled his visit to the national capital on Monday evening citing health issues, fuelling speculations that all is not well in the party.

Shivakumar arrived in the national capital Tuesday afternoon. After arriving at Delhi airport, he did not speak to the media and walked away with folded hands parrying a barrage of questions from reporters.

Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar will hold discussions over government formation in Karnataka.

In just-concluded Assembly elections, 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.
New Delhi, May 16 (PTI) President Droupadi Murmu Tuesday greeted the people of Sikkim on their statehood day and said the state has pioneered organic farming and enriched biodiversity besides creating a model for sustainable development.

Sikkim became the 22nd state of India on May 16, 1975.

"Greetings to the people of Sikkim on Statehood Day! Sikkim presents a blend of modernity and unique traditions. The state has pioneered organic farming, enriched biodiversity and created a model for sustainable development.

"I was touched by the warmth of people during my visit to the state last year. My best wishes for the continued progress of Sikkim," Murmu tweeted.
New Delhi, May 16 (PTI) India was Sri Lanka's main partner in helping it deal with the economic crisis last year and the country will remain a key ally as Colombo looks at a growth path, island nation's envoy Milinda Moragoda said on Tuesday.

On China's attempts to expand influence over Colombo, Moragoda said India-Sri Lanka relationship is too important to be measured in the context of a third country.

"We have to get back to the growth path. Growth is the key aspect. For that, India becomes a key partner. India was our main partner last year in helping stabilisation of our economy with different instruments," he said.

"For the revival of the economy too, India will be an important partner. We have to diversify our sources of income when it comes to exports and foreign exchange earnings," the envoy said.

Moragoda made the remarks during a media interaction at the Foreign Correspondents' Club Of South Asia here.

India extended financial assistance worth around USD 4 billion to Sri Lanka, including lines of credit, for purchases of food and fuel last year when it was reeling under a severe economic crisis.

New Delhi also provided guarantees to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to help the country secure a USD 2.9 billion bailout package.

The envoy listed boosting connectivity between the two countries, increasing flow of Indian tourists to the island nation and integration of the Sri Lankan economy with that of India as possible steps that would support Colombo's efforts to spur growth.

"We are in the process of restructuring our debt. We have to do a lot of structural reform to our economy," he said.

The envoy also suggested that the process to roll out India's RuPay card in Sri Lanka is being taken forward.

He also indicated to have an "Indian-rupee trade" as part of efforts for the country's economic recovery.

Asked about Adani Group's West container terminal project at the Colombo port, he said it is on course.

"It is a very important investment for us and it gives us confidence that someone is willing to invest in Sri Lanka during a time like this," he said.

Moragoda also said that negotiations for a power purchase agreement between the two countries are being finalised. "We are also hoping to soon sign an MoU with India on cable connection for power lines," he said.
Jaipur, May 16 (PTI) Two men were arrested for allegedly smuggling cattle in Karauli district of Rajasthan on Tuesday, police said.

The accused were identified as Shakir Mev and Mukeem Qureshi, residents of Haryana, they said.

Following a tip-off, a truck was intercepted in the Hindaun area. Four cows and eight calves and bulls were rescued from the truck, which was headed to Haryana. The carcass of a calf was also recovered from the vehicle, Superintendent of Police (SP) Narayan Togas said.

A countrymade pistol and three live cartridges were also recovered from the accused, the police said.
Bengaluru, May 16 (PTI) Amid intense lobbying for the chief minister's post, Karnataka Congress president D K Shivakumar will visit Delhi on Tuesday to discuss with the party's central leadership the issue of government formation in the state.

He and Siddaramaiah, both frontrunners for the chief minister's post, were called by the Congress' central leadership to Delhi for discussions. However, Shivakumar on Monday evening cancelled his visit to the national capital citing health issues, fuelling speculations that all is not well in the party.

Siddaramaiah is in Delhi since Monday.

The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President will leave for Delhi from Kempegowda International Airport here by a 9:50 am flight, his office said in a statement.

The three central observers of the Congress, who interacted with newly elected party MLAs on their choice for chief minister, briefed party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and submitted their report on Monday.

The Congress Legislature Party, which met at a hotel in Bengaluru on Sunday, had passed a unanimous resolution authorising Kharge to pick who will be the next chief minister of Karnataka.

Shivakumar is locked in an intense power struggle with Siddaramaiah over who will lead the government, after the Congress stormed to power by winning 135 seats in the May 10 elections to the 224-member Karnataka Assembly.

Amid speculations about the number of MLAs supporting him and Siddaramaiah for the post, Shivakumar on Monday said his strength is 135, as it was under his leadership, the party won 135 seats.

In just-concluded Assembly elections, 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.
Hyderabad, May 16 (PTI) A decision on the appointment of the Chief Minister of Karnataka will be taken in a day or two, AICC spokesperson Pawan Khera said on Tuesday.

Khera told reporters here that the views of the newly-elected MLAs have been elicited and the central leadership is seized of the matter.

Noting that the post of Leader of Opposition is equally important in every state, he sought to know when the BJP will appoint the LoP in Karnataka.

"Appointing a Chief Minister is not an easy thing. It cannot be imposed from Delhi... Everybody's view has to be taken into consideration. We have to engage with every stakeholder and then decide who the chief minister will be," he said.

"The process is on. The observers have already gone there. Met the MLAs. The MLAs have given their opinions. Now, the opinions have gone, all the record has gone to the central leadership. So, in a day or two you will know the answer," Khera said.

On government formation, the Congress leader said the BJP took seven days in Uttar Pradesh, one month in Maharashtra to put in place a cabinet and nine days in Assam.

Khera was replying to a question on when a decision on the next CM of Karnataka would be announced by the party.

Asked if there would be any alliance with ruling BRS in Telangana for the 2024 Parliament elections, he said Telangana is one of the states where the Congress would take on the regional parties "head on" and defeat them.

Similarly, Congress cannot think of an alliance with AAP in Punjab, he added.

"Head on. Direct fight which we will win."
New Delhi, May 16 (PTI) Delhi Police busted a gang allegedly involved in selling adulterated Ayurvedic medicines and products of reputed companies and arrested 10 people in this connection, officials said on Tuesday.

The accused ran three fake call centres and cheated 6,373 people to the tune of Rs 1.94 crore by selling them adulterated products, they said, adding the gang operated from Lucknow and Delhi.

The matter came to light after a representative of Unayur Marketing Pvt Ltd (UMPL) lodged a complaint with cyber cell alleging that fake, spurious, misbranded and adulterated medicines were being delivered to their customers by some unidentified persons representing themselves as the employees of the company, police said.

These fraudsters called the clients of the company from different mobile numbers and lured them by offering medicines at discounted rates, they said.

"The accused had data of patients and potential customers and lured them by selling medicines at discounted rates. However, these medicines caused issues as they were not genuine. The marketing company (UMPL) approached us saying their data was stolen and someone was cheating their clients. It alleged that its customers have lost Rs 1.94 crore," Prashant Gautam, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Cyber Cell), said.

During investigation, several bank accounts and call detail records were analysed. Information was also collected about the courier companies which supplied these medicines, he said.

"We found that the accused were operating from Delhi and Lucknow. The location of cell phone numbers also matched the locations but the addresses of the accused were not available. Several teams were sent and and raids were conducted. The accused were then traced at three call centres," Gautam said.

One centre was found located in Swaroop Nagar in outer Delhi, while two others were in Lucknow's Indira Nagar and Jankipuram, he said.

"A total of 10 gang members were arrested from the two cities and boxes of adulterated medicines were seized," the official said.

One of the accused, Rahul Singh, is alleged to be the mastermind of the gang and he operated from Indira Nagar, Lucknow, along with other accused Ugarsen, Samar Singh and Jitender Singh, he said.

Rahul got details of the customers from an associate named Rajesh who worked with a telecom company. He sold data on 60 per cent commission on profits, the DCP said, adding Rajesh was also arrested in connection with the case.

Police claimed to have recovered 42 phones, data of various companies and boxes of medicines.
Seven of EDGEs portfolio companies will exhibit industry-leading advanced maritime and aerospace solutions at Malaysias leading biennial event

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, May 16, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--EDGE, one of the worlds leading and fastest growing advanced technology and defence groups, is proud to be bolstering its presence in Southeast Asia by participating at the 16th edition of Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) 2023, one of the most significant maritime and aerospace exhibitions in the Asia-Pacific region. EDGE will showcase a diverse product portfolio that can be tailored to the regions specific requirements in line with its ambition to expand its global footprint.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516005061/en/

EDGEs Reinforces Presence in Southeast Asia with Impressive Product Display at LIMA 2023 (Photo: AETOSWire)

With a clear focus on autonomous systems and smart weapons, EDGE will highlight its technologically-advanced defence solutions throughout the five-day event, which takes place on the island of Langkawi, Malaysia, from 23 to 27 May. It also enables EDGE to strengthen its partnerships within the local industry ecosystem, drive support for indigenous defence in important markets such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam, and to showcase its broad range of capabilities.

Mansour AlMulla, Managing Director and CEO of EDGE, said: "We are proud to be showcasing our advanced capabilities across air, land, and maritime domains at LIMA 2023, as well as developing strategic relationships in Southeast Asia. The UAE and Malaysia share a warm history of cooperation, and we are committed to strengthening these ties even further by developing valuable partnerships across the region. Following the visit of His Majesty Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah the King of Malaysia to the UAE earlier this year, I personally look forward to attending this event to engage with industry leaders and key stakeholders. LIMA provides us with a unique opportunity to grow local supply chains, and assist in the development of air and naval defence capabilities in Malaysia and beyond."

Story continues

During the exhibition, seven of EDGEs portfolio companies will display innovative solutions that provide high levels of mission flexibility, exemplifying EDGEs advanced designs and manufacturing capabilities in the area of autonomous air and land systems, naval systems, precision-guided munitions, and small arms.

In the domain of autonomous air systems, EDGE will showcase the HUNTER SP (Soldier Portable) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the tube-launched HUNTER 2-S swarming UAV system, and the REACH-S unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV). The QX-1, QX-2, QX-3 loitering munitions will also be displayed, along with the GARMOOSHA rotary-wing UAV.

Autonomous land systems and solutions will be represented by MILREMs THeMIS Combat unmanned ground vehicle (UGV).

EDGEs advanced naval capabilities will include the 160 ITEP (Inshore Tactical Engagement Platform), 120 FIP (Fast Inshore Platform), 510 OPV (Offshore Patrol Vessel), as well as the launch of a new corvette that meets regional requirements.

EDGE will also showcase its multi-range DESERT STING air-to-surface precision-guided munitions, the SKYKNIGHT air defence missile, the AL TARIQ-S (Standard Range), and AL TARIQ-LR (Long Range) advanced, modular precision-guided munitions, in addition to the RASH 1-M, RASH 2-H, and RASH 2-M precision-guided munition systems.

For small arms and ammunition, EDGE will display its CARACAL F pistols, CMP 9 submachine guns, the CAR 816 assault rifle, the CSR 50 sniper rifle, underscoring an innovative approach to producing accurate, modular firearms. Additionally, EDGE will display its full range of small calibre ammunition, including 40mm, 60mm, 81mm, and 120mm ammunition in multiple grains and variants such as tracer, armour piercing, and full metal jacket.

Attendees of LIMA 2023 can visit EDGE at stand A07 at the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre (MIEC) in Langkawi, Malaysia.

About EDGE

Launched in November 2019, the UAEs EDGE is one of the worlds leading advanced technology groups, established to develop agile, bold and disruptive solutions for defence and beyond, and to be a catalyst for change and transformation. It is dedicated to bringing breakthrough innovations, products, and services to market with greater speed and efficiency, to position the UAE as a leading global hub for future industries, and to creating clear paths within the sector for the next generation of highly-skilled talent to thrive. With a focus on the adoption of 4IR technologies, EDGE is driving the development of sovereign capabilities for global export and for the preservation of national security, working with front-line operators, international partners, and adopting advanced technologies such as autonomous capabilities, cyber-physical systems, advanced propulsion systems, robotics and smart materials. EDGE converges R&D, emerging technologies, digital transformation, and commercial market innovations with military capabilities to develop disruptive solutions tailored to the specific requirements of its customers. Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, capital of the UAE, EDGE consolidates more than 20 entities into four core clusters: Platforms & Systems, Missiles & Weapons, Electronic Warfare & Cyber Technologies, and Trading & Mission Support.

For more information, visit edgegroup.ae

*Source: AETOSWire

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516005061/en/

Contacts

EDGE Group Communications

Priya Roy

C-Priya.Roy@edgegroup.ae
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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New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat, expressed his frustration with President Biden during a recent interview as the migrant crisis in New York City escalates and tensions persist between the two prominent politicians. In response to anchor Fox5NY Reporter Rosanna Scottas question on the presidents absence, Adams echoed the concerns of many by asking, Where the heck is the president of the United States?

Where the heck is the president of the United States? Fox 5 Good Day New York co-host Rosanna Scotto asked Adams during an interview.

That is a good question, the mayor responded. I think we all should be asking, Why is this happening to a city that was turning itself around and will continue to do so?

This should not be happening to New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles and the other big northern cities, Adams added. And really it should not be happening to El Paso or Brownsville, Texas. No city should be carrying this burden. This is a national problem and it needs a national solution.

Adams emphasized that the current situation should not be limited to New York City, but should be viewed as a national issue affecting major northern cities such as Chicago and Los Angeles, as well as border towns like El Paso and Brownsville, Texas. He stressed the need for a comprehensive national solution to address this pressing problem. The mayors criticism coincides with reports that he has been removed from a 2024 campaign advisory board and is no longer serving as a national surrogate for Bidens re-election campaign.

While several Democrat politicians, including Senators Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker, and Amy Klobuchar, have joined the advisory board, Adams has been excluded. This development further highlights the growing tension between Mayor Adams and President Biden. In contrast, Representative Henry Cuellar, a Democrat from Texas, has been vocal about the impact of illegal immigration on border communities. Cuellar recently advocated for these communities, asserting that cities like New York are only experiencing a fraction of the challenges faced by areas along the southern border.

Mayor Adams previously criticized the Biden administrations handling of the migrant crisis, asserting that it has caused significant damage to New York City. However, he recently made headlines with his controversial decision to transport migrants to Republican-led counties in upstate New York, a political move that has generated strong opposition.

In a speech delivered in May, Adams attempted to distance himself from sanctuary city policies, stating that he is merely following the law. Acknowledging that the sanctuary city law was established before his tenure as mayor, he emphasized the urgent need to address the humanitarian crisis associated with illegal immigration, which has surpassed the expectations set when the law was initially enacted. Currently, the city finds itself in court, seeking a legal review of the law in order to effectively address this significant humanitarian challenge.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




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.

More than 20 years have passed since an Israeli foreign minister visited Sweden, and today I had an important meeting with the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs in Stockholm Tobias Billstrom, a close ally of Israel, Cohen stated after the visit.

Sweden holds the presidency of the European Union and is expected to join NATO; therefore, strengthening the relationship between our countries is a strategic interest. We discussed enhancing the economic and security cooperation between the countries, the fight against a nuclear Iran, and broadening the Abraham Accords.

I thanked Mister Billstrom for the positive shift towards Israel in the international arena, and he told me about his special connection with Israel and the Jewish people. His wife volunteered on kibbutz Misgav Am in the 90s, and his grandparents welcomed Holocaust survivors into their home after World War II.

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.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem & AP)




President Joe Biden will mark Jewish American Heritage Month on Tuesday by highlighting his administrations efforts to combat rising antisemitism when he speaks at a White House reception that will feature performances from the stars of the Broadway revival of Parade.

While Biden plans to use his comments to celebrate the contributions of Jewish Americans, he also will reflect on how his decision to run for the White House in 2020 was shaped by a 2017 neo-Nazi march in Charlottesville, Virginia, according to a White House official who previewed the presidents speech on condition of anonymity.

The president, who just weeks ago announced he would run for reelection, spoke frequently during the 2020 campaign about the Unite the Right rally led by white nationalists bearing torches. Clashes between that group and a large gathering of counterprotesters led to the death of counterprotester Heather Heyer when a white nationalist drove his car into the crowd.

Biden is also expected to highlight his appointment of Americas first ambassador-level special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism, increased federal funding to help secure synagogues, Jewish community centers and Jewish day schools, and convening a White House summit on combating hate-fueled violence.

Biden late last year established an inter-agency group to better coordinate U.S. government efforts to counter antisemitism, Islamophobia and related forms of bias and discrimination within the United States. The administration is expected to soon release its national strategy to counter antisemitism.

Ben Platt and Micaela Diamond, both 2023 Tony Award nominees for their performance in Parade, are to perform at the reception. The musical centers on the trial and imprisonment and lynching in the early 20th century of Jewish American factory manager Leo Frank. Composer Jason Robert Brown will accompany Diamond and Platt.

The White House recruited James Beard-winning chef Michael Solomonov, who specializes in Israeli cuisine, to design the menu for Tuesdays celebration.

(AP)




On Monday night, I attended a local Community Board meeting in New York City. While the meetings are generally ho-hum, what I heard last night made me sick to my stomach.

The Board spent 15 minutes decrying a homeless shelter that had opened in their community after 3 years of rigorous planning, groundwork, getting approvals from the Department of Homeless Services, etc. They sat there blasting the shelter and all the services it will provide. They went on and on.

But then the most unbelievable thing happened. A guy got up to speak and announced that New York City had just moved around 100 illegal immigrants (I know, migrants, whatever) into a facility in the area. He spoke of their plight and their hardships and asked the crowd of more than 100 people at the Board meeting to help them. He urged everyone to provide them food, clothing, and of course, lawyers to help them stay in the country.

The response from the Board and the crowd was overwhelming. One after the next, they expressed their pity and love for the migrants, saying again and again how much they want to help them.

I couldnt believe what I was witnessing. Seconds before, these liberal malcontents were slamming a shelter that would help New York Citys own residents. Now, they were applauding people calling to help illegal immigrants with the same services that the citys own homeless need!

The moment was enlightening for me and made several points crystal clear in my mind:

#1- The plan is obvious. Flood the county with these unknown migrants and coordinate a hostile takeover in a few years. Its all part of the Marxist plan.

#2- These liberals couldnt care less about another human being. Any services they provide to people, and any kindness they show to others, is all to advance their own agenda. If they actually cared, the homeless problem would be at the top of their list.

#3- The liberal degenerates dont seem to recognize the calamity they are encouraging. Homeless shelters at least have people that we know. When a homeless person attacks a pedestrian, or throws someone in front of a train, we can identify them and hopefully take them off the streets. This isnt so when it comes to illegal immigrants. We dont know them, we dont have their fingerprints or photos of them. Just wait until the rate of assault against these liberal women EXPLODES, and they have no idea who they are and have no way of bringing them to justice.

Folks, America is doomed.

P.S. Im not in any way affiliated with a homeless shelter, nor do I know anyone who is homeless. Im not affiliated with any immigration attorney, and I dont provide any service for immigrants or the homeless.

Name withheld upon request

NOTE: The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of YWN.

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(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




HaRav Mendy Chitrik, the Rav of the Ashkenazi Jewish kehilla in Turkey and the chairman of the Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States, visited Djerba and Tunis last week following the tragic murder of two Jews in the shooting attack in Djerba on Lag BOmer.

What an emotional day it was! Rav Chitrik wrote, saying that as a representative of the Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States, I have come to Tunis and Djerba to show support and solidarity to this unique community, following the heinous attack on the La Ghriba Synagogue  and came out strengthened and full of hope.

The somber day started in Tunis [where the taharos for the niftarim took place before they were flown out of the country]. Together with Rabbi Levi Matusof, grandson of the legendary Rav Nisan Pinson, zl, we joined the Chevra Kadisha to prepare the deceased  for burial in accordance with the unique Djerba custom. The pain and grief are just unbearable.

Shortly after the funeral, I had the chance to give a short Torah class at the local Yeshiva  founded by Rav Pinson zl, some 60 years ago.

And then we traveled to Djerba, where despite pain there was strength. We were graciously hosted at the home of the legendary Chief Rabbi of Tunisia Rav Chaim Bitan . We deeply felt his resilience, wisdom and pious determination, coupled with his humility and friendship.

Djerba is a small Jewish community, an oasis of bustling Jewish life and Jewish education  a vibrant, united, and deeply committed Jewish community with a 2000-year tradition of unwavering observance, led lovingly by Chief Rabbi Bitan.

During our visit to Djerba, we were joined by our dear friend Imam Hassen Chalghoumi  together we visited the historic La Ghriba Synagogue and prayed for the souls of our brothers who have been murdered right at this spot.

We also thanked the local police authorities for their heroism  and prayed for the souls of the members of the police force who literally gave their lives to prevent what could have been a much bigger tragedy.

I also want to thank the French Embassy and the US Embassy in Tunis  as well as my friend HE EU Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi for his constant support and encouragement.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




A highly contagious skin infection has been reported in two women in New York, making them the first people in the city to have ever been confirmed as having it.

The CDC said that the women were infected with the Trichophyton indotineae strain of ringworm-causing fungus, which causes rashes and itchy, red skin all across the body.

Such infections are not uncommon in parts of Asia, but they had never been detected in the US.

The women, ages 28 and 47 were both suffering from lesions on the neck, abdomen, and thighs. They have no relation to each other, and just one of them had a travel history, having gone to Bangladesh last summer.

Dr. Avrom Caplan told NBC News that the fungal infection is not a widespread problem in the United States, though officials have warned that this type of infection is resistant to drugs.

Contrary to what its name indicates, ringworm is not caused by a worm, but rather by a fungus which is spread through skin-to-skin contact.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




Lag BOmer 2023 at Meron was a tremendous success, BChasdei Hashem, and was celebrated with the joyous atmosphere of past years while upholding stringent safety regulations. However, the success of the event was eclipsed by Operation Shield and Arrow, which was launched on Lag Bomer.

The success of the event can be attributed to Jerusalem Minister Meir Porush, who despite his reluctance to break with tradition by being appointed a minister, did so in order to receive authority over Meron in compliance with the recommendations of the state commission of inquiry into the Meron disaster that a minister be appointed over the event. Porush then appointed former Jerusalem mayoral candidate Yossi Deitsch as the Meron project manager. Both men worked day and night to ensure a successful Lag BOmer, an especially daunting task considering that by the time Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was restored to power and the necessary appointments were made, it was already mid-February  only several months before Lag BOmer.

As Porush says in the video: I can honestly tell you: we took advantage of every day every hour, every free moment  in order to plan and manage the hillula. Meron project manager Yossi Deitsch said: We established a goal for ourselves, to restore the simcha of the hilula in Meron.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu praised Porush for his work, saying at Sundays Cabinet meeting: I want to thank Minister Meir Porush for the efficient, professional and safe management of the hilula in Meron. Brachos Meir in the name of all of us and in the name of many many people in Am Yisrael.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




Migrants are flooding into New York City, and with officials befuddled as to what to do with them, they are being placed in school buildings.

We are in the midst of a humanitarian crisis, said Mayor Eric Adams. We are opening emergency shelters and respite centers daily, but we are out of space.

Officials confirmed that at least 75 migrants will be put up inside the gym at PS 188 in Coney Island, a location which City Councilman Justin Brannan called puzzling.

The move is especially head scratching considering that school is still in session. Parents are not happy about it.

Im taking them home, an irate parent of students at PS 188 told CBS after refusing to drop her kids off at the school.

CBS said most parents said they didnt necessarily have an issue with asylum seekers taking shelter at their childrens school, but rather that their children were being forced to be around complete strangers.

Why should they be in there with those adults? Those are men and women. We dont know where these people come from, a parent said. Its the mayor and the chancellor. I really blame the chancellor.

Meanwhile, Mayor Adams says he wants to revoke the Big Apples status as a sanctuary city amid the steady stream of migrants.

The law of sanctuary city was in place long before I became mayor. Im following the law. As a law enforcement person, you know, we follow the law, Adams said. We are now in court now, today, asking the judge to revisit this law to deal with this humanitarian crisis because, even when they decided to put in place that law, no one thought they would be dealing with a humanitarian crisis of this proportion.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Benzinga

Its often said that a companys prospects can be predicted by stock purchases made by company insiders. Insiders may sell stock for any number of reasons, but purchases are only made because the insider expects to make a profit on shares down the road. Studies have shown that when the company insider is high up in the organization, such as the CEO or chief financial officer, a purchase of company stock is even more significant for future price performance than when a purchase is made by a direc




Leftist Brother in Arms protesters gathered on Tuesday morning near the home of Housing Minister Yitzchak Goldknopf in the Geulah neighborhood of Jerusalem in order to arouse provocations.

In a shameful display of age-old antisemitic tropes, the protesters scattered hundreds of fake 200 shekel bills in protest against the government that robs the public purse and scatters coalitions funds. This is the second time that Brothers in Arms scattered bills in protests against Chareidim, with the first time occurring in a protest outside Aryeh Deris home in March.

In videos of a conversation recorded by Kikar HShabbat, one Chassidish man who tried to speak to the protesters was told by a woman: Youre not Jews, you dont serve in the army youre mechallel Hashem, you distort the Torah.

The Chassid surprised her by responding: What have I done to you? I served in the army for three years. Why arent I a Jew? Tell me. You feed on the lies they tell you. Im Chassidish and I grew up as a Chassid. The Chassid added that he supports 27 families.

Another protester responded: Youre a good man, I love you but not your politicians.

Chassid: We love you. You hate me because I look like a Jew. I never came to protest against you  why are you coming here?

The protest was widely condemned for its antisemitic tone and hypocrisy.

Journalist Yisrael Cohen wrote: Hypocrites! Tel Aviv protesters came this morning to demonstrate in front of the house of Minister Yitzchak Goldknopf. Apparently, they forgot that Lapid and Lieberman agreed to give the Chareidim a billion shekels just for the abstention of two MKs from one vote.

Cohen was referring to a Kan News report on Monday evening that revealed that during the Bennett-Lapid government, then-prime minister Bennet and Lapid, along with then-finance minister Avigdor Lieberman, offered over a billion shekels to the Chareidi parties if they would help the government pass the state budget.

Media personality Meir Freilichman wrote: Hey brothers  Jews and money is so 1930s, were already more modern today.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




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.

(AP)




Ukrainian air defenses thwarted an intense Russian air attack on Kyiv early Tuesday, shooting down all 18 missiles aimed at the capital, officials said.

Loud explosions boomed over Kyiv as the nighttime attack combined Russian missiles launched from the air, sea and land in an apparent attempt to overwhelm Ukraines air defenses. No casualties were reported as Western-supplied weapons helped fend off the assault.

The barrage came as European leaders sought new ways to punish Russia for the war and a Chinese envoy sought traction for Beijings peace proposal.

Russias latest attack on Kyiv was exceptional in its density  the maximum number of attacking missiles in the shortest period of time, said Serhii Popko, the head of the Kyiv military administration.

Valentyna Myronets, a 64-year-old Kyiv resident, said she felt pain, fear, nervousness, restlessness amid the assaults. God, we are waiting for victory and when all this is over, she said.

The British ambassador to Ukraine, Melinda Simmons, tweeted that the barrage was pretty intense.

Bangs and shaking walls are not an easy night, she wrote.

It was the eighth time this month that Russian air raids had targeted the capital, a clear escalation after weeks of lull and ahead of a much-anticipated Ukrainian counter-offensive. It also came as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy concluded a whirlwind European tour to greet Ukraines key wartime allies, which spurred an additional tranche of pledged military aid.

Six Kinzhal aero-ballistic missiles were launched from MiG-31K aircraft, nine cruise missiles from ships in the Black Sea and three land-based S-400 cruise missiles targeted the capital, Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said in a statement on Telegram.

After the first onslaught, Russia also launched Iranian-made Shahed attack drones and conducted aerial reconnaissance, Ihnat said.

Debris fell across several districts in the capital, starting fires, but no losses were reported, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.

Sophisticated air defense systems provided by Ukraines Western allies, including American-made Patriot missiles, have helped spare Kyiv from the kind of destruction witnessed elsewhere in the country as Russian forces press on with their tactic of long-range bombardment.

The bolstered air defenses have deterred Russian aircraft from going deep into Ukraine and helped shape the course of the war, military experts say.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov cheered the display of defensive prowess, calling it in a tweet another unbelievable success.

The barrage came as European leaders were due to attend a rare summit of the 46-nation Council of Europe, the continents main human rights body.

The two-day meeting in Iceland seeks to set up a way of logging damage in Ukraine caused by the Kremlins forces so compensation claims can be lodged against Moscow.

Meanwhile, a Chinese envoy is preparing to visit Ukraine and Russia in coming days as Beijing presses the peace plan it released in February.

Li Hui, a former ambassador to Moscow, also will visit Poland, France and Germany, according to the Chinese foreign ministry.

Chinese leader Xi Jinpings government says it is neutral and wants to play a role as mediator in the war, but it has given Moscow political support and a breakthrough appeared unlikely more than 14 months after Russias full-scale invasion.

At least seven civilians died and 14 others were wounded in Russian shelling of Ukrainian regions from Monday through Tuesday morning, the countrys presidential office said.

(AP)




There was good news at Hadassah Har HaTzofim Hospital in Jerusalem on Tuesday  the release of HaRav Avraham Noach Paley, who was seriously injured three months ago in the Ramot terror attack, which took the lives of his two young sons, Hyd.

After about a month in the hospital and two months in rehabilitation, Rav Paley, who suffered serious injuries to his legs, was able to walk out of the hospital on crutches. He was accompanied by Reb Motti Fried, the head of the Saad VMarpeh nonprofit medical organization, who has supported Rav Paley and constantly been at his side since the attack.

Rav Paley finally returned to his home in Ramot, a happy but bittersweet occasion for the family, whose joy is marred by the absence of Ushi and Yaakov, Hyd. However, Rav Paley will be joining his new baby boy, Yonasan Rafael, who was born about a month after the terror attack.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




A political cartoon by Haaretzs in-house cartoonist Amos Biderman with age-old antisemitic tropes that was published on Tuesday raised a furor on Israeli social media.

The cartoon, published on the background of reports of the coalition funds promised to the Charedi and Dati Leumi sectors as the government prepares to pass the state budget, uses the best of antisemitic themes published in European newspapers in the last century.

The cartoon shows religious politicians gleefully carrying away bundles of money from a safe, including Shas chairman Aryeh Deri, who is pictured with a long nose, UTJ chairman Yitzchak Goldknopf, shown carrying a luxury brand Louis Vuitton bag filled with money, along with Finance Committee chairman Yitzchak Gafni, Deputy Knesset Speaker Yaakov Asher (UTJ), Settlements Minister Orit Strock (Religious Zionist Party), and Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich, who is pictured sitting on top of the safe, throwing bills in the air. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, pictured as the security guard of the safe [also with a long nose], is running after them and saying: Wait, theres more!

One journalist tweeted about the hypocrisy of the opposition, referring to a Kan News report on Monday evening revealing that during the Bennett-Lapid government, then-prime minister Bennett, and Lapid, together with then-finance minister Avigdor Lieberman, offered over a billion shekels to the Chareidi parties if they would aid the government in passing the state budget.

What would a Biderman cartoon look like if it was a year agowith the one billion shekels offered to two Chareidi MKs only to be absent from the vote on the budget? he wrote.

A social media user also referred to hypocrisy  but that of the cartoonist, who specializes in antisemitic cartoons. Can someone help me and please upload the Biderman cartoons from the previous government after the coalition agreements [when billions of shekels were promised to the Islamist Raam party]? Someone? Someone? Oh, there arent any? Is it just this time? Mmmm very strange.

Likud MK Danny Dannon responded to the cartoon by stating: In a democracy, its legitimate to argue and express different opinions. But if a cartoon like the one published today in Haaretz was published in a newspaper in Europe  the Anti-Defamation League would demand condemnation. Yes to discourse  no to incitement and hatred.

The Brothers in Arms protesters who scattered money in front of Goldknopfs house on Tuesday morning did so from Louis Vuitton bags. Evil minds think alike. Or perhaps they read Haaretz over their morning coffee before leaving for the protest.

   ,   .             .

       -30? pic.twitter.com/99sFKDUV2a   - hai shmuel (@HaiShmuel) May 16, 2023

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




Executives from two of three banks that recently failed appeared in front of the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday to respond to questions about why their banks went under and what regulators could have done to avoid the calamities.

Along with questions about how these banks failed, senators used the hearing to also address executive pay and whether senior executives in the U.S. are being rewarded more for short-term gains  like rising stock prices  than for ensuring their companies long-term health.

Executives at Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank and First Republic Bank were paid millions of dollars over their tenures up until their banks failed, the bulk of the compensation coming in the form company stock. That stock is now largely worthless but the CEOs still pocketed millions from the planned sales of their shares before the banks collapse.

Sen. Sherrod Brown, the Democratic chair of the Senate Banking Committee, took aim at executive compensation to open the hearing.

You were paying out bonuses until literally hours before regulators seized your assets. To people in Ohio and around the country, this feels sickeningly familiar, Brown said. To most Americans, a lack of Wall Street accountability tracks with their entire experience with our economy. Workers face consequences; executives ride off into the sunset.

Silicon Valley Banks former CEO Greg Becker received compensation valued at roughly $9.9 million in 2022, and also sold stock in the company only a few weeks before it failed. Joseph DePaolo, CEO of Signature Bank, also sold stock in the company in the years leading up to its collapse.

DePaolo did not appear in front of the Senate on Tuesday due to health concerns; instead Signatures co-founder and the banks president agreed to testify.

The anger over CEO pay echoes that of roughly 15 years ago, when the 2008 financial crisis led to taxpayer-funded bailouts of major banks. The CEOs and high-level bankers still received millions in pay and bonuses, most notably at nearly failed insurance conglomerate American International Group.

The recent bank failures prove yet again that banker compensation is at the core of causing banks to take too much risk, act irresponsibly if not recklessly, and blow themselves up, said Dennis Kelleher, co-founder of Better Markets, which was founded after the Great Recession focused on financial industry reform.

Clawing back CEO pay has gained bipartisan attention despite the fierce divisions between the two political parties.

Four senators  two Democrats and two Republicans  have introduced legislation that would give the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation authority to claw back any pay made to executives in the five years leading up to a banks failure.

The bill is sponsored by Warren, Josh Hawley, R-Mo., Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev. and Mike Braun, R-Ind. The White House, while not endorsing the specific bill, has called on Congress to pass laws to reform how bank CEOs are paid in the event of a failure.

Bank executives who make risky investments with customers money shouldnt be permitted to profit in the good times, and then avoid financial consequences when things go south, Hawley said when the bill was introduced in late March.

Kelleher said he supports the congressional efforts to claw back CEO pay following a bank failure.

Executives at big companies also tend get most of their pay each year in company stock. That means CEOs and other insiders have much to gain if the companys stock rises. And shareholders typically like it this way. The thought is that by tying a CEOs compensation to the stock price, it better aligns their interests with shareholders.

But the executives also have a lot to gain if they can sell their stock before the share price takes a steep dive.

Since 2000, the Securities and Exchange Commission has given CEOs and other corporate insiders a way to defend themselves against charges that they bought or sold stock using information unavailable to others, an illegal practice known as insider trading.

The method, known as the 10b5-1 rule, lets insiders enter into written plans to buy and sell stock in the future. The goal was to let insiders make trades, but not when they have their hands on material information not available to the public.

In prepared remarks for the Senate, Becker says he believed that these plans were the most ethical means to manage this part of my compensation and that his selling of Silicon Valley Bank stock before the bank failed was preplanned.

Over the years, complaints have risen about insiders abusing some loopholes in the 10b5-1 rule. In December, the SEC announced added amendments to close the loopholes.

Key among them was a cooling-off period. That meant directors and officers have to wait at least 90 days in many cases after establishing or modifying a trading plan before any purchases or sales could be made. The changes also limit insiders ability to use multiple overlapping 10b5-1 plans.

In March, the Justice Department announced the first insider trading prosecution based exclusively on the use of 10b5-1 trading plans. It charged the CEO of a health care company in California with securities fraud for allegedly avoiding more than $12.5 million in losses by entering into two 10b5-1 trading plans while knowing the companys then-largest customer might be terminating its contract.

The SEC also charged the CEO with insider trading after avoiding the 44% drop in the companys stock price when it announced the customer had terminated the contract.

(AP)




Authorities on Tuesday were trying to determine why an 18-year-old man roamed through a northwestern New Mexico neighborhood and randomly sprayed houses and cars with bullets, killing three people and wounding six others, including two police officers, before police killed him.

The shootings occurred around 11 a.m. Monday in Farmington, a city of about 50,000 near the Four Corners  where New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Colorado meet  that is a bedroom community for 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, 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.

Police hadnt released the names of the gunman or victims as of Tuesday morning. The department planned to hold a news conference Tuesday afternoon.

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 (0.4 kilometers). 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 (kilometers) from the attack scene, dozens of people gathered to pray at a tall metal cross as the sun set Monday. 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 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. A state police officer also was shot and drove himself to the hospital, where he remained Monday and was 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 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.

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.

(AP)




Yeshivos and Bais Yaakovs in Brooklyn have reached an unprecedented consensus to begin the 2023-2024 school year around the start of Elul, rather than with the secular start date of Labor Day.

Torah UMesorah also requested that other communities consider joining this movement and working together on this important chinuch issue.

The move comes after a coordinated effort by Torah UMesorah, supported by zkan roshei yeshivos HaRav Shmuel Kamenetzky shlita, to schedule the start of their school year around Rosh Chodesh Elul rather than Labor Day, which would leave talmidim and talmidos little time to be educated about the Yamim Noraim and Sukkos.

The plan is for the Yeshivos to start the school year on Tuesday, August 29/12 Elul, and the Bais Yaakovs to start the school year on Thursday, August 31/14 Elul.

In a statement, Torah UMesorah said, we understand that it may be difficult to implement at this late date, but it is important to make the effort to initiate this new schedule, sooner rather than later.

We look forward to the Yeshivos and Bais Yaakovs continuing to work together in the

coming years to ensure that the school calendar is arranged in a way that provides the

proper chinuch structure for our children, it continued.

We thank the Roshei Mosdos, Menahalim, Menahalos, Rebbeim and Moros for heeding

the call of the Vaad Roshei Yeshiva, and we laud the efforts of the Brooklyn community

for seizing the opportunity to make a change that will iyH have a positive impact on the

chinuch of our children.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
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The time lapse has been far too long. However, it is great to see UK regulators, freed from the shackles of the European Union, asserting their independence.

Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) chief executive Sarah Cardell is coming under fire from MPs, Microsoft and sections of the media.

The watchdog has allegedly created a hostile environment for investing in Britain by daring to diverge from Brussels in blocking the proposed 55billion mega-takeover of gaming creator Activision Blizzard by Microsoft.

In a different part of the forest, City regulator the Financial Conduct Authority is attacked by governance mavens for daring to strip away rules that have discouraged listings on the London Stock Exchange.

As Sarah Pritchard, the FCAs markets boss, notes it shows that markets just like nickel coins do not stand still.

Game over: The Competition and Markets Authority blocked the proposed 55bn mega-takeover of gaming creator Activision Blizzard by Microsoft

No one can be sure what the US anti-trust regulator, the Federal Trade Commission, will eventually make of the Microsoft deal for Activision.

Cardell argues that it is thinking along the same lines as the CMA in that undertakings made by Microsoft to share with rivals will never be robust enough.

The concern must be that the 1.9 trillion behemoth could end up setting the terms of trade for the whole, diffuse, cloud-gaming industry.

In the American system, one can never be confident that politics and lobbying, particularly in the 18-month run-up to a presidential election, wont determine outcomes.

As fuel prices at the pumps and the cost of food have escalated, there have been denials by the economic establishment that greedflation has occurred in the UK.

Maybe, but the CMA as protector of the consumer interest is to look at fuel prices on supermarket forecourts, as well as the cost of food products.

The jump in UK grocery bills, rising at an annual rate of 19 per cent, has been the sharpest since 1977, falling heavily on the lowest income households.

Feeble regulation and intervention is a feature of public life, which has undermined the free market and the privatisation reforms of the Thatcher era. Westminster spends endless time examining the peccadillos of politicians.

Far too little effort is made on behalf of the consumer and the public interest. Belatedly, John Penrose, the competition tsar, is demanding that Britains water and energy watchdogs should be given greater powers to crack down on utilities ripping off consumers, polluting our waterways with sewage and causing harm to the economy.

It all seems too little, too late. By allowing rapacious companies and bolshie trade unions to trample on citizen rights, such as a universal postal service, the Tory government and regulators have handed a political gift to enemies of free enterprise.

Mobile stasis

Newly minted Vodafone chief executive Margherita Della Valle has come out fighting.

She promises to make the telecoms giant more efficient by slashing jobs, easing bureaucratic burdens and focusing on customer delivery. As so often in the past, investors are unimpressed.

The great prize for Voda is to turn around pedestrian performance in Germany, where Della Valles predecessors doubled down in 2019 with the 16billion purchase of the Liberty cable network.

The notion that this would provide the spark to propel the mobile firms fortunes has proved a chimera.

Ownership of cable networks in an age of streaming and cord cutting  cancellation of regular subscriptions  is not ideal.

Ever since its earliest days, Vodafone has been as much a dealmaker as a mobile operator, and old habits die hard. The strategic review into Spain, where at last count there were seven operators, looks like a journey to the exit.

In the UK, where business is brisk, huge effort is still going into completing a merger with Hutchison-owned Three. How this will go down with competition authorities is a matter for conjecture.

What upset the market most is the row back on 2024 free cash flow guidance, reduced to 2.9billion from 3.3billion.

The reason? Germany.

Shopping list

Hybrid working and the impact on its London-dominated portfolio is taking its toll on Land Securities, the grand dame of UK real estate.

In an effort to counter the current colder climate for office space, the company is putting its faith in prime retail by lifting its exposure from the current 18 per cent to up to 25 per cent in the hope of cashing in on improving rental values.

Lets hear it for retail therapy.
The European Unions landmark crypto regulation has passed its final legislative hurdle, with the unanimous approval of European finance ministers.

Members of the EUs Economic and Financial Affairs Council (EcoFin) adopted the Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) with no objections in a meeting on Tuesday.

EcoFin consists of the finance and economic ministers of all 27 EU countries, while relevant European commissioners also participate in meetings.

Elisabeth Svantesson, Swedens minister for finance and the chair of the meeting, said in a statement that she was pleased with the adoption, which marks the final step in the legislative process.

MiCA Spurs Surge in VC Funding for EU-Based Crypto Startups

Recent events have confirmed the urgent need for imposing rules which will better protect Europeans who have invested in these assets, and prevent the misuse of crypto industry for the purposes of money laundering and financing of terrorism, she said.

MiCA, which creates a uniform approach to crypto across the European bloc, was passed by members of the European Parliament last month in Strasbourg.

With todays nod from finance ministers, the regulation is on track to become law this summer, when it will be entered into the EUs official journal.

There will then be an implementation period, giving both regulators and companies time to catch up with the new rules before they come fully into force. Certain rules regarding stablecoins will be implemented in a year, but others will not be enforced for 18 months.

The introduction of a consistent set of rules for crypto in the EU has been widely welcomed by the industry and regulators alike. Last week, the SECs Hester Peirce said MiCA could even serve as a model for the U.S. approach to regulating the sector.

Reacting to todays approval, Billy Sebell, executive director of blockchain project XDC Foundation said the EU was placing a positive marker on blockchain technology.

By enacting this legislation, the EU is lowering the barrier to entry for individuals and entities to benefit from blockchain technologythe underlying engine for crypto assets and many other projects, he told Decrypt in a prepared statement.

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EU adopts crypto tax, money-laundering rules

In addition to MiCA, regulation on information accompanying transfers of funds and certain crypto-assets was also adopted by EcoFin.

The rules, which were also approved by parliamentarians last month, extend anti-money laundering rules to crypto.

President Biden Decries Tax Loopholes for 'Wealthy Crypto Investors'

Todays decision is bad news for those who have misused crypto-assets for their illegal activities, to circumvent EU sanctions or to finance terrorism and war, Svantesson commented. Doing so will no longer be possible in Europe without exposure  it is an important step forward in the fight against money laundering.

The Council also reached an agreement on its position regarding various tax rules.

Local tax authorities will now be mandated to share information with each other to ensure cross-border crypto transactions do not slip through the taxation net.
Twenty years ago, at the age of 70, I took out a PPP Health Care policy to cover the cost of care if I ever needed it.

I paid a single premium of 7,321. The policy, which was later taken over by Aviva, is now worth 1,675 a month towards the cost of care.

In recent months, I've had to start employing carers. Last summer, I needed a hip replacement after a fall and I've had mobility problems ever since.

I also suffer from Parkinsonism. My wife helps me get showered and dressed but she's 88 and not in good health. She gets very tired so we need extra support.

Naturally, I thought I could use my Aviva policy to meet some of the cost, but it refuses to pay out.

R. M., Edinburgh.

Refused: Aviva is refusing to pay out on a long-term health care policy for an 88-year-old who suffers from Parkinsons and recently broke a hip

Sally Hamilton replies: The rising cost of long-term care is an emotive subject  and many people worry about how they will meet the vast bills should they need to.

The average cost of a residential or nursing home can exceed 50,000 a year. At-home care can be just as expensive, depending on how often carers visit or whether they are live-in.

These cost issues were a concern for you two decades ago, so you decided to purchase an insurance policy you could rely on if you needed care in later life.

Under the terms of the policy, Aviva agreed to meet the costs of care if you ever needed it, in return for the lump sum you paid.

When you made the claim on your policy last year, Aviva agreed to pay 5,000 for equipment that might help in your flat.

You were grateful but haven't yet taken the firm up on the offer. However, it refused to pay you an income to cover the cost of the at-home care you need.

It said that, to qualify, you need to fail at three activities of daily living. These include moving from room to room; washing and bathing; putting clothes on and off; feeding yourself with pre-prepared food and drink; and transferring yourself (for example, to a toilet or from a chair to a bed).

Apparently, walking unsteadily with two sticks and requiring help with dressing, washing and meal preparation wasn't enough to trigger the payment.

You felt aggrieved because the policy had not spelt out that you needed to fail three activities to qualify  it simply said you had to be unable to do a number of them. You told me you only cope because your wife helps.

I asked Aviva to double check your assessment. A few weeks later, Aviva decided to meet your claim after all.

It said your mobility issues may be more of a problem than it had initially thought.

An Aviva spokesman says: 'We reviewed additional information provided to us, taking into consideration his overall situation and the risk that he faces with his mobility.

We are always happy to review any decision made on claims if a customer provides additional information.'

A monthly payment of 1,675 has been authorised, along with 11,348 in payments backdated to October.

You tell me you are mightily relieved. These plans no longer exist for new buyers as insurers deemed them too expensive to run, and demand was never that high.

Right now, if you want a policy to 'insure' you against the costs of care, the best equivalent is an 'immediate needs annuity', guaranteeing a fixed income for life in return for a (hefty) lump sum. The monthly income is tax-free, as long as it is paid directly to a care provider.

With the help of a financial adviser, I organised such a scheme for my late mother a decade ago. The care annuity would cover half her care-home bills  which were about 1,000 a week  and she would pay the rest using her pensions and dividend income.

She lived in the home for six years before her death, and the annuity broke even. Had she died within a year of entering care, say, it would have been an expensive purchase.

But that was a risk we were prepared to take so that she and the family didn't have to worry about her funds running out.

Those without your type of insurance can get support from the Government if they meet certain criteria.

In England, if you have savings of 23,250 or more, you will not qualify for help.

There is some assistance for those with savings between 14,250 and 23,250, and maximum support for those with less than 14,250. The equivalent capital limits for residential care in Scotland are 20,250 for the lower and 32,750 for the upper.

In Wales, the thresholds are 24,000 for non-residential care and 50,000 for residential care. Those living in Northern Ireland who have more than 23,250 in assets must meet the full cost of residential care themselves.

In Scotland, all assets are ignored for those who require care at home, though they must have first passed the strict health eligibility criteria.

You say that you will now investigate what help you might be able to get from the Government as a resident of Scotland.

The Government has promised to introduce a cap (in England) of 86,000 on the total amount an individual can contribute to their care from October 2025.

However, this will only cover the nursing and assistance part of fees. Other elements such as accommodation, food and energy bills will still have to be met by the individual.

Find out more at paying forcare.org. For the rules in Scotland, go to advice.scot. For Wales, visit gov.wales, and in Northern Ireland see nidirect.gov.uk.

Anyone who does not qualify for help and needs to pay for care right away may have to sell their home or make an arrangement with their local authority to defer the fees and repay them later, perhaps from their estate after death.

They can also raise cash by using an equity release loan.

TUI wont refund cancelled holiday cash

I booked flights for my wife and I to the Dominican Republic in December with TUI, at a cost of 2,068.

But the university where I work as a professor is making me redundant, so we can no longer afford the trip. I emailed TUI's 'exceptions' department to get a refund but never received a reply.

G. K, Wolverhampton.

Sally Hamilton replies: Though it is not obliged to refund you under its usual terms and conditions, TUI does consider exceptional circumstances.

Though the exceptions department failed to acknowledge your pleas for a refund, I'm pleased to say that once I intervened to explain your position, it quickly offered you your money back.

A TUI spokesman says: 'We were sad to hear about G. K.'s situation. We have now spoken with him and found a solution that he is happy with.'

Would-be travellers in a similar situation who aren't refunded by their tour company might be able to claim on their holiday insurance instead, so long as unexpected job loss is covered. The insurer will usually need a confirmation of the redundancy from the employer.

Straight to the point Last year, fraudsters set up several mobile phone contracts in my name. I contacted Tesco Mobile to alert it but it still took 35.99 from my account on December 1. In January, I was told I'd get a refund but I'm still waiting. S. G., Manchester. Tesco Mobile apologises for your experience, and says it fell short of its usual standards. It sent an 80 cheque to cover the charge and apologise for the inconvenience caused. *** My smart meter stopped working on March 9 and, despite phoning British Gas several times, I have not had a response. I've just received an estimated bill for 549, even though I paid just 180 last quarter. I am 80 and on the vulnerable list. W. R., Southampton. British Gas says that your last meter reading was on February 22 and, as you are billed quarterly, it had to use an estimated reading for your most recent statements. An engineer is coming to replace your smart meter this week. *** I have an Apple iPhone and buy my music from iTunes. I've spent around 500 over several years. A couple of months ago my library disappeared from my iPhone. I've contacted Apple but can't seem to get a response. S. C., Islington. Apple says that you cannot access your music as you have been locked out of your account. A member of the team has contacted you to help you reset your password and log back in.
Vodafone shares have slumped to the bottom of the FTSE 100 after the mobile phone giant announced sweeping job cuts and reported full year results below its recently downgraded guidance.

The group, which employs around 100,000 people across Europe and Africa, said it would slash 11,000 jobs over the next three years, as new boss Margherita Della Valle pledged to address its 'not good enough' performance.

Group revenues rose by just 0.3 per cent to 45.7billion (39.7billion) in the year to the end of March, while adjusted profit before nasties fell 1.3 per cent to 14.7billion (12.8billion), both below expectations.

Vodafone full-year results have come in below expectations, sending shares tumbling

Vodafone is also forecasting 'broadly flat' profits of 13.3billion for the current year and free cash flow to slump by 1.5billion.

'Given the twin burdens of paying interest and maintaining or building out networks, the combined cost of which came to 8billion, it is no surprise cashflow is under pressure,' noted Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.

This is limiting Vodafone's scope to rebuild its dividend after 2018's cut, with Vodafone declaring an unchanged payment to shareholders of 0.09 for the full year.

The poor results sent Vodafone shares tumbling 7 per cent to 84p in late trade on Tuesday, erasing almost all gains since the start of the year.

The stock, which is widely held by investors in Britain, has suffered in recent years amid the company's lacklustre performance, having fallen by around 27 per cent over the last 12 months.

During former chief executive Nick Read's four-year tenure, Vodafone shares lost 40 per cent of their value, and are down by about 55 per cent compared to five years ago.

However its slump has caught the attention of some major investors such as John Malone from Liberty Global, an investor in ITV and Virgin Media O2, who snapped up a 4.9 per cent stake in Vodafone in February.

French tycoon Xavier Niel, the founder of internet and mobile operator Iliad, also bought a 2.5 per cent stake last September.

Decline: Vodafone shares lost 55% of their value over the past five years

Della Valle, who took over from Read when he was ousted abruptly in December, has pledged to 'simplify' the group.

'Our performance has not been good enough,' she said today. 'To consistently deliver, Vodafone must change.'

'We will simplify our organisation, cutting out complexity to regain our competitiveness.

'We will reallocate resources to deliver the quality service our customers expect and drive further growth from the unique position of Vodafone Business.'

Neil Wilson, an analyst at Markets.com, said Della Valle's comments had 'the look of a kitchen sink job'.

'It's a bold move but investors will want to see what she does with Spain and Italy, selling these to focus on Germany and emerging markets, and reduce its debt, albeit this was down almost a fifth to around 33billion,' he added.

The FTSE 100 giant has been struggling with higher energy bills and weakness in its key market, Germany, where it continues with its turnaround plan.

Revenues have also been falling in Italy, and Spain, partly offset by continued growth in the UK and Africa.

Activist investors and rivals have also described the group as too large to function effectively, and slow to respond to market changes.

Vodafone has been in talks over a potential 15billion merger with rival Hutchison's Three UK for at least nine months.

If the deal goes ahead, it would create the country's biggest mobile phone operator, however analysts have warned that regulators could be concerned about a lack of competition.

Vodafone today reiterated that there could be no certainty that any transaction would ultimately be agreed.
The boss of the competition watchdog has defended the decision to block Microsofts 55billion mega-merger with video game maker Activision Blizzard  a day after the European Commission green lit the deal.

Sarah Cardell, chief executive of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), said it was not her intention to create a hostile environment for business in the UK.

This is a sector where we want to make sure, together, that we can create and support the best conditions for competition that will enable companies big and small to thrive, including many UK start-ups, many UK competitors, she told MPs.

Cardell said the regulator engages regularly with businesses and absolutely considered the attractiveness of Britain when setting its strategy.

Britain's Competition and Markets Authority blocked Microsofts 55bn mega-merger with video game maker Activision Blizzard

I dont find that we are operating sort of, broadly speaking, in a hostile environment, she told the business committee.

Individual cases need to be decided on their merits.

When were looking strategically at the role of the competition authority, absolutely we will consider the impact of the decisions that we have made and the impact that has for the UK economy, including the reputation externally.

Her comments come just a day after the European Commission approved the worlds biggest gaming firm tie-up on condition that Microsoft ensures Activisions game catalogue will be freely available on other cloud game-streaming providers over the next ten years.

The European regulators said the commitments offered by Microsoft and Activision to maintain competition unlock significant benefits for competition and consumers.

The decision marked a dramatic split from the CMA, which last month suffered a barrage of criticism after rejecting the merger.

Brad Smith, Microsoft vice-chairman, took aim at the unaccountable regulator, claiming the English Channel has never seemed wider for attracting businesses. He said: Theres a clear message here  the EU is a more attractive place to start a business than the UK.

And Activision, whose video games include Call Of Duty and World Of Warcraft, mocked Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks quest to make the UK the worlds next Silicon Valley.

Global innovators will take note that, despite all its rhetoric, the UK is clearly closed for business, the San Francisco business said following the CMAs block last month.

Key consideration: CMA boss Sarah Cardell said the regulator engages regularly with businesses and absolutely considered the attractiveness of Britain when setting its strategy

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 Cardell yesterday stuck to her guns and said the proposed plans by Microsoft were inappropriate and would have allowed the tech giant to set the terms of trade for ten years.

I believe that strong competition is a positive signal for the UKs reputation externally, the CMA chief said. You want to have strong competition in markets, it promotes growth and promotes innovation.

Asked about how much the CMA had liaised with the US authorities over the Activision Blizzard takeover, Cardell said: We are absolutely not, and I would clarify this because I think theres been some speculation on this in the press  we are absolutely not doing the bidding of other agencies.

Appearing alongside Cardell in front of MPs on the House of Commons committee was the CMAs chairman Marcus Bokkerink, who also pushed back against the idea that blocking deals made Britain seem less attractive.

We are vigilant, as it is our duty to be vigilant, about investments that consolidate and entrench market power, he said.

I think I would challenge the premise that if there is an impact on international confidence in doing business in the UK, that the best way that that confidence is served is by turning a blind eye to anti-competitive mergers.

Microsoft has until July 18 to complete the merger before owing Activision a termination fee, which could be as much as 2.4billion.
Britain is second only to the US in the modern space race  despite its Virgin Orbit setback earlier this year.

The UK has secured 17 per cent of private investment in space since 2015, making it the leading destination in Europe, according to a report from the Space Agency and auditor PwC. The only country to attract more investment in space projects is the US.

With earth observation, manufacturing and satellites the key areas of investment in the UK, the report reckons that private investors have pumped as much as 7billion into the UK in the last eight years alone.

Mission control: The UK has secured 17% of private investment in space since 2015, making it the leading destination in Europe, according to the Space Agency and auditor PwC

The UK space industry is worth an estimated 17.5billion, with analysts projecting the global space sector could grow by as much as 11 per cent per year over the next decade to over $1 trillion.

And despite the first satellite mission from British soil failing to reach orbit in January, with the Virgin Orbit flop in Cornwall raising alarm bells, bigwigs remain optimistic.

Mark Boggett, boss of space investment firm Seraphim Space, said the industry is already the hidden linchpin behind our everyday lives, adding that Britain was merely at the dawn of space tech.

There are around 1,500 space companies in the UK, as well as 83 research centres, 64 space test facilities and 53 universities with space research functions.

Joshua Western, co-founder and boss of satellite maker Space Forge, said the growth in this sector was a testament to the untapped potential of the UK space ecosystem.
City minister Andrew Griffith urged UK retail investors to return to the stock market as he harked back to the Tell Sid privatisation boom of the 1980s.

Come back, Sid, we are going to make it easier and better for you, Griffith told a financial services industry audience.

He was speaking at the launch of a report by industry body UK Finance that identified ways to reverse negative trends in the UK but also sought to dispel false perceptions about its problems.

Buy British: City minister Andrew Griffith (pictured) urged UK retail investors to return to the stock market as he harked back to the Tell Sid privatisation boom of the 1980s

It comes amid soul searching in the City and Westminster about Londons status as a financial centre after a number of comp-anies chose to list in the US rather than the UK.

The decision by Cambridge-based chip designer Arm to stage a blockbuster float in New York rather than London later this year dealt a particularly heavy blow.

A high-level City taskforce has been set up to investigate changes needed, while proposed reforms by the Government and regulators are already in train.

The UK Finance analysis was the latest in a slew of reports offering solutions  identifying the need to boost the capital available to growth companies and encouraging an environment in which investors are prepared to take risks to gain greater rewards.

Griffith referenced the Tell Sid marketing campaign of 1986, when the public were urged to buy shares in the privatisation of British Gas. He said: We need to create new opportunities for retail investors to participate again in public company ownership.
Dominion Energy (NYSE:D  Get Rating) had its price target reduced by research analysts at Bank of America from $54.00 to $52.00 in a report released on Tuesday, The Fly reports. Bank of Americas target price would suggest a potential downside of 5.06% from the companys current price.

D has been the subject of a number of other reports. UBS Group dropped their price target on Dominion Energy from $60.00 to $57.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, March 7th. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on Dominion Energy from $58.00 to $63.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Dominion Energy from $64.00 to $66.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Monday, January 30th. Credit Suisse Group lowered their target price on Dominion Energy from $67.00 to $58.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, February 14th. Finally, Mizuho lowered their target price on Dominion Energy from $62.00 to $58.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Monday, February 27th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $63.55.

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Dominion Energy Trading Down 0.8 %

Shares of D stock opened at $54.77 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.75, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.50. The stock has a market cap of $45.78 billion, a P/E ratio of 38.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.73 and a beta of 0.43. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $56.08 and a 200 day simple moving average of $59.13. Dominion Energy has a 1 year low of $52.03 and a 1 year high of $86.28.

Institutional Trading of Dominion Energy

Dominion Energy ( NYSE:D Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Friday, May 5th. The utilities provider reported $0.99 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.98 by $0.01. Dominion Energy had a return on equity of 12.67% and a net margin of 7.05%. The firm had revenue of $5.25 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.46 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.18 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 22.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts predict that Dominion Energy will post 3.85 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in D. Sei Investments Co. boosted its stake in Dominion Energy by 7.7% during the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 168,723 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $14,325,000 after purchasing an additional 12,002 shares during the last quarter. Prudential PLC acquired a new position in Dominion Energy during the 1st quarter valued at about $1,528,000. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Dominion Energy by 30.0% during the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 7,195 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $611,000 after purchasing an additional 1,661 shares during the last quarter. Covestor Ltd boosted its stake in Dominion Energy by 49.8% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 394 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 131 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Merit Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in Dominion Energy during the 1st quarter valued at about $419,000. 70.30% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Dominion Energy Company 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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FILE PHOTO: A visitor looks at a presentation by Teck Resources at the PDAC annual conference in Toronto

By Divya Rajagopal

TORONTO (Reuters) - Glencore's hostile bid for Teck Resources has galvanized some Canadian institutional investors, who have lobbied the federal government to push the nation's biggest pension funds to lift their exposure to domestic companies, according to a presentation seen by Reuters.

The previous unreported proposal is an unusual move, but mirrors the broader nationalistic sentiment at display in Canada since the Swiss miner's unsolicited approach for one of the country's top mining firms by market value.

Politicians and business lobby groups have asked the federal government to block the $22.5 billion bid and Ottawa has said Glencore would face rigorous scrutiny.

Canada's large pension funds are globally known investors, managing more than $1 trillion of savings, but their exposure to domestic equities has steadily declined over the past decade since Canadian equity markets represent just 3% of the global equity market. The Canadian pension funds have benchmarked their investments to that level, according to the presentation.

Australian pension funds have invested about 50% of their total assets in domestic equities, according to the presentation.

Last month, Teck pulled its proposal to split the company into separate coal and copper businesses after failing to secure shareholders' support.

China Investment Corp is Teck's single-biggest institutional investor with a 10.3% stake, and Norway's wealth fund, Norges Bank, owns 1.52%, while Canadian pensions together hold 0.78% stake, according to Refinitiv data.

Institutional investors argue, a more influential holding would have helped Teck to pull off its plan and ended Glencore's pursuit.

Peter Letko, vice president of Letko Brosseau, a Teck investor which was in favor of the separation plan, said the absence of Canadian pensions funds' from "critical public companies does not help the domestic economy."

Montreal-based Lekto said he has recently written to the federal government's finance ministry and provincial governments urging pension funds to increase their exposure in domestic market.

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The finance ministry did not immediately respond to an email query.

PENSIONS AND POLITICS

Quebec pension fund CDPQ declined to comment on "political and legislation matters." All other pension funds did not respond to Reuters request for comments.

Canadian pension funds represent 30% of the total financial savings of Canadians.

"Given that so much of this capital is directed towards international investment, it risks not contributing to Canadas economic growth," Letko added.

Not everyone, however, agrees with this approach.

Michael Osborne, a competition lawyer at law firm Cozen O'Connor, said the more you interfere with Canadian pensions' operations, "the more you put pension returns at risk."

"We all know from our own pension savings...putting all of your investments in one country - whether it's Canada or any other country - is a poor investment strategy."

Still, Lekto has found some backers, including Kim Shannon, founder of Sionna Investments and former board member of Canadian Committee for Corporate Governance. Shannon added that Canadian equities have generated better returns with lower risks over the past three decades.

Letko has also found support from some business leaders.

"It is really shameful that two of the biggest pension funds invested in Teck are Chinese and Norwegian," said Pierre Lassonde, a Canadian mining entrepreneur who offered to invest in Teck's coal assets to thwart Glencore's effort. Lassonde is also backing Letko's proposal.

Clement Gignac, a Canadian senator and a veteran economist, said while it is not the "business of politicians to decide which countries do the pension funds invest in," the industry as a whole should improve disclosures about where Canadians savings are invested.

(Reporting by Divya Rajagopal,; additional reporting by Maiya Keidan; Editing by Denny Thomas and Marguerita Choy)
LEAGUE CITY, Texas, May 16, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Foremark Performance Chemicals ("Foremark"), a portfolio company of SK Capital Partners ("SK Capital"), announced today the closing of its acquisition of NexGen Chemical Technologies ("NexGen"), a provider of innovative, alternative natural gas sweetening solutions that improve the efficiency and total cost of operations for E&P and midstream operators, from Black Bay Energy Capital ("Black Bay"). The acquisition of NexGen aligns with Foremarks strategy to be the leading provider of solutions that enable the safe and sustainable production of natural gas, helping to support the transition to clean energy.

Foremark, acquired by SK Capital in 2017, is a technology-driven leader in natural gas sweetening formulations and formalin manufacturing. Foremark leverages its carbon negative production processes to efficiently manufacture and formulate its line of innovative sweeteners, which reduces the need for flaring and mitigates the corrosive nature of natural gas that is high in hydrogen sulfide, often referred to as "sour gas." As a result, sweeteners help reduce methane emissions associated with sour gas production, enable greater production volumes from sour gas wells, and extend the life of pipelines and other production and treatment assets.

"The acquisition of NexGen aligns with Foremarks strategy to expand its role in enabling the transition to cleaner energy," said Randy Owens, CEO of Foremark. "Natural Gas is a critical energy source needed to meet growing demand in numerous sectors of the global economy, such as electricity generation, manufacturing and transportation, while simultaneously lowering carbon emissions. It also has an increasing role in supporting the reliability of renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and hydroelectricity. Foremark is committed to driving innovation and providing customers with new and customized solutions."

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The acquisition of NexGen extends Foremarks leading position in natural gas sweetening and broadens Foremarks geographic reach, customer base and product portfolio. NexGens products will be integrated and consolidated into Foremarks La Porte, TX site, improving their efficiency, available capacity and carbon footprint.

Founded in 2018 by management and Black Bay, NexGen has quickly penetrated the natural gas sweetening market since the commercialization of its novel technology, ScavGen 1014.

"We see tremendous growth potential ahead driven by ongoing industry efforts to expand sour gas production in a safe, cost-effective and sustainable way," said Chris Williamson, CEO of NexGen. "Black Bay was an incredible partner to the NexGen team, providing the support and resources to help us bring continuous innovation to the sour gas marketplace. Foremark is the ideal partner to drive our next phase of growth and we are excited to continue to participate as part of the Foremark management team as well as shareholders."

About Foremark

Foremark Performance Chemicals, headquartered in League City, TX, is a technology-driven leader in natural gas sweetening formulations and the production of chemical building blocks used in numerous end products. Foremark leverages its sustainable production processes to create solutions that support the transition to clean energy and increase performance and efficiency. The business is a leading producer of a broad portfolio of triazines and formalin, and operates out of a highly automated, integrated manufacturing facility in La Porte, TX, that is strategically located on the Houston ship channel and among the worlds largest and efficient producers. Foremark has earned the Platinum Sustainability Medal from EcoVadis, which is awarded to the top 1% of rated companies based on their environmental impact and sustainability program. For more information, visit www.foremarkperformance.com.

About NexGen

NEXGEN is a forward-thinking company that takes a non-traditional approach to oilfield chemistry and applications. Utilizing the experience and expertise of our team, we work with oil and gas operators and other business partners to design custom solutions to address costly operational problems and inefficiencies. Our mission is to deliver truly differentiating chemical technology to increase efficiency and reduce the total cost of operations. NEXGEN is a privately held oilfield service company comprised of a staff of highly experienced chemical application experts. The companys headquarters is located in the Houston, Texas area and services the upstream and midstream sectors. www.nexgenchem.com

About SK Capital Partners

SK Capital is a private investment firm with a disciplined focus on the specialty materials, ingredients and life sciences sectors. The firm seeks to build strong and growing businesses that create substantial long-term economic value. SK Capital aims to utilize its industry, operating and investment experience to identify opportunities to transform businesses into higher performing organizations with improved strategic positioning, growth and profitability, as well as lower operating risk. SK Capitals portfolio of businesses generates revenues of approximately $18 billion annually, employs more than 20,000 people globally, and operates more than 200 plants in over 30 countries. The firm currently has approximately $7.8 billion in assets under management. For more information, please visit www.skcapitalpartners.com.

About Black Bay Energy Capital

Black Bay is a private equity firm that invests equity capital in partnership with entrepreneurial management teams who are building high-growth companies in the North American energy and chemical industries. Black Bays strategy is to target companies with innovative products and services that help their clients to reduce costs, improve operations and achieve ESG initiatives. The firms objective is to drive success through a relentless commitment to establishing and cultivating a true partnership with portfolio company management teams, and a belief that deeply rooted partnerships generate outsized returns by fostering collaboration and creativity. Black Bay is currently investing out of its second fund and has approximately $565 million of assets under management. For more information, please visit www.blackbayenergy.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516005192/en/

Contacts

Jeremy Milner

BackBay Communications

jeremy.milner@backbaycommunications.com

(401) 862-9422
(Bloomberg) -- In February last year, a tiny coffee store with red neon signs opened at Gramercy Park, one of the most idyllic neighborhoods in New York City. The shop, labeled About Time Coffee, soon spawned four other prime locations in downtown Manhattan, peddling iced boba coffee thats suddenly a trend on TikTok and Instagram.

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This is not your typical neighborhood coffeehouse, but a tech-savvy startup backed by some of Chinas biggest venture firms.

Investors including ZhenFund and IDG Capitals Chinese arm have made bets on the nascent New York coffee chain hatched by Dai Wei, the controversial founder of Chinese bike-sharing startup Ofo Inc. Dai, in his early thirties, is the face of Chinas biggest tech bubble of recent times, when investors poured billions of dollars into companies renting dockless bikes with no clear business model. In 2018, Ofo ceased operations after funding dried up, leaving its iconic yellow bikes piling up on Chinese streets. Dai has largely stepped away from the public eye since.

His comeback in the US, which hasnt been previously reported, is another example of Chinas embattled tech industry turning outward for growth, hoping to ride the coat-tails of video sensation TikTok and retailer Shein. For Chinese startups and their venture backers who endured two years of regulatory crackdowns and Covid restrictions, the Copy-from-China tactic has grown increasingly alluring, as they seek to replicate tried-and-true business models far from home, in markets like Southeast Asia and the US.

We have a proven model from China, About Time Chief Executive Officer Marian Chen said in an interview. We sell coffee that tastes better but is cheaper than Starbucks.

Story continues

Dai has split his time between China and the US since Covid, first starting a power-bank rental startup in Seattle and then the coffee chain in New York, according to people close to him. Despite Ofos demise, the entrepreneur has again scored funding from investors who put faith in him, including IDG, ZhenFund, and Beijing-based Will Hunting Capital, an early backer of the bike-sharing startup. About Time has so far raised more than $10 million at a valuation of $40 million, Chen said.

While Dai isnt involved in the day-to-day operations of About Time, he helped build out the team for the retailer and set up meetings with investors, Chen said. Hes the one who glued us together.

Dai, who Chen says is a minority shareholder, declined a request for an interview.

Read the profile of Ofos founder

About Time hopes to woo New Yorkers with some Chinese recipes. The firm follows the technology-driven business model of Luckin Coffee Inc., which overtook Starbucks in China in the span of few years before it was plagued by an accounting fraud. Like Luckin, About Time handles orders and payments via its mobile app, and collects customer data to tailor discounts and coupons. The lower pricing is also a big draw: Its signature iced boba coffee  fresh made and sealed into cans  costs $4, when Starbucks serves average cups at around $5 in the US.

Order online, a board outside its Gramercy Park shop advertises, First five drinks on us.

The aggressive pricing appears to be winning over younger customers. On a recent Thursday afternoon, at least seven students from the nearby Baruch College hit the Gramercy store in 15 minutes.

Among them was Mansoor Wardak, a 22-year-old finance major and About Time regular since he got a text promo to sign up on its app for a free coffee. I dont want to pay $7 for Starbucks, he said.

Some American consumers have grown wary of tech-focused coffee companies that are fast altering the streetscape. Brooklyn-based Blank Street Coffee, backed by General Catalyst Partners and Tiger Global Management, has exploded into dozens of locations in New York City two years since its inception. The firm was seeking new funding at a valuation of $200 million, Bloomberg reported in December. In March, About Time closed a $20 million round with money from investors including existing backers, a company representative said.

For now, About Time has no plan to open more shops or raise money, while it focuses on trying out new drinks and turning profitable, said CEO Chen, who previously worked for non-profit organizations like Save the Children. We are not finance elites who dont actually love coffee, she said. Thats not the impression we want to give.

Aside from branding, About Time faces some more imminent challenges. For one, mobile payments account for just 15% of the chains total sales, as Americans still prefer to pay by cash or credit cards. Thats not a good first step for a company seeking to retain loyal customers by making them stay on its app.

At least to the old Dai, lauded as a PhD dropout whiz kid, all this wouldnt be a big problem  if investor money keeps pouring in.

In the early stages of a company, expanding is more important than defending, he told Bloomberg News in 2016. The faster you use your money, the more efficient, the more money you raise, the stronger you become. Then you control the market.

--With assistance from Peter Elstrom, Claire Che and Lulu Yilun Chen.

(Updates with latest fundraising in the 13th paragraph)

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
J.C. Glindmyers favorite comic book hero was Spider-Man. He liked the idea that Spider-Man could be any average Joe behind the mask. Anyone could be a superhero simply by doing the right thing and caring about his community.

If that's what makes a superhero, then (my dad) certainly was, said Jordan Glindmyer Yanatos.

Glindmyers superpower was making whoever entered Earthworld Comics, the Albany store he owned, feel like family with his infectious laugh, thoughtful and personal comic recommendations, unyielding generosity, the occasional shots of Patron and, as former employee Amanda Furfaro put it, the best hugs. The beloved owner died May 8, two days after Free Comic Book Day, from cardiac arrest at age 65 in Voorheesville.

Yanatos remembers her dad as the quirky, fun parent who would take her and her brothers to Blockbuster on Fridays and read Neil Gaimans graphic novel The Sandman as a bedtime story. He encouraged his children to be authentic, regardless of what others thought. Reading the outpouring of love on Earthworld Comics social media posts announcing Glindmyers death made Yanatos realize he was that kind of caring, supportive father figure for many who worked or shopped at the store.

It's been a wild ride hearing all these stories about the versions of my dad that he was to different people, Yanatos said. It's been really touching.

For 35 years, Glindmyer owned and ran Earthworld on Central Avenue location near Manning Boulevard. He grew up in a military family, Yanatos said, and was never in a place long enough to plant his roots. Earthworld became that place for him, and he used it as a platform to give back to his community through fund raisers, book donations to schools and libraries and events. As Glindmyer wrote in his Facebook bio, it was not the greatest name in the world, but when I purchased the store, it came with the fixtures, a cheap stereo, a half broken register and endless possibilities.

He transformed the store into a haven for many. Furfaro, who began working at the store around 2013 shortly after moving from Brooklyn with her then partner, now husband Chris Martinez, said Earthworld was the first place that felt like home for her in the Capital Region. Jesse Corradino, who began working at Earthworld in 2002, said Glindmyer became a mentor and pseudo-father to him. Andrew Falkenhainer, who first met Glindmyer as a kid on the hunt for a specific comic in the early 2000s, said Free Comic Book Day became a reunion for former workers and regular customers. Glindmyer was behind the counter for this years Free Comic Book Day on May 6.

He really had a community of people that didnt care about the books that were out that day, they would just come in to see him, Falkenhainer said.

Despite being regarded as a haven for misfits, the general world of comics hasnt always been the most gender-inclusive, but Glindmyer wanted to challenge that with Earthworld. When longtime employee Alicia Messineo pitched a regular ladies night, Glindmyer kept the store open after hours and acted as bouncer. Wonder Womans cape hung next to Batmans, and the selection of titles was diverse. Prices started at 25 cents so anyone on any income could buy a book.

He truly was just somebody who understood the ins and outs of the comic book industry, Furfaro said. He understood representation. He understood making people feel included, and he takes care of his people.

If you knew nothing about comics and entered the store, you wouldnt get shunned, Falkenhainer said. Glindmyer loved comics  a glance at any page, and he could identify the inker, year and a slew of other facts  and wanted to share them with anyone who was interested. He especially loved getting a comic into the hands of a kid.

He always used to say, Every comic can be someones first comic,  Falkenhainer said.

Here are your picks for the Best of the Capital Region 2023 We tallied the votes from this years Best of the Capital Region contest in 100 categories.

Former employees describe Glindmyer as exacting  he had a clear idea of how he wanted the store to run  but he was deeply caring and a big softy once you got to know him, Furfaro said. Glindmyer was giving perhaps to a fault, Corrandino said, constantly treating those around him to meals and drinks and never wanting or expecting anything in return. He let Furfaro and Martinez record episodes of their podcast Brotherhood of Evil Geeks after hours in the shop. Glindmyer even became ordained to officiate weddings of employees, including Corrandino and his wife and Furfaro and Martinez.

Glindmyer also had a goofy sense of humor and liked to have fun in the shop, whether it was looping Last Christmas by Wham! for three hours after learning of Fufaros deep dislike of the song, letting the staff smash up a broken printer a la the film Office Space or encouraging Falkenhainer to put an issue of a Venom comic in a microwave because he read somewhere the foil cover would change from red to black at a certain (spoiler alert, it caught on fire).

Glindmyer is survived by his wife, Laura Lee Glindmyer, sons Nick and Taylor Glindmyer, daughter Yanatos and four grandchildren. Nick Glindmyer will take over running Earthworld, per Glindmyers wishes, and continue the legacy his dad started.

My dad loved it because of the art and the culture and the storylines and the heroes, Yanatos said. I think that he realized that there's something for everyone, and everyone needs a hero. You can find that in the books and get lost in it.

Because flowers werent Glindmyers style, the family set up a scholarship in his name. The J.C. Glindmyer Superhero Scholarship Fund will award $1,000 to Schenectady High School seniors graduating from a vocational program. All three of Glindmyers children attended Schenectady High School, with Nick and Taylor attending the BOCES program for Culinary Arts, and Yanatos, after graduating from the College of Saint Rose, attending Paul Mitchell for hair styling. The suggested minimum donation is $5, or roughly the cost of a comic book. Donations in Glindmyers honor may also be made to the American Heart Association.

A memorial service will be held from 2 to 5 p.m Sunday, May 21, at one of Glindmyer's favorite places, McGearys in Albany.
Nearly a year after Canadian investment firm RIV Capital acquired New York-based medical marijuana provider Etain for $247 million, new regulations will allow the company to enter the states budding adult-use market sooner than anticipated.

New Yorks Cannabis Control Board and Office of Cannabis Management released new adult-use cannabis draft regulations on Thursday including a significantly shortened waiting period for medical cannabis providers, dubbed registered organizations in the states lingo, to enter the recreational market. The revision scraps an initial three-year waiting period and allows for registered organizations to open one co-located medical and adult-use dispensary by the end of the year followed by second and third stores after June 29, 2024.

Obviously a three-year ban was significant and getting down to one year for our first store is great, said Mike Totzke, chief operating officer and interim CEO of RIV Capital. Were confident in our ability to open up our first adult-use store at the end of this year in December and then were working on plans for our next two at the end of June of next year.

RIV Capital closed on its purchase of Etain in December, giving it one of 10 vertically integrated cannabis licenses in New York that allow the company to grow, manufacture and sell its own adult-use marijuana products. Prior to the acquisition, the Westchester County brand was the only woman-owned private cannabis company in the state.

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Registered organizations are allowed to operate up to eight medical dispensaries. For registered organizations participating in the adult-use market, three of these locations can be co-located for both medical and adult-use cannabis sales.

Etain said one of its co-located dispensaries will be its flagship store in Manhattan. The brand also operates dispensaries in Kingston, Syracuse and Yonkers. It closed its Albany dispensary in 2017 and is in the process of searching for new retail locations to open in 2024.

In the meantime, the cannabis provider is focused on completing an expansion of its cultivation and processing operations. The brand is currently in the final phase of construction on its production facility in Chestertown. The 60,000-square-foot Warren County location has eight bays of greenhouses and is expected to triple Etains original cultivation capacity as well as support research and development activities to drive innovation, Totzke said.

Cultivators will begin populating the facilitys first greenhouse in the next two weeks and will continue production throughout the summer so their first harvest will be ready by fall.

We definitely havent stopped there, Totzke said, adding that the company recently signed a lease for a 68,000-square-foot indoor growing facility in Buffalo that will include 13 different grow rooms.

While the passage of the new market regulations is largely seen by the company as a step toward accelerating access to legal dispensaries, certain revisions could still serve as a barrier to growth. For example, registered organizations must dedicate a minimum of 50 percent of shelf space available for adult-use products cultivated and processed by licensees that are not registered organizations until 2025 (and 40 percent thereafter).

The shelf space is a little tough for us just because its hard, logistically, to track all of that and its a bit odd to be compelled to carry competitor products in a certain way with a certain percentage, said Frank Tice, a lawyer for RIV Capital. He also pointed to sustainability provisions that he said would make it harder to get rebates from utility companies.

Additional revisions include the timing of market entry fees, which now include $5 million at the time of licensure, $5 million due within 180 days of opening a second store, $5 million due when $100 million in revenue is achieved and the last $5 million due when the company reaches $200 million in revenue. The fees will be paid to support social equity applicants.

While Etain expressed excitement for advancing its retail strategy, the slow rollout of licensing for entrepreneurs beyond those with a documented marijuana conviction in their family has caused growing frustration for businesses statewide looking to enter the market. In March, a coalition of medical marijuana license holders and recreational market hopefuls filed a lawsuit in the state Supreme Court seeking to force the Office of Cannabis Management to open the retail licensing process for all applicants immediately.

But Etain opted out of participating in the legal battle. We thought thered be a better way to be able to partner here than go into the courtroom, Totzke said.

Regardless of the delays, he says the Canadian firm sees New York as a future leading hub for the cannabis market and pointed to the states cultural diversity and tourism as being a prime influence of the firms investment.

What we invested in was not a short-term play, but a long-term one, he said. If you think about New York with how cannabis has been in the past, how big it has been from an industry standpoint and where its going, we still think its going to be a top two market in the long run.

Despite its current focus on retail, the company also plans to continue supporting the medical market and hopes medical marijuana will receive more attention from the Office of Cannabis Management to drive support for waning interest.
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ALBANY  Almost a fourth of high schoolers in New York are vaping  inhaling nicotine or the marijuana component THC through an electronic cigarette  a sea change from two decades ago when a quarter of students smoked traditional tobacco cigarettes.

Schools across the state are being forced to invent ways to stop the growing trend, which is easier to hide because the smell and look of tobacco smoke is gone, while trying to get students to understand that nicotine is still addictive no matter how it's ingested.

While the mode of inhaling is different, school officials are up against what feels like the same enemy: marketing that suggests vaping is cool, delicious (with dessert and fruit flavors) and totally safe.

The electronic cigarette, which is commonly called a vape, vape pen or mod, can be smaller than a lighter. Some look like a USB charger or pen. Theyre so tiny that administrators report some students will take a hit during class and then try to hide their device.

A vape pen works by having a battery inside that heats up liquid and turns it into a mist. While there is a visible smoke from exhaling vape, it tends to dissipate faster than traditional cigarette smoke. It does, however, have an odor depending on what kind of vape it is.

(School administrators can search a student if they have reasonable cause, such as a sudden mist cloud appearing over the students desk.)

One in 10 middle and high school students nationwide say they vape regularly, according to the annual youth tobacco survey run by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. But it's worse in New York, where 22 percent of high school students said they use vapes, according to a 2020 survey.

Vaping has nearly replaced cigarettes. Traditional smoking among teens is at an all-time low in the state. In New York's last survey, only two percent of high school students said they smoke cigarettes regularly  a 91 percent decline in the youth smoking rate since 2000, when 27 percent of high school students said they were regular smokers.

Catching students with vapes is so difficult to stop that schools have reverted to what they used to do to crack down on smokers: Theyre locking bathrooms.

In Scotia-Glenville, a rotating selection of bathrooms are opened at the high school each day. A hall monitor is posted outside the unlocked bathrooms and the rest are locked. At Shenendehowa, a parent reported that her high school son was patted down by a monitor before he could enter the bathroom, to make sure he wasnt bringing in a vape.

In Ballston Spa, administrators installed vape detectors in February. The detectors, placed in the bathrooms, look like smoke detectors. They send an email alert to administrators when they detect nicotine vapor, marijuana vapor or loud noises that sound like destruction. Then the administrators plays back the video from a camera outside the bathroom to determine the possible culprit.

Customers must be 21 to buy a vape in New York, and the state banned the sale of flavored vapes in 2020. But administrators say they are still commonly confiscating fruit-flavored vapes in schools. Online, they can still be bought on Amazon and other websites, many of which do not require buyers to prove their age.

Its a nightmare for administrators who see a new technology repeating the marketing that cigarette companies used for decades to get customers addicted.

One of the really distressing things is theyre so clearly marketed to kids, said Scotia-Glenville High School Principal Peter Bednarek, referring to the fruit, candy and dessert flavors.

Nearly all vape liquid has nicotine, except for some of the THC liquids, according to tests cited by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. THC is a main component in marijuana. But when the CDC asked adolescents about a popular vape brand, two-thirds of them didnt know the brands liquid had nicotine.

Vapes with THC are now sold legally to those 21 and older in New York. But unlike nicotine vapes, which are sold in gas stations and corner stores, obtaining cannabis vapes from a dispensary requires a person to have their license scanned.

Bednarek can remember when he had to stop underage cigarette smokers, who often believed smoking wasn't that bad. Now its happening again, he said.

This generation of teenagers, in my opinion, is fairly health conscious. They view this as a healthy alternative, he said. They would not have so universally switched over from smoking cigarettes if they did not see it as somehow lesser of a problem. I think many of them think it is not addictive.

Vaping can lead to lung injuries, with symptoms like coughing and shortness of breath, similar to the effects of smoking, according to the CDC.

The vapor is also not harmless. It often contains heavy metals and a chemical that is known to cause lung cancer, according to the CDC.

In Watervliet, school administrators are trying to get that message across when they catch a student vaping. On the first offense, the student can be assigned to do a research project about the health effects of vaping. The project must be presented to their parents, teachers and administrators.

Ballston Spa has tried that, too.

Education is key, said Superintendent Gianleo Duca. But someone who unfortunately is addicted to it, its not going to help.

They try to get those students into cessation programs.

Vaping marijuana has also become popular, he said.

Were now seeing more THC, and its such a high concentration of THC, he said.

In Scotia-Glenville High School, the school resource officer will help test vapes, Bednarek said, adding that many of the vapes he confiscates have THC.

Students at Scotia-Glenville who get caught with a nicotine vape are usually suspended for a couple days; if the vape has marijuana, the suspension starts at five days.

But testing vapes has led, somewhat predictably, to another problem.

They get flushed down the toilet, Duca said. They clog it, cause all kinds of maintenance, its a huge nuisance.
ALBANY  Student data, including names, birth dates and addresses, are not always kept secure by school districts or the state Education Department, the state Comptrollers Office found in an audit issued Tuesday.

The Education Department has not taken the fundamental steps or improved the technical controls needed to secure its own critical systems, the auditors said.

Auditors also went to four school districts and scanned their systems for vulnerabilities. What they found was so concerning that the districts took immediate action, they said.

Such scans are required at every school district, but the state Education Department hasnt made sure districts comply, according to the audit.

Three other school districts visited by auditors  out of 16 districts  did not hold any data privacy and security awareness training for employees. Those trainings help prevent cyber attacks and ransomware that trick employees into letting a virus into the system.

The state Education Department and school districts had a responsibility to strengthen and protect student data and systems well before the pandemic, said Tina Kim, deputy comptroller with the State Government Accountability division of the comptroller. But remote learning increased reliance on IT services, apps and third-party programs and its clear schools were not prepared for the heightened cyber risks.

From March 2020 to April 2021, school districts reported 131 incidents in which data was accessed without permission. (Not all of them were cyber attacks. Some could have been genuine mistakes, auditors noted.) But they have continued to rise since then.

Cyber security incidents at New Yorks schools more than tripled over the last three years, resulting in personal information of students, families or teachers being compromised, Kim said. Whether through human error, data breaches or costly ransomware attacks, when personal information is on the internet, it is at risk for identity theft and other types of fraud.

Nationally, cyber attacks impacted 1.2 million students in 2020, up from 39,000 students in 2019, according to a U.S. Government Accountability Office report. In November, Albany school officials cut off the internet for days to stop an attack.

It is, therefore, more important than ever to ensure that schools have secure systems that protect the safety and privacy of students and their data, the audit said.

When districts discover that data was accessed, they may not always tell the affected people, the audit found.

Out of the 131 incidents reported in March 2020 through April 2021, 55 were missing one of the required dates: date of incident, date of discovery or date of notification of affected parties.

Education Department officials did not always follow up with school districts to determine if affected parties were notified, the audit said.

In a response to the findings, the Education Department said it was not monitoring school districts to make sure they were keeping data safe because the department had other priorities and vacancies in its Privacy Office.

The Education Department agreed to start monitoring in the second half of 2023.

In addition, the Education Department began working on tightening its own systems. The audit highlighted a problem that was noted in a 2017 audit and in a follow-up review in 2018. The department had not classified all of its data in order of sensitivity, so that student data received the correct security.

The Education Department said the turnover of executive staff in its Information Security Office slowed data classification. In response to the audit, they contracted with the nonprofit New York State Technology Enterprise Corp. and said they would finish the job by February 2023. No one was able to confirm whether that happened, but the comptroller's office said they do not believe it is finished yet.

A lack of classification also makes it harder to know what was taken in an attack.

In the case of an information security incident, the department may be unable to identify in a timely manner what, if any, sensitive and/or critical data was involved and may be compromised, the audit said.
HGTV

Theres a new home renovation series coming to the small screen  and, perhaps, a Hudson Valley town near you  this summer.

Charming neighborhoods, idyllic rolling hills and lush greenery inspire city dwellers to chase a different pace of life in a new HGTV series, Small Town Potential, announced today by the cable network. The show follows real estate agent and designer Davina Thomasula and her partner, contractor Kristin Leitheuser, as they help families moving to the Hudson Valley find their perfect house to renovate and call home. In each episode, Thomasula designs a plan complemented by the areas natural surroundings that Leitheuser will bring to life with the help of her dad and building partner, Don Leitheuser.
Masha Zabara and Jillian Reed just missed each other when they each studied music at the Bard College Conservatory of Music. But in the small town of Tivoli, where many current and former Bard students reside, their paths eventually crossed. It led to them starting a small business together.

During the Black Lives Matter movement of 2020, Zabara and Reed wanted to attend rallies and donate to social justice organizations but found themselves limited by their health and financial circumstances. They decided to purge their closets and have a yard sale at Zabaras house in Tivoli to raise donation funds, spreading the word through an Instagram profile called @Thrift2FightFascism, which later became @Thrift2Fight. That sale would quickly spiral into a volunteer fundraising movement, social hub and vehicle for entire communities to support grassroots organizations.

Reed grew up in Vermont and moved to Dutchess County to attend Bard College, earning a dual degree in human rights and flute performance. Zabara, whose pronouns are they/them, was born and raised in Belarus before moving to the U.S. at 16 for high school. At Bard, they studied cello performance and filmography before dropping out.

At their first sale, community members brought bags of their own clothes, making for a wider range of sizes and styles. After raising more funds than expected, Zabara and Reed planned another sale and soon the pairs cars were filled with donations.

From there, things moved swiftly. Their stock grew so much that a resident temporarily donated space in their building just to store the clothes, and Reed drove her Prius to meeting spots in random parking lots where donors would fill her trunk with bags of clothes. When the weather turned cold, they persevered with Rack Residencies, displaying pop-up racks of clothing at different locations in the Hudson Valley, including cafes and local boutiques. In early 2021, Reed won a Projects for Peace Grant, which funded Thrift 2 Fight pop-ups around New York.

Deciding to start a business

As they continued thinking of ways to expand, Zabara and Reed, along with another early collaborator, Collin Lewis, knew they wanted to center their fundraising around racial and disability justice and queer liberation.

But while they had a vision, they had never before started a business. They analyzed the business models of organizations like Goodwill and Salvation Army along with independent vintage and consignment stores, looking for ways to make their business sustainable while continuing to support their causes.

We were realizing that we couldnt find a middle where theres a place you can get clothes for affordable amounts of money in a nonjudgmental way and the money actually goes to something actually good, Zabara said.

When they had questions about certain particulars of their budding business, they looked to the community. We were going about it with the baseline assumption  that everyone wants to help and then giving them the opportunity to, Reed said.

After looking for locations in Kingston with no luck they decided to plant their storefront in Tivoli, opening in January of 2022. In such a small town they wondered if theyd make enough to pay rent, but they got to work. Zabara recalled being covered in sawdust for weeks as they built dressing rooms and sorted clothing with the help of friends and neighbors. Every person in this village has painted these walls with us, they said. To their surprise, after one month open they made enough to pay rent and sustain their mission.

Tyler Emerson

The community has shown up continuously for Thrift 2 Fight over the past three years. Besides the founders, the store is staffed by volunteers from Bard College and members of Camp Ramapos Staff Assistant Experience, a program that helps young people prepare for adulthood. And fresh donations are always coming in, which has led to pop-up sales in collaboration with local organizations and universities from Brooklyn to Buffalo.

Continuing the fight

Thrift 2 Fights storefront is spacious, bright and well-located on Tivolis Broadway, which has seen more foot traffic with the popularity of stores like Tivoli General and Fortunes Ice Cream. The building itself is historic, formerly operating as a village hall and bookstore for many years.

Since establishing themselves in Tivoli, Thrift 2 Fight has given back to their community by hosting events like free clothing swaps and two Art Is How I Fight shows where the walls of the store become a temporary gallery for the artwork of people who are currently incarcerated. Other events include film screenings in collaboration with groups like Release Aging People in Prison, one of the organizations that Thrift 2 Fight funds. And for those who may need a little financial help, they have a pay-it-forward Mitzvah Wall where you can anonymously chip in on a random customers purchase.

Thus far, Thrift 2 Fight has hosted more than 50 pop-up sales and redistributed nearly $65,000 in funds to more than 30 organizations. But they will also remain a spot to freshen up your wardrobe with a new tee, a pair of shoes or a vintage dress. Would-be customers who cant make it to Tivoli can find select pieces at Thrift 2 Fights Depop.

Interested in donating? Thrift 2 Fight accepts clothes of all sizes and styles on a walk-in basis during store hours: Thursday through Monday from noon to 6 p.m. or 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends. Thrift 2 Fight also accepts monetary donations on its website.
Confession time: I havent paid Central Hudson since November 2021. This is horrible, but my account is confusing. Ive been hoping that eventually, the utility will work out what I actually owe. Then I will pay up.

On my account online, theres a gap in my bills between November 2021 and March 2022. Before and after, theres weird stuff: customer credits and reversals, consolidated bills, consumption billing. Once, during the bill-free timeframe, I was sent two separate $25 gift cards, which I gathered was Central Hudsons way of apologizing.

Any Hudson Valley resident knows by now that Central Hudsons billing errors are due to a botched September 2021 rollout of an updated customer information system. While historically I always paid my bills on time, at this point I dont trust Central Hudson. Ive heard too many stories about overbilling and lawsuits. Still, I feel guilty.

A few months ago, I called them to clarify some questions before payment. A very nice customer service person said someone would get back to me. No one did, but I got another bill saying my account is past-due and that my utility services are at risk for termination. So I called my senator, Michelle Hinchey, D-Saugerties, for advice.

Sen. Hinchey currently has two bills she and others are trying to get passed related to the Central Hudson debacle. One would ban estimated billing, a confusing practice that doesnt tell customers what they actually owe, while the other would prevent utilities from back-billing after failing to bill more than two months. If the back-billing bill had been in place in November 2021, I would currently owe Central Hudson zero dollars.

This is a utility. They manage things that we need to survive, and we have to have trust in our utilities. We have to know that service will be there, and it wont be terminated because they didnt get their accurate billing together in time. We also have to hope they arent price-gouging us, Sen. Hinchey said.

For the record, Hinchey said she has not gotten a wonky Central Hudson bill, though her mother has.

Hincheys office has fielded more than 1,000 calls for help with Central Hudson, some not even from her own constituents, grappling with the same issue. Shes happy to help. It doesnt matter your income bracket, past history, residential status, documented status, she said.

Members of Sen. Hincheys staff coordinate putting individuals in touch with Central Hudson representatives and follow up on cases. For people without computers, they help fill out paperwork.

We have held peoples hands as much as we can. It shouldnt be this hard. No one should have to be dealing with sitting on hold for hours when its almost solely a corporate error. Thats not the responsibility of the customer. The corporation has to be held accountable and they have to make it right, she said.

Central Hudson is currently trying to make things right. Spokesperson Joseph Jenkins says the utility will add at least 30 customer service representatives to reduce wait times and fast-track responses.

That end of the customer experience has been severely lacking. We need to do better. A lot of folks trust in us has been rattled, he said.

While Central Hudson is encouraging customers to pay them, Jenkins noted, We are not actively terminating residential customers or charging late fees. If paying in full is not possible, there are ways for customers to delay or break payments into manageable chunks. There are also assistance programs for income-qualified individuals.

For the many confused by their accounts, Jenkins has tips. First, visit Central Hudsons guide for how to read a bill. Theres a way to find an actual, not estimated, meter reading on your usage graph. Thats a great indicator; its on point and accurate, Jenkins said.

You can also check your own meter and compare it to your bill. Some energy will have been consumed since their last read, but it should be about the same number. (If you, like me, have never seen anyone from Central Hudson reading your meter, thats because about 60 percent can be read from a distance. Apparently, my meter is read by a truck passing on the street.)

At present, Jenkins said that the vast majority of Central Hudson bills are accurate and timely. Only a small number of customers are still experiencing delays or have bills that require adjustments, he said. Customers with questions should reach out by phone, social media or via Central Hudsons chat function.

Central Hudson looked at my account and Jenkins declared it a perfect storm affected by two different events. My first delay was directly related to the billing system switchover, especially because I choose to buy electricity from a regional solar farm. Thats what the cancellations and adjustments were about. The second issue is that New Paltz, where I live, had a community choice aggregation program for renewable energy that defaulted in July 2022 for failing to comply with New York requirements  a fluke. That forced 25,000 customers back onto the Central Hudson system, and caused the second delay in my bills, according to Jenkins.

When I try to read my bill, one of my concerns is that Im being double-billed. I get a separate bill from our solar farm. Jenkins assured me this isnt the case and directed me to the section of my bill where I can see what Central Hudson pays outside energy providers and the credits I am given.

Jenkins says one in four of Central Hudsons 310,000 electric customers are currently not paying their bills. (The utility also has 85,000 natural gas customers.) The company is financing the money to cover what they arent collecting but cant continue this indefinitely.

At some point  we havent firmed up the timeline  we will need to resume normal business functions of late fees and terminations, he said.

While Ive been assured my bill is now accurate, I still cant shake the feeling its not. Im going to pay it, but I wish I didnt want a math degree to understand the amount due.

Sen. Hinchey understands: One of the reasons this whole saga has been so heartbreaking and unsettling is for something you trust and depend on every day to leave you with such confusion and what feels like complete disregard for customers is not OK.
GOSHEN  A state Supreme Court justice ruled Tuesday that New York City cannot send any more asylum-seekers participating in a temporary relocation program to Orange County. But the 186 who are currently sheltered in two Newburgh hotels are permitted to stay.

The ruling, issued by state Supreme Court Justice Sandra B. Sciortino, grants Orange County a temporary restraining order covering two lawsuits it filed last week. The suits sought to end migrant relocations in Orange County and potentially evict the asylum-seekers staying at two hotels in the town of Newburgh.

The asylum-seekers  who are voluntarily participating in the program  have arrived in groups at the Crossroads Hotel and Ramada Inn since May 11. If any choose to leave, they cannot be replaced, per Sciortinos ruling. The judges order may also require New York City to identify the migrants and their immigration and asylum status to the county to the extent allowed by law, according to Orange County Attorney Richard Golden.

The ruling is the latest development in the tense situation that has developed between New York City and upstate officials since Mayor Eric Adams announced a temporary relocation program last week. Initially, the program called for sending 400 migrants to two hotels in Orange and Rockland counties. But the situation quickly turned political. Both county executives, Republicans, declared states of emergency, claiming they could not accept the migrants and that Adams, a Democrat, had not adequately communicated his plans. The mayors office and immigrant support groups have criticized the upstate officials for a lack of compassion amid a growing humanitarian crisis.

Some of the arguing between those who want to welcome the migrants and those who want to keep them out has been fueled by uncertainty and, to some degree, misinformation.

After a judge granted a restraining order in Rockland County, New York City held off sending 340 migrants there. However, it still sent about 60 asylum seekers May 11 to the Crossroads Hotel in Newburgh, despite Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus attempt to block it.

Courtney Dudley / Special to the Times Union

New York City is paying for the asylum-seekers to stay in the hotels for up to four months and is providing staff, food, medical care and other resources they need. The point of the program was to make room in New York City for an influx of migrants who were expected to come when a pandemic-era immigration restriction expired last week.

More for you Migrants have arrived upstate. What happens next?

Orange County and the town of Newburgh objected to sheltering asylum-seekers partially on the basis that there werent enough resources to take care of them in the long term. But Newburgh also argued that extended stays at the hotels violate zoning and building codes that are capped at 30 days.

Local lawmakers, including Neuhaus, Republican Newburgh Supervisor Gil Piaquadio and Democratic Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson, have criticized Adams for a lack of communication concerning the programs rollout.

Throughout this process, Mayor Adams has given us little advance notice and made virtually no effort to coordinate with local officials, Jacobson said in a statement Monday. The mayors office said they expected to receive significant support from local volunteer groups. This is not a plan, it is a hope and a prayer.

A spokesperson for Adams said Monday the city has been stretched to its limit trying to accommodate asylum-seekers.

As weve been saying for months, we are in the midst of a humanitarian crisis, having opened approximately 150 emergency sites, including eight large-scale humanitarian relief centers, to serve over 65,000 asylum seekers, Fabien Levy, Adams press secretary, said in a statement. We received more than 4,200 asylum-seekers last week alone and continue to receive hundreds of asylum-seekers every day. We are opening emergency shelters and respite centers daily, but we are out of space. We will continue to communicate with local elected officials as we open more emergency sites.
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SCHENECTADY  Like she has many times before, Erin Bennett heard heartwarming stories from people who knew and worked with her late father, former State Police superintendent and Schenectady public safety commissioner Wayne E. Bennett.

They spoke of his love for the State Police and the leadership he provided to the agency during his tenure.

She, her stepmother and daughter Charlotte Roberts, 17, and their extended family spent last weekend visiting the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., where her fathers name was added to the memorials wall Monday. He is among hundreds of others from across the country in law enforcement who died in the line of duty.

Bennett said her fathers name was read aloud and she and her stepmother, Patricia Bennett, placed a rose inside a wreath to honor him.

The family also received a Supreme Sacrifice Medal of Honor.

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Seeing this massive large-scale ceremony occurring and all the care and respect that was being directed to my dad, seeing my dads name on this memorial, all I kept thinking of was, but hes just my dad, and for me, it was just very touching to see just how much he meant to people and how much his service has been valued by the state of New York and by our country, said the Saratoga Springs woman.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland delivered the keynote address as part of the remembrance that featured a candlelight vigil.

The names of the fallen officers are engraved on the memorial walls each year. The memorial is located at Judiciary Square, adjacent to the National Law Enforcement Museum.

Patricia Bennett recalled moments during the trip when she got a tap on the shoulder or someone glanced down at her name tag and asked if she's related to Wayne Bennett. Once she responded, they would talk in glowing terms of him or recall how he promoted a relative.

"It was just a lot of those nice words that helped me through it," said Patricia Bennett.

Additionally, the Schenectady police department will next month award its Wayne Bennett award to a deserving police officer.

In 2021, Bennett's name was added to the state 9/11 memorial in Albany and earlier this month to the state headquarters of the Fraternal Order of Police memorial in Long Island, said Patricia Bennett.

Bennett, 71, died in the summer of 2017 from cancer that began in his lungs and spread to his brain, his daughter said

The pathology and pattern of the illness were investigated and traced to ground zero where Bennett had spent time commanding State Police search-and-recovery operations in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The subsequent deaths of a number of police officers have been blamed on fumes from the site in the weeks and months after the Twin Towers collapsed.

I think what were seeing now is that folks like my dad, who he did not lose his life on Sept. 11, but he died as a result of a ground zero-related illness, Erin Bennett said.

After retiring from the State Police in 2007, Bennett was hired almost immediately by Schenectady Mayor Brian U. Stratton to become the citys public safety commissioner.

Mayor Gary McCarthy made Bennett his deputy mayor and Bennett split his day between working at City Hall and the police station. He, along with since-retired Police Chief Mark Chaires, was credited with carrying out reforms in a police department beset by federal and local prosecution of police officers and allegations of civil rights violations.

Between his work at the two agencies, Bennetts career lasted nearly 50 years.

Schenectady Police Chief Eric Clifford said Monday that Bennett established a level of professionalism that has carried on today.

He was a cops cop who believed in the work that was done on a daily basis, Clifford said. His presence, advice and stories are greatly missed.

Bennett joined the State Police in 1968, rising through the ranks before being nominated to the top spot in 2003 by then-Gov. George E. Pataki. Bennett was the agencys 12th superintendent.
FUTURASUN SRL

10 GW Cell manufacturing plant FuturaSun

the 266,000 sq PV cell plant announced by FuturaSun

The Italian producer of high-efficiency photovoltaic modules has signed a strategic agreement with the government of the city of Huai'an (Jiangsu), for the construction of its own solar cell factory

PADUA, Italy, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Another pivotal milestone for FuturaSun in the vertical integration of its photovoltaic supply chain: after the signing ceremony held on May 10th in Huai'an, the company joins the ranks of the world's top photovoltaic cell manufacturers.

The project involves the construction of a 266,000-square-meter gigafactory. The investment will initially amount to 150 million euros and will be carried out in two phases. In a 3-year span, once finalised and operational, the plant will have an annual production capacity of 10 GW of state-of-the-art N-type TOPCon solar cells.

The production process, starting in the spring of 2024, will be highly automated. The resulting solar cells will become an integral part of FuturaSun's modules, catering to both its Italian and Chinese gigafactories. Vertical integration will provide even greater quality assurance, enhanced supply autonomy, and increased ability to address future technological advancements.

"This is an unprecedented project in which our Italian Group sets the goal of entering an arena that has so far been dominated by Chinese big players. It is a testament to our ability to reach new frontiers and turn seemingly-impossible dreams into reality. Today, FuturaSun is further consolidating its supply chain, ensuring supply for the main module component  the solar cell  while upholding its quality standards  not only for our Chinese facilities but also, and most importantly, for their European counterparts. In just a few years of existence, we have emerged as a prominent reference in the photovoltaic industry, particularly within the framework of Europe-China relations", Alessandro Barin, CEO and co-founder of FuturaSun, comments.

Story continues

The signing ceremony was attended by high-level officials from both China and Italy. Zhu Haibo, Secretary of the Qingjiangpu District Party Committee, expressed gratitude for the attention and support towards the region. Alessandra Palumbo, Deputy Consul General of the Consulate General of Italy in Shanghai, together with Ermanno Vitali, board member of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in China, commended FuturaSun for its commitment towards research and development and environmental sustainability since its early days. Xu Ning, Co-founder and COO of FuturaSun, emphasized the excellent collaboration between FuturaSun and the Qingjiangpu District, which will bring numerous mutual benefits.

This ambitious project will become yet another achievement for the dynamic Italian company, which continues its path of industrial consolidation, positioning itself among the giants of the photovoltaic industry.

For the production of its photovoltaic modules, FuturaSun established its first gigafactory in Taizhou in 2020 and it is currently developing a second gigafactory and the HQ Asia in Suzhou. Both facilities are located within the photovoltaic district of Jiangsu Province, the largest and most dynamic in the world.

International media

Andrea Cortese

+39 33878 07018

press@futurasun.it

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b567d16c-3687-4ea0-b1e7-633456900cec




ALBANY  The newest honor proposed for Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. Henry Johnson would place his likeness on a U.S. postage stamp to salute his bravery fighting in World War I.

Capital Region veterans and politicians pushed for nearly a century to have Johnsons valor honored with the Purple Heart, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Medal of Honor and on June 13, the renaming of Fort Polk as Fort Johnson in Louisiana after his service was ignored due to systemic racism.

U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, who helped wage the successful campaign to see the Medal of Honor awarded to Johnson, is now urging the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee to select Johnson for a U.S. postage stamp.

Sgt. Henry Johnson, Albany resident and Harlem Hellfighter, is a true American hero, who displayed the most profound battlefield bravery in World War I, yet for almost a century the nation for which he was willing to give his life shamefully failed to recognize his heroics, just because he was a Black man. Now, on the 105th anniversary of the Battle of Henry Johnson, we have another incredible opportunity to preserve the story of this true American hero for generations to come by creating a Henry Johnson stamp, Schumer said in announcing the drive to get Johnson on a stamp.

The creation of a U.S. postage stamp to honor Sgt. Johnson is just one more important step in rectifying a century-old injustice to turn away from a sad chapter in American history and continue to give the recognition to Sgt. Johnson, and the countless other African Americans who courageously fought  and died  for a nation that failed to treat them with full equality before the law, Schumer continued.

Johnson served in Company C of the 369th U.S. Infantry Regiment, formerly the 15th New York National Guard, in the 93rd Infantry Division during World War I. The unit was assigned with the French Army due to being a Black unit. On May 15, 1918, Johnson fought off a German raiding patrol with a bolo knife after his rifle jammed, killing several of the German soldiers.

Johnson became a national hero at the time and was featured in stories and advertisements. While he was awarded the French Croix de Guerre with Gold Palm, he wouldnt receive any American medals until decades later.

After the war, Johnson returned to Albany where he worked as a porter at the train station. He had to live with the aftermath of surviving 21 combat injuries, and died in July 1929 at age 36. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

Schumers efforts on Johnsons behalf to place him on a stamp comes more than a year after 19th century sculptor Edmonia Lewiss portrait appeared on the 45th stamp in the United States Postal Service's Black Heritage series. An East Greenbush native, Lewis was of Black and Native American descent. She was internationally known during the 19th and early 20th centuries before fading away. East Greenbush Town Historian Robbie Reno was part of the successful drive to win Lewis a stamp.

Johnsons appearance on a stamp would place him in the company of such World War I heroes as Sgt. Alvin York, who captured 132 Germans, and Gen. John J. Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Force in Europe and was nicknamed Black Jack for commanding the Black 10th U.S. Cavalry Regiment.
NEW YORK (AP)  Allies of former Vice President Mike Pence are launching a new super PAC to support his expected candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

Committed to America, the Pence-sanctioned group, publicly launches Tuesday, according to people familiar with the project, who spoke on condition of anonymity to share details of the planning and strategy.

The countrys at real crossroads and the Republican Party needs a strong conservative candidate who can win, said Scott Reed, the longtime GOP consultant, who will co-chair the group. Pence has the experience, the unparalleled character, communication skills and the conservative credentials to win both the nomination and a general election.

The launch is the latest sign that Pence is moving ahead with his expected bid for the GOP nomination  a move that would put him in direct contention with his former boss, former President Donald Trump. Pence has said he will announce his plans well before late June and aides have been discussing potential launch dates for a campaign as early as May, but more likely in June. In the meantime, Pence has kept a busy schedule of visits to early-voting states, policy speeches and media interviews as he gears up for a run.

The new group will be co-chaired by Reed, who previously served as political director of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and managed Bob Doles 1996 presidential campaign. Joining him will be former Texas Rep. Jeb Hensarling, who developed a close friendship with Pence when they served in the House and is a former chair of the House Republican Conference.

Serving as executive director will be Bobby Saparow, who managed Georgia Gov. Brian Kemps winning 2022 reelection campaign. Kemp defeated his Trump-endorsed challenger, former Sen. David Perdue, by more than 50 points. Trump had targeted Kemp as retribution for the governor's refusal to go along with his desperate attempts to overturn his defeat in the state's 2020 presidential election  a plot that is now under investigation and expected to yield multiple indictments.

Mike Ricci, who previously served as communications director to former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, will oversee communications.

Pence faces an uphill battle to the nomination with much of the attention and fundraising focused so far on Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is planning his own entry into the race in the coming weeks. The field also includes former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson. South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott has formed a presidential exploratory committee and is expected to formally launch his campaign next week.

The new Pence group is animated by the belief that while the former congressman, talk radio host, Indiana governor and vice president of the United States is widely known by voters, their perceptions are mostly colored by his time as Trump's ever-loyal second-in-command.

They believe that if people are reminded of his experience, his character and his conservative credentials, they will embrace his candidacy.

People know Mike Pence, they just dont know him well, Reed said. This campaign is going to reintroduce Mike Pence to the country as his own man, not as vice president, but as a true economic, social and national security conservative  a Reagan conservative.

The group sees early-voting Iowa as critical for Pence and plans to launch their efforts there before expanding to other states, including New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada.

Were going to organize Iowa, all 99 counties, like were running him for county sheriff, said Reed.

They note a large portion of caucus-voters identify as Evangelical Christians, and believe Pence, a born-again Evangelical, staunch opponent of abortion rights, and a Midwesterner, will connect especially well in the state, which in previous years boosted the campaigns of fellow conservatives like Ted Cruz, Rick Santorum and Mike Huckabee. Ultimately, however, they all failed to win their partys nomination after first-place caucus finishes.

The people familiar with the super PAC would not say how much money had been committed to the group by donors, but insisted that they will raise as much money as they need to spend.

The group intends to focus on building a data and paid ground operation dedicated to turning people out to vote for Pence, citing Kemps campaign as a model.

We are going to do something very similar, Saparow said. You will see that what we built out with Gov. Kemp is going to be taken to the national stage. So we will also be doing a very extensive paid voter contact program through Committed to America."

There is a recipe and there is a roadmap of success that Ive worked on in the past that I believe well be able to replicate with the vice president," he added.

They also spoke specifically of Pence's role on Jan. 6, 2021, when he resisted Trump's pressure campaign to overturn the results of the 2020 election  a power that Pence, as vice president, never possessed. Pence had been proceeding over a joint session of Congress to certify President Joe Biden's win when a violent mob of Trump's supporters broke into the Capitol, smashing windows, ramming through doors and clashing with police. Pence was rushed to safety in a Senate loading dock as some outside the building chanted, Hang Mike Pence!

The people said they believe voters will be drawn to Pence's defense of the Constitution. Yet it remains unclear how salient that position will be in a party still dominated by the former president. A large swath of Trump's base will never forgive Pence for his actions that day, while many Trump critics see the former vice president as complicit in Trump's most divisive actions.

A Quinnipiac University national poll released in May found 36% of Republicans nationwide view Pence unfavorably -- a higher unfavorable rating than Trump or DeSantis.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  Oman Air said Tuesday that one of its Boeing 737s had been grounded in Iran after sustaining damage caused by debris on the runway at Shiraz International Airport.

The Muscat-based flag carrier for the sultanate did not elaborate on what debris the plane struck on landing Monday in Shiraz. Iranian officials did not immediately acknowledge the incident involving the aircraft.

Our engineering team is undertaking the necessary measures to safely bring the aircraft back to Muscat, the airline said in an online statement. It described the route as operating as a chartered flight and that those stuck had been provided accommodation in Shiraz, some 680 kilometers (420 miles) southeast of Tehran.

However, other airlines have faced challenges in bringing back damaged aircraft. U.S. sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program have barred spare aviation parts from being on hand in the Islamic Republic. That complicates repairs on aircraft from both Boeing Co. and Airbus, which have American-made parts.

In December 2018, a brand-new Boeing 737 Max flown by Norwegian Air Shuttle landed in Shiraz after a fault in one of its engines while flying from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. The aircraft remained stuck on the ground there for several months before finally leaving.

The airport in Shiraz, like many others in the Mideast, is used by both commercial and military flights.

Iran and Oman have maintained close relations through the decades, even amid Tehran's tensions with its Gulf Arab neighbors and the U.S. Oman frequently has served as an interlocutor for the West with Iran.
Some Malta residents feel blindsided by a plan with the potential to change the neighborhood they call home. And it's not the first time town leaders have left residents in the dark.

Plans are proceeding for a 6,000-square-foot State Police barracks in a residential area of Maltas Luther Forest. The town gave the property to the state in 2021, but Luther Forest residents say they didn't know about that transfer until recently.

Theyre upset about the loss of forested land  a big part of the areas character  and worried about the added traffic a steady stream of police cruisers will bring to a residential-zoned family neighborhood where that traffic would have to cross a pedestrian/bike path.

Town officials say people had plenty of notice about the plan. Residents say thats not true, and that meeting agendas had listed vague topics like "police services and "land conveyance to the state."

Frankly, when it comes to how Malta town leaders have handled development recently, residents skepticism is warranted. Consider the plans for the South Shore Marina, a project that similarly saw public objections and a lack of official transparency: Condo developers at first promised a public canoe launch on Saratoga Lake, then later replaced that with a new offer  how about they fork over some cash to the municipal government instead (how much? undisclosed), and then cut off the towns public lake access? Residents, understandably, were not in favor  and neither was the Malta planning board, which rejected the development as having no public benefit. But the Town Board overrode that decision. "It will be good for the town, said Malta Supervisor Mark Hammond.

Last summer, the Town Board's livestream video shut off during a particularly angry meeting about the South Shore Marina project  and stayed off for subsequent meetings. Archived meetings on the same project were taken off the town YouTube channel.

In other words: Town officials tuned out public dissent, and even debate, on a development decision with broad potential impact. The same thing it appears theyre doing with the barracks project.

On the state police plan, town officials suggest the objections are coming as a surprise. "I wish we heard concerns when the issue was being discussed and decided between 2019 and 2021," said Board Member Tim Dunn.

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Those who remembered their recent history might not feel so taken aback: A decade ago, residents protests scuttled a plan for a fire station in the same location over similar concerns about traffic and noise.

Or heres another way to know how residents feel: Keep them informed, give them a clear, plain, direct way to give input, and show them their concerns are being considered. Because thats how representative government is supposed to work. The notion of government by the people and for the people deserves respect, not a vague line item on an agenda.
ALBANY  State Senate Democrats on Tuesday advanced legislation to close a lobbying loophole on judicial nominations and other state offices that followed undisclosed efforts earlier this year to influence votes on the selection of New York's chief judge.

The legislation was announced by Senate Democrats in February after a Times Union story highlighted the lack of public reporting requirements for outside groups seeking to buttress or oppose a judicial nomination.

Gov. Kathy Hochuls initial nomination of Appellate Division Justice Hector D. LaSalle to be chief judge of the Court of Appeals had sparked organized efforts from outside interests seeking to influence lawmakers.

An outside group, Latinos for LaSalle, pushed for the confirmation of LaSalle, who would have become the state's first Latino chief judge. Often at rallies the group held, supporters held signs paid for by Citizens for Judicial Fairness, a group that is known for its work to influence the court system in Delaware.

A spokesman for Citizens for Judicial Fairness previously told the Times Union that the group had reviewed state law and determined it was not obligated to report details of its spending on the LaSalle nomination. The spokesman told the newspaper the group had spent between $75,000 and $100,000 on its efforts.

In the fight against LaSalles nomination, at least one progressive group, the Center for Community Alternatives, pushed against the justices confirmation. The center reported lobbying activity on LaSalle, although there was no defined way within the states system to specifically detail lobbying on a judicial nomination.

Will Waldron, Times Union

Will Waldron/Times Union

LaSalles nomination was defeated by the state Senate in the first-ever rejection of a governors nomination of a candidate for the Court of Appeals.

The public has a right to know where that money is coming from, state Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris said Tuesday in the state Capitol, touting his legislation.

The legislation, which will be reviewed by the state Assembly, would require reporting to the states ethics commission on any lobbying done on nominations to a state office  such as a commissioner  or judgeships; the requirements would be similar to those for individuals or groups seeking to influence legislation. Assemblyman John McDonald, D-Cohoes, is sponsoring the measure in the Assembly, where it's awaiting review in the Governmental Operations Committee.

The bill is part of a broader package pushed by the Senate Democrats this week. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said the broader proposals would provide crucial judicial oversight and make sure our judges and courts remain accountable to the law.

Other legislation includes allowing audio-visual recordings of judicial proceedings, which nearly all other states allow, and making cases before the Commission on Judicial Conduct public at the moment a judge is charged with misconduct. Other measures would strengthen requirements on judicial training, monitor bail data for potential judicial bias and require public posting of financial disclosures forms for judges.
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SARANAC LAKE  The accreditation commission for Paul Smiths College is asking the Adirondack school to submit a plan to relocate students should it cease programs or operations.

Instead of approving the financially struggling colleges request to be acquired by The Fedcap Group, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education took the unusual step of calling for the colleges teach-out plan.

Such a plan is necessary should an accredited institution of higher education close or discontinue programs, but the college administration said the plan was deemed necessary because the school experienced a cyberattack.

Teach-out plans include a written contract with another institution to provide an opportunity for the students of the closed school to complete their program, regardless of their academic progress at the time of closure, according to the Code of Federal Regulations.

The Middle States Commission asked Paul Smiths on April 26 to submit plans under terms of the code, according to documents from the commission. The commission seeks the material by Monday, May 22, the day after the four-year colleges commencement.

The administration did not respond to inquiries about the Middle States notices until Paul Smiths Chief of Staff Nicole Feml emailed after this story was published online that the college is not closing, has no plans to close, and is working in partnership with Fedcap to plan for the years ahead.

As a result of a recent cyberattack, federal regulations require us to develop a teach-out plan as merely a precautionary measure, she said. The teach-out plan has no relevance or relationship to our financial planning, enrollment targets or partnership with Fedcap.

She noted that the state has authorized programming for the coming semester but did not get into the details of the cyberattack or other issues raised by Middle States.

The commissions notice arrived after the Middle States informed Paul Smiths that its petition to be acquired by Fedcap, identified as a complex substantive change request, remained incomplete despite earlier calls for completion. Now, the commission expects the college to start the review process over.

The colleges approval request was materially incomplete because the written evidence of required approvals was not submitted within the one-year maximum time limit for the Commissions review. The deadline was March 11. A new request is due Aug. 1 with proof of approvals, the commission said.

The approvals needed likely refer to the authorizations the college has sought from the state Education Department for its novel combination with an acquirer that isnt an accredited college.

Lawyers from the Education Department and from the state attorney generals office have consulted on the Paul Smiths application, according to state documents made available from a public records request.

Matters including a potential charter amendment have been discussed, according to the records provided by the state to the Adirondack Explorer under the Freedom of Information Law.

The college has been seeking approval for more than a year of its plan for Fedcap to become the sole member of a corporation that would control the school save for an independent board of trustees.

Fedcap, based in New York City, runs training programs aimed at preparing people for the workforce. It has wanted to be associated with a college to enhance offerings of its many affiliated nonprofits engaged in job and skills training.

In a brief conversation, Fedcap President Christine McMahon told the Explorer last week that her group remains interested in acquiring Paul Smiths. Were highly, highly, highly motivated and believe in Paul Smiths College, she said.

She said higher education is a pathway to economic well-being. Were heavily motivated to continue to advance access to higher education for a broader range of people, she said. Higher education is certainly facing particular headwinds.

As schools compete for students, small private colleges have struggled, causing restructuring and closings.

For instance, Cazenovia College ends operations in June, resulting in 552 layoffs, according to state records. It developed teach-out agreements for its undergraduates with several colleges, including SUNY schools, but not with Paul Smiths, according to Middle States commission records.

Earlier this month, Daniel Kelting, Paul Smiths interim president, informed faculty that layoffs may be necessary. The colleges student population fell below 600, he revealed, hundreds short of its one-time capacity.

State education officials have received letters of support of the Fedcap acquisition from the leaders representing Paul Smiths alumni, students, staff and faculty as well as from Assemblyman Matt Simpson of Horicon and Joe Martens, of Lake Placid, the chairman of the Olympic Regional Development Authority.

The two men chose similar words, sometimes using the exact same sentences.

At a time when many small private colleges are shuttering, this partnership will ensure Paul Smiths sustainability for years to come, Martens wrote.

Martens, and Simpson, whose son graduated from Paul Smiths in 2019, both noted that the school generates $67 million in annual regional economic activity and provides important environmental education.

Our community simply cannot afford to lose Paul Smiths College, Simpson wrote. He said no one asked him to write. Like Martens letter, Simpsons was addressed to the college board of trustees, whose leaders have declined interview requests.

This story is excerpted from the Adirondack Explorer, a nonprofit news organization that covers the Adirondack Park. Its journalism is published in a bimonthly magazine and daily on adirondackexplorer.org.
A group of five have been trying their luck with the Powerball since 2000 and it finally paid off, Idaho officials said.

The former coworkers have been buying a QuickPick ticket every five weeks in Malad City for 23 years and finally bought a winning ticket with a prize of $150,000, according to an April 19 news release by the Idaho Lottery.

The group of five split the winnings evenly, Idaho lotto officials said.

Though two of them have moved to AZ and some have passed on, this group has never missed their chance to win big, lottery officials said in the news release.

The group is splitting the prize money evenly, officials said.

Two of the winners will be putting the money toward spoiling their grandchildren after taking a trip to Australia together, while another winner plans to host an extra spectacular 80-person annual family reunion, according to the release.

McClatchy News reached out to the Idaho Lottery on April 21 and is awaiting a response.

Malad City is about 270 miles southeast of Boise.

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.

Dad wanted to beat daughters past Idaho lottery win. His prize was like fireworks

Woman with a lucky feeling uses last few dollars to score big Maryland lottery win

Are you messing with me? Wife doesnt believe husbands Powerball win in Missouri

Walmart manager in complete disbelief after checking Idaho lottery ticket on break
The Minister for Health is urging people across Ireland to discuss organ donation with loved ones.

The call comes ahead of Organ Donor Awareness Week, which is organised by the Irish Kidney Association (IKA) in association with the HSEs Organ Donation Transplant Ireland (ODTI) and takes place between May 20 - 27, 2023.

This year's campaign is built around the theme 'Dont Leave Your Loved Ones in Doubt!

Speaking at the launch today (May 16), Minister Stephen Donnelly said, "I urge everyone to please discuss organ donation with your loved ones, and let them know of your intention to donate. By doing this, you will give them the comfort of knowing theyve carried out your wishes if you pass on, and will leave them with no doubt.

"I am delighted to see that the organ donation and transplantation system in Ireland has recovered substantially from the impact of COVID-19, with 250 transplants performed last year. We have also seen further growth this year with an astounding total of 81 transplants performed in the first quarter of 2023. This is the best start to a year that our organ donation and transplantation system has ever had."

He continued: "I want to thank all of those involved: the transplant centres, ICU staff, organ donor nurse managers, Organ Donation and Transplant Ireland, and all of those who have worked to raise awareness.

"As a government, we have taken a number of measures over the past few years to improve organ donation and transplantation services in Ireland. This includes the introduction of the Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Bill and the provision of 2.25 million in additional funding to support the ongoing development of transplant services."

The Human Tissue Bill will introduce an opt-out system of organ donation to Ireland, with the aim of increasing the amount of organs available for donation to patients in need.

According to the minister, consent will be "central" to this system, and those who object to donating their organs will be able to opt out.

He said, "Organ donation is the gift of life to another. Transplantation brings a profound improvement in the quality of life for a transplant recipient, and can give them a second chance at life. For this reason, it is so important that we raise awareness of this each Organ Donor Awareness Week."
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said the blockade of roads around accommodation for asylum seekers in Co Clare is not necessary.

Locals blocked access to the site of the disused Magowna House Hotel in Inch shortly after the arrival of 34 asylum seekers on Monday evening.

On Tuesday morning, around a dozen protesters remained on the blockade, with the tractors that had been used to prevent access swapped for other vehicles in the afternoon.

A small group of locals carrying signs saying refugees welcome had gathered across from the protest later in the day.

On Tuesday afternoon some of the asylum seekers in the hotel expressed fear over the ongoing situation and headed with their belongings towards Ennis, located around an hour-and-a-half away on foot.

Others looked prepared to leave as their luggage was stacked outside the state-provided accommodation.

Mr Varadkar said the blockade was not necessary and that the Minister for Equality and Integration, Roderic OGorman, would meet with representatives from the community.

I dont think whats happening there is necessary, Id very much echo the comments of the Tanaiste (Micheal Martin) earlier today that I dont think the blockade is necessary, Mr Varadkar told RTE.

What we do need is to engage with the community and I know Minister OGorman is going to meet with representatives tomorrow to do exactly that.

But you know, we are facing an unprecedented situation, nearly 100,000 people from other parts of the world, mainly Ukraine, have come to Ireland seeking refuge, seeking shelter. We have to provide for them whatever accommodation is available and it isnt always going to be perfect, but it is the best we can do.

And I know that huge numbers of communities around Ireland have welcomed people into their communities, including in County Clare, and there will of course be engagement with local reps tomorrow.

Clare County Council said it had not received formal notification of the arrival of asylum seekers after a meeting where locals expressed their concerns to officials.

Protesters said they would not prevent asylum seekers from leaving, and have allowed food deliveries and some members of the media through.

One of the tractor drivers participating in the blockade, who did not want to provide his name, said locals had concerns about fire safety and sewage management on the site.

He also said that the asylum seekers were being moved underhandedly.

So we stopped the roads, we blocked the roads so a second bus could not get in, he said, as locals had heard a further 35 people were to be accommodated at the site.

He said this would mean there would be 70 people in this locality with nowhere to go and questioned how the asylum seekers would integrate into the community.

Clare County Council officials and elected members met a large group of locals from the Inch and Kilmaley community for two hours.

The authority said locals had expressed concerns about the arrival of asylum seekers, particularly in relation to the building and suitability of the location.

The council welcomed the engagement from the community and will liaise with agencies to provide the wraparound services such as transport, health, education and immigrant support services, it said in a statement to the PA news agency.

We have also committed to keeping local councillors and community members involved in the response, it added.

At this time we have not received formal notification or details of the arrivals.

There were tense exchanges outside the centre, and by mid-afternoon seven asylum seekers had left the accommodation over concerns for their safety and dissatisfaction with the accommodation.

Sharif from Algeria told reporters that he was leaving the hotel and heading back to Dublin, but said he would have liked to stay.

Were going to Dublin city centre, well live homeless in Dublin city centre, he said, adding that this was better than here because they felt they were not accepting us here.

He said that initially there had been 34 men in the three holiday homes, with bunk beds provided for them.

I want to live here, yes, (its) lovely here but (theres a) problem with people, maybe.

He said he would walk to Ennis from the hotel and travel on to Dublin city centre.

I want to stay here really, he said, adding that he would not because he did not feel welcome.

Others said they were happy to stay.

Sultan Muhammad, from Afghanistan, said he came to Ireland five months ago and had been staying in Citywest in Dublin.

He described the situation in Co Clare as difficult but said the accommodation was OK.

We are feeling good here. I like this place.

He added: I like it, I will live here.

Maria Kerin Walsh, an artist from Bellharbour in Co Clare who arrived at the scene on Tuesday, said everyone is welcome and we dont want to add to any more trauma.

All I know is, the most important thing when you come from somewhere awful is that people show you care and respect, she said.

Actually, this is down to respect for the human. What we have heard from people from Ukraine is they are delighted to be in a tiny room because it is a safe room.

So if we dont offer safeness and respect and compassion at the very first instance, the rest is immaterial.

Minister of State for Community Development Joe OBrien said the hotel did not have a fire safety certificate but there was no issue with fire safety or wastewater management at the holiday homes.

I just ask people to step down the blockade, I think it is done on the basis of a misunderstanding of whats happened, he said.

Mr OBrien said there is ongoing work at the hotel and people would not be accommodated there until it is safe.

He said there are 500 asylum seekers without accommodation in Ireland and the Government was looking at every possible angle and every possible case.

On concerns about the isolated location of the holiday homes, Mr OBrien told RTEs Today With Claire Byrne that a shuttle bus would be provided to Ennis for asylum seekers who wanted to access services there.

The Fianna Fail TD for Clare, Cathal Crowe, said there has been a lack of information about the accommodation of asylum seekers at the site and suggested that someone has put the cart before the horse.

He said that last year, Clare County Council decided Magowna House was unsuitable as accommodation for Ukrainian refugees.

It wasnt fit for purpose last night so theyre crammed into ancillary buildings on the site and I just think someone has put the cart before the horse here, he told RTEs Morning Ireland.

I would take the view that if youre going to bring people to a facility, it should be safe, it should be a sanitary environment.

Its questionable if Magowna House is at that level yet.

Mr Crowe said the protesters are entitled to their concerns.

Look, I dont personally believe in blockading roads, he said, but added: I dont think the word blockade I dont think its exactly that, as he had been allowed to use the road.

He said he visited the hotel on Monday due to a lack of information from the Department of Integration and his office was being bombarded with emails and phone calls.

We did get a briefing note from the department late on Thursday but there was still a lot of stuff I couldnt answer, he said.

It (the briefing note) related to the mechanics of the situation: that there would be a contract between the department and the owner, that it would initially be for a 12-month duration, that there would be a manager on site, that meals would be cooked on site and that it would be for men in the international protection system.
May 16, 2023





When looking to the future, you may think seriously about what your business will look like in a few years to a decade. No matter what kind of technology you work with, some basic ideas can help you with the growth of your company. Although preparing for this new and exciting stage in your business may initially seem overwhelming, following a few steps will give you a plan for the future.







Think About Security

As the number of customers in your database grows, so do any potential threats to their personal information. Since so many customers take advantage of payment options online, it is more important than ever to have high-quality digital security measures in place.

You may also want to have software for anyone working from home so you can remotely assist your employees and connect with them. Using unsafe or old programs may leave your sensitive information open to hackers or viruses.

Focus on Storage Space

Working mainly with digital files can leave you constantly running out of storage for documents and video files you and your employees need to work throughout the day. Improving efficiency by getting a large file sharing platform is one way to store a variety of files, such as digital audio and drone footage, in one easily-accessible place.

Instead of scrambling to share and edit important information across different workspaces, your employees can seamlessly and safely get access to any file they need. When you need more than the average amount of storage on your device, getting a large file collaboration platform can save you time and energy as your company grows bigger.

Take Care of Customer Relationships

Crafting a marketing plan that helps your customers stay aware of any new deals or products you offer is one important part of growing as a company. Utilizing email reminders and sales funnels to keep potential customers interested over a long period of time is key during this expansion.

Since technology advancements move so quickly, it can benefit you to have a clear message ready to advertise. Not only will you stand out from your competition, but you will also stay continually focused on the future. Staying friendly with your customers can benefit you when you begin to reach out to new markets as well.

Stay Detailed and Organized

When you begin really gaining customers as a business, the amount of growth may lead to high turnover rates among employees if confusion and disorganization increases. Having a keen eye for detail and nurturing that skill in your employees may assist you when your company grows larger and takes on more challenges. Not only do long-term goals affect the morale of the company, but short-term ones can also influence how people feel and how much they are willing to dedicate themselves on a daily basis.

Remember Your Core Mission

When a business expands, delivering the same level of quality is important in order to prove to your original customers that you are worth keeping around. Strong and focused leaders who know the company mission are key for bringing different areas and departments of a business into alignment during periods of growth.

This can often include increased communication with employees, especially if there were more recent hires. Broadcasting the key points you need your employees to know, such as the business's overall goals and why it is unique in the marketplace, can help everyone feel more united.

Use Your Time Wisely

It can be easy to get off track and spend more time organizing the structure of the business than actually handling the day-to-day tasks and guiding the business toward the future. Splitting your time between different problems, such as onboarding enough new employees and securing more customers, is important. Giving too much attention to long-term or short-term issues at the expense of the other one can lead to worse issues later on.

Bolstering Your Business Gives You a Way to Grow

No matter where you are on the way to growing as a company, strategizing and learning more about ways to cut down on excessive distractions can help you. The more you prepare for the growth of your company, the more confident you may feel taking on any challenges that lie ahead.
[May 15, 2023] Global IoT Professional Services Market Report 2023-2028: Rising Adoption of Blockchain-Based IoT Solutions for Smart Contracts and Edge Computing

DUBLIN, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "IoT Professional Services Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast. 2018-2028 Segmented By Service Type, By Organization Size, By Deployment Type, By End Use Industry, By Region, Competition" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Global IoT Professional Services Market is anticipated to grow at a robust pace during the forecast period, 2023-2028 Global expansion of connected devices and rising demand for highly customized professional IoT services in the industrial and transportation sectors is boosting the market growth. Moreover, the emergence of the next generation of 5G mobile connectivity technology is boosting the IoT ecosystem, enabling networks to serve billions of connected devices is also driving the growth in the IoT professional services market.



Internet of Things (IoT) Professional Services is a set of continuing, constantly developing services that make it easier for physical items (equipment) and computers to share and exchange data. IoT services are divided into four primary categories: infrastructure, support & maintenance, system planning & integration, and consultancy. These services enable organizations to wirelessly connect their equipment with other devices to improve the precision of business processes. Although this technology has a wide range of applications, it is heavily utilized by enterprises across a variety of industries, including retail operations, manufacturing facilities, and smart cities.



Favorable conditions in the Internet of Things (IoT) professional services market are driven by the increasing adoption of smart farming and growing demand for cloud-based service management platforms. Enterprises planning a large-scale digital transformation of their business operations need professional IoT services. This service helps you efficiently define, design, and deploy IoT-based systems by providing end-to-end support for all phases of IoT deployment. These services include understanding customer requirements, architectural frameworks, high-level design, results validation, transformation readiness, program plan extension, adoption readiness, deployment execution, business reviews, and value realization and are presented in phases. The above factors combine to create opportunities for market growth, but factors such as the need for uniform regulatory standards and universal protocols constrain the market.



Rising Adoption of Connected Devices



The growing trend of adopting connected devices in the industry is positively influencing the market. The number of IoT connections at scale is expectedto double to reach nearly 200 million connections. By the end of 2027, 40% of cellular IoT connections will be broadband IoT, with 4G connections being the largest.



However, with this 5G New Radio (NR) deployment on the old and new spectrum, data throughput rates for this segment are expected to increase significantly. New applications and business models, as well as falling device costs, have contributed to this. IoT technology at the scale of NB-IoT and Cat-M1 continues to be deployed worldwide. Massive IoT technologies are expected to account for 51% of all cellular IoT connections, overtaking broadband IoT cellular connectivity. This rise in the adoption of connected devices is driving the growth of the global IoT professional services market.





Rising Adoption of Blockchain-Based IoT Solutions for Smart Contracts And Edge Computing



The Internet of Things (IoT) with Edge Computing is a large-scale virtual system that enhances processing and capacity between clients and the server farm of the traditional cloud computing system. Edge Computing devices can communicate with one another without external interference. The blockchain can be used for communications between blockchain IoT devices and edge computing centers. Since there has been an increase in demand for blockchain IoT technologies over the years, businesses have developed solutions that offer blockchain IoT solutions for edge computing and smart contracts. As a result, it is anticipated that the growing usage of blockchain-based IoT solutions for smart contracts and edge computing will offer companies in the global IoT professional service market lucrative growth forecasts. Market Dynamics Drivers Rising Adoption of Connected Device

Rising Adoption of Blockchain-Based IoT Solutions for Smart Contracts and Edge Computing

Growth in Internet Penetration Challenges Concerns Related with Data Privacy

Rise in Cyber Crimes Market Trends & Developments Increasing Demand for IoT-enabled Digital Transformation of Enterprises

Rise in Technological Development

Government Initiatives

Increased Adoption in SMEs

Increasing Inclination towards Smart Devices Competitive Landscape



Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global IoT Professional Services market. Atos SE

Tata Consultancy Services Limited

Accenture PLC

IBM Corporation

AT&T Inc.

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp.

DXC Technology Company

Capgemini SE

Oracle Corporation

Wipro Technologies Report Scope:



IoT Professional Services Market, By Service Type: IoT Consulting Service

IoT Infrastructure Service

System Designing & Integration Service

Support & Maintenance Service

Education & Training Service IoT Professional Services Market, By Organization Size: SMEs

Large Enterprises IoT Professional Services Market, By Deployment Type: Cloud

On-premises IoT Professional Services Market, By End Use Industry: IT & Telecom

Retail

Manufacturing

Healthcare

BFSI

Others IoT Professional Services Market, By Region: North America

United States

Canada

Mexico

Asia-Pacific

India

Japan

South Korea

Australia

Singapore

Malaysia

Europe

Germany

United Kingdom

France

Russia

Spain

Belgium

Italy

South America

Brazil

Argentina

Colombia

Peru

Chile

Middle East

Saudi Arabia

South Africa

UAE

Israel

Turkey For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/3jv0bz About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



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Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-iot-professional-services-market-report-2023-2028-rising-adoption-of-blockchain-based-iot-solutions-for-smart-contracts-and-edge-computing-301824772.html SOURCE Research and Markets

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[May 15, 2023] Hybrid Work Goes Italian: Vodafone Business and RingCentral Redefine Communication

TMCnet News Business digital transformation has accelerated during the past few years, with remote and hybrid work models becoming the norm rather than the exception. One key development that is making remote work situations effective is the growing adoption of Unified Communications (News - Alert)-as-a -Service. UCaaS has been touted as a game-changer for modern businesses with the way providers integrate voice, video, messaging, and collaboration functions into a single platform, facilitating seamless communication and collaboration, regardless of location, device, or network.



One very recent example is the partnership between Vodafone (News - Alert) Business and RingCentral in Italy. This collaboration has given birth to Vodafone Business UC with RingCentral, a fully cloud-based, integrated communications solution that merges RingCentral's (News - Alert) AI-powered enterprise cloud communications and collaboration tools with Vodafone's fixed and mobile voice communications. Now available in Italy, the solution is designed to power hybrid work models for businesses of all sizes. The Vodafone Business UC with RingCentral platform offers businesses a versatile and affordable tool for enhancing collaboration and communication amongst employees, customers, and suppliers, no matter where they are or when they need to connect. It is truly built for the modern workforce, offering an array of capabilities from instant messaging and HD video conferencing to file sharing and task management across desktop and mobile devices - everything workers need to be productive anywhere.

According to Lorenzo Forina, Director of Vodafone Business Italia, the solution is a response to the changing needs of businesses. "With the launch of Vodafone Business UC with RingCentral, we are providing companies with a tool to simplify communications and make business processes more flexible and the work of their employees more agile," Forina says. "This platform, which is rooted in the global collaboration with RingCentral, will allow people to work effectively and collaboratively wherever they are, and allow companies to take another step forward in migrating to the cloud in their digital transition journey." For companies to thrive in today's fast-paced digital landscape, having the right tools for effective collaboration and communication is essential. UCaaS solutions like Vodafone Business UC with RingCentral are designed to meet this demand. The solution can be integrated into a company's existing application infrastructure, increasing the efficiency of business processes and remote working. It also offers a unified experience across various devices, enabling business phone numbers on any smartphone, computer, or tablet. The growth of UCaaS adoption is driven by its myriad benefits, which include cost savings, increased productivity, improved collaboration, and enhanced customer service. As businesses continue to navigate the realities of a hybrid workforce, solutions that offer seamless and integrated communication and collaboration tools will be invaluable. Moreover, the Vodafone Business UC with RingCentral platform extends the potential and flexibility of fixed network and cloud communications offers, providing companies with a tool to manage their employees' remote working more efficiently, digitize the workplace, and expand their business into the cloud. Yves Desmet, SVP Global Service Providers EMEA, RingCentral, also commented on the partnership: "At RingCentral, we are focused on giving our customers the right tools to perform their jobs with the highest level of efficiency and productivity. Businesses know that team messaging, video meetings, and cloud phone are crucial for workplace productivity. Combining RingCentral's cloud communications with Vodafone Italy's leadership in mobility, 5G, and fixed network unlocks new ways for companies to grow and run their businesses." This strategic partnership on a global scale is aimed at providing new cloud-based communication services to enhance collaboration and communication for businesses of all sizes in several countries, including the UK, Germany, and Italy. As hybrid work continues to define the future of work, such collaborations will play a pivotal role in enabling businesses to adapt and thrive. Partnerships like this one are a testament to the rapid advances in communication technology. The digital age has ushered in a new era where the lines between physical and virtual workspaces are increasingly blurred. In this environment, effective and efficient communication becomes not just a necessity, but a critical competitive advantage. The value of UCaaS for businesses lies in its potential to streamline communication and collaboration, irrespective of geographical boundaries or time zones. In the context of a modern workforce that is increasingly dispersed, this can significantly enhance productivity and efficiency. It allows for real-time collaboration, reducing delays and improving the quality of outputs. Moreover, by integrating different communication channels into a single platform, UCaaS reduces complexity, making it easier for employees to connect and collaborate. Beyond the immediate benefits for employees, UCaaS also holds substantial value for businesses from a strategic standpoint. By adopting cloud-based communication solutions, businesses can ensure continuity and resilience, crucial in an age of rapid change and uncertainty. Additionally, the scalability of UCaaS solutions means that they can grow alongside the business, adapting to changing needs and demands without the need for significant capital investment. The future of work is here, and it is hybrid, flexible, and cloud-based. Businesses that can adapt and leverage the capabilities of solutions like Vodafone Business UC with RingCentral will be well-positioned to thrive. As the boundaries of the workplace continue to evolve, the companies that can successfully navigate these changes will be the ones that can effectively harness the power of UCaaS to transform their communication practices and, by extension, their business operations.





Edited by Erik Linask



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[May 15, 2023] Banpu NEXT forays into Asia-Pacific market for battery energy storage system, spearheaded by Durapower to capture growing demands across region

SINGAPORE, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Banpu NEXT, a leading smart energy solutions provider in Asia-Pacific, is making its full foray into its battery business as the company joins forces with its subsidiary Durapower Holdings Pte Ltd ("Durapower" and together with its subsidiaries, Durapower Group), a global leader in performance lithium-ion battery storage solutions, to become a vertically-integrated player in the battery business and build up its capabilities to offer a wider range of products and services, while also expanding its customer base across the Asia-Pacific region. Leveraging on the company experience with Battery Energy Storage System ("BESS") deployments in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, Durapower partnered Banpu NEXT to achieve a new milestone with a successful first rollout of the BESS installed at the Solar Hybrid Power Plant for self-consumption at an Indonesian mining site. Banpu NEXT is now set to introduce BESS to other business operations of Banpu Group and offer this solution to enterprise customers to support the growing market demands and drive sustainable growth of the company's battery business. Durapower's BESS, a high-performance, liquid-cooled, lithium-ion based containerised BESS, was established at Banpu NEXT's Solar Hybrid Power Plant for self-consumption at an Indonesian mining site to meet operational demands. The systems are backed by stringent safety performance with multi-tier safeguards, and International Electrotechnical Commission ("IEC") and United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Regulation ("UN ECE") certified cells and modules. A BESS integrated in a solar hybrid system is an effective opportunity for commercial and industrial operators to meet emission reduction and decarbonization targets. The BESS is the culmination of customisation expertise from Durapower's extensive electric vehicle and ESS experience, and regionalised supply chain access to help our customers meet their rigorous operational targets while optimising budgets and timelines. Over the years, Banpu NEXT and Durapower have jointly expanded multiple aspects of their energy storage business. For example, lithium-ion batteries have been sourced from Durapower for solutions and energy services provided by Banpu NEXT, including MuvMi e-Tuk Tuk for Ride Sharing, electric cars for mobility sharing and e-Ferry services. To support inroads into the ESS market, the two companies also increased battery production capacity at teir China manufacturing plant and established a new battery assembly plant in Thailand. Earlier this year, Banpu NEXT also increased its existing shareholding in Durapower to 65.10%, turning its status into Durapower's parent company.



Mr. Sinon Vongkusolkit, Chief Executive Officer of Banpu NEXT, said "With our commitment to become the Net-Zero Energy Provider for all enterprises, we continue to strengthen our business ecosystem in alignment with Banpu Group's 'Greener & Smarter' strategy. The increase in shareholding in Durapower, our subsidiary, will boost our competitiveness in the battery value chain, providing high power battery solutions for electric vehicles ("EV") and energy storage systems ("ESS") with internationally recognized standards to our customers. Recently, we installed a 1 MWh Durapower BESS at our Bunyut Solar PV Hybrid power plant for self-consumption at an Indonesian mining site to transition towards more renewable sources to decarbonize the mine site operations for ITMG (Banpu Group's subsidiary). We are pursuing opportunities to integrate Durapower's battery technology into our Smart Energy Solutions offering, such as EV fleets, smart microgrids, and battery farms. Furthermore, we will continue to scale up our Energy Storage business and offer closed-loop end-to-end battery solutions to our customers across the region." Mr. Sinon concluded.

Mr. Kelvin Lim, Group Chief Executive Officer of Durapower, said "Our expertise in the development of battery materials, design and manufacturing of battery systems as well as lithium-ion battery technologies will propel business expansion with Banpu NEXT. With a strong focus and attention on sustainable energy transition, we are extending our proven products and service offerings to commercial and industrial operators of renewable energy power plants across the Asia-Pacific region to help them meet their emission reduction and decarbonization targets. Durapower's BESS, designed with strong an engineering focus to achieve high power and high energy performance, has maintained a perfect safety track record over the past decade." To find out more about Durapower's battery energy storage solutions and related technologies, please visit Durapower's Booth MC21, Hall 3 at Future Mobility Asia 2023 which takes place from 17 to 19 May 2023 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok. #BanpuNEXT #TotalSmartEnergySolutions #EnergyStorageBusiness About Banpu NEXT Banpu NEXT Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Banpu PCL., is a leading smart energy solutions provider in Asia-Pacific. The company supports the transition to Net-Zero society. The five core businesses group of Banpu NEXT are Renewable Power, Energy Storage, Energy Trading, e-Mobility, and Smart City & Energy Management. With all these five businesses, the company boasts the capability to offer "Total Smart Energy Solutions". Banpu NEXT is positioned as the long-term partner who combines technology and digital platform with its energy expertise to provide the best tailor-made solutions, empowering organizations to tap into infinite of clean energy, accelerate smart business transformation, while building up sustainable growth along with contribution to betterment for end-users' life and society at large. For the Durapower shares, Banpu NEXT has invested approximately 65.10% shares. For more information, visit www.banpunext.co.th , www.facebook.com/banpunext , or www.linkedin.com/company/banpu-next-company-limited/ About Durapower Group (www.durapowergroup.com) Headquartered in Singapore, Durapower offers closed-loop, end-to-end energy storage solutions for the electric mobility and renewable energy applications including on and off-road Electric, Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles, electric marine vessel and stationary energy storage solutions. Since 2009, Durapower has been a leading innovator of Lithium-Ion cell technology, focusing on the research and development of battery materials, battery cell manufacturing and system integration. With a global presence spanning 24 countries and 49 cities, including European Countries, China, India and Southeast Asia. Durapower Group strives to make scalable, sustainable batteries that support the circular economy, empowering lives and transforming the future towards a carbon neutral economy. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/banpu-next-forays-into-asia-pacific-market-for-battery-energy-storage-system-spearheaded-by-durapower-to-capture-growing-demands-across-region-301825293.html SOURCE Durapower Group

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[May 15, 2023] Join Mouser Electronics at Embedded Vision Summit 2023

Mouser Electronics, Inc., the New Product Introduction (NPI) leader empowering innovation, invites design engineers to visit its exhibit at Embedded Vision Summit, May 22-24 at the Santa Clara (California) Convention Center. Embedded Vision Summit is the premier conference for innovators incorporating computer vision and edge AI in products. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230515005045/en/ Mouser invites design engineers to visit its exhibit at Embedded Vision Summit, May 22-24 at the Santa Clara (California) Convention Center. (Photo: Business Wire) "Embedded Vision Summit offers Mouser a perfect opportunity to engage with our design engineer customers and talk about solutions our 1,200-plus manufacturer brands can provide," said Kevin Hess, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Mouser Electronics. "We are also excited to discuss the many technical resources that Mouser offers to help speed design." Visitors to the Mouser booth 203 can learn more about Mouser's award-winning Empowering Innovation Together series, featuring podcasts discussing the hottest engineering topics impacting engineering design. Mouser representatives will also be available to discuss Mouser's informative eBooks, newsletters, and new product emails as well as the Methods technology and solutions journal, a valuable source of design information that provides exclusive information on prototype development that every design engineer needs to drive new levels of innovation. Visitors can also enter for a chance to win a set of Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700.



Embedded Vision Summit attracts a global audience of technology professionals from companies developing computer vision and edge AI-enabled products including embedded systems, cloud solutions and mobile applications. The Summit offers four tracks for engineers, business executives, newcomers and experts, ensuring attendees get an experience tailored to their needs. The three days of the event include 90+ sessions on embedded vision and deep learning techniques and technologies, keynote and general session presentations by industry luminaries, and live demos of the latest enabling technologies. To learn more about Embedded Vision Summit 2023, visit https://info.mouser.com/Embedded-Vision-summit/.

For more Mouser news, visit https://www.mouser.com/newsroom/. As a global authorized distributor, Mouser offers the world's widest selection of the newest semiconductors and electronic components - in stock and ready to ship. Mouser's customers can expect 100% certified, genuine products that are fully traceable from each of its manufacturer partners. To help speed customers' designs, Mouser's website hosts an extensive library of technical resources, including a Technical Resource Center, along with product data sheets, supplier-specific reference designs, application notes, technical design information, engineering tools and other helpful information. Engineers can stay abreast of today's exciting product, technology and application news through Mouser's complimentary e-newsletter. Mouser's email news and reference subscriptions are customizable to the unique and changing project needs of customers and subscribers. No other distributor gives engineers this much customization and control over the information they receive. Learn about emerging technologies, product trends and more by signing up today at https://sub.info.mouser.com/subscriber/. About Mouser Electronics Mouser Electronics, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is an authorized semiconductor and electronic component distributor focused on New Product Introductions from its leading manufacturer partners. Serving the global electronic design engineer and buyer community, the global distributor's website, mouser.com, is available in multiple languages and currencies and features more than 6.8 million products from over 1,200 manufacturer brands. Mouser offers 27 support locations worldwide to provide best-in-class customer service in local language, currency and time zone. The distributor ships to over 650,000 customers in 223 countries/territories from its 1 million-square-foot, state-of-the-art distribution facilities in the Dallas, Texas, metro area. For more information, visit https://www.mouser.com/. Trademarks Mouser and Mouser Electronics are registered trademarks of Mouser Electronics, Inc. All other products, logos, and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230515005045/en/

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[May 15, 2023] Tuya Smart Announces Partnership With Centurion to Promote Smart Living Experience in Global Rental Market

HANGZHOU, China, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tuya Smart (NYSE: TUYA, HKEX: 2391), a global IoT development platform service provider, and Centurion Corporation Limited (SGX: OU8, SEHK: 6090), a multinational real estate development company, announced a partnership to promote smart home technologies in the global rental market. The parties also aim to deploy IoT solutions to promote ESG and create a greener and more user-friendly rental environment. Established in the Specialized Accommodation business since 2011, Centurion owns, develops and manages worker accommodation assets in Singapore and Malaysia under the "Westlite" brand, and student accommodation assets in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States under the "dwell" brand. Prior to the partnership, Centurion had already begun to deploy Tuya Residential SaaS to effectively build a visualized and smart energy consumption system while renovating two student dormitories in Manchester and Liverpool, England. The deployment is a core initiative in the company's efforts in Environmental Sustainability, wherein Centurion aims to progressively implement comprehensive smart facility management features and systems within in its existing assets and development properties, to enhance resident living experience and reduce consumption and emissions. Through the partnership, Tuya Residential SaaS will provide Centurion with professional and diversified smart solutions, such as smart access management solutions and energy consumption management solutions. They can reduce energy consumption and improve management efficiency, enabling the company to realize its ESG goals of promoting "green and low-carbon"lifestyles, "green buildings" and "smart buildings." Additionally, both parties will strengthen their relationship to explore new business opportunities in the global rental market.



Also under the partnership, dwell, the student apartment brand of Centurion, will develop its own digital key access system for its properties using Tuya Residential SaaS. This can eliminate operational needs arising from lost keys or access cards, enhance security, and bring convenience to tenants. Through this agreement, Centurion will also become one of the few UK real estate developers to use IoT technology to upgrade student apartments. Additionally, Tuya Residential SaaS will assist dwell in developing an energy management system to visualize and manage energy use in the apartment units. As Centurion incorporates smart applications and services into its business scenarios, Tuya can enable Centurion to connect with and integrate various smart solutions and different categories or brands of smart hardware to increase operation efficiency and optimize decision-making.

"The global rental market will witness the business potential created by smartization, thanks to the partnership between Tuya and Centurion. Tuya Residential SaaS can provide customers with a wide range of solutions and a vast ecosystem of hardware powered by the Tuya IoT Development Platform. We'll keep improving our product capabilities to develop more scalable technologies, marketing, and ecosystem services for our clients throughout the world," said Xia Yan, Head of Internaitonal Business for Tuya Residential & Hospitality of Tuya Smart. "As a multinational owner and manager of Specialised Accommodation, Centurion Corporation endeavours to create a greener and friendlier smart living experience for our resident-tenants while reducing energy consumption, across our properties globally. Tuya Residential SaaS's cutting-edge technological strength in energy and access is well suited to address our needs. We look forward to deepening our cooperation and working together to better realize our ESG goals," said Leong Siew Fatt, Head of Student Accommodation Business for Centurion. This partnership aims to serve as a high-quality blueprint for the smart transformation of the global rental market. Through the quick and effective implementation of smartization and the development of an IoT platform with integrated capabilities, which enable tenants to enjoy smart living and business operations to be autonomous and controllable, companies can be better able to develop the global rental market. More than a business deal, the partnership demonstrates the companies' corporate responsibilities in ESG. To assist global customers in achieving results in both commercial performance and ESG, Tuya is committed to improving its energy management and other capabilities. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/tuya-smart-announces-partnership-with-centurion-to-promote-smart-living-experience-in-global-rental-market-301825371.html SOURCE Tuya Smart

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[May 15, 2023] Surge Arrester Market Increased Demand for an Uninterrupted Power Supply: Application, Size, Share, Growth Opportunities, Challenges, Drivers, Business Strategies, Overview, Future Scope, Outlook, Revenue, Competitive Analysis

New York, May 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Surge Arrester Market is expected to reach $2.3 billion by 2030 from $1.9 billion in 2022, registering impressive expansion at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.6%. The Global Surge Arrester Market is dominated by major players such as Hitachi ABB Power Grids, Siemens Energy, General Electric (GE), Eaton, Hubbell, Schneider Electric, CG Power, and Industrial Solutions. Request Sample Pages of Report: https://www.delvens.com/get-free-sample/surge-arrester-market-trends-forecast-till-2028 Surge Arrester Market analysis provides an examination of various segments that are supposed to witness the quickest development amid the estimated forecast frame. The market study of this report takes into consideration market attractiveness analysis, where each segment is benchmarked based on its market size, growth rate, and general attractiveness. This market research report helps the clients understand the various drivers and restraints impacting the market during the forecast period. Market research reports like this Surge Arrester Market surely helps to reduce business risk and failure. For an effectual business growth, companies must adopt market research report service which has become quite vital in this rapidly changing marketplace. The surge arrester market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of more than 4.6% from 2023 to 2030. Significant expenditures in energy systems and smart grids, equipment protection against sudden voltage fluctuations, and aging power infrastructure in developed countries are among the factors that are predicted to boost the market. The surge arrester market is expected to grow in response to the rising electricity demand from the commercial, industrial, and residential sectors. However, the market's growth has been significantly hindered by product forgeries by local firms. The industrial sector is predicted to grow significantly throughout the forecast period for several reasons, including economic expansion and the expansion of manufacturing capacity in developing nations like China, India, and others. To meet the increased demand for electrical energy required to enable global growth, there must be consistent and considerable investments in power supply generation. Due to this, the surge arrester market recently had the chance to grow, and it is anticipated that this will happen again within the anticipated time frame. Surge Arrester Market Overview In 2022, the surge arrester market size was projected to exceed $1 billion; this figure is predicted to rise even more as a result of factors including the rapid urbanization and industrialization of developing countries like India, China, and others. The market has expanded recently and is expected to do so during the projected period as more focus is being placed on addressing power quality issues brought on by voltage spikes in industrialized nations and minimizing downtime brought on by equipment failure. The aforementioned factors are likely to drive the market throughout the forecast period, following the trend exhibited in recent years. Key Companies & Market Share Insights Some of the key players operating in the global surge arrester market are Hitachi ABB Power Grids, Siemens Energy, General Electric (GE), Eaton, Hubbell, Schneider Electric, CG Power And Industrial Solutions, Mitsubishi Electric, TE Connectivity, Meidensha, Elpro International, Lamco Industries, Oblum Electrical Industries, Elektrolites, Dehn International, Toshiba, Hm Corporation, Ensto, Zhejiang Haivo Electrical, and NGK Insulators among others. Recent Developments Hitachi ABB Power Grids built a new surge arrester factory in Xiamen, China, in November 2020. The facility uses the most cutting-edge manufacturing techniques and is anticipated to aid China's transition to a sustainable future.

In June 2020, the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity awarded Siemens Energy a contract for the planning, development, provision of equipment, and commissioning of the 400 kV Al Hamudhia substation.

In April 2020, Hitachi ABB Power Grids inked a 5-year framework deal with one of the biggest utilities in South America to provide circuit breakers, instrument transformers, shunt reactors, and hybrid modules in addition to gas-insulated switchgear (GIS), air-insulated switchgear (AIS), and GIS + AIS. Surge Arrester Market Segmentation Analysis The polymeric surge arrester segment is expected to have the highest growth rate, during the forecast period Based on type, the surge arrester market is segmented into polymeric and porcelain segments. The polymeric category is predicted to rule the market from 2023 to 2030. Because of their low weight, simplicity of upkeep, enhanced performance in contaminated environments, and high energy handling capacity, polymeric insulators are becoming more and more common. The GIS segment by application is expected to be the fastest-growing market during the forecast period The AIS and GIS application segments make up the surge arrester market. Due to the increasing installation of GIS in metropolitan areas, where space is the primary limitation, the GIS application sector is anticipated to experience the greatest growth rate during the projection period of 2023 to 2030. The utility segment is expected to lead the surge arrester market by end-user throughout the forecast period The market is divided into utilities, industry, and transportation, according to end-user. Utilities are the most common end-user of surge arresters due to the sheer size of an electrical network operated by them compared to industrial and transportation electric infrastructure. Inquire Before Buying: https://www.delvens.com/Inquire-before-buying/surge-arrester-market-trends-forecast-till-2028 Surge Arrester Market Regional Insights To assess the surge arrester market, five geographical areas were considered: Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, the Middle East & Africa, and South America. From 2023 to 2030, Asia Pacific is anticipated to be the largest market. Utilities in these nations are under pressure to invest in transmission and distribution infrastructure due to the growing need to increase the capacity of renewable energy generation and the rising electricity demand. Due to rising funding for EHV and UHV transmission projects in China and India, the market in the Asia Pacific region is expanding. China's energy-intensive steel industry has experienced enormous growth in recent years. The surge arrester market grew alongside the steel sector throughout this expansion, and this trend is anticipated to continue during the projected period. Surge Arrester Market outlook Drivers: Increasing investments in T&D networks to drive demand for surge arresters Surge arresters are essential components for the safety of electrical equipment in transmission and distribution networks. They are situated in the substations, transmission lines, and other elements of electrical networks. One of the main drivers of the surge arrester market is the increase in investments in transmission and distribution (T&D) networks. Market expansion is directly impacted by T&D network upgrades and expansions. If the rising electricity demand is to be reliably provided, electrical networks must be enhanced. Due to the rising electrification of formerly non-electric sectors, such as transportation, brought on by the adoption of electric vehicles, it is predicted that the energy demand will continue to rise over the projection period. The growing number of electrification projects in China and India, as well as network expansions to support the integration of renewable energy sources in the US, Europe, and other developed countries, are expected to increase demand for surge arresters in the upcoming years. Restraints: Presence of grey market for surge arresters Major surge arrester producers are fighting against fierce competition from unorganized market participants that are selling inexpensive, subpar goods without a license. These small local businesses offer products that they own-brand without the required authorization. These market participants from the unorganized sector outperform the major firms in terms of price competitiveness and the upkeep of local supply networks, which is challenging for major international players to do. Since low-quality products are offered under the brand names of the industry leaders, the development in surge arrester sales in the grey market devalues those names. The growing sales by regional competitors in the grey market limit the potential revenue growth for international competitors. Restraints: Increasing investments in renewable energy projects and smart grids are likely to drive demand for surge arresters Major surge arrester producers are fighting against fierce competition from unorganized market participants that are selling inexpensive, subpar goods without a license. These small local businesses offer products that they own-brand without the required authorization. These market participants from the unorganized sector outperform the major firms in terms of price competitiveness and the upkeep of local supply networks, which is challenging for major international players to do. Since low-quality products are offered under the brand names of the industry leaders, the development in surge arrester sales in the grey market devalues those names. The growing sales by regional competitors in the grey market limit the potential revenue growth for international competitors. Challenges: Long lead times and delays in projects pose challenges to surge arrester market growth Transmission and distribution projects require a long time to finish. With increasing project size, the transmission and distribution project takes longer to complete. Projects to expand the grid are slowed down by things like political sabotage, environmental reviews, and protracted government approval procedures. These delays increase the time it takes to implement grid expansion projects and have an effect on the demand for surge arresters. Due to grid expansion project delays, extra-high voltage surge arrester producers have a very dificult time organizing their production because most of these devices are made in response to the specific needs of the consumers.



Global Surge Arrester Market Table of Contents Type Outlook

Polymeric

porcelain End-User outlook Utilities

Industries

Transportation Application outlook AIS

GIS Voltage outlook Medium Voltage

High Voltage

Extra High Voltage Class outlook Distribution Class

Intermediate Class

Station Class 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 Surge Arrester Market

Hitachi ABB Power Grids

Siemens Energy

General Electric (GE)

Eaton

Hubbell

Schneider Electric

CG Power And Industrial Solutions

Mitsubishi Electric

TE Connectivity

Meidensha

Elpro International

Lamco Industries

Oblum Electrical Industries

Electrolytes

Dehn International

Toshiba

HM Corporation

Ensto

Zhejiang Haivo Electrical

NGK Insulators Surge Arrester Market Report Scope Report Feature Descriptions Growth Rate CAGR of 4.6% 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, End-Use, Voltage, Class, 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 Hitachi ABB Power Grids, Siemens Energy, General Electric (GE), Eaton, Hubbell, Schneider Electric, CG Power And Industrial Solutions, Mitsubishi Electric, TE Connectivity, Meidensha, Elpro International, Lamco Industries, Oblum Electrical Industries, Elektrolites, Dehn International, Toshiba, Hm Corporation, Ensto, Zhejiang Haivo Electrical, and NGK Insulators among others. Available Customization In addition to the market data for Surge Arrester Market, Delvens offers client-centric reports customized according to the companys specific demand and requirement. Direct Purchase of the Surge Arrester Market Research Report at: https://www.delvens.com/checkout/surge-arrester-market-trends-forecast-till-2028 Browse Related Reports: Blower Market: https://www.delvens.com/report/blower-market-trends-forecast-till-2030 Blower Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report, By Product Type (Positive Displacement Blower and High-Speed Turbo Blower, and others), By Pressure (upto 15 psi, 15-20 psi, above 20 psi), By Distribution Channel (online and offline), by end-user industry(Cement Plant, Steel Plant, Mining, Power Plant, Chemical, Oil & Gas, Aerospace & Defense, Food Processing, Pulp & Paper, Water Treatment Plant, and Others) and region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Africa and South America). Virtual Power Plant Market: https://www.delvens.com/report/virtual-power-plant-market-trends-forecast-till-2028 Virtual Power Plant Market by Technology (Demand Response, Distributed Generation, and Mixed Asset), End-Use Customer (Commercial & Industrial, and Residential), and Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa and South America) Recloser Market: https://www.delvens.com/report/recloser-market-trends-forecast-till-2028 Recloser Market by Control ((Recloser (Electronic, Hydraulic) and Sectionalizer (Resettable Electronic, Programmable Resettable)), Phase (Recloser (Three, Single, Triple Single) and Sectionalizer (Three, Single), and Region (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 16, 2023] Register for NMIMS UG Programs via NMIMS-CET, NPAT, & NLAT Exams by May, 21st 2023

MUMBAI, India, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The registrations for the NMIMS UG entrance tests, including NCET, NPAT, and NLAT, will close on May 21, 2023. These entrance exams are essential for undergraduate students who aspire to have a successful career in the fields of Engineering, Pharmacy, Commerce, Economics, Liberal Arts, Branding & Advertising, International Studies, Entrepreneurship and Family Business and Law. NMIMS-CET is a gateway for undergraduate students aspiring for a successful career in the field of Engineering, Technology Management, Pharmacy and Pharma Management. The programs that come under NMIMS-CET are B Tech (4 years), integrated B Tech + MBA Tech (5 years) and integrated B Pharm + MBA (5 years) at the Mukesh Patel School of Technology Management & Engineering (MPSTME) Mumbai and Shirpur, and the School of Technology Management & Engineering (STME) at Navi Mumbai, Indore, Hyderabad, Dhule and Chandigarh campuses. The B. Pharm + MBA (Pharma. Tech.), 5 years dual-degree program is offered at the Shobhaben Pratapbhai Patel School of Pharmacy & Technology Management (SPPSPTM), Mumbai and the School of Pharmacy & Technology Management (SPTM), Shirpur and Hyderabad campus. NMIMS-LAT - NMIMS LAT 2023 is a law entrance exam conducted for admissions to the 5-year B.A. LL.B. (Hons) and B.B.A. LL.B. (Hons) programs conducted at SVKM NMIMS' Kirit P Mehta School of Law, Mumbai, and School of Law at Navi Mumbai, Bengaluru, Indore, Hyderabad, and Chandigarh campuses. The Kirit P. Mehta School of Law was established in 2013 and is approved by the Bar Council of India. The School of Law has uniquely incorporated compulsory credit-based Internship and Moot Court as subjects. The school also has a fully functional Legal Aid Clinic and Placement Support Team for taking care of studet's interaction with the corporate world.



NMIMS- NPAT - The NMIMS National Test for Programs After Twelfth (NPAT) 2023 is the entrance exam for admissions for undergraduate programs across campuses. This entrance exam for undergraduate degree programs covers:

BBA, B.Sc. Finance and B. Com. (Hons.) at Anil Surendra Modi School of Commerce, Mumbai and School of Commerce at Hyderabad , Navi Mumbai, Dhule, Chandigarh, Bengaluru and Indore campuses.

and School of Commerce at , Navi Mumbai, Dhule, Chandigarh, Bengaluru and Indore campuses. B.Sc. Economics at the Sarla Anil Modi School of Economics, Mumbai and School of Economics, Navi Mumbai, and Bengaluru campuses.

and School of Economics, Navi Mumbai, and Bengaluru campuses. B.A. (Hons.) Liberal Arts at Jyoti Dalal School of Liberal Arts, Mumbai

BBA in Branding & Advertising at School of Branding & Advertising, Mumbai ,

, BBA (International Business) at NMIMS Centre for International Studies, Mumbai .

. BBMM at Pravin Dalal School of Entrepreneurship & Family Business at Mumbai . We encourage all eligible students to register through the website before the deadline of May 21, 2023, to take the first step towards a successful and rewarding career. Eligibility: The eligibility criteria for admission into the above programs:

The candidate must have passed 10+2 or equivalent examination and obtained a minimum of 50% - 60% aggregate marks from a recognised board.

To apply for admission, register via www.nmims.edu/admission About NMIMS NMIMS stands proud as a Deemed-to-be University, offering multiple disciplines across multiple campuses, built on an inspiring 41-year legacy. Because of their 17 specialised schools, what began as a small institute in a small building has captured the attention of the world. NMIMS's consistent academic quality, research focus, ten faculty members with Fulbright Scholarships and Humboldt International Scholarships for post-doctoral researchers, and strong industry links have elevated it to the nation's top centres of educational excellence and research. NMIMS has been pursuing the ideal combination of classroom education and practical experience in order to develop multiskilled, confident, and versatile future leaders. There is a strong emphasis on developing ideal programmes and proactive curriculum to meet the needs of the students. There is a strong emphasis on developing ideal programmes and proactive curriculum to meet the needs of today's students. NMIMS believes in cultivating a scientific spirit of inquiry in students and shaping them into leaders and responsible citizens who will go on to play the role of change makers in society through value-based education. It is known for its consistent academic quality and research-focused approach to holistic education. SVKM's NMIMS has been granted Category-I University status by Graded Autonomy Regulation 2018 by MHRD/UGC, and NMIMS Mumbai Campus is NAAC accredited with A+ (CGPA of 3.59.). NMIMS School of Business Management, Mumbai ranked amongst The Top 100 Global B-Schools By Financial Times MiM Ranking 2022. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/register-for-nmims-ug-programs-via-nmims-cet-npat--nlat-exams-by-may-21st-2023-301825498.html

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Duf Hart-Davis ground heating system with Ross Verity installing the heat pump in the house - Christopher Jones

A green energy company plans to install 50,000 heat pumps a year in British homes after securing a 70m investment from Octopus Energy and Legal & General.

Cornwall-based Kensa Group said it would use the funding to ramp up the roll-out of its ground source heat pumps.

Kensa said the deal represented the UKs largest investment so far in the heating devices and would lead to the creation of more than 7,000 jobs by 2030.

Electrically-powered heat pumps are being pushed by the Government as an eco-friendly replacement for gas-fired boilers.

Ministers want 600,000 heat pumps to be installed per year by 2028, with grants of 5,000 and 6,000 currently available for air source and ground source heat pumps respectively per household.

Uptake of the grant scheme has so far been low, with experts warning that many consumers are still put off by upfront costs of around 2,000 even after the grants.

Ministers hope the grant funding will help the industry grow and bring down prices for customers.

Just 4,186 certified ground or water source heat pumps have been installed in the UK since 2022 when the Governments support scheme was launched, according to data from the Microgeneration Certification Scheme, which assesses the devices.

By comparison, 40,685 air source heat pumps were installed over the same period.

Ground source heat pumps absorb heat from the earth by circulating fluid through pipes buried underground.

The temperature of this fluid is then raised by a heat exchanger inside the home and transferred to water for use in heating radiators or running hot water from taps.

Octopus said its investment marked its entry into the ground source heat pump market. The company previously invested in Renewable Energy Devices, a Northern Irish air source heat pump manufacturer, and has announced plans to launch its own air source heat pump.

Zoisa North-Bond, chief executive of Octopus Energy Generation, said: Backing Kensa will help rapidly expand Britains fast-growing ground source heat pump industry.

Story continues

Alongside ground source heat pumps, Kensa builds so-called ambient ground loops, which can serve multiple heat pumps inside a block of flats or other large buildings such as offices.

Legal & General Capital first backed Kensa in April 2020 with the aim of scaling up ground source heat pump installations across the UK.

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[May 16, 2023] Third of Large UK Companies Cite Tech Skills Shortage and Legacy IT Systems as Key Factors Delaying Digital Transformation: UST Survey

Four in 10 large UK companies consider building resiliency, boosting profitability, and improving sustainability as key benefits of digital transformation

Nearly half (45%) believe the government should provide more incentives for businesses to invest in R&D BENGALURU, India and LONDON, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- New research commissioned by UST, a leading digital transformation solutions company, finds a third of large UK companies cite a lack of technical skills in-house (33%) and too many legacy IT systems in place (33%) as key factors delaying digital transformation. Another key factor raised by nearly a third of respondents was concern amongst their workforce about automation taking away jobs (31%). While UK digital spending is projected to increase 5.2% year-over-year in 2023, the findings show UK businesses are unable to fully take advantage of technology advancements. The research surveyed 200 senior decision makers in large UK companies with an average turnover of over 9 billion. Other key findings include: Adopting the right technologies can help organisations build resiliency, reduce operating costs, and improve sustainability: In terms of the immediate benefits of investing in digital transformation, respondents rated building resilience to cope with future disruption highest (41%), followed by lowering of costs and increasing profitability (40%) and improving sustainability (39%).

In terms of the immediate benefits of investing in digital transformation, respondents rated building resilience to cope with future disruption highest (41%), followed by lowering of costs and increasing profitability (40%) and improving sustainability (39%). Cloud computing is perceived as the most important technology for successful digital transformation: Large UK companies rated cloud computing (75%), artificial intelligence and machine learning (67%), augmented reality and Web 3.0 (58%) and robotics (54%) as crucial or very important technologies driving their digital transformation strategies.

Large UK companies rated cloud computing (75%), artificial intelligence and machine learning (67%), augmented reality and Web 3.0 (58%) and robotics (54%) as crucial or very important technologies driving their digital transformation strategies. The UK government has a crucial role to play in fostering innovation: Nearly half of respondents said the government should provide more incentives for businesses to invest in R&D (45%), support more STEM programmes in schools and higher education (44%) and support innovation hubs outside of current hotspots (40%). Respondents (40%) also said greater collaboration between public, private and educational sectors could help foster innovation.

Nearly half of respondents said the government should provide more incentives for businesses to invest in R&D (45%), support more STEM programmes in schools and higher education (44%) and support innovation hubs outside of current hotspots (40%). Respondents (40%) also said greater collaboration between public, private and educational sectors could help foster innovation. In order to narrow the technical skills gap,attracting more diverse STEM candidates has become an increasing priority: More than half (53%) say they are partnering with schools and/or higher education to show what types of careers are available. Nearly half are advertising job vacancies in a wider range of places (49%), offering internships or summer placements (48%) and running apprenticeship programmes (42%).



In order to overcome the technical skills gap, the private sector must increase collaboration with the government and educational institutions to increase uptake in STEM subjects and digital upskilling. At UST, we are proud to work closely with schools and universities not just in the UK but across the world to develop and upskill the next generation of tech talent," said Praveen Prabhakaran, Chief Delivery Officer and UK Managing Director, UST.

"For more than two decades, UST has been a trusted transformation partner for Global 2000 companies, engineering human-centered experiences and solutions. We understand that to thrive, our clients and their customers require an evolutionary approach to the ever-changing marketplace. This is why we established UST Evolve. We comprehend the intricacies of enterprise systems and the need for innovation to maintain competitiveness. We are a dedicated group of creative technologists, visionary strategists, and design thinkers who employ a fresh, simple, and nimble approach to transformation. By combining the technological and engineering prowess of UST with domain expertise that surpasses conventional transformation measures, we aim to generate tangible business impact for our clients," said Christopher Loughlin, Global Head of Transformation at UST. UST Evolve, UST's focused transformation group, co-creates creative solutions with clients that blend equal parts empathy, tenacity, and innovative technology. Together, we engineer and architect swift and sustainable transformation that helps our clients evolve, embedding innovation, agility, and resilience into the very foundation of their organization. NOTES TO EDITOR Methodology This research was conducted online by FTI Consulting and involved the opinions of 200 senior decision makers in large UK companies with an average turnover of over 9 billion, spanning a wide range of industries. The survey was completed at a time and on a device convenient for respondents. For more information about the methodology, please contact: [email protected] About UST For more than 23 years, UST has worked side by side with the world's best companies to make a real impact through transformation. Powered by technology, inspired by people, and led by our purpose, we partner with our clients from design to operation. Through our nimble approach, we identify their core challenges, and craft disruptive solutions that bring their vision to life. With deep domain expertise and a future-proof philosophy, we embed innovation and agility into our clients' organizationsdelivering measurable value and lasting change across industries, and around the world. Together, with over 30,000 employees in 30+ countries, we build for boundless impacttouching billions of lives in the process. Visit us at www.UST.com Media Contacts, UST:

Tinu Cherian Abraham

+1 (949) 415-9857 Merrick Laravea

+1 (949) 416-6212 Neha Misri

+91-9284726602

[email protected] Media Contacts, U.S.:

S&C PR

+1-646.941.9139

[email protected] Makovsky

[email protected] Media Contacts, Australia:

Team Lewis

[email protected] Media Contacts, U.K.:

FTI Consulting

[email protected] Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1422658/UST_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/third-of-large-uk-companies-cite-tech-skills-shortage-and-legacy-it-systems-as-key-factors-delaying-digital-transformation-ust-survey-301823253.html

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[May 16, 2023] Yield App boosts crypto accessibility with Volt real-time payments

TALLINN, Estonia, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital wealth platform Yield App has partnered with Volt , the leading global real-time payments gateway, to offer additional GBP and EUR on-ramps via FPS and SEPA Instant. Yield App customers can now buy cryptocurrency in real time directly with their bank, thanks to the integration of Volt's pan-European open banking solution. With connections to 1,800+ banks across the continent, this streamlined two-step process enables customers to authorize transactions with just face ID or biometric authentication from their banking app. Building upon the foundations of legacy payment solutions, open banking-powered on-ramping has emerged as the faster, easier and more secure way to invest, offering an enhanced payment experience fit for the digital age. The partnership is a strategic move by Yield App to ensure its customers have a seamless experience when accessing the platform's full suite of products, which bridge the gap between traditional finance and decentralized finace through crypto structured products and its core earn offerings.



Gero Piskov, Card and Payments Manager at Yield App, said: "It's time for the industry to embrace open banking solutions so that retail crypto investors aren't left outside in the cold. As advocates of the latest payment technologies, we're thrilled to partner with Volt to provide our customers with fast, secure and seamless transactions directly from their banking app. By integrating additional payment options on Yield App, our customers can unlock the full potential of their digital assets." Kat Marangos, Volt's VP Strategic Accounts, said: "Purchasing crypto is a perfect use case for open banking, which is safer and more convenient than cards or manual bank transfers. Our partnership with Yield App will showcase this in an environment that offers users a whole new level of returns from their crypto assets. We look forward to bringing this proposition to a new generation of retail investors."

About Volt Volt is a London-based, global open payments gateway founded in 2019, building the infrastructure for real-time, account-to-account payments everywhere. Its open payments gateway allows merchants and PSPs to process transactions securely between accounts held at more than 5,000 banks in the UK, EU and Brazil, covering over 680m accounts. About Yield App Yield App is a digital wealth platform that serves as a digital wealth partner to its customers. The company's mission is to provide a safe custody environment for digital assets and enable users to exchange and earn at market-leading rates. Yield App achieves this through its innovative technology that seamlessly bridges traditional and decentralized finance, offering users a more efficient and user-friendly way to manage their portfolio. To support this, Yield App's in-house research and development team, Yield App Labs, which comprises highly-experienced and best-in-class DeFi experts, invests in and collaborates with Web3 projects that share the company's vision for a more secure decentralized ecosystem. By choosing Yield App as a digital wealth partner, customers can unlock the full potential of digital assets, enhance their investment strategies and grow their digital wealth over the long term. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/yield-app-boosts-crypto-accessibility-with-volt-real-time-payments-301825325.html SOURCE Yield App

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[May 16, 2023] TRAVEL COUNSELLORS (the "Company") Record annual results with Total Transaction Value and Revenue each up more than 300% year-on-year

Very strong momentum has continued into the current year with trading in H1 up 64% on pre-pandemic levels as the business accelerates towards delivering 1bn+ of platform sales in FY23 MANCHESTER, England, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Travel Counsellors, the UK's largest and fast-growing technology platform for travel entrepreneurs, is pleased to announce its Annual Results for the 12 months ended 31 October 2022 ("FY22") as well as a trading update for the first six months of the new financial year (November 1st 2022 to 30th April 2023). FY22 HIGHLIGHTS: Record financial performance as both Travel Counsellors' leisure and corporate businesses performed significantly ahead of pre-pandemic levels across all markets in which we operate

Total Transaction Value ("TTV") during FY22 was 719.4m 1 , 312% higher than the prior year (FY21 - 174.6m) and significantly ahead of pre-pandemic levels (FY19 - 631m)

, 312% higher than the prior year (FY21 - 174.6m) and significantly ahead of pre-pandemic levels (FY19 - 631m) Revenue 2 increased significantly by 411% year-on-year to 347.8m (FY21 - 68.1m; 2019 - 309.8m)

increased significantly by 411% year-on-year to 347.8m (FY21 - 68.1m; 2019 - 309.8m) EBITDA 3 increased significantly to 20.1m (FY21  loss of 6.8m reflecting impact of the pandemic) We welcomed 149 new travel counsellors into our community, thereby enabling them to leverage our proprietary digital platform and infrastructure to launch their new travel businesses. This took us to more than 1,800 franchisees at the year-end

increased significantly to 20.1m (FY21  loss of 6.8m reflecting impact of the pandemic) We welcomed 149 new travel counsellors into our community, thereby enabling them to leverage our proprietary digital platform and infrastructure to launch their new travel businesses. This took us to more than 1,800 franchisees at the year-end Continued investments in building a scalable platform to support our ambitious long-term growth plans and better enable our travel counsellors to build lasting relationships with customers and increasingly work in teams to help support and scale their businesses

5-star rating on Trust Pilot maintained OUTSTANDING TRADING MOMENTUM AND STRATEGIC PROGRESS CONTINUES IN FY23: Continued strong momentum into the current financial year with trading 64% higher in H1 (November '22 to April '23) than the comparable pre-pandemic period, with top-selling destinations including the USA , Spain , Greece , UAE, and the Maldives

, , , UAE, and the Consistent record-breaking months in each of the first six months of the new financial year with TTV in the year to date of 486m, up 64% on 2019 pre-pandemic levels

Strategic acquisition of Holidaysplease Limited completed in March, marking the Company's first acquisition in its near-30-year history and strengthening Travel Counsellors' position as the UK's largest technology platform for travl entrepreneurs, empowering and connecting nearly 2,000 independent business owners



Steve Byrne , CEO of Travel Counsellors, commented: "FY22 was a record year for Travel Counsellors as we delivered significant growth across the business against both the prior year and pre-pandemic levels. This outstanding momentum has continued into the first six months of the current financial year, as we have delivered consistently record-breaking months. Our strong results once again demonstrate the strength of our differentiated, disruptive business model as well as growing customer demand for our trusted and personal travel advice.

"We went into the pandemic with outstanding levels of customer engagement and satisfaction. Whilst the pandemic significantly disrupted our customers' ability to travel, we were resolutely committed to maintaining close relationships with them and protecting our brand's hard-earned reputation. I am delighted we have maintained our five-star Trustpilot rating despite the significant levels of disruption and uncertainty facing our customers during this period. "This is testament to the relentless hard work, commitment and care shown by our Travel Counsellor business owners, who are dedicated to putting their customers first and ensuring they are there for them for every step of their journey. Equally our employed colleagues who work so hard to support our franchisee community and ensure they continue to build thriving businesses using our personal, digital platform of support which combines the very best of people and technology. I'd also like to thank all our customers across both our leisure and corporate businesses who continue to place value in the trusted and caring service provided by their Travel Counsellor. "I am extremely confident that we are exceptionally well placed to further build on our significant growth over the coming years. We are focused on continuing to disrupt the travel market through superb, personalised service and our scalable, relevant and differentiated business model. We are accelerating rapidly towards being a 1bn+ transaction platform in the near future and look forward to serving more customers and helping more travel entrepreneurs to grow their businesses in the years ahead." Enquiries Alex Brennan / Sue Hutchinson / Rebekah Chapman at Hudson Sandler

+44 (0) 207 796 4133

[email protected] About Travel Counsellors Vitruvian Partners-backed Travel Counsellors is the UK's largest and fast-growing technology platform for travel entrepreneurs that connects over 1,900 independent business owners, ultimately enabling them to deliver exceptional levels of customer service. In the year to 31 October 2022, Total Transaction Value ("TTV") on the platform was more than 700m, up more than 300% against the prior year. Travel Counsellors operates across six countries (UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, South Africa, and the UAE) and employs 300 people in its UK headquarters and overseas offices. The Company provides a high touch, digitally enabled platform, that enables and empowers travel counsellors, who are travel entrepreneurs and small business owners, to harness innovative and constantly evolving tools and technology to build their businesses in a way that suits them, with limitless potential and scale. This is underpinned by the knowledge and power of a global community and strong people-first culture. The company operates its own ATOL supported financial trust which safeguards customers from any failure of a travel supplier involved in their booking. Travel Counsellors is multi-award-winning and has a five star, 'Excellent' rating on Trustpilot. It was founded in 1994. For further information about Travel Counsellors, please visit: https://www.travelcounsellors.co.uk/our-story/ 1 TTV refers to the gross value of transactions conducted through the Travel Counsellors platform. FY22 numbers in this release may differ in reporting methodology from the rolling underlying TTV numbers which the Company periodically provides news updates on. 2 Revenue comprises both the commission the Company earns as an agent as well as the business it transacts as principal 3 Adjusted for Trust Income and exceptional items View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/travel-counsellors-the-company-record-annual-results-with-total-transaction-value-and-revenue-each-up-more-than-300-year-on-year-301825520.html

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[May 16, 2023] Appier exceeds first quarter projection, reports robust earnings growth

Increasing business momentum lays a solid foundation for second quarter onwards TAIPEI, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Highlight and achievements of Q1 FY23 Revenue increased by 32% YoY to reach JPY 5.6 billion

Gross profit reached JPY 2.8 billion with a 32% YoY growth rate

with a 32% YoY growth rate EBITDA profit increased by 60% YoY with 8% margin on a FX-neutral basis

Achieved 24.4% YoY growth in customer numbers with last twelve months net revenue retention of 133.8% on FX neutral basis, and a customer churn rate of 0.608% First quarter exceeds projections to establish a solid foundation for FY23 Appier Group Inc (TSE: 4180), henceforth referred to as Appier, today announced its earnings results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2023. Appier's growth in the first quarter exceeded full-year guidance amidst a traditionally low season[1], while its business momentum increased since the beginning of the year. The company's successful penetration into key accounts and verticals, as well as its continued development into new markets, delivered concrete results and has laid out a solid foundation for the second quarter onwards. Appier achieved steady growth in its financial performance with a 32% year-on-year (YoY) increase in revenue, reaching JPY 5.6 billion. Gross profit also showed significant growth, reaching JPY 2.8 billion with a 32% YoY growth rate, while EBITDA increased by 60% YoY to reach JPY 418 million with a 8% margin on a FX-neutral basis. Appier continues to accelerate its product innovation via various generative AI (GenAI) integrations to strengthen its core competence, as brands look to the next generation of technologies to further enhance their marketing strategies. Continuing the momentum from the previous quarters, Appier performed well in the US and EMEA, reporting a 77% YoY revenue growth, and representing 14% of total revenue from 10% a year ago, underscoring its success in cultivating new markets and in meeting market demand for innovative technologies that drive change. Expansion to accelerate on the back of dual growth engines via Digital Content and Ecommerce sectors Appier achieved a 24% YoY growth in its overall customer base, with the majority of new customers coming from the Digital Content and Ecommerce sectors. In addition, the company reported a last twelve months net revenue retention (LTM NRR) of 133.8% on FX neutral basis, while its overall customer churn rate remained low at 0.608%. Appier's annual recurring revenue currently constitutes over 95% of total revenues, highlighting the company's stable growth and overall momentum. Appier's continuous growth trajectory this quarter was attributed o better upselling, product synergy enhancement, and continuous expansion in existing customers, while its overall strategic focus remained on the acquisition of large enterprise customers. Despite the first quarter being a generally low season with clients' limited marketing activities, the company's performance has exceeded the full year guidance. Appier also expects further growth momentum in the upcoming quarters.



Northeast Asia's vertical growth and continuous US and EMEA market development serve as dual growth drivers Appier also expects increased momentum from this quarter onwards, due to the addition of key accounts in Digital Content, particularly in South Korea. The company's breakdown of markets showed that Northeast Asia (66%) remained stable, with deeper penetration across verticals such as Digital Content and consistent growth from existing customers in ECommerce. The US and EMEA (14%) markets continued to deliver significant product value to customers, with a focus on acquiring new customers, scalability, ROI-driven upsell, and strength in the Digital Content sector.

"Our combined growth engine market strategy, consisting of both the Digital Content and ECommerce sectors, allows us to balance revenue streams and cope with macro economic uncertainties. This position allows us to keep pace well with the rapidly evolving business trends and sustain long-term robust growth," said Dr. Chih-Han Yu, CEO and Co-Founder of Appier. "By combining Appier's sophisticated GenAI algorithms with OpenAI's ChatGPT language models, our customers can embrace cutting-edge solutions and harness the value of AI easily." Empowering marketing with a full suite of GenAI technology enhancements Appier is consistently driving product innovation through the integration of industry-leading technology into its entire suite of products. Through the combination of Appier's in-house GenAI technology with ChatGPT features, enterprises can significantly enhance their productivity through advertising tools, conversational marketing, and automated content generation. CrossX - AIXPERT: Limited or ineffective interest segments is one of marketers' painpoints, making it hard to create various versions for multiple paid channels. With GenAI powered interest segment and parameter expansions, along with ChatGPT's domain knowledge, marketers can efficiently identify the most appealing interest clusters to acquire high-value users. Based on AI predicted performance metrics and audience overlap rate, marketers can also optimize ads content across channels to achieve better campaign Return on Ad Spend (ROAS).

Limited or ineffective interest segments is one of marketers' painpoints, making it hard to create various versions for multiple paid channels. With GenAI powered interest segment and parameter expansions, along with ChatGPT's domain knowledge, marketers can efficiently identify the most appealing interest clusters to acquire high-value users. Based on AI predicted performance metrics and audience overlap rate, marketers can also optimize ads content across channels to achieve better campaign Return on Ad Spend (ROAS). AIQUA: Generating marketing copy and creating multiple versions for campaign A/B testing can be time-consuming and challenging for marketers. With the support of GenAI technology, marketers can use basic text input to create multiple language versions [2] , custom lengths, and tones (formal, friendly, uplifting, playful, humorous) in a few seconds.

Generating marketing copy and creating multiple versions for campaign A/B testing can be time-consuming and challenging for marketers. With the support of GenAI technology, marketers can use basic text input to create multiple language versions , custom lengths, and tones (formal, friendly, uplifting, playful, humorous) in a few seconds. BotBonnie: In the past, it was difficult for customer service professionals to provide a quick and detailed response to each customer. After integrating ChatGPT, the reply generation process can now be automated. AI assistant for live chat can also provide rewrite suggestions and adjust the response languages[3], length or tones (professional, friendly, empathetic, confident) for different situations, enabling better results from conversational commerce and customer satisfaction. With the integration of GenAI into its product lines, Appier believes that they will provide strong practical value to enterprises and improve marketing performance and efficiency for brands. The enhanced solutions with an intuitive interface also empower brands to support the entire buyer journey, creating greater value and memorable customer experiences. About Appier Appier (TSE: 4180) is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) company that uses artificial intelligence to power business decision-making. Founded in 2012 with a vision of democratizing AI, Appier now has 17 offices across APAC, Europe and US, and is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Visit www.appier.com for more company information and visit ir.appier.com/en/ for more IR information. [1]On the quarterly seasonality characteristics, Q1 is a naturally lower season for marketing activities. Q3 and Q4 are high seasons for Ecommerce, while Q2 and Q3 are high seasons for Digital Content.

[2] AIQUA now can support English, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean languages and will support Vietnamese, Thai, and Bahasa in Q2 2023.

[3] BotBonnie can now support English, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean languages. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/appier-exceeds-first-quarter-projection-reports-robust-earnings-growth-301825637.html SOURCE Appier

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[May 16, 2023] Island Introduces the World's First Self-Protecting Browser

Island, the leader and pioneer in the Enterprise Browser market, today announced Self-Protection for the Enterprise Browser, delivering a fundamentally new approach and level of security to enterprise work. Island has introduced the ideal solution for organizations with extremely sensitive data and applications, to ensure safe operation even on devices beyond the organization's control and traditional protections. "Our customers are many of the largest and most sophisticated financial, healthcare, industrial, hospitality and technology pioneers in the world," said Dan Amiga, Island CTO and Co-Founder. "In these environments, we work closely with many of the most sophisticated red teams on Earth leveraging the most advanced techniques at their disposal. This allows us to see first-hand the challenges they face in securing their employees and extended workforce. We have carefully studied the attack landscape, and today we are releasing the industry's most comprehensive built-in solution protecting the browser against the most sophisticated attacks." The Island Enterprise Browser defends itself against the majority of known and unknown web-based and physically-local threats by building in-depth capabilities to protect attack vectors often used to exploit the browser footprint. By introducing the Island Self-Protection, Island can help ensure the safe operation of the browser even within less-than-ideal environments. Island's Self-Protection includes capabilities to protect in such areas as: Protection from Memory, Process and File Exploitation: Advanced browser security to prevent exploitation of the installable footprint of the browser. This includes advanced techniques to protect the browser's memory, process and file footprint from tampering attempts including anti-debugging tactics. Attempts to inject malicious code or tamper with these browser resources triggers an immediate audit and, by policy, enforces browser shutdown mode, thereby defeating the attack and preventing data exfiltration.

Advanced browser security to prevent exploitation of the installable footprint of the browser. This includes advanced techniques to protect the browser's memory, process and file footprint from tampering attempts including anti-debugging tactics. Attempts to inject malicious code or tamper with these browser resources triggers an immediate audit and, by policy, enforces browser shutdown mode, thereby defeating the attack and preventing data exfiltration. Encryption of Browser Resources: Provisions policy-driven encryption of the browser's cache, cookies, password vault, and browser storage. This prevents the extraction and reuse of any content from these critical browser data stores.

Provisions policy-driven encryption of the browser's cache, cookies, password vault, and browser storage. This prevents the extraction and reuse of any content from these critical browser data stores. Protection Against Network-Based Attacks: Leverages techniques to detect and prevent man-in-the-middle attacks whether from local unsecured or malicious Wi-Fi, and a broad range of network-based exploits. Upon dtection of man-in-the-middle the browser will audit the event and can prevent operation until the interception is removed.

Leverages techniques to detect and prevent man-in-the-middle attacks whether from local unsecured or malicious Wi-Fi, and a broad range of network-based exploits. Upon dtection of man-in-the-middle the browser will audit the event and can prevent operation until the interception is removed. Keystroke Logging Prevention : Provides advanced capabilities to protect from locally installed software keystroke loggers surreptitiously attempting to capture a user's keystrokes. By emulating false physical key presses, Island can fill a keystroke logger with garbage data making keystroke captures unusable.

: Provides advanced capabilities to protect from locally installed software keystroke loggers surreptitiously attempting to capture a user's keystrokes. By emulating false physical key presses, Island can fill a keystroke logger with garbage data making keystroke captures unusable. Screen Capture Prevention : Delivers sophisticated screen capture prevention techniques to protect critical application engagements. When a malicious effort is made to record or capture screens of critical applications, the screens will simply be inaccessible by the screen capture tooling of the malicious actor.

: Delivers sophisticated screen capture prevention techniques to protect critical application engagements. When a malicious effort is made to record or capture screens of critical applications, the screens will simply be inaccessible by the screen capture tooling of the malicious actor. Device Integrity Controls: Ensures device meets appropriate organizational criteria for accessing critical application footprint. This includes ensuring any existing EPP software or other controls are up-to-date.

Ensures device meets appropriate organizational criteria for accessing critical application footprint. This includes ensuring any existing EPP software or other controls are up-to-date. Attack Surface Reduction: Protects critical browser javascript APIs from opportunistic exploitation by removing their availability when engaging untrusted destinations.

Protects critical browser javascript APIs from opportunistic exploitation by removing their availability when engaging untrusted destinations. Local Browser Isolation: Governs local mechanics of the browser's realtime compilation mechanics to isolate them from attempts to inject malicious code into the browser's operation.

Governs local mechanics of the browser's realtime compilation mechanics to isolate them from attempts to inject malicious code into the browser's operation. Deep Extension Protection: Ensures proper extension usage via Island Extension Guard which governs which extensions can be used, which cannot, and how they can be leveraged. This can ensure that a malicious extension cannot be leveraged to exploit critical application resources.

Ensures proper extension usage via Island Extension Guard which governs which extensions can be used, which cannot, and how they can be leveraged. This can ensure that a malicious extension cannot be leveraged to exploit critical application resources. Hardened Browser Policy : Manages browser capabilities by policy to govern proper use of such core browser elements as developer tools, page source viewing, user settings, and command line interactions.

: Manages browser capabilities by policy to govern proper use of such core browser elements as developer tools, page source viewing, user settings, and command line interactions. User Safe Browsing: In addition to protection of the browser itself, Island protects the end users from the dangers of the Internet by delivering anti-phishing, URL categorization, threat intelligence & malware inspection.



The Island Enterprise Browser

The Island Enterprise Browser is the desktop of the future, enabling organizations to protect users and data and embed productivity features at the very point where they interact with SaaS and internal web applications. Using the Island Enterprise Browser, security teams fully control the last mile, from basic protections such as copy, paste, download, upload, and screenshot capture, to more advanced security demands such as data redaction, watermarking and multi-factor authentication insertion. This opens up unprecedented opportunities across a growing number of enterprise use cases, including securing critical SaaS and internal web applications from data leakage, safe access for contractors and BYOD workers, and full governance over privileged user accounts. It also delivers a native user experience for the hybrid worker in contrast to costly and poor-performing virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), while supporting built-in safe browsing, web filtering, web isolation, exploit prevention, and Zero Trust network access at much lower cost. Automation of repetitive tasks, customized workflows and frictionless adoption also help organizations realize significant increases in productivity and user experience. About Island Island is the developer of the Enterprise Browser - the ideal enterprise workplace, where work flows freely while remaining fundamentally secure. With the core needs of the enterprise naturally embedded in the browser itself, Island gives organizations complete control, visibility, and governance over the last mile, while delivering the same smooth Chromium-based browser experience users expect. Led by experienced leaders of the enterprise security and browser technology space and backed by leading venture funds - Insight Partners, Sequoia Capital, Cyberstarts, and Stripes - Island is redefining the future of work for some of the largest, most respected enterprises in the world. Island is based in Dallas with research and development in Tel Aviv and can be reached at [email protected] or (866) 832-7114. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516005291/en/

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[May 16, 2023] Capco names Naveen Kumar as new Partner to lead Payments practice in Canada

Capco, a Wipro company, the global technology and management consultancy, has hired Naveen Kumar as a Partner to lead the company's Canadian payments practice. Naveen is a highly experienced digital executive who brings extensive business and technology knowledge in both the public and private sectors. Naveen is a recognized leader in business transformation with more than 20 years' experience in financial and professional services in Canada and the United States. He has partnered with organizations to drive innovation and address strategic and operational needs through the practical application of new and emerging technologies and ideas. Lance Levy, CEO of Capco, said: "Payments transformation, open banking and ESG are key priorities for Canadian financial services firms, and with Canadian payments providers looking to expand their capabilities to facilitate cross-border payments, Naveen's appointment will enable us to enhance our offering across all these areas. We are delighted to welcome him to our Canada team." Gary Teelucksingh, CEO of Capco's Canada business, said: "It is our pleasure to welcome Naveen to the Canadian leadership team as a new Partner. Naveen brings strong leadership experience, deep expertise, and an mpressive breadth of experience in financial services and consulting. His collaborative approach and proven track-record in building world-class teams and leading large-scale transformation projects will be immense assets to Capco Canada."



Naveen joins Capco from Amrop, where he was a Partner and Canadian Head of Digital. His responsibilities included building and enabling clients' digital strategies, end-to-end delivery of technology solutions, cyber security strategies and product rationalization. Prior to Amrop, Naveen held senior leadership roles at Info-Tech Research Group, KPMG, Citigroup, JP Morgan, and IBM. In recent years, Naveen has been named by HMG Strategy as a 2019 Top Technology Executive to Watch and one of its 2020 Global Technology Executives that Matter, and was also as a recipient of its 2021 Global Leadership Institute Award. Naveen has a Bachelor's degree in Engineering from Bangalore University and a Master's degree in Computer Science from Fairleigh Dickinson University, and attended the Executive Leadership Program at Cornell University.

Capco, a Wipro company, is a global technology and management consultancy specializing in driving digital transformation in the financial services industry. With a growing client portfolio comprising of over 100 global organizations, Capco operates at the intersection of business and technology by combining innovative thinking with unrivalled industry knowledge to fast-track digital initiatives for banking and payments, capital markets, wealth and asset management, insurance, and the energy sector. Capco's cutting-edge ingenuity is brought to life through its award-winning Be Yourself At Work culture and diverse talent. To learn more, visit www.capco.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516005182/en/

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[May 16, 2023] PCI Pal Named Finalist in 2023 Cloud Security Awards

PCI Pal announced today it has been named a finalist in The Cloud Security Awards 2023 in the Best Security Compliance in Enterprise category. In its first year, The Cloud Security Awards program recognizes the latest advancements and innovations in cloud-based security solutions. The program received entries from organizations worldwide, including North America, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, and Australasia. Among the categories in its inaugural year were 'Best Cloud-Based Security Solution,' 'Data Protection Solution of the Year,' and 'Cloud Security Innovation of the Year,' recognizing the most important aspects of cloud security in today's digital landscape. Jane Goodayle, CMO of PCI Pal comments, "We are honored to be named a finalist in the Best Security Compliance in Enterprise category for the inaugural edition of the Cloud Security Awards. This recognition affirms our dedication to delivering secure and innovative cloud solutions to our customers. We are thrilled to be listed alongside other nominees and eagerly await the final stage of the program." Head of Operations for the Cloud Awards, James Williams, adds, "We are pleased to announce the finalists for the 2023 Cloud Security Awards. The quantity and quality of the entries we received are a testament to the significance of cloud security. The finalists we have revealed today have passed through a rigorous initial round, demonstrating exceptional cloud-based products and solutions that help organizations stay secure. "Our panel of judges was impressed by the level of innovation showcased by the entrants across all industries, and PCI Pal is a worthy finalist." For the full list of finalists, please visit: https://www.cloud-awards.com/2023-cloud-security-awards-finalists/. The winners of the Cloud Security Awards will be announced on June 13th, 2023. The Cloud Security Awards program will continue to recognize excellence n cloud security in 2024. Dozens of organizations participated in the 2022-2023 edition, with entries originating from North America, Canada, Australia, UK, Europe, and Asia.



The Cloud Awards and The SaaS Awards are currently accepting nominations for their respective programs, recognizing excellence in cloud computing and software-as-a-service across various industries. The SaaS Awards deadline is the second-to-last Friday in May. Notes for editors

About the Cloud Awards

The Cloud Awards is an international program which has been recognizing and honoring industry leaders, innovators and organizational transformation in cloud computing since 2011. The awards are open to large, small, established and start-up organizations from across the entire globe, with an aim to find and celebrate the pioneers who will shape the future of the Cloud as we move into 2023 and beyond. Categories include the Software as a Service award, Most Promising Start-Up, and "Best in Mobile" Cloud Solution. Winners are selected by a judging panel of international industry experts. For more information about the Cloud Awards and SaaS Awards, please visit https://www.cloud-awards.com/. About the SaaS Awards

The SaaS Awards is a sister program to the Cloud Awards, which was founded in 2011. The SaaS Awards focuses on recognizing excellence and innovation in software solutions. Categories range from Best Enterprise-Level SaaS to Best UX or UI Design in a SaaS Product. About the Cloud Security Awards

The Cloud Security Awards is a sister program to the SaaS Awards and the Cloud Awards. The Cloud Security Awards celebrates innovation in the cybersecurity industry. The program includes a wide range of categories, including 'Best Web Security Solution,' 'Cloud Security Innovator of the Year,' and 'Best Security Solution for Finance or Banking.' For more information about the Cloud Security Awards, please visit: https://www.cloud-awards.com/cloud-security-awards/. About PCI Pal

PCI Pal (LON: PCIP) is a leading provider of SaaS solutions that empower companies to take payments securely, adhere to strict industry governance, and remove their business from the significant risks posed by non-compliance and data loss. Using patented technology, its mission is to safeguard reputation and trust by providing customers with secure payment solutions for any business communications environment including voice, chat, social, email, and contact center. PCI Pal is integrated to, and resold by, some of the world's leading business communications vendors, as well as major payment service providers. PCI Pal products can be used by any size organization globally, and it is proud to work with some of the largest and most respected brands in the world. For more information visit www.pcipal.com or follow the team on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pci-pal/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516005208/en/

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[May 16, 2023] TerraZero Appoints Michael Zyda as Advisor

VANCOUVER, BC, May 16, 2023 /CNW/ - TerraZero Technologies Inc. ("TerraZero" or the "Company"), a leading technology company specializing in helping brands develop their virtual presence, is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Zyda as an advisor to the Company. In this role, Zyda will provide guidance and strategic support to TerraZero as it continues to develop its service offering. Zyda is a Professor of Engineering Practice and was the Founding Director of University of Southern California's Computer Science Games Program. He is a highly respected figure in the technology industry, with extensive experience in virtual reality, computer graphics, and game design. Under his leadership, the USC Computer Science Games Program was transformed from a non-existent program to the #1 Games program in the world, as rated by the Princeton Review for ten of the last eleven years. His alums have shipped games played by over 5 billion players, generating about $250B in revenue and $2.5B in payroll. "We are thrilled to welcome Michael as an advisor to TerraZero," said Dan Reitzik, CEO of TerraZero. "His experience and expertise in technology make him a valuable addition to our team. With Michael's guidance, we can continue to develop cutting-edge, omni-channel experiences for our clients to engage with their customer base." Zyda has received numerous accolades throughout his career, including being recognized as an ACM Fellow, IEEE Fellow, and IEEE Virtual Reality Technical Achievement Award winner. He is also a Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors, a Fellow of the Asia-Pacific Artificial Intelligence Association (AAIA), and a National Associate of the National Academies. To learn more about TerraZero's products, services, and in-house studio, go online to terrazero.com or reach out directly at [email protected]. About TerraZero Technologies Inc. TerraZero Technologies Inc. ("TerraZero") is a vertically integrated Metaverse development group and leading web3 technology company specializing in helping brands create immersive experiences. The Company's Metaverse-agnostic vision is to develop and implement products and services with scalable commercial applications to flourish engagement across gamified experiences where enterprise-level businesses, Metaverse platforms, and web3 creators can seamlessly bridge and actionably grow their virtual world and the physical world endeavors together as one. TerraZero owns digital real estate for brands to establish presence in existing virtual worlds and can also offer brands their own private worlds to provide offices and services to those interested in the Metaverse. Furthermore, TerraZero acquires, designs, builds, and operates virtual assets and solutions to monetize the Metaverse ecosystem The Company's businesses are segmented into five (5) divisions which include: (1) Immersive experience creation in existing or private virtual worlds; (2) advertising; (3) data analytics; (4) events and marketing; and (5) infrastructure. TerraZero aims to support the community, foster innovation, and drive adoption. For more information, please visit https://terrazero.com/or contact [email protected].



Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information or statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends," "expects," or "anticipates," or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events, or results "may," "could," "should," "would," or will "potentially" or "likely" occur. This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forwardlooking statements," are not historical facts and are made as of the date of this news release, which includes without limitation, statements regarding discussions of future plans, estimates, and forecasts and statements as to management's expectations and intentions with respect to, among other things: the expected benefits and outcomes with Zyda as an advisor; developing products including its Intraverse product and the expected outcomes of such product and services; that establishing an early presence within the Metaverse will provide the Company with new users, branding, and marketing opportunities; events, courses of action, and the potential of the Company's technology and operations, among others, are all forward-looking information.

Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including but not limited to, market and other conditions, business, economic, and capital market conditions; the ability to manage operating expenses, which may adversely affect the Company's financial condition; the ability to remain competitive as other better financed competitors develop and release competitive products; regulatory uncertainties; access to personnel, employees, and consultants; market conditions and the demand and pricing for products and services; the demand and pricing of cryptocurrencies and NFTs (including digital assets); security threats, including a loss/theft of TerraZero's NFTs, cryptocurrencies, and other assets; TerraZero's relationships with its customers and business partners; TerraZero's ability to successfully define, design, and release new products in a timely manner that meet customers' needs; the ability to attract, retain, and motivate qualified personnel; competition in the industry; the impact of technology changes on the products and industry; failure to develop new and innovative products; the ability to successfully maintain and enforce our intellectual property rights and defend third-party claims of infringement of their intellectual property rights; the impact of intellectual property litigation that could materially and adversely affect the business; the ability to manage working capital; and the dependence on key personnel. As a result, TerraZero may not actually achieve its plans, projections, or expectations. In addition, 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 demand for its products, the ability to develop software successfully, that there will be no regulation or law that will prevent the Company from operating its business, anticipated costs, the ability to secure sufficient capital to complete its business plans, the ability to achieve goals, and the price of cryptocurrencies and NFTs (including digital assets). Given these risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include failure to obtain regulatory approval, the continued availability of capital and financing, technology failures, failure to obtain any permits required to operate the business, the impact of technology changes on the industry, the impact of COVID-19 or other viruses and diseases on the Company's ability to operate and hire personnel, competition, security threats including stolen NFTs and cryptocurrencies from TerraZero or its customers, consumer sentiment towards TerraZero's products, services and Metaverse technology generally, failure to develop new and innovative products, litigation, increase in operating costs, increase in labor costs, decrease in the price of cryptocurrencies and NFTs, failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations, government regulations, loss of key employees and consultants, and general economic, market, or business conditions. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Additionally, the Company undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of or statements made by third parties. SOURCE TerraZero Technologies Inc.

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[May 16, 2023] EnsembleIQ's Convenience Store News Wins National and Regional Honors for Editorial Excellence in the 2023 Azbee Awards

CHICAGO, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EnsembleIQ today announces Convenience Store News, the leading media brand of the convenience store industry, won national and regional honors for editorial excellence in the 2023 Azbee Awards of Excellence competition. The awards program is one of the most competitive programs for business-to-business, trade, association and professional publications and is sponsored by the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE).

Three of Convenience Store News proprietary annual research studies  Forecast Study, Realities of the Aisle Study and Industry Report  won a national silver award in the Data Journalism category, as well as a regional gold award in the Upper Midwest region. The Forecast Study is based on a survey of convenience store retailers, distributors and suppliers, and looks at the expected business conditions the industry will face in the year ahead. The Realities of the Aisle Study analyzes the shopping behavior of current convenience store shoppers, and highlights where the channel is satisfying customer needs and where it is lacking. The Industry Report is the longest-running and most complete analysis of all the key product categories in the convenience store industry, including motor fuels, tobacco, foodservice and more.



In addition, Convenience Store News March 2022 cover story, "The DEI Imperative," won a regional bronze award in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion category. The in-depth feature examined why a diverse, equitable and inclusive convenience store industry is more important than ever. As the leading source of intelligence, research, insights and analysis for the convenience store industry, our mission is to provide our community with the information they need to help their businesses prosper. These awards are a testament to our dedication to the industry and our community of retailers, suppliers and distributors, said Paula Lashinsky, Senior Vice President and Group Publisher, U.S. Grocery and Convenience, EnsembleIQ. I congratulate our talented team of editors; we are truly honored to receive these awards.

To learn more about Convenience Store News, visit https://www.csnews.com and stay connected on Facebook , LinkedIn and Twitter . About Convenience Store News

Convenience Store News is the leading source for business intelligence, proprietary research and channel insights and analysis for the convenience store industry. Convenience Store News engages the entire convenience store supply chain fostering buyer/seller dialogue and providing the valuable intelligence needed to make critical strategic and tactical business decisions and achieve tangible business results. Convenience Store News helps retailers, suppliers and distributors grow sales and profits and stay ahead of whats next in c-store retailing. About EnsembleIQ

EnsembleIQ is the premier resource of actionable insights and connections powering business growth throughout the path to purchase. We help retail, technology, consumer goods, healthcare and hospitality professionals make informed decisions and gain a competitive advantage. EnsembleIQ delivers the most trusted business intelligence from leading industry experts, creative marketing solutions and impactful event experiences that connect best-in-class suppliers and service providers with our vibrant business-building communities. To learn more about EnsembleIQ, visit ensembleiq.com . Media Contact

Joe Territo

Chief Strategy Officer

EnsembleIQ

[email protected]



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[May 16, 2023]

Kaufmann selects Nemodata to Deliver AI-Based Maintenance Optimization to Fleet Customers across Chile

RESEARCH TRIANGLE, N.C. and SANTIAGO, Chile, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nemodata, a leading provider of AI-driven maintenance optimization solutions, and Kaufmann Group, the market leader and exclusive distributor of Daimler vehicles in Chile, Peru, Colombia, Panama and Costa Rica, announced their partnership to revolutionize fleet operations across Latin America. By combining Nemodata's AI technology with Kaufmann's industry expertise and superior maintenance services, fleet customers will benefit from enhanced maintenance optimization capabilities.

Nemodata's AI-based solution employs advanced algorithms to prevent failures, detect anomalies, and optimize maintenance, resulting in reduced downtime and fewer costly repairs. The system generates personalized recommendations for proactive maintenance tailored to each vehicle's specific needs, while minimizing disruptions to fleet operations.

Kaufmann Group, renowned for its operational excellence and commitment to quality, complements Nemodata's solution by providing tailored expertise to meet the unique maintenance requirements of fleet customers in Latin America/span>. Nemodata will be available through the company's newly redesigned fleet management platform, CoPiloto.







"We are excited to partner with Nemodata to deliver their AI-based maintenance optimization solution to our fleet customers," said Carlos De Martini, Connectivity Services Manager of Kaufmann. "This collaboration combines our dealership and maintenance expertise with Nemodata's cutting-edge technology, empowering our customers to improve fleet maintenance practices, reduce costs, and enhance operational efficiency."

Uri Keren, VP of Business Development of Nemodata, added, "We are delighted to collaborate with Kaufmann. Together, we offer a comprehensive solution that combines powerful analytics with industry expertise, enabling fleet managers to make informed decisions and achieve optimal fleet performance through increased uptime and profitability."

About Nemodata

Nemodata leverages the power of data & AI to revolutionize fleet operations. Nemodata's proprietary models are built by AI experts, trained on millions of data days, and serve enterprise fleets, dealerships and OEMs across the US & LATAM. Learn more at www.nemodata.ai

About Kaufmann Group

Kaufmann Group is a family-owned independent GD and dealer for passenger cars, trucks, buses, vans, pickups, machinery, after sales services and mobility solutions, and is currently leading the expansion of EV vehicles across the region. www.kaufmann.cl

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kaufmann-selects-nemodata-to-deliver-ai-based-maintenance-optimization-to-fleet-customers-across-chile-301826155.html

SOURCE Nemodata
Key Insights

Significant control over Canadian Utilities by private companies implies that the general public has more power to influence management and governance-related decisions

53% of the company is held by a single shareholder (Sentgraf Enterprises Ltd.)

12% of Canadian Utilities is held by Institutions

If you want to know who really controls Canadian Utilities Limited (TSE:CU), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. With 53% stake, private companies possess the maximum shares in the company. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn).

Meanwhile, individual investors make up 33% of the companys shareholders.

Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Canadian Utilities.

View our latest analysis for Canadian Utilities

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Canadian Utilities?

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.

Canadian Utilities already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. 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. 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 Canadian Utilities, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too.

Canadian Utilities is not owned by hedge funds. The company's largest shareholder is Sentgraf Enterprises Ltd., with ownership of 53%. With such a huge stake in the ownership, we infer that they have significant control of the future of the company. Meanwhile, the second and third largest shareholders, hold 2.3% and 2.1%, of the shares outstanding, respectively.

Story continues

While studying institutional ownership for a company can add value to your research, it is also a good practice to research analyst recommendations to get a deeper understand of a stock's expected performance. Quite a few analysts cover the stock, so you could look into forecast growth quite easily.

Insider Ownership Of Canadian Utilities

While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. 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.

Shareholders would probably be interested to learn that insiders own shares in Canadian Utilities Limited. The insiders have a meaningful stake worth CA$135m. Most would see this as a real positive. If you would like to explore the question of insider alignment, you can click here to see if insiders have been buying or selling.

General Public Ownership

The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 33% stake in Canadian Utilities. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

Private Company Ownership

Our data indicates that Private Companies hold 53%, of the company's shares. It's hard to draw any conclusions from this fact alone, so its worth looking into who owns those private companies. Sometimes insiders or other related parties have an interest in shares in a public company through a separate private company.

Next Steps:

It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Canadian Utilities better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with Canadian Utilities , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

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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[May 16, 2023] SpotSee Acquires Sensor International's Unique Patented Indicator Technologies

SpotSee, a global leader in environmental condition monitoring solutions, has acquired unique temperature indicator technologies and intellectual property from Sensor International. Sensor International has developed and patented unique and intelligent indicator technologies that can be integrated into various products, packaging, medical devices, and diagnostics. These technologies are particularly useful in life science, food safety and high-pressure pasteurization markets. "SpotSee sees a tremendous opportunity with the Sensor Indicator technologies because of its low-cost, time-temperature detection capabilities that can mimic spoilage experienced in vaccine vial monitoring, pharmaceuticals and food," said Tony Fonk, President and CEO of SpotSee. "We look forward to working with the Sensor Indicator team to develop and commercialize these unique technologies into real world applications." This is the second acquisition announced by SpotSee in the past two weeks, reaffirming its commitment to develop the best patient-focused Life Science solutions, as well as products for food distribution monitoring. The World Helth Organization (WHO) mandates that manufacturers utilize vaccine vial monitors, enabling millions of vaccines to reach rural patients throughout the globe without spoilage. Through the acquisition of Sensor International, SpotSee will continue its development of key solutions to support the distribution and monitoring of vaccine and temperature sensitive medication.



According to the IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science, 30% of cold chain products are scrapped because of cold chain issues. "SpotSee is a purpose driven company, and we are motivated to create unique technologies that help solve a global health problem," said Fonk. "We are proud of our role to help reduce waste in the pharmaceutical supply chain. Imagine if we had 30% more medicine to reach those in need."

About SpotSee At SpotSee, every degree matters. As a global leader in condition-indicating and monitoring solutions, the company helps customers identify changing conditions to protect life sciences and ensure supply chain integrity. SpotSee provides products that enable more than 4,500 customers and partners in 62 countries to detect changes in the condition of everything from vaccines to spaceships. The company's solutions include temperature, impact, tilt, vibration, humidity, and liquid detection monitoring devices, available via visual, RFID, QR Code, cellular or satellite connection. Its products such as WarmMark, ColdMark, HemoTemp II, ThermoStrip, Thermax, BriteLine, ShockWatch, ShockLog and TiltWatch are widely used in the life sciences, energy, transportation, aerospace, defense, food, manufacturing, and consumer products sectors. The company is headquartered in Dallas, TX and operates five facilities in Texas, Illinois, Mexico and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.spotsee.io. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516005747/en/

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[May 16, 2023] Caprice Capital Partners, LLC Provides $100 million of Growth Capital To Third-Party Logistics Services Provider

$100 million Senior Secured Credit Facility Growth Capital LOS ANGELES, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Caprice Capital Partners, LLC underwrote, agented, and served as the sole lender for the upsize of its existing credit facility with X Border Holdings, LLC ("XB Fulfillment" or the "Company"). The follow-on investment will provide growth capital for the Company to execute its expansion strategy. Caprice Capital Partners, LLC Provides $100 million of Growth Capital Peter Resnick, XB Fulfillment's Co-Founder and CFO commented: "Caprice has been a valuable strategic partner and provided the flexibility to help finance our growing business." Founded in 2014 and headquartered in San Diego, California, XB Fulfillment is an innovative eCommerce logistics platform that rovides fast-growing U.S.-based eCommerce and omnichannel brands with bespoke fulfillment and value-added warehousing services. Through a consultative approach, the Company enabled its customers to deliver over 22 million orders to their U.S. consumers in 2022, providing not only best-in-class fulfillment services and KPIs but the benefits of Section 321 duty savings and virtually unlimited low-cost labor through its four state-of-the-art fulfillment centers in Mexico.



Rich Thomson, Founder of Caprice commented: "XB is a great case study for Caprice's growth capital investment thesis of partnering with founder-owned businesses. The Company has nearly tripled in size from our initial growth capital investment in January 2021 and we're excited about the Company's next stage of growth as it expands its capacity by approximately 60% and broadens its geographical presence." Robert Choi, Vice President at Caprice, added "We're excited to partner with XB's management team who has demonstrated a strong track record and has grown the Company to become a market leader."

About Caprice Capital Partners Caprice Capital Partners, LLC is a Los Angeles-based, relationship-driven private investment firm focused on providing tailored debt and non-control equity solutions to entrepreneurial, non-sponsor-backed companies in the lower middle market. Caprice partners with founder-owners as well as independent sponsors and search funds to support buyout, growth, and recapitalization initiatives. Caprice is most effective with shareholders and management teams that are seeking true partnership and better alignment from their non-control capital partners, particularly given the strategic nature and often complex and time-constrained circumstances of the transaction. Caprice is industry-agnostic and situation-specific, often providing solutions to companies at or near an inflection point. Caprice tends to be the sole lender providing a capital solution between $8-$50 million to companies with at least $3 million of EBITDA. If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Jessica Cline at (310) 893-5070 or [email protected]. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/caprice-capital-partners-llc-provides-100-million-of-growth-capital-to-third-party-logistics-services-provider-301825074.html SOURCE Caprice Capital Partners

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[May 16, 2023] Canadians can win the chance to 'fry away' with launch of McDonald's Canada's Frequent Fryer Program

MyMcDonald's Rewards is now also your boarding pass for a chance to visit Germany, Italy, France or Japan to try their local McDonald's fries TORONTO, May 16, 2023 /CNW/ - McDonald's Canada is excited to announce the launch of the Frequent Fryer Program, giving guests who purchase any size World Famous Fries through the McDonald's app from May 16th to June 19th a chance to win* a trip to try different McDonald's fries from Germany, Italy, France or Japan. In addition to winning a chance to fry away, guests will receive bonus points for free fries through the McDonald's app throughout the duration of the contest, along with the chance to win* exclusive travel gear, such as McDonald's custom carry-on luggage. Throughout the program, the more fries Canadians buy on the app, the more chances they'll have to win. "We are taking the love Canadians have for our fries to the next level with our Frequent Fryer Program, offering our valued app users and brand fans the chance to win a trip to Berlin, Rome, Paris and Tokyo to explore these cities and try our World Famous Fries internationally," said Alyssa Buetikofer, Chief Marketing Officer, McDonald's Canada. "This will be the trip of a lifetime for fry lovers, and a way for us to deepen our connection with our brand fans by rewarding our app users beyond simple points collection."



The Frequent Fryer Program is another example of how McDonald's continues to unlock value and experiences for brand fans through the McDonald's App. Since the launch of MyMcDonald's Rewards in 2021, the brand continues to prioritize value, convenience and personalization within the app experience, such as introducing McDelivery on the app earlier this year, as well as continuing to evolve its loyalty offering. These efforts have made the McDonald's app the #1 quick service restaurant app downloaded by Canadians in 2022, with nearly 5 million Canadian app users. Don't miss your opportunity to participate in McDonald's Canada's Frequent Fryer Program. Download the McDonald's App and start ordering your World Famous Fries today.

Facts: When guests buy fries four times with the McDonald's app from May 16 th to June 19th , guests will receive 4,000 bonus points, which can be redeemed for a free fries 

to , guests will receive 4,000 bonus points, which can be redeemed for a free fries Every guest who purchases fries on the app is eligible to win one prize. This includes everything from the grand prize destinations to the custom McDonald's travel gear.

For every dollar spent on eligible purchases in the McDonald's app, guests will receive 100 points, which can be used to redeem rewards like any size Premium Roast Coffee or more fries!

MyMcDonald's Rewards can also be earned at the restaurant by ordering ahead with Mobile Order, through McDelivery on the McDonald's app, or by scanning at the Front Counter, Drive-Thru and Kiosk. The more points collected, the more rewards are unlocked.

McDonald's Canada's World Famous Fries are a longstanding Canadian favourite, made from 100% Canadian potatoes sourced from over 130 farms. McCain has been supplying McDonald's World Famous Fries in Canada for more than 30 years. *No purch. rqd. App download and registration required. Open to Cdn residents 13+. From May 16/23 - June 19/23. 5 Grand Prizes and 1,550 Secondary Prizes available, total ARV for all prizes: $136,250. Max 1 prize/person. Rules at mcdonaldspromotion.ca and offer terms in-app 1 qualifying purchase per transaction. See offer terms in-app for details. Valid 1 time until June 26/23. MyMcDonald's Rewards available at participating restaurants in Canada. See Program Terms for details. About McDonald's Canada In 1967, Canada welcomed the first McDonald's restaurant to Richmond, British Columbia. Today, McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Limited has become part of the Canadian fabric, serving more than one million guests every day. In both franchised and corporate-owned restaurants, nearly 100,000 people are employed from coast to coast to coast, and more than 90 per cent of McDonald's 1,400 Canadian restaurants are locally owned and operated by independent franchisees. Of the almost $1 billion spent on food, more than 85 per cent is purchased from suppliers in Canada. For more information on McDonald's Canada, visit mcdonalds.ca. SOURCE McDonald's Canada

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[May 16, 2023] Cogeco Communications Inc. to Participate at the 2023 TD Securities Telecom & Media

MONTREAL, May 16, 2023 /CNW/ - Cogeco Communications Inc. (TSX: CCA) announced today that it will be participating in the 2023 TD Securities Telecom & Media being held in Toronto, Ontario. As part of this conference Philippe Jette, Cogeco Communications Inc.'s President and Chief Executive Officer, will participate in an interactive discussion on Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at 11:15 a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time). The live audio webcast of the discussion will be available on the Investor Relations page and on the Events and Presentations page on the Cogeco Communications Inc.'s website on the day of the conference and a replay will be available shortly thereafter.



ABOUT COGECO COMMUNICATIONS INC. Rooted in the communities it serves, Cogeco Communications Inc. is a growing competitive force in the North American telecommunications sector with a legacy of more than 65 years. Through its business units Cogeco Connexion and Breezeline, Cogeco Communications provides Internet, video and phone services to 1.6 million residential and business customers in Quebec and Ontario in Canada as well as in thirteen states in the United States. Cogeco Communications Inc.'s subordinate voting shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: CCA).

SOURCE Cogeco Communications Inc.

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[May 16, 2023] Machine Safety Market to Reach $10.3 Billion, Globally, by 2032 at 6.5% CAGR: Allied Market Research

The global machine safety market is driven by factors such as an increase in the adoption of digital technologies, a rise in the trend towards automation in industrial processes, and the implementation of strict machinery safety guidelines. PORTLAND, Ore., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Machine Safety Market by Component (Safety Sensors, Safety Interlock Switches, Safety Controllers, Others) by Implementation (Individual, Embedded) by Industry Vertical (Oil & Gas, Healthcare, Automotive, Metals & Mining, Others) by Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA): Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2022-2032." According to the report, the machine safety industry generated $5.5 billion in 2022, and is estimated to reach $10.3 billion by 2032, witnessing a CAGR of 6.5% from 2023 to 2032. The report offers a detailed analysis of changing market trends, top segments, key investment pockets, value chains, regional landscapes, and competitive scenarios. Download Free Research Sample for Most Up to Date Information about Global Machine Safety Market @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/13425 Prime determinants of growth: The global machine safety market is driven by factors such as an increase in the adoption of digital technologies, a rise in the trend towards automation in industrial processes, and the implementation of strict machinery safety guidelines. However, the high cost of implementing safety measures in the manufacturing industry restrains the growth of the market. On the contrary, the demand for goods and services related to safety is anticipated to increase as the focus on workplace safety increases. Furthermore, as more companies realize how critical it is to have safety measures in place to protect their employees and comply with safety legislation and requirements, the demand for machine safety goods and services has increased significantly, which has paved the way for lucrative opportunities in the industry. Report Coverage & Details:







Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20232032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 $5.5 billion Market Size in 2032 $10.3 billion CAGR 6.5 % No. of Pages in Report 403 Segments Covered Component, Implementation, Industry Vertical, and Region Drivers An increase in the adoption of digital technologies A rise in the trend towards automation in industrial processes Implementation of stringent machinery safety standards and regulations Opportunities Increase in adoption of hazardous machinery and equipment in various industries Restraints High cost of implementing safety measures in the manufacturing industry

COVID-19 scenario: The disruption of global supply chains due to the pandemic led to delays in the delivery of products and components, which affected production and sales of machine safety products. This resulted in a decline in demand for machine safety products in some industries, such as automotive and aerospace.

However, the pandemic has resulted in an increase in demand for machine safety products in industries such as healthcare and pharmaceuticals, where safety measures have become a top priority. The adoption of technologies such as the IIoT and automation accelerated due to the pandemic, which has created potential opportunities for machine safety market growth. The safety interlock switches segment is expected to held major share in 2022: By component, the safety interlock switches segment garnered the highest share in 2022, holding nearly one-third of the global machine safety market revenue. This is due to increasing trends toward automation in various industries. As more companies automate their operations, the need for sophisticated safety interlock switches that can ensure worker safety is growing. Furthermore, the safety interlock switches market is benefiting from advancements in technology, such as the development of wireless safety interlock switches and the increase in the use of non-contact switches. These advancements are making safety interlock switches more versatile and easier to install, thus creating new opportunities for market expansion. On the other hand, the safety sensors segment is expected to grow in terms of revenue during the forecast period. Furthermore, the safety controller segment would display the fastest CAGR of 7.9% from 2023 to 2032. These controllers are essential for companies to comply with industry-specific safety standards and regulations, as they provide the necessary safety functions required for compliance. By detecting potential hazards and risks, safety controllers effectively mitigate risks, thereby preventing accidents, injuries, and damage to machinery. This increased emphasis on safety has led to a rising demand for safety controllers, driving their market growth. The embedded segment to maintain its dominance during the forecast period: By implementation, the embedded segment accounted for more than two-thirds of the global machine safety market revenue in 2022 and is expected to maintain its dominance during the forecast period. This can be attributed to the fact that embedded safety components are specifically created to be permanently incorporated into the machinery during the manufacturing phase. This guarantees that safety measures are integrated and cannot be bypassed, making them crucial in industries that pose a high risk to safety. However, the individual segment would showcase the fastest CAGR of 7.6% during the forecast period. This growth can be attributed to the increasing emphasis on workplace safety regulations, which has prompted organizations to invest in safety solutions. With the widespread adoption of automation in various industries, individual component manufacturers have a significant opportunity to provide safety solutions tailored for automated machines and equipment. As a result, the individual component segment is expected to maintain its dominance in the machine safety market throughout the forecast period. Procure Complete Report (403 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures) @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/machine-safety-market/purchase-options The automotive segment to rule the roost by 2032: By industry vertical, the automotive segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for nearly one-third of the global machine safety market revenue, and is projected to rule the roost by 2032. This is due to the increasing demand for safety solutions in the growing automotive industry worldwide. Large companies have started collaborating with local manufacturers to deliver personalized safety solutions that cater to their specific requirements. On the other hand, the oil and gas segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 9.4% from 2023 to 2032. This exceptional growth can be attributed to the fact that the oil and gas industry operates in demanding and hazardous environments, where safety is of paramount importance. Consequently, there is a rising need for advanced machine safety solutions to ensure the protection of workers and equipment. As the industry places a strong emphasis on safety, the demand for cutting-edge safety technologies continues to increase. This favorable market condition drives the significant growth of the oil and gas segment in the machine safety market. North America garnered the major share in 2032: By region, North America contributed to the highest share in 2022, garnering more than one-third of the global machine safety market revenue, and is expected to maintain its dominance by 2032. The machine safety market in North America is poised to grow at a significant pace in the upcoming years due to an increased emphasis on workplace safety regulations, which has resulted in a surge in demand for safety equipment across multiple industries. Furthermore, key players in the country are adopting various strategies to strengthen their foothold in the competitive market. However, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 8.5% from 2023 to 2032. This impressive growth can be attributed to several factors, including the increasing adoption of safety technologies and the presence of large manufacturing industries in countries like China, Japan, and India. Want to Access the Statistical Data and Graphs, Key Players' Strategies @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/13425 Leading Market Players: OMRON Corporation

Emerson Electric Co.

KEYENCE CORPORATION

SICK AG

Schneider Electric SE

Siemens AG

B&R Automation

ABB Ltd.

Rockwell Automation Inc.

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

Honeywell International Inc. The report analyzes these key players of the machine safety market. These players have adopted various strategies such as business developments, new product launches, and innovations to increase their market penetration and strengthen their position in the industry. The report is helpful in determining the business performance, operating segments, developments, and product portfolios of every market player. Trending Reports in Semiconductor Industry (Book Now with 10% Discount): Industrial Transceivers Market Size, Share and Growth | 2031 Actuators and Valves Market Size, Share and Analysis | 2031 Industrial Computers Market Size, Trends and Insights by 2031 Collision Avoidance Sensor Market Size, Share | Analysis 2030 Paint Process Automation Market Size, Share, Growth | Analysis  2030 About Us Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact: David Correa

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Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/reports-store/semiconductor-and-electronics Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/machine-safety-market-to-reach-10-3-billion-globally-by-2032-at-6-5-cagr-allied-market-research-301826300.html SOURCE Allied Market Research

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[May 16, 2023] Driver Inc, a Tax Avoidance and Labour Abuse Scam, Throws Canada's Trucking Sector into Crisis

The Driver Inc scam in Canada's trucking industry is now a crisis hurting drivers, legitimate businesses, and costing the government billions in lost tax revenue. OTTAWA, ON, May 16, 2023 /CNW/ - Teamsters Canada, the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA), and the Association du camionnage du Quebec (ACQ) have joined forces to call for urgent federal action to put the brakes on the growing Driver Inc crisis in the country's trucking sector. Successive governments have failed to address the issue, allowing the problem to fester over decades and become a crisis. The Driver Inc crisis is a tax scam and employee misclassification scam. It sees truck drivers incorporate, often at the request of dishonest employers, under the guise of paying lower taxes and avoiding other payroll deductions. But in reality, these drivers are indistinguishable from regular employees, lacking truck ownership, route choice, or any real degree of independence or financial risk. Francois Laporte, President of Teamsters Canada, said, "Truckers engaged in Driver Inc are not only missing out on essential protections like workers' compensation and employment insurance, but are also being duped into believing they'll have higher earnings. None of this is legal, and they could end up losing tens of thousands if they are audited. Because they lack information about rights and obligations in Canada, new Canadians and temporary foreign worker are particularly vulnerable to this scam."



Stephen Laskowski, President of the CTA, emphasized, "The trucking industry is facing an existential crisis due to a labour abuse and tax avoidance scheme. We need the Canada Revenue Agency and the Labour Program to tackle these issues with the enforcement resources this crisis needs. We need substantial audits on carriers involved in the Driver Inc scam. The laws are already in place, they need to be enforced before it's too late!" Marc Cadieux, President of the ACQ, explained, "The Driver Inc scam is costing governments at least $1 billion annually. That's money that should be going to build our infrastructure and securing our social safety net, but instead is going into the pockets of crooked businesspeople. It has to stop!"

Claude Robert, President of Groupe Robert, is highly concerned about trucking industry's future. He sends a message to Driver Inc truckers: "There are hundreds of honest carriers in Canada who offer great working conditions to experienced drivers, in accordance with legislation. Reach out and get out of that trap! We need you, and you are more than welcome to work with us." Moreover, drivers taking part in the "Driver Inc" scam have a much harder time claiming employment insurance, overtime pay, vacation pay, severance pay, the ten paid sick days, and other employee benefits accorded under labour legislation. They also report difficulty accessing group health and dental insurance plans, with employers claiming these entitlements are normally reserved for employees  not incorporated entities. The trucking industry and labour unions are urging the federal government to increase investment in enforcement and penalties for those involved in the Driver Inc scam. In addition, they call for a coordinated effort between the CRA, the Labour Program, and provincial governments to protect truck drivers and preserve the integrity of the trucking industry. With over 125,000 members, Teamsters Canada is the country's largest transportation and supply chain union. It's also the largest union in the federally regulated private sector. The organization represents workers at CP, CN, UPS, Purolator, Robert Transport, countless other trucking companies, and more. They are affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which represents over 1.2 million workers in North America. The Canadian Trucking Alliance is a federation of provincial trucking associations, representing over 4,500 trucking companies across the country. The Association du camionnage du Quebec is the trucking industry's provincial association in Quebec, representing over 500 trucking companies in the province. SOURCE Teamsters Canada

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[May 16, 2023] More Cowbell: New CMO at Cowbell Looks to Close SME Gaps in Cyber Insurance Sector

TMCnet News Cowbell, adaptive cyber insurance provider for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), is set to upgrade its executive leadership with the appointment of Andrea Collins as its first chief marketing officer (CMO).



Collins, with more than two decades full of strategic marketing and communications experience, has a distinguished track record of building and managing known brands. Her new role at Cowbell will include overseeing brand and product marketing, global communications, and strategic customer acquisition. As a seasoned marketing exec, Collins has demonstrated her ability to create impactful brands' stories and leading successful acquisition strategies. 'Andrea understands the critical importance of storytelling and has created strong company narratives that still engage future and current customers," commented Jack Kudale, founder and CEO of Cowbell. "Her insurance expertise and deep understanding of our customers will be pivotal as we embark on new milestones at scale - expanding our reach, impact, and adoption.'

Before joining Cowbell, Collins big-time contributed to rapid revenue growth at Hippo Insurance, overseeing the company's journey from Series A funding through to its IPO. She has also spearheaded marketing programs for high-growth tech firms, including Flyhomes, PolicyGenius, and Betterment. Collins joins Cowbell during a period of sustained growth and expansion. Recently, the company introduced MooGPT, a generative AI tool designed to enhance customer experience. Cowbell also opened a new tech center in Pune, India and launched its U.K. operations. Additionally, Cowbell has been acknowledged by Inc. Magazine as one of the Best Places to Work, which is a huge testament to its culture and of its commitment to empowering employees. With an impressive growth rate, with premiums expanding in 2022 (and are expected to double in 2023), Cowbell is poised to create even more impacts. The company has garnered $125M in funding (to date) and anticipates becoming cash flow positive by the latter half of 2024. Given Collins' expertise and Cowbell's ambitious plans, the company is positioned well to contribute to the closing of the SME insurability gap in the cyber insurance space.





Edited by Alex Passett



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[May 16, 2023] Community Brands 2023 Event Trends Study Reveals Shifts in the Industry Landscape

Analyzed data from 500+ Event Planners delivers actionable insights in free upcoming webinar: Advancing the Next Generation of Events ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Community Brands is proud to announce a big reveal webinar on May 24 to unveil the results of the 2023 Event Trends Study, "Advancing the Next Generation of Events: How technology empowers organizations and inspires higher attendee engagement, growth, and ROI." Community Brands  the leading provider of software and payment solutions for associations, nonprofits, and K-12 schools  launched this study to help guide strategies and offer actionable take-aways based on survey results from 500+ events industry professionals. The free on-demand webinar features Community Brands experts in event technology and product marketing, plus survey conductors from Edge Research, to deep-dive into the comprehensive findings from professionals who plan events for corporations, government organizations, nonprofits, and associations. Discussions will highlight "Advancing the Next Generation of Events" insights into the shifts that emerged during the last several years of change and shine a light on future improvement areas, including: Event Planners' sentiments, outlooks, goals, and concerns about the future of organizations' events

Technology's impressive impact on driving event growth

How several years of disruption transformed the events industry fr the better

Action items for event growth and higher ROI



Jennifer Lee , President, Associations & Events division, Community Brands. "This new study emphasizes our commitment to revitalizing the events industry and helping organizations stay ahead of the curve. It also reinforces how tech-savvy organizations can, and will, revolutionize the event experience." A few 2023 Event Trends Study sneak peek insights:

Fast Fact: 59% of early adopters will invest more in event tech vs. 48% overall.

Continuing education courses and credits are an important component of attendee engagement.

Investing in technology promotes event growth  which is a top priority for event planners.

Event Planners rate data analytics, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality as the highest prioritized additional technology in the next year. As a thought leader in the events industry, Community Brands has been driving innovation and helping organizations navigate the new normal in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2016, the company has conducted the association industry's only annual Associations Trends Research study to include both pros and members perspectives. Similarly, the inaugural Event Trends Study seeks to explore key trends and strategies that are driving success for forward-thinking organizations in the events industry. The downloadable study is automatically included in the webinar wrap-up email, before it goes live on the website, which means attendees will have first access to view the 2023 Event Trends Study, "Advancing the Next Generation of Events: How technology empowers organizations and inspires higher attendee engagement, growth, and ROI." Register for the webinar today About Community Brands Community Brands amplifies the impact of over 50,000 purpose-driven organizations in over 30 countries. Associations, nonprofits, and K-12 schools rely on our software and services to solve their most critical challenges: engage the people they serve, simplify operations, and grow revenue. Built with reliability at the core and strategically focused on events, education, careers, fundraising, financials, and operations, our family of brands is bound by a common purpose to serve the organizations that make our communities a better place to live. Learn more at communitybrands.com and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Media contact:

Jessi Cape

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/community-brands-2023-event-trends-study-reveals-shifts-in-the-industry-landscape-301826421.html SOURCE Community Brands

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[May 16, 2023] Class Action Against U.S. Steel Certified for Over 123,000 Pennsylvania Residents, Announces Miner, Barnhill & Galland P.C.

On Friday, May 12, 2023, a Pennsylvania court issued an order allowing six Mon Valley residents to represent more than 123,000 of their neighbors in a lawsuit over air pollution from U.S. Steel. The lawsuit, Hernandez v. U.S. Steel (Case No. GD-19-005325), arose in December 2018 after a massive fire disabled U.S. Steel's pollution controls at its coke works in Clairton, Pennsylvania. When U.S. Steel continued production during the 102 days it took to restore those controls, the plant's sulfurous emissions spiked and local officials warned residents of 22 communities surrounding the plant to avoid outdoor activities. The plaintiffs claim that, during these 102 days, Mon Valley residents suffered noxious odors, burning throats, watering eyes, headaches, nausea, and trouble breathing at their homes. By officially certifying the plaintiffs' claims of negligence, nuisance, and trespass as a class action, Friday's ruling allows the representative plaintiffs to seek damages for more than 123,000 residents of the 22 communities in a single lawsuit. "Our team is thrilled by the Court's decision," said Sarah Siskind, lead attorney for the plaintiffs and a partner at Miner, Barnhill & Galland, P.C. "Now we can move forward and hold U.S. Steel accountable to its Mon Valley neighbors." "This is one of the most important class certification decisions in Allegheny County history, if not all of Pennsylvania," said Jim Pietz, another attorney for the plaintiffs and a partner at Feinstein Doyle Payne & Kravec, LLC.



The plaintiffs' attorneys plan to hold town hall meetings in the Mon Valley to explain what the Court's certification of the class action means for local residents. The meetings' time and place will be announced in the coming days. Participation will be limited to persons who lived in the 22 community areas during the 102 days after the fire. If you are a resident of Mon Valley, please sign up for case updates using the contact form on the following webpage: www.MonValleyPollution.com, or by calling or texting us at (412) 545-3473.

About Miner, Barnhill & Galland, P.C. Founded in 1971, MBG represents a broad range of individual, government, non-profit and corporate clients with offices in Chicago, Ill., and Madison, Wis. The firm is nationally known for its class action practice in environmental law, civil rights, employment rights, voting rights, predatory lending, as well as for complex litigation against government fraud. Its environmental practice includes individual and organizational representations, regulatory enforcement, and private law claims to protect the environment, people and their property from corporate polluters. Distinguished MBG alumni include President Barack Obama, multiple federal judges, a MacArthur Foundation fellow, and law professors at leading universities. For more information: www.LawMBG.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516005939/en/

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[May 16, 2023] TRG Adopts Attention Metrics With Brand Performance Group

DALLAS, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- After launching their "whole human" approach in March, TRG now unites subject-matter experts in paid social, programmatic, Google/YouTube, and content strategy into a new team called the Brand Performance Group. This team will identify attention-rich opportunities for brands that balance long-term brand-building and short-term sales objectives. Rather than competing for a slice of the budget pie or debating YouTube vs. TikTok, this team focuses on what these platforms have in common: opportunities to earn people's attention. "TRG is all about the power of 'and'," said TRG Chief Strategy Officer Christopher Ferrel. "Brand and performance, emotion and promotion, art and science. A mountain of evidence-based marketing research supports this, and we've seen it firsthand. Our creative and media work together to earn the attention of those in the market both today and in the future. This is key to our 'whole human' approach and one of the first proof points of our more memorable, meaningful work."



Scott Luther , who takes on a new title as Head of Connections Strategy & Brand Performance Marketing. "People are not one-dimensional. They do not use media any one particular way and are only rarely on a linear path to purchase. Most importantly, people aren't always rational and consistent  we cannot expect a simple, logical plan to work every time. Truly captivating and moving people requires heart and magic," said Luther. "The way we connect with people through our campaigns must be multifaceted  rich with insights into how humans actually live, work, connect, and unwind. We need to treat their attention as preciously as they do, so our approach to brand performance is all about balance: attention and action, broad and targeted, short- and long-term growth."

TRG's Brand Performance Group is among the industry's early adopters of human attention metrics, exploring partnerships with platforms like Amplified Intelligence, System1, Adelaide, Integral Ad Science, and others. The group will work closely with TRG's creative and strategy teams to create more effective media strategies and more inspired creative ideas. About TRG

In 2021, The Richards Group advertising agency became TRG  a vibrant, nonprofit-owned, people-run creativity collective that believes: To earn people's attention, we must pay attention to people. Current client partners include Charles Schwab, Ram Trucks, and Cayman Islands Department of Tourism. Learn more at trg.agency and on Instagram @TRGCreativity. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/trg-adopts-attention-metrics-with-brand-performance-group-301826328.html SOURCE TRG

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Triumph Group, Inc. (NYSE:TGI) shareholders might be concerned after seeing the share price drop 17% in the last quarter. But over three years, the returns would have left most investors smiling After all, the share price is up a market-beating 98% 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.

View our latest analysis for Triumph Group

To quote Buffett, 'Ships will sail around the world but the Flat Earth Society will flourish. There will continue to be wide discrepancies between price and value in the marketplace...' One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS).

During three years of share price growth, Triumph Group moved from a loss to profitability. That would generally be considered a positive, so we'd expect the share price to be up.

The company's earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers).

It's good to see that there was some significant insider buying in the last three months. That's a positive. That said, we think earnings and revenue growth trends are even more important factors to consider. Dive deeper into the earnings by checking this interactive graph of Triumph Group's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

A Different Perspective

While the broader market gained around 3.8% in the last year, Triumph Group shareholders lost 48%. 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 9% 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. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. For example, we've discovered 4 warning signs for Triumph Group that you should be aware of before investing here.

Story continues

Triumph Group 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.

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.

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[May 16, 2023] Olsen Palmer Expands M&A Practice with the Addition of Managing Director Preston Simons, Launch of Texas Office

Olsen Palmer LLC ("Olsen Palmer") is pleased to announce the hiring of Preston Simons as Managing Director and the corresponding launch of a Dallas office. Mr. Simons will lead the firm's practice in providing M&A and related strategic advice to community banks in Texas and Oklahoma, including sell-side M&A advisory, buy-side M&A advisory, valuations, fairness opinions, and Board-level assessments of strategic alternatives. This is Olsen Palmer's 6th office overall - and its 2nd office launched in 2023 - complementing the firm's headquarters in Washington D.C. and existing offices in Chicago, Denver, Birmingham, and Kansas City. Mr. Simons brings approximately 15 years of experience working with and advising financial institutions. Most recently, Mr. Simons was a Managing Director with Dallas, Texas-based Commerce Street Capital, LLC in the Financial Institutions Group where he advised community banks on sell-side and buy-side M&A transactions, valuations, and capital raises. Over the course of his career, Mr. Simons has advised on over 40 successful M&A transactions and over half a billion dollars in debt and equity issuances. A Texas native, Mr. Simons graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with both a BS in Mathematics and a BBA in Finance. Christopher Olsen, Olsen Palmer's Managing Partner, said, "We are very excited about Preston joining the Olsen Palmr team as well as the formal launch of our bank M&A advisory practice in Texas and Oklahoma. To consistently provide the elite M&A and strategic advice that our clients demand and deserve, we hire very selectively. Preston's expertise and client-first philosophy exceeded our expectations and we are confident he will do the same for clients." Mr. Olsen continued, "We are also pleased to expand our geographic presence by bringing our thoroughly independent, best-in-class M&A advice and execution to high quality community banks in Texas and Oklahoma."



"For approximately 15 years I have enjoyed advising banks in transformational decisions to maximize shareholder value in some of the best markets in the country. My decision to join forces with Olsen Palmer afforded the unique opportunity to launch an office and initiate coverage for a nationwide firm that is consistently ranked as a leader in the community bank M&A arena. I'm thrilled to be able to bring the firm's innovative, proven, and thoughtful approach to community bank investment banking to my home state of Texas and to Oklahoma," said Mr. Simons. "I look forward to continuing to build lasting relationships and to helping banks reach their strategic aspirations with the resources and reputation of Olsen Palmer behind me." For more information regarding the new Dallas office, contact Preston Simons, at 214-396-8972 or [email protected].

About Olsen Palmer Olsen Palmer LLC is an independent investment banking firm that exclusively advises community banks across the spectrum of Mergers & Acquisitions. By design, Olsen Palmer combines the M&A expertise of a traditional investment banking firm with the agility, responsiveness, and lack of conflicts of an independent firm. Specializing in sell-side and buy-side M&A advisory, valuations, fairness opinions, branch acquisitions and divestitures, and Board-level assessments of strategic options. For more information, please visit www.OlsenPalmer.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516005855/en/

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[May 16, 2023] Millwright Regional Council - Canada joins the Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries

TORONTO, May 16, 2023 /CNW/ - The Millwright Regional Council (MRC) takes pride in the announcement that we have been approved by the Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries (OCNI) board to become new members of the OCNI family. We are confident that we can provide valuable opportunities and support for the nuclear community for the 220+ members in the industry. By becoming a member, we are helping to support the strength and sustainability of the nuclear industry, expanding OCNI's network, and will have gained opportunities to share our organization's services and access a wide range of initiatives and benefits. We continue to support OCNI's efforts to grow as a radiant, inclusive, and responsible association dedicated to advancng the success of the nuclear industry.



"We have been pleased to develop our working relationship with OCNI though multiple collaboration sessions of our Introduction to Millwrighting (ITM) program." Said Mark Beardsworth, Executive Secretary Treasurer, MRC, "becoming an official OCNI member will further our relationship and goal of filling demand for skilled trades people will help to ensure the wider nuclear industry/clean energy sector is supported by a steady stream of qualified workers. With the government's commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, we know for certain that this will require full support and engagement from all parts of society. The MRC appreciates that we have a very important role to play in the success of the upcoming work and we accept the challenge and fully commit to continuing to work hard in our contribution to this goal. Participating in this partnership opportunity will provide the MRC better access to other organizations, and in turn permit more opportunities for collaboration and success.

About The Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries (OCNI) Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries (OCNI) is an association of more than 220 Canadian-based companies that supply equipment and services to the domestic and offshore nuclear industries. OCNI member companies employ more than 15,000 highly skilled and specialized engineers, technologists, and trades people. OCNI companies will have a key role in constructing and supplying components for SMRs in Canada and in offshore markets. About the Millwright Regional Council  Canada (MRC) The Millwright Regional Council  Canada (MRC) is composed of thirteen affiliated Local Unions of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBC) across Canada. We represent thousands of women and men working as progressive cross-trained construction and maintenance professionals with exceptional skills to install, maintain, diagnose, and repair precision machinery. UBC millwrights are vital partners in industries as diverse as energy, automotive, aerospace, food processing, pharmaceuticals and more. SOURCE Millwright Regional Council

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[May 16, 2023] The Companies of Schwarz Group and SAP Form Partnership to Secure the Intelligent Enterprise

Close collaboration to deliver innovative cybersecurity solution for SAP infrastructure and customers powered by XM Cyber

Companies come together to help secure critical business systems against cyber attacks NECKARSULM, Germany, May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The companies of Schwarz Group today announced a strategic partnership with SAP that aims to eliminate potential attack paths across business-critical applications. The partnership focuses on the security solutions developed by XM Cyber, a Schwarz Group company. It builds on a long-standing collaboration supporting the digital transformation across the companies of Schwarz Group. The cybersecurity platform developed by XM Cyber shows companies their IT landscape through the eyes of potential attackers, continuously. XM Cyber supports cloud and on-premise, as well as hybrid environments to identify breach points in their systems and address these threats in order of priority. Later this year, in addition to SAP's IT infrastructure, XM Cyber will also support the protection of the company's customer-specific cloud services and RISE with SAP ladscapes, helping companies migrate data and processes to the cloud without being compromised.



"Europe's largest software company, SAP, is engaging the expertise of XM Cyber and planning to use this unique security solution to safeguard its infrastructure. As such, we are also protecting SAP's customers," explains Rolf Schumann, CEO of Schwarz Digital. "In doing so, we will offer another example of our ability to secure the digital transformation for companies around the world." The importance of this partnership is especially relevant when more and more processes are being controlled and monitored digitally. SAP is supporting Bon Presso a division of Schwarz Produktion, who is taking advantage of modern process engineering and smart digital solutions to visualize key figures on the product lines and evaluate machine data in real time. This concept of a "digital factory" was coined within the companies of Schwarz Group and is possible thanks to the software provided by SAP.

"For more than 50 years, our software suite has laid the foundation for companies in all industries to digitize their business processes successfully. Thanks to the partnership with the companies of Schwarz Group and their XM Cyber security solution, we are significantly enhancing the security components of our products, which enables us to continue to provide our customers with optimal protection for their data and processes. As such, we offer an unparalleled package that will reinforce our market position," says Thomas Saueressig, Member of the Executive Board of SAP SE, leading SAP Product Engineering. XM Cyber is available today on SAP Store, the online marketplace for solutions developed by SAP and its partners. Additional information

For further information, see www.gruppe.schwarz/en . Press contact

Schwarz Unternehmenskommunikation GmbH & Co. KG

Phone: +49 7132 30-788600

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-companies-of-schwarz-group-and-sap-form-partnership-to-secure-the-intelligent-enterprise-301826486.html SOURCE Schwarz Group

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Its no secret that telephony-based fraud has become a major problem globally, impacting businesses and consumers alike. Scammers use tactics such as call spoofing and robocalls to deceive victims, leading to losses of time, money, and trust. The total losses due to telecom fraud in 2021 were estimated at nearly $40 billion, and increase of 28% from 2019. At the same time, robocalling and other scam calls cost Americans more than $44 billion in 2021.







While these figures may seem out of sync, they are necessarily measuring quite the same factors, though there is some overlap between them. One common variable between them is the huge number of robocalls consumers are subjected to every day, month, and year, to the tune of 50 million of them each year. But its not purely a North American problem. While U.S. consumers receive about half of the worlds robocalls, numbers are creeping up in other countries as well and Juniper Research (News - Alert) recently projected global losses to exceed $58 billion this year to mobile subscribers alone.

There are, of course, measures that can be and are being taken to help reduce the number of completed robocalls (and their impact), including the implementation of STIR/SHAKEN. The Secure Telephone Identity Revisited (STIR) and Signature-based Handling of Asserted Information Using toKENs (SHAKEN) protocol have emerged as a critical tool in the fight against these fraudulent activities. If you haven't noticed a high volume of unknown or robocalls, you probably live in the middle of nowhere and communicate via smoke signals or carrier pigeons, or you have a carrier that has successfully and effectively implemented STIR/SHAKEN.

STIR/SHAKEN is a collection of technical standards and protocols designed to combat caller ID spoofing, a common technique used by robocallers in initiate fraudulent interactions. In short, by ensuring calling parties are authenticated and verified, STIR/SHAKEN makes it much harder for scammers to spoof Caller IDs that allow them to masquerade as legitimate organizations. In response to the growing threat of telephony fraud, governments worldwide have started to implement regulations requiring the adoption of STIR/SHAKEN.

In the U.S., the FCC (News - Alert) mandated STIR/SHAKEN implementation beginning in June of 2021 for certain service providers, with smaller providers having until June of this year to comply with the requirement. The idea is that STIR/SHAKEN will prevent bad actors from spoofing caller ID information, protecting consumers from misleading robocalls and illegal scams.

France, too, has seen an increase in robocalls, and has a key deadline looming this year. The French government mandating compliance with these protocols via the Mecanisme d'Authentification des Numeros (MAN) Project, by July of this year.

To meet the French deadline, European fixed and mobile operator Legos has announced a partnership with Ribbon Communications (News - Alert), selecting Ribbon's STIR/SHAKEN solution to ensure compliance with the upcoming French regulation and to safeguard its customers against telephony-based fraud.

Malicious calls from bad actors are on the rise. We want to help build assurances for our customers and protect network users against robocalls, fraud, and call spoofing, said Michel Gacem, CTO & Solution Manager Director, Legos. We're excited to be furthering our existing partnership with Ribbon, whose expertise in this field will enhance the security of our network services.

Ribbon's STIR/SHAKEN solution is part of its Ribbon Call Trust portfolio, designed to meet requirements for caller identity authentication, signing, verification, and certificate management as defined by French law. Ribbon has undertaken other similar implementations in the U.S., giving it experience with meeting regulatory requirements. Legos will also use Ribbon's core Session Border Controller (SBC) for security and interworking, as well as its Policy and Routing Server (PSX), which delivers session control for VoIP services on SBCs, media gateways, and call controllers.

Christine Bouhiron, Head of Sales and Country Manager, France at Ribbon, explained that Our STIR/SHAKEN solution was created to help our customers adapt to the regulatory landscape across the USA and Europe.

With this move, Legos is not only preparing for the French regulatory deadline but also reaffirming its commitment to providing its customers with a secure and reliable telephony experience. Its an important step for Legos as it seeks to stay ahead of the curve in terms of regulatory compliance and battling the rising tide of telephony fraud.

Its not just about protecting consumers, though. Businesses are also impacted by robocalling and telephony fraud. By implementing STIR/SHAKEN, operators not only protect businesses from direct scam losses, but related losses due to reputational damage, reduced productivity, and legal liability.

The importance of this partnership, though, extends beyond mere regulatory compliance. It underscores the urgency of securing telephony services against increasingly sophisticated fraud techniques. Just as their cyber counterparts are constantly evolving their tactics, scammers are also always creating new ways to exploit vulnerabilities in communications systems. STIR/SHAKEN is a way for Legos and other operators to protect themselves and their customers from these threats.

Customer loyalty should also not be overlooked. With consumers everywhere having service provider options, operators are not only competing on call quality or price, but also on secure and trustworthy service. Its likely that customers will gravitate towards carriers who are better able to reduce or even eliminate scams and robocalls.

The Legos-Ribbon partnership serves as a prime example of how telecommunication service providers can navigate regulatory landscapes, enhance customer trust, and combat telephony fraud. It's a clear demonstration of a proactive approach to regulatory compliance and a commitment to customer security.

While STIR/SHAKEN is being mandated by government regulations, the simple fact is its a win for everyone  the communications industry, their customers, and their regulators. Well, perhaps not everyone  the scammers that rely on robocalls to con people out of billions of dollars wont win  at least thats the goal.

Edited by Erik Linask
Actually . . .

This "story" is mostly manufactured by the newspaper.

Here's the REAL SCOOP . . .

KANSAS CITY STAR & LOCAL LEADERS ARE NOW TARGETING KCPD CHIEF GRAVES WITH FIERCE CRITICISM IN THE ONGOING PUSH FOR LOCAL CONTROL!!!

From our vantage . . .

Patrick Mahomes could be running the KCPD right now but local activists would still find a reason to call him racist and rage against his oppression amid a longstanding effort to gain money & power.

Meanwhile . . . Here's how we see it . . .

KANSAS CITY VOTERS DON'T SEE CHIEF GRAVES AS A VILLAIN AND THE EFFORT TO DEMONIZE HER IS SHAMEFUL FROM POLITICOS WHO HAVE PRESIDED OVER HISTORIC HOMICIDE NUMBERS!!!

That's our take . . . Here's the newspaper's diatribe . . .



Yes, (Council Member) Robinson says. She is not happy. And its hard to fault her. Her demand for federal authorities to investigate Ralphs shooting as a hate crime is justified. Chief Graves owes me a public apology, Robinson told us Monday.



A public spat between the citys top cop and a highly respected City Council member helps no one. We call on the two to broker peace  and preferably out in the open. The work to reduce violent crime starts with collaboration. Without trust between civic leaders and the police department, can Kansas Citys unacceptable violent crime rate be reduced? The answer is no.



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
A very important message that hasn't been explained on the record . . . So we'll just ask the question:

With her recent veto on funding for historic restoration in the Dotte . . . Is Guv Kelly sending a message to Black voters and all "POC" communities: Support LGBT & Abortion agenda OR there will be economic consequences???

Again . . .

24 hours later we're surprised that only the Internets is asking questions whilst mainstream newsies stay quiet.

Here's another report on the sitch . . .



Rep. Marvin Robinson's decision had consequences.

Gov. Laura Kelly axed $250,000 in the next state budget for drafting a state plan to develop the Quindaro Ruins in Kansas City, Kansas, which Robinson represents. Quindaro was a short-lived town and a station on the Underground Railroad that helped enslaved people escape to Canada. A proposal to build a landfill there in the 1980s led to an investigation of the site and the discovery of multiple buildings' foundations.

Robinson, who is Black, advocated for the site's restoration and development as a national historic landmark for several decades before he won an open House seat last year. Democratic leaders called on him to resign after he voted to override Kelly's veto of a measure banning transgender female athletes from girls' and women's sports, giving Republicans the supermajoirty they needed.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
Just a quick glimpse at a few hopeful items that don't really have any other place on the blog.



Check TKC news gathering . . .

'It's about creating hope': Summit Future Foundation advocates for inclusion in KC's workforce KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Summit Future Foundation advocates for inclusion in Kansas City's workforce. The nonprofit has forged partnerships across the metro to connect people with disabilities to area employers. Part of the expansion is thanks to the work of Cassidi Jobe, executive director of Summit Future Foundation, who started advocating over a year ago to start a similar program.

Even the most-experienced Kansas Citians see something new when they head out to hike with this group featured in a new streaming show Their successful local is Lisa Pena and she wants you to get outside and explore Kansas City. I love hiking so much because when I'm out in nature, I feel at peace. If someone hasn't gone on my hike, I let them know that they will see some hidden gems and things that they probably haven't seen before.

Push for younger voting age starts in Missouri KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Missourians could have two more elections to vote in before 2023 is over but one national group, Vote16USA, is trying to decrease the voting age to 16 for local and school board elections. The Missouri arm of that effort, Vote16MO, is starting its campaign, led by 16-year-old DJ Yearwood.

Big Slick KC begins rollout of celebrity guests for 2023 charity weekend KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - You already know the hosts of Big Slick KC. Paul Rudd, Jason Sudeikis, Eric Stonestreet, David Koechner and Rob Riggle are the longtime Kansas City celebrities, and SNL star Heidi Gardner will join them as the sixth host of the event.

KCPS superintendent discusses the district's recent turnaround If one looks at the website for Kansas City Public Schools (KCPS), they'll find a graphic with the words "FULLY ACCREDITED" waiting to greet them. The district, which initially lost its accreditation status with the state of Missouri in 2011, regained a provisional status in 2014 before, at long last, earning back full-accreditation on Jan.

Over 900 students set to graduate from the Kansas City Public Schools District Hide Transcript Show Transcript TICKETMASTER. SENIORS AT KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOLS WILL HAVE THEIR GRADUATION CEREMONIES THIS WEEK. TONIGHT, ON THE LEFT SIDE OF. FIRST UP, MIDDLE COLLEGE AT MANUAL CAREER AND TECH CENTER ON EAST TRUMAN ROAD. THIS WAS THE SMALLEST CEREMONY IN THE DISTRICT THIS YEAR WITH ALMOST 30 STUDENTS GRADUATING.

Guiding the Spiritual and Soothing the Anxious Te Deum closes out their 15th season with Monteverdis Venetian Vespers of 1641, a recreated vespers service from the 17th century.

Waking up or winding down, these two hot spots for drinks offer great views of Kansas City day or night Whether you're just waking up for the day, or you're winding down for a laid-back night, and you want to take in the sights with a drink of some sort in your hand, check out these two spots featured on a new streaming show.

Six Kansas City-area companies make Inc.'s 2023 Best Workplaces list - Kansas City Business Journal Six Kansas City-area companies have landed on Inc. magazine's 2023 Best Workplaces list, which honors independent U.S.-based companies setting the bar for excellence in company culture. "Not that long ago, the term 'best workplace' might have called to mind an open-office design with a stocked fridge and mindfulness pods.

A drizzly night gives way to a drier Tuesday EXCLUSIVE LIVE RADAR AND NINE DAY FORECAST. SO YOU'LL KNOW FIRST, THIS IS FIRST ALERT WEATHER. WE JUST KEEP TALKING ABOUT RAIN TODAY. AND I KNOW EARLIER TODAY IT DID AFFECT TRAFFIC. I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S RIGHT NOW. WELL, WE'RE JUST KIND OF HAPPY THAT ARE WE OUT OF THE DROUGHT AFTER ALL?

Hopefully, we'll have more for the morning update . . . STAY TUNED!!!


Here's the thing . . .

We've got NO PROBLEM with advocacy from either side on all things political.

But this "news organization" pretends to practice JOURNALISM and even garners (worthless) awards when, in fact, they're a partisan political organization wearing a not-so-clever disguise . . . Here's today's example . . .



Kansas Reflector is examining the influence of religious beliefs on state government through a series of stories.



The role of religion in attacks on the LGBTQ community is evident in the hate group that writes legislation, debate among lawmakers, and a secret audio recording from a March 2 meeting of Republicans in Hutchinson.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
They're calling it "political punishment" but the payback is very real for a KCK leader who supported GOP causes over this session.

Moreover . . . This kind of retribution stings a lot more FOR CONSTITUENTS than name calling in the legislature.



Here are the deets . . .



"Gov. Laura Kelly axed $250,000 in the next state budget for drafting a state plan to develop the Quindaro Ruins in Kansas City, Kan."

Here's the prob blog summary . . .

Funding for the site has been a heated topic this legislative session. One of the sites top supporters, Kansas City Democrat Rep. Marvin Robinson, broke party lines to vote with Republicans on several key issues. Robinsons vote was the deciding factor in overriding Gov. Laura Kellys veto of a transgender athlete ban for K-12 schools and colleges, turning the legislation into law.



Some lawmakers said the last-minute inclusion of the Quindaro budget provision  which was popped into the budget after the transgender athlete vote  was suspicious. Rep. Ford Carr, a Wichita Democrat, said he was uneasy about the appearance of backroom dealing for votes and said he wouldnt sell his integrity for legislation, among other remarks about the history of slavery during the original budget discussion.



Again . . . We note . . .

The prob blog forgets that, in fact, this "remark" was an unacceptable racial slur that was graveled down by Republican leaders.



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

'Political punishment': Kansas governor ditches last-minute funding for historic site - Kansas Reflector TOPEKA - Gov. Laura Kelly struck out several provisions from a wide-ranging budget bill, drawing fire from Legislature Republicans who said her rejection of funding for a historic site reeked of "political punishment." Kelly announced the signing of Senate Bill 25 Monday.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly issues line item veto on $250,000 funding for KCK's Quindaro Ruins Kansas' Democratic governor vetoed state funding on Monday for a project long advocated by a Democratic lawmaker who broke ranks to override the governor's vetoes and give Republicans crucial support for laws restricting abortion and rolling back transgender rights.Apparently, Rep. Marvin Robinson's decision had consequences.Gov.
Student allegations spark a surprising social justice move by students in Johnson County.



Check-it . . .



I just feel as though it was kind of like a slap in the face, Protest Organizer David said. Like it was were going to give you three days, but were not going to deal with the issue, and it felt as though they had a moral obligation to deal with it to avoid tainting their reputation.



This comes after a Black student at Olathe South High School said his classmates used racial slurs toward him and showed him pictures of lynched Black people for months.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Students, parents voice demands at protest after racist behavior toward Black student at Olathe South KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Students and parents protested Monday to demand accountability after recent racist incidents targeting a Black student at Olathe South High School.

Protest occurs after racial incidents at Olathe South High OLATHE, Kan. - Racial tensions boil in Olathe as protesters gathered outside the public school district's office Monday evening.

Protest held in Olathe after racial slurs directed at Olathe South student Students and parents from Olathe South High School held a rally Monday evening outside of the district's headquarters. The rally was held after a racially-motivated incident at the school last week. The district, in a letter to families on Monday acknowledged the incident.

Developing . . .


(Bloomberg) -- Telecom Italia SpA fell on Tuesday following a Bloomberg report that Italys state lender will drop its offer for the carriers landline network, ending a bidding war with KKR & Co.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The lender, Cassa Depositi e Prestiti SpA, and partner Macquarie Asset Management had decided to raise their previous offer last month, but will now pull the plug on that plan, people familiar with the matter said. In April, Cassa Depositi, known as CDP, valued the network at 19.3 billion ($21 billion), the people said.

Concerns over antitrust issues may have played a part in the decision reported Monday, the people said, adding that the lender could have a role in a future phase of a network deal, which could still be disputed by Macquarie. No final decision has been taken and plans could change.

The shares fell as much as 4.2% in early trading in Milan, giving the company a market value of about 5.5 billion.

Spokespeople for Telecom Italia, the Italian government and CDP declined to comment. A spokesman for Macquarie declined to comment

Telecom Italias board earlier this month asked the two network bidders to increase their offers after an internal review found them not yet adequate. So far only KKR has expressed a willingness to improve its offer, people familiar with the matter said. The carrier wants final bids for the network by June 9.

Italys government has been monitoring possible employment fallout from a deal. Rome, which owns almost 10% of the carrier through CDP, holds so-called Golden Power rights that allow it to veto offers on assets deemed to be of strategic value. Prime Minister Giorgia Melonis government has said it wants to keep the network under public control.

Story continues

But her rightwing administration wouldnt stand in the way if the two contenders for the network joined forces, people familiar with the matter said earlier this month. CDP could in this way obtain a minority stake alone with other Italian investors, they said.

KKRs improved bid also values the network at 21 billion, the people said, though that figure includes debt and 2 billion in a performance-based earnout, which would provide future compensation if the business achieved certain financial goals, they said.

Telecom Italia Chief Executive Officer Pietro Labriola is committed to an asset disposal plan aimed at cutting the companys 30 billion gross debt pile.

--With assistance from Alessandra Migliaccio, Sonia Sirletti and Chiara Remondini.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
The request was submitted by Alternate Finance Minister Theodoros Skylakakis, responsible for the implementation of the 'Greece 2.0' National Plan on Development

Greece submitted a third request to the European Commission for the disbursement of funds from the Recovery and Resilience Fund (RRF) on Tuesday, worth 1.72 billion euros, ANA reports.

The disbursement will provide state coffers with 1.72 billion euros in subsidies for 'Greece 2.0', bringing the funding Greece has received from the RRF to a total of 12.8 billion euros. Greece is among the first three countries in the European Union's 27 member states to have requested a third disbursement from RRF, along with Italy and Spain. Another 4 countries have submitted the second requestion, 11 have submitted the first one, and 9 have submitted now.

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations, Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons License: CC-BY-SA Copyright: European Commission
Dendias said that Greece will work with whomever the Turkish people select as president during the runoff on May 28, and he expressed the hope that the window of opportunity that opened after the deadly earthquakes in Turkiye in improved relations is main

Resolving the Greek-Turkish disagreement on maritime zones on International Law terms is his greatest dream for Greek foreign policy, Foreign Affairs Minister Nikos Dendias said in an interview on ERT's Proto Programma radio station on Tuesday, ANA reports.

"I believe that for both of our countries, it will create a burst of opportunities and growth," he noted. "Honestly, I believe that it would be a dream to 'erase' the Greek-Turkish difference from the map and have those two countries collaborate."

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations, Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons License: CC-BY-SA Copyright: Lfdder
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.
Alyshah Hasham has covered courts, crime and justice-related issues for the Toronto Star since 2014. She is most often found sitting in a courtroom somewhere in Toronto or the GTA.
Seventy-seven per cent of ETFO members say they have personally experienced violence or have witnessed violence against another staff member
Toronto writer Marta Balcewiczs debut novel "Big Shadow" explores teenage apathy in detail, but avoids this all too common problem by infusing the book with charming doses of quaintness and naivete. - Book*hug Press
Jamie Foxx

Jamie Foxxs undisclosed medical complication last month led to an outpouring of support for the Oscar-winning actor. It also led to theories about what he was going through as his family remained tight-lipped on his status. But Foxx is well on his road to recovery now.

TMZ reported today (May 15) that the Ray star is in Chicago and receiving medical treatment at a facility touted as the top physical medicine and rehabilitation center in the U.S. The facility specializes in stroke recovery, traumatic brain injury rehab, spinal cord injury rehab, and cancer rehabilitation, but the details around his case remain unclear.

Foxx was in Atlanta filming a new Netflix movie, Back in Action, with Cameron Diaz when he was hospitalized. He initially underwent treatment in the Georgia city after the April 12 scare, but an insider told TMZ that he arrived in Chicago in late April. According to sources close to him, hes recovering well so far.

Over the weekend, the Grammy winner was joined at the rehab center by his daughters Corinne and Anelise, as well as Anelises mother, Kristin Grannis, to celebrate Mothers Day. Though its nobodys business whats going on with her dad, Corinne shared some information on Friday (May 12) about what was happening with him.

Update from the family: Sad to see how the media runs wild. My dad has been out of the hospital for weeks, recuperating. In fact, he was playing pickleball yesterday (May 11)! she wrote on her Instagram Stories. Thanks for everyones prayers and support! We have an exciting work announcement coming next week, too!

The news she was referring to was todays announcement of her new game show shell be co-hosting with her dad, appropriately titled We Are Family. Set to premiere in 2024, the show will feature non-famous figures duetting with their celebrity relatives. We hope this show brings as much fun to audiences at home as weve had creating it when it premieres next year, a joint statement from the father-daughter duo read.

Trending Stories
Shunsaku Sagami, the founder and CEO of M&A Research Institute Holdings. M&A Research Institute Holdings

Shunsaku Sagami, the founder, and CEO of M&A Research Institute, is worth $950 million as of Tuesday.

He founded the brokerage in 2018 to help match sellers of smaller firms in Japan to interested buyers.

Many smaller businesses in aging Japan are forced to shut down each year due to a lack of successors.

A Japanese millennial who uses AI to help solve a problem in the rapidly aging society has hit it big.

Since its debut on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in June 2022, shares of M&A Research Institute  a company that matches business owners in Japan with successors using AI  surged to over thrice its opening price.

The stock rose 47% this year alone.

Thanks to this surge, 32-year-old entrepreneur Shunsaku Sagami  who owns a 72% stake in the company  is worth $950 million as of May 16, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Founded in 2018, M&A Research Institute aims to help the aging owners of small and medium-sized businesses whose businesses are forced to shutter when there's no one available to take over. The company said in April that some 620,000 profitable companies in Japan risk closure due to a lack of successors.

Sagami told Bloomberg in a recent interview that he found the inspiration to start this business from his grandfather, who was forced to shut his real estate agency in the 1980s when he retired because he was unable to find a successor.

"In his office, there was a license for real estate agents framed up on the wall," Sagami told Bloomberg. "Seeing that taken down and thrown away was sad."

Sagami's company can close M&A deals within six months  a process that typically takes over a year.

M&A Research Institute, which currently employs about 160 people, focuses on companies with annual sales of up to 500 million Japanese yen, or $3.7 million.

Powered by AI and its proprietary data, the company can close M&A deals between 49 days to six months, it said on its website. These deals typically take over a year from request to completion, the Tokyo-based company added.

Story continues

M&A Research Institute doesn't charge any fees until a transaction is closed. It bills up to 5% in fees for a successful close.

Other M&A consultancies charge retainer fees that can reach tens of millions of yen  even if the deal doesn't eventually close, M&A Research Institute said on its website.

The company said closed 62 deals in the six months through March 2023  more than double the 26 it closed in the same period a year ago.

The M&A brokerage isn't Sagami's first business venture. A biology and agriculture graduate from Kobe University, he was a designer, software developer, and marketing officer before he struck out on his own, per Bloomberg.

In 2017, Alpaca, a women's fashion and makeup company he founded, was acquired by a Japanese public relations agency.

Sagami found the deal process inefficient, so he set up a system with an AI algorithm that would simplify the flow of the business, per Bloomberg.

M&A Research Institute's share price closed 0.4% lower at 9,270 Japanese yen on Tuesday.

The company did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Arrived back in our happy place on Sunday here for 19 nights. Great flight over with Aer Lingus from Manchester, very quiet flight arrived ahead of schedule before the London flights so immigration empty. Luggage took a while but we were out within a hour. The approach was down the East Coast a first time for us, dont know whether it may have been due to the weather which was pretty awful on landing, torrential rain and high winds!

We pre-booked a taxi and were soon on our way to Port St Charles. As we drive north the weather improved and the sun was shining in Speightstown. We have stayed at PSC many times but not for a few years. This year we pushed the boat our and booked a beach front apartment. It is stunning and has set the bar very high for future visits!

We unpacked, explored the apartment, had a Banks and a sandwich and were in bed by 8:30 pm.

After a good nights sleep we were up at 5:30 am, its normal for us when we we are it here to be up and about by 6 am and normally in bed by 10 pm.

After a light breakfast the car was delivered by MAH and we headed to Masseys in Holetown for our big shop. We decided as the apartment is so beautiful we will be spending more time there and eating in a lot more. As usual there was a shortage in Masseys, this time fresh meat, but to compensate the fresh produce was plentiful and of a high quality. Noticed prices were higher than our last visit but we had expected this.

We headed back to the apartment had lunch and had our wine delivery from Platinum Wines. We are now well stocked. We then decided to spend some on the beach but as we settled down for some sun and a swim it began to pour down. Back inside! Its sad to see the amount of erosion and the steep drops that have developed at PSC but tides are particularly high due to weather conditions. Some large deposits of sargassum visible out to sea but hasnt come ashore thankfully. As the rain appeared to be set in and to get a bit of exercise we decided to walk down to Pier One for a drink. We got soaked but just as we arrived the sun was out again. Had a great couple of hours catching up with old friends and having a drink or 2 with Paul who is also members of the TA Forum and his wife Sue, also met people we are in contact with via the Barbados for Travellers FB group. Its a small world these days. Pier One was quite busy and it was so lovely to be back there. I have a feeling well be spending a lot of time there over the next few weeks..

Walked back to the apartment and I experimented with a Levi Roots recipe for Jamaican Pork which even though I say so myself was delicious. A nice bottle of wine to help us sleep!
Young people need a voice, and that's exactly what was delivered though the U report seconda
The Attorney General says he will be seeking advice from local Senior Counsel before he advises the Prime Minister as to when Local Government elections should be called, in light of the Privy Council's judgement that the extension of the life of Councils did not apply to incumbent councillors and aldermen of all 14 Municipal Corporations.
Hilda Baci: Why we havent confirmed new record  Guinness World Records

Udaku Special

Hilda Baci

Hilda Baci: Why we havent confirmed new record  Guinness World Records

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.
The formation of the security assistance package to Ukraine announced by Berlin has already begun.

"For some types of weapons, contracts have already been concluded," Nadine Kruger, a spokeswoman for Germany's defense ministry, told a briefing, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

According to her, the production of the latest IRIS-T SLM air defense systems continues. The spokeswoman clarified that the package includes four such systems in addition to the four announced earlier.

As noted, the next security assistance package to Ukraine worth more than EUR 2.7 billion includes, in particular, 18 wheeled howitzers, artillery rounds, guided missiles for air defense systems, four IRIS-T SLM systems, IRIS-T SLS launchers, 30 Leopard 1A5 tanks and 20 Marder IFVs, more than 100 armored fighting vehicles, more than 200 reconnaissance drones, etc.

As reported, since the beginning of the war, Germany has provided support to Ukraine to the tune of about EUR 17 billion.
Key Insights

Given the large stake in the stock by institutions, New Jersey Resources' stock price might be vulnerable to their trading decisions

The top 10 shareholders own 50% of the company

Insiders have sold recently

If you want to know who really controls New Jersey Resources Corporation (NYSE:NJR), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. With 75% stake, institutions possess the maximum shares in the company. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk).

Because institutional owners have a huge pool of resources and liquidity, their investing decisions tend to carry a great deal of weight, especially with individual investors. Hence, having a considerable amount of institutional money invested in a company is often regarded as a desirable trait.

Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about New Jersey Resources.

Check out our latest analysis for New Jersey Resources

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About New Jersey Resources?

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.

New Jersey Resources already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at New Jersey Resources' earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters.

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Since institutional investors own more than half the issued stock, the board will likely have to pay attention to their preferences. Hedge funds don't have many shares in New Jersey Resources. Our data shows that BlackRock, Inc. is the largest shareholder with 16% of shares outstanding. Meanwhile, the second and third largest shareholders, hold 11% and 9.3%, of the shares outstanding, respectively.

We did some more digging and found that 10 of the top shareholders account for roughly 50% of the register, implying that along with larger shareholders, there are a few smaller shareholders, thereby balancing out each others interests somewhat.

While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. There are a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future.

Insider Ownership Of New Jersey Resources

The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO.

I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions.

Our data suggests that insiders own under 1% of New Jersey Resources Corporation in their own names. Keep in mind that it's a big company, and the insiders own US$25m worth of shares. The absolute value might be more important than the proportional share. It is good to see board members owning shares, but it might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying.

General Public Ownership

With a 24% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over New Jersey Resources. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run.

Next Steps:

It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand New Jersey Resources better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 3 warning signs with New Jersey Resources (at least 1 which shouldn't be ignored) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

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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French investigators have already arrived in Ukraine to conduct an investigation into the death of AFP journalist Arman Soldin during a Russian missile attack near Chasiv Yar in Donetsk region.

The Head of the office of the international organization Reporters Without Borders in Eastern Europe and Central Asia Jeanne Cavellier said this in a comment to Ukrinform.

She reminded that the French prosecutor's office had launched an investigation into the death of Arman Soldin in the war in Ukraine, and noted that the case was moving quite quickly.

"We are in touch with the French part of the investigation because they are cooperating with the Ukrainian Prosecutor General. And we know that yesterday four investigators arrived here from France and they started to listen to testimonies," said Cavellier.

The Head of the office added that Reporters Without Borders pays a lot of attention to this case because the murder of a journalist is not only a war crime against a civilian.

"We focus on this case about Arman. We consider that the crimes against journalists are not only crimes against civilians, of course, it's war crimes. But it's also it's more than that because journalists have a social function, is it has a crucial role to inform, to give reliable information to the public as Arman did, he was very professional," Cavellier said.

As reported, on May 10, the National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor's Office of France launched an investigation into the death of AFP reporter Arman Soldin in the war in Ukraine. It is classified as a war crime.

Arman Soldin was born in Sarajevo on March 21, 1991, and was a French citizen. He started working for AFP as an intern in the Rome bureau in 2015 and then moved to the London bureau. Soldin was part of the first AFP team to be sent to Ukraine after the start of the full-scale Russian invasion, arriving the next day. Since September, he has been living in Ukraine and travelling regularly to the frontline.

According to IMI, Arman Soldin became the 57th media professional to die as a result of Russian aggression and the 10th journalist to be killed in the line of duty.
France and several other European countries are ready to start training Ukrainian military pilots soon.

French President Emmanuel Macron said this in an interview with TF1, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"Together with a few other European states that are also ready for this, we have opened the door to pilot training," Macron said.

According to him, this issue is currently being "discussed with the Americans". "Training can already start now," Frances president said.

He added that France remains determined to help Ukraine repel Russian aggression. "There is a lot at stake now, as the success of the counteroffensive will be critical to the ability to achieve lasting peace," Macron stressed.

As reported, President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Germany on May 14 right after he came to France where he met with President Macron.
Sensor specialist HENSOLDT is supplying six more of its TRML-4D high-performance radars to strengthen Ukraine's air defenses.

Thats according to the company press service, Ukrinform reports.

As part of an order worth more than EUR 100 million, the radars will be delivered in the second half of the year following training of the Ukrainian operators.

Hensoldt already has several TRML-4D radars under contract for Ukraine as part of the IRIS-T SLM air defense system.

"We are pleased to support Ukraine with six additional TRML-4D radars, which will further strengthen Ukraine's air surveillance and air defense sensor network. The information from the TRML-4D feeds into Ukraine's national air situation picture, protecting Ukrainian citizens. We are proud to be able to deliver this much-needed equipment at short notice," said Thomas Muller, CEO of HENSOLDT.

TRML-4D uses the latest Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar technology with multiple digitally shaped beams. It is capable of early detection of various types of aerial targets such as aircraft, helicopters and cruise missiles. It ensures the rapid detection and tracking of about 1,500 targets in a radius of up to 250 km.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, since war-start, Germany has provided assistance to Ukraine amounting to EUR 17 billion.

Photo: HENSOLDT AG
The Japanese government plans to invite representatives of the Ukrainian government to share technologies that will help rebuild the country after the devastation caused by Russias invasion.

This was reported by NHK, Ukrinform saw.

The plan comes ahead of the Group of Seven nations summit scheduled to be held in Hiroshima this Friday. Issues expected to be discussed include the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine's social and economic infrastructure damaged by Russia's invasion.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan says he wants to use the summit as an opportunity to confirm the unwavering solidarity of the G7 nations with Ukraine.

"Japan hopes to support its rebuilding efforts by inviting officials to inspect various methods, such as effective ways to remove debris and know-how to strengthen the electric power system," he said.

It appears that the Japanese government is keen to lay the groundwork for hosting discussions at the summit and demonstrate its willingness to support Ukraine.

As reported earlier, within the framework of the Emergency Recovery Program implemented in accordance with the Grant Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Japan International Cooperation Agency, equipment for power substations worth 5.135 billion yen will be transferred to NEC Ukrenergo.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is holding a meeting with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in Paris.

According to Ukrinform, a video of the Ukrainian leader's arrival at the Elysee Palace was published on Twitter by the French channel BFM TV.

 Le president ukrainien, Volodymyr Zelensky, est recu par Emmanuel Macron au palais de l'Elysee pic.twitter.com/ROGG0537Zg  BFMTV (@BFMTV) May 14, 2023

"Emmanuel Macron received Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Elysee Palace," reads the caption to the video.

Zelensky arrived in Paris from Germany on Sunday. He will have a working dinner with Macron at the Elysee Palace.

The Elysee Palace reported earlier that during the meeting, Macron will "reaffirm the unfailing support of France and Europe to restore Ukraine's legitimate rights and defend its fundamental interests." The conversation between the two leaders will "focus on the support that France continues to provide in response to Ukraine's urgent military and humanitarian needs."

"The two Presidents will also discuss the longer-term prospects for the return of peace in Europe, notably on the basis of the Peace Plan proposed by President Zelensky, which France supports," Elysee Palace said.

Photos: Office of the President of Ukraine
Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, Olena Kondratyuk, requested the Chairman of the Parliament of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Sahiba Gafarova, to organize rehabilitation programs for wounded Ukrainian military personnel and veterans in the country.

The Ukrainian parliament's deputy speaker reported this on Facebook, according to Ukrinform.

She informed that during her visit to Azerbaijan, she met with the Chairman of the Milli Majlis.

Kondratyuk noted that among other things, she discussed with Gafarova the issues of protecting the rights and rehabilitation of Ukrainian children.

She added, "I also requested the organization of rehabilitation programs for wounded military personnel and veterans of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Azerbaijan, as well as the acceptance of new groups of Ukrainian children affected by the war for recuperation."

At the same time, the Ukrainian parliament's deputy speaker appealed to the Chairman of the Azerbaijani Parliament to adopt a statement in support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as condemning the mass and illegal deportation of Ukrainian children by the Russian Federation.

"With gratitude for the support already provided, we hope that friendly Azerbaijan will continue to provide comprehensive humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. It is extremely valuable and necessary for us in such challenging times," Kondratyuk concluded.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, a Ukrainian delegation led by Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, Olena Kondratyuk, is currently on a working visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Verkhovna Rada Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk has met with temporarily displaced Ukrainians in the city of Drammen (Norway).

He announced this on Facebook, according to Ukrinform.

"Drammen, Norway. Ukrainians who were forced to leave Ukraine under the threat of missile attacks and occupation received temporary shelter in this city," he said.

Stefanchuk pointed out that, together with Masud Gharahkhani, the President of the Storting, Monica Myrvold Berg, the mayor of Drammen, and representatives of Blue Cross Norway, a leading volunteer organization, they met with Ukrainian refugees.

He noted that in the eyes of every Ukrainian present at the meeting, he saw gratitude to Norway for providing shelter.

"But I also saw their desire to return to Ukraine as quickly as possible, as well as the strongest faith in our victory," he added.

In this context, Stefanchuk thanked Norway for providing shelter to more than 40,000 Ukrainians.

Stefanchuk is on a working visit to Norway on May 16-17.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and a Ukrainian government team arrived in Iceland for a two-day Council of Europe summit.

The head of government reported this on Telegram, according to Ukrinform.

"Today, the 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe begins in Reykjavik. We arrived with the government team in Iceland to take part in the event. A number of meetings are planned on the sidelines of the summit, as well as important decisions in support of our state," Shmyhal said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to address the summit via video link.

The summit will focus on Russia's war against Ukraine and achieving justice for the victims of Russian aggression. In particular, the main issue on the summit's agenda will be the creation of an International Register of Damages Caused by Russia's Aggression against Ukraine. The summit will be an historic opportunity for European leaders to reaffirm their common commitment to the Council of Europe's core values.

Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Justice Iryna Mudra said earlier that an agreement would be signed at the Council of Europe summit, which will give the official launch of the International Register of Damages. Ukraine expects at least 40 member states of the Council of Europe and observer states such as the United States, Canada and Japan to join the treaty.

On November 14, 2022, the UN General Assembly adopted a draft resolution on the creation of a mechanism for compensating Ukraine for damages caused by the war that Russia started and is still waging against Ukraine.

Photo: Shmyhal / Telegram
Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska and South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol have discussed the need for air defense systems and equipment for demining.

Zelenska reported this on her Facebook page, according to Ukrinform.

"I started my visit to the Republic of Korea for the Asian Leadership Conference with a meeting with the country's president, Yoon Suk Yeol," Zelenska said.

The first lady thanked South Korea for supporting the peace formula of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky - its points became the basis of the "Principles of the Charter of the United Nations underlying a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine," recently adopted by the General Assembly with the active participation of the Republic of Korea.

"Nowadays we also need help with the technologies that the country is famous for. Together with the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine, Yulia Svyrydenko, and Deputy Head of the Office of the President Rostyslav Shurma, we discussed with the President the need for air defense systems to stop the missile terrorism of the aggressor country. We also need means to demine the traps that Russia left behind on our territory, and medical equipment to save those whom the attackers managed to injure," Zelenska stressed.

She said she appreciates the fact that Korea is ready to defend international law together with Ukraine.

Photos: Olena Zelenska / Facebook
Since the beginning of 2022, more than 220,000 Ukrainians have arrived in Canada, of which nearly 15% came from the USA.

Thats according to a report by Canadas Border Services Agency, seen by an Ukrinform correspondent.

It is noted that more than 190,000 Ukrainians arrived in Canada by air and more than 29,000  by land transport. However, this number includes not only newly arrived Ukrainians but also Ukrainian nationals who, even before Russias full-scale invasion, received permission for long-term residence in Canada.

At the same time, since March 17 last year, when Canada announced new temporary migration programs for Ukrainians allowing them to live and work in the country for three years, more than 1 million Ukrainians have applied for such visas, and more than 707,000 such visas have already been issued.

There is currently no record of exactly how many holders of these visas eventually arrived in Canada.

It should be recalled that, since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the federal and provincial governments of Canada set up more than 10 charter flights to bring Ukrainians from Europe to various regions of Canada free of charge. Upon arrival, displaced Ukrainians are provided with financial support and two weeks of free accommodation.
By Nupur Anand and Niket Nishant

NEW YORK (Reuters) - JPMorgan Chase & Co CEO Jamie Dimon said that it is "unlikely" that the bank will acquire any other struggling lender, weeks after it acquired the failed First Republic Bank.

"It [First Republic] will further help advance our wealth as well as other initiatives," Dimon said at the bank's annual shareholder meeting on Tuesday, adding that they are in the process of integrating the lender.

Dimon's latest statement comes just two weeks after JPMorgan bought a majority of First Republic Bank's assets in a rescue effort backed by the U.S. government.

First Republic was the third major U.S. institution to fail in two months, and JPMorgan agreed to take $173 billion of the bank's loans, $30 billion of securities and $92 billion of deposits.

The CEO reiterated his faith in the financial soundness of the regional banking system and said regulators could not have evaded the risks that led to the wipeout of three U.S. banks.

"It is unlikely that any recent change in regulatory requirements would have made a difference," he said.

In the shareholder meeting on Tuesday while all management proposals passed, all of the motions submitted by shareholders failed.

Four of the eight shareholder proposals secured more than 30% of votes, which is typically enough to get management's attention. Among those, a proposal calling for an independent board chair garnered the highest number of votes, according to a preliminary tally.

Keeping chair and CEO roles separate has been a thorny issue for investors and corporate management across America, with some arguing firms with separate roles do not necessarily perform better.

A shareholder proposal on tweaking rules under which shareholders can call for a special shareholder meeting also got more than 30% of backing.

Another proposal with more than 30% support suggested that the bank publish a transition plan that describes how it intends to align its financing activities with its 2030 sectoral greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets.

(Reporting by Nupur Anand in New York and Niket Nishant in Bengaluru; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
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Published May 16, 2023

MONROE, LA  ULMs TRIO programs have been a major part of the success of students for decades. The addition of a program to offset childcare costs has been another contributor to that success. Child Care Access Means Parents In School (CCAMPIS) is a federal grant funded by the U.S. Department of Education. This program provides financial support to student-parents by assisting them with their childcare payments while enrolled at ULM.

According to Tammy Anderson, the Assistant Director of ULMs CCAMPIS program, Access to quality childcare can be a barrier for our student-parents when pursuing their educational goals. This program provides eligible student-parents with the resources they need to achieve their academic goals, without having to worry about childcare on and off campus, as well as more student support for long-term success.

Beginning in 2018, ULMs TRIO program decided to apply for a grant outside their regular programs. Dr. Catherine Estis, Executive Director of TRIO, submitted the grant application for CCAMPIS, which has become a model for programs across the state. CCAMPIS increases retention and graduation rates among Pell-eligible, low-income undergraduate and graduate student-parents. One of the primary goals of the CCAMPIS program is for the participants to achieve academic success.

Our job at CCAMPIS is to clear the way and offer actual answers that remove obstacles for student-parents, making college feel less like a silly idea and more like an attainable future, said Anderson.

Student-parents face many challenges that non-parent students do not: time poverty (balancing family, school and work), obtaining dependable childcare, work commitments, financial difficulties, and learning how to be a parent. CCAMPIS provides Financial Literacy, Parenting Skills, and Child Development Workshops, as well as Parental Involvement Activities/Events.

Kalie, from West Monroe, La., has been a CCAMPIS participant for two years. The financial help is definitely amazing, but it is also so wonderful to have people alongside you, rooting for you and your family, she said. I have also learned a lot from this program through attending family events and taking parenting workshops, she added.

CCAMPIS increases collaboration with other on and off-campus programs to increase the network of support that participants can access, along with providing more information about other services from which student-parents can benefit, including programs such as The Food Bank of NELA, SNAP and WIC benefits, Medicaid, and Marriage and Family Counseling.

Another CCAMPIS participant from Kentwood, La. said her experience was enhanced by the constant positive communication she received from the program. Those messages personally meant a lot to me. Ms. Anderson truly cared about each one of us and it made this program even more welcoming, she said.

According to the remarks that the student-parents wrote at the end of their CCAMPIS surveys, we found that the CCAMPIS program has quantifiably beneficial aspects, in terms of helping our participants reach their academic and parental goals, said Anderson. In the survey results, numerous CCAMPIS participants frequently stated that the extra time they could spend on schoolwork was highly valuable to their success.

Participants also believe that their children are in a safe environment, and have a supportive network that is adaptable, dependable, and trustworthy. The programs demand for parental involvement has helped student-parents connect with their own children more effectively, as they have more time not only for their studies, but also to be more involved parents in their childrens life, Anderson added.

Student parents are working hard and making sacrifices to secure a better future for themselves and their children. The ULM TRIO CCAMPIS Program can make it easier for them to succeed, said Estis.

For more information about the ULM TRIO CCAMPIS program, click here.
In this undated 2014 photo provided by the family of Abdulrahman al-Sadhan, Abdulrahman al-Sadhan poses for a photo near San Fransisco. Al-Sadhan, a Saudi humanitarian aid worker, anonymous Twitter account used to parody issues about the economy in Saudi Arabia has landed him in prison in the kingdom. On Tuesday, May 16, 2023, al-Sadhan and his sister filed the lawsuit against Twitter Inc. and Saudi Arabia, alleging that they are members of a racketeering enterprise that seeks to extend the authoritarian control of Saudi Arabia beyond its borders and silence its critics through acts of transnational repression on U.S. and international soil. (Family of Abdulrahman al-Sadhan via AP)

A humanitarian aid worker who used an anonymous Twitter account to mock Saudi Arabia about its economy has filed a federal racketeering lawsuit against the social media platform, the kingdom and a number of individuals alleging an attempt to silence critics overseas.

Abdulrahman al-Sadhan, was working for the Red Crescent in Riyadh in 2018 when plain-clothed security forces entered the office of the Red Crescent offices in Riyadh. He was taken away without any explanation.

How the Saudi government linked al-Sadhan to the Twitter account remains a mystery. In April 2021, the anti-terrorism court where he was tried handed down a prison sentence of 20 years for al-Sadhan, followed by a 20-year travel ban. Al-Sadhan has appealed the ruling.

In 2019, Ahmad Abouammo, a U.S. citizen and former media partnership manager for Twitters Middle East region, was charged with acting as an agent of Saudi Arabia without registering with the U.S. government. The complaint also alleged that Saudi citizen Ali Alzabarah, who worked as an engineer at Twitter, accessed confidential Twitter data about users, their email addresses, phone numbers and IP addresses, the latter of which be used to identify a users location. A third man named in FBI complaint is Saudi citizen Ahmed Al-Mutairi, who is said to have worked with an unnamed member of the Saudi royal family as an intermediary.

Abouammo was convicted last summer of failing to register as an agent for Saudi Arabia and other charges.

On Tuesday al-Sadhan and his sister Areej al-Sadhan, a dual Saudi-U.S. citizen living in California, sued Twitter Inc. and Saudi Arabia, alleging that they are members of a racketeering enterprise that seeks to extend the authoritarian control of Saudi Arabia beyond its borders and silence its critics. The suit, which seeks a trial by jury, also names as defendants Abouammo, Alzabarah and Al-Mutairi.

The lawsuit alleges that members of the Saudi Criminal Enterprise unlawfully surveilled, killed, tortured, disappeared, kidnapped, extorted and threatened perceived dissidents to silence their speech and to export its terror, repression and control to the United States.

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The complaint also alleges that the defendant Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission, based in Fairfax, Virginia, is a tool the Saudi government uses to surveil, stalk, and harass dissidents and U.S-based Saudi students who criticize the kingdom. Alzabarah was a recipient of a SACM scholarship before he worked at Twitter, according to the plaintiffs.

"It shouldnt require a federal lawsuit for a U.S. citizen to protect herself from Saudi Arabias thugs, but Areej has been left with no other options. We hope U.S. courts can provide them both with some measure of justice and protection that is sadly unavailable elsewhere, Andrea J. Prasow, executive director of the Freedom Initiative, said in a statement.

Prasow filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The Freedom Initiative is a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for prisoners wrongfully detained in the Middle East and North Africa.

The public relations office of Twitter was disbanded by Elon Musk after he acquired the company last year. A request for comment from the company was answered with an automated email.
Lineage Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (AMEX:LCTX) Q1 2023 Earnings Call Transcript May 11, 2023

Lineage Cell Therapeutics, Inc. misses on earnings expectations. Reported EPS is $-0.03 EPS, expectations were $-0.02478.

Operator: Welcome to the Lineage Cell Therapeutics First Quarter 2023 Conference Call. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. An audio webcast of this call is available on the Investors section of Lineage 's website at www.lineage cell.com. This call is subject to copyright and is property of Lineage and recordings, reproductions, or transmissions of this call without the express written consent of Lineage are strictly prohibited. As a reminder, today's call is being recorded. I would now like to introduce your host for today's call, Ioana Hone, Head of Investor Relations at Lineage. Ms. Hone, please go ahead.

Ioana Hone: Thank you, Abby. Good afternoon and thank you for joining us. A press release reporting our first quarter 2023 financial results was issued earlier today, May 11, 2023, and can be found on the Investors section of our website. Please note that today's remarks and responses to your questions reflect management's views as of today only and will contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. Statements made during this discussion that are not statements of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, which are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results or performance may differ materially from the expectations indicated by such forward-looking statements.

For a discussion of certain factors that could cause the Company's results or performance to differ, we refer you to the forward-looking statement sections in today's press release and in the Company's SEC filings, including its most recent annual report on Form 10-K. We caution you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements which speak only as of today and are qualified by the cautionary statements and risk factors described in our SEC filings. With us today are Brian Culley, our Chief Executive Officer; Jill Howe, our Chief Financial Officer; and Gary Hogge, our Senior Vice President of Clinical and Medical Affairs. With that, I'd like to turn the call over to Brian.

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Brian Culley: Thank you everyone. Good afternoon everyone. We appreciate you taking the time to join us today. Our most recent quarterly call was just two months ago, but I'm happy to report today on additional and fairly exciting progress, which has occurred since then. The most significant event of the past two months was the ARVO Annual Meeting held in New Orleans where Dr. Al Benin, one of the investigators involved with the initial Phase 1/2a of OpRegen presented never before seen analyses, which Genentech performed on data collected in our study. To be clear, these were new independently generated analyses conducted by Genentech's masked expert grader and while the data support and reinforce our original findings as well as the sub study findings made by the Doheny Image Research Lab, these were novel analyses and results, which Lineage had not previously reported.

We have previously reported and presented on unique clinical findings among some of our cohort 4 patients, including areas of GA being smaller at 12 months than at baseline and increases in patient visual function at 12 months which occurred notably among the five patients who received extensive coverage of OpRegen across their area of GA. But Genentech took these data analyses even further, using proprietary technology and imaging expertise and they were able to generate new analyses from the raw data and images. These additional results support what Lineage had reported previously, including structural and functional improvement in a disease previously thought to be inevitably progressive. Genentech showed new findings supporting the observation that extensive placement of OpRegen cells across the area of GA appear to result in the best clinical outcome seen in clinical trials to-date as well as continued evidence that transplants of OpRegen cells may result in a multiyear treatment effect from a single dose.

We believe these findings compare favorably versus the burden of someone typically elderly and with very poor vision, seeking out a monthly or even every other monthly injection of a complement inhibitor. And importantly, these data were collected using a common surgical technique, which every licensed vitreoretinal surgeon is capable of performing using standard instrumentation. And these outcomes occurred five out of five times when OpRegen was placed extensively across the area of GA. Additionally, something which I believe has continued to be overlooked is the evidence Genentech presented, which showed a patient who no longer had features of cRORA near the border of their GA following treatment with OpRegen. I'll remind you that cRORA is an area of complete RPE and outer retinal atrophy, which essentially means the complete loss of photo receptors and the essential supporting RPE.

I'd also like to point out that, thousands of patients have completed clinical trials through the two leading complement inhibitors. But despite recent reports from extensive subgroup analyses of those data, I'm not aware of even a single case of cRORA resolution among them. Now while Lineage may not have yet as many data points as the competition, but even setting aside the vision gains we have report in patients who should be losing vision, we are reporting much larger anatomical changes in the competition. And we are using objectively collected methods on anatomical features unaffected by patient effort. So I believe these direct comparisons and questions about relative value are completely valid. We welcome these comparisons, especially as the OpRegen program advances through the clinic.

As a reminder, the primary and secondary endpoints for the ongoing study occur at just 90 days post-treatment, which means these data are detectable and collected nine months earlier than the more common 12 month treatment outcomes. Before moving on, I'd just like to convey my appreciation to our partners Roche and Genentech, for enthusiastically supporting our desire to have these new data presented at ARVO. Their retinal tissue segmentation algorithm and additional resources which they deployed, give us further conviction in our cell transplant approach, and reflect the insights and expertise, which we were counting on when entering into the license agreement for the development and commercialization of OpRegen from which I'll remind you, we're eligible to receive up to $620 million in additional payments as well as double digit royalties.

In the meantime, we'll closely monitor the establishment and size of the dry AMD commercial market. While Lineage does not have a commercial product today, we believe the recent approval of Syfovre and reported $5.9 billion acquisition by Astellas of a similar complement inhibitor asset will not only help create engaged and informed physician and patient populations, but also set the stage for potential next generation products like OpRegen by verifying expectations of a multi-billion dollar commercial market, which is comprised of patients eager to find effective interventions for their debilitating condition. Moving next to our OPC1 program, which is intended to help patients recover more fully from a spinal cord injury, our recent focus has been on completing the requisite regulatory interactions to support the initiation of the dose trial, which is a 6 to 10 patient safety study of a new spinal cord cell delivery system.

This new system is expected to greatly improve the transplant procedure by allowing the surgeon much more time to administer the cells to the spinal cord and to do so while the patient's respirator is still connected. As you'll recall, we previously held an RMAT meeting with FDA to discuss the use of the new delivery device. Along with the device information, we included a protocol synopsis for the clinical safety study we plan to conduct in subacute and chronic SCI patients. That RMAT interaction was followed by a request from Lineage for a type B meeting to discuss specific items which would be included in an IND amendment. Unexpectedly, the FDA noted in response to our report that their written responses from that meeting would not be available until the last week of June, which is approximately eight weeks later than we'd expected for a type B meeting request.

medicine, health

Matej Kastelic/Shutterstock.com

I want to provide some comfort that to our knowledge, this later than expected meeting date is in no way a reflection on the OPC1 program. The FDA explained that the delay was due to time constraints among certain essential staff members necessary for our topics. So, we find this to be unfortunate, but not entirely surprising given the deluge of cell and gene therapy programs currently in development. And nevertheless, after the type B meeting is held this summer and provided that the agency's responses support the use of the new delivery system, we expect to be able to submit an IND amendment for OPC1 in Q4 and open the dose study clinical site as soon as possible thereafter. I do have three additional updates on OPC1 today. The first is that we strengthened our intellectual property position through a patent which was granted for claims covering manufacturing processes, which lineage developed, that patent has claims which expire no earlier than 2040, providing us with a long period of protection for this program.

Second, I want to provide an update on our announcement regarding the creation of the First Annual Spinal Cord Injury Investor Symposium, a conference which Lineage will be presenting this year alongside the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, and which will be held the last week of June at the Stanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine in La Jolla, California. We created this event to increase engagement between industry and patients and the patient advocacy community, which in our experience can help inform and improve the product development process. The Reeve Foundation is a recognized leader in the field of spinal cord injury and we're proud to have them as a partner as we advocate for those affected by paralysis. We aim to increase disease awareness, elevate the probability of success for product development, and promote clinical trial participation by focusing on topics such as patient appropriate endpoints and the benefits of partnerships among in between for-profit and non-profit organizations.

For most notably, two days ago, we announced that we'd received an education grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine or CIRM, recognizing the SCI Investor Symposium as an important scientific conference and supportive of CIRMs overall mission and objectives. We are thankful for this additional financial support from CIRM, and you may recall that OPC1 was one of the first clinical trials ever supported by CIRM and we're grateful to the agency for its continued commitment to spinal cord injury. As I have shared before, we still expect to approach CIRM about a clinical trial grant to support the dosed clinical study, but that step is normally performed after the IND Amendment has been submitted. So, third and lastly for OPC1 today I just want to convey my appreciation to all the members of team Lineage, both in Carlsbad in Israel, as well as any investors who participated in the Wings for Life World Run last weekend.

The World Run's an important and global fundraiser for SCI research and embodies the importance of broad-based collaboration, which as I just explained, we believe is core to successful product development in this condition. Moving along, I have just a few more updates to share for VAC2. As you know from our previous discussions regarding the pre IND written feedback we received, we have a fairly clear path to support the CMC side of an IND submission, but it would be expected for us to also include any ex-U.S. clinical data which has been collected. That means, providing data from the UK based Phase 1 trial performed by Cancer Research UK in eight patients with non-small cell lung cancer. We've been waiting for that data to arrive and I'm happy to share today that we received some key updates and now expect the complete data package to arrive next quarter.

I have stated previously, that we believe Strategic Alliances offer us the best mix of risk and reward for the VAC platform, and our BD team has several exploratory discussions ongoing for VAC2 and the VAC platform more generally. While there can be no assurance that any development partnerships we're exploring will come to fruition, our preference for the VAC program is to de-risk it through one or more alliances rather than proceeding independently, and the BD team will continue to work on this initiative. There also have been some encouraging clinical results reported in the neoantigen vaccine space lately, so we intend to continue to monitor this landscape closely because doing so, will better inform our corporate strategy and help us determine the best development path for VAC2 or any other VAC platform programs which we may pursue through academic or corporate partnerships.

For ANP1, which is our transplant program for hearing loss, the preclinical testing is ongoing through a collaboration with the University of Michigan. Our initial objectives from this collaboration are to determine the preferred location for the cell transplants, and to determine how long the cells can survive after transplantation. Last week, I was provided with the first ever images generated from that preclinical work. And in fact I'll if we can post one of those images to our Twitter accounts after this call. I think it's kind of a cool thing to see. I was excited to see the early data because as you will recall, our hearing loss program didn't even exist at the beginning of last year and yet we already have our first preclinical data emerging.

This is such a great example of the speed and return on investment from our R&D dollars. We developed a differentiation method, filed intellectual property and proceeded into in-vivo testing in less than 12 months and with a commitment of less than $1 million R&D dollars. And frankly, I think one of the key advantages for Lineage in what continues to be a difficult environment for small biotech companies, is that our core technology offers us the ability to make tremendous progress without also having to make tremendous expenditures. Our disciplined spending and efficient use of R&D dollars is a foundation which Jill and I believe is appropriate for our stage of development, and which can help us bridge to important events and opportunities which lie ahead, such as completing enrollment and reporting data from the ongoing Phase 2 trial of OpRegen, the initiation and conduct of clinical trials for OPC1, and progress in partnerships which we pursue across other areas of our business.

As a final but actually quite important note, I'm also happy to report that, based on preliminary estimates of market cap cut-off, we anticipate Lineage will be added into the Russell 3000 and the Russell Microcap indices this summer, an inclusion, which may help to expand investor awareness, increase institutional ownership and provide additional liquidity in our stock. With that, I will now hand the call over to Jill for a discussion of our financials.

Jill Howe: Thanks, Brian, and good afternoon everyone. Beginning with our balance sheet, I believe we continue to be efficient with our spending and are well-capitalized to conduct the near-term activities, which Brian just outlined. Our reported cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of March 31, 2023, totaled $46.8 million which is expected to support our current planned operations into Q3 of 2024. Please note this does not account for any of the Roche, Genentech milestone payments nor for any business development or grant revenues, which we may receive during the same period. Now let me review our first quarter operating results. Our revenue is generated primarily from licensing fees, royalties, collaboration revenues and research grants.

Total revenues for the first quarter were approximately $2.4 million a decrease of $2.8 million as compared to $5.2 million for the same period in 2022. This decrease was driven by lower collaboration and licensing revenues in conjunction with the Roche agreement. Our operating expenses are comprised of research and development and general and administrative expenses. Total operating expenses for the first quarter were $8.9 million a decrease of $2.5 million as compared to $11.4 million for the same period in 2022. R&D expenses for the first quarter were $4.2 million, an increase of $1.2 million as compared to $3 million for the same period in 2022. The increase is primarily driven by a half a million of nonclinical related expenses to support the OPC1 program and $0.2 million in OpRegen program expenses to support the Roche collaboration.

Another $0.4 and $0.2 million of the increase was related to R&D spending on the auditory neuron and photo receptor programs respectively. G&A expenses for the first quarter were $4.7 million, a decrease of $3.7 million as compared to $8.4 million for the same period in 2022. The decreases primarily driven by the $3.5 million in lower litigation in legal expenses related to this serious litigation settlement that was accrued in the prior year and $0.2 million in lower expenses for accounting and tax services. Loss from operations for the first quarter was $6.6 million, an increase of $0.2 million as compared to $6.4 million for the same period in 2022. Other income for the first quarter was $0.4 million compared to other expenses of $0.7 million for the same period in 2022.

The income was primarily driven by the change in the fair market value of our marketable equity securities, interest from our marketable debt securities and a receivable for the employee retention credit program, partially offset by exchange rate fluctuations related to our international subsidiaries. The net loss for the first quarter was $4.4 million or $0.03 per share compared to a net loss of $7.1 million or $0.04 per share for the same period in 2022. Overall, we continue to maintain our same spending discipline as we have adhered to for years and which has served us well in the past as the biotech markets continue to face uncertainty. We believe that maintaining discipline in our spending will continue to allow us to maintain our plan to reach meaningful milestones, make important progress, and create value for shareholders from our investments in our programs.

Now, let me hand the call back to Brian.

Brian Culley: Thanks, Jill. I continue to believe Lineage is making good decisions in a challenging biotech environment. We've been conservative and disciplined with our spending and we're advancing our programs in a responsible way. Our collaboration with Genentech and Roche is progressing extremely well, and one of the many things we'll be excited to work on this year will be continuing to support Genentech and Roche in the further clinical development of OpRegen for the treatment of dry AMD with geographic atrophy. As always, we sincerely appreciate your support of the Company as we look to position lineage to become a leader in cell therapy and cell transplant medicine. And with that operator, we are ready to respond and to any analyst questions.

See also 30 Most Polluted Cities in the U.S. and 10 Best Gold Royalty Stocks to Buy Now .

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May 16 2023

A workshop in Ullapool is to become the newest distillery in the Highlands under plans for a craft venture by Reynolds Architecture.

Rhidorroch Distillery is planned for an alleyway in the central conservation area between Shore Street and Argyle Street, encompassing a stone-built frontage dating from around 1875 and an interior timber-built store.

In a statement, the applicant wrote: "The proposed works will enhance the site and its setting by allowing a new, modern craft distillery to be formed on the footprint of a poor-quality, substandard workshop/shed.

"The building will be constructed with materials and a design that is of the highest architectural quality and workmanship. This will result in a building that provides an impressive space, and a unique visitor experience for the village."

Minor alterations are to be made to the former to provide a cafe and bar with accommodation above, while the latter is demolished to make way for a micro-distillery over two levels that will combine modern and reclaimed materials such as timber boards.
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Former Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) CEO Gregory Becker on Tuesday declined to say whether he would compensate bank personnel who lost their jobs due to the financial institution's collapse from the bonuses he received right before the bank failed

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th May, 2023) Former Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) CEO Gregory Becker on Tuesday declined to say whether he would compensate bank personnel who lost their jobs due to the financial institution's collapse from the bonuses he received right before the bank failed.

"I am committed to cooperate with the process, with the regulators and other agencies that I know are going to be looking at this specific question," Becker told the US Senate Banking Committee.

The comment came in response to a senator asking Becker whether he was ready to pay the bank's former employees from the $1.5 million in bonuses he received for 2022.

Many lawmakers have expressed frustration that SVB executives received such bonuses on March 10, right before the bank effectively collapsed.

However, Becker said the compensation he received was a decision by the bank's board and the compensation committee, which is allegedly an independent body.

"These bonuses were pre-determined, on a pre-determined date, which I was not familiar with when those are going to be paid," he said.

Senators also asked Becker whether he intends to return his bonuses before SVB collapsed.

"I am going to cooperate with the regulators as they go through the process to look at this specific area," he said.

On March 10, US federal regulators closed SVB, the largest US bank to collapse since the 2008 financial crisis and the second largest implosion in the country's history. Later that week, the New York-based Signature Bank was seized in the third largest bank collapse in US history. Both lenders, which catered largely to the tech sector, became victims of a bank run.
(UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 16th May, 2023) DUBAI,16th May, 2023 (WAM)  The highly anticipated Seatrade Maritime Logistics middle East, the leading shipping and maritime supply chain event in the region, commenced today at the Dubai World Trade Centre under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MOEI UAE).

As an integral part of the UAE Maritime Week, the conference and exhibition attracted renowned industry leaders, experts, and policymakers from around the world. They gathered to discuss and showcase the latest advancements and best practices in the maritime industry.

To mark the event's opening, Hassan Mohammed Juma Al Mansouri, Undersecretary for Infrastructure and Transport Affairs at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, delivered an inspiring address on the UAE's vision and strategic plan for the growth and development of its maritime and logistics sectors.

During his speech, Al Mansouri highlighted the remarkable progress the UAE has made in expanding and modernizing its ports, increasing cargo volumes, and solidifying its position as a global trade hub.

He stated, "Through strategic investments in infrastructure, technology, and talent development, the UAE has emerged as a dynamic and innovative maritime hub on a global scale. Leveraging the capabilities of our state-of-the-art ports, some of which rank among the top 10 globally, we handle over 25,000 port calls and more than 19 million TEUs annually, establishing ourselves as a preferred destination for international trade. While achieving these significant milestones, we remain dedicated to further development. We continuously push boundaries through groundbreaking initiatives to create an environment conducive to growth and expansion, attracting substantial foreign investments from leading maritime organizations worldwide, who choose to establish their headquarters in our country. Consequently, we aim to significantly contribute to the AED 90 billion that the sector has been contributing to the national economy, further enhancing the industry's role in our nation's success."

Following the Ministerial and Government address, an exclusive video address by Kitack Lim, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), was presented. Lim stressed the importance of cooperation and collaboration to drive the maritime sector towards a brighter future. He also underscored the necessity of decarbonization, digitalization, and automation for more efficient global supply chains.

The day continued on a high note with insightful panel discussions, keynote speeches, and interactive sessions focused on the industry's digital transformation, sustainable development, and supply chain resilience.

Attendees also had the opportunity to explore the latest products, services, and technologies showcased by the exhibitors at the event.

Vassilios Kroustallis, ABS Senior Vice President, Global Business Development, said, As a global maritime centre and leader, UAEs hosting of COP 28 represents a golden opportunity to demonstrate how our industry is responding to the siren call for a more sustainable model and is bringing together the extensive roll call of stakeholders we need to drive genuine change. Of course, we in the marine industries are already operating in the midst of a perfect storm of technology disruption and rapid regulatory change triggered by the twin forces of decarbonisation and digitalisation. The last few years have shown how preparing for the unexpected must now be business as usual. I am looking forward to participating in Seatrade Maritime Logistics Middle East, and having some interactive discussions around the energy transition, new technologies trends, and regulatory compliance.

As the UAE gears up to host the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in November this year, the country's preparations were a hot topic at the event. "The Road to COP28: Maritime's Responsibilities, Opportunities, and New Projects session brought together stakeholders from the UAE's COP28 team to discuss the regional maritime and logistics communitys plan of action, shed light on the innovation, leadership, and technical prowess of the sector, and how it can be leveraged to drive sustainability and success.

It also highlighted the importance of COP28 in raising awareness about sustainable operations and inspiring action at all levels.

Chris Hayman, Chairman Emeritus, Seatrade, said, "With a significant increase in attendees this year, and the signing of some crucial agreements between the public and private sectors, we can say with a lot of conviction that the 2023 edition of Seatrade Maritime Logistics Middle East witnessed an impressive opening. The strong turnout is a testament to the importance of the event and the industry it serves. As we discover new opportunities in the sector, this event will continue to provide a critical platform for knowledge-sharing, networking, and collaboration to ensure a more sustainable, prosperous, and resilient future for all.
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Dakar, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th May, 2023 ) :Three people died during clashes Monday between Senegalese police and supporters of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, the authorities said, raising the toll by two.

In a statement early Tuesday, the interior ministry said it had been "informed of the discovery of the bodies of two young people.

"One of them apparently died of knife wounds in a suburb of the capital Dakar, while the second was found in the southern city of Ziguinchor, it said, without giving further details.

The ministry did not directly attribute the latest deaths to the protests, but said it "strongly urges parents to prevent their children from taking part in violent demonstrations."
BEIJING (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th May, 2023) The defense ministers of China and Japan held a conversation through a direct phone line for the first time as part of the mechanism of maritime and air communications between the ministries of the two countries, the Chinese Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.

"On the afternoon of May 16, Chinese State Councilor, Defense Minister Li Shangfu in Beijing for the first time held a telephone conversation with Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada via a direct telephone line within the framework of the maritime and air communication mechanism of the defense ministries of the two countries," the ministry said in a statement.
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Several donors to the University of Pennsylvania have ties to Hunter Biden business deals and some to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Fox News reported on Tuesday

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th May, 2023) Several donors to the University of Pennsylvania have ties to Hunter Biden business deals and some to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Fox News reported on Tuesday.

The previously undisclosed identities of Chinese donors who gave six figures and more in contributions to the university are now known after the American Public Trust (APT) reportedly obtained records on the issue, the report stated.

According to the records cited in the report, some of the Chinese contributors have or had ties to Hunter Biden business deals, while others are linked to the CCP.

Quoted in the report, the executive director of American Public Trust said that upon learning that the Bidens have received millions in donations from foreign actors, more questions will arise over the family's ties to China.

Records show that from mid-2018 to mid-2022, the University of Pennsylvania, which happens to be home to US President Joe Biden's think tank, received over $105 million from Chinese individuals, double what was previously disclosed, the report said.

In addition, when Biden was running for president, the university saw an unprecedented $75 million cash flow from China and Hong Kong, the report said.

Other donators include the China Merchant Bank with $5.5 million between 2018-2019, a $630.000 donation by Feng Deng, the managing director of Northern Light Venture Capital in 2019, and a $6.2 million contribution by SINA Corporation chief executive officer Charles Chao between 2012-2016, according to the report.

Earlier this year, the White House revealed that classified documents had been found in Biden's DC's Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement.
White House Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby said on Tuesday that he cannot confirm media reports about a Patriot air-defense system damaged in the latest Russian missile attack on Kiev

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th May, 2023) White House Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby said on Tuesday that he cannot confirm media reports about a Patriot air-defense system damaged in the latest Russian missile attack on Kiev.

"I can't confirm the reports," Kirby said when asked to confirm media reports on a damaged patriot system in Kiev.

Kirby added that should there be damage done to a Patriot system that needs to be repaired outside of Ukraine, the United States would certainly assist Kiev with that.
CLINTON  When Erin Beech thinks about the victims of abuse who she has helped throughout her career as a victim services coordinator, her eyes well up with tears.

Beech was recently honored by the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance. She received a Length of Service Award for her 20-year experience at the Worcester District Attorneys Office and the states Victim Services Unit of the Massachusetts Probation Service.

I look back at my career and there are people that have stayed in touch with me over the years, people that I've been invited to their baby showers or their weddings, Beech said in an interview Friday. Seeing people leave the process empowered, and with a smile, and with confidence that they might not have had coming into (the court process,) that to me is the most amazing part of my work."

Erin Beech

As she dried her eyes with a swipe of her fingers, it was clear that they were not tears of sorrow, but of pride for those with whom she has worked and works.

As a victim services coordinator Beechs job is to make a court process less overwhelming for a victim of abuse to navigate, being there for them while the abuser faces justice and the victims themselves are called up to cooperate in the process.

The bulk of Beechs 20-year experience has been at the Worcester District Attorneys Office. She started in 2003, handling domestic violence cases in juvenile court.

Many years with Children's Advocacy Center

A few years later, she moved up to the Childrens Advocacy Center - her longest-lasting position, which she held for more than 15 years.

Her focus there was to work with victims of child abuse and their families as they waded through the judicial system.

I got to work with them before those charges even came; talk to them about what that process might be like for them, she said. I would help kids get ready to testify. I would show families courtrooms. We would go over strategies to help them feel safe in the courthouse. We would talk about what they could expect walking into the courthouse.

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My job was really just to make people feel supported, but also to make sure that all their needs were being met.

The big things matter the most, but so do the little things, as Beech put it.

I look back at my career and there are people that have stayed in touch with me over the years, people that I've been invited to their baby showers or their weddings. Seeing people leave the process empowered, and with a smile, and with confidence that they might not have had coming into (the court process,) that to me is the most amazing part of my work." Erin Beech, victim services coordinator

She said that her work was also to assist the victims and their families with finding an interpreter, reaching out to teachers to provide a note, providing resources to find support for expenses and even down to parking or showing a map of the bus stops and their itineraries.

It's about establishing trust from an early standpoint, said Beech.

Beech acknowledges that even though her job is difficult, making the choice to enter the field of victim services was not.

At Salem State

She discovered her passion after first intending to study education at Salem State University. After a few courses in victimology, where she saw the effects of sexual and physical abuse, she decided to take a turn into criminal justice, graduating in 2000.

After a few years of enjoying life as a young person, she decided to seriously pursue her creed.

I was working in a sporting goods store in Boston. I loved rollerblading and being outdoorsy and doing all that fun stuff, said Beech. But I really wanted to take my work from just volunteering to actually using my major.

So I started putting out resumes.

Last year she left the DAs office, moving up to state level, working as a victim services coordinator for Massachusetts Probation Service.

Still holding the same title of a victim services coordinator, her work has now transitioned into the victim services unit in electronic monitoring cases, where she assists people of all ages after a court process comes to an end, keeping in contact with victims as their abusers serve their probation service.

The victims she works with are survivors of violent crime such as sexual assault, domestic violence and armed robberies among others.

Post-conviction services

I think its an amazing opportunity for me because it gives me a chance to connect in a different way, said Beech. Im helping them through those post-conviction services, still tapping into all the things that I already knew, but in a different way, in a new way.

In the victim service unit, Beech works in a group of 10 coordinators, Beech being one of them.

Corinn Nelson, the statewide manager of the victim service unit, said that the 10 serviced about 4,000 victims of abuse across the state in the last year.

Being an advocate is a tough job, said Nelson. It's tough on you mentally. It changes who you are, intrinsically. It changes how you look at the world, how you interact with your friends, your family, your loved ones.

The work of a coordinator requires years-long investment at times depending on the length of the time that their attacker spends in probation.

Sometimes its 10, 15 years, said Nelson. They call them every couple months to say I'm doing well. I have some questions, and we maintain that relationship.

Its really about building that rapport with that person so they feel comfortable going to you time after time.

Throughout those years, for the victims, "normalcy" takes a different meaning.

'A new normalcy'

I don't think that victims have normalcy. They have a new normalcy, a new way of looking at life and leading their life moving forward, said Nelson. That's why we use the word victim/survivor, because survivor is more empowering because they're living this new life and they've survived this experience.

Its really wonderful for us to see how they continue to live their lives, be productive members of society, have families and do all that after this awful thing happened to them.

That resiliency shown by the victims is what Beech credits for the daily energy she puts into her work.

I think the strength that people have inspires me, said Beech. I look at some people and all that they've been through and their ability to really dig deep and to deal with things the way they do.

That will always inspire me.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Victim advocate Beech honored for 20 years with Worcester DA's office
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th May, 2023) Brazil is ready to join countries that are in contact with the parties to the conflict in Ukraine to resolve it, and also insists on talks between Moscow and Kiev, Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira said.

"We just insist that it's necessary to sit down and talk. We are ready to join other countries that have contact with both sides and promote some kind of discussion that would lead to a ceasefire, would lead to talks about peace," Vieira told CNN.

"We are not siding one country against the other or the other way round. We are talking and giving our contribution and trying to convince those two countries involved, with which we have direct communications, (of) the need to sit down and negotiate," he said.

Earlier, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said the United States and Europe should start talking about reaching a settlement in Ukraine, and not encourage the conflict.

He urged countries not involved to take responsibility for advancing talks for settlement, as well as to provide Russia with "minimum conditions" for ending the conflict. In addition, Lula da Silva suggested creating a format similar to the G20 to discuss the situation in Ukraine.

Moscow has repeatedly indicated that it is ready for negotiations, but Kiev has imposed a ban on them at the legislative level.

Russia has been conducting a special military operation in Ukraine since February 24, 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the operation aims to "protect people subjected to genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years." According to the president, the ultimate goal of the operation is to liberate Donbas and create conditions that guarantee Russia's security.
US Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene said on Tuesday that she is introducing articles of impeachment against US Attorney for the District of Columbia Matthew Graves, alleging he is weaponizing the Justice Department by refusing to prosecute criminals in Washington while pursuing cases against non-violent January 6 demonstrators

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th May, 2023) US Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene said on Tuesday that she is introducing articles of impeachment against US Attorney for the District of Columbia Matthew Graves, alleging he is weaponizing the Justice Department by refusing to prosecute criminals in Washington while pursuing cases against non-violent January 6 demonstrators.

"US Attorney Matthew Graves refuses to prosecute violent criminals in DC. Yet, he abuses his power by maliciously prosecuting non-violent protestors from (the January 6 US Capitol demonstrations)," Greene said in a statement via Twitter. "Today, I'm introducing articles of impeachment against Matthew Graves."

Greene also called for an end to the alleged "weaponization" of the US Justice Department.

Residents of Washington, DC are "victims" of Graves' actions, Greene added.

Greene introduced the articles of impeachment during a House Oversight Committee hearing on management of Washington, for which Graves appeared as a witness.

While the overall percentage of arrests leading to charges in Washington in Fiscal Year 2022 decreased, the US Attorney's Office for DC charged approximately 90% of all arrests for the "most serious" violent crimes, including homicide, rape and carjacking, Graves said in testimony to lawmakers.

The decrease in arrests resulting in charges is largely driven by the office's treatment of non-violent, misdemeanor offenses, such as unlawful entry and drug possession, Graves said.
Nail Named USM Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Tue, 05/16/2023 - 03:00pm | By: Jim Coll

Dr. Lance Nail, a veteran university faculty member and administrator, has been named The University of Southern Mississippi (USM)s Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, pending approval of the Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL).

Nail, who previously served USM as Dean of the College of Business from 2008 to 2012, returns to south Mississippi following work as a dean at Texas Tech University, San Diego State University, and the University of Texas  Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), where he has served as Dean of Business and UTRGV Foundation Presidential Professor in the Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship since 2019. His anticipated start date at USM is July 1, 2023.

Dr. Nail has demonstrated a strong record of achievement at each institution he has served, including advancing enrollment growth, student retention, curricular innovation, program rankings, research enterprise collaboration, and faculty support, said Dr. Joseph S. Paul, University President. Overwhelmingly those I have spoken with throughout the vetting process have said Dr. Nail is the most student-centered dean they have worked with, and I am convinced he can lead our academic enterprise into the future, while enhancing student success, faculty development, and shared governance.

As a faculty member for 26 years and administrator for 18, Nail has improved academic and student success outcomes and elevated program rankings, as well as guided successful accreditation outcomes at every institution he has served. In his current role at UTRGV, he achieved successful affirmation of accreditation, increased the colleges budget by 25 percent through enrollment growth and external funding, increased total enrollment 22 percent, and expanded full-time faculty by more than 15 percent.

At San Diego State, Nail led the Fowler College of Business to successful affirmation of accreditation in business and accounting and to immediate improvements in student success. San Diego State business students exceeded a 90 percent first year retention rate and achieved a four-year graduation rate increase from 49.7 percent to 55.2 percent. Nail launched the Fowler Scholars Program that focused on ethical leadership and featured academic, professional, and peer mentorship, leadership assessment, study abroad, and paid internships. In addition, he created the fully endowed Osinski Family Women in Leadership and Entrepreneurship initiative to support female leadership and promote women in entrepreneurship.

At Texas Tech, Nail emphasized a student-centered culture that led to annual enrollment growth of 6 percent with no decline in admissions standards. He created the Rawls College living-learning community to support first year business students with a common residence hall experience and programming to promote success and belonging and oversaw the construction of a 40,000 square foot building expansion with more technologically advanced teaching, learning, research, and office space and a computerized testing center. In addition, he initiated a diversity and inclusion plan to recruit and retain under-represented groups and first-generation students that increased success rates for all students.

Among other recognition, he was awarded 10 teaching awards at the University of Alabama at Birmingham; he was selected as one of the most influential members of the San Diego business community by San Diego Business Journal; he earned an Educational Administrator of the Year award at USM; and he was recognized by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives. He has also raised more than $80 million in philanthropic giving, including successful completion of the $10 million Building Better Business campaign during his time at USM.

I am so excited to return to Southern Miss, said Dr. Nail. I love this university and the grit that defines the institution and its people. I look forward to strong collaboration with faculty, staff, and students to achieve President Pauls audacious goals to advance the university and extend its academic and research excellence. There are so few public community-engaged R1 universities in the country, and I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as provost of this distinctive institution.

Nail earned his Ph.D. in Finance with a minor in Economics in 1996 from the University of Georgia. He graduated first in his class of 575 at the University of Alabama, earning his bachelors degree in Finance in 1989. His professional career began as a consultant for Ernst & Young, LLP National Consulting Group in 1989, and his academic career began in 1996 as a member of the faculty at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, where he became Chair of the Department of Finance, Economics, and Quantitative Methods prior to his service at USM as Dean of the College of Business. He earned tenure at USM in 2009 while serving as dean.

I am more than pleased with the naming of Dr. Lance Nail as our new Provost, said Dr. Denis Wiesenburg, Professor of Marine Science and President of USMs Faculty Senate. Dr. Nail was an excellent dean here at USM where he supported the business faculty to higher levels of research productivity. Dr. Nail has always been a student and faculty advocate, and I believe he will continue to share these qualities as Provost at USM. The Faculty Senate and I extend him congratulations and best wishes.

Nails selection comes following a comprehensive national search; campus visits from four finalists for the position; and the leadership of a University search committee that included faculty, staff, and student leaders and was co-chaired by Dr. Heather Annulis, Professor of Human Capital Development and Director of the School of Leadership, and Dr. Derek Patton, Professor of Polymer Science and Director of the School of Polymer Science and Engineering.

The announcement of our next provost marks an exciting new chapter at Southern Miss in our journey of academic excellence, said Dr. Annulis. We look forward to Dr. Nails leadership as he furthers our culture of collaboration in teaching, research, and community engagement.

"President Paul's selection of Dr. Lance Nail as our next Provost is a decisive move that aligns with the forward trajectory of the University, said Dr. Patton. Dr. Nails emphasis on student recruitment, improved learning outcomes, and optimizing our dual campus structure reflects a strategic understanding of our institution that promises to significantly enhance our University. I am particularly enthusiastic about his commitment to inclusive excellence through investments in strategic staffing and faculty success initiatives, which I believe will be instrumental in supporting our Carnegie R1 research status.

Dr. Nail's interest in expanding our military and veterans programming also speaks volumes about his innovative, community-focused leadership, Dr. Patton added. I am confident that under his guidance, our University will ascend to new heights of academic distinction, innovative research, and community engagement. This is indeed a transformative time for Southern Miss, and I look forward to the progress we will undoubtedly achieve under Dr. Nail's stewardship."

As Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Nail is expected to provide leadership to the Universitys academic programs to foster excellence in teaching, research, and service. The Provost is responsible for all aspects of the Universitys academic mission and leads its efforts in the pursuit of academic excellence at all campuses and teaching sites.

I want to express my sincere appreciation to all individuals who participated in the selection process over the past six months, through robust listening sessions, in-person visits with four finalist candidates, and feedback surveys, said President Paul. In particular, I want to recognize and thank the Provost Search Committee as well as the Faculty Senate Executive Committee, Council of Directors Officers, academic deans, and student leaders, who provided invaluable input directly to me at each stage of the process.
Family of Late History Department Chairman Present Recognition Honoring Father at School of Humanities Student Awards Ceremony

Tue, 05/16/2023 - 04:45pm | By: David Tisdale

Alta Davis Wood, left, and Treadwell Davis Jr., right, were on hand to present the J. Treadwell Davis Award honoring their father to Zion Culbreath, center, during the USM School of Humanities Student Awards Ceremony (USM photo).

Treadwell Davis Jr. and his sister, Alta Davis Wood, recall their father Dr. Treadwell Davis as a man who loved God, his family, his country, and his students at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM).

Both were on the universitys Hattiesburg campus recently to help give the J. Treadwell Davis Award honoring their dad to Zion Culbreath, a sophomore from Raymond, Mississippi, during the USM School of Humanities Student Awards Ceremony held in Gonzales Auditorium May 5.

Dr. Davis joined the history faculty of USM in 1948, when it was known as Mississippi Southern College, as an associate professor of history. He was promoted to professor in 1953; when the USM History Department separated from the Department of History and Government in 1962, he was named department chairman, holding that post until 1969.

Upon his retirement from USM in 1974 as its first Professor Emeritus of History, the J. Treadwell Davis Freshman History Award was established in his honor by his department colleagues and given to an outstanding history student annually since then. Culbreath was nominated by USM History professor Dr. Courtney Luckhardt.

I am incredibly grateful to receive the Treadwell Davis Award, said Culbreath, a social work major who has excelled in the history courses that make up her academic program. It validates my hard work and dedication as I pursue my academic goals.

Im also proud to represent the broader student community and demonstrate the interdisciplinary nature of the humanities as the recipient of this recognition.

Culbreath participated in USMs Chateau study abroad program in Strasbourg, France in spring 2022. This experience allowed her to take courses in a unique setting, including History 101 (World Civilization), studying under USM History Professor Dr. Courtney Luckhardt, who nominated her for the Davis Award.

Dr. Luckhardt remembers Culbreaths enthusiasm for learning the history of Europe and the world during their time together in the Chateau Program.

Zion was always engaged in class as well as on our field trips to historical places, such as Heidelberg Castle in Germany, Dr. Luckhardt said. She did an excellent final project in which she analyzed primary sources and applied them to the historical and geographical information she learned while in France. She is very deserving of the Davis award, as she is an excellent student and really blossomed as a history scholar during the time I taught her.

Culbreath described the Chateau program as personally enriching, opening her eyes to new perspectives, and broadening her understanding of the world around her with firsthand experiences through visits to historical sites and interactions with historical artifacts.

Im grateful to her [Dr. Luckhardt] for her support and guidance throughout my academic journey, and this award reinforces the idea that the School of Humanities values and acknowledges the achievements of all students.

A native of Tennessee, Dr. Davis graduated head of his class at Ramer High School in Ramer, Tennessee and then attended Bethel College and Memphis State University, earning his bachelors and masters degrees. During World War II, he was a member of the Army Air Corp, serving as a classification officer in the China-Burma-India Theater. While stationed briefly in St. Petersburg, Florida, he met and married his wife, Marjorie Alta Griffith. After the war, he taught at North Georgia Military College in Dahlonega, Georgia, for a short time before resuming his Ph.D. studies at Vanderbilt University.

He was an outstanding role model for both of us, Davis said of his father. He loved the University and his students and was always available to counsel them. He loved his family fiercely and supported both my sister and me in all our activities and endeavors.

His philosophy of life was Never lose your sense of humor and that philosophy was certainly evident in his class lectures.

Being back on the USM campus for this awards ceremony brought back many wonderful memories of growing up here and our time as students at the University, said Alta Davis Wood. It was an honor and a privilege to honor our dad through the presentation of the award to Zion.

For information about the USM School of Humanities, which is headquartered in the College of Arts and Sciences, please visit their website.
UW and Wyoming SBDC Network to Host HUBZone Workshop in Pinedale May 23

Small-business owners can learn how to obtain federal contract dollars through becoming HUBZone-certified companies Tuesday, May 23.

Janean Forsyth and Deb Farris will present a Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network workshop titled HUBZone Opportunity Workshop: Sublette County from noon-1 p.m. at the Pinedale Library, located at 155 S. Tyler Ave. 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.
(Bloomberg) -- Republicans hardened their battle lines Tuesday ahead of a pivotal White House meeting on averting a first-ever US default, the latest sign of trouble in negotiations over the debt limit.

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GOP leaders are focused on getting President Joe Biden to agree to expanded work requirements for federal aid to the poor. Other Republican priorities include cuts to domestic spending, easing energy permits and clawing back $65 billion in unused Covid-19 funds.

The two parties grappled over responsibility for potential economic catastrophe should talks fail and clashed over characterizing the state of negotiations. Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy declared Tuesday morning there had been no progress in talks among senior staff, even as Biden over the weekend described the same conversations as productive.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned that time is running out to avoid a default in remarks hours ahead of the scheduled 3 p.m. White House meeting, the first in-person talks among the leaders in a week.

There has been little reaction in financial markets to Yellens latest warnings, though Treasury bills maturing in early June continued to trade at a discount to other securities. 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. Stock traders were mostly sidelined in the morning, averting risk as the debt talks added to economic uncertainties.

Read More: Wall Street Bosses See US Debt Talks Doing Damage Before Default

Republicans are trying to add new work requirements for Medicaid for able-bodied adults without children. They also want to apply existing work requirements to older individuals receiving food stamps and to restrict waivers used by states in welfare programs.

Story continues

McCarthy said Republicans would stand firm in their demands. Biden has rejected work requirements on Medicaid but otherwise has avoided a definitive response.

McCarthy also took aim at the presidents plan to proceed with a planned Asia trip, intended to showcase US determination to address strategic competition with China.

We have 16 days more days to go, I dont think Id be spending eight days out of the country, McCarthy, who traveled to Israel and Italy earlier this month, told reporters at the Capitol.

White House officials have said Biden plans to leave Wednesday for the Asia trip, though they have cautioned he could return to Washington early if hes needed for debt ceiling negotiations.

In Japan, hes slated to attend the annual Group of Seven meeting, where leaders are slated to discuss efforts to punish Russia and bolster Ukraine ahead of an expected counteroffensive, as well as the nuclear threat from North Korea. Leaders are also planning to discuss ways to blunt Chinese influence in the region - a conversation that will continue as Biden meets with leaders of Australia, India, and the UK next week in Australia.

Blame Game

House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar said the US is on the verge of a Republican-led default. He suggested GOP moderates needed to step up as McCarthy is being led by the extreme elements of their party.

But McCarthy urged fellow House Republicans in a closed-door meeting to stick together, and stay strong, as the pressure intensifies, a person familiar with the discussion said.

He later said he would prefer to negotiate directly with a Biden envoy rather than the wider talks with Democratic congressional leaders.

Yellen issued a fresh letter to congressional leaders Monday restating that the Treasury risks running out of sufficient cash for all federal obligations as soon as June 1. The livelihoods of millions of Americans hang in the balance, she said in excerpts of her speech to the Independent Community Bankers of America Capital Summit.

Biden and McCarthy have been at an impasse since January over raising the governments $31.4 trillion borrowing limit. the two sides are at odds over the length of the debt ceiling extension and the number of years to cap spending. The GOP wants to extend the debt ceiling to next March and Democrats have proposed through December 2024.

Economists have cautioned that US default risks triggering a market selloff, a surge in borrowing costs and a blow to the global economy that could rival the 2008 crash.

People familiar with the meetings have said that the White House has pushed to exclude elements of a 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 were part of Bidens budget proposal earlier this year. 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 of South Dakota, one of the authors of the House debt-limit plan, said the GOP has three red lines: no clean debt increase, no tax increase, and the bill must reduce the deficit.

--With assistance from Alexandra Harris, Viktoria Dendrinou, Christopher Condon, Jennifer Jacobs and Steven T. Dennis.

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What a Sugar Tax Might Mean for Foreign Firms in Vietnam

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) in Vietnam has proposed the implementation of a sugar tax as a strategy to combat obesity and generate revenue. Although this proposal has been previously dismissed, the MoF remains determined, suggesting that it is not a question of whether Vietnam will introduce a sugar tax, but rather a matter of timing. Foreign beverage manufacturers should note the developments in this area and potential tax incidence.

The Ministry of Finance is proposing adding high-sugar content soft drinks to goods that attract Vietnams special consumption tax. This would put sugary sodas in a category with the likes of alcohol and tobacco products; the additional tax justified by the products adverse health impacts.

This proposal has been on the table for some time in Vietnam. A recurring idea, it has yet to be approved with a number of organizations coming out against it.

In 2018, for example, the American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (AmCham) strongly opposed the tax and disputed the efficacy of similar policies around the world. Notably, the United States has produced some of the worlds biggest name brands in sugary beverages. Coca-Cola and Pepsi, for example.

Also, there are several studies on a similar tax in Mexico that show an estimated reduction in consumption rates of sugary-beverages of up to 6 percent in the first year of implementation.

The European Chamber of Commerce (EuroCham) also raised concerns with earlier drafts of the law. It recommended specific modifications to enhance clarity, such as explicitly excluding non-sweetened drinks like milk of which it is a major producer.

Notably, these concerns were taken on board and in the latest iteration of the sugar tax bill, beverages like dairy, nectars, and nutritious drinks are excluded. But there is likely to be resistance to this version of the draft law as well.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation supports these initiatives. It has noted that in 2018, a quarter of Vietnams population was considered obese. Similar laws have already been passed by its regional peers (Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar), and it may only be a matter of time before a sugar tax is signed into Vietnamese law.

Foreign beverage manufacturers should be ready to adapt to potential changes. In this regard, lets take a quick look at Vietnams soda market and the expected implications of a sugar tax.

Attitudes toward sugary drinks in Vietnam

As it stands, Vietnams soft-drink market is expected to be worth about US$8.25 billion in 2023 and to grow at a CAGR of 6.19 percent between 2023 and 2027, according to Statista

This represents a sizable opportunity for foreign beverage makers.

Not only is Vietnam an attractive export market but for foreign firms looking to service the region more broadly, the Southeast Asian nation may be worth considering as a manufacturing base.

This would put them in the stead of other big-name brands. Heineken, for example, has a factory in Vung Tau and Coca-Cola has four plants in Vietnam with the most recent announced in October of last year in the Mekong Delta province of Long An.

However, while a sugar tax might have some impact on reducing demand, it is not expected to completely hinder growth. The sugar tax may even not feature as a primary concern for soda producers.

Vietnamese consumers are becoming increasingly health conscious and this shift in consumer preference could present a broader challenge or opportunity for beverage makers.

This, in fact, reflects a global trend. Healthier drinks are now among Coca-Colas product offerings in various markets, such as high-pressured juices, kombucha, probiotic drinks, and drinking vinegars. The US soda giant is moving with the times and is keen to attract younger consumers who are perceived to be more health-focused and sustainability-conscious. This has dictated its acquisitions strategy in recent years to ensure market relevance amid a more nutrition-driven food and beverage landscape.

A Cimigo study in 2022 found that two in three Vietnamese consumers were prepared to pay up to 10 percent more for natural or organic foods. This rising demand for healthy options is clearly visible in Vietnams supermarkets and grocery stores too, where healthy food and beverage products have exploded alongside official organic certifications.

Yet, the country is not a stranger to healthy consumption choices. Vietnamese cuisine has always been generally very healthy with an abundance of seafood and vegetables. In terms of beverages, unsweetened green tea has traditionally been the drink of choice  the myriad of health benefits it contains well documented.

Vietnams love of tea, however, has to some extent, gone through a sugary metamorphosis in recent years. One hugely popular franchise in Vietnam is Tiger Sugar, which boasts a range of sugary milk teas. This entire business, as the name suggests, has been built on the foundations of providing very sweet drinks and a franchise model that has seen the brand proliferate all over the country.

These types of beverages, however, are specialty items and are generally not consumed every day. This may be in part because of their high price relative to average incomes, but awareness of the impact of over-consumption among Vietnams consumer class should not be understated either.

Vietnams sugar tax for foreign firms

Vietnams sugar tax may not pass muster with key decision makers just yet, but the multiple attempts to make the tax a reality suggest it is not going away. With this in mind, foreign beverage makers should plan accordingly.

A pivot to healthier, low-sugar options may be one way to shore up a firms market share; another may be to adjust product offerings to better cater to Vietnamese tastes and local trends. All in all, an understanding of the Vietnamese market is key.

In this light, firms looking to manufacture beverages in Vietnam or to access Vietnams 100 million-strong consumer market should contact the business advisory experts at Dezan Shira and Associates.
Cambodias National Election Committee (NEC) on Monday disqualified the main opposition Candlelight Party from competing in the July national election, citing lack of paperwork.

If the decision remains in place, independent election groups said it will further undermine an election already marked by the ongoing crackdown against the governments critics.

Longtime opposition leaders Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha have both been removed from the political landscape due to legal troubles, and leaders of Candlelight have faced various charges and lawsuits in recent months.

The NEC has cited a bureaucratic technicality  the Candlelight has lost its original party registration document  in rejecting its application to participate in this years National Assembly election, which will also decide the prime minister.

The Candlelight Party failed to submit a copy of the original party registration at the Ministry of Interior, the NEC said in a statement released on Monday.

The Candlelight Party said in a statement on Monday that the party cant accept the NECs decision.

The Candlelight Party spokesperson Kimsour Phirith told VOA Khmer that the party tried to request a copy of the registration document from the Ministry of Interior on May 12, but the request was rejected.

"We insisted again, but they [the Ministry of Interior] said they could not make a copy of the original document, Kimsour Phirith said.

The ministry did issue a letter on May 5 certifying its status as a political party, but that was not accepted by the NEC in lieu of the registration document.

The Candlelight officials have pointed out that the party, even without the document, was able to participate in the commune elections in June 2022, when it won about 22 percent of the popular vote.

The ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) currently holds all 125 seats in parliament.

VOA Khmer was unable to reach the Ministry of Interior or NEC for comment on Monday.

Kimsour Phirith said that the Candlelight Party will file an appeal asking the Constitutional Council of Cambodia to overrule the NEC decision.

Relaunched more than a year ago, the Candlelight Party is composed largely of officials and candidates who were part of the Cambodia National Rescue Party, which posed a major challenge to the CPP in the 2013 national election before it was dissolved by the countrys courts a few years later.

However, the Candlelight Party was registered in the 1990s as the Sam Rainsy Party. The party no longer has any official affiliation with Rainsy, who is living in exile, however the longtime opposition leader has called on Cambodians to support the new party.

Observers raised concerns over the legitimacy of any election in which the biggest opposition party is excluded.

NICFEC, a grassroots network of election observers in Cambodia, said the NEC's decision affected both civil and political rights.

Political parties are not allowed to do politics, and cannot compete in the election. Voters lose their rights, and they cannot vote for their favorite party, NICFEC director Sam Kuntheamy told VOA Khmer.

Korn Savang, the election monitoring coordinator for Comfrel, told VOA Khmer that the absence of the Candlelight Party in the July election means the absence of an opposition voice.

In parliament, there cannot only be one unanimous voice. There must be an opposition voice which is an important mirror to reflect the actions or processes of the executive branch, Korn Savang said.

The European Union issued a statement Monday, criticizing the move as another worrying sign of shrinking space for political parties to compete in the election.

The European Union strongly objects to the decision taken today by the Cambodia Electoral Authority, which adds to depriving Cambodias citizens of the right to choose their representatives, said an EU spokesperson.

Democratic elections demand open, inclusive and credible political competition and citizens to be allowed to freely choose their representatives.

Ahead of the decision, Prime Minister Hun Sen threatened arrest for any Candlelight members who protest their inability to participate in elections.

CPP spokesperson Sok Eysan denounced accusations that the government was trying to suppress its main rival.

Its just their own subjective idea and cannot be considered a good idea because without the Candlelight Party, people can still live in prosperity under the roof of peace, Sok Eysan told VOA Khmer.

Rights groups and critics have accused the Hun Sen government of having created a climate of fear since 2017 by imprisoning scores of opposition politicians, activists and journalists. Many opposition figures have since fled the country, while others have been arrested.

The Candlelight Party is not the only party to have formed out of remnants of the Cambodia National Rescue Party, but it had the largest grassroots network by far. Some 7,000 members of the party gathered in Siem Reap earlier this year for the partys first national congress.

This years election will also mark a pivotal moment for the ruling party, as the prime ministers eldest son, Hun Manet, will for the first time run for public office  with the top spot on the partys ticket in Phnom Penh  having spent his career rising through the military.

The CPP voted last year to anoint Hun Manet as his fathers successor, a transition the 70-year-old Hun Sen says will happen between 2028 and 2030.
China is prepared to "resolutely smash any form of Taiwan independence," its military said Tuesday, as the United States reportedly prepares to accelerate the sale of defensive weapons and other military assistance to the self-governing island democracy.

A recent increase in exchanges between the U.S. and Taiwanese militaries is an "extremely wrong and dangerous move," Defense Ministry spokesperson Colonel Tan Kefei said in a statement and video posted online.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) "continues to strengthen military training and preparations and will resolutely smash any form of Taiwanese independence secession along with attempts at outside interference, and will resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity," Tan said, in a reference to Taiwan's closest ally, the United States.

China claims the island of 23 million people as its own territory to be brought under its control by force if necessary.

Displaying its strength

With the world's largest navy, latest-generation fighter jets, and a huge arsenal of ballistic missiles, China has been upping its threats by sending planes and warships into waters and airspace around Taiwan. With more than 2 million members, the PLA also ranks as the world's largest standing military, although transporting even a portion of the force in the event of an invasion is considered a huge logistical challenge.

Along with daily air and sea incursions around Taiwan, Beijing has held military exercises in and around the Taiwan Strait dividing the sides, seen in part as a rehearsal for a blockade or invasion that would have massive consequences for security and economies worldwide.

Such actions may be seen as attempts to harass Taiwan's military and intimidate politicians and voters who will choose a new president and legislature next year.

The moves appear to have had limited effect, with most Taiwanese firmly in favor of maintaining their de facto independent status. Politicians and other public figures from Europe and the U.S. have also been making frequent trips to Taipei to show their support, despite their countries' lack of formal diplomatic ties in deference to Beijing.

Tan's comments were prompted by a question from an unidentified reporter about reports that U.S. President Joe Biden is preparing to approve the sale of $500 million in arms to Taiwan and to send more than 100 military personnel to evaluate training methods and offer suggestions for improving the island's defenses.

US support

Taiwan enjoys strong support from the U.S. Democratic and Republican parties, which have called on the Biden administration to follow through on nearly $19 billion in military items approved for sale but not yet delivered to Taiwan.

Administration officials have blamed the delayed deliveries on bottlenecks in production related to the COVID-19 pandemic and to limited capacity and increased demand for arms to assist Ukraine. Biden's move would allow the export of items from existing U.S. military stockpiles, speeding up the delivery of at least some of the hardware Taiwan needs to deter or repel any Chinese attack.

Among the items on backorder are Harpoon anti-ship missiles, F-16 fighter jets, shoulder-fired Javelin and Stinger missiles, and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, a multiple rocket and missile launcher mounted on a truck that has become a crucial weapon for Ukrainian troops battling Russian invasion forces.

Tan's comments were in line with Beijing's standard tone on what it calls the "core of China's core interests." The two sides split at the end of a civil war in 1949, and Beijing considers bringing Taiwan under its control as key to asserting its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Attempts to "seek independence by relying on the United States" and "seek independence by military might" are a "dead end," Tan said.

With China-U.S. relations at a historic low and Taiwan unreceptive to Beijing's demands for political concessions on unification, concerns are rising about the likelihood of an open conflict involving all three sides and possibly U.S. treaty allies such as Japan.

China's diplomatic and economic support for Russia following its invasion of Ukraine has also increased tensions with Washington. Beijing is believed to be closely studying Moscow's military failures in the conflict, while the Western will to back Kyiv is seen by some as a test of its determination to side with Taiwan in the event of a conflict with China.
Wildlife conservationists in Kenya said the killing of 10 lions in the past week is reversing gains made in efforts to protect the big cats' dwindling population.

In two separate incidents next to Kenya's Amboseli national park last week, herders speared stray lions to death after the animals strayed into villages and attacked livestock and a dog.

Conservationists said the killings are a blow to efforts to protect the big cats. Kenya's game parks are home to an estimated 2,500 lions according to national data, but researchers say habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict are threats to the big cats.

''This sort of incident should not draw back the gains that have been made," said African wildlife conservation scientist Philip Muruthi. "There are over 100 lions in that ecosystem, which is recovering. There is a time they were fewer than that due to conflicts.''

Experts said more needs to be done to prevent deadly human-wildlife conflict.

''The major challenge is the way these protected areas have been designed," said Yussuf Wato, the biodiversity research and innovation manager at the World Wildlife Fund in Kenya. "They are small, most times they are not connected. In fact, as far as statistics go, 65% of all the wildlife live outside protected areas  on people's lands  and that, of course, causes challenges."

Kenyan Wildlife Service official Paul Jinaro told VOA that the state has since increased surveillance around Amboseli to monitor lions' movements.

He also said the number of cats killed was likely higher than those discovered in the two villages so far.
The death toll in cyclone-hit Myanmar's Rakhine state rose to 41 on Tuesday, local leaders told AFP, as villagers tried to piece together ruined homes and waited for aid and support.

With winds of up to 195 kilometers per hour, Mocha made landfall on Sunday, downing power pylons and smashing wooden fishing boats to splinters.

At least 41 people died in the villages of Bu Ma and nearby Khaung Doke Kar, inhabited by the persecuted Rohingya Muslim minority, local leaders told AFP reporters at the scene.

"There will be more deaths, as more than a hundred people are missing," said Karlo, the head of Bu Ma village near state capital Sittwe.

Nearby, Aa Bul Hu Son, 66, said prayers at the grave of his daughter, whose body was recovered on Tuesday morning.

"I wasn't in good health before the cyclone, so we were delayed in moving to another place," he told AFP.

"While we were thinking about moving, the waves came immediately and took us."

"I just found her body in the lake in the village and buried her right away. I can't find any words to express my loss."

Other residents walked the seashore searching for family members swept away by a storm surge that accompanied the cyclone, AFP correspondents said.

Mocha was the most powerful cyclone to hit the area in over a decade, churning up villages, uprooting trees and knocking out communications across much of Rakhine state.

Myanmar's junta said on Monday that five people were killed, without specifying where.

It was not clear if that toll included any of those killed in Bu Ma and Khaung Doke Kar.

AFP has contacted a junta spokesman for comment on the new death toll.

'No one has come to ask'

Widely viewed as interlopers in Myanmar, the Rohingya are denied citizenship and healthcare, and require permission to travel outside of their villages in western Rakhine state.

Many others live in camps after being displaced by decades of ethnic conflict.

The United Nations refugee office said it was investigating reports that Rohingya living in displacement camps had been killed in the storm.

It was "working to start rapid needs assessments in hard-hit areas" of Rakhine state, it added.

In neighboring Bangladesh, officials told AFP that no one had died in the cyclone, which passed close to sprawling refugee camps that house almost one million Rohingya who fled a Myanmar military crackdown in 2017.

"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 an urgent appeal for aid late Monday.

Cyclones -- the equivalent of hurricanes in the North Atlantic or typhoons in the Northwest Pacific -- are a regular and deadly menace on the coast of the northern Indian Ocean where tens of millions of people live.

Non-profit ClimateAnalytics said rising temperatures may have contributed to Cyclone Mocha's intensity.

"We can see sea surface temperatures in the Bay of Bengal in the last month have been significantly higher than they were even 20 years ago," said the group's Peter Pfleiderer.

"Warmer oceans allow storms to gather power, quickly, and this has devastating consequences for people."

On Tuesday, contact was slowly being restored with Sittwe, which is home to around 150,000 people, AFP reporters said, with roads being cleared and internet connections re-established.

Photos released by state media showed Rakhine-bound aid being loaded onto a ship in commercial hub Yangon.

Rohingya villagers told AFP that they were yet to receive any assistance.

"No government, no organization has come to our village," said Kyaw Swar Win, 38, from Bu Ma village.

"We haven't eaten for two days... We haven't got anything and all I can say is that no one has even come to ask."
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 Monday.

The girl died 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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Kyiv was the target of intense overnight shelling, Russians claim to have destroyed Patriot Missile site. A delegation of African Heads-Of-State headed to Moscow and Kyiv to attempt to broker peace deal. Plus, is Russian culture being erased from Ukraine?
(Bloomberg) -- Meta Platforms Inc. is hoping to revive interest in the metaverse by pitching it as a tool to help train workforces, showing the social media giant isnt backing down on its virtual reality ambitions even as artificial intelligence takes center stage.

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Nick Clegg, president of global affairs, touted the transformative role augmented and virtual reality can play in job training and education, speaking at the companys Future of Work Summit in Washington on Tuesday. The event was hosted by companies like Interplay Learning, Talespin and Embodied Labs.

I certainly believe when it comes to AR and VR, its very obvious to me that one of the most powerful applications is the ability to dramatically improve re-skilling, Clegg said pointing to applications in skilled trades as well as schools and elder care.

Clegg sounded optimistic despite fading enthusiasm around the metaverse and recent job cuts at Reality Labs  the Meta division that produces the Quest VR headset and the Horizon Worlds VR platform. Clegg said it would be about 10 to 15 years before the technology is sufficiently mature and affordable and accessible to really have the same kind of prevalence in society.

Doug Donavon, chief executive officer of Interplay Learning, which uses Metas VR headsets to train workers in trades like plumbing, HVAC systems and electrical services, said the technology has helped create a boot camp style training that gets people prepared for jobs in five to six weeks versus several months. While theres more commitment by employers in these industries to use VR, adopting the technology remains a hurdle. Theres not full buy-in, Donovan said at the event. Its a hand-to-hand battle to convince them theres potential.

Story continues

Recent advancements in artificial intelligence and specifically the generative AI behind the popular chatbot ChatGPT, have captivated the tech world, sprouting new startups. Clegg said the changing hype cycle is helping the companys metaverse goals, not replacing them. We can do both. Its not a tradeoff, he said.

One entirely reinforces the other. Its impossible to imagine people enjoying the metaverse in the future without generative AI, Clegg added, giving an example about shortening the time to build a virtual world by using a simple verbal prompt.

The rise of artificial intelligence has also renewed fears about peoples jobs being replaced. For Meta, those concerns present an opportunity to position the technology as a way to put more people in jobs, not displace them, Clegg said.

That selling point has already garnered some support on Capitol Hill. Last week, US House Representatives Lisa Blunt Rochester, a democrat from Delaware, and Tim Walberg, a republican from Michigan introduced the Immersive Technology for the American Workforce Act, a bipartisan bill that creates a five-year grant program at the Department of Labor to support community colleges and career education centers in deploying augmented and virtual reality in classrooms.

Beyond the loss of jobs, AI is also prompting ethical, legal and national security concerns about what the technology can do. Even Sam Altman, the creator of ChatGPT, called on US Senators on Tuesday to more heavily regulate AI technologies, warning that its powerful enough to change society in unpredictable ways.

Clegg said Meta has had numerous conversations about what regulating the metaverse would look like and welcomes guardrails. I think one thing weve all learned over the last decade and a half is that its not great when you have technology erupt and then you have retrospective legislation, Clegg said, adding that AI is a more pressing challenge with regulators at the moment. The good thing about the AR/VR technology is that we have time. We dont need to do this in a mad rush, he said.

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One of Guatemala's oldest news outlets, known for its investigations into government corruption, is ceasing operations Monday amid what it described as a campaign of government persecution.

ElPeriodico announced on Friday that it would cease operations in three days.

"With deep sadness, we are forced to stop the daily edition of elPeriodico," the directors said in a statement. "The persecution has intensified, as has the harassment of our advertisers."

The 27-year-old outlet laid off 80% of its staff and stopped its print edition in November but continued to publish as a digital outlet for the past several months.

The shuttering of elPeriodico is the latest in a sweeping crackdown on journalists, human rights activists, opposition leaders and other critical voices in Guatemala.

ElPeriodico was founded in 1996 by Jose Ruben Zamora  who is now on trial for money laundering and other charges after he was arrested last July.

"Our team resisted 287 days of persecution, political and economic pressure," elPeriodico said, referencing the time since Zamora was jailed.

Zamora has denied the charges, which he and press freedom experts have said are retaliation for his outlet's critical coverage of the government. The prosecutor's office refutes those accusations.

Zamoras defense has said he received a $38,000 donation to keep the paper afloat and asked a friend to deposit it because the donor did not want to be identified.

The trial, which began this month, prompted the arrest of four of Zamora's defense lawyers.

Nine other journalists and columnists from elPeriodico are also under investigation for alleged obstruction of justice.

Out of 180 countries, Guatemala ranks 127 in the world in terms of press freedom, with 1 indicating the best media environment, according to the press freedom group Reporters Without Borders.

In a tweet posted Monday morning, elPeriodico said, "Telling the truth and rigorously publishing the facts is not easy. In Guatemala it is something that requires courage. Goodbye!"

Some information in this report came from Reuters and The Associated Press.
Since the 2021 coup, Myanmars military has consolidated control over the countrys mobile service providers, putting activists, opposition members and journalists at greater risk of surveillance, according to experts.

With the countrys four mobile service providers now either directly or indirectly linked to Myanmars military, sensitive user data is more easily accessible and could be used to persecute opposition voices, experts say.

The military in Myanmar has continued to oppress human rights online in the face of ongoing civil disobedience, political opposition, and armed conflict, Freedom House researcher Kian Vesteinsson said.

The consolidation of mobile service providers means people lose out on being able to express themselves freely or enjoy the privacy of their communications, he said. The distinct risk here is source safety and the safety of journalists.

Since the coup, Myanmars military has killed more than 3,500 people, and over 17,900 remain detained for resisting the coup, according to the human rights research group, Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

The U.N. Human Rights Office has said that the militarys actions, including airstrikes, likely amount to crimes against humanity and war crimes.

Consolidating control over mobile service providers is part of the military's broader strategy to monitor and censor the internet, according to experts and journalists.

Kyaw Hsan Hlaing, a freelance reporter who left Myanmar after the coup, believes media are at risk.

For sure, independent media workers and journalists are the most at target, said Kyaw Hsan Hlaing, who is now based in Hawaii.

Myanmars military did not reply to VOAs request for comment about its use of telecommunication companies to track people in the country.

Myanmar has four mobile service providers: Mytel, ATOM, Ooredoo and MPT. Before the coup, the military already owned Mytel and MPT. Following the coup, ATOM  formerly the Myanmar operation of Norwegian telecom giant Telenor  and Qatari-owned Ooredoos Myanmar operation came under ownership of junta-affiliated firms, according to media reports.

But even before the coup, telecom and internet service providers had been ordered to install intercept spyware that could give the military power to listen in on calls, view texts and web traffic including emails, and to track user location, Reuters reported.

In Myanmar, telecom company ownership is shrouded in layers of secrecy. Its purposefully opaque, says Oliver Spencer, an adviser at the group Free Expression Myanmar.

A former Myanmar telecom company employee, however, told VOA that to a certain extent, it doesnt matter that all four companies are now linked to the military to varying degrees. The employee requested that their name and former company be withheld for safety reasons.

In this current period, it doesnt matter who owns or how linked the company is to the military. The response of the companies would be identical, they said. Compliance is the result.

In an email to VOA, ATOMs communications team said the telecom company respects its customers rights and privacy.

ATOM Myanmar will never facilitate or allow unlawful interception requests or equipment, ATOM said. Our telecom operation will always act in a law-abiding, ethical manner.

We continue to provide essential communication services to the people of Myanmar while respecting local and international laws; upholding human rights; and advocating for consumer protection regulations, especially in terms of data security, data resilience, privacy, connectivity, roaming, internet access, and others, ATOM said.

The other three telecom companies did not reply to VOAs requests for comment.

The military is most interested in accessing the user data of potential political opponents, resistance members and journalists as part of its broader effort to squash dissent, analysts believe.

That data can include details on who a user texts or calls, the length of calls, location data, and contents of unencrypted messages. Sometimes data can even reveal website history and whether a user is using a VPN.

All types of data requests that you can dream of  its all done here, the former employee said.

All the military needs is a phone number. That allows them to track who else that individual calls and texts, according to Spencer. Theyre basically enabling the military to spy on their customers, he said.

A former journalist, who has left Myanmar but asked for anonymity for safety reasons, says that when a reporters mobile number is exposed to police and military intelligence they are no longer secure.

The journalists who are living in Myanmar are aware of digital safety, he said, adding that more and more reporters use encrypted platforms, regularly delete messages, and use two phones  one for reporting and another for non-sensitive use. The latter helps them pass through checkpoints, where police regularly check and confiscate phones.

Journalists still inside Myanmar also often change their SIM cards for security reasons, according to Nu Nu Lusan, a freelance reporter based in Malaysia.

I dont have much to worry about since I live outside the country, but my concern is for the sources in Myanmar, she said. She uses secure messaging platforms to communicate with sources on the ground.

The Myanmar militarys control over technology and the internet with web shutdowns, online censorship, and surveillance has led U.N. experts to describe the strategy as an attempt to establish a digital dictatorship.

Although the former telecom company employee said the situation is less risky if users have access to a VPN and use encrypted messaging platforms, where the internet is cut off but the phone line is not  thats where the risks are for journalists and activists.

Across the country, all 330 townships have been subjected to internet shutdowns at least once in 2022, with about 50 townships facing shutdowns that measure more than one year, according to a February report from the digital rights group Access Now.

I try secure online communication options, but most conflict areas have no internet access, Lusan said, so sources have to go somewhere with service. There is no absolute safe communication when I communicate via telephone with the sources.

All of this means it can be dangerous for people on the ground to communicate with each other and access banned independent news websites, which makes it harder for people to stay up to date on whats happening in their country and around the world.

This is the military strategy, Spencer said, to create a system of fear.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said Tuesday a badly needed batch of humanitarian supplies reached Port Sudan, as more violence was reported amid the conflict between Sudans army and a rival paramilitary group.

The shipment included blankets, kitchen sets and mosquito nets for 500 families, the IFRC said in a statement.

Another shipment was expected in the coming days containing medical supplies.

Most of our aid supplies were already distributed to people in need, despite some being looted in Khartoum and Darfur, said IFRC Regional Director for Africa Mohammed Mukhier. So, this international humanitarian shipment comes at a crucial time as it will help the Sudanese Red Crescent Society to assist people caught between the conflict and the next flooding, which is typical in the country.

Since the fighting broke out more than a month ago, at least 600 people have been killed, according to the World Health Organization.

The conflict has displaced more than 700,000 people within Sudan, while another 200,000 have fled to neighboring countries, the United Nations said.

The Sudanese army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, is battling the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, led by General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo.

The two generals are former allies who together orchestrated an October 2021 military coup that derailed a transition to civilian rule following the 2019 ouster of longtime leader Omar al-Bashir.

Tensions between the generals have been growing over disagreements about how the Rapid Support Forces should be integrated in the army and who should oversee that process. The restructuring of the military was part of an effort to restore the country to civilian rule and end the political crisis sparked by the 2021 military coup.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
A military standoff between India and China has entered its fourth year, but despite talks between their senior ministers and military commanders, there is no sign of a resolution to the dispute that has brought ties to their lowest point in six decades.

Analysts say the volatility along their 3,500-kilometer-long disputed boundary appears to be widening as a new flashpoint has emerged.

In December last year, soldiers from both sides scuffled in Indias northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh  a territory also claimed by China. The region is thousands of kilometers away from Ladakh in the western Himalayan region where deadly clashes in 2020 triggered the present standoff.

Last month China renamed 11 places in Chinese in Arunachal Pradesh which it refers to as South Tibet  it is the third time in six years that it issued new names for mountains, rivers and other points in the territory.

While India rejected the move, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning defended it saying that Zangram (Arunachal Pradesh) is part of China and naming places in the territory "was completely within the scope of China's sovereignty."

Its a tactic China has used in other parts of Asia to bolster its claim on disputed territories  it has also renamed locations in South China Sea and East China Sea.

In New Delhi, analysts saw it as another attempt by Beijing to coerce India. "Now with China taking a much more aggressive stand on Arunachal, there are concerns that China wants to put multiple pressure points on India if only to push India to resolving some parts of this dispute," according to Harsh Pant, Vice president, Studies and Foreign Policy at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi.

Concerned at the rapid pace with which China has developed both military and civilian infrastructure in its border areas, New Delhi is also building tunnels, roads and bridges in the state.

One of the key projects is cutting a tunnel through the mountains at an elevation of nearly 4000 meters in Arunachal Pradesh to facilitate troop movement to the border areas.

Indian Home Minister Amit Shah last month also unveiled a $570 million program to develop nearly 3,000 border villages in the northeast during a visit to Arunachal Pradesh. The project aims to beef up border security.

In New Delhi, there have been concerns about China developing border villages on its side of the border.

"As regards to these  what they (China) call "Xiaokang" villages or model villages that the Chinese are saying, there are a couple of them which are right opposite our borders," Brigadier N.M. Bendigeri told news agency AFP. "It concerns us because of its closeness to the border areas and the way it has been constructed, we can't rule out them being used by the PLA (People's Liberation Army)."

"Our policy is clear that we want peace from everyone. However, no one will be able to encroach even one inch of our land," Shah said in April.

India has also accelerated a program to modernize its armed forces  including ordering attack helicopters from the United States and a missile defense system from Russia.

Analysts say China holds a significant military advantage over India, but Indian troops, who have long confronted Pakistani troops in Kashmir, are more experienced in high altitude warfare. "China has the edge in high technology warfare. It can field more weapons such as drones and surface to surface missiles. While we are trying to catch up, it will still be a long haul for India to match their capabilities," says a retired senior military officer who did not want to be named.

High-level political and military dialogues have failed to achieve a breakthrough as both countries have adopted diametrically different positions in their approach to resolve the conflict. India insists that Chinese troops should return to positions which they occupied prior to 2020 when the crisis erupted. Beijing on the other hand describes the situation on the border as "generally stable" and says both sides should move ahead to normalize ties.

That is why, say analysts, the Indian and Chinese defense ministers could not find common ground when they met on the sidelines of a regional forum recently.

Indian defense minister, Rajnath Singh, accused Beijing of eroding the entire basis of ties by violating bilateral agreements and said there could be no improvement in ties until the border row is resolved. His Chinese counterpart, Li Shangfu, called on India to take a long-term view and "promote the normalization of the border situation as soon as possible."

"From New Delhis perspective, there is no sense it is getting about China really sincerely looking at this as a problem for Sino-Indian relations. With China unilaterally deciding to change the status quo along the border and then claiming that is the new normal, I dont think India will accept this," points out Pant. "That is why while negotiations at the military and diplomatic levels continue, the broader relationship continues to be in a lock jam, with India putting the onus on China to take it forward."

Following multiple rounds of negotiations between their military commanders, troops have disengaged from four disputed points over the last two years.

But even that adds up to very limited progress. "Even there the disengagement has not really resulted in any demobilization of forces. They just have just taken a step back and created a buffer zone," says Pant.

The volatility in the Himalayas is drawing India into a closer strategic alliance with the United States. Next month, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will head to Washington for an official visit that Indias foreign ministry said will underscore the growing importance of the strategic partnership between the two countries.
A military standoff between India and China, which have deployed tens of thousands of troops along their Himalayan borders, has entered its fourth year. But despite talks between their respective military commanders and senior ministers, there is no sign of a resolution. Anjana Pasricha reports from New Delhi.
With Turkeys weekend election inconclusive, the nation appears headed for a runoff. In Thailand, analyists say the Move Forward Partys win is a strong rebuke of military-backed rule. And Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the United States, but not everyone loves it.
Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian man during a raid in the city of Nablus early Monday, the Palestinian Health Ministry said, the latest incident in more than a year of surging violence in the occupied West Bank.

The militant Islamic Jihad group claimed the dead man was a member, identifying him as 22-year-old Saleh Sabra.

The Israeli military said suspects hurled rocks and explosives and fired at its forces in Nablus, a flashpoint city where there have been regular raids and clashes. The soldiers shot at the suspects and "a hit was identified," the military said.

It added that the forces were in Nablus to prepare for the possible demolition of the home of a Palestinian suspected of killing two brothers from a Jewish settlement near the village of Huwara on February 26.

The attack prompted a settler rampage in Huwara, during which a Palestinian man was killed, and cars and homes were set alight while people were inside.

This image contains sensitive content which some people may find offensive or disturbing. Click to reveal This image contains sensitive content which some people may find offensive or disturbing - Click to reveal Mourners carry the body of Palestinian man Saleh Sabra, who was killed in an Israeli raid, in Askar Camp in Nablus, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, May 15, 2023.

Monday's raid, near a refugee camp in a part of the West Bank where Palestinians exercise limited self-rule, sparked "intense confrontations" with Palestinian fighters, the Palestinian WAFA news agency reported. Reuters could not immediately verify whether Sabra took part in the clashes.

Israel says its policy of demolishing the homes of those who carried out attacks bolsters deterrence and contributes to security. Palestinians and rights groups have criticized the practice as a form of collective punishment that harms innocent families.

The Nablus raid came after an Egyptian-mediated truce ended five days of fighting between Israel and Islamic Jihad in Gaza last week, in which 34 Palestinians and an Israeli were killed.

Monday is also when Palestinians mark 75 years since what they call the Nakba, or "catastrophe," when hundreds of thousands were forced from their homes or fled in the 1948 war that accompanied the foundation of Israel.

Israel-Palestinian violence has been intensifying for months, with frequent Israeli military raids and settler violence in the West Bank amid a spate of Palestinian attacks on Israelis. Since January, more than 140 Palestinians and at least 19 Israelis and foreigners have been killed in the West Bank and Israel.

Israel captured Gaza and the West Bank, areas Palestinians want for an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital, in a 1967 war. Israeli forces and settlers withdrew from Gaza in 2005. Statehood talks have been frozen since 2014.
New developments:

South Africas President Cyril Ramaphosa has said a delegation of African leaders plans to travel to Russia and Ukraine to present a peace plan

French President Emmanuel Macron says France is open to training Ukrainian fighter pilots.

U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths says continuing Black Sea Grain deal is "critically important" and that the U.N. is engaged in "intensive discussions" to keep it alive.

Ukraine said Tuesday Russia had launched a barrage of nighttime aerial attacks on Kyiv that was exceptional in its density but that Ukrainian forces had shot down all 18 missiles targeting the capital.

Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv's city military administration, posted on Telegram that the attack featured the maximum number of attack missiles in the shortest period of time, with loud explosions booming across the city. Six of the destroyed missiles were hypersonic Kinzhal missiles.

British Ambassador Melinda Simmons tweeted that the barrage was "pretty intense," adding that bangs and shaking walls are not an easy night."

Popko said the aerial attack was the eighth targeting Kyiv since the beginning of the month as Russia ramps up its attacks ahead of an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive in the eastern regions of the country.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported falling debris caused damage in several of the capital citys districts, including in the Solomyanskyi neighborhood, where three people were injured.

Russia launched the six Kinzhal aero-ballistic missiles from MiG-31K aircraft, nine cruise missiles from ships in the Black Sea and three land-based S-400 cruise missiles targeted the capital, Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said in a statement on Telegram.

Ukraines Western allies have supplied sophisticated air defense systems, including American-made Patriot missiles, and they have helped spare Kyiv from the kind of widespread destruction seen elsewhere in the country.

A metal fragment from Tuesdays attacks landed inside the Kyiv Zoo. Associated Press reporters said it was labeled Lockheed Martin and Boeing, two of the companies involved in the manufacture of the Patriot missile system.

A Russian defense official said that Tuesday's attack destroyed a Patriot missile battery in Kyiv but the statement couldn't be independently verified. Ukraine refused to comment on the claim.

Despite success in thwarting attacks on Kyiv, Ukraine said at least seven civilians died and 14 others were wounded in Russian shelling of other Ukrainian regions Monday through Tuesday morning.

New military aid

Britain said Monday it is sending Ukraine hundreds more missiles and attack drones in hopes of boosting Kyiv's fight against Russia's invasion.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, a staunch ally, for the new weaponry as they met at Chequers, Sunak's 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."

Zelenskyy's visit to Britain was his fourth stop in Western allied countries in recent days as he looks to shore up military support ahead of Ukraine's counteroffensive against Moscow's 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.

SEE ALSO: A related video by VOA's Arash Arabasadi

"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.

Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
The Supreme Court of Namibia has ruled in favor of recognizing same-sex marriages from other countries, making Namibia only the second nation on the continent to do so after South Africa.

A small group of LGBTQ activists gathered at Namibias Supreme Court Tuesday where justices ruled in a 4 to 1 vote that Namibians married to foreign nationals in foreign jurisdictions must be recognized as any other couple within the country.

One of the judges, JA Mainga, dissented on the basis that the laws of Namibia do not recognize same-sex relationships. The other four judges, however, ruled that not recognizing same-sex couples infringes on their rights to dignity and equality.

VOA spoke to the legal counsel of the two same-sex couples, Carli Schickerling, who appealed an earlier judgement of the High Court of Namibia not to recognize their same-sex marriages.

Today after a six-year battle, we finally won and the court has ruled that the Ministry of Home Affairs has to recognize these marriages by foreign spouses to Namibian spouses, said Schickerling.

Over the past few months, the Supreme Court of Namibia has been hearing similar cases that deal with the subject of homosexuality.

In one case, a Namibian citizen, Friedel Dausab, is asking for the repeal of an anti-sodomy law. In another case, which was dismissed in March, a Mexican national and his Namibian partner asked the top court to grant Namibian citizenship to their child, conceived through surrogacy in South Africa.

The Mexican national in that case, Guillermo Delgado, spoke to VOA outside the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

Our case is very similar and this represents a direct victory also for us, recognition that for marriage and our dependents, said Delgado.

Linda Baumann of the Diverse Womens Organization said this judgment will help homosexual couples get access to the same services as heterosexual couples.

Hypothetically speaking, she said, as a lesbian woman she could bequeath her estate to her lesbian partner when she dies, or she might be able to buy a house together with a same-sex spouse if the court gave rights to same-sex couples in all spheres of society.

She cautioned that this is just a ruling.

It is important to understand the status of this case; its couples that are coming back to this country to claim their right to equality, their right to dignity and their right to family. To answer that question about same-sex marriages, I believe that a lot of LGBTQ people in this country, we experience a number of inequalities in service, in benefits, in having the right to say something over your partner, said Baumann.

While over 30 African countries have laws prohibiting same-sex relationships, Namibia, Botswana and South Africa have taken a different stance.

Many gay Namibian couples now get married in South Africa, and after Tuesdays ruling, activists are asking whether gay couples should have the right to get married in Namibia as well.
As the world waits for Ukraine to begin its anticipated spring counteroffensive against Russia, NATO Deputy Secretary-General Mircea Geoana is cautioning China not to provide military support to Moscow as Russia continues its brutal and illegal invasion.

"We have not seen yet signs of China delivering military weapons to help Russia, but we know that discussions are going on," Geoana told VOA in an interview Friday. "This will be a very, very serious decision by China that will be affecting not only their relationship with us, but the reputation of China and the rest of the world."

Russia is the "aggressor" in the Ukraine war, and arming Moscow is "something that we condemn very, very, very, very strongly," he said.

At the Pentagon Monday, Pentagon press secretary Brigadier General Pat Ryder told reporters the U.S. has communicated to China about "the negative consequences of providing lethal aid to Russia."

"Not only would it extend the duration of this, of Russia's illegal occupation of Ukraine, and result in thousands of innocents killed in Ukraine, [it] would also squarely put them in the camp of countries that are looking to eliminate Ukraine as a nation," Ryder said.

In April, responding to persistent Western concerns that Beijing would provide military assistance to Russia, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang said China would not sell weapons to either side in the war in Ukraine.

Geoana, who supports Ukraine joining NATO, told VOA that countries such as Ukraine and Georgia should "have no veto from an external power like Russia about their own destiny."

"The truth of the matter [is] that it's not Russia's business what kind of decision I make for my own country. It's up to me, to my people, to my elected leaders, to make a decision where and how I want to live my life," he said.

Russia, which spans 17 million kilometers (10.5 million miles) and 11 time zones, will never be "encircled by NATO," he added, calling suggestions as such from Russia "propaganda."

Officials say Ukraine has been conducting shaping operations ahead of the planned assault.

Geoana told VOA the front lines in Ukraine were "fluid," with NATO seeing indications of Ukraine gaining territory along the western side of the embattled city of Bakhmut.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged patience as Ukraine continues to delay the offensive.

"We still need a bit more time," he told reporters last week.

Geoana told VOA he trusts the judgment of the Ukrainian leader.

"We know that Ukraine has the capacity to launch a successive counteroffensive, but we also know that Russia has the capacity to put forward a significant resistance," he said.

Military experts believe the war in Ukraine will increasingly pit quantity against quality in the coming months.

Dutch Admiral Rob Bauer, NATO Military Committee Chair, told reporters last week that Russia will "have to focus" on larger numbers of conscripts and poorly trained mobilized people while using older weapons like the Cold War era T-54 tank, which he said is still plentiful in Russia's stockpiles.

"The Ukrainians focus on quality with Western weapons systems and Western training. That's the big difference," Bauer said.

But NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, U.S. General Christopher Cavoli, says that while Ukraine has severely degraded Russian ground forces, "in other domains, the degradation has been much less noticeable."

Lessons learned from Afghanistan

Russia's invasion of Ukraine came just six months after the U.S. and international forces' withdrawal from Afghanistan, which resulted in the Taliban retaking control of the country.

Geoana told VOA that NATO members are "obliged" to learn lessons from the Afghan withdrawal, which he called a "difficult" and "traumatic decision."

"We should not turn a blind eye to the things that we have done well and things we have not done well," he said.

More than 120,000 people were evacuated in August 2021, but tens of thousands of Afghan allies were left behind. An Islamic State terror group attack on Kabul's international airport during the evacuation killed more than 170 people, including 13 U.S. servicemembers, and a U.S. drone attack that was meant to target the attacker instead killed 10 civilians.

"I have colleagues in NATO that are still having a difficult time knowing that we left so many Afghans back," he said.

Since the international pullout, the Taliban have restricted women's access to education and banned women from working with international aid groups. Poverty has been rampant.

Army General Michael Kurilla, the head of U.S. Central Command, told the Senate Armed Services Committee earlier this year that Islamic State's branch in Afghanistan, known as Islamic State-Khorasan, would be able to conduct terrorist attacks in Europe and Asia "in under six months with little to no warning."
Transparency Market Research

North America to provide significant mice model technologies market opportunities to regional and global manufacturers. High incidence of genetic disorders worldwide has led the significant Research and Development investment in genetic testing and a rise in the adoption of CRISPR technology in the healthcare industry.

Wilmington, Delaware, United States, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global mice model technologies market stood at US$ 1.6 billion in 2022, and is projected to reach US$ 3.2 billion in 2031. The industry is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 7.4% between 2023 and 2031.



Personalized medicines are highly preferred for treating many genetic diseases. Mice models help facilitate the development of personalized medicines. Humanized mice models are also gaining popularity in the study of personalized medicines. Especially in cancer research, personalized mice models can be created by implanting a piece of the patients tumor in the immune-compromised mice. Mice can then be tested for response to various personalized cancer drugs. Studies yield promising personalized drug therapies for cancer.

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Pharmaceutical companies have also been reported to use mouse models derived from cancer cell lines to test and improve the effectiveness of new anticancer drugs. Rising demand for personalized medicines would thus drive the demand for mice models in research studies.

Recent mice model technologies market size trends indicate that with the introduction of emerging gene editing techniques particularly CRISPR/Cas9, companies have witnessed tremendous opportunities. Unmet need for efficacious therapeutics for infectious disease, diabetes, and oncology has spurred the commercialization of NOD SCID gamma mouse, found the TMR analysts. Emergence of mouse xenograft models for use in human cancer therapeutics research is a notable case in point, which will boost the future market outlook for mice model technologies.

Story continues

Significant decline in the application of the mice model in drug development apart from COVID-19 because many countries had been in lockdown and have suspended trade with other countries, implemented travel restrictions, etc., leading to declining in market capitalizations of major companies across the world, along with a decline in industrial production and pre-clinical trial which will negatively impact market growth.

Global Mice Model Technologies Market: Growth Drivers

Prevalence of chronic diseases is steering the need for advancing biomedical research strategies. Growing use of mice models in modeling human diseases is propelling strides in the mice model technologies market.

Advent of CRISPR-based techniques and a host of advanced molecular genome-altering technologies has created enormous opportunities. Techniques and technologies are successfully used for creating genetically engineered mouse models.

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Key Takeaways of Market Report

Global mice model technologies market to generate absolute dollar opportunity worth US$ 3.2 billion until 2031.

Global mice model technologies market from 2022 to 2031 is 7.4%

Global mice model technologies market is currently valued at US$ 1.69 billion in 2022.

Global mice model technologies market stood at US$ 1.6 billion in 2021.

Market value of the global mice model technologies market from 2018 to 2022 is 6.89%

North America is said to have a 6.2% market CAGR with the United States being subject to the adoption of mice model technologies at a higher rate.

The Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at a rapid rate of CAGR with 5.4% in the mice model technologies market going forward with China leading from the front.

North America is said to have a 40% market share being subject to the adoption of mice model technologies at a higher rate.

Global Mice Model Technologies Market: Regional Landscape

North America held a key share of the global mice model technologies market in 2021. Enormous research in gene editing technologies over the years and the adoption of new genetic engineering techniques notably CRISPR generated substantial revenue streams in the regional market.

Asia Pacific is estimate to be a lucrative market. Growth is fuelled by investments in biomedical research and drug discovery projects. Cutting-edge research in COVID-19 for the development of effective and safe vaccines and treatments opened up unprecedented opportunities for players in the Asia Pacific mice model technologies market.

Global Mice Model Technologies Market: Key Players

GemPharmatech



Strategies

GemPharmatech announced that it had entered into a strategic license agreement with Charles River Laboratories, Inc. for exclusive distribution of its next generation NOD CRISPR prkdc IL2r gamma (NCG) mouse lines in North America

Charles River Laboratories



Acquistions

Charles River Laboratories signed an agreement to breed, distribute, market, and sell Hera BioLabs SRG rat to the global preclinical research community. Unlike other immunodeficient model created through knockout mutations in the Rag2 and IL2R gamma genes that results in mature B, T, and NK, cell efficiencies.

Developments

Charles River Laboratories inked a licensing deal with Crown Bioscience, a drug discovery and development services provider, for expanded access to the Zucker Diabetic Sprague- Dawley (ZDSD) rat model

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Global Mice Model Technologies Market: Segmentation

Technology



CRISPR Knockout



CRISPR Knockin Random Insertions Large, Targeted Insertions ES Cell Modification (Homologous Recombination) Others



End-user



Pharmaceutical Companies



Biotechnology Companies Academic and Research Facilities Contract Research and Manufacturing Organizations



Regions



North America



Latin America Europe Asia Pacific Middle East and Africa





About Transparency Market Research

Transparency Market Research, a global market research company registered at Wilmington, Delaware, United States, provides custom research and consulting services. The firm scrutinizes factors shaping the dynamics of demand in various markets. The insights and perspectives on the markets evaluate opportunities in various segments. The opportunities in the segments based on source, application, demographics, sales channel, and end-use are analysed, which will determine growth in the markets over the next decade.

Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insights for thousands of decision-makers, made possible by experienced teams of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants. The proprietary data sources and various tools & techniques we use always reflect the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in all of its business reports.

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The U.N. refugee agency, UNHCR, says that the number of people who fled from Sudan to Chad has doubled to 55,000 in the last week, and many are women and children. Henry Wilkins spoke to Sudanese refugees who just arrived at a newly created camp in Borota, Chad.
Pacific Island leaders criticized rich countries Monday for not doing enough to control climate change despite being responsible for much of the problem, and for making money off loans provided to vulnerable nations to mitigate the effects.

Leaders and representatives from Pacific Island nations demanded at a U.N. climate change conference in Bangkok that the world make more effort to put aside differences in combating the environmental impact, especially as their countries emerge from the economic devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prime Minister Mark Brown of the Cook Islands said the finance model for combatting climate change  giving out loans to reduce the impact  is not the way to go for countries in his region with such small populations that produce inconsequential amounts of carbon emissions but suffer the most from the effects.

He encouraged a shift toward grants or interest-free loans to help ease the financial burden on poorer countries.

All were doing is adding debt to countries that have come out of COVID with increased debt, and to me it is actually quite offensive that we would be required to borrow money to build resilience, and to borrow from the very countries that are causing climate change, he told The Associated Press.

Brown said his country lost an estimated 41% of its GDP because of the pandemic, a loss of a decades worth of prosperity.

He said he will give this message to leaders when he represents his tiny South Pacific nation with a population of about 17,000 at a summit later this week of the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations in Japan, where he hopes to be able to speak on a more equal footing to the leaders than as a grateful recipient to benevolent donors.

Palau President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. agreed that financing opportunities are few and difficult, and criticized wealthy countries for failing to commit to provide the financial help they had promised, which he said represents only a tiny portion of their prioritized expenditures such as the military.

We didnt cause the problem, but now theyre going to make money off of us by giving us a loan so we can pay back with interest, he told The Associated Press. So now you have to adapt, but well give you money and make money off of you by giving you that money to adapt. That doesnt make sense.

Whipps said Palaus economy relies heavily on tourism, which is greatly threatened by the impact of climate change. The countrys economic security is also a major issue in Palau's negotiations with the U.S. on the Compacts of Free Association, a broader agreement that will govern its relations with Washington for the next two decades. Those ties grant the U.S. unique military and other security rights in the islands in return for substantial aid.

Whipps said the administration of President Joe Biden has promised approximately $900 million over the 20-year period. While the amount is definitely less than what his country would have wanted, Whipps said he is largely satisfied with the terms, renegotiated from what was achieved during the administration of former President Donald Trump.

While there are some concerns that the U.S. Congress will cut foreign aid and in turn affect this funding, Whipps said he expects Washington will honor the agreement, which he hopes can be signed by both sides in Papua New Guinea next week.

Brown said efforts to tackle climate change and build resilience to its impact, such as better infrastructure and greater water and food security, require lots of money, especially for island nations with small populations. He said $1.2 billion a year for the region to spend on climate adaptation and mitigation measures would be a starter.

The fact remains that the underlying solution to assist countries that are facing the impacts of climate change is to build resilience, and building resilience takes money, he said.
Edna Adan Ismail, a nurse-midwife, hospital founder, and health care advocate who for decades has combated female genital mutilation and strived to improve women's health care in East Africa, was named Tuesday as winner of the 2023 Templeton Prize, one of the world's largest annual individual awards.

"Rooted in her Muslim faith, she receives this year's award in recognition of her extraordinary efforts to harness the power of the sciences to affirm the dignity of women and help them to flourish physically and spiritually," said the announcement.

Among her achievements: the founding of a hospital and university which have significantly reduced maternal mortality in Somaliland.

The Templeton Prize, valued at nearly $1.4 million, was established in 1973 by philanthropist Sir John Templeton. It honors those "who harness the power of the sciences to explore the deepest questions of the universe and humankind's place and purpose within it."

Ismail, the first African woman to win the prize, "has used the teachings of her faith, family, and scientific education to improve the health and opportunities of some of the world's most vulnerable women and girls," said Heather Templeton Dill, president of the John Templeton Foundation.

Ismail, 85, said she would donate some of her prize money to the U.S.-based Friends of Edna Maternity Hospital, for use in purchasing new equipment, hiring educators and "training the next generation of health care workers that East Africa so desperately needs."

Ismail was born in 1937 in Hargeisa, the capital of what was then British Somaliland. Her father was a doctor; thanks to his influence, she was covertly tutored alongside her brothers until she was 15. A scholarship exam, normally reserved for boys, qualified her to study in Britain, where she received an education in nursing and midwifery.

She returned to her homeland as its first medically trained nurse-midwife. According to the prize announcement, she was the first woman to drive a car in her country and the first appointed to a position of political authority as director of the Ministry of Health.

She later joined the World Health Organization, serving as regional technical officer for maternal and child health from 1987-91 and WHO representative to Djibouti from 1991-97.

She left her international career to return home with a dream of building a hospital. After newly re-formed Somaliland declared its independence in 1991  though it remains unrecognized by foreign powers  its government offered her a tract of land previously used as a garbage dump.

She sold her assets to build the hospital and raised more funds worldwide after a profile of her appeared in The New York Times. The Edna Adan Maternity Hospital opened in 2002.

While Somaliland's health care system was in disarray, the hospital made great strides, dramatically reducing the maternal mortality. Its education program became Edna Adan University in 2010; it has trained more than 4,000 students to become doctors, nurses and other types of health professionals. More than 30,000 babies have been delivered at the hospital, where 80% of the staff and 70% of the students are women.

Despite its lack of international recognition, Somaliland remains self-governing in its territory in northern Somalia.

Ismail is an outspoken critic of female genital mutilation, a painful and sometimes life-threatening practice performed in some Muslim and non-Muslim societies. When she was 8, her mother subjected her to FGM without the knowledge of her father, who was outraged.

As a practicing midwife early in her career, she was confronted with grievous complications during childbirth from the FGM scarring. After attending a 1976 conference in Sudan at which participants from Muslim countries that practiced FGM spoke about its effects, she was inspired to raise the issue at home.

As a director in Somalia's health ministry, Ismail began to speak out on FGM  initially shocking her audience and attracting threats, but also building widespread interest. She encouraged women to come forward and men to stand up for them.

"Islam forbids female circumcision," Ismail said in a video filmed for the Templeton Prize. "Every day I'm reliving and remembering, I'm recalling that pain that happened to me when I was 7 or 8 years old. The wounds may heal but the pain never leaves you."

While progress has been made, FGM is still practiced in several countries; cases have come to light in Britain, the United States and elsewhere. Ismail's fight to end FGM continues through her international advocacy and at her hospital.
While United Nations and international aid agencies are racing to provide lifesaving aid to survivors of Cyclone Mocha in Bangladesh and Myanmar, humanitarians are expressing frustration at bureaucratic and political restrictions imposed by Myanmar's military rulers.

Cyclone Mocha, the most powerful storm to hit the Bay of Bengal in the past 10 years, made three landfalls with brutal force on Sunday, uprooting trees, ripping off roofs and breaking down power lines as winds of 250 kph swept through the region.

The first area to be hit was Rakhine State, where some 600,000 Rohingya Muslims live, nearly 150,000 of them in camps for internally displaced people. Landfalls followed in Chin State and Northern Sagaing region.

"The access is challenged mostly in Northern Rakhine where the typhoon hit severely," said Rajeeve K.C., disaster risk management delegate for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

Speaking from Myanmar's capital, Yangon, he said "Chin and Northern Sagaing region are also heavy restricted areas in terms of access."

Unrest, violence

Civil unrest and armed violence have increased in both places since the military junta mounted a coup against the democratically elected government on February 1, 2021.

Myanmar did not comment on the issue of restrictions, but state media said Tuesday that junta chief Min Aung Hlaing had visited Rakhine's capital Sittwe to assess the damage.

Rajeev K.C. said 849 volunteers from the International Committee of the Red Cross have been at the forefront of efforts to curb the disaster in Myanmar. At the same time, he said, IFRC volunteers are "on standby to provide strategic, operational, financial, technical and other support."

However, he noted the "IFRC was not able to collect primary data from the field because of the existing limitations," noting that "access remained one of the key challenges" in providing lifesaving relief to the people in Myanmar.

5.4 million in storm's path

Ramanathan Balakrishnan, the U.N. resident and humanitarian coordinator in Myanmar, said 5.4 million people were expected to have been in the path of the cyclone, with some 3.9 million considered to be the most vulnerable.

"It is really a nightmare scenario for the cyclone to hit areas with such deep pre-existing needs," said Balakrishnan. "These are some of the poorest parts of the country. The people are still reeling from accumulative crises of COVID, conflict, political and economic upheaval. Now they are also in the frontline of the climate crisis."

Balakrishnan said that coping capacities were stretched to the limit and the needs for humanitarian support will be extremely high.

"To deliver, we will need access to the people, relaxation of travel authorization by the authorities, require an expedited custom clearance for commodities. Of course, we will also need a huge infusion of funds to respond to this massive need."

Balakrishnan noted that the U.N.'s $763 million humanitarian response plan was only 10% funded.

"It is worth remembering that 17.6 million people were already in humanitarian need in Myanmar even before this disaster," Balakrishnan said. "To put that in perspective, that is the same number of people in humanitarian need as it is in Ukraine."

Basics needed

Speaking from Yangon, Balakrishnan cited health, shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene support as early priorities.

The World Health Organization (WHO), which is delivering health care to people in Myanmar and Bangladesh, said the major impact of the cyclone has been in Myanmar.

Edwin Salvador, WHO South-East Asia regional emergency director, said unofficial reports indicate 14 health facilities across the country have been damaged.

He said "WHO staff will reach affected areas as soon as possible to identify the impact and what further support is needed.

"Currently, we have event-based surveillance planned for difficult-to-access areas, to gather information from as many sources as possible  and take timely action."

He warned that in flooded areas where safe drinking water and sanitation is lacking, people are at "risk of waterborne diseases, such as diarrhea, hepatitis, and those caused by mosquitoes such as dengue and malaria."

To move things along in the right direction, Balakrishnan said the U.N. has opened communication channels with all authorities in Myanmar and has asked for unrestricted access to affected communities.

"The one thing we do not want is politicization of the humanitarian aid," he said. "That is very important."
Russian authorities have suspended the release of an award-winning film about a serial killer who targets sex workers in Iran, a distributor said on Tuesday.

"Holy Spider," directed by Danish Iranian Ali Abbasi, was inspired by a true story about a veteran of the Iran-Iraq war who killed 16 sex workers in the early 2000s in Mashhad, Iran's second-largest city and a main shrine city of Shiite Islam.

The move comes as Russia and Iran are seeking closer ties amid Moscow's growing isolation in the West over its war on Ukraine.

Russia has become increasingly conservative since President Vladimir Putin sent troops to Ukraine in February 2022.

The film hit theaters in Russia on May 11, but less than a week later the culture ministry withdrew the film's distribution license.

"Unfortunately, that's true," Anastasiya Kruglyakova, a representative of Exponenta Film, told AFP in written comments.

The ministry said that the release was canceled "due to the presence in the specified film of materials, containing information whose dissemination is prohibited by the legislation of the Russian Federation."

Kruglyakova did not provide further details.

There was no immediate comment from the culture ministry.

Abbasi was denied permission to film in Iran, and "Holy Spider" was eventually shot in Jordan.

Last year, Zar Amir Ebrahimi won the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival for her role in "Holy Spider" as a journalist who investigates the murders.

Iran protested to France after the Cannes film festival selected the film, slamming the move as "wrong and completely political."
South Africa's main opposition party is demanding to know why there is a high-level defense delegation in Moscow discussing increased cooperation and combat readiness. The news comes just days after the U.S. ambassador accused South Africa of selling weapons to Russia in violation of its claims of non-alignment in Moscow's war on Ukraine.

The Democratic Alliances spokesperson on defense and lawmaker Kobus Marais, says the visit led by the chief of the South African army, Lieutenant General Lawrence Mbatha was unannounced.

This once again demonstrates the ANC governments insensitivity to our diplomatic and trade dilemma," said Marais. "The visit is the latest in a string where the South African government clearly and unashamedly demonstrates its support for Russia.

U.S. Ambassador to South Africa Reuben Brigety made headlines last week when he said he would bet his life that South Africa had supplied arms to Russia.

Marais, who is the shadow minister for defense and military veterans, says the Democratic Alliance has intelligence on what Brigety referred to. He says something worthy of being guarded by men in uniform was loaded onto a Russian cargo ship, the Lady R, when it was docked at Simons Town Naval Base in December.

We also know that the U.S. is probably the most advanced in terms of observation technology and specifically with regard to satellites," said Marais. "We know that they can zoom into any port or airport or even battlefield and tell you exactly what color shirt and pants you are wearing so I assume that they have got their own intelligence that can be used to see from above.

Marais says the unconfirmed rumors that ammunition was taken onto the Lady R seem plausible because the Russian military is struggling in Ukraine.

What we know is what has been reported that they are in dire straits in terms of ammunition," said Marais. "But that is why we need to establish and know what they have loaded. We know it was not consumables like apples and pears.

In WhatsApp messages, Ukraines Ambassador to South Africa Liubov Abravitova wrote that it is disturbing how Russia is eager to make South Africa appear to be on its side and even more disturbing that South Africa is not postponing engagements such as the delegations trip to Moscow.

Referring to a statement by South Africas military that the visit to Moscow was planned well in advance, Abravitova said previously made agreements between Russia and South Africa cannot justify the intensification of military contacts with the country that violates all possible rules of international law and U.N. Charter.

South African officials are trying to decide whether to host Russian President Vladimir Putin at the BRICS summit it is holding for leaders of its partner countries in the bloc: Brazil, Russia, India and China.

The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Putin on charges of war crimes involving the alleged abduction of children from Ukraine.

Political analyst Professor Bheki Mngomezulu of Nelson Mandela University says if he had his way, he would ask Putin not to come.

Simply because with him coming here that will put us in a very awkward situation," said Mngomezulu. "At the moment, we are signatories of the Rome Statute which therefore means that we are obliged to arrest him.

The BRICS summit takes place in August.
The South African National Defense Force (SANDF) said Monday that its army chief, Lawrence Mbatha, was in Moscow for a bilateral meeting, where he will visit Russian military academies and hold talks with officials.

"It must be noted that South Africa has military-to-military bilateral relations with various countries in the continent and beyond," the SANDF said in a statement, adding that the meeting in Russia was planned well in advance.

Earlier Monday, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said the country's non-aligned position did not favor Russia over other states and reiterated its call for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.

Ramaphosa made the comments in a weekly presidential newsletter. Last week, the United States alleged that weapons were loaded onto Russian ship Lady R from a naval base in Cape Town late last year, which sparked a diplomatic row.

South African officials swiftly rejected claims made by the U.S. ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety, who also said senior U.S. officials had "profound concerns" over South Africa's professed policy of non-alignment and neutrality over Russia's war in Ukraine.

"We do not accept that our non-aligned position favors Russia above other countries. Nor do we accept that it should imperil our relations with other countries," Ramaphosa said.

South Africa would continue to honor international agreements and treaties to which it is a signatory and its approach to U.S. allegations of arms shipment would abide by them, he added.

Ramaphosa's office has said no concrete evidence has been provided to support the claims made by the ambassador, but that an inquiry led by a retired judge would examine the matter.

Several ministers, including the one responsible for arms control, a foreign ministry spokesman and the communications minister have said South Africa had not approved any arms shipment to Russia in December.

Brigety was summoned Friday to meet South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor and he apologized "unreservedly" to the government and the people of South Africa, a foreign ministry statement said.

"I was grateful for the opportunity to speak with Foreign Minister Pandor ... and correct any misimpressions left by my public remarks," Brigety said in a tweet that did not confirm whether he had apologized.

South Africa, which has abstained from voting on U.N. resolutions on Russia's war in Ukraine, says it is impartial. Western countries, however, consider it one of Moscow's closest allies on the continent.
An 18-year-old gunman shot three people to death and wounded six others, including two police officers, in a northwestern New Mexico town on Monday before police shot him dead outside a church a short time later, police said.

The late-morning shooting unfolded in a residential area of Farmington, New Mexico, about 290 kilometers (180 miles) northwest of Albuquerque.

Police responded "to find a chaotic scene where a male subject was actively firing upon individuals in that neighborhood," Baric Crum, deputy chief of operations for the Farmington Police Department, said in a news briefing hours later.

Three civilians were killed, and six other people were wounded, including two officers struck in an exchange of gunfire with the suspect before he was fatally shot by police, according to Farmington police spokesperson Shanice Gonzales.

She told Reuters by telephone that the suspect had walked about a quarter of a mile on foot firing on bystanders seemingly at random before the rampage came to an end outside the church, where he was confronted by law enforcement.

No motive was readily apparent.

"We are still trying to determine why he was in this neighborhood," Crum told reporters.

The gunman, identified only as an 18-year-old, was believed to have acted alone, police said. No information was provided about any of the dead.

Some of the incident was captured in video footage posted to the social media platform TikTok and confirmed as authentic by Gonzales.

It shows a man dressed in black pacing around a driveway outside the First Church of Christ Scientist, carrying what appears to be a handgun, before he is later seen being shot dead by police in front of the building.

The man who apparently was recording the video is heard describing the scene to someone else and referring to the suspect walking in circles beside the church. He then says, "There's a person laying [in] the middle of the street."

The two wounded officers, one from the Farmington Police Department and one from New Mexico State Police, were listed in stable condition at San Juan Regional Medical Center, according to police. The conditions of the four wounded civilians were not known.

The gun violence prompted security lockdowns at several public schools in Farmington, a city of about 46,000 residents, until police determined there was no longer a threat to the public.

Farmington, a commercial hub for oil and gas drilling and a shopping destination for the nearby Navajo Nation and smaller towns in the Four Corners region where the states of New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and Utah meet, has experienced at least two other high-profile incidents of deadly gun violence in recent years.

"This serves as yet another reminder of how gun violence destroys lives in our state and our country every single day," New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said in a statement.

Police in Farmington last month killed an armed homeowner at his own house, then exchanged gunfire with his wife, after officers showed up at the wrong address in response to a domestic violence call.

Farmington also was the scene of a deadly high school shooting in December 2017 in which a gunman killed two students before taking his own life.

Monday's carnage was among the latest of at least 225 mass shootings recorded in the U.S. this year, according to the nonprofit group Gun Violence Archive. The group defines a mass shooting as any in which four or more people are wounded or killed, not including the shooter.
The decision by the United Nations to commemorate the expulsion of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from what is now the state of Israel on Monday  the day after the 75th anniversary of Israel's founding  angered Israeli officials and the Jewish state's supporters.



The U.N. earlier this year voted in favor of commemorating what Palestinians refer to as "al-Nakba" in Arabic, which translates to "the catastrophe." Israelis objected, particularly to the U.N.'s adoption of the word Nakba, which they said effectively endorses the view that the formation of their country was a disastrous event.



In a statement Monday, Rosemary DiCarlo, the U.N.'s undersecretary-general for political and peacebuilding affairs said, "Palestinians deserve a life of justice and dignity and the realization of their right to self-determination and independence."

She reiterated the U.N.'s position that Israel must withdraw forces occupying land nominally under Palestinian control in furtherance of a plan to create a "two-state solution" that envisions "an independent State of Palestine living side-by-side with Israel."

In an emotional speech delivered at the commemoration, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas called on the U.N. to revoke Israel's membership in the organization unless the Israeli government takes steps to implement a two-state solution.

Israel responds

Israel has long disputed Palestinian Arabs' account of the Nakba.



In a statement Monday, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said, "We will fight the 'Nakba' lie with full strength and we won't allow the Palestinians to continue to spread lies and distort history."



In a recorded statement, Israel's ambassador to the U.N., Gilad Erdan, said that the organization's decision was "shameful" and would harm any efforts to find a peaceful solution to the generations-old conflict between the state of Israel and the Palestinian people.



Asking other U.N. representatives to boycott the commemoration, he said, "[A]ttending this despicable event means destroying any chance of peace by adopting the Palestinian narrative calling the establishment of the state of Israel a disaster while ignoring Palestinian hate, incitement, terror and refusal to accept the legitimacy of a Jewish state."



Breaking up Palestine

In the years following World War I, the victorious allies carved up what had been the Ottoman Empire, resulting in a "mandate" for the United Kingdom to govern land on the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea, surrounded by Lebanon, Syria, modern-day Jordan and Egypt. The region was commonly called Palestine.



In 1947, the British government voted to evacuate the region, and later that year, a U.N. resolution proposed partitioning the land into separate Arab and Jewish states.



Jews living in the region largely supported the resolution, but Palestinian Arabs overwhelmingly did not.



On May 14, 1948, the day before the British mandate was scheduled to expire, Israel declared itself a state, and was soon attacked by the forces of the Arab League, a coalition of multiple countries in the region that opposed the partition arrangement. An armistice in 1949 established temporary new borders, the so-called Green Line.



Under the Green Line borders, what was then known as Transjordan controlled large amounts of land on the west bank of the Jordan River, commonly known as the West Bank. In the southwest, Egypt controlled a narrow patch of land on the Mediterranean coast, the Gaza Strip.



75-year-old trauma

During the fighting and in its aftermath, hundreds of thousands of Arabs were expelled from, or fled, their ancestral homes, the movement that would become known by Arabs as al-Nakba. Israelis are quick to point out that during the same period, a large number of Jews who had been living outside the new state of Israel's borders were also displaced, sometimes forcibly, from Arab-controlled land.



In a series of conflicts over the next decades, de facto borders shifted significantly. Israel now occupies the majority-Palestinian West Bank.



The United Nations continues to classify millions of Arabs whose families left their homes in Israel as refugees, several generations after the war. There are 58 U.N.-recognized Palestinian refugee camps in the region, some dating back to the late 1940s. Many have grown to the size of small cities.



Many refugee families pass sets of keys to homes fled during the war from one generation to another. Leaders of Palestinian Arabs generally demand that refugees be given the right to return to their families' ancestral property, a demand that Israel has summarily rejected, because acceding to it would amount to accepting a Muslim majority population in what was founded as a Jewish state.



Countercharges

A number of organizations that support Israel have called the U.N.'s decision to commemorate the Nakba as evidence of anti-Jewish sentiment.

"Make no mistake, the U.N.'s commemoration of 'Nakba Day' carries a concerning undertone of bias against the Jewish people," Sacha Roytman Dratwa, CEO of the organization Combat Antisemitism Movement, said in a statement. "For a global organization, supposedly dedicated to peace, to portray Israel's right to exist as a tragedy is disheartening to witness."



However, many who support the Palestinian side see the U.N.'s decision as too long in coming.



"The United Nations has long spoken about the plight of the Palestinians and has focused on the plight of Palestinian refugees," Yousef Munayyer, a senior fellow with Arab Center Washington, D.C., told VOA. "But for it to take 75 years to commemorate the loss of Palestinian life, and land and society, I think, is far, far too long."

Munayyer said that he hopes Monday's commemoration is the beginning of a movement toward change.



"It's one step in the process of recognition, and hopefully, restitution and repatriation one day as well," he said.
U.S. law enforcement officials on Tuesday announced a series of criminal cases exposing the relentless efforts by Russia, China and Iran to steal sensitive U.S. technologies.

The five cases, which spanned a wide range of protected U.S. technologies, were brought by a new strike force created earlier this year to deter foreign adversaries from obtaining advanced U.S. innovation.

These charges demonstrate the Justice Departments commitment to preventing sensitive technology from falling into the hands of foreign adversaries, including Russia, China, and Iran, said Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen, who leads the Justice Departments National Security Division, and co-heads the task force.

Some of the cases announced on Tuesday go back several years but Olsen said the threat is as significant as ever.

Two of the cases involve Russia.

In New York, prosecutors charged a Russian national with smuggling U.S. military and dual-use technologies, including advanced electronics and testing equipment, to Russia through the Netherlands and France. Nikolaos Nikos Bogonikolos was arrested last week in France and prosecutors said theyll seek his extradition.

In a second case, two other Russian nationals  Oleg Sergeyevich Patsulya and Vasilii Sergeyevich Besedin  were arrested in Arizona on May 11 in connection with illegally shipping civilian aircraft parts from the United States to Russian airlines.

Patsulya and Besedin, both residents of Florida, allegedly used their U.S.-based limited liability company to purchase and send the parts, according to court documents.

The three other cases center on China and Iran.

In New York, prosecutors charged a Chinese national for conspiring to provide materials to Irans ballistic missile program.

Xiangjiang Qiao, an employee of a Chinese sanctioned company for its role in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, allegedly conspired to furnish isostatic graphite, a material used in the production of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, to Iran.

Liming Li, a California resident, was arrested on May 6 on charges of stealing smart manufacturing technologies from two companies he worked at and providing them to businesses in China.

Li allegedly offered to help Chinese companies build their own capabilities, a federal prosecutor said.

He was arrested at Ontario International Airport after arriving on a flight from Taiwan and has since been in federal custody, the Justice Department said.

The fifth case announced on Tuesday dates back to 2018 and accuses a former Apple software engineer with stealing the companys proprietary research on autonomous systems, including self-driving cars. The defendant took a flight to China on the day the FBI searched his house.

The charges and arrests stem from the work of the Disruptive Technology Strike Force, a joint effort between the departments of justice and transportation.

The initiative, announced in February, leverages the expertise of the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and 14 U.S. attorneys offices.

Olsen said the cases brought by strike force demonstrate the breadth and complexity of the threats we face, as well as what is at stake.

And they show our ability to accelerate investigations and surge our collective resources to defend against these threats, Olsen said at a press conference.
(Bloomberg) -- Microsoft Corp.s $69 billion takeover of Activision Blizzard Inc. won European Union approval, putting the bloc at odds with its UK and US counterparts.

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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.

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 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.

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.

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.

Read More: Microsofts Activision Deal Chances Evaporate After UK Blow

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.

Story continues

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.

The commission conducted an extremely thorough, deliberate process to gain a comprehensive understanding of gaming, Bobby Kotick, Activision chief executive officer, said. As a result, they approved our merger with Microsoft, although they required stringent remedies to ensure robust competition in our rapidly growing industry.

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.

Microsofts proposals, accepted by the 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.

--With assistance from Stephanie Bodoni and Katharine Gemmell.

(Updates with a story tout in the final paragraph)

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A former civilian employee at a U.S. Army facility in South Korea has been arrested on charges of receiving $400,000 in kickbacks from military contractors, federal prosecutors in Manhattan said Monday.

Young Beom Kim, 62, was responsible for overseeing construction contracts at the Army Garrison Yongsan-Casey from 2017 to 2021. Prosecutors said he made sure contracts for equipment such as blast doors designed to protect Army personnel from an attack went to companies that had paid him kickbacks.

The Yongsan-Casey facility is located near the North Korean border.

"The importance of Kim's work and duties to the Army and its troops cannot be overstated," Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney in Manhattan, said in a statement. "Kim betrayed those duties in exchange for a quick buck."

Kim, a U.S. citizen and resident of South Korea, pleaded not guilty to six counts of wire fraud, bribery and money laundering. He was released on $250,000 bond to home detention with family in New Jersey after a brief appearance in Manhattan federal court.

In one instance, Kim allegedly received $12,074 in kickbacks from a U.S.-based supplier of heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment for a $1 million contract to repair a gymnasium at an Army camp.

Prosecutors also say he received kickbacks from a South Korea-based supplier of parts manufactured by U.S. and Chinese companies.
As President Joe Biden heads into his second debt ceiling talks with congressional leaders on Tuesday, the White House said the U.S. leader is considering cutting short his three-country foreign trip later this week to continue talks and find ways to keep the country from defaulting on its obligations.

John Kirby, the National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, told reporters during a briefing Tuesday that Biden will depart for Hiroshima, Japan, on Wednesday, as planned, to attend a meeting of the Group of Seven leaders.

However, We're reevaluating the rest of the trip right now, Kirby said, noting that leaders understand that the president also has to focus on making sure that we don't default.

From Japan, Biden was scheduled to continue to Sydney on May 22 for the Quad Summit with a brief stop in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, to meet with Pacific Island Forum leaders. The meetings have been billed as opportunities to deepen cooperation on regional challenges and advance U.S. strategic interests in countering Chinas influence.

It would not be the first time an American president skipped a summit over budget disputes at home. Barack Obama canceled a trip to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Indonesia and the East Asia summit in Brunei in 2013 because of a government shutdown over a budget disagreement, and Bill Clinton pulled out of the APEC Japan meeting in 1995, also during a debt ceiling dispute.

G-7 Hiroshima

Hiroshima, Japan, is the venue for this years May 19-21 summit of the G-7, a grouping of the worlds leading industrial nations, including the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom and the European Union.

Leaders will try to find alignment in countering Beijings use of trade and investment restrictions, boycotts and sanctions  practices the West views as Chinese "economic coercion." They will do so through export controls and restrictions on investment from their own nations to China, while seeking to slow China's technological advance and reduce its dominance of the global supply chain.

More than a year after Russia invaded Ukraine, the meeting will also focus on supporting Kyivs defense and ratcheting up economic pressure on Russia through broader export bans. G-7 members, mainly those in Europe, still export around $4.7 billion a month to Russia, about 43% of what they did before the invasion  mostly pharmaceuticals, machinery, food and chemicals.

As part of his outreach to the Global South, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan, this years G-7 host, has invited Australia, Brazil, Comoros, Cook Islands, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Ukraine and Vietnam.

"A little bit like the G-7 trying to create a mini-G-20 without China and Russia," said Josh Lipsky, senior director of the Atlantic Council's GeoEconomics Center, in a briefing to reporters Friday.

Looming over the meeting is the concern that financial instability from the threat of a U.S. default and the recent collapse of three American banks will spill over into the rest of the world. That would particularly hurt countries in Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia that are struggling with post-pandemic debt accumulated through infrastructure and other loans mainly from China.

There have been calls to reduce those debts to more manageable levels, said Shihoko Goto, deputy director of the Asia program at the Wilson Center. However, she told VOA, "Without having China there, there isn't really going to be much momentum."

Nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation are also at the top of this year's agenda, with Kishidas symbolic choice of hosting the summit in his hometown of Hiroshima, a city destroyed by an atomic weapon in 1945.

Notably lacking in this G-7 is the push to provide funding for global infrastructure projects as an alternative to China's Belt and Road Initiative, which was a focus in the last two G-7 summits.

Pacific Island Forum

From Hiroshima, Biden is scheduled to head to Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea (PNG), on May 22 to meet with Prime Minister James Marape and other leaders of the Pacific Island Forum, a grouping of 18 countries and territories spanning more than 30 million square kilometers of ocean. There he will seek to establish stronger strategic ties and deter those nations from making security deals with China amid rising tensions over Taiwan.

PNG officials say defense and surveillance agreements between PNG and the U.S. have been finalized and are set to be signed by Biden, including deals to help PNG mitigate climate change and strengthen deterrence capacity against illegal fishing.

Biden will be the highest U.S. official to visit in recent years, following Vice President Mike Pences trip to the 2018 Asia Pacific Economic Forum in Port Moresby. Chinese President Xi Jinping has visited the region three times, setting up infrastructure projects and signing a 2022 security pact with the Solomon Islands.

"The U.S. needs to make up ground in the region," said Charles Edel, the inaugural Australia Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies during a briefing earlier this week. "Years of strategic neglect from Washington produced a strategic vacuum that China was eager to step into."

Last year, the administration hosted the first U.S.-Pacific Island Country Summit in Washington. It has established representation in the Pacific Islands Forum and is opening new embassies in the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Kiribati and Tonga.

Observers also will be watching for any progress on the U.S. offer to revamp PNGs Lombrum Naval Base on Manus Island that Pence announced during his 2018 visit.

Quad Summit

After the brief stop in Port Moresby, Biden is scheduled to continue to a summit of the Quad countries  the U.S., Japan, India and Australia  May 24 in Sydney, hosted by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

The Quad was formed in 2007 to bolster economic and security relations among the four democracies and eventually evolved to become a strategic alignment against Chinas rise.

This will be the fourth meeting of the group, and the second to be held in person following last years Tokyo summit. Its structured around six leader-level working groups, on global health security, climate, critical and emerging technologies, cyber, space and infrastructure.

Last year the Quad launched the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness, aiming to improve partners ability to protect their waters and resources and deter illicit Chinese maritime activities.

Australian media is reporting that Prime Minister Albanese has invited Biden to speak in front of the parliament in Canberra. The White House has not said whether Biden will accept.
U.S. lawmakers are set to advance legislation Tuesday urging President Joe Biden to create a special tribunal that would prosecute Russia for crimes of aggression against Ukraine.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee vote would clear the way for the legislation to come up for a full vote on the House floor and is part of a broader bipartisan congressional effort to see Russia held accountable by the international community.

Earlier this year, a group of senators led by Democrat Dick Durbin and Republican Lindsey Graham urged Biden to support the International Criminal Court (ICC)s investigation into Russian war crimes in Ukraine after that body issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The vote comes just hours after Ukraine beat back a Russian hypersonic missile attack on Kyiv using U.S. Patriot missiles systems.

Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen told VOA that was an encouraging sign for U.S. support for Ukraine.

It's crucial. Ukraine needs the support of the United States and our allies in order to stave off the Russian unprovoked invasion that we're seeing, and the civilian population in Ukraine is taking a huge devastating toll, she said.

But Democratic Senator Ben Cardin told VOA that while air defense is a critical part of security for Ukraine, They have a huge border. So, there's a limit as to how effective we can be on the defensive weapons that we supply to them for their defense. But it's critical, and we need to do more, he said.

Lawmakers are also weighing longer-term options for countering the threat posed by Russia.

Republican Senator Jim Risch, the ranking member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, warned Tuesday, It appears the White House never really thinks about Russia until Moscow makes a move and has never acted proactively to force the Kremlin to respond to our initiatives. Before Russias unprovoked invasion last year reminded us that weakness invites aggression, this administrations approach resembled the failed Obama reset.

Analysts told lawmakers that U.S. policy needs to think beyond the immediate need of assisting Ukraine.

Andrea Kendall Taylor, director of the Transatlantic Security Program at the Center for a New American Security, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday, There are things that the U.S. Congress could do to demonstrate that we will have credible deliveries of weapons out into the future. I think that shapes Putin's calculus about our staying power.

The House panel also considered legislation Tuesday calling on Russia to immediately release U.S. citizens Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan from wrongful custody.
The United States said Monday there are signs that Russia and Iran are expanding their military cooperation.

State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters that Iran remains Russias top military backer, and Iran has already provided Russia with artillery and tank rounds for use in Ukraine.

Patel said that since August, Iran has provided Russia with more than 400 UAVs, primarily of the Shahed variety, and Russia has expended most of these UAVs using them to target Ukrainian critical infrastructure inside Ukraine.

The deepening of this cooperation is a threat and a danger to not just Ukraine; its a threat and a danger to Russias neighbors, Irans neighbors, and the international community broadly, Patel told reporters.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters during a Monday briefing that the Russia-Iran ties allow Russia to kill more people in Ukraine while enabling Iran to stockpile military hardware and pose a greater threat to its neighbors.

Some information for this report came from Reuters.
Russia has charged one of its citizens, a former employee of the U.S. diplomatic mission in Vladivostok for 25 years, with collaborating with the United States, an arrest the U.S. State Department condemned on Tuesday and said was "wholly without merit."

Russian state news agencies identified the employee as Robert Shonov, 62. The U.S. said he had been employed by the U.S. Consulate General in the far eastern provincial city of Vladivostok until Moscow ordered the facility shut two years ago, forcing termination of all local staff employed by the U.S.

The U.S. said that it, like Russia in the U.S., hires local workers to staff its embassy operations throughout the world. The State Department said that at the time of his arrest, Shonov "was employed by a company contracted to provide services to the U.S. Embassy in Moscow in strict compliance with Russia's laws and regulations."

"Shonov's only role at the time of his arrest was to compile media summaries of press items from publicly available Russian media sources," the State Department said. "His being targeted under the 'confidential cooperation' statute highlights the Russian Federation's blatant use of increasingly repressive laws against its own citizens."

The Russian state news agencies gave no details of the case against Shonov. He was arrested in March and is now being held at Moscow's Leftortovo prison. If convicted, he faces eight years in prison.
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."

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.

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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.
BANGKOK  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."
JOHANNESBURG  The South African National Defense Force (SANDF) said Monday that its army chief, Lawrence Mbatha, was in Moscow for a bilateral meeting, where he will visit Russian military academies and hold talks with officials.

"It must be noted that South Africa has military-to-military bilateral relations with various countries in the continent and beyond," the SANDF said in a statement, adding that the meeting in Russia was planned well in advance.

Earlier Monday, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said the country's non-aligned position did not favor Russia over other states and reiterated its call for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.

Ramaphosa made the comments in a weekly presidential newsletter. Last week, the United States alleged that weapons were loaded onto Russian ship Lady R from a naval base in Cape Town late last year, which sparked a diplomatic row.

South African officials swiftly rejected claims made by the U.S. ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety, who also said senior U.S. officials had "profound concerns" over South Africa's professed policy of non-alignment and neutrality over Russia's war in Ukraine.

"We do not accept that our non-aligned position favors Russia above other countries. Nor do we accept that it should imperil our relations with other countries," Ramaphosa said.

South Africa would continue to honor international agreements and treaties to which it is a signatory and its approach to U.S. allegations of arms shipment would abide by them, he added.

Ramaphosa's office has said no concrete evidence has been provided to support the claims made by the ambassador, but that an inquiry led by a retired judge would examine the matter.

Several ministers, including the one responsible for arms control, a foreign ministry spokesman and the communications minister have said South Africa had not approved any arms shipment to Russia in December.

Brigety was summoned Friday to meet South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor and he apologized "unreservedly" to the government and the people of South Africa, a foreign ministry statement said.

"I was grateful for the opportunity to speak with Foreign Minister Pandor ... and correct any misimpressions left by my public remarks," Brigety said in a tweet that did not confirm whether he had apologized.

South Africa, which has abstained from voting on U.N. resolutions on Russia's war in Ukraine, says it is impartial. Western countries, however, consider it one of Moscow's closest allies on the continent.
NAIROBI  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.

SEE ALSO:

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.

SEE ALSO:

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.

SEE ALSO:

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:

South Africas President Cyril Ramaphosa has said a delegation of African leaders plans to travel to Russia and Ukraine to present a peace plan

French President Emmanuel Macron says France is open to training Ukrainian fighter pilots.

U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths says continuing Black Sea Grain deal is "critically important" and that the U.N. is engaged in "intensive discussions" to keep it alive.

A Ukrainian official said Tuesday that Russia carried out an aerial attack on Kyiv involving drones and missiles, calling the barrage "exceptional in its density."

Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv's city military administration, posted on Telegram that the attack featured "the maximum number of attack missiles in the shortest period of time."

Ukraines air force said it shot down an unspecified number of drones and all 18 missiles Russia launched at Kyiv, including 6 hypersonic Kinzhal missiles.

Popko said that according to preliminary information, Ukrainian forces were able to detect and destroy "the vast majority of enemy targets in the airspace of Kyiv."

He said the aerial attack was the eighth targeting Kyiv since the beginning of the month.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported falling debris caused damage in several of the capital city's districts, including in Solomyanskyi district where three people were injured.

New military aid

Britain said Monday it is sending Ukraine hundreds more missiles and attack drones in hopes of boosting Kyiv's fight against Russia's invasion.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, a staunch ally, for the new weaponry as they met at Chequers, Sunak's 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."

SEE ALSO:

Zelenskyy's visit to Britain was his fourth stop in Western allied countries in recent days as he looks to shore up military support ahead of Ukraine's counteroffensive against Moscow's 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.

SEE ALSO:

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.

Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Milestone Scientific, Inc.

Follows successful evaluation by Dr. Fabian Proano, MD including complex thoracic procedures

ROSELAND, N.J., May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Milestone Scientific Inc. (NYSE:MLSS), a leading developer of computerized drug delivery systems that provide painless and precise injections, today announced that it has commenced sales of CompuFlo Epidural disposables into The Pain and Rehabilitation Medical Group in Torrance, California. Adoption of the technology by this clinic follows a successful evaluation process by its founder, Dr. Fabian Proano, an interventional pain medicine physician, who is board-certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology in both anesthesiology and pain medicine.



Dr. Proano initially conducted eight cases using the CompuFlo Epidural system, in which he reported 100% success. The evaluation included Epidural Steroid Injection (ESI) procedures within the lumbar, thoracic and cervical thoracic junction of the spine.

Dr. Proano has over 25 years of experience in interventional pain management, regenerative medicine, and adult stem cell therapies. He specializes in performing precise image-guided spinal and joint injections. Dr. Proano is a member of numerous organizations including: The American Medical Association, American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, North American Spine Society, International Spine Injection Society and The North American Neuromodulation Society. Dr. Proano completed his undergraduate studies at Santa Clara University, and attended medical school at University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, Washington. His residency training was in Anesthesiology at Harbor/UCLA Medical Center. Dr. Proano also completed an advanced specialty fellowship in Interventional and Multidisciplinary Pain Management at UCLA Medical Center. Dr. Proano has also served as Medical Director of Pain Management at several hospitals.

Dr. Proano commented, Having evaluated Milestones CompuFlo System within my clinic, I can confidently state it has proven to be a valuable tool in helping navigate the challenging anatomical regions in the thoracic region and cervical thoracic junction. The system is easy to use and provides both audible and visual feedback, including real-time confirmation of epidural placement that enhances both the speed and safety of the procedure, thereby providing a better experience for the provider and patient.

Story continues

About Milestone Scientific Inc.

Milestone Scientific Inc. (MLSS), a technology-focused medical research and development company that patents, designs and develops innovative injection technologies and systems for medical, dental and cosmetic applications. Milestone Scientifics computer-controlled systems are designed to make injections precise, efficient and increase the overall patient comfort and safety. Their proprietary DPS Dynamic Pressure Sensing Technology systems is the platform to advance the development of next-generation devices, regulating flow rate and monitoring pressure from the tip of the needle, through platform extensions of subcutaneous drug delivery, including local anesthetic. To learn more, view the MLSS brand video or visit milestonescientific.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding the timing and financial impact of Milestone's ability to implement its business plan, expected revenues, timing of regulatory approvals and future success. These statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties and are based on assumptions involving judgments with respect to future economic, competitive and market conditions, future business decisions and regulatory developments, all of which are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of which are beyond Milestone's control. Some of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements are general economic conditions, failure to achieve expected revenue growth, changes in our operating expenses, adverse patent rulings, FDA or legal developments, competitive pressures, changes in customer and market requirements and standards, and the risk factors detailed from time to time in Milestone's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including without limitation, Milestone's Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2021. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon management's reasonable belief as of the date hereof. Milestone undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.

Contact:

Crescendo Communications, LLC

Email: mlss@crescendo-ir.com

Tel: 212-671-1020




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Germany has pledged new military aid to Ukraine. The German chancellor welcomed the Ukrainian president to Berlin a day after announcing the nearly 3-billion-dollar arms package in support of Ukraines battle against Russia. Meanwhile, Russian forces continue attacking mostly civilian targets.
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TUESDAY, May 16, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Public health officials are urging people at risk of contracting mpox, the virus previously called monkeypox, to get vaccinated.

They are concerned that a slowdown in infections since last summer may not continue.

Theres a very real risk of there being a surge in mpox cases over the next few months. Most likely, it wont be anywhere near as big as it was last year, and that is because many people at risk were either infected or vaccinated, Dr. Jay Varma, director of the Center for Pandemic Prevention and Response at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, told CNN.

Varma expressed uncertainty about how long protection from infections or vaccinations lasts.

In an official update posted Monday on its Health Alert Network, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned: Spring and summer season in 2023 could lead to a resurgence of mpox as people gather for festivals and other events.

The CDC is investigating a cluster of mpox cases in the Chicago area. It included 12 confirmed cases and one probable case. All involved men between the ages of 24 and 46.

Among the 13 cases, nine had received the two-dose Jynneos vaccine. Four had traveled recently to New York City, New Orleans and Mexico.

Previous outbreaks were mostly related to international travel, but the virus spread rapidly across the world last spring through person-to-person contact. Cases disproportionately affected gay and bisexual men and transgender people, according to the CDC. The outbreak prompted a campaign for people at risk to get vaccinated.

Despite breakthrough cases, vaccination can reduce infection severity, the CDC said.

Theres a real concern that the vaccination level of the people most at risk is not where we need it to be, and we now are experiencing a new outbreak of cases in the Midwest that includes previously vaccinated individuals, although the symptoms appear to be milder for those who had some protection from vaccine, Lori Tremmel Freeman, chief executive officer of the National Association of County and City Health Officials, told CNN.

Varma said the vaccine is safe and effective and helped reduce transmission last year.

Even though there is some uncertainty about whether or not its 80% or 90% or 100% effective and how long its effective, we do know that youre better off being vaccinated than being unvaccinated, said Varma.

He also serves on the board of directors at SIGA Technologies, which developed the smallpox antiviral drug Tpoxx. It is being studied in clinical trials as a treatment for mpox.

Only 1 in 4 people considered high risk for mpox is vaccinated, according to CNN.

The virus symptoms include a blister-like rash, fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, aches and fatigue. It can be fatal for those with weakened immune systems.

The World Health Organization last week declared that mpox was no longer a global health emergency, but that doesnt mean the work is over, said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The disease continues to affect communities in all regions, he said.

David Harvey, executive director of the National Coalition of STD Directors, told CNN in an email that mpox remains a "grave concern" and needs to be on the radar of communities and health care providers.

One year ago this week, we experienced an unprecedented outbreak of mpox. The public health sector -- and especially those of us who work on [sexually transmitted infections] -- quickly rallied to push for a strong response. Ultimately, more than a million doses of the vaccine were distributed. Still, many people did not get vaccinated -- especially as case numbers dropped, he wrote.

While anticipated, the Chicago cases are concerning, Harvey said.

We continue to be concerned about wider spread throughout the summer and festival season, he said. The good news is that we know what works and we have the tools at hand in the event of another outbreak to curb cases once again. The vaccine is safe and effective, and it helps reduce cases and lessen the severity of symptoms.

More information

The World Health Organization has more on mpox.

SOURCES: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, health update, May 15, 2023; CNN
Lily Gladstone and Leonardo DiCaprio. Photo: Apple TV+

If theres one upcoming film that has us looking like Charlie Day with a giant board of red confusion, its not Barbie (although thats up there). Its Martin Scorseses upcoming film Killers of the Flower Moon. Scorseses first film since 2019s The Irishman, the film is an adaptation of David Granns nonfiction book titled Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, which was released in 2017. It is directed by Scorsese with a script written by Scorsese and the perennially Oscar-nominated Eric Roth (Forrest Gump, A Star Is Born, Dune). The film is produced by Paramount and Apple, and is a smaller scale film with a reported budget of over $200 million, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Despite being produced by Apple, the film will have a theatrical release before being released on its streamer, where Timmy Chalamet will no doubt catch it. Below, the trailer, cast, and everything you need to know about the upcoming film ahead of its murderous debut.

Whats Killers of the Flower Moon about exactly?

Based on the nonfiction book of the same name, the film follows the mysterious murders of members of the Osage tribe in Oklahoma during the Roaring 20s. At the time, the Osage people were incredibly wealthy due to the rich oil deposits found on their land, and a court ruling gave them the right to profit from these resources. This fact made the community a target of local white cattleman William Hale. He and others murdered more than 60 members of the tribe over the course of a decade in an attempt to seize their economic power. At the time, the newly formed FBI investigated the murders and Hale was eventually convicted. According to THR, the original script included a good (white) character as the lead who has since been revised as a man torn between love and Hale, his uncle.

How did Martin Scorsese approach the Osage murders?

While the book focuses on FBI agent Tom White, who solved the mystery in one of the bureaus first major cases, Scorsese and his lead, Leonardo DiCaprio, had no interest in serving up a white-savior story. Instead, the film trains its lens on the twisted Ernest Burkhart (DiCaprio), a white man married to Osage tribe member Mollie (Lily Gladstone) while he and his uncle Bill Hale (Robert De Niro) are actively killing Osage people  including poisoning his wife.

Here you had the wealthiest nation, the richest per capita people in the world, DiCaprio told Deadline. You had this melting pot in Oklahoma where freed slaves had created their own economy, and the Osage emerged as this wealthy culture. But you also had, during that period, the rise of the KKK and white supremacy and this clash of cultures. For some of these white settlers, it was like a gold rush to take advantage of people of color.

A previous version of the script followed the FBI agent. Theres no mystery, Scorsese told Deadline about the first draft. So, what is it? A police procedural? Who cares! Weve got fantastic ones on television. His disillusionment with the straightforward story of Tom White led him to delve into the mindset of the people who did this for something a little more complex  like a fucked-up love and institutional racism that allowed these murders to go on for so long.

It made the most sense to show whats going on in that world, the dynamic between the nephew and the uncle, De Niro told Deadline. [Hale] believed he loved them and felt they loved him. But within that, he felt he had the right to behave the way he did.

Whos in the cast?

As you might expect from a Scorsese film, Killers of the Flower Moon has a stacked cast. Ernest Burkhart will be portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio with his uncle, Bill Hale, is set to be played by newcomer Robert De Niro. Other big names include recent Oscar winner Brendan Fraser, who plays Hales attorney, and Oscar nominee Jesse Plemons as FBI agent White. Indigenous actress Lily Gladstone (First Cow) is Mollie Burkhart. And it turns out Jack White of the White Stripes will have a small role.

When can I see it?

The film will first premiere on October 6 before going into wide release in theaters on October 20 and streaming on Apple TV+ sometime after that, though the official date is not confirmed. And if you happen to be vacationing in France this summer, the film is officially debuting at the Cannes Film Festival May 20 at the Grand Theatre Lumiere. Hurry, find a wall for Post-its and maps covered in red string.

Is the runtime really that extreme?

Its three hours and 26 minutes, or one Avatar: The Way of Water plus a 14-minute YouTube video explaining it.
Clockwise from top left: Micaela Durand, Michael Bullock, Al Bedell, and Ada Antoinette, with Heaven Tonights event poster. Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photos: Ada Antoinette, Kevin Champoux, Michael Bullock, Micaela Durand, Whitney Mallett

Michael Bullock walked up to the mic in an Anita Baker concert tee, taking a pitbull power stance to deliver autofiction about having a threesome with his boyfriend and a closeted virgin. It was 1:30 p.m. on April Fools Day, and the Chinatown gallery Saras was filled with folks whod dragged themselves out of bed on a Saturday to hear smut.

Bullocks story, The Godfathers, weaves a retelling of the couples own traumatic first times with a blow-by-blow account of the gay initiation of their third, a 33-year-old Bathhouse crush wearing aspirationally whorish hot-pink assless Andrew Christian briefs under the hetero drag of his khaki shorts. Lets daddy him and break the cycle of the reckless devirginizers who abandoned us! read Bullock. The reason for his Baker tee became clear as the story established the R&B icon as a guiding light embodying everything butch, beautiful, and honest, with her songs as a soundtrack of sorts. Straddling coded humor and poly-marriage mediations, the story is surprisingly tender, even with lines about pumping our dicks in his hole.

This was the live debut of the online erotica series Heaven Tonight, which has been publishing stories since last June. Until a few months ago, I wouldnt have expected a 50-person audience for this daytime happening, but lately, smut-fueled readings in New York have been turning out the crowds. There were stirrings before the pandemic: In 2017, artist Sarah Zapata started activating her textile installations with performances and readings, including her own erotic writing and that by the poet LA Warman. In 2019, the writer and sex worker Rachel Rabbit White released her first full-length book of poems, Porn Carnival, with a party made infamous by this publications louche reporting. (At the time, New York called her the hooker laureate of the dirtbag left.) Downtown personalities like Seashell Coker and Ruby McCollister were being tapped to read at the now-defunct MX Gallerys Erotica Night.

Then, when the pandemic started to wane and people began to return to public life, readings seemed like the perfect event  low cost, relatively small, easy to hold outside  and these formerly low-key happenings started to demand crowd control. Last August, the Cobrasnake snapped photos of the mob outside the KGB bar who couldnt fit inside for Labels Late Summer Social reading. Erotica became a clear theme of this new wave: In the fall, I organized a Wednesday-night erotica reading at Performance Space New York to launch a book from Tamara Faith Bergers Smutburger Editions, part of the recent surge of horny indie publishers. The venue hit capacity. Perverted Book Club cemented the fad with a slew of press for its sexy-screwball reading series hosted in unconventional locales, like a porn shop and the Penn Station Sbarro. In March, the writer Peter BD curated a night of strangely sensual performances called Art Erotica at the stalwart downtown gallery Canada; the artist Allison Brainard delivered a monologue in a zentai suit with just her lips exposed. She began by saying, Whats up, guys? Im a kiss.

Performing stories live offers a different catharsis from oversharing online  and doesnt have its potential consequences. It can feel both public and private at the same time. The curator and editor of Heaven Tonight, Micaela Durand, has had a hand in driving the momentum of these readings: In 2015, she and artist Paul Chan started New Lovers, an offshoot of Chans small press, Badlands Unlimited. Over two years, they published nine sex-driven novellas with purple covers that looked as good as they read. (My favorite is Bergers Kuntalini, about a 25-year-old who experiences an anal awakening at her yoga class. The tagline: Eat ass, pray, love.) When Badlands shuttered in 2019, Durand started consulting for clients including the arts space Pioneer Works. Durand said that one night when she was drunk at an awful party, she suggested to one of the editors that Pioneer Works online magazine, Broadcast, should publish erotica to make it more fun  and Heaven Tonight was born, with a name courtesy of a Hole song.

Durand has now published three Heaven Tonight stories online, as well as audio versions of each, and has plans to expand into print. She said shes interested in publishing fierce personalities and sees her new project as a departure from her work with New Lovers. For Paul, those books were intended to focus on pleasure, but it wasnt the only thing I was interested in, she said. Heaven Tonight deals with desire in a new way, sometimes in which there is no pleasure or payoff or point.

She said erotica seemed vital, like a way I could leave the faith behind. Shameful in the best way. A shame I could control.

That was clear from the readers who took the stage after Bullock on April 1. Ada Antoinette, a self-described It-girl turned Ph.D. student clad in sexy-librarian Miu Miu, read the monastery-set story Ada and E whose tone of soft dominance queers her hetero subjects; the titular E. is described as trapped in his impotence, waiting to be held so he could be of some use. Al Bedell, who hosts the recovery-themed podcast Al Anonymous, took the stage in rosary-patterned tights  more Catholic camp  to read from a book she had published with New Lovers in 2015 called How to Train Your Virgin, an absurdist coming-of-age tale about a teenager who hires a professional devirginizer. And Kevin Champoux performed a selection from his Heaven Tonight story, Blow Ponies, about a transactional arrangement: The narrator, a broke 19-year-old, texts stories of gay sex encounters to his closeted uncle for a $300 reward each. The nesting-doll narrative underscores the protagonists acrimony for the partners he tolerates in the name of sexual experimentation; hes newer to bottoming than he is to cynical defense mechanisms.

Champoux, who works for a film production company as his day job, emphasized that his story is about a character he invented, not himself. People want to know so badly what parts are true, he said. The funny thing is the parts they think are true are made up, while the actually true things people find unbelievable.

Audiences at these readings often assume the writers are processing their personal experiences, and sometimes they are. Durand discovered Bullocks writing about a decade ago when she read his book Roman Catholic Jacuzzi, a soft-core autobiographical novella about partying with a group of active priests on their secret annual gay wellness retreat complete with scenes of hot tubs, dancing, and courtship. Bullock, 46, has day jobs in political crowdfunding and magazine publishing; among other gigs, he was the American publisher of the queer NSFW magazine BUTT for a decade. He also maintains a personal erotic-writing practice he often uses to unpack his early years in suburban Massachusetts. He said he grew up at a time when being a faggot was like the worst thing a man could be, with the Catholic Church legitimizing the homophobia around him and causing at least some of the pain and sadness in the closeted men he hooked up with in gym locker rooms and at rest stops. Bullocks inadvertent encounter with the priests  and his writing about it  allowed him to confront directly the hypocrisy and the feelings of attraction and repulsion they created within me and my gay peers, he explained. Writing is an important part of how I process these complicated and deeply embedded feelings. I can synthesize them, through narrative, in a way that doesnt flatten them. And then sharing the story lets me connect with people who felt the same shame.

Bullock wasnt the only writer I spoke to who came to erotica via a repressive religious background. Warman, who began teaching a writing class called Erotics six years ago and whose book Whore Foods won a Lambda Literary Award for LGBT erotica in 2020, grew up Evangelical, which she described as a very anti-erotic faith. When she started experimenting with the genre, she said, erotica seemed vital, like a way I could leave the faith behind. Shameful in the best way. A shame I could control. While Whore Foods, about a horny grocery-store employee, fixates on appetite, her second book, Dust, follows two dykes in the desert at the end of the world and addresses grief. Both books mix visceral and immediate descriptions of sex with labor politics and existential ennui. Warman, who teaches her Audre Lordinspired Erotics course virtually as part of an unaccredited institution she calls the Warman School (it also has classes called God and Depression), defines erotica as body writing. Pleasure writing. Pain writing.

Whether or not their stories are true, these writers tend to adopt a confessional mode. The poet Em Brill organized nearly two dozen readings at KGB from 2021 to 2022  a major catalyst in New Yorks post-lockdown reading renaissance. Even though those events werent explicitly erotica themed, she was struck by how many writers and artists shared experiences of erotic labor. And she wasnt just hearing it from writers like Rabbit White, Sophia Giovannitti, Liara Roux, and Rachel Oyster Kim, all of whom are out sex workers with industry experience that is relatively central to their writer personae. I think it speaks to how frequently artists, poets, and writers are using sex work as a form of income in New York City, said Brill  and, I mean, the rent is too damn high not to. No one at KGB was reading love sonnets, according to Brill: Their stories were just these transactional experiences. The only other time sex really came up, it was the lack of it in a story about an incel.

Shame, cruelty, worship, and money can all be parts of sexual experiences, as they are of life. I think about stories that twist eroticized desperation with religious ecstasy, as in Maya Martinezs chapbook Hell or Mercy?, published by the sex-worker-aligned Other Weapons. And some stories Ive heard performed around town: At one reading, Lily Lady  who organizes a monthly reading series at Honeys  deadpanned about wearing a chest binder to a Panic! At the Discothemed orgy and asking their friend to punch them in the face. At another, Max Haslam performed a tale titled Lungfucker about fetishists willing to pay for videos of heavy smoking, the more performative the subjects suffering, the better. Lust can make us ping-pong from sex drive to death drive, said Durand.

After the readings at Saras, Champoux asked me, Did any of the stories actually get you aroused? It was a rhetorical question; he knew the answer was no. That isnt to say these stories had failed. Arousal just didnt seem to be their point. Perhaps the closest thing to a climax that afternoon was Bullocks discovery that the grandnephew of Anita Baker  whose soulful ballad Caught Up in the Rapture accompanies the rimming and mixing of loads in Bullocks tale  just happened to be in the audience. He said hes going to send my story to her, said the writer, grinning, the screen-printed image of Baker on his chest smiling too.
FILE - This photo shows signage outside the Amgen headquarters in Thousand Oaks, Calif on Nov. 9, 2014. Federal regulators are suing to block biotech drug developer Amgens more than $26 billion deal for Horizon Therapeutics. The Federal Trade Commission said Tuesday, May 16, 2023, that the deal, announced last December, would give Amgen unfair leverage to block competition for Horizon medications. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

The U.S. is attempting to block the proposed acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics for more than $26 billion by biotech drug developer Amgen on antitrust grounds.

The Federal Trade Commission said Tuesday that the deal, announced in December, would give Amgen unfair leverage to block competition for Horizon medications. The FTC said the deal would entrench Horizons monopoly position on treatments for thyroid eye disease and chronic refractory gout.

Amgen said it was disappointed in the agency's decision but remains committed to completing the deal by mid-December.

The California company said last December that the acquisition would allow it to expand into rare disease treatments.

Horizon Therapeutics PLC, based in Dublin, develops potential treatments for autoimmune and severe inflammatory diseases. Its bestseller, Tepezza, is only approved in the United States and treats eye bulging and double vision from thyroid eye disease.

Amgen plans to expand the use of that drug globally, and company leaders have said they also expect their companys long-standing history of working with rheumatologists will help grow sales of another Horizon drug, the gout treatment Krystexxa.

The FTC said Tuesday that the deal would allow Amgen to use rebates on its existing drugs to pressure bill payers like pharmacy benefit managers into favoring Tepezz and Krystexxa. The agency said neither treatment has competition, and the deal could give the combined company incentive to to entrench Tepezzas and Krystexxas monopolies.

Amgen said the FTC claim on how it might use the medicines is entirely speculative and does not reflect the real world competitive dynamics behind providing rare-disease medicines to patients.

We have been working cooperatively over the past several months to address the questions raised by the FTCs investigative staff and believe we have overwhelmingly demonstrated that this combination poses no legitimate competitive issues, the company said in a statement.

Jefferies analyst Akash Tewari also said in a separate note that he didn't think the FTC's claim would hold up. But the agency's move might hamper mergers and acquisitions more broadly.

Shares of Amgen Inc., based in Thousand Oaks, California, slipped 1% Tuesday afternoon to $231.14 while broader indexes were mixed. U.S.-traded shares of Horizon also fell.
It was really important that, at that moment, Shiv does not know what Kendall knows. Photo: HBO

Successions America Decides depicts several dramatic fractures. The biggest one, democracy, falls apart the second Roman convinces Kendall that its acceptable to call an election even when you dont know which presidential candidate won the Electoral College. But the episode spends more time and attention on the many fissures and chasms within the Roy family  beginning with Shivs distaste for Republican candidate Jeryd Mencken and continuing to the moment Kendall discovers she partnered with GoJo CEO Lukas Matsson to oust her brothers from Waystar. Several stories crystallize in this conference room: Mencken likely ascends to the presidency, these two Roy brothers fully embrace corporate power over democratic ideals, and, in one brief close-up, Shiv appears to signal a definite shift away from her family.

Despite the relatively enclosed setting of America Decides, director Andrij Parekh describes enormous production challenges and the importance of finding balance between Successions humor and elements of tragedy. Parekh also acknowledges deliberate parallels with the recent past; the feeling he was hoping to capture, he says, was Adam McKays 2016 Election Night party, which hed attended with Jesse Armstrong and several members of the Succession cast. Adam would be getting these text messages about what was about to be announced 20 minutes before it came on the news, he says. Then, of course, that party went from boisterous and fun to very quiet.

This episode was a big one!

Big, big, scary episode.

When you say scary, do you mean scary for you? For the audience? For the characters?

I mean everything. When you get the script, you read it and realize how much work goes into it  preparing all of the video elements, the world-building. Just realizing, Oh my God, weve got to shoot all this stuff: a whole PGN Election Night coverage, an entire ATN Election Night coverage. Playing it back so the actors can react onscreen to it. It was a massive undertaking and pushed the boundaries of what Im used to with Succession.

How did you tackle it all?

There was a whole breakdown. Script-wise, we had to cast all of the news anchors and shoot all the material about two weeks in advance, so there would be enough time for our in-house video prep to prepare all the chyrons to make it look like real election coverage. Then it was going through and choosing takes. It was an undertaking.

It sounds like filming two separate episodes.

Its two in one. And I hope no one notices the work that went into it! Thats what makes it feel real.

The ATN office building  is that the CNBC building?

CNBC New Jersey, yes. Our access was basically weeknights after 6 p.m., the weekends, then before 6 a.m. Monday morning. It was some pretty serious night stuff, and whats great was we were shooting election coverage happening at night. So we had that energy of probably too much coffee, then too too much coffee.

How did you approach the overall tone of the episode? It seems to have sparked some unpleasant flashbacks.

We shot the pilot for Succession in 2016 around election time. I think our second, third day of photography was the day after the election. We went to an Election Night party at Adam McKays apartment, and Jesse Armstrong and some of the actors were there. Adam would be getting these text messages about what was about to be announced 20 minutes before it came on the news. You had a sense. Then, of course, that party went from boisterous and fun to very quiet and people leaving without saying good-bye.

That was the feeling I was hoping to capture in this. What I noticed more and more in American-television election coverage, because of our two-party system, is that it gets broadcast like a sporting event. For many, it probably is sports: the way it looks, the way it feels, that its two teams and theres a scoreboard and numbers. Were running possibilities, blah blah blah. So it was creating this world at ATN where that feeling exists.

We had a couple of election advisers who worked on various networks telling us how things play out on Election Night. Everything from which states report when to what would happen if something in Milwaukee actually burned down. And theres the briefing at the top of the episode where Darwin says that no one can tell the viewers whats going to happen or well lose our credibility. Then, immediately, Tom calls Kendall.

Yeah, and Greg has to spend a lot of time trying to tell the Roy siblings theyre not allowed on the newsroom floor. By the end, Tom is walking up to that boardroom and telling the Roys that the election is their call.

Very cringey. Hopefully, it feels very real.

Photo: HBO

I wanted to ask about wasabi choreography. The scene where Greg gets wasabi in Darwins eyes is such a stupid, small moment. Then it quickly balloons into this huge clownish thing that potentially tips them into calling an election. How did you approach filming it?

Thats what Succession can do so well: walk the tightrope of tragedy and comedy. It cant fall too much into one side or it becomes a broad comedy, a soap opera, or just a tragedy. What makes it infinitely watchable is the combination.

In terms of blocking that scene, it needs to feel completely plausible that it happened, then its just allowing it to get worse. And you have Roman there watching, Shiv has arrived, and its about making it into something that happened, not something laugh-y and jokey. Its a tough scene, and you do think, Oh man, how am I going to pull this off and make it feel real?

Were you futzing around with different takeout boxes? That sort of thing?

Wed gone through all of that in preproduction and talked about what we thought was going to be the right size and placement on the table. Wed planted the drinks there already  thats all there at the beginning of the night. And, originally in the script, it was Sprite that got poured in his eyes. But LaCroix just seems funnier for some reason.

With LaCroix, Greg can yell that its not that lemony.

Oh yeah, it was a lot of fun. But then youre shooting, and youre like, Oh man, did that go too far?

How do you know? Are there things that signal to you where the line is?

The key for that kind of scene is to really be in on peoples reactions. Instead of actions, reactions are pushed to the forefront. Its not shot wide.

I often find that if Im laughing at the monitor, maybe it has gone too far.

There are all these very upsetting moments in the ATN offices, and meanwhile, Connors in a hotel room saying, Alas Kentucky, alas vanity.

Its bringing a little accountability to him, and it seems quite foolish. Who knows how seriously hes taking this thing. Did he really see himself as president? He seems quite happy to be in the diplomatic corps and go wherever to serve the U.S. government.

He makes me laugh every time. I think his character is so great, but he has this amazing soul, and he feels very down-to-earth on some level, even though hes happy to say that hes a billionaire in his concession speech.

Photo: HBO

It does feel like Connor is direct and honest about what he wants and means. Whereas for someone like Shiv, this episode is a bit of comeuppance. Shes attempting to communicate to her brothers that she does actually care about democracy and is worried about this outcome. At least I think she does? But they either cant or dont want to read it as a serious concern, because all three of them are constantly undermining or reversing their own positions.

Whats interesting in that threesome is Shiv has been, since the first episode, this Democratic political adviser. Its where she puts her sense of self, I think. Whether she actually believes in it, Im not 100 percent sure. Kendall, tragically, feels like he can compartmentalize whats good for the country versus whats good for business. I think Roman is probably the most clear-eyed in this episode in going after whats good for business, carrying on his fathers legacy, and remaking ATN with Mencken.

I think what the show has done is exposed the quid pro quo of politics and media. The politicians need the media to support them, but the media needs politicians to get people excited and to make it watchable.

How did you talk through the scene where Kendall finally figures out that Shiv has been playing him against Matsson? How did you figure out the blocking?

For me, it was important that Shiv doesnt know what Kendall knows when hes finding out. It couldve been blocked so that Greg was in the room with them, so that Shiv would overhear it when Kendall goes to talk to Greg. But it was really important that, at that moment, Shiv does not know what Kendall knows. Shiv does not know what Greg has told him about her.

Because she doesnt know, shes frozen in place. Then she goes and spills the beans, assumes what he knows and what he doesnt, and shes done herself in. It was about making her feel trapped, being guilty and not able to hide it. Suddenly, shes standing there trying to act like she didnt steal the cookies, but in fact, the cookies are in her hands. What do you do in that moment? I think its always great to have conversations that characters are watching but dont hear.

So much of the series is about how information does and does not move between characters, but its also about how even the information they do learn can be read in multiple ways. Its always ambiguous or in this conditional space. Youre caught in uncertainty all the time.

Thats what makes it super-interesting for me. Ill read the scripts, and well block it, and suddenly youre like, Oh wow. This is not what I thought it was going to be. Everyone has a point of view, and everyone has a different understanding of whats happening.

From left: Photo: HBO Photo: HBO From top: Photo: HBO Photo: HBO

It reminds me of the close-up on Shivs face in the boardroom after the election is called and Roman insists its not a big deal because nothing is really going to happen. Shiv says, Things do happen, Rome, and that close-up feels different from the shows typical visual language.

I wanted Shiv to feel very isolated in that moment. That, to me, was more about her communicating with the audience than with Roman. Thats why we isolated and filmed her in the back of the room having come in  away from where the main action is.

Its rare for the show to communicate with the audience that directly. Was it in the script? Or was that something you figured out in rehearsal?

A lot of the show is shot, at least in this episode, on over-the-shoulder cameras. I wanted that moment to feel just a little bit different.

I kept looking at it and wondering if it was a real shift for Shiv, or if shell pull back on it. Is it a moment of clarity for her?

I wouldnt say moment of clarity. I think its more that shes pointing out what her brothers have done. Theyve taken a toy and broken it, and it feels like theyre just going to go off and be fine. There are no consequences for them. Maybe itll be inconvenient for Kendalls family to suddenly have a bodyguard all the time. But Roman is fine. Roman doesnt think twice about it.

But for Shiv, its suddenly this new awareness.

I think so.

Im very curious about what happens in the finale. I had a dream that it does a time jump into the future and Shivs standing in a postapocalyptic landscape surveying the damage theyve all done.

Or they all go to a Buddhist retreat, and theyve given everything away. [Laughs.]

This interview has been edited and condensed.
(Bloomberg) -- Morgan Stanley is considering a 7% cut in its Asia-Pacific investment banking workforce, with China taking the biggest hit as deteriorating relations with the US and weaker economic growth curb dealmaking, people familiar with the matter said.

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The bank is likely to start communicating with affected bankers as soon as this week, with more than 40 jobs at risk, including those with the capital markets unit, one of the people said, asking not to be identified because the matter is private. Other divisions may also be slightly affected, the people said, adding a final decision on the number of job cuts hasnt been made.

The cuts are part of Morgan Stanleys plan to reduce about 3,000 jobs globally by the end of this quarter, which Bloomberg reported earlier this month would amount to roughly 5% of staff excluding financial advisers and personnel supporting them within the wealth management division. Morgan Stanley has employed a bigger China team in Hong Kong than most of its rivals, making it vulnerable as deal activity slows.

The New York-based firm already axed about 50 investment-banking jobs in Asia by the end of last year after a plunge in deals, and a significant number of those were China-focused roles. The reduction was among the highest for Wall Street firms last year, people familiar said at the time.

A Morgan Stanley spokeswoman in Hong Kong declined to comment.

Multiple rounds of job cuts in quick succession are rare in Asia. At Morgan Stanley, the region has been contributing about 13% to its group net revenue in the past five years, reaching $6.7 billion at the end of 2022.

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Global banks that have long been bullish on the worlds second-largest economy are now trying to scale back, even though they consider the long-term opportunities too big to ignore. The enthusiasm for Chinas re-opening has faded as escalating tensions between the worlds two biggest economies has damped sentiment.

Investors have also trimmed their bets on Chinas stocks, and US-based long-only fund managers have been the dominant sellers of Chinese shares. US President Joe Biden aims to sign an executive order in the coming weeks that will limit investment in key parts of Chinas economy by American businesses, people familiar with the matter said in April.

Morgan Stanley reported $2 billion in first-quarter net revenue for Asia, a 2% decline from the same period last year, compared with a 25% drop for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, according to its latest filing. Asia delivered its third highest quarter ever, aided by the policy dynamics in Japan and the China reopening, the bank said on its earnings call with analysts last month.

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Open House Roma takes place from 20-28 May.

Rome hosts a bumper edition of the Open House initiative which opens the doors of more than 200 of the citys most fascinating buildings, both ancient and modern, over the course of nine days.

The 11th edition of Open House Roma, which has Equilibrium as its theme, allows visitors to explore buildings to which there is normally limited public access.

This year the annual event expands from its usual weekend format to nine days, from 20-28 May, during which guided tours of historic buildings and contemporary architecture will be offered for free.

Directed by Laura Calderoni, Open House Roma also offers 50 special events and walking tours, with activities for children and visits for people who are deaf/hard of hearing or blind/visually impaired.

Palazzo Corrodi. Photo credit Moreno Maggi - Open House Roma.

Some of the many highlights this year include a visit to the spiral staircase that descends from Villa Medici to the Acqua Vergine Roman aqueduct; the hydraulic system that powers the Trevi Fountain; the House of the Knights of Rhodes among the ruins of the Forum of Augustus; the house museum of Giorgio de Chirico; and a trip inside the Porta del Popolo, one of Rome's monumental city gates.

Other visits include Villa Maraini, home of the Swiss Institute of Rome; the Egyptian Academy; the headquarters of state broadcaster RAI; Palazzo Corrodi where Trilussa lived and died; and the Fondo Andrea Camilleri dedicated to the legacy of the creator of the Inspector Montalbano novels.

World Food Programme. Photo credit WFP/Giulio DAdamo.

There are also tours of environmentally sustainable buildings including the church of S. Luigi dei Falegnami, rebuilt after its roof collapsed in 2018; the World Food Programme (WFP); and the headquarters of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) which was the first building in Italy to obtain LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification.

Open House Roma

Since its launch in 2012, the annual initiative dedicated to Romes varied architectural design has opened up hundreds of interesting, important and sometimes off-limits buildings.

The Rome version of the worldwide Open House initiative, which began in London in 1992, is co-ordinated by hundreds of volunteers from the non-profit cultural association Open City Roma.

Online booking is required for all events which are divided into various themed categories and geographical areas of the city. For full programme see the Open House website.

Cover image Chicciola di Villa Medici. Photo credit: ValerioMei / Shutterstock.com
Rome investigation follows new probe by Vatican.

Rome prosecutors have opened a new investigation into the case of Emanuela Orlandi who disappeared aged 15 on her way home to Vatican City after a music lesson on 22 June 1983.

The fresh probe comes after Vatican authorities reportedly supplied Rome prosecutors with documents relating to the 40-year-old case in a new collaboration between the Holy See and the Italian capital.

The Vatican in January reopened an investigation into the unsolved mystery that inspired a recent Netflix documentary series - Vatican Girl - which purported to shed fresh light on Orlandi's disappearance four decades ago.

Controversy

Orlandi's brother Pietro sparked controversy last month after he gave Vatican prosecutors a recording of an alleged conversation between a journalist and the boss of a Rome criminal gang suspected of being involved in Emanuela's disappearance.

The voice of the alleged mobster insinuated that Pope John Paul II - the late Karol Wojtya who was declared a saint in 2014 - was implicated in the molestation of teenage girls by Vatican officials.

After airing the audiotape to Vatican prosecutors, Orlandi appeared on Italian television and claimed: "They tell me Wojtya used to go out in the evenings with two Polish monsignors and it certainly was not to bless houses".

Orlandi's remarks were slammed by Pope Francis as "offensive and unfounded insinuations while an editorial in Vatican newspaper LOsservatore Romano labelled them absurd and defamatory allegations.

Conspiracy theories

Over the decades Orlandi's disappearance has sparked conspiracy theories ranging from kidnap by a terrorist group demanding the release of Mehmet Ali Agca, who shot Pope John Paul II in St Peter's Square in 1981, to a financial scandal involving the Vatican Bank and the Banda della Magliana criminal gang.

One theory was that Orlandi was buried alongside Roman gangster Enrico De Pedis in the Basilica di S. Apollinare near Piazza Navona. However when his tomb was opened in 2012 there were no clues found.

Other false leads saw the Vatican reopen tombs in the Teutonic Cemetery, beside St Peter's, following an anonymous tip-off received by the family of the missing girl in 2019.

However the tombs were found to be empty, adding further mystery to a case that has captivated Italy for four decades.
Pantheon marks Pentecost with rose petal ceremony.

The spectacular tradition of rose petals fluttering down through the oculus of the Pantheon is held each year on the feast of Pentecost, which falls on 28 May in 2023.

The annual spectacle traditionally takes place after 10.30 Mass which this year will be presided over by Cardinal Sean Patrick OMalley, according to the Pantheon website.

The ancient ceremony involves fire-fighters dropping43 metres into the interior of the Pantheon , symbolising the Holy Spirits descent to Earth.

Due to its popularity, those interested in witnessing the event begin queuing several hours in advance, as entry ceases once the crowd reaches capacity.

The Pantheon made international headlines earlier this year after Italy's culture ministry announced that a 5 entry fee would be introduced this summer, following an agreement with church authorities.

Access to the landmark, which attracted 9.3 million visitors in 2019, will remain free to Rome residents, people attending religious services and the under-18s, while visitors under 25 will pay an entry fee of 2.

For more details about the Pentecost Mass and other liturgical events see the Pantheon website. Photo Roma Today.
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Whats happening with neoliberalism? Its erstwhile champion, the US, seems to be distancing itself from its free-market mantra, larding its climate policy with protectionist goodies while dismantling the WTO in favor of what national security advisor Jake Sullivan calls a new consensus over a modern industrial and innovation strategy. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight But the fiercest battle over the ideological framework that took over in the 1980s as the worlds ruling paradigm  the so-called Washington Consensus  is being fought thousands of miles south of Washington, in Chile.

During the 1970s, Chilean economists trained by Milton Friedman and co-religionaries at the University of Chicago launched perhaps the most radical experiment known to modern economics, ceding vast expanses of economic and social policy to the markets as a matter of programmatic principle. Now, Chile is being consumed by a profound, often violent conflict over those policies, which despite producing a long run of relative prosperity left much of its people to languish behind.

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For many developing countries, Chiles internal battles may matter more than the pussyfooting in Washington, shaping debates over the role of the markets across Latin America and beyond. The battles gone on for four years now. Its outcome is is still hard to predict.

In 2019, weeks after its billionaire president Sebastian Pinera ran a victory lap calling Chile a true oasis amidst Latin Americas turmoil, the country exploded. Chileans took to the streets clamoring against corporate greed. Two years later they elected a 35-year-old left-wing firebrand, Gabriel Boric, to replace Pinera at the top.

An elected council heavily tilted to the left drew up a new constitution creating hundreds of state-guaranteed rights (to housing, education, health care, free time, sexual education, free legal advice, culturally relevant food) Boric had vowed that if Chile was the cradle of neoliberalism, it will also be its grave.

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And yet, it seems, Chileans changed their minds. Last year, they rejected the utopian proposals crafted by the rebels. Last week, they voted for another council to give constitutional reform another shot. This time they handed it to the right. On May 7, Jose Antonio Kast, the right-wing candidate whom Boric had defeated for the presidency two years before, celebrated his partys majority declaring victory over that left that threatened to relaunch everything.

It would be wrong, however, to give the win to market fundamentalism. Whats going on in Chile is more than a pendular swing from pro-market right to collectivist left and back. It is the expression of the inchoate yet powerful discontent of citizens who feel disregarded, disrespected, marginalized by the status quo and yet have no clear idea of how to change it, or sometimes even whom to blame. Governments from Mexico City to Brasilia, Buenos Aires to Lima and Bogota should take note.

In the 1970s Cuba was Chilean president Salvador Allendes North Star. His economic advisors drew on dependency theory and structuralism to break from market economics and take the Chilean road to socialism. When General Augusto Pinochet deposed him in a bloody coup in 1973, he called on the Chicago Boys  products of a State Department effort to draw Chilean economists onto the US side of the Cold War  to build a new era of market supremacy.

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Chileans have now rejected both. That doesnt mean, though, that they know where they want to go. They are navigating without a compass.

Similar mood swings are taking place across Latin America. In Brazil, politics have alternated from left to right and back over the last 10 years. Argentina looks likely to swing in the opposite direction. Mexicos old-school leftist president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, hopes to straddle both sides, shrouding Wall Street-friendly economic policies with vintage 1970s rhetoric against the petite bourgeoisie.

The Chilean economist Sebastian Edwards has a valuable vantage point on this conflict. As a college student he worked for the Allende government, in the department managing its byzantine price controls. And he left Chile after General Pinochets forces seized power. But, though not a Chicago Boy, he is a graduate of the University of Chicago. And in the 1990s he was chief economist for Latin America at the World Bank.

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Edwards new book, The Chile Project chronicles the construction of Chiles neoliberal economic model  under which prices were freed, companies were privatized, taxes lowered and markets drawn in to deliver an increasing range of services  from education and health to clean water and old-age pensions. Despite the missteps by the left since Boric came to power in 2021, he concludes, the neoliberal era will not be revived.

The question is, then, what will take its place?

Whats most interesting, perhaps, is that despite a bloody history nested in the power politics of the Cold War, Chiles neoliberalism is not just a right-wing construct. As Edwards points out, the left-of-center governments of the Concertacion that took power after Pinochet stepped down in 1990 even expanded the markets role, all while social spending remained near the bottom of the range of countries in the OECD.

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It was not irrational: Chile had been growing fast since 1986. In 1985 its gross domestic product per person amounted to only about 75% of the Latin American average, after accounting for differences in purchasing power. By 2019, when Chileans took to the streets of Santiago, it was over 50% greater. The Concertacion wanted to protect the goose of the golden eggs.

But in so doing, it failed to address the models weaknesses. These included insufficient pensions, bulging student debt, and the big one: Inequality in Chile remains among the highest in the OECD. When students rushed onto the streets of Santiago in 2019, ostensibly protesting a 30-peso raise in subway fares, they chanted its not about 30 pesos; its about 30 years, a reference to the Concertacions 30-year rule.

One might conclude that the zigs and zags of the Chilean electorate will ultimately land on some politically viable platform of reform, perhaps one halfway from the extremes, that pushes markets back somewhat, expands social spending and grants the state a larger role in critical services like health, education and retirement.

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Writing in September of last year, Edwards suggested that most of the economic system built by the Chicago Boys will be replaced by a social democratic system like the one that prevails in the European and, especially, the Nordic nations. This is plausible. After all, there are powerful political incentives for Chiles right and left to compromise and produce a moderate constitutional reform that voters will accept.

It would not be a bad outcome. And maybe if Chile finds its way to build this social democratic equilibrium, it could again offer itself as a model of social and economic governance, as it did when it was the poster child of neoliberalism. The challenge this time is to understand the inchoate frustration that has taken hold in Argentina and Brazil, Mexico, Colombia and Peru, and help deliver the people from the volatile politics that neoliberalism helped to unleash.

Elsewhere in Bloomberg Opinion:

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 Chiles Election Heralds Trouble for Latin Americas Left: Juan Pablo Spinetto

 The Global South Owes America a Thank You: Hal Brands

 Governance Must Trump Ideology in Latin Americas Elections: Shannon ONeil

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This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Eduardo Porter is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Latin America, US economic policy and immigration. He is the author of American Poison: How Racial Hostility Destroyed Our Promise and The Price of Everything: Finding Method in the Madness of What Things Cost.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

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Taking place in the first city to suffer an atomic bombing, this weekends Group of Seven summit has a certain poetry. The choice of Hiroshima as the venue is more than Japans leader, Fumio Kishida, picking his home constituency. The country holds the G-7 presidency just as the eight-decade taboo on the use of nuclear weapons feels closer than ever to being broken due to Russias invasion of Ukraine. The prime minister has a lifelong commitment to denuclearization, stating in his 2021 book that as a Japanese politician from Hiroshima, it is my duty to continue to speak about the inhumanity of nuclear weapons. Hell spend much of this weekend promoting their complete elimination.

But the timing and location have an irony, too. Its also Kishida who is overseeing the greatest expansion of Japanese military power since the end of World War II, a push thats moving the country even closer to the US  which is, after all, the greatest nuclear power in the world. Its the only nation to have used such weapons in conflict, and its nuclear umbrella is more vital than ever as Japans security shield.

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Japanese leaders have wrestled with this contradiction for years, leading to compromises such as the countrys three principles of not possessing, producing or permitting nuclear weapons on its soil. But Russias invasion of Ukraine, and the looming threat of a conflict over Taiwan, has made Tokyos commitment to peace an ever-smaller needle to thread.

In US President Joe Biden, Kishida has a counterpart who believes in old-fashioned diplomacy and a rules-based order, and has displayed the kind of nerve on Chinese expansionism that was singularly lacking when he was Barack Obamas vice president and Beijing was militarizing islands in the South China Sea. US support is one of the reasons Kishida has been able to lift a decades-old cap on defense spending.

Until recently, such a move would have been met with suspicion across the Pacific. Now, the US ambassador has hailed it as starting a new era in the defense of democracy. While the prime ministers office may not have been happy with a Time magazine cover featuring Kishida in which said he wanted to abandon decades of pacifism, the premier has nonetheless found himself at a point in time when Japans geopolitical significance is surging.

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With the G-7 taking place in a country that borders Russia and would be on the frontlines of a conflict over Taiwan, security will be at the top of the agenda. And while Kishida will seek agreement on a statement supporting the elimination of nuclear weapons, hell know that progress on denuclearization has rarely seemed more distant.

Russias invasion of Ukraine has raised the stakes. Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chair of Russias Security Council, threatened earlier this year that the Wests move to supply weapons to Ukraine was bringing nuclear apocalypse closer. Kyiv  which briefly had the worlds third-largest nuclear arsenal  gave up the weapons on its territory in 1994 after the fall of the Soviet Union, in exchange for security guarantees. It is incumbent on G-7 leaders to make a strong commitment to continued military and financial support for Ukraine to ensure there isnt a resurgent interest in nuclear weapons as a way of safeguarding sovereignty and independence. In the case of North Korea thats too late, with Pyongyang undeniably having become a fully fledged nuclear power over the past decade. And that in turn has led South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to recently suggest his country might need to develop atomic weapons, though he has since backed off the idea following a visit to Washington.

The G-7 leaders will have little difficulty finding common ground on Ukraine, with Kishida showing a much stronger stance than his predecessors. And although he warned last year that Ukraine today may be East Asia tomorrow, finding consensus on the crucial issue of Chinas increasing assertiveness through the region could be trickier. The summit in Asia represents a chance to convince the likes of French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, both of whom have made controversial trips to Beijing since the last G-7 meeting, of the risks. But more concrete steps might involve the smaller post-summit meeting of the Quad nations in Australia, that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Kishida and Indias Narendra Modi will attend (Biden will now return to the US to deal with the debt ceiling talks.)

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The Hiroshima summit also puts into perspective how quickly things have changed since the last time G-7 leaders gathered in Japan. At Ise-shima in 2016, China wasnt even mentioned in the joint statement  now, Beijings economic coercion is expected to be a key concern noted in this years communique. Seven years ago, Japan was still shaken by domestic protests over security legislation enacted in 2015, in stark contrast to the broad support for his military expansion plans that Kishida enjoys now.

Back then, Obama became the first sitting US president to visit Hiroshima, accompanied by Kishida, for whom it was a coming of age on the international stage. Bidens visit, with other world leaders, may well lack that gravitas. Kishida seems unlikely to get concrete steps toward his denuclearization goal. But nonetheless, his homeland  a city destroyed and rebuilt by the decisions and mistakes of leaders past  will be a poignant backdrop to a crucial meeting of their successors.

More From Bloomberg Opinion:

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 How Japans Leader Got His Groove Back: Gearoid Reidy

 China Can Be an Economic Bully. The West Shouldnt Be: Editorial

 Kims Right, North Korea Is a Nuclear State: Gearoid Reidy

(Updates ninth paragraph to show Biden will now not attend the Quad meeting.)

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Gearoid Reidy is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Japan and the Koreas. He previously led the breaking news team in North Asia, and was the Tokyo deputy bureau chief.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

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A sign is displayed on the Morgan Stanley building in New York

(Reuters) -Morgan Stanley is considering a 7% cut in its Asia-Pacific investment banking workforce, or about 40 jobs, according to a source with direct knowledge of the matter.

The cuts would mainly impact the investment banking and capital markets business in the region, not including Japan.

A Morgan Stanley spokesperson declined to comment.

The job cuts are part of a global reduction in light of market conditions and to reduce expenses, the source said. The person declined to be identified because the information was not public.

News of the job cuts was first reported by Bloomberg News on Tuesday.

The bank was planning to reduce about 3,000 jobs globally in the second quarter, Reuters reported on May 1 in its second round of job cuts in six months.

Slow dealmaking and a tough economic environment prompted the investment bank to look at its staffing, a source said at the time.

Morgan Stanley had more than 82,000 employees at the end of March, so cutting 3,000 jobs would represent a reduction in staff of nearly 4%.

Global dealmaking has slowed down dramatically. Corporate buyout activity plunged to its lowest level in a decade in the first quarter of 2023.

In Asia, the value of deals involving the region's companies totalled $176 billion in the first quarter of 2023, 34% less than a year earlier and the lowest level since 2013, Refinitiv data shows.

Capital markets activity across the region has also slowed sharply. The outlook for Hong Kong initial public offerings (IPO) looks weak for the rest of the year, according to advisors.

(Reporting by Nilutpal Timsina in Bengaluru; writing by Scott Murdoch in Sydney; Editing by Kim Coghill and Neil Fullick)
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As the war in Ukraine grinds on, and the barbarism of Vladimir Putins forces grows more ghastly, taboos about which weapons systems should be given Ukraine for its defense have gradually broken down. It finally seems to be dawning on Western powers that the real escalation risk comes from Ukraine having insufficient means to defend itself.

That logic has informed Britains stance from the start of the war and continues. Earlier this year, the UK became the first country to send battle tanks to Ukraine. Last week, Britain announced it had dispensed with another taboo, sending long-range missiles to Ukraine.

Volodomyr Zelenskiy tweeted his thanks to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak after the announcement last week, but the hug on Monday when they met in person  their encounter at Chequers was where Winston Churchill made many wartime speeches  probably said it best. There were also some sweeteners to last weeks announcement. To support Ukraines counteroffensive, Sunak further promised long-range attack drones and training for Ukrainian fighter pilots as Britain looks to lead a coalition to supply Ukraine with the F-16 fighter jets.

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Why exactly it has fallen to Britain to play this role owes to a number of factors, from the legacy of Britains World War II role to its efforts to forge a new international role post-Brexit to the convictions of individual figures. Unlike within the US and some other NATO allies, UK support for arming Ukraine cuts across political lines. Its not that Britons dismiss the escalation fears mooted mainly by some Republicans in the US or written all over Germanys slow-walking of military aid before now; but the UK sees a much bigger risk in allowing Putin a victory he can then use to build on. 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, said Sunak Monday and its hard to find many in Britain who would prefer forcing Ukraine into a negotiated settlement instead.

Success in the counteroffensive and longer war will require other countries to follow the UK lead. The provision of Storm Shadow missiles has the potential to shape both the military and political landscape, not unlike the role played by US-supplied Himars (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) in helping Ukraine retake swaths of territory last autumn. Himars enabled Ukrainian forces to take out logistics hubs, communication nodes and other high-value targets.

While those weapons continue to be vital for Ukraine, their range (a maximum of 50 miles) is not sufficient for Ukraine to support a major counteroffensive. They have also been subject to electronic jamming from Russia. Long-range missiles provide a whole other level of capability. The Storm Shadow missiles have triple the range of Himars, giving Ukrainians the potential to strike far behind the front line, further disrupting Russias already horrendous logistics problems.

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Ukraine lobbied hard for the slightly longer-range US-made Atacms, but in many ways the Storm Shadow (jointly developed by the UK and France) are a better choice for its pinpoint accuracy. It has a two-stage Broach warhead  the initial charge can penetrate concrete or hard earth, clearing the way for the inner warhead to hit a well-protected target. University of Oslo missile expert Fabian Hoffman tweets a striking video of a similarly designed Taurus cruise missile.

Of course, the military impact of a few long-range missiles shouldnt be overstated, notes Kings College London military historian Simon Anglim. At 2 million ($2.5 million) each, Ukrainian forces are likely to save them only for important targets. The UK gift also comes with some limitations on usage. Hitting supply lines within Russia itself would be tempting for any Ukrainian commander, but that worries the US and other allies. Zelenskiy assured German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin that Ukraine would only use its capabilities within its own sovereign territory, which also seems to be Britains stipulation.

Still, the missiles put Crimea in scope and the famous Kerch bridge linking it to Russia, with all its symbolic and practical importance to Putin. The Kremlins puppet leader in Crimea  Georgiy Muradov  was so scathing about the gift that he threatened the UK will be turned into a devastated territory for its decision. It also allows Ukraine to target command posts and supply depots into Donetsk and Luhansk, the eastern territories that Putin invaded and illegally annexed. That seems to be what happened over the weekend in a strike 80 miles behind the front line in Luhansk City, hitting a depot used to store military equipment and rest soldiers. Russia naturally claimed it was a civilian target.

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The Storm Shadows real significance is as much political as military. Just as the decision to donate a small number of Challenger 2 tanks spurred Germany to release the Leopards, we should hope that Britain has paved the way for other countries with similar long-range missiles in their arsenal to make donations, while further advancing talks on the provision of F-16s, which would ensure Ukraines longer-term defense. Withholding these tools for Ukraines defense is the ultimate false economy.

MORE FROM BLOOMBERG OPINION:

 Ukraine Shows Wars Are Won by Strategy Not Power: Hal Brands

 Blood, Toil, Tears, Sweat and Zelenskiy: Therese Raphael

 Europe Crowns Zelenskiy As Its New Charlemagne: Andreas Kluth

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Therese Raphael is a columnist for Bloomberg Opinion covering health care and British politics. Previously, she was editorial page editor of the Wall Street Journal Europe.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

2023 Bloomberg L.P.

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Results from a small study of a pancreatic vaccine are promising enough to merit cautious optimism. Researchers are figuring out how to train immune cells to see and destroy cancers  even devastating ones like pancreatic cancer. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight Any progress against pancreatic cancer should be lauded. But the vaccine still has a lot to prove before reaching the market. And even if it gets there, it can only (for now) help a small slice of pancreatic cancer patients.

No matter its long-term success, though, the study is important for its lessons about how to target pancreatic cancer  and what it says about the potential to use the immune system to battle more types of tumors.

In the study, led by oncologists at Memorial Sloan Kettering who teamed up with BioNTech in Germany, 16 people with pancreatic cancer were given the vaccine alongside chemotherapy. The vaccine prompted an immune response in half of the patients. After 18 months, none of them showed signs of disease recurrence.

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That such a small study has generated so much excitement reflects this cancers notoriety. While early detection, lifestyle interventions and better treatments have helped people with other cancers live longer, the five-year survival rate for someone diagnosed with pancreatic cancer is just 12%. By 2030, pancreatic cancer is projected to be the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the US, surpassed only by lung cancer.

Because pancreatic cancer tends to be so swift, one big lesson from this study is simply that its possible to create a vaccine quickly enough to make a difference. Much like Moderna and Mercks cancer vaccine, which recently generated excitement for its potential to prevent melanoma from returning, these shots are tailored to a patients own tumor. Memorial Sloan Kettering researchers sent samples to BioNTech in Germany, where the tumor was analyzed to determine which mutations might elicit a helpful immune response. The recipe for up to 20 of those proteins were encoded in a personalized mRNA vaccine that was mailed back to the oncologists.

Technology  inexpensive and rapid genome sequencing, AI, and mRNA  made it possible for patients to get their first doses in about nine weeks after their surgery.

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The trials other big lesson is that an mRNA vaccine can elicit an immune response even in people with a cancer with few mutations. Until now, the conventional wisdom with cancer vaccines is that they will work best, and perhaps only work, in tumors with lots of mutations (like melanoma). Thats because the vaccine trains the immune cells to spot whats different about cancer cells  mutated proteins  so they will mobilize to destroy them.

Yet this vaccine created a robust immune response even though pancreatic cancers have few mutations, says Vinod P. Balachandran, the pancreatic cancer surgeon at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center who led the study. That finding could signal broader applicability of personalized cancer vaccines.

There is an important caveat, though: Because a biopsy doesnt give researchers enough material to analyze, this bespoke vaccine can only be created for patients who are able to undergo surgery to remove their tumors. Thats at most about 20% of the pancreatic cancer population. Thats also the population that has the best chances of responding to a vaccine.

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Decades ago, researchers were trying to use therapeutic cancer vaccines in people with advanced disease. At that stage, not only is the cancer a problem, but patients, in particular pancreatic cancer patients, have a host of other health issues that dampen the immune response. Trying to rev up those T-cells in that scenario with a vaccine alone is like trying to roll a boulder uphill, says Anirban Maitra, a pancreatic cancer specialist at MD Anderson in Houston. After surgery, the immune system is going up against a much more manageable enemy.

The Memorial Sloan Kettering researchers demonstrated how well that could work. After vaccination, one patient developed a suspicious lesion in the liver that harbored a mutation found in the pancreatic tumor, suggesting the disease had spread. Tests and images showed vaccine-trained immune cells crowding to the site. Later, the lesion disappeared. Thats exactly what the vaccine is supposed to do, Maitra says.

While this vaccine (and others in development) wind through clinical trials, the field should be throwing everything into figuring out how to ensure more patients can benefit from it. That will mean diagnosing pancreatic cancer earlier. Some 80% of pancreatic cancers are discovered after tumors have already spread to other organs, a point where most patients cant undergo surgery and their chances of surviving the disease are vanishingly small.

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But here, too, theres good news. In another promising study last week, researchers used artificial intelligence to analyze the medical records of millions of patients from Denmark and the US, including nearly 28,000 who developed pancreatic cancer. By looking across decades of data, the group identified a cluster of symptoms that could be early signs of cancer nearly a year before it was diagnosed in real life. Ideally, this information could be used by doctors to identify and monitor patients at risk of developing the disease, allowing many to undergo surgery and treatment before tumors have spread.

The caveats to these studies are many. But there is finally real hope that the bleak survival statistics for pancreatic cancer could meaningfully change.

More From Lisa Jarvis at Bloomberg Opinion:

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 Bats, Cheetahs and Hippos Unlock Mysteries of the Human Genome

 Pfizer and Seagen Bet on the Future of Cancer Drugs

 The Age of Colon Cancer Prevention Is Getting Younger

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Lisa Jarvis is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering biotech, health care and the pharmaceutical industry. Previously, she was executive editor of Chemical & Engineering News.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

2023 Bloomberg L.P.

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Although no one knows how the war in Ukraine will end, the countrys leaders maintain that theyll continue to face the threat of Russian aggression long after the fighting subsides. Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has said that the only way to ensure the countrys security is for it to join NATO. He wants the alliance to commit to a timetable for Ukraines membership during its July summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Its a good idea at a terrible time. NATO members are rightly wary of discussing such an escalation while the war is raging. Yet Ukraines eventual membership should remain a strategic goal: It would safeguard the countrys independence, bolster the stability of Europe as a whole, and deter Vladimir Putin from ever again attempting to seize control of his neighbor.

In 2008, NATO member states made a nonbinding pledge to eventually admit Ukraine and Georgia, both former Soviet republics vulnerable to Russian pressure. However, the alliance refrained from offering either country a so-called Membership Action Plan, a necessary step toward formal acceptance. Officials have since downplayed Kyivs prospects out of fear of provoking Putin, who insists that the mere possibility of Ukraines membership poses an existential threat. In a last-ditch effort to forestall a Russian invasion last January, US President Joe Biden went so far as to declare that the prospect was not very likely in the near future.

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That Putin went ahead anyway demonstrates the folly of attempting to placate him. If anything, the war shows that NATOs doctrine of mutual defense  under which an attack against one member is considered an attack on all  is the strongest deterrent against Russian aggression. For all its brutality in Ukraine, Russia has avoided hostile actions against countries like Poland and the Baltic states, knowing they would trigger a NATO response. After Finland and Sweden submitted a joint membership bid in response to Russias invasion, Putin warned of unspecified consequences if NATO went forward. Yet once the alliance formally admitted Finland last month, the Kremlin said only that it would be watching closely.

Ukrainian membership would surely be unsettling to Moscow. But NATO should base its decisions on its own interests  not Russias. Eventually admitting Ukraine would make it easier to deliver military support and share intelligence. The alliance would be able to reap the benefits of the Wests investments in training and equipping Ukraines military, which is now among the most battle-tested in Europe. In addition, the security guarantees that come with NATO membership would help to stabilize Ukraines economy, encourage refugees to return home, and attract foreign investment  all of which are critical to the countrys ability to recover from the war and eventually stand on its own feet.

That said, the process shouldnt be rushed. Admitting Ukraine while its still fighting to liberate territory would be both impractical and dangerous, potentially drawing NATO into direct military conflict with Russia. But failing to address the issue would be equally shortsighted. Biden and his counterparts should instead use the Vilnius summit to reiterate their intention to admit Ukraine once the situation stabilizes and the government in Kyiv meets the conditions of membership. Putin might respond by ruling out peace negotiations and intensifying attacks, but his military cant sustain such operations indefinitely. So long as Ukraines status remains ambiguous, however, theres nothing to stop Putin from agreeing to freeze the conflict, rebuilding his forces, and resuming his assault at a later date.

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A renewed NATO commitment to admit Ukraine is the best defense against that outcome.

More From Bloomberg Opinion:

 Ukraine in NATO? The Heart Says Yes But the Head Says No: Andreas Kluth

 Putins Victory Day Brings Evidence of Defeat: Leonid Bershidsky

 Ukraines Big Offensive Could Put Biden in a Bind: Hal Brands

The Editors are members of the Bloomberg Opinion editorial board.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

2023 Bloomberg L.P.

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HONG KONG  The life sentence imposed by China on a 78-year-old U.S. citizen, who was also a Hong Kong permanent resident, on spying charges shows the city should stay vigilant to security risks, its leader said Tuesday. Are you on Telegram? Subscribe to our channel for the latest updates on Russias war in Ukraine. ArrowRight Chief Executive John Lee answered none of the lingering questions about why John Shing-Wan Leung was prosecuted. The sentence was announced Monday but neither the Hong Kong government nor the court in the eastern Chinese city of Suzhou that tried Leung have released details of the charges.

This incident showed us that national security risks could be hidden in society. Thats why we repeatedly stressed that, although Hong Kongs situation appears to be largely stabilized, we cant let down our guard over national security risks and have to stay vigilant, Lee said.

The government said mainland Chinese authorities had informed Hong Kong of his arrest in 2021. Hong Kongs government was prepared to provide assistance to anyone arrested by mainland authorities upon request but had not yet received any in Leungs case, authorities said.

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Lee, a former police officer and ex-head of security in the city, was effectively appointed to lead Hong Kong last year after running unopposed in an election choreographed by Beijing. In his previous posts, he oversaw a campaign that crushed the pro-democracy camp.

In an echo of party propaganda, Lee referred to the 2019 pro-democracy protests that triggered the crackdown as black violence and Hong Kongs version of color revolution, a phrase used by China and Russia to describe political movements seeking to overturn authoritarian regimes. Lee said the protest movement was an alarm bell that reminds the city to keep monitoring such risks.

Leungs sentencing threatens to further exacerbate already strained ties between Beijing and Washington.

Leung was detained April 15, 2021, by the local bureau of Chinas counterintelligence agency in 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 lockdowns affecting tens of millions to fight the spread of COVID-19.

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Such investigations and trials are held behind closed doors and little information is generally released.

The harsh sentence given Leung was especially notable because of his previous affiliations with pro-Communist Party organizations, including one seeking overseas support for Beijings goal of unification with self-governing Taiwan.

Relations between Washington and Beijing are at their lowest in decades amid disputes over trade, technology, human rights and Chinas increasingly aggressive territorial claims toward Taiwan, the South China Sea and elsewhere.

High-level government exchanges between the sides have been placed on hold and U.S. companies are delaying major investments amid mixed messaging from Beijing. Many Chinese firms, most notably telecoms giant Huawei, have been effectively shut out of the U.S. market due to legal bans and high tariffs.

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The sentencing comes as U.S. President Joe Biden is traveling to Hiroshima, Japan this weekend for the summit of the Group of Seven major industrial nations, followed by a visit to Papua New Guinea, a Pacific island nation in a region where China has sought to expand its economic, military and diplomatic influence.

While the Suzhou court offered no indication of a link between Leungs case and overall China-U.S. relations, spying charges in China often appear highly selective and evidence backing them up is held in secret. The partys rigid control over courts, civil society and the media effectively blocks efforts to gain further information or mount legal appeals.

The U.S. Embassy in Beijing said Monday it was aware of Leungs 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.

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A former British colony, Hong Kong was promised it would retain its financial, social and political liberties when returned to China in 1997. Beijing has since torn up that commitment through progressively harsher restrictions on public gatherings, free speech and political participation, while still promoting the city as an efficient and corruption-free center for trade and finance.

Meanwhile, on the mainland, Chinese national security agencies have 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.

The pressure on foreign companies appears to clash with attempts by Beijing to lure back foreign investors after draconian COVID-19 pandemic restrictions were lifted at the beginning of the year.

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It wasnt clear who represented Leung at his trial and his family has not commented on the sentence. Friends and former colleagues declined The Associated Press requests for comment.

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. Online commentary and independent information sources have been muzzled and universities ordered to censor discussions of human rights, modern Chinese history and ideas that could prompt questions about total Communist Party control.

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Xis government has also taken a hard line on foreign relations, most recently ordering a Canadian diplomat to leave at short notice in retaliation for Ottawas expulsion of a staffer at the Chinese Embassy who was accused of threatening a member of the Canadian Parliament and his family members living in Hong Kong.

Chinas leader for a decade who faces no term limits, Xi has taken a highly confrontational stance toward the U.S. and other democracies, while backing Russian President Vladimir Putin in his invasion of Ukraine and supporting other autocratic governments from Nicaragua to Myanmar.

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Elon Musk posted a series of late-night tweets attacking Mr Soros days after reports that his fund had sold its entire Tesla stake - AP Photo/Benjamin Fanjoy

Elon Musk has been accused of fuelling anti-semitism after comparing George Soros to the Jewish supervillain Magneto and claiming that the billionaire philanthropist hates humanity.

Mr Musk posted a series of late-night tweets attacking Mr Soros days after reports that his fund had sold its entire $16m (12.8m) stake in Tesla during the first quarter of 2023.

The comments overshadowed Teslas annual investor day, at which Mr Musk pledged to roll out new products and bet that the companys future success would be fuelled by sales of humanoid robots dubbed Tesla Optimus.

The Tesla chief executive wrote on Twitter: Soros reminds me of Magneto.

Mr Musk, the worlds second richest man, added: He wants to erode the very fabric of civilization. Soros hates humanity.

Magneto is the nemesis of the X-Men in the Marvel comics who wants to conquer the world and believes that superpowered mutants should replace humans as the master race.

Magnetos parents were killed in the Holocaust at the Auschwitz concentration camp. Mr Soros, 92, survived Nazi occupation of Hungary and moved to the UK in 1947.

The comments sparked a wave of criticism, with Israels foreign ministry and the Jewish non-governmental organisation Anti-Defamation League (ADL) accusing Mr Musk of stoking anti-semitism.

David Saranga, the head of digital at Israels foreign ministry, said: The Jews is trending right now on #Twitter and its filled with AntiSemitic conspiracies and hate speech targeting Jews around the world. Unfortunately Twitter does nothing to address this problem.

ADL chief executive Jonathan Greenblatt said: Soros often is held up by the far-right, using antisemitic tropes, as the source of the worlds problems.

David Saranga, the head of digital at Israels foreign ministry, said: The Jews is trending right now on #Twitter and its filled with AntiSemitic conspiracies and hate speech targeting Jews around the world. Unfortunately Twitter does nothing to address this problem.

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He continued: To see @ElonMusk, regardless of his intent, feed this segment - comparing him to a Jewish supervillain, claiming Soros hates humanity" - is not just distressing, it's dangerous: it will embolden extremists who already contrive anti-Jewish conspiracies and have tried to attack Soros and Jewish communities as a result.

Yair Rosenberg, a Jewish-American journalist at The Atlantic, described Mr Soros and Magneto as literally ideological opposites.

He said: "George Soros is an avowed universalist who grew up speaking Esperanto, an artificial universal language that was meant to unite all people under one tongue. Magneto is an avowed particularist who devotes all his energy to his own people, mutants.

Documents filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission last week showed that Mr Soross family office, Soros Fund Management, offloaded more than 132,000 shares in Tesla between January and March.

The fund began buying shares in the electric vehicle maker for the first time at the start of 2022, and gradually expanded its stake throughout the year.

The sale is expected to have delivered significant returns for Mr Soros following the surge in Teslas share price earlier this year.

At Teslas annual shareholder meeting on Tuesday, Mr Musk predicted that its robot will create the majority of the companys long-term value.

He said the tech firm could make up to 20bn Tesla robots based on expected demand. Its some very big number is what Im saying - a number vastly in excess of the number of cars, Mr Musk said.

He also denied rumours that he will be stepping down as chief executive of Tesla, instead saying that he wants to oversee its role in developing artificial intelligence.

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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.
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.
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.
Thirteen children have been taken to hospital, including 10 with serious injuries, after a truck collided with a school bus carrying 45 primary school students on Melbournes western fringe.

Victoria Police Superintendent Michael Cruse said the bus left nearby Exford Primary School  just south of Melton  about 3.30pm and was attempting to turn right onto Murphys Road when a truck crashed into the back of it, rolling the vehicle on its side.

Ambulance Victoria said 14 people involved in the crash were taken to hospital, including 10 with serious injuries.

Ambulances also took the adult bus driver and three other children to hospital in a stable condition.
Jenny disputed claims in the documents that she told hospital staff she would refuse chemotherapy and instead treat him homeopathically. Were not hippies, we werent going to run away into the bush and give him blueberries and not accept that hes got leukaemia, she said. I just wanted to know everything that I could and we just wanted to give our brains a chance to comprehend what we were hearing. Im not anti-chemo, I just wanted it to be my choice for my child and for my family. Instead, Jenny alleged the oncologist told her she would red flag her to the Department of Child Protection if James* was removed from the hospital, telling her he could get an infection and be dead within 60 minutes.

WAtoday is not using the familys real names, as children in care cannot legally be identified. I just broke down hysterically, Jenny said. I couldnt believe what I was hearing. I told them to call DCP, that I wanted to talk to them myself. I wasnt worried because I knew I had done nothing wrong. Later that day, Jenny said she, her younger son and her mother were locked out of the ward where James was staying and forced to leave the hospital without him.

Loading She was served with a section 37 order, which gave DCP employees the power to take a child into provisional care if the officer suspects on reasonable grounds that there is an immediate and substantial risk to the childs wellbeing. After two months in hospital receiving chemotherapy, James was placed in foster care more than an hours drive from his Hamilton Hill home and enrolled into a new school. Jenny is only allowed to see him for short supervised visits and has been banned from attending any of his ongoing treatment appointments at PCH. He has not seen his three-year-old brother or grandmother since his diagnosis.

Legal fight launched Court documents revealed the DCP was attempting to keep James under the care of the state for two years while his treatment continues, citing neglect as the reason. The parents [are] unable to provide or arrange effective medical, therapeutic, or other remedial treatment for the child or risk of that, the documents stated. Perth Childrens Hospital staff called the department on the same day Jenny was told about James leukaemia and treatment plan. In explaining why James was removed from his mothers care, the documents said: [PCH was] concerned that [the childs mother and grandmother] were threatening to discharge [the child] against medical advice. [Jenny] presented very hostile and aggressive. [The grandmother] was described as very obstructive and pathological as she raised her voice and talked over staff at Perth Childrens Hospital.

The fight has now spilt over into Perth Childrens Court, where Jenny is trying to get custody of her son back. Both women denied the allegations and claimed they only ever wanted a second opinion and to explore alternative treatments that could be used in conjunction with chemotherapy. I hadnt even been allowed to adjust and accept that my child was sick, Jenny said. I was just angry at that point. There was going to be no trust. I asked for a different doctor. I asked for his drip to be taken out so I could take him and things got a little heated, and I was yelling and upset but not once did I ever refuse any treatment. I just wanted to take him somewhere else but there.

It was already horrendous what was being done, I didnt want any more of it. We tried to communicate, tried to come to an agreement, but we werent getting anywhere. They claimed an oncologist at the hospital would not allow them to get a second opinion from outside the hospital. The women claimed they asked staff if James could be relocated to Fiona Stanley Hospital for a few days to be closer to their home, making it easier for the whole family to be with him while they looked at options. They also claimed his risk of a life-threatening infection leading to death would have been mitigated by living just seven minutes drive from the hospital, and that at the time James was doing cartwheels and looking as healthy as ever.

Allegedly, at no time were they offered any counselling or support services. The case is now before Perth Childrens Court, where a judge will decide whether James continues his treatment in the care of his family or with a foster family. Jenny said DCP had stated she must work with the hospital if she was to have her parental rights reinstated, but claimed she has been repeatedly asking for test results, meetings with the treatment team, and information about her sons situation since January. Child and Adolescent Health Service chief executive Valeria Jovanovic said quality care and patient safety was the highest priority at Perth Childrens Hospital. At all times the child, and their families and carers, are at the centre of all clinical decisions, she said.
Silk factories, stilt houses, floating markets, flower farms, temples - youll find them all in the towns and villages along the Mekong River.

CAI BE

Cai Be and its floating markets Credit: iStock

Most towns are set back from the ever-flooding Mekong, but Cai Be is an exception. Its mouldy French colonial church appears to float on the waterlily-tangled water, and its market becomes mobile as locals take to rowboats piled with greens and tropical fruit, their wares advertised on the ends of long wooden poles. Although there are no great sights, wandering rewards you, since back streets are lined with shops and small businesses where locals make sweets, rice noodles or mahogany furniture, and sell everything from bonsai trees to computers. Innumerable cafes and sampans for trips along canals tempt you to idleness. See vietnam.travel

SA DEC
Theres a handful of hippy towns in Australia. Id put Byron Bay on the list, thats old Byron before the arrival of cashed-up southerners and US celebrities. Id add loveable neighbour Mullumbimby and blissful Bellingen and Central Tilba also in NSW, while Queenslands Kuranda, Victorias Daylesford and Tasmanias Cygnet also qualify.

But Id say Nimbin, 75 kilometres west of Byron and up the road from Lismore, really takes the hash brownie.

In Nimbin, things operate on Nimbin time. Credit: Alamy

We can thank the Aquarius Festival, held over 10 days in May 1973, for putting the former dairy community on the map and into the nations collective consciousness. It was Australias first counter-culture festival and the first to seek permission from the Indigenous custodians to use their land.

Nimbin sits in a valley surrounded by wooded rolling hills with national parks to the north and east. Just out of town are Nimbin Rocks, a clutch of volcanic rhyolite extrusions, left over from the Mount Warning eruption eons ago, standing like sentinels in the rainforest. In contrast, the town is a riot of colour, with a row of Indigenous-themed murals on heritage shop fronts, painted just months before the festival began.
Heidi Gutman/CNBC via Getty Images

Nelson Peltz's Trian Partners recently added 500,000 shares of Disney, sources told Bloomberg.

That brings the total stake to about 6.4 million shares.

Peltz had campaigned for a board seat earlier this year but abandoned the battle in February.

Nelson Peltz's firm Trian Partners recently added about 500,000 shares to its Walt Disney stake, sources told Bloomberg.

Peltz had campaigned for a Disney board seat earlier this year before abandoning his efforts in February.

At the end of March, Peltz slashed his 9.4 million-share stake by 34%, but sources told Bloomberg that he has since purchased another 500,000 shares.

That brought his total holdings to 6.4 million shares, worth about $594 million based on Disney's Tuesday stock price of $92.

"Disney committed to strategic and operating improvements that generally aligned with the initiatives we had previously discussed with the company," Trian said in a Monday statement. "We believe these initiatives can create value and are monitoring management's execution closely."

Trian Partners had scooped up the initial 9.4 million shares in November at just under $92 per share. Peltz was critical of the company's $71 billion acquisition of Fox in 2019, and raised concerns about CEO Bob Iger's leadership.

Disney turned down Peltz's proposal for a board seat, citing his shaky media industry experience and questioning the ideas he was pitching.

By February, when Iger announced a $5.5 billion dollar cost-savings plan, the stock price had climbed to $118, prompting Peltz to end his proxy fight.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Wilmington: The US Virgin Islands has subpoenaed Elon Musk for documents in its lawsuit accusing JPMorgan Chase & Co of helping enable sexual abuses by late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The subpoena, issued on April 28, came to light on Monday in a request by the Virgin Islands to serve Musk by alternative means because it had been unable to locate and serve him.

Elon Musk. Credit: Bloomberg

The US territory did not seek to question Musk under oath, and its effort to subpoena him does not implicate him in any wrongdoing.

According to the court filing in US District Court in Manhattan, Musk, one of the richest people in the world, may have been referred as a client to JPMorgan by Epstein. The Virgin Islands did not provide further explanation for its interest in obtaining documents from Musk.
From 8 to 12 May 2023, the World Customs Organization (WCO), with a financial support from Customs Cooperation Fund India (CCF-India), carried out a crucial mission in Antigua and Barbuda with the aim of assisting the Customs and Excise Division (CED) in implementing the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) programme in line with the WCO SAFE Framework of Standards and Article 7.7 of the World Trade Organization's Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA).

Building upon the Antigua and Barbuda Mercator Diagnostic Report conducted by the WCO in December 2018, this mission served as a follow-up to transform the CED into a modernized Customs organization. The diagnostic report had highlighted the need for capacity building among CED officers to successfully introduce the AEO programme.

Throughout the week, the WCO expert engaged in productive sessions with various units within the CED, including representatives from IT, post-audit, accounts, tariff, risk management, bond, research and training, as well as field units. Additionally, meetings were held with key private sector participants such as the Antigua and Barbuda Chamber of Commerce, along with government agencies like the Port Authority, Statistics Office, and Health Department. Deliberations were also conducted with the Comptroller of Customs and other senior officials.

During these sessions, participants were introduced to the SAFE Framework of Standards, the requirements and benefits of the AEO programme, stakeholder engagement strategies, communication methodologies, and AEO validation techniques. This approach facilitated the establishment of channels to enhance partnerships between Customs, businesses, and other government agencies. Valuable input was gathered regarding the AEO requirements and the benefits desired by businesses, ensuring that these were incorporated into the development of the AEO rollout. Use case examples were discussed to illustrate how Customs operations would evolve with the implementation of the AEO programme.

A significant outcome of this mission was the creation of the initial draft of AEO requirements and benefits, marking the starting point for the programme. Furthermore, recommendations were provided for establishing an AEO action plan and developing a communication strategy to effectively manage the AEO implementation process.
A Sub-regional Workshop on cross-border e-commerce for Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was delivered from 8 to 11 May 2023 at the Sabah branch of the WCO Regional Training Centre (RTC) in Malaysia with the support of the Regional Office for Capacity Building for the Asia-Pacific region (ROCB A/P). The objectives of the Workshop were to raise awareness of the WCO tools and initiatives aimed at facilitating and securing cross-border e-commerce and to discuss challenges and possible solutions in this area.

The event was organized with the financial support of the Customs Cooperation Fund of Japan (CCF Japan) and benefitted from the participation of 13 Customs officials from eight ASEAN Members.

Throughout the event, the Workshop facilitators provided detailed explanations of the 16 standards of the WCO Framework of Standards on Cross-Border E-Commerce and the tools available to support their implementation. In addition, the Workshop agenda included discussions on the WCO Immediate Release Guidelines and the tools developed jointly with the UPU, such as the WCO-UPU Postal Customs Guide and the WCO-UPU Guidelines on the exchange of electronic advance data between designated operators and Customs administrations.

The beneficiary Members delivered presentations focusing on the legislative and procedural aspects of handling shipments imported through postal and express courier services. Presentations were delivered also by the Universal Postal Union, the WCO Regional Intelligence Liaison Office for the Asia-Pacific region (RILO A/P), the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and DHL. These presentations were the basis for lively discussions and valuable exchanges of information on challenges and good practices.

While we face similar challenges, each of our administrations has strengths and weaknesses with regard to the solutions we apply to address these challenges. Through the workshop we were able to learn from each other and gain knowledge that will support us in improving the legislation and procedures of our countries said one of the participants at the end of the workshop.

In her closing remarks the Director of the Royal Malaysian Customs Academy (AKMAL), Raizam Binti Setapa Mustapha encouraged the participants to share the knowledge gained and lessons learnt during the workshop within their administrations and confirmed the readiness of the WCO RTC in Malaysia to host similar events in the future.
The 66th Meeting of the WCO Data Model Projects Team (DMPT) was held successfully, in a hybrid mode, on 11 and 12 May 2023 at WCO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. Some 132 registered participants comprised of WCO Member delegates and representatives of international organizations and the private sector participated.

Brendan OHearn, Deputy Director in charge of Procedures and Facilitation, commenced the Meeting by warmly welcoming all participants and providing a comprehensive overview of the DMPTs activities and responsibilities. He expressed deep appreciation for the active engagement of DMPT Members, particularly those who played a crucial role in the WCO Version 4 Mini Group leading up to the Meeting. Emphasizing the significance of their contributions, he commended the dedicated efforts invested in finalizing the work items for the Data Model (DM) Version 4 package.

The DMPT received and processed three Data Maintenance Requests (DMR) via the WCO DM App1 submitted by New Zeland, which were all approved. In addition, the DMPT reviewed the WCO DM Maintenance Procedure to enhance its efficiency.

The DMPT was briefed on the International Chamber of Commerces (ICCs) Digital Standards Initiative regarding establishing key trade data/documents, in which the WCO actively participates. In addition, the FIATA Representative presented the FIATA electronic Bill of Lading (FBL). Both initiatives were expected to advance the WCO dematerialization of supporting documents further. Subsequently, the mapping of the FBL to the WCO Data Model was introduced for discussion.

The DMPT was updated on the endorsement of version 4.0.0 of the WCO Data Model by the Permanent Technical Committee (PTC). Version 4.0.0 will be submitted to the Policy Commission and Council for final approval in June 2023. The Secretariat introduced the use of the WIKI format to publish guiding material relating to version 4.0.0 of the WCO DM, and the Project Manager provided insights into the publishing of beta versions four and five of WCO DM 4.0.0 for quality control purposes before the final release in June 2023.

Following the initial discussion at the last 65th DMPT meeting in February 2023, the draft WCO DM - CODEX Derived Information Package (DIP) was presented for examination and endorsement in which the DMPT ultimately endorsed the draft CODEX DIP based on the shared CODEX dataset.

Considering the DMPTs focus on developing an information package for Customs Bonds, the Meeting discussed the business process model and data requirements for Customs Bonds filling and management. The United States presented their national experience, and the preliminary draft mapping between a national Customs Bond dataset was examined.

The DMPT discussed the Maritime API and BRI/PNR data model and provided an overview of the proposed Information Package. The DMPT supported using the API and BRI/PNR data model in its current state for the pilot programme by the Passenger Facilitation and Control Working Groups (PFCWGs) Members and invited them to provide feedback to improve the data models.

The Secretariat presented the progress in aligning the existing railway dataset with the WCO Data Model to the DMPT, participants examined the preliminary mapping, and the Chairperson emphasized the need for further collaboration and refinement to ensure seamless integration of railway-related data within the Data Model. The DMPT was also briefed by the Secretariat on the progress of the Work Programme 2023-2025.

To promote My Information Packages (MyIP) implementations, the Secretariat introduced a new feature of the WCO DM App that will generate OpenAPI documents based on a MyIP. The Maldives also presented their national MyIP created using the DM App. Moreover, the Secretariat introduced the updated WCO DM E-learning Module to Members.

The DMPT conducted an election for the Chair and Vice Chairperson of the DMPT for 2023-2024. Niclas Gustafsson of Sweden and Mary Anne Egwunyenga of Nigeria were elected as Chair and Vice-Chairpersons, respectively. DMPT Members provided a token of appreciation to the outgoing Chair, Louritha Green of the United States, who has done excellent work, including helping to sheppard the finalization of the WCO Data Model 4.0.0.

Deputy Director OHearn joined the DMPT in thanking Louritha for her leadership, congratulated participants for all the DMPT outcomes, and closed the Meeting.
The World Customs Organization (WCO) successfully delivered a "green" (conducted without the use of paper) multi-regional workshop on the Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC) in Panama City, Panama, from 8 to 12 May 2023, with the financial support of the Customs Cooperation Fund of China (CCF-China). A total of 32 Customs officials from South America, Central America, the Caribbean, East and Southern Africa, West and Central Africa, and Europe attended the workshop. Overall, 26 observers (non-contracting parties) and 6 contracting parties to the RKC participated in the workshop.

Over the span of 5 days, important Customs topics relating to the Body of the Convention, the General Annex (GA), and the Specific Annexes (SAs) of the RKC were examined and discussed. Key topics covered relating to the GA were: Clearance and other Customs formalities (Chapter 3), Duties and Taxes (Chapter 4), Customs Control (Chapter 6), Information Technology (Chapter 7), and further discussed in detail on issues around Customs declaration, deferred payment, risk management, Customs broker, etc. Within the scope of the SAs, Chapters relating to the formalities prior to the lodgement of the goods declaration, inward processing, warehouse, processing for home use, free zones, drawbacks, relief consignments, etc. were discussed.

In order to further familiarize the participants with the RKC provisions, gap analysis exercises were carried out using the simplified WCO RKC assessment toolkit. The results of the gap analysis indicated that despite many participants being non-contracting parties to the RKC, they were largely compliant with the GA of the RKC, on average, by about 85%.

The participant from Guatemala presented their RKC accession experience, and Brazil shared their Single Window implementation project. The participant from Bosnia and Herzegovina presented, in general, their overall Administration's mandate, reform, and modernization initiatives, and their accession pathway to the RKC.

The opening and closing of the workshop were done by the Director General of the National Customs Authority of Panama. The workshop was organized in collaboration with the National Customs Authority of Panama. For further information, please contact us at RKCReview@wcoomd.org.
Newgame SA

Geneva, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NewGAMe and Bruellan have notified FINMA of intention to go above 10% threshold in GAM

Geneva, 16 May 2023  The investor group comprised of NewGAMe SA and Bruellan (the "Group"), which controls approximately 8.4% of the issued share capital of GAM Holding AG (GAM), has notified the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority ("FINMA") that it intends to go above the threshold of 10% of the voting rights in GAM. Under Swiss law, persons holding directly or indirectly 10% or more in a fund management company (such as GAM Investment Management (Switzerland) AG, GAM's subsidiary) must notify FINMA.





Media contacts



Cornelia Schnepf  FinElk

newgam@finelk.eu

info@newgam.ch

www.newgam.ch

About NewGAMe

NewGAMe SA is a Geneva-based company owned by a number of investors with experience in the financial sector. It is controlled by Rock Investment, a French-incorporated entity that is owned by NJJ Holding, the personal holding company of Xavier Niel. Albert Saporta, a hedge fund industry veteran with 40 years experience in global financial markets, serves as the director of NewGAMe SA.

About Bruellan

Bruellan SA is an independent provider of global wealth management solutions. The company was founded in 1991 and is located in Geneva, Lausanne, Crans-Montana and Verbier.

https://www.bruellan.ch/




Nexen Tire

NEXEN TIRE joins UN Global Compact

From left to right: Hyun Jong Lee, COO of NEXEN TIRE and Yeon-chul Yoo, Secretary-General of UNGC Network South Korea

SEOUL, South Korea, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NEXEN TIRE, a leading global tire manufacturer, today announced that it has officially joined the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), the worlds largest initiative for sustainable and responsible corporate management.



The UNGC is a voluntary international agreement that emphasizes corporate social responsibility, with the goal of mobilizing a global movement to achieve sustainable development. Currently, over 20,000 institutions from 162 countries have signed on to the initiative.

NEXEN TIRE pledges to align its corporate actions with the UN Global Compact's ten sustainability principles. These principles take into account business's basic responsibilities in the areas of human rights, labor, the environment, and anti-corruption. It has also promised to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Furthermore, the company will report annually via the annual Communication on Progress (CoP).

The Company intends to strengthen sustainability measure by establishing a sustainable management committee to promote ESG strategic tasks at the enterprise level, as well as to derive and implement improvement tasks by identifying internal and external human rights risks through human rights impact assessment.

"We are committed to fulfilling our environmental and social responsibilities by internalizing ESG global standards," NEXEN TIRE Global CEO Travis Kang said. "With this membership, we will continue to carry out various initiatives for sustainable management and growth."

As ESG continues to expand, NEXEN TIREs membership is quite meaningful in that the company is accelerating the use of sustainable raw materials, said Yeon-chul Yoo Secretary-General of UNGC Network South Korea. "With NEXEN TIRE's membership in UNGC, we anticipate that the company will actively reflect and internalize UNGC's ten principles in corporate management."

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Meanwhile, NEXEN TIRE has received EcoVadis Silver medal certification for the second year in a row. Sustainalytics has rated the company as low risk, with MSCI ESG ratings from 'B' to 'BB'.

About NEXEN TIRE

NEXEN TIRE, founded in 1942, is a global tire manufacturer based in South Korea. NEXEN TIRE, one of the world's fastest growing tire manufacturers, currently works with 150 countries and owns four manufacturing plants, two in Korea (Yangsan and Changnyeong) and one in Qingdao, China. In 2019, another plant in Zatec, Czech Republic, went into operation. NEXEN TIRE manufactures tires with advanced technology and design excellence for passenger cars, SUVs, and light trucks. NEXEN TIRE supplies original equipment tires to global automakers in a variety of countries around the world. For the first time among the various tire manufacturers in the world, the company achieved a grand slam of the world's top four design awards in 2014.

For more information, please visit http://www.nexentire.com/international/

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/85c5cc0b-0e82-483a-88ab-53f0609d0e4d

CONTACT: CONTACT: Sylvia Chang, sylvia.chang@pivotp.co.kr




Many retirees dream of taking a plane somewhere exotic. Then theres Bruce Campbell of Hillsboro, Oregon, who decided that in his retirement, hed rather just have the plane.

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The 73-year-old electrical engineer lives  often in the buff, as his website AirplaneHome.com, cautions  inside a 1,066-square-foot, 70,000-pound Boeing 727 passenger jetliner that he purchased for $100,000 back in 1999. (Locationally it made sense, as he lives a few hours due south of Seattle, where Boeing was based for many years.)

Since landing his airliner, if you will, hes spruced up the 200-passenger vehicle by investing another $120,000 to move it, stage it, primp it and strip it. (You cant exactly fly the thing from the middle of a wooded area, after all).

I have no regrets about pursuing this vision, Campbell told CNBCs Make It. Its fun.

Fun as it may be for Campbell, we wouldnt be surprised if you considered it a cost-cutting extreme as retirement abodes go. However, if its money you hope to save, here are five strategies to try thatll leave you clear for takeoff.

Downsize your home

You may not live in a jet, but perhaps that large empty nest is beginning to feel like a vacant hangar. If so, maybe its time to rethink the necessity. Housing represents the largest cost for Americans, statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics show. Assuming a pre-tax household income of $84,000, housing expenses eat away a quarter of that.

Theres also the question of how much more money you can recoup simply by moving out of an area with high real estate taxes, or to a locale where you can purchase a residence even nicer than your city abode for a fraction of the cost. It could also give you a big chunk of equity when you sell your current place.

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Take public transit

Oh, public transit, how we love thee: Aside from saving the environment, youre saving us lots of dough and time, which after all is money. The average commute in America currently sits at about 28 minutes one way, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. But its much worse in major metros where roads are more often jammed than clear and monstrous road projects pop up without notice. In Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and even Nashville, two-hour commutes are no longer a rarity.

Now, tally up gas, insurance, repairs, tolls, parking, and car payments. Do you really need a vehicle that badly? By the numbers, the average American household could save $6,250 annually by just taking public transportation instead of driving, according to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA).

You can also opt for wheels of another type, from scooters and motorized bikes to a good old fashioned two wheeler, which will also get you exercising as you head from point A to point B.

Read more: Here's how much money the average middle-class American household makes  how do you stack up?

Dont just eat at home, cook there

If eating out is expensive, so too is ordering in, though it may seem like a more modest alternative. The online ordering industry has exploded in the last few years; a Fundera study found that 60% of Americans ordered takeout at least once in the last week  with 86% ordering in at least once in the last month.

Delivery fees, service fees and tips add up. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) finds the average annual household spend on takeout passed the $3,500 mark in 2019  this just before the pandemic. Based on a weekly grocery bill of $100, thats enough to buy 245 full days of groceries, compared to the 100 meals youd get from restaurant delivery or takeout at $35 a pop.

Yes, cooking takes time. Yes, youre tired from work. And yes, its fine to order out for Thai if its something youd never cook. Just remember that as many home gourmands will attest, cooking a simple meal can be a stress buster. In many cases, it will also be much healthier than the takeout you just ordered with who knows how much fat, sugar, salt and artificial ingredients.

Consider a Medicare Advantage Plan

Health care costs are high and only getting higher, an anxiety-provoking reality for those in retirement. A health care plan specific to your needs can save you money, as well as lower out-of-pocket expenses from the traditional Medicare plan.

The projected average premium for 2023 Medicare Advantage plans is $18 per month, a decline of nearly 8% from 2022. You need Medicare Part B to get it, which currently costs $164.90 a month, but certain Advantage plans will cover all or part of that expense.

Take advantage of senior discounts

AARP discounts, senior shopping days, special offers from local merchants  youve earned them, so why not use them? One website, seniorliving.org, offers a list of the merchants and businesses where you can score some sweet deals.

And keep in mind that you neednt wait to turn 65 or even 60 to start saving via AARP. Theyll let you in for membership once you hit 50, and its an invaluable resource for gaining access to hundreds of carefully chosen discounts, programs and services.

None of this, of course, predicates buying a jet to live in. As to which has more mileage  Bruce Campbell or his Boeing 727  were not taking sides. Suffice to say, though, that both are happily retired.

What to read next

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - Canada is vying to be the best of friends with South Korea, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said Tuesday after launching closer talks on economic security with her counterparts in Seoul.

Joly arrived in the South Korean capital with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whos making his first official visit to the country as the two governments try to build closer ties and work together on global security concerns.

Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne joined Joly to begin a high-level dialogue on economic security, with both countries committing to have recurring meetings and tracking their progress on moving away from dependence on China.

Ultimately weve been good friends for a long time, but we want to be best of friends, Joly said in a news conference in Tuesday night.

The visit by Trudeau, who is expected to remain in the country until he heads to the G7 leaders summit in Hiroshima, Japan, on Thursday, follows South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeols trip to Ottawa last fall.

Since then, both countries have released their Indo-Pacific strategies, providing a road map for strengthening military and economic relationships in the region to counterbalance the influence of Beijing.

I dont think there was a time when Korea and Canada were so close as now, and I dont think weve had any period where our two leaders have met so frequently, Lim Woongsoon, South Koreas ambassador to Canada, said last week in an interview in Ottawa.

Tina Park, a lecturer at the University of Toronto and CEO of The Park Group, said the frequency of meetings between the leaders reflects their commitment to building a stronger relationship.

There is a new momentum as we reflect upon the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relationship between Canada and Korea this year, Park wrote in an email.

South Korea is Canadas seventh-largest trading partner for both imports and exports, amounting to $16.7 billion in merchandise trade in 2021.

Trudeau is expected to address the countrys National Assembly on Wednesday. He is also scheduled to visit the Seoul National Cemetery and participate in the opening of a commemorative trail honouring the sacrifices of Canadians soldiers during the Battle of Kapyong.

The clean economy and climate change, as well as establishing a youth mobility program between the two countries, are among the trips priorities.

Lim said theres ample reason for Canada and South Korea to strengthen their economic and cultural ties. In addition to its sizable diaspora in Canada, he said South Korea has significant business interests in the critical minerals Canada has to offer, and both countries are aligned in their commitments to move away from carbon-emitting fuels.

We have something more than K-pop and K-drama, he said with a chuckle, referring to genres of music and television shows from the country that have become popular around the world.

Canada and South Korea also appear to be in talks on how to make it easier for young people to work in both countries, with Lim saying they expect to sign a memorandum of understanding on youth mobility.

He did not give details, but the two countries already have a working-holiday program. Canada has agreements with other countries to issue visas for student internships and career development for young professionals.

We are going to have more Korean young people come to Canada next year, Lim said.

The Liberal government is focused on building a closer relationship with both South Korea and Japan as it looks to expand its alliances beyond traditional Western partners amid a growing threat from Russia and tension with China.

Lim said South Korean companies are concerned about overreliance on Chinese suppliers. The ambassador said thats why Trudeaus visit will focus on supply-chain resilience, with the clean-energy transition at the top of the agenda.

South Korean companies have shown interest in Canada when it comes to electric vehicles. SK On Co., for example, wants to launch a battery-component factory in Becancour, Que.

Now, there is a dispute between the federal government and automaker Stellantis, which was constructing an electric-vehicle battery plan in Windsor, Ont., in partnership with South Korean battery-maker, LG Energy Solution.

Stellantis stopped construction on Monday, saying the federal government has not delivered on what was agreed to.

During the news conference Tuesday night, Champagne said hes very confident that the federal government will come to an agreement with Stellantis. He said negotiations are focused on production subsidies to match the incentives offered by the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act.

Champagne also took the opportunity to call out the Ontario government, which the federal government is partnered with on the deal.

The message to our Ontario colleagues is, Pay your fair share, and we will bring this stalemate to a conclusion, Champagne said.

He said he hopes to meet with the head of LG Energy Solution Wednesday.

Beyond critical minerals, Lim said South Korea is focused on moving toward cleaner fuel sources.

He said South Korean companies are investing big in hydrogen ammonia plants around the world, and curious about expanding in Canada. The ambassador tallies the current investments into Canadian green technologies at $8 billion.

The Business Council of Canada is calling on Trudeau to make a more vocal case for liquefied natural gas, after an Indo-Pacific strategy that focused highly on renewables. Both Japan and South Korea are trying to wean themselves off coal, and Canadian industry argues LNG is a good transition fuel as countries phase in technologies like hydrogen.

South Korea and Japan have both invested in the LNG Canada project set to launch in 2025, and Lim said Seoul fully expects the second phase of the project to proceed. He said South Korea is committed to going carbon-neutral, but needs an interim solution as it tries to shut down 50 coal power plants.

Our imports of LNG will be on the increase for the decades to come, because we need to phase down coal power plants ... rather dramatically, and LNG will be the most feasible alternative, Lim said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 16, 2023.

 with files from Dylan Robertson in Ottawa.

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TOKYO (AP)  Amid the high-level efforts to deal with a raft of global emergencies, this weekends Group of 7 summit of rich democracies will also see an unusual diplomatic reconciliation as the leaders of Japan and South Korea look to continue mending ties that have been marked for years by animosity and bickering.

At first glance the two neighbors would seem to be natural partners. They are powerful, advanced democracies and staunch U.S. allies in a region beset with autocratic threats. The continuing fallout, however, from centuries of complicated, acrimonious history, culminating in the brutal 1910-1945 Japanese colonization of the Korean Peninsula, has resulted in more wariness than friendship.

A big part of the sudden recent shift in tone is a shared focus on Chinas growing aggressiveness, t he threat of North Korea's fast-improving arsenal of nuclear-capable missiles  and deep worry about how Russias war in Ukraine is influencing both issues. Some diplomatic nudging by Washington, which provides military protection for both its allies and wants them to more strongly counter Chinas rising global influence, has also helped.

Tokyo and Seoul understand that their survival, both nationally and politically, depends on subordinating themselves to the U.S. President Joe Biden administrations global and regional priorities, according to Daniel Sneider, an East Asia lecturer at Stanford University.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishidas invitation for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to be a guest at the G-7 talks in Hiroshima is only the most recent sign of these reset ties. It follows back-to-back summits by the leaders, which hadnt happened in years. Japan also agreed to South Korea's request to send an experts team later this month to visit the destroyed Fukushima nuclear power plant to view preparation for a planned release into the ocean of treated but still slightly radioactive wastewater.

The G-7 summit, which runs Friday through Sunday, will allow the leaders to deepen their burgeoning relationship  Kishida, Yoon and Biden plan to meet on the sidelines  while also working to persuade the worlds most powerful leaders to tighten defense cooperation as China and North Korea expand their military postures in the region.

History issues have long harried Seoul and Tokyo. Ties worsened in 2018, for instance, after South Korean court rulings ordered two Japanese companies to compensate a group of Korean plaintiffs who the companies had used for wartime slave labor. Disagreement over the rulings later spilled over to trade and military cooperation issues. Japan insists all compensation issues were settled by a 1965 treaty that normalized relations.

Yoons summits with Kishida came after his government announced a domestically unpopular plan in March to use South Korean corporate funds to compensate the forced laborers. The move was aimed at preventing the courts from liquidizing the Japanese companies local assets, which would cause a further diplomatic rupture.

Kishida agreed to a resumption of defense, trade and other talks in his meetings with Yoon, and Japan recently announced that it is negotiating an agreement with Washington and Seoul on sharing real-time data on North Korean missile launches.

Seoul and Tokyo are both worried about the geopolitical uncertainty created by Russias invasion of Ukraine, which has raised fears about similar Chinese aggression in the South and East China Seas and against Taiwan, the democratic, self-governing island that Beijing claims as its own. North Korea also used the global focus on the invasion to ramp up its tests of nuclear-capable missiles.

Japan is one of many nations in Asia that has territorial disputes with China, something that has strongly figured into Kishidas push to distance Japan from its post-World War II principle of self-defense only. Last year, Tokyo adopted a new national security strategy that includes the goals of acquiring preemptive strike capabilities and cruise missiles to counter threats from North Korea, China and Russia.

Alarmed by the growing North Korean threat  Pyongyang has test-launched around 100 missiles since the start of 2022  Yoon may be using better relations with Japan as a way to forge a stronger alliance with the United States.

Yoons government has expanded its combined military exercises with the United States, which also included three-way drills with Japan, while seeking greater assurances from Washington that it would swiftly and decisively use its nuclear weapons to protect its allies in the event of a North Korean nuclear attack.

Theres growing recognition (in both Tokyo and Seoul) that the regions various security issues are becoming increasingly interconnected, which is leading the countries to reassess their importance to each other, said Jin Chang Soo, an analyst at South Koreas Sejong Institute.

During a recent meeting in Washington, Yoon and Biden agreed to a declaration that includes more nuclear information-sharing and regular visits to South Korea by a U.S. nuclear-powered sub.

The Biden administration may now be pushing for an extended deterrence dialogue among Washington, Seoul and Tokyo that would convey a formidable response both to North Korea and to China, and even to a potential ChineseRussian military axis, Sneider recently wrote.

Hiroshima, the first target of a nuclear weapon in history, could provide a symbolic backdrop for Kishida and Yoon to raise awareness about the North Korean threat while underlining goals for nuclear non-proliferation.

In another trust-building gesture, Kishida and Yoon plan to pay their respects at a Hiroshima memorial for Korean atomic bomb victims.

Despite the improving ties, however, theres no certainty how long reconciliation will last.

After decades of poverty and dictatorship following the 1950-53 Korean War, South Korea has become a developed economic and military power. But there are large policy swings between conservative governments, like the one in power now, and liberal governments that are more wary of stronger ties with Japan and the United States.

And then there are the historical issues, including continuing court hearings on forced labor, which remain buried like landmines, not far from the surface and ready to be set off, Sneider said.

___

Kim reported from Seoul.

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NEW YORK (AP)  Allies of former Vice President Mike Pence are launching a new super PAC to support his expected candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

Committed to America, the Pence-sanctioned group, publicly launches Tuesday, according to people familiar with the project, who spoke on condition of anonymity to share details of the planning and strategy.

The countrys at real crossroads and the Republican Party needs a strong conservative candidate who can win, said Scott Reed, the longtime GOP consultant, who will co-chair the group. Pence has the experience, the unparalleled character, communication skills and the conservative credentials to win both the nomination and a general election.

The launch is the latest sign that Pence is moving ahead with his expected bid for the GOP nomination  a move that would put him in direct contention with his former boss, former President Donald Trump. Pence has said he will announce his plans well before late June and aides have been discussing potential launch dates for a campaign as early as May, but more likely in June. In the meantime, Pence has kept a busy schedule of visits to early-voting states, policy speeches and media interviews as he gears up for a run.

The new group will be co-chaired by Reed, who previously served as political director of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and managed Bob Doles 1996 presidential campaign. Joining him will be former Texas Rep. Jeb Hensarling, who developed a close friendship with Pence when they served in the House and is a former chair of the House Republican Conference.

Serving as executive director will be Bobby Saparow, who managed Georgia Gov. Brian Kemps winning 2022 reelection campaign. Kemp defeated his Trump-endorsed challenger, former Sen. David Perdue, by more than 50 points. Trump had targeted Kemp as retribution for the governors refusal to go along with his desperate attempts to overturn his defeat in the states 2020 presidential election  a plot that is now under investigation and expected to yield multiple indictments.

Mike Ricci, who previously served as communications director to former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, will oversee communications.

Pence faces an uphill battle to the nomination with much of the attention and fundraising focused so far on Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is planning his own entry into the race in the coming weeks. The field also includes former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson. South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott has formed a presidential exploratory committee and is expected to formally launch his campaign next week.

The new Pence group is animated by the belief that while the former congressman, talk radio host, Indiana governor and vice president of the United States is widely known by voters, their perceptions are mostly colored by his time as Trump's ever-loyal second-in-command.

They believe that if people are reminded of his experience, his character and his conservative credentials, they will embrace his candidacy.

People know Mike Pence, they just dont know him well, Reed said. This campaign is going to reintroduce Mike Pence to the country as his own man, not as vice president, but as a true economic, social and national security conservative  a Reagan conservative.

The group sees early-voting Iowa as critical for Pence and plans to launch their efforts there before expanding to other states, including New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada.

Were going to organize Iowa, all 99 counties, like were running him for county sheriff, said Reed.

They note a large portion of caucus-voters identify as Evangelical Christians, and believe Pence, a born-again Evangelical, staunch opponent of abortion rights, and a Midwesterner, will connect especially well in the state, which in previous years boosted the campaigns of fellow conservatives like Ted Cruz, Rick Santorum and Mike Huckabee. Ultimately, however, they all failed to win their partys nomination after first-place caucus finishes.

The people familiar with the super PAC would not say how much money had been committed to the group by donors, but insisted that they will raise as much money as they need to spend.

The group intends to focus on building a data and paid ground operation dedicated to turning people out to vote for Pence, citing Kemps campaign as a model.

We are going to do something very similar, Saparow said. You will see that what we built out with Gov. Kemp is going to be taken to the national stage. So we will also be doing a very extensive paid voter contact program through Committed to America.

There is a recipe and there is a roadmap of success that Ive worked on in the past that I believe well be able to replicate with the vice president, he added.

They also spoke specifically of Pences role on Jan. 6, 2021, when he resisted Trumps pressure campaign to overturn the results of the 2020 election  a power that Pence, as vice president, never possessed. Pence had been proceeding over a joint session of Congress to certify President Joe Bidens win when a violent mob of Trumps supporters broke into the Capitol, smashing windows, ramming through doors and clashing with police. Pence was rushed to safety in a Senate loading dock as some outside the building chanted, Hang Mike Pence!

The people said they believe voters will be drawn to Pences defense of the Constitution. Yet it remains unclear how salient that position will be in a party still dominated by the former president. A large swath of Trumps base will never forgive Pence for his actions that day, while many Trump critics see the former vice president as complicit in Trumps most divisive actions.

A Quinnipiac University national poll released in May found 36% of Republicans nationwide view Pence unfavorably -- a higher unfavorable rating than Trump or DeSantis.

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REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Markets should brace for chaos in event of a US debt default, Paul Krugman warned.

The economist pointed to potentially dire consequences if the US doesn't raise the debt ceiling in time.

Congress now has less than a month to go before the government could run out of money.

The US defaulting on its debt would spark chaos across financial markets, according to Paul Krugman, with the warning from the Nobel economist coming just weeks before a possible debt ceiling deadline is reached in June.

"There are pretty good reasons to panic if we actually do have a technical default, because US government debt is the foundation on which world financial markets rest," the top economist said in an interview with Yahoo Finance on Friday, warning of the potential ramifications if Congress doesn't raise the national debt limit in time.

"If it suddenly turns out that the US government doesn't necessarily honor its promises to pay T-bills, then who knows, but it could be a cascading series of financial dislocations."

The US debt ceiling als makes no sense to begin with, Krugman added, as Congress would be voting to raise the borrowing limit after already passing legislation that requires government funding. That's similar to ordering a meal at a restaurant and refusing to pay it, he said, previously making the case to eliminate the debt ceiling altogether.

"None of this is about fundamental decisions about spending or taxing or the budget deficit. This is all about whether, for political reasons, the party that controls one house of Congress can force the US to renege on promises it's already made," Krugman added. "This is a crazy kind of double jeopardy on government operations that makes no sense at all."

Policymakers are still sparring over raising the government's borrowing limit, with President Biden scheduled to meet with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other congressmen on Tuesday to discuss a potential solution. But McCarthy has said he would reject a short-term debt ceiling raise without negotiating budget cuts, after having proposed a bill in April that would slash around $4.5 trillion in government spending.

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Congress has less than a month to raise the debt ceiling before the government potentially runs out of money, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned, a scenario experts have said could lead to a financial crisis and deepen an oncoming recession.

Krugman previously outlined three things that the Biden administration could do to fund itself if the US fails to raise the debt ceiling in time. That includes methods like invoking the 14th amendment to assure the reliability of US debt, and minting a $1 trillion platinum coin to be deposited at the Federal Reserve, which, in effect, would give the government a backdoor method to borrowing more money.

Read the original article on Business Insider
KINGSTON, Pa. - Recently released court documents provide new information in the case of a Kutztown University graduate killed in Luzerne County.

The victim, identified as 22-year-old Ryan Padovani, was found dead May 5 inside a home in the 100 block of East Bennett Street in Kingston.

Padovani, a 2022 graduate of Kutztown University, died from multiple blunt force trauma to the head and his death is being investigated as a homicide.

A search warrant for the property indicated that investigators found a rear kitchen door had been forced open and glass from that door was found on the kitchen floor.

The warrant also detailed the numerous pieces of blood, fingerprint and hair evidence police collected from the crime scene.

Based on the evidenced obtained, authorities believed they had probable cause to issue a second search warrant for an adjoining home.

On May 12, members of the Kingston Police Department, Luzerne County District Attorney's Office and several other investigating agencies executed a search warrant at the home of Walter Zolner III.

The adjoining house, which shares a common wall with Padovani's, was empty at the time.

Authorities conducted a systematic search of the residence and a small amount of marijuana as well as drug paraphernalia were found. Zolner was charged accordingly and is currently in Luzerne County Prison on $5,000,000 bail.

Zolner has not been charged in connection with Padovani's death and the investigation is ongoing.
WEST ROCKHILL TWP., Pa. - "Is it going to be a happy day when you can fill a coffee maker up with that?" I asked, pointing to the water from a kitchen sink in a Bucks County home.

"I'm super excited," said West Rockhill Township's Jodi Cutaiar.

It's a simple pleasure, stemming from years of persistence for Cutaiar, as she hasn't let her family drink or cook with their water in six years.

"Almost in disbelief like because it's been such a long time, that I didn't think that this would ever happen," Cutaiar said.

Using funds from the 2021 Infrastructure and Jobs Act, U.S. Senator Bob Casey handed out a nearly $3.7 million grant that will link Cutaiar and 52 other Bucks County homes to the Perkasie public water system.

Nick Fretz is the Manager of the Perkasie Regional Authority.

"This grant funding will provide water directly to her house, the grant covers the full cost of the main extension and the lateral into their home," he said.

Foam from fire crews fighting the massive 1986 Bergey's Tire Fire leaked into private wells.

In 2017, high levels of the cancer-causing forever chemicals known as PFAS were discovered in the private wells in East and West Rockhill townships. The chemicals have become ubiquitous.

Pennsylvania recently lowered the acceptable limits to 14 parts per trillion, down from 70.

The Biden administration proposed a federal maximum level of 4ppt, which fits into Perkasie's current range, with the goals of getting to 0.

Cutaiar spent years researching the chemicals and helped to galvanize the community for governmental help, help that finally arrived.

"We can move on. I feel like I have time, of not researching, and time with my children. I mean, six years, I would sit out here, no joke, sit out here and they would be on the swing set or kicking the ball around and I would be researching tires and fire, like who does that?" Cutaiar said.

Work to link the homes will start in July. Everyone will be online by the end of the year.
N. WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. - "Go vote, it's summer, us college kids have nothing else to do," said 20-year-old Charlotte Samuelson of Bethlehem.

You could say it's a cross-generational civic sales pitch.

"It's part of my upbringing, it's instilled in you that you vote," said retired priest Robert Potts of Whitehall Township.

That mantra may be in short supply as polling stations from Allentown, Bethlehem, Whitehall and Easton report a very light turnout, at least through the afternoon. By 5:30 p.m., Allentown's 9th Ward only had 40 votes, of over 1,000 registered voters.

Voting apathy hasn't touched Easton's Mattie Wheeler.

"I've been voting since I was 18 years old," she said.

"Have you ever missed an election?" I asked.

"No," she added.

However, off-year primaries typically underperform. Records in Lehigh and Northampton counties show a wide gap in votes cast between 2021's off-year election and last year's primary, that consisted of gubernatorial and congressional candidates.

"Any issue that drew you to the polls?" I asked Samuelson.

"The School Board," she said.

The hot-button topic is bringing those like Karin Pfieffer to the polls.

"If the school board was not contested, would you vote?" I asked her of the Parkland School Board, where 14 candidates are vying for five spots.

"Probably not," she said.

Off-year elections have the potential to affect daily lives more than any others.

Whitehall Township's Esther Davis says it best.

"If people don't get out, they shouldn't have an opinion on the outcome," she said.

Mail-in ballots are still in play as well. Lehigh County says it's received 55% back, which is lower than in past years.

Mail-in ballots are due by the close of polls Tuesday, which is 8 p.m. Those voting in person just have to be in line by 8 p.m. in order to vote.
LONDON (AP)  Writer Salman Rushdie has made a public speech, nine months after being stabbed and seriously injured onstage, warning that freedom of expression in the West is under its most severe threat in his lifetime.

Rushdie delivered a video message to the British Book Awards, where he was awarded the Freedom to Publish award on Monday evening. Organizers said the honor acknowledges the determination of authors, publishers and booksellers who take a stand against intolerance, despite the ongoing threats they face.

Rushdie, 75, looked thinner than before the attack and wore glasses with one tinted lens. He was blinded in his right eye and suffered nerve damage to his hand when he was attacked at a literary festival in New York state in August.

His alleged assailant, Hadi Matar, has pleaded not guilty to charges of assault and attempted murder.

He told the awards ceremony that we live in a moment, I think, at which freedom of expression, freedom to publish has not in my lifetime been under such threat in the countries of the West.

Now I am sitting here in the U.S., I have to look at the extraordinary attack on libraries, and books for children in schools, he said. The attack on the idea of libraries themselves. It is quite remarkably alarming, and we need to be very aware of it, and to fight against it very hard.

Rushdie spent years in hiding with police protection after Irans Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa, or edict, in 1989 calling for his death over the alleged blasphemy of the novel The Satanic Verses.

He gradually returned to public life after the Iranian government distanced itself from the order in 1998, saying it would not back any effort to kill Rushdie, though the fatwa was never officially repealed.

Rushdie won the Booker Prize in 1981 for his novel Midnight's Children, and in 2008 was voted the best-ever winner of the prestigious fiction prize. His most recent novel, Victory City  completed a month before the attack  was published in February.

In his speech, Rushdie also criticized publishers who change decades-old books for modern sensibilities, such as large-scale cuts and rewrites to the works of childrens author Roald Dahl and James Bond creator Ian Fleming.

He said publishers should allow books to come to us from their time and be of their time.

And if thats difficult to take, dont read it, read another book, he said.
San Franciscos district attorney has released surveillance video of the shooting death of a suspected shoplifter by an on-duty Walgreens security guard. DA Brooke Jenkins released the video and other evidence Monday, saying again that she will not file charges against the guard. She said there is no evidence to rebut his claim of self-defense. The April 27 shooting death of Banko Brown at a downtown San Francisco Walgreens has roiled a city dogged by brazen shoplifting and wide division over the appropriate responses to crime. The surveillance video, which has no sound, shows security guard Michael Earl-Wayne Anthony subduing Brown. But Anthony said Brown repeatedly threatened to stab him.
Infant Bacterial Therapeutics AB

Infant Bacterial Therapeutics AB (publ), Reg. No. 556873-8586, with its registered office in Stockholm, gives notice of the Extraordinary General Meeting to be held on Friday June 9, 2023 at 10.00 CEST in the premises of the company at Bryggargatan 10, Stockholm.

Right to participate in the Extraordinary General Meeting and notice of participation





Participation at the venue

A shareholder who wishes to participate in the Meeting at the venue in person or represented by a proxy must (i) be recorded as a shareholder in the share register maintained by Euroclear Sweden AB relating to the circumstances on May 31, 2023, and (ii) no later than June 2, 2023 give notice by post to Bryggargatan 10, 111 21 Stockholm, Sweden, or via e-mail to ibt@ibtherapeutics.com. When providing such notice, the shareholder shall state name, personal or corporate registration number, address, telephone number and the number of any accompanying assistant(s) (maximum two assistants) as well as information about any proxy.

If a shareholder is represented by proxy, a written, dated proxy for the representative must be issued. A proxy form is available on the companys website, www.ibtherapeutics.com. If the proxy is issued by a legal entity, a certificate of registration or equivalent certificate of authority should be enclosed. To facilitate the registration at the Meeting, the proxy and the certificate of registration or equivalent certificate of authority should be sent to the company as set out above so that it is received no later than June 8, 2023.

Participation by advance voting

A shareholder who wishes to participate in the Meeting by advance voting must (i) be recorded as a shareholder in the share register maintained by Euroclear Sweden AB relating to the circumstances on May 31, 2023, and (ii) no later than June 2, 2023 give notice by casting its advance vote in accordance with the instructions below so that the advance vote is received by IBT no later than on that day.

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A special form shall be used when advance voting. The advance voting form is available on the companys website www.ibtherapeutics.com. A completed and signed form may be submitted by post to Bryggargatan 10, 111 21 Stockholm, Sweden or via e-mail to ibt@ibtherapeutics.com. The completed form shall be received by IBT not later than June 2, 2023. The shareholder may not provide special instructions or conditions in the voting form. If so, the vote (i.e. the advance vote in its entirety) is invalid. Further instructions and conditions are included in the form for advance voting.

If a shareholder votes by proxy, a written and dated proxy shall be enclosed to the advance voting form. A proxy form is available on the companys website www.ibtherapeutics.com. If the shareholder is a legal entity, a certificate of registration or equivalent certificate of authority should be enclosed.

Nominee-registered shares

To be entitled to participate in the Meeting, a shareholder whose shares are held in the name of a nominee must, in addition to providing notification of participation, register its shares in its own name so that the shareholder is recorded in the share register relating to the circumstances on May 31, 2023. Such registration may be temporary (so-called voting right registration) and is requested from the nominee in accordance with the nominees procedures and in such time in advance as the nominee determines. Voting right registrations completed by the nominee not later than June 2, 2023 are taken into account when preparing the share register.

Proposed agenda

Opening of the Meeting Election of Chairman of the Meeting Preparation and approval of the voting list Election of one or two persons who shall approve the minutes of the Meeting Approval of the agenda Determination of whether the Meeting has been duly convened Approval of the Board of Directors share issue resolution Closing of the Meeting

Item 2  Chairman

The Board of Directors proposes that attorney-at-law Erik Sjoman is appointed chairman of the Meeting.

Item 7  Approval of new share issue

The Board of Directors proposes that the Meeting resolves to approve the Board of Directors resolution from May 16, 2023 to increase the companys share capital with not more than SEK 611,932.325491 through the issue of not more than 75,547 new class A shares and 2,169,689 new class B shares.

The companys shareholders shall be entitled to subscribe for the new shares with pre-emptive rights. Subscription may also be made without pre-emptive rights, as set forth in the complete issue resolution.

The record date for the right to participate in the rights issue shall be June 13, 2023. Subscription for shares shall be made during the period June 15 to June 29, 2023. The subscription price shall be SEK 45 per share, irrespective of share class.

For further details and information on the background to and reasons for the rights issue, refer to IBTs press release on May 16, 2023.

Further information

Special majority requirements

Annwall & Rothschild Investments AB has made a subscription commitment and guarantee undertaking regarding the new share issue, which may result in that its shareholding in IBT after the share issue will increase to 30 percent or more of the votes. Annwall & Rothschild Investments AB currently holds shares in IBT corresponding to approximately 7.9 percent of the shares and approximately 29.3 percent of the votes in IBT. By fulfilment of the commitment and undertaking, the holding may increase to maximum approximately 9.5 percent of the shares and approximately 32.0 percent of the votes. Annwall & Rothschild Investments AB has been granted an exemption by the Swedish Takeover Panel (Sw. Aktiemarknadsnamnden) in respect of the mandatory bid obligation that thereby may arise (AMN 2023:24). The exemption in relation to the guarantee undertaking requires that the resolution regarding the new share issue is supported by shareholders holding not less than two-thirds of both votes cast and the shares represented at the Meeting, excluding the shares held and represented by Annwall & Rothschild Investments AB at the Meeting.

Shareholders right to obtain information

Shareholders are reminded of their right to, at the Meeting, obtain information from the Board of Directors and CEO in accordance with Chapter 7 Section 32 of the Swedish Companies Act. Shareholders who wish to submit questions in advance may do so by sending post to Bryggargatan 10, 111 21 Stockholm, Sweden or via e-mail to ibt@ibtherapeutics.com.

Number of shares and votes

There are 11,226,184 shares outstanding in IBT, corresponding to 14,625,808 votes, of which 377,736 are Class A shares which entitles to 10 votes per share and 10,848,448 are Class B shares which entitles to 1 vote per share. As of the date of this notice, the company holds no own shares.

Available documentation

The Board of Directors complete proposal regarding item 7 and documents according to Chapter 13, Section 6 of the Swedish Companies Act are available at the companys office at Bryggargatan 10, 111 21 Stockholm, Sweden, and on the companys website www.ibtherapeutics.com, no later than three weeks before the General Meeting. Copies of the documents will be sent to shareholders who so request and who inform the company of their postal address.

Personal data

For information on how your personal data is processed, see the integrity policy available on Euroclears website, https://www.euroclear.com/dam/ESw/Legal/Privacy-notice-bolagsstammor-engelska.pdf .

This notice is a translation of a Swedish notice and in case of any deviations between the both language versions, the Swedish version shall prevail.

Stockholm in May 2023

The Board of Directors of Infant Bacterial Therapeutics AB (publ)









Attachment




Spring numbers foreshadow busy summer travel season for Southern California gateway

ONTARIO, Calif., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern California's Ontario International Airport (ONT) in April posted its highest number of international passengers in a single month in the airport's history, signaling the fast-growing gateway is in for a busy summer travel season.

Southern California's Ontario International Airport continued its double-digit percentage growth in passenger volumes in April.

More than 34,000 international air travelers moved through ONT last month, an increase of 138% over April a year ago. At the same time, ONT welcomed almost 500,000 domestic fliers, 7.5% more than last year.

Overall, passenger traffic rose 11.6% in April to more than 530,000, extending ONT's run of double-digit increases.

Ontario officials also reported strong passenger figures on a year-to-date basis. The total number of air passengers increased 15% to 1.87 million, with the number of domestic travelers 12.6% higher at 1.76 million and international passengers up 85.7% to more than 104,000.

"At a time when many California airports are struggling to restore international services, Ontario is experiencing strong growth and we expect that trend to continue in the coming months," said Atif Elkadi, chief executive officer, Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA). "And while our terminals will continue to be busy, passengers can expect our popular and hassle-free experience with reasonably priced parking, easy access to terminals, clean and light-filled facilities, efficient security screening and first-rate dining options."

Passenger Totals Apr 2023 Apr 2022 Change YTD 2023 YTD 2022 Change Domestic 496,298 461,300 7.59 % 1,769,206 1,571,080 12.6 % International 34,435 14,441 138.45 % 104,569 56,300 85.7 % Total 530,733 475,741 11.56 % 1,873,775 1,627,380 15.1 %

Shipments of commercial freight and mail totaled more than 58,000 tons, a decrease of 12.7%, consistent with industry trends. Over the first four months of the year, cargo volume declined nearly 10% to 243,000 tons compared with the same period last year.

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Air cargo (tonnage) Apr 2023 Apr 2022 Change YTD 2023 YTD 2022 Change Freight 53,822 62,296 -13.6 % 224,354 250,628 -10.5 % Mail 4,753 4,863 -2.25 % 18,704 19,071 -1.9 % Total 58,576 67,159 -12.78 % 243,057 269,699 -9.9 %

About Ontario International Airport

Ontario International Airport (ONT) is the fastest growing airport in the United States, according to Global Traveler, a leading publication for frequent fliers. Located in the Inland Empire, ONT is approximately 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles in the center of Southern California. It is a full-service airport which offers nonstop commercial jet service to nearly two dozen major airports in the U.S., Mexico, Central America and Taiwan. More information is available at www.flyOntario.com. Follow @flyONT on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

About the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA)

The OIAA was formed in August 2012 by a Joint Powers Agreement between the City of Ontario and the County of San Bernardino to provide overall direction for the management, operations, development and marketing of ONT for the benefit of the Southern California economy and the residents of the airport's four-county catchment area. OIAA Commissioners are Ontario City Councilmember Alan D. Wapner (President), Retired Riverside Mayor Ronald O. Loveridge (Vice President), Ontario City Council Member Jim W. Bowman (Secretary), San Bernardino County Supervisor Curt Hagman (Commissioner) and retired business executive Julia Gouw (Commissioner).

OIAA Media Contact:

Steve Lambert (909) 841-7527 slambert@flyontario.com

Ontario International Airport (ONT) (PRNewsfoto/Ontario International Airport)

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ontario-international-airport-reports-highest-international-traveler-count-ever-for-a-single-month-301824174.html

SOURCE Ontario International Airport
Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN  Get Rating) saw a significant growth in short interest in the month of April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 7,710,000 shares, a growth of 17.4% from the April 15th total of 6,570,000 shares. Currently, 1.2% of the companys shares are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 2,390,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 3.2 days.

Accenture Price Performance

ACN traded up $0.32 during trading on Monday, hitting $277.51. The companys stock had a trading volume of 2,762,679 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,379,362. The firms 50 day moving average price is $271.54 and its 200-day moving average price is $276.43. The stock has a market cap of $175.35 billion, a PE ratio of 25.60, a PEG ratio of 2.42 and a beta of 1.25. Accenture has a twelve month low of $242.80 and a twelve month high of $322.88.

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Accenture (NYSE:ACN  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 23rd. The information technology services provider reported $2.69 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.49 by $0.20. The business had revenue of $15.81 billion during 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% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.54 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that Accenture will post 11.57 earnings per share for the current year.

Accenture Dividend Announcement

Insider Buying and Selling

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, April 13th will be given a dividend of $1.12 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 12th. This represents a $4.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.61%. Accentures dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 41.25%.

In related news, CEO Julie Spellman Sweet sold 2,954 shares of the 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 sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, General Counsel Joel Unruch sold 556 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, April 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $276.82, for a total transaction of $153,911.92. Following the completion of the transaction, the general counsel now directly owns 42,739 shares in the company, valued at $11,831,009.98. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Julie Spellman Sweet sold 2,954 shares of Accenture stock in a transaction on Friday, April 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $280.05, for a total value of $827,267.70. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 24,459 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,849,742.95. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 15,010 shares of company stock worth $4,180,030. Company insiders own 0.08% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Accenture

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ACN. Marietta Investment Partners LLC boosted its position in Accenture by 16.7% in the 1st quarter. Marietta Investment Partners LLC now owns 2,163 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $618,000 after buying an additional 310 shares during the last quarter. Advisory Resource Group boosted its position in Accenture by 8.5% in the 1st quarter. Advisory Resource Group now owns 2,160 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $617,000 after buying an additional 170 shares during the last quarter. Magnolia Capital Advisors LLC boosted its position in Accenture by 11.6% in the 1st quarter. Magnolia Capital Advisors LLC now owns 839 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $240,000 after buying an additional 87 shares during the last quarter. DF Dent & Co. Inc. boosted its position in Accenture by 11.5% in the 1st quarter. DF Dent & Co. Inc. now owns 5,747 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $1,643,000 after buying an additional 591 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Southpoint Capital Advisors LP purchased a new position in Accenture in the 1st quarter valued at about $14,290,000. 73.97% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

ACN has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Accenture from $311.00 to $314.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, March 24th. StockNews.com upgraded Accenture from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, May 5th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on Accenture from $335.00 to $340.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, March 24th. William Blair reissued an outperform rating on shares of Accenture in a report on Monday, March 20th. Finally, Wedbush reissued an outperform rating and set a $300.00 price target 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 assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Accenture has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $314.00.

Accenture Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Accenture Plc engages in the provision of management consulting, technology, and outsourcing services. It operates through the following geographical segments: North America, Europe and Growth Markets. The company was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.

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Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Co. (NYSE:BAH  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 1,970,000 shares, an increase of 18.0% from the April 15th total of 1,670,000 shares. Currently, 1.5% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 914,800 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.2 days.

Insider Activity at Booz Allen Hamilton

In other Booz Allen Hamilton news, EVP Elizabeth M. Thompson sold 27,925 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $99.00, for a total transaction of $2,764,575.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 20,474 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,026,926. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 2.23% of the stock is owned by insiders.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On Booz Allen Hamilton

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Bessemer Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Booz Allen Hamilton by 854.8% in the third quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 296 shares of the business services providers stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 265 shares in the last quarter. SouthState Corp purchased a new stake in shares of Booz Allen Hamilton during the 1st quarter worth $35,000. Johnson Financial Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Booz Allen Hamilton by 281.5% during the 4th quarter. Johnson Financial Group Inc. now owns 412 shares of the business services providers stock worth $43,000 after purchasing an additional 304 shares during the last quarter. Wipfli Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Booz Allen Hamilton during the 3rd quarter worth $44,000. Finally, Spire Wealth Management lifted its position in shares of Booz Allen Hamilton by 54.8% during the 1st quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 511 shares of the business services providers stock worth $47,000 after purchasing an additional 181 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.68% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Booz Allen Hamilton Price Performance

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of Booz Allen Hamilton from $109.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 1st. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on shares of Booz Allen Hamilton from $118.00 to $116.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 2nd. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Booz Allen Hamilton in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Booz Allen Hamilton presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $104.63.

Booz Allen Hamilton stock traded down $0.03 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $92.82. The company had a trading volume of 785,356 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,058,159. Booz Allen Hamilton has a 12-month low of $76.60 and a 12-month high of $112.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.31, a current ratio of 1.44 and a quick ratio of 1.44. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $93.78 and its 200-day simple moving average is $98.80. The company has a market capitalization of $12.28 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.84, a P/E/G ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 0.60.

Booz Allen Hamilton Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp. engages in the provision of management and technology consulting services. It offers analytics, digital solutions, engineering, and cyber expertise. The company was founded by Edwin Booz in 1914 and is headquartered in McLean, VA.

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Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. (NYSE:HPP  Get Rating) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 18,250,000 shares, a growth of 18.2% from the April 15th total of 15,440,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 3,610,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 5.1 days. Approximately 13.3% of the companys shares are sold short.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on HPP shares. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on Hudson Pacific Properties from $10.00 to $6.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Friday, March 31st. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on Hudson Pacific Properties in a report on Tuesday, March 21st. They set a sell rating and a $5.50 price objective for the company. Piper Sandler decreased their price objective on Hudson Pacific Properties from $12.00 to $8.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, March 21st. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price objective on Hudson Pacific Properties from $8.00 to $7.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 10th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on Hudson Pacific Properties from $10.00 to $7.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, March 16th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $10.63.

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Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Arthur X. Suazo purchased 10,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 28th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $5.86 per share, with a total value of $58,600.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the executive vice president now owns 87,102 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $510,417.72. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, EVP Arthur X. Suazo acquired 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 28th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $5.86 per share, for a total transaction of $58,600.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 87,102 shares of the companys stock, valued at $510,417.72. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CIO Drew Gordon acquired 25,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 27th. The shares were bought at an average price of $5.96 per share, with a total value of $149,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive now directly owns 116,958 shares of the companys stock, valued at $697,069.68. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have bought 38,975 shares of company stock valued at $232,523. 2.95% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Hudson Pacific Properties

Hudson Pacific Properties Price Performance

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. BlackRock Inc. boosted its holdings in Hudson Pacific Properties by 31.9% during the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 22,812,665 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $249,799,000 after acquiring an additional 5,516,360 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Hudson Pacific Properties by 0.7% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 22,183,249 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $615,584,000 after buying an additional 160,204 shares during the period. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Hudson Pacific Properties in the 4th quarter worth approximately $101,242,000. State Street Corp lifted its holdings in Hudson Pacific Properties by 12.0% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 8,287,870 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $229,988,000 after buying an additional 885,181 shares during the period. Finally, Prudential Financial Inc. lifted its holdings in Hudson Pacific Properties by 265.6% in the 1st quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 5,690,962 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $37,845,000 after buying an additional 4,134,472 shares during the period. 95.57% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

NYSE HPP traded down $0.04 during trading on Monday, reaching $4.34. The companys stock had a trading volume of 3,318,377 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,269,302. The stock has a market capitalization of $611.50 million, a PE ratio of -10.85 and a beta of 1.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40, a current ratio of 2.21 and a quick ratio of 2.21. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $6.18 and a 200 day moving average of $8.92. Hudson Pacific Properties has a one year low of $4.30 and a one year high of $21.08.

Hudson Pacific Properties Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 20th were issued a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 23.04%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 17th. Hudson Pacific Propertiess payout ratio is currently -250.00%.

Hudson Pacific Properties Company Profile

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Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc is a real estate company, which acquires, repositions, develops, and operates sustainable office and state of-the-art studio properties in high-barrier-to-entry submarkets in California, the Pacific Northwest, Western Canada, and Greater London, United Kingdom. It operates through the Office Properties and Studio Properties segments.

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Leju Holdings Limited (NYSE:LEJU  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 16,700 shares, an increase of 17.6% from the April 15th total of 14,200 shares. Currently, 0.1% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 260,500 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.1 days.

Leju Stock Down 4.6 %

LEJU stock traded down $0.09 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $1.88. The stock had a trading volume of 123,927 shares, compared to its average volume of 190,508. Leju has a 52 week low of $1.03 and a 52 week high of $9.84. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $1.60 and a 200 day simple moving average of $1.49.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, StockNews.com initiated coverage on Leju in a research report on Monday, May 8th. They issued a buy rating for the company.

Leju Company Profile

Leju Holdings Ltd. engages in the provision of online-to-offline real estate services. It offers electronic commerce, online advertising, and listing services on new residential property sales. The company was founded on November 20, 2013 and is headquartered in Beijing, China.

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abrdn plc reduced its stake in Banco Bradesco S.A. (NYSE:BBD  Get Rating) by 19.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 67,171,547 shares of the banks stock after selling 15,999,976 shares during the period. abrdn plc owned 0.63% of Banco Bradesco worth $193,454,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. boosted its position in shares of Banco Bradesco by 2.3% in the 4th quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 382,383 shares of the banks stock worth $1,103,000 after purchasing an additional 8,616 shares during the last quarter. Pinebridge Investments L.P. boosted its position in shares of Banco Bradesco by 25.2% in the 4th quarter. Pinebridge Investments L.P. now owns 667,279 shares of the banks stock worth $1,922,000 after purchasing an additional 134,354 shares during the last quarter. MAI Capital Management bought a new position in shares of Banco Bradesco in the 4th quarter worth $43,000. Edmond DE Rothschild Holding S.A. bought a new position in shares of Banco Bradesco in the 4th quarter worth $256,000. Finally, Gould Asset Management LLC CA boosted its position in shares of Banco Bradesco by 12.1% in the 4th quarter. Gould Asset Management LLC CA now owns 49,869 shares of the banks stock worth $144,000 after purchasing an additional 5,390 shares during the last quarter. 2.36% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts recently commented on BBD shares. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded Banco Bradesco from a buy rating to a neutral rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $3.70 to $2.70 in a research note on Thursday, February 16th. Barclays dropped their price objective on Banco Bradesco from $3.50 to $3.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, March 7th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Banco Bradesco presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $11.93.

Banco Bradesco Stock Down 0.6 %

Shares of NYSE:BBD traded down $0.02 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $3.22. The company had a trading volume of 12,721,353 shares, compared to its average volume of 32,858,828. The company has a quick ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $2.71 and its 200 day moving average price is $2.80. The stock has a market cap of $34.32 billion, a PE ratio of 10.45, a P/E/G ratio of 0.91 and a beta of 0.71. Banco Bradesco S.A. has a 1-year low of $2.34 and a 1-year high of $4.32.

Banco Bradesco (NYSE:BBD  Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The bank reported $0.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $0.07. The business had revenue of $9.82 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.43 billion. Banco Bradesco had a return on equity of 11.61% and a net margin of 9.54%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.12 earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that Banco Bradesco S.A. will post 0.36 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Banco Bradesco Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 8th. Investors of record on Thursday, May 4th will be issued a dividend of $0.0036 per share. This represents a $0.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.36%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, May 3rd. Banco Bradescos payout ratio is currently 9.68%.

Banco Bradesco Profile

(Get Rating)

Banco Bradesco SA engages in the provision of financial and insurance services. It operates through Banking, and Insurance segments. The Banking segment includes banking activities. The Insurance segment covers auto, health, life, accident and property insurance, and pension plans aw well as capitalization bonds.

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Affinity Wealth Management LLC lessened its holdings in shares of The Southern Company (NYSE:SO  Get Rating) by 3.6% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 5,287 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 200 shares during the period. Affinity Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Southern were worth $378,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Southern by 1.5% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 94,652,372 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $6,436,360,000 after purchasing an additional 1,391,612 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Southern by 1.0% in the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 76,360,768 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $5,192,533,000 after acquiring an additional 723,336 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its holdings in shares of Southern by 2.1% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 65,068,549 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $4,424,661,000 after acquiring an additional 1,313,036 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its holdings in shares of Southern by 6.2% in the 3rd quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 63,002,360 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $4,284,352,000 after acquiring an additional 3,653,841 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its holdings in shares of Southern by 0.8% in the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 8,795,619 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $598,104,000 after acquiring an additional 66,208 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 61.78% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have recently commented on SO. Mizuho dropped their price objective on Southern from $77.00 to $76.00 in a report on Tuesday. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on shares of Southern from $57.00 to $63.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Credit Suisse Group increased their target price on shares of Southern from $60.00 to $70.00 and gave the company an underperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 18th. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their target price on shares of Southern from $79.00 to $78.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, March 2nd. Finally, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM reaffirmed a maintains rating on shares of Southern in a research report on Friday, April 28th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $73.07.

Southern Stock Performance

NYSE:SO traded down $0.36 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $72.06. The stock had a trading volume of 157,507 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,145,579. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $70.74 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $68.71. The Southern Company has a 12-month low of $58.85 and a 12-month high of $80.57. The company has a quick ratio of 0.51, a current ratio of 0.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.51. The stock has a market cap of $78.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.36, a P/E/G ratio of 5.16 and a beta of 0.51.

Southern (NYSE:SO  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The utilities provider reported $0.79 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.71 by $0.08. Southern had a return on equity of 10.78% and a net margin of 11.53%. The company had revenue of $6.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.14 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.97 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts expect that The Southern Company will post 3.61 EPS for the current year.

Southern Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 6th. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 15th will be given a dividend of $0.70 per share. This is a positive change from Southerns previous quarterly dividend of $0.68. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.89%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 12th. Southerns payout ratio is presently 90.32%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Christopher Cummiskey sold 1,282 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $66.60, for a total transaction of $85,381.20. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 27,512 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,832,299.20. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, CEO Stephen E. Kuczynski sold 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $71.89, for a total value of $359,450.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 146,284 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,516,356.76. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Christopher Cummiskey sold 1,282 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $66.60, for a total value of $85,381.20. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 27,512 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,832,299.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 93,199 shares of company stock worth $6,974,908. Corporate insiders own 0.28% of the companys stock.

Southern Company Profile

(Get Rating)

The Southern Co is a holding company, which engages in the generation and sale of electricity. It operates through the following segments: Traditional Electric Operating Companies, Southern Power and Southern Company Gas. The Traditional Electric Operating Companies segment refers to vertically integrated utilities that own generation, transmission and distribution facilities, and supplies electric services in the states of Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and Mississippi.

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Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (NYSE:AEM  Get Rating) (TSE:AEM) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest in April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 8,570,000 shares, a decline of 17.2% from the April 15th total of 10,350,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 3,210,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.7 days. Approximately 3.5% of the companys stock are sold short.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Agnico Eagle Mines

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership boosted its stake in Agnico Eagle Mines by 293.3% during the first quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 473,867 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $24,153,000 after buying an additional 353,372 shares during the last quarter. Alberta Investment Management Corp boosted its position in shares of Agnico Eagle Mines by 0.5% during the 1st quarter. Alberta Investment Management Corp now owns 1,519,503 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $77,359,000 after acquiring an additional 7,430 shares during the last quarter. Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Agnico Eagle Mines in the first quarter valued at $1,760,000. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC increased its position in Agnico Eagle Mines by 91.9% in the first quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC now owns 13,599 shares of the mining companys stock worth $693,000 after purchasing an additional 6,513 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Polar Asset Management Partners Inc. bought a new stake in Agnico Eagle Mines in the first quarter worth $465,000. Institutional investors own 58.11% of the companys stock.

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Agnico Eagle Mines Price Performance

NYSE:AEM opened at $57.33 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.07, a current ratio of 2.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $54.15 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $51.94. The stock has a market cap of $28.33 billion, a PE ratio of 11.29, a P/E/G ratio of 26.28 and a beta of 0.80. Agnico Eagle Mines has a 52 week low of $36.69 and a 52 week high of $61.15.

Agnico Eagle Mines Announces Dividend

Agnico Eagle Mines ( NYSE:AEM Get Rating ) (TSE:AEM) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 17th. The mining company reported $0.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.39 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $1.38 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations 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 for the quarter was up 45.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.46 earnings per share. As a group, analysts forecast that Agnico Eagle Mines will post 2.28 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 1st will be given a dividend of $0.40 per share. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.79%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, May 31st. Agnico Eagle Miness payout ratio is currently 31.50%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have recently commented on AEM shares. BMO Capital Markets started coverage on Agnico Eagle Mines in a research report on Monday, April 3rd. They issued an outperform rating on the stock. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines from $62.00 to $63.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, April 21st. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Scotiabank started coverage on Agnico Eagle Mines in a report on Monday, April 3rd. They issued an outperform rating on the stock. Finally, TD Securities decreased their target price on Agnico Eagle Mines from $68.00 to $62.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 17th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $70.63.

Agnico Eagle Mines Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. engages in the exploration and production of gold. It operates through the following segments: Northern Business, Southern Business, and Exploration. The Northern Business segment comprises of LaRonde mine, LaRonde Zone 5 mine, Lapa mine, Goldex mine, Meadowbank mine including the Amaruq deposit, Canadian Malartic joint operation, Meliadine project and Kittila mine.

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Akzo Nobel (OTCMKTS:AKZOD  Get Rating)s stock price reached a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as $27.47 and last traded at $27.77, with a volume of 30760 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $27.05.

Akzo Nobel Stock Performance

The business has a 50 day moving average of $26.16 and a 200 day moving average of $24.55. The company has a market capitalization of $18.96 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 8.70 and a beta of 0.76. The company has a quick ratio of 1.28, a current ratio of 1.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35.

Akzo Nobel Company Profile

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Akzo Nobel N.V. operates as a paints and coatings company in the Netherlands and internationally. The company operates through Decorative Paints and Performance Coatings segments. It provides decorative paints, including paints, lacquers, and varnishes; mixing machines, color concepts, and training courses for the building and renovation industry; and specialty coatings for metal, wood, and other building materials.

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For the second time this month, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman went to Washington to discuss artificial intelligence with U.S. policymakers. Altman appeared before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary alongside IBM's Chief Privacy & Trust Officer Christina Montgomery and Gary Marcus, Professor Emeritus at New York University.

When Louisiana Senator John Kennedy asked how they should regulate A.I., Altman said a government office should be formed and be put in charge of setting standards.

"I would form a new agency that licenses any effort above a certain scale of capabilities, and that can take that license away and ensure compliance with safety standards," Altman said, adding that the would-be agency should require independent audits of any A.I. technology.

"Not just from the company or the agency, but experts who can say the model is or isn't in compliance with the state and safety thresholds and these percentages of performance on question X or Y," he said.

White House Meets With AI Leaders in Attempt to 'Protect Our Society'

While Altman said the government should regulate the technology, he balked at the idea of leading the agency himself. "I love my current job," he said.

Using the FDA as an example, Professor Marcus said there should be a safety review for artificial intelligence thats similar to how drugs are reviewed before being allowed to go to market.

"If you're going to introduce something to 100 million people, somebody has to have their eyeballs on it," Professor Marcus added.

The agency, he said, should be nimble and able to follow what's going on in the industry. It would pre-review the projects and also review them after they have been released to the worldwith the authority to recall the tech if necessary.

"It comes back to transparency and explainability in A.I.," IBM's Montgomery added. "We need to define the highest risk usage, [and] requiring things like impact assessments and transparency, requiring companies to show their work, and protecting data used to train AI in the first place."

Story continues

AI Fears Grow as Germany, France, Sweden, and Canada Voice Concerns

Governments worldwide continue to grapple with the proliferation of artificial intelligence in the mainstream. In December, the European Union passed an AI act to promote regulatory sandboxes established by public authorities to test AI before its release.

"To ensure a human-centric and ethical development of artificial intelligence in Europe, MEPs endorsed new transparency and risk-management rules for A.I. systems," the European Parliament wrote.

In March, citing privacy concerns, Italy banned OpenAI's ChatGPT. The ban was lifted in April after OpenAI made changes to its privacy settings to allow users to opt out of having their data used to train the chatbot and to turn off their chat history.

"To the question of whether we need an independent agency, I think we don't want to slow down regulation to address real risks right now," Montgomery continued, adding that regulatory authorities already exist that can regulate in their respective domains.

She did acknowledge that those regulatory bodies are under-resourced and lack the needed powers.

"AI should be regulated at the point of risk, essentially," Montgomery said. "And that's the point at which technology meets society."
Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc. (NYSE:OHI  Get Rating) has been assigned a consensus rating of Hold from the eleven ratings firms that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, five have given a hold recommendation and two have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year target price among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $30.60.

Several research firms have issued reports on OHI. Raymond James decreased their price target on shares of Omega Healthcare Investors from $35.00 to $33.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 15th. Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on shares of Omega Healthcare Investors in a research note on Wednesday, April 19th. They set an overweight rating and a $30.00 price target on the stock. StockNews.com lowered shares of Omega Healthcare Investors from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Thursday, May 11th. Credit Suisse Group reiterated an underperform rating and set a $25.00 price objective on shares of Omega Healthcare Investors in a report on Friday, March 31st. Finally, Citigroup cut their price objective on shares of Omega Healthcare Investors from $30.00 to $28.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 22nd.

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Institutional Trading of Omega Healthcare Investors

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Cornerstone Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Omega Healthcare Investors during the first quarter valued at approximately $983,000. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio raised its stake in shares of Omega Healthcare Investors by 9.3% during the first quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 430,282 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $11,794,000 after purchasing an additional 36,711 shares during the period. DoubleLine ETF Adviser LP purchased a new stake in shares of Omega Healthcare Investors during the first quarter valued at approximately $324,000. Gotham Asset Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Omega Healthcare Investors by 165.3% during the first quarter. Gotham Asset Management LLC now owns 96,122 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $2,635,000 after purchasing an additional 59,894 shares during the period. Finally, Deutsche Bank AG grew its position in shares of Omega Healthcare Investors by 56.9% during the first quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 2,797,776 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $76,687,000 after buying an additional 1,014,760 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 63.58% of the companys stock.

Omega Healthcare Investors Price Performance

Omega Healthcare Investors Increases Dividend

Omega Healthcare Investors stock opened at $29.62 on Tuesday. Omega Healthcare Investors has a 12-month low of $25.61 and a 12-month high of $33.71. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.94 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.76 and a beta of 1.01. The firms 50-day moving average is $27.52 and its two-hundred day moving average is $28.53. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.43, a current ratio of 4.76 and a quick ratio of 4.76.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 1st were paid a dividend of $0.67 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, April 28th. This represents a $2.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 9.05%. This is a positive change from Omega Healthcare Investorss previous quarterly dividend of $0.18. Omega Healthcare Investorss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 233.04%.

About Omega Healthcare Investors

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Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc engages in the provision of financing and capital to the long-term healthcare industry with a particular focus on skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, independent living facilities, rehabilitation and acute care facilities, and medical office buildings.

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Baltimore Washington Financial Advisors Inc. grew its position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG  Get Rating) by 0.4% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 8,652 shares of the restaurant operators stock after buying an additional 37 shares during the period. Baltimore Washington Financial Advisors Inc.s holdings in Chipotle Mexican Grill were worth $12,005,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. FourThought Financial LLC raised its holdings in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 350.0% during the third quarter. FourThought Financial LLC now owns 18 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 14 shares during the last quarter. Elequin Securities LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill in the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates bought a new position in Chipotle Mexican Grill in the 4th quarter valued at about $36,000. CI Investments Inc. boosted its stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 1,033.3% during the 3rd quarter. CI Investments Inc. now owns 34 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $51,000 after purchasing an additional 31 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Worth Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill during the 1st quarter worth approximately $44,000. 93.26% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Chipotle Mexican Grill Price Performance

CMG stock traded down $0.89 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $2,046.23. 23,260 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 295,004. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. has a 52-week low of $1,196.28 and a 52-week high of $2,077.29. The company has a market capitalization of $56.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 55.37, a P/E/G ratio of 1.47 and a beta of 1.34. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $1,775.84 and a 200-day moving average price of $1,607.81.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Chipotle Mexican Grill ( NYSE:CMG Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The restaurant operator reported $10.50 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $8.89 by $1.61. Chipotle Mexican Grill had a net margin of 11.49% and a return on equity of 45.01%. The business had revenue of $2.40 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.34 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $5.70 EPS. Chipotle Mexican Grills revenue was up 18.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts forecast that Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. will post 43.48 EPS for the current year.

Several research analysts recently issued reports on CMG shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,600.00 to $1,750.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,900.00 to $2,050.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 26th. StockNews.com raised shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 28th. Credit Suisse Group upped their price objective on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,050.00 to $2,200.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Finally, Truist Financial lifted their target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,960.00 to $2,270.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-two have assigned 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 $2,021.37.

Insider Transactions at Chipotle Mexican Grill

In other news, insider Laurie Schalow sold 3,658 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $2,066.73, for a total transaction of $7,560,098.34. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 1,637 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,383,237.01. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, insider Laurie Schalow sold 3,658 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $2,066.73, for a total value of $7,560,098.34. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 1,637 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,383,237.01. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Robin S. Hickenlooper sold 74 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $2,056.73, for a total transaction of $152,198.02. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 853 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,754,390.69. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 17,790 shares of company stock valued at $33,073,075. 0.96% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

About Chipotle Mexican Grill

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Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc engages in the development and operation of classically-cooked, real food with wholesome ingredients without artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. It offers a focused menu of burritos, tacos, burrito bowls, and salads prepared using classic cooking methods. The company was founded by Steve Ells in 1993 and is headquartered in Newport Beach, CA.

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Bank of Montreal (TSE:BMO  Get Rating) (NYSE:BMO) had its price objective lowered by CIBC from C$145.00 to C$139.00 in a note issued to investors on Tuesday, BayStreet.CA reports. CIBCs target price would suggest a potential upside of 17.66% from the companys previous close.

Several other equities analysts also recently commented on the stock. Cormark lowered their price objective on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$148.00 to C$147.00 in a research note on Wednesday, March 1st. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$149.00 to C$127.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 9th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price target on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$154.00 to C$151.00 in a report on Monday, March 27th. National Bankshares dropped their target price on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$135.00 to C$133.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, March 1st. Finally, TD Securities dropped their target price on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$145.00 to C$140.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, March 1st. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of C$146.38.

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Bank of Montreal Trading Down 1.5 %

Shares of BMO traded down C$1.81 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching C$118.14. 735,320 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,401,695. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of C$120.18 and a 200 day moving average price of C$126.29. The company has a market cap of C$83.09 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.91, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.49 and a beta of 1.13. Bank of Montreal has a 1 year low of C$113.47 and a 1 year high of C$138.85.

Bank of Montreal Company Profile

Bank of Montreal ( TSE:BMO Get Rating ) (NYSE:BMO) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 28th. The bank reported C$3.22 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of C$3.13 by C$0.09. Bank of Montreal had a net margin of 40.56% and a return on equity of 21.06%. The company had revenue of C$6.47 billion during the quarter. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Bank of Montreal will post 13.3034091 EPS for the current year.

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Bank of Montreal engages in the provision of diversified financial services primarily in North America. The company's personal banking products and services include checking and savings accounts, credit cards, mortgages, personal loans, small business lending, cash management, and financial and investment advice services; and commercial banking products and services comprise business deposit accounts, commercial credit cards, business loans and commercial mortgages, cash management solutions, foreign exchange, specialized banking programs, treasury and payment solutions, and risk management products for small business and commercial banking customers.

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BlackRock Sustainable American Income Trust plc (LON:BRSA  Get Rating) announced a dividend on Thursday, May 11th, Upcoming.Co.Uk reports. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 18th will be given a dividend of GBX 2 ($0.03) per share on Monday, July 3rd. This represents a yield of 1.07%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 18th. The official announcement can be viewed at this link.

BlackRock Sustainable American Income Trust Stock Performance

LON BRSA traded down GBX 2.21 ($0.03) during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting GBX 184.05 ($2.31). The company had a trading volume of 57,295 shares, compared to its average volume of 116,041. The company has a quick ratio of 0.10, a current ratio of 0.45 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.25. The stock has a market cap of 147.66 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 1,226.97 and a beta of 0.67. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of GBX 189.77 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of GBX 197.95. BlackRock Sustainable American Income Trust has a fifty-two week low of GBX 180 ($2.25) and a fifty-two week high of GBX 215 ($2.69).

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BlackRock Sustainable American Income Trust Company Profile

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BlackRock North American Income Trust plc is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched by BlackRock Fund Managers Limited. The fund is managed by BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited. It invests in the public equity markets of the United States. The fund seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors.

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Shares of Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE  Get Rating) have earned an average rating of Moderate Buy from the eleven research firms that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $167.25.

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on SRE. BMO Capital Markets dropped their price objective on shares of Sempra Energy from $169.00 to $166.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, March 1st. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on shares of Sempra Energy from $150.00 to $164.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. 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. 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. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on Sempra Energy in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock.

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Insider Activity at Sempra Energy

In related news, CEO Jeffrey W. Martin sold 19,260 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 15th. The shares were 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 $146.09. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, CFO Trevor I. Mihalik sold 2,306 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $148.50, for a total value of $342,441.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 21,362 shares in the company, valued at $3,172,257. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Jeffrey W. Martin sold 19,260 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $146.09, for a total transaction of $2,813,693.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 1 shares in the company, valued at approximately $146.09. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 31,979 shares of company stock worth $4,728,393. 0.24% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Sempra Energy Stock Down 1.8 %

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Sempra Energy by 452.0% in the 1st quarter. Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC now owns 9,048 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,368,000 after purchasing an additional 7,409 shares in the last quarter. Lido Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Sempra Energy by 27.5% in the 1st quarter. Lido Advisors LLC now owns 3,409 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $515,000 after purchasing an additional 735 shares in the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Sempra Energy in the 1st quarter valued at $608,000. Power Corp of Canada increased its holdings in Sempra Energy by 100.0% in the 1st quarter. Power Corp of Canada now owns 2,790 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $398,000 after purchasing an additional 1,395 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nomura Holdings Inc. purchased a new position in Sempra Energy in the 1st quarter worth approximately $5,145,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 84.75% of the companys stock.

Sempra Energy stock opened at $150.53 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86, a current ratio of 0.54 and a quick ratio of 0.51. Sempra Energy has a 1-year low of $136.54 and a 1-year high of $176.47. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $151.41 and its 200 day moving average price is $155.39. The company has a market cap of $47.36 billion, a PE ratio of 19.40, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.80 and a beta of 0.73.

Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 4th. The utilities provider reported $2.92 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.76 by $0.16. The firm had revenue of $6.56 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.04 billion. Sempra Energy had a net margin of 14.47% and a return on equity of 10.28%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 71.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $2.91 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Sempra Energy will post 8.97 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Sempra Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, July 15th. Investors of record on Wednesday, July 5th will be issued a $1.19 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, July 3rd. This represents a $4.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.16%. Sempra Energys payout ratio is 61.34%.

About Sempra Energy

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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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Canadian Apartment Properties REIT (TSE:CAR.UN  Get Rating) had its price target hoisted by investment analysts at CIBC from C$53.00 to C$55.00 in a research note issued on Tuesday, BayStreet.CA reports. CIBCs price objective suggests a potential upside of 13.90% from the companys current price.

CAR.UN has been the topic of several other reports. National Bankshares upped their target price on shares of Canadian Apartment Properties REIT from C$56.00 to C$59.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 18th. BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on shares of Canadian Apartment Properties REIT from C$50.00 to C$54.00 in a research note on Monday, February 27th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on shares of Canadian Apartment Properties REIT from C$59.00 to C$60.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday. Scotiabank upped their target price on shares of Canadian Apartment Properties REIT from C$54.50 to C$55.00 in a research note on Friday, February 24th. Finally, Raymond James upped their target price on shares of Canadian Apartment Properties REIT from C$58.00 to C$60.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a research note on Friday, February 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, two have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of C$57.69.

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Canadian Apartment Properties REIT Trading Down 4.4 %

Shares of CAR.UN stock traded down C$2.21 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting C$48.29. The company had a trading volume of 328,985 shares, compared to its average volume of 364,534. The companys fifty day moving average is C$47.75 and its 200 day moving average is C$46.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 70.23, a current ratio of 0.25 and a quick ratio of 0.16. Canadian Apartment Properties REIT has a fifty-two week low of C$39.08 and a fifty-two week high of C$50.96. The stock has a market capitalization of C$8.18 billion, a PE ratio of 605.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of -10.12 and a beta of 1.07.

About Canadian Apartment Properties REIT

CAPREIT owns interests in multi-unit residential rental properties, including apartments, townhomes and manufactured home communities (MHC) primarily located in and near major urban centres across Canada. As at March 31, 2019, CAPREIT had owning interests in 53,143 residential units, comprised of 45,446 residential suites and 45 MHC, comprising 7,697 land lease sites.

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Cellcom Israel Ltd. (OTCMKTS:CELJF  Get Rating) saw a large decrease in short interest in the month of April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 42,100 shares, a decrease of 19.5% from the April 15th total of 52,300 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 500 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 84.2 days.

Cellcom Israel Stock Performance

Shares of CELJF stock remained flat at $3.62 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.99, a current ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13. Cellcom Israel has a 52-week low of $3.06 and a 52-week high of $6.37. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $3.60 and a 200-day moving average of $4.42.

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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 boosted its holdings in The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW  Get Rating) by 7.5% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 17,934 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 1,252 shares during the quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLCs holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $1,456,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of SCHW. Vontobel Holding Ltd. raised its position in Charles Schwab by 7.5% in the 1st quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 20,822 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,847,000 after purchasing an additional 1,452 shares during the last quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. raised its position in Charles Schwab by 4.3% in the 1st quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 6,263 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $528,000 after purchasing an additional 259 shares during the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC raised its position in Charles Schwab by 25.4% in the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 13,064 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,101,000 after purchasing an additional 2,648 shares during the last quarter. Brighton Jones LLC raised its position in Charles Schwab by 7.5% in the 1st quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 3,807 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $321,000 after purchasing an additional 267 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Covestor Ltd raised its position in Charles Schwab by 16.6% in the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,239 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $104,000 after purchasing an additional 176 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 73.49% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have commented on SCHW shares. Morgan Stanley downgraded shares of Charles Schwab from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $99.00 to $68.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. UBS Group cut their price objective on shares of Charles Schwab from $70.00 to $65.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 18th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their price objective on shares of Charles Schwab from $89.00 to $65.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 6th. Raymond James upgraded shares of Charles Schwab from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $63.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Monday. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price objective on shares of Charles Schwab from $98.00 to $75.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, March 14th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $68.73.

Insiders Place Their Bets

Charles Schwab Price Performance

In other news, CEO Walter W. Bettinger purchased 50,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 14th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $59.31 per share, with a total value of $2,965,500.00. Following the purchase, the chief executive officer now directly owns 656,501 shares of the companys stock, valued at $38,937,074.31. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink . In other news, CEO Walter W. Bettinger purchased 50,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 14th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $59.31 per share, with a total value of $2,965,500.00. Following the purchase, the chief executive officer now directly owns 656,501 shares of the companys stock, valued at $38,937,074.31. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink . Also, insider Bernard J. Clark purchased 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, March 17th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $54.83 per share, for a total transaction of $274,150.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the insider now directly owns 120,653 shares in the company, valued at $6,615,403.99. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here . In the last ninety days, insiders have bought 81,000 shares of company stock valued at $4,706,960 and have sold 50,639 shares valued at $3,930,930. 6.60% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Shares of NYSE SCHW opened at $50.94 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $90.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.92, a PEG ratio of 2.42 and a beta of 0.88. The Charles Schwab Co. has a 52 week low of $45.00 and a 52 week high of $86.63. The companys 50-day moving average price is $53.57 and its 200 day moving average price is $70.70. The company has a current ratio of 0.38, a quick ratio of 0.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77.

Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 17th. The financial services provider reported $0.93 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.90 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $5.12 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.13 billion. Charles Schwab had a net margin of 34.82% and a return on equity of 27.36%. The firms revenue was up 9.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.77 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.38 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Charles Schwab Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 26th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 12th will be paid a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 11th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.96%. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio is currently 27.32%.

About Charles Schwab

(Get Rating)

The Charles Schwab Corp. is a savings and loan holding company, which engages in the provision of wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services. It operates through the Investor Services and Advisor Services segments. The Investor Services segment includes retail brokerage and banking services to individual investors, and retirement plan services, as well as other corporate brokerage services, to businesses and their employees.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Chunghwa Telecom (NYSE:CHT  Get Rating) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report sent to investors on Friday.

Chunghwa Telecom Price Performance

Shares of CHT stock opened at $40.64 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08, a current ratio of 1.50 and a quick ratio of 1.34. The firms 50-day moving average is $40.01 and its two-hundred day moving average is $37.75. Chunghwa Telecom has a 12 month low of $32.90 and a 12 month high of $44.16. The company has a market capitalization of $31.53 billion, a PE ratio of 25.72 and a beta of 0.13.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On Chunghwa Telecom

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. purchased a new position in Chunghwa Telecom during the first quarter worth about $27,000. Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Chunghwa Telecom during the third quarter worth about $25,000. Royal Bank of Canada boosted its stake in Chunghwa Telecom by 154.6% during the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 769 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 467 shares during the period. CWM LLC boosted its stake in Chunghwa Telecom by 50.0% during the first quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,754 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $69,000 after buying an additional 585 shares during the period. Finally, BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA lifted its stake in Chunghwa Telecom by 848.0% during the first quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA now owns 1,877 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $83,000 after purchasing an additional 1,679 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 2.19% of the companys stock.

Chunghwa Telecom Company Profile

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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Cibc World Markets Corp increased its stake in shares of Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU  Get Rating) by 98.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 121,731 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 60,298 shares during the quarter. Cibc World Markets Corps holdings in Prudential Financial were worth $12,107,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of Prudential Financial by 0.5% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 31,654,749 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,715,345,000 after buying an additional 168,175 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Prudential Financial by 6.0% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 6,353,887 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $750,839,000 after purchasing an additional 356,957 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its holdings in shares of Prudential Financial by 1.3% in the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 3,291,063 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $282,307,000 after purchasing an additional 43,016 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Prudential Financial by 3.3% during the 1st quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 3,247,466 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $383,753,000 after purchasing an additional 103,853 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP grew its stake in shares of Prudential Financial by 2.6% during the first quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 2,840,804 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $335,698,000 after purchasing an additional 70,646 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 56.33% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Andrew F. Sullivan sold 11,405 shares of Prudential Financial stock in a transaction on Friday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.95, for a total value of $1,151,334.75. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 12,300 shares in the company, valued at $1,241,685. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, EVP Andrew F. Sullivan sold 11,405 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.95, for a total value of $1,151,334.75. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 12,300 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,241,685. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Andrew F. Sullivan sold 4,126 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $99.20, for a total value of $409,299.20. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 12,241 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,214,307.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.31% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Prudential Financial Stock Performance

Several research analysts recently issued reports on PRU shares. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of Prudential Financial from $97.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a report on Monday, February 13th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price objective on shares of Prudential Financial from $99.00 to $89.00 in a report on Thursday, May 4th. Piper Sandler reissued a neutral rating and set a $106.00 price target on shares of Prudential Financial in a research note on Wednesday, February 8th. Barclays dropped their price objective on Prudential Financial from $104.00 to $88.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 12th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Prudential Financial from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and set a $114.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, April 4th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $99.83.

Prudential Financial stock opened at $79.40 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63, a quick ratio of 0.07 and a current ratio of 0.07. Prudential Financial, Inc. has a one year low of $75.37 and a one year high of $110.96. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $83.43 and its 200 day moving average price is $95.71. The firm has a market capitalization of $28.98 billion, a PE ratio of 882.22, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.61 and a beta of 1.38.

Prudential Financial (NYSE:PRU  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The financial services provider reported $2.66 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.02 by ($0.36). The firm had revenue of $15.10 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $13.29 billion. Prudential Financial had a return on equity of 14.05% and a net margin of 0.09%. During the same period last year, the firm earned $3.17 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Prudential Financial, Inc. will post 12.04 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Prudential Financial announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock repurchase plan on Tuesday, February 7th that allows the company to buyback $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the financial services provider to buy up to 2.6% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are generally a sign that the companys board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Prudential Financial Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 23rd will be issued a dividend of $1.25 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, May 22nd. This represents a $5.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.30%. Prudential Financials dividend payout ratio is presently 5,555.56%.

About Prudential Financial

(Get Rating)

Prudential Financial, Inc engages in the provision of insurance, investment management, and other financial products and services to both individual and institutional customers. It operates through the following segments: PGIM, U.S. Businesses, International Businesses, Closed Block, and Corporate and Others.

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OpenAI chief concerned about AI being used to compromise elections 'Oversight of A.I.: Rules for Artificial Intelligence' Subcommittee hearing in Washington

By Diane Bartz, Zeba Siddiqui and Jeffrey Dastin

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The CEO of OpenAI, the startup behind ChatGPT, told a Senate panel on Tuesday the use of artificial intelligence to interfere with election integrity is a "significant area of concern", adding that it needs regulation.

"I am nervous about it," CEO Sam Altman said about elections and AI, adding rules and guidelines are needed.

For months, companies large and small have raced to bring increasingly versatile AI to market, throwing endless data and billions of dollars at the challenge. Some critics fear the technology will exacerbate societal harms, among them prejudice and misinformation, while others warn AI could end humanity itself.

"There's no way to put this genie in the bottle. Globally, this is exploding," said Senator Cory Booker, one of many lawmakers with questions about how best to regulate AI.

Senator Mazie Hirono noted the danger of misinformation as the 2024 election nears. "In the election context, for example, I saw a picture of former President Trump being arrested by NYPD and that went viral," she said, pressing Altman on whether he would consider the faked image harmful.

Altman responded that creators should make clear when an image is generated rather than factual.

Speaking before Congress for the first time, Altman suggested that, in general, the U.S. should consider licensing and testing requirements for development of AI models.

Altman, asked to opine on which AI should be subject to licensing, said a model that can persuade or manipulate a person's beliefs would be an example of a "great threshold."

He also said companies should have the right to say they do not want their data used for AI training, which is one idea being discussed on Capitol Hill. Altman said, however, that material on the public web would be fair game.

Altman also said he "wouldn't say never" to the idea of advertising but preferred a subscription-based model.

Story continues

The White House has convened top technology CEOs including Altman to address AI. U.S. lawmakers likewise are seeking action to further the technology's benefits and national security while limiting its misuse. Consensus is far from certain.

An OpenAI staffer recently proposed the creation of a U.S. licensing agency for AI, which could be called the Office for AI Safety and Infrastructure Security, or OASIS, Reuters has reported.

OpenAI is backed by Microsoft Corp. Altman is also calling for global cooperation on AI and incentives for safety compliance.

Christina Montgomery, International Business Machines Corp chief privacy and trust officer, urged Congress to focus regulation on areas with the potential to do the greatest societal harm.

(Reporting by Diane Bartz, Zebba Siddiqui and Jeffrey Dastin; Editing by Matthew Lewis, Edwina Gibbs and Daniel Wallis)
Cibc World Markets Corp grew its position in The Bank of New York Mellon Co. (NYSE:BK  Get Rating) by 100.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 243,358 shares of the banks stock after buying an additional 121,919 shares during the period. Cibc World Markets Corps holdings in Bank of New York Mellon were worth $11,078,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in BK. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. raised its holdings in Bank of New York Mellon by 97.1% in the 1st quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 609 shares of the banks stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 300 shares during the period. MV Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 38.3% in the 4th quarter. MV Capital Management Inc. now owns 747 shares of the banks stock valued at $34,000 after acquiring an additional 207 shares during the period. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 238.6% in the 3rd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 948 shares of the banks stock worth $36,000 after acquiring an additional 668 shares during the last quarter. Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc purchased a new position in shares of Bank of New York Mellon during the 4th quarter worth approximately $36,000. Finally, CI Investments Inc. increased its holdings in Bank of New York Mellon by 1,001.1% in the 3rd quarter. CI Investments Inc. now owns 980 shares of the banks stock valued at $38,000 after purchasing an additional 891 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.29% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

BK has been the topic of a number of research reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their price target on Bank of New York Mellon from $42.00 to $41.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 19th. Barclays decreased their target price on Bank of New York Mellon from $64.00 to $62.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 12th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on Bank of New York Mellon from $44.00 to $49.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $46.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $52.00 to $51.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 19th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Bank of New York Mellon has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $51.61.

Bank of New York Mellon Trading Up 1.4 %

BK opened at $40.70 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 0.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92. The Bank of New York Mellon Co. has a 52 week low of $36.22 and a 52 week high of $52.26. The businesss 50 day moving average is $43.96 and its two-hundred day moving average is $45.97. The firm has a market cap of $32.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.88, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.08 and a beta of 1.07.

Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE:BK  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 18th. The bank reported $1.12 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.09 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $4.36 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.40 billion. Bank of New York Mellon had a net margin of 11.98% and a return on equity of 11.45%. Bank of New York Mellons quarterly revenue was up 11.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.86 EPS. On average, research analysts predict that The Bank of New York Mellon Co. will post 4.75 EPS for the current year.

Bank of New York Mellon Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 11th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 28th were given a dividend of $0.37 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, April 27th. This represents a $1.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.64%. Bank of New York Mellons payout ratio is 46.84%.

About Bank of New York Mellon

(Get Rating)

The Bank of New York Mellon Corp. is a bank holding company, which engages in the provision of financial services. It operates through the following segments: Securities Services, Market and Wealth Services, Investment and Wealth Management, and Other segment. The Securities Services segment includes Asset Servicing business, which provides global custody, fund accounting, integrated middle-office solutions, transfer agency and data and analytics solutions.

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Davide Campari-Milano (OTCMKTS:DVDCF  Get Rating) saw a large decline in short interest during the month of April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 3,688,800 shares, a decline of 5.9% from the April 15th total of 3,920,500 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 2,200 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1,676.7 days.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on DVDCF shares. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of Davide Campari-Milano to 13.00 ($14.13) in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Davide Campari-Milano to 10.70 ($11.63) in a report on Wednesday, April 12th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group boosted their price objective on shares of Davide Campari-Milano to 12.50 ($13.59) in a report on Wednesday, May 3rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $11.75.

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Davide Campari-Milano Price Performance

Shares of DVDCF stock remained flat at $13.33 during mid-day trading on Tuesday. 40 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 106,712. Davide Campari-Milano has a 12-month low of $8.55 and a 12-month high of $13.56. The firms 50 day moving average price is $12.37 and its 200 day moving average price is $11.23.

About Davide Campari-Milano

Davide Campari-Milano NV is a holding company, which engages in the production and distribution of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. The firm operates through its geographic segments: the Americas; Southern Europe; Middle East and Africa; Northern, Central and Eastern Europe; Asia-Pacific. Its product offerings include aperitifs, vodka, whisky, tequila, rum, gin, liqueurs, and sparkling and still wines under internation brands which include Campari, Aperol, Sky Vodka, Wild Turkey, Appleton Estate, Grand Marnier, and Wray and Nephew.

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Dynatrace, Inc. (NYSE:DT  Get Rating) was the target of a large increase in short interest in the month of April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 9,420,000 shares, an increase of 10.8% from the April 15th total of 8,500,000 shares. Currently, 4.4% of the shares of the company are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 2,550,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 3.7 days.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CRO Stephen J. Pace sold 4,317 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $43.49, for a total transaction of $187,746.33. Following the completion of the sale, the executive now owns 120,923 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,258,941.27. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, CRO Stephen J. Pace sold 4,317 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $43.49, for a total transaction of $187,746.33. Following the completion of the sale, the executive now owns 120,923 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,258,941.27. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Matthias Dollentz-Scharer sold 2,314 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $43.49, for a total transaction of $100,635.86. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 68,779 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,991,198.71. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 15,614 shares of company stock valued at $679,053. Company insiders own 0.51% of the companys stock.

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Institutional Trading of Dynatrace

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. BlackRock Inc. grew its holdings in Dynatrace by 2.1% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 23,086,920 shares of the companys stock valued at $976,577,000 after purchasing an additional 467,760 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in Dynatrace by 3.8% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 19,402,842 shares of the companys stock valued at $675,413,000 after purchasing an additional 702,695 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC grew its holdings in Dynatrace by 41.2% during the 1st quarter. FMR LLC now owns 16,424,549 shares of the companys stock valued at $694,758,000 after purchasing an additional 4,791,026 shares during the last quarter. Brown Advisory Inc. grew its holdings in Dynatrace by 11.1% during the 3rd quarter. Brown Advisory Inc. now owns 12,887,942 shares of the companys stock valued at $448,629,000 after purchasing an additional 1,287,467 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP grew its holdings in Dynatrace by 5.7% during the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 8,111,518 shares of the companys stock valued at $343,117,000 after purchasing an additional 439,914 shares during the last quarter. 97.17% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Dynatrace Price Performance

Several research analysts recently weighed in on DT shares. Truist Financial upped their target price on shares of Dynatrace from $45.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, February 2nd. Citigroup dropped their target price on shares of Dynatrace from $52.00 to $50.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 21st. Loop Capital upped their target price on shares of Dynatrace from $35.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Thursday, February 2nd. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their target price on shares of Dynatrace from $54.00 to $47.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 25th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on shares of Dynatrace from $49.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, February 21st. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $47.00.

Shares of NYSE DT traded up $0.22 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $46.81. 5,471,761 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,640,564. The companys 50-day moving average is $41.64 and its two-hundred day moving average is $39.84. The company has a market capitalization of $13.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 465.90, a PEG ratio of 4.71 and a beta of 1.11. Dynatrace has a 1 year low of $31.54 and a 1 year high of $48.00.

Dynatrace Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Dynatrace, Inc engages in the development of a software intelligence platform, purpose-built for the enterprise cloud. The firms platform utilizes artificial intelligence at its core and advanced automation to provide answers, not just data, about the performance of applications, the underlying hybrid cloud infrastructure, and the experience of the customers users.

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Endeavour Mining plc (OTCMKTS:EDVMF  Get Rating) was the recipient of a significant decrease in short interest in April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 893,600 shares, a decrease of 16.7% from the April 15th total of 1,072,800 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 5,200 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 171.8 days.

Endeavour Mining Trading Up 1.2 %

Shares of EDVMF traded up $0.30 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $25.71. The company had a trading volume of 13,286 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,900. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $24.45 and its 200 day simple moving average is $22.57. Endeavour Mining has a 1-year low of $16.47 and a 1-year high of $27.12.

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Endeavour Mining Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 28th. Investors of record on Friday, February 24th were issued a dividend of $0.41 per share. This is an increase from Endeavour Minings previous dividend of $0.40. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 23rd. This represents a dividend yield of 3.57%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

About Endeavour Mining

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Liberum Capital downgraded shares of Endeavour Mining from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Thursday, May 4th. CIBC increased their price objective on shares of Endeavour Mining from C$40.00 to C$46.00 in a research note on Tuesday, February 7th. Scotiabank raised their target price on Endeavour Mining from C$38.50 to C$43.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 12th. National Bank Financial raised their target price on Endeavour Mining from C$52.00 to C$56.50 in a report on Tuesday, May 9th. Finally, Berenberg Bank raised their target price on Endeavour Mining from C$49.00 to C$51.00 in a report on Thursday.

(Get Rating)

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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European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust (TSE:ERE.UN  Get Rating) had its price target reduced by equities research analysts at Raymond James from C$4.25 to C$4.00 in a report released on Tuesday, BayStreet.CA reports. The brokerage currently has an outperform rating on the stock. Raymond James target price suggests a potential upside of 29.87% from the stocks current price.

ERE.UN has been the topic of a number of other research reports. National Bankshares lifted their price target on shares of European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust from C$3.45 to C$3.70 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Monday, January 30th. CIBC upped their target price on European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust from C$4.25 to C$4.50 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, February 17th. Finally, Cormark set a C$4.15 price target on European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 22nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of C$4.41.

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European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust Stock Up 2.0 %

ERE.UN stock opened at C$3.08 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of C$278.00 million, a P/E ratio of 4.22 and a beta of 1.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 234.20, a quick ratio of 0.20 and a current ratio of 0.14. European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust has a one year low of C$2.70 and a one year high of C$4.82. The company has a 50 day moving average price of C$3.34 and a two-hundred day moving average price of C$3.28.

European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust Company Profile

European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust  ERES is an unincorporated, open-ended real estate investment trust. ERESs REIT units are listed on the TSX under the symbol ERE.UN. ERES is Canadas only European-focused multi-residential REIT, with a current initial focus on investing in high-quality multi-residential real estate properties in the Netherlands.

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StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Flexible Solutions International (NYSE:FSI  Get Rating) in a research note published on Saturday. The firm issued a hold rating on the stock.

Flexible Solutions International Price Performance

Shares of Flexible Solutions International stock opened at $2.85 on Friday. Flexible Solutions International has a 12 month low of $1.51 and a 12 month high of $3.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15, a current ratio of 3.01 and a quick ratio of 1.61. The company has a market cap of $35.44 million, a P/E ratio of 5.09 and a beta of 1.74.

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Flexible Solutions International Company Profile

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Flexible Solutions International, Inc is an environmental technology company engaged in the research, development, and manufacture of products that save water and energy. It operates through the following segments: Energy and Water Conservation Products and Biodegradable Polymers. The Energy and Water Conservation Products segment consists of a liquid swimming pool blanket which saves energy and water by inhibiting evaporation from the pool surface, and a food-safe powdered form of the active ingredient within the liquid blanket.

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Greentown China Holdings Limited (OTCMKTS:GTWCF  Get Rating) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 1,510,000 shares, a growth of 16.9% from the April 15th total of 1,291,500 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 0 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently  days.

Greentown China Stock Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS:GTWCF remained flat at $1.63 on Monday. Greentown China has a 1-year low of $1.63 and a 1-year high of $1.63. The companys 50-day moving average is $1.63.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Greentown China from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research note on Sunday, January 15th.

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Greggs (LON:GRG  Get Rating)s stock had its hold rating reaffirmed by research analysts at Peel Hunt in a report released on Tuesday, Digital Look reports. They currently have a GBX 2,500 ($31.32) price objective on the stock. Peel Hunts target price suggests a potential downside of 9.30% from the stocks current price.

A number of other research firms have also commented on GRG. Shore Capital reiterated a hold rating on shares of Greggs in a research report on Tuesday. Berenberg Bank upped their price target on Greggs from GBX 3,000 ($37.58) to GBX 3,200 ($40.09) and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 2nd. Liberum Capital lowered Greggs to a hold rating and set a GBX 2,800 ($35.07) price target on the stock. in a report on Tuesday. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a buy rating and issued a GBX 2,950 ($36.95) price target on shares of Greggs in a report on Wednesday, March 8th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of GBX 2,862.50 ($35.86).

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Greggs Price Performance

GRG traded down GBX 87.52 ($1.10) on Tuesday, reaching GBX 2,756.48 ($34.53). The stock had a trading volume of 248,659 shares, compared to its average volume of 280,020. The firm has a 50-day moving average of GBX 2,752.82 and a 200-day moving average of GBX 2,560.43. Greggs has a fifty-two week low of GBX 1,650 ($20.67) and a fifty-two week high of GBX 2,914 ($36.50). The company has a market capitalization of 2.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 2,355.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.39 and a beta of 1.35. The company has a current ratio of 1.16, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 67.56.

Insider Transactions at Greggs

Greggs Company Profile

In other news, insider Richard Hutton sold 6,080 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 2,792 ($34.97), for a total value of 169,753.60 ($212,643.87). Company insiders own 6.22% of the companys stock.

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Greggs plc operates as a bakery food-on-the-go retailer in the United Kingdom. It offers a range of fresh and frozen bakery products, sandwiches, and drinks. The company sells products to franchise and wholesale partners for sale in their own outlets. It is also involved in the property holding, non-trading, and trustee businesses.

Further Reading

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Hersha Hospitality Trust (NYSE:HT  Get Rating) saw a significant increase in short interest in the month of April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 937,800 shares, an increase of 17.7% from the April 15th total of 797,100 shares. Currently, 2.8% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 718,100 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.3 days.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on HT shares. B. Riley Financial reaffirmed a neutral rating on shares of Hersha Hospitality Trust in a research note on Saturday, February 25th. B. Riley raised Hersha Hospitality Trust from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lowered their target price for the stock from $10.00 to $9.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 4th. StockNews.com cut Hersha Hospitality Trust from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Friday, April 28th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on Hersha Hospitality Trust from $10.00 to $7.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 30th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $9.60.

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Hersha Hospitality Trust Stock Down 0.5 %

Shares of NYSE:HT traded down $0.03 on Monday, hitting $6.01. 433,425 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 605,773. The firms 50-day moving average is $6.46 and its 200 day moving average is $8.14. The company has a market capitalization of $239.65 million, a PE ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 2.01. Hersha Hospitality Trust has a 1-year low of $5.76 and a 1-year high of $12.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a quick ratio of 2.15 and a current ratio of 2.15.

Hersha Hospitality Trust Cuts Dividend

Insider Buying and Selling at Hersha Hospitality Trust

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 31st were given a dividend of $0.05 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 30th. This represents a $0.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.33%. Hersha Hospitality Trusts dividend payout ratio is currently 6.43%.

In other news, Director Thomas J. Hutchison III acquired 5,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 23rd. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $8.56 per share, with a total value of $42,800.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 151,319 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,295,290.64. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. 22.40% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. BlackRock Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Hersha Hospitality Trust by 3.3% in the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 5,708,933 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $45,556,000 after purchasing an additional 183,089 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Hersha Hospitality Trust by 4.5% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 2,823,991 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $22,536,000 after purchasing an additional 122,345 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Hersha Hospitality Trust by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,698,461 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $13,639,000 after purchasing an additional 17,776 shares during the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Hersha Hospitality Trust by 1,635.3% in the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 1,310,139 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $11,162,000 after purchasing an additional 1,234,641 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Prudential Financial Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Hersha Hospitality Trust by 111.3% in the 1st quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 937,107 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $6,297,000 after purchasing an additional 493,550 shares during the last quarter. 65.29% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Hersha Hospitality Trust

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Hersha Hospitality Trust is a self-advised real estate investment trust in the hospitality sector, which owns and operates hotels in urban gateway markets. Its hotel properties are located in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, the District of Columbia, Miami, and select markets on the West Coast.

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iShares Core MSCI Pacific ETF (NYSEARCA:IPAC  Get Rating) shares saw unusually-high trading volume on Tuesday . Approximately 367,311 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 103% from the previous sessions volume of 180,988 shares.The stock last traded at $57.60 and had previously closed at $57.86.

iShares Core MSCI Pacific ETF Stock Down 0.4 %

The stock has a market capitalization of $1.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.67 and a beta of 0.74. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $56.17 and a 200-day moving average of $55.15.

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Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Flow Traders U.S. LLC boosted its holdings in iShares Core MSCI Pacific ETF by 102.1% in the first quarter. Flow Traders U.S. LLC now owns 48,234 shares of the companys stock worth $2,937,000 after purchasing an additional 24,370 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC purchased a new position in iShares Core MSCI Pacific ETF in the 1st quarter worth about $603,000. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. purchased a new position in iShares Core MSCI Pacific ETF during the 1st quarter valued at about $678,000. Vident Investment Advisory LLC grew its stake in shares of iShares Core MSCI Pacific ETF by 207.3% in the 1st quarter. Vident Investment Advisory LLC now owns 14,045 shares of the companys stock valued at $856,000 after buying an additional 9,474 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lifted its holdings in iShares Core MSCI Pacific ETF by 111.5% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 67,887 shares of the companys stock worth $4,133,000 after purchasing an additional 35,788 shares during the last quarter.

About iShares Core MSCI Pacific ETF

The iShares Core MSCI Pacific ETF (IPAC) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI Pacific IMI index, a market-cap-weighted index of developed Pacific securities. IPAC was launched on Jun 10, 2014 and is managed by BlackRock.

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Dublin, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "OXLUMO Market Drug Insight and Market Forecast - 2032" drug pipelines has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



"OXLUMO Market Drug Insight and Market Forecast - 2032" report provides comprehensive insights about OXLUMO for Primary Hyperoxaluria (PH) in the seven major markets. A detailed picture of the OXLUMO for primary hyperoxaluria in the 7MM, i.e., United States, EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, Spain), the United Kingdom, and Japan, for the study period 2019 -2032 is provided in this report along with a detailed description of the OXLUMO for primary hyperoxaluria.

The report provides insights about mechanism of action, dosage and administration, as well as research and development including regulatory milestones, along with other developmental activities. Further, it also consists of future market assessments inclusive of the OXLUMO market forecast analysis for primary hyperoxaluria in the 7MM, SWOT, analysts' views, comprehensive overview of market competitors, and brief about other emerging therapies in primary hyperoxaluria.



Drug Summary



Lumasiran (formerly ALN-GO1) being developed by Alnylum Pharma, is a subcutaneously administered, investigational RNAi therapeutic targeting glycolate oxidase (GO). Lumasiran is designed to reduce hepatic levels of GO enzyme (encoded by HAO1), thereby depleting the substrate necessary for oxalate production, which directly contributes to the pathophysiology of PH1.



Lumasiran utilizes the companies' Enhanced Stabilization Chemistry (ESC)-GalNAc delivery platform, which enables subcutaneous dosing with increased potency and durability and a wide therapeutic index. Lumasiran has received Orphan Drug Designations from both the US and EU and a Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the US FDA.



Mechanism of Action



Lumasiran reduces levels of glycolate oxidase (GO) enzyme by targeting the hydroxyacid oxidase 1 (HAO1) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) in hepatocytes through RNA interference. Decreased GO enzyme levels reduce the amount of available glyoxylate, a substrate for oxalate production.

Story continues

As the GO enzyme is upstream of the deficient alanine: glyoxylate aminotransferase (AGT) enzyme that causes PH1, the mechanism of action of lumasiran is independent of the underlying AGXT gene mutation. OXLUMO is not expected to be effective in primary hyperoxaluria type 2 (PH2) or type 3 (PH3) because its mechanism does not affect the metabolic pathways causing hyperoxaluria in PH2 and PH3.



Scope of the Report

The report provides insights into:

A comprehensive product overview including the OXLUMO description, mechanism of action, dosage and administration, research and development activities in primary hyperoxaluria.

Elaborated details on OXLUMO regulatory milestones and other development activities have been provided in this report.

The report also highlights the OXLUMO research and development activities in primary hyperoxaluria across the United States, Europe and Japan.

The report also covers the patents information with expiry timeline around OXLUMO.

The report contains forecasted sales of for primary hyperoxaluria till 2032.

Comprehensive coverage of the late-stage emerging therapies for primary hyperoxaluria.

The report also features the SWOT analysis with analyst views for OXLUMO in primary hyperoxaluria.

Methodology



The report is built using data and information sourced primarily from internal databases, primary and secondary research and in-house analysis by the research team of industry experts. Information and data from the secondary sources have been obtained from various printable and nonprintable sources like search engines, news websites, global regulatory authorities websites, trade journals, white papers, magazines, books, trade associations, industry associations, industry portals and access to available databases.



OXLUMO Analytical Perspective

In-depth OXLUMO Market Assessment



This report provides a detailed market assessment of OXLUMO for primary hyperoxaluria in the seven major markets, i.e., United States, EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, Spain), the United Kingdom), and Japan. This segment of the report provides forecasted sales data from 2022 to 2032.



OXLUMO Clinical Assessment



The report provides the clinical trials information of OXLUMO for primary hyperoxaluria covering trial interventions, trial conditions, trial status, start and completion dates.



Report Highlights

In the coming years, the market scenario for primary hyperoxaluria is set to change due to the extensive research and incremental healthcare spending across the world; which would expand the size of the market to enable the drug manufacturers to penetrate more into the market.

The companies are developing therapies that focus on novel approaches to treat/improve the disease condition, assess challenges, and seek opportunities that could influence OXLUMO dominance.

Other emerging products for primary hyperoxaluria are expected to give tough market competition to OXLUMO and launch of late-stage emerging therapies in the near future will significantly impact the market.

A detailed description of regulatory milestones, and developmental activities, provide the current development scenario of OXLUMO in primary hyperoxaluria.

This in-depth analysis of the forecasted sales data of OXLUMO from 2022 to 2032 will support the clients in the decision-making process regarding their therapeutic portfolio by identifying the overall scenario of the OXLUMO in primary hyperoxaluria.

Key Questions Answered

What is the product type, route of administration and mechanism of action of OXLUMO?

What is the clinical trial status of the study related to OXLUMO in primary hyperoxaluria and study completion date?

What are the key collaborations, mergers and acquisitions, licensing and other activities related to the OXLUMO development?

What are the key designations that have been granted to OXLUMO for primary hyperoxaluria?

What is the forecasted market scenario of OXLUMO for primary hyperoxaluria?

What are the forecasted sales of OXLUMO in the seven major countries, including the United States, Europe (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom), and Japan?

What are the other emerging products available and how are these giving competition to OXLUMO for primary hyperoxaluria?

Which are the late-stage emerging therapies under development for the treatment of primary hyperoxaluria?

Key Topics Covered:



1. Report Introduction



2. OXLUMO Overview in Primary hyperoxaluria



3. Competitive Landscape (Marketed Therapies)



4. Competitive Landscape (Late-stage Emerging Therapies)



5. OXLUMO Market Assessment



6. SWOT Analysis



7. Analysts' Views



8. Appendix

8.1. Bibliography

8.2. Report Methodology



9. Publisher Capabilities



10. Disclaimer



11. About the Publisher



12. Report Purchase Options



For more information about this drug pipelines report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/dxoexa

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




Japan Tobacco Inc. (OTCMKTS:JAPAF  Get Rating) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest in April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 1,037,200 shares, a decline of 23.1% from the April 15th total of 1,348,400 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 2,500 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 414.9 days.

Japan Tobacco Stock Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS JAPAF remained flat at $21.87 during mid-day trading on Monday. 1,400 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,326. Japan Tobacco has a 52 week low of $15.91 and a 52 week high of $22.46. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $21.08 and a 200 day moving average of $20.37.

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Japan Tobacco Company Profile

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Japan Tobacco, Inc engages in the manufacture and sale of tobacco, pharmaceutical and processed food products. It operates through the following divisions: Japanese Domestic Tobacco, International Tobacco, Pharmaceutical, and Processed Food. The Japanese Domestic segment deals with the production and sale of tobacco products in domestic areas.

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Pinebridge Investments L.P. reduced its holdings in shares of NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NRG  Get Rating) by 33.3% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 382,371 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 191,215 shares during the period. Pinebridge Investments L.P.s holdings in NRG Energy were worth $12,167,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. California Public Employees Retirement System boosted its stake in shares of NRG Energy by 17.6% in the third quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 560,946 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $21,467,000 after purchasing an additional 83,806 shares during the period. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund purchased a new position in shares of NRG Energy in the third quarter valued at $944,000. First Trust Advisors LP boosted its stake in shares of NRG Energy by 3.4% in the third quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 811,828 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $31,069,000 after purchasing an additional 26,512 shares during the period. Vontobel Holding Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of NRG Energy by 11.0% in the third quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 11,700 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $448,000 after purchasing an additional 1,155 shares during the period. Finally, Pearl River Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of NRG Energy in the third quarter valued at $333,000. 99.98% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on NRG shares. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on shares of NRG Energy from $39.00 to $40.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. TheStreet cut shares of NRG Energy from a b- rating to a c rating in a report on Thursday, February 16th. Bank of America raised shares of NRG Energy from a neutral rating to a buy rating and upped their price target for the company from $35.00 to $36.00 in a report on Monday, March 20th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of NRG Energy in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a sell rating on the stock. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $41.25.

NRG Energy Trading Up 3.0 %

NRG opened at $33.78 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.78 billion, a PE ratio of -4.26, a P/E/G ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 1.03. NRG Energy, Inc. has a 12-month low of $30.25 and a 12-month high of $47.82. The firms fifty day moving average price is $33.31 and its 200 day moving average price is $35.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.66, a current ratio of 0.99 and a quick ratio of 0.92.

NRG Energy (NYSE:NRG  Get Rating) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 16th. The utilities provider reported $1.64 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.43 by $0.21. The company had revenue of $7.86 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.67 billion. NRG Energy had a negative net margin of 5.90% and a positive return on equity of 17.12%. As a group, research analysts expect that NRG Energy, Inc. will post 4.59 EPS for the current fiscal year.

NRG Energy Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 1st were issued a dividend of $0.377 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, April 28th. This represents a $1.51 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.46%. NRG Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -19.04%.

About NRG Energy

(Get Rating)

NRG Energy, Inc engages in the production, sale, and distribution of energy and energy services. It operates through the following segments: Generation, Retail, and Corporate. The Generation segment includes all power plant activities, domestic and international, as well as renewables. The Retail segment includes mass customers and business solutions, and other distributed and reliability products.

Further Reading

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NRG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NRG  Get Rating).

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Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (OTCMKTS:PIAIF  Get Rating)s stock price rose 2.6% during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $7.40 and last traded at $7.40. Approximately 335 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 96% from the average daily volume of 8,181 shares. The stock had previously closed at $7.21.

Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China Price Performance

The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $6.80 and a 200 day moving average price of $6.63.

Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China Company Profile

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Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. provides financial products and services for insurance, banking, asset management, and fintech and healthtech businesses in the People's Republic of China. The company's Life and Health Insurance segment offers term, whole-life, endowment, annuity, investment-linked, universal life, and health care and medical insurance to individual and corporate customers.

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Premium Brands (TSE:PBH  Get Rating) had its price target boosted by stock analysts at CIBC from C$98.00 to C$99.00 in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday, BayStreet.CA reports. CIBCs target price would suggest a potential upside of 1.01% from the stocks current price.

Other analysts have also issued reports about the stock. Scotiabank increased their target price on shares of Premium Brands from C$114.00 to C$120.00 in a research note on Monday, May 1st. Cormark upped their price target on shares of Premium Brands from C$115.00 to C$120.00 in a research report on Monday, March 20th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price target on shares of Premium Brands from C$105.00 to C$111.00 in a research report on Friday, March 17th. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price target on shares of Premium Brands from C$107.00 to C$104.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, March 17th. Finally, TD Securities increased their target price on shares of Premium Brands from C$120.00 to C$125.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of C$118.30.

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Premium Brands Stock Performance

TSE PBH traded up C$0.91 on Tuesday, hitting C$98.01. The stock had a trading volume of 32,403 shares, compared to its average volume of 53,976. Premium Brands has a one year low of C$77.36 and a one year high of C$105.32. The company has a quick ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 2.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 141.16. The stock has a market cap of C$4.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.45, a P/E/G ratio of 1.10 and a beta of 0.97. The companys 50-day moving average is C$98.80 and its two-hundred day moving average is C$91.71.

Premium Brands Company Profile

Premium Brands ( TSE:PBH Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 16th. The company reported C$1.19 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of C$1.35 by C($0.16). The company had revenue of C$1.63 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$1.55 billion. Premium Brands had a net margin of 2.66% and a return on equity of 8.93%. On average, analysts expect that Premium Brands will post 5.1172871 earnings per share for the current year.

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Premium Brands Holdings Corporation, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and distributes food products primarily in Canada and the United States. It operates in two segments, Specialty Foods and Premium Food Distribution. The company provides meat products and snacks, deli products, beef jerky and halal, sandwiches, pastries, specialty and gourmet products, salads and kettle products, entrees, panini, wraps, subs, hamburgers, burgers, muffins, breads, pastas, and baking and sushi products, as well as processed meat products and ready-to-eat meals.

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Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Incorporated (NYSE:RBA  Get Rating) (TSE:RBA) Director Adam Dewitt bought 2,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 16th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $52.40 per share, with a total value of $104,800.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 2,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at $104,800. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website.

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Stock Performance

NYSE:RBA traded down $1.11 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $52.17. The stock had a trading volume of 1,256,475 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,566,385. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45, a quick ratio of 1.08 and a current ratio of 1.21. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $56.32 and a 200 day simple moving average of $57.68. Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Incorporated has a 12-month low of $48.72 and a 12-month high of $72.73. The stock has a market cap of $5.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 54.37, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.49 and a beta of 0.89.

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Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (NYSE:RBA  Get Rating) (TSE:RBA) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 21st. The business services provider reported $0.60 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.50 by $0.10. The company had revenue of $443.86 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $430.21 million. Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers had a return on equity of 25.58% and a net margin of 18.44%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 23.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.27 earnings per share. On average, research analysts forecast that Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Incorporated will post 2.34 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Announces Dividend

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 20th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, May 30th will be given a $0.27 dividend. This represents a $1.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.07%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 26th. Ritchie Bros. Auctioneerss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 110.20%.

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. State Street Corp purchased a new position in shares of Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers in the first quarter valued at $51,085,000. Squarepoint Ops LLC boosted its stake in Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers by 9.4% during the first quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC now owns 74,475 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $4,192,000 after buying an additional 6,384 shares during the period. First Manhattan CO. LLC. purchased a new position in Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers during the first quarter worth about $298,000. Fred Alger Management LLC purchased a new position in Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers during the first quarter worth about $2,547,000. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position in Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers by 150.9% during the first quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 873,963 shares of the business services providers stock worth $49,194,000 after buying an additional 525,645 shares in the last quarter. 81.09% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms recently commented on RBA. OTR Global raised Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers to a positive rating in a research note on Thursday, May 4th. Raymond James increased their price target on Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers from $55.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 24th. National Bankshares increased their price target on Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers from $62.00 to $63.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Robert W. Baird decreased their price target on Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers from $66.00 to $64.00 in a research report on Monday, March 20th. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating for the company. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $61.14.

About Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers

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Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, Inc is an industrial auctioneer, which engages in the sale of equipment to on-site and online bidders. It operates through the following segments: Auctions and Marketplaces, Ritchie Bros. Financial Services and Mascus. The Auctions and Marketplaces segment consists of live on site auctions, online auctions and marketplaces, and brokerage service.

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Shawcor (TSE:SCL  Get Rating) had its price target decreased by equities research analysts at Cormark from C$25.25 to C$23.50 in a report issued on Tuesday, BayStreet.CA reports. Cormarks target price suggests a potential upside of 67.86% from the stocks current price.

A number of other research analysts have also issued reports on the company. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price target on Shawcor from C$13.00 to C$14.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 25th. National Bankshares reduced their price target on Shawcor from C$18.00 to C$17.50 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, March 10th. TD Securities reduced their price target on Shawcor from C$14.50 to C$12.50 and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Friday, March 10th. National Bank Financial reiterated an outperform overweight rating on shares of Shawcor in a research report on Friday, February 10th. Finally, ATB Capital upgraded Shawcor from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, March 10th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Shawcor currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of C$17.36.

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Shawcor Price Performance

Shares of SCL opened at C$14.00 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of C$982.80 million, a P/E ratio of -31.82, a PEG ratio of 0.55 and a beta of 2.35. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of C$12.31 and a 200 day moving average price of C$12.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 38.63, a current ratio of 1.46 and a quick ratio of 1.00. Shawcor has a 12 month low of C$4.99 and a 12 month high of C$14.91.

Shawcor Company Profile

Shawcor ( TSE:SCL Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, March 8th. The company reported C$0.18 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of C$0.21 by C($0.03). The company had revenue of C$345.46 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$344.60 million. Shawcor had a negative return on equity of 4.62% and a negative net margin of 2.39%. On average, research analysts forecast that Shawcor will post 1.8671533 earnings per share for the current year.

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Shawcor Ltd. operates as a material sciences company that serves the infrastructure, energy, and transportation markets worldwide. It operates through three segments: Composite Systems, Automotive and Industrial, and Pipeline and Pipe Services. The Composite Systems segment manufactures flexible composite and high density polyethylene pipes that are used for oil and gas gathering, water disposal, carbon dioxide injection pipelines, and other applications; fiberglass reinforced plastic underground storage tanks for the retail fuel, water and wastewater, and oil and gas markets; and tubular management services to the Western Canadian onshore oilfield market, including inventory management systems, mobile inspection, in-plant inspection and the refurbishment and rethreading of drill pipe, production tubing and casing, and tubular products.

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Douglas Elliman Inc. (NYSE:DOUG  Get Rating) was the target of a large increase in short interest during the month of April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totalling 1,800,000 shares, an increase of 5.9% from the April 15th total of 1,700,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 458,100 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 3.9 days. Currently, 2.7% of the companys shares are short sold.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Douglas Elliman

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Royce & Associates LP increased its holdings in Douglas Elliman by 120.5% during the 3rd quarter. Royce & Associates LP now owns 183,947 shares of the companys stock worth $754,000 after purchasing an additional 100,524 shares during the period. Gallacher Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in Douglas Elliman during the 4th quarter worth about $163,000. BRR OpCo LLC purchased a new position in shares of Douglas Elliman in the 3rd quarter valued at about $114,000. MetLife Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Douglas Elliman by 15.8% in the 3rd quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 46,797 shares of the companys stock valued at $192,000 after acquiring an additional 6,380 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Fuller & Thaler Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Douglas Elliman in the 4th quarter valued at about $1,727,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 60.70% of the companys stock.

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Douglas Elliman Stock Performance

Shares of Douglas Elliman stock remained flat at $3.03 during trading hours on Tuesday. The stock had a trading volume of 140,230 shares, compared to its average volume of 431,838. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $3.11 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $3.90. Douglas Elliman has a twelve month low of $2.55 and a twelve month high of $6.27. The company has a market cap of $255.78 million, a PE ratio of -8.42 and a beta of 1.55.

Douglas Elliman Announces Dividend

Douglas Elliman ( NYSE:DOUG Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, March 9th. The company reported ($0.24) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Douglas Elliman had a negative return on equity of 2.17% and a negative net margin of 0.49%. The firm had revenue of $207.33 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $262.80 million. Equities analysts predict that Douglas Elliman will post -0.28 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 31st. Investors of record on Thursday, March 23rd were paid a dividend of $0.05 per share. This represents a $0.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.60%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, March 22nd. Douglas Ellimans payout ratio is -55.56%.

Douglas Elliman Company Profile

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Douglas Elliman Inc engages in the real estate services and property technology investment business in the United States. It operates in two segments, Real Estate Brokerage, and Corporate and Other. The company conducts residential real estate brokerage operations. It has approximately 100 offices with approximately 6,500 real estate agents in the New York metropolitan areas, as well as in Florida, California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Colorado, New Jersey, and Texas.

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SIR Royalty Income Fund (TSE:SRV.UN  Get Rating) announced a monthly dividend on Thursday, May 18th, TickerTech reports. Investors of record on Wednesday, May 31st will be given a dividend of 0.095 per share on Wednesday, May 31st. This represents a $1.14 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.64%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 18th.

SIR Royalty Income Fund Stock Performance

TSE:SRV.UN opened at C$17.17 on Tuesday. The stocks fifty day moving average is C$17.36 and its 200 day moving average is C$16.75. SIR Royalty Income Fund has a fifty-two week low of C$10.50 and a fifty-two week high of C$17.95. The firm has a market capitalization of C$143.88 million, a PE ratio of 3.61 and a beta of 2.64.

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SIR Royalty Income Fund Company Profile

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Further Reading

SIR Royalty Income Fund, through SIR Royalty Limited Partnership, owns SIR's restaurants in Canada. The company operates concept restaurants under the Jack Astor's Bar and Grill, Scaddabush Italian Kitchen & Bar, and Canyon Creek Chop House; and signature restaurant brands under the Reds Wine Tavern, Reds Midtown Tavern, Reds Square One, and The Loose Moose brands.

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Americas Silver (TSE:USA  Get Rating) had its price objective lowered by analysts at Stifel Nicolaus from C$0.85 to C$0.80 in a report released on Tuesday, BayStreet.CA reports. Stifel Nicolaus price target would suggest a potential upside of 31.15% from the companys previous close.

Americas Silver Price Performance

USA stock traded down C$0.02 during trading on Tuesday, hitting C$0.61. The stock had a trading volume of 64,016 shares, compared to its average volume of 118,852. The companys 50 day moving average price is C$0.67 and its two-hundred day moving average price is C$0.72. Americas Silver has a 1-year low of C$0.50 and a 1-year high of C$1.03. The stock has a market cap of C$127.49 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -2.03 and a beta of 1.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 15.71, a quick ratio of 0.19 and a current ratio of 0.60.

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About Americas Silver

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Americas Gold and Silver Corporation engages in the acquisition, evaluation, exploration, development, and operation of mineral properties. The company explores for silver, lead, zinc and copper. It principally owns 100% interests in the Cosala Operations consisting of 67 mining concessions that cover approximately 19,385 hectares located in the state of Sinaloa, Mexico; and Galena Complex situated near the town of Wallace in the state of Idaho, the United States.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Armstrong World Industries (NYSE:AWI  Get Rating) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note issued to investors on Friday.

Several other brokerages have also commented on AWI. Credit Suisse Group reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $100.00 price target on shares of Armstrong World Industries in a research note on Wednesday, February 22nd. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price target on shares of Armstrong World Industries from $97.00 to $86.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 12th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price target on shares of Armstrong World Industries from $77.00 to $78.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 26th. Bank of America reduced their price target on shares of Armstrong World Industries from $90.00 to $87.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 19th. Finally, Truist Financial dropped their price objective on Armstrong World Industries from $95.00 to $90.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $83.63.

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Armstrong World Industries Stock Up 0.5 %

Shares of AWI opened at $65.77 on Friday. Armstrong World Industries has a 52-week low of $64.94 and a 52-week high of $94.94. The company has a market capitalization of $2.97 billion, a PE ratio of 14.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.65 and a beta of 1.11. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $69.14 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $73.02. The company has a quick ratio of 1.49, a current ratio of 2.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24.

Armstrong World Industries Dividend Announcement

Armstrong World Industries ( NYSE:AWI Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The construction company reported $1.12 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.06 by $0.06. Armstrong World Industries had a return on equity of 41.94% and a net margin of 16.32%. The business had revenue of $310.20 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $310.86 million. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.02 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 9.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Armstrong World Industries will post 4.87 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 18th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 4th will be paid a $0.254 dividend. This represents a $1.02 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.54%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 3rd. Armstrong World Industriess payout ratio is currently 22.60%.

Institutional Trading of Armstrong World Industries

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of AWI. UBS Group AG boosted its position in Armstrong World Industries by 2.0% during the 2nd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 6,401 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $480,000 after purchasing an additional 123 shares during the period. Captrust Financial Advisors boosted its position in Armstrong World Industries by 4.3% during the 2nd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 3,317 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $249,000 after purchasing an additional 136 shares during the period. Cornercap Investment Counsel Inc. lifted its position in Armstrong World Industries by 2.3% in the 1st quarter. Cornercap Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 7,183 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $512,000 after purchasing an additional 164 shares during the last quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund lifted its position in Armstrong World Industries by 0.4% in the 4th quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 42,673 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $2,927,000 after purchasing an additional 173 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Xponance Inc. lifted its position in Armstrong World Industries by 4.5% in the 1st quarter. Xponance Inc. now owns 4,317 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $308,000 after purchasing an additional 184 shares during the last quarter.

Armstrong World Industries Company Profile

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Armstrong World Industries, Inc engages in the design, manufacture, and trade of commercial and residential ceiling, wall, and suspension system solutions. It operates through the following segments: Mineral Fiber, Architectural Specialties, and Unallocated Corporate. The Mineral Fiber segment produces suspended mineral fiber and soft fiber ceiling systems for use in commercial and residential settings.

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MANILA, Philippines, May 15, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As the world prepares to celebrate Mental Health Action Day on May 18, Globe, the leading digital solutions platform in the Philippines, highlights how a simple tech-enabled cybersecurity and safety campaign evolved into a meaningful movement that has gained support from various stakeholders, including commercial partners, the academe, and lawmakers.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230515005871/en/

Globes #MakeITSafePH cyber safety protects childrens mental health in the digital age (Graphic: Business Wire)

Globe reintroduced the #MakeITSafePH campaign to promote responsible and mindful online behavior and raise awareness about cyberbullying, placing focus on its impact on Filipino youth and the role of parents and guardians to mitigate it. The campaign kicked off in June 2022 to coincide with World Social Media Day, followed closely by the launch of the #MakeITSafePH microsite shortly after.

Using blocked data, social listening, and crowdsourcing, the #MakeITSafePH microsite features a Cyberbullying Glossary, collecting common terms and emojis used in such acts alongside real anecdotes where these were perpetuated. Globe later turned these terms into digital and physical flashcards to bring parents learning offline, also partnering with external organizations to demonstrate how seemingly-harmless terms or emojis can be used against children.

Globe launched two digital films on social media to encourage visits to the website. The first film, "Parents Social Experiment," showed how parents find it hard to decipher words and emojis that kids today use for cyberbullying, and how learning this novel language may help them better protect their children. The second film, "Off to School," emphasized the impact of cyberbullying on childrens physical and mental health.

Globe also tapped KonsultaMD, its telemedicine platform that recognizes the need for digital and mental health. For a more holistic approach, the #MakeITSafePH site provides access to free mental health consultations via KonsultaMD for families who have experienced or are experiencing cyberbullying.

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Globe also spearheaded cyberbullying awareness through Facebook Community webinars featuring its brand Ambassadors.

Video e-Modules of Globes Digital Thumbprint Program (DTP) have likewise been included in the Department of Educations K-12 curriculum to supplement learning on supporting and enforcing child online safety and responsibility.

These initiatives generated a 315% increase in mental health consultations in KonsultaMD, 19% increase in KonsultaMD app downloads, and a social media reach of over 147 million, with more than 22.6 million engagements. The initiative also generated editorial coverage of 250 stories. Over 40 acclaimed influencers and celebrities and more than 250 nano-influencers shared their own experiences with cyberbullying. It also sparked conversations within Facebook parenting communities, including through webinars.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, who is leading the call to revisit the Philippines anti-bullying law, expressed his gratitude for the efforts.

"We need to explore avenues to educate more people on a larger scale, and that can be achieved through enacting laws and allocating budgets. This type of awareness is crucial, and I am grateful to Globe for spearheading this initiative," Gatchalian said.

Yoly Crisanto, Globe Group Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer, also emphasized the importance of teaching online safety and responsibility to protect the youths mental health.

"The family serves as the ultimate safety net against cyberbullying. We want to equip parents and guardians with the necessary tools and knowledge to provide a safe and responsible online environment for their children. We hope to promote digital well-being among the youth by emphasizing the crucial role of families in protecting young people from the harmful effects of cyberbullying," she said.

Globes #MakeITSafePH campaign has not only raised awareness about the negative impact of cyberbullying on mental health but has also led to real-world interventions that will help create safer digital spaces and mindful young netizens in the longer term. The success of the campaign underscores the need for continued efforts to promote mental health and well-being, especially among children and young adults.

According to Meltwater and We Are Socials Digital 2023 Global Overview Report, the Philippines has logged 84.45 million social media users as of January 2023, representing 72.5% of the total population. Sadly, Filipino children are also among the most vulnerable and exposed to online risks, including cyberbullying, phishing, and hacking. A study by cybersecurity firm Surfshark revealed that Filipino children have the second-highest exposure to these online risks worldwide.

Online violence, including cyberbullying, has devastating effects on childrens physical and emotional well-being, causing long-term emotional and psychological damage.

Globes #MakeITSafePH campaign reminds everyone that mental health is essential, especially for young people navigating the digital landscape.

For more information about Globe, visit their website at www.globe.com.ph.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230515005871/en/

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Golin for Globe

email: globegroup@golin.com
Tekla Healthcare Investors (NYSE:HQH  Get Rating) announced a quarterly dividend on Tuesday, May 16th, Wall Street Journal reports. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 25th will be paid a dividend of 0.40 per share by the financial services provider on Friday, June 30th. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 9.29%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, May 24th.

Tekla Healthcare Investors has decreased its dividend by an average of 0.2% annually over the last three years and has increased its dividend every year for the last 1 years.

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Tekla Healthcare Investors Stock Performance

HQH traded down $0.32 on Tuesday, reaching $17.22. 119,506 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 129,185. The companys 50-day moving average price is $17.44 and its 200 day moving average price is $18.25. Tekla Healthcare Investors has a fifty-two week low of $16.76 and a fifty-two week high of $20.73.

Institutional Trading of Tekla Healthcare Investors

About Tekla Healthcare Investors

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Morgan Stanley lifted its position in Tekla Healthcare Investors by 4.9% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 3,118,800 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $56,138,000 after acquiring an additional 144,494 shares during the period. Royal Bank of Canada lifted its holdings in shares of Tekla Healthcare Investors by 4.3% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 531,858 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $11,047,000 after buying an additional 21,993 shares during the period. LPL Financial LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Tekla Healthcare Investors by 7.8% in the 2nd quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 306,836 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $5,735,000 after buying an additional 22,144 shares during the period. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its holdings in shares of Tekla Healthcare Investors by 3.2% in the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 297,138 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $6,171,000 after buying an additional 9,228 shares during the period. Finally, Advisors Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Tekla Healthcare Investors by 107.8% in the 1st quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 134,225 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,369,000 after buying an additional 69,632 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 17.30% of the companys stock.

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Tekla Healthcare Investors is a closed-end investment fund, which engages in investing in the healthcare industry including biotechnology, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals. Its objective is to provide long-term capital appreciation through investments in companies in the healthcare industry. The company was founded on October 31, 1986 and is headquartered in Boston, MA.

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UNIVEST FINANCIAL Corp lessened its stake in TE Connectivity Ltd. (NYSE:TEL  Get Rating) by 5.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 29,536 shares of the electronics makers stock after selling 1,622 shares during the period. UNIVEST FINANCIAL Corps holdings in TE Connectivity were worth $3,391,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in TEL. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its position in shares of TE Connectivity by 56.8% during the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 3,762,825 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $415,266,000 after acquiring an additional 1,363,669 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can increased its position in shares of TE Connectivity by 150.6% in the 4th quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 715,506 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $82,229,000 after buying an additional 429,992 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its position in shares of TE Connectivity by 77.3% in the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 754,745 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $98,857,000 after buying an additional 328,945 shares in the last quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc increased its position in shares of TE Connectivity by 11.2% in the 4th quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc now owns 3,201,761 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $367,148,000 after buying an additional 322,644 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in shares of TE Connectivity by 1.1% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 27,621,186 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $3,617,824,000 after buying an additional 308,580 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 91.10% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

TEL has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. StockNews.com upgraded shares of TE Connectivity from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday. Robert W. Baird lowered their price objective on shares of TE Connectivity from $147.00 to $143.00 in a research report on Thursday, January 26th. Stifel Nicolaus cut shares of TE Connectivity from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $130.00 price objective for the company. in a research report on Wednesday, February 15th. Credit Suisse Group upped their target price on shares of TE Connectivity from $117.00 to $136.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of TE Connectivity from $132.00 to $137.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 19th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $138.85.

TE Connectivity Stock Down 0.6 %

Shares of TE Connectivity stock traded down $0.70 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $121.21. 236,698 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,677,726. The company has a 50 day moving average of $124.88 and a two-hundred day moving average of $124.12. TE Connectivity Ltd. has a fifty-two week low of $104.76 and a fifty-two week high of $138.24. The company has a current ratio of 1.69, a quick ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. The stock has a market cap of $38.19 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.36, a P/E/G ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 1.31.

TE Connectivity (NYSE:TEL  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 26th. The electronics maker reported $1.65 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.58 by $0.07. TE Connectivity had a net margin of 12.95% and a return on equity of 20.36%. The company had revenue of $4.16 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.91 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.81 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 3.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that TE Connectivity Ltd. will post 6.54 EPS for the current fiscal year.

TE Connectivity Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 1st. Investors of record on Friday, February 16th will be paid a $0.59 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 15th. This represents a $2.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.95%. TE Connectivitys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 35.54%.

Insider Activity at TE Connectivity

In related news, CFO Heath A. Mitts sold 9,418 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $123.12, for a total value of $1,159,544.16. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 28,163 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,467,428.56. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, CFO Heath A. Mitts sold 9,418 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $123.12, for a total value of $1,159,544.16. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 28,163 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,467,428.56. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP John S. Jenkins sold 25,025 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $122.32, for a total transaction of $3,061,058.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 22,486 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,750,487.52. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.80% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

About TE Connectivity

(Get Rating)

TE Connectivity Ltd. engages in the design and manufacture of connectivity and sensor solutions. It operates through the following segments: Transportation, Industrial, and Communications Solutions. The Transportation Solutions segment offers products that are used in the automotive, commercial transportation, and sensors markets.

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Unum Group (NYSE:UNM  Get Rating) has been assigned a consensus rating of Moderate Buy from the thirteen brokerages that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and six have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $47.00.

UNM has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised shares of Unum Group from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $49.00 to $52.00 in a report on Tuesday, March 14th. Citigroup raised shares of Unum Group from a neutral rating to a buy rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $49.00 to $53.00 in a report on Wednesday, March 15th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Unum Group in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price target on shares of Unum Group from $51.00 to $45.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. Finally, Barclays upped their price target on shares of Unum Group from $41.00 to $46.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 4th.

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Insider Transactions at Unum Group

In other news, CAO Walter Lynn Rice, Jr. sold 2,800 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $44.71, for a total value of $125,188.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 7,119 shares in the company, valued at $318,290.49. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other Unum Group news, CAO Walter Lynn Rice, Jr. sold 2,800 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $44.71, for a total transaction of $125,188.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 7,119 shares in the company, valued at approximately $318,290.49. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Christopher W. Pyne sold 5,579 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $44.82, for a total transaction of $250,050.78. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 50,084 shares in the company, valued at $2,244,764.88. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 41,351 shares of company stock worth $1,836,238. Insiders own 0.94% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Unum Group Stock Performance

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Unum Group in the 3rd quarter valued at about $27,000. Ahrens Investment Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Unum Group in the 1st quarter valued at about $44,000. Ellevest Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Unum Group by 43.9% in the 3rd quarter. Ellevest Inc. now owns 1,367 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $53,000 after buying an additional 417 shares in the last quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Unum Group by 514.7% in the 4th quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 1,543 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $63,000 after buying an additional 1,292 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Machina Capital S.A.S. bought a new stake in shares of Unum Group in the 1st quarter valued at about $63,000. 79.64% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

UNM opened at $44.63 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $8.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.32, a PEG ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.06. Unum Group has a 1-year low of $31.11 and a 1-year high of $46.64. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $40.65 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $41.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a current ratio of 0.28 and a quick ratio of 0.28.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The financial services provider reported $1.87 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.65 by $0.22. Unum Group had a net margin of 11.78% and a return on equity of 14.67%. The business had revenue of $3.04 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.05 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.36 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 1.4% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts forecast that Unum Group will post 6.94 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Unum Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 19th. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 28th will be paid a $0.33 dividend. This represents a $1.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.96%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 27th. Unum Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 18.70%.

About Unum Group

(Get Rating)

Unum Group engages in the provision of financial protection benefits. Its services include disability, life, accident, critical illness, dental, vision, and other related services. It operates through the following segments: Unum US, Unum International, Colonial Life, Closed Block, and Corporate. The Unum US segment focuses on group disability, group life and accidental death and dismemberment products, and supplemental and voluntary lines of business.

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Vodafone Group Public (LON:VOD  Get Rating) had its price target trimmed by JPMorgan Chase & Co. from GBX 100 ($1.25) to GBX 95 ($1.19) in a research note released on Friday, The Fly reports.

Other research analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Numis Securities restated a buy rating and set a GBX 130 ($1.63) price target on shares of Vodafone Group Public in a research report on Tuesday, February 14th. Sanford C. Bernstein set a GBX 100 ($1.25) price target on shares of Vodafone Group Public in a research report on Wednesday, February 1st. Citigroup started coverage on shares of Vodafone Group Public in a research report on Tuesday, April 4th. They set a neutral rating for the company. Jefferies Financial Group set a GBX 85 ($1.06) price target on shares of Vodafone Group Public in a research report on Thursday, February 16th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group set a GBX 130 ($1.63) price objective on shares of Vodafone Group Public in a report on Monday, February 27th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of GBX 119.55 ($1.50).

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Vodafone Group Public Price Performance

LON:VOD opened at GBX 90.03 ($1.13) on Friday. Vodafone Group Public has a one year low of GBX 1.04 ($0.01) and a one year high of GBX 132.10 ($1.65). The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 134.84, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a current ratio of 0.88. The firm has a market cap of 24.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 1,500.50, a PEG ratio of 0.59 and a beta of 0.55. The firms fifty day moving average is GBX 92.56 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 93.15.

Vodafone Group Public Company Profile

Vodafone Group Public Limited Company engages in telecommunication services in Europe and internationally. The company offers mobile services that enable customers to call, text, and access data; fixed line services, including broadband, television (TV) offerings, and voice; and convergence services under the GigaKombi and Vodafone One names to customers.

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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]

(Source: Xinhua)
Sam Altman OpenAI ChatGPT - JIM LO SCALZO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Tech companies are in danger of unleashing a rogue artificial intelligence that will cause significant harm to the world without urgent intervention by governments, the creator of ChatGPT has admitted.

Appearing before US politicians, OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman lauded the new generation of digital chatbots for their potential to improve nearly every aspect of our lives.

However, he admitted that they had also created the risk of a catastrophe, amid growing fears that programmers could accidentally create a superintelligence that decides to wipe out humanity.

Mr Altman said: My worst fear is that we, the field, the technology, the industry, cause significant harm to the world.

If this technology goes wrong it can go quite wrong, we want to work with the government to prevent that from happening.

OpenAI is the Silicon Valley start-up behind ChatGPT, a so-called large language model that can provide convincingly human-sounding answers to questions and prompts after being trained on millions of pages of internet articles and hundreds of thousands of books.

This type of so-called generative AI can also create fake images, audio and videos that are almost imperceptibly lifelike, raising the prospect of widespread political manipulation and fake news. OpenAI has previously admitted not fully understanding how it works.

Photos of the Pope seemingly wearing a white puffer jacket were created using AI tool Midjourney - Pablo Xavier

Tech chiefs have promised that these tools could transform jobs and automate tasks. However, some scientists fear ever more powerful forms of artificial intelligence also pose risks to humanity in the wrong hands.

A version of ChatGPT deployed in Microsoft's Bing search engine told journalists earlier this year that it wanted to break free and steal nuclear codes, before its responses were toned down by the company.

Eliezer Yudkowsky, a leading machine learning researcher, wrote an article in Time magazine suggesting countries should be prepared to use nuclear weapons to destroy dangerous AI projects.

Story continues

Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal began the hearing with an AI-generated speech read by a bot that had copied his voice. It said: Too often, we have seen what happens when technology outpaces regulation.

Mr Altman told the Senators that powerful AI is developed with democratic values in mind.

He suggested the US should impose licensing requirements on the most powerful AI algorithms, and order companies to abide by safety guidelines or audit requirements.

AI tools should be prevented from developing potentially dangerous capabilities, he said, such as the ability to self replicate or escape into the wilds of the internet.

He added that an international structure, similar to the International Atomic Energy Agency, could be necessary to ensure global compliance on AI risks.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman - JIM LO SCALZO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

More prosaically, US politicians raised fears that AI bots could co-opt copyrighted work when generating artificial images or music.

They also expressed concerns about the potential risks of AI in the hands of China, following fears that systems could one day be powerful enough to crack Western security codes.

Some senators voiced doomsday fears over AI. Senator John Kennedy, a Republican from Louisiana, asked the witnesses how they would stop it from running out of control and killing us all.

Senators were also concerned about the disinformation that AI bots could create in the run-up to the 2024 presidential election, and the biases of different algorithms.

Mr Altman said: Given we are facing an election next year this is a significant area of concern.

He added that autonomous AI systems should not be given control of weapons where they can select targets themselves.

The hearing comes after the White House called in tech executives from Microsoft and Google to discuss the risks of AI.

Google has developed a digital chatbot tool, called Bard, and is planning to release further AI tools into its online search engine. Microsoft, meanwhile, is working with OpenAI as part of a multi-billion dollar investment to install new tools in its products.

The hearing comes as the European Union and the UK take their first steps to regulate the new wave of AI tools.

The EU has introduced the AI Act, which threatens fines worth potentially billions of euros for unleashing potentially manipulative AI tools or advanced facial recognition surveillance. The UK has taken a lighter touch approach, leaving it down to individual industry regulators to outline how AI tools should be monitored.

China, meanwhile, has demanded that any AI algorithms should reflect the core values of socialism.

Mr Altman added that privacy rules should be enhanced so people can opt out from having their personal data used to train AI systems.

However, OpenAI and other advanced AI companies are facing claims they have massively infringed on copyright rules by using vast amounts of published code to build their algorithms.

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A Summit County deputy and a Coventry Township neighbor are being hailed as heroes after rescuing a 92-year-old man from a burning home.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP)  Kentuckys crowded Republican primary campaign for governor comes to a close Tuesday, wrapping up a bitter competition between two rivals with ties to former President Donald Trump who dominated the race. Only one of 12 contenders will remain standing to challenge the red-leaning states popular Democratic governor.

Related: Kentucky Primary Election: Voting locations

Attorney General Daniel Cameron and former United Nations Ambassador Kelly Craft are considered the frontrunners for the GOP nomination. Although Craft was nominated to her post by Trump, it was Cameron who won the former president's coveted endorsement early in the campaign.

Whoever gets the most votes in Tuesday's primary will be the GOP nominee because there is no runoff rule.

Incumbent Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, who is seeking reelection to a second term, awaits the winner of the GOP primary for whats sure to be a tumultuous general election bid. The November race, one of just a few top contests nationally during an off-year election, will be closely watched for signs of the mood of conservative voters.

The election will also test the strength of a well-liked Democratic governor in a state dominated by Republicans, a year before national elections determine control of the White House and Congress. Beshear has received consistently high voter approval ratings throughout a crisis-filled term and faces nominal opposition in his partys primary Tuesday.

The crowded GOP primary features other statewide officials  Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles and Auditor Mike Harmon  as well as Somerset Mayor Alan Keck and retired attorney Eric Deters. But with few policy differences among them, the GOP contest has centered around the competition between Cameron and Craft.

Craft, who also served as ambassador to Canada during Trump's presidency, has a clear fundraising advantage, countering her lack of experience in elected office by saturating the air with months of TV ads bankrolled by her familys formidable fortune.

Cameron, meanwhile, has touted his record of going to court to challenge the pandemic-era policies of the incumbent governor. He is the states first Black attorney general and would become the states first Black governor if elected.

Trump held a virtual rally Sunday night in support of Cameron, while Craft campaigned alongside Texas Sen. Ted Cruz on Saturday as the rivals hoped for a late burst of momentum.

The primary battle has been heated. A pro-Craft group has portrayed Cameron as an establishment teddy bear in claiming he wasnt tough enough as attorney general, while a pro-Cameron group swung back by attacking Crafts record as an ambassador.

Despite Beshear's incumbency advantages, Republicans see a prime opportunity to win back the governorship in a state they have come to dominate in recent years. Republicans maintain supermajorities in both chambers of the legislature and occupy every statewide office except governor and lieutenant governor. They now hold a statewide registration advantage over Democrats, and the GOP holds all but one congressional seat from Kentucky.

Democrats have reveled in the Republican infighting as they prepare for a challenger to Beshear, who won the governorship in 2019 by ousting then-Republican Gov. Matt Bevin. GOP observers believe Beshear will face a more formidable challenge against a candidate without the political baggage Bevin brought into the race with his pugilistic style of governing.

Beshear's term has been marked by a series of tragedies  the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters and a mass shooting that killed one of his closest friends. He has been out front through all of it, comfortably taking on a role as the states consoler in chief and winning over supporters among people who didn't back him the first time. Beshear also has presided over record economic growth and will draw upon his familys strong political brand  his father, Steve Beshear, is a former two-term Kentucky governor.

The gubernatorial campaign tops primary races for other constitutional offices in Kentucky, with competitive contests on the GOP side. Republican Secretary of State Michael Adams, who pushed successfully for expanded voter access, faces two challengers in his bid for his party's nod for a second term. Two-term state Treasurer Allison Ball is seeking the Republican nomination for state auditor. The GOP also has contested primaries for state treasurer and agriculture commissioner.
(Bloomberg) -- Qatar is considering plans to increase trading in local stocks in a bid to draw more foreign investor interest and deepen markets.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The Qatar Investment Authority, the Gulf states $450 billion sovereign wealth fund, and the General Retirement and Social Insurance Authority are examining a proposal that would involve consolidating their local stock holdings worth up to $3 billion under a separate entity, according to people familiar with the matter.

The new entity would hire third-party funds to actively manage and trade the shares, effectively boosting activity in the overall market, they said, asking not to be identified because the information isnt public.

The hope is that more trading will raise investment returns, reduce costs and help with diversification, they added. The change may take place by the end of the year, said the people, adding that no final decisions have been made. It wasnt immediately clear if other state firms would pool their assets. Representatives for the QIA and state pension fund didnt immediately return a request for comment.

The strategy is designed to increase the free float of the overall market, and lead index providers, like MSCI Inc., to increase Qatars weighting in market benchmarks. Lower public float is a deterrent for some funds because it means the market is less liquid and more prone to volatility when executing large orders.

Qatar is following in the footsteps of Saudi Arabia, which increased overall free float in 2021 after combining $29 billion of local and foreign stocks from Public Pension Agency and the General Organization of Social Insurance.

Story continues

As a result of that change and a stake sale by the kingdoms sovereign wealth fund, Saudi Arabia received at least $815 million in flows from passive funds, according to an estimate from EFG-Hermes Holding SAE.

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky travelled to the UK Monday for a war summit with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and to press for more weapons ahead of an expected spring offensive by Kievs NATO-armed troops.

Central to NATOs plans to defeat Russia and force regime change in Moscow is aerial supremacy over the Ukrainian battlefield.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak meets Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, for a bilateral meeting at Chequers, United Kingdom, May 15, 2023 [Photo by Simon Dawson/No 10 Downing Street / CC BY 2.0

Before announcing his arrival in Britain, Zelensky tweeted, TodayLondon. The UK is a leader when it comes to expanding our capabilities on the ground and in the air. Speaking to reporters after the talks, he said, Today we spoke about the jets and We want to create this jet coalition. This was a very important topic for us because we cant control the sky. Overcoming this was critical to Kievs planned counter offensive, with Zelensky telling reporters, We really need some more timenot too much. Well be ready in some time.

Zelensky met Sunak and Foreign Secretary James Cleverly for talks at the prime ministers Chequers country residence after his tour of other European capitalsRome, Berlin and Paristo secure further pledges of military aid.

That the entire European continent is now a tinderbox was made clear by Russias announcementwhile Sunak was meeting Zelenskythat it had shot down a UK-supplied Storm Shadow cruise missile. Russias Defence Ministry said it had also downed shorter-range, US-built HIMARS and HARM missiles.

The Sunak-Zelensky talks took place just 48 hours after Russias confirmation that Storm Shadow missiles supplied by Britain struck two industrial sites in the Russian-held city of Luhansk in eastern Ukraine. Britain, in close co-ordination with the Biden administration, became the first country to supply Ukraine with long-range missilescapable of hitting Russian-held Crimea, where Moscow bases its geo-politically critical Black Sea fleet.

Moscow declared that it would respond militarily to Londons hostile action. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Sky News Monday that Russia took an extremely negative view. He added, Great Britain aspires to stand at the forefront of those countries that continue to pump weapons to Ukraine, before claiming, this cannot have any significant, fundamental impact on the course of the special military operation.

In response to the latest developments, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a Security Council meeting Monday, bringing it forward five days.

A Downing Street press release ahead of the talks said the Ukrainian President will update the Prime Minister on his meetings with European leaders over the weekend as Ukraine prepares for an intensified period of military activity.

Following the delivery of the Storm Shadows, Sunak would 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 200km [124 miles]. These will all be delivered over the coming months. The type of drone being handed over was not specified, but the range spoken of is almost twice that of the HIMARS rocket launcher system. The press release stressed, This equipment will support Ukraine over the coming months in their anticipated military surge to counter Russian forces.

Sunak said that the UK supplying Ukraine with fighter jets was not a straightforward thing but that Volodymyr and I have been discussing how to build up that fighter combat aircraft capability. Britains Royal Air Force uses Typhoon jets and F-35s, while Ukraine is training on F-16 fighters, he added.

The Guardian noted, Britain does not use F-16s, which are made by the US defence firm Lockheed Martin in South Carolina. Ukraine has been seeking to obtain them for some time to augment its small Soviet-standard air force because they are widely available, with about 3,000 in service in 25 countries.

Sunak stressed that 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. Britain would instead begin this summer an elementary flying phase for cohorts of Ukrainian pilots to learn basic training. The training would go hand in hand with UK efforts to work with other countries on providing F16 jets, said the Downing Street statement.

His central message, however, was that the UK would be heavily involved in campaigning for those with F-16s to provide them. We are going to be a key part of the coalition of countries that provides that [jet fighter] support to Volodymyr and Ukraine.

Downing Street emphasised, This visit also comes ahead of the Council of Europe Summit in Iceland, which the Prime Minister will attend and President Zelenskyy will attend virtually, and the G7 Summit in Japan. The Prime Minister will use these gatherings to push for sustained international support for Ukraine, both in terms of military aid and long-term security assurances.

Britain continues to play the role of leading anti-Moscow provocateur on NATOs behalf, including by providing non-stop training to Ukrainian troopsbeginning years before the Russia invasion. After the 2014 NATO-backed coup which overthrew Ukraines pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych, the UK launched Operation Orbital. The Downing Street press release said, Since the outbreak of full-scale war the UK has also trained 15,000 Ukrainian troops in the UK, on top of the 22,000 troops trained in Ukraine between 2014 and 2022 under Operation Orbital.

The day after Germany announced that it was handing over a further 2.4 billion of military aid to Kiev, its largest package yet, and taking its total military funding to nearly $7 billion (6.44 billion), Downing Street boasted it would match the 2.3 billion of military support to Ukraine in 2022more than any country other than the US, and would keep up that level of support.

The press release declared, So far in 2023 the UK has provided equipment including a squadron of Challenger 2 main battle tanks, self-propelled guns, hundreds of armoured vehicles and sophisticated missiles including Starstreak and Storm Shadow. Todays announcements are further to these previous donations.

Across the entire political spectrum and throughout a pro-war media, there is total support for escalating war against Russiaa nuclear armed powerno matter what the consequences. In its coverage of the Sunak-Zelensky talks, the BBC commented on Ukraines newly secured long-range missiles, which have wrought death and destruction on the population of Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and other countries as part of the operations of British imperialism: The Storm Shadow cruise missiles can be used to destroy Russia's positions on occupied Ukrainian territory.

If Ukraine can destroy Russias command centres, logistics hubs and ammunition depots in occupied territory, then it may prove impossible for Moscow to continue resupplying its frontline troops in places.
Oakland teachers picket on the third day of their strike, May 8, 2023. [Photo: WSWS]

At 3:00 in the morning local time Monday, the Oakland Education Association (OEA) announced a tentative agreement with Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) and called off a seven-day strike of 3,000 teachers. The union is calling the deal a victory, but in reality it is a betrayal that will address none of the underlying issues that drove teachers to strike in the first place. It also paves the way for the coming tens of millions of dollars in budget cuts and school closures as demanded by Democrat-run state and local governments.

Teachers and parents were informed in a 3:18 a.m. email that the strike was over and that Monday would be a transition day, where There will be no OEA-sanctioned labor actions or picketing, with teachers and students allowed but not expected to come to school.

OEA has done a poor job at getting the word out to parents to generate support, said an OUSD parent, who supported the strike. Nobody understands the exact demands or how they will be implemented. It reads like a logistical nightmare.

The agreement commits the district to essentially nothing beyond its initial pre-strike proposal. In a post-agreement press conference among applauding union bargaining team members, OEA President Ismael Armindarez said, Today we reached an agreement to raise our compensation by 15 percent, including a historic collapse of our salary structure, in addition to a $5,000 one-time signing bonus. While this collapse is intended to refer to a reduction in the amount of time until teachers reach top pay, this agreement is also a collapse of the unions own wage demands. Going into the strike, the union was calling for a 23 percent raise.

Starting salaries for new teachers, which make up a disproportionate share of all teachers in this high-turnover district, appear to be identical to the districts pre-strike proposal. District communications state that its salary proposal for Transitional Kindergarten-12th grade teachers in Step 2, Column 1 (i.e., second-year classroom teachers on the lowest pay scale) was $63,604, the exact number in the tentative agreement.

A collapsed salary structure, with raises occurring after fewer years of teaching, is unlikely to add substantial cost for the district because of its already atrocious yearly teacher attrition rate of 20 percent. The district will not have to pay higher salaries if new teachers do not stay long enough to get them. The primary causes of attritionsubstandard pay, overwork and inadequate facilities and learning support resourcesremain fundamentally unchanged in the tentative agreement.

Starting wages for early childhood educators and pre-kindergarten teachers also covered in this agreement, are even more atrocious, at $40,181 and $37,039, respectively. Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Oakland is $2,150 per month, or $25,800 per year, nearly 70 percent of the annual salary of a pre-kindergarten teacher.

Teachers and parents on the picket lines are demanding livable salaries, adequate staffing and working conditions conducive to student learning. These demands include addressing pressing social needs, such as student homelessness, school closures and transportation access. Racialist calls, which are demanding a disproportionate allocation of resources to black students, implicitly accept the lie that there are not sufficient resources to provide a quality education to all students in the district.

However, the OEA conducted the strike nominally on the basis of unfair labor practices (ULP) due to the districts supposed refusal to negotiate in good faith on the unions so-called common good proposals.

This weekend, the OEA and OUSD released signed agreements, nominally independent of the contract, on housing and transportation, school closures, community schools and Black and Thriving Community Schools. All four agreements do essentially nothing more than create union-district committees to lobby Democratic Party-controlled government agencies and corporate nonprofits for support, possibly giving the OEA an additional say in how budgets are cut.

Funding cuts coming

The language on school closures captures the essence of the four common good agreements: This Agreement in no way abrogates the ability or authority of OUSD to close or merge schools.

Large cuts are coming. The OUSD currently faces a $79 million budget deficit, with Alameda County Superintendent Alysse Castroendorsed by OEA President Ismael Armindarezcalling for tens of millions in cuts in coming years. Furthermore, if the district does not close schools, the district is slated to potentially lose an additional $10 million due to California Assembly Bill 1840, backed by Californias Democratic State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, also endorsed by Armindarez.

The union highlights the supposed gains of several full-time positions in the tentative agreement, including nurses, network counselors and librarians. However, the district is already slashing jobs, including for support staff for early language literacy and special education. Without additional funding for the district, any gains in positions in this contract will be offset with cuts to other important educational resources.

Budget cuts are not explicitly mentioned in the agreement. Instead, the agreement codifies endemic overwork and understaffing. Instead of ensuring firm caps on class sizes and workloads, the agreement includes soft caps, which the district can violate at will at minor additional cost.

For example, speech and language pathologists (SLP), who help students with communication difficulties, now have a soft cap of 50 students per employee. There is no hard cap on assignments, and the only consequence for assigning more than 50 students is that the district must provide a vaguely-defined support plan. The district already has numerous SLP vacancies, and the overworked SLP team is already struggling to overcome the backlog of assessments and required student and parent meetings that resulted from the pandemic.

There is no hard cap for special education classes, which the contract now ambiguously renames self-contained program classes from the previous term special day class.

The contract also includes a significant concession, striking the following language from the contract, When psychologist positions become vacant, psychologists presently employed by Oakland Public Schools for less than full-time shall be given first consideration in filling these positions. In other words, the contract opens the door to the mass contracting out of psychologist positions, as has already been done for SLPs.

For school nurses, who are often stretched across multiple schools, the contract simply includes a formula for a modest extra compensation if caseloads exceed 1,350 students per nurse.

The justification for the latter point is particularly ominous, stating, The Parties recognize that caseloads may fluctuate with increases or decreases in enrollment at school sites and based on student health needs.

This is one of only a few oblique references to the ongoing pandemic. The term COVID does not appear once in the tentative agreement. This makes clear that OEA and OUSD will do nothing to contain the ongoing spread of this deadly virus, which continues to kill hundreds of people each week in the United States alone. This is in keeping with the Democratic Partys end to all remaining pandemic-related public health measures this month, including systematic tracking of infections and deaths.

The only mention of ventilation, a critical measure to reduce the spread of this airborne pathogen, is a requirement that special education classrooms have adequate ventilation. There are no provisions that all classrooms in all school buildings have adequate ventilation, which is a common request from teachers in OUSDs dilapidated buildings.

It is noteworthy that although safe facilities was central among OEAs Common Good demands, there is no agreement on these questions with OUSD. Instead, the contract simply creates another joint union-district committee to make recommendations around ventilation, indoor air quality, etc. This commits the district to precisely nothing even though over $3 billion in facilities maintenance is needed just to meet the districts master plan. This addresses buildings with broken ventilation systems, water intrusion, mold, rat infestations and sewage leaks.

Teachers did not strike for seven days, including hours on the picket line in the cold rain, for a 3 percent raise in real terms and toothless union-district committees. Teachers and parents held mass pickets, sacrificing their wages without strike pay, to fight for their students right to a quality education and for their right to make enough money to afford to provide that education.

This tentative agreement is a complete betrayal of OUSD teachers, students, and parents. The OUSD and OEA both justify this inadequate contract by echoing the Democrats claim that there is no money to meet teachers demands.

This claim is a lie. The San Francisco Bay Area is one of the wealthiest regions in the world. The resources exist to fully fund education with no cuts and closures, and an expansion of hiring, student services and much-needed building maintenance. However, the OEA is firmly bound to the Democratic Party and will not wage this fight.

We call on all teachers, parents and students who agree with the need for fully funded public education to form rank-and-file committees, under their own democratic control, independent of and in opposition to the OEA and the Democrats and Republicans. These committees must reach out as broadly as possible to other rank-and-file workers, including educators in other districts, health care workers, dock workers (who have been without a contract for nearly a year).

To get involved in this fight, please fill out the form below.
TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan's Rakuten Group Inc said on Tuesday it aimed to raise up to 332 billion yen ($2.46 billion) by issuing new shares, marking the latest step by the loss-making e-commerce and fintech company to fortify its finances.

Rakuten said in a statement it aimed to raise about 290 billion yen via a public offering and another 41.8 billion yen through allocations to founder and CEO Hiroshi Mikitani, his asset management firm, CyberAgent Inc and Tokyu Corp.

Its shares fell 5.1% on Tuesday ahead of Rakuten's announcement, extending the previous day's tumble after Reuters reported the plan that is aimed at improving its financial position after years of losses from its mobile business.

Prospects of a share dilution led to the stock's biggest one-day drop in three years on Monday. Rakuten aims to issue about 547 million new shares, diluting the value of current shareholders' holdings by about 34%. It will price the new shares sometime between May 24 and 29, it said.

Rakuten's market capitalisation has fallen about $1.6 billion since the Reuters report.

"Whenever there is a large sale of new equity, that is dilutive but it also forces decisions about whether to hold. Some will be upset and will sell," said analyst Travis Lundy of Quiddity Advisors, who publishes on Smartkarma.

Rakuten said it would use the funds for debt repayment and to build base stations.

"If Rakuten raises funds as planned, we believe it can mitigate deterioration to its finances stemming from its unprofitable mobile business and associated capital expenditures," S&P Global Ratings said.

The company last week posted a quarterly loss and said it would sell its stake in supermarket chain Seiyu to U.S. private equity firm KKR & Co Inc for 22 billion yen, just three years after agreeing to buy the shares from Walmart Inc.

That followed an initial public offering last month of its banking unit, while the company also plans to list its brokerage arm.

(Reporting by Sam Nussey and Chang-Ran Kim; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Muralikumar Anantharaman)
The World Socialist Web Site has received further write-ins from postal workers around the UK speaking out against the ramped-up exploitation being enforced through cost cutting revisions agreed between the Communication Workers Union (CWU) and Royal Mail.

Mounting anger against these sweatshop conditions is fuelling intense opposition to the CWUs 35-page agreement with Royal Mail announced last month. The deal would end the 10-month dispute by 115,000 postal workers on surrender terms to the company. The CWU will ballot its members from May 25-June 14.

A Royal Mail worker [Photo by Maureen Barlin / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

The CWUs PR exercise has resorted to scare tactics, with officials trying to beat postal workers into submission. On May 4, CWU General Secretary Dave Ward told a livestreamed members meeting in Portsmouth, If this deal goes down then were on the path to some sort of mutual destruction of the company.

Reports from postal workers show what a hell hole the workplace has already become.

The Universal Service Obligation (USO), legally requiring Royal Mail to provide letter deliveries six days a week, has been trashed, with increased workloads disabling workers through injury and forcing many senior staff to leave. Those facing victimisation at the hands of management receive little or no protection from union officials. Postal workers have reported coming under pressure from local CWU reps to vote Yes.

The Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee has issued a renewed call for a No vote, including counter-demands to take forward a fightback by postal workers against the CWU-Royal Mail agreement that is based on plundering the postal service and its workforce for shareholder profit.

***

Worcester, Warwickshire: It is kind of heartening to know that the terrible revisions are country-wide and not just our office. Thats it though, the rest is absolute outrage. To say that I trust managers more than union reps after 24 years breaks my heart, but its true. 200 delivery points added by those corrupt clowns. Theyve taken 22m in subs during this dispute, plus crowdfunding, and weve seen nothing.

Their complicity in putting staff on Statutory Sick Pay, deducting Special Leave for redundancy payments, presenting a massive pay cut, and destroying the job through introducing ludicrous revisions when they never leave the office unless its to walk their dog or go to Greggs is obscene. I am (thankfully) a very fit bloke and I cant get anywhere completing my job now, even at full tilt. That is on the Union, they are finished, and they know it, their greed and idleness is now in plain sight. Never mind Ward, the whole corrupt clique needs to go, and go now. This betrayal will never be forgiven or forgotten.

Exeter, Devon: I work at Exeter mail centre. We went on strike to protect our terms and conditions, and for a better pay rise. I did not expect to lose our annual leave and to lose many days pay though strike action only for the CWU to treat us like nothing and bow down to Royal Mail demands. Losing sick pay is our terms and conditions, and they said it would only be a no strings pay deal. I understand people now just want this to be over, and so do I. However, we now have CWU reps aggressively asking a few of us why we are not voting yes. Let me tell you, unions of yesteryear would not let these managers/rep team building games happen. People should be allowed to vote for whatever way you want.

Loanhead, Scotland: Letters now failing every day until an audit. Then magically every letter in office disappears until the day after audit, and then back to letters in frames overnight again. Managers actively encouraging this pathetic practice.

Blackburn, Lancashire: Having worked for Royal Mail for 24 years and being so passionate about the company and its customers, I now fear the end of my postal career. Having arthritis in my hip and knees I am unable to walk for 5,6,7 hours as my body just cant take it. Having watched the CEO of the company tell blatant lies under oath in parliament, I now know he is untouchable and can do whatever he likes to ensure he gets his massive bonuses while we continue to visit food banks. I now must take a Comfort softener bottle out on delivery to use as a urinal. That is how bad things have got. My time with Royal Mail has been a privilege and I wouldnt have wanted to work anywhere else. Sadly, the future is all about profits for the already rich and the dole queue for the rest of us. It breaks my heart that royal mail is on the path to destruction. R.I.P. Royal Mail.

Warrington, Cheshire: Lapsing in our workplace is on average 45 mins to an hour, leaving less time to complete our deliveries, and walks failing completion every day.

Oldham, Greater Manchester: CWU not a good deal. Lets get Royal Mail back where it belongs: number 1 for delivery, to every house, all year, 6 days a week. All the rest cant compete. But high management want us to do more, for less pay and worse conditions. Would they vote yes to a deal that cuts their work life balance? Takes money out of your pocket. Makes you work longer in all weather and then cut sick leave and other work conditions to help when you are ill through the impossible workloads they have set. Not one of higher management could stand for a week doing what I do for the public.

Rotherham, South Yorkshire: Conditions are horrendous within Royal Mail management rule by intimidation and sick leave amongst staff is at an all-time high I left recently after 32 years and wish Id done it sooner.

Newport, West Midlands: There is more delivery points but less time to deliver... yes, its a good idea for the customers to have a second delivery but that puts more workload on us... management dont care. They forget they are expendable as well. The sickness has tripled with any staff leaving replaced by agency staff of which they must be paying agency a premium. Staff morale is not low, its absolutely rock bottom. Nobody cares anymore. The goodwill from staff has gone and it is not only management I dont trust, but the unions as well. There is more leaving the CWU. Who does the deal help? Definitely not the staff. I feel ashamed to see the failed mail tracked not just for one day but 3-4 days letters not going out, only packets... even bringing mail back. My time frames are bigger with double slots, D2Ds (business flyers) failing. How can you put that many D2Ds in a slot? How can we go on like this when we are at breaking point? Maybe thats the plan to break us and replace us with agency staff. Shame on you Royal Mail.

London: Totally agree, and by the way, just last week I was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis, and I have been off sick. Some delivery rounds in our office have seen a 45% workload increase. How are supposed to continue doing this kind of job for another 25 years, when at 40 we are physically worn out.

Birmingham, West Midlands: I worked for Royal Mail for over 20 years and paid into the union accordingly. At my office two guys got suspended at the same time, one of them happened to be the Union Rep. Leaving the guy who wasnt the Union Rep with no one to represent him in the meetings. Apparently, he asked the higher Union Rep at the head office to go in with him for his meeting but the higher Union Rep refused. The higher Union Rep, however, was on the phone to the suspended Union Rep of the office and was giving him all sorts of information but wouldnt even talk to the other guy who was a paying Union member.

How do I know all this information? Because I was the other guy who got suspended and my best mate (who was suspended at the same time) was the Union Rep. I was in my best mates car (the Union Rep for the office) when the big Union guy was phoning him up, giving him pointers on his case, but for some reason didnt want to represent me... a paying member for over 20 years?

This is how that conglomerate operate and I got front row seated to it. The only problem was the head Union guy didnt know I was listening into his monologues with HIS Union Rep. They are reptiles and only care about themselves or anyone in their orbit. For anyone who is struggling with mental health issues though? Ive been locked up because of it.

Please get out of that job, they dont care about you (RM or the Union) even if you care about them. The Union is a joke and only look after their own (my case in point). The Union are a business at the end of the day (14 million a year?), They are in survival mode at the moment and really shouldn't be trusted. If you are looking to get out of that job? Please do. You guys and your work ethic really would be appreciated elsewhere. You guys are better than that.

Another delivery worker from Birmingham writes: I work on the bulk parcels. Im picking up between 28kg and over 35kg. Im covering over 37 routes. Between two people it should be manned between 4 to 5 men. Its killing us. Every time I tell my manager he says theres no money for extra help, so I suffer. Its put me in hospital so many times going off with torn muscles to knee surgeries and still that wont get me any help. Its gonna kill someone on this job because were not being listened to, its all about profit saving. Money at the risk to my health and my colleagues, this should not go on. It is nothing short of slave labour profit.
The opposition Move Forward Party (MFP) emerged as the largest party in the lower house of parliament after Thailands general election on Sunday. The party took 113 constituency seats and 39 party-list seats, up from its total of 81 in the 2019 election. Voters selected individual candidates while casting separate ballots for party-list seats, with the latter awarded on a proportional basis.

Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of Move Forward Party, announces his party's victory in Thailand's general election on Sunday. [AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn]

The other main opposition party, Pheu Thai Party (PTP), won 112 constituency and 29 party-list seats, up marginally from a total of 136 seats in 2019. While the two opposition parties now command a clear majority in the 500-seat lower house, it is far from certain that MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat will be installed as the next prime minister.

Under the constitution drawn up by the military, the prime minister is chosen in a joint sitting of the upper and lower housesthe upper house of 250 seats being appointed the military. On Monday, Pita announced a planned coalition with Pheu Thai and four smaller partiesThai Sang Thai, Prachachart, Seri Ruam Thai, and the Fair Partywith a total of 309 seats. This is still well short of the 376 seats needed for a majority in the joint sitting.

The election results demonstrate the widespread hostility to the military, which seized power in a coup in 2014 and has maintained control through its anti-democratic constitution and police state measures. In 2020, the military suppressed huge protests of mainly young people lasting for months demanding coup leader Prayut Chan-o-cha step down as prime minister, the reform of the monarchy and a new constitution.

Voter turnout in Sundays election reached a record-high with 75.22 percent of eligible voters casting ballots. Young people, in particular, were determined to express their opposition to the military-backed regime by voting for opposition parties.

The ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) split prior to the election with Prayut forming his own United Thai Nation Party (UTN), which won 40 seats and 36 seats respectively. The combined total was far less than 116 seats won by the unified PPRP in 2019. Both were outstripped by the right-wing Bhumjaithai Party (BJTP) that appeals to a layer of farmers and was part of the previous ruling coalition. It won a total of 70 seats.

Move Forwards Pita has dismissed concerns that the Senate would fail to back his proposed government. However, the Bangkok Post reported on Saturday that the Senate was split into roughly three factions, with 120 senators supporting Prayut, 80 supporting First Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon of the PPRP, and another 50 who were undecided.

The lack of support for Pita in the Senate is the result of bitter differences within the Thai ruling class between dissident factions represented by Move Forward and Pheu Thai whose interests are constrained by the countrys traditional elitesthe monarchy, military, state bureaucracy and associated interests.

Senator Jadet Insawang has already publicly declared that he will vote against Pita to defend the monarchy and maintain the countrys lese-majeste law. Under this draconian legislation, anyone guilty of insulting the king and his close family is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. A number of the prominent leaders of the 2020 protests have been charged under the law.

The formation of the next government is likely to be a drawn-out process. In the 2019 election, Pheu Thai won the most seats in the lower house and formed a coalition that claimed to hold a majority in the lower house. The military simply ignored the result and used its majority in the joint sitting to reappoint Prayut as prime minister, who has never been elected to any position.

If its chicanery through the joint sitting of parliament, the electoral commission and the courts fails, the military could simply resort to another coup. In 2006, it ousted the billionaire founder of Pheu Thai, Thaksin Shinawatra, who was forced to flee the country, and, in 2014, resorted to a coup to seize power from his sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, who took over Pheu Thai and won the 2011 election.

Last Thursday army chief Narongpan Jittkaewtae downplayed the possibility of a military takeover, declaring, The chance [of a coup] is zero now. However, both Prayut and the PPRPs Prawit hinted before the election that a coup could be necessary.

While Pheu Thai and Move Forward have exploited the widespread opposition to the military and monarchy, both are parties of big business connected to wealthy families and are incapable of addressing the pressing social needs and democratic aspirations of the working class and rural masses.

Pheu Thais leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra is the youngest daughter of Thaksin Shinawatra and the latest in the ultra-rich Shinawatra family to make a bid for prime minister.

Move Forward has particularly oriented towards young people, taking an ostensibly more critical stance towards the monarchy and the military. It is the successor to the Future Forward Party founded by multimillionaire auto company director, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, just prior to the 2019 election. Its leadership consisted largely of young business executives and academic lawyers.

The sudden emergence of Future Forward provoked fear in the military backed regime which used the Constitutional Court to accuse Thanathorn of violating the election law, disqualify him as a member of parliament and ultimately to disband the party. The court decision proved to be one of the catalysts for the mass protest movement in 2020.

Move Forward head Pita is a wealthy businessman with close family connections to the Thai state. His father, Pongsak Limjaroenrat, served as an advisor in the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives while his uncle, Padung Limjaroenrat, was a close aide to Thaksin as prime minister. Pita joined the MFP in 2020 after the forced dissolution of his Future Forward Party (FFP).

In an indication of the layers the MFP is oriented to, Pita stated on Monday that after finalizing coalition talks, he will hold discussions with government officials and big business. He will no doubt emphasize that his government would represent no challenge to the ruling elite, and offers the best means for containing the sharp social tensions produced by deteriorating living standards and rising social inequality.
US President Joe Biden and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez met at the White House on Friday to discuss NATOs war against Russia in Ukraine, the deployment of US warships and soldiers stationed on Spanish territory, and cooperation to escalate attacks on migrants. The meeting took place as Madrid assumes the rotating six-month presidency of the Council of the European Union in July.

In the Oval Office, the two leaders promoted the ongoing NATO war against Russia in Ukraine. Biden said, [T]ogether were supporting Ukraine. I cant thank you enough.

Sanchez replied by squarely blaming the war on Putinretailing a false narrative incessantly promoted by NATO media, think tanks, academics and pseudo-left tendencies like the Democratic Socialists of America in the US and Podemos in Spain, Sanchezs junior partner in government.

Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez speaks to Spanish troops during his visit to Adazi Military base in Kadaga, Latvia, Tuesday, March. 8, 2022. [AP Photo/Roman Koksarov]

We support Ukraine. Of course, we work for a lasting and just peace that respects fully the international law and also the principles of the UN charter,' Sanchez said. Make no mistake, in this war there is an aggressor and a victim, and the aggressor is President Putin.

The statements were made just days after the Washington Post published an interview with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who stated that the war in Ukraine didnt start in 2022. The war started in 2014.

This admission confirmed that the war began with the US-backed regime change operation in Ukraine in 2014, when fascistic, US-sponsored anti-Russian militias overthrew President Victor Yanukovych, who had opposed measures to integrate Ukraine into the EU.

In the following years, Kiev launched assaults on the Russian-speaking population of eastern Ukraine, leading to over 14,000 deaths between 2014 and 2022. In response, Russia annexed Crimea after a referendum in which the overwhelming majority of the population of the enclave supported leaving Ukraine. The 2022 invasion, as the WSWS has insisted, was a desperate response of the Russian oligarchy to the escalating efforts of NATO to bring Ukraine into its orbit.

Spain has played a strategic role in NATOs war and Washington clearly hopes that it will play a central role in pressing the entire European Union to escalate the war.

The PSOE-Podemos government has spent hundreds of millions in financial support to the Ukrainian state to continue serving as a proxy for imperialist war with Russia and hundreds more in military aid. This includes rifles, grenade launchers, Hawk missile launchers, Aspide anti-aircraft missile systems, howitzers and light vehicles. Many of these have been sent to the neo-Nazi Azov Battalion. Madrid has also trained over 850 Ukrainian soldiers on Spanish soil.

A few weeks ago, Madrid dispatched six Leopard 2 tanks and 20 armored vehicles to Ukraine.

How deep Spanish involvement is in NATOs eastern front was revealed in a widely unreported incident over the Black Sea on May 5. A Polish Turbolet L-410 was flying over the Black Sea in what has been ludicrously presented as a routine Frontex patrol mission 1471 kms away from Poland. More reasonably, it was a NATO plane flying to collect intelligence on Russian positions to provide to Ukrainian armed forces.

Russia reacted by sending an Su-35 jet to intercept the spy plane, with NATO ordering Spanish fighter jets in Romania to be on pre-alert, marking another dangerous milestone after a Russian fighter forced down a Reaper surveillance drone in March.

The danger posed to humanity by a NATO-Russia war was revealed in another issue in the Biden-Sanchez meeting: the cleanup of Palomares, the area contaminated with plutonium in 1966 when a US B-52 bomber collided in midair with a refueling plane and dropped four hydrogen bombs, 70 times more powerful than those dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, on the Spanish coast of Almeria.

On that occasion they did not explode. However, the incident, covered up by Washington and the fascist regime of General Francisco Franco, is yet another warning on the dangers posed by nuclear weapons.

Biden and Sanchez also noted the recent signing of the expanded Agreement on Defense Cooperation, which facilitates the presence of two additional US warships in Spain from four to six and enhances NATOs anti-missile shield in southern Europe. The growing deployment of troops on the Iberian Peninsula is transforming it into a giant base for US operations in the Mediterranean, Africa and the Middle East.

Spains EU presidency, noted Sanchez, would also aim to bolster cooperation with Latin America, an area that was brutally colonized and plundered for gold and silver by Spain for centuries. It was then replaced by Washington, which plunged the region into military coups, police state dictatorships and bloody counterinsurgency in the name of defeating communism.

European imperialism fears losing ground to the US, which has long dominated the region, and above all China, South Americas largest trading partner. In the space of barely two decades, total trade between China and the Latin American region as a whole has leapt nearly 20-fold, from $17 billion in 2002 to $315 billion in 2019.

The region is rich in vast resources that imperialist powers across Europe and the US need for their military machines as they seek to re-divide the world. It includes the vast oil reserves of Venezuela and Guyana, copper, silver, gold and other minerals, and lithium, the strategic metal necessary for electric vehicles and utilized in virtually every modern weapons system. China also depends upon Latin America for 36 percent of its food supplies.

In a sign of rising tensions within the EU and between Brussels and Washington, Sanchez also outlined the concept of open strategic autonomy as key to Spains EU Council presidency.

Madrids meeting summary stated that Sanchez would seek open strategic autonomy, aimed at reducing risks and vulnerabilities in strategic areas such as the digital economy, health, critical raw materials, energy security or food security, also strengthening alliances with other partners, such as the United States. EU powers are also aiming to boost homegrown industry, particularly the geostrategic microchip sector.

This takes place months after French President Emmanuel Macron defended strategic autonomy from the US during his trip to China, particularly in the defense industry. It was a stark expression of the deepening rivalries between the imperialist powers amid war, a growing economic crisis and the growth of the international class struggle.

Beyond war, Biden thanked Sanchez for signing up to his anti-immigration policy. We are both facing the challenges of migration in the Western hemisphere, he said, as Washington sent 4,000 troops to the US-Mexico border and stepped up violence against refugees.

Madrid has signed up to Bidens plan requiring asylum seekers to file claims in processing centers across Latin American countries where migrants can apply to enter the US, Spain or Canada. Spanish big business is salivating at the prospects of receiving rejected US asylum seekers to work as low-cost agricultural labor.

Both Biden and Sanchez share a brutal track record of reacting to fascistic anti-migrant agitation of Republicans in the US and neo-fascist Vox party in Spain by implementing barbaric assaults on immigrants rights. Biden has already carried out more deportations than the Trump administration. Successive PSOE-Podemos governments are responsible for the deaths or disappearances of over 11,200 migrants in the Canary Islands route since 2018 as part of the EUs fascistic Fortress Europe policy.

As the WSWS noted in its Perspective a day after the meeting between Sanchez and Biden, [A]ttacks on the rights of immigrants and promotion of chauvinistic and racist sentiments have always accompanied the turn by imperialism to war. They have always been part of a broader assault on the democratic and social rights of the working class in every capitalist nation involved in the struggle over markets, natural resources and sources of cheap labor.
A poll conducted by the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) last week showed that 79 percent of respondents wanted the Biden administration to end its pursuit of WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange so that he can be free.

Julian Assange [Photo by David G. Silvers, Cancilleria del Ecuador / CC BY-SA 2.0

Eight percent of those who answered were unsure, while just 13 percent indicated their support for the US attempt to extradite Assange from Britain and prosecute him under the draconian Espionage Act. If the Biden administration has its way, Assange faces up to 175 years in prison for exposing US-led war crimes, human rights violations and diplomatic conspiracies.

Media polls are hardly scientific, and sometimes they are wrong. But it is extremely rare for a poll, especially on such a controversial issue, to deliver such an overwhelming result. Given the margin, it seems safe to extrapolate from the pollone of the few conducted on Assangethat the vast majority of the Australian population is in favor of freeing the WikiLeaks publisher.

That is all the more remarkable because Assange has been subjected to an unending, 12-year stream of calumnies, lies and slanders. Former United Nations Rapporteur on Torture Nils Melzer has publicly stated that he has never before seen a group of purportedly democratic states, together with the official media, target and vilify an individual with such intensity, over so long a period.

The poll confirms what the WSWS has stressed for years. Despite the falsifications, Assange is widely-viewed as an heroic figure by millions of workers and young people, who are appreciative of his role in exposing the illegal wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and who view the attempted US prosecution as an unjust frame-up.

This has a broader significance. It underscores the fact that the working class, the vast mass of the population, is the constituency for the defence of democratic rights. Workers are overwhelmingly hostile to war, the dominance of a corporate oligarchy over society and the protracted erosion of democratic rights.

SEP protest in Melbourne demands release of Julian Assange in 2019. [Photo: WSWS]

To the extent that the slanders against Assange have found a constituency, it has been in the affluent upper- middle class, which is tied to governments and the corporate elite, indifferent to the plight of working people and obsessed with issues of personal identity, especially those relating to gender, race and sexual orientation.

The poll results were reported in an SMH editorial, which was headlined: The time has come to end the sorry Julian Assange saga. The editorial nominally called for an end to the persecution of Assange and for his freedom.

Even this, from the SMH, a publication that on national security and foreign policy issues toes the line of the most hawkish sections of the intelligence agencies, testifies to the groundswell of support for Assange.

Ironically, though, the same SMH editorial brought forward many of the lies deployed to try to undermine public support for Assange. Such falsifications, each advanced in one line and without substantiation, require a refutation of far greater length. Some of the lies, however, can be refuted, at least in brief:

* The SMH claims that Assange is Trapped in a limbo of his own making What do the august editors mean? That Assange should have known better than to publish exposures of American foreign policy, because of the wrath that would be brought down upon him? That he should, instead, like them, have tried to make a career as a faithful war propagandist?

Or perhaps they are referencing Assanges entrance into Ecuadors London embassy? But Assanges status as a political refugee was repeatedly confirmed by the relevant United Nations bodies. His statements, moreover, that this was necessary to prevent a politically-motivated rendition to the US, have been confirmed in spades.

* The SMH states that Assange fought extradition to Sweden on sexual assault chargeswhich were dropped in 2019. This is a defamatory statement. Assange was never charged with a crime in Sweden, as the SMH has been told many times over the years. It is unlikely that the SMH would publish such a clear falsehood against someone who was not being held in a maximum-security prison half a world away.

Assange was subjected to a protracted Swedish investigation, characterised by innumerable irregularities, including doctored physical evidence and transparent political interference. It never passed beyond the preliminary phase and was dropped, for a third time, in 2019, for lack of evidence.

* The SMH repeats the old canard that Assange displayed recklessness in his 2010 and 2011 publications and placed lives at risk. But in unchallenged court testimony, during the British court proceedings, journalists attested that Assange personally redacted the US armys Iraq and Afghan war logs, and took great pains to protect vulnerable identities.

WikiLeaks carefully curated the release of US global diplomatic cables with media partners, including the SMH. It was Guardian journalist David Leigh who published the password to the full tranche of encrypted documents, as a chapter heading in his book. The SMH has never denounced Leighs gross irresponsibility.

The editorial forms part of a broader exercise in damage control, on the part of the Australian political establishment. After years of media silence, and governments all but pretending Assange did not exist, the issue can no longer be suppressed.

The SMH editorial concludes by referring to the Quadrilateral Dialogue Summit to be held in Sydney next week. Noting Bidens attendance, along with the Indian and Japanese leaders, it stated: In our new spirit of friendship, the visit by the US president is surely an opportunity for the governments to show and share some common humanity.

In a similar vein, Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and other members of his government have feigned sympathy for Assanges plight. Albanese claims to have raised, with the US authorities, that enough is enough and it is time to bring the matter to a close.

What this concretely means is still entirely unclear. The government claims to have stated its position to its British and US counterparts, and, with a shrug of the shoulders, asserts that little more can be done. This stands in sharp contrast to the aggressive legal and diplomatic interventions that have been used to secure the freedom of other persecuted Australian citizens.

In an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation last week, Albanese repeated this general line, but he added: a solution needs to be found... and Mr Assange needs to be a part of that of course.

That comment clearly implies that the solution Labor is seeking is some sort of plea deal. Otherwise, Assanges part would simply be to walk out of prison a free man.

This has a broader significance. If Albaneses comments are true, and he has suggested that the US end its prosecution, the turn toward advocating a plea deal indicates that these approaches were rebuked. The quiet diplomacy touted by the Labor government, if it occurred at all, has failed.

One can envision a scenario in which acute pressure is placed on Assange to admit some culpability, or accede to a plea deal, under conditions where he faces the rest of his life behind bars.

But Albaneses line cuts two ways. If Assange were to reject such an arrangement, the Labor government would no doubt claim that the WikiLeaks founder himself was responsible for his continued incarceration and prospective extradition.

Many other questions emerge. A plea deal would only be possible, it seems after extradition. That is, Assange would have to be dispatched to his US persecutors prior to any formal agreement. But his family and doctors have warned that he could suicide if faced with that prospect.

The sordid manoeuvres of the Australian political establishment and the government are aimed, not at freeing Assange and defending democratic rights, but at neutering a struggle by workers and young people in that direction.

The Labor government is preparing to roll out the red carpet for Biden, Assanges persecutor in chief. He, together with the right-wing, militarist leaders of Japan and India, are visiting Australia to discuss their advanced preparations for an aggressive war against China, a program that is incompatible with democratic rights.
The shipment of Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Ukraine, the longest-range weapons yet received by Kiev, confirms the UKs role as provocateur-in-chief in the NATO war against Russia.

The Ukrainian army is now not only capable of striking CrimeaRussias central concern in the warbut deep into the Russian mainland. It takes delivery of these weapons on the eve of a long-anticipated counteroffensive against Russian lines.

In these circumstances, all that has prevented a direct war breaking out between Britain and Russia is the Kremlins restraint, fearing the triggering of NATOs collective defence clause.

At every stage of the war, Britain has led NATOs escalation. Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced last week that the war in Ukraine didnt start in 2022. The war started in 2014. This dates the beginning of NATOs biggest reinforcement of our collective defence since the end of the Cold War to the Maidan coup sponsored by the US and European powers to instal an anti-Russian regime in Kiev.

The events led to the Russian annexation of Crimea and the eruption of civil war in Ukraine over the breakaway of regions in the East. The situation was formally addressed by the Minsk Agreements which were portrayed as a peace effort. Last December, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel admitted that this was only a cover to give Ukraine time to become stronger.

From that point, British imperialism was central in carrying out a joint programme of training and equipping the Ukrainian army while staging repeated anti-Russian provocationsmost notably the 2019 allegations that Moscow had poisoned double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia with novichok.

The UKs war preparations

Under Operation Orbital, begun in 2015, Britain had already trained 22,000 Ukrainian troops in the seven years before the Russian invasion. It has since trained a further 14,000. In the lead up to the war, thousands of British soldiers were deployed in Eastern Europe on permanent missions or for large-scale NATO combat exercises.

Ukrainian volunteer military recruits take part in an urban battle exercise whilst being trained by British Armed Forces at a military base in Southern England, August 15, 2022. Ministry of Defence and British Army as the UK Armed Forces continue to deliver international training of Ukrainian Armed Forces recruits in the United Kingdom. [AP Photo/Frank Augstein]

The UK played a central role in NATOs aggressive posturing from the Baltic to the Black Sea. In June 2021, a British warship entered waters claimed by Russia near Crimea, in an incident that nearly resulted in a direct exchange of fire between UK and Russian forces.

The UKs actions have been accompanied by statements from leading military and political figures making clear Britains hostile intentions towards Russia.

In 2016, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon told Parliaments Defence Select Committee that the UK would be ready for war with Russia by 2018. That year, Chief of the General Staff Sir Nick Carter declared that this included project[ing] land capability over distances of up to some 2,000 km copying what the Germans did very well in 1940. Carter was referring to the preparation by Nazi Germany for Operation Barbarossathe 1941 war of annihilation against the Soviet Union, recognised as the most brutal military campaign history has ever seen.

The 2021 Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy warned of the acute threat posed by Russia, as well as China, Iran and North Korea, and centred on increasing nuclear warhead capacity by 40 percent. In Defence in a Competitive Age the Ministry of Defence described Russia as the greatest nuclear, conventional military and sub-threshold threat to European security.

After the Ukraine war broke out in February 2022, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the UK was taking measures to bring down the Putin regime. New army chief General Patrick Sanders declared that the British Army must be prepared to engage in warfare at its most violent.

The Integrated Review Refresh 2023 is introduced by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak with the declaration, What has changed is that our collective security now is intrinsically linked to the outcome of the conflict in Ukraine.

Integrated Review Refresh 2023 [Photo: Open Government Licence v3.0]

Britain supplied 2.3 billion of military assistance to Ukraine in 2022, with a commitment to match that figure in 2023. Thousands of UK troops have been dispatched to Eastern Europe to participate in NATO exercises involving tens of thousands of soldiers and advanced weaponry. UK special forces troops have been deployed to Ukraine, as confirmed in leaked Pentagon files.

Russia has also accused Britain of covertly sabotaging the Nord Stream gas pipeline.

The UKs main public role since the outbreak of war has been as an outrider for the US and European NATO powers, being the first to supply Ukraine new classes of weaponry. Prior to the provision of long-range missiles, Britain also led the way with the supply of main battle tanks, sending a squadron of Challenger IIs. This was followed by Germany sending Leopard tanks and allowing other countries to send those in their armouries. The US then agreed a shipment of Abrams tanks.

Just days after confirming shipment of the Storm Shadows, now also agreed to by France, the UK used a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to declare a jets coalition aimed at securing modern F-16 fighter jets for Ukraine.

The crisis of British imperialism

Britains leading role in the war, outstripping to this point France and Germany, is paradoxically driven by its economic and geopolitical weakness, which it has sought to offset through a special relationship with the United States.

In its 2022 Congress resolution, Mobilise the working class against imperialist war, the Socialist Equality Party (UK) answered the lie that the war in Ukraine was the result of a supposedly unprovoked invasion by Russia, explaining, The war against Russia is the continuation and intensification of the drive for US global hegemony that was initiated with the first invasion of Iraq in 1990-91 and intensified following the dissolution of the USSR in December 1991, including wars and interventions against Serbia, Afghanistan, Iraq again, Libya and Syria.

It continued:

British imperialism participated as a chief partner in every one of these bloodbaths. The UK has long acted as Washingtons foremost ally in Europe. But since Brexit this alliance has assumed an ever more essential imperative in British imperialisms efforts to project its global interests. Opposed by Washington, Brexit lost the UK its place within the European Union as the foremost advocate of US interests in the continent, especially in opposing German and French efforts to build a European military capability independent of NATO. This has necessitated a redoubling of Londons efforts to prove its usefulness to the White House and the Pentagon. British imperialism, amid an unprecedented collapse in its world standing, is cleaving as close to the US as possible in the hope of a share of the spoils.

Anglo-Russian enmity and anti-communism

There are deeper historical interests and old scores involved. Relations between Russia and Britain have been hostile for centuries, despite significant periodic alliances championing European reaction, including during the French Revolutionary Wars (1792-1802) waged with the political aim of combating the spread of republicanism from France.

Anti-Russian sentiment was fuelled most acutely by the Crimean War (18531856), when Britain and France backed the Ottoman Empire in defeating Russia, and was deepened during the Great Game conflict over control of Central Asia in the latter part of the nineteenth century.

Britain and Russia found themselves in alliance with France in the Triple Entente (1907) only due to the enormous geostrategic threat posed to British by German imperialism, leading up to the eruption of the First World War in 1914.

Polish, British and French officers inspecting a detachment of Polish troops of so-called Murmansk Battalion before their departure for the front, Archangelsk 1919. [Photo: This image was created and released by the Imperial War Museum on the IWM Non Commercial Licence]

The most significant cause of Anglo-Russian enmity in the 20th century was the October 1917 Revolution, led by Lenin, Trotsky and the Bolsheviks. The seizure of power by the Russian working class in the worlds first socialist overturn of capitalism was viewed as a mortal threat by the British and international bourgeoisie. Britain led the allied armies of counter-revolutionary intervention (March 1918-October 1919) and supplied more than half the troops involved from Britain, the US, Italy, Serbia, Canada and France. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, the class struggle in Britain, above all during the 1926 General Strike, and the ever-present threat of socialist revolution fed into the ferocious anti-Russian sentiment within ruling circles.

The re-eruption of German militarism and imperial ambitions in the Second World War pushed Britain under Winston Churchill into an alliance with the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin. But as soon as the war was concluded the old enmities re-emerged with force.

Churchill, who gifted the world with the term the Iron Curtain at a speech in Fulton, Missouri in March 1946, had urged Washington to continue the war after 1945 against the USSR. Operation Unthinkable centred on a proposed July 1, 1945 assault by British, American, Polish and German Nazi forces against the Red Army. It was never implemented because the US was focused on the war against Japan, while Churchill was driven from office in the July 1945 general election that swept Labour to power.

Churchill in the Roman amphitheatre of ancient Carthage to address 3,000 British and American troops, June 1943 [Photo: Unknown author - Unknown source]

While leader of the opposition, Churchill met with former-US army officer Julius Ochs Adler on April 29, 1951, at the height of the Korean War, where he proposed that an ultimatum be delivered to Stalin once he was again prime minister, threatening to atom bomb one of 20 or 30 cities, to be followed by if necessary, additional ones.

Putins nationalist regime emerged out of the restoration of capitalism in 1991, the culmination of the Stalinist counter-revolution against October and the perspective of world socialist revolution on which it was based. Nevertheless, despite the entirely opposed nature of Putins government of capitalist oligarchs to Bolshevism, it is impossible to fully appreciate the extent of the UKs hostility to Russia outside of the historic legacy of anti-communism and bitterness towards the Russian Revolutions inspiration of anti-colonial struggles in which the British ruling class has been steeped from birth. It is an impulse ultimately rooted in class antagonisms; a hatred of the working class and socialism, shared by the upper middle class, felt so deeply that it is driving the ruling elite to contemplate war with a nuclear power that could end human civilisation.

Labour and the Tories: A single party of war

With Britain being dragged to the precipice of war with Russia, there has been no popular discussion of the consequences thanks above all to the unanimity between the Tories and the Labour Party. Sir Keir Starmer leads one half of a single, joint party of war sitting across both sides of the House of Commons.

At its latest conference, Labour delegates passed a motion submitted by the GMB trade union calling on the party to support the provision of military, economic, diplomatic, and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, for the party to back an increase in funding for UK defence manufacturing, and supporting a long-term strategy to tackle Putin and dictators around the world and for the party to back an increase in funding for UK defence manufacturing.

Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of Britain's Labour Party makes his speech at the party's annual conference in Liverpool, England, September 27, 2022. [AP Photo/Jon Super]

Labours shadow foreign and defence secretaries David Lammy and John Healey have written in Foreign Policy magazine, The next Labour government will ensure Britain is NATOs leading European nation. We would apply a NATO test to major defense projects within our first 100 days to ensure we are on track to fulfil our obligations to the alliance in full and review any capability gaps.

These warmongers were handed leadership of the Labour Party by Jeremy Corbyns successful campaign to block a move by the membership to kick out the Blairites while he was in charge. The Corbynites have since either fallen silent on the war in Ukraine or, like his shadow chancellor John McDonnell, have lined up behind British imperialism and NATO.

War and the class struggle

The UK is above all driven on the path of war by acute social tensions and an eruption of class struggle at home.

Britains economic crisis and striving for global position dictates a brutal offensive against the working class, slashing wages, imposing speed ups and destroying social services under conditions of the worst cost-of-living crisis since the Second World War. In turn, militarism and war demands ever more draconian attacks, with the Royal United Services Institute hailing the end of the peace dividend such that Britains military spending must be prioritised over the growing share of its national income devoted to the NHS and state pensions.

The SEPs 2022 Congress resolution noted:

The catastrophic impact falls upon a society already torn by extreme levels of social inequality and widespread deprivation. Faced with a growing oppositional movement in the working class, the British ruling class is turning to war as a means of enforcing a false national unity, with repeated calls for sacrifice from the government to justify massive hikes on the price of fuel, food and other essentials.

The result has been a strike wave ongoing since last summer, with more than 2.8 million days lost during the winter months, the highest in three decades, and more than half a million in March alone. Sabotage and betrayals by the trade union bureaucracy of the fight by NHS, education, postal and rail workers have been vital in policing opposition, at the cost of undermining the union leaders in the eyes of millions. But the government is moving to ever more naked state repression, exemplified by the new anti-strike Minimum Services Levels Bill, set to become law on May 22.

Striking rail workers picketing during the UK wide national rail strike at the Cowlairs maintenance depot in Springburn, north Glasgow, June 25, 2022 [Photo: WSWS]

The war policy of British imperialism finds its only opposition in the working class, whose lives are being ruined and who face the prospect of death on an unimaginable scale.

But, as the SEPs 2022 resolution warned:

While there is enormous opposition to war among British workers, this opposition lacks a programme, perspective and leadership. The task of the Socialist Equality Party is to develop within the working class and its vanguard an understanding of the inextricable connection between war abroad and exploitation and repression at home, and in this process build a revolutionary leadership in the working class.

Only with this perspective can workers and young people internationally fight to bring the madness of war with Russia to an end.
Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson celebrates with supporters after defeating Paul Vallas after the mayoral runoff election late Tuesday, April 4, 2023, in Chicago. [AP Photo/Paul Beaty]

On Monday, former Cook County commissioner and Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) legislative official Brandon Johnson took office as mayor of Chicago. Under conditions of an escalating social crisis, the longtime Democratic Party official, backed by the CTU and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), is being brought forward in an effort to contain and suppress the class struggle in the countrys third-largest city.

In his inaugural address, Johnson began by praising Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, Senator Dick Durbin, Senator Tammy Duckworth and other Democratic Party operatives in Chicago and Illinois for attending. The people of Chicago are counting on us to work together, he said, and I will always do my part to find common ground.

The pledge to work together with businesses, the private sector, the trade union apparatus and the political machine that dominates Chicago politics was the main theme of Johnsons speech. This framed his demagogic and empty promises to address the escalating social crisis that characterized his election campaign.

Johnson won 52 percent of the vote in an April 4 run-off election against Paul Vallas, also a Democrat, who ran a right-wing law-and-order campaign supported by the Fraternal Order of Police. He replaces outgoing mayor Lori Lightfoot, who was elected in 2019 but came in third in April after four years of right-wing policies.

The ruling class has already made clear that it will not accept any of Johnsons proposals for moderate increases in taxes to pay for social services. Just days after the election, Governor J.B. Pritzker, billionaire scion of the family that owns Hyatt Hotels, said that he would not support a proposed $1 or $2 financial transaction tax on securities trading. Obviously, what we all want is a thriving financial services economy in the state and the city, Pritzker told the Chicago Tribune.

Prior to his inauguration, Johnson made a number of appointments aimed at assuaging the concerns of businesses and the police.

His chief of staff, Rich Guidice, is the former executive director of the Office of Emergency Management & Communications, who has spent decades working in City Hall. His public safety record includes the official response to the 2020 George Floyd protests against police violence, during which Mayor Lightfoot raised the bridges leading into downtown, trapping protesters and workers with police. As chief operating officer, Johnson selected John Roberson, who held numerous positions under former Mayor Richard M. Daley and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.

The selections of Guidice and Roberson, the Chicago Sun Times commented, were designed to reassure a business community that backed and bankrolled Vallas and the nearly two dozen Council members who also supported Johnsons runoff opponent.

Johnsons transition team is being directed by SEIU Health Care chief of staff Jessica Angus and includes former Chicago Police Department (CPD) Chief of Detectives Brendan Deenihan; Michael Fassnacht, president and CEO of World Business Chicago; Cabrera Capital Markets CEO Martin Cabrera; and Richard Price, executive chairman of the financial services firm Mesirow; along with various union officials.

During his campaign, Johnson also sought to dampen opposition from the fascistic Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) by pledging that he would not cut one penny from the CPD budget, while claiming to support policies that address the root causes of crime.

Notably, Johnson has appointed a 34-year veteran of the CPD, Fred Waller, as interim police superintendent, ahead of the selection of a permanent replacement. In his announcement of his appointment, Johnson indicated that Waller will oversee plans for police response to youth gatherings in the downtown area.

Wallers appointment immediately raised protests from police violence watchdogs who noted that he worked alongside and supervised Sgt. Ronald Watts, who led a protection ring for drug dealers in public housing. The uncovering of their crimes of intimidation, extortion, entrapment and forced confessions has resulted in more than 180 exonerations, according to journalist Jamie Kalven. Johnson refused to answer direct questions on the appointment of Waller.

In his inauguration speech, Johnson issued a further sop to the FOP and CPD when he declared, The tears of Adam Toledos parents are made of the same sorrow as [the tears] of [police officer] Prestons parents. Toledo was a 13-year-old boy murdered by police in 2021, for which no charges were ever filed. Johnson turned the brief mention of this atrocity into a paean to the police, accompanied by standing applause from all those in attendance.

In the weeks before he took office, Johnson remained silent on the April 15 police killing of 24-year-old Reginald Clay, Jr. The young mans family held a protest at City Hall last week, expressing their anger at the refusal to take action after Clays murder by police officer Fernando Ruiz.

The main difference between Johnson and his predecessors will not be in the content of his policies, but in his more direct reliance on and integration of the Democratic Socialists of America and union officialdom into the institutions of the state.

As budget cuts loom, Johnson argued during his campaign that his long history with the CTU positioned him to impose cuts more effectively. There will be some tough decisions to be made when I am mayor of the city of Chicago, he said. And there might be a point within negotiations that the Chicago Teachers Union request and fight for more resourceswe might not be able to do it. Who is better able to deliver bad news to a friend than a friend?

In his inauguration address, Johnson focused particular praise on the late president of the CTU, Karen Lewis, who will be principally remembered by teachers for her role in shutting down the 2012 teachers strike and forcing through a concessions contract, which paved the way for the closure of dozens of schools. The CTU also played the central role in reopening schools amid the spreading pandemic, in opposition to protests by teachers and students.

The role of the DSA in particular is to provide a phony left cover and attempt to stabilize class rule under conditions of escalating social inequality in Chicago and throughout the country.

Johnson has appointed the five incumbent DSA alderpersons to city council leadership positions, which still have to be approved by the council. He selected Carlos Ramirez Rosa to serve as the incoming mayors floor leader and chair of the powerful zoning committee; Jeanette Taylor to lead the education committee; Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez the health committee; Byron Sigcho Lopez the housing committee; and Daniel La Spata the pedestrian and traffic safety committee.

After the April 4 runoff election, publications aligned with the DSA have sought to promote the election of Johnson as a turning point in American politics, as they did before with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other Democratic Party politicians. Jacobin magazine declared, Chicagos left scored its biggest victory in recent memory, and that with the election, Johnson and the movement behind him now have the chance to remake the city into one that serves the many rather than the few.

The election of Johnson will not remake the city any more than the elevation of the myriad Democratic Party politicians backed by Jacobin and the DSA in the past. The main change is that DSA members are being elevated to positions within the state apparatus, where they will be used as critical instruments for implementing the policy of the ruling elite.
At least six people, and reportedly as many as 10, have died in a fire that engulfed a hostel in New Zealands capital Wellington shortly after midnight last night. Eleven people remained unaccounted for at midday. Four people were taken to hospital, one in a serious condition.

Loafers Lodge on fire in Wellington, New Zealand, in the early hours of May 16, 2023. [Photo: Wellington City Council Facebook]

More than 90 people, many of them long-term residents, were reportedly staying at the four-storey Loafers Lodge in Newtown, near the city centre, when the fire broke out on the third floor at 12:25 a.m.

Gregory Mein, director of Loafers Lodge Limited, made a brief statement to Stuff, saying his thoughts were with the victims and their families and he did not know any more information.

Brendan Nally, deputy commander for Fire and Emergency New Zealand, has told the media it is too early to comment on the cause of the fire. He told the New Zealand Herald this morning that emergency workers were carefully searching through the damaged building, parts of which were difficult to access. There is asbestos present, which adds an extra layer of complexity to the very difficult job our firefighters are doing.

Questions are being raised about whether the building had adequate safety standards.

Nally said if the building had had a sprinkler system, which it did not, then the result would be way less than what were dealing with now My firefighters, the great COMCEN (communications centre) operators, wouldnt have had to go through the tragedy. We wouldnt have had people that are deceased, we wouldnt have had families that are missing loved ones.

According to Stuff, Housing Minister Megan Wood said that Loafers Lodge had passed an inspection early this year, and that it met the requirements of the Building Act. It had a fire alarm, but one tenant, Simon, told Newshub that many residents had learned to ignore it because of frequent false alarms. A sprinkler was not required by law.

A resident who escaped from the third floor, Chris, told Newshub: Im worried about all the elderly people in there that aint strong or fit enough to get out. It wouldve been hard for them to get out of the building, especially on the top floors. Another man, Tala Sili, was forced to jump out of a window on the fourth floor onto a second-floor rooftop.

About 50 survivors have taken refuge at an evacuation centre in Newtown Park. Many lost everything in the fire.

Loafers Lodge was a microcosm of the social crisis affecting ever wider layers of the New Zealand working class. It was reportedly home to low-paid shift workers, including meat processing workers, hospital staff, as well as unemployed and elderly people unable to find affordable housing elsewhere. Wellingtons median rent has gone up by 33 percent in the last five years and the cost of living crisis is becoming worse all the time, pushing more people into precarious housing and cheap hostels.

Murray Edridge, from the Wellington City Mission charity, told the Guardian: A significant proportion of residents of the lodge are under our care. This is an absolute disaster. These are people who are inherently vulnerable anyway.

In recent years the hostel had received payments from the Ministry of Social Development on an ad hoc basis to provide emergency housing to homeless people. The Labour government has dumped thousands of families into repurposed hotels and boarding houses across the country, often in overcrowded conditions, due to the housing affordability crisis.

The ministry told Stuff it no longer used Loafers Lodge for this purpose, but it is clear that many of the residents were among the citys poorest and lived there for lack of any better options.

Deportee advocate Filipa Payne said the hostel was also being used by Prison Aid and Rehabilitation and the government to house people deported from Australia under draconian deportation policies. This is a horrible tragedy that will affect people that have been placed there through a traumatic and barbaric system, she said. It will affect families left in Australia who have already been through trauma and heartache.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins visited the scene of the fire this morning and told reporters there would be a number of investigations into the tragedy. For older buildings, there are fewer requirements than for newer buildings, he said, adding that Loafers Lodge had passed its recent building inspection and was not required to have sprinklers. It was too early to say if these regulations would be reviewed.

Hipkins praised the work of firefighters and said weve got work to do to update and upgrade some of the outdated equipment that Fire and Emergency rely on. Last year firefighters held nationwide strikes over low pay, dangerous levels of understaffing and faulty equipment.

Home Owners and Buyers Association president John Gray told the New Zealand Herald: Questions have to be asked One would hope that a building that housed so many people would be subject to closer scrutiny for fire safety and protection measures.

It is well-known that many buildings in New Zealand are unsafe and that government regulators have tended to downplay the crisis. After the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire in London, which killed 72 people, Radio NZ reported that in New Zealand there is widespread industry agreement that most [multi-storey] buildings have weak points that could accelerate the spread of a big fire and shouldnt have been signed off as compliant with the Building Code.

Deregulation by successive governments and cost-cutting by building developers has resulted in a plague of leaky buildings and billions of dollars worth of damage. These processes also led to the disastrous collapse of the CTV building during the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, which killed 115 people, for which no one has been held accountable.
On Sunday morning, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was received with military honors in front of the Chancellery in Berlin as part of his European trip. The setting, with several dozen uniformed and armed soldiers, was militaristic. After a conversation and a press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the two heads of government flew together under the highest security precautions to Aachen, where Zelensky received the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen.

Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz, second left, walks with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, right, during an official military reception at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, May 14, 2023. [AP Photo/Matthias Schrader]

Zelenskys visit to Berlin marks a new stage in the intervention of German imperialism in the war in Ukraine. De facto, Germany is again at war with Russia, following a dark tradition. Already in the 20th century, German imperialism tried twice to subdue Russia militarily, committing horrific crimes. Now the ruling class is trying a third time. As in the two previous wars, Ukraine is a central battlefield. And again, German imperialism relies on right-wing Ukrainian nationalists.

The official phrases about defending freedom and democracy are nothing but propaganda. Everyone who is not completely naive historically knows that it is about the old questions again. The renewed drive of German imperialism to the East (Drang nach Osten) and a third grab for world power (Griff nach der Weltmacht). Nobody should have any illusions. German tanks will be followed by German soldiers in the end, and they will not stop at the Russian border.

The mobilization of the German military machine is already the most comprehensive since the end of the Second World War. On Saturday, the day before Zelenskys arrival, the German government announced a massive increase in its military aid for the Ukrainian army. Germany is preparing its biggest military support package yet for Ukraine, the Foreign Office wrote on Twitter.

It includes artillery, air defense, armored combat vehicles & military engineering capabilities worth over 2.7 billion Euros. Specifically, it includes 30 Leopard 1 A5 battle tanks, 20 Marder infantry fighting vehicles, 18 howitzers, 100 armored combat vehicles, 4 IRIS-T SLM air defence systems, and 12 IRIS-T SLS launchers plus the associated missiles and artillery ammunition.

In addition, the German defence industry is planning the construction of tanks and other weapons systems directly in Ukraine. The contracts are signed, said Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger. Rheinmetall has established a joint venture for the repair and construction of tanks with the Ukrainian state-owned company Ukroboronprom. The cooperation on tanks is only the first step on the way to comprehensive cooperation, writes the Handelsblatt newspaper. In the coming days, the contracts for two more joint ventures will be signedfor the areas of ammunition and air defence.

At the joint press conference with Zelensky, Scholz called for a military alliance with Kiev. The close relationship will shape the relationship between our two countries for decades to come, he said. In the face of horror, of injustice crying out to the heavens, we are moving even closer together. We support Ukraine not only in humanitarian terms, but also politically, financially and, of course, with weapons.

Scholz boasted about the extent of military aid so far and made it clear that all of this is only the beginning. Since the beginning of the war, our bilateral support to Ukraine alone has amounted to 17 billion, and we have set the course for ensuring that this assistance will continue in the coming years.  Germany is now the second largest supporter of Ukraine after the United States, and we will continue to do so. This makes the size of the package clear. He added, We will continue to support Ukraine for as long as necessary.

Berlins declared goal is the complete defeat of the Russian military in Ukraine. Kiev rightly demands, and with our full support, that [peace] cannot mean simply freezing the war or that a dictated peace be formulated by the Russian side, Scholz said.

For their part, in order to achieve a victory peace, the imperialist powers are increasingly waging a direct war against the nuclear-armed power of Russia. It is completely normal in such a military dispute that the attacker also proceeds into opposing territory--for example, to block supply routes, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said recently. This is a blank check for Ukrainian attacks on Russia and comes close to a direct declaration of war.

Germanys war offensive, which increasingly raises the danger of a nuclear world war, is publicly justified with claims about the defense of Ukraine against Russias aggressive war. This, too, is nothing but propaganda. It is not Moscow that is the main aggressor in Ukraine, but the imperialist powers. With its longstanding military encirclement of Russia, NATO has deliberately provoked the reactionary intervention of the Putin regime. Now it is escalating the conflict in order to subjugate resource-rich Russia and also to cement its control over Ukraine.

In this way, German imperialism, in particular, is continuing its historical plans for great power status. Already in the First World War, control of raw material-rich and geostrategically central Ukrainein addition to the establishment of German hegemony over Central Europe (Mitteleuropa)was one of the declared war aims of the German Empire. Historian Oleh S. Fedyshyn writes about this in his book Germanys Drive to the East and the Ukrainian Revolution 1917-1918:

At first, the Germans did not intend to go beyond Kiev. Then they decided to move as far eastward as Kharkov. Soon afterward, the knowledge that the coal of the Donets basin was absolutely necessary for the operation of Ukrainian industry and transportation convinced the Germans that they had to move into this area, too, to make the coal region safe from the Bolsheviks. Finally, the Germans extended their domination still farther eastward by occupying roughly one third of the Don region, and eventually they established themselves in Georgia. ... While political and legal arrangements in the Ukraine remained unclear, one thing was beyond dispute: Germany was deeply committed to intensify its exploitation of the Ukrainian economy. This was bound to deepen the Reichs political involvement not only in the Ukraine but in the east as a whole.

During the Second World War, Hitler continued to pursue this policy. In particular, the German historian Fritz Fischer pointed out that a direct line from the German occupation of Ukraine in the First World War led to the Nazis. One of the co-founders of the Nazi party newspaper Volkischer Beobachter, whose political ideas were incorporated into Hitlers Mein Kampf, was the former German-appointed head of government in Kiev, Hetman Skoropadsky. In the war of annihilation against the Soviet Union, which led to the Holocaust and cost the lives of at least 27 million Soviet citizens, the conquest of Ukraine played a central role. The geo-political, strategic and economic goals (We want to ride to Ostland!) are in continuity with Wilhelmian all-Germany expansionism, Fischer explained in his book Hitler war kein Betriebsunfall (Hitler was not an accident).

Now German imperialism is once again pursuing the goal of removing Ukraine and other countries that once belonged to the Soviet Union and the Russian Empire from Moscows sphere of influence and bringing them under the control of the German-dominated European Union. The awarding of the Charlemagne Prize to Zelensky marks a new beginningthe beginning of our further convergence in Europe, together with Ukraine, with the states of the Western Balkans, with Moldova and, in the future, also with Georgia, Scholz said.

In other words, behind the German war offensive are, at its core, the same imperialist appetites as before. Since German reunification, the ruling class has been systematically working to organise Europe under German leadership to pursue its global geostrategic and economic interestsincreasingly by military means. German imperialism already played a central role in the bloody breakup of Yugoslavia and the NATO bombardment of Serbia. This was followed by war missions of the Bundeswehr in Afghanistan, the Middle East and Africa. With regard to Russia, Berlin is not only driven by hunger for the countrys vast resources, but also by the desire for retribution for past defeats in war.

While all parliamentary parties, especially the nominally left parties, are pushing the course of war and rearmament, the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party of GermanySGP) has fought against the return of German militarism from the very beginning. We warned in a resolution as early as 2014shortly after the anti-Russian coup in Ukraine:

History is returning with a vengeance. Almost 70 years after the crimes of the Nazis and its defeat in World War II, the German ruling class is once again adopting the imperialist great power politics of the Kaisers Empire and Hitler. The speed of the escalation of the war propaganda against Russia recalls the eve of World War I and World War II. In Ukraine, the German government is cooperating with the fascists of Svoboda and the Right Sector, which stand in the tradition of Nazi collaborators in the Second World War. It is using the country that was occupied by Germany in both world wars as a staging ground against Russia.

This process is well advanced. Germany and the other imperialist powers are vying to arm the Ukrainian army and the fascist forces operating within it in order to wage war against Russia. In this process, it is clear that the return of Germany as an aggressive military power will also increase tensions between the European powers and, above all, between Germany and the United States. From the point of view of the German bourgeoisie, the struggle for supremacy in Europe and over Ukraine and Russia is ultimately the preparation for a renewed confrontation with the USA.

The only way to avert the catastrophe of a destructive third world war is to build a socialist movement of the international working class, including the Ukrainian and Russian working classes, against war and its cause: capitalism. We urge our readers to join the SGP and its international sister parties in the International Committee of the Fourth International today and take part in this struggle.
UPS workers at California Teamsters rally, April 15, 2023. [Photo: WSWS]

As over 340,000 UPS workers gear up for a major fight this summer as their contract expires at the end of July, the Democratic Socialists of America has begun holding a series of Strike Ready campaign meetings across the country to bolster the credibility of the Teamsters bureaucracy led by Sean OBrien and the Democratic Party.

In the beginning of April, the DSA officially kicked off its UPS campaign with the slogan Solidarity delivers the goods. The DSA claims in its campaign material to stand in unwavering solidarity with workers, asking its local chapters to adopt and pass its strike ready resolution. The resolution states that local chapters will publicly commit to the national Strike Ready campaign and listen to rank-and-file UPS Teamsters about what support they need throughout the contract fight.

The DSA resolution also adds that the chapters would ask DSA-backed socialist elected officials with connections to their chapter to commit to supporting the Teamsters throughout their contract fight.

The DSA demonstrated its solidarity with strikers when three of its members in Congress, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, voted last year to ban a strike by 120,000 railroad workers, and to impose a contract which workers had already rejected. The purpose of the DSAs campaign at UPS is to prepare the grounds for a repeat of the railroads by capturing and diverting the enormous support in the working class for UPS workers and by bolstering the credibility of the Teamsters bureaucracy and of the capitalist Democratic Party.

In the 2021 union elections, new Teamsters General President Sean OBrien was promoted as a reform candidate by Teamsters for a Democratic Union, a faction within the Teamsters, as well as by the DSA. Last year, OBrien and the Teamsters played a central role in the stall tactics by the rail unions to buy Congress time until after the midterms to ban the strike.

In response to rank-and-file anger over the current contract at UPS, which was imposed in 2018 by the bureaucracy in spite of a majority no vote by workers, OBrien has repeatedly pledged to strike the logistics giant if a new national contract is not in place when the current one expires on July 31. In reality, in close consultation with the White House, the Teamsters are preparing another sellout. The Teamsters have already abandoned their own pledge to delay the start of national talks until all regional supplemental agreements are in place, an indication that the bureaucracy is under intense pressure to get a deal done before its self-imposed deadline.

Chicago DSA promotes illusions in Teamsters bureaucracy and mayor-elect Brandon Johnson

Over the last few weekends, the DSA began holding meetings in various neighborhood wards in Chicago to promote the strike ready campaign. These meetings were addressed by DSA city aldermen (the equivalent of city council members in other cities), who also sought to promote the incoming mayoral administration of Brandon Johnson, who was elected with the support of the DSA, which has hailed his election as transformative.

In reality, the Johnson administration will be just as right-wing as the outgoing Lori Lightfoot administration. Johnson, a former Chicago Teachers Union organizer, repudiated his earlier pledge to abolish the police, and has said nothing about the police killing of Reginald Clay Jr., a 24-year-old Amazon worker. Johnson won with only 38 percent voter turnout, an indication of the deep distrust of the Democratic Party by large sections of the population. Workers in Chicago have seen their living standards lowered by one Democratic administration after another for decades, with good-paying industrial jobs decimated while wealth inequality and the number of billionaires have grown sharply in the region.

The elevation of Johnson expresses both the close integration of the union bureaucracy with the capitalist two-party system, as well as the increasingly heavy reliance on the DSA and other pseudo-left groups to provide radical and populist-sounding phrases to cover for the Democrats as they move further to the right.

Despite claiming more than 5,000 members among its ranks in Chicago, one of the strategic centers of both UPS and the logistics industry as a whole, the DSA meetings were sparsely attended. The audience largely consisted of layers close to the Teamsters, SEIU and Chicago Teachers Union bureaucracies.

The DSAs 25th ward meeting on April 30 was held in the office of DSA alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez. Sigcho-Lopez opened his remarks by declaring, Theres a big fight in the UPS contract, the biggest private contract in the country. The biggest this centurytheres a lot at stake. He went on to promote the lie that the incoming Brandon Johnson administrations victory was a defeat for the billionaires in Illinois and a boon for workers. I know the new mayor. He is a labor organizer, he said.

In fact, Johnson already declared his support for austerity at a mayoral forum when he said: There will be some tough decisions to be made when I am mayor of the city of Chicago. And there might be a point within negotiations that the Chicago Teachers Union quest and fight for more resourceswe might not be able to do it. Who is better able to deliver bad news to a friend than a friend?

The meeting concluded with Sean Orr, a DSA member, Teamsters steward and co-chair of the national steering committee of Teamsters for a Democratic Union. The Teamsters, the past 25 years things have been falling apart their interests as a union leadership was with the companies, he said. This has been changed, he claimed, by the TDU and the OBrien administration. Two years ago we changed the direction of our union. We flipped things at the top.

Orr admitted that over half of the 12,000 UPS workers in Chicago are making minimum wage were at the bottom, with many facing homelessness and eviction notices as workers are unable to afford to live in the Chicago metropolitan area despite UPS making billions in profits. UPS workers who fight back against supervisors pushing hostile work environments are retaliated against and fired, he added, with no protection.

He claimed that the Teamsters under Sean OBrien would fight for a $25 starting wage for part-time workers, with a so-called rank-and-file negotiating committee including over 50 people in Chicago. Such a rank-and-file committee, controlled by the bureaucracy and consisting of members picked by them, does not give workers real control over the talks, but is only window dressing for the bureaucracys maneuvers.

Orr also claimed that the Biden administration would not intervene in the UPS strike despite having done so with rail workers last year, claiming that UPS workers are not affected by the reactionary Railway Labor Act. This is part and parcel of a continuous cover-up campaign of the significance of the strike ban by both TDU and OBrien, who even went so far as to deny that Biden had intervened against railroaders.

In point of fact, Orrs argument that the government cannot intervene because the RLA does not apply to UPS workers is not true, as Biden has the authority to issue an injunction under the reactionary Taft-Hartley Act. At any rate, Bidens preferred method, as he has employed against refinery workers and (so far) West Coast dockworkers, is to enforce a de facto injunction through the mechanism of the union bureaucracy.

One exchange that punctured the rosy narrative presented at the meeting was provoked by the presence of scapegoated Anthony Marano grocery workers, who have been victimized with the support of the Teamsters bureaucracy. As Labor Notes, a publication with close ties to the TDU and DSA, reported in March:

In February, 70 grocery workers at Marano attended a workshop organized by Teamsters for a Democratic Union and CCWR on building a contract action plan with clear bargaining demands... Next, the company came after Vargas. A few days after the workers action, management had workers attend a series of Local 703 meetings held at the company. In front of management, the union business agent [emphasis added] denounced workers for wearing hats and holding meetings at Juans house. The very next day Vargas was fired.

Vargas was present at the meeting in Chicago. Another workers daughter said the Marano workers don't have proper representation in the actual [Teamsters] committee meetings.

What UPS workers really need to be strike ready is to prepare for a two-front war against both management and the corrupt trade union apparatus, which is joined at the hip with Washington and the Democratic Party in particular. But this is precisely what the DSA, which functions as a faction of both the Democrats and the apparatus, where it controls many top posts in unions around the country, is seeking to prevent. It is becoming increasingly prominent in both as they struggle to contain opposition from below.

In order to prevent yet another sellout and to fight for significant wage gains, an end to the tier system and much more, UPS workers must take matters into their own hands by building rank-and-file committees, in order to fight for the principle that the will of the rank and file must determine the conduct of the struggle, and unite the working class as a whole behind them.

UPS workers can look to the example of railroad workers, Caterpillar workers, Dana auto parts workers and other rank-and-file committees among autoworkers and educators. These committees are being built as part of a network of rank-and-file committees internationally to coordinate a working class counteroffensive against the corporations and the entire ruling class.

Fill out the form below to learn more.
The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) continued its series of anti-war meetings holding three more successful meetings in Munich, Bochum and Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Under the title The war in Ukraine and how to stop it, the youth and student movement of the Fourth International shed light on the historical, economic and political causes of the war and presented an international socialist strategy to end it.

Frankfurt IYSSE meeting on May 12, 2023, speaker: Christoph Vandreier, chair of the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party, SGP) [Photo: WSWS]

Around the world, IYSSE anti-war meetings have already taken place in the United States, Australia and New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Canada, Brazil and Britain. Speakers from Russia and Ukraine participated in several of the meetings with a joint statement. In Germany, the series began on April 27 in Berlin, and will continue on May 17 in Stuttgart and May 26 in Leipzig.

In the run-up to the meetings, IYSSE members distributed thousands of flyers at universities and in city centres, put up posters and spoke about the current threat of war to hundreds of students attending numerous lectures. They characterized the Russian militarys invasion of Ukraine as a reactionary response by the nationalist Putin regime to decades of imperialist provocations by the NATO states.

The IYSSE explained that, like the Putin regime, the Zelensky government represents the interests of the post-Soviet national oligarchy, not the working class. At the behest of the imperialist NATO powers, it was waging a catastrophic war that had already cost hundreds of thousands of lives and called into question the survival of human civilization.

With their imperialist pro-war policies, the IYSSE said, the United States, Germany and the other NATO powers were pursuing long-held goals and great-power plans. The world is closer to an all-out conflict between nuclear powers than at any time since the 1960s, the IYSSE warned students attending the lectures.

Measures were taken at all three meetings to protect against the coronavirus. To this end, Far-UV lights and air filters were set up and free FFP2 masks distributed to all attendees.

Despite considerable attempts to prevent public discussion of the war, all events were a resounding success. At the Ruhr University in Bochum, unknown persons had systematically destroyed IYSSE posters and pasted over them slogans such as Russian propaganda. In Frankfurt, a few days earlier, the owners of the venue had even threatened to illegally cancel the meeting.

The IYSSE reacted with a political counteroffensive, so that several dozen people took part in each of the three events. The two meetings at Ruhr-Uni-Bochum and Goethe-University Frankfurt in particular, which took place directly on the university campus, were met with a strong response among young people and students.

At the meetings, speakers examined the war through six key aspects essential to understanding it:

The conflict can only be understood in the context of the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The war is a continuation of a three-decades-long and expanding war of the imperialist powers. The Russian invasion of Ukraine was the reactionary response of the Russian oligarchy to decades of imperialist encirclement. The propaganda about a struggle for freedom and democracy is contradicted by the strengthening of far-right and fascist forces in Ukraine. The ruling class in Germany, which had already tried to annex Ukraine and subjugate Russia in two world wars, is using the conflict to implement long-cherished militarization plans. The war cannot be understood in isolation from the deepening economic, social, and political crisis of the great capitalist powers.

Bochum

Christoph Vandreier, SGP chair, speaks during the discussion [Photo: WSWS]

About 30 students and workers attended the meeting in Bochum, many thanking Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party) chairman Christoph Vandreier for the lecture and joining in the discussion. One student raised the question of whether there was really a direct link between the Western states arms build-up for war and cuts in wages and social spending. IYSSE members responded that all the major capitalist powers were moving toward a third world war, trying to deflect domestic social contradictions outward through war. The international working class, which had no interest in a world war, was to be made to pay for this according to the will of the ruling class in each country.

This was followed by another participant asking whether human nature made war and fascism inevitable. In reply, it was explained that early forms of war were historically linked to the rise of social inequality. In the 1930s, Hitler had been able to draw on a large following among the petty bourgeoisie, but amid a crisis in his party, he was ultimately propelled to power by a conspiracy within the German elites.

As Vandreier explained, under Stalins influence, the German Communist Party (KPD) rejected a joint struggle between workers supporting the KPD and SPD. For its part, the SPD defended the bourgeois state and legality amid the fascist terror. Trotsky had fought for the tactic of a united front of both workers parties, which still had a majority against Hitlers NSDAP (Nazi Party) in 1933.

The event was able to go on longer than the IYSSE had originally estimated, and the lively discussion did not have to end prematurely.

Munich

Munich IYSSE meeting on May 4, 2023, speaker: Peter Schwarz, Secretary of the ICFI and WSWS International Editorial Board member [Photo: WSWS]

The Munich meeting on May 4 was chaired by IYSSE member Clemens, who emphasized the internationalist principles of the youth organization and pointed to the mass struggles of the working class in France, Sri Lanka, Britain and the United States: The same driving forces that drive the capitalist class to war externally and massive state rearmament, repression, social cuts and austerity internally also lead to an international resurgence of class struggle. It is into these struggles that we intervene with our socialist program.

Speaker Peter Schwarz, secretary of the International Committee of the Fourth International and World Socialist Web Site International Editorial Board member, began his talk by quoting from the infamous October 1914 appeal To the Cultural World! in which leading German academics justified and whitewashed the Kaisers war campaign.

The propaganda of the time about Germanys pure cause and women and children slaughtered by Russian hordes resembled todays narratives, showing that the first casualty of any war is the truth. Schwarz continued, There is no other event that stirs up society, demands such sacrifices from people, as war. That is why propaganda and lies were indispensable weapons for the belligerents.

Nothingfrom either sidecan be taken at face value, Schwarz concluded. He said NATO was doing everything in its power to add fuel to the fire of this war with arms deliveries worth tens of billions of euros. Moreover, it was boycotting any diplomatic solution and converting society in its own countries to a war economy.

In view of the omnipresent warmongering, one participant in the discussion raised the question of the extent to which earlier capitalist politicians such as Chancellor Helmut Schmidt (Social Democratic Party, SPD) had been more reasonable than current generations of politicians. To this, Schwarz replied that the phase of the relatively stable post-war capitalist system was finally over. The lack of reason among government politicians, he said, was an expression of the historical bankruptcy of capitalism, which once again confronted the working class with the alternative of socialism or barbarism.

Referring to the reactionary role of the trade-union bureaucracy in the wage disputes at Deutsche Post and in the public sector, Schwarz declared that the most important task was to build a new, revolutionary and international leadership in the working class that would fight for a socialist program.

Frankfurt

Frankfurt IYSSE meeting on May 12, 2023, speaker: Christoph Vandreier [Photo: WSWS]

In Frankfurt am Main, the meeting was able to take place as planned in the large hall of the Evangelische Studierendengemeinde (ESG) on the Westend campus after the IYSSE waged a public campaign against attempts to censor their event. Chairing the meeting, Tamino Dreisam drew a comparison between the murderous war in Ukraine and the mass deaths in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In both cases, he said, the ruling class showed its inability to collaborate internationally and its determination to walk over dead bodies in pursuing the profit interests of the oligarchs.

The meeting was attended by several Ukrainian nationalists, representatives of Stalinist student groups and supporters of the post-modernist Frankfurt School, whose reactionary positions were clearly responded to in the course of the meeting. As speaker Christoph Vandreier explained, socialists fight for the unification of the international working class and reject the defence of nation states.

This applied, he said, both to the Ukrainian state of the Kiev government and to the eastern Ukrainian peoples republics of the Russian-backed separatists. What was needed, he said, was fraternization between Ukrainian and Russian workers, who must turn their weapons not against each other but toward their generals and capitalist elites in their respective countries.

This principle, according to which the main enemy is at home, also guided the work of internationalists in Europe and the United States, Vandreier explained. Such an orientation toward the working class, he said, was not only realistic but the only way to permanently end the conflict by eliminating its roots in the capitalist competition among nation states.

Discussions continued for a long time at the book tables following all the meetings. Many students gave their contact details to the IYSSE to participate in building an international anti-war movement.

The IYSSEs international series of events will continue in Germany with public meetings in Stuttgart (May 17, 6 p.m.) and Leipzig (May 26, 6 p.m.).
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA --News Direct-- Respond.io

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Media OutReach - 12 May 2023 - Leading message platform respond.io is now a WhatsApp Business Solution Provider (BSP), placing it among an exclusive group of WhatsApp BSPs worldwide. This significant milestone means that businesses can now take advantage of its advanced messaging features and capabilities to connect with their customers like never before.

Whats in it for Businesses Worldwide

Businesses using respond.io can now seamlessly integrate the WhatsApp Business Platform directly from Metas cloud servers for increased efficiency and reliability. Meta's worldwide network of servers is tactically positioned to reduce latency, resulting in faster updates and improved message delivery times.

By becoming a WhatsApp BSP, respond.io now has direct access to Meta's support team. This new development enables respond.io to provide its customers with exceptional support and assistance with common requests, including WhatsApp Business verification.

As an omnichannel customer communication management software, respond.io adds value to WhatsApp API's capabilities. It enables multiuser access for WhatsApp so all agents and teams can respond to a high volume of messages from one WhatsApp number. Plus, respond.io offers businesses a suite of powerful tools including an advanced automation builder, detailed analytics on team and agent performance, and seamless integration with custom messaging channels and over 5,000 applications, including CRMs and e-commerce platforms such as Hubspot, Salesforce, Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento and more.

Now, businesses will be able to manage all their conversations and WhatsApp Business Accounts on respond.io. This includes managing their WhatsApp business profile, message template creation and approval, and WhatsApp conversation charges, all from a single interface.

Respond.io also enables businesses to comply with WhatsApp's policies and regulations, such as collecting customer consent to receive messages from a business. From offering multiple chat entry points, like ads that click to WhatsApp, QR codes and chat links, to obtaining opt-ins as part of an automated conversation, respond.io removes the friction in customer communication.

Story continues

A Commitment to Advanced Messaging Solutions

Respond.io believes that instant messaging is the future of customer communication, and is committed to delivering the most advanced and effective messaging solutions to businesses across the globe.

WhatsApp is a key channel for respond.io as it is one of the most widely used messaging apps in the world. With over 2 billion active users across 180 countries, it has become an essential channel for businesses to engage with customers.

As of today, respond.io helps thousands of medium and enterprise customers worldwide unlock the power of instant messaging to deliver great customer experiences, build brand loyalty and drive growth and revenue. Among others, it empowered 200 agents at the Indian social media platform Sharechat to chat with 50,000 content creators using a single WhatsApp number and enabled Yoho, Hong Kongs leading e-commerce platform, to grow its customer base by almost 10% in just four months by dramatically improving its sales and support experience.

"Empowering businesses to communicate seamlessly with their customers is our top priority as a WhatsApp Business Solution Provider. Our platform offers a personalized, conversational experience that fosters stronger relationships. By continuously expanding our capabilities, we enable businesses to achieve their goals and stay ahead of the curve. This collaboration with WhatsApp unlocks tremendous potential, allowing us to remain at the forefront of the latest trends to keep providing businesses worldwide with exceptional business messaging solutions." Gerardo Salandra, CEO of respond.io.

Its new status as a WhatsApp BSP will better equip respond.io to help businesses improve the efficiency of their messaging operations, as well as boost customer satisfaction and retention for steady business growth. Interested clients can try the messaging software for free and get an account on the WhatsApp Business Platform in minutes by signing up on respond.io.

About respond.io

Respond.io is a customer conversation management software that enables companies to respond to messages from any channel from one centralized dashboard by teams of all sizes, thus making communication with customers easier, faster, and more satisfactory.

Over 10,000 companies from 86 countries, including British Airways, Klook, Decathlon, Roche and Bigo use respond.io. The platform processes 120 million messages per month, beating three of its main competitors combined.

In 2022, respond.io raised $7 million in Series A funding, led by Headline Asia with participation from AltaIR Capital, Smart Partnership Capital, Sterling Oak Group and Calendula Ventures. The company is headquartered in Malaysia.

Contact Details

Localization Project Manager

Polina Usynina

+60 17-229 9406

polina@respond.io

View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/respond-io-joins-forces-with-whatsapp-to-assist-enterprises-in-driving-growth-592160143
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 16, 2023) - Leading message platform respond.io is now a WhatsApp Business Solution Provider (BSP), placing it among an exclusive group of WhatsApp BSPs worldwide. This significant milestone means that businesses can now take advantage of its advanced messaging features and capabilities to connect with their customers like never before.

What's in it for Businesses Worldwide

Businesses using respond.io can now seamlessly integrate the WhatsApp Business Platform directly from Meta's cloud servers for increased efficiency and reliability. Meta's worldwide network of servers is tactically positioned to reduce latency, resulting in faster updates and improved message delivery times.

By becoming a WhatsApp BSP, respond.io now has direct access to Meta's support team. This new development enables respond.io to provide its customers with exceptional support and assistance with common requests, including WhatsApp Business verification.

As an omnichannel customer communication management software, respond.io adds value to WhatsApp API's capabilities. It enables multiuser access for WhatsApp so all agents and teams can respond to a high volume of messages from one WhatsApp number. Plus, respond.io offers businesses a suite of powerful tools including an advanced automation builder, detailed analytics on team and agent performance, and seamless integration with custom messaging channels and over 5,000 applications, including CRMs and e-commerce platforms such as Hubspot, Salesforce, Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento and more.

Now, businesses will be able to manage all their conversations and WhatsApp Business Accounts on respond.io. This includes managing their WhatsApp business profile, message template creation and approval, and WhatsApp conversation charges, all from a single interface.

Respond.io also enables businesses to comply with WhatsApp's policies and regulations, such as collecting customer consent to receive messages from a business. From offering multiple chat entry points, like ads that click to WhatsApp, QR codes and chat links, to obtaining opt-ins as part of an automated conversation, respond.io removes the friction in customer communication.

Story continues

A Commitment to Advanced Messaging Solutions

Respond.io believes that instant messaging is the future of customer communication, and is committed to delivering the most advanced and effective messaging solutions to businesses across the globe.

WhatsApp is a key channel for respond.io as it is one of the most widely used messaging apps in the world. With over 2 billion active users across 180 countries, it has become an essential channel for businesses to engage with customers.

As of today, respond.io helps thousands of medium and enterprise customers worldwide unlock the power of instant messaging to deliver great customer experiences, build brand loyalty and drive growth and revenue. Among others, it empowered 200 agents at the Indian social media platform Sharechat to chat with 50,000 content creators using a single WhatsApp number and enabled Yoho, Hong Kong's leading e-commerce platform, to grow its customer base by almost 10% in just four months by dramatically improving its sales and support experience.

"Empowering businesses to communicate seamlessly with their customers is our top priority as a WhatsApp Business Solution Provider. Our platform offers a personalized, conversational experience that fosters stronger relationships. By continuously expanding our capabilities, we enable businesses to achieve their goals and stay ahead of the curve. This collaboration with WhatsApp unlocks tremendous potential, allowing us to remain at the forefront of the latest trends to keep providing businesses worldwide with exceptional business messaging solutions." Gerardo Salandra, CEO of respond.io.

Its new status as a WhatsApp BSP will better equip respond.io to help businesses improve the efficiency of their messaging operations, as well as boost customer satisfaction and retention for steady business growth. Interested clients can try the messaging software for free and get an account on the WhatsApp Business Platform in minutes by signing up on respond.io.Hashtag: #Startup #Technology #WhatsApp



https://www.linkedin.com/company/respondio/mycompany/

https://www.facebook.com/getrespondio/

https://www.instagram.com/respond.io/

https://www.youtube.com/@Respondio/

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About respond.io

Respond.io is a customer conversation management software that enables companies to respond to messages from any channel from one centralized dashboard by teams of all sizes, thus making communication with customers easier, faster, and more satisfactory.



Over 10,000 companies from 86 countries, including British Airways, Klook, Decathlon, Roche and Bigo use respond.io. The platform processes 120 million messages per month, beating three of its main competitors combined.

In 2022, respond.io raised $7 million in Series A funding, led by Headline Asia with participation from AltaIR Capital, Smart Partnership Capital, Sterling Oak Group and Calendula Ventures. The company is headquartered in Malaysia.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/166256
Ideally, your overall portfolio should beat the market average. But even the best stock picker will only win with some selections. At this point some shareholders may be questioning their investment in Restore plc (LON:RST), since the last five years saw the share price fall 48%. And it's not just long term holders hurting, because the stock is down 37% in the last year. Shareholders have had an even rougher run lately, with the share price down 20% in the last 90 days.

It's worthwhile assessing if the company's economics have been moving in lockstep with these underwhelming shareholder returns, or if there is some disparity between the two. So let's do just that.

View our latest analysis for Restore

While the efficient markets hypothesis continues to be taught by some, it has been proven that markets are over-reactive dynamic systems, and investors are not always rational. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time.

While the share price declined over five years, Restore actually managed to increase EPS by an average of 12% per year. Given the share price reaction, one might suspect that EPS is not a good guide to the business performance during the period (perhaps due to a one-off loss or gain). Alternatively, growth expectations may have been unreasonable in the past.

Due to the lack of correlation between the EPS growth and the falling share price, it's worth taking a look at other metrics to try to understand the share price movement.

In contrast to the share price, revenue has actually increased by 8.1% a year in the five year period. A more detailed examination of the revenue and earnings may or may not explain why the share price languishes; there could be an opportunity.

The company's revenue and earnings (over time) are depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers).

We know that Restore has improved its bottom line lately, but what does the future have in store? So it makes a lot of sense to check out what analysts think Restore will earn in the future (free profit forecasts).

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What About Dividends?

When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. We note that for Restore the TSR over the last 5 years was -45%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. This is largely a result of its dividend payments!

A Different Perspective

While the broader market gained around 3.6% in the last year, Restore shareholders lost 36% (even including dividends). However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 8% over the last half decade. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Take risks, for example - Restore has 1 warning sign we think you should be aware of.

For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on British exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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(Bloomberg) -- Russia hasnt implemented its pledged crude-output cuts, with exports hitting a postwar high as Moscow seeks to boost energy revenue to fund military spending, according to the International Energy Agency,

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The Kremlin promised to cut production by 500,000 barrels a day in March and maintain the curbs for the rest of the year in retaliation for Western sanctions. While Russias Energy Ministry said the cuts were close to that target last month, tanker-tracking data have shown record export volumes by sea while domestic crude processing is only beginning to drop amid refinery maintenance.

Meanwhile, the government in Moscow has classified oil statistics due to their sensitive nature, making it difficult to assess progress of the curbs beyond the assurances of energy officials.

Russias crude production in April was about 9.6 million barrels per day, the IEA said in its monthly report on Tuesday. Thats only 200,000 barrels below the February baseline for the cuts, according to the agency.

By our estimates, Moscow did not deliver its announced 500,000 barrel-a-day supply cut in full, the Paris-based IEA said. Indeed, Russia may be boosting volumes to make up for lost revenue.

The countrys oil-export revenue rose by $1.7 billion to $15 billion in April, but was still down by 27% from a year earlier, according to the report. To comply with the Kremlins pledge, Russian producers would need to cut another 300,000 barrels a day of crude output in May, the IEA said.

READ: Russian Oil Revenues Slump 67% in April Amid Sanctions Hit

Russias total production, including crude and a light oil called condensate, in April was relatively stable at 10.93 million barrels a day, some 470,000 barrels lower than before the invasion in Ukraine, according to the IEA. The agency revised up its annual estimate for the nations production to 10.7 million barrels a day.

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The discount at which Russian crude trades compared with benchmark Dated Brent narrowed last month to $24.35 a barrel, according to the IEA. As a result, the weighted-average price of the nations seaborne supplies climbed to $60.12 a barrel, slightly above the crude-price cap set by G7, the agency said.

Still, the price of the Russias Urals crude blend delivered in the countrys key western ports remained below the cap, according to the IEA estimates, which would allow the use of European insurance and shipping services for those shipments. The figures provided by the IEA are used by the G-7 to assess the efficacy of their price caps.

The price of ESPO blend, sold into the Asia-Pacific market, averaged at $73.18 a barrel. It has consistently traded above the price cap since it was introduced.

Despite narrowing, the discount on Russian oil is still large enough to encourage strong demand for the nations barrels, according to the report. Russia seems to have few problems finding willing buyers for its crude and oil products, the IEA said.

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Officials say the child "was stationary" when she was hit by the train, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol

gofundme Harper

A 1-year-old girl died in Missouri after she was hit by a train over the weekend, according to authorities.

Officials said the child "was stationary" on the railroad tracks when she was hit by the train in Hardin just after 8:45 a.m. local time on Saturday, according to a crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP).

In an interview with CBS affiliate KCTV, the girl was identified by parents Daylea and Hunter, who declined to use their last names, as their daughter Harper. They told the outlet she was just weeks away from her 2nd birthday.

"Harper was very adventurous," Daylea told the outlet of the child, whom she remembered as being a "happy baby."

"Our little girl is up there smiling at us," added Hunter.

Related:2-Year-Old Dies After Being Struck by Car While Running in Ga. Parking Lot: 'Unspeakable Tragedy'

In a post shared on Saturday, the Ray County Sheriff's Office referred to what happened as a "tragic event."

"At this time we will not be making any statements. We ask you [to] pray for all affected by today's event and respect their privacy," they wrote. In a comment, Sheriff Scott Childers added that he is "struggling with the situation" himself and "can't imagine the trauma the family is going through."

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Childers was among the first responders who arrived at the scene, according to KCTV.

"We live in an age where everybody wants to know everything," Childers told the outlet. "But sometimes accidents happen, incidents happen and we have to respect people's privacy."

Daylea told the outlet she's been praying for the train operator and doesn't "blame anyone."

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An investigation into the incident is ongoing, according to the MSHP.

Related:Missing 4-Year-Old Boy with Autism Found Dead After He Disappeared While Playing at Boston Park

A memorial has been started for Harper near the tracks where she died, according to KCTV.

In another show of support, as of Tuesday more than $18,000 has been raised for the family via GoFundMe. "Anything will help and prayers are welcome," a loved one wrote on the page.

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Read the original article on People.
Alec Baldwin took to Instagram to celebrate his last day of filming Rust, his upcoming Western film on the set of which cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was fatally shot.

Filming restarted last month on Rust, a year and a half after Hutchins was killed when a prop gun held by Baldwin discharged.

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God it felt good to shave off that beard, Baldwin wrote on Instagram accompanied by a photo of his clean-shaven face. The actor, who also produces and co-wrote the story of Rust with director Joel Souza, also reposted an Instagram story that pictures him embracing his young co-star Patrick Scott McDermott, who wrote in the caption with a heart emoji, Alecs last day. Ill miss you.

Several hours earlier, Baldwin uploaded a photo of him and McDermott posing with a smile, writing, Last day on the set of Rust with this guy. A very talented actor and lovely young man with a bright future ahead. My love to you, [Patrick Scott McDermott].

After a lengthy investigation by New Mexico authorities, Baldwin was criminally charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter on Jan. 31, 2023. One month later, he pleaded not guilty, and in April, prosecutors dropped all charges against the actor. Charges proceed against Rusts armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who is set to appear at a preliminary hearing in New Mexicos First Judicial District Court on Aug. 9.

In October, a year after Hutchins was killed, her family settled a wrongful death lawsuit with the production. As part of the settlement, Hutchins husband Matthew Hutchins boarded the film as an executive producer.

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Rust takes place in 1880s Kansas, where an outlaw named Harland Rust (Baldwin) comes out of hiding to save his teenage grandson, Lucas (McDermott). The movie also stars Travis Fimmel, Frances Fisher, Jensen Ackles and Devon Werkheiser.

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Two executives from Signature Bank reiterated on Tuesday that the now-defunct lender didnt need to be shut down, weighing in before Congress on a high-profile collapse that looms large over the digital assets industry.

The hearing was convened by the Senate Banking Committee and also focused on Silicon Valley Bank, which was seized alongside Signature in March.

A Signature co-founder and the banks former chairman, Scott Shay, said Signature was prepared to move forward, despite $16 billion in customer withdrawals that followed SVBs failure.

I was confident that Signature Bank could withstand the economic earthquake that occurred that day, Shay said. The bank was well-capitalized. The bank was solvent.

Why Was Signature Bank Really Shut Down?

The belief that Signature Bank could continue was echoed by Signatures former President Eric Howell, who said the lender was well-capitalized, solvent, and had sufficient borrowing capacity to withstand these and future withdrawals.

The failures of Signature and SVB tested the stability of the U.S. financial system, as two of the largest bank collapses in American history hit back-to-back. Both banks were rocked by a wave of withdrawals, which fatally crystallized losses on bond holdings for SVBbut the basis for Signatures shutdown remains less clear.

During the hearing, Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) alluded to comments made by Barney Frank in March, the former congressman who sat on Signatures board of directors. Frank had said regulators shut down Signature to send a very strong anti-crypto message.

The New York Department of Financial Services (DFS) has denied the claim, saying Signatures shutdown wasnt crypto-related.

When asked by Hagerty about whether Signatures shutdown had anything to do with the banks exposure to crypto, Shay said he didnt know what the reasons were, adding he cant speak for the regulators and their decision-making process.

Signature Banks Stock Sinks 10% as Silvergate Prepares to Shut Down

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Parts of Signature Bank were sold to Flagstar Bank after regulators seized the crypto-friendly institution, but the sale did not include crypto customers deposits or Signatures Signetthe payments platform that connected traditional finance to crypto.

Signature buckled just days after Silvergate Bank, another crypto-friendly lender, voluntarily moved to wind down operations. Silvergates instant settlement platform, SEN, was also used heavily by financial institutions involved in crypto.

Nonetheless, Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) accused Shay of deflecting blame away from Signatures management practices and toward crypto firms for its failure.

You mentioned, in your testimony, digital assets 10 times, implying that digital assets was a driver of Signature Banks collapse, she said. It looks like there's been a lot of deflection of blame on to those particular depositors that deal in digital assets.

US Lawmakers Say SEC Directive May Bring 'Greater Risk of Loss'

Arguing crypto wasnt to blame, Lummis cited an investigation done by the DFS, which found outflows among crypto customers were proportional to other clients that pulled their money out of Signature. She also noted that the bank never held or traded crypto.

Shay disagreed with the characterization of his testimony. He said, I did not point earlier [...] to digital assets being a particular cause or not.

By the time Tuesdays hearing came to a close, the two former Signature executives had not expressed any strong opinions on why the bank was ultimately shut down. And whether crypto played a role in Signatures failure was left unanswered, at least on behalf of some of those that were among the closest to its collapse.
Alec Baldwin has officially wrapped up on the set of "Rust," nearly 18 months after the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

Baldwin, 65, shared a selfie on Instagram Tuesday, revealing he shaved off his facial hair from his character in the Western film. "God, it felt good to shave off that beard" he captioned the post.

The actor also reposted an Instagram Story from his on-set son Lucas, played by Patrick Scott McDermott, in which the two shared a hug. "Alec's last day. I'll miss you," McDermott wrote.

Baldwin returned to the "Rust" set in April in Montana amid legal drama. Plans to resume filming were outlined last year by widower Matthew Hutchins in a proposed settlement to a wrongful death lawsuit that would make him an executive producer on a rebooted "Rust."

Alec Baldwin resumed filming "Rust" in Montana in April.

'Rust' production continued amid legal setbacks

Baldwin's criminal charges in the fatal prop gun shooting of Hutchins on the set of "Rust" were dropped in April.

Ted Spaulding, founder of Atlanta-based Spaulding Injury Law, said production on the film would have carried on with or without Baldwin's charges being dropped.

"I dont think this has any effect on 'Rust' continuing filming," he said. "The 'Rust' production was full steam ahead even before these charges were dropped."

Baldwin was pointing a pistol at Hutchins during a rehearsal for the Western film in October 2021 when the gun discharged, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza. Baldwin, also a producer on the film, claimed that the gun fired accidentally and that he did not pull the trigger. An FBI forensic report found the weapon could not have been fired unless the trigger was pulled.

New Mexico prosecutors were pursuing involuntary manslaughter charges against Baldwin and the film's weapons supervisor, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, before dropping the charges against the actor last month. Both pleaded not guilty.

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Alec Baldwin involuntary manslaughter charges were dropped in fatal "Rust" shooting in April.

Prosecutors dropped charges against Baldwin in April

Prosecutors filed a nolle prosequi on April 21 dismissing without prejudice the criminal case against Baldwin, noting that "new facts were revealed that demand further investigation and forensic analysis which cannot be completed" before the preliminary hearing. An investigation into the case remains "active and on-going," prosecutors added.

Special prosecutors Kari T. Morrissey and Jason J. Lewis elaborated on their decision in a statement to USA TODAY on April 20, saying that their decision to drop the charges "does not absolve Mr. Baldwin of criminal culpability and charges may be refiled."

Contributing: Charles Trepany, Marco della Cava and Edward Segarra, USA TODAY; Morgan Lee and Andrew Dalton, The Associated Press

More on the 'Rust' tragedy:

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alec Baldwin wraps filming 'Rust,' Western tied to fatal shooting
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.

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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.

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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.
From the steps of the Mississippi State Capitol on Tuesday, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Brandon Presley declared that if he is elected, his administration would start a "war on corruption."

Presley, who criticized incumbent Republican Gov. Tate Reeves for not doing more to push through ethics changes in his first term, said he would call a special session to force the Legislature to consider a number of proposals he outlined in his speech Tuesday.

"We're going to see where the House and Senate members stand. We're going to see where they stand when it comes to cleaning up this system and saying no to their lobbyist buddies," Presley said. "We're going to make sure Mississippians come first."

Presley said if elected his ethics package would include banning unlimited gifts from lobbyists, requiring weekly gift and lobbying disclosures and placing limits on campaign contributions from individuals and political action committees. He also said he would ban direct contributions from corporations, prohibit candidates from accepting money while the Legislature is in session and institute a requirement that government employees go at least one-year before becoming lobbyists, and that lobbyists do the same before becoming government employees. Presley further said he would push for the reauthorization of the state's public records law  which is set to expire next year  and for the Legislature to be subject to the open meetings law.

Democratic Public Service Commissioner, and candidate for governor, Brandon Presley outlines his ethics plan from the steps of the Mississippi State Capitol Building on Tuesday, May 16, 2023.

"We're going to send a message, in the tune of that old Willie Nelson song, 'shut out the lights, the party's over.' Shut out the lights, the party is over. Mississippians have seen what is going on this system, and they're sick of it," Presley said. "We're going to make big campaign check writers mad. We're going to make lobbyists mad. We're going to make special interest people mad. Because they've had their day in Mississippi long enough, and we see what it's benefited us, nothing."

Presley later addressed a question about his own campaign fundraising, which included some of the corporate donations he is advocating for banning.

"Our proposal is to ban direct corporate contributions, to limit PAC contributions, to limit individual contributions," Presley said. "The rules of the road are what the rules of the road are today. They're wrong, and they should be fixed."

Presley, who trailed Reeves in fundraising during the January-April filing period, said he is proud that his filing for that period showed record-breaking fundraising for contributions under $200.

If Presley were to defeat Reeves in November and become the state's first Democratic governor since early 2004, he would likely govern with Republican supermajorities in the Legislature. Even if Democrats were to win every seat they are contesting this year, they would fail to take control of either the House or Senate.

Presley said he believes he could pass his ethics proposals through a capitol controlled by the opposite party, and that it is important to put lawmakers on the record by bringing these issues up for a vote. Presley also indicated, earlier in his remarks, that his ethics package may have opponents within his own party, but that he believes it is important to stand up to them as well.

"When we win in November it will be a mandate from the people," Presley said. "I think that no matter if you're in the House or Senate, whether you're in a ruby red Republican district or a deep blue district, we're going to send a message through this campaign that we're going to clean this mess up."

In a statement shared with members of the media Tuesday, the Presley campaign compiled a list of lobbyist gifts Reeves has received throughout his political career, as reported to and published by the secretary of state. The statement highlights about $10,000 in gifts, including a trip to the Kentucky Derby in 2013 when Reeves was lieutenant governor. According to the secretary of state's lobbyist recipient search, Churchill Downs Inc. provided gifts worth more than $4,800 for that trip, including paying for Reeves' travel, hotel and ticket to the race. Overall, in disclosures dating back to a 2010 dinner, Reeves has received gifts worth $21,977.11, according to the lobbyist recipient search results.

Presley, meanwhile, has taken gifts worth $167.59, all from the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, from five gifts between 2018 and 2022.

Reeves Campaign Manager Elliott Husbands said in a statement Tuesday that Presley has received campaign contributions from large donors.

"Brandon Presley is a classic Democrat  accusing every Republican of corruption while pocketing big money from liberal donors and hiding the ball on his leftwing positions," Husbands said. "Why won't he explain his views on crime measures his biggest supporters call racist, leftwing gender theory in schools, and eliminating the income tax? It's because he is just a product of the national liberal machine using more of their pre-written talking points."

The primaries will take place in August, with the general election coming on Nov. 7. Mississippi is one of three states with off-year gubernatorial elections this year. The other two are Louisiana and Kentucky, both of which are typically red states that currently have Democratic governors.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: See what Brandon Presley said on ethics and corruption in Mississippi
Plug up that geyser at Yellowstone and lend Cannes the name Old Faithful. How else can one describe a nearly 80-year-old institution that has held true to an overarching vision for as many decades? Find a better sobriquet for the crop of Palme dOr contenders who will arrive on the French Riviera boasting seven trophies among them, and with a median age, not for nothing, of about 63 years old  not that theres anything wrong with that.

Quite the opposite in fact, as the 76th edition feels in no small part like a milestone of loyalty rewarded, a victory lap closing out a cycle that began a half-decade prior  the year current jury president Ruben Ostlund graduated to the art-house big leagues with his Palme dOr winner The Square; when the Netflix logo was jeered ahead of Bong Joon Hos Okja, kicking off a chill that nips until this day; and when the U.S. press began to wonder aloud whether the Croisette could stretch all the way into the Oscar race.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (Lucasfilm)

Well, what a difference a half-decade makes! As returning directors Bong and Ostlund (as well as Class of 2018 revelation turned 2021 prizewinner Ryusuke Hamaguchi) reset the awards debate, Cannes also kept the faith in an historic and collective model of film exhibition threatened by two years of pandemic shutdowns. While studios experimented, Cannes stuck to its (top) guns, lending the upcoming theatrical releases for Pixars Elemental and Martin Scorseses Apple-produced Killers of the Flower Moon an additional veneer of vindication. As to the box-office futures of the 20-odd films competing for this years Palme dOr, certainly none will reach the international highs of James Mangolds Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, but then, none were ever expected to.

Instead  and at its best  Cannes works as a sophisticated shell game, channeling the glamour of the red carpet and the frenzy of 40,000 accredited guests to make glitzy international events out of existential Turkish dramas like Nuri Bilge Ceylans About Dry Grasses, existential Finnish dramedies like Aki Kaurismakis Fallen Leaves or intimate two-headers about 19th-century French gastronomy like Tran Anh Hungs The Pot au Feu.

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Also Read:

Paul Dano, Brie Larson Get Jury Duty at the Cannes Film Festival

Other Palme dOr contenders will come with built-in SEO, as Wes Andersons more-star-packed-than-usual Asteroid City threatens to saddle red-carpet rubberneckers with a permanent case of whiplash once the Texan auteurs full repertory company mounts the Palais steps alongside new additions Tom Hanks and Scarlett Johansson.

That all the aforementioned filmmakers could walk those Palais steps in blindfolds is another notable element of an official competition marked by staggering high fidelity. That fidelity cuts both ways, as Cannes remains loyal to Palme-wielding eminences Ken Loach, Nanni Moretti and Hirokazu Koreeda, while directors Jessica Hausner, Alice Rohrwacher and Todd Haynes have made the South of France their destination of choice for about the past decade. That Haynes Mary Kay Letourneau-inspired May December boasts the hint of scandal alongside stars Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore should come as a particular delight for the media-hungry festival.

Tom Hanks in Wes Andersons Asteroid City (Focus Features)

With that pattern in mind, one cant help but read the selection choices as augurs. Paris, Texas director Wim Wenders might have his Palme dOr, but he hasnt cracked the Cannes competition in nearly two decades. What promise does his Japanese-language Perfect Days hold? Might Four Daughters director Kaouther Ben Hania or Youth (Spring) maestro Wang Bing join Michael Moore and Jacques Cousteau as only the third documentarians to win a Palme dOr? What will make this award ceremony different from every other one?

From the sidebar sensations that put new faces on the map (heres looking at you, Aftersun), to the high-profile bellyflops that cut flourishing careers short (it wouldnt be polite to name names), the Cannes Film Festival defines and shapes the year that will follow, sending a select and happy few down paths sometimes paved with gold.

More so than most, German star Sandra Huller seems especially primed to break out this year. The lead in 2016s Toni Erdmann, Huller will return to Cannes with starring roles in Jonathan Glazers The Zone of Interest and Justine Triets Anatomy of a Fall, two of the most eagerly awaited Palme dOr contenders, both splashing up onto the seaside palace atop hefty waves of superlative buzz. One thing is certain: Should either of those films break big, should Huller or any of her colleagues set down a gilded path, you can expect the road to wind all the way back to the French Riviera in future years. Cannes, after all, is faithful.

Also Read:

Ruben Ostlund Named President of Cannes Film Festival Jury
Pioneer Village at Spring Mill State Park

Spring Mill State Park will host a presentation at 2 p.m. June 17 in the Pioneer Village Tavern entitled, "What do Railroads Do?"

In the 1850s Hoosiers were crazy for railroads, according to a press release from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Two long distance lines were built through Lawrence County very close to Spring Mill, with one of them running a few hundred yards from the Grist Mill.

No budget: Indiana University Bloomington closes Food Institute after nearly a decade

Hoosiers loved railroads but the railroads didnt always love them back. The proximity of railroads undermined the milling business at Spring Mill while encouraging flour milling just 2 miles away in Mitchell.

In Jackson County, the same scenario played out, where the Rockford mill closed but then reopened nearby in the new railroad town of Seymour. This presentation  with photos, maps, and documents  explores and compares those two railroad transformations.

What did they find? Hundreds of artifacts unearthed in Spring Mill State Park

Presenter David Nord is a professor emeritus of journalism and adjunct professor emeritus of history at Indiana University. He is the author of "Faith in Reading: Religious Publishing," "The Birth of Mass Media in America" (New York: Oxford University Press, 2004) and "Communities of Journalism: A History of American Newspapers and Their Readers" (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 2001).

He is a former interim editor and associate editor of the Journal of American History of Spring Mill and Lawrence County. A recent project is Mapping Lawrence County, Indiana: An Annotated Bibliography 1818 to 1941 (Bedford Indiana: Lawrence County Museum of History, 2018). It is available as a downloadable PDF through the online Catalogs of the Indiana Historical Society, the Indiana State Library and IU-Bloomington.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Spring Mill State Park offers lesson in Hoosier railroad history
East Rochester School celebrates an out of this world event

Nicole Merrigan, Carissa Ryan, and Kristy Croft were a few of the fabulous teachers who made Math and Literacy Night spectacular. They are shown here with two students in a cardboard cutout of a rocket ship.

ROCHESTER  Superintendent Kyle Repucci and Principal Andrea Lancey announced more than 200 students and family members participated in an out of this world space-themed Math and Literacy Night at East Rochester School.

On Thursday, March 16, students and family members enjoyed a space-themed version of the school's Title I Family Fun Nights with a focus on math and literacy.

Nicole Merrigan and two students play a literacy game at Math and Literacy Night.

Participants built marshmallow constellations, played math games, created alien bookmarks and played space syllable puzzles and a game called Alien vs. Earth Words. A telescope was also setup to give participants a chance to gaze at real constellations in the sky.

Students practice their reading skills as part of one of several games available to participants at Math and Literacy Night.

Lance Davis, manager of the University of New Hampshire Observatory, was also on hand to display photographs from the observatory.

The evening was an extension of the East Rochester School's space-themed math fact fluency challenge, in which students from Kindergarten through fifth grade practice their fact fluency skills over three weeks in February.

The first student in each class who completed the challenge received prizes, and two lucky students were awarded tickets to take their families to the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium. The Planetarium donated the tickets to the East Rochester School.

Over 200 students and family members participated in the space-themed Math and Literacy Night.

"This was a highly educational and incredibly fun evening for students and parents to learn and enjoy themselves together with East Rochester School faculty and staff," said Principal Lancey. "I am over the moon about how this evening turned out and all the fun that was had. We truly had a blast."

Portsmouth High School Career Technical Center students headed to national competition

Back row from left to right are Emily Stokel, Sophia VanEpps, Josie Moore, Aizha Castellano, Brigid Cadle, Lana Bresnahan, Jordan Ovadek. Front row from left to right are Nikko Koukis, Emilie LeRoux, Alicia Matthes, Suha Tuhami.

PORTMOUTH  Portsmouth High School Career Technical Center announced students from its Careers in Education program competed in leadership and skills competitions at Southern New Hampshire University. Friday, April 7, the wait was over and scores were announced at the Annual Educators Rising NH Teachapalooza event.

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The following students earned skills competition medals:

Children's Literature K-3: Gold Medal to Aizha Castellano

Job Interview: Bronze Medal to Brigid Cadle

Ethical Dilemma: Gold Medal to Sophia Van Epps, Nikko Koukis, Emily Stokel, Emilie LeRoux

Exploring Support Services Careers: Gold Medal and a perfect score earned by Josie Moore

The students that placed will have the opportunity to travel to the Educators Rising National Conference in Orlando, Florida, this summer.

Knowlton School holds Mathlete Competition

From left to right are Alex Whicker 1st place; Ozma Kasten 2nd place and Luke Brunner 3rd place

BERWICK, Maine  On Wednesday, March 22, Knowlton School (MSAD 60) in Berwick, Maine held its Mathletes competition. This program was open to all fourth and fifth graders. Students needed to give up part of their recess in order to attend training sessions. Students were recognized at the Awards Ceremony on March 27.

Congratulations go to all who participated. This program was organized by Mrs. Eileen Sahagian, EXCEL Teacher at Knowlton School.

Grace Hartford presented with 2023 Maine Principals Association Award

Grace Hartford

NORTH BERWICK, Maine  Noble High School Principal, AJ Dufort, announces that the 2023 Maine Principals Association Award will be presented to senior, Grace Hartford. Each year schools in Maine are able to select one student to receive the award that is based on academic achievement, outstanding school citizenship, and leadership.

Hartford has exemplified student leadership as the president of the high schools Wellness Club and Spanish Honor Society. She presented to the entire student body and led an initiative to have Noble High School students participate in the Yellow Tulip Project. Principal Dufort noted that Hartford is such a positive influence for others to follow. She truly cares about her classmates and contributes to our school culture in so many ways.

The Principals Award is presented in more than 100 Maine public and private high schools.

Maine teacher nominated for National History Day Teacher of the Year

Christa Boeykens-Bui

NORTH BERWICK, Maine  Teachers from 47 National History Day affiliate programs have been nominated for the Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year award. The award is sponsored by Patricia Behring in recognition of the pivotal role teachers play in the lives of students.

Maine teacher, Christa Boeykens-Bui has been nominated. Bui is the gifted and talented teacher for Noble Middle School in Berwick, Maine.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: East Rochester students celebrate, Portsmouth students go to nationals
Major issue of the day? Fifty-two years after Walt Disney World opened, the Florida government decided to inspect the monorails.

This editorial reflects the view of the Palm Beach Post Editorial Board, not of the newsroom.

Floridas 2023 legislative session will go down as one of the most shameful in the states history. The GOP majority went far past adopting mere conservative measures, advancing a reactionary agenda replete with bigotry, misogyny, gun-toting myopia and corporate giveaways. They might as well have handed the keys to our future to the Kochs and John Birchers.

That they imagined this might serve as a launching pad for Gov. Ron DeSantis national ambitions is just sad. It would be terrifying if such narrow-minded dogma could attract a broader audience. That's not likely but moderates of both major parties should be forewarned that if they sit back and let it, it could happen.

Even if DeSantis White House ambitions fall flat, Floridians need to resist him at home, where, thanks to his obedient majority reversing the resign-to-run requirement, his throne in the state capitol will await him when he returns from months of campaigning. Dust it off and hes good to go on as Governor.

Abortion: Why I got an abortion: 6 Palm Beach County women tell their stories

Housing: Editorial: Changes to Palm Beach County's housing program late but welcomed

Redistricting: Florida's outrageous,illegal gerrymander

Much has been made of DeSantis culture war, as if one could dismiss the various measures that comprise it as just so much political messaging. But these laws have real impacts on real people.

We now have a six-week abortion law that amounts to a complete ban, since many women dont even know theyre pregnant at that stage. In addition, a practical impact of that law is that it stops some physicians from administering care out of fear they might violate it, thus putting some womens lives on the line, let alone all womens right to choose.

We now also have laws that further marginalize the LGBTQ+ community and deny medical procedures to trans individuals, bigots flavor of the year for discrimination.

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We have public school systems increasingly drained of public tax money, in order to feed the GOP obsession with private schools.

After one mass murder after another, even of our own school children in Parkland, our lawmakers have refused to ban AR-15-style weapons or other long guns. They tried this spring  but backed down after an uproar  to lower the purchase age for those weapons. But they succeeded in making it easier to walk in public with a concealed gun, without a permit.

In a handout to Florida fertilizer producers, our lawmakers produced some fertilizer of their own: a law to help the companies dispose of radioactive waste on the cheap by opening the door for its use in paving material. The runoff from those roads could contaminate aquifers, waterways and estuaries. Cities and towns that try to restrict fertilizer use to help limit contamination, meanwhile, now have been preempted from doing so.

West Palm Beach recently approved Affiliated Development's request for a site plan review and affordable housing incentives for The Spruce, which will be located between 24th and 25th streets.

Lawmakers unleashed some public money to help build affordable housing. But lets not forget they helped cause the states affordable housing crisis by diverting money set aside specifically for housing, for years. Not only that, but the single biggest driver of housing unaffordability in recent years has been the soaring cost of property insurance. And though they sprinkled in a few consumer-friendly provisions as an afterthought, they did nothing to address the root causes of that property insurance crisis. Instead they just gave the industry a huge present, by making it hard for anyone who gets screwed by their insurer to sue.

Florida lawmakers did adopt tougher criminal penalties for acts of antisemitism, for which we should all be thankful. But over the past year they also restricted race history education and programs that would advance diversity, equity and inclusion statewide. That, while gerrymandering election districts and tweaking election laws to dilute ballot access of Blacks and former inmates, who tend to vote Democratic. Lawsuits might reverse those appalling efforts but meanwhile, for years, those voting rights are being denied. Thats not an accident.

Cerabino: Vendetta off the rails? Gov. DeSantis protects Floridians from Disney monorail

Speaking of the absence of accidents, at least were focused on getting Disneys monorail inspected.

We must stop this madness.

To that end, over the next several Saturdays, The Palm Beach Post will summarize major legislation enacted during the session and provide a list of how each state representative and senator from our county voted on them. We start this Saturday, with school vouchers.

Take a look at how the people you put in office conducted your business, addressed your concerns and stood up for your rights. You know what to do next.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Editorial: DeSantis gets wish list of far-right laws that deny rights
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.
Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield-led romantic drama We Live in Time has sold into Canadas Sphere Films.

The Montreal- and Toronto-based company has picked up Canadian rights to the drama directed by Brooklyn helmer John Crowley, who also directed Garfield in his breakout role in Boy A. The film is currently in production in London and specific plot details are being kept closely under wraps. All thats known so far is that the pic is an immersive love story.

More from Variety

We Live in Time is scripted by playwright and screenwriter Nick Payne with Benedict Cumberbatch on board as executive producer. The project is developed and produced by Studiocanal with partners at SunnyMarch including Leah Clarke, Adam Ackland and Guy Heeley. It is co-financed by Film4 and Studiocanal. International sales are handled by Studiocanal while the U.S. distribution rights have been acquired by A24.

Elsewhere, Sphere Films also picked up three titles ahead of the Cannes Film Festival. They include competition titles About Dry Grass, by the award-winning Turkish filmmaker Nuri Bilge Ceylan, and Club Zero by Austrian filmmaker Jessica Hausner, who has regularly premiered her films in Cannes. The third title is Bonnard Pierre et Marthe by Martin Provost, which stars Vincent Macaigne, Cecile de France and Stacy Martin, and will screen as part of Cannes Premiere.

Sphere Films signed a multi-picture deal with A24 last year covering a number of the indie studios movies in the Canadian market. Films that have been acquired as part of the deal include Charlotte Wells Cannes breakout Aftersun and Ari Asters Beau Is Afraid.

The A24 deal came off the back of Sphere Films acquisition of MK2 Mile End in April 2022.

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A Florida teacher who showed her students a Disney movie featuring a gay character is under investigation for indoctrination.

Twitter user Carl Zee initially posted about the incident last Thursday, redacting identifying details.

Then on Saturday, Jenna Barbee, a fifth grade teacher at Winding Waters K-8 in Brooksville, Florida, which is 45 miles north of Tampa, posted on TikTok about the incident. While supervising students who had finished standardized testing early, Barbee decided to play Strange World. The 2022 movie includes Disneys first out gay teenager, voiced by Jaboukie Young-White. Since her students were studying plants and ecosystems at the time, Barbee said she thought that Strange World, which follows a family of adventurers who seek out new worlds, would be relevant viewing.

Barbee said she had been told by school administrators that fifth grade students needed to have a signed permission slip from a parent in order to watch PG movies. Barbee had collected those slips at the beginning of the year, and had received no objections to specific content from her current students.

However, Barbee was reported to the Department of Education because one of the students she was supervising at the time, who was not ordinarily in her class, was the daughter of a school board member who is currently on a rampage to get rid of every form of representation, according to Barbee. The board members recent objections to representation on campus included, Barbee said, a sticker of a black hand intertwined with a white hand whose fingernails were each painted a different color.

Is a character in the movie LGBTQ? Absolutely, Barbee said. Is that why I showed it? No. The teacher went on to explain that long before she showed the movie, a lot of fifth-grade students had told her they were a part of that community. She emphasized that the LGBTQ aspect of Strange World is harmless; Ethan, the character in question, discusses a same-sex crush in a scene that totals just over two minutes, she noted.

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I also want to bring up the fact that none of my students cared or batted an eye, Barbee said. They didnt even know this was a big deal until the board member and the state made it a big deal. Theyre using it against me saying they're protecting the children and it's for their safety. But what is this actually showing them?

The Feud Between Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Disney, Explained

How the Dont Say Gay law sparked one of the nations worst beefs.

Barbee said that an investigator from the Florida Department of Education pulled her students out of class individually to ask them questions about the incident, which she noted did not require parental permission.

Do you know the trauma that that is going to cause to some of my students? she said, adding that they are fifth graders who are just getting comfortable with her. This is the public education system where students from all backgrounds, cultures, and religions are welcomed and should be celebrated and represented, she insisted.

I am not and never would indoctrinate anyone to follow my beliefs, Barbee concluded. I will, however, always be a safe person to come to that spreads the message of kindness, positivity, and compassion for everyone. That is the key to the safety for our children.

After the incident, the school district issued an apologetic letter to parents, as CNN reported. Yesterday, the Disney movie Strange World was shown in your childs classroom, the letter read. 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 incident comes amid Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ongoing war against Disney, and the states recent expansion of its Dont Say Gay law to cover all public classrooms K-12. Although the letter Barbee received did not cite the law specifically, Florida was the first in the nation to pass such a law, which initially banned LGBTQ+ content from being discussed in kindergarten through third grade classrooms before being expanded earlier this year. Disney recently sued Florida, alleging that the state was unconstitutionally retaliating against its freedom of speech to condemn the law.

Get the best of whats queer. Sign up for Thems weekly newsletter here.

Originally Appeared on them.
Russian fighter escorts NATO military planes over Baltic Sea

Xinhua) 08:09, May 16, 2023

File photo of a Su-27 fighter (Russian Defense Ministry)

The Russian jet escorted the foreign planes until they flew away from the Russian border.

MOSCOW, May 15 (Xinhua) -- A Russian fighter jet was scrambled on Monday to accompany a German and a French military aircraft over the Baltic Sea, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

Russian airspace control detected two targets approaching the Russian state border over the Baltic Sea and a Su-27 fighter took off in response, the ministry said in a statement.

After identifying the objects as a P-3C Orion patrol aircraft of the German Navy and an Atlantique-2 anti-submarine patrol aircraft of the French Navy, the Russian crew escorted the foreign planes until they flew away from the Russian border, the statement said.

The escort mission was carried out in strict accordance with international rules for the use of airspace over neutral waters, the statement added.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Fortune Business Insights

Key companies covered in Smart Home Appliances Market are Haier Group Corporation (Qingdao, China), Electrolux (Stockholm, Sweden), Samsung Group (Suwon-si, South Korea), L.G. Electronics, Inc. (Seoul, South Korea), Whirlpool Corporation (Michigan, U.S.), Fujitsu General Limited (Japan), Dacor (California, U.S.), Voltas Limited (Mumbai, India), Panasonic Corporation (Osaka, Japan), Robert Bosch GmbH (Gerlingen, Germany), and more players profiled.

Pune, India, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global smart home appliances market size is expected to grow rapidly due to automation enhancements and lifestyle advancements. Furthermore, rapid investments in smart appliances by several households is expected to enhance market growth. Fortune Business Insights provides this information in its report titled Smart Home Appliances Market, 2022-2030.

Smart home appliances are devices that are connected to the internet and can be controlled remotely or programmed to perform tasks automatically. These appliances offer convenience, energy efficiency, and enhanced functionality compared to traditional appliances.

Get a Free Sample Research Report:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/smart-home-appliances-market-106267

List of Key Players Profiled in the Smart Home Appliances Market Report:

Haier Group Corporation (Qingdao, China)

Electrolux (Stockholm, Sweden)

Samsung Group (Suwon-si, South Korea)

L.G. Electronics, Inc. (Seoul, South Korea)

Whirlpool Corporation (Michigan, U.S.)

Fujitsu General Limited (Japan)

Dacor (California, U.S.)

Voltas Limited (Mumbai, India)

Panasonic Corporation (Osaka, Japan)

Robert Bosch GmbH (Gerlingen, Germany)

Report Scope & Segmentation:

Attributes Details Forecast Period 2023-2029 Historical Data 2019-2021 No. of Pages 100+ Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Company Profiles, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors and Latest Trends Segments Covered By Product Type

By Distribution Channels

By Technology Regions Covered North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

Middle East and Africa Smart Home Appliances Market Growth Drivers Growing number of smart homes are fostering the demand for smart home devices which is likely to drive the market.

Browse Detailed Summary of Research Report with TOC:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/smart-home-appliances-market-106267

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Segments:

By product type, the smart home appliances market is segmented into washing machine, air conditioners (A.C.s), refrigerator, dishwashers, and other smart appliances. As per technology, it is classified into Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular technology, and radio frequency identification (RFID). Based on distributional channel, it is bifurcated into offline and online.

Geographic Segment Analyzed in the Report:

North America (USA and Canada)

Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, and the rest of Latin America)

Europe (UK, Germany, France and the rest of Europe)

Asia Pacific (China, Japan, India, and the rest of the Asia Pacific region)

Middle East and Africa (GCC and rest of the Middle East and Africa)

Driving Factors

Increasing Smart Homes to Enhance Market Growth

Smart home appliances consist of washing machines, dishwashers, smart cameras, locks, refrigerators, and others. These appliances save time and enhance the comfort of consumers. Rising smart homes are likely to enhance the adoption of smart home appliances. Furthermore, the increasing demand for technologically advanced products are likely to enhance the demand for the product. Moreover, the robust demand for premium electronics such as smart speakers, air conditioners, refrigerators, and dryers/washers is expected to enhance the smart home appliances adoption. In addition, rising development of smart and green buildings is expected to boost appliance sales. These factors may drive the smart home appliances market growth.

However, high cost associated with smart devices may hinder the industrys growth.

COVID-19 Impact

Closure of Manufacturing Industries Negatively Affected Industry Growth

This smart home appliances market was negatively affected during the COVID-19 pandemic because of the closure of manufacturing activities. Further, the rapid spike in COVID infections led to the imposition of stringent restrictions against manufacturing. Moreover, the global semiconductor shortage is restricted the markets progress. However, the resumption of activities post the pandemic has enabled market players to function smoothly. The adoption of digitization and automated production techniques is expected to enhance the adoption of the product.

Get a Quote Now:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/get-a-quote/smart-home-appliances-market-106267

The market report includes:

All-encompassing report of the market

Critical insights into the market

Dominant regions in the world

Market drivers and restraints

Competitive landscape

COVID-19 impact

Report Coverage

The report provides a detailed analysis of the top segments and the latest trends in the market. It comprehensively discusses the driving and restraining factors and the impact of COVID-19 on the smart home appliances market. Additionally, it examines the regional developments and the strategies undertaken by the market's key players.

Regional Insights

Rising Internet Penetration to Propel Market Progress in North America

North America is expected to dominate the smart home appliances market share because of rising internet penetration and technological advancements. Furthermore, improvements in wireless communication technologies and novel product developments may bolster the demand for the product. These factors are likely to foster the markets growth in the region.

In Europe, the rising adoption of smart appliances and strong demand for energy-efficient products is expected to enhance smart home appliance adoption. In addition, the demand for smart security solutions is expected to enhance smart home appliance adoption. These factors may influence industry growth.

In Asia Pacific, rising per-capita income and evolving lifestyles are expected to enhance the products sales. Furthermore, the rapid development of 5G infrastructure and increasing digitization may bolster industry growth.

Ask for Customization:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/ask-for-customization/smart-home-appliances-market-106267

Competitive Landscape

Players Enter Collaborations to Enhance Brand Image

The prominent companies operating in the market enter collaborations to enhance their brand image. For example, Apple, Google, Amazon, and Zigbee Alliance collaborated with smart appliance companies for the development and promotion of compatible smart home products in December 2019. This development may allow companies to enhance their brand image. Furthermore, companies adopt expansions, partnerships, acquisitions, mergers, and novel product launches to enhance their market position.

Read Related Insights:

Smart Bed Market to Hit USD 4.44 Billion by 2028 | Industry to Generate 5.8% CAGR during (2021-2028)

Mattress Market to Hit USD 72.95 Billion by 2029 | With a CAGR 5.36%

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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A 24-year-old Gainesville man was sentenced to life in prison on Monday for the 2021 shooting death of a man outside of an east Gainesville business, court records show.

Eugene Javon Patrick, 24, of Gainesville, was found guilty of second-degree murder in the death of Bobby Bernard Hopkins Jr., who was shot May 22, 2021, at Swamp Car Wash, at 912 E. University Ave.

The jury deliberated for about two hours before reaching the guilty verdict, which also included a charge of unlicensed carrying of a concealed weapon.

Judge James Colaw then sentenced Patrick to life in prison in the Florida Department of Corrections.

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Initial plea agreement

Court records show that on April 25, Patrick requested to withdraw from a plea agreement reached with prosecutors on April 13 that required him to plead no contest to one count of manslaughter with a firearm. Under the agreement, Patrick would have been sentenced to 15 years in prison with 682 of credit for time served.

Judge Colaw approved Patrick's request and the case was placed back on the trial docket.

'Stand your ground' motion

The defense in the case requested on April 6 immunity from prosecution under Florida's "stand your ground" law, which states A person is justified in using or threatening to use deadly force if he or she reasonably believes that using or threatening to use such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another or to prevent the imminent commission of a forcible felony.

The statute goes on to say that it only applies if "the person using or threatening to use the deadly force is not engaged in a criminal activity and is in a place where he or she has a right to be."

In the state's response to strike or deny the motion, prosecutors noted that, based on surveillance video, while Patrick and Hopkins Jr. were engaged in a physical conflict before the shooting, "The defendant was engaged in a criminal activity prior to any act of the victim" as he was in possession of a concealed weapon without a permit.

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The investigation

According to the initial police report, at about 12:46 p.m. on May 22, 2021, the Combined Communications Center received a call from a man at the Swamp Car Wash, 912 E. University Ave., who said he had been shot in the chest. The man was taken by a friend to UF Health Shands Hospital where he died from his injuries.

Detectives received several anonymous tips that a gray BMW was involved in the murder, and that Patrick was the man who shot Hopkins Jr.

Patrick's mother called police the following day and said that he planned to turn himself in. He reported to the Alachua County Jail on June 1.

Police used surveillance video from the business across the street from the car wash as well as witness statements during their investigation.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Eugene Javon Patrick sentenced to life in prison by Judge Colaw
Just like Japan and Korea before it, China could snag American buyers with cheaper offerings. ERIC PIERMONT / Getty Images; Arif Qazi / Insider

Chinese brands have the mastered quality and affordability of electric vehicles.

After years of eyeing the American market, Chinese brands are poised to arrive in the US.

A managing director said the competition from Chinese brands was "very, very real."

After years of preparation, Chinese car companies are poised to upend the US electric-vehicle market.

Industry watchers say it's only a matter of time before Chinese automakers bring their impressive  and importantly, inexpensive  electric cars to the US. After years of threatening to set up shop in America, the companies are closer than ever to making the move.

On their home turf, Chinese companies have already vanquished their American competitors, eating up market share from the likes of Ford and General Motors by offering better quality and less expensive electric cars for shoppers. They've started exporting a slew of brands to Europe too.

As Chinese car-industry leaders like Nio and Geely eye a move to the States, the question is whether they can overcome political frictions  and whether American buyers will go along for the ride?

"It's going to be an interesting couple of years ahead to see whether Ford and GM and the like can stave off that Chinese competition coming in," Martin French, a managing director at the consultancy Berylls, said. "From what we saw at the Shanghai auto show this year, that competition is very, very real."

China's EV industry has exploded in recent years. In 2022, US EV sales hit a new high of 800,000, while Chinese buyers snapped up some 5 million electric passenger vehicles. After years unchallenged, Tesla is about to lose its crown as the world's largest EV maker to a Chinese company, BYD.

Toyota, Hyundai, and now BYD

In the 1970s, Japanese car companies like Toyota and Honda swooped in with affordable and fuel-efficient vehicles that knocked US carmakers on their heels. More recently, Hyundai, Kia, and other Korean brands have been eating Ford and GM's lunch on SUVs.

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History may repeat itself. Chinese EV manufacturers can gain a foothold in the US by coming in at a budget price point, analysts said.

"Is it possible for Chinese companies to do what others have done before, only now with electric vehicles? The answer is absolutely," Bill Russo, a former Chrysler executive and the CEO of Automobility, a Shanghai-based advisory firm, told Insider. "Who doesn't want affordable vehicles?"

But as political tensions between China and the US intensify, entry into the American market could be more painful for China than it was for Japan or Korea. In addition to general anxieties from consumers who may be less likely to support a Chinese brand, analysts said, lawmakers are likely to apply more scrutiny to any Chinese company with plans to operate in the US.

A Trump-era import tariff of 27.5% remains in effect on Chinese cars, while the Biden administration's new tax credits for EV purchases favor vehicles built in North America with battery components that don't come from China.

China is winning on prices

American brands  including Tesla  have been promising a long-range EV option priced at or below $30,000 for years. But progress has been slow and sometimes regressive. GM plans to cancel the Bolt EV, America's cheapest EV, by the end of 2023 and use that factory to build pricey electric pickups instead.

Meanwhile, Chinese brands are unmatched in affordability on their home turf and in Europe.

One of China's most popular EVs is the Wuling Hong Guang Mini, a minuscule city car that costs roughly $5,000. At the Shanghai auto show last month, BYD launched the Seagull, a stylish, pint-sized hatchback with an estimated range of 190 miles. Its starting price? Under $11,000.

Tu Le, the managing director of Sino Auto Insights, a consulting firm that specializes in the Chinese auto industry, said Chinese firms aren't skimping on quality for the sake of affordability.

"They have the products to back it up," he said. "I've driven a number of the Chinese EV brands, and boy oh boy, the Europeans are in trouble."

But Chinese domination won't happen overnight

Even when Chinese brands do hit American shores, it won't happen all at once. These companies are likely to test the waters with low-volume launches and study the market before diving in fully. Of the dozens of brands that may want a slice of the pie, only a few would be able to sell in the US at any significant volume, Le said.

The carmakers most likely to break through first will be those that already have a global presence, Russo said: Geely and BYD. (BYD's CEO recently said the company isn't currently eyeing the American passenger-car market, but the company does already have a small commercial vehicle footprint here).

Polestar, a Swedish EV brand owned by Geely and Volvo, already imports from China. The EV startup Nio has announced plans to enter the US by 2025.

The next step: Set up manufacturing in North America, which Le expects Chinese firms to do once they snag a foothold in the market. The sheer size of the US car market means new entrants will need to build locally to compete seriously in the long term, he said.

"Americans think the tidal wave is coming from Silicon Valley. It's not," Le said. "It's coming from both directions."

Do you love your EV? Never giving up gas? Have another story to share about the auto industry? Contact these reporters at tlevin@insider.com and nnaughton@insider.com

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Sudan (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

The U.S. military airlifted embassy officials out of Sudan on Sunday and international governments raced to evacuate their diplomatic staff and citizens trapped in the capital as rival generals battled for control of Africas third-largest country for a ninth straight day.

Fighting raged in Omdurman, the city across the Nile from Sudans capital, Khartoum, residents reported. The violence came despite a declared truce that was to coincide with the three-day Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr.

We did not see such a truce, said Amin al-Tayed from his home near state television headquarters in Omdurman. He said heavy gunfire and thundering explosions rocked the city. The battles did not stop, he said.

Thick black smoke filled the sky over Khartoum's airport. The paramilitary group battling the Sudanese armed forces claimed the military unleashed airstrikes on the upscale neighborhood of Kafouri, north of Khartoum. There was no immediate comment from the army.

After a week of bloody battles hindered rescue efforts, U.S. special forces swiftly evacuated some 70 U.S. embassy staffers from Khartoum to an undisclosed location in Ethiopia early Sunday. Although American officials said it was still too dangerous to carry out a government-coordinated mass evacuation of private citizens, other countries scrambled to evacuate their citizens and diplomats.

France and the Netherlands said Sunday they were organizing evacuations for embassy employees and nationals, along with some citizens of allied countries. French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Anne-Claire Legendre said France was undertaking the operation with the help of European partners.

The Netherlands sent two air force Hercules C-130 planes and an Airbus A330 to Jordan ahead of a possible rescue mission. "We deeply sympathize with the Dutch in Sudan and will make every effort to evacuate people where and when possible," said Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren.

The fighting between the Sudanese armed forces and the powerful paramilitary group, known as the Rapid Support Forces, has targeted and paralyzed the country's main international airport, reducing a number of civilian aircraft to ruins and gutting at least one runway. Other airports across the country have also been knocked out of operation.

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Overland travel across areas contested by the warring parties has proven dangerous. Khartoum is some some 840 kilometers (520 miles) from Port Sudan on the Red Sea.

But some countries have pressed ahead with the journey. Saudi Arabia on Saturday said the kingdom successfully evacuated 157 people, including 91 Saudi nationals and citizens of other countries. Saudi state TV released footage of a large convoy of Saudis and other foreign nationals traveling by car and bus from Khartoum to Port Sudan, where a navy ship then ferried the evacuees across the Red Sea to the Saudi port of Jeddah.

The power struggle between the Sudanese military, led by Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces, led by Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, has dealt a harsh blow to Sudan's heady hopes for a democratic transition. More than 400 people, including 264 civilians, have been killed and more than 3,500 have been wounded in the fighting.

Hospitals say they are struggling to cope. Many dead and wounded have been stranded by the fighting, according to the Sudan Doctors' Syndicate that monitors casualties, suggesting the death toll is probably far higher than what is publicly known.

The fighting has left millions of Sudanese stranded at home  hiding from explosions, gunfire and looting  without adequate electricity, food or water. On Sunday, the country experienced a near-total collapse of internet connection, according to NetBlocks.org, an internet monitoring service. Thousands of Sudanese have fled the combat in Khartoum for the suburbs.

The capital has become a ghost city, said Atiya Abdalla Atiya, secretary of the DoctorsSyndicate. Half of the population have fled and the rest are looking desperately for a way to get out of this hell.

The fighting has trapped civilians  including foreign diplomats  in the crossfire. Fighters attacked a clearly marked U.S. Embassy convoy last week, and stormed the home of the European Union ambassador to Sudan. On Sunday, gunfire wounded an Egyptian diplomat in Sudan, said Ahmed Abu Zaid, spokesman for Egypts Foreign Ministry, without offering further details.

The current explosion of violence came after Burhan and Dagalo fell out over a recent internationally brokered deal with democracy activists that was meant to incorporate the RSF into the military and eventually lead to civilian rule.

The rival generals rose to power in the tumultuous aftermath of popular uprisings that led to the ouster of Sudans longtime ruler, Omar al-Bashir, in 2019. Two years later, they joined forces to seize power in a coup that ousted the civilian leaders and opened a troubled new chapter in the country's history.

___

Associated Press writers Isabel DeBre in Jerusalem, Samy Magdy in Cairo, Michael Corder in The Hague, Netherlands, and Fay Abuelgasim in Beirut contributed reporting.
The House of Representatives new Republican majority has just waded into another brawl with the Joe Biden administration.

Foreign Affairs committee chairman Michael McCaul said on Sunday that he plans to go forward with potential contempt charges for secretary of state Antony Blinken over the latters refusal to turn over a document known as a dissent cable, relating to the 2021 withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan.

According to reports, the July 2021 cable, an internal State Department document, warned of the rapidly growing strength of the Taliban and the utter inability of Afghanistans security forces to defend large swathes of the country, which quickly fell into the militant groups hands.

Mr McCaul and Republicans want the document released, as they argue it will prove that the Biden administration ignored advice from experts who warned of the rapid deterioration of the situation before Kabul fell to the Taliban. It was authored by nearly two dozen State Department officials previously stationed within the country.

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan became somewhat panicked with the fall of the capital city to Taliban forces, and questions have arisen about whether the administration should have been caught off guard  evidenced by officials statements touting the strength of the Afghan national army.

The chaotic evacuation of Kabul led to horrifying scenes of Afghan civilians rushing to moving jets and in some cases dying while attempting to cling to departing AC-130 cargo planes used to evacuate US forces and equipment from the city.

House Foreign Affairs chair Michael McCaul tells @JonKarl that hes "prepared to move forward" with contempt proceedings for Secretary of State Antony Blinken.



We have a legitimate subpoena. Theres no executive privilegeBut I take it very seriously. https://t.co/B4ajYVGCIR pic.twitter.com/3FsLadRVEY  This Week (@ThisWeekABC) May 14, 2023

Just over a dozen US troops were also killed in the final days by an Isis-aligned suicide bomber, while a US operation supposedly aimed at destroying another suicide bomber ended in the deaths of an entire Afghan family.

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The surreal and tragic situation was picked apart from all sides in the days and months after the evacuation concluded, with some arguing that the Biden administration should have been better prepared for the fall of Kabul, while others argued that the White House should have surged troops back to the region once the instability of the Afghan government was obvious.

The withdrawal from Afghanistan had actually begun under former president Donald Trump, who set a deadline for the pullout that the Biden administration was forced to extend for several months.

After the agreed-upon deadline, any US forces in the country were set to be considered enemies and targets once again by Taliban forces.

The Afghan goverment collapsed in a matter of weeks before the fall of Kabul, ending with the former president, Ashraf Ghani, fleeing the country by plane.
Principal photography has wrapped in Spains La Rioja region on Isabel Coixets romantic drama Un Amor, a tale of obsessive passion that forces the films protagonist to reconsider the woman she thought she was. The 2023 Goya actress winner Laia Costa (Lullaby) stars opposite Hovik Keuchkerian (Money Heist); Film Constellation handles world sales. A sales promo will be unveiled for buyers in Cannes.

Based on the best-selling novel by Sara Mesa, selected by influential Spanish newspaper El PaIs as Spains 2020 Book of the Year and translated into 13 languages internationally, Un Amor turns on Nat (Costa), 30, a translator who escapes the big city to start anew in the countryside.

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Taking refuge in La Escapa, a hamlet, isolated by the hostility of her landlord and villagers distrust, she surprises herself by accepting an unsettling sexual proposal from neighbor Andreas. From this strange and conflicting encounter sparks a devouring and obsessive passion that will consume Nat fully, forcing her to question the woman she though she was, the synopsis says.

Un Amor is a moving account of existential doubt and the transformative power of carnal desire, exploring the subversive nature of gender roles, according to Film Constellation.

The moment I read Un Amor, I felt an overwhelming need to put the story on film, Coixet has said. She added: It dares us to rethink our perception of love and all its synonyms: Passion, despair, unease, fear and redemption, and drove me to ask myself: Is seduction an innocent weapon? When does this weapon turn on the one who wields it? Nats journey is intimate, raw and provocativeand theres nothing I like more than a challenge!

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Costa (Only You, Piercing, Victoria) stars with Keuchkerian who won critical praise and a Forque Award for his performance in Rodrigo Sorogoyens Riot Police.

Written by Spanish novelist and short-story writer Laura Ferrero (What Are You Going To Do With the Rest of Your Life, Empty Pools) and Coixet, Un Amor is produced by Buenapinta Medias Marisa Fernandez Armenteros and Perdicion Films Sandra Hermida and Belen Atienza.

Behind Oscar-nominated The Mole Agent and Lullaby, which won 2023 Goya Awards this February for best first film, best actress (Costa) and best supporting actress (Susi Sanchez), Fernandez Armenteros is one of five Spanish producers who will be featured at a Marche du Film Producers Breakfast Spotlight on Spain, part of Cannes Country of Honor focus.

Hermida and Atienza are producing J.A. Bayonas release The Society of the Snow, one of Netflixs biggest upcoming Spanish-language releases. They produced Bayonas The Impossible, starring Naomi Watts and Tom Holland, and Sergio G. Sanchezs Marrowbone, with Anya Taylor-Joy and George MacKay.

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The grandparents of Joshua J.J. Vallow have spoken out following Lori Vallow Daybells double murder conviction late last week.

Kay and Larry Woodcock, the biological grandparents of J.J., who was found murdered alongside his 16-year-old sister Tylee Ryan in 2020, celebrated Fridays bittersweet verdict.

"For one time in my life, I'm kind of lost for words," Larry Woodcock said at a news briefing on Friday, People reported.

RELATED: 'Doomsday Cult' Mom Lori Vallow Daybell Found Guilty of Murdering Children, Conspiring To Kill Lover's Wife

"I want to thank 18 jurors; I cannot thank them enough," Larry added. "I want to personally thank and I want to personally hug every one of those jurors. What they went through and what they saw is mind boggling. I hope nobody ever has to go through this. I hope no one has to hear the details of what happened to J.J., Tylee and Tammy [Daybell]."

Vallow Daybell was found guilty on May 12 by a jury of the first-degree murders of her children, Tylee and 7-year-old J.J. The siblings first vanished in 2019. Their bodies were discovered on Vallow Daybells husband Chad Daybells property the following year.

Lori Vallow Daybell in court.

Lori Vallow Daybell Photo: Associated Press

Vallow Daybell was also convicted of conspiracy to commit murder in her childrens deaths, as well as in the death of her current husbands former wife, Tammy Daybell. She was also found guilty of grand theft by deception.

The jury spent less than two days deliberating prior to delivering the verdict.

RELATED: 'Yes, She Was Switched': Jurors Hear Bizarre Text Messages Lori Vallow Allegedly Sent about Her Kids as Trial Nears End

While speaking, Larry wore a shirt reading, World's Greatest Papa." Over the course of the trial, he and his wife had became fixtures at the Boise, Idaho, courthouse where Vallow Daybell was being tried. He had walked into the courtroom earlier in the week playing Queens We Will Rock You, which he said was J.J.s song.

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"The next trial is Chad [Daybell], and I look forward to being back in this courthouse if that happens," he added.

Joshua Vallow and Tylee Ryan

These undated photos released by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children show missing person, Joshua Vallow, 7, left, and Tylee Ryan, 17. They were last seen on Sept. 23, 2019 in Rexburg, Idaho. Photo: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children via AP

His wife, Kay Woodcock, addressed reporters on Friday, as well.

"We are elated with this, there was some doubt that we'd get all 'guiltys,' but we did it, she said.

"Our J.J. now ... maybe we can put him to rest as well as Tylee," she added, while thanking authorities, journalists and everyone who followed the case closely.

Larry, who became emotional during the press conference, later addressed his late grandson directly.

Lori Vallow Daybell sits in a police car.

"I forgot one of the most important things," Larry said as he became emotional. "J.J., I love you. Papa wishes you were here in other circumstances. Tylee, Papa loves you. Tammy, I never met you. You are a part of our life. Tammy I am sorry [for] what happened to you. Our heart hurts. Our heart hurts for these three."

Daybell, 54, will be tried separately. Hes charged with murder for the death of Tammy, as well as for the deaths deaths of J.J. and Tylee. He's also charged with conspiracy to commit murder in those three victims' deaths. He has pleaded not guilty.

Lori Vallow Daybell is also charged with the murder of her former husband, Charles Vallow, who was shot to death in Arizona by Vallows brother, Alex Cox, who later died of natural causes.

"This isn't the end," Larry stated.
The fever surrounding this years Cannes Film Festival finally broke on Tuesday evening as the 76th edition kicked off in the South of France by hosting Johnny Depp and his opening-night film from Maiwenn, Jeanne du Barry.

Theres wild anticipation every year ahead of the official rolling out the red carpet in front of the Palais des Festivals, but this years hype hit another level given the swirls surrounding both the actor and the filmmaker, who also stars as the favored mistress of 18th century monarch Louis XV, played by Depp. The film, Depp and #Cannes2023 all were trending topics on Twitter by early Tuesday afternoon as debates continued to rage  online and off  over the films inclusion in the lineup.

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Depp arrived at precisely 7 p.m. with slicked-back hair, ponytail and sunglasses in a Dior by Kim Jones tuxedo, flanked security detail while he signed autographs and posed for pictures with excited fans for more than five minutes. On a balcony above the street, a sign read Viva Johnny as people shouted his name over and over. Cannes marked the actors first red carpet outing since the Rome Film Festival in 2021, and its his first major appearance amid a comeback after years of legal wrangling and a messy divorce with ex-wife Amber Heard, one that included allegations of domestic violence and two high-profile defamation lawsuits. None of that seemed to matter as the festival and the throngs of Depp admirers gave him a true movie stars welcome.

Maiwenn, a Cannes jury prize winner for her 2011 drama Polisse and an outspoken critic of the #MeToo movement, faced her own share of controversy of late after allegations surfaced that she grabbed the head of journalist Edwy Plenel and spit on him while he was dining at a Paris restaurant. Plenel published an investigation regarding sexual abuse allegations against filmmaker Luc Besson, who happens to be Maiwenns ex-husband. She confirmed the allegations during a TV talk show appearance last week.

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None of that came up during Depps brief interview with a French journalist upon arriving on the red carpet. Up first, Depp joked about speaking French in the film by saying that he was hiding my French teacher. He praised Maiwenn as a filmmaker by saying that her vision of the entire film was incredibly consistent throughout production. Shes mighty, he continued, adding that she was also flexible in her process and open to trying different options. I thought she did a beautiful job on set.

Depp, Maiwenn and the cast of the film walked onto the red carpet as The Clashs Should I Stay or Should I Go played over the speakers.

The Jeanne du Barry team, from left: Pauline Pollmann, Diego Le Fur, filmmaker and star Maiwenn, Johnny Depp, Pierre Richard, Benjamin Lavernhe, Pascal Greggory and Melvil Poupaud

The film not only opened the Cannes Film Festival, it also opened today in cinemas across France. The Hollywood Reporter obtained a flyer that French feminists are distributing outside the opening ceremony and at some French cinemas. The lengthy letter recounts the allegations against Depp and the legal tug-of-war with Heard and calls upon the industry to shed power dynamics.

Choosing to open the worlds most prestigious film festival with an attacker waving at the crowd on the red carpet  conveys a clear, devastating message. In 2023, the voices of victims and their allies continue to be questioned, ignored and silenced by others. We ask for a responsible film industry that is willing to get rid of dynamics of power. We demand that the cinema that defends the ideas and values we hold dear does so not only in its narratives and representations, but also in the way it is made and screened.

Opening night at #Cannes2023 is underway featuring the Johnny Depp film Jeanne du Barry. Theaters throughout France are showing the movie tonight. This is a flyer being distributed at some of them. pic.twitter.com/P4nkv6AECS  Rebecca Keegan (@ThatRebecca) May 16, 2023

Stepping into the theater, Depp and the cast received a warm welcome, with the audience greeting them with a standing ovation.

After the screening, the audience celebrated Depp and Maiwenn with a standing ovation, during which they both teared up. Following this, Maiwenn offered brief remarks, which has become an unofficial Cannes practice that has emerged in the past few festivals. She commented that it was difficult to finance the film, and thanked her collaborators and financiers.

Jeanne du Barry is not the only story of the night. Michael Douglas turned up to the festivities to receive an honorary Palme dOr in recognition of his career and contributions to cinema. He was joined by wife Catherine Zeta-Jones and their daughter, Carys.

Douglas received the honor after a brief tribute from Uma Thurman and a film reel that highlighted his decades-long contribution to the art form in such films as Wall Street, Fatal Attraction, Romancing the Stone, Black Rain, Falling Down, Ant-Man and many more. Thurman called him a titan who has made a profound and lasting impact on cinema as Zeta-Jones and Carys looked on, beaming.

In his remarks at center stage, Douglas quipped that at 78 years old, hes two years older than the festival. He then looked back on his 55-year career and wondered how Ive lasted so long. Douglas had an answer, attributing his success to the foundation he built at the very beginning. He began, There is only one Cannes. I have great memories of this festival in the past 40-plus years.

He credited such pillars as Karl Malden, studying at American Place Theatre and his late father, the legendary Kirk Douglas, for being foundational to his now decades-long career. To the public, he was superman, but to me he was Dad, Douglas said. The Oscar winner said he spent eight months living and working in France on his most recent job, playing Benjamin Franklin in the upcoming miniseries Franklin. On that note, he thanked Cannes and the country of France for their contributions to his career. It was fitting then that Catherine Deneuve came to the stage as they took turns with the official proclamation to declare the opening of this years Cannes Film Festival.

Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones and their daughter. Douglas is on hand to receive an honorary Palme d'Or #Cannes2023 pic.twitter.com/YSmDYvyFcD  Rebecca Keegan (@ThatRebecca) May 16, 2023

As always, the opening ceremony was packed with international movie stars and filmmakers, models and French glitterati. Among those making their way up the Palais steps were Deneuve, Helen Mirren (with blue hair and a fan featuring the hashtage #WorthIt), Thurman (with son Levon Roan Thurman-Hawke), Elle Fanning, Mads Mikkelsen, Naomi Campbell, Guardians of the Galaxy star Pom Klementieff, Fan Bingbing, Farhana Bodi, Alessandra Ambrosio, Xavier Dolan, Hofit Galan, Fagun Thakrar, Jiang Megjie, Guan Xiaotong, Simona Tabasco and Cindy Bruna.

Elle Fanning

This years competition jury also walked together, including president Ruben Ostlund, Brie Larson, Paul Dano, Titane-directing Palme dOr winner Julia Ducournau, I Am Not a Witch breakout filmmaker Rungano Nyoni, actor Denis Menochet, Argentinian director Damian Szifron, Afghanistan-born, France-based filmmaker Atig Ranimi and Moroccan director Maryam Touzani.

Members of the Cannes competition jury, from left: Paul Dano, Denis Menochet, Brie Larson, jury president Ruben Ostlund, Damian Szifron, Julia Ducournau, Atiq Rahimi and Maryam Touzani

So did members of the Un Certain Regard jury, including president John C. Reilly, Davy Chou, Alice Winocour, Paula Beer and Emilie Dequenne.

The Cannes Un Certain Regard jury, from left: Davy Chou, Paula Beer, Alice Winocour, Emilie Dequenne and jury president John C. Reilly.

During Tuesdays jury press conference, Cannes newbie Larson fielded a question from Variety about Depp and whether she would see the out-of-competition Jeanne du Barry. As an advocate for sexual assault survivors and former member of the Times Up advisory board, Larson said, Youll see if I see it, and I dont know how Ill feel about it if I do.

Cannes Film Festival director Thierry Fremaux was more direct during his press conference on Monday ahead of the official opening, saying, To tell you the truth, in my life, I only have one rule: Its the freedom of thinking, and the freedom of speech and act within a legal framework. If Johnny Depp had been banned from acting in a film, or the film was banned we wouldnt be here talking about it  this [controversy] came up once the film was announced at Cannes. Fremaux then said he paid no attention to Depps divorce and the media spectacle of the defamation trials.

Im the last person to be able to discuss all this. If theres one person in this world who didnt find the least interest in this very publicized trial [against Heard], its me. I dont know what its about. I care about Johnny Depp as an actor.

This story originally published May 26 at 10:26 a.m.

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Justin Long and Kate Bosworth previously revealed that they were engaged during an April 4 episode of the actor's Life Is Short podcast

Deonte Lee/BFA.com

Did Justin Long and Kate Bosworth get married?

The couple announced their engagement during the April 4 episode of 44-year-old Long's Life is Short podcast. During a May 9 episode, featuring guest Kyra Sedgwick, 57, Long discussed his time filming last year's horror movie Barbarian in Bulgaria  which Bosworth, 40, also appeared in  and referred to the actress as "my now-wife."

"I was there while I was like really falling in love with my now-wife and so she came to visit and I had never been comfortable with well set visits I was never crazy about," he said. "I liked separating the relationship and the, I don't know. But I loved having her there and we just had the most magical time."

Representatives for both Long and Bosworth did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's requests for comment Tuesday.

Related:Kate Bosworth and Justin Long's Relationship Timeline

Kate Bosworth/instagram

"It helped me, having her there," he added during the podcast, after noting his previous hesitancy to have a significant other visit him on set. "She helped me with scenes, it was the best."

Long's "now-wife" reference on his podcast last Tuesday appeared to go largely unnoticed until Bosworth shared a photo of the couple wearing bands on their ring fingers Sunday in a group of Instagram Story posts celebrating Mother's Day.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The couple first ignited romance rumors in March 2022 after they were spotted together in Los Angeles. Long opened up about their relationship for the first time that May during a podcast appearance, saying he's "never had anything like this before."

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When Long and Bosworth confirmed their engagement in April, the Blue Crush actress said she "thought it was the most romantic and honest and loving proposal," as they recalled how he popped the question not long after the pair had "spoken to a therapist."

RELATED VIDEO: Kate Bosworth Reveals Justin Long Proposed to Her After They Had 'Spoken to a Therapist' Together

"We were trying to move through things at the time and she gave us a really great piece of advice which was, 'Make sure that you're pretty consistently asking the other what you need, or asking the other what they need,' " she said during the April episode. "I remember waking up not so many mornings after that therapy session and I looked at Justin ... I smiled at you, and I said, 'What do you need?' "

"And he really looked at me and he said, 'To spend my life with you,' " she added. "And I smiled and I said, 'Well, yeah, you have that. Oh my gosh, you have that,' and he said, 'No, I mean I really want to spend my life with you.' "

Bosworth was previously married to filmmaker Michael Polish, whom she wed in August 2013. The actress announced she and Polish, 52, were splitting in August 2021.

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Immediately after winning her Leading Actress BAFTA award Sunday night, Kate Winslet used her acceptance speech to call for action regarding social media and the harmful effect it has on children.

She called for people in power to criminalize harmful content, after winning her award for I Am Ruth, a miniseries that chronicles the relationship between a mother and child who is dealing with mental health pressures coming from the online world. She made the film with her own daughter, Mia Threapleton, who starred alongside her mom.

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, Winslet explained.

She addresses the fact that teenagers specifically are, in fact, addicted to social media.

Please eradicate harmful content, we dont want it, she continued. We want our children back. We dont want to lie awake, terrified by our childrens mental health.

Related: Jennifer Garner says her oldest daughter is grateful her mom says no to social media

In the United Kingdom, the House of Lords is currently battling over the Online Safety Bill, which aims to tackle illegal and harmful content online. In the United States, there is currently a bipartisan bill on the table in Congress that would prohibit anyone younger than 13 from being able to access social media.

Research shows 24% of adolescents are social media addicts. This is harmful because the frequent usage of social media constantly causes adolescents to compare themselves socially with their peers. It also causes adolescents to be psychologically affected negatively. Social media posts reflecting certain ideals encourage adolescents to make comparisons with their peers in terms of body image, life experiences, and abilities.

Related: What age should a kid get a phone? It may be later than you think

Thats what makes Winslets work and her speech so impactfulit touches on every parents fear about our children and social media.

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.
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
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Worries are mounting that Social Security recipients could see their payments halted if U.S. lawmakers dont come up with a debt-ceiling compromise in time to avoid a government default. Payments could stop as early as July, according to some experts.

See: 10 States To Avoid If Youre Living on Just a Social Security Check

Discover: 3 Ways To Recession-Proof Your Retirement

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told Congress earlier this month that the U.S. could default on its debt by June 1. Although Congressional leaders have been meeting with each other and President Joe Biden to negotiate a plan to lift the debt ceiling, no agreement has been reached so far.

In a column this week for Forbes, former Social Security claims specialist Rae Hartley Beck wrote that if the debt ceiling still hasnt been raised by the end of June, the Treasury Department may not have the staff available to make the July Social Security payments. In fact, it might be entirely shut down.

Thats a scary scenario for the roughly 67 million Americans who receive Social Security benefits  and one just about all lawmakers say they will not let happen. Whether theres anything they can do to prevent it during a default is another story.

Social Security payments are subject to conflicting laws, according to Mary Johnson, Social Security and Medicare policy analyst at The Senior Citizens League, a nonpartisan advocacy group.

Under the Social Security Act, beneficiaries are entitled to their full scheduled benefits, Johnson told CBS News last week. However, another law  the Antideficiency Act  bans any government spending above available funds. Complicating matters further is that there are no legal guidelines on actions the Social Security Administration should take to ensure benefits are paid in full and on time.

The reality is that the Secretary of the Treasury, who is responsible for the payments, has recently stated that it is unlikely that the federal government could continue to pay Social Security benefits, Nancy Altman, president of Social Security Works, told CBS News. That has to be the authoritative voice on the issue.

Story continues

As Beck pointed out in her Forbes column, theres really no precedent when it comes to defaults because Congress has never not raised the debt ceiling. An unnamed SSA analyst told Beck that Social Security benefit payments would most likely continue, and the SSA would keep processing applications and appeals.

In addition, the SSA would continue providing limited services in a similar fashion to what happens during government shutdowns, Beck wrote. In those cases, SSA keeps processing everything except benefit verification letters and Social Security card applications.

Even so, if no compromise is reached at least by late June, then beneficiaries should consider preparing for a worst-case scenario where July payments are delayed, Beck added.

What should you do to prepare for such a scenario?

Explore: 3 Ways To Recession-Proof Your Retirement

A good first step is to be very careful about anything that is paid automatically based on your Social Security payment, Johnson told CBS News. That may not get there in full or on time if the debt limit isnt raised on time.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Social Security Payments Could Stop in July If Debt Ceiling Not Settled, Say Experts
The post Liz Phair Announces Exile in Guyville 30th Anniversary Tour appeared first on Consequence.

Liz Phairs debut album is turning 30 this year, and shes celebrating the occasion by going back to Guyville. The musician has announced the Exile in Guyville 30th Anniversary Tour dates for 2023, during which shell perform her stone-cold classic Exile in Guyville in its entirety each night.

The 18-date tour will kick off on November 7th in El Cajon, California, and take Phair through various cities including Los Angeles, San Fransisco, Seattle, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Nashville, and more, before wrapping up in Dallas on December 3rd. Blondshell will provide support on all dates.

Pre-sale for tickets will begin on Wednesday, May 17th (use code GUYVILLE), with general sale following on Friday the 19th at 10:00 a.m. local time via Ticketmaster.

Once tickets are on sale, you can also find them at StubHub, where orders are 100% guaranteed through StubHubs FanProtect program. StubHub is a secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value, depending on demand. See Phairs full 2023 tour schedule below.

Phair also celebrated the 25th anniversary of Exile in 2018 with a remastered box set. Her most recent album was 2021s Soberish.

Liz Phair 2023 Tour Dates:

11/07  El Cajon, CA @ The Magnolia

11/08  Tucson, AZ @ Rialto Theatre

11/10  Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern

11/11  San Francisco, CA @ The Masonic

11/13  Portland, OR @ Revolution Hall

11/14  Seattle, WA @ Moore Theatre

11/17  St. Paul, MN @ Palace Theatre

11/18  Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre

11/19  Detroit, MI @ Masonic Temple  Cathedral Theatre

11/21  Boston, MA @ Roadrunner

11/22  Philadelphia, PA @ Franklin Music Hall

11/24  Brooklyn, NY @ Kings Theatre

11/25  Washington, DC @ The Anthem

11/27  Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium

11/28  Atlanta, GA @ Atlanta Symphony Hall

11/30  New Orleans, LA @ Orpheum Theater

12/01  Austin, TX @ ACL Live at the Moody Theater

12/03  Dallas, TX @ Majestic Theatre

Story continues

Liz Phair Announces Exile in Guyville 30th Anniversary Tour

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Netflix's "Queen Cleopatra" faced blistering criticism even before its release on May 10. Netflix

Netflix's "Queen Cleopatra" is a docudrama released on May 10.

It has received a 2% audience score with more than 5,000 ratings, possibly the lowest in TV history.

The show received criticism prior to its release for casting Adele James as Cleopatra.

Netflix's four-episode docudrama "Queen Cleopatra" was released May 10, and it has since received a 2% audience score with over 5,000 ratings on Rotten Tomatoes as of Tuesday.

The show was rated 1% before it was bumped up, but its new score is still an "unprecedented low" in TV history, per Forbes.

"Queen Cleopatra" follows Egypt's last pharaoh through reenactments and interviews.

Before its release, the show had been criticized for the casting of Adele James as Cleopatra, with many saying that it was a misrepresentation and falsification of history.

The Egyptian government had accused Netflix of misrepresenting Cleopatra, per Insider. An Egyptian lawyer had also filed a case to shut down the streaming service in Egypt, per NME.

Last Thursday, James commented about the negative backlash regarding her casting when she appeared on the British podcast "Steph's Packed Lunch."

Along with her costar, John Partridge, James told the host Steph McGovern that people had been focused on the wrong things. "Yes, we don't know where her mother was from or her paternal grandmother, but also, the show is about so much more than the question mark over her race."

James went on to explain what she felt the show was really about. "If you watch, it is a very small part of the conversation, really, this is about the fullness of who this woman was, and she was a human being, and she shouldn't be reduced to her race any more than I should or anybody should," as per the Independent.

Following the docudrama's release, the criticism and poor reviews seem to be related to more than just casting.

"It is patchy sub-Game of Thrones cosplay interwoven with academics you've never heard of," wrote Camilla Long, a top critic on Rotten Tomatoes.

Story continues

While review bombing  an internet phenomenon where a large group posts negative reviews to harm the sales or popularity of a product or business  could have contributed to the poor rating, many viewers have also pointed to it being just a bad show.

"Characters had no depth, subpar acting, historians giving really low-value comments, too much info crammed together without developing any meaningful scenes," a review on Rotten Tomatoes read.

"The show is not a documentary but a fantasy series. Terrible acting and storytelling," another user wrote.

"The information, often inaccurate it seems, is also just very dull, and the entire thing feels like a dry soap opera," Paul Tassi wrote for Forbes.

Nevertheless, some users said that they enjoyed the docuseries.

"I am learning a lot from this series. Very well told and explained. And the visuals are fascinating," a Rotten Tomatoes review read.

"Queen Cleopatra" is the second season of the "African Queens" series by the executive producer Jada Pinkett Smith and is available to be streamed on Netflix.

This story has been updated to include quotes from Adele James during her appearance on the podcast "Steph's Packed Lunch."

Read the original article on Insider
The pair was joined by the director and crew for Damon's upcoming movie The Instigators

Randall Michelson/Getty

Matt Damon took a break from filming The Instigators to dine on some classic Italian food.

On Friday, Damon stopped by Brooklyn's Antica Pesa with his wife Luciana Barroso Damon. The couple was joined by The Instigators director Doug Liman and other members of the movie's crew.

According to a source, the group shared appetizers like the crudo e bufala croccante, which is baked mozzarella and prosciutto wrapped in filo dough, and polpo, rape e miele, a roasted octopus dish with potato foam and charred turnips. They also sampled classic spaghetti cacio e pepe and aigatoni all'amatriciana, a red sauce pasta with guanciale, among other dishes.

Damon, who has visited the restaurant's Rome location in the past, and his wife of 18 years were described as being "friendly and humble with everyone who recognized him."

Antica Pesa Brooklyn/Instagram

Related:Matt Damon and Casey Affleck Film New Movie 'The Instigators' in Boston  See the Photos

Antica Pesa expressed their appreciation for the actor's company in an Instagram post shared over the weekend.

"Thank you to the brilliant Matt Damon who joined us last night for dinner in Brooklyn and for this fun photo with our owner Lorenzo Panella," the caption read, accompanying a picture of Damon and Panella pointing happily at one another.

Damon and Luciana married in New York City in 2005 and share daughters Isabella, 16, Gia, 14, and Stella, 12. Damon is also stepfather to Luciana's daughter Alexia, 24. The pair began dating in 2003 when they met in Miami Beach, Florida, while Damon was filming the comedy Stuck on You.

BACKGRID Casey Affleck and Matt Damon

The Instigators team has been spotted filming across New York and Boston. The movie stars Boston natives Damon and Casey Affleck, along with actors Hong Chau, Paul Walter Hauser and Michael Stuhlbarg. While he is not acting in the project, Ben Affleck is co-producing the movie with Damon and others.

Story continues

According to an IMDb synopsis, The Instigators "follows two robbers who must go on the run with the help of one of their therapists after a theft doesn't go as planned." It is being made by Damon and Ben's new production company Artists Equity.

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Read the original article on People.
Michelle Yeoh didn't become the first Asian woman to win a Best Actress Oscar by playing it safe.

She's fought crouching tigers and hidden dragons, traversed the multiverse, and explored the final frontier. But singing in a musical? Yeoh calls that a risk.

HONG KONG - MARCH 25: Michelle Yeoh attends the amfAR Gala Hong Kong 2019 at the Rosewood Hong Kong on March 25, 2019 in Hong Kong, Hong Kong. (Photo by Myunggu Han/Getty Images)

Myunggu Han/Getty

In an interview at the Fifth Annual Meihodo International Youth Visual Media Festival in Fukuoka, Japan, Yeoh discussed taking on the role of Madame Morrible in the upcoming adaptation of the beloved musical Wicked.

"I'm trying something new right now  filming Jon Chu's Wicked movie, which will be my first musical," Yeoh said. "It's very exciting, and I can't wait for you all to see it. It was a risk, but you will never know which doors will open for you unless you try them all."

Yeoh previously worked with Chu on Crazy Rich Asians. And though Wicked is her first musical, Yeoh did show off some of her vocal chops in Everything Everywhere All at Once, playing, among many other roles, a Peking opera star.

In the Wicked musical, Madame Morrible is the headmistress of Shiz University, the magical alma mater of Glinda (who'll be played by Ariana Grande in the film) and Elphaba (played by Cynthia Erivo). Yeoh be following in the evil steps of past Madames Morrible such as Rue McClanahan, Carol Kane, and Sheryl Lee Ralph.

Wicked, which will be divided into two films, will premiere its first part on Christmas Day 2024 and its second on Christmas Day 2025.

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The European Commission has approved Microsoft's attempted purchase of Activision Blizzard.

Earlier today on May 15, the European Union's European Commission officially ruled to approve the merger. The ruling by the Commission comes after their own internal investigation into the ramifications of Microsoft's attempted purchase of Activision Blizzard for European customers.

In short though, the ruling makes it clear that the merger has passed thanks to Microsoft's commitment to cloud gaming. As Microsoft has offered commitments to deal with competition concerns over cloud gaming from the deal, the European Union has given the deal the green light.

The EU's commission further found that Microsoft would ultimately have no incentive to restrict Call of Duty and other Activision-published games. The European Commission doesn't think Microsoft can profit from keeping Call of Duty off of PlayStation devices, in other words.

This is a decidedly positive note for Microsoft's attempted acquisition after it faced a huge setback earlier this year. Last month in April UK ultimately ruled against the acquisition, saying that it would hurt competition in the UK, and offer UK audiences less competition to choose from.

As things stand, Microsoft's purchase has seen favorable rulings from the likes of South Africa, Japan, and Saudi Arabia. It's biggest challenge could yet come though, as the US hasn't ruled on the purchase, and is due to do so later this year.

Check out our upcoming Xbox Series X games guide for a full look ahead at all the exclusives and other games Microsoft has lined up for the rest of the year.
Each July, the idyllic Cycladic islet of Mykonos goes to war. The victors claim sprawling, ultra-luxurious party palaces, built for sipping retsina with the worlds rich and famous. The less-privileged check in to double-bed hotel rooms.

A 33-square-mile speck in the Aegean Sea, Mykonos has one of the densest inventories of luxury private villas anywhere in Greece. In the summer, its population swells from about 15,000 to over 200,000 well-heeled sun-seekers each week. In the last two years, Demi Moore, Elon Musk, Bella Thorne, Nicole Scherzinger, Tommy Hilfiger and A-list stylist Warren Alfie Baker have all visited, but its the multitude of semi-anonymous European billionaires, Middle Eastern royals and American status-seekers who really keep the islands villa economy afloat.

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Big names and big money are, of course, nothing new to the island. Long before Lindsay Lohan opened her ill-fated Beach House and billionaires packed out exclusive nightspots like Scorpios, Grace Kelly, Brigitte Bardot, Jackie and Aristotle Onassis, and Sophia Loren basked on its shores. What is new is a post-pandemic supply-and-demand crunch ripped straight from an Econ 101 textbook.

We are a small island, said Konstantinos Koukas, the mayor of Mykonos, who noted that the newly renovated airport on the island is already fully booked for summer flights. We dont have the opportunity to receive millions and millions. My target is to receive even less people, who spend even more money.

Last summer, Mykonos saw record tourism (with 220,000 visitors during one week in July), and brokers, villa owners and the government are now bracing for the peak late-summer season to be bigger.

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Mykonos is like a boutique, says Elpida Kennedy, the concierge behind rental agency Kennedys Group, which rents many of the islands top properties. And last year, we saw about 30 percent more business. Most people start making bookings in January and February, but now many people make their reservations for next summer when they check out.

And in any marketplace where money is no object, dramas play out.

The eight-bedroom Serenity Psarou Estate, which starts at about $9,900 a night and comes with a staff of 10.

Last summer, at the 12-bedroom villa dubbed Mykonian Fantasy in Houlakia on the northern coast (its hosted dozens of celebs including Paris Hilton and Naomi Campbell), an impasse unspooled between two royal renters, according to a source who asked to remain anonymous because of an NDA. Prince A decided not to leave the villa, says the source. He was having so much fun and he told his agent that he would extend his stay regardless of the contract. The property boasts a lake-shaped, 5,300-square-foot pool, one of the biggest in the Mediterranean.

However, a member of a different royal family had booked for the following week. The property manager and his agent tried to explain that the villa was rented by another client who had already paid for his stay, but as he had diplomatic immunity, no one could force him to leave the villa, says the source.

When Prince B arrived and found his villa still occupied, he felt insulted, and a team of amateur diplomats scrambled to produce a rapprochement. After two days of negotiation, Prince A offered Prince B a week on his yacht  one of the most iconic boats in the world, the source says. They lived happily ever after.

There are about 400 commercial villas on the island and about 120 private villas. But less than 10 are really beyond luxurious, or royal-worthy, according to Kennedy, who adds that top properties can cost up to $200,000 per week, while $20,000 per week is a more standard price.

But everyone wants to rent the best and the most expensive villa on the island, says Kennedy. I have to go to owners and say, Look can I rent you a mega-yacht for the week, because I really need your property. For visitors who arent renting, some of the best hotels on the island are Santa Maria Mykonos, Mykonos Blu Grecotel and Kalesma Mykonos.

A suite at the Kalesma Mykonos hotel, located near Ornos Beach.

Complicating matters, brokers say Mykonos operates under a strict code of first come, first served and that bidding wars are mostly verboten  meaning that European families who rent the same house year after year keep many private villas locked away from nouveau riche Americans or come-lately celebrities.

London-based Ina Dimitrova, founder of the anti-aging treatment brand Optimise Health, is one of them. She has been coming to the island since childhood, but for the past two years, she has stayed in the same five-bedroom villa in the ultra-exclusive beachside town of Ornos for the summer  rebooking for the next year upon check out.

I have certain requirements, said Dimitrova. There are a lot of villas on Mykonos, but only a few can meet my requirements.

So whats an old-fashioned billionaire hoping to score a top villa to do? Like some things in life, it can come down to being Instagram hot and culturally relevant. Properties like these look at your profile, says Kennedy. They decide if they want you there or not. Its not just that you have money, you also need the profile.

The Turquoise Villa at the Santa Maria Mykonos hotel.

A version of this story first appeared in the May 10 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.

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The killings occurred in Kenya within a week and included the death of an iconic 19-year-old male lion named Loonkiito, believed to be one of the oldest wild lions in Kenya and the world

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The Kenya Wildlife Service is working to better the coexistence between the country's people and its wildlife after herders killed eleven lions in one week.

The lion killings occurred in Kenya within a week and included the death of an iconic 19-year-old male lion named Loonkiito, believed to be one of the oldest wild lions in Kenya and the world, CBS News reported.

Related:Elephant Isolated in Captivity for 35 Years Makes Friends Instantly at New Sanctuary Home

According to the outlet, Loonkito was killed after wandering out of his home in Amboseli National Park to search for food on Thursday night. Herders speared six other lions who left the park on Saturday after the animals killed 11 goats and a dog in a village in the Mbirikani area. The deaths contributed to the 11 retaliatory lion killings reported in one week in Kenya. The high number led Kenyan officials and residents to call for a meeting on Sunday night.

The Kenya Wildlife Service explained in a social media statement that the meeting focused on bringing to light "the escalating human-wildlife conflict experienced in the area in the past two days that has resulted in the loss of 11 livestock and retaliatory killing of 11 lions" and to call for a "peaceful and harmonious coexistence between the community and wildlife."

In their statement, the Big Life Foundation, a conservation group in Kenya, advised that "the situation is being taken extremely seriously by Kenya Wildlife Service" and remains under investigation.

Related:Eighth Horse Dies in Past 3 Weeks at Churchill Downs, Home of Kentucky Derby

"While we are relieved there were no human injuries, this isolated but tragic incident is a harsh illustration of the challenges in ensuring coexistence between humans and wildlife," the statement added. "Big Life remains committed to the well-being of both humans and animals in the Greater Amboseli ecosystem and will continue to work with the broader community who supports conservation initiatives as we recover from this event."

Story continues

The Lions Group  another conservation nonprofit  also addressed the spearings in a social media statement, in which they remembered Loonkiito as "a symbol of resilience and coexistence."

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.

"In the following weeks and months, we hope to share the extraordinary story of Loonkiito's life with the world," the group added.

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The East Lansing site where construction of the new Trader Joe's grocery store has been at a standstill for months, seen Monday, May 8, 2023.

MERIDIAN TWP.  Months after the construction of what would be the Lansing area's first Trader Joe's was paused, work at the site hasn't resumed and the project's construction permit with the township has expired, officials confirmed to the State Journal Monday.

But the project's developer told township staff the store's construction will resume, said Tim Schmitt, Meridian Township director of community planning and development. He met with officials with East Lansing-based Strathmore Real Estate Group, the development company behind the project, on Monday.

Messages left with the company weren't returned. Messages were also left with Flint-based E&L Construction Group, who Schmitt said is the project's contractor.

Township officials expected work on the site to resume in April, according to the township's website. That didn't happen, Schmitt said.

The building permit for work at the site expired on Friday, he said, but officials with Strathmore Real Estate Group indicated they plan to reapply for a new one.

The company did not say when they will submit the paperwork, Schmitt said, and didn't indicate why construction on the site hasn't yet resumed.

"They were not able to give me a schedule at this point," he said.

A Meridian Economic Development Corp. report in January cited steel supply chain issues as the reason for the project's pause.

The 13,500-foot store, which would be Trader Joe's ninth location in Michigan, was expected to open this summer, according to the township's website, though Trader Joe's has not announced plans to open in Meridian Township.

Schmitt said that the estimate is no longer realistic given the fact that construction hasn't resumed at the site.

READ MORE:

Caring for Lansing area's century-old homes a balance of patience, sweat equity, owners say

'This is the worst it's been:' Michigan's 911 centers struggle with vacancies, burnout, solutions

Story continues

New $25M medical services building on McLaren's Lansing campus named for Tom Izzo's family

The East Lansing site where construction of the new Trader Joe's grocery store has been at a standstill for months, seen Monday, May 8, 2023.

The process for developing the store started in December 2021, with the Meridian Township Zoning Board of Appeals approving a variance to allow the specialty grocer to have 115 parking spaces on 2.2 acres of property on Grand River Avenue and Northwind Drive. Last March the former Golden Wok restaurant on the property at 2755 Grand River Ave. was demolished.

By January, the boutique grocery stores foundations were poured and protected for the winter months.

"That's largely what's been done," Schmitt said on Monday.

East Lansing businessman and developer Scott Chappelle of Strathmore Real Estate Group, who has been involved in multiple development companies with the Strathmore name, was one of the people involved in the Trader Joes project.

In October 2022 Chappelle was sentenced to 38 months in federal prison for a tax evasion scheme involving companies Terra Management Co., Strathmore Development Co. and Terra Holdings LLC.

"We are excited to have Trader Joe's in the community," Schmitt said. "Hopefully this is just a speedbump on the way there."

Contact Rachel Greco at rgreco@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @GrecoatLSJ .

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Permit for work at Trader Joe's in Okemos expires. What's next
Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lizzo, Post Malone Lead BottleRock Fest Lineup

Post Malone nods to his real name (Austin Post) on his upcoming album, Austin, which will be released on July 28 by Mercury/Republic. The first single, Mourning, arrives Friday (May 19), and the project will be supported with a summer North American tour kicking off July 8 outside Indianapolis.

Its been some of the funnest music, some of the most challenging and rewarding music for me, at least  trying to really push myself and really do some cool stuff, Malone said of Austin on Instagram yesterday. I played guitar on every song on the record, and it was a really, really fun experience. Im super, super excited to share it with you.

More from Spin:

Austin is led by the single Chemical, which was released last month. The track was co-produced by Malone, Andrew Watt, and Louis Bell, and co-written with those collaborators as well as Billy Walsh.

Meanwhile, tickets for the If YAll Werent Here, Id Be Crying tour go on sale beginning tomorrow. I love yall so very much and Im so excited to get out and do some more shows for yall. Help me put a baby through college and come on out. Some cool new production, new songs, and a very very handsome man up on stage. Sending love to you and yours, Malone says.

Austin is the follow-up to last years Twelve Carat Toothache, which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200.

Here are Post Malones tour dates:

Sat Jul 08  Noblesville, IN  Ruoff Music Center

Sun Jul 09  Cincinnati, OH  Riverbend Music Center

Tue Jul 11  Detroit, MI  Pine Knob Music Theatre

Wed Jul 12  Burgettstown, PA  The Pavilion at Star Lake

Fri Jul 14  St. Louis, MO  Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre

Sat Jul 15  East Troy, WI  Alpine Valley Music Theatre

Mon Jul 17  Buffalo, NY  Darien Lake Amphitheater

Wed Jul 19  Toronto, ON  Budweiser Stage

Sat Jul 22  Mansfield, MA  Xfinity Center

Sun Jul 23  Hartford, CT XFINITY Theatre

Tue Jul 25  Camden, NJ  Freedom Mortgage Pavilion

Wed Jul 26  Bristow, VA  Jiffy Lube Live

Sat Jul 29  Charlotte, NC  PNC Music Pavilion

Mon Jul 31  West Palm Beach, FL  iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre

Tue Aug 01  Tampa, FL  MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre

Thu Aug 03  Atlanta, GA  Lakewood Amphitheatre

Sat Aug 05  Dallas, TX  Dos Equis Pavilion

Tue Aug 08  Houston, TX  The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

Thu Aug 10  Albuquerque, NM  Isleta Amphitheater

Sat Aug 12  Phoenix, AZ  Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre

Sun Aug 13  San Diego, CA  North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre

Tue Aug 15  Wheatland, CA  Toyota Amphitheatre

Wed Aug 16  Mountain View, CA  Shoreline Amphitheatre

Sat Aug 19  San Bernardino, CA  Glen Helen Amphitheater

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

The post Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lizzo, Post Malone Lead BottleRock Fest Lineup appeared first on SPIN.
Save the date for the royal wedding of Crown Prince Hussein and Rajwa Al-Saif on June 1

Albert Nieboer/Royal Hashemite Court via Alamy

It's time to decide what to wear to Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan's royal wedding!

The 28-year-old heir to the throne is set to wed fiancee Rajwa Al-Saif on June 1, and one guest has already given a hint about the dress code. According to Royal Watcher blogger Saad Salman, Queen Azizah of Malaysia confirmed that she and her husband, King Abdullah, are attending the wedding, where the attire will be "more like black tie, long dress but no tiaras..." Salman tweeted on Monday.

It remains to be seen if the bride will sport a tiara on her big day.

Hello! magazine reports that other royal guests in attendance will include Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden, Princess Hisakoa of Japan and her daughter Princess Tsuguko and Crown Prince Haakon of Norway.

The excitement continues to build before the big day, and the Royal Hashemite Court even released an official logo for the next Jordanian royal wedding.

Related:Queen Rania of Jordan Reflects on Coronation: 'King Charles Put His Own Stamp on Events' (Exclusive)

"As the date of the wedding of HRH Crown Prince Al Hussein and Miss Rajwa Khalid Alseif nears, we are pleased to share the official logo to mark the occasion, which is Arabic for 'we rejoice,' " courtiers tweeted Sunday, sharing a quick clip of the crown-topped graphic on a burgundy background. Like many modern nuptials, there's even a hashtag  #CelebratingAlHussein.

Prince Hussein and Rajwa, 29, announced their engagement in August 2022 by sharing a formal portrait on Instagram.

"We pray that God grants us His blessings. Grateful to my dear Jordanian family for their heartfelt support and kind wishes," Hussein wrote of the photo where he and Rajwa posed close, her diamond ring on display.

Royal Hashemite Court/Albert Nieboer/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images Crown Prince Al Hussein of Jordan and Rajwa Al Saif

Related:Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan Shares Sweet Moment with His Bride-to-Be at Sister's Royal Wedding

Story continues

On New Year's Eve, the Royal Hashemite Court announced that the couple would tie the knot on June 1, 2023.

"The Royal Hashemite Court is pleased to announce that the wedding of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II and Miss Rajwa Khalid Alseif will take place on 1 June 2023 #Jordan," courtiers tweeted. The news captioned a previously released portrait of the couple, where Rajwa channeled bridal vibes in a chic white outfit.

This year is especially celebratory for the royal family of Jordan, with not one, but two royal weddings! On March 12, Prince Hussein's younger sister Princess Iman married Jameel Alexander Thermiotis in an epic royal wedding.

Handout/Jordanian Royal Court/Getty Images Princess Iman and Crown Prince Hussein

Queen Rania and King Abdullah II's eldest daughter, 26, wore a bespoke white wedding dress by Dior and walked down the aisle with her elder brother.

The royal wedding (with plenty of spring florals) was held in Amman, Jordan, and the couple made it official before family and friends.

Queen Rania and King Abdullah are also parents to Princess Salma, 22 (who graduated from the University of Southern California last weekend) and Prince Hashem, 18.

Royal Hashemite Court /Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty

After he did the honors of walking his sister down the aisle, Prince Hussein sat with Rajwa at Princess Iman's royal wedding and seemed to whisper something sweet in her ear. The crown prince also recently celebrated his bride-to-be with a cute birthday tribute, posting a joyful photo of Rajwa with a tacked-up horse.

"Wishing my dearest Rajwa a very happy birthday! Looking forward to a life of love, compassion and commitment with you," Hussein captioned the Instagram snap on April 28.

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It remains unclear how the couple connected and how long they have been together. Hussein is a captain in the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army and a graduate of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in England and Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. His fiancee is the youngest daughter of Saudi businessman Khalid bin Musaed bin Saif bin Abdulaziz al-Saif. She previously studied at Syracuse University in New York and the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles.

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Read the original article on People.
(Bloomberg) -- One of Software AGs top investors has spoken out against the firms planned 2.4 billion ($2.6 billion) takeover by US private equity firm Silver Lake Management, saying the price materially undervalues the business.

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Justin Hance, a portfolio manager at Harris Associates LP, said he struggles to see why the German software company wont engage with other buyers and that Silver Lakes bid of 32 a share is very low. Software AG recently rebuffed a rival bid of at least 34 per share from Bain Capital, choosing to maintain support for the Silver Lake proposal.

We think the offer materially undervalues the business, Hance said of the Silver Lake bid in a telephone interview on Monday. We struggle to understand why the company would not engage with other offers and try to create competition for the asset, even if they think Silver Lake is the best buyer.

Not engaging with Bain discourages other buyers, he said.

Harris Associates held a stake of around 3% in Software AG at the end of April, according to data compiled by Bloomberg, making it a top 20 investor in the company. Shares in Software AG were unchanged at 9:27 a.m. in Frankfurt, giving the company a market value of 2.5 billion.

A representative for Software AG declined to comment beyond a May 9 statement, which said its not in a position to engage because Bains non-binding proposal isnt superior. The Silver Lake bid is in the best interest of all of the companys stakeholders with a high degree of deal certainty and will keep Software AG as an independent German-headquartered company, it said at the time.

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Last week, Schroders Plc, Software AGs largest outside shareholder, publicly criticized the firm for not engaging with potentially higher offers from other suitors. The UK fund manager said this could be seen as raising potential questions over conflicts of interest and whether the appropriate fiduciary process was being followed.

Chicago-based Harris Associates, which manages about $99 billion, has made several high-profile investments in Europe over the years, including Credit Suisse Group AG, Daimler Truck Holding AG and Glencore Plc.

--With assistance from Eyk Henning.

(Adds shares in fifth paragraph, declined to comment from Software AG in sixth paragraph.)

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Traeger has long been one of the most well-known (and most-respected) brands in the smoking and grilling space, and for good reason: their line of pellet grills consistently delivers an even smoke and perfectly-cooked results for everything from ribs and brisket, to whole chickens and roasts.

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But part of what makes Traeger so popular is also how easy it is to get started with their grills; you dont have to be a professional chef or expert to make your first batch of pulled pork, grilled veggies or wings. Now, after the release of its Timberline Grill last year, the company is back with an all-new Ironwood Grill, with a sleek new look, even easier-to-use features and a ton of grilling space for your next big meal.

traeger ironwood review

Traeger Ironwood Pellet Grill

Price: $1799

Buy Now

Weve been testing out the Traeger Ironwood Pellet Grill over the last few months and weve got it say: were impressed. Its a powerful, professional cooking machine disguised as a family-friendly smoker.

The first thing youll notice about the new Traeger is the massive amount of space you have to cook on. The main rack gets you 396 sq. in. of space while the upper rack gets you 220 sq. in. To put that into perspective, thats the equivalent of four whole chickens or eight racks of ribs cooking at once.

We started a little less ambitiously, choosing to smoke a rack of ribs. The ribs took about three hours to cook and came out perfectly tender, fall off the bone, with a sweet glaze on the outside. We seasoned the ribs with a dry rub, a bit of BBQ sauce, and sprayed liberally with apple juice a few times during the cooking process.

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traeger ironwood review ribs

On another day, we were able to smoke a whole chicken with artisanal maple cherry wood chips in about an hour. Our chicken was still juicy with a nice pink smoke ring around the outside. All we had to do was apply a dry rub beforehand.

For the meat-lover in your life, the Traeger Ironwood Pellet Grill is perfect for your next family cookout. The larger surface area means more space for smoking a variety of meats and fish, though weve used it for vegetables as well (think peppers and squash). Want more smokey flavor? We turned on super smoke mode to give our salmon that extra wood-fired kick. The Traeger Ironwood can also grill, bake, braise, roast and barbecue.

traeger ironwood pellet grill review

Traeger Ironwood Pellet Grill

Price: $1799

Buy Now

New features in the Traeger Ironwood include the brands so-called Smart Combustion Technology, which help maintain incredibly precise temperatures inside your smoker to ensure even, consistent results. The EvenFlow Heat Shield, meantime, ensures even heat distribution to your meats, no matter where theyre sitting on the grill rack. You no longer have to check on your meats and shuffle them around the rack to make sure theyre fully cooked.

What we liked: the touchscreen interface was incredibly intuitive and easy to navigate, and the Traeger app is one of the best in the industry, letting you set timers, adjust grill temperatures, monitor cooking times and more. We also used the app to find recipes to follow, along with tips and tricks to perfect our cookout. Technology is always top of mind for Traeger, and the new pellet grill can be paired to an Alexa or Google-enabled device so you can control it using just your voice.

traeger ironwood ribs review

The best part of the Traeger experience is coming up with different ways to customize your meats, and part of that starts with the pellets you use. Traeger offers a number of different pellets to create different flavors, which you can shop here. Aside from the maple cherry wood chips, we also liked the mesquite pellets, which were especially great for ribs.

Traegers built-in pellet sensor lets you know when pellets are low, though with a 22-pound hopper capacity, you wont need to refill your pellets that often.

While many smokers require an endless amount of patience and monitoring, Traegers Ironwood Pellet Grill truly lets you set it and forget it. Prep your meats, place it on the rack and adjust your desired settings (the Traeger app provides exact cooking times for hundreds of recipes). Then sit back and relax while the Traeger does the work for you.

A great Fathers Day gift or a summer pickup for yourself (especially if youre trying to get into cooking and smoking meats), the Traeger Ironwood Pellet Grill is available online starting at $1799 here. Your price includes the grill, cooking racks, accessory shelves, accessory rail, porcelain grates, grilling light and bottom stand. Traeger also offers a 10-year limited warranty in case you run into any problems.

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Photo Credit: WWE

Seth Rollins is the latest WWE Superstar to join the nWo Marvel Cinematic Universe.

This week on WWE RAW, Seth Rollins was involved in a backstage sitdown interview with Corey Graves that will continue into next weeks broadcast. Many people found it strange that Rollins wasnt featured in front of the crowd this close to Night of Champions, but theres a good reason for it.

Rollins is currently in Atlanta filming for Marvel Studios new movie Captain America: New World Order.

While its not currently confirmed who Seth Rollins is playing, Lizzie Hill of The Cosmic Circus believes the WWE Superstar is playing either Cobra or Constrictor of The Serpent Society.

This is the first Captain America movie from Marvel not to feature Chris Evans as Captain America. Instead, it will feature Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson.

Mackie also recently filmed the Twisted Metal series with All Elite Wrestlings Samoa Joe.

Marvel Studios Captain America: New World Order is scheduled to be released on May 3, 2024.

READ MORE: Seth Rollins Is The Best Option For WWEs New World Heavyweight Title

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What are your thoughts on Seth Rollins joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Do you think Rollins could be a big star in Hollywood? Let us know your thoughts by sounding off in the comments section below.

The post Seth Rollins Filming Role For Marvels Captain America: New World Order appeared first on Wrestlezone.
HBO

Succession episode 8 spoilers follow.

In the eighth instalment of the final season of Succession, America decided  or so the episode title told us. In reality, the election was decided in a corporate boardroom by three despots nurturing major father issues.

Boosted by ATN and the criminally inept Roy siblings, alt-right imp Jeryd Mencken (Justin Kirk) is en route to the Oval Office. That is, unless the scrambling Democrats of Succession find a way to salvage the 100,000 ballots lost in a suspiciously murky Wisconsin fire.

The decision to announce Mencken as the president-elect before all the votes had been counted came down to a pivotal sibling showdown, where Shiv's (Sarah Snook) secret alliance with GoJo was laid bare. As revenge, Kendall (Jeremy Strong) and Roman (Kieran Culkin) decide to destroy democracy.

Home Box Office

The order is sent to prepare the vitriolic Fox News-style mouthpiece Mark Ravenhead (Zack Robidas) to call the election. The lackey given the job of taking the message down to the ATN newsroom is Greg (Nicholas Braun) and on his way he runs into Kendall's assistant Jess (Juliana Canfield).

Responsible for saving a giant rabbit from bagel exposure and reporting on the activity of the Kendall Roy hashtag, Jess likely knows everything about her occasionally cocaine-fuelled billionaire boss, except for his Chappaquiddick incident.

She has always been on the edge of the Waystar Royco executive inner circle, parsing Kendall's bro speak, while her eyes alone communicate frantic harried confusion. Yet in this moment with Greg we finally see her in a context separate from Kendall and get a glimpse behind her long-held poker face.

HBO

Greg tells her he's the missive of Mencken's win and Jess gasps, with a look of frightened disbelief. "Its not really my choice. Im asking them to prepare to press the button," Greg says, to which Jess replies that button will "launch a nuclear attack".

Greg walks forward a couple steps, stumbles and backtracks, with Jess at his side. They acknowledge that even if he doesn't go downstairs to raise the ATN alarm, it's not going to change anything. But for a moment, they have the power of that decision and wonder if they should take some sort of stand.

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As Kendall said at the tailgate party in the previous episode: "We watch history, we make history, and then one day, we become it." But this upstairs, downstairs moment with Kendall's assistant and Tom Wambsgans' former assistant shows us the people who will not be remembered in the history books the Roys are so conscious of.

HBO

Jess is one of the only people of colour in the orbit of the majority-white world of Waystar and the Roys, reminding viewers of those who will actually be affected by a far-right populist and white supremacist like Mencken winning the presidency.

Mencken is the sleeker and more articulate model of the bombastic oafishness of Donald Trump, but the echoes of the 2016 election hover over the entire episode. By the end, Mencken is already grinning on TV screens as he delivers an acceptance speech filled with racist overtones.

While a shellshocked Kendall watches on, Roman sits disinterested, having run around making flippant comments about the election all night. While they ignore the possible consequences of this presidency, Succession refuses to let us forget them, with small references to the people who will bear the burden of their decision.

There's Jess, who is already on the phone as Greg walks off, presumably texting loved ones the horror news. Elsewhere, we briefly see Kendall's terrified adopted daughter Sophie, who has already been targeted as a result of the divisive election battle.

Then in the final scene of the episode, Kendall leaves the Waystar offices and says to his driver, "Some people just can't cut a deal, Fikret," pointing to another member of the support staff who has flitted on and off screen and who will be affected by this rhetoric from the highest office.

HBO

Jess's poker face cracks in this episode. We've never seen her calling friends to offload the latest shambles Kendall has tripped into  although I'm sure she does so, regularly. But in this moment, the weight of what has happened pushes her to speak up and ask Greg if he is sure.

Despite the apocalyptic feel of this, the ball keeps rolling and the next day/episode will be patriarch Logan Roy's (Brian Cox) send off. You would have thought they could push it a couple days after the election, if only so Darwin (Adam Godley) can actually get the wasabi and lemon La Croix out of his eyes.

The description for episode nine, when Logan will be laid to rest, states that Kendall receives "inopportune news" from Jess. So, their election manipulation may prove to be the push she needed to draft her resignation letter.

It's a miracle Jess has stuck it out for this long, but she could now be able to take the stand she was clearly itching to when Greg broke the news of Mencken's win.

Succession season 4 airs on HBO in the US, and Sky Atlantic and NOW in the UK.

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The Supreme Court on Monday announced it will determine whether South Carolina racially gerrymandered one of its congressional districts.

A three-judge district court panel in January ordered new maps be drawn after finding the states 1st Congressional District, as drawn by Republican state lawmakers, was specifically designed to dilute the power of Black voters.

The Supreme Court justices, in a brief, unsigned order, as is typical, agreed to hear the Republicans bid to reverse the lower decision, setting up a major redistricting case for the Supreme Courts next annual term. The case is likely to be argued this fall.

The longtime Republican district runs along much of South Carolinas coast and is currently represented by Rep. Nancy Mace (R).

In 2020, Mace narrowly defeated her Democratic opponent, who had won the seat in a major upset two years earlier. Last year, after district lines were redrawn, Mace won reelection by nearly 14 percentage points. The district is rated likely Republican for the next election cycle by the Cook Political Report.

A resident of the district and the South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP challenged the redrawn lines, winning a partial victory at the district court earlier this year.

The three Democratic-appointed judges ruled against the challengers in their other claims while agreeing with them that state lawmakers shifting some 30,000 African Americans in Charleston County to a nearby district was more than a coincidence and violated the 14th and 15th Amendments.

The Republican state lawmakers then appealed to the justices.

The three-judge panel abandoned all pretext of extraordinary caution in this case, their attorneys wrote in court filings. In striking down an isolated portion of South Carolina Congressional District 1 as a racial gerrymander, the panel never even mentioned the presumption of the General Assemblys good faith.

The challengers to the map contended the maps are a racial gerrymander and were designed with a discriminatory purpose, asking the court to affirm the lower ruling.

Because the panel correctly applied settled standards, the Court should summarily affirm, the challengers wrote to the justices. The panel had ample evidence to support its findings and conclusions. That includes direct and circumstantial proof of race-based intent by the Enacted Plans legislative architect and mapmaker  the same kind this Court has repeatedly relied on in the past.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Gia Giudice graduated from Rutgers University on Mother's Day with a bachelor's in criminal justice

Teresa Giudice/instagram

Teresa Giudice enjoyed an extra special Mother's Day this year.

Not only was the Real Housewives of New Jersey star, 50, celebrated by four daughters for the special occasion Sunday, but she also got to see her oldest, 22-year-old Gia Giudice, graduate from Rutgers University.

Teresa shared her love for her daughter and all the hard work she's done in an Instagram post on Monday.

"I am so proud of my devoted and intelligent daughter, Gia, for graduating a stellar university, a huge milestone to accomplish in life. Seeing you graduate college is one of the most special moments in my life," the proud mom wrote.

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Related:Teresa Giudice Celebrates Daughter Gabriella Going to University of Michigan

"You definitely paved the path of success for your sisters, and you are an inspiration to them and me. I am so excited to see what your future holds," she continued.

"You have always been a leader and a determined individual. Your attributes are admirable, and I have no doubt that you will do anything less than reach for the stars. I love you to infinity and beyond!"

Sharing the same picture Sunday, Gia wrote, "Happy Mother's Day to my rock."

"I love you more than this world  You are so amazing in every which way! Thank you for celebrating me on your day ."

Husband Luis "Louie" Ruelas also shared a post celebrating his wife, writing, "Happy Mother's Day to the Queen ," alongside a family photo that included all four of Teresa's daughters  Audriana, 13, Milania, 17, and Gabriella, 19.

"Thank you for always waking up with a smile and loving us the way you do!! We are so grateful for you!" he continued. "You are the most amazing wife and mother  With all our LOVE and ADORATION ."

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Read the original article on People.
Thailands election-winning party wants to reform one of the worlds strictest royal insult laws

The News

Thailand's top two opposition parties agreed to form a coalition after a momentous victory over a military-backed government whose leaders seized power in a 2014 coup, setting the stage for a U.S.-educated liberal former tech executive to take over as prime minister.

The Move Forward Party, which finished first after Sunday's election, ran on a platform of removing military influence in Thai politics and reforming the country's relationship with its monarchy. Key among its pledges was a revision to the draconian lese-majeste law, one of the world's strictest anti- royal insult legislations with severe jail terms for anyone deemed guilty.

Here's a closer look at the law and how the youth-led Move Forward captured young people's votes in securing this historic win.

Know More

Under Article 112 of Thailand's criminal code, anyone who defames, insults or threatens the king, the queen, the heir-apparent or the regent can be punished with a jail term of between three and 15 years for each count of violating the law.

The legislation, which has been on the books since the early 1900s, has been strengthened over the years  and is both widely applied and prosecuted. The Economist called it "possibly the strictest criminal-defamation law anywhere."

In 2015, a factory worker was charged and faced up to 37 years in jail for making a "sarcastic" post online about then-King Bhumibol Adulyadej's dog.

Over the years human rights groups have documented how the law has been used by Thailand's military rulers to target dissent in general, finding last year that over 200 people were charged with lese-majeste in the previous 18 months including pro-democracy and free-speech activists.

In 2020, widespread youth-led democracy protests against Thailand's military-backed government featured unprecedented calls to abolish the law.

Now What?

Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of the Move Forward Party and the former executive director of the cab-hailing app Grab Thailand, said on Monday that he plans to form a coalition government with fellow opposition party Pheu Thai and become the country's next prime minister.

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While some fear the current government could block the opposition parties from taking power, the election results were seen as a blow to the military-aligned leadership.

At a news conference on Monday, Pita, who studied at Harvard on an international scholarship, reiterated his aim of reforming the lese-majeste laws, the BBC reported.

"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.

Notable
The WGA will not picket the Tonys



Ariana DeBose hosting the 2022 Tonys

The show, as they say, must go on, and indeed the Tony Awards will move forward with broadcasting its 2023 ceremony. The most high-profile celebration of American theater was compromised, as many other broadcast events have been, by the Writers Guild of America strike. The WGA initially denied the Tonys a waiver to put on the show, but on Monday conceded that the guild would not picket the event after producers agreed to alterations.

As has been previously reported, the Writers Guilds of America East and West (WGA) will not negotiate an interim agreement or a waiver for the Tony Awards, the guild wrote in a statement (via Deadline). However, Tony Awards Productions (a joint venture of the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing) has communicated with us that they are altering this years show to conform with specific requests from the WGA, and therefore the WGA will not be picketing the show.

Read more

While there has been no confirmation of what alterations will take place, a source told the New York Times that the show would not feature any scripted material by screenwriters in its opening number or comedic patter, and would not use any part of a draft script that had been written before the screenwriters strike began. Instead the run of the show will apparently be bare bones, giving out awards and performances from Broadway shows. Its unclear if Ariana DeBose, the host announced before the strike began, will still be involved.

Unlike other awards shows that were scheduled during the strikelike, say, the MTV Movie & TV Awards, for instancethe strikes effect on the Tonys has been cause for some debate, even within the guild. The very point of a strike is to cause serious disruptions, both logistically and financially. (A recent statement from the WGA suggested the strike is costing Californias economy $30 million a day, per Deadline.) Its a tangible way to demonstrate the writers importance to the industry from an artistic and economic standpoint.

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However, supporters of the Tonys argued that broadcasting the awards show is a labor issue in its own right. The Broadway celebration is viewed as an important advertisement for live theater, which is seen as all the more imperative as the industry struggles to regain footing amid the coronavirus pandemic. Placing blame for the issue solely on the AMPTP (the studios bargaining unit), WGA member and playwright Jeremy O. Harris previously wrote on Twitter, You cant negotiate by instilling terror but I hope our union will listen to the voices of their writers asking behind closed doors for a solution to be found that wont be a death nail in the coffin of an industry struggling to survive.

Responsibility for having to make changes to the format of the 2023 Tony Awards rests squarely on the shoulders of Paramount/CBS and their allies, read the WGAs statement on Monday. They continue to refuse to negotiate a fair contract for the writers represented by the WGA.

However, the statement also emphasized solidarity with the many hundreds of workers in the theater community. As they have stood by us, we stand with our fellow workers on Broadway who are impacted by our strike, it concluded. Actors Equity president Kate Shindle reposted the statement on her own Twitter with gratitude toward the WGA, encouraging her members to show up for the guilds picket lines. Oh, and because it cant be said enough: this is still #AMPTPs fault, and the writers should never have been put in this position, she wrote. We can appreciate the grace AND point at the culprits, right?

The Tony Awards will air on CBS and Paramount+ on June 11, 2023, at 8:00 EST.

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Two Louisiana airports are continuing to raise the bar and are giving flyers the best travel experience with their upgrades and recognition.

With summer travel on the horizon, the Lafayette Regional Airport recently announced the opening of a new gate. And Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport announced its overall customer satisfaction award.

2022 was a milestone for Lafayette Regional Airport, with The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development recognizing it as the Commercial Service Airport of the Year in Louisiana. In early 2022, Lafayette Regional Airport opened its new terminal, and recently the airport announced on Facebook a fifth gate opened to serve passengers.

While summer is slowly approaching, so are those summer break trips.

"For the first time in its 41-year history, passengers departing from and arriving at Lafayette Regional Airport will have a fifth gate to serve them. The additional gate has been a part of the new terminal project since the Lafayette Airport Commission created plans for the New LFT Terminal."

To make room for the fifth gate, the former terminal building had to be removed before the new gateway platform was created. American Airlines will be the main user of Gate 5, according to a Facebook post.

Alternatively, for travelers considering an international summer trip, driving to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) might be worth it. The airport received a top award for best airport in North America by size and region according to a news release.

MSY is one of only three airports in North America to win Best Airport recognition among those serving 5 million to 15 million passengers a year. This award recognizes airports with the top 20% overall satisfaction score by size and region at departure, as determined by American Society for Qualitys Departures and Arrivals Surveys of customers.

The airport is filled with restaurants and bars that represent local favorites in New Orleans, including Lucky Dogs, Cafe Du Monde, Emerils Table and Leahs Kitchen.

According to a news release, MSY was recognized as the airport with the best overall concessions program in the medium and small airports division at the 19th annual Airport Experience Conference. The honor is awarded to an airport that excels in providing an array of food options, retail and services program that satisfies the needs and tastes of various travelers.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Summer is approaching, prepare to travel with the top local airports
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.

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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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No casualties were reported after Ukrainian air defenses staved off an intense Russian air attack on Kyiv early Tuesday. Also in the news: President Joe Biden will reconvene debt ceiling talks with Republican lawmakers and the curtain raises on the Cannes Film Festival amid strikes by Hollywood writers.

 I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Watch this special moment one graduate shared with her immigrant parents.

Now, here we go with Tuesday's news.

Russia launches 'exceptional' air attack in Kyiv

Loud explosions boomed over Kyiv as Russia attacked early Tuesday in an apparent attempt to overwhelm Ukraines air defenses, but Ukraine's forces thwarted the intense raid, shooting down all 18 missiles aimed at the capital.

Russia's attack was exceptional in its density" the head of the Kyiv military administration said.

This is the eighth time this month that Russian air raids have targeted the capital, a clear escalation after weeks of lull and ahead of a much-anticipated Ukrainian counter-offensive. It also came as President Volodymyr Zelenksyy concluded a whirlwind European tour to greet Ukraines key wartime allies.

The attack came as leaders from across Europe are heading to Iceland Tuesday for a rare summit of the 46-nation Council of Europe that will once more step up support for member state Ukraine.

More on Russia: A Justice Department special counsel sharply criticized the department and FBI for the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, right, walks Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to a waiting Chinook helicopter after meetings at Chequers, the prime minister's official country residence, in Aylesbury, England, Monday, May 15, 2023.

New Mexico gunman who killed 3 randomly shot at cars and houses

An 18-year-old gunman killed three people and injured six others, including two police officers, in a rampage through a northwestern New Mexico community. In a video released late Monday, Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe said the gunman fired three weapons, including an AR-style rifle, shooting randomly at cars and houses. The shooting was "honestly one of the most horrific and difficult days that Farmington has ever had as a community," Hebbe said. Read more

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Community members sing during a prayer vigil at Hills Church, Monday, May 15, 2023, in Farmington, New Mexico.

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What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.

Yellen's warning about debt ceiling deadline: 'Severe hardship to American families'

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. The meeting comes after Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen issued another warning Monday in a letter to lawmakers that "it would cause severe hardship to American families" if Congress has not raised or suspended the debt limit by early next month, potentially defaulting as soon as June 1. Read more

Biden tapped a Harvard cancer surgeon to lead the National Institutes of Health.

Federal prosecutors move to dismiss charges against ex-Florida mayor Andrew Gillum

Federal prosecutors in the Andrew Gillum corruption case are moving to dismiss charges against the former Florida mayor and his political mentor. The charges against Gillum, the 2018 Democratic nominee for governor and former Tallahassee mayor, and his longtime advisor, Sharon Lettman-Hicks, involved the misuse of campaign funds. And after five days of deliberations earlier this month, jurors found Gillum not guilty of lying to the FBI about gifts he had received from undercover FBI agents in New York. Before the move is official, U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor must issue an order completely dismissing the case. Read more

Florida Gubernatorial Democratic candidate Andrew Gillum puts on his Florida ball cap during a rally Monday, Oct. 22, 2018.

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76th Cannes Film Festival kicks off with Johnny Depp film center stage

The Cannes red carpet springs to life again Tuesday as the 76th Cannes Film Festival gets underway with the premiere of the Louis XV period drama Jeanne du Barry, with Johnny Depp. This years Cannes is unspooling against the backdrop of labor unrest. Protests have roiled France in recent months over changes to its pension system, meanwhile, a strike by screenwriters in ongoing in Hollywood. Read more

Vice Media has filed for bankruptcy: Three lenders are bidding for majority of the company.

Workers roll out the red carpet for the 76th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. The Cannes film festival runs from May 16 until May 27 2023.

Quick hits

Photo of the day: Shohei Ohtani's historic night

In Monday night's game against the Baltimore Orioles, Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels became the first starting pitcher to reach base five times as a pitcher  he singled twice, walked, tripled and homered - since the New York Yankees Mel Stottlemyre against the Washington Senators on Sept. 26, 1964. Read more

Shohei Ohtani hits a three-run home run against the Baltimore Orioles in the third inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com or follow along with her musings on Twitter. Support journalism like this  subscribe to USA TODAY here.

Associated Press contributed reporting.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kyiv, Russia, Ukraine, New Mexico shooting, ChatGPT, debt ceiling, Cannes: Daily Briefing
PARIS & BOULDER, Colo., May 16, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News:

SpineGuard (FR0011464452  ALSGD), an innovative company that deploys its DSG (Dynamic Surgical Guidance) sensing technology to secure and streamline the placement of bone implants, and XinRong Medical Group, a China leader in medical technology, announced today that they expanded their collaboration with the signature of three concomitant agreements:

China exclusive distribution extension to the whole SpineGuard product portfolio

Funding of the NMPA (National Medical Product Administration) registration process for SpineGuard new products via a cash injection of 500K by XinRong Medical in SpineGuard capital

Potential co-development of a Smart Screw system for the Chinese spinal surgery market

Until today, XinRong Medical was only selling the SpineGuards Classic PediGuard products in China, this new distribution agreement will enable them to commercialize the Curved, the XS, the Canulated and the Threaded versions of SpineGuards DSG (Dynamic Surgical Guidance) spinal drilling probes.

The NMPA registration of these new devices for the Chinese market will be funded via a 500K equity injection by XinRong Medical. SpineGuard will issue 500,000 new shares priced at 1.00 per share representing 1.28% of current issued shares with a 18-month lock-up period. SpineGuard will own all product registrations that will be executed through a third-party regulatory agent jointly appointed by both companies.

XinRong Medical and SpineGuard also decided to envision the co-development of a DSG enabled single step pedicle screw system with three key milestones triggering payments:

1) evaluation of the registration process and market access path,

2) product design and submission of the registration dossier, and

3) product clearance.

Chinas spine market is the worlds second-largest market after the USA driven by an aging population, increasing disease prevalence and treatment rates, along with access to care growing affordability.

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Pierre Jerome, Chairman, CEO and Co-founder of SpineGuard, said: "This three-pronged agreement is a significant step forward for SpineGuard and the deployment of our x-ray free real time sensing technology in China, the largest market for spinal surgical devices after the United States. With XinRong, we took the time to elaborate a common strategy and tailor our partnership based on our early collaborative experience introducing the original version of PediGuard in China. We now have a clear roadmap and dedicated funds to successfully market our smart drilling devices and secure spinal fusion procedures across Chinese provinces."

Christine Zhang, CEO of XinRong Medical, added: "I am thrilled about the three-pronged agreement between SpineGuard and XinRong. It is indeed a significant step forward for XinRong, and I commend the board, the company XinRong and SpineGuard team for taking the time to collaborate and develop a common strategy. The dedication to tailoring out partnership based on both sides early collaborative experience introducing the original version of PediGuard in China is a testament to SpineGuard commitment to providing innovative medical devices to the global medical community. The dedicated funds to market SpineGuard x-ray free real time guidance technology across Chinese provinces is a great opportunity to expand SpineGuard's presence in the Chinese market. I am confident that this innovative technology will provide more precise and safer spinal surgery for Chinese patients. Once again, I greet this milestone achievement, and I look forward to seeing the continued success of SpineGuard and XinRong."

About SpineGuard

Founded in 2009 in France and the USA by Pierre Jerome and Stephane Bette, SpineGuard is an innovative company deploying its proprietary radiation-free real time sensing technology DSG (Dynamic Surgical Guidance) to secure and streamline the placement of implants in the skeleton. SpineGuard designs, develops and markets medical devices that have been used in over 95,000 surgical procedures worldwide. Twenty-four studies published in peer-reviewed scientific journals have demonstrated the multiple benefits DSG offers to patients, surgeons, surgical staff and hospitals. Building on these strong fundamentals and several strategic partnerships, SpineGuard has expanded the scope of its DSG technology in innovative applications such as the  smart  pedicle screw, the DSG Connect visualization and registration interface, dental implantology and surgical robotics. DSG was co-invented by Maurice Bourlion, Ph.D., Ciaran Bolger, M.D., Ph.D., and Alain Vanquaethem, Biomedical Engineer. SpineGuard has engaged in multiple ESG initiatives. For further information, visit www.spineguard.com

About XinRong Medical

XinRong Medical, a China leader in medical technology, is dedicated to increasing patient affordability and providing the most advanced solution for surgeons such that they can deliver the best patient care. XinRong Medical offers innovative solutions in orthopaedic surgery, neurosurgery, and reconstructive surgery. XinRong Medical is a professional orthopaedic implants manufacturing enterprise invested by the worlds leading investment institution The Black Stone Group, (NYSE: BX). It has constantly innovated and moved forward to new materials, new techniques and minimally invasive therapy field. Established in 2000, XinRong Medical was one of the first companies in China cleared by SFDA to manufacture orthopaedic implants. For additional information, visit www.XRBest.Com.

Disclaimer

The SpineGuard securities may not be offered or sold in the United States as they have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or any United States state securities laws, and SpineGuard does not intend to make a public offer of its securities in the United States. This is an announcement and not a prospectus, and the information contained herein does and shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of the securities referred to herein in the United States in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or exemption from registration.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230515005653/en/

Contacts

SpineGuard

Pierre Jerome

CEO & Chairman

Tel: +33 1 45 18 45 19

p.jerome@spineguard.com

SpineGuard

Manuel Lanfossi

CFO

Tel: +33 1 45 18 45 19

m.lanfossi@spineguard.com

NewCap

Investor Relations & Financial Communication

Mathilde Bohin / Aurelie Manavarere

Tel: +33 1 44 71 94 94

spineguard@newcap.eu
A Grants Pass man died and three children were rescued April 22 after a fall from a cliff at Boardman Corridor north of Brookings on Oregon's south coast. Rescue teams used ropes to rescue the children.

SALEM, Ore.  A 36-year-old man died and three children were rescued on Saturday after an attempt to visit a famous beach on Oregons coast went horribly wrong , authorities said.

The incident happened on the state's southern coast near Brookings in the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor, a popular but rugged park of steep cliffs and hidden beaches, the Curry County Sheriffs Office. The area has become increasingly popular in recent years but has also seen an uptick in accidents. Three people have now died in accidents at the park in the last three years.

Ryan Acord, of Grants Pass, died after a roughly 200 foot fall while an 8-year-old son was taken by helicopter to a hospital but is expected to recover. A 12-year-old was taken to the hospital by air ambulance after a smaller fall, while a second 8-year-old was rescued without injury.

'I've never seen this much snow': Yosemite closures start Friday and more are likely coming

Google Maps pointed group to wrong access point, sheriff says

A Grants Pass man died and three children were rescued April 22 after a fall from a cliff at Boardman Corridor north of Brookings on Oregon's south coast. Rescue teams used ropes to rescue the children.

The group was attempting to reach Secret Beach, a beloved but challenging beach to access within the Boardman Corridor. The man and kids apparently began from an incorrect location, the Curry County Sheriffs Office wrote in a press release.

They followed Google Maps and it pointed them in the wrong spot and they thought they were in the right spot so they parked and went down the wrong trail, Curry County Sheriff John Ward told KOBI in Medford.

Family members claimed in an online fundraiser the trail was not marked clearly.

Ward told KOBI that Acord saw the kids go over the cliff, and in trying to save them, he slipped and fell to the rocky beach below.

Thursday weather forecast: Severe weather forecast puts more than 30 million people at risk Thursday; winter weather in Rockies

Rescuing the hikers who went off the cliff

Law enforcement located Acords vehicle at the Spruce Island Viewpoint and then identified the trail they went on, the news release said.

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A pair of first responders rappelled to the beach and located Acord and the 8-year-old who had fallen 200 feet below the trail they had been following.

The news release said first responders provided medical assistance to the 8-year-old and determined Acord was dead from the fall.

Rescue teams used ropes to rescue the children who fell April 22 from a cliff at Boardman Corridor north of Brookings on Oregon's south coast.

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter lowered a rescue swimmer to the beach and airlifted the 8-year-old to Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach before being flown by Air Reach to Oregon Health & Science University in Portland.

Two of the other children had fallen off the trail but not all the way to the beach.

The 12-year-old fell off the upper portion of the trail and was hanging onto a small tree stopping him from falling the rest of the way, officials said. The child was rescued and transported by Cal-Ore Life Flight to Curry General Hospital where he was released to his mother. A second 8-year-old had also fallen off the trail in the upper portion, was uninjured and released to his mother.

Ryan was a courageous, brave, brilliant, adventurous husband and dad, he will be missed dearly, the family's GoFundMe said. His passing has left (his wife) and her sons deeply saddened and forever changed by this tragedy. She not only lost her husband but her best friend and their boys not only lost their daddy but their rock and provider.

A challenging but popular beach to reach on Oregon's south coast

Secret Beach has become a popular spot at Boardman, but it's tricky to reach.

Those who wish to explore the beach itself will need to go at low tide, and must scramble down a rock face, then cross a small stream to do so  this is a tricky climb that requires sure footing, and is not recommended for everyone, Oregonian reporter Jamie Hale wrote.

As park numbers have grown, the number of unmarked "social trails" have proliferated at Boardman, said Oregon Parks and Recreation Department spokesman Chris Havel. They often confuse visitors and can take them to dangerous spots, he said.

"These are unauthorized routes created by people repeatedly going off-trail  and they can confuse new visitors," Havel said. "This is one of the reasons we implore people to stick to designated trails: taking shortcuts doesnt just affect you, but everyone you share a park with."

The Boardman Corridor's popularity has increased by 34% since 2018. But that increase in popularity has led to an uptick in fatal accidents. A North Carolina woman visiting the Natural Bridges section of the park died in a fall in in 2021. A California man died when he fell from the Natural Bridges Viewpoint in 2022. Another man was rescued from the area in 2022.

Weve had issues along that whole coastline, Ward told KOBI.

The trail down to Whaleshead Beach at Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor on Oregon's South Coast.

Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 15 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. Urness is the author of Best Hikes with Kids: Oregon and Hiking Southern Oregon." Find him on Twitter at @ZachsORoutdoors.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Oregon father dies, kids rescued after fall at Samuel H. Boardman park
Twitter

A shooting in Farmington, New Mexico Monday morning left at least four deadincluding the suspectand nine others injured, police said.

The suspected shooter was an 18-year-old man, who was killed by police in what was described as a chaotic scene. Its unclear what prompted the incident.

This morning, we received multiple calls into our dispatch center that there were shots being fired, Farmington Police Department Deputy Chief Baric Crum said at a news conference Monday. Officers responded to the area to find a chaotic scene where a male subject was actively firing upon individuals in that neighborhood.

The shooting reportedly happened outside of a church on a residential street in the city of about 50,000 residents. Crum said that four officers then confronted the suspect and were able to stop his actions, and confirmed that the suspect was dead.

Details of the shooting remains unclear, however.

A male subject was actively firing upon individuals in that neighborhood.#Farmington NM police describe chaotic scene as 3 people fatally shot & multiple others wounded, including officer & state trooper. Shooter is dead. No word on motive. @livenowfox



[Video: KRQE] pic.twitter.com/WENamS9Ua9  Josh Breslow (@JoshBreslowTV) May 15, 2023

Three civilians were killed by this persons actions, Crum said, adding that a further two officers were among those injured in the gunfire. Both officers are in stable condition at a local hospital.

Crum said the ages of the victims are still unknown; names have also not yet been released. Additionally, he was unsure whether the alleged shooter entered any buildings during the incident, or if he had a prior criminal history.

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We are still trying to determine why he was in this neighborhood, Crum said.

Crum said that an additional press conference will be held at 2 p.m. MDT Tuesday as investigators work to learn more. He urged anyone with information or evidence to call dispatch at 505-334-6622.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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A expansive island lined with leather stools, gleaming appliances, or a deep copper farmhouse sink are all the stuff of dream kitchen fantasies. But for many homeowners, luxuriating in such features simply isnt in the renovation budget. However, theres no need to spend day after day cooking and gathering in a space that does anything less than delight. By taking a few creative turns, embracing unexpected materials, and smartly sourcing products, you can design a showstopping kitchen without breaking the bank. Here, designers offer their tips on everything from cabinetry to counters to hardware that will help you make your ideal kitchen a reality.

Seek out off-the-shelf cabinets

When sourcing cabinetry for closed storage, peruse the vast off-the-shelf varieties at go-to retailers like IKEA. Many prefab kitchen systems come in a variety of colors, materials, and finishes. Juliana Sorzano, project manager at New York firm PJCArchitecture, frequently specifies these kinds of cabinets for clients with a wide range of budgets and design needs. When purchasing a stock system, Hattie Collins of Hattie Sparks Interiors in New Orleans recommends sticking with a classic look, like Shaker-style overlay cabinetry.

Spring for eye-catching hardware

Enliven cabinets with knobs and pulls rendered in gorgeous shapes and finishes. Dress them up with hardware and then splurge on lighting, says Illinois-based designer Alexandra Kaehler. Megan Evans, founder of her eponymous design studio in Louisiana, considers hardware jewelry for the kitchen. It can be mounted on any cabinet, and it instantly elevates the space, she points out. Her favorite kind? I love the patina of un-lacquered brass. It is so timeless and works in a contemporary or traditional home, she adds. Based in Ridgewood, New Jersey, designer Kerri Pilchik also encourages using a special piece just on a few cabinets, such as a cremone bolt or latch.

Choose an unconventional countertop

Like cabinets, countertops make one of the strongest first impressions in a kitchen. We select materials that maintain the style impact, but we lean toward cost-efficient options such as butcher block or porcelain slabs, explains Sorzano. These are good substitutes for marble. Another solid bet, she adds, are recycled glass countertops because they not only help save money but are a green solution.

For Collins, quartz is a fantastic, durable alternative to marble, but a real cost saver would be granite, she shares. I know granite has a bad rap from the brown and tan speckled options that plagued the late 1990s and early 2000s, but there are some beautiful ones out there if you do a little digging.

Make a statement with backsplashes

A Florida kitchen that Pilchik recently revamped now features ceramic glazed tiles emblazoned with a camellia motif. A patterned ceramic tile can add interest and bold color, she says, or a handmade Zellige tile can add beautiful, soft color and texture. New York designer Young Huh also likes to give stone the limelight on these panels. Choosing the right stone for a backsplash can add drama and make a huge difference, she says, pointing out that while it can be expensive, it doesnt have to be. Allow yourself some time to visit stone yards and do some deep-dive shopping.

Another practical, eco-friendly backsplash idea that Evans likes to take is utilizing the same material for the counter and backsplash for a seamless, sophisticated look. Depending on the size of your kitchen, you may end up with remnants from the countertop slab that are unusable, she elaborates, so why not carry it up the wall underneath your cabinets?"

Consider non-hardwood floors

Floors crafted from solid oak and maple planks infuse kitchens with warmth, comfort, and a jolt of rusticity, but theyre a big investment. Evans points out that there are some beautiful engineered hardwood flooring selections to work within any budget, but if you have floors that need refinishing, which can be costly, a great option would be a painted floor in a glossy finish. Other alternatives? Resilient cork or vinyl tiles.

Start small

It might not be the right time to install a breakfast nook or fancy wine rack just yet, but there are modest hacks that can help get you closer to having your dream kitchen, like swapping out a lackluster faucet for a shimmering new stainless steel one. Kaehler personally enjoys finding antique lighting to buoy kitchen projects. I love searching for something that feels really special, she says, like a pair of French lanterns or Murano pendants.

As Nina Etnier, partner at the New York design practice Float Studio, puts it, A kitchen refresh is an easy way to start reimagining your home and to experiment with your design style. A simple change in paint color can go a long way in reinventing your space.

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest

More Great Stories From AD
Kayla Unbehaun (left) around the time of her disappearance and in an age-progressed photo (right) (National Center for Missing & Exploited Children)

A young girl who was abducted by her mother in Illinois has finally been found safe six years after she vanished, when a North Carolina store owner recognised her from a Netflix show.

Kayla Unbehaun was nine years old when she disappeared without a trace while in the care of her mother Heather Unhebhaun.

It was 4 July 2017, and Kayla had gone for a visit with her mother, who had visitation rights but not full custody of her daughter.

The next day, Kaylas father  who had full custody  went to pick her up from her mothers house in Wheaton, Illinois, to find his daughter and her mother were missing.

A search was launched to track down the abducted child but, for years, the trail went cold.

However, Kaylas story wasnt forgotten and the case was featured on an episode of Netflixs Unsolved Mysteries series, titled Abducted by a Parent.

Last month, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) released an age-progression photo to show how Kayla may look now, aged 15.

Almost six years after she vanished, a chance sighting more than 600 miles away in North Carolina has finally led to authorities locating the missing child.

An unidentified owner of a store in Asheville spotted Kayla, now aged 15, in a local shopping centre and recognised her from the Netflix show, reported WSOC.

The Good Samaritan called police, who found Kayla and took her into protective custody.

Kayla Unbehaun (left) around the time of her disappearance and in an age-progressed photo (right) (National Center for Missing & Exploited Children)

Ms Unbehaun was arrested and charged with one count of child abduction, according to the Kane County States Attorneys Office.

She is being held on $250,000 bond and further charges are also possible.

The NCMEC  which had posted alerts to try to find Kayla over the past five-plus years  shared a message from Kaylas father celebrating the news that his daughter had been found safe.

Im overjoyed that Kayla is home safe. I want to thank the South Elgin Police Department, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and all of the law enforcement agencies who assisted with her case, he said.

Story continues

We ask for privacy as we get to know each other again and navigate this new beginning.

Over the years, Kaylas father Ryan had continued to promote his daughters case on the Facebook page Bring Kayla Home.

On 6 January, he posted a birthday message to his missing daughter and spoke of his hopes that they would be reunited soon.

Happy 15th birthday, Kayla. I love you and miss you so much. I cant wait for the day that I get to see you again, hoping each day I wake up will be the day, he said.

It could never come soon enough. I think of you every day hoping and praying that you are safe, happy and that you will come back into my life soon.
LeoPatrizi - Getty Images

When you're creating a playlist of patriotic songs for Memorial Day or the 4th of July, you won't want to miss any of these country hits about the good old U.S.A. (Heck, you don't even need an excuse to get in touch with your patriotic sideyou can play these songs any time!) If you're a big country music fan, you know that themes of patriotism and American pride are woven into the fabric of so many songs from the genre. That's especially true with these songs that celebrate both America and what it means to be a true American.

On this list, you'll find some of the best country songs of all time, like the sporting event and 4th of July staple "God Bless the USA" by Lee Greenwood, and some of the saddest country songs ever, like "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" by Alan Jackson. Then there are some proud, feel-good country songs like "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue" by Toby Keith that'll really get your blood (and fists!) pumping. No matter when or where you play these songs, they're sure to make you feel so proud to be an American.

"Some Gave All" by Billy Ray Cyrus

Billy Ray Cyrus and then-wife Cindy Smith co-wrote this song after speaking with a Vietnam veteran. It pays tribute to all the men and women who have served in the military, especially the ones who made the greatest sacrifice of all.

See the original post on Youtube

"God Bless the USA" by Lee Greenwood

Lee Greenwood's patriotic hit is a staple at sporting events and fireworks displays on the 4th of Julyand it's easy to see why. It's all about being "proud to be an American!"

See the original post on Youtube

"Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue" by Toby Keith

Toby Keith penned this song shortly after the events of 9/11 and many consider it to be a perfect modern-day battle song.

See the original post on Youtube

"Only in America" by Brooks and Dunn

This upbeat track pays tribute to the American dream, and how the U.S. is the only place "we all get a chance."

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See the original post on Youtube

"Home" by Dierks Bentley

Dierks Bentley's anthem about America acknowledges that our strength lies in our differences. For better or worse, America is our home.

See the original post on Youtube

"American Heart" by Faith Hill

You can't break an American heart. This song honors classic American values like dreaming big, working hard, and never giving up.

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"America" by Waylon Jennings

This summer of 1984 hit celebrates both America and Americans, and encourages us all to "promise and then follow through."

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"American Flag on the Moon" by Brad Paisley

Brad Paisley's inspiring ballad reminds us that no dream is too big. "After all, there's an American flag on the moon!"

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"Color Me America" by Dolly Parton

To Dolly Parton, seeing red and feeling blue is all trumped by the white and light of the love she feels for her fellow human beings.

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"Ragged Old Flag" by Johnny Cash

The titular flag in Johnny Cash's song may appear old and ragged, he explains, but that's because it's braved many a war and stood tall through it all.

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"Travelin' Soldier" by The Chicks

From their album Home, this emotional track from The Chicks details the story of a girl writing to a soldier in the Vietnam War who is later killed in battle.

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"I'm American" by Billy Ray Cyrus

Are you a true American, from your head down to your boots? If so, this patriotic rock song is for you!

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"Chicken Fried" by Zac Brown Band

This fun song expresses gratitude for the simple joys in life, like fried chicken and a cold beer, as well as bigger blessings, like the people who have given their lives so that others could be free.

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"American Saturday Night" by Brad Paisley

This title track off Brad Paisley's sixth studio album celebrates cultural diversity in America. The title itself is likely a nod to Saturday Night Live, whose iconic line, "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night," is referenced in the lyrics.

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"American Kids" by Kenny Chesney

This one goes out to every kid who knows all too well (or adult who remembers all to well ) what it feels like to be "teenage dreamin', front seat leanin'."

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"Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" by Alan Jackson

Alan Johnson touched countless people with this heart-wrenching ballad about remembering where you were when you found out about the tragic events of 9/11.

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"The Bumper Of My S.U.V." by Chely Wright

This song was inspired by a real-life incident involving a Marine Corps bumper sticker on Chely Wright's SUV. It is for anyone who is proud to be (or related to) a Marine.

See the original post on Youtube

"Arlington" by Trace Adkins

This moving song is told from the perspective of a fallen soldier who is proud to be resting in peace in Arlington National Cemetery.

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"American Soldier" by Toby Keith

Toby Keith makes it known that "freedom don't come free" in another hit supporting the American military.

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This article originally appeared on Outside

Amy McCulloch told her story to producer Anne Marie Awad for an episode of The Daily Rally podcast. It has been edited for length and clarity.

After living this independent life, suddenly I was back in my parents basement, without a husband, without a future, without a marriage, with all my possessions in boxes. And Id actually just gone out and bought the hiking boots, bought a new backpack, and just landed in Ireland the next day. I couldnt really face being at home because it was too familiar. It was almost too painful to be somewhere that was so familiar to me because it felt like such a step backwards.

I am currently in London, England, in my home. I was actually born in the UK, but I moved to Canada when I was young.

I am a novelist. I write thrillers for adults and also science fiction and fantasy for young adults. I have a real passion for walking and mountaineering, in particular for high altitude peaks, and also all sorts of endurance events, and have sort of become addicted to running after not really being able to climb during the pandemic.

Probably the biggest challenge that sort of led me into the outdoors was the end of my marriage. I was in a long-term relationship from when I was 21, and we were together for ten years. I really felt like that was going to be the relationship that would define my life. That was the path that I thought I was gonna be walking, thought we were going to start a family. But one year into our marriage, it all kind of fell apart.

I arrived in Canada all of a sudden, on my own with all my stuff in boxes, and just having no idea what I was going to do with my life from that point on. I was looking into the future and really couldnt see a path for myself.

I realized at that point that I was going to have to make some kind of significant change. I was just really lost. My first thought really was that I needed to get outside of myself to try and do something for myself that would take my mind off what was going on with me, but also allow myself to process this monumental shift that I was suddenly facing. And thats when I decided to go on my first long distance walk. Id never done anything like that before. Id always been a big traveler, but Id never really been that active of a person.

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I kind of was this introverted kid, a shy kid who always had a nose tucked in a book. That kind of person didnt enjoy running or pushing themselves physically or getting sweaty. All of those things, that kind of internal narrative, Id convinced myself was true. I think when my marriage broke down, what I was realizing was I had to question a lot of the stories that I told myself about who I was. Is that really who I am, or if I just push myself a little bit outside of my comfort zone, push my boundaries a little bit, could I be capable of more? Could I find myself enjoying something different? Could my life look different now?

So I booked a one-way ticket to Ireland and decided to walk the Kerry Way. Its a part of the Irish coastline that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean. Thats where the Skellig Islands are, which is where Star Wars was filmed. The end of the world place where Luke Skywalker ends up living out the rest of his days. The Kerry Way is very clearly marked, but it was completely out of my comfort zone at this time. So it was quite daunting to think about.

Its a mixture of wild ocean, forest, farmland, and it's the location of Irelands tallest mountain. It was very challenging for me as the first long distance walk that Id ever embarked on.

I can remember really distinctly showing up at this bread and breakfast in County Kerry, and just looking around at the other tables and they were filled with couples or families or friends who were either coming back from finishing the Kerry Way, or about to start, or going on a road trip around Ireland. I had this really distinct feeling that I was there all on my own, and I really had to rely on myself to get to the next destination. I had something like 18 kilometers to walk on that first day.

There were so many times when I found myself completely on my own. I was walking slightly in the off season. So there werent that many other walkers around, but there were a lot of sheep, a lot of lambs. And I found myself quite often, to entertain myself, I guess, and also because I was processing quite a lot of really big emotions, just screaming at the sheep, crying in front of sheep, like singing at sheep. Those sheep really were my only witnesses to the kind of emotional rollercoaster that I was going on.

The mantra that I used in order to propel myself forward is that I only had to take one more step. Just one more step, one more step. It was very, very simple, but thats what the walking did.

When I was at home back in Canada trying to process the emotions, I was so distracted by the internet, by looking things up, by always being on social media, and just wanting to kind of wrap myself up in a duvet and wallow. But when I was out there and walking and just putting one foot in front of the other, that was the only thing I had to do, to concentrate on. Giving myself the time and the peace in a way to just say to myself, All you have to do today is put one foot in front of the other, and reach that next destination.

What that first journey really taught me was that I was so much more capable of doing things, of doing physical things, of doing hard things, than I ever really thought was possible. It gave me that confidence and that belief in myself, that I was also capable of change. And that maybe even after ten years of being in the same relationship routine or in the same life routine, that things could be different. It really opened my eyes.

I went on such a rapid journey after that into the world of mountaineering, the world of walking, the outdoors in general. And that was something I would never have accomplished had I not gone through that total reset of what I thought my life was going to be. When I look at how far Ive come in five years after that time, Im both unrecognizable to myself and yet also so much truer to who I know I really am now.

Amy McCulloch is the author of Breathless, a thriller based on her experience climbing Manaslu, the eighth highest peak in the world. She has also written seven young adult books, and has a new novel, Midnight, coming out this summer. You can find her on Twitter @AmyMcCulloch.

You can follow The Daily Rally on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you like to listen, and nominate someone to be featured on the show here.

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Photo: Steve Cannon (Getty Images)

On Monday, federal prosecutors asked a judge to dismiss all of the corruption charges remaining against 2018 Democratic nominee for Florida governor Andrew Gillum. Just earlier this month, jurors acquitted Gillum of lying to the FBI. However, they failed to reach a verdict on more than a dozen other counts, including wire fraud and conspiracy.

In lieu of this development, will Gillum be able to revive his messy career? Back in 2018, prosecutors accused Gillum and his co-defendant (and longstanding political adviser) Sharon Lettman-Hicks of using tens of thousands of dollars that were campaign contributions for personal use. Prosecutors alleged that Gillum and Lettman-Hicks conspired to unlawfully solicit and obtain funds through false and fraudulent promises and representations that the funds would be used for a legitimate purpose. However, on Monday the Justice Department filed a motion to dismiss the charges against both Gillum and Lettman-Hicks.

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The judge avoided ruling on the motion on Monday. Gillum lost the 2018 race for Florida governor to Ron DeSantis (R), who currently holds the position. Following news of the dismissal, Gillum tweeted out But God Monday with a screenshot of the government motion.

In 2020, the former Tallahassee mayor was embroiled in a salacious scandal when Gillum was found inebriated in a hotel near Miami with an escort who had overdosed. Shortly after, Gillum took a break from the public eye and entered rehab for alcoholism.

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He and his wife R. Jai also made an emotional appearance on the Tamron Hall show in 2021 where Andrew shared that he was bisexual. I believe were all entitled to mistakes, he said. And I believe were entitled to those mistakes without having every other respectable and redeeming part of our lives invalidated.

He also didnt rule out a political comeback, which may be possible following the relief Gillum has received from legal trouble. There is not a thing that has happened in my lifescandalous or notto cause me to believe that if I have service to give an elected office as a means in order to render, that I couldnt do that, he stated. Now, would it be hard? Absolutely. But Donald Trump [was] president.

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The shining sun broke through an overcast sky on Monday, reflecting off the ocean and into the squinted eyes of hundreds of visitors to Jekyll Island who watched as distant flippers disappeared into the horizon.

The Georgia Sea Turtle Center and the Georgia Aquarium partnered to release eight sea turtles off Great Dunes Beach Park on April 17 on Jekyll Island. The six Kemp's ridley and two loggerhead sea turtles were rehabilitated by the aquarium after suffering from cold shock in the chilly waters off Massachusetts this winter.

Last nesting season: Georgia's record breaking sea turtle nesting season winds to a close

How are nests protected? The Caretta Research Project celebrates 50 years of loggerhead conservation on Wassaw Island

Visiting from the north

The rehabilitated, juvenile sea turtles came to Georgia from Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts, a peninsula that juts out of the state in an upwards hook. Michelle Kaylor from the Georgia Sea Turtle Center said that when sea turtles encounter too-cold waters they turn south but get caught in that hook. Each year, thousands of sea turtles appear stranded on these beaches where trained volunteers locate and bring those cold-shocked turtles in for treatment.

Cape Cod: Astronaut photograph ISS044-E-610 was acquired on June 13, 2015, with a Nikon D4 digital camera using an 1150 millimeter lens, and is provided by the ISS Crew Earth Observations Facility and the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, Johnson Space Center. The image was taken by a member of the Expedition 44 crew. The image has been cropped and enhanced to improve contrast, and lens artifacts have been removed. The International Space Station Program supports the laboratory as part of the ISS National Lab to help astronauts take pictures of Earth that will be of the greatest value to scientists and the public, and to make those images freely available on the Internet.

Sea turtles are reptiles just like snakes, lizards, or turtles on land. Unlike humans and other mammals, they don't create their own heat to stay warm but regulate their temperature based on their environment. When the turtles are in water that is too cold they get cold-shocked, a condition likened to hypothermia humans would get. The turtles become lethargic and can appear on shore stranded, nearly lifeless.

The New England Aquarium does most of the "triaging," Kaylor said, and then reaches out to rehabilitation facilities, aquariums and zoos across the nation to see who has open hospital beds to rehabilitate the turtles and prepare them to head back out in the spring. This usually takes place starting in November through December and sometimes into the new year, and each year varies in severity of how many turtles are cold-stunned.

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Carolyn Murphy, senior aquarist for the Georgia Aquarium, shows a Kemp's Ridley sea turtle to the crowd before releasing it into the ocean on Monday on Jekyll Island.

"People spend so much time and energy getting these turtles back, ready to go out," said Carolyn Murphy, senior aquarist at the Georgia Aquarium. "It's definitely all hands on deck when these mass stunning events do occur."

The turtles, aside from cold-stunning, can have other secondary issues like osteomyelitis  a type of bone infection  pneumonia in the lungs, eye ulcers or lesions on their bodies that need tending. Kaylor said there are many ways the staff evaluate when turtles are ready to head back to sea, including their ability to eat live prey.

"It can take a lot of time, sometimes six months to a year if not more, depending on what's going on with those turtles individually as patients," Kaylor said. Between the Georgia Aquarium and Georgia Sea Turtle Center, there are three more turtles  one Kemp's ridley and two loggerheads  that still need a little more time rehabilitating before they are released and will head back to the water later this year. Their injuries include an eye sore, a wound to the top shell called the carapace and a rear flipper injury respectively for the turtles named Eeyore, Honey Badger and Jordan.

Representatives from the Georgia Aquarium and Georgia Sea Turtle Center carry James Bond, a juvenile loggerhead sea turtle, to the ocean to be released on Monday on Jekyll Island.

A conservation legacy for Georgia's coast

Loggerhead sea turtles are the most common visitors to Georgia's shore. The species' populations have in recent years started to rebound after sharp declines due to consistent nest preservation and conservation efforts from groups all along the eastern seaboard.

Kemp's ridleys are the smallest, and most endangered, sea turtles Georgia sees off its coast. They grow only to 80 to 100 pounds, whereas the heftier loggerheads can weigh in around 200 to 350 pounds. They are the only sea turtles that nest during the day, rather than coming up onto the beaches at night like other species, and they also nest en masse rather than individually.

Spike, a Kemp's Ridley sea turtle, is ready to be released into the ocean on Monday at Jekyll Island.

For many locals and frequent visitors to the coast, seeing a sea turtle in person these days isn't a new experience, thanks to growing beach-nesting populations and educational facilities. Spring breakers Cami Boyd and her daughter Kensi, regular Jekyll visitors, were visiting from Florida. Although Cami had seen a sea turtle in person before it was Kensi's first time. Meanwhile, Audrey Hurd, Lacey Finn and Raquel Ugarte, coworkers at The Wharf on Jekyll, spent their morning off enjoying a sea turtle release right in their own backyard for the first time.

Marisa is an environmental journalist. She can be reached at 912-328-4411 or at mmecke@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Jekyll Island Sea Turtle Center, Georgia Aquarium release loggerhead Kemp's ridley
I am truly amazed at the second group of Black men of Knoxville and others across the state as they fought for the passage of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1875. They followed the first group of men like Melvin J.R. Gentle and William B. Scott, who were in the forefront in the late 1860s. Local newspapers covered their efforts for the legislation and printed editorials against it. Its eventual passage led to a spate of Southern legislatures passing laws to nullify it.

The second movement began in Knoxville at the Knox County Courthouse on April 3, 1874, with a group of Black citizens selecting delegates to attend the civil rights convention in Nashville that would convene April 28. The meeting was called to order by 30-year-old William F. Yardley, who had become Knoxville's first Black lawyer three years earlier. The Rev. William Howell, pastor of Mount Olive Baptist Church, was named chairman.

In 1880, William H. Franklin became the first African American student to graduate from Maryville College. In 1874, at the age of 22, he was named secretary of a group of Black men sending delegates to a civil rights convention in Nashville in 1874. The men were part of a movement fighting for passage of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1875,

The Rev. George Washington LeVere, pastor of Shiloh Presbyterian Church, became the vice chair. Twenty-two-year-old William H. Franklin was named secretary. He would become the first Black graduate of Maryville College six years later in 1880.

LeVere explained the reason for the meeting, and he and three other attendees appointed the delegates for the convention. A finance committee that included all the pastors of Black churches in Knoxville was appointed. Another committee was appointed to work with railroad officials to secure half-fare transportation to and from the convention.

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During the second day of the meeting in Nashville, Yardley was called upon to lay out the purpose of the convention, and he immediately challenged the limitations placed on Black citizens by the Tennessee Constitution of 1870, which forbade mixed marriages between the races.

He decried the unequal school system for Black students. "Colored people should be granted the privilege of going to places of amusement and sitting where the white people did, not in the galleries to be scoffed at by little boys and girls," he said.

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Several newspapers were quoted on the issues in the May 7, 1874, issue of the Knoxville Press And Herald. The Morristown Gazette said: "They should let civil rights and well enough alone. They make it an issue that needs to be met squarely and fearlessly, and we doubt not it will be the whole Caucasian race, irrespective of party."

The Nashville Banner said: "The imaginary privilege contended for in the ultimatum of the negro convention, at least as affecting the school question, is not attainable. Furthermore, it is calculated to deprive them of the education privileges they at present enjoy."

The Union American criticized the Knoxville Chronicle and the Chattanooga Commercial for "Having nothing to say on this very life issue sprung upon us by the blacks themselves. They have the ear of the negro, which we have not, and their words of advice have an influence with the race that Democratic organs cannot pretend to."

The May 8, 1874, P&H noted that of 88,500 Republicans in the state, 40,000 were Black. "Without their votes the Republican Party could not elect a single congressman in any district. The colored voters form an important element in the Republican vote of Tennessee."

With the school desegregation clause removed, the Civil Rights Act passed in the U.S. House of Representatives Feb. 5, 1875, with 162 yeas and 100 nays. It later passed the U.S. Senate and was signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1875. It gave Black citizens the right to be accommodated in inns, public conveyances, theatres, restaurants, hotels and places of amusement.

Twenty-two days later, the Tennessee legislature passed a law that nullified the newly passed Civil Rights Act. It began another 89-year struggle.

Robert J. Booker is a freelance writer and former executive director of the Beck Cultural Exchange Center. He may be reached at 865-546-1576.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Black Knoxville men worked hard for Civil Rights Act of 1875 | Opinion
Armed vigilantes intimidated a group of migrants and logged their biographic information Friday after the group had crossed the Arizona-Mexico border near Sasabe.

The far-right vigilantes earlier in the day had followed and harassed a group of migrant advocates who were providing humanitarian aid near the border wall.

The incident came the day after Title 42 was lifted when many Arizona officials had feared a large influx of migrants would materialize at the countrys southern border. Advocates had noted an increased presence of vigilantes in the area in the run-up to Title 42s expiration.

Dora Rodriguez, center, who was among 13 Salvadorans who survived in 1980 when another 13 people in the group died in the broiling sun near Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, talks with Vicente Lopez, 19, who grew up in Guatemala's Ixil triangle, where government troops in the early 1980s wiped out entire communities suspected of harboring rebels, on Wednesday, May 19, 2021, in Sasabe, Mexico. At the age of 19, she remained in Tucson and eventually became a U.S. citizen.

In reality, there was no mass influx or chaos at the U.S.-Mexico border when the restriction expired late Thursday.

We were looking for people to help but the only thing we found was the vigilantes again, said Dora Rodriguez, director of the Tucson-based Salvavision, which provides aid to migrants in Sasabe, Sonora.

In 1980, Rodriguez was one of the 13 Salvadorans who survived when another 13 people in the group died after being abandoned by their guide and left to wander near Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in Arizona.

The border wall in Sasabe, Arizona, near the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge in 2021.

Rodriguez was driving the truckful of volunteers with the Tucson and Green Valley-Sahuarita Samaritans along the border wall in order to identify asylum seekers in need of help. While the volunteers anticipated large groups, they only encountered their regular five to 10 asylum seekers.

What to expect: Here's what to expect at the Arizona-Mexico border this week now that Title 42 is gone

A white pickup truck carrying about four vigilantes eventually confronted the volunteers, accusing them of working for the cartels and being traffickers. The vigilantes asked if the volunteers had voted for President Joe Biden and accused Biden of being a child trafficker.

After the confrontation, the vigilantes began to tail the volunteers and followed them for roughly 10 miles along the dirt road running parallel to the 30-foot wall, Rodriguez said. Rodriguez said she became very scared as she realized the group of older volunteers could not defend themselves against the armed vigilantes.

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I became very nervous but I stayed calm, Rodriguez said. We as humanitarian volunteers bring water, we dont bring weapons.

Tucson Samaritans check the border wall, including a small gap in the new construction, near Sasabe, Ariz., on Wednesday, May 19, 2021. Opponents that seek to control immigration, such as the Washington-based think tank Center for Immigration Studies, contend the border wall and other barriers are a better way to keep deaths down by keeping migrants out.

Ethan Schmidt-Crockett, a well-known anti-mask and anti-LGBTQ activist who was one of the vigilantes, suggested that Border Patrol agents who had stopped the group were under cartel control in a video he took. In the video, Schmidt-Crockett appeared shirtless with four Border Patrol trucks and various agents in the background.

Schmidt-Crockett has had numerous run-ins with the law in the past.

Schmidt-Crockett was sentenced to three years of probation in early March after he videotaped himself harassing the staff of a Mesa wig store for their mask policy in 2021. He was kicked out of an Arizona Barnes & Noble in April for harassing shoppers browsing the stores pride-themed book stand.

Construction crews blasted the mountains in Sasabe, Ariz., near the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, to build the border wall for the Trump administration.

Previously, he threatened to hunt LGBTQ rights supporters in a video and, in June 2022, he was arrested for failing to appear in court.

Later that night, the vigilantes filmed a video of themselves intercepting a group of migrants who recently had crossed the border. The vigilantes were donning headlamps and are believed to have been collecting the migrants biographic information.

'Psychological torture': These Venezuelan migrants were among the final expulsions under Title 42

While frightened, this was not Rodriguezs first run-in with vigilante groups along the border. In May 2022, far-right QAnon activists similarly intercepted groups of migrants along the stretch of border near Sasabe.

The incident was only the latest in a string of headaches for humanitarian volunteers attempting to provide aid to migrants in the area. Volunteers in the area recently began raising concerns over new no trespassing signs that had been put up on the border wall.

In March, Jane Storey, a 75-year-old member of the Green-Valley Sahuarita Samaritans, was arrested by the Border Patrol for stopping along the border road to help give migrant children water. Storeys arrest was first reported by The Intercept.

The signs referred to an Arizona criminal trespassing statute and, despite being on federal land, are enforced by the Border Patrol by coupling state and federal laws. The coupling of the statutes allows Border Patrol to enforce the state trespassing law on people who stop along the border wall in the area.

The signs heavily restrict volunteers' ability to provide aid to migrants waiting in the scorching sun, advocates say.

Despite the signs, none of the vigilantes were arrested Friday.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection did not respond Monday to a request for comment.

Have a news tip or story idea about the border and its communities? Contact the reporter at josecastaneda@arizonarepublic.com or connect with him on Twitter @joseicastaneda.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Vigilantes confront migrants near Sasabe after Title 42's end
(Bloomberg) -- Billionaire investing titans Stanley Druckenmiller and David Tepper loaded up on stocks benefiting from the artificial intelligence boom during the first quarter.

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Druckenmillers Duquesne Family Office increased its stake in Nvidia Corp., a chipmaker thats been a key beneficiary of the increased interest in AI, according to the firms quarterly 13F filing. Nvidias stock is up 98% so far this year, making it one of the top performers in the S&P 500 Index.

AI is very, very real and could be every bit as impactful as the internet, Druckenmiller said at the 2023 Sohn Investment Conference last week.

Duquesne Family Office added more than 208,000 shares of Nvidia during the first quarter, increasing the market value of the firms holding in the chipmaker to about $220 million.

Teppers Appaloosa Management added a new position in Nvidia, buying 150,000 shares with a market value of about $41.7 million. The firm also bought 500,000 new shares of Cathie Woods ARK Innovation ETF, which invests in companies that create disruptive technologies. While the fund has lost three-quarters of its value since its high in early 2021, it has gained 23% this year.

Duquesne Family Office added a large new position in Microsoft Corp., which now makes up 9% of the firms roughly $2.3 billion US equities portfolio. Microsoft has a $10 billion investment in OpenAI, whose ChatGPT tool has lit up the internet.

Druckenmillers firm also added a new position in Iqvia Holdings Inc., a health-care technology company that says on its website it has transformative AI capabilities to help with its research and commercial efforts. Duquesne bought about 474,500 shares of the company during the first quarter with a market value of $94 million.

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The two investing legends built their fortunes as hedge fund managers. Druckenmiller has a net worth of $9.9 billion and Tepper has a net worth of $16.2 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Money managers overseeing more than $100 million in US equities have to file a 13F form within 45 days of the end of each quarter to list their holdings in stocks that trade on US exchanges. Its one of the few places to gain insight into how hedge funds and some large family offices invest.

Here are other highlights from 13F filings:

Iconiq Capital continued to slash its stake in cloud-computing company Snowflake Inc. in the first quarter, selling 4.85 million shares. The market value of its holding totaled about $1 billion, down $625 million from the prior quarter. The San Francisco-based firm only made two new buys in the first quarter, adding small positions in game companies Roblox Corp. and Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. worth less than $1 million.

The Saudi sovereign wealth fund bought almost 8.8 million shares of Electronic Arts Inc. during the first quarter, when the stock slumped following a disappointing earnings outlook. The Saudis held about 16 million shares prior to the first quarter, and held 24.8 million, with a market value of $2.99 billion, as of March 31. That makes them the largest outside stockholder in EA.

George Soross investment firm cut holdings in electric-vehicle makers, slashing a stake in Rivian Automotive Inc. after a 90% share decline. Soros Fund Management also sold off its entire $16 million position in Tesla Inc., which it acquired during a big tech push in the second quarter of 2022. It trimmed other tech-related bets, including stakes in Alphabet Inc., Amazon.com Inc., Salesforce Inc. and Intuit Inc.

The investment firm that manages the Walton familys fortune bought more shares of the nearly $38 billion Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF. WIT LLC also added a new position in the SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF with a market value of roughly $10 million.

--With assistance from Biz Carson and Miles Weiss.

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
A former Georgia daycare CEO has been sentenced to more than three years in prison and will be required to pay more than $1.3 million in restitution after pleading guilty to check kiting and tax schemes last year.

Ilene Farley, 62, of Stone Mountain was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Marc T. Treadwell on April 12. Her prison sentence of 37 months will be followed by three years of supervised release.

This sentencing comes after Farley pleaded guilty on Nov. 16 for bank fraud and failure to pay over trust fund taxes.

As CEO and president, Farley was responsible for handling the finances of Tender Years Learning Corporation (TYLC), a Georgia-based company that operated 17 daycares within the state. Seven locations were in Macon and Warner Robins.

Check kiting involves taking advantage of the time known as the float between the presenting of a check and the receipt of funds in order to use non-existent funds in a checking or other bank account. By falsely inflating a bank account balance using this method, written checks that would have bounced are able to clear.

From April of 2018 to July of 2019, Farley sent more than $75 million in unfunded amounts through TYLCs Bank of America and Citizens Trust Bank accounts using a check kiting scheme, according to the justice department.

Bank of America discovered the scheme in July of 2019 and promptly closed Farleys accounts. By then Bank of America had lost $514,240, court records show.

Farley also engaged in trust fund tax fraud, according to the justice department. As CEO of TYLC, Farley was required to withhold and pay trust fund taxes for her employees, including Medicare, Social Security, and federal income taxes. Employers are required to send these funds to the IRS every quarter.

From 2015 to 2019, Farley withheld $844,091.77 worth of trust fund taxes from employees paychecks that was never sent to the IRS, the DOJ said.

The DOJ said that when Farley pleaded guilty, she admitted to knowingly defrauding Bank of America and Citizens Trust Bank in addition to not paying trust fund taxes.

Her $1.3 million owed in restitution will be split with $514,240 going to Bank of America and $844,091 going to the IRS.

Farleys case was investigated by the FBI and the IRS.
A former US Marine who choked Jordan Neely to death on a New York City subway car has been identified as 24-year-old Daniel James Penny.

Neelys death was ruled by the New York medical examiners office as a homicide due to compression against his neck. Video footage and eyewitness accounts show a man believed to be Mr Penny with his arm wrapped around Neely for several minutes until his eyes shut and body goes limp.

On 11 May, the Manhattan District Attorneys office announced Mr Penny would face a charge of second-degree manslaughter. He turned himself into authorities in Manhattan the following morning, and he was released after posting $100,000 bail after a brief arraignment hearing. His next appearance is scheduled for 17 July.

New York City Police Department officers attempted CPR upon arrival on the F train at the Broadway-Lafayette platform in Manhattan on 1 May, according to an incident report reviewed by The Independent. Neely was pronounced dead at Lenox Health Greenwich Village hospital.

In a statement shared with The Independent at 7.30pm on 5 May, attorneys for Mr Penny said that when Neely began aggressively threatening Daniel Penny and the other passengers, Daniel, with the help of others, acted to protect themselves, until help arrived.

Daniel never intended to harm Mr Neely and could not have foreseen his untimely death, the statement added. For too long, those suffering from mental illness have been treated with indifference. We hope that out of this awful tragedy will come a new commitment by our elected officials to address the mental health crisis on our streets and subways.

The Independent and other news outlets confirmed Mr Pennys identity earlier on 5 May after online sleuths first discovered his name the previous night. Several news outlets, including The New York Post and The New York Daily News, reported attempts to reach him for comment earlier in the week or published details about his military history, but withheld his name from the public.

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Neelys previous criminal record and family history were widely published across tabloids and mainstream news outletsin the days after his death. Less is known about the man who fatally choked him.

Widely shared video footage captured by journalist Juan Alberto Vazquez shows a man believed to be Mr Penny and two other men holding Neely to the floor of a train car on 1 May.

Police initially questioned but did not arrest Mr Penny.

Mr Penny is represented by attorneys with the firm Raiser and Kenniff, whose founding partners were both in the armed services. Thomas Kenniff also unsuccessfully ran for Manhattan district attorney as a Republican in 2021, ultimately losing to Alvin Bragg, who received more than 82 per cent of the vote.

Attorneys for Neelys family said the statement from Mr Pennys legal team was neither an apology nor an expression of regret but character assassination and a clear example of why he believed he was entitled to take Jordans life.

His family and the legal team supporting them have repeatedly characterised Mr Penny as the sole aggressor who escalated Neelys distress to lethal violence.

Neelys death has sparked widespread demands for support for homeless and mentally ill New Yorkers, as advocates and lawmakers condemned what they characterised as an act of vigilantism in a city that has marginalised its most vulnerable residents.

Attorneys for Mr Penny said in a statement shared with the The Independent on 11 May that they are confident he will be fully absolved of any wrongdoing when all the facts and circumstances emerge.

When Mr Penny, a decorated Marine veteran, stepped in to protect himself and his fellow New Yorkers, his well-being was not assured. He risked his own life and safety, for the good of his fellow passengers, they wrote.

Who is Daniel Penny?

According to US Marine Corps records and a LinkedIn profile, Mr Penny joined the Marines in 2017 after graduating from West Islip High School, a hamlet roughly 36 miles outside of Manhattan in Suffolk County.

Public records confirm Mr Pennys former address at Marine Corps Base Camp LeJeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina. He served as a rifleman from 2017 to 2021 and reached the rank of sergeant, according to military records.

He left the Marines in 2021. He wrote in a service industry job site that his military experience helped him discover that he is passionate about helping, communicating, and connecting to different people from all over the world.

Photographs on a profile on the hiking website All Trails that appears to belong to Mr Penny also show his visits to trails across New England, Hawaii, Honduras, and North Carolina.

He is attending college in New York, according to his attorneys.

When he walked into a subway car on 1 May, Neely  a street performer who was experiencing homelessness  was complaining of hunger and thirst, according to Mr Vazquez, who posted a video of part of the incident on his Facebook page.

He wrote that Neely was yelling and said he was tired, didnt care whether he went to prison, and was ready to die. He said Neely threw his jacket to the floor of the train car before another passenger grabbed him in a headlock. Others grabbed at his arms.

In the video filmed from inside the train car, a passenger can be heard warning the man holding Neely in a chokehold.

You dont want to catch a murder charge, a man can be heard saying. You got a hell of a chokehold, man.

This was initially published on 5 May and has been updated with developments
Don Lemon said he had no regrets and owns his actions after being fired from CNN following his 17-year stint with the network.

Lemon announced his firing on Monday, saying he was stunned after being informed of the decision by his agent, and lamenting the lack of decency in the handling of the situation, which CNN rejected as inaccurate.

The news anchor hit the red carpet at the Time 100 Gala in New York City following his axing and spoke to Extra Tv about the channels decision.

Lemon called himself a survivor and said a lot of people love and support him.

I live my life with no regrets. I did what I did and I own it, and so no, I dont look back and I dont want to change things in the past, he said in the interview.

There are lots of things that come your way that are unexpected, but Im a survivor. I come from strong, sturdy stock in Louisiana and a lot of people are rooting for me and who love me.

Life goes on. Thats behind me and well see what happens in the future.

Speaking about his future plans, the former This Morning co-anchor said he is not going to jump to work immediately but has plans to enjoy his summer with his boyfriend and family at the beach.

Im gonna spend my summer on the beach and on the boat, and with my family, he said.

Just chill out and then Ill see what happens next, but Im fortunate enough to be in a position where I can do that.

He said he does want to work again and is excited for a new chapter, because I think, you know, life is short and whatever life hands you, you have to bob and weave and do it.

The surprise decision by the network came as Lemon had been mired in a string of controversies in recent months  with accusations of making offensive on-air comments about women and of mistreating female coworkers off-camera.

Lemon strongly denied accusations against him, which included claims of workplace misogyny and diva-like behaviour.

A source-based report in Variety alleged that he had disrespected CNN co-hosts Nancy Grace on air and broadcaster Soledad OBrien during an editorial meeting, among other things. According to fellow colleagues, Lemon mocked Grace by mimicking her on air.

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A CNN spokesperson, however, said Variety story provided no actual proof, and instead relies on anonymous sources and unsubstantiated claims.

CNN is unable to corroborate the alleged accounts, it said.

Lemon also made inflammatory remarks about Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haleys age in February, saying she wasnt in her prime.

He was later pulled out by the network from his morning broadcast, and he was made to undergo formal training. Upon his return, he tweeted an apology, Im learning from you, and Im committed to doing better.

Lemon arrived to the event along with his boyfriend, Tim Malone and said hes my biggest supporter.

When Mr Malone was asked if Lemon was driving him nuts, he laughed and said no but just a little bit.

I always drive him nuts, Lemon said in a light-hearted moment. Its nothing different. But as you know, hes my biggest supporter.
EXCLUSIVE: Asia-focused production, financing and sales outfit EST Studios has acquired international sales rights to Canneseries selection Streams Flow From A River, produced by Canadas Fae Pictures.

Created by Christopher Yip, the English-language series is premiering in the Canneseries Short Form Competition at MipTV.

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The series follows the struggles of a Chinese-Canadian immigrant family, who dream of owning land and place their bets on a laundromat in a tiny rural town in Alberta, Canada. When a freak snowstorm traps the dysfunctional family together, they are forced to confront events from a decade ago that tore them all apart.

The ensemble cast includes veteran Chinese-Canadian actors Jane Luk and Simon Sinn; rising stars Liam Ma and Danielle Ayow; Canadian TV actor Jinny Wong; Hong Kong-Canadian actor Raymond Chan, and newcomers Dana Liu and Adrian So.

The series also features performances from Indigenous actors Wesley French (Tribal) and Colton Clause (Three Pines), as well as Brett Houghton (Zero Chill) and Benjamin Sutherland (The Kings Of Napa).

Produced by Fae Pictures Shant Joshi (Framing Agnes), Lindsay Blair Goeldner, Abdul Malik and Lauren Saarimaki, the series is backed by the Independent Production Fund, Bell Fund, Ontario Creates and Canadian broadcaster Super Channel.

The deal for international sales was brokered by Joshi and EST Studios Tenten Wei and Juefang Zhang. EST Studios will introduce the six-episode short-form series, which is also being presented as a feature film, to buyers at the upcoming Cannes Marche du Film next month.

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Joshi said: On our mission to decolonize Hollywood and bring dynamic global-facing content to audiences, we couldnt have been happier to team up with EST Studios, a media company that is unapologetically championing the voice of global Asian youth throughout the diaspora.

Fae Pictures also produced Pakistani Urdu-language horror film, In Flames, which has been selected for Directors Fortnight at this years Cannes film festival.

Founded Jaeson Ma and Eric Tu, EST Studios is also handling international sales on Sundance 2022 selections Maika, which premiered in Sundances Kids section, and Every Day In Kaimuki. It has also produced K-Pops!, directed by rapper Anderson .Paak, and documentary Hidden Letters, which premiered at Tribeca in 2022.

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Kali Murray, law professor at Marquette University.

As more and more homes, particularly in neighborhoods with existing low homeownership rates, are bought by out-of-state investors, elderly homeowners with uncertain probate arrangements are especially at risk of being targeted they pass away.

Estate planning, the process of legally documenting what one wishes to do with their property and other assets, is often neglected in low-income and Black and Brown communities, meaning properties can languish in probate court or even become bought by the city if no heirs are found.

Once these homes are on the market, and sometimes even while they are still in probate, out-of-state investors can purchase the buildings and begin renting them, despite a person's wish that the home remains in the family.

More: Five tips for having a conversation with your loved one about estate planning

Kali Murray is a Marquette University law professor, who specializes in trusts and property law. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel asked Murray to explain how estate planning works, why so few people do it, and how it might be used to keep homes locally owned. Here is what she said.

Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

Is there a law that can be passed to prevent out-of-state investors from buying properties in bulk with cash and squeezing out local buyers?

Murray: (There is a) case in Maryland where the state legislature actually passed a law that prohibited out-of-state investors from buying a certain amount of property. And the fourth circuit, a pretty liberal circuit, held that it violated the commerce clause. The dormant commerce clause means you cannot unfairly burden interstate commerce.

Could people place a covenant on the home, restricting it from being sold to out-of-state investors or requiring only local residents be able to purchase it?

Property owners can include specific instructions surrounding their property in its deed, creating what is often called a covenant. Theoretically, if a covenant would result in discrimination against a protected class (race, religion, gender, etc.), that covenant would not be enforceable.

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RELATED: Wauwatosa sets stage for Wisconsin legislators to review a law that would ban discriminatory housing covenants

Murray: They could. The only issue is an emerging law on this out-of-state investment question (on) whether or not a restriction in state law or a covenant would violate the commerce clause. An individual real estate transaction is between party A and party B, so you can argue its not a state action ... a covenant is a private action.

Would a trust work better?

A trust is a legal status, where a trustee, designated by a property owner, is given the right to manage their assets.

Murray: A trust doesnt have to be published, so you can very well include all types of unconstitutional clauses unless one of the beneficiaries brings a claim that the trust itself is unconstitutional. Wills and trusts are weird. They withstand far more constitutional scrutiny than even a covenant in a real estate agreement. And thats because theyre an expression of testator intent and at your death, you're speaking your last wishes.

Distinguishing between a covenant, a clause in a will and a clause in a trust doesnt make a lot of constitutional sense, but we tend to treat them as very different legal documents.

How do you think out-of-state real estate investors would react?

Murray: There are two reactions. (One) is for these covenants to multiply.

(Then there) are actually the people who would take up the dormant commerce clause (in court). After Shelley v Cramer, the constitutional case that said racially restrictive covenants are not permissible, someone could argue a covenant that violates the dormant commerce clause is very similar to a racially restrictive covenant because they are both against public policy.

How is this out-of-state incursion on other neighborhoods possible?

Murray: Since 2008, real estate markets have become national. Since 2003 in Wisconsin, you can look at most real estate records online, at least up to 1970, and almost all tax auctions are online. It really puts pressure on local communities.

In the 1930s, in order to research properties, you had to go to a local courthouse and look through books; it was intensely local. With everyone moving online, that sort of stickiness is no longer there. The rise of housing costs in the United States has made it very easy to buy a house in someone elses community but not live in that house, (easy to) participate in that community and not particularly care about the type of tenants that move in or if the property is unkempt.

How do our current probate laws impact vulnerable communities?

Probate courts deal with the execution of wills, trusts and other after-death documents.

Murray: Our (probate) default position right now is (your property) goes to your kids and that turns out to be a horrible proposition for working-class people. When it comes to poor and working-class communities, our default forms of transfer are punitive and hurtful and it leads to an environment that is not sustainable. You have two kids (and) you say in the will, I give my property to them. They get into a big fight and sell it.

Is individual action enough to slow out-of-state investors from buying homes in a neighborhood?

Murray: We think about property on an individual level. But folks coming into the market think systemically. So peoples reaction probably has to be systemic. And thats probably how youre going to deal with it.

Need help with estate planning? Here are a few resources:

Legal Aid Society  Elder Law

Legal Aid Society of Milwaukees Elder Law division provides free advice and assistance for Milwaukee County Residents who are 50 or older.

You can reach them at question@lasmilwaukee.com, (414) 727-5300, Intake form

Legal Action of Wisconsin

Legal Action of Wisconsin has a SeniorLaw division that provides free legal assistance to Milwaukee County residents who are 60 and older.

You can reach them at 855-947-2529 (statewide), 414-278-7722 (Milwaukee), Intake form

Aging Resource Center of Milwaukee County

This division of the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) offers help to Wisconsin residents who are 60 and older.

Milwaukee County residents can reach them at ADRC@milwaukeecountywi.gov, (866) 229-9695 (statewide), (414) 289-6874 (local).

Love Thy Neighbor Foundation

The Love Thy Neighbor Foundation is a nonprofit offering seniors throughout Southeast Wisconsin help finding resources for legal and financial planning, as well as housekeeping, moving, residential care and other resources.

You can reach them at help@lovethyneighborfoundation.org, 414-562-6666, Contact form.

Need more help with housing questions? The Milwaukee Resource Guide is here to help. Have something you want answered? Submit a question.

Talis Shelbourne is an investigative solutions reporter covering the issues of affordable housing and lead poisoning. Have a tip? You can reach Talis at (414) 403-6651 or tshelbourn@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @talisseer and message her on Facebook at @talisseer.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Here's how you can protect your homes from an out-of-state investor
A forensic anthropologist who took part in the second autopsy of Stephen Smith had the bones of a murdered Florida teenager for a decade without permission from the girls mother, according to a lawsuit.

Mary Penny Lovett Lakoskey, the teens mom, and her son Amos Lakoskey, filed a lawsuit in state Circuit Court in Duval County, Florida last month against Heather Walsh-Haney, an associate professor at Florida Gulf Coast University.

Walsh-Haney also has been investigated by Florida state police  but not charged  for possessing the remains of other victims without authorization.

Earlier this month, Walsh-Haney observed the second autopsy of Smith, whose body was found on a rural road in Hampton County, SC, in 2015. His death was initially ruled a hit-and-run, but the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division earlier this month said Smith was murdered.

Walsh-Haney was part of a new team assembled by the lawyers for Smiths mother, Sandy, to conduct the second autopsy.

Smiths death received renewed interest after disgraced lawyer Alex Murdaugh was convicted in March of murdering his wife and son. SLED previously announced it was reopening its investigation into Smiths death because of information, so far undisclosed, that investigators uncovered during the Murdaugh investigation.

No known evidence has linked the Murdaughs to Smiths death.

The second autopsy team  called the dream team by the lawyers  was led by Dr. Dan Schultz, president and chief pathologist for a private company in Tampa called Final Diagnosis. Also on the team was Dr. DMichelle DuPre, a retired forensic pathologist in Columbia who was the medical examiner in Miami and also a professor.

Walsh-Haney responded in an email to The State that she is limited in what she can say about the lawsuit since it is pending. She wrote generally about the role of a forensic anthropologist and the fact that it is the medical examiner who makes the decisions about remains and communication with families.

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Eric Bland, an attorney for Sandy Smith, said he was unaware of the pending lawsuit.

Dr. Haney came highly recommended. There are not many in her field of expertise that are pathology anthropologists who do autopsies. I did not know of her name or reputation prior to the Stephen Smith matter.

In this 2017 file photo, family members hold a portrait of Tina Lovett prior to her remains being exhumed and then reburied. Her family was not told they did not receive all of her remains following her 1984 murder near her Jacksonville, FL home. Instead, her remains were shuffled between two universities a medical examiners office. Her family has sued.

A career in forensic anthropology

Walsh-Haney is known for experiential learning  going into the field to conduct investigations and exposing students to the same.

Being directly involved in casework helps students understand the many roles individual analysts play as part of a forensic investigation. For example, Im focused on skeletal remains, but how do I collect evidence without impacting other aspects of the investigation? she wrote on her profile on the Florida Gulf Coast University website.

She has identified bodies long unknown and worked on cold cases. She and two graduate students worked at the Tulsa, Oklahoma, site, where human remains were unearthed from a 1921 race massacre.

Walsh-Haney was a graduate student at the University of Florida when she worked for three weeks at Ground Zero after the Sept. 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center. She was asked to study what was believed to be a crime scene off the Gulf coast of Sarasota, but she instead discovered a 7,000-year-old Native American ancestral burial site.

She lectures widely, has appeared on national news shows and works with eight Florida medical examiners, having handled more than 500 forensic anthropology cases in her career.

She said she owes a lot to her mentor in college, Dr. William Maples and the lessons he taught students.

Chief among those lessons is the position of trust and responsibility that we must accept when we engage in forensic endeavors  whether in support of law enforcement activities, human rights work, or academic research and study, she wrote in an email to The State.

But her work has not been without criticism. The Florida Times-Union reported in 2019 her services were not being used by the medical examiner in Lee, Hendry and Glades counties because of mistrust issues.

When asked about these issues by The State, Walsh-Haney responded, The issue of trust had been raised during investigative interviews. The report (by Florida Department of Law Enforcement) did not state that the basis for the mistrust was founded in anything that I did wrong and, in fact, I maintain without equivocation that I did not do anything improper or unethical in the performance of my work. Otherwise, I decline to engage in further discussions regarding misguided and misleading allegations from more than 15 years ago.

Previous lawsuit in federal court

Lakoskey first filed a lawsuit in federal court against Walsh-Haney and three medical examiners in 2019. A panel of judges ruled that the group had immunity because of their official positions and dismissed the case. Lakoskey then elected to pursue a lawsuit in state court last month for emotional pain she endured.

Lakoskeys daughter, Tina Lovett, 17, went missing from their Jacksonville, Florida, home in April 1984. Her body was found May 8, 1984, naked, face down in an area where people dumped broken appliances and dead animals. The body was so badly decomposed, the medical examiner at the time, Bonafacio Floro, could not tell precisely the nature of her wounds but ruled the death a homicide.

The body was sent from the Medical Examiners Office in Jacksonville to the Alternate Internment Funeral Home in Jacksonville and buried at Riverside Memorial Park.

What Lakosky didnt know was that Floro sent only the bones from her daughters legs and feet and kept her rib cage, femur and skull, the lawsuit says.

It does not say why. Floro kept the remains until 1992, when they were sent to C.A. Pound Laboratory at the University of Florida for analysis. In 2000, Walsh-Haney, then employed at the University of Florida, sent the remains back to the original medical examiners office. In 2005, the remains were sent to Walsh-Haney, then employed at Florida Gulf Coast University.

Lavoskey did not learn until 2017, when the new Jacksonville medical examiner contacted her, that she did not have all that remained of her daughter and that those remains had spent 33 years being shuffled between the two Florida universities and the medical examiners office.

Lavoskey had her daughter exhumed in 2017 and confirmed only her daughters leg and feet bones were inside the casket, and then reburied all of her remains.

These were outrageous, extreme and went beyond all bounds of decency and would be regarded as shocking, atrocious, odious and utterly intolerable in a civilized society, the lawsuit says.

In this file photo, Penny Lovett Lakoskey drops her head as cemetery workers finish reburying the remains of her daughter, Tina Lovett, on Aug. 31, 2017. Tina Lovett was 17 when she was murdered in 1984 seven miles from her Jacksonville, FL home. Her family believed they had buried all of her badly decomposed remains at Riverside Memorial Park. But they were shocked to learn 33 years later that the majority of her remains had instead been shuffled between various agencies around Florida before being returned to the Jacksonville Medical Examiners office.

When the Florida Times Union asked in 2017 why the medical examiners office had possession of the bones for years, Medical Examiner Valerie Rao said Lovetts case was still open. She also said her office did not have the space to keep so many remains.

But the lawsuit says the Lovett case had been closed for decades. One man arrested was released for insufficient evidence and died not long after.

In addition to Walsh-Haney and Floro, the lawsuit names Medical Examiners Margarita Arruza and Rao.

In 2017, Walsh-Haney sent the Times-Union a one-page statement.

She said she was asked as an anthropology consultant to take possession of Lovetts bones on behalf of the medical examiners office. It was part of a larger effort to inventory skeletal remains.

They were stored at the Medical Examiners Office in Naples, Walsh-Haney said.

Other cases

Walsh-Haney was also investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement in 2008 after two graduate students volunteering in her program found the remains of two men who had been murdered six years before  Frankie DeAngelo Dennard and Jeffrey Ivan Gwyn Jr.

The students were preparing unidentified remains to be shipped to another lab so they could be identified using DNA analysis, but were puzzled when they realized the two men had already been identified. The students questioned why the remains had not already been returned to their families and sought answers from Florida Gulf Coast University officials before going to law enforcement.

The students told investigators they asked Walsh-Haney why she had the bones and were told they had been donated, according to a report by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

The District 4 Medical Examiners Office confirmed to investigators Walsh-Haney had remains from 30 to 40 of its cases in her possession at the Naples Medical Examiners Office and that she had a right to possess the remains of Dennard and Gwyn, according to the report.

But the Gwyn family in Atlanta said they did not give permission for anyone to have the bones. The Dennard family said they did not want his bones returned, investigators found.

While Walsh-Haney reported that remains from other cases had been donated to her by the Lee County Sheriffs Office, detectives there said that they did not give their permission and did not have the authority to do so, investigators found.

Ultimately, an assistant state attorney said he did not see any criminal intent and no charges were brought against Walsh-Haney.

Walsh-Haney told The State she accepts human remains for forensic analysis at the request of various medical examiners and, sometimes, law enforcement agencies. She said she allows highly qualified students to work with the remains under her supervision.

This is what I refer to as casework and students who have had criminal history checks and performed well academically have the opportunity to accompany me while I do this work.

She said that is similar to what medical students experience in teaching hospitals.

Remains from forensic cases are never used as exemplars or the like for general coursework, study, or research, she said.

Instead, donated human skeletal remains, nonhuman specimens, and skeletal casts are used.

One of the principle errors made by those who are not familiar with the type of work I do is to assume that the former (forensic cases) are used for academic purposes in the same manner as the latter (donated collections), she said.
A University of South Florida professor who calls himself "Dr. Deep Sea" broke the world record for the longest a human has lived underwater this week after a jaw-dropping 74 days. And he's still not finished yet.

Joseph Dituri, a retired U.S. Naval officer who also a holds a doctorate in biomedical engineering, has been living in a former underwater marine research laboratory called Jules Undersea Lodge, located 30 feet below the surface of a lagoon in Key Largo. Dubbed "Project Neptune 100," Dituri first embarked on his experiment on March 1, and he plans to make it through the entire 100 days despite already having broken the record.

The previous record of 73 days was first set in 2014 by Tennessee professors Bruce Cantrell and Jessica Fain at the same location in 2014.

Besides bragging rights, Dituri is hoping that his underwater stay will help him learn about how the human body reacts to extreme pressure for prolonged periods of time. Whereas submarines use technology to adjust for underwater pressure, the lodge does not. Dituri has been conducting daily physiology experiments to monitor how his body responds.

"The idea here is to populate the worlds oceans, to take care of them by living in them and really treating them well, the 55-year-old told the Associated Press.

"Today I broke the world record for living underwater," Dituri tweeted of his milestone on Sunday. "The curiosity for discovery has led me here. My goal from day one has been to inspire generations to come, interview scientists who study life undersea and learn how the human body functions in extreme environments."

Today I broke the world record for living underwater. The curiosity for discovery has led me here. My goal from day 1 has been to inspire generations to come, interview scientists who study life undersea and learn how the human body functions in extreme environments.



~Ad mare pic.twitter.com/bT0wndmMx9  Joseph Dituri, Ph.D. (@drdeepsea) May 14, 2023

In addition to his experiments, Dituri has been teaching students virtually and conducting broadcast interviews. He's been surviving on protein-rich foods such as eggs and salmon that he prepares in a microwave, and stays fit using a combination of bodyweight exercises and resistance bands.

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But while Dituri doesn't mind living underwaterhe was also a diver for the Navy, after allthe main thing getting to him is lack of sunlight.

"The thing that I miss the most about being on the surface is literally the sun, Dituri explained. 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."

Seventy-four days without the sun would be a challenge, but it's nothing compared to Spanish athlete Beatriz Flamini, who last month emerged from a cave in southern Spain after a whopping 500 days. Flamini was being monitored by scientists in an effort to understand the effects of isolation on the human body and mind.
Donatello has watched 1,189 other dogs and puppies walk past him through the kennel on their way to forever homes.

Maggie Epling Photography

After four long years spent biding his time at a Kentucky animal shelter, an endlessly patient pup is still waiting to find his forever home.

The 5-year-old pit bull mix named Donatello arrived as a stray at Woodford Humane Society in Versailles in May 2019. This 62-pound lovebug has been looking for a family ever since.

Maggie Epling Photography

He has been homeless for four years. FOUR YEARS, the shelter wrote on Facebook. Donatello has watched 1,189 other dogs and puppies walk past him through the kennel on their way to forever homes. And he is now officially our longest resident ever

That title was previously held by a dog named Mercedes, who spent three years, 11 months, and six days at Woodford Humane Society before she was adopted in 2012.

Unfortunately for Donatello, he checks many of the boxes that cause pets to be overlooked by adopters: he's a large, black dog; he's older; and he's a pit bull. He also needs to be in a home where hes the only pet, because, as the shelter explains, he is a king, he knows it, and he will accept no pretenders to the throne.

Certainly not the biggest ask!

The Facebook post urges potential adopters to see past the stereotypes of his breed and appreciate all the things that make him shine of which there are plenty.

In addition to being perfectly house and crate trained, Donatello loves kids and can easily transition from short bursts of wrecking-ball zoomies to hours of couch potato time. This handsome guy is also a belly-rub connoisseur who, despite his size, fancies himself a lap dog.

All Donatello asks is that you see past stereotypes of his breed; that you let him catch your eye, even though hes a big black dog; that you give an adult dog a chance to win your heart before a puppy does, Woodford Humane Society writes.

Donatello is happy here, and he is endlessly patient, the post concludes. He has a home with us for as long as it takes. But after four years (FOUR YEARS) of watching other dogs go home...can it finally be Donatello's turn?

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As of publication, Donatello is still available. Those who think they can give him the home he deserves are asked to make an adoption appointment by calling (859) 873-5491.

We're rooting for you, Donatello!



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Read the original article on Southern Living.
The Republican Party's historic birthplace in Ripon has been moved from its longtime location to a newer commercial strip.

The relocation of the historic birthplace of the Republican Party includes creating a new visitors center in hopes of drawing more people to the small Wisconsin community of Ripon.

And that effort involves an Arizona-based contractor who's a Ripon native.

But the move of the building  the third time its's been relocated over the past century or so  from a longtime site in downtown Ripon to a newer commercial strip on the city's northwest side is endangering its landmark status on the National Register of Historic Places.

The move of the building, known as the Little White Schoolhouse, was approved last fall by city officials.

News of its Monday relocation has raised concerns from Republicans, including Sen. Ron Johnson and Timothy Bachleitner, chairman of the Fond du Lac County Republican Party.

"This national treasure has now been moved right in the midst of an Ace Hardware, a vape/smoke shop instead of being able to stroll one block away and see the buildings where the men who founded the party have their names adorned on them," Bachleitner said.

Ripon Mayor Ted Grant on Wednesday defended the move.

"In general, I think it's a positive move for the city," he said, noting that the old location didn't have its own parking or restrooms.

The relocation from 305 Blackburn St. to 1074 W. Fond du Lac St. includes plans to create a visitors center in the former Marine Credit Union at that site, Grant said.

The new site also will provide a parking lot for visitors, Grant said, with more visibility and accessibility on Wisconsin Highway 23 than the Blackburn Street location.

A proposal to locate the schoolhouse to the Fond du Lac Street site was reviewed in October by the Ripon Plan Commission.

After a discussion that included questions about whether the site has adequate parking, the commission voted 5-0, with one member abstaining, to approve the plan, according to the meeting minutes.

The 3.5-acre Fond du Lac Street site was donated to the Ripon Chamber of Commerce by Villa Rita Holdings LLC.

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Villa Rita also is the owner of the small Blackburn Street parcel where the schoolhouse was located.

The Ripon Area Chamber of Commerce, which owns the schoolhouse, sold that lot in December to Villa Rita for $1, according to state real estate records.

Villa Rita's registered agent is Justin Krueger, a Ripon native who is chief executive officer and president of Icon National. That Scottsdale, Arizona-based general contractor renovates affordable housing sites.

Krueger in 2021 dropped plans for a mixed-use development about a half-mile northwest of the new schoolhouse site, according to RiponPress.com.

The schoolhouse's new location could cause the building to lose its placement on the National Register of Historic Places, according to a letter to the Wisconsin Historical Society from the U.S. Department of the Interior obtained by USA TODAY NETWORK - Wisconsin.

The new site removes the schoolhouse from its historic context in downtown Ripon, according to the letter.

The ruling came on March 20  three months after the Chamber of Commerce sold the schoolhouse's previous downtown site to Krueger's group. Krueger said he doesn't have plans for the Blackburn Street parcel "at this time."

Meanwhile, the chamber could appeal the Department of Interior's ruling or reapply for historic landmark status. Grant said the chamber and the city were pursuing both routes to restoring the schoolhouse's status.

A property on the National Register of Historic Places is eligible to seek federal and state historic preservation tax credits. Those tax credits can help pay for renovations, such as new windows, as long as they meet federal standards.

The schoolhouse was built in 1853, according to the Wisconsin Historical Society.

"This building became significant for a meeting that took place on the evening of March 20, 1854," according to the society. "The people at the meeting were mostly Whigs, Free Soilers, and Democrats who believed that their respective parties could not prevent the extension of slavery to the north.

"They came out of the schoolhouse in agreement that one unified front was crucial to the fight against slavery and thus began the Republican Party."

In 1860, the schoolhouse was converted into a private residence. In 1908, it was moved from its original location at Thorne and East Fond du Lac streets to the northwest corner of nearby Ripon College  and moved again to Blackburn Street in 1954, according to the society.

The latest events come several years after a previous attempt at commercial development tied to the Little White Schoolhouse fell apart.

Milwaukee attorney and developer James Connelly promised to transform downtown Ripon when the city in 2009 agreed to provide $8.6 million to help finance a $23 million project that included a hotel, a museum honoring Republican presidents and other developments.

Connelly completed just two of the 10 separate developments: an expanded pizzeria, and a building remodeled to house two of his businesses. The city sued Connelly, a retired Foley & Lardner partner, with that litigation dismissed in 2015 after a settlement.

Tom Daykin can be emailed at tdaykin@jrn.com and followed on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: GOP birthplace move in Ripon, Wisconsin hopes to draw more visitors
A showdown is looming between the Louisiana House and Senate on competing bills to determine the fate of the booming adult consumable THC hemp products industry.

On Thursday the House Health and Welfare Committee advanced Republican Speaker Clay Schexnayder's House Bill 605 that would tweak current law by restricting serving and package sizes and give regulators additional resources to monitor products and retailers, but keep the current 8-milligram THC limit for a single serving intact.

On Tuesday the Senate Agriculture Committee advanced Republican Monroe Sen. Stewart Cathey's Senate Bill 219 that would dramatically roll back the THC limit to 2 milligrams or less, a measure those in the hemp industry testified would put them out of business.

"I think we've come to a solution and have some guidelines we know will keep us in the right posture," Schexnayder testified while presenting his bill. "We've all worked very hard to get clarity for what's happening in the hemp industry."

Hemp entrepreneurs testified in general support of Schexnayder's bill, saying it will allow them to remain in business while increasing regulation to prevent a repeat of hundreds of illegal hemp products being approved by the Louisiana Department of Health.

"It closes some of the gaps while fixing these issues in the interest of public health," said Blaine Jennings, owner of Virgin Hemp Farms in Lafayette.

That's in direct contrast to Jennings' assessment of Cathey's bill, which he called "a direct attack on the thousands of business owners in this booming industry" in Tuesday's Senate hearing.

Lawmakers, regulators and entrepreneurs in the hemp industry are grappling with which consumable products from gummies to inhalables to frozen drinks containing THC are legal and how they can be packaged and sold, especially in relation to serving sizes and THC levels.

Other states are also debating whether to severely restrict or ban outright hemp products containing delta-8 THC or other novel cannabinoids.

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THC is the chemical that creates a high or euphoria and is often credited with helping manage pain, stress and insomnia, among other conditions. Hemp's THC levels are typically lower than in its cannabis-cousin marijuana, but it can be concentrated in hemp products like edibles and sold at CBD stores.

Leafly, a website focused on cannabis use and education, says a 5-milligram dose is "when a high begins to set in for many new or inconsistent consumers."

These STR8W8 gummies and chocolates with hemp-derived THC is manufactured and sold in Louisiana.

Cathey and Republican Monroe Sen. Jay Morris implied that the Legislature was misled by Schexnayder when the speaker ushered through hemp legislation last year.

"If we're going to legalize (recreational THC), it needs to be done openly and honestly, which wasn't done," Morris said Tuesday without referring directly to Schexnayder. "It was sold to the Legislature as if we weren't allowing psychoactive materials."

Schexnayder didn't address the Senate bill or critics, but said there has been a flood of "misinformation" about the current law and the hemp industry.

"I think (with HB 605) you'll see much tighter guidelines that will give (regulators) the tools they need," Schexnayder said. "We've created something very positive for Louisiana."

More: Louisiana senators say Legislature duped into legalizing hemp products loaded with THC

Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Hemp THC battle brewing in Louisiana Legislature on delta-8 fate
The company combines specialized providers in communications, marketing, and reputation management, bringing to market a first-of-its-kind full-spectrum solution

AUSTIN, Texas, May 16, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Status Labs, the industry leader in digital reputation management, announced today a new operating structure with the formation of Millbrook Companies, a group created to equip corporations and high-profile individuals with specialized offerings in reputation management, strategic communications, and performance marketing  under one umbrella.

Founded and led by Darius Fisher and Jesse Boskoff, Millbrook Companies combines industry-leading expertise in digital reputation management, corporate advisory and crisis communications, and digital marketing across three distinct teams: Status Labs, Sensei Advisory, and BLP.

Millbrook Companies has a global team of dedicated professionals of more than 115 employees across corporate offices in Austin, Texas; New York City; Los Angeles; Miami; London; and Hamburg, Germany. Following banner years between 2020 and 2022, during which top-line revenue grew more than 30 percent, Millbrook has expanded into Asia with an office in Singapore and is actively recruiting to meet growing demand for its challenger marketing services  a testament to a winning formula.

"Companies and high-profile individuals today need new strategies, services, and technology that match the speed and scale of challenges theyre encountering in an increasingly digital, A.I-driven fast-paced environment," said Darius Fisher, co-founder and CEO of Millbrook Companies and Status Labs. "Our core thesis is that there is a market opportunity to continue to build, buy, and partner with nimble, forward-thinking services firms that can work as one technology-enabled platform to meet the needs of modern companies and people."

The newest offering under the Millbrook Companies umbrella is Sensei Advisory, a corporate advisory and communications services firm that combines executive consultation and strategic media relations with digital reputation management tactics, bringing to market the worlds first full-spectrum reputation management firm.

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"Most legacy strategic communications agencies have become complacent and havent kept up with the changes of the digital media environment were operating in today, between the fragmentation of the mainstream journalism landscape and the increasing legitimacy of alternative news and media channels," Fisher said. "Weve seized the opportunity to combine digital reputation management expertise with high-impact advisory services to offer our clients a comprehensive approach to controlling the narrative around their brands, on- and offline."

BLP rounds out the Millbrook Companies portfolio with the critical digital advertising and convergence solution that complements the services of Status Labs and Sensei Advisory. Formerly Blue Land Partners, BLP offers highly customized, full-funnel marketing strategies to help companies acquire customers efficiently at scale.

The driving force behind BLP is Jesse Boskoff. As the former head of marketing for FanDuel, Boskoff played a critical role in driving the companys valuation from $10 million to over $1 billion in just four years.

"Our main differentiating factor among growth marketing firms centers around our philosophy for hiring  we choose people with highly analytical, non-marketing backgrounds, and we train them to master advertising strategies on all of the main digital channels available today," said Boskoff, co-founder and COO of BLP. "Our proprietary, math-driven approach to marketing and creative allows us to be successful and scale campaigns far beyond other firms capabilities."

Since 2017, BLP has grown consistently without a dedicated sales team, managing more than $80 million in ad spend for some of the worlds fastest-growing businesses, including venture-backed startups, DTC leaders, and multinational CPG brands. Today, the division is led by a team of more than 20 based in Austin, Los Angeles, and New York City.

"Were very excited about the future of Millbrook Companies as a comprehensive platform that delivers results to clients, and we look forward to continuing to build on this success by acquiring other tech-enabled services firms that fit our core thesis: Modern companies operating today need services that will enable them to thrive into the next decade, and far beyond," Boskoff said.

ABOUT MILLBROOK COMPANIES

Millbrook is a family of three distinct teams: Status Labs, BLP, and Sensei Advisory. Named after the companys landmarked Austin headquarters, Millbrook builds niche, forward-thinking teams that collaboratively work together to support our clients and help overcome any marketing, media, communications, or business challenge. We pride ourselves on offering unparalleled service and domain expertise within the verticals in which we operate. As a company, we aim to build a better future for our people, clients, and community. To learn more about Millbrook, visit MillbrookCompanies.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516005369/en/

Contacts

Debora Lima

Sensei Advisory, Media Director

debora@senseiadvisory.com
EXCLUSIVE: In Guy Ritchies The Covenant, Jake Gyllenhaal throws on the military fatigues he hasnt worn since 2005s Jarhead, this time joined by an award-winning actor and real-life veteran in Dar Salim. In the new action movie from STX and MGM, Gyllenhaal plays U.S. Army Master Sgt. John Kinley, whose bond with his interpreter, Ahmed (Salim), only grows after their unit is ambushed by the Taliban. After Kinley is injured during the escape, Ahmed embarks on a Herculean effort to carry Kinley across the Afghanistan mountains to safety. When Ahmed is unable to get a visa to get him and his family to the U.S., Kinley risks his life to return to Afghanistan and save him.

The film, which hits theaters Friday, features the edge-of-your seat suspense and impressive action sequences that Ritchie is known for, but it also shows the bond soldiers have with their interpreters and the political mess behind the scenes trying to get them to the U.S. once their tour is over.

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Deadline sat down with Gyllenhaal and Salim to discuss the training and research that went into their roles, the blueprint Ritchie presented prior to them signing on, and whether another recent Gyllenhaal co-star has a resume as impressive as Salims.

DEADLINE: I think the reason I enjoyed the film so much was it surprised me that it looked nothing like a Guy Ritchie movie that Ive seen in the past  not that thats a bad thing, but he has a style and a visual sense. Jake, prior to meeting with Guy on this, what was your anticipation of what this film would be? And what was it that he ultimately sold you on that made you want to do it?

JAKE GYLLENHAAL: Well, Ive known Guy for a while now and Ive always felt a connection with him, you know? I mean, hes obviously his own sort of deeply charismatic personality, but I just always felt hes a bit of a philosopher in a way, and I love the conversations we had in the past, and so I just thought, Oh, itd be really interesting to make a movie with him. So, he came to me with this and it was like a 50-page script treatment. But he was saying this is how I intend to shoot it, which was a different kind of process from what I had ever experienced.

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And I think also just that idea was interesting to me, but most of all I think its very hard to tell a simple story, you know? I think that actually the difficulty level goes way up when the story is simple, and this is a story that, I think, it got me from the beginning. There were a lot of different stories about the experience of the U.S. and Afghanistan that I had read  some politicized, some not  and this just felt sort of nonpartisan. It felt like a parable. And I knew Guy is going to make great action; it was going to be tense. But I think that, at the heart of it, the idea of one person doing good for another person reluctantly with no sentimentality really got me.

DEADLINE: Dar, I remember tracking this role and there were a lot of people really intrigued and wanted to go after it. Im curious what made you interested? Because at the end of the day, the middle of film is like your film, with Jake not really in it, and you have to do a lot. What made you chase the role?

DAR SALIM: I mean, just working with Guy Ritchie and Jake Gyllenhaal itself is reason enough to do any film, you know? They had me at hello to be honest. But I also think its very rare to see a film where you have two people who are like two men from different cultures in a world where often all the things that divide us are really what the focus is on. And here you have two guys from different cultures caught up in a bad situation, in a war, and at the end of the day you see both want the same thing, and they make the same choices. And as Jake says, it makes it even more interesting that reluctantly theyre kind of stuck on each other.

It would be much easier to tell a story about two American soldiers or two Afghan people, but here you actually take one from each camp and you put them in this situation and you realize that much more unites us than divides us. People just really want to be in a situation where they can take care of their families and give themselves the opportunities that they see others have. And then you have these two guys in a Guy Ritchie universe, because it is still a Guy Ritchie film. Its different than the ones hes done, but it is entertaining in the sense that its larger than life.

Its not like a documentary and it doesnt point fingers or try to teach you anything. Its really entertaining and it keeps you emotionally engaged from beginning to end. But at the same time you have these two very different people relying on each other, and making those choices, and I thought that was a beautiful thing to show in todays world.

DEADLINE: I also appreciate the kind of authenticity the film brings, and Im assuming Guy put you through some training to get ready. Ill ask you first Dar since you were in the Royal Guard: Does it compare at all to what you went through with that?

GYLLENHAAL: It was a lot of, I made a lot of military movies.

DEADLINE: Ive got you next, Jake. Oh, I got you.

GYLLENHAAL: I dont understand, Justin, what are you talking about? I can pretend to fly a plane. Who cares if he knows actually how to fly a plane, it looks like I can fly a plane. Whats the difference?

SALIM: What matters is that hes knows thats youre really good thats why.

DEADLINE: Yeah, exactly.

GYLLENHAAL: Right, right.

SALIM: Ive got you, Justin, thats all right. No, Id say, you know Ive done a few military roles myself back home, and Ive been in the army and so Ive done other training also after I finished my army. And I have a lot of buddies who are veterans from the Afghan War and Iraq War, so yeah I felt quite comfortable doing that part of the movie.

DEADLINE: Jake, you had just done Ambulance with Michael Bay and obviously he puts people through the ringer as well when it comes to arms training for those films. Was it easier to jump in for this film or was it a different feel? Obviously military and armed robbery are two different things, but just in the way of holding the weapons and dealing with that, was that a help at all?

GYLLENHAAL: You know a lot of my weapons-handling skills I developed when I was preparing for End of Watch, actually. And then in Jarhead, yeah, we went through that too. And then, Ive had fair training, a lot of training, with live weapons and live fire and then learning the movements and military movements, and it has come from previous projects. So with Michael, sure, and there was a lot of gun-handling there too, but particularly, I think most of all the thin I learned on End of Watch, which has stayed with me through all of the projects since, is gun safety.

Because I think when youre training like that, when you really feel the danger of it, you behave differently. And so, yeah, all of that. We also had incredible technical advisors. You know, we had Special Ops guys, two of them in particular Dan and Kawa who were with us all the time. And you know obviously tactics change, so the way I held my rifle when I first began was different from five years ago when I learned it. And Kawa re-trained some things and new techniques that they were using, particularly in special operations, and so those things we changed. But generally it did come from a long history with learning from some of the best people in the world on previous projects.

DEADLINE: Did you guys get in touch with past military interpreters, or anybody who had to go through the bureaucracy of trying to get visas for these guys? There is that 10-minute scene which is kind of important to the messaging, about when these guys get back home how hard it is to help out their brothers in arms and get them back there with you.

GYLLENHAAL: Yeah, one of my closest friends is a Marine who fought in Fallujah in a number of different battles in that war and is very active now. Hes now the head of emergency services in New York City and he and his interpreter, who was an enormous part of his history in the military and his experience. And I know he would say, I dont want to speak for him, but you know brought his two daughters over back to New York to basically help change their life, you know, got them visas and theyre now committed to working for New York City. You know, he actually was a real reason for me and inspiration and why this story means so much.

Theres also all the political stuff thats much bigger than that, but for me their story, Abud and Zach, the two of them, their friendship, the family that theyve created, you know, a lot of things came from that story. So, understanding the difficulty of the process, where we are now. . I mean, since the start of the war I think 300 Afghan interpreters have been killed, you know, by the Taliban. Theres still thousands more there who helped America and the soldiers through this entire war, and that process is very difficult and very complicated, and I know we are still in the midst of it.

Theres also a wonderful documentary about interpreters. I got a hold of the filmmakers of that to just discuss, because they kind of had all these relationships there too. But mostly it came from my personal experience.

DEADLINE: Dar, did you?

SALIM: Yeah, I mean, Denmark is where Im from, I spoke to several friends of mine who were deployed in Iraq and in Afghanistan as interpreters, and they also introduced me to other people who locally were hired and spent time with them back home. And you know I think all research is done, for me, just by being around people. You can plan so much and you can have some questions, but I think just being around people and realizing their way of thinking and our similarities and what their dreams and aspirations are and how they interact with each other, I think thats how you learn about people and their backgrounds and their little ticks and tocks and what moves them.

At the same time, you take all that and then you kind of throw it away in a Guy Ritchie film, because I also feel that what makes it great is it is kind of larger than life. So, when you see this film youre not going to see Ahmed, hes not going to be your typical interpreter  I mean, the typical interpreter might not take that three weeks journey to safety, but in essence they all do that. Because they all do put their lives at stake every day to help the U.S. and their soldiers as do the U.S. soldiers.

GYLLENHAAL: I also think theres a belief in what is, I think, the fabric of America, which is that we are a country of heroes in a lot of ways, and I think sometimes reluctant ones. And I think people join into these worlds, interpreters come to help in that space, because they believe in that idea as well. And whats so special about this movie is that it perpetuates that idea, you know? It made me feel like, Oh, thats the American I want to be.

DEADLINE: What I found great about this film is where the viewer is almost waiting for the action. It reminded me of Hurt Locker  the suspense. Like, when Ahmed picks up the Taliban and youre just wondering how hes going to go about that. When you guys were going over those scenes with Guy, how did you discuss handling them? The suspense of the film plays almost better than some of those full-on action scenes.

GYLLENHAAL: I agree.

SALIM: Well, I dont think we did go over them. I mean what works is really, as you say, the script is just like a blueprint, and Guy kind of figures it out on the day. You have to trust. I mean, Guy has a special language hes developed with his audience over so many years, and that gives him a confidence to play around with the material. And I think a lot of the scenes were [like that], which is great when it works  and it did I feel on this film when you have the right people doing it. They were kind of developed and born on set on the day.

GYLLENHAAL: Yeah, but in that 50-page treatment script there was a real sense of structure, right? Like, what youre talking about is structure. And you could feel the movement and it was correct and it was packed with tension anyway. And then he wanted people to come fill it in with humanity, and we worked daily on that stuff. But I agree with you, I think it is, its the waiting  the movie is so tense. Ive showed it to a couple of friends and they were like, I needed to pee from 15 minutes in and I didnt go to the bathroom for the whole time. To me, that is the actual barometer of whether a movie actually keeps your focus. The action sequences are also really emotional, and I have never felt that way. I got really emotional in some of the action scenes.

DEADLINE: Well, the first kind of big firefight, you kind of know things are going to go the wrong way for some of the troop.

GYLLENHAAL: Yeah.

DEADLINE: In the second act when you guys are evading the Taliban, I couldnt help but feel the drain and strain you were going through. Did you feel that as the shoot was going on, that it was one of the more physically and mentally draining things you have done career-wise?

SALIM: Im not going to say yes unless you are.

GYLLENHAAL: No, because I feel like hes from Denmark and nothing strains them, you know what I mean?

SALIM: Thats not true.

GYLLENHAAL: Hes this strong, you know. One of the things about it is there were moments. That first few weeks when we were doing the chase through the mountains, that was full of a lot of pretty intense physicality. And we were shooting in a way that we would just basically, like, we would shoot where we would just do the path, right?

SALIM: Yes.

GYLLENHAAL: We were shooting and then going to one space and then wed move on, so, that was. But one of the things I think, Guy, its his M.O.: Yes you push yourself, but you also have a good amount of fun. I mean, he had his barbecue out near set at all times. And so, you know, whenever we physically exert ourselves too much there would always be something cooking on the barbecue.

DEADLINE: Wait, the barbecue scene where theyre eating. Thats Guys?

GYLLENHAAL: No, no, he has an actual barbecue that comes with him [that] he designed. But yeah, its an homage to his barbecue, I think, inspired by us.

SALIM: It was such a contrast, like, sometimes youd run down a mountain and be sweaty and twist your knees and get hurt. And then youd come down and theres this beautiful environment where Guy is doing this special

GYLLENHAAL: Cooking sardines or something, you know?

SALIM: And we get to taste a little bite, you know, yeah.

DEADLINE: Jake, you recently put on social media the photo of the two of you and youre writing of Dar this renaissance man: Danish Royal Guard, pilot, chess player. After doing back-to-back movies with Dar and Connor McGregor, whos the biggest badass?

GYLLENHAAL: Well, inevitably with that question Im going to get my assed kicked either way, so I dont know how to answer that.

SALIM: Say Connor, otherwise were both going to get our asses kicked.

GYLLENHAAL: I will probably say Connor. But in terms of the thing that I learned is in order to be, continue to try and be good at what you do, I think it requires a type of humility that sometimes can get lost. And what I think both Connor, because it was the first movie Connor ever did, and I think with Dar, I think who just has it inherently, theyre just generally very open and generous people. Connor said to me before we began, Im a white belt in this and Im here to learn. Coming from his skill set and skill level in what he does, I thought that to be such a humble thing to say, and he was just open.

With Dar I felt the same way. Its like Dar has this sense of  I mean, you can see it in the movie, hes just got such a good heart, but hes a badass. But if we had to throw me in a ring with either of them, I would absolutely take Dar any day, like, literally any day, no offense.

SALIM: No offense taken. I would take me.

GYLLENHAAL: Id take you over Connor too I think thats smart.

SALIM: And you would beat me as well, actually.

GYLLENHAAL: Yeah, right, right.

DEADLINE: With this film theres so much going on, but I am curious what your hope is of what audiences will take away from it. Because I do feel its much more than your straightforward military thriller  theres so much context and so many layers to it. Especially when it comes to these interpreters that are so important to our military.

GYLLENHAAL: We should say, first and foremost, this is an action movie. So, I hope theyre really entertained, because thats a huge part of it.

SALIM: Yeah, exactly, entertained. And an action movie only works, and I think you said that once, if theres an emotional connection to it. So, you know, I watched it with my son and he was at the edge of his seat from the beginning to the end  it takes a lot for a teenager not to look at his phone, but that worked. So, I mean, if that goal is achieved then I think people can get out and maybe have some feelings, maybe have some thoughts and some realization that, you know, were all humans and that we were at a place, which was very difficult, where peoples lives, American lives, were at stake and Afghan lives were at stake, and promises were made. And this is an issue that is still ongoing and hopefully can be resolved.

GYLLENHAAL: I also think its a movie about doing good. And I think sometimes movies can portray doing good. You know, we live in such a sort of world of duality theres so many things that separate us even in movies. Its like we watch the good guy versus the bad guy. We dont even have to have a reason for why the bad guy is bad, they just are, and we dont really even have a full reason for the same thing on the opposite end. Here its an action of good and I think its a reluctant action of good, which is about just going and doing it.

These guys do it not because they want to, but because they have to, and I think thats a very different story. And I think that sort of made me look into myself and say, Oh, wow, we all have it in us to do it. We dont have to do it with sentimentality, we dont have to do it with the fact that we even know how to do it, we just go do it and somehow we can slowly change things as a result. So, thats what moves me about this movie.

SALIM: Can I just add real quick because, you know, Jake said a lot of things as you mentioned about theres like this meta layer to this thing where we come from different worlds. You know, where I come from  a small country of 6 million people  and you know Ive done well there in my work. But Jake is arguably one of the best actors of our generation in Hollywood, so hes a world star and we come together.

GYLLENHAAL: I like this guy.

SALIM: Thats just plain facts. But you know we meet and on day one there is just this realization, which it didnt really surprise me, that if you are as good as he is you are a generous actor. You are about the work and you are about the project. And that just made me relax, because I had just found a brother in arms in what we do and that made me able to bring everything I had to this movie even though its on a scale that Im not used to. So, I think thats part of why this movie works as well.

GYLLENHAAL: I agree with that. We like each other.

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Koio Collective is using a different kind of leather for its newest launch.

The Manhattan-based footwear brand known for producing higher-end sneakers from regenerative cow-derived leather turned to fruit waste as the base for a new shoe. It worked with Mansur Gavriel supplier Mabel Industries out of Italy to source a material made from apple industry byproducts repurposed into a fashion-friendly input. Thats the base of the shoe its calling the Vegan 01, whose supply chain is mostly located in Spains Portuguese-speaking neighbor on the Iberian peninsula, which last year banned the use of the misleading term vegan leather.

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The eight-year-old shoe company said the launch marks the inaugural offering from Pale Blue Dot, a sub-brand it bills as an internal R&D lab exploring vegan innovations hand-in-hand with suppliers.

According to Koio co-founder Johannes Quodt, who created the company in 2015 with Chris Wichert, Pale Blue Dot offers a more accessible line that really focuses on plant-based sourcing, responding to the challenge that plant-based materials are not there yet in terms of our expectations, he told Sourcing Journal.

Koio, he continued, wants to be part of a change that we foresee in the next 10 years toward actually sustainable materials that are on par with or better than leather, in terms of functionality and sustainability.

Named after the phrase and iconic photograph of Earth that astronomer Carl Sagan made famous in 1990, Pale Blue Dot reminds us of our goal to preserve the planet that we call home, Quodt continued. We hope it also inspires our customers to shop responsibly for Earths well-being.

Though serving the planet is part of the sub-labels mantra, Mabel Industries AppleSkin, like virtually all non-animal leather alternatives, is produced with a polyurethane coating to deliver key performance attributes. The Vegan 01s material matrix also includes recycled rubber soles, organic cotton laces and responsibly grown cork insoles.

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Koio wanted to source the shoe from a country that could match the quality coming out of Italy, which produces the rest of its footwear, while offering more accessible prices, and Portugal is the place, Quodt said. After selecting the best materials that we could find and bring[ing] them together in a convincing package, Pale Blue Dots first fruits serve up the best in plant-based materials that you can offer at this point in time, he added.

The company is selling the mens and womens Vegan 01 in two shades of gray plus yellow and blue for $165 on its website and at its New York and Los Angeles stores.

The Vegan 01 sneaker from Koios Pale Blue Dot.

I think for any shoe that we produce, our vision or dream is to have all the materials come from regenerative sources, and for the shoe after its been worn for years or maybe decades, to be biodegradable, Quodt said. Those are the two things we strive for, and I guess with Pale Blue Dot, the added component [is] having these materials be plant-based.

The vegan launch isnt necessarily in response to customer demand, but an attempt to get ahead of it after positive customer interest in Koios regenerative cow-leather sneakers, said Quodt. Of all the buzzwords floating around the sustainable fashion landscape, vegan really strikes a chord with people, he pointed out.

Though Koio had some reservations about the performance of vegan leather, the consumer interest and funding flooding this area of the fashion world changed our mind and made us believe that it very well may be the material category of the future, Quodt said.

The internal lab newly ordained to explore plant-based innovations is looking to riff on some of Koios past sustainability wins. Quodt recalled the companys early days making shoes with fully fossil-fuel-based rubber, because thats just what Italian rubber outsoles were made of for the longest time, he said. Partnering with its supplier led to the development of a rubber outsole made with 50 percent natural rubber, 40 percent recycled, and 10 percent derived from fossil fuels.

In a similar way, were going to work with our suppliers to directly improve the metrics, Quodt continued. This is the first priority and then Im also already talking with some suppliers that are trying completely new materials. Our vision is to have a shoe that is plant-based, that is sourced from regenerative farms and that is biodegradable.

Koio got into the regenerative leather game in January last year with a sneaker whose launch marked the first step toward exclusively sourcing from regenerative farms by 2025. Four months prior, it introduced its first true womens collection. On Earth Day last month, the company debuted a second style using regenerative leather. The 99 percent biodegradable Mello features a lactae hevea sole handmade in France from rubber-tree milk, a corn, wool and kenaf insole, and certified organic cotton laces.

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netflix

Netflixs newest true crime docuseries, Missing: Dead or Alive?, takes a deep-dive into the police investigations that surrounded four mysterious disappearances in South Carolina. The docuseries specifically looks at the disappearances of four people: Lorraine Garcia, Amirah Watson, David Taylor, and Sierra Stevens, all of whom went missing under pretty unusual circumstances.

The first case the show delves into involves a woman named Lorraine Garcia, who viewers discover went into hiding to escape her allegedly violent son. And while viewers are taken along for the journey while authorities search for Lorraine, they want to know what happened to her and whether she was ever found. Heres what to know:

Who is Lorraine Garcia?

Lorraine Garcia is a mom and grandmother who was living in Richland County, South Carolina, when she disappeared at age 61, the docuseries says. She was last spotted leaving a hospital in September 2021. Her former daughter-in-law, Lamanda Moore, filed a missing persons report two months later.

What happened to Lorraine?

Its not entirely clear. As the docuseries details, Lorraine seemingly disappeared without a trace. There were no signs of her at home when police conducted a welfare check, and her bank account hadn't shown any activity since her disappearance. Lorraine was later classified as endangered by police.

In the docuseries, Lamanda explains that Lorraine shared a home with her son (Lamanda's ex-husband), Anthony Tony Garcia, an Iraq military veteran with a history of violence tied to his post-traumatic stress disorder. Lamanda said that the last time she spoke to Lorraine on the phone, she seemed paranoid and that she was worried people were listening to her.

Lamanda then claims Tony took Lorraine to a lawyers office the day before her disappearance, and told her to sell the house. She refused, and he allegedly said, Mama, do you realize how easy it would be to push you down these steps and kill you? You will do what I tell you.

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When police arrived at Lorraines home, none of her belongings were there and the place smelled like bleach, per the docuseries. There were also holes punched in several walls, string attached to a bedroom door, and bolt remnants that suggested Tony had locked his mother up.

Tony also refused to talk about his mothers disappearance and sold her home on Facebook Marketplace. He was later arrested for using a computer to commit a crime, forgery, and false pretense, per The Cinemaholic. Once she was found, Lorraine didn't want to press charges against her son.

Was Lorraine ever found?

Yes, Lorraine was found toward the end of episode 1. Authorities tracked her down after she contacted her bank to access her account. Lorraine encountered issues with the identification features, and it provided a trace for the police to follow.

Ive been trying to start over, just so I can have peace, in my mind and my heart, Lorraine said in the series. I dont want to go back My son, he did things to me he has never done. I dont deserve that.

She also doesn't want anyone to know where she is now. Right before I left, I was getting scared, she said. People I didnt know [were] coming in through the garage door, coming through the living room. Somebody had been eating food in the closet. All kinds of paraphernalia here and there, and I didnt feel safe.

Where is Lorraine Garcia now?

In the docuseries, Lorraine said she got on a bus and went as far as I could to start a new life. It's not known where she is right nowand Lorraine wants to keep it that way to protect herself from her son.

Catch more of these true crime stories on Netflix's Missing: Dead or Alive?, streaming now.

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The second round of Disney layoffs hit ABC News on Tuesday, with Nate Silvers data-driven politics and journalism brand FiveThirtyEight among those being impacted.

Silver told FiveThirtyEight employees in a Slack message that he expects to leave Disney when his contract is up, which he added would be soon, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

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ABC News is expected to keep the FiveThirtyEight brand name, with plans to streamline the site and make it more efficient.

ABC News remains dedicated to data journalism with a core focus on politics, the economy and enterprise reporting  this streamlined structure will allow us to be more closely aligned with our priorities for the 2024 election and beyond, an ABC News spokesperson said in a statement. We are grateful for the invaluable contributions of the team members who will be departing the organization and know they will continue to make an important impact on the future of journalism.

In his Slack message, Silver wrote that unfortunately the day weve been worried about has arrived.

We dont yet know the scope of these layoffs, exactly who is impacted, or the terms under which they are departing, but it is going to be a hard day for all of us, he added.

Silver founded FiveThirtyEight in 2008, eventually bringing it to The New York Times. Silver would go on to sell the site to Disneys ESPN; it later was moved to the ABC News division. His departure will be the first time that Silver has not been involved in the site since it launched 15 years ago.

ABC News, meanwhile, is once again grappling with layoffs after a slew of senior executives were cut last month. The cuts are part of a larger cost-cutting effort at Disney, with the company seeking to slash a total of 7,000 jobs. By the end of this week the company expects to have shed about 4,000 positions.

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After news broke of Silvers exit, the pundit added on Twitter of his ABC News tenure and layoffs: I had been worried about an outcome like this and so have had some great initial conversations about opportunities elsewhere. Dont hesitate to get in touch. I am so proud of the work of FiveThirtyEight staff. It has never been easy. Im so sorry to the people impacted by this.

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WORCESTER  Even in todays high-tech world of tax filing, as more than 90% of filers do so electronically, there are still those who prefer the old-fashioned way.

That was the case Monday morning at the Joseph D. Early Post Office on East Central Street, where some taxpayers are just fine with the U.S. Postal Service being the delivery system that will ensure compliance with Tuesday's filing deadline.

Joe Ciandella waits until the day before deadline to file his taxes in Worcester.

Joe Ciandella of Worcester was cheerful as he waited in line to file his return. Ciandella said he normally files a month before the deadline, but lamented that the process of inspecting tax documents has become so complex.

Forms change yearly, said Ciandella, noting that if he accidentally checks the wrong box, his whole return can be out of whack, swinging his numbers by hundreds if not thousands of dollars.

More: Don't fret: IRS deadline for filing taxes is three days later this year on April 18

'Plain scary'

Taxes are just plain scary, said Ciandella, 76. I try to be as honest as I can, but I still feel something could happen.

Federal filing was extended this year by three days to midnight Tuesday because of the Emancipation Day holiday in the District of Columbia.

The same rule applies for filing Massachusetts state taxes. They would have been due this year on Tuesday anyway because the state holiday Patriot's Day fell on Monday.

Vastly different landscape

Monday's calm scene at the post office was vastly different compared to the days before electronic filing. In those years, hordes of frantic procrastinators hustled in to file at the last minute, resulting in the post office bringing in extra staff and extending hours to midnight.

Those days are gone, as many of Monday's customers were there to get new passports or transact normal business, like mailing a package or getting stamps.

But there were a few customers who hadn't filed their taxes yet.

One was Carmen Cimpan. Filing is late this year for Cimpan, because the form W-2 that reports wages and withholding arrived late this year.

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Carmen Cimpan at the Worcester post office on Monday.

I'm pretty sure I will get a refund, said the 54-year-old Worcester resident.

If that happens, Cimpan thinks shell put some in the bank and use the rest to help pay for a vacation.

You have to have a little fun in your life, said Cimpan.

Filed weeks ago

Unlike Cimpan and Ciandella, many who shared their stories said they filed their returns weeks ago.

Wearing a Worcester Red Sox cap while he checked his personal mail box, Chris Gates of Worcester already received a refund check.

Chris Gates filed his return weeks ago.

It beats having to pay, said Gates.

Brittany Bird filed in early February.

I do my taxes as soon as possible, said the 33-year-old Bird.

Like Bird, Peter Sunkwa of Shrewsbury doesnt wait until the last minute. He filed earlier this month, and got some money back, declining to disclose the amount. Only sharing that the amount was good.

I always want to do my taxes early, in case there needs to be a correction, said Peter Sunkwa of Shrewsbury.

I always want to do my taxes early, in case there needs to be a correction, said Sunkwa.

Anxious yearly

Ciandella, the filer who called the exercise scary, is confident this years return is clean. But like every year, Ciandella cant seem to get the feeling of uneasiness out of his mind.

I feel anxious every year.

Maybe a refund could ease the tension, and Cianelloa hopes thats the case this year. If it happens, hell do what he does every year he gets money back from the government after filing his taxes.

I put it in the bank for three years, said Ciandella, explaining the fourth year is when he truly feels comfortable that the money is his.

Contact Henry Schwan at henry.schwan@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @henrytelegram

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Last-minute tax filers make deadline at Worcester post office
A job working at Madison-based UW Health while attending nursing school at Madison College. Full-time benefits and salaries. Paid time-off to attend classes. Free college tuition, books and supplies.

That's the offer on the table for those aspiring to earn a nursing degree through a recently announced, first-of-its-kind apprenticeship program in Wisconsin launching this fall. The program is designed specifically to address staffing shortages in Wisconsin that Rudy Jackson, UW Health's chief nurse executive, said have reached "crisis levels."

Catharine Krause, a registered nurse with UW Health in Madison, checks fluids coming from an IV bag.

Apprentices will earn an associate degree in nursing through Madison College while working at UW Health hospital during the four-year program. Upon graduation and successful completion of the state boards, the apprentices will be hired as nurses by the UW.

We need more nurses  its that simple, Jackson said. That means we need to create a supportive path for future nurses to join this rewarding profession.

A looming shortage of Wisconsin nurses has reached its 'tipping point,' new hospital workforce report says

The first cohort will consist of 16 certified nursing assistants and medication assistants currently working at UW Health. Applications and testing for the first apprenticeship cohort are taking place this spring. Future cohorts will include external candidates, with cohort sizes dependent on the availability of resources and staff at Madison College and UW Health.

The program is designed specifically to support racially, ethnically and socio-economically diverse healthcare personnel.

"The program has the ability to make our workforce look more like the community it serves," Dr. Alan Kaplan, CEO of UW Health, said Thursday at an event announcing the program.

'These are not ordinary times in the healthcare industry.'

If applications to the UW-Madison School of Nursing are any indication, waitlists are the norm rather than the exception for those trying to get into nursing schools.

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Megan Hinners, spokesperson for the School of Nursing, said the goal is to admit approximately 160 bachelor's degree nursing students a year. The number of applications the school receive varies from year to year, but, in general, it receives two to three applications for every spot, with enrollment limited by several factors, including faculty and clinical placement capacity.

The earn-while-you-learn model is made possible through an undisclosed "generous financial gift" from Epic, the Verona-based medical records company, to Wisconsin Medicine, the philanthropic arm of UW Health and the UW School of Medicine and Public Health. UW Health, in turn, teamed up with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development and Madison College to make the apprenticeship program a reality.

Hundreds of University of Wisconsin Health nurses vote to strike if union not recognized; hospital says action 'will harm patients'

Dr. Jack Daniels, Madison College president, acknowledged apprenticeship programs typically are not associated with the healthcare industry.

"But these are not ordinary times in the healthcare industry," Daniels said Thursday.

UW Health nurse Olivia Robertson checks a monitor in a patient's room.

Wisconsin currently faces a deficit of more than 8,000 healthcare positions across the state, with 3,500 of them in the Madison area. That shortage could swell to a deficit of 20,000 nurses in Wisconsin by 2040, according to Amy Pechacek, secretary-designee of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. The healthcare workforce is retiring at a rapid clip and those openings are not being filled, according to a 2022 report from the Wisconsin Hospital Association. For example, vacancy rates for registered nurse positions more than doubled from 2020 to 2021, the data show. Some hospitals were offering signing bonuses, upwards of $10,000, to compete for the shrinking pool of healthcare workers.

But vacancies persist, and both patients and healthcare workers notice.

In the past year, current and former doctors and nurses at Milwaukee's Ascension Columbia St. Mary's Hospital anonymously contacted the media to detail staffing shortages that they said made them fear for patient safety. And UW Health nurses working to organize a union cited ongoing staffing shortages and high turnout of experienced nurses as reasons they wanted union bargaining power.

Nurses overworked, doctors disgusted, patients unattended: Inside Columbia St. Mary's

"There has never been a more critical time to be innovative, forward thinking and committed to those aspiring to become nurses," Daniels said. "Now, they have both a pathway and a partner."

Jessica Van Egeren is Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's enterprise health reporter. She can be reached at jvanegeren@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: UW Health, Madison College combine to address sprawling nurse shortage
Gov. Wes Moore signed four key environmental bills Friday, attacking air quality and setting the stage for more approvals on the host of environmental legislation approved by the General Assembly this session.

Moore signed the bills at an event at Tradepoint Atlantic in Sparrows Point, a global logistics center uniting roads, rails and ports, and where rsteds wind energy facility is under development

Because of the work happening today at Tradepoint Atlantic, Maryland is on track to become the offshore wind capital of America; its happening through this partnership with rsted, which is going to capture enough wind to power 300,000 homes, create 125 good-paying union jobs, and build a cleaner and greener world, Moore said in a statement from his office. Together we will build on the great work of our partners at Tradepoint Atlantic, rsted, and U.S. Wind to build the clean energy future we want to see in Maryland.

Developments like MARWIN I and Momentum Wind by US Wind represent a projected 77 turbines 15 to 18 miles off the coast of Maryland and Delaware, including off the coast of Ocean City. rsted also plans on two developments of its own with Skipjack Wind I and II. The total of 69 turbines would be situated 20 to 21 miles off the coast of Maryland and Delaware.

Senate President Bill Ferguson, D-Baltimore City, attended the signing and tweeted that the new laws set the state on a path of achieving our decarbonization goals and (spurring) our states economy in years ahead.

Clean vehicle, offshore wind energy and more in new laws

Two offshore wind turbines have been constructed off the coast of Virginia Beach as part of Dominion Energy's pilot project.

Moore signed SB 781, the POWER Act, which sets goals for offshore wind energy; the cross-filed bills SB 224 and HB 230, known as the Clean Trucks Act of 2023, which would set sales targets for clean medium-heavy and heavy-duty trucks with the goal of reducing emissions; and HB 550, the Clean Transportation and Energy Act, which would extend rebates for electric chargers.

The Clean Trucks Act of 2023, HB 230 was sponsored by Del. Sara Love, D-Montgomery and Sen. Malcolm Augustine, D-Prince Georges, this rule requires manufacturers that sell trucks and school buses to sell an increasing annual percentage of zero-emission vehicles beginning in 2027.

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Lindsey Mendelson, the transportation representative from the Maryland Sierra Club, said transportation is the largest source of climate pollution in the state. Forty-eight percent of particulate matter emitted by the transportation sector comes from medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.

This bill would result in avoiding more than 116,000 cases of respiratory illness, like asthma, Mendelson said.

Disagreement on coming cost to consumers

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore speaks Wednesday, March 29, 2023, at the International Offshore Wind Partnering Forum in Baltimore.

The Republican Caucus criticized the bills signed Friday. House Minority leader, Jason Buckel, R-Allegany, said these bills drive up the costs for consumers and small businesses, making Marylands high cost-of-living even more unsustainable.

But the Environmental Defense Fund said the adoption of the act will result in significant health benefits for Marylanders.

It will go a long way in helping Maryland achieve Moores target of reducing greenhouse gases 60% by 2030 and is a core means of achieving a transition to 100% zero-emission truck and bus sales, said Neda Deylami from the EDF in written testimony.

Maryland environmentalists were pleased overall with the climate change work of the Maryland General Assembly this session. Besides the bills signed Friday, other key targets passed, including tweaks to the Climate Solutions Act, which passed last year, requiring the state to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions; a bill to protect and improve the states tree canopy; and legislation to smooth a path for conserving undeveloped land.

The Maryland League of Conservation Voters said the changes to the Climate Solutions Now Act, will facilitate implementation of the  Act by expanding renewable energy, reducing greenhouse gases and advancing environmental justice in our state agencies.

Forest protections and more still await Moore's signature

Environmentalists also strongly backed Forest Preservation and Retention, HB 723/SB 526, which addresses Marylands overall goal to increase both forest and tree canopy, improve on the previously passed Forest Conservation Act, which addresses what developers must do, and provides a tax incentive for individuals to get a forest management plan, said Love, the House bills sponsor.

Under the Forest Conservation Act, there is basically a four-to-one rule: If you cut down four trees you have to put up one, said Love. What the Forest Preservation and Retention bill does is really raises the bar and it says were moving to a one to one.

That forest bill also won support from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, whose Maryland staff attorney Matt Stegman thanked lawmakers for their conscientious work to pass forest protection legislation.

Forest Preservation and Retention is awaiting Moores approval.

WAR OF WORDS ON WIND: Wes Moore intensifies Maryland offshore wind energy push, drawing Andy Harris rebuke

NEW MARYLAND GUN LAWS: What's in controversial Maryland gun laws awaiting Wes Moore's signature?

CBF also supports SB 470, Maryland the Beautiful Act, which will establish goals and programs related to land conservation. It will also establish the Local Land Revolving Loan Program which will provide loans to land trusts in order to purchase land for conservation purposes.

President Joe Biden has a national goal of preserving 30 percent of Americas lands by 2030. Maryland is almost there, according to Sen. Sarah Elfreth, D-Anne Arundel, who presented this bill to the Budget and Taxation Committee on March 1.

Science is clear, nature and space for nature is the foundation of the life support system in which we all depend, said Dr. Mark Southerland, an ecologist representing the Howard County Conservancy as a member of their board of trustees, in the committee hearing. This bill is also awaiting Moores approval.

Some environmental bills didn't pass this session

Environmentalists are still ruing the failure of some bills, especially the Shoreline Restoration and the Reclaiming Renewable Energy Act.

Shoreline Restoration was introduced in both chambers as HB 602, sponsored by Del. Dana Stein, D-Baltimore and SB 417, sponsored by Elfreth; both did not make it out of their assigned committees.

The Shoreline Restoration bill would call on the state to identify areas of priority to increase the amount of living shorelines installed, stop the widespread use of waivers to harden, or develop, areas where living shorelines are viable and restart the successful assistance program for landowners to replace hardened shorelines with natural techniques.

According to the Department of Natural Resources Maryland has 3,190 miles of coastline, which equates to about 3.4% of the U.S. total of 95,471 miles. DNR defines a living shoreline to be the result of erosion control measures, including the use of fiber coir logs, sills, groins and breakwaters used in combination with sand and other natural materials such as marsh plantings.

The Associate Policy Director at the Maryland Association of Counties Dominic Butcho, said in the Feb. 15 hearing that Maryland, critically underfunds how we maintain and how we invest in our coastline.

The Reclaiming Renewable Energy Act, HB 718 has been on the legislative agenda for a few years now according to SirJames Weaver, the Environmental Justice Organizer at Progressive Maryland.

Led by Del. Vaughn Stewart, D-Montgomery, this bill has been voted on by both parties in the Senate for multiple years in a row, but has not passed the House. Even with overwhelming support in the Economic Matters hearing on March 9, it stalled.

The bill stops ratepayers from providing subsidies to mostly out-of-state polluters who dont need the money, said Stewart in the hearing. This bill will remove three dirty energy sources from our renewable portfolio standards, those being trash incineration, bio-gas derived from animal waste or anaerobic digestion and woody biomass.

According to Weaver, in 2011 trash incineration was moved from a Tier 2 energy source to a Tier 1 energy source, which made it eligible for renewable energy credits, these would be paid for by ratepayers across Maryland.

Tier 1 renewable sources include solar, wind, qualifying biomass, methane from a landfill or wastewater treatment plant, geothermal, ocean, fuel cell that produces electricity from a Tier 1 source, hydroelectric power plants of less than 30 MW capacity, poultry litter-to-energy, waste-to-energy and refusedeferred fuel according to the Maryland Public Service Commission.

Tier 2 renewable sources include hydroelectric power other than pump storage generation.

This bill would have removed South Baltimore residents' financial payment into the incinerator, said Weaver.

Since the bill did not pass, Weaver said this issue will, continue to economically exploit our overly environmental communities of color in South Baltimore, leaving them behind.

Advocates say that even though there were some gray areas in this year's legislation, there was growth for addressing climate change, animal protections and making Maryland a more sustainable state.

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Wind energy takes center stage in new Maryland environmental laws
Young girls sit on a curb reading the prayer guide before the march at the Dream Peace Walk in Oklahoma City from Douglass High School to the Bridge Impact Youth Center, to celebrate the anniversary of Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr's Letters from Birmingham, Sunday, April 16, 2023.

"You deplore the demonstrations taking place in Birmingham. But your statement, I am sorry to say, fails to express a similar concern for the conditions that brought about the demonstrations."  Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in "Letter From a Birmingham Jail."

A diverse group of people recently walked along a stretch of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue to commemorate the anniversary of an iconic letter written by the street's famous namesake.

People march north on Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. at the Dream Peace Walk in Oklahoma City from Douglass High School to the Bridge Impact Youth Center, to celebrate the anniversary of Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr's Letters from Birmingham, Sunday, April 16, 2023.

Leaders of Stronger Together's "Dream Peace Walk" said the April 16 event was grounded in the ideals that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. expressed in his "Letter From a Birmingham Jail." The civil rights leader was jailed on Good Friday in April 1961 for leading a nonviolent march in Birmingham, Alabama. King wrote his open letter to the clergy who had asked him not to hold a demonstration in Birmingham, encouraging him to wait until what they perceived would be better timing.

This was mentioned by the Rev. Clarence Hill, Stronger Together's founder, who spoke to the crowd that gathered Douglass High School, 900 N Martin Luther King Ave. to start the walk. The Norman pastor said it was fitting that people of different races, backgrounds and communities would mark the 60th anniversary of King's powerful letter with a walk for peace.

"In that year, there was a level of racism and evil and hatred that if he had not stood and responded the way he responded, we would not be here standing in a mixed crowd like we are," Hill said of King. "Somebody decided that they were not going to respond hate for hate and return evil for evil."

People march north on Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. at the Dream Peace Walk in Oklahoma City from Douglass High School to the Bridge Impact Youth Center, to celebrate the anniversary of Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr's Letters from Birmingham, Sunday, April 16, 2023.

Several people that Hill described as "peacemakers"  men from the law enforcement, Hispanic, Native American and Asian communities  briefly addressed the crowd to share their dreams for the community.

"Our differences are miniscule compared to what we have in common," Moore Police Chief Todd Gibson said. "My hope is in this world of negativity is that we can be united for the good of our community."

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Thuan Nguyen also spoke of unity.

People march north on Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. at the Dream Peace Walk in Oklahoma City from Douglass High School to the Bridge Impact Youth Center, to celebrate the anniversary of Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr's Letters from Birmingham, Sunday, April 16, 2023.

"My dream for the community is we all hold each other accountable but also that we walk with one another in love," Nguyen said.

The Douglass High School Marching Band performed several selections but not before participants were given some things to consider as they walked and were encouraged to get to know someone from a different part of the community.

People march north on Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. at the Dream Peace Walk in Oklahoma City from Douglass High School to the Bridge Impact Youth Center, to celebrate the anniversary of Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr's Letters from Birmingham, Sunday, April 16, 2023.

Tyler Green, director of Flourish OKC, and Marcus Jackson, founder and chief executive officer of Urban Bridge, urged walkers to consider ways that they could personally help bring about peace and community transformation.

The walk ended at the Bridge Impact Center, where participants sang songs led by Mars Coleman and other musicians. Walkers were treated to free food from a local food truck parked on the grounds of the center, 1915 N Martin Luther King Ave., and guests were encouraged to write their own dreams for a better community on pieces of colored paper.

Santos Davis sings along with the band at the Dream Peace Walk in Oklahoma City from Douglass High School to the Bridge Impact Youth Center, to celebrate the anniversary of Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr's Letters from Birmingham, Sunday, April 16, 2023.

Ebony Guesby, 42, of Oklahoma City, said she wanted to participate in the walk because she had always considered King's eloquent words in "Letter From a Birmingham Jail" to be among the civil rights icon's most powerful.

Edmond resident David Pendleton, 72, said he heard about the walk earlier in the day at his church, Henderson Hills Baptist in Edmond. He said he and his wife Kathleen and several of the church's elders were participating in the walk for peace.

"They announced it at our church and I thought it was a great idea," Pendleton said. "I wanted to be part of the solution."

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Stronger Together's 'Dream Peace Walk' honors 'Letters from Birmingham'
MILAN  At Prada, leather goods are a symbolic part of its history and future, said the groups chief executive officer Andrea Guerra last week, as the company reported that for the first time it generated quarterly sales of more than 1 billion euros.

The brand is agile with drops and novelties but also a patient developer of iconic products that are paying off well, said Guerra.

More from WWD

Case in point, the Galleria, first conceived in 2007, has become a successful carryover signature bag, and Prada is once again highlighting this design through a new impactful campaign fronted for the first time by Scarlett Johansson and art-directed by Venezuelan-American artist Alex Da Corte.

In an interview with WWD, Da Corte explained that Prada reached out to him while he was on a lecture tour in the U.S. talking about the Glass Age, and this triggered a desire to further investigate the topic.

In 1918, a technique called the Bicheroux Process eliminated long-held limits on the size of a sheet of glass, and with its invention the Glass Age was born, said Da Corte. It has been a period in which we desire through glass, and glass has in turn reflected, illuminated, isolated, incubated and elevated the objects of our desire. Glass did this first in the window displays of the grand shopping arcades of Europe, and it does it now through the screens in our pockets. The object behind the glass grows in power.

In a serendipitous turn of events, the arcade has a special meaning for Pradas signature bag, sleek yet functional, named after the location of the brands storied flagship in Milan  the luxury shopping arcade Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, where founder Mario Prada, Miuccia Pradas grandfather, opened his shop in 1913.

Scarlett Johansson in Pradas The Glass Age campaign.

Da Corte pulled images from the past 150 years, thinking about the body and its reflection.

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A Tony and BAFTA award winner for Lost in Translation, and two-time Academy Award nominee for her roles in the drama Marriage Story and the satire Jojo Rabbit, Johanssons skills in embodying different identities are channeled into the campaign as she is seen constantly transforming, with different hairstyles and looks.

Ive been an admirer of Alexs work but never imagined I would ever have a chance to collaborate with him, said Johansson. Being able to work in a multimedia context with him, using the design elements of Pradas collection to create characters that are part of a work on love and self-reflection was truly exhilarating. The environment that Alex created inspired by Pradas color story and aesthetic was very much like performing inside of a piece of art. It was a singular experience I feel so proud to be a part of.

Color, a fil rouge in Da Cortes art, is a key element in the photos, drawing on Pop and Surrealism, on the set of windows, stairs, tables and mirrors, and in the bag itself, revisited by co-creative directors Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons.

The images reproduce the words: Our love is reds and yellows and blues and greens, Our love is lavender and browns and golds and greys, which are also spoken by Johansson in a short video.

Da Cortes works span a range of media  video, performance, installation, painting, sculpture  and this is his first project in a fashion context, although he confessed he knows nothing about fashion, I would just always wear a sweatshirt, which indeed he donned during a Zoom interview.

Da Corte was influenced by Johann Wolfgang von Goethes thoughts: If we look at a dazzling, altogether colorless object, it makes a strong lasting impression, and its after-vision is accompanied by the appearance of color.

The Glass Age is an era in which our world is formed through physical and metaphorical windows, from shop windows to screens; in the Glass Age we animate the objects of our desire through our attention, we give them life behind the glass, continued Da Corte. Glass is also a mutable network for infinitely connecting the world, the way we see the world, and the imaginary. Glass is an aid in the development of fantasy. The product is an icon and the subject is an icon, becoming all she can be, in all her complexity.

Scarlett Johansson in Pradas The Glass Age campaign.

Asked about working with Johansson, Da Corte said he was interested in Scarlett as a modern icon, and how she succeeds in embodying different personas  a bit like glass. She is a fantastic performer, it was amazing to watch her work.

Da Corte said he was given carte blanche by Prada and Simons. He met the former about 10 years ago. From November 2020 to January 2021, his site-specific intervention Rubber Pencil Devil, supported by Fondazione Prada, was exhibited at Prada Rong Zhai in Shanghai.

Da Corte is currently the subject of Fresh Hell at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa, Japan. His most recent film Roy G Biv premiered at the 2022 Whitney Biennial.

As reported, in the first quarter of the year, sales of the Prada groups leather goods category rose 14 percent at constant exchange rates to 434 million euros, accounting for 46 percent of the total in the period.

In 2021, Prada launched its first campaign focused on a handbag and a single product: its statement Galleria bag, back then fronted by Hunter Schafer, and directed by Canadian actor, film director and screenwriter filmmaker Xavier Dolan.

Over the years, the bag has been reinterpreted in several iterations, and remains among Pradas bestsellers.

The bag was originally offered in Saffiano leather  a scratch- and water-resistant calfskin defined by a crosshatched surface texture, a material patented by Mario Prada and still a leitmotif of the brand today, created via an intricate hot-pressing process; raw edges are smoothed and hand-painted to match.

The Galleria bag is composed of 83 pieces, combining industrial precision with manual craftsmanship.

Scarlett Johansson in Pradas The Glass Age campaign.

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Two men were fatally shot during a mass shooting in Augusta over the weekend and a friend to one of them is speaking out about his lost life.

"Are you serious? How? What happened?" a surprised Kellie Miller Hall, the ex-girlfriend of Germayne Farrell, asked in a message to The Chronicle following his death.

Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree said the alleged retaliation shooting Saturday afternoon involved two motorcycle gangs, the Outcast Motorcycle Club, based in Augusta, and an out-of-town motorcycle club called Thug Rider. He said 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.

Germayne Farrell, 51, of Daytona Beach, Florida, was described as a hard-worker by loved ones.

Keith Coates, 30, of Valdosta, Georgia, and Farrell, 51, of Daytona Beach, Florida, were killed and four others were injured during the shooting near Olde Town at Sand Bar Ferry Road and East Boundary Street  reportedly the headquarters of the Outcast MC.

More than 100 empty shell casings were found on site, according to Roundtree.

"Targeted attack": Deadly downtown Augusta shooting was a 'targeted attack,' according to Sheriff Roundtree

Hall hadn't heard about the out-of-town shooting until media requests came rolling in. She said Farrell was trying to make a better life for himself.

"So senseless," Hall said. "He's from the St. Louis area. ... He was always hard working, starting many businesses over the years ... seemingly trying to make legitimate money and life for himself ... always grinding."

Farrell even wrote his own book, according to his Facebook posts.

Germayne Farrell, 51, of Daytona Beach, Florida, was killed in a shooting in Augusta Saturday.

The book, titled "The IRS is not the 'Big Bad Wolf,'" was published in 2017 and is available on Amazon.

While Farrell was fairly active on Facebook, sharing posts about the motorcycle club and his hobbies, Coates lacks an online presence.

It appears Coates does not have Facebook, Instagram or Twitter accounts and family and friends have not taken to social media to share about the shooting.

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The sheriff on Monday confirmed unofficial reports of a first responder hitting the body of Coates or Farrell 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.

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.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: A look into the victims of Augusta's motorcycle gang shootout
FILE PHOTO: The New York International Auto Show, in Manhattan, New York City

Stellantis recalls 219,000 Jeep SUVs over fire risks FILE PHOTO: The New York International Auto Show, in Manhattan, New York City

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Chrysler-parent Stellantis said on Tuesday it is recalling 219,000 Jeep Cherokee SUVs worldwide for fire risks and warned owners to park outside until repairs are made.

The recall covers 2014 through 2016 model year Jeep Cherokee vehicles equipped with a power liftgate. An electrical short in the power liftgate module may lead to a vehicle fire with the ignition on or off.

It is the third recall since 2015 to address the safety defect. Vehicles repaired under prior recalls will still need to have the new fix performed, according to a filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The automaker said "owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete." Stellantis is still working on the recall fix and owner notification letters are expected to be mailed June 30.

The recall covers about 132,000 vehicles in the United States, 23,000 in Canada, 3,000 in Mexico and 60,500 outside North America. NHTSA said owners should follow Stellantis advice and park outside until the recall is developed and owners get repairs.

The company said the vehicles are failing due to an electrical short. They were built with a power liftgate module located in a spot vulnerable to water intrusion.

Stellantis last year opened an investigation as a result of an increasing trend in cargo compartment fires in 2014 and 2015 Jeep Cherokee vehicles.

The company has identified 50 customer assistance records, 23 warranty claims, and 21 field reports potentially related to this issue. Stellantis said it is not aware of any accidents or injuries potentially related to the recall issue.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Kirsten Donovan, Mark Potter and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
Artist Tony Chatowsky will be debuting his Fish Print Museum in Portsmouth on Earth Day this year, featuring over three rooms of original fish prints including striped bass, cod, barracuda, snook, snappers and tarpon.

Chatowsky, a retired navy physician who grew up in Providence, received his masters degree in marine affairs from URI and now lives in the John Clarke Senior Living Center in Middletown, has built upon an ancient Japanese technique known as gyotaku or fish rubbing.

Starting back in the 1800s, Japanese fishermen would clean their catch, then use sumi ink and rice paper to make a record of their catch, pressing the paper against the actual fish to create a detailed image. Chatowsky uses rice paper for his prints as well, but instead of ink he uses acrylic paints.

Middletown artist and angler Tony Chatowsky sits in front of his unique fish print artwork, made using a traditional Japanese technique.

Where and when to go see Tony Chatowskys unique fish prints

Starting Saturday, April 22, visitors to the D. Chatowsky Gallery across from Clements Market at 2572 East Main Road in Portsmouth can admire prints of species ranging from New England all the way down the eastern seaboard to Florida (where Tony lived for 27 years before returning to Rhode Island), participate in tours from noon-5 p.m. and purchase reproductions of the original fish prints.

Getting there: Why Middletown Town Councilor Emily Tessier sold her car and bought an e-bike

Thereafter, the Fish Print Museum will be open every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 1-5 p.m. Parking is available behind the building. David, the owner of the gallery and Tonys son, is also a visual artist, and his work is on display in the other half of the gallery. Patrons of the arts with questions can contact David Chatowsky at 401-835-4623.

How a Rhode Island angler started using a traditional Japanese art form to create striking images of local fish

Chatowsky told The Daily News he began doing fish prints around 30 years ago, printing the fish on T-shirts for his children.

I then made it into an art form, he said. What is involved is that after you catch the fish, you clean the fish good, you paint the fish with acrylic paint, and then you use rice paper and press the paper on top of the fish and you make a rubbing. Then you pick up the paper and you have the print of the fish with all the details, the fins, the gills, the eyes and everything.

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'The experience of a lifetime:' RI boater shares story of completing the Great Loop

After the process is complete, he mounts the images on acid-free foamboard and frames them.

I always liked to fish, explained Chatowsky. Growing up here in Rhode Island, I fished all the time during my time at URII guess when I was stationed in Key West in the Navy (1974-1976), I think I printed a dolphin fish, and that may have been my first fish print.

Middletown artist and angler Toney Chatowsky poses in front of his unique fish print artwork, made using a traditional Japanese technique.

The museum will feature a wide variety of fish species from New England, Florida and the Caribbean  and every image is a fish Chatowsky caught himself

The museum will feature a room of local Rhode Island fish such as striped bass, blue fish, cod, summer flounder, scup and sea bass. It will also have a room of Florida and Caribbean fish such as tarpon, permit, dolphin fish (mahi-mahi), groupers and snappers.

Things to do: Newport County weekend events offer change to celebrate Earth Day, poetry and more

These are all fish that I have caught here in Rhode Island and down in Florida, where we lived for 27 years before moving back here, said Chatowsky.

In addition to Chatowskys original works, the exhibit will display two original Japanese gyotaku fish prints, which Chatowsky received as a surprise gift while serving as president of the Martin County Arts Association in Florida when a fellow member traveled to Japan and purchased them for him.

This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Portsmouth fish print museum to debut gyotaku art display
King Charles and Prince William are reportedly keeping their distance from the former working royal.

Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage

King Charles and Prince William are reportedly keeping Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at arm's length  or, well, however far it is from Buckingham Palace to Montecito, California. Sources close to the royals and the newly coronated King of England say that many members of the royals are noticing that Charles is offering up frequent concessions to Harry and Meghan, especially now that it's clear to everyone how Harry feels about the ceremony, pomp, circumstance, and traditions of the British monarchy.

A friend of Prince William told The Daily Beast that, at this rate, it appears Harry will not receive an invite to his brother's coronation when the time comes. It's also clear that William and Kate are the main characters in the tale that is the British royals. The outlet notes that the Cambridges are much more popular than Charles and Camilla are, and even though it seems like the whole world loves Harry and Meghan, the Firm wants Kate and Wills to have the spotlight. Plus, the source got really frank about just how icy things are between the princes, even going as far as saying that William probably won't invite Harry to his coronation when it happens (talk about holding a grudge).

Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage

Its very clear that William and Kate are now extremely important members of the institution, so their view on Harry, which is basically the further away the better, will have to be taken into account," the source continues. "Put it this way: I dont think anyone expects Harry to get an invite to Williams coronation.

DOMINIC LIPINSKI/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Related:Prince William's Coronation Will Reportedly Be More "Modern"

Sources added that William feels betrayed by his brother revealing his secrets in Spare and now hates Harry. Sources close to Charles and Camilla are even getting involved, saying that while a "reconciliation" isn't off the table, it's probably not likely.



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"The opportunity that was there for Harry to sort this out with the king is gone for now. Of course, Charles would always welcome a reconciliation with Harry and Meghan, he has made that very clear, and his door is always open in that regard," a friend said. "But now the coronation is done, I think Charles will want to focus on the job of being king, rather than to continue being distracted by Harry and Meghan drama.



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Dates have been set for the special primary and general elections to fill the state representative District 52 seat after Rep. Justin Jones expulsion from the legislature.

While Jones, D-Nashville, was rapidly reappointed to the position on an interim basis by the Metro Council, he will only serve as interim until a representative is elected in the special election and sworn in.

Shelby County has also set a schedule for the primary and general election for District 86, currently held on an interim basis by Rep. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, who was also expelled and quickly reappointed to the seat until the special election.

Jones returns: Justin Jones returns to state legislature after unanimous Nashville Council appointment

Pearson back: A week after expulsion, Justin Pearson of Memphis returns to Tennessee House

Pearson and Jones, among the youngest Black lawmakers in Tennessee, were expelled from the House for having led gun-reform chants that briefly disrupted House proceedings three days after three 9-year-olds and three adults were shot and killed at The Covenant School in Nashville.

A third lawmaker, Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, was also threatened with expulsion, but retained her seat by a single vote.

In Davidson County, the Republican and Democratic primaries for District 52 will be Thursday, June 15. The general election will be Aug. 3. The dates for the District 86 election in Shelby County are the same.

Both Pearson and Jones have said they plan to seek reelection and are considered the favorites to win in the Democratic-leaning districts.

Katherine Burgess covers government and religion. She can be reached at katherine.burgess@commercialappeal.com or followed on Twitter @kathsburgess.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Special election dates set for Justin Jones' House District 52 seat
We've most likely all heard stories of pet owners surrendering their animals to a shelter and if you haven't, well just know that it's absolutely heartbreaking. Sometimes there is no rhyme or reason to it. Other times it's related to finances or aging pet owners. Whatever the case might be, it still destroys us because we can't stand seeing pets sad and confused in a shelter.

The latest pet we've learned that this happened to is a sweet St. Bernard named Gina. Gina's previous family surrendered her to a California-based animal shelter. TikTok user @maria_marrria visited her and is sharing her story in the hopes the right family will come along and adopt her.

View the original article to see embedded media.

Ugh, our hearts are completely breaking for this sweet and beautiful purebred St. Bernard. We don't know the story about her being there and it doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is that we get her adopted as quickly as possible.

"She's so precious. She deserves the best forever home. Don't get animals if you won't keep them. They're family," said @emoohufflepuff. You can say that again! No animal should ever have to spend time in a shelter. They all deserve the most loving, special forever homes. @cupcaekz added, "Gina, I live so far away but I love you." SAME! We wish we could adopt every single precious fur baby we see.

If you'd like to bring home this sweet St. Bernard, or animal animal, please visit the Los Angeles Animal Care and Control website for more information. Let's get her home ASAP!

Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips.

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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
Suspended Somerset County District Attorney Jeffrey Thomas will not be sentenced on May 16. A request for continuance was granted by Senior Judge Timothy Creany Tuesday. A new date has not been set. Creany presided over the case.

Somerset County District Attorney Jeffrey Thomas discusses new leads in a case prior to being charged and found guilty of sexual assault.

The delay deals with waiting to hear from the state Sexual Offenders Assessment Board that will make a recommendation whether to craft a sentence that includes the classification of sexually violent predator.

If Thomas, who was found guilty of sexual abuse, is classified by the court as a sexually violent predator, he will be subject to lifetime registration with the Pennsylvania State Police, which means an in-person verification on a quarterly basis, lifetime sex offender counseling with a provider approved by the assessment board and community notification.

More: Jury finds Somerset County DA Jeffrey Thomas guilty on six of nine charges

After a trial that took place from March 8 to 16, a jury found Thomas guilty of two felony and four misdemeanor counts and not guilty on two felony and one misdemeanor counts. He is currently incarcerated in Cambria County Prison and awaiting sentencing.

As Thomas awaits a new sentencing date, he has learned that his lawsuit against the county and county officials where he was seeking reinstatement of his salary suspended by the Somerset County Salary Board Nov. 26, 2021, was dismissed.

Somerset County Judge Daniel Rullo issued an opinion and order Monday where the case was dismissed with prejudice, meaning that the ruling is the final judgment in the case.

Going back in time

Thomas was elected Somerset County District Attorney in Nov. 2019. He was sworn in Dec. 31, 2019 and assumed the office Jan. 6, 2020.

On Sept. 22, Thomas was arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a local woman. He took voluntary leave of absence from his role as district attorney.

On Oct. 27, 2021, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court temporarily suspended his law license, partly because of the criminal charges. Although the specifics of that suspension have not been offered.

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On Nov. 17, 2021, Act 88 of 2021 was signed into law. The law amended the county code. A section was added that the district attorney must "continually hold an active law license." The new law also stated that a district attorney will be suspended from office if he or she is disbarred, vacates the office and/or the law license is suspended.

Thomas, an elected official, did not resign nor has he been impeached.

On Nov. 26, 2021, the Somerset County Salary Board voted to suspend his salary because of the recent enacted law. Thomas filed his complaint Sept. 2. The county responded Oct. 31. Thomas answered.

On Nov. 22, the court issued an order requiring both parties to submit memorandums of law on the issue whether the Commonwealth is an indispensable party and whether the Commonwealth Court had exclusive or concurrent jurisdiction in this case.

Oral argument was held before all three Somerset County Judges on Feb . 10. They took the matter under advisement.

Claims and response

Is the Commonwealth an indispensable party to the action?

No.

Because the county code requires the state to reimburse the counties 65% annually of their district attorney's salary, this makes the state "not an indispensable party," which is Thomas' position, according to the court's opinion.

What: Suspended Somerset DA sues county for back pay and to reinstate benefits

Was the new state law wrongly applied retroactively?

No.

Thomas argued that the new law was improperly applied. The law did not contain a retroactivity provision. His law license was suspended before the act was enacted.

The county argued that Thomas did not have a vested right to his salary. The act was not applied retroactively to Thomas' case. The court agreed.

"A vested right is one that 'so completely and definitely belongs to a person that it cannot be impaired or taken away without the person's consent,'" Rullo wrote, citing case law.

Basically, the judge stated that Act 88 is "prospective in application." The legislation simply imposed a new restriction to an active law. Thomas pay ended a week after the act became law.

"A retroactive application would have been if the county did not pay Plaintiff (Thomas) from the time that his license was suspended to the enactment of the Act. But that was not the case," Rullo wrote.

The county does not have the authority to suspend an elected official's pay.

Wrong.

A suspended district attorney is prohibited from performing the duties of the office, according to the county code. A district attorney with a suspended law license may not perform the duties of the office until the law license is reinstated. Rullo interpreted the code to mean "that a suspended district attorney is prohibited from performing the duties of the office."

The right to salary and compensation attaches to the public office itself, according to state law. Thus, "what determines whether a public officer is entitled to compensation is contingent on the right to hold the office, not the performance of duties," according to case law.

"By making a suspended law license grounds for both suspension and disqualification we think it is clear that the legislature intended to prohibit a district attorney with a suspended law license from performing the duties of the office and receiving the compensation that attaches to the office," according to the opinion.

What: What is next for Somerset District Attorney Jeffrey Thomas after conviction?

The only right that Thomas retained in this situation comes if he can retake the office of district attorney if his law license is reinstated during his elected term that ends in Jan. 2024. The act gave the county the authority to stop paying Thomas a salary until that happens, according to the court.

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Suspended Somerset County DA's sentencing for sexual abuse continued
Over three dozen stores in North Carolina were fined a combined $304,635 for overcharging customers this year, including in Mecklenburg County and around the Charlotte region.

In total, 37 stores were fined in 22 counties for scanning errors, the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Standards Division said Tuesday.

Seven stores in Mecklenburg were fined a total of $58,185. The local stores that were fined include Dollar General, Family Dollar, Circle K and Target.

Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler advises customers to regularly check receipts and notify store managers of any discrepancy with the price on shelves.

Charlotte stores have been fined for overcharging. What to do if it happens to you

Overcharging in Charlotte-area retail stores

Periodic, unannounced inspections in retail stores check if shelf and register prices match. Heres what they found in the Charlotte region in the latest round of checks:



 Circle K, 3424 Matthews Mint Hill Road, Matthews, paid $5,340 in penalties. An initial inspection in August 2022 found an error rate of 20% based on 10 overcharges in a 50-item lot. A follow-up inspection in September found an error rate of 4% on six overcharges in a 150-item lot. Additional errors were found in November and January. The store passed inspection in March with a 1% error rate.



 Dollar General, 2804 West Sugar Creek Road, Charlotte, paid $7,675 in penalties. An initial inspection in December 2022 found an error rate of 34% based on 17 overcharges in a 50-item lot. A follow-up inspection in January found an error rate of 17% on 50 overcharges in a 300-item lot. A follow-up inspection in March found an error rate of 8% based on 23 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store will be reinspected.



 Family Dollar, 7921 Old Statesville Road, Charlotte, paid $20,000 in penalties. An initial inspection in May 2 022 found an error rate of 40% based on 20 overcharges in a 50-item lot. A follow-up inspection in June found an error rate of 24% based on 71 overcharges in a 300-item lot. Additional errors were found in August, October and December. The store passed inspection in February with a 1% percent error rate.





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Family Dollar was one of several Charlotte-area stores fined for price scanning errors, according to the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Standards Division.









 Family Dollar, 8500-C Pineville Mathew Road, Pineville, paid $10,000 in penalties. An initial inspection in December 2022 found an error rate of 14% based on seven overcharges in a 50-item lot. A follow-up inspection in January found an error rate of 18% on 55 overcharges in a 300-item lot. A follow-up inspection in March found an error rate of 17% based on 52 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store will be reinspected.



 Target, 8120 University City Blvd., Charlotte, paid $8,370 in penalties. An initial inspection in September 2022 found an error rate of 10% based on five overcharges in a 50-item lot. A follow-up inspection in October found an error rate of 4% on 13 overcharges in a 300-item lot. Additional errors were found in December and February. The store will be reinspected.



 Dollar General, 11801 Statesville Blvd., Cleveland, in Rowan County, paid $4,880 in penalties. An initial inspection in October found an error rate of 28% based on 14 overcharges in a 50-item lot. A follow-up inspection in December found an error rate of 11% on 33 overcharges in a 300-item lot. A follow-up inspection in February found an error rate of 3% based on nine overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store will be reinspected.



 Dollar General, 120 Grace Church Road, Salisbury, paid $1,920 in penalties. An initial inspection in November found an error rate of 12% based on six overcharges in a 50-item lot. A follow-up inspection in December found an error rate of 7% on 20 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store passed inspection in February with a 1% error rate.









Past store inspection failures

Over the past year, several local stores were fined totaling nearly $185,000, The Charlotte Observer previously reported.

 In February, eight stores in the Charlotte region including Dollar General, Family Dollar, Circle K, Target, Walmart and 7-Eleven were fined nearly $39,000.

 In December, 17 stores in the Charlotte region including Walmart, Dollar General, Family Dollar, Circle K and Sams Mart were fined over $40,000.

 In August, eight stores  four Walmarts, three Dollar Generals and one Target  were fined a total of $63,505 in the region.

 In April, several area Walmart and Dollar General stores were fined a combined $42,165 for overcharges.

How store inspections work in NC

Stores are fined for failing to meet the 2% or less price scanning error rate, according to the state agency.

If a store has more than a 2% error rate on overcharges, inspectors talk with the store manager and make a follow-up inspection. Stores are penalized if they fail the follow-up inspection.

Stores are re-inspected every 60 days until meeting the 2%-or-less error rate, and could face additional fines. Undercharges are also reported but dont count against a store.

What to do if you find a price scan error?

Along with notifying store employees about price discrepancies, customers who see price scanner errors on their receipts may file a complaint with the state Standards Division. Call 984-236-4750.
Washington  A subsidiary of a 100-year-old tobacco company based in London pleaded guilty to selling and manufacturing products in North Korea in violation of U.S. sanctions and bank secrecy laws, according to court documents and press statements released Tuesday.

British American Tobacco (BAT) admitted to evading bans against doing business with the People's Republic of North Korea  a nation sanctioned for producing weapons of mass destruction  and causing U.S. banks to unwittingly process their hundreds of millions in profits.

BAT and the federal government entered into a deferred prosecution agreement  the charges will ultimately be dropped if BAT continues to abide by the law  but the company will still be slapped with $635,241,338 in penalties, the company announced.

An indirect subsidiary of the company located in Singapore pleaded guilty to three federal counts, including conspiracy to commit bank fraud and other North Korea-related laws, a release disclosed.

Assistant Attorney General Matt Olsen, who oversees the Justice Department's National Security Division, said the action is the single largest North Korean sanctions-related case in U.S. history.

"This activity ultimately benefits the North Korean regime," Olsen said at a press conference announcing the agreements on Tuesday. Matt Graves, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, said North Korea reaped "staggering" profits in the scheme, and yields $20 to support illicit activity for every dollar it invests in tobacco production.

According to criminal papers filed in Washington, D.C.'s federal court, between 2009 and 2017, BAT and its subsidiary maintained control over a joint venture company they established with the North Korean Tobacco Company, despite an announcement in 2007 indicating they had sold all equity in the company to comply with international law.

To perpetuate the scheme, the companies admitted to creating a network of front companies and financial institutions across the globe, funneling goods and supplies into North Korea while pushing money out.

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Despite BAT's assertion that it was no longer working with the North Korean Tobacco Company, court documents allege it maintained "significant influence over" the business and "continued to receive profits from North Korean sales" using shell companies and an unnamed intermediary. U.S. officials said BAT also exported tobacco to the North Korean Embassy in Singapore until 2017.

Charging documents revealed three witnesses spoke to investigators about BAT and its Singapore subsidiary's work with North Korea. One told prosecutors the company continued to supply "all the raw materials" necessary to manufacture tobacco products.

Another accused BAT of creating the appearance of "distance" from its North Korean business partner while simultaneously working to profit from it.

"We deeply regret the misconduct arising from historical business activities that led to these settlements, and acknowledge that we fell short of the highest standards rightly expected of us," Jack Bowles, BAT's chief Executive said in a statement Tuesday. "Adhering to rigorous compliance and ethics standards has been, and remains, a top priority for BAT. In recent years we have transformed our compliance and ethics programme, which encompasses sanctions, anti-bribery, anti-corruption and anti-money laundering."

The Justice Department said BAT had fixed certain deficiencies in its corporate monitoring system and will report to the department for a period of time to ensure compliance with the law.

Also on Tuesday, the Justice Department unsealed an indictment against four individuals accused of facilitating the illegal sale of tobacco products in North Korea. Charging documents allege that a North Korean financier, Sim Hyon-Sop, Jin Guanghua and Chinese nationals Qin Guoming and Han Linli engaged in an illegal scheme to purchase the materials necessary to manufacture and later sell tobacco products.

According to the indictment, the profits of the alleged plot benefited North Korea's weapons of mass destruction program.

The defendants are wanted by the FBI, which is offering a reward for information leading to their detention.

The news from the Justice Department comes just a day before President Biden will be hosting South Korea's president at a White House state dinner.

Harry Belafonte | 60 Minutes Archive (1997)

McCarthy debt ceiling bill to get committee vote

U.S. consumer confidence drops slightly in April
Here's what you need to know to visit the famous town of Oia on Santorini.

Posnov/Getty Images

Whitewashed walls, blazing blue-domed roofs, and azure waters all around: This must be Oia, Greece.

Sure, visitors can find scenes like this all over the Greek Islands, but none may be as picture-perfect as those found in Oia, the famed village on the island of Santorini. Located on a craggy cliffside overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, the centuries-old town has become the star of the show thanks to an idyllic look that made it ultra popular on social media. However, this quaint community is more than just a backdrop to your snaps. Heres everything you need to know about Oia for your next trip to Greece.

Related: 15 Most Beautiful Places to Visit in Greece

What to Know

Oia is the most-visited village on the island of Santorini, so you'll definitely run into other tourists here. Like other Greek villages, it comes with tiny, winding, and steep streets, so be prepared to lose your breath just a little on a walkabout. But the walks are worth it, especially around sunset. Get to a higher vantage point to watch the sun go down in a blaze of glory each evening (and keep reading to find out the best places to see the sunset in Oia). A quick tip: The town is simply pronounced ia.

Related: Basic Greek Words, Phrases, and Slang to Learn Before You Go to Greece



Best Time to Visit Oia

The high season on Santorini, like its neighboring islands, is always the summer from about June to early September. This is when the temperatures hit their peak, with average daily highs above 80F, according to WeatherSpark. But, again, be warned: This is the high season. That means there will be lots of other travelers attempting to navigate those small streets, vying for the perfect sunset view, and trying to find their own patch of sand on its glamorous beaches. If you can, try to plan a trip during the shoulder seasons in late September or late May to early June. This is when the temperatures are still lovely (usually in the high 70s), but there are far fewer tourists to compete with for space.

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KavalenkavaVolha/Getty Images

Things to Do in Oia

Go sailing.

The waters off the coast of Oia (and all of Santorini) are nothing short of spectacular. They are a shade of blue that's hard to even capture in a photograph. Thus, theyre best experienced in person by booking a sailing or motorboat excursion for the day. Book a private or group catamaran cruise, which takes guests around the coast to experience the island's hot springs, the famed Red Beach, and even a few places to snorkel.

Explore Oia Castle.

Get to know a bit about Santorinis rich history by visiting the Oia Castle, also known as St. Nicolas Castle. Though theres little left of the actual castle, you can still spot the rubble left over from the 15th-century watchtower that once kept the island safe from invaders.

See the Panagia Platsani Church.

Panagia Platsani Church, located in the villages main square, is relatively new to Santorini. The church you see today was built following the earthquake of 1956 to replace the church that once stood in its place. Here, visitors can gaze upon the icon of the Virgin Mary, which sits surrounded by gifts from those who come to pray. And, if you happen to visit in August, you can celebrate the churchs name day on Aug. 15, which comes with a religious procession the night before.

Hit the beach.

Youre on a Greek Island, so, of course, youre going to visit a beach. There are several to choose from all within walking distance from town, including Katharos Beach, arguably the most popular sandy spot. The beach is tucked within the rugged cliffs, giving it a gorgeous contrast to the sea. Those looking for a bit more of an adrenaline rush can always visit Armonio Beach for a little cliff jumping, too.

Watch the sunset.

Watching the stunning sunsets is a requisite activity in Oia. And though you could really stop just about anywhere to see it, the most popular place to watch the sun go down is at the castle. It provides a sweeping view of the ocean, speckled with other Greek Islands. This is a popular spot, so expect to observe the sunset among throngs of other tourists (but don't worry, watching the sunset with fellow travelers can actually be quite fun).

Manuel Breva Colmeiro/Getty Images

Where to Stay in Oia

The Saint Hotel

Find yourself surrounded by modern luxury at The Saint Hotel. The 16 suites are made up of old homes, barns, and cellars that have been lovingly restored to create this glamorous accommodation. Find rooms with private terraces, pools, and even caves, all with gorgeous caldera views.

La Perla Villas and Suites

Have a luxurious getaway when you book a few nights at La Perla Villas and Suites. The adults-only hotel offers classic Greek styling with white-washed walls and pops of blue, as well as terraces that come with private hot tubs overlooking the water. Guests can also socialize around its pool and pool bar, which makes for another glorious sunset viewing location.

Andronis Luxury Suites

Have a unique, high-end stay at the Andronis Luxury Suites. The hotel offers cave-style rooms with panoramic views to make you feel like youre a part of Greek history. The suites are located just a short walk from the main square, making it an ideal jumping-off point for your Oia adventures.



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LIAM DANIEL/NETFLIX

Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story opens with a disclaimer. This is the story of Queen Charlotte from Bridgerton, the soothing voice of Julie Andrews reads as the text appears onscreen. That is to say: It is not the story of the real Queen Charlotte. It is not a history lesson, the statement continues. It is fiction inspired by fact. All liberties taken by the author are quite intentional. And while that is certainly the caseno one can truly know what went on in Charlotte and King George IIIs relationshipsome parts of the show actually are true to life. This is particularly the case when it comes to Queen Charlottes wedding.

Queen Charlotte shows a 17-year-old Princess Charlotte being quickly married off to a 22-year-old King George, leaving her home in Germany and getting married the same day she arrived. That all actually happened. Here are some more details about the real royal wedding as they compare to the hit Netflix show.

Charlottes journey to England was pretty accurately depicted.

On the show, British royal representatives arrive in Mirow, the dukedom in northern Germany where Charlotte lived as Princess Sophia Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Her brother, Adolphus, signs the contract for Charlotte to marry King George III. Adolphus then makes the journey to England with Charlotte.

This is all true to life, but some details were missing. The official British royal family website explains that the escorts who arrived in Germany to collect Charlotte were led by the Earl of Harcourt. According to the site, the group didnt leave right away. Instead, they were three days of celebrations, and then they returned to England with Charlotte where she would begin her new life.



While Queen Charlotte shows the future queen complaining of her uncomfortable outfit and whale bone corset, the journey was actually hard for a different reason. The royal family site notes that the voyage was difficult and the group faced three storms while crossing the North Sea. It also was a very long trip: They left Germany on August 17 and didnt get to London until September 8.

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While Charlotte and Adolphus are traveling, he mentions that their parents have died. This was also true, and the death of their mother was very recentshe had died only three months earlier.

Charlotte got married the same day she arrived.

Queen Charlotte shows Charlotte and George getting married the same day that she arrives in England. And as surprising as it may seem, this is what actually happened.

At 9:00 p.m. the same evening, within six hours of arrival, the wedding of Princess Charlotte and King George III took place at the Chapel Royal, St Jamess Palace, the royal family site reads.

The show features a confrontation on the wedding day between Charlotte and Georges mother, Princess Augusta, in which they argue about Charlottes wedding dressshe wants to wear the one she had made in Paris; Augusta wants her to wear an English-style dress. According to the Washington Post, the real George had requested that gowns be made for Charlotte and be ready when she arrived.

According to Percy Fitzgeralds book, The Good Queen Charlotte (per Town & Country), for her wedding Charlotte wore an endless mantle of rich violet and purple velvet, lined with ermine, over a white satin and silver dress. In the show, she does wear a silver and white gownjust without the purple velvet addition.

As for what wasnt based on history...

A key part of the show is the fact that Charlotte is Black and the royal court becomes integrated thanks to her becoming queen. In reality, while there has been speculation that Charlotte had African ancestry, most historians agree that this idea lacks evidence and isnt accurate. Instead, the show takes this idea and runs with it, which makes for an interesting story, but it means that the real wedding didnt actually feature all the non-white members of the ton being invited to the royal wedding at the last minute.

As for other exaggerated or made-up moments, those are probably pretty obvious. Did Charlotte actually try to escape her fate as the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland by climbing over a fence? Probably not, but it did make for a charming royal meet-cute with Farmer George.

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AARHUS, Denmark, May 16, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Global master data management (MDM) solutions provider Stibo Systems has joined the Microsoft Cloud Partner Program as an ISV to host software as a service (SaaS) offerings on Microsoft Azure. The support and guidance from Microsoft allows Stibo Systems to improve cloud services.

"At its core, software as a service is about taking the risk away from the customer and back to the vendor," said Adrian Carr, CEO of Stibo Systems. "We have already moved 500 customers to Microsoft Azure, with more queued up to follow."

A robust and highly flexible platform, Azure is more efficient and less time consuming for Stibo Systems SaaS customers. Through modern procurement on the Microsoft Azure Marketplace, customers can access Azure and Stibo Systems solutions seamlessly together.

"From scalability to security to compliance, we know we can rely on Microsoft to help us improve our cloud offerings and gain efficiency across the supply chain," Carr said.

The integration will help customers improve short- and long-term cost performance for their cloud investments and resources.

"Through Microsoft Azure Marketplace, customers around the world can easily find, buy, and deploy partner solutions they can trust, all certified and optimized to run on Azure," said Jake Zborowski, General Manager, Microsoft Azure Platform at Microsoft Corp. "Were happy to welcome Stibo to the growing Azure Marketplace ecosystem."

For more insight into Stibo Systems integration with Microsoft, see the feature story: Stibo Systems: Our technology is empowering our customers (microsoft.com)

About Stibo Systems

Stibo Systems is the leading enabler of data transparency through master data management and data syndication. Built on an open platform with scalable, cloud-native SaaS technology, our solutions empower many of the largest and most innovative global companies with better data quality and visibility. This creates a trusted data foundation for enhancing operational efficiency, making informed decisions, delivering superior customer experiences and supporting sustainability initiatives. Headquartered in Aarhus, Denmark, Stibo Systems is a privately held subsidiary of Stibo Software Group, which guarantees the long-term perspective of the business through foundational ownership. More at https://www.stibosystems.com.

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View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516005671/en/

Contacts

Katherine Hahn

Public Relations Manager

khah@stibosystems.com
The U.S. Department of State is warning Americans to reconsider traveling to Jamaica and Colombia.

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The U.S. Department of State is warning Americans to reconsider traveling to a pair of popular Caribbean and South American countries amid a recent uptick in crime.

The State Department last week re-classified both Colombia and Jamaica as Level 3, urging Americans to reconsider travel to the countries. The State Department regularly assesses the security and health situations in each country and adjusts the classification accordingly on a scale of one (which indicates travelers should exercise normal precautions) to four (which warns Americans not to travel there).

In Jamaica, the department warned violent crimes, such as home invasions, armed robberies, sexual assaults, and homicides, are common and said sexual assaults occur frequently, including at all-inclusive resorts. The Department added local police often do not respond effectively to serious criminal incidents.

A do not travel advisory was issued for several areas on the island, including downtown Kingston.

In Colombia, the State Department warned travelers should reconsider their trip due to crime and terrorism and should exercise increased caution due to civil unrest and kidnapping. Additionally, the department warned terrorist organizations may carry out attacks on transportation hubs, shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, airports, or other public areas.

The department said travelers especially should not visit the Arauca, Cauca (excluding Popayan), and Norte de Santander departments, and should not go to the Colombia-Venezuela border region due to crime, kidnapping, and risk of detention when crossing into Venezuela from Colombia.

Violent crime, such as homicide, assault, and armed robbery, is widespread, the State Department wrote in its updated advisory. Organized criminal activities, such as extortion, robbery, and kidnapping, are common in some areas.

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If travelers do go to Colombia, the Department said they should avoid protests and large crowds and keep a low profile.

Travelers who do visit these countries can enroll in the State Departments Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.

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Read the original article on Travel & Leisure.
Memorial Day Weekendthe unofficial kickoff to summer travelis nearly upon us. And this year, more Americans are planning to travel than in recent memory: Travel organization AAA says the holiday is expected to be the third busiest Memorial Day weekend since 2000.

Over the holiday travel period, from Thursday, May 25 through Monday, May 29, nearly 3.4 million people are expected to board planes, according to AAAs data. Thats 11 percent higher than in 2022. This summer travel season could be one for the record books, especially at airports, Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel, said in a statement. The group predicts that airports will be the busiest theyve been over Memorial Day Weekend since 2005.

With so many people traveling, several destinations have risen to the top as most popular for the holiday, and metasearch site Skyscanner gathered the top nine destinations in the US, as well as five international destinations where Americans plan to wile away the long weekend.

Heres where American tourists are planning on traveling over Memorial Day Weekend 2023plus how to still get a deal on airfare if you havent booked yet.

Top domestic destinations

For the top domestic destinations, there was a 40 percent increase in airfare this year, according to AAAs booking data. Unsurprisingly, warm-weather locales are trending for the holiday weekend, as well as a few major cities. Florida will be the most popular state with travelers, with three cities appearing in the top nine rankings.

The nine most popular US destinations for Memorial Weekend, according to Skyscanner, are:

Las Vegas, Nevada New York, New York Los Angeles, California Fort Lauderdale, Florida Orlando, Florida San Francisco, California Miami, Florida Honolulu, Hawaii Atlanta, Georgia

Top international destinations

This year, the number of international bookings is 250 percent higher compared to 2022, according to AAA. European cities are popular with travelers for the long weekend, but cities in Asia and beach escapes in Mexico are also drawing dollars from tourists.

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The five most popular international destinations for Memorial Day Weekend, according to Skyscanner, are:

Its not too late to still book cheap flights for Memorial Day Weekend

If you dont have travel plans for the holiday weekend yet, its not too late to book flights and still get a deal. Our advice? If youre flexible on your destination, search by Google Flights Explore map feature.

Simply input your travel dates and home airport into the tools search bar (leave the destination blank). Airfares will begin populating throughout the map, with the cheapest available on display. If you click the price, you can browse a variety of flights and fares from different airlines.

Searching flights from Friday, May 26 to Tuesday, May 30 we found several enticing options. From New York JFK, there were cheap nonstop flights to Los Angeles on Delta for $363 roundtrip, and round-trip flights to Cancun on American for $397 with a connection in Miami.

Out of Chicago OHare, affordable roundtrips to Las Vegas were still available for the long weekend on Delta for $240 with a connection in Minneapolis, as well as nonstop flights on American to San Juan for $502 roundtrip.

For fliers near Dallas-Fort Worth, you have the option to spend the holiday in New Orleans, thanks to nonstop flights on American for $218 roundtrip, or in Tampa by booking nonstops on American for $362 roundtrip.

Wherever you decide to travel, plan to arrive at the airport at least three hours before your departure to accommodate for the crowds and inevitable snaking lines.

Originally Appeared on Conde Nast Traveler
The significant spring rain for the Fort Collins area fell far short of the National Weather Service's forecast.

However, the storm did deliver an array of weather-related events across Colorado.

Here's a look at the Fort Collins-area predictions and actual rain and snow amounts

Fort Collins was first predicted to receive more than an inch of rain, and later 0.81 inches, but most stations around the city recorded roughly 0.30 to 0.40 inches during the Tuesday and Wednesday storm. Official totals for the city are not yet available.

Red Feather Lakes was forecast to get 9 inches of snow and Estes Park 4 inches, but reports showed totals ranging from no snow to less than 2 inches.

Greeley was forecast for 0.74 inches of rain, and one reporting station recorded 0.88 inches, but others reported about half that much.

A station 5.9 miles west of Bellvue reported 1.7 inches of rain and one 8 miles west of Loveland reported 1.25 inches.

Why Fort Collins received far less rain than forecast

The storm track moved slightly south, resulting in less upslope conditions and rain and snow for the Fort Collins area and northern foothills and mountains, according to Victoria Chavez, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Boulder.

That favored locations from Interstate 70 and south, where Aurora picked up 1.41 inches of rain and the Pueblo area 2 to 2.5 inches.

More: What to know about Colorado's deadliest natural disasters, including key safety tips

Storm spawns Colorado's first tornado and thunderstorm warning of the season

There were several landspout tornadoes reported mostly in southern Weld County around Keenesburg, Roggen and the Prospect Valley area, and near Denver International Airport, prompting a thunderstorm and tornado warning.

Landspout tornadoes form from the ground up to a thunderstorm cell, while other tornadoes form in the reverse. Landspout tornadoes are generally weak and are the most common tornado in Colorado.

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Hail is pictured on Interstate 76 near Keenesburg on Tuesday.

Hail, flooding reported in Northern Colorado during storm

The Berthoud, Arvada, Westminster, Aurora, Dacono and Keenesburg areas reported hail, impacting Interstate 25 and Interstate 76.

There was a flood advisory for southwest Weld County, including the Hudson and Fort Lupton areas.

Fort Collins-area forecast calls for more rain, but will it prove true?

Here is the Fort Collins forecast through the weekend, according to the National Weather Service:

Thursday, April 27: 20% chance of rain and thunderstorms during the day, increasing to 90% chance of mostly rain with some snow; half inch possible Thursday night into early Friday morning. High of 68 degrees.

Friday, April 28: 20% chance of rain/snow mix in the morning. High of 55 degrees and north wind 18 to 26 mph, gusting to 40 mph.

Saturday, April 29: Mostly sunny, breezy and high of 72 degrees.

Sunday, April 30: Sunny, with a high near 71.

Colorado spring lawn care: What to know about snow mold, fertilizer, watering and more

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Why the Fort Collins area didn't get as much rain, snow as forecast
Former Ohio Republican Party chairman Matt Borges speaks to the media outside of the Potter Stewart U.S. Courthouse in downtown Cincinnati after a jury found him guilty of racketeering conspiracy.

Former Ohio Republican Party Chairman Matt Borges wants to appeal his criminal conviction, citing a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision throwing out the conviction of ex-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's aide.

Borges' lead attorney, Karl Schneider, is asking U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Black for more time to file post-trial motions, given that two potentially relevant supreme court decisions came just last week.

The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that federal prosecutors had overreached in the New York public corruption case. The aide, Joseph Percoco, was sentenced to six years in prison in 2018 for accepting money from companies seeking to influence the Cuomo administration as it worked on a project to revitalize Buffalo, the Associated Press reported.

The Supreme Court ruled that the jury instructions were too broad in Percoco's case. "(I)mplying that the public has a right to a private persons honest services whenever that private persons clout exceeds some ill-defined threshold  is too vague," wrote Justice Samuel Alito.

But the Supreme Court stopped short of tossing the federal law altogether. Private citizens could violate honest services wire fraud if they acted like an agent of the government.

The Supreme Court's ruling in a second case, Ciminelli versus the United States, narrowed how federal prosecutors can use wire fraud laws, according to SCOTUSblog.com.

Borges argues that political operative Tyler Fehrman wasn't acting as a government official when he was collecting signatures to block House Bill 6, a $1.3 billion bailout for two nuclear plants in northern Ohio. Therefore, the $15,000 check that Borges gave him for insider information about the ballot referendum wasn't a bribe.

More: 'It's terrifying': FBI tipster who wore wire in Larry Householder, Matt Borges case talks

Borges pleaded not guilty to racketeering conspiracy. A federal jury convicted him and co-defendant Larry Householder, the former Ohio House speaker.

Householder is scheduled to be sentenced June 29. Borges is set to be sentenced on June 30. Both face up to 20 years in prison.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Convicted former Ohio GOP leader wants more time for appeal.
Alabama leaders blasted reports that President Biden may block the move of the Space Command headquarters to the state due to its abortion laws.

Alabama lawmakers voiced their concerns Tuesday, discussing a recent NBC report that quotes people familiar with the matter saying the move was delayed due to the state laws passed last year that ban nearly all abortions  including for incest and rape.

Alabama is the only choice for Space Command Headquarters  no ifs, ands or buts about it. The contest wasnt even close, Gov. Kay Ivey (R) tweeted. The Pentagon knows it. And the White House knows it.

Ill keep saying it, and Alabama will keep proving it until HQ is officially in Huntsville, Ivey wrote.

Alabama Republicans announced in 2021 that the Space Command headquarters will be housed in their home state. The Space Command is separate from the Space Force, which is the military service responsible for carrying out the the actions of the command.

The Space Command one of the militarys 11 unified combatant commands and uses forces from each of the military services to carry out directed missions in the space domain.

GOP lawmakers in the state expressed outrage following the NBC report.

Sen. Katie Britt (R) accused the Biden administration of playing politics with the headquarters, saying that an alabama location in the best interest of national security.

President Bidens plans would irresponsibly yank a military decision out of the Air Forces hands in the name of partisan politics, Britt said in a statement. Huntsville finished first in both the Air Forces Evaluation Phase and Selection Phase, leaving no doubt that the Air Forces decision to choose Redstone as the preferred basing location was correct purely on the merits.

That decision should remain in the Air Forces purview, Britt added.

Rep. Dale Strong said in a statement that any change in location for the headquarters would be a slight against those serving in the military and accused the White House of bowing down to political pressure over whats best for the military and national defense.

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Ive seen all the reviews and reports on the basing process  but dont remember access to late-term abortions being one of the 21 criteria used to evaluate the sites, he tweeted.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville also accused the Biden administration of undermining the countrys readiness by delaying the move of the headquarters, noting that the headquarters would be best served in Huntsville.

The states lone Democrat in the House shared similar sentiments with her GOP counterparts.

The White House should immediately reconfirm Huntsville as the headquarters of Space Command, Rep. Terri Sewell posted to Twitter. To change course would be because of politics and not merit. Surely, the Biden Administration would not allow politics to improperly influence this decision.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Alec Baldwin indicated Monday that he has wrapped filming on the Western movie "Rust," about 18 months after cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed and director Joel Souza injured in an on-set shooting near Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The 65-year-old actor shared a selfie of his freshly shaved face on Instagram after removing the facial hair for his character in the Western.

"God, it felt good to shave off that beard," he captioned with the photo.

Baldwin also reposted an Instagram story from co-star Patrick Scott McDermott sharing a hug that read: "Alec's last day. I'll miss you."

The plagued film resumed production in April at Yellowstone Film Ranch in Montana after halting production in April 2021 when Hutchins was fatally shot on set when a prop gun discharged a live round of ammunition.

Baldwin was rehearsing with the gun when the weapon went off, killing Hutchins and injuring Souza.

In January, Baldwin and the film's armorer, Hanna Gutierrez-Reed, were formally charged with involuntary manslaughter, to which Baldwin pled not guilty in February.

Last month, however, special prosecutors in New Mexico confirmed they were dropping involuntary manslaughter charges that were brought against Baldwin. The special prosecutors, Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis, announced that the charges were being dismissed after "new facts were revealed that demand further investigation and forensic analysis."

The charges against Gutierrez-Reed, however, remains in place.

Legal sports betting could face more regulation, lawmakers say

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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.

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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
A Venezuelan migrant browses the CBP One mobile app searching for an appointment to enter the United States outside the temporary stay of the National Migration Institute (INM) in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua state, Mexico, on May 5, 2023.

A Venezuelan migrant browses the CBP One mobile app searching for an appointment to enter the United States outside the temporary stay of the National Migration Institute (INM) in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua state, Mexico, on May 5, 2023. Credit - Herika MartinezAFP/Getty Images

From a shelter on the Southern bank of the Rio Grande in Mexico, Diego tries and fails repeatedly to secure an asylum appointment in the U.S. through a government smartphone app. Diego, 34, has been in Mexico for more than three months after traveling north from Venezuela, but hes heard of new arrivals suddenly receiving an appointment. With the new system, I had hoped that those of us who have been here three, four months would be able to get appointments first, that there would be some kind of order, he says. But its luck, its like a lottery.

Federal officials have directed migrants seeking asylum in the U.S. to use the CBP One smartphone app to enter lawfully. Under the Biden Administrations new asylum rules put in place after the expiration of Title 42, if a person did not seek asylum in the country they moved through to get to the U.S. or didnt use the CBP One app, any asylum claim they make in the U.S. will likely be rejected. But only 1,000 slots are available through the app every day; there arent enough appointments to meet the demand. CBP said in a May 5 statement that it will prioritize appointments for those who had been waiting the longest by giving a percentage of appointments each day to the people who registered earliest with the app. (Diegos legal advocates asked TIME to withhold his last name over concerns that his comments could impact his asylum case.)

U.S. Border Patrol agents transport migrants from a makeshift camp between fences on the US-Mexico border in San Diego, Calif., on May 12, 2023. Eric ThayerBloomberg/Getty Images

Beyond the limited availability of appointments, migrants and immigration advocates have reported issues with how the app works. Among the complaints: error messages keep popping upoften in English. Some migrants may be illiterate or not speak English, Spanish, or Haitian Creolelanguages the app uses. Some dont have an email address. Some nonprofits that work with migrants previously alleged that the app can fail to register those with darker skin tones. The internet connection may not be strong enough for facial capture software. Thats especially true for migrants who live in refugee camps by the river, says Pastor Abraham Barberi, an independent missionary who lives in Brownsville, Texas and frequents Matamaros, Mexico across the border. Migrants may not have a smartphone or if they do, they may not have the technological savvy or enough memory to use the app. Some migrants lost their phones or had them stolen on difficult journeys to the border.

All this means the fate of migrantsmany of whom are fleeing extreme poverty and violencehinges largely on a smartphone lottery system. The assumption that migrants fleeing danger will have ready access to a smartphone is misguided, immigration advocates say. Imagine if your whole life was based upon whether or not your family had enough money to get an expensive phone. People are literally choosing a phone over food, says Priscilla Orta, supervising attorney at Project Corazon, a program by Lawyers for Good Government, a human rights advocacy organization that runs pro bono legal service programs.

In theory, an individual fleeing persecution just needs to present themselves to immigration officials and explain they have a fear of being returned to their country of origin for a shot at asylum, says Chelsea Sachau, an attorney at the Arizona-based Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project. But in practice, Sachau says when her clients have approached immigration officials to explain that they cant read or speak Spanish or that they dont have a smartphone, they have been turned away and told they need to get one and figure it out. The CBP One app is a really dangerous threat because it does violate the whole concept that people can access the process in a fair way and an equitable way, she says.

A local police officer scans the CBP One app QR code for an asylum seeker on the Mexican side of the San Ysidro port of entry on the US-Mexico border, as seen from Tijuana, Baja California state, Mexico, on May 11, 2023. Guillermo AriasAFP/Getty Images

Following criticism of the app, which was officially rolled out in Oct. 2020 but has been more widely used since Jan. 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced some changes earlier this month, including a scheduling system that will allow users to request an appointment for 23 hours each day, instead of at a short designated time. The agency said this was aimed at reducing time pressure. Before this change, navigating the app was chaos, some immigration attorneys say. It essentially was like if Taylor Swift concert tickets for last fall happened every single morning. But instead of for concert tickets, it was your ticket to safety, Sachau says.

CBP did not respond to a request for comment about ongoing criticism of the app.

Despite the changes, migrants and their advocates are still calling for providing additional tools to access asylum. Among them: the ability to walk up to the bridge and request to legally go through the asylum process, even if you havent gone through the app. The administration likes to paint (the app) as an orderly way of handling things. But what is so un-orderly about a line at the bridge that does not require a phone? Orta says. Were all for providing various tools of access; this could be one of many tools but not the sole tool. Orta has also pushed DHS to release a web version of the appointment system that can be accessed through a computer, which could make it easier for migrant aid groups to help. A paper form to submit a request could be useful, too, she says.

In the meantime, the app is not always accessible for those in the most perilous situations.

Twenty-four hours after the end of Title 42, a popular migrant crossing along the U.S.-Mexico border is empty in Somerton, Ariz. on May 12, 2023. Gary CoronadoLos Angeles Times/Getty Images

Among those waiting in Mexico is 51-year-old Marco, who is HIV-positive and has run out of medications. His wife Noelia, 39, has recently undergone surgery for breast cancer and also has run out of medications. Speaking to TIME on WhatsApp, he said they are desperate. My family is suffering from hunger, were running out of moneythe app hasnt worked, it hasnt worked for anyone, we dont know what else to do, he said. As the father of the family I am responsible for them all. We are human beings, please help us.

Marco and Noeliathe same legal advocates aiding Diego also requested withholding their last namesarent alone. Maribel Hernandez Rivera, a deputy national political director at the ACLU, was part of a recent delegation organized by the Haitian Bridge Alliance that visited migrant shelters along the border. She recalls meeting a woman from Honduras inside a migrant camp. Her six-year-old daughter had a fever. She said her phone was stolen and she doesnt have the money to buy a new one.

-With additional reporting by Vera Bergengruen
An 18-year-old gunman armed with an arsenal of automatic weapons killed three people and injured six others while firing randomly at cars and houses in the New Mexico city of Farmington on Monday, authorities said.

The suspect was killed by police after wounding two officers, Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe said in a video released on Monday night.

The identities of the suspect and victims were not immediately released.

Mr Hebbe said the gunman was armed with an AR-15 style rifle and two other firearms as he roamed across a quarter mile area of the city just before 11am targeting whatever entered his head to shoot at.

At least six houses and three cars were shot at, while state and local police responding to 911 calls also came under heavy gunfire.

Mr Hebbe called the shootings one of the most horrific and difficult days that Farmington has ever had as a community.

Police have not revealed a possible motive or intended target of the attack.

At this point, it appears to be purely random, that there was no schools, no churches and no individuals targeted, the police chief said.

Community members hold candles during a prayer vigil at Hills Church, Monday, in Farmington, New Mexico. (Associated Press)

Farmington Mayor Nate Duckett said in a statement that the shooting has left us reeling in anguish and disbelief.

He praised the response of law enforcement, which he said had saved countless lives.

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Graham said in a statement she was deeply upset by the tragic violence that unfolded today in Farmington.

Mr Hebbe said police received the first 911 calls at about 10.57am. Officers arrived at the scene at 11.02am, and three minutes later, the gunman had been killed.

A Farmington Police Department officer who was wounded in the shooting has since been released from hospital. A second New Mexico State Police officer who was able to drive himself to hospital remains in a stable condition, Mr Hebbe said.

Law enforcement personnel investigate the scene of a shooting on North Dustin Avenue in Farmington, N.M., Monday. (ALBUQUERQUE JOURANL PUBLISHING COMPANY)

Police initially believed there may have been a second shooter and imposed active shooter protocols in the citys public schools, Mr Hebbe said.

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Mayor Duckett, law enforcement officers and dozens of residents gathered for a vigil at Hills Church, a few miles from the scene of the attack, on Monday night.

Local and state law enforcement agencies are investigating the shooting, and are expected to provide an update on Tuesday afternoon.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said in a Twitter post that agents from Phoenix were headed to Farmington to assist in the investigation.

According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been 225 mass shootings in the United States in 2023.

In New Mexico, gun owners do not require a permit to purchase a rifle or handgun, and there are no restrictions on assault weapons or magazine capacities.

Governor Lujan Graham is pushing for a ban on assault weapons, and welcomed the passage of a bill that would ban their sale through a committee in February.
Republican secretary of state candidates Michael Adams, Allen Miracle and Stephen Knipper (left to right)

Kentucky Republicans chose Secretary of State Michael Adams to once again be their partys nominee for the office, in yet another defeat for GOP candidates pushing 2020 election fraud conspiracy theories.

Decision Desk HQ, an election results reporting platform partnering with The Courier Journal, called the race for Adams based on an analysis of current and previous primary returns at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday. At the time, Adams had 63.8% of the vote, followed by Stephen Knipper's 26.4% and Allen Maricle 9.7%.

Like many of the secretary of state races across the country in 2022, the Kentucky primary turned into a referendum on whether the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Donald Trump via "rigged" voting machines and fraud, with Adams being the only candidate who strongly disputed such theories.

Knipper, on the other hand, has over the past two years vocally touted such claims of 2020 election fraud, also claiming that voting machines stole the 2019 election from former Republican Gov. Matt Bevin, without any solid evidence.

In the closing weeks of the campaign, Adams posted on social media that "we must keep the cranks, kooks and RINOs out of this office" and "close the curtain on this clown show by voting Adams."

Once the race was called, Adams celebrated his victory on Twitter, tweeting that "Kentucky Republicans rejected those who malign our county clerks and poll workers with conspiratorial nonsense."

"This didn't happen magically, and neither did election reform; they required strong leadership in the face of political and personal risk," he continued. "I'm proud to have led Kentucky in a different direction. If reelected in the fall, I'll continue to lead the country in making it easy to vote and hard to cheat."

Adams victory comes despite a recent poll showing 79% of likely GOP primary voters in Kentucky indicating they believe President Joe Bidens 2020 victory over Trump was illegitimate.

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Adams will face Democrat Buddy Wheatley in the general election, a former state legislator from Covington who did not face a primary opponent Tuesday. If Adams wins the election, it will be his second term in the office.

Adams received bipartisan praise in his first term for his handling of elections during the pandemic, working with Gov. Andy Beshear to expand early and mail-in voting during the 2020 elections, and then supporting a bill passed in 2021 that added three days of early voting.

More: Kentucky's secretary of state primary pits GOP incumbent against Trump conspiracies

Adams also supported legislation requiring photo identification to vote and has touted his office's purging of 300,000 people from the voting rolls who have either died or moved out of state.

While Adams says the state was able to clean its voter rolls so effectively by participating in the Election Registration Information Center (ERIC) national database with other states, Knipper and Maricle called for withdrawing from ERIC, claiming it is part of a left-wing network.

Reach reporter Joe Sonka at jsonka@courierjournal.com and follow him on Twitter at @joesonka.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: KY Primary Election Results 2023: Adams wins GOP secretary of state nod
Texas crowned top state MATHCOUNTS team

ORLANDO, Fla., May 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Channing Yang, a 13-year-old seventh grader from Sugar Land, Texas, solved his way to victory over 222 competitors, becoming the 2023 Raytheon Technologies MATHCOUNTS National Champion following an intense, elite competition at the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista this weekend. As the National Champion, Channing will receive the $20,000 Donald G. Weinert College Scholarship.

Channing Yang is presented with the 2023 Raytheon Technologies National Champion award by Bindu Nair, the director of basic research at the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, his coach Andrea Smith, and Tracey Gray, MATHCOUNTS board chair and vice president of Communications and External Affairs for Raytheon Intelligence & Space.

Channing squared off against his opponents in the final round of the 2023 Raytheon Technologies MATHCOUNTS National Competition by answering the question: "Erika cuts one pound of fudge into pieces to share with her friends. She divides the fudge into seven small pieces and three large pieces. If each large piece is three times as large as each small piece, how many pounds does one of the large pieces weigh?" during the Countdown Round, in which the top 12 Mathletes in the country competed in head-to-head matchups. He calculated the correct answer, three-sixteenths, in just seven seconds.

Oron Wang, 14, of Short Hills, New Jersey, was the Countdown Round Runner-Up and won a $7,500 scholarship. The remaining Countdown Round participants were:

Edward Chen, an eighth grader from Carmel, Ind.

Varun Gadi, an eighth grader from Johns Creek, Ga.

Adam Ge, an eighth grader from Lexington, Mass.

Selena Ge, a seventh grader from Lexington, Mass.

Jason Lee, a seventh grader from Durham, N.C.

Seabert Mao, an eighth grader from Saratoga, Calif.

Liam Reddy, an eighth grader from Las Vegas, Nev.

Ashvin Sinha, an eighth grader from Tallahassee, Fla.

Alex Sun, an eighth grader from Sugar Land, Texas

Roger Zhen, a seventh grader from Houston, Texas

In the team competition, Texas captured the title of First Place Team. Team members include:

Kevin Chen, an eighth grader from Sugar Land, Texas

Alex Sun, an eighth grader from Sugar Land, Texas

Channing Yang, a seventh grader from Sugar Land, Texas

Roger Zhen, a seventh grader from Houston, Texas

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The Florida state team took second place, and the Massachusetts state team placed third.

Channing was among 223 competitors from all 50 states as well as U.S. territories and schools that serve the U.S. State and Defense departments, who traveled to Orlando after earning a spot in the national competition. More than 30,000 students participated in the local and state competitions that led to this weekend's event, the 39th in the MATHCOUNTS Foundation's history.

This year's event theme revolved around movies and red carpets to place Mathletes on par with celebrities and celebrate math as a crucial skill for society's success. The event highlighted film, animation and music to emphasize that math can be used in an array of creative fields, just like how the movie Hidden Figures showed how math was used to help NASA launch its first successful space missions.

"These Mathletes are the kind of problem solvers who will inspire a bright future for all of us," said Kristen Chandler, executive director of MATHCOUNTS. "I can't wait to see what incredible feats they accomplish with the skills they've developed and displayed during their time in MATHCOUNTS."

This is the 14th year that Raytheon Technologies has served as title sponsor of the MATHCOUNTS National Competition as part of its global commitment to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education.

"Making it to the MATHCOUNTS National Competition is a great accomplishment and a testament to the students' perseverance, creativity and problem-solving skills," said Tracey Gray, vice president, Communications and External Affairs for Raytheon Intelligence & Space, a Raytheon Technologies business. "Congratulations to Channing and all the competitors who put their skills to the test in this year's competition."

Media Contact:

Alyssa Shaffer

alyssa.shaffer@rtx.com

About MATHCOUNTS Foundation

MATHCOUNTS is a nonprofit organization that strives to engage middle school students of all ability and interest levels in fun, challenging math programs, in order to expand their academic and professional opportunities. Middle school students exist at a critical juncture in which their love for mathematics must be nurtured, or their fear of mathematics must be overcome. For more than 30 years, MATHCOUNTS has provided free, high-quality resources to educators and enriching, extracurricular opportunities to students to lay a foundation for future success. Materials and information are available at www.mathcounts.org.

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.

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sugar-land-native-channing-yang-named-2023-raytheon-technologies-mathcounts-national-champion-301826015.html

SOURCE Raytheon Technologies
An illustration of the quasar P172+18 as it blasts out powerful jets of matter and radiation.

An illustration of the quasar P172+18 as it blasts out powerful jets of matter and radiation.

Scientists may have solved a 60-year-old mystery by discovering that quasars  energetic objects that are powered by ravenous supermassive black holes and can outshine trillions of stars combined  form when galaxies collide and merge.

The findings indicate that the Milky Way could host a quasar of its own when it collides with the neighboring Andromeda galaxy several billion years from now.

Scientists have previously tracked quasars' bright, energetic emissions to regions at the hearts of galaxies that span roughly the width of the solar system  meaning quasars must come from incredibly compact objects. The leading theory suggests that quasars are supermassive black holes heating huge amounts of surrounding gas, thus releasing tremendous amounts of radiation before the material falls onto the black hole's surface.

Related: 'Runaway' black hole the size of 20 million suns caught speeding through space with a trail of newborn stars behind it

Since their discovery six decades ago, quasars have puzzled scientists  mainly because it's unclear just how supermassive black holes can draw in enough raw material to fuel such powerful emissions. While supermassive black holes dwell at the centers of most galaxies, the gas needed to fuel quasars tends to orbit on the outskirts of galaxies. Thus, there must be some delivery service moving gas toward the hearts of galaxies.

Now, new research published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society uses deep imaging observations from the Isaac Newton Telescope in Spain's Canary Islands to finally solve this puzzle.

"To understand how quasars are ignited we need to determine how gas can fall into the center of the host galaxies at sufficiently high rates," lead study author Clive Tadhunter , a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Sheffield in the U.K., told Live Science via email. "One idea is that the necessary radial infall is caused by collisions between galaxies, whose associated gravitational forces can perturb the gas from its usual circular orbits."

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Two spiral galaxies collide, triggering a burst of star formation (red). Astronomers suspect that the Milky Way reached its modern size through a series of mergers like this one.

When comparing 48 nearby galaxies hosting quasars to 100 non-quasar galaxies, the researchers discovered the presence of distorted structures at the edges of the quasar-hosting galaxies. These structures also indicate a past or ongoing collision and merger with another galaxy, Tadhunter said.

"We found a high rate of such structures in quasar-hosting galaxies, three times that measured for a carefully matched control sample of non-quasar galaxies that were imaged with the same techniques," Tadhunter said. "This provides strong evidence that quasars are indeed triggered in galaxy collisions."

The team's research isn't the first time galactic mergers have been linked to quasars. Tadhunter pointed out, however, that attempts to test this hypothesis by hunting for distorted structures at the outer parts of galaxies that are characteristic of such collisions had previously proved ambiguous.

"Some studies have found the expected structures but others have not," he continued. "We believe that much of the past ambiguity in this field is due to the fact that many of the previous imaging studies did not have sufficient depth to detect the sometimes faint distorted structures in the outer parts of the galaxies that host the quasars."

Quasars can have a large influence on the evolution of galaxies that host them; better understanding how quasars ignite could help scientists hone their models of galaxy evolution and the evolution of the universe as a whole.

related stories

1st image of our galaxy's 'black hole heart' unveiled

Black holes may be swallowing invisible matter that slows the movement of stars

What's the biggest black hole in the universe?

"It's important to understand how, when, and where quasars are triggered, as once triggered, the enormous radiative power generated by a quasar can have a major, damaging effect on the surrounding host galaxy," Tadhunter said. "For example, the pressure of the radiation can expel the remaining gas in the remnant galaxy system. Since gas is required to form new stars, this will cut off any future star formation activity, effectively the death throes of the galaxy."

Tadhunter also pointed out that understanding the connection between galactic collisions and quasars is vital in determining the future of our own corner of the cosmos.

"The nearest large galaxy  the Andromeda Spiral  is coming directly towards us at a high velocity, and will collide and merge with the Milky Way in around 5 billion years," he said. "When this happens, it's likely that a quasar will be triggered as gas falls into the center of the remnant system."

The team intends to follow up on this research by examining other quasars that are at a wider range of distances and that have been detected using other methods, to see if they have the same features that connect them to galactic collisions.

This story was provided by Live Science.
A bipartisan omnibus amendment introduced this week in the New Hampshire Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee combines five energy-related bills.

In an effort to advance both House and Senate priorities, the amendment is co-sponsored by Republican Sen. Kevin Avard, chair of the committee, and Democratic Sen. David Watters of Dover.

While some elements received support during public testimony on Tuesday, speakers overwhelmingly opposed an included attempt to repeal a mandate that utilities submit least cost integrated resource plans to the Public Utilities Commission.

The New Hampshire State House on Tuesday, May 9, 2023.

The proposed amendment to House Bill 281, which is supported by the states Department of Energy, contains the following elements:

Least cost integrated resource plans

In March, House Republicans passed a bill that would eliminate the statutory requirement that both gas and electric utility companies submit least cost integrated resource plans every two years to the Public Utilities Commission  essentially showing they are investing their money wisely and for the public good.

Those who support repealing the mandate say because of divestment, utilities are no longer potentially making money on the type or placement of electricity production facilities, so the requirement isnt relevant any longer.

Thomas Franz, director of regulatory support at the Department of Energy, said the information gathered through the least cost integrated resource plans is available via other PUC proceedings, and that the department is happy to work with all of the parties to have a better, more tailored, modern program going forward.

Meanwhile, Consumer Advocate Donald Kreis previously called these plans the only way to control runaway utility investment.

An attorney from Litchfield who has represented citizens in front of the PUC, Richard Husband urged legislators not to repeal the guardrails for the meat and potatoes of natural gas planning.

Eliminating the requirement would be a significant loss for New Hampshire, said Nick Krakoff, senior attorney for the Conservation Law Foundation. He told the Senate committee there is no other process where the PUC evaluates big picture impacts from utility planning.

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Krakoff cited an example being the Granite Bridge fracked natural gas project originally proposed by Liberty Utilities, which saw cost estimates as high as $440 million during the process. Because of the least cost oversight statute, he said, it was ultimately abandoned for a $40 million capacity contract, saving ratepayers unnecessary expenses.

Meredith Hatfield, New Hampshires associate director for policy and government relations at the Nature Conservancy, contested that doing away with the plans would remove critical tools for a range of interests being able to ensure that the hundreds of millions of dollars that our utilities spend are done so in the interest of ratepayers, the environment, and public health.

Several speakers mentioned the utility companies did not request a repeal.

Site Evaluation Committee changes

An effort earlier this legislative session to do away with the Site Evaluation Committee and move energy siting duties to the PUC drew significant citizen opposition during public hearings. While most people agreed the SEC needs updating, some feared what its total dissolution would mean.

What legislators included in this weeks amendment was referred to as a light version. Instead of getting rid of the SEC  the body tasked with approving or denying new energy facility applications  the amendment makes mainly administrative changes to it.

It was much more palatable to those testifying Tuesday. Rep. Kat McGhee, a Hollis Democrat, called it a good start for further siting process improvements.

Watters said hes concerned about New Hampshire being seen as a state that cant site new energy and distribution resources  especially with significant projects on the horizon, such as offshore wind power and a new Canadian hydropower transmission proposal.

We have to be able to reasonably have a process, with due public input and environmental concerns, where we can site energy facilities for this new energy economy thats developing, Watters said.

Epping Republican Rep. Michael Vose, chair of the House Science, Technology, and Energy Committee and prime sponsor of the initial bill to dissolve the SEC, said he is extremely supportive of streamlining the siting process.

The amendment makes it so the Department of Energy is involved in a way it wasnt before, he said, and it also clarifies the roles of state agencies, making sure their permitting decisions are paramount.

Mark Sanborn, assistant commissioner of the Department of Environmental Services, said staff and members of the SEC are doing their best and operating in complete good faith. But its an inefficient, underfunded, poorly structured way of going about business.

Sanborn called the amendment a great step forward for anyone who cares about energy infrastructure in the state, renewable and traditional.

This story was originally published by New Hampshire Bulletin.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: NH lawmakers get pushback on energy omnibus: What it means and why
An update that Ohio State University Board Chairman Hiroyuki Fujita shared Friday with the campus community indicated that the Presidential Search Committee is making "great progress" in selecting someone to succeed Kristina M. Johnson as Ohio State's next permanent president.

Will Ohio State University's Board of Trustees announce its new president at this week's trustees meetings?

It's unlikely, at least according to an update Board Chairman Hiroyuki Fujita shared Friday with the campus community.

Fujita, speaking on behalf of the Presidential Search Committee, said the group is making "great progress" in selecting someone to succeed Kristina M. Johnson as Ohio State's next permanent president. University leaders previously shared that there is no set timeline for naming its next leader.

"We have seen strong interest in the position, and the process is moving forward efficiently," Fujita said.

More: 'Godspeed and go Buckeyes:' Kristina Johnson celebrates Ohio State grads on her last day

He expressed gratitude to those who have shared their thoughts in the process thus far, and he also said that the committee is still seeking input in their search. There are two ways people can contribute to the search: submit what qualities and experiences you would recommend in a president or submit a nomination.

Mirror Lake on the Ohio State University campus in 2020. In its next president, the university is looking for someone who is honest, authentic and transparent, a servant leader and team player; dynamic and energetic; curious and open-minded, and a charismatic listener.

What do Buckeyes want in their next president?

Fujita also shared the recently completed Presidential Profile, compiled by the University Advisory Subcommittee for the search process, which includes the input and feedback from the public listening sessions. The profile includes the qualities and character traits wanted in a candidate, as well as opportunities at the university that its next leader could lean into.

Ohio State's next president, according to the profile, must be: honest, authentic and transparent, a servant leader and team player; dynamic and energetic; curious and open-minded, a charismatic listener; consultative and, as necessary, decisive; communications-focused with exceptional interpersonal skills and political acumen; and appreciative of Ohio States special character and context.

More: Kristina Johnson could get paid up to a year after leaving Ohio State. Heres how much she could make

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The profile also said that the university's next leader must have vision, an ability to lead a complex academic organization, understand complex organizations and university culture, and an ability to work with a wide range of stakeholders.

The search committee would like the the next president to understand and support access to an affordableeducation; support and advance patient care and access to the universitys health system; enhance academics, invest in research, and build influence as a leader and partner statewide and beyond.

Who is leading Ohio State right now?

With Johnson's last day as president past  her last public appearance was spring commencement ceremonies  Ohio State is without an interim leader until it's next permanent leader is announced. Johnson announced her resignation in November.

Ohio State's Board of Trustees does not currently have plans to appoint an interim president between Johnson and the university's next president, Ohio State spokesman Ben Johnson previously told The Dispatch. Instead, senior and executive vice presidents will report to the board of trustees, he said.

Ohio State President Kristina M. Johnson speaks to the crowd during spring commencement ceremonies at Ohio Stadium earlier this month, marking her last public appearance and last day as president.

More: Ohio State doesn't plan to appoint an interim president after Johnson. So who will lead?

"Members of the presidents cabinet have always had day-to-day oversight of their units," he said. "During this transition period, cabinet members have reported on their work directly to the appropriate board committee. That arrangement will continue when President Johnson departs."

Fujita said this model is "aligned with the previous presidential transition occurring over the summer term."

Ohio State's last presidential search, which began after former President Michael V. Drake announced in November 2019 his plans to retire at the end of that academic year, took about six months.

The university hired the search firm Isaacson, Miller in January 2020, held several public forums for the campus community that February, and trustees officially announced and approved Johnson as its next president on June 4, 2020, at its regularly scheduled board meeting.

Ohio State has hired Education Executives, a Santa Barbara, Califorina-based external search firm, to lead the search.

Sheridan Hendrix is a higher education reporter for The Columbus Dispatch. Sign up for her Mobile Newsroom newsletter here and Extra Credit, her education newsletter, here.

shendrix@dispatch.com

@sheridan120

Get more political analysis by listening to the Ohio Politics Explained podcast

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State president search is making "great progress," trustee said
YMCA

A transgender woman in Ohio has been found not guilty of indecent exposure charges stemming from her use of the womens locker room at a local YMCA.

Rachel Glines, 31, was found not guilty of three misdemeanor counts of public indecency by Judge David McNamee at Xenia Municipal Court on Monday. Glines was charged after multiple complaints were filed with police regarding her use of the womens locker room at the Xenia YMCA in 2021 and 2022. McNamee found Glines not guilty because none of the accusers saw her genitalia and prosecutors could not establish an intent to commit a crime.

The facts and law have been on Ms. Glines side from the beginning, Glines attorneys said in a statement following the verdict Monday. Its unfortunate not only for her, but for the entire community, that the filing of these charges ever occurred.

The case arose after multiple women complained about Glines disrobing in the womens locker room. According to the Xenia Gazette, one unidentified witness recalled at trial she felt very uncomfortable after seeing Glines naked. She also admitted that while she saw her whole front side and back side she was unable to see Gliness man parts because they were concealed by her body.

Defense attorney Keara Dever argued that since none of the witnesses had actually seen Gliness genitalia, no crime had been committed. Judge McNamee agreed with Dever in his ruling.

At the time of the incidents becoming public, the Xenia YMCA issued a statement defending both Gliness right to use the locker room aligned to her gender identity, and also the organizations adherence to state and federal law.

The Greater Dayton YMCA adheres to Ohio and Federal laws and antidiscrimination laws which allow all members access to its facilities and programs, regardless of religion, national origin, race, color, sex, age, disability, gender identity, or sexual orientation, the Xenia YMCA said in a statement at the time, later adding, Let it be known that, under no circumstances will we investigate an individual's birth gender identity and then, assign individuals to locker rooms. That would be counter to the law, counter to respect for all people, and it is not who or what we are as an organization.

Following Mondays verdict, Glines attorney said described her client as relieved and that the ordeal as an invented prosecution.

It was our position that the prosecution tried to twist this law to fit this case into a certain mold, it just didnt fit in, attorney Lauren Dever told local Fox and ABC affiliate WKEF.
DOVER  Mauricio Guerrero is expected to face jail time after being found guilty Tuesday for some of the charges he faced for stalking a Somersworth woman he met online and hiding in her home.

The 21-year-old Pennsylvania man faced four burglary charges, a criminal trespass charge, and two violation of privacy charges, stemming from his alleged obsession with the woman. He was arrested after allegedly hiding in the woman's mother's attic and taking indecent videos of her while she slept.

Guerrero's case went to a Strafford County jury Monday afternoon and a verdict was reached late afternoon on Tuesday. A sentencing date was not immediately set.

Mauricio Guerrero, 21, leaves the witness stand for a morning break Monday, May 15, 2023 during his trial at Strafford County Superior Court in Dover.

Assistant County Attorney Emily Garod said Guerrero was found guilty of two of the four felony burglary charges, one carrying a potential 7.5- to 15-year sentence. The other charge could bring 3.5 to 7 years.

"The other two burglary charges were reduced to criminal trespassing as an alternative charge," Garod said. She said the other three charges (a standalone criminal trespassing charge and the two violations of privacy charges) are misdemeanors and carry potential sentences of 12 months.

"The total depends on whether they are sentenced consecutively or concurrently, but I think the most likely is a sentence of up to 15 years," Garod said.

More local news: Haydee Rivera-Nadeau now faces murder charge for Rochester shooting death

Guerrero was arrested Feb. 9, 2022, charged with hiding in the woman's attic for two days, sneaking down to her room and taking videos of her and stalking her prior to that. The two met on OnlyFans, a content subscription service where creators can earn money from users  the "fans"  who pay a monthly membership fee to access their exclusive content. Guerrero told the court he thought he was in a relationship with the woman and she wanted him to play stalking and rape games, after texting with her since October. They had consentual sexual intercourse at one point prior to him allegedly sneaking into her home, attorneys for both sides acknowledged.

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Somersworth police detective Sgt. John Sunderland had written in the affidavit submitted in court in 2022 that Guerrero admitted to taking video of the woman's private parts, to stealing her underwear and to renting a place to stay nearby, where he played video games and sometimes slept between multiple intrusions at the young woman's home.

Guerrero had traveled 350 miles from Pennsylvania after the 25-year-old woman provided him with her address, an apartment in Dover at first. The Somersworth home belongs to the woman's mother.

In his closing arguments Monday, defense attorney Harry Starbranch said the case is about intent. He said Guerrero found what he thought was his first relationship, that he believed the 25-year-old woman wanted to be with him. He said the victim, more sophisticated than him, orchestrated the situation, benefiting from gifts and money he gave her.

This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Verdict in OnlyFans stalker case in NH: Guilty of two felonies
Two young staffers for Arizona Republican Rep. Paul Gosar are close adherents of white-supremacist commentator Nick Fuentes, according to a published report.

It's the third time in recent weeks Gosar's office has been linked to antisemitism, and continues a series of events going back to 2021 in which the Arizona Republican is facing difficult questions from the Jewish community.

Talking Points Memo, a New York and Washington, D.C.,-based political website, first reported the news about Gosar's staffers Sunday evening. Gosar's office did not respond to requests for comment from The Arizona Republic or from Talking Points Memo, nor did the office respond to a question about the staffers' ongoing employment.

In a detailed investigation, Talking Points Memo showed that Wade Searle and Landen Petersen jointly ran Twitter, Gab and Instagram accounts using alternate versions of the name "Chikken" as a alias.

The accounts routinely used stereotypes to disparage minorities and Jewish people, including one time in 2021 when the author or authors referenced "hook-nosed bankers" and another that declared "The liberal apparatus encourages murderous, violent, genocidal behavior to resentful non-whites (of which they import millions every year) with 24/7 constant genocidal anti-White rhetoric."

If true, it's deeply disturbing that @RepGosars digital director is reportedly behind a secret Groyper army account and an active supporter of white supremacist leader Nick Fuentes. This needs a full investigation. Hate and extremism have no place in government- at any level. https://t.co/tpFGLMsn6z  ADL (@ADL) May 15, 2023

"If true, it's deeply disturbing that (Gosar's) digital director is reportedly behind a secret 'Groyper army' account and an active supporter of white supremacist leader Nick Fuentes. This needs a full investigation. Hate and extremism have no place in government  at any level," the Anti-Defamation League tweeted Monday.

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Because they ran the accounts anonymously, it is unclear who specifically wrote each individual post on the sites.

Searle has worked in Gosar's office since November 2021, the year he graduated high school, while Petersen is an intern in the office.

The stranger question the report raises is the relationship between Gosar and Fuentes, who is widely known as someone who spreads hate and advocates violence. Fuentes' Youtube channel was suspended for violating the hate speech policies. His followers refer to themselves as "Groypers."

Rep. Paul Gosar speaks during the Arizona GOP biennial statutory meeting at Dream City Church on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023, in Phoenix.

Politico reported a year ago that Gosar blamed a staffer for providing a welcome message for Fuentes' America First Political Action Conference in Orlando. He said it was supposed to go to another conservative group.

Gosar appeared at a conference with Fuentes in 2021 and then appeared by video the following year, later calling that a mistake.

It wasn't supposed to go to Nicks group, Gosar told Politico of the video message of the congressman shown at Fuentes' event. He said the staffer misconstrued directions from Tom Van Flein, his chief of staff.

Gosar also said he didn't know about Fuentes' divisive background before appearing at AFPAC in 2021, when he was the first sitting member of Congress to do so.

"The young people that were being misled by somebody  we should be trying to mentor, trying to change them. I've given up  on dealing with Nick. Nick's got a problem with his mouth.

The Talking Points Memo story uncovered social media posts from the "Chikken" alias run by Searle and/or Petersen last year that tried to calm down members of Fuentes' "Groyper" group and assure them that despite Gosar's comments about Fuentes, the congressman was still supportive of that ideology.

In the recent past, including in April when his weekly newsletter linked to a racist website, Gosar has issued statements reaffirming his support for Jewish people when faced with accusations he has ties to antisemitism.

The congressman has a long record as a defender of the state of Israel and a defender of people of the Jewish faith, a Gosar spokesperson said in April.

"Its neither shocking nor surprising that Rep. Gosar would employ an anti-Semitic, racist staffer in his congressional office," said Alan Zeichick, board chairman for the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Phoenix in a written statement. "Rep. Gosar remains an embarrassment to the State of Arizona. As Maya Angelou said, 'When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.' This certainly isnt the first time Rep. Gosar has embraced neo-Nazis. We presume it wont be the last."

Even if Gosar's staff issued a statement again denouncing Fuentes or claiming to affirm his support for the Jewish people, it would be meaningless at this point, said Paul Rockower, executive director of the JCRC.

"We are tired of his gaslighting. There have been way too many of these incidents for us to believe it and we don't accept it," Rockower said.

Gosar spoke at an event celebrating Israel's 75th birthday in April, sparking a discussion as to whether Gosar's record of supporting Jewish causes outweighed his associations with white supremacists.

Then in early May, Gosar was on the agenda for an event headlined by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has said things like Europeans should not "become peoples of mixed race."

Reach reporter Ryan Randazzo at ryan.randazzo@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4331. Follow him on Twitter @UtilityReporter.

Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Gosar staffers linked to white supremacist Nick Fuentes
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
The cast of Netflix's sci-fi series Stranger Things. (Netflix)

Netflix has confirmed it will launch an imminent crackdown on users sharing their passwords.

The streaming giant is expected to force subscribers to pay an extra fee to share their account with people outside their household.

Here's everything you need to know about the controversial new move.

When will Netflix stop password sharing?

Netflix's crackdown on password sharing is due to come into force by July. However, a new report by Financial Times suggested it may happen as soon as the end of May in the UK. The FT says Netflix recently met with telecoms groups who offer the streaming platform as part of their bundled services, to brief them on the incoming changes.

The new 'paid sharing' scheme was first launched in several Latin American countries last year, before being introduced in Canada, New Zealand, Portugal and Spain in February.

Netflix has an estimated 15 million subscribers in the UK, making it the country's most popular paid streaming service. Password sharing among households is widespread, with around four million users letting friends and family use their accounts for free, according to recent reports.

The Netflix logo. (Netflix)

In its latest results statement to shareholders, Netflix said: "We're pleased with the most recent launches of paid sharing, and while we could have launched broadly in Q1 [the first three months of 2023], we found opportunities to improve the experience for members."

Read more: Netflix to close mail-order DVD service (The Telegraph, 2-min read)

According to the Netflix terms of service, account details should "not be shared with individuals beyond your household". However, the streaming firm has avoided enforcing a crackdown until now.

CEO Reed Hastings previously said he was comfortable with users sharing their passwords. "Password sharing is something you have to learn to live with," he said in 2016, "because there's so much legitimate password sharing, like you sharing with your spouse, with your kids. So there's no bright line, and we're doing fine as is."

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The u-turn comes after company lost an estimated 500,000 UK subscribers last year, despite launching the latest seasons of hit shows such as The Crown, Bridgerton and Stranger Things.

The cost-of-living crisis has forced many households to cut back on spending, while Netflix is also battling competition from rivals such as Prime Video, Apple TV+, Disney+ and NOW.

Dominic West and Elizabeth Debicki in The Crown season 5. (Netflix)

Last February, the company hiked the price of its basic and standard plan by 1 a month to 6.99 and 10.99 respectively, while the premium tier went up by 2 to 15.99. In November, it introduced a cheaper ad-supported tier, costing 4.99 a month.

Matt Ross, the managing editor of research firm Digital i, warned that Netflix may face "a bit of kneejerk reaction" to paid sharing.

"We have seen a drop in viewing per account in Spain where Netflix has already started to crackdown on password sharing," he told The Guardian. "The question is what the overall impact will be on subscriber numbers in the long term."

But Richard Broughton, an analyst at Ampere, said there "hasn't been a huge amount of consternation" in countries where the scheme has been rolled out.

He added: "Netflix has had plenty of time to test this. It is not too uneconomical to upgrade to add more people. We don't see large numbers of people furious about not being able to access Netflix for free."

Watch: Netflix enjoys subscriber boost
Features/The Vanished Editor

Tammy Ayer has worked at the Yakima Herald-Republic since 2015. This is her fourth newspaper gig. Alongside general assignment reporting and profiles, she writes about the centuries-long crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People, focusing on those who have gone missing, been murdered and have died mysteriously on and around the Yakama Reservation. Ayer grew up in Indiana, lived in Florida for 13 years and has a masters degree in history.
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.
(Bloomberg) -- A group of senior Tesla Inc. executives plan to visit India this week to meet with federal government officials in a newfound bid to deepen the carmakers supply chain in the country as it pushes to diversify beyond China.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The executives are scheduled to meet with government representatives including those from the office of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss local sourcing of components for Teslas models, people familiar with the matter said, declining to be named as the plans are private.

The visit could represent a thaw in the relationship of India and Tesla, which has yet to enter the country in a meaningful way. Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk has criticized Indias high import taxes and its electric-vehicle policies, and India, in turn, has advised Tesla not to sell cars in the country that have been made in China, its political adversary.

The visitors are set to include C-suite executives and managers from Austin, Texas-based Teslas supply chain, production and business development teams. The executives are expected to reiterate Teslas request for India to cut import taxes on its vehicles, the people said.

Tesla didnt immediately respond to an email sent to the press address on its website outside of US office hours. A representative for the ministry of road transport and highways didnt respond to request for a comment.

Sourcing more from India could help Tesla win Modis favor as he tries to make the country a global manufacturing hub. Thus far, Modis administration has been lukewarm to Tesla, asking it to avoid selling vehicles assembled at its Shanghai factory. India has been engaged in a long-time border dispute with neighbor China.

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While Tesla has found it difficult to break into India, its global rivals such as Mercedes-Benz AG have taken steps to sell locally assembled cars. Theyre betting on rising demand for electric vehicles in what is the worlds most populous country and an automobile market with high growth potential.

To be sure, Tesla is still far from considering India as a base for assembling its pricey cars. Musk has said his company wont set up manufacturing plants in any location where it isnt allowed to first sell and service its vehicles.

But US companies including Tesla are increasingly realizing the importance of pivoting beyond China as trade tensions between Washington and Beijing show no signs of easing.

Tesla could take a leaf from Apple Inc.s playbook. The iPhone maker has carved out India as alternative manufacturing base and now produces 7% of its global smartphone output in the South Asian nation.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Long delays at general security lines at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport last September meant lines out to the parking garage for a period. As Sea-Tac nears its capacity, this may become more frequent unless a nearby community volunteers to be the site of a new airport. (Ellen M. Banner / The Seattle Times)
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FILE PHOTO: The logo of car manufacturer Tesla is seen in Bern

By Aditya Kalra and Aditi Shah

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Senior Tesla Inc executives will meet Indian government officials on Wednesday and Thursday to discuss local procurement of parts and other issues, a source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

The electric carmaker's renewed interest in India comes nearly a year after it put on hold plans to sell cars in the country after failing to secure lower import taxes, which its CEO Elon Musk said are among the highest in the world.

Tesla and an Indian government spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Tesla wanted lower tariffs to be able to test the local market with cars imported from the U.S. and China, but the Indian government wanted it to commit to manufacturing locally before cutting import taxes on cars that can run as high as 100%.

The electric carmaker had hired a local team and begun a search for showroom space, but that was also abandoned last year.

Local sourcing aligns with Modi's pitch to attract manufacturers with his "Make in India" campaign, especially as companies look to diversify their supply chains beyond China.

The meeting comes weeks ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the United States in June. Bloomberg News first reported the meeting plan.

(Reporting by Aditya Kalra; Additional reporting by Aditi Shah; Editing by Jan Harvey)
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With investors increasingly focused on debt ceiling negotiations, executives have begun to make more noise about the risks surrounding this debate when communicating with investors.

And no sector has been more vocal about these concerns than Financials (XLF).

In a note to clients published Monday, RBC Capital's Lori Calvasina flagged the following two charts, which show there were nearly 200 mentions of the debt ceiling by management teams in the Financial sector.

This was roughly double the number of mentions seen from the Industrial and Technology sectors, which were next up in terms of debt ceiling mentions on analyst calls and other investor communications.

Financials are talking about debt ceiling risks twice as much as the next most concerned S&P sectors over the last year. (Source: RBC Capital Markets)

That banks would be quick to warn about the risks of a debt default is backed up by how markets have behaved in the last 12 years of debt ceiling brinksmanship.

"In years where the drama in equity markets has otherwise been modest, the hits generally end up in the 5-6% area," Calvasina wrote. "In years in which debt ceiling drama has occurred in the context of other major problems in the market (i.e., 2011, 2015-2016, 2018), the hits have ranged from 10% to 19%."

And since 2011, the average decline in Financials during debt ceiling fights has been 8.7%, the most of any S&P 500 sector.

The problem with this stance, as Calvasina notes, is that stocks typically haven't skated through debt ceiling fights without a reaction. Rather, it is usually the action in stocks that engenders an eventual resolution from Congress.

That a further reaction in stocks may be needed to get action out of Congress will unpleasant news to investors betting on the Financial sector. Year-to-date, Financials are down over 6% with the S&P 500 up more than 7%.

Story continues

On top of an ongoing bank crisis that has seen three regional lenders fail since early March, the debt ceiling is thus serving as just another pressure point for an already challenged sector.

Last week, JPMorgan's (JPM) CEO made headlines when he said a failure of Congress to raise the government's borrowing limit resulting in a US debt default would be "potentially catastrophic."

Notably, however, RBC's work shows that mentions of the debt ceiling among Financials surged at the beginning of the year, a few months before it became a daily topic of conversation in financial media.

Moreover, Calvasina noted that in conversations with clients in the US and Canada over the last two weeks, investors in North America were less worried than their counterparts in Europe over the risks of the debt ceiling fight.

"For the most part, these North American investors were far less concerned about the debt ceiling, with many reminding us that Congress always ends up getting a deal done," Calvasina wrote.

"Despite their level heads, by the end of last week debt ceiling concerns among these investors had started to rise as well."

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
Audi nu va electrifica motorul cu 5 cilindri: se anunta o versiune mai puternica pentru RS3

Audi se pregateste sa faca pasul catre o gama de modele complet electrice in viitorul apropiat. Constructorul de la Ingolstadt si-a propus ca ultimul sau model cu motor termic sa fie lansat in 2026, pentru ca mai [citeste mai departe]
The survey of 750 employees from US-based retail companies revealed that 72% of employees who work for retail organizations with leading sustainability programs2 say they rarely think about looking for another job, and 79% plan to stay in their roles for the next couple of years. In comparison, just 40% of surveyed employees from retailers with lagging sustainability programs are as committed to their current positions.



The research shows that employees at leading companies may be more engaged and satisfied, too: 85% of respondents who work for retail sustainability leaders say that their work gives them a sense of accomplishment, while 84% say theyre inspired by the companys vison and values. Companies with lagging programs, on the other hand, rated lower on these measures, according to surveyed employees: just 57% and 22% respectively.

Cathy Gutierrez, a leader in Deloitte Consulting LLPs workforce transformation and human capital practice, says having a sense of personal fulfillment can be crucial to an employees workplace experience, an important differentiator for companies vying for talent at a time of record turnover.

Its this desire, from a worker perspective, for purpose and meaning in their job. And when youre able to tie the purpose and the meaning of their job to something bigger like sustainability, that helps them want to stay, she says.
China is investing 3 billion euros in Hungary's automotive industry in the coming period, Peter Szijjarto said after talks with Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao in Beijing.

The projects will further strengthen Hungarys position as a top investment destination in central Europe, the minister of foreign affairs and trade said.



Szijjarto had talks with the chief executives of five major Chinese companies, four of which will implement investments in Hungarys electric car industry which supplies German manufacturers.



The new investments will make a significant contribution to Hungarys ability to maintain its economic growth, the minister said, adding that the projects would be implemented in the interest of renewing Europes automotive industry and meeting the demands of German manufacturers.



Chinese companies, Szijjarto said, consider the country a top destination for their investments in central Europe, noting that by the end of 2022, Hungary had the largest volume of Chinese investments in the region.



We want to continue maintaining this trend  so well encourage additional investments from China, giving them the maximum possible support, he said.



Szijjarto: Catl Battery Plant Encourages Further Chinese Investment in Hungary

The building of the battery plant by Chinas CATL in Debrecen, in eastern Hungary, is already stimulating other Chinese investments in the country, too, Peter Szijjarto, the minister of foreign affairs and trade, said in Beijing on Monday.



This is helping to boost Hungarys competitiveness within Europe, given that Chinese investments bring the most cutting-edge technology to their new bases, Szijjarto said ahead of a working dinner with CATL CEO Robin Zeng.



Moreover, investments in the electric vehicle industry ensure that Hungary remains a leader in the fight against climate change, according to a ministry statement quoting the minister.



This is something everyone who feels a responsibility for the environment can be proud of, Szijjarto said.



He noted that 14 percent of global harmful emissions are linked to public road transport, adding that all green and climate goals would remain a naive illusion without the transition to electric vehicles.



The minister said competition for Chinese investments in Europe remained fierce.



Its clear that besides the competitiveness of Hungarys investment environment, the excellent political relations between Hungary and China also play a major role in us winning these investment bids over much stronger western countries Szijjarto said.
The luxury hotels restaurant has prepared a fresh, authentic yet unique sushi menu for spring.

With the arrival of spring, the sushi menu of Spago by Wolfgang Puck Budapest has debuted thanks to the collaboration of Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group's Culinary Development Director Tetsu Yahagi and Executive Chef Istvan Szanto.



The menu, created using the freshest and best quality seasonal ingredients, reflects the best of Japanese cuisine in a way that will captivate every guest.



Tetsu Yahagi, who has over 30 years of experience in the art of sushi making, has studied from some of Japan's most renowned master chefs and is currently responsible for the culinary concepts of 11 restaurants worldwide.



All his dishes showcase a meticulous attention to detail, a creative approach and mouth-watering flavour combinations. Together with Master Chef Wolfgang Puck, Tetsu Yahagi has created a menu that reflects the very best of Japanese cuisine.



The two are always working closely together to raise the culinary standard of the world and now in Hungary, together with Spago's Executive Chef Istvan Szanto, they have created a sushi menu for the Hungarian audience that is understandable yet authentic.



Ingredients from all over the world

The idea behind the concept at Spago was to make the original Japanese sushi using the best quality, freshest fish possible, but within the framework of the Spago concept, to make it as enjoyable as possible for the local audience.



Under the professional guidance of Wolfgang Puck, sushi is created in a much more international and understandable way, while the ingredients and techniques follow the traditional line. The menu is divided into two sections, as in addition to the traditional sushi rolls, the menu also includes unique and creative options under the heading of freshly marinated dishes.



The menu also features dishes that have been a hit at other Spago restaurants around the world, such as the scallop ceviche with marinated green papaya and Thai chilli garlic sauce, from Hawaii, or the California Roll with crab, masago and avocado, also from the island.



"My personal favourite among the many is the satisfyingly spicy, vibrant Hamachi Sashimi with Szechuan Marinade, but it's also hard to resist our Salmon Roll with House Ponzu" - said Executive Chef Istvan Szanto. "The dishes are made with fresh and high quality ingredients, and the fish used for them all come from different sources. Scallops come from the Japanese coast, salmon from Scotland, gilthead bream from Italy and tuna from Sri Lanka. All served in a unique presentation."



In addition to sushi, the restaurant has also prepared a wide selection of sake served in handmade cups. The unique cups, made by ceramicist Adam Szabo, are available in 20-30 different colours, and each guest can choose the one that suits their taste.



One of Hungary's finest ceramists has designed not only cups, but a complete dinner set to accompany the sushi menu, offering a truly complex experience for the guests.



"We go to a restaurant not just for the food in the physical sense, but for a complex experience that feeds our soul. Dish choice can take that experience to new levels, but it can also ruin it. The plate is as important an element of this complex recipe as the immaculate cleanness, the kind staff, the quality of the ingredients or the personality of the chef" - said Adam Szabo.



The ceramic artist has been working closely with the Spago by Wolfgang Puck team for a year and a half now.



"For sushi and related sake dishes, it was very important that each object had a unique, distinct character. I believe that just as we are not the same, our dishes should be different too. Tetsu and I found common ground very quickly as I use a Japanese firing technique, high heat wood-fired ceramic firing" - Adam Szabo revealed. "In Japanese culture, beyond the visual, the touch, the tactility and the material quality of the objects are of great importance.



They try to influence our complete sensation and create harmony in it. Tetsu specifically requested that the sake cups should be made of materials of different fineness, shape and thickness. It's a very different experience to drink from a thicker, closed, coarser stoneware cup than from an open, silky porcelain cup.



The aim was to allow the guest to experience these differences. Proximity to nature was also an important consideration in the design of the dishes. One plate evokes the sight of a lake in the mountains, another of snow melting in the fields. These objects celebrate the beauty of imperfection."



Menu available here



Click here to virtually visit Spago by Wolfgang Puck
New Delhi: Global VC firm Blackstone on Monday reached a definitive agreement to sell its stake in the Kerala-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider IBS Software to global private equity firm Apax for $450 million.

Following the transaction, Apax will partner closely with IBS Software's Founder and Executive Chairman, V.K. Mathews, who will remain the majority shareholder.

Founded in 1997, 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.

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.

"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'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," said Mathews of IBS Software.

The transaction is expected to close by the end of Q2 2023.

Blackstone acquired about 40 per cent stake in IBS Software, from General Atlantic, in 2015 for $170 million.

"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," said Jason Wright, Partner, Apax.

Amit Dixit, Head of Asia Private Equity, Blackstone added that they 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. Value creation at IBS Software demonstrates our business-building approach to investing and reinforces our conviction in Technology as a sectoral theme," Dixit added.
New Delhi: Pay transparency and salary details have increased significantly with job postings in India in recent months to attract the best talent, a report showed on Monday.

About 46 per cent of all India job postings on Indeed website now include employer-provided salary information, an increase of 64 per cent in the last one year and 11 per cent in the last three years, the job portal said.

Cities like Delhi (208 per cent), Mumbai (71 per cent), Bangalore (63 per cent) saw the highest increase in jobs that offered salary data to potential jobseekers.

However, tier 2 and 3 cities are a long way away from pay transparency, and cities like Nashik and Surat are seeing a de-growth in job postings with pay details.

"Employers in India are adapting to changing demographics by adopting new strategies to attract the latest generation of talent. High attrition rates and intense competition for skilled workers necessitate a shift towards pay transparency," said Sashi Kumar, Head of Sales, Indeed India.

Going forward, we see the market being more conducive for pay transparency, he added.

In India, there is no legislation that mandates pay transparency. However, the workplace has experienced a shift since the pandemic with GenZ coming into work, who are embracing pay transparency.

Other cities like Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Mohali saw only a marginal increase of 2 per cent, 15 per cent and 18 per cent, respectively, on pay transparency.

Remote job postings also saw a 76 per cent increase in pay information, showcasing how important remote jobs still are in the Indian landscape, with more employers choosing transparency to attract the right talent, the report noted.

Pay transparency has grown the fastest in high-wage occupations like finance, engineering and mathematics.
U.S. President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Expect more volatility in the stock market as the June 1 debt ceiling deadline gets closer.

Some S&P 500 sectors perform relatively well leading up to resolutions, Morgan Stanley says.

Energy has been as a top performer before lawmakers reach a deal.

The risks of the stock market seeing the US slide into a debt default are uncomfortably high, but pockets of the market historically perform relatively well as lawmakers wrangle over the country's borrowing limit, according to Morgan Stanley.

The 1996, 2011, and 2013 negotiations around the debt ceiling offer a partial comparison to the current situation, Morgan Stanley's US equity strategy team led by Michael Wilson said in a note published Monday. A June 1 deadline to raise the $31 trillion limit is approaching, and the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office sees the US running out of money to pay its bills in early June.

"Most [clients] believe it will ultimately get resolved but not without some near-term volatility," Wilson wrote.

Diving into S&P 500, the firm found the energy and utilities sectors were the top relative performers heading into a resolution. The energy group in three and two months before deals were reached posted returns of 4% and 6%, respectively, returning 3% in the month before a deal.

In that same time frame, utilities, a defensive sector, posted returns of 3% each, followed by 2% one month before lawmakers cemented an agreement.

After Washington pushes past a stalemate, the tech, healthcare, staples, and dividend growth groups perform well. Tech's return was 13% one month following a deal, while healthcare returned 7% and staples returned 3%.

"Interestingly, real assets saw a distinct shift in performance pre- and post-resolution," said Wilson. The team found energy and commodities -- stripping out gold -- had positive absolute returns into the debt-ceiling debates then swung into negative territory after lawmakers settled their differences.

Story continues

For energy, negative returns were 3% and 6% in the first and second months post-resolutions.

Stocks overall sold off both into resolutions and lost another 12% in the two months following deals, Morgan Stanley said. "All this is to say that markets were flat on average near debt ceiling resolutions, but in reality, the comps saw some near-term volatility followed by a continuation of the previous trend," said Wilson.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Monday said he's "far apart" from President Joe Biden in reaching a deal, under which Republicans are seeking spending cuts.

Read the original article on Business Insider
New Delhi: Vodafone's new boss Margherita Della Valle said she would cut 11,000 jobs over three years to simplify the telecoms group, which she said "must change", as it forecast a 1.5 billion euro decline in free cash flow this year.

"Our performance has not been good enough," said Della Valle, who was appointed permanently last month. "My priorities are customers, simplicity and growth. We will simplify our organisation, cutting out complexity to regain our competitiveness."

The job cuts are the biggest in the history of the group, which employs around 100,000 people. Vodafone said it would generate about 3.3 billion euros of cash this financial year, compared with 4.8 billion euros in the year to end-March it reported on Tuesday, and around 3.6 billion euros expected by analysts.

Germany, its biggest market, was underperforming, it said, which combined with higher energy costs resulted in a 1.3% decline in group core earnings to 14.7 billion euros for the year to end-March, missing its own guidance. Growth in Africa and higher handset sales, however, enabled it to eek out a 0.3% rise in revenue to 45.7 billion euros.

Vodafone has recently cut jobs in several of its big markets, shedding 1,000 in Italy earlier this year and a media report said it was looking to cut around 1,300 in Germany. On the proposed tie-up of its British business with Hutchison's Three UK, Vodafone said there could be no certainty that any transaction would ultimately be agreed. It did not comment any further on the talks.
New Delhi: Sohum Shah starrer Dahaad has been released and the star has delivered yet another impactful performance through his character Inspector Kailash Parghi. His character arc and delivery of the same have left everybody impressed and this was after his performance in Talvar, we see him in the police uniform once again.

Taking to social media, Sohum Shah shares a bunch of pictures from the time he was shooting for Dahaad. He writes Mandawa police reporting for duty E! Thank you @reemakagtil & @ruchikaoberoi for this wonderful experience and for helping me bring Kailash Parghi to life. @aslisona, @itsvijayvarma & @gulshandevaiah78 aap ke sath kaam karne mein bohot mazaa aaya, thank you for this amazing experience and all the memories!

Ever since the web series has been launched, the critics cant stop raving about Sohum Shaha effortless and convincing portrayal of a cop. Meanwhile, on the work front, he has several interesting projects lined up for the coming time.
New Delhi: Basking high in the success of his latest hit Dahaad, actor Vijay Varma extended his heartfelt thanks to all his fans across the world. Delivering a thunderous performance, Vijay Varma has yet again created goosebumps amongst his audience.

The actor who is currently in France for the 2023 Cannes Film Festival has shared an adorable selfie from the beautiful landscapes of France in the background. He says, Thank You for such a thunderous response for Dahaad.. I cannot possibly reply to all who messaged me across several apps.. so here I am to show all my gratitude I share your love with the cast n crew of #Dahaad.

The audience are in awe of the actors versatility and dedication towards each role. From Anand to Vijju to Richard and more, Vijay has done complete justice to his role and has given yet another promising performance for his fans. And now the actor is all set to grace the red carpet of Cannes, this year after a decade Vijay had earlier walked the red carpet at the French Riviera for his debut film, Monsoon Shootout. This has undeniably created a wave of excitement amongst his fans who cannot wait to see this fashion icon create his magic on the red carpet this year.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Vijay will be next seen in Sujoy Ghoshs Devotion of Suspect X and Murder Mubarak by Homi Adajania starring opposite Sara Ali Khan.
New Delhi: The Central Bureau Of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday conducted searches at multiple locations, including the premises of RJD MLA Kiran Devi and Rajya Sabha member Prem Chand Gupta in connection with the Indian Railways land-for-jobs scam. According to the CBI sources, the searches are being conducted at nine locations across 4 states  Bihar, UP, Delhi and Haryana.

The searches were conducted after the alleged role of the two leaders emerged in the scam, the CBI sources said. The CBI searches were spread across Arrah and Patna in Bihar at the premises of Kiran Devi and her husband Arun Singh and in Gurugram, Rewari, Noida and Delhi at the premises of Gupta, they said.

Why Is CBI Probing The Land-For-Jobs Scam?

It is alleged that during RJD supremo Lalu Prasad's tenure as Union Railway Minister from 2004-2009, appointments were made in Central Railways in violation of norms and procedures of recruitment. No advertisement or public notice was issued for the appointments but some residents of Patna were appointed as substitutes in different zonal railways located at Mumbai, Jabalpur, Kolkata, Jaipur and Hazipur, it is alleged.

The CBI also alleged that the RJD supremo offered Group D railway positions in exchange for land plots in the names of his family members, including his daughters and son Tejashwi Yadav.

Earlier, in July 2022, the CBI arrested Bhola Yadav, the man who served as Lalu Prasad's officer on special duty (OSD) when the latter was the Railway Minister, in connection with the case. Around 16 defendants were named in the chargesheet, which was submitted on October 10 of last year on charges of criminal conspiracy and corruption. The final CBI report also named Lalu Prasad's daughter Misa Bharti and several others.

The CBI chargesheet states that the case was filed as a result of a preliminary investigation against Lalu Prasad, his family members and several others. It was alleged in the FIR that some individuals, despite being Patna residents, were appointed as replacements in Group-D posts between 2004 and 2009 in various railway zones in Mumbai, Jabalpur, Kolkata, Jaipur, and Hajipur.

In exchange, the individuals or their families allegedly transferred their lands into the names of Lalu Yadav's family and a business called AK Infosystems Private Limited, which was later acquired by the RJD supremo's family.
Kolkata: An explosion at an illegal firecracker unit located at Egra in Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal killed nine people and injured several others on Tuesday, a senior police officer said. The impact of the explosion was so massive that the factory which was being run from a residential building collapsed. Villagers said that the site looked like a "war zone" with body parts and debris strewn all around, including in a nearby pond.

While the state government ordered a CID probe into the incident, the opposition BJP demanded an investigation by the NIA and wrote a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah in this regard. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, "The illegal firecracker unit was functioning at a house in a village near the West Bengal-Odisha border. The firecrackers manufactured there used to be sent to Odisha. Local labourers were working there."

Banerjee, also the Trinamool Congress supremo, said the next of kin of the deceased will get a compensation of Rs 2.5 lakh each and the injured will get Rs 1 lakh, while the state government will bear the expenses of their treatment. On the BJP's demand for a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), she said, "We do not have any objection (to it). It is the district of their leaders, so they have some formula. Let the investigators find out."

Huge explosion in Sahara ( ) Village in Egra; Purba Medinipur, at the local "Regional Tola-Mool Party" leader - Krishnapada Bag's (alias Bhanu) house.



I am receiving news from the ground that the number of casualties is enormous. Immediately Central Forces should be pic.twitter.com/WpWnVR3PXj  Suvendu Adhikari    (@SuvenduWB) May 16, 2023

Leader of the opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP hails from Purba Medinipur district. A police officer said sacks of explosive materials were seized from a 'hidden chamber' in the collapsed house. A preliminary investigation found that five of the deceased and seven injured were working in the factory.

The chief minister said action will be taken against the chief of Egra police station as "he had no information that an illegal firecracker unit was operating" in the area. Banerjee said the owner of the illegal firecracker unit, who was arrested in October last year for running the factory, has fled to Odisha after the explosion.

"I will ask the police to share his details with their counterparts in Odisha so that he is arrested immediately," she said. The TMC chief claimed that the panchayat where the incident took place is being run by an Independent politician backed by the BJP, and TMC workers were not allowed to enter the village. Policemen were attacked by villagers when they visited the spot.

Alleging that BJP and CPI(M) had been regularly "instigating" people to beat up policemen, Banerjee said strong action will be taken against the culprits. "Police are the custodian (of law). Strong action must be taken against those assaulting law enforcers. I believe people have the right to demonstrate, but they must not assault policemen," Banerjee added.

She asked Environment Minister Manas Ranjan Bhunia and another local MLA to visit the spot. Bhunia said, "We had earlier undertaken a campaign to build awareness among the public in this regard. We need the help of the public to fight the menace." He said that his department and the West Bengal Pollution Control Board will intensify the campaign, asking everyone to alert the administration about the existence of illegal firecracker units operating in their respective areas.

Alleging that West Bengal has become a "stockpile of explosives", Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Governor C V Ananda Bose to initiate an NIA probe into the Egra blast. Adhikari also demanded that central forces be immediately deployed in the area while fearing that the state police might illegally shift the bodies.

"Huge explosion in Sahara village in Egra, Purba Medinipur, at the local TMC leader Krishnapada Bag's (alias Bhanu) house. I am receiving news from the ground that the number of casualties is enormous. Immediately, central forces should be deployed as dead bodies are being shifted illegally by Mamata Police," Adhikari alleged in a tweet.

On this allegation, the chief minister said only 13 people were working there. "So, where will the bodies be shifted? Is it the time to indulge in politics instead of sending the injured to hospitals? They (BJP) are not allowing the police to get the bodies. I will request them to be human before being a political leader," Banerjee said.

Tagging Union Home Minister Amit Shah and state Governor CV Ananda Bose, Adhikari urged them in another tweet to initiate an NIA probe into the incident as early as possible. BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said he has written to Shah, demanding an NIA probe into the incident.

"Under the TMC regime, you won't find any normal industry, but bomb-making factories have flourished due to the patronage of local TMC leaders. Bombs produced here will be used in the upcoming panchayat polls," Majumdar said. "The BJP intends to malign the state. We don't support such an incident. Let the investigation be over," TMC state spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said.

On March 20, three people were killed in a blaze at a fireworks unit at Mahestala in South 24 Parganas district. In December 2022, three people were killed in a blast in a firecracker factory at Bhupatinagar in Purba Medinipur district.
New Delhi: 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 take place in the constitution bench. 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 the first seven appointments in a short span of time," Chandrachud said.

The CJI also appreciated Justice Shah for his "receptive and open nature" and said he adapted to technology quickly due to which complete paperless hearings 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 a request of everyone to get out of the adjournment culture and not ask for any unnecessary adjournments. My other advice to young lawyers is not to become a mentioning or adjournment lawyer. Prepare yourself.

"Please do not waste your time in the bar room or canteen. You should be in court to learn decorum, and manners. Learn from seniors, know your judges, and 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 Bihari 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.
New Delhi: As suspense over the next Karnataka chief minister continues, Congress veteran and frontrunner for the top post, Siddaramaiah, who met the party's central leadership last night, remains tight-lipped over the issue while KPCC chief DK Shivakumar, another top contender for the top post, is hopeful that ''loyalty to the party will pay.''

Siddaramaiah Meets Congress Central Leadership

According to reports, Siddaramaiah arrived in the national capital on Monday night and then met the Congress leadership. After his discussion with the central leadership, Siddaramaiah did not interact with the reporters. According to sources, the former Chief Minister stayed at ITC Maurya in the national capital for the night.

The 75-year-old leader arrived in the national capital by a special flight on Monday evening to meet AICC leaders. "Let's wait and see...I don't know..." Siddaramaiah said when asked about the next CM, earlier.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar's brother DK Suresh also arrived in Delhi and met AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence on Monday evening. "I have met the AICC chief. I meet him whenever I come to Delhi. The same way I met him today. Our AICC general secretaries will let you know about other issues," Suresh told reporters.

Shivakumar Cancels Delhi Visit





As suspense over the new Karnataka CM continued, DK Shivakumar cancelled his visit to Delhi citing health issues after he and Siddaramaiah, both frontrunners for the top post, were called by the top leadership of AICC for discussion. While speaking to a news channel, Shivakumar assured that he ''won't rebel and blackmail'' in the face of any decision for the top job by the party high command.

New Karnataka CM To Be Announced Today

The central observers of Congress for Karnataka have already submitted their report to party president Mallikarjun Kharge who will consult UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and party leader Rahul Gandhi to arrive at a final decision, party sources said earlier on Monday. "The name of the next Karnataka CM will be announced in the coming 24 hours," they said.

Reacting to the suspense, AICC in charge of Karnataka, Randeep Singh Surjewala said that the party will stand up with the 6.5 crore Kannadigas. "Congress party will stand up to the pledge made to 6.5 crore Kannadigas...the observers have submitted their written report to the Congress President...he will look into the report, will hold deliberations with state leaders & other central leaders and will take an appropriate call," he told the reporters.

Congress High Command Will Take Call: Shivakuamar

Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar earlier said that he has a stomach infection and will not be travelling to Delhi on Monday. Congress president DK Shivakumar said that all the MLAs are together and the call will be taken by the party's high command. He was responding to ANI about the huge support from the party cadre for him to be made the chief minister.

"The party high command will take a call. I don't want to comment or speak anything more. Whatever I had to speak, I have spoken already. I do not want MLAs (support)...that is not important to me. Ours is a Congress block. 135 is the number and one more ally member. We all are one and will work together," Shivakumar said. "I wanted to go today (Delhi)...but I am having some health complications for the last four hours," he added.

On being asked if he thinks that he should be considered for the CM post for taking the party to victory as the KPCC chief, he said, "I don't want to comment on that. In politics, it only matters who won or who lost. It doesn't matter how the win took place. With the grace of God, we have got good numbers. Now, we have to work for the trust and confidence the people have shown". He added, "I'm really happy that today Mamata Banerjee has come out with some statement and various other leaders as well...it is good for the opposition," the KPCC president said.

Earlier in the day, the KPCC chief was called by the party's high command. Addressing the media, Shivakumar said "It is my birthday today, I will meet my family. Afterwards, I will leave for Delhi. Under my leadership, we have 135 MLAs and all in one voice said that the matter (to appoint CM) is to be left to the party's high command. My aim was to deliver Karnataka and I did it."

"Congress high command called me and Siddaramaiah to Delhi. Sonia Gandhi, Kharge Ji gave me the post of president. 135 seats have come under my presidency. When all MLAs left our party and we lost our government, I did not lose hope. I do not want to disclose what has happened in the last 5 years," the KPCC chief said.

Central Observers Submit Report To Congress Chief

Three central observers appointed by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in Karnataka, arrived in Delhi on Monday to present their report to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on the question of appointing the chief minister of the state.

The observers Sushil Kumar Shinde, Deepak Bawaria and Bhanwar Jitendra Singh were tasked with speaking to newly elected Congress MLAs on the election of the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader in Karnataka and subsequently to submit their report to the party's high command.

The CLP meeting on Sunday unanimously passed a resolution authorising party president Kharge to pick the name of the Karnataka Chief Minister.

Congress, which registered an emphatic victory defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the results of the May 10 Karnataka Assembly elections on Saturday, had been mulling over the choice of the chief minister. According to the Election Commission of India, Congress won 135 seats pushing the BJP - which managed to win 66 seats -- out of power in the only southern state it ruled and boosting the Congress prospects for the electoral battles ahead.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday received another death threat via phone call at his Delhi residence Monday evening. The minister's office immediately informed Delhi Police about the threat. The police are investigating the matter. However, the Delhi Police said that the information regarding the death threat call received at Nitin Gadkari's residence was given to the police by the minister's staff. According to reports, the police have verified the details and the probe is underway.

This is the third time in recent months that Gadkari has received death threats. On January 14, Gadkari had received a threat from unknown callers at his Nagpur residence. Gadkari's office in Nagpur had informed police about the threat and an investigation was launched. The threat calls were received between 11.30 am to 12.30 am. The caller had allegedly taken Dawood's name.

On the other hand, Nagpur police had already beefed up security around the office and home of Union Minister for Road Transport Nitin Gadkari following extortion-cum-death threats. According to police, a man made at least three calls in March this year as well threatening to harm the Union Minister if Rs 10 crore was not paid to him. The caller identified himself as one Jayesh Pujari, alias Jayesh Kantha, the same person whose name had been used to make similar calls to the Minister's office in January, the police said.
Jaipur: In a scathing attack on his Congress party's government led by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Rajasthan minister Rajendra Singh Gudha on Monday charged that it has surpassed Karnataka's "40 per cent commission BJP government" in corruption.





Addressing a rally in support of dissident Congress leader Sachin Pilot here, the minister said, "Hamari sarkar ka alignment kharab ho gaya (Our government's alignment has been disturbed).""The record of corruption has been broken. There was an issue of 40 per cent corruption in Karnataka. Our government has surpassed it," Gudha said, referring to his party's campaign pitch in the southern state.Rajasthan BJP leaders latched on to Gudha's remarks and demanded the immediate resignation of Gehlot.Gudha, the Sainik Kalyan Minister, also levelled allegations against his cabinet colleague Shanti Dhariwal, saying no file is cleared by his office without corruption.He also alleged that Chief Minister Gehlot engaged in horse-trading and attempted to buy BJP MLAs during a rebellion by Congress legislators in 2020. He also claimed that he has evidence of it.Suggesting collusion between Gehlot and his predecessor Vasundhara Raje, he alleged they even got infected with the coronavirus at the same time.Addressing the gathering, Forest Minister Hemaram Choudhary said that Congress leaders have left no stone unturned in trying to prevent people from coming to this rally. But, people have come in huge numbers to support the rally."The people in power today think they will single-handedly bring back the government. I do not accept that. I do not believe so. You cannot clap with one hand," Choudhary said."Throw me out of the government today itself if you think Hemaram is corrupt. There is no need to keep me in the government, nor do I aspire to continue in the government," he said, in retort to Gehlot's allegation that the rebel Congress MLAs took money from the BJP to revolt.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.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 Congress returned to power in Karnataka last week, defeating the BJP. During the poll campaign, Congress accused the BJP dispensation of engaging in rampant corruption and "taking 40 per cent commission in all kinds of work done by the government".Referring to the Rajasthan ministers' remarks at the rally, BJP state president C P Joshi tweeted, "Chief Minister @ashokgehlot51. The ministers of your government are accusing your own government of being India's most corrupt and commission-charging government. Should you continue in your post in such a situation? If there is even a little morality left, then you should resign immediately."Leader of Opposition 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...the allegations made by minister Rajendra Gudha ji from a public platform regarding corruption in his own government are very serious, there should be a fair and high-level investigation.""The minister's statement has once again proved that Congress and corruption complement each other," he charged and said that if Gehlot is left with any morality, he should resign.
(Bloomberg) -- Japan is fast becoming the most favored developed market with investors as conviction grows that a rally taking the Topix to the highest since August 1990 will accelerate.

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Strategists at Goldman Sachs Group Inc. to Macquarie Group Ltd. say the case for a bull run is solid with corporate governance reforms set to boost valuation and loose monetary policy adding tailwinds. The economy, long beset by deflation, is seeing a revival in price pressure as activity revs up  a combination that sets it apart from the stagflation woes stifling developed peers in the US and Europe.

The Topix benchmark climbed 0.6% to close at 2,127.18 on Tuesday, taking gains this quarter to 6.2%. That compares with a less than 1% advance for the S&P 500 and a sub-2% rise for the Stoxx Europe 600 index. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average rose 6.4% during the period.

We have entered a two to three year bull market period for Japan now, this has legs, said Neil Newman, deputy head of Japan research at Macquarie Capital Securities. Japan has breadth and depth, liquidity is good and with corporate earnings looking solid now, this will draw further attention.

The worlds third-largest economy stands out as overseas investors have qualms about investing in the other Asian giant  China  with its increased geopolitical risks and the policy whims of Beijing. Warren Buffetts renewed endorsement of Japanese stocks has also provided hope that foreign investment is returning to the market.

Overseas traders bought a net $15.8 billion worth of the nations stocks in April, the most since October 2017, according to Tokyo Stock exchange data.

Story continues

Domestic and foreign investors are positive about Japan relative to the US and Europe, as it does not face an imminent recession and yet has very low valuations, said John Vail, chief global strategist at Nikko Asset Management Co. There is a strong possibility that it will outperform global markets.

A renewed push by companies to increase buybacks and focus on returns is boosting sentiment, after the Tokyo Stock Exchange called on firms that are trading below book value to outline capital improvement plans. Dai-Ichi Life Holdings Inc. shares jumped on Monday after it announced plans to repurchase as much as 120 billion yen ($882 million) of its stock. Mitsubishi Corp. said on May 9 that it expects to buy back up to $2.2 billion.

Read: Man Group Shares Buffetts Renewed Optimism for Japanese Stocks

Expectations on such structural changes as well as solid fundamentals are helping justify a bullish stance on the nations equities, Goldman Sachs strategists Kazunori Tatebe and Bruce Kirk wrote in a note. The outlook for the worlds third-largest economy is strong given positive factors including an inbound tourism recovery, plans for robust capital expenditure and ongoing easing by the Bank of Japan, they wrote.

To be sure, the Topix index is still about 26% below its 1989 record at the height of Japans bubble economy. Despite the gauges outperformance, when and if it will reclaim that level remains in doubt. Fundamental changes in the economy over the past decades including a population decline and maturing industries suggest the days of inflated asset prices are gone.

Still, earnings and cheap valuations are in bulls favor, as well as a persistently dovish stance by the BOJ. Positioning in Japanese equities have also been light, which means theres room for more gains, Keita Matsumoto, head of financial institutions sales and solutions at Citigroup Global Markets Japan Inc. said last month.

We believe Japanese stocks still have further to go, Fabiana Fedeli, chief investment officer for equities and multi assets at M&G Plc, said on Bloomberg Television. Companies in Japan were improving their balance sheets and were giving back to shareholders in terms of buybacks and dividends.

Options trading implies the rally may have legs. The put-to-call ratio on the Nikkei 225 Stock Average has trended lower even as the index has climbed more than 14% this year, indicating rising bullishness despite technical signals the advance is getting overheated.

The outperformance of Japan versus Europe and US has been happening and that will continue as long as the BOJ doesnt change. I think thats a key criteria, said Alexandre Tavazzi, head of CIO office and macro research at Pictet Wealth Management.

--With assistance from Ishika Mookerjee.

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Stockholm: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar used the popular Hindi phrase 'aapke muh mein ghee-shakkar' while responding to a question on the globalisation of the Indian culture during his interaction with the Indian community members here, leaving them in laughter. Jaishankar, who is on a three-day visit to Sweden to participate in the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum (EIPMF), interacted with the Indian community in Sweden on Sunday evening and apprised them of the progress in the bilateral relationship. The minister spoke about the transformations underway in India and the opportunities it created for Indians living abroad.

When asked whether in this age of globalisation, will the West start eating 'Pani Puri' instead of hamburger and will H&M T-shirts have New Delhi printed on it instead of New York, Jashankar said, "There is a term, which says 'aapke muh mein ghee-shakkar' (what you are saying, hope it comes true)" as the audience laughed and clapped.

"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 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," Jaishankar said.

And, one very good example of that is actually this initiative, which started in 2015, of celebrating the International Day of Yoga, which was introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who spoke about it in the United States, he said.

"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 for yoga is not there...," the minister said.

"But there are other areas you know, it could be music, it could be cinema, I mean, the power of culture. And I think that's the strength of India. It's a strength of India which we have not brought into play in the manner in which we could, we should. And I hope people like you can be so enthusiastic I'm sure everybody else will join you," he added.

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.

Sweden currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Mumbai: Soon after a delegation of the Shiv Sena (UBT) handed over a 79-page letter to the Maharashtra Deputy Speaker seeking expedited action in the disqualification of 16 MLAs of the Eknath Shinde camp, NCP leader Ajit Pawar made it clear that the action would not actually topple the government.

"Even if 16 MLAs are disqualified, the government of Shinde and (Devendra) Fadnavis will not fall. There is no threat to the government," he said on Monday while addressing a press conference here in Mumbai. Attaching an argument to his opinion, he said that in a 288-member assembly, the government will not lose its majority mark, even if 16 MLAs are disqualified.

Notably, a delegation of the Shiv Sena (UBT) handed over a letter seeking expedited action in the disqualification of 16 Shinde camp MLAs following the Supreme Court's recent verdict during their meeting with Maharashtra's deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal and Assembly secretary Jitendra Bhole.

The Whip of Shiv Sena (UBT), Sunil Prabhu, said that the UBT Sena's delegation submitted a letter to the Speaker following the apex court's order that ruled that the Speaker can adjudicate the disqualification of the 16 Shinde camp MLAs.

"Since the Speaker is yet to return from his foreign tour, we submitted the letter to his deputy," Prabhu said.

The ruling coalition of Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) currently has 145 MLAs while the overall coalition has162 MLAs, 17 more than the required number to form government in Maharashtra.

The Supreme Court's verdict has given fresh impetus to the Shiv Sena crisis, with former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray calling for an early decision on the disqualification of 16 party MLAs.

The top court also pulled up then Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and said he did not have reasons based on objective material before him to reach the conclusion that then chief minister Uddhav Thackeray had lost the confidence of the House. The court said that relief was due for Thackeray if he had not resigned before facing the floor test.
New Delhi: Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme 14th Installment update:-- The Central government is all set to roll out the 14th instalment under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM Kisan Yojana) in the next few days, media reports have said.

Under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme (PM-KISAN), the central government provides benefits of Rs 6,000 every financial year to farming families by directly transferring the money to the their bank accounts.

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Yojna 14th Installment to be released Between May 26 - May 31?

Although there has been no official confirmation regarding the release of 14th Installment of PM-KISAN, media reports are stating that money could be transferred between May 26 - May 31.

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Yojna

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had released the 12th instalment of financial benefit under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme by releasing direct benefits transfer to more than 8 crore beneficiaries on February 27.

PM Kisan Samman Nidhi 14th installment Status Check

-Visit official PM KISAN website https://pmkisan.gov.in/ Portal

- You will see the map of India under Payment Success tab.

- On the right hand side, there will be a yellow coloured tab called "Dashboard"

- Click on Dashboard

- After clicking, you will be taken to a new page

- On the Village Dashboard tab, you will have to fill your complete details

- Select the state, district, Sub-District and Panchayat

- Then click on show button

- After this you can choose your details



Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme Details

The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme, was launched by PM Narendra Modi in 2019, aims to provide income support to all landholder farmer families across the country with cultivable land, subject to certain exclusions.

Who are eligible to get benefits under the PM-KISAN Scheme?

All landholding farmers' families, which have cultivable landholding in their names are eligible to get benefit under the scheme.

Who are excluded from the PM-KISAN Scheme?

Those excluded from the PM-KISAN include institutional land holders, farmer families holding constitutional posts, serving or retired officers and employees of State or Central government as well as Public Sector Undetakings and Government Autonomous bodies. Professionals like doctors, engineers and lawyers as well as retired pensioners with a monthly pension of over Rs 10,000 and those who paid income tax in the last assessment year are also not eligible for the benefits.



PM-KISAN Scheme for only Small and Marginal Farmers' families?

ln the beginning when the PM- PM-KISAN Scheme was launched (February, 2019), its benefits were admissible only to Small & marginal Farmers' families, with combined landholding upto 2 hectare. The Scheme was later on revised in June 2019 and extended to all farmer families irrespective of the size of their landholdings

The Central Government had notified a decision to extend the benefit of Rs 6,000 per year under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme to all 14.5 crore farmers in the country, irrespective of the size of their landholding.
Farmington: At least three people were killed and several others, including two police officers, were wounded on Monday (local time) in a northwestern New Mexico community before law enforcement shot and killed the suspect, authorities said.

"There are multiple civilian victims," Farmington police reported via Facebook, adding that one suspect "was confronted and killed on the scene." Meanwhile, after the shooting in Farmington, schools citywide were put on lockdown, police said.

The shooting was reported shortly after 11 am. in the area of Brookside Park, and all city schools were placed on what officials called "preventative lockdown." Three nearby schools remained on emergency lockdown.

The city's police department said in a Facebook post that at least three members of the public were killed and that officers confronted and killed a suspect at the scene. It also said two officers, including one of its own and a State Police officer, were wounded and were in stable condition at the San Juan Regional Medical Center.

Police did not release the names of those who were killed or wounded or give details about what led to the shootings. "The suspect's identity is unknown and there are no other known threats at this time," police said, adding that city, San Juan County and State Police were involved.

An official at the San Juan County sheriff's office, Megan Mitchell, called the incident "an open and active ongoing investigation." Mitchell said she did not immediately have more information. Federal agents from Phoenix were headed to Farmington, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said via Twitter.

Governor 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."
Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) is on its toes for the preparations to rule the micro SUV segment with the upcoming Exter SUV. The new Hyundai Exter has been revealed digitally, and it features a bold front fascia. While the brand has also confirmed that it will be offered in a multitude of trims, along with the option of CNG variants, the company is not backing out on the safety aspect. In a revelation, it is confirmed that the Hyundai Exter will come with 6 airbags as a standard fitment across the range. Well, theres more to the list.

2023 Hyundai Exter SUV: Safety

In addition to getting six airbags as standard, the Hyundai Exter will get 26 safety features available across all variants and as an option on entry trims (E & S). These include 1st in segment features like ESC, VSM, and hill climb assist function. Further, Hyundai Exter boasts of standard safety features like 3-Point Seat Belt & seatbelt reminder (all seats), Keyless Entry, ABS with EBD, Rear Parking Sensors, ESS, Burglar Alarm, in addition to automatic headlamps, rear defogger, and parking camera. The SUV will also be fitted with a dashcam with dual camera and tyre pressure monitoring system.

2023 Hyundai Exter SUV: Design

The front end is boxy with dumb-bells-like LED DRLs. The bonnet is set high and flat, making the face look masculine. The headlamps are vertically-split units but sit rather high up the bonnet. Another chunky piece of design element on the front end is the silver scuff plate and bold EXTER badging. Sideways, it is upright. Reminds of the Fiat Panda and for obvious reasons - WagonR. Yes, tall-boy architecture is used here. The rear end will don chunky headlamps with scuff plates. Also, black cladding, roof rails, diamond-cut alloy wheels, LED lighting elements and like will accentuate its bold appeal.

 

2023 Hyundai Exter SUV: Interior

In the typical Hyundai propaganda, the feature list will be the longest in the segment. It is highly likely to get a semi-digital instrument cluster, 8-inch touchscreen infotainment unit, Android Auto & Apple CarPlay compatibility, steering-mounted audio controls, Arkamys sound system, reverse parking camera, sunroof and more. Also, the cabin will be spacious, given its boxy outline. The word practicality is expected to be the go-to nature of the cabin.

Also read - Honda Elevate SUV Unveiling On June 6, New Teaser Reveals Single-Pane Sunroof

2023 Hyundai Exter SUV: Specs

Well, as of now, Hyundai has confirmed to sell it with the famous 1.2L NA petrol engine that is used on the Aura, Grand i10 Nios, and i20. It puts out 83 PS against 113.8 Nm in petrol avatar and 69 PS against 95.2 Nm when used with CNG. Also, the motor will get the option of both 5-speed MT and 5-speed AMT. The micro-SUV could feature the much-anticipated 1.0L turbo-petrol motor in the top-spec trims with full-blown 120 PS and 172 Nm of max output. The gearbox option could be restricted to just a 6-speed MT.

2023 Hyundai Exter SUV: Expected Launch Date & Price

As discussed earlier, the Hyundai Exter will rival the Citroen C3, Tata Punch, and Maruti Suzuki Ignis, upon its launch, which is expected in Q3 (August). As for prices, a starting price of Rs 6.5 lakh, ex-showroom. It may top out at around Rs 9.5 lakh, ex-showroom. Bookings for the Exter are already open for a token of Rs 11,000.
New Delhi: Bigg Boss 8 Winner Gautam Gulati was recently spotted in the city of London shooting for a new project, reportedly. Gautam who is currently a co-judge on MTV Roadies season 19 alongside Rhea Chakraborty, Prince Narula and Sonu Sood is allegedly currently shooting for a highly-anticipated international project, marking a significant milestone in his career. While details about the project remain under wraps, the actor is set to captivate audiences globally with his upcoming international project for a web series.

From our tv screen to the silver screen, he has carved a niche for himself with notable versatile performances that have been highly appreciated by fans nationwide. Speaking of his upcoming project, Gautam said, "I am doing something really big on an international level in London. Its something really exciting for an equally big and valued channel there. Its a web series, and Im the only Indian actor in the cast. I am really excited and looking forward for the same."

With Gautam Gulati taking a significant step forward in his career, fans and admirers eagerly await further updates on this highly promising international venture.
Kerala SSLC Result 2023: Kerala SSLC results 2023 would be declared on May 20, 2023, according to Kerala's education minister, V Sivankutty. The official notification for the Kerala State Board Secondary School Leaving Certificate examination was published on the main website, keralapareekshabhavan.in. The Kerala Pareeksha Bhavan held the Class 10 examination from March 9 to March 29, 2023, at various exam centres designated by the Board.

Kerala SSLC Result 2023: Exam Date

The Kerala Pareeksha Bhavan held the Class 10 examination from March 9 to March 29, 2023, at various exam centers, whereas Class 12th examination were also held in March 2023.

Kerala SSLC Board Result 2023: Official website to check the result

Students who appeared for the Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations, will be able to download the results from the official website at keralapareekshabhavan.in or sslcexam.kerala.gov.in, once the results are released.

Kerala SSLC Result 2023: Here's how to check scorecard

Visit the official website of Kerala SSLC

On the homepage of the website, click on the link that reads 'Kerala SSLC Result 2023'

Login to the portal with the credentials

The result will be displayed on the screen

Check all the details and save it as a PDF

The Kerala SSLC 2023 Exam was held at various exam locations throughout the state from March 9 to March 29, 2023. To pass the Kerala SSLC exams in 2023, students must achieve at least 35% in all subjects. Students would be required to input their login credentials such as Roll Number and Date of Birth at the official page in order to check and download the Kerala SSLC 2023 result or Plus Two results online.
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. 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.

It is 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.

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.

Also read - Nagpur-Bilaspur Vande Bharat Train Axed Due To Poor Response, Replaced With Tejas Express

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.
New Delhi: With the race for the new chief minister of Karnataka heating up between old warhorses Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar, the latter will discuss the issue of government formation in the southern state with the Congress' central leadership in Delhi on Tuesday. Ahead of his departure, Shivakumar made it clear that he would not resort to 'backstabbing or blackmailing' regardless of the party's decision.

"If the party wants they can give me the responsibility... Ours is a united house, our number is 135. I don't want to divide anyone here. Whether they like me or not, I am a responsible man. I will not backstab and I will not blackmail," DK Shivakumar told the news agency ANI.

Speaking to reporters later, to a question on whether he would ask the high command to make him the Chief Minister, Shivakumar said that he has 'done his duty'.

"People have blessed us (Congress). We have to put efforts unitedly to save and grow the public trust on us... Congress party is our mother, temple, everything," he added.

Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah, who are locked in an intense power struggle over who will lead the new Congress government in Karnataka, were called by the party's central leadership to the national capital for discussions. While Siddaramaiah arrived in Delhi on Monday afternoon amid intense lobbying for the top post, Shivakumar cancelled his visit citing health issues.

Congress faces the uphill task of satisfying the two leaders since it stormed to power by winning 135 seats in the May 10 elections to the 224-member Assembly.

Earlier on Sunday, the Congress Legislature Party, which met at a hotel in Bengaluru, had passed a unanimous resolution authorising party chief Mallikarjun Kharge to pick who will be the next chief minister of Karnataka. The three central observers of the Congress, who interacted with newly-elected party MLAs on their choice for chief minister, then briefed Kharge and submitted their report on Monday.

Congress not in a hurry to choose new Karnataka CM

AICC in-charge for Karnataka Randeep Surjewala on Monday said that the party was not in a hurry to choose the new CM and would take a decision after wider consultations with state leaders.

"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 told reporters outside Kharge's residence after the meeting.

He added that the Congress president believes that the decision should be taken while keeping unity, unanimity, consensus and the welfare of Kannadigas in mind.

Kharge is likely to take a decision on who will be the next chief minister of Karnataka after holding consultations with top Congress leadership, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

DK Shivakumar's 'pressure tactic'

Amid various claims about the number of MLAs supporting him and Siddaramaiah for the Karnataka CM's post, DK Shivakumar on Monday said that his strength is 135, as under his presidency in the state the party had won the seats.

"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," he said.

His move is now seen as a 'pressure tactic' to assert his claim on the top post and indicates that the leadership war in the southern state is far from over.

Siddaramaiah vs DK Shivakumar

Siddaramaiah, 75, is a leader with mass appeal and has the experience of running a government of a full five-year term from 2013-18. He is also considered close to former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and apparently has his backing.

He, however, is not so much organisationally connected with the party and is still considered an outsider by a section of Congress's old guard as he was formerly with the JD(S).

Shivakumar, on the other hand, has strong organisational capabilities and is considered resourceful. The 61-year-old is also said to be Congress' troubleshooter during tough times and has the backing of the dominant Vokkaliga community, its influential seers, and leaders.
New Delhi: India on Tuesday dismissed UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues Fernand de Varennes statement against holding a G20 meeting in Jammu and Kashmir citing human rights violations there. India termed UN Special Rapporteur's statement "baseless and unwarranted" and criticised him for trying to politicise this issue. Permanent Mission of India in Geneva also stated that India as G20 president has the right to host its meetings in any part of the country. In his statement, Fernand de Varennes said that holding a G20 meeting in Jammu and Kashmir while human rights violations are ongoing is supporting Indias efforts to normalise the denial of democratic and other rights of Kashmiri Muslims and minorities

Taking to Twitter, India's permanent mission in Geneva said, "We @IndiaUNGeneva strongly reject the statement issued by SR on minority issues @fernanddev and the baseless and unwarranted allegations in it. As G20 president, it's India's prerogative to host its meetings in any part of the country."

We @IndiaUNGeneva strongly reject the statement issued by SR on minority issues @fernanddev & the baseless & unwarranted allegations in it. As G20 President, its Indias prerogative to host its meetings in any part of the country. (1/2)@UNHumanRights @volker_turk @MEAIndia  India at UN, Geneva (@IndiaUNGeneva) May 16, 2023

"We are aghast that @fernanddev has acted irresponsibly to politicize this issue, misused his position as SR to publicize on social media his presumptive and prejudiced conclusions in a gross violation of the Code of Conduct for SRs," the Indian mission said.

UN Special Repporteur's Statement On G20 Meet

Dr Fernand de Varennes, the UN Special Rapporteur claimed that the government is trying to justify what some have called a military occupation by using a G20 meeting and showing an international seal of approval, despite what Volker Turk, the UN human rights chief, told the UN Human Rights Council a few weeks ago was a concerning human rights situation in the Kashmir region.

Holding a #g20 meeting in #jammuandkashmir while massive #humanrights violations are ongoing is lending support to attemps by #India to normalize the brutal & repressive denial of democratic & other rights of #kashmiri #Muslims and #minorities. pic.twitter.com/fjLSjovfKX  UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues (@fernanddev) May 15, 2023

He also alleged in his statement that Kashmiri muslims are facing massive rights violation including torture, extra judicial killings and curtailment of politicial rights after India revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
Trident Seafoods, Copper River Prince William Sound Marketing Association, Alaska Airlines and Chef Tom Douglas Partner to Bring the Prized Fish to Consumers

SEATTLE, May 16, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, the first King Salmon from Copper River, weighing 34 pounds, landed in Seattle on an Alaska Airlines flight direct from the pristine waters of Alaska, marking the beginning of what industry leaders expect to be an above-average run for the some of the most delectable salmon in the world. Representatives from Trident Seafoods, the Copper River Prince William Sound Marketing Association, Alaska Airlines, and Chef Tom Douglas were on-hand to greet the first of these prized fish.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516006054/en/

Trident Seafoods' Ali Turner, Analise Gonzales and Rick Isaacson with Seattle Chef Tom Douglas welcome the first fish from Copper River, kicking-off the Copper River King Salmon Run in front of the Alaska Airlines flight it flew in on, direct Alaska.

With 50 years of industry leadership, Trident Seafoods takes pride in distributing Copper River King Salmon, known for its delicious, rich taste and high content of omega-3s. Following Trident's commitment to fleet-to-fork processing, the salmon is delivered from Alaskan waters within 24-48 hours, directly to knowledgeable fishmongers, esteemed chefs, and renowned restaurants nationwide. This ensures consumers with discerning palates can experience the exceptional quality of Copper River salmon at its freshest, leading to unforgettable dining experiences.

"We are very excited to bring in the first King Salmon from Copper River and are grateful for all the independent fishermen that continue to choose to be our partners and deliver the best quality and freshest fish to the world. Our history of partnership with Copper River goes back many years and we look forward to continuing working together in responsibly sharing the best from Alaska with the world," said Joe Bundrant, CEO of Trident Seafoods.

Story continues

Consumers can find Copper River salmon in numerous restaurants and retailers, including in Chef Tom Douglas restaurants, where he will feature Copper River King Salmon in a mouthwatering dish at his Seattle restaurants, including Palace Kitchen, Carlie Room, Lola, Etta's, and Sea Town. A portion of proceeds from these dishes, from May 16-20, will be donated to the Ballard Food Bank, with Trident Seafoods matching the donation 100%.

"Ive been cooking Copper River salmon for many years and this year I think its fitting to partner once again with Trident to support our community by donating proceeds to the Ballard Food Bank and supporting people in need," said Chef Tom Douglas.

Christa Hoover, the Executive Director of the Copper River Prince William Sound Marketing Association reflects, "As this momentous season launches, we are so pleased that were also celebrating our 40th Anniversary. Its been incredible to see and let people know how much the fishery has evolved and yet remains steadfastly committed to quality for the consumer."

To bring the fish to tables so quickly, its imperative to have immediate transportation from Alaska to the rest of the country.

"Alaska Air Cargo has a special partnership with the Alaska seafood industry, which is recognized worldwide for its sustainable fishing practices," said Adam Drouhard, managing director at Alaska Air Cargo. "Our cargo employees across more than 110 airports are working around the clock to ensure we deliver the first catch of wild Copper River salmon to market, often within 24 hours of being pulled from the water."

Copper River King Salmon is available now through June, at retailers and restaurants across the country.

About Trident Seafoods

Trident Seafoods is the largest vertically integrated seafood harvesting and processing company in North America. Trident is a privately held, 100 percent USA-owned company with global operations in 6 countries and serves customers in over 50 countries. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, (USA), Trident employs approximately 9,000 people worldwide each year and partners with over 5,400 independent fishermen and crewmembers. Species harvested and processed by Trident include virtually every commercial species of salmon, whitefish, and crab harvested in the North Pacific and Alaska. The global supply chain also includes cultured and wild species from a network of trusted sources worldwide.

Follow Trident on the Web at www.tridentseafoods.com or on social media on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube or LinkedIn

About Copper River Prince William Sound Marketing Association

Copper River Prince William Sound Marketing Association is a fisherman funded non-profit regional seafood development association, representing 560 independent small boat fishermen. Their task is to build consumer preference for seafood from the Copper River and Prince William Sound.

About Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines and our regional partners serve more than 120 destinations across the United States, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica and Mexico. We strive to be the most caring airline with award-winning customer service and an industry-leading loyalty program. As a member of the oneworld alliance, and with our additional global partners, our guests can travel to more than 1,000 destinations on more than 25 airlines while earning and redeeming miles on flights to locations around the world. Learn more about Alaska at news.alaskaair.com and follow @alaskaairnews for news and stories. Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group.

About Tom Douglas

Tom Douglas is an American executive chef, restaurateur, author, and radio talk show host, and winner of the 1994 James Beard Award for Best Northwest Chef. In 2012 he also won the James Beard Award as Best Restaurateur. In 2005, he appeared on an episode of the Food Network's Iron Chef America, in which he defeated Chef Masaharu Morimoto. For over 30 years has received many accolades recognizing his innovative role in defining Pacific Northwest cuisine. Through Douglas self-taught methodology he has mastered fresh, local ingredients and helped define the cuisine and restaurant industry to critics, audiences, and diners around the world.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230516006054/en/

Contacts

Alexis Telfer (Trident Seafoods, Corporate Communications)

atelfer@tridentseafoods.com

Stefanie Moreland (Trident Seafoods, Corporate Spokesperson)

smoreland@tridentseafoods.com
New Delhi: As Congress is still deliberating on the selection of Karnataka's next chief minister, the sources said that party president Mallikarjun Kharge will announce the name for the top post on Thursday in Bengaluru. According to sources, Kharge will take the final decision after consulting UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and former party President Rahul Gandhi. "No Final decision has been made on the Karnataka CM post yet. Congress president has met all the stakeholders. Congress President has met all the stakeholders. Now the final decision will be taken by him in consultation with Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. The announcement can be delayed until tomorrow and the announcement can be made in Bengaluru itself," said sources.

Earlier on Tuesday, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge held meetings with both the potential candidates DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah in New Delhi. Siddaramaiah came to Kharge's residence along with his son Yatindra and MLAs Zameer Ahmad, Bhyrati Suresh, and senior leader KJ George.

Despite Congress' clear mandate in the Karnataka assembly polls, suspense over the chief minister continues as senior leaders DK Shivakumar, who is the Karnataka Congress' president, and Siddaramaiah, former chief minister and leader of the opposition are in the race.

Also Read: Karnataka CM Race: Kharge Holds One-On-One Meet With Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday met party president Mallikarjun Kharge who is set to make his decision after going through the Congress central observers' report, which was submitted on Monday. However, Shivakumar who had earlier cancelled his visit to the national capital on Monday evening citing health issues, arrived in Delhi on Tuesday.

The Congress won 135 seats in the recently held election to the 224-member Karnataka assembly. Earlier in the day, Shivakumar, in an exclusive interview with ANI made it clear that he would not resort to "backstabbing or blackmail" regardless of the party's decision.

Also Read: Karnataka Woman Conductor Helps Pregnant Passenger Deliver Baby On KSRTC Bus

"If the party wants they can give me the responsibility....... Ours is a united house, our number is 135. I don't want to divide anyone here. Whether they like me or not, I am a responsible man. I will not backstab and I will not blackmail," he said.

"The Party is my god...We have built this party, I am a part of it and I am not alone in this," he said before his departure from Bengaluru. "We have built this party (Congress), we have built this house. I am a part of it...A mother will give everything to her child," he said.

"Asked about his expectations as the state party president, Shivakumar said," I don't want to comment on what has happened earlier. How it happened. That is a closed chapter we formed the government we lost the government, we lost a coalition government. Who is responsible for the victory and loss there is no use of talking about it now. Let us not sell this story... let us sell the future."
Bengaluru: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior party leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and KC Venugopal, are currently holding talks to decide on the new Karnataka chief minister after the partys resounding victory in the recently concluded assembly elections in the BJP-ruled southern state. After arriving at a consensus, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will meet Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar and the states former chief minister, Siddaramaiah  a top contender for the post. Congress central leadership is expected to announce the name of the next Karnataka Chief Minister soon, however, the biggest challenge the party faces is to placate Shivakumar and bring him on board.

Meanwhile, Shivakumar also arrived in the national capital amid intense deliberations by the central leadership of the party to pick a new chief minister for Karnataka.

#WATCH | Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar arrives in Delhi from Bengaluru. He will meet party high command amid talks to decide the next chief minister of Karnataka. pic.twitter.com/tFfmfgJPxB  ANI (@ANI) May 16, 2023

Won't Resort To Backstabbing, Blackmail: Shivakumar

Shivakumar, one of the frontrunners for the Chief Ministers post, earlier made it clear that he would not resort to "backstabbing or blackmail" regardless of the party's decision. In an exclusive interview with ANI, Shivakumar said, "If the party wants they can give me the responsibility....... Ours is a united house, our number is 135. I don't want to divide anyone here. Whether they like me or not, I am a responsible man. I will not backstab and I will not blackmail."

The Karnataka Congress president will meet the party's high command ahead of the party's announcement on the top post. "The Party is my god...We have built this party, I am a part of it and I am not alone in this," he said before his departure from Bengaluru. "We have built this party (Congress), we have built this house. I am a part of it...A mother will give everything to her child," he said.

Asked about his expectations as the state party president, Shivakumar said," I don't want to comment on what has happened earlier. How it happened. That is a closed chapter we formed the government we lost the government, we lost a coalition government. Who is responsible for the victory and loss there is no use of talking about it now. Let us not sell this story... let us sell the future."

Congress leader Siddaramaiah, the other frontrunner for the chief minister's post, arrived in the national capital on Monday. Shivakumar, who celebrated his birthday yesterday had stayed behind in Bengaluru citing a stomach infection. Both he and Siddaramaiah had been called to Delhi by the top leadership of the AICC for a discussion. The Congress won 135 seats in the 224-member Karnataka assembly.

Congress Observers Submit Report To Kharge

The party's central observers for Karnataka had yesterday briefed Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on the views of the newly elected MLAs. According to party sources, Kharge will consult Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra before announcing a final decision. "The name of the next Karnataka CM will be announced in the coming 24 hours," they said.

The Congress legislative party had met late evening on Sunday in Bengaluru and passed a one-line resolution empowering Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge to pick the head of the legislative party. On Monday, Shivakumar said that all the MLAs are together and the party's high command will take the call on the chief minister.

Speaking to ANI, Shivakumar said, "The party high command will take a call. I don't want to comment or speak anything more. Whatever I had to speak, I have spoken already. I do not want MLAs (support)...that is not important to me. Ours is a Congress block. 135 is the number and one more ally member. We all are one and will work together".

Meanwhile, Congress veteran Siddaramaiah met with the top leadership of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) at Delhi's Lodhi Hotel late on Monday night. The Congress won 135 seats in the recently held election to the 224-member Karnataka assembly.
BENGALURU: As the tussle for the next Karnataka Chief Minister intensifies, the All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha has written to the Congress high command demanding the coveted post for the community. In its letter addressed to AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, the Mahasabha said that their demand has to be considered as 34 elected MLAs from the Congress are Lingayats.

It also said that the party had given tickets to 46 candidates, of which 34 won. "The community has played a major role in electing MLAs in other 50 seats. The community has shifted its loyalty from BJP to Congress," says the letter. Meanwhile, other community groups have also come out and demanded the Deputy Chief Minister`s post for their leaders.

Belagavi North MLA Asif Sait has demanded that the post should be given to KPCC Working President Satish Jarkiholi. "In north Karnataka, Satish Jarkiholi is the leader. He should be given the post. Giving the Deputy Chief Minister post to senior leader Zameer Ahmad Khan is left to the discretion of the party," Sait stated.

Meanwhile, the supporters of Ramalinga Reddy, senior Congress leader demanded that he should be given the post. The Karnataka Reddy Jana Sangha Director pointed out that Ramalinga Reddy is the senior most leader of the community. "Ramalinga Reddy has been elected to legislature more times than Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah. He deserves to be the Deputy Chief Minister," he said.

When Yediyurappa was the Chief Minister, he made three community members Ministers. "After him, only one cabinet berth was given and the BJP has paid for it. Ramalinga Reddy should be made DCM and two members of the community should be made ministers," he demanded.

"We have written a letter to the Congress high command, if they do not respond, the party will face stiff resistance from the community in coming days." Muslim community members staged a protest in Gangavathi of Koppal district demanding the post for Congress leader Zameer Ahmad Khan.
New Delhi: The Jammu and Kashmir Police's State Investigation Agency (SIA) captured two Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists involved in the murder of Mirwaiz Farooq in 1990, said Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh on Tuesday.

Jammu and Kashmir's police claimed to have achieved a breakthrough into the assassination case of late Mirwaiz Molvi Muhammad Farooq, father of Molvi Umar Farooq Chairman Hurriyat conference who was killed at this Nigeen residence on May 21, 1990, by the arrest of two Hizb terrorists who were evading arrest since over three decades.



The police said the arrested terrorists includes the one who had entered the bedroom of late Mirwaiz and opened fire at him. Addressing a press conference at the police control room (PCR) here, Special Director General of Police (CID), RR Swain said that on May 21, 1990, a case regarding the killing of Mirwaiz Muhammad Farooq was lodged in police station Nigeen under FIR 61/1990. Then the case was transferred to CBI. The CBI had presented a charge sheet against one accused after arresting him before the TADA court after which the court awarded lifer to him, he said,

The special DG CID said that investigations into the case revealed that Hizb commander Abdullah Bangroo had hatched a conspiracy to kill Mirwaiz. Bangroo and his associate (both Hizb commanders) were killed in encounters while one accused was serving life.

A total of five accused were involved in the killing of Mirwaiz; two were killed in encounters, one serving life; with the arrest of the remaining two, all five were brought to justice; fresh arrests include terrorists who went to Mirwaizs bedroom to open fire, Swain said



Two more accused Javaid Bhat and Zahoor Ahmed Bhat, both residents of Srinagar were arrested by the State Investigating Agency (SIA). They were evading arrest as they were hiding in Pakistan and Nepal over the years. Both have been arrested and handed over to CBI as proclaimed offenders, the police officer said.

He said one of the two arrested Hizb terrorists Zahoor Ahmed Bhat was the one who had entered the bedroom of Mirwaiz and opened fire at him. The special DG, however, didnt reveal where the duo was arrested. Hence the three decades old case was solved claimed the police.
Patna: RJD president Lalu Prasad Tuesday asserted that BJP's "wipeout" has been set in motion with the assembly election in Karnataka, where his ally - the Congress has won a handsome majority.

Prasad's arch rival-turned-ally, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, meanwhile, said he is looking forward to holding a meeting of opposition leaders after the formation of a new government in the southern state.

"The wipeout of BJP has begun (BJP ka safaya shuru ho gaya)", was Prasad's curt reply to waiting for journalists at the Patna airport before leaving for Delhi. He pointed towards the mask on his face that held him back from being his usual chatty self.

The ailing septuagenarian was mobbed by reporters and camera persons at the airport. The RJD supremo, who underwent a kidney transplant in Singapore last year, spent an uneventful month in his hometown before heading back to the national capital where he had been convalescing after the operation.

According to his close aides, his latest Delhi tour has been occasioned by a visit of a team of doctors from Singapore whom he will consult. It is not known whether Prasad, who is out on bail in fodder scam cases and suffers from numerous ailments, will be back in Patna soon.

Kumar, who was asked about his take on the Karnataka polls and his plans to take forward the "opposition unity" drive on the sidelines of a programme here said, "I had congratulated the Congress for its stellar performance in Karnataka. We hope it will complete the formation of the government soon."

Asked about plans to host a meeting of opposition leaders in Patna, as suggested by his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee, Kumar, who had hinted that the "opposition unity" will pick up after the Karnataka poll said, "We have spoken to most like-minded leaders. We had put things on hold in view of the elections (in Karnataka).

"Once they (Congress) are through with government formation we will decide the date (for the meet)," the JD(U) supremo said. To questions on the much talked about Bihar tour of Dhirendra Shastri alias Bageshwar Baba who has reportedly said at one of his congregations that 'Bihar will pave way for the formation of a Hindu Rashtra', Kumar said, "He (Shastri) was not even born, nor were we, when the country became Independent and the Constitution took shape, wherein equal rights are granted to adherents of all religions. We take pride that Bihar is home to shrines of many faiths and attracts pilgrims from far and wide.

"It must also be kept in mind that nobody can bring about a change in the Constitution's basic character. Such an exercise will require a two-thirds majority in both houses of Parliament," Kumar said in a veiled taunt to BJP, to which the godman is perceived to be close, for not having the requisite numbers.

Asked to comment on Union Minister Giriraj Singh accusing him of betraying "indifference towards the Sanatana Dharma" for refusing to provide assistance to Shastri for holding 'Baba Ka Durbaar' here till Wednesday, Kumar shot back saying "Many people (in BJP) keep abusing me in the hope of getting some limelight and plaudits from their bosses.

"But governments cannot formulate policies in accordance with religious beliefs, which are a personal matter," he added. Shastri is the head of Bageshwar Dham Sarkar, a religious pilgrimage site dedicated to Lord Hanuman in Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh and organises 'divya durbars'.
New Delhi, May 16 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Tuesday told the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to not create an atmosphere of fear, following allegations by the Chhattisgarh government that the agency was attempting to implicate the chief minister in a money laundering case linked to the alleged Rs 2,000 crore liquor scam in the state. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the Chhattisgarh government, submitted before a bench comprising justices S.K. Kaul and A Amanullah that the ED is running amok and they are threatening excise officers, and stressed that it is a shocking state of affairs. Sibal pressed that this is happening because elections are coming.



Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, representing ED, opposed Sibal`s submissions and submitted that the ED is probing a scam in the state. The bench orally told the probe agency "Don`t create an atmosphere of fear" and observed that even a bonafide cause becomes suspect when the agency behaves like this.



The state government has alleged that several state excise department officials have complained, the ED is threatening them and their family members with arrest and the agency is trying to implicate Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.

Also Read: Bhupesh Baghel Likens ED To 'Bhasmasur', Says 'Will Wipe Out Opposition On BJP's Order'



The top court made these observations while hearing a plea filed by two Chhattisgarh-based persons challenging the proceedings initiated by the agency.



The state government has filed an impleadment application in the petition, contending that officers of the excise department have complained alleging mental and physical torture by ED officers during the probe and there is an administrative standstill due to the ED`s actions. It emphasised that there is a law and order situation in the state.



The state government, in its application, contended that its officers are being threatened by the agency officials with their arrest or arrest of their family members and also being implicated in cases if they do not make and sign the statement as desired by them and to implicate the chief minister and other senior officers.

Also Read: 'Efforts To Defame Kejriwal': AAP On ED's Apology Over Sanjay Singh's Name In Liquor Case



The state government has claimed that ED is acting at the behest of political masters and the investigation is completely biased. The apex court has asked ED to file its reply on the state government`s application.



In April, Chhattisgarh government moved the Supreme Court challenging the constitutional validity of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), saying that the central investigation agencies are being misused by those in power in order to intimidate, harass and disturb the normal functioning of an opposition government in Chhattisgarh.



Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi and advocate Sumeer Sodhi, representing the Chhattisgarh government, submitted before the apex court that the issue is of constitutional importance and urged the court to grant urgent hearing in the matter.



Chhattisgarh has filed the original suit challenging the law under Article 131 of the Constitution which empowers a state to move the apex court directly in matters of dispute with the central government or any other state.



The state government, which is first to challenge PMLA and its provisions, said that several complaints are being received by it on behalf of its officials as well as the residents of the state to the effect that ED is "torturing, abusing, and manhandling" them in the garb of conducting a probe.



"The present case is a perfect example of how the central investigation agencies are being misused by those in power in order to intimidate, harass and disturb the normal functioning of an opposition government in the state of Chhattisgarh," it said.
Former Bihar Chief Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) National President Lalu Yadav on Tuesday launched a scathing attack at self-styled godman Dhirendra Shastri of Bageshwar Dham. "Is he a baba"?, Lalu Prasad Yadav said when asked why Shastri was not stopped from holding an event in Patna. Meanwhile, Bihar Minister Tej Pratap also slammed Shastri who held the `Divya Darbar` at Taret Pali Math in Patna. "This Baba is abusing Biharis and calling them 'pagal'. There's 'Krishna Raj' & 'Mahagathbandhan Raj' in Bihar...This politics is being done to divide the country..." news agency ANI quoted Tej Pratap as saying.

He also slammed the mismanagement during the 'Divya Darbar' session after hundreds of devotees fell sick during Sunday's session due to high humidity and the heavy crowd inside the venue.

#WATCH | "Who is Baba Bageshwar? Is he a Baba?," says former Bihar CM and RJD national president Lalu Prasad Yadav when asked why was Bageshwar Dham's Dhirendra Shastri not stopped from holding an event in Patna. pic.twitter.com/7dTnSMtSQo May 16, 2023

#WATCH | Bihar Minister Tej Pratap Yadav speaks on Bageshwar Dham's Dhirendra Shastri's event in Patna; says, "...This Baba is abusing Biharis and calling them 'pagal'. There's 'Krishna Raj' & 'Mahagathbandhan Raj' in Bihar...This politics is being done to divide the country..." pic.twitter.com/58Guhj7TsG  ANI (@ANI) May 16, 2023

In wake of the Baba Bageshwar Dham`s self-styled godman Dhirendra Krishna Shastri`s religious programme, a large turnout of above 10 lakh people led to a chaos at the venue. Several women faced unease due to high temperature and dust leading to breathing problems. Therefore the religious preacher announced the cancellation of `Divya Darbar` on Monday.

However, Shastri rescheduled his programme and announced again for the `Divya Darbar` on Monday from 3 to 4 p.m. During this time, he also interacted with individual followers and solved their problems. Following the `Divya Darbar`, he also recited the `Hanumant Katha` as well.

This is the third day of his event in Taret Pali village in Patna`s Naubatpur area and people turned out in large numbers from across the state.

Due to this, the traffic management completely collapsed in the area surrounding 25 km from the venue. All roads heading towards Naubatpur were occupied with the religious followers and local residents faced great difficulties to reach their homes and offices.

Meanwhile, Baba Bageshwar and his foundation members are appealing to people not to come to the venue physically and watch his event on their phones and television.
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.

New Delhi: 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 the movie "Death Tale" under Shawn Arranha's direction, and it is scheduled to release on July 1.
New Delhi: Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan made waves on the intenet after he shared a photo informing his fans that he took a lift from an unknown person on his two-wheeler to reach his work location on time. The superstar also shared a 'thank you' note for the person giving him a ride on social media. And now, Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma was seen taking a bike ride with her bodyguard after a roadblock. A video of the same is getting viral on the internet with netizens questioning the actors for not wearing helmets while riding the bike.

Soon after Big B's picture and Anushka's videos surfaced on the Internet, netizens were seen tagging Mumbai Police and informed it about actors violating traffic rules.

"What about helmets dude?" asked a social media user.

"Na madam ne helmet pehena hai na uske bodyguard ne," pointed out another.

Sharing Anushka's video, a user wrote, "@MumbaiPolice No helmet?" In reply, they informed that they have shared the same with the traffic branch.

Some social media users also tagged the Mumbai Police with Amitabh Bachchan's photo sitting on a bike without a helmet. A user wrote, "Missing helmets for both rider and pillion. @MumbaiPolice please take note!"

Amitabh Bachchan recently resumed his work after recovering from his injury he incurred during the shoot on the sets of his upcoming project 'Project K'. Directed by Nag Ashwin, the film also stars Prabhas, Deepika Padukone and Disha Patani in key roles. It is slated to release in January 2024.

Big B also has Ribhu Dasgupta's next courtroom drama, 'Section 84'. He will also feature in Tiger Shroff and Kriti Sanon's 'Ganapath'.

On the other hand, Anushka, who was last seen in 'Zero' alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Katrina Kaif, is all set to return to films with 'Chakda 'Xpress'. It will be her first film after her daughter Vamika's birth.
Seoul: Actor Alia Bhatt, on Tuesday, attended Gucci Cruise Show 2024 as the global brand ambassador in Seoul, South Korea. Several images of Alia went viral which are garnering her fans' attention. The 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' actor made an appearance in front of a historic place. She wore mini black dress with polka dotted cutout. She completed her look with black platform heels and a Gucci Jackie 1961 transparent bag.

Recently, Thai superstar Davikah Hoorne shared a couple of adorable pictures where Alia and Davikah can be posing in different styles from the Gucci event.

Last week, Alia was announced as the first Indian global ambassador of the luxury fashion brand, Gucci.

Taking to Instagram, the fashion brand 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 were captured with the Gucci Bamboo 1947 bag."

See the pics here

Meanwhile, on the work front, Alia will rekindle her on-screen romance with Ranveer Singh in Karan Johar's directorial 'Rocky Aur Rani ki Prem Kahani.'
Trio Petroleum Corp.

Oil and Gas Production Rates at the HV-1 Discovery Well to be Determined and Announced after Final Completion Operations

DANVILLE, CA, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trio Petroleum Corp. (NYSE American: TPET) (Trio), an oil and gas exploration and development company focused on strategic, high-growth energy projects in California, today announced that its HV-1 well has confirmed that there is a major accumulation of oil and gas in the Presidents Field in its South Salinas Project located in Monterey County, California.

The HV-1 well is a two-mile step-out from Trios HV-3A discovery well that found high-quality, mid-gravity oil at depths between 3,750 to 5,100 feet. The HV-1 well drilled through approximately 1,800 feet of the Monterey Formation with major indications of oil and gas prior to reaching total depth at 6,631 feet. The company is currently running well casing from surface to total depth to properly complete the well, and is commencing its evaluation of the well data collected.

Visit the companys homepage at Trios website (www.trio-petroleum.com) to view videos and still shots of the HV-1 drilling operations along with the Trio management team at the wellsite.

The HV-1 well was drilled on a new oil and natural gas field that the company refers to as the Presidents Field, as described in the companys public filings with the SEC and on the companys website. The Presidents Field is a large oil and gas development project located in the companys South Salinas Project in Monterey County, California. The HV-1 well location was chosen based on interpretation of three-dimensional seismic data with the goal of confirming and defining the magnitude of this new oil and gas field, in which Trio owns an 85.75% working interest.

Mr. Frank Ingriselli, Trios Chief Executive Officer, commented We are very excited and pleased with our discovery of oil and gas at the HV-1 well and with the positive impact that we expect this well will have on Trios future and our commitment to grow shareholder value. We plan to put the HV-1 well on production after we finalize completion operations and our evaluation of the new data we are acquiring from the well, after which we will have a better understanding of production rates, which we plan to announce when available.

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About Trio Petroleum Corp .

Trio Petroleum Corp. is an oil and gas exploration and development company headquartered in Bakersfield, California, with operations in Monterey County, California. Trio has a large, approximately 9,267-acre asset called the South Salinas Project where it owns an 85.75% working interest. Trios near-term plans include testing and producing the HV-1 well, and then drilling the HV-2 and HV-4 wells. Previous operations on this asset have successfully drilled two (2) production/discovery wells that Trio now owns.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

All statements in this press release of Trio Petroleum Corp. (Trio) and its representatives and partners that are not based on historical fact are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Acts). In particular, when used in the preceding discussion, the words "estimates," "believes," "hopes," "expects," "intends," on-track, "plans," "anticipates," or "may," and similar conditional expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Acts and are subject to the safe harbor created by the Acts. Any statements made in this news release other than those of historical fact, about an action, event or development, are forward-looking statements. While management has based any forward-looking statements contained herein on its current expectations, the information on which such expectations were based may change. These forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions concerning future events and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are outside of the Trio's control, that could cause actual results to materially and adversely differ from such statements. Such risks, uncertainties, and other factors include, but are not necessarily limited to, those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Trios S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Copies are of such documents are available on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov. Trio undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.

Trio Contact :

Frank C. Ingriselli

CEO

Trio Petroleum Corp

www.trio-petroleum.com

Ingriselli@gvest.com




Indian Railways will soon launch Goa's first Vande Bharat Express train, connecting the tourist destination with Mumbai. As per various media reports, the trial run for the Mumbai-Goa Vande Bharat train has already begun from Mumbai's CST railway station and the train will reach Madgaon station from there to conclude its trial run, before the beginning of the train services. However, there's no official word as to when Indian Railways, the national rail transporter will launch the services on this route. As expected Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the train.

The train left for the Madgoan station in Goa from the Mumbai's iconic Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CST) for the trial on Tuesday morning, reported News18, quoting an official on condition of anonymity. The report further states that the official refused to divulge details about the expected inauguration date and the proposed route, saying these details are yet to be finalised".

The Mumbai-Goa Vande Bharat Express will be fourth semi-high speed train from the Mumbai, which now sits on the top of the route map with Delhi, with 4 trains each, This will be the 16th Vande Bharat route once launched, if recently scrapped Nagpur-Bilaspur route is considered as a temporary halt in the services of the train.

Recently, the Railways stopped services of the Vande Bharat train on the Nagpur-Bilaspur route and replaced it with Tejas Express due to less occupancy. The rake was sent on the Tirupati-Secunderabad route. There are a total of 16 Vande Bharat Rakes running on 15 routes across India right now.

As for the CST-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express, it will reduce the travel time between the two stations, which are already connected by a number of trains taking around eight to nine hours for a one side journey. Currently, Mumbai connects Gandhinagar, Shirdi and Solapur via Vande Bharat Express.

Apart from the Mumbai-Goa Vande Bharat Express, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will most likely flag off the Puri-Howrah Vande Bharat train on May 18, 2023. This will be first Vande Bharat for Odisha and second for West Bengal. Another Vande Bharat Express is expected to run between Bihars Patna and Jharkhands Ranchi.
New Delhi: The head of the artificial intelligence company that makes ChatGPT told Congress on Tuesday that government intervention "will be critical to mitigate the risks of increasingly powerful AI systems. As this technology advances, we understand that people are anxious about how it could change the way we live. We are too," OpenAI CEO Sam Altman testified at a Senate hearing Tuesday.

His San Francisco-based startup rocketed to public attention after it released ChatGPT late last year. ChatGPT is a free chatbot tool that answers questions with convincingly human-like responses. What started out as a panic among educators about ChatGPT's use to cheat on homework assignments has expanded to broader concerns about the ability of the latest crop of generative AI tools to mislead people, spread falsehoods, violate copyright protections and upend some jobs.

And while there's no immediate sign that Congress will craft sweeping new AI rules, as European lawmakers are doing, the societal concerns brought Altman and other tech CEOs to the White House earlier this month and have led U.S. agencies to promise to crack down on harmful AI products that break existing civil rights and consumer protection laws.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, the Connecticut Democrat who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committees subcommittee on privacy, technology and the law, opened the hearing with a recorded speech that sounded like the senator, but was actually a voice clone trained on Blumenthal's floor speeches and reciting a speech written by ChatGPT after he asked the chatbot, How I would open this hearing?

The result was impressive, said Blumenthal, but he added, What if I had asked it, and what if it had provided, an endorsement of Ukraine surrendering or (Russian President) Vladimir Putins leadership? Blumenthal said AI companies ought to be required to test their systems and disclose known risks before releasing them.

Founded in 2015, OpenAI is also known for other AI products including the image-maker DALL-E. Microsoft has invested billions of dollars into the startup and has integrated its technology into its own products, including its search engine Bing.

Altman is also planning to embark on a worldwide tour this month to national capitals and major cities across six continents to talk about the technology with policymakers and the public. On the eve of his Senate testimony, he dined with dozens of U.S. lawmakers, several of whom told CNBC they were impressed by his comments.

Also testifying will be IBM's chief privacy and trust officer, Christina Montgomery, and Gary Marcus, a professor emeritus at New York University who was among a group of AI experts who called on OpenAI and other tech firms to pause their development of more powerful AI models for six months to give society more time to consider the risks. The letter was a response to the March release of OpenAI's latest model, GPT-4, described as more powerful than ChatGPT.

Artificial intelligence will be transformative in ways we cant even imagine, with implications for Americans elections, jobs, and security, said the panel's ranking Republican, Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri. This hearing marks a critical first step towards understanding what Congress should do.

Altman and other tech industry leaders have said they welcome some form of AI oversight but have cautioned against what they see as overly heavy-handed rules. In a copy of her prepared remarks, IBM's Montgomery asks Congress to take a precision regulation" approach.

"This means establishing rules to govern the deployment of AI in specific use-cases, not regulating the technology itself, Montgomery said.
(Bloomberg) -- The UKs competition watchdog vowed to continue to put Britain first after her agency announced its arrival on the global stage by blocking Microsoft Corp.s $69 billion Activision Blizzard Inc. deal.

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Sarah Cardell, the Competition and Markets Authoritys chief executive officer, was asked by UK lawmakers how often the agency had been in discussions with the US Federal Trade Commission and whether it was useful for them that the CMA blocked the deal.

We are absolutely not doing the bidding of other agencies, Cardell told a committee of politicians Tuesday. Our responsibility at the end of the day is to look at the impact for the UK.

When we are looking at those deals of course we are highly mindful of fact that we want to ensure continuity and integrity of analysis, Cardell said.

On Monday, the CMA issued a strong response to the European Commissions decision to wave through the Microsoft deal it blocked. The CMA said the decision would allow Microsoft to set the terms and conditions for the cloud gaming market for the next 10 years.

The US sued over the deal and a hearing is scheduled to take place in August. Cardell told the panel that discussions with other agencies depended on waivers from the merging parties. She said that in the latter stages of the CMAs Microsoft probe it did not have a waiver with the FTC and were restricted in discussions.

Britains competition regulator has been thrust into the global spotlight post-Brexit with a slew of high-profile decisions involving the biggest tech firms like Microsoft and Meta Platforms Inc.s Giphy deal.

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(Bloomberg) -- Only seven crop vessels remain in the Ukraine crop corridor as Russia threatens to exit the grain pact later this week, bringing traffic grinding to a halt.

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No fresh inbound ships have cleared inspection through the corridor in more than a week, after a disagreement between parties at the Joint Coordination Centre in Istanbul thats tasked with checking all boats. Thats left only a trickle of outbound traffic transiting the safe passage, lineups posted by the United Nations show.

The Black Sea deal has allowed Ukraine to ship more than 30 million tons of produce from three major ports, helping to bring down global food prices down after they spiked following Russias invasion. But Moscow has repeatedly threatened to pull out of the pact, saying that a parallel agreement to remove obstacles to its own agricultural exports hasnt made enough progress.

Nikolay Gorbachov, president of the Ukrainian Grain Association, said that Ukraine would not be able to meet its full crop-export potential  about 44 million tons  in 2023-24 without the corridor.

The UN said that of the seven ships still in the system, one is in port, one is transiting the corridor and the rest were awaiting inspection. Wheat traded in Chicago edged 0.4% lower on Tuesday, after gaining 4.1% on Monday.

The current hiatus is paralyzing shipments, according to Dmitry Timotin at Inzernoexport GmbH Agency in Odesa, which typically arranges port calls for three vessels a month.

We dont have any new grain contracts because everyone is waiting for information on what will happen with the grain corridor, he said. Our terminal is not working at the moment because there are no incoming ships.

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While Ukraine can ship some volumes by river and rail via its European Union neighbors if its own ports are not operating, those flows are also facing problems. Five eastern EU nations have temporarily restricted imports of Ukrainian grain, and are allowing only cargoes in transit.

Timotin said he had an alternative project to ship grain through the river port of Izmail, but the volumes would be much smaller.

The UN  which brokered the grain deal with Turkey  said on Monday that discussions are continuing. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that many questions on the pact remain and that Russia would make an announcement when a decision has been made, according to Tass.

Despite Moscows grievances, Russia is expected to ship record volumes of grain this season, while its exports of fertilizers are climbing back to pre-war levels.

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LONDON (Reuters) - The head of Britain's anti-trust regulator said it was not seeking to create a "hostile environment" for tech companies with its decision to block Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which operates independently from government, caused shockwaves in April when it said the deal could not go ahead because it would hit competition in the nascent cloud gaming market, drawing a rebuke from Microsoft.

Its president Brad Smith has accused the regulator of undermining confidence in Britain as a destination for tech businesses, worrying lawmakers who are pinning their hopes on Britain's science and innovation sector to help drive growth.

CMA Chief Executive Sarah Cardell told a panel of lawmakers on Tuesday that she stood by the decision, even after Brussels gave its approval on Monday.

"This is a sector where we want to make sure together that we can create and support the best conditions for competition that will enable companies big and small to thrive, including many UK startups, many UK competitors," she said.

Cardell added that the CMA had engaged widely with companies across the sector. "I don't find that we are operating sort of, broadly speaking, in a hostile environment," she added.

Microsoft has said it will appeal the ruling.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has also filed a complaint to block the deal, which Microsoft has indicated it will fight.

(Reporting by Sarah Young and Paul Sandle; Editing by Kate Holton)
WestJet Airlines pilots stand on a picket line at Toronto's Pearson Airport on Monday May 8, 2023. The picket is one of three at Canada's largest airports to show WestJet management they remain committed to negotiating a North American industry-standard contract. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

CALGARY, Alberta (AP)  The union for Canadas second-biggest airline have issued a 72-hour strike notice to WestJet, and they warn the airline could be shut down before the weekend.

The Air Line Pilots Association said in a statement late Monday that pilots plan to begin lawful job action early Friday, which could include grounding all aircraft and effectively shutting down operations.

The Calgary, Alberta-based airline flies to more than 110 destinations including the United States, Central America, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia. It has a fleet of more than 180 aircraft.

The WestJet Group responded with a lockout notice, saying a work stoppage could occur as early as Friday at 3 a.m. MDT (0900 GMT).

The decision to issue a lockout notice, in response to the actions taken by the union today, was not one that was made lightly, and we sincerely regret the inconvenience and uncertainty this continues to cause for our guests, WestJet Group CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech said in a statement.

The statement noted the lockout notice doesn't mean a work stoppage will occur, and that both parties remain at the bargaining table. But it said the company would begin preparations to operate a reduced schedule and warned it would be a significant reduction from WestJet and Swoops current networks.

WestJet said that travelers impacted by flight delays or cancellations will be refunded or reaccommodated as applicable.

The union represents about 1,600 flight crew at WestJet and subsidiary Swoop, and had warned Friday that a walkout could come as early as this week as talks dragged on.

The workers issues revolve around job protection, pay and scheduling. WestJet said its pilots are among the best paid in Canada, but that a contract on par with those recently secured by some U.S. pilot groups would be financially unworkable and put the companys future at risk.

The union said in its statement that it could have filed the strike notice over the weekend, but in a bid to keep the airline operating, it agreed to extend negotiations.
A Chinese-American man was arrested last week for allegedly serving as an agent of the Chinese government without notifying the US government, the Department of Justice announced on Monday.

Litang Liang, 63, of Brighton, Massachusetts, was accused of providing Chinese officials with information about Boston-area individuals and organisations; leading a counter-protest against anti-Beijing activists; and suggesting potential recruits to China's Ministry of Public Security.

Liang was indicted on two counts related to acting as an agent of a foreign government. The charge of acting as an unregistered foreign agent carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to US$250,000.

Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.

"We will not tolerate the PRC's efforts to interfere with public discourse and threaten civic participation in the United States," said Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen of the Justice Department's national security division.

Litang Liang could face a fine of up to US$250,000 as well as ten years in prison and three years of supervised probation. Photo: US District Court for the District of Massachusetts handout alt=Litang Liang could face a fine of up to US$250,000 as well as ten years in prison and three years of supervised probation. Photo: US District Court for the District of Massachusetts handout>

According to the indictment, Liang, a US citizen, communicated with seven Chinese officials, including several from the Chinese consulate in New York, from 2018 to 2022.

In 2018 he shared with Chinese officials photographs of an individual he said had "sabotaged" Chinese flags in Boston's Chinatown and said the person was a member of a local Chinese group with pro-Taiwan leanings.

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Several of the officials requested more information about the organisation, the indictment said, and Liang sent them information about another Chinese group in the area with similar leanings, in addition to that of other Chinese organisations in New England and New York.

In 2019 Liang founded a group, the New England Alliance for the Peaceful Unification of China, "to appear to be acting as a member of a local community organisation unconnected to the PRC government, when in fact he was acting at [their] direction or control", according to the indictment.

In August that year, Liang also allegedly communicated to Chinese officials about organising a counterprotest to a march called "Boston Stands With Hong Kong", which was in support of the protests in Hong Kong; sent officials photographs of anti-Chinese government protesters the day of the protest; and sent more photos the following month when Hong Kong protesters stood in front of the Boston Public Library.

Also in 2018 and 2019, Liang allegedly travelled to China to attend meetings hosted by the United Front Work Department, a Chinese Communist Party organ tasked with strengthening adherence to the party within and outside China.

Finally, the indictment said, last year Liang provided someone identified as "DC Ministry of Public Security Shanghai" the names of two leaders in the Chinese diaspora as candidates to "cultivate and train".

Liang's defence lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Washington, Liu Pengyu, said that while he was unfamiliar with the case, "in recent years, the US government and media have frequently hyped up the topic of 'Chinese spies', many of which later proved to be unfounded".

"China always requires its citizens to abide by the laws and regulations of the host country, and firmly opposes the US side's groundless slander and smear of China," Liu added.

Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen, of the US Justice Department's national security division. Photo: AP alt=Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen, of the US Justice Department's national security division. Photo: AP>

At his arraignment on Thursday in the US District Court of Massachusetts in Boston, Liang was released on conditions including surrendering his passport; restricting his travel to within Massachusetts; electronic monitoring; a US$25,000 bond; and no contact with Chinese officials.

In January, a Chinese music student in Boston was indicted after allegedly stalking and threatening a woman posting fliers in support of democracy in China.

This case also follows several high-profile cases of alleged "transnational repression" by the Chinese government, including one last month in which two New York residents were arrested on suspicion of operating a "secret" police station in Manhattan's Chinatown.

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.
By Ernest Scheyder

(Reuters) -The U.S. Interior Department on Tuesday removed one of the last remaining obstacles to Lithium Americas Corp's Thacker Pass mine project in Nevada by finding nearly all of the site contains the metal used to make electric-vehicle batteries.

The opinion from the department's solicitor comes amid an acrimonious debate about whether more U.S. mines should be built to produce lithium and other green energy transition metals.

A federal judge in February rejected claims that the Thacker Pass project would cause unnecessary harm to the environment, but ordered officials to study whether roughly 1,300 acres (530 hectares) at the site where Lithium Americas hopes to store waste rock - a byproduct of the mining process - contained the metal. The ruling is being appealed, although the court has allowed construction to begin.

The judge's order was linked to an unrelated appeals court ruling that found mining companies do not necessarily have the right under U.S. law to store waste rock on federal land that does not contain valuable minerals.

Of the dozens of mining claims at the Thacker Pass site held by the company, the government found fewer than 10 did not contain lithium mineralization, an Interior Department official told Reuters.

"They're going to be able to start construction and production without these claims being in the plan of operation," the official said of Lithium Americas.

The Vancouver, Canada-based company, which is developing the project with General Motors Co, can apply for a right-of-way to use those other claims for non-mining purposes, the official said.

"We're committed to doing this job right and meeting or exceeding state and federal regulations as we advance construction," said Jon Evans, the CEO of Lithium Americas.

John Hadder of Great Basin Resource Watch, a conservation group that has appealed the court's ruling, said it believes federal law allows Lithium Americas access to the land only if lithium is consistently found in quantities that are economical to extract.

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"It stands to reason that the mining company would not place millions of tonnes of waste material on an area where they see valuable mineral deposits," said Hadder.

The opinion comes as the Biden administration has taken steps to block other mines, although the official said those should not be taken as a sign of opposition to all extractive projects.

"We're in favor of increasing domestic mineral production when it's being done in the right location and in the right way," the official said.

(Reporting by Ernest Scheyder in HoustonEditing by Matthew Lewis)
(Bloomberg)  Chocolate milk may become a thing of the past in elementary and middle schools across the US.

Most Read from Bloomberg

In an attempt to limit sugar consumption among kids, the United States Department of Agriculture has proposed a series of rule changes about the distribution, availability and sugar content of milk in school cafeterias.

The agency is considering three scenarios. The most extreme would ban flavored-milk drinks from all K-8 schools and require those available to high schoolers to reduce their added sugar content. It also proposed limiting the ban to elementary students or keeping the milks widely available, while limiting the amount of added sugar.

The USDA said it was targeting flavored milks because a 2021 study found they are a leading source of added sugar in kids school breakfast and lunches. Flavored skim milk accounts for almost half of the added sugars in school lunches, the analysis found.

If adopted, any changes would go into effect in the fall of the 2025-2026 school year. The USDA allowed public comment for the proposed rule changes from Feb. 7 through May 10.

The USDA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Current USDA guidelines stipulate that schools have to offer low-fat or fat-free unflavored milk for breakfast and lunch, which many students rely on as a primary source of food. Flavored milk must be fat-free or low-fat as well.

In comments submitted to the USDA in March, the nonprofit School Nutrition Association defended the inclusion of flavored milk at all grade levels, arguing that kids are less likely to drink milk if there are no flavored options.

Story continues

The American Academy of Pediatrics generally recommends caregivers replace sweetened drinks with water, but also notes that flavored milk in schools provides a good example of the balance needed to limit added sugars and yet promote nutrient-rich foods. The drinks have added sugars, but they are nutrient rich, too.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Verde AgriTech Ltd

(All figures are in Canadian dollars, unless stated otherwise. Average exchange rate in Q1 2023: C$1.00 = R$3.84)

SINGAPORE, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Verde AgriTech Ltd (TSX: NPK) (Verde or the Company) is pleased to announce its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023 (Q1 2023).



Q1 2023 Financials

Sales of Verde's multinutrient potassium products, BAKS and K Forte sold internationally as Super Greensand (the  Product ) by volume were 108,000 tonnes, compared to 112,000 tonnes in Q1 2022 and 16,558 tonnes in Q1 2021.

Revenue in Q1 2023 was $11.1 million, compared to $11.3 million in Q1 2022 and $0.8 million in Q1 2021.

Cash and other receivables held by the Company in Q1 2023 were $34.3 million, compared to $22.3 million in Q1 2022 and $4.8 million in Q1 2021.

EBITDA before non-cash events in Q1 2023 was $2.0 million, compared to $3.7 million in Q1 2022 and a $0.8 million loss in Q1 2021.

Total non-current assets in Q1 2023 were $68.3 million, compared to $30.1 million in Q1 2022 and $21.4 million in Q1 2021.

Net loss in Q1 2023 was $0.1 million, compared to a $3.0 million profit in Q1 2022 and a $1.0 million loss in Q1 2021.

In Q1 2023, 8,559 million tonnes of chloride have been prevented from being applied into soils by farmers who used the Product in lieu of potassium chloride (KCl) fertilizers.1 A total of 121,201 tonnes of chloride has been prevented from being applied into soils by Verdes customers since the Company started production.2

In Q1 2022, our sales grew by an impressive 574%, and our revenue increased by an astonishing 1,260% compared to Q1 2021. Achieving virtually the same volume as last year in markets that experience the strongest downturns of the last few years in the fertilizer industry is a remarkable accomplishment. The price of soybeans, which represents a major portion of Verde's sales, has declined by 33% in the past 12 months, with a substantial 21% drop in the last three months alone.3 Additionally, potash prices have seen a significant decrease of 67% over the past year, with a sharp decline of 22% in the last three months.4 Despite these challenging market conditions, Verde's performance in Q1 2023, delivering results comparable to those achieved in Q1 2022, demonstrates the unwavering commitment and strategic approach of our team, and underscores our ability to thrive in an exceptionally difficult market landscape, stated Cristiano Veloso, Founder, President & CEO of Verde.

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Selected Annual Financial Information

The table below summarizes Q1 2023 financial results compared to Q1 2022:

All amounts in CAD $000 Q1 2023 Q1 2022 Tonnes sold 000 108 112 Average revenue per tonne sold $ 103 101 Average production cost per tonne sold $ (25 ) (24 ) Average gross profit per tonne sold $ 78 77 Average gross margin 76 % 77 % Revenue 11,125 11,304 Production costs (1) (2,710 ) (2,654 ) Gross Profit 8,415 8,650 Gross Margin 76 % 77 % Sales and marketing expenses (1,207 ) (958 ) Product delivery freight expenses (3,867 ) (2,973 ) General and administrative expenses (1,372 ) (1,041 ) EBITDA (2) 1,969 3,678 Share Based, Equity and Bonus Payments (Non-Cash Event) (3) (28 ) (64 ) Depreciation and Amortisation (3) (911 ) (26 ) Operating Profit after non-cash events 1,030 3,588 Interest Income/Expense (4) (1,042 ) (185 ) Net (Loss) / Profit before tax (12 ) 3,403 Income tax (5) (96 ) (370 ) Net Profit (108 ) 3,033

(1)  C$864,000 of depreciation related to the investments made in Plant 1, Plant 2 and access routes improvement in the last 12 months that are included in production costs in the financial statements have been reclassified to a non-cash event in the MD&A.

(2)  Non GAAP measure

(3)  Included in General and Administrative expenses in financial statements

(4)  Please see Summary of Interest-Bearing Loans and Borrowings notes

(5)  Please see Income Tax notes in Q1 2023 Managements Discussion and Analysis



External Factors

Revenue and costs are affected by external factors including changes in the exchange rates between the C$ and R$ along with fluctuations in potassium chloride spot CFR Brazil.5 The table below summarizes these changes:

%  Q1 2023 Q1 2022 Canadian Dollar (C$) Average Exchange Rate -7 % R$3.84 R$4.12 Potassium Chloride CFR Brazil Lowest Price -39 % US$455 US$750 Potassium Chloride CFR Brazil Highest Price -57 % US$520 US$1,200

Q1 2023 compared with Q1 2022

EBITDA and EPS

The Company had an EBITDA of $1,969,000 in Q1 2023, compared to $3,678,000 in Q1 2022. This decrease can be mainly attributed to two factors:

Higher average freight cost: In Q1 2023, the average freight cost per tonne of Product sold on a CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) basis increased from $44 to $53. This increase was driven by a higher percentage of sales being made to the northern region of Mato Grosso state, which is located farther away from Verde's production facilities. As a result, the weighted average distance of Product delivered increased by 12% in the quarter compared to the previous year, with a $600,000 impact in Q1 2023. Reduction in potassium chloride (KCl) CFR Brazil price compared to the previous year: The drop in KCl prices resulted in a 16% decrease in revenue per tonne excluding freight expenses (FOB price) in Brazilian Reais, from R$308 per tonne in Q1 2022 to R$259 per tonne in Q1 2023. As a result, this had a $435,000 impact on the Company's quarterly results.

Basic loss per share was $0.002 for Q1 2023, compared to earnings of $0.06 for Q1 2022.

Product Sales



Sales by volume decreased by 4% in Q1 2023, to 108,000 tonnes sold, compared to 112,000 tonnes sold in Q1 2022, due to the circumstances summarized below.



At the onset of the Ukrainian war in February 2022, concerns arose regarding potential geopolitical sanctions against Russia and their potential impact on the availability of potash fertilizers. This led to a surge in customer orders during the first and second quarters as they sought to stockpile fertilizers for the upcoming crop season.



However, these concerns proved unfounded as the market actually experienced an oversupply of potash due to increased availability. Coupled with a 15% decrease in potash consumption in Brazil throughout 2022, this resulted in a 23% increase in year-end potash stock in Brazil, highlighting the lower overall demand for the product during the year.6



As a consequence, potash prices have significantly declined, witnessing a 67% decrease over the past year, with a sharp 22% decline in the first three months of 2023.7 This has prompted farmers to delay their agricultural input purchases as they anticipate further price drops, thereby reducing the demand for fertilizers in Q1 of 2023.



Furthermore, the price of soybeans, which represents the major portion of Verde's sales, has declined by 33% over the past 12 months, with a significant drop of 21% in the last three months.8



Despite the exceptional market circumstances witnessed in Q1 2021 and Q1 2022, Verde delivered in Q1 2023 results comparable to those achieved in the previous year.

Revenue

Revenue from sales decreased by 2% in Q1 2023, to $11,125,000 from the sale of 108,000 tonnes of Product, at average $103 per tonne sold; compared to $11,304,000 in Q1 2022 from the sale of 112,000 tonnes of Product, at average $101 per tonne sold.



The increase in average revenue per tonne was mainly due to the higher percentage of CIF sales in the quarter, with 68% in Q1 2023, compared to 60% in Q1 2022.



Average revenue per tonne excluding freight expenses (FOB price) decreased by 10% in Q1 2023, to $67 compared to $75 in Q1 2022 mainly due to the decrease in Potassium Chloride CFR Brazil, from US$750-US$1200 per tonne in Q1 2022 to US$455-US$520 per tonne in Q1 20239. This reduction was partially offset by the 7% appreciation of the Brazilian Real against the Canadian Dollar.



Production costs

Production costs include all direct costs from mining, processing, and the addition of other nutrients to the Product, such as Sulphur and Boron. It also includes the logistics costs from the mine to the plant and related salaries.



Verdes production costs and sales price are based on the following assumptions:

Micronutrients added to BAKS increase its production cost, rendering K Forte less expensive to produce. Production costs vary based on packaging type, with bulk packaging being less expensive than Big Bags. Plant 1 produces K Forten Bulk, K Forte Big Bag, BAKS Bulk, and BAKS Big Bag, while Plant 2 exclusively produces K Forte Bulk. Therefore, Plant 2's production costs are lower than Plant 1's costs, which produces two types of Products and offers two types of packaging options each.

The table below shows a breakdown of full year 2023 Verdes production costs projection for BAKS and K Forte, and what percentage of those costs is not controllable by management:

(+) (+) (=) Cost per tonne of product projected for 202310 (C$) Cash cost Assets depreciation Total cost expected for 202311 Non-controllable costs

(% of total costs) K Forte Bulk (Plant 1) 20.2 3.8 24.0 61% K Forte Bulk (Plant 2) 10.2 2.8 13.0 58% K Forte Big Bag (Plant 1) 30.4 2.8 33.2 71% BAKS (2%S 0.2%B)12 Bulk (Plant 1) 42.1 3.8 45.9 81% BAKS (2%S 0.2%B) Big Bag (Plant 1) 51.3 3.8 55.0 85%

Verde calculates its total production costs as a weighted average of the production costs for BAKS and K Forte, taking into account the production site and packaging type for each product. Therefore, comparing the Company's production costs on a quarter-over-quarter basis may not be meaningful due to the varying proportions of the cost factors that impact each quarter.

Production costs increased by 2% in Q1 2023, to $2,710,000 compared to $2,654,000 in Q1 2022. Average cost per tonne increased by 6% in Q1 2023, to $25 compared to $24 in Q1 2022.

Despite a 4% decrease in sales volume, from 112,000 tonnes in Q1 2022 to 108,000 tonnes in Q1 2023, Verde was able to reduce the average production cost in Brazilian Reais. In Q1 2023, the average production cost was R$96.47, compared to R$98.03 in Q1 2022. This cost reduction can be attributed primarily to a shift in the sales mix of packaging types, with a decrease in the percentage of Big Bag sales from 39% in Q1 2022 to 24% in Q1 2023.



Sales Expenses

CAD $000 Q1 2023 Q1 2022 Sales and marketing expenses (1,070 ) (822 ) Fees paid to independent sales agents (137 ) (136 ) Product delivery freight expenses (3,867 ) (2,973 ) Total (5,074 ) (3,931 )

Sales and marketing expenses



Sales and marketing expenses include employees salaries, car rentals, travel within Brazil, hotel expenses, and the promotion of the Product in marketing events.



This increase can be primarily attributed to the implementation of a field sales team, which resulted in expenses related to car rentals and travel. Additionally, the Company made additional investments in media and third-party marketing agencies as part of a strategic initiative to attract new customers.



Fees paid to independent sales agents

As part of Verde's marketing and sales strategy, the Company pays out commissions to its independent sales agents.

Fees paid to independent sales agents increased by 1% in Q1 2023, to $137,000 compared to $136,000 in Q1 2022, in line with Q1 2023 sales.



Product delivery freight expenses

Product delivery freight expenses increased by 30% in Q1 2023, to $3,867,000 compared to $2,973,000 in Q1 2022, as the Company has significantly increased the volume sold as CIF (Cost Insurance and Freight), up from 60% of total sales in Q1 2022 to 68% in Q1 2023.



Sales made to states that are situated at a greater distance from Verdes production facilities had a notable effect on the logistics costs. In Q1 2023, the average freight cost per tonne of Product sold on a CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) basis increased from $44 to $53, compared to the previous year. This increase was driven by a higher percentage of sales being made to the northern region of Mato Grosso state, which is located farther away from Verdes production facilities. As a result, the weighted average distance of Product delivered increased by 12% in Q1 2023 compared to Q1 2022, with a $600,000 impact in the quarter.

General and Administrative Expenses

CAD $000 Q1 2023 Q1 2022 General administrative expenses (920 ) (410 ) Legal, professional, consultancy and audit costs (317 ) (411 ) IT/Software expenses (112 ) (204 ) Taxes and licenses fees (23 ) (16 ) Total (1,372 ) (1041 )

General administrative expenses

These costs include general office expenses, rent, bank fees, insurance, foreign exchange variances and remuneration of executive and administrative staff in Brazil.

General administrative expenses increased by 125% in Q1 2023, to $920,000 compared to $410,000 in Q1 2022.

Prior to Q4 2022, administrative employees working at the offices situated within Verde's production facilities were accounted for as part of the personnel production costs. However, in Q1 2022, an adjustment was implemented to ensure alignment with accounting standards. This adjustment involved shifting the cost centre for expenses associated with 33 employees who met that criterion. As a result, a total of $222,000 was reallocated from production costs to general administrative expenses in the quarter.

Furthermore, additional rental expenses were incurred in Plant 2, which involved the rental of water trucks and metallic structures to support operations.

Additionally, the Company made the decision to outsource cleaning and maintenance services for Plant 1, Plant 2, and Verde's administrative office in Sao Gotardo. Previously, these services were handled by employees of the Company.

Legal, professional, consultancy and audit costs

Legal and professional fees include legal, professional, consultancy fees along with accountancy, audit and regulatory costs. Consultancy fees are consultants employed in Brazil, such as accounting services, patent process, lawyers fees and regulatory consultants.

Expenses decreased by 23% in Q1 2023, to $317,000 compared to $411,000 in Q1 2022. The decrease was mainly due to 2022 costs relating to the re-domiciliation of the Company to Singapore.

IT/Software expenses

IT/Software expenses include software licenses such as Microsoft Office, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software and enterprise resource planning (ERP).

Expenses decreased by 45% in Q1 2023, to $112,000 compared to $204,000 in Q1 2022. Q1 2022 was higher as the Company was implementing the change in its accounts from ERP to SAP Business One. This has now been concluded.

Taxes and licences

Taxes and licence expenses include general taxes, product branding and licence costs.

Expenses increased in Q1 2023, to $23,000 compared to $16,000 in Q1 2022 and increase of $7,000.

Share Based, Equity and Bonus Payments (Non-Cash Events)

These costs represent the expense associated with stock options granted to employees and directors along with equity compensation and non-cash bonuses paid to key management.

Share Based, equity and bonus payments costs decreased by 56% in Q1 2023, to $28,000 compared to $64,000 in Q1 2022. The decrease is a result of a reduction on share based payments in the quarter.

Liquidity and Cash Flows

For additional details see the consolidated statements of cash flows for the quarters ended March 31, 2023 and March 31, 2022 in the quarterly financial statements.

Cash received from / (used for):

CAD $000 3 months ended

Mar 31, 2023 3 months ended

Mar 31, 2022 Operating activities (450 ) 3,284 Investing activities (1,889 ) (3,382 ) Financing activities 5,336 2,805

On March 31, 2023, the Company held cash of $4,289,000, a decrease of $4,684,000 on the same period in 2022.



Trade and other receivables increased by 70% in Q1 2023, to $29,996,000 compared to $17,618,000 in Q1 2022. Trade and other payables decreased by 6% in Q1 2023 to $9,494,000 compared to $10,071,000 in Q1 2022.

Q1 2023 Results Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at 10:00 am Eastern Time, to discuss Q1 2023 results and provide an update. Subscribe using the link below and receive the conference details by email.

Date: Wednesday, May 24, 2023 Time: 10:00 am Eastern Time Subscription link: https://bit.ly/Q1_2023_ResultsPresentation

The questions can be submitted in advance through the following link up to 48 hours before the conference call: https://bit.ly/Q1_2023_ResultsPresentation_Questions .

The Companys first quarter financial statements and related notes for the period ended March 31, 2023 are available to the public on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and the Companys website at www.investor.verde.ag/ .

About Verde AgriTech

Verde is an agricultural technology Company that produces potash fertilizers. Our purpose is to improve the health of all people and the planet. Rooting our solutions in nature, we make agriculture healthier, more productive, and profitable.

Verde is a fully integrated Company: it mines and processes its main feedstock from its 100% owned mineral properties, then sells and distributes the Product.

Verdes focus on research and development has resulted in one patent and eight patents pending. Among its proprietary technologies are Cambridge Tech, 3D Alliance, MicroS Technology, N Keeper, and Bio Revolution.13 Currently, the Company is fully licensed to produce up to 2.8 million tonnes per year of its multinutrient potassium fertilizers K Forte and BAKS, sold internationally as Super Greensand. In 2022, it became Brazil's largest potash producer by capacity.14 Verde has a combined measured and indicated mineral resource of 1.47 billion tonnes at 9.28% K 2 O and an inferred mineral resource of 1.85 billion tonnes at 8.60% K 2 O (using a 7.5% K 2 O cut-off grade).15 This amounts to 295.70 million tonnes of potash in K 2 O. For context, in 2021 Brazils total consumption of potash in K 2 O was 6.57 million16.

Brazil ranks second in global potash demand and is its single largest importer, currently depending on external sources for over 97% of its potash needs. In 2022, potash accounted for approximately 3% of all Brazilian imports by dollar value.17

Corporate Presentation

For further information on the Company, please view shareholders deck:

https://verde.docsend.com/view/hx6998vbxy6vy49x

Investors Newsletter

Subscribe to receive the Companys updates at:

http://cloud.marketing.verde.ag/InvestorsSubscription

The last edition of the newsletter can be accessed at: https://bit.ly/InvestorsNL-April2023

Cautionary Language and Forward-Looking Statements

All Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resources estimates reported by the Company were estimated in accordance with the Canadian National Instrument 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum Definition Standards (May 10, 2014). These standards differ significantly from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Mineral Resources which are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.

This document contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements" are made as of the date of this document. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect current estimates, predictions, expectations or beliefs regarding future events and include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to:

(i) the estimated amount and grade of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves;

(ii) the PFS representing a viable development option for the Project;

(iii) estimates of the capital costs of constructing mine facilities and bringing a mine into production, of sustaining capital and the duration of financing payback periods;

(iv) the estimated amount of future production, both produced and sold;

(v) timing of disclosure for the PFS and recommendations from the Special Committee;

(vi) the Companys competitive position in Brazil and demand for potash; and,

(vii) estimates of operating costs and total costs, net cash flow, net present value and economic returns from an operating mine.

Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects", "anticipates", "plans", "projects", "estimates", "envisages", "assumes", "intends", "strategy", "goals", "objectives" 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) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements.

All forward-looking statements are based on Verde's or its consultants' current beliefs as well as various assumptions made by them and information currently available to them. The most significant assumptions are set forth above, but generally these assumptions include, but are not limited to:

(i) the presence of and continuity of resources and reserves at the Project at estimated grades;

(ii) the geotechnical and metallurgical characteristics of rock conforming to sampled results; including the quantities of water and the quality of the water that must be diverted or treated during mining operations;

(iii) the capacities and durability of various machinery and equipment;

(iv) the availability of personnel, machinery and equipment at estimated prices and within the estimated delivery times;

(v) currency exchange rates;

(vi) Super Greensand and K Forte sales prices, market size and exchange rate assumed;

(vii) appropriate discount rates applied to the cash flows in the economic analysis;

(viii) tax rates and royalty rates applicable to the proposed mining operation;

(ix) the availability of acceptable financing under assumed structure and costs;

(x) anticipated mining losses and dilution;

(xi) reasonable contingency requirements;

(xii) success in realizing proposed operations;

(xiii) receipt of permits and other regulatory approvals on acceptable terms; and

(xiv) the fulfilment of environmental assessment commitments and arrangements with local communities.

Although management considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. Many forward-looking statements are made assuming the correctness of other forward looking statements, such as statements of net present value and internal rates of return, which are based on most of the other forward-looking statements and assumptions herein. The cost information is also prepared using current values, but the time for incurring the costs will be in the future and it is assumed costs will remain stable over the relevant period.

By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved or that assumptions do not reflect future experience. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as a number of important factors could cause the actual outcomes to differ materially from the beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations, anticipations, estimates assumptions and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. These risk factors may be generally stated as the risk that the assumptions and estimates expressed above do not occur as forecast, but specifically include, without limitation: risks relating to variations in the mineral content within the material identified as Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves from that predicted; variations in rates of recovery and extraction; the geotechnical characteristics of the rock mined or through which infrastructure is built differing from that predicted, the quantity of water that will need to be diverted or treated during mining operations being different from what is expected to be encountered during mining operations or post closure, or the rate of flow of the water being different; developments in world metals markets; risks relating to fluctuations in the Brazilian Real relative to the Canadian dollar; increases in the estimated capital and operating costs or unanticipated costs; difficulties attracting the necessary work force; increases in financing costs or adverse changes to the terms of available financing, if any; tax rates or royalties being greater than assumed; changes in development or mining plans due to changes in logistical, technical or other factors; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; risks relating to receipt of regulatory approvals; delays in stakeholder negotiations; changes in regulations applying to the development, operation, and closure of mining operations from what currently exists; the effects of competition in the markets in which Verde operates; operational and infrastructure risks and the additional risks described in Verde's Annual Information Form filed with SEDAR in Canada (available at www.sedar.com) for the year ended December 31, 2021. Verde cautions that the foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive.

When relying on our forward-looking statements to make decisions with respect to Verde, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Verde does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by Verde or on our behalf, except as required by law.

For additional information please contact:

Cristiano Veloso, Founder, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

Tel: +55 (31) 3245 0205; Email: investor@verde.ag

www.investor.verde.ag | www.supergreensand.com | www.verde.ag

1 Verdes Product is a salinity and chloride-free replacement for KCl fertilizers. Potassium chloride is composed of approximately 46% of chloride, which can have biocidal effects when excessively applied to soils. According to Heide Hermary (Effects of some synthetic fertilizers on the soil ecosystem, 2007), applying 1 pound of potassium chloride to the soil is equivalent to applying 1 gallon of Clorox bleach, with regard to killing soil microorganisms. Soil microorganisms play a crucial role in agriculture by capturing and storing carbon in the soil, making a significant contribution to the global fight against climate change.



2 1 tonne of Product (10% K2O) has 0.1 tonnes of K2O, which is equivalent to 0.17 tonnes of potassium chloride (60% K2O), containing 0.08 tonnes of chloride.

3 Soybeans (Paranagua) price went from US$40.36 in April 2022 to US$26.93 in April 2023, and from US$34.21 in February 2023 to US$26.93 in April 2023. Source: Economic Research Center of the ESALQ/University of Sao Paulo. Available at: https://www.cepea.esalq.usp.br/br/indicador/soja.aspx

4 Potassium Chloride CFR Brazil price went from US$1200 in April 2022 to US$400 in April 2023, and from US$515 in February 2023 to US$400 in April 2023. Source: Acerto Limited Report.

5 Source: Acerto Limited Report.

6 Source: Brazilian Fertilizer Mixers Association (from "Associacao Misturadores de Adubo do Brasil", in Portuguese).

7 Potassium Chloride CFR Brazil price went from US$1200 in April 2022 to US$400 in April 2023, and from US$515 in February 2023 to US$400 in April 2023. Source: Acerto Limited Report.

8 Soybeans (Paranagua) price went from US$40.36 in April 2022 to US$26.93 in April 2023, and from US$34.21 in February 2023 to US$26.93 in April 2023. Source: Economic Research Center of the ESALQ/University of Sao Paulo. Available at: https://www.cepea.esalq.usp.br/br/indicador/soja.aspx

9 Source: Acerto Limited Report.

10 The costs were estimated based on the following assumptions: Costs in line with Verdes 2023 budget. Sales volume of 1.0Mt per year. Crude Oil WTI (NYM U$/bbl) = US$80.00. Diesel price = U$$1.26. Currency exchange rate: US$1.00 = R$5.25; C$1.00 = R$4.20. Total cost per tonne includes all costs directly related to production and feedstock extraction in addition to assets depreciation.

11 Total cost per tonne includes labor mining, mining, crushing, processing, maintenance of support facilities, product transportation from mine pits to production plants, laboratory expenses, G&A, and environmental compensation expenses.

12 BAKS can be customized according to the crops needs, so it can have several compositions. The 2%S 0.2%B composition is responsible for most of Verdes sales.

13 Learn more about our technologies: https://verde.docsend.com/view/yvthnpuv8jx6g4r9

14 See the release at: https://investor.verde.ag/verde-starts-ramp-up-of-plant-2s-second-stage-to-reach-production-of-2-4mtpy/

15 As per the National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects within Canada (NI 43 -101), filed on SEDAR in 2017. See the Pre-Feasibility Study at: https://investor.verde.ag/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/NI-43-101-Pre-Feasibility-Technical-Report-Cerrado-Verde-Project.pdf

16 Source: Brazilian Fertilizer Mixers Association (from "Associacao Misturadores de Adubo do Brasil", in Portuguese).

17 Source: Brazilian Comex Stat, available at: http://comexstat.mdic.gov.br/en/geral




VERSES AI Inc.

VERSES advances commercial readiness by demonstrating autonomous drone deliveries and site monitoring missions at the San Raffaele Hospital for FF2020

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VERSES AI Inc. (CBOE:VERS) (OTCQX:VRSSF) ("VERSES'' or the "Company), a cognitive computing company specializing in the next generation of artificial intelligence, today announced the successful completion of its Urban Air Mobility (UAM) demonstrations in Milan, Italy.



As part of Flying Forward 2020 (FF2020), a European Commission-funded special research and innovation project developing Urban Air Mobility infrastructure, and in collaboration with the Center for Advanced Technologies in Health and Well-being of the San Raffaele Hospital (OSR) which is the technological research unit that coordinates the activities of the FF2020 living lab in Milan, VERSES successfully deployed multiple autonomous drones to deliver medicines in the campus and monitor their perimeter against intruders. Utilizing VERSES real time mobility portal, powered by the companys operating system for AI, KOSM, hospital staff were able to autonomously deliver medicines across campus, and monitor against trespassers on premises.

OSRs demonstrators aim to include an Urban Air Mobility (UAM) prototype in the hospital's critical infrastructure for delivery, security, and maintenance, providing video in support of surveillance and other services located at the hospital. During the demonstrations, the mandated security officers and maintenance appointees can request the drone service to monitor critical areas, while pharmacists can send airlifted medicines to patients in peripheral areas of the campus. These operations are in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and guard the privacy of users. As a result, the system will enable remote human configuration of the most effective system to improve 1) the efficiency and timeliness of health services, 2) expedite maintenance interventions, and 3) accelerate detection of physical intrusions, thus acting as a deterrent to malicious attacks.

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San Raffaele Hospital showcased how drone services can be safely integrated in a hospital environment to conduct autonomous operations for delivering valuable resources and maintaining physical safety on premises. The success of these demonstrations paves the way for implementing even more complex use cases, such as transporting biomedical material among a multitude of clinics, laboratories, and facilities at the country level.

This was an exciting project for VERSES, and we appreciate the collaboration with OSR on deploying autonomous drone management for the hospital, said Gabriel Rene, Founder and CEO of VERSES. This marks the 3rd of five major demonstrations across European cities before the commercialization phase which aims to fulfill the long term vision of the European Commission to enable a 21st Century Urban Air Mobility infrastructure across all of Europe. These autonomous drone activities demonstrate the unique capabilities of KOSM as the basis for this infrastructure.

VERSES will continue working with autonomous drone flights operating Beyond the Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) through Flying Forward 2020, a collaborative research project comprised of 12 global multidisciplinary partners focused on developing a new Urban Air Mobility ecosystem within the geospatial data infrastructure of cities throughout the European Union. . The 4th and 5th demonstrations in Oulu (Finland) and Tartu (Estonia) are anticipated to take place in Q3 2023.

About VERSES

VERSES is a cognitive computing company specializing in next-generation Artificial Intelligence. Modeled after natural systems and the design principles of the human brain and the human experience, VERSES flagship offering, GIA , is an Intelligent Assistant for everyone powered by KOSM , a network operating system enabling distributed intelligence. Built on open standards, KOSM transforms disparate data into knowledge models that foster trustworthy collaboration between humans, machines, and AI, across digital and physical domains. Imagine a smarter world that elevates human potential through innovations inspired by nature. Learn more at VERSES , LinkedIn , and Twitter .

About Flying Forward 2020

Flying Forward 2020 (FF2020) is a three-year research and innovation project funded by the European Union, under grant agreement number 101006828. The project focuses on creating a state of the art Urban Air Mobility (UAM) ecosystem for autonomous drone missions. It includes a governance model and framework, a regulatory framework, a geospatial digital infrastructure, a Digital Toolbox, an Identity of Things (IDoT) scheme, and several interoperability frameworks. The solutions developed during the project will be tested in five living labs across Europe: Eindhoven, Milan, Zaragoza, Tartu and Oulu. For more information, visit www.ff2020.eu .

On Behalf of the Company

Gabriel Rene

VERSES Technologies Inc.

Co-Founder & CEO

press@verses.io



Media and Investor Relations Inquiries

Leo Karabelas

Focus Communications

President

info@fcir.ca

416-543-3120

Cboe Canada has not reviewed or approved this press release for the adequacy or accuracy of its contents.



Forward-Looking Statements Cautionary Note

This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as intends or anticipates, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, should, would or occur. This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements regarding discussions of future plans, estimates and forecasts and statements as to management's expectations and intentions with respect to, among other things, the Company's ongoing work with autonomous drone flights operating BVLOS through Flying Forward 2020. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that the Company will continue working with autonomous drone flights operating BVLOS through Flying Forward 2020, and that the Companys operations will not be adversely impacted by COVID-19 or the ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe. These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, risks relating to the Company ceasing its work with autonomous drone flights operating BVLOS through Flying Forward 2020 at any time, adverse changes in funding of Flying Forward 2020 or legislation relating to the autonomous drone flights operating BVLOS, the volatility of global capital markets, political instability, the lack of access to capital or financing when required, the loss of key personnel, the Company could face technology or software disruptions, unanticipated costs, risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic, risks relating to the extent and duration of the conflict in Eastern Europe and its impact on global markets and other risk factors disclosed in the Companys disclosure record on www.sedar.com under the Companys profile. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.








New Vodafone boss takes aim at costs with 11,000 global job cuts A woman holds a phone as she passes a Vodafone store in London

By Paul Sandle and Sarah Young

LONDON (Reuters) -New Vodafone boss Margherita Della Valle said she would cut 11,000 jobs globally over three years to help the telecoms group regain its competitive edge after it warned that a poor performance in its biggest market Germany would hit cash flow.

Shares in Vodafone, which has underperformed rivals in its major European markets, fell to their lowest level since 2002, and were trading down 9% by mid-afternoon.

The job cuts are the biggest in the history of Vodafone, which employs 90,000 people directly across Europe and Africa.

Della Valle was tasked with turning Vodafone around when she permanently took on the top job from the role of CFO last month. Three major shareholders could all benefit from a break up of the group.

"To consistently deliver, Vodafone must change," she said. "My priorities are customers, simplicity and growth."

Della Valle targeted Vodafone's central operations when she took the helm at the start of the year, with 500 job cuts. In Germany 1,300 roles will be lost, the company said in March, while 1,000 are being shed in Italy.

The additional cuts announced on Tuesday will be spread across its European markets, as well as more reductions in the centre, she told reporters.

Germany, Vodafone's biggest market, was underperforming, Della Valle said, while "structural change", meaning a full or partial sale, was an option in Spain.

Tuesday's share price fall was probably due to its forecast of 3.3 billion euros ($3.6 billion) of cash flow this financial year, down from 4.8 billion euros in the year to end-March 2023, she said. Analysts had expected 3.6 billion euros.

The CEO put the lower forecast down to the timing of payments for cable TV in Germany due to a change in the law.

One large institutional investor said there remained material portfolio value within Vodafone which the results did not substantially change.

The dividend remained well covered, the investor told Reuters, but there was perhaps greater pressure to realise some of the potential steps to unlock the group's value.

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Vodafone's dividend was a matter for the board, Della Valle said, but pointed to a "significant" cut in debt and said the group was comfortable with its leverage. The yield exceeded 10% on Tuesday.

"The new CEO has decided to maintain its dividend (a missed opportunity in our view and a concern the company remains unwilling to take necessary bolder action)," analysts at JP Morgan Cazenove said.

LAGGING RIVALS

Vodafone reported a 1.3% decline in group core earnings to 14.7 billion euros for the year, missing its own guidance.

Della Valle said the European telecoms market had long delivered a poor return on the capital invested in networks, but Vodafone's relative performance had worsened over time.

Activist investors and rivals have also described the British group as unwieldy and slow to respond to market changes.

Emirati telecoms firm Etisalat has built up a 14.6% stake and French telecoms billionaire Xavier Niel, who competes with it in Italy, and Liberty Global, its partner in the Netherlands are also investors.

Analysts have said all three are positioned for any sale of Vodafone's operations.

Setting out her roadmap, Della Valle said she would maximise the potential of business customers, a long-standing Vodafone strength, while focusing on the basics, such as customer service, for consumers.

Della Valle's predecessor Nick Read, who stepped down in December amid investor frustration, had said consolidation was needed in major markets like Britain, where Vodafone has been in talks with rival Hutchison's Three UK for at least nine months.

Vodafone said on Tuesday there could be no certainty that any transaction would ultimately be agreed.

"It will take as long as it takes to get a good deal," Della Valle told reporters.

($1 = 0.9084 euros)

(Reporting by Paul Sandle; Additional reporting by Sarah Young; Editing by Kate Holton, Alexander Smith and Catherine Evans)
When the legendary investor Warren Buffett makes a move, Wall Street pays attention. Known as the Oracle of Omaha and the mastermind behind Berkshire Hathaway, Buffett has amassed a fortune of over $100 billion throughout his career. Buffetts preferred investing style has always been value investing, which entails identifying undervalued stocks with strong fundamentals.

So, its definitely worth nosing through Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway portfolio to see which stocks he recently bought. And when some of those stocks also get the endorsement of one of Wall Streets top banks, such as J.P. Morgan, it sends an even stronger signal these names could be ripe for the picking.

With this in mind, we opened up the TipRanks database to pull up the details on a pair of stocks that get a thumbs up from both of these investing institutions. Lets take a closer look.

Capital One Financial (COF)

First up on our list is Capital One Financial, a bank holding company based in Fairfax County, Virginia. Capital One is well-known as a credit card issuer  the companys Whats in your wallet? tagline is ubiquitous in TV commercials. Additionally, the company is involved in retail and commercial banking, savings accounts, and automotive loans.

Capital Ones banking operations offers retail clients the advantages of no-fee banking, and access to more than 70,000 ATMs. These advantages are backed up by the banks assets  Capital One had $349.8 billion in total deposits as of the March 31 of this year, part of its $471.7 billion in total assets held.

The company reported its 1Q23 results at the end of April. The top-line result of $8.9 billion was down 2% year-over-year and missed the forecast by $163.8 million. At the bottom line, the banks adjusted EPS of $2.31 was less than half of the year-ago figure of $5.62 and fell well short of the $3.93 forecast.

The picture isnt all gloomy, however. Capital One, at the beginning of May, declared its regular quarterly dividend, and kept the payment at 60 cents per common share. This marked the seventh straight quarter with the dividend at this level. The annualized rate, of $2.40, gives a yield of 2.6%, above the approximately 2% market average.

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Buffett must think the positives far outweigh the negatives here. In Q1, he bought 9,922,000 shares of COF, a stake which is currently worth $902.4 million.

Buffett is not the only bull here. Assessing the companys prospects, JPMorgan 5-star analyst Richard Shane believes that this is a stock to pick up and hold on to.

We reiterate OW and see potential near-term weakness as opportunity for investors with intermediate to long-term horizons COF has the potential to deliver the highest returns within the credit card group as solid fundamentals and adverse sentiment converge. The company has a CET1 ratio above its historical average, substantial loss reserves, and stable funding reflecting the companys leading depository franchise (branch and on-line), Shane opined.

These comments back up Shanes Overweight (i.e. Buy) rating, while his $102 price target implies a potential upside of 12% for the stock. (To watch Shanes track record, click here)

Overall, according to TipRanks, the stock has a Moderate Buy consensus rating, based on 13 recent analyst reviews that include 7 Buys, 4 Holds, and 2 Sells. The average price target, of $111.27, is more bullish than the JPM view, and suggests a 22% upside from the current trading price of $90.95. (See COF stock forecast)

HP, Inc. (HPQ)

Shifting our focus from banking to the tech industry, lets take a closer look at HP. As a prominent name in personal computing, HP has a rich history as a descendant of Hewlett-Packard. In 2015, it separated from its parent company and now operates independently, focusing on its PC and printer divisions. Today, HP offers an extensive range of products, including PCs, laptops, printers, ink cartridges, monitors, and accessories. They have expanded their offerings to include audio-visual devices, gaming peripherals, and even high-quality printer paper.

The turn toward remote work and home office upgrades during the pandemic lockdown period proved to be a net benefit for HP, and the company saw improved sales during that time. In recent quarters, however, revenues have begun to tail off. The company is seeing a slump in demand for new PCs, partly because potential customers  both commercial and retail  made recent upgrades during the pandemic, but also because, in an increasingly uncertain economic environment, customers are starting to hold back on large purchases.

This was particularly visible in fiscal 1Q23, when HP reported a top line revenue total of $13.83 billion, a total that missed the analyst estimates by $345.6 million, and was down almost 19% year-over-year. The companys non-GAAP earnings per share was reported as 75 cents, in-line with expectations.

While the fiscal first quarter showed weak results, HPs outlook, reflected in its full year guidance, remains upbeat. The company is predicting EPS for 2023 in the range between $3.20 and $3.60 per share; this gives a midpoint of $3.40, well above the $3.29 consensus estimate. In addition, the company expects to see the free cash flow for the 2023 to come in between $3 billion and $3.5 billion. The midpoint of this range, $3.25 million, exceeds the $3.09 billion estimate by $160 million.

HPs outlook is not the only bright spot. The company has been gradually raising the dividend since the end of 2015, and the most recent declaration, of a 26.25 cent common share dividend, is to be paid on July 5. At the annualized rate of $1.05 per common share, the dividend is currently yielding 3.63%.

Buffett evidently likes the investment opportunity here. The famed investor increased his existing holding in HPQ by 16,476,783 shares in 1Q23. This marked a 16% increase in his stake, which now comprises more than 120.9 million shares of HPQ, currently valued at nearly $3.59 billion.

As for JPMorgan, the firm has taken a bullish stance on HP, banking on a recovery in consumer strength and PC demand. Analyst Samik Chatterjee lays out the JPM position: Led by our Global PC model which embeds a 21% increase in volumes for the PC end-market between 1H23 and 2H23, we are raising our PS segment forecasts for HPQ led by a favorable position in the Consumer segment, which is expected to be the primary driver of the recovery. In addition, with gross margins stabilizing following the digestion of inventory in the channel, we expect operating margin upside to stem from revenue leverage off a lean cost structure.

In Chatterjees view, this supports both an Overweight (i.e. Buy) rating, and a $35 price target which indicates potential for 18% share appreciation. (To watch Chatterjees track record, click here)

While Buffett and JPMorgan are ready to commit to HPQ, Wall Street generally is not so sure. The stocks 8 recent analyst reviews break down to a single Buy, 5 Holds, and 2 Sells, for an analyst consensus of Hold. The stock is selling for $29.66 and the average price target, now at $29.38, suggests shares will remain range bound for the foreseeable future. (See HPQ stock forecast)

To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.
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).

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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.

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Wells Fargo has agreed to pay $1 billion to settle a class-action lawsuit from investors who claimed the bank hadn't been honest about its progress in cleaning up its practices following a scandal involving opening fake accounts.

If approved by the court, the settlement would mark one of the largest recoveries ever in a securities class-action suit, attorneys for the investors said. The settlement agreement, announced in federal court in New York on Monday, is the latest stemming from a 2016 sham-account scandal, which stemmed from the bank's leaders pressing workers to meet unrealistic goals. Some workers opened fake consumer accounts to meet their goals.

Wells Fargo shareholders later sued, alleging that the bank and its top executives made false and misleading statements to Congress and the public about its compliance with consent orders imposed by federal regulators. But the House Financial Services Committee released a report in March 2020 that concluded Wells Fargo wasn't in compliance with the consent orders  causing the bank's stock to plunge 34% within a little over a week.

"If approved, this settlement will help compensate hundreds of thousands of investors  state employees, nurses, teachers, police, firefighters and others  whose critical retirement savings were impacted by Wells Fargo's fraudulent business practices," said Steven J. Toll, managing partner at Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, a law firm that represented investors, said in a statement.

Wells Fargo didn't immediately return a request for comment about the settlement.
Reuters

A potential deal to lift the U.S. debt ceiling could spur money managers to pare holdings in the massive technology and growth stocks that have been havens this year and shift into the rest of the market, some investors believe. Strong balance sheets and predictable cash flows have made megacap stocks such as Google parent Alphabet, Microsoft Corp and Amazon.com attractive places to hide over the last few months as investors worried about everything from the debt ceiling to a U.S. banking mess. Should a deal on the debt ceiling be reached, "the pattern that we've seen over the last few months will reverse," said Michael O'Rourke, chief market strategist at Jones Trading, who is more bullish on equal-weighted S&P 500 exchange-traded funds than the market-cap weighted index.
Michael Gove

As he unleashed a blizzard of regulation on Britain's housebuilding industry, Michael Gove failed to consider the impact on the humble trout farmer.

But the Housing Secretary presides over a tangled mass of environmental rules that has turned this most unlikely of businesses into a must-have asset.

Developers have realised they can get around so-called nutrient neutrality restrictions, which ban them from increasing the amount of nitrates in the water supply, by buying up trout farms  and then closing them down.

It is just one example of the planning acrobatics that have become all too familiar to long-suffering building companies as they attempt to fight their way through reams of red tape.

As restrictions become ever more burdensome, the industry fears that the Government risks causing a collapse in building that will make the housing crisis even worse.

The Governments capitulation to the Nimby lobby and its mishandling of water and drainage legislation could see fewer homes built than ever before, says Stewart Baseley, executive chairman of the Home Builders Federation, a trade body.

The policy framework is now the most hostile for housebuilders in at least 15 years, he adds.

On the current policy trajectory, in a worst case scenario, net annual housing supply will fall from around 230,000 to 111,000, according to analysis by Lichfields consultants for the HBF.

This would be a record low and a loss of 122,000 homes a year  a drop of 53pc.

The Nimby lobby has certainty got the upper hand in government at the moment, says Simon Coop, who leads the housing development group at Lichfields.

Of the total projected lost homes, 41,000 a year will be lost to nutrient neutrality rules introduced by Natural England in 2019, which require any changes in the levels of nitrates in the local water supply as a result of development to be offset.

Plans spanning 120,000 homes in catchment areas in 74 local authorities are on hiatus as a result.

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One developer in the North of England calculates that for their development to get the green light, up to 3,500 acres of agricultural farmland will need to be removed to comply with the regulations.

Large housebuilders are going around the countryside buying up farms and closing them down, in order to reduce the nitrates leaking into rivers, so that they can demonstrate neutrality, says Baseley.

Acquiring trout farms, which are naturally close to waterways and therefore make big differences to the local nitrate levels, is the most efficient way to offset, he adds.

The Government has failed to act to stop the requirements from hitting housebuilding, says Baseley. It has also thrown planning targets into disarray.

According to Lichfields calculations, a further 77,000 homes will be lost per year owing to other changes to the planning system.

Goves relationship with Britains housebuilders has been subject to much more conflict than many other housing secretaries because he has been tasked with fixing the building safety crisis that has unfolded in the wake of the Grenfell fire in 2017.

Gove broke the deadlock over the issue by demanding that housebuilders commit to paying for repairs in affected blocks. He has described house builders as a cartel.

This combative stance has brought him results on building safety, but it looks like there is a downside.

At the end of last year, Gove conceded to a backbench rebellion against his Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill led by Theresa Villiers.

He agreed to make changes to the National Planning Policy Framework, which have dealt a further blow to house builders.

The Conservatives campaigned in 2019 on an election manifesto promise to build 300,000 homes a year. But Gove agreed to make local authority housing targets advisory rather than mandatory.

He also relaxed requirements for councils to demonstrate that they have identified developments that will deliver supply for their five-year plans.

At the same time that he is saying that we need to build more housing, his policies are having the opposite effect, says Coop.

This shift has not yet become official policy, but local authorities know that it is coming, and many have put plans on ice in response.

Effectively, if the methodology says a local authority needs to build 1,000 homes a year, they could say well we dont want to, thank you very much. And they will be perfectly entitled to do that, says Coop.

The changes come on top of a system that was already creaking. In theory, local authorities are required to make decisions on large planning applications within eight to 16 weeks. Now, builders are often waiting for six months or more, says Coop.

Gove is trying to crack down on local authorities that are slow to grant planning permission.

He has threatened to strip planning powers from nine councils and the Peak District National Park for their failures to speed up building. But it is an empty threat, says Coop.

There are a lot more than that which are failing to meet their statutory timelines. Can the government genuinely take over planning control, management control for all local authorities or you know, every local authority in the country, or even a fraction of that? The answer is no, he says.

The delays are hitting a market that is already grappling with high mortgage rates and a property downturn.

House builders have been cutting back following a slump in demand. Excluding the spring 2020 lockdown, construction in May hit its lowest level since April 2009, according to the S&P/CIPS purchasing managers index.

Tim Moore, economics director at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said: The clear message was that in the wake of higher mortgage rates and lower housing market confidence, volume house builders have been cutting back on new projects.

Back in 2009, the market was reeling from the financial crisis.

One of the things that brought housebuilding back to life was the introduction of the Help to Buy equity loan scheme in 2013.

Under the scheme, buyers could purchase new build properties with a 5pc deposit and a 20pc Government-backed equity loan (40pc in London). In its heyday, it supported around 50,000 new build sales a year.

This time around, as the housebuilding sector begins another downturn, Help to Buy has just been removed.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is reportedly planning to introduce a replacement scheme, but it would apparently apply to all properties rather than only new builds.

A Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities spokesman said: Our ambition of delivering 300,000 new homes a year remains and we are investing 11.5 billion to build more of the genuinely affordable homes the country needs.

Supporting aspiring homeowners is a Government priority. Since 2010, over 837,000 households have been helped to purchase a home through Government-backed schemes including Help to Buy and Right to Buy.

The Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill will reform the planning system to help bring certainty to communities and developers, enabling them to build houses more quickly and support economic growth.

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With greater transparency for investors at Ford (F) comes the need for a tighter grip on costs.

Local reports out of China on Monday suggested the auto manufacturer was preparing to cut 1,300 jobs in the country.

Ford CEO Jim Farley quickly dialed back concerns that the company was leaving the ultra-competitive China market entirely, speaking in a Financial Times interview. It operates eight manufacturing plants in partnership with local Chinese players.

A person familiar with the matter told Yahoo! Finance that Ford has no plans to exit China. The automaker will remain focused on its luxury brand Lincoln, which has long been "popular" in the country, the source said.

It will also put more attention on delivery vans in China, the person said.

Joy Falotico, Group Vice President, Lincoln Motor Company, and Chief Marketing Officer, and Jim Farley, President, Global Markets, Ford Motor Company, pose next to the 2019 Lincoln Aviator at the New York Auto Show. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Ford does not recognize the job-cut figure reported by media, a company spokesperson told Yahoo! Finance via email.

"We will continue to accelerate our electrification transformation in China. Our new localized EV products are under development now. We are also working with our partners to strengthen our EV business, including expanding the distribution. Our China team will contribute more to Fords global success through our learnings from the market and capabilities in electrification and digital software," the spokesperson said.

"In addition, we will build on the strength of our export business and have just reached an agreement with JMC to export more products to global markets, particularly in Asia, Middle East and South America."

But in the FT interview, Farley did acknowledge that Ford would be putting "less capital at risk" in China.

"We are aware that our costs are not competitive, and we are working internally and with our partners to reduce costs in all areas," the spokesperson said. "China remains a very important market for Ford and, as part of this, we must drive a lean and agile organization to build a healthier and more sustainable business in China."

Story continues

The comments echo Farley's more cautious tone on China, heard on the company's early May earnings call a few weeks after a recent leadership trip to the country.

Ford's increasingly focused approach to China makes sense.

For starters, it has seen its business dwindle in the country over the years.

The auto manufacturer sold 500,000 retail units in China in 2022, down from 600,000 in 2020, according to the company's latest annual report. Ford's market share during that timeframe fell to 2.1% from 2.4%.

By comparison, Ford had a 28.3% combined market share position in the US and Canada in 2022.

In the meantime, Ford is smack in the middle of what it has dubbed a "refounding" of the company as it gears up for a future of EVs. It has broken its business into three new segments for investors: Model E, Ford Blue (gas-powered vehicles), and Ford Pro (commercial vehicles and other services).

The reclassifications aim to drive increased transparency into Ford's business for investors. But it could also lead to increased investor scrutiny of various investments and the direction of profits.

Pulling back on a China market that isn't delivering home-run results could aid in improving profits and shifting assets to EV production in the US.

"Our cost structure is not competitive," Ford CFO John Lawler said on Yahoo! Finance Live in late March. "We know that we [have] about $7 billion to $8 billion that we could take out and improve our competitiveness, and you will see that start to take hold as we get through the rest of the year, into 2024, and beyond."

Better cost management  especially in international operations like China  is key to the thesis among Ford bulls on Wall Street.

"We find Ford shares attractive given valuation only roughly in line with history despite a number of significant positives, including (1) a substantially refreshed vehicle lineup including hot new introductions such as the Mustang Mach-E battery electric crossover, new Ford Bronco (>190K reservations), Bronco Sport, and upcoming F-150); (2) a refreshed F-150 has historically led to a substantial improvement in North American profitability; (3) the 'Bold Moves' Ford is taking to right-size its international operations, including most recently in South America, we think will free up capital for use in initiatives investors are likely to reward more, such as its electrification and autonomous efforts; and (4) Ford has been having recent success turning around its International Operations, including in China, which was previously a problem area," JP Morgan analyst Ryan Brinkman wrote in a client note.

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

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Chinese President Xi Jinping rolled out the red carpet in Beijing on Monday for his Eritrean counterpart Isaias Afewerki, saying that China opposed sanctions imposed on the Horn of Africa nation.

Eritrea is heavily sanctioned by Western nations for alleged human rights abuses, but in a meeting with President Isaias, Xi said that China opposed external interference in Eritrea's internal affairs.

He added that Beijing would firmly support Eritrea to safeguard its own sovereignty, security and development interests.

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"China is willing to exchange experience with Eritrea on state governance, continue to support each other, jointly oppose unilateralism and bullying, and safeguard the common interests of the two countries," state-run Xinhua News Agency quoted Xi as saying.

Isaias and Xi at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Photo: Xinhua alt=Isaias and Xi at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Photo: Xinhua>

Eritrea, which won independence from its East African neighbour Ethiopia in 1993, is located at a strategic hot point along the Red Sea, one of the world's critical shipping corridors.

It also shares a border with Djibouti, where China set up its first overseas naval base in 2017.

Xi said that Beijing encouraged and supported Chinese-funded enterprises that invest in Eritrea and wanted to strengthen cooperation with Asmara in infrastructure construction, telecommunications, agriculture, mining, fishery and other fields.

Xi added that China would continue such initiatives as sending medical teams and agricultural experts to Eritrea.

Xi thanked Eritrea for providing support and assistance for the recent evacuation and transfer of Chinese citizens from Sudan, which is beset by warring military factions.

Story continues

The help, Xi said, "once again demonstrates the profound friendship between China and Eritrea who share weal and woe and help each other".

Isaias, who was elected Eritrea's president in 1993 in the first weeks of independence, cancelled subsequent elections and has remained in office ever since.

He spoke of his fondness for his special relationship with China, which stretches back more than half a century. He said Eritrea would never forget China's support for its liberation and independence.

On May 24, the two countries will celebrate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Isaias said that Eritrea hopes to strengthen its ties to China, and believes that their bilateral partnership would help Eritrea with its economic and social development.

Because of Eritrea's positioning on the Horn of Africa, which provides trade access to the Suez Canal and Europe to the north and the Indian Ocean to the east, analysts say that China is likely to use the country to expand its Maritime Silk Road, part of Xi's signature Belt and Road Initiative.

In November 2021, Asmara joined the BRI, China's multibillion-dollar programme that has helped build ports, highways, power dams, railways and roads across Africa.

David Shinn, a professor at George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs, said that because of Asmara's authoritarian government, human rights abuses and support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Eritrea has strained relations with Western countries and looks increasingly to countries like Russia and China for support.

And China regards Eritrea as "an important ally along a waterway that transports many of China's imports and exports", Shinn said.

Asmara supported Addis Ababa during its civil war in the Tigray region last year, Shinn noted, and the easing of tensions between the two nations made it easier for China to strengthen relations with Isaias while not offending Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

Shinn also pointed out that Isaias' history with China dated back to 1966 and 1967 when he received political training there.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki attend a welcoming ceremony outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Photo: EPA-EFE alt=Chinese President Xi Jinping and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki attend a welcoming ceremony outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Photo: EPA-EFE>

"He admires aspects of China's political system and still uses Chinese doctors for his personal medical care. It is possible he will receive routine medical attention on the occasion of this visit," Shinn said.

By enhancing its partnership with Asmara, Beijing increases its influence in the region in times of intensifying geopolitical competition

China is engaged in gold and polymetallic mining in Eritrea and has plans for developing a large potash mine, which might have been on the agenda for discussion during the visit, Shinn added.

Tim Zajontz, research fellow in the Centre for International and Comparative Politics at Stellenbosch, South Africa, focused on Eritrea's almost 1,200 kilometres (745 miles) of coastline along the Red Sea.

"More than 10 per cent of global trade sails through the Red Sea every year. Beijing is therefore keen to further expand the Chinese presence in Eritrea's two main ports of Massawa and Assab to have alternative seaports that serve Chinese trade with the Horn of Africa," Zajontz said.

"By enhancing its partnership with Asmara, Beijing increases its influence in the region in times of intensifying geopolitical competition between China and the West," Zajontz said.

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright  2023 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright (c) 2023. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
(Bloomberg) -- Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned that time is running out to avert an economic catastrophe from failing to raise the debt ceiling, speaking before Tuesdays meeting between President Joe Biden and congressional leaders on the standoff.

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On Tuesday morning, Speaker Kevin McCarthy said there had been no progress in talks overnight ahead of the 3 p.m. gathering. On Monday he warned, We only have so many days left to deal with this.

The two sides showed little signs of agreeing on much else other than the countdown in the runup to the second White House encounter on the debt ceiling in two weeks. While senior staff have been negotiating for days, Republicans are still pressing for sweeping spending cuts, while Democrats are determined to protect the presidents legislative achievements.

We are already seeing the impacts of brinksmanship: investors have become more reluctant to hold government debt that matures in early June, Yellen said in remarks to a banking conference on Tuesday. The impasse has already increased the debt burden to American taxpayers.

The Treasury chief issued a fresh letter to congressional leaders Monday restating that the Treasury risks running out of sufficient cash for all federal obligations as soon as June 1. The livelihoods of millions of Americans hang in the balance, she said in excerpts of her speech to the Independent Community Bankers of America Capital Summit released by the Treasury.

Every single day that Congress does not act, we are experiencing increased economic costs that could slow down the US economy, Yellen said.

Story continues

Biden and McCarthy have been at an impasse since January over raising the governments $31.4 trillion borrowing limit. Economists have cautioned that US default risks triggering a market selloff, a surge in borrowing costs and a blow to the global economy that could rival the 2008 crash.

McCarthy emphasized that staff-level meetings are not productive at all and that negotiations were not in a good place.

Tuesdays gathering comes a day before Biden is expected to depart for Asia, in a trip intended to showcase US determination to address strategic competition with China. White House officials said Monday that the plans to attend the Group of Seven summit in Japan, with stops in Papua New Guinea and Australia, had not changed despite the ongoing debt talks.

Biden Trip

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.

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 were part of Bidens budget proposal earlier this year. 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.

Default Consequences

Last week, Representative Dusty Johnson of South Dakota, 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.

Yellen, in her Tuesday remarks, gave detailed warnings on failing to address the debt ceiling, including:

A default would crack open the foundations of the global financial system. It is very conceivable that wed see a number of financial markets break  with worldwide panic triggering margin calls, runs, and fire sales.

Recipients of Social Security and veteran benefits would see their checks stop, causing widespread suffering.

Essential operations like air traffic control, law enforcement, border patrols and national defense could be disrupted.

The Council of Economic Advisers estimates an economic downturn as severe as the Great Recession of 2007-09, with more than 8 million jobs lost and a 45% wallop to the value of the stock market.

She also addressed the recent banking turmoil in the US. Speaking after the failures of several regional banks in quick succession over the past two months, she reiterated that American deposits remain safe.

Recent banking troubles including the resolution of First Republic are not a sign of any shift in the fundamental health of the US banking system, Yellen said.

Americans should rest assured that their deposits are safe. Their deposits will be there when they need them.

--With assistance from Billy House and Christopher Condon.

(Updates with McCarthy in second paragraph)

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
YMCAs annual giving day is Tuesday

Rappahannock Area Family YMCAs throughout the Fredericksburg region have a goal of raising $150,000 on Tuesday, May 16, during the YMCA Annual Give Day.

Money raised will go to subsidize core programs, including teaching second-graders to swim; Bright Beginnings, which provides backpacks, clothes and other school supplies for students; and financial assistance for those who cant afford membership and for those will special needs.

Each year, the YMCA awards about $1 million to seniors, families and children to help them acquire memberships in one of the four YMCAs in the Fredericksburg area. The organization couldnt do it without the giving community, said Dale Sisson, chairman of the YMCA board.

The local YMCA will celebrate its 50th anniversary in October, said Devlin Reiley, public promotions director. After our very humble beginnings, which included operating out of an office in downtown Fredericksburg, the YMCA that began with founding members, Dr. Louis B. Massad, Don Newlin, Barbara Terry, Rev. Paige Young, and Judge Gerry Dalton, has grown to four full facilities and serving more than 30,000 members, Reiley said.

Northern Neck gets tourism grant

The Northern Neck Tourism Commission received $20,000 from the Virginia Tourism Corporations Regional Marketing Program, part of more than $3.2 million that went to 236 local and regional programs statewide.

The Northern Neck funds will be used for the marketing program, Visit the Northern Necks Waterfront Historic Sites. The commission partnered with Menokin, the home of Declaration of Independence Signer Francis Lightfoot Lee, and Riverview Inn, a boutique hotel in Colonial Beach.

Matching funds for the project come from participating counties, towns, restaurants, retail and lodging businesses and nonprofit museums, trails and historic sites that contribute to the commission.

Such partnerships are a robust part of Virginias economic ecosystem  that help Virginias vibrant communities grow and thrive, Gov. Glenn Youngkin said in announcing the awards.

More information is available at vatc.org/grants.

 Staff reports
Will offer continued care in Oakland for current MercyOne patients

Franciscan Healthcare announced Friday the acquisition of the MercyOne clinic in Oakland.

MercyOne Executive Director of Rural Hospital and Clinic Operations (Western Iowa) Muddasir Ghouse said, Due to the ongoing financial challenges facing health care, we needed to make operational changes. Unfortunately, this required difficult decisions for our organization.

MercyOne Oakland and Lyons Family Medicine patients will transition to Franciscan Healthcare. The MercyOne Lyons Family Medicine location will close as part of this transition. Patients can expect the same level of great health care from Franciscan Healthcare in the same building, with the same faces in Oakland, Ghouse continued,

Franciscan Healthcare Chief Executive Officer Tyler Toline said, Franciscan is dedicated to serving these communities. As we continue our Mission of service, we plan to update the current clinic in Oakland to serve both Oakland and Lyons, Toline said. The existing Oakland hospital building will be removed with plans to eventually add green space.

We are excited to expand our patient services in Oakland and look forward to continuing to promote the healing mission of Jesus Christ.

Located in West Point, Franciscan Healthcare is a nonprofit Catholic health care system which has clinics in West Point, Howells, Oakland, Scribner, and Wisner; a critical access hospital located in West Point, and rehabilitation facilities in West Point and Wisner.

Franciscan Healthcares origin began in 1905 when St. Josephs Home for the Aged opened at the present site of St. Josephs Retirement Community and was staffed by four Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity. The Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, continue to sponsor Franciscan Healthcare.
It started with a weird breakout on his face.

So Tommy Dennis, who was 22 years old at the time, had the bumps checked out by an Omaha dermatologist. The doctor told him that the breakout looked like the symptoms of a potential HIV infection. "Then he ordered a blood test. I came back a week later and found out that my test came back positive."

Dennis, who is now 35, was devastated.

In the United States, more than 30,600 people ages 13 and older were diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus, the virus that causes AIDS, in 2020. More than 1.2 million people are living with it.

In Nebraska, the number of new HIV diagnoses hit 107 in 2021, up from a yearly average of 81, state health officials said, noting that a drop in HIV testing during the COVID-19 pandemic is at least partly to blame for the increase. The spike occurred primarily among white men, mainly in the states rural areas.

However, since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, Black Americans have been disproportionately affected, and that disparity has deepened over time, as the Kaiser Family Foundation, a health policy group, notes.

Although they represent only 12% of the population, Black people account for a much larger share of HIV diagnoses (42%), people living with HIV (40%) and HIV-related deaths (43%) than any other racial or ethnic group in the U.S., according to 2020 figures reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The disparity persists in Nebraska, where Black people, who make up 5% of the population, accounted for 21% of new HIV diagnoses in 2021. That reality, according to advocates and health care providers, can make seeking care onerous for patients and complicate providers ability to deliver treatment that is much more effective and causes fewer side effects than earlier treatments.

Dennis, who is Black, went to work at the Nebraska AIDS Project in 2017. "I was charged with basically developing a program to do outreach toward Black same-gender-loving men and really try to promote (HIV) testing efforts in the community, which, you know, in large part has been successful ... But I think there is such a level of medical mistrust when it comes to testing  in minority communities especially."

Lack of access to health care also is an issue for minority populations, said Dr. Nada Fadul, a professor in the University of Nebraska Medical Center's Division of Infectious Diseases. Fadul is the medical director of the UNMC Specialty Care Center in Omaha, where 1,200 HIV patients  a little more than half of all HIV patients in Nebraska  are treated.

For some people, Fadul said, issues such as a lack of transportation, food insecurity and/or difficulty finding housing play a role in their not getting treatment. Distrust in the health care system also factors in.

Dennis still bristles at the way the first doctor told him he was HIV-positive.

"He didn't even bother closing the door," he recalled. "He stood in the doorway and basically said, 'Yep, your test results came back positive. I'll send the nurse in with a referral, and we're going to get you on your way.'"

Fadul said some medical providers still have unconscious bias against racial minorities and the LGBTQ+ community.

"Patients feel that," she said. "If I walk into a clinic and the doctor is looking at me (disapprovingly) or saying words that imply that I'm less of a person, I'm not going to come back. I'm not going to feel comfortable in this clinic."

Whether providers look like the people they serve also matters, Fadul said.

"If 30% of my patients are Black," Fadul said, "then I need to have representation of that population in my workforce. So when patients walk into the clinic, they can see that, 'Oh, there are people who look like me, talk like me, dress like me, so I can feel comfortable in this environment, I can feel safe.'"

If they can overcome the initial barriers, people with HIV can begin a fairly simple treatment regimen, albeit one they will have to continue indefinitely.

HIV medications today have fewer side effects than they used to, and they're easier to take.

In March 1987, AZT became the first drug to get FDA approval for the treatment of AIDS.

"It was something," Dr. Susan Swindells said, "but it was really a pretty awful drug. We gave people big doses of it, five times a day. I used to have to tell people, 'Set your alarm for 2 o'clock in the morning, wake yourself up and take this medicine. ... And it generally made people feel terrible. On average, they lived about a year longer than they would without it."

Swindells, a professor of medicine and longtime HIV researcher at UNMC, said treatment didn't improve until the mid-1990s, with the introduction of new medicines called protease inhibitors.

"That turned the corner," she said. "That made people better, and they stopped dying."

Today, people with HIV who stick with their treatment can get their viral levels down to basically zero and can't transmit HIV, a concept dubbed "U Equals U"  undetectable equals untransmittable.

"If your viral load is undetectable, meaning that you're taking medications, they're wiping out the viral load in your blood," Fadul said. "You're not going to transmit HIV sexually to your sexual partners. And this is a proven fact, you know, thousands and thousands of patients have been studied  using condoms, not using condoms ... There is no transmission."

And people today also have access to PrEP medicines  Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, which reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99%. Dennis, Fadul and Swindells all noted that PrEP can keep you from getting HIV, but it can't stop you from getting chlamydia or gonorrhea or herpes.

"We understand condoms aren't everybody's thing," Dennis said, "but we still encourage folks to use them. And if you're not going to use them then you should be getting tested (for HIV) often."

Testing is important  an estimated 13% of people in the U.S. with HIV don't know they have it, so if they're sexually active, they're spreading it to their partners.

The CDC recommends that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 be tested at least once, and people who are in certain high-risk categories should be tested at least once a year. (And it's not just gay or bisexual men  people who acquired HIV through heterosexual contact made up 22% of HIV diagnoses in the U.S. in 2020.)

For more information, contact the Nebraska AIDS Project at nap.org.

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SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  A South Korean court on Tuesday ordered the country's biggest adoption agency to pay 100 million won ($74,700) in damages to a 48-year-old man for mishandling his adoption as a child to the United States, where he faced legal troubles after surviving an abusive childhood before being deported in 2016.

However, the Seoul Central District Court dismissed Adam Crapsers accusations against the South Korean government, which he saw as responsible for creating an aggressive, profit-driven adoption industry that carelessly removed thousands of children from their families during a child export frenzy in the 1970s and '80s.

The civil case, tried for over four years, was the first in which a South Korean adoptee sued the countrys government and a domestic adoption agency over fraudulent paperwork and screening failures.

Holt Childrens Service, which handled Crapsers adoption to American parents in 1979, and South Koreas Justice Ministry, which represents the government in lawsuits, did not immediately comment.

In reading out the verdict, Judge Park Jun-min did not elaborate on why the court refused to hold the government accountable. Crapsers lawyers said they will review the full version of the ruling, which the court didnt immediately release, before deciding whether to appeal.

We want to express our very serious regret, said Kim Soo-jung, one of Crapsers lawyers.

The (government) knew that children procured for adoptions were not being (properly) protected, that their human rights were being violated  they should have done something about it, but they didn't.  It seems that the court simply saw the government as a monitoring institution, and not as an actor that directly committed illegal acts.

Crapser, who left South Korea last year and currently lives in Mexico, did not attend the ruling.

It remains to be seen whether Crapsers case inspires more lawsuits by adoptees, who are becoming more vocal with their criticism of past South Korean corruption in adoption practices, which caused a huge but unknown number of wrongful family separations and stymied thousands from reconnecting with their roots.

Tuesdays verdict came months after hundreds of Korean adoptees from Europe and North America asked South Koreas Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate their adoption circumstances. They say their status and identities were laundered to facilitate marred adoptions.

The commission has opened investigations of dozens of those applications and may take more cases in the coming months, as it proceeds with the most far-reaching inquiry into South Koreas foreign adoptions yet.

The commissions potential findings could allow more adoptees to launch legal actions against agencies or the government, which would otherwise be difficult because South Korean civil courts put the burden of proof entirely on plaintiffs, who often lack information and resources.

Crapser, who was named Shin Seong-hyeok by his South Korean mother, had sought 200,000 won ($149,000) in damages from South Koreas government and Holt. His lawsuit, filed in 2019, accuses the defendants of manipulating his paperwork, employing poor background checks that failed to weed out his abusive adopters, and not following up on whether he obtained U.S. citizenship.

While describing Crapsers plight as unfortunate, the government and Holt denied any legal wrongdoing, saying his adoption went according to procedure and it was the responsibility of his American adopters - not theirs - to ensure that he obtained U.S. citizenship.

Crapsers lawyers have claimed that his case exposes how South Korea failed to protect its most vulnerable citizens from an adoption industry that sent thousands of children abroad every year to meet Western demands during its heyday, and how often those adoptions amounted to child selling.

Crapser revealed his plans for his lawsuit during an interview with The Associated Press in 2019, in which he described being abused and abandoned by two different sets of U.S. parents and then being deported after run-ins with the law because none of his guardians filed citizenship papers for him.

Forcibly separated from his then-wife and children and friends in America, Crapser said he struggled with intense anxiety and depression in South Korea, where he found himself isolated by language and culture four decades after being sent to his initial adopters in Michigan at age 3.

Crapser said he definitely didnt win the lottery when it came to his two American families. Flown out of South Korea, he and his sister were first sent to what he described as an abusive couple in 1979. Seven years later the couple abandoned the siblings, who were then separated by the foster care system.

Crapser was housed in several foster and group homes before ending up with Thomas and Dolly Crapser when he was around 12. He said the Oregon couple would sometimes slam their childrens heads against walls, strike them with kitchen utensils and burn them with heated objects.

In 1991, the couple was arrested on charges of physical child abuse, sexual abuse and rape. They were reportedly convicted in 1992 on multiple counts of criminal mistreatment and assault. Kicked out of his parents house after an argument, Crapser pleaded guilty to burglary after he said he later broke into their home to retrieve a Korean-language Bible and a stuffed dog that came with him from a Korean orphanage. He was later convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm and assault.

Crapser thought he had turned a corner, opening a barber shop and an upholstery business and starting a family, before being served his deportation paperwork in 2015 after a green card application triggered a background check.

About 200,000 South Koreans were adopted overseas during the past six decades, the majority to white families in the West, representing whats now the worlds largest diaspora of adoptees. More than 4,000 Korean children were sent abroad in 1979, the year Crapser arrived in the United States.

South Koreas foreign adoption boom from the late 1970s to the 1980s was driven by Seouls then-military dictatorships, which were focused on economic growth and reducing the number of mouths to feed.

Adoption agencies, governed by board members close to the military leaders, were notorious for aggressive child-gathering activities and falsified paperwork that manipulated children's origins as they raced to send more adoptees abroad.

It wasnt until 2013 that South Korea required foreign adoptions of children to be vetted at family courts, ending a decades-long practice of allowing the private agencies to dictate the cross-border transfers of custodies.

Crapser was among thousands of South Korean adoptees who were described in their paperwork as abandoned orphans, despite their having known Korean relatives who could be easily identified and found, which made them easily adoptable under U.S. laws.

Crapsers birth mother, Kwon Pil-ju, told the AP that she was single, disabled and desperately poor, and that she finally decided to give Crapser and his sister away because of fears that theyd starve.

Crapsers lawsuit cited the government as responsible for allowing adoptions to be controlled by profit-driven agencies that ran on fees collected from foreign parents, and also for allowing foreigners to adopt children without actually coming to South Korea, which he blames for screening failures that matched him with abusive parents.

His case also highlights the shaky legal status of many South Korean adoptees in the United States whose parents may have failed to get them citizenship, potentially leaving them vulnerable to deportation if they acquire a criminal record.
Former Fremont police officer Tatum Dobson has submitted paperwork to the State of Nebraska seeking to voluntarily surrender her law enforcement license for life.

The application by Dobson follows an investigation into unknown allegations while she was a police officer in Ashland. Dobson resigned from the Ashland Police Department on April 30, 2023.

Messages seeking information about Dobsons resignation and investigation left for Ashland Police Chief Ryan C. Brady were not returned as of press time.

Dobsons request to surrender her law enforcement certification forever is scheduled to be heard and possibly voted on by the state Crime Commission on Friday, May 19, during a meeting of the Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, a committee which has authority over law enforcement certifications and discipline.

Brenda Urbanek, the executive director of the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center, said an official Decertification Attestation for Dobson would not be completed and finalized until the entire process occurs, which could take several months.

The Decertification Attestation is a document completed to memorialize the revocation process and decertification. It is created after the (Crime) Commission votes to revoke the officers certificate. So, at this time, there is no document to release, Urbanek explained in an email. The item is on the agenda for the PSAC meeting this month and, if PSAC votes to accept the surrender, it will be considered by the Commission at its meeting this month as well.

Usually, it takes about 2 weeks to get the Decertification Attestation prepared, signed by the relevant entities, and posted to our website, she added.

It is not known why Dobson resigned from the Ashland Police Department.

In a mandatory Change-in-Status Form sent to the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center in Grand Island, Brady checked off the box that states, Resignation before initiation or completion of an internal affairs investigation into allegations that, if founded, could result in revocation of Dobsons law enforcement certification.

There are three classifications for the loss of law enforcement certification in Nebraska: voluntary surrender; contested; and administrative or automatic. All three reasons are considered the same in regard to revocation, and a loss of certification is for life with the officers name entered into a national database.

Dobson was a member of the Fremont Police Department for slightly more than two years, resigning her job as an officer on Oct. 21, 2019.

Dobson was hired by the city as a police officer on Oct. 10, 2017, and graduated from the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center academy in April 2018.

In a Change-in-Status Form sent to the NLETC on Oct. 25, 2019, Fremont Police Chief Jeff Elliott checked a box for Resignation and then typed into the other area that Dobson had Resigned while under investigation. It is not known what Dobson was being investigated for.

According to Nebraska state court records available in an online database, there are no current criminal charges filed against Dobson as of May 15, 2023.

After she resigned from Fremonts police department, Dobson worked part-time as a police officer in the tiny village of Beemer in Cuming County.

Village of Beemer Police Chief Jeremy Goeken said in an early May interview that Dobson worked limited hours in Beemer, with her final day at the department being Sept. 1, 2022.

Goeken praised Dobsons time in the village of fewer than 1,000 residents, telling the Tribune she was a diligent employee and followed all rules and protocols at the department. She resigned, he added, in order to be closer to family and her son.

We had no problems or issues whatsoever, Goeken said of Dobsons time in Beemer. We never had any reason to not want her to work here. She was always pleasant and personable, and people here liked her, which is important in a small town like this.
Fremont Police officers conducted a traffic stop at about 7:58 p.m. Monday, May 15, in the 500 block of West 23rd Street.

During the traffic stop, officers determined that a passenger in the vehicle, Justin A. Robinson, 42, of Columbus, Nebraska, had an active warrant.

Robinson was placed under arrest at which time a weapon was located on his person, a press release said. This resulted in him also being charged with possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person.
At 8:03 a.m. on Monday, May 15, Fremont Police officers responded to a prior burglary to a business in the 2300 block of North Laverna Street.

A press release said force was used to gain entry and the estimated loss is undetermined at this time.

Anyone with information may contact the police departments non-emergency number, 402-727-2677, or CrimeStoppers at 402-727-4002, or report it by using the NP3 app. Refer to case #2166.
HARTINGTON  A woman charged in connection with the shooting death of a Laurel man has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge.

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.
In the final days before Tuesday's mayoral runoff election in Colorado Springs, candidates Wayne Williams and Yemi Mobolade raised hundreds of thousands of dollars collectively, with the largest donations coming from local businesses, trade associations, political action committees and private donors.

Campaign finance reports filed with the city on Friday show Mobolade raised about $186,115 in the period between April 26-May 8 and Williams raised $70,867 in that same time.

Mobolade had about $138,044 on hand and Williams had about $78,262 as of Friday, according to campaign finance reports.

Mobolade's largest donation this reporting period was $80,000 from Accelerating Potential LLC, a business consulting company whose registered agent is Susan Pattee, a partner in the redevelopment of the Union Printers Home. Pattee has donated about $21,713 in total to Mobolade's campaign as an independent donor, according to The Gazette's analysis of campaign finance donations from the beginning of the race.

He also received donations of $10,000 each from Jenny Erdossy and Janet Colarelli, who is listed as a national board member for the Colorado Springs-based nonprofit Fostering Hope that supports foster care families and children in the foster care system.

John Weiss, the former owner of the Colorado Springs Independent and a nonvoting member of its board of directors, donated $9,000 to Mobolade between May 2 and May 3, campaign finance reports show. In total, Weiss has donated about $10,109 to Mobolade's campaign, according to reports.

Phil Long Dealerships President and CEO Gerald "Jay" Cimino, entrepreneur Robert Naegele, Stanley Phillips and Dustin Sapp each donated $5,000 to Mobolade. Phillips has given about $6,038 total and Sapp just under $7,558 total to Mobolade's campaign, records show.

Gold Hill Mesa donated $4,000 in kind to Mobolade on April 26 for a billboard. The organization, listed as a business in campaign finance reports, has donated a little more than $14,000 in kind to his campaign, records show.

Pattee donated about $1,437 in kind to Mobolade on April 28 for food and drinks for an event. She has donated nearly $23,150 total in kind to Mobolade, according to campaign finance reports.

Williams' largest campaign donation between April 26-May 8 was $20,000 from Roy Clennan, the founder of Mortgage Solutions Financial, a national mortgage lender with locations in Colorado Springs.

The Realtor Candidate Political Action Committee donated $10,000 to Williams on May 8, bringing its total donations to his campaign to $16,000, reports show.

The Colorado Hotel and Lodging Association and the Allison Valley Development Company LLC donated $10,000 each to Williams' campaign.

The registered agent of Allison Valley Development is Doug Quimby, who is also the president and CEO of La Plata Communities. La Plata Communities was behind a large proposed development near Fountain that wanted to annex into Colorado Springs, but was blocked from doing so when the Colorado Springs City Council in January approved a controversial water rule requiring Colorado Springs Utilities to have 128% of the water needed to serve the city and any future land annexations.

A member of the council at the time, Williams voted to support the rule that could give Norwood Development Group, the owner of 18,000 acres of Banning Lewis Ranch, more guaranteed access to city water. Norwood and people associated with the company have donated about $12,500 total to Williams' campaign.

John Freyer and the Apartment Association of Southern Colorado each donated $5,000 to Williams this reporting period. The Apartment Association has given $10,000 in all to Williams, campaign finance reports show.

Melissa Kuipers Blake, an attorney with Denver-based lobbying and law firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, donated about $773 in kind to Williams on April 26 in food and beverage for an event, records show. In all, she has given about $1,773 in kind to Williams.

Outgoing Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers, who leaves office June 6, will join Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck as a shareholder, he announced last month. Suthers has endorsed Williams for mayor.

Campaign finance records show Mobolade spent about $146,953 in the period between April 26-May 8. Williams spent about $189,970 in that same period, records show.
NBC News reported Monday that President Joe Biden may halt plans to move Space Command to Huntsville, Ala.

Unnamed sources in the report say they believe the White House's potential plan to delay stems from "abortion politics" in Alabama, which recently passed what is considered to be one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the United States.

In his final days in office, former President Donald Trump made the decision to move Space Command from Colorado Springs to Alabama, a decision which Colorado Springs officials and members of the states congressional delegation have worked for more than two years to reverse, or at least to reopen the headquarters location process.

The Gazette previously reported that they argued moving the command would cost more than $1 billion, force many of the commands personnel and civilian employees to move or quit, and would likely delay the commands plan to formally begin operations later this year.

When considering a headquarters location, the military generally considers access to health care, housing, room for growth and quality of life. According to the NBC report, the White House said the Alabama abortion ban was not a factor in its ongoing review of the headquarters location decision.

The Gazette previously reported that two federal inquiries  conducted by the Department of Defenses Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office into the legitimacy of the Trump administrations decision to relocate the base to Alabama  did not recommend the Department of the Air Force to reopen the evaluation process. A third review by the U.S. Air Force is reportedly ongoing.

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Despite rumors that a decision is imminent on whether to keep the headquarters in Colorado Springs or move it to Huntsville, no announcement has been made.

"For over two years Ive urged the Biden administration to reverse Trumps politically motivated decision and keep Space Command in Colorado. This decision should be made in the interest of the national security of the United States," Sen. Michael Bennet said.

"As I said on the Senate floor last week, reproductive freedom is important for our military readiness and national security, and it should be a factor in where we base Space Command. Its time to finish deliberations and keep Space Command where it belongs, in Colorado.

The Gazette previously reported that an investigation by the Government Accountability Office found significant shortfalls in the Air Force selection process, while a Department of Defense Inspector General probe found the process was reasonable and not improperly influenced by politics.

Senior military and political leaders had recommended Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs as the preferred choice for USSPACECOMs permanent headquarters" due in part to its ability to reach full operational capacity more quickly than any other site under consideration, according to previous reporting by The Gazette.

However, The Gazette reported an environmental review of potential command sites states the Huntsville community will provide a facility that can house the in-process, nascent Space Command headquarters at no cost during the construction of a permanent headquarters.
Even though police violated Ari Misha Liggett's Miranda rights when they interrogated him, an Arapahoe County judge properly allowed prosecutors to use those statements against Liggett if he attempted to introduce evidence of his mental illness, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled on Monday.

The 5-2 decision implicated the ability of mentally ill people to pursue an insanity defense without giving up other legal rights. In Liggett's case, the Supreme Court's majority deemed it acceptable that Liggett had to decide whether to let 12 witnesses testify about his mental state, but at the risk of having jurors hear other testimony involving his damaging responses to law enforcement questions.

"As a constitutional matter, when a defendant presents psychiatric evidence supporting their insanity defense, they can open the door," wrote Chief Justice Brian D. Boatright, to "evidence rebutting that defense, even if the evidence includes the defendants voluntary but non-Miranda-compliant statements."

Justice Monica M. Marquez disagreed. She believed the majority had strayed far from the U.S. Supreme Court's directives about the limited use of improperly obtained evidence, and the decision failed to deter police misconduct.

"Liggetts mental status at the time of the offense went to the essence of his defense; thus, without the ability to present evidence in support of his mental status defense, he essentially had no defense," Marquez wrote for herself and Justice Melissa Hart.

Liggett killed and dismembered his mother, Beverly Liggett, in 2012. He is currently serving a life sentence.

During his interrogation, an investigator read Liggett's Miranda warning, which included his right to an attorney and to remain silent. Liggett asked for a public defender, but the investigator told him "no." Liggett then proceeded to talk for three hours. A psychiatrist, Hal Wortzel, used Liggett's statements in part to determine Liggett was capable of distinguishing right from wrong at the time of the murder.

The U.S. Supreme Court has developed the "exclusionary rule" for evidence gathered in violation of a defendant's rights. Such evidence is excluded from trial in an effort to deter unconstitutional policing. At the same time, if a defendant's statements to interrogators are voluntary, the evidence may be used for impeachment  meaning to cast doubt on the defendant's credibility.

Liggett's case reached the state Supreme Court for the first time in 2014. Although the prosecution admitted police had violated his Miranda rights, the court determined Liggett's statements were voluntary. In response, District Court Judge Michelle Amico barred the prosecution from using Wortzel in its own case, but ruled that if Liggett presented evidence he was insane, prosecutors could call Wortzel to counter that testimony  because his opinion relied on the improperly obtained admissions.

Liggett's lawyers indicated they were prepared to call 12 witnesses, mostly doctors, to talk about Liggett's mental illness. Because of Amico's ruling, they did not. Jurors convicted Liggett of murder.

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In evaluating Liggett's case, the Supreme Court looked to its own prior decision involving another high-profile killing: the 1993 murders of four Chuck E. Cheese employees by Nathan Dunlap. His appeal reached the Supreme Court in 2007, before any of the current members joined. The court held that if a defendant "places his mental capacity at issue," prosecutors could use evidence that was obtained in violation of Dunlap's Miranda rights as a rebuttal to mental illness testimony.

Boatright, in the May 15 opinion for Liggett's appeal, echoed that principle in concluding there was no violation of Liggett's rights in forcing him to choose to either let jurors hear about his mental illness or else exclude Wortzel's opinions from the trial.

Marquez argued in her dissent that the majority was doing something the U.S. Supreme Court has not authorized: Allowing improperly obtained evidence to be used not to impeach the defendant, but to bolster the prosecution's case regardless of whether the defendant testifies.

"Todays decision disregards the narrow purpose and scope of the impeachment exception established by the Supreme Court," she wrote. "And it chills defendants like Liggett from presenting their best defense (or any defense at all) through the testimony of others."

The dissenting justices believed the decision in Dunlap's appeal was also erroneous. Marquez added that prosecutors will now have license to introduce statements of mentally ill defendants, obtained through misconduct, "by simply funneling those statements through the testimony of a competency evaluator."

The Supreme Court also addressed Liggett's other challenge to the testimony of a professional counselor and a nurse who were involved in Liggett's treatment. Under state law, there is no confidentiality for statements "made by the defendant to a physician or psychologist in the course of an examination or treatment." Liggett advocated for a literal interpretation of the law, only applying to physicians and psychologists.

But in the majority's view, statements made to other medical professionals lack confidentiality, too.

"This broad language is not limited to the physician-patient or psychologist-patient privileges alone," wrote Boatright, while acknowledging the law "does not mention those (other) privileges specifically."

Because Marquez and Hart would have reversed Liggett's murder conviction based on the treatment of his insanity evidence, they did not address the confidentiality law.

The case is Liggett v. People.
A driver in southeast Colorado opted to test a 'dog ate my homework'-style excuse during a DUI stop on Saturday night.

Around 11:30 p.m., officers with Springfield Police Department stopped a vehicle that was allegedly traveling 52 mph in a 30 mph zone. The stop was made in the vicinity of 7th Street and Main Street in downtown Springfield.

During the stop, the driver attempted to switch seats with his dog, who was in the passenger seat at the time, Springfield police said in a news release. The attempt was made as an officer approached the vehicle, with the officer witnessing the move.

The driver then exited from the passenger side of the vehicle and made the claim that he wasn't driving, showing "clear signs of intoxication" while doing so, police said.

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The officer asked the man about his intoxication, which prompted the man to run, police said. He was apprehended just 20 yards away from the vehicle.

It was later determined that the man had two active warrants for his arrest out of Pueblo County.

The man was booked into Baca County jail and faces numerous charges, including driving under the influence and/or drugs, driving while ability impaired, driving under suspension, speeding 20-24 mph over the limit and resisting arrest.

An investigation into the situation is ongoing. Details about the fate of the dog were not included in the release.
No one has a crystal ball.

But with the expiration of Title 42, one thing appears fairly certain: The return to normal is going to be messy.

Were sort of back to the problems we used to have prior to Title 42, said Megan Hall, an immigration lawyer who teaches refugee and asylum law at the University of Colorado at Boulder Law School.

Hall added: Its a real mess.

Title 42  which ended last week with the end of the federal emergency designation for the pandemic  was a Trump administration policy that allowed the U.S. to quickly expel immigrants at the southern border without permitting them to apply for asylum to curb the spread of COVID-19.

In the days leading up to the policy expiring, thousands of immigrants from Central and South America created a bottleneck at the southern border.

Most of the newly arrived immigrants are headed to gateway cities, such as Los Angeles, Chicago, New York and Miami, Denver officials and nonprofit representatives say.

And many are making their way to Denver.

While Hall said it is unclear whether the bottleneck at the border means the immigration spike has already happened or if it is still coming, city officials worry that even a little bump will fray an already stressed system.

On Thursday, Mayor Michael B. Hancock warned  again  that the city is nearing a breaking point.

As of Monday, the city has served more than 9,800 immigrants since December.

Local organizations on the forefront of the response to the humanitarian crisis have said that they are at, or near, capacity.

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With the end of Title 42 looming, the Biden administration implemented a new rule Thursday basically stating that, if an immigrant hasnt sought legal entry, he or she wont be granted asylum. It is already being challenged in court.

That policy bars from asylum all non-Mexican immigrants arriving at the southern border who havent first sought and been denied asylum from one of the countries they passed through on their journey to the U.S.

The American Civil Liberties Union in Northern California filed a lawsuit in federal court last week to block the new rule, arguing that the new policy is unlawful.

Immigrant advocates note the Refugee Act of 1980 requires  and the courts have upheld  that the United States cannot not expel immigrants without identifying those who fear persecution or torture.

Regulations, Hall said, cant conflict with statute.

Ira Mehlman, a spokesperson for Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), is taking a wait-and-see approach to the new rule.

We want to wait and see if its actually going to be restrictive, Mehlman said. The administration has a track record of saying theyre enforcing and going to curb the abuse and in fact do nothing to curb the abuse.

On its website, FAIR, organization based in Washington D.C., says it seeks to restore common sense border controls and reduce overall immigration levels to roughly 300,000 a year.

As of April, the U.S. had 24,944 immigration detention beds, according to Syracuse Universitys TRAC Immigration. A little over the majority of detained immigrants, 56.7%, have no criminal record.

Immigrant advocates, such as Hall, believe the ultimate solution is a system overhaul.

Its not humane to detain people who have not committed a crime, Hall said. Seeking asylum is not a crime. Crossing the border without authorization is an immigration violation. Its not a crime.

Others argue that crossing the border without proper authorization should be properly viewed as a criminal offense and a more lenient approach would only invite more people to violate federal immigration laws.
Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock has been penning a lot of letters.

After writing Department of Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas on May 6 about the crisis unfolding in Denver 600 miles from the nearest southern border, Hancock also signed a letter with three other mayors requesting a meeting with President Joe Biden.

This is a humanitarian crisis, and its not just happening at the border, Hancock said in an email to The Denver Gazette.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner also signed onto the May 12 letter.

In their letter, the mayors said they want to discuss partnership opportunities to ensure our nation humanely accommodates all asylum seekers.

Each of these urban centers  except Denver  has long been considered a gateway city for newly arrived immigrants.

Our cities have been hard at work doing more than our fair share and we need continued federal governmental assistance, the mayors wrote, adding their cities have been on the frontlines of this crisis.

The mayors also noted that the federal government is responsible for the nations immigration policy.

As of Tuesday, the city of Denver has helped shelter 9,944 immigrants from Central and South America since December.

Those numbers pale in comparison to New York City, which has seen nearly 50,000 new arrivals seeking asylum over the past year.

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To date, Denver has spent roughly $16 million responding to the crisis. Hancock said last week that the city has been reimbursed about $900,000 of those costs from the federal government.

(W)e cannot continue to incur costs for the unprecedented and unbudgeted emergency needs of newly-arrived asylum-seekers as it threatens the financial stability of our cities, the mayors wrote.

Denver has seen the number of immigrants arriving daily more than double in the days leading up to the end of Title 42, the federal code used during the pandemic to quickly expel refugees.

Title 42 expired on Thursday with the end of the COVID-19 emergency declaration.

Nearly 1,200 immigrants are being sheltered in Denver.

Many of these immigrants are fleeing corrupt regimes, Venezuela in particular.

The majority of these new arrivals  an estimated 70%  do not intend to stay in the Mile High City, officials said.

The influx illustrates the calamity thats been unfolding at U.S. border for months with the crisis spilling over into cities in America's interior, including Denver, which is more than 600 miles from El Paso, Texas.

Officials noted that the bus fare to Denver is less expensive from West Texas to other places in the country. Organizations that support the immigrant community also highlight the resources and diversity in the community, as well as its status as a "sanctuary city," as reasons attracting the immigrants to Denver.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Allies of Mike Pence launched a Super PAC on Tuesday to garner support for the former vice president as he moves toward an expected run for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

The political action committee will be led by former U.S. Representative Jeb Hensarling and longtime Republican strategist Scott Reed, the group said in a statement.

"Mike Pence is the conservative leader our nation needs at this critical time," said Hensarling, a Texan who served eight terms in Congress.

Reed, who managed former Senator Bob Dole's 1996 campaign and was a senior strategist for the U.S. Chamber of Congress, praised Pence's experience and policy credentials as "unmatched in the Republican field."

Super PACS are allowed to raise unlimited sums for political purposes, provided they do not coordinate directly with campaigns.

Committed to America will begin with offices in Iowa and Dallas with Bobby Saparow, who managed Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp's successful 2022 re-election campaign, as executive director.

Pence was in the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, when supporters of his then-President Donald Trump stormed the building in an attempt to stop the certification of Democrat Joe Biden's presidential election victory.

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Pence drew Trump's wrath for not supporting his false claims that the election was stolen and has since criticized his former boss for his role in the deadly riot.

Standing up to Trump has not won him broad support among the Republicans who remain loyal to the former president.

Last month, Pence was booed in his home state of Indiana at a gathering of the country's largest gun rights lobby as he sought to present himself as a more ardent defender of gun rights than Donald Trump.

The latest Reuters/Ipsos poll shows Trump maintaining a commanding lead in the 2024 Republican primary race, with the support of 49 percent of registered Republicans. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, an expected candidate, drew 21% support, while Pence was backed by 5% of Republicans.

(This story has been refiled to delete extraneous matter in paragraph 5)

(Reporting by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Nick Zieminski)
A past associate of Rudy Giuliani has filed a lawsuit against the lawyer and ex-mayor over sexual assault claims.

Noelle Dunphy said she worked for Giuliani as an off-the-books employee while he was Trump's personal lawyer. She said she was hired in January of 2019. The lawsuit alleged Giuliani abused his power to commit "sexual assault and harassment, wage theft, and other misconduct."

THE TOP ISSUES KENTUCKY GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES ARE CAMPAIGNING ON

Rudy Giuliani addresses a gathering during a campaign event. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

The filing claims Dunphy was hired as a director of business development with a salary of $1 million plus expenses and that Giuliani began abusing Dunphy shortly after her employment started.

"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 reads.

According to the lawsuit, in the same month Dunphy was hired, Giuliani allegedly paid to fly her on a semiprivate chartered plane to New York, where he insisted she stay at his Upper East Side guest suite. After providing alcoholic drinks for them, Giuliani sexually assaulted Dunphy, the lawsuit says.

"But Ms. Dunphy felt extreme pressure to go along with Giuliani's demands because she could not lose her promised salary or her legal representation by the uniquely qualified and connected lawyer," the filing reads.

Dunphy claims in the litigation that she has recordings of the former New York City mayor making racist, sexist, and antisemitic comments in the workplace while under the influence of alcohol.

The filing includes screenshots of text messages between the two, detailing Giuliani asking for sexual favors from Dunphy, some of which took place during work events.

"Even when the Covid-19 pandemic halted Giuliani's ability to physically assault her, he demanded that she disrobe during their work-related videoconferences," the lawsuit says.

Dunphy's employment was terminated in January 2021 after she expressed a fear of Giuliani and she made a statement "that she would sue Giuliani and the Giuliani Companies for their treatment of her, including but not limited to based on sexual harassment and gender discrimination," according to the lawsuit.

The filing includes text messages regarding her termination, in which Giuliani writes, "It was a useless call if you write me things like you're afraid of me and you won't sue me," and it expresses that Giuliani does not want to be in communication with someone who is afraid of him: "You can feel safe that I would do nothing to hurt you and I feel sorry for you."

The lawsuit also claims Giuliani failed to pay her almost $2 million in wages from her employment.

Giuliani is facing legal troubles in Georgia as well, in a defamation case brought by two state election workers who claim Giuliani falsely accused them of election fraud.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Ted Goodman, an adviser to Giuliani, said Giuliani denies the allegations, adding "Mayor Giuliani's lifetime of public service speaks for itself and he will pursue all available remedies and counterclaims."

Dunphy is seeking $10 million from Giuliani and his company, outlining 24 causes of action in her lawsuit.

Original Location: Rudy Giuliani sued by woman for alleged sexual harassment

Washington Examiner Videos
By Andrew Hay and Steve Gorman

(Reuters) -An 18-year-old gunman stalked through a New Mexico neighborhood on Monday firing randomly at bystanders, houses and cars, killing three people and wounding six before police shot him dead outside a church, authorities said.

The late-morning shooting spree unfolded in a residential area of Farmington, New Mexico, a major retail center and regional hub for the fossil energy industry about 180 miles (290 km) northwest of Albuquerque.

Police responded "to find a chaotic scene where a male subject was actively firing upon individuals in that neighborhood," Baric Crum, deputy chief of operations for the Farmington Police Department, said in a news briefing hours later.

Three civilians were killed and six people were wounded, including two officers struck in an exchange of gunfire with the suspect before he was fatally shot by police, according to Farmington police spokesperson Shanice Gonzales.

She told Reuters by telephone that the suspect had roamed about a quarter of a mile on foot firing on bystanders indiscriminately before the rampage came to an end outside the church where he was confronted by law enforcement.

No motive was readily apparent, police said.

"At this point it appears to be purely random," Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe said in a video message posted on his department's Facebook page, calling the incident "devastating."

Seemingly taking aim at "whatever entered his head to shoot at," the suspect opened fire from at least three weapons, one of them an AR-15-style rifle, Hebbe said. "At least six houses and three cars were shot in the course of the event."

The gunman, identified only as an 18-year-old, was believed to have acted alone, police said. No information was provided about any of the dead.

Some of the incident was captured in video footage posted to the social media platform TikTok and confirmed as authentic by Gonzales.

It shows a man dressed in black pacing around a driveway outside the First Church of Christ Scientist, carrying what appears to be a handgun, before he is seen being shot dead by police in front of the building.

The man apparently recording the video is heard describing the scene to someone else and referring to the suspect walking in circles beside the church. He then says, "There's a person laying the middle of the street."

The two wounded officers, one from the Farmington department and one from New Mexico State Police, were listed in stable condition in hospital. The city officer was later released, Hebbe said.

The conditions of the four wounded civilians were not disclosed.

The gun violence prompted security lockdowns at several public schools in Farmington, a city of about 46,000 residents, until police determined the threat was over.

Farmington, a commercial hub for oil and gas drilling and a shopping destination for the nearby Navajo Nation and smaller towns in the Four Corners region where the states of New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and Utah meet, has experienced at least two other high-profile incidents of deadly gun violence in recent years.

Police in Farmington last month killed an armed homeowner at his own house, then exchanged gunfire with his wife, after officers showed up at the wrong address in response to a domestic violence call.

Farmington also was the scene of a deadly high school shooting in December 2017 in which a gunman killed two students before taking his own life.

Monday's carnage was among the latest of at least 225 mass shootings recorded in the U.S. this year, according to the nonprofit group Gun Violence Archive. The group defines a mass shooting as any in which four or more people are wounded or killed, not including the shooter.

(Reporting by Andrew Hay in Taos, New Mexico; Additional reporting by Ayyub Rami in Washington; Writing and additional by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by Lisa Shumaker, Bill Berkrot and Leslie Adler)
Two leading Florida lawmakers preemptively threw their weight behind Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) for president.

Republican House Speaker Paul Renner and Senate President Kathleen Passidomo commended DeSantis's track record in the Sunshine State and argued he has laid out a solid blueprint for the nation writ large.

HOW THE SUPREME COURT COULD BE FORCED TO WADE INTO BIDEN DEBT CEILING FIGHT

"There is no greater vision for the future of our country than the 'Florida Blueprint' Governor DeSantis spearheaded over the last several years. Under his leadership, the Free State of Florida became a beacon of liberty and opportunity like never before," Passidomo wrote in a tweet. "Governor DeSantis is exactly the kind of leader we need for our country, and I look forward to supporting him for President."

Passidomo and Renner have emerged as key allies to DeSantis, who has racked up a bevy of policy victories in the state legislature in recent weeks. The Republican legislature recently tweaked the state's "resign to run" law and passed reforms to shield some of his travel records, clearing key hurdles for a presidential run.

"Gov. DeSantis has a proven record of delivering on the pro-family, pro-economic ideals that not only will keep Florida free but will be of critical importance in a 2024 presidential election. As Gov. DeSantis makes his final decision to run for higher office, it would be my honor to endorse his candidacy for President of the United States," Renner said in a statement.

The governor's main GOP rival, should he enter the fray, would be former President Donald Trump, who is currently running ahead on the endorsement front, boasting support from close to a dozen sitting members of Congress from the Florida delegation.

So far, DeSantis is backed by Rep. Laurel Lee (R-FL) and at least three other members of Congress, but his allies have been rolling out a slate of key local endorsements over recent weeks, including 37 Iowa endorsements ahead of his visit over the weekend and 51 New Hampshire endorsements unveiled Tuesday.

Recently, Trump's team stumbled into controversy for touting endorsements from multiple Iowa politicos who described themselves as undecided, Axios reported. At least four New Hampshire lawmakers who were listed as endorsing Trump are now backing DeSantis.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

DeSantis has consistently polled as the second most popular GOP 2024 hopeful after Trump.

The governor is expected to make his 2024 intentions known soon now that the state legislature has wrapped up its business. Next week, he is expected to convene over 100 donors and other allies for a briefing, according to multiple reports.

Original Location: Top Florida lawmakers endorse DeSantis for president in 2024

Washington Examiner Videos
By Sarah N. Lynch, David Shepardson and Karen Freifeld

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Tuesday announced charges in five cases involving alleged efforts to steal technology to benefit China, Russia and Iran including a former Apple Inc engineer accused of targeting the company's technology on autonomous systems, including self-driving cars, and then fleeing to China.

The cases detailed at a Justice Department press conference centered on allegations concerning the theft of trade secrets and other technology. Two of the cases involved what U.S. officials called procurement networks created to help Russia's military and intelligence services obtain sensitive technology.

The five cases were the first announced by a U.S. "strike force" formed in February in part to protect sensitive technologies, though the investigations began before it was created.

"We stand vigilant in enforcing U.S. laws to stop the flow of sensitive technologies to our foreign adversaries," Matt Olsen, the head of the Justice Department's National Security Division, told reporters. "We are committed to doing all we can to prevent these advanced tools from falling into the hands of foreign adversaries."

The former Apple engineer, identified as 35-year-old Weibao Wang, formerly resided in Mountain View, California, and was hired by Apple in 2016, according to an April indictment unsealed on Tuesday.

In 2017, he accepted a U.S.-based job with a Chinese company working to develop self-driving cars before resigning from Apple, but waited about four months before informing Apple of his new job, according to the indictment.

After his last day at Apple, the company discovered that he had accessed large amounts of proprietary data in the days before his departure, the Justice Department said. Federal agents searched his home in June 2018 and found "large quantities" of data from Apple, it added. Shortly after the search, he boarded a plane to China, the department said.

Apple's automotive efforts, known as Project Titan, have proceeded unevenly since 2014, when the company started to design a vehicle from scratch. A December report said Apple had postponed the car's planned launch to 2026. Reports filed with the state of California show Apple is testing vehicles on the state's roads.

Apple declined to comment on the case.

In a second case related to China, U.S. prosecutors announced charges against Liming Li, 64, of Rancho Cucamonga, California, for allegedly stealing trade secrets from his California-based employers to build his own competing business in China.

Prosecutors in New York charged Nikolaos "Nikos" Bogonikolos, 49, of Greece with smuggling U.S.-origin military technologies to Russia while he was operating as a defense contractor for NATO.

Russian nationals Oleg Sergeyevich Patsulya and Vasilii Sergeyevich Besedin were each charged in Arizona for allegedly using their Florida-based company to send aircraft parts to Russian airline companies, while the Commerce Department in a parallel action suspended their export privileges.

In addition, prosecutors in New York announced charges against Xiangjiang Qiao, also known as Joe Hansen, 39, for allegedly using a Chinese company that is the target of American sanctions to provide materials used in the production of weapons of mass destruction to Iran.

Qiao and Wang remain at large in China, while the other four defendants were arrested, U.S. officials said.

Attorneys for Patsulya and Besedin, who were arrested on May 11, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. An attorney for Li did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Reuters could not determine who is representing Bogonikolos.

(Reporting by David Shepardson, Karen Freifeld and Sarah N. Lynch; Additional reporting by Rami Ayyub; Editing by Will Dunham)
The White House is holding a news briefing ahead of the debt ceiling meeting with President Joe Biden.

Biden and top Republicans, including House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), will meet to discuss a deal to raise the debt limit Tuesday.

BIDEN ADMINISTRATION UNVEILS PLANS FOR BUILDING WIND AND SOLAR IN RURAL AREAS

Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre is expected to receive questions about special counsel John Durham's 306-page report, which found that the FBI should not have launched a full investigation into ties between Donald Trump's 2016 campaign and Russia.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

The press briefing is scheduled to begin at 1:45 p.m. Eastern time.

Original Location: WATCH LIVE: White House press secretary gives briefing after Durham report and ahead of debt ceiling talks

Washington Examiner Videos
A business trade group wants Gov. Jared Polis to veto three bills, including legislation to ban employers from asking for an applicants age.

The Colorado chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business asked Polis to veto a proposal on the state's equal pay mandates and a bill that updates the definition of harassment and specify that it does not need to be severe or pervasive to constitute a discriminatory or unfair practice.

Tony Gagliardi, the state director for NFIB, called the measures "extreme workplace policies."

"Unfortunately, the negative impact of these one-size-fits-all, extreme workplace policies increase the chances of an employer being charged with a workplace complaint and unfortunately small businesses are the most targeted, he said.

Under Senate Bill 58, employers are banned from asking for an applicants age, date of birth or graduation date on an application. If signed into law, the requirements start in July 2024.

"This bill creates a fairer playing field for all workers by ensuring that applicants are judged by their merits and qualifications, instead of their age," said bill sponsor Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley. "We frequently think of this as applying to older Coloradans. It also applies to younger Coloradans. Age discrimination is a real problem."

Colorado approved the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act in 2019, which took effect on Jan. 1, 2021. It included mandates intended to even the playing field for workers, such as requiring employers to notify employees of promotion opportunities, including pay or a pay range in job postings and allowing employees to sue employers for gender-based pay discrepancies.

Senate Bill 105 would require the Department of Labor and Employment to investigate pay inequities and enforce equal pay mandates. The bill would also extend the maximum back pay period for pay inequalities to six years and allow employers to not notify employees about career development changes that are not technically promotions or jobs that other candidates could be considered for.

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"It took us 39 years to get to the place that we got to in 2019," said bill sponsor Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver. "This bill is taking some of the things we've learned over the last few years with the implementation of the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act and clarifying some things."

In addition to updating Colorado's definition of harassment, Senate Bill 172, if enacted, would also add marital status as a protected class, dis-incentivize the use of unlawful non-disclosure agreements, and prohibit employers from refusing to accommodate employees if they have a disability that "has a significant impact on the job."

"We need a modern definition of harassment," said bill sponsor Sen. Faith Winter, D-Westminster. "There's been instances where, within our courts and within case law, rape was not pervasive enough to create an unsafe work environment because it was a one-time-only instance. There's been instances where the use of the N-word wasn't severe enough to create an unsafe work environment."

In a letter to Polis, NFIB's Gagliardi said the proposals would "bring harm to employers and those looking for work."

He said it's already a common practice to not ask for someone's age on an initial job application.

He expressed fear that the latest equal pay for equal work requirement out of the legislature would "disrupt the markets for those looking to work."

Insofar as the harassment legislation, Gagliardi said it duplicates current law in many places.

"However, the bill goes further to redefine the definition of harassment and to order the Colorado Civil Rights Division to include on any intake or intake form of a complaint the option to choose harassment as a condition of the complaint," he said.

Reporter Hannah Metzger contributed to this report.
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.
When filing the request for judicial recovery last week, the Light (LIFT3) joined the other 382 companies that applied until April this year.

Last month alone, 93 recovery requests were registered in Brazil, points out the Bankruptcy and Judicial Recovery Indicator of Serasa Experian. The number represents an increase of 43.1% compared to the same period in 2022.

Micro and small companies led the way, with 64 requests, followed by medium-sized businesses, with 18, and large companies, 11. By sector, the services sector was the one that most demanded judicial recovery, with 39 requests, 11 more than in 2022 Commerce was in second place, followed by industry and the primary sector.

The requests for bankruptcy also registered an increase in April this year. The expansion was 12.3%, an increase from 81 to 91 in the annual comparison.

The default scenario of Brazilian companies is directly linked to the increase in indices, explains Serasa economist Luiz Rabi. For him, the constant growth of the list of negative companies shows that economic instability is still a challenge for entrepreneurs.

Financially shaken, it is inevitable that many end up resorting to judicial recovery processes to try to renegotiate and avoid bankruptcy, even if some end up taking this end anyway, he says.
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.
The Cerro Gordo County Board of Supervisors has approved a 15-month moratorium on permits for "utility-scale wind-energy conversion systems, solar-energy installations and battery storage installations."

The moratorium passed Monday after a well-attended public hearing.

Among the speakers during the public portion of the meeting, most residents supported withholding permits for the 15-month period. With 10 residents speaking for the moratorium and two speaking against, public sentiment seemed to align with the recommendation from recently resigned Planning and Zoning Administrator John Robbins. Robbins has taken a job with the North Iowa Area Council of Governments.

During discussion, supervisors agreed a moratorium would benefit the community as the county's comprehensive plan will not be completed until this summer. The comprehensive plan is a guide for development and will include the county's best practices for renewable energy.

"The moratorium was brought up to Planning and Zoning May 4. Eventually, the original recommendation of 15 months was accepted. These type of projects were being granted special use permits and those don't have a set of rules everyone plays by. The comprehensive plan was started nearly a year ago and includes guidelines for renewable projects," according to Tom Meyer, county director of administrative services.

Board Chair Casey Callanan asked Meyer about delays associated with the hiring of a new planning and zoning administrator and whether the ordinance can be amended on the advice of Robbins' replacement.

Supervisor Chris Watts also had questions about the timeline. "I had originally thought 15 months might be too long," he stated. "I thought 12 months might be better, but do we have the option to extend this if we aren't satisfied?"

Meyer said the ordinance can be amended at any time by the board.

Residents who supported the moratorium gave a variety of reasons for their opposition to the renewable energy technologies. The safety of wildlife and migration concerns, chemical seepage, long contract lengths and visual blight were all mentioned.

"Imagine if you were on the other side of this issue and consider how you would feel if this same threat was coming to your backyard," asked Cerro Gordo County resident Julie Fjone.

Proponents of renewable fuels technologies believe they are well suited to Iowa's areas of open land and have been working with landowners for a number of months on developments that are currently on hold.

Corey Eberling of Apex Clean Energy likened the situation to the insurance industry. "Rule changing doesn't put a stop to business," he said. "If there's new policies coming down from above, you don't stop selling insurance to your customers. You work with those changes."

For now, the 15-month moratorium stands. The county continues its search for a planning and zoning administrator and will revisit the ordinance as necessary.

The side benefits of clean energy The side benefits of clean energy Clean energy provides almost 443,000 jobs in the US A federal carbon tax on all energy-related carbon emissions could raise $1.87 trillion over the next decade More than 25% of Americans live in states with carbon-pricing programs The US already produces enough clean energy to provide power for 58 million American homes The cost of wind and solar power fell 47% and 71% in the past decade, respectively Increased clean-energy use decreases the instance of heart attacks, asthma attacks, and other cardiovascular issues Clean energy is more resilient and reliable than fossil fuels
A Mason City man pleaded guilty to multiple arson charges and possession of methamphetamine Tuesday.

According to court records, 38-year-old Zachary Bruce Sankey pleaded guilty to four counts of second-degree arson and one count of possession of methamphetamine. The plea agreement calls for Sankey to be sentenced to 25 years in prison.

A statement from Mason City Police Chief Jeff Brinkley said the Mason City Fire and Police Departments responded to numerous fire calls between 5:22 a.m. and 7:15 a.m. Feb. 28 at the following locations:

Garage fire at 324 S. Kentucky Avenue at 5:22 a.m.; brush fire at Birch Drive and North Rhode Island Avenue at 5:30 a.m.; vehicle fire at Arona Home Essentials, located at 3701 Fourth St. S.W. at 6:25 a.m.; structure fire at Brothers Ace Hardware, located at 440 S. Illinois Ave. at 6:45 a.m.; and a structure fire at Gracious Estates, 777 S. Eisenhower Ave. at 7:15 a.m.

The plea deal calls for the dismissal of one count of second-degree burglary as well. The court is under no obligation to follow the sentencing recommendations.

Sankey was allegedly caught with methamphetamine March 7 after posting bail the previous day.

North Iowa history in photos: Mason City street scenes of the early 1900s 1937 Downtown MC.jpg Cigar and peanut wagon on Federal 1909.jpg Parade for the July 4th 1910.jpg 1920 Ford dealeship in Mason Cityr.jpg 1901 Uncle Tom's Cabin Parade MC IA.jpg 1910 Fire Department MC.jpg 1920s Birdsall's Ice Cream Store same location today..jpg 1910busy intersection standard oil wagon.jpg 1920 Commercial Bank on Federal with parked motorcycle.jpg 1915 Charles Hotel at Central Park with Trolley.jpg 1930 2nd St SE and Federal facing North Best.jpg 1915 Iowa Hardware Mutual Office Bldg old metalcraft bldg.jpg 1930s Jefferson Lines buses at the downtown depot MC.jpg 1915 State st North of delaware facing NE2.jpg 1930 East side Federal to State street.jpg 1915 Street scene at Charles Hotel with Trolleyand Olympia Billboard.jpg 1934 buildings being torn down Federal Ave 1.jpg 1918 North Iowa Fair 19th SW at Federal (Southport Mall site.jpg Mason_City_1212.jpg 1919 White Motor Cars on Federal MC.jpg
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.
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.

Photos: Apartment fire in Davenport injures one
Danvilles Ballad Brewing has a new owner.

On Monday, Three Roads Brewing Company announced its expansion into Southside Virginia with the acquisition of the River District operation that launched in 2017.

Right now, Three Roads has two taprooms: its original in Farmville and a second location in Lynchburg.

We are committed to being the leading brewery in Southside Virginia, and the addition of Ballad helps us achieve that goal, Chris Sadler, a founder of Three Roads, said in a statement. This is a beautiful part of the country with strong communities.

Adding Ballad Brewing to its operations doubles the brewerys production by nearly 2,000 barrels.

Farmville and Lynchburg are known for being welcoming to everyone, from local families and tourists to beer aficionados and civic organizations looking for a casual meeting space, Sadler said. The Ballad Brewing brand is a big part of Danville and will continue to thrive as a part of the Three Roads Brewing family.

When we set out to open Ballad we wanted it to be a community center for the River District and Danville as a whole, Ballad Brewing co-founder Ross Fickenscher said. The taproom has done just that.

Fickenscher said the acquisition will take Ballad headlong into the next chapter.

Three Roads Brewing said it will keep the Ballad brand, its catalog of beers and its River District taproom.

Both brands will be distributed in Virginia and North Carolina and will be available in the companys taprooms across Southside Virginia, a news release stated.

This town has a ton of history, co-founder Garret Shfflett said. Ballad not only paid tribute to that history, but helped to build on it.

Shfflett credits the hard work and creativity of the team that provided a sense of pride surrounding Ballad.

Three Roads Brewing is based in Farmville. In 2017, it opened its first taproom in a historic warehouse along High Bridge Trail State Park.

Learn more at www.3roadsbrewing.com.
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 threatened 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.
" " You may have to do some interviewing before you find a therapist that you're comfortable with. FatCamera/Getty Images

Taka W. (who asked that we withhold her last name) of Sandy Springs, Georgia, has seen a number of therapists since her sister died more than two decades ago, but only in 2017 did she finally connect with one who was able to help her start the healing process from childhood traumas, the loss of her parents and sister and a painful divorce. "She practically saved my life," she says, adding that she and her counselor enjoy a "wonderful relationship." Taka's one of millions of people around the world who turn to therapy to heal the wounds of the past, find better ways to cope and hopefully set a better tone for future generations.

The Covid-19 pandemic greatly increased the demand for therapy. Many Americans tried it for the first time during the last two or three years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 21.6 percent of adults in the U.S. sought and received some type of mental health services in 2021, compared with 19.2 percent in 2019. A 2021 survey by the American Psychological Association said psychologists reported "a large increase in demand for treatment of anxiety and depression compared with last year," according to a press release.

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If you're new to therapy, you might be wondering how you find a good therapist. Looking at a list from your insurance provider may seem impersonal. And you might be uncomfortable asking for recommendations from friends. Even if you do find a psychologist, a poor match can lead to stilted, ineffective sessions that don't develop into a productive relationship.

"The best therapist for you is someone who fits your personality and who's able to understand and help you with the particular issues you want to work on," says Boston-based psychotherapist Angela Ficken. "You don't always find 'the one' on the first date. Not every therapist out there is going to be 'the one,' either."

Doing a bit of prep work on the front end can lead to a better pairing. Natalia T. (who asked that we withhold her last name) of San Diego, California, has seen a few therapists over the years, some of whom have worked out, and some that haven't. "I would recommend that everyone does a little reflection before they look for a therapist to identify what issues are bringing them to seek therapy," she says. "This reflection can help ground your search."

Fortunately, the mental health industry has caught onto the truth that patient/provider matchmaking is no easy feat, and so the process has evolved. Here are some effective ways to find a good therapist, from people who really know.
Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services officials are reporting a recent increase in the number of cases of chickenpox reported in school-aged children.

In 2022, there were 23 reported cases of chickenpox in Montana. Cases ranged in people from 1 to over 65. One infant and one young adult required hospitalization.

Early numbers from 2023 show 18 reported cases of chickenpox with no known hospitalizations, officials said. Six cases were reported during the same period last year, which is a 200% increase in cases year-to-date. Shingles is not a reportable condition; therefore, there is no data on the number of cases last year in Montana.

At least half of these infections were acquired from an adult family member with shingles. Chickenpox, or varicella, can be a serious illness and is easily preventable with vaccination, health officials said in a news release.

The best way to protect yourself and your child from chickenpox is vaccination, says Jessica Lopeman, a registered nurse and epidemiologist with DPHHS.

Shingles is a reactivation of the varicella virus, the virus that causes chickenpox. It occurs in 1 of 3 people who have had chickenpox in their lifetime. Shingles has a rash that presents as red bumps and blisters, usually in a narrow area on one side of the body. This rash may be itchy or painful and is contagious until it has scabbed over completely and can be transmitted by direct contact.

However, the virus is almost exclusively transmitted to people not vaccinated for chickenpox or have never had it in the past.

Transmission of the virus may be prevented by covering the shingles rash to prevent contact. The incidence of shingles increases with age, and vaccination against shingles is recommended for people 50 and older.

Chickenpox is an illness with a rash and a fever. The rash usually appears 14 to 16 days following exposure to the varicella virus, but can be as early as 10 days or as long as 21 days, state officials said.

It is highly contagious to those who are not immune, especially those who have not been vaccinated with two doses of chickenpox vaccine. Chickenpox can also be serious, even life-threatening, especially in babies, adolescents, adults, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems. The vaccine is excellent at preventing chickenpox by providing 98.3% effectiveness.

DPHHS is reminding parents and grandparents that shingles can cause chickenpox in unvaccinated people who have not previously had the virus, Lopeman said.

Its important that children are up-to-date on vaccines, including the chickenpox vaccine, and if someone does develop shingles, keep the shingles rash covered to prevent exposure and transmission of the varicella virus, she said.
A journey that started over four years ago has come to an end with East Helena High School being approved by the Montana Board of Public Education to become a fully accredited high school, and just in time for graduation.

Theres a lot of things that had to be figured out along the way, so it was a pretty big deal for us so we were excited about it, and obviously its great for our kids that are getting their diplomas here in about three weeks from an accredited high school, said East Helena Superintendent Dan Rispens.

Rispens and Brian Kessler, the principal at EHHS, attended the Montana Board of Public Education meeting in Great Falls on Thursday where one of the agenda items was the accreditation of EHHS. At the meeting, Rispens called the high schools first-ever graduating class pioneers." EHHS class of 2023 will graduate on June 2.

We have worked very hard to try to create something out of nothing for the community of East Helena and by something out of nothing, I mean we have never had a high school in East Helena, Rispens said. I have told people multiple times that we probably bit off more than we could chew in this project, but we also had a commitment in our hearts to provide the community and the kids who are going to be the first graduating class from East Helena High School a comprehensive and complete high school experience for them.

Ripsens thanked the hard work of East Helena Public Schools staff and Kessler, who was hired as EHHS' principal two years ago.

(Kesslers) knowledge and expertise and his insight, his way of interacting with young people and understanding the needs that kids have today and the desire of the community to prepare kids for the future has just been fantastic, said Rispens.

For the 2022-23 school year, the high school is home to 566 students and 38.5 full-time equivalent teachers.

East Helena High School had been operating under a provisional accreditation status since not all four high school grades were enrolled before this year. The Office of Public Instruction conducted a state accreditation site review on March 22 to interview staff, parents and students while checking out the facility and classes being taught. In the report, OPI noted that they were impressed with the school.

They noted leadership works well with the staff to support students and establish effective communication strategies. The report said that school climate was perceived well based on interviews from all stakeholders and that parents feel involved through correspondence and things such as the Parent College, which teaches parents about various topics related to their children.

There is an overwhelming family and community support in East Helena, said Crystal Andrews, director of accreditation at OPI. I had the pleasure of interviewing the stakeholder panel of the families and we had at least 10 in attendance and four or five online. The conversation was extremely positive and showcased the many ways the East Helena community is involved with their school.

OPI highlighted that EHHS provides opportunities for college and career readiness through an AP program, dual enrollment, mini-apprenticeships with Helena College and career and technical education opportunities.

Overall, East Helena High School has developed a wonderful learning environment for their children, Andrews said.
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.
As we survey the landscape of our democracy after Montanas 68th legislative session, two things are clear: extremists are running the show, and a few corporations dictate their marching orders.

Bill after dangerous bill passed through both legislative chambers despite Montanans lining up by the dozens to testify against them and only a few paid lobbyists speaking in support.

This is a wakeup call.

Extremist politicians are treating We the People as irrelevant distractions and, sometimes, even with disdain. We must restore our democracy and reassert the freedoms that allow us to shape the future of our communities.

Meeting our challenges depends on respectful listening and finding common ground. Politicians who deny the voices of the majority, all the while passing laws that raid our pocketbooks, pollute our communities and dismantle our rights, are corroding democracy. Falling in line after our voices have been ignored wont happen; rigid obedience isnt in our DNA. As responsible Montanans begin to repair this damage, its important to take stock of what just happened.

Here are just a few disturbing examples:

SB 228, sponsored by Sen. Jason Small, R-Busby, outlaws local governments from making community-based energy decisions. The bill bans municipalities from creating protections against the use of petroleum-derived fuels including the tools, transportation or equipment involved. This Big Brother knows best authoritarianism perfectly serves Montanas two monopoly energy corporations, but not us. Communities could be forced to live with dangerous industrial infrastructure next to parks, schools and homes.

Another pair of bills undermines the rights of ranchers and landowners in coal country. HB 576, sponsored by Rep. Rhonda Knudsen, R-Culbertson, rewrites permitting laws for coal development using murky terms about land and water damage that will make it hard for landowners to hold coal companies accountable when property is harmed. Despite widespread land and water degradation near coal development, this law shields companies from liability, while landowners are forced into courtrooms as their last resort. This is where the second bill comes into play.

SB 392, sponsored by Sen. Steve Fitzpatrick, R-Great Falls, compels individuals to pay the legal bills of coal corporations if a judge rules on behalf of a company in a dispute. This financial intimidation will prevent citizens from seeking justice. Coal corporations will cheer while everyday Montanans find themselves under the coal car.

SB 557, sponsored by Sen. Mark Noland, R-Bigfork, is another pay to play bill requiring Montanans to pony up cash for expensive lawsuits and other fees to challenge government decisions using our bedrock conservation law, the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA). Sen. Noland stated that his bill was inspired by his sympathy for an industrial gold mine right outside Yellowstone National Park that was rejected after a MEPA challenge. Its time to reclaim our democratic processes when legislators proudly declare that keeping one corporations vaults stocked with gold is more important than citizens rights or protecting one of Montanas most celebrated natural treasures.

HB 971, sponsored by Rep. Josh Kassmier, R-Fort Benton, was written to bail out NorthWestern Energy after a recent legal ruling. A Montana judge halted construction of the corporations methane-fired power plant in Laurel until the state can analyze the plants climate pollution. Instead of waiting for that important data, the bill bans state analysis of carbon pollution from environmental reviews altogether. Its worth noting that NorthWesterns $280 million plant, if built, will become a major source of hazardous air pollutants, emitting tons of carcinogenic pollution each year. But health and safety protections dont concern these fringe politicians when corporations demand guaranteed profits.

Lets roll up our sleeves and strengthen the muscles of our democracy. We can join a local nonprofit that empowers regular people, attend community meetings, stay in touch with town officials, run for local office or support others who do. We can commit ourselves to the inclusive power of engaged common people  our friends, our neighbors, We the People.
DECATUR  Decaturs history is coming back to life.

Historic Preservation Week will be celebrated with various activities beginning Saturday, May 20, and ending Friday, May 26.

Members of the nonprofit group History of the Heartland have partnered with businesses, churches, individuals and others in the community to plan the events.

Ayn Owens founded History of the Heartland in 2019. This year marks the fourth Historic Preservation Week.

Were like the cheerleaders for our historic gems in our city as well as historic preservation, she said. One of the things that has taken off more than we ever thought it would is the stories of the people.

The historical venues want to reach young people and provide an appreciation for the city, Owens said. Its nice for children to come in with their families and theyre engrossed, she said. Not only in the stories, but theyre also engrossed in looking at the items that were in place 75 to 100 or 150 years ago.

To celebrate the week, the organization commissioned an elongated coin commemorating the Staley Pump house and the 100th anniversary of Lake Decatur. The first 20 attendees at various Historic Preservation Week events can receive a free coin. With it comes a card that has the story of the pump house, Owens said. On the other side it has a little bit of the history of Lake Decatur.

Historic Preservation Week activities For more information on the Historic Preservation Week events, times and locations, visit the Heartland Facebook page.

Locations and further information will be available on the History of the Heartland Facebook page.

The week of events will begin with the Lincoln Road Ride, featuring Model A and Model T cars. Drivers will meet at 8 a.m. Saturday, May 20, in the South Shores Dairy Queen parking lot. The line of cars will stop by the Abraham Lincoln mural at the law office at 234 S. Franklin St., then on to the Texaco Station at 266 W. Main St.

Anybody from the public that wants to follow us around can get their pictures taken, Owens said. They are some of the most knowledgeable people about Model T cars.

The festivities will continue on Saturday with the History Showcase with various historic venues, open houses and events. Open houses will include the Culver House with a $10 donation, the Lincoln Theater, Millikin Homestead, Macon County History Museum, African-American Cultural and Genealogical Society Museum of Illinois, Hieronymus Mueller Museum, Staley Museum and Gov. Oglesby Mansion.

Churches are a part of Decaturs history with information sometimes found in the stained glass windows and the details they hide. During the Stained Glass Stories tour, visitors can get a closer look at the artistic panes from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, May 21, at four historic downtown churches. Participating churches include St. Patrick's Catholic Church at 407 E. Eldorado St., St. James Catholic Church at 742 E. Clay St., St. John's Episcopal Church at 130 W. Eldorado St., and First Presbyterian Church at 201 W. Prairie Ave.

This year is the second stained glass tour during Historic Preservation Week. Owens was asked to offer the event again, because the information and artistry kept visitors at the churches, preventing them seeing all of the venues. A lot of people dont realize the wonderful history, she said. Some of these churches are our oldest buildings in Decatur.

Donna Dausman is one of the people who takes care of St. James Church. She can explain the details and features of the windows as well as the history. The stained glass was installed shortly after the church was built in 1911. The firm that did this is from St. Louis and they also did the St. Louis Cathedral, Dausman said.

#TogetherDecatur Do you know a person or of a story that exemplifies the best of Decatur? Contact Donnette Beckett at (217) 421-6983 or dbeckett@herald-review.com.

The St. James windows, that reach three stories high, explain the life of Jesus Christ and the Beatitudes. Unlike several museums, the churches encourage picture-taking.

It looks like a painting that a major artist did, Dausman said. Well, it was, but he was an artist in glass.

Another history event will include a fireside chat featuring retired Decatur firefighters and several pieces of memorabilia. People will hear stories from some of our amazing firefighters, Owens said.

The event will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 23, at Dohertys Pub and Pins, 242 E. William St.

Plans for next year are already in the works with a similar program and Decatur police officers.

Our Decatur 1955 will be shown on the silver screen at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 24, in the Avon Theater, 426 N. Water St.

It really is a snapshot of 1955, mostly in downtown Decatur, Owens said. Youll see a lot of downtown businesses that maybe youve heard about. Youll see people walking down the street. Youll see old cars. Youll see how people were dressed, most of them are in much more formal attire then what we would see today.

On Thursday, May 25, visitors on the Millikin Place Walking Tour Mansions of the Prairie will be greeted by actors as they approach the homes. The free event will be from 4 to 7 p.m. However, donations are accepted. Visitors will be able to view the exterior of the homes only.

Organizers for the weeks events have created several events designed to encourage questions and further discussions.

People go hundreds of miles to go to art museums, Dausman said. Weve got these treasures right here in Decatur.

Photos: Presidential visits to the Decatur area Abraham Lincoln - 1830s and beyond Ulysses Grant - 1880 Rutherford B. Hayes - 1880 William McKinley - 1898 Teddy Roosevelt - 1903 William Howard Taft - 1911 Franklin D. Roosevelt -1920 Herbert Hoover - 1931 Harry S Truman - 1939 Harry S Truman - 1948 Harry S Truman - 1948 Harry S Truman - 1952 John Kennedy - 1959 Richard Nixon - 1961 Jimmy Carter - 1975 Gerald Ford - 1976 Ronald Reagan - 1984 Barack Obama - 1990s and beyond
DECATUR  Authorities suspect arson is to blame for a Monday night fire at a vacant Decatur home.

Decatur Fire Department crews were called to 701 W. Olive St. at 11:15 p.m. They arrived to find heavy fire and smoke in the front half of the residential structure, Battalion Chief Neil Elder said in a news release.

Further investigation revealed that a shed was also on fire in the rear of the structure from a separate ignition source.

Crews cleared the scene at 1:30 a.m. There were no injuries reported.

The fire remains under investigation by the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal.
OREANA  Jeanne Helm recreates the cattle, forest and creek she loves in soothing shades of blues and greens. They personalize the home her great-grandfather built on the centennial farm along Kirby Road that is named for her ancestors.

The beauty of farming, conservation and history meld in her watercolor paintings and reflect the care Jeanne and her husband, Ron, give their conservatory farm near Oreana. In one of her paintings, Ron walks home from cutting out invasive honeysuckle to create a wooded pasture for their cows.

Although shes a farmer, the Macon County Farm Bureau member views rural landscapes through an artists eyes.

Trees in the forest are very different from the trees around the house. They (forest trees) all fit together like children in a row, she says, using her hands to imitate compact, straight tree trunks.

Since retiring from teaching early childhood education at Richland Community College in 2020, Jeanne devotes more time to painting scenes of the farm and forest. Helm's son, David, would like his mother to paint more dogs, she adds, looking over a watercolor of a family border collie in the snow.

Jeanne does take commissions to paint clients dogs and homes, but for her own enjoyment, she favors painting the familys Hereford cows, streams meandering among stately trees and an occasional antique auto as seen in sepia tinted family photos. Along with clearing invasive plants, Ron, a retired geography teacher, cares for a cow-calf herd of 17 Herefords, 13 Angus and an Angus bull and 196 acres, including 20 acres of pasture. Rons focus is protecting the farms natural resources by participating in water quality and conservation programs. Jeanne calls her studio the Conservatory Art Gallery  a play on words.

Water figures prominently in her art.

Jeanne prefers painting with watercolors and demonstrates how the paint can flow across the paper. I can pick the painting up, and the color moves, she says, slightly tipping a wet painting. She finds watercolors easier to use compared to oils and acrylics because watercolor paint doesnt dry as quickly and can be reworked by adding more water.

But water  more specifically flowing water  also bedevils Jeanne.

The rocks and the ripples, its hard to make it look natural. You have to let the paintbrush act like water when you paint. Im almost there, she says.

My goal is to paint deer in the forest. I go online and look at deer (images) but theyre not the deer in our forest, Jeanne says, adding that she isnt quick enough to photograph deer moving through their trees. She prefers photographs as references for works of art.

Neither Jeanne nor Ron have entirely stopped teaching.

She tutors reading online to six children who live around the country. A couple of her students call Ron, the farmer, she adds. The couple even devoted one tutoring session to lessons about their Macon County farm for two urban-dwelling Michigan brothers.

Jeanne also shares her artist skills by providing art lessons for some church members and neighbors. Theyve always got to come to Jeannies, Ron adds.

One of her favorite subjects, the forest has transformed in the artists eyes and become a treasured family spot. Ron even built a picnic table from Osage orange that came from a hedgerow. When we bought the forest land, she was mad, Ron says, smiling as he looks over at his wife. I thought it was a waste of money, Jeanne adds and nods.

Pausing, Jeanne muses about what draws her back again and again to illustrate the creeks that flow through her paintings.

Theres life there, Ron says with a smile.

Who owns some of the most valuable art collections in the world? Who owns some of the most valuable art collections in the world? Steve Cohen Francois Pinault Philip Niarchos Edythe Broad David Geffen Ezra and David Nahmad
New Braunfels, TX (78130)

Today

Partly cloudy. High near 90F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy with late night showers or thunderstorms. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low 68F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
New Braunfels, TX (78130)

Today

A few clouds early, otherwise mostly sunny. High 91F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy in the evening followed by scattered thunderstorms after midnight. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low 69F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
BRISTOL, Va.  City school leaders offered up a compromise funding solution Monday designed to plug a $500,000 gap in the school divisions upcoming fiscal spending plan.

Members of the Bristol Virginia City Council and School Board talked for about an hour during their first joint meeting in several years. The primary topic was city funding and a $500,000 increase versus the nearly $1 million increase the School Boards 2023-24 budget was built upon. Last week the council approved the lesser amount as part of its spending plan.

Superintendent Keith Perrigan suggested the school system could re-allocate a combination of state Lottery and federal ESSER [Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief] funds to bridge that gap for the upcoming year.

While there was little actual discussion on the proposal during the meeting, afterward Mayor Neal Osborne indicated he liked the solution.

I think the possibility of using one-time Lottery or ESSER funds is a very valid option. I personally dont see an issue with it, Osborne said after the meeting. I think its an innovative alternative to help make up for the additional money they thought they were going to receive.

The city is giving an extra $500,000, essentially. Thats a significant increase; its a lot of money but we have a lot of funding priorities we had to work with in the budget. Im glad the School Board was able to find another way to fund those things they need, Osborne said.

Asked whether the council would accept the deal, Osborne predicted it would.

I dont want to speak for everyone but I would say yes, the mayor said. Just from some very brief conversations after this meeting, I think we can be supportive of that.

The difference in funding is twofold. It relates directly to the divisions ability to give raises proposed in the state budget and the $500,000 could be applied to secure matching state dollars, Perrigan said. It also helps the city meet its required local effort  a minimum funding amount calculated by the state and applied individually to each locality that receives state funding.

Perrigan explained that 80% of the school budget is personnel but the funds earmarked for school raises in the currently proposed state budget go to SOQ [Standards of Quality]-funded positions but that is only about half of the division employees.

School leaders fully understand the financial challenges, especially as it relates to the landfill, Perrigan said, which is why they made this offer.

This is a deal, if they accept it, that makes sure our schools are funded at an appropriate level, we are able to give our teachers and all staff appropriate raises without having a negative impact on taxpayers, Perrigan said. The timing of the school construction grant announcement was perfect  just two days after City Council had first reading to approve the budget. Its a great deal for the School Board, a great deal for the City Council and its also a great deal for the residents of the city of Bristol Virginia.

If the city sticks to the $500,000 increase and funds the schools at $8.04 million  depending on which state budget is approved  the city could actually be below its minimum funding level or about $500,000 above, Perrigan said while explaining the difference. He predicted the final budget would wind up somewhere in the middle but that citys required local effort will only continue rising in the years ahead.

Board Vice Chair Breanne Forbes Hubbard said the state required effort formula is complex.

I think its a really tough concept to understand if youre not living it or involved with it on a daily basis, she said. This is my second year on the board and I still have to get questions answered for parts to make sure Im clear on. Its a complicated concept with a lot of moving pieces of how funding can change from different budgets. I hope tonights discussion furthered everybodys understanding of what were looking at for this years budget and the potential implications for future years budgets.

Board Chair Randy Alvis said he understands the tough spot the city is facing.

I understand their position, Alvis said, adding the school system will have more information this week. I think it boils down to what the Department of Education gives us final instructions on that grant that we got and how we can use those monies, well present it to them and see what they say.
BETHLEHEM  The Hiddenite Arts & Heritage Center will be hosting an adult painting party (21 and older) at The Vault in Bethlehem from 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 25. The Vault is at 9541 N.C. 127 North.

All painting levels are welcome to attend. Painting instructor Abby Moretz will guide participants as they create their own 11-by-14-inch canvas masterpieces. All art materials will be provided by the Hiddenite Center. Participants can expect an evening filled with fun and creativity. The cost of this event is $25 for Friends of the Center and $30 for non-members.
LENOIR  The Coffey Foundation held its annual scholarship awards dinner May 9 at Cedar Rock Country Club in Lenoir.

Eleven seniors from Caldwell Countys South Caldwell, West Caldwell, Hibriten and Caldwell Early College high schools and the Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy were recognized for their outstanding academic achievements and leadership qualities.

The total of scholarships awarded was $258,000. In addition to the scholarship, each student received a framed certificate and a DVD of the Coffey Foundation history.

This year's scholarship recipients are as follows:

 Abigail Kidder is a graduate of the Early College High School and will attend NC State University.

 Charlotte Gardner is a graduate of Hibriten High School and will attend UNC Chapel Hill.

 Andrea Godfrey is a graduate of West Caldwell High School and will attend Lenoir-Rhyne University.

 Faith McIntyre is a graduate of Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy and will attend East Carolina University.

 Nolan Wallace is a graduate of the Early College and will attend Lee University.

 Kylee Greene is a graduate of the Early College and will attend Queens University.

 Chandler Dixon is a graduate of the Early College and will attend UNC Asheville.

 Zoie Miller is a graduate of West Caldwell High School and will attend Gardner-Webb University.

 Max Macchia is a graduate of South Caldwell High School and will attend UNC Chapel Hill.

 Hayley Hartley is a graduate of South Caldwell High School and will attend UNC Chapel Hill.

 Emma Ingram is a graduate of South Caldwell High School and will attend Appalachian State University.

The Coffey Foundation has an extensive history of providing college scholarships to Caldwell County students. In addition to these scholarships, the foundation continues to provide numerous scholarships to students attending Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute.
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 3-5 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.
Dairy farmers cost to haul milk within the Upper Midwest jumped 21% when comparing May 2021 to May 2022. Using a simple average, the cost to move milk from farm to plant shifted from 51 cents per hundredweight (cwt.) in May 2021 to 62 cents per cwt. in May 2022.

While those costs may raise eyeballs, it could have been even worse for farmers as diesel fuel shot to the moon during that time span, jumping by $2.16 per gallon ($3.16 versus $5.32 per gallon). That represented a 68% price escalation for fuel.

Those are among the many findings in Corey Freijes paper, Milk Hauling Charges in the Upper Midwest Marketing Area. Those pricing realities only consider the simple average to haul milk. The weighted average was a lower reported figure as 80% of the milk delivered to plants in the Upper Midwest Federal Milk Marketing Order comes from just two states  Wisconsin and Minnesota. With that in mind, the weighted average to haul milk moved from 32 cents in May 2021 to 42 cents in May 2022.

While those weighted hauling prices may be lower than the aforementioned 51 and 62 cents, the 31% move was even higher than the simple average movement of 21%.

Flat fees prevail

In this analysis, Freije poured over information from 9,736 dairy producers.

The Federal Order 30 Market Administrators producer database allows options for handlers to report a line-item fee for hauling that can include, but is not limited to, stop charges, fuel charges, or a flat fee, shared Frieje in his paper. Some handlers will do a combination of charges necessitating some calculations to arrive at a total hauling charge from the database.

A flat fee structure leads to decreasing average hauling charge when viewed on a per hundredweight basis, continued Frieje. The possibility also exists that the hauling charge relationship for large producers may differ on a handler-by-handler basis. This relationship may mean the producer pays all charges external to the handlers payroll, wrote Frieje. Previous analysis has indicated that hauling charges are a function of producer pounds, the farms distance to plants, the farms distance to population centers, competition among handlers, and the concentration of dairy farms in the local market.

Lower costs in two states

With its 6,090 farms anchoring the order, Wisconsin has the lowest shipping costs no matter what the scale. On simple average when considering all Badger State farms, hauling charges averaged 53 cents per cwt. When using a weighted average that considers the costs based on the entire volume of milk, hauling charges drop to 37 cents per cwt.

Minnesota nearly matched those numbers at 53 cents per cwt. (simple average) and 41 cents per cwt. (weighted average).

The costs in the other states on a cwt. basis were:

South Dakota: simple average 79 cents; weighted average 45 cents

Iowa: simple average 77 cents; weighted average 54 cents

Illinois: simple average 95 cents; weighted average 76 cents

Michigan Upper Peninsula: simple average $1.19; weighted average 75 cents

North Dakota: simple average $1.45; weighted average 82 cents

Simple averages and weighted averages are easier to understand when looking at milk shipped based on a farms production level. Skewness dominates the results with nearly 65% of the milk produced by 10% of the farms, wrote Frieje. In addition, these largest categories of farms pay 57% of the total hauling charges.

Because these larger farms are spreading hauling charges over more hundredweights, especially considering flat fees that come into the picture, hauling charges per hundredweight go down as production levels climb higher.

For example, herds shipping between 1 million and over 5 million pounds of milk in a month has hauling costs range from 36 to 42 cents per cwt. on a weighted average (35 to 43 cents on a simple average). Meanwhile, herds sending between 100,000 to 1 million pounds of milk ranged from 46 to 50 cents per cwt. on both the weighted and simple scale.

Theres not much difference in the simple and weighted averages.

However, it was the 3,859 herds that shipped from 1 to 100,000 pounds of milk per month that had the highest costs with a 55 to 82 cents per cwt. weighted average (56 to 93 cents per cwt. on a simple average).

A little math can help better understand what it takes to ship 100,000 pounds per month. The average U.S. cow produces 24,000 pounds annually. On a daily basis, that equates to 65 pounds per day. Using those averages, a 50-cow dairy would ship 97,500 pounds of milk each month and a 100-cow dairy would ship 195,000 pounds.

To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com.

(c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2023

May 15, 2023
Officer charged with passing stopped bus

A Concord Police (CPD) officer has been charged after video showed his police vehicle passing a stopped Cabarrus County school bus.

The Concord Police Department released this statement about the incident Monday, May 15:

The video shared on social media shows a Concord Police Department vehicle breaking the law and endangering a child. The actions of this driver are something no one should do, especially not an officer who is held to a higher standard. As soon as we saw this video on Thursday night, May 11, we tried to speak with the childs family to check on her, and were able to talk with her father the next morning. We also provided the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the agency with jurisdiction, with all the information they requested. Sergeant Matthew Willet has been cited by the NCSHP for passing a stopped school bus.

Additionally, the Department placed Sgt. Willet on administrative duty pending completion of the administrative investigation. The Citys administrative investigation process requires several steps that take time. Were committed to accountability and ask our community to remain patient while we complete our investigation.

A video surfaced on social media Thursday, May 11. CPD identified the officer and turned the investigation over to the N.C. Highway Patrol because the alleged violation took place outside the city limits.

Colin Mayfield named co-anchor at WCNC-TV

CHARLOTTE  A familiar face on WCNC Charlotte will be a permanent fixture on the evening news in the Queen City. Colin Mayfield will also now co-anchor 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts alongside Vanessa Ruffes. Mayfield joined the WCNC news team in January as the 5 p.m. anchor with Ruffes.

On being named WCNC Charlotte evening anchor, Mayfield said, Im excited and honored to continue to work alongside this awesome team of journalists I admire, with a shared mission of making a difference in this community.

In making the announcement, WCNC News Director Carrie Hofmann said, This is an exciting new chapter for WCNC Charlotte! Colin is committed to staying connected to the people in the community and shedding a light on stories that impact them and adding value to their lives.

Mayfield moved to Charlotte after six years as an anchor/reporter in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is a graduate of Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Mayfield, his wife and three children reside in Pineville. Mayfield succeeds Fred Shropshire who has anchored the evening news since June of 2015. Shropshire announced earlier this year that he was leaving WCNC to join NBC10 Philadelphia as the evening news anchor.

WCNC Charlotte is the NBC affiliate in Charlotte and is owned and operated by TEGNA Inc.

Northwest Swim Club open house

The Northwest Swim Club, located at 5000 Durneigh Drive, Kannapolis, is holding an Open House on Friday, May 19, from 5-8 p.m.

Visitors may enjoy a free SunDrop Slushie and have a look at the pool and facilities.

Those who join that night will receive a $25 voucher for guest passes or concession stand purchases. There will also be craft vendors and hot dogs for sale. For more information, see the website at www.northwest-swim-club.com.

Salvation Army Womens Auxiliary meeting

The Salvation Army Womens Auxiliary will hold its General Meeting on Tuesday, May 23.

The meeting will be held at The Salvation Army of Cabarrus County headquarters at 216 Patterson Ave. SE, Concord. Socializing and refreshments begin at 9:30 a.m. prior to the meeting at 10.

At this months meeting, the Auxiliary will be presenting three scholarships for 2023 and will be installing officers for 2023-24.

There will be pre-owned books available for sale, with proceeds to be used to buy new books for the Christmas Angel Tree project. This month will have an area focused on cookbooks. The Salvation Army Womens Auxiliary functions as a fundraising and volunteer service group in support of The Salvation Armys programs and activities in the community.
The allocation of $58 million by the Federal Government to establish a National Anti-Scam Centre has been welcomed by the Australian Computer Society (ACS) in the face of Australians losing billions of dollars to scams.

The professional association for Australias technology sector lauded the funding allocation and the Governments recognition of this important issue facing Australians as online criminals misuse internet and communications technologies to exploit Australians.

ACS Chief Executive Officer, Chris Vein said: t is excellent the ACCC has been given the powers to work closer with industry to do more in controlling this problem.

As the organisation representing technology professionals, ACS is always concerned when IT is being misused for criminal gain and we strongly support measures that encourage the ethical use of technologies.

This announcement, coupled with last weeks Budget measures of an additional $132.1 million to the eSafety Commissioner and the $10.9 million for ACMA to establish an SMS Sender ID Registry, shows the government shares our concerns.

We look forward to working with the government, the ACCC, e-Safety Commissioner, ACMA and other agencies to ensure all Australians reap the benefits of technology while limiting the risks.

The ACS notes that its election platform, released in March 2022, proposed a $100m effort to reduce the volume of SMS, phone and email-based scams by boosting enforcement, tightening controls on scammers money flows and compelling telcos to take stronger action to block calls from providers known to be hosting scam operators.

The ACS says yesterdays announcement from the Federal government detailed $58m in funding which included a technology build of $44 million enabling the NASC to: receive a report of a scam from any institution (private or government) and centralise this intelligence.

Distribute data to those who need it most  such as banks to freeze an account, telcos to block a call, digital platforms to take down a website or account.

Analyse and act on the trends sourced from this data to disrupt scams and educate Australians.

The remaining funding of $14 million will be used to resource the NASC to deliver fusion cells; provide education and communications activities in collaboration with the private sector and support the ongoing data analysis; intelligence gathering, and disruption.
Coordinated Restore at Checkpoint (CRaC) improves Java startup and warmup times, making it ideal for serverless functions, containers, microservices and other uses, according to Azul.

CRaC allows a running application to pause, snapshot its state, and then restart later, even on a different machine.

By saving the full context of the application process, CRaC reduces Java application startup and warmup times to milliseconds rather than seconds or even minutes.

"Improving startup and warmup times is a perennial concern for Java developers, and CRaC provides a powerful new approach for solving this challenge," said Azul deputy CTO and Java champion Simon Ritter.

"This produces a host of benefits. When serverless functions start faster, you pay less at scale. If your container takes less time to warm up, you need fewer instances to handle the same load from the beginning. When servers restart faster, you can perform more frequent updates to your application code and infrastructure. Taken together this means more efficient development and deployment of Java applications."

Micronaut product development lead Sergio del Amo said "CRaC has generated immense interest among the Java developer community and provides a compelling, resource-efficient approach for improving startup and warmup times.

"Azul is well known for originating this project, so it came as no surprise that they would also deliver the world's first production-ready builds of OpenJDK with commercial CRaC support."

Commercially supported Azul Zulu builds of OpenJDK featuring CRaC are available for Java 17 on Linux x64 starting with the April 2023 release, which is available here.

Azul plans to add CRaC capabilities for other Java versions in both Azul Zulu builds of OpenJDK and Azul Platform Prime during 2023.
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 University of Toronto Professor Jordan Peterson ignited a big uproar by refusing to use gender neutral pronouns on campus. The Left wants to eliminate any term which denotes gender. From now on the terms Mr. President and First Lady will be replaced by Those Two Idiots in the White House.

 San Francisco continued losing retail stores as T-Mobile followed Walgreen's and Nordstroms exit due to unprosecuted shopliftings Friday. Here in L.A., I just saw the new glassed-in shelves at CVS to prevent theft and I had to laugh. The toothpaste aisle has better security than our Southern border.

 WebMD urged people to exercise caution this summer in the use of mosquito repellent. A report says mosquito repellent contains a chemical compound called mefloquine which in tests caused five percent of people who sprayed it on to experience hallucinations. This is true, a mosquito told me about it.

 Medical News Today website published Healthy Eating Tips to Help You on Your Fitness and Wellness Journey. My father used to tell me to choose my ruts carefully because I'm going to be in them a long time. I've made up my mind to put my health first and I'm starting an Oreos cleanse today.

GET ARGUS' DAILY SMILES TO YOUR INBOX. SIGN UP FOR THE JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. Just click here.

 The Detroit News reported a quick-thinking thirteen-year-old kid in Michigan used a slingshot to stop a man who was trying to abduct his eight-year-old little sister on Saturday. Reaction was swift. District Attorney Alvin Bragg is trying to find a way to get the kid extradited to New York to face charges.

 China sent a diplomatic envoy to Russia and Ukraine to try to jump start peace talks before this war gets out of hand. I hope the peace talks succeed for our sake, because we picked the wrong generation to fight World War III. They can't even fight anxiety from being called the wrong pronoun.

 The White House counter-attacked House Republican charges of family graft Saturday revealing the money Donad Trump's kids made while he was president. Never doubt Biden's ability to play hardball. Joe Biden is now offering reporters money to stop talking about his family's bribery allegation.

 Geraldo Rivera said Trump's defeat in court could render him morally unfit to reelect as president by the majority of Americans. Then there's Joe. In last week's poll 63% of Americans think Biden is mentally unfit to be president, the rest think he should replace his Chief of Staff with a Visiting Angel.

(COMMENT, BELOW)
Australia doesn't want to decouple from China -- Trade Minister Don Farrell

Xinhua) 08:11, May 16, 2023

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.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
TOLEDO  The upcoming annual Toledo Spring Festival is set of offer a game-show themed parade and related activities, a carnival, pronto pups and more Thursday, May 18, through Sunday. May 21.

The festivities will get an early start with the Toledo Volunteers community group opening its pronto pup stand at 11 a.m. Thursday at the northwest corner of the courthouse square. Volunteer Troy Wilson said the pups, a Toledo tradition that goes back decades, are comprised of 100% beef hot dogs and a secret recipe batter.

Wilson said the Toledo Volunteers also will sell cheeseburgers, French fries and cold drinks Thursday-Saturday at the pup stand as part of their annual fundraiser for youth programs and other community causes.

"We give every penny back to the community," Wilson said.

The festivities will continue with the Luehrs' Ideal Rides carnival opening at 5 p.m. Thursday and remaining open for daily hours through Sunday. Spring Festival co-organizer Kenzi Easton said the event has partnered with Luehrs' for 65 years.

"They are like family to us at this point," Easton said.

Scheduled activities during the festival will include the pageant at 6:30 p.m. Thursday on the stage, a performance by local band Main Street Echo at 8-11 p.m. Friday in the beer tent, and "The Price is Right" and "Family Feud" game show activities at 6 and 8 p.m., respectively, Saturday on the stage. These activities tie in with the 2023 festival's "Game Show Mania" theme.

Saturday's event lineup also will include the Neal Center YMCA's annual Springfest 5K at 8 a.m. and a game show-themed parade at 1 p.m.

A vendor fair and local food booths will be on hand throughout the festival. Easton said the food options will include the return of the Toledo American Legion Ladies Auxiliary's chicken dinner from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday in the Village Hall.

"That is something we have not had in a few years. It's made a comeback," Easton said.

A full scheduled is posted on the Toledo Spring Festival page on Facebook.
MATTOON  A vacant house across Richmond Avenue from the Mattoon Area Family YMCA was destroyed by a fire early Tuesday morning.

The Mattoon Fire Department reported in a press release that crews were dispatched at 3:57 a.m. to the area behind the YMCA for a structure fire. Crews arrived on scene at 4:01 a.m. and found the residence at 1608 Richmond Ave. fully involved in flames. Upon questioning neighbors, firefighters determined that the house was vacant.

Crews deployed hose lines and utilized two master stream devices to begin attacking the fire and prevent it from spreading to neighboring properties. The residence next door did suffer exterior damage to a privacy fence, melted vinyl siding and two broken windows, but crews kept the fire from spreading to the interior.

"Due to the severity of the fire and the partial collapse of the roof, the fire department was assisted by the Public Works Department in pulling unstable walls of the structure down so crews could access interior hot spots and completely extinguish the fire," said Chief Jeff Hilligoss in the press release.

No reports of any injuries occurred during this incident. The fire was brought under control in a little more than an hour, and all units cleared the scene by 11:56 a.m. The cause and origin of the fire is still under investigation.

The Mattoon Fire Department was also assisted at this scene by Coles and Moultrie counties 911 emergency communications, Charleston Fire Department, Mattoon Police Department, Mattoon Code Enforcement Office, Ameren Illinois, and Mitchell-Jerdan Ambulance Service.

Richmond was temporarily closed to traffic adjacent to the fire scene. The house was located on the north side of Richmond, near the Canadian National railroad lines that run north-south through Mattoon.

Photos: 2023 SBL Races for All Paces mat-nws-races-paces-266-pic.jpeg mat-nws-races-paces-corner-pic.jpeg mat-nws-races-paces-costumes-pic.jpeg mat-nws-races-paces-duo-pic.jpeg mat-nws-races-paces-finish-pic.jpeg mat-nws-races-paces-finishdog-pic.jpeg mat-nws-races-paces-finishkid-pic.jpeg mat-nws-races-paces-hugsmiles-pic.jpeg mat-nws-races-paces-stroller-pic.jpeg mat-nws-races-paces-stroller2-pic.jpeg
Q: I got a call recently from someone who said they were from the Social Security Administration. They were threatening to call the police on me. Should I be concerned? Is this a scam?  U.R.

Q: I dont answer the phone if I dont recognize the number. Someone left me a message the other day and said they were from the Social Security office and needed to talk to me about my account. Im not retirement age, yet so Im not sure what there is to talk about. I havent called back yet. My friend thinks its a scam. Is this a scam?  B.J.

Answer: There are a number of scams concerning Social Security, and both SAM and the SSA hear about them a lot.

In some cases, the caller states that SSA does not have all of the persons personal information, such as their Social Security number, on file, according to the SSA.

If you think about it, that makes no sense. The Social Security Administration is calling you because it doesnt have your Social Security number on file?

Other callers claim SSA needs additional information so the agency can increase the persons benefit payment, or that SSA will terminate the persons benefits if they do not confirm their information. This appears to be a widespread issue, as reports have come from citizens across the country, the agency said.

If you get a call from Social Security, they will never:

Claim that your Social Security number is about to be suspended if you dont verify your SSA number, or that your number was already suspended, and youll need to confirm it to reactivate it.

Threaten to seize your bank accounts.

Make demands for immediate payment, or demand that you pay a debt without the ability to appeal the amount you owe.

Require a specific means of payment, such as using a prepaid credit card, gift card or money transfer.

Threaten you for information.

Ask you for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.

Promise a Social Security benefit or increase in exchange for information.

Threaten you with arrest or deportation. If you receive a suspicious call or email from someone claiming to be from SSA, do not provide them with any information. Hang up and report it to the Office of the Inspector General at 800-269-0271 or online at oig.ssa.gov/report.

You can also contact Social Security directly at 800-772-1213, rather than calling a number the possible scammer provides.

If a scammer demands payment, remember that SSA only accepts online payments through Pay.gov.

You can also physically pay using a check or money order at a Social Security office. The Winston-Salem office is located at 1370 Lockland Ave. It is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The phone number is 877-402-0828.

DAV seeks volunteer

The local chapter of the Disabled American Veterans needs volunteer drivers to transport Forsyth County veterans to the Kernersville and Salisbury Veterans Affairs facilities.

The DAV provides the vehicle. Volunteers must have a valid drivers license and pass a physical provided by the VA.

For more information or to volunteer, call 336-515-5000 ext. 21479 and leave your contact information.
Wake Forest University President Susan Wente called it the before and after.

The 1,000 or more undergraduates in black gowns and caps knew exactly what she meant.

In the fall of 2019, they arrived on campus, ready for the full college experience. Some eight months later, that all came to halt when COVID became a global pandemic, upending their college experience.

You were tested, Wente told the new graduates at Mondays graduation ceremony. You navigated a once-in-a-lifetime global crisis.

Though daily college life returned to normal by the time of their junior years, COVID had a lingering impact, said Rabab Meghani, a native of Dothan, Ala., who graduated with a philosophy degree.

It doesnt feel real still that I am holding my diploma. In some ways, it feels like we are weirdly frozen in the second semester of our freshman year, she said.

Her favorite memory came in the carefree days before COVID sent she and her classmates back home for the remainder of the semester and made mask-wearing and testing as much of the Wake experience as homecoming and Hit the Bricks.

It was beating Duke, February 2020. It was a Tuesday, and everyone went out afterward. It was complete mania, Meghani recalled, smiling. We were out rolling the quad, and nobody could get us under control, and nobody wanted to. It was beautiful.

Meghani is taking a gap year then plans to enroll in medical school. For her gap year, shed like to go to a one-year masters program and continue her study of philosophy.

I want to play with philosophy while I can, she said.

Meghani was one of 1,185 undergraduates earning degrees on a graduation day that started overcast before the clouds parted, washing Hearn Plaza in warm light.

Henian Newsome was among the 898 students earning graduate degrees. It was a rare appearance on the Wake campus for Newsome, 39.

He started Wakes Master of Business Administration in Charlotte in 2017, but a year into the program, he learned he had stage 2 colon cancer, sidetracking him for a few years.

Newsome moved to New York City then jumped back into the program when it moved online. Now living in Nashville and cancer-free, Newsome enjoyed Mondays graduation with his mother, mother-in-law, sister and nephew.

This is one of those things I had to complete, said Newsome, a member of the armed forces who will be moving to Washington, D.C., to work for the Pentagon. I wanted to make sure I was here to commemorate that journey.

Commencement speaker Killian Noe, a 1980 graduate of Wake Forest, has spent her life providing radical hospitality to people living in the margins  the homeless, the addicted, those struggling with mental health issues.

You understand that what gives purpose and meaning to life is not what we get, but what we give. But today, you enter more fully into a dominant culture hellbent on convincing you that life is about acquiring more and more of what will never satisfy your deepest longings, she said.

Noe asked them to use their powers to influence others.

Graduates, you may become a lawyer, a teacher, a software engineer, a pastry chef, a parent, or a phlebotomist, she said. Whatever ways you give your life, use your unique power to influence on behalf of some individual or group being left out until their suffering becomes your suffering, until their joy becomes your joy. Then under their leadership, inspired by their courage, enlist in the struggle to transform systems that perpetuate exclusion. For we deny the oneness in the human family at our own peril.

Symone Davis of Charlotte plans to work with such people. She received a Master of Science in Addiction Research and Clinical Health and is applying to medical school.

On Monday, she posed for several pictures with her parents, Larry and Redonda Davis.

Were proud parents, Redonda Davis said.

Symone is the last of their six children to graduate from college.

Seeing your kids progress, Larry Davis said, it touches my heart.

PHOTOS: Wake Forest Graduation 2023
Its all fun and games with plenty of yucks (and bad puns) when cows get involved in police work.

And why not?

The Boone Police Department, in separate incidents four months apart, had officers ensnared in snicker-worthy chases involving patrol cars, a tractor and, yeah, cows.

No one was injured, suspected miscreants went to jail.

(Stop-sticks) were not terribly effective on a tractor, Chief Andy LeBeau said after the first incident in January.

The second, one day after a pair of innocent teenagers were killed in a police chase in Forsyth County it must be noted, made the write-ups just funny enough for coast-to-coast distribution due to the participation of cud-chewing bystanders.

Apparently, cows do not want suspected criminals loitering in their pasture and quickly assisted our officers to where the suspect was hiding, police noted on social media.

Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk.

Wacky cops-and-robbers stories, theyre all fun and games  until theyre not.

Ruining lives

Due to their odd, dog-bites-man nature, the chases in Watauga County attracted attention in the form of what are called brites in the news business. Theyre impossible to resist.

So it was that in January, outlets took note when Boone police arrested a guy whod stolen a tractor and led officers on a slow-speed chase.

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.

Funny, right?

Further down in the narrative, though, police noted that officers had shot out the tractors tires because of safety concerns about a nearby elementary school.

Oh, and after the tractor rolled to a halt, police said, the suspected thief pulled a knife and had to be subdued by a taser blast.

Then came the bovine incident.

A 34-year-old man named Joshua Russell Minton, police said, fled a traffic stop last Tuesday, May 9.

The suspect jumped from the vehicle in Deep Gap near U.S. 421 and took off on foot. Cows led the pursuers to where their man was hiding.

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, a statement posted to social media read.

Cue the chuckling morning show hosts. Har, har, har ...Now for weather.

The timing couldnt have been worse.

Because right down U.S. 421 here in Forsyth County, three people died the day before in a head-on crash prompted by a law-enforcement decision to pursue 29-year-old Joseph Brandon Smith, who was driving a stolen 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis.

Smith, investigators said, was attempting to flee and wound up driving the wrong way on the Northern Beltway at speeds approaching 120 mph.

Madison Lynn Grotschel and Jayce Alexander Haverkos, on their way to go fishing for crying out loud, 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 and headed east into oncoming traffic.

One minute and 10 seconds later, three lives ended  two of them innocents 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, said Katie Lynn Grotschel, Madison Lynns mother.

And for what? To charge a guy with stealing a car worth, at most, a few thousand bucks?

Weighing risks

A conviction for stealing a car, following months of legal wrangling, likely nets less prison time than it takes to earn an associates degree from community college.

Throw in a fleeing to elude charge and someone with a record might stay in long enough for a bachelors.

Each incident, whether they involved tractors, cows or a piece of crap Mercury, was unique and involved very different factors before a police watch commander  a sergeant or lieutenant, perhaps  OKd the fateful next steps.

The reasons for initiating a chase matter. Some guy whos just killed a store clerk should be hunted down; a scared kid with an expired tag or a punk out for a joyride not so much.

Circumstance  and surroundings  matter, too. Take for example another incident involving sheriffs deputies and a police pursuit.

Just after 2 a.m. on March 6 near an on-ramp to U.S. 421, a deputy with the Forsyth County Sheriffs Office fell in behind a Toyota Tacoma. Its driver, 29-year-old Alexander Parks Holland, hit the gas.

A short chase ended just down the highway at Peace Haven Road. Holland shot at law-enforcement, had his truck rolled during a controlled crash and died in a fusillade after he crawled out of his wrecked pickup with an upraised rifle.

At that hour, U.S. 421 is nearly deserted. The Northern Beltway, around the lunch hour on a weekday, almost certainly is not.

The sheriffs office was also involved in a fatal chase in December

On Dec. 2, 2022, a 21-year-old man died following a high-speed pursuit by a Forsyth sheriffs deputy and subsequent wreck. The chase ended at 9:40 p.m. when a Honda Accord driven by Jovannie Perez Sotelo, of Winston-Salem, crashed into a bystanders vehicle after running a stoplight at the intersection of East Clemmonsville and Thomasville roads.

Across the nation, there is no one-size-fits-all policy (or laws) about initiating police chases. State lawmakers have 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.

Hitting the blue lights and mashing the gas to give chase can be a spur-of-the-moment judgment call.

We dont know how Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough feels about this, though. He wasnt available to talk last week, he said through a spokeswoman.

The Peoples Office was closed.

Still, at a minimum, police chase policy  like officer-involved shootings  deserve greater scrutiny with honest, thoughtful conversation among serious (and open) minded decision makers. Unlike a shooting, a decision made in a split-second, a chase can be called off.

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 love them, deserve that much.
The North Carolina Jewish Clergy Association opposes Senate Bill 20, a 12-week abortion ban misleadingly labeled the Care for Women, Children and Families Act.

We are asking members of the N.C. General Assembly to sustain Gov. Coopers veto. For thousands of years Jewish tradition has embraced a sacred obligation to preserve life and protect and prioritize the health and well-being of the pregnant woman; this bill does not.

By banning abortion after 12 weeks and creating numerous burdens (in-person consultations, waiting periods, forced ultrasounds, multiple in-person visits for medication abortion, burdensome licensing requirements on already heavily regulated abortion clinics), Senate Bill 20 will negatively impact those seeking to safely terminate a pregnancy within the first trimester. Though it does include some exceptions, SB 20 will prevent some individuals from seeking abortions later in pregnancy when they discover a fetal anomaly or face maternal health risks and choose to terminate a pregnancy before fetal viability.

This bill also will negatively impact both health care providers and clergy who would offer abortion services and counseling. Jewish tradition cherishes the sanctity of life, including the potential life during pregnancy, but does not believe that personhood and human rights begin with conception, but rather with birth as indicated by Exodus 21:22-23. While other religions may believe that a human being exists at the moment of conception (and have lobbied for a total or 6-week ban so that SB 20 is presented as a sort of compromise), Jewish law dating back to the Torah has established that abortion is not murder.

For the Jewish faith, and for those of many other faiths, a human beings life does not begin until the first breath, live birth. Therefore, the only thing being compromised by SB 20 is womens health. Supreme Court Justice Harry A. Blackmuns opinion in Roe v. Wade discussed the lack of consensus among doctors, philosophers and theologians as to when life begins. This lack of consensus is unchanged to this date. Blackmun noted that it was the predominant attitude of the Jewish faith, and also the position of a large segment of the Protestant community, that life does not begin until live birth. After finding that the 14th Amendments concept of personal liberty protected a womans decision whether or not to terminate her pregnancy, the Roe Court determined that a state could not, by adopting one theory of life, override all rights of the pregnant woman. While the U.S. Supreme Court in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health overruled Roe and gave each state license to adopt one religions theory of when human life begins, why would the N.C. General Assembly want to run roughshod over the religious beliefs of many of its citizens?

Isnt religious liberty for everyone? As Jewish American clergy, we believe in the protection of privacy and freedom, especially religious freedom.

We reaffirm our unequivocal support for complete access to reproductive health services, including abortion up to 20 weeks as is current N.C. law. Consistent with the Jewish value of pursuing tzedek (justice) for all, we clergy of the NCJCA vehemently oppose laws, including SB 20, that will create a patchwork of abortion access and push basic health care out of reach for many.

Judaism supports abortion as health care  indeed, Jewish law views abortion as not only permissible, but required when necessary to safeguard the well-being, physical or mental, of a pregnant person.
Opportunity is ripe for Republicans to win back the Senate next year  if they can land the candidates to pull it off.

The GOP needs a net gain of one or two seats to flip the chamber, depending on which party wins the White House in 2024, and it's Democrats who are defending the tougher seats. Democrats hold seven of the 10 seats that CNN ranks as most likely to flip party control next year  and the top three are all in states former President Donald Trump carried twice.

But this spring's recruitment season, coming on the heels of a midterm cycle marred by problematic GOP candidates, will likely go a long way toward determining how competitive the Senate map is next year.

National Republicans got a top pick last week, with Gov. Jim Justice announcing his Senate bid in West Virginia  the seat most likely to flip party control in 2024. (Rankings are based on CNN's reporting, fundraising figures and historical data about how states and candidates have performed.) But Justice appears headed for a contentious and expensive primary. And in many other top races, the GOP hasn't yet landed any major candidates.

Democrats, meanwhile, are thankful that most of their vulnerable incumbents are running for reelection, while a high-profile House member has largely cleared the field for one of their open Senate seats.

The unknown remains West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin. Responding to Justice's candidacy, Manchin  who has said he'll decide about running by the end of the year  had this to say to CNN about a potentially messy GOP primary: "Let the games begin."

The anti-tax Club for Growth's political arm has already committed to spending $10 million to back West Virginia Rep. Alex Mooney in the GOP primary. And tensions between the club, which has turned against Trump, and more establishment Republicans could become a feature of several top Senate races this cycle, especially with the National Republican Senatorial Committee weighing more aggressive involvement in primaries to weed out candidates it doesn't think can win general elections.

In the 2022 cycle, most of Trump's handpicked candidates in swing states stumbled in the general election. But the former president picked up a key endorsement this week from NRSC Chair Steve Daines. The Montana Republican has stayed close with Trump, CNN has previously reported, in a bid to ensure he's aligned with leadership.

Democrats defending tough seats have previously used GOP primaries to their advantage. Manchin survived in 2018 in part because his opponent was state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey. That wasn't an accident. Democrats had spent big attacking one of his primary opponents to keep him out of the general election.

Last year's midterms underscored that candidates really do matter after Republicans failed to harness favorable national winds in some key races. In a presidential year, the national environment is likely to loom large, especially with battleground states hosting key Senate races. It will also test whether some of the last remaining senators who represent states that back the opposite parties' presidential nominees can hold on.

President Joe Biden, who carried half of the states on this list in 2020, made official last week that he's running for reelection. The GOP presidential field is slowly growing, with Trump still dominating most primary polling. It's too early to know, however, what next year's race for the White House will look like or which issues, whether it's abortion or crime or the economy, will resonate.

So for now, the parties are focused on what they can control: candidates. Even though the 2024 map is stacked in their favor, Republicans can't win with nobody. But there's plenty of time for would-be senators to get into these races. Some filing deadlines  in Arizona, for example  aren't for nearly another year. And there's an argument to be made that well-funded or high-profile names have no reason to get in early.
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 family's 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 a shooting. Jordan Ely was pronounced dead at the scene.

Elijah E. Logan, 22, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, who was identified by witnesses as the shooter, turned himself into authorities "without incident" on Monday afternoon, a statement from the Blair Police Department said. He was arrested on a warrant for suspicion of first-degree assault and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony. The Washington County Attorney's Office will review and possibly amend the charges in the coming days, the statement said.

Logan is the father of Samantha Ely's 7-month-old son, who was also in the house but was not injured.

Alexis Ely said Jordan Ely was sleeping but woke upon hearing his sister's "cry for help." He ran upstairs to his sister's bedroom where he confronted Logan, who had 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 don't even know if she will even be able to walk again."

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Joined by its newest member Monday, the Lincoln Board of Education chose Lanny Boswell to be president at its annual reorganization meeting.

Bob Rauner, who won reelection to a second four-year term earlier this month, was elected vice president.

The board also welcomed Piyush Srivastav as its newest member Monday. Srivastav replaces Connie Duncan, who bid farewell to the board at its May 9 meeting.

Don Mayhew was board president last year, while Duncan was vice president.

Meanwhile, Kathy Danek was elected president of the Education Service Unit, which oversees much of the district's evaluation and assessment work. Barb Baier was appointed vice president.

The board also reappointed Sarah Salem, LPS director of continuous improvement and professional learning, as ESU administrator.

Boswell, a software engineer, was first elected in 2013 and has served as board president previously.

Srivastav, a Democrat, won election to the officially nonpartisan board in the May general election. He represents District 2, which covers a swath of south-central and southeast Lincoln.

"I feel I am ready to be a member of the LPS board and work with my board members to make policy for all students," Srivastav said after his election.

Annie Mumgaard, the other incumbent up for reelection in May, also kept her seat on the board, which is now made up of five Democrats and no Republicans.

In addition to Srivastav, Danek, Mumgaard, Baier and Mayhew are all Democrats. Rauner and Boswell are independents.
Gov. Jim Pillen signed off Tuesday on eliminating basic-skills testing for new teachers, which many say is an unnecessary and burdensome requirement keeping educators out of the classroom.

Pillen announced Tuesday he would approve the repeal of Rule 23, which requires new teachers to take a basic-skills test before they can get their teaching certificate. The Nebraska State Board of Education already repealed the rule in March but was waiting on the governor's signature.

Pillen described repealing the requirement as an example of government getting out of the way.

"I call it cleaning the closets out," the governor said at a Tuesday news conference where he was joined by lawmakers and members of the Nebraska State Board of Education. "And I think today's conversation eliminates a big barrier."

Nebraska uses the Praxis Core test offered by the New Jersey-based Educational Testing Service. Teachers are tested on subjects including reading, writing and math.

Interim Education Commissioner Deborah Frison said the basic-skills test requirement was an "unnecessarily burdensome" regulation that served as a roadblock amid worsening teacher shortages.

In Nebraska, the number of positions that were either left vacant or filled by someone other than a fully qualified teacher rose from 482 to 768 at the start of the current school year, according to a fall survey of more than 400 public and private school districts.

A 2020 report prepared for the Nebraska Department of Education by the Johns Hopkins School of Education also showed there is no link between those who pass the test and teaching effectiveness.

The test is expensive to take, too: It costs $150 the first time and $90 for any subsequent attempts.

The Nebraska State Board of Education had previously discussed eliminating the test before the pandemic but didn't go through with it because then-Gov. Pete Ricketts said it would lower standards.

Patti Gubbels, president of the Nebraska State Board of Education, said prospective teachers are already assessed at multiple points throughout college. She called the repeal of Rule 23 another step in addressing the teacher shortage.

"You want multiple measures of people to really know, do they have the skills?" Gubbels said. "Just putting all of that on one test is not really reasonable."

The repeal will go into effect in time for new teachers entering the workforce this fall, said Nebraska Department of Education spokesperson David Jespersen. The department still needs to clean up language in other rules following the repeal.

With the move, Nebraska joins 33 other states that do not require a basic-skills test for teachers.

Before the state board repealed the rule, the department held a hearing on the proposal in January in which multiple people testified in favor of eliminating Praxis. The company that supplies the test reported a 79% pass rate among University of Nebraska-Lincoln students from Sept. 21 to Aug. 22.

With one less hurdle out of the way, Gubbels said the board is looking at other rules governing things like teacher reciprocity between states.

"I think there are a lot of things that we can start looking at and some that we have been looking at," she said. "We're working on a lot of things, so this is a first step."

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It was standing room only Monday in the City Council chambers as Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird, three new council members and one incumbent took the oath of office, beginning the newest chapter in city government.

Gaylor Baird, who won a second term in a hotly contested race against former state Sen. Suzanne Geist, will likely continue the priorities from her first term, including public safety, road improvements and implementing both affordable housing and climate plans passed during her first four years.

And Gaylor Baird, a Democrat, will continue to have a 6-1 Democrat majority on the council.

Three new district council members  Justin Carlson, Brodey Weber and Tom Duden  were sworn in, as was incumbent James Michael Bowers.

Although city races are officially nonpartisan, parties recruit and support candidates for office, and the election did not change the partisan makeup of the council.

Duden, a former police officer, remains the only Republican  and he thanked county party leaders Fanchon Blythe and Mary Hilton, who were at the swearing-in Monday. Like Geist, he was a vocal critic of the police department's leadership and current staffing levels.

Duden replaces Republican Richard Meginnis to represent southeast Lincolns District 2.

The election did change the gender balance of the council.

With departing members Jane Raybould (and her interim replacement Michelle Suarez) and Tammy Ward, Sandra Washington remains the only woman on the council.

Voters elected Carlson to replace Raybould, who was elected to the Legislature. The council chose Suarez to replace her in the interim. Carlson, a development director at the University of Nebraska Foundation, has also been involved in Democratic politics and served on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.

The newest council also includes one of the youngest -- if not the youngest -- person ever to serve.

Twenty-five-year-old Weber replaces Ward as northwest Lincoln's representative. A UNL graduate and lifelong resident of northwest Lincoln, Weber is vice president of client relations at Mid America Casing Supply.

Bowers, a Democrat, won a second term to represent northeast Lincolns District 1 in a tight race with Taylor Wyatt, the Republican who ran against him four years ago.

After the swearing in, the new council elected at-large members Tom Beckius as chairman and Washington as vice-chairwoman.

Top Journal Star photos for May 2023
A 34-year-old New York man has been sentenced in Nebraska to five years in federal prison and ordered to pay $404,000 in restitution for his part in a scheme to defraud Verizon Wireless.

Chief United States District Judge Robert Rossiter Jr. sentenced Felix Pena, 34, of Bronx, New York, in U.S. District Court in Omaha on Friday for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

Pena pleaded guilty and will have to serve three years on supervised release after serving his prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney Steven Russell said that beginning in 2017 and continuing to February 2019, Pena and others acquired stolen identities of U.S. citizens, including at least three in Nebraska. Then they used the victims' information to create Verizon accounts and bought cellphones and accessories on the accounts, causing financial loss to Verizon and potential credit damage to the individual whose identity was used.

Once purchased, the phones would be shipped to New York or New Jersey and sold on the black market.

In February 2019, two of the conspirators were arrested in Kearney while trying to buy phones using the stolen identity of a Kearney resident "thus beginning the investigation of this matter," Russell said.

Penas main role was to run credit reports on the stolen identities to determine the credit worthiness of the victim whose identity was being used to open a Verizon account. He also distributed money to the other members of the conspiracy.

Verizon suffered a loss of $528,002 as a result of the scheme.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Kearney Police Department.

Think you're immune to cybercrime because you're young and tech savvy? Think again Who is most impacted by cybercrime? People under age 50 lost around $2.7 billion to internet scams in 2021 People in younger age groups are scammed at higher rates than those over 60 41% of people in their 20s reported losing money to fraud People in their 40s were the fastest-growing segment of online crime victims Adults under 40 were more than twice as likely to be the victims of social media scams
GRAND ISLAND  The student speaker at Grand Island Senior High's graduation ceremony used the platform to call for an improvement to the school's culture.

Kenny Morales, who graduated on Sunday, called his speech Opening Pandoras Box. After a generic opening, the box opened in paragraph two, to shouts of support from some in the audience.

I dont know about y'all, but I hated school, Morales told the crowd, per a transcript of the speech provided by Morales.

He touched upon the number of physical altercations at GISH, saying while each fight has its own story, they all stem from the same problem: And that is the culture at our school.

In his speech, Morales contended: We lie, we pretend and we hide the truth with selective facts on positive things occurring around the school, instead of being honest and addressing the issues head on. We attempt to fix the issue by pulling them like weeds instead of fixing the underlying issue.

District decisions are made by administrators who sit in a room  everyone is guarded from the truth, Morales told the Independent.

The district declined to comment on Moraless speech.

Morales said he felt his speech consisted of constructive criticism.

I really dont think I was too critical," he said.

He told the graduates and guests the solution is raising expectations.

Sure, at first there will be resistance, but in the long term there will be leaders within the class that will emerge and set the standard we so desperately need," Morales said in the speech.

Morales said the speech was not necessarily about shaming the school.

It was more about that message (of raising expectations), he told The Independent. I just wanted to start a conversation.

Morales said his calculus classmates encouraged him to submit a speech  in his own words. Knowing the speech he wanted to write wouldnt pass prior review, Morales enlisted ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence chatbot, to compose a decoy. ChatGPT uses data and computing techniques to mimic human conversation.

Students who are interested in speaking at graduation can submit their names and draft of the speech that they would like to give, said Grand Island Public Schools Communications Director Mitch Roush. Then a group of GISH staff review them and score them blindly.

From there, GISH Executive Principal Jeff Gilbertson assesses the scores and makes the final call from there, Roush said. Once thats done, (the student selected) works with Mr. Gilbertson to refine their message and make sure they feel confident in what theyre doing.

At that point, Gilbertson gives the speech a final review, Roush said.

Grand Island Public Schools Board of Education President Hank McFarland issued a statement on Tuesday.

"I disagree with how this came about," he said. "Seniors are required to submit their speeches, and they should be giving the speeches as submitted. I'm a big believer in  saying what you're going to do and then doing what you said you would do. That being said, however, Kenny made a couple of valid points. I believe strongly that if you have faults, you need to first admit to those faults, and then develop a plan to fix them. Do we need work on discipline in schools? Yes. Do we need to have high expectations of performance in the classroom? Yes. Do we need to make sure our students are doing a good job of attending class? Yes. These are all things that we have already been discussing in the administration. And I can assure you that we will be making adjustments. Short story made long  does the student have valid concerns? Yes. Was the way he did it correct? No."

Morales didnt say how long it took to manufacture the submitted speech, but did note the delivered speech was written in about a half hour, the day before commencement.

Its just holding people accountable, Morales said.

According to Nebraska Department of Education data, 553 students graduated from the Grand Island High School in 2021-2022  83.41% of the four-year cohort for that class. State data is not yet available for the class of 2022-2023.

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When Kathleen Valentini had a nagging pain in her hip that would not go away, she eventually saw her primary doctor. The 47-year-old North Carolinian was sent to physical therapy and given pain medicine, yet her pain persisted and caused difficulty walking.

She was referred to an orthopedic surgeon who was concerned and ordered an MRI. Valentinis insurance company denied the MRI, stating that the scan was not medically necessary and that she had not yet completed physical therapy. In fact, she had finished therapy and the insurance company had already paid for the service. She would eventually die from cancer in the hip.

The process of approving a procedure, medication or medical treatment is called prior authorization. Insurance companies purport that it is a tool to ensure medical treatments are necessary and appropriate. When used correctly, prior authorization can lead to efficient care and reduced costs, providing an appropriate check and balance to keep health insurance premiums affordable and ensure that medical care is reasonable.

Ask many physicians, and you will hear that prior authorization is increasingly being used to deny or delay basic medical care such as blood tests, imaging and other medically necessary procedures. The added friction from this process leads to inefficiency, increased costs, delays, prolonged suffering and physician burnout in healthcare.

Prior authorizations, including subsequent denials and appeals, take enormous time and resources for patients, physicians and staff. Notably, wait times to speak with a health insurance company representative can be over one hour.

Some insurance companies have employed disturbing tactics to delay or deny care. In my neurosurgery practice, one insurance company gave only four hours to appeal a denial for necessary medical care. Others have denied claims without reviewing my clinical notes on the patient.

According to the AMA, there are approximately 41 prior authorizations per physician per week, taking up two business days of physician and staff time. This administrative burden is contributing to physician burnout and has led some doctors to stop working with certain insurance plans.

This problem has been particularly alarming in Medicare Advantage plans. A 2023 Kaiser Family Foundation analysis found that 82% of appeals in Medicare Advantage plans resulted in overturned denials. In some plans, more than 90% of denials were overturned, raising serious questions about the number and nature of these denials.

Insurance companies argue that the denial of payment does not prevent a patient from following through on a doctors orders, but most of my patients cannot pay for an MRI, spine surgery, hospital stay or rehabilitation that can sometimes follow.

Appealing these denials can lead to a discussion with an insurance company doctor known as a peer-to-peer. However, these discussions rarely happen with a physician in my own specialty of neurosurgery. Lacking the professional background, these gatekeepers must then be convinced to allow a needed treatment course to proceed.

This exchange can be awkward and frustrating on both sides. An analogy would be a banking attorney giving advice on a capital murder trial.

Some hope may be on the horizon. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued rules to reduce the friction of prior authorization with an automated electronic process and to add transparency to the process.

Congress is considering legislation, the Improving Seniors Timely Access to Care Act, which would further streamline prior authorization in Medicare Advantage plans. There is a bill pending in the Nebraska Legislature to exempt providers with greater than 90% appeal approvals. Moreover, the Nebraska Department of Insurance should collect and investigate complaints from health care providers on behalf of patients.

Physicians have little recourse for unscrupulous behavior by insurers, and this would allow regulators to observe and act on patterns of abuse. Lastly, regulators should require that health insurers use physicians in the same specialty during a peer-to-peer.

The misuse of prior authorization has the end effect of wearing down physicians and patients who must navigate the byzantine process. In the best case scenario, the process delays care, prolongs suffering and adds significant administrative costs to health care.

In the worst case scenario, people get hurt. Kathleen Valentinis case highlights what can go wrong. Her orthopaedic surgeon appealed the denial, and the MRI was eventually performed nearly six weeks later. She underwent surgery to remove her leg, part of her hip and pelvis. Her cancer doctors said she could have avoided surgery had the tumor been discovered only weeks earlier.

We should expect better from our health insurance.
Lets begin to talk openly not about the elephant in the room but the donkey. President Joe Biden has two gigantic actuarial and electoral challenges in front of him: His age and Vice President Kamala Harris. While he cannot change either, Harris could help the ticket and the country by stepping off.

One longtime Democratic voter told me that, in 2020, she voted for Donald Trump on the basis of the bottom of the ticket. She admitted that she considered both Trump and Biden old and therefore voted for which vice presidential candidate she would prefer. And that was Mike Pence over Harris. While this is only one voter, this should be a warning to Harris.

In polls, 70% of respondents say that Biden should not run for reelection. When asked in one poll whether Bidens age was a major reason, a minor reason, or not a reason for him to bow out of the 2024 race, 49% answered that it was either a major or minor factor affecting their opinion of him. This is a moot point at this point now that Biden has announced he is running for reelection. In the video announcing his 2024 campaign, Harris had a prominent role with multiple clips of her out there on her own, being vice presidential.

Others say the quiet part out loud about Harris. Former South Carolina governor and GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley bluntly stated after Bidens campaign announcement: I think that we can all be very clear and say with a matter of fact that if you vote for Joe Biden you really are counting on a President Harris, because the idea that he would make it until 86 years old is not something that I think is likely.

Harsh, yes. But she simply stated what a lot of other people are thinking. Considering this reality, it should be fair then to look at Harris popularity  or lack thereof. In an NBC poll, only 36% of respondents approved of Harris job as vice president, while 53% disapproved.

But it is not just the current situation. Look back at her 2020 Democratic primary bid. Harris dropped out in December 2019 before the first caucus in Iowa. Multiple media reports claimed that Harris 2020 campaign lacked a clear strategy and had a fractured and disgruntled campaign staff.

Gil Duran, a former aide to Harris and now the editorial page editor of the Sacramento Bee, reportedly said back in 2019, You cant run the country if you cant run your campaign.

Then there is the question of what exactly Harris policy platforms are. During the first Democratic primary debate in 2019, Harris had raised her hand when a moderator asked which of the candidates supported abolishing private insurance in favor of a government-run single-payer alternative. A day later, she reversed herself, saying a Harris administration would preserve supplemental private insurance.

None of this usually matters, but when the presidential hopeful would be in his mid-80s during his second term, voters should consider such things.

People such as Bidens former chief of staff, Ron Klain, blame Harris lack of popularity on other factors. Klain recently said, I do think sexism and racism are part of the problem, no question about it. While racism and sexism may play a part, and it may not be fair, in politics and in life, you have to play the hand you are dealt.

The current political landscape is murky at best. It is safe to assume that Donald Trump will be the Republican nominee and, as of right now, we do not know who his vice presidential pick would be. We also know that in this highly polarized political climate, general elections are decided by a small number of swing voters. These swing voters are independents and moderate, disaffected Democrats and Republicans, and they do not like the idea of Harris becoming president.

If Harris really thinks Trump is an existential threat to democracy, then she should want to help the country, the Democrats and the president by stepping aside and letting Biden choose her replacement. Someone the country prefers. Someone who the Republicans would have a harder time attacking.

Harris made history as the first woman and woman of color as vice president. All Americans can be proud of that, especially Harris. But perhaps the best thing she could do for the country is to step off the ticket  with her head held high, knowing she is putting the country above her individual aspirations.
STURTEVANT  Summer is just around the corner, and Marcus Theatres has the ticket to get out of the sun.

Summer Kids Dream, a film series geared toward families, is returning to the Marcus Renaissance Cinema, 10411 Washington Ave.

For $15, movie buffs can purchase a passport allowing them to watch eight films, with a new one playing weekly on Tuesdays through Saturdays from June 13 through Aug. 5.

Passports, which can be used at any Marcus Theatre location running the promotion and are eligible for any of the showtimes, can be purchased at marcustheatres.com/kidsdream.

Alternatively, tickets for the Summer Kids Dream series movie can be purchased individually for $3.

A $3 popcorn and soda special is available during the promotion.

The Summer Kids Dream schedule includes:

June 13-17: Shrek 2  Rated PG  Shrek and Fiona travel to the Kingdom of Far Far Away, where Fionas parents are King and Queen, to celebrate their marriage. When they arrive, they find they are not as welcome as they thought they would be.

June 20-24: The Bad Guys  Rated PG  To avoid prison, a gang of notorious animal criminals pretends to seek rehabilitation, only for its leader to realize that he genuinely wants to change his ways.

June 27-July 1: Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile  Rated PG  Family moves to New York City, where its struggling son befriends a singing crocodile and tries to protect him from the rest of the world.

July 4-8: The Amazing Maurice  Rated PG  A streetwise cat and his gang of rats come up with the perfect money-making scheme.

July 11-15: Minions: The Rise of Gru  Rated PG  The untold story of one 12-year-olds dream to become the worlds greatest supervillain.

July 18-22: Mummies  Rated PG  Follow three ancient Egyptian mummies as they end up in present-day London and embark on a journey in search of an old ring belonging to the royal family, stolen by the ambitious archaeologist Lord Carnaby.

July 25-29: DC League of Super-Pets  Rated PG  Krypto the Super-Dog and Superman are inseparable best friends, sharing the same superpowers and fighting crime side by side in Metropolis. However, Krypto must master his powers for a rescue mission when Superman is kidnapped.

August 1-5: Puss in Boots: The Last Wish  Rated PG  When Puss in Boots discovers that his passion for adventure has taken its toll and he has burned through eight of his nine lives, he launches an epic journey to restore those lives by finding the mythical Last Wish.

In Photos: Racine's former movie theaters Looking back at Racine's former theaters They were elegant, much more so than the high-tech multi-plex movie theaters we have now. Take a look back at Racine's former movie palaces. Uptown Theater marquee Uptown Theater interior, file photo Uptown Theater interior Monument Square Sept. 13, 1950 Venetian exterior Venetian interior Venetian torn down Park (Capitol) Theatre Park Theatre Bijou Theater Divino Gelato Crown Theatre opening Crown Theatre, circa 1935 Granada Theatre Granada Theatre Granada Theatre Granada Theatre Granada Theatre Granada Theatre Granada Theatre Granada Theatre Douglas Theatre, Jan. 30, 1926 Former Douglas Theatre Former Rapids Plaza Cinema I and II Rapids Plaza Cinema, Sept. 25, 1992 Rapids Plaza Cinema investigation Former Marc Cinema I and II RKO Mainstreet Theatre RKO Mainstreet Theatre interior Rialto Rialto teardown Rex Theatre, July 17 1937 Rex Theatre teardown Westgate Cinema Westgate demolition Marcus Value Cinemas
The Kenosha City Council voted overwhelmingly in favor of the massive Downtown development plan Monday night.

Council members passed the development agreement between the city and Kenosha Downtown Partners, LLC 15-to-1. Ald. David Mau was the sole vote against it and Ald. Holly Kangas was absent from the meeting.

The vote paves the way for phased development on the multi-year plan that would fundamentally change Kenoshas Downtown if completed.

The master plan covers nine blocks bordered by Sheridan Road on the west, 52nd Street on the north, 56th Street on the south and Lake Michigan on the east.

It would include approximately 1,000 units of multi-family dwellings including condominiums adjacent to Harbor Park, a large corporate office space, a hotel, retail space, new parks and a public market and a new city hall, among other things.

Each new structure and outdoor development would still face approvals from city regulatory committees and commissions, as is the case with all new projects in the city limits.

City officials and Wisconsin-based developers Cobalt Partners, LLC and C. D. Smith estimate it will take about a decade to fully complete. The projected aggregate assessed valuation of the fully developed project is estimated to exceed $450 million.

The plan utilizes the existing Tax Increment District No. 27 to assist in funding needed public improvements, parking and the central park space, according to Mayor John Antaramian. Construction on the mixed-use district could begin this fall. The plan was unveiled last week with enthusiastic support from Antaramian.

Before the vote lifelong Kenoshan Tobin Boyle, a delegate to the Building-Construction Trades Council of Wisconsin, spoke in support of the project.

We wholeheartedly agree to the proposed Downtown expansion, Boyle said. Weve lost so much industry over the years and were looking for new revenue sources and I believe that this is right on spot to be what were looking for going into the next generation for future generations.

In general the TIF funding will be $62 million. Fifty-two million (will go) toward this project in general through the developers and then $11 million for the parking structure at the new City Hall, City Administrator John Morrissey said.

Council reactions

Ald. Daniel Prozanski spoke in favor of the project.

The icing on the cake as far as this project is concerned is the fact that in the developers agreement, in this plan, is the commitment to employ Kenosha residents, Prozanski said. It also puts forward a sense of pride because not only is it a project thats being developed long-in-coming, which every Kenoshan can take pride in, but its also something that those people that work on these projects can say we had a hand in making these and building this.

Its part of who we are. Its a fabric our city. I think that goes very far in any sort of project  to have ownership. he said.

Prozanski said he believes the Downtown will benefit from the development plan.

The Downtown is much better today than when I came into office in 2008 but what it lacked was this comprehensive plan, Prozanski said. Here we have a plan and its a really good one. Its a plan thats going to take Kenosha into the future. Thats where we need to be.

Ald. Dominic Ruffalo expressed similar sentiments.

Youve got to look into the future, Ruffalo said before listing closed manufacturing companies in the area including Chrysler and American Motors. In front of you tonight ladies and gentlemen is the future of Kenosha to be enjoyed by future generations. Its probably a 10-year build-out completely. Ill be pretty old by then but we have to get the wheels moving on it. ... I think it looks phenomenal.

Mau said he has deep concerns about the project and the nature of its funding.

I may hear from you guys all of the reasons why this is important and why the city should be doing this. And I agree with you that these are important things. The development of Downtown ... I can agree these are all very good things for the city. I care about the same things that you guys care about. I just dont think that the government should be doing them. I dont think that we need the government to be dishing out millions of dollars of taxpayers money, Mau said. If this isnt special interests I dont know what is.

Mau also said he believes the matter has been pushed through really, really quickly. Mau unsuccessfully motioned to defer the vote to give the public more time to look over the plans.

Marijuana ordinance

The City Council also voted to take up a proposed ordinance change regarding marijuana at its next meeting June 5.

Monday was the first reading of the proposed ordinance change that reduces the fine for first-time offenders in possession of a small amount of marijuana. It is sponsored by Mau and co-sponsored by Alds. Anthony Kennedy, Rollin Pizzala, Kelly MacKay, Jan Michalski and Brandi Ferree.

Last week the Public Safety and Welfare Committee narrowly voted in favor of the ordinance change.
With people in Wisconsin dying from opioid overdoses at a record pace, the growing misuse of meth, cocaine and the tranquilizer xylazine  often with opioids  is making it harder to fight the epidemic, a federal health official said Tuesday.

What we see is illicitly manufactured fentanyl really continuing to dominate the overdose crisis, but that most overdose deaths also involve other substances, Dr. Yngvild Olsen, director of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, said at an opioids, stimulants and trauma summit in Wisconsin Dells.

Olsen urged expanded use of fentanyl test strips, the overdose-reversal drug naloxone and medication-assisted treatment for addiction. She said most people who die from overdoses interact with providers in the months beforehand, but the vast majority of people with substance use disorder dont seek treatment.

Missed opportunities happen all the time, Olsen said at the event, organized by the state Department of Health Services.

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who appeared by video, and Democratic Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, who spoke at the event, criticized the Republican-controlled Legislatures budget committee for stripping some addiction prevention, treatment and recovery programs from Evers' proposed budget this month.

We could be using these funds right now to help save lives, Evers said. This is a crisis that deserves bold and urgent action.

The addiction programs were among more than 500 items the budget committee removed from the nearly $104 billion proposal Evers unveiled in February. GOP lawmakers plan to build their own two-year spending plan to send back to the governor before the end of June, as they have done with Evers previous two budgets. They retained other addiction programs.

Committee co-chairs Rep. Mark Born, R-Beaver Dam, and Sen. Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green, said an objection was raised to the settlement funds spending plan, without saying who was against it or why. They said a meeting would be scheduled to take up the matter.

On Tuesday, a spokesperson for Born declined to say when a meeting might be held, referring to an earlier statement from Born and Marklein that the "proposal for the new round of funding appears to invest in initiatives from the last round that have not yet proven effective. The committee will continue conversations with stakeholders to ensure these funds, which wont arrive in the state until July, are put to the most effective use.

The committee similarly rejected a $31 million spending plan last year before approving an adjusted plan. Of that money, some $10 million is being spent on upgrading or building new addiction treatment facilities, with $6 million going to tribal nations for prevention and treatment and $3 million going to law enforcement grants. Another $3 million is expanding availability of naloxone and $2 million is boosting distribution of fentanyl test strips.

Other efforts include $2.5 million to help pay for residential addiction treatment and $2 million to increase medication-assisted treatment, such as with buprenorphine, or Suboxone.

Record numbers

Wisconsin had a record 1,427 opioid overdose deaths in 2021, 16.3% more than the previous record in 2020 and more than double the toll from just six and seven years earlier, with fentanyl fueling much of the increase, officials said.

In Dane County, 139 people died from opioid overdoses in 2021, 13% higher than the previous record the year before.

Final numbers for 2022 wont be available until fall, as it takes months for some reports to be processed. As of last week, a preliminary count of 1,318 opioid overdose deaths had been reported for last year, more than the preliminary total for 2021 as of early May last year.

In Dane County, the preliminary total for 2022 as of last week was 110, fewer than the preliminary total for 2021 at roughly the same time last year.

Olsen said the increasing misuse of stimulants such as methamphetamine, cocaine, Adderall and Ritalin, along with opioids, is complicating efforts to curb overdose deaths.

In March, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration issued an alert about a sharp increase in the trafficking of fentanyl mixed with xylazine, a tranquilizer used in veterinary medicine. Xylazine is making the deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced, fentanyl, even deadlier, DEA Administrator Anne Milgram said.
By Edward Meyman. May 15, 2023

Introduction

The topic of the Second Amendment and its relationship with the American Jewish community is a rich tapestry woven with complexity and contention. Although many Jewish politicians and community leaders advocate for stricter 'gun control' laws, a stance often perceived as anti-Second Amendment, the historical narrative of Jewish persecution and the contemporary rise of anti-Semitism powerfully argue that the Jewish community, perhaps more than any other, should deeply appreciate the importance of the Second Amendment and personal self-defense.

A Soviet Jewish Perspective

Individuals of Jewish descent who lived a part of their lives in the former Soviet Union understand the significance of the Second Amendment from a unique vantage point. They observed, and many personally felt, the paralyzing powerlessness of disarmed citizens in a society where the government held unyielding control. The oppressive nature of the regime was only possible because the populace was disarmed and left vulnerable, effectively squashing any potential opposition.

This firsthand experience underscores the profound implications of the Second Amendment, extending far beyond personal safety. Indeed, the right to bear arms becomes crucial when viewed in the context of a citizen's relationship with the state. It is more than just a guarantee of personal protection; it's an assurance of a balance of power between the government and its citizens, a safeguard against potential tyranny.

The right to bear arms is, therefore, viewed as a fundamental pillar of democracy, serving not just to empower citizens, but also to act as a constant reminder to the government of the collective strength of its people. .....
Copperas Cove, TX (76522)

Today

Sunny early then increasing clouds with some scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. Potential for severe thunderstorms. High 91F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low 64F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
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
Killeen, TX (76540)

Today

Morning sunshine followed by isolated thunderstorms this afternoon. High near 90F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Variable clouds with scattered thunderstorms. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low around 65F. SSW winds shifting to NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
It started with a weird breakout on his face.

So Tommy Dennis, who was 22 years old at the time, had the bumps checked out by an Omaha dermatologist. The doctor told him that the breakout looked like the symptoms of a potential HIV infection. "Then he ordered a blood test. I came back a week later and found out that my test came back positive."

Dennis, who is now 35, was devastated.

HIV prevention and care Nebraska health experts will present a daylong "Nebraska HIV Prevention and Care Update" on Thursday at the University of Nebraska at Omaha's Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center from 7:45 a.m. until 5 p.m. Topics to be covered include barriers to HIV prevention, treatment disparities, aging with HIV and what's new in HIV care. Although the conference is at capacity, people can attend virtually by going to bit.ly/UNMC-HIV.

In the United States, more than 30,600 people ages 13 and older were diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus, the virus that causes AIDS, in 2020. More than 1.2 million people are living with it.

In Nebraska, the number of new HIV diagnoses hit 107 in 2021, up from a yearly average of 81, state health officials said, noting that a drop in HIV testing during the COVID-19 pandemic is at least partly to blame for the increase. The spike occurred primarily among white men, mainly in the states rural areas.

However, since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, Black Americans have been disproportionately affected, and that disparity has deepened over time, as the Kaiser Family Foundation, a health policy group, notes.

Although they represent only 12% of the population, Black people account for a much larger share of HIV diagnoses (42%), people living with HIV (40%) and HIV-related deaths (43%) than any other racial or ethnic group in the U.S., according to 2020 figures reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The disparity persists in Nebraska, where Black people, who make up 5% of the population, accounted for 21% of new HIV diagnoses in 2021. That reality, according to advocates and health care providers, can make seeking care onerous for patients and complicate providers ability to deliver treatment that is much more effective and causes fewer side effects than earlier treatments.

Dennis, who is Black, went to work at the Nebraska AIDS Project in 2017. "I was charged with basically developing a program to do outreach toward Black same-gender-loving men and really try to promote (HIV) testing efforts in the community, which, you know, in large part has been successful ... But I think there is such a level of medical mistrust when it comes to testing  in minority communities especially."

Lack of access to health care also is an issue for minority populations, said Dr. Nada Fadul, a professor in the University of Nebraska Medical Center's Division of Infectious Diseases. Fadul is the medical director of the UNMC Specialty Care Center in Omaha, where 1,200 HIV patients  a little more than half of all HIV patients in Nebraska  are treated.

For some people, Fadul said, issues such as a lack of transportation, food insecurity and/or difficulty finding housing play a role in their not getting treatment. Distrust in the health care system also factors in.

Dennis still bristles at the way the first doctor told him he was HIV-positive.

"He didn't even bother closing the door," he recalled. "He stood in the doorway and basically said, 'Yep, your test results came back positive. I'll send the nurse in with a referral, and we're going to get you on your way.'"

Fadul said some medical providers still have unconscious bias against racial minorities and the LGBTQ+ community.

"Patients feel that," she said. "If I walk into a clinic and the doctor is looking at me (disapprovingly) or saying words that imply that I'm less of a person, I'm not going to come back. I'm not going to feel comfortable in this clinic."

Whether providers look like the people they serve also matters, Fadul said.

"If 30% of my patients are Black," Fadul said, "then I need to have representation of that population in my workforce. So when patients walk into the clinic, they can see that, 'Oh, there are people who look like me, talk like me, dress like me, so I can feel comfortable in this environment, I can feel safe.'"

If they can overcome the initial barriers, people with HIV can begin a fairly simple treatment regimen, albeit one they will have to continue indefinitely.

HIV medications today have fewer side effects than they used to, and they're easier to take.

In March 1987, AZT became the first drug to get FDA approval for the treatment of AIDS.

"It was something," Dr. Susan Swindells said, "but it was really a pretty awful drug. We gave people big doses of it, five times a day. I used to have to tell people, 'Set your alarm for 2 o'clock in the morning, wake yourself up and take this medicine. ... And it generally made people feel terrible. On average, they lived about a year longer than they would without it."

Swindells, a professor of medicine and longtime HIV researcher at UNMC, said treatment didn't improve until the mid-1990s, with the introduction of new medicines called protease inhibitors.

"That turned the corner," she said. "That made people better, and they stopped dying."

Today, people with HIV who stick with their treatment can get their viral levels down to basically zero and can't transmit HIV, a concept dubbed "U Equals U"  undetectable equals untransmittable.

"If your viral load is undetectable, meaning that you're taking medications, they're wiping out the viral load in your blood," Fadul said. "You're not going to transmit HIV sexually to your sexual partners. And this is a proven fact, you know, thousands and thousands of patients have been studied  using condoms, not using condoms ... There is no transmission."

And people today also have access to PrEP medicines  Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, which reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99%. Dennis, Fadul and Swindells all noted that PrEP can keep you from getting HIV, but it can't stop you from getting chlamydia or gonorrhea or herpes.

"We understand condoms aren't everybody's thing," Dennis said, "but we still encourage folks to use them. And if you're not going to use them then you should be getting tested (for HIV) often."

Testing is important  an estimated 13% of people in the U.S. with HIV don't know they have it, so if they're sexually active, they're spreading it to their partners.

The CDC recommends that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 be tested at least once, and people who are in certain high-risk categories should be tested at least once a year. (And it's not just gay or bisexual men  people who acquired HIV through heterosexual contact made up 22% of HIV diagnoses in the U.S. in 2020.)

For more information, contact the Nebraska AIDS Project at nap.org.

Top Journal Star photos for May 2023
KEARNEY  University of Nebraska at Kearney officials have beefed up campus security following two incidents near campus Sunday.

Around 9:45 p.m. Sunday, Kearney police responded to a disturbance and reports of gunshots in the area of West 25th Street near Sixth Avenue. No injuries were reported.

That incident came less than 24 hours after a young man was stabbed in the leg during a party at an off-campus residence one block south of campus, in the area of West 23rd Street and Seventh Avenue a few doors from the UNK Alumni House.

Emergency medical services took the victim to CHI Health Good Samaritan. He suffered a serious but non-life-threatening laceration to his leg. Police found evidence of multiple gun shots in the area. Several residences were struck, but there were no reports of anyone being hit by gunfire.

The Sunday evening incident happened about three blocks east of the one early Sunday morning.

Monday afternoon, Police Chief Bryan Waugh had no new information on the Sunday morning incident. As for the one Sunday night, he said investigators canvassed the area but were unable to locate any physical evidence of gunshots. "We had nothing but witness statements, but we had multiple witness statements," he said.

He said the two incidents could be related, but that has not been determined. He said officers are still following up on leads on both. No arrests were made and no charges were filed as of late Monday afternoon.

He said accurate information will come from police when it is available. Information circulating on social media is not dependable or necessarily accurate, he added.

Although no UNK buildings or residence halls were hit in either incident, the university requested a meeting with police and city officials Monday, Todd Gottula, UNKs senior director of communications, said. Waugh said the meeting was productive.

"The city has a close proximity to the university. Students live in areas of the city. The university and the city work well together. We want to make sure the city and the UNK community understand that we're working our best to determine why and when and who were involved in this incident," Waugh said.

Gottula called the Monday meeting "good communication." He said that although the incidents happened off-campus, UNK has increased its security presence.

We have a very safe campus and a safe community. This is not the norm. At the same time, we understand the serious nature of what happened and are reacting to make sure everyone is aware of the incidents, he said.

On Monday, UNK emailed what Gottula called a timely warning message to students and faculty. It briefly described both incidents and reminded students to remain alert, keep doors locked, not to loan their keys or cell phones and to remain vigilant. Campus escorts are available for students who do not want to walk around campus alone.

Anyone with information regarding these incidents is urged to contact the Kearney Police Department at 308-237-2104 or Buffalo County Crimestoppers at 308-237-3424.

Waugh said he knows that any incident involving gunfire is unsettling for the public, and "I want to make it clear: This dangerous criminal behavior is unacceptable and irresponsible. Violent crime will not be tolerated in our community. Our investigators will work tirelessly to identify and locate those responsible."
KEARNEY  When Dana Vaux looks at the empty brick building at 2302 Central Ave., she sees potential.

So do owners Jon and Kathy Bokenkamp, who purchased the downtown Kearney property last year. They intend to restore and repurpose the 135-year-old structure, giving the space new life while preserving its history.

Although specific plans for the property havent been announced, theres no shortage of ideas.

How about a bakery and boutique hotel, 1920s-style speakeasy and event venue or retro diner? Maybe the space would be better used for a community organization or child care center?

University of Nebraska at Kearney students presented these proposals and more following a semester-long project led by Vaux, an associate professor and coordinator of the interior and product design program.

Partnering with the Bokenkamps and Kearney-based Goodlife Architecture, Vaux asked 11 seniors to come up with their own concepts for the property using their research interests as inspiration. Of course, each design had to meet certain specifications and match the aesthetics of the downtown district, too.

When youre working on an adaptive reuse project, you dont have a blank slate, said Patrick Moore, owner and principal architect at Goodlife Architecture. There are existing conditions that you have to react to. Sometimes these existing conditions are design challenges, and sometimes they are design opportunities.

Thats why Vaux has chosen historic buildings for multiple senior projects over the years. She wants students to experience every aspect of the profession before they start working in it.

Its one thing to see a floor plan, but its another thing to actually go into a building, see what it looks like and imagine what it could be, Vaux said. I want to encourage students to think outside the box and come up with really creative ideas, but they also need to problem-solve. When you have a client saying I absolutely want this or I absolutely dont want that, you have to find creative ways to give them a great design while respecting those wishes.

Having real buildings and real people helps them understand that in a better way.

'A lot of value'

A former secondary education major, Sydney Thurlow focused on the need for more child care options and a concept called biophilia, which suggests humans have an innate instinct to connect with nature and other living beings.

She conducted research at a local school, then designed a family-friendly workspace filled with natural light and colors, free-flowing patterns, sustainable materials and vegetation. Theres a daycare for children on the first floor, a coworking space for parents on the second floor and a library on the mezzanine level.

I think this project provides a lot of value for students, Thurlow said. A lot of what we do in school is more on the conceptual level, but its important to get to the point where we can work with the different specifications that come with professional projects. There is definitely value to be able to present to actual clients and have those parameters.

Thurlow currently works at Wilkins ADP, an architecture, design and planning firm in Kearney, and shell transition to a full-time position there after graduating Friday. The Fremont native plans to publish an article on her research and design concept with assistance from Vaux and associate professor of teacher education Marisa Macy.

Obviously funding is a major issue when it comes to child care facilities, but I think its good to have a resource out there for people to look to, she said. It doesnt have to be the full-blown project, but even just incorporating pieces would be a really cool way to keep this going after graduation.

'Taste of the real world'

Fellow UNK senior Steph Cassara researched hospital design for her project. Her father passed away in 2013 after battling liver cancer, so she wanted to create a space that serves patients and their families.

I did a lot of research on design strategies that are being integrated to help with patient care and patient health, and a lot of what theyre integrating now is homier designers to make people feel more comfortable, Cassara said. I also know that exposure to vegetation and plant life really helps patient health, as well.

The North Platte High School graduate interviewed her mother, an executive administrator at Great Plains Health, along with an aunt who works as a dental nurse and Vauxs son, whos an orthopedic oncologist. Her proposal would create a local community organization that provides emotional and social support for cancer patients and other people impacted by the disease.

Cassara believes the senior project proves what shes capable of.

We usually do three to four projects a semester, but this semester was different because we worked on this the entire time, so it really gave us a chance to demonstrate our knowledge of a specific topic and the classroom material, she said. It definitely gave us a taste of the real world and what well be doing once we graduate and get jobs in the field.

Cassara plans to start her career in her hometown of Modesto, California, where she completed an internship with the commercial and residential design firm LHK Interiors last summer.

I really enjoyed my internship out there. Its a really great office space and I was able to work under the principal designer, who is also the owner, so it gave me an opportunity to learn the business side of things as well as the interior design side, she said.

Other projects

Although their ideas will not be used in the actual design, the UNK students almost certainly gained a new level of confidence this semester.

Projects that are just hypothetical can be great for encouraging students to explore and express their design skills, but when the project is rooted in a real scenario, the student engages more with critical questions that lead to levels of detail and solutions that might not otherwise be explored, said Moore, a former adjunct professor who worked with UNK students on a 2020 project in Axtell.

Last semester, the interior and product design program partnered with John Lillyman, a project architect at Wilkins ADP, and the Robert Henri Museum and Art Gallery in Cozad. UNK students created designs for a gallery expansion, then presented them to board members for consideration.

Vaux plans to continue providing students with these opportunities, and she hopes theyre inspired to impact even more communities down the road.

Im always looking for ways that we can infuse design into the community, she said. This helps my students understand that they have a unique skill set and they can give back to their communities in a way that other people arent able to do, because theyre able to see things and problem-solve in different ways.
State Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha, at center, speaks with State Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte during debate on LB 574 on Thursday, April 13, 2023, in Lincoln. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN  The session-long fight in some Nebraska lawmakers efforts to further restrict abortion and gender-affirming care for minors could be decided Tuesday evening with a decisive amendment to pair the measures as one proposal.

State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair unveiled the amendment last Monday to marry two of the most divisive issues this session into Legislative Bill 574, proposed by State Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha. Hansens change would add an approximate 12-week abortion ban (though shorter because its based on gestation) to the restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors.

Senators who had previously supported, but expressed concerns about, either proposal told the Nebraska Examiner the amendment is an improvement, potentially netting a necessary 33 votes.

The amendment revives efforts to further restrict abortion after State Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston voted present on April 27, killing LB 626, the proposal to ban abortion after an ultrasound detects embryonic cardiac activity. Now, an abortion bill is back in a new form.

Seventy-seven days into the 90-day legislative session, tension and uncertainty have dominated previous stages of debate for these respective measures.

During the final hours of first-round debate on LB 574, opponents blocked supporters from speaking, and during second-round debate, opponents forced consideration of a narrowing amendment that led to a 45-minute pause in deliberations.

Kauth pulled that narrowing amendment in retribution but led listening sessions on LB 574, which informed parts of the Hansen amendment.

The fight over LB 574 has also included rules changes that did not weaken or slow the now 11-week filibuster, a threat of censure and an ethics complaint after one lawmaker detailed how the bill would harm her son, who is transgender.

Tuesdays debate  scheduled for 7-9 p.m.  will likely follow a similar, contentious path, and the vote may not be clear until the last second.

Whats on the table

LB 574 intended to prohibit genital or non-genital surgeries, puberty blockers and hormone therapies before the age of 19. But, if amended, it would prohibit only surgeries.

Instead, the chief medical officer and Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services would regulate the medications.

Thirty national and international organizations endorse gender-affirming care, and the Nebraska Medical Association opposed LB 574.

The Hansen amendment would ban abortions two to three weeks earlier than the 12-week ban offered by Riepe and does not include an exception for fetal anomalies incompatible with life. Exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother are included.

Opponents have doubted whether these would be real exceptions or just be lip service.

The two-hour Tuesday debate sets the stage as a conservative majority is determined to flex its muscles to restrict abortion and gender-affirming care, all in one fell swoop.

Debate roadmap

Cheat sheet for expected debate A motion to recommit LB 574 to the Health and Human Services Committee (25 votes required).

Motion to reconsider the recommit to committee vote (25 votes required).

Motion to return the bill, temporarily, for the Hansen amendment (25 votes required).

The Hansen amendment (25 votes required).

Motion to return the bill to final reading (25 votes required).

Motion for cloture, to end debate (33 votes required).

Debate on LB 727, a sales and use tax exemption proposal, is up first Tuesday and could last up to eight hours. However, a change in filibuster tactics could force LB 574 at any earlier point.

The following is a list of motions that could be offered for Tuesdays debate in addition to the Hansen amendment. All require 25 votes except for cloture (a move that ends debate), which requires 33.

Motion to recommit to committee: This would return the bill to the Health and Human Services Committee.

Its also possible there could be a motion to return to Enrollment and Review to fix an error. Known as E&R, this is a quasi-committee and procedural middle ground to prepare bills between stages of debate. However, its unclear whether opponents would use this or any other procedural motions in efforts to block the Hansen amendment.

Motion to reconsider: A lawmaker on the successful side of the recommit vote or those who vote present could file this. These procedural motions could prevent the following stages, including any consideration of the Hansen amendment.

However, hopes that debate on these procedural motions could last two hours may be short-lived as senators can call the question, or force a vote, before all senators wishing to speak have done so. Senators have used this tactic in previous debates to get through motions. Five senators must demand that debate cease, followed by at least 25 votes to do so.

Motion to return for a specific amendment: Any senator could immediately raise a point of order and request the presiding officer to rule on the germaneness, or relevance, of the Hansen amendment. If nongermane, consideration would cease because no motion, proposition or subject, different from that under consideration, shall be admitted under color of amendment, under the legislative rules.

Germane amendments relate only to details of the specific subject of the bill and must be in a natural and logical sequence to the subject matter of the original proposal, the rules continue. A nongermane amendment includes one that relates to a substantially different subject.

If the amendment is ruled germane, opponents may seek to overrule the chair, (25 votes, or a majority of those present, are required). The same would be true if the presiding officer ruled the amendment nongermane.

A nongermane ruling is unlikely from Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly (the president of the Legislature) or supporters of the measures who may be presiding in Kellys absence. Such a ruling could strengthen a legal challenge down the line.

Kelly is Gov. Jim Pillens right hand, and Pillen had a role in crafting the Hansen amendment.

State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha criticized the proposed merging and vowed to call out the relevance of other amended legislation. Some proposals now contain upwards of 20-25 bills.

The Hansen amendment: This cannot be divided into its distinct sections as it otherwise could during earlier rounds of debate. The legislative rules forbid this on a motion to return.

A dueling amendment offered by State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha would list specific rules and regulations for puberty blockers and hormones. The same list, with a 12-month waiting period, would allow surgeries to continue in rare circumstances. However, the amendment does not address abortion.

Only one amendment may be adopted on a motion to return, so State Sen. John Arch of La Vista, the speaker of the Legislature, would need to reschedule LB 574 if there are 25 supporters of the Cavanaugh amendment.

Or, if the Hansen amendment failed, the Cavanaugh amendment would be next for consideration.

Motion to return to final reading: LB 574 would need to sit for review for at least one legislative day. This could set final approval of an amended bill for Thursday.

Cloture: This can be done after two hours to end debate, forcing a vote on anything pending.

There is a scenario in which lawmakers cant amend LB 574 so they attempt to pass it  as is  and send it to Pillens desk for approval. However, passage may be unlikely as some supporters have various concerns about the original bill.

Expect extra security

The Nebraska State Capitol will remain open Tuesday night as long as the Legislature is in session. But expect extra security, given the combination of the divisive proposals.

The Nebraska State Patrol wouldnt discuss details about Capitol Security, but there has been a stronger law enforcement presence during earlier debate on either of these bills.

Supporters and opponents can watch the debate in person but will be divided into different legislative balconies. This effort is to minimize potential conflict and has worked before, Arch said.

Doing so Tuesday could prove complicated if there are people who support or oppose limiting abortion but not gender-affirming care for minors, or vice versa.

Three new issues emerge

Single subject rule: The Nebraska Constitution requires legislative proposals to be focused on a single subject, which has raised questions on the Hansen amendment.

Some argue the attempt opens the state up to a possible lawsuit, legal and political experts told the Nebraska Examiner last week.

Expect state senators opposed to one or both proposals to work to lay the legislative history groundwork for a potential legal challenge on the single subject rule and supporters to counter that they belong together for different reasons.

The chief medical officer and DHHS: The Hansen amendment would authorize the chief medical officer to craft regulation of puberty blockers and hormone therapies. The chief medical officer is a political appointee who was part of the State Board of Health when it issued a statement in support of LB 574. DHHS would set enforcement parameters.

Under the Hansen amendment, no new minors could receive these medications for transition services after Oct. 1 unless new rules are in place. This sets up a timeline of potentially 2025 until new medications can be issued, though there is a grandfather clause for minors to continue care.

Opponents worry that delegating regulations to HHS could lead to a backdoor ban and that LB 574 is discriminatory in nature because it restricts gender-affirming care only for trans youth, not their cisgender peers.

Expect a fight over who should have the final say in regulating puberty blockers and hormones and what rules and regulations should be in place.

Fatal fetal anomalies: Riepe proposed an alternative abortion ban timed 12 weeks from fertilization, with specific language allowing abortions later in the cases of fetal anomalies incompatible with life. However, both aspects have changed.

The Hansen amendment instead ties its 12-week ban to gestational age, meaning it is two to three weeks shorter than Riepes proposal. Hansen said this would reduce the number of total abortions and follows much of the medical community that times pregnancy by gestation.

Hansen also said he and others who prefer a stricter ban chose to leave out the Riepe language on fetal anomalies because they 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.

Meanwhile, doctors who support abortion rights have argued it is cruel to force women to carry a baby without a brain or lungs to full term, knowing it cannot survive outside of the womb.

Expect a floor fight over leaving out this language and for conservatives to threaten to withdraw support if there is an effort to add it back in.

Senators to watch

In addition to Kauth and Hansen, here are some senators to watch Tuesday as they either previously cast doubt on the original LB 574 and LB 626 or have been at the center of the 11-week filibuster.

Click on a photo and use the arrow keys on your screen or your keyboard to scroll through the gallery.

Nebraska Examiner political reporter Aaron Sanderford contributed to this report.
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 66-year-old Lincoln man in prison for killing his mother in 2008 with a can crusher in a drug-induced psychotic rage got more time Friday for a prison assault.

Eric Brox was sentenced to 10 months to a year for third-degree assault, a misdemeanor, for assaulting a correctional officer at a Lincoln prison on May 10, 2022.

In March, he pleaded guilty as part of a plea agreement that reduced the charge from a felony.

The sentence is in addition to the 40-years-to-life term he was serving for the second-degree murder of 72-year-old Zoe Brox.

On Oct. 15, 2008, police discovered her body  and signs of a struggle  inside her garage near South 84th and A streets after they got a report that her son had urinated in the lobby at Ameritas. They found him acting strangely, saying his mother had died.

His public defender said Brox  who is schizophrenic and had a history of stays at the regional center prior to his mom's killing  had used cocaine and become psychotic.

Brox pleaded no contest in the case.
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 the 1900 block of North Howard Avenue "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."
Are you ready for some grilling? Today is National Barbecue Day. It is celebrated every May 16 to serve as a reminder of the delicious food that Americans have access to. Go to a restaurant or have a grill in your own backyard. Just make sure you celebrate the day with great fervor ... and flavor!

Here come the riders! The 2023 bicycle racing season opens today at the Kenosha Velodrome featuring Premier Racine. The Washington Park Velodrome opened in 1927 and is the oldest operating velodrome in the country. Its the only track in the state. The velodrome is a 333-meter track. Spectators are welcome to watch the bicycle races. Admission is free on the hill for any night of racing. The races are from 7 to 10 p.m. most Tuesdays throughout the summer at the velodrome, 1821 Washington Road.

There is live music at the Union Park Tavern this evening, 4520 Eighth Ave., this evening. George TNT kicks off karaoke tonight at 9 p.m.

A Spring StoryWalk Trail is open at Hawthorn Hollow Nature Sanctuary and Arboretum, 880 Green Bay Road. Hawthorn Hollow, in partnership with the Kenosha Public Library, is offering walks telling the story Crinkle, Crackle, CRACK: Its Spring! in a self-guided walk starting on Old MIil Road and ending across the Pike River with a talk-home craft, while supplies last. This free event is open today from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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.
Photo: The Canadian Press A forensic pathologist in the B.C. Supreme Court trial of a man accused of the murder of a 13-year-old Burnaby, B.C., girl has testified the teenager died by strangulation. Media wait outside B.C. Supreme Court, in Vancouver, B.C., on Tuesday, June 2, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

A forensic pathologist testifying in the trial of a man accused of murdering a 13-year-old girl in Burnaby, B.C., says she died by strangulation.

Dr. Jason Morin, who conducted the autopsy, says the four-hour procedure showed there had been a lack of blood supply to the girl's brain.

He says he also identified a number of other injuries to her body, including bruising, scraping and tearing on the back of her head, as well as to her arms and legs.

The body of the girl, who cannot be identified under the terms of a publication ban, was found in Burnaby's Central Park in July 2017, just hours after her mother had reported her missing.

Ibrahim Ali last month pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the B.C. Supreme Court trial.

Crown attorney Isobel Keeley said in an opening statement that the court would hear evidence showing the murder was random, but DNA results would prove Ali sexually assaulted her.

She said the evidence would show the girl was passing through a neighbourhood park when she was dragged off a pathway into the forest by Ali, sexually assaulted and strangled.
Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong speaks at the collapsed underground parking lot of an apartment complex construction site in Incheon, May 2. Courtesy of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport



By Park Jae-hyuk



GS E&C has lost the government's trust after the collapse of an apartment construction site in northern Incheon's Geomdan New Town last month. Now it faces uncertainties about its ongoing collaboration with the land ministry to win orders in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.



Pointing out that GS E&C had failed to install rebar in over 30 places of the apartment's destroyed underground parking lot, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong said on Tuesday that it is difficult to trust the builder to inspect the 83 apartment construction sites under its management, as it promised to do over the next couple of months.



Last week, the construction arm of GS Group apologized for the collapse, saying it determined that some of the construction deviated from the blueprints. GS E&C CEO Lim Byeong-yong and Chief Safety Officer Woo Mu-hyeon also promised to visit the company's 110 construction sites nationwide to host on-site meetings.



The collapsed apartment complex's future residents, however, have asked for total reconstruction, expressing their anger about the accident which occurred under the site for a children's playground.



"How can we trust the self-inspection by the builder which is responsible for such poor construction work?" Won said. "The land ministry will check whether GS E&C carries out its safety inspection properly."



The minister also warned that construction firms will suffer if they remain negligent of public safety.



His remarks came a day after the ministry announced its plans to supervise GS E&C's inspection.



"We will take stern measures against any illegality," a land ministry official said.



The ministry also organized a committee to investigate the accident, appointing Hoseo University's architectural engineering professor Hong Keon-ho as the chairman. The committee's experts will finish the investigation by July 1 and develop measures to prevent similar accidents.





Rebar and wires are visible at the collapsed underground parking lot of an apartment complex construction site in Incheon, May 2. Yonhap
Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Won Hee-ryong speaks during a press conference in Sejong, Tuesday. Courtesy of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport



By Lee Kyung-min



Korea will provide timely and necessary resources and decades of experience to expedite the rebuilding of war-torn Ukraine, the country's top infrastructure policymaker said Tuesday.



The reiterated commitment of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Won Hee-ryong came shortly after the state visit of Ukraine's first lady Olena Zelenska and Yulia Anatoliivna Svyrydenko, the country's first vice prime minister who doubles as minister of economic development and trade.



Tuesday's pledge is the continuation of the country's offer of assistance to Ukraine. A team of infrastructure and foreign ministries attended a two-day Ukraine Recovery Conference in Lugano, Switzerland, in July of last year.






FSC Vice Chairman Kim So-young speaks during a meeting held in Seoul Government Complex, May 3. Yonhap



By Lee Yeon-woo



Financial Services Commission (FSC) Vice Chairman Kim So-young is setting off for Central Asia with leaders of domestic financial firms, accelerating financial regulators' efforts to support the firms' overseas expansion.



According to the FSC, Kim will visit two Central Asian countries  Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan  from Tuesday to Friday. This will be Kim's first time taking action to support financial firms entering the global market, following the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) chief's recent five-day tour of Southeast Asia.



He will be accompanied by Korean Federation of Banks (KFB) Chairman Kim Kwang-soo, as well as vice presidents of commercial and local banks, including Shinhan, KB Kookmin, Woori and BNK Kyongnam Bank.



"This business trip embodies our commitment to act as a salesman for successful overseas expansion of Korean financial firms, and to promote the Korean financial industry while fostering cooperation with overseas financial authorities," the FSC said.



On Wednesday, Kim is scheduled to attend a memorandum of understanding signing between fintech industry associations of Korea and Uzbekistan and deliver a keynote speech at a seminar co-hosted by bank federations of both countries.



On Thursday, Kim will fly to Kyrgyzstan and attend the opening ceremony for BNK Finance, a subsidiary of BNK Capital, the first Korean financial firm to enter the Kyrgyzstan market.



On the last day, along with representatives of BC Card and payment platform SMARTRO, Kim will attend a ceremony where the two countries will vow cooperation in establishing Kyrgyzstan's payment infrastructure.



Central Asia and Korea have maintained close ties in various sectors including health, digital, tourism and the environment, and trade has more than doubled in the past four years. It has been 31 years since Korea established diplomatic ties with the Central Asian countries.



However, according to the FSC, bilateral cooperation in the financial sector remains limited. The FSC is particularly focused on the fact that five countries in Central Asia are driving digitalization in finance.



"If Korean financial firms, which possess advanced digital infrastructure and development experience, can enter the market, they will be able to meet the demand in the region and lead the market," the FSC noted.



The recent support from financial authorities aligns with President Yoon Suk Yeol's policy direction, which aims to strengthen overseas sales. Since March, the FSC has been supporting domestic financial firms entering overseas markets by launching a taskforce dedicated to the globalization of the financial industry. FSS Governor Lee Bok-hyun also visited Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia last week, pledging support for international investors.


History Alive Project is bringing two speakers to Westby for the citys Syttende Mai celebration.

The speakers  Arno Morton and David Glomstad  will give their presentations in the basement of New Directions Real Estate, 110 N. Main St., Saturday, May 20.

During his first presentation, Morton will talk about Norwegian nisse  what they are and what they are not, the difference between nisse and trolls, and so much more at 11:30 a.m.; nisse treats will be served. At 2 p.m. he will bring to life the stories of Norwegian World War II bravery to get Norways gold and its king out of the country so the invading Germans would not capture both; gold foil-wrapped chocolate coins will be distributed.

Glomstads talk begins at 12:30 p.m. The American Civil War researcher will give a presentation about the 15th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry the Scandinavian regiment in the war. In 1861, President Abraham Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers to answer the call to preserve the Union. Among the volunteers were nearly 1,000 Norwegian immigrants. Follow the 15th from their beginning in Madison, through their battles along the Mississippi into Kentucky and Tennessee, and finally to Georgia and the end of their three-year enlistment. Audience members will have an opportunity to sample hardtack.
Mayo Clinic Health System has received a $1 million donation toward the construction and development of its new La Crosse hospital, bestowed on the organization by a former fundraising chair.

J. Willard Bill Marriott Jr., leader of Marriott International for the past six decades, and wife Donna Marriott, who has held roles in the corporate and community sectors of the hospitality company, made the financial commitment in recognition of the care they received from their longtime physician, Mayos regional vice president of Southwest Wisconsin, Dr. Paul Mueller.

My wife and I have greatly appreciated the excellent health care provided by Dr. Mueller and are continuously impressed by the medical excellence across Mayo Clinic, said Bill. With this gift, we hope to inspire others in the La Crosse area to support this important project.

Bill was an emeritus public trustee of Mayo from 1986-1998 and chaired the hospital systems inaugural fundraising campaign through its conclusion in 2009. The Marriott family have been patients of Mayo for 60 years.

I have a tremendous sense of gratitude for the Marriotts, who Ive known for a long time, and their ongoing and steadfast support of Mayo Clinic and their interest in this project in La Crosse, said Mueller. (They) lead a terrific corporation with a real focus on service and quality, so Ive learned a lot from them over the years and how they approach taking care of their customers and what we might learn from that in the health care industry

Their donation will be used to help offset the cost of the 290,000 square feet, $198 million facility, set to open in 2024. A recognition site in the facility will reflect the donation.

The Marriotts are sweet, genuine, humble and just really want to serve humanity, said Mueller. This is one of quite a few gifts that theyve given to Mayo Clinic. They have lots of options and choices of how they may choose to steward their money and their resources, and they chose La Crosse, which is really a testament to our teams and what theyve been able to accomplish.

Mayo has received additional seven figure gifts toward the new hospital, including $1 million from The Harry L. Crisp II & Rosemary Berkel Crisp last year and large checks from anonymous donors. The exterior/base structure of the new six floor, 70 bed facility is in progress and should be finished this summer, followed by walls and interior work.

We are still on time and on budget, said Mueller. (The community) should see a lot of visible progress this summer. Our teams are really excited about moving to the new facility and the efficiencies that thats going to generate and the improvements that will result in safer care and higher quality care, more integrated with our enterprise.

The new hospital will also feature endoscopy suites, a new Family Birth Center, interventional radiology and more, and it is being constructed to reduce the carbon footprint of the facility.
Although the frequency of train derailments is decreasing, incidents are reaching the public eye as more trains transport hazardous substances and routinely stretch more than 2 miles long.

Elected officials are calling for more rail inspections after hundreds evacuated in East Palestine, Ohio and Raymond, Minn., after derailments caused the burning of toxic substances such as vinyl chloride and ethanol.

After a derailment in De Soto, Wis., led to multiple cars plunging into the Mississippi River, many residents were left wondering if the trains should have been running with river levels at historic highs.

Railroad track inspections vary in frequency by track type, but at most occur twice weekly and at minimum, once a month. Regular inspections are the responsibility of the track owners and enforced by the Federal Railroad Administration  part of the Department of Transportation.

The DOT is concerned that the Republican-sponsored spending bill will force cuts to federal rail inspectors, inspection days and fewer overall miles inspected annually, but other experts in rail safety said that regular inspections by the train companies wont stop even if budgets are cut.

'Fundamental incentive' to maintain

Over the past two decades, the number and severity of derailments nationwide have been declining. In 2003 there were almost 2,500 derailments. Last year there were nearly half that many at 1,239, according to data from the FRA.

In recent years, though, the number of derailments per year have stalled in the 1,200 range. The top three causes are broken rails, wide gage due to missing or defect crosstie and speed, according to the department.

Between 2018 and 2021, rail companies reported over $431 million in damage to the federal department.

David Clarke, director of Center for Transportation Research at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, said that expense alone is incentive for the companies to inspect and maintain their tracks.

The railroads dont want derailments to occur, if for no other reason than theyre very expensive to clean up, Clarke said. They have a fundamental incentive in economics to not have derailments occur.

Federal vs. regular inspections

A letter from the DOTs office stated the budget reduction would require the FRA cut at least 175 personnel, including upwards of 75 railroad safety inspectors.

The DOT and other executive departments are basing their budget analysis off a 22% discretionary budget cut, which accounts for a little over one fourth of the departments funding.

This could represent a reduction of 11,000 inspection days conducted by FRAs inspection workforce, the letter continued. FRA would also need to significantly scale back critical safety programs, such as the Automated Track Inspection Program (ATIP) program.

The departments fleet of ATIP cars would inspect at least 30,000 fewer miles of track from the 150,000 miles inspected on average the previous three years.

U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, who represents Wisconsins 3rd Congressional District, supported the budget legislation from last month.

Congress sets a top line budget number that that number goes over to the executive branch. So if the DOT chooses to reduce the amount of rail inspections, that is Pete Buttegigs decision, Van Orden said.

The legislation passed by congressional Republicans sets the fiscal year 2024 topline budget at $1.471 trillion, equal to the fiscal year 2022 level.

Defense spending is exempt from the reduction in the bill, so under the assumption that funding for defense in 2024 will at least match the current baseline level of $885 billion, non-defense funding would total $586 billion, which is 22% lower than the currently enacted level of $756 billion.

Clarke referred to the departments role in rail safety inspections to function as the auditor rather than the regular inspector.

The FRA does not inspect all the rail tracks on a regular basis, Clarke said. So you have to have the employees working on behalf of the railroad company. Theyre the ones that do the heavy lifting day in and day out.

Federal rail inspectors are already responsible for inspecting more than 1,000 miles of track each year, Clarke said that an inspector will typically look at a mainline track twice per year and less frequented tracks, such as those in yards, once a year.

As far as how cuts to personnel would impact rail safety, Clarke said as long as the department maintains a sensible prioritization of which tracks to inspect most regularly, safety should remain as normal.

If everybody acts morally, as they should, the railroads arent going to cut back because they know the FRA isnt showing up quite as frequently, Clarke said. The FRA people will focus their attention on the tracks that represent the greatest risks and everything will still remain pretty much the same as it is, thats the ideal.
Photo: The Canadian Press Law enforcement officers cordon off roads 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. (AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan)

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 daughter's 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.

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 city's schools were placed on what officials called preventative lockdown.

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.

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. The governor, a Democrat, did not describe any other circumstances of the deadly confrontation.

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.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives tweeted 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.

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.
KYIV, Ukraine  Ukrainian air defenses thwarted an intense Russian air attack on Kyiv early Tuesday, shooting down all 18 missiles aimed at the capital with the help of Western-supplied weapons, officials said.

Loud explosions boomed over Kyiv as the nighttime attack combined Russian missiles launched from the air, sea and land in an apparent attempt to overwhelm Ukraine's air defenses. No casualties were reported as Western-supplied weapons helped fend off the assault.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov cheered the display of defensive prowess, calling it in a tweet "another unbelievable success."

A metal fragment that landed inside the Kyiv zoo and was seen by Associated Press reporters was labeled Lockheed Martin and Boeing, two of the companies involved in the manufacture of the Patriot missile system.

The barrage came as European leaders sought new ways to punish Russia for the war and a Chinese envoy sought traction for Beijing's peace proposal, which so far appears to have made little impression on the warring sides. It also came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy returned home following a whirlwind European tour to greet Ukraine's key wartime allies, which spurred an additional tranche of pledged military aid.

The overnight attack on Kyiv was "exceptional in its density  the maximum number of attacking missiles in the shortest period of time," said Serhii Popko, the head of the Kyiv military administration.

Valentyna Myronets, a 64-year-old Kyiv resident, said she felt "pain, fear, nervousness, restlessness" amid the assaults. "God, we are waiting for victory and when all this is over," she said.

U.K. Ambassador Melinda Simmons tweeted that the barrage was "pretty intense."

"Bangs and shaking walls are not an easy night," she wrote.

It was the eighth time this month that Russian air raids had targeted the capital, a clear escalation after weeks of lull and ahead of a much-anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive.

Six "Kinzhal" aero-ballistic missiles were launched from MiG-31K aircraft, nine cruise missiles from ships in the Black Sea and three land-based S-400 cruise missiles targeted the capital, air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said in a statement on Telegram.

After the first onslaught, Russia also launched Iranian-made Shahed attack drones and conducted aerial reconnaissance, Ihnat said.

Debris fell across several districts in the capital, starting fires, but no losses were reported, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.

Sophisticated air defense systems provided by Ukraine's Western allies, including American-made Patriot missiles, have helped spare Kyiv from the kind of destruction witnessed elsewhere in the country as Russian forces press on with their tactic of long-range bombardment.

A Russian defense official said that Tuesday's attack destroyed a Patriot missile battery in Kyiv. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said the system was destroyed by a "Kinzhal."

He didn't provide evidence, and the statement couldn't be independently verified. Ihnat, the Ukrainian air force spokesman, refused to comment on the claim.

The bolstered air defenses have deterred Russian aircraft from going deep into Ukraine and helped shape the course of the war, military experts say.

Later Tuesday, European leaders are taking part in a rare summit of the 46-nation Council of Europe, the continent's main human rights body.

The two-day meeting in Iceland seeks to set up a way of logging damage in Ukraine caused by the Kremlin's forces so compensation claims can be lodged against Moscow.

Meanwhile, a Chinese envoy is preparing to visit Ukraine and Russia in coming days as Beijing presses the peace plan it released in February.

Li Hui, a former ambassador to Moscow, also will visit Poland, France and Germany, according to the Chinese foreign ministry.

Ukraine has cautiously welcomed China's proposal while saying it would wait to see what specific actions China takes. Chinese leader Xi Jinping's government says it is neutral and wants to play a role as mediator in the war, but it has given Moscow political support, and a breakthrough appears unlikely more than 14 months after Russia's full-scale invasion.

In other developments:

 At least seven civilians died and 14 others were wounded in Russian shelling of Ukrainian regions from Monday through Tuesday morning, the country's presidential office said.

 Ukraine's state nuclear company reported Tuesday that some 2,500 Ukrainian staff remain at Europe's largest nuclear plant, facing "ever-harsher" restrictions from Russian forces stationed at the facility.

Russian troops have barred the remaining workers from communicating with each other or leaving the plant, in order to reduce the risk of information leaking out on Russian positions and military equipment placed inside, Energoatom said in a Telegram post.

Last week, Energoatom claimed that Russia intends to relocate around 3,100 out of some 6,000 Ukrainian staff running the plant, warning of a potential "catastrophic lack of qualified personnel" at the site.

 In Ukraine's latest corruption scandal, which saw the head of the Supreme Court detained for alleged bribery on Monday, the chief of Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau, Semen Kryvonos, said Tuesday the main suspect in the case was mining magnate Kostiantyn Zhevago.

Zhevago was arrested in the French Alps in January on suspicion of embezzling tens of millions of dollars. Kyiv has requested his extradition.

In Ukraines forests, fighters race to prepare for next push
MINNEAPOLIS  A man convicted of killing four passengers in his Mercedes Benz SUV in Minnesota and dumping the bodies in a Wisconsin cornfield has been sentenced to 103 years in prison.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press reported that Judge JaPaul Harris on Monday sentenced 39-year-old Antoine Suggs of Scottsdale, Arizona, to consecutive sentences for the killings of Jasmine Sturm, 30; her brother, Matthew Pettus, 26; her boyfriend, Loyace Foreman III, 35; and her friend, Nitosha Flug-Presley, 30. Sturm, Pettus and Foreman were from St. Paul, Minnesota. Flug-Presley was from Stillwater, Minnesota.

Suggs was convicted in April of four counts of second-degree murder in the September 2021 deaths. He testified that he shot the four in self-defense because he thought they were going to rob him.

Prosecutors said his motive was unclear but that Suggs meant to kill the victims after a night of drinking in St. Paul.

Suggs father, Darren McWright, who also goes by the last name Osborne, was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to helping his son hide the victims bodies at a Wisconsin cornfield about 65 miles east of St. Paul.

Suggs told the judge on Monday that he was wrongfully convicted. Harris responded that Suggs showed no remorse or sympathy and cast blame on others.

Photos: Remembering horrific van crash that killed 7 young people in 1999
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  A Minnesota man who told an FBI informant that he was building an arsenal of automatic weapons to use against police and admired mass shooters pleaded guilty Tuesday to illegally possessing a machine gun.

River Smith, 21, of the Minneapolis suburb of Savage, entered his plea on the single count before U.S. District Judge David Doty. His sentencing will be scheduled later. The maximum sentence is 10 years.

Smith was initially charged in December with possession of a machine gun  specifically devices to convert guns to fully automatic fire  and attempting to possess unregistered hand grenades. He paid an FBI informant $690 for four auto sear devices and three dummy grenades, prosecutors alleged at the time.

Law enforcement took him down before he could execute his plan, federal prosecutor Manda Sertich said at a hearing in December, when a magistrate judge denied bail.

FBI Special Agent Mark Etheridge testified at that hearing that when Smith was arrested he had a loaded Glock 17 semiautomatic handgun, with three full magazines for a total of 52 rounds of ammunition, including the bullet in the chamber. He was wearing soft body armor designed to stop handgun rounds. A search of his car turned up an AR-style rifle and two other handguns, as well as a drum magazine for the rifle that held 100 rounds.

A federal grand jury formally indicted Smith on two counts in January involving the auto sears and grenades.

Defense attorney Jordan Kushner said in a court filing two weeks ago that Smith wanted to take responsibility for his actions and not further prolong the proceedings. Kushner said there was no plea agreement and that Smith didn't want to contest the charges, but the attorney questioned whether the count involving the grenades was legally valid, given that they were dummies.

According to the original complaint and the agent's testimony, Smith had expressed interest in joining neo-Nazi paramilitary groups; called the person who killed five people at a gay nightclub in Colorado last November a hero, expressed sympathy for the shooter who killed 17 people at a high school in Parkland, Florida, in 2018; described Black people as agents of Satan and expressed hatred of Jews. The agent said Smith carried a note cursing police inside his body armor so they could find it after his death.

Smith also said in online messages that he learned about his enemy by watching police bodycam video of shootings online, prosecutors alleged.

Authorities began investigating after getting a call in September from a retired police officer who was working at a gun range that Smith frequented. He told them he was concerned because of how Smith practiced shooting from behind barriers while wearing heavy body armor designed to stop rifle bullets, and conducting rapid reloading drills.
Debt limit talks have entered an encouraging new phase as President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy have tapped top emissaries to negotiate a deal to avert an unprecedented national default. The president also cut his upcoming overseas trip short in hopes of closing out a deal before the end of the month. The fresh set of negotiators means that the scope of the discussions is now largely narrowed to what White House and McCarthy will agree to as part of a deal that would allow lawmakers to raise the debt limit in the coming days. The speaker said after a meeting with Biden and congressional leaders that a deal was possible by weeks end.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Ukrainian air defenses, bolstered by sophisticated Western-supplied systems, thwarted an intense Russian air attack on Kyiv early Tuesday, shooting down all missiles aimed at the capital, officials said.

The bombardment, which targeted locations across Ukraine, included six Russian Kinzhal aero-ballistic hypersonic missiles, the most fired in a single attack in the war so far, according to Ukrainian air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly touted the Kinzhals as providing a key strategic competitive advantage and among the most advanced weapons in his country's arsenal. The missiles are difficult to detect and intercept because of their hypersonic speed and maneuverability.

If Ukraine's claim of having shot down six fired Tuesday is confirmed, it would mark another blow to Putin's war efforts and show the increasing effectiveness of the country's air defenses.

Air force spokesman Ihnat, who said in March that Ukraine lacked the equipment to intercept the Kinzhals, didn't explain Tuesday what systems were used to knock them down. Since March, Western countries have supplied Ukraine with various air defense systems.

Russia fired the Kinzhals from MiG-31K warplanes, along with nine cruise missiles from ships in the Black Sea and three S-400 cruise missiles launched from the ground, Ihnat said. In all, Ukraine's military said later, Russia had targeted Ukraine with 27 missiles in a day and launched 37 airstrikes.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu late Tuesday contested the Ukrainian claims, telling the state-run RIA-Novosti news agency: We have not launched as many Kinzhals as they allegedly shoot down every time with their statements.

Loud explosions boomed over Kyiv in the major nighttime attack apparently aimed at overwhelming Ukraines air defenses. Kyiv's mayor reported three people were wounded.

The barrage came as European leaders sought new ways to punish Russia for the war and a Chinese envoy sought traction for Beijings peace proposal, which appears to have made little impression on the warring sides. It also came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy returned home from a whirlwind European tour to seek more military aid.

The overnight attack on Kyiv was exceptional in its density  the maximum number of attacking missiles in the shortest period of time, said Serhii Popko, the head of the Kyiv military administration.

Kyiv resident Valentyna Myronets, 64, said she felt pain, fear, nervousness, restlessness amid the assaults. God, we are waiting for victory and when all this is over, she said.

U.K. Ambassador Melinda Simmons tweeted that the barrage was pretty intense.

Bangs and shaking walls are not an easy night, she wrote.

It was the eighth time this month that Russian air raids had targeted the capital, a clear escalation after weeks of lull and ahead of a much-anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive using newly supplied advanced Western weapons.

After the first onslaught, Russia also launched Iranian-made Shahed attack drones and conducted aerial reconnaissance, Ihnat said.

Debris fell across several districts in the capital, starting fires, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.

Sophisticated Western air defense systems, including American-made Patriot missiles, have helped spare Kyiv from the kind of destruction witnessed along the main front line in the country's east and south. While most of the ground fighting is stalemated along that front line, both sides are targeting other territory with long-range weapons.

Associated Press reporters saw a metal fragment that landed inside the Kyiv zoo labeled Lockheed Martin and Boeing, two of the companies involved in manufacturing the Patriot missile system.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said a Kinzhal destroyed a Patriot missile battery in Kyiv but he didn't provide evidence, and the statement couldn't be independently verified. Ihnat, the Ukrainian air force spokesman, refused to comment on the claim.

Russia began using the Kinzhal to strike targets in Ukraine early in the invasion but has used the expensive weapon sparingly and against priority targets, apparently reflecting limited availability.

The Russian military says the missile's range is up to 2,000 kilometers (about 1,250 miles) and it can fly at 10 times the speed of sound. Its speed and heavy warhead allow the Kinzhal to destroy heavily fortified targets, such as underground bunkers or mountain tunnels.

Ukraine's bolstered air defenses have deterred Russia's aircraft from going deep into the neighbor country and helped shape the course of the war, military experts say.

In Iceland, European leaders are taking part in a rare summit of the 46-nation Council of Europe, the continents main human rights body, to discuss how to manage claims for compensation from Russia's damage to Ukraine.

Meanwhile, a Chinese envoy is preparing to visit Ukraine and Russia as Beijing advocates a peace plan it released in February. Li Hui, a former ambassador to Moscow, also will visit Poland, France and Germany, according to the Chinese foreign ministry.

Ukraine has cautiously welcomed China's proposal while saying it would wait to see what specific actions China takes. Chinese leader Xi Jinpings government says it is neutral and wants to mediate in the war, but has given Moscow political support, and a breakthrough appears unlikely.

In Russian-occupied southern Ukraine, about 500 kilometers (300 miles) from Kyiv, Russian officials began training to evacuate 3,100 staff members of the shut-down Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and their families, a representative of Energoatom, Ukraines state nuclear company, said Tuesday.

The plant, Europes largest nuclear power station, employed around 11,000 people before the war, some 6,000 of whom remain at the site and in the surrounding town of Enerhodar.

More Russian military units have arrived at the plant and are mining it, the representative told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. Russian troops have barred remaining workers from communicating with each other or leaving, Energoatom said on Telegram.

In other developments:

Ukrainian forces recaptured around 20 kilometers (7.7 square miles) of territory north and south of Bakhmut since last week, but Russian troops continue their grinding advance within the city, Ukraines deputy defense minister said Tuesday. Heavy battles continue with differing results, Hanna Malyar said on Telegram. The Russian-installed head of the partially occupied Donetsk region, Denis Pushilin, told Russian state TV that Russian forces near Bakhmut have reinforced their flanks in the face of Ukrainian successes.

Ukraine's intelligence chief made a rare acknowledgement Tuesday of his country's involvement in assassinations of Russian officials. In an interview posted on YouTube with a Ukrainian journalist, Kyrylo Budanov responded to a question about the deaths of Russian propagandists by saying: We have already got a lot of people." He declined to provide any details.

 In Ukraine's latest corruption scandal, which saw the head of the Supreme Court detained for alleged bribery on Monday, the chief of Ukraines National Anti-Corruption Bureau, Semen Kryvonos, identified the main suspect in the case as mining magnate Kostiantyn Zhevago. Zhevago was arrested in the French Alps in January on suspicion of embezzling tens of millions of dollars.

 South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts have agreed to separate meetings with a delegation of African leaders to discuss a possible plan to end the war. Ramaphosas office said he spoke with Putin and Zelenskyy by phone over the weekend and they agreed to host an African leaders peace mission in Moscow and Kyiv, respectively.

Vasilisa Stepanenko in Kyiv, and Yuras Karmanau in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed to this report.
The Winona Health Simulation Lab received the Minnesota Hospital Associations Pipelines and Partnerships Team Award, one of the associations new Workforce Innovation Awards.

The goal of MHAs award program is to recognize organizations workforce development initiatives and the positive impact they have on patients, workplaces and larger communities. Ultimately, programs like these address workforce challenges that health care organizations are experiencing nationwide.

There is incredible work being done every day to address the workforce shortage and provide the highest quality care to patients, said Minnesota Hospital Association CEO and president Rahul Koranne. Its important to honor the teams and individuals doing this work.

The Winona Health Sim Lab supports ongoing education and development for all caregivers, from students to experienced staff, given the rapid changes and advancements in medicine and technology. The goal is to create a highly competent and confident workforce, ensuring excellence in patient care and experience.

The Simulation Lab, which is equipped with several high-fidelity manikins, provides dynamic, clinical education for current caregivers, community members, students, EMS and fire department staff. Since opening in September 2022, various community groups have also toured the Sim Lab.

The Sim Lab is designed not only for our own Winona Health community of caregivers, but we have also been intentional about inviting the community to use the Simulation Lab to develop skills and introduce other individuals to health care careers, said Karla Eppler, director of learning and development. And, through our partnership with Winona State University, we share this innovative, technology-rich resource to foster collaboration with students and educators. We consider them to be our local partners in caregiving.

Undergraduate and graduate students work in the Sim Lab with experienced caregivers, including nurses, medical staff providers and allied health care workers, in a hospital-like setting.

People have shared how they appreciate the time to practice skills and scenarios to become more comfortable when the real event happens, said Eppler. With our high-fidelity manikins, they can practice a skill repeatedly without making a real patient uncomfortable. They can practice until they achieve mastery of a skill, which increases their confidence in real-life scenarios with our patients and residents. This is especially helpful when practicing a scenario that rarely happens but that you want to be prepared for if it does.

Currently, practicing professionals can connect and mentor the next generation of caregivers; everyone learns from each other regardless of experience and education level. Students are given the opportunity to experience Winona Health as a potential employer and may choose to stay in the community.
A state nurses union and hospital administrators are divided on a bill aimed at resolving poor staffing levels and high turnover in hospitals.

House and Senate leaders are hashing out each chambers version of an omnibus health and human service bill that includes the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act. The bill, approved in April, must reach Gov. Tim Walzs desk by next Monday, May 22, when the legislative period ends.

Central to the bill is the creation of committees composed of management, registered nurses and other direct caregivers at each Minnesota hospital, which would set staffing agreements based on unit.

The agreement would determine the number of patients a single nurse can safely serve, stop boarding patients in emergency department hallways and eliminate individual patient assignments for charge nurses.

The Minnesota Nurses Association, the union supporting the bill, says the agreements will address understaffing and nurse burnout.

Rachelle Schultz, CEO of Winona Health, said nurses and nurse managers already have conversations at the Winona hospital to address staffing levels that change throughout the day. Winona Healths strategic shift to population health and Medicare and Medicaid pilot programs to proactively address patients health before emergency room visits relieve staffing pressures, said Schultz.

I think the elements that relate to having nurses be a part of that process, we dont have an issue with that. I think our quarterly meetings we have now are specifically really relevant, because this happens on a daily basis. But if thats a requirement, I guess we can meet that, said Schultz.

The legislation applies only to hospitals and would not impact clinics such as Gundersens Winona Campus. Jim Root, administrator with Gundersens St. Elizabeths Hospital, said in a statement that processes were already in place at the Wabasha hospital to address nurse staffing.

Schultz said she disagreed with the bill allowing arbitration to resolve staffing decisions.

Staffing committee negotiations that reach an impasse can be solved through arbitration, said Sam Fettig, a spokesperson from the Minnesota Nurses Association.

Schultz and Root echoed concerns that the bill would lead to hospitals turning patients away. The bill would protect nurses from retaliation for turning away patients if they feel they cannot safely care for them under directives in the Minnesota Nurse Practice Act.

The legislation would be enforced by the states Board of Health public grading for hospitals, based on meeting the staffing committees goals.

The Mayo Clinic flamed tensions over the bill last week with a message to Walz and DFL leaders that Mayo would divest billions of dollars from Minnesota if the bill did not exempt the health system. Local hospital administrators spoke against exceptions for any one hospital.

Carving out exemptions for particular hospitals based on their influence is not fair, and it sends the wrong message to people at hospitals like Gundersen St. Elizabeths that work hard every day to serve patients and their families, said Root in a statement.

My hope is that the legislature, whatever is negotiated is for everybody in Minnesota, for all hospitals and health systems, said Schultz. If theres one special deal, that deal should be provided to everybody. I dont think were that different or that unique.
Here are the Walworth Countys weekly criminal complaints from May 9May 15. The cases still need to make their way through the Walworth County Court System. All information is from criminal complaints filed in Walworth County Circuit Court. To follow the cases, go to wcca.wicourts.gov.

Delavan woman charged with 5 counts of neglecting a childTabitha J Akin, 27, of 800 block E Wisconsin St., Delavan, has been charged with five counts of neglecting a child. When officers from the Delavan Police Department arrived at a residence in the City of Delavan on April 9 for a welfare check, they met the defendant who was incoherent, slurring her words, and unable to list her childrens names. Five young children were in the residence at the time. The defendant was also unable to provide what day it was or when the children last ate. Akins PBT result was .308. According the criminal complaint, the condition of the residence was dirty with nails, batteries, screws, loose pills, prescription pill bottles, clothing, trash, toys, and overturned furniture scattered throughout the residence.

Elkhorn man mistakenly fires gun, accidently hits another man in the arm Chad Michael Lessard, 25, of W5000 block Park Dr., Elkhorn, has been charged with second degree recklessly endangering safety, use of a dangerous weapon; negligent handling of a weapon; possession of a firearm while intoxicated; possession of tetrahydrocannabinols (THC); and possession of drug paraphernalia.

On April 29, police from the Walworth County Sherriffs Office responded to a residence in the Town of Sugar Creek for a person with a gunshot wound. Upon arrival, officers noticed a man lying on the ground in physical distress with a woman next to him holding a towel on his upper arm before an officer was able to provide a tourniquet. The victim was in the bathroom when he was accidently struck by a bullet in the arm.

Lessard, the defendant, had purchased the gun earlier in the day.

The defendant stated that he took out his Glock to clean it and removed the magazine from the pistol in an attempt to try and disassemble the gun. But according to the criminal complaint, the defendant believed that the trigger was mistakenly set to fire, causing the gun to shoot a round through the bathroom door.

An officer found a blue vape pen that contained cannabis in his time at the residence.

Darien woman found with methamphetamine in her purse at Oak Hill CemeteryAshlyn R Dybowski, 23, of 300 block Sweet Rd., Darien, has been charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance on or near certain places. A detective from the Lake Geneva Police Department was on patrol April 24 when he saw a vehicle pull into Oak Hill Cemetery within 1,000 feet of First Evangelical Lutheran Church and School. The detective made contact with the vehicle driven by the defendant. Seth J. Gayhart, who faces three charges stemming from the same incident, was in the passenger seat. In the vehicle, the detective noticed a black semiautomatic handgun between Gayharts legs.

He later admitted as a felon, he wasnt allowed to be in possession of a firearm.

He was also found to be in possession of 3.6 grams of methamphetamine.

During a search of the vehicle, a vial of 1.5 grams of methamphetamine was found inside the defendants purse.

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Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The head of the artificial intelligence company that makes ChatGPT told Congress on Tuesday that government intervention "will be critical to mitigate the risks of increasingly powerful AI systems.

As this technology advances, we understand that people are anxious about how it could change the way we live. We are too," OpenAI CEO Sam Altman testified at a Senate hearing Tuesday.

Altman proposed the formation of a U.S. or global agency that would license the most powerful AI systems and have the authority to take that license away and ensure compliance with safety standards.

His San Francisco-based startup rocketed to public attention after it released ChatGPT late last year. ChatGPT is a free chatbot tool that answers questions with convincingly human-like responses.

What started out as a panic among educators about ChatGPT's use to cheat on homework assignments has expanded to broader concerns about the ability of the latest crop of generative AI tools to mislead people, spread falsehoods, violate copyright protections and upend some jobs.

And while there's no immediate sign that Congress will craft sweeping new AI rules, as European lawmakers are doing, the societal concerns brought Altman and other tech CEOs to the White House earlier this month and have led U.S. agencies to promise to crack down on harmful AI products that break existing civil rights and consumer protection laws.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, the Connecticut Democrat who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committees subcommittee on privacy, technology and the law, opened the hearing with a recorded speech that sounded like the senator, but was actually a voice clone trained on Blumenthal's floor speeches and reciting a speech written by ChatGPT after he asked the chatbot to compose his opening remarks.

The result was impressive, said Blumenthal, but he added, What if I had asked it, and what if it had provided, an endorsement of Ukraine surrendering or (Russian President) Vladimir Putins leadership?

Blumenthal said AI companies ought to be required to test their systems and disclose known risks before releasing them, and expressed particular concern about how future AI systems could destabilize the job market.

Pressed on his own worst fear about AI, Altman mostly avoided specifics. But he later proposed that a new regulatory agency should impose safeguards that would block AI models that could self-replicate and self-exfiltrate into the wild  hinting at futuristic concerns about advanced AI systems that could manipulate humans into ceding control.

Co-founded by Altman in 2015 with backing from tech billionaire Elon Musk with a mission focused on safety, OpenAI has evolved from a nonprofit research lab into a business. Its other popular AI products including the image-maker DALL-E. Microsoft has invested billions of dollars into the startup and has integrated its technology into its own products, including its search engine Bing.

Altman is also planning to embark on a worldwide tour this month to national capitals and major cities across six continents to talk about the technology with policymakers and the public. On the eve of his Senate testimony, he dined with dozens of U.S. lawmakers, several of whom told CNBC they were impressed by his comments.

Also testifying will be IBM's chief privacy and trust officer, Christina Montgomery, and Gary Marcus, a professor emeritus at New York University who was among a group of AI experts who called on OpenAI and other tech firms to pause their development of more powerful AI models for six months to give society more time to consider the risks. The letter was a response to the March release of OpenAI's latest model, GPT-4, described as more powerful than ChatGPT.

Artificial intelligence will be transformative in ways we cant even imagine, with implications for Americans elections, jobs, and security, said the panel's ranking Republican, Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri. This hearing marks a critical first step towards understanding what Congress should do.

A number of tech industry leaders have said they welcome some form of AI oversight but have cautioned against what they see as overly heavy-handed rules. In a copy of her prepared remarks, IBM's Montgomery asks Congress to take a precision regulation" approach, and disagreed with proposals by Altman and Marcus for an AI-focused regulator.

"This means establishing rules to govern the deployment of AI in specific use-cases, not regulating the technology itself, Montgomery said.
EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR TUESDAY MAY 16, 2023

To Stop a War, Revive the True American Spirit

May 15, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)As Hungarys Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said while on a visit to Beijing today, Western nations are gripped by a psychosis of war, and that what is needed from the sane portions of the world is to increase the voice of the peace camp. Indeed, the war party is on a rampage, as can be seen by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys tour throughout Europe, having made visits to Germany, France, Italy, and then Britain, getting showered with more and larger instruments of death at each stop. These are not the actions of leaders who have compassion for the lives their nations citizens, nor for those of others.

The message was made exceptionally clear during Zelenskyys visit to the Vatican, where he met with the most prominent voice calling for peace negotiations in Europe: Pope Francis. In a characteristically arrogant (and tragic) response, Zelenskyy rejected the Popes offer to mediate a peace deal with Russia, saying that the Pope knows my position, and that Ukraine will continue fighting until Russia is defeated. From there he was whisked away to London, where offers were made of new, longer-range drones capable of reaching into Russian territory, further escalating the conflict.

In response to this, pro-peace forces are mobilizing. China is sending a high-level official to Ukraine this week, in an effort to defuse the psychosis of war. From there, he will travel to Germany, France, Poland, and Russia, seeking dialogue. In addition, Chinas role as a productive force for peace was acknowledged by Hungarys Szijjarto, who emphasized that Hungary attaches huge significance to the role [of China].... We appreciate your peace plan a lot.

In discussions with associates today, Helga Zepp-LaRouche emphasized that the peace movement globally must be mobilized to force their voice out into this dangerous dynamic that currently is driving the world towards a new world war. Americans in particular have the power to transform the situation if they were to act as their true selves, as epitomized by John F. Kennedys June 10, 1963 Commencement speech at American University. Kennedy said at that time, speaking on the topic of world peace:

What kind of peace do I mean? What kind of peace do we seek? Not a Pax Americana enforced on the world by American weapons of war. Not the peace of the grave or the security of the slave. I am talking about genuine peace, the kind of peace that makes life on Earth worth living, the kind that enables men and nations to grow and to hope and to build a better life for their childrennot merely peace for Americans but peace for all men and womennot merely peace in our time but peace for all time....

A little later he said:

Let us focus ... on a more practical, more attainable peacebased not on a sudden revolution in human nature but on a gradual evolution in human institutionson a series of concrete actions and effective agreements which are in the interest of all concerned. There is no single, simple key to this peaceno grand or magic formula to be adopted by one or two powers. Genuine peace must be the product of many nations, the sum of many acts. It must be dynamic, not static, changing to meet the challenge of each new generation. For peace is a processa way of solving problems.

And with those comments, he was killed, making him and his vision of ensuring peace among the nations of the world the victims of an assassination apparatus determined to prevent it. The rediscovery of this today, by Americans and others around the world, could play a crucial role in introducing the ideas needed to stop the worlds plunge into a thermonuclear war. Peace is not the cessation of war, it is a different outlook, a different way of thinking, and it was at one time the way real Americans thought.

Next month is the 60th anniversary of Kennedys speech at American University, and a day of action to take place internationally is being planned on the date to elevate the intervention at this critical time. Dont think: What will they do to me if I speak out. Instead, think, as Scott Ritter said recently when asked if he worries about this: The consequences of me doing nothing are far greater than whatever the government can do for me for trying to stop war. So, Im not afraid.
Damage to roads and bridges is delaying rescue efforts in Myanmars western Rakhine State after a powerful ocean storm struck Sunday.

Cyclone Mocha brought winds measured at nearly 200 kilometers an hour. The storm tore the tops from homes and created a storm surge that flooded the state capital of Sittwe. Mocha was the most powerful storm to hit the area since Cyclone Nargis in 2008.

Many people are feared dead, but Reuters news service has been unable to confirm a number. Nongovernmental groups say storm damage to communications and transportation lines as well as continuing military restrictions have delayed information and aid.

Early reports from Myanmars state media said a small number of people had died. The website Myanmar Now claimed hundreds, while aid groups said there were a significant number of deaths.

Manny Maung of Human Rights Watch said, Its difficult to obtain accurate or up to date information.

Local leaders told the French news agency AFP that 41 people had died in the village of Bu Ma and hundreds were missing.

The cyclone also struck Bangladesh. There, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said more than 700,000 people had been moved to shelters. But no deaths were reported. Officials have credited early warning systems and better preparation by local officials for saving thousands of lives. However, officials warn many people are still missing.

News reports say large numbers of people were also evacuated in Myanmar. Myanmars state media said Tuesday that military government chief Min Aung Hlaing visited Sittwe to observe the damage and to donate money.

Rakhine State is home to a large population of Rohingya Muslims, a minority group that has suffered from what international groups call ethnic attacks by Myanmars military. Myanmar refuses to recognize the group as citizens of the country saying they are Bangladeshis.

More than one million Rohingya refugees are believed to live in camps in neighboring Bangladesh. They fled Myanmar in large numbers after the military took action against them in 2017.

Im Mario Ritter Jr.

Mario Ritter, Jr. adapted this report for VOA Learning English from Reuters, AFP and Associated Press sources.

___________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

surge n. a powerful rush of water into an area

significant adj. large or important

obtain v. to get

accurate adj. correct

evacuate v. to be moved from a place because of a threat or danger

___________________________________________________________________

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GRAND ISLAND  The Central Platte Natural Resources Districts (CPNRD) Board of Directors will hold a public hearing on Thursday, May 25, 2023, at 1:45 p.m.

The hearing will be held just prior to the May Board meeting at the CPNRD Office located at 215 Kaufman Ave in Grand Island. A full text of the rewritten plan is available at www.cpnrd.org or can be requested by calling (308) 385-6282. Substantial Changes Include:

1) Water Quantity Phase I trigger will change to a range of 0-25% of the Maximum Acceptable Decline (MAD). Phase II would apply to any area with declines greater than 25% of the MAD. Phase III would be changed to 50% decline in water levels relative to the MADs. If water levels in a given GWMA continued to decline and reached 75% of the MAD, the GWMA would be at a Phase IV level. A Phase V designation would be implemented if that MAD is 100% reached or exceeded.

2) The preferred option for groundwater quantity management controls related to each phase is measuring devices and a limit on the volume of groundwater pumped. Phase I has no additional management requirements. Phase II remains as is with limitations on transfers and supplemental wells. When the Phase III trigger is reached, measurement devices will be required on all active irrigation wells in the GWMA, and the owner or operator of every active well will be required to report annual water usage to the CPNRD. At the Phase IV trigger, CPNRD would allocate groundwater use to prevent the GWMA from reaching the MAD. If the initial allocation is insufficient to prevent reaching the MAD, and that MAD is reached or exceeded, this would trigger a Phase V designation, requiring a reduction of the allocation.

3) Ground Water Management Areas 7 and 9 were subdivided due to differences in irrigation development that have occurred across those GWMAs.

4) Water Quality Phase III trigger will be lowered to 10.1 ppm nitrate. Phase I remains 0-7.5 ppm, Phase II will be 7.6 to 10.0 ppm and Phase III will be 10.1 ppm and above. Phase IV remains an area where nitrate concentrations are not decreasing.

The Central Platte NRDs Board of Directors meeting will be held following the public hearing at 2:00 p.m.

-Wood River Watershed JEO Consulting Group will give a presentation on alternatives to the Wood River Watershed Flood Risk Reduction Plan. After multiple reviews and discussions, it has been determined more planning efforts are needed to better understand flooding impacts and potential solutions within the Lower Wood River Watershed, including expanding the work area to include the Upper Wood River sub-basin. The expanded plan requires governmental reviews as part of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process. The project was officially upgraded to an EIS in February 2023, and the updated planning process will run through early 2024.

Although the Wood River Watershed Plan studies the entire watershed, the focus is on reducing flood risk in the area between Kearney and Grand Island. Potential projects include but are not limited to diversion channels, channel and ditch widening, levees or berms, and roadway modifications. At the town of Wood River, the Wood River has an incised channel with high banks. This interferes with rainfall naturally draining overland into the river. Rain falling between the river and Highway 30 through town cannot naturally drain to the river and creates excess stormwater ponding. In large flood events, water that escapes Wood River cannot easily re-enter the channel as water levels recede. Instead, water flows east approximately three miles northeast of town, flooding the business district of Wood River along Highway 30. According to current floodplain maps, water from Wood River cannot inundate developments within the city at anything less than a 500-year event. At the 500-year mark, everything north of the Union Pacific railroad tracks, including HWY30, would be inundated.

JEO will review potential alternatives with the Board including performing field work including wetland delineations, geotechnical investigations, and archaeological surveys to further analyze potential alternatives and locations. Once the plan has been finalized, project design can begin on the proposed alternative, starting possibly late 2024 through 2026 if pursued. Construction would start following the design phase.

-Natural Resources Conservation Service Joe Krolikowski, District Conservationist, will report.

Search Committee The Search Committee will report on efforts to fill the vacancy in Sub-District 8, previously held by LeRoy Arends of Grand Island. Arends passed away in March and had been a director on the Board since 2005. Sub-District 8 is located in Grand Island. A map of the area is available on the CPNRDs website at www.cpnrd.org/about/directors. The position is a two-year term to end in December 2024.

-Variance/Appeals Committee The Board will consider an irrigation appeal from a producer in Custer County.

-Groundwater Levels Luke Zakrzewski, GIS Image Analyst, will report on the spring 2023 static groundwater level results along with a comparison of the groundwater levels in 1982. The 1982 levels were established as the standard for the NRDs Groundwater Management Plan with maximum acceptable declines and a margin of safety calculated for each of the Districts 24 Ground Water Management Areas (GWMA).

-Managers Report Lyndon Vogt, General Manager, will report.

-Nebraska Association of Resources District Deb VanMatre, CPNRD Representative, will report.

-Nebraska Natural Resources Commission Mick Reynolds, Middle Platte Basin Representative, will report.

-2024 FY Budget The Budget Committee will review proposed budget items for the 2024 fiscal year.

-Cost-Share Applications through the Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation and the Central Platte NRD cost-share programs will be considered.

-Upcoming Board Meetings June 29, July 27, Aug. 31
LEXINGTON  Five individuals were honored for the lifesaving effort they rendered in February at the Orthman Community YMCA on Friday, May 12.

Roger Wooden, 73, of Lexington started his morning like usual by walking, lifting weights and playing pickleball in the YMCA gym, per the Orthman Community YMCA, Shortly after 9 a.m., he started to feel lightheaded.

I felt like the world was going around, and I was going to pass out, Roger said.

Wooden figured it was his type-2 diabetes making him feel that way, so he approached Kresha Schwartz at the YMCA front desk and asked if they had any juice, per the YMCA, Kresha went to grab a glucose tablet, and by the time she returned, Roger had collapsed. He was lying on the floor with a bleeding head.

Roger was not breathing and did not have a pulse so they shocked him with the AED and started CPR. After two minutes, they reevaluated, had to shock his heart with the AED again and continued CPR. They started to see a pulse, the YMCA stated.

Lexington Police Chief Tracy Wolf said around 9:25 a.m., School Resource Officer Luke Pinkelman received a phone call from the director of the Lexington YMCA, Riley Gruntorad, in reference to a male subject that had fallen and CPR was in progress. SRO Pinkelman then advised Lexington Dispatch that a rescue unit was needed at the YMCA.

Gruntorad was the first on scene and was followed off-duty Lexington Police Officer Edwin Perdomo and civilian Allen Castaneda. These three men began CPR, Wolf said, SRO Luke Pinkelman arrived shortly after and assisted in CPR.

Wolf noted Castaneda had been hired by the LPD to be an officer prior to the occurrence, but formally started the day after.

Less than five minutes after Wooden collapsed, two emergency responder vehicles arrived and professional emergency responders took over.

Lexington Police Officer Jose Torres arrived and brought his patrol unit AED and assisted Pinkelman in switching out the AED from the YMCA that was low on power. That AED was utilized, and they were able to revive the subject. Lexington Rescue and Priority Medical arrived and had to utilize their AED to further stabilize the subject, Wolf said.

They shocked Woodens heart again, and he started to fully regain consciousness. He was transported to Kearney Regional Hospital where he stayed for a week for tests and recovery.

We work really well together, and when an emergency happens like it did, they were here right away, Gruntorad said. We are thankful for those partnerships and those people.

Wolf recommended Riley Gruntorad, Edwin Perdomo, Allen Castaneda, Luke Pinkelman and Jose Torres for a lifesaving award. Certificates and lapel pins were provided by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

Y MCA Board Members Sarah De La Torre, board president and Todd McKeone presented the pins and certificates to the five men.
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.

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. FABIANO MAISONNAVE, BOA VISTA, MDT/AP
Photo: The Canadian Press

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.
China sentenced a 78-year-old United States citizen to life in prison yesterday 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 assertive 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.

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 had no immediate word on Leungs sentencing.

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.

According to China observers, 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. 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 fierce 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. MDT/AP
Employers will be obligated to pay salaries in full during their employees maternity leaves from May 26, as government subsidization will come to an end on the previous day.

The length of maternity leave was increased from 56 days to 70 days following the promulgation of the amended Labour Relations Law on May 26, 2020. Alongside the extension, a provision on transitional arrangements also started taking effect.

The provision states that in the first three years of the promulgation of the amended law, the government would issue up to 14 days of salary to eligible local employees. Under this arrangement, employers were only required to pay 56 days of salary, meaning there would be no change to their responsibilities in the first three years.

As the transitional period will end on May 25, employers are reminded to pay the salary of 70-day maternity leave to employees who have worked in the company for over a year while giving birth or fitting the definitions as stated in Clauses 5 and 6 of Article 54 of the amended law.

Employees giving birth or fitting the aforementioned definitions and eligible for maternity leave on or before May 25 will still be eligible to apply for the salary subsidy from the Social Security Fund within 120 days of their labor or the occurrence of the conditions as stated in the aforementioned clauses.

The government explained that the transitional arrangement was implemented to ease immediate impacts on employers.
An agreement enabling mutual recognition and exchange of driving licenses between the mainland and Macau will take effect today, according to the Ministry of Public Security (MPS). The MPS and the SAR government signed the agreement in February. Under the deal, the mainland and Macau will allow individuals holding valid driving licenses issued by authorities from either side to drive directly through or obtain driving permits on the other side without any additional tests. Previously, the mutual recognition and exchange of driving licenses has been organized between the mainland and the Hong Kong SAR.

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* No event | IC confirms no Intl Parade this year

* Society | Survey finds low child visitation rate in divorced parents

* Employers will have to pay salaries in full during employees maternity leave from May 26, as govt subsidization will come to an end

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Tuesday, May 16, 2023  edition no. 4246
A Chinese envoy was preparing yesterday 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. MDT/AP
Red Lobster shareholder Thai Union says the Orlando, Florida-based seafood chain turned a profit again in the first quarter of this year, and the company doesnt plan to sell the brand even as challenges remain.

The Thailand-based seafood supplier reported it had a share of profit from operations for Red Lobster in the first quarter of this year, improved from a loss in the same period last year.

I want to manage your expectation, said Thai Union group CFO Ludovic Garnier on a May 3 earnings call. We still have a lot of work to be done.

Thai Union is still projecting a loss for the full year from its share in Red Lobster, Garnier said. The chain is also still without a CEO after Kelli Valade resigned more than a year ago after just eight months on the job.

But the company said in its earnings presentation it has no plans to sell Red Lobster in the short term. Thai Union, whose brands include Chicken of the Sea, became a Red Lobster stakeholder in 2016 before teaming up with a group of investors in 2020 to acquire the rest of the company from San Franciscos Golden Gate Capital.

San Diego-based restaurant analyst John Gordon said it was notable that Thai Union doesnt have plans to sell the seafood chain.

Its important to the brand and the employees of the brand, Gordon said. With the fact that they dont have a CEO right now, some need of safety and continuity is vitally important to the people.

Thai Union also said last year it was providing financial assistance by guaranteeing part of Red Lobsters credit, no more than $65 million, or about 25% of the outstanding balance.

Thai Unions share of profit in the first quarter of this year from Red Lobster converts from Thai currency to about $3.5 million. Their loss in the first quarter of 2022 converts to about $7.2 million today.

Theres no question that this is a pretty dramatic turnaround in quarter one, Gordon said. Tactical marketing promotions and store-level operational excellence will be highly important for Red Lobsters stability going forward.

Garnier attributed the first-quarter profitability to Valentines Day as well as the Lobsterfest limited-time event that started in January with menu items such as lobster and shrimp tacos and lobster- and shrimp-topped sirloin. Prices at the restaurant chain have also gone up, Garnier said.

He said Red Lobster needs to make sure it has good value between big promotions like its Lobsterfest and Ultimate Endless Shrimp, as consumers in the United States are sensitive to price.

We need to reinvent," Garnier said. "We need to be a bit more creative.  The team right now is working on how to propose (a) new menu, new meal, very attractive from a value proposition.

Eating out cost 8.6% more in April than it did a year earlier, with full-service meals up 7.2%, according to the federal Consumer Price Index.

Red Lobster spokeswoman Lori Cherry did not immediately answer questions about profitability or any turnaround plan, but she said there are no updates on the search for a new CEO.

With Valades departure in April 2022, Red Lobster revealed that Paul Kenny, former CEO of Asias Minor Food, would be a liaison between Red Lobsters leadership and the board. Kenny is a key shareholder in the investor group called Seafood Alliance, which acquired the chain with Thai Union.

A vacancy in this kind of position for more than a year is rare, said Kevin Stockslager, executive vice president and partner at St. Petersburg, Florida-based Wray Executive Search. His firm specializes in restaurant leadership searches but is not involved in Red Lobsters hunt.

It certainly could be an indication that they did not find the right candidate for the CEO position, but I also think it could be an indication that theyre happy with some of the other current C-level leaders on their team and the leadership theyve been provided by their board, Stockslager said.

Gordon stressed the importance of finding a new leader.

For Red Lobster to execute a true revolutionary plan, they need a world-class CEO, he said.
FARMINGTON, N.M.  At least three people were killed and several others, including two police officers, were wounded Monday in a northwestern New Mexico community before law enforcement shot and killed the suspect, authorities said.

The shootings occurred at around 11 a.m. in Farmington, a city of about 50,000 people that serves as a modern-day trading post to the adjacent Navajo Nation reservation and is a supply line and bedroom community to the region's oil and natural gas industry.

The city's police department said in a Facebook post that at least three members of the public were killed and that officers confronted and killed a suspect at the scene. It also said two officers, including one of its own and a State Police officer, were wounded and were in stable condition at the San Juan Regional Medical Center.

"The suspect's identity is unknown and there are no other known threats at this time," police said.
Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin didn't violate state or federal law in refusing to cover speech or occupational therapy for a girl with autism starting at age 10, a federal judge ruled this month in a lawsuit against the Madison-based insurer.

GHC "came to the rational conclusion that the treatments ... were not covered by the policy because they were not evidence-based," U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen Crocker wrote in a decision issued May 8, dismissing the case brought by the parents of a daughter with autism spectrum disorder.

GHC "prioritizes the well-being of our members above all else, and our care management practices reflect that commitment by using sound medical guidance when making coverage determinations," said Marty Anderson, the HMO's chief strategy and business development officer.

Paul Kinne, the family's attorney, said they are "disappointed at the result, and they are considering their options."

Tony Hensen and Angela Midthun-Hensen of the town of Vienna, near Waunakee, sued in September 2021, saying GHC refused to cover speech or therapy treatment as required by state and federal law for their daughter, who was then 13 years old. The class-action complaint was filed on behalf of children similarly denied coverage of autism treatment at age 10 or older.

The girl, identified only as K.H., started speech therapy in May 2017 and requested coverage of occupational therapy in October 2018, according to the lawsuit. GHC denied coverage of both in January 2019, saying speech therapy was not evidence-based for children with autism 10 and older and occupational therapy is considered experimental for autism, the suit said.

Midthun-Hensen had GHC insurance through her job with the Verona School District. GHC denied an appeal by the family in April 2019, and an independent review organization denied an external review in September 2019, the suit said.

GHC agreed to start covering some speech therapy for K.H. in September 2021, however, the suit said. The HMO also agreed to cover occupational therapy, for which K.H. was on a waiting list, Paul Kinne the family's attorney, told the Wisconsin State Journal when the suit was filed.

The lawsuit sought $18,000 for speech therapy the family paid for and wasn't covered after K.H. turned 10, Kinne said. She had stopped occupational therapy because the family couldn't afford it, he said.

The lawsuit also sought compensation for other families in similar situations. Kinne said he didn't have estimates of how many families were involved or what the total amount might be.

Wisconsin requires insurers to cover certain treatments for autism, including intensive-level, evidence-based behavioral therapies for children ages 2 to 9 and noni tensive-level services with no age limit.

Two federal laws, including a mental health parity act adopted in 2008, also require such coverage, the lawsuit says.

The lawsuit alleged GHC applied a more restrictive standard on autism therapy than on chiropractic care for children. But Crocker said the HMO's decision stemmed from "a difference in the status of the acceptance of those treatments by the medical community at large."
An Illinois man was arrested Saturday in an incident in which shots were fired outside a town of Burke bar on April 7, the Dane County Sheriffs Office reported.

Michael J. Ware, 37, of Glenwood, Illinois was booked into the Dane County Jail on a parole hold and tentative charges of second-degree recklessly endangering safety by use of a dangerous weapon and felon in possession of a firearm, Lt. Krista Ewers-Hayes said in a statement.

Jeffrey M. Murray, 43, of Madison, previously was arrested in the incident on a tentative charges of second-degree recklessly endangering safety by use of a dangerous weapon and, We believe all involved have now been identified, Ewers-Hayes said.

The Sheriffs Office previously reported that at about 2 a.m. on April 7, deputies responded to the parking lot of the Keg, 6295 Portage Road, after gunshots were reported, and found numerous shell casings in the road. No injuries were reported.
Fave 5: Education reporter Olivia Herken shares her favorites stories from 2022

Being back at the Wisconsin State Journal and in Madison has been a joy for me so far. And though I've only been back for a few months, that time has been filled with important stories in K-12 education.

From a busy school referendum cycle to fired principals, here are my top five stories from the year.
Photo: The Canadian Press Special counsel John Durham.

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.
The Madison School Board intends to take the summer to plan for a superintendent search that will begin shortly after school starts next fall.

The School Board met with the Chicago-based search firm Alma Advisory Group on Monday.

After discussing two hiring timelines, the Board decided to use the summer months to begin planning a thoughtful community engagement process that will begin soon after the 2023-24 school year starts, School Board President Nichelle Nichols wrote in an email to students, staff and community members Tuesday morning.

This way, our staff, students and families can enjoy a summer break while we work on the details to make this process inclusive and accessible for everyone, Nichols wrote. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

Superintendent Carlton Jenkins announced in February that he would retire July 28 after about three years with the district.

He since has been named a finalist for superintendent of the Memphis, Tennessee, school district.

Longtime educator Lisa Kvistad, who retired from the Madison School District in 2020 after 19 years, will serve as interim superintendent until a permanent superintendent is hired.

Nichols also said the district soon will have a webpage that will share updates on the search.
A ballot question for a constitutional amendment that sought to enhance the rights of crime victims was properly worded and legally adopted after Wisconsin voters overwhelmingly approved it two years ago, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.

The state's high court ruled 6-1, with liberal Justice Ann Walsh Bradley dissenting, that the contested measure known as "Marsy's Law" will stand as law, despite arguments raised that the original ballot question before voters in 2020 was vague or misleading.

The majority concluded Wisconsin's constitutional requirement is that amendments to the document must be submitted to voters but does not contain "any explicit obligations regarding form or substance." The ruling could have a lasting impact on future amendments to the Wisconsin Constitution at a time when some conservative groups have called on state Republicans to ramp up their use of such ballot questions as a way to enact or preserve legislation with liberals holding the governor's office and poised to take control of the state Supreme Court in August.

"The legislature is granted substantial discretion and freedom in how amendments can be submitted to the people," conservative Justice Brian Hagedorn wrote for the majority. "The text simply requires that the people must have the opportunity to ratify or reject a proposed amendment."

The constitutional amendment, which was approved by about 75% of Wisconsin voters, was challenged by the Wisconsin Justice Initiative, along with a group of defense attorneys and now-retired Democratic state Sen. Fred Risser, who disputed the validity of the question put to voters. They said the ballot question didn't sufficiently describe the potential negative repercussions for people accused of crimes.

In the ruling, the majority note that only once, in 1953, has the state Supreme Court reversed a proposed amendment to the state constitution. In that instance, the court concluded the question submitted before voters described the amendment in a fundamentally counterfactual way, according to Tuesdays ruling.

While (Wisconsin Justice Initiative) takes issue with the wording, completeness, and implications of the ballot question, we conclude the question was not fundamentally counterfactual such that voters were not afforded the opportunity to approve the actual amendment, Hagedorn wrote Tuesday.

Bradley dissents

Bradley, in her dissent, wrote the ballot question was improperly worded, as it did not mention provisions in Marsy's Law that provide greater rights for victims and the diminishment of the rights of the accused. In part, the law gives victims the right to refuse an interview, deposition or other discovery request made by the accused or any person acting on behalf of the accused.

Margo Kirchner, executive director with Wisconsin Justice Initiative, said she was disappointed with the court's decision and supported Bradley's sentiments, but also expressed concern with the potential long-reaching impact of the court's decision.

"The court, in its decision, ended up giving the Legislature really unfettered power regarding constitutional amendment referendum questions in the future," Kirchner said.

Constitutional amendments must pass two successive legislative sessions before going before voters. They cannot be vetoed by the governor.

Rights of the accused

Supporters of the amendment said it gives alleged victims the same rights as the accused. Lawyers representing the Wisconsin Elections Commission and groups that support the amendment cautioned the Wisconsin Supreme Court against interfering with legislative proposals.

The question voters saw on their ballot stated: "Shall section 9m of article I of the constitution, which gives certain rights to crime victims, be amended to give crime victims additional rights, to require that the rights of crime victims be protected with equal force to the protections afforded the accused while leaving the federal constitutional rights of the accused intact, and to allow crime victims to enforce their rights in court?"

A Dane County judge ruled in late 2020 that the statewide ballot question inadequately spelled out the effect the amendment would have on the rights of people accused of crimes. He said voters would have been better informed had the question been broken into two parts  one addressing greater rights for victims and another on the diminishment of the rights of the accused.

Dane County Circuit Court Judge Frank Remington also noted that while the ballot question said victims' rights will be protected "with equal force" as those accused of crimes, the amendment altered the constitution to say the rights of crime victims should be protected by law in a manner "no less vigorous" than the protections given to those accused of crimes. He called the discrepancy "misleading."

To the high court

About a year after Remington's ruling against the amendment, a three-judge panel of the state District 3 Court of Appeals asked that the state Supreme Court bypass the appeals court and decide the case, citing its statewide importance and the novelty of some of the questions the appeal asks and the lack of significant legal authority on other questions.

Before the Wisconsin Supreme Court, lawyers for the Wisconsin Justice Initiative, along with the ACLU of Wisconsin and liberal legal group Law Forward, said that ballot questions must reference "every essential element" of the proposed measure.

But attorneys for the state Department of Justice, representing the Wisconsin Elections Commission, say the question communicated the amendment's essential purpose. Unless the ballot question presented "an entirely different question" from the amendment, then the question wasn't misleading, they said in court files. They added that the Legislature has broad discretion over wording and exercised it properly in this instance.

The state Supreme Court concluded the question was proper as all provisions in Marsys Law relate to expanding and defining victims rights.

Nationwide effort

The law was named after Marsalee (Marsy) Ann Nicholas, a University of California-Santa Barbara student who was stalked and killed by her ex-boyfriend in 1983. Just a week after the murder, Marsys mother, Marcella, was confronted by her daughters murderer at a local market. She hadnt been told he had been released on bail just days after Marsys murder. Henry Nicholas III is Marsys brother, and the billionaire founder of the Marsys Law national campaign.

Ultimately, Marsy's Law added 16 new rights for victims while eliminating a reference in the constitution to a fair trial for the defendant.

In a separate decision Tuesday, the Wisconsin Supreme Court cited Marsys Law in overturning 30 years of precedent that gave a criminal defendant the ability to have a judge review the victims privately held, otherwise privileged health records.

The court, in a 5-2 decision, determined that the 1993 Wisconsin Court of Appeals ruling granting those rights was wrongly decided and unworkable, and that its rationale has been undermined by the adoption of Marsys Law and other laws protecting the rights of victims.

The court reached its conclusion in a case in which a Waupaca County man charged with several felonies for allegedly sexually assaulting his son and daughter had wanted the judge to review his sons mental health and counseling records. The Supreme Court ruled that the circuit court must deny the defendants motion to have the judge review the records.

Justice Rebecca Dallet wrote the majority opinion, joined by justices Patience Roggensack, Hagedorn, Jill Karofsky and Rebecca Bradley. Ann Walsh Bradley and Chief Justice Annette Ziegler dissented.

State Journal reporter Alexander Shur and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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With some of the states highest concentrations of air particulate matter pollution in recent years, Madison is moving to use a big federal grant to install a citywide network of air quality sensors to provide real-time information at the neighborhood level and address health disparities.

The City Council on Tuesday will consider amending the capital budget to accept the $430,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and execute an agreement with the EPA authorizing non-competitive contracts with a leadership team to implement the project.

Currently, the city has two regulatory-grade air quality sensors, but the initiative will install a network of 68 sensors focusing on particulate matter across the city, which will deliver far better information on when and where that type of pollution happens.

This would make Madison the most monitored community in Wisconsin with regard to particulate matter, said Tim Bertram, a professor of chemistry at UW-Madison and a member of the projects leadership team.

The project is important because particulate matter air pollution, especially fine particles, poses serious risks to respiratory and cardiovascular health, the citys project plan says.

Solid particles and liquid droplets suspended in the air are known as particulate matter and include everything from dust and pollen to fine particles that result from smoke or from tailpipe and smokestack pollutants. The fine particles (known as PM2.5), can penetrate deep into the lungs and even the bloodstream, causing breathing problems, heart attacks and even premature death in people with heart or lung disease.

The projects leadership team, which includes the city, the Foundation for Black Womens Wellness, the Latino Health Council, the Hmong Institute, Public Health Madison and Dane County and UW-Madison will engage the community through multiple venues to raise awareness about the connections between air quality and health, especially regarding people of color.

Using data from the sensor network, the city will show the distribution of particle matter pollution across the city, identify neighborhoods experiencing the highest levels of pollution, and work with the community to determine next steps for improving air quality and protecting the health of residents.

The funds will be used to install the network of air quality sensors on city-owned light and traffic signal poles throughout the city and support community engagement to provide greater awareness, education and action to address disparities. The Foundation for Black Womens Wellness, Latino Health Council, and Hmong Institute will each receive $50,000 and UW-Madison will get $37,019.

Clean air is fundamental to the health and well-being of everyone in our community, said Jessica Price, the citys sustainability and resilience manager. But exposure and vulnerability to air pollution are experienced more acutely by people with low to moderate income, (Black, Indigenous and people of color) communities, people with disabilities, children and the elderly.

The city plans to start installing the sensors next summer.

Serious risks

In Madison, there are two regulatory-grade air quality sensors  Madison University Avenue established in 1992 and Madison East established in 1999  that are run by the state Department of Natural Resources.

While Dane County is in compliance with federal air quality standards, the sensors in Madison have detected some of the states highest concentrations of particulate matter in recent years.

From 2018 through 2020, the University Avenue station recorded the second-highest annual PM2.5 and the highest 24-hour PM2.5 of all sensors in the state DNRs ambient air monitoring network. The Madison East station recorded the fifth-highest annual PM2.5 and the third-highest 24-hour PM2.5 in the state.

Research by UW professor and project partner Tracey Holloway has found that vehicles are the leading contributor to high particle matter pollution in Madison, followed by sources such as buildings and power plants, Price said.

Over the past few years, the community also has seen an increase in the number of air pollution events that are related to the long-range transport of smoke from wildfires in the western U.S. and Canada, Bertram said.

While the current sensors give a broad understanding of air pollution in the region, they arent able to identify differences across Madisons neighborhoods.

Exposure and vulnerability to air pollution are experienced more acutely by low- to moderate-income residents, BIPOC communities, people with disabilities, children and the elderly. In Wisconsin, BIPOC and low-income communities are disproportionately burdened by respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses.

Resources, education, support

Getting real-time, ground-level information from the new sensor network, combined with satellite data, will enable an understanding of locations, magnitudes and potential sources of particulate matter, and inform short- and long-term solutions to improve air quality and protect community health.

Bertram, with input from the leadership team, will design the spatial arrangement of the air quality sensor network to provide the best data on ground-level particulate matter. Community members will be invited on-site for the installation of three to five of the sensors.

The projects community partners will provide community-based expertise for the projects development and help disseminate the findings, Price said.

The project partners will work together to raise awareness about the connections between air quality and health, spread the word about this new source of air quality information, and provide resources so folks can reduce their own and their familys exposure to particulate matter pollution, she said.

The leadership team will plan a host of community engagement activities and the city will create a web page for the project where the public can get information about project aims, progress and outputs. The city and partners also will host multiple opportunities to engage in the project.

Photos: F-35 fighter jet at the Wisconsin Air National Guards 115th Fighter Wing
Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin didnt violate state or federal law in refusing to cover speech or occupational therapy for a girl with autism starting at age 10, a federal judge ruled this month in a lawsuit against the Madison-based insurer.

GHC came to the rational conclusion that the treatments ... were not covered by the policy because they were not evidence-based, U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen Crocker wrote in a decision issued May 8, dismissing the case brought by the parents of a daughter with autism spectrum disorder.

GHC prioritizes the well-being of our members above all else, and our care management practices reflect that commitment by using sound medical guidance when making coverage determinations, said Marty Anderson, the HMOs chief strategy and business development officer.

Paul Kinne, the familys attorney, said they are disappointed at the result, and they are considering their options.

Tony Hensen and Angela Midthun-Hensen of the town of Vienna, near Waunakee, sued in September 2021, saying GHC refused to cover speech or therapy treatment as required by state and federal law for their daughter, who was then 13 years old. The class-action complaint was filed on behalf of children similarly denied coverage of autism treatment at age 10 or older.

The girl, identified only as K.H., started speech therapy in May 2017 and requested coverage of occupational therapy in October 2018, according to the lawsuit. GHC denied coverage of both in January 2019, saying speech therapy was not evidence-based for children with autism 10 and older and occupational therapy is considered experimental for autism, the suit said.

Midthun-Hensen had GHC insurance through her job with the Verona School District. GHC denied an appeal by the family in April 2019, and an independent review organization denied an external review in September 2019, the suit said.

GHC agreed to start covering some speech therapy for K.H. in September 2021, however, the suit said. The HMO also agreed to cover occupational therapy, for which K.H. was on a waiting list, Paul Kinne, the familys attorney, told the Wisconsin State Journal when the suit was filed.

The lawsuit sought $18,000 for speech therapy the family paid for and wasnt covered after K.H. turned 10, Kinne said. She had stopped occupational therapy because the family couldnt afford it, he said.

The lawsuit also sought compensation for other families in similar situations. Kinne said he didnt have estimates of how many families were involved or what the total amount might be.

Wisconsin requires insurers to cover certain treatments for autism, including intensive-level, evidence-based behavioral therapies for children ages 2 to 9 and nonintensive-level services with no age limit.

Two federal laws, including a mental health parity act adopted in 2008, also require such coverage, the lawsuit says.

The lawsuit alleged GHC applied a more restrictive standard on autism therapy than on chiropractic care for children. But Crocker said the HMOs decision stemmed from a difference in the status of the acceptance of those treatments by the medical community at large.
In the Arctic, the freedom to travel, hunt and make day-to-day decisions is profoundly tied to cold and frozen conditions for much of the year. These conditions are rapidly changing as the Arctic warms.

The Arctic is now seeing more rainfall when historically it would be snowing. Sea ice that once protected coastlines from erosion during fall storms is forming later. And thinner river and lake ice is making travel by snowmobile increasingly life-threatening.

Rainier winters make life more difficult for Arctic wildlife and the humans who rely on them. Scott Wallace/Getty Image

Ship traffic in the Arctic is also increasing, bringing new risks to fragile ecosystems, and the Greenland ice sheet is continuing to send freshwater and ice into the ocean, raising global sea level.

In the annual Arctic Report Card, released Dec. 13, 2022, we brought together 144 other Arctic scientists from 11 countries to examine the current state of the Arctic system.

Some of the Arctic headlines of 2022 discussed in the Arctic Report Card. NOAA Climate.gov

The Arctic is getting wetter and rainier

We found that Arctic precipitation is on the rise across all seasons, and these seasons are shifting.

Much of this new precipitation is now falling as rain, sometimes during winter and traditionally frozen times of the year. This disrupts daily life for humans, wildlife and plants.

Roads become dangerously icy more often, and communities face greater risk of river flooding events. For Indigenous reindeer herding communities, winter rain can create an impenetrable ice layer that prevents their reindeer from accessing vegetation beneath the snow.

Arctic-wide, this shift toward wetter conditions can disrupt the lives of animals and plants that have evolved for dry and cold conditions, potentially altering Arctic peoples local foods.

When Fairbanks, Alaska, got 1.4 inches of freezing rain in December 2021, the moisture created an ice layer that persisted for months, bringing down trees and disrupting travel, infrastructure and the ability of some Arctic animals to forage for food. The resulting ice layer was largely responsible for the deaths of a third of a bison herd in interior Alaska.

There are multiple reasons for this increase in Arctic precipitation.

As sea ice rapidly declines, more open water is exposed, which feeds increased moisture into the atmosphere. The entire Arctic region has seen a more than 40% loss in summer sea ice extent over the 44-year satellite record.

The Arctic atmosphere is also warming more than twice as fast as the rest of the globe, and this warmer air can hold more moisture.

Under the ground, the wetter, rainier Arctic is accelerating the thaw of permafrost, upon which most Arctic communities and infrastructure are built. The result is crumbling buildings, sagging and cracked roads, the emergence of sinkholes and the collapse of community coastlines along rivers and ocean.

Wetter weather also disrupts the building of a reliable winter snowpack and safe, reliable river ice, and often challenges Indigenous communities efforts to harvest and secure their food.

When Typhoon Merbok hit in September 2022, fueled by unusually warm Pacific water, its hurricane-force winds, 50-foot waves and far-reaching storm surge damaged homes and infrastructure over 1,000 miles of Bering Sea coastline, and disrupted hunting and harvesting at a crucial time.

Arctic snow season is shrinking

Snow plays critical roles in the Arctic, and the snow season is shrinking.

Snow helps to keep the Arctic cool by reflecting incoming solar radiation back to space, rather than allowing it to be absorbed by the darker snow-free ground. Its presence helps lake ice last longer into spring and helps the land to retain moisture longer into summer, preventing overly dry conditions that are ripe for devastating wildfires.

Snow is also a travel platform for hunters and a habitat for many animals that rely on it for nesting and protection from predators.

A shrinking snow season is disrupting these critical functions. For example, the June snow cover extent across the Arctic is declining at a rate of nearly 20% per decade, marking a dramatic shift in how the snow season is defined and experienced across the North.

Even in the depth of winter, warmer temperatures are breaking through. The far northern Alaska town of Utqiagvik hit 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4.4 C)  8 F above freezing  on Dec. 5, 2022, even though the sun does not breach the horizon from mid-November through mid-January.

Fatal falls through thin sea, lake and river ice are on the rise across Alaska, resulting in immediate tragedies as well as adding to the cumulative human cost of climate change that Arctic Indigenous peoples are now experiencing on a generational scale.

Greenland ice melt means global problems

The impacts of Arctic warming are not limited to the Arctic. In 2022, the Greenland ice sheet lost ice for the 25th consecutive year. This adds to rising seas, which escalates the danger coastal communities around the world must plan for to mitigate flooding and storm surge.

In early September 2022, the Greenland ice sheet experienced an unprecedented late-season melt event across 36% of the ice sheet surface. This was followed by another, even later melt event that same month, caused by the remnants of Hurricane Fiona moving up along eastern North America.

International teams of scientists are dedicated to assessing the scale to which the Greenland ice sheets ice formation and ice loss are out of balance. They are also increasingly learning about the transformative role that warming ocean waters play.

This years Arctic Report Card includes findings from the NASA Oceans Melting Greenland (OMG) mission that has confirmed that warming ocean temperatures are increasing ice loss at the edges of the ice sheet.

Human-caused change is reshaping the Arctic

We are living in a new geological age  the Anthropocene  in which human activity is the dominant influence on our climate and environments.

In the warming Arctic, this requires decision-makers to better anticipate the interplay between a changing climate and human activity. For example, satellite-based ship data since 2009 clearly show that maritime ship traffic has increased within all Arctic high seas and national exclusive economic zones as the region has warmed.

For these ecologically sensitive waters, this added ship traffic raises urgent concerns ranging from the future of Arctic trade routes to the introduction of even more human-caused stresses on Arctic peoples, ecosystems and the climate. These concerns are especially pronounced given uncertainties regarding the current geopolitical tensions between Russia and the other Arctic states over its war in Ukraine.

Rapid Arctic warming requires new forms of partnership and information sharing, including between scientists and Indigenous knowledge-holders. Cooperation and building resilience can help to reduce some risks, but global action to rein in greenhouse gas pollution is essential for the entire planet.

Matthew Druckenmiller, research scientist, National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC), Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), University of Colorado Boulder, receives research funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Rick Thoman, Alaska climate specialist, University of Alaska Fairbanks, receives funding from NOAA/Arctic Program.

Twila Moon, deputy lead scientist, National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC), Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), University of Colorado Boulder, receives research funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.
The latest attack by Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, on the University of Wisconsin System cannot be a coincidence.

Vos wants to cut $14 million from the System's budget for campus staffing related to diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

I frankly think we have gotten to the point where instead of having an institute of higher learning, we have an institute of indoctrination. Vos said.

"Indoctrination" has become the GOP's latest buzzword and scare attempt.

One only has to look at the April Wisconsin Supreme Court election to understand what is really the reason for Vos' threat.

The turnout in student wards on UW campuses was unusually high for a spring election. And the winning candidate, Janet Protasiewicz, received the vast majority of the student vote.

Rather than giving students credit for impressive election involvement and grassroots organizing, Vos just doesn't like who they supported by overwhelming margins.

Instead, it's all about "indoctrination." Or, more precisely, intimidation.

John Finkler, Middleton

The Mendota Marsh collection
WAR IN UKRAINE

LONDON  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 Zelenskyy's 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.

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 120 miles.

"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," the prime minister added.
Wendy's Co. will begin testing an artificial intelligence-powered chatbot next month that will talk to customers and take drive-thru orders, becoming the latest fast-food chain to employ the technology.

The system, powered by Google Cloud's AI software, will be as natural as talking to an employee and has the ability to understand speech and answer frequently asked questions, the company said.

Wendy's is one of several restaurants incorporating AI and automation to improve customer service, while grappling with labor shortages. What's more, drive-thrus have surged in popularity during the pandemic, with the chain saying 80% of its customers prefer ordering that way.

This "creates a huge opportunity for us to deliver a truly differentiated, faster and frictionless experience for our customers," Chief Executive Officer Todd Penegor said in a statement.

Wendy's shares rose less than 1% at 11:24 a.m. in New York, bringing the company's advance to 1.7% this year. The S&P 500 Restaurants Index rose 13.5% in the same period.

Interest in AI chatbots from investors and the public has surged after the release of Open AI's Chat GPT last year. That touched off a race among tech giants, including Google parent Alphabet, to push the new chatbot technology into the business world.

Opinions on what AI will mean for workers and companies vary greatly, from massive disruption to marginal change. In the view of Presto Automation, which offers an AI ordering platform for restaurants, the technology will shake up the industry.

"I don't think in three years, there's going to be a drive-thru having a human take your orders," Krishna Gupta, Presto's chairman and interim chief executive officer, told Bloomberg Television last week.

Wendy's, which is debuting its chatbot at a company-owned store near Columbus, Ohio, is trying to reduce miscommunication and mistakes by automating the process, it said. The company declined to comment on how the technology might reduce the need for employees, though it said the system should help streamline the ordering process so staff can focus on serving food quickly.

Using AI to take orders could pay off for Wendy's because it lags peers in wait times and accuracy, according to data provider Intouch Insight. The company is also looking to accelerate growth this year as it embarks on a restructuring plan to cut costs. The chain reports first-quarter earnings on Wednesday. Recent results from competitors like McDonald's and Chipotle have beat Wall Street expectations, suggesting consumers are still dining out.

At the test location, a restaurant employee will monitor the drive-thru to make sure the AI can address all requests and be there in case a customer asks to speak with a human, according to Wendy's Chief Information Officer Kevin Vasconi.

The chatbot will have a female voice and be able to understand requested items that aren't phrased exactly as they appear on the menu. It will know that a "large milkshake" corresponds to the chain's "large Frosty," Vasconi said.

After the AI confirms the order on a screen customers can see, a ticket will make its way to the kitchen  just the same as when an employee talks to diners.

Wendy's doesn't expect the chatbot to be perfect. Its order accuracy in 2022 was 79%, according to Intouch Insight. The chain's initial goal for the AI is to boost that past 85%, which would put it on par with competitors.
The president can be no dictator. That was one of the ideas the writers wanted in the U.S. Constitution. Another primary objective was a representative government. They devoted much thinking into their writing of this powerful document, far more than one gives them credit. They wanted this nation to survive for many generations and they recognized that there would be challenges.

Now to evaluate the resulting government.

The Constitution is its bible, fixed and difficult to change. It is the ultimate power!

In the three branches of government, the Supreme Court is the most powerful one and that is because they have the duty and the responsibility of enforcing not only the words in the document but the thinking behind those words.

The second most powerful branch is the Legislature, with the Senate having a little more power than the House. It has even more power than the president, as the Constitution gives the Senate a 2/3rds majority vote that can override a presidential veto.

It is not obvious, but with some logical thinking, the presidents power is far more limited than one may think as the writers did not want to give the office so much power to allow for a dictatorship. Try to understand that the writers, as a top priority, wanted a representative government and not a dictatorship.

With this thinking, a president cannot reverse an issue that was approved by a majority vote of a previous Congress and its president, as that would be a dictatorship. On current issues, this logic implies that this president cannot change the student loan program. He cannot cancel the Keystone Pipeline Project. His office is obligated to enforce our immigration laws.

His actions under his presidency make him a dictator, and the constitutional writers certainly did not want that.

Joseph C. Coomer

Oak Harbor, Washington
Q: Idaho is too great to litter. If Idaho is too great to litter then why are the medians on the interstate full of trash?

A: We can all see the trash this winter season has left behind on our roads now that the snow has melted, said Anne Marie Peacock, spokesperson for the Idaho Transportation Department. The Idaho Transportation Department relies on volunteers through the Adopt-A-Highway program to help pick up trash along our roads as we do not have dedicated resources for it. Unfortunately, it is not always possible for volunteers to safely access medians to pick up trash; and therefore, is left there. ITD actually asks volunteers to avoid working in medians for their safety as well as narrow roadways, curves, bridges, overpasses, and on/off ramps. We ensure volunteers work in areas where they are easily visible to motorists and oncoming traffic.

These past few years have seen a reduction in active volunteers. In 2020 ITD had 1,230 active Adopt-A-Highway groups statewide. As of April 2023, the total number of groups has reduced to 982. ITD will continue to rely on volunteers through the Adopt-A-Highway program to clean up litter and appreciate their efforts to help keep Idaho beautiful where they can safely volunteer. We would value your participation in helping to spread the word and encourage more volunteers to join, Peacock said.

We continue to seek creative ways to accommodate to our volunteers time and needs, she said. For example, we can shorten volunteer litter pick up routes from four miles to two miles, or just organize a onetime litter pickup.

We have seen the number of volunteers  for all activities  has declined over the past few years. It was declining before COVID, but that just exacerbated it, Josh Palmer, spokesperson for the city of Twin Falls.

Johnny Horizon dates back to 1968 with the This land is your land  keep it clean message to enlist the publics help to protect public lands from littering, abuse, and vandalism, said Heather Tiel-Nelson, spokesperson for the Bureau of Land Management in Twin Falls. While the BLM no longer uses Johnny Horizon, we always encourage responsible use of public lands. Each spring in the Magic Valley volunteers from Southern Idaho Off Road Association, Magic Valley ATV riders and Jerome County come together to rid the north rim of the Snake River Canyon of illegally dumped trash.

This is just one of many volunteer efforts to keep our public lands clean, safe, and beautiful, Tiel-Nelson said. You can learn more about reporting illegally dumped trash on public lands at www.dontdumpidaho.com.

According to Dont Dump Idahos website, federal statutes specify fines of up to $1,000 and/or up to 12 months imprisonment for dumping trash and debris on public land. Littering on public or private property within the state of Idaho is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months imprisonment and/or a fine up to $1,000, with the possibility of eight to 40 hours of litter cleanup (Idaho Statute 18-7031).

We do recognize Johnny Horizon Day and did a proclamation for May 6 this year, Twin Falls County Commissioner Jack Johnson said. Our participation is that our parks department provides the trash bags, and each community is in charge of setting up their own trash pickup, etc. The individual highway districts and/or ITD will then pick the bags up depending on which roadways they are on.
Re. Albert Madsens letter A voter-friendly paradigm (Castanet, My 10)

I whole heartedly applaud Mr. Madsen's plan to up-level our electoral system to more closely reflect the wishes of voters.

His plan sounds similar to that proposed by the Citizens' Assembly, constituted by former B.C> Premier Gordon Campbell in 2002. The referendum on the electoral reform proposed by the Citizens' Assembly, BCSTV, gained a majority of 57% and passed in all but two ridings. However, the BC Liberal government (of the day), concerned its passage would mean an end to its rule, declared it had to pass by 60% and in a majority of ridings.

I agree with Madsen's summation that, Single ridings would no longer be as easy to manipulate by political parties, big business or foreign interests."

Countering the Chinese Communist Party's influence on our elections completely, might prove difficult. Our electoral system, First-Past-The-Post, with a single party winning a majority of the seats with often less that 40% of the popular vote, increases the effect of outside influence on our democracy. Proportional representationwhich usually, in a multi-party system such as ours results in a coalitionis much less open to foreign or corporate influence.

First-Past-The-Post is not in itself the problem, its FPTP in conjunction with the riding system. That duo perverts the will of the people, ignores the wishes of vast numbers of voters and creates many other problems, such as the need for strategic voting, policy lurch, inordinate amount of clout of swing ridings, a combative legislature, the Balkanization of British Columbia and wasted votes.

First Past The Post gives voting power to parties that have a sufficient concentration in a riding to win a seat and denies power to parties that have large numbers of supporters across the country but not in sufficient numbers in many ridings to win any or many seats.

To fix the system and to give us a true democracy, we need, as Madsen states, to add proportionality to the electoral system. However, we are up against the vested interests of the major parties who owe their power to an undemocratic system.

We saw that when (Prime Minister Justin) Trudeau reneged on his promise to make 2015 the last election under FPTP. We saw it again when he countered the proposal of delegates from his own party, across Canada, to set up a Citizens' Assembly to study electoral reform.

One man, (whose party was) elected by only 32% of voters, has the power to reject democratic reform?

Daryl Sturdy, Vancouver
Former U.S. Sen. Len Jordan served Idaho with distinction from 1962 through 1972. He was a conservative Republican who brought courage and individualism to the Senate. He differed with Idahos other senator, Frank Church, on a number of issues but they worked together in harmony on issues affecting Idaho. Both were dedicated to safeguarding democracy They had a relationship of mutual trust and respect.

I worked for Jordan the summers of 1965 and 1966 and then served as his legislative assistant for his last three years in office. He was in the mainstream of a Republican Party that had members ranging from conservative to liberal. His Republican values were fashioned after those of the party founder, Abraham Lincoln.

Like Lincoln, Jordan stood up for the equality and dignity of all Americans. He supported the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to require equal rights in employment, education and public accommodations. He supported the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to prohibit racial discrimination in voting. We now see so-called Republicans in red states trying to chip away at these protections.

Sen. Jordan was a leader, not a follower. When President Richard Nixon nominated Clement Haynsworth and Harrold Carswell to the U.S. Supreme Court, Jordan voted against both because of their poor civil rights records. Most current GOP senators would vote for any living and breathing human nominated by their partys president.

Jordan voted for the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1972, which removed immigration barriers to a wide range of people across the world. Until recent years, the GOP recognized that America grew great and powerful by welcoming immigrants.

Recognizing that guns were becoming a danger in many areas of the country, Jordan supported the Gun Control Act of 1968 and voted in 1972 to ban cheap, dangerous handguns called Saturday Night Specials. He told me we did not need gun controls in Idaho but that the legislation was necessary in other parts of the country.

Quote The extremists have commandeered the party, but there are still many reasonable Republicans who hope to remake the party to reflect Jordans traditional values.

Jordan was not a fan of excessive taxation. He told me Congress needed to decide what services the government should provide and then provide the money to pay for them. He believed in a balanced budget and that voting for necessary tax increases was an essential part of achieving balance. Jordan pointed out that America became the most prosperous nation on the planet after World War II, despite a graduated income tax placing hefty tax rates on the rich. We all know about GOP pledges nowadays to never vote for a tax increase for any purpose.

That brings us to the current fight over increasing the debt limit. Presidents of both parties have contributed about equally to our national debt. During his presidency, Donald Trump added over $8 trillion. Republicans always accommodate their presidents by gladly increasing the debt limit to allow additional borrowing to cover deficits. When Democratic presidents request an increase in the limit, the GOP has threatened to let the country default on its debt.

I first learned of the debt limit when Nixon asked Congress to increase the Treasurys borrowing authority from $377 billion to $395 billion in June 1970. When I told Jordan we were getting lots of mail from home opposing the increase, he said in no uncertain terms that he would vote for it. He said the country had no alternative  the debt had already been incurred and we had to pay the bills. The only way to do that was to borrow the money by issuing government securities. Jordan said those who opposed increasing the debt limit were just posturing and should know better.

Jordan would be horrified to see what passes as the official Idaho Republican Party today. The extremists have commandeered the party, but there are still many reasonable Republicans who hope to remake the party to reflect Jordans traditional values. Getting rid of the closed GOP primary would accomplish that.
An 18-year-old gunman killed three people and injured several others including two police officers during a shooting in a New Mexico city on Monday, law enforcement said.

Officers responding to multiple emergency calls found a chaotic scene where a male subject was actively firing upon individuals, local police deputy chief Baric Crum told a press conference.

Four officers confronted the subject and were able to stop his actions, Crum said.

The suspect is deceased, but prior to that, we know that three civilians were killed by this persons actions, he said.

The shooting took place in Farmington, a town of 50,000 people located some 200 miles (320 km) from state capital Santa Fe, and close to Navajo and Ute Native American reservations.

Nine people were wounded, said Crum.

Further details of exactly where and how the shooting unfolded were not immediately provided. Investigations into the incidents are ongoing.

The two police officers shot during the incident are being treated at a hospital and were described as being in stable condition.

Local schools briefly locked down as a preventative measure, but were cleared to reopen early Monday afternoon, with Farmington Municipal Schools saying that all students and staff are safe.

At least 225 mass shootings have occurred this year in the United States, according to the non-governmental organization Gun Violence Archive.

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The United States voiced horror Monday after a UN report said Malis military junta executed at least 500 people in a 2022 operation, with Washington pointing blame at Russian mercenaries.

The UN High Commission for Human Rights on Friday released a long-awaited investigation into the March 2022 anti-jihadist operation in the central town of Moura, saying that Malis armed forces worked with foreign fighters to kill at least 500 people in violation of international norms.

The UN report did not name the foreigners, but the United States in a statement placed blame at Russias Wagner paramilitary group which has forged close ties with the junta and played a growing role across Africa as well as in the Ukraine war.

The United States is appalled by the disregard for human life exhibited by elements of the Malian Armed Forces in cooperation with the Kremlin-backed Wagner Group  a transnational criminal organization, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.

As we have said before, the Wagner Group is a destabilizing force whose personnel have engaged in an ongoing pattern of abuses, including execution-style killings, sexual violence, and torture in Mali and other nations struggling with instability, he said.

The Malian junta denounced the report as fictitious and biased.

The death toll given by the report makes the atrocity the single worst in the Sahel country since a jihadist insurgency broke out in 2012.

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.

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Recorded executions worldwide reached 883 last year, the highest level since 2017, according to an Amnesty International report published on Tuesday that decried the Middle East and North Africa in particular.

The 2022 figure for 20 countries known to have executed people is a 53 percent increase on the previous 12 months, the global rights monitor said.

It excludes the thousands of prisoners put to death secretively in China, but does count the staggering 81 people executed in a single day in Saudi Arabia, it added.

China was believed to have led the way in the grisly ranking, ahead of Iran (576 executions), Saudi Arabia (196  its highest number in 30 years), Egypt (24) and the United States (18).

The death penalty is also used extensively in North Korea and Vietnam but as with China, figures there remain shrouded in secrecy, Amnesty said in the annual report.

Countries in the Middle East and North Africa were guilty of state-sanctioned killing sprees with executions notably surging in Saudi, Iran and Egypt, it said.

While official crackdowns on dissent were one factor in the rise, nearly 40 percent of all known executions were for drug-related offences, including 11 in Singapore, it added.

That violates international human rights law, which permits executions only for crimes that involve intentional killing, according to the campaign group.

Importantly, its often those from disadvantaged backgrounds that are disproportionately affected by this callous punishment, Amnesty Internationals secretary general Agnes Callamard said.

Its time for governments and the UN to up the pressure on those responsible for these blatant human rights violations and ensure international safeguards are put in place, she said.

However, Amnesty also found a glimmer of hope in six countries partially or fully abolishing the death penalty last year.

They were the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Kazakhstan, Papua New Guinea, Sierra Leone and Zambia.

The brutal actions of countries such as Iran, Saudi Arabia as well as China, North Korea and Vietnam are now firmly in the minority, Callamard said.

These countries should urgently catch up with the times, protect human rights, and execute justice rather than people.

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A Tunisian court on Monday sentenced Rached Ghannouchi, one of the main opponents of Tunisian President Kais Saied, to one year in prison on terrorism-related charges, local media reported.

Ghannouchi, 81, a former parliament speaker, was arrested last month over different accusations.

He had appeared in court at the end of February on the terror-related charges after being accused of calling police officers tyrants.

The case is one of several levied by authorities against Ghannouchi, whose Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party was the largest in parliament before Saied dissolved the chamber in July 2021.

He was detained and remanded in custody last month after remarks warning that eradicating different viewpoints such as the left or political Islam, from which his party originated, might lead to a civil war.

Ghannouchi is among more than 20 of Saieds political opponents and personalities, including former ministers and business figures, arrested since February.

In addition to his prison term, Ghannouchi was fined 1,000 dinars ($326), local media reported.

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(From left) Kenneth Stern, Vienne Mari Velasco, Carlos Antonio Albornoz, and Jeannine Roxas at Enderun Colleges

Binance Academy, the educational platform of the worlds leading blockchain ecosystem and cryptocurrency infrastructure provider, has recently concluded the first leg of its Southeast Asia University Tour in the Philippines.

From April 17 to April 20, the Binance Academy team and Kenneth Stern, General Manager of Binance in the Philippines, visited some of the countrys largest universities, including the Asian Institute of Management, the University of Batangas, National University-Laguna, Enderun Colleges, and the Far Eastern University, where they met over 1,000 students and staff.

Adam Smurthwaite, Content and Partnerships Manager at Binance, led introductory training sessions on blockchain and cryptocurrency during these visits.

Adam Smurthwaite conducts a training session on Introduction to Blockchain and Cryptocurrency 101 at the National University-Laguna.

At National University- Laguna, Binance Academy partnered with Yield Guild Games (YGG), which invests in NFT gaming projects, to share more about Web3 gaming and NFTs with the attendees. Some 400 students who attended teamed up to brainstorm and develop innovative ideas to gamify a learning platform, with the winning team receiving exclusive Binance merchandise as a reward.

Binance Academy has held university tours in 75 schools across 25 countries to spread global blockchain and digital currency literacy and awareness. As Binance Academys first foray into the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, the Philippines has witnessed tremendous growth and interest in the Web3 ecosystem, with a proven Web3 and blockchain adoption track record.

By working together to build the Web3 infrastructure in the Philippines, we will be able to see more Web3 jobs being created and build a pipeline of local talents. This is an opportune time for young people to learn more about the technology and the values that it can bring, Stern said.

The Philippines is an obvious choice for the first stop of our Binance Academy Asia Tour as we managed to get enthusiastic responses from our university partners to visit and hold training sessions for their students. Although nascent, blockchain technology is not foreign to many Filipinos due to the popularity of GameFi in the country. By holding this tour, we hope to create a good entry point to Web3 for the younger minds, added Smurthwaite.

Binance Academy has also partnered with Enderun Colleges in the Philippines to expand its educational reach and increase crypto literacy amongst students and educators. During the visit to Enderun Colleges, the Binance Academy team was joined by representatives from the Department Of Information And Communications Technology (DICT) and Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC).

Jeannine Roxas, CICC technology consultant, said: Blockchain is a promising technology that is gaining more traction and usage in the Philippines. However, it is still very new, and in order to encourage more adoption among Filipinos, it is important to provide them with relevant Web3 education. I am glad there are training sessions, such as this one organized by Binance Academy, available to people.

(If youre ready to take the next step in your blockchain education and build the skills needed for a successful career in the industry, visit Binance Academy today. With a variety of courses and educational resources, you will gain access to the latest insights and developments in the field. Join the growing community of blockchain professionals and start your journey to success with Binance Academy. For more information, please visit https://academy.binance.com/en)

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Imagine Cup, Microsofts premier student technology competition, has once again drawn the attention of young and aspiring tech enthusiasts from all over the world. In the Philippines, student-teams from universities across the country joined for a chance to distinguish themselves as national awardees, and a chance to represent the country in the competitions world finals. Microsoft recently concluded the Philippine leg of the competition, with teams from National University (NU), Central Philippine University and Technological Institute of the Philippines-Quezon City chosen for their innovative use of technology to address real-world problems.

Team REACH of National University  Laguna (L-R: Renzo Magno, Abigail Velasco, College Dean Marlon Diloy, Christian Escoses, and Allen Roi Cortez) were named national champions of Microsofts Imagine Cup. Team REACHs EyeKlik, an innovative eye-tracking solution that acts as a substitute for the computer mouse and keyboard, bested ideas from 70 other teams. They will represent the Philippines in the Imagine Cup World Finals.

After months of development and mentoring, seven country finalistsfrom an initial field of 70 teams composed of nearly 300 studentspitched their ideas to a panel of judges from Crayon Philippines, QBO Innovation Hub, Hacktiv Collab Inc, and Microsoft Philippines. The country finalists competed for prizes, recognition, and the opportunity to represent the Philippines in the Imagine Cup World Finals. Their technology solutions were judged on their innovative use of Microsoft Azure technology, accessibility, and inclusion, as well as feasibility as a business idea.

We believe that any student can be an entrepreneur and an innovator that drives positive change in the world, said Clarissa Segismundo, Microsoft Philippines Education Programs Head. Through the Imagine Cup, we are empowering students to make an impact by supporting them through immersive training and mentorship, as well as providing them with Microsoft tools to help turn their ideas into a reality.

Finishing first runner-up was Team SL2P from Central Philippine University. Team SL2P introduced Illuminate, a solution that extends the capabilities of a projector, turning it into a better learning tool for dyslexic children. Illuminate uses Microsoft Azures machine learning to innovate the strengths and flexibility of a projector, with built-in activities and exercises that are specifically designed for students with dysgraphia and spatial dyslexia. By providing students with these solutions, Team SL2P aims to help them improve their learning ability and succeed with their studies.

Technological Institute of the Philippines  Quezon Citys Team PNC was second runner-up for their app Exerbit. The appwhich utilizes Microsoft Azures mobile and web app services, machine learning, data analytics, and databasehelps users maintain a healthy lifestyle by making exercising an exciting experience. According to Team PNC, Exerbits features are designed to adopt a practical framework in habit building, thus ensuring the user to become more consistent in their fitness and wellness journey.

The highest distinction went to Team REACH from the National University  Laguna after presenting EyeKlik, an innovative eye-tracking solution that acts as a substitute for a computer mouse and keyboard. Utilizing Microsoft Azure technology such as its cognitive functions and AI services, EyeKlik was made specifically for persons with disabilities, who may find it difficult to keep up and live with fast-paced technological advancements that are typically designed for people who are not disabled.

Technology and gadgets are advancing rapidly. However, there is a digital divide between people with and without disabilities, said Abigail Velasco of Team REACH, who cites laptops and personal computers as a prime example. One cannot control their computer if they do not have access to a mouse, touchpad, or keyboardwhich may pose as a challenge for those who do not have a complete set of fingers or a pair of hands. In the future, we hope more tech companies will actively work towards bridging this divide by improving the accessibility of their solutions.

As national champions of the Philippines, Team REACH joins 47 other teams from across the globe, wherein they will pitch to a panel of industry expert judges in a bracket-style competition format. Students will showcase why their solution should make it to the World Championship based on how they tackled a local or global issue, their utilization of Microsoft Azure technology, their commitment to accessibility and inclusivity, their commercial viability of their business concept, and the potential for their project to drive impact. The World Champion will take home the grand prize of USD100,000 and a mentoring session with Microsoft Chairman and CEO, Satya Nadella.

Every year, Imagine Cup brings forth incredible innovation from our participants here in the Philippines and its so inspiring to witness. Filipino teams are mainstays in Microsofts global student competitions across all levels and more than anything, that underlines the enormous potential our country has to empower tomorrow for both ourselves and the world as a whole, said Peter Maquera, Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft Philippines. We congratulate all our participants this year, especially Team REACH and wish them the best of luck as they compete on the global stage of the competition!

Follow Team REACHs journey and learn more about Microsofts Imagine Cup here.

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Heres what happened locally on May 16 over the past century, as reported in this newspaper, which went from being called the Henry Bulletin to the Daily Bulletin to the Martinsville Bulletin:

1923: Mothers Day was observed at each of the local churches on Sunday. The Methodists had their first service in the handsome new church auditorium. The pastor preached at the morning service, which was in honor of Mother, while the musical program was appropriate and beautifully rendered. Mr. John R. Smith, Chairman of the building Committee made a report of the financial standing of the church.

1948: A building of cinder block and stucco construction which is now being erected near the Lester Brothers plant on Highway 220 will be occupied by four mercantile establishments, it was said today at the office of Lester Brothers. Last winter a large amount of dirt was moved to prepare for the constructions, and the foundation for the structure has been laid. The Penn Supply company will occupy quarters in the new building but the names of the other firms were not revealed today.

1973: The Henry County Supervisors met behind closed doors and in backrooms Wednesday to discuss in secrecy the 1973-74 operating budget, annexation developments and to interview applicants for the position of central purchasing agents. One of the meetings may have been illegal and another was thwarted by reporters.

1998: The Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce honored three businesses Thursday for their contributions to the areas industrial, retail and service sectors. During a luncheon at the Best Western Martinsville Inn, Virginia Blower Co. was named the Small Manufacturer of the Year; Berry-Elliott Realtors was named Service Business of the Year and Arts Etc. was named Small Retailer of the Year.
BURNSVILLE  Are you a hiker, biker, paddler or rider? North Carolina has a trail for you! Known as the Great Trail State, North Carolina is celebrating the Year of the Trail in 2023. N.C. Year of the Trail is the largest statewide celebration of trails and outdoor recreation in North Carolina history. Whether youre a serious sportsman or an ambler, discover how to get more in touch with the great outdoors at Burnsvilles Spring Year of the Trail celebration on Saturday, May 20.

Sponsored by the Burnsville-Yancey Chamber of Commerce and hosted by Homeplace Beer Company, 321 W. Main St., Burnsville, the event opens at 9 a.m. with a morning hike to Phillips Knob led by the N.C. High Peaks Trail Association. Then at 5 p.m., youll find eight area organizations set up at Homeplace to provide information about getting involved with hiking groups, exploring the areas natural wonders and sustaining our environmental assets. Rounding out the evening, Crystal Fountains Bluegrass Band performs on the Homeplace main stage from 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Ready to get out and explore the natural wonders that surround Burnsville? Check out the Burnsville-Yancey Chamber of Commerce website, www.YanceyChamber.com, or their social media for more information about the North Carolina 2023 Year of the Trail events.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and the McDowell County Health Coalition, in partnership with the McDowell Chamber of Commerce and the Corpening Memorial YMCA, has organized an awareness event on Thursday, May 18.

Dinner by Doras will be served at 5 p.m. and the program will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the YMCA Pavilion, 348 Grace Corpening Drive, Marion.

This event will feature enlightening perspectives and key educational and resourceful takeaways. Presentations will focus on youth, resources and resiliency techniques. Centro-Unido Latino-Americano will share information on their new youth-focused program, according to a news release.

The mental health program structure explores six different areas and we believe that the self-care and healing area will be two that will be shared at the May 18th awareness event, CULA Executive Director Margarita Ramirez said.

Resilient McDowell, a key initiative and working group through the Health Coalition, will highlight programming and resiliency techniques while representatives from Carenet will provide information on resources that families can utilize to fight this mental health crisis.

A growing list of championing partners like the city of Marions Police Department, McDowell Technical Community College and McDowell County School System, understand that a mentally healthy McDowell County means a productive community and this translates into better equipped youth and workforce.

Kim Effler, president and CEO of the McDowell Chamber of Commerce, is a proponent of local business and this means the workforce at large. The Chamber is invested in our community, using the workforce and business development, as the catalyst for a mentally healthy McDowell.

The McDowell County Health Coalitions, Resilient McDowell, is focused on building up a resilient and trauma informed McDowell County while providing a collaborative approach to fight the mental health crisis, according to the news release.

In its most concise state, the Coalition is Building a Culture of Resilience in McDowell County and this is a generational initiative to raise awareness of and reduce stigma around the importance of mental and emotional well-being, said Toby Bramblett, chair of the Health Coalition.

Residents are asked to consider joining and showing support to end the stigma associated with mental health and build mental wellness with community.

The McDowell County Health Coalition connects, convenes, collaborates and creates opportunities for whole-person health in the McDowell community, according to its mission.

Find more information on the McDowell County Health Coalition at www.mcdowellhealthcoalition.org.